Cheering up

I've had a rough couple of weeks. Fran has been so wonderful & trying so hard to cheer me. Yesterday I got flowers delivered to the house! (well I was picking Kali up from school but when I got home they were here) Then we went out to dinner and walked around the Camelback Esplanade. It was such a nice night & now I am back to my normal self. I am lucky to have such a good guy in my life because let's face it, they are hard to find.

Oh and if you live in Phx, did you know that the AMC at the Esplanade has dinner & a movie for only $9 during the week & $12 (plus the cost of your dinner)on weekends?? It is such a nice place and the seats are SO big and cozy! We did not go see a movie since we had just eaten but we will defiantly be going there soon. I love finding new, fun things to do around the city.

A Public Service Announcement

This is a mandolin.

It is used for slicing vegetables.

It is DANGEROUS with a capitol D!!

There is even a warning that comes with it.

It suggests using the protective cover over whatever you're slicing.

I, however, thought I did not need to.

I was making potato chips. (they were very good by the way)

Instead about 1/2 way through I sliced off the top knuckle of my right ring finger to the bone.

It was horrible.

It bled like you would NOT believe a finger could.

I almost passed out and I am pretty sure I scared the crapola out of the kids.

(strangely Kali asked to see the wound)

Francis and my Mom wanted me to go to the doctor but I avoid the doctor at all costs because I figure it will involve a shot or worse stitches :(

So, I made the second mistake of the day....I wrapped it very tight in a towel and secured it with tape and went to bed.

The next morning I unwrapped the towel but could not get it all the way off because it was stuck to my finger! (just typing this is giving me chills)

So, I had to yank it off.....the pain made me black out.

Long story short.....DON'T use a mandolin without the cover and DON'T wrap a wound in a towel....use a band aid!

This was about two weeks ago.

And in case you are wondering my knuckle is growing back.

But my finger is looking a little creepy.

Good thing I am not a hand model :)

Bad Kindergarten!

I met Kali for lunch yesterday afternoon. It was 105* and the lunch aides were telling the kids to hurry up and eat so they can go outside--WHY?! Most of the kids ate 1/2 their lunch and had to go out into the heat. The duty aides were crabby and the kids were fighting over shade space (there is not much on the playground)

Then today Francis met her for lunch and she was crying because a girl was flipping up her skirt and laughing in her face. Then when I picked her up she told me that the flip up skirt girl punched her in PE class & yelled at her and another girl. (This girl must be the devil) She said she did not tell the teacher because they are not supposed to interrupt. What the heck?! Why is she feeling scared to talk to the teachers? Why are they making her feel that if she gets hurts its not okay to tell? I know it's not all the teachers faults & it's a hard job but come on?! I don't feel like Kali is safe there.

I am starting to rethink home school. And, I am so sad for my Kali because she was so excited for Kindergarten. I am just sad.

Cheering myself up

See this

this is me, Eeyore.

And to be perfectly honest with you I hate Eeyore.

I can't stand people that are gloomy & that complain all the time but for the past few days I have been an Eeyore.

Phoenix is horrible June-until Oct and I want to move, just like I do every summer.

Not to mention Phx is just a crummy place to live & I've lived in the same area my ENTIRE life.

Kali starts school in a month & I am sad.

Francis' State job used to be a great job but now it's just pay cut town.

The one good thing about school starting will be the sub jobs.

I am a substitute teacher....it ain't fun but it's pretty good money considering you don't have to do much except follow a lesson plan.

I have been up since 4am so this might get a little random.

So it's time to cheer myself up.
By looking at my cute boys in Kai's sports class

Kai is even wearing his "Super Kai" cape

I just love these two
and Kai is in "big boy" swim class...as he calls it....without me.....so I roast in the sun watching him but dang that kid is cute & after a rocky first day he is doing much better!

I found this pic on the camera....Kali took it....she takes losts of pics of her dolls & her Daddy

here is the little ballerina, she always cheers me up!

and last week my friend Joy came over and the kids made pizza

you really can't beat spending time with an old friend while the kids play in the back room while we chit-chatted.... adult conversation is sooooo nice sometimes

I have a lot to be happy about.....just have to remind myself!

The tale of a boxer's fracture....

(long story short)

this is my hand

tried to punch Mr B in the arm

he held up his arm to block and my monster blow hit his elbow (what a wuss)

a loud crack

broken hand :(

Emergency room from 12:30-3 am

and here i am

Kali is not too happy about it

neither is Mr B

he has to cook
and do dishes

and dry my hair

and tie my shoes

this took forever to type
i miss my functioning right hand

don't take yours for granted :)

p.s. i am in training to be a south paw (if you don't know ask your husband or a boxing fan)

Times ARE tough...

For the past 6 months or so we have been hearing about so many people being layed off and I always say, "well times are tough but luckily Francis works for the State".

Guess what we are NOT so lucky.

Francis found out he is getting a 10% pay cut and in the coming days, weeks, months there will be layoffs at the Department of Revenue. Now, keep in mind that tax season is upon us and Francis is an Internal Auditor. His main job is to locate areas of fraud, money wasting, and employees doing shady things. This can save the DOR money and we use to think it was a recession proof job. Bummer. I am still in a bit of denial that his job could be terminated because logic would lead one to believe that Fran's job would be safe. However there are so many stupid politicians out there that make decisions that just don't seem to make much sense. Heck look at Bush. Good thing we have WASTED Billions of dollars in Iraq. Oh, now I am getting steaming mad thinking about the money used to just kill people that could have been used to help people. Grrrrrr. Oh by the way if you are reading this and you feel the need to defend Bush--Don't.

Francis said there were people leaving the office yesterday with boxes and he felt so sad for them. When State jobs are being cut that is when you know times are really tough! I know Francis will be able to find some sort of work and I know that he would do whatever it takes to take care of us and I am sooooo grateful that we both have our degrees.

This is just such a helpless feeling right now of not knowing for sure what will happen.

President Obama sure has his hands full right now & I just hope that he can get our country out of the red.

Lovin' the State & Yaya says a cuss word

* I posted this and then changed it.....because something happened tonight that cracked me up!

Snuggle bugs

Kali is dressed like an angel---kind of ironic considering she pushed Kai on the ground not long after, very un-angelic. And, Mr. Kai just waiting for the right time to pull all of my shoes out of the closet and all the books off of the bookshelf. Do you like his heels??

The good people at the Department of Revenue have allowed Francis to take vacation for the rest of the week!! LOOOOVVVVEEEE the STATE! LLLLOOOOVVVEEEE Francis and the fact that we will be able to do loads of fun Christmas stuff the next few days makes me so happy :) So fight on Kali and Kai...your daddy will be home to play referee!

Now on to dinner: (this is the exact message I sent to Cody's wife Shonda because she did not come to dinner tonight)
"Ah-hem.....let me clear my throat because this is gonna be long. Just want to give you a little tid bit of what you missed tonight. We started the evening with my mom FREAKING out because she is soooooooooooooooooo busy making blankets for people for Christmas and HAD to mail them today. Then dinner was almost ready and my dad got on the phone...dum, dum, dum! Then my mom was yelling for Bret to eat but he did not come (he was on the potty) AND Kai came strolling out of Bret's room with a box of Wheat Thins (of course) and he brought them to the kitchen....and shook the crap out of the box and the FULL box of wheat thins came flying out, then my mom got mad because I did not pick them up at warp speed because PEACH (my parents dog) might eat them and get plugged up (please put that dog down) SOOOOO long story short.....my mom yelled "SH*&" and we ate dinner, Kali got in trouble for not eating dinner and Kai threw all his chicken to old Peach. You sure missed a nice evening :)

Oh wow reading that over again cracks me up!

My mom is going to DIE when she reads this...gotta love that old gal:)

Woe is me

Kai woke up about hmmmm 15 times last night...YIKES! Kali is in need of a nap so she is really cranky and Kai decided to bite both of us today. Thank heavens for easy old chicken pot pie and Yoga tonight.

Need some new recipes???
http://yummietummies.blogspot.com/

One of THOSE days

Today naptime cannot come soon enough. It is only 11:14 am and I am soooo ready for these kids to ker-plunk out in their little beds. Kai is spilling applejuice....I will be right back. Frown :(

Okay, now the floor is sticky! Kali is spending her time yanking toys out of his hand and getting mad at him and then crying everytime he hits her for taking his toys. Crikey! (ode to the Crocodile Hunter)

And to top off all of this malarky is that I am suppose to be twisting myself into eagle pose right now but my mom is MIA and forgot that I asked her to watch the kids so I could go to Yoga at 11am---grrr! And, I have a church meeting tomorrow night so I have to miss my FAV Tues. night Yoga class---double grrr!!!!

Why can't a mom EVER get a break??!!

The silver lining in all of this crud it that I called Francis to vent and he said, "don't worry, when I get home I will watch the kids and you can go to the gym tonight...I love you". Okay so that helped a bit

:)

Half smile.

Okay cut to 5 hours later and I am :) FULL SMILE Fawn again....hmmm does this mean I'm bi-polar??

Kidfare....a nightmare of a time

I have not been truly mad in a long time....nor has Francis....but today we were at the same time and what made us mad? Let me set this up for you.......

1. KIDFARE, sounds harmless enough..fun for kids...the ad said no lines...Dora, Boots, Spongebob, Elmo and Curious George were going to be there. Well here is a picture of the skanky Dora...I think someone had just used her as a tissue.


2. This stupid mess of a "Kidfare" was at the Phoenix Cardinals stadium, which is slang for holy parking disaster!!! We parked about a mile up the road and it is HOT today!

3. Then we pre-purchased our tickets so we ASSUMED that we would be able to stroll right in....BUT NO...we waited in a LONG line in the HOT sun! This is about the time that Mr. Becker started to loose his mind.

4. Then we get inside and there were about 2 million people...half strollers....and they were all bumping into me which is why I lost my mind. And, everything in there cost money or you had to go stand in another line, buy tickets and then get into another line to use those tickets.

SOOOOO long story short we walked around.....meet a Storm Trooper
and some Jawas and Sand People and some scurvy pirates and then took off.....on a long walk back to the car. Boy are we happy to be home. Please let everyone you know about the horrible "Kidfare" so nobody else will be unlucky enough to have this little outing happen to them.

RSVP means Respond, please

Okay, over the past month we have had a bridal shower, wedding reception and Halloween party in our family & on each invitation we wrote RSVP & gave a number to call and an e-mail address........can't get much easier than that. SO, why is it that only about 30% of people RSVP? If you have ever hosted an event at your house than you know how truly rude it is when you are trying to make food and plan and people don't let you know if they are coming. And of course the ones that don't RSVP usually show up. So, please remember to RSVP....its just the nice thing to do.