Beautiful cool day.....

A taste of fall we finally got today. It was gorgeous, sunny and cool. I got to wear a sweatshirt yes you heard me A SWEATSHIRT... At Mighty Mouth's soccer practice tonight I even walked for an hour and sprinted a couple of times in that hour. Yes, I do believe that counts as EXERCISE!!!! I haven't been sleeping real well for the last few days so I am hoping that the fresh air and exercise will help me sleep good tonight. It is so much easier for me to exercise when it is cool. (Not that I still don't have a million excuses when it's cooler too) I absolutely hate to sweat it is just gross to me. ( I know, I really have to get over that) We are suppose to have this cool weather through the weekend. I am so looking forward to a cool Halloween. It just puts you more in the fall spirit when it is cool on Halloween. I can't tell you how many times I have sweat my booty off and gotten eaten alive by mosquitoes on Halloween. So my plans for the next few days are to be outside as much as possible. Happy Halloween!!!!!

A tough day tomorrow......

A friend of mine lost her son last weekend. He was 20. He died in a motorcycle accident. As with so many of my friends I met her and her husband through my daughter. (Soccer Girl) Their youngest daughter played soccer with SG for many years and now they go to high school together. I have watched this little girl grow up and my heart breaks for what will surely be one of the toughest times in her young life. I took some food over on Monday and when my friend opened the door and I looked into her eyes the pain I saw there took my breath away. She is a very petite woman and we all know I am not and when I embraced her I felt like a giant as we cried together. It seemed as if this devastating tragedy had shrunk her somehow physically as well as emotionally. Unfortunatly, I had never actually met her son. I am sure he was in the background on many occasions hanging out with the kids. Of course his name had been mentioned many times in conversations with my daughter and her friend or his Mom and Dad through the years. So as I was preparing the food on Monday I was thinking how sad it was that I had never talked to him. I remembered thinking how awful it was that if I would of passed him on the street I probably wouldn't even have realized he was my friend's son. That was until this afternoon. I was looking up his obituary to get the time of the funeral tomorrow. There looking at me was a picture of him. I realized then that I would of known him. His eyes would of told me. His eyes were his mother's and his sisters. Big, beautiful, expressive eyes that are the first thing you notice when you look at them. I know that everytime I look in the eyes of his mother or his sisters I will think of him. I will think of how sorry I am that I never made a point to introduce myself to him. I will think of how I won't let that happen again. I will make a point to get to know all of my friends children. One of the things that my friend said to me that has stuck in my mind. The thing she said that was bringing her some peace was the knowledge that her son knew how much she and her husband and family adored him. He knew how much he was loved. Please make it a point to let your children know how much you love them ALL the time. I know I will.................

I told you so......

Yesterday afternoon I went out to the mailbox to get the mail and was completely shocked when I opened our water bill. Our bill usually runs about $115.oo, the bill this month is $233.00. My first thought was that it was a miss read by the meter reader. I immediately called the water company and read the numbers to the customer service rep. She informed me that no, according to her records we had used another significant amount of water since the 16th and we definitely had a leak. Don't you hate that? You start to get this sinking feeling in your stomach or I did anyway. I started thinking about if we couldn't find it and we had this huge leak under the house. Dollar signs start popping in my head as I envision our foundation having to be torn up. (yeah, when my imagination goes, it really goes). Then I remembered the last time we had a leak, it was along our fence line (about two years ago). Apparently, the piping bringing water into our house runs along the same line as our fence. What happened last time is that when we would have strong winds (famous in Florida with our storms every evening in the summer) the post would wiggle a little and shift the dirt which then loosens the joints of the pipes underneath until they come loose or break off completely. I then thought back to a Sunday afternoon about a month ago when I noticed one of our posts leaning a bit. I said to my beloved Englishman "that post is leaning again, you don't think we have another leak under there do you?" To which he replied "no it is fine that post is just old" I then added "well maybe you should check it, just in case" To which he replied "Suzie it's fine". "Okay, whatever you say". So yesterday afternoon my first place to look for a leak was that post. I looked down and low and behold there was a puddle of water at the base of the post. I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!! I love it when I am right but man am I sorry it cost us $115 dollars this time. Of course it may be more, I just can't wait to get the bill next month NOT ................

Having a nice weekend...

This probably going to be kind of a boring post. Not a whole lot of interesting is happening around here this weekend. We had a long weekend because the kids were out of school on Friday. That was kind of nice. I still had my toddler and preschoolers that I watch. Well sort of I was down one preschooler because he went away with his family for a long weekend but I picked up an extra older brother. On Friday I, along with 7 kids ( I also picked up an extra teenager) headed to the beach. It was a gorgeous day. Sunny but not stifling, the water even had a little "chill" to it when you first got in. When you have spent the whole summer swimming in bath water everytime you went to the beach you appreciate "refreshing water". It was a fantastic afternoon enjoyed by all. We got up this morning and went to Soccer Girls soccer game and they won 2-1 so that is always nice. I came home and took a nap (yes I said NAP it was AWESOME) Soccer Girl had boyfriend's Homecoming tonight so we were invited to the parents of one of boyfriend's friends for snacks and picture taking. I wasn't really sure about that one because I knew we wouldn't know anyone except boyfriend's family, but it ended up being a lot of fun. Englishman and I felt very welcomed and really had a nice time. Tomorrow we have decided to go back to the beach since it was so nice on Friday. This time I am really looking forward to it because I won't have to be constantly doing head counts LOL....Other than that just a nice relaxing weekend. I hope you are having one too.

We survived the stomach bug...

Wow, I feel good. You don't know how good you feel until you have recently felt bad. Did that make sense? Our family just had a bout with a stomach bug. We all got it, we were even generous and shared with our friends. Soccer Girl and Miss Priss got it Saturday night and Sunday. The Englishman, Mighty Mouth and I got it Monday night and Tuesday. It totally sucked. I have new respect for The Englishman he actually went to work yesterday in the heat. I don't know how he did it. I called him around 11:00 from bed (which I did not get up out of until 6pm last evening) to see if he was feeling better. He said absolutely not. I said "Honey you the man I don't know how you are doing it" He responded "yeah I'm the man alright the DUMBEST man on the planet for trying to work today" He came home last night jumped into the shower and went straight to bed. I didn't hear a peep out of him until 6:00 this morning. I am happy to report he is better today too. One funny thing from the experience. Monday night into Tuesday morning every time Mighty Mouth had "conversations with the porcelain God" (I am trying to put that in a nice way) she would come and tell us that she did. I thought it was cute that she had to tell us. I don't know if she wanted reassurance that she would be OK or if she just wanted to prove that she was really sick for fear I would make her go to school the next day. But every hour she would come into our room to give us the report. To which I would say, "you made it in the toilet right?" Every time she would reply "yes Mommy I did" (Thank God) Well, I guess I will end this post now in case I really grossed you out.......

Yes, she said that

This morning Miss Priss was the only one still home. Her school starts the latest. I was trying (as always) to keep the house picked up. (losing battle I know) There was a hair brush on the floor. I asked her to please pick it up and put in in the bathroom. She says "but I didn't use that brush." (Yes, she said that) So for the millionth time I explain to her that it does not matter who used it last. I was asking her to pick it up. I went on to add as I do almost every time I have this conversation with my daughters that I pick up tons of things that I did not use. We are a family and we all help out. Her reply "I think Mighty Mouth was the last to use this so technically I am picking up her mess, that is not fair" (Yes, she said that) Frustrated at this point I tell her to stop being petty and just put it away. "Well", she says "she needs to pick up something after me now." (Yes, she said that) I cannot wait until they have children and they call me and say "you will not believe what my daughter said to me today" to which I will reply "try me".....

Admitting it is the first step..

Hello, my name is Suzie and I am a TV addict. I didn't really realize it until the other night. I was at a party for my friend's birthday and was chatting with some neighbors. We got on the subject of TV. We started talking about shows we enjoy. I started talking about all the shows that I watch or more appropriately DVR. My friend's husband looked at me and said "do you have a life"? He meant it in a very joking manner and I was not insulted in any way. I have to admit though it got me thinking. I thought about all the things that I fit into my day, and yet I still manage to keep up on these shows as well. My mind quickly went somewhere I didn't want it to. The little voice saying to me "well if you have enough time for all this TV watching then certainly you could fit in some exercise right?" In my defense, it is really my beloved DVR that makes it all possible. With the assistance of the DVR I can watch my TV shows whenever I want plus I get to skip all the commercials. But I'm rambling this post is supposed to be about my addiction not the time that my addiction steals from my life. So without further ado I would like to share with you my list of favorite shows that I watch EVERY week. "Army Wives" "The Amazing Race" "Terminator, the Sarah Connor chronicles" "Fringe" "The Biggest Loser" "Jon and Kate plus Eight" "Little People Big World" "17 children and counting" "Adoption Stories" "Lipstick Jungle" "Survivor" "Desperate Housewives" "Brothers and Sisters" and some that will premier after the holiday's "Lost" and "Friday Night Lights". To be honest there are probably more but that is all I can think of at this time. This does not even mention my book addiction. I am also an avid reader and am currently immersed in the "Twilight" series. No, these books are not just for young adults I am really enjoying them. Oh and I must mention one more author that I was introduced to from another blog "Jen Lancaster" her first memoir in her 4 book series is called "Bitter is the New Black. If you are a reader and could use a good laugh and let's face it who couldn't right now in our economic state check her out. I have never laughed so hard reading a book. Anyway, confession over am I a TV addict? You be the judge..........

The Englishman Returns

The Englishman came home last night. His plane landed at 12:20 A.M. Yes, I said AM what was he thinking when he booked that flight? Earlier in the evening the girls and I had our last hurrah. We went to see the new Beverly Hills Chihuahua Movie (cute, corny but cute) and then went to dinner at our favorite little family restaurant "Parkside Cafe". We came home and I caught up on a couple shows I had DVR'd. (I am so glad the fall lineup started.) I was very excited about the Englishman coming home. Even though he was coming in so late I wanted to look my best. I did my hair and makeup put on my favorite jeans that fit even better since I have lost 11 pounds in my latest attempt at "eating healthy". The word "diet" just puts me in a bad mood. I wore a dressy shirt that I usually only wear to go out somewhere. In my mind, I had envisioned this great reunion at the airport like it used to be in the old days when he lived in England and I lived here. Then the impossible happened THE AIRPORT EXIT WAS CLOSED. I was instructed by very confusing signs to take a different exit. An exit, I might add I was completely unfamiliar with. I immediately pulled out the cell phone and called my own personal GPS system "aka" The Englishman and in a panic asked him where to go. The Englishman is a UPS driver and before that delivered bottled water so he knows our area like the back of his hand. He instructed me to make the first left after I exited. Well guess what, that was closed too. In the meantime, I keep losing him because he is in baggage claim where he cannot keep a signal. Not to mention there is all this traffic, why are these people not in bed? Why do all these cars have to drive 80 when the speed limit is 65? Where in the hell is the sign for this street so I can tell Englishman what road I am on? Why did I drive the truck (which is the size of small airplane) when I am so much more comfortable in the van? Oh, so there's where the The Dollhouse is (a strip club that is famous in our area). I always wondered where that was. Oh my gosh, FINALLY an airport exit sign. FINALLY, after 20 very stressful minutes which seems like hours. One incredibly frustrated, irritable wife makes it to the airport to pick up her stupid husband who picks a ridiculous hour to fly home. Needless to say, at this point I have lost all my excitement all I want to do is move to the passenger side so he can drive us home. Which he did, effortlessly I might add. After we got home I did give him a big hug and a kiss. He did tell me I looked really nice and slowly but surely the reunion that I had pictured in my head did happen, it just had a really rough start......

Dudley the Hunter

At 5:00 am this morning I awoke to crying coming from Miss Priss's room. I went into her room and discovered that Dudley our cat had somehow managed to open up the Hamster cage. The hamsters not realizing the danger escaped. (I can never say that word or write it without my mind instantly going to Finding Nemo and Ellen Degeneres' voice saying "ES COP AY") Let me stop here with the story and explain why the Hamsters do not realize that cat's are dangerous. The Hamsters love the Dudley. Whenever he is at their cage staring longlingly through the plastic haze they come out to say Hello. Not only do they say Hello but they climb up the bars and stick their paws out in an attempt to shake Dudley's hand. No seriously I think what they are doing is teasing him. "Ha Ha big cat you can't get us" as he paces the length of the cage back and forth trying to figure out how to get to them. Well, this morning he figured out that if he batted at one of the tunnels long enough it would come loose from the cage thus allowing the Hamsters to make their getaway. How they ever managed to get out without Dudley quickly eating them for breakfast is still beyond me. This commotion quickly woke Miss Priss and she found Jerry right away. The Hamster's names are Ben and Jerry. Ben on the other hand proved to be more of an explorer. I was really hoping we were not to late. As we continued to search without any luck Soccer girl had a great idea. "Why don't we use Dudley to find Ben" she said. While I knew this was risky I also knew it would probably work. So we allowed Dudley into the room. (He was right outside the door pounding furiously with his paw) I kid you not it took only 45 seconds and he found Ben under the TV stand. Luckily, Dudley coudn't fit under the TV stand or we might of had a totally different ending. Miss Priss quickly caught Ben and returned him to his cage. We reinforced the area the loosened tunnel. I am happy to report that Ben and Jerry are safe for now..........