Small, but Cute (that's what she said)

*old post that never made it on the blog*
This was back in 2009 when we were house searching.
___________________________________________________________________________
So the other night, the kids and I met the realtor to look at the first house. I knew going in that it was an older home and that the house was going to be too small, but I didn't want to NOT see it.

I give the kids the low down on the expected behavior and what will not be tolerated. Ie; no touching other people's things, all questions will be answered but I needed to give as much attention to viewing the house and listening to the realtor as possible.

Both kids sign off on the rules; we pull up to the house.

Buggy cracks me up!

"Cute! Painting is peeling a little and we know, Mom, that YOU don't want to be painting another house anytime soon." She states from the back seat.

Smart daughter!

When we bought the house we are in now, I knew the minute I entered the house that it would be mine. *evil laugh* So I think I am hoping for that to happen to me again, but on a much smaller budget, 20-30 THOUSAND dollars less budget.

We walk up to the front door, all that ran through my mind is CUTE. It really was/is CUTE.

Buggy calls a room "hers", Bubba discusses the people's furniture and decorations, the realtor and I remain quiet.

It was a small (really small like my king size bed won't even fit in the room that was announced mine by Buggy), older home, lots of charm but also in need of updates.

As we were leaving to view the second house of the night, Buggy offers another (f-ing fantastic) observation.

"Hmmm, ok, sidewalks, nice block to walk and ride bikes."

Man, she's good. I told her so, too.

"Very good observations Buggy!"

She goes on, "One bathroom only ?!?! AAAANNNDDD it's upstairs, so if we are watching TV downstairs in the living room then we'd have to go all the way upstairs to go to the bathroom? Hmmm, yeah, I don't think so Mom. Well, let's keep our fingers crossed for the next house."

Her monologue went without breaths. I am really impressed with her thought process though.

Onto the next house...
stay tuned.

So. My friend is dying.

Sorry for the mood killer title.


Due to chemotherapy not being effective, fluid around her heart and the cancer spreading to her bones, doctors have have referred her back to hospice to do comfort care for the rest of her fight against cancer. 


Really though, once Hospice is called in is it a fight at all?  No.


It's a throw in of the towel...and it really sucks.  Comfort care.  Where is the comfort in knowing there is nothing left to do but wait to die?  

At 36.

A mom, to two kids, 11 and 3.

A wife, daughter, sister, and friend.

Her life as she imagined it, will never come to fruition.

Her husband is hanging in there.



Her kids are managing.

Their family is in my thoughts everyday.

Photos by me.

8-EIGHT-OCHO

My little Bubba.  He was only 4 hours short of being a Leap Year Baby.

He loves hearing the birth story, and he does wish he would have waited that 4 hours.

"If I had only waited 4 more hours, I'd only be turning 2"  he says.

I would have just liked him to have waited for the doctor to get into the room.

Bubba is a smart smart smart kid.

He loves math.
He has a quick sense of humor.
His last report card was straight As.

He is active in wrestling, football, baseball and cub scouts. (Which makes me a crazy Mom, just sayin.)

I love this boy.  I can't believe he's 8.

Here's the skinny.

I did make it to a Weight Watchers meeting.  It had been a year since I attended.  I was 2 lbs over my "goal".

I say "goal" because the goal for WW is about 10 lbs more than MY goal.  I dropped 10 lbs under that goal and felt AWESOME.

The 2lbs over is acceptable and reestablishes me as a LIFETIME member, which allows me back in the "club" and gives me free online tools to keep track of my food, weight, etc.  For that I am so proud of myself.  *pats back*

It's a great starting point, now comes the lose 10 lbs quest. :)

****

Bubba is learning about drugs in school.  He's bugging the crap out of me every time I smoke or have a cup of coffee.

"There's caffeine in coffee, Mom."

"Yep."

"Caffeine is a drug."

"Yep."

"When are you going to quit smoking, Mom?"

"When I WANT to."

"Tobacco is a drug."

"Yep."

"You should stop drinking coffee and smoking."

"Bubba, there's caffeine in chocolate.  How would you like me to throw away all of that Halloween and Christmas candy?  Caffeine is a drug."

It shut him up, at least for that night.

***

Buggy continues to lose her mind.

If I hear one more time, "I lost my phone." or "I lost my house key."  I might just lose my mind.

One day, she came home from school as normal, went to swim practice as normal.  I came straight from work to pick her up from swim.  We walk in the door together, my first time being home for the evening.

"Mom, where's my backpack?"

*chin hits floor*

"How would I know where your backpack is?  I just walked in the door.  Where did YOU put it when you got home?"

"I put it right here."  She points to the kitchen floor, where there is NO backpack.

"Obviously, you did NOT, cause it's not there now."

This happening more and more often.  I am not sure how to get her focused.

She comes home, drops her swim bag (with wet suit and towel) and goes about her night.  She calls me the next day, "Where's my bathing suit?"

I'm going to flip my lid again.  Seriously.

***

So that's what's been up with us.  Good times.

My "fat" pants fit.

Not good.

I documented my first days at Weight Watchers here.

I started this journey (the never-ending journey of weight loss) back in 2008.  That makes me kinda smile...I've kept the majority of the weight off for over three years.  That's worthy of some ice cream pats on the back, yes?

Well before any back patting is to occur, I need to go tonight and see the damage.  I do know that I've done it before and I will again.  A plus side is I KNOW I'm not starting out as heavy as I did to begin with, so my goal shouldn't be too far out of sight.

I will use this blog as my accountability...feel free to ask me if I went tomorrow.

:)

Happy Holidays.

What??? I know.

Who is Stacie's Madness?

Where has she been for the past few months?

It's time to renew the blog address...and I just can't fathom the idea of NOT having staciesmadness.com...
therefore, I am going to let it renew.  A whole $10/year is worth knowing that I have this place to come and say what's on my mind.  Though I guess lately, there's a whole lot of NOTHING on my mind.

Anyway.  Just want to say Happy Holidays....and that I'm alive.

A loser like me....

Let the giggling ensue...

Bubba -
After being woken up several times the other morning, he grouchily gets up and starts getting ready for school.  As I tap my foot by the front door, he says, "You're up and ready a lot better because you aren't working as hard as I am every night at football."

Bubba -
"Mom you only think about yourself."

*chokes on words*

I'd like to stop taking him to football, sitting there for 2 plus hours, giving kids water during breaks.  Etc.  I'd like to come home, make myself something to eat, only do my laundry and then sit and watch TV programs that I want to watch.  Show him how much I really think of only myself.

Brat.

Buggy -
On our way to softball practice:

"I really love softball this year Mom."
"That's awesome Buggy, I am glad you are enjoying it.  Why do you like it more this time around?"
"Less running."

After practice, the sweat is dripping off of buggy's forehead, she limping and gimping around, and just looking plain miserable.

"How was practice tonight?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Giggling, "Why don't you want to talk about it?"
"We ran. A lot."
Giggling even more now, "OH Buggy, you jinxed yourself."

I just entered a giveaway @ Eden Fantasys.   Right after I did the last requirement for entry I got an email from Mr.FF.  It said, "what are youuuuu doing?"

I thought, shit, did it just post all over facebook that I just entered a giveaway for a sex toy?   It didn't, but I sure read the email in a tone of YOU'RE BUSTED.  lol.  Not that it's a secret obviously, I'm posting about it here.  It was just a funny coincidence. :o)

Wordless Wednesday - First day of school

5th grade

2nd grade

Music Monday....Cuz I Can.

Growing Older.

I don't like to think about how old I am.  Even worse, I don't like thinking about how old the kids are all getting.

In all honesty, though, I look forward to growing older.  I look forward to seeing these children grow hopefully into mature, productive adults.  I look forward to the future.

I don't want it to go by any faster than it already is, but I do look forward to it, nonetheless.

MR.FF is not in the same boat on this topic.  Sure he can see that life will be nice together, but he's not ready for the kids to be older.  Onion is entering 8th grade, Burger is entering 3rd...Mr.FF is not handling it gracefully.  He's already panicked for Onion to be in high school NEXT YEAR.

I have those moments as well.  My buggy girl is in 5th grade this year.  Our schools have elementary k-4, Intermediate 5-6, Middle School 7-8, then on to the High School for 9-12.  Last school year was the last school year that Buggy and Bubba will ever be in the same school together until they reach the High School.

Yes, that makes my heart sink a little.

BUT....then I think about taking one day at a time, we have still many years of kids in our houses.  I truly look forward to the day they are grown.  On their own, making a life for themselves...eventually meeting their partners in life, marrying and having families.  That is what life is, a full circle, I for one can't wait to watch it all unfold.

I am more than THRILLED to have found Mr.FF.  He is someone that only HELPS the future for me look bright.  With him and I together, I know that no matter what comes along we will rock out.

First day of school.

"I'm not gonna cry."  I told myself.

Well, self?  YOU ARE A LIAR.

I dropped Buggy off at her new school this morning.  Fifth grade. 

FIFTH grade. 

I hugged her tightly, told her how proud I am of her and wished her the best first day of school ever.

"Now, go before I cry."  I told her as my eyes starting tearing up and I walked away.

I could feel her eyes roll and the inhale as she held her breath hoping that her mother wouldn't sob in the middle of the gym.  I am sure she giggled and shook her head too, but I was too busy bolting out of there to look back.

Bubba just grabbed my hand and hustled out with me.  I could feel him staring up at me to see if I really was gonna let that tear fall.

By the time we got out to the van, I had sucked it all in, for the most part. 

I'm a cry baby. 

Plain and simple. 

I cry when I'm mad, I cry when I'm sad, I cry when I'm happy and I really cry looking at my babies growing up...I am so proud of them.  I am so very proud of them.

Music Monday.

i love this song...and performance.

10 years old MIGHT be too young for Facebook, but not for spelling.

Buggy has a facebook page.  She posts.  A lot. 

My question.... CAN I PLEASE CORRECT HER ON HER SPELLING ERRORS???

It's not lazy text spellings...yet.  It's true misspelled words.  (Did I just misspell "misspelled")  meh.

*taps fingers on desk*

Here's what I'm talking about.

My status:  I'd love to see Jason Mraz...he sounds amazing on these live videos. ♥
Buggy:  OMG i love this song and that dude!!!! hey can i come with you if you do???????? it would be to much fun for anyone else so me it has to be.

I didn't answer.

So she posts this on my wall.
Buggy:  you know ill go to any consert with you !!!!


Here is what I wanted to respond with...
"Not until you learn how to spell CONCERT"

Instead I wrote, Yes, I know honey, you love CONCERTS.

Maybe a weekly spelling test...I'll collect all of the words she misspelled and quiz her every week.  Grammer and spelling are huge to me. 

Don't go getting out your red pen on this post, mmmk.

Everyday I'm Shufflin... Music Monday.

This song just makes me want to move my feet.

1,000

Why not be random? eh?  It's one of the things I do best.

In honor of my 1,000th post please send me $1,000.

Thank you.

Today is my 1000th post.  I mean technically it would have been yesterday two days a week ago had I posted, but the pressure was just too much to handle.  I think your $1,000 will help though.

While you're in the giving spirit....how 'bout some extra hours in the day?  A clone of me?

Have your people contact my people, let's make it happen.

Moving on.

Is it really time to be sending out email advertising Halloween Costumes?  Cause I'm getting 'em, and I've looked and then realized, for the love of PETE it's August.

Tonight is practice number  3 4 7 for football.  This year Mr.FF is Bubba's coach!  I am equipment manager in all ways. ;)  We have official weigh ins this Saturday and a scrimmage game.  Good times.  Go Team.

Also this weekend we are suppose to go to the minor league baseball game and camp out on the field afterwards with the cub scouts.  We did this last year too, it was cool. :)

The other day a funny thing happened.  I had all the brady kids.  I told them to grab a snack while I ran out to the van to clean out all the junk in the trunk. *giggle*  When I came back in, there were THREE BOYS, eating my fiber one bars.  I caught the younger two only three bites into theirs.  I made them put 'em down and step away from the poopin bars.  I let the older one finish his.  He wasn't sleeping at my house that night. ;)

On that note, let me just say this is the shittiest (ha) 1,000 post ever, but I have to leave early for football...maybe I should just give up bloggin.  *contemplating*

Music Monday.

Music Monday.



Happy August.

TGIF! Go away headache.

I'd like to bathe in Tylenol right now. 

I have a killer headache which should make the White Sox game fun tonight. :)

Taking Mr.FF's kids with us...mine went last time...how difficult is it for a family of 6 to go together?

Looks as if I will be driving a "mom" mobile for a long time to come.  Just sayin.  No downsizin there, (twss).

If we were ever to move in together...we'll need a 5....FIVE bedroom house.  *gulp*

Works perfectly if we were at an amusement park...someone always has a riding partner.

(yeeeaaahhh)

((the only riders better be me and Mr.F, just sayin))

Anyway.

I'm excited (giggle) to go to the game tonight.  Tomorrow we have our preseason football party and Sunday I'm photographing an engaged couple.  It's gonna be a good weekend.  Hope you all have a good one too.

(yeaaaah)

Oops

I was so busy facebooking working today that I ran out time to blog...but you can go enjoy the sweetness here if you like.

No. I did not have a baby.  Someone did, but it sure as hell wasn't me.  Thankyouverymuch.

I wish I could be wordless today

I want so desperately to be wordless today.

I wish I had some GREAT pictures from the Buffett concert....but I don't.

*cries in coffee cup*

I forgot to put a memory card in my point and shoot camera...so the memory was full from other pictures.  :(

I stole a couple pictures from someone else off of facebook...well, stole is a strong word.  I did tell her I "stole" them.  She was ok with it. :)  They aren't very good photos, sadly.  It will get the point(s) accross, but it's grainy...and not that great.

*psh, who invited the photo critic?*

Here's the guy who's shirt I LOVE...and this is the second year we ran into him...so now it's tradition to get a picture with him. :D



I must have posed for 1 BILLION pictures that day...can't imagine why...



Oh.  The things we do for a good time.  I was motor boated, I was felt up...I was even asked if they were real.  C'mon people.  REALLY?  My little frame couldn't hold that much real boobage.  Just sayin.  Hell the nipples were probably a pound each. 

*haha, I said pound*

Oh, what will I be able to find to top this next year???

Get it?  Top?  lmfao.  I'm thinking maybe some tassels on those bad boys.