Soak Zone and pool rules

     We spent a couple days on vacation last week and by vacation I mean we went to exotic Sea World.  (Apropos,don't you think?)  Here are some things I learned while in San Diego.

1)  People will sit in the seats clearly marked "soak zone", listen to 3 announcements about how wet they will get in the "soak zone", get soaked, and then run for higher ground completely shocked they got wet.

2)  None of my family will sit in the "soak zone" with me. This is probably for the best because no one should have to learn Victoria's Secret from me.

Khaki is apparently no better than white pants when wet.

3)  Most Sea Stars have 5 arms, but if you have a mildly obsessive compulsive boy who wants to spend hours at the tide pool, you're bound to find an exception.

4) Some pools have strange rules.

If you're sick, dive right in, the water is great!

What was even weirder about this rule?  The area did not even have a "Pool Shower."

5)  After spending our money and time at Sea World we learned that our kids' favorite thing is the beach, for free.

I'm linked up with the TGIF Blog Hop hosted by You Know It Happens At Your House Too, Funny Postpartum Lady, and Overworked Supermom.  Come join the fun!

If you learned anything this summer (not necessarily from me), please click below.

There's No Time For Pants! is Swimming With the Telephone

     In the manner of those old time ominous sounding male announcer voice types I'm here to tell you "It's time for another episode of Swimming Telephone."  Participants will take part of our story and run with it, old school telephone game style.  Click on the telephone above for further details and then dive right into the story.

The drama and intrigue is continued this week by:

Kristina at

There's No Time For Pants!

     Kristina taught all her kids to swim last week the way God intended; in a hotel swimming pool.  She's fun and spunky and I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes our escaped child and his Mater big wheels this week.  Click to read her latest addition.

Previous swimmer: Nicole Ninja Mom

Next swimmer: Robyn at Hollow Tree Ventures

An old fashioned drama is good for the soul. 

Click on the banner below to keep us going like your favorite day time soap opera.

Blog Star: Hi I'm Marian!

Today I'm linking up with the lovely Mrs. Monologues for a great monthly post called Blog Star.

Welcome to my blog!  If you've ever seen "Finding Nemo", then you probably get it  Just keep swimming is my mantra. I live one day (more like one hour) at a time just keeping myself and my family afloat. I am a mom to three crazy kids ages 8, 6, and 4.  Here I write about my adventures as a mom, student, and wife.

More about me:

I am horrible at returning video rentals on time.

I make an abysmal tooth fairy.

I can't do Pinterest right.
My kids are sometimes nice to each other!
And I think Disney has a few great lessons for boys.
I hope you'll stick around and say hello!  You can also find me swimming on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

I think you're a star too.  Please click below for me.

Saving My Birthday Crazy

     As someone with a Christmas birthday, in spite of my parents best efforts I was sometimes disappointed.  This was because getting friends to come to a party between Christmas and New Years is like Mission Impossible.  For that reason, I go completely overboard on my kids' birthday parties to make sure they always feel like their day was special.

     I know I've talked a lot about school, but trust me, that was better than the alternative.  Hearing about my school saved you all from the crazy that is me in July.  Blondie and Dude have birthdays 20 days apart and I get complete birthday fever.  

      So instead of subjecting you all to that insanity, I chose to share it with Amanda at Life, Experience Necessary.  Amanda is off on a vacation with her family and I was flattered when she invited me to do a guest post for her.  Please stop by and check out how I'm learning to keep the crazy in check.

Before you head over to Amanda's place, can you spare a click for a crazy lady?

Birthday Bargain

Happy Birthday to my now eight year old Blondie and to Harry Potter!

Hubs wanted to show Blondie Harry Potter 7 Part 1 and 2.  I said she is too young.

Not cool Belatrix!

I wanted to get Blondie's ears pierced.  Hubs said she is too young.

He told Blondie that she was too young to get her ears pierced, but that she could watch Harry Potter instead.

I told him it was both or nothing.  (This was turning into a bizarre bargain.)

Looks like someone will be seeing Harry Potter soon:

Today I'm linking up with Kelly's Break Room and My Life and Kids for Finding the Funny.

I'm linked up with iPPP at g*funk*ified. Come join the fun.

I'm over at the TGIF Blog Hop hosted by You Know It Happens At Your House Too, Funny Postpartum Lady, and Overworked Supermom.  Come join up!



Can I make a bargain with you to please click on the banner below?

Better Naked and Late

     Wait?  Was that title confusing?  Did you think I was naked?   I love you too much to do that to you.  I'm talking about all the wonderfully naked men in the Magic Mike movie I saw two weeks ago.  I am nothing if not relevant people!  A month ago Kim @ Let Me Start By Saying wrote a hilarious post about going to see Magic Mike.  Go and read it.  Don't worry, I'll wait.


     Welcome back! After reading her post two weeks ago I was sold.  Two words: Alcide Hevreax. Wait! My favorite werewolf?  Mostly naked? Where's my popcorn?


     When I told Kim I was going I got this:

     So you can blame this whole post on her.
    
     At dinner that night with my Mother-in-law and Brother-in-law, Hubs announced to the whole table that I was trying to get away in time "to go see that male stripper movie."  I turned a few shades of red and then smiled and left for the night smug in the knowledge that he was putting all three kids to bed by himself.  Oh sweet revenge.


     This movie was actually perfect for me.  It was an opportunity to quietly ogle good-looking men with no fear of being pulled up on stage and being touched by strangers.  That being said, here's my take on Magic Mike.

1. The dancing was Ah-mazing!  Even with their clothes on their moves were drool worthy.  Taking their clothes off just added to the fun.

2. Plot was completely unnecessary.  I could have watched a movie with nothing but those fine men stripping the whole time.

3. I completely agree with Kim.  Matthew McConaughey was not the highlight for me.  I would have traded his finale for ten extra minutes of half naked Joe Manganiello - any day!

4. I loved that the ladies on stage with the men were not all conventionally attractive.  Feminists unite!

5. I will pay to see Magic Mike 2.  I will even pay in advance if that will ensure they make a second movie.

   
     On an related note, while I was doing "research" my good friend IMDB told me that Joe Manganiello is exactly one day older than me.  Somehow this makes me feel better.  I mean, if he still has it going on... 

I know, I've made it difficult to tell who is my favorite.

     Who am I kidding?  I am no Joe Manganiello.  At least he can't turn me down on the grounds that I'm too old for him.  (Always look on the bright side of life...)

     Now you tell me, which of these five men would motivate you to see Magic Mike?  Would you want to go on stage with your choice guy?  Or are you a "look but don't touch" person?  Inquiring minds want to know they aren't the only dirty oldish woman.

I've never minded inappropriate touching of this button.  Please click below.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

     Stasha over at The good life asked us to come up with ten sounds that drive us bonkers for this week's Monday Listicles.  I guess I live a pretty charmed life because this list was actually pretty tough for me.  Here goes...

1. The bark of the neighbor's dog which is more regular than a rooster and wakes my boy and subsequently me before 6:00 every morning
2. The "bing bing bing" my car makes when the keys are in the ignition and the driver's side door is open.  Moms should be allowed to disable this noise since we have to hop out and deal with the kids five times before we're able to actually drive anywhere
3. I'm going for the obvious, but nails on a chalkboard
4. The "beep beep beep" of the handicap equipped walk signs outside my master bathroom window  They beep to let the blind person(s) in our development know that it is not safe to cross yet.  They are so high pitched that I probably never would have noticed it except that the first night we moved in my husband pointed the noise out to me and now I hear them constantly.
5. The sound of all the neighbor kids laughing and playing outside together when my kids and I are trapped inside and can't join in the fun
6. The "Eee Eee Eee!" probably best described as a hyena in pain that is my daughter's automatic response whenever we say "no" to her about anything.  I want her to stay and I want that sound to go (and not be replaced!)
7. My ring tone when it goes off during a final exam and embarrasses me in front of everyone because I'm the jerk with her cell phone ringer on
8. Motorcycles vroom vrooming outside my bedroom window at 11:30 at night
9. The chirping of a smoke alarm in the middle of the night (based on 1, 8, and 9 you see that I really dislike noises that compromise my sleep)
10. The Sound of Silence.  It used to mean my daughter had finally stopped crying.  Now it almost assuredly means my kids are up to no good.

 

Provided my blog doesn't count as a noise that drives you bonkers, please click below.