Owner: Full Plate URL:http://fullplate321.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:42:24 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: The life and times of a 41 year old stay-at-home mother of 3 kids, along with 2 dogs and 1 husband. Kids are 6, 4 and 3; dogs are springers, and the husband is a hard-working corporate boy. Welcome to my hectic, wonderful life. Site statistics:Click here
Candle, Please 2007-05-21 23:51:00 So I'm back to smells.The smells in this house are quite remarkable. Let's take a tour of MamaLee's house of stench, shall we?We'll start off right here. The Kitchen. I smell the pizza that I'm making (actually a lovely smell) along with the coffee that was made this afternoon. All in all, not a bad room, stench-wise.Let's turn the corner to the downstairs bathroom. I think Princess peed in there and didn't flush, because 1. she has had a tendency to do that and 2. that room is always the target of the fly-by pee, (it's where everyone stops off to break the seal) so I am ALWAYS cleaning that pee pit.Hey, thanks Mags! Turn the corner to the front foyer, and you'll find whatever Mags just puked up. Gotta love dogs and GRASS. (Or poop.) She JUST did that as I started this post. She must've wanted to contribute.Living room and Dining room are fine, although they again need a vacuum from the dog hair. Let's go upstairs, shall we?Let's go right to the kids' bathroom, Read more:Candle
, Please
Monday MemeTime! 2007-05-21 14:44:00 I got tagged for this one by Miss Elle herself. Thanks, you young whippersnapper!When I am an old woman, I hope to:A) Still have my awesome sense of style. Come on, people. You've seen those seersucker pants with the floral moo-moo dresses. No great ability to accessorize can cover up the old woman's visits to Omar the tent-maker. (And let's hope that they STOP selling those kinds of clothes for old women.) No, I won't be wearing tube tops at 80, but I hope that I will know NOT to shave off my eyebrows and paint them on, as well!B) Still have friends. There are too many old people without others to care for them. I think we all need to remember that old people were once young. Like WE are.C) Be healthy enough to get around by myself. I don't think I'd like being bedridden or paralyzed in any way. And shoot, I want to still be able to frolic with those gobs of grandchildren I'll have! When I am an old woman, I will not:A) Be a constant complainer like my mother. She Read more:Monday
Quick Question for All with Geographical Skill 2007-05-21 02:33:00 Pumpkin and I went to a birthday party for one of his classmates today. It went well - a good time was had by all. But I almost got lost on the way there, following the directions given in the invitation. How hard is it to write out detailed directions? I ALWAYS give out details directions, including a map!Are you one to give details, or do you figure that people will just do a search on mapquest?By the way, I HATE getting lost when there is a set time involved. I start to panic a bit, and I start to sweat! I HATE it! If I had all day though, I love to get lost and find my way back. Not when I have a 5 year old who wants to get to the party YESTERDAY! LOLHope you had a great Sunday! xoxo Read more:Quick
, Question
Please Pass the Beano! 2007-05-19 16:12:00 The familia and I went to Ruby Tuesdays last night for dinner. We all found something good to eat (hubby and I ate well on the low carb train) and we all left there happy and full. On to Walmart. Let me just say that I have NEVER seen a store so unorganized. Either that, or I am a Target snob. We went to Walmart because it was right next to the restaurant, and time was ticking - the kids needed to get to bed.Our mission? Birthday presents for 3 of Pumpkin's classmates who have parties coming up. All boys, all BOY. We found Star Wars stuff, racing car stuff and Lightning McQueen stuff amongst the shelves of disarray, and I managed to grab 2 new pairs of jeans for Pumpkin (he blew out the knees in his old ones), 2 bras for me (you don't want to SEE the status of the 3 bras I've been wearing lately!) and we let each kid pick out a toy for themselves.Holy crap, Batman! The total was over $200., so I had to arrange to sell my body later this weekend to cover that bill. Isn't i Read more:Please
This One's For the Girls! 2007-05-24 21:36:00 For all of you Mel Brooks fans! Madeline Khan in History of the World Part I: Read more:Girls
Thursday Thirteen 2007-05-23 23:07:00 13 Shout Outs (or Vents!)1. Mr. Neighbor: Doesn't it bother you to have such a mess on your property? I know that you own your own business, and you built that humongous building (near my property) to house your trucks and supplies, but have you thought of maybe putting your stuff IN that building? I see a basketball court in there, but not much else. And you have significantly lowered our property value by your mess, so thanks. And, oh, by the way, nice new pool you just put in near your house. Maybe you can put that frig you've kept near the huge building close to the pool and create a nice cozy sunspot. @@2. Princess: I love you so. I tell you that all the time, and I mean it. But could you PLEASE listen to me when I talk, and stop talking back to me like you are 13? And don't put your hands over your ears when I start scolding you. And oh, I know you think you are helping me by yelling at your little sister, but let me be the mommy, please. And stop with the slamm Read more:Thursday
, Thirteen
Nanny Wanted for Today 2007-05-23 09:11:00 I have LOADs of work to get done today, and I am in desperate need for someone to watch my kids so I can get it all done. Duties would include:Keeping my 2 girls, ages 4 and 2, entertained. Shit, you could just stay near them and make sure they don't scream and play nice. Inside, lots of toys. Outside, a nice playscape, a picnic table and a big front yard.Food: a snack mid-morning. Lunch could consist of mac and cheese, lunch meat or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, along with juice or water. I also have pretzels, carrots, celery sticks, and oranges and apples. They aren't picky, so lunch can be easy.Pick up my son at school @2:05pm and bring him home.Rest time after school for all 3. Sweetpea will nap, and the other 2 can play quietly in their own rooms for @2 hours. After resttime, Pumpkin and Princess can play inside or outside until dinner. At some point, Sweetpea will wake from her nap and can join the other 2 anklebiters.Potty time. Remind Princess and Pumpkin t Read more:Nanny
, Today
And the Winner Will Be? 2007-05-22 19:31:00 You know, I've half-heartedly watched this season of American Idol. I gotta say that I've been routinely disappointed with the contestants, the songs choices and the guest artists this season. Here is my take of the Finale Show, from an old voice teacher/musical director's point of view.American Idol Finale, recap and review:Blake: "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi. No, no NO! And cut the beat boxing crap. It doesn't cover up the fact that you have pitch issues, young man. Yes, it's refreshing - you have your own sense of style, and at times I really like you. But SING dammit!Jordin: "Fighter" by Christina Aquilera. I liked her performance, although she did get a little shreeky in the middle.1st round: Tie. Blake is a good showman, but doesn't have the vocal chops. Jordin has the voice.Blake: "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5. Flat and flat some more. He couldn't get his pitch up to save his life. And he doesn't have a great voice for ballads. He can still
Bon Appetite 2007-05-22 12:49:00 MMM, food! Jaymonster over at Triple Venti tagged me a bit ago - I am to share 5 of my fave restaurants from my lovely state. Well, gee, this one is easy! Anyway here are the rules: 1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the state and country you’re in. 2. List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location (locally). 3. Tag 5 other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they’ve been tagged.Here are my 5 favorite feast-o-ramas:Saybrook Fishhouse, Canton, CTIf you are a seafood lover, you will LOVE this restaurant. If you have kids, you will LOVE the fact that they use rolls of brown paper, ideal for coloring on the table! Their classic salad bowl, along with a nice selection of seafood dishes (Bouillabaisse!) make this a restaurant I choose to go to when my birthday comes around!Braza, Hartford, CTI just found this restaurant recently, and it is an awesome place if you are a meat lover."Churras
Little Things 2007-05-22 08:29:00 Sometimes the little things mean a lot.Ever notice the little things with your children? How they change ever so slightly, but you KNOW, if you stopped and thought about it, you'd realize how HUGE it was?I watched my son walk up the stairs to his classroom today, as I usually do. For a long time he would take the steps one by one - one foot, then the other on the same step, and repeated all the way up. I've watched other kids take each step from left foot to right foot, with no 2 feet on the same step. You know what I mean.Now my son is one of the oldest in his class, is VERY smart and all that good stuff, but he isn't ultra-coordinated. In fact, he is more than ready for a team sport come the fall. He runs FAST, and he is getting more and more bold on our playscape (one of the reasons we got it was to help the kids with their coordination). I watched him take each step, left, right, left right this morning. To me, that was HUGE.Ever do something nice for someone, and you di Read more:Little Things
Puke, Tampons and Nailpolish 2007-05-26 12:45:00 So I feel better than I did yesterday. Nothing like feeling like a truck ran over ya.I slept most of last evening away, and I woke @2am to the footsteps of my daughter Princess, who was obviously distraught. She had puke on her arm, with the promise of lots more in her bed. Don't you dread going to look at the mess, when you KNOW it'll be nasty? Yup, it was. And yes, she puked more. On the berber carpet. I finally got her head into the toilet, and she finished her technicolor (actually, I think it was pink) yawn. Changed her bed, got the towel and puke bucket next to her, and we both drifted off to sleep. And she seemed fine this morning. KNOCK ON WOOD! I'm hoping that the other 2 kids don't get this, and when I really think about it, she probably had the same thing that I had.Today is Saturday, right?The Hubster came home early this week, and will be home for another week (Lord help me), so my days are messed up. Later we are off to my inlaws for a cookout, tomorrow is
I Got Nothin 2007-05-25 16:58:00 I woke up feeling like crap. Nausea, accompanied by dizziness and diarrhea. Something I ate last night? I thought so. And add my period, and I'm ultra-charming, too!Spent all day trying to get myself GOING. Kids played outside on the playscape. They ran thru the sprinkler. And as my hubby cranked some work out and the kids took in some rest time, I curled up on the couch and took a nap.I woke up at dinner time, with the girls ready to play fiercely (which goes along with selling them on ebay). Hubby left to go flyfishing. I'm cooking up something for dinner (I think I can whip up stupid meals with my eyes closed, but please don't rely on the spices. I just grabbed and went with it!)So they'll eat, and then it's jammies for them. And then jammies for me. That couch is calling my name! More!Don't you hate having those unproductive, sickly kinda days? See, I got nothin.
A Pap and a Prayer 2007-05-31 19:56:00 Friday already. Wow.Today I had my annual physical. It's always a lovely thing! I see a family practitioner, who does it all! So after I had my babies, I just had my doc do all the tests, including the pap smears and all the groping, ah, breast exams.First of all, she was thrilled about my diet, and the weight loss train I just jumped on. She is also thrilled about hubby and I doing it together! He really needs encouragement, and doesn't have as much willpower as I do, so doing it together has certainly helped both of us.My EKG came out great, and I'll be going for some routine blood work in the next few days. No problem. No lumps. My knee is healing. Yay.But. (And yes, I have a big one.)I've been watching this mole on my leg for a little while. You ever look at something on your skin, and you aren't sure that it has changed? Well, I think it's gotten a bit bigger, and I really want it off of me. Last year my moles and markings looked fine, so this particular one ha Read more:Prayer
My Favorite Hues 2007-05-30 17:58:00 I can't believe it's Thursday Thirteen time already! I was having a tough time thinking of WHAT I could list for you. My 13 favorite sexual positions? My 13 nicknames from high school? How about 13 ways to cook with arugula? None of these really SPOKE to me. Then I looked at my mess on a kitchen table, (thanks to my kids) and alas, the crayons started talking to me.Here are my 13 Favorite
Crayola Crayon colors, in no particular order, because I know you are dying to know!Violet. Purple is my favorite color, so of course I'm drawn to this crayon. Remind me to tell you about the Christmas when my family AND Santa gave me everything PURPLE. Favorite violet things: grapes, eggplant, irises, plums, violetsJazzberry Jam. This is similar to a burgundy. A good color on me, and it is so bold and beautiful. Favorite jazzy things: WINE! Forest Green. I think I'm picking out new paint colors for the inside of my house...lol Favorite forest green things: forestsIndigo. I'v
The Kids are Growing and Summer is Here! 2007-05-30 15:32:00 OMG, I'll have 2 kids in school this fall. Where the heck did the time go?Hubby and I had a meeting with the school principal this morning - it was about both kids' registrations for next year, but the big item was to talk about Pumpkin's assessment for Kindergarten. Didn't that boy just kick me in the ribs? Didn't he just start walking? And the meeting went GREAT. Pumpkin's assessment results came back, and he is over the FIRST GRADE LEVEL! Oh my goodness, this kid is going into Kindergarten in the fall? Hubby and I were bursting. That's my boy!Pumpkin came home with his yearbook today, and there was his little picture - he looked so YOUNG! The pic was taken at the beginning of the school year. It's SO funny, since he and his classmates look wee, yet right now, they are all older and wiser (as wiser as a kid going into Kindergarten can get!).And Princess will go into pre-k in the fall, right down the hall from her big brother. I'm glad that they'll be close. Princ Read more:Growing
, Summer
A King Fit for a Queen 2007-05-28 19:08:00 My hubby and I sleep in a queen size bed. For most people, that is just the right size. For us, no. Not only are we chubby people, (although I am barely 5'4" and can curl up in a biddy ball), but my husband is as tall as a small spruce. Eh, we've made due. Other things have become a priority over the last few years, and although a new king size bed makes the short list when it comes around to Christmastime - we tend to buy each other one big gift - other things jump on ahead of our sleeping comfort.Now let me paint the picture a little clearer for you. We have 2 dogs. Yes, they like to join us most nights, so it gets a bit cramped. But remember, too, that I have the bed all to myself 3 nights out of those 7. MMM... sheer BLISS! When I'm alone, I tend to spread OUT. The dogs come on up, but who cares. I got 4 pillows and I can spread eagle and snore (if I feel like it!) to my heart's content. When the Hubster is home, it's quite another story.I've been programmed.If Read more:Queen
Almost Monday 2007-06-03 21:36:00 Busy Sunday.Pumpkin and I went to a classmate's birthday party. Two more of those wild parties this coming week - they have been a potpourri of fun and frolic. I really hope that dear Sarah likes that talking/singing Karoake Barbie that Pumpkin and I picked out for her - pft, her mother is gonna KILL me!!After the party, the family and I headed across a couple of towns to go to an amusement park. It is this cute little park on a lake with the focus on giving little kids lots of fun rides to ride and for all you parents? Let's just charge an arm and 2 legs for food and fun. We definitely figured out how these people make their money! WOW!Bottom line, the kids had a blast. I really went off my diet today, and for anyone who has gone low-carb, I really get it now when they say you feel like CRAP with those carbs. OMG, I felt lethargic and wasted. For some, that could be a good thing! I had 2 slices of pizza at the party, and for a few hours I felt so crabby and tired. Hubby k Read more:Almost
, Monday
Saturday Morning Follies! 2007-06-02 08:33:00 Who says that weekends are all about sleeping in and relaxing. RUBBISH, I say!It wasn't even 7am, and I felt Princess nudging me. GO BACK IN YOUR ROOM, YOU EVIL SPAWN! Is it SO hard to give Mommy and Daddy a few more minutes on the weekend? It's Saturday
morning - noone has to go to work or go to school. Even the dogs are still hanging out on the rug, programmed to get excited ONLY when Mama here sits up and puts a scrunchy in her hair. Swear to GAWD.So I shoo-d Princess back to bed. A few moments later, I hear both Pumpkin and Princess talking. I got up, walked out into the hallway and directed both of them to go BACK into their bedrooms and relax for a while. Shoot, they have enough toys in their rooms. What is so hard about maybe sitting and drawing quietly? Hey, why don't you check out some books? Yeah, what a novel idea, right?So I climbed back into bed. Dogs were watching me, but not going nuts yet. I was still in a zone when I could get back to sleep (and if I w Read more:Morning
, Follies
, Saturday Morning
Thursday Thirteen Cereals 2007-06-06 19:26:00 My favorite morning boxes-o-sugar:Lucky Charms - Good with milk, good without! Colorful AND full of REALLY bad sugar! MMM!Special K - I have fond memories of being on diets and eating this every morning. Too bad I would put LOADS of sugar on top! (See: ass the size of Texas)Cherrios - fun for kids, fun to put up your nose.Cocoa Pebbles - when I need to satisfy that chocolate craving at 6amCookie Crisp - when you are just too lazy to eat cookies and milk the regular wayApples and Cinnamon Oatmeal - a meal AND a facial scrubApple Raisin Crisp - when I'm feeling extra fruityCocoa Puffs - when I am in a "cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs" kind of moodCrunch Berries - who cares if they don't really taste like berries!?Frosted Flakes - they're GREATTT!Honeycomb - anyone else love these as a kid?Rice Chex - a breakfast food AND a coffee table staple. Pass the nuts!Honey Bunches of Oats - has the same slogan as moi - "There's a whole bunch to love." That's what I'M talkin 'bout!Thursday
Thi Read more:Thirteen
, Cereals
You Are Like a Sinful Habit 2007-06-06 07:40:00 Wonderful and all-consuming. Like bathing in dark chocolate. O. My. Gawd.I've spent so much time sitting here in the last few days, reading blogs, listening to some great music, chatting with friends, reading up on skin biopsies, organizing my pictures online. Reading some more.I sit here drinking coffee. I drink my gallons of water. I watch my girls playing from here - we have an open floor plan, so I can see them wherever they are down here.I've been sitting here WAY too much. You would think that I was looking at porn or something! My house needs some attention. See the piles of papers on my kitchen table here? I need to sort through them. Part of the mess is Pumpkin's school papers. Look past those, and you'll see 2 laundry baskets full of clothes, a vacuum who seems to talk to me, and dustballs on each windowsill, seemingly screaming to JUMP OUT! Don't go, dear bunnies - I have a swiffer with YOUR name on it!I have many things on my to-do list. It's amazing how it grows! Nev Read more:Habit
A Biopsy, a Lucky Girl and a Thunderstorm 2007-06-05 15:23:00 Today's Tidbits!Had my mole biopsy this morning - doc says I'll get results in about a week. Still waiting on the pap smear and the blood work results as well. This is almost worse than waiting on a pregnancy test!Princess is a lucky girl. She only has ONE more life today. One more strike. Why, you ask? Let's see... 1. We pull up to the doctor's office, she unbuckles and comes forward towards me, and I smell Lip Medex. Why? She decided to wear blistex as SUNSCREEN. She put it all over her arms, face, hands... and her clothes. Hey, at least she didn't smell like SHIT!2. I go in her room and go to put on her Tinkerbell light. It doesn't work. I push all the buttons. Nothing. I happen to pick it up and there is WATER coming out of it! She decided to pour water in the flower where Tinkerbell dances. Let's say she isn't dancing any MORE. Tinkerbell is DEAD, people! ONE MORE CHANCE, lady!The girls and I went to the market after my doctor's appointment today, and Read more:Biopsy
A Tuesday Meme 2007-06-05 08:00:00 Thanks to my dear, sweet friend Jenny, I've been tagged! I dedicate today's blog tune to her! WUV YOU!Instructions: Remove the blog from the top, move all blogs up one, add yourself to the bottom.Families are like fudgeSpecial K FamilyBlogging ObsessionJersey MumFull PlateFive people to tag: Janis, Jen, Kendra, Laural and anyone else who hasn't done this meme yet!What were you doing 10 years ago?Hm. I was 31. I was renting an old house back on the other side of the state. There I was giving private voice lessons & private piano lessons. I was doing LOTS of theatre work. Acting, directing, vocal coaching. Directing kids shows. Acting professionally in a touring company. I was also a church choir director. I was dating...but hadn't met my now-husband yet. I met him 9 years ago!Five Snacks You Enjoy:(on my diet):cheese stickscukes and tomatoes with oil and vinegarhardboiled eggscelery with cream cheesestrawberries(off my diet):dark chocolate anythingcoffee cake muffinsch Read more:Tuesday
I'll Take Patience for $200, Alex 2007-06-04 11:32:00 I don't think I'm a good wait-er. I surely have more patience than my mother did, and I DEFINITELY have more patience than my husband. I CAN wait. Not sure if I'm GOOD at it.Patience: the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.Wait: stay in one place and anticipate or expect somethingI could wait until my period was due to take a pregnancy test. I can wait hours to eat until I get my blood drawn at the lab. I can wait until all 3 kids get their shoes on so we can go somewhere (unless we are real tight on time). I can even wait until that stupid slow driver decides to totally pull out in front of me and GO so I can continue on my journey. I could even wait until amnio results came back for each child in my tummy, telling me the baby's health. I have lots of weight to lose. To do it right, it'll take me months. Slowly. I need to be patient. Lots of waiting.Tolerance: 1. t
I've Been a Bad BAD Girl 2007-06-07 10:15:00 Last night I baked cookies (a batch of oatmeal and a batch of chocolate chip, thanks for asking) for my son's final class of pre-k, which was held today. I fell off of my diet HARD. I don't know how many I ate, but enough to give me the biggest sugar headache. I had to test the cookies, right? RIGHT?This morning Pumpkin and his class gave a performance for us parents and family members, and while getting some pics and video, I found myself tearing up! There was my son, who has grown SO much over this year. He was animated while singing the group songs, and was a little ham when it came down to the skits. Where did that kid get that spunk?And yesterday him and I bought some plants and cards for each teacher (there is a main teacher and 2 assistants) - he signed the cards and made special pictures to put inside of each. I also wrote notes to each teacher, since they really needed to know how much I appreciated all that they have done for Pumpkin.My hubby and I are so very ple
Jack is Dead, D.E.A.D. 2007-06-13 07:50:00 Ok, Jack is my dog. He'll be 2 in 2 weeks, actually.And he decided that he couldn't wait to poop outside this morning. OK, I KNOW - it IS my fault. I wasn't fast enough. Well, not as fast as diarrhea. But GEEZ Louise, could dogs learn a little English so they can give the heads up?"Hey ma, I got some SHIT coming, and I would really appreciate it if you'd move this going pee along so you can open the front door so I can pinch a loaf OUTSIDE on the luxurious lawn that you so magnificantly mowed?"Guess that is too much to ask. So I add "Steam clean the bedroom rug" to the top of my to-do list today. Sorry Jack. Sorry kids, for having to see that gross squatting. "Mommy, there is poop EVERYWHERE!"And sorry, readers, for sharing such a gross story before 9am. I owe you one.
Recommend Site To A Friend
