Wee Shenanigans

Still Here

2011-11-04T12:51:00.000-04:00

OH DEAR!!!!

My beloved computer is finally in my hands and connected to the Internet (kinda)...

We MOVED!!! I had the newest Shenanigans!! We bought a house faint.....

Got our household goods delivered and still trying to find everything a place in the house. Tons to update on and sooooo many blogs to visit and see what everyone has been up too. I haven't even looked at my email yet because I'm scared too.. laughing

So, please be kind as I try to get myself up and running again.

Brand New Firecracker

2011-08-11T22:18:00.000-04:00

Without anymore delay...... Introducing..... the newest Shenanigans family member...

Miss KitKat

The story of how she came into the world is actually pretty short. Called with a question about some bloody show so they told me to head on in to be monitor again. I got out of the car at the hospital and felt wet between my legs. Told them my water just broke so they admitted me and two hours later I was finally given a room. Apparently, June/July this year was record breaking for number of babies born so they didn't have rooms available.

We explained that my tolerance for pain is quite HIGH and thus I would let them know when I needed it. I read my books and answered questions as they came and went. All of a sudden the pain was almost to my breaking point so I asked for the epidural. Time ticked by and finally they came to put the epidural in however the pain was so bad I told them it was time to push. No pain meds... almost no doctor... a few pushes later and out popped Miss KitKat... All 9lbs 12oz... 22inches... and a full head of hair.

The nurses were shocked that it happened so quickly and that I was reading up until 20-30 minutes of giving birth. We tried telling them in the beginning that it was going to be quick and that if I said it was time; then it was time. From the time my water broke to giving birth was just about five-six hours.

Now.... I have an appointment next week to find out the results of my tests. Here's a reminder if you need. While I do plan on sharing the results it might be a few days before I can post about it. We are literally moving two days after my appointment and will be living in a hotel until further notice. Fun times...

Just a quick note

2011-06-16T14:41:00.000-04:00

So...... I've been resting and stuck on the couch a lot since I started getting swollen feet etc.... Which means I haven't been at the computer. Do have pictures and posts I want/need to post and as soon as I can figure out how to do that from my laptop I WILL...

and......

This morning I had my appointment and was sent over to Triage for monitoring (L/D was packed and didn't have room). Everything is fine but they wanted to double check since the movements had slowed down. WELL.... while there I started having contractions and was told to pay close attention to them....

sooooo

Since Daddy Shenanigans is leaving Sunday and not coming back until sometime during the end of next week; I made a quick phone call..... My mom will be flying in this Saturday instead of next weekend. I LOVE MY MOM!

Hoping that since she was able to move things around and will be here that I won't go into labor. However, it's nice to know that someone will be here just in case.

Just a quick update for those that have been asking....

And he is gone again...

2011-05-31T19:16:00.000-04:00

Rambling post

Just me and the kiddos again. (sigh)

No worries it's only for a week and then another week later this month. For those doing the math, yes I am due to give birth soon and hope that he will be here for it. My mother flies in the last week of June to help out with Wee Man and Lil Kiwi when I go to the hospital.

Still no name... Running out of time? Yes, but I have faith that she will have a name soon.

This also means that it's almost time to move. So not looking forward to moving again specially during the middle of Summer but it's just how things worked out. On a positive note the huge swing set in the backyard is finally G-O-N-E! We had given it away last year but the family that took it brought it back (with the understanding they would get it a month later) they finally came and got it a few days ago. Yipppee!

Have an appointment tomorrow so need to get some things together and then some sleep.

Wordless Wednesday - Finally after 5 months

2011-05-25T00:00:00.005-04:00

Look who is BACK!!!!

Daddy Shenanigans took two weeks off and we have been enjoying having him home. He meanwhile was enjoying not having to shave every morning.

Please leave a comment and then link up

My Blankee

2011-05-17T10:06:00.000-04:00

Let me start by saying that EVERY baby needs a blanket no matter if they are born during the winter or summer. There is just something about a blanket that most kids seem to find comforting and reassuring. Recently, I received a stroller blanket from My Blankee Inc for the newest Shenanigans to be. As soon as the package was opened I could see why blankets from My Blankee are sought after by celebrities. Luxurious... soft... silky... elegant... wonderful quality... Do I really need to go on?

This blanket has the best of both worlds with a soft ultra-luxe velour on both sides and a 2" satin ruffle border. Little fingers can curl around the satin while the soft velour cuddles their wee bodies. No need to worry if the blanket get dirty; just toss it in the washer. Have to love a product that is not only Made In The USA but also machine washable!

I must admit I haven't yet washed our blanket however, they say they are 0% Shrinkage, pre-shrunk, and 0% bleeding. With the quality of the blankets I have no doubt this blanket will live up to their statements. In fact, it has already been taken over by Lil Kiwi and used almost daily now. (Yes, I will have to buy another My Blankee for the newest baby.) She uses it for cuddling on the couch, indoor picnics with her stuffies, and just petting it because it's "so soft and perrrfect".

My Blankee has several prints, patterns, materials and sizes to choose from. The hard part is picking out which blanket(s) you want to get. Plus, don't let the name My Blankee fool you into thinking they only do blankets. They have crib bedding, burp cloths, carseat covers, and so much more that you might be surprised at what you find.

One more thing please remember.....

*Disclosure: Product for this review was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Wordless Wednesday - Seedling

2011-05-11T00:00:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago we planted a few apple seed expecting nothing to grow. It was more a project Wee Man wanted to do. Yet......

Please don't forget to leave a comment and then link up...

When the talk doesn't work

2011-05-10T11:11:00.001-04:00

I've had the talk with my computer before about getting a "STV" (socially transmitted virus) but it seems that talk didn't work.

That hard drive crash I got wasn't a "real" crash but rather a very sneaky virus that makes it seem like one. Then on top of that (or maybe it's part of it) I got something that hid all my folders/files from sight. Plus, about two months ago my laptop ate it because of a BIOS password issue that the company knew about but didn't contact people to let them know. So, here I was with a laptop not working, unless I take it in to get fixed and spend almost what I could get a cheap new one for, AND a PC full of viruses and spyware. Oh Joy!!

Several phone calls for people to look information up and then calling my computer guru begging to hear all would be fine.....

"Let's hope it's your hard drive because that is easy to fix.... you still there?.... Please tell me you aren't crying...." computer guru nervously said.

"Aa.. I... I.. Okay..." I got out between sniffles.

The good news is that after a week of poking and prodding my computer we finally got it all nice and clean on Saturday. The perfect Mother's Day gift to myself.... Or so I thought.

Yep... Early that morning I was getting ready to post and leave comments when WHAM BAM thank you ma'am.... (sigh) All clean once again and hopefully staying that way. Thus I am sorry for not replying to emails or visiting your blogs last week.

I sure hope when it's time to have "the talk" with my kids they listen to it.

So, ladies and gentlemen... Please be careful when out and about on the Internet; even the nice looking sites might be naughty.

Wordless Wednesday - Dog Days

2011-05-03T20:39:00.000-04:00

Fawn Dog has it rough.... extra thick bed(s) yet she always looks so sad....

Please leave a comment and link up....

My computer is still giving me a hard time so I'll try and visit as I can.

Mother's Day Gifts with Shari's Berries - Review

2011-04-29T21:42:00.001-04:00

I'm not accustomed to getting Mother's Day gifts. So last year when I was showered with a handmade gift from Wee Man AND a whole dozen chocolate covered strawberries from Shari's Berries I was in heaven.

Want to pamper your own mother (or perhaps yourself) to a sweet gift that will surely surprise and delight her? Then Shari's Berries is the way to go.... With a click of the mouse you have several yummy gourmet strawberries or more to pick from.

I was able to try the Cheesecake Trio & Full Half Dozen Giant Dipped Fancy Berries and oooooo was it a tastebud tingling torture (yummy). The strawberries were all over 2 inches long and dipped in thick layers of chocolate that lovingly coated all of them. Each bite is the perfect amount of strawberry to chocolate and juicy berry to crunchy texture ratio. Normally, I would have photos to show you just how great they are but sadly my computer's hard drive crashed and well yeah you are just going to have to take my word for it.

The cheesecake trio that accompanied the berries were almost beyond words. They might be mini but so rich and full of flavor that anything bigger would be too much. Each one is about three inches long or the size of a biscuit. Warning... Do not I repeat do not gobble them down. Reason one is because they are for savoring and indulging your tastebuds. Reason two is simply they have a lot of calories for being wee mini cheesecakes and could easily be eaten in one sitting.

Want something besides berries? Try looking at the baked goodies, spa baskets, or any of the mixed packages. I am sure that any of the items from Shari's Berries would be just as wonderful as the berries.

While I love it when I do a review that is all positive; sometimes things don't always go as planned. As I opened my box of Cheesecake Trio & Full Half Dozen Giant Dipped Fancy Berries the ice pack was melted and everything was kinda warm. The strawberries were fine but the cheesecakes seemed to be a tad too soft. A quick call to ask if they were okay and I was informed that they didn't feel safe for me to eat them. Even though it was not their fault but rather the heat and my UPS guy delivering the box at almost 5 pm; Shari's Berries sent me another package free of charge. It was one of the most pleasant phone calls I had ever had with a company's customer service. If a customer has any questions or issues they can call 800.580.2913 (24/7-365) and Shari's Berries will make it right, every time. In fact, visit their facebook page and receive a discount on your order. Shari's Berries Facebook

Time is ticking so why are you still reading this... Go visit Shari's Berries and make a Mother's day special.

Wind, Rain and Tornadoes OH MY

2011-04-28T12:35:00.001-04:00

This morning my mother and I were chatting about the crazy weather that has been happening. I'm certain Mother Nature is none to pleased with something or maybe it's just that time of the year. Shortly, after I told her we survived the tornado warning over the night; my house phone rang....

"This is blah blah blah.... The National Weather blah blah blah... the tornado warning has been extended until 3 PM... Please take all blah blah blah......"

OH SNAP!

Now I'm sitting here listening to the down pouring of rain and rolling thunder not too far away. Hoping that is all my neighbors and I will have to deal with. Yet, as I continue to see the death toll rising with each news update; it's hard not to feel a wee bit scared and worried. Now I am not too worried since this isn't a normal thing for this area but if I hear the siren blast oh yeah I'm going to head for cover.

I can not even begin to imagine how those that have already been hit by the tornadoes must be feeling. My heart goes out to all those effected by the most recent storms.

EDITED to add...

Seems like the wind, rain and tornadoes have subsided.... yoo hoo!!

Wordless Wednesday - Where did my little girl go

2011-04-26T21:27:00.000-04:00

Please leave a comment and then link up...

Realizing just how much

2011-04-25T19:59:00.001-04:00

Having a baby is expensive!

Here we are with two wonderful children and no plans for anymore. So we finally get rid of the baby gear and such; only to find out a few months later that I was pregnant. Don't get me wrong I am not the naive 1st time mommy that thinks we need all the gear (shakes head remembering when I was) . Yet, it's those basic baby gear items that seem to be the most expensive ones.

With only a little time left before the newest wee shenanigans joins the family I have started making my NEED list.
1. New crib mattress
2. Playard
3. Highchair
4. Super soft and cuddly blanket
5. A few onesies..socks..babylegs..
6. Diapers (so want to go cloth but scared)
7. Car seat
8. ~~Cuski~~ (got it already)
9. Bottles
10. ....

Then of course there is the Maybe list.
1. Good breast pump (just in case)
2. ....

and last but not least my I WANT IT list...
1. Personal Assistant to make sure I don't leave the house in PJs or worse!!!
2. Full nights of peaceful sleep
3. Everything to be perfect
4. Magically have a house waiting for us when we move a month after baby is born.
5. .....

I'm sure I have forgotten a lot of the Needs but I'm doing good right now to remember that much. Mommy brain has already hit me and I still have two months to go!

So..... I'm asking for help.... What items did I forget so far.... and feel free to add to my other lists if you so like... (smile)

What does one NEED for a newborn?...

Wordless Wednesday - Machu Picchu

2011-04-19T21:13:00.000-04:00

Machu Picchu during the dry season and my first attempt at using the pan feature on my old camera...

Sunday Quiet Time

2011-04-17T12:52:00.002-04:00

Horrid storms blew through here until this morning and it's still a tad yucky outside. Thus the kids and I are spending a quiet Sunday afternoon reading.

Which is great. Wee Man is curled up reading his newest Scooby Doo chapter book.

Chapter books are the only thing that he will read now that he is a (ahem) big boy. While he is in the top reading group in his class and reads very well; momma knows he still skips a few words here and there. As a special gift from his Nonnie, he was allowed to pick out his very own bookmark and he is reading more than ever. I'm also proud that he decided to read this book because and I quote...."Where are the pictures? I thought there were pictures..." followed by a small frown.

Also a gift from Nonnie was a set of Princess board books (25 of them) for Lil Kiwi at Christmas. They are great little books and each one teaches a lesson. Having faith in yourself, being kind to others, courage, beauty within, saying thank you or please, etc....

She loves having me read them in groups of characters or color. They are also the perfect size for her to ~~look~~ read them herself and short enough that she stays interested.

The Shenanigans Continue

2011-04-12T14:53:00.001-04:00

It's been since October since I last wrote. After finally responding to a few emails asking where I was, I think I'm ready to share with all of you. So be gentle....

First, last year was a crazy year. It started off with two visits to the ER for Lil Kiwi, a monster snowfall, our five year old neighbor keyed our new mini van, losing the baby in July, Grandpa Shenanigans and Black Dog passing away, and then..... the reason I have been hiding...

I think it was just everything just got to me and overwhelmed me so much that I just didn't know what to do. Since July I was keeping a secret from everyone.... Then in October there was another secret... and it was sooo hard to keep things together. It wasn't until Christmas that we finally told DH's family what had been going on. Even now I'm finding it difficult to just come out and say it...

*deep breath*

Okay... In July, when I was feeling sooooo sick the doctors discovered that I have a type of cancer. While I was being evaluated to see if it was a bad version something else happened that put everything on standby... I got pregnant.... Not the best timing and the doctors were well not at all pleased... Now we have to wait until after I give birth to continue testing.

So.... Even though I had tried to keep going; once we found out I was pregnant in October I shut down.

DH has been gone since January for training and doesn't come back until May. It's been just me and the kids. My mind and emotions are ALL over the place. What ifs haunt me... Yet, those of you that sent emails and then kind words gave me the strength to be brave. Thank you all....

Not my most flattering photo but here's the tummy photo of the newest Shenanigans...

Wordless Wednesday - Kilauea Lighthouse

2010-10-27T00:00:00.002-04:00

Kilauea Lighthouse is the northern most point of the main Hawaiian Islands.

My photo does not capture a fraction of the beauty.

Careful what you ask for

2010-10-25T13:42:00.001-04:00

Wee Man didn't start talking until he was about three and a half years old. Does speech therapy twice a week to help his tongue learn how to move and make the correct sounds. They say he is doing wonderful and hope that soon he will be down to once a week. yeah!

I kept wishing he would start talking since he was passing milestones in other areas but he didn't. My mom and father-in-law told me that once he started talking I would be wishing for silence. BAH what do they know......

A LOT.....

Heavens... That boy will talk about anything and everything... Sometimes we understand and sometimes we don't.... There are times when I dream of silence for just a few minutes.... However, then I would miss moments like this one....

"MOM!!!.... My butt just wiggled... I think I need to go poop..." Wee Man states and heads for the bathroom.

Brings a smile to my face.... That's my boy.....

Wordless Wednesday - Reading Time

2010-10-20T00:00:00.005-04:00

The one certainty

2010-10-18T14:25:00.000-04:00

(A short vent......)

There is one thing in life that will always be certain.

Death....

No matter who you are, what you believe, how you live, or what age you are; death will be there.

A few of you know how hard it has been since I lost the baby in July. Sorrow surrounded me and I couldn't find the strength to post without whimpering so I didn't.

Along came August and the discovery of another possible medical issue with Lil Kiwi. (next week we go for more tests)

September started with the death of Great Grandpa Shenanigans... The heavens gained a most lovely and pure soul while the earth wept of such a loss. I have to admit that my will was faltering by that time and as such I was with drawing into myself.

This weekend my beloved Bubba (black dog) became suddenly ill and then passed away. They don't understand why it happened completely since nothing seemed to point to anything. All I know is my heart and the last of my will is breaking.

Yet, here I am... Wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep so that I do not have to face the world; but instead I'm playing with the kids and facing the world. All because there is nothing I can do to change what has happened. Death will come for us all....
People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad. ~Marcel Proust

It's time to have THE TALK

2010-10-02T08:23:00.002-04:00

Yep.... someone in this household has been very naughty...

It seems that it's time to have "the talk"...

Four years... four years you have lived in this household...

*deep breath
So why... Why have you been so naughty this month? Haven't I told you the importance of being "safe" and using the protection I give you!!

Do you know how embarrassed I was last week when I had to call a professional to ask about your problem.

*shakes head back and forth
No no no.... it doesn't matter if he is a friend it was still horrible to ask for help....

It has taken a whole month to get you free of your viruses...

*shudders
How could you be so careless.... so naughty...

yes... my computer has finally gotten an "STV" (socially transmitted virus).... three years clean except for three small malwares and now a whole month of complete nastiness...

Brain Mush and Peter Pan

2010-09-01T09:29:00.000-04:00

Ever had those morning where you just seem to always be a step or two behind and your brain just doesn't want to work with you. (raises hand)

I think my brain has now officially become mush.... This has been a rough summer for the Shenanigans household ;thus the lack of posting. However, the cause of my brain mush is Lil Kiwi and her new ~~obsession~~ love of the movie Peter Pan....

In the beginning it was cute when she asked to watch it a second time and then acted out a few scenes. Wee Man likes to watch different things so I never understood those parents that said "we watch that movie at least 10 times a day" ...... Now I understand...

As soon as the movie ends Lil Kiwi is begging me to play it again. In fact, the last few days, if the TV was on so was Peter Pan.... I have seen it so much that I'm starting to pick it apart and while it looks all cute on the surface Peter Pan is one disturbed young man.

Agree... Disagree.... What other classic movie gets you thinking?

WW - Everything happens for a reason

2010-07-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

Where to start.... I had a secret that I was going to share with everyone but sometimes life has a way of taking a different path.

I'll start with the fact that for the whole month of July I have been living on the couch; doctors orders. The reason..... I was very sick and had started to bleed; which isn't a good thing when you are pregnant. SURPRISE! Yep that was the secret that I was hoping to share. Don't celebrate yet.

Remember that whole life not always going as planned. Last week during my ultrasound we discovered that the pregnancy was nonviable. It was devastating but I didn't have time to do any crying because the next day I was running around getting everything ready for surgery. Only two days after finding out there was no longer a baby; I was at the hospital getting a D&C.

Now I'm sitting here... numb... but feeling so much better than I have the whole month. It appears that what we thought was the horrid morning sickness I normally get was actually my body trying to fight what was no longer part of me.

Today I'm going to sit on the couch and see what everyone has been up to for the first time in over a month. OH and thank you to all of you that sent emails. I am so sorry I didn't reply but this is honestly the first I have been on the computer for any length of time. So much to catch up on.

Back to the daily grind

2010-07-09T14:43:00.001-04:00

What a trip!

I'm still trying to get the kids back into their normal routine but it's not working out so well. Thank goodness it is summer and that means we have time to get a new routine started.

Will post photos after I get them on the computer. I haven't been on the computer since we got back last week because I have been feeling quite ill. The couch and I are best of friends right now but I'm sick of sitting/laying around on it.

Speaking of being sick.... The one thing we have tried to prevent with Lil Kiwi finally happened. She got an UTI the last few days of the trip; which made the flight home soooo much fun. While her surgery did fix most of the problem; her getting an UTI is not something we can take lightly. As soon as we landed I was on the phone calling our insurance to approve an emergency doctor visit.

We were at the clinic until they closed that evening at 10. Started her on meds and then a few days later had to change to stronger meds because the infection was resistant. That in itself was an issue since Lil Kiwi can not take any medicine with penicillin. The good news is that it seems to be working and hopefully the next test will show her to be fine.

Wee Man is thrilled to be home and was super excited to see "moving to1st grade" on his report card. When did he get so big!?! Plan on starting a journal for him to write in everyday to practice. He reads everything now and out loud to boot...

Okay... Think this is about all I have the energy to write for now. Still have a few reviews and giveaways I need to write and post this week or next. Will also be trying to visit everyone and see what you have been up too.

Wee Updates

2010-06-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

Just under a week left to visit with my family. The kids are loving seeing everyone and warming up to people fairly quickly. Wee Man is handling it much better than Lil Kiwi but she is doing a wonderful job.
She is taking to some family members more than others but for the most part being friendly to everyone. In fact, this evening she was sitting on the couch coloring with her Poppy. (all together now... AWWW)

I am also remembering what I loved about this state and what I loathe.... My parents still laugh at me when I call for "HELP" when I see a (gulp) cockroach. gross.... yuck.... ewww

They think it odd for me to be scared of them after all the weird things I have done. It's simple.... They FLY, can live without their head for two weeks, FLY, will be the last things on Earth to survive everything, and hmmm yeah they fly...

One of the problems I already see about getting back home is getting the kids back on a normal schedule. I'm already trying but Lil Kiwi is fighting it. (sigh)

Any advice?..... Tips..... Tricks.....

Gone for two weeks

2010-06-12T16:09:00.001-04:00

Yep... Part of the Shenanigans household will be gone and visiting family. I am not sure how often I will be able to get to a computer while gone; so doubt I will be posting.

Which means all reviews, giveaways, and general rambling will continue as soon as we get back. There is one giveaway going on for a $40 gift certificate to CSN that ends on June 18th so be sure to enter.

Nothing else to say other than.... I finally get to see my family!!!! Can not express how excited I am to see them after all these years...

Long over due

2010-06-08T20:36:00.000-04:00

Okay so you know that soon we will be moving basically cross country via vehicle with the kids. However, this weekend I will be flying with both of them by myself. Help me because I'm a nervous wreck!

I'm so excited and yet nervous at the same time... This will be the first time in over four years that I will get to see my brother and father. The last time was before we moved here and it's been forever it seems. What I'm nervous about is the long plane trip with two kids and then all the "things" we will need.

car seat/booster for Wee Man
place for Lil Kiwi to sleep (still in crib at this point)
me being able to survive the plane trip
etc....

At least I will have Lil Kiwi in her car seat so that isn't a problem. In fact, I am using the same gogo Kidz Travelmate that I used when Wee Man and I flew many years ago. If you fly with a young child that will be in their car seat you need to get your hands on this item because honestly it will save you time and gray hairs. After the trip I will have to post photos of Lil Kiwi in her car seat turned stroller. Lifesaver I am telling you.

Now I just need to get things in order since DH will also be leaving the house but not flying with us. Trying to think of everything the house sitter will need to know about the dogs. Yes... Yes we do have someone coming to stay with the dogs (not really to watch the house)... Spoiled pooches....

Okay, I am off to make a packing list.... Great now I'm worried about handling two kids AND luggage...

Cupcakes, Treats, and Birthdays oh my

2010-06-05T20:41:00.002-04:00

With everything going on we decided to celebrate Wee Man's birthday tomorrow instead of on his actual birthday. What started off as just a few people at Chuck E Cheese has turned into a full on neighborhood party. I just finished with the grab bags and now have to decided what to tackle next...

The coolers and mini fridge are full of drinks for young to adult. Hotdogs are being cooked tomorrow at the party. That leaves me with two batches of rice krispies treats to make and about 4-5 dozen cupcakes to make and frost. Anyone want to help?

*sigh*

Guess I'm off to tackle the cupcakes. Oh and do not tell any of the party goers but I'm using boxed mixes! The horror I know..... but..... I just can not deal with making that many from scratch right now. Although there are a few young ones coming so I'm tempted to make applesauce cupcakes for them. (shrug) we shall see....

Now if it will just not rain tomorrow....

OH and I need tips for decorating the cupcakes... I just slap on the frosting and make them pretty but DH brought home some fancy application tipped bottle of frosting thingy...mmm yeah HELP ME!

CSN.com Giftcard Giveaway

2010-06-04T09:28:00.006-04:00

So..... Have you looked at the CSN.com website yet? From bedroom furniture and barstools to lighting and toys, CSN has 200+ e-boutiques and over 1 million items to help you find what you're looking for, fast!There is bound to be something that caught your interest in one of the over 200 stores.

I already showed you some of the solar lighting I'm thinking about getting when we finally get to the new place. Secretly, I love the Casablanca ceiling fan and can only dream of having a ~~house~~ castle to put it in.

Here's your chance to try CSN.com and get the item you have your eye on.

Prize:

A Gift certificate for $40 to any of the CSN.com stores

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me what you plan on getting from CSN.com... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Tell me one light you love at CSNlighing.com (+2 entries)
Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and CSNlighting.com (leave url/link in your comment) (+4 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: RT #giveaway WIN $40 Gift certificate to CSN http://tinyurl.com/24ju3p5 from @Csnstores and @weeshenanigans
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Friday June 18 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Saturday June 19... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure... Please Click Here to go to my disclosure policy*

Memorial Day... a true day of THANKS

2010-05-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

While they are still too young to grasp the full magnitude of it all; this weekend we took the kids out for a little history. Today is very important since both sides of the Shenanigan families have members that have served in the Armed Forces.

THANK YOU!

to all that have served.

Upcoming CSN giveaway

2010-05-30T11:15:00.001-04:00

Some of you might remember my CSN.com review a few months back. Well, they asked me if I was interested in doing another review or giveaway so of course I said giveaway. One of my readers deserves a chance to check CSN.com out for themselves.
With the move date quickly approaching I have been looking at houses to rent just in case we can't get on-base housing. A lot of them have long walkways leading up to the house but no lights for night time. So, I have already begun looking for Eco Friendly Solar Lighting.
Since they are solar I don't have to worry whether or not we remembered to turn on the lights before we left, cords to trip over, and we can move them around with ease. I like the look of simple lights but some of these statue lights are adorable. For the backyard I think some tiki style solar lighting would be perfect.

So, keep your eyes open for the CSN.com giveaway in the next few days....

Winner of Postcards

2010-05-27T14:03:00.000-04:00

Random.org picked comment #50 as the Lucky Winner....

Congratulations to Gale...

The winner has been emailed and has 24 hours to reply.

Thank you to Uprinting.com for another wonderful giveaway.

Wordless Wednesday - Flowers

2010-05-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

Murphy's Law Reigns Supreme

2010-05-23T21:15:00.002-04:00

Yesterday... Oh how I wish I could forget you.... Here is proof that some days it's best not to bake even if you were really really reallly craving something. *will post recipe at a later date*

I should have known better since the past few days my brain has not been cooperating with me. Yet, when the sudden craving for Popovers came to mind I set about finding the ingredients...

Being a simple recipe I had everything and even decided to try making them with coconut flour (figured they would taste sooo good).

Two stirs and I knew something was wrong. It wasn't batter but dough! So, I added some extra milk to thin it out and put them in the oven. This is what came out....

Hmm yeah... flat... dense... Bollocks! Not one to give up I went back to the normal ingredients just in case the coconut flour was to blame.

Take two...

Nice fluffy... light... airy....

Just look how much better they turned out compared to the first ones...

I was sooo happy until I opened one up and found the inside RAW! Seriously?! I rarely have baking issues and never back to back... We are having nasty weather so not sure if that was partly to blame but BAH...

First, thing this morning...

"Mom..... can you make pancakes?" Wee Man begs in the hall way.

"Hey Lil Kiwi, do you want pancakes this morning?" DH asks and she nods yes.

They have the nerve to ask me to bake not 24 hours after the Great Popover Fiasco.... they must be crazy...

Anyone else brave enough to post or comment about their baking/cooking disaster?

Mostly Wordless Wednesday - Taste the Rainbow

2010-05-19T00:00:00.002-04:00

It's hard being a dog in the Shenanigans Household...

I mean just look at poor Black Dog...

Which is why we were all surprised by this innocent looking face...

Let me set the scene...

It was late afternoon and the kids were coloring nicely. A friend stopped by so we all stepped outside for a few minutes to chat and upon returning we discovered all the crayons missing. My first thought was someone had dumped them out and didn't pick them up. Soon, however, we realized that it had to be one of the dogs. The proof was the bits of crayon in Fawn Dog's teeth...

I can now honestly say that my dog poops rainbows...

Uprinting Postcards Giveaway

2010-05-15T20:58:00.001-04:00

Uprinting.com has been providing top quality products for over 25 years to small and medium size businesses. They are also committed to protecting the environment by using low-VOC soy and vegetable based inks, non-toxic water-based AQ coating options, and they recycle. I like finding companies that try to improve their carbon footprint on the environment and Uprinting is one. This is part of the reason I continue to use them for my printing services and offer giveaways to my readers.

This month we are focusing on their color postcard printing. You know what I love about postcards... How many different uses they have and their simplicity. You can use them as recipe cards, thank you cards, invitations, promoting your business, for entering sweepstakes, or as actual postcards! Just think how nice it would be to include a personalized recipe card with the your famous dish everyone asks you to make.

Getting started with your postcard is easy. Just upload your design and then wait for it to show up a few days later in the mail. Not sure how to design your postcard? No problem because they have some design layouts to help get you started. Easy peasy...

Prize:

100 Postcard (4x6")

14pt Cardstock Gloss(4/4)

Specifications: 3 Business Days Turnaround

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Must be 18 years and older. Limited to US Residents only

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me how you plan on using the postcards... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and Uprinting (leave url/link in your comment) (+4 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: RT #giveaway WIN 100 Postcards http://tinyurl.com/27o7lxb from @Uprinting and @weeshenanigans
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Wednesday May 26 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Thursday May 27... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone
*Disclosure... Please Click Here to go to my disclosure policy*

Roasted Goodness

2010-05-14T14:09:00.000-04:00

What happens when you have graham crackers.... chocolate... and roasted marshmallows?

Normally, it would be a sticky gooey mess of s'mores, yet somehow the marshmallows never made it past the stick...

Can't blame them... Just look at that almost perfectly roasted marshmallow... YUM!

The only problem now is they want us to do this everynight.. *laughing*

Wordless Wednesday - A small speck

2010-05-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

"A person's a person, no matter how small"... Horton Hears a Who!

The Sweetest Gift

2010-05-09T11:50:00.006-04:00

Happy Mother's Day

I do not normally get gifts from DH and the kids so when a box was dropped off at the house it was very special... Inside it was.....

a dozen hand dipped large strawberries from Shari's Berries.... They are yummmmy... You can tell because there is already one missing from the box. *licks fingers*

However, that was not the best gift that I received for Mother's Day....

Wee Man made a card and gift for me while at school. He was so excited but was able to keep it a secret right until I was about to open it... *laughing*

"This little flower is special you see.

Because it was made from a part of me.

My painted thumb made each flower part

to show I love you with all my heart!

Happy Mother's Day!"

The inside of the card was so precious it made me cry and laugh at the same time. Yet, it was the handmade "towel" that stole my heart. Each flower is made from his fingerprints just like the one on the card. Now I need to figure out how to frame it....

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day.

and of course....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to my Mom, Nonnie and MIL!

Did anyone else get a wonderful surprise this Mother's Day?

Wordless Wednesday - Stopping to smell

2010-05-05T00:00:00.003-04:00

During one of the cleaning breaks, the kids and I ran around the yard and I couldn't help but take some flower photos.... Sorry they look all crazy in the layout but blogger is refusing to play nice tonight...

*sniffle* the base yard crew took a weed-eater to my nice clovers now this photo is all I have..

notice anything special in this bunch of clovers?

To move or not to move

2010-05-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

Currently, working on cleaning out the computer/dining room; which is harder than it sounds. So much paperwork to go through and decide what to keep or shred. I've decided that things need to be more organized next time no matter how big or small of a place they put us in. I so need to make a check list.

All of this getting ready to move activity has got me thinking. How are the kids going to handle it....

Lil Kiwi is young enough that I'm not too worried. In fact, the only part I'm really worried about right now is getting her into her own room. Finally (hopefully) we will have a three bedroom and ~~we get our own~~ she will get her own room. Wee Man is the one I'm more concerned about.....

Wee Man loved the last one and always talks about where we have been before however, now that he is older I'm not so sure. He informed me the other day that he wants to stay here when "WE" move. His plan is to live in the house alone and continue to go to the same school next year. *sigh* One second he is all excited about the new state we will move too and then the next he doesn't want to leave. How do you help a five year old with moving worries?

He understands that we have to move and even tells me when kids in his class have moved away. Thus one of the reasons why we fought to leave after he finished school this year. I figured it would be easier to start at a new school from day one and not half way through the year. Yet, I fear this move is going to be tough on him. We talk about the positives and such but still it's a touchy subject sometimes.

Heck.... even the dogs are worried.... Not that I'm surprised since Black dog always gets nervous when we start packing. Fawn dog however has never done a move with us so it was surprising to see her get nervous also. Let me just say that trying to clean is difficult when you have two 80 plus dogs following your every move. Velcro dogs... that is what they have become... *laughing*

You know what I think I'm going to do tonight..... visit some blogs... I miss seeing what ya'll are up to.... Apparently, I also need to get on Facebook because I've been informed by more than one person to do it.. *laughing* Also got some photos of the kids that I need to post... Sounds like a plan...

So..... What are some ideas to help Wee Man with this move.... I'm ready to ~~listen~~ read your ideas....

Winner of DigitalRoom's sticker/label giveaway

2010-04-29T08:19:00.000-04:00

The prize up for grabs was... 250 Stickers/Labels from DigitalRoom.com

Random.org picked comment #24 as the Lucky Winner.....

Congratulations to henrysgraphics...

Thank you to all those that entered and to the wonderful sponsors...

The great house clean up

2010-04-27T22:15:00.003-04:00

It's amazing how much "stuff" one acquires when they aren't looking...

Honestly, where did all of this stuff come from?

With the count down to move day approaching I've stepped up the spring cleaning. I have devised a plan...

THE PLAN... go through each room twice maybe three times and get rid of the extra stuff. Goodwill/donate as much stuff as possible... Thin out the kids ever growing army of toys... Toss the stuff that we think we need and keep the stuff we really need...

THE REALITY... time is ticking and things are not going according to plan.

We did get rid of a few key items that we needed too... The Step 2 play gym/slide/swing set went to a neighbor (that we like)... They also got the almost new canoe/boat we were getting rid of... The custom playhouse might also go to them IF the person that wants it now falls through....

However...

We acquired a free Barbie 4x4 Jeep for Lil Kiwi (thanks DH).... Then the neighbor that took the other stuff gave us a 4x4 Dora Quad for Lil Kiwi... It is sooo cute and she loves it... Plus, I found more boxes of books in the garage... Bollocks!

Just about a month left to get this household ready for the move.... I'm scared...

Needless to say I am not getting on the computer much at all.. In fact, two whole days went by without me even turning it on. Even my mom has called me and told me to check my email a few times...

Wordless Wednesday - Quality Control Check

2010-04-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Are you sure this one passed inspection?

Digital Room Custom Stickers Giveaway

2010-04-19T21:51:00.010-04:00

Several years ago I use to work for a large company and part of my job was to promote it. It was a hassle getting everything ready for printing only to find out it was going to take at least two weeks (that is unless I was willing to pay extra). If only I would have known about DigitalRoom.com my job would have been so much easier.

DigitalRoom.com has been providing top quality products for over 25 years to small and medium size businesses. They are also committed to protecting the environment by using low-VOC soy and vegetable based inks, non-toxic water-based AQ coating options, and they recycle.

With so many different products to choose from you are sure to find just what you need. Do a lot of shipping for your business? Why not design a custom set of labels to place on your packages or gift boxes. The extra touches are what can make your business more memorable to clients. Stickers would also be a great way to promote your business, blog, party, or any other events.

Ordering is as simple as 1...2...3...

Prize:

250 Stickers/Labels

2x3.5; 2x4; 3x3

70 lb Label Matte coating

Full Color Front and Blank back (4/0)

6 Business Days Turnaround

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me how you would or plan on using the stickers/labels... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow Weeshenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and DigitalRoom (leave url/link in your comment) (+4 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: RT #giveaway Win 250 stickers/labels http://tinyurl.com/y4de52o from Digitalroom and @weeshenanigans
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Tuesday April 27 at 11:59 PM EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Wednesday April 28... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received. Please see Disclosure Policy for more details...

What to do....

2010-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

We are getting ready to move in about two months so we are cleaning out extra "stuff"... There is a ton of extra "stuff" for us to go through and that means figuring out what to do with it.
So, I started cleaning up the spare boxes and papers in the computer room. Was feeling good about it until I came upon a box of books and then another box of books... Imagine my ~~complete joy~~ horror when I found a few more boxes of books. These are a few of the boxes...

They are all in good to new condition and most have been read by me already. I plan on some marathon reading in the following weeks to finish the ones I haven't read. There are some I plan on keeping because I really like them but the others need to go.
Here is my question should I ......

pack them up and Goodwill them
give them away on my blog
pack them up and hope DH doesn't notice
other

Let me know your thoughts in the comments... If you pick other please let me know what you would do....

LIVID!!!! Does not even begin

2010-04-17T08:30:00.004-04:00

to describe how PISSED I am... Seriously, there are soooo many things I wish I could blog about but do not. We try to not post about how crazy it is living on this street with the WACKOS that we call neighbors... However..... after living here for three years and dealing with them everyday I am done... Thank goodness we are moving...

Before I get into what happened... *deep deep DEEP breath* Let me give you an idea of what it has been like...

Four kids... their ages now are 4,5,6 and 9... It has been like this since we moved here three years ago (ie starting ages of 1,2,3 and 6). They are always outside playing without ANY supervision adult or otherwise... Several times the youngest ones have almost been hit by cars because they don't look... They will open your front door and walk right in (never this house because I always lock it)... They will open your car doors to "help" you out and them "in"... The cops were called when the now 5 year old was 4 and was standing and jumping on top of their minivan (once again no supervision)... They scream.. push kids off bikes or toys and take them... In fact, one tried to run over Lil Kiwi with her bike but I took the hit and then chewed her out... Not five minutes later she ran into Wee Man as he got off the school bus and I had to chew her out again... The 9 year old picks on Wee Man. This is the tame stuff... So... you get the picture.... One of the adults doesn't care what the kids do and the other one sometimes encourages it..

Oh and I have tried to talk to the kids and explain to them right and wrong.. They don't care either..

Well, yesterday.... OH yesterday was the last straw... We were getting ready to run to the store and the door bell rang and rang and rang... DH opened the door and told the 5 year old to please stop pushing the doorbell and that we were leaving so please leave... Ten minutes later we go outside and see this...

OOOO my mom can tell you how I dislike these particular neighbors... However, it's not like we have a choice and we are civil with them... The gloves are off now... I'm taking it to the mattresses... No longer will I take this bullpoop... We have complained before but nothing was done... For two years we have asked to be moved to a different house on base but there was always some excuse...

DH already went next door to talk to them about paying for it but the husband is TDY and will be back Sunday. The wife already knew which kid was to blame without DH telling her... Perhaps because this is what their minivan looks like...

Anyway. She said they will pay to fix it and that they are responsible however, I don't think the husband will be as understanding... I hope he will be but *sigh* he is the one that would say something like "kids will be kids"... If he does fight this we are trying to figure out what to do. We already plan to report it to the MP and housing but that doesn't mean much... Not trying to cause problems but honestly what the POO!!! At my wits end here people...

What would you do?

Wordless Wednesday - Ol' Blue Eyes

2010-04-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Lil Kiwi attempting her best Frankie.....

Think she did a good job?

I can see clearly now...

2010-04-13T21:33:00.002-04:00

Turns out that little Kelso moment with my eye was kinda a big deal. No one is sure what I did (including the Dr) but I had a nasty deep laceration on my eye. Woo Hooo.... After taking my eye medicine 4x a day for seven days I can see clearly again.

Today we took Wee Man to the ENT (Ears Nose Throat) Specialist to see if we can figure out what is going on with him. Ever since we moved to this state three years ago, Wee Man has had reoccurring ear infections every two-three months... Almost all have been bilateral, always quick onset and very painful...

Diagnosis is...... No clue....

"Well, his nose is beautiful.... no really his nose looks great." Dr. E explained after looking up Wee Man's nose.

"Hmmm" *smile* "Thanks..?.." I reply

"Looks like his Eustachian Tubes have a tendency to pull in more than normal, or suck like a vacuum" *holding up chart*

To which I just nod and stare clueless at Dr. E. He then went on to explain that most likely it's not allergies but rather the common cold that is causing all of Wee Man's ear infections... Since we are PCSing to a new base in June we decided to just see if that helps. (ie.. hope a different climate helps)

SO.... His Eustachian Tubes are unable to effectively regulate air pressure thus causing ear infections when he comes in contact with ~~sick kids at school~~ the common cold virus. I guess Wee Man really can claim that going to school makes him sick.. hehee

Anyone else have a child with ear issues?

Ultimate Blog Party... Let's party like it's errr 2010

2010-04-12T13:32:00.009-04:00

Aloha... O-si-yo... Dobrý den... Guten Tag... Haileo... and

Hello to everyone visiting from the Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom!

I am a tad late in joining the party this week; which in real life would never happen but here in the bloggy world I tend to get lost reading blogs... Shame on me I know... Going to keep this short so everyone can keep the party moving and visit all the wonderful other blogs joining in this year.

Brooke... that's me... *waves* I am a Jill of all trades.. Before I became a wife and mother I held many other job titles. I've trained dolphins, tigers, dogs......done property management, marine mammal rescue, and everything in-between. Then when I wasn't looking I found DH and changed my title to SAHM. Which I guess isn't much different than what I was doing before.. LOL

Daddy Shenanigans is referred to as DH here on the blog. The two of us grew up in the same state but it took moving to Hawaii before we found each other.

Wee Man is our almost 6 year old son. He didn't start talking until he was 3 1/2 years old but is now at the top of his class. Yes... I know he is only in Kindergarten but ooo you should listen to the teach and staff at the school praise him (and not just because)... Although that does not mean he listens to anyone and is quite a handful. I love him even in those moments when he questions everything and everyone. I swear he is already a teenager. ov vey.

Lil Kiwi is just shy of turning 2 this year. Sugar, spice and almost everything nice... Before she was born we already knew that she had a few medical issues but the list grows with each doctor visit... Currently she has six different specialist that see her on a regular basis... Nothing slows her down though... She is just as active as other kids her age and you would never know there was anything wrong with her... I melt when she smiles.

Of course, in this family the animals are included. Black Dog was a rescue from Hawaii and is without a doubt the best dog I have ever known. He turned nine this year and has more airline miles than a lot of people I know.

Fawn Dog is the residence couch potato even though the dogs are not actually allowed on them. She was born in Ireland and then had a racing career here in the US for a few years. We were lucky enough to rescue her after her retirement and enjoy her crazy zooomies and helicoptering...

The short and sweet of it is that this is the Shenanigans blog. It has photos, the struggles and joys of being a parent, photos, story of Lil Kiwi's medical journey, giveaways, book reviews, rants, ramblings (a few too many) and did I mention photos... Okay it actually is more than that but trying to keep this short remember.. *laughing*

I hope you will come back and visit from time to time. OH and if you do please let me know and I will follow you back to your blog.

Aye yes the goodie bags at the end of the party... If I'm LUCKY I hope to see these three items in my bag...
Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025 (but I think everyone does), INTL 14S7 Blog makeover and the USC 3 – $50 Target Gift Card....

Otherwise finding any of these would be great too... (in no particular order) US76,US105, USC 8, USC 15, US112, USC 37, USC 57, USC 44, USC 39, USC 40, USC 36, USC 25, US107, US87, US77, US73, US74, US52, US32, US31, and US2... oh and any that deal with blog makeover (for blogger)....
Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you all soon. Now I'm off to visit a few parties and make some new bloggy friends...

Outsmarting Temptation with Yoplait Light Giveaway/Review

2010-04-10T16:02:00.004-04:00

Temptation is not a good thing when you are trying to watch what you eat; even more difficult when you have others around you that leave tempting foods out for you to see.

One way to outsmart temptation is to indulge that craving with yogurt. With so many different flavors and brands you are sure to find one that is perfect for you. One of my favorites is the Thick and Creamy French Vanilla from Yoplait; which is why I was thrilled when Yoplait and MyBlogSpark sent me a gift set with a coupon to try the new flavors.

Blueberry Pie

Red Velvet Cake

Did you know that....

Red Velvet Cake 400 calories, 24 grams of fat per slice

Yoplait Light Red Velvet Cake 100 calories, 0 gram of fat per serving

Blueberry Pie 360 calories, 17 grams of fat per slice

Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy Blueberry Pie 100 calories, 0 gram of fat per serving

So, now when you are tempted to grab a dessert you can instead indulge in either of Yoplaits new yogurts without all the extra calories. In fact, you don't have to use them just to curb your temptations because they are the perfect snack between meals. Yoplait light yogurts also provide 20 percent of the recommended daily value of calcium and vitamin D.

It took me awhile to find the newest flavors at the store but when I did I also picked up the Cherry Cobbler to try. I'm telling you it's difficult to pick because there are 32 wonderful flavors and they all sound so yummy. They were all good but I did like the Thick and Creamy better however, that's just personal preference on my part. They just seem more rich and decadent and makes me wish they had more flavors in the Think and Creamy selection.

The only thing I did not like was that they use Splenda as the sweetener. There is nothing wrong with that at all except the fact that I am very sensitive to those types of sweeteners. So, if you have no problems with the sweeteners then you are most likely going to love the new flavors.

You are also going to love the fact that Yoplait and MyBlogSpark are giving one of my readers the same Yoplait Light "Outsmarting Temptation" gift set that I got. It includes an insulated gourmet lunch tote, a food journal, a travel utensil set and a coupon for one cup of yogurt.

Please note *The coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee that doesn't mean you can't enter but you wouldn't be able to use the coupon.

Can't wait to try the new flavors? Head over to Yoplait's website and grab a coupon for a $1 off or check out some of the recipes you can make using Yoplait..seriously there are some yummmmy looking ones.

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me which of the new flavors is your favorite OR your favorite Yoplait yogurt flavor overall... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans (leave url/link in your comment) (+4 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: RT #giveaway Win a Yoplait Light "Outsmarting Temptation" gift set http://tinyurl.com/yajnw7r from @weeshenanigans
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Wednesday April 21 at 11:59 pm EDT...

The Winner will be emailed on Thursday April 22... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received. In this case, I received the gift set from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark.

My Kelso Moment

2010-04-07T08:06:00.001-04:00

One of the nicknames DH uses for me sometimes is Kelso... If you ever watched that 70's show you know who Kelso is and that he often says... "AAAA my eye"

Well...

AAAAAA my eye......

Not sure what happened but my right eye is painful... red.... watery... and no it is not pink eye....

I find it hard to watch the kids since I can barely keep my eye open (mostly just keeping it closed)... So, I am not doing Wordless Wednesday this week since I can't really see the monitor anyways... On the upside Wee Man is better and returns to school tomorrow....

In just a few moments we are heading out to the hospital/clinic since the base doctor can't get me in until next week. Since they are a first come first serve I don't know how long it will take to be seen but don't worry I'm sure it will be fine. If not there is a full scale hospital right next door literally and a professional eye doctor just down the street.

So, what I'm saying is.... "everyone (ahem) MOM..... Don't worry too much and I will call you when we get home..."

I do have a photo from yesterday before it got this bad but I think I will spare you the visual.... Although DH said he wanted to make it his WW.. Post the photo with a cartoon eye patch drawn on and title it "Arrr me pirate wife"... Yes he is that much of a dork....

It's all a bit crazy

2010-04-05T14:57:00.000-04:00

Due to all the missed days of school from snowmageddon the school was open on Wednesday and Thursday as make up days.... Sounds great until it's 0230 in the morning on Thursday and you hear your child whimpering and crying in pain...

Yes.... it was as feared.... Another Ear Infection!!!

Early morning call into the doctors and we had a 1030 appointment. Which is just early enough I can't send Wee Man to school and just late enough that if we don't get out on time he misses school. *sigh*

They were running late so we waited... and waited...

The diagnosis..... One and a half ears infected.... When Wee Man gets an ear infection he goes all out. Seeing as how he never had any until we moved here and now her gets them just about every two to three months it is now a problem...

Next week we are off to the ENT specialist to see if we can figure out what is the underlying problem or to talk about tubes...

Needless, to say I have been busy playing with the kids so I have not been on the computer much. I really need to fix my laptop or see about getting a new one; so that I can use it more.

Wordless Wednesday - The simple things

2010-03-31T00:00:00.004-04:00

Gloomy days....

Sick moody toddler...

Rain...

Letting her play in the water puddles.... totally worth the extra laundry....

Always something

2010-03-29T08:30:00.002-04:00

happening at the house of Shenanigans...

It started when Wee Man actually lost his first tooth at school somewhere... and now Lil Kiwi is the troublemaker...

Honestly, I was having flashbacks from the new year visit to the ER... Lil Kiwi had some type of rash across her back and chest but it was not the same so I did not freak out....much...

Since Thursday she has had a temperature of at least 99.0 but no more than 99.8...

Her mood has been less than stellar with mood swings left and right...

Asking for food/drink and then refusing to eat (unless it is fruit or a fruit strip)...

No real naps for two days now... Add that on top of the fact that she does not sleep much at night either (which means neither do I).

She has also been grabbing her diaper a lot. Since she is at risk for UTI (due to medical issues) I have to be careful and try to prevent them. Thus far we have been lucky and she has not had one but I still worry.

The problem is that I know she is cutting two teeth right now and that could explain most of the things going on; however, that does not explain the diaper grabbing... We are also potty training or I guess it's more like the potty is there and IF she wants to get on we let her. She has used it a few times and I'm sooo proud of her but these times she doesn't want or ask to use the potty. Which has me wondering if she is grabbing because it's uncomfortable from a UTI or if it's nothing..

UGH... To call my good for nothing doctors or to wait and see if it's just teething..

The good news is she was so worn out from two days without naps that last night she actually slept most of the night without fussing. Which means I got some of the best sleep I have had in months.. *happy camper grin*

In fact as of 0822 she is still sleeping but was whimpering earlier... Yes, I am probably over analyzing it and it's just her teeth coming in; yet with all the little things that are different with her it's hard not to over analyze.

Bah I spoke too soon... She is awake.... Let the day officially start... NOW

Winner of Rolled Canvas

2010-03-28T14:22:00.003-04:00

The Lucky Winner picked by Random.org to get a Rolled Canvas Print is...

Alli with comment #50

Congratulations to Alli

What if there is no tooth for the tooth fairy

2010-03-25T08:30:00.002-04:00

Does the Tooth Fairy visit if there is no tooth to collect?

That was the question Wee Man asked and I honestly didn't have an answer for him.

On Sunday morning Wee Man informed us that his tooth was loose. Upon inspection it was found to be a little loose but nothing major. I figured this weekend we would get some supplies and make a tooth chest for Wee Man to put his tooth in while it waited for the Tooth Fairy to take it.

Sunday Evening... All he talked about was putting his tooth under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy.

Monday morning it was still a little loose but I warned Wee Man about being careful at school... Packed a safe lunch and warned him about eating with a loose tooth. He returned from school with tooth intact.

We caught him playing with his tooth once or twice that evening and explained why he should not be touching his tooth. I know he wasn't listening to anything we said but we are parents and that's what we do. Of course, I should clarify that his playing was more like pulling on it and we didn't want his tooth to come out before it needed to.

Tuesday morning first thing I hear from Wee Man is.... "My tooth is really loose." Sure enough it was really loose, seeing as how it had only been two days, but it was still in there pretty good.

Halfway though breakfast he comes into the kitchen tissue in his mouth and grinning to tell me his tooth was bleeding. We had the warning talk (again) and I told him to be extra careful today. I didn't think it would be coming out but you never know.

As he come running off the School bus the first words out of his mouth were... "I lost my tooth"

"Did you tell your teacher and where did you put it" I asked excitedly

"I lost my tooth before specials.... I lost it" Wee Man explained

Then the dreaded question....

"Mom.... will the Tooth Fairy still visit if I lost my tooth?" said with a bit of concern.

"I don't know Wee Man... I guess we will have to see..."

A call to Nonnie (my mom) for some advice and some brainstorming came up with this solution...

A nice note to the Tooth Fairy explaining what happened and hoping she would still pay for the tooth that was missing at school...

*insert a truly funny evening of DH and Me here..... can't write details because someone in the family can READ and well that pretty much explains it*

Wednesday morning I was in the kitchen when I hear Wee Man running down the hall and into the kitchen.

"MOM.. MOM.... Look Looook..." holds up the tooth chest "She came and left a note and money!" Wee Man squealed

Now... I don't know about you but that Tooth Fairy is one sweet fairy.... Not only did she write a note to him but she also left him 2 dollars for his missing tooth. Apparently, the going rate for a child's 1st lost tooth is high..

As far as I can guess the missing tooth is/was in Wee Man's tummy... Specials is a few classes after lunch so I think Wee Man swallowed it with out realizing it.. He thinks it's at school... Only the Tooth Fairy really knows....

I only hope that the next loose tooth doesn't go missing....

So.... Do you think the Tooth Fairy was right? What is the going rate for teeth anyways?

Wordless Wednesday - Toothless

2010-03-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

I was going to post why I did not post this week because of the wonderful weather (it was actually in the 60s one day) but instead something very important happened.....

Wee Man lost his first baby tooth...

When I say he LOST his tooth I mean it's GONE.. MISSING.. I'll be telling the story tomorrow of how this all went down... The good, the bad, and the ugly....

Wordless Wednesday - Finally

2010-03-17T00:00:00.002-04:00

THE SNOW IS GONE!!!!!

However, I still love this photo from the start of snowmageddon...

It was so peaceful...

Then I remember the crazy amount of snow...

and I'm sooooo happy it's Spring...

Winner of the Target Giftcard

2010-03-14T20:26:00.001-04:00

Let me first say that I LOVED reading your comments about what you love.... A few of them had me wanting a front porch that was screened in.... a trip to the store without the kids.... sleeping through the night... oh and this was one of my favorites... "I love my husband's laughter! It's like oxygen to my soul" Sharon is one lucky woman and I'm guessing so is her husband.

So much love.... and now it's time to announce which one of you was the Lucky winner....

After adding the extra entries....

putting them all into Random.org.....

the Lucky winning comment was...

476 Tracy said... I love my boyfriend!

I emailed Tracy this morning but haven't heard back yet. So, if you know Tracy or if you are reading this please email me back before Tuesday.

On a side note... I did a quick poll on twitter last night before the giveaway ended asking if I should add a 2nd gift card OR have another giveaway... The answer was another giveaway so be on the look out for another giveaway later this month.

Thank you all for the lovely comments and for visiting my wee blog...

Don't forget to check out my 16 x 20 Rolled Canvas Giveaway by Uprinting.com

Uprinting Rolled Canvas Giveaway

2010-03-13T20:02:00.015-05:00

Besides being eco-friendly they also offer a wide range of products from banners, posters, business cards, canvas prints and much more. They also offer promotional printing discounts on different products. Right now you can get 10% off posters, brochures and postcards.

The canvas prints range in size from 8" x 8" all the way up to 55" x 100" ; allowing you to print your photo just the way you want. They use real artist canvas in order to produce the highest quality prints. Just check out how great this rolled canvas print of Wee Man came out.....

In just a few clicks you can take your favorite photo and turn it into a piece of art hanging in your room.
1. Pick what size you want

2. Upload your picture

3. Preview your picture

4. Order your print

Simple...

Prize:

16 x 20 Rolled Canvas for 1 lucky winner

FREE UPS Ground Shipping...Limited to US Residents only

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me how you would or plan on using the rolled canvas print... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and Uprinting (leave url/link in your comment) (+4 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: #giveaway Win a 16 x 20 Rolled Canvas Print http://tinyurl.com/yg95ysn from @Uprinting and @weeshenanigans
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Saturday March 27 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Sunday March 28... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Why is the question of the day

2010-03-12T08:42:00.001-05:00

Okay I'm stealing a moment at the computer while Lil Kiwi is drinking her milk.

Today I'm moody.... Why? That is my question of the day

WHY.... tease us with two days of lovely warm sun only to give us rain for five days?

WHY.... do men refuse to ask for directions OR listen when we tell them we will ask?

WHY.... do children push push push our buttons (literally and figuratively)?

WHY.... does my computer sound like it's working so hard to stay on?!

and

WHY.... is it that when I'm in a mood like this.... one look at Lil Kiwi being silly or that hug from Wee Man before he gets on the bus... makes it all better

and why is it that the very wee folks that drive us to insanity are the same ones that keep us sane

So... what is your WHY?

(not really) Wordless Wednesday - Layla Grace

2010-03-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

Shortly after Lil Kiwi had her surgery I stumbled upon a few fellow bloggers that also had wee ones with medical issues; Layla Grace and her family was one of them. I have followed this family's story for several months now and they have had to endure things that no one should have to.

If you do not already know of Layla Grace's story you can check it out at her blog LaylaGrace.org

Just shy of 2 years old Layla was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk Neuroblastoma. After fighting so hard against this beast of a monster; late January they found out that Layla's cancer was back. The doctors told them they had 2-3 months left with her. Then after a scan of her wee body they discovered that it had spread and now Layla had maybe a month.

Everytime I looked at Lil Kiwi they would come to mind and I would say a little prayer for all of them. Perhaps it is because our children are so close in age that I am so affect by the news of Layla leaving us to go play with the angels yesterday.

Please remember that her family still has a long journey in front of them and it is going to be a tough one. Keep them in your prayers...

Layla Grace Marsh

Water Water Everywhere

2010-03-06T08:30:00.006-05:00

and not a drop I did drink.... Okay so there wasn't water everywhere but you get the point.

Wednesday I had a plan. I was going to actually visit all of your blogs for WW. Since DH had leave this week I figured I would have all day to sit at the computer and comment away. Instead, we ended up running errands all day.

Since we were only going to be gone for a little bit (cough cough) I only brought something for Lil Kiwi to drink. So I drank maybe 1/3 of a soda and that was it for the day. By the time we got home I was already moody and I'm sure it being that time of the month didn't help. Ate leftover Chinese and then was super chilly.

Curled up on the couch and kinda sorta remember DH getting the kids to bed and then telling me he was going to work for a little bit. After that I remember nothing.....

Then I woke up but couldn't move.... I couldn't open my eyes... I couldn't do anything and my arms felt like they were asleep. In my stupor I figured they were asleep and that the heater dried my eyes. I went back to peaceful sleep.

That is until DH got home....

He was pinching my arm and asking the same question over and over again. I tried to answer but couldn't. Finally, I was able to make meeping sounds according to DH. I couldn't open my eyes because they felt like sandpaper and I was like a rag doll trying to move.

DH forced me to drink water and kept me awake for awhile. He said he was sooo close to calling the EMS because I was that bad. It was horrible the next morning until I drank some more water.

So.... DRINK people.... Keep hydrated... I think I'm going to look into some more water bottles because that's the only way I remember to drink. If I see the bottle I drink otherwise I could go all day without drinking....

Anyone else like me and need reminders to drink? or what do you do to remember to drink?

Wordless Wednesday - Only One

2010-03-03T00:00:00.004-05:00

"Nope... not tonight.... You only get ONE bedtime story"

If you missed Lil Kiwi's newest update click HERE ....

Monster Jam Vs. Wee Man

2010-03-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago I posted Wee Man's photo with a friends Mini Monster Truck for Wordless Wednesday. I love how he still wants to be a driver even though he is scared of heights. That's my Wee Man...

Well, we just happen to notice (after searching the Internet) that Monster Jam was going to be having an event within driving distance. Since we never know where we will be stationed next we couldn't pass up the chance to let Wee Man see the trucks/drivers up close and personal. So, we looked into getting tickets however there was a problem.

The meet and greet in the pit with the drivers was only on ONE day.... well... guess what... DH was told the day he was buying the tickets that (ahem) he was going to be working the last weekend of February. DH's job in the military is of course 24/7 however his work days are M-F so this weekend clinic came as a surprise. It also meant that Wee Man wasn't going to get to meet the drivers or see how BIG the Monster Trucks are. The tickets were purchased and kept a secret from Wee Man and everyone else that talks to him.. ie the grandparents....

Do you know how hard it is to keep this kind of a secret from your child is... for a month! oooo it was horrid...

The night before the big day we showed him the printed out tickets. He slowly read them and then looked at us and asked when. It was all he would talk about the next morning and was counting down the minutes. No, seriously he was.

"It's now 11:30..... 11:31....11:32...."

Ear protection, coats, hats, money, more money and a camera. I gave DH the old camera (that I hate) but didn't have a spare SD card so they were going to stop and get one. This is an important thing to remember for the rest of this story....

A few hours later they call to tell me they are sitting in the parking lot and how much fun it was. In the background I can hear Wee Man rambling 100 miles per hour about all that happened. Was so great to hear him so happy and excited since he has been kinda down lately.

DH starts to relay what happened.... During the event there were four trophies being awarded to the driver/trucks and Grave Digger took three of them. If you have ever watched you know that sometimes they give stuff to the people in the audience. Gary Porter walked right in Wee Man's direction AND then gave the trophy to the three boys sitting next to him. OOOO my heart broke.. I just know how that would have made Wee Man's week.... month.. possibly his whole year.... Not sure what we would have done with it because it was taller than him.

Then DH tells me that the father of the boys offered to take a photo of DH and Wee Man with the trophy.... Sadly, the ~~POS~~ camera wouldn't take the SD card DH got because it's one of the new HD/SD thingys and some older cameras (that companies send out when they refused to send back your nicer one) don't take the new cards... sooooo

Talk about having your heart sink down to your knees.... Not getting the trophy and then not getting a photo with it... ugh....

Of course, Wee Man didn't think twice about it and thought it was sooo cool that Grave Digger gave away his trophies. I love my Wee Man... We already told him that if we are close enough the next time they are doing an event he can go again.

He is already planning for that day.....

Lil Kiwi test results and a family in need of prayers

2010-02-28T22:02:00.001-05:00

Update time.....

I always get nervous when I post updates... You know that every time I post them we always get some bad news after; however, it has been long enough that I am hoping there is no new news.... So here it goes...

Lil Kiwi had her scans done back in January but had to wait until her appointment with Dr. V in February to find out the results. There was a problem with the insurance company (again) so we were fighting with them, the base doctor and Dr. V's office up until one hour before her appointment. I called to make sure everything was okay literally on the drive to the appointment. Seriously, I wish there was a point A to point B with insurance because dealing with them would make any sane person crazy.

Anyway....

Dr. V told us he is very happy with what he saw and was impressed with how well she is doing. Her kidney is getting a tad smaller than it was; which is good and bad. Dr. V said it's possible that it's not getting smaller just that she is growing and it is not. So something else to keep an eye on. He also said that this new scan showed some new issues. *sigh* The new scans are showing that Lil Kiwi appears to have several wee spleen nodules. So, no left kidney but extra bits of spleen. Dr. V assured us that while this isn't anything to be worried about that it is something that we are going to need to watch. Currently they are fine but depending on what we find in the future and all that fun stuff they could pose a problem down the road. Just like her mystery bone. (click here for a photo of it ) Adding one more thing to the ever growing medical conditions list we have for Lil Kiwi.

We asked him about the Wilms Tumors ,even though it was the Geneticist that requested that test, and Dr. V said that there were no finding of any in this scan. *happy dance* Several questions later and we were talking about Lil Kiwi's spine again. He is still very concerned and wants another scan done but this time he said he is going to make sure to write a very detailed script so that the correct test is done. See why I LOVE Dr. V.... He is also going to write a letter to Lil Kiwi's PCM (primary care manager... ie her main peds doctor) and tell her what he wants to see done because she needs to be doing more for Lil Kiwi. At this I must laugh because she doesn't care one way or the other since she is a civilian doctor that works at a military base. No I am not guessing here we actually have this talk every time I need her to do something or order a test. She flat out tells me all she will do is check ups and shots (which she doesn't even give) because she has too many other patients to deal with. Makes me wonder how doctors that have their own practice(s) with more clients find time to "deal with" them. Rambling again sorry.... Just errrrrr she gets my blood boiling...

So, in August Lil Kiwi will now be having three tests done. The good news is I have the script in my pretty little hands.. okay it's actually locked up in her medical file in the sealed bag I keep them in but I digress.... The bad news is............

We finally found out that we will be moving in July to a new base. You might remember me mentioning it back in December. Well, we were suppose to be moving next month but we got approved for a delay until July. Which means Wee Man gets to finish out the school year here. DH is still trying to figure out a way to stay here (since all her specialists are here) or to be stationed somewhere that has a closer hospital. The children's hospital that we would have to go to is over 90 miles away. So, almost as soon as we get there we will be relaying Lil Kiwi's medical history to all new doctors. The good news is that Dr. V said the children's hospital is a very good one.

Which brings me to another Shenanigans member that has updates. Last month CutiePie went in for the first of several surgeries and I asked for positive thoughts. Then a few days later I updated you about her surgery and said there were a few complications but didn't give any more information. I can now tell you that CutiePie is good and is back home with her family. She doesn't have to have any more tests done right now and her next surgery is in six err five months now; actually I think it is also in August but not sure. Thank you to everyone that sent out prayers and positive thoughts for CutiePie.

Which also brings me to this last favor. If you do not already know about wee Layla Grace you should visit her site and see what a beautiful child she is. However, before you do that say a prayer... send out the positive thoughts that helped us each time we needed them because Layla Grace and her family need them. Pray for her to be comfortable and pain free....

Wordless Wednesday - Wishing I was there

2010-02-24T00:00:00.002-05:00

Wish I was back on this beach in Hawaii... no more snow please.

Food to warm the soul or at least your body

2010-02-23T13:04:00.001-05:00

What can I say... It's been a rather long two weeks since my last real post and it's tough trying to sit here again. Not that it is hard to find something to write about but the fact that there is so much. I will try to space it out over the next few days.

The weather here has been nothing short of nasty. Snow upon snow.... Then as some of the snow started to melt the path to our house flooded (like normal) and every night it would turn into ice. Still a lot of snow on the ground and now they say it's going to rain/snow all week. Oh JOY *rolling eyes*

The good thing about all this gloomy weather is I have been cooking. It's amazing what you can whip together when you have to use what you have in the pantry. So, one morning I decided we should make some chili. It's the perfect thing to warm your soul and make leftovers. Normally I would have made a more spicy chili and used some cheap beer.... but then again normally I wouldn't been snowed in....

So, I grabbed some meat, spices, some chili spice mix my mom sent me, two different cans of tomatoes, a can of pinto beans and a can of black eye peas. I know... I know.... I was a little worried at first also but it's chili and I have seen worst go into the pot. Threw everything into the mix, cooked, and prayed that it would at least be edible.

Turned out pretty darn tasty... Wee Man even ate some of it and he never eats anything!

When we still had some fresh provisions I made some 15 bean soup. Once again a wonderful dish for cold days and nights. I don't really have a recipe per say since it depends on what we have or who is eating it; however I will share my base recipe. Just three main ingredients and then whichever other spices I'm craving.

15 Bean Soup Shenanigans Style

Ingredients:

1 bag of 15 Bean Soup Mix
1 lb. ham hocks
Penzey's Ham Soup Base (love it)

Directions:

Follow directions for the beans on the package. Do not add the seasoning package unless you don't have soup base. After soaking and draining beans, add 2 quarts of water and the ham hocks. Bring to a boil over medium high heat; reduce to medium low, cover and simmer 1 hour.

Take out the ham hocks and pull or cut off the meat. Place the meat back into the pot with the beans. Add Penzey's Ham Soup Base; continue to simmer 1 hour or until beans are tender.

Top with fresh salsa and cilantro.....

This is just the base that I work off of. You can also add onions, tomatoes, celery, etc but I prefer simple bean soup.

St. Patrick's Day Gift Guide via some Goblins

2010-02-23T12:29:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for some gift ideas for St. Patricks why not stop by The Groschen Goblins. Tomorrow they are starting a Go Green for St. Patrick's Day / Irish Gift Guide. You'll get a ton of great ideas and lots of chances to win the items also.

Just a few of the companies participating are......

Head To Toe Flops 'n Bows
Laurie's Tutu Boutique
Reusable Bag Depot
One Bag at a time
Eden Fantasys
ECO Store USA
Seventh Generation
Creativity for Kids
Erno Lazslo
Charm Factory
Irish Girl Designs
and many more

Here's a quick wee saying to get everyone in the mood for St. Patrick's....

There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,

'Twas St. Patrick himself, sure, that sets it;

And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,

And with dew from his eye often wet it.

It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland,

And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

Book review/giveaway Countess of Scandal

2010-02-20T14:47:00.015-05:00

Title: Countess of Scandal (The Daughters of Erin)
Author: Laurel McKee
Category: FICTION, ROMANCE
Format: MASS MARKET
Publish Date: 2/1/2010
Price: $6.99/$8.99
ISBN: 9780446544788
Pages: 368

Synopsis:

As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever. Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to become a proper Irish countess.

Years later, Will finally makes his way home-as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising. When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate woman she has become. But Eliza's passions have led her to join the Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous conflict.

When Ireland explodes in bloody rebellion, Will's regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for Eliza and their Irish homeland.

Seeing as how Countess of Scandal takes place in Ireland I was of course instantly drawn to it. You are transported back in time to Kildare, Ireland in the 1790's, a time of rebellion, spies, and resistance. Eliza and William are fighting for opposite sides of the struggle between Ireland and England. Laurel McKee does a wonderful job telling their story during a very brutal time in Irish history. The tension of their love and of their causes almost bursts from the pages.

Don't worry if you think it's all about history; there are plenty of steamy scenes also. Here is an excerpt from one of the steamier parts...

"I don't really know you, Will," she said.
"Not really, not anymore. And yet there is some connection still. Do you feel it too?"

"Yes," he said hoarsely.

Eliza held her breath as his fingers traced that heartbeat, the swell of her breast through the thin silk dressing gown.

His other hand grasped her waist, drawing her up against him until there was not even a breath between them, Their bodies were pressed together, hard angles against soft curves, fitting perfectly as if the were made to be so. She felt dizzy. As if she were falling, falling, into him, where she would vanish completely.

His tongue touched hers, and she tasted wine, mint---oh, yes, she remembered the taste of him well. But their younger selves had never kissed like this. There was nothing tentative, careful, or artful about their kiss. It was frantic, hungry, and passionate, full of the dreams of years, of adult need, of fear and darkness and the force of life itself.

Want more? Take a listen to the prologue here or visit Laurel McKee's website. In fact, you can also check out her other books written as herself Amanda McCabe.

Countess of Scandal is the first book of The Daughters of Erin. Three tales of the extraordinary Blacknall sisters, as they find love, danger, and adventure amid the splendors of Georgian Ireland! Coming in December 2010 and April 2011

I received a copy from Hatchette book group via The Product Review Place to review...and they are letting me giveaway three copies.

Prize: Three readers will win a copy of Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment recommending a book OR tell me why you like historical romance novels...... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Tweet : Win a copy of Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee http://tinyurl.com/yl8cjwo @weeshenanigans #giveaway
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Monday March 1 at midnight EST...

The Winners will be emailed on Tuesday March 2... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winners will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I received the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

WINNERS

2010-02-20T14:21:00.003-05:00

The Lucky winners picked by Random.org to receive a copy of Sleep No More by Susan Crandall are....

Becky with comment #12
Trina with comment # 44
Kristy with comment # 49
Sheila with comment #25
Amanda with comment #37

All winners have already been contacted by email....

The Lucky winner picked by Random.org to receive a 60 day supply of Teddy's Pride was...

Christina with comment # 11

Congratulations to all the winners...

Giveaway time... Target Giftcard? Movie and a book?

2010-02-09T09:26:00.015-05:00

CLOSED
*edited to add* Look my giveaway is a Prizey Pick!!! I am so thrilled.

I wanted to apologize to everyone about not visiting your blogs; however, most of my time is going to keeping the kids entertained. We got slammed by snowmageddon and now they are calling for another 10-20 inches here (on top of the 2+ feet we already have) so I can only imagine that soon we will be going stir crazy.

Since, I will not have time to go shopping for a blogoversary giveaway like planned; it's going to be just a gift card... Boring I know... Perhaps as soon as we thaw out I will do another giveaway to make it up to everyone... Until then.... Those that did the bonus entry last week don't worry I will add them...

Prize: $50 Target Gift Card (or Amazon.com if you prefer)

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment about something you love... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans (leave url/link in your comment) (+2 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: WIN $50 Target GC @weeshenanigans http://tinyurl.com/yddcye3 #giveaway
Grab my Shamrock button
~~Enter any of the current giveaways, leave a comment and tell me which giveaway you entered~~

This giveaway will end on Saturday March 13 at midnight EST...

The Winners will be emailed on Sunday March 14... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winners will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be drawn.

Good Luck to everyone... Open to the US only sorry...

*Disclosure: There is none... This giveaway is all me.....*

Snowmageddon at the Shenanigans

2010-02-06T15:46:00.029-05:00

Picture this if you will.....

Snowmageddon is going to hit your area on Friday and Thursday Wee Man comes home from school and says....

"Mom, I think I just want to rest on the couch because both my ears hurt at school today"

translation: Mom I have a bilateral ear infection, the doctors office is closed, the huge snow storm hits tomorrow AND I have a 102 fever.. by the way I love you...

You call the doctor hoping someone is still there to answer the phone. Ring.. Ring.. Ring...

"Hello, *explain situation*"
"OH... Sorry all appointments have been put on hold because of the storm. You can talk to a nurse though."

transferred to nurse

"Hello, *explain situation again*"
"Sorry you will just have to take him to the ER because we aren't seeing anyone and I will not approve you to go to XYZ clinic."
"mmm Let me get this straight. You want me to drive 45 minutes plus to the ER instead of 4 minutes to you?"

You get the picture... It's tons of fun..

I started having flash backs to New Years Eve... However, I decided to wait till morning to call again.

The day Snowmageddon is going to hit....

Get very little sleep and then first thing call to see if the hold has been lifted...

"Hello....."
"What's the situation... OH yes he needs to be seen... We are double booking but can get him in at 9am..."

Figure out how to get Mister Sicky Mcsickerson dressed and off the couch.... DOH! Rush to the bedroom to get Lil Kiwi up, fed, and dressed to go also.

Wait what's that... She feels hot.... A 102.8 fever?! Bollocks!!

"Helllooo... It's me... BTW can that be a double appointment because mmm the other kid is sick too."
"mmm (mumbling sounds) Sure go ahead and bring her we will see what we can do"

After seeing the nurse practitioner (I dislike her very much but didn't have a choice) we head to Target to pick up the medicine. Then wait an hour for them to fill it because they are backed up... Window shopped while waiting and end up getting a ton of stuff when all I needed was the $4 medicine...

Then head home and wait... Wait for the storm.... Wait for the kids medicine to kick in... Wait.

Snowmageddon starts...

I made some tracks in the snow to see how much had fallen... However, in the time it took to get the camera they had already started to fill in... Ten minutes later they were disappearing before my eyes...

Went to bed at 0100 hours and it looked like this...

Got up at 0730 hours and it looked like this...

As of 1300 hours it looked like this...

Just a wee bit o'snow... Of course, that much snow in the backyard does make the dogs going outside to potty a bit difficult.... We shoveled a path for them to use but Fawn Dog decided she wanted to use her normal spot wayyyyy on the other side of the yard... She quickly changed her mind.

We also seem to have some new "pets".... See if you can guess what they are by the tracks in the snow...

Birds! You are correct... Each time it snows we have a few birds that use the porch for shelter and I always make sure to throw some bread crumbs out for them... At first they just sat around in the snow waiting for me to go back inside...

Apparently, the need for warmth was stronger than their fear of me so I was able to snap a shot.

One little birdie was still on the fence about joining the others....

I told him that I was going inside and it was safe to grab a crumb or two... He said "thanks, my feet were getting cold" or at least that's what I think he said...

Here's the snow picking up again and my cue to get inside where it is warmer....

Do not think we will be using the back gate anytime soon...

Is it Friday Yet?

2010-02-04T09:32:00.008-05:00

With all the bumps and bruises I get one would think I'm clumsy. When in fact I'm not; I am however accident prone... If there is one small piece of something sharp on the floor of a football stadium I would step on it.

In fact, DH sometimes calls me Kelso (from That 70s show) because you often hear me say... "Aww my eye"

Growing up was an adventure. Once I burned my hand very badly with boiling water and had to wear a sock for the summer. Not just any ol'sock... It was one of my brothers old used tricolored striped tube sock. I'm talking those retro 80s tube socks not the super sexy ones you can get today. So if you remember seeing a young girl running around with a tube sock on her hand.....it.....was... ME. Yes I have pictures and no I will not be sharing them.

Even in college... During one of my classes for Marine Biology we were removing fish from the drift nets and identifying them. The professors told us they had release the big sharks and that only fish were in the net. There I was happily minding my own business when BAM I get bit by a shark. M'kay no sharks you say... Needless, to say I refused to get in the water the rest of the day.

They said it must have gotten there in the time between them releasing and us getting there. That I was lucky it was only a three foot Blue and that the net was between us. Tell that to my tummy that had abrasions from the sharks attempt to protect itself from me. For those not familiar with sharks a Blue shark at three feet is just a wee thing... almost like a tween...more bark than bite...

Any way.... Unless she got rid of it one of my friends took the head home with her to keep. I'm sure my mom remembers this story and the person (Bergh's little sister) that got the head.. OH and this was the same class that a few weeks later I cut my knee on a Quahog (hard shell calm) and got stung by a jellyfish right between my thighs. YEAH I'm accident prone..

So, last night the kids slide (think the large step 2 type slide) fell on my toes and I mumbled words while I stumbled around. It hurt too bad to be broken but I knew there was going to be bruising and tenderness. Off to bed I went thinking that was the end of that...

I should know better by now...

This morning I pulled on my snow boots to walk Wee Man to the bus stop. I am always getting after him to watch where he is going yada yada yada... Normally, that is something I always do but for some reason not this morning. I take a step and just as I realize something is wrong I hear...

"Mom.. watch your step"

A few dance moves later and I'm face down on the sidewalk. Ice.... Out of the whole sidewalk I found the one strip that was covered in ice. Wee Man offers to help me up and I'm telling him to just stay clear of the ice.

Bruised toes.... sore knees... scraped hands.... yeah that's about normal for this accident prone girl..

Now someone please tell me tomorrow really isn't Friday....

*edited to add* Great now I just banged my already bruised knee into the kids ABC dry erase board.. OUCH!

With the pending winter storm coming in a few hours I think it is best if I just get in bed and stay there until next week... Wonder if I could actually get away with that.. hmmm

Wordless Wednesday - Monster Trucks R Us

2010-02-03T00:00:00.013-05:00

Wee Man loves Monster Trucks... He begged to have his picture taken with this Mini Monster Truck...

In fact, he tells us he wants to be a driver of a Monster Truck for Monster Jam. Which I have no problem with... However, Wee Man will need to get over his fear of heights...

Yes that is Wee Man only a few feet off the ground with his eyes shut tight. I'm not so sure I see driving a Monster Truck in his future currently.

Still time to give me your ideas for my blogoversary giveaway just click the link and leave a comment on THAT post to get bonus entries.

*shameless plug* If you have a dog or cat you really need to enter the Teddy's Pride Giveaway. It works and is so simple to use...

Sleep No More Review and Giveaway

2010-02-01T16:31:00.014-05:00

Category: FICTION, ROMANCE
Format: MASS MARKET
Edition: Forever Special Release
Publish Date: 1/1/2010
Price: $6.99/$8.99
ISBN: 9780446556842
Pages: 400
Size: 4-3/16" x 6-3/4"

Synopsis:

DANGER NEVER RESTS

The night was always Abby Whitman’s enemy. As a young girl she walked in her sleep, and one night, started a fire that scarred her sister for life and left Abby with unbearable guilt, and a loneliness that echoes within her

AND EVIL NEVER CLOSES ITS EYES

Now Abby has begun blacking out again—with apparently fatal results. A car accident has killed the son of a prominent family. Even though the evidence seems to exonerate her, Abby is plagued by doubts—and soon by mysterious threats. A young psychiatrist, Dr. Jason Coble, is intrigued by Abby and offers to help her explore the dark recesses in her mind. Through this terrifying journey, Jason’s interest turns to passion, and he yearns to give her the love she craves. But first, Abby must trust him—and shed light on secrets that will rock this Southern town and reveal a danger that threatens them both.

Honestly, just from the synopsis I was hooked. Murder... mystery... mayhem.... and romance... I love a good mystery and usually figure them out way before you are suppose to; however, I found myself second guessing myself until right before all is revealed. Sleep No More was a good read and I found it difficult to put down. Also refreshing was that the relationship between Abby and Jason was a romance and not just all sex and lust.

I'm finding it difficult to write a better review without giving away to much of the story. This is more to this book than just the story of Abby and Jason giving you more to think about and making the characters more real. Yet, all the character stories fit nicely together without leaving you wondering why the author put that in the book.

For the most part I really enjoyed Sleep No More and would look into buying some of Susan Crandall other books. I've heard that her book Pitch Black is wonderful.

Here are a few Fun Facts...

Susan has always had a deep seated fear of being stuck in a car submerged in water at night. She tapped into that fear when she wrote the accident scene in SLEEP NO MORE. To top it off, she set it in an ultra-creepy South Carolina Lowcountry swamp. This one kept her awake at night.
During her young childhood years, Susan’s daughter was a sleepwalker. Luckily there was an alarm on the house, and she never made it outdoors.
This book met its deadline even though during the last writing weeks Susan was battling a stomach virus. Therefore her “snack of the book” (see book pages on http://www.susancrandall.net/ for each book’s deadline snack) was box after box of mini-saltines.
Susan’s son is also a fiction writer. His first novel is almost finished.
Susan had some misconceptions about sleepwalking when she started developing this book. One of the main points she had wrong required her to totally adjust her plan for this story. Originally she’d intended to have Abby begin to recall scraps of memory as she worked with Dr. Jason Coble. As it turns out, sleepwalkers do not recall anything they do while sleepwalking. Research showed her the error of her ways.

I received a copy from Hatchette book group to review...and they are letting me giveaway five copies.

Prize: Five readers will win a copy of Sleep No More by Susan Crandall

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me if you have ever had any sleepwalking experiences/fears of the night OR recommend a book...... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans (leave url/link in your comment) (+2 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: Win a #giveaway copy of Sleep No More by @SusanCrandall @weeshenanigans http://tinyurl.com/yj2rgoo
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Monday February 15 at midnight EST...

The Winners will be emailed on Tuesday February 16... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winners will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I received the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Teddy's Pride Review and Giveaway

2010-01-29T21:18:00.008-05:00

I use to brush Black Dog's teeth on a regular basis but after having kids it has not been as often as it was. He has always had bad doggie breath and none of the veterinarians I worked with could tell me why. So, I figured it was just one more thing to love about him or at least tolerate. When we adopted Fawn Dog I found we now had two dogs with dragon breath. Most ex-racers have bad teeth due to the diet they were fed (soft food) so bad teeth and breath are normal.

Then last month I was given Teddy's Pride to review from The Product Review Place. The idea behind Teddy's Pride is actually quite simple; they use probiotics to promote fresher breath and whiten teeth. Similar to the probiotics found in yogurt only Teddy's Pride is specially formulated to inhibit the growth of the bacteria that cause bad breath. The key active ingredient in Teddy’s Pride is ProBiora3. By binding to the teeth, ProBiora3’s beneficial bacteria leave no room or nutrients for the destructive bacteria to inhabit a healthy oral cavity.While this is not the first pet freshen for pets it is the very first that freshens breath naturally while gently and naturally whitening teeth.

A few things I like about Teddy's Pride...

100% natural
Made in the USA (at a Certified FDA facility)
Back by 25 years of scientific research
100% 30-day money-back guarantee
Simple to use
Tasteless and Odorless
Affordable

Black Dog and Fawn Dog have been on Teddy's Pride for a month now so that I could give you a honest review. Once a day during their evening meal I simply sprinkle one scoop (provided for you) directly onto their food and that's it. Simple....

Does it work? Yes... By the third day of using Teddy's Pride I noticed a huge lack of smelly breath from Black Dog. Fawn Dog took a little longer before I noticed a difference but that is because her teeth are a lot worst. As far as the whitening of the teeth I can't say yet because it's only been a month. This is definitely a product that I will be using on a regular basis for the dogs.

Want more information? Visit Teddy's Pride on Facebook, Twitter, or their site Teddy's Pride Oral Care.

Interested in buying some Teddy's Pride for your dog or cat? At only 24.95 for a 60 day supply you can try it out and see for yourself how great it is or you can enter to win a jar of Teddy's Pride right now.

Prize: Teddy's Pride is giving away one jar of Teddy's Pride Oral Care to one of my readers.

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me something you learned from the Teddy's Pride site... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and Teddy's Pride (leave url/link in your comment) (+2 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: Win a #giveaway for a jar of @TeddysPride Oral Care for pets @weeshenanigans http://tinyurl.com/yc82cmo
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Monday February 15 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Tuesday February 16... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 48 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I received the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

What's up with CutiePie

2010-01-29T10:07:00.002-05:00

First things first...

CutiePie.... You all know how I dislike posting any good medical news because there is normally bad after; however, I could not leave all of you wondering what happened over the weekend. She had her surgery on Tuesday and ,besides a little more bruising than they want, overall she is doing good. There were a few complications they found after they started which means CutiePie and her family are having to stay at the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. I will have to see if I can get a photo of CutiePie to share with all of you but I cannot promise anything because it's up to her parents. All my thoughts and prayers go out to them... Thank you to everyone that kept CutiePie and her family in their thoughts and prayers.

Speaking of thoughts... Giveaway ideas! My blogoversary is next month and I need ideas. Do I do a gift card, another Burt's Bees Bag, car (okay not a car), or what? Start brainstorming and leave me a few ideas, in fact, those that leave an idea will get two bonus entries into the giveaway. How sweet is that people.

For those that were asking how Lil Kiwi's tests went; it will be mid February before I know and can share with you.

Okay, time to get back to the never ending pile of laundry. I swear there is always something in the dryer that needs to be folded.

Wordless Wednesday - Awww Fresh Air

2010-01-27T00:00:00.003-05:00

The weather has been horrible here which means no going outside to play. Lil Kiwi was couped up during the whole allergic reaction thingy and now demands fresh air no matter how cold or windy. I think it was about 23 degrees outside when I took these...

at first she hid in the blanket...

but soon decided she was happy

Please say a prayer or send some warm thoughts out to CutiePie this week.

BTW my blogoversary is in like two weeks need ideas for a giveaway...

Need positive thoughts and why is the roof flying off

2010-01-26T07:30:00.002-05:00

So much to post about and so little time. Honestly this past week flew by in the blink of an eye or at least part of it did. The first few days seemed to take forever because Wee Man got out early Friday and then had Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday OFF!!! It was another important the teachers have something they have to do so give all the kids the week off..... Yeah they have a lot of them here. In fact, they have holidays off and three day weekends that I have never heard of before. Of course, that also means that summer time is only one month long before school starts again but I digress....

Yesterday part of the roof flew off. We had some horrid wind for the better part of the day. So, yesterday morning it was rainy, windy and all around yucky... Things were flying around the porch from the wind and then the wind-chime fell down and shattered. When it eased up I looked at the front lawn and there were a few of the shingles from the roof. I'm hoping there are not going to be leaks before we fix it because the forecast for the week is rain and snow.. Yippee...

Moving along...

I have a ton to write about but right now I wanted to ask for some positive thoughts from everyone. A few months ago I posted about how DH's cousin had a baby girl that also has some medical issues and was going to need a few surgeries. We knew the time for her surgeries were coming up but didn't realize that the first was taking place this week. I'm not sure which day since I got the information via DH who got it from FIL (and you know how third hand information is) however, I know it is sometime this week.

CutiePie is just shy of seven months old and going in for her first surgery of several. It's serious stuff.... If I remember correctly (and FIL if I am wrong please let me know) CutiePie has Craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis is a congenital (present at birth) defect that causes one or more sutures on a baby's head to close earlier than normal.

To have this surgery CutiePie and her family are having to drive from one major city to the next one which is about four hours away. This means that they will be away from the comforts of home (having to staying in hotels) and away from the rest of the family. Something like this is always difficult but I can not imagine how hard it must be for all of them right now.

It is not my place to go into details about CutiePie's surgery (not that I have them anyway) but I wanted to ask if everyone could send some positive thoughts or prayers her way. Such a sweet thing should not have to endure what she is going to be.

To the rest of the Shenanigans family and CutiePie,

You will be in our thoughts and hearts this week. Be strong and know that you are loved.

May God grant you always...
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.

The Shenanigans....

Those Lil Kiwi updates (finally)

2010-01-15T12:24:00.002-05:00

With all that has been going on the past few months I haven't been posting about how Lil Kiwi is doing medically. I would make comments that I would update and then mention updating again but not post. Part of that is because it seemed that every time I posted (or told someone in person) how good she was doing I would get a phone call from a doctors office telling me they found something else. So, I figured if I did not mention it then it can not get worst. Sounds good in theory.

It's been seven months since Lil Kiwi's surgery and yet there are still tests to make sure everything is still working good. She was suppose to get the test done late December (hmm not going to ruin her Christmas) or early January but after ER visits I figured waiting until now was fine. The appointment is for Monday and hopefully it will show nothing new..... although I would love it if it showed her kidney was better but that's like asking for a miracle.

Now..... My mom and maybe only one other blogger even know about this next bit of information and I told then not to mention anything. Not even sure if my FIL and rest of my family know about it. A few months ago I posted about how I was going to post an update about Lil Kiwi but never did. What happened was I had good news and I opened my mouth and told my FIL that she was doing great; then we got the phone call. The Geneticist can not figure out what is wrong with Lil Kiwi but they do have one theory that they want to rule out. We already had her blood and chromosomes tested and they showed nothing. Now we will be doing an ultrasound of her abdomen to see if she has any tumors that can be related to the syndrome.

So, on Monday she will also be getting this ultrasound done before the other test. Two test one day. I'm hoping this will get them out of the way and only cause one day of Lil Kiwi being mad at the world. The hard part of the ultrasound is that it has to be done on an empty stomach so she can't have anything to eat four hours before the appointment. The appointment is first thing in the morning at 7:20 am so unless we get her up in the wee morning hours she will be going hours without eating. After this test she can eat before the next one but I still do not look forward to sitting and wait with a hungry baby.

What is the name of the syndrome we are ruling out? Beckwith-Wiedemann.

They say that she might be an atypical case of it; basically she is the opposite of what they would normally see. However, they are worried that since she does have the one kidney that already has some issues that IF she does have Beckwith-Wiedemann that she might get Wilms tumors.

WILMS TUMOURS

Tumours of the kidney. Around 7.5% of BWS children will develop Wilms Tumour. Because of the aggressiveness of these tumours, abdominal ultrasound scans should take place every three months up to the age of 7 or 8 years. A baseline MRI scan may also be performed. The susceptibility to these tumours diminishes and is not usually a problem after the age of 8. Children with one side of the body bigger than the other or enlarged kidneys appear to be more susceptible to Wilms tumour than other BWS children.

You can see why this could be a problem for Lil Kiwi since she only has one kidney. I'm posting about this only because it's a way to get it off my chest. We still do not know if/when we are moving but we did find out that the nearest doctors that can treat Lil Kiwi are 90 plus miles away. Needless to say I'm getting more and more stressed each day. I know there are people that may drive that distance and do not understand why it bother me but this isn't my choice. This means that when we have appointments it's going to be an all day event. I might have to pull Wee Man out of school if I don't have anyone to watch him on those days. ARGG

Okay.... remembering to breath...

Back on track. What I do not know yet is if we will need to keep doing the ultrasounds every three months just to be on the safe side or if this one will rule it out. I figure this is one of the things I will be talking with the Geneticist about. For now I'm going to try not to worry or stress too much but I know I will. HA me not stress now that's a laugh...

Wordless Wednesday - Walking to the Mailbox

2010-01-13T00:00:00.006-05:00

These are from a few months ago but I just found them and wanted to share. Nothing special but ohhh she loves getting the mail. If only I still got that excited about getting all dressed to get the mail....

By the way, Lil Kiwi looks much better now than she did last week and I will post a recent photo soon. Once again thank you to those that sent their prayers and warm thoughts to us.

Tanner-Banner from puppymill to pampered prince

2010-01-12T20:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I ended my post talking about the fact my parents might be putting my dog to sleep today. So today I am going to share with you the story of Tanner-Banner..

When I was living in Florida I came across a puppy mill. Before then I had read about them but never actually seen one in real life. It was so heartbreaking to see so many different breeds of dogs (and puppies) in rows of cages. While they all looked healthly you could see how unhappy they were in their eyes. Needless, to say I make some phone calls and the place was put out of business (at least for a little bit).

I was able to rescue one of the puppies. He was the odd dog out. Taller than his parents. Bigger than his siblings. Just an all around goof of a pup. I knew he was most likely either a mix or the result of a lot of inbreeding but it was not his fault. He was most likely an Italian Greyhound/Whippet mix.

Full of worms and every other parasite his first visit to the vet was fun. After that was all out of his system he was a great little dog. Housebreaking was pretty easy; minus sneaking out of work to let him outside for potty breaks. Soon he was even coming to work with me and sleeping under the desk. In fact, it was one of the girls at work that named him.

He went on all my roadtrips and was normally always at my side. What was so great was that he was more like a cat, and my cat was more like a dog. My cat played fetch and would meow at the door if any one knocked. Tanner was more than happy to just kick back and relax. He did not understand why it was a big deal if someone came over or why chasing the ball and bringing it back was fun. All he knew was his bed was comfortable and his favorite toy was always just a squeek away.

Tanner did have some issues. Men in hats! Which we can only guess is because of something that happened to him while at the puppymill. It did not matter if the guy was sitting next to him and he watched them put on the hat. As soon as that hat was on the head he was growling and dancing around. He was also very sensitive about men in general.

When I decided to move to Hawaii there was a small problem. At that time the currently laws were that all animals had to be quarantined for six months at the state ~~pet jail~~ facility. This was not something that Tanner would have been able to do. It was a hard decision but after talking to my mother we both agreed that being in quaratine would either kill him or make him even worst. So, my mother said she would watch over him for me.

You know what happened. He got spoiled. Tanner found that he liked having his owner home 24/7 and a huge bed to relax on. The huge backyard that was perfect for running circles around. While in Hawaii I ended up saving Black Dog and was super excited to get back and let them become friends. They did become friends; even though Black Dog was more excited about being friends with the cats (the cats not so thrilled having another dog around) .

So, I left Tanner where he was the happiest. On my parents bed living the life of a pampered prince.

He has had a few medical issues that are normal with his breed. My mother has been super and done every single thing possible to make him comfortable and happy. However, when he recently decided to stop eating and basically gave up, my mother made the hard decision to have him put to sleep. This was not something that was done lightly. Unless an animal is in pain or their quality of life is bad would my mother even think about putting one to sleep.

She called me as I was trying to take photos of pictures of Tanner so I could add them to this post. They were at the vets and wanted to know what I wanted done. I told her that she needed to be there for Tanner when he went to sleep; of course, I didn't say it in that many words. Of all the animals I have had to put to sleep it was always the ones with the owners there that were at peace during their final moments. That might have been the most difficult thing I have ever asked my mother to do. I honestly do not think she has ever been there when an animal has been put to sleep (although I could be wrong).

Tanner is now at rest and no longer in pain. He will be missed by us all.

RIP Tanner

By the way MOM... You did all that you could and I want you to stop being sorry... It was his time to go and he let you know. If I didn't agree I would have told you so. I love you and thank you for being with him when I could not be.

The Weekend Lowdown

2010-01-11T23:25:00.003-05:00

So, after starting the week with two trips to the ER, the rest of the week was just as interesting. Lil Kiwi has once again become clingy and having sleep issues. She gets like this everytime something happens that forces us to visit doctors or hospitals. Which makes getting any decent sleep almost impossible for the parents (ahem... me). Although this week DH has been suffering also. Until we move we are still stuck in this two bedroom so she is still sleeping in the bedroom with us.

The move.... As soon as I know more about what is going on with that I will post all the yucky details. Currently, we are suppose to be moving in April but are hoping they let us extend to the end of June so that Wee Man can finish out school here. However, it's all up to the military and what they feel is best for them.

Seeing as how I haven't been getting the best of sleep this week and was in the ER for several hours; it seems that I have caught the nasty sick bug. Which isn't a surprise since this is about the same time last year that the nasty sick bug visited the family. For the better half of the weekend I have been hacking up my lungs. No really I have or at least it sure as heck felt like it because those coughing fits were horrible. When you cough so hard you throw up I'm sure that is not a good sign. No I am not going to the doctors. I am pretty sure that if DH did not make me wake up to intake fluids, I would have slept for three days straight. However, he did wake me up so it was not straight through but it was from Friday thru Sunday.

Thursday was actually decent. We ran up to the school for the IEP meeting about Wee Man's speech therapy. We have been fighting to get it him more time with the speech teacher but up until Thursday it was like talking to a brick wall. The way the system works is they bring in 4-6 students for 30 minutes total and they do speech. So, there isn't really any one to one time with the teacher and that 30 minutes includes getting out of class and back to class. Seeing as how Wee Man didn't start talking until he was just over 3 1/2 years old he needs some one to one time or more time in speech class.

Well, Thursday they reviewed his IEP and listened to what we and his teacher were concerned about for him in the future. They agree that he needs a second class and possibly some over the summer IF he needs it depending on how he does with his second class. Success in a way. Not that I want him being pulled from class (even though it's normally during play times) but if we do not do it now it might be harder for him later. Currently, few people understand him and his teacher even has trouble sometimes and this is her second year with him.

My mom called and wanted to let me know (ie. prepare me) for some bad news. Since this post is already so long I will share the story tomorrow but it looks like they might have to put down my dog I had to leave with my parents when I moved to Hawaii.

BAH.... Poop... Here's to a better week this week...

Let us recap this week....

two visits within 24 hours at the ER with Lil Kiwi
me hacking up my lungs
Wee Man getting more speech class (yeah!)
Lil Kiwi being clingy again
DH being super awesome and letting me sleep
found out my pup might have to be put down
plus all the other stuff I missed while sleeping
or forgot to write about

Wordless Wednesday - if mommy had her way

2010-01-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

After the recent ER trips I thought I would have a little fun this WW...

If you have no clue what I am talking about please take a moment to read how the shenanigans bring in new yEaR and second trip to the ER so that you will have a better understanding of todays WW...

I plan on making the rounds but currently I'm the having to keep an extra good eye on her so it might be awhile before I get to visit everyone.

Second trip to ER within 24 hours of the first trip

2010-01-05T21:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, if you haven't read about the first trip to the ER you really need to. So go read it and then come back to read the rest of the story and the second trip to the ER in the same day.

I left off on the last post stating that after changing Lil Kiwi I noticed the rash had spread to other parts of her body. We put her to bed at 5:30 in the afternoon and there was no rash on her belly but by 9:30 it was covering half of it.

Panic? No.... At first I figured it was normal.... maybe... Then I started to go over all the events of the past few hours... Thought about what the Doctors had said... What I had read on the internet about allergic reactions... and it started to seem not so normal....

So, I called the ER to ask if it was normal or if I needed to be worried.... The nurse that answered the phone remembered us from that morning even though she never talked to us... She informed us that everyone she asked told her to have us come in ASAP...

We bundled up and headed back to the ER.

Since I was able to sneak in the back/side door last time I still had no clue where the ER really was. Thus, we had to walk through a parking lot and then up and around a building to get to it. We signed in and by the time I turned around to go to the waiting room one of the nurses from the morning told us to come with her.

This time we went to the Pediatric Triage instead of the general ER... Never even knew they had different ERs so I learned something new....

I had to answer all the same questions and got Lil Kiwi ready for another stay at the ER... Little did I know it wasn't going to be as long as last time. We were in and out in two hours...

The doctor walked in and was looking at Lil Kiwi sitting there... I gave the whole yada yada story and blah blah facts... He told me that he knew what was wrong and that she was misdiagnosed the first time.

He had an answer within the first few seconds he saw her!! Erythema multiforme

The reason they didn't catch it sooner was because the first doctor wasn't a pediatric doctor otherwise he would have known. It is almost always misdiagnosed in children because it looks like an allergic reaction at first because in a way it is one. Since the treatment is the same it either gets better OR like with Lil Kiwi it gets worst.

Now the problem is that it will continue to get worst before it gets better... Plus, it moves! Yes you read that correctly... It moves across the body at will... Which is why it was suddenly on her belly a few hours after it wasn't... In the picture below you can see that it moved and is no longer on her belly but now on her chest.

The game plan is to treat it with steroids and try to keep her as comfort as possible... We also have to be watchful because if it gets worst it will turn into Stevens-Johnson syndrome and that will be very very bad.. Most likely it won't but since it is possible it was the medicine she was on they want us to keep a close eye on her.. So, for the next 2-3 weeks poor Lil Kiwi will have a moving rash. It's kind of eerie because you can almost see it move before your eyes.

In fact, I don't have the heart to take any more pictures of her right now because it's so hard to look at her and not feel bad... When I gave her a quick shower/rise off earlier she looked like a child that had been abused... It broke my heart.. The photos I posted are the good ones because the others are just too much to post.

They don't know what caused it since it could have been a number of things. So, now I'm a nervous wreck because I know I will be wondering what really happened; since so little is actually known about Erythema Multiforme and how/what causes it.

Here is an example of how it moves... These two pictures are from the same day just a few hours difference.. You can see what use to be red isn't anymore... It's the opposite...

A few quick facts about Erythema multiforme.

Erythema multiforme is a skin disorder due to an allergic reaction or infection
The exact cause is unknown
The disorder is believed to involve damage to the blood vessels of the skin, followed by damage to skin tissues
Occurs primarily in children and young adults
One third of EM sufferers will have a recurrence of the disease

What is so scary for me is that this is something that might happen to her at anytime. Plus, it states that normally it takes days for it to spread that bad the first time and yet it was hours for Lil Kiwi. There really is not a treatment for it other than just being careful and catching it before it gets bad. It's rare for children under the age of 3 years to get this so, of course, Lil Kiwi just had to add it to her list of medical mystery issues. I swear when she starts school the nurses are going to hate dealing with me. Speaking of which, I wonder if I need to get her a medical alert bracelet.

Why do I have this feeling that I am going to be that mom, like in the commercial for the baby wipes, that has her baby in a bubble... or be hauling around my own EMT bag which I might actually do since we have one for the dogs... Don't judge me..LOL...

So.... if you are at the play ground and you see an auburn headed mom with an EMT bag chasing down a bubble baby....... It's ME..... Come on over and say HI and join in the shenanigans....

How the Shenanigans bring in the new yEaR

2010-01-04T21:56:00.002-05:00

*Since writing this we ended up back at the ER with Lil Kiwi... I will update as soon as possible...*

What do you do when it is 10:30 at night and your youngest wakes up screaming?

Well, if you live in the Shenanigans household it really is not out of the ordinary since Lil Kiwi usually wakes up at least twice a night in screaming fits. However, this time it was a tad different.

DH uses the night light to change or check up on Lil Kiwi while I sometimes pull the Mean Ol' Mommy and turn the room light on... Sorry but sometimes I like to see what I am doing...

So, I turned the light on and got ready to change Lil Kiwi when I noticed something was wrong. Wrong as in I had one of those moments when time stops and you can feel the energy racing through your body. I called to DH to get in the room I needed to ask him something. His jaw also hit the floor when I pulled her pants completely off.

Little welts all over her legs... Off with the socks... Little hives all over her feet.... Hands... Face!!!!

You can just barely see the small red spots...

With in seconds we had her crib stripped and in the wash. Bugs? Spiders? Hives? What in the world....

Lil Kiwi was screaming as we rushed her into the bathroom for a powder pat down and boo-boo cream. DH and I were running all possible reasons for what could have caused this. The medicine for her double ear infection (oooo yes I haven't posted about this yet... After three days with a 100 temperature we find out Monday that she has a double ear infection... It has been a long week thus the lack of posts and comments), new foods, bites, mites, etc..

Every thirty minutes I was snapping photos so I had something to show doctors if she didn't get better. By this time she had a dose of Tylenol and some Benadryl....

We put in Tinkerbell and sat down on the couch to watch a movie so we could monitor the swelling.

DH finally took a small nap while I stayed up and kept watch. At about 2:30 in the morning we all headed to the bedroom to see about sleep. With the alarm set to go off every hour for Lil Kiwi checks.

By 3:30 we were up and calling to see how bad the ER was. We decided since I have always been the one at her appointments and such that I should take her. We also checked in to make sure Wee Man wasn't having an allergic reaction also; which thankfully he was not.

This is where the morning events got worst. I get in the minivan and nothing... I try again and nothing.... Remember that ooo something is wrong moment from before... Well, it was ten fold now....

Rushing back to the house I had the keys over to DH to try... Nothing... So, he gets his truck ready for us... Well, the only problem is that I have been telling him over and over that we need a second carseat for the truck.. AHEM... So, he had to get the carseat out of the minivan which was refusing to open the side doors... Over the front seats and to the truck...

Did I mention that it was about 10 degrees outside not including the windchill...

Finally an hour later Lil Kiwi and I were on the way to the ER... I would love to say I RUSHED to the ER but it's not true... I followed the speed limits... I called my mother even though for her it was like 3 or 4 in the morning and told her how nothing was going right and please pray and send warm thoughts... I caught every red light as soon as I was near the ER...

I followed the signs and parked at the parking garage. Then it got worst....

I couldn't find the ER.... It was cold... Lil Kiwi was screaming as the wind blew... I finally called the hospital to ask for directions to the ER... My cell phone beeping at me that the battery was about to die... The operator was confused and had me walking everywhere be where I needed to be...

"Get to the front of the building and then take the stairs down" (after I just was told to walk up them) etc...

I stopped two nurses that were leaving a building and asked where to go. As they started to tell me up and around the corner, one of them saw Lil Kiwi and then buzzed us in a side door. I walked in and asked where the ER was. Only to be greeted by nurses that looked up and asked how in the world I got in that door and then followed by OMG come with me.

She actually looks GOOD in this picture..

Lil Kiwi was a trooper like always. The nurses handed the job of temperature taking and medicine dispensing to me since Lil Kiwi refused to let any of them near her. They think it might be the medication she was given for her ear infections but they are not sure..

Everyone that walked by looked and commented on how horrid Lil Kiwi looked. *pout* It was so hard sitting there listening to nurses and EMT people say how bad she looked... Don't they see worst things everyday?

Being told your daughter that already has a list of medical issues is possibly allergic to a medicine that has penicillin in it is tough... One more thing to add to the list of thing I have to tell doctors... I can not begin to imagine how difficult it must be for those parents with child that have more serious issues...

We left the ER the same way we sneaked in thanks to the nurses.. All I wanted was to get home and let both of us get some sleep and food. It was still dark out when we got to the ER and it was now as bright as it could be.

Just miles from home we got stuck at a railroad crossing as the longest train in history went on its merry way.

No sleep all night/morning takes a toll on Lil Kiwi. At least someone got to nap on the drive home.

Finally home we spent the rest of the day napping and I got to eat around 5 in the afternoon.... Lil Kiwi is off the other medicine and is now taking steroids. While she is not as swollen as she was the redness is spreading. They said that she will have a rash for 3-4 days and if it isn't better to bring her in.

Well, I just changed her and now she is covered in red rash where she wasn't before.

My plans for this week are being cancelled; minus Thursday when I have to go fight the school to make sure Wee Man gets more speech therapy and the correct classes he needs.. Hmmm I think we all need a nice long vacation... Even though Wee Man was just out of school her a week and a half... *sigh*

We still have a rough week ahead of us since they are not sure what the reaction was too so we have to be watchful....

Mom thank you for being there for me at all the crazy hours...

I'm sure I have forgotten parts and I'm sure my sentences/grammer are atrocious but it's been a long week and I am running on a few hours of sleep (if that)....

*will update about our second trip to the ER that same day as soon as I am able... Currently, we are trying to make sure Lil Kiwi is as comfortable as possible.... Thank you to those that sent us prayers and warm thoughts...*

Back to the ER

2010-01-03T23:43:00.000-05:00

I was in the middle of writing about the recent trip to the ER when I find myself headed back right now....

To my family... We will update you as we can... Keep up the prayers and the warm thoughts...

Love you all...

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T21:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Winner of the Postcard Giveaway

2009-12-30T20:12:00.000-05:00

The Lucky Winner picked via Random.org is comment # 23

Congratulations to Carmela

and thank you to the sponsor for providing wonderful service and giveaways

Wordless Wednesday - Greyhound Playtime

2009-12-30T00:00:00.010-05:00

What happens when it snows and your Greyhound is doing zoomies in the backyard?

Well.... You get a series of pictures that look like this....

and some that look like this...

Fawn Dog is just too fast and my camera couldn't keep up... By the time I got the first click off she was already jumping over me (literally) and then heading back... I was in the middle of our fenced area so you can see it's not small.

Even while playing fetch it was hard to take photos... I couldn't click fast enough.. Black Dog even gave up...

Nollaig Shona Daoibh

2009-12-24T11:45:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

Nollaig Shona Daoibh

You have a Happy Christmas

Mele Kalikimaka

Merry Christmas

Frohe Weihnachten

Merry Christmas

Nollaig chridheil

Merry Christmas

and

Přeju Ti veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok

Merry Christmas and a happy new year

Fun Christmas Game of getting to know you

2009-12-24T02:19:00.001-05:00

Shelly over at The Attic Girl tagged me to join in this fun game about getting to know you... She has a great site and I always enjoy reading her reviews of books. Even added a few to my TBR after reading her reviews...

Okay, on to the game...

Instructions: Simply copy and paste the questions into your blog, and then answer them. Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.

When you post your blog, please spread some Christmas cheer, and leave a link back to Top 10 Christmas, and the blog that you were tagged by. (You can participate even if you were not tagged)

Have you started your Christmas shopping?
Sure have....

Tell me about one of your special traditions.
Hmm traditions... well, we move so much that currently the only real tradition is decorating the tree and leaving cookies for Santa.. oh and carrots for the reindeer....

Are you a Black Friday Shopper?
H-E-C-K no.... Are you crazy....

When do you put up your Tree?
Tree goes up during the first two weeks of December... (although not this year)

Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?
Stay home....

What is your funniest Christmas memory?
Hiding in my brother's bedroom with him and my sister trying to CATCH Santa..

What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time?
I don't have one but DH love "A Christmas Story"....

Do you do your own Christmas Baking, what’s your favorite treat?
Of course I do my own baking... Cream Cheese Braids are my favorite... yummmmm

Fake or Real Tree?
Real.... However, this year we got a fake tree... *gasp* I know I know... I couldn't believe it either... However, to make up for it I planted six Fir seeds and four are already growing... Yep I'm growing my own Christmas trees now..

What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Panic? About what.... It's Christmas...

Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope... Usually done wrapping way before then...
*edited to add that I JUST finished this evening because I found some gifts I had hidden too well*

What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
Watching the kids unwrap their gifts and then gush about how much they love Santa and grandparents... (parents get no credit)

What Christmas craft do you like the best?
Hmm Christmas crafts... We don't really do any right now... Does Gingerbread cookies and cooking count? LOL

Christmas music. Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song?
Yes, of course you must have Christmas music... Favorite song... mmmm none but it has to be more traditional Christmas music.. I can't do some of this new stuff....

When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
All ready done with shopping..

I'm tagging: well actually no one... I thought I had posted this already but somehow it was just a draft so it's a tad late to tag people now...

However, if any of you want to join in feel free...

Santa is that you?

2009-12-23T22:04:00.000-05:00

Every year, on Christmas Eve, Santa visits little boys and girls around the world. When he does this he always takes his sled and reindeer; however, it's a little known fact that Santa always wanted to be a firefighter.

So, every year before he takes his sled and reindeer out for Christmas Eve he stops by and hangs out with his favorite military firefighters. Santa gets to ride around in the fire trucks and they get to help spread Christmas joy to all the families on base....

What? You don't believe me!? Just take a look at what Wee Man and Lil Kiwi got to see Tuesday night.

Santa living his dream and some lucky military members riding along...

That's Wee Man telling Santa how good (cough cough) he was this year and what he wants for Christmas...

Lil Kiwi waved and gave Santa a kiss when he was still on the fire truck but as soon as Santa asked if she wanted to sit on his lap it was a whole different story.... Lil Kiwi went into Danger Stranger mode. Which she goes into a lot after her surgery and who can blame her. She is getting much better though and is really making progress.

Tomorrow we are baking cookies for Santa because he reminded them to make sure to leave him cookies and milk... OH and the carrots for Rudolph and the other reindeer too... Thanks for the reminders Santa.

On a side note when Santa did this last year it was in the low teens and windy... Santa and the military members with him that night went above and beyond.. brrrrrr

Wordless Wednesday - S-N-O-W what is this stuff

2009-12-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

While this is not Lil Kiwi's first time in snow; it is the first experience with snow now that she is walking and old enough to realize something is cold. She loved tubing and sliding on the slide... It was just the being IN the snow she didn't care for...

Wee Man was in heaven... He loved it... That is until he got cold then he informed us that maybe he didn't want to play in snow E-V-E-R again... (hehee)

OH and yesterday Santa made a surprise visit and the kids got to tell him what they wanted. (will post pics later on)

Winter Storm aka "Blizzard of 09"

2009-12-21T14:43:00.000-05:00

The East Coast was slammed by a blizzard... Yep it's even been called "Blizzard of 09"... Records are being made for snow fall on the East Coast... However, while it was one whole day of some crazy snow and wind it wasn't the worst I have seen or been in... I was in Washinton State one year and let me tell you they have snow and blizzards...

Not that I am saying 2 feet of snow in one day is anything to scoff at.... Last year we got two days of snow total and maybe 4-5 inches if that...

These photos were taken just hours into the snow....

This is what things looked like right before bedtime...

Will post more pictures later...

Uprinting Postcard Giveaway

2009-12-20T13:29:00.001-05:00

Postcards... You know what I love about postcards. Besides the fact they are cheaper on postage, have fun pictures, and trying to figure out the perfect sentence to put on it; I love that you can use them for so many things after you get them. You can put them in a scrapbook, on the fridge, memory board, and so much more.

I know you already guessed (because my readers are so smart) but Uprinting.com has offered you another great giveaway in the form of postcards.

One lucky reader will get to make their own postcards. What you plan to do with them is up to you. They can be thank you, wish you were here, business related, or whatever you can imagine. With Uprinting.com it's easy to put together a stunning finished product. Just check out all the options you have when ordering postcards from Uprinting.com.

Prize:

100 Postcards for one (1) lucky winner

Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides

Winner will be responsible for shipping in the USA.

To Enter: Mandatory Entry (one time only): Leave a comment telling me how you would or plan on using the custom postcards... If this rule is not followed your entry will be deleted or removed from consideration.

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each one) :

Follow WeeShenanigans (+2 entries)
Blog about this giveaway linking back to Weeshenanigans and Uprinting (leave url/link in your comment) (+2 entries)
Follow Weeshenanigans on Twitter
Can tweet daily by copy and pasting: @Uprinting #giveaway for 100 Custom Postcards http://tinyurl.com/y8zn7g9 @weeshenanigans
Grab my Shamrock button

This giveaway will end on Monday December 28 at midnight EST...

The Winner will be emailed on Tuesday December 29... So, please make sure your blogger profile has your current email address OR leave a valid email in your posted comment. (ie. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com) The winner will have 24 hours to reply or new winner will be drawn.

Please note that Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.
Please note that Winner is responsible for paying shipping.

Good Luck to everyone

*Disclosure: I may receive the same item being given away from the company for hosting this giveaway. Product for this review/giveaway was supplied to me by the company or pr representing the company for the sole purpose of reviewing and/or giving away. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions in this post are that of myself and do not represent the views of the company. Reception of product does not influence my views on the product and I will always give an honest candid review of product received.

Just checking in

2009-12-19T09:18:00.000-05:00

Still here... The snow is continuing to fall... and fall.....

There is talk of power outs so we are keeping the computers off and trying to be prepared for the power outs... In past history, whenever I PLAN on the power going out it never does and vice-versa... Thus, I'm planning so it doesn't go out... Makes sense right?! LOL

So, to our family.... It's not that we don't love you but the lack of phone calls is because I'm the mean one saying "Save the cell phones in case we need them"...

However, I'm sure we will call and update you shortly... The storm is only for a day or two...

To everyone else... Brrrr it's cold.... Enjoy your weekends..

Wordless Wednesday - Kayaking 101 in Hawaii

2009-12-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

What happens when you rent this..... (aka old thin floating plastic kayak)

Then start kayaking out to that island in the distance....

that's me above.....DH below (not DH at the time)

what happens is...

You remember Hawaii has sharks (lots of them)
You discover that the island you are paddling too is a lot further away than you thought
Just because a camera is water proof doesn't mean it really is
When said camera falls out and washes up on shore, the local boys that find it will take the last few pictures on it BEFORE returning it to you.. LOL
That short two hour kayak trip was really an all day event and more like eight hours

and.....

6. Your arms might just fall off from all that paddling

BTW the photos are film not digital.... They are from when I was living in Hawaii and before I married DH... The funny thing is that was the hardest kayak trip I have ever been on...