In need of a good read?

Then check this out. 

If you liked the Twilight saga, you will love these.

Lee had to persuade me to try them because (like always) I fought him on it.
They seemed just a little too 'out there' for me.

But, finally - I gave in to the man.
And now? I'm totally hooked.

Book #4 will be purchased tomorrow.

EASTER. Success.

Yesterday was spent with the family, and I woke up this morning feeling like I had wayyyy to much Easter dinner. Oy.

We hung out at Karen & Lesters and watched the kids dye and hunt for eggs. We visited, played games and enjoyed great company.

Now, it's Monday, and we're tired.

I'm thinking a nap is going to be #1 on my to-do list today.
Yep. FOR. SURE.

Add this one to the list:

Pet peeve #35 - Fast food places that screw up my order.

The other night after a late soccer practice with two hungry and tired kids I was in no mood to cook.
I wanted fast and easy so drive-thru it was.

We went to Carls Jr. (because they have a killer chicken sandwich that I crave almost weekly) and I placed our order.
Now, not to be rude or anything, but the kid working there? Well, lets just say - he didn't seem like the sharpest tool in the shed.

We waited, waited, and waited some more all the while I'm thinking to myself: 'fast food' my ass.

Finally, we make it home and the kids are more than ready to dig into their burgers.
I open the bag, and discover... this isn't our order. Not even close.

I'll admit. I threw a bit of a tizzy. I was hungry, irritated, and now, I didn't even get to enjoy my chicken club?
NOT. COOL.

Luckily, I have awesome kids who were fine with settling for the double cheeseburgers and splitting the small french fries, because not only was I in no mood to pack them up and drive back down there?
There is one thing that I won't complain about and that is: food for me, and my family that is prepared by someone else.

I have anxiety over it anyways, and I know that if I prance back down there and let them have it? There is no telling what they will 'include' in my meal this time.
Um, no thanks.

It just adds to the frustration I guess.
They can suck at their job and mess it up as much as they want, and I will just deal.
Because the alternative? It is so much worse in my oppinion.

Note to: SUNSHINE.

We really liked seeing you today...

Please feel free to stick around as long as you'd like.

Warning signs?

I have heard it a million times from friends and family since the girl was brand-new.
Those six haunting words: "Just wait til' she's a teenager.'
I've laughed it off, said: 'I'm not too worried about it' (meaning that, wholeheartedly) and honestly, hadn't stressed much about it.
But, after the last week or so?
I'M. TERRIFIED.

Now, let me start out by saying that Kaylee is a great kid.
She's smart, kind, polite, respectful, forgiving. She's outgoing, responsible, confident... just plain awesome, really.

She's always been a bit stubborn, and very oppinionated, but those two little things about her have suddenly taken on a whole new life of their own.

She constantly has something to say - especially if we aren't in agreeance about something.
She's right. Plain and simple.
She has to have the last word. ALWAYS.
She no longer thinks my oppinion counts when it comes to what she likes to wear.
I could go on but, it's kind of 'painful' and well, you get the idea.

Please believe that this behavior of hers doesn't get her anywhere.
She pushes, but I push back.
She may be growing up. But I'm still Mom, and she will respect that.

I'm not in total panic-mode just yet.
We still hang out, and laugh together.
We still watch movies and shop til' we drop.
She still comes to me daily for advice.
[Although, the other day? We chatted for over an hour about... boys.]
Yeah. I'm so not ready for that part of it all.

Of course She will always be my little Kay-Kay and as of right now, at least I'm still considered "cool" in her eyes.
I plan to just embrace that while it lasts, because I know someday, her friends will come first.
At least for now? She still needs her Mommy.

And although, I know that this behavior - of her testing me constantly is normal.
It doesn't change the fact that it is scary as hell for me.

The birthday boy.

[[This little boy of mine, is such a joy to my life.
He's warm-hearted, hilarious, and so gifted.
I feel so blessed to be and able to watch him grow, and change.
He's my side-kick, my cuddle-bug, and my favorite little man - hands down.]]

Layton turned SEVEN yesterday, and all of the persuading in the world (from me, of course) couldn't convince him to not have a 'camo themed' party.

He wanted a party with friends and family @ McDonalds and... we delivered.
It was nothing short of loud, crazy, chaos.

He had a blast [which is all that really matters] but, let me just say, I am more than thrilled that the March/April birthdays for our big family is almost over with.

I swear it's like Christmas all over again:
exhausting AND hard on the checkbook.

Now, I can re-coup, plus get back to my blogging on a more regular basis.
Man - I've been a SLACKER.

Just call him Curious.

Bentlee has been showing a huge interest in the newest member of our family recently; Sheldon the turtle.

Kaylee got him for her birthday and is responsible for his care (most days) but on weekdays, I am the one who feeds him, and cleans up his tank in the morning after I drop the kids off at school.

Bentlee has got used to this ritual and he sits by my side the entire time.
The other morning he started to get a little more antsy than usual.
He couldn't sit still, and was constantly whining. [and yes, he was driving me crazy.]
I took Sheldon out and held him up to the dog, and instantly Bentlee hunched down like he was ready to pounce - with his nub wagging back & forth wildly, I realized that he just wanted to play.

Later that day, I was on the couch reading and noticed that Bentlee wasn't lying beside me anymore.
I walked into Kay's room and found this:

He sat there. Forever.

And after watching this? I couldn't help but wonder...
Okay, does he want to play with him, or does he want to eat him?

I guess we will never know.

Do I look like a dictionary?

Last week I was working on Layton's invitations for his upcoming party.
As he hopped up to the table to help me stuff the envelopes he started to read one outloud to me.

Layton: "Mom? What does RSVP stand for?"
Me: [After thinking about it for too long] "Ummm, actually Lay... I don't really know what it 'stands for' but it means -  please call and let us know if you will be able to come to the party."

He then stares at me for a minute with a puzzled look on his face.

Layton: "Yeah mommy, but it says RSVP. What's that part mean?'
Me: "Layton, I don't know how to explain it any better. I don't know what that part stands for - but, when people see that part? They just know that they are supposed to call."

Layton: "But, how do they know that?"
Me: "Um... they just do."
Layton: "Okay, I'm just kinda confused, like you." - This is followed by a laugh.
"Oh I KNOW!! Mom! Why don't we just google it?"
Then he CRACKS up laughing like he is so proud of himself for thinking of that.

Then there is me... just sitting there feeling like a total dumb-ass.

[[Oh, and P.S.]]
R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply."

... and I am so sure that if I would have known and just gave him that definition when he asked what it meant?
Most likely the kid would still have been just as confused.

The complainer.

Yep. That's me today.

This weather has me in a crappy mood.
Okay, so maybe it's not just the weather, but I really don't feel like getting into all of the other reasons why I am feeling a little "off" lately.
So, instead I will just stick with my first complaint.

Yes, I am aware that it is Spring.
However, I just can't get used to the fact that one minute I almost need a tank-top (since the sun decides to shine and makes me sweat to death) while I am driving in my car.
The next? It's pouring, and freezing, and I can't even get from the car to the front doors of the grocery store without looking like a drowned cat.
Quite honestly? It's just getting on my last nerve.
Enough already.

I'm ready for sunshine. I'm ready for ALOT of sunshine.
I'm sure that it's just what I need to not only 'brighten' my day, but also to kick this bad attitude of mine to the curb.

Our first "it sucks to be a homeowner" moment.

Yep, something decided to crawl under our house and DIE a few weeks ago.

We finally realized it after an awful odor filled the house.
Okay, that's an understatement - awful doesn't even begin to describe the horrific smell.

I was mortified when I woke up the morning of Kaylee's birthday party and couldn't even inhale without wanting to gag.

Unfortunately, the way our house sits, it makes it almost impossible for any "regular sized man" to fit underneath it. So, Lee got out of having to go hunting for whatever it was. [Lucky, LUCKY guy.]

I spent about an hour on the phone that morning trying to get someone to come out - but not only did they want to charge me $300 - they also couldn't get here until Monday.
[Um, NOT an option.]

Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to have a friend of ours come out and retrieve it for us for much less, and honestly, I can't thank him enough.

The dead possum is now gone, and my house is back to smelling like... my house.

Ugh, dealing with stuff like this?
Yeah, NO. BUENO.