Got in at about 7:45. Talk about a long trip… Mr. Incredible “worked” on his laptop in the back of the van with his headset on…I drove.

The kid alternated from reading each other stories to tormenting the heck out of each other. (you know good ‘family fun’)

After our picture clothes for tomorrow passed inspection (poor Tink has to wear this ugly little dress – but the MIL bought it for her birthday last October – so it’s one of those type of things). Realized that I didn’t bring the correct hair ribbons so out to the store to get those, and then the kids went fishing…

This was Tink first time Fishing…. she caught 3 walleye, and a perch before deciding the bugs were getting her. Pan caught 2 walleye, and a small mouth bass…none of which were big enough to keep. Papa is very good with both kids, teaching them to reel in the slack, and then jerking the pole to hook the fish. Pan was a little upset that Tink was catching more at first, but then they started catching his.

I did take some photos, if I can find the card reader I may put them up later.

ha ha – fooled you all….. Oh, how I wish that was true…

Instead – we are packing up the vehicle – two kids, one Mr. Incredible, (NoSammyNo will be at the doggy hotel) two portable DVD players, books, magna doodles, water bottles, (Dt. Coke for me) two suitcases…and heading west… to visit the in-laws. For the next 5 days, the kids will be in Papa’s world.

The lake, the beach, boats, waverunners, skiing, pinballs, slot machine, you name it – they have it. – and if the kids ask for it – they will get it – Papa and Grandma spoil them, that’s okay – they enjoy doing it – and the kids love it. Only sucky thing about the whole weekend will be the family photo on Saturday morning…I hate having my picture taken, and would rather not do it, but because I was asked I’ll do it. The best part of the weekend – Fireworks on the lake – nothing beats laying in a boat and watching ‘em…nothing….

Hopefully one evening will be spent at the tiny amusement park and ride the roller coaster – hopefully Pan is tall enough this year.

I may or may not be posting, will try to read and comment – but will just have to see what the weekend brings.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th!

(So excited this is the first 4th that Mr. Incredible has had off in about 7 years…. I know – it’s a shocker!)

Someone said that I make “having children sound like fun” – it’s true – I like being a mom, actually I love it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, and it also the most demanding. Never have I had a boss like my two kids – it’s 24/7, non-stop – and it’s the most rewarding, that said – here’s the low down…

Conception – FUN
Being Pregnant – some parts of it are fun
The delivery part – not so much fun
Hearing your Baby’s first cry – breath taking
Naming rights – wonderful…
Late nights, early mornings, and not sleeping through the nights – not so much fun
Snuggling with the newborn baby – priceless
Knowing that you are responsible for the upbringing of this new baby – scary as hell.
The hugs, kisses and “I love yous”- FANTASTIC
The whining because they wouldn’t take their nap – not fun
Making snowmen and going sledding – FUN
Blowing bubbles on a spring day – FUN
Having water gun fights just because – FUN
Art Projects – messy – but FUN
Seeing your child finally achieve a hard to reach goal (monkey bars, scoring a goal, jumping off the boards) – Fantastic
Watching them grow and become their own little self – FUN
Listening to them – their conversations can be so comical – funny
and my favorite part of being a parent -
Getting to see the world through the eyes of a child – It’s Priceless…

Today is the last offical “Stay Home Mommy Day” as after our long weekend, I will be going back to work full-time. I’m kinda sad… I know we need the income, but I have really enjoyed staying home with my kids. I have worked full-time as long as I can remember – until October of last year. It was great getting to stay home with the kids and if we could afford it – I would…

I can’t believe that six years ago I was sitting the doctors office, expecting to be told -”looks good, any day” – instead – it was well ” it will be a while” – my due date – June 25th, Pan’s birthday – July 14th.

But Pan is a lot like me – very stubborn, and did not come into this world until he was ready – even then, they had to go in after him – silly boy – (he wasn’t a big baby – 7 lbs. 12 oz.) – just wasn’t ready to be born.

*********
Yeah, I’ve got nothing…. sorry…

I am so stealing from Easily Amused today – It’s a….

(¯`’•.¸(¯`’•.¸A Lizzie Quizzie!¸.•’´¯)¸.•

1. Have you ever played Ghost in the Graveyard? In a graveyard? – Yes, we played all the time as kids. My Aunt and Uncle lived right next to an old Graveyard and yes, if we were at my cousins we played there too. (I know we were bad kids!)

2. Do you know your family background/geneology? I know some of it, my Aunt is really into this and has map my mom’s Dad’s side back to 1755…it’s very interesting.

3. Ever visited a real farm? I grew up on one.

4. Have you ever been to a family reunion? When was the last time? Yes – June 25, 2006

5. When was the last time, if ever, you went fishing? Do you bait your own hook? Last fall – nope, my FIL will bait it for me, and take the fish off.

6. Have you ever held a garage sale? How much did you make? Yes, between $300 – $500 depends how much crap I have to get rid of.

7. How well do you get along with your inlaws (if you are married)? Are you close to any of your exs’ families? I work really hard to get along with my MIL, no woman will ever be good enough for her son. My FIL likes me, so I don’t worry about it.

8. Circles or drops? (think spinning rides or rollercoasters) LOVE the rollercoasters….so both.

9. Do you mind being photographed? I hate being photographed – hate it.

10. How well do you get along with your neighbors? We get along with our neighbors on 3 sides – we do not get along with the new neighbor who doesn’t appreciate the value of keeping his yard picked up, mowed or the weeds under control. If you looked up “white trash” in the dictionary – his picture would be there….

On the to-do list today?

1. Have fun with the kids
2. Swim lessons (at 11)
3. AR reading program at School (at 10:30)
4. Have fun with the kids
5. reading program at public library
6. get to Metropolis and get Pan a shirt to wear for pictures – while there get one for Mr Incredible and myself – my MIL informed me that we are getting a “group” picture…yea, thrill
7. Do something fun with the kids
8. Get organized for the weekend – (that means make sure life jackets fit, etc.)
9. Have fun with the kids…

Not sure what exactly we will accomplish – but I know that I want to have fun!

**** Side note – yesterday was my sister and BIL’s 12th wedding anniversary, and my grandparent’s 59th wedding anniversary (dad’s side) …and I forgot – so I better get them a card.

Every time I turned around today, someone was giving Tink candy. Tootsie Rolls, Lollipops, cookies, M & M’s, you name it – if it was sweet, she was eating it. Even after I said – ‘no more’ – she’d just walk up to the dessert table and ask the nearest person taller than her for help – and they of course fed her…she is on a total sugar rush! This is her – stuffing a tootsie roll in her mouth when she saw me, after I said ‘no more’.

We went to a family reunion today – saw many relatives that I haven’t seen in years. They knew me when I was little and I knew them when they had hair.

Only 100 or so people, Mr. Incredible went with me – to say that he hates this type of thing would be the understatement of the year. But he does like this side of the family. I think he was glad he went, he talked to my Grandpa (for a short time) and to some of my uncles. (This side of the family really likes Mr. Incredible, they think is he a great husband and father. This side of the family actually gives the guy a chance – I like that about them – anyone is welcome in their home, as long as you treat everyone with respect. There is always room for one more. That’s how family should be.)

My Grandpa even called me tonight at home to say how much it meant to him that all the “Incredibles” were there, and how glad he is that I have such a good husband. I don’t know why, but I think Grandpa is getting ready to die. Just a few things that he said, was like he was tying up loose ends….I love him, and I’ll miss him greatly when he is gone.

Today Mr. Incredible is out with a group of HAMS – Pan will join them later after everything is set up – it’s only a drill…so it will be fun.

This morning I cranked up the stero to get a few things done – that really, really needed to be done. ….DEEP CLEANING….and I’m finally done!! yeah me! Now just need to get that laundry done – that is a never ending battle. Tink would change her clothes 20 times a day if I let her – she’s silly that way.

I think after Tink and I drop Pan off we will go to the big metropolis and return a few things (too big!) and find Pan a shirt that he can wear for pictures next weekend.

Only have one week left of part time – and then my blogging activities will really slow down. I won’t be able to check-in or post durning the day, but I’ll still be stopping by in the evening…. Miss the job that paid me to blog… ha ha.

Have a great weekend!

A week ago, I had the strangest phone call from my Baby Bro M. He called to say making babies in petrie dishes is not an exact science, and that it didn’t work (again). His wife lost one at 6 weeks, they are giving her meds to help the miscarriage along. (She had an appointment sometime this week).

It was a sad phone call, because while M has always loved other people’s kids (”they leave at the end of the day”) I think he is finally realizing that he wants one of his own, and while he’d never admit it – he really wants a boy – he is taking it hard.

That was at 7:00 – by the time we hung up – at 11:30 we had discussed everything from him being the lead man when a co-worker lost his arm in a machine, and the stuff that goes with that… to upcoming family weddings that neither one of us are attending…. to whether or not Mr. Incredible is my friend.

Yes, I married my friend – I enjoy being with him and spending time with him. I know, it’s corny – but deep down I know he is my everything – and that he completes me. I told M some of the best marriages that I know, the husband and wife are friends, they enjoy some of the same things, and enjoy spending time with each other. He doesn’t know that his marriage can take much more of this not getting pregnant. There are times that I just want to give him a big hug…he is a good man, and he feels so bad because he can’t make his wife happy – all that she wants is a baby…and no man is going to be able to give her that.

But it got me thinking – what do you think makes a marriage last?

Tonight Mr. Incredible were discussing our Swim Instructor. She’s a high school gal – she is great with the kids, but it’s becoming apparent that being on-time, and keeping appointments is not high on her list. Hanging out with friends and the boyfriend rate higher – which I understand, I was young once (many moons ago). But damit – If we make an appointment for a certain date and time – don’t cancel on me and the kids we need to get these darn things done.

We are having this discussion after the kids went to bed saying how young people just aren’t responsible anymore – and we are watching – get this the HISTORY CHANNEL (but it’s a cool show). My Grandparents watch the History Channel – this isn’t something that young people do!

We complain that the volume is too loud when the TV is on Boomerang!, and not loud enough when the weather is on. I swear we have have the DVR feature, just so we can rewind – because we missed what was said.

We are tired at night, and find ourselves getting ready for and going to bed earlier each night.

We talked about growing up in simpler times – I only had 4 channels – PBS, NBC, CBS and ABC – and the signal strength was such that we didn’t always get ABC. I didn’t have Fox (so no, I didn’t watch 90210 in high school) or MTV…

I don’t know who the Origial V-Jay’s were, nor do I care. Hubby had MTV on the day it launched in 1981- and remebers what was playing. I don’t remember certain events in the late 70’s early 80’s, so Mr Incredible tells me I am young and had a sheltered life.

But today I feel really old, why? Because I was reading my hometown newspaper on-line. The last family I babysat for before going to college – the youngest son was in the paper – he received a full academic scholarship to college…I used to change his diapers -and now he is going to college? I am soooo freakin’ old….