Pumpkin Pickin'

Sittin' pretty

Hi Everyone...

So cute...

Dana and Kira

I have the cutest visisting teachers that come visit me every month...Rebecca and Dana. This month they asked if I wanted to come with Kira to a pumpkin patch. Sure, why not? Rebecca's work was sponsoring it...Dana picked us up and we headed out. We got to go on a hay ride, Kira enjoyed apple cider and donuts...and we came home with the cutest miniature pumpkins I've ever seen. Kira had fun waving at all the people and sitting on the pumpkins. She seriously is the cutest thing and loves to be the center of attention. She scrunches her nose, or laughs, or waves...does anything to make people smile when they look at her. She's going to be the best little people person ever.

What is a friend?

A friend shared this quote with me, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it with you....

"What is a friend? I will tell you. It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with him. He seems to ask of you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. He does not want you to be better or worse. When you are with him, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, so long as it is genuinely you. He understands those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With him you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities and, in opening them up to him, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of his loyality. He understands. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse him, neglect him, tolerate him. Best of all, you can keep still with him. It makes no matter. He likes you. He is like fire that purges to the bone. He understands. You can weep with him, sin with him, laugh with him, pray with him. Through it all - and underneath - he sees, knows and loves you.
A friend? What is a friend?Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself." ~ C. Raymond Beran ~

I once used my blog as a soap box to tear someone down. I learned my lesson. It was not helpful. It did not prove my point. It hurt those who read it. Did I feel better by writing it? Maybe. Could I have vented my feelings another way than on a public blog? Probably. Will I ever do that again? Nope.

But, I do think it's okay, on a public forum to thank my friends, and family, (you know who you are) who have kept me sane....and saved me from myself. Those who have not and do not judge me. Those who love me unconditionally. Those who make me laugh, bring me up, and make me feel like I matter to them. Those who give me their opinion and give it to me in the most honest way possible because I need to hear it. Those who can laugh at me, but only when I'm laughing too. Those who can see what I need, and help me without even asking. Those who will stay up all night talking if I need. Those who will take Kira with 2 seconds notice when I need "me" time. Those who understand my crazy moments, and love me for them. Those who support me, cheer me on, and act as my rock when things are falling apart. Those who are glad just to sit around and do nothing with me just because I'm fun to hang out with. Those who listen to my rants and pretend they understand them.

Thank you to those who are just okay with me being me. I am not perfect. I do the best I can. I am grateful to those who love me.... inspite of me.

Daddy's Got a New Ride

I know, right? You're thinking how can we afford a new ride? Especially one as HOT as this one. Oh that's just it...Kenneth TRADED...that's right....TRADED his truck for this hot ride. Now, settle down...don't get jealous. You all know you want this hot 1979 Blazer...but, it's a one of a kind and I'm not sure there there are many more out there to get. So, if you're nice we MIGHT let you ride in it. Well, Kenny might because, it's another vehicle that I can't drive being that it's a stick shift. And, I can barely even get in the thing. That's besides the point though.
So, most of you know...well, I guess most of you probably don't know....When I met Kenny he had a big white, lifted, dodge. It was one of those "I need to get a lady" vehicles....and it worked. He landed me. The whole time I've know him he's always had an "extra" vehicle. We sold his truck about a year or so ago and made good money on it....but before and still he always has had 2 vehicles. He's had an altima...a jeep...a little truck...a big truck...umm...I'm sure there are more. His last "extra vehicle" was this older truck...he bought for next to nothing, then bought really nice tires and wheels for it. What? I don't understand that...but that's just me. And, I never understood the need for him to have 2 cars, but it makes him happy...so I don't really bug him about it.
Well, the other day he tells me that he's found a Blazer that he wants to trade his truck for. I say, NO WAY. Why? Because his truck runs fine and I just have no idea what he gets himself into when he gets these vehicles. Well, a couple days later I call to say hi, and he tells me he's on his way to "look" at this blazer. WHAT? I say, NO WAY. I call him an hour later, and he's on his way back to work IN THE BLAZER. Well, folks, I guess we know who wears the pants in our family.
I've settled down a bit about it. Really, it looks like....well, a big old rust bucket. But, I can see the potential. I really can. He took off the shell and came to show me it when I was working. It runs fine. He's already got paint for it, someone to put bedliner in it, a new front clip, and well...I'm not sure what else. He's already spent a ton of time on it, and I think it will be a project that he'll love. If any of you know that he used to have an orange blazer that he had to say goodbye to a few years back, this is his replacement I think that just might fill that void. :)
Some of you may catch the sarcasm as I write this...because let's be honest, I really wasn't thrilled with this new trade. It's a big investment of money and time....But, I think Kenny will love fixing it up, and who knows...it might be fun to take to the drive-in when it's done. I'm also posting pictures for the "before" and "after" of his project. Kenny's really not interested in posting on the blog...and that's just fine. Because I love to write about stuff, and then it's always my opinion, right? :) Anyway....here are the pics of the blazer he sent me...he didn't take them. They were the ones the previous owner sent him.
Wait for it........

Kira's Big Sister

Angela's daughter, Emma, is the cutest thing ever. She played with Kira and taught her how to play with her toys...including the toy kitchen. She kept calling her "little sister" and it was adorable. They are cute to play with each other...I just had to watch Kira because last time they hung out, Kira hit her in the face. :(

Dinner at Ang's house

Becca and I and Kira went to Ang's house...Okay, really..how many times can I hang out with Becca in a week, I know....today was the 3rd, and tomorrow will be the 4th...but she's fun and we get along so well. Anyways, Kenny was supposed to go but ended up going to buy a part for his 79 Blazer he bought (which is a whole other post for when I'm more calm about it) but it ended up just being us girls and Derek. We had a good time just hanging out and talking. Derek skipped out early for a hockey game (with all of our permission of course) and so us girls just sat around and caught up. Kira got to play in Emma's big fun toy. It's like a big blow up play pen...but not really a play pen because it's fun.
She sat in this bumbo thing on the table...I can't believe I don't have one of these. It's only the best invention EVER. She seemed comfortable, and she couldn't really get out of it. lol.
Becca, Ang, and I have been hanging out a bit more lately....well, not a ton more...but I think we'll have more fun times soon. Ang's baby is due so soon, and I can't believe what a good mood she's in being so pregnant. I was not a nice person when I was that pregnant.
Well, I'm never the one that makes hamburgers. NEVER. I don't make them. I don't cook them. Kenny does that. Well, he wasn't home and so I made hamburgers. Apparently I made them way too big. Derek had to cut them in half, and then in fours because they were just too huge. Oops...lol.
Kira was getting a little tired. I put her in her pj's and she just drank her bottle and played with Emma for a little bit. She's so cute in her new pj's :)

Looky here....

What arrived in the mail today? $90 in gift certificates to Johnny Carino's. I guess we could try it one more time...I mean...why not if it's free?

Movie Night

Lisa, Becca and I went to see the Premier of Nick and Norah's infinite playlist. Lisa got us free tickets...sweet deal. :) It was fun to meet up early and chat away the time...I can't believe it's been a whole year since I'd seen her. It was my baby shower since we'd actually hung out. It feels like we keep in touch and hang out through our blogs...but that isn't cutting it anymore and I'm excited to hang out more, and have our kids play together. :)
This being a premier of a movie it was like getting into a fortress to watch it. They searched our purses, wanded our bodies, and made us leave out or cellphones (if you weren't sneaky enough to hide it.) They threatened to call the police and the FBI (whatever) if you pulled your cellphone out in the movie.
While this movie was entertaining, and over all, pretty cute, it's not something I'd take my 13 yr old to. Or, really any of my kids for that matter. I laughed out loud, gasped, and even clapped at one point...but overall, I'm not sure that I would really say this was a powerful or really very impactful movie at all. It's a cute highschool romantic comedy with really awesome music. I'd buy the soundtrack for sure.