Zonked (A to Z)

Wow! April 30th. I can't wait to do this again next year... Hopefully I'll be in a calmer and more peaceful place mentally.

But I finished the challenge despite everything going on. Very satisfying... I didn't get to visit many other blogs, I've got the list though and am going to visit every one of them eventually.

Siobain was home sick today and I feel beat up. We're both zonked! And I'm ready for some hubby cuddles.

Congrats to my fellow bloggers, it's wonderful to feel part of the pack.

Yaba-dabba-doo

We are late getting on the Smallville wagon so our episodes come from Netflix. Caitlin had to stop watching a couple seasons ago because the show has gotten too racey.

Anyway, this disc introduced the character the Green Arrow... Who is quite a cutie! I was trying to get Siobain to agree with me but she was standing strong that Russia from Hetalia was better looking. And then Hubby piped up that he had a crush on Betty Rubble.

They both laughed at me when I said those didn't count because they weren't real... Like the Green Arrow.

Betty Rubble, whatever! She's a married woman!

I added the "kryptonite" filter in honor of the not-real superman.

X marks the spot (A to Z)

Today my baby girlie turned 9!!! Oh my, it does not feel like it's been that long since we brought her home from the hospital.

Her birthday party is next weekend but we had our own party tonight too... nothing says par-tay like Chick-fil-A!

This is the only photo I have of all the girlies...

as usual, no one is looking the same direction.

This whole evening was very spur-of-the-moment. The girlies wanted to go see the Pirate Captain movie and for sure we wanted cousins E and M to come.  Then we decided to meet for a quick dinner... So I called to let my sister Siobain know so she wouldn't be left out... and all the cousins were able to be together!

"X" = ME left behind in the parking lot!

Xanthippe, an ill tempered woman... 

I've drawn a diagram.  I met the family straight from work, so we had two cars at Chick-fil-a.  We decided to all drive in one car across the street to the theater, 'cause there parking lot is c-r-a-z-y!

But... hubby forgot me. Sigh... and laughed about it.  I'll get even ;)

The movie was okay.  Not great.  The older girlies loved it but when Mia said it was time to go I was more than happy to sit in the lobby with her.  We had some quality time.

How beautiful are my girlies!

Caitlin had a very fancy cake that Hubby picked out.  He went to 3 stores to find one that was just right! I need to start baking again, I do feel a little guilty that she didn't get a home-made cake.

Well, except for being left in the parking lot, the day was really great!

Nightmares...

Middle of the night
Thoughts swirl in tornado style
Havoc in my mind

Work (A to Z)

I love my job. So much variety. So much satisfaction. (And yes, sometimes so much stress.) But if I were lucky enough to keep this job for the rest of my life... That would be good.

Since I am a home-body, almost recluse, much of my "social" interactions happen at work. I'm very fortunate to have a few girlfriends to occasionally have lunch with... They accept my quirks, or at least put up with them ;) and lighten my days. And there are an additional handful of people who are so much fun to work with, talk to, and take 2 minute breaks with. And then there is everyone else... An amazing company full of good people. All working for the greater good and most trying to have fun while doing it.

One trio has dismantled a section of their adjourning cubicles so that they can... target practice... Throughout the day. I love it when I hear the zip of a rubber-band flying and then the crack when the target is hit.

But not to worry... Safety first, the guy in the middle cubicle wears a helmet!

Valuable Toys (A to Z)

I remember Caitlin's first birthday... She received all these amazing toys but the only thing she was interested in were the boxes.

It makes me happy that she can still enjoy a box... Sometimes you don't need to "think outside the box" to be creative.

Uranus (A to Z)

Caitlin is working on a solar system project for school. Her planet is Neptune and today she checked out a library book with lots of pictures and information comparing all the planets.

I walked into the house to hear my husband say the lamest of all lame Uranus jokes. Then he looked up at me and said "it never gets old."

Sigh... I had several different "U" topics to tie into my day... But this the one that I "opened the door and walked right into" as they say.

Tests (A to Z)

Tis the night before S.T.A.A.R test...

... And all through the house, filled with daughters and my spouse, was the moaning and chattering of my two little girls. One of them fine and ready to sleep, the other one threatening to hurl.

Caitlin has been worrying so much about this test... I finally told her it didn't matter if she just wanted to randomly fill in the dots. I won't win mother of the year, but my baby will get some sleep.

Saturday (A to Z)

Hubby and the girlies let me sleep late today, but not too late, we had to celebrate!

My super smart students made straight A's!

Straight A's mean a lunch out and a trip to the bookstore!

The girlies chose Chili's... mainly because of the desert.

Due to the extreme lack of lady-like-eating the last time we ordered this desert I implemented a new rule.  You can't reach for another bite until you have counted to ten... it worked!

This super cool spaceship car was parked at the first bookstore.

We were able to listen to the new Muppets Soundtrack twice while we drove around.

There is a Camilla and the Chicken's version of "Forget You"... Since it is all clucked I think it is probably the F*ck You version... Get it? Cluck and F*ck?  Anyway, made me giggle.

Rough Ruff (A to Z)

I'm a survivor... I'm goin' to make it... Destiny's Child's lyrics running through my head started at 3:30 today. Followed by the longest drive home ever, not according to the clock.

Insecurity reared it's ugly head this morning. I was able to push it down most of the day, but as my workload wound down insecurity and doubt came by for a cup of tea. Those devils that try to take hold of me.

What a blue, watered-down world I'm sharing during the A to Z challenge... But I really wanted to stay true to my "this is my life" blog, I usually have a way more entertaining life.

Anywho, after a rough day I came home to where my heart is. I loved to see that there is a wild game of Star Wars Monopoly going on...

And later Caitlin made me an origami dog, turning my rough day into a ruff day! (That's a happy "ruff" with a tail wag.)

Q (A to Z)

"What am I going to do for Q?"

"Q? I bet I could find a Vocaloid song that begins with Q, and you can rant about how much you hate it," my oldest girlie offers.

Smarty pants!

For your listening pleasure, Qualia...

Actually... this ones not bad.

A grin for my admission.

Peace (A to Z)

I measured me a$$ today. With an orange, plastic, 12-inch ruler. I share because it gave me a giggle.

That does relate to my topic... eventually.

I am fortunate to have insurance that covers visits to a counselor, which I need... and everyone should be lucky enough to have. Vera has helped me improve my life in so many ways, as I've mentioned on my blog before, but there is still lots of work for us to do.

As a quick side note, I know several people who have visited with Vera and then "their time was up"... She'd helped them with what they needed and told them they were welcome to come back if they ever needed her again. She didn't try to milk the system, she truly wants the best for her clients... Including not taxing their wallets unnecessarily.

Of late I have been anxious beyond even my "normal." It is causing me to gain even more weight, constant headaches and neck pain, and an inability to rest (even with a powerful sleep prescription.) At my last appointment Vera worked with me to calm me down... We couldn't get anything else done in my state of anxiety. She taught me a calming technique and I finally found some peace and was even able to sleep last night!

I did this again at lunch today. I went to me car, opened the windows to the breeze, set my alarm and got to work!

In thirty minutes my alarm woke me up and my head pain was gone. I was refreshed for the afternoon of work... Well, kind of refreshed...

... I was a ball of sweat, I'll have to find an alternative to my car in this Texas heat :)

All of this has inspired me to get back into yoga. Once upon a time I would do 45-90 minutes of yoga a day. I remember when my little girl would say "It's time for yogi mommy!" I'd be in the middle of downward-facing-dog and she would scoot under me and do it too.  I finally had to get a mat just for her! I loved all six of my Yoga Zone DVDs.  Unfortunately, if I tried to do any of those in my current physical state I would end up breaking both knees and my back... But I found a yoga DVD for "plus size" peeps, it arrives Friday and I can't wait! AND a larger yoga mat (here's where the ruler played into my day) so that I can yoga more comfortably.

Even Froggy is excited! (He's doing the lotus)

Ironically... while I was finding peace today I was wreaking havoc at home!  I forgot to remind hubby that I had a shoot tonight.  By the time I turned my phone back on I had 17 missed calls, tons of text messages, and a sister on the way to my office. I did not bring peace to my family tonight!

I called hubby right away (he was not a happy camper!)  He called my sister Sarah and called off the search, she was already half-way to my office.

I was able to call Gorgeous a few minutes later to let her know it was a false alarm and I am really sorry.  Next was my sister Siobain... who said she almost went into labor with worry (I'm really praying she doesn't go into labor tonight!) And then I called Sarah... who was totally cool about the whole thing and even made me laugh. She said "It would be just like one of us to run out of gas with a dead cell phone... and you probably would have sprained your ankle earlier in the day."

I'll have to be more diligent about calling hubby before an evening shoot so he doesn't worry.  I want him to have peace too.

One and Only! (A to Z)

Hubby is oblivious to anything else when he's with his guitar... Not just "playing" but also if he's just holding it.

He'll obnoxiously (I say with affection) talk about the three tone sunburst on the body of the guitar until your eyes cross.

But I will always love my odd, obliging, optimistic, original, outstanding, optimistic, offbeat, oblivious and obnoxious hubby!

He's my one and only twu luv.

Nurturing Creativity (A to Z)

One of the many reasons I love my hubby is how well he nurtures creativity in our girlies.

Why play with a toy someone else packaged when we can create our own? Why watch a Barbie movie when we can create our own story? Why speak English when we can create our own language?

After school today hubby and the girlies held an auction. Kitty, a painting, and my pill bag were some of the items up for sale.

Kitty went to the high bidder at a steal for $1,250.00. If I know my girlies this was a very exciting auction.

M.I.A Mommy (A to Z)

It's very hard to come up with a blog post when I've slept all day. No mommy awards for me.

I was visited by Super Cookie, the most adorable, flying, super-girl around. (And her trusty daddy, the "wind beneath" her cape... Since he flew her everywhere duty called.)

I especially love the goggles she added to her costume.

I am the luckiest Mommy in the world to still get so much love on a day I've gone M.I.A.!

LOVE (A to Z)

Kathleen's Day (A to Z)

AWKWARD

Yes, I was sitting in this chair when it broke.

This was the highlight of an extremely awkward day.

No need to share the other awkward moments when I have a gem like this one.

Kathleen is Awkward

every possible way

speech movement and thought

Jewelry (A to Z)

Nope, didn't get any jewelry and didn't make any jello as proposed in my A to Z promo video... we're doing the hand JIVE instead!

Over Easter the girlies where playing hand-clapping routines.  My sister Sarah and I were laughing out-of-control as we tried to remember the ones from our childhood.  The kind of laughter that sets your soul free and makes everything better. (But our laughter is kinda loud... so we were stopped before we could completely remember the moves.)

The next day Caitlin taught me "double, double, this, that" and I have been bugging her ever since to see how many rounds we can do without stopping.

Tonight Honey and Caitlin hand jived in the back yard.

Yes, I know hand jive is a specific routine... but we're going to give me a break :)

Drum roll....

You've probably seen this, it's one of those viral videos, but I love it! My favorite hand jive ever... Cleary & Harding!

Independent (A to Z)

My baby is becoming so independent.  She's respectful and smart and kind... and becoming her own person. With her own tastes in music and literature and...

Sigh.  I'm so proud of my girlie.  She has more confidence at 13 than I have at 38. 

"Because I'm the mom."

"Because I said so."

How often have I heard those lines in teen-movies, where the overbearing mom just doesn't "get" it? And now I'm THAT person? 

She's right. I don't "get" anime.  Plus, I have a real concern about the fact that the genre can go from "PG" innocence to "R" violence and sex on the same bookshelf. 

And it has a language of it's own.  Last night she said "sld skfj;ldkf slkfj;ls dlkfldka woefin" and laughed. Sharing a joke with me... that I did not understand one word of.

I look to hubby for help. "What did she just say?"

Hubby took her to the anime convention last weekend.  (Lot's of drama leading up to that as I was completely opposed to the trip.) Anyway... apparently she wore her halloween costume to the event...

Honey, "Russia", Honey's Friend

Apparently "Russia" is a character and you can take pictures with them just like at disneyland... why doesn't it feel the same?

(This stuffed animal creeps me out.)

So, I've decided that I have to dive in with both feet.  Although I've done research on certain anime/manga series, looked up rating systems and had hubby read the books... I have not tried enough to participate in her interest because it is something I am so uninterested in, I've only gone far enough to make sure she's safe. New beginning, I'm going to pick up a graphic novel, listen to her music (this is true love), and try to relate.

Then, when I say "no" it won't be followed by "because I said so"... I'll be able to discuss issues instead of dictating.

Although I reserve the right to dictate... she's not that independent yet!

Handyman Hubby (A to Z)

"Just keep swimming" was my motto today.  I struggled to keep my head and spirits above water.  I need to sit down and watch Finding Nemo with my girlies again.  Get my head on straight.  But for now Dory's "just keep swimming" helped me make it home.

Hubby was super excited about his handyman-ness...

The shower has been dripping for a couple of weeks.  Hubby bought and installed a new shower head, but when that didn't solve the problem he "wah-wah wah-ah wah" (charlie brown adult-voice) and used YouTube to take apart the shower and fix the drip. Hurray!

Quote of the day "Don't 'dude' your daddy"... I've got a teenager.

:)K

Easter

Girlies Haiku (A to Z)

Girlies are my joy

Five gifts from God almighty

Loved and blessed

Friday (A to Z)

Good Friday.

I didn't go to Stations of the Cross.  I hope I can go next year.  I am confident I will be able to go next year.

Today Hubby and Honey went on their big convention trip.  Caitlin decided to stay home with me and we are having so much fun together! Tonight we went over to Gorgeous' tree house with the cousins.

The little girlies colored eggs and I ordered too many pizzas with way too much sauce. (I didn't think there was too much sauce, that's how I like my pizzas.)

Gorgeous and Sarah put out the egg dye and the girlies had so much fun!

Caitlin's green egg with a rabbit drawn on it.

One of Mia's eggs was accidentally crushed... But the older girlies fixed it with tape.

LOL!

The usually very active Gorgeous has been stuck in the house since her foot surgery.  She's been playing a game called "Bubble Shooter" and has become addicted.  She said today was her last time to play... and she kept the screen up to show her very high score... I didn't point out to her that she is in "Novice" play mode. But it is giving me a HUGE giggle.

Exhausted (A to Z)

I am exhausted!  But in a good way.  I started the day laughing before I even got out of bed.  And that set the tone for the day.

On the drive to school this morning I was trying to figure out what "e" topic I was going to work into my day.  The girlies thought we should skip work/school and go to the zoo to visit the elephants. That brills plan didn't work on me.

I worked so hard today and for 13 hours.  SO "e" is for exhausted! Because I am tired and was worried I wouldn't make it home in time to write this very short post :)

Today was "hat day" at Honey's school. She l-o-v-e-s this hat...

... I hate this hat. But I sure do love the girlie wearing it.

Dog, Dork, Disgusting, Derrick (A to Z)

This is my handsome boy. Everyone should have such a loving companion.

I'm feeling a little sappy today... Writing this at lunch on a day full of anxiety and paranoia, just thinking about cuddling my Spartacus makes me want to run home where he'll be so happy to see me.

I love hubby and my girlies more than I can express. But Spartacus is my one and only handsome boy.

He is also brills and has a blog of his own, I Am Spartacus. I don't write this blog but I wish I was that fun and clever. His ghost writer makes me happy, sharing Spartacus' personality with posts. Check it out, I hope you like it as much as I do.

Sooo... That was the dog and here is the dork.

reenactment of actual event

Yes, this was me this morning. My plan had been to send a photo to the dentist since I couldn't leave work... Apparently my mouth is not as big as people think... Yes, it's big enough to fit an iPhone with an Otter Box case on it but not big enough to give enough room to focus.

Which leads us to the grooosssss...

See? All out of focus.  This is tooth #18 and the hole that previously held tooth #19 (numbered according to the Web Dental Office). If it were in focus you would see that SOME of that mess in #19 is stitching... it's the other stuff I wanted clarified.

This whole attempt made me giggle and I seriously doubt anyone will every ask to borrow my phone after this post.

And now onto the derrick...

Honey is doing a great job creating her derrick... now that she has a glue gun. Hubby tried to get her to do it with super glue, the man knows nothing about crafts. It's a good thing he's funny :)

Craving (A to Z)

Today's post was going to be about the camel someone has grazing with their cows in my mostly suburban area... But I'm sidetracked by the craving to chew food.

It hurts to much to chew... So I'm eating like a dog. No chewing, just swallow.

Macaroni is doable but there is a large intake of air... So... It's been a whole latta mashed potatoes.

In case you ever find yourself looking for mashed potatoes I've ranked them according to my preference:

Boston Market
Popeye's
Red, Hot, and Blue
Boston Market (sweet potato)
Kentucky Fried Chicken

I've also been able to do pudding, jello, and yogurt. Oh, and a shake the other day, but it's just not as fun when you can't use a straw.

My girlie Kate, who doesn't have many teeth is able to chew more than I am.

Although she gets stuff pretty soggy first. I might try that!

In other news... Big storms today. My littlest girlie had to get under her desk because of the tornadoes. There was lots of crying.

My sister's car took a beating, which is why I got to see my little Kate!

When we drove her car the block to her office the back windshield caved in.  We used her office's... industrial strength saran-wrap to secure the car. LOL! I wish I had thought to take a picture of the car, but Kate was ready to go.

Hope everyone is safe!

Book Challenge (A to Z)

I found this great challenge 12 Books in 12 Months over at The Armchair Squid while visiting other A to Z Challenge bloggers.  Even though the post was from June 2011 I decided to take on the challenge!

Be sure to visit The Armchair Squid, my friends, if you would like to do the challenge with me.

Here is my proposed list of books for each category in this challenge, although I reserve the right to change as the year progresses :)

A classic work of children's literature... The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams

A book you have re-read more than once... and just read again... Odd Hours, Dean Koontz

A book for which you have already seen the movie... The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson

A book for which you have not already seen the movie... The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

A book you read because you wanted to laugh... Then We Came to the End, Joshua Ferris

A tear-jerker... My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult

A book you really don't want to read but everyone keeps raving about it... The Help, Katheryn Stockett

A book from a genre you don't normally read... The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Bauby

A book about or set in your favorite place... Night Kill, Ann Littlewood

A book by someone with your same initials... Born into Greyworld, Kathleen Medina (I did one better than someone with my initials! I found someone with my NAME!)

Your mom/dad/sister/brother's favorite book... Tortilla Flat, John Steinbeck

A book that has been banned... In Cold Blood, Truman Capote

Someone tried to trick me into put one of her books on my list.

Bwahahahaha... didn't work.

Some of these books I've never heard of... and some I should have read long ago.  I'll have to save Odd Hours to follow up a book I don't like as much :)

Let me know if you are going to join this challenge!

April Fool (A to Z)

Today is the first day of the A to Z Challenge! I was a little worried because I am not feeling up-to-par today.  I still have pain from my teeth pulling extravaganza and not a lot of energy with an all-liquid diet, so my planned "Art" events were going to be canceled.

Oh dear, what am I going to do!  No fear.  I forgot about the fool I live with :)

(Caitlin is a brills stylist!)

Hubby made a very lame attempt at an "April Fools" day joke.  "I have 2 stay (at work) till 4"... unfortunately for him I was in a pain-med-induced nap... ha! He had to call the girlies to see if I got the text. From there he was the goofy hubby that I love... until...

Don't joke about shakes with a pain-induced-liquid-diet wife! 

Shakes are no laughing matter!

But he's cuddling me the rest of the day... so he's forgiven.