To care or not to care.........

I pondered today what my resolution would be

MAYBE I should do one of two things

1. Not care about the silly things I do

OR

2. Not do them any more

Then I spoke outside of my head to Rachel at work

Who really didn't help much

Because she too does silly things at times

(I will protect Rachel the innocent and not give examples)

BUT

She already doesn't care

LUCKY is what she is

Here are some examples of things that I have done in the past couple weeks

To care or not to care.....

Today while singing and chair dancing

(not to be confused with lap dancing)

 In my cubie to the Glee version of

My Life Would Suck Without You

I was caught by one of our Board Members at work

I was doing the "Bop Bop Bop" verse

With jazz hands

I was not only caught, he scared the crap out of me

And I jumped out of my chair

To care or not to care????

I laugh when people fall

I laugh REALLY hard when people fall

Even when it is my blue-eyed babe

Today she fell off of her scooter twice at Nana's

When I picked her up and she was telling me the story

While laying on the couch with her leg elevated

I was laughing so hard

I was crying

To be fair, so was my Mama

I felt really bad, but I couldn't help it

I never can when it comes to falling

To care or not to care????

Then it comes to my outfit choices

It seems like I always pick the wrong thing

For instance Christmas Eve I wore a tweed mini

I really didn't mean to wear a mini

I thought, I am going to wear a skirt, I never do

My "fancy" choice didn't seem like a good one because

My whole family was wearing jeans

I loved my skirt I really did, I mean it was tweed 

BUT

When I sat on my Uncle's couch I realized

I couldn't get up unless I wanted to pantie flash

My entire family

Jeanine once told me it is better to be OVER dressed

Then UNDER dressed

The jury may still be out on this one

To care or not to care????

Side note...look how amazing Cali looked

Then it comes to my make-up choices

I wear none when I need it

AND

I over do it sometimes when I probably shouldn't

Christmas Eve, I wore my brand new

Mac lipstick, Viva Glam I, dark red......

I kind of look like a vampire

To care or not to care?????

Side note, look at my handsome husband

I made a firm decision this year to say

"You have a Merry Christmas"

Instead of

"Happy Holidays"

To everyone I came into contact with

I thought I was spreading all kinds of cheer

 Until I REALLY offended a guy at the Gap

Apparently he didn't want to have a Merry Christmas

To be honest I REALLY don't care about this one.

 I could go on and on

I have Medusa hair

Sometimes I walk by people and my hair literally reaches out and grabs them

I usually say naughty words when there are people present who may get offended

I talk before I can think about what I am saying

I at times have knee jerk reactions

I randomly dance when it probably isn't appropriate

I am scared to death of birds

When I see one, I sometimes want to push Calista in front of me

To save myself

(I have never done this, please don't call CPS)

I am scared of midgets

Maybe not so much scared as REALLY intrigued

I want to stare and observe but not get too close

(Please don't judge me)

Clowns, they are pure evil

I don't feel like I need to go further into this issue

It sounds like I am having a pity party

I really am  NOT

I think I am going to go with

#1 on my resolution list

NOT CARE!

To NOT care in 2011......

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out......OR fall off a scooter.

We made it through another Christmas

Santa brought our girl an electric scooter

(amongst other things)

It is the fanciest one around

It goes up to 15 mph

I wanted to steal it

UNTIL

I fell off of it

I not only fell off of said scooter

I was riding it wrong

Nana, Cali, and James agreed I looked like I was water skiing

NICE!!

Here is the proof for some comedy relief......

I tried to fix my unusual way of riding

AND

I look even sillier

I want to thank Santa for not getting any pictures of me falling off of the scooter.

AND

I will leave it to the pro's

Michael Jackson's Dance game is calling my name

Please say a prayer I will not fall or break a bone while playing.

Best Christmas EVER!!!



He is good...

These past couple of days have been a bear

I dislike it when unfair things happen beyond my control

To myself and to my friends

BUT

He is good

I have amazing people in my life who are answers to my prayers

When I am on my knees praying for things to get better

He shows His will in the special people in my life

I have a fabulous "family" at work who put up with my demanding ways

I MAY be a little bit Type A as to how we put up our Christmas Tree in our office

AND

How we take it down each year....

I can't help it, I have tried to chill, it doesn't work

I belong to the best PTO around, each meeting just gets better

Last nights meeting saved my day, especially when Mr. Smitty showed up 

I have a work sister, who had my heart on her sleeve this afternoon

Seriously, she picked up my heart medication because at times...our office is Fort Knox

AND

Of course my lovely work wife saved me with her wit and charm

AND

Let me vent about bodacious things that are beyond our control

AND

Tonight?

Well, tonight was a Smitty Singing Session in the car ride home

Radio UP

Windows DOWN

Don't you just love singing Christmas tunes as loud as you can

With your favorite people?

OH

He is good

SO

Good

P.S. Her name is Betsey.....I spotted her from across the lot and knew she was a Smitty

Doesn't she look ginormous???

More about her and these Smitty's later......stand by

Christmas Love to All~~~

Spelling Bees and Streptococcal Pharyngitis and Jasmas.....Oh My!

You know when you are younger
You look forward to your day of birth?
As an adult you look forward to it for sooo many other reasons
It is a day that my family makes me feel special
It is a day I get cards made out of construction paper and beads
A day that is special not because we are celebrating ME
It is special because I am someones Mama, Wife, Daughter, and Friend
I made it through another year loving every minute of my crazy life
Oh yeah I'm drinking in this yummy cup of life, Fo Sho!

Every year Jamesie and Cali can hardly wait to give me my prizes
This normally results in me getting prizes a week or so early
This year was no different
I received my lovely new Kindle a week and a half early
Did I mention I love it?

The week of Jasmas Cali was visited by Strep
(side note, my sister started calling my bday Jasmas when I was younger
now we end everybody's bday with a "mas"
Calimas, Jamesmas, Nanamas, Cassiemas, Raymas, etc.)
Strep loves our Cali girl, she is a pro at diagnosing herself now
Also a pro at getting swabbed at the Dr.
She was sicker than a dog
It was also the week of her 1st Spelling Bee
This blue-eyed professor studied her heart out
She studied so hard
I could yell out of the blue
Nachtmusik
 In the middle of her brushing her teeth
She would spell it without skipping a beat
AND
Continue brushing those lovely little teeth of hers
She was out sick most of the week and she still studied
Friday morning came and she was ready
She knew all 150 words by heart
The only problem was the the school did not use any of these words

Calista made the whole audience crack up
The face she made when they gave her the 2nd round word was priceless
I knew exactly what she was thinking
"Shut the front door, that was NOT on my list!"
She then said into the microphone
"I have NO clue how to spell that word!"
I love her.

Maria with her little speller

 
 

Right after the what the heck face.

The day of my bday my work wife made her famous cake
Chocolate Angel Food Cake
We decided it was Heavenly Goodness sent straight from an angel
That was a little bit naughty
Wink, Wink

THEN my work sister (Lauren) and my work wife (Rachel)
Took me to lunch
I had to wear a giant sombrero
I know why Cali was so embarrassed on Calimas
I love those ladies
EVEN if Rachel couldn't even try to look "bad" in my birthday pictures
Ding dang her and her fabulous smile
It runs in her family.
Exhibit A & B

 

We celebrated the evening of my bday true Smitty Style
Cali was sick so we had Rubio's in bed
AND
We snuggled the germs away while watching
Modern Family
AND
The weekend I had a hot get away
My Jamesie Pooh booked a room at the Hyatt
Right by Toby Keith's Bar and Grill
We had a so much fun
A true Jasmas Miracle

We had dinner with the Eicherly's
The first words out of Cassie's mouth when the waiter came were
"It is her birthday"
SO
This happened

Aren't firecrackers illegal in AZ?

THEN
We went dancing at Toby's
I danced the night away
Maria, Cassie, Raylyn all danced with me
Most likely to shut me up, but whateva

James of course stole my heart with some fancy foot work
Including a lift over his head
This ended with a spider monkey move by myself
James is a TALL guy and strong like bull
When I was up there
I realized, HOLY heck, I am FAR from the ground
I also had an instant flash back of me flying into our oak table
From our last attempt of fancy foot work
AND
The drama that ensued and of course this amazing boot

 I instantly grabbed onto his head with my knees and hands
He lowered me down and all the while I didn't let go with my legs or arms
There was NO cracked ankle involved in this marvelous dance move
I am sure we looked SMOOTH!
Luckily there was NO pictures taken
The REALLY good pictures are stored in my head
Here are a few extras

Complete poser RIGHT?
I wanted James to get my awesome boots in the picture
It didn't work
Here they are check them out, fabulous I say!!

What a cute couple, so sweet.

Then this, can anybody say Creeper?
 

Cassie and I had some alone time in the hotel room

SO

We took 87 pictures and this was the best one.

Drum roll please

My favorite picture of the night

Goes to.....

Merry Jasmas to all and to all a good night~~~

SMES

I love school assemblies

I REALLY love school assemblies when my girl and her friends are performing

I love how all the parents sit together in the audience

I love how we all disobey the principal

I mean how can you NOT cheer for your kid and their friends

Any time their name is announced, they sing a song, their teacher's name is announced, they win an award, they have a speaking part

You get the idea

I have always been a rule follower

I REALLY think it is funny that we all get a stern look and a

"Please no whoot whooing or clapping until the very end."

This is my time to break the rules

EVERY assembly since kinder, doesn't she know us by now?

Doesn't she know it is impossible for us NOT to show our pride for our littles?

We do cheer for everybody....we don't leave anybody out!

I say get over it all ready, principal!

Our little Smitty played a book worm

Her inspiration was Rachel Berry from Glee for her costume choice

I LOVE her

I could go on and on about how I love this school

(most of the time)

I love her music teacher

(who happened to be my 4th grade teacher)

I love her 4th grade teacher

(I wish I was related to her)

I love how I get to see all of her old teachers

(and mine too)

I love how I have seen her friends grow with her

Here is the story in pictures

I will refrain putting the video of the event, Calista may disown me if I did.

Did I mention, I love how I cry at every assembly

Really I don't love this, but I do it anyway....

I can't help it.

Here is to the Winter Concert

They get to sing REAL Christmas music this year

I am beyond excited!

xoxoxo-

The big baby cry (only at anything that has to do with my girl)



Tooth Couture, No More!

Our girl is growing by leaps and bounds

Can anybody say bittersweet???

Today she had her tooth jewelry removed

Remember the day she got them?

I do, like it was yesterday

February 9, 2010

It looked a little something like this

So happy her "beaver" tooth would be fixed

That is what she named her tooth that she disliked

Then when she tried to eat for the first time

It looked a little something like this

Poor little thing

BUT

Today she looked like this

Before she went in.....

Then she looked like this

Happiest girl around, so beautiful.

The Smitty's do have to give a shout out to

Advanced Orthodontics

We LOVE you!

Seriously, if your child EVER needs braces, go there!

They use the Damon Braces method

So amazing!

Cali, pulled a smooooooooth move and hid a piece of gum in her pocket

Can anybody say Moxie???

She popped it in as soon as we hit the car

Sideways bubble blowing!

Here is the picture Advanced Ortho emailed me

Wowza! 

It makes me want to get braces

NO

Seriously...I want braces.

xoxox-

Mama to the girl with the fabulous teeth 



Some days are like that.....even in Australia

4th Grade is a hard one

Kids are getting emotional, they gossip, they pick on kids

To make themselves feel better, and sadly....

They start to smell like big kids NOT little kids

I remember my 4th grade year...

What would I tell my 10 year old self?

The same thing I have had to tell my 10 year old daughter these past couple of weeks

It will get better

You are going to follow your dreams one day

Live in Paris, become a Killer Whale Trainer,

 And a Fashion Designer

AND

All of those girls well....

All they're gonna be is mean

Inside what did I want her to tell them?

To Suck It!

Okay to be honest, I did tell her to tell them to Suck it

Because, I listened to my girl

MY girl, my blue-eyed girl with the heart of gold

I listened to her voice crack trying not to cry

AND

Her blue-eyes welling up with tears

Telling me how she felt awful because their words hurt like knives in her heart

She said, "Mom, I don't want to hurt their feelings just because they hurt mine."

Well that is an amazing girl, don't you think? 

I love her heart,

Her blue-eyes,

Her tallness,

Her braces,

Her glasses (which are Prada by the way, Fashionista),

Her couture sense of style,

 Her giggle,

Her dance moves,

Her ability to crack a joke with the drop of a hat,

And I love that she is the slowest person in PE

 BUT she is the smartest girl in her class

AND

Always has been

So there.....

MEAN GIRLS

SUCK IT

Because ALL you are EVER going to be is mean
This Blue-Eyed Angel Girl
She is going to be EVERYTHING
AND
MORE

P.S. Also, Mean Girls...

Please tell your Mom's I would like to meet them behind the dumpster after school.....

OH YES, I just said that!



The Steins

We survived another Halloween

Calista was Frankie Stein, AKA Frankenstein's Daughter

She looked fabulous

We started our festivities on Thursday this year

Fall Treat Night at SMES

I helped sell hot dogs with some lovely PTO Mamas

Friday Rachel, Lauren, and I wore kitty ears to work

AND
We took pictures, they crack me up

That night Raylyn and I took the girls
(Cali, Jenna, Hailee, and Hannah) to a Haunted House

AND

It scared the crap out of our lovely ladies

SO

We went to the park and played until it closed

Then we went to Wal-Mart with Raylyn and her girls

Calista and I found matching jammies

(that had leg warmers........SCORE)

We came home and showered so we could snuggle in our matching duds

Saturday The Smitty's went to the mall and came home to chill

While we were chilling we were listening to music and dancing

I had this amazing idea to recreate the last dance from Dirty Dancing

AND

Maybe we could "perform" it on my birthday (aka Jasmas)

It didn't work out so well

Lets just say I am NOT Baby

AND

I am currently wearing a walking cast

There was no twisting of my ankle involved

It was more of James tossing me into our dining room chair

That is all I have to say about that

The important part is I made it through Trick-or-Treating on Sunday

James dressed as Frankenstein to match our girl

AND

I gimped along holding his hand walking behind Jenna and Calista, Maria joined us

AND

Only laughed a few times at my gimpy foot

Here we are now, me and my hurt foot
AND
Cali girl is so very sick, I say BOO to that!
NOW
Let the holiday season begin!

Life's an hourglass......

She is growing up........time is slipping through my fingers

Today she woke up and it was the second day she was

10

10

10

10

10

I can't believe it

I remember every second of bringing her home from the hospital

10

Years ago.......

Yesterday we celebrated

Celebrated and prayed she wouldn't grow up too fast

Nana and I took her on a hike at Riparian Water Reserve

Well....it was suppose to be a "release mission"

You see, my Mama (aka Nana) seems to save animals

Lately she has saved two water turtles and one box turtle (found in her pool)

She has had the water turtles for about a year

They started out very sickly and small

Apparently she cured them

The big guy is now HUGE, about the size of a salad plate

Our plan was to release him into a lake at the reserve

Where he would be happy to swim about

The plan was foiled by a VERY sad 10 year old who couldn't bear to let him go

AND

Professed her love to him

We still decided to go to the Water Reserve to take a little hike

It was lovely

Before we left we chowed down on some amazing treats

Cake Pops, Carrot Cupcakes, and Fraps for breakfast

(it is a tradition in the Smitty house to have an unhealthy breakfast on birthdays)

Here is the story....in pictures:

I am pretty sure the breakfast of sugar caused the look(s) on Cali's face

After the meltdown......."But I do love him, I do."

I do love candid shots....BUT these posed pictures may be some of my favorites

We watched these geese from afar, but when they heard our voices they wanted to be friends.  I stayed CALM, it was Calista that freaked out a bit.

Fabulous little hike....even if the catch and release program didn't work out so well.

We were off to lunch....the Birthday Girl was NOT very happy about this situation.

I forgot...about the presents

She received an XL DSI among other things

We opened her presents with Daddy on Speaker Phone

AND

I snapped these photos for him to see the excitement

Wait for it.....

Jumping up and down vigorously....so excited

Happy girl....

AND

While I got ready my girls did this...

To end the day

After visiting GG (Great Grammy)

I cooked by request of the Birthday Girl

Pork Chops, Caprese Salad, Homemade Garlic Bread, Grapes,

AND

A Chocolate Cake

Perfect in every way....

Even when....

There was a meltdown about the release of a turtle

There was freaking out about geese maybe trying to attack us

There was embarrassment and pouting about the nice people of Serrano's singing Happy Birthday

Coming home to Sookie eating my windshield wipers that were on the counter, waiting to be installed on my car

AND

Today, the grounding of a 10 year old

You see....even good 10 year olds get sassy sometimes

AND

Even nice Mamas have to ground said 10 year olds when the sass comes out

The XL DSI can wait tonight.....

I had to put my girl in check

BUT

You know what she is doing right now?

She is wearing a flower princess headband with cascading ribbons,

Her favorite tutu from Aunt Cassie,

A dolphin t-shirt that once belonged to her Auntie Jesse

AND

She is pretending to be a princess 

AND

Sookie is her horse

I love all of these things because this is what life is about

Meltdowns, Freaking Out, Embarrassment, Pouting, Groundings, Pretending.....

AND

Now.....time can stand still.....

The hourglass is slowing.....

AND 

My girl is giggling.