Happy New Year!

Last year I noticed something kind of neat going on in the blogging world. Instead of making new years resolutions many were coming up with one word to describe how they wanted their new year to play out. I thought this was a fabulous idea. I mean everyone knows that most resolutions are going to fizzle out before February arrives so this seemed like a much better alternative. 
I thought about what word I would pick and it took me all of two seconds to come up with one. Family. My husband and children have always come before anything, but I wanted to extend it a bit. My mom and dad had both just recently retired from their jobs, my youngest brother was going through marital problems and my oldest brother seemed to have gotten in over his head with his new house. Not to mention it seemed like everytime I turned around I was having to attend the funeral of yet another family member. So I decided that I was going to make spending time with all of my family a priority this year and that is exactly what I did. Yes, there were a few times I wanted to ignore the phone, or grumble a little about having to pack up the kids to go to a family reunion, but all in all I think that I accomplished what I set out to do. 

We've hosted cookouts and birthday parties this year and my mom and dad set up a mini playground in their backyard for the girls to play in when we visit. 

The girls are constantly wanting to go visit everyone and tell me all the time how much they love going to visit granny and paw paw and that they have the funnest uncles in the world.

Looking back over the past year I feel really good about how things have gone. I feel like my family is closer and that is awesome. I've been trying to think of a new word for how I want 2011 to play out and have been kind of stumped. So I think I'm just going to take the easy way out and recycle last years word. Sounds good doesn't it?

The weekend of ugly.

This weekend the girls and I attended a family reunion. Naturally my husband had to work so I did it alone. I'm pretty sure all of my aunts, uncles and cousins are convinced I don't actually have a husband because it never fails everytime we have a family get together he is at work. Anyway..... I've often joked to my husband that every family has an Uncle Eddie. You know the guy from the National Lampoon's movies? 

The reunion was held at this really nice park with a picnic area. The kids were playing on the playground and the adults were visiting and playing catch up with each other. And then he arrived. Uncle Eddie. Now in all fairness to my family this guy is not actually a family member by blood. I believe he married a cousin or something. While most of the people at the reunion were average, pleasant everyday people. This guy? Well he wasn't. He arrived with a cigarette and a can of beer. I have no problem with people that smoke, just don't do it around me or my kids. I have no problem with people that drink either, but drinking to me is one of those 'right time, right place' type things. Apparently drinking his beer, smoking his cigarette and stuffing his face took all the energy he had in him. I walked up and found him sprawled out on a picnic bench with his big, tattooed gut hanging out. Naturally I took a picture. Because I'm a jerk like that.
Unfortunately I didn't get a good one because people kept walking in front of me, but here ya go.

Sorry ladies, I'm afraid he's taken already. As if that weren't enough beauty for my eyes to behold I came home to find a facebook request from this guy in my inbox:

I know, I know you guys are totally jealous. Sadly I had to turn down his request. My husband was too jealous.
Oh, but the ugly doesn't end there. Later that night when my husband arrived home from work he was in a very grumpy mood. I asked him if he had a bad day at work and he told me that no it had been a pretty good one actually, it was coming home to egg on the front door and having to clean it up that did him in. Yes, that's right apparently our house was egged. Nice huh? The kids and I were home all evening and didn't even have a clue. 
I was really hoping Sunday would be nice, but alas we had a bit of ugly pop up there too, although in a different form. We took the kids to the park to play and on the way home I had to stop by target to pick up some things for the girls lunches this week. Kylie had her purse with her so she asked if she could buy a webkinz. I told her I didn't care and then Audrey went and grabbed one. Audrey had no money. Mommy wasn't paying for it. Drama ensued. I finally calmed her down, but then I made a tragic mistake. I kissed her on the cheek and told her I loved her. Horrible right? Well for Audrey it was. She has always been super sensitive to well, pretty much everything. The biggest thing is kisses. She cannot stand for someone to kiss her. EVER. And of course I just screwed up and did it. In a public place no less. She began crying and screaming all over again. She told me she did not love me anymore, that I was disgusting and made her want to throw up. Nice, eh? So that kind of ended my ugly weekend. Hopefully this week will be much, much better than the weekend was.

The weekend recap

As crazy as it sounds I'm kind of glad it's Monday. This weekend was a little on the hectic side and I need my routine back. 
Friday night I did something absolutely horrible. Audrey and I were in the living room dancing to music videos (yeah, I'm pretty horrible, but that's not the horrible thing I'm talking about) and having a good time. Apparently while we were dancing Sophie walked into the room to watch. I had no idea she was there and I turned around and when I did my arm smacked her right across the face. Talk about feeling like the worst mom in the world! I sat and held her while she cried and told me that I was a mean mommy and that I didn't love her. Luckily she was fine, no blood, no bruises, but it scared the hell out of me. Five minutes later she was running around the house and we were best friends again.
Then Saturday I decided to go and price some things for a bathroom project we are about to start. My husband was working, it was raining and I had three kids with me. Can someone reserve my padded room already? 
Sunday I ended up hosting a birthday party. I was talking to my mom on the phone last week and my brother stopped by her house and asked her to ask me if it would be okay if he had a birthday get together at my house for his daughter.  Normally he and his wife throw these huge parties for their daughter, but they are going through a divorce this year so I guess that's off. I didn't mind, just told him to call and give me details. Naturally he never called. The guy is clueless. So yesterday at 2:00 I had a house full of people I didn't even know and only a birthday cake. Good times I tell ya. Luckily though my mom and dad showed up with the rest of the party supplies and everyone ended up having a good time. At least I think this little monkey did.

 Hope everyone has a fantastic week!