SO GLAD IT IS OVER!

Have to admit, I am thrilled today is the last day of November. I know I missed a few days in the beginning, but since finding out about this DREADFUL idea of blogging every day, I have been a dedicated blogger.

As promised, here are some pictures of Jackson skating yesterday!





Today, we have Paige's FIRST birthday party-cannot believe that stinker is already one! These kiddos are growing up soooooooooo fast! Then, this evening, we are going to Mr. Zito's surprise birthday party! I am really looking forward to seeing Alissa since I missed her last night at the reunion. Any ideas on what to bring someone turning sixty when the invitation says, "No gifts!"? I just don't feel right showing up empty handed!

Enchanted Island and Ice Skating!

Today has been a big day for little Jackson. This morning, we went to a friend's birthday party at Enchanted Island, a small amusement park of sorts, it was a beautiful day, and the rides were perfect for Jackson. Now, he is off learning to ice skate before he starts his hockey lessons in January! I am desperate to know if he likes it. I figured Tyler would hate it, so the girls stayed home! More to come tomorrow!

Whole Again!

I must have sensed something in the air yesterday as I wrote my bitter post. Thanksgiving last night was a DISASTER, it probably would have been better if Katie did go into labor! Jackson misbehaved the entire time, until finally, we had to gather all of our stuff quickly and make a BEELINE for the door. I don't think I have ever left Thanksgiving dinner at 5:46 before. After a tear filled ride home, he went to bed, we watched the Cardinals lose miserably, and headed to bed ourselves. Isn't it amazing how cute he can be one minute, and yet two hours later, he is the DEVIL!

This morning, Pat and I hit the stores bright and early, and I got EVERYTHING I saw in the ads that I wanted. So therefore, aside from the prince costume my son so DESPERATELY wants, I am completely done shopping for them. Skateboards, scooters, cameras, GAMES, Hot Wheels toys, Sleeping Beauty vanity, Leapster games and a few new DVD players for the family since we apparently go through DVD players like it is going out of style-hard to pass up when they were only $25 at Target. If they last until next Black Friday, FINE WITH ME!!!

My house is almost completely decorated for Christmas, need to load the presents in our suitcases to hide them, ISN'T that CREATIVE-Pat's idea, and then we are going to have a completely lazy day playing Wii and wrangling the kids! Needless to say, Jackson has been a gem this morning because he was SUPER PISSED that we had to leave last night.

I Don't Deal Well with Change

My sister called this morning, she was having contractions every two minutes last night, so she went to the hospital, they sent her home. She has severe back pain, so she said if it didn't go away by 1, she was going back to the hospital. I was not excited. I am immediately annoyed that we are going to have to alter our Thanksgiving plans. Should we bring the turkey dinner to her, are we bad people if we go eat while she is in labor, etc????? Anyway, she took a shower, she feels better, so as of now, the annual Thanksgiving day plan stands. I don't know if I will be able to give up my early morning shopping if Ms. Rylee makes an appearance tonight. I may have to be a bad aunt and visit her after the sales are over! Whatever the case, Miss Thing has plans of her own!!!

AND, I would like to state for the record that when I spell check Rylee, it is WRONG, but if I type Riley, it is RIGHT! HA HA Kate!

I think this is the most selfish blog I have ever written, and to think it was written on a day when I should be so thankful. I need an attitude adjustment. Hopefully the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie will do the trick!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Indoor Golf and Peter Piper Pizza

One would think since we did those two activities this morning, the kids would take longer than an hour and a half nap, BUT my mom and uncle are hanging out today, so it makes them a little more bearable. Off to finish Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Oprah's Favorite Things show! Happy Thanksgiving ALL!

P.S. Oprah's Favorite Things show this year is all "affordable" items! I don't know about you, but I am EXCITED about that! Last year I went and tried the Blood Orange Gelato because it was one of the only things I could afford. . .who knows what I will buy this year!!

Calgon Take Me Away!

A few days ago, I wrote about how I thought I would need more than a weekend to recover from being around my kids, now I think I need like a month. They are needy, whiny, annoying, irritable, argumentative, smart mouths that I need a serious break from. I think I have screamed, "JACKSON!", about a million and one times today, and I have told Tyler to, "KNOCK IT OFF!" (referring to her whine/cry), about a million and two! One day, I have to be with them ONE WHOLE DAY by myself this week, and I cannot even stand it. I was thinking about running out for a bottle of wine to start at nap time, but I think today I am going straight for the hard stuff.

OK, when I used Google Images to find the above picture, it also gave me this, and I almost used it, but realized it didn't say anything about Calgon on it, so maybe you guys wouldn't get it, but I still wanted to share!

Kim's Fundraiser and MORE!

Can you believe a bowling tournament and silent auction this past Saturday raised $17,000 for Kim and her battle with cancer. It was amazing to see all the people there. I didn't get to bowl, but I did get a haircut, ASU Basketball tickets and Roadrunners tickets, so that was really exciting!! I love charity events. I am in desperate WANT of Phoenix Suns tickets. And not just any seats, but REALLY GOOD SEATS! I know that is horrible right? There are so many other things to spend money on, and I should be grateful that I get to go to a Cardinals game next month, hockey, Diamondbacks about every other minute, so I think I just want the Suns tickets because they are not always falling in my lap-the whole want what you can't have! They had a few tickets at the event, but the cost was driven up high, so I past. I should have bought them because the money went to a good cause, BUT Christmas is coming, we are headed to Disneyland, and I am a responsible US citizen that will be footing the bill for the bailout package for YEARS AND YEARS to come!

Anyway, another fundraiser for Kim that you might all be interested in is going to be held at the Happy Valley Johnny Rockets from 11-5 on Sunday December 7th! 20% of ALL sales will go to Kim and her family throughout this devastating time!!! So, come on out, grab a burger and fries, treat your kids to a shake, and know that it is all going to a good cause. You all know I will NEVER turn down a HAMBURGER, YUM!

Really Relaxed!

I had a great day hanging out with friends, having a great lunch at Maria Maria-SO GOOD! The chips and guacamole rocked! Then we went to see Happy Days at Gammage! So much has changed around ASU, it is amazing! Isn't it amazing how all the rest and relaxation can go right out the window when you walk in the door and your husband tells you that your daughter is sick, BLAH! No fun, hopefully it was a fluke!

Saturday Fun Day

Park, Card Night, and Foosball! This was just the kick off to all the festivities that we will be participating in throughout the week! WHOO-HOO!

Are you sick of me yet?

Ever since I heard of November being National Blog month, I have been determined to follow through and have a blog for every day in November that I have known about the whole thing! However, today I feel like blogging for the sake of blogging is just stupid! I have nothing to say, my kids were at school all morning, and I went on a walk and to a friend's house. Not much to report from in our house. Gearing up for an exciting week with Uncle David, YAY!

Do you ever. . .

-wonder why BYO alcohol places charge a corking fee???
-think no one is listening to you???
-think someone else's opinion is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS and tell them so???
-think your kids are DEVILS, truly sent here to test all of your limits???
-think a weekend get away just ISN'T long enough???
-ask if the cashier will take your expired coupons, we are entering a recession after all???
-go more than 48 hours without showering???
-test the limits of your friendships???
-wonder what age it is acceptable for the kids to get out of bed, make their own breakfast, turn on cartoons, while you stay in bed???
-think about where your children should attend grade school more than twenty times a day???
-go months without balancing your checkbook???
-hate the sound of your own name???
-worry about those you love dying???
-call your children brats???
-wonder what life could have been like had you chosen a different path???

Blessed

I was lucky enough to go this morning to witness Paul become a US Citizen. To see all the people there, and to witness a man come from ICU, gathered to become a citizen of this great country, it was pretty amazing. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so I have no pictures, but there would not have been a lot of amazing pictures of Paul because there were 2,178 people becoming citizens today. The event was held at University of Phoenix Stadium, and it was CROWDED!!!

Also today, I received Jackson's "report card", and it will be no surprise to anyone who knows him that "We (teachers) love observing Jackson's verbal interactions with his peers and adults. He appears to put great thought into his ideas and how he expresses himself." Under language development, there was a special note stating how GREAT he is when he expresses himself verbally. I don't know where he gets this love of talking! HA! Anyway, I am very thankful that I have a little chatterbox on my hands. I will just remind myself that it could be SOOOOO MUCH WORSE!

And, since I am stuck in the 80's, I unfortunately cannot scan in Jackson's class picture or individual pictures, but they ROCK! So cute! The photographer they use is EXPENSIVE, but soooooo worth it!

Video of THE Performance!

http://www.klemmers.blogspot.com/

Visit the website above-copy and paste-to see video of the Church performance. Kate's mom has the video of Jackson grabbing the microphone, but she doesn't know how to get it to me. However, this should tide you over. Maybe tomorrow I will have something new to write about, but for today, this is all I got!

Pictures from "THE Performance"

I've got nothing, but some pictures that Shannon sent me from the performance yesterday of Jackson undressing and a CRAZY face. Hoping that someone will get me a copy of their video where Jackson grabs a hold of the microphone!

Jackson the Rock Star

This morning, the kids were asked to come at the church associated with the school. They are two separate entities, but the service seemed sparse, so I am sure they were trying to convince parents of the kids who go to school there that they wanted to join the parish. Anyway, Jackson gets on stage and takes his sweatshirt off, why? I don't know? Maybe so that everyone could see his Rock 'n' Roll shirt. Then, he holds it the whole time he is singing his songs. When the group is done, proceeds to go over to the microphone, grab onto it and says, "A-I-O!" What that is supposed to be, I have no idea! I think we have a future rock star on our hands. Tears were streaming down my face I was laughing so hard. I am sooooooo mad I didn't have my camera with me!

Bike Day

Yesterday, Jackson had Bike Day at school, and the teachers asked if I could stay and take a picture of them all on their bikes. They were SOOOOOOOOOOO stinking cute! The teachers set up a "bike wash", a gas station, and they even handed out tickets for traffic violations. We continued Bike Day today at home while the Garage Sale was going on. We made over $500 at the Garage Sale today! WHOO-HOO!!! I told Pat I am buying a new Coach purse since I did all the work. OH, how I love Coach!

My Sister has "Cankles"!

She looks like a Marshmallow Puff! Setting up for a garage sale! I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow!

To Flu Shot or NOT!

Neither of my kids, nor I have ever gotten the flu shot, and to be quite honest, I am not sure my kids will until they are old enough to make that decision on their own, but I am REALLY considering it this year. REALLY! I think I have been sick every other week, since the temperature dropped below 100. Coming on the heels of all my ovary issues, I feel like I have not been 100% since last year.

$1 Diet Coke

I miss $1 Diet Coke at McDonald's. How long do you think it will be before they bring it back???? Do you know how much better fountain beverages are? Do you know what a pain it is to have to get out of my car at QT in order to fulfill my heart's desire!??? COME BACK $1 Diet Coke! I miss you!

Best of Friends

One of the great things about having kids close together is that they always have someone to play with. One of the worst things about having kids close together is that they have absolutely NO IDEA how to play by themselves. Jackson went to his friend's house today for awhile, and Tyler is absolutely miserable without him. Same thing happens when he goes to school, she just wants to go get him the whole time. Kind of cute, kind of annoying!

Bittersweet

As I prepare for this weekend's upcoming Garage Sale, it is a little bittersweet that I am selling all of Jackson's clothes. He truly had the most AMAZING clothes, and I have such fond memories of him as a baby (I am saying this because I think my fond memories of Tyler are just beginning), he was such a GOOD BABY, and many of the clothes are associated with specific events, outings, happenings, etc. I know they are just clothes, and that the memories will live on, but I just have to say that no matter how sad it is, I am content with the decision to not have anymore kids, and I am glad that we are moving out of the infant stage. If I need a fix, I will go see Rylee when she is born!

As a tribute to Rylee's upcoming birth and Pat's birthday today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DORK! I am going to close with a picture taken shortly after the birth of Jackson. Needless to say, I am the one taking the picture, and my dear sister and husband are asleep on the couch. I didn't know three hours of pushing a 9 pound 9 ounce baby out was so exhausting for them!

This picture probably does not mean a lot to most, but as I was flipping through my pictures, I came upon this. I learned later that my sister took it, but I was thinking yesterday about how I had so much fun yesterday at Fun Run, and I didn't understand why it was so much fun this year! I know the kids are getting older, so they are easier to manage. Tyler, keep your fingers crossed, is developing the amazing sense of humor, so she is actually enjoyable to be around. However, when I happened upon this picture, I realized that I didn't volunteer to be part of Fun Run AT ALL this year. I came to the event, I watched the event, my almost four year old ACTIVE child SAT ON MY LAP, and I just got to enjoy the food and company of friends and family. I am not one to sit on the sidelines often. I am on the Preschool Board, I like to be involved, but I did really appreciate the time out yesterday!

Fun Run

Today was the Preschool Fun Run. This is the second year that Jackson participated and the very first for Tyler. They both did a great job, and you will all be shocked to know that Tyler could not WAIT to get out on the course. She was screaming, "Ready, Set, Go!", while trying to take off running. I had to keep grabbing her to come back to the start. She is such a tiny little thing, but she sure can move those legs when she wants to. Jackson got first place in his heat and third place overall. He did a super job, but as Shannon and I discussed afterwards, if he would put a little heart and soul into his running, he could tear it up. He gets third while looking like a model runner and almost seeming to pose for the camera! GOOF!


Then, it was off to go bowling for Uncle Paul's 40th birthday!! Tyler is still a little too tiny to bowl, so she spent the majority of the time clinging to "DADDY"! She sure looked cute doing it though. Pat thinks the shirt is a little too "Hannah Montana" for her, but I think she can pull it off!

Miss Katie

Miss Katie is Tyler's teacher this year. She also happens to have been my sister's teacher when she was a toddler as well. Miss Katie is this DOLL of a woman. The first time you meet her, you think, how do kids possibly respond to this woman. She is from China, she moved here about 30 years ago, and still she has this THICK, THICK Chinese accent. I find it a real challenge to understand her, so it blows my mind that two and three year olds can understand her. But kids are brilliant, so it shouldn't really be a surprise to me. She is strict, harsh, organized, etc. Everyone said, "Give her a chance, your kids will not be able to say "r" when they leave, but they adjust, and she is worth every minute that they will be able to spend with her!" So, I left Tyler alone with her, and I haven't been worried for a second.
Her husband became gravely ill during the second week of school, about September. He was hospitalized, Miss Katie was gone a lot, and it was a real challenge for the school to maintain the numbers needed to have appropriate coverage. When I would drop Tyler off in the mornings, she would be sobbing, then 30 other kids would start crying since the two classes were combined. Anyway, it was a VERY DIFFICULT transition for Tyler, with no fault to Miss Katie, I just thought that the school could have handled it in a much better manner. Anyway, one day, out of the blue, I get a phone call, and it is Miss Katie, just checking to see how Tyler is doing without her there. Miss Katie was calling us from the bedside of her dying husband to worry about my child, and from that moment on, she has stolen my heart! She didn't call everyone, but she knew that Tyler was new, and she just wanted to check on her, told me to tell her that Miss Katie called, and to give her a hug for Miss Katie.
Unfortunately, Miss Katie's husband died about two weeks ago, so she has been gone, but this morning when I took Tyler to school, Miss Katie was back, she was in the bathroom, but she was talking, and if you could have seen Tyler's face the moment she heard Miss Katie's voice, you too would have fallen in love. She looked like a little puppy, her ears perked up, her eyes started skipping around the room to try and located where she was. It was precious. She ran up to her, gave her a hug, showed her the monkey shirt she was wearing, and it was as if all was right in the world again.
Some of the other moms and I went to the funeral for Miss Katie's husband last week, and she thanked me this morning for going. She told me that she was nervous because her husband didn't have a lot of friends, and the chapel was so big, and how it would be so uncomfortable if it would have been empty, but it was packed! I just looked at her, smiled and said, "Miss Katie, YOU have a lot of friends!" I am so blessed to have squeaked into Miss Katie's class, and she will never know the impact she has had on the lives of SO MANY families!

#1 Fan

I am not a fan of either Elisabeth Hasselbeck or the Phoenix Zoo, but I have to say that I have been impressed with both over the past two days. I recorded The View on Wednesday to see what she would say and do after Obama won! And, much to my surprise, she handled herself with a great amount of poise, not something that I see her display often, so for that, two thumbs up. It was actually enjoyable to watch, since it was a display of how these girls can act like WOMEN! I know that everyone doesn't agree, but I cannot imagine getting on television and screaming at your colleagues, that would be exhausting. How can almost NONE of my friends (the only two friends I have been able to come up with who wanted Obama were Cynthia and Andrea, other than that, I am at a loss) and I agree on who should be President, but we are still able to have a BLAST together, discuss it, and not make a scene! Anyway, I was very proud of Ms. Hasselbeck and her restraint!

The Phoenix Zoo is a pile of dirt if you ask me. How it is appealing to animals, I will never know. I think MAYBE the lions have some grass, other than that, it is DIRT. It has a lot of flies, it smells, and overall, I HATE going to the zoo, but my kids love it, and if you get there early enough, they can run around and see all the animals out and eating. We stayed for about an hour, but the point of the story is how accommodating they were about letting this recently crowned airhead into the zoo. I lost my Membership card, Pat had my license, and they let me in with my COSTCO card. I am sure it was against all policies, and she did say she would do it for me just this once, but my kids and I greatly appreciated that!

Kind of Embarrassed!

I have to admit that McCain's speech last night was amazing, but I was absolutely EMBARRASSED to be from Arizona. The crowd and their "booing" was a ridiculous way to end a really well fought race. McCain was begging them to accept Obama as their leader and being totally mature (I thought one of the best concession speeches of all time!), while the crowd just carried on and did their own thing. Granted, I know a lot of people there were visitors from other states and what not, BUT the majority of the people who live here, supported his campaign, so most likely they were there as well. I can only hope that I would be ever so gracious if I were to lose an election.

Fundraiser

Little Bit of This and That

None of my actual Halloween pictures turned out as cute as the ones below, sorry! Our neighborhood is PITCH BLACK, in SERIOUS need of street lights, but I did get a darling picture of my little Tyler Gracie eating a lollipop! I wish you could have all seen her taking off around the neighborhood. Pat and I were still laughing about her trick-or-treating style the next morning. She LITERALLY looked like a cartoon character when she was running so fast. There should have been smoke instead of her feet, similar to the Roadrunner. My kids could have cared less about the candy because they know all but one piece goes to the Halloween witch, but they sure bickered over who was going to ring the stinking doorbell.

Remember to get out and vote tomorrow, no matter who you are voting for, exercise your right, otherwise, you don't get to complain!