Family » Our Crazy Boys

Quote The Walls {A Giveaway}

Aug 222010

Update: The winners (chosen by the amazing random number generator) at comment #5 (Grandma Teetsie!) and comment #10 (Tricia!) I’ve emailed you both! Congratulations!

I received the best package in the mail yesterday.

Something fun.

Something inexpensive.

Something that was going to make all the neighbors jealous.

It was from Quote The Walls.

Don’t you love it?

I do.

I’m not much of a hanging picture/painting kind of girl.

I actually don’t have anything hanging on my walls, except for in the kitchen.

I faux-painted almost every other room in the house so I could get away with not hanging anything up.

That’s why vinyl wall quotes are my new best friend.

They’re simple.

They look awesome.

And they’re customizable!

(Though I can’t take credit for this adorable saying… it came right from Rebecca’s site.)

Care for step by step instructions?

1. Tell your handsome husband to center and level the quote… backwards. Oops.

2. Ask your husband very nicely to help you center and level the quote the correct way :) Then sweet talk him into helping you pull the backing off.

3. Use the pink scrapey that comes with your quote to rub the letters onto the wall. Your husband may or may not be silly and take pictures of your butt that you will find on the camera later.

4. Slowly pull the paper off of the wall. Slowly is key with big designs. Sometimes the letters want to stick to the paper.

5. Find the cutest 6 year-old in your house, and ask him nicely to help you rub the letters onto the wall, making sure they’re stuck.

Simple.

Seriously simple.

And guess what?

Rebecca generously offered to give away two $25 store credits this week!

Just go visit Quote The Walls and tell me what you would order with your store credit.

I think my next wall quote purchase will be this:

In the biggest size available.

You know, just not with an F in the middle… :)

So, what do you love?

—

Small print: Quote The Walls kindly provided a vinyl wall quote for review purposes. The opinions in this post are my own. Please limit your entries to one per person. Two winners will be chosen on Friday, August 27th at or around 8 p.m. or whenever my little ones go to bed.

Enjoy Every Day

Aug 212010

I am emotionally spent.

I haven’t had a week like this one in… well, I don’t know when this has happened before, but it probably has.

Monday I went to spend some time with my hairdresser.

While I was there, she told me about how her 70 year old father was found in his house last week, passed away.

He had been gone for 10 days while his mentally ill wife continued to try and feed him, but couldn’t.

Heartbreaking.

Tuesday was my normal day, which I am so thankful for now.

Wednesday I attended a work meeting.

All of the speech therapists work at different schools, so it’s nice to get together to visit and see each other’s faces every once in a while.

Except when we got there, we were told that our 73 year old colleague, who had more life and energy than all of us combined, had passed away the day before.

Again, heartbreaking.

Because she wasn’t done living yet. She made that known every day.

She was the part of our team that traveled from school to school, visiting all of us and making us smile.

She will be missed.

Thursday, I embarrassed Michael at school.

Well, embarrassed isn’t the right word. I mortified him.

And I felt awful.

He was in line with his class and I walked by and ruffled his hair and sang, “I lovvveeee youuu.”

We’re a sarcastic family.

We joke around a lot.

I expected him to push my hand away and say, “Mom… quit!”

But he didn’t.

He put his head down and started quietly crying.

He didn’t feel well, and my actions sent him over the edge.

I pulled him into the nearest classroom and apologized profusely.

I promised him a bottle of Coke with lunch.

In the end, I let him go home and rest.

(And the next day, none of his friends mentioned the incident.

Either they didn’t notice anything, or they forgot to tease him about it.)

I went back to school for one more group of students and had to stop teaching for a few minutes because of a loud helicopter right over the school.

I later found out that helicopter was taking a little boy to the hospital.

He went to kindergarten in the classroom next door to Jack.

He wandered away from his house and was found in a pond on the golf course next to the school.

It was our small town’s first drowning ever.

The worst thing to happen since our incident last year.

And I can’t stop thinking about it.

Friday, I had a doctor’s appointment for the back pain I have been having.

It was confirmed that I have the same genetic spinal diseases that my Grandmother had.

And my Dad is dealing with now.

Thankfully, my good health should keep these diseases from causing me to end up like my Grandmother, who was confined to a bed in pain for the last three years of her life.

Or my Dad, who is out of work and in constant pain right now, looking at back surgery.

I am unplugging for the weekend to be with my family.

To celebrate that I have parents to talk to, even if it is just on the phone.

I’ll be enjoying time with my kids, because some are without theirs this weekend.

We’ll be making cookies for the firemen and women that responded to that horrible call Thursday.

We’ll go swim in the pool and run around the backyard, because I can. And they can.

And I’ll be thankful that I’m alive and well, even if it means having back pain.

Because back pain is a small trade for all these amazing things going on around us that we get to enjoy every day.

So go.

Here’s your reminder.

Enjoy. Every. Day.

Cheap {and oh-so-yummy} Iced Caramel Coffee

Aug 172010

As some of you know, I recently switched schools and now work where the boys go. Moving was a hard decision, and my pro/con list looked something like this:

Pros

4 minute drive to work

Be on the same campus as my boys

Have lunch with Michael on work days

My classroom would be bigger

Cons

Nowhere to stop for coffee on the drive to work

—

Yup. That was the only con.

Just kidding.

(I was super sad to leave the amazing people at my other school. Hi guys!)

It’s funny that coffee was an issue for me…

-I only drink coffee 2-3 times per week (I work 2 days a week).

-Until this month, I never made my own.

-I don’t know how to use my coffee maker (I bought it for company).

-I like to drink what I call “girly coffee” (blended or iced, and always with caramel, chocolate, or peanut butter).

I was bummed that I wouldn’t have that fanciness when starting my day at work after switching schools.

Why?

Because we live in the middle of nowhere.

25 minutes from the nearest coffee shop.

But then? Then I found Via.

Iced Via.

*cue angels singing*

I should also mention that I am saving a bundle of money, too.

The wonderful woman behind the Starbucks counter taught me how to make my own Iced Caramel Coffee.

I perfected the recipe.

And now, my friends, I am passing my recipe on to you.

May I present…

Becca’s Amazingly Amazing Cheap {and oh-so-yummy} Iced Caramel Coffee

It has a ring to it, right?

You’ll need:

Starbucks Via Iced Coffee packets ($5.95 for 5 packets. Each packet makes 2 servings)

Starbucks Caramel Syrup ($10ish for one bottle)

Milk

Ice

Cold water

Directions

Each packet has 2 tblsp. of powder in it. I measure out 1 tblsp. and put it in my drink shaker (a.k.a. Martini shaker).

Add 8 oz. cold water

And 1 tblsp. caramel syrup. (More or less to taste, of course)

Mix it all together in your fancy shaker and pour over ice. I’m telling you – starting your day with something from a martini shaker makes all the difference in the world.

Add milk to taste – extra cool points if you have one of the hard to find reusuable Starbucks cups.

Yum.

I picked up coffee for a friend the other day at Starbucks and order an iced caramel coffee and honestly?

It wasn’t nearly as good.

And it cost twice as much.

{you’re welcome}

Come find me…

Aug 162010

I’m over here today.

Won’t you come say hi?

A happy, happy {birth}day.

Aug 122010

Jack.

Jackson.

Jack-Attack.

Jack-Mac-and the heart attack.

Jackson Johnathan Reese.

Jackson-Jack.

Jack-Jack.

Jr.

Seven years ago, we thought about you.

We thought you would be a good friend for Michael.

A good brother.

An additional member to complete our family.

Six years ago, we met you.

You tricked us. You were such a quiet baby.

When you learned to talk, you started asking questions.

So many more questions than your brother ever asked.

You said “no.” A lot.

You touched the things we said not to touch.

You ate the things we said not to eat.

For as quiet as Michael was, you were loud.

For as calm as Michael was, you were energetic. So energetic.

You don’t play video games.

You don’t really play with toys.

You don’t watch much tv.

You make decorated frisbees out of all of my paper plates.

You get excited when boxes come in the mail – because when they are empty, you can make them into things.

You make 20 paper airplanes a day out of computer paper, newspaper, receipts, and price tags.

Then you give them all away. To us, to your friends, to the dogs.

When I pick up one thing, you put two in its place.

You keep every “treasure” that you find.

You go and you go and you go until you can’t go anymore.

You have made our lives crazy, energetic, passionate, and noisy.

And none of us would have it any other way.

We love you, Jackson Johnathan Reese.

You are six years old TODAY!

Where's Mom? (39 of 52)

Aug 112010

I’m early this week…

did you notice?

I’m posting early because tomorrow is going to be a busy, busy day.

It’s a certain someone’s birthday.

He’ll be 6.

And he wants nothing more than a craft desk.

That’s right.

Not legos,

not a Buzz Lightyear toy.

He wants a desk for his creations and treasures.

Michael, Daddy, and I have been working on it for the past week.

We found the perfect desk,

Daddy assembled it,

then Michael and I painted it.

Here’s Michael and I sweating in the hot, humid garage last night, putting the finishing touches on Jack’s desk:

Tonight, Michael asked Jack to sleep in his room so that Daddy and I can rearrange Jack’s room and set up his new desk. We’re all so excited for him :)

Pictures will come soon!

Lessons learned... straight from the desert

Aug 092010

I’ve lived in Arizona for ten years now.

Ten hundred-degree summers,

ten air conditioned Thanksgivings,

ten snowless Christmases,

and ten nohidingchocolatebunniesoutside Easters.

In these ten years, I’ve learned a thing or two about the desert and just recently realized (through blog and facebook comments) that you may not be aware of these amazing facts.

Doesn’t that make you sad?

Since I’m all about sharing my worldly knowledge, I’m turning What I Learned This Week into:

What I Learned This Decade

(because I can). (because it’s my blog).

1. If it crawls, slithers, or scrambles, don’t touch it (well, unless Daddy is around).

2. Drink water. Then when you’re done, drink more.

3. If a lizard gets scared, he will detach his tail and drop it in order to trick whatever is chasing him. The tail will continue to wiggle and move for up to 2 minutes afterwards. Ewwwww.

4. Let’s talk about cacti for a minute. Did you know that the plural of cactus is cacti? And that they can have flowers? And fruit?

This looks like an ordinary flower:

…but it’s a cactus.

It’s a type of night blooming cactus, which means that it blooms once a year at night. This one was in my neighbor’s front yard. He has had the cactus for 7 years, and this is the first time it has bloomed.

Can we think about that for a minute? It blooms once a year (at most) for 24 hours. A-mazing, if you ask me.

5. It is possible for your leather seats to burn your legs.

6. Windchimes will (hopefully) deter rattlesnakes from visiting you.

7. Tin foil will (hopefully) deter woodpeckers from pecking at your house.

8. Quail cross the road as a family. Often, you will see Mama Quail, followed by 10 or more tiny baby quail, followed by Daddy Quail. Always followed by Daddy Quail. It melts my heart.

9. We have a monsoon season. Normally (this year is not normal), for about 45 days during the beginning of July and lasting through the middle of August, there are thunderstorms every evening at about 4 pm. Heat lightening, thunder, and torrential rain flood the desert for about one hour, then it clears up and the sun comes back out. Oh, and it cools off a bit.

10. Colorado river toads (also called Sonoran desert toads) come out in droves during monsoon season. They sound like bleating goats (or screaming children, depending on the level of sleep they wake you from). The toads have a poison/venom in their body and on their skin that can cause hallucinogenic effects in humans. Yes, I have heard of dogs getting sick from picking the toads up in their mouths. Yes, children (not mine) have licked them and tried to get high. And yes, I have heard of adults licking them and trying to get high.

Can we think about that for a moment, as well?

Ok. Let’s not.

*gag*

Tell me something about where you live that non-locals wouldn’t know…

A joke to start your week

Aug 092010

Me: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss?

Jack: Huh?

Me: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss?

Jack: Are you talking to me? (looking through squinty, tired eyes)

Michael: It’s a joke. She’s talking to both of us.

Jack: Oh. What, Mom?

Me: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss? (SO over the joke right now)

Jack: I don’t know. (shrugging shoulders. done with the joke.)

Michael: I don’t know. What? (Thank you, first born!)

Me: Ouch!

Jack: Ouch?

Michael: Yeah, they say ouch because they are porcupines. And it hurts when they kiss.

Jack: Hee hee. Ooouuuuuuch.

Michael: Ouch, ouch, ouch!

Jack: Owie!!!

Michael: Hey, porcupine, I’m gonna kiss you. Muah! OUCH!!!!

Jack: Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Michael: Ha ha. Muah, muah, muah… OWIE!!!

Me: Ok, guys. It was just a joke. Nevermind.

This joke brought to you by Lolli. Go thank her :)

Where's Mom? (38 of 52)

Aug 052010

Some of you know that this school year, I switched schools so I could be closer to my boys. One of the many perks is that Michael comes to have lunch with me on the days that I work.

Sometimes we play games.

Sometimes we talk.

Sometimes we play on the computer.

Like today: