Hey... Lame-O

So I finally decided to cruise around and find some of my friends blogs... BIG mistake!!!

First - when I think of blogging - really I think funny commentary. Well anyone who ever reads my nonsense knows there's no funny going on here (no matter how hard I try to think of lame jokes)! I hooked up with a friend of mine from when I was a kid... blogging was MADE for her! She's insane hilarious. Then you have my other friends who have great pictures of a Tim McGraw concert... the beach... check out my pictures - MY PLANTS! Seriously now that's funny stuff right there.

Anyway - I've decided that I get to top the list of lame bloggers!

In other news: MOMMY LEAVES FOR MEXICO TOMORROW!! WAAAHOOO. Ok - really now I'm getting a bit nervous. I have been really fine about it... until today. Now I'm freaking out just a little. I know the boys (Jarod and Zachary) will be fine... mostly. I'm worried about Jake having to do full duty for 5 days... I'm worried about Jarod at night - since he can't usually go to bed unless I'm cuddling with him. I'm worried that Zachary will flip out b/c his mommy is nowhere to be found. Well I guess they all HAVE to be ok.

And this story really should make you crack up. Last night Jarod and I went to a 'meeting'. I took Jarod b/c the girls house it was at has a daughter who's just a couple of months younger than Jarod. So the two of them were in the backyard playing and I look out and Payton had taken her diaper off (she's in the midst of potty training and going commando is totally cool). So her dad goes to take her inside to get dressed and he starts laughing b/c Payton had on Jarod's camo flip-flops (and no diaper)... She gets dressed and heads back outside to play. Next thing you know her dad comes running through the house with the camera... Jarod and Payton were outside 'cuddling' on a tarp in the yard. So he starts out the door and happens to catch (on camera) my son, leaning in and giving his daughter a big ole kiss-a-roo. I thought I'd DIE!!! The pictures are GREAT... he caught them in the second before lips locked... then he caught the kiss... then they got embarrassed because everyone was laughing and they laid back down 'cuddling'. I asked them to email them over (and told them I intended to put them on my blog) and her dad says 'that's cool.. you can't tell it's my daughter' LOL. Now - how often does a dad catch on camera his daughters first kiss???? It was cute - but mostly totally embarrassing. Jarod - my Casanova! Pictures coming soon......

So until next week - this is my life... signing out.

June Plants - Part 2

June Plants - Part 1

Wow! My new backyard!

Saturday

So this week has definitely been fun. We've been to the pool a couple of days and there's been a little bit of shopping (mommy has to have some new things for Mexico)!! While at the pool on Wednesday Jarod had to be 'rescued' by the lifeguard. (HUGE EMBARRASEMENT). He was following his friend who is a foot taller - and just stepped a step to far. I was right behind him, but he was right under the lifeguard who couldn't see me right there. She jumped in and I was less than an arms length away. Ugh it was terrible (for me not Jarod..)

Yesterday I took my van into the shop to have a maintenance check done. I'm driving for the girls trip and I wanted to make sure it was road trip ready. Of course they called me and told me all these things are wrong with it - total cost to fix over $700. Begin the freak out!! So I called my dad and asked him if he'd help Jake look at all the things the shop said were wrong (meanwhile pricing the parts at Autozone to find that parts alone were less than $150). So this morning we've been over at my parents while Jake and my dad look at the car. Only thing wrong: needs new rear brake pads (hmmm I already knew that)... Lucky for me my dad has always worked on his own vehicles! He was a bit upset that they had tried to 'swindle' me. I'm mad too! I took it there b/c it's been in before and they did a great job!

On Thursday afternoon the girls trip will officially commence! I'm really getting very excited. I bought a new swim suit and I'll be going for an outfit for our evening of Salsa dancing. WOOHOO!! BEACH HERE I COME!!

I need to take new pictures of my plants - as it's been a month since the first set - for comparision of course. All are still surviving except one lousy daisy (I had 2 - they are VERY particular!!) Pictures of that coming soon.

Wish I had something funny or note worthy to report... but since I don't... I'll stop rambling.

What a week!

It sort of flew right by... mostly because I've been sick since last Tuesday. We were working in the yard on Tuesday and by the time I went to bed I was SICK. I think all the dust from the rocks just took their toll on my sinuses. On Friday I took Jarod to the pool and by the time we came home I was back in bed sick again. Yesterday I attempted to go to the gym but after about 45 minutes of lifting weights I felt TERRIBLE so we left (we were supposed to stay for a spin class).

Zachary is really crawling now - on all fours! I've got some video that I will get up soon (I don't know how to get it off the camera and Jake hasn't helped me yet). Today he discovered there is a complete world outside of his rug! Faster than I could put him back on the rug than he was off again. So I spent some time cleaning floors this morning.

Jarod had a BUSY week. Everyday Papa and his minions were over working in the yard. Papa let Jarod help him on the tractor and both had a great time! I couldn't keep Jarod in the house while the boys were outside working b/c he HAD to help. On Saturday we had a minor catastrophe.. Jarod was given a toy skid loader by DJ one day... since then he's let it out of his sight for only minutes at a time... well he must have set it down in the dirt but next thing you know - the real skid loader had crushed it! He didn't see it in pieces but kept coming inside asking 'where's tractor'? So off I had to go to try to replace tractor and of course there were none like it anywhere! I finally found one that seems to be OK... although he's not as attached to it as the original tractor.

I received my review last Tuesday and it was really positive. I have in writing from my boss the works 'outstanding' and 'good job'. I sometimes feel like they leave me out here to fend for myself and it was nice to know that all the fending I do was noticed.

For this week not much planned. Of course there will be trips to the pool and I HAVE to clean. A week of being sick with workers at my house has turned it UPSIDE DOWN.

Jarod

Boys at play

Jarod gets Grandma

Jarod's visit to the aquarium

At the pool with Grandma and Grandpa

The Weeks Review

Now that's pretty snappy don't you think????

Well... now... lets start at the very beginning. My dad and his minions have been working in my backyard - putting down the rock that is edging my grass. Mostly it's been a lot of dirt moving... but as of now - I have crusher fine and flagstone down. Looks like they are close to being ready to start spreading the big stuff. This time I took 'before' pictures... so once it's done I'll post the pictures.

On Wednesday KD & Julie arrived. Zachary took straight to Grandpa's beard... I'm sure there's a picture of that somewhere. We had a really nice visit; went to the zoo, the pool; chilled out at home. We had a surprise waiting for us when we got home from the Zoo - no electricity.. until the next day! Jarod thought the flashlights at night were GREAT! It also gave us an excuse to go out to eat - and we went to Zio's... Honestly I LOVED it. I thought the food was really good. I will be going back.

I hope KD & Julie had fun at the pool. Jarod is lots of fun to chase around and keep out of trouble and Zachary enjoyed just sitting letting the water run up to him. (Pictures of that excursion soon).

They left early this morning - their trips always seem to fly right by.

Sarah has been wanting to go to the aquarium for a couple of weeks so today we went. Jarod went back and forth through all the aquariums. Sarah finally had to pick him up and haul him out to get him to leave. Of course I have pictures of that too - and I'll post soon. The divers were in the big tank feeding the fish and the HUGE turtles were swimming around and that was cool. Jarod kept wanting to 'go see Nemo and Dory'.

This week I just have planned to go to the pool and work and go to the gym. I have a 'formal' performance review with my boss tomorrow morning. Akkk! Scary!! They have asked me to start doing my own billing. FUN! At least I get to learn something new - and all the mess-ups will now be because of me... instead of me telling 3 people at different steps to fix things.

And lastly - Jake's scheduled changes again tomorrow. So he'll be working 6a - 3 and be off Friday and Saturday. The reason this is noteworthy: it makes it so that me, myself and I can go to Mexico with my girlfriends the end of the month. WOOHOO I feel bad a little bit - leaving Zach-attach... but when I'm sitting at the ocean I figure I'll probably be OK. Sarah has VERY generously offered to stay home (she wanted to come with me and I would have liked that a lot) and take care of the boys while Jake is at work the other 2 days. What can I say... I've got a GREAT sister. Of course I'll probably owe her from now to eternity... wait... I have taken her to the ocean with me 2ce... hmmm I'll have to remind her of that.

Zachary.... really the crodile hunter

Jake has been bugging me for a week to post these photo's.. so here they are. They really would wrestle but every time Jake got the camera Zachary would roll back over.

Look out Dr. Brady Barr - Zachary Weeks is waiting for his turn!

Zachary... Crocodile Hunterrrr....

Animals mommy... Animals

Jarod has been asking for a week to go see the animals... he LOVES the zoo. I've been telling him we'd go when Grandma and Grampa get here. So on Thursday off we went to Jarod's delight to see the animals.

First mistake: the adults were starving so we went and ate first... Jarod... not happy - although while we were sitting there we saw about 5 baby peacocks.

Second mistake: Jarod wanted to see the Rhinoceros (by that name)... but we decided to go see the polar bears and take a stroll through the cat walk... Jarod zoomed right threw all of it... wanting to see the Rhinoceros. Finally we went on Safari through Africa... I had my doubts that he'd even know when he saw the Rhinoceros.. well call me dumb.. he saw it... let out a huge 'Rhinoceros' and had a most delighted look on his face. We stayed looking at those Rhino's for quite awhile.. When one came to his feeding trough Jarod was calling it... and patting his chest (see pictures).

The last time we went Jarod had a great time feeding the ducks and huge fishes... this time... Jarod just wanted to eat the bread himself... great planning on my part as I had some seriously old bread to share... so we quit that experience.

I think a good time was had by all.

Who's at the Zoo?

Jarod at the Zoo

Some of the Zoo Animals

We have.........a TOOTH

Yesterday we were all sitting in church and Rebecca had Zachary... she gets a surprised look on her face and says 'oh my gosh.. I feel a tooth'. I thought.. yeah right! Sure enough.. my little bugger has cut his first tooth. It's on his bottom front.

Rewind to Friday: Zach was at home with Jake most of the day and has just been a fuss bum. Jake has said he thought it could be tooth related and I just passed it off. The kid has been drooling since he was 4 months old and we've had no teeth. It pains me to say.. but I guess Jake was right!

I swear by this time Jarod had several teeth... and I'm sure not looking forward to the first few coming in.. it's soooo not fun!! But yah for 2 milestones in a week: army crawl and teeth!!

What I enjoy...

One of the greatest things about summertime for me... is flowers! It took me a really long time to find the flowers I wanted to fill out my planters. But for some reason this past week I just went flower crazy. So right now all of my planters are on the back porch - waiting to find their permanent homes. I figure since I'm keeping a 'journal' I'd just chronicle my plants success (or heaven help us; failure) right here. So here are pictures of my plants as I planted this past week. If I can keep them alive long enough to my move - I'll have no worries b/c the courtyard is a wonderland for growing flowers.

My flowers - May