UGH!! and a circle journal...

So, I now know the most evil invention of all time for mothers of small children... It is my local Post Office. Not because my child behaved badly either... Here let me recount for you my 24 minutes of sheer shock this morning...

I admit it, I had lots left to do for my circle journal... So, I stayed up reeeeeaaalllllyyyy late on Monday and Tuesday to finish it. I gleefully showed the finished product to Jen this morning, and she gave it her stamp of approval. So, I happily headed to the PO after dropping Lincoln off. I am telling you that so you will know my ire was not due to lack of sleep. I had my wrapped journal, my baggies to put in as packing in the box, my Sharpie, and Amber's address... I am a prepared mailer this morning. Until....

I arrive and realize the PO doesn't open until 9am... it is 8:45am. I contemplated coming back, but then I will hit the busy lunch time crowd. So, I let Emerson out of his seat to play a bit, and call my mom. At 9am I promptly get off the phone and prepare to go in. In the mean time, a car had come and parked ridiculously close to me. Now, I know I drive that big huge boat of an SUV, an Excursion, but I swear, sometimes I think people purposely park like that as a form of scolding for my gas guzzling vehicle. Its like they want me to hit their car with the door so they can say, "SEE... if you weren't driving such a big car that wouldn't happen!" Which is stupid because the doors aren't bigger... try again greenpeace. So, I slink out of my door, barely opening it so I don't hit that car. As I am opening Em's door, the guy, we'll call him Sedan Man, comes out of the PO, and jumps in his car. Now, I am already helping Emerson out, the door is barely opened, and he is parked so close if I fart it will melt the paint on his goofy car. DO you know what Sedan Man did??? He just backed right out anyway! I had to literally shove Em back in the door and seek refuge in it myself so he wouldn't hit me! I was shocked, but then I got ticked when I saw a car seat in the back his stupid sedan! WHAT?!?!? How could anyone who has ever had to take kids in and out of a car seat act that way??? He got the glare... I have a very good glare, it clearly states, "You are a disappointment to your mother and humanity." I think Sedan Man may get better gas mileage, but wowee, running over kids in a parking lot... not something greenpeace looks for in its spokesmen...

Onto the journey into the PO.... yeah, you thought, were probably hoping, that it ended there... no such luck pal... keep reading...

So, I am in line. I grab a box, a label, and I am dutifully trying to get it all in order while I am in line, but time runs out... I step aside to the closed counter to finish my packing and what not. When I am done, no one says "Here, you were in line, jump back in." Maybe if Emerson had been screaming instead of being all cute and munching a granola bar. I was given the clear "Head to the back" look by one and all... All I could think was, don't any of you remember what it was like to juggle kids and mailing stuff and all??? Where's the love??? And the ever helpful postal employee doesn't say anything either. So... to the back of the long line we go.
Now, in walks a young female. She is mailing a carton of cigarettes. I was technically in front of her, but due the line length and where I had to stand, she didn't realize that, and honestly, it was just one more person right??? So I get behind her. Well, she helps me by pointing out that I have the wrong kind of priority box, gets me the right kind, and then says, " Would you like to get in front of me? I mean, you do have a little one with you." I swear, I think I saw angel wings sprout from under her coat. I told her it was okay, but then I realized... You and I would've thought that when we walked in the PO that if someone was going to help a young mother out, it would have been the gramma mailing her homemade cookies or the other Mom who had no kids with her, etc. There were lots of "good" people and not one of them cared. In walked a young college age girl, not well dressed, looking tired, and mailing cigarettes... yet, she was the one... she did it... and that is why you should never judge a book by its cover. Or a mailer by their parcel I guess...

So, that act alone made my day. I had to laugh when, I went to switch to the correct box, I had to go to the closed counter again, and when I turned around and saw a couple of moms and grammas mailing more care packages, I just walked to the back again...

So, Amber, after 24 minutes in the actual post office, (not including our wait time in the car!) The Circle Journal is on its way!!!!!!!

Okay, enough of my babbling... in my defense, I haven't been posting or getting to read/comment on blogs since last week, and felt you would all need some of my longwindedness so you would know it was the real me, not a kidnapper or anything... :)



I also got the sweetest card from Ronda... all purpley too, that little stinker!! She even sent me these adorable photo holders she decorated with ribbon, and a way cool chipboard album... Thanks Ronda, you are so sweet!! :)

And I got Malou's CJ... amazing... can't wait to work on it!



Here are the circle journal scans I got... no they are not sneak peeks, they are all out scans, so if you are a Circle of Seven chicka and want to be surprised, don't look any lower!!!!!!!!!!! :) The journal has a thick chipboard (I know, what else???) cover and then thinner chipboard inner pages. My theme was "Where I come from". I chose it because we are a diverse circle of ladies and it can be done in several different ways... i.e. Your hometown, your family life, your country, your heritage, a battle you made it through, family traditions or foods, etc... See, there are lots of ways it could go! I was torn between exploring my German heritage, and my hometown. I decided on the hometown as you can see...

Hope you all have a lovely day... and remember to look for the good guys mailing cigarettes... :)


The theme page...




The "instructions..."



The sign in page. Each little flap lifts up for each lady...




My pages...



Page two... My favorite part is the little mini album with
some more old family pics and snow scenes. And yes, that
is my mom's car buried in the snow. It was in the newspaper
so it came up when I did a google search!! It's even in a book
someone wrote. Too funny...

Guess what I bought???

I admit it... tonight, for the first time ever, I, Jude, bought my first bottle of Primas.

Okay... stop the shocked looks, close the jaws, it is true.It's not that I don't like them, I just have boys, and never really thought about buying them. They are flowers. Then I kept seeing them, and a couple weeks ago Theresa sent me some in a lovely RAK, so I decided to take the plunge. I will not be like that crazy woman on Two Peas who owns, literally over 100 bottles. Really, that is a tad over the top... now 100 packs of HS chipboard... that is normal, totally acceptable. See??? You thought I was getting all judgey... well, you know the saying... "People who love in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." ... um, people who own gobs of patterned paper, chipboard, alphabets, etc. shouldn't throw them either... ANd ya' know, those glass house people, they shouldn't walk around naked either.
I went to my LSS tonight because they were having a big sale, and I got some way cool things to use in a circle journal I am a part of. The other ladies are oh so talented, so pray they will still love me after they see my pages. They are all very computer trendy too, and have little links on their sidebar with our names... You notice I am still glorying in the slideshow, and have yet to update my sidebar since... I hope the circle girls understand. :)
Okay, off to wash some dishes before the Office and Greys comes on...
Hopefully I will post my three Emily F cards that I had to catch up on this weekend sometime... I got some way cool paper from, um no I am not going to say, it will ruin it when I post the actual cards. Way cool paper source will be announced at its unveiling... :)
Until then, I will leave you with this sage advice :
"You can pick your friends,
and you can pick your nose,
But you can't pick your friend's nose."

Don't Faint... it is me AGAIN!

Yeah, don't faint, I am posting TWO days in a row... that sound you hear is the angels singing... they do that sort of thing whenever a miracle happens...
So, I got a call this morning from my best friend, Jen... This girl is such a sweet friend. She was calling because she heard on the radio that Peter Pan Peanut Butter was being recalled. She knows I buy Peter Pan... again a true sign of friendship, knowing what brand of peanut butter I use... but I digress...
She even knows the call numbers... I walk over to the cupboard... I take out the jar, and sure enough... I have the numbers being recalled. #2111 is BAD... it may contain salmonella and you are supposed to throw it away. Of course, first you should send the lids into Conagra Foods for a full refund... Here is the best part. Do you know how many jars of this tainted junk I have? SIX!!! Yes, I stocked up when they were on sale, and Lincoln has been eating it everyday... So, I am awaiting to see if my poor little man will get salmonella poisoning or not... Lovely.

*** Don't forget to check your PB stash... it is all Peter Pan and Great Value brands, Jars with the numbers starting 2111. Numbers are on the lid. Funny side note there... by listing them both together its like they are admitting, "Yeah, we put Peter Pan in those Great Value jars and charge half price for them..." ***

Now, back to the subject of Jen... So, not only did she call about this, but yesterday, when it was freezing cold, she brought me my mail and brought my trash can back under the carport from the road...without me knowing it. She just did it, never said a word... that is true friendship folks... peanut butter and trash cans...

So, the policeman said I should update...

Did you all get that policeman reference??? LOLOLOL... Okay, so now that I have entertained myself with a little poor humor... I have truly been busy, (Nicole, wink, wink) and I am sorry I haven't updated. Now, just so you all know how important you are, I am fighting the weariness that comes from a day of Valentine Festivities with a class full of 4 year olds just to type this... forgive any random, non-coherent thoughts... Oh, wait, that is how all my posts sound. Well, okay to I just have a reason for the randomness today...
Yes, I went to help at Lincoln's class Valentine's Party... the passing out of cards was especially painful... I mean, time consuming, er...I meant to say, "Bless their hearts, those dear little children didn't know who to give those cards to." (In the south you can say almost anything if you begin it with the phrase "bless their heart")
Soooo... did you know that only a small percentage of four year olds can recognize other children's names, and then properly place a Valentine in that child's box??? Let me explain... Here is Lincoln. He has a valentine for "Suzy-Q"... only there are 3 other kids whose names start with "S" like Suzy-Q, so there is no telling who gets which "S" valentine... very confusing stuff for a 4 year old. And for the record, there are 5 names that start with "A" in his class... ugh! One poor kid, did NOT get the whole put it in the box concept. I would tell him who the Valentine was for, and he would walk over and hand it to the child. I finally gave up after the 8th explanation and started putting them in boxes when he wasn't looking. SO, after reading that are you shocked to know I used to teach Pre-K???? Yep, its true...
But, the kiddos had a blast decorating cupcakes and eating way too much sugar, so it was worth it. OK, and now Lincoln just got done opening all these Valentine's and declared "All the kids in my class are so kind to give me these. I just love all of them."
Too late to delete all that whining I did... It would take me forever to retype something else too.
And while we are on the subject of typing...
No DAWN... I haven't forgotten that you tagged me... I just have to work up to that much finger usage... LOL. (I think she tagged me just to laugh at how long it would take to get it done... LOL) (Just kidding Dawn!! :) )
Ok, so back to typing...
Do you know why I don't do "quick updates"? Because I am such a bad typist it takes too long, so it is never quick!! LOL... Here are some of my better typos...
fro=for
jsut=just
yiou=you
nad=and
lvoe=love
thnaks=thanks

nad I couls go on and on butr what dfun is it to tread all my typois? Really, I maen, have't I wasteed eniough opf your time???
have a lovely Valentine's Day one and All!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS... Happy Belated Birthday Ronda!! :)

Tag... I am "it"

Okay I was tagged by a couple of you for this here Q & A... and I am probably the last one to get it done because(and we all say together now...) "Jude is the world's slowest typer!" SO, here are my answers... and thanks for all the sympathy and not thinking I am a whiny brat about the lack of sleep. I am not whiny, just incredibly grouchy... and that is with a full 8 hours. Imagine the wenchiness levels when stuff like this happens?!?!?! PLease, pray for poor Micah. LOL.



A=Available? Depends on what for... free haircuts, um NO! Dates, well, you would have to ask my husband first, and if you are brave enough to do that, sure, I'll go to Applebee's with ya'... I mean, your last meal alive shouldn't be alone right???
B=Best Friend - Jen... why she puts up with me I am not sure, but I am hoping she never figures it out...
C= Cake or pie - Pumpernick and Pastry's wedding cake frosting... I would literally eat it off a floor. ANd I am a fan of apple pie, so I guess I am not really choosing here eh???
D= Drink of choice - Usually water, Reisling with my pasta, and a carmel frap from Starry B's for chatting. (yes, I did just refer to Starbucks as StarryB's. Do you think it will catch on? )
E= Essential item you use everyday - Toilet Paper. (gross, but true... you must admit it!)
F= Favorite color: Red and Sage green
G= girlie girl: About some things, yes. Like long showers... and having my toenails painted.)
H= Hometown - Buffalo (and yes, I have heard all the snow jokes...)
I= Indulgences -shoes, scrapping supplies, Starbucks, and cereal. (and I totally used all of Ronda's answers except I had to delete chocolate, and add cereal. Sorry folks, not a chocolate fan here...)
J= January or February - January... There is still a little leftover holiday at the beginning...
K= Kids and Names -Wynee (pronounced "Whiney") and Wyne'er (pronounced "whinier") yes, we did get a little creative with the spellings... Seriously, Lincoln and Emerson.
L= Life is incomplete without...God, though my time given to him would say otherwise...
M= Marriage date - What? Then you might know how truly old I am! If I say I was married in the 90s but was a teen bride, will that still make me appear young and carefree... cause the teen part is a lie, and good grief, my last post was about earaches... clearly I am way past carefree...)
N=Number of siblings- 4, and I am the baby. (please insert audible gasps of fake shock here...)
O= Oranges or apples - Apples... When I was a camp counselor I ate 10 or more a day because the food was so greasy and fattening.
P= Phobias or Fears - Snakes, large bugs, and yeah, I did run in a full sprint back to house when i checked the mail tonight because it was dark. I am sure that was a lovely sight...
Q= Favorite Quote - "This day is no fun" spoken by Lincoln today... apparently i am a boring Mom on Tuesdays... boohoo...
R= Reason to smile - love, peace, kids, and of course, the sight of a package on the door step that is clearly holding 12x12 paper...
S= Season - Fall...
T= Tag 3 or 4 people - Everyone has already done this by now...
U= Unknown fact about me: I got busted for writing a horrific note in 6th grade with all kinds of choice curse words... it was xeroxed and sent home to my mother... such fun! Mr. Benzel caught me, Mrs. Hershee did the xeroxing, and I think they would be disappointed to know that my "big punishment" was not being allowed to wear make-up for two weeks.
V= Vegetable you don’t like - Celery. I can take it in a soup or something, but raw??? Yuckadoo... I would need a whole jar of peanut butter to get through it, and wouldn't that defeat the purpose of eating it raw in the first place?
W= Worst habit - talking meanly, and being sarcastic... oooh, and talking too much... and...
X= X-rays - As in how many in life??? A few as a kid with broken arms, field hockey injuries, etc. and good grief, since I had cavities in my baby teeth, who knows how many at the dentist... I am surprised my teeth don't glow in the dark...
Y= Garlic Brown Rice and Peas... yum...
Z= Zodiac Sign - Aries.

So there you have it... I am off to bed now. But I will leave you with this fun fact about my day... Lincoln busted his head on the table this morning, and comes to tell me. I look over and see blood pouring down his face. He has a nice little gash, which Micah came home to look at. I was a little relieved when he said he didn't think he needed stitches or anything cause all I could think was... The doctors office two days in a row??? UGH! I am the mom who called hysterical over egg and peanut butter allergies. This fall it was a broken arm... They are so going to call social services...
Have a nice night all...

I need sleep...

Hello all. Lest you think I was giving you a hint at future events, I am not, in fact missing, despite the long passage between the last two posts... apologies all around. We had a flurry of weekend activities, ending with a Superbowl party (where I actually won TWO prizes for game predictions... I am sending my resume into FOX Sports right now. I hope I get to sit next to Howie...) Last night was a trying and exhausting night... Poor Emerson woke up at about 1am (after staying up until like 11 for all the football festivities.) and was literally up all night. He would nod off for a half hour here and there, but then would wake up screaming and crying. Now, I know all of you more experienced Moms are going, well... "He probably has an ear infection." Good call, however, neither of my boys has ever had one so I was clueless, and kinda thought the little stinker just had gas. (YES, pun intended.) I did what any bright mother lacking sleep would do... I called my best friend, Jen and asked her opinion. She knew immediately... ear infection. Then, after holding for what seemed like forever with the doctors office, I got to talk to our favorite nurse, and she said... "Ear infection... bring him in at 12noon" SO, into the office we go, Emerson literally holding his hand over his ears the whole time. The room nurse did not really appreciate the fact that I didn't want to strip Em down to weigh him, let alone give him the ol' anal thermometer...
"gee, I am sorry... Ya' know, I've only had two hours of sleep like him, but yeah, strip me down, throw me on that scale, and then stick a rectal thermometer in... that should make me feel alive again!" Really, his ear hurts... is it necessary to know his weight? (I did win in the end... insert a little chuckle of mommy pride here for defending my kids buttocks...)
So, five seconds with the dr. "yes it is an ear infection, here are your prescriptions.Bye."
The moral of the story is, if Jen could just prescribe and dispense medications, I could have gone to her house and taken care of all this... and done so in my pajamas. (cause remember... they are clothes...) And she probably would have served us coffee and lunch too... plus she was technically the first correct diagnosis... so kudos to DR.Jen... ) I am off to make myself look, well, who I am kidding, presentable would be a long shot... I am going to hope I don't look and smell so bad that Micah flees upon sight of me... June Cleaver would be so disappointed...