I am so annoying

I do not even want to blog right now because I am so annoying. Really. I know you are shocked, but it is true.

Every now and again I go through these periods of learning about something new-to-me, and then that is all I think about. And every little new piece of information that I glean (which the rest of the free world is already well aware of) is like a a mini miracle to me and the light bulb switches on over and over and over again. Until everyone is so annoyed with me that they won't even glance in my direction for fear of having to listen to my latest "discovery".

Currently, I am obsessed with finding foods that do not have any kind of hydrogenated oils and no high fructose corn syrup.

Oh yes, I am one of THOSE PEOPLE.

Just the one that will shame the hell out of you for giving your kids fruit snacks because they are really devil in a corporate suit snacks, full of teeth rotting sugar and hyper activity causing dyes. I think fruit snacks were made by pharmaceutical companies, just to make sure they stay in business.

Alright, that is a little extreme. But it could be true. You don't know for sure.

Anyways, I am in Trader Joes/Organic food/banning the Dirty Dozen type heaven. I realize I am in the throes of lust with my new passion. Hopefully, it grows into a slow burning ember that will stay hot forever, just not so annoying to everyone around me.

Tsk-tsking as I read food labels of whatever YOU are eating,

Gabbi

Spendthrift

Who me? Are you talking to ME?!?

Yes, Self, I am talking to you. You are a spendthrift and you need to knock it off.

Confession: I thought a spendthrift was a thrifty person and had no idea it meant the opposite of that, until I looked it up. Thank you Wiktionary.

Fine, I am a spendthrift, but we're still okay. I mean really, we are COOL!

True, but we could be much cooler, with less crap.

Really? Are you sure? Because Etsy has all kinds of new things on there, and if we just took a quick look...

Nah.

For real, we could get an emotional makeover just by clicking a few buttons, an adrenaline high thinking and waiting for our new stuff to arrive.

No.

What if we just looked. What does looking hurt? Gives us good Christmas ideas...(Imagine syrupy bargaining voice)

I said No! Now knock it off.

Dang, I am sooo mean.

Not spending money for emotional fulfillment,

Gabbi

Happy Thursday

I feel SKINNIER today!

Mindful eating, there could be something to this.

Skinny Minny,

Gabbi

Surely you jest!

This morning Grace grabs my new super hip glasses and is walking around with them on. Pretty soon she runs into the bathroom with them, I am sure to stare at herself in the mirror, which is her MOST FAVORITE thing to do. For example, last night she spent an hour in her bedroom mirror trying out different crazy hair dos, some that are all the rage in her made-up country across the "pond" where they speak in an accent that is a cross between japanese and english. Yea, try figuring that one out. And yet others that would be appropriate if aliens landed and she wanted them to feel comfortable.

Back to the original story....so she runs into the bathroom with my glasses. I follow shortly behind because I still need to blow dry my hair and I know how her bathroom time can quickly suck up the whole morning. I walk in and she is standing on a chair looking at herself in the mirror, whips around and says, while wearing my glasses I might add "Look! I am a GEEK!"

Serious blow to my chest! Gasping for air I say "Wha..? What?!?! Not because of my glasses you aren't!" And she says "Yea, look at me! I am a geek!" Then she realizes her folly and tries to back track. "I mean, just because they are so big. Like a cute geek, you know, the cute ones." Me: "WHATEVER! You are MEAN!" Grace: "Nooooo, YOU don't look like a geek, you look cool, I just look like a geek." Me: "Damage done. You are groudned for eternity and if you ever have to get glasses I am picking them out and you WILL be a geek!"

So there!

Moms rule...Kids DROOL,

Gabbi
P.S. I refuse to believe my glasses are anything but hip. PPHHHLLBBBBT!

Compulsive Etsy Shopper

these are the two AWESOME "She Said" prints I bought from MixedMediaMama on Etsy. I am in love with them. Here is a link to her shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=21802

They were super reasonably priced. I am planning on working them into an old window and hanging them in my living room. I dreamt about all of the cool stuff I can do with them last night. I am such a nerd.

Another bright spot in my life is Chrissie Grace, the artist, read my blog and is making me my own "She Said" print based on something she saw that I said on my blog. I have no idea what it will say, but I am anxiously awaiting the final product.

So, not to sound to much like a commercial, I only endorse things that make my heart sing, but check her site out and see if you aren't moved.

Hearts desire,

Gabbi

Fun Stuff

This is my new scrabble pendant from "It's All about the Print" on etsy.com.

it is super cute and makes me think to make a wish everytime I look at it. I am wearing it today and feeling adorable. Here is a link to the site:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5835103

Wishin' and hopin',

Gabbi

Shame Fest

Sunday was a beautiful day, but the inside of our home, not so much. Especially our bedroom. Yes, the same big beautiful bedroom we just recently moved into that I swore to Ted and myself would never have clothes on the floor because of our two ginormous his and hers closets. In our old room, it was ALWAYS messy, of course, not because I am a slob at heart, but because our closet was a postage stamp size and we had to SHARE IT!

So, we are in our new room and it is, well, a big fat mess. Who knew hardwood floors would accumulate dust like nothing I have ever seen. I swear getting into bed the other night a dust bunny tried to bite my ankle off. Anyways, yesterday I went upstairs and Ted was cleaning our room and so I pitched in to help and this is how the conversation went:

Ted: (condescending voice) How come you have so many clothes?
Me: (Totally innocent voice) I don't have a lot of clothes.
Ted: (incredulous) Look at my closet and then look at yours.
Me: (also incredulous) How can you even compare my clothes to your clothes??? You can wear the same jeans and a t-shirt EVERYDAY for a WHOLE WEEK and no one would care at your job! As a matter of fact, you do that sometimes and it is no big deal! So shut the hell up.
Ted: (Shutting up)

later...

Ted: (condescending voice) How come you never put laundry away? It just sits in baskets forever.
Me: (not so innocent, but slightly annoyed) Do you live here? Because the last time I checked you lived here also and have just as much right to put the laundry away.
Ted: (Still condescending) But you are the woman.
Me: (okay, he didn't really say that but his EYES implied it) I am going to poke your eyes out if you look at me like that again.

while still cleaning...

Ted: (Rudely) How come everytime I start cleaning then you jump in and help? (Said as if it were a bad thing)
Me: (While laughing) How come everytime on the RARE occasion you really clean it turns into a Shame Fest for me? And really if you want, I don't need tohelp you, if you don't want help. Should I instead just lay on the bed and watch you work?
Ted: (Totally disgusted) You probably would do that.
Me: (Still laughing) Okay, Stoopid, you got your wish I am just going to lay here and watch TV.

Me: (Still laughing, pick a sock up with my toe and fling it at him) You missed a sock.
Ted: (Furious makes a scary growling noise)
Me: Hysterical giggling

later while trying to put up this cute picture in our room over our bed, well not actually a picture but some letters that stick to the wall that ironically say "Love is spoken here". Hmph, not yesterday is wasn't.

Me: (Very sweet and loving voice) Honey, hold I will hold it up and you tell me if it is centered correctly.
Ted: (Asshole voice) Oh no, if I do it and we put it up you will blame me later for it looking like crap, so I will hold it up and YOU look.
Me: (knowing deep down he is right) giggle sweetly

Ted: (back to condescending voice) How is this? Is it straight?
Me: Ummm, i think the left side needs to come down a smidge.
Ted: (Very condescending voice) I am getting the level.
Me: (sweetly) Great idea!

While holding the level....
Ted: (Asshole condescending voice) See, TOLD YOU it needed to come up, not down.
Me: (miraculously still being sweet) Hee hee, guess you were right.
Me, in my head: ASSHOLE

while affixing the letters to the wall....

Me: (mostly talking to myself) Hmmm, where should I start to rub?
Ted: (Super Asshole condescending voice) You are supposed to ALWAYS start in the middle.
Me: (annoyed voice) Thanks, Asshole.

Once I start to rub the letters....

Ted: (SUPER DUPER asshole condescending voice) Ummm, you are doing it wrong. You kow, I thought this would be a simple project for you to complete by yourself. Guess not. Let me do it.

Me: (guess I can take a nap now, SUCKER!)

Are boys really this dumb and easy to manipulate? For goodness sake, I got out of a good portion of cleaning the room AND he put up the letters. What a dumb ass.

Some days it is just to easy,

Gabbi

Expresions

Bad choice, but so worth it!

I stayed up late (WAY) past midnight to finish the book "Twilight". You know the saying "Hurts so good" That is me today. IT was AWESOME! I cannot wait to read the next one.

Going to be hating my late night choices right around 3 o'clock,

Gabbi

Feeling fine/eating/Etsy/Twilight

The weather outside is so beautiful, it was almost painful to walk back into work. The sun is shining the breeze carries a hint of the fun that could be had, if only I had the day off.

Am still feeling content and happy. Life is good.

Been eating mindfully for awhile now (okay, fine, this is day 2) and am feeling pretty good about it. I am not on a diet, I am just mindful of the foods I put into my mouth and how much of them I am putting in my mouth. This could be good. Also, Ted bought me these pills from GNC that are olive oil and fish oil. I have been taking them 3 times a day, okay, since yesterday. Since I am still in the clinical trial of this new pill, I am not sure how it is going to affect my...ahem...pooing situation. My concern is that I will have poo issues. But, I am willing to give it a try. Julie told me to bring a change of undies. Thanks for the support, Skinny Minny.

I will let you know how it goes over the next few days/potentially weeks.

On to www.etsy.com

I am addicted. It is a web site that has shops of all things handmade. You buy directly from the seller. They have this super cool feature called "Pounce" and you can "Pounce" and it will show you either 3 new sellers or 3 sellers that just sold something. I LOVE IT! It is so much fun. I cannot wait for my lunch break so I can pounce to my hearts content. So far, in the last 3 days I have bought 3 items. That is more than I have bought online in months! HOOKED I tell you, Hooked!

Also, I just started reading the book Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. I know, I am always a step behind. It has been on the best seller list for forever and a day and I am just finally getting around to reading a borrowed copy. Okay, but seriously, I love Edward. I am only to the part where she just knows he is a vampire, and I am hoping he turns out to somehow be good, although I am not quite able to figure out how that can be, guess I have to read the book. Anyways, good read. If you don't have it/have not read it, get on it! It is pretty sad if I have beaten you at something to do with popular culture. You must live under a rock or something.

Hoping there is someone out there a little further behind than me,

Gabbi

Sychronistic

Last night I had a dream where I was at a mall and I went into the Yankee Candle store and was smelling all the different candle scents. I had found a scent I loved on a sample rack, but whenever I went to read what the name of the scent was, it was obscured in some way so I could not find the candle I wanted to buy. It was an odd and random dream, as most dreams are, but THEN this morning I come in to work, check my email and this is what it says:

DANIELLE: I also have a good 2 dozen glass jars from the Aveda store for candle making. Anyone wanna make candles? I’d like to try and do it before Halloween and make some yummy pumpkin/vanilla/caramel smelly-good fall scents. Want to plan a date to make candles? I think I may even have some left over color chips to color the wax from last time. I might have some wicks left over too?! My Mom and her friend also want to make candles….maybe we could plan something one of these upcoming wkends for all of us to gather and do this??

DENISE: I am totally on board! We are getting a TUB so we can clean out our garage this weekend…. And somewhere in that garage is a 50lb box of soy candle flakes… and about 20 candle oil scents, including a bunch I’ve never used including “Campfire” and “Cranberry Chutney” and others…. I’m also thinking about making bath tea bags this year….. I’ve already started on my flavored vodkas…. We have fresh strawberry and raspberry going right now and I plan to make fresh basil and jalapeno and plum vodkas too…. Also let me know if either of you want in on that project, as well.

HOLY SMOKES! Talk about synchronistic and reminding me I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I have been contemplating some changes these last couple of weeks and feeling some anxiety. Today, I woke up feeling calm and secure. This dream and the subsequent emails of this morning have been a good reminder to me to be present where I am at because it is just the right spot for me. Change will come in it's own sweet time and I cannot rush the miracles f this life.

For today I am thankful for where I am at and will do the best I can in whatever I decide to do today.

Peaceful and serene
(isn't that how most people feel when they have truly lost their minds???),

Gabbi

PKD WALK

This is ME, SAM, LINDA, GRACE and AMANDA, all at the PKD Walk underneath our team sign.

The walk was great. It was awesome to see so many people out supporting this cause.

Thank you to all who walked and donated!

Love you,

Gabbi and Grace

Questions Denise Needs Answered, in case they come up in a job interview

1. What is my biggest weakness?

I cry. A lot. Over nothing, something, big things little things. As a matter of fact my sister Randi wrote a poem about me and a line in it says "She cries during commercials, cartoons and sometimes while swatting flies". That pretty much sums it up.

Also, I worry about things. A lot. Over nothing, something, big things little things. Sometimes I can't sleep because I am worried. Or I can sleep, but then wake up at 3 am and can't go back to sleep because I have the worries.

So, that is two. I will leave it at that, even though I am sure I could go on and on.

2.What is my strongest asset?

I think my strongest asset is my ability to see both sides of a situation and love people regardless of what side they are on.

3. If I had to spend a year in jail, would I become a lesbian?

Probably. I really enjoy my female friendships. They are so fulfilling and rich with texture, who could not love them. The physical part might be kind of weird, at first. But if you love someone in that way, then you love someone in that way, whatever.

Now don't get all weird on me gals, it is only if I were in jail for a year. I won't be coming onto you at Christmas Bingo or anything.

4. Do I like Chinese food?

Umm, hello, wrap me in a wonton and deep fry me, YES I LOVE CHINESE FOOD. Of course, only the fake American version, like fried rice, vegetable lo mein, cream cheese wontons (but not the ones with sugar in them, yuck) egg rolls, oh egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken, but only the kind that is already smothered in sauce, not the dipping kind. I could go on and on.

So, wanna hire me?

Eligible bachelorette for hire,

Gabbi

Let's have today be special

I know it is Tuesday, and that the kids just started school and that it is only Tuesday and we are all busy and stressed, but let's do something special just for today.

I don't know what it is. It will be different for everyone. I think I am going to try to smile at every person I see today. Not just a little smile either, a big shit eating grin. Not that I have any idea what shit eating is, but it is a saying. Ok, I am going to smile a big sunshine coming out of my mouth smile.

This could be tough. There are some people I don't want to smile at. Well, that is my task for the day, smile at all.

What are you going to do to make today special? Even if it means making today special for yourself, by taking a break from making dinner and having cereal instead, with milk in wine glasses. Or you could send someone a funny card. I love getting mail that is not bills or junk mail. That is the best. Or you could take yourself out for lunch. How about asking for a ten minute massage from your partner or kids (if they are old enough). Paint your toenails a funky color. Get your eyebrows done. Buy a new lipgloss, nothing can turn a crappy day around like a fun new lip gloss. Sit in the grass and enjoy the feeling of fresh earth beneath you. Stare at a cloud for a few minutes and appreciate its perfectness in form and function, how amazing. Have a yummy coffee drink even if it is made from crappy work coffe, do what Danielle does and throw some ice in that bad boy. Think nice thoughts about one person for 2 minutes and imagine that person can feel your good thoughts. Go to the library and get a good book to read, Amanda recommends Twilight, it is a vampire novel that she says is "like crack! You can't stop reading it!" Or get some biscuits from Red Lobster and have them with dinner tonight, Marie and I both recommend them highly!

Now that I have given you so many ideas on how to make today special, you have no excuse. Get BUSY!

Equal Opportunity Smiler,

Gabbi

NEW APRON!

Waitressing requires some 'cessories! So, I purchased myself the cutest apron. I bought it from a super cool lady named Denai who I could have talked to all day, but then she would not have gotten any more sales and my family would have revolted. Denai had a booth at the lovely Prescott Daze this weekend. Denai also has a blog:

http://randombitsofknowledge.blogspot.com/


Check it out!

Lookin' cute and servin' up vittles,

Gabbi

FOR REALLY REAL????

Yesterday I was doing my little waitressing gig and a customer was describing someone's glasses to another waitress and said " You know, like her glasses (pointing to me) they are not just glasses, but a statement."

Really? For Really Real my glasses are a statement?

OMG!

That was AWESOME!

Stating the obvious through my eyewear (like I am hip),

Gabbi

Decisions decisions

I have decided that I am going to really commit myself to doing things that make my life less stressful and more enjoyable, FOR ME!





Not anything selfish, like running off with Pablo the hot sexy artist who lives down the street from my downtown loft in my fantasy world, but I am going to stop worrying about my house being messy, and about my laundry not being folded and/or put away. TO BAD! I am going to lounge on the couch sometimes (Wednesdays are my plan because I have good shows to watch) and let the whole world go to heck. What do I care??





That is exactly what I did last night. Ted made dinner. Grace took her bath with Sam. Ted finished dinner during my flipping back and forth between America's Next Top Model and Project Runway and so I ate on the couch next to a big pile of unfolded laundry while my family sat at the kitchen table. IT WAS AWESOME!





I did eventually fold some of the laundry, most of it, not all. The towels are left, I find folding towels really pesky and annoying and I just did not feel like doing anything pesky or annoying. And so I didn't.





It was liberating! I felt so rebellious and relaxed. And, my house did not fall down, my kids did not wither away from lack of love and affection and Ted held his own as the man of the house.





These people better be careful because I am going to do this WAY more often.





Did I mention that I did do the dishes when I got home, only because I knew I did not have to make dinner and because I made Grace vacuum the rug in the living room and I figured if she did a little work, so should I. Look at me justifying my couch time. I obviously need more practice at this slacking off thing. I suppose if you want to be a pro slacker, you have to put the time in.





Someday this will be the couch I am slacking on!

In Serious Training,





Gabbi

Ahhhh

Last night was great! We got Grace's meet and greet at school done. I am utterly amazed at how grown up she is, and beautiful to boot. Seriously, the girl is a looker. And funny too, she is going to have to marry a pretty amazing guy.

We got home and made hot dogs and crispy crowns for dinner. Sam was being silly and shoving as many as he could into his mouth. He sort of looked like this:

But with ketchup all over his face. He is not just a double dipper, but a triple quadruple dipper. He likes to just suck the ketchup off the hot dog slice and then gets a little shiver and does it all again. Hurts so good.

Grace is super pumped for her first full day of fourth grade and had her clothes all picked out and tried on. Then the phone calls started. Her friends started calling like crazy and there was about an hour of....

"What are you wearing tomorrow?.....OH MY GAWD, that will be SO CUTE....Did you see Noah is in our class.....ha ha ha , I know!...squeal, gasp....did you see so and so?.....EXACTLY!...She is so lame......more squealing.....what did you do this summer?......ME TOO!....I cannot believe she SAID that....OH MY GAWD!...That is totally poopish!....more squealing and giggling....

Ted just looked at me and shook his head and said "And so it begins. This is what we have to look forward to every night. We really need to get a home phone because I am NOT getting her a cell phone!" The man has spoken and so, it shall be. HA HA HA

Then, I lounged on the couch and watched a bunch of Law and Orders that I had never seen before! Ted and I were both amazed that there were any that we had not seen. Where have we been?!?!

My goal was to watch tv and fold laundry. I did not fold laundry, to hell with it. That's what I say. It is not like it won't be there for me to tonight. Unfortunately. I really need a cleaning fairy. Someone should invent that. For free.

I started to watch Nova Science Now, but I just could not keep my eyes open. Plus, I was really turned off by the fact that they talked about eating 30-40% less food will increase your life by 50%. Yea right, eating food is one of the greatest pleasures in life, like I would want to live 50% longer with 40% less food. That makes life not really worth it, now doesn't it?

Totally enjoying my French Toast bagel and shortening my life span,

Gabbi

Did I mention....

Wednesday night my keys went missing? I came home from work, as usual, my arms laden with purses, work bag, diaper bag and baby (a large 18 month old baby), toss everything but the baby onto the counter and start to get dinner ready.

Dinner is done and over with and Ted informs me he has a "guy" coming over to look at our electrical so if I have any unmentionables on the floor in our bedroom, I may want to clear them out. Great. Fine, that out of the way, the "guy" shows up and I decide the kids and I are outta there. Let them do their man thing. I got to get my car keys off the counter, and they are not there. Hmmmm, well we are just going to grandmas, things are getting hectic in the kitchen. The "guy" is in there, Sam is screaming "Gamma Gamma Gamma" at the top of his lungs because if I mention "Gammas" house, we must leave immediately or we go into melt down mode, Grace is trying to wranle Sam who is having none of it and Ted and the "guy" are just talking over it. For cripes sake, grab the stroller, we'll walk.

Thursday morning, realize the keys are still missing. Odd. I car pool and so I rode instead of driving.

Thursday during the work day, start thinking where the heck are those keys? I have meetings all over the place tomorrow at other companies and I NEED my car.

Thursday evening my attitude of 'they will turn up' turns into "HOLY SHIT BALLS I NEED MY FREAKING KEYS!!!"

Slowly the realization that Sam has now learned to climb the kitchen chairs to just about the place where my keys were and that Grace said she THOUGHT she MIGHT have seen Sam with some keys has lead me to believe, that Sam has hidden them. I questioned Sam in my friendliest mommy is not about to get scary crazy searching for her keys voice, and he just put his hands up and said "i-no-no. go?" Translation "I don't know. Where did they go?" crap.

Ted and I were up past midnight, pulling out the stove, the refrigerator, moving the couch and all the cushions, emptying toy bins, checking behind the Xbox, the Wii, the board games, laundry baskets were emptied, the toilet was checked, the washer and dryer were checked, looked underneath beds, in closets, in more toy bins upstairs, cribs were checked, small hidey-holes were checked, the sock bin (no, I have not thrown it out yet, but I am one step closer because we all got new socks) the hat and mitten bin were searched. Those darn keys are G.O.N.E.

I had to borrow my sister's minivan, Thank Goodness for Shel! With a few rules:

1. it needs gas, no problem, hello, I am borrowing your car, I had better put gas in it!
2. if it starts to tick, put oil in it....ummmm, okay, can do
3. if it rains, STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY! The serpentine belt FALLS OFF! Falls off? Yes, FALLS OFF! Balls to the Walls I am driving it anyways!

The minivan, despite all of it's rules and regs, did just fine. Between meetings I called my dealership, faxed my drivers license and registration and they had a new key made for me. Only $56 of my hard earned dollars.

Sam owes me $56.

Soon to be Shylock,

Gabbi

NEW ADDICTION!!!

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

OH DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, I AM AN ADDICT! MTV had a marathon of ANTM, (yes, I am using the acronym because it is now so deeply engrained into my soul) and I am so hooked. Seriously, I almost fell out of my bed laughing when Henrietta/frankensteinetta or whatever her name was, said to Fatima, "You are the first mean African person I have ever met." Freaking made me laugh so hard! First of all, the irony of a black (African American) person using such a broad stereotype about Africans, and then thinking, "Yea, every African person I have ever met is very friendly."

Season Premiere on Wednesday 7 PM (picture me on the couch in my yoga pants and t-shirt, diet coke in hand and bag of chips and onion dip telling my kids to quit double dipping and get out, mommy is busy. Hells YEAH!)

Terrible, base and all kinds of wrong, but still so wonderful,

Gabbi

Let's Try Something New

Panera Bread Spinach Bacon Egg Souffle

I am pretty sure I rolled on the floor in ecstacy, moaning and licking the plate. Seriously, get it to-go and enjoy it in the privacy of your own home. It is just to much bliss to be enjoyed in public.

Oh yea, and if you have a son named Sampson Orion Hays, don't bother bringing his whiny screaming butt. Because you will end up eating for 3 seconds and then having your significant other bring him to the car while you frantically box up your food, apologize to the elderly couple next to you who is laughing at your plight and feeling defeated by an 18 month old. Who do we try????

Oh dear

So the birthday came and went, and I have decided that my family (Ted, Grace and Sam) lose their minds and turn into beasts from hell whenever there is a day where they HAVE to be good to me. Almost as if the thought of MOM not being in the giving position throws them into some kind of alternate universe, shaking them to their cores with fear that I will never do anything for them again. After one birthday/mothers day I might turn into a Queen and start barking orders at my new supplicants.

Seriously, Grace woke up bitchy, Ted was a total crab ass and Sam was, well, he was, naughty. I hate to have to admit when my little sweet baby peanut with the dirty fingernails, barely any hair except for the two cute blond curls at the nape of his neck and who learned how to kiss with puckered lips and a good smack at the end, is a dirtball sometimes. A screaming, slapping dirtball, who spent more time in 'time out' than not. My house was on lock down. Grace is grounded, Sam is the time out king, and Ted, well, let's just say we drove to birthday dinner at Amanda's (more on this lovely time later), pulled into the driveway and Ted promptly got out of the car and walked the half a mile home in 94 degree heat with me screaming in my head "I HOPE YOU GET HEATSTROKE YOU JACKASS!"

This all ended with me in tears and my kids tip toeing around, which they should have been doing all DAMN DAY!

Amanda made me the yummiest dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad and for dessert Angel food cake with Cool whip and jello frosting, one of my faves! She got me a wonderful variety of gifts off of my top 100 list (see previous post), and it was great. her kids made signs for me and I blew out my candles with a big smile on my face.

I got home, things between Ted and I were calm and no one was angry anymore. Our fight was more of a culmination of a long weekend with cranky kids even though we were trying really hard to do fun things with them and we were both just exhausted.

Alas, I have decided there will be no more birthday celebrations for me. It is to tiring, my kids cannot handle it. Ultimately, I think the JW's may have had a good idea in not celebrating birthdays at all.

Slightly disappointed but mostly just relieved I survived,

Gabbi