Spring Break is Coming!!

Hubby is trying to go standby on an earlier flight tomorrow so I won't have to go back and forth to the airport twice. His flight would get in ten minutes earlier than the in-laws, so that would be FABULOUS.

I've got all the Easter basket stuff bought and hidden, swimsuits dug out/purchased, and now I just need to run to the store and stock up on a few things to take with us on the vacation. The hotel room has a full kitchen, so I am all for TAKING food with us. Otherwise you overspend horribly on the food on location.

Picked up Sherlock Holmes yesterday. To a hopeless anglophile who loves writing/reading victorian-era fiction, this movie was a TREAT. And quite fun, to be frank.

Had the yard service come and do a "spring cleanup" and the yard looks so much better. They whacked down bushes, cleaned up the beds, and made everything look nice. I am hoping we don't get any more frosty mornings, or my little tulips won't make it. They're not up yet, but after this weekend, with temps in the mid 70's, you know they'll start peeking up.

And then next weekend we'll get a foot of snow. Nothing surprises me now. ;-) I wouldn't be shocked at all.

Well, this stream-of-consciousness post must come to an end! Happy Wednesday, everyone! And a shout out to my friend Devon, who is seriously considering ark-building on the East coast, glad you're safe!! Hope the car is okay!

BBBZZZZZZTTTT.

Okay, Losers. Doesn't anyone watch Vampire Diaries??? Oh, yeah, I forgot. I'm the juvenile loser and probably one of the few adults who does watch it. ;-) The necklace is Elena's Vervain Pendant that Stefan Salvatore (a.k.a. Delicious Vampire Brother #1) gave to her so she could "resist" the charms of Damon (a.k.a. Delicious Vampire Brother #2.) Like any of you care. *wink*

It's Spring Break next week, and I've got a TON to do before then! At least the house is clean, but I have to get everyone "swimsuit ready" in the next couple of days, which means I need to buy some, (or redistribute) and get Lil' swimmers and floaties for Thing Four, and get myself a pedicure, and call about 8374 people and run around tying up loose ends. Thursday will be fun. The grandparents fly in at 2pm, and Hubby flies in at 9pm, and we go to the airport to pick him up and straight to our vacation destination from there. CRAZINESS. So I basically have today and tomorrow to get everything ready.

It's going to be SEVENTY degrees on Wednesday and Thursday! Can you believe it? In MARCH of all months. Unheard of.

Had a showing yesterday, and the people were in my house for nearly an hour. 50 minutes, actually, and they walked around the yard, gesturing afterwards. (Yes, I was spying on them from my car one street over, hey, YOU'D do it!) We haven't heard what they thought of the house, but usually, if I am not interested in a house, I don't spend 15 minutes in it. You can usually tell in the first two minutes. I mean, WOW.

Fingers crossed! Prayers uttered!

My to-do list is scaring me. I'd better get going!

I'm a Total Loser.

See this? Brownie points to anyone who can guess what it is. And I just ordered myself one.

Yep. Total loser.

**UPDATE** My mom just called me and asked me if it was a "bug." LOL

okay, here's a hint:

A Post About My Tween Daughter. And Deja Vu.

Since my oldest child is twelve, and a girl, she is going through a literal "trial by fire," it seems. And what's scary, is I remember having these exact issues when *I* was in elementary school. And junior high.

So, here's the advice I give my daughter. She usually doesn't listen the first time, but after she gets burned, she DEFINITELY listens. (Because you know tweens, they don't like being told what to do most of the time! They need PROOF.)

1) Girls are MEAN. Especially at this age. You know the movie MEAN GIRLS? A little over-the-top, yes, but essentially, they nailed it. Even the nice ones can suffer from Jekyll/Hyde-ette Syndrome. Especially when popularity is at stake. So, when one of them acts crazy, remember it's HER, and not YOU. This is very important.

2) Two's company, Three's a crowd. This mixture never, and I repeat, NEVER works with girls. I don't know how many times I have told this to Thing One. She's had two friends over, and SOMEONE always ends up getting alienated. She goes over to someone's house where it's three girls, and someone is always left out. There's a reason why the phrase "Third Wheel" was invented. A third wheel never works. The two wheels get along just fine without it, thank you very much. I have yet to see a "three girl" situation end well. Case closed.

3) If your friend decides she hates you for some reason, don't worry, tomorrow will be the opposite. Aw, I remember this one vividly. I had a "friend" (I believe the term today would be "frenemy") named Heather in grade school. She was a piece of work. One day, she was nice to me and we were the BEST of friends, the next day she had half the girls hating me along with her for some egregious offense I'd committed, and the NEXT day, we loved each other again, and were BFFs--and the NEXT day I was the one who had half the girls hating her because she was a moody butthead. This is normal behavior, unfortunately. Kind of like the weather in Texas. If you don't like it, don't worry, wait five minutes and it will change. ;-)

4) Some girls will never change. As in they will change ALL the time. Thing One has experienced this firsthand. There is a girl, who, for the life of me I don't know why, has decided Thing One is her perpetual "Frenemy." She has honed right in on her. She texts her all the time, and sometimes she's super nice, and other times, she's super mean. We've had sleepovers end in tears. We've had sleepovers where they pledge their friendship over and over and act like sisters. We've had fights. We've had love-ins. I have constant whiplash from the neverending moodiness on this one girl's part, and I have repeatedly told my daughter that this girl is volatile and selfish and she will never change. And the other girls just "put up" with her because they fear her wrath. Thing One agrees with me, when they're on the outs. She disagrees with me when they've made up, too, and tells me this girl has changed. Oh, no. She hasn't. Some girls never do.

I say, once a Witch, always a Witch. All of you have met girls like this. They're not even that popular, but all the girls just kowtow to them and appease them because if they don't, this girl will make their lives miserable. What's that saying? "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?" Yes, it seems girls learn this rule at a very early age, these days.

The last piece of advice I'd give (and probably the most important):

5) No Boy is Worth Fighting Over. ahem. Especially in SIXTH grade. Maybe later, but all Sixth grade boys are dorks. End of story.

Now, if only she'd listen to my advice. I've realized the things daughters hate most, is when their mothers tell them "I used to be your age once. I know what you're going through." Girls, as much as you hate to hear this, it is TRUE. We have "walked in your shoes." We have been accepted and rejected and put up with craziness, just like you. So, please, unstop your ears and listen to our advice. We love you and only want what's best for you. We want you to be strong, and happy, and crazy Jekyll/Hydette-free.

I don't think boys have this problem. They aren't emotional wrecks, in general, like girls. (I don't mean to be so hard on my own sex, but it's true.) Boys keep things superficial. Boys play sports together. They play video games together, not MIND games. Boys are pretty evenly tempered, for the most part.

*Sigh*

I am SO in for a very long ride...I just hope at the end there aren't any casualties.

I know, you're probably thinking: Frustrated, much?

Is it Already Friday?

Quick post, because I am RUNNING, because I have a showing this morning! Hooray! And one on Sunday. Which, frankly, is exciting!!!

I'm going to do something for "me" today, and get a full set of brisa nails. I know, they need to be maintained, etc. but I love the look of flawless french manicured nails. There's just something about them that says "hey, I actually CARE about what I look like! Granted, I may loathe them after I get them because I like to type and text, but we'll see how that goes. I need a "pick me up." I'm getting the highlights touched up on the hair next week, too. Sometimes we just need to do nice things for ourselves! Because we're worth it!

Okay, I sound like a freaking commercial. But it's true.

Yesterday was COLD. With wind chill, it was probably in the twenties. Today should be better. I'm going to get optimistic and pull up all my driveway/walkway stakes. Which of course just TEMPTS the snow to fall, but I'm done with them. They're ugly. And I need to list my snowblower on Craigslist. We won't be needing it in Charlotte!

*Lara does a happy dance*

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

Mundane Post.

I survived "tight schedule" day yesterday, and actually it turned out to be just fine. Got a little hairy at the end because Thing One announced she had to go to a friend's house to work on her Ancient Greece project, but it worked out. And we all had ZERO cavities at the dentist. Which is a bonus. Except he recommended I get the lone silver filling in my #14 molar taken out, because it is starting to crack my tooth. So, Monday I'll get it replaced. Feh. But necessary.

Finished FAEFEVER late last night (that's three books in as many days, I didn't know I had it in me!) and although the ending was shocking, I wanted to pick up the next book immediately. Problem was, it hasn't come in the mail, yet! It was supposed to be here already! ARRGGH!!

So, I get to wonder whattheheck happens until it does. My friend Mik, who recommended the books, is highly amused, I'm sure, because I'm freaking out that I can't keep going. (Yes, Mik, I can feel you grinning from here!) :-)

We have showings this weekend!!! Hooray! Granted, they're right during the time we get ready for church, so that will be tricky, but I am excited. It only takes one, right? Cross your fingers for us!

I am looking forward to a busy but good day. But I have put off the laundry for WAYY too long. My boys complained they can't fit any more stuff down the laundry chute, and my daughter says she's out of socks. (No, Lara, you will resist the urge to BUY her some! Just do the freaking laundry!) SO, Laundry Day it is. At least I have the kids fold and hang their own stuff. So it's not as bad as it used to be.

I can't believe it's Thursday already!!!

CUTTINGITCLOSE.

I'm having a "cutting it close" day. You know those days, where you have a VERY tight schedule, and you can't waste any time, because if you do, the rest of the schedule will be upset? Yeah, that's me today.

I have a lunch at noon (at Panera, if any of you feel inclined, try the Napa Almond Chicken sandwich, it's to DIE for) and then at 12:45 I have to leave to go to a 1pm meeting. Then I HAVE to leave that meeting at 2:15 (whether we're done or not) to run and pick up my son at 2:30 from school, so I can run him to the dentist (3pm appt) and then I need to run back to the school, pick up my other kids at 3:15 and bring them back to the dentist, so Thing One can watch Thing Four, so *I* can have my dentist appointment. Oh, and I get to lug a TWO-year old around with me on this entire adventure. Lucky for me he's one of those "old soul" toddlers. It's really a lot like toting around a little adult, masquerading as a baby, sometimes. Yeah, I'm lucky.

Ugh, though. Like I said, very tight schedule! But after that, it's business as usual. Homework, dinner, relax. It's all good.

I blasted through BLOODFEVER yesterday. I read a little in the morning while Thing Four was eating breakfast, I read a little while kids ran inside the house, outside the house, asked for juice, asked for snacks (yesterday was a half day at school and I told the kids they could have friends over/go to friend's houses afterwards) and then, last night, from ten pm to midnight, I finished it.

Reading FAEFEVER today. Well, not until tonight, because I just don't have the time. But man, they are fun books! Not for the faint of heart or closed-minded, though. Consider yourself warned. ;-)

35 realtors came through my house yesterday. Apparently the response was overwhelmingly positive (yeah, I hope so, I "killed" myself creating a certain atmosphere). Which hopefully means they will keep my house in mind when they have clients looking for a great house with the best schools, only minutes from two major companies. :-D I still maintain that I know we're going to sell it when we're "supposed to," but being apart (Hubby is in Charlotte, and has been all this time) really sucks. Soldiering on, soldiering on...

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Babies and Vampires and Fae.

Yesterday was a GOOD day! The sun was out, it was a cold wind, but at least it was in the 50's. This morning there was frost on the ground. THAT could get dangerous around here, for farmers and plants in general. Luckily none of the trees have started blooming, yet. Of course something must be happening, because Thing Three had an itchy throat and eyes this morning, requiring a Claritin. So it begins. Things One and Three have bad seasonal allergies. Poor Thing Three wakes up with a stuffy nose every morning. But at least the Claritin works and he's fine after a few hours.

I never get allergies, unless I'm pregnant. Weird, huh? Our bodies get so...weird, when we've got a baby growing inside them.

Speaking of babies, it seems we are having a "boom" in my church ward. Everyone seems to be either pregnant or having babies. It's crazy! I had one lady take a look at me on Sunday and she said "You need to have another baby!" Kind of funny how people like to do that.

Um, no.

I was told by a reliable source that the VAMPIRE DIARIES books are crap, and to NOT read them. That the show was much better. Interesting. Usually it's the other way around.

I blazed through book one of Karen Marie Moning's FEVER series yesterday. Well, mostly last night. Oh. My. Heck. was it good. (Devon, read them! Put down whatever you are reading and READ them!) Anyway, I've never been really "into" urban fantasy before, but if one wants to get initiated into it, I've definitely found the books. They are awesome.

I need to run, now. We have a group of realtors coming through in two hours, and the house has to be perfect. Eeeeek!

Had a good weekend. Thing One had a couple of friends over to spend the night Friday, and since I'm a WAY cool mom, I drove them to the local Walmart at midnight to pick up the New Moon DVD, which is funny because they got home and only got a quarter into watching it and they all fell asleep.

Of course, now that I'm hooked on Vampire Diaries, Twilight just seems a little ridiculous. (Did I just type that out loud?) Oops. I can't help it. The Salvatore brothers are FAR more interesting than a sparkling veggie vampire. ;-) And Vampire Diaries came first. There are people who dismiss the show as a "Twilight Spinoff." Well, the books came out in the 90's, so that would NOT be the case. The Chicken came before the Egg, this time around. I bought all the episodes on iTunes, and they are FUN. And lucky me, the new shows start up again this Sunday!

Have to take Thing Three to the Dr. today to get a cyst removed in his leg. He's terrified, of course, but it needs to come out. It got infected a month back and became big and painful. The dr. says since it's in the skin, it will continue to get infected/be fine/get infected until it's removed. So, we're opting for pre-emptive action.

Took the kids to Barnes & Noble Saturday night. We went a little crazy, but I always think it's money well spent when it's spent on books. I got some great research books about lost civilizations, and archaeological terms. My bookshelves are exploding. I need to have one of those seriously dedicated libraries in my house, where I have one room entirely shelved out just for books. Trust me, I'll fill it. The Kindle/all other e-readers are great for escape reading, but for RESEARCH, you just can't beat a glossy book with pictures. And I can't get enough of them!

The sun is out! At least that's a good thing about today...

My Kids Keep Me On My Toes.

My kids are funny. As in, they are COMPLETE opposites. Thing One is smart, she's in the Gifted and Talented program for reading and writing, but she's essentially failing math. She turns in her assignments, but her tests are baaaaaaad. Thing Two is a different story. I have to practically stand on his back with a whip to get him to finish his homework and turn his assignments in on time, but his tests scores are fantastic. (He has a semi-eidetic memory, so he doesn't even have to study most of the time). Thing One hates that he can do that. I would, too.

Funny how two completely different kids came from the same two people. Isn't it ironic how that works?

I have a new "OMGosh I LOVE IT" show: The Vampire Diaries. I was doinking around on iTunes last night, and I ordered the pilot and first few episodes for fun, and MAN was I instantly hooked. And no, I'm not fifteen years old. I just happen to love a good show with eye candy actors! ;-) I was hooked on Gossip Girl until season three (at which point the writers lost me) so I've been looking for a new show to fill my "guilty pleasure" category. I've found it. The cool part is, the books came out in the 90's, WAY before "Twilight" ever existed. So, the show isn't another "Twilight Wannabe" like I originally thought. It's the ORIGINAL Twilight.

;-)

I ordered Karen Marie Moning's FEVER series last night, on the recommendation of a good friend. Can't wait to read them. I'm on a reading splurge as of late. I am liking good escape reads. They're ever so much more fun than the historical nonfiction I've been reading lately!

I'm taking Thing Four to the jumping place today. He loves it, and they have "Mommy and Me" hours where you can go for as long as you want for $6. That is totally worth it, to see him grin and jump and the look of pure joy on his face when he slides down the long slide. Kids are so fun!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!