A new feature...

Click on the tab to the left to become an 'official' follower of my blog. I'm planning to send one lucky follower on an all expense paid vacation to somewhere really awesome. (The winner however, will not be announced to the rest of you and will be chosen by an ultra secret mathematical equation that I am not at liberty to share).

The tale of the stinky washing machine.

Its nearly bedtime but there are still enough minutes in the day to put one last load in the washing machine. I scoop the pile of whites up off the laundry room floor, throw in some Tide and start the washer. Off to dreamland and then to work the following morning. That afternoon, I remember my wet laundry and head into the laundry room to start the dryer. Hmmm.....when I open the lid to retreive the washed items....it smells. Not too bad,  but definitely not that nice clean laundry smell I am used to. I decide that it probably stinks because it sat all day in the machine and so I just restart the washer and throw in a little "biz" to help with the odor. Skip ahead 2 hours and I attempt to repeat the "move the clothes from the washer to the dryer' routine.... but this time, when I open the lid, it REALLY stinks. Rotten and nasty and horrible. What the heck???? I can't figure it out???? Could my laundry soap be expired? Let's try this one last time, but THIS time...I'm adding bleach. Swish,swish,swish....load done. Open lid and sniff. HOLY COW!!! My eyes are watering and my nostrils burning as the scent of...well....crap..... fills the air and infiltrates every square inch of the room. Now I'm sure that someone has taken a dump in the washer or something. The strange twist is that the clothes LOOK clean....they just smell like butt. I guess something must be wrong with the washer?? I decide to pull the wet shirts out in order to rescue them from any further 'stinkage' and also, try to see if I can locate the source of the offensive scent. Let's just say that I was in no way prepared for what I found. After every last item was removed from the washer, I peered into the tub..... only to find at the bottom.....a deflated, decomposing mouse. 

Needless to say, the washer has been bleached several times and I have attended numerous counseling sessions to deal with the trauma of this event. The smell has tatooed itself into my brain....probably forever. As far as the mouse, he did not receive a proper burial but I feel peace knowing that at least....as he went to his grave.....he was really, really clean!

Whew!

Hi Everyone! Okay....Other than the month leading up to Christmas, September has to be the busiest one around my house! I truly have not had even a moment of serenity since labor day and there is no sign of it letting up anytime soon!

I'm sure my readers, ( all 3 of you) have been wondering where I've been......

Well, along with the general craziness that goes along with the beginning of the school year, I got a job. A JOB! Can you beleive it? After almost 13 years of being home, I am now officially employed as a pediatric cancer nurse at a local hospital!!!! I applied, went to the interview, got hired, stressed out a little, bought some scrubs, crocs, and a pink stethescope and the rest is history! It has been an interesting journey so far. Scary and intimidating to say the least, but also really wonderful and rewarding. Tom has had to become "Mr. Mom"each morning and is doing a stellar job at it! (Thanks honey)! The boys have put together some interesting outfits under daddy's watch and had some really bad hair days... but so far, no permanent damage done! 

One of my favorite things so far (well, besides the sweet kids)  are the scrubs. I LOVE them. (Don't judge me). I wish I could wear them as my regular clothes. So much time would be saved on outfit planning! They are comfortable, don't wrinkle, don't really stain, don't require any special care or accessories, cheap...awesome! Dig around in the drawer, pull out a top, find the matching pants, DONE! Go buy yourself a set...wear them around town and pretend you're in healthcare or wear them as jammies....you won't be sorry! Just make sure to get the one's with the drawstring and not the elastic waist because...well, let's face it....elastic waist pants are lame.

Happy Tuesday!

School begins....

Whew...we survived the first week of school! I know all of you mom's out there must feel like I do....worn out and very glad that it's Friday. 

Kelli started middle school 

this year and (so far) really loves it. There were a few 'bumps' at the beginning of the week. She spent 20 minutes sitting in the wrong gymnasium for P.E. on the first day, tripped in the 8th grade hallway, struggled endlessly to figure out how to open her locker and forgot her lunch in

 the car. Typical 'nightmarish' happenings when you're 12. However, I think she's got it all figured out now and will probably even go back next week!

Keaton is now in 4th grade and it THRILLED beyond measure to have a male

 teacher this year. His first days have been mostly uneventful.....I guess after 5 years at the same school you have the routine pretty well figured out. Mostly he has been preoccupied with checking the mail each day

 when he gets home to see if his new shoes have arrived and also asking how many days until he can sleep in or until summer......

it may be a l-o-n-g year!

Kellen is back at preschool for one more year and thoroughly enjoying going to school every day, just like his big sister and brother. The first day for him was exciting mostly because he finally got to wear one of the new t-shirts we bought for back to school. He has been admiring it in his closet for quite some time and was absolutely stoked to get to put it on. He has fondly named it his 'special k' shirt,( he thinks there is a 'K'  for "Kellen" on the front). Strangely, he has named all of his new clothes.....there is the 'awesome shirt',( not to be confused with the'awesome sweatshirt'), the 'heavy' pants, the "spraypaint" sweatshirt, 'tatoo' shoes, etc. What can I say....the kid loves adjectives!

Happy first week of school!!!!

Extreme Sports! STARRING....Kellen Flanigan!

Here is a short video from our weekend at the lake starring Kellen, the daredevil. As I watched this unexpected event unfold from the shore, I once again questioned the Lord on his wisdom in giving me 2 boys. ....I'm not sure my fragile heart can take the stress!!! I also questioned my husband's wisdom on granting permission for him to launch himself off a ledge into the water without a life jacket or helmet.

P.S. You can't see it in the video but he was supposed to have ridden the bike off a jump. Clearly he missed the memo on exactly where the jump was located. I have no idea what posessed him to just ride right off the edge......

ENJOY!!!!

Next year, I'll be ready!

Today I took my boys to the doctor for their yearly physical. Let's just say that the overall experience was less than great. In fact, its entirely possible that somewhere in their charts they have now been categorized as 'slow'. You'd think that after having done this every year for the past 12, I'd be better at 'prepping' my kids for the 'interview' portion of the visit! You know what I mean....the part where they ask questions like "what color is this?" "can you count to 10?' etc. For some reason, my kids (especially the boys) leave their brains in the car when we go to the pediatrician and end up just staring at the doctor with a dumb, blank half smile. Today was no exception...

First the eye test. Keaton passed with flying colors. Kellen (age 5).....not so much. For starters, he doesn't know his letters very well so after he guessed his way through the right eye and the nurse diagnosed him as blind,  I suggested we use the chart with the shapes. This was better except for the fact that circles were not circles to him but rather 'donuts and cookies'. It was actually sort of funny to hear that little voice calling out "star.....cross.....donut.....hand......cookie, etc."  Hmmm.....I wonder where he gets his preoccupation with food????

Next, the dreaded questions to measure intelligence. Both boys failed miserably. As the doctor asks the questions, each of them look at me like deer in headlights. Kellen was up first. "Kellen, what color is my shirt?" He smiles, laughs nervously, looks at me, then the doctor, smiles some more and says "brown?" (her shirt was white). I'm thinking "brown?? what the heck"?! She then asks if he knows his numbers. "Not really' he replies. (At least he's honest!) The final question was "do you know where you live?" He said, "in my house'... which I personally thought was a great answer. If she was looking for "washington" or "spokane" she should have been more specific!

Keaton's turn. I will tell you that before we left to go to the doctor, we went over the months of the year (which he flunked at last year's physical) and all other random information that I thought they might ask. Of course, this year ....they didn't ask that. The first question they asked was his age, which he got wrong. (A proud moment for me). I'm just going to assume that little glitch was because he just had a birthday (he's 10) and not because he really doesn't know. He did well on the next couple of questions but said he had no idea what our address was and claimed to not know our phone # either.  As she is asking these important questions, Kellen is staring at Keaton with his mouth sort of hanging open, tongue out. Oh my....the doctor had a lot to write after that. 

Keaton also stated that his favorite subject in school is "PE" and Kellen told her his favorite is "playing" and "snack" which I think really dazzled her.

5 immunizations (4 for Kellen, 1 for Keaton) and we were on our way. Tomorrow, I'm going to start prepping for next year. I'm hopeful that we can redeem ourselves!

My (short lived) experience as a hedge trimmer

Sun is out....slight breeze....perfect day to surprise my husband by trimming up the bushes in the front yard. (yes I am an exceptionally nice wife). 

With love and dedication I begin the tedious process of shaping each little branch, twig, leaf.....they are breathtakingly beautiful as I create cute little squares and domes out of the uncontrollable growth. Mr. Miyagi (karate kid guy) himself could not have done a better job! Suddenly, somehow (I'm still unsure of the actual cause) the hedge hog mistakes my finger for a branch and in a moment, the entire experience is transformed into a horror movie. I run inside, hanging onto my blood-spurting finger, (which I am sure is only hanging by a thread) and wrap it in a towel. (Sidebar, Although I am a nurse by trade, when it comes to my own injuries or that of my kids, I suddenly become a crazed 3 year old child with zero tolerance for blood and an academy award winning display of drama). After a moment, I realize that the finger must still be attached because I can move it under the towel so I take off for the emergency room. The people there were not nearly as worried or worked up about the fate of my index finger as I was......

I tried to look as pasty white and pathetic as possible, in hopes that it would speed up the 4 hour wait that I figured I was facing. The guy next to me (mr. "short of breath, chest pain") was giving me a real run for my money. However, I must have done a stellar job of convincing the recptionist of my dire situation because soon I was in the back, getting a tetanus shot and hearing the fate of "Mr. Pointer". 

I had only nicked the tendon but severed the artery, hence the  river of blood coming from my wound....

So...they cleaned it out, put 5 stitches in it, and sent me on my way with a giant bandage and a prescription for pain meds (which I must admit...I have thoroughly enjoyed)!

The moral of the story is this.....hire out your yardwork....its cheaper than a visit to the ER.

Note to self...

I can't beleive it! My 'baby' turned 5 yesterday!!! How did this happen? It seems like only a minute ago he was a newborn and we were trying to figure out what to name this sweet boy (who was supposed to have been a girl named kate) ....

Last night as I tucked him in, I asked him what the very best part of his day had been. His answer...."going to Red Robin for dinner and having them sing to me". 

Note to self:

Next year skip the part where we invite 30 people over for lunch, swimming, totally awesome birthday cake (I made it myself), and games and go straight to Red Robin where they will sing to you and give you a free ice cream sundae!!!! Its really a much easier way to celebrate!

Oh well!

Happy Birthday Kellen!

You are a blessing and I love you so much!!!

Something new....

Today I was exposed to something new in the world of blogging. I was 'tagged' by my friend Holly on her blog. Here are the rules of this tag:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you.

2. Post these rules on your blog

3.Share 6 random things about yourself

4.Tag people at the end of your entry.

ok...here we go!

(It seems weird to post without adding a photo so here is a current one of me with my cousin Travis and his girlfriend Brandi)

-I am currently training for a half marathon which will take place in October. One of my 'life goals' is to run a full marathon before I turn 40 so I thought I'd better get going....only 4 years left!

-I am a 'semi-retired' nurse. After college I worked at a hospital on the oncology (cancer) floor until my first child was born. I'd love to go back someday and work in labor and delivery. I'm not sure it would even feel like 'work'!

-I have a strange obsession with the dollar store. I LOVE it! Something wonderful happens when you can buy something for only a dollar. Just today I got an awesome balloon bouquet and it only cost me $8!!!! 

-One of my favorite TV shows is "the biggest loser'. I cry every season!

-I know how to knit and just learned to crochet. Right now I am working on crocheting a blanket. I think it will be big enough to cover our pool when I'm finished!

-I love clean sheets. If I had enough time and energy, I would have clean sheets every night!

Ok.....Kelli, Courtney and Darci....consider yourself 'tagged'!

What fun!

Whew!!!!  I feel a little like I have fallen off the face of the earth for the past 10 days or so! The Flanigan clan have basically 'moved' out to loon lake and let's just say that the internet connection out there is less than speedy!

Trying to

 recall each day's events would take forever but I will say that we've had so much fun with our family and friends! Thanks to all of you, I have returned home with a heart full of new and wonderful memories....

Enjoy the photos! The only one missing is the picture of the rock that Kellen stuck up his nose this morning!