Need I say more?

I received this message today in my inbox and had to share...thanks for sharing Kim, I really do appreciate it. I think Anthony watched A Christmas Story one too many times over the holidays.

Bonnie, you have to share this with Melissa T, I don’t know that I have the correct email from school for her, so share it if you have it, too long to comment on her blog.


I read her blog this afternoon, and was laughing about Anthony. My Sam is in the same class with Anthony at St. Joseph, and out of the blue at the supper table tonight, Sam is eating a popsicle he made today (which the popsicle must have triggered the memory of the story). And he starts telling us about one of his friends at school got his tongue stuck on something and they had to cut his tongue off and rip it off the ? pole? And then they sewed his tongue back together. Did this happen at school? “NO, he was just telling me about it.” We’re chuckling and ask him, what friend is that? “Anthony” which made me laugh, and then say, remind me later Jeff I’ve got a story to tell you later. J no idea if it’s true, but made me laugh, it was meant to be Anthony day.


I have been in the classroom a couple of times helping, and he is one of the happiest, most loveable little guys! I’ve only been to school a couple times, and he comes running to give me a hug everytime. I have some pictures from the Christmas party at school, still on the camera I’ll try and get to later, and forward.


Kim

Yay for a snow day, I think...

Well today is a snow day. I was all geared up to go to work even though most of the town was shut down because today was a packed schedule. My co-worker Rob even trekked over to get me because we thought it is better to have safety in numbers. But as soon as he pulled in our Office Manager shoots out a text that we are closing. But instead of curling up to watch The Proposal again (man, that movie is funny) I go to work downstairs while my amazing hubby is taking care of the troops upstairs. The troops meaning Anthony, Alex, and our new little puppy Zoe.


Yep we did it. We added a new furry friend to the family. Do I regret it yet? Not one bit! We drove to Sabin in the rain on Friday night to get her. She is a beautiful little mutt with the cutest face you have ever seen. Her mom was 100% Pomeranian and they think the dad from what they saw was either a Poodle or Bischon mix. Erik says she looks like an alley dog, well all 3.5 pounds of her. Anthony begged to hold her the first night we had her and kept saying how much he loved her. He also has been really good about letting her out and getting her water. Alex is still not quite sure of her especially when she wants to play with him and his toys.

The only qualm I have had with her is she will go snuggle up in her kennel during the day but come night time she cries, a cry that will not stop. So she has ended up in bed with us, that thrills Erik. But only a few accidents in the house and considering it is literally blizzarding outside I am pretty happy with that. I will post a picture when my camera batteries are not dead.

So like I mentioned I am working downstairs today. I took a break around a eleven to eat and see what the boys are up to. I walk up and Anthony is playing his DS. Erik asks me when did Anthony get the game Speedracer? I told him he didn't, he has two games that Santa gave him and neither of them are Speedracer. I ask Anthony where he got Speedracer and he told me Stuart borrowed it to him when we were at Chad and Leslie's watching the game last night. But I know when my child is not telling me the truth so I start asking questions. Erik and I are starting to look at each other and do some team work at this point because Anthony is clearly not telling us the truth. He is sent to his room, DS is confiscated, and he is crying because nobody believes him. Leslie calls, I ask her if Stu has that game and it turns out no he doesn't. Erik threatens to call Santa because Anthony has decided to take back the Stuart story and tell us that Santa gave it to him. Erik and I just didn't see that game in his case. Now at this point we are both getting frustrated because we KNOW what Santa gave him. Erik responded that he was going to have to call Santa. I was trying to choke back my laughter because Anthony starts to sob uncontrollably because he doesn't want daddy to call Santa. He knows he is backed in a corner (by the way we have tried the just tell us the truth and you won't be in trouble and he would just not give in). So the confession comes...he borrowed it from his cousin Richard over Christmas (not quite sure if Richard knows though).

So now he is sleeping in his room (crying really tires a person out) and when he wakes up he will be writing a letter apologizing to Richard for taking his game and tomorrow we will be sending Richard's game back to him. He will be without his DS and many other things he holds dear to his heart this week. I was shocked that he did that. I think he was shocked that he got busted. I just hope the lesson resonates with him.

Can you guess what I forgot to share?

I will give you a hint-it has to do with paying it forward...

Here are some words to help guess what my big news is:

• active
• composed
• extroverted
• good natured
• influenced by others
• friendly
• curious
• serious
• sensitive
• competitive

Think, ponder, and please take part in guessing what news I am going to reveal. I thought this was a fun way to share it and to also test my friend Amanda's question on whether we bloggers like a cliffhanger. So the purpose of this blog is to make it a fun event because this is a check off of my bucket list, keep you all guessing, and help my friend Amanda get some answers to her question. To be revealed tomorrow...

Hi, my name is Melissa and I have multiple personalities.

Well I must say that just as quickly as things can sometimes seem daunting, they can also bounce back and seem hopeful.

This past week has been CRAZY. I literally worked 60+ hours, by Friday my head felt like mush. I could not even put together a complete sentence. My body was ready for some rest, relaxation, and my arms craved to hold my boys.
My week at work was crazy but also very productive. We had two sales consultants named Tom and Paul fly in for our kickoff meeting with the 5 new Inside Sales reps we hired on. They had some great information and delivered us a pretty new sales manual that the other sales reps should start worshipping. My sales manual was here is your desk, computer, and phone-good luck! Regardless, we had a great time with them including an excellent dinner of scallops at Monte's with my boss and T&P. Monte's is delicious, if you have not been there you must go. It was one of Erik and I's favorites prior to children. Anyways I digress, the work week was long but I finished it up with a well deserved sale (thank you very much) and a feeling of accomplishment (obviously much needed).

Anthony has been an ice skating fool this past week, he went every day so it has been decided he will play hockey next year. He is so fun to watch and his eyes light up when the big guys come to the park to play hockey. Erik took both the boys to the dike for some sledding on Saturday and on Sunday Anthony and I went skating again. We were having a great time until these two little girls came named Sam and Sarah. As soon as Anthony saw them I fell off into the oblivion. You should have seen him trying to charm the ladies. He would not let them get less than 5 feet away, chatting and smiling along with them the entire time way. Not going to lie, it gave me visions of the future and scared me a little.

I also read an amazing book over the weekend. It was only 126 pages so I read it after we put the boys to bed on Saturday. It is called "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. Written in 1899 it was very modern for that time. I loved everything about it but most of all the ending. There is something about a book that ends and all you want to do is discuss it, think about it, and you crave more of it. This book has all of that. I am actually going to purchase or borrow whatever books I can find Kate Chopin's name attached to. My co-worker Jessie introduced me to "The Awakening" and told me that Kate was very controversial after she wrote this and was harassed because she was a woman with "aggressive thoughts".
So we finished up the weekend with a nice family dinner, Erik and I actually agreed on the same show to watch, and turned in early. We also booked a mini-vacation with some friends in March. All in all a great weekend of enjoying the kids, reading a good book, and taking it easy. Just what the doctor ordered!

My Bucket List

With the New Year comes a clean slate. Whole brand new year to meet goals, exceed goals, and have the opportunity again to try reaching brand new goals. So with the spirit of the new beginning I am going to not only list this year’s goals, I am going to try drum up my bucket list. Have you seen the movie "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? It is one of my all time favorites. First off because it is not only insightful and hilarious, but it is also relevant to any living person. At the end of the day we are delivered to God's good graces (or at least for me that is my personal goal) but along the way I want to make this one heck of a ride. I want to know that I lived my life to the fullest and I have no regrets. So here it goes, maybe if you have some of the same aspirations we can do it together-the more the merrier as far as I am concerned. By the way these are in no particular order-I am realizing as I am writing so bear with me, also keep in mind that I may have already accomplished them and checked them off- but they are still part of my goals and I want a solid record to check off.


1. To fall in love with my partner for life. (Pretty sure this is a check :).

2. Have as many beautiful babies as the Lord and my patience allows. This one we are leaving up to him for sure.

3. Be content in knowing that I am a good person.

4. Eat only chocolate and drink only martini's for one solid day.

5. Go to the Cayman Islands with my husband or a group of fun peeps.

6. Write a book.

7. Adopt a child whether that is through a share service or to become part of our immediate family.

8. Be a size 8 (wish I could say 6-just not realistic) for the rest of my life starting in 2011. Gives me a year.

9. Buy my husband his dream car.

10. Pay for all of my kid’s college so they don't have to take out any student loans.

11. Surprise someone down on their luck by having groceries delivered with a note that says, “Just because..."

12. Play with all of my grandchildren and spend independent time with each one of them.

13. Have a breast lift and tummy tuck.

14. Go to Vegas and blow a wad of cash because I can.

15. Dye my hair bright red, preferably when I am old so I can wear matching gold shoes and jewelery to embarrass my children.

16. Dance with my sons at their weddings.

17. Renew my vows with my husband surrounded by our closest family and friends.

18. Smell my husband’s cologne for as long as I live.

19. Play Ms. Clause and have the little kids believe that I came from the North Pole for them.

20. Take my best girlfriend on a trip-my treat, if I can't afford it she better take me.

21. Make a turkey and full Thanksgiving feast by myself.

22. Meet a celebrity-not picky just someone that has made it to the cover of People of Us Magazine or has done humanitarian work that I respect.

23. Own a nice camera and know how to use it.

24. Retire at the lake.

25. Go sky diving even thought it terrifies me. It REALLY terrifies me-but what the hell?!

Well that seems like a good list to start with. Now think about this, maybe blog about it because I am curious what does your bucket list mean to you? Anyone up for skydiving? Want to do this before I lose my nerve...

New Moon

So I took my little cousin Marissa to the "New Moon" movie last night (because I have been dying to go). Ladies, I tried to not read the books, I tried to not become one of the followers, and ladies I have failed. If you love an easy read that involves romance that brings you back to high school when you were swooning over your first love this series is a must. The girls at work are the ones to blame in my case. They kept pressuring me to read the series; I kept making fun of them. The Twilight series reminded me of the Harry Potter obsession which I never understood. This phenomenon with Twilight you will completely get after reading the first book.

Once I began reading it I could not put it down, I even went and bought New Moon after I finished Twilight because I could not wait to go to the office on Monday to grab it off of Jessie's desk. My husband looked at me in disbelief and has been completely annoyed that I insisted on reading every night before bed this last month. By the way my dreams have also become more adventurous since I hopped on this train. I now have finished all four books and my blood is boiling for the 5th book which should be coming soon.

Regardless, the movie was AWESOME! I am definitely Team Edward all the way. Make fun of me all you want but I am telling you if you can get over the stigma your imagination and heart will forgive you. The story line is great, the characters are unique, and the setting is beautiful.

Say what you want I don't care. If I can convince you to take the step you will be thanking me later. I may even let you come to Eclipse (the third book) when it comes out in June of 2010.

The series goes as follows: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. Buy it, borrow it, or download it on your Kindle. Does anyone have a Kindle? Please tell me what you think about it if you do. The thought of being able to download thousands of books and keep them in one location makes me salivate. The only problem is that I am prone to losing things as well as borrowing out books when I am done.

So now I am on the hunt for another good book to read. Granted I have 3 on my nightstand that have been collecting dust since my new obsession but I am thinking about going to get Barbara Kingsolver's new book The Lacuna: A Novel her first novel in nine years, she is the author of The Poisonwood Bible (Oprah's Book Club) (Paperback) (great book) among many others. I read it before it became an Oprah book by the way- for whatever reason it really bugs me that she puts her stamp on a book and then it is deemed good. Not sure why I have a beef with that but it BUGS ME. I am also contemplating Jeannette Walls new book Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel because her first book The Glass Castle: A Memoir was unbelievable. I tend to read mostly non-fiction books in terms of auto-biographies and biographies. That is why I had a hard time deciding to read the Twilight series because there is no way that it was factual. I like books that I can read and then try to dig into the history of them when I am finished. I also like to read in first person versus second person most of the time.

So with all that being said PLEASE share what you are reading, who are some of your favorite authors, and what are some of your favorite books? I am always up for a good read, even better if it has been recommended!

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures- December 2009...

Alex's favorite part of the cookie is my homemade  the frosting...can you really blame him?

Above are some pictures from the night of Anthony's kindergarten Christmas program. He looked so cute in his "Christmas Best".

Above is Anthony's note to Santa telling him about the things he wants to remind him and to also fill him in on a few things he forgot to tell him. Translation: DS, Dog 7 mo (months-why not sure?) old, and electronical race car (he is learning to sound out his words). Also are the treats that we laid out for Santa and the reindeer.

             

Santa came through on the DS. I love the pic of Alex checking out what Anthony got. He was so cute to watch, still more interested in boxes half the time. But got so excited for everyone else.

 

Last but not least Anthony in his new robe that he calls his new"kung-fu" robe and will not take off.