Sometimes

Sometime you never know where the answer to a prayer is going to come from. I found my answer on Stacy's Blog.

God bless you Stacy.

Here is a link to the song she is taking about.

Thank you.

Small towns

So Dad lives in a small town. So small that it is the next town over that had the movie theater. Yesterday I asked should we go to the movies? He got excited and said sure, but I have no idea what is playing. We decided on going to see RV. So I ask him what is the last movie you saw in the theater? Well, I don't remember because it burned down.

WHAT?! It burned down? Yep, like two years ago. OH MY HECK!

So after that initial shock, we got to the theater. Stadium seating, which was later referred to later as very nice. Well that and the sticker shock of the actual price of a ticket. He insisted on a senior ticket to save money. LOL

It was fun to hear him belly laugh and crack over over the goofy parts in the movie. Well that and when the previews came on, Princess Girly Girl saw a hedge. She leans over and says MOM, that is Over the Hedge, May 19th. AND it WAS! That got a good laugh.

So we heard and laughed alot. I am not sure if it was so much the movie or that we were just having fun :)

If you know my Dad...

Then you also know it is very hard for him to open up. He had a rough life and living with my mother, who I think broke his heart, hurt him very much. Anyway, we have not had many seriously discussions in my life. We have had some but I have had things on my mind that I needed to ask and figure out how to do it delicately. So here it goes I am going to spill my heart out to the internet world.

1) Why did you leave Dad. He quietly answered that he thought my mother was in love with someone else. He had gone through it before and did not want to do it again.

He was referring to someone else when I was about 9 years ago. I remember that time and how sad my Dad was.

This led him to tell me that he did fight for us in the divorce and then my mother got so out of whack he was scared that she would lose it and hurt us.

My mother would scream at my brother and I tell us that my Dad did not love us and was not even fighting for us. When I was 18 one of the first things I did was go down to city records and asked for my parents divorce documents. I am not sure if the women was suppose to even allow me to see them (I am sure that it was ok on some front) but I remember the look on her face when she brought it out (and the file was very thick) and told me to have a seat and take my time. While she could not make copies of it she would let me read as long as I wanted. Of course what I found in that file was he fought tooth and nail for us. Whatever the reason we got awarded to my mother.

I did not have the guts to ask what happened this time.

2) Dad what do you want me to do when you die. Now mind you my Dad is only going to be 60. Not that old, but I am dealing with a wife that is not my mother and they now go to a Catholic church and my father raise me to be Mormon. Can you even imagine to conflict? He said he did not care. Do you want a military funeral. What do you want? Still same answer, don't care.

A few nights later he came and said I thought about what you said. I do not want heroic measures. When it is time for me to go I want to go. I will draw up papers, notarize it and send it off to you. So if that happens, you take care of it and me.

OK for my Dad that was HUGE. I have a direction to go for.

3) He had many conversations with DH. One of which was how much he loves his wife. But I really got to see it. See Dad's DW and I have not really talked much. See for me it is too hard. She looks A LOT like my mother. I freaked out the first time I met her. I went to the wedding. I accidentally hurt her feelings but not addressing a Christmas card to her and Dad.

But when he called her, his WHOLE demeanor changed. He was like a teenage kid. It was adorable. I need to take more time to get to know her.

So anyway, that was a lot of my discovery these past two weeks. I am off to mail a thank you card to Dad's DW and make sure that she know that I want her out here the next time too :)

The Happiest Place on Earth

So Monday was the big day. Yap, dragged Dad to Disneyland. He figured he had not been there since I was about 10 years old. I am 33 now so that is one heck of a time. Lots have things have changed.

He could not believe that they changed out the old Disneyland sign. Second park, what is that? Where is the old Oak tree in the middle of Frontier land. The entire front to tomorrowland has changed.

He was having fun watching me with the girls. Kept laughing it is now YOUR turn to run all over the park and go crazy.

He was tried when we got home, He went right to bed. He woke up late this morning. Today he gets to go to a ball game with DH.

I think he is going to need a vacation from his vacation.

Relaxing Day

Today was a nice relaxing day. We got up late. We went out to eat. Came home and kicked it. Had a fun dinner and sat around the table and told stories. Ok I told stories and my Dad laughed his head off.

You know I really thought that he was a much pickier eater then he is. He really is not....

Swim Meet for Princess Seriously

So there was a swim meet today. Well kinda of. See I can read a meet form, really. But when you decide to change things the MORNING OF then it makes it hard for parents to get their kids to where they need to be. We did not have to leave until 10 am. The meet was an hour away. (Side note yes Dad was coming with). I would have been there on time, if one of the other parents had not of pointed out the times on the form. I would have just been there at regular time. Next time I am not listening to another parent, I will be there and sit there all day. Really.

At 9:00 am the team secretary called, change of plans, the meet starts at nine. They are running it in order. They had planned on running the little kids first but changed their minds. WHAT?! was the answer that came from me. Are they going to let the late kids race? Get there as fast as you can, was the answer.

I think we got in the car and did record time getting there. PS was in the shower and I pulled her out. Woke up Dad and said throw clothes on and lets go.

Well she got to race 2 of 4 races. Kinda of a waste and kinda of not. She did take almost 2 seconds off her time in one race.

I am not the pushy kind of parent. Dad observed some of those. His jaw hit the floor. Came to me and said, some of these parents are nuts.

So it was kinda of a rushed day. We came home and took naps after that.

We all have one of those.

You know one of those people in your circle of friends. The one that no one really likes or can stand for that matter. But there she is. You can not get rid of her.

So about a year ago she attacked me. Fine, I handled it. I really did not care. Sucked it up and decided to be really nice, almost sickening sweet nice. I have to deal with her more then I would really care to, because of course she is involved with the church group, her kids goes to my kids school.

Well she is one of those people, you know the victim. Well sweetie I did not make your life choices, you did. Sometimes I do not want to hear you whine.

Well the women were scrapbooking last week. Lo and Behold she needed something. Ribbon. Yep I am the one that had it. She stated I need a blue ribbon, everyone popped out theirs. No matches, I take mine out and viola it matches. So I say, take what you need. I could hear the jaws drop around the table.

So next time you have to deal with one of them, kill em', with kindness that is. It truly drives them INSANE...

I am a copycat

I am bloglifting this from Nancy D. and Martha in Ca because my brain is fried. I am currently scrapbooking up a storm. I actually do have a funny story to share so I might come back later and share it...

What is in Your Shower?

In my shower is...

1) One bottle of manly man shampoo because Dh is tired of smelling like he lives in a house full of girls, including the animals.
2) One bottle if manly man body wash, see #1
3) One BIG bottle of Biologe
4) One bottle of Biologe conditioner
5) Bottle of herbal essence shampoo
6) Bottle of herbal essence conditioner
7) Bottle of Olay ribbons body wash
8) Razor
9) Blue scrubby, Blue is for boys
10) Purple scrubby, purple is for girls


So what is in your shower????

Movie day

Yesterday Dad wanted to relax since I made him paint the bedroom on Tuesday. Ok those are my words not his. So he wanted to sit on the couch. So Princess Seriously asked home if he wanted to watch Star Wars I, II and III with her. He was pretty excited.

So that is where they hung out all day, chatting, and watching the movie. I kept up a steady stream of snacks for them, BTW Dad likes RC cola and nothing else. During the second one, Dad turns to me and says, I am so lost. I guess we never explained the prequil concept to him. So we paused, gave him and update and he was a happy camper. He could not figure out who everyone was. He also said the the second one was way boring. The third one was the best. Well he would know since him and PS stayed up until 11pm to watch the last one.

Today, PS asked if he wanted to watch Lord of the Rings. He snickered and giggles and said he was not THAT far behind. He has watched all three of those. Besides, his butt is sore from sitting all day yesterday.

I am a Ferrari, what are you?

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all. Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental. Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

The Project

So today was project day. Princess Seriously was staying in a black painted room. I mean black. So I thought it would be good if Dad and I had a project that would take us a few days to do. I asked the owner of the house if he minded if we painted the room a different color. He ran to his garage and came out carrying the paint, rollers and brushes. Please he said, paint the room.

So I figured it would take dad and I at least a day or two. Boy was I wrong. First he came down stairs ready to paint this morning. Princess Seriously was not even up yet. Once she finally got up, after a few times of him asking when does she get up, he was ready to go. First I insisted that he eat breakfast. Barely got that cleaned up and he was upstairs setting up and moving things.

The room was painted by 3 pm. AND he got it completely covered in ONE coat.

So much for at least two days of work...

What day is it?! (so not what you think)

Ok before fire I had a wonderful Franklin planner. It had MY.ENTIRE.LIFE. in it. Really. I have no idea when anything is anymore.

Oh so your birthday is coming up, I have no clue. Please call me and tell. You mean I missed a dental appointment that was scheduled last year. I had no clue.

I have not called you in 6 months? I do not have your number.

Did not get a Christmas card, I do not have your address.

So if you are waiting for me to call, come over or send something in the mail to you, call me. Because you will be waiting a long time...

Happy Easter everyone!

Easter is always a fun filled day. Today was no exception. As the holidays have come and gone and we are not in our home, I have not looked forward to them. Today was very different.

The first thing I think, is the furniture. it just feels like our home a bit more. The second thing is having my Dad around. It has been so funny to watch him with the girls and even the dogs. (trust there is a really sad story of why my Dad does not like to be around dogs.) The third thing was to have the big dinner with family around, inclding DH's mom and sister.

We went to church and Dad went with us. He was excited to see the girls in the program today. I was nice to be sitting there in church with him. He is very less active in our church and while that is sometimes a bummer, I do not push at all. I did not even push him to come to church. But he got ready and came with. I was nice and sent hm home after the first hour, so not to tortue him too much. I love holiday services. I love Easter service. I love reflecting.

Family dinner, to me is always fun sitting and having dinner. The funny thing is I hate cleaning up. Even this year I did not mind. Ok now I am tired but then it was fine.

I so enjoyed this holiday. :)

Dad is in the house!

Barely got him off the plane and we were off. I will say that he still hold the door handle like I am trying to kill him when I am driving. Did get a comment about you are all are crazy California drivers.

Took him to see the house, it was so cute, here I am showing him my burnt out home and he is grinning from ear to ear. You guys have done alright was the comment.

He happily dyed Easter eggs with the girls, I have some cute photo (will upload later).

Poor Dad, he has no idea...

TWELVE

Today is Princess Seriously 12th birthday. I remember the first time I looked at her. Face to face. I had never fallen so hard in love and been so scared at the same time. Here was this thing that I grew and now there she was. It was 2:32 am when she decided to make her appearance. The kid still likes to be early to this day.

She has been a delight and a holy terror at times. I dont think i would trade it for the world.

Love you, Princess Seriously :)

Perfection

I was at a loss for words tonight, see I know what I am going to blog about tomorrow but I did not know for tonight. I mistakenly asked the DH what to blog about. He said perfection in a snarky tone. Perfection. You know that you can not blog about because it does not exist. I will not even tell you what he said next.

SOOOOOOOO tonight's blog entry is about perfection (So there DH).

I have learned that everyone sense of perfection is different. Mine is very different from yours. I have also learned that even my own children have different senses of perfection. One is neat and does not stop until it is perfect, the other is a slob and is ok with it looking just alright.

I have friends that a neat freaks and friends that are not. I am anal about some things and other things I could honestly give a crap about.

So what is my perfection?

• A house that people can walk into and I not worry about it being a total mess. That does not mean it has to be perfect. Just neat is fine.
• Knowing without a shadow of a doubt that my DH loves me.
• Kids that are pleasant and reasonably behaved.
• Having fun, always finding a laugh because life is too serious (I tend to be also)
• Having a testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Knowing that I have friends that love me and I love them too.

So what is YOUR perfection?????

Got Furniture?

Because I DO!

Doing the happy dance :)

Laughing really hard!

What scrapbooking tool are you?

What scrapbooking item are you?

 

You are STICKERS!You like brightening things up in life and decorating your living space with your own personal style. You are versatile and able to get things done with a stick-to-it attitude. People love your colorful personality and personal flair! You like exploring new things and are willing to try anything once. But Stickers beware - sometimes you like to stick to someone that you like a little too much and take them into your confidence a little too easily. Your personality tends to make you a steadfast friend, but make sure the friends you choose are worth your efforts!
Take this quiz!








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Tomorrow is exciting.

OK on the Dad countdown. He is here in 4 days.

But tomorrow I get my living and dining room back. See when we ordered rental furniture for this house, DH decided not to furnish the front room and formal dining room. At the time, I was ready to kill him, but then hoped that we would not be here for long and went with it.

FOUR MONTHS later, we are still here and will probably be here for FOUR more months. I called the restoration company and gave them a list...

The LIST

• Item Number 8 1 wood frame chair w/ fabric seat (cream)
• Item number 41 1 wood frame fabric seat chair (cream)
• Item Number 60 1 corduroy Love Seat (tan)
• Item Number 61 1 corduroy sofa (tan)
• Item Number 62 2 drawer end table
• Item number 63 1 metal floor lamp w/ glass shade (black)
• Item number 65 1 3 drawer wood coffee table
• Item number 67 wood dining table with leaf
• Item number 69 wood frame fabric seat chair (cream)
• Item Number 85 1 carpeted cat house
• Item number 108 1 large hiking backpack (black/yellow)
• Item Number 187 4 kids golf clubs in canvas bag
• Item Number 188 1 16 golf club set in canvas bag (black blue)

When I asked DH what he wanted, GOLF CLUBS is what he yelled. So tomorrow I will fell a little more at home :) I am so excited.

That and I broke down and got a new toaster over this weekend. I was really dying without that.

So now you know the major excitement in my life, toaster over and furniture.

House update 10003

So we got a check today for the first part of the construction. It has the right mortgage company on it now.

I get my dining room and living room furniture back on Thursday, I really missed the stuff.

I took all the light bulbs out of the house, figured I could be more energy efficent here in the house I am renting.

I am still waiting for the Personal loss check. I might be waiting a while for that one.

I miss my house.

Spring Break

I want to know who came up with this term? It must have been a man. Spring Break is a break for the kids. But is it is not a break for mom. I know I have to hear, MOM, about 10,000 more times a day then I had to before. The even WORSE part is that Spring Break is the ENTIRE month of April, since we are on a year round schedule.

Today, I made the girls due projects (read that, threatened their little lives to keep out of moms way). They both had to clean their rooms. See Princess Seriously is having a friend spent the night for her birthday. Princess Girly Girl, well, I told her that Grandpa is coming and he needs to see a spotless room. She is the neat freak. She proceeded to take EVERYTHING out of her shelves and reorganize everything. Poor kid, it took her all day. Princess Seriously got smart and locked herself in her room with the music blasting.

Me, I cleaned. I did my anal vacuuming and enjoyed it. In peace, alone. With no one saying MOM, for about 10 minutes...

Sundays

*Disclaimer* This is a post about my religion and beliefs. This is a more serious post then usual.

Today was a wonderful day. Sundays are always hard because I get the girls ready for church on my own (Dh has meetings) and they ALWAYS fight. It never fails. This week was no different. So Poor Dh by the time we get to church I am already frazzled. I was extra frazzled because I would be teaching TWO lessons. My normal one and Relief Society for my friend.

Sacrament meeting was an amazing meeting. Today was Fast and Testimony meeting. This where member of the congregation are able to get up and give their testimonies. The spirit was so strong. See, also during these meeting is when we also have baby blessings. This is where the father ( or other close member to the family) is able to give the baby a blessing and to give them their name that they will be known as on the records of the church and to set the tone of their life. These are so beautiful. Today baby, was blessed by the grandfather. The spirit was so strong. The father of this baby has not been to church in 10 years. This entire was so moved by the spirit and it was so wonderful to see them all.

I also teach the Gospel Essentials class. This is the class where the new converts come to learn. I am so blessed to teach this class. I watch these wonderful people get baptized and then watch them grow. Today I saw one of the women grow. She got up and bore her testimony. I was in tears by the end. She has grown so much. I also got to find out that one of the other members of the class is getting ready to go through temple classes. She is SO EXCITED. I am excited for her.
Then I got to teach a lesson about the Atonement and what that means to me. I love classes like this. I love to have everyone interact and to hear their wonderful stories. I love learning.

Where am I going with all of this? It occurred to me during all of this, that their is a part of me that has not embraced the whole atonement. See, I say I have forgiven my mother. I did not have the perfect childhood. Despite of all of this, I think I am still a wonderful person. I think I still managed not to be a person that decided that every wrong turn in my life is because my mother was a bad mom.

My mother is sick, she is bipolar. I had to deal with this all my life. She lied, she lied about many things. She was not capable of making good decisions when she is ill. She was very capable of turning everyone to her side. No one else had to see how she was with the doors shut and how she treated my brothers and I.

I no longer choose to hold all of that. I understand that she is ill. I understand. And I forgive. I am no longer scared or angry. I have pretty hid for the last 12 years from her. I contacted her once and knew that she has not changed. She is still the victim. That is completely fine. She can live like that but I DO NOT have to.

Now does this mean I am going to reach and call her. No. But it does mean that the day that I run into to her, I will be able to embrace her. I will finally be able to embrace her and tell her I love her and *I* forgive her.

What she does with that, it up to her. Then we can hopefully rebuild a relationship.

So until that day, I hope that my mother is happy. Because that is all I really want for her, for me and for anyone that any hurt in their lives.

Sunk to a new low

If DH and I are sitting in the same room with our laptops, we IM each other to talk. Can even be sitting on the same couch.

So now we figured out instead of yelling out to get Princess Seriously attention, we now call her on her cell.

It is MUCH better!!!

More Dadness

We, yes all of us went to Sam's Club. While we were there, Dh turns and asks "Does your Dad like Fish?" I have no clue. I get out the cell phone and call him.

Me: Dad do you like fish?
Dad: Excitedly, yeah I do.
Me: Ok, one more question, do you want regular mustard or fancy mustard with your ham>
Dad: Plain ol' regular mustard.
Me: Ok that is it
Dad: laughing, that is all you called me for.
Me: Yep
Dad: Ok bye

Now all of you are thinking, why would I not know if my dad likes fish? See, my mother and father divorced when I was 14. All I remember about her cooking, it that it was the same stuff all the time. After the divorce she really never cooked again. So I remember funny things about him and eating. I thought he was way pickier then I guess he really is.

I do know that he is terrified about coming out here and:

1. Driving in the car with me
2. to actually eat my cooking because when he did before I was a newlywed and did NOT know how to cook.
3. letting me wash his clothes. There was that pink t-shirt incident...
4. seeing my house cleaning skills. Well when I was a newlywed I did not clean very well or at all. I have since seen the error of my ways and am now a cleaning freak.

This should be an interesting visit...

My Dad

My dad is coming in about a week. Now mind you I have bugged him to come for AT LEAST 10 years. I always go see him. So he decided now is the time to come. Panic sets in first. I am not in MY house. TWO weeks. He is coming for two weeks.

Then I take a deep breath. This can work. LOL We have lots of things plans. Poor dad, he is not going to know what hit him. Here is the list so far. Step off the plane and go see Aleksei, well actually for him go help Brooks move. Color Easter eggs, play the Easter bunny. Go to church. Have Easter dinner. A phone today confirmed that he does eat honeybaked ham as long as he has mustard. Go to swimming every day with Princess Seriously. Go to Ballet on Thursday with Princess Girly Girl. Go to swim meet. Go to Church. Go to Baseball games. Go to Disneyland. Go to Zoo.

I am sure there is more that I can find for him to do. Poor Dad, he has no idea....

Things People Say

Apparently teasing is not a good thing. The thing about that is if it is a huge part of who you are then you need to watch what you say around people.

I really went back and forth about posting this at all, but hey this is MY blog, so for this once it is ALL ABOUT ME!

So, I feel like you get to this point where you start thinking about all the things that people say about you. I have been told just recently:

1) You tease too much and it hurts
2) You don't talk enough
3) You do too many acts of service and it make the rest of us feel like crap because we can not be like you.
4) Stop worrying about your house because you still have one to live in.

Well you know what, there were not too many people concerned when my house tried to burn itself down. I am trying to get over it.

I am sorry that you don't like to serve your fellow man and it bothers you that I do.

If I talk to much then I will say something to piss someone off so I just shut up.

Teasing, well I am not sure what to say to that, other then this is me and I try hard and I will continue to try. But please give me and break.

Anyway, I am done ranting. Give me a day or two, I do get my feelings hurt too.....

Its Raining, Its Pouring

and the old man is not snoring....

Well I love rain, I love to snuggle in bed, but this year I am in a quandary. Everytime it rains, it puts the construction on the house back a day. See right now there is a hole in the side of the house, it goes into Princess Seriously room. This is where we see the damage. Most of the damage was done within the walls. So when you start ripping away things then you see the damage done on the inside.

Then there is the truss that has been removed from the garage. The tiles are off from above the garage and you just see the wood. Sort of strange to see. It is strange to look up in the garage and see sky. There are holes in the roof of the garage because they removed the vents. It is all just strange looking.

But the good news is that there is progress happening. Finally...

Snuggles and Miracles

Today was a great day. No today was a MIRACLE!

See today, I went to see Aleksei. I got to hold him, feed him, burp him. I got to smell him, love him and watch him breathe. His 5 month now, almost 10 pounds and he is A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

We prayer for him, we cried for him and we prayed even more. We love him like he was ours. He is a miracle.

Today was a GREAT day :)

What has my life become?

On Saturday nights, I sit and wait at the computer for one of my favorite websites to update. See they the list of coupon and things that are going to be on sale at my local grocery store. The girls wonder what is mom going to get with coupons this week. It is now a game to me. To save more then I spend. You know it is bad when you have 14 boxes of fruit snacks and you think about when you are going to be able to get more. I also have 16 boxes of cereal right now. LOL. So here I am working on my food storage a little bit at a time.

The not fun part is that the local grocery store will now only accept one coupon at a time now. But the good part is that I have THREE of these stores near me. So I might be having to go to the store three times in one day. But when you are getting toothpaste for free, what do you do?

Then I think about is this what my life has come to? Grocery shopping? Saving money. It is not because I have to. It is because I find new ways to entertain myself daily.

See I used to be the career women, then one that had it all, home, work and kids. Little did I know, I really did not have it all. I was completely stressed out and a wreck.

Now I just yell at the girls for goofy things like a dish on the counter, vacuum twice a day and cut coupons. But you know, I don't think I would trade it for the world now. But don't tell DH that.