VEGAS BOUND...VEGAS BACK

OK....NOW I HAVE BEEN TO VEGAS....IT WAS OK... BUT NOT AS GREAT AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE... I HAD FUN...BUT AM VERY TIRED....HOOVER DAM WAS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE WHOLE TRIP.... I WOULD DO IT AGAIN...BUT NOT FOR A WHILE AND ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS....THE SCENERY WAS GREAT SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE....

LOTS BEEN HAPPENING...

OK..THERE HAS BEEN A LOT GOING ON SINCE I LAST POSTED...BILL AND I ATTENDED A WEDDING THAT WAS WAY OVER DUE....

THE GIRLS GOT A NEW POOL THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE.....

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF IT FOR 3 DAYS....

THE GIRLS ARE ALL GOOD...CRAZY AS EVER....AND TWICE AS ROTTEN AS EVER, BUT THEY ARE HAVING A GREAT SUMMER....THEY ARE READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT MONTH...BILL AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BIG THEY ARE GETTING...STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE OLD...

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, I BELIEVE I HAVE A NEW JOB COMING UP... I TOOK MY WRITTEN TEST TO WORK AS A CORRECTIONS OFFICER AT A PRISON NEARBY, AND THEY CALLED ME 2 DAYS LATER...THEY WILL BE CALLING ME AGAIN THIS WEEK TO LET ME KNOW WHEN TO COME OVER FOR MY DRUG TEST...(not a problem).. GLAD THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT.. I AM JUST HAPPY ABOUT EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW..EVERYTHING IS FALLING INTO PLACE FINALLY..AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER...

WISH I HAD PICTURES

OK...last weekend i did the coolest thing and have no way to prove it cuz stupid me forgot to put new batteries in my camera...so now this hat that i bought bill is the only thing i have to show for it...oh...and this....my ticket stub....we went to Harrah's in K.C. and saw Merle Haggard in concert....it was so cool...the man is like..what...80 years old....and still sounds awesome....my nephew called and had scored some fee tickets, and no one hesitated... me, my brother, and my other nephew took off in the car and went to Brunswick and kidnapped Bill from work and off we went..i was the DD for the evening and it stormed like a mother all the way home...but it was way worth it...Bill got so drunk...it was hilarious...we had a really good night...talk to everyone soon...

I'M STILL HERE

MY WONDERFUL BROTHER
OK. I know i have been slacking, but I have been really busy. Guess what! We are moving. They say that when God closes a door he opens a window. My brother called me last night and asked me if we still wanted to buy his house. Once again, I explained to him that we could not get a bank loan for the house. He has agreed to rent the house to Bill and I until we can buy it. I am soooooooooooooo happy. Not only do we get to go back home like we want to, but we finally get a HOME. I have been on cloud nine all day, even though things did not go quite as smoothly as I would hope. I met my brother at the house at 10 this morning to find 4 1/2 feet of water in the basement. Apparently, the last renters had turned the electricity off and the electric company had neglected to put it back over in my brother's name like they were suppose to, and a water pipe froze and busted. I would hate to see this month's water bill, but we got it all pumped out, and I spent all day peeling wall paper and painting. It was wonderful!! To actually be given free reign over how my house will look when I get done w/ it. My brother has told me that I can do whatever I want to it, within reason. I will be working on it every day so that we can move in a month, if at all possible. So, hooray for me! I am so happy!

HOLY SHIT !! IS THIS MY HOUSE ??

Ladies and gentleman, I think she finally got it. Tonight was the first time in two years that I got to come home from work to a clean house. I sat down and had a long talk w/ my babysitter today, and I think I finally got through. Bill and I put up this big ass poster board labeled NEW RULES. I explained each one and what I expected from her and the kids. I will share my rules w/ you. It is nothing too difficult.

1. NO PLAYSTATION (that is all she used to do)
2. Kids will be cleaned up and in PAJAMA's before going to bed (the pajama thing is a serious pet peeve of mine...i don't like finding my kids in clothes while they are sleeping.)
3. Bedrooms will be picked up before bedtime.
4. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF (the kids are not your slaves)
5. Please feed my children REAL food.
6. Include EVERYONE in activities.

*BILL AND I WILL NO LONGER PAY YOU FOR DOING NOTHING !!!!!!

So, this is all I ask of my babysitter. Hopefully, tonight was not a one time deal. I don't expect any miracles, I just have to know that when I am not home, that my kids are SAFE and well taken care of. I have to know that my kids are not eating junk and doing unsafe activities ....(like the time they rode the mattress down the stairs and put a hole in my wall).

I don't expect her to be me, but my rules should always apply !!!! I think the worst part about this whole deal is that my babysitter, who is a very shy and loving girl, has a mother who takes all of her babysitting money to pay her bills because she won't go get a job. So sometimes her mom will make her call me and ask for more money. Her mother and I have had it out over this numerous times, but I am not gonna punish the child for the ways of her mother. I hope this new side of her remains, and then maybe I can put my mind at ease. I just want my kids to be well taken care of when I can't be here. That is all for NOW !!!!

HAPPY SUNDAY

Well the weekend is almost over. Today is Sunday and I plan on spending the whole day doing absolutely nothing. This weeeks weekend update is as follows. Friday, of course, we had bowling league. I did really bad this week. It was awful. Does anyone else know what it is like to really enjoy something, but no matter how hard you try at it, you just can't get good at it. That is how it is for me when we bowl. Friday, of course, was my birthday so we stayed after league w/ some good friends of ours and did the moonlight glow bowl. That was really fun and I did much better than I had done during league, but that is usually how it goes. The weather turned pretty bad, so Bill and I had to stay in Brookfield overnight. We got another 5 inches of snow. Saturday morning we got up and had breakfast with Bill's dad and then headed home. We were suppose to go to a wedding Saturday, but because of the roads we decided we should just stay in Brunswick. So, Bill and I went down to the bar where I work and entered the pool tournament. Neither one of us placed, but we had a great time. Saturday night was karaoke, which is one of my all-time favorite things. I usually get asked to sing several of my favorite songs by customers that come in the bar all the time and hear me walking around singing. I love to sing. I don't think I am very good, but everyone at the bar disagrees w/ me. So, I sing for them. I got pretty drunk Saturday night, and had a ball. Later in the night wasn't so good. One of my friends showed up at the bar damn near hysterical. She had been at the house of some of Bill and I's ex-friends, and the husband had tried to force himself on her while she was passed out in the living room. Then, the wife had come in there and tried to beat the shit out of her for screaming. Needless to say, I sat there with her for a very long time while we waited on her parents and the police. I will update everyone later as things occur. So, that was our weekend in a nut shell. Now, I can move on to a more interesting blog. As for this one, I am finished w/ it. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

BABYSITTER DRAMA

Well today is here...just barely. I sit here at 3 am., I just got home from work. Today is my birthday. I am 29 today..whoopee. I don't have a whole lot to say this morning, except a short bitch session about baby sitters. I have 3 little girls, and my husband and I are active in a lot of different things. We are gone from home on an average of 3 nights a week. Does anyone else have the same problem I am about to describe? I spend all day at home, while my kids are at school, and I usually keep a pretty clean house. Then, on the nights Bill and I are gone, I pay someone to come in and mess up my house. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. I have 2 girls that babysit for me on a regular basis and neither one of them can seem to get it right. Tonight before I went to work, and Bill went to pool league, Bill asked the girls to surprise me for my birthday and make sure the house was all cleaned up. Needless to say, this was not the case when I walked in the door. I feel as though I am paying for another kid to come to my house, eat my food, and watch my TV. This has been an on-going problem for the 2 years we have lived here. Parents are to quick to give their kids hand outs. No one wants to EARN their money anymore. I know that when I was younger, I babysat until I was old enough to get a real job. Then I maintained a 20-40 hr. work week on top of school. I kept my grades high, and I always had plenty of my own money. When I was babysitting, the TV never came on until all the kids were in bed and the house was cleaned up and dishes done. I am a strong believer in " the one who cooks it, cleans it". Apparently, I am the only one. I have to have a baby sitter, but I am so tired of coming home to a messy house. AAAAHHHH!!! It is very frustrating. So, I guess what I am saying is....what has happened to today's youth? Why can't they understand that they have to EARN their pay just like everyone else. Bill and I pay really well, but we get nothing in return. I miss the old days. Family is very important to us, and we love our girls to death. I just have to know that when I leave my house, my kids are in the best possible hands, and that what I say....goes. I guess that's it for now. Goodnight everyone.

WELL TODAY IS HERE

.....WELL Today is the here....the least favorite day of the year for many. Valentine's Day is the busiest days of the year for most flower shops in this country. Unfortunately, after all these years, the men in our lives still do not get us. We do not want flowers. We do not want candy or flowers. OK.. maybe I am talking for myself, but hey..this is my page so I can. I have not received anything from Bill as of this moment and do not know what I will get, if anything. But the statements I made above are true for me. I want something for Valentine's Day that proves that my husband knows who I am and understands me. It could be something as simple as a book or a card. As long as it comes from him, all is good. Now I know some of you out there absolutely despise Valentine's Day. Believe me, I used to be one of them. Most people that harbor ill feelings towards this holiday are either alone, or with someone who needs to get a clue. I know that when it comes to Bill, I have to start giving clues a couple of weeks in advance. You know all the little things you do w/out even thinking about it. Lingering over a watch set a little longer than necessary to make sure he sees you.....mentioning off-handed someplace you haven't eaten in a while....and of course there is always the "I wish I had" line that can always be used as long as it does not immediately precede the holiday. Time changes the gift giving process in any relationship. Bill no longer asks what I want, he just buys something...and sometimes he just buys anything. I love the man to death, but he says I am hard to shop for, it is just untrue. I am the most easy person to shop for. I like just about everything. The only thing that hinders my Valentine's Day gift receiving is that my birthday is 2 days later and usually Bill feels he has to combine the two days and get me something big. I don't need anything big. I just wanna know he still loves me after 9 years. I think that deep down that is all anyone wants to know. So....Happy Valentine's Day everyone....Enjoy your dying flowers....

IT'S MONDAY AGAIN

Myspace Layouts
Well another weekend gone. It was pretty much the same of any other except Bill and I went to the casino Saturday. I had no luck. Lost almost everything I took. Bill on the hand, like usual, won on the blackjack table. We had a good time. We had a lot of people that went with us and we had a really good time. Sunday we had to make up Friday nights bowling league. We didn't get to bowl Friday because our lane broke down. We could have took all three, but I totally choked on the 3rd game and we lost by 13 pins. Bill took today off because he worked Saturday, so we are using today to get a lot of stuff done. We are getting vehicles inspected and licenses renewed. All that grown up stuff that we wish we could avoid but can't. So I don't have anything exciting to write in this blog, but I will try to add another one later tonight to amuse. I have decided to tell some stories from the past, so look for those in future blogs. Hope everyone has a good week.

SUCKS DON'T IT

Well ladies and gentlemen it's that time of year once again. Tax time!!! For some people, like Bill and I , you look forward to this time of year all year long. It is like a late Christmas for mom and dad. All that stuff you wanted to buy one another for Christmas, but just couldn't afford because you had to make sure the kids are taken care of. This year Bill and I got to file our taxes really early. We had all of our money back by the second week of January. On the down side, here it is the 2ND week of February and the money is GONE! Yes, we did get everything paid off this year. We also spent quite a bit on ourselves and the girls. It was time for me to get a brand new computer, which I have wanted for 7 years. Bill got a new PlayStation and some stuff for his truck. The kids got new clothes and we got some new furniture. All of this is great, and we still have a little left to go to the casino this weekend, but then sadly it will be gone. The best part for me was not the new stuff. It was the ability to pay off all those little bills that pile up throughout the year. So to all of you just getting ready to get yours back....ENJOY! On a final note, for all of you who pay in each year on your taxes, I feel very sorry for you. Bill and I work very hard throughout the year, but unfortunately we still remain middle class. This is my favorite time of year until the money is gone. Then, it is just like any other time of the year. Just another day of work and another weekly paycheck, but that is OK because everything we have is ours and we owe no one anything as of right this minute. To bad this won't last. Before the week is out I will start receiving March's bills and we will start all over again. Have a great time spending!

ANOTHER FULL WEEKEND

This past weekend was just like any other. We have a very busy weekend. On Thursday nights Bill and I have pool league, although i am always working, i always get to play. It is good to work where i play. On Friday we left for Brookfield when Bill got home for work and we dropped the girls off at papa's and headed to the bowling alley. Bill and I bowl on a team called the Woodbee's. It is me and Bill and John and Marsha Dowell. We do pretty good, most of the time. On Saturday Cassie, our oldest daughter, bowls league. Her dad finally ordered her her own bowling ball. She was very excited. Afterwards, we went to mom and Jim's and played texas hold'em. We stayed the night at Bill's dad's house and Sunday we headed home. We went to the Rendezvous and watched the Super Bowl...It was a very very busy weekend. We also saw something that the girls found hilarious. So i took a picture and have put it with this story. We saw this in the the Sav-a-Lot parking lot. Lori says " mommy look the dog is driving "...so of course i had to capture it on film.....check out the pic above.