jipped

I'm feeling a little jipped this morning. I went on to the pioneer womans blog to catch up on her book trip only to find that MM and boys tagged along and signed books with her!! What did we do so wrong here in Phoenix that we weren't special enough for this treat so many others got to enjoy? I'm demanding my $ back!! Or a special trip out here just for me. I'd make her some tamales...and my famous chicken tacos. Think she'll come?

a little later in the morning: Okay, I sent her this...Hey Ree, I live out here in Mesa, Az where it's still 80 degrees...AND where MM and boys did NOT accompany you to the book signing!! Though I enjoyed meeting Melissa and your MIL I must admit I'm feeling a bit jipped not having MM's signature in this treasure of a cookbook...not to mention the boys!! Please advise me of how soon you can get them out here as I plan to have some fresh tamales waiting for them and maybe some chicken tacos before they leave. Oh, btw...your invited too.
What do you think she'll say?

My party

Wow!! It's been a while since I blogged last. I have been rather busy. This whole working out of the home thing is still throwing me for a loop!! My poor kids grades are suffering and I know that has to do with my not being here to help them. Scouts and Sports practice is missed more than it is attended because I'm at work and they just don't remember. Jared played a whole season of flag football including the playoffs and I made it to 1 game. I haven't been to church in forever because I have only had 1 Sunday off since I started working there in early August and no Saturdays off. I'm totally hating it!! Yes, I'm just feeling sorry for myself. And as my hubby would say...Thanks for attending my pity party!! Even if you didn't RSVP.

the CEO and the Pioneer woman

So I was getting ready for work yesterday and thought to myself "hmmmm, I wonder when the Pioneer woman is going to be here". I knew she was coming because I had read it on her blog recently. So I run to the computer fearing I had missed her and much to my surprise she was scheduled to be here that day!! I told myself that I would definitely find a way to be there and that I wasn't going to call 8 million people and tell them because then that would add to the crowd that I would already have to fight to see her.

Then, my phone rang.

me: Hello?

Hi Julie, It's Rebecca (my boss)

me: Hey Rebecca, what's up?

I have you scheduled to work alone today until 2.

me: oooookay? (rolling my eyes and wondering why she felt the need to call me and tell me this...I work alone all the time)

Well, rumor has it that Renato Cataldo is in town so I just wanted to give you a heads up. There's a chance he may stop by our studio (with excitement and a little nervousness in her voice).

me: alllright, who's Renato Cataldo? And why is he coming to see me?

UHHH, the CEO of the company!! And he's making surprise visits to some studios in the valley. (then she gives me the whole talk about what I should do if someone walks up to the counter and how I should be friendly and recognize them immediately...you know, because I'm so unfriendly and never do that ANYWAYS!!)

So we hang up and I go to work. Then the phone rings at work and it's a manager from another studio...Hi Julie, It's Chris...has Renato shown up there? (all the while hyperventilating and sounding very nervous)

me: no but I'll call you if he does

okay. Thanks Julie...I'm so nervous.

me: no prob...bye!!

Once I hung up I wondered why everyone was so flustered by this? I mean, he's the CEO. He's a normal person like you and me. It's not like the president was stopping by. The way I feel about it is as so: If you're doing your job and you're doing it right, then you have nothing to worry about. Right?

So about an hour later, I'm on the phone with Rebecca again and who walks up to my counter but the CEO. He was actually quite nice and didn't have a negative thing to say. He asked me a few personal questions..how many kids?, all from the same marriage?, what I did before I worked there?, etc. Of course, I had to brag about my freshman who's on the varsity football team!! Then I had to argue with him when he said if it was Soccer then he would care. But since it's just football, he just can't get that excited. All in all it was a great experience and I was thrilled to have met him. Not many associates get that opportunity.

I was off by 2 and decided I would go meet the pioneer woman. I went by myself and met lots of really nice people. A little later in the evening I called Diane who lives just 2 miles from there and she came and spent the evening with me just hanging out and chit chatting. I'd never been to a book signing before and I've always wanted to meet the pioneer woman!! And yes, I did get her cookbook! Good times, good times!!

let's just say

Let's just say you had a 14 year old freshman football player and he had seminary in the middle of the day. And then, let's just say you got an email from his seminary teacher saying that he wasn't there on Friday, October 9, which was, in fact, a half day. So you called the seminary teacher and said "are you sure he wasn't there? Maybe he walked in late because I know he was at school that day". And they said "no, we're pretty sure he wasn't here". So when this 14 year old gets home from school, you ask him about the incident and he says "no mom, I was there..we sang hymn 19 and took a scripture mastery quiz". All the while sounding oh so convincing. So you say "well, I'll just call him tomorrow and make sure you turned that quiz in and that he has a grade for you and then he'll know you were there". So you both agree that that's a good way to prove he was in class and go on about your night. Later in the evening, the family sits down for scripture study and before we begin, you read them the words to a hymn...one of your favorites actually..."did you think to pray?" Oh, how praying rests the weary!! Prayer will change the night to day. So when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray.
Then you send them to bed and remind them to say their personal prayers. Let's just say about 10 minutes later, that same 14 year old kid comes down, sits next to you, and says Mom, can I talk to you? Of course you say yes, because, how often does a 14 year old want to talk to Mom, right? And he proceeds to tell you that he did in fact miss seminary that day. Because his little football friends (all freshman) wanted to see what it would be like to be swept and what a better day than a half day to try it because then they would only be in there for 20 - 25 minutes (roughly). Of course, he didn't want to do it but he let himself fall to peer pressure (yeah, right!). You tell him how falling to peer pressure is a sign of weakness and that he is a leader, then you tell him that you are proud of him for telling the truth and ask him if it feels better to have that weight off of his shoulders now that he doesn't have to worry about being caught or having to lie anymore...to which he smiles and shyly chuckles and says "yeeeesssss!! Mom stop!! You're making me laugh!" (Because you say things in a silly way so that you can see him smile). And then you tell him that he's still your superstar and you will advise him of his consequence tomorrow and send him to bed but not before making him tell his father the truth too.
So let's just say that was the situation...what consequence would you give?
being swept - when you are late for class, and have been locked out, security sweeps up all of the students in the halls and takes them to some classroom where they sit and do nothing..no talking. (because we all know that's a lot more productive then letting them in to class a little late and to actually learn something and just giving them a tardy!!)

oh so long ago

I met my hubby, oh so long ago, at Jack In the Box. I knew his brother from high school and he brought my future hubby in with him one night. He cleaned my dining room and I made him the biggest, cholesterol filled, fat filled burger known to man, and a huge shake!! Of course I did this because I thought he was kinda cute and we all know the way to a mans heart is thru his belly. HE says that I've been trying to kill him since day 1 (not with my cooking but with the heart attack in a bag). Anyways, it must have worked because from that day forward he's been putty in my hands. Now he may try to act big and tough but that man loves me and will do or give me whatever I want!! Maybe this is why we've been married so long...I keep his belly happy and he keeps me happy.

Speaking of being married so long, today was our anniversary...and what a great anniversary it was. A little dinner, a little dancing, some wine, what more could a girl ask for? Alright, so we didn't have any wine...and we didn't dance either...but it sounded good. We did dine though...at Red Lobster...you know, for the seafood lover in him!! It was great..and so is he!! I mean, what would I have done without this in my life for all these years? Love you babe!!

Happy Anniversary!

#82...in our eyes.

I've failed to mention lately how well my son is doing in football this year. Not that I know much about the sport but I do know what a touchdown is....and man, I love it when it's my son makin' em (yes,that would be him with the ball in hand). What I don't know is why the cheerleaders have a cheer that says something about red and black when they clearly wear white in half of their games...hmmmm? Another thing I don't know is why they have to be so rough with my baby!! And why I can't go spank those boys that are tackling him and then stare down at him like he's some fellon they won't let up 'til the cops arrive. Look at that!! Even his own teammates are just starin' down at him like..."punk, you better not get back up!!" Getting back to the touchdowns though, he's made 12 so far this year (I think) and it just does something to me when he makes one. I'm like the Lion King when he holds his little cub up for all to see..."this is my baby!! And don't you forget it!!" Last night, for example, he ran a 60-65 yard touchdown...it was sweet!! And the voice that I had just gotten back yesterday after having been sick all week...well...it's gone again. But it was worth it!! Doesn't he look like a superstar?! He is!!...at least in our eyes!

these twirps

I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. 3 more months and we'll be in a new year. I swear with every year I age, the years go by quicker and quicker. I remember when I was young and good lookin' like these twirps...
(justin before homecoming)(steph waiting for justin to get home from homecoming) (jared at his 4th grade musical...Americans All)
And speaking of these twirps, aren't they beautiful? I sure do think so!!