Crazy Momma

So, I'm trying to straighten up last night after my neighbor left and JJ tells me he wants to peepee on the potty, I asked him to wait a minute so I could finish the thing I was doing, he said ok. Instead he goes in the bathroom, gets himself undressed, then comes back out carrying his shorts, telling me he went. Ok, now mind you in the past 6 months he's gone twice, just by happenstance, since he sits on the potty every day. Anyway, I go to check things out, and yes, in fact he did. I made a big production over it, hugs, kisses, praise, and some coins to feed his piggy bank, all the while he's of course looking at me like I'm crazy, but he's lapping up the attention. So, here is the 1st time he goes on his own, INTENTIONALLY, and of course I missed it!

I hate politics

So, why is it that its socially acceptable to be a "bigot" in terms of political parties? I'm just so surprised at the number of people who pick someone to vote for just based on how they are registered, automatically disliking the other party's person. They aren't looking into where the parties stand or their voting history at all. Now, I know what you're thinking, we're free to vote how ever we want, but in all this I can't help but feel that having the different political parties hinders the system more than helps b/c the focus is not on the real issues, but just choosing the party you have affiliated yourself with.

Take me with a grain of salt when it comes to politics though, I'm a cynic in all this anyways, I feel that no matter what we're just voting for the lesser of two evils. I just feel that sometimes its trivialized.

High School

This one''s from Michelle
1. Did you date someone from your school? Yep.
2. What kind of car did you drive? Toyota Tercel (the toy)
3. What was the most embarrassing moment of HS? dunno
4. Were you a party animal? Nope.
5. Were you considered a flirt? dunno? possibly.
6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? chorus
7. Were you a nerd? Yes, not in the sterotypical sense
8. Were you on any varsity teams? nope
9. Did you ever get suspended/expelled? no.
10. Can you still sing the fight song? I know the 1st part - We are vikings, lol.
11. Who were your favorite teachers? Brohawn & Renkwitz
12. Where did you sit during lunch? at a table in the cafeteria
13. School mascot? Viking
14. Did you go to homecoming, and with who? Corey, homecoming wasn't a big deal then
15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? yeah, it was fun
16. What do you remember most about graduation? Losing my shoe at Chris' house but never making it in her house
17. Where did you go on senior skip day? OC
18. Were you in any clubs? AFS, Mock Trial
19. Have you gained some weight since then? no
20. Who was your prom date? David, Corey, & Rob (diff years of course, lol)
21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? I did not go

Tagged

As if I can keep up with the other boards, I added another (thanks Steve, lol)
http://tagged.com/katmendoza

Foto Friday

It's not a picture that I've taken, but its the concept that I wanted to post, basically a thanks, you know who you all are (uh, you're reading this so its probably you!)

"Wherever you are, it is your friends who make your world."

Wacky Wednesday (late)

"Scooby says 'Honkey Tonk'" - JJ
(posted late b/c of a headache that won't go away)

Fall

When does fall begin for you?
When the leaves begin to turn

What is your favorite aspect of fall?
Its was always a build up of anticipation for the holidays, when we spend much more time with family who doesn't live here, but now its getting to do Halloween with JJ!

What is your favorite fall memory?
Hay rides when I was little on my Pop-Pop's farm, pumpkin picking with my mom, Trick-or-Treating, my husband and I starting to date, and the best is of course my son being born in late November!

What do you like to drink in the fall?
Hot chocolate

What's your favorite fall food?
My mom's sweet potato pie recipe and thick, creamy soups.

What is fall weather like where you live?
The air becomes cool and crisp, the leaves change to a mural of gorgeous colors!

What color is fall?
Burgundy, red, orange, yellow, brown

What does fall smell like?
apples with cinnamon, hay, corn stalks, pumpkins

Holiday shopping in fall: yes or no?
Yes, only b/c I can't stand crowds and prefer to get it over with!

If you could go anywhere in the fall, where would you go?
North, but as far as I have been would be driving up to PA, but to see the trees on the sides of the mountains, changing, is gorgeous!

What is your favorite fall sport?
Do I even need to answer this one? FOOTBALL! How 'bout them Cowboys!

Do you have a favorite fall chore?
Putting out decorations

What is your favorite fall holiday?
Thanksgiving Day.

What's your favorite kind of pie?
Sweet Potato

Which do you prefer, the Farm or the Fair?
Farms, and I'm so looking forward to making memories with JJ at some this year!

Do you have a favorite fall book?
Right now its Halloween books with JJ

How about a favorite fall poem or quote?
A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summers wave good bye

Happy Fall!

Sit on the couch with me....

JJ's going through something now where he wants me on the couch with him. There's only so many times I can stomach the Scooby Doo movie, but even if he is playing on the floor and I try to get up, he asks once again "sit on the couch with me." Maybe he knows something I don't about myself, maybe he's not being unusually clingy (he normally saves that for outside the home and not so much of late.) Maybe he knows I need the rest, not that I don't know it too, but the clothes hamper just doesn't shut up, nor the little things to be put away or food to cook. Oh, well, I've been listening to him more often than not b/c I know there will come a day, much too quickly, where he won't want to be around me.

Foto Friday

I'm really reaching far back from this picture! From left to right you have my Dad, Uncle Bill, and Uncle Gary. What handsome men, and do you think they know it (if you knew my Dad and Uncle today, you'd say yeah.)

No wonder I had a thing for men in uniform (still do, shhhh!)

I found out last night my brother's orders for Texas were changed, so thanks for everyone who sent their PP&T his way!

RED, WHITE and TRUE (excerpt)
Author: Sherrod L. Fielden
The fabric of our Flag is more than ever meets the eye. It wraps our very heart with love,and cloaks us when we die. Money will buy a replica, to fly upon a pole;but the real flag cannot be bought.It's earned with our soul. The world can't understand it.They're not as blessed as we. America is not just a place --it's an idea that keeps us free.

He "pulled a Tony"

Last night JJ went outside with me while I was getting 1 of my projects that I had spray painted. He kept opening and closing the sliding glass door so instead of letting all the moths in I closed the screen door. We stayed out a little while, then went to walk in, and JJ walks smack into the screen (or as we call it "pulling a Tony.")

He immediately busts out laughing, as if its the funniest thing in the world. His next thing, in between spurts of giggles, he holds his nose and says "I hurt me face."

Of course, I'm the mean mommy, just about to pee her pants laughing right along with him, but I will admit, his reaction was much more comedic than the blunder!

Couples Tag

Meme from Shayna:

*What is his name? John (Jhon on his birth certificate)

*What is her name? Kathy Lynn

*How long have you been married? 6+ years

*How long did you date?2+ years

*How old is he?41

*How old is she?30

*Who eats more? Me, I have more time to eat now

*Who said I love you first? He did

Who is taller? He is

*Who sings better? Me, only b/c he doesn't sing at all

*Who is smarter? We both are, but I'll say him b/c he's doing something with his

*Who does the laundry? Me, I check pockets (and I always use chapstick)

*Who pays the bills? We both do

*Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me (& JJ)

*Who mows the lawn? He does

*Who cooks the dinner? Mainly me

*Who drives? Both

*Who is more stubborn? He is, only b/c he's so stubborn he won't admit he's stubborn

*Who proposed? He did

*Who is more sensitive?I am

who's next?

Ginny & Mike

Cyndi & Tommy

Rhea & Danny

Wacky Wednesday

Me: What do you want to be for Halloween?

JJ: A Princess!

Me: Are you sure?

JJ: I'll be a pirate and go "AAAAARRRR"

Me: (breathing a silent sigh of relief)

I miss JJ

He cried this morning when I dropped him off. While I know he's settled in perfectly and happily playing with his friends, my heart is still heavy, and will be until I pick him back up. I think mommy is going to needs some extra hugga-buggas tonight.

Are you ready for some football?

JJ is! He was so wore out from this weekend in Southern MD that he fell asleep last night at 8:30, and for anyone who doesn't know him, that's EARLY. He did wake up at 10, came out in the kitchen to get a drink, and then settled himself on the couch to watch the Pittsburgh game, we told him to come back to bed to go to sleep, which he did. But, I had something else on and he told me to put football on, and wouldn't you know, the 1st commercials that come on he tells me to put football back on, as if I changed the channel. Now, time will tell who his team will be, of course I'm hoping Dallas, John's hoping Redskins, but of course, it will be something out there from ours, lol (I just gotta get Uncle Tommy working on him on my behalf, gang up on John.)

Foto Friday

August 06

Oh, I miss this so much, and at the same time I wouldn't give up the now for anything! The years are flying by!

Remember......

My cousin sent this to me last night:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/redskeltonpledgeofallegiance.htm
I -- Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge -- Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.
Allegiance -- My love and my devotion.
To the Flag -- Our standard. “Old Glory”; a symbol of courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody's job.”
of the United -- That means we have all come together.
States -- Individual communities that have united into 48 great states; 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country, of America.
And to the Republic -- A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation -- Meaning "so blessed by God."
Indivisible -- Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty -- Which is freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.
And Justice -- The principle and qualities of dealing fairly with others.
For All -- For All. That means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
-Now let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegianceto the Flag of the United States of America,and to the Republic, for which it stands;one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
-Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That is a prayer" -- and that be eliminated from our schools, too?

Halloween Photo Contest

Here I am once again, peddling photos of my son. He's either going to decide to join the Amish community with an aversion to cameras, or he will grow up to work for National Geographic. The rate I'm going there will be no in between.

But, please view my Halloween Costume Contest photo gallery on Parents.com. Use the link below to view, rate, and recommend my photos
http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=287500527

THANKS!!!

Wacky Wednesday

Now I don't feel so bad of the pics of our orange tabby dressed in baby clothes sitting in a bassinet! Taping the feet, now yeah, that I do feel bad about (but blame Tommy for being a bad influence and teaching a kid that.)

JJ's alphabet pages

Most of you know I'm doing a scrapbook for JJ called "The ABC's of Me" where each page is devoted to a letter of the alphabet and of course him. Here's the latest....
A is for Animals
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/klhmendoza/S7300140_edited.jpg

C is for Cowboy
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/klhmendoza/S7300142_edited.jpg

I had to get a kick out of JJ earlier, he was watching Ghostbusters, very enthralled with it, and a commercial comes on, the whole slew of 5 minute ads he's telling me to turn the movie back on. If only I could! Wasn't the reason they started cable was to get people to pay for the shows so they wouldn't have to use advertisers, lol (and just how much am I dating myself by knowing that?) Oh, well, guess those movies will be on the list for his birthday or Xmas.

The last thing to do.....

Tonight is the last thing to accomplish for our fostering, 1 more meeting with the Social Worker for the "family study." We didn't know it would take this long. I know, it wasn't long really, 6 months, but I guess anticipation makes it seem longer. We're really looking forward to things, the possibilities. I know some may think we're setting ourselves up for our hearts to be broken, and yes, we know with growing attached, sadness will happen, but it will be outweighed with what we will come away with. And like with any relationship in life, we can't let the fear of loss keep us from living and enjoying, we'd miss out on too much if we focused on that. So, after this last thing, just the wait until there is a child (or 2) to be placed with us! I do want to thank everyone for advice and moral support! It really does mean a lot to us to know that we're surrounded with great people!

The sweetest thing

There are no words to explain how sweet it is to have a child say "I lub you." (it totally makes watching Scooby-Doo a dozen times a day worth it.)

what gorgeous weather!

Oh, is anyone else lovin' TS Hannah? It's keeping us in, which we sorely needed. JJ and I are still in our PJs. Now, I could've done without running across the yard getting errant soda cans (John says he tied the bag twice - I never knew wind could untie knots!) but so what, I got a little wet, I'm not melting, and thankfully we aren't flooded so I'm not going to float away anywhere. After the busy summer we had, today's R&R has been sorely needed!

Foto Friday

Is there any wonder I am the way I am? My conditioning probably began long before this pic was taken 28 years ago. (I had to sit on my hands to keep from posting this one earlier.)

Luv u guys, lol!

(and is it me or does every guy out there have a pic of themselves dressed up as a girl?)

Already?

When I picked JJ up from daycare his provider, Kristin, was telling me how they were playing "girlfriend/boyfriend" and her youngest daughter said JJ was her boyfriend, he does what she tells him (smart girl huh.) As we were leaving JJ was talking about his day, as usual, then he came out and told me "Ashley's my girlfriend."

And it's begun.....

Since lunch is coming up.....

Do I look like Burger King? Nope, sorry, "have it your way" is not one of my mottos (unless of course spoken with sarcasm dripping off each letter.)

No JJ, its not Pizza Hut, its Digiorno.

"Dowalds" arches can be spotted from miles away by a toddler, same with Cracker Barrell signs.

Here's to a long year to come....

John has his first class tonight, so from now on Tuesday through Thursday nights he will be in class til late, for this semester. Spring won't be any different time wise and the summer will only be only class a session, but he will be going at a higher pace. I just have to keep telling myself, its only a year, its only a year, its only a year (but, I'm forgetting he will then be completng it likely for his RN.)
So, please wish John luck in his studies!

In honor of schools starting....

Since schools are back in session, let's go back a little in time. What did you want to be when you grew up?

Occupation wise my switched around, marine biologist or astronaut were on there with me at different points in my childhood, but I think teaching was the biggest one that stuck for the longest. I still don't really know what I want to be when I grow up (nope, I'm like John, I haven't fully decided yet either.) But, the only thing that really mattered to me was wife and mother, and I couldn't have expected a better job!

Oh, and in case he reads this, Happy Birthday 39th Tommy! Enjoy the last year in your 30's!

Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekends! We had a nice time spending it away with friends in OC. John's coworker had us over with his 2 girls, who were quite taken with Bran (there will come a day that he enjoys young girls hanging over him) and we also met up with 1 of my friends and her family. So, now just the long wait until the next holiday time off, Thanksgiving, counting down the days, lol. Oh, and I got a snicker trying to explain to Bran that Labor Day was for those that labor, no, those that work, not necessarily those that go through labor ;)