RAMBLINGS OF A MIXED UP MAMA

This is the ongoing story of faith, love and family as we walk through this life with 3 sons, one daughter, one daughter in law and one grandson

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Family Reunion Photos by Request by Aunt S



I always catch alot of grief for wanting to post our family reunion pics on this blog. But this year Aunt S won-since her family couldn't be with us, I'm sharing the photos. These posts won't mean anything to anyone other than our family but I hope the family enjoys them.

Family Reunion Photos by Request






Family Reunion Photos






Sunday, August 10, 2008

Dreamsicle will do anything for more M&M's

Dreamsicle receives 2 M&M's every time she uses the potty. Imagine my surprise when she came running from the bathroom clapping and exclaiming "She did it!" and then asking for 2 M&M's since her baby "went potty".

In case you are wondering what is on baby's head, it is one of Dreamsicle's hair bows. She thinks her baby needs to wear a bow if she is wearing one.

Pictures of the Babe






4th of July, and her in all of her cuteness

Friday, August 01, 2008

Confessions of a small town girl

I'm ready to come clean....

1. I started to run under the guise of becoming "healthy" when really I knew that the only way I would get McGyver back up to the wine tasting tour that we attended last year that just so happens to go along with the 5K run was to train for it, then treat us to the wine tasting event afterwards as my reward.

2. Sometimes I intentionally make lots of noise outside of Dreamsicle's room at night hoping that she will wake up and want to snuggle.

3. I really enjoy cooking in my dutch oven. Using charcoal. On my driveway. All of the time.

4. I really did snort out loud during a recent "Meet The Candidates" event that McGyver was participating in (he is running for local office) after the comments someone made regarding there being no need for "the internet" in our area.

5. I did not plant flowers at Angel Baby's grave this year. Couldn't bring myself to. Felt guilty. Then didn't. Then drove by and saw that his urn was filled and another gigantic disposable urn was placed right next to the first one and was over flowing with flowers too.

6. I sometimes go downstairs to "lift weights" without McGyver and really don't feel like lifting but I know he is upstairs and can hear my every move so I pick weights up and bang them around every once in a while. I stay down there the same amount of time that it would take if I really was lifting but I actually sneak a book down with me and read while banging the weights.

7. I miss my boys so much that it can bring me to tears so I call their cell phones and leave them messages when I know they can't pick up.

8. I've eaten more cupcakes in the past two days then I have in the past two years.

9. I am secretly hoping a stray kitty finds its way to our house so that Dreamsicle can have a cat. She asks for one every. single. day.

10. I need a Las Vegas fix. Seriously. Not for the gambling but because the last time I was out there, I was completely robbed of my family time with my two sissies and mom due to the drama that started to unfold with the "Arrogants".

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Almost Birthday Time!

Saturday is Dreamsicle's birthday. She understands what that means this year. When I asked her what she wants for her birthday this is how our conversation went...



Me: Dreamsicle, your birthday is coming up! What would you like for your birthday?



D: Cake! Birfday Cake! Mama-Birfday Cake with Candles! And, and, and Dreamsicle will go ** (showing me how she plans on blowing out her candles).



Me: That sounds great Dreamsicle, anything else?



D: Yeah! Mama, Dreamsicle wants cream! Green Cream! And I will go (this is where she starts licking her hand to show me how she would like an ice cream cone). Oh! Oh! Oh! 'Rella! I wants 'Rella on my cake!



Me: You want ice cream and Cinderella on your birthday cake?



D: Yeah!



Me: Anything else princess?



D: A Snake.

Crafty-Not

This past weekend we spent with family at our annual camping reunion. I am not kidding when I tell you that I have some seriously gifted kin when it comes to being super crafty. I, unfortunately, was skipped when the super crafty gene was being given out. Knowing me, I was probably hiding in a closet eating a donut at the time of the dispension of that particular gene. We had a baby shower during the festivities for Pixie and she was given some incredible hand made gifts. Even my nieces gifted her with hand made baby quilts! What did my grandson to be get from his Nana? Clothes purchased from Macy*s. Cute clothes, but none made with tender loving care by his Nana. I wonder if being careful with the scissors while cutting off the price tags counts as crafty....

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Another Catch Up Post

Wow, where is the time going? I have lots to catch up on so here goes...

Fourth of July was a blast. McGyver and I decked out the golf cart with our American Flag, a Marine Corps flag and a Navy flag, added lots of stars and stripes type of decorations, added Dreamsicle in a patriotic looking dress and a big old bowl of candy and headed down for the parade. Dreamsicle and I along with a friend of mine actually participated in the parade and lots of kids were very happy with the copious amounts of candy that were thrown their way along the parade route. My apologies to the man who I beaned in the head with a pack of lifesavers, my aim was a little off. After the parade Dreamsicle participated in the children's games then we headed home. By the time we got home, McGyver (who met us at the end of the parade route) was so sick that he ended up going to bed for the rest of the weekend. Poor thing.

McGyver and I headed out of town for 3 nights last week, the first time we have ever left Dreamsicle at the same time. We attended a conference and enjoyed having a few evenings of adult time that allowed us to reconnect. Half way through the conference we got a phone call from the home front telling us that Dreamsicle was sick with the same crud that had hit McGyver. She weathered it like a trooper and was much better by the time we actually made it home.

Pixie is still doing well with her pregnancy and truthfully remains the cutest pregnant person I have ever seen in my life. We are all getting more and more anxious as the months go by to meet the newest addition to our family.

Next weekend is the annual family camping reunion. We are very excited about it as it is one of the few times we get to see our extended family each year. I've been cooking more and more using a dutch oven outside on the driveway with charcoal. If you happen to stop by Casa de la Dreamsicle, don't be worried-it's probably dinner that is sitting in the middle of the driveway.

To my friend S-YW is in my prayers, here's hoping that you hear nothing but good news today!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

We Are In Biz!

Someday I may feel up to posting the circumstances that surrounded my decision to leave my job, but that would be an ugly, dark post. Right now I've had my fill of deceipt and lies so wanted to share some good news. I ask for your prayers, good thoughts and positive Karma as we embark upon this new journey...

McGyver and I are opening our own business! The same type of business that I left. Please send some good ju-ju our way as we start marketing our services-need clients STAT!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

I Have No Words...

It seems as if once every 6 months or so some journalist somewhere decides that they need to spew forth venom. This man is no exception.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/seate/s_573477.html

I usually don't link to these articles, I normally feel like they don't deserve the extra coverage but this one just hit me the wrong way. Fashion accessory? I think not.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Stuff Rolling Around In My Head

We have been busy, busy, busy here at Casa de Dreamsicle. Who knew staying home with the Princess could wear me out more than a red eye flight home from one of my trips when I was a working gal! I certainly did not.

This girl is SMART. Dudes, I mean scary, scary smart. She retains everything. Even the things I don't want her to. Let me give you an example......

Operation Potty Training is in full swing. She rarely has accidents but sometimes waits until the last possible second to tell you that she has to pee. This forces me to look like a crazed woman as I grab the girl, put her into a football hold (thank God she is still tiny in stature) and run like the wind to the bathroom. Yesterday she had one of those moments where she was literally doubled over with her legs crossed when she finally decided to tell me that she needed to pee. Fine, except for the fact that I was sitting out on the deck, watching her play in her sandbox at the bottom of the deck. I knew there was no way possible I was going to be able to run down the deck, down the steps, grab her in the infamous hold, run back up the steps, run the entire length of the deck, open the door and run through the house to the bathroom in time to allow her to be successful. Having had three boys that I succesfully pottytrained, I decided to pull one out of the boy potty training manual. I ran down the deck, down the steps, whipped her pants down and told her "just this one time you can pee outside like Daddy" (shut up). She thought that was great fun and took care of business. This morning McGyver and I had some business to attend to so Aunt Genious came over to watch Dreamsicle. They were outside playing in the sandbox when Dreamsicle informed Aunt Genious that she had to go. She remembered that I allowed her to do her business outside yesterday and demanded that she be allowed to do the same thing today. Yikes-so much for raising a lady.

We have an annual family pass to the zoo. She starts yelling the moment that we enter the zoo to "turn this way mama" (pointing to the right) so that she can visit the "Gonquins (penguins) first.

She also knows the ways to turn to get home from the grocery store and the day care provider.

She loves the alphabet song. She requests that we sing it many, many times a day. We only have one small problem-she doesn't call it the alphabet song, to her she hears "elephant" so she is constantly requesting the "elephant song". She will be attending preschool two mornings a week this fall. Can't wait until she pulls that request on her teacher.

U*Haul and Pixie have found out that they are having a boy. I'm going to be a Nana to a baby boy. I can't wait to kiss on little boy feet!

Chester called late last week from the field where they are performing "live fire". He has many close friends in his platoon. One of his buddy's had some type of malfunction on his tank and his tank caught on fire. He is severely burned on his legs, arms and hands. Chester is having a hard time dealing with it (who can blame him) and it brings back to the forefront of my mind just how dangerous it is even on US soil to be in the military.

I have no pretty way to end this post.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Time to Move On

I quit my job. The job I loved. As of Tuesday May 27th, I am now a full time stay at home mom!

Going to focus on the sunshine and light that surrrounds my sweet daughter for a while. I can't wait to be able to enjoy things like zoo days and picnics, smelling flowers and mud pies.


(as an FYI-I changed the original title post since it wasn't meant for this post, sorry for the confusion)

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Sailor Boy/Bubblehead

Last weekend found us in the great state of Illinois, attending the graduation ceremony for U*Haul. He finished the bootcamp portion of his Naval training and was deemed a "grad and go" which meant that we got to spend exactly 6 hours with him before he had to leave to move on to his first school. He was meritoriously promoted while in boot camp so by the time he completes all of his sub school training he will be the same rank as Chester (our Marine) if Chester doesn't kick it into high gear!

I think I stopped breathing for a minute or two when I spotted U*Haul for the first time. He looked like such a man, but still like such a little boy at the same time. I honestly think that Pixie might have actually "thrown some bows" in her effort to get out of the bleachers and into U*Haul's arms. I definately lost it when I saw them embrace as husband and wife for the first time in over 2 months. They were just too cute. U*Haul fell in love with Pixie's baby bump but I was so emotional that I forgot to take photos of him rubbing her belly.

He will be on the East Coast for the next 7 months as he finishes his training. I am hoping that he gets stationed on the West coast when his training is complete. It would certainly give this mothers heart some piece to have both of my sons on the same coast since it appears that Chester will be re-enlisting in the Marine Corps.

Speaking of Chester-he now knows his departure date for Iraq. I'm pretty bummed since he won't be going back to the same place that he was stationed his last tour. It was quite peaceful for him the last time, probably not so much this next trip. But I am confident that he will return safe and sound, after all, all of that metal he is surrounded in while in his tank has to be good for something!

I traveled with Pixie to her last OB appt. the baby's heartbeat was steady and strong at 178 beats per minute. Come on Grow Lil D! I'm thinking that my first grandbaby is going to be a girl. Cute girl name picked out already so we are good to go-just need to wait another 5 1/2 months to meet my newest pea!

Dreamsicle is really trying to exhibit some independence. She has a little stubborn streak that is emerging. She knows when she is starting to push the limits-she even asks us if it is time for her to go to time out when she has done something questionable! I am completing the preschool application right now for next year. I'm hoping she will be accepted into the two mornings a week program just to give her some more structured play time with kids. We are going to begin potty training in earnest in two weeks so wish us luck!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Nana and Grumpa



Yep, that's what you can call us from now on!
I should have known something was up when U*Haul put on the BBQ apron. (sorry, forgot to turn the picture before I loaded it). U*Haul and Pixie offered to make us dinner the night before he left for boot camp. U*Haul can make a mean hamburger so they offered to make burgers on the grill for us as his last supper so to speak.
The grill is located just outside the door of the basement, they wouldn't allow anyone to go down into the basement while they were cooking and yelled up the steps to give us a heads up that dinner would be served in 3 minutes. Pixie's mom was over having dinner with us that night, imagine my surprise when they came walking up the steps, holding a plate of burgers announcing that they were pregnant! I screamed so loud, I scared Dreamsicle. So Dreamsicle will now be an aunt and I'm going to be a Nana. We have all decided that McGyver fits the name "Grumpa" perfectly. :)

Monday, March 24, 2008

21 Years Ago Today


Our precious little boy failed to wake up from sleep. There are times when it feels like it happened just yesterday, today is one of those times.

Rest In Peace Matthew

Thursday, March 06, 2008

More Photos

Dreamsicle after being crowned Princess of the day at the Magic Kingdom
With Cinderella
The scene we came back to after a day at the parks
Looking out the window of Mickey's house

More Photos!






More photos for your viewing pleasure

Disney!






We just returned from the land of Mickey. We traveled to the Mouse House to meet up with the families that comprised our adoption travel group in August of 2006. What a blast! The girls are all growing and seem to be adjusting well. We all missed the one family that was not able to attend this get together but things went so well that we have agreed to try to get together as a group every other year and I'm certain they will be able to attend the next event. I'm going to post alot of pictures, they really need no words....

Wedding!






There really are no words to describe the beauty of the day that U*Haul and Pixie got married. The weather was beautiful, the waves softly lapping onto the shore as they exchanged vows was incredible. Of course there was a slight "oops" moment (what event wouldn't have one of those in our family, right?) when Pixie realized that she had forgotten U*Haul's ring in the hotel room. One of her bridesmaids husband sacrificed his ring for the ceremonial portion of "with this ring" until U*Haul could get his real ring on his finger later in the evening.
After the wedding we had a small reception inside a pavillion overlooking the beach where we were able to snap some incredible sunset photos as well.
U*Haul is now in his second week of boot camp and Pixie is holding up as well as can be expected. These two really are a match made in heaven.

About Me

I am a Christian woman, the wife of an outdoorsman and mom to a computer loving twenty something guy, a Marine, a Sailor and a three year old Princess who rules the roost and has all of us wrapped around her little finger. Add into the mix a daughter in love and the cutest grandson in the world and you have our big old house of love