Go Republicans!!!

Well, here I sit on my first ever vacation with my husband and no children. We are in for a week of excitement here in Minneapolis at the Republican National Convention. Our trip began yesterday, with a day of airplane travel including one switch of flights which thankfully came off without a hitch. I was SURE they would lose some of our luggage, but it is all here with us, safe and sound. I have never been this far north in the United States. It seems weird to think of how far away from our family we are, and how little time it really took us to get here.
Our hotel is a AAA four-diamond hotel. It's pretty nice. Just kidding--it's veeeery nice. The lobby is incredibly classy with a grand piano they bring in and out with a lady who plays and sings and is accompanied by a bass player. (Bass as in big cello, not electric guitar) We are on the top floor and have a great view of the Mississippi River. Our room and bathroom are beautiful, not huge but big enough to hold a bed and nice reading chair with a side table and a writing desk. I'll post pictures later.
We had sushi for dinner last night at a local place, which was super yummy. Breakfast this morning was in the hotel restaurant, and I had Swedish pancakes (my favorite) and breakfast potatoes. De-lish!!!! Those were pretty much the only meals we will have to buy here (I think) because the convention actually starts this afternoon and they will be feeding us most of the time. Our time here is two hours ahead of home.

For a more politically accurate review of our trip, check out DH's blog. My perspective will be more tourist in view, as he knows a lot more about what is actually going on than I do. For example, his version--"What a stunning display of avian specimen we have here. Take the way he is skillfully splaying his grain of choice in attempt to more fully digest the contents thereof." My version--"Check out that gorgeous bird! He is really pigging out. Amazing!" hehehe

Well, to end this post I'll say we are feeling very welcomed here and are having a GREAT time. I have to admit, I miss the kids but it is a nice change to only have to worry about myself for a few days. And no cooking or cleaning for me! Ha! No sir. Someone else can make my bed and serve me food for the next week. I could get used to this...

Nature's show

So, who else caught that AMAZING lightening storm last night??? I couldn't believe my eyes, it was sooooo awesome!! I videoed a little of it to save for posterity's' sake. You've got to see this.

Helping Daddy

Yes, we believe in training them young. (this was just too cute to not take a picture of. which of course then leads to blogging about it...) :)

What does your gun look like?

My little one-and-a-half year old son made one that looks like this:

Yes, he made it himself, called it a "gun", and ran around shooting it with all of the appropriate noises.

More of his latest adventures include coloring my cabinets with markers, (THANK YOU magic eraser!), climbing constantly into my upper cabinets to reach some gum by moving the dining chair into the kitchen for climbing purposes, emptying the water cooler into the bottom tray so he can play in it, climbing up the back of my couch (via chair again) and jumping onto the seat cushion, and other interesting things of that nature that my husband says are sooooo boy. (I have to add that (much to DH's dismay) he also likes to wear shoes that clomp around, and in our house those shoes are generally pink and sparkly.) I would post a picture of that, but fear I would be in big trouble if I did. :)
In spite of all this, I LOVE love love having a little boy. Little stinker that he is, he is charming at the same time and has at least one house full of girls hearts on a string.

Homemade Christmas gift ideas

Joining the bandwagon of homemade Christmas gift ideas, here are a few:
*Mixes in a jar-from cookie mixes to pastas to spice blends in a small jar or ziploc.

*Homemade stationary, gift tags, or card sets. You could include a pen decorated like a flower.

*For little girls, one of those things that you can clip barrettes onto so less of them end up lost. (at least that's the idea behind it...)

Or this is a cute one, and easier to make:

Or here's another one that sells for 50 bucks!! Can you believe that?!?

*Homemade body scrubs, bath fizzies, lip balms, bath salts, etc.

*an eye pillow with rice or flax seeds and dried lavender inside (flax doesn't smell when heated like rice), or an even bigger "pillow" thing like this to wrap around the neck or shoulders (you heat the pillow in the microwave or freeze it for a cold pack.


That's all I can think of for now, my brain and body are tired. Now if I could just get up the energy to make some of these cute things, I'd be so happy...

Check out this blog, or this blog for more ideas.

Poll

Please check out my poll and take a second to answer if you can. Thanks! Oh-just so you know, you can vote for more than one color.

LOOT!

I just had to post a picture of all the fab school supplies I have bought from Office Max during their back to school sales. You know, the sales with 1 cent glue and 10 cent notebooks and other cheap things. I got all this stuff, plus a few more folders that the kids had to use already, for under 6 bucks!! Gotta LOVE a good sale!

I want this~

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

GUESS WHAT?!?!?

I just read about this on my cousin's blog and got this info off the Stephenie Meyer site:


Movie News Flash!

So, many of you have heard that the release of the sixth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has been moved from this Thanksgiving to next summer. First and foremost, please know that this schedule change has absolutely nothing to do with Twilight, me, or Summit Films (so enough with the imdb death wishes, okay?). This is Warner Bros. decision, and it was not motivated by anything Twilight-related.

Now for the good news! Though we're all sad to have to wait for Harry Potter, this open spot at the theater creates a cool opportunity. The good people at Summit were thrilled to let me know that now Twilight fans are going to get their movie three weeks earlier than scheduled. That's right—Twilight will be released in theaters November 21st! Let the merry-making commence!

--Stephenie

Taggy tag tag

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves.

At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

THE FIVE

10 years ago I:
1. had a baby named Sweet G
2. lived in a little apartment in a complex that we managed
3. drove my grandpa's huge blue Crown Victoria
4. was struggling with 2 kids--two was my hardest number
5. had been married for 4 years

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. take lunch to my DH
2. clean the little kids room
3. put away laundry mountain
4. go to the Y
5. have FHE (I'm lesson tonight)

5 snacks I enjoy: (wish this was on my TO DO list today!!!)
1. cold watermelon
2. jalapeno poppers
3. homemade chocolate chip cookies
4. Nielsons
5. Heck, anything with chocolate, OK?!?!

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off all our debts and bring bills current
2. Build a house, furnish it, move into it and let my mom have our house
3. Pay off our parents debts (or at least some of it)
4. Hire a housekeeper
5. Save for retirement/mission

5 places I have lived:
1. Seabrook, TX
2. a little yellow house on Horne in Mesa
3. Siesta Villa in Mesa
4. Laveen, AZ
5. Several other homes in Mesa, including the one we live in now

I tag C, Supercoolmom, Karli, Nik, and Fawn.

Back in the saddle again

We did it! Everyone survived the first day back to school! Even mom! I think I was as nervous as any of the kids, I even dreamed about the first day last night. (Little Miss actually started last week.) They all enjoyed it, though my 2 girlies that switched to a new elementary school this year are feeling the change, so to speak. It is such a huge change from where they were. I'm sure they will catch up in no time. Teeny Bopper loved beginning Jr. High, which makes me so happy. Her first words after school were, "I don't know what I was so nervous about." For Jr. High, that is AWESOME! She will be even happier when she gets a locker, hopefully by next week.
So we are getting back into the groove; I'm getting things done at home, running errands in peace with just one child to haul around, only driving twice a day, thanks to carpools, helping kids with homework, and all that good stuff. All is well!

My first blog award

My good friend Supercoolmom just awarded me this awesome blog award!! Yay! She is a sweet friend that is one of the few people I feel I can just drop in on sometimes and say "hello". If she minds, she doesn't make me feel like she does! She is always busy but lets me in anyway. :) Thanks for the award, you made my day!

Pedicures, baby!

OK, I am posting this on here because I figure it's a good way to get the word out quickly. We are in need of extra $$$ right now, so I decided to steal my SIL's idea and offer pedicures. No, I'm not a professional, but I can do a good job. I am asking $10 per pedicure which includes a soak, sugar scrub, trimming and cuticle care, lotion massage, and polish. I can even do cute designs! Try getting all that for $10 in a salon! Allow for about 45 minutes to be pampered here at my house. If you are interested, call me (if you have my phone #), or email or leave me a comment here and I'll get back with you.

I'm freaking just a bit

My baby is all registered and ready to start Jr. High!!! What is happening to me?!? Am I getting old? I don't feel like it... I may look like it, but that is beside the point. She leaves the rest of us and our Elementary goodness on Monday. I have to admit that I am so super excited for her and have I mentioned that I LOVE LOVE LOVE uniforms for Jr. High/ High school? What a great idea and I'm so glad for them. (for those of you who subscribe to teeny bopper's blog, she has been doing a count down to school starting. Check it out.)

OK, it feels better to vent it out a little. Still freaking out, but a little less. :)

GOT IT!

Read it! Done! WHEW~now life can go back to semi normal as usual. It was great, not sure if I should let my 12 year old read it. Without spoiling it, I just want to say that I like Stephenie Meyer's style. Now I'm biting my tongue to not say any more. :)

My great friend and I went to Walmart at midnight when it came out and grabbed a couple copies. Thanks for the book, S! I love the stickers they gave us because (without saying names ;) I can proudly wear the "My heart belongs to Edward" sticker, and not be talking about the book! That is fun.

And now...my Little Miss starts kindergarten tomorrow at Montessori H. She is thrilled and since my other kids don't start until next week, they want to go to school with her everyday this week. Well, not exactly with her but in the older class so they can see all their friends. (the older kids are going to a new school this year but will be missing their friends from Montessori H.) I didn't plan on losing them to school for another week! It's a little shocking to me that they are all going to be gone tomorrow...

I'm sure I'll get over it. :-)