Musical Monday . . . Party in the USA

For this week’s Musical Monday, I’m holding my head up high and yelling that I, Karen have picked a song by Miley!  Yes!  Me!

*ducking*

I was actually feeling a little down at the weekend and this song came on the radio and perked me right back up. I went out with friends and family for an early celebration of my birthday and had a blast . . . oh yeah, there’s a party in the USA!!  If you want to read more about it and possibly see some embarrassing photos of me, then click here.

Enjoy!

I hopped on the plane at LAX
With a dream of my cargidan
Welcome to the land of fame access
Am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab here I am for the first time
Look to my right
And I see the Hollywood sign
This is all so crazy
Everybody seems so famous!

My tummy’s turnin’
And I’m feeling kinda homesick
Too much pressure
And I’m nervous
‘Cause when the taximan turned on the radio

And a Jay Z song was on
And a Jay Z song was on
And a Jay Z song was on

(Chorus)
So I put my hands up
They’re playin’ my song
The butterflies fly away
Noddin’ my head like ‘Yeah’
Movin’ my hips like ‘Yeah’
I got my hands up
They’re playing my song
I know I’m gonna be okay
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA

Get to club in my taxicab
Everybody’s lookin’ at me now
Like “Who’s that chick with rockin’ kicks she gotta be from out of town”
So hard with my girls not around me
It’s definitley not a Nashville party
‘Cause all I see are stilletos
I guess I never got the memo

My tummy’s turnin’
And I’m feeling kinda homesick
Too much pressure
And I’m nervous
And the DJ dropped my favorite tune

And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on
And a Britney song was on

(Chorus)
So I put my hands up
They’re playin’ my song
The butterflies fly away
Noddin’ my head like ‘Yeah’
Movin’ my hips like ‘Yeah’
I got my hands up
They’re playing my song
I know I’m gonna be okay
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA

Feel like hoppin’ on a flight
Back to my hometown tonight
Something stops me everytime
The DJ plays my song and I feel alright!

So I put my hands up
They’re playin’ my song
The butterflies fly away
Noddin’ my head like ‘Yeah’
(Noddin’ my head)
Movin’ my hips like ‘Yeah’
I got my hands up
They’re playing my song
I know I’m gonna be okay
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA
Yeah
It’s a party in the USA
Yeah

So I put my hands up
They’re playin’ my song
The butterflies fly away
Noddin’ my head like ‘Yeah’
Movin’ my hips like ‘Yeah’
I got my hands up
They’re playing my song
I know I’m gonna be okay
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA
Yeah
It’s a Party in the USA!

Photo Hunt . . . Surprise

For this week’s theme of surprise, here’s a photo of my oldest son . . . looking what else but surprised as I snapped him at the ruins of Dunbar Castle in Sunny Dunny, Scotland.

Yeah, I know what I need . . .

The other night, I lay tossing and turning . . . unable to fall asleep.  It was a few days before my boys were due to go back-to-school and I had lots of thoughts coming in and out of my head.  Ye know.  Like we all do from time to time.  Right? I was thinking back to thoughts of our summer as well as everything that needed to be done, purchased and organized.

As I let out yet another huge sigh, the hubby leaned over and whispered in my ear, “you know what you need don’t ye hunny?”

“Is that right?” I replied.

And, I thought to myself, okay then why don’t you start by getting me . . .

• another set of arms
• another hour in the day
• a million dollars
• a laundry maid
• a lawn service
• a pool boy
• another holiday to the UK
• a clean van with no Goldfish crackers floating about it anywhere
• a polished floor
• a walked dog
• a freshly stocked fridge
• Mr. Will Power

Did I miss anything?

Yeah, I guess I could use that as well!  Men.  They are so simple really!

Wordless/Wordful Wednesday . . .

For this week’s WW, I’ve chosen these fun photographs of a typical laundry day in our house!  Our laundry room is downstairs and we have the laundry hampers upstairs . . . really smart, right?

Anyway, about once a week I ask the boys to throw it all down the laundry chute aka the upstairs railing!

The hubby keep threatening to revisit the world of DIY by installing one himself, but I keep resisting . . . boys and laundry chutes?  Hmmmmmm . . . I don’t think they mix!

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Musical Monday . . . To Sir, With Love

And, so it begins . . . another school year!  The school supplies are bought, organized, new paperwork completed and their clothes hanging ready to be worn next to their backpacks.  So, it seems appropriate that this week’s Musical Monday would be a back- to-school song of sorts.  When I think of school songs, I immediately connect with Lulu’s To Sir, With Love.

(Well, it’s that or one of the songs from Grease!)

Anyway . . . I loved school.

I did!

Call me a geek, call me what you will, but I looked forward to school . . . . waking every morning with a smile on my face.  The rush to get out the door, to meet my friends, to walk to school, to sit in my favourite classes, to learn from my favourite teachers, to go to lunch, to sit in the sunshine at playtime, to homework  . . . I loved it all!  And, there are plenty of teachers to thank along the way . . . but that’s another blog post!

I only hope that my boys look back fondly on their school years and will savour those memories as much as I do!

Here’s to another great school year boys.

Enjoy!

Those schoolgirl days
Of telling tales, and biting nails, are gone
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on
But how do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try
If you wanted the sky,
I would write across the sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high:
“To Sir, With Love”
The time has come
For closing books; and long last looks must end
And as I leave,
I know that I am leaving my best friend
A friend who taught me right from wrong,
And weak from strong — that’s a lot to learn
What — what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon,
I would try to make a start . . . but I
Would rather you let me give my heart
To Sir, With Love

Natalie Merchant did a fab rendition of the song alongside Michael Stipe  a few years back.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Photo Hunt . . . Ripples

For this week’s Photo Hunt theme of ripples, I’ve chosen these photos of my two oldest sons swimming under the water that I took just this past week!

PhotoHunt

What to do . . .

My heart and soul are there.

My life is here.

*sigh*

What to do?

The one where she makes a 3-year-old cry . . .

It’s perhaps not the proudest of moments for me, but the other day I made a 3-year-old cry.

Uh huh!

Me?

Ya.

And. He. Wasn’t. One.  Of. Mine.

He’s my little one’s best friend!

Okay, before your minds start getting carried away with thoughts that I’m a big, ole meanie, here’s what really happened.  I was baby-sitting said 3-year-old while the rest of his family enjoyed an afternoon at the theater.  We, meaning me, my little one and his lovely little best friend were enjoying ourselves playing with trains and reading books when I noticed that the little guy kept grabbing himself . . . there a la the late Michael Jackson. Now, when my little man does this, it means the imminent onslaught of a fountain of yellow liquid, so I would ask if he needed to go to the toilet.

Each time he grabbed there, I would ask.  Each time, he would reply with an affirmative no!

When my youngest actually did need to go, I asked his friend to try and go too.  Which he did.  And, he went!  Aha, I thought . . . maybe he’s just holding it in.  Ye know, like young kids do, right?

Later, after several juice boxes, cheese puffs (What? Those were organic!) and ice creams, my little one needed to go again, so I inquired if his friend would like to try and go again.  This is when he started crying . . .  he ran off to the window . . . holding himself there, I might add . . . and said he wanted to go home.

And, it broke my heart that I almost cried.

And, I felt like a big, ole meanie.

Needless to say, I gathered him up and gave him a  big hug!  I decided to just ignore his crotch grabbing ways for the rest of the afternoon and we had a lovely time . . . playing trains, reading books, watching Thomas the Tank Engine, etc.

And, he didn’t wet himself!

I did ‘fess  up to this mum that I had made her son cry!  Thankfully, she quickly forgave me over a cup of tea (yeah, tea’s good like that) and in turn gave me permission to blog about his traumatic afternoon!

Wordless Wednesday . . . Priceless

Three kids . . . $494,184 or thereabouts not including college

Two rather heavy black suitcases, three backpacks and one stroller . . . $553

Almost 24 hours of travel to Scotland by air, train and car . . .  $4,176

Getting to take a cheesy photograph with your wee cousin half way around the world . . . PRICELESS!

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Random Tuesday Thoughts . . . BackGate and Spammed by Pamela Anderson

So, here goes another Random Tuesday . . .

• I am so happy to report that my back ache is almost completely GONE!  Yes, the time herein referred to as BackGate is now over!  And, thank goodness because it was awful.  I thought I’d never be able to walk or dance again!  I’ve still not picked up my little guy though as I’m a little worried that will “throw it out” again.  There is one very positive event that has occurred as a result of BackGate — the little guy is pooping in his potty!  Yeah!
• I spent a lot of time surfing the web when I was holed up on my back and had a laugh watching  excerpts on Youtube of what looks like a really funny show that is on in the UK called Outnumbered.   Hopefully, the peeps over at BBC America will decide to air it over here! It’s very relatable — take this clip — has this happened to any of you?

• Last night, my sister, her hubby and my other half had a good long discussion on the merits of beef jerky.  I kid you not.  Beef jerky!  I was trying to have a serious discussion regarding the seriousness of our environment and how all families should try and eat vegetarian one night a week for the sake of our planet . . . and they segway to beef flipping jerky!  Whatever!
• Only a few days till school starts and I still have some back-to-school items to get for my boys.
• *sigh*  There’s so much violence right now in Afghanistan.  It’s very sad, but I’m hoping that their upcoming elections will take place and that it leads to peace and stability.
• I guess hurricane season has kicked off now!
• Evidently, Pamela Anderson has started reading my blog and even leaving a couple of one-line comments!  Sorry!  Not falling for it, you SPAMMERS!  I’m not clicking on that link!
• This past weekend a group of old school chums all met up for a night out on the town in Whitby!  The photos of said night are on Facebook and while it makes me smile to see such familiar faces having a good laugh and catching up with each other, it also makes me just a little sad.  Sad because I really wished I was there to join them all.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have the required baby-sitting services to organize such a meet-up when I was just there!

On that random note, if you’d like to join in on all this fun or read more randomness, then head on over to The Un Mom!