Totally Awesome Birthday

This year I had yet ANOTHER birthday!

I will be honest, I have not been feeling a celebration this year.

I've been tired and overwhelmed.  Sometimes the less you plan the less you have to think about, even if it is fun for yourself.

I told Darren not to even worry about anything for my birthday.

After a while, you just think of a birthday as another day.

BUT, 

when you have great gal pals... 

there is no way you can get out of celebrating.

My morning started with flowers from a coworker who retired last year.

Aren't they gorgeous?

An old pal came in to volunteer and brought me a biscuit.

yummy

Our behavior specialist brought me snacks and gifts.  

And just when I thought the day couldn't get any better, a fellow coworker let her class shop for me from her mini Paparazzi jewelry store.

The kids were so excited to give me something special.  It was very sweet.

(Meanwhile, I will be the most fashionable teacher on the hall now.)

That evening, Mrs. E. became the Hostess with the Mostess!

We decided on an 80s PARTY.

We had the best evening.  

How could we not wearing these totally rad threads?

Far Out

Our dinner was a delicious salad and cupcakes seasoned with lots of laughter.

Check out the 80s Decor!

 

Of course we danced to some 80s tunes.

In case we were in danger of burning calories, we ATE even MORE...

over cards.

Then we ended our night with one of my favs:

13 Going on 30 with Jennifer Garner

Can you believe the girls had never watched it before?

It was a great birthday!

I am truly blessed to go another year with such special people in my life.

WrestleCade 2015

This week I won tickets to WRESTLECade!!!  

I really had no clue what that was but I knew Connor would be so excited.  The event was that more exciting when he learned we could take his tag team partner B.!

Friday Night, I picked up the boys and we hit the road for WrestleCade 2015!!

Luckily, I was able to give away our extra tickets to people who were in line to pay.  

One dad was there with his three daughters and they were so excited to get to attend the Saturday 'Meet and Greet'.  

I love to give things away.  

On our way, the boys wanted Wafflehouse.

The waiter at the Wafflehouse asked me if these were my twin boys?

ummmm.  

I don't see it.

Opinions on the actual event?  

Let me count the reasons I am SO glad these tickets came to us free of charge.

1.  The hecklers who taught us to count:  

'What comes after 1...'2', What comes after 2...'3', What comes after 3...'4', what comes after 4....wrestler shoots the middle finger at hecklers.  Hit repeat.

2.  The hecklers who shouted at the BIG wrestler, "Krispy Kremmmmmme.  Kris-py... Kremmmmmmme!!!"
Wrestler:  Is that the best you got pal!?!
Hecklers:  "Dunk-in'  Dough-nuts, Dunk-in' Dough-nuts!!!"

This is Not Mr. Krispy Kreme.  This is Mr. Protein Shake.

Of course, we went to Krispy Kreme after the match.  The Hecklers gave me a craving.

3. The wrestling slogan:  Lovie Needs Coffee.

4.  Wrestling Egos

Booker T in the background

When my boys saw Booker T. they were so excited.  They ran right up to him to say hello.  There were NO other children around.  He  ignored the boys completely and rode off on a scooter.  
The second time that night the boys stood in front of him for 10 minutes and he never acknowledged him.  I almost took him in the ring.  Jerk Face.  I will never be a fan.

For the Saturday 'Meet and Greet', Darren took the boys (which is why there are no pictures) and they were able to meet and get autographs from Jeff Hardy, Animal from the Road Warriors, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, DDP, and Bob Caudle.
Matt Hardy and Booker T. charged $35 for autographs.  Connor explained "it ain't their fault mom, it is their manager's fault"

5.  DDP Impersonator

I was so excited to see Diamond Dallas Page who was slated to be at the match! We left our seats and ran right over to meet him.  The fact NO ONE was around him should have been an indicator.

As soon as we got to him to get pictures, I realized...  he was some random stranger selling t. shirts.  

It was embarrassing but not as embarrassing as these wrestling snowflake tights:

6.  The Hard High Five

7. Reminder to C.:  Screaming "YOU SUCK" is not appropriate  (even if its true).

8.  Surround Sound

You haven't lived until you get seated beside the loud speaker and watch all the glamour at the entrance.

9.  My Son Blew His $$$ on This:

Not even a VT fan

I blew my $$$ on This:

Give em' Flying Elbow Drop!!!

10.  I could have stayed in my pajamas to watch REAL wrestling.

I don't know how we didn't get kicked out.

http://theunbalancedchronicles.blogspot.com/2014/04/this-aint-dick-and-jane-wwe-readers-1.html




I love having a boy!

Life in Motion by Misty Copeland

Do you know where I heard about Misty Copeland?

A Diet Dr. Pepper Commercial

link here

If there is one thing I love, it is a story of someone overcoming adversity to let their greatness reach full potential.

When I watched that Dr. Pepper commercial, I immediately googled this girl and I have been a fan ever since.  

When she published her story, I had to roll coins  because I could not wait to buy and read it!  

Misty Copeland is the first African American ballerina prompted as principal dancer in New York City's esteemed American Ballet Theater.

What makes her story so remarkable is that she didn't take her first ballet class until age 13 at the San Pedro Boys and Girls Club after school program. 

Misty Copeland on Toe after ONE year of ballet lessons

A ballet teacher with a good eye caught this prodigy and took her completely and fully under her wing.  After, would be a whirlwind of competition, family drama, and a national custody trial.

There were parts of her story that I could fully and painfully connect.  There were the parts where Misty wanted so desperately to make others around her happy while trying to make her own path.

The parts where she just didn't understand the choices made by her mother.

The love she still carries for her family.

I could understand every bit of it.

I personally loved this story.  I could see the ballet talk become a bit boring for most people, but you know I still envision myself a ballerina at heart (even though I have never had a lesson). 

I think Misty Copeland shows what can happen when a little luck, even more talent, and a lot of hard work is combined!

Five out of Five Stars

Divergent

This summer I watched the movie Divergent with my stepsister at her home in Florida.

I love, love, love the movie.

Being such a Hunger Games fan, I wanted to get started on this series as soon as we came back home.

This book takes place in Chicago.  In this society a teenager must test, and then choose their future through their specific faction.  The faction choices include:  Abnegation (the selfless), Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), the Erudite (the intellectual). 

The worst thing a person can be in this society is 'factionless'.

What is a girl to do if she qualifies for more than one faction? 

Be an (undercover) Divergent of course!

I love a book with a strong female lead and this book has a good one.  Beatrice doesn't start out strong.  At first I thought she was a little whiny. Pretty soon, she matures and develops into one tough girl with a mind of her own. 

I loved the faction she chooses and all the dangers she fights being associated with Divergent.  

The problem for me was that the characters I read about, did not exactly match the characters I watched in the movie.  I viewed Beatrice as a tiny warrior.

This is the like the Beatrice I kind of imagined.

kick butt movie Beatrice

I think also having watched the movie first, I didn't read with the vigor that I did with The Hunger Games.  (Hey, I already knew the ending of the first book.)

Also, like The Hunger Games, the second/ third books did not hold my attention.

Another plus to this book:

hottie, hot hot movie THEO
The love story between Beatrice and Theo!

I give this book four out of five stars.

A good read with lots of adventure.

The REAL Naughty List

I've noticed a lot of articles this week that talk about the social media lie.  Basically people feel pressure to only put the positive out there, creating an illusion of the 'perfect life'.  Studies have shown social media can later cause people to experience feelings of depression and anxiety when they compare themselves and don't feel they measure up.

Remember that you can't go wrong with honesty.

It keeps you humble and it's pretty easy.  There may be a few to judge but there are always a ton of people that get it too!

Keep it real people and....

  

Speaking of keeping it real. I think I know a few children who are keeping it so real, they may make the naughty list this year.  

You might make the naughty list if you....

#1:

Insist on pulling those clothes out of the "too small" pile for public viewing.

my kids are hoarders

#2:

Haircut

After two years, TWO YEARS, of growing out this mullet....

...Princess clipped a hunk out of her hair with the sewing scissors.

#4:

NBA in the Kitchen

(That Nerf basketball goal is going to mysteriously disappear in the woods behind my house.)

bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce

bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce

bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce

#5:

Climbing on the countertops and expecting pink cupcakes for dinner.

Seriously.

meltdown in 3....2....

#6:

Recreating a crime scene at 6am.

With my new makeup kit.  

#7:

That floor I just picked up.

#8:

Quotes in crowded shopping area.

Connor:  "Mom will you check my hair for lice?

It feels so good when the nurse checks my hair for lice."

#9:

6:00pm nap = 11:00pm bed time.  :(

#10:

Long Division Homework

(don't get me started on this form of Chinese water torture)

Extra Points for Cuteness