The Last First Day

                                                                                          Well, I know it has been a very long time since I have blogged.  I have just not had any time; however, this deserved a few minutes.  

Yesterday, August 21st, 2012 was the Last First Day of school for 2 of my boys.  I just can not believe it has come and gone!  I know I'm as shocked as all of my friends wondering why there was no big celebration right.  Well that is simple.  I could not stop crying long enough to plan one!  

So where we are at now.  Cody has applied to college for aerospace engineering and Drew has applied to college for forensic science.  They will both be living on campus next year away from home:(  Can you imagine what I am going to be like then.  I hope you all are ready with your rafts because I'll probably cry a river of tears then.  Andrew will probably have to take some time off of work to get me through it.

Now poor Austin is going to have to be smothered his senior year because I'm gonna be going through some serious empty nesting!  I can't believe what amazing strong handsome young men my babies are turning out to be.  I'm so proud of all of them.  See here we go again my eyes are leaking! 

FLU Shots

Ya know I used to dread taking my babies to the Doctor to get their shots.  However, now it brings a little laughter to me.  I know, how cruel am I but let's think back shall we.  One week ago Austin was suspended from school, Drew "forgot" to turn in his big English project and Cody went through every mean word in the English language when arguing with his brothers.  So when I told them that today they were all going for a Flu shot and all of their faces dropped it brought a little laughter into my day!  Here are some pictures of the boys before and during the joyful event!

Yes, that is Austin being a ham as usual, and Cody is pouting.  Drew is trying to act like he does not care but the cranky attitude gave him away.   Good times had by all today.  Well maybe not all but I had a good time can't wait till next year!

Christmas Crazy

Ok, so here's the deal.  I think I might have gone a tad bit overboard this year with the gifts!  Oh who am I kidding I went WAY overboard!  See I think it all goes back to my Mom.  She has always spoiled us like crazy every year.  I know, I know times are tough but really I think it is all her fault:-)  She is the greatest mom in the world so I guess we can let this slide.  Anyways, I'm finally done with all of my shopping and most of my wrapping.  You can see most of the gifts under the tree already.  Don't worry they are rigged so that if any one of my sneaky teenagers try to cleverly unwrap theirs and take a peak they will be busted!  I've been there and done that so I have taken precautions!

Also, got some more orphaned kittens a few days ago.  Two of them are at the vet but the other two are here and stealing my heart.  I have way to many animals as is so I know I can't keep them but they sure are making it hard!




This little guy you see here is Basco!  Is he not the cutest thing!  How am I gonna give him up when CLEARLY he is doing his darnedest to become a permanent fixture in our home.  Maybe my husband will give me a Christmas miracle?  I won't hold my breath on that one:(  

Christmas tree from Hell!

I was so excited about Christmas this year; that is until I got the Christmas tree from Hell!  First and most importantly all the kids were so excited to decorate this big tree.  However, after each of them putting about 5-7 ornaments on the tree they took off.  I was left to finish it.  Oh and what an amazing job I did.  So when all was done I proudly head off to bed satisfied with my work.  Then all of a sudden there is a very loud CRASH!  Yep, the tree in all it's glory fell onto the wood floors and about 75% of all my ornaments shattered!  


So after many tears, new ornaments, fishing line and new holes in my walls to anchor the tree it was all done again.  Took me 2 days to get that thing back up to my standards.  Being Jewish and all it really shouldn't matter but if you know anything about Jewish Princesses then you know it's nothing but the best!  So after about 4 days of Christmas tree bliss (I even got the holes filled in with extra branches) I went to plug it in last night and guess what???  That's right the flipping lights shorted out!  Now we have to go buy more lights and replace that strand that has shorted out.  Not a problem you think well I am the crazy lady that wraps the light around the trunk and push them back all through the tree.  So getting a new strand on with the ornaments and tinsel in place already is going to be tough.  

Well needless to say I can't wait to throw this tree to the curb and next year I may buy a fake tree!  Probably not because by then I will forget the tree from Hell:(

Still Here

Ok crazy kids sorry I have not been updating (at all) lately but ya know three teenage boys tend to drain every ounce of energy out of you!







So here is whats been happening at the happy home of the Pulliam's:

1. Let's start with the boys school.  Gotta say people it is going pretty well.  Report cards were great all A's and B's.  With the exception on one of my monkey's getting a "C":(  Ya know if he would have gotten an A in that class he would have had straight A's!  It would have been Austin's first perfect report card and he would have gotten any game system he wanted!  (Thank gosh for that C because it just saved me $$$) Either way I'm a proud Mama!
2. Cody is doing  great in his transition from his main school to the local high school everyday.  I think it's a great way to get mainstreamed because in 2 years he will be off to college and I won't be there to help him if he gets overwhelmed.  But never fear my friends if he needed me I would be there if I have to fly a plane myself!  Getting all teary eyed thinking about him going away and it's two years away still!
3. Thanks giving was good but I could not get out of bed the entire next day I was so exhausted.  Not even to shop!  I know crazy.
4. Christmas season is here and I have yet to buy ANYTHING except my tree:)  Lights are up and look great.  I'll post pictures soon.
5.  Kitten season is over and just took my last two babies to there new home last night:(  So I will be kitten free until around April.  That's kinda good because I can use the break.

There you have it the going on's of our crazy house hold.  Not to crazy lately but I'm sure I'm just mentally blocking out the real crazy stuff.

Summer Vacation

Well it has been awhile since I have blogged and I'm sorry for that.  I've had the boys home all summer and was getting ready for vacation.  So, let me catch you all up.  Again, boys home all summer!!!  We did go to Tennessee and visited two colleges.  Vanderbilt University and Swanee of The South.  Personally, I LOVED Swanee.  Funny, both Andrew and Cody loved it too.  Could it be that the boys who can't stand to be in the same room together end up leaving home and going to the same college???  It is a small college so they will see each other A LOT!  Well we will see hopefully they will go there together because I get a multiple kid discount!  We also visited my Aunt Carolyn and that was a lot of fun.  She is so good with Cody and I think she liked having us visit which with my boys thats saying something.  Then after the Nashville experience we went to Gatlinburg, TN and had a blast.  Yes people I said the five of us had fun together!  I don't think there was much fighting at all?  Or, maybe I have just learned to tune them all out?  Either way it was an awesome vacation.  To start, I saw a bear!!!  I have been to Yellowstone and to Gatlinburg before looking for a bear and they have always avoided me.  Not this time!  Yes, I was the dumb tourist that jumped out of the car to get a closer picture.  No, I don't care that it was stupid because I got a good one!  I also went white water rafting and lived!  I used muscles that I didn't even know I had!  Oh, and I fell into the boat before it even got going in the river.  ~lol~  I was the entertainment besides the rapids but I did not fall out of the boat so yea for me!  So, next day we drove into Cades Cove where I saw turkey's, dear and two bears!  We also went to this place called Magi Quest and had a blast pretending to be wizards and completing tasks with our wands!  There they also had a really cool mirror maze and black light putt putt golf.  Let it be noted to all that mommy kicked some serious a$$ and beat ALL the boys in putt putt!!  One more awesome thing we did was rent a pontoon boat and went out on Lake Fontana in NC.  The most amazing place I have ever been!  The water was emerald green and surrounded by mountains!  There were waterfalls that fell into the lake and we pulled our boat up to one and swam.  The water was so nice not cold but not warm and no alligators!  All in all the boys were really good and we will remember this for a long time!

Boosem Budies

Let me introduce you all to Chaco and Ozzie! These two boys love each other and don't care that they are from two totally different species. Chaco was abandoned up at our local Pet Smart and so I am fostering him until he is big enough to be adopted. Ozzie and Chaco fell in love from the get go and I will be very sad for them when it is time to part. However, if I don't let Chaco go up for adoption I won't have room for more babies that need help. Here are some more pictures of the clan. Enjoy!!!

Summertime Blues

Well it's official school is out!  Not that I don't enjoy quality time with my kids, however, I HATE SUMMER!  Every year it is the same thing.  "Mom, I'm bored", "Mom, I'm hungry", "Mom, he's in my room", "Mom, he hit me", ect...  The only difference this year is the boys have grown into full blown TEENAGERS!  It has not even been a full day of not being in school and already I'm getting the mouthy pouting argumentative crap from them.  Well, to be honest it was only Austin that gave me the attitude.  I would like to change my name during the summer from Mom to strange lady down the street that your not aloud to talk to!  How nice would that be?  I could keep an eye on them and make sure their safe from a distance.  They would have to entertain themselves and work out their arguments on their own.  Then again my house would probably be in shambles and I would loose at least one of them so I guess I'll have to stick it out.  I'm thinking of making them volunteer somewhere to give them at least something to keep them busy.  I refuse to let them waste away on games and TV all day everyday.  I'm  limiting them to three hours a day with games.  We will be going on vacation in July which will give them something to look forward to but other than that they are on their own when it comes to entertaining themselves.  Boy it's gonna be a long summer!!!

The world is Ending!

So according to my boys the world is ending!  Don't worry it's not ending for us just them.  Cody has to get glasses so he is sure that no girl will ever want to be with him.  Even though I spent a boat load of cash on glasses that are supposedly the "in" glasses.  Austin on the other hand has a little more reason to be upset.  After a long while of complaining about his knee I finally took him to the Doctor.  Well, it's bad.  He has a fractured growth plate in his patella.  Yea not sure all the medical specifics we have to go to an Orthopedic Surgeon ASAP but he has been told absolutely no sports of any kind for 6 months.  Austin's life revolves around sports; he was gonna try out for JV Football in high school and now he can't.  He can't even play basketball out front with his friends.  I feel so bad for him but I did promise him that the world would not stop and he would get through this.  So there are the teenage life altering events of this week.  I'm sure by the time school gets out next week we will have something new for you.   

Book Review "Mage In Black" by Jay Wells

Ok, so this is to all my friends that have been bugging me about all the books I read!  Yes, I read paranormal romance fantasy action books that take me away so I don't really run away from all the testosterone in this house!  A few of you have asked me to post my reviews on my blog so here goes....

Mage In Black by Jaye Wells was really good.  It is the second book in the Sabina Kane series.  The first book is Red Headed Stepchild and that was also an awesome book.  Short version, Sabina is half Mage (magical person) and half Vampire.  She is a total bad ass with a hidden heart of gold.  Well at least she is discovering that she has a heart.  Her Grandmother is the big wig of the Vampires and hates Sabina. She still raises her because Sabina's parents died but she raises her to hate the Mage race even though she is half Mage.  However, Sabina finds out that she has a identical twin sister that was raised by the Mage's in NYC where she flee's to after defying her Grandmother and the Vampires that raised her.  There is lots of humor with Sabina's familiar (pet) demon Gigul.  I was laughing so much my husband got upset because he was trying to sleep.   In this series there is some rough language and sex but I am old enough to deal because it is not excessive.  I was up late reading because I could not put this book down and I'm eagerly waiting for the third book Green Eyed Demon.  I highly recommend these books for those of you who love Vampires, Faries, Werewolves, Demons and Magic. Congrats to Jaye Wells for amazing writing and a wonderful sense of humor that was extremely entertaining!

Mommy Meltdown

Well it is official I'm going NUTS!!!!  I lost it on the boys today and I'm OK with that.  Andrew was off fishing (shocker) and the boys kept fighting.  Lets see, from what I remember Austin flicked a rubber band into the back of Cody's head.  This was inspired by Cody yelling at Drew for wearing his underwear.  Drew apparently could care less and told Cody he would wear Cody's underwear if he wanted too.  Cody started flipping out and  flung his underwear at Drew's head.  That is when Austin thought it was funny and took a girlie band aka silly band and zapped Cody with it.  All leading to yelling and them running out to get to me first and try and get each other in trouble.  That is when I picked up the phone called my husband and said "Get home NOW and deal with these kids"!  Then I just hung up looked up at the boys and said "go to your own rooms, do not speak to each other or me, shut your doors and do NOT play games and if any of you turn on your TV it will be thrown in the trash"!  I then gave them all my death stare and they turned around and went to their rooms to wait till their dad got home.  Of course when Andrew got home they turned into perfect little angles and were perfect for the rest of the day.  I have decided I'm not doing anything for them for this entire week.  Let them figure out how mad I really am.  They can make their own dinner, do their own laundry and pick up their own messes! Love them but it's time they figure out how to treat each other and stop trying to piss each other off.  I'm so over teenagers acting like four year olds.  It's time to get a crash course on dealing with a pissed off woman!  Hopefully my future Daughter-in-law's will thank me!  That is if any girl will take them???

Nasty Boys

One thing is for certain teenage boys are nasty disgusting creatures!  I can not understand how my boys function.  These kids would not brush their teeth, put on deodorant or shower without me reminding them and nagging them daily.  I know when I get up I can't stand the way my teeth feel.  I have to brush them.  I would die if I forgot my deodorant and I have to shower at least every other day.  This is not how teenage boys think.  I asked my son Andrew how he can stand not to brush his teeth and he says he does not notice a difference.  What?  Is that possible?  Is it just me that has morning breath?  Tonight while we were all watching a movie, I can not even explain the noises that I was hearing.  Chomping, burping and a few farts and giggles!  I had to get up and leave because I could not stand it.  They are so lucky I am not in the mood to care tonight otherwise I would have sent them all to bed!  Like I said they are gross nasty creatures and I'm gonna need a spa vacation with just the girls sooner than later.  

I sure could use my daddy right now!

Sorry I have been neglecting my bloggers lately but this whole teenage drama is kicking my ass!  Right now I could use my dad.  He would know what to do and would make me laugh also.  My daddy Steve was such a good dad.  I remember a time when I was pregnant with Cody and had just come back from Missouri on Easter Sunday 1994.  I went straight to my room and could not stop crying.  I was pregnant and alone and scared out of my mind.  So my dad walks in with a little pink bunny and a little blue bunny and gives them to me.  He wanted me to know that no matter what happened that he was going to take care of me and the baby.  Remember he was my step dad but he was really my dad.  I miss his cents of humor how he always made me laugh.  I know he would be proud of me and the way I am handling my boys.  


This is my Daddy at Cody's birthday party only two weeks before he passed.  I heard a poem on FB that says "I wish they had a phone in heaven so I could call you and tell you how much I miss you.  Hear you tell me everything is going to be alright and that you are happy also.  I wish heaven did have a phone so I could let you know how much you are missed and how over the years I have made decisions based on what I think would have made you happy.  Dad I wish they had that phone so I could hear your voice one more time and tell you how sorry I am for putting you through these horrible teenage years.  And also to let you know that curse you and mom placed on us really worked!  My kids are just like me, maybe worse!

Austin is once again grounded phone taken away and I will be dropping him off at school.  This morning he tried to leave for school at 7 am and school does not start till 9am.  He walks to school it is a ten minute walk on a slow day.  What the hell is he doing for two hours before school.  Well I decided to be nice and let him go at quarter till eight.  He threw a fit and tried to argue with me about how they do nothing up there.  I said well if you do nothing then not a big deal then.  So I go snuggle back in my warm bed and two seconds latter I hear our front door slam and he left.  Now...... I'm PISSED!!!  I call Andrew and told him he better be home to save that boys ass after school because he is being stripped of any luxury afforded in his live right now such as cell phone, friends, and video games.  Oh and I will now be driving him to school and dropping him off at ten minutes before the bell rings.  I think that was his worst.  I pray my dad is watching over my boys but for some reason I think he is just laughing at me saying "what goes around comes around".  I can see him enjoying these teenage years I'm living through.  Gosh I miss you dad!

Smart Mouth, Know it All Teenage Hell

Today has been a very rough day!  To start I had a meeting with Austin's school today.  I go in thinking it is a simple 504 meeting.  Oh how wrong I was.  Yes, we discussed the 504 plan but I was also informed that my son has been hanging out with what is being labeled as "The Wrong Crowd".  I was also informed that Austin has a tendency to be a "Mr. Know It All".  Yea, thank you but I knew that one!  Then so sweetly they inform me that sometimes Austin has a tendency to brag and it makes other kids angry with him.  Ok, hello I've been on that road for awhile now tell me something new!  Well, here is the kicker.  His "friend" was arrested today for stealing.  Austin, in no way had any part of this and was in no way implicated in this PSP thievery but they wanted me to know.  This was a good thing I needed to know.  So, tonight at dinner my husband decided to have a family talk about making the right decisions and not going down the wrong path.  I'm game, I want him to take the reigns, it is usually me who is the bad guy.  I'm excited that he is now going to be Mr. Mean and I'm going to be the loving mom!  WRONG!  Here is my husbands version (short version) "Now, I'm not gonna tell you not to hang out with these kids.  I just want to make sure you make the right choices".  Yadda, Yadda, Yadda!  Here is my version, "Watch your damn mouth, drop the attitude and if I find out your up to no good I'll turn you in myself".  Guess, I'll always be the bad guy!  Oh, and lets not forget Cody.  My sweet boy got mad at his teacher today and dropped the "F" bomb!  Well, needless to say he is grounded all weekend and has to write an apology letter to his teacher.  He had a complete and total melt down because he truly believes that this teacher is picking on him and calling him names.  Now remember Cody has Asperger's Syndrome so when the teacher calls him a "Mr. Know It All" or a "Smart'y Pants" he has trouble processing this as her being angry with him.  So, arguing with him is pointless when he is in meltdown mode I have to wait till he calms down and try to explain that he is a "Mr. Know It All" and a "Smart'y Pants" and that no matter what the teacher says he in no way has the right to disrespect her.  Also, I had to inform him that if I EVER hear that he has used the "F" word or any other bad language in the presence of an adult that his plushy little life will be stripped away!  He will be reading books for a month.    So, I am going to go bury my head under my pillows and call it a night.  Hopefully the rest of the year will be uneventful!

Trouble with a capital T!

Try and tell me he is not the most handsome cat! This is my baby Trouble. He is true to his name but what a lover. I love his face in this picture total snob just like his mommy!  Also, got a new batch of babies and hopefully I will be able to get their pictures up on this post.  As for the kids they are all on their best behavior because Dad is at a tournament therefor unable to save their little asses when they get in trouble.  Funny I thought the mom was suppose to be the good cop but for some reason I am always the bad cop.  I wonder what age they have to be before they stop hating me?  O well apparently if they are hating me at this age then I'm doing well as a parent!

Prom or No Prom

PROM?  But your boys are only in the 9th grade?  Yes, I am fully aware of this; however, Cody goes to a small school so in order for the Seniors to have a normal Prom experience they invite the entire high school and call it the Spring Formal for the other students.  Awe how cute you say Cody is going to his first real dance:-)  Please not a chance!!!  See when the subject of the Spring formal first came up (basically I saw the flyer) I asked Cody if he was gonna go and if he was taken his then girlfriend Maria?  No way was the response I got.  Then we later had a discussion about what was expected of boys during the prom. No not what WE did after prom the subject was boys buy the tickets, rent a tux and pay for dinner.  Now remember Cody has Asperger's Syndrome so he is very by the book. So when his girlfriend said she wanted to go the dance Cody asked her about her dress.  Well his girlfriend said "No way am I wearing a dress" so Cody refused to take her.  I know, I told him she could wear what she wanted but I understand his thinking, the tradition is girls wear a dress boys tuxes so he was completely thrown for a loop.  Well after all the back and forth about who should wear what and if they should go Cody broke up with Maria.  So it was settled they were not going.  So imagine my surprise when Cody asked for $100 last night to buy two tickets to the Spring Formal this Friday!!!  WHAT!  I know I'm right there with you, how can I get a tux, what color is her dress, is she wearing a dress or pants?  How are you gonna get there and home and WHY are you telling me this NOW?  Well all it took was a call to Maria's mom to get things straight.  One little call to put my mind at ease.  See she also had no clue that Maria and Cody had decided to go together.  She did buy Maria a dress but the plan was for her to go with her girlfriend.  She even already had bought the tickets!  Well why did Cody think he was taking Maria?  I'm not really sure but for some reason Maria wanted her mom to think she was going with her girlfriend.  I can't seem to get a straight story from Cody who swears that him and Maria had plans to go together and he had no clue she already had her ticket.  So final decision is HE IS NOT GOING!!  Ya know I'm really excited for his first real dance but telling me three days before the dance and with a screwed up story about who is going with who; well I'm not buying so I told him maybe next year.  He smiled and said "Yea, maybe next year you can hire someone to go with me".  Fortunately for him I was done for the night and was not gonna address that statement!  

Mothers Day

Well today is Mothers Day and I had an amazing one! First my boys took me out to breakfast. My boys all gave me jewlery (I'm training them well ladies) and my husband also got me a Pandora Braclett. I love them all! We also went by my mom's and then out to Bonefish Grill with my Inlaws. Also, and most importantly my husband is doing the dishes!!! Of coarse the day would not be complete without the standard sibiling fighting and rude coments to each other but I have to say today they have been kept to a minimum. Now the boys are swimming and I'm about to change into my jammies and lay on the couch with my book and the remote. Again, a perfect day with my perfect boys and perfect husband! And yes I have had a few glasses of wine which makes everything seem perfect! Tomorrow will be back to normal where perfection is a few glasses of wine away. So I will enjoy the rest of my night and not think about tomorrow.

Case of the Missing Cake

Where oh where did my Carrot Cake Go?  Cody? Drew? Austin?  Lets see, I took the cake out to thaw and came into the computer room.  All three of the boys are in the kitchen rummaging through anything and everything they can put in their bottomless pit stomachs.  As I am walking through picking up their messes I walk past an empty cake holder thing and turn around to make sure my eyes were not failing me.  Oh they were not!  The entire cake (what was left from the previous night) was gone.  See the rule in our house is you can come home get a snack before dinner just not sweets.  Apparently the culprit "forgot" this standing rule of ours.  Well then as I am in a bad mood already I start calling the boys to see who is willing to fess up!  Now, knowing my boys I'm pretty sure I know who the guilty party is.  However, I am fair and question all the boys.  Of coarse NONE of the boys know what I'm talking about???  I then proceed to ask them if they believe in Magic?  Because apparently there is magic in our home because the cake just diapered, POOF like Magic!  Well as my children swear they are innocent I decide to hand this over to my husband so I don't have to commit myself.  Of coarse he just laughs and makes the whole thing funny!  So as it stands Magic is the answer here because all three of them had nothing to do with it.  Unfortunately for Cody the evidence on his shirt and smeared on the freezer door has given him away.  So what are you gonna do you ask?  Hell, I just took a pill and have to let it go this time.  But next time I bring cake into this house of Magic it is getting hidden!              
  

It's a Xanex kinda Day

So here is some photos of my kittens and dogs. They have grown so big! Soon they will be off to their new homes. Then I will get a new batch of orphans. Speaking of orphans I may run away and leave my own kids orphaned! Well, we all know I would never do that so Xanex it is! Got a new couch and I'm trying very hard to keep animals off of it and kids off while dirty (which seems constant). This is not working so well. I gave a speach about not letting the dogs in the pool and while wet letting them back into the house. They need to take towels and dry them off. Yea Right!! Thirty minutes after I tell the boys this Cody decides to pick up Ozzie and put him in the pool. Right after he gets out Austin lets him in. Wanna know the first thing he did??? HE JUMPED ON THE NEW COUCH!!!! Not only did he jump up on the couch he proceeded to run the entire length of the couch. I LOST it and yelled at them brought them in from the pool and told them to stay out of my sight until dinner. I then took a happy pill (which I don't do often) and chilled out. Glad there is school tomorrow so I can have some peace and quiet. Even though I know June 10th (last day of school) is lurking just around the corner. What am I gonna do with these boys all summer?

Yard Work

Sorry it has been a few days since my last post.  I have been really busy and so tired.  So the goings on lately have been pretty good.  This weekend was yard work and it is nice having 3 teenage boys for this because we worked their tails off and the yard looks great!  Cody LOVES to plant flowers and tropical plants so he was happy.  Drew and Austin kept complaining the whole time but they did what we asked and all was good.  Just finished up planning our College visits for this summer.  We are hitting 3 colleges in Tennessee and then finishing off with a few days in Gatlinburg.  Gonna take the boys white water rafting.  They give us helmets and life jackets so if I throw I mean if one of the boys falls over they will be fine!  Got a great deal on a really nice cabin in the Smokies so can't wait.  Cody's report card was OK.  He can do much better got like 3 C's 3 B's and an A.  I know my friends are thinking thats great for being my son considering I pulled D's through high school and that was because my friends let me copy their homework!