Well....it's been awhile, but I'm a busy woman! Plus I think you need to miss things sometimes to really appreciate them!
I pride myself on being fairly technologically savvy...at least I thought I was....until I met my match....the HTC Merge. Oh, the Merge (I refer to her as Marge) looks all shiny and pretty. But beware she is a devil who messes with your mind while all wrapped up in a glorious red phone cover!
I've wanted a smart phone for awhile, but of course had to wait until I was "eligible" for a new phone. Several years ago I had a Crackberry and I loved it. We had a really good relationship, but alas she proved to be out of my league financially, so I had to let her go. After that I had just a regular old phone with a full keyboard....which because of the amount of texting I do (which I'm certain is no more than the average teenager) I managed to rub off all the paint on the keys making it quite difficult to text since I could not see the letters. (oops!) Finally Sept. 18th arrived.....new phone day!!!! I decided right away I was getting a smart phone. Thought about the Crackberry again, but decided I wanted something similar to the iPhone (which US Cellular doesn't carry). Looked at a few with touchscreen keypads...but I really need an actual keyboard (my fingers are too fat for the touch screen!) Marge was really the only choice. But the nice (and strikingly handsome) US Cellular guy assured me it was a great phone and very user friendly (Liar!). So I purchased Marge and went on my merry way. I was SO excited about this phone (yes...I need to get a life..don't remind me).
I got home only to realize Marge didn't come with instructions (really?...thanks HTC). So I started messing around with the screen and the apps (apps are the "applications" you can download onto your phone such as Angry Birds for those of you not as tech savvy as me...Yep...I know the lingo) only to find I had no idea what I was doing. All I wanted was to change my ringtone to "I Like It" by Enrique Iglesias (best song EVER and by the way, he is another strikingly handsome man) but I could not get it to work...aaaahhh!!! Seriously this phone can locate the international space station in 3 seconds but won't let me get my jam on with Enrique?! NOT COOL! Suddenly, the phone was ringing (some awful pre-loaded ringtone) but since it's a touchscreen there's not answer button and I had no idea what to do. Then I see it says on the screen, drag down to answer....so I drag down and nothing happens. So I miss a call from my friend Carrie. She leaves a voicemail.....but how the hell do I retrieve my voicemail? My old phone you'd hit the letter "v" while in the contact list and voicemail popped up to dial. So, I tried it with Marge and Yes...voicemail popped up! So I called it and it says something like, sorry not happening. Now I'm irritated. I'm yelling at Danny to come help me (he's not happy that mom has a cooler phone than him, so he doesn't come running) but he finally comes upstairs. I ask him how the heck I get my voicemails. He looks at me like I'm an idiot (parents out there....I'm certain you are all familiar with this look) and says, "Dial your cell phone number." To which I respond, "If I dial my own number I'll get a busy signal." He says, "Mom, dial your number!" (in a quite snotty tone I might add). So I dialed my number knowing he had no idea what he was talking about............and there was my voicemail (damn it!) Danny just smiled (again parents....you know this smile) and walked away.
Back to the ringtones...I want my Enrique damn it (sorry for the swearing, but damn it!). I called Danny upstairs again and asked him to text me some ringtones. He does it, but they pop up and say download. Well I down load them, but have no clue where the went. Danny suggests I look at the app store to see if there is a ringtone app that I need to download (smarty pants). Again.....I'm schooled by my 17-year-old. There is a lovely ringtone app that I can download music and customize (sweet!) my ringtones.
Ringtone set, feeling good, I still have no idea what Marge can do, but we're trying to work things out. She gets tired easily (smart phones don't have near the battery life) and I still haven't figured out all her capabilities. (but I can check my major stocks at the click of a button...isn't there like a Real Housewives app where I can see all the latest gossip about the crazy ladies? I think people would really prefer that to a stock market app!). Oh...the coolest thing is on the home screen it shows the weather and if it's raining outside it's raining on my screen and there are windshield wipers that go back and forth...so awesome!
Just know that if you call me and I don't answer it could be that I screwed up while trying to "drag down" OR I'm just jamming out to Enrique!!
UPDATE:
The Anderson Cooper talk show has tweetied me TWICE now! So I'm almost certain Anderson knows of me! Hey Andy....tweet me @anniezeets. I just know we could be BFF's!!
Until next time....
Peace!
Annie
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
30 random things
30 random things about me!
1. I am vertically challenged (thanks mom and dad for those awesome genes)
2. I don't eat blue food....nothing....no blue candy, cereal, blueberries, etc....don't judge me!
3. I am deathly afraid of going to the dentist....like have anxiety attacks for days before an appointment
4. I love boy bands, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Ricky Martin, 98 Degrees...yep I love them all! These days I also really love Lady GaGa (although she might actually fit into the boy band category....jury's still out on that one!)
5. Although it may not seem like, I am a very insecure person. I hate the way I look and I'm constantly second-guessing the decisions I make.
6. My greatest achievement in life is my kids.
7. I love my family.....My parents are so supportive and go above and beyond for me and my family. My brother makes me laugh more than anyone. He has the biggest heart of anyone I know and has a wonderful family of his own. I also have awesome aunts and uncles who are all here in town.
8. Even though I am hard on him almost all the time, I have the world's greatest husband! He loves me unconditionally and is a wonderful dad!
9. I'm NOT a fan of country music.
10. I have lots of great friends who prove to me that God puts people in your life for a reason.
11. Boogers freak me out.
12. I have a bad gag reflex and also hate toothpaste - that combination leads to me almost puking every morning while brushing my teeth....it's gross.
13. I worry a lot about the world we live in and how things will be as my kids grow up.
14. I cry almost every day.
15. I have an acute sense of smell....somewhat like a dog...in fact I smell EVERYTHING before I eat it.
16. I miss my Grandma Ann a lot. She would have gotten a kick out of the munchkins!
17. I know every single word to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock...even won a few bar competitions in college because of that song :-)
18. I hate people who drive the speed limit! My philosophy is the speed limit is just a guide. By the way...never had a speeding ticket! I drive my minivan like it's a sports car and I am proud of it!!!
19. In case you didn't know....I LOVE ANDERSON COOPER!
20. I would love to sing with a band at least one time before I die
21. Onions are by far the nastiest food on the planet. I quite literally yak every time I get even the smallest piece of onion in my mouth.
22. There are certain words I just cannot stand.....moist (aahhh...my ears are burning) is the worst word EVER!
23. I love Disney movies....but Belle is my favorite princess because she is smart and likes to read.
24. My friend Emily proves to me that age is just a number. I have more fun with her than anyone and thank God everyday for bringing her into my life.
25. I really do want world peace
26. Sometimes he drives me insane, but I feel so blessed to have a teenage son who has a good heart and is a genuinely good kid.
27. The young people I have met in my time as a youth minister inspire me to be a better person. I am also SO thankful to have had such awesome support from all the youth groupies parents....without them I could not do this job! (you know who you are!)
28. I think the Geico woodchuck commercial is about the funniest thing I have ever seen! Hey you woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!
29. I've seen the musical Rent (the actual play, not the movie) at least 10 times I think.....I've even seen it twice in one day two different times!
30.Did I mention I LOVE ANDERSON COOPER? (Still waiting for the silver fox to tweet me!)
Peace!
1. I am vertically challenged (thanks mom and dad for those awesome genes)
2. I don't eat blue food....nothing....no blue candy, cereal, blueberries, etc....don't judge me!
3. I am deathly afraid of going to the dentist....like have anxiety attacks for days before an appointment
4. I love boy bands, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, Ricky Martin, 98 Degrees...yep I love them all! These days I also really love Lady GaGa (although she might actually fit into the boy band category....jury's still out on that one!)
5. Although it may not seem like, I am a very insecure person. I hate the way I look and I'm constantly second-guessing the decisions I make.
6. My greatest achievement in life is my kids.
7. I love my family.....My parents are so supportive and go above and beyond for me and my family. My brother makes me laugh more than anyone. He has the biggest heart of anyone I know and has a wonderful family of his own. I also have awesome aunts and uncles who are all here in town.
8. Even though I am hard on him almost all the time, I have the world's greatest husband! He loves me unconditionally and is a wonderful dad!
9. I'm NOT a fan of country music.
10. I have lots of great friends who prove to me that God puts people in your life for a reason.
11. Boogers freak me out.
12. I have a bad gag reflex and also hate toothpaste - that combination leads to me almost puking every morning while brushing my teeth....it's gross.
13. I worry a lot about the world we live in and how things will be as my kids grow up.
14. I cry almost every day.
15. I have an acute sense of smell....somewhat like a dog...in fact I smell EVERYTHING before I eat it.
16. I miss my Grandma Ann a lot. She would have gotten a kick out of the munchkins!
17. I know every single word to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock...even won a few bar competitions in college because of that song :-)
18. I hate people who drive the speed limit! My philosophy is the speed limit is just a guide. By the way...never had a speeding ticket! I drive my minivan like it's a sports car and I am proud of it!!!
19. In case you didn't know....I LOVE ANDERSON COOPER!
20. I would love to sing with a band at least one time before I die
21. Onions are by far the nastiest food on the planet. I quite literally yak every time I get even the smallest piece of onion in my mouth.
22. There are certain words I just cannot stand.....moist (aahhh...my ears are burning) is the worst word EVER!
23. I love Disney movies....but Belle is my favorite princess because she is smart and likes to read.
24. My friend Emily proves to me that age is just a number. I have more fun with her than anyone and thank God everyday for bringing her into my life.
25. I really do want world peace
26. Sometimes he drives me insane, but I feel so blessed to have a teenage son who has a good heart and is a genuinely good kid.
27. The young people I have met in my time as a youth minister inspire me to be a better person. I am also SO thankful to have had such awesome support from all the youth groupies parents....without them I could not do this job! (you know who you are!)
28. I think the Geico woodchuck commercial is about the funniest thing I have ever seen! Hey you woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!
29. I've seen the musical Rent (the actual play, not the movie) at least 10 times I think.....I've even seen it twice in one day two different times!
30.Did I mention I LOVE ANDERSON COOPER? (Still waiting for the silver fox to tweet me!)
Peace!
Monday, September 12, 2011
TOE-tally dramatic!
Have I mentioned my daughter Abby is a drama queen? All I wanted was a beautiful baby girl who I could dress up in pretty, frilly dresses. A girl to do makeovers with and watch chick flicks with. No one prepared me for all the drama that comes with having a girl!!! There should be a how-to manual for raising girls (maybe that's the book I should write...the title should simply be "Raising a Daughter? Good Luck").
Abby can be extremely moody (must get that from her dad because I am perfectly pleasant all the time). She also is a master of the art of the getting the last word (again, a trait she must have acquired from Brian as I never like to argue). She also thinks she knows something about everything (wow....seeing a trend here....Brian might need to get some professional help). And oh the drama! I'm pretty sure Abby is a Real Housewife in training as she can turn even the tiniest thing like taking the dog out into a performance worthy of an academy award!
Last week Abby got out the shower and I noticed her toenails were really long. It was gross! I informed her they needed to be cut ASAP...she burst into tears. "I hate getting my nails cut!!! It hurts," she's screaming at me. (maybe she is subconsciously remembering the time she was like 10 months old and while clipping her nails, I nicked her skin and there was blood everywhere and I called my dad hysterically crying and told him I thought I had cut off part of her finger and he needed to come to my house quick........and I do not consider this being dramatic.....I consider this being a concerned parent.)
Since she was already crying, why not just grab the clippers and get started (still no word on my mother of the year trophy....maybe they are planning a surprise ceremony in my honor! Guessing it's taking longer than expected because Anderson Cooper is really busy, but I know he's clearing his schedule for me. Hey Anderson...tweet me @anniezeets!) Well getting started with the toenail clipping did not go well. So we decided to soak her precious toe in warm water before proceeding. After the soak, I gently started to clip........oh the horror! Abby started screaming, "You're ripping my toe off!" "Just sit still. I know it hurts a little, but we need to get that toenail out," I say. Abby's response, "Why are you trying to kill me?" At this point she is laying on the couch, wailing like someone is trying to kidnap her, her face is completely purple from crying while I am trying to actually NOT RIP OFF HER TOE. "Why did this happen to me?" she cries....like she's been the victim of some crime...not dramatic at all. I started laughing.....which led to another outburst. "Stop laughing at me! I can't believe you think it's funny to see me in pain." (Side note: I do have a tendency to think it's funny when people get hurt. I enjoy a good stumble in a parking lot, or a trip up the stairs, so Abby's statement has some truth behind it.) The idea that my kids would ever be in pain is unbearable....except for this day. The whole thing was comedy. I'm just waiting for DHS to show up at my door and say they had a report of child abuse from a neighbor who heard horrific screaming coming from the Zeets' house. Some days (like this one) I might just say to DHS, "Lock me up! At least I'd get 3 meals a day and there's no kids!" (Sorry if this offends anyone....I don't actually want to be locked up and think child abuse is about the worst sin on the planet, just using my fabulous and sarcastic sense of humor to stress my point...although I really don't have a point!) Back to "the toe". I'm finally able to gently (well sort of...) remove the ingrown nail....the ordeal is over! I get the little missy calmed down, tell her I'm sorry if I hurt her (yes, I can be a nice person) and her toe should feel better in a day or two. We bandage it all up, she is finally calm (when I say calm, I mean she isn't hysterical anymore....we still have the deep breath/sniffing combo happening) and then Tommy comes in and says, "Geez Abby, you're such a wimp." Let the hysteria begin yet again......
A friend of mine sent me this fabulous quote after reading my blog. She thought I would appreciate it and I do! Thanks Sarah!
"They know me in way no one else ever has. They open me to things I never knew existed. They drive me to insanity and push me to my depths. They are the beat of my heart, the pulse of my veins, and the energy in my soul- they are my kids"
Catch you on the flip side peeps!
Peace!
Annie
Abby can be extremely moody (must get that from her dad because I am perfectly pleasant all the time). She also is a master of the art of the getting the last word (again, a trait she must have acquired from Brian as I never like to argue). She also thinks she knows something about everything (wow....seeing a trend here....Brian might need to get some professional help). And oh the drama! I'm pretty sure Abby is a Real Housewife in training as she can turn even the tiniest thing like taking the dog out into a performance worthy of an academy award!
Last week Abby got out the shower and I noticed her toenails were really long. It was gross! I informed her they needed to be cut ASAP...she burst into tears. "I hate getting my nails cut!!! It hurts," she's screaming at me. (maybe she is subconsciously remembering the time she was like 10 months old and while clipping her nails, I nicked her skin and there was blood everywhere and I called my dad hysterically crying and told him I thought I had cut off part of her finger and he needed to come to my house quick........and I do not consider this being dramatic.....I consider this being a concerned parent.)
Since she was already crying, why not just grab the clippers and get started (still no word on my mother of the year trophy....maybe they are planning a surprise ceremony in my honor! Guessing it's taking longer than expected because Anderson Cooper is really busy, but I know he's clearing his schedule for me. Hey Anderson...tweet me @anniezeets!) Well getting started with the toenail clipping did not go well. So we decided to soak her precious toe in warm water before proceeding. After the soak, I gently started to clip........oh the horror! Abby started screaming, "You're ripping my toe off!" "Just sit still. I know it hurts a little, but we need to get that toenail out," I say. Abby's response, "Why are you trying to kill me?" At this point she is laying on the couch, wailing like someone is trying to kidnap her, her face is completely purple from crying while I am trying to actually NOT RIP OFF HER TOE. "Why did this happen to me?" she cries....like she's been the victim of some crime...not dramatic at all. I started laughing.....which led to another outburst. "Stop laughing at me! I can't believe you think it's funny to see me in pain." (Side note: I do have a tendency to think it's funny when people get hurt. I enjoy a good stumble in a parking lot, or a trip up the stairs, so Abby's statement has some truth behind it.) The idea that my kids would ever be in pain is unbearable....except for this day. The whole thing was comedy. I'm just waiting for DHS to show up at my door and say they had a report of child abuse from a neighbor who heard horrific screaming coming from the Zeets' house. Some days (like this one) I might just say to DHS, "Lock me up! At least I'd get 3 meals a day and there's no kids!" (Sorry if this offends anyone....I don't actually want to be locked up and think child abuse is about the worst sin on the planet, just using my fabulous and sarcastic sense of humor to stress my point...although I really don't have a point!) Back to "the toe". I'm finally able to gently (well sort of...) remove the ingrown nail....the ordeal is over! I get the little missy calmed down, tell her I'm sorry if I hurt her (yes, I can be a nice person) and her toe should feel better in a day or two. We bandage it all up, she is finally calm (when I say calm, I mean she isn't hysterical anymore....we still have the deep breath/sniffing combo happening) and then Tommy comes in and says, "Geez Abby, you're such a wimp." Let the hysteria begin yet again......
A friend of mine sent me this fabulous quote after reading my blog. She thought I would appreciate it and I do! Thanks Sarah!
"They know me in way no one else ever has. They open me to things I never knew existed. They drive me to insanity and push me to my depths. They are the beat of my heart, the pulse of my veins, and the energy in my soul- they are my kids"
Catch you on the flip side peeps!
Peace!
Annie
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Man VS Dog
Greetings from the land of confusion! The pace of life in the Zeets house has picked up this week as the kids get back into all their activities. We are like ships passing in the night (not cool cruise ships, more like those inflatable yellow life boats). Brian and I pass each other in the kitchen every so often, I text him our schedules every day and occasionally we spend a few minutes rehashing the day before bed. I'm embarrassed to say that tonight Danny reheated a piece of pizza, Tommy had cereal, Abby had toast (did I mention she's a vegan?), no clue what Brian ate and I snarfed down 4 toquitoes (that's how I keep my amazing figure in tact). By the way, still waiting for that mother of the year trophy (I'd also take a sash, I do love accessories!).
But onto the topic of the day....the dog! Murph (yes, she's a girl...we didn't name her) is a pug/sharpay mix. I think she's adorable but my husband, well he loathes this dog! It's sad really because all Murph wants is for Brian to love her and it's never going to happen. Brian's has 2 big problems with the dog: 1. She sheds...A LOT! Trust me, when I brush out this little dog with short hair, I could make another whole dog out of the hair I have brushed off Murph. It's crazy. I admit the shedding bugs me too, but that's why God invented lint rollers and vacuum cleaners. 2. She snorts, she snores, she sneezes, she grunts and she barks. Murph is one noisy dog. She sounds like a pot bellied pig! Pugs are known to have breathing issues and Murph is no exception. She might be the loudest sleeping dog in the world. Her snore is worse than any grown man (I wonder if they make Breath Right strips for dogs?) She scares my poor niece to death because she quote, "sounds like a monster." Brian is a light sleeper to begin with, so when Murph starts sawing logs, Brian loses his patience.
Murph is an older dog....we think she's about 8. I notice that she's become a little skiddish when it comes to noises. And when I say skiddish, I mean she tears through the house, barking like a maniac and often trying to claw through the window screens to attack a falling leaf. As you can imagine, barking dog equals pissed off husband. (excuse the language....but the word fits the situation so I don't consider it swearing!) I'm sure the neighbors have a good laugh when the windows are open and Brian is yelling at the dog. (side note.....I often shut the windows if I'm going to yell at my children.....I'm a polite neighbor or paranoid mother, not sure which). I'm also certain the dog thinks her name is Stupid as Brian is always yelling "Stupid dog" (sorry...I know stupid is not a nice word, but I'm laying our life out there...the good, the bad and the ugly). Sometimes at night, Brian will be sitting on the couch watching TV and Murph will come right up to his legs (she's a little bit like a cat sometimes) and snuggle around them. His standard response is, "Get that %$%& dog away from me!" We all roll on the floor laughing because it happens almost every night! "She just wants you to love her! She's like the little black sheep child who longs for her Daddy's love and affection," I say to Brian. He doesn't think I'm funny (which is crazy because I am hilarious!)
Several weeks ago, I was cruising around Target (my home away from home) and stumbled upon a deal on a large package of Swedish Fish. The deal was too good to pass up, so I grabbed a bag (I'm a bargain shopper!). I came home and could not wait to break open those tasty little fishies (I have food issues....topic for another day). So later on, I settled into my evening with Anderson Cooper
(Anderson, if you're reading this....hit me up! Tweet me @anniezeets or find me on Facebook) followed by The Real Housewives of New Jersey (my guilty pleasure is reality TV. Makes me feel better about my own life. I also LOVE Strange Addictions...I mean really, who eats their husbands ashes?!) and of course I had my fishies. I ate way too many fish and passed out on the couch. What I didn't realize was I left the open package of fish on the floor and my dog ate the entire bag of fish! I woke up to Murph hacking up a nasty pile of red fish (sorry for the graphic....just trying to paint a picture). I was instantly pissed (again....needed to be said)....not worried about the poor dog....pissed that the dog had eaten all my fish!!!!! Not cool, Murph, not cool! Then I found myself yelling at the dog like she's one of my kids. "MURPH, I cannot believe you ate my fish. I'm the only one that takes care of you in this house and you do this to me!" (yep....officially on the crazy train).
So there's a little bit about our family pet. I should also add that Brian would never hurt the dog. He is a gentle guy but isn't much of an animal person. To each their own, I'm not much of a cleaning or cooking person (I know....so shocked my mother of the year award STILL hasn't arrived!)
Peace!
Annie
But onto the topic of the day....the dog! Murph (yes, she's a girl...we didn't name her) is a pug/sharpay mix. I think she's adorable but my husband, well he loathes this dog! It's sad really because all Murph wants is for Brian to love her and it's never going to happen. Brian's has 2 big problems with the dog: 1. She sheds...A LOT! Trust me, when I brush out this little dog with short hair, I could make another whole dog out of the hair I have brushed off Murph. It's crazy. I admit the shedding bugs me too, but that's why God invented lint rollers and vacuum cleaners. 2. She snorts, she snores, she sneezes, she grunts and she barks. Murph is one noisy dog. She sounds like a pot bellied pig! Pugs are known to have breathing issues and Murph is no exception. She might be the loudest sleeping dog in the world. Her snore is worse than any grown man (I wonder if they make Breath Right strips for dogs?) She scares my poor niece to death because she quote, "sounds like a monster." Brian is a light sleeper to begin with, so when Murph starts sawing logs, Brian loses his patience.
Murph is an older dog....we think she's about 8. I notice that she's become a little skiddish when it comes to noises. And when I say skiddish, I mean she tears through the house, barking like a maniac and often trying to claw through the window screens to attack a falling leaf. As you can imagine, barking dog equals pissed off husband. (excuse the language....but the word fits the situation so I don't consider it swearing!) I'm sure the neighbors have a good laugh when the windows are open and Brian is yelling at the dog. (side note.....I often shut the windows if I'm going to yell at my children.....I'm a polite neighbor or paranoid mother, not sure which). I'm also certain the dog thinks her name is Stupid as Brian is always yelling "Stupid dog" (sorry...I know stupid is not a nice word, but I'm laying our life out there...the good, the bad and the ugly). Sometimes at night, Brian will be sitting on the couch watching TV and Murph will come right up to his legs (she's a little bit like a cat sometimes) and snuggle around them. His standard response is, "Get that %$%& dog away from me!" We all roll on the floor laughing because it happens almost every night! "She just wants you to love her! She's like the little black sheep child who longs for her Daddy's love and affection," I say to Brian. He doesn't think I'm funny (which is crazy because I am hilarious!)
Several weeks ago, I was cruising around Target (my home away from home) and stumbled upon a deal on a large package of Swedish Fish. The deal was too good to pass up, so I grabbed a bag (I'm a bargain shopper!). I came home and could not wait to break open those tasty little fishies (I have food issues....topic for another day). So later on, I settled into my evening with Anderson Cooper
(Anderson, if you're reading this....hit me up! Tweet me @anniezeets or find me on Facebook) followed by The Real Housewives of New Jersey (my guilty pleasure is reality TV. Makes me feel better about my own life. I also LOVE Strange Addictions...I mean really, who eats their husbands ashes?!) and of course I had my fishies. I ate way too many fish and passed out on the couch. What I didn't realize was I left the open package of fish on the floor and my dog ate the entire bag of fish! I woke up to Murph hacking up a nasty pile of red fish (sorry for the graphic....just trying to paint a picture). I was instantly pissed (again....needed to be said)....not worried about the poor dog....pissed that the dog had eaten all my fish!!!!! Not cool, Murph, not cool! Then I found myself yelling at the dog like she's one of my kids. "MURPH, I cannot believe you ate my fish. I'm the only one that takes care of you in this house and you do this to me!" (yep....officially on the crazy train).
So there's a little bit about our family pet. I should also add that Brian would never hurt the dog. He is a gentle guy but isn't much of an animal person. To each their own, I'm not much of a cleaning or cooking person (I know....so shocked my mother of the year award STILL hasn't arrived!)
 |
| me and Murph...horrid picture of me but the only one I could find w/the $%#@ dog! |
Annie
Sunday, September 4, 2011
SNL
Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a Saturday Night Live sketch!
Those of you that know my family, might say that I have some of the sweetest, most well-behaved children you've ever met. Let's just say they put on a good show in public! Walk into my house at any given time and you will find the boys fighting (yes, my oldest is 17 and my youngest is 8.....the 8 year old usually prevails) and my daughter screaming and crying because one of the boys dared to look at her or speak to her. Add a dog that barks at every shadow and snorts like a pot-belly pig to the mix and we're in business. Just the other day Abby came flying up the stairs bawling because Danny (the oldest) had called her a "lippy little freak". I told her to relax because she's not a freak but I did tell her she's lippy and she is little (she's actually a midget but I didn't want to further upset her!).
The thing about my kids is they continually antagonize each other! I know this not uncommon between siblings, but my kids have turned it into an art form. (footnote: after Danny read the last sentence he said, "At least I'm good at some form of art"). Abby is the typical girly-girl. She is in constant motion....cheering, dancing and tumbling all over the house, ALL the time. This drives everyone crazy and she knows it, so she does it even more and even louder just to prove a point. The munchkins (I refer to the 2 younger ones this way all the time) love to torture Danny about anything and everything. They are always teasing him about his girlfriend, his grades and his crappy car (Abby once reminded Danny that her American Girl doll is worth more than his car). Tommy frequently walks up to Danny and starts pulling his leg hair. But don't think Danny is an innocent victim. He finds great joy in making his sister cry. Last summer we roadtripped to Chicago with my dad. Danny and dad in one car, Brian and I and the munchkins in the van. We had walkie talkies to communicate which was really quite fun until......as we got into Schaumburg, Danny got on the walkie and said, "Hey look Abby, it's your store, Babies R Us." As you can imagine, she became hysterical and cried for like 2 hours while the rest of us laughed for the next 2 hours.
The latest toy that is wreaking havoc on my home is the vuvuzela! (side note....Danny and his buddies won these on a youth group trip to Valley Fair. I had to confiscate them on the bus ride so the driver didn't stop and leave our group in the middle of Interstate 35.) Not only is the vuvuzela an obnoxious sounding horn, but it also doubles as a vicious weapon that can be used to smack your brother and sister. Try to picture the noise of a World Cup soccer game combined with the high pitched screaming at a Justin Beiber concert and that's what you get when the vuvuzela is in use downstairs. My dad will sometimes call and after a few minutes ask, "How many kids are at your house?" "Just mine," I say.
The other day the munchkins were doing battle (again) and tattling and crying (well Abby was crying), so for their punishment I made them sit on the couch and hug each other for 5 minutes. Abby informed me it was worse than having to put her nose on the wall for 9 minutes (9 years old gets you 9 minutes on the wall). No applause necessary, I know I'm mother of the year.....guessing my trophy got lost in the mail.
Time for me to catch the end of Father of the Bride. I love this movie because the soon to be bride and groom are Brian and Annie (pathetic, I know, but it makes me smile!).
Later taters!!
Annie
Those of you that know my family, might say that I have some of the sweetest, most well-behaved children you've ever met. Let's just say they put on a good show in public! Walk into my house at any given time and you will find the boys fighting (yes, my oldest is 17 and my youngest is 8.....the 8 year old usually prevails) and my daughter screaming and crying because one of the boys dared to look at her or speak to her. Add a dog that barks at every shadow and snorts like a pot-belly pig to the mix and we're in business. Just the other day Abby came flying up the stairs bawling because Danny (the oldest) had called her a "lippy little freak". I told her to relax because she's not a freak but I did tell her she's lippy and she is little (she's actually a midget but I didn't want to further upset her!).
The thing about my kids is they continually antagonize each other! I know this not uncommon between siblings, but my kids have turned it into an art form. (footnote: after Danny read the last sentence he said, "At least I'm good at some form of art"). Abby is the typical girly-girl. She is in constant motion....cheering, dancing and tumbling all over the house, ALL the time. This drives everyone crazy and she knows it, so she does it even more and even louder just to prove a point. The munchkins (I refer to the 2 younger ones this way all the time) love to torture Danny about anything and everything. They are always teasing him about his girlfriend, his grades and his crappy car (Abby once reminded Danny that her American Girl doll is worth more than his car). Tommy frequently walks up to Danny and starts pulling his leg hair. But don't think Danny is an innocent victim. He finds great joy in making his sister cry. Last summer we roadtripped to Chicago with my dad. Danny and dad in one car, Brian and I and the munchkins in the van. We had walkie talkies to communicate which was really quite fun until......as we got into Schaumburg, Danny got on the walkie and said, "Hey look Abby, it's your store, Babies R Us." As you can imagine, she became hysterical and cried for like 2 hours while the rest of us laughed for the next 2 hours.
The latest toy that is wreaking havoc on my home is the vuvuzela! (side note....Danny and his buddies won these on a youth group trip to Valley Fair. I had to confiscate them on the bus ride so the driver didn't stop and leave our group in the middle of Interstate 35.) Not only is the vuvuzela an obnoxious sounding horn, but it also doubles as a vicious weapon that can be used to smack your brother and sister. Try to picture the noise of a World Cup soccer game combined with the high pitched screaming at a Justin Beiber concert and that's what you get when the vuvuzela is in use downstairs. My dad will sometimes call and after a few minutes ask, "How many kids are at your house?" "Just mine," I say.
The other day the munchkins were doing battle (again) and tattling and crying (well Abby was crying), so for their punishment I made them sit on the couch and hug each other for 5 minutes. Abby informed me it was worse than having to put her nose on the wall for 9 minutes (9 years old gets you 9 minutes on the wall). No applause necessary, I know I'm mother of the year.....guessing my trophy got lost in the mail.
Time for me to catch the end of Father of the Bride. I love this movie because the soon to be bride and groom are Brian and Annie (pathetic, I know, but it makes me smile!).
Later taters!!
Annie
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Why the title?
Living the life I never wanted....I know this sounds bad, but it's really not. It's simply something I tell myself, my youth groupies and my family. I say it to prove a point...that although this is definitely NOT where I ever pictured I would be, it's really a great life!
Like all young people just out of high school, I was going places! I packed my bags, headed off to Winona State and decided I'd never look back. I was going to get my degree, move to a big city and be an investigative journalist at some fabulous newspaper (hence my "mild" obsession with Anderson Cooper). One thing was for certain: I was NEVER getting married and NEVER having children!
To say I had fun in college is a gross understatement. I was quite social (shocking, right?) and I liked to party. Sure it was a blast, but it didn't leave much time for pesky things like studying. I was so wrapped up in being the party girl, that I really started to lose myself. I was drinking a lot, skipping classes and living a life I knew was wrong, but nothing really stopped me. I had a ton of great friends who I took for granted. I was immature and basically just acting stupid.
I'll spare you all the details of my junior year....this is where life caught up with me. Needless to say a little bundle of joy whom we named Danny came into our lives this year. I moved back to Waterloo, transferred to UNI and settled into life as a young mother. Brian and I got married a few months later (and we are still married and happy today! I know we kind of beat the odds).
I fought my way through my last few years of college all while learning to be a wife and a working mom (loved my part-time job at Walgreens!). We didn't make much money, but we were living on love. Thank God for our parents who offered support in every way possible. I now know there are so many young moms out there who do not have any kind of support system. I am forever grateful to our families for showing us such unconditional love during those really tough years!
Well, by the grace of God, I finished college! I decided to major in English when I started at UNI (no journalism program at the time) and quickly realized I need to get a teaching degree if I ever wanted to be employed. (the joke was always the English/non-teaching students would wind up the English/non-working students). After a few classroom field experiences and my stint as a student teacher, one thing I knew for sure was I did NOT want to be a teacher because I did NOT like kids (yes...and now I work with kids...and I do like them!) But I decided to get the teaching degree as a fall back option.
On a whim after graduation, I applied for a job as a production assistant at my local TV station. The woman who interviewed me (I know God sent her to be my angel that day) told me about a job opening in the news department that I might be better suited for. An hour later I was hired as an assistant producer for the morning news! (I had no idea what that meant, but it was a job in news, at a TV station, so I was pumped!). Every morning at 2:30am (I am SO not a morning person) I was up and out the door for work. I got to write all the teases and intros for the morning newscast, do some video editing and take millions of phone calls for school closings during the harsh Iowa winters. I loved my job and was able to move into a full fledged producer position within a year.
The news business was great! Fun, fast paced and never the same. But it's also a tough business if you have a family. When I got pregnant with Abby, I was producing the 5pm newscast. I was feeling good, so I decided to do a work trip to Washington DC for an Associated Press workshop. I flew out of Reagan National Airport on September 10, 2001. Needless to say, the next day the world was changed forever and those of us in the news business were thrown into a whirlwind of live reports, death tolls and gruesome images. It made me look at life as a gift that can be taken away at any moment. I knew my priorities needed to change, but I wasn't ready to step away from this job that I loved so much.
I was lucky to have a nice, long maternity leave when Abby was born. But while I was gone, a new news director was hired. The man was a tyrant and made my life miserable. He was not an advocate for the working mom or women in general. After many disagreements, it all came to a head one day. I ended up telling him off (don't know where it came from, I'm usually such a quiet and sweet person) and he fired me. I was devastated! How would we survive without my income? But it was then that God stepped into my life again. Not only did I qualify for unemployment, but I found out one week later that I was pregnant with Tommy! Two babies, 18 months apart. It was God's way of telling me to slow down, enjoy life and stay home with those babies (who can really afford daycare for two babies on a producer's salary anyway?) So I did just that.....became a stay-at-home mom!
The title of my blog comes from a phone conversation I had when I was still staying home with my kids and my parents were on vacation. Mom called to check in and I was having a rough day (contrary to popular belief...being a stay-at-home mom isn't all just sitting on the couch, watching soaps and eating bob-bons). She asked what I was doing and my response was, "I'm just sitting here living the life I never wanted." She thought this statement was hilarious.....I, of course was sobbing (did I mention that I am an emotional basket case most of the time?) Like she always does, mom put things in perspective for me. She reminded me that although this was not the life I had imagined for myself, it was still a pretty great life. I didn't move to a big city and become a famous journalist, but I had worked in broadcasting even if it was just my local hometown station. She reminded me that I had worked my butt off to get my degree, something no one could ever take away from me. She also said that even though I never pictured myself married with kids, could I ever imagine my life without Brian and the kids now? She was right (as usual). My dreams had changed. My goals had changed. I had changed. Life is messy, it doesn't always go the way you plan (in fact it rarely goes as planned) but it doesn't mean it's not worth living.
So here I am.........living the life I never wanted! And let me tell you, I thank God every day!
Stay tuned....there's more to come!
Peace out girl scouts!
Annie
Like all young people just out of high school, I was going places! I packed my bags, headed off to Winona State and decided I'd never look back. I was going to get my degree, move to a big city and be an investigative journalist at some fabulous newspaper (hence my "mild" obsession with Anderson Cooper). One thing was for certain: I was NEVER getting married and NEVER having children!
To say I had fun in college is a gross understatement. I was quite social (shocking, right?) and I liked to party. Sure it was a blast, but it didn't leave much time for pesky things like studying. I was so wrapped up in being the party girl, that I really started to lose myself. I was drinking a lot, skipping classes and living a life I knew was wrong, but nothing really stopped me. I had a ton of great friends who I took for granted. I was immature and basically just acting stupid.
I'll spare you all the details of my junior year....this is where life caught up with me. Needless to say a little bundle of joy whom we named Danny came into our lives this year. I moved back to Waterloo, transferred to UNI and settled into life as a young mother. Brian and I got married a few months later (and we are still married and happy today! I know we kind of beat the odds).
I fought my way through my last few years of college all while learning to be a wife and a working mom (loved my part-time job at Walgreens!). We didn't make much money, but we were living on love. Thank God for our parents who offered support in every way possible. I now know there are so many young moms out there who do not have any kind of support system. I am forever grateful to our families for showing us such unconditional love during those really tough years!
Well, by the grace of God, I finished college! I decided to major in English when I started at UNI (no journalism program at the time) and quickly realized I need to get a teaching degree if I ever wanted to be employed. (the joke was always the English/non-teaching students would wind up the English/non-working students). After a few classroom field experiences and my stint as a student teacher, one thing I knew for sure was I did NOT want to be a teacher because I did NOT like kids (yes...and now I work with kids...and I do like them!) But I decided to get the teaching degree as a fall back option.
On a whim after graduation, I applied for a job as a production assistant at my local TV station. The woman who interviewed me (I know God sent her to be my angel that day) told me about a job opening in the news department that I might be better suited for. An hour later I was hired as an assistant producer for the morning news! (I had no idea what that meant, but it was a job in news, at a TV station, so I was pumped!). Every morning at 2:30am (I am SO not a morning person) I was up and out the door for work. I got to write all the teases and intros for the morning newscast, do some video editing and take millions of phone calls for school closings during the harsh Iowa winters. I loved my job and was able to move into a full fledged producer position within a year.
The news business was great! Fun, fast paced and never the same. But it's also a tough business if you have a family. When I got pregnant with Abby, I was producing the 5pm newscast. I was feeling good, so I decided to do a work trip to Washington DC for an Associated Press workshop. I flew out of Reagan National Airport on September 10, 2001. Needless to say, the next day the world was changed forever and those of us in the news business were thrown into a whirlwind of live reports, death tolls and gruesome images. It made me look at life as a gift that can be taken away at any moment. I knew my priorities needed to change, but I wasn't ready to step away from this job that I loved so much.
I was lucky to have a nice, long maternity leave when Abby was born. But while I was gone, a new news director was hired. The man was a tyrant and made my life miserable. He was not an advocate for the working mom or women in general. After many disagreements, it all came to a head one day. I ended up telling him off (don't know where it came from, I'm usually such a quiet and sweet person) and he fired me. I was devastated! How would we survive without my income? But it was then that God stepped into my life again. Not only did I qualify for unemployment, but I found out one week later that I was pregnant with Tommy! Two babies, 18 months apart. It was God's way of telling me to slow down, enjoy life and stay home with those babies (who can really afford daycare for two babies on a producer's salary anyway?) So I did just that.....became a stay-at-home mom!
The title of my blog comes from a phone conversation I had when I was still staying home with my kids and my parents were on vacation. Mom called to check in and I was having a rough day (contrary to popular belief...being a stay-at-home mom isn't all just sitting on the couch, watching soaps and eating bob-bons). She asked what I was doing and my response was, "I'm just sitting here living the life I never wanted." She thought this statement was hilarious.....I, of course was sobbing (did I mention that I am an emotional basket case most of the time?) Like she always does, mom put things in perspective for me. She reminded me that although this was not the life I had imagined for myself, it was still a pretty great life. I didn't move to a big city and become a famous journalist, but I had worked in broadcasting even if it was just my local hometown station. She reminded me that I had worked my butt off to get my degree, something no one could ever take away from me. She also said that even though I never pictured myself married with kids, could I ever imagine my life without Brian and the kids now? She was right (as usual). My dreams had changed. My goals had changed. I had changed. Life is messy, it doesn't always go the way you plan (in fact it rarely goes as planned) but it doesn't mean it's not worth living.
So here I am.........living the life I never wanted! And let me tell you, I thank God every day!
Stay tuned....there's more to come!
Peace out girl scouts!
Annie
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