~Poop On Jelly~

Our Family's Bitter/Sweet Life



Sunday, May 31, 2009

The First Celebrity to Die From the Swine Flu


And, I think we all know who the carrier was...


(Just thought you might need a laugh!)


Hey, while you are here...my bloggy friend, Lisa, gave me a shout out on her blog! Go over HERE to check out her awesome blog about living in the boondocks while raising an adorable little boy. She is so funny and she thinks I am too!
I know, I know. I have her fooled!
I feel like a celebrity now...guess who I am staying away from? That's right, little Miss Piggy!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Show Us Where You Live Friday~The Kids' Rooms

It's Friday again! Time for another edition of Show Us Where You Live Friday over at kellyskornerblog.com. Go over there to check out kid's bedrooms and nurseries.

So, while the boys were at school, I grabbed the camera and hoped for the best.


Do I dare enter?


Check this out! I didn't touch a thing! This is how they leave it every morning. With a little prodding from me, of course. But, my boys can produce!


Dimples and Bruiser share a room. Bruiser loves sharing a room. Dimples has his moments.



They are so proud of their Colts poster.
Do you like how I chose the color of hand prints and footprints to paint on the walls? I got tired of washing the walls, so I decided to paint them the color of dirt. I am clever like that! I bet you never heard THAT on HGTV!
We try to keep this room clean and clutter free. What ever you do, DON"T OPEN THE CLOSETS! I'm just saying...
Now, on to Sweet Pea's room. Please keep in mind that she is our only girl and the youngest. When I found out I was having a girl, I started dreaming of decorating a little girl's room. However, we already had a bear themed nursery that was good enough for either gender.


So, I waited THREE MORE YEARS to go all out.
Here is the result:

Can you say PINK?!



Sweet Pea and I love it!


Isn't this piece every little girl's dream? I made that feathered boa wreath on the right. I know it is over the top, but I waited THREE MORE YEARS!



Not a great picture, but you get the idea.



This is a bank. I am in love with it.





Her desk. Sweet Pea keeps asking when she will get a computer to put on it. Sweet Pea, can you say NEVER?!


I really like the shelves. Sweet Pea always calls girly things, "Beautiful!" I tried to put a little bit of her personality in the room.

OK, OK, and some of mine. Remember: I waited THREE MORE YEARS!


Yes, Sweet Pea, I'll take a picture of you too. What, you're not wearing any pink?!


Thanks for stopping by! Now, head on over to kellyskornerblog.com and check out some more rooms....

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Rules of the Road

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

My bloggy friend, Lisa, over at Boondock Ramblings is having some squirrel trouble. You can read about it HERE and HERE. Funny stuff! So, in honor of her, I am replaying one of my favorite posts from last fall. Enjoy!


Tonight we were out driving. Nurse Boy had the wheel when we almost ran over a squirrel. Unfortunately, he swerved and missed the squirrel. Nurse Boy does NOT understand the rules of the road while driving my van. (That's right. I said it. "MY van." Everyone else around here gets to say MINE all day long, why shouldn't I?)

I should start off by saying that it is a very well known fact that I, Mrs. Nurse Boy, HATE squirrels. Hate may not be a strong enough word for my true feelings about squirrels. My children think that they must protect the squirrels in our neighborhood from their vicious squirrel hating mom. They feel sorry for them. Meanwhile we must have 500, 000 of them living within a two block radius. About 100,000 of them call my three trees home. They wave at me, make faces at me, and even climb on my screen door and make noises at me. NO JOKE! The worst is when they climb on my roof and eat out of my gutters while smiling back at me, as if to say, "Ha, ha! You are providing food for me to stay alive." The best is when I find a dead one in my yard and I scream out to the others, "LET THIS BE A LESSON TO THE REST OF YOU!" No, I don't kill them. Really. I just dance on their graves.

So, my children know the rules of the road while mom is driving. I do not brake for squirrels. I do not slow down for squirrels. I do not swerve to miss squirrels. Those are the cold, hard facts. These are non-negotiable.

In all fairness, the children have negotiated a few things for the squirrels. I have agreed not to speed up for the squirrels or swerve to hit the squirrels (which I may or may not follow all the time).

I haven't hit one yet, but I am working on it. Every time the kids see a squirrel in the road, they hold their breath. As if that will save the squirrel's life. Maybe it has. Or they are all back there lifting that little squirrel up in prayer. Those little stinkers!!!

Nurse Boy isn't going to be driving my van if he can't follow the rules of the road. You might think it is harsh, but you would be on my side if you lived in my neighborhood.

Really, you would!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

School is out. It is finally summer here. The three day weekend was glorious. We played hard and slept hard. I really enjoyed the whole sleep part.

Sleep, please don't forget me. I promise to return to you one day soon. Hopefully, very soon.

So, today I will share some of our weekend with you. In pictures. On Saturday, we tried to cram about as much as possible into one day. The boys spent the night with friends on Friday night. Sweet Pea had a birthday party Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, we were all together again with one special guest:



Meet Bailey. She is my parents' dog. She stayed with us for the weekend and my boys spent the entire time trying to wear her out. We started our afternoon off with a family walk.



Bruiser loves animals and asks me why we can't have a dog almost daily. I try to explain that three kids, one cat, and a husband are just about all I can handle. And, save the, "I'll take care of the dog. You won't have to do a thing." Yeah, I said that, too, when I was your age. Yet, I never cleaned the cat box or feed that poor cat. So, save it. Not buying it. We will just "borrow" Bailey when Bubby and Papa are out of town.


The destination of our walk? Why, the local ice cream shoppe, of course! That is my kind of walk. Actually, it is homemade gelato. This stuff is fabulous! Sweet Pea wanted "pink" gelato.


Bruiser prefers to wear his favorite flavor, "Celebration Cake." Maybe Bailey could clean him up for me?!


Ah, yes, my nine year old can finally eat his ice cream without needing to be hosed down!

They even gave Bailey some doggy gelato with a doggy biscuit! I love local businesses!


To top the evening off, we took the kids to their first professional soccer game. Here is where I must confess that I had kind of romanticized this evening. I thought we would cozy up as a family on a blanket and watch our favorite sport together in wonderful summer weather, while sipping my diet coke and snacking on some peanuts. I thought it would be a fun memory.


If you call overpriced tickets, searching for a parking space with 10,000 other people when only 500 spaces appear to be available (and are already taken), paying $20 for the most simple of snacks/beverages, squeezing into a crowded area, and sitting on a grassy slide while trying not to slide down FUN...well then, that it was!

However, this made the entire night worth it. Dimples got an autograph from one of the players and it made his day. You couldn't wipe the grin off of his face!
Tickets to a professional soccer game: $50
Parking: $10
Bag of peanuts: $5
Grin that cannot be wiped off of son's face: PRICELESS
I hope all of you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend as well!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Show Us Where You Live Friday~My Dining Room

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Welcome to another tour hosted by Kelly at kellyskornerblog.com. Today you can hop over there and check out dining rooms! I am joining the tour yet again this week, but please remember that we are not a formal family. We are very casual and I prefer it that way.

Welcome to our dining room.
This is a place where we entertain and play games. We were going for practical and comfortable.

This table has a butterfly leaf that comes out and transforms this table into a square. The bench, seen against the wall, can then be pulled up to the table. It seats 8 adults very comfortably.
The french doors lead out to the backyard.


Here is my photo wall. I love pictures and I have chosen to display many of my favorites in this room.


Cute kids, huh?! All three of them were in my brother's wedding last May. I love this display.
(Underneath that table is storage for our TV trays. They don't get used often, but can be handy to have around.)

But, wait! There's more...

Our family room is connected to the dining room.


This room is just perfect for entertaining any time of the year.

We keep this room TV free, so we can do our family devotionals in here or read in peace. Nurse Boy has even been found studying in here.



Thanks for stopping by! Come back next Friday for a tour of my kids' rooms. Sweet Pea's room will finally be unveiled!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Tag, I'm It!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

My bloggy friend, Lisa, over at Boondock Ramblings tagged me in a fun meme. If you haven't checked out her blog, you need to go over
THERE right now. She lives in the boonies and tells THE BEST stories!

1. What are your current obsessions?
My eyebrows. What is wrong with them? Why do they look like they need to be waxed every 2 weeks? Seriously, you asked...

Oh, and chicken recipes. But, you knew that already, didn't you?!

2. Which item from your wardrobe do you wear most often? Anything black. I like to pretend that it is slimming to the point that someone just might mistake me for Donald Trump's daughter. I know, I know...FAT chance. (On a serious note, I love jewelry and can't leave home without at least 5 pieces. I have 2 sets if silver hoops that I wear ALL the time. The bigger the earrings, the smaller the waist. It all goes back to the illusion I am creating. Hey, stop laughing! A girl can pretend.)

3. What's for dinner? Why, chicken, of course! Check out my Friday Fare's for recipes! My boys ask me what is for dinner every night and I just look at them. They walk away with their heads hung low knowing full well that it will NOT be chicken nuggets (because, let's face it people, that is not really chicken) or macaroni and cheese. Sigh... I am such a mean mom!

4. Last thing you bought? Picture frames for pictures of my brother's wedding. Yeah, it was a year ago this week. I am always on top of things. Oh, don't tell Nurse Boy. He was out of town. Don't worry, he'll never notice. Seriously.

5. What are you listening to? My kids "fighting" with their light sabers. They love all things Stars Wars. I love just about everything else. Oh, wait, do I hear tears? No. Maybe. Yes, yes I do.

6. If you were a god/goddess who would you be? The goddess of peace. Ya know, between siblings.

7. Favorite vacation spots? ANYWHERE on a lake. In a boat. With a good book or magazine. My husband by my side. My children quiet and well behaved. Nothing but time...

8. Reading right now? A sad article on Jon and Kate Plus Eight. And, I am not sure what that says about me....

9. Four words to describe yourself Trustworthy, Authentic, Moody, Talkative

10. Guilty pleasure? Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice. I love those shows more than I should. I DVR them and watch them when the kids are in bed.

11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak? Nurse Boy, of course. That is what made me fall in love with him. He is the funniest person I know. I have the laugh lines to prove it!

Oh, and his offspring, aka my children.

12. Favorite thing to do in the summer? Spending time with my family and going on little "surprise" day trips together. We like to wake the kids up with surprise outings. Not to mention the ice cream runs in our pj's. (We put the kids to bed, wait a couple of minutes, throw the door open, and yell, "Time for ice cream!" Go ahead and take my idea...your kids will never stop talking about it, I promise!)

13. Planning to travel to next? Uh...all I can come up with is the grocery store...But, I bet you mean a TRIP. Like, anywhere but here? Um, probably not happening for a while. Nurse Boy is in school and, well, I am not sure if you have heard or not, but the economy is in the toilet. So, the grocery store it is!

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately? Sonic Diet Cherry Limeades. LOVE THEM! If you don't have a Sonic, you should move. Plain and simple.

15. When did you last get tipsy? You must mean the time I was spinning with Sweet Pea in the living room? Or the time I took too much Advil? I am afraid that's all I got.

16. Favorite ever film? Does The Incredibles count? I really do love that movie. I am not one to watch a movie more than once...Oh, I do like that dumb movie, Rat Race. Nurse Boy and I have been known to watch that late at night and laugh until we cry.

Notice how deep I am?

17. Care to share some wisdom? Stretch your body, stretch your mind. Deep, huh? I found it right in front of me on my Dove dark chocolate wrapper. Classy, I know. Not to mention ironic, on a lot of levels...

18. Least favorite thing about driving in the boondocks? I am a city girl. But, I do like to vacation in the boondocks. So, if I am there on a vacation, I think I would love everything about driving in the boondocks. Except maybe the glowing eyes of the possums at night. Gross!

19. Least favorite part of your day? Hands down...THE MORNINGS. ANY MORNING. They always have a way of coming too soon, no matter what time I wake up.

20. Why do you blog? My husband made me do it. Really. He started this blog and let it get dusty. Plus I LOVE reading all of your blogs!

Rules of the meme: Respond and rework. Answer questions on your own blog. Replace one question. Add one question. Tag 8 people.


I tag:
Mrs. Imperfect at Confessions of an Imperfect Mom
Chrisi at and baby makes three!
Boy Mom at Boys-R-Us
Jillian at It All Began With a Man in a Black Jeep
On Stage
Mommy4Life at Mommy Daily Vent
Chaos~Jamie at Surviving the Chaos
Sue at 3 Peas in a Pod.


So, you're it! Only participate if you want to, of course. NO pressure. And, if I didn't tag you, but you want to do this, please just leave me a comment so I can read yours! I can't wait to read everyone's!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Just sharing some random thoughts from my mommy brain today...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A MOM WHEN...

*You know you're a mom when the only happy hour you are aware of is at Sonic from 2-4 PM. (Bring on the Diet Cherry Limeades! And, if you don't have a Sonic nearby, you should move. Seriously.)

*You know you're a mom when you buy plug ins for every bathroom in an attempt to trick your nose into thinking you are NOT smelling urine at any given moment.

*You know you're a mom when you spend most of your free time reading books that rhyme.

*You know you're a mom when you lock yourself in the (urine smelling) bathroom for some peace and quiet. (And spend that time ignoring the pounding at the door.)

*You know you're a mom when the thought of dinner sends your body into convulsions.

*You know you're a mom when YOU need a tutor to complete the math homework.

*You know you're a mom when it is no longer necessary to set an alarm. (You have living, breathing, walking alarms that happily crawl into your bed and poke you with their cold toes before the crack of dawn.)

*You know you're a mom when a nice dinner out is considered anywhere that doesn't have a cartoon character as a marketing ploy.

And...

*You know you're a mom when you wouldn't trade your life for anyone else's.

Most days, that is... :0)

Friday, May 15, 2009

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.
So, summer is in the air, school is almost out, and I am now shaving my legs on a regular basis. (Hey, I am just trying to keep it real around here.) Now, if I could only get Nurse Boy to let me shave his back on a regular basis. Sigh... Why is it that when men age, they lose the hair on top of their head, only to grow it EVERY WHERE else???

I can't wait to have my kids home with me. It has been such a transitional year for our family. I know they need time to just be a family. Hopefully, it will be a terrific summer!

Don't forget to check out Kelly's home tours over HERE. She is touring guest rooms today. Sweet Pea's room is our guest room, so I opted to wait for next week's room. I believe we will be posting photos of our dining rooms, so come back next week to tour mine.

Today's Friday Fare is so fun because my new bloggy friend Suz left this recipe in my comments a few weeks back. And, since I cannot resist a good chicken recipe, I gave it a try. It is one of my new favorites. This is a great summer recipe, too! Plus, it meets my simple, easy, and delicious requirements.

Spinach and Mushroom Chicken

4-6 chicken breasts
fresh spinach
16 oz. WHOLE mushrooms
Kraft sundried tomato dressing

Place chicken in a 13x9 pan and cover with dressing. Top with as much spinach as you like. (Remember that it will cook down, so be generous.) Top with mushrooms. Top with some more dressing. Bake (covered with foil) at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
Doesn't this look awesome, fresh from the oven?!



Nurse Boy and I loved this stuff! The mushrooms are AWESOME!!!

And, since I like to keep it real around here, I must be honest about something. My kids scraped the spinach and mushrooms off of the chicken before they ate it. But, they did eat it! Plus, more mushrooms for us!
I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My Bruiser

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

I have a child who knows no fear. Never has.


Big, strange, even unfriendly dogs? No problem!

Strangers? Bring them on!

Heights? Love 'em!

No parent in sight? Heaven!



This was the child we caught, at 18 precious months old, standing on top of the kitchen counters digging through the tall cabinets for......wait for it......prescription meds. (And, you thought we were good parents. Shame on you!)

His favorite past time was to unload bookshelves. Every shelf. Every last book. The pile was then an awesome place to practice his surfing skills. Because surfing is a common past time in the Midwest. Um...yeah.

It is no surprise we nicknamed him Bruiser. Ever since he could walk (or, should I say run, since walking was always considered too boring, practical, and calm) he has had bruises all up and down his shins. Well, not bruises, so much as badges of honor.

No corner, crevice, or hidden space is safe when Bruiser is around.

I have always prayed Psalm 91:11 over each of my children. It states, "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways."

Bruiser always put the angels to the test. (Come to think of it, maybe I should have prayed this in the next room so he wouldn't consider it a challenge...)

I would watch this amazing child from the bench at the park or my cozy chair in our backyard and marvel at how many times this precious, endless ball of energy would fall in slow motion.

In! Slow! Motion!

No one else saw it. Just me. Nurse Boy was never looking at the right moment and the moms at the park were always socializing. I thought I was crazy. Maybe in need of glasses.

Then, one day we went to the local indoor mall playland. Bruiser spent the afternoon climbing colorful, soft, plastic tents, rocks, bridges, boats, and waterfalls. I spent the afternoon talking to a sweet, lonely mother. I was enjoying the company and Bruiser was enjoying the physical outlet.

Then it happened.

Bruiser tumbled backwards and head first off of the plastic waterfall.

In. Slow. Motion.

And, my new friend witnessed it.

I didn't say a word. I just waited to see if she saw what I saw. She immediately looked at me with eyes as round as saucers and said, "I have never seen a child fall like that."

It was official. I wasn't crazy. (However, I just might be in need of some glasses...dang aging eyes.) And, I better keep praying for my active, little guy.

And, I've never stopped.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

This weekend was one of soccer games, birthday parties, church, and Mother's Day. I even took a nap on Sunday! So here are some of my random thoughts from the weekend:

~~~~~~~~~~
Nurse Boy tried really hard to bless me this weekend. On Saturday, he took it upon himself to get the laundry caught up. He recruited the boys to help fold and put the laundry away. After about the fourth load, Bruiser couldn't handle it anymore. He exclaimed, "ANOTHER load of laundry?! This place is KILLING me!" (You are preaching to the choir, Bruiser. Preaching to the choir...)

~~~~~~~~~~
I took Sweet Pea to a birthday party this weekend. She was so excited and talked about it all week long. Once we we there, she was shy and quiet. But, while we were watching this little three year old unwrap her presents, Sweet Pea was eyeing the cake. She suddenly whispered in my ear, "Mommy, I want some cake in my mouth."

~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday afternoon, Dimples asked Nurse Boy if he was taking them to Jared's. As in, the national jewelry chain. I love that kid! Of course, Mommy wants diamonds for Mother's Day. OK, so Jared's does have a fabulous play area and free chocolate chip cookies. It may not have had anything to do with me after all. Those Jared's people sure do know how to bring in the business, don't they?

~~~~~~~~~~
I did not get diamonds for Mother's Day. Sigh...darn economy. But my folding chair for the soccer games will come in handy. I know, exciting.

~~~~~~~~~~
On Sunday morning I overheard Nurse Boy lecturing the kids on the fact it was Mother's Day. He instructed them to only ask him if they needed something. Anything. Only ask him. (Nice try. That never works. But, I did feel blessed that he tried.)

~~~~~~~~~~
Dimples asked when it will be Kid's Day. My response? Isn't that EVERY DAY?!

~~~~~~~~~~
Nurse Boy and I worked the Nursery at church on Sunday. After a tiring morning with 17 two year olds, the Nursery Director gave me a $5 dollar gift card to Starbucks for working the Nursery on Mother's Day. So, apparently, I change diapers and wipe bottoms for coffee.

And, I think I am OK with that.

I hope all of the moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Happy Monday!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Show Us Where You Live Friday: My Living Room

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

It is Friday! Can I get a "Hallelujah"?

Today Kelly, over at kellyskornerblog.com is hosting another Show Us Where You Live Friday. Today, you can hop over there and tour living rooms!

So, do you want to see my humble little living room? When I think of living rooms, I think of a formal front room. Well, we aren't formal.


And, that just might be the understatement of the year.


So, I am going to show you what we did with our front room...


Here is our front door. Nothing spectacular. The 70's spindles and bookcase are dated, but we make them work.


But, I do love this sign above our door.

This is our living room as seen when you walk in the front door. I love my black leather. It is kid friendly and wipes clean.

I painted the walls with sand paint which gives it a suede look. I really like the texture on the walls.

I painted this in college for an art class requirement. I have zero talent, but I love the color it brings to the room, not to mention the memories of that time in my life.

This cabinet is one of my favorite pieces in here. It hides our TV and DVDs. I am not a fan of clutter that is out in the open for all to see. The black chair was my grandmother's. She painted it black years ago. It is my very favorite piece in here. It always reminds me of her.

I also did this shading in college. I fell in love with it after I got it matted and framed.


Looking in from the family room.

Another view.

I like to keep special photos on this table. I have one of my favorites of just my boys, a rocking chair frame of my parents' senior photos, Nurse Boy and I, and our wedding invitation. I also have a basket underneath for those random toys that constantly end up in the living room.

My grandmother painted this beautiful scene. I think it is amazing! It is hanging in the hallway leading into the kitchen.

Thank you for allowing me to share our humble little living room. I can't wait to snoop in everyone else's!!!

Have an awesome weekend!!!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Blue Dumpster

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Yet another replay from the days when only our parents read this blog. Ironically, we don't think any of them read it anymore. Come to think of it, maybe we should be leaving these posts in the archives. Oh well, humor me one last time...



So, I have a confession to make.


Boy, I sure do air a lot of my dirty laundry! My Dad always says that if we don't, our children will. (I think he may speak from experience.) He is right. I like to think that with me, what you see is what you get. No, I won't tell you that your butt looks big in those pants. That is a danger zone I am not willing to enter. Besides, I am more worried about my own big butt. However, I try to be an honest and genuine person. I always want to remain approachable. I want to be trustworthy. I want to be a person of good character and true to my word.

OK, I need to stay focused here. Back to my confession.


Are you ready?


I drive a dumpster on wheels.


Yes, you read that right. It may look like a regular old mini van on the outside with three car seats on the inside, but it is a glorified dumpster on wheels. I think the whole neighborhood must be using it as such, because we couldn't possibly be the ONLY family adding to that hot mess. Surely not!


I try to clean out the loose papers and trash about every week or so, only to find the van filled with more trash the very next morning.


THE. VERY. NEXT. MORNING.


There also seems to be an odor that just can't be covered up with a yellow cardboard tree hanging from the rear view mirror. The tree seems to wave at me and mock me as I drive around town, as if to say, "Nice try, lady. You thought a three dollar purchase was going to cover up that nine year old stench?"

Every where we go, people give my children suckers, cookies, candy, papers, stickers, memory verses, crayons, and more PAPER. These items swim around my van. I am so tired of it, not to mention embarrassed when someone peers into the van to talk to the kids. I want to yell out, "No, look away! Look away! We really aren't slobs! Really, we aren't! "


And, we aren't. I take pride in my home. No, it is not ALWAYS clean. Or picked up. But, it USUALLY is. On a bad night, it might take the boys 10 minutes to give their room a thorough cleaning. And, that is with a little wrestling on the side. Our home is not our dumpster.


Our van is.


I have even made cleaning out the van one of the weekly chores for the boys, but the papers still find a way to multiply. The worst part is when my parents borrow the van to take all three of the kids somewhere. (Yes, Dad, I know you taught me better. In all fairness, you never had three kids. I know you had two, but the third one put us over the edge.) My Dad and I used to spend our Saturdays cleaning out the cars. With Q-tips. And, that is no lie. We took pride in our clean cars.


Now, I spend my Saturdays carting kids and Gatorade bottles to soccer games.


Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing.


Bring on the Gatorade bottles and orange peels! The van couldn't possibly look any worse...or, could it?!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Idiot!

As we celebrate 2 years of blogging bliss, please enjoy this golden oldie from me, Mrs. Nurse Boy, to you!


So, have you ever been out shopping and noticed a car with one of its doors wide open in the parking lot? I mean, who does that?!

I always wander over to the car (which is usually a mini van) and mumble something about an idiot under my breath while I close the door for them.

The other day I ran to the grocery store with the boys to pick up a few items. (You already know where this is going, don't you?!) I took the boys so Sweet Pea could nap and Nurse Boy could work on school stuff without anyone climbing on his back in hopes of some wrestle mania. I actually had to bribe the boys with suckers to get them to willingly go with me. That's right, I am not above bribery. Judge me all you want, but when in a pinch it works.

We pulled up to the store and marched right in. Boys. Suckers. Mom. (I know. Who is the real sucker, right?) We ran through the store at a very rapid pace. One thing about being a mom is we can fill our cart faster than a speeding bullet. With kids, or without. It is a super power given to us once the baby is placed in our arms. Honestly, sometimes I amaze even myself!

We did hit a snag when we got to the check out and the clerk started talking to me. I mean, they don't usually even make eye contact with me! Of course, it is when I am in a hurry that they actually show some customer service. As well, they should. I don't even want to think about the percentage of our annual income that goes to that store! Scary!

But, I digress.

The clerk started asking me about potty training. OH. YES. HE. DID. If only he read this blog, he would have known that is a very sore subject with me. He wanted advice for his three year old. I said, "PRAY! PRAY HARD!"

He looked frightened, as well he should have.

I digress again.

We raced out of the store. Then I see it. A mini van with the side door wide open. What kind of idiot leaves...

Oh, wait...That is OUR minivan!

I am that idiot!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

My random thoughts and mutterings while at the grocery store this afternoon:

*I hope it doesn't start to rain while I am in the store.

*Who am I kidding? I hope it doesn't rain the rest of the month. If it keeps raining, I might consider building an ark...

*Why must I shop with my 3 year old?

*I can't wait for watermelon season!

*Sweet Pea, do not make fun of the bald baby. And, do you know how to whisper?

*An employee just asked ME where the mayo is! OK, so he was 16, but STILL. (And, for the record, it is in aisle one next to the salad dressings. Duh.)

*Why must my 3 year old visit EVERY public restroom? Sometimes I think potty trained kids are overrated. OK, just when it gets in the way of my agenda.

*Sweet Pea, PLEASE use your inside voice.

*I just asked my 3 year old if she wanted a spanking. I know, I know. Dumb question. What would I do if she said, "Yes?" Feel free to nominate me for parent of the year.

*5! DOLLARS! for a box of Honey Bunches of Oats! Yikes!

*Very clever marketing. Toys in the cereal aisle. Not finding the humor in this.

*BACON. Need I say more? (Why must something that tastes so good be so bad?)

*It is official. I cannot control a kiddie "truck" cart. Why do I let Sweet Pea talk me into these things?

*Why are everyone else's kids sitting so quietly in their carts and peacefully watching everything?

*I wonder if that lady who refuses to stop coughing all over the produce has the Swine flu? Huh. No apples for us today.

*I said, INSIDE VOICE! Oops, I mean, please use your inside voice.

*Almost forgot my prescription of Dove Dark Chocolates. Yes, I should only have to pay the copay for these yummy morsels. Have you seen how much they cost?!

*How much did you say the total was?! Are you taking applications?

I think it might be time for a nap...

Don't forget to come back this week for some funny "replays" from our earlier days of blogging!

Happy Monday!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Friday Fare! & Show Us Where You Live Friday

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, is hosting Show Us Where You Live Friday. Today, you get to tour my kitchen. It was my favorite room in our home when we purchased it 5 years ago. Probably because it was the only room that had been remodeled. I now have a love/hate relationship with my kitchen.



Come on in! One of my favorite features of this kitchen are the cabinets. They go all the way to the ceiling! Great for storage. And, yes, I do need a step stool to get to the top shelves.




Here is where you can find us most mornings and afternoons. I would love to have a round table for this area, but it just hasn't been a priority thus far.



My refrigerator says, "Giggle a Giddy Laughter." With three kids, that is the norm around here. And, next to the fridge, you will see my Kitchen Aide. Boy, do I love that thing! I just got it this year as a birthday gift from my in laws. How did I survive 12 years of marriage without that thing?!


Hey, no bikes in the kitchen!


The floor is made of wood tiles and I love them. They clean up well and are very forgiving when it comes to food, crumbs, and the random cat hair. Hey, don't look too close...that is cheating!



And, I do love this kitchen garage. It is a mess inside...I love that it hides all of our junk. I will spare you the photo of the inside.


Here is where I spend most of my days, or so it seems. The lady that owned this house before had an obsession with pink and hunter green. Together. In the same room. So, the woman remodeled her kitchen with PINK counter tops.

Yep, PINK! Oh, I am sure they are called, "MAUVE." That sounds so sophisticated, doesn't it? Well, I am NOT crazy about the color of my counter tops, but I will live with them. And, in case you didn't notice, there is some green in the flooring. It is more subtle than the pink, but it is still there.


You want to see what's for dinner? Salsa Chicken and it smells awesome! Here is what I put in my crock pot this morning: 4-6 frozen chicken breasts, 1 jar of salsa, 1 can corn (drained), and 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed). Really, that's all! Cook on low for about 6 hours.


I love this stuff with corn bread. Wait, I forgot something...



Cheese and sour cream make it taste ever better. (We won't talk about the added fat. No. We. Won't.)

Thanks for stopping by! Go over to Kelly's Korner and check out some more kitchens!