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SO, IS 13 UNLUCKY??

I know! I know! It's been quite a while since I wrote to you! And you would think I would have all the time in the world, seeing as I'm not working. But I tell you, I'm busier now than I ever was!

Rick and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary today. We decided to take a little trip...with kids...to Branson for a long weekend vacation. We stayed at a GREAT new hotel with an indoor waterpark. The kids had junk (bunk) beds (as Emma called them) and their own flat screen tv! It was heaven...except for the fighting over who was going to sleep on the top bunk! I don't think they have fighting like that in heaven!

So last night, right before the clock struck 12...and it was officially our anniversary, I whispered to Rick in bed, "You know, I'm a little superstitious and I've never been with anyone for 13 years...I'm worried that this 13th year will be unlucky. What do you think?" Rick in all his wisdom...(or his need for sleep, I'm not sure which)..patted me on the shoulder, kissed me goodnight and flipped over, facing away from me in bed and said, "13 is just a number Kel".

Rick started snoring right away and I laid there, convincing myself that it really wasn't 13 years because we actually met 16 years ago...and I watched the clock hit midnight...then I faded off.

1:40 a.m....Jackson yells out..."MOM, I just threw up!" The kids' room was a little nook off of our bedroom...the whole nook smelled like vomit and it was all over his bed! Rick and I cleaned it up and thus started the first day of our 13 years together! As Rick came to the bathroom with a new fluffy white towel filled with vomit, I said, "Happy Anniversary Babe".

9:30 a.m... my cell phone rang..I let it go to voicemail--1 new message. Could it be for an interview..not so much! The low-level job I interviewed for last week--no good--you don't have image editing software experience..Thanks, but no thanks. Oh well, I didn't want the job anyway!

It still hadn't occurred to me that this in fact, could be an unlucky day, until.....

11 a.m....we stop in Springfield at a McDonalds to get lunch...my Overdrive On/Off switch starts blinking and the car shifts hard into gear as I push on the gas pedal. By the time we got to St. Louis, it was obvious the transmission was going out. We called Rick's cousin who works in a transmission shop and got the car right in for them to check...we'll see what they say. New transmission estimate--$2500-$3000!

Meanwhile...the conversation in the car leads to our schedule for the next few days, do we need to rent a car.....how much to invest in the Ford before we call it quits....what kind of car would we want to buy....can we even get a loan approved since I'm out of work....My cell rings..."Yes, Mrs. Daleen, it's Dr. King's ..the Vet watching Bubba..well, we noticed today in Bubba's bowel movement that he has worms and we need your approval to give him a shot to kill the worms...is that ok? Like I was going to say, "No thanks, we actually like the worms!" YUCK!

Rick decided at that point to take the two-lane back road home to save time...shall we say, a disaster in the making...next: WHY IS THAT CAR IN FRONT OF US GOING SO SLOW...IDIOT!!!! And then there was just a mess of profanities that I can not repeat!

5:00 p.m...The kids are tired, hungry and fighting over EVERYTHING....I'm at the vet's picking up Bubba, getting a lesson in tapeworms ..."Well Mrs. Daleen...Dogs get it from eating dead things like bunnies and /or being exposed to fleas...do you know if Bubba has eaten any dead rabbits? --Well,let's see, Bubba never leaves the house without a leash on...have I seen Bubba eating a dead rabbit while walking him on his leash?

....Actually Mrs. Daleen, the the worms cling to the feces and hair around the dog's butt (nice!) .. and here, Mrs. Daleen..is a picture of what the feces looks like and how the worms will look on the feces.--you can take this home with you and read all about it....

Well, Mrs. Daleen, yes, it can be contagious to other dogs if they have been exposed to the same dead animals or fleas"...Is Snickers a bunny eater?- I think I blacked out for a second...I just remember thinking about how I was going to have to look at Snickers butt hair and poop for worms! And lastly....

"Oh no Mrs Daleen, the worms don't get on other things like your bed sheets"...

WELL, THANK GOD FOR THAT!

Because I was just about to say that I was having an unlucky day!

I'll work on making a slideshow with the pictures I took in Branson. I'll also try and stay more current with the blog--it all depends on how unlucky I am...those unlucky stories make for good entertainment!

JACKSON WON 1ST PLACE IN THE SCIENCE FAIR!

Yes, that's right...
Jackson won 1st place in the 4th Grade Science Fair, for his project..."Only The Shadow Knows". It was all about what happens to an object's shadow when the distance from the light changes. When Jackson told me, I just kept saying, "Are you sure we got 1st place?" I mean, I've never won 1st place in anything...let alone a 4th grade science fair project. (Did I say that outloud?). Of course I mean, Jackson won! Rick took the Pinewood Derby project and I took the Science Project...a little healthy competition! Rick keeps teasing me about how he and Jackson won a trophy and Jackson and I only won a ribbon. Then I remind Rick that our project didn't win for being unique...it won for being THE BEST! We celebrated with sparkling grape juice, plastic champagne glasses and chocolate cake! Whew Hoo--Congratulations Jackson. All that hard work paid off!!

Snow Days Are Great!

And nothing like TWO IN A ROW!! The kids had a blast playing in the snow. I seriously thought Jackson was going to freeze to death..After being out, he actually looked purple! He would come in long enough to dry his clothes, down some hot chocolate and get a snack! Emma wanted to play outside so bad and I didn't really feel like getting all bundled up...So I compromised and let her play on the back deck. Jackson and I were standing in the kitchen watching her play when Jackson said, "What is that over there in the snow?" It was a mound of snow on the deck and there was something sticking out of it. It looked like a piece of gray colored wood. Jackson and I stared real close at it..."What the heck?...Wait a minute...Is that a bird's wing? OH MY GOD! Get her off the deck!" You know, I've just come to realize that my life just wouldn't be the same without a little Daleen Drama! For years, I would get upset...always with the drama...and now I actually find comfort in the drama. Sick, I know...but true! So then I was forced to get my boots, gloves, hat, coat and play with the kids in the front yard!

Life in The Slow Lane...Or Is It?

Well, I haven't spoken to many of you in the last couple of weeks...but I have officially kicked off my new life! Let me paint a picture of the life I now call, UNEMPLOYMENT!

First let me start by saying, I am truly blessed to have this time off of work...It's really been a lot of fun. But I can't lie...I like to be busy! So I've painted the family room, hung window boxes, organized all the bills/receipts from 2000 to 2008 and I'm still cleaning the basement! Every disorganized drawer I open becomes it's own mini project! I've updated my Social Security card with my married name (What? It's only been 12 years in the making!) and I've created a filing system that organizes all our important papers (that was only after I couldn't find my birth certificate and marriage license!). Check out the pics of our NEW FAMILY ROOM!

My mainstays have been creating the weekly grocery list, getting the mail, cooking dinner every night, doing laundry and cleaning out the dishwasher! I have researched online printable coupons, began cutting coupons and scoping out the weekly grocery adds! Last night, I jumped up at around 8 p.m...."Has anyone gotten the mail yet?" Rick looked at me like I had three heads. He said, "Are you expecting something in the mail?" I said, "Yes, there could be coupons...or maybe even a VALUE PAK!" The kids are now begging to eat out at a restaurant...Oh, how our lives have changed! Being an Executive responsible for $150 million in revenue, 100+ people and 300+ projects a year, you'd think I could figure out the laundry and the dishwasher. I can't seem to find a routine, so they both just run constantly! And every time I sit down at the computer to search for a job, I hear my Dad's voice, "Are you looking for a job or browsing for a job?" At this point, I think I'm loowsing...(that's sort of looking..sort of browsing!).

So here's to my first official month of unemployment! Can't wait to see what next month brings!

Pinewood Derby & Our 1st Science Project!

Pinewood Derby Time!

Well, it's been quite a week! We started it off with the weigh-in on Tuesday night for the Pinewood Derby. It was then that Rick and Jackson found out that their Red Barron Airplane (#63) was too big/wide to race. There were a few disappointed tears..followed by a lesson in being a good sport...attending the race to support "others", etc. Tough night!

Saturday came and we all went to the race. We arrived a little late because we knew we wouldn't be racing....but it was important to support our troop! As soon as we got there, the Scout Master said, "Hey, we've been waiting for you! We're going to showcase The Red Barron, solo on the track, in a special exhibition race!" Jackson was called up to the track for the exhibition and introduced to everyone. It was very cool!

All the scouts voted for their favorites......best paint job.....fastest looking.....and then.....most unique...Car #63...THE RED BARRON! Jackson was called to the track to receive a trophy! Congratulations to Jackson and Rick!

NEXT UP...Jackson's 1st Science Project

Have to admit, when they sent home the note that said that it was mandatory for 4th graders to complete a science project, I almost broke out in hives! I had flashbacks of being in 4th grade...overwhelmed...exhausted by the hours of research...scared to death of the stand-up presentation I had to give to Sister Bush, the meanest Nun at The Academy! Once I found out Sister Bush loved African Violets, I bribed her annually with them in hopes of getting a good grade on my science project! She seriously put the fear of God in me...how ironic that she was a Nun! Since Rick was helping with the Pinewood Derby, I took the Science Project.

At first, Jackson said he wanted to create an electric motor..."Yeah, this is mom helping you and I don't do electricity!". NEXT TOPIC PLEASE! Then we settled on "How does the distance from a light change the size of an object’s shadow?".

We had several tearful nights..."Why do I have to do this?"..."Are you sure I HAVE to do this?"..."I hate this!"...."Why do I have to do this again"...."My hand is numb from writing so much!"..."I'm soooo tired"..."Are you sure everyone in 4th grade HAS to do this?". I played the part of Mom, but have to admit that I totally remembered feeling the same way when I was his age.

Well, tonight we finished the masterpiece entitled, "Only The Shadow Knows!". And I must say, IT LOOKS AWESOME! Congratulations to Jackson...for finishing a very large project. He did an great job documenting all the steps of our experiment and helping to put the final last touches on our presentation! The Science Fair is this week--wish us luck!

And to Emma...she just couldn't understand why I kept taking pictures of Jackson all weekend! I managed to get a snapshot of her as she patiently watched Jackson this weekend!

Crazy Kid Quotes for the Week...

JACKSON: Hey mom...I was checking out your jewelry box upstairs..It's got a lot of stuff in it. You know, you could turn that stuff in and make a lot of money since you're not working. Have you seen the cash for gold commerical?

EMMA: When my boobies grow up, I want a purple bra, because I want to be a mermaid, like Ariel (Disney Princess).

Classic!