My Weekend

Saturday morning, the birds are singing, the sun is shining and I'm CRAWLING out of bed...we went to the Fair the night before. The Midnight Madness, you pay $20 to get in and ride all you want from 10p-2a. My family L-O-V-E-S Family fun night at the fair...mom and dad? Yeah, not so much.

I have bruises and knots in places that I didn't know existed. I rode rides that I should've left to the teens, but when you have 4 children (we took Girl Child's Bestie) begging you to ride and a 40-yr old husband telling you that your chicken if you DON'T get on it, you HAVE to ride!

Our children rode more rides this year than ANY combined! The boys were tall enough to ride, so we rode almost EVERYTHING as a family. Hubby says the four bruises I have on my outer thigh look like fingers...trust me - NONE of the carnies had what it takes to touch me...much less bruise me! Yes, I AM shallow! I prefer my men to actually HAVE teeth!

We got home at 2:15AM. The children tumbled into their beds and fell FAST asleep...Hubs was snoring before the first child lay their head down...me? I was up until 3AM!!! Thankfully the next day was Saturday, my day off. My day to do NOTHING!!! I could sleep in!!!

9AM: Lisa woke me up by taking a picture of me sleeping...she then sent it off to my husband and her boyfriend...thanks, Lisa! We were enjoying a cup of coffee when we heard Destiny screaming...

A couple of weeks ago, the kids milked Bryon out of $40 at the flea market {way to go guys!!!}. He bought the boys toy guns, you know the kind that make LOTS of LOUD noise? Yeah, he got those...he hasn't quite figured out yet why all the kids noisy toys don't make noise (here's a hint: Mommy took the FREAKING BATTERIES OUT!!!).

So the boys were over in the neighbors yard (they've moved...I'm not THAT mean...) playing with their guns and Destiny is with them being their 'stuperfisor' when we hear her scream...

We look out the window and hear her say, "I'm tellin and you can't stop me!" Lisa asks out the window, "Destiny, what's wrong?"

"Well, John said I couldn't tell and I told him Yeth I could! So I came over here to tell on him becauthe I could!"
"What are you telling on him for, Destiny?"
"Uh, well. Um...I don't know!!!"

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Last night I put a load of laundry in the washing machine. I text Girl Child and ask her if she'll put the clothes in the dryer before she goes to bed {Yes, we're in the same house, but I've lost my voice (screaming at the top of my lungs at the Fair friday Night) and yelling isn't an option - neither is getting Hubs to yell for her, he's in NyQuil La-La Land. Of course I COULD get out of bed and talk to her myself...yeah - RIGHT!). She asks me if I want her to start it too. uh, yeah... About 9:15 (15 minutes AFTER Girl Child is SUPPOSED to be in bed) I hear the washing machine going.

Me:"Girl Child, I asked you to put the clothes in the DRYER! Not wash them again"
GC:"But they had soap on them because they hadn't been washed yet"
Me:"Oh, I guess I forgot to start the washer after your brothers got out of the shower. OK, well I'll let you stay up a little later if you'll put them in the dryer and START it after they get done washing."

Well, at least I can say that my children get their absent mindedness honestly...I'll put up Fair pics soon!

Apology To My Husband....

I have to apologize to my husband, its not going to be easy to do...

Backstory:

Girl Child and I were in the car listening to the radio and Carrie Underwood's 'All-American Girl' came on. She asked me if she was an All American Girl, I said yes. Then I explained to her that All-American Girl means that she was born here, raised here and loved everything American.

Yesterday:

We were driving in the car taking an evening ride. The whole family was there; Hubs, Me, Girl Child, Middle Boy Child and Youngest Son.

Girl Child: Lacey's not an All American Girl like I am because she's part Irish or Scottish, or one of those "-ishs"

Me: What do you mean? She was born here in the States, right?

GC: Yes, in the 'Glades

Me: And her parents are US citizens, right?

GC: Yes, but since her people are from overseas she's not All-American

Me: Uh, honey...YOUR ancestors are from overseas...unless they've JUST gotten off the boat most of the people living in the US now are ALL AMERICAN

GC: But you said I was All-American

Me: You are, but so is Lacey!

GC: I don't get it...

Me: Is THIS how you feel when you're talking to me?
Hubs: Yes and now I know where she gets it from! {he got punched in the arm for that comment}

She wasn't getting what I was trying to tell her and I think that made her mad (woo-hoo!). The reason I'm apologizing to my husband? Now I know how he feels when he's trying to tell me something and it takes me a few minutes to 'get it'....like he wants to pull every hair outta his head.

So honey, I'M SORRY!!!

Good Old Fashioned Family Time...

This is my bestie, Lisa...she's screaming because the mud is going thru her toes...she has some of me that I'll share later.

From left to right: Hubs, Ryan, Bryon (Lisa's boytoy), Brad, Katie's Bestie Lacey, Katie and Lisa's oldest John...Wait! Where's Destiny?!?!?!?

Believe it or not, Katie DOES like her pics taken...

There's Miss Destiny!

ALL the rotten spawnage!!! Don't they look sweet? Yeah, RIGHT!!!

Ryan - He LOVES Rock and Roll!!! AND the DAWGS!

These three...they will be the DEATH of Lisa and I!!!!

These next shots are of the boys playing catch at the house...they love football:

From My Mom...

This time 40 (nah, just kidding) 37 years ago, I was a terrified 16 year old about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, and believe me I was terrified. My family called themselves being supportive, but not really. My husband was useless, and I was alone basically about to bring a new life into this world. I know that you don't believe that I love you, but I loved you from the moment I saw you. Even though I had no clue, I knew that you were my heart. I know that I made mistakes, major ones, and that I failed you on more than one occasion (and I don't need you to say, no you didn't, because I know that I did). But I do love you and I've always loved you. And it hurts me to know that our relationship is not what it should be and I know it hurts you too, even if you won't admit. And I know that it's mostly my fault, but I can't change the past, I wish that I could. Just please remember that you are my firstborn and even if I failed to show it at times, no mother has ever loved a child more than I love you. I didn't say this to make you cry, just to let you know that I do love you very much. And I'm sorry for any pain that I caused you and mistakes that I made that changed your life and your opinion of yourself.

Love,

Mom

MY Day

Today is my birthday, yes - I'm OLD! Yesterday, we took our spawn to the park...we also took pictures, I figured it was my prerogative to share...Enjoy

We may not have alot, but this family LOVES each other! What more can a mom ask for?

This one is my FAVORITE of Daddy and Girl Child

The boys, I LOVE the face on Youngest Child...

I HATE GETTING OLD!!!!!!!

UPDATE: My WONDERFUL mother found the website for me!!! They have BEAUTIFUL sterling silver jewelry and its CHEAP!!!! Check it out:
http://sea-island-jewelry.com/index.html



I will be closer to 40 Monday...

I am looking for a jewelry store in Charleston, South Carolina. This place is on Market Street and sells the prettiest silver jewelry and its CHEAP!!! $20 for a sand dollar pendant/necklace. They fix the jewelry for FREE!!! I've had my pendant and chain for YEARS and its broken twice...this time I can't find the freaking address to send it back to get it fixed!

I know, I can hear you rolling your eyes and asking, "Why don't you just drive to Charleston and get it fixed over a weekend?" You'd think it was that easy! But see, there's this witch that lives in Mt. Pleasant that I can't STAND!!! Yes, Charleston is a big city and Mt. Pleasant is just a bridge away...the problem? There is NO state in the union that is big enough for the two of us. The WITCH that I'm talking about is Hubs ex...I really don't like her.

It has NOTHING to do with the fact she called me fat when I was pregnant with our first child ("You know, CSY, you don't look pregnant - just fat"*) {I almost slapped the caked on blue and pink eye shadow from the 80's right off her ugly face}, or the fact that every time their oldest did something wrong she called Hubs...WHAT IN THE HELL is he supposed to do 300 miles away? SHE'S the one who let them get away with murder...but I digress...

ANYHOO!!! I'm searching high and low looking for this jewelry store. ALL over the Internet. It would help if I could find the business card that had their web-site on it. It would also help if I could remember the name of the store...

It sucks getting old!

*It bugged the HELL out of her that I was 3 times skinnier than her when I met Hubs. She was just mad that I could still see my toes!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! It's A Boy!

Thursday, October 4th 2001 - 9AM
Midwife: So, you ready to have this baby?
Me: SERIOUSLY?!?! I mean after all the false labors, am I ready for this thing to come out? YES!!! I'm waddling EVERYWHERE!
Midwife: Then make the phone calls, don't eat anything after midnight and I'll see you in at 6AM, we're gonna get this baby out of you. Your blood pressure is too high.

I make the round of phone calls to my mom who lived in Florida and my husband who was on the road - "We're having a baby tomorrow! Get here as soon as you can if you wanna be there for the birth!"

Friday, October 5th 2001 - I was used to this, this was going to be my third (and LAST) child. I knew what I was doing...I got all the nastiness out of the way. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. Men, I don't wanna upset your picture of us moms...yes, we ARE superheros!

I had EVERYONE coming to see me! My mom and sister were there, all 3 of my brothers and their wives/girlfriends. My grandmother, Aunt, SCORES of cousins and a few friends. I entertained everyone most of the day...by 7:30pm, I was EXHAUSTED! My midwife came in, assessed me, put me on the labor inducing meds and left to get her dinner...

I'd made a deal with this bundle of joy, if he came BEFORE Law & Order he'd ALWAYS be my favorite! The contractions were coming closer and closer together. The nurse checked me again and decided to break my water...30 minutes later (and almost with NO midwife), Reid Bradford slipped into my arms.

My mom was at my head, hubs near my knees. We were breathing and pushing and grunting with the effort. I looked at my husband and noticed he'd turned a very pretty shade of green...my mom caught his eye and asked if he'd like to trade spots...I've only seen hubs be 'girlie' a couple of times and his older boys were at the heart of the 'girlie moment'...I seriously thought he'd faint. He came to my head and kissed me on the forehead saying, "I'm glad to be up here"

When Reid Bradford popped out the doc asked Hubs if he wanted to cut the cord, he begged off. She turned to my mom and handed her the scissors...this baby was the first one she'd cut the cord...she'd been there when my daughter and older son were born, it was only natural that she be there for this one, all 8lbs. 4.5oz of him.

Son, you're 8 today and looking at you sleeping this morning I couldn't believe where the time had gone. We had a scary moment when you were 18 months old and your right lung almost collapsed. You stayed in the hospital for 3 days, I cried.

You're the baby of this wild and crazy bunch and I hope that you turn out OK...if not, its your DAD'S fault! The other kids get mad when you want your way...that you don't get all the time. You are the child that makes me giggle for no reason. You knock on my bedroom door and when I open it you're standing there with a goofy grin on your face and you say something silly...then you run away giggling like crazy.

I've begged your sister, threatened your brother, now I'm not kidding...you don't need to grow up so freaking fast! You need to slow down and let me enjoy your being a kid! You and your siblings aggravate the holy piss out of me, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Just slow down!!!

I love you, Reid Bradford! Even if you DO look just like your Daddy! You're going to be a heart breaker when you grow up!

P.S. This is in response to Susan's comment: Oh, HELL yes there were drugs!!! THIS time they got me at 5cm, so it was effective and felt nothing when Brad (its what we call him) was born. They also expected me to keep the epidural needle in while I selpt that night...I had my tubes tied the next morning. When the attendants came to get me ready for 'surgery', they had to give me a drug to numb me BEFORE they put the epidural back in. One note: I actually REMEMBER singing "I Will Survive" while the doc was doing the tube tying business...Yes, I am officially crazy!