Help me decide!

I have decided that it is time for a change! I really need to chop off my damaged hair to give it a new start! I found a website that does online makeovers and have tinkered around the last couple of days. If you are interested the address is www.dailymakeover.com . Please comment and let me know which style you prefer (#1, #2, #3)!

Thank You Mr. Coldeze Maker Man!

If I had a dime for every time someone in this family has had a cold this winter, I'd be one wealthy woman! It's the same routine every time- it goes from child 1 to child 2, 3 and 4. It repeats itself like the directions on a shampoo bottle. Round and round it goes, where it ends...no one knows!

So far I had been lucky. The moment I get a tingle in my sinus', I pop a coldeze. Well, until yesterday and I felt TERRIBLE! My head throbbed, my throat burned, and my body felt like I was trampled by a herd of elephants. I thought that I didn't start my coldeze in time. Well, this morning I woke up and feel like a million bucks!! The only lingering symptom is a headache when I bend over! YAY!! Thank you wonderful coldeze maker man. Thank you!

In other news, Mr. Elijah still has a cold. I have suctioned his nose so much his mucus is tainted with blood! Poor little guy! If he feels a little like I did yesterday, he must be miserable. Since they changed the rules for the administration of cold medicine for infants (or lack of), there is not much I can do to make him feel any better.

Andrew has a field trip today! He is going to a nature museum in Tucson. He is so excited, he was awake before I was this morning. It is an all day field trip. This school appears to have more field trips then most, which really pleases the kids! I am really hoping that Ms. Lee remembered to bring along Andrews Epi-pen. I was meaning to call her this morning to remind her and totally forgot.

I am off now to do some grocery shopping. I am trying to strategies this adventure since Elijahs car seat is not capable of connecting to the grocery cart like most. I normally have to put the car seat in the cart at stores, however that won't be possible this time because that will leave little to no room for the groceries. Perhaps he can try sitting in the "big kid" seat that is built in, I just hate to have him exposed to more germs! I want a healthy house for once. Is that too much to ask?

What's in the news? Re: The kids

I received a request this morning via email requesting to see all of the kids. I thought this would prove to be an appropriate opportunity to do some mommy bragging as well as include some pictures!

Hailey made student if the week last week. The Principal called to tell me and she said that Hailey is very well behaved, kind to others, respectful, and always does what is expected of her. She is a hard worker with good grades. With student of the week they are presented with an award and goody bag, they wear a badge that says "student of the week", and they also attend an ice cream party on the Friday of. When the kids get this award, I always buy them a bunch of balloons and take them to dinner!

Andrew also was awarded student of the week recently. The Principal said that he is a great friend to others, always trying to help, and very polite. This is a pleasant surprise since Andrew was the one who pee'd on the steps of the school a couple of years back!

Moses unfortunately doesn't have Student of the Week at his school. If he did though, I know he would have been awarded. Moses has always been well behaved, quiet, and kind. He did a super job this grading period! He received all A's and B's (except 1 C).

We will be planning birthday parties here soon. Besides mine in March, Andrews is in April and although Haileys is in June we will be throwing an early party before she goes to her Dads for the summer. I realized yesterday that she will be missing Elijahs first birthday, but at least Elijah won't remember! :)

Please help baby Brayton!

Baby Brayton was born on June 30th, 2008 to Aimee who is a dear friend of mine. Brayton was born with a birth defect which caused his esophagus not to connect during development. Because of this Brayton has never left the hospital and has been a patient of the NICU/PICU the entire 7 months of his life. His mother lives 5 hours from the hospital and visits as much as possible.

During this time Rick (Braytons father) has been laid off. They struggle day to day to get by. They have 2 other children at home which they also must care for.

Back in July of 2008 I created a fundraiser for this family. With out the wonderful contributors, Aimee and Rick would of struggled more then they already have! This fundraiser allows for them to visit baby Brayton as well as helps with their everyday expenses and bills. We are always looking for more donations, even if all you can do is pass the word along, or send them your prayers!

Here is a link to the site I have created to collect funds for this family. 100% of the proceeds go directly to them.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2790254

Our new Hot August Nights project

We are the proud new owners of a classic 1969 Ford Mustang! We went down yesterday and took a look at the car and for its age it is in pretty good shape! The engine is in a great condition, it almost purrs. It is a 302, V8 coup. We will be getting a new paint job, which at the moment picture it being a dark blue w/ a white racing stripe (blue like the picture posted). The interior is almost in perfect condition except the 2 front seats. It still has its original radio (in working condition), heater, etc. . We ended up talking them down in price which I was THRILLED about!!

The kids seem super excited over our new adventure in classic car restoration. Moses told me this morning that he thinks we will hand down the car to him. It floors me to think that he is a mere 5 years away from the grand old age of 16. Perhaps we will have a Cougar by that point and it will become his! That is, if we can pry it away from Hailey who already is anticipating helping John with the project. Time will only tell I suppose!

Now our new dilemma is moving the pool table from its current home in the garage. Our plans were to make it a game room however that doesn't seem like a possibility anymore!

Mr. Elijah woke up with a cold this morning. He seems miserable. He caught it from Andrew who most likely caught it from my mother. Now we are hoping John doesn't catch it.

I am still awaiting Elijah's coveted social security card. If Womack would of done its job effectively we wouldn't be having this problem right now. Go figure! I would really like to do my taxes right now, so we can start planning our Disneyland vacation.

Baby in a basket

Elijah is already 7 and a half months old!

To Stang. Or not to Stang. That is the question?

Growing up I have always been intrigued by classic cars. It is a family tradition. Every year my step father put his cars into Hot August Nights ( www.hotaugustnights.net ) which is a 7 day party in Reno, NV. Last year we took a vacation to Reno during our PCS from Bragg to Fort Huachuca. It was Johns first time experiencing such an event and he was hooked! I think that is all I heard on our 2 day trip. I want a car, I need a car, cry cry cry.

Today on craigslist I decided I would check out the car section since we are in the market for a new one. My car has become a driveway ornament. I hope and pray everyday that an illegal immigrant will come and find it to be wonderful free transportation and with a little help of a screwdriver in the ignition they could drive it far, far away.

So, we are off to look at a 1969 Mustang I found today. It needs a little cosmetic work, but what a find! We will be giving her a down on it tomorrow if it is a go. That means that I get the new car (Chrysler) and John gets the old car (Mustang). With Johns back, I probably will be its mechanic, problem is I dropped out of auto shop in high school 3 days in. I joined for the boys, but hated the fact that the teacher called me Carpenter (my maiden name).

Keep your fingers crossed!

My Bee Hive aka Bra

You have to love Arizona and its weather. Not even February and its in the 70's. The flowers are still in bloom which welcomes the bees. I remember during the summer my friend Holly was killing literally HUNDREDS of bees. Becoming concerned that there may be a hive in close proximity of her home she called housing. Proudly pointing out the pile of dead bees to the maintenance man, she was swiftly told that the extermination of bees in the State of Arizona is illegal. Who ever passed that law never has had the experience of what I am about to explain-

Two days ago I made my usual friendly exchange of gossip at the bus stop. A friend of mine pointed out that the bees were out in full force. I told her that I only once was stung which was in 1st grade and was sure the pain was nothing as I recalled. We parted ways, and another friend pulled up to talk to me. During our in-depth discussion of Johns walker she interrupted by whispering, "You have a bee on your neck." Panicking I brushed the left side and as luck would have it, it was on the right. For a minute I thought it was gone.... until I looked down my shirt, and like an entrapped bear in a small cage there was the bee. It was wedged in between my breast and my bra. I began jumping, screaming and flashing the outdoors like an intoxicated girl at Mardi Gras. It seemed like forever until I saw the disoriented bee fly away.

It didn't hurt at first. I thought I had escaped injury. Before I knew it my entire boob began to burn and throb. I rushed home to see if John could find the stinger but low-and-behold his Command was there for a visit! "How am I going to explain this with his superior here?" I thought. Luckily he was on his way out. We never did find the stinger. I am sure it was camouflaged in the blood blister. I do have one theory though- I am guessing I was not stung by the standard honey bee. I am guessing it was a boo-bee!

On another note- That same afternoon after I had removed my "bee hive", a man knocked on the door and presented a badge. I invited him in and he asks, "I can see you run a daycare!" Ummmmmm..... not-so-much. They're all mine! **sigh**

What is wrong with people?

Being a mother of 4 I do not have much of a social life. The most I have to look forward to everyday is the daily gossip at the bus stop. I have become friends with a group of gals and discuss everything from bee stings to bra sizes.

Today, while waiting for the 2nd bus that carries my oldest from school I waited and chatted with my friend in front of her house. A group of boys were walking our direction and throwing rocks at each other. As they approached my car, I asked them to stop. Of course they failed to follow directions and kept up their misbehavior. My friend Holly finally yelled out, "I am going to tell your mom!!". One of the boys turned around and proceeded to yell back, "Bring it on B****!!!"

Off Holly went like a bolt of lightening! Running down the rock covered hill, onto the sidewalk, over to the group of children. Of course no one was willing to fess up to such disrespect so she convinced them by saying she will be following each and everyone home. Finally one boy burst into tears, covering his face. Holly being the nice lady she is, explained to them the consequences of rocks in the hands of bratty little boys. She had the offender apologize and agreed not to follow him home to discuss this w/ his parents. I don't think I would have been so nice!

On an off topic subject- I am convinced that John is bound and determined to freeze me out of this house! It is a very rainy, chilly day and he has the air on! I am not a cold person but as I type I think icicles are forming on my nose! I think the medication from this surgery is causing him to have hot flashes! I am sure of it!

As I jump into the world of blog

Years ago, I remember one of my favorite Aunts whos life seemed to parallel mine bought me a journal. She said that she had started a journal in her 20's and had always been fond of looking back on her life. Unfortunately around Christmas I found out that my dearly loved Aunt Bonnie was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Her prognosis is a mere 2-3 months. She has taught me so much and has been a 2nd grandmother to me. So, Bonnie- This is for you! I wish I had started it sooner!