Quick Blog drive by.................I am sore, not sure I will be able to move in the morning

So much for my week of crafting...................
Our lease is up at the end of the month and our delightful rental company informed us on Monday that the owner wants to renew but would like to send someone to do an inspection of the property.  This is no biggy we have had them done before when our lease has been up, but always by someone from the rental company.  Apparently the owner wants to send someone who isn't baised, again no biggy, but it just so happens that the person that will be coming happens to be a realtor!

Anyone that knows me, knows that our house is pretty tidy most of the time, and it is pretty clean.  It is those little jobs/ big jobs that we just never got too, or is on the list, that are frantically getting done. (we get 24hr notice when the inspection will be done)

So in the last 48hrs I have stripped the pantry, cleaned pantry shelves, removed horrible sticky lining that was here when we moved in, repainted the shelves, washed all the base boards, wood frames, and doors downstairs, washed walls (not sure how ketchup got on the wall going up the stairs!) cleaned oven, stripped and cleaned the fridge, cleaned the lazy suzie, and then for 7 hours today worked in the back yard.............................touch up paint, and cleaning the carperts still to do.

I am not sure if I will be able to move in the morning......

The Horrors of Eating Mash Potato!

Hands up who has a child that when a certain food or foods are put in front of them, gagging noises, whining, and complaining begins!?  I can tell you that even I remember as a child I would do that when rice pudding was put in front of me, hated the stuff.  Well we have that issue with Mr Aaron and mash potatoes.  Doesn't matter whether it is homemade or from a box, the boy will complain, whine, and after every bite gag, like we asked him to eat some poisionous, slimy, concoction!
I only give him a little bit whenever we have mash potatoes, because the torture of having to listen to the gagging & complaining gets frustrating when he has been sitting there for nearly 45 minutes telling you how "he doesn't like mash potatoes" (like we have never ever heard him complain before!) 
So last night was beef pot pie, mash potatoes and green beans for dinner...........................and yes you guessed it, the moment that plate was put in front of Aaron the complaining began. 

Just one of the many faces the boy makes while eating mash potatoes!

I might add he ate every bit!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2010

For those that have no clue what happens the first week of October in the Albuquerque area, the skies over Albuquerque are filled with some 500+ hot air balloons.  It is quite a sight, but to see this quite amazing sight early mornings are a must!  In years past the Walker household have always gone to the night glows, which we have not had too much success with, due to the weather in October being very unpredictable.  So this year we decided to attend the mass ascension opening weekend.  The boys were very excited, Mommy & Daddy needed lots of coffee! 

Watching the Balloons truly is an amazing experience, here is just some of our favorites

 We are awake!

 This balloon sets off as the national anthem was sung

Bargain of the Week

After Balloon Fiesta on Sunday morning (I will be posting some pictures from that) we came home and I put a pork roast in my trusty crock pot..............................8 hours later and the roast joint wasn't cooked, and my crock pot met an untimely end.  I love my crock pot, especially now that Fall is here.

So Monday whilst in Walmart, I spotted a 7 quart crock pot for $18, a little shocked that they were that cheap, I put one in the cart.  Very excited that I will have a crock pot back in the kitchen, for those that that maybe need a new one or have never had one, go check out Wally World, cause $18 is a pretty good price for a crock pot!

Balloons Aloft

It's Balloon Fiesta time again.
You always know when Fall is here, because the skies over Albuquerque are filled with hundreds of balloons for the International Balloon Fiesta that is held the first week in October.  Every year they have the un-official kick off at local elementary schools.  Last year was the first time we had actually gone, or should I say I had actually managed to not oversleep!  Normally this time of year here in New Mexico early mornings can be a bit chilly, last year we were bundled with hats and blankets, this year was nice, not too cold, and we had 2 balloons take off.

The boys waiting..........

Buttons will be pushed!

The last few weeks in the Walker household have been a learning curve to say the least.  Our eldest is at the pre-teen, "I want to be a teenager" so badly stage, that if he keeps going the way he is going, he might not make it!

Now bearing in mind he is not 10 till December, but the pre-teen, tweenie, whatever you want to call it is in full effect!  So last night I did some research online, just reading up on how to combat the constant arguing and attitude, and I came across this very fitting statement:

"If you expect a preteen to always listen and do exactly what you say, buttons are going to get pushed."

...................and believe you me, Brendan knows how to push my buttons!
But the article was informative and helpful, so anyone who needs a quick 101 on surviving male tweens!!

here is the link:
http://www.preteenagerstoday.com/articles/parenting-strategies/boy-basics-101-1093/

22 Bags of Popcorn!

Before I explain the meaning behind the title of this post, any parent that has volunteered at their child's school might hopefully be able to sympathize with what I am about to say!

Yesterday was the weekly popcorn sales at my sons Elementary school. Every Friday each class has to sign up, and ask for parent volunteer's to come to the school during the lunch time for every single grade and sell bags of popcorn & fruit roll ups. Seeing as I am available to volunteer my time, I offered to do the popcorn sales, with 2 other Mom's from my sons Kindergarten class.
Really how difficult can it be, popping popcorn and selling bags for 25c each and selling fruit roll ups for 50c each.

Let this blog post act as a piece of advice to parents.........................

1. Your child does not need to be buying 10 or 12 bags of popcorn after they have just eaten lunch! and buying 10 fruit roll ups, really, I want to be this kids friend! Either these kids have hit their parents up for money, have raided their piggy banks, or out right stolen the money. Because as a parent of said children at this school, when it is popcorn day, my boys get enough money for either ONE bag of popcorn, or ONE fruit roll up, sometimes the boys have asked for enough to buy for ONE friend!
2. Parents please understand your children have a limited amount of time for recess, they do not have time to do multiple trips to the popcorn stand because they can't carry 12 bags of popcorn at once, and if they were buying them for friends, then friends would help them carry the bags.
3. For Kindergarten parents, please explain to your children that 25c buys one bag of popcorn and 50c buys one fruit roll up, I can not pay for every single kindergarten who's heart is broken because I have to tell them they do not have enough money!

I really could go into great detail how yesterday left me feeling a bit shocked. Not to mention sad, to the 1st grader who cried, we didn't mean to upset you, you got your bag of popcorn just before the bell rang! To the darling child who complained his bag wasn't filled all the way, REALLY!
And as a parting thought, when it is your child's birthday, send your child to school with cupcakes, cookies or some other treat..............................sending your child to the popcorn stand to buy 22 bags of popcorn is a little too much!!