Thoughts on Books

Charlie All Night: Jennifer Cruise

2009-10-18T16:32:00.002-04:00

Classic Jennifer Cruise. Characters you can love, and relate to, and a story as believable as it is funny and entertaining.

From the first Cruise book I read-"Agnes and the Hit Man"-I have yet to be disappointed.

In "Charlie All Night," Allie is an over-achiever with a broken heart and a demotion to the late, late show at the radio station. Enter Charlie; tall, dark, and handsome, and exactly the opposite in drive and intent. He is there to solve a mystery... not entertain the masses of the 10 to 2 a.m. crowd.

If you are in the mood for a quick, funny read, pick this up...

Pretty in Pink

2009-01-05T16:33:00.005-05:00

You had the visual, here is the verbal...

2009-01-04T12:35:00.003-05:00

Alright. Yes, Addison is finally getting up on her knees. Now if only she knew what to do once she got up there, life would be much more hectic. As it is, she gets everywhere she wants/needs to go with a series of floor-humps, stretches, and rolls. My girl is creative, I can say that. She also goes from belly to butt like a professional now and has even started trying to figure out how her crib railings can be more beneficial to her.

She also has a great sense of humor; she thinks the first 5-8 minutes of "Horton Hears a Who," is some of the funniest stuff out there, and then she loses interest.

Owen; well, Owen is his own little piece of work. We are trying to curb his back-talking without a lot of success.

"Come over here, Owen, and pick that up, please."

"No I not come over there and pick that up, please."

"Time for bed, Owen."

"No it not time for bed, mama."

You get it, right?

Also, he went to a ski shop with my mom, picked out a relatively expensive Burton hat and refused to take it off his head... still, 3 days later, he is napping with it on right now. At least its a nice hat. He certainly doesn't get his expensive tastes from me... (Silence!) But, on a happier note, he is finally going to be easier at night again; sometimes he doesn't cry at all, other times for only a few minutes. That is, at least until we change him over to a bed.

Hmmm... What else?

Jesse and I have both been working a lot and haven't had time for much of anything else. I am trying to blow through the end of the coding program I am in and should be done in 2-3 months. I have applied for an editing position at a different company, which may mean a little more money but will really just be for experiences sake. I think that might be it... We are borning, sorry.

Hello, 2009

2009-01-03T13:36:00.004-05:00

A Few to Tide You

2008-12-26T22:01:00.002-05:00

Grrr...

2008-12-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

Sunday = PJ-Day

2008-12-07T19:05:00.004-05:00

Quilting... Backwards

2008-12-07T18:57:00.004-05:00

Go Red Sox (again)

2008-12-07T18:50:00.003-05:00

Go Red Sox!
(this is what he is saying...)

This is one of Owen's presents this year. Took me a whole day, and it isnt quite done yet.

The Many Faces of Addi-Tude

2008-11-25T21:48:00.019-05:00

Dog Days of...Well, Winter

2008-11-18T13:38:00.004-05:00

Well, Owen had his first official snow day of the year and, really, his life.

He had a blast, so much so that the horrific fit he threw when it was time to come in may

keep him side for the rest of the year...

A Simple Request

2008-11-16T19:14:00.005-05:00

I would like to start by saying that I really appreciate everyone who checks/reads this blog. I appreciate that you love my family, or some part of it. However, the pictures on this blog really belong to me, and I would appreciate it if they were not printed and distributed without consent. Some of the pictures contained in this blog cost me upwards of $300 to blow up, print, and frame specifically for the purpose of giving them as wonderful gifts. You could understand, then, how very frustrating it would be to see copies already handed out, no matter how pure the intentions. If there really is a picture you must have, please keep in mind the holidays are coming and print carefully. I have learned in the last 2 years that pictures of my children make wonderfully cheap, but very much loved, presents for friends and family.

Thanks for understanding.

Have a fantastic night.

Arts and Crafts

2008-11-16T12:13:00.011-05:00

This weekend we finally made good use of the awesome b-day present Owen got from the DeCicco's. At the end, I gave my self a huge clap on the back for having the foresight to take their clothes off before handing them little balls of paint.

Can anyone tell how BLUE the water was in the tub? Thankfully, the paint came off almost instantly, with the rim of the tub being the only evidence of the colossal mess.

Thank you, Amelio.

Happy Sunday Y'All

2008-11-16T11:01:00.008-05:00

Miss Addi now eats rice cracker things that instantly turn to mush when subjected to her plentiful drool. She loves them.
Is that a phone clutched to her chest? Early warning signs of trouble in the next 12-14 years.
Yippie.

My girl is finally sitting up. I think secretely she has been sitting up in her crib when we are not looking and hasn't wanted us to see...

Barf.

(But Owen loves it)

For some reason a spoon will break her out of a crabby mood.

Stinking winter.

She how laid back she is? Feet on the tub looking at her belly...

Happy to be with the in-crowd.

Addi-Out

2008-11-10T11:00:00.004-05:00

Has it Really Been THAT Long???

2008-10-19T20:21:00.021-04:00

Well, this is what you all missed while I was so busy...
Jesse got me a camera for my b-day and somehow Owen ended up with our old-old camera and found his new calling in life...

Addison is rocketing towards being a completely successful con artist.

She so completely manipulates us with her beatuy-blues that she doesnt have to bother with the mundane tasks, like learning how to sit and crawl... She is pretty effective at squirming all over the place on her belly and throwing in a roll or two if she needs to get somewhere fast.

This week she finally got to take the walker for a spin... er, actually, Owen took HER for a spin in the walker. They both loved it, Addison's face was beat-red with delight, or horror...

Sorry to say, but about 1-1/2 weeks ago she got her first 2 teeth. It was a long, long, long day when those puppies broke through and they are finally out far enough to see them when she smiles. I am trying to get pictures, honest.

He was saying...

"Say 'cheese' peppers!"

He is actually pretty good with a camera...

And a vacuum...

Snuggle time with Daddy

And for the people who missed foliage in Vermont...

Addison LOVES this jumper. Her fat little legs are actually turning into muscular fat little legs.

Just a Blurb

2008-10-01T20:00:00.003-04:00

Good evening all. Just a blurb, no pictures to accompany my words. I have been most slackful in the picture-taking department this week. I would like to say it is because we have had a lot going on, but I am not sure that is the case. More like, my camera was never in the right place at the right time and I was a little lazy.

Mostly, you haven't missed much. For the past week, if I have not been literally standing on my scale, then I have been measuring out strict portions to eat and drumming up extra (ha-ha) chores to do to keep me moving. Luckily, Owen is a tornado of toys and this is an easy task, even if it is an annoying one.

My mornings have been filled with CNN. Yes, CNN. I am trying to submerge myself in the political arena, if only so I don't feel like a complete nit-wit. I have mostly decided who I would vote for, assuming it is not too late to register. I have even come up with a new slogan for my would-be president and intend to make it a bumper sticker, sell them by the millions, and move out of my mothers basement. More on that later.

While driving to my doctors appointment today, I had several thoughts that struck me as startlingly intelligent on my part. One of them was the above mentioned bumper sticker. Now that I have built you all up, I am sorry to tell you that I have, indeed, forgotten those oh-so-fab thoughts. Nonetheless, I am sure they will come back to me and when they do, I will share them with you.

I am trying to read a hysterically funny book called "Dirty Job" by Christopher Moore. I laughed out-loud 3 times in the first 4-5 pages. It is almost guaranteed to be a good time. I will let you all know. Yes, I am aware that by "you all," I mean Sally; Tarah when she is not feeding, burping, changing, cooking, cleaning, sleeping or blogging her own thoughts; and no one else that I know really well, but people who maybe end up here wondering who this girl is that knocked-off the movie title...

Nighty-night.

What A Crew

2008-09-26T21:51:00.002-04:00

As a dramatic peak to the week that Jamie was home, the boys with their dad took a road trip to Boston to catch a game.

So far, this is the only picture I have seen from that trip (and it cost a FORTUNE to buy from RedSox.com), so I thought I would share it will all of you.

Unfortunately, the Red Sox lost (Monday, September 22), but I think a fun time was had by all, though they don't really remember for sure.

G'night.

The Dust has Settled

2008-09-24T20:30:00.014-04:00

Falling Behind

2008-09-21T19:04:00.011-04:00

Well, it has been almost 1 week since my last post.

Thats right...

Tomorrow is WEIGH DAY.

A day of reckoning for me...

So, I just thought I would catch you all up on the week we have been having 'round here.

Uncle Jamie came home from Hawaii to see his sick grandmother and we have enjoyed his company.
Owen has also enjoyed riding around in the big blue van that he got as a rental. It was the first thing he asked about this morning when he woke up, and again when Jamie came over.

Addison is loving the extra attention, and I am surprised there is actually room for more, but she may never let us put her down again.

She did eat a queen-sized bowl of cereal before bed tonight like a little champ.

I must, must, must remember to feed her more cereal.

I could not pick just one of these pictures, and since it is my blog I dont have too.

So, you get to enjoy them all...

She has been working really hard on making different sounds now and has actually said "ma'ma" twice while looking at me.

Bite your tongue! I know she said it!

This was taken this morning.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

UN-Tipping the Scales, WWOL-Style

2008-09-16T21:37:00.002-04:00

Well, slap my butt and call me a sheep, I have joined Weight Watchers On-Line. I am kind of excited about this, and I am sure once I am not starving to death 23 hours a day, I will be really excited about it. Seriously, do you know what 2 ounces of pasta looks like? I am hoping this initial starving phase does not last too long.

To add insult to injury, being my first full day on THE PLAN, we ate dinner at Zachary's Pizza. No worries, I had a tossed salad with NO DRESSING and 1/2 of a piece of pizza. Also, add to that a Diet Coke. I am going to have to learn to love the sweet taste of saccharine. Yea, me!

I have spent about half an hour today wondering why it is sooo much easier to be/do bad, unhealthy things than good?

Definitely easier to gain weight than to lose it...
Easier to be young and irresponsible than... well, grown-up and responsible.
Easier to watch TV than anything else...

Alright, no more shenanigans. This is my 1 and only whiny post. I will tell you this about that, I am alotted 32 points a day with 35 Flex points for the week, I am saving this for my b-day, and my first goal is 10% of the total weight I want to lose.

When I figure out what 10% of a lot is, I will let you know.

Good Morning

2008-09-05T08:38:00.002-04:00

My cuddle bugs.

He is giving a very Dora, "I did it!" This only happens in the morning, but maybe one day it will catch on...

Under Construction

2008-09-04T22:16:00.001-04:00

Dont mind me, I seem to be a work in progress. I mostly like this one, but who knows how I will feel tomorrow.

2008-09-04T21:40:00.003-04:00

Alrighty, then. I actually did some leg work and I can tell you that this is definitely the correct video now. What a pain! You will definitely see what I meant about getting Owen a stripper pole. Makes me wonder what he is watching with Daddy...

SUCCESS!

2008-09-04T12:33:00.002-04:00

About 3 months ago we bought a little potty for Owen so he would get used to it being around and we could "show" him what it was for. He has been little more than interested but did find it made an excellent stepping stool to the counter.

Lately, we have been able to get him to sit on it when we are in the bathroom but he always got nervous and wanted his diaper back on, I am assuming to pee.

This morning he came in while I was in the bathroom and said, "Diaper on, poopie in potty" Firstly, off/on, up/down still confuses Owen, so I knew what he wanted. Yesterday we worked on a poppy dance (much like a rain dance) with a special version for when he is actually on the pot. I thought he wanted to do this.

When I turned around from washing my hands, Owen said "All done, mommy, diaper on" and sure as you-know-what, there was pee-pee in the potty (Sally, you know the tune). He was so proud of himself, he ran in our bedroom to tell Jesse what he did.

I was going to get a picture, but Jesse cleaned it before I could, so you are all spared looking at a picture of a potty full of pee-pee.

Have a nice day.

A LOOOONG Overdue Volume III

2008-09-03T17:10:00.016-04:00

1. The Mist: If ever a movie could make me want to drive out to Cali and personally ask for a refund of what the royalties would have been on my rental fee, this is it people. And what, might you ask, made this movie soooo bad in a sea of AWEFUL King knockoffs? The last 6-1/2 minutes or so. What Ever! Is all I have to say about that. Who would/could even THINK about doing what was done... Made me sick to my stomach. Bad Monkey!

2. Definitely, Maybe: Should have watched this right after "The Mist" to cleanse my palate. This movie was sooooo good and reminded me why, any 'ol day he wants, Ryan Reynolds can chase me around some big creepy house half naked waving a bloody axe in the air. This movie now sits next to "Love, Actually" as the movie I RUN to when I need a lift, except I haven't bought it yet. But as soon as I do... I am sure Jesse will appreciate a break from my belting out "Love is all around us" crying like some freak.

3. 1 Missed Call: I actually had to Google this movie to remind myself what it was about. 'Nuf said. Not horrible, but really not good, either.

4. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: What a super good movie. A lot like "The Pursuit of Happyness" (SALLY) and how hard work and determination really can be enough to accomplish amazing things. Not at ALL about how money is everything. (FYI) Anyway, Very cute and I enjoyed J. Moore and W. Harrelson.

5. 27 Dresses: So cute and with a bit of redemption becuase, of all the people in the movie theater, I might have been the only one who giggled when Cyclops was killed in X-Men III, so sick was I of his whining, love-tortured self. He totally made up for that in this movie.

6. Fools Gold: Really cute, very predictable. M.M. in trunks the whole time... Priceless.

7. Weeds: Season 1: Not hysterical exactly, but funny enough to watch. Mostly, to see what that mean lady with breast cancer is going to do/say next. Season 2 is in my mailbox as I type this.

8. Monty Python's Life of Brian: You know that song "I wish I was high".... Yeah, well, its been a long time since I have seen a Monty Python movie, and now I know why.

9. Visions of the Sea: Cool. Owen loved the fishies.

10. Heroes: Season 2: So good I sat down in front of the TV this Monday evening a full 3 weeks before Season 3 is supposed to start completely ready to watch. So help me if anyone calls me on Monday evenings between 9 and 10 starting September 22.

As an aside... If I ever remember to blog my reviews again, I will have the formatting figured out.

This was definitely, maybe an experimentation.

Have a good night all.

I think I am finally done blogging for the day.

Breakfast Club- Bennett Style

2008-09-03T14:13:00.013-04:00

Added to the list of things I learned this week,

If I ask Owen to say something OTHER than "Cheese!" he actually

keeps his eyes opened and his face unscrunched.

Is that not a devilish little grin?

First bowl of pears.

First bite of pears.

Second bite...

Begging for more...

These are the eyes that will one day ruin Jesse.

Watching Owen buzz around the room.

Not sure, here.

Thats my girl.

2008-09-03T13:57:00.003-04:00

So, this is where my leaps of faith get me (see below).

Maybe this is the right video...

Success!

Alphabet and the Blame Game

2008-09-03T13:13:00.005-04:00

So, hopefully this is the video I think it is. It would not let me see, so I took a leap of blogging faith.

This is my crazy son.

At the end, you will see he may have a career as an Exotic Dancer. I can only imagine what he was doing on the railing...

I will say this about that, though. LeapFrog.com is my Mecca.

Yes, you are hearing right.

My 2-year-old has just blamed by 5-month-old for coloring all over the booster seat with markers.

No one told me there would be days like these already.

What Is A Name?

2008-09-03T11:01:00.005-04:00

Jesse
Meaghin (Megan, as close as I could get)

Owen

Addison

One More Thing

2008-09-02T06:24:00.002-04:00

We have made our reservations. We will be traveling to South Carolina on October 23rd. The $7000 we have paid for our Shell Vacations Club Time Share is finally going to get us somewhere. We will be staying in a 2-br villa on Myrtle Beach. We can not wait to see baby Ethan, Ameham, and Ya-Ya.

Jesse has decided he would like to make the trip with us, which I am really happy about. I thought he would choose to stay home and have a long weekend. I dont really have any pictures to post with this news, but can assure you there will be a lot of picture taking on this first family vacation of ours. I havent driven down the coast since I was about 12, and Jesse has never been to this part of the country, so I think it will be a lot of fun.

We are planning to rent a minivan to make the trip more comfortable, and I am going to make sure there is a DVD player in it for Owen.

So, smoke 'em if you got 'em, cause we are (almost) on our way...

Addi-San

2008-09-02T06:10:00.009-04:00

Her hair is so curly after a bath.

This only adds to the crazy baby look.

This seat has saved my life, and helped my kids be less stinky.

Now I can have them both in the tub at the same time. Owen only gets slightly out of hand at the end, splashing like a mad-man.

I say end because this is usually what ends the bath for everyone.

A Boys Day

2008-09-02T06:01:00.004-04:00

Owen and Jesse had a lot of fun together on Labor Day. A little boating, a little walking and a whole lot of Hot Wheels playing. Owen is a crazy Hot-Wheeler now. His little collection of cars grows every week or so and he treats each one like a prized possession. He lines them all up and then takes turns brining them for little drives before carefully returning each to its place. When everyone has had a turn he likes to park them under things now, so he will lift up the edge of a rug or put them under the runner on the coffee table. Very cute, if not a little OCD. He also likes to look at them in the sunshine so on nice days he lines them up on the window sills and will play there for at least 40 minutes at a time. All of his cars, of course, make different sounds and he remembers them like only a little boy can.

Our Little Boater

2008-09-02T05:53:00.005-04:00

I thought the hardest part about this canoe trip would be getting the life preserver on Owen.

He stood still while Jesse put it on and then ran around like a mad-man screaming "Boat! Boat".

Turns out, i was the one who would freak out.

He really seemed to enjoy the canoe and being in the water and then, after about 10 minutes, he said "All done" and that was that. We had to turn around immediately because he was trying to get up and our canoe was begging to flip from the first second we were in it.

I may have unnecessarily scared him when I panicked over a jet boats wake I was sure would kill us all (even in 2-1/2 feet of water), and that was kind of the end of that. I tried to make a joke out of it, but by then it was too late and I couldnt trick Owen into thinking I was "only kidding" about the whole dying thing. He is so sensitive sometimes...

Button Bay

2008-09-02T05:44:00.006-04:00

We spent Labor Day at Button Bay, Hey! (bad joke, really early in the morning here...)

It was a really pretty day for once. No rain, not even a cloud.

The only thing that would have been nice was a beach of some sort.

There was only about a 15 foot opening where we launched the canoe and it was all huge rocks and nasty slime-water.

We did get to see wild-life on the canoe; a pair of turtles on a stick and a little family of ducks.

Tummy Tuck, Phase I

2008-09-02T05:40:00.005-04:00

I started with my belly-button (which is now that of a 20-year-old).

Say What?

2008-08-27T08:34:00.003-04:00

Well... You Asked For It (or maybe not, but here it is)

2008-08-24T16:43:00.010-04:00

Today was kind of a lazy day, which is the norm for us on Sundays.

Of course, my kids refused to nap at the same time, but even having just 1 is kind of a nice break.
Vogue.

They were playing footsie- until Owen got a little carried away and mama pulled the plug.

I think Addison's eyes are saying

"Thank you."

Addison really seems to be growing on Owen. When he wakes up in the morning now he asks where she is, if she is sleeping, and where daddy is.

When he goes to sleep at night, he wants to know she is going night-night too and rushes to her side when she spits out her pacifier, whether she wants it back or not.

Are these the cutest feet you have ever seen?

They are definitely the only ones I will put entirely in my mouth (after a bath, in Owens case).

Addi thinks Owen is the schiznit. He makes her laugh all the time.

Its amazing what a diaper change can do for an attitude.

Yes, at this point in my life I have given up on Owen have a clean face at all times.

I now settle for a face-washing before bed and would like it if it was clean when he came out of the tub, though this doesnt always happen either.

This chalk table was a good buy on my moms part. He loves it.

We also recently acquired a chalk table (thank you, Johnson's) but it is in storage right now.

My little lady. She is either sleeping on her stomach with her butt jacked way up in the air, or on her back all spread out.

So, that about wraps it up for us this week. I am sure most of you know about Jesse's aweful accident on the stairs on Monday. He seems to be doing a little better now, but we were both surprised to learn a concussion can linger for upwards of a month. I am just really, really greatful to him that he managed to control his fall just enough to not hurt either of the babies (both of whom were in his arms). I keep telling him it is the best thing that could have happened after the worst thing that could have happened.

'Sup

2008-08-15T14:25:00.002-04:00

So, the way I figure it, I am running about 1 week behind the blogging world. I have been spending every free second (ha-ha) working so we can maybe one day move out of my mothers basement. Fortunately, I am still taking pictures of the kids like crazy for the blog. Unfortunately, they may be in their early 30's before you see them.

New (within the last 2-3 weeks), is Owens ability to count to 7 by himself. Sometimes, sometimes, he can get to 10, but always to 7 without help. Some of you may have heard him sing. He is a star and can sign the alphabet, only missing about 8-9 actual letters. Now, that he is putting lots of words together, it is glaringly obvious that he is a boss-machine.

So, more to come later, or tomorrow, or Sunday. Hope everyone is having a nice day.

A Look Back

2008-08-10T19:53:00.004-04:00

I can not believe we have come so far with Owen. It seems like we just had him yesterday,

but he is a little boy now and not a baby anymore.

It is for moments exactly like this one that I had my tubes tied.

If I had endless patience, I would have had 10 babies.

But,

I like to sleep.

So I settle for the 2 great kids that I have and hope they have kids.

(but not too soon, obviously)

Addi-Tude

2008-08-10T19:42:00.006-04:00

Our little bundle is getting bigger every day. She has been pigging down lately and I dont know how much longer I can keep up with her. She has been so great, sleeping like a champ at night only waking up once or twice in a 12 hour span. She started hanging out in the Jungle Jumper and loves it. I will have pictures of that later.

OMG! He is 2!!

2008-08-10T19:31:00.005-04:00

On the 2nd of August we quickly celebrated Owen's 2nd birthday, in between quick trips moving our stuff.

We kept the party small but it was a so-so nice day weatherwise, not too much rain.

He blew out his candles like he has been doing this for years and has been

trying to blow out any candle he sees ever since.

Tu-Tu's glasses.
I am still not sure how he ended up with 2 cakes, but whose complaining?

Destination: Memory Lane

2008-07-30T06:59:00.010-04:00

Jesse and I have been spending a lot of time thinking about where we might end up.

This brings to the surface memories of our last move.

I really wish we could return to Hawaii, but the thought of raising 2 kids in a 1 room apartment with no stove and a shared bathroom just doesn't do much for me, ya know?

Yes, we were this geeky couple. As you can see, we were not very deep.

I had this bad habit of hyperventilating in water more than 3 feet deep.

Put a cramp on things.

If I leaned WAY out over the railing on the third floor of the apartment building, this is what I could see... And I miss it.

This was our first drive around the island.

Smiling because we hadn't gotten the $200+ bill for dinner...

Good thing we weren't paying...

Ahhh..

Hook-Up Towing Guy who collected us from the Pali when our beaut of a Taurus died going up the hill.

Definitely a Ho. (May he rest in peace)

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

If anyone knows of a place just like Hawaii, but affordable (besides Peurto Rico) let me know.

Good-Bye, Sweet Friends

2008-07-29T20:12:00.005-04:00

Inside me, a battle rages...
Between the ghost of my pre-pregnancy feet and the ghost of my pre-pregnancy hormones.

Clearly, the hormones are winning...

Because this week, I became yet another E-Bay seller...

And put my best Steve Madden shoes up for sale.

It is a dark day.

Saturday, July 26

2008-07-28T08:59:00.008-04:00

Today (Saturday) we went to my cousins' wedding. It was really nice and very beautiful.
This was Owen BEFORE he was covered in gravy and icing and ruined his new shirt.

This place was great with a petting zoo and play yard outside.

The only way to get Owen to come in and eat was to let him bring a tractor from the sand box.

2008-07-24T19:42:00.006-04:00

Well... Here she is, from start to finish, 4-months-old.

She had a checkup today and bitty girl is off the chart for weight.

She is 15 pounds, 10 ounces and 27-1/2 inches long.

That means she has gained 3 pounds and 5 ounces and grown 3-1/2 inches in the last 2 months.

Holy stinking cow.

I am pretty sure that most of that weight is still in her thighs and it is becoming glaringly obvious she has my thighs...

Poor tike.

On the other end, Owen got checked out today, too.

He has this weird bump by his neck/clavicle that I noticed a few weeks ago. After Addison's appointment we had to go get x-rays of his chest to see what it was. What is WASN'T was a bone, so now we need to have an ultrasound.

This is just great because I really feel that my life has been lacking stress lately and this will FINALLY give me something to worry about. In Earnest.

Its a good thing I can not afford any of the ultrasound machines on E-bay, or we would have our own. But hey, how nutty can 1 person be, anyway.

My parting wish for the night is that my friends will get off their lazy-blogging butts and give me something to read already.

Except you, Tarrah, you are exempt from my harassment.

Emily J ,

Sally J ,

I am talking to you, ladies.

Tickle-Me-Addi

2008-07-23T23:16:00.003-04:00

Making Addison laugh is the most fun thing ever.

You have to excuse the really obnoxious mommy-talk, but it is almost a full time job to get her laughing like this and you have to be completely devoted to the task at hand and relentless. Once she starts giggling, I know she is about to crack and I just take her over the crazy-cliff to tickle town.

Good Night, Everyone

2008-07-23T22:54:00.003-04:00

Addison Leigh

2008-07-20T19:20:00.008-04:00

Well, it has been a really long week for us here, but Addison hit the big 4... (months, that is)

She has a checkup on Thursday but she is growing like a weed.

She is still a total Daddy's Girl (like I knew she would be) and sometimes Daddy is the only one that can get her to stop crying.

A Fond Farewell

2008-07-20T19:05:00.009-04:00

What is cuter than 2 boys in a Barbie Jeep?

Not much, I can tell you. Especially when the radio is on.
Pre-hair cut. (PHC)

Possible senior year book picture with her million dollar smile.

I think one day I might miss diapered butts running around in the sun...

but then, in about 30 more years, it may be MY diapered butt running around in the sun.

Are you with my ladies?

So. Stinking. Cute.

I am thinking Abe was on a mission here...

Ahhh... Thats what he was doing...

Have a great night.

Keep On Keepin' On

2008-07-20T18:58:00.002-04:00

New Doo

2008-07-20T18:52:00.005-04:00

Well, he did it and he was really good, too. He only cried when she pulled out a lift for the chair and asked him to sit on it.

Instead he sat on my lap and was a champ. I only had to hold his head still for the

hair around his ears.

He wasn't really cooperating with the camera and I.

Of course, he will sit still for ice cream.

And then I can get 1 good shot.

Have a nice night every one.

More to come.

Sibling Bliss

2008-07-13T20:24:00.002-04:00

Owen likes to pull his chair up and chat with Addison while she swings.

Obviously, she loves it (until he starts kicking her...)

The Play Date to End All Play Dates

2008-07-13T20:10:00.009-04:00

We enjoyed the company of friends on Saturday.

Owen played like there would be no time to play again.

He did not take a nap and crashed OUT at 5:30 and slept

until I woke him up at 8:00 the next morning.

Breathlessly awaiting the fire truck they could hear coming down the road...

Boys and their mama's glasses....

Owen was practicing his "grumpy gus" look... He looks like he has been

drinking beer for 30 years...

We had a great day hanging out. There were no major problems or fights, though it was touch and go over a "blue color" car...

Brush, Brush, Brush

2008-07-13T20:01:00.005-04:00

So this is our nightly ritual.

He gets up on the counter and I brush and then, when he is done being patient, he says...

"Me do it?"

(I am working on the grammar... but it is incredibly cute anyway)

Every night he gets a little better and is actually getting his teeth now and not his tongue.
Don't mind the pizza sauce on his belly...
We had whole-wheat pizza for dinner (Owens fav)

After his teeth, he makes bubbles (i.e. he washes his hands) and then I

wash his face and give him spikes. Then he runs into the living room to show daddy

before getting a chewey (fluoride pill) and going night-night.

Mid-Day Update

2008-07-09T14:14:00.004-04:00

Mommy
Daddy

Addison

Owen

(2:00 PM)

2008-07-08T23:41:00.002-04:00

While we are splitting our money right now between gas and D batteries for this swing, I have to say they are worth every penny because she loves it, and its a good thing because she is in there quite a bit.

Lil Swimmer

2008-07-08T23:11:00.005-04:00

So this was Owen's first time in a pool this year. From what I hear, he did a great job and had a blast.
He got to be around his 3 favorite things... water, dogs and "bawls".

Its Always Better with Cheddar

2008-07-08T23:01:00.004-04:00

Ladies and Gentleman (if there are any)...

We Have a Winner!!! (not a WiiNNER, unfortunately)

This is the best bread recipe EVER. Super easy and super good.

So, I am going to bore you with yet another recipe so that you may be just as happy with your bread as I am with mine..

Go Forth and Bake.

6 c flour

1 tbsp sugar

2-1/2 tsp salt

1 envelope active yeast

2 cups of 120 degree water

2 tbsp softened butter (I think I used way more than this for everything...)

In a bowl combine:

2 c flour

salt

sugar

yeast

Beating at low spead add:

water

butter

Beat on high 4 minutes

Add 1/2 c flour, beat 4 more minutes

stir in 3 cups of flour (good luck, I abandoned spoon for hands... clean hands)

Knead 8-10 minutes

Place dough in buttered bowl

Cover with damp warm cloth

Wait 1 hour

Punch and knead (very therapeutic)

Split in half and cover with bowl for 15 minutes

Form loaf shape and place in bread pan

Let rise 45 minutes

Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes

For added fun, on the last knead, I added cheddar cheese and then sprinkled it on top after the last rise. Yum, Yum.

Thanks for the cheddar, Tarrah.

July 4th BBQ (original title, I know)

2008-07-04T21:52:00.009-04:00

Understandably, these kids were getting bored waiting for the parade to start because they had never been to one before. I dont think Owen blinked for the entire first string of fire trucks that rolled in front of him 5 feet from his face. By the second string he was an old pro and kept repeating "Wow, look, truck" like some sugar crazed zombie. Jesse was nice enough to take Addison into the shade so I could sit on the ground with him and tell him what was coming.

After one of my Blue, sprinkle-free, cup cakes...

Clearly, Addison was not a team player here, but everyone else did a great job.

This was after the 3 hour nap they took when everyone left. I, myself, took a 1 hour nap that was DE-vine.

This was the end of our night.

This was a day like you read about. Everything went really well. The kids were good, we got to spend time with friends and family and the weather was beautiful. We could not ask for more (except for to NOT forget about the huge fruit salad I made).

Thanks to everyone that came and made this day so much fun.

Now I am hitting the hay.

Twinkle Twinkle

2008-07-04T21:46:00.003-04:00

Ahhh... Owen. He is so sweet. I love to hear his little voice singing while he is playing.

(This video was forced and therefore not his full potential, but adorable nonetheless.)

A Very Festive Menu... Sort Of

2008-07-04T21:34:00.003-04:00

So this was my attempt at a Patriotic Pasta Salad. Red, White and Blue-dyed egg noodles (I had it on good authority that these would be the easiest to dye) with an italian dressing-mayo sauce, peas and shredded cheddar cheese. Yum, yum.

Yes, I do realize it is pink, yellow and green pasta salad, but as usual my intentions were good, but reality got in the way. This may be the title of my memoires, should I ever find the time to write them.

Also on the menu and not pictured here was a 20 pound fruit salad I forgot to pull out until every one was gone (and will be eating for the entire weekend to not waste $50) and a bean salad:
1 C canned white beans, rinsed and drained
1 C canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large tomatoe, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 medium celery, diced
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp parsley, italian, minced
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

In a large bowl, combine beans, tomatoe, onion, and celery. Gently stir in vinegar and sprinkle with parsley. Season to tast and serve.
1 C per serving
Serves 4
2 points per serving

We also had the usual, burgers, chicken and corn on the cob. It was a really great day. Pictures to follow.
Also not pictured here are the red, white and blue frosting-ed cup cakes that I made for desert. Yum, Yum.

Lesson Learned

2008-07-03T22:35:00.003-04:00

So, what ever it is that I do with my time, I am WAY too busy to figure out if I am managing it well. I will just have to cross my fingers and go with the flow.

While I was driving around today so my son could sleep in the car, I started thinking about different names I could have chosen for my blog. This is seriously the first one that came to mind. For a little background, I have a friend that calls me Fertile Mertyl because, lets face it, I think Addison arrived on a wink and not much else...

Fertie Merties Perty Wordies.

You heard it here first, folks!

I have to go put Red, White and Blue frosting on cupcakes for tomorrow and clean my disaster area of a kitchen before people show up at 9 tomorrow morning for the parade.

Happy 4Th.

Time Tracker 2008... Monday, 6/30

2008-07-01T12:20:00.003-04:00

4-4:20 AM: Feed Addison.

4:20-7:30: Back to sleep.

7:30-8: Feed Addison.

8-12:45PM: Work for Copley.

12:45-1: Addison is snacky.

1-1:45: Took a "relaxing" shower with both kids. SO much fun.

1:45-4:00PM: Back to work for Copley.

4-4:20: Feed Addison.

4:20-5:15: Cleaned living room and started packing process mentioned last night.

5:15-5:45: Made stir-fry for dinner.

5:45-6:15: Ate said stir-fry.

6:15-6:45: Feed Addison.

6:45-7PM: Brushed Owens teeth (which he LOVES), washed his hands and his face. Kissed him good night.

7:8: Packed the rest of the living room. Jesse helped me tear apart the nearly shattered futon and move all the furniture around so we could vacuum. It was at this time we realized we need to break out the carpet cleaner he bought me. Who let Owen eat under the couch, anyway?

8-8:30: Feed Addison

8:30-9:30: Worked ATSI.

9:30-10:30: Spent a rediculous amount of time blogging when I should have been in bed. Not my fault, it took hours (40 minutes) for the video of Owen dancing to upload. Cripes.

10:30: NIGHT NIGHT for mommy and daddy.

This was the only other picture from yesterday that I didn't already post. Addison was having a good ole time chatting with her daddy. I didnt put in the timeline when Addison went to bed because Jesse took care of that and I just found her in her crib when I went to bed at 10:30.

Stage One

2008-06-30T22:18:00.003-04:00

So, in about a month, we are taking 1 step backwards to hopefull take 150,000 steps forward. We are moving in with my parents to pay off our credit cards and start looking for a house to buy. As we get ready to leave our 20's (Jesse way, way ahead of me...) we realize it does us no good to pay someone elses mortgage, we shoud just be paying our own... And so, we are going to attempt to leave the renting world and become slaves to our own 4 walls and a roof (I am personally hoping for many, many more than 4 walls....)

In order to not have to spend an entire weekend moving, I thought I would prepare the entire month of July. Since thinking and planning ahead are relatively new for me, I made it as simple as possible. Basically, we have 4 rooms: Living room, our bedroom, Owens bedroom and the kitchen. (Yes, we have a bathroom, but it hardly counts). Anyway, I have worked it out so that I consolidate 1 room a week. We are renting a storage unit to put pretty much everything we own in. We are hoping if we have none of our stuff, we will be less inclined to permanently take up residence in the basement. (Besides the TV.)

Since it is the first week in July, I started tonigth with the living room. I boxed up most of my books (need more totes) and got rid of 1 almost completely destroyed futon frame. The mattress is still in the living room until we decide what to do with it. Jesse then moved all the furniture around so I could vacuum under it (he ended up doing this) Now, there is virtually no clutter in the living room and I still have the whole week to get more stuff out. I am going to bed tonight with a sense of completion...

I didnt include BEFORE pictures because those of you who know me would not be my friend anymore and those of you that dont know me would instantly click away and never return.

Chew-Chew Festival

2008-06-30T22:02:00.008-04:00

So, we went to the Chew-Chew Festival on Sunday. It was so nice out, hotter than you-know-what, but still really nice. Owen danced his toddler heart out in the Jazz tent. There was also another live band playing at the other end, but Owen is clearly a big-band type of a boy. He would only occasionally get embarrased when he whirled around and realized everyone in the tent was looking at him and laughing at his cuteness.... Especially when he threw his arms up over his head and screamed "Whooooooo" at the end of the songs. Very cute, my boy. I tried to upload a video but after 45 minutes I cancelled the process. Better luck next time. (This is going to add a lot of time to the "Me" column of my time audit this week... 1 hour for blogging, oh yea, I am busy alright...

On our way back to the car we walked out on the fishing pier. Leaving the pier, Owen was once again the center of everyones attention when he threw a most disrupting temper tantrum over leaving. Half way down the pier, obviously parched from trying to turn around in his stroller and hit me in the stomach, he started screaming for his "ba-ba" (a bad habit picked up, what he meant was his cup). Anyway, when I handed it to him, still screaming at me, he at least remembered his manners and said "Thank you", albeit in a menacing tone.

This was the first time I had seen Addison awake all day. She crashed out as soon as my mother put on the front carrier and did not make a peep until we were going home. Then, she entertained Owen until he passed out (see below) by blowing bubbles, her new trick. This is almost as funny to Owen as her gasseous spells and hickups.

This is how Owen spent a majority of the ride home.

Alls well that ends well...

Dance Fever... Kinda

2008-06-30T21:25:00.003-04:00

Well, here he is, my dancing prince. We went to the Chew-Chew Festival this weekend and the Jazz tent was definitely Owen's favorite part... besides the Choo-Choo Train ride we went on (really just the little free shuttle back and forth to the parking lot). It looked kind of like a train, though, and that was all Owen needed. The entire ride, his face was that of pure awe and whenever he felt it necessary, he shouted "CHOO-CHOO TRAIN!!!" to anyone and every one. It was very cute... until it was time to get off the 'twain', then he turned in to some kind of train-obsessed monster. He quickly quieted when I told him we were going to get pizza. Thankfully, he was distracted again long before he realized he never got pizza. Not my fault, though, there was not a pie to be found at the festival. We had to settle for Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Brownie Ice Cream and quickly found the Jazz tent after that. He was really cute in there, but I think his ears were still bothering him from being sick because he got dizzy really easily and kept falling over. He was definitely a "train wreck" on the way home. He didn't get 1 nap all day.

The Great Time Bandit

2008-06-28T21:15:00.002-04:00

So, this week I decided to run an audit of my time... You know...

4-4:30 AM: Feed Addison

4:30-5 AM: Wish I could sleep forever...

5- Whenever the kids wake up: Work

But, it seems this week I was too busy to pay attention to what I was actually doing.

Last Saturday, Owen spent 1 hour with a kid with the sniffles and we have been paying for it all week. Tuesday around 2:30 AM he woke up with a fever and the week went downhill from there. When Jesse was home it took both of us to keep Owen happy and one of us sane at all times. When he was at work, I was happy the Motrin took enough of the edge off so he would sleep so I could at least try to work. Blah, blah, blah and we are at the weekend again. Thankfully, it is almost over. Owens fever is gone but he now has a nasty cough and is a snot machine.

Today, Owens cousin Peyton came over. It is usually when Peyton is around that I am reminded exactly how much Owen is like Jesse. She was trying to hand him his cup, because she had hers and this was the only way things could be right in her world. Unfortunately, Owen shook his head and said, oh so sweetly "Nooooo". Peyton would then look slightly disappointed but put the cup down anyway. This was the exact moment when Owen would say... "Dwink?" and Peyton would go for his cup again, again being denied once the cup was presented to Owen. This went back and forth about 4 times before Peytons distress increased to the point where she was pushing the cup into his stomach and he was laughing. Holy Crap! He is just like his dad!

Anyway, back to the point.

My point is, that with Owen sick, things did not go the way they usually do this week. SO... Starting Monday I will begin tracking my time and finding out if I have any free time. That is how this started anyway. I am wondering if I am just really bad with time and actually could have all kinds of free time to myself (doubtful) or if I am just an in-over-my-head mom with too much on my plate. Not that it matters if that is the case, I just want to know my crabbing is justified.

Stay tuned.

Ahhh... The Love (Dated June 28, 2008)

2008-06-28T20:52:00.000-04:00

Been a Long Time, Stranger

2008-06-28T20:38:00.011-04:00

Well, as you can see, Addison is growing like a weed. She will play in the saucer for short periods of time (she is usually kicked out by Owen who is going through a little toy regression, see pictures below).
I couldn't resist sending the whole batch of these. Jesse worked so hard on them and I think he did a really great job. These are some of the best pictures we have of her.

(The toy regression I was talking about earlier...)

I wish I had a picture of Owen in his tub on my computer still, they look so much alike with their hair all slicked back... Maybe one day I will download the picture and show y'all. Then again, maybe not...

My mom and I took Owen and Peyton (his cousin) to the park on an unassumingly hot day. In fact, it was so hot that we decided to leave when they started laying down under the gungle gym. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of this before packing them up and heading straight for the AC of my house. (Yes, I still love the environment, but I gotta live too.)

Peyton

My little boy in the bubble.

A True Red Sox Fan

2008-06-28T20:29:00.003-04:00

About 2 weeks ago, I thought I was amazingly clever when after 1 attempt I was able to get Owen to say "Goooo, Ed Sos!" Then, the other night, the game was on (0f course) and out of the blue Owen walked up to the TV and said it with no prompting. Obviously, he is a genious.

Also, while grocery shopping last week, we walked by a display of Celtics and Red Sox stuff (pencils, towels, fake tats) and again he wowed me with a very echoy "Gooo Ed Sos!" I was so proud of him I immediately bought him 1 toy (a set of fake cookware) and a bundle of Red Sox temporary tattoos (thus the banner across his chest in the video). Anyone who says that I spoil him can just get over it. (-:

Hope everyone enjoys this, we sure did!

Chicken Fried Steak with Country Gravy

2008-06-24T07:03:00.000-04:00

Servings 4
Estimated POINTS® value per serving 9
Course Main Meals

Ingredients
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. black pepper, divided
4 cube steaks (about 1-1/3 lbs.)
1 large egg1/4 c. egg substitute
1-1/4 c. fat-free half-and-half, divided
1 c. plus 2 T. flour, divided
1/2 t. cayenne
1 c. breadcrumbs
1 T. canola oil
Canola cooking spray
2 T. Wondra flour
1 c. low-fat milk

Instructions
1. Sprinkle the salt and 1/4 t. pepper evenly over steaks. Set aside
2. In a small bowl, beat together the egg, egg substitute, and 1/4 cup of the half-and-half. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the 1 cup flour with remaining 1/4 t. pepper and 1/2 t. cayenne, blend with a fork. Place the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl.
3. Place canola oil in a large, heavy, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, tilt the pan to coat the bottom evenly. Meanwhile, dip both sides of each cube steak in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture and finally into the breadcrumbs, coating well.
4. When oil is very hot, add the steaks to the skillet. Spray the tops with canola cooking spray and cook for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom.
5. Flip the steaks over to brown the other side (about 4 minutes). Turn off the heat, remove the steaks to a baking pan and keep warm in a 200 degree oven. Don't clean the skillet yet.
6. To make the gravy, combine 1/4 cup of the half-and-half with the Wondra in a bowl and stir to make a paste. Slowly whisk in the remaining 3/4 cup of half-and-half, along with the low-fat milk. Start heating the skillet over low heat. Pour the gravy mixture into the hot skillet and loosen the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Continue to stir and cook until the gravy has thickened to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve each chicken-fried steak with light mashed potatoes or rice, a wonderful spoon of country gravy over the top, and some chopped fresh parsley for garnish if you like.
Special Notes
Gravy will be at its thickest when it comes to a boil.

Cookies and Cream Freezer Cake

2008-06-21T14:56:00.002-04:00

POINTS® Value: 3

Servings: 12

Preparation Time: 12 min

Cooking Time: 0 min

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
100 gm ready-to-eat vanilla pudding, or 1 cup
3 cup Cool Whip Lite Whipped Topping, or similar product
9 oz Nabisco Famous chocolate wafers, or similar product (should be about 3-inches in diameter each)
1 oz bittersweet chocolate, shavings

Instructions
Line bottom and sides of a 13- to 14-inch long pan with plastic wrap, making sure you use a big enough piece so that you have enough extra wrap to cover prepared cake.
In a medium bowl, gently fold pudding into whipped topping.
Take a wafer and spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of cream mixture over cookie surface. Top with another wafer and spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons of cream mixture over second cookie; repeat to form a stack of about 6 cookies and cream. Carefully turn stack on its side and place in pan so cookies are standing on their sides. Repeat with remaining cookies until you create 1 long row of cookies and cream in pan. (Reserve any broken cookies to crumble over top as a garnish.)
When cake assembly is complete, use a spatula to scoop up any cream that has oozed out of sides of cookies and place back on top of cake.
Wrap plastic tightly around cake in pan and freeze immediately for a minimum of 2 hours.
Slice cake on a diagonal into 12 pieces and sprinkle each piece with shaved chocolate. Yields 1 slice per serving.
Notes
Feel free to swap chocolate pudding for the vanilla, if desired.

What I Thought: Volume II

2008-06-21T14:48:00.002-04:00

Into the Wild:
Seriously, if someone (anyone) would have told me this was a true story, I would not have invested the 2 hours. The ending was horrible and the worst part was, you could see the aweful ending coming from about 25 minutes out. The only positive, besides the acting, was that Owen was entertained with the music and flashes of animals in Alaska. I am glad I wasnt really excited about seeing this and didn't put aside a night specifically to watch it.

Jumper:
Now, some of you were hard on this movie, but it kept me pretty entertained. The acting was at times painful to watch but the concept of the movie was cool enough. It was kind of a shallow movie (to use Jesse's word) and skimmed over the events, instead of really delving into the story whole-heartedly. Good thing, or it would have to have been a trilogy. (See volume I for how I feel about trilogies.)

Sex and the City:
HOLLA! I loved it, loved it, loved it. So worth the 4 year wait. I didnt realize how much I missed the ladies of M-town. Honsetly, I laughed a lot, I cried a little (Big! You jerk!) and am basically sitting on the edge of my seat for anther 4 year reunion in 2012, when I will be in my 30's. But that is a blog for another day.

Mrs. Fishbert, will you be my date for that one as well?

Whole Wheat French Bread

2008-06-21T13:24:00.003-04:00

This recipe has gotten rave reviews at my house. It is so easy to make, I have been making a couple loaves a week and it goes like hot cakes. It is really easy to add things to this recipe. Last week I made a garlic butter and rolled the dough out flat, brushed the butter on, and rolled the dough up and it turned out great.

Whole Wheat Recipe:

Preparation Time: about 20 minutes

Cooking Time: about 30 minutes

Resting Time: about 2 hours

Ingredients:

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

3 cups All Purpose White Flour

1 Egg

1 tbsp. Sugar

2 tsp. Salt

1 tbsp. Dry Active Yeast

1. Sift the two flours together into a large bowl. Mix in salt and sugar with hand. Move the ingredients to the sides of the bowl, creating a large "well" (an empty space) in the middle.

2. Pour the yeast into the "well" and pour 2 cups of lukewarm water over the yeast. Sprinkle about 1 tbsp. of flour over top. Wait (about 10 minutes) for bubbles to appear in the yeast.

3. Once the bubbles have appeared, you can start to mix together the ingredients (hands work best) to form the dough. The best way to do this, is to gradually incorporate the flour that is "waiting" on the sides of the bowl. Doing it all at once will be too difficult. So, go bit by bit, if it's too liquid, just add a bit more flour at the end. You should finish this "pre-kneading" stage with a round, firm ball of dough. Again, if it's too sticky, add a little more flour.

4. Kneading: remove the bread from the bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Knead it by pushing your palms into and then turning it one quarter. Keep kneading and doing quarter turns for about 5-10 minutes, or until the bread is supple and non-sticky.

5. Place the bread in a lightly floured bowl and cover with a damp dish cloth. Let it rise for about 2 hours (depends on the room temperature, you want it to be fairly warm). It should double in size.

6. Preheat oven to 400°F. Re-sprinkle a counter top (or other surface) with flour. Prepare a baking pan by lightly oiling and flouring it (or bake on top of parchment paper). With your hands, remove bread and place on floured surface. Punch it down once, hard, with your palms. Now, re-shape it into a ball. Put the ball on the baking pan. Using a sharp knife, cut diagonal lines across the top of the bread. Whisk the egg, and using a brush (or a teaspoon) coat the top of the bread. Put in oven and bake for 30 minutes (more or less, depending on how much you like it browned).Voilà!

KIDS, KIDS, KIDS

2008-06-21T12:41:00.013-04:00

(Shhhh.... Don't tell Aunt Sally....)

So this was basically the jist of our Rhode Island Vacation. It was hot, hot, hot and there were kids, kids, kids everywhere.

It was nice to see everyone (even if they were sleeping).

Shocked?

2008-06-19T18:01:00.002-04:00

I was recently informed, by a dear friend that shall remain nameless (you're welcome Mrs. Fishbert) that it was a shock that I would be... shall we say "Environmental". Just because the thought of actually coming into contact with a member of the "Animal Kingdom" scares the Steve Madden's off of me, doesn't mean I would like to trash the only planet I will consider living on. Also, I would like very much for my kids to also live on this planet and not have to go all "Total Recall" and visit them on Mars.

Because of this, I BEG you,

THINK GLOBALLY

ACT LOCALLY

tee-hee

tx.

Green News

2008-06-13T15:56:00.005-04:00

Today, while surfing the net, I learned some very interesting things I thought I would share with all of you (all 3 of you...)

Idle Hands...

Blah, blah, blah, you know the saying, but did you know that if you let your car idle for more than 20 seconds you have already used more gas than it takes to start your car. Also, Americans (wasters that we are) idle away $18.2 BILLION yearly in gas. WHAT!?!?!?!?

Compu-Naps

Turning off your computer if you plan to be away for more than 2 hours can save you up to $90 a year on your electric bill, besides the environmental benefits. Turning off the monitor for breaks longer than 20 minutes can also help.

Its Getting Hot in Here

So, turn down the heat, I say. For every degree you dial down, you can lower your heating bill by 1% to 3%. (Same goes when AC is necessary to get you through the hot days.)

Go Paperless.

Pay your bills on-line. Duh.

Skunk the Junk

For $1 you can register on Mail Preference Service at Direct Marketing Associations website to stop getting junk in your box in 90 days. Yearly, junk mail costs the planet 100 MILLION trees and 28 BILLION gallons of water. Doesn't that make a buck seem like a small price to pay?

A Paper Has Two Sides.

Use them both. Duh.

Bum a Ride.

Carpool.

Hormone-free Moo-Moo juice.

Avoid rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone)

I found all these helpful hints http://www.thedailygreen.com/

Join the movement. Anyone with Green Hints is more than welcome to share here.

Bragging Rights

2008-06-04T13:15:00.008-04:00

Thanks to a HUGE sale at OKBG, Owen got some new summer gear today. His favorite (and mine) were then sunglasses and flip flops. He loves shoes just like his mama (yippie).

Its so much fun to buy things for Owen because he is always extremely excitable while I am pulling things out of the bag...

"Oh, wow, wow, wow, was dat?" Over and Over and Over until he sees it all. Then I get...

"Nice shirt"

"Nice shoes"

"Nice orts"

How can a mom resist?

Addison is finally smiling a little easier for the camera. The jury is still out as to whether she was smiling for Daddy or her friends on the activity bar of her swingset. Either way.

One must never eat pizza without their shades on...

Awe, shucks.

A little "Ray" of inspiration.

Definitely the activity bar.

I hope everyone has a great day.

What I thought: Vol 1

2008-06-03T21:07:00.003-04:00

Dan in Real Life:
Honestly, Jesse and I turned this movie off the first time we tried to watch it. It was very, very painful. However, if you let yourself get through a worst-nightmare dinner party, it is an awesome movie full of laughs and good times.

P.S. I Love You:
Well, most of you know I am a sucker for a happy love story, even if they are happy in a round-about way like this one. Nothing like the end of "Cruel Intentions" when I wanted to sue the movie company and was really yanked that I invested 2 hours of my life and one half of the happy couple died at the end. (If I ruined something for you, get over it, the movie is 100 years old now...) Seriously, this was a cute movie and even Jesse chuckled a few times.

Juno:
This is probably the best movie I have seen since.... hmmmm.... I am not sure. It doesnt really compare to other movies so it is hard to say. If you want blunt humor, real life turmoil, and a mostly happy ending (though I cried like a baby...) then this is the movie for you.

The Golden Compass:
I didnt really like this movie a lot, though I liked it more when Jesse told me it was 1 of 3. I thought it ended too abruptly.

I have one issue with this, why is everyone riding the trilogy train. This movie was definitely no "X-Men", didnt come close to "The Lord of the Rings" and in the end didnt even compare to "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" (this movie bored me so severely my butt fell asleep.... [terrible, I know]).

You may have noticed my pitiful attempt at a star-rating system in the column. It is the best I can do with this program, unless someone has a better idea.

Finally,
Thank you Sally, for encouraging me to run my mouth some more. I hope my "reviews" help "guide" you down the "right path". (-:

Week In Review

2008-06-02T19:34:00.009-04:00

While I did not mean for a week to pass me by, it seems to have happened. Let me see if I can get it all straight here. Most of the week was devoted to work for both Jesse and I.

Wednesday I went to the doctors to have her look at a mean looking freckle on my foot and Friday I had it removed.

And then we were back at the weekend. Our Subaru went back to the shop and we did enough laundry to dress 3 families. I should just be getting done putting it away when we have to do it all over again. I am really starting to love the repetitive, monotonous, redundancy of life (ha ha).

Finally, the children. Addison is plugging away outshining her brother in her ability to sleep for long periods of time at night and Owen now repeats every, and I do mean every, word he hears but somehow still manages to pretend to ignore us and our instructions.

The one thing he will do is say "Cheese" when faced with a camera. You can almost hear it in these pictures.

And little Addi is...

Changes Under Way

2008-06-02T19:30:00.002-04:00

So you may have noticed the new elements of my blog. I am branching out. Since I so very much like to flap my gums and dont care who listens, I thought I would put my movie watching to work and let you all know what I think of what I have seen and what movies I will be watching next (Comming Attractions). Most of the people I know do not share my taste in movies, so let this be a warning of movies to stay away from, or encouragement to see the movies I thought scuked dust. I am still looking for a way to have my pictures on display on the blog and not the generic ones if anyone out there can help me out with this.

My Rock-Star of Love

2008-05-26T14:47:00.007-04:00

Owen is almost certain to be a rocker. He plays his guitar, waves his arms in the air and shouts "WOOOOOOOOO" at the end of songs. He also throws his guitar around like a young Ozzie and will do anything but eat the head of a bat. (We are in negotiations now.) He got to play Guitar Hero today with Daddy and Uncle Devon and had a great time.

He takes this very seriously if you cant tell. Alas, my boy is also a lover. So sweet sometimes he could melt your heart.

My Handsomest Boy

2008-05-18T09:00:00.007-04:00

Almost every time I look at Owen I think, "What am I going to do with him," on many, many levels. He is so smart and learns things so fast now. He adds about 5-10 words to his vocabulary a day and is working on putting words together that actually make sense.
He has these Baby E. books that are just picture books and he loves to go through them telling me what the pictures are and imitating the sounds the animals make. I think I am going to have to buy a printer so I can start making him books to help him learn more. If anyone has any ideas on stimulating children that are smarter than their parents, I am all ears.

One thing (of too many to mention) that I love about Owen is his ability to play by himself happily. I can not always get on the floor with him, or run around the park with him if Addison is on my chest, but he seems happy to run around in circles doing little boy things while I try to keep up.

Generally, he is a total ball to be around and is expressing an excellent sense of humor already.

Have a great day, everyone. We are off to the park.

All-Star Stats

2008-05-18T08:50:00.005-04:00

Addison had her 2-month check up this week and is growing like a Bennett weed. She is now 24-3/4 inches (starting at 20-7/8) and weighs 12 pounds and 7 ounces (starting at 9 pounds 14 ounces).

She smiles like crazy now but saves the best ones for her mommy (of course). She smiles at Owen occasionally, when she isnt blinking like crazy because he is screaming in her face or throwing pillows at her. And Daddy has gotten some pretty bid toothless grins as well.

She is also definitely our sleeper. I think Owen wakes up more at night than she does now and I am thinking about putting her in his room and him in ours.

Other than that, she seems to be doing very well.

More to come... Owen gets his own post today, too.

P.S.

2008-05-13T12:30:00.001-04:00

If anyone knows how to make that revolving picture fest pictures of MINE and not generic pictures, I would love a tutorial. Thanks.

A Walk in the Park?

2008-05-13T12:01:00.001-04:00

Am I supposed to do this every day?

I will tell you this. I have not taken this many pictures of my kids since we brought Addison home, so for that I thank you.

This morning, my son had a hot date with the local park. He loves throwing rocks, banging sticks together and watching the big kids play. I love the 3 hours of peace I get while he is napping after the fact. It is a win-win.

This is how he started out the day.

This is how he started his nap.

I should have guessed it would be a long morning when I had to wake him up at 9 o'clock this morning and he watched his favorite TV show like this:

All the while, Addison...

Slept like a baby. (She is a drooler, if you couldn't tell.)

Better luck with the park after nap time and, hey, maybe he will actually sleep all night...

Alright, fine.

2008-05-12T19:57:00.000-04:00

So, here I am. I am blogging. So far, so good. I am not crazy about feeling committed to do even more typing, but I am told this is an excellent way to stay connected. So, lets connect.

So far this year I have changed jobs, put $1000 into a good Subaru and $200 into a n0t-so-good 1985 VW Jetta, gone back to school, had a baby girl, and started to plan a move. Not to shabby for May.

So far this year I have learned that I really do have to watch my language because my 1-1/2 year old son really will repeat every single syllable he hears (loudly and in front of strangers)(and sometimes with very real-life hand gestures), I have learned that 3.5 hours is as many hours of sleep as I can hope to get in one setting and I should not waste that time watching Law and Order re-runs, and I have learned that patience really is a virtue and that I may be not as virtuous as I might have originally thought. Also, I can change one babys diaper with another baby balanced on my thigh if all goes right.

Is this the kind of stuff you wanted to know?