Nobody sends......

Nobody sends cards anymore. I LOVE getting cards i blame my mom and Becky for this......
I love keeping them, i love having something to hold that i can read again and again. I love letters too, but that's a different post. I like how the Internet has freed us in so many ways, but hate how it has made us so lazy. I used to write letters to people, actually hand write them. Pages full. I did this no problem. Now, i can't write the shopping list without my hand hurting. The Internet and computers have made it possible to stay in touch with people, i otherwise might not. So i give it that due credit. But as far as a well thought out card, one you picked out because when you read it you thought of some one in your life it fits, that thrill is few and far between. I try to send cards, i used to send them all the time, randomly just because. But i haven't done it in a while. So i say let's make 11-10-10 National greeting card to a friend day. Between now and then, buy a card for at least 1 person (it can't be a bday card, that's cheating) and send it. You can do more than i person if you want. But at least 1. Imagine how much you'll make some smile, just buy sending them a little piece of paper. Pass it on, who knows how many cards you'll get, or send :-)

~Cheers,
Sam

The birthday post......

So today Oct 27th 1978 i entered this world. And, from what i understand (and as per the rest of my life) it was a production. 1st of all, i took forever to get here. My mom and dad had tried for a while with no luck, and had almost given up and then BAHM!! Mom's pregnancy went well, aside from the weight she gained, she didn't have any issues. But a smooth pregnancy doesn't always mean an easy delivery. I was born via c-section at 3lbs 1oz at 7:58 PM. I was born at St. Luke's Hospital but immediately rushed the children's hospital, and put into an incubator, because i was obviously small. I think the funniest story i have heard about my birth is when my father came in gun in holster (he was a security guard) and went to touch me through the incubator, the nurse looked at him and wanted to say something, and then saw the gun and thought better of it. I can just imagine that scene, not that my father would have done anything, but i don't think the nurse wanted to get between him and his 1st born daughter. Everything about me was fine, though, except my size. I stayed at the hospital, and i was

1 oz under 4 lbs when i went home, only because my doctor was on staff and said i could go home. YAY Dr Gary.

I turned 32 today, and although this isn't a HUGE birthday, it's still another year over. I had a great day today first thing this morning i vowed to do NO housework, i hung out with the boys, (i did do the dishes, because they were bugging me) but i didn't do anything else. Eric got me tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Dec. and Bria got me my SIMS 3 game. My mom gave me an awesome gift that really helps me out, my boys colored me great cards, my friends showed me love by sending me happy bday messages, and i had Taco Bell (YUM!!) for dinner. I enjoyed my day today, it wasn't anything exciting, or extraordinary, but it was another day with my guys, my family and friends, and that's what matters. Here's to another year of fun, adventure and memories..........

~Cheers,

Samantha

Scary......

Halloween is around the corner which is always bitter-sweet for me. I LOVE Halloween LOVE IT!! It has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. Christmas is trying to edge in at #1 but I think that’s cause I have kids now, Christmas takes on a whole new meaning. Anyway, Halloween however although my favorite is also my most disliked and here’s why……I HATE anything scary, dead, pretending to be dead, painted, moving slow, all of it.

When I was 7 I own tickets from the radio show for it being my birthday, these tickets were to a haunted house. So my mom and I go, and I got so freaked out, we had to be ESCOTED from the building (I still blame the fact they had a guy dressed as a priest walking with you, that creped me out). Then there was the time on homecoming night in high school my date and friend and her date decided to go to haunted house (dresses and all, um Duh?) so we go, no big deal until I go through this tunnel as I am crawling out, this kid at the haunted house almost pelts me in the head with his toy gun, thankfully my date saw it and grabbed the gun. So, although not scary still a bad experience. Then there was the time when Eric and I went. It was right after we had gotten married and we went to an outdoor corn maze/haunted house. The haunted house was at the beginning, and then you went into the actual maze part. We went with friends and I was excited I thought I had finally outgrown my fear. Until we went in. It was bad from the get go, there were people EVERY where, above you, crawling out from the bottom of the corn, jumping at you (ugh just thinking about it) so needless to say I was FREAKED out, I went into panic mode and stopped, just stopped at 25 years old, I’m standing in the middle of a corn maze frozen. The kid that was messing with me got to see angry Eric because he wouldn’t let go, he was really in my face. I also do not do scary movies, I avoid them like the plague. I WANT to watch them, but I have learned to just let that want go. I will watch a movie and be fine, that day, maybe even the next. But the 3rd day it kicks in, and usually messes with me for the whole day I recently saw an article that listed the top 10 zombie movies, I have only seen 1 of them and it has stuck with me for over a year. It was a very disturbing and intriguing moving, and still gives me the creeps. I think it’s funny that of all the things I share with my father, this is one of them. My mom, can watch a scary movie till the cows come home, but my father will shoot 10 feet straight up in the air at the end of Carrie. I probably would too if I ever saw it.

This is just something I was thinking about………

Last day.....

We enjoyed our last day at the park last Monday. It was warm enough to not need a jacket, but still a nip in the air. This week we should be getting high 50's at BEST.......Ah i LOVE Fall!!

How to train your dragon......

Dreamworks finally released "How to train your dragon" a couple weeks ago, and we got it for the boys. At Walmart they had a cardboard cut out that made it look like the kids were riding Toothless the dragon.....

Mickey Mouse

Eric and I at Dylon's birthday party today

Rocking the big boy booster.....

Aragorn had to be upgraded to the big boy booster today. He was getting to big for the 5 point harness............Doesn't he look all grown up?

Birthday DAY

We had so much fun today, almost to much. The boys (and mom and dad) were invited to 2 birthday parties on the same day. We were lucky to be able to share the day our friend Dylon, and our friend Henry, who both turned 3. 1st was Dylon's party which was great his was Mickey Mouse themed, so the boys loved it. Trista outdid herself once again, she had great games for the kids, and wonderful food. Her cake was great, a giant Mickey Mouse head!! Dylon made out like a bandit (but i mean really, who can resist that charm?) and the boys got some pretty cool take home gifts themselves. I love going to Trista's parties, no matter what type it is, she always inspires me somehow. We had a great time celebrating with everyone (and i got my baby fix in with Miss Lyla)
Then we headed off to Henry's party. His was a construction theme, held at a park, with cones and caution tape and everything. It was a lot of fun. The boys got to eat cake out of a dump truck!! Kim did a great job, it came out really cute. And they got to play on the playground. Henry got some pretty cool loot, which included a kids computer, they boys were all to ready to play with it too. We had a really good time seeing Henry and Kim again, and meeting all of their family.

Maybe?

Tonight the boys are going to bed and I have the following conversation:

“Mom is Ms. Lilly coming over tomorrow?”

“No Aragorn, tomorrow she stays with her mom”

“GRANDAMA come?” Rohan Squeals

“No baby, Grandma isn’t coming tomorrow, remember we have birthday parties tomorrow”

“Maybe, maybe she come” he says, very sure

“No baby not tomorrow”

He walks away, but stops at his door and smiles at me

“Maybe”

I smile as I turn off the lights and head downstairs. He sure does love her.

Bullies.....

I was bullied, i think most of us were, i think at some point in our lives regardless of reason, we were picked on. Brianna and i were talking a couple of weeks ago about bulling and it brought up some memories. I was picked on for the same reason as my friends, i wore glasses, i didn't always have the coolest clothes, flat out, I was geeky. And now at 31 (yes mom i am technically still 31) i can look back and say "oh sweetie......if you only knew"

I will never forget my bully. Her nickname was Yoda (i seriously think they called her this because she was the wise one?) i am not sure anymore what her real name was, and it doesn't matter. Yoda, was the one i was afraid of. I honestly do not know what i ever did to upset her, but she came after me with a vengeance. I was picked on relentlessly throughout middle school. It started in 6th grade, and followed me into High School. I was called names, i was picked on, tripped had stuff thrown at me, and for 2 weeks straight i was "jumped" after school. I will never forget the pain on my mom's face when we attended my science fair, and my bullies were so bold as to make fun of me in front of her. I ignored them as i had learned to do, but she was hearing things for the 1st time. My bullying wasn't as bad as some of the stories i am hearing now. But 15 years ago, it was bad enough.

Bullying has been going on for a long time. And it's getting worse. It used to be that once you left school for the day you could breathe a sigh of relief. You were home, you were safe. Now, it's in your face every time you open your eyes. From calling on your home phone to your cell phone, to txting, to IMing, to e-mail, Facebook, Myspace, BLOGGING!! All of these things can be used as a means to bully and harass. And it's driving more and more kids to a brink they have never before experienced. I have read about 5 different stories in the last 2 weeks, where kids have committed suicide as a result of extreme bullying. This is 5 kids to many. Bullying is NOT part of life and growing up.

I am one of many right now, that is asking for bullying to stop. Parents need to open their eyes and see how their child is being treated.....Or how they are treating other kids. Take the action that needs to be taken to protect your kids.

And to those of you being bullied, being picked on, and being beat up after school. THIS is not the best you will ever have. Stay strong, and speak up tell someone about it. Let them know it's happening. Don't think your alone, find your voice. Don't think ending your life is the best choice you can make. Living well is the best revenge. Do it for a long long time.

~Sam

Weekend

This weekend was very nice. Yesterday the boys and I did a couple errands and hung out while Eric worked. We had some friends over Saturday night, so I made a roast that I cooked to perfection, even had a lil pink right in the middle for me. Gravy was a pain though, I put all my stuff into the blender, blend it, go to take it out of the bottom, and the whole bottom of the container stuck, I had 450 degree gravy EVERYWHERE, on my FRESHLY cleaned floor ( I swear I am never cleaning it again, ever) all over the counter, the dishwasher, ugh such a mess. But we fixed it, and it was great. We played some bump it, and totally killed the new kid. We also tried a new drink i saw on the food network. Vodka Mojitos. AWESOME!! And cheap, except for the Mint, you probably have all the stuff you need all the time……the simple syrup is sweet enough that it covers the vodka (which is why it's awesome) I used bottled lime juice, and it was still very tasty.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/vodka-mojito-recipe/index.html

So after playing bump-it last night, we decided to take a lil trip to the wizard’s chest and get some new ones ;-) not to get rid of what we have, but to add to them, give people more choices. I was kinda disappointed with the selection, but I bought what they had. Of course now, I have to get bags to put them in.

Then we went to country buffet because Aragorn LOVES that place, and we all enjoyed a nice lunch together. It was pretty cool, when we walked in, there was nothing but a sea of green BTU’s. Eric said he talked to one of the guys and he said they go there about once a month. I wish I could have gotten a picture, but by the time we got settled they had left. I was very amazed though at how people treated them. They moved aside, or gave up their place in line. There was one guy that was thanking all of them, individually. It was pretty cool. Otherwise not to much here. Hung around. Eric watched star wars with the boys tonight, I got pictures!!! So awesome……….