Thanksgiving update, 4 days before Christmas

Listen people, don't judge me that I am just now blogging about out road trip up to Indiana. I am a busy cheer/piano mom and wife to Kris. Lets start at the beginning.

The ride up to Bobbie and Diggers was, well how do I describe it: BEYOND MISERABLE!
Thomas screamed approximately every 12 seconds, not cried, but screamed. Blood. Curdling. Screams. It wasn't until we got to Bobbies that we figured out why. Apprently his new car seat he got for his 2nd birthday deeded to be adjusted, ahem in the crotch region. So in a nutshell (no pun intended) his bits and pieces were being crushed for approximately 12 hours. Not good.

The actual drive was uneventful, thank goodness because I don't know how much more Daddy could have taken. We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express on our way up and the funniest part of our day was when Kris was attempting to sleep in a bed with Thomas. Thomas kept getting in his face and saying "DADDA!" "DADDA?" DADDA!". He did this for a total of an hour and half. That equals 197 "Dadda's.

Once we got to Bobbie's there really wasn't anything to report. I had been so overwhelmed with work and Kris being in Texas/single mom life I dont think I moved from her comfy couch except to bathe, eat, and hang with my new Bestie/cuz, Beckster. Awesome Girl, Awesome hair model for Lilly.

The ride home was way more enjoyable since we had adjusted Thomas' car seat straps. :) About an hour and a half from Bobbie's we ran into some snow in Kentucky and did what any safe and sane parents would do, we pulled over on the shoulder of the interstate to let the kids (this means Kris too) play in the snow and have an impromptu photo shoot!

All in all we had a SUPER GREAT TIME and are very thankful we had the means to go.

CHEER FORCE ROCKSTARS!!!!

Today Lilly had her first ever cheer competition! I don't know who was more excited she or I.

When I asked Lilly what was her favorite part she said "I just like it since its fun"!

5 years. no words.

ARE YOU AUTHENTIC???

Yesterday a friend and I were talking about blogs we follow. Some are cooking blogs, crafty blogs or cake decorating blogs. A few are about moms just like us who blog about daily life. One in particular where the blogger posts about how bright and happy and perfect their life is but in reality there is darkness and imperfection. So it got me thinking, am I willing to show myself, the pretty and the ugly? Am I willing to tell you secrets that I wish weren't true? The answer: sure, why not? What have I got to lose? I like to think myself a pretty honest person. Sometimes too honest. Brutally honest. I consider myself to be an open book. So here are some of my "secrets". Some are big and some are little, but they are all mine.

Sometimes (quite often, actually) I won't empty the dishwasher, but get the clean dishes out when I need them. Scandalous, I know.

I ran away from home when I was 15 to my friend Chico's house. I spent the night on his top bunk and I scootched all the way towards the wall so his mom wouldn't see me.

When I was 12 I shoplifted maxi-pads because I was too embarassed to tell my mom I had gotten my first period.

I have pretended not to hear the kids in the morning so Kris would wake up first :)

I plagarised a book report in highschool english class. I was comparing and contrasting Bram Stokers Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and literally copied the synopses word for word from the Cliffs Notes. I got a B.

I think my kids are rockstar awesome. (Ok this ones not really a secret, just looking at my son laying on his tummy looking at a board book, so I had to write this).

This is what my living room looked like yesterday.

I smoked pot in my freshman and sophmore years. Alot. And its pretty over-rated.

I wish I would have been a cheerleader in school.

I get aggravated when people take on the whole world and then complain that they have so much on their plate. News Flash, this just in.........we ALL have alot on our plates.

I am scared of dying. And really hope it happens when I am in my 90's.

I don't read my Bible everyday.

I have forgotten to pay the power bill before and our lights have been cut-off. (oops)

Right now my husband is singing a song about how I need to stop blogging and do more laundry and I might have to cut him.

My friend Cynthia keeps it real with me and is a huge support and encouragement to me. And I appreciate it.

Some days I think I am a good mom, but most days I feel completely inadequate.

I don't vacuum my house everyday.

I don't care about football.

My son is whining at my hip right now and I'm about to go postal.

What are you hiding?

Things that make me gag

Yesterday I was in walmart and saw 2, count em, 2 old ladies sans bras. GAG! While I am all for women empowerment must I be occularly assulted by these women who are either a. too lazy to take the extra 3 seconds to put on a bra or b. really think anyone in the free world would be even remotely interested to see their mammary glands flopping around town. Dear Old ladies, Pah-leez do society a favor and strap em back up!!!

So while I'm on the subject I thought I would make a small list of things that make me gag.

The guy who works the popeyes drive thru who has fingernails that would make barbra Streisand envious. Dude, if you are not a freelance hand model cut those things down!!!!!!!!!

Tyra Banks. Gag. She gets on my nerves times infinity.

False compliments. Theres a chick I know who, honestly we have nothing in common. But everytime we are together she feels the need to incessantly compliment me on my kids. Look, I already know my kids are rock stars. I don't need someone trying to get in my good graces to give me fake compliments.

Weirdos at the healthclub. Old ladies in the hottub with white bras on, the lady who runs, yes runs on the treadmill in flip flops, the guys who look like a giants on the top and 12 year olds on the bottom. Hello???? Have you ever heard of a calf raise????

The end.

Just thought of another one.......Flo from the Progressive commercial. Can she please get a gig on a daytime soap or something so she can quit making commercials and I never have to see/hear her again?

WE ARE FAMILY

I have a cousin named Becky (look Becky, you're on the internet). Her grandparents, Joyce and Orville were my moms Aunt and Uncle. I have many memories about them and literally was talking about Aunt Joyce last night with my friend, Tara. One of my bestest memories is when I was younger, Rachel (Becky's older sister) and I would spend the night at Aunt Joyce's (Grandma to Rachel). And Aunt Joyce would let us play for hours with her costume jewelry and clip on earings and her screw post earrings. Aunt Joyce made me feel pretty.

Anyhoo, Beckster (thats my new nickname for her, cuz we're so tight) is a Senior in high school. I don't think we have ever met but if we have it was when she was an embryo and I was about 11. She is gorgeous-can you please take a look at this pic!

Am I right or am I right. Anyways she likes my blog and thinks Im the hilarious. Naturally I think she is very intelligent and she is offically my new BFF. And I can't wait to meet her at Thanksgiving!

Simplify

For the past several weeks I have been participating in a Bible Study with some sweet friends. The book we've been reading is Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. Its brutal, to be honest. It has smacked me in the face the entire time. It has really challenged me to get honest with myself and find what it is that is getting in the way of time with God. For some it may be shopping, or eating, housework, or children. For me........it's TV. There I said it. All my dirty laundry laid out for all the world to see. Or atleast the 16 blog followers I have :) I AM ADDICTED TO TV!!!!!!!!!!! I can't help it. I love nothing more than to sit on the couch when the rest of the family has gone to bed and watch Real Housewives of Jersey Shore or the (Not-So) Real World. I have even found myself fussing at my daughter because it was more important for me to hear who was kicked off the island than it was to hear my best girl describe a picture she had drawn for me. So I am here to say no more. Honestly whats the worst that could happen? A few years ago Kris and I were die-hard LOST fanatics. Then something happened (I can't even remember what) and we missed several episodes in season 4 and never picked it back up. And (GASP) we survived! So this week I will be driving down Burnside to Cox and turning in our cable box. We will be going from roughly 300 channels to 23. I am hopeful that this "adventure" will help us be more creative as a family and more engaged as parents.
Another thing that spoke to me during the Bible Study has been "what are you willing to give up for God"? If God told Kris and I to move to Napal to tell people about him would we do it? Or would we try to hide and negotiate our way out of it? If he asked us to take up our cross would we say "Uh Yeah I would, but.....I have this purse full of junk to carry and I'm not really wearing the right shoes for a long walk". So in that spirit we are simplyfying our lives. We are purging our lives. We are bringing it down to bare bones. Sacrificing our comfort. I know thats silly to say that having a kitchen full of dishes or 2 hand mixers or 38 bottles of Bath and Body sprays is comforting me but it is. I mean really, do I need 3 different sets of cereal bowls? Or a linen closet full of bedding, We only have 2 beds in the house? Or what seems like a bajillion bath towels? Do I need 14 pairs of flip-flops? What is this "stuff" giving me? What are we "gaining" from all this "stuff"?
The answer: NOTHING. And thats why its gotta go.

I NEVER

Have you ever played a game called "I Never...."? Its basically the easiest peasiest game in the world. Much easier than "Panda" (Look Katie, you're on the internet :) Basically someone says "I never...... fill in the blank. And you stand or raise your hand if you have in fact done what has been said. Example: I Never..............got a tattoo. I would stand up, since I have 4 (don't judge me). So here is a list of I Nevers..................................................
ps the following list might not be for the faint of heart. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I NEVER....................
skipped school
blew a duck call in 8th grade Social studies class.
held up a lighter at a pep rally and subsequently got suspended for it.
used a diaper to clean up spilled coke in a restaraunt.
picked up am entire pizza off the ground when Thomas pulled it off the counter, dusted it off and then never told Kris what happened.
went to summer school.
t.p'd a teachers house.
got into a fist fight.
flunked a class.
shoplifted.
had my tongue pierced. Twice.
called in sick when I really wasn't.
worked for hancock fabrics.
caused a 4 car wreck.
cheated on a test.
wished I had done things differently.
has a nose bleed in math class.
ran away from home.
called a teacher a cuss word.
smoked pot.
was a candy striper.
smoked behind the T building at St. Amant.
lost a good friendship.
fell in love with a rockstar (look Kris, you're on the internet:)
had 2 amazing children who have stolen my heart.

What have you never done?????

raves and rants

Here is my life this past week.
This past week my bestie, Amy was given the privilege of spending approximately 64 hours with me at a scrapbooking retreat. To the weak this could have seemed a daunting task, but to Amy it was a piece of cake. This lady has 4 kids and is the ULTIMATE household engineer. I knew the weekend would be a piece of cake for her.

I hadn't scrapbooked in ages (well actually 19 months) so I was a little nervous. But thankfully it didn't take me long to get my groove back. Here are a few pics of my favorite layouts:

Some things that I learned about Amy Michelle on this trip:

She LOVES her some nachos.

She hates dark hotel rooms.

She loathes spoons.

Wednesday Night we had home group at tha Moore's. Fun times with fun youth! I am so excited to be a part of this awesome group of kids and beyond excited about the plans Kevin has for them!!!

Thursday night I took my very best girl on a MUCH NEEDED Mommy and Daughter date. We went and saw Toy Story 3 (AKA TEAR FEST 2010). Seriously. Saddest movie. (Dear Dream works, or whoever produced this movie, can you throw me a bone and please not have movies about creepy lazy eyed dolls who are abused. The End) All my friends who have seen it are fired 76 times for not telling me just how emotional it was gonna be. She and I SOBBED almost the entire movie. Thankfully we had bags of popcorn to help stiffle our sobs. Then my girl and I went to La Madeleines and ate strawberry romanoff crepes and had a very special time. (Thank you, GOD for this precious gift).

Last night I had some very much needed catch up time with my long time friend, Jenny. So happy that we have been a part of each others lives for nearly 20 years. She is the one friend who has been through more life changing experiences with me than any other except for Kris!

Now I'm off to grocery shop and buy my best girl a littlest pet shop she has been begging me for for weeks!!!! Have a blessed weekend friends!

Ma Baby Daddy continued.....

11. Kris has an irrational fear of ordering food at Piccadilly. It really stresses him out. He also hates ordering anything for me at a drive thru-special ordering makes him want to give up on life.

12. His best day ever would consist of me making him really soggy french toast chased by a ridiculously huge glass of milk, then me going to guitar center with him for 12 hours and ooh and ahh over all the equipment. Next would be fishing and/or shooting the gun at Darcie and Terry's. Then we come home and I sit on the couch and watch Myth Busters or Pawn Stars with him and I am not aloud to sigh heavily or make any comments about how lame the show is.

Ma Baby Daddy

10 things people need to know about Kris Fridge

1. He finds the dentist soothing

2. He likes to eat the raw pie dough when I make a pie.

3. He is one heckuva ice skater. Seriously. I just discovered this about him after our recent vacation to Tennesee. He now has the nickname Kris-Fridge Yamaguchi.

4. He is incredibly patient with our kids.

5. He has a personalized liscense plate obsession. (ok so this isn't really a secret to all his facebook friends).

6. He can pretty much fix anything. Seriously he rocks.

7. He thinks Starbucks is the downfall of society.

8. He's a good singer and we frequently harmonize in the car.

9. He refuses to apply diaper cream to Monkeys tush (creeps him out).

10. He is THE LOVE of my life.

Happy Father's Day!

Chupacabra+Biloxi+Mary Kiser= awesome girls trip

So I have 2 friends named Kacy and Cynthia. And a new friend named Holly. This week I got the privilege of going on a girls trip with them. Kris has been out of town working and I was DESPERATE to get away. I didn't care where we went (could have been Sorrento) and I really didn't care who I went with (could have been Kate Gosselin). All I knew was I needed a trip. So after dropping the kids off at my bestest Aunt Darcie we hit the road.

Here is a list of the 3 most terrifying things that happened on the trip:

1. Kacy has yet to sign Oprah's no phone zone pledge. I had to scold her on more than one occasion for texting and driving.

2. The dead animals that Cynthia and I encountered on our walk on the beach. I couldn't quite tell if it was a dog, cat or the ellusive Chupacabra, but whatever it was it was foul.

3. Mom of 2 at target who was beyond inappropriately dressed.

Here is a list of what I learned about each of my travel buds:
Cynthia plays pool like a man.
Kacy's blatant disgust for tattoos and people who have tattoos.
Holly is THE WORST sunscreen applyer. Ever.

And finally here is a list of random things that we found extremely funny that only Holly, Cynthia, Kacy or I will understand:

Mary Kiser should never work a front desk.
You should ALWAYS get your daily dose of Vitamin C.
I can bench press 220.
Prime Outlets RA-heely needs to get more food court options.
I found my long lost foot twin soul-mate (pun intended).
Cynthia and I do not make a great pictionary team.
Red knees.
Do you want a salad? Is the salad free? No its 3 dollars. Well why doesn't it come with my meal? Cuz your eating an appetizer. Do you want the salad? no thank you. So you do want a salad? Huh how much is the salad? Why can't I get the salad? Can I get salad? I will just eat your salad. Did you want salad or not? Yes I'll get salad.

Thanks to Cynthia and Kacy for inviting me. And thanks to Holly for sucking it up and accepting that a stranger was coming on the trip. I am so happy I could make this a trip of a lifetime for you three!

Oh and Thanks Aunt Darcie......yet again......for watching my babies!

Peanut Butter and Cops

This has been a crazy week. No other way to put it. Kris has been in Texas and to keep my sanity I have gone to the healthclub twice a day just to have a second to myself (or 40 minutes on the elliptical). I did disvover a super great way to keep a 5 year old AND an 18 month old monkey occupied and quiet for 20 minutes and it didn't involve forcing them to sleep or letting them watch Dinosaur Train for the 37 time. Wanna know what it is????????

Peanut Butter! Keeping kids mouths sealed shut since 1876.

Then this afternoon I had a very interesting knock at the door. it was the EBR parish Sheriffs office. Apparently my 18 month old decided to dial 911. And 30 minutes later I heard a knock at the door. I was elbow deep in dishes so decided to ignore it. Then I heard POUNDING on my front door. Yep, the cops. Needless to say we both had a good laugh and I have another story to tell. Hope your weekend is a restful one!

What new?

Ok I am officially fired 37 times. I have not blogged in AGES! So here is the latest with our family.

Kris: Kris has been working in Texas every other week. It has been challenging to say the least. I have a new-found respect for single-mothers. Especially single (working) mothers :)

Thomas: Thomas' new favorite things is screaming NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Constantly. It been fun. Not really.

Lilly: We got Lilly's Gifted screening assement results. She IS gifted. This was not a surprise to me (the kid is a genius). After speaking witht he EBR parish school system gifted department and finding out about our options (Shenandoah resource program or Parkview full-immersion which was full) we have decided to continue at the school she is at for Kindergarten. We are ALL relieved the decision has been made. And I'm sure my mom and friends are too (I had been obsessing about it for months).

Me: Literally counting down the days until my beach trip with some besties. When i return I will start the countdown for a scrapbook retreat with another bestie! I am sooo looking forward to the summer!

I said what?

These are some things I said to my kids this past week:

Lilly, smell Monkeys butt.

Monkey, get down from the entertainment center.

No Lilly, you cannot give me a haircut.

You want a beatin'?

8 Questions

1. When do you feel happiest?
When I first get Monkey out of his bed and he gives me a big hug. And Listening to Lilly sing her made up songs.

2. How do you take care of yourself?
I have been working out after dropping Lilly off at school. It has been a daily time in my day where I think of only myself. I'm also going to invest in regular spa visits. I am hoping to go get a massage next weekend.

3. What do you do for fun?
love watching movies, going to dinner, shopping, reading blogs, words with friends, love a bubble bath, a locked bathroom door and a people magazine!

4. What intimidates you?
I can't really think of anything. I'm pretty fearless when it comes to people/places. I will say that dolls and birds creep me out.

5. What is something you're proud of?
almost 10 years of marriage to my husband. Very proud of his military service and sacrifice and that he is soon going to be an OFFICER!!! Proud I am Lilly and Thomas' mom.

6. Finish this sentence. I never _____________ leave my doors unlocked. Not even the car doors. Kris says I have a lock fetish.

7. Favorite vacation spot.
So far, Disney World all the way. But Salem, Indiana also has a taken up a huge spot in my heart..

8. If you knew me really well you'd know _____________ I was the BIGGEST heathen in Middle school and up until 11th grade. Then I met Jesus and it's been all that and then some.

Grace and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

This has been a hectic week. Kris has been in Texas all week and I'm READY for him to be home. I am happy to report that we are all still in one piece, but my living room is quite another story. Sometimes I feel like I am just haging on by a thread. Honestly most of the time I feel like I am hanging on by a thread and I cherish and appreciate the rare days when I feel it all works out and I am Mom of the Year. Sadly I had no days like that this week. It wasn't a horrible week but I really do miss Kris. It's hard being a single mom. And By God's grace I am not a true single mom. So I will appreciate and be grateful for being allowed to be one every other week. It has opened my eyes to what so many women out there live with.
Here is a list of my saving graces this past week:
Amy Stephens (Thank you for bringing Lilly home last minute and putting up with my crazy)

Cynthia Townsend (LOVING this new friendship and your motivation and encouragement rocks)

Grilled cheese sandwiches (I'm not ashamed to say the kids have eaten these more than once for dinner)

Home Group (One of the highlights of our week. Wednesday has turned into one of our favorite days of the week)

Jen Ghere (daily phone calls, daily texts. You ROCK, friend!)

Tara (thanks for letting me invite myself over and having an impromtu play date. Love our playdates and Monkey says Hi to Na-Na)

Marmie (u make me laugh everytime we talk. Even if its just due to the dumb voices we use)

Darcie (Monkey thanks you for the fruit loops. His mommy thanks you because he hadn't yet eaten breakfast that morning)

Kris (it really helps me deal with all the mundane tasks when I think about how hard you work for your family. Thank you for putting up with my crazy)

This is just a small list of ways God helped me get through the week. There are a ton more things but I it's 10:05 and my babies need breakfast.

Five things I love Friday (Sunday edition)

Oops. I forgot to post the 5 things I am loving this week. I know its late but I'm sure the 3 people who read this blog will understand.

1. Hipstamatic I-Phone App. I LA-HOVE this app. It takes the coolest pics. Here are a few of my favorites from this past week.

2. VEGAS BABY! Kris and I will be celebrating our TEN YEAR anniversary this July. We have been talking about going on a trip just the two of us. We have not done this since our honeymoon. We talked about Disneyworld (well, mostly me), Colorado, Hot Springs, Sandals resorts, Cruises but FINALLY settled on VEGAS BABY! I am soo stoked. I absolutely LOVE planning trips. We are planning to go in October!!!!

3. Coffee Coffee Coffee. Enough said

4. Being Outdoors. This is all a part of the whole excercise thing thats developing in my life. I have never been an outdoorsy person, (not a real big fan of sweating). But Kris and I have been spending the past several weekends doing lots of outdoor activities. We washed and detailed cars yesterday and let the kids play in the sprinkler. Twice. Then went to Darcie and Terry's where I sat on the deck and listened to 3 cousins splish and splash and have a super fun time. Then topped off the evening with a double date on the back porch, eating crawfish with D and T Moore. Super great Saturday!!!!!

5. Being a mom. Yes its a DAILY challenge and sometimes I feel like I am hanging on by a thread. But I love my babies. Even when Monkey throws himself to the ground in a tantrum because I cannot peel a banana fast enough for him. Or when Tootie has a complete meltdown because her shorts don't match her shirt when I pick out "play clothes" for her. I love these kids. I love my family. That's about all I need.

Chocolate Monkey

I was sitting at my desk doing some work this morning when I heard a strange sound. It was a mix of slurping and smacking. I looked over my desk and this is what I saw:

This is what happens when you DO NOT put the baby gate up and your son clibs onto the kitchen table and gets into the easter baskets! Have I ever mentioned how much I am OBSESSED witht his baby?

Five things I love Friday

For any of you that follow Elsie Flanigans blog I totally stole this idea from her. But imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

1. I (gulp) like Excercising. Yep I, Melissa Dawn Fridge just typed those words. I know, even I can hardly believe it. But it is my only time for myself. And I feel SOOO very good once I do it. Athletic. Powerful. All-that!!!

2. Currently Loving me some Deadliest Catch. If you don't watch it stop what you are doing immediately and watch it.

3. Five in a Row homeschool Curriculum. Lilly and I started this a few weeks before she went to her Bobbie's house. And we are starting our next book Monday and I cannot wait. I have learned so much already, that the appendix is connected to the large intestine, the Seine River runs through Paris and empties intot he English Channel, and about a lovely man name Louis Bleriot.

4. Playing Words with Friends on my I-phone. Today I legitimately beat Terry Lee Moore in a game. And it was Ah-mazing!

5. My john piper Bible study :Don't waste your life. Every time I read it it kicks me in the butt. Its brutal but oh so written for me.

What are you loving today?????

Heart part 2