Well, it's Monday and the kids have off school for their "winter break." The school can no longer call the break "Christmas break" because that would be oh-so unPC. whatever. At any rate, the kids have off until January 5th, by which time I'm sure to have gray hair...if I have any left by that point!
We had a great Christmas. It was fun watching Ella attempting to open gifts...only so she could try to taste the wrapping paper and bows! We did our routine Christmas Eve of setting out a plate of cookies and a cup of milk for Santa, as well as putting reindeer food outside. The boys gave us a Christmas gift and did not wake us before 8am, a true treat! Cole was awake before the sun rose, but decided to play the wii until the rest of us got out of bed. Christmas morning was possibly the best we've had since we had the kids because we didn't have to rush to the in-laws in the morning. It was so nice to be able to spend the time and open our gifts, and have the kids actually be able to play with their stuff before getting ready to go. We went to Chris' grandparent's for dinner, and for the first year ever, we didn't exchange gifts. Sweet....I'll save that issue for another post, another time. All in all, it was a wonderful day!
We are now looking forward to celebrating the New Year! :)
Monday, December 29, 2008
post-Christmas blahs
Posted by Wise Girl at 11:30 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
It's today, it's today!!
Yay! Daddy comes home tonight!!!
You'd think he's been gone a month the way my kids and I are counting down the hours until Daddy (aka my husband!) comes home! We really love him! :)
I'm trying (not very successfully....) to get this house cleaned before he arrives. I got the bathroom cleaned and EWW! what a chore that was! A major to-do crossed off my list! Ella took a short nap, and Owen fell asleep in the living room surrounded by a billion Legos. I'm not kidding about that approximate count of the number of Legos currently on the living room floor! I ran a load of dishes in the dishwasher. Yay me, another one off the list! I packed up the excess Christmas stuff and put away Fall decorations, so now they need to make their way back to the basement. Oh yeah, and I ate lunch and (*gasp!*) BREAKFAST!!! Hey, cookie crisp counts as breakfast! ;)
Posted by Wise Girl at 12:01 PM 0 comments
Monday, December 8, 2008
I hate being alone...
Seriously. This is the THIRD mountains/hunting trip my husband has taken in the past 4 weeks. Jerk. I think he uses hunting as an excuse for a mini-vacation away from the kids. Maybe I need to learn how to hunt!
I can't sleep without him. Weird, I know. And we aren't the clingy, snuggly, all over each other type in bed while sleeping, but it's the presence and knowing he's there. Not only do I miss him, but I miss his help w/the kids as well. I would not make it as a single parent....I'd probably go postal on someone.
Cole has been really giving me a hard time about going to school, and has not been behaving at school as well. His issues began last week. Who knows what's up the kid's butt, but he needs to get rid of it asap!
Owen has been giving me a hard time about wearing a coat. He likes to be cold he tells me. But then he gets cold and whines like a baby about how cold he is. Duh.
Ella has just been a fuss-bucket today. Earlier while I was trying to cook dinner, she was sitting on the floor in the kitchen with me fake crying. Girlfriend knows how to push my buttons already. And she's only 8mos old.
Yep, it's time for my man to come home. One more long day....he'll be home tomorrow around 9ish.
Posted by Wise Girl at 4:24 PM 0 comments
Monday, December 1, 2008
Whoops....
Guess it's been a little while since my last post! Hey, this momma's been busy! I got 3 kids....plus a husband! Lord knows they don't take care of themselves! ;)
Anyway....I'm hoping I can post daily, but I'm not making any promises.
Well, here's what's been going on at the Wise's:
~Cole turned 7!! We threw him a super-fun pirate birthday party bash here at the house, complete with a homemade pirate ship cake that turned out pretty darn sweet! Argh! :)
~Ella has totally mastered sitting up by herself and is also trying to crawl....any day now!
~I painted the entire kitchen with help from Chris who painted the dining room area. The only thing left to paint on our first level is the mudroom (1/2 done) and the wall that goes up the stairs. Now we desperately need some stuff to put on the walls!! I'm very happy with the way it all looks though!
~The kids have passed around what seems to be the same damn cold since the beginning of October, and now it has finally hit me. It's not bad, just a super annoying cough!!
~We've watched the Polar Express movie about 27 times, and December has only begun!
~I've gotten some Christmas shopping done! :)
More later....
Posted by Wise Girl at 3:05 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
VOTE!
git yer butt out there and do it! cause you don't have the right to bitch if you don't vote for the person you support!! and have some patience! yeah, the lines are long, but this is a HUGE deal for our country!
I took Owen and Ella baby with me today around 12:45 to our local polling place, and was out of there within 1/2 an hour....not too bad in my book. I did, however, feel like I was standing in line to enter the geriatric ward....I was definitely one of the youngest people there! :)
I was pleased to find that the ballots were cast electronically--that was pretty cool. It sounded almost like a casino in the room!
After voting, I drug myself to WalMart (my LEAST favorite store on the planet...I avoid that place like the plague!!) just to check out their party items to see if I could find any pirate stuff for Cole's 7th b-day bash next weekend. WM let me down (again!) and had NOTHING....but that's ok, because the best store on the planet (Target) has lots of cool pirate b-day stuff. I love Target....
Posted by Wise Girl at 1:15 PM 0 comments
Thursday, October 9, 2008
feeling: accomplished
Well....sorta. Now that Rae's wedding is over and I'm no longer stressing over favors and stuff, I took the time to update my business website. Talk about looooonnnnggg overdue!! I'm not 100% finished with it, but it's at least updated with the new fall and winter scents. I just got a HUGE fundraiser order in for a Girl Scout troop, so I will be busy cookin' up some candles within the next few weeks. And by that time it will be Halloween....still need to work on Owen and Ella's costumes! And then 2 weeks after that is Chris and Cole's birthday.....gotta do some party planning. Then it's Thanksgiving and soon after that is Christmas. Seriously? Where did this year go?!?!
Ella girl turned 6 months old yesterday (*sob*). I'm feeling accomplished by the fact that she's now 6 months old, and still nursing. I've struggled on and off with the idea of switching her to formula, but I haven't done it yet. I don't have any real reasons except for my own....selfish, I know....
Anyway, check out the updated website, and gimme some feedback. Good or bad, I want to know!! :)
www.soysweetcandleco.com
Posted by Wise Girl at 9:51 AM 0 comments
Monday, October 6, 2008
Beautiful.
Posted by Wise Girl at 10:40 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Another Random Thoughts Post...
Well, I borrowed a Bumbo seat from a Mommy for Ella baby. The Bumbo seat is for infants who can support their own head/neck (check), but who can not yet sit unassisted (check). The seat is sorta funny looking, but soft and cushy. So I give the seat a quick wipe-down with a Lysol wipe (yeah, my OCD...) and stick the girl in it. Within about 3.2 minutes, Girlfriend has come thisclose to wiggling her way out of it. Damn!
All the while looking at me with those BIG blue eyes and a goofy grin on her face. Oh I love this girl! :)
Owen has had some serious behavior issues. He is driving me crazy. Anyone who says anything about the "terrible twos" must have put their kid up for adoption before the child turned 3 or 4. I swear, these are the hardest years!! The boy is a bear! When he's not acting totally stubborn, he acts totally helpless, like a baby. And following directions? Yeah, it's like talking to a friggin brick wall! Grr....! }:(
Chris won the HOA Board Member position. By a vote of 17-15. Thanks to our neighbors who gave a proxy vote! My husband is very anxious to get some serious stuff done around here!
Our 1st Annual Block Party is next weekend. I hope the weather holds out for us!!!!
In other news, my one and only little sister is getting married this weekend. I am her Matron of Honor. I'm excited for this event, as well as being able to get dressed up (my dress is BEAUTIFUL!), get my hair and nails did, you know...the works! But at the same time, it's a little bittersweet. I HELD THIS GIRL WHEN SHE WAS FIRST BORN!!!! And now she's getting married! It's crazy! Pics will be posted after the wedding! :)
And finally in Political news:
This is script of a new Obama radio ad......I love it!
"Well, the Iraqi government is finally spending some of its $79 billion surplus from oil," an announcer says. "A surplus that has grown with the record high oil prices we pay. Where’s the money going? A Ferris wheel. It’s true -- the Iraqi government is going to build a 650-foot Ferris wheel with air-conditioned cars, right in the heart of Baghdad. It’s enough to make your head spin.
"John McCain wants America to keep spending $10 billion a month in Iraq when we should be rebuilding America. That’s right. With banks failing because of Washington’s lax oversight, gas prices soaring, and jobs moving overseas. John McCain will keep spending $10 billion a month in Iraq.
"After years of Bush-McCain policies taking us for a ride, we just can’t afford more of the same."
Amen brother, Amen!
Posted by Wise Girl at 10:33 AM 1 comments
Monday, September 29, 2008
Just Curious.....
For those who are supporting/voting for John McCain:
Are you voting for him because you TRULY believe he is the right person to run our Nation, or are you doing it because he's white?
Posted by Wise Girl at 11:31 AM 1 comments
Labels: I'm not racist....are you?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Random Thoughts
To Whom it May Concern:
To my beautiful daughter-chill out! Just because I walk away from you to *gasp* go pee, doesn't mean I'm not going to come right back! And we can end the 3, 4, and 5am visits anytime you are ready...preferrably starting tonight, Mommy would REALLY appreciate it!
To my son-Hope you feel better (and go back to school!) soon!
To my children's pediatrician-please consider having the RAPID strep test available in your office so I don't need to call you at 8:30am the NEXT morning to find out if my kid is sick and needs antibiotics. It would be SOOOO nice to find out test results within an hour or less!
To my boss-Thank you for giving me the entire weekend off without me asking! Friday is my 31st birthday and I was going to request not to work, but you had the schedule posted before I could ask. Jim, you ROCK! :)
To the goofballs working on Rt. 24-Seriously! You are already 3 months behind schedule in fixing the pothole road from hell. Maybe you boys would be able to accomplish some more work in a day if you used a little TEAMWORK! I don't understand why there are about 20-30 of you guys out there on the job site, but only 2 or 3 of you are actually doing ANYTHING. I'm glad my tax money is spent so well....
To my neighbors who are rallying for my husband-Thank you! Win or lose, it sure will be in interesting event!
To my husband-You better have SOMETHING planned for me this weekend! For real! Oooh, let's go diamond ring shopping!! ;)
Love,
Staci
Posted by Wise Girl at 7:33 AM 0 comments
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Barack the Vote...
Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
Posted by Wise Girl at 10:12 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
yay for preschool!
Well, today was Owen's first day of Preschool....the PreK class. He has been asking me almost every day since his preschool dismissed for the summer when he was going back. Thank goodness that day was today! I don't think I could have told him "not today, but soon" one more time. Especially since his response was usually a dramatic whine and sometimes throwing his body onto the floor in a fit.
O has the same teacher as last year, so I think he felt comfortable. Not that I anticipated any problems with O anyway. He loves to cuddle and snuggle and get his lovin', but he is otherwise not a clingy kid. As I was leaving, I saw a mom in the parking lot absolutely hysterically crying. I felt bad for her. I adore my kids, but I love the break I have while they are in school!
While O was at school, Ella girl and I went to the bank and then to the mall to walk around. I had good intentions on not spending any money, but McDonald's sweet tea was screaming my name. And then I caught a whiff of something good. A new Bath & Body Works scent. Black Amythyst. Described as: "a sophisticated blend of Italian bergamont and rare camellias seductively layered with exotic sandalwood and a surprising twist of vetiver. Sexy. Modern. Glamorous." Huh. I think it smells pretty good! I got a creamy body wash and a body spray, as well as a free lip lacquer. Yay for buying something for ME for a change!!!
Last night I got pissed at the frying pan while cooking dinner. The pan has seen better days, and the non-stick coating is long gone. Which means the chicken I was cooking was sticking....seriously. I informed my husband that we either went out after dinner and bought a new pan or he was going to be taking us out to eat every night because I refuse to cook another meal in that pan! Off to LNT we went! So I picked out a nice new frying pan. Woohoo! Then we went to Bruster's. Oh for the love of ice cream! Chris is boring and got a strawberry milkshake....he knows that drives me crazy. A menu board full of wonderful treats and lots of unique flavors and the man gets a strawberry shake. Whatever. I got an apple dumpling sundae. Oh yeah baby! That's good stuff!
We didn't do anything for labor day. We didn't really do much the entire weekend! On Friday, I talked Chris into taking us to Friendly's for dinner. He got home from work early, which I LOVE! First we went to Kohl's to see if they had any good deals. Did they ever! I got 11 outfits for Ella baby for next year, and a new pair of Nike sneakers for Cole, and my bill was UNDER $40!! We saved over $126!! I love sales!! :) For the rest of the weekend, we just did stuff around the house. I mopped the kitchen floor (I'm not admitting when that was last done!), we shampooed the living room carpet and then rearranged the furniture. I'm happy with the outcome! Chris cleaned out and organized the garage. I did all of the laundry. Chris prepped an unfinished table we plan on staining and putting in our foyer. And in between all that, we were lazy.
Posted by Wise Girl at 10:34 AM 0 comments
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The love of my life
Today Chris and I are celebrating our 9 year wedding anniversary. Can I believe it's been 9 years? No. Did I think we would last this long? Absolutely! I knew early on into our relationship that he was "the one" and I could see myself spending the rest of my life with him. And I still can. That man still gives me butterflys in my stomach! He is the one I want to grow old with. He is my best friend, and an awesome daddy to our children. I love him more than I could ever tell him.
Happy Anniversary Chris! I love you!!
Posted by Wise Girl at 12:13 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Busy week!
First things first....as I'm writing this, my son, Owen is listening to my iPod. He is obviously trying to figure out how it works. He stares at the screen, and then his little fingers follow the cord to the ear buds. Funny....I can almost see the wheels turning in his head! :)
I NEED to listen to music while I'm cleaning, or I go crazy. Music makes cleaning a little more fun, a little more entertaining, and helps me burn a few extra calories while I dance away while sweeping the floor! So I was just cleaning and decided to take a break, but one of my favorite songs was playing (Everlong by Foo Fighters) so I kept listening. Owen asked if he could listen to my music. So I shared.
So it's only Weds. but boy, what a week so far!! I spent Monday cleaning the house (yay...). Yesterday was full of drama. Today was busy cleaning more and I have to work tonight. Tomorrow is Cole's first day of 1st grade and my 9 year wedding anniversary. Friday...well, I'm not sure what Friday will hold, but I'm sure something will happen.
And since this is MY blog, I have the freedom to vent all of my feelings. Be warned, when I'm mad I have the tendency to swear! :)
To the ignorant bitch (I'm not putting names in here!):
Don't think your shit doesn't stink. You are exactly what you called my mother! You may live in a big fancy house and drive an expensive car, but that DOES NOT make you a better person! You are white trash under all the material stuff! Karma is a bitch, and you will get yours! Oh, you have "health issues"....seriously, does that give you the right to be a nasty cunt to people?? Maybe you are getting a little of what you deserve! What goes around comes back around!! Oh, and another thing....lay off the tanning already! Your face looks like a damn prune!! Good luck if you try to take my mom to court....we have SOOOOO much on you, the judge will probably laugh in your fake-ass face!!
Posted by Wise Girl at 2:06 PM 0 comments
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Hairy Situation
Well, along with being a total germaphobe, I have this thing about hair. I really don't like it all that much. I get really grossed out easily by hair. Yep, hair. I will play with MY hair, no problem. I can deal with my kids hair (I especially LOVE Ella baby's fuzzies!), and my husband's hair as well, as long as it is attached. I get grossed out with hair that has fallen out. Uh-huh, I know it's a bit strange, but it is what it is. I can't stand when hair is on my clothes or anything else I have to touch. You wanna see me get really weirded out? Let me see a fallen body hair...you know like a chest hair, or the absolute worst: a pubic hair! EWWW!!! Now before the comments start flowing, yes I am totally aware that hair loss is a completely normal and healthy part of the hair growth cycle. But it doesn't mean I have to like it! Furthermore, I am SO thankful that my husband is not a hairy man. He would be having wax treatments or something! I am so repulsed when I see guys with thick dark hair covering their bodies. UGH! Hair just grosses me out!
That all being said....I'm at a serious loss. I mean with my hair. I'm sure any Mommy will be able to understand what I'm talking about here. Ella is 4 1/2 months old. My hormone levels are dropping back to "normal." And I'm loosing my hair. BIG TIME! When I wake in the morning, my pillow looks as if a chemo patient has slept on it--hair everywhere! The worst is when I brush my hair or shampoo it. It's ridiculous! Again, I know this is completely normal and it happened after I had the boys too, but I'm SOOOOO ready for it to be over! (as I pull ANOTHER hair off my shirt!)
Posted by Wise Girl at 11:51 AM 1 comments
Monday, August 18, 2008
Weekend getaway
We went to the mountains this past weekend to "Pappy's Cabin." The boys love it up there. They can run free, play in dirt, and have lots of s'mores...what's not to love?!
Ella baby gave us a hard time at night with sleeping. I think she knew she was out of her element and it just didn't fly with her. Otherwise, she was her great little baby self! :)
Got to ride on B & Amber's 4wheelers for the first time in a year. I had the thing flat out going down the lane....but then got freaked out by the thought of "what if a deer decides to run out in front of me" and slowed down.
We watched skunks fight and a gray fox join the mix, but otherwise didn't see much wildlife. The kids were too noisy!
All in all, it was a great weekend! :)
Posted by Wise Girl at 12:22 PM 1 comments
Labels: Pappy's Cabin
Thursday, August 14, 2008
HANDS OFF!!!
Ok, so here's the thing: I'm a total germaphobe! I wasn't always this way, but over the years, it has gotten way worse. I think the peak of it began when I had my first son.
Cole was born shortly after 9/11, when everyone was still on edge, anthrax was being found in mail, and the flu season was coming in full swing. The nurses at the hospital warned me to keep him at home as much as possible, and be sure any visitors washed their hands well. I was totally freaked out, and we didn't go anywhere with the exception of Thanksgiving at the inlaws, and Dr. visits. My son didn't have a single cold/virus/infection until he was 10 months old, a week after I stopped nursing him. That first little cold was very minor, just a runny nose and mild cough...no big deal. But then...
I needed to grab some things from my favorite store (I say that with absolute sarcasm!), WalMart. So I stick Cole (who was then 14 mos. old) in the shopping cart, and away we go. Less than a week later, I'm sitting with my baby in the Pediatric unit of the hospital. Cole got rotavirus. A nasty bug that made him poop and puke SO much that he got severely dehydrated. It was horrible!
So fast forward to my current life. I wash my hands more times than I can count in a day. I only use anti-bacterial soaps and cleaners. I wipe things like door handles, light switches, the phone, tv remote, and my computer keypad with Clorox wipes. I have Purell or the equivilant with me at all times. Yeah, it's the one OCD thing I have. There is nothing worse than being sick or dealing with a sick child, knowing most colds/viruses/infections can be prevented.
Now I have a 4 month old baby girl and here is my announcement to the world:
So here's my rule: If I know you, you are welcome to hold her, and touch her with my permission and AFTER you have washed your hands! Otherwise KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF!! :)
Posted by Wise Girl at 5:43 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Posted by Wise Girl at 6:55 AM 0 comments
Monday, July 14, 2008
Because it's Monday!
Posted by Wise Girl at 10:55 AM 0 comments