It's Been A Whole Month? Really?!

Oh Em Gee!

I can NOT believe that I have not written a post in a month! Actually I have written dozens, but only in my head.

I've thought up posts while in the shower, while on the way to drop the kids at school, and while walking up and down the grocery store aisles. I have even planned out a few while I tried to fall asleep at night.

I've just been so dang busy that I haven't been able to get those blurbs into my computer for your reading enjoyment.

Please, the few readers I may have left, I am so sorry. I know, I suck.

I have been gone so long that even my BlogHer ads were temporarily suspended. I'm surprised they even noticed I was gone. At least SOMEONE is reading my blog.

So, what has been keeping me from the Internets? I'll try to sum it up in bullets.

• I ran a cookbook fundraiser for T. and R.'s school. By.Myself. I collected recipes, typed them into the company's online software program, ordered, sold, and delivered. Did I mention? All.By.Myself!

• It is time for our annual PTA Installation Dinner and Chance Auction. Again, I designed and printed the invitations and am the chair for our Ad Journal. Apparently I was MIA last year at this time too. This fundraiser is a HUGE undertaking.

• The Schmitty's hosted Easter Dinner here....for 18 people.

• Hubs and I are trying to refinance our mortgage to a lower rate and drop it to a 20 year. The home equity we have is through another company. For whatever reason, they have been screwing us up. I can't understand what the problem is...we aren't taking more money, just dropping the rate. It won't affect them at all. Asshats.

• I am trying to get the outside and inside of my house ready for summer. I want to relax with my family this year and not worry about a thing! Heh. I crack myself up.

• The KIDS (i.e. birthday parties, school, birthday parties, playdates, birthday parties, girl scouts, MORE FREAKING BIRTHDAY PARTIES, etc.)

So, that's it in a nutshell.

It's been a tad hectic, to say the least. And even though I stated that the kids were part of my distraction from posting, I apparently have neglected them some, as well.

Case in point? I present to you, Exhibit A:


My daughter got into the blue food coloring while I was on the phone and tried to turn herself into a Smurf.

I'm Still Here

I haven't posted since Wednesday. I have had all intentions to, but I've been C-R-A-Z-Y busy. Before I go on, I would like to thank EVERYONE for their comments to my last post. You all gave me a lot of love and I truly appreciate it. W. had another semi-meltdown on Saturday night. He had been outside ALL day and was completely over tired. Thankfully, this episode was short lived compared to the last.

So, now where have I been? Well, it's that time of year again and I am helping to prepare for the elementary school's PTA Installation Dinner and Chance Auction.

The invitations, which I donate, were just completed last night. BTW, we went with design #2. I have to drop off about 460 envelopes today to the various schools in town. Then I have to continue working on our Ad Journal, of which I am the chairperson for.

And while I am on the subject of the Ad Journal; If you own a business and would like to run an ad, please contact me. I am also accepting $10. donations from anyone who would like a chance at winning a $100. Visa gift card. Your name is listed in the journal under Friends and Family and you are automatically placed in the drawing. Please email me, for more info, at aschmittylife (at) aol (dot) com if you are interested.

The Auction is our school's biggest fund raiser of the year. It's a fun night out and we solicit some great prizes....of which I won quite a few of last year.

At our monthly meeting last week, some of the volunteers were talking about a scam that goes on by a group of women in the area. Apparently, these women show up to school Auctions and write a rubber check to get in. They take note of what color tickets are being used for the prizes. They then go back out to their cars where they have rolls and rolls of different colored tickets.

Yup, that's right, they grab a handful and place them in the buckets. Of course, they win and win and win; usually taking home the more valuable gifts. Everyone just assumes that they are a lucky table, when in all actuality they are scam artists.

They claim their loot and by the next day it's on Ebay! Can you believe it?! They sell the stuff off and collect the cash.

Now, who does this? What evil, deceptive type of person sits at home and concocts such a plan?

People NEVER cease to amaze me I tell you. This is exactly why I have a hard time trusting people.

Don't Make Me Shake It!

Okay, first my daughter gets all silly over her first crush. And by the way, you should see the two love birds after school. As "Zaaaaacaaaary's" mom and I wait for the older kids to get dismissed, the two of them swoon over one another. It's SO cute!

Remember how W. came home from school back in June and declared that he had a girlfriend? He didn't even have to wait until 5th grade! Well, said girlfriend wasn't seen all summer. One day I asked him if M. was still his girlfriend and he said, "Well, mom, she felt kind of weird dating, so we're just friends now."

So adorable. Giggle.

Today he came home from school and told me that he has a NEW girlfriend.

"Oh yea? What's her name?"

"O. And two other boys in my class asked her to be their girlfriend and she said no. I said to her, If I ask you to be my girlfriend what would you say? And she said YES!"

"Wow! You go boy!" He's so competitive. Giggle.

A while later he asked to use the phone.

"Um, no, you are grounded." I said.

"But I want to call my girlfriend." The cuteness is starting to wear off.

"Listen bud, first of all you are grounded, second of all, you don't need to be chatting away on the phone with O. You saw her all day in school, you'll see her Monday."

He got a silly grin on his face. "Mom, we are getting to the kissing part."

HUH?! Okay, not cute at all.

"No, you aren't! Quite honestly you are too young for a girlfriend and more importantly you are too young for kissing!"

"Only on the cheek mom!"

"NO! I'm sure her parents wouldn't appreciate it. Do you understand?" [feeling faint at the thought]

"Okay!"

He turned and started up the stairs. "Oh, and I asked her to the 5th grade Social next week. She's my date!" And he ran to his room before I could answer.

Well, that's okay, I'm chaperoning! I've already got him nervous because I told him that when a good song comes on I'm going to yell from across the gym, "Hey sweetie, come dance with MAMA!!" as I shake my big old bum toward the dance floor.

All I'll have to do is remind him of that and he'll be on his BEST behavior!

My Hard Work Paid Off

My son's school had their annual PTA Installation Dinner and Chance Auction last Friday night. PHEW! It's finally O-V-E-R!

I am on the committee that runs the auction. I am a complete lunatic every year as there is SO much work to be done for this event. It's our biggest fundraiser. I am in charge of designing and sending out about 500 invitations and response cards, the table seating cards, and various theme related items. I also solicit donations for the gift baskets. To top that all off, I was the chairperson this year for the Ad Journal. That meant soliciting for monetary donations from local businesses and having them place an ad in our program book. I also had to put the book together with the night's schedule, the gift basket list, various thank you notes, and the ads. It was sheer craziness.

Yesterday I finished all of my thank yous to the generous contributors. I am officially done with this year's event!

The night was a big success. We raised a lot of money and I totally kicked butt in the prize department!! I think they may just ban me from going next year.

My loot included: A golf bag and golfing accessories. A basket with various gift cards (i.e. Dunkin Donuts, Panera Bread, Borders Books, etc.). A gymnastics birthday party for 12 at a local gymnastics place and an ice cream cake. 2 Tickets to see Pat Benetar in concert this Friday night! A gift basket from Montessori Academy with play-doh sets, Montessori t-shirts, and $250.00 off tuition (Miss R. may be going there next year. BTW, I won this same basket last year for T. to attend!). And I won the American Girl Doll of the Year, Mia.

How is that for luck?!

I am taking next week off from everything. My son is on spring break. Mr. Schmitty is on vacation. We need some serious family fun. I won't work, I may not blog. It's going to be fun, fun, FUN! We are planning a few day trips. We are going to go to Philly for two days where we will spend some time in the hotel pool, get room service, visit the zoo. The kids are SO excited. We haven't told them yet, but I think we are going to Six Flags Great Adventure one day as well. My neighbor and friend may meet us there with her kids. They are 9, 7, and 3, which will be perfect for pairing up for rides. It's going to be a great surprise!

Now....off to book that hotel room!

A Day In The Life

Today is kindergarten registration for T. He seems a little apprehensive, but that's my T. He's the most shy of the Schmitty children, though he probably is the most "popular". People just take to him. Kids, I've noticed, seem to flock to him. He's just got that natural attraction. You know, there's just something about him.

I reminded him yesterday that we would be going to the school to sign him up. I informed him and his sister that we'd have some errands to run. The registration to start, then to the school's administration building, which is across town. There I will be turning in R.'s registration papers for Preschool.

Our elementary school has a Preschool for children that have special needs, ranging from severe to minor, such as speech therapy. The Preschool also accepts applications for other resident children with no special needs. There is a limited space for other resident children and they are chosen by lottery. I'm hoping R. gets chosen. It will be great to have her and her brother begin the same school together. It will be a lot easier for me. The kids will be in two schools, not three. It will also elevate some of the financial burden as this is free compared to the Montessori Academy she will attend if not picked.

After we drop off her papers, we will need to go grocery shopping. R. said we needed milk. Of course we do. We go through at least two gallons every three days, we ALWAYS need milk. I told R. that we should buy our own cow instead. She then told me that cow's "pee" milk. Oh YUM!

I told them if we had time, we would then go to borough hall to get Ruby's dog license. T.'s eyes bugged out and he exclaimed, "Then she'll be able to drive a car?!"

Ahhhh....the stories he'll tell in kindergarten!

Way Too Much On My Plate!

I have noticed that I have been quite the slacker on my blog as of late. And when I have written here, well basically, it's fluff. I also have not been reading all of my favorite blogs very much. I wonder why my traffic has just about ceased to exist.

This is an extremely busy time of year for me. I am on the PTA committee at my son's school for planning our yearly Chance Auction Dinner. It's a huge fundraiser and a lot of work. For the past couple of years I have designed the invitations for the event. That alone ~ tons of work. I create the design to coincide with that year's theme and then I must put together about 500 invitations and response cards. I also help with the actual soliciting of the prizes. I contact hundreds of merchants online and pretty much beg plead ask for their help in donating.

I also was suckered roped stuck entrusted with the job of putting together our program for the night. It is a journal that breaks down all of the baskets and the prizes included in each one. It also has ads from local and not so local merchants. Now keep in mind, those merchants need to be called and I need to again beg plead ask for their help in donating. Not my forte. I feel like I trip over my own tongue. I can handle the online stuff, but talking to someone, like FOR REAL?! EEK!

But I'm doing it, so YAY! for me.

This year my W. will be leaving the elementary school. He's off next year to the INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL! The horror of that, well that will be another post. I am a co-chair for the 4th Grade Celebration Party. I am working with 3 other 4th grade moms to organize the all day party at the end of the year for the kids. We go to a local park and have food, music, games, and fun, Fun, FUN!

I guess I have been dubbed the school's, ummm..."Creative One", so I am designing the t-shirts for the kids. We also surveyed the kids and asked them to tell us their favorite songs. I am then going to create a music CD for them. Their class picture will be the case insert.

Can I tell you about the songs? Holy Crap! I think some parents need to start paying attention to what their kids listen to! I'm pretty up on current music. I like ALL kinds. When I saw their list, I didn't recognize a lot of the choices. Thank goodness for the internet. I Googled the lyrics and was floored! The most popular song was called "Low". Here are a few excerpts, keep in mind these are 10 year olds. "She turned around and gave that big booty a smack", "So sexual, she was flexible", "Work the pole, I got the bank roll", "Imma say that I prefer them no clothes", "Shawty what I gotta do to get you home My jeans full of gwap And they ready for Shones Cadillacs Maybachs for the sexy grown Patrone on the rocks that'll make you moan" (I don't even know what the hell that last one even means!), "That's what I told her, her legs on my shoulder", "She ready for Rover, I couldn't control her".

Okay, Okay, I gotta stop. I think you got the drift. And that was only half of the song.

So so so WRONG! 10 year olds listening and LOVING that song. Parents need to get a grip.

Please, don't get me started!

Breathe, breathe.

As you can all see, I have been quite busy. I've also been painting my kid's rooms! I'll post pics when that is finally accomplished.

One more thing. Here comes the shameless begging pleading request ~ if any of you have your own business and would like to contribute to our event, please contact me for more info. You can donate a service, merchandise, or you can even place an ad in the journal promoting your business. I would truly appreciate it!

Thanks so much!!

Not Superstitious Anymore

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. W.'s school was having their annual PTA Installation Dinner and Chance Auction. All of the moms in the neighborhood get together, leave the kids home with the dads and get a table. Yes, we have to listen to the principal give her speech, blah, blah, blah. But then we get to have some drinks, without kids, eat great food, have some drinks, win some great prizes, have some drinks, have some laughs, have some more drinks, and did I say, NO KIDS ALLOWED?

I almost didn't make it to the dinner last night. I'm not usually a believer in the whole unlucky Friday the 13th thing. But in the hour and a half before I left everything started to go wrong. I almost put on my pjs and called it a night. It all started when I asked hubby to run to the bank for me. I had some deposits that needed to be made and I needed some money for the auction. I told him I had a few things to do in the house and then the kids were his and I was going to actually take my time getting showered and ready for a night out with the girls.

He left and came back rather quickly. He handed me my receipts and I asked where my money was. "Oh shi...t," he replied. Typical. "Don't worry about it, I have plenty of time, I'll just go later." I walked away before I slapped him in the head. No big deal.

I went downstairs to iron the jacket I was going to wear. It only had a few creases in it from hanging in my closet. I could have gotten away with it, but NO, I had to heat up that damn iron. I must first tell you, I NEVER iron. I usually live in jeans and tee-shirts so if my clothes look a little too lived in, they get tossed in the dryer. Anything else goes to the dry cleaner. So I spread out the jacket and barely get the iron on the fabric. Ssssssss. Stuck right to the sleeve. Big old iron print. Oh for the love of GOD!

Now I have to find something else to wear, time is ticking. So much for that leisurely shower. I quickly hosed off and did my hair...which didn't come out too badly given the lack of attention it got. Makeup on. Looks okay, one more coat of mascara and I'll be finished. OH.MY.EYE!!! I'm blind! Quick, it burns, it burns. Big glob of black on my eyeball!!! My right eye now looks like I've been sucker-punched. Start over.

I have 3 people who are waiting for me. I hate being late. I'm always early. I run upstairs in my bra and underwear. It is broad daylight out, I run right past the front window. I don't care who sees me now. Would serve them right if they were looking in anyway.

I yell to Mr. Schmitty to run back to the bank to get my money, PLLLLLEASSSE. I'm late, I'm partially naked, Jen is waiting to pick me up, Pretty Please!

The bank is only 2 minutes from my house. I throw on my clothes and call my neighbor to say I'm just about ready to come on over to pick me up. I'm just waiting for my money and then we can go. I stand by the doorway and I have R. hanging on my leg. "Don't go mommy, you can't leave me, I'll miss you!" She is now snotting all over my black pants. Where.Is.Your.Father? My neighbor is sitting out front, I'm using my fists by my eyes to show her that R. is crying. I then place my hand in the shape of a gun to my forehead. Where.The.Hell.Is He? I call on the cell. "Where are you?" I try to say sweetly. "You needed gas in the van, I'm at the gas station."

Do you think he could EVER listen to me? "I'm not driving, I told you Jen was, and she's been waiting outside for the last 15 minutes while I wipe your daughter's boogers off my leg and wondering if you crashed the car." He says, "Oh, I'll be right home."

He gets home, I go outside and grab my cash, give him a kiss and jump in the Jeep. I look up at the doorway and see that R. has locked him out of the house. Ha, payback! I called him from the corner, W. finally looked up from the TV long enough to open the door.

Friday the 13th...I ain't winning jack tonight I think to myself. Well, guess what?! I kicked major booty!

I won a basket of 5 Webkins for the kids. Which I am so thankful for because they would have driven me crazy today if I hadn't.

I won a 7 person tent, 2 sleeping bags, a huge beach type blanket, and 2 fold-up chairs (you know the kind people bring to soccer games, etc.).

And I won a tote bag with assorted pencils, crayons, markers, etc. Along with a $250.00 gift certificate for the preschool I am sending T. to in September. There were also t-shirts and promotional items from the school. And a $100 gift certifcate toward a moon bounce rental!

So much for superstitions! Whoo-Hoo!