They say it's your birthday!

When did this happen?
When did this kid:

Grow up into this kid:

Or should I say man because today is his 18th birthday!


Happy Birthday Tim!


*do not forget to enter my giveaway for 25 free Shutterfly Holiday Cards: Giveaway"

Answer & a Giveaway...oh that's right...Giveaway!

So for those of you who read my last entry & tried to guess what machine was causing the students to sniff their papers it was:

That's right...it was the Ditto machine.
I remember being in second grade & being alloweed to use the Ditto machine.
Ah I thought I was hot stuff.
Good times!
Good times!

No on another good time note.

Over at my other blog: Meghan's Mindless Muttering: Reviews & Giveaways I am hosting a giveaway via Rafflecopter for 3 of my readers to win 25 free Christmas Cards from Snapfish.

So get on over there & enter!!!

Can you tell me...

What machine causes the great smell that these students are sniffing from the paper?

I'll give you a hint...if you are a child of the 70's or at least a student in the 70's you may have been asked by your teacher to take the paper to the office & use the....


What?
Do you know?

Come on...don't leave me hanging...give it your best shot.

The Horror! The Horror!

I've done the unthinkable.
I've done the inexcusable.
I've done the #1 thing Mommies shouldn't do.

I threw a piece of Cheeks art away.
&
I got caught!

I know!
I KNOW!

Unexcusable.

It had to be done though.
The art work is taking over the wall in the kitchen.

I figured he wouldn't notice.

Was I wrong!!!

All of a sudden from the kitchen I hear "MOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

Then he comes in the living room, holding the paper plate art work, & says "Hey, you threw my Earth away! You can't throw it away."
His lip was 2 inches from the floor.

Apparently, I didn't push it down far enough in the trash can.

I apologized profusely & hung it up on the wall.

Well til he wasn't looking then I buried it in the bottom of the trash can.

Have you ever got caught doing something with one of your kids prized possessions?

How to get a kid to eat

Have him make the meal himself.

He told me dinner was pretty good.

We had meatloaf.

Do you let your kids in the kitchen to help?

Tuesday Tidbits

How in the world is it Oct 4 already?
Wasn't it just yesterday I was posting pictures from the pool?

The Nana used to tell me that time just went quicker the older you got.
Then it got worse when you had children.
 She was right.
I don't know where the last 5 years have gone in Cheeks life.
How is he 5 already?

He had his well child check up.
 45 1/2" 50lbs.
The child's ribs show, he's so skinny.
He's also in the 90th percentile.
Go figure.
You start out at 11lbs, guess you're gonna be a big one your whole life.

The great thing was his pediatrician finally listened to me.
He has agreed to take a look at Cheeks evaluation with the Child Study team & take it from there.
So that is good news. Guess when I let the dr know Cheeks is at the principal everyday & he's only at school for 2.5hrs, it raised a red flag.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Now to get the older one straightened out.
Oy ve', I am going to be totally gray by summer 2012.

On a lighter note, wanna see how we keep ourselves entertained during our lunch hour.

Viola!

Colored that myself.
Quite the artist aren't I?
I know, I know, I am a Picasso in the making.

What do you all do to de-stress at work?

I'm Falling for Fall

It's October 1st.
Fall has finally appeared in Jersey.

The weather is cool.
The sun is shining.
Mother Nature has given me the ok to officially break out the fall/Halloween decor.
Love it!

What signifies fall for you?
I love this little diddy up there, by Moose A. Moose.
I'm a big fan of his.

Mu-ah! Thank you

I want to say thank you to my readers who have commented or emailed me personally with tips, advice or a great email about my little guy & his hyperactivity.

I love the power of the internet that has allowed me to make great friends...yes friends...that know what he & I are going through.  That these friends can share with me, in just a few clicks of some keys, their experiences & what they found helpful.

Thank you all.

I have taken it all in & am putting many of the useful things you have given me to work!

Mu-ah!!!

Block Par-tay

I do have to say my town puts on quite the block party.
What's even nicer?
I don't have to drive any where because I open up my door & kablam! There it is!

Like the ferris wheel, about 100 feet from my front door.  It was the first thing we did:

The the boys waited in line for laser tag.  The older one "slaughtered" the little one.

Next up, let's slide down the Cars slide

or do a little rock climbing

Of course we need to go on the merry go round then hit up the moon bounce

Finally a little face painting & the day is done

So what did you do this weekend?

I obviously missed this chapter

Let's put things into perspective.

When you purchase a new car, you get a manual.

When you purchase a new appliance you get a manual.

Bringing home some Ikea furniture...you get directions.  Yes they are in Swedish but the point is instructions!

The day I left the hospital with my 11 pounder a mere 5 years ago, I asked the nurse when I would get my instruction booklet.

Don't laugh.

You all thought about it.

She smiled & just said "Good luck"

B*tch!

Let me tell you, raising children is hard.

H.

A.

R.

D.

The youngest one has behavior issues.

I have been trying for months to get them straightened out.

Roadblocks are an understatement for what I am running into.

Pediatricians are not quick to want to evaluate for ADHD, Hyperactivity etc.

I perservere & keep truckin tho.

In my great state of Jersey, I am finding no peds that take his insurance who are willing to consult.

Sure.

The one ped in this field, who is known for his expertise, will see him.

For a consult visit of $1300.00

Notice where the decimal point is.

I offered a $1 a week til it's paid but they didn't seem impressed with that offer.

I am now trying some natural remedies to help Cheeks.

It's been 2 days so no effect yet but maybe tomorrow or in a few weeks.

He's so impulsive.

Can't keep still.

Is extremely mouthy.

Always wants his way.

Keeps going & going like the energizer bunny.

I am overwhelmed & exhausted with it all.

As his mom, I am his advocate.

I will do what I have to do.

Don't even ask about the babysitting situation.

Still at a standstill.

I even joined SitterCity.

Now, the 17yo, that's another story.

That shady mcshaderston decided to play his dad against me & vice versa.

Huge mistake.

Huge.

He is now grounded with no use of the vehicle, permission to see his friends or even his girlfriend.

So I'd just like to say that no one ever told me raising children was so challenging.

Holy Moley.

I think I'm gonna start to drink...no more Diet Pepsi's for me...I'm going hardcore...bring on the Reg Pepsi.

Tell me, are you having child rearing issues as well?

There's a party....

Like any good parents Bobster & I try to teach the energetic youngest one of our clan the proper terminology for his genetials.

Ok, I try to teach him the proper terminology.

Bobster & the older boys have him calling them everything from "ning a ning balls" to "meat & potatoes".

Sigh.

Well since he's getting older I have been trying to explain how people need private time to get dressed, go to the bathroom etc.  Especially the mommy because she as a girl has different parts.

I have taught him the his genetials are his "private parts" & that only he should really see them and no one else should see them. 

The other night he came in the bathroom, naked as a jaybird, & announced he had to "go potty".  I was getting his bath ready & told him "g'head".

His reply:

"Mommy, you have to leave or you will see my private party"

Yes, there is a party in my son's pants.

I coudn't be more proud.

Catchin Up

See this child.
He has been keepin me busy.

Wait, lets rephrase that...he's been keeping the principal at his new school busy.
Everyday since the first day he's had to go to the principal's office due to being defiant, not listening, disruptive.

The state worker who evaluated him suggested help.
The state said he didn't meet the criteria.

I beg to differ.

He pretty much vibrates just standing still.

My pediatrician diagnosed him with one question:  "Can he sit & watch a movie he likes?"
We replied: "Yes"
His response "Well he's not hyperactive"

Thanks for that diagnosis Doc.
I think my doctor is old school.
For cryin out loud, he was my pediatrican & I am no spring chicky.

I am still trying to find a pediatrican who will see him to give him a more in depth evaluation.
We have already been the Child Study Team route & he was fine academically...that is all they check for.

He's a smart cookie just hard to corral.

Any tips would help.
I was thinking duck taping him to the wall but then that would leave that black goo on the wall & I'd have to clean it off.
So that's out.

Perhaps I will just quit my job, work as a hooker at night so I can homeschool him during the day.
Then again I think that won't work because let's face it...I skeeve people that I really don't know & finding a good corner is so hard these days.

Any suggestions?
Anything?
Bueller?
Bueller?

Someone's turning....

That's right.

The big 4-0 has hit someone in this house.

Not me, I hit that 14 months ago.

Instead Bobster has turned the big 40!!!

Have a blast on your day honey as only you can:

Then take a nappers:

Enjoy!

We love you!!!!

I have an announcement, burp, what? Seal it!

I'd like to take this moment to let you all know I have become a
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wait for it
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a Man!
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Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.
Seriously I have come a:


Tupperware Woman!


I am so excited about this new venture.
I think this is a good fit for me & I love me some Tupperware.


So please, please, please, take a look at my site and let me know what you think & of course, if there is anything you are interested in *cough**cough**hint**hint*


My Tupperware site:  Click me!


Thanks everyone!!! 
.

He grew up on me!

Who gave him permission to do that?

Grow up?

I sure didn't.

Sigh.

 My big kindergartener.

Come check this out

Psst, head over here:  Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways

I am having a giveaway.
Holla!

WW ~ Modern Day Tom Sawyer

Irene's Aftermath

Cheeks & I went for a walk today. It was windy but the temperature was divine. I only had my cell phone & thankfully in our little area we fared pretty well in the wake of Hurricane Irene. This is the back of the pump house at our pool:

Here's the splash pool that I have shown pics of before.

Finally the tree across the street from our house, closer to the lake.

Things could have been so much worse. I am thankful they were not. How did your area fare?

Enough is Enough

Do not be fooled, this is NOT a picture of Bobster in all his glory.
Looks just like him I know!

I digress.
Enough is enough with the weather here in NJ.

First an earthquake, then a hurricane with tornado watches.
Someone obviously pissed off Zeus or Mother Nature.

I'm not sure which.

We've had enough.
Bring back the hot, humid, dog days of summer & let's call it even...m'kay?

How is the weather in your neck of the woods been?

That Doesn't Happen Here...til Today.

That's New Jersey.
My state.
See the words that say Camden (right by the Delaware River & across from Philly), I pretty much live right there.
In Camden County.
See where it says Mt Holly.
I work there.

Here in NJ we don't get a lot of weather related stuff.
Sure, Nor'Easters, Torrential Rains, effects from hurricanes. But Earthquakes?
Nope.
 Not in all my life do I remember one.
Til today.

 There I was.
Sitting at my desk, tooling around the internet, not that I do that at work, I am just embellishing part of the story for artistic sake.

So there I am.
All of a sudden, my office chair starts to rock back & forth.
The lights above me starts to swing
&
You can hear the tin tiles on the roof shaking.
We are having an addition put on so at first we thought it was the crane hitting the building.
 My poor supervisor didn't know what to think.
Then we realized...EARTHQUAKE.

 In Jersey.
Home of the attitude & big hair.
Home of Theresa from the Housewives.

We are not made for this.
While it lasted 10 seconds and was really the aftershocks of what hit Virginia, it is something that I don't care to experience again.

I'm good.
 Really.
Bring on the snow.
Bring on the rain.
 Bring on the humidity.

Leave the earth shaking to the states that are used to it...thank you very much.

Tell me did you feel the effects today?

Relatives are all relative

I totally stole this picture from my sister in law, Rita...Hi Rita!  That's her hubs in the pic but really the pic is all about the kid on the back.

That's my Dan. 
My nephew. 
Man, I love that kid.

Really how could you not?

Happy 5th Birthday

 

I'm not really sure where the last 5 years have gone.

 How can he be going into Kindergarten in 3 weeks?

It can't be. It is. He's 5 now. A big boy.

 Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you!!!!

I read, do you?

I love to read. I must...I was an English major in college.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the latest book I devoured!

What an absolutely mind absorbing book.
It's non fiction and grabs you from the first line.

Henrietta Lacks is aka HeLa cells. The cells that helped developed the Polio vaccine and many other medical advancements.

This is the story of her family and how they found out.

 Some of the chapters are developed to biology and I felt like I was in high school again, trying to just pass with a C. Science is not my strong point.

The majority of the book is dedicated to the story of Henrietta's family. The history and present day. Henrietta's family didn't question doctors about anything. The consequences are told through out the book.

While reading I was actually appalled at how the medical community treated the Lacks. Treated "blacks" as a whole back in the 40's. Growing up in the 70's & 80's, even today, I am amazed that humans were treated like this. I can't fathom it. My jaw slacked open quite a few times while reading, especially the end.

So if you need a good read, not a light read, a good interesting read then check this book out.

It doesn't disappoint!

Tell me, what are you reading now?

Yo, Hey, Lawrys Giveaway!

Psst!
Check it out:

That could be yours.

Come see how over here:  Click me! Click me!

Boo...what?

Boobies.
Tatas.
Breasts.
The twins.
The girls.
Taters.
Kasaba melons.

Call em what you want but all females have them.
Some smaller, some larger, some average.

Wanna take a guess where I fall?
That's right.
On the larger scale.

All. My. Life.

Really, I am grateful I have them.
I just have to say that man, they can get in the way sometimes.
They are just always there.
Sometimes, when wearing a bra & laying down, they are by my chin.
Don't laugh.
That's a heck of a lot better than when I lay down & am not wearing a bra.
Hello...water balloons overboard.
Not pretty.

And if I am trying to pass someone in a crowd, it it inevitable that they brush up against someone.
It's usually a man.
So I am embarrassed, apologize profusely and try to skidaddle asap.

It's just that sometimes I feel like I can't get out of my own way.
I'd love to get a reduction but then I would look like even more like a beached manatee.

At least you can find me if I ever go under water.
Just look for the floating boobies.

Tell me, do you ever wish yours were smaller, bigger or do you love em just the way they are?

This is how we roll...

Start your day with a little face painting at the farmers market.

End it with a dip in the pool!

How do you roll on the weekends?