Because after 11 years What else would you text about?

Him: I kept smelling breakfast, then I realized it was my butt. My wallet smells like syrup.

Me: LMAO

Him: Eww. I have sticky one's!

Me: O really?! Where have you been??!!

Him: Scary thing is I got them from my wife! Where was she!?

Me: Pancake wrestling

Him: Mmmmmm, yummy!

Me: Dork ;-)

The 411...

I have no excuse. I have just been so darned busy between filling out applications, job interviews, baseball practices and then last week Alex got suspended for 3 days(long story) that once I get the kiddos to bed, I fall on the couch, and have no brain power to think or be funny, let alone creative!

I started training for a waitress position yesterday. This job will be my Saturday & Sunday job. I can already tell you I will have stories, and if nothing else I will have plenty to say about my sore feet! Lucky you ;-)

I am interviewing today for a M-F job and have some other hopefuls lined up as well. So soon the money will be pouring in and I will be so much less stressed and have all sort of fodder for your amusement. In the meantime, you should read Tracy today. She totally cracked me up!

All things Taggish and Memeish

Bee posted this and I loved it!

The Band Meme. This what you do. As you'll see, mine came out pretty cool!

1. Click on this link. The first article title on the page is the name of your band.
2. Click on this link. The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.
3. Click on this link. The third picture is your album cover.
4. Use your graphics program of choice to throw them together and you’re done.

My album cover is:

This is a collection of soft heartfelt Jan Arden/Jewel type of singing about life, love and all the joys of motherhood. I have even included my number one lullaby for you listening pleasure.


Tracy tagged me for the 'five Randoms' meme, so here we go:

Five Random/Weird Things about Me:

1. I have a total crush on Sean Connery
2. Contrary to Tracy's beliefs...Angelina Jolie really is mine and not hers.
3. I hate tiger lilies or day lilies. Whatever you call them, I hate them.
4. Tulips are my favorite flower.
5. I have no favorite color. I have an orange problem (purse, diaper bag, dishes, sweaters), but for some reason can't say it's my favorite.

Five Places I want to see or see Again:

1. Virgina Beach: PC and I lived there during his last year in the Navy and I miss it sooo much.
2. Ireland: Need this be explained?
3. England: Everything I have ever seen about it makes me want to be there.
4. Colorado: Life long dream to move there and raise horses
5. Alaska: I think it's one of the most beautiful places ever and I've never been

I am supposed to tag 5 people, but I'm not going to because everyone has already done this and I'm late to the game :-)

My Sis posted this meme and I loved it:

7 Things to do before I'm 30...


I am exactly 19 days away from my 30th, so this will be challenging:

1. Get a Job.
2. Get my nose pierced
3. Go Tanning
4. Paint my nails
5. Find a way to Enroll in CNA classes
6. Write a post about the first 29 years and what I've learned
7. Believe in myself and what I can accomplish

Donald Trump Beware The Next Great Negotiator has been Born

Alex came home from school and we had the following conversation:

Me: The dog got into the garbage cans and the wind has blown it all over the farmer's feild. I really need someone to go into the field and get all that garbage picked up and do a great job. What would I have to do to convince you to do it and to do a great job?

Alex: Hmm. Let me think about it.(long almost 5 min. pause) How about $50?

Me : Umm..No. Nice Try. What else?

Alex: Um. Dinner at McDonald's tonight?

Me: Okay, deal.

He went out there without a complaint and did an amazing job. I'd blog more but I have to go negotiate the cleaning of his room over Chicken nuggets.

Comment of the day

Alex: "I hope you're flexible because you're gonna need it to kiss your butt goodbye, Mom!"

Yeah, he's a tad bit competitive.

A Letter to the Little Lovelies..

Dear Alex, Liberty and Bean;
You are wonderful children. I have been complimented many times on how well behaved and polite you are. You are all thoughtful, kind and loving. Daddy and I try to tell you this as often as we can so that you grow to be secure, confident and even more amazing adults. I apologize, but I do have on question.

When having left a family function, special outing, restaurant or other such event and we are on the way home, and when Daddy and I decide to compliment you, saying something like, "Hey guys, you all behaved outstanding at (insert particular place here). Thank you very much we really appreciate it!", what are we doing wrong?

It seems that those words, once spoken aloud, translate inside your tiny diabolical minds from meaning "Thanks for being so good" to "Hey..You've been good enough, so go ahead and raise some hell!"

I would just like to take a moment and let you know that "Thank you for being good" does not mean:

• Hit your sister/brother

• Make annoying sounds with: Toys, vehicle, paper, your body parts or your siblings body parts

• scream

• whisper so everyone has to ask, repeatedly, what you are saying

• Start and argument over the crayons exact shade of blue

• Sing at the top of your lungs

• Tell your sister her singing is annoying

• Throw French fries, chicken nuggets or any other form of edible (or non edible) items

• ignore everyone or anyone when they are talking to you

• repeat the name of person ignoring you over, and over, and over while getting louder, and louder, and louder until said person stops ignoring you
  

In short, my little lovelies, when we say "Thank you for being good" please rewrite your inner translator to understand that we also mean, "please continue to be good".

Thank you and all my Love,
Mommy

I know I am supposed to have posted the 2nd page to my story. And yesterday Prince Charming was supposed to post his part of the story. And here it is, Friday, and not another word has been posted.

Of course I could tell you that when we planned all this out, little did we know (or at least..we forgot) a lot of the activities the next week held.

Friday : Make 6 hour (round) trip to MIL's to drop off kiddo's for weekend

Saturday: Spent day cleaning carpets. Rearranged living room 5 times in about 4 hours. Put it all back right where it started. Drove in Ice Storm to PC's Company Christmas Party. Had fun. Drank in a pitch black bar. Drove home at a snails pace.

Sunday: Slept 'till 11:45 am!! Seriously!! I haven't done that in at least 8 years!!! It's been that long since I've gotten my body to stay asleep for that long! Then made the 6 + (round trip) drive down to MIL's to pick up kids and bring them home. Due to weather conditions took longer than normal.

Monday: Spent day attempting to figure out why my house looked like an explosion and clean it. Really spent day chasing my tail.

Tuesday: Got a little more cleaning done. Thought I was on Track to do Story. Wasn't. Ended up at my moms knitting that night. (Christmas presents and they must get done!

Wednesday: Spent Morning cleaning and preparing to do story. Ended up with surprise company for the day.

Thursday: Spent Morning trying to clean out toy room for upcoming Christmas events to be held at my humble abode. Spent afternoon getting all ready for Alex and Liberty's Christmas Concert that evening. Dresses, bows, tights, dress shirts, dress pants, baths, dinner, ten thousand threats of grounding if you don't 'stop it right now!', and finally we were out the door. Then at 8:30 pm I realize I am out of diapers. So I have to make a perilous drive to wal-mart in the snow with other morons who can't figure out how to drive in the snow just to buy a package of $7 diapers.

Today: I'm so freaking exhausted that I will not be doing the story. I have no imagination left in me. Plus I have to put up all Christmas decor before the kids get home at 3:40. And yes I know it's only 8:20 right now. But I won't get to the decor till PC gets home from school around 12.

So please don't be disappointed in me. I will get the story up this weekend come hell or high water. Really! I will.

The BirdsThe Bees And Monkey Kisses

The Birds and the Bees

2 days ago

Alex: " Mom, you promised to tell me what that glove thing was."

Me: "What glove thing?"

Alex: "You know, the thing you found in my backpack!"

Me: (Damn. He didn't forget) Alright. It's called a Condom. And it's something you use for Sex. Do you know what Sex is?

Alex: "Yes. It's what you do with a beautiful girl when you are married and you want to have a baby, right?"

Me: "(How freaking cute is that! ) Yes, and sometimes when a man and woman have sex they don't want to have a baby. So a man puts the condom on his penis and it keeps him from giving the woman a baby. "

Alex: "It goes on his Private Area? And I touched it?! Oh..that's sooooo gross! Class Clown Boy had that on his mouth mom! Oh, that is so disgusting!!"

(Me silently thanking the heavens that the germ factor outweighed curiosity about how it prevented babies)

Me: "Yes, and now you know why I sort of freaked out when I found that in your backpack 'cause it could have dangerous germs or chemicals and make you sick. Okay?"

Alex: "Okay."

Me: "Any more questions about this or sex?"

Alex: "Nope. Can I play my game now?"

Me: "Sure."

Monkey Kisses

Getting Ready to Leave Last Night

P.C.: "Love you. See you later."

Me: "Love you, too. Be back in a bit."

(PC gives me a kiss)

Alex: "Ewww. Okay! Enough. It's been like 5 minutes of you kissing!"

(We, being the good parents that we are, continue to kiss in a much louder, passionate, and over exaggerated manner)

Alex: "Oh Nasty! I just saw someone put their tongue in the other persons mouth!"

Me: "What?" (Trying soo hard no to laugh)

Alex: "You know, if you put your tongue in someone else's mouth then you are kissing like a Monkey. Seriously! (looking at us in total Solomon seriousness, because he thought our smothered hysterical laughing was actually a sound of disbelief) That's how Monkey's Kiss! They put their tongue in another Monkey's mouth! It's gross and you just kissed like a Monkey!"

(I feel sorry for the first girl who tries to French Kiss him.)

(Everybody!: You and me baby, we ain't nothing but mammals, let's do it like they do on the discovery channel)

If only the world of woman, relationships and sex would stay this simple for him ;-)

8 Embarassing things.... About me!

Tracy tagged me for this For-ev-ah ago! And me being the procrastinating, brainless wonder Amazingly popular and busy woman that I am; I am just now getting to it.

So sorry for the delay Tracy and here we go!

8 Embarrassing things About Me!

1. I am Terrified of June bugs - Seriously. I will run and scream like it's a poisonus snake. I know they are harmless. But they are big and dumb and fly into you and into your hair and just... shiver!

2. Just like this other post by Tracy, I am very gullible when Prince Charming tells me something - I really did believe (for a few minutes) that the Tree's grew around the power lines on the mountains. Apparently they are actually trimmed that way. (Oye.)

3. I really do have a big head - So does my mother. We truly are a big headed family. More to come on that in another post.

4. I love 80/90's shows - Walker, Texas Ranger; Fresh Prince of Bel Air; Full House; Growing Pains; Roseanne; Rifleman (bet none of you even remember that one!) ; Three's Company; Star Trek- The next Generation. I just love 'em and can't resist watching reruns or all day marathons.

5. I watch Pokemon by myself - Occasionally, while knitting, when Prince Charming is at School and the kids are in bed, I will turn on an episode of Pokemon that I haven't seen yet. I really am addicted to the cartoon much to Alex's delight.

6. My dad had a horrid nickname for me - When I was a kid, somehow or other he started calling me 'Skunk Bread'. I was always so humiliated when he said it in front of other people!!

7. I still own underwear from high school - I have exactly 3 pairs that (by some miracle) still fit me and are from high school. I refuse to throw them away on account of that fact alone.

8. Number one most embarrassing moment EV-AH : While at a speech meet my Junior year I was wearing a very pretty white/powder blue stripped dress. I was sitting at a table talking to 3 other team mates (2 guys, 1 girl if I remember correctly). After about an hour I got up and one of the guys said, "Uh, Chris, we have a problem. You might want to sit back down!" I gave him a strange look and asked "why?" They told me to look at back of my dress. I had started my period, and it was a bad one. It had soaked through the undies, the nylons, and the skirt. I had a 2ft. by 2ft. bright red stain on the back of my skirt. I was.beyond.mortified. I had to wrap a coat around me, find my coach, find another set of clothes, and try not to die of total sheer humiliation.

So there you go :-) Now you know my deepest, darkest, most embarrassing moments. Aren't you sorry as hell happy you dropped by this morning?

I know I'm supposed to Tag people, but I just can't choose right now. So...if you feel like doing it, make sure to leave me a link in the comments so I can link to you :-D

WANTED: It Wasn't Me!

Wanted:

Name: It Wasn't me

Age: Believed to be between 8 yrs. and 2 yrs., but has been known to impersonate a 32 yr. old

Sex: Unknown, has portrayed both male and female tendencies

Identifying Marks: Name typically followed by an exclamation point ---> !

Crime:

• Causing chaotic disturbances of toys, clothing and other household items
• Performing chores improperly
• Disregarding household rules
• Framing different members of the household for the afore mentioned crimes

How to know if you have been a victim of It Wasn't me:

• If you ask a particular member of the house who used crayon on a window and the response is 'It wasn't me!'
• If you find a pair of shoes in the middle of the room and say " You guys need to start putting your shoes away properly!" and you receive a chorus of "It wasn't me" (including the owner of shoes)
• If you notice the children eating a piece of candy at a time not normally considered acceptable by mothering standards and you give your significant other 'The Look' and again are told , "It wasn't me!"

What to do if you find you have been a victim:

• Count to 10. At least twice.

• Take a deep breath

• Quickly exclaim to all in room this exact phrase: "Quick, Quick! Find him! It wasn't me is here again and we need to catch him!"


• When family members look at you in puzzlement and confusion (a.k.a.: Mommy has had to much coffee and lost her mind), respond with this phrase: "It wasn't me has been causing all sorts of trouble today! (insert personalized examples here ---> _________________) We have to try to catch him before he does something else that will get you in trouble!"


• Continue in this method until all (or most) of It wasn't me! sightings have been averted
  

Do NOT Panic I repeat Do NOT Panic

Too late. I am.

Panicking that is.

Looking at the calendar I realized that it's :




Yes. That's right Ladies and Gents.

50 DAYS.

Doesn't seem like it's that bad, right?

That's 7.5 weeks. Or, even worse...only 7 Saturdays. Or if you get paid every two weeks then that means you only have 3 or 4 paydays left.


Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Wondering About my Day?

How's this for an answer?

And to anyone who would like to make comments about my attitude?



Yep. It's that kinda day.

Maybe someone should send Prince Charming here..and quick.

It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. Hurt is good. Hurt is good. Hurt is good.

Yes, that's been my mantra since I rolled groggily out of bed this morning. I did it. Finally.

I moved my Ab Lounge into the living room where I just couldn't ignore it anymore. Every time I took a bite of a oh so yummy double cheeseburger from McDonalds something I really shouldn't it would just stare at me.

"You know you shouldn't be eating that"

"I know. Shut up. It's good."

"Weren't you just bitching about the large quantity of not-so-flattering flab hanging off your stomach? Like not even 5 minutes before you scarfed that down?"

"Yes, but I said shut up. I'm hungry and it's good."

"Well, now that it's gone you should really get over here and use me"

"Umm..yeah. I will do that. First thing in the morning. I promise"

Well, of course tomorrow morning never came. I mean...the morning did arrive..just not me actually exercising. Finally after 4 days of listening to the stupid machine mock me, I gave in.

Yesterday morning I pulled it out, popped in the dvd that came with it (I hadn't done that once since I had been using it) and began my work out. I totally forgot how much I love that thing. It's so easy. And after 30 minutes I was done and feeling pretty good. I wasn't sore at all! Total bonus!

No soreness of course means that I'm not nearly as out of shape as I thought I was. And my theory that all this afore mentioned flab was simply due to my oh so trim pre-childbirth figure stretching (haha...yeah. Who am I trying to fool here)? Totally plausible!


However, the first thought in my head this morning: "OMG. OMG. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts."

Followed by: "Hurt is good. Hurt is good. Hurt is good."

As much as every sneeze, cough, laugh, bend and movement hurts this morning, I feel great knowing that I finally did it and that the "hurt" will be the reason I keep doing it.

Flab be warned. I'm armed, and I'm dedicated, and you will be banished!

Princess Liberty's Birthday Party

Boa's, Feather Fans, Make up and other Diva essentials: $47:



Balloons, Cupcakes,champaign flutes with pink Sugar and other Fashion show necessities: $50:



A 6th birthday party with photo's like these: Priceless

Liberty and Fellow School Diva's

School Diva's, sister Diva and Cousin Diva

Bean - Yeah. I will not allow her to go to high school I'm a thinking ;-)

Mommy Diva

Daddy: Master of Ceremonies

"Please hold, while the Nextel Subscriber you are trying to reach is located"

my husband and I hear this often when we try to call each other's cell phones. Once we finally get through we always joke, "There you are! I was worried 'cause you were missing!"

That's how I've felt the past few days where my blog was concerned. I wanted to be here. I needed to be here. But everything in the world was keeping me from being here.

Would you like me to bitch, moan and whine tell you about my week? I am pretty sure that Karma didn't like hearing I thought she could be a real bitch and so decided to prove to me just how much of a bitch she could be.

Here goes:

Thursday: My internet was very wish washy all morning and I simply couldn't connect for more than a few minutes at a time.

I started to feel the head cold that has plagued my children for the past few days creeping up on me.

I went and chaperoned Liberty's field trip to the apple orchard: 65 kids. Bees. Very high temperatures.

By the time I got home head cold had firmly established itself in my head.

Add on top of this, Bean, who choose this particular day to become the absolute definitive definition of a Terrible Two year old. I would have put in my two weeks notice....but....no internet.

Friday: Alex and Liberty head off on the bus, my husband heads off to school. Bean and I start our morning routines so I can lay on couch and die due to my cold.

my husband walks back in the house 20 minutes after leaving. Our car threw a rod and it's down for the count. Frack. Frack. Frack. So now we start brainstorming what we are going to do as we really need to have a decent car (our "backup" car is a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutless. Dependable? HELL yes. Gas Guzzler? HELL YES. Practical as a daily family/work vehicle?? HELL NO.)

Had it waited two weeks, we would have had a great down payment and buying a vehicle would be no problem. This day? Not so much. We head to dealership anyway. Sit there for 3.5 hours. Walk out with a 2001 Chrysler Concorde that we love!

Crisis Averted.

Now we are to busy driving around in new car for me to stop and blog.

Saturday: Two Soccer Games, 5,000 sneezes, 2 hot dogs and a few not so nice names said under my breathe towards another soccer mom pretty much sum up my morning.

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying not to die at my cousin's 18th birthday part.

That evening my husband got home from work and babied me with chicken soup, a purple rose and this tea. The tea knocked me on my butt and 5 minutes after my 2nd cup I was OUT.

Best sleep I'd had in 4 days.

Sunday: Spent morning trying to get as much house cleaning and football snacks made as possible before my husband came home and yelled at me for doing all that while I was sick.

Sunday afternoon spent sitting on couch knitting. Aunt Skinny Minny comes and pick up Bean for a week long stay with her and MIL.

Sunday evening I decided to go to my mom's for a little knitting help. I left around 7 p.m.

About 1/2 mile from her house 4 deer ran out of cornfield and across rode. I panicked. I slammed on breaks. I was on a newly overly graveled road. I lost control. Car( ( new car) starts spinning.

I end up in Ditch. A steep inclined 5 foot ditch.

Car ( new. not. even. 4. day. old .car.) is nose down, back wheels off ground and S.T.U.C.K. I get out of car. I fall in hole and loose a shoe. I can't find shoe in dark and deep hole so start the 1/2 mile walk in the dark to my moms house. I walk in and loose it. Her and my step dad drive me back to car and we pull it out with their work van.

I go home to face the music. my husband doesn't even bat an eyelash about the car and just kisses me and wants to be reassured I am okay (Gawd I love that man). We start calls to insurance company and county police as new car most definitely has more than $500 damage. I go to sleep.

Monday (today): I get up. Get kids on bus. Drive my husband to work.

Drive an hour to Insurance adjuster appointment at collision repair center. Pick up Rental car.

Drive 1.5 hours in opposite direction to go to file accident report at County sheriff's office.

Go home to wait for kids to get off bus.

Take kids through McDonald's drive through and wait to pick my husband up from work. Drive my husband to class.

And now I have been sitting here in the 3 story exploration adventure since 6 p.m. letting Alex and Liberty wear themselves out.

I am in an all glass enclosed room. Laptop in hand. Reclining in a leather arm chair.

In one hour I have to leave to Pick my husband up from class, drive home, put kids to bed and finish the house cleaning that wasn't done today.

But right now. At this moment. Everything is okay. Everything has worked out. And I am finally back at my blog. Reclining in a leather chair. In a sound proof room.

Shhh. Don't tell Karma. But life is looking up.

When you give a Mouse a Cookie... (The Mommy Version)

I meant to post by 9 am this morning. Obviously, as it's 11:32 am, it didn't happen.

The problem is that today is Thursday. And Thursday is garbage pick up day.

So I logged onto Chloe (My laptop. Yes, I named her. Yes, I will explain why later), and my internet was taking longer than usual to sign in (shocker).

So I decided that I would clean out the fridge real quick (Because today is garbage pick up day)

Once I did that I realized the bag wasn't full enough to take out. So I decided to clean my 3 lower kitchen cabinets (They haven't been cleaned since we moved in 2 years ago and became the 'hiding' place. Been meaning to do it for like 8 months).

So, I sorted all the Tupperware, threw out all mismatches, threw away a bazillion pounds of old candy (seriously all the way back from Easter '05!),threw out other random junk and also found that Mice at some point attempted to create their own utopia amongst my cabinet clutter (I am pretty sure they did not succeed due to the volumes of candy they had eaten. Dental insurance is hard to come by in the rodent business and the sugar high alone must have caused some dissent).

So, then I had to Vacuum the emptied cabinets out. And seeing I had the vacuum out I might as well vacuum the whole kitchen floor. And seeing that is next to the living room I might as well vacuum the whole living room, then toy room.

Then I had to wash all the dishes because my long lost Tupperware had been living amongst the mice. Because I was doing the dishes I had to wipe off my counters. And I was cleaning so I might as well take everything off the counter and wipe under it, not just around it.

Then I had to put everything back into the cabinets in an organized fashion and move things from the upper cabinets down (now that there was finally room). Here's the final result:

Once that was all done I had to take the original trash back and the other junk that had accumulated in the cabinet out to the end of the drive. As I was walking back I realized there were two more garbage cans by the garage that hadn't been brought up in at least 3 months (they were to heavy for Alex and I kept forgetting). So I brought those to the end of the drive.

So I came back in and now my kitchen is all clean.

Except then I went to make lunch and realized I hadn't wiped off the shelves in a few weeks and they were kinda icky. So I wiped 'em all down.

and NOW my kitchen really is all clean.

and I've finally had a chance to post!

Time on my hands Or maybe Not

Liberty and Alex have now been to school for 3 full days. Beanie and I have just been hanging out with each other, sort of figuring out what to do with ourselves.

I really thought that once the other two were gone, I'd have a lot of time to read blogs, spend time writing my own posts, and generally kick back most of the day and enjoy the good life.

So far, not so much.

With the older two gone and all this extra time on my hands I keep thinking I should get this thing done or that project done. I've been procrastinating on so many things over the summer.

So if I haven't been to visit in a while, please don't think I've forgotten about you. I've just been up to my neck in back logged errands and tasks, combined with internet (or lack there of) issues and computer issues.

Hopefully by next week I'll be back to that somewhat normal and easy going life I had envisioned. ;-)

xoxox

My Family's 'So you think you can Dance' audition tapes..

It's Friday and I don't know about you, but I need a good laugh after this week!

So in honor of the season finale of 'So You Think You Can Dance' last night, I thought you might enjoy seeing my family's audition tapes for the show. Obviously I don't have Sabra's extension or Lacy's arse shaking technique and thus we didn't make the cut. But there's always next year and the dream for a ticket on that Hot Tamale Train!

Alex and Liberty:



Bean:



Alex and Prince Charming:



Prince Charming and I:



Hope they made you giggle :-) Take a second and make your own dance!

What's your 'Fruit of the Loom'?

Prince Charming: Do you know what 'Fruit of the Loom' means and why that's what the clothes brand is called?

Me (puzzled look): Umm, Yeah. Why?

Prince Charming: Because I didn't. I just realized the other day that 'Fruit of the Loom' was another way of saying something made from a loom. Therefore the shirts and etc. really are the fruit of the loom!

Me: (Nothing! I was giggling way to hard! It is very rare that I get a moment like this from him!)

Alas, I have no room to talk. For years (like age 4-17) I pondered what the word 'Sino' meant. I had been saying the word since preschool but only come across it in one place. After much contemplation, I decided 'Sino' must be a biblical term similar to forever or lifetime. It didn't make perfect sense but it did fit: 'Jesus love me this Sino, for the Bible tells me so.'

It's okay. Keep laughing. I'll wait.

*whistling*

Okay, come on. Let's not over do it!

I was taught as a preschooler and knew the words from memory. I had no clue until I actually saw the words that it was really: 'Jesus loves me this I know'

Now 'fess up: What's your 'Fruit of the Loom' moment?

Mr. Bubbles Part 1, 2 and 3

Part One

Somebody decided Bean needed a friend. Her brother and sister are heading off to school in a few days and she would be left to her own amusement with only her Mommy as company. So somebody bought her a friend.

Meet Mr. Bubbles:

Mr. Bubbles quickly became a favorite of everyone in the house (including myself). Bean was absolutley beside herself with joy at having her own pet and Mr. Bubbles quickly became her bestest friend:
Sadly, Mr. Bubbles had not been a member of the house for very long when we realized that all was not well. It seemed that the cute kitchen table bowl was not large enough for such a rotund Mr. Bubbles and that he required a pump for extra oxygen.

So Sunday morning we piled the family in the car on a mission to upgrade Mr. Bubble's living arrangements. We bought him a spacious 5 gallon tank, complete with ceiling lights, filter and a central oxygen deployment unit. As a housewarming gift he received 10 ghost shrimp for pals and a water plant to set the mood in case there was ever a future Mrs. Bubbles. All seemed to be going well and good. Bean was very excited to show Mr. Bubbles his new house.

Once we got home though, our worst fears had been realized. Mr. Bubbles was sleeping with the fishes (I know..that's horrid..but it's too funny to pass up). Alex and Liberty were very upset at the loss of our newest pet and temporary chaos ensued.

Amidst all of the commotion and consoling we all realized that Bean was standing there talking to Mr. Bubbles and trying to get him to swim. We all stood there for a moment and then I made the executive decision to explain to Bean that Mr. Bubbles was very sleepy and taking a nap.

R.I.P. Mr. Bubbles

Part Two

Once I had Bean convinced that Mr. Bubbles was taking a nap, Alex, Liberty and I got back into the car and headed to Wal-mart to purchase a 'replacement' . We managed to find an almost exact clone and also purchased another fish so the (new) Mr. Bubbles wouldn't be lonely in his 5 gallon condo (ghost shrimp really don't take up that much room).

We arrived back home to put (new) Mr. Bubbles in his home and Bean promptly named the new fish 'Friend'. So now we have (new) Mr. Bubbles and Friend both happily living it up and partying with their ghost shrimp.

Bean went to bed easily and happily once she kissed them both goodnight and turned off their light so they could also go night night.

Catastrophe avoided.

Part Three

You thought the story was over didn't you? At this point you were getting ready to comment how lucky I was that Bean is only Two years old and bought the whole 'nappy' theory. You had visions of (new) Mr. Bubbles, Friend, and their 10 ghost shrimp living it up in style, floating happily and basking in the love and care of my adorable angel.

Well....Not so much.

This morning Prince Charming and I noticed that, once again, (new) Mr. Bubbles wasn't looking so good. He wasn't exactly green around the gills (OMG. I know. I just can't resist though), but it didn't seem right that he be swimming nose down and tail up.

I panicked. I worried. I wept (okay..I didn't really weep..but I was very very sad).

I kept a close eye on both (new)Mr. Bubbles and Friend. Oddly enough it only seemed to be (new)Mr. Bubbles that was affected. (The 10 ghost shrimp were fine. Brave survivors they are.)

I am sad to say that shortly after Bean woke up this morning and fed (new)Mr. Bubbles and Friend that we found (new)Mr. Bubbles had also gotten very 'seepy' and was also taking a permanent 'nappy'.

Now poor Friend is friendless and has been left to care for the 10 ghost shrimp all by himself.

Tonight I will be heading back to Wal-mart with receipt and frozen (new)Mr. Bubbles in hand to attempt find another replacement.

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the (new)(new) Mr. Bubbles and Friend....