Bright & Chipper : )

 Last night we went over to a friend's house and meet up with a few other friend's of ours and enjoyed dinner with them. In my personal opinion, there is nothing like girl's time with your friends. We sent the guys outside with all the kids and the barbecue and we poured ourselves some wine and enjoyed ourselves chatting and laughing. Definitely what I needed. I love getting together with people and hanging out. Especially if they have kids and it's nice enough outside to let them run loose. The kids get some playtime and so do the adults : )
 This has been an upside down week for us all. The kids and I got sick with the seasonal colds and it dragged me down. The kids are awesome when it comes to getting sick because they have really great immune systems. Bug ended up throwing up last night for the second time in her life. Pukes once and ready to go play right afterward. Seeing her today, you would never think she even got sick. Ignacio is the same way. I don't like medicine of any kind unless it is absolutely needed. Otherwise I just let our bodies fight everything off. I don't do herbal or natural stuff either except for myself because I have crappy immune system and it's too late for my immunity to build up, lol.
 I'm in the process of making plans for a quick trip to Montana. I miss my girls too much and I wanted a visit in before the snow came, so I'm hoping it holds off for a few more weeks. We're planning a girl's day ending with the new Twilight movie. I love that series. I know there are people who find it ridiculous, and that's fine, but I love books that lose you within it's story. I love reading fiction because it takes me away from the present. A little bit of an escape without actually leaving.
 I just finished Something Borrowed the book and moved on to Something Blue. I have Emily Griffin's whole set and so far these books are really good. I was really happy that the book and movie didn't differ too much. A few things were different of course but not too bad. It was the first movie that for once was realistic and not happy ever after. I dislike when movies are always the same thing. The stories might be different but they become so predictable. Something good starts off the movie, something bad happens and then everyone fixes it and lives happily ever after. This movie, was not the case, thank goodness. I won't ruin it for anyone out there who hasn't seen it but it was really good.
 Today is definitely a day of catching up for me. My house needs some cleaning up and a few loads of laundry need done. Now that everyone is all better finally, I'm going to go hit the gym for a few hours. Normally I'm at the gym for only two hours but I have missed the last four days and I need to make up for that time. It wouldn't be such a big deal but I am definitely addicted to going. Tomorrow marks three weeks going and I can already see a difference and feel a difference in my body. I pulled out my smallest size of pants that I haven't been able to get in for a few months and threw them on with ease. Realized they came on with room to spare even! Definitely a highlight of my month!  : D So maybe in a few more weeks I will finally pull on the never been touched, dust on the legs, size 10's that I bought years ago, and fit perfectly : ) I look forward to writing about that occasion : )
 If any of you enjoy a good site, I highly recommend pinterest.com I have a few friends tell me about it and one really good friend come over and physically make me check it out, lol, and it was definitely the best find in a very long time. So if you get sucked in too, let me know, I'll add you to my board : )
 Have a fabulous rest of the weekend and Go Packers!!

At That Point.

 At what point do you tell people enough is enough? 

* My husband decided to have my son's ear pierced. He being my son's parent mind you, thought it was okay. Thought that since we got our daughter's ears pierced when she was 6 months old, and that our nephews have it done and friend's kids have it done as well, why not? What would it hurt putting a tiny little diamond in his ear that he can take out later if he decides he doesn't want it in? That even though I didn't want to at first, am now liking it after all. But now I get to hear how bad parents we are for doing such a horrible thing, especially to our son. I haven't made a big production of it and actually, if the little fart wouldn't tell people himself, they wouldn't even notice. And I obviously can't hide him inside the house all day everyday. Today's grocery trip was sort of needed after all. The criticism was not however. People, let us be mindful that what one set of parents (or one parent, in the terms of single parents) decides to do with their children, is up to nobody but them. You, as the non parent party, get to step back smile and at most say "It is what it is" (my favorite saying from a favorite person) but respect the parents/parent and watch the things you say, be it to their face or behind their back later. I'm sure there are a few things they could say about you and your parenting but I in this case, don't. I think them to myself in a chuckling manner, but I don't say them. It just hurts how people think they can tell me what I'm doing wrong all according to their judgement. If I wanted opinions on how to raise my children, you would have been in the bedroom while I made mine. You weren't then, and you aren't now so butt out! 

*Friendship. It is such a tricky thing. It honestly is. Especially for me. I have a set of true blue amazing friends who don't live near me that I constantly have guilt about not keeping better in touch. But yet I am reminded that everytime I do talk to any one of them, it really is like we never lost touch for any period of time. When I visit them, it's like we were together just the other day. That does feel like a special bond to me. Don't get me wrong, it isn't always perfect friendship, I hardly ever remember to write, I often run my mouth without thinking and let's face it, they are better people than I. But the best part is that even through my flaws, they still love me and are there for me. And if it weren't for my oldest and closest friend here, I'm pretty sure I would be crazy by now as well. Wellllll....crazier than I already am that is. As I never name names on here, just to be polite, I won't drop this one's either, but it's rare to find someone who is always there for you no matter what, even in the times that sometime suck and you reeeeally don't want to be. And then to love you even after those times. 

 But what do you do when you feel like a friendship you thought you had wasn't really one after all. When people who are supposed to be close to you end up the only ones who screw you over and pretty much use you? At what point is enough, actually enough? I'm at that point with a few people and it sucks because something tells me, I'm the only one who will end up walking away caring. Sometimes a person can only take so much and if you end up on the end that I'm on, just remember, if it for your own good, do it and don't give a crap what anyone else thinks. I try too much to live for others approval and it is just ridiculous. Yet it's a constant habit that I can't seem to break because as much as I don't want to, I end up doing. And if you haven't called or texted or facebooked or snail mailed a friend lately to ask how they are, you should. And if you are one of those people who make life all about you and never care enough to listen to someone about them at least once in awhile, do the other person a favor and walk away. Selfish isn't good in any situation or relationship...

 *Politics. Seriously, when is enough ever enough with that? I am not into politics. I could care less because honestly it may affect the world, my state, my gas prices, but I really have too much going on in my life to stop and care. You can hate me if you'd like, and judge me all you want to but I seriously don't care. But I also hate haring about it on Facebook all day, everyday. Nothing is going to change about our president until next year, and as many people as there are in this country, why do some people think that if they rant on our president all day long, that maybe he will somehow see their page and change? Or that being a certain ethnicity or religion makes a political statement all on it's own. If I were president, would I be judged solely on where I was born, what religion I am, and what friends I have/had? In that case, forget it, I like my anonymity. Besides, with the power of a little red button at my disposal, enough people pissing me off might make me push the little bugger ; )

*Archeologists. Not all of them but the majority. As I was watching TV the other day, an ad came on for some show called Decoded I think. About how aliens must have put Stonehenge here and trying to decode why. Really? Does your job pay you enough to sit and wonder about statues that were here since forever? It's not that I don't believe in aliens (I don't) or that archeologists are useless (only some) but the fact that people sit around wondering about something they will never ever know the answer for, just bugs me. Like they couldn't find something more useful to do with their time. If I believed in aliens, I would like to think that they have better things to do then place rock formations on random planets. No wait, maybe they DID place them here so they could sit back and watch the clueless humans run around trying to figure out how and why. Reality TV alien style  : )

*Speaking of TV, Kim Kardashian. Enough is enough. I get tired of her and that family. She and her sisters annoy me to bits. So does that awful show Toddlers and Tiaras. And I'm sorry but Dance Moms, while entertaining to watch, those poor kidlets have my pity. I believe in dance in any form, but to dress your six year old daughter like a prostitute, have shaking her booty in front of men and women who you have no idea their background and if they have secret pedophile habits or not, just baffles me. But then again....It is what it is and it isn't for me. And that's the end of that one....(Like how I did that? Study. Learn. Do!) 

Boo!

 Have you ever been scared of the dumbest little thing? I am. A few of them actually. Bees. The dark. Tornados. Men who are dirty and homeless. And Walmart at certain times of the year. Now the first one is really not dumb as I am allergic to them so it's more of a "I-Fear-You-Out-Of-The-Chance-Of-Death" sort of fear. Dirty bugs...But they are handy because of the honey and flowers and such so we have an agreement of they leave me alone and I leave them alone. I actually feed them outside too, which is weird. Very, very weird. The second fear? The dark. It's not that I'm actually scared. It's just creepy to sit in the dark. Alone. And quietly. I always have to have the tv on. Or at least my sound machine. Something so that it isn't just me. Weird things happen in my house so me and the dark do not get along. Which is ironic in the sense that my children don't sleep with night lights and because of where their windows are, it's pretty pitch dark in their rooms. My children aren't scared of the dark and yet their mother, who is quickly reaching 30 is. That is just sad. Very, very sad...Tornados. That one is just sensible. Who would enjoy a tornado coming up and ripping apart their home, cars, possibly killing them and their family, and destroying a town that they live in? Yeah I'm nutty for that one right?? Well, actually, if you want to know the truth, that is a small part of the fear. The biggest part is that I love storms, but when the wind gusts are ripping my screen doors off my house and shaking the trees so hard you think they are going to fall through the house, I get scared that I am going to have to go sit in our basement. That is all dirt. And full of must, dampness, and spiders. And is just really icky. Did I really just say icky??...And the whole dirty men thing, it's just creepy men with long hair and dirty clothes and look at you like they just got released from prison after serving 30 years. Men scare me period thanks to an interesting part of my life. So this isn't as judgmental as it is, honest and understanding. At least from my point of view and on this, I'm right. Now comes for Walmart. This is where most people's hatred for holidays hit. It's October. I went to Walmart in September and guess what holiday they were already setting up for? CHRISTMAS! Now, I love Christmas as much as the next person but seriously? Why can't they pull stuff out in, oh I don't know, December?? Kind of ruins it for me with all the commercialization and such. This year is going to be a fun one since we are celebrating Hannukah and Christmas together but it just depresses me when I see everything set out and we haven't gotten to experience Halloween or Thanksgiving yet.
 I always stress about Christmas. I love buying things for people but then as soon as they are sent off I immediately kick into stressing out about whether they will like the gifts I got or not. Abel has the whole "either they like it or we just won't buy them anything next year" sort of mentality which I hate. I don't want people to not like what I get them. I do what my dad did every year because it is on the easy side in the fact that I can buy something for an entire family of six the same way I can get something for a family of two. But I hate it in the sense that I didn't make it or put actual time into it. But then I talk to people about making them handmade stuff and they tell me it's cheap and they'd throw it away sooner or later so not to bother. Makes me sad :(
 Today is quit random. I just felt the urge to write, not about anything in particular really, just, write.
 Life has been very crazy and very.....unknown, lately. I am a control freak. I like being in semi-control of what happens. And lately I haven't been able to control what has been happening. Husband has a decent job. The paychecks are very nice and it has been great getting things paid off and even spoiling ourselves somewhat. But I hope that very soon, after everything is paid off and our debt no longer exists, Husband can quit this job and we can move back to Montana. Not many people like being poor but I do. I actually miss it. Things meant much more back then. They were fully appreciated and were more special. Now we take for granted and even expect things. Granted we have been able to give our kids much more than we ever got but still. Sometimes money and happiness can't co-exist :( That and I feel like people have distanced themselves from us too. Like we are awful people for having money or something. And when Abel goes into the military, it would be really nice to be home with family who I know I can call in an instant no matter what. This town is amazing for community support but I feel would feel ridiculous for calling someone for something they would deem as small.
 Sooo enough blabbering about nothing. Husband came home from the store and made us smoothies and we are going to go watch Zookeeper and Rio. Have a grand evening all!

Minneapolis!

 Driving at night when you have to drive long distances is awesome. It's pretty much how I do anymore when it comes to our driving trips. Especially with the kids. They sleep, I jam out to music and talk to whoever is with me (in this case, my sister-in-law) and enjoy the road because I'm the only one on it. Score! 

 The trip went well and getting to see my husband was so exciting, I actually had butterflies of excitement/nervousness! We got in right in time for breakfast at the hotel so we unloaded the car, ate some breakfast, got showered and ready for the day, and then headed over to the Mall of America. It was the Bug's fifth birthday so we allowed for some spoiling. I backed away from them both because Husband has been gone for a few weeks, I think it was good to let them hang out. Which turned out convenient because Ignacio was too little for all the rides and I don't do any rides that make me nauseas which was pretty much all of them, lol. I had big plans for lunch or dinner at the best restaurant ever, Bubba Gump's, but Hannah chose The Rainforest Cafe instead which turned out to be pretty amazing too. I love the atmosphere which has tanks of fish everywhere, monkeys that yell and go crazy, and thunderstorms as you are eating. Tons of fun! And the food was amazing and came on plates the size of my son pretty much. My sister-in-law ordered my daughter the biggest dessert they had, complete with sparklers, and had the staff sing happy birthday to her. It was awesome that's for sure. 

 From there we went directly to Build-A-Bear. My nephew's birthday is coming up at the end of this month, Bean's birthday just passed and being as it was Bug's birthday, we decided to let the kids pick out an animal, an outfit and let them build them all for their birthdays. Bug got a kitty, a cute fairy costume and shoes, and then picked out a stroller because God forbid she have to carry the thing everywhere, lol. Beanie picked out a monkey (of course *sigh*) and was drawn to Cars pajamas and slippers for his, and my nephew picked out an adorable puppy and a cute race car t-shirt and jeans for it. We stuffed sound chips in them, and a heartbeat maker in Bug's so that every time she hugs it, she can feel it's heart beating. And then they got to step on the pedals and control how much stuffing went in to them. You get to create the birth certificate and register them. If you ever find an animal that was made at a Build-A-Bear, take it in to the nearest shop, there is always a tag put inside the animal when it is being stuffed that they scan and can find out who the owner is and mail it back to them. Best part ever. And you know, the price of the stuff there is not bad at all, I was expecting to spent a ton of money but it was pretty inexpensive. We might have to make it a birthday tradition, lol.  

 Then from there we did more rides in the Nickelodeon park, which is smack dab right in the center of the mall. I remember when it used to be Camp Snoopy :  (  Bug got to meet Spongebob and Patrick and get a few souvenirs and my son somehow won a prize from the carnies when I was unable to. The whole "toss the plastic ball into the plastic hole" thing is deceiving just so everyone knows...After about two hours in there we decided to call it quits and walk around the mall. Which was fun until the tiredness kicked in. Being up for 36 hours at this point, I felt old, off balance, and tired beyond tired. Made me wish I was a teen again, I could have been up for two days and still never felt a thing...

 So as we were leaving, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend invited us over to his house for dinner. And off we went! I felt awful because it was pretty last minute and I didn't want his family to go through any trouble cooking for us but I have to say, I am now in love with the food! His family is Laotian. We got to eat Khao poon (a spicy soup made with chicken, noodles, chilies and other ingredients I don't remember, but it's very good), som tam (a spicy papaya salad type dish, not made with lettuce or the kind of salad you are thinking of), sticky rice ( my favorite!) and a dish made with fish. It was so good and hard to stop eating. They eat on a little table on the floor with chopsticks and it was so fun! The language is beautiful and they treated us like family. The only thing that made me nervous is that they lived in the ghetto. Which is weird because I never knew Minneapolis even had a ghetto part. But it was so familiar feeling because it made us feel like we were back in California. I miss the multicultural backgrounds everywhere and I became extremely envious when two blocks down, we passed a synagogue! 

 So by the time we got back last night and into bed, it was a total of 40 hours of straight awakeness. I don't even remember my head hitting the pillow, that's how fast I went out. Waking up at 7 this morning was a bit disappointing but refreshing and convenient since breakfast was downstairs. The kidlets ate twice! And then we got to go swimming for a bit. My son hates the pool and loves the hot tub. Very fearless and on the crazy side. Bug loves swimming and jumping in over and over again. It was such a workout that I laid Ignacio down and put on his clothes only to find he had fallen asleep on me! LoL. Poor guy. 

 So after naptime, we plan on heading out and discovering the town we are in, which is 20 miles away from Minneapolis. Not far at all but far enough so that it's smaller and quieter. We like that. Today is just going to be chill. It'll be time to leave tomorrow and so much to do when we get home that I can't repeat the up for 40 hour thing again. I'll be glad when next weekend hits, Husband will be home finally. He gets OJT (on-the-job-training) for the next 6 months, and then after that he comes back here for one week, takes the big test and if he passes, he will be an engineer :D 

 Now I'm closing this down and going to take a nap too. It's what all the cool kids are doing right now, might as well join 'em :) 

 Have a wonderful weekend! 

 * Beckie *