TGIF!!

I'm really glad that the weekend is nearly here. I'm exhausted from this first week back to work after my vacation. The kidlets have been a bit nutty the entire week. Griffin has bitten three people this week, and it's really starting to get on my last nerve. I don't know what to do anymore!

Our microwave is fixed now. It bit the dust on Wednesday, and so I had a GE representative come today and fix it for us. It's only a month and a half old, for pete's sake!

Last night, Collin did very well on his belt test. I now have a first degree brown belt in my family! :) I didn't make it out of the gold belt stage, but that's ok! ;)

This weekend we have a family reunion in Southern Indiana. It's for my stepmom's family. I'm anxious to see her, as I think that she's got to be down in the dumps lately. My dad's business is failing/has failed, and they're going to have to declare bankruptcy on it. They could lose a lot, so please keep them in your thoughts during this time.

Off to tame the wild beasts!

Heaven Help Me.....

....At one point, everyone in my house, aside from the eight year-old were screaming at me, wanting to sit in my lap.

Today, Collin has a belt test to get his first-degree brown belt. He then starts black belt prep. He's getting quite burned out with karate, but has taken bits of time off here and there, so I'm hoping that this will give him motivation to keep going.....if he wants to. If he doesn't, I'll understand, too. There is no sense in tears over karate.

And The Best Husband Award Goes to......

.....yep....Aaron. *gushes* For our anniversary, he took me to the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant. We had a very nice, but very expensive four-course meal there. But before we got there, I opened gifts of a charm for my bracelet of a Michigan Lighthouse (our favorite vacation) and a Vera Bradley backpack purse. He's just too sweet.

And I would give him my gift for him, but Aunt Flow's in the house, so what's the point, right? *winks*

A Couple of Funnies....

On the way back from vacation, Aaron was teasing me, and I said "I know, I'm not stupid" like the chicken on Elmo's Adventures in Grouchland. Well, Griffin, ever the little parrot, shouted in the back of the van, "I know, I stupid!" It might be one of the things you have to be there for, but Griffin ever keeps us laughing.

Erin, on the other hand, doesn't necessarily mean to make us laugh. Be warned, this one's a bit gross and TMI. Aunt Flow finally graced my presence (and after getting drunk on Saturday, and then being four days late with it did not settle well with me....I don't need another baby, but I especially don't want to harm any baby that might pop up between now and when Aaron's snip job takes effect! LOL). Well, Erin, ever the little nosy prat that she is, decided to hang out with me while in the bathroom. She looks down at my underwear (which contains a pad....), crinkles up her nose, and says "eeeewwwwww". This poor girl doesn't know what's coming! ROFL

Anyway, Collin and I are reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix right now so that we can finally start on the sixth book. I know what happens in the sixth book, but will not divulge anything, as I know that Cath's reading it right now. I can't wait to see how everything unfolds, though. I'm also anxious to remind myself of what happens in the fifth book at the end. I couldn't remember exactly how it turns out, even though I've already read it. Not that I would be lost in the sixth book, but I really would like to be reminded of what happens next.

Today is my eighth wedding anniversary! I've been married to Aaron for eight years now. I can hardly fathom that I'm old enough to have been married that long, but I'm not sorry that I have been. Aaron's a wonderful man, and I love him dearly. He does a wonderful job with the hats he wears as husband, father, teacher, etc. I know that I'm not easy to live with. At times, frankly, neither is he, but we seem to put up with eachother beautifully.

I love you, Aaron!

I'm Up, I'm Up! *Sob*

Vacation is over, and I'm sat here on a Monday morning with a sleeping child down on my sofa. Up at 6 a.m. this morning....It's actually not been too bad. I swear, though, all of these kids grew while I was away! Am actually looking forward to seeing all of them.

Last night I spent a few hours working on my office/scrapbook room. Aaron ran out of hollow wall anchors, though, so I have to wait til tonight to finish, presuming I have enough energy for it. Here's hoping, as I would really love to get back to scrapbooking. I have so many neat things to use....and sooooo many pictures to scrap!

OK, am going to get up off my butt and find a coloring picture of a farm to copy....

Last. Day. Of. Vaca.......WAAAAHHHH!!!

Ha, I'm seriously not THAT sad. But I am rethinking my ploy NOT to go away by myself as I'm sat here at the computer with sounds of really pissed off two year-olds travel to my ears......

Not much has been happening the past two days. And I'm loving that. Collin and I are desperately trying to finish the fifth Harry Potter book so that we can steal the sixth from Aaron. Methinks Aaron might finish first, though. I'm excited to read it with my boo, but I might have to read on the sly, as I tend to read things I like in one sitting.....

Am feeling quite relaxed, but am so not really wanting to go back to work on Monday. I do miss my other "kids" though!

I'm Home, and Only Half-Way Through....

with my vacation, that is! I've had a few good days away from home, but I'm really glad to be back in my own house, sleeping in my own bed.

First leg of our vacation included a two-night stay at Hueston Woods, near Oxford, Ohio. It was a reunion of sorts with Aaron's mom's family. 36 people in five cabins, drinking more than their fair share of wine, Schmirnoff coolers, Woodchuck, and beer. Every year, we do a Christmas in July with his family. So instead of exchanging presents at Christmas, we do it in July. It's nice, because there are so many fun things that you can give at this time of year that are hard to find in the dead of winter. Aaron got a few shirts; I got a silky tote, a fun pillow that's perfect for the car, and some Bath & Body lotions; Collin got one big-ass Super-Soaker; Erin got a cute beanie horse and a way-cute outfit; Griffin got a bubble-making lawn-mower. And I drank more than my fair share of Captain Juicy-Juice (a drink made up by Aaron's Aunt Sue and Uncle Steve and their family....goes down easy and fast!), Woodchuck, and Schmirnoff drinks.

Which leads to the worst day of our vacation....Sunday. Nursing a hangover accompanied by allergy problems only to be gotten in a state park somewhere in Ohio, we drove to our yet-to-be-determined nuclear family vacation destination. We had no clue what we were going to do...which made it hard to figure out how to get out of Oxford, Ohio. We spent nearly an hour and a half driving around....and wound up in SOUTHEAST Indiana......not exactly the direction we thought we were going.....So we found a road that would lead us southward, and wound up near Louisville, KY. Figuring that we were only a little over an hour from Mammoth Cave, we decided to go there.

So, Monday was spent taking the Historic Tour through Mammoth Cave. It was actually a good trip....until we got to where the bathrooms were in the cave. Unfortunately, the bathrooms weren't functioning the day we were there. And Collin really needed to use them.....so we hiked for nearly 1/2 mile more in the cave, and were nearly to the exit....when he shit his pants. And good God, did it smell. Very badly. People were accusing their fathers of ripping the worst fart ever off the stench that was eminating from his backside. So, we get ut of the cave as soon as humanly possible, and head for the restroom...Aaron tells Collin to pull down his pants, and Collin pulls down his pants AND his underwear, further exasurbating the problem of the shit in his pants, as he spread it all over his legs and SHOES, too. Backing up just a second here, I have failed to mention that these were the ONLY shoes that he brought with him. Needless to say, that pretty much sent me over the edge. I wasn't mad at him for shitting his pants.....but I was mad at him for being so careless in the removal of his clothes. Aside from this little bit of hell, we actually had a pretty good time in the cave. A definite recommendation to take the fam there if you make it to the foothills of KY.

So Monday night we ate at a place called Toot's, which is a tamed-down version of Hooter's. The food was pretty good, and they actually give the kids free hot dog baskets, ice cream, and balloons. Not too shabby! Also a recommendation to hit if you're in Bowling Green, KY or Cincinnati, OH.

Tuesday, we went to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, where I totally french-fried myself by taking the kids to the water park. The babies had fun, but were worn out by the time we were done playing in the water. Collin and Aaron took a tour of the rollercoasters and other rides that the twins wouldn't have been able to go on. They did, however, get to ride their first rollercoaster, and both of them LOVED it....We got Griffin to ride it because we called it a train. He commenced to call it HIS train, and cried bloody murder when we got off of it!

We drove home last night, stopping in Southport at a good Chinese restaurant.

All in all, a very good trip. I'm glad to be back home, though.

And, I'm Off!!

Well, in another three hours, I will be! WOOFUCKINGHOO!!!! :) I'm so ready for this break. It's been less than a year since my last vacation, but I'm excited for this time to come, as a lot has happened since last October.

We leave tonight for Hueston Woods, and will be there until Sunday. After that, the vacation's pretty much up in the air, but we're looking to camp somewhere in southern Ohio or northern Kentucky. Either way, I'm certain that we're going to have some fun....and I'm positive that we'll have some heartache in the mix, too....after all...it wouldn't be a vacation unless we did! ROFLOL!!

Don't miss me too much, all less than ten of you! ;)

The Countdown Continues.....three.days.

So I went to bed early last night, and feel a bit less suicidal today. That, and I'm out of bleach. Go figure.

Three days until I can breathe. Am hoping that I'll not have to spend my entire vacation in the stress center. The babies decided that it would be a fabulous fun idea to spit milk at eachother yesterday evening. I spent the rest of the night upstairs playing Collapse. Stupid, timewasting game that it is.

*sigh* three days.

Cruel, Cruel Irony.....

1)The trip to the drive-in to see Shark Tales will not be happening tomorrow.
2)Aunt Flow is supposed to come next week...while I'm on vacation....
3)It's going to fucking rain nearly all next week.

Right, then, I'm going to go drink bleach. Bottoms Up!

Plugging Along.....

....I will make it to Friday. I will make it to Friday. I will make it to Friday. I will make it to Friday.

Say it with me...

.....I will make it to Friday......

New Furniture, Same Old Feelings.....

.....OK, so the retail therapy didn't work as well as I'd like....I feel down in the dumps again....Am hoping that this phase of the cycle passes quickly so that I can feel somewhat normal again. Does the week before a vacation always come with a bit of depression? I thought it was the coming back that made people depressed. Perhaps it's because of the clouds. I am not sure.

The babies are really starting to be the gruesome twosome. There is more hitting, biting, whining, and throwing than should be possible around here. I try to prevent/stop/punish it, but nothing seems to be working right now. It wears me out.

So methinks that I really am going to look into a day spa or something for the last day of my vacation. I really need some "me" time, but can't see where it could be possible unless I do it the Friday of my vacation....Unless I went away for the weekend, maybe? Then it comes down to no one to go with (unless I went alone? *bites nails*) and nowhere to go. What a fucking saddo I've become.

OK, off to see if I can be fulfilled by my salad and garlic bread for supper. Ice cream is so much better tasting....Maybe if I close my eyes and dream Breyer's that my salad will taste more like some cookies and cream.

Exercise, Eating Right, and Working Like a Maniac....

Ok, so I tried exercising on Friday (as much as my second-youngest daycare kiddo will allow), exercised for nearly an hour on Saturday, and did about fifteen minutes or so worth of exercise today. Not too shabby for just getting started. I know that I need to do better with all this stuff.

As far as eating, I've been working on that, too. For lunch yesterday, I had one of those fruit bowls from Wendy's, along with a few chicken nuggets. Much more expensive than my usual meal, but much better for me. And I've been working on eating more salad and veggies, and less of everything else that's much more tasty but adds more to my expanding waistline. *sigh* I'm such a bread-aholic....and no...none of this whole grain shit for me....give me IronKids, damn it! So Aaron makes some biscuits for lunch, and I actually control myself and only eat two....instead of the usual three, four, or five that I'd usually eat.

And can I tell you how awesome I think my husband is? Well, he is. And here's why. He does so much around this house that it makes my life so much easier. And it's really what men should do. Aaron and I have a special case where I actually work in my house (12 hours a day...urgh). But so many men, especially around here, are the sole bread-winners of the family. That is a great thing. However, so many men that I know think that is their ONLY job in life. To make the money. The rest is up to the wife. Evenings, weekends, etc, are their time "off". Here is my question.....when is it ever the wife's time "off"? Having a family and a house to take care of is a big job. Most jobs are between 40-50 hours a week. Methinks that there is a lot more to a day than just the 9 to 5 stuff. And taking care of a house and a family is much harder sometimes than a job. I do know this to be true....I keep wondering how all these women do it without the help, since I've done the bulk of the child-minding, cleaning, and cooking for the past few days. Not that I'm trying to brag, but I think that the fact that Aaron does go to work, yet knows that I need the help in the evenings is such a wonderful thing that I take for granted. It's an expectation for me, not just a gift....I should treat it more like a gift that he's given me.

Other than that, nothing much is new around here. Poor Aaron's feeling a little worse for wear.... it's killing him not to just be able to do what he's used to doing. He's such a busy-body. hehe

I'm so excited. We're supposed to be getting our new furniture tomorrow! Wee!!! :) Anyone want to buy a sleeper sofa? It's hunter green with little flecks of fuschia and light blue. (Don't question my taste on this, guys, my mother and father-in-law picked it out as a wedding present!) It's eight years old, but doesn't look it at all. Free so long as you can pick it up out of my garage. Cos I'm not moving the sonofabitch again! ROFL (And I think that the in-laws would agree at this point! hehehe)

Warning to All Family.....Sexually Explicit Material...

ROFL....is that a good enough warning to let Alaina know that she should just shut her eyes and move along? *winks*

Aaron got the snip today. While part of me is saddened by this, as we will no longer hear the pitter patter of those first baby steps, part of me can't wait to have a bunch of sex without worrying whether or not we'll get pregnant. These days without nursing hormones and hormones from birth control, I feel like getting some groove on. But...I really can't have much fun due to the worries of getting pregnant. I would so love another baby, but there are just too many risks involved with it, so we're closing up shop with that regard.

We are happy at the thought of being 45 and having an empty nest. Am hoping that this means that I can actually breathe later on in life. Hopefully I'll still have enough air around me to actually be able to enjoy it. I'm afraid at the rate I've been traveling these days, I might not....One should not work 60 hours a week every week for months on end....On that note, though, only one week until my fat ass is vacationing!!! :) The funny thing is that I don't really know what I'm going to do over vacation yet....but I do know that I won't be sitting around here!

Polar Express.....

.....ok, so this has to be one of the most worthless movies ever. Any person who spent countless hours reading this book to their children would be disappointed. ROFL...that sounds very hateful, doesn't it? Sorry to the makers, but I think you would have fared better in my book had you just simply did the story without all the ad lib. I knew that you would have trouble with filling two hours of film with ten minutes of story.... LOL

but...the reason for going was fun....it was free famiy night at a little drive-in theater in the middle of a cornfield in indiana. we went with one of my friends and her family. it was fun to do, but the movie was (as my brit friends would say) shite!

so the babies were fairly well behaved. they did, however, manage to stuff a coin in the cd player in the van. Lucky for us, the cd player still works, unlike the cd player in the Geo.... *sigh* (I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but Griffin managed to stick a coin in the cd player of the geo...and now it doesn't work)

other than that, not much new in the life at the Zoo. Aaron did keep the kids this morning so that I could go see good Old Doc H for a bunch of teeth work. I go back in just over two weeks to get the permanent crown put on. Giving me a total of three crowns, two root canals (on the crowned teeth), and a bunch of fillings. I shudder to begin counting how many fillings I have. *sigh*

A big hug goes out to all my Brit friends, for the losses they've endured through the latest terrorist attack. Thankfully, I don't think I know anyone who was in London. The friend that did work in London is now working in Reading. *whew*

So Far Today.....(and it's before noon!)

woke up, got dressed, fed four kids breakfast, cleaned up four kids' breakfast messes, dressed four kids, did four loads of laundry, fed 10 kids lunch, changed four kids' stinky diapers (more than once!), and did bubble pictures....oh, and don't forget that I chased a cat out of my yard with the garden hose.....

what shall I do this afternoon during nap?? LMFAO!!

It Is Time.....

.....a la Rafiki....


....but this time it's not about weaning the babies....that's been done, thankyouverymuch.

.....no....this time, it's about my weight. i discovered this weekend, that i've hit my all-time fattiness. 164 lbs!! YIKES!!! you would think that with running up and down the stairs a million times a day, not eating much at all, save the ice cream lunches, haha, and staying off my computer chair, that i'd have lost some weight by now....but no. no weight loss at all. weight gain.

....and the musing i've done about this is two-fold. is weight-gain catching? cos i would swear that there's enough of it going on around here....between katie and aussie shiraz, there always seems to be an odd pound or two to be lost around here. also....in the preemie world, where weight gain in our children is so important and celebrated, i wonder how many preemie moms have gained weight for their children? i've gained twenty pounds in the last two years!! isn't that how much aaron and griffin were supposed to gain?? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!

OK, on that note, I must get my fat ass off this chair. There are kidlets crying.....

*sigh*

A Pretty Good Day.....

Today was a pretty good day in the land of wild animals.... :D

I was able to sleep in until 10:00!! :D Thanks, my dear Aaron!

Then we went to church...the babies were very well behaved. I mused at the thought that Catholics keep kids entertained by changing it up all the time....Sit, Stand, Kneel, Sit, Stand, Kneel....Sing, Listen, Sing, Listen....it's all good from a toddler perspective. ;)

Then I played on the puter a little bit....

And then went to Victoria's Secret, where I spent a whopping $180!!!! And still, if you think about the fortune I saved breastfeeding (at least 2-4,000 worth of formula, not to mention the likelihood of more hospital bills due to the fact that they weren't getting momma's antibodies), I can shell out nearly 200 clams in undies. ROFL....That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

After my shopping spree, I was famished, so I treated myself to a chicken salad sandwich at a cafe nearby. It was so nice to eat without having to cook, clean up afterward, or take care of anyone else during.

When the babies got up from their nap, we loaded them up in the van and went to the Carmel Fest. Carmel is the city that our mail is sent to, but is technically the city that's about a block and a half south of where we live. So we treated ourselves to the fortune in food that we spend on things like corn dogs, hot dogs, and strawberry and raspberry lemonades. ;) Oh, and don't forget the funnel cake! *drools*

After that, we went to McDonald's and grabbed some sundaes to go, and took them to a nearby park (almost in our back yard! LOL). They made a mess on a picnic table instead of at my dinner table, and they got to play on a bigger playground. So they had a blast. :)

Tomorrow, we're going to good old Ohio to see Katie and the gang. It's been nearly two years since we last saw them, so I'm excited. It might not be anything more than the kids running in their sprinkler as opposed to ours, but at this point, it's the best of both worlds...I'll be getting out of this hell-hole (not really a hell-hole, but for anyone tied to their house all week, anywhere else seems like heaven... LOL), but we'll get the chance to relax. That is, unless Aaron has other ideas....My thought is that I'm perfectly ok with just hanging out! (He's the busybody, you know!)

Hey, Ho, Another Weekend.....

....but I'm staying put this weekend, so that will help. Aaron had to work last night, so I was by myself with the twins, as Aaron's sisters took Collin to spend the night at Grandma's and take him to see Madagascar later today. But the kicker is that one of Aaron's best friends is around today, and they've decided to go golfing....Seriously, he shouldn't get to leave me this much!! LOL

Someone give me an idea of what I can do by myself so as to leave Aaron with the kids? hehehe