Bullies, you suck.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Being a parent is hands down the most challenging, yet rewarding job there is. Last night, we dealt with the more challenging part.

Bullies.(Insert "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert here).

My oldest daughter is a freshman in high school. Oh yeah, the wonder years. You couldn't pay me to go back and relive those days. So many awkward, drama filled days. I've told her many times, you'll be lucky to still have a handful of them you actually consider "friends" when your an adult. Most of these people you are in high school with, won't matter in your life. The best years of your life are yet to come. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

She is a fairly thin girl, blonde hair, blue eyes. Very beautiful girl, inside and out. She's funny. She's caring. She's my baby dammit.

I know, I'm her Mother, and what mother doesn't think their child is the bees knees? I get it.

If she were in a roomful of kids and you were to ask me to guess who was being bullied, I would never pick her. Not in a million years.

She's had issues this year, with older girls, calling her names. Calling her ugly. Jealousy right? They are just taking out their own insecurities on my baby. She knew it. She dealt with it. She moved on.

Now, people are bullying her because of her weight. Her small frame. They are calling her anorexic. Who knows what they are actually saying to her because she couldn't get out anything else out besides "they say I'm anorexic" between her sobs.

Crying. Sobbing.

They broke her down.

She is being bullied because she is thin. Something she has zero control over.

She was hysterical last night. She actually sent me a text to come up there and talk to her about it. Thankfully.

She needs me. She wants me to make it all better.

She doesn't want to go to school.

I'm so flipping mad. I want to rip these kids apart. I want to reveal every single dang flaw these kids have. I'm livid.

I know that you can't right a wrong with a wrong, but gawd I really want to. I really, really, want to.

So last night, I just was there. I sat with her in her room while she cried. I told her how these people do not deserve her tears. They do not deserve anything from her. I told her they would know what this feels like in one point in their life. I told her that there are people bullied for being fat, for being different, for no good reason at all and it all really sucks. I told her how beautiful she really is. I told her we would get through this.
 
I am full fledged Momma Bear right now and I am pissed.

So to you bullies out there, screw you.

You will experience karma. I am sure of it. When you do, when your shedding your tears, I hope you think of my daughter. I hope you think of the horrible way you have made her feel. I hope you feel this pain. I hope it hurts. I hope your heart breaks into a million pieces just like mine did  last night.

Jerk.

“What if the kid you bullied at school, grew up, and turned out to be the only surgeon who could save your life?”
― Lynette Mather

“When people hurt you over and over, think of them like sand paper. They may scratch and hurt you a bit, but in the end, you end up polished and they end up useless.”
― Chris Colfer

Friday's Letters

Linking up...

 

Dear Husband thank you for the wonderful flowers I just received at work for Mother's Day. I love them and you. They are making my Friday so much better in this small cube of mine. Also, as much as I enjoyed our wine night, we are not 21 anymore. We must adhere to a bedtime, preferably before 2:30am on a work night. Smooch.

Dear fellow Cabin dwellers please leave your homes now. I would appreciate it if we were the only ones on the road tonight driving up north. I have vivid memories of Opening Fishing weekend two years ago when we were rear ended by that nice Girl Scout troop. My Husband really appreciates my wicked back seat driving skills now because of it.

Dear Mother Nature please give us a nice weekend. I hear that is your plan, please adhere. I would like to enjoy a beer on the boat, fish are optional.

Dear Future Neighbors I really hope there are some sweet people amongst you all. I have visions of happy hours on our new deck, hot tub parties and pool parties. Yes, I'm talking to you neighbors to our left. Wanna be friends? 

Dear sweet baby Boy please stop smacking yourself in the head. I don't know what to do to make you stop that. While we are at it, it's not funny to shove food up your nose. Boys. Toddlers.

Dear teenage Daughter no your bf can not come to the cabin this weekend. I'm sorry to disappoint you but it is Mother's Day weekend after all and that is my final answer.

Dear middle Daughter The fact that you know the lyrics to "We are Young" is pretty awesome but I'm not sure you should be signing that song. Your friends should not be in the bathroom getting higher than the empire state, your 7. Totally my bad. I need to monitor the radio station more.

Dear KB I wish we could be IRL friends. I just wanted to tell you that I think of you, your sweet girlies and your Soldier Hubs often. You are stronger than you think. Thank you for your daily sacrifices during these deployment days. God bless you all.

Dear Ashley from Adventures of Newlyweds I love your blog, just found it through Carolyn. I also enjoy that maxi dress, so much that I just bought one, in black. I'm also enjoying Friday's Letters, I will def link up again!

Happy Mother's Day Weekend to all those Mommy's out there!

SOLD!

These last few weeks have been nothing short of crazy for our family. We finally put our house up on the market. The day after ours went on the market, we did what any other person would do and put an offer on our dream home. Yep, took that bull by the horn and bought a house before ours sold. Why? Because it was really what we've been looking for. For months. Nothing has been staying on the market long so I knew, it was now or never. I begged and pleaded, even cut some deals with my Husband and it is now ours. Well, mid June it will be all ours. Here it is, our new home...

After the initial excitement, we turned our attention to our current home. We needed that sucker sold STAT. Two house payments? No thank you.

After 12 days and 16 grueling hours of showings, it sold! Yes. It sold in 12 days. I thank my lucky stars for that small miracle. We were hoping for a sale within 60 days so 12 days was incredible.

Today, we have the inspection. One more day of "where should we go with the dogs now?" Showing your house with kids is hard. I mean really, I put out the "showing towels" in the bathrooms and while running through quickly to double check that our house looks like total non humans live there, I see it. The toothpaste chunks all over the showing towels. Showing your house with dogs? Even a bigger pain in the ass. You have to suddenly leave work, run home, put the dogs in your car and sit tight for an hour. Over and over. It's even better with a tired little boy in the car with you. Then you get to read the feedback. People judging your and your home. If you need some stress in your life, I highly recommend it.

We were so nervous it all wouldn't line up. Everyone kept telling us "it will work out, don't worry!" Thankfully, they were right. Everything happens for a reason right?

I had all these visions - our family seated around our dining room table, exchanging conversation about our day. Napkins on laps, children laughing, jokes being told - you know, the American Dream. Then, I'm hit in the face with clump of macaroni and cheese as it slides down my shirt and BOOM - back to reality.Who am I kidding? The napkins would be the first thing thrown from my 'just about 2 year old comedian, turned into I'm gonna shove everything up my nose now while you all eat.'

You know what? I wouldn't have it any other way!

Birthday Girl - Life, Love & Puppy Prints

Someone has a birthday this weekend! 

Carolyn from Life, Love & Puppy Prints has a birthday on Sunday. If you read her blog, you prob already know this.

If you know her in real life, chances are things like this have happened. 

I bring you...

Ode to Carolyn

 

This is her age in Babylonian symbols. I was going to reveal how old she was but then again, she didn't on her blog so the cat shall remain in the bag. Unless you are fluent in Babylonian, you'll never know.

Ok, back to the birthday girl.

You'll talk about, laugh about and quite possibly end up at one point in time wearing something penis.

You will most def, listen to this girl.

You will spice up your life.

You'll attend a Twin's game or 100 and get to know what gate attendees to avoid. This woman pictured means business. She will not let you slide with any sort of alcoholic smuggling in her section. Oh yeah, you better have a ticket for her section too or your bounced. If you are ever at Target Field in MN, do not and I repeat DO NOT make eye contact with this woman.

If you are at a wedding with Carolyn, you will be required to take 1 zillions photos. Chances are, people neither of you know will some how make it into your photo shoot. Like this gent pictured. No idea who that is. 

You'll attend a bbq at one point in time that will include frozen Boone's Farm. Nothing like it. Errr, yeah, something like that.

Yumm.

Then you will proceed to have a jam session, with all sorts of vinyl records which then leads to a great debate "how do they get the music on the record?"

You will venture to your favorite German bar where you can drink beer out of das boot. You will polka your heart away until the DJ starts, where more dancing shenanigans will ensue.

You will play Big Buck Hunter.

You will drink beer. You will like it too.

You will also take photos with your beer towers.

You will smooch.

If you are really lucky. You will meet Will Smith.

You may end up watching a UFC fight downtown.

You will take pictures in a public bathroom.

You will cheer for and love the MN Twins.

You will wear sunglasses at night waiting for your "homie's", or otherwise known as your Hubby.

You will play the "let's make this face game..."

Pictured above  is "gangsta face."

 

 

You will have inside jokes.

Bottom line, you will love her and have a girlfriend for life. Happy Birthday boo!

Men Wax

Yesterday morning the Hubs leaves for his haircut. No big deal, he goes to one of the "quick, no appointment" joints that I will never set foot in. 

(Not Great Clips, I have begged and pleaded for him to NEVER go there again. His hairline quickly vanishes and they leave crazy amounts of neck hair. Not cool, Great Clips, not cool.)

So he is now going to what I call "a step above Great Clips". Still a quick, cheap haircut.

So I'm at home, outside with Ella and Jack and I get this text.

First, I LOVE that she offered to clean up the brows. I've done that for him once and while I may have gone a little overboard, they look much better with a good ole trim.

Second, I couldn't wait to see the newly waxed brows of my man. I was dying with anticipation. I may have had this image in my head for a minute of two though...
 

source

Third, it was only $10. If my brow wax was $10 I'd be jumping for joy. 

Finally, I love that he knows the pain we girls go through all in the name of beauty. 

He went to Home Depot after the haircut and it seemed like HOURS to me. I called and begged for a photo. I mean, I had already sent a copy of that text to his Mom, Sister and two Brother's and their respect girlfriends, I needed a photo! They needed a photo. 

He flat out refused to hand over such thing. "I knew you would be sending it to everyone so no." 

Dang.

He knows me all too well.

His turned out great by the way. They are still quite "manly" but minus the crazy randoms. I've already told him if he won't get the strays waxed in the future, then I will pluck them for him because I loved the result that much. We don't want this...

Babe - if you get to this point when we are older, I will have them come to our Assisted Living condo on the beach and wax you. 

source

Happy wife = happy life!

The Proposal - not mine.

A couple of week's ago I was helping plan my brother in law's surprise party. 

Only, he was in on it. Yes, you read that right. He knew about it. 

His girlfriend on the other hand did not know he was in cahoots with me.

You see, he had been planning on popping the big question to his girlfriend since last summer. He just needed the perfect proposal. He wanted something that they could share with their friends and family.

Sometime in early December he approached my Husband (his brother) about throwing a fake surprise 30th Birthday for him and he would do it there. It would surely be a time when she did not expect it. He just needed some help from me.

After Christmas, I planted the seed in his future bride's mind. "How much fun would it be to throw a surprise 30th?!" I asked her.

She took the bait hook, line and sinker. She actually ran with it. Months of planning, messaging and excitement over this birthday party.

The party was a success! They came in, everyone yelled "SURPRISE!" He had the best poker face. 

 

Then 10 minutes later he took the mic. It was supposedly a "thank you for coming speech". She had no idea.

 

She just sat listening to his speech, ready to take the mic away. Ha, ha!

 

 Then he called her up front to thank her for throwing this great party.

 And popped the question!

She said yes.

Then of course, I had to make a shirt for Jack to wear at the party. 

It say's "My Uncle Chad put a ring on it."

Now don't worry... The baby did not stay at the bar for very long. Just for the "surprise" then some photos.

It was one of the cutest proposals I've ever seen! I cannot wait for the wedding plans, parties AND another great Sister in Law! Woo hooo!

SPD '12 - We are Young

Saturday was "SPD '12" according to the back of our t-shirts. I designed our t-shirts this year and I'll have to admit...they were pretty sweet if I do say so myself. They did cause some confusion amongst the impaired that night. There were many debating what they meant.

Not too difficult...

We spent the day at the in-laws hanging outside enjoying this beautiful summer like weather MN is currently hosting. It was nearly 80 degrees out. In March. In Minnesota. Unreal.

Jack had some March Madness and decided to learn to dunk at the tender age of 20 months. The boy has some skills.

We did venture out the the "Adult Party" later that night for about an hour. They had the streets closed off for SPD. There's just something about overflowing Biffy's that makes me run home screaming. Disgusting. 

 My future sister in law was hit on by the Triple D (dancing drunk dude), she had the best denial line of the night. It went something like this:

Triple D - "Hey beautiful, would you like to dance?" with a nice blurred vision twitch.

Future SIL - "I'm sorry, I've had diarrhea all day. I don't want to get you sick!"

 An hour was long enough to hang out. Plus, the street vendor food truck man was out of Cheese Curds. Plus, we had to take home an intoxicated friend before he was sent to detox. Oh to be the responsible ones at the party.

I almost made it the entire night without an injury. 

Almost.

You know that horrible feeling you get when your going down stairs and you miss a step? You know, mid air and you think to yourself "shoot, I think there's one more step...OUCH". 

Yeah, that was me Saturday right before bed. 

My poor little/fat/swollen toe.

Sorry if your grossed out by feet. I had to show you my fat, bruised toe. Ha, ha! Oh and ignore the botch paint job. I was in a hurry.

In case your wondering, yes, I can pick up a golf ball with my toes.

I just can't get enough of this song. It's been on repeat all weekend. The video is a bit strange but whateves.

via You Tube