weekend - hooey!critic

t-minus 22 hours until hibernation

February 3, 2011 by Neena 2 Comments

We are not preparing for some major snow storm. There is no huge thunderstorm on its way. The temperatures aren’t even sinking that low compared to others in the United States. But, I’ve declared a mental state of emergency and I’m going into a weekend hibernation.

I am so over Winter. Seriously.

Winter can kiss my clothing-layered ass.

I’m tired of the wind. I’m tired of the cold. I’m just done.

I’m so done with Winter that I’m seriously tempted to believe in the mystical season predicting powers of an animal that has a mismatched number of toes on its front and back feet.

That’s a groundhog in case you’re curious.

So, I’m preparing for a weekend boycott. By 8:00 PM Thursday night I’ll be done with classes for the week and I’ll have done the good parent thing and attended the PTA award ceremony where two of my babies are receiving awards. At that moment I plan to go into a full-on hibernation.

I’m going to wear yoga pants all weekend. I’m going to veg, eat yummy, hearty food, and nap if I so feel inclined. The family and I will watch movies, do puzzles, play video games, and not leave the house unless absolutely necessary. I’m not even planning to answer the phone or shower or wash my hair.

Apparently there’s some big sporting event on TV this weekend, but who really gives a crap about sports when you can Netflix the newest season of Weeds while picking your toes and snuggling with a soft puppy?!

In the midst of all this, though, I’ll be reading chapters, working on some sort of regression project, and researching my first COMPS question – but I’ll be doing it all from the comfort of my yoga pants with fresh coffee in hand. I’ll send my husband to the grocery store at some point so I can boycott consumerism and Winter simultaneously. I might even refuse to get the mail for no other reason than the mailman seems a bit too happy in the Winter and that’s just shady.

So bite me, Winter. I’m over you. And, apparently the only way I know to show how pissy I am with your existence is to neglect my hygiene and eat wings on the sofa for 3 days. And I’m okay with that.

Love, Neena

Filed Under: weekend, winter

oh, what a weekend!

June 8, 2009 by Neena 3 Comments

Considering the weekend is only two days long it’s amazing we accomplished so much!

Our weekend began with a spontaneous date night on Friday. We called upon our trusty babysitters and snuck away to see an early movie. While we enjoyed the time together, I have been informed that I am no longer allowed to pick the movie. Ever.

Saturday morning we were finally able to get the dining room table out of storage. We have been trying to do this for months, but the weather and lack of a truck has prevented it until now. But, we got it and it’s beautiful and my dining room is beginning to seem a bit more grown up – with the exception of the Barbie doll camped out under the table.

I also got some fresh gardenias, too. They made the house smell perfumey and slightly like a Southern church on Sundays.

The yardwork began Saturday afternoon. While hubby dug holes and did the man stuff, I watched one child attempt to reach the pedals on the tricycle for a good hour.

I watched another child have a car accident. I laughed.

I got this look several times throughout the weekend and even managed to be told that my daughter wishes she had a ‘nice mommy.’ I’ll take that as a sign I’m doing something right.

I can assure you, though, that the ‘mean mommy’ comment had nothing to do with the overabundance of child labor we required during all the yardwork.

There were a bunch of these bushes that we dug up and transplanted around the property. It sucked and ruined my pedicure. I’m sure it was difficult for Hubby, too, considering he actually had the hard part. I just supervised and asked really stupid questions.

We tore everything out of this bed and replaced it with new stuff. I know it looks a bit small, but it’ll fill in. Eventually. I hope.

I bought myself a birdhouse this weekend, too. I’ve always wanted one and now the children and I can have wonderful lessons at home about nature, avians, and the circle of life. Or, I’ll spend everyday cursing the damn squirrels for getting in the birdhouse.

And, not that there is any connection, but shortly after I put up the birdhouse I noticed this bird nest in one of our bushes. I was all excited knowing that Mama Bird felt comfortable enough to build her babies a home here. I really hope a squirrel doesn’t get the eggs – then I’ll really be pissed.

So, as a means to an end of all that productivity, I am spending my Sunday night enjoying a glass of wine, avoiding the numerous loads of laundry that need to be folded, and wondering why I ever give my husband the remote when he insists on watching things like 1000 Ways to Die.

Jealous, huh.

Filed Under: weekend

movie night

November 9, 2008 by Neena 3 Comments

One of my favorite aspects of the weekend is actually have the time and energy to enjoy my hubby’s company. Don’t get me wrong, we do our best to have that quality time and conversation during the week, but most of the time we are too exhausted to do more than make sure the kids are in bed before he zones out to some crime show in the living room and I fall asleep to Grey’s Anatomy reruns in the bedroom. By the weekend we’re actually looking forward to being awake enough to enjoy what it is we like about each other. (and I’m not talking about that, you perv!)

So, last night we had movie night. We spent the day doing some holiday shopping and picked up a couple cheap movies on DVD while we were out. Once we got the kids to bed we were excited to spend the evening watching our new videos. We curled up in the bed with some ice cream and began to watch what can only be described as one of the worst horror films ever!!

We have always been fans of the cheesy, b-movie horror flicks that are full of bad acting, awful stories, and poor visual effects. It’s just one of our things. But the video last night was pretty bad. It was called The Devil’s Chair and it was so weird and British that hubby fell asleep and I only finished it because I paid $7 for the DVD and, by golly, I was going to finish it. When it was over I remember thinking ‘I don’t get it’ and wondering how a cow skull, a garbage bag, and what appeared to be corn syrup could actually qualify and scary. It was certainly gory and it definitely had a whole blood/slasher thing happening that made me just a little bit intimidated to get up and go the the bathroom with no lights on. But, three babies has taught me to pee pretty quickly so I got back in bed before I completely freaked myself out.

Overall it was pretty good for a Saturday night. Of course it still doesn’t beat out that great horror movie we watched once that was so awful we couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that they used Christmas twinkle lights for the monster’s eyes. Yep, it was just that bad. We always manage to find the best of the worst. Gotta love that quality time!

Filed Under: hubby, movies, weekend

Moving from the kid table to the grown-up table

September 13, 2008 by Neena 4 Comments

I was driving home this afternoon from running a few errands and suddenly began laughing at myself. I wasn’t laughing for the obvious reasons like the spit-up on my shirt, my mommy outfit, or my inability to not rock out to my kids’ CD. Nope. I laughed at the fact that my weekends have become so grown-up that if I don’t laugh I’ll cry.

First was the gas station for $10 worth of gas. Why only $10? Because that was just enough to get all the way to the wholesale club where gas could be purchased at a radical discount. We headed to the post office next. By ‘we’ I mean me, hubby, and all three kids piled into the family SUV and headed to the post office. From there it was on to the wholesale club where we purchased gas at a discount and wipes, waffles, cat litter, and detergent in bulk. Sadly, the wholesale club is not for stocking up on wine or buying fancy tv’s. Nope. It’s for the supplies that keep the little ones fed, the clothes clean, and the cats from crapping on the floor.

We hit the grocery store after that to fill our fridge and cabinets for the upcoming week. We usually do this on Saturday mornings after careful list making and menu planning on Friday afternoons. We’re never prepared, though, when the grocery store is out of the Alpha Bites cereal our kids are so obsessed with at the moment. But, we made it through thanks to the snacks we snuck in and the weird car cart we stole from the parking lot.

We headed home for naps and lunch, but not in that order. Hubby read a book while I intently watched the Food Network make homemade fish sticks and balsamic truffles. Once the kids woke up we decided to divide and conquer. Hubby stayed at the house with the girls and started the laundry, sent emails to the teacher, and researched identity theft (a whole other story). I threw Jake in the car and ran to finish my grown-up errands. I stopped at Starbucks for some much needed fuel and headed to the bookstore where I bought two books on toddlers and tantrums. Yep. I’m so bad at this parenting thing that I’m turning to the books. We then went to the bed and bath store where we bought a new toaster and an indoor grill pan.

Do I know how to show that kid a good time or what!?

We came home to the smell of laundry, hubby on the phone with the teacher, and everyone hungry for dinner. Yes, my friends, that is a grown up weekend well spent. Throw in a 9:00 bedtime and you’ve got yourself a par-tay!

Filed Under: daily grind, grown-up, weekend

Shopping 101

July 26, 2008 by Neena 6 Comments

Mia and I spent the day shopping with my mother-in-law. We traveled to several stores and malls to provide Mia with a wealth of Pre-K clothes and shoes. We forced the poor child to try on numerous pants, dresses, and shirts so that we, as fashionistas ourselves, could judge her new school look. The trip was ultimately successful. We returned home this afternoon with numerous bags of clothing and shoes, one tired and constipated child, and a healthy dose of retail therapy. I would certainly go so far as to say that Mia and her “Ma” did their part to boost the economy today. And, what did I do on this girlie day? I resisted the urge to fart in my mother-in-law’s car and graciously waited until she dropped us off this afternoon. I’d say that’s being about as ladylike as I get!

Happy Saturday…I’m off to bed early.

Filed Under: fart, mall, mia, shopping, weekend

Pancake Saturday

May 10, 2008 by Neena 4 Comments

A few months ago we started a tradition in our house of having a family pancake breakfast every Saturday morning. We did this not because we love pancakes, though we do, but because we needed to make a commitment to eat at least one good meal together as a family each week. I’m sure I could easily be lectured about the importance of families eating together. Hey, I honestly know all that already. But, with the traveling and hubby’s work schedule this breakfast is our chance to catch up. Yes, we do have other meals together during the week and weekend, but this is the one meal everyone looks forward to eating. The kids leave the table full and I have that momentary feeling of ‘Super Mom‘ because I gave them a homemade breakfast and not cereal, toaster strudel, or breakfast bars.

What tickles me the most about pancake morning is how the children actually eat their pancakes. First, we always use paper plates just to make clean-up on me that much easier (hey, be impressed at all that I get a homemade breakfast on the table at 7:30 on a Saturday morning…before coffee! And, I do it with a freakin smile!) They are very particular about the placement and distribution of the pancakes and toppings.

Jacob takes only one pancake at a time. His appetite is almost as big as hubby’s, but he will still only take one at a time. The pancake needs to be placed to the side of the plate. Then he likes a pat of butter at the northeast corner of the plate and a glob of syrup in the southeast corner of the plate. Never shall the three actually meet until he is ready. He will scream if he doesn’t have a fork, but I have yet to actually see him use it to eat pancakes. He will begin by eating just the butter. Totally gross…he must get that from his father. Next, he will dip the pancake into the syrup and bit off the smallest bites. He usually continues until the pancake is gone. Then the process starts all over again with pancake #2. Occasionally there is a shout out to the found blueberry, but not very often.

Mia is less weird, but just as particular as her brother when it comes to her pancakes. She always begins with two on her plate. She refuses butter, but as we have seen before, she will never refuse syrup. We must drizzle (heavily) syrup on the bottom pancake and then lay the second pancake on top. That pancake gets its heavy drizzle and then there is a small pile of syrup off to the side for dipping. She will then ask politely for us to cut her pancakes into bite size pieces. There is no special technique that she likes, though they must be in bite size pieces. She will begin by using her dipper (aka: her finger) to eat as much syrup as possible. She will then complain about how she didn’t have enough syrup and there isn’t any on her pancakes. We explain to her for the billionth time that the pancakes soaked up all the syrup but she will still taste it. This quiets her and she will finish all that is on her plate exclaiming to the entire table when she is done that she was a hungry girl!

Hubby doesn’t do anything weird with his pancakes, but he can polish off a plate full in just under a minute! (okay, I’ve never clocked it, but anyone who knows him knows that he eats at freakin warp speed!)

I, on the other hand, don’t eat my pancakes weird. I’m the normal one of the bunch. Well, me and the baby.