The Gambler

In the midst of our vacation we took a rainy day to visit the kennel club, where I was introduced to live poker. I've only seen this type of stuff on tv. I have to admit, I like to play Texas hold em but I am no where near a pro. When my mom came up to me and handed me $20 worth of chips and I heard "Sonia to table 29" I was kind of pushed into it. As I made my way to table 29 holding my $20 poker chips I was thinking of how I could escape to the nearest exit and run but I convinced myself to give it a try. I found my seat at table 29 in between an older gentleman and a woman with a serious poker face- no smile, no hello, nothing. I observed my table to find a guy who looked like Hulk Hogan, at least the hair and mustache, another guy who looked like Mr. Firley from three's company with an old beat up cowboy hat, and several other gentlemen all who I knew were thinking that I was in the wrong place, and I agreed but I was determined to stick this one out for fun. For whatever reason, I felt comfortable until the dealer had to remind me not to splash the pot and to not take my cards off the table. OMG, now I was nervous! But before I left my table I was determined to show these pro's that I am not stupid, I do know how to play with the big guys. And I did! I actually won a hand and it felt GOOD! So I did what I know is the smart thing...I took my winnings and booked it.

By this time Mike and the kids showed up with my dad and we watched the dogs racing. We all had fun watching the dogs run and cheer our favorites on and there is nothing better than the dogs unique names, some of my favorites were breathtakingbabe, nicotine fit, CJC's destroyer, and afternoon delight. So, we decided to make a small wager on the last race.....and we won again!!! The kids (me too) screamed when we saw our 3 favorite dogs come in the order we bet them to. It was a great family afternoon, I just hope I am not creating little greedy monsters =)

Best of Both Worlds

I am lazy sometimes. Everyone needs time to pamper themselves and escape the crazy week at the office or appointments, deadlines, and organizing the house. When I am feeling lazy, I totally give into it...hey, I deserve it! I am a super busy working mom.

But nothing beats lazing around when it's raining outside.
As I look outside the window and watch the drops coming down, I remember why I always love the rain. It’s because I always associate my happy childhood with the rain. I used to love playing in the rain with my cousins and my friends. The rain always forced our family to stay indoors and just be with each other and mom would cook something great! When I grew older, the rain was the best reason to stay at home, take naps, watch a movie or get lost in a good book.

I am currently in Florida at my parents house and it is raining outside.....what a great treat to have both today. I think I will take full advantage.

Our Family Genre

If I had to pick a genre of television show that bests summarizes my life… what would it be?
Hmm, bear with me as I evaluate my options.

Drama: Some days with three little ones it is all about the drama. Even the smallest happening during the day turns into a momentous event that could last for hours. We spill a drink and the chaos begins. Some days, I feel like Lynette Scavo, from Desperate Housewives, who feels overwhelmed with being a working mom, my house is a mess, my kids are running wild and, I just want to cry.
My work days are very similar to an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. (only because I work in a hospital, not because we fool around in the on-call rooms). Working in a hospital, you never know what you are going to walk into at the beginning of your shift, every patient is unique in their own way, you are a part of life and death, and by the end of that long 12 hour shift, all you want to do is sleep! A day in the life of a nurse is very hectic, spur of the moment, and most rewarding job ever (next to be a mother of course) and I love it.
Soap Opera: Nope not a soap opera. I don’t allow negativity in my life, I don’t cause unnecessary drama, and I’m not a stay at home mom that wears heels and full make-up to do the laundry…..hello!!!! My kids really can be Young and Restless, though.
Food Network: I am constantly trying new recipes from all the cooking shows, I am no Paula Dean or Barefoot Contessa but I do try to have home-cooked meals on the table at dinner time on a regular basis. Diners, drive-ins and dives…we are always looking for new restaurants and mom-and-pop diners to try.
HGTV: Designers challenge can best describe me. I usually decorate by finding a picture of my favorite designer room and trying to duplicate it on a budget. Mike can be a regular on the before and after show, he has completely renovated the laundry room, garage, and is now working on our closets. We both work on trying to keep curb appeal and mission organization!
Action: There is always something going on. The kids constantly keep me on my toes, I am always running from here to there. My kids have their moments, you know the ones where they fight like they are competing on the Ultimate Fighting Championships, yeah we have those crazy days.
Reality TV: Sometimes I feel like we are the mini-version of a reality show. Dealing with day to day drama from the kids, neighbors, and family. We are no where near perfect but thankfully, no one is editing my life to pull out the worst and make a big deal out of it. We are very laid back and take each moment and run with it.
Sitcom: Where do I begin? This is very much us. We are probably most like the show Roseanne: a typical, working class family. Roseanne didn’t paint a picture of the perfect family life; instead her family faced hard issues head on. The man is a loving father and husband, often baffled by the bedlam of life. The kids keep life lively and challenging. My husband is a cross between Kevin James in King of Queens and Jim Belushi in According to Jim. He does crazy things sometimes but you have just got to love him. I am a little like Monica on Friends– a little intense sometimes, a good housekeeper, love to host, intelligent and loves her family and friends dearly. Add in a little craziness of The Office and you round out my week.

I guess in the end. The genre that most fits my life is documentary. We are watching and living life as it happens. No edits, just going through day-to-day experiences. Some days you cannot stop the tears, other days are non-stop action, some days you’d like to edit out the “real” you, and other days are just plain pee our pants funny. It’s all about documenting the memories of your life to remember for later.

Let's Walk Together

Walk in my shoes for one single day.
Then you'll see why I need to pray.
Come live in my home for a week or two
So you can realize that I am just like you
I'm not complaining about the stress in my life,
I know that we all have some drudgery and some strife.
But walk with me, when you think I am wrong,
Walk with me and you'll start to belong.
Embrace my sorrows, like they are your own,
And then you will know me and, see I have grown.
The journey I take is different from yours
My life is a walk through unexpected doors,
This road that I travel is not cheerful but long,
If the people who cross my path will join in my song,
Listen to my footsteps and watch me dance
They will know me, like me, and give me a chance.
I don’t ask for the things I’m given
but I did choose this road I have taken
Walk a mile with me hand in hand
Then perhaps you will understand
So have a heart and remember to be to true,
Because our pathways could cross again between me & you.
walk with me kindly when the day is at end
And then I will know I can call you my friend.

Won't You Be My Neighbor ?

Until recently I’ve lived in small towns where everyone knew each other, you graduated with the same kids that you went to Elementary school with and neighborhoods were full of families that shared the similar family values.
I guess I am a June Cleaver at heart but, the neighborly contacts I’d thought existed, like bringing muffins or cookies and housewarming visits are a thing of the past. I know my expectations are unreal, but I was hoping my belief that 'wisteria lane' died decades ago, was not true. And my neighborhood has certainly been a challenge, to say the least.
A good neighbor is rare and does not refer to the person living next door or someone who agrees to pick up your mail while you’re out of town. A neighbor is the person who borrows a cup of sugar then shares the homemade pie. It’s the person who notices you struggling to unload groceries and hurries to help. Or one who simply offers a warm hello when you go check the mailbox.
When I first moved into my new house, I was lonesome for family and friends and decided that I would actively take every opportunity to be a good neighbor. I was on a mission, but with my lack of awareness, I assumed that this would be easy. So, as I went about with my busy mommy life, I would sometimes contemplate the difference between my method of making friends and my desire to know my neighbors.
I must have been very sheltered growing up to believe that most adults are well mannered.

My point?.....
This morning I walked outside and saw a moving truck across the street. One of the nice families has packed their belongings and are gone. Leaving me to wonder what kind of family will live there next. I know I sound a little selfish but, I want another NICE family to move in. I don’t think I could handle another crazy neighbor.
Building camaraderie with the neighbors cannot be accomplished over night, I know that. After all, being a neighbor is more than swapping recipes and sharing iced tea on the back porch.

At The Car Wash....Yeah!

I drive what I call a Dodge Mommy-Van, I am always in it as are several children. I can never keep it clean, every time it is cleaned 10 minutes later I hear "Mommy, someone’s throwing food at me" or "oops mommy, I accidentally spilled my drink". (ughhh)

Okay, so we just came home from our beach vacation and since we drove, my mommy-van was filthy and had bugs stuck all over the windshield. It’s bad enough to drive the ‘mommy-van’ but a dirty one, oh no! The drive thru carwash was not going to cut it this time, Florida bugs are hard to get off and my van hasn't had a good scrubbing in a long time.

It is so hot outside....

and I can’t do another hot pool day with the kids. So I grabbed some sponges and some sunscreen and we headed outside for a ‘fun’ car wash day (yeah, the kids fell for that) and we all had a blast! The kids worked hard scrubbing and squirting each other with the water hose and they did an amazing job; I wasn't worried about the time it took because they were having fun and were so thorough.

The kids had a great water day and my van is clean, what could be better than that?

I've got that summer feelin'

Several times recently I've said, "This summer, we need to..." and, it's already well into summer. Our summer got off to a slow start, and sometimes I feel like I'm waiting for it to get underway, but actually it is flying by….real fast. Once again…I sit here and wonder where the week went?
Our family went on vacation to Destin Beach, Florida and it was a lot of fun. I met a lot of nice folks, some from my neck of the woods here in Texas. I completely understand why people from Texas travel all the way to Florida for the beach, (sigh) and the weather….perfect. The tide was high and the waves were strong, it was funny to see the kids start out swimming in front of us and five minutes later they were twenty feet to the left. It wasn’t hard to spot us though, our big bright striped umbrella stuck out like a sore thumb next to those perfectly lined rented green ones. But as the week progressed, people wised up and we saw a mish mash of rented umbrellas and other types along the water's edge. Anyway it worked out because the kids knew exactly where we were at all times.

I have made it back from vacation, tropical-depression free. Well, I suppose the only depression I’m feeling now is the one that knows I have loads of laundry to do and a stack of mail to go through. So while I go tend to my life again, I will try to get unpacked (as it may sit here for a few more days) and get back to the reality of housework, busy kids activities, getting ready for school, and trying to stay active but cool on these hot Texas summer days. Before you know it, we will be packing again for another trip back to Florida, then it'll be time for school again.....well, let’s not go there.
Today it is 103 degrees so I will pour myself a glass of tea and attempt to start summer projects that I want to be doing, try not to think about what I should be doing and, make myself feel better about what I am actually doing. haha!

Where Are My Babies

I took the kids to get some school clothes today. What an emotional day!
All the backpacks look so big on my little man and not only did I let Ethan pick out his first pair of kindergarten shoes (well, shoes we both liked) but he picked out his first lunchbox. He was so excited because it's a Super Mario Bros metal lunchbox, like years ago, and he said "I bet no one will have one like this". he was so excited, he held onto it so tightly making sure not to set it down. It looked so big on him but he was so proud.
Naty picked out a few things and I learned that for once she is in the same shoe size that she was last year...thank goodness! Until now she was still wearing size 5 and 6, and although the clothes still fits, she has grown!!!! So, I have to get her some new jeans to hide her ankles and new shirts to hide her belly. I went through her closet and have four large bags of clothes to get rid of!!!!
The hardest time for me was when I went to help Sydney find some clothes and the kid section was no longer an option, my little girl is onto big girl clothes. She is now shopping in the junior section!!! This is her style now. She found a purple jacket that she absolutely fell in love with and her face just lit up when she put it on. I think she will want to wear it everyday. I am not ready for all of this.

Naval Aviation Museum

This was the COOLEST museum! The walking tour was long, but VERY interesting. Everyone there was so friendly and helpful. We learned a lot! The museum has a Top Gun school where you fly simulator jets. They have planes from every period of history: the first navy commissioned airplane, the British "camel" planes (snoopy's airplane), the first plane to cross the Atlantic (love the story), helicopters, fighter jets, YOU NAME IT. They had WWII warfront and home front areas---very cool. Another fun area was the completely rebuilt deck of a naval carrier--guns and tower intact. I really loved this museum. I would go again, every time I visit Pensacola. I only wish the Blue Angels were home so we could have seen them practice.

My favorite part was walking through the replication of living in the 1940’s.
Life seemed so simple then: prices were small, markets carried only necessities, homes were small and cozy. Just walking through this exhibit, I could only imagine what living on a ship for months at a time would be like, it really makes you appreciate the good things in life......

I'm in Nursing School...get me outta here!

I saw this on a few other blogs and thought it was definitely worth re-posting!

Anyone who's been through nursing school, or going through it, will completely understand...

Student Nurse's Prayer

Lord, I know we go through this every day but please give me the knowledge as to why I actually wanted to go to nursing school.

Lord, give me the strength to make it through those boring three hour lectures without falling asleep.

Lord, please give me the patience to make it through twelve hour clinicals with instructors that can't just give you the right answer and on the same note, give the nurses the ability to remember what it was like to be a student and give us just a little more respect.

Lord, give me the endurance to read all the assigned readings and be able to remember it when I am taking a test with four right answers.

Lord, give my family and friends the ability to realize I really am on the edge of insanity.

Finally...Lord, give me the vision to see that one day I will be a real nurse and I will never have to wear this ugly uniform again. - author unknown

AMEN!!!

Old Fashioned Fun

At my last trip to the dollar store I found an old childhood favorite of mine....good old Bazooka gum. I can't believe they still sell this stuff. The kids absolutely loved it! It was not hard at all to get the kids to try the gum but what they thought was amazing were the tiny comics inside.