Little Mantrap Lake and Itasca State Park

Our last big trip of the year. We went to my aunt and uncle's cabin in Park Rapids MN.


My uncle built it himself with his own two hands. It's beautiful. My aunt is no slouch at decorating either. It's like escaping to a lodge that we don't have to pay for.



We canoed, boated, and hiked at Itasca State Park. It was so beautiful and relaxing. I certainly didn't want to come home, but sadly, I got sick and here we are at home. Just a few more photos of our lovely weekend.

Food for thought

Ever wonder who really reads your blog? I do. This followers thing is nice. I have gotten to know (as well as one can over the internet) people who are a little like me.

People who make me laugh daily. People who make me think about "stuff" daily. I don't comment on a lot of blogs. Pretty much just a few. And those are people I really know in the "real" world, or can't stand to NOT comment.

My favorite, is when my friends, comment about a post I have written, by sending me an email. It's funny.

If I had one wish regarding with this blog.....it would be.....to know who is really reading it. Everyone. I like to know that stuff. I want to know who you are. Cause I'm a nosey fucker like that.

Oh...if I got another wish, it would be world peace and the destruction of my ex-husband. Oh shit...that's 2 more.

I want a magic fairy

I'm tired. Already. It's the beginning of the school year, and I can't believe how tired I am.

My poor Miles-y is exhausted. He's not used to school everyday. And homework. And the rules that involve doing homework when you get home, and before video games are played. Yesterday he was sitting at the kitchen table, tearing up, telling me "how tired he was." Yet when I asked what he was going to do if I let him leave the table he said play with Legos. Wah wah waaaaahhhh. Sorry pal. If you have energy to 'lego' you have energy to color 5 more shapes.

Then began the lecture about how homework HAS to be done before anything else. He didn't like this. I have to say, I am thankful I have a friend who also puts homework and school first. Miles is used to seeing their oldest be told, "homework!" Almost every Friday night last year. So when I said....."remember how "G" had to do his homework no matter what?" The lightbulb went on. And then dimmed when the realization hit, that he no longer was a "kid" with no responsibilities. Poor baby.

I have also been running back and forth to White Bear Lake which is about 10-15 miles from our house, depending on where I actually am going in that city. But I am doing it a minimum of three times a day, two to three times a week. That is a lot of time logged in the car. UGH. I hate it.

Claire has pre-school there. And I have meetings there for the pre-school. Drive drive drive.

Not to mention the plethora of household things that need to be done. AND Ryan is leaving town AGAIN for 2 weeks. Texas and Florida.

I always loved schedules. I thrive on them. I am a better mom with them. Or so I thought. I realize now, I am good with schedules if I AM THE ONE SETTING THE SCHEDULE. I don't like being bossed around with my scheduling. It actually makes me salty. And not salty delicious. Salty, I-want-to-scratch-someone's-face-if-I-have-to-do-what-they-say salty. But I'm not bitter. I'm just tired. And I have to drive more today. Again. Oh, I suppose I'm having a pity party. Sorry there's no cake and ice cream. That could actually help right now.

I would like a magic fairy who will drive my kids back and forth, clean my house, pack for our trip tomorrow, make dinner, run the meeting tonight at the pre-school, and bake me a chocolate cake with homemade vanilla ice cream. Oh, and also get Miles to do his flipping homework without tears. That's not asking a lot. And I would like this fairy to stay FOREVER. Thank you.

The Fountain of Youth

I watched the MTV VMA's again last night. Even though last year I said I would never do it again.

What can I say? I have a sickness. But to my surprise, I knew about 98% of the award recipients. And most of the nominees. Unbelievable.

I also have to say, I knew pretty much all of the songs. Mostly due in part to my addiction to trashy morning radio, and my personal fave, Perez Hilton.

Just a few notes.

1: This year was to be a tribute to Michael Jackson as well as the VMA's. Michael's video montage was pretty cool. It opened the show. All introduced by Madonna, and winding up with a performance by Janet Jackson. But then for 2 straight hours. No mention of the man. Eh. I like Michael Jackson, but I don't LOVE Michael Jackson. So it was ok with me.

2: Even though Kanye verbally and rudely protested Taylor Swift's win for best female video. He's damn ballsy. Gotta like that.

3: Beyonce or however you spell her name, doesn't have to sing anymore. She just has to have a track playing in the background, wear a sparkly swim suit, and dance around in high heels. All the while her flowing locks are whipping around with a wind machine on her. Sad. And SHE is the reason Kanye protested poor little Taylor Swift's win. Whatev.

4: Never saw Taylor Swift look so.....stunned.

5: Saw an awesome preview for the new MTV challenge. I am sadly SADLY super addicted to that hot mess. I can't even deny it, it's so bad. That dirty little secret is out there.

6: Jennifer Lopez must have some kind of ego on her. She was there at the awards with her husband. All at the same time her ex husband danced around with Janet Jackson, and her ex boyfriend presented. AWK-WARD.

All in all...I feel young again. Or as Ryan indicated....pathetic. The eye roll kinda told me how he felt about the whole show. And so what? When our kids are teenagers, I'll be the "cool" parent, and Ryan will be "that" dad. Tee hee.

WIN for mommy T-Pants.

Kindergarten blues

Well. Not much to report. Miles started kindergarten on Friday.
Miles before school.

Aaaaaaaaand Miles AT school before the flood gates opened up.


I guess if I look real close, I can see the trepidation in his face. I must not have been paying attention.

The day started out fine. Big breakfast of whatever he wanted for the first day of school. Playtime with his sister. Some cartoons. And then lunch. (He goes to afternoon kindergarten) Promptly at 11:45 I said..."let's get going!"

And they were all at the door. That was until Miles said to me...."gotta go poop." That's his "stall" tactic as of late. The kid can spend 45 min just putzing around in the tinkletorium. It just is painful waiting for him. But not this time.

I could tell my ummm....hormones....were gonna kick in as soon as his little smirk and shoulder shrug accompanied the comment. Ugh! So I said, "fine! But hurry up because we have to leave 3 minutes ago!" Which in turn freaked my kid out. My kid who doesn't like to be timed to eat his meal, but that's another story. Let's just say he hates HATES to be rushed. So the tears start.

JESUS!!!!

Well he was able to get it together. We all drive him to school. I took his pictures, and then told his teacher he had to go to the bathroom when they had the chance. I'm new to the whole...public school thing. I have no idea what the rules are anymore. She says fine. As we are leaving, I hear Ryan say, "bye buddy! Have a great day!"

Then...."Mom? I think I'm a little scared?!"
Shit. I thought we were going to be great. But not so much. So I tell him he will be fine. He will have fun. All the stuff you're supposed to tell yourself when you drop your kid off for the first time at the "big" school. And he starts up with the wailing. All I can think is...Shit shit shit!

As we walk away, I can sense Ryan is ready to turn back. He is NOT digging on leaving his crying boy at school. I on the other hand know that is exactly what we are supposed to do, no matter how much it sucks for us. So I drag Claire by the hand and loudly under my breath I say, "KEEP WALKING! KEEP WALKING!! KEEP WALKING!!!" And we did.

Needless to say. Once he got into the building. He loved it. He apparently stopped crying before they got into school. When we picked him up, he told us all about green cards, and how one kid kept laying on the floor and got a yellow card (that's bad I guess), and that he loves school. And can he please take the bus now?

Why couldn't we go back to this? Our last "REAL" summer day. Actually the day before he went to kindergarten but...it was hot so.....


Eh. We do it all over again tomorrow. I hope he will do what he says and not cry again. I'm putting him on the bus.

Side note..I didn't cry about my 'baby' starting school until I knew he was fine. And then it was just.not.pretty.

Three is big!!!

Today was Claire's first day of preschool. She went last year, but it wasn't "the big kid's room!"

And she made the transition exceptionally well. I was really gearing up to be a bit teary, but when she said..."group hug! Aaaaaaaand now bye." I was ok. Because clearly she was too. And couldn't get rid of us fast enough.

This year was very different for us though. She is the first of our kids to stay for lunch at school. Different because I didn't think it was necessary before, but now I need it for timing. I need to drop Miles off at Kindergarten and then pick up Claire. Timing is key in this decision. I hate it. I love having lunch with Claire. She talks about crazy things. Non stop talking. It makes lunchtime feel like some kind of comic relief. Mostly because Miles is taking hours to eat. AND I DO MEAN HOURS.

And Miles will be starting Kindergarten on Friday. I can guarantee tears will spill. There is NO doubt about that.

I have GOT to see this movie.

Yeah....I know.....Ryan said he saw the preview and he really wants to see it.

I have a sick addiction to movie previews. Let me explain. Anyone who knows me and has gone to a movie with me knows, if I miss even ONE preview, I will leave the theater, return my ticket and get one for the next showing. No shit.

Thankfully, none of my friends are crazy enough to test that. Cause I.Will.Leave.

That being said...when Ryan told me about this movie, I ran to my computer, and dug around to find the trailer.

Zombieland

You want to see it too. I know it. And if you go with me, you better get your popcorn early.

Bugs Bunny where are you?

I can't be silent anymore about this epidemic that is taking over television as we know and love it.

Nickelodeon's "Fresh Beat Band" aka "The Jumparounds" aka "My ears and eyes are bleeding now!"

First, look to see what has subsequently ruined my mornings. Skip a head to the 52 second mark. I don't want to torture you more then necessary.

The Fresh Beat Band

Now....I let my kids watch cartoons for a bit in the morning. Primarily because they like it. But also, Miles has to patch his eye for 2 hours a day, and the doctor prefers if he were sedentary for at least part of it, focusing his eye on tv or something. (What doctor recommends tv? Ours does I guess.)

The only channels they can watch is Noggin or PBS. They have been opting for Noggin since we got the satellite tv. I chose these channels because there aren't commercials. I don't want to hear, "mom I want that!!!" all during breakfast.

So Noggin, for those of you who may not have kids, or TV (eh ehmmm, Kelly) Noggin is a Nickelodeon channel. And Nick...has developed this new show.

They promote it incessantly during the morning hours. But the "white rapper, Twist" just kills me. I can't stand him. He's clearly lip syncing his "rap". I know the others are lip syncing, but really...most rappers will at least really rap. Oh, and he's the geekiest rapper I have ever seen. Letter sweater? Oh my god. I'm not saying he should be all "hood", but what I am saying is....well....I don't know what I'm saying. I say it annoys the hell out of me.

My kids know how much I hate it. They laugh every.single.time it comes on and say, "MOM!!! You're favorite SHOW is on." Those little butts. And then Miles is sure to tell me that, "That tall guy is your FAAAAVORITE right mom?" Ha ha ha....little turd.

They did watch an entire episode while we were in Omaha NE in the hotel. I don't think they cared for it, but they soldiered through just to torture me. Everytime they sang on the show, Miles and Claire would look at me like..."see that mom...ha ha ha you hate it don't you? We revel in your misery." I know that's what they were thinking.

Well....that's all I had to say about that. I miss that waskally wabbit.