MR MOODY AND MR COOL

Isaiah is quite the mood shifter therefore rightfully earning his name

Mr. Moody!

He can go to a birthday swim party and go from this

then hit his brother requiring him to exit the pool and turn to this

After a lot of pouting and fake tears

he finds

and all the world is right again

Oh and a slip and slide
All the while Mr. Calm Cool and Collected does this for a very long time

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

"SAY HELLO TO MY LIT-TLE FRIEND!"

Some people have a guard dog.

Some people use the blog frog.

Me.....

I am blogging about my guard frog!!

Meet Bugsley

I think he might be the same frog that Elijah caught and trained. It might not be but we prefer to think that he was so well trained and loved our flower beds, which sadly for the first time in 5 years don't contain many flowers, so much that he decided to stay. Every single night he can be seen sitting on our ugly large step of afront porch! I don't mind since he is eating bugs. He is a welcomed guest and I like to think that although he couldn't really harm an intruder he could at least hop out and scare one!! He stays there all evening through the night (trust me I've stepped outside to check before I've gone to bed between 2 and 3am) and doesn't leave until late morning.

Wow such a hungry and lazy dedicated watch frog!

DOES SHE REALLY EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT CRAP?

You know there are a ton of reality TV shows!

You know there are a variety of weigh loss reality shows.

You also know dancing shows such as Dancing with the Stars or MY LOVE So You Think You Can Dance are popular. Nope I KNOW I can but that is another post.

Recently, Oxygen started the show Dance Your Ass Off which combines dancing and weight loss reality TV.

Personally, I watch it to feel better about myself and pity them b/c the producers put them in skimpy outfits to dance around so we the viewers can gag and laugh at the fat jiggling!! I swear the outfits are for ratings!

It works!!

Seriously, does Ass have to be in the title though.

It is hard enough to find a normal family television show that doesn't slip in the "b" word or any other undesirable word for small listening ears, but now they are just slipping them into the title so you can't even say what you are watching. Ugh.....anywho.......just another show for me to watch during the night........

Do you ever watch The Biggest Loser and think to yourself..."They have to weigh more than that or the TV adds like 50lbs."

Nope.

Well I DO!!

NOTE: ALL skinny girls should just stop reading this post now since you probably won't be able to appreciate this post as much as my big girl readers!!



NOTE: All big girls proceed with head nodding, mmm hmmms, finger snaps and laughter!



I think being a big girl affords me a better ability to gauge a person's weight based on appearance. Not to say that I am always correct but I have a better eye for weight. Skinny people don't know what 200, 250 or 300 because to them they are all just really fat. I think you have to have been big at some point in your life to really guesstimate weight. I often watch those shows thinking they have to weigh more than that or they are extremely vertically challenged. Then again they don't give height measurements on The Biggest Loser so it is harder to tell. THEN I also look at them thinking, "Wow do I look that big?" I know I am a big girl but dang. First of all you would never see me in a sports bra/spandex combo EVER but I think I might buy one just to see what I would look like!! JUST KIDDING ~ NO ONE SHOULD DO THAT!!! It is like my friend Shan says, "Just because they make it in your size that doesn't mean you should wear it!" I am beginning to wonder if I need new mirrors since picture taking of me is prohibited!! ANYway..........

......the purpose of this post is........

I've been watching Oxygen's latest dance/weight loss combo reality show and a little annoyed with the lies.

There is a big girl on there.

She started off weighing like 275 or 278.

She is 5' 2" tall.

She claims to wear a size 18!

HELLO!!!

Does she really think we are that stupid?

I am right here to tell you that a woman can NOT weigh 275 and be only 5' 2" and wear a size 18!!

NOT POSSIBLE!!

If she was 6 foot, maybe!!

Can we show the tag of her pants please?!?!

If you are willing to dance around in skimpy, fat roll revealing costumes and step on a scale for all the world to see, then why lie about your clothing size!

Crap like that annoys me!

Plus why are the people on this show only losing like 1-3 lbs per week!

In normal everyday life, 1-3lbs per week is good! On a show where you are working out every single day with trainers, working with dietitians for your meals PLUS learning, practicing and dancing a new routine weekly, you need to be losing a lot more weight than that especially considering people with more weight generally lose weight quicker in the beginning. Quit eating out of the cheaters cabinet...you've had your two seconds of fame!!

By the way, I have started the Hot Broke diet.

Pretty easy!

I was excited when I stepped on the electronic scale and it kept flashing "lo, lo, lo". I was all, "WOO HOO I AM TOO SMALL FOR THE SCALE TO EVEN REGISTER MY WEIGHT!!! I'VE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN!"

I thought it was odd since my clothes were not falling off.

Turns out that is what happens when electronic scales need new batteries.

Who knew?

That is a really mean trick to play on a big girl!

BUT....

I replaced the batteries and I've lost 6 pounds in a little over a week!!

Woo hoo!

I may put some old batteries in the scale again though because the flashing "lo, lo, lo" was exhilarating!!

TORN ~ THE BATTLE BETWEEN ME, MYSELF AND I

I have been battling something for quite some time. My parents closed their business April 2 and I have been unemployed ever since. I was excited for a bit at the thought of maybe getting to stay home with the boys for the summer. I looked up all kinds of local activities and free things for us to do together. The original plan was to stay home for the summer then return to work when school started. Chances are I would be taking a pay cut and with the boys being out of school, the all day daycare for two boys would probably eat up anything I would have been making. The original plan has changed for two reasons. The first is financially the unemployment benefits just aren't cutting it. The second is I am losing my mind.

I don't which is worse.

Being a stay at home mom and going nuts

OR

the guilt I have for not wanting to be a stay at home mom.

I NEVER had this guilt while working so why do I have it now.

I don't love my kids ANY less than a happy SAHM does and that I can guarantee!

Many times I have posted that I am not the stay at home mom type unless I had access to unlimited funds to shop and do whatever we wanted. I have got tons of needed cleaning and organizing done but there is still plenty more I can do. We do activities but in an effort to save money we don't really go anywhere. I am doing my part by staying home to save money but I just feel trapped then I feel guilty for feeling that way.



I just keep thinking to myself...."Self, do you know how many working Moms in America would die to be able to have the opportunity to be a stay at home Mom? You have it so enjoy it!"

I try to look at being unemployed as a positive for right now and cherish the time I have with my beautiful boys but it is getting harder and harder as the summer rolls on. I am literally counting the days until they go back to school and hoping I find a job away from home VERY VERY SOON! I know in my mind the guilt is just the devil playing mind games but I can't help but think I am a bad mom for not wanting to stay home. I NEVER felt guilty for being a working Mother because I didn't really have much of a choice. However, my job afforded me the ability to still take the kids to school every morning, volunteer at their schools, attend class trips and parties and to see them right after they got out of school. It was like I had the best of both worlds....just call me Hannah Montana! I cherished my time with the boys more when our time was more limited although at the time I don't think I realized it. I am there from the time they open their eyes in the morning until they close them at night. I know that is my job as a mother but I truly believe working to pay for the house they live in and the food they eat is my responsibility too. They are driving me nuts. They are bored. I am bored. We have friends' over SEVERAL days a week which just adds to the commotion. I hate commotion! I hate excessive noise! Wow I am losing it folks! It comes down to this........when I don't spend 24/7 with my children, I value my time with them more and I honestly believe I am a better mother. I am not saying being a working Mom was easy and yes things were hectic but I feel like I am drowning. I feel trapped! I feel like a horrible Mother for even thinking it let alone blogging about it but I need to vent and you are my victims. I am in no way looking for pity, sympathy or "No you are a great Mom!" nods ~ I am just venting! I know in my mind that I am a great Mother and have done a great job of raising my children but my heart aches for not loving this opportunity to spend every waking moment with them. Yes we have done fun things. We've gone to the "whyberry" as Zay says it. We've been on play dates. We've gone swimming and to the splash pad. I was able to take them to swimming lessons this year. We've done crafts, watched movies, played outside when it isn't 150 degrees in the shade. The boys play outside every morning and every evening.......I am telling you....IF allowed they would live outside......NOTE TO SELF: find a CHEAP tent!! I think the fact that we are no longer "financially comfortable" plays a huge role too. While talking to my friend the other day, I said I think it is easier to be broke for a long time than to be comfortable for so long then be broke. We are used to doing things. We are used to eating out a couple of times a week. BUT I've come to realization ~ that is why we are where we are today! We did not SAVE as much as we SHOULD have and enjoyed what we had a little too much! We saved, just not enough! LESSON LEARNED!

I feel bad by saying I am not the "stay-at-home Mom type" but I am not. I know I will probably get many comments for that statement. I know there are Mothers out there who would have it no other way and there are Mothers who just wish they could but ME.......I NEED A JOB FOR MY SANITY and the boys' agree. Just the other night we were at my brother's house for my niece's 15th birthday party and the boys were so happy to see people other than me it was ridiculous!! They ask EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. MANY. TIMES. A. DAY. to go to Meme and Papa's, Uncle Rob's or "Turt" and Karen's house. When my Mom and Dad showed up they were so excited. Zay sat in my Mom's lap for awhile and when she asked, "Do you like Mommy staying home with you for the summer?" Zay answered with a confident, "No!" However, when asked if he loved me he answered with a confident, "Yes!" So there you have it folks ~ yes, my kids love me but they no longer like being around me!! How freaking sad is that!! I must say though the feeling is becoming mutual and we need many many days apart to "miss" each other again! I am not enjoying it like I should I know. I love my kids and would do anything in the world for them but I now know I AM A BETTER MOM WHEN I AM WORKING AND HAVE TIME FOR ME! Wow does that sound too selfish? THE SOLUTION: a long retail therapy session by myself with unlimited funds (I LOVE RETAIL THERAPY!), a manicure, pedicure, massage, a trip away with my girls AND A NICE LONG FAMILY VACATION!! This is the first time we've stayed home for this long! Ok ok I am done repeating myself over and over and since we have no money for any of the above......I am off to read "whyberry" books to the boys.......it's ok you all know I'll be back in a bit!

FRIDAY HIGH FIVE

Time for Friday High Five!

Come join in the fun....please!Make a list of 5 things ~ ANY five things you want! 5 favorite things, Top 5 Vacation spots, 5 most embarrassing moments, 5 favorite pics, 5 reasons to not pick your nose......A LIST OF ANYTHING YOU WANT IT TO BE!

To see my Friday High Five posts for examples, click here!

Post about it, linking back to me (now you can copy and paste the HTML at the bottom of this post for a button!) then sign Mr. Linky!Please use the Friday High Five URL post in Mr. Linky's URL section instead of your blog URL and here is how: write the post, publish the post, go to edit posts, VIEW the High Five post, copy the URL in the address portion at the top of the screen then paste it in the URL section of Mr.Linky!!

Sounds complicated but it isn't too bad!

If you need help, let me know in the comment section!

Go view all the other High Five posts and comment away!

Have fun!


Last night while doing my "I'll just get on the computer for a second then remain plastered to the monitor for hours before bed" routine, I started hearing strange noises. These are......

5 stupid things I did after hearing strange noises in my quiet house full of my sound asleep family

5. I got up from the computer and proceeded to turn on the hall light hoping sudden light would scare off an intruder orrrrr help him see me better to mutilate me.

4. With nothing in hand except my cell phone proceed to the living room to turn on more lights as if the phone was my weapon!

3. Go into the dining room turning on more lights to help the intruder to see me better again

2. Walk into the back yard after turning on the porch light then back into the house where I discover one of the strange noises is my overweight, annoying, droolinglovable bulldog and his apparently new snoring pattern that is seriously going to put him outside before long. Comforted I had figured out the strange noise, I began to turn off lights and head back to my computer when all of the sudden I heard a noise in the garage. What's a girl to do? Head that way to check it out! WHEN.......

#1

.....upon open the door to the garage, Samson comes speeding into the house and the dryer goes "beep beep beep beep....beep beep beep beep" really loud at the exact same moment to which I scream at the top of my lungs and NO ONE comes running!! See how stupid all of this was......I had accidentally locked Samson in the garage after putting another load of clothes into the dryer and he wanted in and could not see in the dark garage BUT my mind tends to create all kinds of possibilities. How I planned on protecting my life and the life of my family......I haven't a clue!!! Why I thought screaming would somehow wake my zombie of a husband and two sleeping kids to run to my aid? I haven't a clue!

<center><a href="http://angeleyesadventures.blogspot.com/search/label/Friday%20High%20Five"><img alt="Angela's Adventures" src="http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r134/gigibryan/HighFive-1.jpg" /></a></center>

ROCKETS OVER RHEMA 2009

For the last four years, maybe more, we have gone to Rockets over Rhema. It is FREE FUN AT ITS FINEST!!! It isn't normally held ON the 4th so we end up with more than one fireworks show each year. Here are the rugrats in their cute handmade matching fireworks shirts:

Adorable! We got lots of compliments and of course Isaiah had to say each and every time, "I made it all by myself!"

First it was off to the police car and firetruck!

They all climbed in the back which made me say, "WHOA you better NEVER ride in the back of a police car! Climb in the front!!

Then we did a LOT of ..........
....WAITING in line to......

Then it was over to the car show......

My Dad would love this car!

Then over to our seats where the kids played on the playground until.......

..it was time for the fireworks!

Those are ....

..their feet threatening to kick my son in the head!
My niece Monika and her boyfriend Josh 2

Then off to the car where we sat for 45 minutes waiting to get out of the parking lot! Not my best moment! We finally made it home at 11:30pm and all four kids FINALLY fell asleep at 1am!!

OUR CRAFTY 4TH OF JULY WEAR

Chaitra called the other day out of pure boredom. She recently accepted a new job where she works 3 nights then she is off 4 days in a row with the kids. NOW she understands my sheer boredom and lack of desire for the stay at home mom gig!! Avani had been at her friend's house and had just come home. Chaitra says, "We are going to have to do some crafts or something with the kids. They are bored. I'm bored. Plus, Paige's Mom did crafts with the girls and she is making us look bad." NOT to be outdone, I quickly head out to buy supplies after looking up various easy crafts online! Avani spent the night Saturday and Sunday AND my nephew spent the night Sunday after we went to go see fireworks. Because I obsess about my kids matching for outings for fear one will get lost and I can say, "he is wearing this...." showing the other child AND I like them to look good in pictures for their scrapbooks they were so cute and easy, we made........

PATRIOTIC FIREWORKS T-SHIRTS

Go here to watch the how-to video.....it is even easier than it looks!!

We used red matte, blue matte and gold sparkle fabric paint on white shirts. It was really easy and they made them ALL by themselves except I made Logan's since he was not there that night. It was cheap too! Hobby Lobby had their $2 tees 50% off, the paints were 99¢ then 50% off and the chenille stems were 77¢ at Dollar Tree. SO for around $6 they made four cute custom fireworks shirts to wear Sunday night at Rockets over Rhema.

Woo hoo! We and by we I mean "I" will not be outdone!

Visit the Rockets over Rhema post to see them wearing the shirts!

We also planned to make some hats! WE meaning I ended up making the hat and I wasn't real impressed. I ended up cutting the straws to make it look better. It was.....hmm.........well only making one should be a clue! It wasn't necessarily hard just tedious for the outcome. You are more than welcome to go here for the instructions and try it yourself. I should have tried a different hat but I already had most of the supplies for this one so I caved.

Here is Isaiah's after alterations:

After all my work he only wore it for this photo then went to play and the dog ate it.............

Then I came up with these little cutie patootie sunglasses for Zay! I just used leftover 4th of July streamer and revamped a pair of foam sunglasses with the ever crafty stapler!! Although he appears less than enthused, he loved them but was over the whole "photo shoot" and ready to go play.

OUR JOURNEY THROUGH SWIMMING LESSONS

So last year Elijah completed level 1 and took level 2 for the first time but did not graduate. This year I enrolled Elijah in Level 2 again and in anticipation that he would breeze through it, I also enrolled him in Level 3 immediately in the next session. Isaiah was going to be a different story. I figured he not want to go under, not want water on his face and not want water in his ears SO he was enrolled in a parent/child class then afterwards a preschool class on his own!

WOW WERE MY ASSUMPTIONS WRONG!

Isaiah did so much better than I ever would have imagined and is turning into a little fish! The first two days he did not want to go "under" which wasn't a problem since this had not even been approached yet. He did good and was happy his betrothed Quinlynne was in his class; however, he did NOT want water in his ears. He has had a few surgeries on them and although the doctors don't care if his ears get wet, HE has another view on this topic. My sister had given me some ear cover headband deals...yes this is the technical name.....which I brought the third day. They look a little something like this......

Of course, we had to share with Quinlynne (1) since she has ear issues too and (2) monkey see, monkey do with these two!

After this was on, we were walking up to the pool and he kept saying, "Mommy I want to go underwater!" Needless to say, I rushed in to dunk his stubborn butt fulfill his request before he could change his mind!

HE LOVED IT! Not apparent in this picture but he loved it!

He wanted to go under again and again and again and I even had trouble getting him to listen to what the teacher and the rest of the class was doing. I didn't mind to much since I was just glad he was doing so well. Quinlynne and Isaiah did so much better than we had anticipated. The GREAT news is they both graduated and will now be in a preschool class without Shan and I which is music to my ears! ONE thing I HATE.......ME IN A BATHING SUIT!! Me........wearing a bathing suit on purpose does not happen too often. On a funny note, the first day Shan had a boob pop out thanks to Q's clinginess and Zay's swim trunks fell down over and over again which actually happened many times that first week. So much so that I thought the four of us might get kicked out for indecent exposure!!

Sadly, I don't have very many pictures since I was IN the pool with Zay! I made Hubs come a couple of times to take pictures so now I can say I don't have very many GOOD pictures. He is new to the picture taking world since normally I am wearing my camera. He didn't stand up so many of the pictures are of the bars of the fence that the spectators had to sit behind. HELLO, stand up!! THEN the remainder of the pictures are of my butt! YEP you read that correctly I now have more pictures of me in a bathing suit than I ever thought possible. YOU KNOW I DELETED THEM! I had to remind him the point of taking pictures of swimming lessons is to get pictures for the boys' scrapbooks NOT MY BUTT!

So long story short.....Zay graduated to the preschool class complete with certificate and sucker. He has become a little fish with no fears which is sort of scary for me. Elijah is now enrolled in his third session of Level 2! They must be offering Level 2 AP classes because this boy can't seem to pass. He loves swimming but I think he still has some fears once he is under. Should've started him at an earlier age I guess?!?! When I talked about it with the instructor in order to get my prior Level 3 arrangements changed to Level 2 again, he simply said, "Well some kids have to take Level 2 three or four times before passing!" My thoughts........third times a charm........he better nail Level 2 on the third try because this is getting expensive! He makes the worst faces everytime he comes out of the water.

The BEST part of the entire story is..................I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A BATHING SUIT which I believe to be a huge form of TORTURE that goes along with Shan's theory, "Just because they make it in your size doesn't mean you should wear it!" during thier next two weeks of lessons and sit to take HUNDREDS of pictures!!WOOHOO!!

ADDISON IS IN THE HIZZOUSE!

A couple of weeks ago while housesitting, dogsitting and babysitting at my parents' house I had to take pics of Addison. There is this Mickey Mouse hat at my Mom's house that is BRIGHT colors and graffiti like writing......don't ask me why or where this little gem came from since I haven't a clue! We decided to put it on baby girl and it was so cute b/c it happened to match her bright clothes that day!

She is too darn cute for her own good!

FRIDAY HIGH FIVE

Time for Friday High Five!

Come join in the fun....please!Make a list of 5 things ~ ANY five things you want! 5 favorite things, Top 5 Vacation spots, 5 most embarrassing moments, 5 favorite pics, 5 reasons to not pick your nose......A LIST OF ANYTHING YOU WANT IT TO BE!

To see my Friday High Five posts for examples, click here!

Post about it, linking back to me (now you can copy and paste the HTML at the bottom of this post for a button!) then sign Mr. Linky!Please use the Friday High Five URL post in Mr. Linky's URL section instead of your blog URL and here is how: write the post, publish the post, go to edit posts, VIEW the High Five post, copy the URL in the address portion at the top of the screen then paste it in the URL section of Mr.Linky!!

Sounds complicated but it isn't too bad!

If you need help, let me know in the comment section!

Go view all the other High Five posts and comment away!

Have fun!

We went swimming yesterday and of course I put sunscreen on the boys not because they EVER burn but for the prevention of cancer. I forgot to put sunscreen on myself until an hour and a half later. Now I present you with....

5 REASONS WHY I SHOULD HAVE USED SUNSCREEN EARLIER

5. The top portion of my left arm from wrist to shoulder is burnt!

4. The top portion of my right arm from wrist to shoulder is burnt!

3. My face is burnt!

2. My shoulders are burnt and they hurt REALLY BAD!

#1

My back is burnt AGAIN after just finishing peeling like a nasty lizard and I know that it is going to peel again now! It hurts so bad I want to cry! It hurts to wear a shirt! IF I had both privacy and a rockin' body, I would SO be topless right now!! Oh the joys of being caucasian!

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A THOUSAND WORDS THURSDAY ~ BET YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE

YES YOU ARE SEEING IT CORRECTLY!!

I bet you haven't seen this before unless of course you were driving during the 70s! I have NEVER seen it that low before! It is funny to me when I talk about gas prices and my Dad always says, "I remember when a gallon of gas was a nickel, a dime or even a quarter!" Can you imagine? When I started driving in the early 90s, gas prices were around 89 to 99 cents a gallon. I remember thinking $1.25 was outrageous. Little did I know prices would skyrocket to the prices we pay today. I can't even begin to imagine gas prices when my children start driving and don't even want to think about it. At least they will be paying for their own gas then.....if they want to drive that is! I did so they can too even though they will have to take out a loan to fill the gas tank!!

Yesterday Windstream did a promotion at a local gas station. After waiting an hour and a half to get gas and almost giving up, I finally got a raincheck which I happily used that evening! I won't go into everything but it was complete chaos and I think Windstream did not anticipate the turn out because it was COMPLETELY UNORGANIZED! Won't go into the long winded stories I have but the police ended up there and rain checks were handed out because of the madhouse!!

Go visit Jen and read more ATWT posts by clicking the image below!