Anniversary

Fifteen years ago this hunk above cried his eyes out when he saw me.  He will neither confirm nor deny if it was love or horror that brought those tears to the surface.  Yet he has stuck it out.  He always knows just the thing to do.  He truly is my Superman.  I have always been completely taken care of.  He makes me laugh.  He makes me feel safe.  He knows when to joke and when I need serious.  He's always got me covered. He has brought more to my life than I could have ever managed on my own.

Every moment with him has been spectacular because they all add up to now.  And when the last day comes, it will never be enough.  All I will want is another day.  I love you.

I Bit The Bullet

     Er, that is a picture that I took while I was waiting to board my ship to paradise....the boarding happened to be much later than expected.
      Something else I didn't really expect.  I pulled Jack out of school.  There wasn't one big reason.  I have wanted to homeschool all of the kids for a long time.  He was being overlooked and not challenged.  And he HATED school.  HATED it.  I felt like I owed him to try something else since four continual years of hating 75% of his day didn't ever make him wake up with a different attitude.  I knew it would be a challenge.  Still...I didn't really expect what I got.
      We quickly formed a sweet little co-op of our own with two other families and two fun mamas.  The kids are pretty awesome and it is nice to have a group for the male child to hang with, especially around holidays.  We meet on a weekly basis and have a fun project which the kids get through with gritted teeth so that they can move on to challenging each other on the Wii (yuck).
     For the first few days while Jack and I were on our own, it was like all of the dreams I had about homeschooling.....except for the missing ten other children and the long farm table.  I tested him out of 3rd grade and moved him on to some other things that didn't glass over his eyes.  He read, he wrote, he did algebra.  And then the honeymoon adjourned rather quickly.  Despite how terrifying and wicked mean I find myself, Jack is not ruffled or intimidated.  I hate it.  If I don't have intimidation I have nothing.  Even love doesn't pack the punch pure meanness does.  Jack and I are a poor personality match.  I pray that someday he finds a girl just like his dad that can put up with the shear amounts of stubborn that spit out of him like lava.  He has yet to actually win one of our scuffles.....but he is getting close.  Ssh don't tell him.  I'll flat out let it be known I dream about starting to drink.
     All of the field trips, organic learning in situation, brain bending science experiments, leading Jack to find internal motivation, and break out literary adventures......they are in the crapper and I am about ready to flush.  I think my expectations were too high.  I think learning is so fun.  I want it to be amazing and exciting.  I think he should pick up on whatever I present him before I am even finished.  I think that I don't want to have to stand behind him with a bull whip and physically press him into doing a teeny weeny bit of work. 
     At this present moment it is 4:38 p.m. mountain standard time.  He has done nothing more than eek out a few words of writing.  He has yet to attempt his math.  He did not read anything.  There was no science experiment.  He did however move all of the chairs from one room to another, make cup upon cup of chocky moomie for Max, play football with Max, make two meals for himself, poke me everytime he walked by, help unload groceries, and explain a movie that I haven't seen.  And still......still! Even though I want to drown myself or put my passport to good use by disappearing.......I STILL think that for right now, this is a better choice for Jack than going to an organized school institution.

Is Your Mamma Gonna Miss Ya Now You're Gone?

The incident occured Sunday October 31st around 0530.   The only witnesses to the crime were the handsome couple toodling down I-15.  The children were rendered unconscious from hours of Halloween partying and sugar withdrawl.

Witness statements.....
     Officer Handsome:  I think a jackrabbit just jumped in front of us.
     Lovely Lady:  What the *&^%$#@!  Aahahaha!  Something just flew at us!

Despite the dark nature of the night sky Officer Handsome signals and moves to the right.  Upon reaching the off-ramp he completes his stop and exits the SUV with an LED flash light.  He examines the bloodless carnage and returns to debrief.  Handing over the flashlight to Lovely Lady, he snickers and insists she should find interesting the scene at the front of the vehicle.  With much trepidation and a sense of foreboding, she rounds the SUV and finds herself face to carcass with an extremely large, and quite substantially dead owl.  Having known this is what she would find, she shrieks with pride, "I told you so!".  Then with the fear of God like ice water in her soul.....she runs down the off ramp pawing at the arteries in her own neck and shielding her ears from her own terrified screams.  It appears to be a case of suicide by SUV/Cop.

The body remains afixed with a rigid determination to the front of the vehicle.  Upon reaching Cedar City and the breaking of dawn across the morning sky, they were able to peer into the dead yellow eyes of the owl.  Contemplating removal of the body from the grill, their decision was made by the quickly growing crowd of excited Asian tourists.  The handsome couple were forced to move on with the corpse still firmly implanted, amid the flash of high quality Asain cameras.

The couple made many friends as they crossed Southern Utah, Arizona, the sinful and ugly Nevada, into the unsavory village of Barstow California.  People love to be entertained as they drive the Godforsaken desert.  This day, their dreams were realized.  Many hand gestures, smiles, gasps, and screams were exchanged.  For the few tenderhearted still remaining in the soul parched Nevada, there were tears shed as the owl triumphantly sped at great speeds, past their waning vehicles.

Upon entering Barstow, the town where life no longer has meaning, the handsome couple prepared to lay their new friend to rest.  Lovely Lady retrieved her secret stash of surgical gloves, secreted away in the secret compartment, for a scene such as this that she secretly knew would happen one day.  Pressing them into the caring, yet strong and manly hands of Officer Handsome, she exclaimed, "Don't touch that foulness with your bare hands!"  The bird was swiftly removed with little trouble, despite it's ability to ride the grill through four states.  Pictures were taken to document the momentous occasion.  The bird was toed by Officer Handsome just to be sure no signs of life remained after the arduous journey.  Nope, it was truely dead.  It was time for goodbyes and a few photo ops from the new crowd gathering at the Carl's Jr.  Farewell friend that gave us such memories!  Farewell.

Day #19 Nicknames I Have And Why I Have Them

Mariah: The name of the Wind in 'Paint Your Wagon'. It's an awesome western where this chick ends up with 2 hubbies during the California Gold Rush. Not really sure why my family decided to call me this but here are some of the lyrics of the song.

Away out here they got a name
For rain and wind and fire
The rain is Tess, the fire Joe,
And they call the wind Maria


Maria blows the stars around
And sends the clouds a flyin'
Maria makes the mountains sound
Like folks were up there dying

Out here they got a name for rain
For wind and fire only
But when you're lost and all alone
There ain't no word but lonely

And I'm a lost and lonely man
Without a star to guide me
Maria blow my love to me
I need my girl beside me


 Mariechka:  Throwing in a little Hungarian/Croatian to round things out.  My family used to tell my sister/cousin and I that we were Hungarian princesses.  Long story.  Sort of true.


Amyah:  This one is from my Grandma.

Soup:  This came from my maiden name.  One of my friends in Jr. High called me Peasoup and shortened it to Soup.

Pizza:  This is a given.  Most people mispronounce my maiden name and don't say Peezee, but Peck zuh, which I guess is like pizza to most children.

Easy Peczuh:  Hilarious considering my minimal dating history.  This would be like calling a tall fat man Tiny.

Ame or Ames:  This obviously comes straight from Amy shortened to one syllable for those of us that can't roll that second syllable off of our tongues.  I like these.

Maloo and Pooger:  From my dad.

Amarie: From my mama.  It combines my first and middle name.

Babe:  I am pretty partial to this one.

Mama:  My fave.

Day #18 Plans, Dreams, Goals

Plans:  Eat a lot of Chinese food.  Read a lot of books.  Love a lot of people.  Do a little good.  Be a great Momma.  Be an excellent wife.  Fight to the finish.

Dreams:  Getting a good nights sleep.  Eating food that is magically devoid of calories.  Learning to play the violin or the piano.  Writing something.  Taking a hot bath.  Reading a book that makes me laugh and cry.  Amazing vacations.  Abs and triceps.  Homeschooling.

Goals:  Finishing the yard.  Journaling.  Scripture reading.  Cleaning the kitchen counter.  Making my bedroom into an oasis.

Day #17 Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

I truly find myself hysterical sometimes.  I stalled on this challenge.  Too much pressure to preform. 

I struggle right now whether to be straight about my answer here or not.  There are lots of people that I wouldn't mind trying their life out for a day.  I could live with being rich, I could live with having toned glutes and abs.  Frankly I could live with being Max, which would mean drinking chocolate milk and hanging out naked all day.  I wouldn't even mind being the wife o' my crush of the day.  But if truth be told I would like to be someone.....and I don't even know who she is.......that has the energy to do it all; be a fantastic, sweet tempered mother, a smoking hot wife, a real Betty in the kitchen, the skill to bring all of my home decorating fantasies to fruition, the wherewithall to squeeze in some sort of intense jump training workout, and the baffling ability to be lead by the Spirit in all my doings....to know what it would be like to be able to do the right thing without feeling like every step I took wasn't happening underwater with weights around my extremities....to have peace in my home and in my heart, to not struggle with feeling like I am tempted beyond my capacity at every turn.  I don't know who this person is.....but I wouldn't mind being her for a day.  P.S. It would really be icing on the cake if she had great hair to boot.

Day #16

 

Day #16 another picture of myself.

This is me when I was about 6 I am guessing......along with my baby brother Jim and he is 3ish.  I was raised by pirates if you were wondering.

Day #15

Day #15 Ipod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs.....

1.  Prayer   by Bon Jovi
2.  It Don't Matter to The Sun   by Garth Brooks
3.  Cowboy  by Kid Rock
4.  Unbelieveable  by EMF
5.  Not That Different   by Collin Raye
6.  I Love To See The Temple  children's song book
7.  Is Your Mama Gonna Miss You   by Bryan Adams
8.  Cool Water   by Mary Robbins
9.  Please Don't Go Girl........eeep!  NKOTB
10.  Need You Now ...Lady A

Well that was uneventful........it didn't get anything new on there.  Strange, very strange indeed.

Day #14

Day #14 A picture of my family and I. 

Day #13

Day #13  A letter to someone that has hurt me recently.

Dear Bread Bowl,
     You crusty little sucker with your pious smirk.  Your insides are soft and delicious.  You hold things I greatly desire; chicken salad, creamy soups.  You tempt me despite the high caloric intake.  My weakness for you is repaid with your injurous crust slicing through my tender thumb.  You will live long enough to regret this....as I rip you piece by piece to feed to the birds off of the pier.
                                                                                      Ever,
                                                                                               A

Day #12

Day 12  How I found out about blogger and why I have one.   I found out about blogger from one of my non-pictured friends.  I have blogs 1) as a journal, 2) to make snide comments on, 3) to log what I read because I read so much that I forget what I have read.

Day 11

Day #11 Another picture of me and my friends.....
I suspect this challenge was meant for a high school kid.  I mean seriously, if you go by my number of friends based on the amount of pictures I have.......I have no friends.  I don't often stop to pose while I am talking mom shop.  So here is a picture.  A picture I should be ashamed that I am using. 

Day #10

Day #10 Songs I listen to when I'm happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad...

I'm like a music mutt....I listen to just about anything.  It's possible I might even have bad taste.
When I'm happy....I love the song Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.  This song actually covers just about every feeling. I also love songs I can dance to, songs I can sing.  Nickleback, Lady A, Katy Perry, hymns, broadway, Glee....
Sad......Christina Perri's Jar of Hearts, maybe some Hinder and Nickleback too, Evan and Jerron.
Bored.....everything, country, Christian (ya, I will totally listen to Christian Rock), pop, rock, the list goes on.
Hyped.....Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, country, Britney
Mad......more Nickleback lol.

Day #9

Day #9 Something I am proud of in the last few days.

Monday Mads had her little eyeball gouged out at tumbling. Poor nugget had a bad afternoon being rush from doctor to specialist.   I am proud that I held her that night while she fell asleep.
Jack became sick at school.  I drove rather swiftly to his rescue and found him near breaking in the school office.  I am proud that I could be home to take care of him when he needed me.
Riley has felt of late that she is old enough to ride her bike down the street to the park.  I am proud of myself for giving her a cell phone with instructions to run screaming if anyone looks at her......and then letting her ride her bike out of the driveway.......
Max has been tired and had a stuffy nosy, and even though I needed to clean the house for the appraiser and pack for Disneyland, I made him choccy moomie and snuggled on the couch.  Yep, I'm proud of that too.

Day #8

Day #8 Short term goals for the months.  This is my kind of challenge:)  Three days left in the month make it much more likely that I can hammer this out.

1. Dispose of dead bodies.
2.  Make soup for Trunk or Treat.
3. Eat Chinese food.
4.  Launder every stitch of clothing not being worn or put away.
5.  Trick or Treat
6.  Halloween party
7.  Pack for 6 people for 7 days.
8.  Finish reading 'Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer'.
9.  Drive to Disneyland:)

Day #7

 

Day #7 A picture of someone or something that has had the biggest impact on you.

So what, I'm gonna break the rules.  I am naming at least 5.  This is my journal and this is how I want to journal it.

Ri is my first baby and that definitely impacted my life.  I will never be the same shallow person roaming the world without a point.  Having kids gave me much more focus, deeper understanding of life, and made me take the spiritual side of my life much less flippantly. Riley is my right hand.  She is a great sister and a good buddy for me. 

Jacks helped me understand boys better.  They need a lot more physical attention.  Jack was another limb on my body until he was about 4 years old.  Jack has a deeply sensitive side that I feel the urge to protect and yet I wish I could toughen him up so that he didn't feel so intensly.  I can see a lot of myself and my parents in Jack.  It's helped me to appreciate my mom and dad more.

Ah, my little piece of ham, my little Maddy Cat.  Before Miss M was born I had a blessing that said she would bring me so much joy.  Boy was that ever true.  She is funny, beautiful, and a screaming genius.  This kid has it all......except for the good eye sight.  I wish I could attribute all of the good parts of Mads to my fantastically honed mothering skills but this kid has taught herself everything; getting dressed, tying her shoes, riding a bike, putting on makeup, reading........this chicklet is the total package. 

I have never been more tired than when I look at this picture of Max.  Max is in constant motion.  He is his own law of physics.  He is sweet and sunny, mean and devious, and super funny.  He asks me all of the time if the cars he sees really transform.  Everytime I say that I don't think so and he answers in return that he does think so.  He's my little bitty baby.  The last of the greatest souls ever sent this way.

That's my guy:)  He's eating a Happy Meal shot.  That would be a complete Happy Meal blended together to make a tasty, vomit inducing treat.  He did it because I thought it would be funny and he likes to make me happy.  He spends a lot of time making me happy.  He impacts my life everyday.  He keeps me on the straight and narrow.  I would surely not be the person that I am (for good or bad) without his constant love and encouragement.  Frankly kids.......he's a stud.

Not pictured are my parents.  They have been fantasticly loving.  I think of how much patience my mom had when I was little and wonder why I didn't inherit any.  I see what an upstanding man my dad is and hope to ever be that smart and have that much integrity.  It has been the best thing in the world to see them as grandparents.  Watching them be happy because ALL of their awesome grandkids has really done my old heart good.

Last but not least, something I am pretty tight lipped about.  The thing that has impacted my life in a big way is my faith.  Ya, I actually have some.  Without the knowledge that I have of eternal concepts, I would be a quivering heap.  It helps center me to be able to see the big picture and know that everything and everyone I  love will go on.  I can mess up with every step I take and I'll still be okay.  I don't have to be perfect.  I can't be perfect.

Day #6

Day #6 My favorite super hero.

I seriously love Wonder Woman.  Great hair, snappy boots, small waiste.........and the ability to super jump and make people tell the truth. Ooo ooo, can't forget the ability to change clothes by spinning.   I spent hours pretending to be Wonder Woman when I was little.  I once made a bionic jump from my bed with such power that I drove my knee into my nose and rendered myself bloody and helpless for an afternoon.  I sometimes contemplate purchasing an outfit like that and wearing it all day.  I think it would really give me the drive I need to finish the laundry.  I pretty much covet her rope of truth.  I would love to take people out to an old wooden shack and tie them up and ask them all sorts of questions.  Bahaha......the power!

Day #5

Day #5 A picture of a place I've been......
Obviously I don't get out much.  This is a picture of Buffalo Bill's in Nevada.  We stopped there on our previous trips to Disneyland.  This would be the buffalo shaped pool and also Jack's favorite part of the trip.  Yep, that's right.  I forked out a couple grand and this is what my kid liked.

Day #4

A Habit I Wish I Didn't Have.......

I'm sure I've spoken of it before, but he actual diagnosis is Horizontal Stacking Disorder with a side of Cleaning Imposed Attention Deficit.....
I love clean counter tops with a bowl of fruit and vintage canisters, but I don't have them.  I love a clean and stylish night stand with a mod lamp and my cool jewelry stand, but I don't have one.  I adore a clean dresser top with a picture of my Nuggets, but I don't have that either. 
Instead I have counter tops covered with homework and tons of little kid art and recipes.  My night stand is covered in scriptures, a dictionary, a mammoth load of books.  And my dresser is covered in Max's movies and loose change.
In theory I can clean all of those things but going from beginning to end is exhausting.  I get so sidetracked by wanting to put EVERYTHING away at one time that it gets nutty. I run from room to room and in every room find something new to clean. 
So I just live with the bad habit.

Day #3

A picture of me and my friends.  My girl Jodi.  My sista Joey.  My friend Heather.  This is the best I could do in the picture department.  Cabo Wabo in Vegas, with food to die for and friends too.  The lady that took our picture kept telling us we had great skin.  I guess I can live with that.