Ten on Tuesday

1. I still haven't taken one picture of anything. So uninspired.

2. If I don't see another box for the rest of my life, I would be thoroughly happy!

3. We are not closing today, maybe tomorrow, maybe Thursday, maybe Friday! Who knows.

4. Mini ice cream cones from Trader Joe's are the perfect size summer time treat!

5. If I hear, "Mommy, can we have a snack?" from either of my children one more time today, I am going to scream. It isn't even 9am yet. I just lost my mind on them.

6. Pat spent two hours yesterday washing his car and cleaning it out because he had to pick up his client today for a mediation, they are then going to dinner and the baseball game. I asked if he was going to open the door for him too because he's never spent any amount of time cleaning his car for me other than tossing the stuff that's on the passenger seat to the back seat! CLASSY!

7. It is so hard not to be bitter right now. I had a much better attitude about it last week, but this week, I am struggling. I was the one last week telling Pat that it would all be fine, but this week, I just don't know.

8. Excited to hang out with Rylee if even just for a little bit tomorrow. She makes me laugh. I don't think I appreciated her age when my own kids were that old because I was either pregnant, tired, or overwhelmed at that time in my life.

9. Did you know Pat thought Alfredo was a type of cheese? I still laugh when I think about this. In one of the cookbooks we have, it has pictures of all the different types of cheeses, and Pat drew in a picture of cheese and labeled it alfredo after I made fun of him and used it as my evidence that alfredo is not a cheese, it is a sauce!

10. I like Olive Garden fettucine alfredo the best. I am certain that it is not authentic in any way, shape or form, but it is my FAVORITE!

Ten on Tuesday

What's going on?

1. We close in a week on our house, that is IF the bank can get their act together. I feel like every single day it is some new stress, and I can't handle it. My back/stomach pain had been kept to such a minimum lately because I had been trying to just stay calm and not stress out, but the closer it gets the more crippling the pain is. UGH!

2. I am well aware that moving into a new house and going on a week long vacation are luxuries, and I know that I am truly blessed, but it is incredibly overwhelming, and it is my reality right now, and this is MY blog, so I get to vent. Don't like it, don't read it.

3. My sister and I are OBSESSED with reading blogs about moms in the South. I wouldn't fit in there for a hot minute, but they make some of the best food. I am not sure how all the moms weigh 50 pounds soaking wet and eat crap all day (cake pops, sno cones, cake, cookies, cupcakes, etc.), but I made these S'mores Bars for Pat for Father's Day, and they were HEAVENLY!

4. I will happily recommend restaurants for someone, and if they hate it, I take full responsibility because I know I have researched the crap out of it, read all the reviews, etc. BUT ask me to choose a paint color, NO FREAKING CLUE!

5. The day our house is supposed to close Pat has an all day mediation and then has to entertain a client all night. Maybe I will just take the kids over to the house and toast them with Apple Cider or something. Kind of anti-climatic after all the stress and work that Pat has gone through to make sure the house closes on time.

6. Currently we are like two ships passing in the night. When an attorney goes on vacation, he has to make up all his billable hours. So, in my opinion it isn't really a vacation because it is more work before and after we vacation because he works longer and longer hours.

7. I am obsessed with Lifetime Movies. I think it is the only think that is going to get me through the summer.

8. Children's Place at Desert Ridge is having a big shoe sale. Apparently they are getting rid of all their shoes in boxes, so any shoe in a box is $7.99. I don't know what sizes or what not are available, but if you are in need of dress shoes, sandals, etc. It might be worth the trip.

9. I cannot keep food in this house. If it comes in, someone eats it up immediately. The summer grocery bill is killing me.

10. The Bachelorette. Can I just say that I am an evil person who thinks Bentley is HYSTERICAL, and I love that he proved what everyone was thinking all along. . .how do you know these people are telling the truth? He totally pulled the wool over Ashley's eyes, and I think it added a whole new twist to the show. I am a fan. Don't hate!

Ten on Tuesday

A few of my favorite things. . .

1. Magnum Double Caramel Ice Cream Bars



2. The Pioneer Woman Sux Blog. Seriously, I don't think she is promoting her blog to be any sort of diet blog, so to watch them rip her to shreds is kind of funny. I also like that they think she is always writing drunk, I don't know it makes me laugh! I hope The ACTUAL Pioneer Woman takes it with a grain of salt.

3. Luigi's Deli just recently opened, and they have this sandwich with cream cheese, bacon, avocado, turkey, etc, and it is SOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY!

4. We go through sunscreen like it is water. I love the spray. I am sure it is chalk full of chemicals and horrible for you and what not, but OMG, we recently ran out, and I have been applying lotion-MAKES YOU APPRECIATE THE SPRAY!




5. Wii Bowling. Tyler is kicking every one's butt, and I like that it is a game we can all compete at and have fun!!!!!!!!!!

6. Corn on the cob with lots of butter and salt. Also movie theater popcorn every single Friday. It's really not surprising that I can't lose weight-I love food!




7. POGO! I get sucked into playing when I am stressed out. And I am way beyond stressed right now! Hey, it could be worse!

8. Our soon to be new refrigerator. HONESTLY, Pat and I have never had a brand new fridge, and I am giddy about the water and ice in the door after being without it for soooooooo long!




9. Purex After the Rain Laundry Detergent, I think it smells soooooooooo good!




10. That we will be HERE in less than a month!

In My Favor!

I don't know what is going on lately, but the stars have aligned, and things seem to work out perfectly. This morning, my car battery died. Usually, it would be a big tragedy, but we just switched the car seats to Pat's car, and headed off to continue on with our plans for the day. We remembered that Pat's dad was in the area, actually he was at OUR new house mapping out the location of the pool fence, and apparently you need some "SPECIAL" tool to get the battery out of my car, and Pat being as "handy" as he is, doesn't have this tool and can't get the battery out. So, he called his dad, asked him to go over to our house and see if he could get it out because Pat's dad IS HANDY (no quotes) and has tools in his car and what not. His dad headed over, not only got the battery out, took it back to the place we got it from two years ago, got one for free because it was under warranty and put it in my car, so that when we arrived back home the car started right up! SERIOUSLY! How awesome is that. Usually it is this big drama, and it was LITERALLY drama free. The kids and I were seriously standing in the drive way cheering with excitement because it started. I am sure we looked ridiculous to our neighbors, but HEY, we won't live here much longer, right!?

After we brought all of our stuff in from the car, Pat says, "Is this what it's like to be rich, you just call someone, they come fix it, and when you get home it is as good as new!?" SERIOUSLY! It was amazing, and so completely WONDERFUL that his dad did this for us. THANK YOU JIM! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

I bet Jaclyn could have figured out how to change the battery herself, but that's a whole post for a different day! :-)

Ten on Tuesday

1. We are under contract on a house. Way too much to think about. I am not FASCINATED by the whole house concept, but it will be nice to have somewhere to call my own that I don't have to worry about leaving or getting kicked out of. I wish I had a decorating gene in my body, but I walk into Jaclyn's house and wonder how she came up with this or that, she is so talented! I need an interior decorator! STAT!




2. Organizing my children's schedule is a full time job. Add in any family plans we might have, and I am pretty dang sure I need a full time assistant!

3. We are going to spend A LOT of time in the pool this month because most of the kid's toys are packed, and they are a bundle of energy the sun and water tire them out nicely, and then when we come back inside and throw them in front of a movie, I don't feel so bad!

4. Meatless Monday is starting to be a REAL DRAG, especially when it falls on a Holiday!

5. I think I need to eat a steak or something. I am so tired all of the time. I took two naps yesterday, went to bed at 9:30, and some how I still woke up tired.

6. Tyler is getting better about moving, she was having a REALLY hard time for awhile. She still has her moments where I think it all just doesn't make sense in her head, but we are working on it.

7. My grocery store bill is going to sky rocket now that the kids are home for the summer, they can really throw down!

8. Drew got a heart. You can continue to follow the journey HERE!

9. I often eat lunch for breakfast and breakfast for lunch.

10. Dropped Jackson off at his Summer School this morning, and I had to laugh because I am so clearly a dork because all the parents of the other "gifted" children were complete and total dorks, and that's so judgmental, I KNOW, so I decided that I couldn't possibly be the only "cool" parent there, so I have accepted the fact that I am a dork. I would rather be a dork than the possessed parent in the parking lot SCREAMING at her child that she was going to give him a spanking. I turned to Jackson and Tyler and quietly said, "Isn't it like 7:30 AM, why is this person already screaming?" GOOD TIMES AT THE SUMMER SCHOOL DROP OFF!

Prayers Please

It's things like this that remind us all of what is important. Pat's office manager at his old law firm has a darling little boy, Drew, that is in desperate need of your prayers. You can follow along with their journey. . .here! Some of you may know her as Boedie's Boys, if you played Fantasy Football with us.

Ten on Tuesday

1. EIGHT YEARS! The only man I can say I truly trust with my heart (other than my grandpa because I know he would do anything for me)! I don't have a lot of faith in men, but this one is a keeper! Happy Anniversary, Patrick!

2. I would love to write a book. I don't know what I would write about (LIE: Why I Don't Leave the House would be the title, and I would write about all the crazy things I have encountered since becoming the wife of an attorney.)

3. Pat worked until 10 last night, BOO! I slept through him coming home, heating up dinner, etc. That scares me, and that's why I don't really like to be asleep when the kids are here. I could sleep through it, or I could wake up every five minutes, it is TERRIBLE!

4. I am having lunch with a friend tomorrow, and I cannot WAIT!!! It has been a really long time since I had lunch with a friend.

5. I am trying not to eat as much cheese because I don't think my stomach can tolerate it. I do really well, and then I totally fail!

6. Pat and Paul went and fixed my grandparent's roof on Saturday morning. Pat nor Paul know anything about fixing a roof, but they got it done. AND THEN, while they were doing it, the neighbor asked if they would come over and look at her roof. I think they could start up a side business.

7. My little Calli Rose Parise graduated from high school this weekend. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!? She was six months old when I started watching her, and she would cry her little eyes out the entire time her mom was gone. I don't know why I went back. It was torture, but I credit her with allowing me the luxury of having my kids cry it out! It doesn't phase me because she would cry no matter what!

8. Both my kids went to their first "drop off" birthday party this weekend, and it was luxuriouis and stressful at the same time. I hoped and prayed that they were given the tools needed to be polite and wonderful in that situation, and I loved the peace and quiet I was able to have while enjoying Calli's grad party (though Pat and I both scarfed our food down like the kids were still there!)!

9. I hate James Frey on Oprah. I don't like him. Having him on for TWO hours is ridiculous. Unless of course, he wants to publish my novel, then I will love him!

10. At what point would it be beneficial to have Tyler start watching 16 and Pregnant. It never ends well, and it is a horrible situation for EVERYONE, and I want her to realize just how CRAPPY it would be!!!! FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED!