Friday Fragments & Freewrite

          

It’s time once again to purge your mind of all those little thoughts, too small for their own post, too cool to forget about… Please drop by Mrs. 4444’s Half Past Kissing Time and Sara’s Ordinary and Awesome to see more!!

• I can not believe how fast these last weeks have gone!! The kids are back in school and when I asked Max how Kindergarten was, he proceeded to tell me there were Legos and what ones he played with this week!!! Every day I ask about school and I hear about Legos.
• I am not usually a freak.  Yesterday I was.  I took out two big bags of garbage and as I was coming back inside I felt something tickling my leg.  I glanced down to see a HUGE insect on me.  I yelped and stomped my foot to shake it off.  IT FLEW off my leg and into the living room. Did I mention it was HUGE?? I stood in the door way debating whether to continue what I was doing or hunt down the thing.  Then I heard it.  Bumping and buzzing along the ceiling in the living room.  Smack, smack, smack.  It was the biggest wasp-like thing I have ever seen.  And it rode in on my leg.  I ran out of the room.  We aren’t in there as much, I’m hoping it will just die…..
• I am trying to clean out that toy room. Still. (I posted a picture back in JUNE about it!!) It’s only gotten worse.  My motivation, besides giving JC his own room, it that there is a city wide garage sale this weekend and there’s a ton of money sitting in this room.  I collected almost 100 happy meal toys and divided them into 20 gallon size storage bags, all marked 25 cents. I’ve also gathered most of the baby baby toys that no one will use anymore and stickered them….. now to haul it all to the garage!
• Aria participated in the Lil’ Miss Sunflower Pageant Wednesday night.  They interview each contestant with 2-3 questions from a list of similar questions we were given about a week ago.  I was really happy to hear Aria answer so well.  What do you like to do in the summer in your town? “Plant flowers” (crowd awwws) What do you want to be when you grow up? “an archaeologist” (crowd oohs and aahhhs more – secretly I had hoped for this question, I mean what other 7-year-old wants to be an archaeologist??) None of the other kids got the reaction she got for her answers.  It was cute.  She did not, however, get the crown.  They actually draw the names from a bucket.  I’m quite happy with that, I think its much more fair.  It’s a good lesson for her to compete and not win simply on luck of the draw, not because she didn’t do her best.  The crowd reaction was good enough for me ;)

• I really need to learn how to cook.  It’s becoming painfully obvious I am lacking in that department.  When Steve is home, I don’t even get up to stand in the kitchen.  I depend on him to make me good food.  My attempt at stroganoff the other night wasn’t bad, but I was embarrassed to let Steve eat it when he came home.  I open a mean box of Hamburger Helper, but the kids are getting tired of …. well, actually they’re tired of everything that isn’t Mac and Cheese.  Maybe its not me.
• I mentioned to my husband what a good cook I thought he was.  He replied: “Anybody can be a good cook with enough butter!”
• I was watching “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant”….I laughed every time these re-enactment moms gave birth to a 3-month old baby!
• How do you fix a sad Piper?………………candy

A Thousand Words Thursday – Party?

A Thousand Words Thursday is hosted by TheMomJen at Cheaper Than Therapy!! Please stop by to see more pictures worth a thousand words!

JC’s birthday was Saturday and I had planned to have a party.  Unfortunately things didn’t go that way so he really didn’t get one.  Daddy came down with strep throat and I came down with a case of procrastination (surprise surprise) that lead to no cake or clean house.  I called everyone and postponed to a later to-be-announced date.

I guess we’ll just have another get-it-all-over-with-at-once Fraase Family party in October.  It covers everyone but Piper. I find it easier this way, we’ll just invite all the out in-laws for one party and then we can call it good until next year!!

Since we didn’t have a party, we gave JC a cake.  Aria and I decorated it and we used the extra batter to make a few cupcakes.  I had everyone eat in the studio so I could take pictures!

                              

 

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

It’s Jackson’s 1st birthday.  I really can’t believe this day is already here, it seems like I just had him.  I’ve really tried to savor the “last baby” as best as I can, but he just keeps getting older *sigh*.

          

     

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

Becoming BFF IRL – part two

Continued from our story yesterday (which you  can read HERE)… OR read HER side of the story HERE!
The RaMbLeR: As if we hadn't already had so many road blocks. But we were determined to make sure the kids were gonna go home thinking of how fun it was in Oklahoma! Instead the stupid water park (the REAL one, not just my little makeshift backyard water park) was closed. (see this to find out why)
Luckily, I searched my brain and after a couple of phone calls (my first friend call advised her pool was not open either) we were able to take the very disappointed kids (except Roo, who was back at school and BA, that had been at band camp all week) to my friends neighborhood pool.
What did you think of that?
Mel: That was awesome. And as far as my kids were concerned, we went to a pool and swam.  That's what they wanted.  Your friends were so nice to let us crash their neighborhood pool, and very nice in person, too!  It was a really beautiful setting.  I was sure that before we left Aria would head down to the little stream in back and try to catch wildlife.  I laughed at the thought that perhaps for the second time that week we were about to load up the kids, promise them pool time, then turn around and go home!! It was probably easier to drag them from this pool than if we HAD hit the waterpark.
The RaMbLeR: I'm so glad they were satisfied with this pool since that was the best we could do at the time. As it was I know SM was NOT happy and did not want to leave when Hubs came to pick him up for football practice. He was having too much fun playing in the water.
If I recall right, we didn't do much else that evening except my Hubby was starting his plague decline about that time so he offered up the big screen and we tried to relax while the kids watched a movie. What movie was that again?
Mel: Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix! Of course you and I were sitting side by side on our lap tops discussing the finer points of the iPhone vs. BlackBerry, so I don't remember much of the movie.  But at least no one was puking!
The RaMbLeR: Oh yeah! That's right! I hadn't had my iPhone for very long and you had literally just gotten your Blackberry RIGHT before you left.
It was the next morning that was so fun!

I loved watching the kids play in the rain! By the way, I was pretty sure that North Dakota had some pretty bad rains not too far back??
Mel: This was a better day, and most memorable because after that quick downpour we let the kids run around in all the water on the street.  I've never seen so much water disappear so fast.  In ND that water would sit for days and breed mosquitoes. OR fill my basement...this year was exceptionally bad for that. Why do you ask?
The RaMbLeR: Because the excitement on the kids faces was as if they had never seen rain before....
I loved watching them play "Follow the Leader"...even if it WAS in the middle of the road!
And to see JC's reaction when I put his sweet little hands in the rain dripping from the roof of my house.
Mel: That was pretty darn cute! I think the shock the kids experienced was that it was still so warm, even soaking wet.  It cools off so fast here!!! They all loved being allowed to march through the puddles all they wanted.  I was doing laundry anyway! I hated to pack up!!!
The RaMbLeR: Yeah, I guess the temperature was really strange to them!? I remember when they wanted to ride bikes/scooters but it wasn't long and they were running back inside to cool off for a bit...while SM remained outside.
Mel: And they were all red-faced and panting, SM probably wondered what the heck their problem was?!
The RaMbLeR: LOL....I'm not sure he realized they were so hot. He loses track of time (not sure where he gets THAT from...it has to be his father!) so he probably just thought they were getting drinks. haha
I know I sure hated to see you leave! It seemed like you had just gotten here and I still had so much I wanted to show you. I wanted to show you the riverwalk in our downtown area and we missed the zoo and I would've loved to take you over by the lake...it's beautiful there!
So, I think we have plenty of things to DO for your next trip to come see me again!  But can you be sure you leave the plague back home or where ever...as long as you don't bring it here again?
Mel: I will promise try hard not to get anyone sick again.  All told, when our trip was over (I went to WI next) 12 people ended up getting sick.  I'm pretty sure the CDC is well aware of my movements now.  I still had fun.  It was awesome to talk to you without typing or video delay!!! I really wish we lived a little closer. My hubby thinks I'm cracked for travelling alone w/ 4 kids for that distance! Maybe that's why we get along so well....we're both a little crazy, hee hee!
The RaMbLeR: I'm not sure I know what you are talking about - crazy - I didn't drag 4 kids clear from one end of the US almost to the opposite end! CRAZY LADY!  But, I am SO glad that YOU are crazy! It was awesome to meet you IRL! It would be wonderful to have you as my neighbor....that friend that could come in my open door and it would be no big deal, just to chat with a cup of coffee in hand. I could see that happening....IF you lived closer! Oh, and I appreciate that your hubby was willing to give you up for all that time so you could come meet me. I guess maybe we ARE both crazy! A lot of people were amazed that I would let an EBFF some stay inside my house for almost a week (cause you could've been some crazy psycho lady). Haha!! I said I already knew you were!
Mel: Hey, I think we got to know each other better than if we'd spent all that time sight seeing!  Nothing says TMI like admitting I just peed my pants throwing up in your toilet and changing in the same room together.  Really, who does that? Us, I guess !!  I truly had a good time despite the plague. I was sad to go and sorta wished I could postpone the rest of my trip to stay longer, now that we were healthy!!  My friends said some of the same things... you're driving where to meet who?? Are you sure about this?
The RaMbLeR: ROFL...PMP...Oh, no that was YOU! I was SO glad we clicked IRL just as well as we did online. That could've been a disaster if it had been otherwise. And, despite our illnesses, I also enjoyed your company and honestly can't wait until the next time. Thank you for trusting and making that trip!
Mel: Thanks for taking us! I'm really glad we did it!

Becoming BFF IRL! – part one

The following is an interview/conversation about our first IRL visit between myself and the RaMbLeR.  You can see HER version of the story HERE!!

The RaMbLeR: So, tell me Mary (as in Typhoid Mary) I mean Mel, how was your drive from North Dakota all the way to Oklahoma?
Mel: Hmm, lets see, it started out great. I figured we had the whole day to get down there, so I really tried to make it fun for the kids (all 4 of them)
The RaMbLeR: Did you drive straight thru or did you have any detours?
Mel: We stopped often (I think I said I wish I hadn't potty trained the 3-yr-old), but really my intention was to drive straight there, not overnight stop.  I didn't realize we wouldn't get there until 2am.  It was really great until the last 2-3 hours.

 

The RaMbLeR: Until the end? Even with the long drive all of that was ok?
Mel: Well, it was about the last few hours when the FIRST two kids started puking. I was on the turnpike so there was nowhere to pull over.  I yelled from the driver's seat "Grab your McDonald's bag!!! Puke in that!!"  I kept calling to update, and when I could I stopped to clean and change the 2 pukers.  Good times, good times.
(Oh, I also convinced all of them it was the McDonald's so we wouldn't have to eat there all the way back.  It worked)
The RaMbLeR: Are you sure it was your convincing or just that they decided it wasn't quite as good a second time and didn't want to chance a third....or forth?
Also, I seem to recall someone needing me to send them directions along the way cause they thought they could 'wing it'?
Mel: GAH! Oh yeah, I didn't trust the Google maps directions, so I kept calling for better ones.  I ended up pretty much using the route it sent me in the first place!
The RaMbLeR: Well, once you FINALLY pulled into my driveway (or actually spotted me as you came around the curve), what was your first thought?
Mel: I thought you looked just as cute as your picture, even at 2 am.  And for some reason I thought you'd be waaay taller than me (like everyone else), but we're not far from the same size.   How about you...?
The RaMbLeR: HeHe...Honestly (since I couldn't really SEE you - except your little hand frantically waving back and forth), I thought "Thank you Lord for getting my poor crazy friend here in one piece!" and wondered what I could possibly do to help get you settled.
Then as you stepped out of the van I thought you were just as cute as a button! (whatever that means...but I always took it as a great thing...either way, you were so cute crawling out trying to gather up whatever you could)
Mel: Were you afraid to take my vomiting kids in??
The RaMbLeR: Nah, not at all! I'm used to dealing with lots of vomiting/spit up/drool from Roo. At that time I had NO clue you were bringing the plague into my home! You also had ME convinced that it just HAD to be the McDonald's food. ;)
Mel: At the time, since it was just the two, I really hoped thought it was!! I really thought about turning around back about 2 hours, but I'd made it this far...!
The RaMbLeR: Really? You really thought you could drive back another .... how many hours did it take?? 12, 13, 16? LOL
Even with the plague, I couldn't let you!
Mel: Well, I appreciate you being brave enough to take us in, especially considering what the rest of the week was like.  SO, what exciting things do did you have planned for us?! I'm sure as soon as these two are feeling better we can get to the fun!!
The RaMbLeR: Oh, I had researched and bugged other friends trying to find some fun interesting things to take the kids to. I had to ask others since typically we don't go anywhere.
I figured we could take the kids to a local water park that only costs $6 $7 or less to get in. And, another fun adventure to a museum that has dinosaurs, but.....
Mel: Oh, #1 and #2 are feeling better, but now #3 is sick. AND your school called to tell us your son #1 is sick... sigh.  Maybe tomorrow will be the right day??
The RaMbLeR: Sure....or so we thought!! Luckily we hadn't already made the 45 minute drive all the way to the museum! So, we turn around, I park YOUR van (that I had to drive because YOU were too ill to handle the driving) and after helping UNLOAD all the very confused children (that had advised me that we were going the wrong way as we pulled into the neighborhood) I hopped into my vehicle to race off to the school for the baby.
What were YOU thinking/feeling at that time?
Or were you too busy puking while I was gone?

Mel: I felt pretty bad that Roo was sick, especially since there was probably minimal interaction between my sick kids and him.  Poor guy. Made me fear that there was more on the way.  But I think he handled it the best of everyone.  And I didn't get sick until evening.  AFTER I ate tons of quesadillas.  Which were, by the way, GREAT...the first time.  I think I admitted I was sad/glad I was with you sick instead of at home sick with 4 kids who would want to be fed when I couldn't stand the sight of food.  My husband is gone nights and I don't think I'd have survived.  SO I guess I owe you for that!!! So while I was going to bed early, how was the rest of your evening??
The RaMbLeR: Ah, one of those double edged swords, eh? The guilt along with the gratitude? I knew you were miserable and more than happy to 'get to know' your family (even in your absence). I just wanted you to be able to puke in peace! LOL
My evening went reasonably well. As you mentioned I think Roo handled the plague the best. Well, at least at home. I forgot to mention when I picked him up from school his teachers were trying to sanitize the carpet AGAIN from all his puking. I'm guessing he probably didn't have much left by the time I brought him home.
So I had fun playing with the kids and hauling 'The Siren' around. Although The Siren was off while you were not in sight. hehe
I fully expected to be up some throughout the night dealing with cleaning up Roo but I was pleasantly surprised and I was not up....with HIM...instead I was up ALL night with my #2.
Did he wake any of you while he was so loudly hurling? I remember I kept telling him "shhhh, you are gonna wake everyone". It was a little inconvenient that the bathroom he uses was right outside the door to your 'hotel'.
Mel: Ha ha, I think I remember hearing him, but I was too busy concentrating on not joining him to mind much.  My kids sleep like rocks, so no one woke up.  Except JC, who decided 6 am was plenty late.  I think by late that morning everyone was feeling a little better.  I enjoyed the makeshift water park.  My kids thought it was fun.  Maybe not ACTUAL waterpark fun, but even the little kids got to play safely.
How were YOU feeling?
The RaMbLeR: Oh yes, 6:00, The Siren, like clockwork! Dang he's the most adorable little siren! His cute smile just makes your heart melt and makes the siren sounds almost forgettable. Actually, other than when I was actually still half sleeping, it just made me giggle!
I think by that time you were really starting to kick back into gear, weren't you? And Taz seemed to be his normal rowdy self. So, yeah, I'm glad the makeshift waterpark, courtesy of a tarp I had, a water sprinkler, my neighbors hose spraying down my Little Tykes slide and of course water balloons, entertained everyone.
Oh, and as for me........well, I suppose it was time for me to have MY turn on your LONG list of infectees.
Mel: Long and Distinguished
The RaMbLeR: I am a little fuzzy on the goings on at this point. I'm not even sure what everyone had for supper, I just remember there was NO WAY I was eating ANYTHING. So, instead I crashed! It was your turn to get to play with the kids without me.
Thank you so much for taking over for me! Even though my Hubby's at home, it takes both of us to keep the house running smooth (or at least the way we are used to).
So, tell me, what did YOU do while I was snoozing?

Mel: Well, your hubby cooked some great BBQ! I felt bad you didn't have any.  We managed to feed everyone and settle the babies.  I cleaned up the kitchen while our big kids played. I think SM and Aria managed to stay up until almost midnight.  I was just happy they got along.  I remember when we were on our way SM thought he'd only get to play with Max, since girls do girly things.  Aria was eager to show him she was "one of the boys".  They bonded over computer and video games.  My kids still talk about what SM had or what SM said.  I think the NEXT day was probably one of the better ones... minus the water park incident ;)

 

Aria needed a new suit, the RaMbLeR snapped a shot of our choices (I stayed with the kids!)

 

 

Well…is this visit better from here on out…or not??

Please come back tomorrow for part two, where there may or may not be less bodily fluid involved…hahahaha!

Friday Fragments & Freewrite – Back

Friday Fragments is a chance to purge your mind of all those little thoughts, too good to throw away, too small to post alone… Thanks to Mrs. 4444 you can get it all out! See more at Half Past Kissing Time! AND thanks to Sara who hosts Friday’s Freewrite, where linear thinking is NOT a requirement (yaay!).

• We made it back from over 2000 miles of travel in our van.  And 12 sick people later we arrived home.  That’s right, 12 people got sick during our 2 week reign of terror. More about that this coming week. Seriously, we’ve worked on it for hours, we’ll eventually POST it!!
• I met the RaMbLeR IRL (in real life!) and she is just as cute, fun, and talkative as she is in cyberspace.  (The best part, she still loves me even though we managed to infect hew whole family with whatever virus we brought.) I only wish we’d had more time.  Maybe next year?!
• I had asked the kids what they ate at school lunch the other day.  Pizza.  Then, not two minutes later Aria rips a big fart right in front of us.  I said “Are you sure that wasn’t bean pizza??” She looks at me totally deadpan, “Um, no… I’m pretty sure it was pepperoni.”
• I have been asked for the fourth time is JC was a boy or girl. OKAY OKAY I get it, he needs a haircut! But his curls, his CUTE LITTLE BLONDE CURLS…. waaaahhh! I am truly struggling with this.  I just know his hair will darken up and straighten out.  I want him to stay little :(       *sigh*

Girl? What girl?

• I’m getting lots of senior pictures with a mixture of little kids thrown in.  It’s nice to have a little business! After Christmas, it gets pretty slow around here!
• Speaking of Christmas, I felt like it was this week.  I used my extra Etsy money to purchase some more legwarmers, some Crunchy Clean Diaper Soap (you have never smelled ANYTHING so good), a FuzziBunz diaper (love it!!!), and a big huge wet bag with a zipper (geometric pattern) so we don’t stink up the house when its full of dirty diapers!  I feel so excited and so totally lame at the same time! Ah, mommyhood.

Wordless / Wordful Wednesday – Return of the MOOstache

Wordless Wednesday is a fun little way to show off those pictures that really say it all without saying a word! Check out 5 Minutes for Mom to see more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And the more WORDY part ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recognize this MOOstache? I found it stuck to the fridge, thinking it has long since disappeared. It must have been saved for future use.  It has already given us quite a few laughs, but JC never got a chance to try it out.  Want to know what the deal is anyway?  Read the orginal tale of the MOOstache here!

Wordful Wednesday is hosted by Angie at SevEn cLoWn CirCuS share your photos and stories, too!