Move over Websters

I have decided to add some definitions to the dictionary or at least some further explanation of words.

My first word or words has to do with the first week of school or a glimpse of how hell's entrance test might be.
SCHOOL SPORTS: (noun, verb) A way to make a happy excited child depressed and angry.
run kids like crazy for days force parents to pay extra for physicals and force DR's to see kids then tell them that they
don't make the team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then giving a reason for cuts....missing first day of tryouts due to ones
physical not being up to date even though the form says that the physical is good for 12 MONTHS. Which leads to my
next word.


12 MONTHS (frame of time): Any period of time not necessarily 12 actual months it could be 2 if the "Administration" feels
like it and we don’t really have to tell you it is not actually 12 months. Just assume it is not and get a physical every
month just to be sure.....

TEENAGER: (noun,verb,adjective,explictive) Have you ever just looked at the word? I see other words ANGER is one! I also
can see EAT,NAG, & ENRAGE? Please comment on this blog if you have a TEEN and you have felt any of these. Also
respond if you have heard these questions from this so called person....Where is my backpack? What?
OKAAAAAYYYYYY....???? I dunno! HUH? I forgot. Also respond if you wanted to kill said teen if only you could find a
place for the body! .

.
SCHOOL: A place a children goes and feel it qualifies as a full days work and he/she should not have to do a thing at home,
including homework.
HOMESCHOOL: A guarentee of insanity at some point. But also makes children feel as they have a done their "work" and do
not have to help out at home either


Wheeeww I almost feel better.

Back to school!

WOW summer is over! Where did it go? I know some call them the lazy days of summer but I can't seem to agree. I also don't agree with the kids going back to school being a fun and great relief as some parents feel. I really hate it. As you all know I hate getting up in the morning! Why do they have to start so early anyway! 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. is a great day. On top if the whole morning thing I still have 3 kiddos at home with me so I don't really get a break. I am not complaining about that part since I choose to keep them instead of shipping them off to the school from the movie Matilda! but I thought you would all like to hear how my first week went!




On Monday night I get Adam ready to go. He has enough supplies to start school but not what the "LIST" from the school has requested he have to start school. I REFUSE to buy anything on that list until I receive written conformation from the teachers that he WILL use ALL the materials that they have requested. I am so sick of buying everything that they ask for and at the end of the year they have only used 12 pages in the notebook! And what is up with having to buy PAPER for ART!!! SO SILLY! So Adam went to school the first day with last years binder and some pencils and lunch! I dropped him off and that actually went very smoothly (there happened to be 0 clueless people doing drop off this morning) After returning home I woke up the rest of the clan and got them moving (they were NOT HAPPY.)

We set ourselves up in the dining room and Austin went to the Kitchen. I was teaching Anna and Austin kept interrupting and bugging us. BOY this is going to be a long week! We did manage to finish and chill for a bit before I went to pick up Adam.

I pick him up and he informs me that he is NOT going to try out for football! After I finally agree to let him play ! Of course ask him why and he tells me because tryouts start today! Can someone with higher intelligence please explain to me HOW IS A PARENT SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT TRYOUTS START THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?! IT is not posted online nor was a note sent home in the back to school packet that was full of scrap paper. (here is a money saving tip for the PTO....SAVE A TREE!) How am I to know that my kid needs cleats, and work out clothes ect for the first day school!!!!!!!!!!! HOW RETARTED!
So with that little tirade... He says that he will try out for soccer! That starts tomorrow. Another question for those of higher intelligence.....WHY would anyone start sports the first week of school? Isn't it enough that these kids are now getting up early and trying to get things organized that they don't need to run around for 2 more hours a day and worry about making the team! WHATEVER!

So we run home and get ready for the whole day to start all over again! I will post more about day 2 later since I need to go teach some kiddies

Reflections....

Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday to me
Happy Birthday dear Me
Happy Birthday to me.


I just thought I would go back and think about what I did this year....

My baby turned 5!
I became a mother of a teenager!
Came very close to killing people at Nutcracker!
I stayed out in the freezing cold for Christmas presents!
Got a new Baby Cappuccino!
Had the most relaxing vacation of my life in Turks & Caicos!
Kicked butt in Egg Schiessing!
Played sports Mom and watched Adam's track meets. In the coldest spring ever! I also watch him run cross country ! Yes I would see him for about a minute then he would disappear off into the woods!
Finished another year of Home schooling! (Praise the Lord). Was not sure that they were going to make it but not only did they finish they lived and I think they are a bit smarter.
Remodeled a Kitchen (I know you all want to see and hear how it turned out) (I'll get to it someday)
Hosted 13 girls from TCI and 2 from Maryland. I housed 10 + 1 Chaperone and 2 babies.
Took them all to NYC with Barbara
Made MoHEATtoes.
Had way too much fun with Widget
Randomly jumped into pools
Did not kill Frick and Frack!
Had a major meltdown at the Mann!
Saw my favorite ballet SWAN LAKE
Survived the 3 weeks with all the kiddos
Drove to Massachusetts 4 times!
Went to Six Flags
GOT EZ- PASS!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Relaxed for a bit
Had a great pre b-day dinner with Barbara, Mark, Snusan, and family at Sang-kee! YUMMY! Thanks Barbara & Mark!
Came home to watch TV and got lucky that they were showing PETER GABRIEL IN CONCERT on TV! How cool is that!
But most importantly this year I laughed! and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed!

Thanks to all my Family and Friends who have been there with me and for me! You made it a great year to remember!

Austin got shoes!

Happy Birthday Austin!




We had a small family party and went to see a the movie "Underdog" . It was fun.





As for presents...He got "white bread" (ask Adam) & SHOES!







MEET SHOES THE FISH

Is this God's way of try to get me to understand my Mother?

As a child/teen my Mother would complain about my hair. I have a lot of it and I would shed! My hair was everywhere. Once I even found it in the freezer!
Don't ask!?











But God having a sense of humor.......

What did my boys do??

The boys got to go on a great all MALE fishing trip! They went to a lake in Kentucky! The rented houseboats and fished with their cousins and uncles and Dad and Pop-Pop! They had fun and here are some pics. You will not see any photos of fish though because no fish were harmed duing the making of the male bonding time. (no one caught a thing!)

Am I the sole survivor?

I have to say that I did outwit most of them, I even managed to outplay them(since I managed not to get sick!) And since I am here and they are not I outlasted them too.(this is also my blog so I win no matter what)

I have to say that there were many moments that my winning was in doubt. We had lots of fun. I was even managing to get some sleep.
Here are some of the things we did after our trip to NYC.

the zoo,
2 pool parties (Many thanks to the hosts! Jennifer and Antonella!
Romeo & Juliet by the Royal Ballet
Took a class by the Royal Ballet (My favorite activity) Just Brilliant!
watched rehearsals at the Mann for the ballets! (NOT MY FAVORITE DAY!) Sorry again Barbara
Fourth of July picnic at Barker park and made crafts
A Movie,
Swan Lake by the Royal! (My other Favorite!!!)
Dinner at Vinny T's
John 54th (45th) Birthday!
Hibachi
Ocean City
Boardwalk
Rides
Mack & Manko!
Many Many Many hours in the Van SINGING!
Stayed up late making t shirts
and of course taking ballet
character and hip hop!

Many people ask me why I do it. I always answer the same way! It is fun! I love making other people happy and helping people. It is not even that hard of a job. The first few days are while the kids are learning to adjust and adapt to the schedule. This year the adjustment took a bit longer due to the lack of understanding of the word CHAPERONE.
After 2 of the older children age 40+ and 30 left things went a lot smoother. Fiona the person who came along to film the trip was a great help and I enjoyed having her around. We laughed a lot! She left the 2nd week and went to Barbara's and I was flying solo. I have to say that is best for me. Fiona was a great help but we would stay up late talking and being silly so I was not getting much rest. The kids were very good and following the routine. We would get up in the morning and get ready and then everyone would eat breakfast then pack their lunches and then clean up and we would leave. This only took us about an hour and 15 minutes! We then would get in the van and drive to class. We would sing and get very goofy in the van.

The time at the studio was spent sending them into class napping while they were in class and then feeding them lunch then shipping them back into class and I try to power nap or chill. Then we have to get dinner ready. We fed them at the studio every night. It went really really well. Annick (Barbara's chef) made the dinners and Mark (Barb's Hubby) would deliver them to us at the studio.
I really was amazing how we did it. They are all home safe and sound. I hope they are not telling too many stories of my silly acts!

Thank you all for a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious time!
What a great group of Cebu's Sweet, So cute, Singing, Senorita Snuggly, Spunky, Sassy, Silent, Silly, Small, Smiling, Story, Sensational, Sunshine, Stick, Spontaneous, Senior, and ?Cebu?.
You will have to ask if you want to know what that is all about!
and remember to DANCE DANCE YEA!!! USTA!

What we have been up to....

Well last friday 12 girls arrived from the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI). The arrived in a whirlwind! There are 8 girls staying her plus 2 girls from Maryland and 2 teachers and the lade who is filming all this for us. So the total of people in this house wiith my family is.... 19!!!!! Their first night I hosted a dinner for 36 people. The chef took care of most of the food except for the lasagne and meatballs. We all ate and then settled in for a short sleep before we got up to take 26 people to New York City. Now stop thinking that I an a looney toon. We had 18 kids and 8 chaperones. Everything went well despite being late for every activity except the last one. We took a ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty, then off to the Museum of Natural History for movies (naps for the chaperones) then to a fabulous dinner at Sambucca's We then traveled via subway to the theater to see Mary Poppins. I have to say was one of the best that I have seen. I hate musicals and usually after and hour I am begging for them to stop singing. But not with Mary Poppins. It was so well done. It was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. And yes all the kids can now spell it! Then we headed home and fanally arrived at 3 a.m. We slept in and then got ready for their first day of classes.

It has been a whole week already and I have to admit that I am way too tired and they are not! We did so much already and have a lot more to do....


Here are the pics of the kids They are all so cute and fun! Hopefully we will have some video to share soon.
ALEXIS 12

PHEOBE 9

SYDNEY 11

GEORGIA 9

CHRISTIN 10

RYESHA 10

STEPHANIE

MELISSA 12

KATRINA 16

THALIA 14

MARLYN 9

ALEXANDRA 9

A 5 year old and a newly found camera (mine)

I love this kid...She is too funny...

Anna is getting ready to leave the house. She has all her bags (what is in them only she knows and we will find out later when we realize that the toaster is missing or the little knobs to turn lamps on!) Anyway she asked me if I could help her carry some stuff. I look down at her and she has bags, a pillow, a lunchbox, and a box of tissues. I asked her why does she need a box of tissues. She relplies..

My nose is cloggeded and I may need to sneeze it and I will need a tissue for that.

I carried the pillow to the car for her while chuckling!

MY BABIES

ADAM



AMBER


AUSTIN






ANNA




CAPPUCINO

Makeover cont......

Ok where are we now? you may be asking.

The kitchen is now back to being able to be used. I have counter tops or at least 10 feet of it. I have new lower cabinets. new floor walls without a condiment pass through, sink, stove/oven fridge. I also have my microwave in the house(it was in the garage)


















The walls have been painted and the trim is done. What else is left you may be wondering.... but before I tell you that I thought I should tell you about how we almost became toast.


The week before we the oven came we called our propane company to come out and disconnect our gas lines to the old wall oven and cook top. The man came our and said he disconnected the wall oven line (since we no longer needed it) and he capped off the line to the cook top so we could safely work without fear of blowing up.

So the following week another company came out to install the range. After working for a while it was time to hook up the gas and test the oven.

"Mrs. Eyler," the installer calls,
"yes" I reply
"we need to disconnect the oven", he said.
"why", I said.
'Let me show you.."

He takes me to the basement and shows me that when the propane company came out to do their job they did disconnect the wall oven and instead of eliminating it at the source he just cut the pipe from the oven and pinched it closed with pliers and left it connected to the main gas line so when they reconnected the gas to the new oven it went through the pipe to the old oven and was just leaking into my basement.

It was a good thing that the installer was not in a rush to get out of here that he was able to hear the slight whistle that the leaking gas was making in the basement or how do I say it.....BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No more Eyler home. Thank you County Propane.

I of course called them immediately and they came out and fixed the MAJOR ERROR on their part!

So now that we are safe we now still have work to do.

We have to finish staining the new cabinets, painting old hardware on old upper cabinets, building a breakfast bar, adding the extra 3 feet of countertop, build shelves where old wall oven was for a coffee bar and microwave. After all that then I have to clean and put everything back into the kitchen.

So what is the total cost of our makeover???


THIS IS MY OLD KITCH FLOOR

PRICELESS! I LOVE IT
and I love the worker who did most of the work!

Design on a dime + quarter + a few dollars....

Ok I am sorry that this post will not include photos. I will be a descriptive a possible.

It started like this...

Back in February 07... Wall oven breaks while I am in Turks and Caicos.... I return call repairman and while he is there he looks and cook top and determined that it was broken too. Home warranty said that they would replace them. I get a great idea that instead of replacing them separately I will just order a freestanding range. (I always hated the 2 separated appliances.) So I ask John if we could do that which would cause us to have to replace the countertop and remove the cabinet under the cook top to make room for the new range. He said ok...

March 07...Had not picked out new range
April 07... Tried to order new range and was told I have to wait until May because the company is changing all their parts numbers and they cannot find anything????? WHATEVER
May 3. 2007... Order range and it is scheduled for delivery on the next Friday.

We now have to get rid of the old oven and cook top so I call the propane company and ask them to come out and disconnect them so we don't blow up! They come that Friday. Everything is progressing nicely.
Saturday we remove old ovens and we go to Home Depot for supplies. While there we see a stainless steel fridge on clearance. We needed a new fridge for quite some time so we decide to get it. John will pick it up Saturday morning.

Saturday.... John picks up fridge. Fridge will not fit through door so he spends the morning taking off the doors and putting them back on. Later that day..

John starts to remove the cabinet. First thing to do was cut the countertop and remove a section to get access to the cabinet. While doing so John cracks a wall tile and we realize that the new countertop won't fin into the area cut out from the tile so......

We make the decision to rip out the tile back splash...(and the ride begins...)
We rip out the base cabinet under the cook top and notice that there is no floor under the cabinet just the wood planks that are the basement ceiling! (All the sawdust and tile dust fell through the cracks in the floor to the basement) (Now I need to clean the basement.).


Well without any floor under the cabinet we now have to replace the whole kitchen floor... We cannot just leave it soooo...

The exhaust fan that is built into the wall never worked anyway we decide to remove which leaves a hole in the wall. No big deal right? We this hole went right through to the outside! I told John we should leave it and use it as a condiment pass through for barbeques! He didn't agree so he duck taped it for now and back into the kitchen he came.

Ok now back to removing the tile and the wall it is glued to (NOT REALLY supposed to do that) Huge chunks of plaster are coming off with the tile! and....

Guess what that leads to.... Having to drywall the walls.....
(Husband at this point may be slightly annoyed with wife)

Now while John runs to home depot to get dry wall I clean out old fridge and decide to be kind to the environment and put what I can into the garbage disposal. The disposal did not like that idea and decided to clog itself in protest....
No problem I will just take off the elbow pipe and unclog in right?? NO of course not...
While removing the pipe I notice a huge crack in the drainpipe and it has to be replaced....and while under there I notice that the cabinet is warped from water damage and the gives me an idea!?!?!?
I call John on his cell and present the idea to him...let just replace the base cabinets. We should since while the counter is off and most of the drawers were broke anyway. John agrees based on me saying it will be easy we just take the old ones out and pop the new ones in...No problem....

Stay tuned for the next update....

Now I know you will all be cracking up at this....

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Next time you think you are having a bad day....

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This is so amazing...please watch the whole thing!

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I love these guys

YOU PUSH IT!

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Happy Easter & Egg Schiessing

This has been our first Easter home in 2 years. We certainly picked a cold one! The week prior has been great. I spent my "free" (not driving to Narberth) time working on projects around the house. Wow I am amazed at what one can accomplish in a day when you do not have to take the kids places.

We were also selected to host Easter dinner for the Boccelli side. The funniest part of that is that I do not have an oven! So I got off easy with the cooking part. I was in charge of veggies, appetizers, dessert, and beverages. Lets not forget being a charming hostess and the cleaning up.

Dinner was great. The ham (courtesy of Donna-Bird) was yummy! I still think she should have gotten a bigger one (hehe) I only have enough for 1 or 2 more meals. We had a total of 17 people. 10 of them were kids! It was a little loud at times but what a blessing! It is so amazing that 10 kids can all get along and have fun! My friends Beth, rich and their daughter were also part of the group. I was a pleasure to have them. Thank you Beth for ALL you did. Bif provided potatoes and pineapple stuffing (both very tasty) Thanks to all for all your contributions to make dinner a huge success. Also thanks D-Bird for the fruit flowers!
Of course I have to thank the big J for all his help too. My kids were great too helping out with the cleaning.

After dinner we had a long over due rematch of egg schiessing. The Eyler's won last time so the Lobb's had to try to save the family. Now I am sure you are all ask what the heck is egg schiessing?!??? It is a game that my grandmother (Mom-Mom)(greatest Mom-Mom ever!) taught us when we were little. It is where you take a leaf from the table and lean it on a chair to form a ramp. You place an Easter egg at the bottom and the player gets behind the ramp at the top. The player then takes a wedding band (or my PG ring) and rolls it down the ramp trying to hit the eggs and crack it. It is way more fun than it sounds!

After many rounds (2 1/2 dozen eggs to be exact) the Lobb had the lead but due to a technicality (they had too many players) the received a 2-egg penalty the game ended up in a tie! Bif (my sister) will disagree with this version of the story but this is m blog not hers!(HEHEHEHEH) They should also be penalized for playing with inedible eggs! (the ones with the black dots!!!) Especially since the whole object of the game is to win the eggs to EAT!


I think all in all every they went eggceptionally well!!! (HEHE)