Here Comes Peter Cotton-Tail

Awwww Easter was so fun this year even though Spring has yet to be Sprung around these parts. The snowbanks however tend to make great wind blocks this time of year so the girl's bonnets didn't take off to the skys too often. It was my holiday to work so we took my parents up on their offer and sent the girls out to their house for a sleep over and so they could all go to church in the morning. (not sad I missed a 2 hour mass to tell you the truth) Tim is not a religious enthusiast so he stayed home in the morning but when I got up at noonish he brought myself and miss Kyra Jean (it was Jade's weekend but we stole her for a few hours) out to my parents for a fabulous Easter luncheon. Tim's Aunt Karla was even able to join us. I know its hard for her around the holidays, especially Easter because GG (Karla and Sharon's mother) was such a great hostess and celebrated every year with them. So we all sat around the table and had a delicious meal, dad made a ham and AJ deep fried a turkey... it was amazing! We visited for a while and in that time the Easter bunny must have snuck in a dropped off the eggs filled with candy and various treasures. Some even had money!!! That's what I'm talking about Mr. Bunny.

Pickers Letter

This is a copy of a letter I sent to the American Pickers (a TV show on the History Channel). Our goal is to vacation in the Wisconsin Dells this July and then make the couple hour trip down to Iowa and see their shop (and hopefully meet them if possible). So this is what I sent them via snail mail a week ago. I haven't heard anything but hopefully we will sometime soon... here goes nothin

Greetings from the Frozen Tundra!
My daughter and I have been watching your show on the history channel for a few years now. In fact two Springs ago we were visiting family in Austin Texas and we spotted your white van which sealed the deal... we were hooked. As a child my mother took me to rummage sales and now as a mother myself I take my little ones, particularity my daughter Kyra digging through the masses. At age 10 she found herself being draw to the odd and irregular (which I totally encouraged). We have become quite the "pickin" team and we attribute that to y'all in part. Since your show has aired my daughter and I have picked the free boxes, negotiated with the best of them and re purposed throw-away kitchen glass into spectacular garden art. You have taught us to look for the hidden treasures and that's just what we have done... so we thank you. The reason I am contacting you is because as we were brainstorming what our summer vacation should be this year, Miss Kyra kept saying she wished she could see your store. I told her the chances of actually meeting Mike, Frank or Danielle is next to nothing but she felt that if I wrote you a letter it couldn't hurt. So here we are writing a letter to see what the chances are someone will be around the weekend of July 20th (2013)? I realize you are quite busy and summer time is probably prime picking, but if its not too much trouble it would sure make her day  :)

Katrina and Kyra
Green Bay, Wisconsin

PS- We were at Dr. Evermore's Forevertron two days before you picked it... weird huh?

Arrrgggghhhh...

At least that's what the Pirates say. Today we made the hour and a half drive down to Milwaukee to see the "Pirates" exhibit at the museum. My parents are members so they get great discounts of special attraction tickets and my kids are free- woohoo! We are always doing jaunts like this with my parents but this time was a little different because Timmy came along. Yes I know. My husband actually participated in a function that was not a wedding, funeral or graduation. However it was totally educational and he is definitely into that stuff... you know, learning and all. We climbed into my Dad's vehicle and all drove down together which saved gas on our end and that is always great! The girls had fun playing in the exhibit but we all agreed that next time we will stagger our tickets so two adults stay with the girls while the other two or three check out the show and vice versa--- they are sweet but shisters I tell ya. We learned a lot for sure. Like all the myths about Pirates and how most of them are not true. I was disappointed to learn that "the plank" is something made up for Hollywood. And that Pirates usually only lasted a few years not into old age... which I always picture them as weathered old men but I guess that's make believe too. Oh yah! And that buried treasure we all dream of digging up... I guess these bandits of the sea rarely let their "booty" even burn a whole in their pocket always trading and buying so as not to have to carry it around- who would have thunk it? After walking through the Pirate show (with a full size ship reconstruction- very cool) we all headed to the butterfly habitat to see the various fluttering beauties. Olivia, mom and I strolled through pretty quick checking out the scenery but it was super hot and humid so we "bugged" out pretty quick. We waited on a nearby bench for Dad and Katie but it was taking them forever so mom went back in to find them--- but they weren't there. What the heck! Would they really go on without the rest of the group??? Crap. So Tim and I split up and ran around the museum... the whole thing- nothin. Craaaap. Mom was totally freaking out at this point and so I was trying to calm her down reassuring her that it would all be okay. I had him paged. Nothing. Argh- so I went back to the butterfly habitat and who was sitting on the bench enjoying a little snack? Dad and Bella. I gently asked them where they were and they both pointed to the room with the butterflies. What? No way! For a half hour. Well I guess so because while the rest of us were running around like crazy people, Katie and Dad were making new friends with their butterfly wrangling abilities.

 Sheesh. Anyways, at this point we were all getting a little tired both physically and emotionally so we spent an hour or so running through the various areas and then loaded back into the car. I sat in the way back so that the girls wouldn't fight and Tim sat up in the captains chairs with Kyra. I think I fell asleep because all of a sudden we were in Manitowoc stopped at a restaurant for supper- YES! I was super hungry. When we were in the "Old Streets of Milwaukee" exhibit there was a general store/candy shoppe where you could buy real candy. It was all the throwback candies of the last 5 decades and I think dad spent like 15 bucks between himself and all the chitlins. I on the other hand am not that big a fan of candy (but throw a bag of chips in front of me and I will destroy them) so I passed. Dumb. By the time we stopped for supper I was so hungry I had to hit the condiment bar and much on burger toppings till supper came... real classy Trina.

Makeover??? Yes Please!!!

 It may not be for me but a makeover in any form is always fun. This time it was focused on my Grandmother's home which has not been updated in about 15-20 years. This is not to say that its not decorated super cute for a Grandma, we just thought we could bring her a little more up to date. Especially if she plans to sell her home anytime in the next few years. The first step was to remove the wallpaper from the kitchen and hallway. Its quite the undertaking but mom and I have it down to a science. First you score the wall and then spritz it with a combo of liquid fabric softener and water (trust me it comes off like butter). Then if you have to use a putty knife and work off the little bits that stuck around. Easy Peasy my friends. It just took time. Dad followed up with painting the entire kitchen and hallway a nice buttermilk color (which was theme appropriate as we were in farm country). My original plan was to paint the header around her little kitchen nook a pretty green and "bling it out" with a gold stencil. However, by an overwhelming vote that idea was shot down and we just did the gold stencil over the buttermilk color... which was still cute (if I do say so myself). The next project will be the living room, the bathroom and then the laundry room which will also entail removal and replacing a new sink. So funny story--- This whole process is tense. People were  focused, so when they were asked to shift gears and help out in another area they got crabby (including myself). Theresa my cousin had her three boys, I had the three girls and it was a whirlwind... but it was better to have them there to see Great Grandma than to not have them there at all. Would it have been easier without them? Hell yes. Less stressful? You bet! Would have Grandma have been happy? No. Easy answer if you ask me :)  So back to my story. Theresa, AJ and I were feeling the tempers flare so we volunteered to go check out sinks for the washroom. Anna was a peach and stayed behind facing the fury head on (thanks tootsie). So its Theresa, AJ, myself and the two younger boys and we drove to LaCrosse. We checked out the "ReStore" which is a used construction and household items store sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. It is open to the public with some awesome deals so we checked it out for a new sink. No dice. So we packed up and headed to Menards which is a relatively local (Wisconsin) do it yourself store. We eventually found a sink and all the hardware for the faucet but it took a while. As we were leaving my mother-in-law called so I was distracted. All of a sudden I realized that we were waiting quite a while to turn out of the parking lot. That's because we were stopped behind a parked car... hahaha. It was hilarious. The curb was low in that area and the truck (although sans driver) I guess looked like it could have been leaving a driveway... except it was not turned on. Whoops! We all figured it out at the same time and just laughed uncontrollably... the crying kind...it really dropped the stress right off our shoulders.

We went out for fish at Bangor (my favorite restaurant in the area) and it was great. The new cheese curds were to die for!!! The girls had a good time watching the trains go by and eating all they wanted off the salad bar. I find it difficult to go out to dinner with them by myself (without Tim) because when it comes down to it, people want to eat. Once the food comes to the table all the focus is there. My little ladies do a good job for only being 2 and 4 but I think people forget they are kids (little ones at that). They are not perfect and just as I am expected to keep them in check (hard to do my myself) I expect those I associate with to have a little compassion and understanding. Do I discipline them? Sure. Am I a drill Sargent? Hell no. Its something I am working on and its getting better every time but its tough. I want them to grow up with rules but not hate or be afraid of me in the process... sigh*
Sunday we drove back across the state but were able to visit with my cousin Nikki, her husband Justin and their new son Kevin Allan (Dad likes the middle name by the way wink wink). He was such a little peanut and for two seconds when I was holding him I wanted another baby. That was until he started to fuss a bit and I was whisked back to the days of screaming babies and sleepless nights... no thanks. I will just borrow babies for a while till i get my fix and I'll be fine. (Free babysitting y'all).
I got to drive the whole way back to Green Bay (except in the construction--- you know where it goes down to two super close lanes and there are cement walls on each side with no shoulder? that totally freaks me out... its in my top five most horrible situations for sure). I love driving though because I am able to clear my head, get organized and usually there are some pretty awesome conversations to be had. This was definitely one of those times. Coming into Spring (if this snow ever melts) I am looking forwards to accomplishing a few of my goals... or at least starting them  :)

Black Sheep

Bah bah Black Sheep Have you any wool??? I guess in this case we are really referring to lambs but really how often do you get to pull that one out? hahaha. A few weeks ago we went to go visit one of Sharon's friends that she works with who owns a farm within 10 miles or so of our house. The weather has been super duper cold out so I was not exactly thrilled to be out in the elements but if it is important to her and the girls so be it. Goal #22 in 2012... be more spontaneous with my free time and accommodate others requests. (If you know me at all this tough... really tough. I consider myself to be spontaneous but we all know its only in super controlled situations so in the end it sorta negates the spontaneity). At any rate the girlys had tons of fun visiting with the lambs. SO much so that they even sweet-talked their way into the barn to see the other animals too. Katie just couldn't comprehend why all the cows just pooped on the floor. I explained to her that it was like a giant flat toilet and when the farmer was ready to "flush" he hit the switch and all the potty went out into a tractor to be spread on the field. Her next questions were "Is that manure?" Yes. "Do I eat poop on my vegetables?" No. Speaking of poo however I was totally not watching where the girls were walking and they got cow sh*t all over their sparkly pink boots. I don't know what i was thinking but duh Trina!!! farms equal animal excrement... too bad I threw all those plastic bags out of my trunk (Always picking up you know... talk about a crappy juxtaposition... I crack myself up).

Send in the Clowns

I love the Circus. I know I am supposed to hate it because of historical animal abuse and I am sure in some ways continued abuses but I cant help it... it makes me so happy. Its not often I cry because I am overflowing with joy so really folks... I gotta do it. So please don't judge me. My biggest sign that I needed to go was the fact that it was running over my birthday weekend--- YEEEEEEES. Let me go back-- you did catch that right? Birthday "Weekend." That's how we roll round these parts. There is just too much to pack into one tiny wheeny day so I tend to spread it over a weekend. I would try and use a whole week but that's just being greedy I think (ha!) Friday night (my actual day of birth) I went out with some very close friends to bowl a few frames and then out to an artsy fartsy restaurant for some amazing food. This was all prior to a big night of FREE boozing so I would have a good "base." And boy did I ever. I had such a great time singing Karaoke and hanging out with my buddies. Of course there were muy importante people missing from my evening that I wish could have been there but I sang tributes for all those absent. (ie: Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows for Jax in Chicago). Regardless it was fun and although I consumed roughly my entire weight in alcohol I wasn't too bad Saturday morning (yes morning- I know! Who would have thunk it). Saturday we did lunch with Tim's family and I ran a few errands with my momma. Oh and the best part!!?? There was a Friday garage Sale which I forgot to mention!!! And it was a good one too cause who is gonna go out in a snowstorm to rummage through other people's refuse--- this girl! So we got first dibs pretty much and had a blast doing it-- woot woot withdrawal satiated for the time being. So Saturday night I was going to stay in with the hubby and the girls, until one of my buddies called to say I was missing his brother's band play in town. Darnit! I will be right there. I only stayed out till midnight and didn't drink anything besides Shirley Temples (kiddy cocktails. Sidenote: there were all free because they thought I was a designated driver, silly bartenders. But I of course was not going to argue with FREE) SO we got up relatively early Sunday and went out to mom and dads for a birthday brunch before Bella, dad and myself swung past Jade's house to pick up Kyra for the circus (yes my kids are infected with the circus virus too which originally came from my father so I blame him entirely hahaha). I think the entire city decided to go to this afternoon showing cause the place was packed. We ended up having to sit in the nosebleed section but it ended up being the best seats I have ever been in. I could see everything that was going on in the three rings and i am pretty sure I made eye contact with the trapeze girls. (sidenote #2: I totally think I was a circus girl in a former life. Along with a civil war drummer boy and a bootlegger of some sort... reincarnation must be real or all this day-ja-vou is a big waste of time). Kyra was excited because I actually spent money and bought her not only a popcorn and a soda but a cotton candy too! Yep, just call me Trina Big Spender. Katie befriended a few girls dressed like clowns and I was worried for two seconds she was going to run away with the circus but she was too hungry so she came home with us... that child :)

Weight Warriors

Tim and I have always had a history of "excess" weight both as children, teenagers and now in adulthood. Timmy last fall started a weight loss program called "Medi-fast" which helped him drop 70lbs but its not something that a person could maintain for a significant amount of time. So as he was reshaping his body I myself was considering a lifestyle change.You hear about these stick thin girls that see themselves in the mirror as "fat" (a curse word in my house--- just ask Miss Bella Bean) but I never (and still don't) see "fat Trina"... like ever. I always am like "Damn girl-- lookin good!" Unless of course I am sporting head to toe sweats and a lopsided ponytail (typical post-boozing attire). But for reals--- I am okay with the way I look. Channeling my inner honey badger- I don't give a sh*t. However the doctor feels otherwise and has made it very clear that I slipped through my 20s eating everything and anything I wanted and now in my 30s the vacation is over... I need to take care of myself- gross. I realize that its something that you have to want to do and be "all-in" as Tim likes to tell me. Regrettably I am not fully on board
because I love my life just the way it is-- supreme pizza and all. However I can tell you that one of my biggest motivators (don't judge me) is to be able to find more clothes that fit me and that will work for my Frankenstein fashion project (which I will elaborate on later this summer). So yes I understand that losing weight will be good for my health and my body blah blah blah but I guess ultimately I just want cuter clothes... whew--- the first step is to be honest with yourself (check) the next step for me is to turn a blind eye to McDonald's breakfast and bring a banana along whilst running errands... hey weight watchers--- this sucks.