Heidi Ho, Neighbor!

Above is a picture of the gaping hole in the ceiling in the kitchen. It was a bigger than your normal light fixture hole, so we have been trying to figure out what to do with it. I have been looking at a light for about 2 months now that I wanted to go over this island. When I first started looking, it was $200. I went to Home Depot the other day and lo and behold, it was on sale for $99. Bargain, I thought!

I got it to the checkout and it rang up for $79.99. We still really had this issue of what to do because of that huge hole though. I had looked at medallions to go around the base plate. It just so happened, this plate is oval shaped. I looked and looked and looked. I found some things online, but they were SOO expensive. So my McGiver and I went to work!

Isn't he so cute when he's working? Yeah, I know, he's cute no matter what! So the person he calls Heidi (think Tool Time) came up with a brilliant idea. I thought, let's go look at Michael's and see if they have a piece of wood that is oval shaped. I found a piece of wood that was a whole 2 bucks! Yipppeee! A can of spray paint as close to the color as we could get was 6 bucks. Studmuffin was pretty happy with this bargain!

Below is the finished product.



There are two lights connected. I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out. Hubby is so funny. When I would hand him a tool or whatever, he would say, Thank you, Heidi! I think he and I SHOULD have our own home improvement show. It would be funny to say the least. It might not be suitable for children though :)

What a week!

It absolutely FLEW by even though not much of it was spent sleeping! For me, anyway.

I keep telling myself that Rome wasn't built in a day and to pace myself. But I want the pace car out of the way, and let's get to some green flag racing :)

I have worked my kids to death, too. He-man wants to go to work so he doesn't have to work here! haha They have really done a good job. We are all moved out of the other house. Hubby is off tomorrow, so I imagine we'll knock out a few things around here. He says I cannot install an elevator WHY NOT?

Actually, it might be a good thing. I think I have lost weight already by going up and down those stairs 4 bazillion times a day!

I'm still not able to take any cool sunset pics. The smoke is still really bad. The news is saying not to let children stay out in it as it is very unhealthy air. I consider myself lucky to not have asthma or allergies or anything of the sort. I know some people are having a time with it, even without having those things.

Within a couple days, the kids have made friends on this street. Even He-man. He was actually upright for over 3 hours today throwing baseball and playing pool. Yes, I was shocked, too. Hopefully he never figures out the bluetooth thing, or he'd still be throwing baseball or playing pool while talking on the phone!

I'll try to document some progress on here tomorrow. For now, I'm outta here!

How cute are they?

This is a pic of my little baby boys. In our move, they found an unopened Corvette model. I just walked by and saw them putting it together. I hope they get along this well for the rest of their lives. They've been working their butts off. Good kids. Most of the time...

I saved the best for last

I should make this pic a "caption it" and if any of you creative ones want to go for it in the comments, please do.

Studmuffin and I really got a good chuckle out of this. This is what you get if you pay a fortune for a home in California. This is my new back yard :) Isn't it lovely?

Hubs and I laughed because at the same time, we both said......"you might be a redneck."

I actually like this picture. I like my back yard. I like my hundred year old grill. I like my non grass (altho Jack hates it) It's all ours! Home sweet home. You'll be able to witness the transformation as it happens. Haha, IF it ever happens!

If I get up early enough

In this house, I can see the sunrise, too. I plan on getting magnificent sunsets, but I definitely was in awe of the big orange ball in the morning sky. I still think sunsets are easier to photograph, or may I just need a filter on my lens. Regardless, I was trying hard to capture the beauty out my back door.

The past few days, you can't even see the mountain or hills around here because of the smoke from the brush fires. I think some is visible in this pic.

Is being called a redneck a compliment?

Yesterday, I was moving the half a bazillion pieces out of the kitchen and pantry. We didn't pack anything before we moved, for one, because we didn't even know WHEN we would be moving, but for two, we thought to save on boxes (trash is hard to get rid of in California) we would just use plastic containers and our trucks and just move all the little stuff and put it away and go back for more.

Well, in my kitchen yesterday, I was not individually wrapping all the glass pieces. In fact, I had found about 6 brown paper bags from the grocery store. I would take a box, strategically place glasses in it, then weave the brown paper bags between the glasses. It REALLY was quicker than wrapping them, and quicker than it sounds.

I came home and asked the Husband if he liked my creativity. He said, awwww, you're a redneck!

I told He-man that his daddy was calling me a redneck.

He said....isn't that a compliment??

Hard work

MOM wants to sleep! But it seems like the kiddos are the only ones getting to sleep. I think they are staying up all hours of the night because they know I won't be around asking them to work.....then they sleep all day when I need them to work! I have no idea how these two ended up asleep like this! There is an identical couch on the other wall that she could have stretched out on!

This summer break and moving is really hard work!

I haven't forgotten

about you! I have been flat out worn out the last couple of days.

I have a couple of entries coming soon, as soon as I can remember to get the card out of the camera before I come upstairs. I have to minimize that stairclimbing, you know!

Mike stepped up!

With He-man being gone yesterday, Mike really stepped up and helped us out with moving. Studmuffin was so impressed, he let Mike pick where we went for dinner last night. Studmuffin had told him about the burrito place.....remember El Papa? http://korndogs.blogspot.com/2008/05/el-papa.html

We were betting on whether the bottomless pit could eat the whole thing. His eyes about popped out of his head when he saw this burrito! He immediately said, I don't think I can finish all that!! That should tell you how big this burrito is! He was so impressed by it, he took a picture with his phone and was texting it to people! haha He also called his mom and told her that the burrito was bigger than his forearm!

At one point, I looked over and he was petting it!! We had a good time. Then on the way home from there, one of us started in with a line from Talladega Nights, and that was it. We were laughing our butts off and saying lines from the movie the rest of the way home. Good times!

The new lifeguard

My little baby boy had to start his first job today. Of all days, the day we needed him to help moving.

Let's just say he got broken in today. It was about 103 degrees all day, but also, he had to pull a 2-year-old little boy out of the water. His mom was nowhere to be found. She came running when she realized the little boy was at the guard station.

He was told this doesn't happen very often at all. So how ironic for it to happen on his first day. I asked him if it scared him when he saw it happening. He said, no, not at all.

He might have found his niche. It's pretty cool to be able to say that my little baby boy saved the life of another little baby boy. I am very proud of him!

Do you know what this is?

This has been sitting on my stove for the days that Mike has been here. He has Mexican heritage, so we figured he knew what it was. Studmuffin was guarding it with his life and hand carrying it to the new house. He asked Mike if he knew what it was.

Mike said....is it one of those things with ashes?

We giggled.

He said, or that thing with a snake in it?

And last but not least, oh, wait, is that one of those bean things?

YES, that's my beloved bean pot!

One more, just cuz

I will put the disclaimer out there that I have been working them hard, and it's 101 degrees right now, BUT one day when George has a boy, I can explain the genetics to him when he too needs to change the oil in his hair :) Poor kid got my nappy, thin, yucky hair. (thanks, Dad)

But if I ever have a grandson that goes thru a period of not wanting to bathe, when George complains to me, I will say, Hey, you are reaping what you have sewn!

Another disclaimer......he is much better now that he's into girls. He doesn't leave the house without at least a half a bottle of cologne on!

The dog and his boy

I think that Jack was actually in the other pic, but he was behind the pillows. He had to move when George turned. He loves having someone to take an afternoon nap with!

And this is the baby boy who DID NOT TAKE NAPS until he was about 18 months old. Go figure!

Which came first?

Summer break is hard on a boy!

Did George teach Jack how to sleep like this, or did Jack teach George how to sleep like this? One of life's mysteries!

Mike owes me!

Altho I think Mike instigates things with Suzi, he may fight worse with her than He-man, I just saved his butt.

It's 3 a.m. There are 2 extra girls here and 2 extra boys. I came out to get some water and noticed that the lights were off upstairs. A good thing. They'll be rested for some more moving tomorrow :)

When I was walking back thru to go back to bed, I noticed Suzi's door open and the lights coming on in the loft.

Busted.

With makeup in hand and 3 girls hovering over Mike, I said, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

They were getting ready to pay Mike back heavily. Suzi had a wad of makeup in her hand that was going to be all over Mike's face within seconds!

I kindly shuffled them off to bed. Then I got makeup out....haha not really!

Those boys really did a fantastic job today. They moved some things over including more than half the garage. All the boxes that we had on shelves in this garage are now on shelves in the other one. Studmuffin was impressed!

Sweet dreams, kiddos!

Good things come in threes!

Today, our house closed, I passed my real estate test AND my washing machine is now fixed and usable! Now, all three of those are equally exciting for me. I am going to baby my washing machine as much as possible just because I love it and appreciate it so much :)

The test, OMG, that's just shocking to me. I had conceded that I had failed it. I had already researched other schoolings to make sure I passed it the second time!

And my house. It's been a long time coming, and I never thought I would ever own a house in California. While I know we have worked hard and deserve to own our own place, I know there are so many people who are having hard times, either financially or with natural disasters. It makes me feel sort of guilty for having good things happen. I appreciate the life I have been given and know I am very fortunate.

When my head hits the pillow tonight, the relief I will feel will be unmeasurable!

Teenage boys

Are very weird.

Nuf said.

Pool baseball

I bet you never thought a noodle would be used as a ball bat in this way! Gotta give them points for creativity! This video was to be more proof that my oldest and youngest CAN get along. Of course I shut the video off just seconds before my daughter was pounded in the head either with the noodle or the ball! It's like they can't let anybody know they really do get along!

And, yes, that's lifeguard/bodyguard in the swim ring! All 200 pounds of him!

I hope you are getting rested!

Because I am going to make you earn all that food you eat in a little bit! It is SUPPOSED to be possession day of our new house! I made sure to farm IN children for the rest of this week :)

This picture really cracks me up. There are 2 unused beds right now. 3 other couches. These goofballs all pile up on the one couch. I guess it works tho. They didn't have to go far from playing video games. It does kill me to go see that nobody thought to put some pillow cases on the pillows!

When I went to bed, George Porge was cranking out tunes on his guitar. He just got a couple new guitar books. I had to go tell him to keep it down a bit. He ended up putting on headphones. I hope he doesn't have hearing loss now! Well, I mean, other than the typical teenage selective hearing.

What's herpes?

That's what my 10-year-old daughter just asked me.

I told her it's a sexually transmitted disease.

Next question, what's that?

I said people who have sex can get it.

She said, YOU have it??

I said EMPHATICALLY, NO!

She said, well, you've had sex three times.

I couldn't help but laugh. I really felt bad for laughing, but it really was funny. So not only is that her daddy talking, but she's listening :)

Dad must have told her you only have sex when you want a baby. I just told her not to have it at all, and she won't have to worry about STD's.

Hey! Whatever works!!

My favorite song

I cried the first few times I heard Tim McGraw sing this song. It is one of my favorites. I was looking for the video on Youtube and found this kid. I love to hear young people sing. It has always given me goosebumps when they are so talented. I think this one is VERY TALENTED. I really hope one day to be at a concert by him. I really believe he'll be big one day.

He has quite a few videos on Youtube if you have a chance to check them out.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=related&search_query=If%20You%27re%20Reading%20This%20Tim%20Mcgraw%20Cover&v=JacGL3SJJ8E

Happiness is....

Making your 16-year-old bodyguard go with you to the laundromat :)

There was lots of kicking and screaming and tears, and it was just not pretty. He really hates when MOM acts like that. As much as I dreaded going to the laundromat, it wasn't really THAT bad.

The repair man came to repair my noisy washing machine last Monday. He didn't fix it. He broke it. That's where the kicking, screaming and tears came in. Five people in a household can NOT be without a washing machine.

But in one hour, 5 tons of laundry was washed, dried and folded and we were on our way home. The laundromat is next to Little Ceasars Pizza, so the kiddos have $5 pizzas to chow on for a couple of days. Life is good!

Happy Father's Day!

This is not Oprah's book club...

But she may want to read this one!

I think every woman should read it!

It's called Fat Daisy: Inner Beauty Secrets From a Real Dog.

http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Daisy-Inner-Beauty-Secrets/dp/0740761544

Wonders never cease

The lifeguard boy, I guess he does take care of his stuff better than I was thinking, but I was just amazed at this.

Hubby parks his car across the street because the neighbor's sprinkler goes awry and sprays all over the place. The water here is wicked and eats holes in metal, so we don't leave it on the cars. Just kidding, I think.

Well, He-man was grabbing his keys this morning first thing when he got up. I was like, "Where ya going?"

He said, "I'm moving my car and dad's car."

First thing he thought of this morning upon awakening was moving the cars. Even his dad's!

He said the house across the street (a foreclosure) now how sprinklers too, and he didn't want water spots on his car!

Aaaaaah, it's so nice seeing them grow up (a little).

Great minds

As a mom of teenagers, you take any kind of compliment from your kids that you can get!

Now, mind you, we WERE alone in the car. I'll preface this story with that so I don't sound like a terrible mother!

George Porge and I were driving to the other side of the mountain because he wanted to skateboard with his buddies. We stopped off at In & Out Burger (the California closest thing to Steak & Shake that I can get)

We were woofing down our hamburgers and chasing it with a soda. No kidding, we both, at the very same time, let out man-sized burps. They were huge. His was better than mine (this time)

But my 14-year-old then said, "Great minds think alike."

Which sports car are you? Thanks, Ronni!

I'm a Honda S2000

You live on the edge, and you live for the adrenaline rush. You don't need luxuries, snob appeal, or superfluous gadgets. You put your top down, get your motor revving, and take all the curves that life throws at you at full speed. So what if you spin out occasionally?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

I noticed only 2 percent of this quiz takers were the Honda. That's me. Unique :)

Happy Anniversary, You Studmuffin!

Who says I don't help

with long distance love?

This is my little baby boy needing a haircut!

My McGiver

George just informed me that he wasn't out skating. He was riding a bike. We gave away all bikes but one, and that was Mike's bike. It's been sitting out there collecting dust, but I thought it was ridable. No, it wasn't.

It had a hole in the tire.

Well, George is out there riding it. I told him I thought he was skating. He said, no, he didn't fix Mike's bike for nothin'.

I asked how he fixed it.

He said he used a zip tie and wood glue. The more I think about this, I think I am going to have to go get a picture!


Don't ya love this kid? It ain't pretty, but it works! haha

It's only Monday

The first one of summer break, and, yes, I'm still alive at this point.

Actually, so far so good. Except for these eating machines around here. I think I am going to give them 2 bucks a day and tell them to buy lunch at school :)

Jack is trying to figure out how to get his full day nap in with all these distractions though. He's one worn out pup. That and all the humping he is doing of his new friend! It's a rough life!

George is skating like there's no tomorrow. Suzi is trying to get me to get her a puppy like Charlie. And He-man, he's HOPEFULLY going to start working soon!

Summer vacation and a driving teenager

This I could get used to.

I wrote out a grocery list and sent my little baby boy to the store.

I guess I should get off my butt and cook some dinner since I have all the ingredients, huh?

Or maybe I could even get one of the other summer vacation offspring to cook. They need to earn their keep!

Inseparable

The sexiest studmuffin and his mini-me

These guys are two peas in a pod.

The cutest 8th grade graduate

You just get a slideshow because I'm tired, and I'm pretty much speechless. I am so proud!

Sorry this is fuzzy, but it's one of my favorites:

Same sex marriage

Jack thinks that means him, too! This is Jack's new boyfriend, Buster. Also in the video is Baby, who is a female, but she wasn't quite as interesting to Jack as Buster was. Not in the video was Charlie. Suzi wanted to take Charlie home. I thought at one point she was going to steal him!

Go ahead and pinch me again

They expect to harvest some corn this weekend, and tomatoes should be trickling in, she said. Corn and tomatoes. HEAVENLY!!

Will someone PLEASE

Pinch me? I want to make sure I am alive. With the harvesting going on around here, I am afraid I might have died and gone to heaven.

Can we please have cherry season that lasts all year though? And on the right, I had never seen these before, but since I have never met a tomato I didn't like, I decided to give them a try. They are golden something or another cherry tomatoes. Alls I can say is YUMMMMMY!

I really think I have an addiction.

Typical San Francisco

This was crossing the Bay Bridge the other day. To the right of the picture is Alcatraz, that little island next to the cables in the pic. The Golden Gate is off in the distance about mid pic.

Every time I go there and see this, I thank God I am a country girl! Now, San Francisco is a gorgeous place. There is no doubt about that. But more often than not, the weather is just like this. The sun is actually peeking out in this picture. But it was about 55 degrees and windy. Brrrrrr!

The Oriental Market

I took Studmuffin to an oriental market in our travels the other day. He had never been in one. He got ALLLL excited seeing all that raw fish and octopus and calamari and you name it!

But the one thing that really caught his eye were these.

After my googling experience the other night about Balut, I was mortified to see those just sitting out for purchase as well. How in the world does that not spoil? I got food poisoning just LOOKING at them! They also had quail eggs. Some were sitting out and others were canned. I didn't google that. I don't even want to know!

We bought He-man some Shin Ramyun while we were there. That stuff sets your nasal passages on fire immediately!

The Pocky sticks were gone in no time flat when we got them home.

But we couldn't get He-man or Suzi to try the frog legs. Look how big those suckers are! They were excellent. Studmuffin cooked them up with some butter and some fresh garlic from the farmer's market. We do think these frogs might have been on steroids. They were huge.

When I was about 5 years old, my parents took me to a restaurant and I ordered frog legs. My mom about had a fit and said, she won't eat those!! My dad said, let her get them! (of course these are the same people who made me sit and smell overcooked broccoli until I would eat it, which I don't think I ever did)

Luckily, I loved the frog legs because it would have been a long sit if I hadn't eaten them :)