To Indiana and Back in a Weekend

On Friday we decided to head to Indiana. Why? Well as I mentioned before the hubby found out we would be moving there later this year so we wanted to check out the cities and see what town near Indianapolis we'd want to move. I've moved enough in my life that I know that you really want to research, especially when kids are involved. So we looked up a few places we wanted to visit and decided once we got there we'd look around a bit and give the town a yes or no and grab a bunch of flyers/newspapers from that town to look over once we got home. To some this may sound crazy, to me it sounds smart. So once the kids got home we were off!

The kids already knew the night before and had all their "stuff" for the trip packed and ready. We rented a vehicle due to our own car being too small and not reliable enough for a trip like this. By the way there was no snow on the ground the whole way up there like I thought there would be. We stopped at a hotel in Illinois due to me having a homework assignment due Friday night and the connection disconnecting. I didn't want to chance it. The hotel was nice (comfort suite) but we couldn't really see much that night due to the thick fog. You can see in the pic the morning view from our room.

We reached Indiana only a few hours later and besides the visitor's centers (rest stop) we discovered you could only find apartment guides/real estate guides at Kroger's. Back here you walk down the store fronts and find the little newspaper boxes full of them. The only plan we had was to check out the place and go home but we decided the kids did so well that we wanted to treat them, since the BIG game would be Sunday we didn't want to be in Indianapolis, so we went to Bloomington and visited Wonderlab, a hands-on science museum. My only issue is they charge the parents much more than the kids and there really isn't much for parents, this is totally for kids. I'll do a post on that trip in a moment but for now I'll say they had a blast.

On the way home we did take a "scenic route" that took us an hour to get out of the backwoods, we even came across a country gas station that had no credit card machine on it and made you pump first. This is so unlike the city where you have to pay first. The weather was awful bad too which made traveling slightly harder. We ate out the entire trip, but I think we'll have memories from each place we went. On Sunday we kept going to nfl.com and when we stopped off at Ruby Tuesday's we stayed until close to the end but missed the last shot.

We did end up making two big purchases on this trip, one was the dvd player as you can see in SoccerBoy's hands and the second is a digital camcorder which means I'll try vlogging too. Oh the dvd player definitely came in handy and now is the favorite tv to watch even at home. Little A as you can see had been watching tv with his brother but fell asleep. Now no trip is complete without an incident, we had two actually. 1.   when Soccerboy left his beloved hoodie in the hotel after we were half way out of town, thankfully they had it in there and let us have it. 2.  When we came to Bloomington and witnessed a protest march (honestly I've only ever seen them in movies) against abortion to which point our kids wanted to know all about the subject. I also have pics of the Bloomington mall and you would not believe it, too cute and small town, I'll post those in a bit too.

Wordless Wednesday: Welcome to Indy

I absolutely love this picture, honestly SoccerBoy doesn't always let me catch him so this made me very happy. We had just gathered a bunch of data from the visitor's center for Indiana since we are moving there later this year. Look at the three of them. :) Happy WW!

A Sunday Meme

1. Where is your cell phone? Currently in my left-side pants pocket.


2. Your hair? past my shoulders

3. Your mother? loving/understanding

4. Your father? always there

5. Your favorite food? lasagna/stuffed shells

6. Your dream last night? bad

7. Your favorite drink? Starbucks Carmel or Spiced Pumpkin Frap.

8. Your dream/goal? Become a PR

9. What room are you in? hotel room

10. Your hobby? writing

11. Your fear? something happening to my kids/or failure

12. Where do you want to be in six years? Seeing my son graduate and going to college, working for companies as a PR person. 

13. Where were you last night? All over Indiana

14. Something that you aren’t? a guy

15. Muffins? Chocolate

16. Wish list item? sewing machine

17. Where did you grow up? California

18. Last thing you did? got up at 3 am and got online, everyone was still sleeping.

19. What are you wearing? jeans and a long sleeve shirt with socks

20. Your TV? hotel tv set to toons as the kids (5:28 am) are now up

21. Your pets? not yet but plan to get them when we move

22. Friends? online

23. Your life? good

24. Your mood? calm

25. Missing someone? family (those back in Cali)

26. Vehicle? car

27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes

28. Your favorite store? Target, unless you mean online AMAZON

29. Your favorite color? red

30. When was the last time you laughed? last night during Son in Law (movie)

31. Last time you cried? this morning, the nightmare

32. Your best friend? online, I have a few

33. One place that I could go over and over? bookstore

34. One person who emails you regularly? hubby

35. Favorite place to eat? Perkins (breakfast) or Longhorns

I'm tagging Michelle at AskewtoYou, Nancy at SouthernBlessings and the next three people that visits my blog. :)

Life of a Home Mom Shares her News

Wow, can you believe today is Thursday already? Soccerboy reminded me of how fast this month has flown by too and I must say he's right. For us January is normally a slow month, or maybe that was just back in the military where no matter what you struggled to make it until payday. I've got some good news though for my readers, okay more for me but I had to share it with ya'll. The hubby got a promotion!! Shhh, you didn't hear me say that...he hates letting people know that type of stuff.

With that news, I've also been informed that we will be leaving this state. Sniff, sniff, okay not really ya'll know how I feel towards this place due to our first year out here. While I like the town itself, the state is just too much for me. I also hate the snow, but figuring we'll be moving somewhere out in Indiana doesn't really make sense.  I'm kind of excited and scared all at the same time, this is unlike our last move where we knew where we were going as I researched it for months. I picked this town because it was rated #1 in Missouri through CNN or Forbes (can't recall which one) and I must say even though I complain about certain things the teachers do it really is one of those schools where every teacher knows your child. I just don't like that fact that BallGirl dropped in almost all her subjects since moving out. (keep in mind she was in advanced classes before here)

So, any recommendations for the Indy area? I'd love to hear of some. I have a few months, we were informed the building isn't completed yet but it will be. This of course means they could call us next month and we'd be moving or not until July/Sept/etc. So it is all another waiting game. But still the excitement of the unknown and starting over.

I'm also back in classes again, currently taking Accounting 2 and IT190. So far IT is good but Accounting is kicking my butt, but I haven't given up. I just feel like slamming my head against the keyboard by the time I am done with just one assignmnet. On that note, I thought for sure I'd be able to try getting a bit ahead in it today, but I have two kids that came down with a fever so that isn't working out. Course neither are acting sick but you can feel it on their skin. So, what have you been doing?

P.S. No we did not put that sign up, however the hubby is thinking about doing just that. I'll die of embarrasment. Oh but I did put the dog poo inside the bag and hand it on that one neighbors door, for now I've been kind enought to scoop the poo back up and toss it in their drive way.

P.S.S I took the photo for 365 Project, where you post a pic a day. Anyone else doing it?

Wordless Wednesday

The blue sky actually appeared today and it reminded me of the future spring we will have. With all the snow almost gone, green grass poking through and tons of squirrels running around on the ground one could only vision warmer days. Course right after this picture was taken the dark grey clouds came back and swallowed up the beautiful blue sky. Happy WW!

The Fog Rolls In....

This has been one of those weeks, with the cold air, snow and being basically caught under cabin fever I pretty much haven't wanted to do anything. I mean if I go outside I'll slip down our stairs and if you don't believe me I did this Monday afternoon so I know it'll happen. For those that know me, you know anything is possible...especially if it means being a clutz. 

The snow has began to melt which has made everything turn into slick ice, which is the reason I fell in the first place. The balcony now looks old and ready to fall apart, before you couldn't see it with all that snow so it was made to be forgotten until now. Now we do have a small patch of snow but I can't allow Little A to go out there and build as there is no security to keep him away from the edge.

So what's a girl to do when she's trapped in her home on cold days? Dream, make up stories, (okay do homework too and blogging) and begin to want to write a book again. Yes, believe it or not before I began blogging I use to write poetry and stories. This morning I woke up to the scene above, now how in the world can I just ignore that? Yes, I've got scenes for a new book and I know it would have to be a murder story, the only thing I don't know is what the story is. So, help me get started.....

Who did it? male or female
Why was it done? love, hate, accident

Wordless Wednesday: Showing Off Her Shirt

Happy WW!

Oh, now isn't she pretty. Here's BalletGirl (age 9) showing off her new shirt that her Nanny and Papa got her for Christmas.  Happy WW!

The Tell Me About Yourself Meme

For those that don't know, I will be doing a meme every Sunday of 2010. If you'd like to join in add your name to the little Mr.Linky and don't forget to comment. For those curious I've found most of my meme's on Sunday Stealing, otherwise from searches at google blog search for memes.

1. When is your birthday? November 30

2. Where were you born? Ohio
3. Where do you live now? Missouri

4. What is your heritage? Heinz 57, got a little something of everything. I do know there is german and cherokee in the family.

5. Tell us about a weakness.  Procrastination and crowds
6. What's a goal that you'd like to achieve?  To get a PR Job, but for now I'll settle for reaching 1000 followers to this blog. Want to help?

7. What is the most overused internet phrase?  "You've Got Mail." Of course I think that was "yesterday's phrase."

8. What was your first thought this morning?  I want to go back to bed.

9. When do you usually go to bed?  anywhere between 11pm-2 am

10. Do you smoke? If not, did you ever? No, but when I was a teen I tried it once. As you can see I didn't like it.

11. Do you like your current relationship status?  I'm married.

12. Do you (or did you) get along with your parents?  Yes, still do.

13. How often do you drink alcohol?  whenever I eat out I have a margarita, one a few nights I might have a beer but those are date nights and only two.
14. Have you ever tried drugs (that weren't prescribed)? no

15. Have you ever gone skinny dipping? no

16. If given the choice, how would you like to die?  peacefully, in my sleep from old age. I prefer not to suffer.

17. What did you want to be when you grew up?  a variety of things, a lawyer, model, coast guard, etc

18. Have you ever been dumped? sure, in high school

19. What's on your pizza? pineapples or mushrooms

20. Have you ever shoplifted?  yes when I was a little girl....puffy stickers

Wordless Wednesday: He Loves his Pup

We got My Pal Scout the dog from LeapFrog for Little A for Christmas and I think he really likes him. Don't you? Happy WW!

Giveaways for January 2010

Calgary Daddy is giving 1 lucky reader the new DVD, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." Only catch is you must tell him what your favorite food is. That's easy for me, it is italian. :)

Couture Carrie is having a Massive lingerie sale, so you don't have to wait for your man to get you that cute little number for Valentine's day now you can win it. The lingerie is all Luxe lingerie which are adorable and of course adventurous for some.

The Mommy Files has a big giveaway, this one is called the Norah Jones giveaway but one prize your sure to hear shouts from your kids is the Lego Pirate ship.

The $5 Dinner Mom is giving away 10 books, every day for the next two weeks so sign up.

Sears is giving one lucky reader a snow blower, this is definitely something we want. I think while my son may like trying to earn a few bucks this would be so much easier. The trick for this one is below and you must tweet it: 
Following @BlueLGCrew and went to http://bit.ly/6KxG5t to find my ideal #searssnowblower – model XXXXX - I'm entered for a chance to win it!

Neighbor Dog Keeps Pooping in My Yard

Yes, I'm pissed and normally I could ignore this but this is the third time this week. First time I thought okay I'll give it to them that it was cold and dog got mixed up, the second time I went out and the man was right there and even told me he had four dogs and not just the three that were out. I hadn't noticed the pile of dog crap at the bottom of my porch yet, I'd only went out to chase his dog outside as it kept trying to come in my house and my kids fear dogs.

So imagine my anger/disgust as I ran to check the mail, holding my 2-year-old and suddenly (as I'm following our own shoeprints in the snow) spot a huge pile of it, I go to avoid it and almost step in another. I was mad. What if one of the kids had decided to play in the snow? What if they went sledding, made a snowman or even snowball fight? This is sick! I don't own a dog, heck I don't even own a fish so for me to have poop in my yard. errrr. What would you have done?

First, don't think I'm a dog hater. I don't own a dog as we always wanted the youngest to be at least 3 and we kept having more kids. Two, we have never been in one place long enough. I did grow up with dogs and loved them dearly, we always cleaned up after them....if you walked them, you cleaned up after them. It's just being polite.

I did take a snow shovel, scoop it up and toss it into his driveway. Hope it'll stay over there but something tells me this isn't the last of the crap. Please someone, what would you do? Hubby says start the BBQ and invite them for hot dogs asking for donations starting with their dogs. (my wording not his but his basic idea) Course I don't think they'd like that. In the past I've scooped up poop of neighbor's dogs (not here on the base where there are laws against poopy dogs) placed it in a plastic bag (as it is suppose to be) and hung it on their door knob. I won't say they were happy but it never happened. Out here though you just don't know who'll shoot ya.

Any advice would be great!!

Moms are just like an Octopus

Early this morning my oldest daughter (9 year old), BalletGirl was playing Jenga with her brother and out of the blue she says, "I wish I had like 8 arms that would pop out and go back in whenever I wanted." I laughed at this and pictured this, it kind of reminded me of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch how he can do that and what kids would look like and do if they could.
Suddenly she turns to me and says, "You know, moms are just like an octopus because they do have that many arms."  I'll admit I was a bit confused but it was as if we were thinking along the same lines when she replied, "You have kids so you can get them to help and you do a ton of things at once."

Ex.:
Mom is stirring pancake batter, turning on the griddle, washing dishes, flipping pancakes, having oldest toss a load of laundry in the washer, BalletGirl is helping her sister find her shoes and brushing her hair, BabyGirl is getting dressed, someone puts in a movie for Little A (I'm fairly certain it was him), SoccerBoy comes back up from doing laundry and is making lunch.

Okay, I guess moms really could be an octopus. That or the Goddess Shatki who has all those arms.

IMG: http://www.intotheheart.org/

Top Image was from: http://www.clker.com/cliparts/e/3/7/5/11949846712061059900busy_mom_with_child_and_01.svg.hi.png

25 Things You Did Not Want To Know

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. Olivier Schoenfelder

2. Where was your first kiss? Where else? Behind the gym of my high school, my sister was trying out for cheerleading. My first kiss was at the age of 16.

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property? no
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? no

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? Yes, but most was family and a few friends. Always wanted to try singing but never had the guts. (maybe I should add that to my to do list)

6. What’s the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? the face

7. What really turns you off? attitude and behavior

8. What do you order at Starbucks? Frapps, currently in love with the pumpkin spice. I use to do carmel (that got old), then peppermint (found out allergic).
9. What is your biggest mistake? Not entirely sure, but I've made some.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? Never on purpose, but I have hurt a few people.
11. Say something totally random about yourself:  I once put someone behind bars.

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? no, never. But I've been told I look like other people, some have got mad that I insisted I never grew up in the area.

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? Don’t you? movies and tv shows yes, cartoons no. We don't have cable so no television.
14. Did you have braces? No.
15. Are you comfortable with your height? Yes, just not my weight.

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? sent roses to the house
17. When do you know it’s love? When that's all you can think about, even in your dreams. A perosn you've seen sick and still picture sleeping with.
18. Do you speak any other languages? No, but I'm trying to learn italian
19. Have you ever been to tanning salon? No, never had the money
20. Have you ever ridden in a limo? No
21. What’s something that really annoys you? the sound of crunching, ie, someone eating ice or chips. I have bad teeth and it reminds me of teeth breaking.

22. What’s something you really like? sitting inside a bookstore, the quiet and the scent of books

23. Can you dance? no way
24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? yes, I was 8 months pregnant and blood sugar dropped to 35 or 45 but either way it was bad.
25. Tag 5 people! If you read this I tag you! drop your link below so I can read yours.
(I have included a pic of me when I was a baby)

Happy New Year and Welcome 2010!

I wanted to wish all my readers a very Happy New Year! May this year bring you joy, happiness and all types of good fortune. This post is short but I didn't want to not post on this special day. 2010 seems almost unbelievable, back in elementary school we envisioned things like hover boards and flying cars, everything like the Jetsons. Instead it is the same stuff, but a bit more advanced with everyone living online. All we need it the computerized homes, which I know are out there but not in every house.

Last year had lots of ups and downs and hope this year is only full of happiness. I have big plans for myself and dreams for my blogs, which I'll blog about later. Currently sharing computer time with the husband so my time is limited.

Happy 2010!!