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Sep
30
Deep sigh. If I had written this a few hours ago, it would have had a completely different title and tone. It really is good to let things calm down before venting out loud.
It was a horrible no good very bad morning, and most of that was my fault. I’m rightfully aggravated with my kids, and the aggravation has been building for a few days. I’m not even going to go into why I’m aggravated, because if you think about it, you might say that someone let the situation get out of hand. I already know that though. I’ve told them multiple times why I’m aggravated, but then instead of insisting that certain behavior stop, I let it continue. There, I said the most painful thing. I let it continue.
I was hoping they would do the right thing without me being the enforcer. They didn’t, so my aggravation kind of exploded this morning into anger.
I absolutely hate starting their day that way. Ever since they were little, I always made sure the mornings were calm, so they could start their day calm. There would have been a calm way for me to handle things this morning, but I blew it.
I continued with my self righteous anger for a few hours, snapping at my husband when he asked me what happened and wallowing in self pity. Then I woke up. And felt absolutely horrible.
I immediately called my husband and apologized. If my kids were younger, I would have shown up at their school for lunch. At their ages, that would only make it worse, so I’m waiting til they get home to apologize for my outburst.
I’m not minimizing their part in it, but I have to take ownership of my part too. Am I the only one that does things like this? Go ahead, lie to make me feel better be honest.
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Sep
29
We have been trying to have a family movie night every weekend, and so far, it has been a success. The only problem we have is choosing movies, or choosing a movie that all four of us agree on.
My kids, especially my 12 year old, think that I am trying to keep them from great classic movies, such as anything from the Scream series or “305″… How did they figure out that I want to keep those timeless treasures all to myself!
It is hard to find movies that we all like, because I veto anything with sexual content or nudity. Language is hard to avoid, to a certain extent, so I will consider movies with minor bad language and minimal violence. That rules out most comedies, because those are usually full of inappropriate content. So every week is kind of a struggle.
Last weekend we rented The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, based on the book by John Boyne. I do like to read the books first, but this was the only movie we all wanted to see. Excellent movie, although its been awhile since a movie had me sobbing out loud. Very heavy for family movie night, but it opened up a great discussion. I highly recommend it.
My kids prefer action or scary movies, and they think Friday the 13th would be the ultimate scary movie - if their mom would let them watch it 
. Why do so many scary movies have to throw in a sex scene?
I love movies, and I want to share that with my kids, but our options are so limited. They don’t want to watch movies that are rated G, but I draw the line at so many even PG-13 movies. This is where you guys come in!
I need movie ideas for our family movie night. My boys are 12 and 14. Like I said, no sexual content, but I’ll consider just about anything else. It doesn’t have to be a recent movie, old movies are fine. Scary, funny, action, drama, anything goes. I’d love to hear about movies that you or your family love. What would you recommend for my family?
And because I sooo appreciate you suggestions, a giveaway! I am giving away (2) $100 Amazon gift cards. Two lucky winners! And there are a lot of ways to enter.
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment here with movie recommendations. One comment per person, but there are other ways to enter.
More ways to enter:
- Subscribe to Unexpected Bliss.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog. (include direct link in your comment)
- Follow me on Twitter (@UnexpectedBliss)
- For an extra entry, sent a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter name in your comment. This may be done as often as you want, leave a comment for each tweet.
- Stumble this post
For each of the above that you do, leave 1 comment on this giveaway post, ie 1 comment if you subscribe, 1 comment if you follow me on Twitter, 1 comment for each tweet, 1 comment for a Stumble, 1 comment for mentioning this on your blog)
You can also earn additional entries by commenting on any of my blog posts from September 1 through October 5. Relevant comments puleeze, not just I want to win! or Here’s my entry! If you already commented on those posts, go ahead and comment again to be counted for this giveaway, I’ll be keeping track by date.
That is a lot of chances to win!
Open to US addresses only. Please make sure you leave a valid email address with each entry. The winners will have 72 hours to respond to my email notification, if I do not hear back within that time I will pick another winner.
This giveaway will end at midnight CST on Monday October 5.
The giveaway has ended. Thank you for all your great movie recommendations! Winners will be emailed later today and will be posted here once I hear back from them. Thanks for entering!
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Sep
28
I got to review Febreze NOTICEables in a compensated review from Blogher – no, it is NOT because I have a smelly house! Well I did, but I don’t anymore, oh never mind. Anyway, visit my review blog to read the review and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card and Febreze gift basket.
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Sep
23
My youngest son wants a cell phone. He has wanted one for awhile, but now that he’s in sixth grade and everyone has a cell phone, he is especially desperate for one. I offered to let him carry one of our old ones and just always say his phone died, but he didn’t go for that
Unlike his teenage brother, whose method for getting what he wants is limited to asking then wailing when the answer is no, my little guy knows the subtle art of persuasion. In other words, he is trying to manipulate his mama with his cuteness. Oh yes he is.
For instance, puppy dog eyes. He does it well, and he does it often. Tell me this face is not irrestible-
(I had to include the actual puppy with the boy and his puppy dog eyes, so you see the full irrestibility)
I am particularly vulnerable to this boy and his puppy dog eyes, because he is so desperate for a phone that he drops his manly attitude and is all “hug me mommy”. He knows what works, the sly dog.
He went on a campout last weekend and used one of his friends’ phone to text me. Often. I guess to show me his fine texting skillz… Which are so fine that I have to share the texts with you:
Nolan: Hi mommy yer stil at the church (translation: we’re still at the church)
Me: Hi honey, have a good time.
Nolan: Dont text me again im on davids fone
Then my older son sent him a text, because when someone tells you not to text them, you must respond!
Nolan: david is taking hi fone awa so dont text me but i dont think that os fairatall (translation: david is taking his phone away so don’t text me, but I don’t think that is fair at all)
Nolan: member to call att (translation: Remember to call AT&T and ask how much it will cost to get him a phone)
Nolan: Seriousli
Nolan: U better
Nolan: Seriousli before o get home (translation: seriously before I get home)
Nolan: Davids fone is dying dont text again (notice that I have NOT been texting him!)
Nolan: hi mom imon dads fone now (translation: hi mom I’m on dad’s phone now)
Nolan: dad wants his fone back already wich is totaly ufair by (translation: dad wants his phone back already which is totally unfair. bye)
Well. I think we all can agree that the child is a texting prodigy. Seriously, I was laughing so hard getting those texts from him.
Adorableness and texting genius aside, that boy is still not getting a fone. Wich is totaly ufair.
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Sep
19
Its really true. You are the wisest you will ever be when you’re in kindergarten.
My mom was babysitting my six year old nephew when he came running into the house, and here is part of their conversation:
Elliott: Grandma, there are people outside and they know my name!
Grandma: How do they know your name, do you know them?
Elliott: (in a slightly exasperated voice) Grandma, my name has traveled the world because I am so wonderful!
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Sep
16
If you see my son, he will hold the door open for you. If you drop something, he will bend down and pick it up for you. He’s helpful that way.
If you see my son, he’ll shake your hand and say “Nice to meet you”. He’ll look you in the eye and answer your questions. He’ll make small talk and laugh at your jokes, even if they are lame. I know this because he laughs at mine.
If you see my son, he’ll say please and thank you.
If you see my son, your kids will like him. The under five year old set adores him, because he’s young enough to act goofy with them and old enough to be endlessly patient. He’s a great babysitter.
If you see my son and need help, go ahead and ask. He likes to help as long as it doesn’t involve cleaning his bedroom.
If you see my son, you might be surprised at how articulate and pleasant he is. We don’t always see that side of him at home, but he is.
Oh, one more thing.
If you see my son, he’ll be the one with the longish, shaggy hair that partially covers his eyes. It’s dyed black. He’ll probably be wearing these big goofy black rimmed glasses. Not because he needs glasses, but because he thinks they look funky. And they go well with his skinny jeans, which he wears a lot. He might be dressed in all black or dark clothes, depending on his fashion mood that morning. He might be wearing wrist bands, not because he cuts, but because he thinks they look funky.
What will you do if you see my son?
I hope you won’t roll your eyes, or give me a sympathetic look because clearly he must be an out of control delinquent. Don’t scowl at him or move to the other side of the aisle. Don’t assume anything about him.
If you see my son, look past the hair and clothes. Toss out any initial judgment you might want to make based on his appearance, and give him a chance. Don’t miss an opportunity to meet a really great kid.
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Sep
14
There is still time to enter to win a $100 Visa gift card, visit my review blog for details and good luck!
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Sep
11
9/11/01. Remember.
Eight years and its like yesterday. My husband calling from his car on the way to work, saying it has to be some sick joke on the radio, but turn on the TV just in case. Turning on the TV and shooing my babies out of the room when I see the shattered buildings on the news. Listening in shock all morning. The lines at the gas stations as people started to panic. The absolute silence from the skies for days afterwards. The somber vigils at church and the open sobbing from the pews. Watching and listening to the victims family members on TV until my husband said please, no more, its too much. Holding my family close and tight and thanking God for them.
Remember.
What were you doing eight years ago today?
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Sep
9
It is unbelievable how much can happen in less than three weeks. Unbelievable.
Here is what has been going on in my life over the past couple of weeks, in chronological order:
- My van broke down. Major engine problems.
- Our home air conditioner went out for the second time this summer. Since summer can last until October here, we called a repairman. It probably needs a major repair, but since we’re past the summer heat wave and we’re having a slight cash flow problem (cash flowing out faster than its coming in) he did the very least he could do to make it last until next spring.
- My husbands truck died for no reason. It started again, but he took it to the mechanic to have it checked.
- Our dryer quit working. Well, it didn’t quit working, but when I told my mom that it was getting really hot on the outside of the dryer, she told me that wasn’t normal. That it was a fire hazard. Oops.
That all happened in one weeks time, actually. Moving on:
- After one week in the shop, we learn that my van has several major engine issues which require hard to find parts.
- After my husband took his truck to the mechanic, they diagnosed and fixed it in one day for a relatively minor fee, which caused great celebration at our house.
- The day after the mechanic fixed his truck, it died on his way to work and would not start. Coincidentally, this was the day after the fire hazard dryer had to be replaced. Back to a different mechanic. The new mechanic replaced the fuel pump for a slightly more major fee. No celebrating this time.
- By now, my van has been in the shop for almost three weeks. I have forgotten what color it is. When they call and tell me its all fixed, I’m tempted to tell them to keep it at this point.
- I pick up the van and drive it home. It’s raining so I go straight home with the windows up. Which is why I did not hear the horrid sound that it makes when I put it in reverse. This is a new sound, it wasn’t there three weeks ago when we took the van to the shop.
Sigh. Can anything else break? Would anything else like to break RIGHT NOW? Come on, I can take it.
There is a bright side to all this. My van, with the major engine repair? Two little words that will make you dance for joy: Under Warranty. We have never been able to take advantage of a warranty before, usually things fall apart right after the warranty expires. But not this time, and I am counting my blessings every day for that.
The fifteen year old dryer has been on its last leg for a long time, so this wasn’t a complete surprise. But we had a plan, a well thought out plan that involved a budget and saving and getting a new washer and dryer when we were ready. Which was not last week.
Tomorrow I will call the mechanic that worked on the van and explain the new noise problem. And I will try not to laugh when I’m talking to him, but at this point, what else can I do?
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Sep
2
We are finally getting into something that resembles a routine. The kids have been back to school for a couple of weeks, and I started my second semester of graduate classes last week. Last week was hectic, because for the first time in a long time, I had to juggle not just the kids activities, but my classes. My classes don’t meet every week, so it won’t be that hard all the time.
Of course, right when my classes start, my job got really busy. Because that’s a rule, you can’t have just one thing going on at a time. So last week = crazy.
Let me tell you something about my husband. We started dating almost 20 (!) years ago and have been married for 15 years. There are no surprises anymore, I know the man and his quirks very well. He is not and has never been one of those guys who buys gifts or flowers for no reason. In fact, we rarely exchange gifts even when there is a reason. He doesn’t leave me love notes very often. By that I mean, I’ve probably gotten 5 mushy notes from him in the past 20 years. That’s okay, I’m used to it and don’t expect those things.
But sometimes, he knocks it out of the park.
One night last week I was seriously stressed. Work deadlines, homework, kids activities and that’s all in the same night. Sleep was not in my near future, I hadn’t had time to eat lunch and things weren’t looking good for dinner.
Out of nowhere, with no whining on my part (I swear!) here comes my husband. He had made me a sandwich. Not just any sandwich, but possibly the best BLT I ever had. Because he could see I was tired and stressed and hungry and impossibly busy.
I think I’m going to keep that guy.
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My boys
Where did those little guys go?Cuteness overload
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