{Momma's are on the run}

Most of you know my good friend Lisa.

She had been training and working hard in preparation to run her first marathon.

Two weekends ago, she crossed the finish line in 4 hours 57 minutes.

After building large MUSKELS and and running 26.2 miles, a girl just wants alcohol and food and fun!!!!!

We treated ourselves to a gal's Vegas trip.

(I don't need to run a marathon to feel deserving of a treat.....I'm ready to treat myself at any moment!......you know that!)

We caught up with Toby Keith at his bar and grill.  He smells great and has a very soft cheek for smoochin' on.

He must have been having an off night though.....

he seemed a little bored.

he he he he

There is always a crazy, drunk chick trying to get her mug in pics.

Lisa got stuck with this one.

I won a chunk-a-change at our hotel's mini casino.

This mooolah paid for my gambling, a drink or two, and a few lovely hours at the spa.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

I said spa!!!!

hydrating facial

neck massage

arm massage

hands in warm stone mitts

steam room

sauna

relaxation lounge

fruits and juices

fun conversations with other girls relaxing

pure heaven!

I wanna do that again!

Then, a yummy lunch of burgers and bloody Marys while sitting by the pool.

Just letting the sun love us with warmth.

RE-LAX-ING!!!!!!!

Lisa was looking very beautiful in each outfit.

This particular one, sparked a comment by a passer by:

"You look like an Orange County Housewife".

I guess she does.....very well kept.

My favorite all time partay stop in Vegas is Carnival Court.

The bartenders flip bottles, there is always a kick ass live band, and you never know what kind of people you will meet.

We went there 3 times!!!!!!

Met people from:

Canada

California

Texas

Minneapolis

Washington state

It's like the gathering of states!!!

I was lucky enough to find my friend Kennedy.

(remember him from my other Vegas trips?)

He is our personal body guard......or at least we like to think anyway.

He is so kind and truly watches to keep the

"dudes that have issues" away from us.

When I say issues, I mean things like:

bald spots

halitosis

stank pit

warts

oversized noses

stubby fingers

missing large intestine

old enough to be my grandpa

etc, etc.

you get the idea

I made the mistake of letting Kennedy know that I was only 20 years old.....

He felt obligated to arrest me for underage drinking.

I forgive him :)

We spent a day walking and talking and people watching.

Part of our experience was the beautiful gardens in the Bellagio.

It is so breath taking.....the pictures just don't even do it justice.

We both had a "Vegas fantasy" to fulfill.

Lisa's was to get her first tattoo.

Mine was to work the pole.

(just kidding........

my nickname is "my friend plank"

I'm as stiff as a board when I dance!

You can't bend stiff around a pole!)

Neither one of us experienced our fantasy.

I guess we saved ourselves from a lot of painful memories that way.

But one of the best memories I will have from this weekend, is sharing laughs, tears, and bonding time with Lisa.  The girl is a crack-up and beautiful inside and out.

Love ya Lis!

{{{you should check out Lisa's rendition of the weekend on her blog.  it's really cute}}}

http://thesimsmom.blogspot.com/2010/05/quick-getaway.html

{Bang, bang, bangs

on the forehead baby}

Four inches off the ends and a thick chopity chop on the bang area makes me feel like a new woman!

The gal that cut my hair would not do what I asked, which was bob it to my ears, or shave it down to the cue ball!!!!  She was freaked out about the thoughts of "Britney-ing" me, so we compromised with her idea of bangs and a good shape up.  I haven't had bangs in over a year....and I'm not sure why I even attempt the no-bang look......laziness I guess.  Bangs have continual upkeep....it's a commitment for sure.  After my hair gets out of its shock, and my cowlicks re-learn a style, I know I'm going to have fun with some summer up-do's without my forehead shining a big "hello" into peoples eyes.  Sometimes the f/h reflection sparks forest fires. 

I'm all about doing my part to save our planet..........and human eyesight. You can thank me later.  A Nobel Peace Prize is not expected. 

Besides, Al Gore already took that one.....

Whatever Al!!!

You one-up-er do-good-er.

Wait til I show you the new 1-2-3 up-do I learned in Vegas.....ooooooo la la!!! 

Stay tuned for the easy peezy tutorial....

You'll love it!!!!

{Be back soon}

Goin' on a little vaca with a homegirl..........

Have a fab weekend you Honkie-Donkies!!!!

{harmfully spoiled???}

My boys get frappachinos from Starbucks.

Did you hear me correctly????

I said,

MY

BOYS

GET

FRAPPACHINOS

FROM

STARBUCKS.

No, they aren't spoiled, or over indulged, or -or -or -or -or -or

It's times like these that take me back to my youth.  I think about how lucky I felt, to every once in a while, be allowed to get fries with my 39 cent Dee's hamburger and free cup of water.  That was when we rarely had the money to go out to eat.

Or, that I was well into my 30's when I decided to spend money on my first Starbucks.

Do you ever wonder if we are setting our kids up for entitlement and expectations that life will always come with whipped cream on top?

Or do you believe, that with good teachings and hard work, they too can/should/deserve to enjoy life's little pleasures.

I want them to be productive, contributing adults.
I just hope I am giving them the correct tools, in combination with fun, to achieve that.
(I do understand that fun is a necessity too)

Sometimes it feels out of balance.
Sometimes it feels like perfection.


I battle with this worry all the time.

do you?

{the let down}

Miss Kitty was panting with enthusiasm.

She had expectations that we were going somewhere different....somewhere exciting.....somewhere DOGGY EUPHORIA!!!

Miss Kitty thought I said that we were

going to get the toys from the pool.

She was sorely disappointed and pissed when I clarified we were

going to get the boys from the school.

"Same old shit, different day"

 I heard her mumble as she slumped in her seat.

She's got it ruff.

{Mean people breed mean kids}

Randy, the boys and I were generously invited to a barbecue by people who wanted to spend the day with us and love us.  We didn't know the person hosting the shindig, so we kind of came as tag-a-longs.  We were greeted by two young boys, who seemed nice and inviting to Riv and Jax........the nice was short lived.
Once others started showing up, and a couple more boys got involved, the nice turned to  hateful actions and words.
A well known business man in our community showed his pompous side from the get-go.  As his boy was throwing a soccer ball intentionally at my son's head, he said to me, "my kid gets very competitive" and laughs with pride.  I am seeing four boys on one side of the dodge ball line and my two boys on the other.  It was a gang up and the mean boys were out for blood.  Comments like, "hey fat boy", "you're stupid.....and that's what your mom said when you were born", "you're so retarded you can't even throw the ball".....and so on.  When my boys did make a good play and got the opponent out, the other team would call my kids cheaters and liars.

Randy and I were unaware of how harsh my boys were truly being treated.  I noticed the others being rude and non sportsman like, but I just bit my lip and wanted to see how my kids would react.  My kids are coming to an age that it isn't cool for momma to go stepping in the middle of their interactions.  They are both old enough and generally smart enough to understand how to handle themselves.  But at one point, it looked like Jax was going to go psycho........I was worried about the life of the boy with the smart mouth. Jax had his laser vision directed straight at blooding the boy's nose. Randy stepped in and tried to get them all to play something different.   This didn't go too far, before the other boys had to throw in how lame this was and left to play video games in the house. 
Thank God!!!!  I was done with this whole experience and ready to leave.
BTW:  None of the other parents flinched that their kids were being assholes.  In fact, I got the feeling that they were proud of their children's behavior.

It wasn't until that night that my boys regaled the story of their experience.  River was almost in tears telling me how the "competitive, smart mouth" boy, said that I was a douche-bag.  YES!  An 11 year old boy called ME a DOUCHEBAG!  Does he even know what the hell that is?!?!?!?  SERIOUSLY people!!! This makes me sick on so many levels.

After hearing about all that was said and done to my kids, Randy and I both apologized to them for not being more proactive and  aware of what they were experiencing.  I felt like I failed them.  I was given warning signs and even pushed Jax away as he was trying to tell me that the kids were being cruel.  I didn't take him seriously.....told him to "buck up". 

Shame on me.
Shame on the other parents who are pridefully raising assholes.
YOU PEOPLE SUCK!

{Take a minute}

In these lovely summer days to come, before backing out of your driveway please take a minute and:

~Walk around your car to be sure no little people are near

~Notice what area children are playing in and make them aware that you are moving the car, and for them to stay put

~Roll down your windows and turn off your radio to hear warnings

~Back out slowly looking at all mirrors

~NEVER back out while talking on the phone.....

MAJOR DISTRACTION!!!!

Make this a habit

Save a life
It's that easy

{Bless her little heart}

If you give someone the idea to make a "cookie pizza" for their kids.......

You assume that they would understand without explaining that they need spread the dough out on the pizza pan.

NOT open up the roll of dough and flop it in the middle of the pan still in a big fat chub.

Cook.......

And then wonder why the middle is a big gooey ball and the outer is a crispy burned mess.

Who would do such a cooking error????!?!!??

Good thing she is cute  :)

{Don't make me open my can}

Don't ya just love this packaging??!!?

The animal print case is rockin'!

With the Jujitsu techniques I learned 30 years ago (my claim to fame), and my new bottle of Whoopass, I would dare any freak to try to attack me!!!!

Waaaaaaaaaa-HIYAHHHH!!!!!!

spray

groin kick

spray

karate chop to achilles

spray

poke eye balls

spray

elbow to the jugular!!

I will leave them looking like Mickey Rourke.....

And that is supah fugly with a capital FUG!!!!!

((((uck! he gives me the heebeegeebees)))

{fifteen years}

What I've learned in 15 years of living life without my baby brother......

People haven't forgot him.....thank you

His shirts that hang in my closet have lost his scent......but I still smell  his cologne in the air as if he is standing behind me

Nothing/nobody replaces his void

My boys never met him......but they know him

A song can take me back to memories........one of my favorites was the day he and I danced in the living room to his new U2 CD.  We shared  laughs, a beer and a smoke, and talked about how much we loved and needed each other

My heart can still beat and love even with a scar that runs through every chamber

I can now go through the day of May 13th, with tears of happy remembrance of his life, and without a heartache breakdown from his death

Happiness and joy surrounds

Life goes on

Everybody hurts sometimes

Love goes on

I love my brother

My brother loved me

Picture was taken in 1992.

On the back I had wrote:

"Tying bubb's tie.....do I have to do everything? 

What would he do without his sissy?"

{my day.....cuz i'm a mom}

My Mother's Day was off the hook!!!!

Spoiled once again by the three coolest guys a gal could beg for.

My guys.

My card was handmade by River, complete with a "BOINGGGGG" heart that popped out.

A box of hand picked chocolates were my 'sweet' and thoughtful gift from Randy.....Although, he has made it a point to taste every one of them first before giving me a bite.

Maybe that is part of the gift giving......

He is unselfishly sharing calories so that all of that decadent caramel, nouget and chocolate doesn't set into my thighs alone.

Thanks babe!

My ass and jowels thank you too!

Jax made this beautiful bouquet along with a crayon colored card :)

The bottom of the basket is full of multi-colored "pom pom" balls all stuck together with hot glue. Still not sure what these rainbow of balls are supposed to represent.  Jax didn't know either.....nor did he really care. His focus was how much glue he could smother the pom pom's with.  Because glue is like, so much freakin fun when you are a kid!

And believe me!!!! 

He probably won the glue balls contest.

;) I'm still trying to find that

special place to display it ;)

Riv made me this awesome message tile.  I can use a wipe off marker to change my "thoughts of the day".

Riv said that he dug thru a ton a stickers to find the only yellow one :)  He knows that yellow is my favorite color.

He is very thoughtful like that.

And of course my new camera that captures the most colorful, loving memories of my hunky trio.

By menz take good care of me :)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Oh my!!!!!

How could I forget to show you my gift from Miss Kitty?

Somehow in her hustle and bustle of crazy days, she found the time to have a "Glamour Shot" photo done just for me :)

I'd say that she's a total natural in modeling.

And sleeping.

And pooping.

And eating.

And stinking.

And loving me........

{Totally WICKED}

Every Wednesday from 5-6 pm, we have been to Jax's acting class.

Every Wednesday since September.

One amazing teacher.......

Over 60 students.......

Ranging from 3-18 years old.

The months of blood, sweat and tears came together this week with their performance of

Wicked

The Witches of Oz

Lisa's little beauty, Grace, was also in the show.

She played Doddie Dimples Munchkin.

(I told Lisa, that in about 10 years from now, Derek needs to have his gun loaded and ready when the punk boys arrive on their porch to take Grace on a date!  She's so pretty)

The first show was  Wednesday morning for special needs children in the Jordan School District.  They got the biggest kick out of it.

They were in awe.....

laughing....

clapping.....

in pure amazement.

This first production was my favorite to watch.

A great auditorium, the actors were perfection, and the children in the seats were just as much my enjoyment.

Friday evening was the "real" performance.

Jax, (the tall green thing in the middle) was the "grumpy tree" in the wild forest.  (i know...shockerrrrrrr)

He memorized all of his 5 lines and was right on que throwing his apples at Dorothy and Toto :)

He had a few costume changes from the tree ensemble.

Some kind of BeeGee's looking green vested head banded sequined fashion statement.  In this lovely attire, he played a "not-so-good" magician by pulling a frog out of his hat.

A 'test of his manhood' wardrobe was the glittery poncho that he had to twirl around in simulating a tornado.

Jax says that real men can wear pink, and even funky glitter costumes.

(although I don't think he wants to do it again!)

All of the children did a great job.

The teacher, Miss Nancy, deserves a million dollars for everything she does for these kids.

She is talented, stern, funny, and knows what she is doing.

She amazes me.

http://www.upwithkids.com/

Check out the website if you have a child interested in meeting new friends, having fun, and learning songs and dances.  They meet/teach everywhere throughout the valley

Of course the little munchkins stole the show!!!

Who doesn't love 3-6 year old's with lisps?

Oh, and the little boy that had to go wee wee so bad, that he squeezed his pee pee with one hand while performing the moves to a song with the other.

He was a fav. of mine!

The play was really a twisted menagerie of several story lines.......like, Harry Potter, Legally Blond, Cinderella and the Wizard of Oz.

Even with many parts of humor, wit, and fun.....it was a little confusing.....and a LOT long!

2 1/2 hours!!!!  Yowza!!!

Kinda one of those things that only the parents of a child in the play could love....supporting friends and family got a bit tired.

But thank you all who came to show love!

Every child received an Oscar.

Jax tried to bite the bald head off hoping it was filled with chocolate.

All good things must come to an end in the land of witches, munchkins, wizards, and trees.

I guess we will have to start finding new things to fill our Wednesday nights with......

I'm thinking that a kayak will be involved :)

Wild Things dance and song

see here

Because I knew you ending song with sign language

just tear jerking!!!

see here