Leave it to the Beavers

Agreeing to disagree

2011-10-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

There is an epic battle brewing at my house, and it goes a little something like this:
I go somewhere, come home, and pull the van into the driveway because that is how it should be done.
Then Jerry gets in the van to go somewhere, backs it out, complains about the traffic, comes home, and backs the van into the driveway because that is how it should be done.
In my defense: I RARELY have to wait to back out of the driveway because a car is coming. And I really don't get why it is so important to back the van into driveway. Seems like a waste of time to me. All I can guess is it's because he is a man.
In his defense: He ALWAYS has to wait to back out of the driveway because a car is coming. He really doesn't get why I think backing the van into the driveway is so to do. (I think he thinks he is doing me some kindof service by backing the van in)
So, if you drive by our house and the van is pointed towards the house you know I was the last to drive. If it is pointed towards the street, Jerry was the last to drive. Currently we are agreeing to disagree.
Yeah, it's a battle about nothing, but that's marraige for you.

The crib and the junk drawer (or lack thereof)

2011-10-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

Growing up we always had a "junk drawer". You know, that one drawer that gathers all the stuff in your house that has no where else to go and once a year or so you clean it out and wonder what all that crap is and how it got there. Yeah, the "junk drawer".....I don't have one of those. Probably becuase my current kitchen has a total of 3 drawers.
So, instead of gathering all my junk in a drawer I strategically place it on my "computer desk". I say it's a computer desk, but it hasn't had a computer on it for more than a year and a half. Anyways, because I can see all my crap I clean it more often.
About 6 months ago, I bought a crib from a friend. I took it apart and took it up stairs to store it until I actually needed it. In the process of taking it apart, one of those little pieces that holds the side up fell off, so I sat it on the desk where I would be sure to remember it. That's where I went wrong.
Just before Jerry came home, I decided to clean off my "computer desk". I found the little white piece and couldn't figure out what it was. I put it back, and asked Jerry when he got home. Naturally, he didn't know what it was either.
Part of me thinks I put it somewhere where I wouldn't lose it because it "looked important" but chances are I threw it away.
This wouldn't be a big deal except that you can't buy a replacement part from the manufacture anymore because of some "safety notice" or something like that. Infact, they are offering me $20 to destroy my crib.
Seriously, is there any baby product out there that hasn't been recalled? This is getting a little out of control.
Update: I found a crib on campbell yard sales for $25 and bought it. Which can only mean that I will definitely find the part for the other crib in less than a week. ;)

Why I haven't been blogging

2011-10-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

I forget that not all of y'all do the facebook thing, so incase you have been wondering this is why I haven't been blogging lately:

Well, that and a bunch of other stuff I didn't take pictures of.

In the forest.....

2011-10-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Caibo: Mom I looked and looked all through the forest, but I couldn't find Jade.
Me: Did you find the bear? (He thinks there is a bear in our 100 ft strip of forest)
Caibo: No
Me: Did you find bigfoot?
Caibo: No Mom!!! Bigfoot likes the water. We don't have water in the forest, not even in the ditch.

So, just in case you were wondering, if you are looking for bigfoot, check near the water.

Confession: We had a fight over R&R

2011-08-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read the title correctly. Believe it or not, R&R was not 2 weeks of complete bliss, but that's the reality of marraige. Isn't it? Anyways, the point of this is that maybe just maybe I won't have to explain my point of view on this to people for yet the 100th time.
So if you remember back to Februaryish I was in a frantic state of cleaning. Mr. B was coming home and I wanted everything to be PERFECT. I succeeded too. The house sparkled and shined. The kids were clean and well groomed. I even managed to find the mostest wonderful new dress to wear to impress him. I was so proud of me.
Insert reality: I only wore my fancy dress twice while he was here and my sparkly clean house was soon covered by the contents of his backpack. Seriously, how did he get so much stuff in there? I was still proud of me though. Until.....
On the way to Florida, Mr. B confessed to me that he was a little weired out by the extreme cleanliness of our house. He even went as far as to say that it all felt fake (btw, fake is pretty much the worst thing you can call me). I was devestated. All I had wanted to do was make him happy and proud of me.
The great thing about have time apart is that time gives you perspective. I know I am about to sound absolutely out of my mind crazy to some of you, but he was right. The reality of the matter is that, in the grand scheme of things, it isn't going to matter if my house sparkles and shines, if I have the perfect outfit, or if every hair is in just the right place when he gets home. What matters to him is that I am still here and that I am as happy to see him as he is to see me.
Yes, Mr B. will be home very soon, and I am very excited. However, I have not purchased a fancy new outfit and I am not frantically shining every surface in my house. The house will be at a normal state of clean. There might be a dirty dish in the sink. There will probably be an unfolded basket of laundry somewhere in the living room. The walls will definitely need washed. And believe it or not, the world will not come to an end. It will still be an awesome day and we will all be happy because we will be together again.
Honestly, I like it better this way. It's alot less stressful.

And now....A word about fundraisers

2011-08-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

My kids have been in school for just barely 2 weeks. Today they brought home their SECOND fundraiser. Yes, I really did just say second. First they brought home the little coupon card things. Then today they brought home the cookie dough fundraiser thing. Really?!?
*This is me hopping up onto my soapbox*
First of all, I want you to know that I completely support the idea of earning extra money for our schools. I will support bake sales, carnivals, and probably even a raffle (eventhough I never win). I even collect the little box tops for education. But that is where I draw the line.
Why fundraisers are evil:
Somebody comes into my child's classroom and tells them that they are doing a fundraiser for (insert worthy cause here) and tells them why this is such a great cause and how awesome it will be to help people and blah, blah, blah......
Then they hand them an envelope full of brightly colored advertisments and MOST IMPORTANTLY the little sheet that says if they sell one item they will "earn" a 25cent icecream cone and if they sell 1000 they can "earn" a cheap I-pod knock off and every dollar store toy underneath it on the sheet.
By the time my children make it to me I am doomed.
I think it was the "jump rope for heart" fundraiser that pushed me over the edge. Honestly, the idea of getting a prize for raising money for charity that drives me crazy. Isn't giving to those in need enough anymore?
So, I made a deal with my kids. If they don't make me sell or buy (insert crazy fundraiser item here), I will take them to the DQ and get a better icecream cone than the one they would have "earned" for selling 1 item.
And rest assured that I will not be asking you to buy a coupon book, cookie dough, wrapping paper, bag of nuts, whatever......However, if you like the girl scout cookies, hit me up the first of the year and I will hook you up. I do have a girl scout.

Sorry, no clever title

2011-08-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

I went to my regularly scheduled Dr. appointment this morning. You know they one. They weigh you, measure you, listen to your baby's heart rate, and 15 minutes later they send you home. After the nurse asked me her standard list of questions (the ones they ask every visit to verify that I am not depressed or being domestically abused), she handed me a piece of paper with the date and time for my next appointment. 1500 (3pm if you don't speak army)?!?!?!? Ummmm....not physically possible. That is when I am retrieving my children from school. So as I am explaining to the nurse that unless someone invents teleportation in the next month then she is going to have to reschedule my appointment it occurs to me
by the time I have my next appointment I SHOULD have a husband again. Whoa!!! Has it really been a year already?

The return of the best question ever

2011-07-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

When Caibo was about 2 years old, Jade got to thinking (she's a thinker that one) and asked me, "You know how you went to the hospital and got Caibo out of your tummy....Can I see the hole?" At the time she was only 4 and I was able to avoid the question. Thank goodness!!

Well this morning we were getting an ultrasound done (yes, again). Caibo kept asking me when they were going to cut my tummy open. I guess when I told him that we were going to see the baby today he assumed that they would pull the baby out , look at it, and then put it back in. I explained that they weren't ever going to cut my tummy open. Then they both asked, "So how are you going to get it out?"

Yep, the best question ever is back.

P.S. The baby still doesn't believe in stretching out. Here's another picture to illustrate that for you and because why not.

Tales from the laundry room: the bleaching bandit

2011-07-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Laundry is not my strong point. Never was. Never will be. Mount Landry in the corner of my living room will confirm this fact. Although lately, I have been pretty good at keeping things clean and dried (just not folded or put away). I have been so good at this that the other day I went to fill the washer with my dirty clothes and did not have enough to make a full Load. I'm not sure why, but I cannot justify running the washing machine if it is not full. So, I left the clothes there and completely forgot about them. A couple days later I remembered and finished the load. No big deal........
Or atleast that is what I thought until I started pulling things out of the dryer. My purple shirt is now spotted (as in sploches of bleached out completely) and so is my black one and my red one and Jade's pink one (not distraught about the pink one it also had a mustard stain). That right there is pretty much half of my wardrobe, and it is now unwearable.
So I asked the kids if the had put anything into the washing machine. Of course, nobody did it. Finally today out of no where Caibo confessed to putting the bleach in the washing machine. I can't really be mad about it because he was just trying to help, but if it ever happens again.....
he has been warned.

This falls under the category of overachieving

2011-07-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the deployment forces me to put my big girl pants on and do things that I don't think should be part of my job. This is one of those stories.
I have been waiting 3 months for the propane tank on my (yes it is MINE) BBQ grill to magically refill itself. Do you know what? That doesn't happen :(
Finally I gave in and drove down to the convenience store and traded my empty tank in for a full one. I even hooked up the new tank all by myslef, and nothing blew up. Yeah, I am that good.
Well now, I have a BBQ grill and no meat or atleast that's how it was until this morning. I took my two whiny kids down to the comissary. We bought meat and lots and lots of other things. (The commissary is a trap kindof like the walmart. Leaving the store without spending less than $150 is considered a miracle.)
Then we came home and I divided up my meat into meal sized ziplock baggies and put the marinades in with them and threw them into the freezer. I even wrote on them, so I knew what was in each bag. That for me would be considered overachieving.

Photographic proof

2011-07-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

There it is.....the 3rd smiley. No, we do not know if it is a boy or a girl yet, so it will do no good to ask. Since Jerry is deployed right now, we decided to wait until he comes back so we can find out together.

The whole ultrasound experience was kindof funny. I was actually out in Utah on vacation (btw, I went to Utah for a month) when I hit the 20 week mark, so I had to wait until I got home to do the ultrasound. Because I had just spent a month in the desert, hydration wasn't exactly working for me. I ended up having to drink 5 glasses of water compare to the usual 3. In case you were wondering, 5 glasses of water is not a pleasant experience.

They finally got me hydrated enough to see the things they needed to see, and as you can see from the second photo the baby decided not to cooperate. I am pretty sure it is impossible to tuck those legs any tighter into the chest. That's how it was most of the time. The poor tech had to move the table so my head was lower than my feet to get the baby to stretch out. Yep, good times.

Tales from Sacrament meeting....

2011-07-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

I could have easily skipped out on sacrament today. It was 20 min before it started, my hair was not done, my bag was not packed, yeah....I wasn't exactly ready. Anyways, I put my shoulder to the wheel and got us ready and out the door. We made it to sacrament meeting half way through the opening hymn. (not too shabby if I di say so myself) I am not sure why, but the overflow was not open. The only place left to sit was on the very front row. You know, the middle one right in front of the Bishopric.
Surprisingly, the kids were very good through the meeting. Jade filled two pieces of paper with doodles, and Caibo rested while evil Beaver kicked the back of his head.
The closing Hymn was America the Beautiful. Everyone stood to sing it. Caibo was not amused. I tried and tried to get him to stand, but he refused. Finally I gave up and let him sit down. I glanced down at him a couple of times, and he was just glaring. It seriously looked like he wanted to hurt someone (Sorry Bishopric. He wasn't mad at you just the song choice).
So, if you saw me laughing during the closing hymn in sacrament meeting today, that is why. You would have laughed if you had seen the look on his face, too.

This is what happens when you suck at keeping secrets.

2011-05-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Confession: On a scale of 1 to 10 my ability to keep a secret is probably a 2. It's true. I can't keep a secret. I can't pull off a surprise. I just talk to much, that's all.
So, that is why I haven't blogged in (lowers head in shame) 2 months and 4 days. I have been keeping a secret, and since I know that I talk too much I figured silince was the best policy.
I suppose you are wondering what this secret might be. According to things I found on google, it is now safe to tell you all that I am pregnant. Yes, I know I have said millions of times that I was completely done having children, but somewhere between here and there I changed my mind. Honestly, I can't tell you why. It was just time.
Sooo.....coming early November 2011 (hoping for 11/11/11 or even 11/12/11 but it's probably not happening) is evil Beaver #3 aka Smiley #3. Eventually, one day, I promise to give this child a real name

R&R Story #2--The snow

2011-03-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

So Monday morning came, and I am a mean mom, so I made my kids go to school, and did what I do best. Yes, I went back to bed. I woke up a while later to the sound of my from ringing. School was getting out early. I looked out the window and what did I see? No, no popcorn, but it was white. It was snowing. We spent the day watching the snow and packing to go on our trip to Florida.
Tuesday morning we got up, loaded the van up and were on our way. The snow was gone by the time we hit nashville. I guess that wasn't the end of the snow in Clarksville though. Every night for our first week, we got a call from the school saying there would be no school. Normally, I would protest this many snow days, but this time it worked to our advantage.
You see, CMCSS (or whatever they are) has a pretty strict attendence policy, and my kids had already missed 5 days a piece. I went into to the school to find out what I needed to do to excuse the absences for our trip to Florida. After much research they found out that the policy is to only excuse 5 days for R&R. LAME!!! We had planned to be gone for 10.
So eventhough my friends back in Clarksville we terribly annoyed at the snow, this is the snow storm that saved me from going to truancy court.

R&R Story #1--The surprise

2011-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

If you remember from back in the day, Mr. B was pretty determined that he was going to surprise us for his R&R. The bank account revealing his whereabouts kindof ruined that up for him, but he still tried. Just in case, I went on a massive house cleaning rampage so everything would sparkle and shine when he got here. I talked to him Sunday morning before church. He was in the US but still not sure that I would need to pick him up from the airport.
Finally, I decided that I was done playing the "I don't know" game. I put on my new dress, got all fancy, got the kids ready, and went to church. He called me I assume from the runway in Atlanta and told me that he did need me to come pick him up in Nashville while I was hanging out with the nursery kids. My awesome friend (Thanks Sam!!!) volunteered to watch the kids while I went to get him. I told the kids I had to go "pick something up for daddy" in Nashville. Then I started my drive to Nashville. I was not even out of Clarksville, when Mr. B called and said that he had just landed. Ummmm....Really?? Not much I could do at that point, so he had to wait. I went and retreived him, dropped him off at home, and then went to pick up the kids. Jade was super curious about what a had gone to get from Nashville. When she walked into the house, she saw a pillow on the couch. She picked it up, "Mom, really?!? you drove to Nashville for a pillow??? Couldn't you have gotten that from Walmart??" This was the point where she turned around and saw her daddy sitting on the stairs. To describe her as excited would be an understatement. Had I been on task I would have made a video of this event, but I wasn't so there isn't one.
Where was Caibo during this whole adventure? He was getting a hotdog out of the fridge completely oblivious to it all.

Dear So and So: Half Way Friday

2011-03-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

Once again, Friday has snuck up on me. This time it's a good thing. Yep, today is half way Friday. Half way to what? The return of Mr. B. In celebration, I bring you some Dear So and So. Mostly because I love Dear So and So.
Anyways......
Dear City of Clarksville,
What exactly is the point of having tornado sirens if, "The siren system is not designed to be heard inside every home."? Also by "every home" I think you mean most homes. According to your map, I am smack in the middle of 4 of your sirens, and I have never heard one.
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (just not hearing it)

Dear 2nd grade teacher,
If you expect me to help my daughter with her research paper, I expect communication from you as to what she needs to be researching. I am not going to put my 7 year old on google and let her "research" to her hearts content.
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (over protective internet mother)

Dear Troop (actually I don't know what number it is),
How can we be out of thin mints already?
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (cookie problem solver extraordinaire)

Dear Facebook Friends,
Just to be fair, I wanted to let you know that I play Zuma, Bejewled, and Pathwords. I will ignore all other requests.
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (not playing Texas Hold em poker)

Ok, that's all I have for today. Happy Half way day!!!

Catching up that photo thingy

2011-02-23T21:13:00.001-08:00

I was taking pictures all along. I just never posted them, so I will now. Ok?

Week 3: Sharing the brownie batter beater (say that 3 times fast)

Week 4: When life gives you a snow day, make a blanket fort

Week 5: I found theese folded together. Someone owes me 10 cents

Week 6: Don't let them fool you. They are freezing.

Week 7: Elevator lottery-- Jade wins

Week 8: quick family pic before he got on his plane

And now: I am all caught up. Yay!!

Is it earrings or ear rings?

2011-02-23T13:22:00.001-08:00

This is kindof a long story, but if you don't understand the history of the situation it doesn't make sense.
Long, long ago I mentioned to my husband that I wanted some new earrings. We went online and browsed. I found lots and lots that I liked, but he said I couldn't have earring for Christmas. Thinking that I wasn't getting any, I bought a pair I liked on ebay. When the earrrings from ebay arrived, he was upset. I was confused. It wasn't like I had spent too much money or anything (If I remember right, they were less than $10 shipped). What I didn' know was that he had gone to the jewelry store and bought me fancy earrings. So, that was the great earring battle of long, long ago. Moral of the story: "You can't have that" means "I am going to buy that to surprise you"
After that, I was pretty sure I would never be receiving jewelry from my husband ever again. A couple of Christmases later we were shopping for the kids and he had me pick out a pair of earrings at the walmart. Christmas morning came and I opened the earrings I had chosen, except they weren't the earrings I had chosen. He had switched them out for a cute little pair of diamond stud earrings. I LOVED them. He was excited because they were "upgradable". Random Brandi fact: I do not like big jewelry AT ALL. I had zero interest in upgrading my earrings ever, and in order to prevent this from happening I rarely take them out.
Ok history lesson over.
Last Sunday we were at a friend's house when I noticed I had lost my earring. When Mr. B found out he was excited. This meant that he finally got to buy me bigger earrings (Seriously, I haven't taken these things our for literally years.) Monday, while we were out and about running errands, he took me to a jewelry store where we met the most annoying sales person ever.
Things to know about me and jewelry shopping: 1) I might not look like it but I am almost 29 years old. Unless you are related to me, don't call me sweetheart 2) When I say that I don't ever want 3/4 carrot diamonds in my ears I am 100% serious 3) I don't care what S V I or whatever the diamond is rated as long as it is sparkly I am good 4) I don't require some weird certificate or whatever 5) I have expensive taste, but I will never like a pair of earrings as much as I like $600 6) I am not a fan of "protection plans"
Needless to say we did not buy earrings from the evil sales lady. We did check out a couple of other stores, but never found a pair that I just had to have.
Besides, we all lived happily ever after because that very same night Jade found the earring I had lost.

and one more thing

2011-02-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

Caibo said to me yesterday, "Mom guess who I have a crush on." After I finally guessed who it was (I would tell you who, but I can't spell it), I asked him if she was cute. He responded, "No, she doesn't get fancy." So, I asked if she was pretty. He blushed and replied shyly "Yeah."
So, according to Caibo, you have to get fancy to be cute, but you don't have to be cute to be pretty.

Ok, now I probably should go tackle my to do list.

Dear So and So: Yep, still procrastinating

2011-02-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is now noon and I still haven't even pretended to tackle my to do list I showed you yesterday. I told you I was a good procrastinator. However, Mr. B is still stuck in undisclosed location. I have time, so I am going to write a dear so and so or 5.

Dear Mr. B,
I know you think you are all clever and all not mentioning where you are when I speak to you. However, the bank account tells me where you are. If you really want to surprise me that bad, you have two options:
1) Get some cash or 2) Starve for the next 3-12 days.
Good thing you don't read my blog.
Sincerely,
Mrs B. (not a fan of that kind of surprise)

Dear Mother Nature,
It's been a long time since I have seen Mr. B. I have big exciting fun things planned. I expect sunshine and lots of sunshine. If not, I will find you and beat you up and take away your birthday.
Sincerely,
Mrs. B

Dear Weather people,
Snow is a 4 letter word, and you are no longer allowed to say it.
I have had enough of the fluffy white stuff K?
Thanks,
Mrs. B

Dear CMCSS,
I was discussing with Mr. B your great and wonderful plan for making up all the "snow days" my children have been having lately. He wants to know how adding 1/2 hour to school for 3 days makes up for the whole day they missed. We just aren't getting the math here.
Thanks,
Mrs. B

Ok, so really there has been nothing overly adventurous going on in my life lately. I am totally fine with that. You can find more dear so and so letter's over on Kat's blog by clicking the picture at the top. I am too lazy to give you a link today.

And now..... A word about procrastination

2011-02-03T21:00:00.000-08:00

I may have mentioned this before, but I don't care. Of all my many and wonderful talents, the one I am bestest at is procrastination. I am pretty sure I was born with this talent.
You see, right now I should be making my house and myself and my children all sparkly and shiny in anticipation of my husbands imminent ( I use big words sometimes. Ok?) arrival that could happen anytime between now and my birthday (I would like to thank the army and this awesome weather we have been having lately for the concrete timeline).
Guess what I am doing tomorrow?
That's right: changing the oil, replacing the furnace filter, organizing my bow stuff, cleaning off my desk, paying the bills, doing the laundry, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning the truck, taking the leaves to the dump, putting the Christmas stuff up in the top of the garage, dusting, painting my toenails, cleaning the fridge, killing the kitchen ants, hanging my pictures, making the kids clean their rooms, and I am sure there are more things I will think up along the way.
Don't worry though. I am an excellent procrastinator, and when it becomes absolutely necessary I can get alot done in not so much time. And by tomorrow I mean sometime between when I wake up in the morning and 11:59 PM the night before my Birthday.

the photo thingy week 2

2011-01-15T21:25:00.000-08:00

We are 2 weeks into the year now right? Yeah and this coming week I would do week 3.

So, this is what a snow day look like in Clarksville. Actually the kids got 2 snow days for this. Ummmm, yeah not sure how that works exactly, but we made a snowman and he was cute and then the kids stomped on him until he was flat. The End.

the photo thingy I was going to do week 1

2011-01-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

My friend Caralee is playing photo of the week on her blog. I have been wanting to play too. Disclaimer: I do not have photography skills. This is just meant to be a peek into the day to day stuff that gets labeled "nothing exciting here folks"

I actually took this the first week of the year. I just never posted it (see my previous post for explanation). That night Jade was at a friend's house for a sleepover. Caibo was heartbroken because he never gets to have a sleepover, so I took him to get an icecream. Well, that and one on one time with either of the kids is few and far between. It was nice to have a bit of time just the 2 of us.

How not to post on your blog

2011-01-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

So, you may be wondering where I have been. Perhaps you have been thinking that I am having too much fun to post on my blog. Yeah, that is soooooo not the case. This is how blogging has worked for me lately
Monday: Caibo says something funny. I think to myself "I should post this on my blog" After the kids go to bed, I read the facebook, people of walmart, ect. I stop by blogger and see what everyone else is up to, I get distracted. I go to bed
Tuesday: I stop by blogger read everyone else's blogs. I try to think up something interesting I did today. Ummmm nothing. I play Zuma.
Wednesday: I play zuma. (I tell you Zuma is far too addicting for my own good)
Thursday: I read facebook, lamebook, people of walmart (I have to verify that my children haven't done something to land me on POW), and all my other nightly reading. Good night.
Friday: Dear So and So. I love dear so and so. Wait! My last 3 posts we dear so and so. I can't do dear so and so unless I actually post something real. Yeah, not happening. I play zuma.
Repeat Repeat Repeat.
And this is how it gets to be a month later and I still haven't posted on my blog.

Dear So and So: What deployment does to a girl

2010-12-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

Yep Friday again. I would tell you how many Fridays are left, but #1 OPSEC and #2 I lost count Anyways, here we go.

Dear Mr. B,
I miss your face.....and your butt and your warming up my bed and your arms and your kiss and your stuff fixing skills. Ok. I admit it. I miss all of you.
Love you lots, Miss you tons, Counting down to R&R,
Mrs. B

Dear Deployment,
I had to change a lightbulb for the first time in who knows how long. All by myslef. I am holding you personally responsible.
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (expert lightbulb changer)

Dear Unreachable lightbulb,
It's not funny!!! You know how short and accident prone I am. Couldn't you have burned out before the spare army guy moved out or waited until R&R?
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (vertically challenged)

Dear Readers,
Don't worry. I promise not to try to change the lightbulb myself. For more Dear So and So fun go check out Kat's blog at The Three Bedroom Bungalow. You know you want.
Sincerely,
Mrs. B (occasional blog writer)

My daddy is a genius

2010-11-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday the kids were driving me absolutely crazy. We needed to get out, and I needed more aligator clips. It wasn't anything exciting, but it wasn't home. We loaded into the van and drove our happy little selves over to Sally Beauty Supply. I got alligator clips, and the kids didn't touch anything. Success!! Next stop redbox (Do you really think my kids would behave in the store if they hadn't been bribed?) We pile back in the van, go to start it, and......lots of clicking no starting :( So we went and walked around the flea market thingy for a bit (mostly so I could gather my thoughts, but also in case by some miracle my van just needed a few minutes to think about what it had done and decide that it liked me again)
So we piled into the van AGAIN, and still nothing. I considered walking home, but my favorite daughter does not seem to understand that shorts are not appropriate clothing for November. I was pretty sure all I needed was a jump start anyways. There was a man sitting in his car not to far away, so I went and asked if he would help. He told me no because he was just about to leave (FYI he left 30 minutes later) I texted spare army guy. He was out of town. I texted another friend, but then I remembered that I have emergency road service. Anything to do with insurance completely terrifies me, so I called my daddy to verify how this procedure works. He told me that I probably just had a bad connection on my battery (it was true too the post on my battery were fuzzy and blue and ewwwww). He sent me to buy a coke. I bought a coke, and dumped it over the battery, which by the way is a very interesting thing to see. The blue turned all kinds of colors and then melted away. Sadly, the van still did not start. :(
I went back into the Sally Beauty and borrowed a phone book. I looked up emergency road service. There were 2 in town Seriously?!? Aren't there like 8 in Tremonton? and we have 2 here? Anyways, towing company number one does not do jumpstarts and towing company 2 does not take state farm, is going to charge me $45 and I am going to have to wait AN HOUR. At this point the really nice (and really flamboyant) guy that works at Sally Beauty offered to help me jump the van. So he pulls his jeep around and figures out how to open his hood (he says car maintenance is his boyfriends job) and the jumper cables don't reach. Then he realizes that I am parked next to the man that works at Game Stop. So the gamestop guy comes and tries to help me jump the van, but it still doesn't work. He is convinced that my starter is dead. Finally, I called a friend that lives nearby and she picked up me and the kids and brought us home.
I called and reported this all to my dad (you just can't fit this story into a text message). He told me that my starter was not dead, and exactly what to do. So this morning I went back and followed my dad's instructions, and it worked :D The gamestop emplyee that was convinced that my starter was dead watched the whole thing this morning. I wonder what he thought about that.
Anyways, the van goes again. Hoooray!! Now I just need a spare person with a driver's license so I can go back and get the truck.
P.S. I have a new respect for what my dad does for a living (he is a mechanic in case you didn't know). Getting the cables off the battery was a pain in the butt.

battling the backyard forest

2010-11-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

Warning in advance: This post might end up a being whole lot of randomness

I'm sure somehow it is karma coming back to get me. That's what it has to be. I will probably be raking and bagging leaves until it snows. I am figuring 1 bag of leaves for everytime I bragged about how beautiful and green it is here in Tennessee. So far, I am at.....well I don't know how many bags, but I had to stop because I ran out of empty leaf bags. Maybe someday I will take and post a picture of my leaf bag tower for you all to see. Yeah, we all know how my picture taking promises usually end. But I do have some leaf raking thoughts for your amusement:
Confession, for a minute a thought it would be really fun to move all the leaves to the middle of the road and drive a car through them. You have to admit, it would look really cool. Don't worry, this is a thought I didn't act upon.
Today I am grateful for whoever came up with the brillian idea to put an mp3 player on a cell phone. This makes it possible for me to sing "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" really loud and off key for all my neighbors to hear. I'm sure they love it.
I am also greatful that my dad instilled in me a diverse taste in music, because naturally after "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" you must sing a John Denver song. That's just the way it is done.
Well, covers everything you need to know about me and the battle with the backyard forest. I will let you know who wins.

It's back! It's back! It's back!

2010-11-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Kat,
Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! I was wondering how I would survive deployment without dear so and so, but now it is back :)
feeling the sanity return,
Brandi B

Dear Spare Army Guy,
Thankyou so very much for claiming that caffeine makes you tired in front of smiley #1. Last night when she got Dr. Pepper at 7:30 she quoted you. Crap!! I forgot to punch you.
plotting my revenge,
Brandi B

Dear Smiley and Smiley,
I know you both claim that you didn't do it, but if you don't surrender my mouse soon, I am going to have to start holding your toys hostage. Now hand it over!!
batman is going first,
Mommy B

Dear body,
I appreciate the weight loss, I really do. It is nice to be in smaller pants, but please in the future, more off the butt less off the boobies. It's making me sad.
I must, I must, I must increase my bust,
Brandi B

Why again did I have children?

2010-11-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

It was one of those days, the kind when my mother would sigh and ask, "who am I talking to, you or the wall?" Strangely, I haven't picked up that habbit yet. I sigh and say one of 3 things, "I think I need more children, one for every day of the week.", "I am going to trade you off and get a frog.", or "Why again did I have children?"
This time it was the last one, and I was met with 3 answers.
Smiley #1 "Because God sent us down to you."
Smiley #2 "Because you have to you are a mom."
Spare Army Guy "Because you are a woman."
I'm not sure which response was the most irritating.

red+ yellow+ blue= brown

2010-10-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

The color wheel thing sounded like such a brilliant idea, I made a trip to the craft store. We got us some paint and poster board and mixed colors until the kids were bored of mixing (I know, I didn't know that was possible either). In case you missed the title, red+yellow+blue=brown.
THE END

recent happenings, and random funny things

2010-10-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's autumn time. It's autumn time..... eventually the leaves will get all red. In the meantime, the leaves keep piling and piling on the backyard. They were everywhere until I piled them up yesterday afternoon. The pile was almost as tall as Caibo. Probably, the leaves are everywhere again this morning. I haven't dared look yet.
In honor of the cooler weather, Jade brought home the first disease of the season. The school called me Thursday to let me know she had a fever and that I should come get her. So I went and retrieved her from school. Long story short, and sparing you the ugly details, she has the strep. Good times....No, not really.
I got some sense and sprays for beyond super cheap at target a while back. I finally decided to clean my bathroom counter off and set one up. Last night Caibo came out of the bathroom screaming in terror. "Mom!! There is something evil in the bathroom!" It would seem he is not a fan.
Jade was reading to Caibo from her school reading book this morning. They were looking through all the pictures.
Jade looked up and asked, "Mom, do gorrillas like to hold kittens or eat them?"
I probably haven't mentioned this, but both kids are in super quesiton mode right now. I get asked all kids of weird crap. Caibo is like a walking quiz show host. "Mom, what's 1+1 what's 2+2 what's 4+4 what's 8+8..." He keeps going until I cannot answer anymore or he can't repeat the last number I said. Currently we are in the thousands. He is also big on color mixing. "Mom, blue+ yellow what's blue+white" but my personal favorites "What's purple+ yellow what's red+ black..." I may have to buy some paint to solve this problem.
So, if you want to jump in some leaves, catch a disease, or be a contestant on a quiz show, come on over. We're having a good time.

Actual news (I know this never happens)

2010-10-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

It's true. Things have actually been going on here besides the disappearance of my icecream.
First, a word about skinny jeans:
When I was in middle school, I believe they called them tapered. They were evil then, and they are evil now. The thing is, some girls have curves (like an actual waist). I am one of those girls. Skinny jeans make me butt look super gigantic, and believe me I need all the help I can get. Why is this important? Well, I have lost 22lbs. My jeans are literally falling off my body. It's an embarassing thing. I decided to do something about it, so I took myself down to the local walmart (remember, I am not a rich girl) and get me some jeans. I found jeans, tried jeans on, and left with no jeans. The only good thing was that I left knowing I could probably fit into that pair of goal jeans I have been saving for the past forever, AND I DID. Now, I have to go buy new goal jeans, as soon as I find somewhere that doesn't sell skinny jeans.
Big news #2:
One Sunday as we were driving to church, one of my kids said, "Mom, I wish you were in primary with us." I was sitting in Sunday school when one of the Bishopric pulled me out to talk to me. Long story short, now I am the Second Counselor in the primary presidency. How did my kids know?
Big news #3:
WE GOT AN OFFER ON THE TOWNHOME!!!
Miracles never cease. The offer came in the night before we were going to take it off the market. Now, I get to regather the mountain of paper work and pray that Citi Mortgage accepts the offer.
Ok, you are now caught up on the big news. Consider yourself informed.

Where is my ice cream?

2010-10-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I bought some vanilla icecream. It said something about being creamy. I tried it in a milk shake. It was weird. The next day, the spare army guy was digging through the freezer and found it. I told him it was weird, but he made it into a rootbeer float anyways. He told me it was weird. Tonight I was going to make rootbeer floats for the kids, but the icecream was gone. Not hiding, GONE. Then, I was going to give the kids some rootbeer, but it was almost gone too.
I guess that explains why I came home to such a sparkling clean kitchen the other night after cheer practice.

And then......

2010-09-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

I was bored this morning (by morning, I mean just before noon), so I decided to make myself look like a person. Hey! Why not? Then, while I was admiring myself in the mirror, I thought it might be a good idea to send a picture of my uncommon hotness to my husband. I decided against it. Instead, I remembered I need to get my MWR card (it's an army thing I don't want to explain right now). Seizing the moment of attractiveness, I got in the van and headed to post. I looked at the clock. Noon!! They wouldn't be there. The army is a big fan of lunch time. I needed something to distract me, so I stopped by walgreens to collect this week's good deals. I left Walgreens with $7 register rewards and more time to kill, so I went to the other Walgreens. After the 2nd Walgreens I had finally killed enough time, so I drove myself to post and got my MWR card. Since I was already on post, I went over to the youth center and signed the kids up for basketball. Then, I went to the commissary to get some P&G inserts. They didn't have any, but that's Ok.
I love it when I am unintentionally productive.

when little girls cheer.....

2010-09-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

If you have seen my facebook videos, you know Jade is a pretty good little cheerleader. What you don't know is that for every video I upload there are atleast 8 that I don't. Why? Because stuff happens......
The Cuties attempted to do all 13 (yes they know 13 already) cheers they know back to back today, but never made it through here's why

Funny things from today's game:

Every time they did the we want a touch down cheer, the team would score. As hard as the coach tried, she couldn't get them to change the word want to got.

At one point, the coach left to talk to someone to set up an apointment for pictures, the girls were in the middle of a cheer. Everytime they finished it they would look back at the coach like "what do we do now" and then start again

The boys thought they found a spider on the blanket (I think it was a piece of grass) and totally freaked out until they decided it went underground to eat the worms.

My favorite primary lesson (part 2 Caibo )

2010-09-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

And now, as promised, here are the many talents of Caibo

#1 He is not afraid to try new things.

#2 He is great at solving problems. (example: stacking things to get what he wants)

#3 He also loves to sing, and for you viewing pleasure I have included a video of him singing Stop in the Name of love

#4 He is an awesome bike rider. He is only 5 and has been riding without training wheels for more than a year. For a while we were afraid that he would beat Jade to the no training wheels status.

#5 He is great at reading people's feelings. When someone is sad or upset, he always tries to make them happy.

There you go. A few of the many talents of Caibo.

My favorite primary lesson (part 1 Jade )

2010-09-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

I got a call from Jade's primary teacher last night. It is time for my favorite primary lesson: Talents. Now, you might be wondering why I love this lesson so much. Well, I taught primary for a few years, and I always loved this lesson because you learn so much about the kids. Part of the preparation for the lesson is calling each of the children's parents and asking them to tell you about the child's talents. I was always surprised to learn all the cool things that the kids can do. Anyways, since I have been thinking about it, I decided I would share the kids talents with you. I will post Jade's talents here and Caibo's in the next post. I was asked to come up with 5 talents, so that is what I will share.

#1 Jade loves to dance. She hasn't had many dance classes, but in the one she has had she caught on really quickly. For your viewing pleasure I have uploaded a video of her and Dani (who is a pretty good dancer herself)

#2 She is a good reader. Right now, she has the most AR points in her class. (In case you are wondering kids get AR points by reading books and then taking quizzes about the book they just read. They get 1 point for every quiz they take and pass)

#3 She is good at making and keeping friends.

#4 She loves to sing, and is pretty good at it. (also in the video)

#5 She rocks at memorization. I think she inherited my ability to memorize crazy things (like her brother's lunch number).

Well, there are some of Jade's many talents. Next, I will talk about Caibo.

All that free time

2010-08-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been wondering what I have been doing with all that free time I have now that both kids are in school, don't worry. I'm keeping plenty busy.

Flash cards....

2010-08-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night Jade brought home mount paperwork. In the midst of this stack, was a yellow paper they like to call "the agenda" or is that the little planner thing. Anyways, the yellow paper contians all of her homework for the week. It has a list of spelling and vocabulary words, the assigned reading for the week, the shedule, and any other important things parents might need to know. It says that every night she is supposed to work on "math facts" but it never said which ones they were working on this week, so I just kindof ignored it. Tonight, yes 2 days later, Jade informs me that we are supposed to go down to the dollar store and buy some flash cards.
I know you have never asked, but here is my opinion on flash cards:
FLASH CARDS WERE CREATED BY SATAN HIMSELF!!!
You might be wondering why I have such a strong opinion about this. You see, at my house the flash cards come out. The kids play with the flash cards. The kids get bored of the flash cards. The kids spread the flash cards as far across the house as possible. The kids refuse to clean the flash cards up. A year later, I find a flash card in a place you would never expect to find flash card, for example, under the dryer. Now you know why I hate flash cards, maybe later we will talk about the evils of scissors and sharpies.
Oh! In case you were wondering, I have no intention of buying those flash cards Jade has requested. I will let you know how that works out for me.

Back to school

2010-08-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it is finally here. "Back to school, Back to school...." Ok, technically it started last Friday, but it was a 1/2 day and I was on vacation.
Monday morning round about the crack of 10, we went in and registered Caibo for Kindergarten (gasp!! my baby is in school). On a previous attempt to do this (don't ask. I'm still angry at the school district), I made the offer to my children that if they could sit in the chair and be quite the whole time I would give them each $5. I think they remembered they offer because both kids were saints. Ig uess I might owe them money now.
Last night we got out the back pack and school clothes. BTW I need a gold star or something because I did all of my back to school shopping before we left on our vacation. Not bad for the queen of procrastination. Ok, I do admit we went on got the kids new shoes over the tax free weekend. NEVER AGAIN. The stores are waaaaay too busy.
This morning I got up at the crack of dawn (no really Caibo woke me up at 6am), got the kids ready, and then left. My yearly check up was long over due, and that was the only appointment I could get. Blah!!
So that left Jerry fully responsible for getting both kids to school in the right classrooms on time and documenting the whole thing. I must say he did a really good job, even the documenting thing. He even got pictures at the school. Yeah, he's that good.
Finally, at 4 this afternoon the kids got off the bus. Jade had a great time. She likes her teacher. The way she describes it I think there is a kid with terrets (sp?) in her class. She learned that they aren't supposed to laugh at him. Caibo also had fun. He liked riding the bus. He says he learned numbers. The great thing about Caibo is he randomly tells you the important stuff when he thinks you are not paying attention. He said that his teacher got mad at him because he hit the girl in the purple shirt. I asked why he hit her. He replied, "she was touching me." He also learned that when someone is touching you it's best to ask them not to touch you.
And what did I do with all my free time? I worked on some flower bows, went to lunch at quizno's, and shopped at Hobby Lobby BY MYSELF. :)
It was kindof quite though.

What part of No don't you understand???

2010-07-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

This morning, as I was fighting with my internet AGAIN, (BTW I think my modem is dying) Jade came up to ask me, "Can I eat my cereal in the living room?" I told her no in a tone that indicated that she had just asked the most absurd question ever, and she began to try to convince me why she should be allowed to eat her cereal in the living room. "But it doesn't have milk on it.", "But you let Caibo eat popcorn in the living room".......
You get the idea. I looked at her and said, "No does not mean negotiate."
Suddenly I realized that the part of no my children doesn't understand isn't the N or the O. I have just been spelling negotiate wrong. It should really be "NOgotiate", and that's why my children don't understand the word no.

Dear So and So: The Joys of motherhood

2010-06-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yay!! It's Friday. I have missed dear so and so, in my blog slacking.

Dear Smiley #1,

I know that you are more than 1/2 way to the age of infinite knowledge and wisdom (that would be 13, incase you were wondering). However, questioning my motive every time I ask you do something is not the way to gain that knowledge. Now, Go clean your room.

Sincerely,

Because I said so

Dear Smiley #2,

Putting all your clean clothes in the top drawer and leaving it open does not count as putting your clothes away. However, I do recognize progress. Thankyou for not putting them on the floor and telling me they are dirty 2 days later.

Sincerely,

I'm not washing that again

Dear Wii Fit creators,

You are evil tricksy people. You used my embarassment about being beaten by my four year old at your "balance games" to trick me into doing excerises I would never otherwise do. I would threaten to kick your butts, but we both know I can't lift my leg that high right now. Hopefully by this time next week I will be thanking you.

Sincerely,

Ouch!!!

Dear Readers,

Head on over to Kat's place for more Dear so and so fun.

Almost a party.

2010-06-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so school got out on May 24th. They celebrated Jade's birthday at school on the 21st. I think it may have been her 7th day at her new school. Since they were celebrating her birthday, I decided to send out her birthday invitations. She handed out 19 invitations (I know, I may have lost my mind). I know that's alot of imformation. Are you with me so far?
Anyways, so the day of the party comes around and ZERO people have called. At this point I am not sure what to do. If I plan for all 19 nobody will come. If I plan for 1 or 2, all of the will come. It's murphy's law. That's just how it works.
Did I mention I hadn't purchased her gift, her cake, decorations, party favors, ect. It's called procrastination. That's how I work.
Saturday morning I was on a quest. Four hours later, I returned with no gift. I looked at "I can be" Barbies, but evidently the bride one only comes in the African American version in Tennessee and Kentucky. I looked at a million digital cameras (that's what she requested) but none were the right one. And the littlest pet shop selection got smaller at every store. Ok I lied, Caibo picked out some LPS.
As I was leaving the PX, the phone rang. I pulled over to return the call. (No talking and driving on base) While I was talking, Caibo opened the LPS packages. He said, "but Jade wants them open." He is such a helper. He gave them to Jade about 3 seconds after we got home. The truth is, he loves Jade and loves to give her presents, so much that he couldn't wait.
So, I spent all afternoon cleanning the house and baking the cupcakes. The party was supposed to start at 8pm (we planned to watch a movie in the back yard) At 7:59 pm the power went out.
Remember those 19 invitations Jade handed out? Only one of those kids came, and that was the boy across the street. The kids were all playing so well outside. I just let them play.
Finally, around 9:30 I gave in and let Jade decorate her cupcake by flashlight. I took one picture, and the power came back on.
Whoa! What a night! Well, it was almost a party.

Pictures of the river

2010-05-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

This is the Cumberland river. It is less than a block from our hotel. Right now it is above flood stage. It is expected to continue rising for atleast another day. It hasn't reached the road yet. I'm not sure if it will or not.

Storm Chasers

2010-05-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

Back in the day when I used to have cable (I know it sounds crazy, but quitting cable was one of the best things I ever did), I enjoyed watching storm chasers. Somehow the science of where tornadoes come from is very interesting to me.
When I was informed that Tennessee has the potential to get tornadoes, I was both intrigued and worried. Most people assured me that tornadoes in Clarksville are rare. The man that showed me the house friday claims that the last tornado here was like 12 years ago.
It started RAINING (it has to be all caps, because I have never seen that much rain) yesterday. Weather.com says it has rained almost 6.5 inches in the last 24 hours. The kids think it is gloriously fun. The people in the walmart parking lot hiding under their umbrellas probably thought they were crazy as the merrily danced through the puddles.
Where is all this water going? To the river across the street from our hotel. Clarksville has this really cool river walk thingy. Someday, I will have to go check it out, but not today. It's under water. All you can see is the tops of the little lights sticking out of the water. I will have to take a picture later.
Also, we have been and still are under tornado watch. Not to worry though. Kristy says you really don't need to worry until the town blows the siren, and that a warning is worse than a watch She lives in Iowa. I trust her judgement.
Yep, were are totally fine. We get to hang out in the hotel for one more day. Tomorrow, we sign our lease and start moving into our new house.

Because I know you are dieing to know.......

2010-04-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well, we packed up are stuff and have safely arrived in Clarksville (that's in Tennessee in case you were wondering). We found a hotel. The kids are swimming happily. Guess where my swimsuit is!?! Yep, the very back of the moving truck. My choices were not swimming or braving the traffic to go buy a swim suit. (Always remember: Never go any where within 20 miles of a military base at 4pm)
Clarksville is gorgeuos. It is very very green, and everyone has a lawn. There is a river that goes through the middle of town. There is a cute little park by the river. That is all I know about this town, but so far I like it.
We went this morning and looked at a house out in Woodlawn (the Sticks as Jerry calls it). It was on a huge lot and had a pond in the back yard. Sadly, we didn't get it.
This afternoon I went and looked at a house I found on the internet about a week ago. It is a 4 bed 2 bath cape cod in clarksville. It is super cute, and is in a neighborhood full of kids. I saw 2 potential Jade friends in the short time I was there. We move in monday morning.
So for now, we live in a hotel. The kids are good, they did really good on the drive, and like I said before they are happily swimming. They should sleep well tonight ;)
Oh! For those of you who voted, if nothing changes before monday, we will be living in Tennessee.

We survived AIT

2010-04-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

getting his certificate

Mr Jensen pinning on Jerry's crab (btw Mr Jensen is from Brigham City. Yep it's a small world)

Well, it has been over a year, but I am proud to announce that Jerry got his crab. For those who do not know, that is what they call the EOD badge (I guess it looks like a crab). If you want to read all about the crab go HERE. I would explain it all myself, but I would probably get something wrong.

This is a major accomplishment. Almost half of the students in EOD school fail out. For 10 months he spent 12-14 hours a day learning all there is to know about Explosive Ordinance Disposal. He would start his day at 4am and not come home until after 6pm. He had tests where he had to disarm ordinance while being watched over by an instructor who was taking points away for every tiny mistake. Anything less than 80% was considered a fail. It was an extremely stressful inviroment, but he made.

I was want to let him and all of y'all (I'm practicing for Kentucky/Tenessee) how proud I am of him. I have always known how smart he is. He really can do anything he sets his mind to.
Jerry, I love you and I'm proud of you. Good work!!

Flowers, flowers every where

2010-04-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Look at all the flowers I found walking around the block!

Yep, it's spring here. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love springtime in the desert, but how can you not love all of these flowers. I do admit they do create a cloud of pollen, but for some reason it hasn't really affected our allergies, so I'm loving it. I should have taken pictures back when the magnolias were blooming. Maybe there will be some in Kentucky/Tenessee. I sure hope so.

Another year another birthday

2010-03-16T06:33:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I told Caibo I had a birthday coming. He just looked at me like I had spoken a foriegn language. Finally he said something to the effect of grownups don't get birthdays. It's kindof true. After 21, what is there really?
So I told him again yesterday that it was my birthday, and his only concern was that I didn't have a cake. He was pretty determined that I need a Dora cake.
Anyways, this is the story of my birthday:
My husband somehow slept through his alarm for an hour (oddly I did too). Shortly after he left I got up and played facebook for a bit before I woke Jade up. While Jade was gettting ready for school, I figured out the coupon situation (I think couponing kills brain cells from over use). I put Jade on the bus, and then picked my rice on farmville (very important you know).
I got Caibo up and got him ready for school. After I dropped Caibo off at school, I went and got my deoderant and then some Mountain Dew (also very important)
Then, I drove to fort walton to get the part for my van (which btw is the wrong one. I have to go back today) Then I did the shopping trip I told you about yesterday. I also got an Easter dress for Jade and tried to get some alligator clip at Sally Beauty Supply, but they were out of the kind I like.
Then I drove home unloaded the stuff from the van, went and got Caibo, and then just hung out and did a little housework until Jade got home. Then, I had to take Jade to dance. On the way, we stopped at Good Will and got rid of all the clothes I decided she didn't need anymore.
This is where the adventure starts. When I picked Jade up from dance, I backed into another car in the parking lot. There wasn't much damage, but she insisted on a police report. I spent over an hour with 2 kids in the van waiting for the police report. Then, I came home and called the insurance company to report the claim.
By the time Jerry got home I was frazzled to say the least. He sent me on a walk. I don't clearly understand it, but somehow walking makes me a nice person again. I don't know if its the music my phone plays for me, the endorphines or what ever they are, the being outside and seeing all the cool things, or just the moment of semi quiet to myself. Whatever it is, I came back a nice person.
Jerry ordered pizza while I was gone, so that's what we had for dinner.
And that is the story of my Birthday.
So for my birthday I got an adventure, and the new pair of running shoes I am buying today. Also, I am claiming the new BBQ grill we bought Saturday as mine.

Couponing like it's my birthday

2010-03-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

Yep, It's my birthday. I had to go to Mary Ester this morning to pick up a part for the van, so I played a little couponing while I was out.

I got:
4 boxes of frosted mini wheats, 4 boxes of pop tarts, 4 dove deoderant, 2 degree men's deoderant, a pack of socks for Caibo, a package of highlighters, a package of gum, a tube of toothpaste, a package of "silly bands", 12 plastic Easter eggs, a gallon of milk, and a new spring wardrobe for Jade (4 shirts, 2 skorts, and a pair of leggings) all for $47.35 (I saved $66.78) and I still have $4 register rewards left for Walgreens.
Just wanted to show off my new skills, that's all.
Now, I have to go sort through Jade's clothes while she is not here to see.

Dear So and So: Laundry day AGAIN

2010-03-12T15:04:00.000-08:00

Dear massive pile of laundry,

Didn't I wash you last week? Please start washing, drying, folding, and putting yourself away.

Sincerely,

The laundry lady

Dear Mr B,

I don't remember what you called the imaginary lady you think washes the laundry for me, but can we get a real one? Please.

Sincerely,

The laundry lady

Dear smiley and smilier,

Remember that list of things I don't wash. Was crayons on the list? If not add it. You are super lucky my pillow cases are bigger than my pillows. If Mr. B finds out about the brown crayon....

Sincerely,

Mommy

Dear prince charming,

I warned the smilies about you, but they didn't listen. If you are going to be in my laundry room I'm gonna find you a job. BTW you hold the little button that lets my washer fill really well. You're hired.

Sincerely,

Your new boss

Dear Readers,

I'm feeling lazy today, so click the dear so and so button at the top and head on over to Kat's place for so more Dear So and So fun. (and some really funny kitty videos).

2010-03-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, I totally forgot to put the reason I was so worried yesterday. After I told Jade to take her hair out her response was, "But mom! I like it this way."
Much to my surprise, she came home without the half hairdo.
I asked her about it this morning. She said that she left it in until she got to school and then took it out.
So if you voted that she listened to me, you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you were right. I am just glad she didn't spend the day looking weird.

Just when I thought I was doing good.

2010-03-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

This morning Jade was totally on task. She got up, turned off her alarm, and took a shower like I told her to. I thought we had plenty of time, so I was doing her hair while she ate her breakfast. I was doing the pigtails with the twists in them. I was done with the first and just starting the second, when the bus pulled up. I sent her out the door with her hair half done. I told her to take the first pig tial out. I am really curious as to whether or not she listened. What do you think? Did she listen or is she going to walk through the door with her hair half done tonight? I made a poll on the side. Please vote, and I will tell you tomorrow what happened.

Wordless Wednessday: Our fate has been decided

2010-03-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

To the park

2010-03-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

I took Caibo to the park today. Instead of having lots of little parks with playgrounds all over town, our city has one big children's park. Everytime we went around the corner and saw another playground Caibo said, "Look mom! Another park."
I hope I am not the only one, but my kids are obsessed with those little automatic "hanitizer" (their word for hand sanitizer) dispensers. They just won't leave them alone. That might just have been Caibo's favorite thing at the park, except the car of course.

A small change I forgot to make

2010-02-28T14:01:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time (like a month ago) before I moved my scrapping out of this blog, I signed up for a blog train. I forgot to tell the blog train people that my blog had moved. Sorry for the inconvenience, but if you click the preview you can go do my scrapping blog to collect your freebie. Otherwise, the next stop on the train is Scrapmuss Designs or if you are lost you can find the complete list here.

Dear So and So: The good, the bad, and the weird

2010-02-26T18:59:00.000-08:00

Dear readers,
I typed this really great dear so and so post. I talked about my superior laptop skills (which it turns out I don't posess), the people that broke into my car and only stole 60 cents, the fantastic sams that closed 40 minutes early, the people and Katies laundry that can't move their clothes, and why Katie should play dear so and so. I forgot to talk about beef bacon. In a moment of brilliance, I somehow hit the back button and now it's all gone. :( I'm not typing it all again, so you will just have to make something up.
Sincerely,
laptop challenged
P.S. Go to Kat's place and check out more Dear So and So letters.

falling off the planet: It's what I do best

2010-02-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

As you may have already discovered, communication is not my strong point (even via blog). Sometimes I actually tell people what I am up to, but usually not. Don't be offended. I do it to everyone.
So, what have I been up to lately?
Mostly, nothing exciting. Caibo had a cold for like a week, we played pinewood derby with the ward (I'm holding my pictures hostage. If you want to see some pinewood derby pictures, you have to get Jason and Becky to post theirs), ummmm yep that's about it.
See, it's not that I'm ignoring you. I'm boring that's all.

Dear So and So: Laundry day

2010-02-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr B,

I would like to publicly apologize for my epic laundry failure the other day. I assure you that the situation has been taken care of, and it will not occur again (atleast for another week or two)

Sincerely,

The laundry lady

Dear Friends of Mr B.,

I have been told that you have a habit of wearing your ACU pants a little low. Now, I don't have to look at you while you are at school, so I really don't care. I would just like to issue some friendly advice. If you would wear your pants wear they belong, I wouldn't have to keep fixing them.

Sincerely,

Expert torn pants fixer

Dear smiley and smilier,

I do not wash glitter balls, hot wheels cars, prince charming, polly pocket, or GI Joe. If I find these items in the dirty clothes hamper they will be confiscated.

Sincerely,

Not the launderer of all things

Dear Mother Nature,

Please pick a weather pattern and stick with it, so I really can take half of the smilies' wardrobes away. Every time I do, you change your mind, and I have to get them back out again. I'm not impressed.

Sincerely,

Pulling the shorts out AGAIN.

Dear Readers,

If you want to play or just read more letters, head on over to Kat's blog.

Out and about

2010-02-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

I always forget that blogger puts the last picture first. I'm not going to fix it though.

This is our monkey friend. He lives at the Mc Donald's play place. This is the fanciest play place I have ever been to.

They also had video games and TVs (one had Finding Nemo, the other Nickelodeon) I'm not the biggest fan of this. In my opinion the best part of playplaces is that the kids run around and wear themselves out. What do you think?

My kids love any restraunt with chopsticks.

They liked this one even more because of the fire (it was a hibachi) Sorry, no fire pictures. I was too distracted by the fire.

Dear So and So: I think I may have lost my mind

2010-02-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Yep, It's friday again.

Dear Caibo,
Believe when I say that I totally understand your liking of all things sweet and sugary. It's just the way you are, and we like that about you. However, 3inches of frosting on top of your cookie is taking it a little to the extreme.
Lots of love,
The mean mommy that made you share the frosting with 3 other cookies

Dear Kat,
Thanks for inventing Dear So and So. It's my favorite friday blogging activity.
Sincerly,
Brandi
P.S. I love your blog.

Dear readers,
If you too would like to play dear so and so (or just read some more letters), head on over to Kat's blog. You know you want to.

Baking with Brandi

2010-02-11T14:35:00.000-08:00

I have the absolute best sugar cookie recipe ever, and I like to pull it out for special occasions (usually Valentines day, Christmas, and Halloween if you get really lucky). You see, I enjoy sugar cookies, but I am not especially fond of the mess it takes to make them. Still, I decided it was time to make some heart shaped cookies. This was a really good idea until........
Brandi's baking lesson of the day:
Always make sure you have a cookie cutter before you make the cookie dough
It would seem that I forgot a few things when I moved here from Utah (my heart cookie cutter, my lamps, my wedding pictures?, and I'm sure there's more) So, my sous chef and I made some not so run of the mill Valentine's cookies.

As you can see we made "St. Patrick's stars," cats, candy canes, and "apples"

Conversation between me and the sous chef who was way too excited to be using a cookie cutter
Him: "Can I push it down yet?"
Me: "Hold your horses."
Him: "What??"
Me: "Hold your horses."
Him: "No mom, it's a cat."

It is time

2010-02-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

I have debated this for quite some time, and finally broke down and did it. It is time to separate my personal and digiscrapping blogs.
My personal blog will stay here. This is where I will tell all of my adventure filled stories and post pictures of all of the fun we are having.
My digiscrap blog has moved. You can get there by clicking here. This is where I will show off all of my newest kits and layouts and give things away of course.
I am really excited about this change, and hope you are too.

Adventures with the GPS

2010-01-30T15:17:00.001-08:00

I may not know what direction I'm going, but I have become pretty confident at finding my way home. Still, I take my GPS friend (I should probably name her) with me most of the time. The other day I zoomed the map out, and saw "Trout Lake" I was really excited because it looked like it was within walking distance of my house. That's when the adventure began.
I turned onto dead end road after dead end road trying to find this "Lake". Caibo was not impressed. He kept telling me we should just go home.
After like 20 minutes I found "trout lake"
It's the water hazard on the golf course.

This is for you Allison

2010-01-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

So, I guess I didn't really explain where I am exactly. I'm not going to be too specific because my blog is not private and I don't want crazies at my door, and really sometimes I have no idea where I am.
Seriously, unless I am looking at my GPS screen I can't tell you which way north is. I live on a street that runs into the forest on both ends, and my house faces the house across the street. Maybe one day I will get it all sorted out, but for now I have decided it doesn't really matter.
The city I am in is called Niceville. You can look at a map of the area here. It is a smallish town (I think). Their claim to fame is their yearly mullet festival. You can see some awesome mullet photos here. Sadly, I will probably move before the mullet festival.
Technically, we are closer to Alabama than we are to Orlando (but we think we figured out how to get the resident rate at Disney World). I imagine things are about as southern as they get here. You here alot of ma'am, and all the women at the schools are referred to as Ms (it sounds more like miss though). You see signs for BBQ, fried catfish (very good BTW), and boiled peanuts. We have squirells in our trees, and get raccoons at night if we leave the trash can open.
So far, I love it here. The beaches are close, the people are friendly, and it is sooo GREEN.

**So upon further inspection, the pictures of the mullet festival don't really have any mullets. How is that possible?**

Shhhh! It's a secret.

2010-01-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, I was going to brag about the super cool thing I got for my husband for our anniversary, but I can't show you the picture. I guess I will have to do that when it gets here. Unfortunately, that means my title is VERY misleading.
So, you may be wondering where I have been. My sister told me the other day that I am lost. I tried to tell her that I know exactly where I am, but I couldn't tell her which way north is. Yeah, she wasn't buying it.
There is really nothing super exciting to tell you. Jade loves school and has some little friends. She is mostly happy except I told her that she can't have any of those friends over until she cleans her room. Caibo is finally in a preschool. We found one just a couple of blocks from our house, and so far I am very impressed. He is also mostly happy except that he can't have a cookie until his room is clean. I am the meanest mom ever.
We have found spaces for most of our stuff. The pile on the patio is slowly getting smaller and smaller. You know, the best part of a small house is that it is really easy to clean. Speaking of which.....

by some miracle my filter isn't overachieving today

2010-01-12T09:56:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make. My life is boring. Yes, it is true. I am not an exciting person, so I am always on the look out for something interesting to post as my facebook status. As I was driving across the country I thought up several status updates, but decided to wait until the end of the day to use them, so I wouldn't wreck the van texting and driving. Sadly, by the end of the day I was always too tired. So, in honor of Random thought Tuesday, I bring you the status updates I thought up (and can still remember) from my long, long drive:

got my kicks on Route 66

always thought the animators of the movie cars made the hills in the background look like cars on purpose, it turns out the hills really do look like cars.

it's a good thing people in the middle of nowhere have a sense of humor about living in the middle of nowhere.

resisted the urge to go to Roswell when I saw the exit sign.

Jade says Texas smells like crap. I think she's right.

mmmm Cherry cider, too bad they are closed.

didn't know it snows in Texas. I guess you learn something new every day.

just passed the "It'll do" hotel.

Dallas+Rush hour+snow=how is this even fair?

Crossed the Mississippi and lived to tell about it

and then, I got so bored of driving I pretty much quit with the status update thing, so that's all the random I have for you today. If you want more random head over to The source of all randomness and join the fun.

Dear So and So: tales from the road

2010-01-08T18:56:00.000-08:00

I survived my 4 days driving across the country (BTW if you didn't know I just moved from Utah to Florida), I am somewhat moved into my new house, and 1/2 my kids are in school. To celebrate......

Dear dude at Jade's school,
When I mentioned I was surprised that you had to wait a day after you register your kid for school to actually take them to school, I was simply making small talk. Your response, "With all the military here, they are probably worried people just dropping their kids off at school and not coming back," flabbergasted me to the point of no response. I couldn't even open my mouth to say that I am infact an army wife.
How dare you make such a ridiculous generalization!! These people are out fighting for our freedom because they love their families so much.
I hope to never run into you again.
still angry days later,
Army wife

Dear whoever knows,
I noticed that the state of new mexico has these "safety corridors" where the fines double for speeding. I also noticed that most of them are under construction. As we all know, fines double for speeding in a work zone. I am left wondering: If you were to get caught speeding in a "safety corridor" that is under construction would they quadruple your fine?
Sincerely,
super curious

Dear lady at the water company,
When I asked for a phone book, I really did intend to keep it. I had to go talk to you anyways, and I was in desperate need of a phone book. You just looked at me weird when I left.
Sincerely,
yay! I have a phone book

Dear Walmart,
I just wanted you to know that the walmart in FWB is way too crowed all the time, and it is a 25 minute drive from my house. I know I was spoiled to have 3 walmarts within 15 minutes of my old house. Please consider building a walmart closer to my house. Please.
Sincerely,
tired of driving to walmart

Dear weather,
I don't know if you caught that detail, but I live in Florida now. Twenty degrees and snow are not appropriate Florida weather. Warm up already!! I want to go to the beach.
Sincerely,
BRRRRR!!

And if you want to play along with all the dear so and so fun head on over to kat's blog and check it out.

24 days of Christmas

2009-12-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

Denim and Daisies is having the 24 days of Christmas, and it is my turn to share with you. So, on the 16th day of Christmas Denim and Daisies gave to me: 4 quickpages, (and lots of other things if you haven't started collecting yet.) Click the picture to go to the store.
Also, they are doing a fun wish list RAK, so head over to the store check it out and post your wish list here. You might just get what you have been wishing for.

The rest of the days with the little Bunzes

2009-12-13T20:14:00.001-08:00

Ok, first of all I totally forgot the most exciting part of day one. I hadn't quite adjusted mentally to having 8 kids around. All the kids were playing together, and things were good. Until I realized that Caibo had gone outside to play and I didn't remember him coming back in. I started looking in the house and yard, but couldn't find him. So, I loaded up all the kids to go look for him. I found him as happy as can be in the church parking lot with 2 police officers. I apologized, and they took all my information. (I'm guessing incase they ever find him wandering again). The best part was when I told them my last name, they gave me a funny look and said, "Oh! That really is your last name. We thought he was making it up."
Anyways, so the rest of the weekend was much less exciting. We didn't end up painting, and it did snow, but not enough to do anything with. We took them all to church this morning. That will probably be the only time we will take up a whole row in sacrament meeting. We got some of funny looks as we walked in. I think some people in our ward might be wondering where we keep getting more kids from.

Day one with the little bunzes. With Brady around you don't need a TV.

2009-12-11T21:19:00.000-08:00

In a moment of insanity, I told Adrienne (please don't be mad if I misspelled your name) that I would watch my younger brother and sisters so that she could take my dad to Vegas for their anniversary. This makes for a totally of 8 kids at my house this weekend (ages 11, 9, 9 ,6, 6, 6,4, and 4). I know, what was I thinking.
Day one:
The kids played and played and played and played. I barely saw or heard from them. I even managed to make a few hair bows. I was considering getting papa murphy's for dinner, but my dad said his kids won't eat anything that comes from a restaurant. So, I decided to take the cheap route. I made 9 of those frozen pizzas that cost like a dollar each. The kids were thrilled. I learned that my oven will only hold 3 frozen pizzas at a time, and that 8 kids will eat approximately 7 frozen pizzas.
I did see Brady quite a bit. I don't think he's too big on the noise associated with being around that many kids. We have decided that with Brady around you don't need a TV, just a bowl of popcorn. He helped his cat fix his car, texted Katie, called Brian, drove his semi, towed his red car with black tires, looked for his black car with black tires, drank a mountain dew that was so big he couldn't lift it, and did his impression of a V-tech. I asked about getting a black car with red tires. He looked at me like I was crazy, and informed me that TC has a car with snow tires.
Tomorrow I think we might try to paint something, and maybe if this weather keeps up we will get to play in the snow.

A couple of hours was a good guess.

2009-12-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

And I'm back with my freebie for the super mega giant really cool blog train (or whatever it is called). I wish I had something really interesting to say, but I don't. The next stop on the train is Hot Flash Designs. You can find the other 99 blogs here. And you can get my part here or you can just click on the preview. I'm feeling a little link happy today.

How is it Decmeber already?

2009-12-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have that feeling there is something really important you are forgetting, but have no idea what it is? I have had that feeling for the past 3 days. Guess what!?! I just figured out what it is I'm forgetting. Somehow, December snuck up on me, and I totally forgot I signed up for the huge mega super blog train. OOOPS! Anyways, please don't hate me. I'm off to go create something fantastic right now. Hopefully I will be back with it in a couple of hours.

The kit with no name

2009-10-07T20:50:00.001-07:00

I know, it's totally shocking that I actually came back like I said I would, but I did. Here is the kit I promised I would show you. I'm really excited about it, but I have no idea what to call it.
That's where you come in

If you have a great idea for a name, head on over to the forum at denim and dasies and check out This Thread
I have decided to have a name that kit contest. Whoever submits the name I pick will win the kit.
For you freebie hunters, I have a QP made from the kit with no name. You can pick it up HERE.

Random Thought tuesday

2009-10-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

Yay for randomness!
Ok so I totally tried to put the little random thought tuesday button(which by the way I saved as "randon") here FAIL.

Caibo has recently started singing along with the radio (which really brings to my attention just what I am listening to). His favorite is the one about "I make them good girls go bad". It's funny enough that he sings it, but he sings it really high. I'll have to make and post a video (we both know that won't happen any time soon).

The kids made me buy bologna AGAIN. I hate bologna. It falls somewhere on my list of evil food between pinto beans and immitation banana. (please don't tell the older boys I have a giant list of foods I hate) I only buy it for them because they eat it. I've decided that bologna is a flat hot dog.

There is this one mile stretch of freeway on the way to Hurricane that is suddenly 3 lanes. Why is it that we have 3 lanes in the middle of nowhere, but not in town?

I think Caibo is ambidexterous. Please hold while I google it, and see if there is anything interesting or helpful (In case I haven't already you can find anything on ebay and like 100 times more things on google usually things you don't want to find)
Links on the ambidextrous Defenition Becoming ambidextrous
Ok there was nothing super interesting, but I told my mom that being ambidextrous isn't a bad thing. I learned when I broke my elbow, that I eat and write with my left hand and do everything else with my right. I actually picked up using the mouse with my left hand pretty quickly. According to the definition, I am ambidextrous too. Evidently that's rare. I knew I was weird.
And that's enough random for tonight. I will be back soon with cool things I made while using the mouse with my left hand.

October Mega blog train

2009-10-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

It is time again for the giant mega blog train. This month there are 100 designers sharing freebies with you. I am stop #99. If you started at the beginning you are almost done. If you are starting here you have tons of awesomeness to look forward to. You can get my freebie by clicking on my preview. The next stop on the train is Christy Skaggs you can find her HERE
If you get lost along the way, you can find the complete list HERE Thanks for stopping by.

Back to scrappin'

2009-09-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

I know, it has been a while since I posted anything scrappin' related. Don't worry. I'm still designing. Check out this and my other new stuff at my new store at digitop3 I also made you a free QP. Download it HERE

Say what?!?

2009-09-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

The kids have been saying some pretty crazy stuff lately. Just thought I would share

Austin, "Aunt Brandi, Do you torture kids for fun?"

Caibo and I were looking through the clearance at walmart. He came running up to me with a bright green bra. "Mom Mom! Get this one. It's perfect for you!" I looked at the tag. It's a 42DD. I'm not sure if I should feel complimented or offended.

But the last is my personal favorite. Caibo is seriously 4 going on 40 or something. He is obsessed with driving. I tell him he needs a drivers license first. Usually, he produces his "incredible" (invisible) license. I started reminding him that his feet don't even reach the pedals.

As we were leaving the grocery store the other day he climbed into the drivers seat. "Look mom! I can reach the pedals." I replied, "Yes, but can you see the road." His response was priceless, "Yeah mom! I'm driving home. Give me the keys!!!"
I have a feeling it's gonna be a long 12 years.

Dear So and So: there is a reason I only have 2 children

2009-09-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

Yay! It is time again for Dear so and so. I love Fridays.

Dear sweet morning boy,
I know I put you to bed early last night. I know you had already had 8 hours of sleep. Waking up at 4 am is still not funny, and at this hour I really don't want to entertain you. Just wanted to remind you in case you think about doing this again.
Not a morning person,
zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dear fisher price,
Once like 2 years ago I bought something from your website. Now you send me the catalog. Don't get me wrong, there is some cool stuff in there, and I totally understand what a great marketing tool it is, but sending 1 catalog to a house with four children is torture to parents. Maybe next time you could personally address one to each of the children, and save us a huge fight.
Tired of hearing the fight,
the mother who let her son take his "magazine" to show and tell

Dear fluffy puppies,
Yesterday the pound called to tell me they found a beagle. They thought it might be one of you. I think you are getting a reputation. You might want to work on staying in the backyard.
not amused,
refusing to pay $140 to bail you out next time
P.S. While you're at it can you turn the volume down a bit?

Ok that's all for now. Go check out Kat's blog for more Dear so and so fun

RTT and Dear So and So at the same time

2009-09-11T08:54:00.001-07:00

I have missed doing Dear So and So and Random thought Tuesday, so I am going to do them both at the same time. I'm not going to hunt down the pictures. I'm feeling too lazy. We can call this adventures in air travel.
Random airport thoughts:
As you go down the escalator to baggage claim at LAS there is a big poster advertising some show that Bette Midler (sp?) is doing somewhere in Vegas. I didn't pay much attention to the details. I was too distracted. I think they put her head on someone else's body. Either that or she has a really big head.
I'm thinking about starting the air travel diet. Seriously, you walk FOREVER, and you don't eat very much because you don't have time. I was sitting next to some ladies that packed sandwiches because they knew their layover wasn't going to be long enough to get food. I wonder how they got those sandwiches through security, or are sandwiches ok?
Dear So and So airport edition:
Dear midwestern airlines,
You made me cry at the airport where millions of people could see me, but you gave me free tickets and meal vouchers. I guess we are even.
Thanks for a really long day,
the crying girl with the broken flip flop
Dear me,
Packing that extra pair of flip flop was absolutely brilliant.
You are so smart!
yes I know
Dear Real Food Company,
I thought you said pickles, onions. I said sure why not. It turns at you said pickled onions, which was way better. Can I have the recipe?
craving so more,
not going to Houston just for pickled onions
Well, I feel better now. I'm sure I left you all wondering what the heck happened to me. Just know, I survived the airport fiasco, and the lady behind me in the ticketing line was right. I will totally laugh about this some day.

Don't worry I always come back (eventually)

2009-09-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

It is true. I haven't blogged alot lately. It's not that I don't have anything going on (quite the opposite actually). Honestly I don't even know where to begin, but because I like you (and because people are beginning to worry about my well being) I will fill you in.
Jerry has finished his 8 weeks of AIT in Alabama. Somehow the army manages to turn 8 weeks into 3 months. I don't know how they do it, but they are REALLY good at it. He is now at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. 3/4 of my time and energy have been devoted to trying to get myself, my children, and all of our stuff to Florida. It's more complicated than it sounds especially when you add the army into the mix. At the rate I am going I expect to be in Florida sometime before 2010 (I hope).
The kids are back in school. Jade is in first grade. She loves it. Her penmanship gets better every day, thanks to her teacher who has a handwriting obsession. It was fun to watch her last night as she sat down to study her spelling words for the first time (atleast that I have seen). I know she will do great on her test today. Caibo is going to Wee wonders preschool (thanks to everyone on facebook that recommended it to me and saved my butt). He absolutely loves it. Yesterday he brought home Slush the class pet (a stuffed dog). He was so cute carrying him around and feeding him his bottle.
I spent Labor Day weekend with Jerry in Florida looking for a place to live. We got to go to the beach. Fort Walton Beach has the whitest sand I have ever seen (and I have been to Aruba) and the water was so warm. It had been stormy all day, so there were waves to jump and play in. We had a great time. I didn't want to come home, but I did it anyway. I hope we get to move soon.
Last week, I tripped and fell. I hurt my arm, but refused to go to the doctor. Yesterday, my arm was still hurting me, so I finally gave in and went to the instacare. I got to have my first x-rays ever, which was kindof cool (until I get the bill). It turns out that I broke my elbow. (for all my readers who speak medical the words he used were fractured radial head) I don't have a cast yet. Dr. Prince will decide that on Tuesday. Jade says if I need a cast I should get pink. That seems a bit flashy to me. Caibo told me he tripped and broke his "elmo" and the put a pair of his "lucky underwear" on his arm to immitate the sling the Dr. gave me. I wish I could have gotten a picture it was hilarious.
I think that covers about half of everything, but I have written enough to prove that I am still alive. Eventually, I will post some pictures. Maybe I should make a poll. It could ask what you think will happen first: moving to florida or posting pictures.

RTT again

2009-08-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yeah. It has been a week, but I am back. And once again it is random thought tuesday

I'm not sure today's attempt at stealing the little picture will work, but stealing the picture is my new tuesday ritual. I comes right after reading everyone elses random thoughts and realizing that I am pretty normal.

I have a headache, but I am too lazy to get out of this chair and take some ibuprofen, so you all just get to listen to me whine about my headache. (lucky you)

Jade lost a tooth today. Garbage day really is the best day to loose a tooth, which reminds me. I lost the tooth. I took the little ziplock and the tooth was gone. Oh crap! Now I have to go find a tooth.

Yeah, that's it for this week. I would promise news again, but we both know that I won't be back either until Dear So and So on Friday or next Tuesday. That's just how I roll.

**UPDATE**
Jade woke up this morning all upset because the tooth fairy didn't come. (Guess who forgot to go find the tooth) I sent her back to her room, and she did find her toy. She is very excited about it, and has decided to put the tooth under her pillow again tonight to see if the tooth fairy will come back and get it. She is pretty sure she will get money this time. She also went into the bathroom this morning and was so impressed that it was clean that she was sure the tooth fairy cleaned it for me. I wish the tooth fairy really cleaned house. That would be the best.

Random Thought tuesday

2009-08-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

I totally stole the picture from Kat today, because my overly protective web filter won't let me go to Keely's blog. The fact that my filter won't let me go there makes me want to read it even more.

I am so sunburnt. I'm not sure how that happened. I thought I spent most of the day in the shade. That's what I get for thinking.

I put away thread for more than an hour Sunday. I learned that guterman always numbers the black thread 10 no matter what kind of thread it is.

Is it possible for children to go to the bathroom without making an announcement?

I should bind that quilt so I can deliver it (now that the baby is almost 4 months old) and finish Jade's dress that she says she is wearing on the first day of school. So I can start my dress. Yes, I am going to sew something for myself.

Why do pools like earring backs so much? Jade has lost 2 at the pool now. btw Jade finally has real earrings instead of just studs. I should take pictures of all the things she wanted to choose. She picks some weird stuff. Probably the mean manager lady that won't let me take pictures will be there though. Memo to self. It is time to buy Jade a jewelry box.

OK that is enough randomness for the day. I'll be back with some news both exciting and not so exciting sometime soon. Which probably means next week sometime.

Just wondering

2009-08-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

It is true. My life has been a little bit crazy lately, especially my computer situation. I have switched back to wireless internet which is an interesting experience. I really would like to know why Jade can go to barbie.com while someone on the other computer is online, but I can't go anywhere. I guess my computer just favors Jade.
Anyways, I have been switching back and forth between computers. I have noticed that on the other computer my blog looks really dark. So I have been wondering, does my blog look dark on your monitor. Really, I would like to know. Also, if it is dark can someone explain to me how to calibrate my monitor so it is not so dark.
Also, for your personal enjoyment, I have a short story. Jade has been BEGGING me to let her go to barbie.com She gets there just fine on my computer. This morning I let her try it upstairs. She was getting all frustrated because it wouldn't go, so I went to help her. She had typed hoebarbie.com You have no idea how glad I am that is really not a website. I guess barbie.com will be getting added to our bookmarks.
And seriously I do want to know. Does my blog look dark to you.

Back 2 School

2009-08-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

It is time again for the DST mega blog train. This time we are getting ready to go Back 2 School. I know. I can't believe summer flew by that quickly either. Here is my part

and you can find the next stop on the train here

If you get lost on your way, don't worry you can find the complete list of participants here
Thanks for stopping by, and happy school shopping.

Dear So and So seriously can anything else go wrong edition

2009-07-31T08:04:00.000-07:00

Dear state tax commission,
Thank you for wording your letter about me forgetting to get my van inspected so nicely. I felt like enough of an idiot already. I appreciate you not rubbing it in.
Sincerely,
Oh crap! Now I need a safety inspection

Dear employee of discount tire,
Thank you for actually showing me how bad my tires were instead of just assuming I would believe whatever you say like the guys at the other tire place do. Also thank you for the lecture about the importance of rotating my tires
Sincerely,
The lady who hadn't rotated her tires in 3 years

Dear handsome husband of mine,
Isn't tire rotation your job? It's ok. I still love you.
Sincerely,
the recipient of the tire rotation lecture.

Dear dodge caravan manufacturers,
Just in case you didn't know this already, your stupid tailight lenses fall off. Really, they just fall off, and then I have to buy an entire taillight assembly to fix it. I wouldn't be as upset if this wasn't the first time it happened.
Sincerely,
considering a new vehicle

Dear Dixie Auto salvage,
I HATE your STUPID automated telephone system. Seriously, 3 days to talk to a real person. Not cool!! I have a hard time believing that you are really that busy.
Sincerely,
Never calling you again.

Dear dad and Ken,
You guys are totally my heros for a while. Thanks for listening to my sad whiner story and finding me a taillight assembly. You totally saved me from a big scary ticket.
Sincerely,
proud owner of a yellow 10 sticker

Dear Readers,
You can play too if you like. Head on over to Kat's blog to grab the Dear So and So picture and to read all the other Dear So and So letters this week.
Sincerely,
Hi my name is Brandi and I'm addicted to dear so and so

The great gift card adventure

2009-07-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

My kids each received a $20 walmart gift card for their birthdays (Thankyou Adrienne!! They had a blast.)
The epic shopping trip: (Guess what!! I am the proud owner of a little girl just like me)
Caibo--> sees toy he wants. "Mom can I have this one?" Mom looks at price. "Yes you can" Caibo puts toy in cart. He is super thrilled and excited.
Jade--> sees toy she wants "Mom how much is this one?" Mom looks at price "It is $12" Jade thinks for a moment "If I get this how much money will I have left?" Mom does math Jade wants to know what else she can get. Repeat for every toy on the pink aisle
Caibo--> gets bored because Jade is taking so long. Sees something else he wants. "Mom can I have this one?" Mom looks at price "Yes you can" Caibo puts new toy in cart takes old toy out of the cart and puts it back.
Jade--> Repeat previous process for another 20 minutes
Caibo--> bored again finds, new toy trades it for the previous toy. Climbs into the cart and plays with the new toy
Mom--> gets really annoyed and tells Jade to just pick something already
Jade left the store with a dress, a tinkerbell hoodie that came with a bracelet, and a fur real friend
Caibo left the store with a city for his hot wheels car, and 4 cars to drive in it
Mom lost her math skills somewhere in the toy aisle, and kindly paid the tax she forgot to add in.

Jade--> finally picks something 10 minutes later

A hairy situation

2009-07-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

I have gotten into the hair blogs lately, and have done some pretty awesome stuff (if I do say so myself) I would share some photos, but this is still not my computer.
Anyways, being the person I am, I cannot simply duplicate the hairdo as seen on the blog, I must make it my own. Yes, I am weird. Often I get ideas from hairstyles I see on people at the grocery store, while I am at work, whatever.
Today at work, a girl came in with the most beautiful hair and style I might add. I would have taken a picture, but I was working, and she probably would have freaked out. When she came up to the register I complimented her on her hairstyle and asked her how she did it. Her mother turned her around and explained it to me. The poor girl was mortified. I guess the people in line behind them gathered what was going on, because they also made a big deal about how cute her hair was. Meanwhile this poor girl is turning all kinds of shades of embarrassed.
I'm pretty sure the girl survived, and I shall be trying this hairstyle on my little girl Friday. I just wonder if I will ever see that hairstyle again. Did I mention the girl was from Colorado City?

Dear So and So: Army edition

2009-07-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

To whom it may concern:
You would think that when someone enlists in the Army, there would be some way to register them to vote as Army and not in any particular state, or at least remove them from prospective jury lists. Not that we're not getting a big laugh out of this.
Just an idea,
Wife of a prospective Jurror

Dear I don't know who,
I understand that you have to be %100 percent sure of everything before you commit to anything, but you are severely interfering with my ability to procrastinate. Am I moving or not?
When?
Sincerely,
the Queen of procrastination

Dear Citi bank,
I understand that you have a reputation for not working well with real estate agents. Please make an exception for me. I REALLY want to live with my husband.
Sincerely,
whiny homeowner

Dear Army,
Thank you for entertaining, feeding, clothing, and educating my husband. And for paying us for it. I really like being able to pay my bills again.
Sincerely,
grateful for employment

Random Tuesday Thoughts

2009-07-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

I totally just stole the little RTT picture from myself. That was easy.

Now that I look at it, I'll bet I could turn it into a blinkie, but I won't it's not mine to change.

My throat hurts.

I have these cockroaches with serious thrill issues that think they need to dive off the window in my bathroom. Usually they end up stuck on their backs. I pick them up and flush them. I have been wondering 2 things. #1 If cockroaches could survive a nuclear holocaust, why can't they get off their backs? #2 Are these the same 5 cockroaches doing it over and over again, because they enjoy the thrill ride?

Oh crap! It is 10:10. I guess I am not going swimming with my friends today. Sorry guys! What's next?

What is it that makes the top bunk cooler than the bottom one?

Ok that's all for today.
As soon as I get the internet on my computer working, I will post something real.

2009-07-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

First of all Kat mentioned Handy Manny in her blog Did you know that the guy that does Manny's voice was Fez on That 70s show? I have not been able to watch Handy Manny since I found this out.

I bought a little package of ribbon at target for the sole purpose of scanning and color picking it. Oh the things digital scrapbooking does to your brain!!
I found these plates on e-bay like 2 years ago when I decided that I needed new dishes. I love them, but not $112 dollars worth. I found something similar at the cracker barrel a couple of weeks ago. I considered buying the, (except I'm poor) Then I thought, is having an Americana kitchen over the top for an army wife?

One more random army thought. The army did a back ground check for my husbands security clearance. Nobody told me this was going to happen. One day I just got a phone call phone some man from the department of defense. He was coming to my house for an interview in just a couple of days. This left me wondering. What do you wear for that? Should I offer him cookies and lemonade? Is he going to go through my house, or can I just clean the living room?

And that's my random thoughts for the day.

Because I have to play

2009-07-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

Ok I saw this on my aunt Becky's blog and just have to play too.

Dear indecisive lady at closing time,
I really don't care that you are redecorating your living room. I have not seen it and probably never will, so I have no idea which shade of off white will look the best. Personally, I don't like any of the fabrics you chose. However, I will stand here and smile while I cut 1 inch of 12 different fabrics so you can go home and ask your husband what he thinks, because really all I want is to go home from work as soon as I possibly can.
Sincerely,
The smiling girl with the scissors

Dear digger,
I understand that you think you need fresh food, but do you really need to bite me so I will come shake the bowl for you? Can't someone else do it for you?
Sincerely,
The lady that shakes the bowl

Just Chillin'

2009-06-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

People are probably beginning to think that I have quit scrapping. I'm afraid it has been that long, but don't worry. I have lots of thing to show you in the next little bit. The first thing is my part of the DAC June Collab.I had a color swatch and some snazzy new brushes I was super excited about, but no real plan when I began this kit. I was planning ahead a little (I know that's so unlike me) and just put JC (for June Collab) in the name of all the papers and elements because I didn't want to go back and rename EVERYTHING. At the end of the kit, I started thinking about things JC could possibly stand for. Just Chillin' was the first thing I could really think of, so it stuck. It turns out the name fits well. The kit has a very relaxed vibe to it, perfect for layouts of those lazy summer days. It is also free at DAC until 2pm (central time US) June 18th. (Image is linked)

Also, check out the snazzy new previews. We decided it was time to give my previews a little makeover. So far, I'm liking it. In the makeover process I found lots and lots of treasures, so be on the lookout for some albums I have had for a while, but never released. Yay for hidden treasures!

out of the mouth of mom

2009-06-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

I have realized lately that I say alot of things to my kids that I had never imagined I would ever have to say, so I am going to write a few of them down (hopefully I can remember)
But first, I have a code Adam story to share.
Last week I had this brilliant idea that I should take Caibo to pick out a birthday present for Jade while she was at her friend's house. It really did seem like a good idea in my head. I was WRONG.
So we drive down to Kmart (it is closer than walmart) and head for the toy aisle. Immediately, Caibo starts wanting EVERYTHING. I kept reminding him that it was Jade's birthday and he needed to picl something for her. This only made him throw a giant fit that went something like "BUT IT'S MY BIRTHDAY" Fortunately, the other customers were amused by this. He stopped his fit long enough to declare that he needed to go potty. So I took him to the bathroom.
To make a long story short, he snuck out of the bathroom and Kmart had to do a code Adam (which by the way they are not very good at). Fortunately he had dressed himself that morning, so I had no problem remembering the creative ensemble he had put on.
I found him a couple minutes later walking happily up the aisle wearing a batting helmet and carrying a bat.
Anyways, so here is my list
* Get that monkey out of your mouth
* Dogs do not drink mountain dew
* Quit writing on your brother
* No you cannot wear your sister's swimsuit
* We do not blow bubbles in the house
* Hot dogs are not a breakfast food
* Quit using your ketchup powers on your sister
* No we cannot take your incredible (he means invisible) guitar to church
* We do not jump on the top of the van
I'm sure there are more, but that is enough for now.

2009-06-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

Sadly this is a goodbye and not a hello, but it still cute

Jade painting all her friends' fingernails

I let the kids decorate cupcakes for Jade's birthday party. Gel frosting was a bad idea.

Jade in her kindergarten Program

They love goggles

This one is a hello

You can only do this at a small airport. The second plane back was the one we flew on.

Also, a goodbye. The building in the background was Jerry's barracks

Yes, I am a slacker (evidently more than once)

2009-06-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

I went to type, "yes I am a slacker" into the title box, and it turns out I must have used that title before. Oh well! It's true.
Since I haven't actually blogged about anything in a long time I'll try to keep it short. (and I shall use Erin's list format because I like it)
* Went to to see Jerry's basic training graduation in Missouri. It turned out to be quite an adventure. The kids went on their first airplane ride and loved it. The best part was getting to see Jerry (even if it was only for a total of 13 hours)
*After surviving a week of the humidity and wind in Missouri I spent some time at the Dollar Cuts. I already posted about Jade's hair, so that's been said. I also cut 10 inches off my hair, and donated it. It only took me 2 weeks to work up the courage to tell my husband. (being a military wife can have it's advantages) Surprisingly he liked it or at least that is what he said. I will post a picture as soon as I take a good one.
* I finally know where I am moving to just not when. I guess it is something to work with. So, at some point between August and who knows when I will be moving to Florida.
* I took Jade to get her ear's pierced. She did really good, and she is being really responsible with her new earrings. I was going to take a picture while they were doing it, but evidently it is store policy not to allow pictures to be taken in the store (I am not a fan of this policy, neither was the employee)
*and today my little girl turned 6. I not sure that is even possible, but I guess it is Wow they grow up fast.
Next I shall post some random pictures and maybe if you are lucky I will give you some descriptions (maybe)

Scrappin' for the sake of scrappin'

2009-05-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

It's not so often anymore, that I scrap something just because. Every now and then, I do get around to it though. So, here are some layouts for absolutely no reason other than I can.

365 by MGL scraps for week 2 of SYTYCD

Blooming Friends by Jady Day studio for week 3 of SYTYCD

All You Need is Love by Seni for week 3 of SYTYCD

To pierce or not to pierce

2009-05-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of days, Jade has started asking to get her ears pierced. I'm not entirely sure what brought it on. She says her friends have earrings and she wants them too. This is actually a topic that Jerry and I has discussed several times since Jade was born. In some ways, we kind of regretted not doing it when she was a baby. Anyways, I discussed it with Jerry, and he said he was Ok with it and would leave the final decision up to me. Before I commit one way or the other, I decided I would ask for opinions. So.... what do you think to pierce or not to pierce and Why?

Giving in

2009-05-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

I was trying to get Jade to let me do her hair before school this morning, (Honestly, all I wanted to do was a pony tail.) and she pitched a fit AGAIN. I decided I had enough, so I packed her up and took her to dollar cuts. It was so traumatic to see the pile of hair on the floor. She probably cut a good 6 inches off. I lived through the haircut, and now Jade has a super cute cool summer style.

As much as I love doing all the cute things to her hair, I just didn't want to fight about it anymore. I'm giving in for now.

The end of freebie week

2009-05-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I am on my way back home today (For those of you who actually read my blog to know what is going on in my life, I promise pictures and stories very soon). My giant freebie week is winding down, but I do have one last freebie, and my store is still on sale until the end of May.

Today's freebie is a small add-on to go with Monkey Madness. The image is linked.