New Do.

My girl Shelly gave me a great tip! I wanted to get my hair done...on a BUDGET. She referred me to Z's Cosmetology School. What a cool place. The atmosphere was awesome and Tracy and I both enjoyed our time. Tracy got Jaryl...a guy who TRULY fits the stereotype for a hairstylist. Complete with accent! I got Carly, a Britney
Spears lookalike, only with a really good personality and more hair. And it was cheap! For the price of a normal haircut for me, I got highlights, a cut, and a cut for Tracy, and was able to throw in a tip. Can't beat that! They do manicures too. So, next free weekend, Tracy and I will be enjoying the pampering again.

So, we're off to a wet weekend. Jim is stuck in his office and I'm in a clean house. Hard to believe but for ONCE my house is clean and I have nothing to do. So, I'm trying to remember what it's like to do the fun stuff. Like playing with Molly, who's playing Pirate no. 3. Travis is 1, Brett is 2 and they tried to put an eye patch on Molly. Molly doesn't like the eye patch. Tomorrow we eat with the fam. Then tomorrow night it's off to a friend's for BBQ and gaming. Monday we'll see Dad and hopefully do some creative grilling.

Excuse me a moment, Molly is stealing the playdough....


Okay, all is well, now she's watching Brett play video games.

Hope you all have a safe and fun weekend.

Will I throw another shrimp on the Barbee?
8-ball says: YES!! (Shiskabob me baby!)

Almost Paradise

Can you feel it? The waves lapping at the shore, the birds singing, the cabana boy bringing the pina colada...well, maybe not so much. BUT, I did finish the cashier booth mural last night. I've posted the progression. I must say, mural painting is one of the funnest things I've done. So if you know anyone out there looking for some wall action, give me a call! It was interesting how many people stood behind me and watched while I painted. Pretty cool. You know how you see someone doing something fun and you always think "I wish that was MY job!"...well, that's sorta how it felt. And that in itself is way cool.

I got a new bike. And I have bruises on my fanny to prove it. Someone explain to me why the seats have to be so narrow and hard. Is it a "no pain, no gain" challenge? I find myself standing on the pedals to ride because I just can't bear to inflict any more pain to my nether region. In purchasing the bike, I discovered that Jim can actually ride one! Not that I had doubts, but let's face it...how many farm boys do you see on bikes after the age of 10? Exactly. I've never seen him on a bike. And I've known him since he was 15. So it was quite the exciting night for all of us when he hopped on my bike and took it for a spin.

Meerkats. I LOVE them. They crack me up! So I saw a perfect photo op at the KC Zoo with Travis. What a hoot!

Don't forget to go to the movies!!!!! Playing now are two winners: Shrek the Third, and Pirates III....I loooooove Cap'n Jack!

Well happy Thursday and I'll leave you with 8-ball wisdom:
Will Captain Jack Sparrow marry Elizabeth in Pirates III? 8 ball says: Outlook unclear...(oooooo, I so have to see this movie!!! Argh, matey!!)

Did someone say pie?!

Okay, so, how many of you moms out there are totally freakin glad that school is almost (or already) out? Can I have an AMEN?! Let me preface this entire blog by saying there is a slight possibility that my PMS may influence any and all statements I make today.

So, today is the kids' last day of school. Does anyone realize how much stress it brings to the mom the day before the last day of school? Like coming up with a last minute gift for the teachers and bus drivers. Or driving to the store at 9pm for 24 popsicles for the 2nd grade LUAU party....the fifth party in a row that they've had the last couple weeks of school. Do the schools like totally shut down and turn into party central the month of May? Oh no, wait a minute, it's not all party...they throw in two field trips PER CLASS in the month of May as well. I can't keep up with the notes, the requests, the last minute homework. Oh, now THAT brings up a good topic....homework. Travis had 3 pages of homework to do last night. HOW MANY TEACHERS SEND HOME THREE %&*$#($#)Q(*^ PAGES OF HOMEWORK THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER???? And did I mention the comprehensive reading homework he turned in? Earlier this week he had a worksheet with a pie chart describing fuel/energy in the U.S. He didn't finish the last two questions so had to fill them out on the bus on the way to school. Well, he got the paper back yesterday. I was looking through the backpack and found it and noticed the last two questions were marked wrong. They were answered, but wrong. So I read them. The question was "What does the information in the above pie graph describe, and explain why". My son's answer?: "I don't know, but every time someone says pie I get really hungry." Someone help me.

And I'm not particularly fond of the lunch lady. Two days ago Travis brought home a note from the lunch lady that says, "you will need .55 cents to finish out the next two days for Travis's lunches....". FINE. So, even though I didn't like her tone. (She wrote the note in red.) I scrounged up .55 cents, dropped it in an envelope and sent it with him to school. LAST NIGHT I get a followup note from the wicked lunch lady. THis time I REALLY didn't like her tone. (Written in red, with much larger letters.) "Your son ordered extra milk today...please send an additional .35 cents". What the? So I asked Travis if the lunch lady was mean....he said no. I said, well, does she look really scary. Again, he looks at me like I smoke crack and says that she's only asking for .35 cents. WRONG buddy, this lady has it out for me!!!!! I can tell!!!! Then it dawns on me...won't you be ordering extra milk tomorrow too? So I tape .70 cents to the snotty note and send it to school with him. I bet she has a mole on her nose. With hair in it.

Since I don't have photos of the lunch lady, I'm posting what I THINK she looks like.

Will the lunch lady hunt me down and beat me up for another quarter? 8 ball says: YES!!!!!!

And her name shall be Molly.

She's here! Molly (formerly Tippy) came home last night! And as suspected, she's very loved by all. Brett is extremely taken with her. He wanted to sleep on her dog bed with her last night. Yes, she slept in the house. She helped me do chores this morning and will probably go with us to feed the calves this evening. I got up at 2 am to take her outside. Now I distinctly remember why Jim and I decided that 3 kids were plenty.

I'm posting picks of the zoo trip with Tracy's class and Travis's birthday bash at the bowling alley. After taking 8 boys to bowl on Saturday I had to have my migraine prescription refilled.

We checked out the flood waters in Eudora last night. We parked and hiked down through "Weaver Bottoms" and a lot of the corn ground was covered. We saw a momma goose leading 6 baby geese to find higher ground. The kids thought that was awesome! The corn ground along 15th street was also being covered. They had to strap down anhydrous tanks to prevent them from floating from the plant.

The prediction is that the water will peak by tomorrow so we'll know more about the crops by the end of the week. This is the stuff that makes Jim eat Prilosec like candy. It's a good thing he doesn't smoke!

Well, it's back to work.

Will I go to the gym today? 8 Ball says: You better!!!!

Be thankful.

Well, after a really busy long weekend off, I'm back at the factory all dressed up and watching the rain. I came in grumpy. I mean, it's Monday, I have to dress professional, it's been raining since yesterday, blah, blah, blah. But then, after all my whining, my Dad calls and I'm reminded of how fortunate I really am. He's in Greensburg today helping some members of his church clean up their home....what remains of their home. He says trees look like toothpicks, and you can see from one end of the town to the other because there's nothing standing. Al Roker was reporting from there this morning. They have to monitor who is coming into the town to prevent looting. He's taking pictures but says seeing the pictures and actually being there are two completely different experiences.

So, now I don't feel so bad about dressing up....at least I still have some clothes! A little off the subject but along the same lesson lines, I watched "The Pursuit of Happyness" this weekend. Whew. THAT was a tough one. A little difficult for me to watch. It's based on a true story and Will Smith and his actual son do a wonderful job. But the reality of what they went through is troubling to say the least. Again, makes you stop and count your blessings.

Okay, let's talk about something cheerful. We pick up Tippy tonight! That's right! The cute little princess you saw in my last post is coming home with us. Brett asked me if her last name would now be Neis....of course it will! We got her a hot pink collar and a new doggy bed. But while I'm on the subject, I'd like to get on my soapbox for a minute. What is with pet adoptions these days? First of all, when you go to adopt a pet from a shelter, aren't you doing it because you want to save an animal from being euthenized? Not to mention it costs an average of $100-125 to adopt a dog because it comes already altered (spayed, neutered) and with all it's shots, etc. SO, going into the adoption, most people are taking it pretty seriously. Well, after my experience with adopting Tippy, I would think twice about adopting a second time. Why? Because I had to give my entire life history on a 3 page adoption application that asked some pretty pointed questions including whether or not I would agree to a home visit prior to the adoption. IN addition, I had to wait a minimum of 2 days for my references to be checked and for them to "decide" if I would be a fit parent for my new pup. WOW! I mean, I had even gone so far prior to even visiting the shelter, to research pups online through Petfinder.com. THis site is a database of National shelters that have pets for adoption so that you can locate the pet you are looking for. I spent days....literally, poring over these pages to find a pet the me and my family felt was a good match. Then I emailed the shelters that had pets we were interested in to find out more about each individual dog. Then I inquired about the adoption process, asked if I could come visit the pets, and scheduled time to take my kids to see the pup(s). How much more dedication do you need? Apparently the application process is not uncommon to shelters and they are VERY particular about the information you include. I couldn't leave the application until I had put my vet's contact name and info on it so they could call them and get references as to how we've treated prior/current pets. I think it would have been easier to adopt a child in Haiti. Either way, we get Tippy tonight. But we've jumped through hoops to get her. It makes you feel a little criminal in a way, like I've been invaded. I think policies are going to have to change if shelters want to adopt rather than euthenize their animals.

Okay, I'm done griping. Just had to get that off my chest. I'll post pics tomorrow of Tippy. She's going to be one spoiled little doggy!!!

Will Tippy end up sleeping in my room:
8 ball says....ask again later!

I have a NINE year old!!!!!!!

My baby is 9 years old today! Can you believe it? Next year will be the big double-digit birthday...am I ready for all this? I totally remember my 10th birthday. I remember exactly what i got and how exciting it was to be double-digitized. I made cupcakes and delivered them to Travis's school this morning before work. Then we celebrate with family tonight by eating Kentucky Fried Buzzard and DQ ice cream. Then Saturday is an official birthday party with friends....I'm taking 8 kids bowling. And I wonder why I get stressed.

I have the next two days off and I'm ecstatic! Well, partially. Tomorrow I'm going to clean house, get a mammogram and then go look at a puppy we're thinking of adopting. So, 1 out of 3 ain't bad. This is my first mammogram and well, not thrilled. I just hope my breasticles don't stay flat like pancakes. I don't want to have to tuck them into my belt.

Friday I get to go to the zoo with Tracy's class. Considering I live in a zoo with 4 other people, it should be another regular day. And equally as entertaining. Only my bathrooms are cleaner....marginally.

I've lost enough weight on my WW diet to fit into a "new" blouse I bought ages ago and never could wear. I don't dare bend over or make any sudden movements or I may take someone's eye out when the fabric gives....but it's on! I have to pin the cleavage (of the shirt, not mine) because it's a little too low cut for my figger (figure). As Travis would say, you could see my "girl crack" if I didn't.

Well, I don't have a whole lot to say. It's raining, I have my chai, I'm going to a pointless meeting, all is well!

Will I enjoy my mammogram? Eight ball says....NOT LIKELY!