Not Me Monday 22nd Edition

I did not get raspberry jelly chocolates at the store knowing that no one else likes them at my house, so I could eat them all.

I did not eat a serving of mini chocolate eclairs for breakfast (a serving size is 6, BTW).

I did not eat three donuts on Saturday morning, even though they are half the size of regular donuts, so I justified it by telling myself that each time I was eating one.

I did not eat a wasabi and soy sauce almond and tell my husband that I would rather eat toe jam than eat one of them again.

I did not eat more potatoes than chocolate at our Chocolate Challenge LIFE Nite at church last night.

I was not a half hour late for LIFE Nite last night because I was still napping with Noah.

I did not just write a Not Me post that consisted of mostly food related items.

So, check out the blog that birthed the Not Me Monday and 4 charming kiddos and visit my friend, Carlton's blog. He will appreciate the visitors =)

Not Me Monday The Legal Edition

Monday used to be a day I dreaded, now I do not dread Mondays, because I love Not Me Monday! Read mine and then head over to MckMama's where it all began. And do not forget to check out, Carlton's blog, too!

I did not send Rick out the morning of Valentine's Day to get the kiddos' cards and candy.

I did not only fill their hearts part of the way so I would have some mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups left over for myself.

I did not take the kiddos out three times for ice cream last week.

I did not even not realize that Kari and Noah had climbed into bed with us until we woke up in the morning on Sunday.

I did not let Kari play outside in her flip flops even though it was too cold for flip flops last week.

I did not wait to hear crying when I heard what sounded like someone falling down the stairs before I went to investigate. When no one was crying I did not continue what I was doing. *Don't worry - everyone was okay, including Devin's laptop. Yes, it was 17 year old that fell down the stairs*

I did not wear the same red sweater three times this week in honor of celebrating Valentine's Day.

I did not eat a piece of cake and a cupcake yesterday before lunch.

I did not give Noah a piece of Kari's gum even though she told him he couldn't have any more of her gum.

I did not let Devin go to a friend's house on Saturday while Rick was at work even though he told her she could not go.

I did not enjoy making up with Rick after I told him I let Devin go against his wishes.

I did not start kissing Rick to distract him from being mad at me.

Nope, not me! What didn't you do??

Not Me Monday 20th Edition

You know what today is...No, not Manic Monday! It's Not Me Monday and after you finish my fabulous post, check out MckMama's blog where it all began.

I did not eat a pint of ice cream on Saturday night

I did not throw out what my mom made for dinner on Monday on Saturday because no one really ate it then and I did not want it in the fridge

I did not listen to the same CD on repeat all week long whenever I got the chance

I did not put headphones on and listen to the same CD while I was on the computer and sing loudly while getting strange looks from my 14 year old

I did not feed my kiddos chicken biscuits for breakfast and chicken nuggets for lunch

I was not a bit sad when my mom sewed my 4 year old’s blankie back together. I did not totally love that it was falling apart

I did not let my dad take Rick to the airport on Friday at 5 AM so I could sleep

I did not make enough Shepherd’s Pie ingredients to fill 2 9X13 dishes thinking my family would eat it in one setting to have an entire dish of it still in the fridge

I have not been warming it up for the kiddos’ lunches every day since then and still have a dish of it left

I did not tell my husband that he was perpetuating teenage drama this weekend by acting like the teenagers he was saying were being dramatic

I did not bake chocolate chips for my ministry display in the church kitchen during the morning service yesterday

I did not justify it because, since our church is small, I could still hear the sermon in the kitchen

I did not use the cookies to try to bribe the judge to win a gift card for the best ministry display

I did not say the word ass in front of our worship leader, youth leader and pastor on Saturday night while I was at the church setting up my ministry displays

I was not referring to an old blog post about my husband when I said the above mentioned word

Nope, not me! What did you not do this week? Check out my friend, Carlton's blog, too!

Not Me Monday 19th Edition

To make up for my lame post last week, this one with be chock full of Not Me bits. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy....

I did not tell my 4 yr. old son he smelled like butt and needed a bath to hear him sing the following song in the bathtub.."My mom gave me a sponge and some soap and now I smell good instead of like butt!"

I did not allow my daughter to eat raw cookie dough for snack....twice.

I did not get frustrated when my mom sent cake mix to make cupcakes and the ingredients to make homemade icing with my daughter and then proceed to have a great time baking with her.

I did not say hell twice in a conversation I had with my close friend and pastor's wife.

I was not only relaying a story told to me by one of the elderly ladies in our church.

I was not thankful when the little boy I babysit mom's called to say he was not coming today, so I could sleep in.

I did not sleep in until 9:50 AM today even though my 4 yr. old was up at 8:30 AM.

I did not take my shoes off at church and serve in the nursery in just my socks.

I did not set aside $20 to get my haircut and then spend it on gas for the car and pizza for Friday's dinner.

I did not laugh really hard while my 4 yr. old played the Rayman's Raving Rabbids 2 game where you throw the paper balls at the teacher's back and then get hit in the head with a crayon if he catches you.

Nope not me!

Check out where the Not Me Monday carnival started - MckMama's blog - and check out my friend, Carlton's blog , too!

Heard Around My House

K said, frustrated as she played MarioKart on the Wii - "I am never going to be good at the Grand Pricks (Prix)!"

Well, okay then.

N, while he scrubbed himself in the bath tub the other night, after I told him he needed a bath because he had not wiped properly and smelled like butt, sang this little ditty - "My mom gave me the soap and a sponge and now I smell good instead of like butt!"

K remarked as we made cupcakes with homemade chocolate, buttercreme icing - "This is a day I will always forget!"

And then she said, as she looked at the roses Rick gave me - "You know they are roses because of their sparks."

I think she meant thorns.

SNOW!!!

Today it finally snowed! The kiddos were pretty excited about getting out and about in the snow, although they couldn't use the igloo cube maker that Rick got them last year in anticipation for some big snow this year. Here are some pictures.....

14 is the Magic Number

Today Cody turned 14. He asked me if it was an important number, like 13 or 18, or even 21. I told him it was a magic number and he just laughed. He slept until noon - we do not have school on Mondays - had a Chick-Fil-A breakfast, chocolate cake and icecream for lunch and party burgers for dinner. He was exempt from his chores today and got his yellow belt in karate. I think it ended up being a pretty good day.....

Reading the card Rick and I gave him. Outside (with a dad and mom on it) - "Our Gift to You?" Inside - "Life. Enjoy it."


I think I know what this is.....


Don't be so confused. It really is MarioCart for the Wii!


An extra steering wheel, so Rick can beat him!


What is it??


It's Guitar Hero, dude!!


Blowing out his candles

Not Me Monday 18th Edition

I did not not write anything down for my post this week, making it very hard for me to recall anything I did not do!

But, I am sure MckMama will have a great post up - even though she is off cruisin' this week! - and you can always check out my friend Carlton's blog, too!

Maybe I will be able to come up with a better post when I am not so tired.

Not Me Monday 17th Edition

Check out MckMama's blog to see what all the Not Me Monday business is about, but only after you read what I wasn't up to last week.....

I did not sit on the edge of the bathtub and pee since my 6 year was on the toilet taking way too long to go to the bathroom.

I did not threaten my 6 year old that if she ever did that she'd be in big trouble.

I did not have to get a tooth pulled this morning because it was so decayed it was harming the tooth in front of it. I take great care of my teeth, dontcha know!

I did not eat my weight in chips and salsa poured over cream cheese last night as we watched the football game at church.

I did not delete 20 Miis from the Wii today that my 4 year old son made over the weekend. I did not make him a new one when he cried when I erased his favorite Mii.

I have not had to throw up mucus every morning for the past few days. I did not have to throw it up in the kitchen trashcan and sink this morning.

I did not laugh a little, okay, a lot when my 17 year old told me at counseling they stuck needles in his ears, turned off the lights and made him listen to Marvin Gay during the drug and alcohol detox session on Friday.

I did not consume most of a big bag of black licorice within two days by myself.

I did not rejoice a little when I found out that my eating licorice makes my husband not want to kiss me as much as his eating onions does me.

I did not post this late because I slept in and then had to rush to my dental appointment. I also did not wait to past since when I came home from my appointment I was numb and a bit loopy.

What didn't you do?? And check out my friend, Carlton's post. He is now a Not Me poster, too!

Feeling Lucky??

Maybe you will win the fabulous prize this site is giving away! Check it out!!

The gamers in my family would love to win this prize!!

Not Me Monday 16th Edition

I did not wear my four year old's socks because I could not find a pair of my own.

I did not want to slap a grown woman at the courthouse this week. Twice.

I did not go to the MVA this week three times and still not get my son his ID card.

I did not wish I had a detonator in my purse when the lady at the MVA told us for the third day in a row that we did not have the necessary forms etc. to be able to get my son's ID card.

I did not just put my Christmas decorations away on Saturday.

I did not allow my four year old to hide in a horizontal file cabinet while playing hide and seek on Thursday.

I did not delete 20+ Miis that my four year old made over the last week.

I did not eat saltines with butter for lunch and dinner on Friday.

I did not give my kiddos Ritz crackers with their soup so that I could have saltines with butter for later.

I did not have an outfit laid out for church on Sunday, only to completely change it when I realized I would not be able to wear my new free moccasins with it.

I did not use my four year old's dollar in the vending machine. I did not spend it when he wasn't with me, so that he didn't even get to share the pretzels I bought with it.

I did not secretly thank God that my 17 year old daughter is 1300 miles away when she told us she has the flu.

And lastly, I did not let my husband lick chocolate off of my fingers tonight, because I am fasting from chocolate and didn't have a napkin close by!

What didn't you do this past week??

Check out MckMama's blog for other Not Me's from around the blogosphere!

Why I Almost Blew Up the DMV

Now that J's court proceedings are finished and he has probation, he needs to find a job. He went to a temp agency the afternoon after court and they told him he needed his social security card and a photo ID. When he was bouncing from house to house he lost his social security card. And since he does not have his license yet, he does not have a photo ID. So, my parents took him down to apply for another social security card and then to the MVA to get his ID.

The lady at the information desk said all he needed was his birth certificate and the receipt saying he had applied for his new social security card. But, after they waited an hour, the lady at the ID desk told my mom that I needed to be there for J to get his ID.

Okay.

So, on Wednesday afternoon, off we go to the MVA. The lady at the information (same one from the previous day) asked me if I was his mother and I said yes. She asked if we had his birth certificate and social security card information. I answered in the affirmative. We only waited about 15 minutes to have the lady at the ID desk tell me that I needed to have two proofs of residency.

Oh brother.

Friday afternoon we head back to the MVA with J's birth certificate, social security card info., and my proof of residency. We waited about 45 minutes for the lady at the ID desk to tell us that he needs his original social security card.

Seriously??

She apologized and said, "I am sorry you were given misinformation."

I replied, "We are getting used to it."

I pressed my invisible detonator as we exited the building for the third time in one week.

J's replacement card arrived today.

BOOM!

The OM WienerMobile

The other day we pulled into the shopping center by our house and saw the Oscar Mayer WienerMobile parked in the parking lot. No one was in the WienerMobile so we stood in front of it and took some pictures. Kari did not want to get her picture taken in front of it and when I told her and Noah to say "Wiener!" as Rick took the picture, she held her ears. I think she was a bit embarrassed because some teen boys were standing by when we were taking the pictures.

Since no one was in the WienerMobile we headed to the store to get Rick some razors. While he was in the store, the WienerMobile started to drive away. The kiddos were upset because they wanted to go back and see if someone was there after we went to the store so they could get whistles. If you sing the Wiener jingle you get a free wiener whistle.

Rick came out of the store just as the WienerMobile was passing us and asked about the whistles. The young man driving said they would be setting up in front of Giant in a few minutes and would have the whistles to give away.

So, we parked over by Giant and waited a few minutes. We went out and sang the jingle (Rick even sang the Bologna jingle to get an extra whistle!) and got our whistles. Then we were able to tour the inside of the WienerMobile and get a picture with Hot Dogger Tara.

It was quite the adventure! Here are some pictures......

Momma, Noah and Kari in front of the WienerMobile


Noah and Daddy posing in front of the WienerMobile


The license plate "Big Bun"


Kari relaxing in the WienerMobile


Noah in the WienerMobile with his Wiener whistle


The floor had a squirt of mustard on it


The view out of the front window of the WienerMobile


Kari and Noah will Hot Dogger Tara

Not Me Monday 15th Edition

I did not use the phrase "Stop making new Miis!" more than "I love you" this week.

I did not use the slices of bread that were not moldy in the package for toast the other day.

I did not pray that the heat from the toaster would cancel out any mold that was beginning to grow but remained unseen.

I did not chip a piece of my already broke tooth off by eating a triscuit for breakfast.

I did not decide to fast from chocolate and then totally forget and pop, not one, but two Hershey's kisses in my mouth.

I did not heavily try to hint something to a friend about something she forgot and then get my husband involved in the hinting...to no avail.

I did not sleep until 10 AM more than once this week.

I did not forget to put a pull-up on my son last night resulting in an early morning "I peed in my bed" wake-up call.

I did not laugh when my husband stepped in a pile of my parents' dog's poop in the laundry room in his socks.

I did not let my son go to bed without wiping his face clean from the chocolate dessert he had earlier that evening.

What didn't you do??

Stop over at MckMama's and see what everyone else is not doing this week.

A Saturday Visit to CEC

Today we took the kiddos to CEC before Rick headed to work. It has become a tradition that when Devin's in town we go to CEC. Not sure what we will do when she moves here.

We had a lot of fun, playing games and getting pizza, although we noticed a few changes at CEC. Some for the better (games) and some for the not so good (cup sizes were smaller and pizza was a bit lacking in.....favor). But, all in all a good time was had by everyone and Kari and Noah scored icecream and a balloon at the end. Here are some pictures.....

Caity and Cody, waiting for the other kiddos and being silly


Who's excited about being at CEC? These guys!


So happy together


So ready to play some games


Monster truckin' it


I'd bet on that horse and his cute jockey


Kari tries her hand at 4X4-ing in the snow


I guess Dan's deal wasn't a good deal?! (Playing Deal or No Deal)


CEC pizza is yummy!


Rick and Cody playing DDR


Noah and Caity playing Jett Rider


Rick and me


Playing Skee-ball

New Year

Yesterday, Rick ended up with some major stomach issues and he had to call out for work. But, he was able to rally around 9:30 PM and we headed to church for the talent show. We were also able to stay and ring in the new year with our church family and a bit of sparkling cider. I made Rick kiss me on the cheek, though =)

He is at work today, working open until close and has to work tomorrow 11 AM - 11 PM. Kind of sucks that he has to work so much while D is here and around the holidays, but I am so thankful he has a job. Even if it sucks sometimes.

I got to sleep in today even though Rick went into work early, since D is here. She was up with the kiddos, who also slept in until 9:30 AM. I guess staying up until after 1 AM was a bit much for them.

Today we do not have any plans. Rick gets off of work at 6:30 PM so we may watch a movie later, but that will be the extent of our New Year's Day.

My ILs reminded us to eat black eyed peas today, but I do not think we have any and Rick did not get paid until today and the banks are closed.

I wonder if you will still have 'good luck' if you eat them a day late.....

Button and Contest

A blog I read, profoundly seth is having a contest. You could win something fabulous from Melissa and Doug! Or maybe I will =)

Anyway, I got hooked on El's blog when I started reading her Not Me Monday posts. Seth's cuteness has me going back daily to check for updates about his journey and the rest of the families' goings-on.

You can click on the link above or the button on the left side bar to find El's blog. You will not be disappointed.

Oh and if you head that way, tell her I sent you =)

Not Me Monday 14th Edition

I did not stay in my pajamas on Thursday and Friday, but if I had know that I showered, I just put my pajamas back on afterward.

I did not get four tickets on Christmas Day while waiting at the airport to pick up Devin and Cody.

I did not skip doing Christmas cookies with the kiddos this year. They totally did not even notice.

I did not wrap all of the kiddos' gifts in one night. If I had I wouldn't have gone to bed until 3:30 AM and that would have been crazy!

I did not eat hummus and like it.

I did not make the children wait to come see what Santa brought them until I had coffee brewing.

I did not let my son wear a camo shirt and slippers and plaid shorts on Christmas Day. I did not tell him I couldn't see him because he was wearing camo.

I did not spend Christmas Eve service in the church kitchen pretending to help set up the food for after the service when I was really sampling the food.

I did not wear reindeer antlers to my husband's work Christmas party.

And lastly, I did not have to clean up after my son stood on the top bunk and peed over the side, fully clothed, while his cousins played in his bedroom Christmas Eve.

Nope, not me!

McKMama is taking today off, with all the excitement of the weekend and it being Christmas break and all, but check back next Monday for more Not Mes!

Christmas 2008

Christmas was a bit different this year, not having Josh, Cody or Devin with us on Christmas Eve. But, Josh was there Christmas morning and Devin and Cody arrived in the afternoon. It was neat to have just Kari and Noah to tuck in on Christmas night. And if you read last year's blog, Kari did not have any issues this year with settling down and getting to sleep. That was a definite blessing! Here's some pictures and commentary from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.....

After we attended our church's Christmas Eve service, we came home and opened our traditional one gift of Christmas Eve. Then we did our Adornament and read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Kari and Noah set out some milk and cookies for Santa and a few a carrots for the reindeer. Kari wrote Santa's note herself this year!

Opening the traditional Christmas Eve pajamas




Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas


The kiddos woke up at 7:45 AM to open presents and start the day. We were very thanksful that we got to sleep in a little bit.

Ready to see what Santa brought


A Cars Leapster2 and a Princess Leapster2


There's a Webkinz in my stocking!!




What's in your stocking??




Santa left a note!


Pet Pals game for Leapster2


He loves his Leapster2


Playing with Daddy


The Christmas Day beverage of choice - hot chocolate!


Opening gifts












Opening the Wii from Nana and Papa


Josh opening presents. We had to wake him up around 11 AM and he wasn't too thrilled. I think all he wanted for Christmas was sleep






Josh and Kari setting up a Wii game


Noah playing the Wii - gracefully


Devin and Cody arrived at 3:30 PM. After an adventure at the airport with Maryland's finest (another blog entry for another time...maybe), we headed to the house to open gifts.

Opening gifts - Cody is thrilled about his card shuffler!


Dan's gift to Devin. He painted and decorated a box and filled it with a dino t-shirt and a hamburger phone (just like in Juno)


The picture Devin painted for Dan - Phantom of the Opera


We went to the Hendrickson's house for dinner. It was delicious! We stayed and watched Horton Hears a Who after we had coffee and dessert.

LOOPER!!


Kari and Noah playing air hockey (not sure why Kari still had her hood up, though. Must be part of her game strategy)


The "kiddos" table


The turkey was delicious


The tryptophan kicked in


Getting ready to watch Horton Hears a Who in the media room


When we got home, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and had some cake. A perfect ending to a great day!

Blowing out the candles on Jesus' birthday cake