Lots more stuff about me

10 Favorites
Favorite Season: Fall. I love the clothes. I love the weather. I love the approach of the holidays.
Favorite Color: Lavendar
Favorite Time: Bedtime....the kids of course!
Favorite Food: Chocolate...as for a meal I LOVELOVELOVE Veal Saltimboca
Favorite Drink: a good cup of coffee...a mocha from Starbucks. Especially when it is chilly outside.
Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chip
Favorite Place: Anywhere with my husband... I must miss him tonight!
Favorite Sport: Baseball, but most sports I can do without.
Favorite Actor: Mel Gibson...yum.
Favorite Actress: I don't really have one, but I like Julia Roberts alot. I used to like Meg Ryan too. Pretty much any of them who do light hearted romantic comedies

9 Currents
Current Feeling: Tired, stressed, emotional
Current Drink: I just finished a big glass of cold milk. I have craved it ever since being pregnant.
Time: 9:05pm
Current Show on TV: My mom is watching some sappy old movie on TV in the other room
Mobile used: I have a cheapy Motorola that has died so I am using my husband's BlackBerry which I .
Windows Open: Yes it is y hot.
Current Boring granny panites because of my enormous a**.
Current Clothes: Jeans and red tee shirt.
Current Thought: How long is this gonna take me to fill out??

8 Firsts
First Nickname: Dobber.
First Kiss: Grade 6. He had hair like a toothbrush according to Shana.
First Crush: Lance Ketter. I loved him from the day I was born I think. I used to chase him around the church when I was about 4. He did NOT like me. I used to sit down next to him and he would move away and I would just follow him. Stalker?
First Best Friend: First and Last, Shana.
First Vehicle I Drove: Ford Tempo.
First Date: Bryan. He came over to meet my parents before we went out and my brothers mad dogged him at the door. He never called again.
First Pet: Sam. He was a lab/cocker mix. He was so cool. He was a smallish dog but thought he was IT. He ran across the street one day and attacked the German Shepherd who lived there and basically bit off its ear. He loved people though. HA!

7 Lasts
Last Drink: Milk
Last Kiss: My daughter as I tucked her in.
Last Meal: Tacos
Last Web Site Visited: Trailady's blog.
Last Movie Watched: Last Holiday - it was cute.
Last Phone Call: My hubby.
Last TV show Watched: Oprah

6 Have You Ever...
Have You Ever Broken the Law: yes. Speeding. But that is about the worst of it.
Have You Ever Been Drunk: Yes. But I the feeling
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Not really.
Have You Ever Been in the Middle/Close to Gunfire: Just out in the desert when Iwent with Dan's family to go .
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: Yes.
Have You Ever Broken Anyone's Heart: I think maybe once.

5 Things
Things You Can Hear Right Now: The hairdryer, the TV
Things You Can See Right Now: not much, my contacts are fuzzy
Things On Your Bed: My daughter, sleeping
Things You Ate Today: Leftover ribs, lots of chocolate, tacos, a canoli for dessert.
Things You Do When You Are Bored: Blog, watch TV, read

4 Places You Have Been Today: Savannah's school, the shower, the dinner table, at the computer. Sad.

3 Things On Your Desk Right Now: Stapler, a Q-tip and my cell phone.

2 Choices
Salt or Pepper: Salt
Hot or Cold: Cold. I being hot. If it is cold you can put something on, but you can't take your skin off.

1 Place You Want To Visit: Europe. Anywhere. I just want to get there someday. Dan and I planned on going the year after we got married. We got pregnant instead. :)

Ok. tag - you're it!

A Spelling Test

We have a spelling dilema. Yes, spelling can be a dilema. Our son, Breydan has a nickname that no one in our family can agree how to spell. They all seem weird or ridiculous when written out so I will toss this out to blogland and see what you all think and vote on.

Brady
Breydy
Bredy
Breydie
Bradie

None of them seem quite right, but since that is what I call him most of the time, I should figure out a way to spell it.

Homeless for a few more days

The good news? I don't need a babysitter anymore today. The bad news? Our escrow has been delayed a few more days. So we are currently stuck living at my parents' house through the weekend. Not that it is a bad place to be, but we are SO anxious to get into our new place. Not to mention that we are cramped and want our own space. I think my mom and dad are counting the days until the get their house back too. We are a very....obvious presence. Oh well, at least that means Dan will be home for moving day. Ah.... Cross your fingers for Sunday!!

Babysitter

I need a babysitter. I have managed to go 3 1/2 years without having to use one, but the time has now come. My parents or brother etc have always watched my kids for me when I need to go out. But things have changed and I find myself up a creek, needing to run an errand and have nowhere to leave my kids. For example, today is the day I am supposed to sign escrow papers. For any of you who have gone through this you know that it is an excruciatingly long and tedious process. It's not that all the wonderful and generous people in my life wouldn't be willing to help out, it's that it is hard to find people available at the right time. So I am in search of a babysitter. I have no idea where to start looking - and I don't know how to find someone that I could really trust. I'm a freak when it comes to my kids. I didn't even let my mother in law watch them for almost 3 years. (who could blame me on that one though??)
I don't even know what a babysitter would charge nowadays....probably more than I would like to imagine. Especially for 3 kids under the age of 4!! LOL!!
My dear, dear husband's suggestion was to put the signing off until tomorrow morning when Savannah is in school and take the boys with me. As if taking my 20 month old to the escrow office is going to be any easier... I'd like to see what he would say if I suggested he do the same in my position. He won't even take them to the grocery store to pick up milk! HA!
So I'm on a mission and would happily take any suggestions on where to start looking. Have a great day to you all!

Grown Up Room

I have spent my weekend furniture shopping, much to my husband's dismay. He is still out of town, and feeling me slowly going out of control. The big holiday sales are going on this weekend and we need furniture for our new living room, so off I went. I found the most beautiful set at a place called Jerome's. The couch and loveseat have bunches of pillows all different fabrics in gorgeous patterns. Very eclectic. Then I found a red accent chair that tones so great! And woo hoo!!! The PERFECT coffee table. I was so excited. Grown up furniture. That's what I call it. Now that I have a grown up house that we are moving into on Friday I want to have grown up furniture to go in it. You know how when you are young and/or newly married you most likely have furniture that looks like you moved it right out of your dorm room? That is what we have currently - which will become our family room stuff. But the living room is mine...a grown up room...all mine!! Dan told me no, of course. He wants to wait a few months to buy anything, plus he wants to see it first for some reason. (It's my room, what does HE care??) Ha! So instead of taking his "No" at face value, I put a 20% down payment on the stuff I liked. Don't worry, it is fully refundable if he s the stuff. Manipulative? A little. I learned everything I know from my mother - and my parents have been happily married for over 35 years. Hee hee.

Feeling Dark

My blog was starting to feel too dark. I am not dark or mysterious, I lay it all out there. So I have chosen a new look for me to lay it all out there for you. What do you think? I'll probably get bored with this one too, but for now I am feeling like a new woman....at least a new blogger.
Please forgive me if I have not visited your blogs lately. I am currently living out of boxes and staying with my parents. My dad has "Cybersitter" on his computer and my mom forgot the code. Cybersitter does not let you go almost anywhere on the internet, so if you have used any words more scandalous that "poop" or "golly gee" I am unable to visit you for the time being. But I will be back soon! Take care ya'll!!

Good Ol' Tom

We are nearing our close of escrow on our new house and I am beside myself with excitement. We are buying the house from a very sweet family who grew up in the military and they are so kind to us. However, there is Good Ol' Tom. Tom is the oldest of the 5 children who are selling this home after their elderly mother passed away. He is currently living in our house-to-be with his sister, smoking and drinking up a storm. Apparently he is a raging alcoholic. Every time I have met Tom, he is sweet as sugar to me. My agent assures me that every time I am not around he is a handful, so I have been recruited to attend as many meetings with Tom as possible.
My first real experience with Good Ol' Tom (as dubbed by my agent) was during the house inspection. Tom d the inspector. Admittedly, it is very disconcerting having some stranger poke around your beloved home and point out every tiny flaw. But this was more than Tom could handle. It was 9am and Tom was fall down drunk. How is that even possible? He followed the inspector around, harrassing him and saying things like, "I'm not fixing nothing, I sold this damn place!" Then he would immediately turn to me and tell me that he'll fix anything I want. I can have any appliances I want - he'll even give me his furniture. To add to this odd behavior, every time I was left alone with him he would start talking about his mother, or the house or his childhood and then burst into tears and go running from the room, locking himself in his bedroom. A few minutes would go by and the whole process would start over again.
Let's just say item #1 on our to do list when we move in is to change the locks. I'm pretty sure Good Ol' Tom is harmless, but I don't want to get up one night and find Tom passed out drunk in my living room.

Vincent

Hi, my name is Vincent. My mom dresses me like a future accountant or possibly I am destined to write computer software. Either way, mom thinks it is ADORABLE to dress me all nerdy like. As long as I stay away from roll playing games and Star Trek, she thinks I will be ok.

Mommy's Little Helper

It's another long lazy afternoon as I settle in on the couch to nurse little Breydan in hope that we can both fall asleep for a while, laying there. And of course, just as I get comfy, the phone rings. So I get up and leave the baby hanging out on the couch. I ask Savannah to keep an eye on him. When I come back in the room, they are snuggled up together on the couch. As I look closer, Savannah has pulled up her t-shirt and shoved her chest in Breydan's face who is searching frantically for something to latch onto. I am slightly nausiated and largely humored by this sight. I wish I had a picture to share. Give it a few years kid....get a bra and a husband first.

Do you know what an Earworm is?

There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.....

Dangit!!

Earworm...this is mine today.

Recipes

I've finally gotten back in the saddle and posted some new recipes on my other blog, Kristin's Yummy Stuff. I'm looking for new ideas, so if anyone has some special recipes they would like to share, please email me or comment and I'll post it on the other site. My family gets sick of the same old meals, so I am in search of new great recipes. Thanks for sharing!!

Calgon take me away

Nothin' good to say. Had yet even more dental work done today. I am bitter and sore and cranky. When I got home, in tears because I was traumatized by the dentist, my husband followed me arround grilling me about how much this visit cost, what was done, how much more do I have to do. I was ready to throw him through a wall. Leave me alone. I don't want to talk, I just want to feel sorry for myself.
So I came home, took the pain pill the dentist perscribed for me and put my boys down for a nap. I put a video on for Savannah and settled in to take a hot bath so today could just melt off of me and I might feel human again. But no, Savannah decided she needed to come in and supervise. She sat on the edge of the tub and yelled at me not to splash, sit down in the tub and to wash my hair. Apparently I am a tyrant. So much for relaxing.

Unconcious Mutterings

Ok, thanks to Ms. L I bring you my first Unconcious Mutterings. You read the word and type the first thing that comes to your mind. I actually did my answers without reading hers first which is a good idea so you aren't influenced. Try it and have fun!

1. Immune :: protected. Makes me think of someone strong - emotionally, for some reason.
2. Together :: Family. Our family is tight, and together in spirit if not physically.
3. Blank :: my mind.
4. Professional :: business suit. Some stuffy looking old man with a briefcase
5. Thousand :: dollars - wish I had it!
6. Penetration :: Ummm....you know what I thought.
7. Shutter :: plantation. I love plantation shutters and wish I could put them in my house.
8. Upside down :: Savannah.
9. Neck :: tight and sore - mine usually is
10. Unlisted :: my phone number. Not that it is or needs to be. I'm just happy when it rings.

Scram

There is just something about the word "Scram" that just gets me. I love it. Whenever I hear someone say it, I think "I gotta start using that word." But I can't. I cannot say it with a straight face because it just makes me giggle. How weird is that? But every time I hear that word uttered, I crack a smile. That's the deepest thought I have for the day, now SCRAM!

10 P's I love

Carly assigned me the letter P and I am finally around to making my list.

Pasta: Mmmmm... I love it and it so bad for you! Spaghetti is my favorite meal.

People Magazine: I don't subscribe but I love to read it so I steal it from my mom all the time. I love celebrity gossip.

Peanut Butter: I crave it. Especially when I am on a diet...like right now.

Portland, OR: My dad grew up there and his family lives there still. I have so many great memories of visiting my grandparents. Admittedly I did not explore the city very much but I have simple childlike memories of being there. Spaghetti Factory for dinner, Oak Park in the summer, feeding ducks at the the park down the street from my grandparents' house. Ah, I miss it.

Port Coquitlam: Because Coquitlam does not start with "P". :) I grew up there and my dear friends Kelly and Shana are still there!! It is gorgeous and part of it will always be home to me.

Popcorn: Good stuff. Like movie popcorn, or air popped with tons of butter and salt. I CANNOT resist the smell of it. Dan hates buying popcorn at the movies, and I think I'll be able to go and just watch the movie - but I always cave. My dad is the same way. Gotta have it.

Panties: Ok, this one is weird. But I love shopping for underwear. The pretty kind. At least I did before I got a big giant ass. I like to buy the kind that aren't comfortable but are really pretty and sexy. God knows I never wear them, but they are fun to shop for. I'm weird.

Pretty Clothes: I love to dress up. I wish I had more reasons too. It's fun just to get out of my mommy uniform of jeans and t shirts.

Public Relations: This field fascinates me. It's what I used to do before I had kids. I didn't have a long time to work after I got my degree and before I got pregnant with Savannah and I sometimes wish I could go back to work and use my brain a little. I am looking forward to working with my dad a little bit and help him with the PR for his new business, Mr. Handyman.

Purdy's: The best chocolate on the planet. Too bad it is only in Canada. If you took their chocolate and See's fillings you would have the perfect candy.

Stressed? Rant...rant...rant

Friday was quite a day. Savannah had her Wiggle-A-Thon. I think it was a successful fundraiser. She was so looking forward to it. I don't think she actually knew what it was, but there was some thing she was doing at school with a funny name. So, I dropped her off at school at normal time and then returned at a little after 10am for the Wiggle-A-Thon. It was in full swing when I got there. There was music blaring and kids swarming everywhere, waving streamers and singing and dancing. I got a couple pics that I hope to post later. Savannah was having a grand old time. And then......she saw me. From that moment on, she was screaming and crying and begging to go home. Vincent just ran off and disappeared in the crowd and joined in on the fun. Savannah wouldn't move. So here I am dragging her around the crowd, looking for my son and all the while trying to keep an eye on the baby who I had dropped off on one of the tables in his carrier. I tried wiggling and dancing along with the kids and looked like an idiot trying to get Savannah involved while she threw herself on the ground and cried. Why do kids do that? She was having so much fun before I got there. Then mom shows up - killer of all fun apparently.
So after the Wiggle-A-Thon, I had to go to my 6 week postpartum checkup. I was smart enough to arrange babysitting...whew. I was so exhausted from the morning, plus no sleep and just felt stressed. When I showed up and checked in at the clinic the first thing they ask me - at the front desk in front of a bunch of people is "What is your current method of birth control?" Are you kidding me? Normally this kind of stuff does not bother me, but I all but burst into tears. How about 3 children in 3 years? Is that good enough birth control for you?
So they have me fill out this questionnaire to determine whether or not I am depressed - I guess that is standard. My score was 7. Seven out of what I have no idea, but my midwife says "Your score tells me that you are overwhelmed. Is there anything we can do about that?" Well, lets see, I don't sleep, often don't have time to eat and we are getting ready to move AND my husband is getting to leave again just as we close escrow on our house, so I have to do everything by myself. Yes. I would say I am overwhelmed.
So she sends me off with a list of vitamins to take and strict orders to get more rest. I laugh bitterly all the way to the car. Fat chance.
I will say though that my husband has been great and ACTUALLY heard me when I said I wasn't healing properly because I was pushing too hard. I even got to sleep in both days during the weekend. It was fabulous. So yes, I am stressed, but working on it. I just love how people say, get more rest - as if I actually really have that option most of the time.

Mommy body

I have mommy body. You mothers out there know what I am talking about. The jiggle that never used to be there but has taken up permanent residence somewhere on your person. I used to be thin once. Really thin. I never had to worry about what I ate and never gained an ounce. After my first baby, I lost all the weight and and additional 10 lbs within a few months of giving birth. I look back and think - what a bitch!
And here I am today, a big jiggling cow. You know, the fatty just doesn't disappear after the 2nd and 3rd kid the way you would hope. I burst into tears in my closet the other day as I stared at my clothes hanging in there. They mock me. I hear my size 6 pants calling me names, reminding me of the body that I used to have and will NEVER see again.
I ran out of there trying to block it all out and yell at my husband - "I refuse to be seen with muffin tops!" He stares at me blankly, and slightly scared. I must have been wild eyed and hysterical because he says nothing. So I yell again, "I will not leave this house with muffin tops or back fat!" Still silence. "I need new clothes to hide everything that jiggles." Finally, a glimmer of understanding flashes across his face - "Ok".

Me Me Me and ABCs

I completely stole this from the The TMI Spot. But I thought it was fun. So tag to you all!


Accent: Mostly Californian, a little Canadian still mixed in there and Floridian, but only when I say "Florida"

Booze: I'm not a big drinker, but I love red wine. As for the hard stuff, I guess tequila in a Margarita. Or some good Malibu Rum.

Chore I Hate: Why would I choose not to hate any of them? If I have to pick just one, I'd say putting laundry away. I almost refuse to do it.

Dog or Cat: I used to really love cats until I had one that pissed on my carpet. (She's gone now (evil chuckle) I don't know if I will ever want one again after that... But I LOVE dogs.

Essential Electronics: My tv with DVR. I love being able to pause the tv any time my kids get loud or fight so I can take time to go yell at em.

Favorite Perfume: Cashmere I think it is by Donna Karan?

Gold or Silver: I like gold. My wedding ring is traditional yellow gold. I didn't care if it wasn't "in style" anymore. I love it.

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Job Title: Slave. Little people boss me around and I don't get paid for it.

Kids: Three little monsters, but man are they cute.

Living arrangements: Currently in a condo with my husband and our kids.

Most admirable traits: Honesty. The gentle kind of honesty that doesn't seek to hurt anyone. You know those people who say whatever they want in the name of "honesty". I hate that.

Number of sexual partners: One. Count em - one. And proud of it.

Overnight hospital stays: 4. One for tonsils and 3 for babies.

Phobias: Birds of Paradise (the flower), Rats, Dairy products that are approaching the expiration date.

Quote:
Kristin: Don't boss Vincent around. Who is the mommy?
Savannah: Kristin's the mommy.

Religion: Christian - the kind that actually believes in it.

Siblings: Two brothers and I love them both dearly.

Time I wake up: Wake up or get up? I get up when my kids start pouncing and wake up sometime in the evening after I put them to bed.

Unusual talent or skill: I can tie my shoe with one hand.

Vegetables I love: Artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, garlic

Worst habit: being lazy and throwing my clothes on the floor.

X-rays: lots of dental ones. I had one on my hand after a car accident.

Yummy foods I make: spaghetti, chocolate peanut butter pie or check out my recipe site

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Shamelessly begging

Ok, I have officially entered the land of parenthood. My daughter, Savannah, is having her preschool's annual Wiggle-A-Thon this friday, May 5th! They will be moving, dancing, wiggling and giggling for 1 hour to raise money for the preschool. She (meaning us unsuspecting parents) is asking for sponserships/donations for the event. If she earns $100 in donations, she can earn a trip to Chuck E Cheese AND an All you Can Eat Ice Cream party. Since they are only in preschool and the Wiggle-A-Thon only lasts an hour (which let's be real, is only about 10 minutes to a 3 year old) sponsorships are in the form of flat donations. And if I have successfully guilted and swindled any of you out of some cash, all donations are tax deductable. You can comment, email or call me for more details.
Ok, shameless begging completed.

My little lobster

Well, Dan and Savannah had a fantastic time on their camping trip. One little snafu. Savannah came back burnt to a crisp! She is SO red on her legs and arms. Dan was almost tearful he felt so bad. He swears up and down that he slathered her in sunblock several times, but still a terrible burn. Chalk it up to being a ginger. Her skin is so pale, I am amazed we made it over 3 years without a sunburn. I bought aloe to spray on her but she screams like a banshee when I get close to her with it. I finally smashed up some chewable Motrin last night and stuck it in a sippy cup so she could sleep last night (she will make herself vomit if I give her medicine - she HATES it). Poor baby.
I had fun with my boys. We went shopping with my mom and sat and had a Starbucks while Vincent ran around the fountain at the mall, flirting with a little girl. There was live music playing and he ran over and danced in front of the band showing off his slick 19 month old white boy moves. He is so cute! I was hoping to sleep in, but he was up at the crack of dawn - of course.
Next weekend I am hoping we can swap and Dan will take Vince out for the day and I can have Savannah to myself.
Hope you all had a fabulous weekend too!