Jackson's Art

Anyone who knows Jackson or had Jackson in their class, knows that the kid despised ART. He would pick up the paint brush, make a streak across the page and be done. Finger painting, FORGET IT, he hated the way it felt, and he didn't want to get dirty. He probably had some sort of sensory issue, but his teachers worked and worked with him and NOW he loves art! He has art class at his school, and his painting was selected to hang in the Transfusion and Treatment Center at Scottsdale Osborne Hospital. I haven't seen the picture, but as soon as I do, I will take a picture of it and post it. Until then, here's the notice we got telling us the good news! YAY Jackson. I couldn't be prouder if it was reading or math!

Ten on Tuesday-gift ideas for Tyler!

If you are lucky enough to receive a party invitation to the fiesta in November, here are ten things she currently has on her wish list. Who am I kidding? Half the city is invited.

1. Hannah Montana DS game, found it for TEN dollars at Best Buy.

2. PINK DSi

3. Barbie Newborn Doctor

4. Hannah Montana Wig (Target)

5. Hannah Montana Guitar (Target)

6. Just Dance 2

7. Target Gift Card

8. New Tinkerbell Movie

9. ipod

10. Just about anything, she is the WORLD'S BEST GIFT OPENER! If I could have just a smidgen of her excitement, I wouldn't be so hesitant to open gifts in front of people.

I know this list has a wide range of price points, but I wanted everyone to have plenty of options, get together with other people, whatever! She doesn't need a lot, she is already truly blessed!

Coming next Tuesday. . .Jackson's wish list

Crafty Morning

OK, so after Tyler and I got home from testing out the new Just Dance game at Best Buy this morning, NO SERIOUSLY, I didn't really get a turn because there were way too many salesmen standing around doing nothing. . .I wonder how many people are really working in any given Best Buy store on Monday morning at 9AM, my guess would be about TEN TOO MANY! It was a sea of blue shirts. . .Tyler LOVED the game, so I probably wouldn't have had a turn anyway- it looked like SOOOOOO MUCH fun if you could really break it down in the privacy of your own home. Ooooooh, I want it!

Commercial for the game!



(How cute is this little one playing the game!)



But this post isn't about how I exercised EXTREME self control today by not purchasing Just Dance (Just Dance 2 comes out Oct 15th!). . .please remember that I spent SIXTY-FIVE dollars on light bulbs last week, so my guess is that another FORTY on a video game would not have been smiled upon by my husband who already thinks I spend too much money. . .as if I am the only one who uses the light bulbs in this house! HA! What this post is about is the crafty school bag Tyler and I made together this morning. She is in Room 3, so I cut out a big THREE from my FAVORITE material! Then, we used fabric paint to put some dots on. I think it turned out cute, and she is thrilled to pieces to show it off tomorrow.



We also have matching BRIGHT purple toes (Originally I was talking about matching toe nail polish, but I think we have the exact same feet-look at our pinkies!).



I feel like Super Mom this morning!

Tyler-Living the Good Life!

My friend, Kirstin, owns Basically Bows, A DARLING boutique in Scottsdale. No seriously, it is DARLING, and I could spend hours in there. When I go I am there FOREVER! I usually shy away from Scottsdale because you know how much I love it and all, but this store makes you feel like you are a kid again! She did a photo shoot last night, and Tyler and Pat had some daddy-daughter bonding time, but I sent him with a camera so that I could get a glimpse into all the fun!

She wore two outfits:





Pat and Kirstin both said she was little reserved at first, but once she found that she could just go up to things and choose them and poof she got to wear them, it was heaven on Earth for her. Pat said at one point she was trying to choose between SIX bows, and it was just a little slice of heaven for her.

I love the group shots:





I especially love TIRED TYLER. . .this was WAY PAST HER BEDTIME! But so worth it to see the complete JOY she experienced participating. THANKS KIRSTIN!



You can also follow Basically Bows on twitter, facebook and at their new blog!

Out of the Mouth of Jackson

1. To Pat and I: "It's fine if you want to have Football Sunday when you don't have kids. But, you do have kids, and you need to pay attention to us, not watch football all day."

2. "I really want to take a nap on the bus, but I am afraid if I don't keep my eyes open I will miss you!" -Sweet thing is sooooooooooo tired on the way home from school!

3. Jackson has been having a hard time because he thinks he is a "loser" because he isn't very good at kickball. After this statement, I had to dig a little deeper. When my investigation was complete, I learned that he is playing kickball with THIRD grader. WELL DUH, of course you are not as good as them. He doesn't get to be pitcher when he plays with them, they always tag him with the ball! OMG, it is very complicated to get this little go-getter to comprehend that they are bigger, they are better. He just kept saying over and over again that he is a loser. I wanted to go march onto the kickball field and beat them all up. Instead, I just told him as a general rule, he should probably just play kickball with the Kindergarten class.

First Day of Fall

KAREN is the winner, AGAIN!!! She says, " I would LOVE to learn to golf. Joe is a very good golfer, he's been golfing since he was 9 years old. He took me to the driving range once to teach me ... that was the one and only time. This place looks really fun!"

My giveaways aren't frequent enough to ban her from participating, but you all should be scared of her! She obviously has a lucky gene! Enjoy your golfing, Karen. I hope you go with your husband and try it out, it is quite fun!!!!! Happy Fall ALL! Hoping for some cooler temperatures soon!

My Past Life

In the life I had before any of the life I know now existed, I had a friend, who eventually became my boyfriend. This guy had a dad, who happened to have a "high profile" job, and he was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NICE. ALWAYS smiling, never saw him get bothered, upset, angry, anything. He was AMAZING. AND, he loved his kids. He loved his kids so much, especially the first born that I happened to be dating. They had family dinners, almost every night. The type of dinners I thought FOR SURE I would have when I got older and had my own kids. Everyone was always welcome! Our families lived close to one another, so our families grew to know one another. We went to church on Sundays together. It was a match made in heaven, until we broke up of course. HA!

Fast forward to now, and the dad still in the "high profile" job has been accused of some HEINOUS acts in a recent memo that was released last week. I have not seen all of the information in the memo, but the information was released is DUMBFOUNDING! I cannot for the life of me wrap my head around it. I think back to what are almost like flashbulb memories of my time at his house, and I have nothing but wonderful memories. I cannot even picture him saying or doing the things that he is accused of. I feel like maybe I was playing a role in some WARPED movie or something.

I don't communicated with the ex boyfriend at all anymore. I know through mutual friends that he is married and has kids. And, my heart breaks for the entire family because their name is being slaughtered, and what if your last name defined you because of what your dad did? I guess this is really the only "criminal" I have ever known, but it makes me wonder about all the other "criminals" out there and how many people they have fooled about who they are. Makes me realize that all those criminals are people too. And, while it doesn't excuse them of what they have done, it does remind you that someone, somewhere loves the criminals too!

I am not saying I do or do not believe what was stated in the memo, but I do know that it is not the man I grew to know and love!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Don't forget to register to win an awesome GIVEAWAY below!

2. #7 from THIS Ten on Tuesday was about a lady who went NUTSO over a stuffed monkey at the Preschool Auction. She is now a teacher at the school-just when you think you have heard it all!

3. I spent $65 dollars on light bulbs this morning. I went around and counted all the ones that were out and replaced all of them. Of course we don't just have standard light bulbs, we have crazy expensive ones. Light bulbs and garbage bags are my two least favorite things to spend money on. ONE goes right in the trash, and eventually the other will end up in the trash too!

4. Tyler went to a princess themed party this weekend. She looked like a total and complete DOLL FACE and was THRILLED to be picked up in the mom's "carriage", dress like a princess (last year's Halloween costume), and spend the afternoon being pampered.



5. While Tyler was at the party, Jackson went to see Alpha and Omega with Pat. I think they had a great time.

6. The shower is complete as of yesterday morning, and I couldn't be happier.

7. Karissa turned 30 this weekend, and I still haven't heard the details of all the festivities, but I will admit I was a little sad that I wasn't invited to celebrate with them. I hate living so far apart. It is so easy to lose touch.

8. I am currently watching Gilmore Girls and Friday Night Lights on ABC Family. I LOVE Gilmore Girls, and I just kind of like Friday Night Lights. I look forward to 2PM when Gilmore Girls starts EVERY WEEK DAY!!!!

9. I need some Family Fun night ideas.

10. I HATE the new Dark Kiss scent from Bath and Body Works-HATE!

CrossWoods Golf = FUN! It's A GIVEAWAY!

Wednesday morning I had the opportunity to go check out CrossWoods Indoor Golf Center. It was SUCH A FUN EXPERIENCE! I was a little nervous because I had NEVER picked up a golf club before that morning and I didn't want to hurt someone, but I will try JUST ABOUT ANYTHING once so I dropped the kiddos at school and headed over. There are two locations, but the one I went to was located right off the I-10 on Chandler Blvd, so it is SUPER EASY to get there from anywhere in the Valley.

I got there at 11 and chatted for a bit with the owner Bev, who I have become good friends with on twitter so it was fun to meet her in person. She showed me around and I was MAJORLY impressed.

We played a little golf on their simulator (sim) and it was SOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN! I don't know how many of you know that I absolutely LOVE playing games, even if I am not good. Fortunately I didn't need to be good because I was NOT. We started on the driving range, and while I cannot hit the ball incredibly far, I hit the ball very straight, which apparently is a good thing. Over 40 courses are programmed into every sim at CrossWoods. You can play: Pebble Beach; St. Andrews; Bay Harbor; and MANY MANY MORE. You can tee off, hit from the rough, sand, putt, all in your individualized golfing area. Kids as young as THREE can come and golf. If you aren't very good and you want to take some lessons, they have those available as well. They have summer camps available for those children ages kindergarten and up who may want to learn how to play golf so they can hit the course with their parents. They also have a Women's League, Couple's League (trust me if we lived closer, Pat and I would be signing up-SMOKING DEAL), Men's League, or they can help you create your own league. I am not kidding when I say that Bev is the easiest person to work with. They have TONS of experience working with big companies! They can also host Bachelor Parties, Bar Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, etc. If your husband loves to golf, you have your own television, free WiFi and wine while he golfs-it's PERFECT-everyone is happy.


I LOVED the party room. For $75 an hour, you get two golf simulators, a private room that has televisions and plenty of booths and tables to really get the party started!





They have an AMAZING menu, and I was in luck because they were sampling their new menu today so I had the opportunity to try a few items. I have to say the nachos were my favorite, so good, that I actually remembered to take my camera out and take a picture of them. The cheese sauce was INCREDIBLE! Love at first bite.



I also sampled the Club and a Texas Burrito that were to die for! With this menu, they were finding items that are easy to eat between golfing and I think they hit the nail on the head. I also saw a Soft Pretzel on the menu, and honestly when people have that on the menu I am usually a HUGE FAN of everything else. There is just something about starting your meal with a soft pretzel. They have soda, tea, Gatorade, beer and wine. Bev joked about how they decided against hard alcohol and people swinging golf clubs, this made me laugh, so I thought I would let you all have the visual too! I think it was a WISE decision!



My FAVORITE part about CrossWoods is that my Grandpa, who was a DIE HARD GOLFER and can't walk very well anymore, is given the opportunity to golf again without having to walk a long distance. Bev said people who cannot go in the sun anymore enjoy playing golf there, as well as people in wheelchairs because they can be wheeled into the sim and swing their club. WHAT A TREAT for all. I cannot wait to take my Grandpa there!

AND TODAY is your lucky day because Bev gave me a gift certificate for TWO rounds of golf at CrossWoods Indoor Golf Center. You have three opportunities to enter.

1. Leave a comment telling me about your golfing experience. You don't have to have any, but I am interested in knowing whether or not you golf, have tried golf, are a professional, etc.

2. Follow CrossWoods Golf on twitter, come back and leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

3. Follow CrossWoods Golf on Facebook, come back and leave a separate comment telling me you did that!

The contest closes Wednesday, September 22nd at 11:59PM, MST, and the winner will be announced on the FIRST DAY OF FALL, September 23rd! COME ON COOLER WEATHER!

Random Thought

Is anyone ever really "done" with laundry? I could put every single piece of laundry away, but if we are wearing clothes while I do it. I still feel like, "Well, there are still dirty clothes in the house!" I think doing laundry is the least rewarding chore. At least when you clean other things, they stay clean for a moment or two before you have to do it again!

Straight From My Idol's Mouth

Some blogging rules to live by-THANK PW!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Going to try a new restaurant tonight, YAY!

2. Jackson took the bus home from school last week. It made me realize how big he is, and how small he is all at the same time!

3. I have watched so many movies this past week. It seems like many of the shwos I watched this summer have ended, so I have been taping Lifetime Movies, Hallmart, Oxygen, all really award winning shows I know!

4. I am ready to be able to do something outdoors other than swim!

5. Trying to plan Jackson and Tyler's joint birthday party, and I am wondering if this joint party will be any easier than individual parties. We will see! I am always changing things up when it comes to their birthdays, so who knows!

6. I am obsessed with Fresh and Easy. I probably go there about 5 times a week. So small and easy to get in and out of. I can run in there for one item without having to drag my kids to the ends of the Earth to find said item.

7. I actually signed up to volunteer in Jackson's class once a month because I really want to see what is going on in the class. I have never had this desire until this big school has him all day every day, and all I have are stories he tells me. I want to see with my own two eyes.

8. I am wondering what this holiday season holds. I love the smells and sounds of fall and stuff, but it makes me nervous because the holidays are approaching, and they are usually filled with drama, and I would just rather avoid the drama at this point in my life.

9. I don't know where I was, but I was eaten alive by mosquitos this weekend. They are HUGE bites too!

10. Why doesn't Tyler want anything cheap for her birthday!? I think I am just going to have to collect gift cards to one place and buy her the things she wants after she gets enough! :-)

Just in Case. . .

You tune in this week, and I am constantly complaining! It will not hurt my feelings if you ignore it. We are having shower/mold/carpet issues. We don't own the house we live in, we are renting, if you need a reminder why, you can click here or here or here (AND THEN THEY OFFERED US A HUGE DISCOUNT ON OUR RENT, and we are NOT STUPID-because we all know how much I LOVE DESPISE house hunting). Apparently the Master Bathroom shower has a crack in it, which is leaking into Tyler's room and causing mold/water to saturate her carpet. The solution to this problem is to rip out the Master Bath shower and put in a new one. This is a FIVE day project if they work from 8:30-3:30!

There is no way in hell anyone is staying past 1 because my kids nap, and listening to them rip out the shower and put in a new one will be hell enough, I will NOT allow nap time to be compromised. We would all end up in a loony bin. Who knows how many days this project will take, but I know that it is quite insane to expect tenants to live through this. What I am scared of is what they are going to find behind the shower. I am certain there is PLENTY of mold growing behind the shower, and it will probably take more than the allotted five days because who ever finishes on time, and since I won't let them stay past 1, it will probably take longer, etc.

Mr. Positive is trying to be supportive, but if you notice the hours, they will OBVIOUSLY not be affecting him, so I will be the only person TRULY affected by the jackhammering, pounding, workers, etc. I am sooooooooooo not happy about this. But, I will tell you right now, that if this takes longer because of them finding mold, I will most definitely be heading to the nearest Pointe Hilton and living it up- charging it to the owners and calling it a day! As of now, I have a list of things I need to do, and if I am sitting here losing my mind, I can hightail it to any of these locations at a moment's notice. A dear friend has agreed to go to a movie and have lunch on Wednesday. If anyone wants to hang out Friday with Tyler and I, just let me know. . .we will be in need of something to do in the morning.

Is anyone else concerned that the mold "could" be the cause of all my health issues?? Have you ever googled Mold Poisoning Symptoms? Sums me up in a nutshell, but then again, I am kind of a hypochodriac, so who knows? If someone could figure out what all my pains are from, I would be forever indebted!

LET THE COMPLAINING BEGIN!

HATERS!

OK, so I am no one, I have a relatively normal life, filled with joy, sadness, excitement, tragedy, etc. It is a normal, middle of the road life. I can deal with the haters. While, it does shock me that someone I don't know (or maybe I do) cares enough to comment on my life, and while I did shed a few tears over the negative comments left on my blog (I am not bigger than that!), I for the life of me cannot understand the people who attack the bloggers out there who have lost a child, have an ill child, had some dramatic event occur that causes them to blog, etc.

I have a REALLY hard time with all of this. My negative commenter nailed me. Seriously, I LOVE REALITY TV, FOOD, and ALONE TIME! LOVE IT, but that's what the blog portrays. There is a whole part of my life that readers don't know, or turn a blind eye to and chose not to see. Do people out there not realize this? I served on the preschool Board for two years, I am homeroom parent, I want to be on the Board at Phoenix Children's Hospital, I would love to be an event planner, but these are things I RARELY share on my blog because who really wants to read that. My target audience is a mom who is "overworked" and "underpaid" and wants to know that she is not alone.

I occasionally share my political views: I HATE Sarah Palin ("mainly" because of her voice), I believe gays and lesbians should be able to marry, and there's a whole lot about the housing market, but I don't HATE anyone who feels differently than me. Many of my very best friends and blog friends do not agree with me, and that is FINE! We are able to love and respect one another without agreeing. Agree to disagree is a motto that is tossed around often.

The people who leave women comments that their husband is cheating on them with a waitress from Denny's, or the person who told the woman who had just lost her baby to stop complaining about all the bills that keep showing up at there house because she is just looking for a hand out, or even the person who goes off on a mom for wetting down the trampoline in the summer because it is so dangerous and she is such a terrible woman, I tell those people to GET A LIFE! A life that you own and love. A life that is yours and not up for judgment by anyone. A life that you may despise some day and love others. There is a human behind every blog!

The bloggers below are some of my best friends, and you may think you know them, but how well do you know them?

Did you know. . .

That when I had my appendix out, Claire left me a care package at my door filled with little goodies, or that she delivered me a Diet Coke when I couldn't drive.

That Katie will show up with massive amounts of Costco food (I swear she keeps the place in business) whenever I need a meal?

That Karissa sent me flowers when I lived in Anthem, Pat worked in Cottonwood, I was just about to jump!

That Shannon will bring me a bottle or two of wine because she was running a little late, and it was not a big deal of all, but she is so thoughtful!

That Jen from In Your Back Pocket selflessly taught me how to make the most DARLING burpies!

That Jaclyn will send me an email or message anytime she thinks I may be having a hard day, and she ALSO sends the recipes I request in a timely manner (I struggle with this unless it is a Pioneer Woman recipe, and I can copy and paste it)!

That Cynthia is as connected to the Internet as I am, and when I am facebooking and tweeting about how awful the pick up line is, she calls me to entertain me while I wait! OR searches the Old Navy stores by her house if I can't find something in AZ!

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THESE THINGS? These are not "blog-worthy" activities, but I would say they are much more descriptive of the type of people these bloggers are than their blog says about them. No one likes to brag, no one likes to say the kind thing they did for someone, but I am here to tell you that no matter how many bad days these bloggers may have, no matter how many times they may be on the verge of a meltdown, they are WONDERFUL people who love their family, have amazing hearts and are great friends!

Don't believe everything you read on the Internet!

ORANGE DOOR

Today was Tyler's FIRST day in the Orange Door, my most FAVORITE door in the school! She had a wonderful first day, and she got to sit next to James during snack time, which happened to be cake! How lucky can one girl get? She was thrilled to pieces to show everyone her new Hannah Montana lunch box!