I love him, I love him, I love him!

There were cards

and candy.

He even sprung for flowers

and dinner, complete with a new feeder, err, china

but Mr. Producer knows that the best way to this girls heart is through small boxes

with delicate little gifts inside

for there is nothing that makes this urban country girls heart beat faster than the promise of................................

her very own C H I C K E N S!

I LOVE YOU MR. PRODUCER! THANKS FOR KNOWING WHAT MAKES ME TICK!!!!

P.s. the fondue, night with friends and movie was pretty cool too!

These are the days of our lives

*** DISCLAIMER *** I make my bed for no one, sorry, you are no exception!!

Not even 3 hours into today and here is plays out, just for you, in pictures and words. These are the days of my life. The one's I hope to look back on and laugh (not so much giggling going on at the moment;). The one's that I will miss when they are all grown (except for the laundry, really, nakedness should be the law). These are the one's you can never prepare for before you have children, although yours will never be like this (see post below on the things we say before we are parents).

Sit back, relax, be entertained and giggle, it's ok, inside I am giggling too.

But, if you find a few minutes of peace, quiet, solitude and cleanliness, please send them my way;)

It all started like this, a few (ok, 75 extra, details, details) extra minutes spent in our oh so comfy bed this morning. Now that we are all so well rested, the rest of the day should be GREAT!

Thing 1 apparently felt it took mommy to long to use the bathroom and start coffee this morning. In protest, her poor princess is forced to sleep on a cold, hard, surface! I pity her children;)

Before he can even be bothered with breakfast, Picasso, aka thing 2 MUST get to work. There is much to be painted, colored, drawn and splattered and really between the obligatory sleeping, diapering and mess making, there is very little time to do it all! Quick and stealth are the words of the day!

Nothing is immune as a canvas. Mom and Dad's new quilt wouldn't be part of our house if it was pristine!

Personally, skin is his favorite masterpiece, on account of it takes permanent marker a LONG time to come off. This way the whole world gets to see my talents!

He even managed to swipe big sister's forehead as she made a grab for the marker. When that failed we will just shout "Mom, J has a marker in your room"! For the record, Mom can be gazelle intense when she has to be!

Notice that big sister got dressed all by herself this morning! What not to wear has nothing on her!

Thing 1 decided that maybe searching for and finding clothes was maybe too much work! Just a diaper is the new dressed!Picasso is back. His second favorite medium to work with after permanent marker is food! There are so many ways to toss it, splatter it, spit it, throw it, slam it, squish it. Here's a sample of what he can do with peaches!

While mom is cleaning up peaches, we go play in our kitchen. Seems so nice, quiet, innocent. Until they all leave from here and you hear the bathtub water running.

Mastering the art of trio distraction, 1 has escaped with tea cup from kitchen and water from bathroom to create this gorgeous masterpiece. Is my bed not even sacred little monsters, I mean, people? And just think, it is suppose to be a place of love!
So, instead of cleaning this.....

or this........

Or this.....................

Mommy is doing this.......................

The sacrifices she makes for you her only reader is nothing short of commendable! Really!

Meanwhile we are doing this...............................

And this.........

We look like we are reading, but really we are searching for new trouble making opportunities, I mean adventures!

Heeeeeeeere's broccoli

The post you have been waiting for with bated breath!





I know, I am horrible for keeping you in suspense for so long! Can you ever forgive me?





Here it is, Adam's broccoli from his 4h garden

There truly has never been a more proud child!

It weighed in at 5lbs (not the 13lbs some of our fellow gardeners pulled in their cauliflower, but impressive in it's own right for this 1st time gardener) and taste delicious!!!!

Since we all love broccoli in many forms, not a drop of this heaven sent blessing will go to waste.

Now to really give credit where credit is due, we only planted the seeds. Our Father took care of the rest. Really, we only went back 2x after the initial planting and checked on it! Isn't it amazing what He can do when we quit interfering?

Great Job Adam all the same for your planting, checking and picking! It is wonderful and so are you!

confidential to MAC

I love you, thanks for the laughs and the computer time. You are the best editor, or at least the most comical, I know!

p.s. figure out how to leave a comment, darnit!

p.s.s. I hope it was worth the wait, more will come tomorrow, my chores are all done! LOL!

Did I say I don't believe in bribing

Here is a list of all the ridiculous things I swore I would never do as a parent........

quick break to dry the tears of laughter before I continue......

#1. I would never let my child sleep with me
#2. I will never give advice to another mother
#3. I would never allow my child to run in the house
#4. I would never yell
#5. I would take potty training in stride, really it is just a little pee
#6. My children would never yell
#7. My kids would never have chocolate for breakfast
#8. My child would NEVER, I mean, NEVER run around in just a diaper
#9. I would never allow one to do something and scold another child for doing the same thing
#10. I would never make my own baby food, why do the work?
#11. I would never bribe my kids with candy, cookies, cakes
#12. My kids will not have dessert every night
#13. I will never send my children to bed crying
#14. I will never use anything other than my hand to swat my sweeties
#15. My kids will not have to do chores other than pick up their toys
#16. My house will be a democracy.

Here is a list of the ridiculous things that I now make a part of my daily routine, ok, maybe not daily, but definitely weekly!

#1. Adam joined us when he was 2.5 years old, Katie joined us when she was 2 weeks old and refuse to sleep anywhere else and the twins, well, honestly, I am not sure they ever left, JUST KIDDING!
#2. Give advice, that implies a quick let me tell you this real quick. HAHAHAHA!!! You got a few days, I got a thesis I wanna share.............................
#3. Hey, I don't allow them to run with scissors.
#4. Hold on, I have to finish yelling at the kids, ok?
#5. Potty training really is my nemesis
#6. Hang on a sec, I can't hear you over the kids screaming.
#7. I figure chocolate is made of dairy, that is healthy, right?
#8. Getting dressed is highly OVERRATED!
#9. What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander
#10. Really, commercial baby food, I don't know what is in that (and it is not on the dave ramsey plan)
#11. Who ever has said bribery is a bad thing has never been a parent of more than 1 child!
#12. Isn't dessert one of the major food groups?
#13. NEVER say never! This is the only part of the post I may be serious about and damn #13 does hurt me more than it hurts them!
#14. Have you met my spankin' stick? If it comes off the wall, you are gonna meet it!
#15. Ok, my kids will never do chores other than pick up their toys, room, help with laundry, dishes, vacuum, take out the trash, more chores will be forthcoming.
#16. There is nothing wrong with a dictatorship!!! Really, you wanna argue with me?

What are some of your "I'll never's"?

They really are funny to look back on now and laugh.

I think this is the part where I am suppose to list all the things I love about having children, but I gotta run to the grocery store, for milk, for the ones I love. Stay Tuned

Happy belated anniversary

2/2/08 was a VERY monumental day for Mr. Producer and I.

It was B.I.G.

Bigger than Christmas big.

Bigger than Disney world big.

Bigger than wedding day or baby big (well almost)

2/2/08 was the last day of guilt in our lives.

2/2/08 was the last day of panic, the last day of frivolousness, the last day of paying 1800x more for anything than it is worth.

2/2/08 was the LAST TIME WE USED A CREDIT CARD FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!!!!

Yes, you heard me (or rather, you read me) correctly.

F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

E.N.D. O.F. T.I.M.E

D.O.N.E

Not even a back-up. No emergency card, no gas card, no hidden ones tucked away for there-is-a-major-diaper-sale-going-on-and-I-have-to-stock-up -NOW-sale.

N.A.D.A.

Now, to make this more understandable to some of you who either have never had a credit card (stay away, far, far, away) or who have one and constantly pay it off (they are still a bad idea even then) or who have become debt free, we were credit card addicts!!!

Yes, ADDICTS!!!!

That seems kinda harsh you say. Well, when we 1st meet, Mr. Producer had 2 credit cards and I had 2 credit cards. Not so bad, maybe even manageable. The 4 become 6 and 6 became 8 and our credit cards multiplied faster than our children did until we ran into real problems. We decided that we needed help. We signed up for credit counseling and in just 5 long, err, short years, they were paid off!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! And we swore we would never get another credit card AGAIN!

B.U.T..........................................................................................................

The house needed a new roof. Mr. Producer was a SAHD+I was a teacher+we had NOTHING in savings+Home Depot/6 months same as cash=BUMBUMBUM...............

It always starts out innocent. I will pay it off before the 6 months (we had furniture we were going to do this with and sold it after 5 years of owning it before we even paid it off:( I will pay the balance due every month, I will double the minimum payment.

Then life happens and you don't, or rather we didn't.

1 child became 2, then 3 and 4 arrived along with a whole lot of grocery bills, medical bills, clothes bills, diapers, you get the idea.

Before we knew it we had 1 gas card, 2 dept store cards, 3 visa's, a mastercard, a platinum mastercard and a TA-DAH Discover card (man we thought we were IT)! Now not all of them were maxed (actually on 3 were and a couple did not have a balance) but I could see where we were headed!

Enter Stage left: DAVE RAMSEY!!!!!!!

I do not think God had ever picked a more opportune man to walk into my life. Dave did for me what no other man could (sorry babe)! Dave, oh Dave!

If you have never read or heard of Dave Ramsey, you need to immediately call 911 and have them check your pulse, then ask them to deposit you at the library so you can check out a book by him!! Dave Ramsey, envelopes, baby steps and all things cash rock! If this makes sense to you then you get it, if it doesn't then you need to get it!

Anyway, this wonderful short little message was just my opportunity to say happy belated anniversary to myself, Mr. Producer and Dave Ramsey!!

Here is to living like no one else so later we can live like no one else!!!!!

My who's on 1st moment

The following conversation takes place between me and United Healthcare.

It is true, it is accurate. I couldn't make this one up.

From this moment on I will refer to me, Tracy, funchaos.
Tracy will refer to Tracy, UHC representative.

Tracy: Thank you for calling United, this is Tracy, may I please have your name.
I: Tracy
Tracy: Yes it is.
I: No, my name is Tracy also.
Tracy: Hi Tracy Also, may I verify some personal information with you please, what is your subscriber ID #?
I: (chuckling) Yes, my member ID# is 55555555 and my name is Tracy Ko...
Tracy: I am sorry ma'am I do not have a member ID # 55555555 for a Tracy Also
I: I am sorry, there has been a misunderstanding, my name is Tracy K0%(!#
Tracy: Ok, yes that is the name on the account. (This is where we accurately verify more personal info) How can I help you today?
I: I am calling about a bill and an explanation of benefits that I received for my daughter Katie and my son Jason. (We verify the date of service and provider)
Tracy: What seems to be the problem?
I: I am curious as to why I am getting billed for this service and what the code on the bottom of the EOB means?
Tracy: The code EJB means that we need proof of pre-existing conditions and that is why we have not paid the bill and you are receiving it.
I: Ok, but this was for a stomach virus, not something that would be a pre-existing condition.
Tracy: I understand.
I: ok, what do you need from me?
Tracy: What we need from you is a letter certifying you had prior insurance coverage
I: What does a letter about having prior coverage have to do with having a pre-existing condition?
Tracy: Is this a pre-existing condition?
I: No ma'am is was a stomach virus, you just said I needed a letter certifying prior coverage because you won't pay the bill until you have proof of a pre-existing condition.
Tracy: I am sorry ma'am. Code EJB means we need proof of pre-existing coverage.
I: Ok, prior coverage from when?
Tracy: Your policy with us started on 2/1/2008. We need proof that you had insurance prior to this?
I: The claim in question is from after that date, it is from December 8, 2008
Tracy: Yes, however, we need to make sure you had continuous coverage prior to this before we can pay the bill.
I: You need to make sure I had coverage before February to pay a bill for lab work from December?
Tracy: Yes
I: I have had insurance with you guys since Sept. of 2005
Tracy: My records indicate your insurance began 2/1/2008
I: Okay.
SILENCE (I=slightly wore out and tired of this conversation)
I: What do I need to prove to you that I had insurance through you since 2005?
Tracy: Have you had a different employer from 2005 to 2/1/2008?
I: Yes my husband has, but we had united health insurance with both.
Tracy: Yes, but your group # is different with different employers..
I: Ok, can't you just look in your computer and see we had insurance with you under a different group?
Tracy: No, sorry.
I: Ok, what do I need to do in order to get this bill paid?
Tracy: You need to provide us with proof of insurance.
I: How do I do that?
Tracy: We should have sent you a certificate of prior coverage when you cancelled your previous insurance.
I: Ok, let me look (searching to no avail)
I: I can't find a letter. Is there anything else I can do?
Tracy: You can call customer service and request another letter be sent to you.
I: Aren't you customer service?
Tracy: Yes
I: Can't you then just look it up?
Tracy: No ma'am, that is not my department.
I: Can you just call the other dept. and get a copy of the letter from them?
Tracy: No, only you can do that.
I: So let me get this straight, you need a letter from yourself proving that I have had insurance with you from before February 2008 for a claim from December 2008?
Tracy: Yes.
I: Furthermore, if I do not have this letter than I can call you and get a copy of this letter.
Tracy: Yes
I: But you can not look up this letter yourself
Tracy: Sorry, we need to have a printed copy of this certification.
I: What happens when you get this letter
Tracy: We will list the information under this group number
I: Can you just look up the information on another computer and put it under this group #
Tracy: No, sorry
I: But, your dept. can look up this information?
Tracy: Yes, but we need a printed copy.
I: Do your computers have printers?
Tracy: I'm sorry?
I: Sorry, it just seems if your dept can give me the information that I need and you have access to printers, then why can't you just pull the information off your computer, print it and then re-enter the information into this group number?
Tracy: I am sorry, I am not authorized to do that.
I: Ok, just to clarify, I need to send you a letter, that I can get from you if I do not have it, to show you that I had insurance with you so you can input that letter back into your computer.
Tracy: That is correct
I: But you can not just copy that information from one screen to the next.
Tracy: I am not authorized to do that and I need.....
I: a printed copy, I know. I will find my copy. Thank you. Can I fax it to you.
Tracy: No, sorry, we need a hard printed copy.
I: What is the address I can mail it to?
Tracy: You can mail it to the address found on the back of your insurance card or on the bottom of your letter.
I: Great, thanks.
Tracy: If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.
I: No, thanks you have done enough already.



AND WE WONDER WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY? All of this to get the insurance company to pay a $680 bill for lap work for a stool sample of all things. Excuse the language, but all of this crap for them to test a bunch of crap!

U.G.H!!!!!!!!!!!!!