VACATION…SCHOOL…THEN BACK TO WORK!

It’s that time of the summer again when Melissa’s family and my family go on vacation (separately, of course!), then we start stressing about school beginning (although we’ve been stressing about middle school since May), then we finally get back to work. So what am I saying? I’m telling you good-bye until school starts again, dear readers!

Once school begins, Melissa and I have a “pool day” at my house. It’s heavenly! Pure relaxation. We might bring lunch in, maybe play some music, maybe talk, maybe not, but definitely not about business. Just lay on the rafts in the water with NO KIDS splashing, whining, arguing or saying “Mom, mom, mom…”

Sigh.

After that, we’ll be blogging again!

Karen

Friday Funny- You're SCARING Me!!!

And the conversation continues. You know... that whole puberty thing. The words "sex" and "kissing" and "hairy armpits" have been uttered in this house this summer more times that I want to admit. What's so funny though, is the Zs still think sex is simply naked kissing. I inwardly giggle every time the subject comes up.


We did, however, have a moment of passage. Z1 now knows the truth about Santa. Okay- just TYPING that sentence made me want to cry. He's starting to show some signs of maturing- occasionally. :) And other days, it's like a big step backwards. And he, being a boy, is still fascinated with all things bodily function.


The child has not one shred of modesty. It's still a battle some days to get him to wrap himself in a towel before he walks down the hall naked after his shower. (I guess I should be thankful that he showers regularly, though, right?) 


Yet Z1 totally gets torturing Z2 about the upcoming changes. Again, in the car, he says,"Just think, Z2.... you're gonna get hair in places you never knew you had it....and STINKY PITS!" He laughs. "And then, you're gonna start liking boys!!!"


"MOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!! Make him stop!!!"Z2 yells from the backseat. "He's SCARING me!!!"


Oh to be 9 again.


Yours, wishing you a wonderful, summer Friday,


Melissa

My 50 SHADES Review…

I’m not even going to ask who has read the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, I’ll ask who HASN’T read it! Virtually everyone I know has either read it or it’s on their “to-read” list.

I read the first book and started the second before I finally just gave up. I really couldn’t take it anymore. I can’t decide which is worse: the story line, the improbability of anything remotely happening like this to a girl like that, the horrible writing…oh, the list is endless!

Yes, it was hot, I’ll give it that. But even that wore off after the first dozen or so times they had sex. I mean, really? A 22 (or was she 21?) year old virgin who has explosive, multiple orgasms, practically from just looking at this man, and can have sex multiple times a day and is willing to try just about anything. Uh huh.

And the phrases that the author uses over and over again are hilarious! I’ve tried to look at somebody from underneath my eyelashes and let me tell you, it does NOT work. Go ahead, try it! And what’s with calling each other Mr. and Miss? It got really old really fast. Not cute, just annoying! And can the author please call their hair “messy” instead of the term that she uses after sex? (Can’t type it here!)

Okay, so getting back to the sex and hotness part of it. Yes, that was great. For a while. But then, not so much. As my sister puts it, if they’re happy, they have sex. If they’re mad, they have sex. If they’re bored, they have sex. Etc, etc, etc! Maybe it’s just me, but I thought it just lost it after a while.

So, about a third of the way through the second book, I was done. I guess I’ll never know how it ends. Hmmm, I think I can live with that!

Karen

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Today is the 4th of July and we celebrate our independence. Every year my husband calls his British friend and laughs! But that doesn’t mean we take our freedom for granted. We know how important it is.

This year, it’s going to seem a bit strange. I don’t know about where all of you are, but here in St. Louis, with the exception of the Riverfront, all of the other fireworks displays have been called off due to heat and no rain in the area. And although we’ve never really been allowed to set off our own fireworks in the county, they are really going to crack down this year. Plus, it would just be irresponsible of us to set any off.

But my dog will be happy! And speaking of dogs, please make sure to keep your pets cool in this heat.

So whatever you do today, remember to celebrate our freedom, stay safe and stay cool!

Karen

Monday Madness- Sticker Shock!

It's Monday. Which means a morning meeting, running Z2 to swim practice, fastest lunch in the West, and errands in the afternoon. We were aiming to go to the pool today, but that took a backseat to the fact that there was not a stitch of toilet paper in the house. Somehow, that made the trip to Wal-mart a little more paramount. 


I went in to get the basics of things that we were low on or simply out. The bill was $190. I'm NOT kidding. It shocked me so much I just pulled a few things out and said,"Please take this off." Then I had $13 in coupons. That helped, but still, GOOD. NIGHT! Gas may be falling, but everything else is doubling! For instance- Bleach is now $2 (used to be $1 a year and a half ago. Trashbags- used to be $2, now $5! (And I don't mean Hefty, I mean the Wal-mart brand!) I could go on, but you get the picture. We returned home, and I started going through everything to see what can go back. In the end, I'll get the bill down, but goodness, when did it get this expensive? I'm seriously wondering if this is an election year conspiracy- the price of gas is falling, but we are paying in other ways. Ways that seemingly get tucked in here and there. Not happy about it at all. I could get be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if I'm right.


However, if anyone has any other couponing strategies or shopping strategies, I'm  all ears. 


And then there's having to take Z1 and Z2 with me. I did try to make it a game, but in the end, by the time we got in the car, Z1 looked at me and said,"Just once, Mom, just once could we PLEEEEAAASE duct tape her mouth for a day? I'm just asking for a day...."


I would be lying if I said I was not tempted....


Still, all in all, it's summer, and I'll take the moments with my kiddos. The hard ones lead to better ones, and that's why I hang in. 'Cause despite all my crumudgeonyness, they still love me. And for that I'm grateful.


Yours, hoping that thunder I hear brings rain,


Melissa