A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket. Alan Beck

The all new IPG doesn't blog as much anymore.  I write on Airplane's blog.  I manage to write on his blog quite frequently.  I miss blogging.  It filled a gap in my life and I enjoyed it. 

My house has been taken over by children.  I have teenage girl gear all over the place.  I have baby stuff every where else.   I love the noise and chaos that children add to a house.  I loved being just Bey and I, but I would not replace the fullness that the kids bring to our house.

Airplane is 9 months old.  He is doing all the baby things.  I take tons of pictures.  I work strange hours.  I spend as much time with him as I can. 

SD is playing Y volleyball.  She has a new boyfriend.  She is getting great grades in school. 

Focusing on my family has mad it hard to write, but I am going to commit to coming back to the blog. 

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. Andy Warhol

Lot’s has changed at Casa IPG since you have last checked in!  And since IPG last checked in.  I guess the biggest change would be that we have a new addition.  He is 3 months old and 2 feet tall!  I will post some pictures of him up shortly.  

One of our members has been evicted as well.  Brother in law moved out last February.  He had a new son of his own who is 3 month older than our new addition.

SD is in high school now.    If you can believe it…  She is doing well, adjusting to her classes!  She made the volleyball team.  Note to self post some pics of her in her uniform.    She also stays with her dad and I a lot more than she used to do.  

So let me jump right in.  I don’t want to be one of those moms that brag incessantly about their kids.  Yawnville.  However and this is just between us.  Airplane (Dear Son) has recently started smiling.  He also is so much more alert now.  He was 4 weeks premature so he had to find his voice so to speak.  Today he looked in the mirror and smiled at himself the first time.  I could die it was so cute.

Dear Twins

Dear baby(s):

I believe you are in there growing things.  I know the tests said no, but I don’t believe it.  I know you both are there producing toenails maybe.  You are smaller than rice at this point I think.  I know you guys managed to bury into my lining.  I know you have.  I have to believe it.

I had a manic insane day and I just know you are there.  I know you are waiting for the right time for me to find out about you.  Darling twins please be alive.  Please be healthy.  My beautiful boys I love you.  Please pull through for mama.

The decades have not brought me here.
The way was unmarked. No amount of signs
would guide me to this place — well, why not just say it
— to you. I am all in. You are what I’ve come for.  Suzanne Finnamore


Update-Airplane was born on June 9 2011 at 4:03 PM Pacific Time he managed to make it.  His twin did not implant. 

A dirty bird can't fly with a broken wing! Who dat!

So what I do is I make sure that everything is all in order with work.  Then I furiously research my little endeavor.  I am pretty excited about this new business.  I am ready to get the legal paperwork done so that I can get this business off the ground.   I love when I get excited about an idea.  I try to draw everyone in and get them to feed on my excitement.  

I was running around the house like a Heisman Trophy today.  I had so much on my plate, and I had so much to do.  This is not the first stressful day now that the fall semester is in the full swing of things, and I am sure it will not be the last.  

I am off in a puff of smoke to Hawaii on Saturday.  Family time!  I get to spend some time with the ‘rents.   

I need to take a second to Kvetch a teeny bit about my brother in law.  My brother in law was laid off in September, 2009.  And by February he had not been able to find a job in Texas.  My husband and I believe in doing the right thing.  We do the right thing even when we don’t want to do the right thing sometimes.  We both operate under the belief that for those God has given much he expects much.  And my husband and I are blessed.  We have a beautiful marriage, a wonderful life, a healthy (step) daughter, financial stability, fulfilling careers, our own health, a fabulous family, and an amazing home…just to name a few things.  Anyway, we asked my brother in law to come live with us until February, 2011 to help him get on his feet.

Now mind you he pays no rent, no bills, and does not buy food.  We provide all of that.  Generally speaking he helps out around here when we need some help, but not always.   NOW comes the whining part my brother in law cannot handle his business.  He can’t prioritize.  He is unable to accomplish what needs to be done to get ahead.    And while this should be none of my business this drives me INSANE!  I am not sure where my brother in law will be moving when February 12, 2011 rolls around.  But when he does I will be happy to stop worrying about folks that do not take care of business.

I fought the law and I won! :)

Two exciting pieces of information one I believe I mentioned that we fought Maricopa County in court and won on our Tax valuation.  It helps to have a lawyer for a daddy.  The second important piece of information is that the news is going to come out and interview me at my lovely home because of my accomplishment.  It was very easy.  Fighting and winning against the big bad county, but several people have tried and not everyone wins.  I will be on the Thursday night news being interviewed and asked to explain my process.  I am pretty excited.  This is the second time I have been on the news since being in Phoenix.  The first time I was on Fox news at 4, 5,6 by myself and 9 and 10 with the lovely Bey.  We were on the news because we are Saints fans living in Cardinal country. 

Of course as soon as I found out that I was going to be interviewed I called my daddy and thanked him again for his help in all things legal in my life.  : )

My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them. Richard Branson

This is why it is fantastic to be a stepmom.  You listen to teenage girl angst.  You pay very close attention.  You nod your head solemnly and you smile like an ancient wise soul.  You place your hand under your chin as you ponder strife you could not imagine could occur to an upper middle class teenage girl.  Then you sigh and say with authority.  Go Ask Your Father. It is a fabulous power really.  I wish I could exercise it in all aspects of my life. 

SD had her first boyfriend last year.  Or perhaps crush is the better word.  It was obvious to me.  Here this little girl who I could barely get to take a bath with tears, threats, gnashing of teeth suddenly became exceedingly interested in her appearance.  It was a crush!  Of course the only thing that could change behavior like that would be a BOY.  Unfortunately this boy is unfantastic.  And I am so glad her interest in him has disseminated. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…no not Christmas.  The time when the munchkin goes back to school.  I love having her here, but I have to transition to my fall busy schedule.  No more of my summer lazy schedule. 

My bridesmaid dress came this weekend for my BFF Sally’s wedding.  Sally and I have been BFFs since 1995.  Fifteen years.  Oh my.  We met at Auburn when we were just munchkins ourselves.  After complaining to her that I am not feeling great lately, that I am struggling with some of my own personal demons.  She suggested that I go back to Auburn.  Pretend I am 18, rush my sorority again, and get our buddy Matt to make me a fake idea.  See this is why she is my BFF she always has the best ideas.  Unfortunately because of some of the events going on I may not be at the wedding.   We talked about it this weekend and she was so supportive of where my journey is.

When the world says "Give Up," Hope whispers "Try it one more time."

I miss my ‘rents.  I live too far away from them.  It is hard sometimes not to resent Bey for moving me all the way over here to this city so far away from people that love me.  Of course Bey loves me, but I still miss the ‘rents.  Daddy just bought a new boat, and we had a fun taking the boat out on Lake Lanier.  My entire family likes to be connected to the water. 

Since my parents have retired I have gotten to spend lots of quality time with them.  It is so great to see them so relaxed.  I am so grateful that my parents were young enough to retire at 57.  It has allowed them to enjoy their retirement.  My mom and dad both are in good health and just are really enjoying their lifestyle. 

And then there is SD.  I took SD with me to Atlanta this week.  I came upon SD whispering conspiratorially with my mom.  SD was trying to convince my mom to let her stay in Atlanta until school starts.  I guess so.  If I was spoiled like SD over there I would want to stay too!  :)

Life is short...wear red. - International Party Girl

We had an outstanding weekend at Casa de IPG.  Friday was Bey’s work from home day.  So we all spent some time hanging out and being a family.  Saturday was spent working, riding bikes, and swimming in the pool.  We went tubing down the Salt River a few weeks ago, and I believe we want to do that again pretty soon.  I have luckily had several classes end so it is kind of a slow week so I feel like I am a free bird.  : )

I have been trying to get Stephanie Meyer’s book about Bree Tanner read via the Internet.  I might have to break down and purchase it on my Kindle though. 

SD is at her grandmother’s this week so the house is quiet.  I have suddenly become sick of soccer now that the US is out.  Guess that is all in news…

“Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” Shaq

I need to commit to writing here more often.  Life love and appreciation just flow at my house.  Why isn’t that easy to write about?  I just forget, and I am busy.  I guess those are crappy excuses but it is what it is. 

We sold our boat, our refrigerator, our grill, and some sinks from our house.  This is because we are buying a new boat, we bought a new French door stainless steel fridge (my new baby), we had an outdoor kitchen installed at our home and our grill connects directly to the gas line, and we put granite in all our bathrooms so we had some leftover sinks.  We sold everything on craigslist in 2 days.  The wonders of modern technology…we sold our boat in 45 minutes leading me to wonder if we had it priced too low.  :)

Now if anyone has a jet boat that seats 8 in good condition from 2005 or beyond I would appreciate a phone call.  :)  Since I am buying.  We are boatless, and I don’t like it.  AND as annoying as this is to believe every boat I keep finding is out of state.  Poor Bey looks like I am going to drag him away this weekend after all. 

SD finished out the year with straight A’s so no homework for her this summer. I am however having her participate in the summer reading program so that we can all go to a Diamondback game again this year.  We did it last year, and it was a lot of fun.  SD and I were also planning on going to see the release of the new Twilight movie Eclipse, but she will be visiting her grandma at that time. 

Today is movie day at our house.  This involves watching Gone With the Wind, and Auntie Mame.  Those were the movies selected for this year’s annual movie day.   We will also be having Thanksgiving in June tomorrow on Bey’s birthday.  Finally we decided to add something new to our list of fun stuff we like to do in the summer.  We will be hostessing our first annual High Tea at the Case de IPG.  Everyone is going to wear hats, and drink tea and eat scones and maybe talk with British accents (this has not been decided on yet.  SD votes yes, and I vote no). 

Finally I am busy busy planning SD’s fabulous birthday extravaganza.  I came up with the idea in FEBRUARY.  And I have managed to keep it a secret all this time.  It is a major accomplishment for me.  Since usually I just spill the beans everywhere.  :)  It is a big huge deal and she is going to DIE when she figures out what it is.  I am really very excited about it!   Thankfully I don’t have to keep it a secret much longer.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

This is dedicated to the 2 best dad’s in the entire world: my dad, and my husband. 

My dad says I love you many different ways, but growing up I did not get to see him as much as I would like.  However even though he worked, and worked hard for our family I learned my values from him.  I learned to see that he was the kind of man that works hard for his family, and loves us all very much.

I married a man very much like my own sweet daddy.  He is a wonderful man that loves me and his daughter very much.  His heart is as open and as kind as anyone’s I have ever met.  His little girl loves him with all her heart, and I do too.

To daddy, and Bey I love you.  Thanks for being the fathers that matter so much to me and SD.

A stepmom is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Hosted my very first stepmom group dinner party at my house on Friday.   I have been getting together with these ladies since November for a little dinner, and a little discussing life in a blended family and all that it entails: the skids, the husband, the bio mom etc. 

Sometimes in recent months it has become my life raft.  It is so good to hear that even when things are not perfect at my house that they are not perfect at anyone else’s house either. 

On Friday I kicked my family out so that I could play hostess.  My family went to the movies while I dished with my girls about the life and times of this not so wicked stepmom.  Usually our meetings only last an hour or two, but Friday stretched all the way until 11.  In fact my family had already returned home by the time the last stepmom left.

The evening was a roaring success.  I am pretty excited to be hostessing July’s meeting as well. 

Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith. – Margaret Shepard

Summer is here.  The pool is warm.  We are selling the boat.  Bey is working from home one day a week.  My paper is almost done, and life is good.  I have some adorable pics that I need to get posted. 

Work is still busy.  I hate doing these drive by posts, but wanted to get something in...:)

"Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, i would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station." Anon

What all has been going on?  LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First and foremost I should mention I am once again out of town.  Out of the country.  Out of my mind.  One thing I have just recently realized is I hate being separated from the man.  Bey is an outstanding man!  I can’t believe how much I miss him. 

Let’s see I believe I mentioned I bought a new truck, and the pool was finished.  Work has been hectic and fun all at the same time.  My parents came for a visit which was nice to see them.  I can’t ever spend enough time with them!  It is so great that my dad is now retired.  I have never seen him so relaxed. 

Bey and I have been having a great time.  One thing that has been a lot of fun is settling in to our schedule.   Having SD every other weekend allows us to have alone time.  We are able to spend some quality couple time.

We went to a crawfish festival back in April.  It was nice to listen to Zydeco music and eat Jambalaya.  It was even nicer to spend the time with our friends and hang out with people from Louisiana that have been transplanted in Phoenix like us! 

SD was inducted into the NJHS (National Junior Honor Society).  We are so proud of her!  She looked so pretty at her induction ceremony.   I was so proud seeing her standing there with her candle. 

SD has been attending Bible study at church.  She is very dedicated and enjoys the study.  She has also made quite a few friends at church. 

My stepmom group is going well, and I have been enjoying getting to know my fellow Stepmom’s in the valley.  On Saturday, we went and painted our own pottery.  Not really my thing, but I still had such a blast with the girls. 

I’ll have some new school stuff to report directly.  Additionally now that all the projects are done around the house Bey and I can just settle in to our little love nest.  J

I don't have time to wear makeup every day. I need that time to clean my rifle. - Anon

I cannot tell you how wonderful my life has been lately.  I got a new truck, the pool is finished, my parents are in town, and everything else has just been rocking along perfectly. 

Everyone is being their perfect selves.  Bey and I have some fun trips planned in the upcoming months.   For example it looks like we are NOLA bound once again.  We are planning a trip to Turkey in the fall.  At some point this summer we are going to Belize. 

I suppose we don’t have to go anywhere really because the backyard is an oasis, but I have the need to cruise on out of town.  ;)  We are expecting some big changes in our lives this year so we …or rather I need to get some of the traveling out of my system.  :) 

Work has really been keeping me busy.  I got put on about 4 extra projects which of course brings in a few new piles of extra money.  The trade off is that I have been working and working and working and working.  I can’t get out from under all the work I have. 

I need to post some pictures of the pool and vehicle, but I have already posted many of them on Facebook. 

SD is doing well.  She is making straight A’s.  Additionally she has gotten really involved at church.  She has made a number of friends near our house.  She is signed up for her first lock in at church.  :)  She is very excited about going. 

Finally my cousins are all in town visiting my aunt so it was nice that we had SD this weekend as well as my parents. 

“When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them anyways.” Marily Monroe

I owe you all an apology. I have not been as active as I typically try to be. I have been getting my house in order and digging a beautiful pool. Turning my wonderful home into a place none of us will ever want to leave.

Back from my Blogcation

I admit I have been crap lately.  No blog updates for almost a month.  Wow!  I have been keeping my regular journal and writing other nonsense such as checks for bills.  I just had not had a chance.

That is not quite true.  I guess I have been adjusting.  I had a hard time when I first got married.  Everytime I turned around and Bey was there I was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? and he resonably responded "I live here."  I have sort of been going through that again but on different scale. Don't get me wrong...I love SD, and I love Bey.  I always want to talk to them and hear how they are doing.  But it has been an adjustment for me now that Bey is here and we have SD.  

I just can't seem to hit my supergirl stride.  I know for a fact it has to do with juggling all the things I am juggling.  And by things I mean...finishing the Diss, work, unpacking and organizing my house, being the domestic Goddess I am, doing a MAJOR remodel to the house think 2000 square feet of tile.  

I finally found a gym I liked and joined it.  However I can't seem to hit my stride there either.  I did happen to find a Yoga instructor that both challenges me, and suits my needs in that area so mark that down as a resounding success.  In this category I guess I have to include Belly Dancing.  I have started taking it.  I am not so good, but I enjoy it!!!  

I have found two stepmom groups that I have joined, and enjoy meeting and dishing with those nice ladies.  We have also found a church we will join.  So all of that is great.  

Oh and my precious Saints made the superbowl!  Who dat?

Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas. - Johnny Carson

I participated in a secret Santa via the mail this year.  I am excited to see what my secret Santa will send.  I am still sick, and that is unfortunate because I have mounds of things to do today.  But the show must go on.  I have just been feeling so grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life lately.  My handsome man, and all that we have been blessed with.  We are starting our next big adventure, and that is so exciting!

And now I am sick....

It has been such a busy busy week.  A friend of mine had surgery, and hubby and I have been settling in for a our routine.  We leave on Friday for the ATL so there can not be too much settling.  The house is not in order yet, but we are getting there.

We had a slew of holiday parties this weekend Thursday, Friday, Saturday.  We also went out last night enjoying spending some quality time out and about enjoying each other.  It was our weekend to not have SD so we enjoyed being kid free.  It is something that we will have to get used to now that we live in Phoenix.  In Mississippi we either had SD or we didn't, and when we had her we only did family stuff.  So now we are planning dates and one on one time on our other weekend.  It is a lot of fun, and we had quite a long talk about how happy we are in a our new life on the other side of the country.  (I could do with a bit warmer weather though...I move to Phoenix and it is freezing and overcast everyday).

Then this morning I woke up sick as a dog.  Head cold from the looks of it.  SIGH.

Dashing through the Dome, on a 3rd and 1 pass play, See ol' BUSH run, TOUCHDOWN all the way!! HA!HA!HA! Sharper intercepts, Defense gets a sack. Bush flies in the air! Oh what fun it is to see their QB on his back! OH! 13 &0, 13 &0, Undefeated all the way! Oh what fun it'll be to watch the SAINTS Sun-day! Have a Happy ......Saintsmas! WHO DAT NATION .. Good Job!!!

Dear Santa, I can explain

Well it is that time of year again.  I am on Santa's naughty list and proud of it. :)  LOL One of my sorority sisters told me last year that she would be so disappointed in me if the day ever came when I didn't make it on Santa's naughty list. :)  Funny.

My sister left yesterday.  My SD left this morning.  My brother-in-law leaves tonight.  My dad leaves Wednesday.  My Mother In Law comes Friday, and my mom leaves next Tuesday.  So the holiday is winding down.  But the dahling Bey stays here.  :)

Tonight I am watching my saints with all the saints lovers in Phoenix.  Who dat?  Tomorrow it is back to business as usual I guess the festivities are over for a short time. 

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  I have a beautiful family...a happy healthy family.  A lovely new home filled with brand spanking new furniture.  My husband and I are happy and in love and ecstatic to be reunited after a long stretch of geographic separation.  My husband got a fantastic new job that was a promotion in one of the worst economies this country has seen in a generation. 

So on this time of thanks I have found many reasons to be grateful.  My cup literally runneth over.  I am so lucky to have my loving parents here to share this very special thanksgiving with me.  We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday with SD.  It feels surreal that we are finally together as a family!