Three For Thursday

Got this prompt from EVELYN, and I thought..."why not?".  Hey!  Maybe if you join in too, she will make it a weekly meme and have link ups...DO IT!

Three things I do after the kids are in bed:


1. Eat something I probably shouldn't.
2. Watch all my shows that aren't appropriate for children.
3.  If the mood strikes us me, some sort of team sport... *cue stripper music*

Three people I kind of want to be, but not really:

1.  Me...11 years and 70 pounds ago. 
2. Blanket Jackson.  I'd introduce myself, and say "My friends call me Blankie".
3. ANYBODY who can walk comfortably in high heels wihtout looking "special".

Three objects I would never buy used:

1.  Lingerie
2.  Breast Pump
3.  Makeup


Three things I didn't do today:

1.  Wake up refreshed.
2.  Eat breakfast.
3.  Feel guilty about going out to lunch.


Three books I would like to read...probably in ten years when all these dang kids are in school:

1.  The rest of the Hunger Games trilogy.
2.  The Mortal Instruments series.
3.  Some sort of vacation planning guide.  Preferably to Australia.


Three things that have been ruined for me thanks to stomach flu and/or morning sickness:

1.  Bananas
2. Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup.
3. Yogurt


Three things I appreciate about my marriage:

1.  Our personalities just "fit".  Like we were made for each other.
2.  The boy can cook!  Which means...I don't always have to.
3.   Even after almost 11 years of marriage, we still flirt.  It's nice that my hubby is still hot for me...


Three things within a two foot reach of me:

1. Butterfly habitat
2. My Turn on Earth CD
3. A happy baby that does not belong to me.


Three pictures:


My sister, Boogs, recently sent out announcements for her husband's graduation from Dental School.  I am in love with my nephews!  Especially the grumpy one in the front.  He's so much like his mother, I just can't stand it!!!

Speaking of "announcements"...my brother and Sister in Law recently announced they're EXPECTING!  *praying for a girl*.  As if that's not enough, the incubator up there is turning 25 TODAY.  Happy birthday, Didj!  I love you!

THIS is my newest niece!  Isn't she beautiful?!

Three plans for the near future:


1. Go out to lunch with BAUB.
2. Work for 4 hours at the Book Fair.
3. Publish this post.


Three final thoughts:

1. I think I have allergies
2. Symfully Sweet will post THIS COMING SATURDAY, because my computer was broken, and we just got it fixed.
3.  Something about shopping at midnight, made me feel slightly less appreciative of the teachers

A Post By Roon

In my post labled "Love Bug" I had several of you ask what Bug was eating in the picture that has also resided on my sidebar since day 1  I decided to take the easy way out, and rather than tell you, I thought I would let Roon do it by re-publishing a post he had written on our family blog about 3 years ago.  (Plus, since we FINALLY got our computer fixed, I'm feverishly working to ge my Symfully Sweet post up, and I don't have time for a real post right now.)

Enjoy!

We made a whole bunch of sugar cookies, and we let the kids put the icing on some of them. I told them to take it easy on the sprinkles this time because last year the super sprinkle covered cookie gave Santa some wicked heartburn.

Sissy did a pretty good job with her cookies.

Bubble didn't do too bad either.

Bug started off ok.

Then he decided to eat the icing.

And continued to do it on the floor.

Reminiscent of Mr Pooh Bear.

What Time Is It?!

Come on, really.  What time IS IT?!

THAT'S BETTER.

On the bright side, if I can't tell what time it is, I don't have to feel guilty about oversleeping, right???

This post brought to you by the recent outbreak in storms that caused the power surge that broke my iHome.  Thanks, Mother Nature!  You owe me $40.

It's Like Breaking Up with a Boyfriend, on the Day He Was Fired.

I have learned through my year of blogging, that I have an amazing resource right at my fingertips.

YOU GUYS!

Oftentimes, I have confided in you on an individual basis regarding some sticky situations, and have sought out your advice on how to handle them.

From family, to business, to friendships gone awry, you always know how to navigate me through those less than comfortable situations.  Instead of confiding in you all individually, I decided to lay it all out there for everyone, so I can receive a consensus on how to handle this bit of a pickle.

Let me tell you a little story*.

There are many things in life that Roon is better at than me.  Yardwork, is one of those things.  Even though Roon is completely capable of mowing, edging, and landscaping our yard, he doesn't always have the time or desire to do so. 

One day, when I realized that our yard looked particularly sad, I suggested that Roon do something about it once winter was officially over.  He thought about it for a day or so, and then came to me with a suggestion.  Why not hire a professional?  I had a little bit of money of my own, and I could use that to pay someone to make my yard look EXACTLY how I wanted it, and things wouldn't get ugly between the two of us.

I thought he was brilliant!

I soon found a small landscape company to do the work, and as luck would have it, he was running a bit of a special.  If I paid the full estimated amount in advance, (Before lawn mowing season began) I would be added to the mowing schedule from day one, and Roon wouldn't have to push the mower even once.  Not to mention the fact that I could "bundle" my landscape requests together for a discounted rate.

I was all over it!

I received an estimate, and paid it in full within 24 hours.  I could hardly wait for spring to come, so I could see some improvement in my yard!

Normally, the idea of paying in full for work yet to be performed makes me very uneasy, but he came VERY highly recommened by neighbors and friends, so I went with it.

At the first signs of spring, I would see him in my neighbor's yards, sprucing things up a bit.  Planting a tree, adding some flowers here and there.  The anticipation was killing me!

Along the way, Roon and I decided to add some things to our plan.  You know, a fruit tree in the backyard, a tulip border, and some rose bushes on the side of the house...that kind of thing.  Each time, he would bill us, we would pay, and then we would wait.

When the grass began to grow and look unruly, I called our landscaper to find out what was going on. 

He was very nice, and explained that some things had come up, but that he would be out very soon to take care of it.

A week later, with the threat of an HOA fine looming, Roon went out and cut the grass when our guy couldn't be reached in time.

Through the course of several months, our guy never came once.  We were handled with kid gloves, reassured that we were on his schedule, but no concrete dates were ever offered.

Towards the end of the summer, we heard rumblings that the landscaper was experiencing some personal hardships.  His wife was ill, money was tight, and he was doing his best to handle it all.  This was all speculation, though, as we hadn't actually heard the information from HIM.

We took pity on the guy, and made do the best we could.  Eventually, we contacted the guy, and asked for a refund.  Our contract was terminated, he apologized, and we were promised a full refund.

We found, and hired a replacement landscaper, who has done an amazing job!  We love him, and are so glad to have found him in our time of need.

So where's the problem?

Our original landscaper has yet to reimburse us.  I've contacted him a few times, offering to make arrangements with him to pay in installments, and the offers have been embraced and appreciated by him, but no arrangement is ever made.   At the close of every conversation, he offers the possibility of paying me back with his services, or gift certificates for friends. 

If I wasn't happy with the service I was given in the first place, why on EARTH would I want more service in lieu of money?

To add insult to injury, our landscaper has officially started publicly announcing his hardships to the community.  How am I supposed to request a refund when he's standing at a pulpit telling everyone his woes?!

Is it so unreasonable of me to want what I was promised? 
If you have any suggestions for me, I would greatly appreciate them.

*Certain details have been altered or deleted to protect the guilty.

Love Bug

Five years ago, Roon gave me this:

Exactly one week later, I gave him this...



Fair trade, right?

It was the BEST late birthday present EVER. 

In honor of our Bug turning 5 years old, here are 5 things I LOVE about that little boy.

1.  He is SO much like his dad, in every way.  Thank goodness that's not a bad thing.

2.  His love of animals.  Especially HIS animal.

3.  He's always been a good sleeper...

4.  He's AMAZING at sports.

5.  He's a bit mischievous, but his charm makes it impossible to stay mad.  (Did I mention he's like his dad?)

 

Happy birthday, BUGABOO!

        

 

My Forever Friend Turns 30!

About a year ago, I perfect stranger commented on my blog.

I did what I usually try to do, and I followed her back to her blog, to see what she was all about.

By the time Roon got home from work, I announced I had found a new friend. 

I had completely lost track of time, and had stalked her blog ALL AFTERNOON, commenting here and there.  (This was back in the day, when I was still going by "Symply Me")

Wouldn't it just figure that a matter of days after I found this little patch of sunshine, that she would announce she was going PRIVATE.  I was so bummed.

I didn't feel like I "knew" her well enough to ask for an invite to her private blog, and I wasn't smart enough to bookmark or start following her NEW blog before she went private. 

GAH!

What's an obsessive stalker wannabe friend to do?

Enter- FATE.

Not out of character for myself at all, I signed up for a SWAP.  When I received the info for my partner, I was ECSTATIC!  It was none other than my "missing" friend! 

It didn't take long at all for us to become great friends.  Texting, Facebooking, Emailing, Skyping, and so on. 

I can honestly say that she is like a sister to me.  She knows things about my life that I've only shared with 2 other people (aside from Roon, of course), and I know I can tell her anything without fear of judgement.

And to think I've never met her!

Well, we're fixin' to (I blame Texas) remedy that.  About 40 more sleeps until we can claim to be REAL LIFE friends!  I can hardly wait!!!

So, who could I be talking about???

Ugh.  After watching the video, I realize I looked REALLY gross, and you can hardly hear the dialogue from the kids.  Sorry.  I was in a hurry to get this done.  I wouldn't let myself do a second take. 

Head on over to HANGING BY A SILVER LINING, and wish Evelyn a very happy 30th birthday!

Happy birthday, Evelyn!  I've said it before, but I'll ay it again...you are the Wally Kessler to my Harold Green.

Vlog #2...The Mature Years

There are so many things I want to point out before y'all watch this video. 

First, the angles are really bad.  Sorry.  I did one take, stumbled all over my words, and did a second take, and couldn't keep in the frame.  Oh well, I'm not trying for a third take.  Just tilt your head, you may not even notice.

Second, The lighting was really bad.  There were moments that I looked at my complexion, and my face looked orange compared to my body.  I can assure you that I CAN match my makeup to my skin color better than it appears. 

Finally, please ignore any major messes you can see.  The maid took the day off...for her birthday.  Whatcha gonna do?

Here's the list of words and questions for your personal reference.  After all, I'm probably saying them all wrong...

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught, Antenna, Root beer, Ambulance, Museum, Milk, Orange, Apricot

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

What do you call gym shoes?

What do you say to address a group of people?

What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped

body and extremely long legs?

What do you call your grandparents?

What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry

groceries at the supermarket?

What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

Where do you buy your groceries?




Thanks so much Mamarazzi and Shawn for hosting!  It's been fun!