My child doesn't sleep

Nora doesn't sleep.  If she naps AT ALL during the day, she doesn't feel he need to sleep at night. 

Yesterday she told Mamo she wanted to come home. At 6p they headed out and drove to meet me at work. Nora fell asleep in the car around 730p and was woken up around 8p when they arrived. A half am hour...nbd right?  Wrong!  Child was up til 330a this morning!! 

My daycare lady said she thinks Nora is over stimulated...maybe she is. But more than anything, the kid just doesn't need a lot of sleep. She is much like her father that way. If he naps at all he will be all psycho insominiac all night. 

Gah. Don't know what to do with it. 

Xxoo,

Frootie! 

Memories

I have lost some memories. Sigh. It scares me. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm moving too fast thru life or if I have a problem. 

I am pulling some memories back by thinking hard but here's the story: a few weeks backtracked here was a question raised about who/when/how we celebrated Christmas last year and I said, "everyone came to the house and we went to my favorite restaurant for lunch!"  Nope. Wrong. That was 2011. Sigh. So I think about it. I

I can't easily recall my holiday season from last year. 

Thanksgiving. Now that I have though about it, we went to Prince C's boss' house. I worked all weekend after.... I don't remember how busy we were or what schedule I worked. Hmmmm.  

Christmas. The kids had matching pjs. Black with santas all over. I remember taking them to see Santa. It was unseasonable warm. Neither of them had socks on. We went to dad's - I don't recall many details. Except, laughing at Nora because she announced that boys have wieners at the dinner table. We went to Christmas Eve service but left early because the kids were rowdy. Christmas morning. I don't remember what I bought my own children. My parents came and went. We went to Chinese buffet for late lunch. Hmmm. 

What's wrong with me? 

New pics around here

We've been awfully busy having fun lately. 

Around casacooper

Sore throat

I've been sick for almost a month. Sore throat. Runny nose. Headache. It's not cool.  

BUT, I came to the conclusion today: I'd rather me be sick ALL WINTER than my babies. Last winter was rough. 

Clinton still isn't working. It's helpful. I love him. I love having him home. I'm still praying he finds a new job soon though. We need the income. 

Xxoo,

Frootie!

Eat Drink and Be Married

My friend Amy and her sweet boyfriend were united in marriage a few weeks back, and they asked me to take photographs.  

Amy and Don have a cute story.  Here is the short version.  Amy used to work with me and her man came in one day for help and viola he asked her out to dinner.  Bing Bang Boom.  Love.  They went on a lovely scuba trip to Curacao back in Feb and Don proposed.  I think it was something along the lines of, "I love you and I think we should get married, ok?" and that was that.

xxoo,

Frootie!

Asparagus tacos

Last night I came home and clinton had cooked up 2 chicken boobs, 4 chicken legs, and a steak. The intention was for the fam to have fajitas and for me to have something of the like with beans rather than meat...  Anywayz. I was too gassy to add more beans, tmi I know but! such is the truth when you eat as many beans as I do. 

Back to the point- I saw asparagus in the fridge and viola! 

I sautéed the asparagus with evoo and added a dash of zesty lemon seasoning with full in plans to just eat it all like that and then my ever so brilliant husband said, "we are having fajitas! Put that crap in a tortilla and join us!" 

6 asparagus spears

Sprinkle with cheese shred

A little sour cream if ya dig 

And of course

A package of Taco Bell hot sauce 

Wrap in flour tortilla - the small one 

Holy moly. Sounds insane...it was so so so good!  I ate all of the things! 

Why

Did Tim McGraw cover Tiny Dancer?

Oh blog

Oh blog. I have been so absent. I'm sorry. 

These people have been keeping me busy. 

I bought a house.  That's been occupying me too. 

Gone gone gone

Man. My husband's job is the worst/best. I hate that he is gone all the time but we need the money and it pays well so it is what it is....

Several days

I've missed blogging for several days. I worked a lot of days mapping up for 6 days straight off!  Woohoo!

Of course the week I'm off there is rain on the radar for every single day. 

Today, the 4th of July, I was home alone all day. With the kids of course.  We just lazied around and didn't do much. We did go to the old house and get yet another load of crap out of there. 

I am dog sitting for my daycare lady. That's going ok except that it has been super rainy.  

People in the neighborhood are setting off fireworks now. Even though its rained all day and its approximately 65 degree and damp outside. Ug. I guess lets just get it over with, but please let my kids sleep through it. 

I really wanted a drink tonight. I even bought a coke zero at the store to fix a Woodford and coke, but I didn't do it. I'm terrified to drink when I'm here alone with the kids. Even one drink.  

I wish they would stop selling fireworks all together.  Make everyone watch them on tv like I am right now.  

Xxoo, 

Frootie! 

Dining al fresco

Practically every night since we moved we've eaten outside. It's glorious. 

Sleep

Sad face. I really wanted to sleep my morning away since I'm off today,but instead, I'm awake and my kids aren't. I should do chores but I don't want to. I could get a shower and paint my nails but I don't want to do that either. I wish I had a coffee maker, I'd make some coffee and drink it slowly and read.  I'm pathetic. Sigh. 

Xxoo,

Frootie!

Therapy

Sometimes I think I need therapy.  Then I think again.  I just need:

- a maid

- a pedicure 

- more time

 Xxoo,

Frootie!

Mess after mess after mess

Moving into the new house has been trying. Things seem to come together, and then I turn around twice. 

We have ants. Ants. Icky. I'm going to call orkin tomorrow. 

My new house is amazingly beautiful. I hope I can do it justice. 

Xxoo, 

Frootie!

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Camera

I need to make friends with my camera again.  Part of the reason we've grown apart is that my favorite lens is messed up.  The other thing is that, by golly, I work too danged much.  Here's the deal. I'm off a lot in July. I'm gonna take pictures. A lot of them. 

Xxoo,

Frootie!

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Saturday Superday

10 things y'all

10. I can't tell you the last time I went to bed without praying that, get this, my kids don't puke. 

9. I wish I could relax. But, alas, I cannot. I'm too high strung. 

8.  I love wine, but I won't drink it 99% of the time out of fear I might do something wrong. 

7.  I'm tired. All the time

6.  I want to bake my own bread. 

5. I also want to do a serious diet with no meat, flour, or sugar. Except wine. 

4. I love my husband like a fat kid loves free cake. 

3. Swimming is my favorite summer activity. So are s'mores. 

2. Mosquitoes don't seem to have any purpose in life. Why do they exist!?!  And ants?  Why?

1.  I have a serious problem with buying nail polish. 

Xxoo, 

Frootie! 

5 of 30 

Vacation home

Who needs a vacation home when they live on Drake Lane like I do?  

I live in a tree house. 

This morning before dawn I watched the moon slide from the sky in all it's glory. 

Xxoo, 

Frootie!

4 of 30 

Sick

Seems like everytime Ella is sick her mom blames us. Like, I know we have toddlers and all but maybe if we washed our hands more often....

I don't mean to be hateful but I am sad that we are the bad guys all the time. I am sad that they are moving farther away. I am sad and at the same time totally selfish because I'm wondering how in the world I am going to be able to make that work into my schedule with 2 toddlers and a husband who travels a lot for work. Oh and that job of mine. You know...the retail one in which I work more than 8 hours a day most days. Yeah, that one. 

I hate that our lives are so busy. I barely have a moment to slow down between sun up and sun down.  

And I worry a lot. 

And tonight my throat is starting to hurt like maybe I'm catching something. Maybe Ella did catch her illness from us.  Maybe me. 

Xxoo,

 Frootie!

3 of 30

Things I miss.

Working 8 hrs a day. 

Irish Spring Sport -- I ordered a case of it in 2006 I just opened my last bar yesterday. What?

Summer as a kid. Who doesn't miss that?  Pool days, bike riding, camping, trampoline jumping, bathing in the lake....

Xxoo,

Frootie!

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One month until I'm 32

I'd like to say I can commit to blogging everyday tip my 32nd... But I can not commit to anything other than my husband and my kids. Man I love those people.  

Nora. You are so rotten and crazy and moody and angry. And sweet and lovable. All at once. You hate bedtime. Why? Sleep is great!

Ella. You are starting to be a big girl. You are getting so good at taking care of yourself and at being a big sister for your siblings. That's awesome. You are still quite messy. We need to work on that. 

Graham. You are so sweet. Every bit of you. Those blue eyes and your silly grunts get me every time. You are really starting to talk and I love hearing you yell "Mamo" and "Papa" and "Meee".

Clinton. I love you. No one is perfect.  Together I think we are. 

Xxoo,

Frootie!

1 of 30 (we'll how it goes) 

Number Ones

I was thinking the other day about the Number One thing I miss about not having kids...and it got me started on a bunch of others...

The #1 thing I miss about not having kids: Naps.  Anytime I want Naps. Seriously.

#1 thing I miss about living in Indiana: Rachel

#1 favorite place to eat: Windy Corner

I know there were more things...But I can't think of them now.  

xxoo,

Frootie!

Nora is three

How is it possible that my girl is 3 already?!?!  

Here are a few questions I asked her last night and her answers:

What's your favorite color, Nora?

Um, I'm ready go my birthday party on Sunday!

But, what's your favorite color?

Birthday Party, Sunday!

Hey, what shirt do you love to wear the most?

Um, Gowns!

What do you want to be when you grow up? (2 answers)

I grow up and I wanna hold Graham!

I will grow big and go to school just like Ella.

Who is your best friend?

Lana (Leana) at Miss Ree's!  

What do you do all day while Mommy works?

Mama, you go work AGAIN?  I play my friends at Miss Ree's!

Do you love Graham?

NO.  I don't like him.  I like him later?

What's your favorite thing to eat?

Fruit.

What's your favorite fruit?

Juice!
What are you thankful for Nora?
Um, Apples.  And Jesus!

Right now, you love to sing WHeels on the Bus and Twinkle Twinkle.  You are sweet and perfect and lovable.  You are so conversational and you make us laugh!

xxoo,

Frootie!