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Happy Labor Day

September 7, 2009 by

We’ve been in Arkansas all weekend eating our way through my mother-in-law’s kitchen.  I’m pretty sure I’ve put on a few pounds in the last 5 days.  We are headed home this afternoon and will be back into the grind tomorrow – until Thursday when I go to Texas for a girl’s weekend away! 

My fabulously talented sister-in-law, Becke’, took some amazing pictures of us the other day.  You can see some of them here.

In the meantime, enjoy your day off, eating lots of meat, enjoy some much needed family time, watch some TV, be as lazy as you can possibly be.

Because you deserve it!

Filed Under: Family, Life, Random Tagged With: ,

I need your help

August 14, 2009 by

Lee and I have decided to take up running again.  Well, a more accurate way to say that would be – Lee has already taken up running (he ran 4.6 miles the other night!) and I am gearing myself up mentally to do the same.  I may never get around to it, but at least I can say I tried, right?

Anyway, we have a bit of a dilemma.  The music on our MP3 player? No good.  I mean, we’ve got some great albums downloaded, but they’re not conducive to running.  In fact, we never really realized how much slow music we listen to until we started trying to exercise to it.

The worst is when you’re running along (or walking briskly, in my case) and Alvin and the Chipmunks comes on singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  It makes you want to run in front of oncoming traffic…

All that to say, I would love some suggestions on some fun, upbeat music to download for running.  The sky’s the limit on artists, genre – whatever.  I just want it to be fast and fun.

So get to commenting and tell me what you listen to while exercising.  I’ve convinced myself that if I actually have good music to listen to, I’ll be able to finally start running again.

Uh-huh…

Filed Under: Random Tagged With:

Not really Wordless Wednesday: The Last Few Days of Summer

August 12, 2009 by

I’m late getting this up but my computer was having issues this morning.  I think it had something to do with the 400 pictures I uploaded.  I’m pretty sure I heard the computer cuss me out as she crashed – twice…  Ah well, enjoy the photos.  I’m sorry about the alignment – not only has the computer given me trouble, but my blog is having issues as well.  It appears all technology is out to make me crazy today.

Oh - he is yummy!

We've visited Gran't Farm...

where we saw bison...

and watched Tia feed the camels. After she fed them 3-4 times without me giving her monye for food, I noticed that she was stanindg under the food bin, blinking up at people with her big blue eyes and they were giving her quarters! Little mooch.

 

After finding the kids asleep like this several nights in a row (Tia is sounds asleep on the hard wood in this shot!), Lee and I finally told them they could camp out under the bed on Friday nights only. I think this is going to become a fun little tradition for them.

Summer '09 354

They've had sweet fun together this summer, but I think we're all ready for the routine of school to get going!

They've had sweet fun together this summer, but I think we're all ready for the routine of school to get going!

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Random, Wordless Wednesday

Not Here – Just There

August 11, 2009 by

My kids spent the night at my parents’ house last night.  Which means I slept in this morning.  Until 8:00-please, try not to be jealous…

After taking a long, leisurely shower where I actually shaved without nicking my leg because I was trying to rush, and running a few errands (including getting my driver’s license renewed because it expired more than two months ago – awesome…) I am now home, kids are in their beds (or bedrooms) and I’m tired.  Even though I slept in, I’m tired.  So I’m going to go lay on the couch, because – well, did I mention I’m tired?

So no real post from me today.  But I did post over at the St. Louis Bloggers Guild this morning, so you’re welcome to jump over there and read to your heart’s content.  Then go lay down on the couch and study the back of your eyelids, like I’m going to do. 

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Blogging, Life, Random Tagged With:

Those Little Pink Bags

August 10, 2009 by

It was tax-free weekend here. Which means the masses were out, ignoring the weak economy and indulging in some good old fashioned retail therapy. Even Lee got into the groove and so we packed up our adorable brood Saturday morning and headed out to buy a few things we needed and a bunch of stuff we didn’t.

After filling little stomachs at Bob Evans (where Sloan specifically requested chocolate chip pancakes, which they didn’t have on the menu so they grabbed a bag of M & M’s from the store and tossed those in and even gave him a smiley face in whipped cream – that, folks, is how you keep your customers coming back!), we headed to the Promised Land.

That’s right – we went to Target. Because Target makes me happy. It’s like a drug; a beautiful, glorious good-deal drug. Forget that other mega store (the one that rhymes with Smallcart) – Target is the place that brings sweet joy to my soul…

After stocking up on Sloan’s school supplies (12 glue sticks??? Really? Why again? Do they eat it? (thanks Melissa for the great line:) ), we decided to brave the mall for some new school clothes. Us and the whole of West County.

But you see, we were smart because we hit the stores as soon as they opened. And we spent all of our money as fast as we possibly could. Which is pretty fast when the first two stores you go to are Old Navy and White House Black Market.   Oh yeah, and when you don’t have any money to begin with – that helps too…(And yes, I took advantage of the no tax weekend for myself as well and I got the rockin’ red shoes at the top of this page – aren’t they awesome?)

After all the retail loveliness, Lee and the kids went to unwind in the vortex of automated rides meant to suck the life out of anyone over the age of twelve and I headed to the store with the hidden Secret.  Because I was in need of some unmentionables…because I tend to buy those about as often as I buy a new car…which is about as much information as I’m sure any of you are going to want…

I’ll confess, shopping for underwear is not my favorite thing.  I find it horribly intrusive to have sales people hanging around me as I purchase my intimates, asking me whether I prefer a thong or full coverage, lace or cotton and would I like this specially made bra? It’s on sale for only 30 dollars!

And can we talk about the prices?  I can buy a kickin’ pair of shoes for as much as two undergarments (or one in some cases). Really?  Reeeaaallly?

So it was with a bit of reluctance that I entered the store Saturday.  And I made my plan to find what I wanted and get out of there in record time.  It’s not that I’m not seduced by all the pretty, girliness of the store – I just feel a little weird about everyone knowing what I’m buying.  Especially since it is apparently a stipulation for hire that you must be just out of puberty and as bubbly, if not more so, than the Starbucks baristas.  Maybe they all train at the same school.

So imagine my surprise/horror when I was approached by a DUDE the other day, asking me if I needed help finding anything.  If I hadn’t been trying so hard not to make eye contact with him, I would have studied him more closely to try and figure out what this guy was doing selling underwear in the store with a Secret and OMG no I don’t need your help AND CAN WE PLEASE SAY UNDERWEAR INSTEAD OF PANTIES! GAH!

Then there was the woman who dragged her poor son in the store.  Bless his heart – he was around 12 and his face was all shades of red as his mom dug through the stacks of silky underwear.  He looked like he would gladly crawl through the floor and die a thousand horrible deaths simply by being amidst all the negligee. 

 Then I remembered the one time I brought Sloan in the store about a year and a half ago and caught him oohing and aahing as he stroked the leg of one of the manniquins and I giggled.  But then the DUDE approached me again to tell me about the sales, and I got all uncomfortable and jumpy again and JUST WANTED OUT OF THE STORE WITH THE SECRET!

So I quickly went about my business, found what I needed, checked out with the DUDE (DUDE!) and left the store with the Secret.  And as I walked through the mall, I felt conspicuous with my little pink bag swinging by my side.  It’s as if everyone knew my secret.  Only I don’t know my secret. 

All I know is that I really, really hate underwear shopping.

Filed Under: funny stuff that happens, Life, Random Tagged With: , ,

Re-Post: Literal Art and the Worst Toy Ever Created

August 3, 2009 by

I’m exhausted today and I have mountains of laundry chasing me through the house like a really, really bad horror film. So I’m not going to even try to be original this morning. I’m just going to repost one of my favorites. The reason I pulled this one out is because my kids are marching through the house with that d*@# bird right now intent on driving their poor mama crazy.

Good times.  Do enjoy, for a second time…

So Sloan came home from school with this masterpiece the other day. He was very proud of it. I placed it in the window in our kitchen. When Lee came home he looked at it told Sloan how cool it was. “What is it? What does it represent?” he asked.

“It’s just bread and goldfish,” Sloan responded, looking up at Lee as if he had just sprouted a second head.

Riiiight. So, it’s clearly not abstract art.

In other Lee stories (I post these with his permission), the other night Sloan and Tia were running around the house after their bath. They like to run “in their nakeds” as Sloan says. Apparently Sloan tripped and twisted his foot. He cried pretty hard and it was his “I’m really hurt” cry as opposed to the “I’m just making noise” cry. So Lee spent some time putting pressure on the foot and turning it to make sure there wasn’t any real damage.

Then, in what was an apparent attempt to be funny gone terribly awry, Lee told Sloan to stand on his feet, then reach down and touch his toes. When Sloan reached down, Lee pushed him. He was hoping to make Sloan laugh and forget about his pain. Instead, Sloan fell on his face and twisted his wrist underneath him. So now the concern was not whether he had broken his foot, but his wrist.

Sheesh. Boys (eyeroll).

Then, yesterday Lee came home for work all bright eyed and excited.

“Where are the kids?” he asked. “I’ve got a surprise for them.”

I was in the nursery trying to clean out the closets and drawers of all the clothes that no longer fit. I heard Lee tell the kids to sit down on the couch and close their eyes.

“Now, this is something for you guys to share.”
At this point, my heart fell slightly because my kids and sharing do not mix well. Then, I heard a bag crinkling and Lee told the kids to open their eyes. This is what I hear.

“Oh boy! Thanks dad! It’s a talking parrot!”

At this point I almost cried and let me tell you why. When we go to my parents condo, there is a man that lives down there that is precious and he loves kids. Every time we come, he brings this fake, talking parrot that repeats everything you say to Sloan to play with. After about ten minutes of Sloan screaming at the parrot and it screaming back at him, I generally feel a migraine coming on. That bird always mysteriously ends up on the very highest shelf, where he stays until we leave and have to give it back to Mr. Neal. This is the exact bird toy that Lee bought for the kids. It’s like a cruel joke. When he came in the bedroom he was all smiles.  “They love it!” he said.

“Are you mad at me?” I asked. “Have I done something to offend you in any way?”

It was at this point that he realized what he had done. He started laughing, and God love me, I tried to laugh with him, I really did. Then he offered a mild apology. “It’s just so fun to shop at Cracker Barrell,” he said.

So now, as I post this, Sloan and Tia are in the basement screaming at the top of their lungs at the parrot and laughing hysterically as it screams back at them. And I am secretly plotting revenge on my husband.

Filed Under: blast from the past, Family, funny stuff that happens, Kids, Random

Girl’s Nite

July 31, 2009 by

Don’t you hate it when people misspell a word just because they think it amkes the event sound more catchy?  I mean, really, what’s the purpose of spelling night, NITE?

Anyway, moving on…I had the privilege of joining my lovely neighbors for a girl’s NIGHT out last night.  I had been looking forward to this for a while and the evening did not dissapoint.

We began our evening at The Old Spagetti Factory in the valley.  I haven’t been there in years, and I’ve never been to the new one.  I forgot how good their food is.  And coupled with pleasant conversation made for a fabulous dinner.

Following our dinner, we headed to the mall where we saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Let me tell you what I thought of the latest installment of the Harry Potter franchise.  Pull up a chair, grab a Cup of Joe – let’s have a chat.

So far I’ve been slightly disappointed in the Harry Potter movies.  Up until last night, that is.  I realize that the books are long and the storylines are complex so to make all of the movies true to the books would mean they would each be 5 hours long.  Which isn’t realistic.

However, in the first five movies, I felt like such an emphasis was put on the special effects (which were fantastic for sure) that a lot of the dialogue was missing.  In my opinion, if you’ve never read the books, they movies would seem very confusing.  The movies make the assumption that everyone’s read the books first, so they cut out key elements of the books.  (For example, little explanation was given on the prophecy concerning Harry and this was a key element I felt was missing in movie 5 – I could list a lot more examples, but I won’t bore you.

You are welcome.)

Did you like how I ended that paranthetical pause in a completely different paragraph?  My college professional writing professor would have had a small heart attack over that one.

Last night’s movie, however, I felt was the best so far – until the end when they seemed to run out of time and steam.  It followed the book pretty accurately, had great effects, and actually gave us a better insight into the characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione, which we haven’t really seen so far.

In short, I really liked it.  It was funny, sweet, exciting and well done. Alan Rickman as Snape is superb, in all of the films, really, but particularly in this one.  The the kids playing the title characters have just gotten better and cuter with age.  It was just a really good movie.

Okay, I need to sign off.  We’re headed to meet some friends this morning and I am still in my pajamas.  I have roughly 20 minutes to change, fix mine and the kids’ hair, pack a lunch and get out the door.

I think we’re going to be late…

Filed Under: Kids, Life, Random Tagged With:

I’m sorry but it’s all I’ve got today…

July 29, 2009 by

My friend Nicole got me started on this train of thought.  So you can thank her for the sad glimpse you’re about to get into my life…

I recently got some new tea.  It’s fabulous, as this tea tends to be.  Given that my throat is enflamed and my tonsils are kind of tap dancing next to one another, I’ve been drinking a lot of tea.  Inspirational tea.  Each tea bag has an inspiring quote like The Most Important Things in Life aren’t Things…

Mmmm…So true.  Philosphy in a tea bag. Brilliant.

Anyway – last night, my tea inspiration told me to Start Living the Life You Always Dreamed.  When I read it, Lee raised his eyebrows and looked over his own steaming mug at me.

“So what’s the life you always dreamed of?” he asked, a goofy grin pasted on his face.

“Well,” I replied, “If Brad and Angelina would split up, I might have a chance to live that life.”

To which Lee snorted. Yes, snorted.

Then, in my head I continued the thought because my husband didn’t ask, but if he had I would have told him…

My second option is to be 21 again so I can have Zac Efron (or at least drool over him in a less creepy, Cougar-ish sort of way).  Because he’s a doll.  I mean, really – if I were younger, I would have pictures of him plastered on my walls.  I would swoon over Zac just like I swooned over Kirk Cameron, Uncle Jesse, Jordan Whatshisface from the New Kids (which I have no defense for other than when I had a crush on him I was 11 so, you know, a little slack…), Leonardo DiCaprio and so on.  Zac Efron is swoon worthy – even for a thirty something.

But, I am a grown woman and I am married (to the more realistic man of my dreams, I might add) and Lee won’t let me hang a Zac poster now.  He says that’s weird. 

He might have a point…

What about you?  Who do you drool over?  Secretly, of course…

Filed Under: Random Tagged With: , ,

Mini S’Mores Cheesecakes

July 28, 2009 by

Mmmmm…mouthwatering.

We’re having friends over tonight for dinner.  It will be simple – grilled chicken, salad, bread – maybe grilled vegetables – I haven’t decided yet.  But the delight will come at dessert. 

*UPDATE- So our friends had something come up and had to cancel so I’m not going to make these tonight – but I will find an occasion sometime this week to make these!  Oh yes, I certainly will…

This recipe comes from Tea Time Magazine.  I will add it to my tea recipes page (as well as some other recipes that I’ve been meaning to add).

Mini S’Mores Cheescakes
2 1/4 c graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c plus 2 T sugar, divided
1/2 c butter, melted
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 1/2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs
1 t vanille extract
1 (1-oz) square bittersweet baking chocolate, melted
24 jumbo marshmellows

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar. Add the melted butter and egg white, and stir to combine. Press the crumb mixture into bottoms and halfway up sides of 2 (12 well) mini cheesecake pans. Bake for 3 minutes; set aside.
3. Increase oven temperature to 375.
4. In a medium bowl and using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar and cocoa powder until mixture is smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and melted chocolate, and mix until combined.
5. Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly among the prepared crumb crusts, filling 2/3 full. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes or until puffed and set. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for approximately 20 minutes.
6. Freeze for 1 hour. Just before serving, preheat broiler. Place 1 marshmellow on top of each cheesecake, and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Carefully remove cheesecakes from pan, and serve immediately.

It sounds lick your lips good! I’ll try to take pictures later of the finished product.  Now I need to go because my house just got eerily quiet, which almost always means someone’s up to no good.  I’m off!

Filed Under: Life, Random, tea parties Tagged With: ,

A Man and His Dog

July 23, 2009 by

When I returned home from Florida Tuesday night, the first thing I thought as I walked through the door was NOT, thank God I’m home.

Instead I thought, What the *BLEEP* is that smell?

Ahem.

You see, the kids and I were gone for 14 days.  For 5 of the 14 days, Lee was also gone.  For the remaining 9 days that he was home, he worked long hours which means our dog had the run of the joint for 14 DAYS.

And our house smelled like a dog had been living in it for 14 days.  She’s a good dog so there were no accidents on the floor (bless her heart) but the house just smelled like a dog.  And an old person…I don’t know what to think about that…

I don’t know how Lee survived because I could hardly breathe.  The only room that didn’t suffocate me, thankfully, was my bedroom.  And her bed is in our bedroom, which leads me to believe that when we’re away, she sets up shop in the living room.

But not on the furniture because she’s not allowed. 

And I walked the length of my couch with my nose pressed to the fabric and my butt up in the air inhaling deeply just to make sure that she obeyed the rules while I was gone.  Unless she figured out how to cover her tracks (which clearly, given the stench in the rest of the house, she has not), it appears that she is indeed staying off the couch.

So yesterday I hauled my kiddos to the store where I stocked up on Pine-Sol, Swiffer Wet Jets, Pledge, rags and food since my husband apparently lived on chips and salsa while we were gone.  Since the weather here is still bizarrely beautiful, I opened the windows, kicked nudged the kids out the door and gave my house a good old fashioned scrubbing.

I think it helped a little.  But only a little.  Now I’m just paranoid.  I keep rounding corners and sniffing the air (a bit like a dog myself) and I swear I still smell that oldladymustydog smell.  Not that I think old ladies smell like musty dogs or anything.  You know, it’s just sometimes – oh, never mind…

I think we need to get new carpet, really.  But I don’t want to buy new carpet, because Lee and I are already talking about the trip we want to take next year for our 10th anniversary (it’s gonna be good), and I don’t want boring carpet to take the place of an awesome vacation.  Is that so wrong?

Honestly, I’ve illuded to it before, but we really are thinking about giving our dog away.  She’s a great dog – we seriously couldn’t have found a better family dog.  She’s sweet, great with kids, fun, obedient, hardly eats anything at all, which means it costs next to nothing to keep her and so on and so on.  The problem is that she is a bit needy.  She requires a lot of attention – a lot more than we’re able to give her.  And she’s extremely athletic and we don’t have time to give her the proper exercise.

In short, I feel like she’s leading a sad little life with us and would be better with a family that actually had the time for her.

But every time I think about giving her away I get cold feet.  She has become a part of the family whether we like it or not and it breaks my heart to think of abandoning her. 

So I’m not sure.  If I knew I could find a home where she would be loved and well taken care of, I think I’d be able to do it – but I won’t just give her to anyone.  And I refuse to take her to the pound.  There’s no way I could live with that.

What do you think we should do?  Should we tough it out and keep her with us or find her a new home?  Ah!  It’s a dilemma.

Filed Under: Family, Life, Random
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