Google Verb Meme

Okay, so Bri CALLED ME (on the PHONE, people!!) to tag me.

Here's where it kinda started (if you know Hank and John Green, you might have seen this video before. I've been lax and lazy and so have gotten behind on following their vlog. I know, I know. I'm an epic fail.):

But, here I go. I'll let you know if I had to mispell my name (since I AM quite singular) to get the results.

(And also, I am refusing to steal any from my own blog. That feels all cheaty-mcCheatersons)

1. Allanna needs to turn 6 more or gain 150 more Vampire points to reach the next level: Vampire Jedi!

• Wow! I never knew that (1) I was really a vampire or (2) that I was a Jedi!!

2. Allanna looks like a pilot.

• Sweet!! Did I borrow my friend Sarah's aviator hat? If so, I'd better get a haircut. It looks WICKED CUTE with a little bob!

3. Allanna says Happy Birthday Mom

• Aww, look! I'm a GOOD daughter! (I'm my mom's favorite only daughter.
  (And if you do this search, you actually get a few comments that I've done. Most of them are on breastfeeding blogs. So, yeah ... I'm nothing if not a wealth of lactating info. :P)

4. Allanna wants a gumball that costs 30 cents. Show one way she can pay for the gumball with exact change, using just nickels and dimes.

• And I'm educational!!

5. Allanna does not have any Contacts at this time.

• I have NEVER had any contacts, for the record. I've never had glasses, either.
  (And after this one, the next result IS referring to me. From Childplayx2's blog. Makes me feel all famous. :P ... Deanna was commenting that she also has to tell her children that SHE, not them, is the mommy. Good to know I'm not the only one.)

6. Alanna hates this art piece. And im pregnant and im drinking and taking valium. Have a great day.

• Unless I wanted to use a book review of one of Tamora Pierce's books (not a bad thing at all, since I own copies of most of her novels!), this was the best one. There was one result that popped up with the correct spelling of my name ... but it doesn't belong on this blog. Too much profanity. And I don't think any of you are indiscriminate in your intimate partners, per se. And, even if I did think so, I'd say it in a much, MUCH kinder way that was used. I'm just sayin'.

7. Allanna asks bluntly.

• They pegged me, huh? Although, I can try to beat around the bush, I am usually pretty candid and will cut to the chase. Unless I don't feel completely comfortable around you. (Not your fault! Just pet my hair and tell me that I'm charming. I'll spill my life story, then!)

8. Allanna likes to be Mummy, it kinda gives it that 'no parents, sleepover' type feeling for them all!

• It's cool and all, being the mom, sure. But my kids are VERY aware that I'm the mom ... so I DO get to be bossy.

9. Alanna Eats Food.

• Yes. Yes, I do. Not going to even try to deny this one. You got me there, you did!

10. Alanna wears a Vera Wang gown with Chantilly lace appliqués and an organza fan-tiered skirt

• Well aren't I fashionable! And, obviously, in debt! Where did I get the idea that I could afford something like this? I had better have rented this! Or found it at Goodwill or something! (And be wearing a shrug or jacket, since there aren't many Vera Wang dresses that I've seen ---not that I've seen all that many, sadly -- with sleeves.)

11. Alannah ain't never been arrested for walking in her sleep.

• Because, to my knowledge, I've never gone sleepwalking. Obviously my name-sharers and I are quite the law-abiding folk. *preens*

12. My Auntie Alanna Loves Me!

allanna loves granddaddy.

Allanna loves to eat <-- Obviously. Or I would be fitting in my high school clothes. I love you... but Allanna loves you more. :).

Allanna loves you very much.

Allanna Loves Sully <-- Dude, on Dr. Quinn? He was da bomb! Handsome, capable, tortured past, AND let his woman be a helpmeet? Pretty awesome guy, I'd say. ^_^

• Seriously, I'm all about the love, aren't I? *double-preens*

Yup, that's the end of it.

SO, I'm s'possed to tag 5 people to take this on themselves.

And I really kinda hate tagging folk, since what if they DON'T WANT to/don't have TIME to?

But I'm going to do it anyways. Since my friends (that's YOU!) are fun.

So, consider yourselves tagged:

• Melissa (FoldMyLaundryPlease)
• Katie (Kate the Great)
• Jenny (Life and Its Many Adventures)
• Dawn (Yng@<3) (And the quote is from Days of Thunder, if you haven't figured it out yet!)
• Brooke (Paranoid in Reverse)

If you REALLY don't want to do it, I'm not going to judge you. But I kinda hope that you will, since you all will have fun answers. ^_^

"That was rubbin'"

Props to you if you know which movie the title alludes to.

Hint: It's from 1990. And I didn't watch it until I was around14. Which was about halfway into the decade. I'm nothing if NOT anything near cutting edge. I grew up under a rock in some respects.

SO, what's been keeping me busy (and away from you beautiful people)?

• My mom came to visit. Which was superfun.
• Except for the part where we were leaving storytime Wednesday and a guy backed into the van. While we were in it. *sigh* (That's what inspired the "rubbin'" quote. "No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin, son, is racin'.") (That was your last hint.)
• My sister-in-law, T2, is gettin' MARRIED tomorrow. We have family up visiting and working on stuff for the reception. My main duty, besides a little hosting? T2's flowers. I need to take pictures of them for you all, don't I?
• And filing a claim and setting up a rental for getting the van fixed. From what we can tell, the damage is mostly cosmetic -- about a three-inch crack on the rear bumber and a swath of paint damage. Whee. At least no one was hurt.

But, yeah. The most exciting thing for the kids is TALKING about the "crash" (Totally just a fender-bender) and how the car is HURT and there was a big bump.

It really wasn't my fault. At the point of impact, I had stopped and was honking my horn repeatedly to alert the other guy to STOP and NOT HIT US, you know? (I , after giving my testimony of the incident, asked my adjustor if there were anything that I could have done differently to avoid the accident. She told me that, no, I had done everything right. Which is a VERY validating thing to hear.)

Funny thing about it: He and I had gotten out of our cars to exchange info and assess damage. He was SO visibly upset that I asked him if he needed a hug. He did.

Send us prayers and god mojo that the insurance companies will agree that I wasn't at fault ... and Michael and I will get our deductible refunded. We could use those funds. ^_^

Well, family is back! Gotta go feed them!!

Ciao, y'all!

For my fellow bibliophiles

I have a friend who's an awesome gal: teacher, reader, mom, likes to run (for FUN!! Can you believe it? Well, maybe you can. But my lazy-buns self is still flabberghasted at the idea. :P) ...

AND, Kari and her friends have a blog, Reading for Sanity. Right now (until June 30) they've opened up a giveaway.

All you have to do is become a follower of their blog (like, SIGN UP to receive updates follower), write a snippet about it on your blog or social networking site (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) and leave them a comment with your name and which of the books they've reviewed that you'd like to read next. (Seriously, they've reviewed a LOT. Lots of different genres. ... Of the newest reviews, I TOTALLY recommend "The Thirteenth Tale." It was really, really, really great.)

At this point you have, what, 22 days and just over eight hours to get signed up. So, go! Go read some reviews, see if there's something you need to add to your to-read list. (THIS list, for me, has passed 2000. Yes, I have issues. BUT I use goodreads.com to keep track of what I have read and what I want to read. TOTALLY beats the ten scribbled-out scraps of paper I used to rely on. ^_^)

Come on, what are you waiting for? You could win FIVE books!! (I don't know which ones. That just adds to the mystery! Whee!!)

And, hey, if you win ... and, um, you don't WANT some of those books ... you can TOTALLY send them my way. I'll love them and adore them and pet them and call them "George."
(I may be joking about that "George" part. You never know with me. :P)

Oh My Flip!! Chekkit Owt!!

If I were EVER to redo my wedding, I'd SO want to do this!!!!!

Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

HOW FRAKKIN' COOL IS THAT???
(And I love the song. It's a good song to run to on the treadmill. On the RARE occasions that I run. But when I walk/run on the treadmill, THIS song is an awesome motivator. And Freddy Mercury was such a ROCK STAR -- even if I can't condone his lifestyle, dude, this guy was SO awesomely talented!! Cannot describe it!)
But, srsly!! I LOVE this idea. I totally cracked up laughing SO many times watching this!!

(You did too, right???)

Fan Grrl!!!

Okay, I don't know if you're aware of this ... but I have a bit of a fan-girl crush on Seth Green.

I mean, what's not to adore about the boy??

He was SO sweet and wonderful as Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer! 
(I mean, honestly, who else can deliver lines about how the animal cracker money MUST be French? ... Gosh, I love that scene. That right there, and my Cynthia, is the reason why I can say "I mock you with my monkey pants" in French. ... Yeah. Random Allanna trivia GALORE.)

He's hilarious.

He has a cameo in Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" video.

(Yes, he DOES that little butt-slap in front of the action figures. And I giggle.)

And in interviews, he's just ... great. I like him. If I threw a dinner party of people that I'd want to just listen to ... oh, he'd get an engraved invite, I tell you.

And then, THIS!!

Un-Broke: The Seth Green Cribs Edition - watch more funny videos

It just made my day. I like that not only is he an actor ... but he's all fiscally fit. Go Seth!

What is UP with me?

It's not like I'm TRYING to ignore my blog. I just happen to do so really easily right now.

Okay, first thing to share:

A couple days ago, Bruise made Bucket mad by not doing something ... I think she was demanding asking him to play with her, and he wouldn't.

So, as I'm typing at the computer or just playing Facebook games, I hear her tearfully proclaim, "FINE! Be that way!!" ... Hmmmm. I wouldn't know where she'd learn that from.  *shifty eyes*

Yup, yet another example of EXCELLENT parenting at work.

... So, what else have we been up to? I've been doing better at reading to the kids.  Trying that 20 minutes a day thing. And it's going well enough. Phew!

I put suncreen on the kids (and HATS!) when we were working in the yard (well, Michael and I were really working. The kids mostly just followed us and whined. Or tried to play in traffic. ... Okay, not so much. But Bruise was trying to play in the street. Pushing his limits and all).

We actually have a yard under all those weeds. And I did some major cutting back of a few trees and rosebushes (and have the scratches to prove that last one). 

I also got a killer deal over at Waldenbooks. $52 = an excercise ball with resistance band that fits on it with accompanying DVD and book, Pilates workout circle with book and DVD, and the Miracle Ball Method book with 2 miracle balls. I know that I didn't NEED another exercise ball ... but the one that I had is SMALL (like, if I've draped the middle of my back on it, it's almost rolling over my head if I'm trying to stretch my back. That isn't right) and it's this weird opaque reddish-orange-salmon. Kinda ugly, in my opinion.
THIS new ball is HUGE in comparison and it's a gorgeous translucent teal. 

Hey, I don't know about you ... but having cute workout gear helps me. I know, I'm terribly vain and shallow. But, you know what? I can deal with that. And, you know, if I have cute stuff, I'm more liable to USE it. So this was a total bargain. Since usually a new workout ball and the pilates circle would be 40 bucks each ... or more.

Okay, I know that I haven't written much ... or anything important ... but I really should try to vacuum and get the dishes and laundry done. Especially since we have to leave for storytime in a couple hours ... and I haven't worked out or taken a shower.

Or a million other little things.

BUT!! I took the kiddos swimming yesterday. They LOVED their water wings (Courtesy of a great going-out-of-business sale over at Joe's). Bruise enjoyed paddling in the deep end. Bucket went down the water slide by herself. It's CRAZY how independent and brave my kids can be.
Now we just have to work on the rules of water safety.

And Bucket keeps telling me that I have a baby in my belly. I don't. It's just fat (sadly. I'd rather be this shape due to a baby being in there ... instead of stretched out and out of shape from having had TWO babies in there ... and being incredibly lazy). Really. Don't get your hopes up.

OKAY, NOW I have to get the place clean. I'm shutting up now. REALLY!!

Just thinking: Motherhood ... and not being Martha Stewart (or a whole lot of other people)

I know that women can be competitive ... even mean sometimes.

And I love it when other women take a stand (Seriously, I love how Chris is always such a straight-shooter and speaks her mind) against the group that can be all back-biting and whatever.

Also, at the same time, I do wonder if I'm doing enough for my kids. Would Bruise and Bucket be happier/better off/more self-suficient if I did things differently?

I'll confess, I'm not a GREAT mom. I'm passable. 
I love my kids, don't get me wrong. I do what I can to keep them safe. I want them to know FIRST AND FOREMOST that they are loved. That they can trust Mommy and Daddy to keep them safe, to listen to them, to love them.

Everything else? That's frosting on the cake ... And frosting is good.

My children are three.

They are ALL TOO FAMILIAR with the PBS line-up.
They recognize McDonald's as we drive past.

They have never eaten organic food on a regular basis. (Well, not on purpose, really. That stuff's SPENDY!!)
(If Costco happens to have something organic that they'd eat, sure, I'll get it. But I'm not going out of my way [and budget] to buy stuff that's going to end up either in the toilet or in the garbage. I'm just keeping it real.)

They don't get to play outside a lot.
(This will change. When they learn to listen well enough and play nicely enough that I can READ A BOOK while they play at the park ... without having to wait until Michael's home to help watch TWO LITTLE BODIES THAT ALWAYS RUN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, that's when I'll be happy to take them to the park every frakkin' day.)

(Yes, I AM that lazy and selfish. I can admit it.)

They are not reading yet.
They have not cured cancer.

I don't let them ride their tricycles outside, since I haven't bought them helmets.
(We have no real yard. They'd be in the driveway or on the sidewalk. And I think there's a law.)

I'd prefer for them to run on grass and not on the sidewalk (They SCREAM when they fall. I don't like them to scream. It makes me sad.)

Sometimes I forget to put sunscreen on my kids. I try to tell myself that at least they're getting some Vitamin D.

I mean, look at all that room for improvement.

When they break a toy, I try to fix it. Sometimes it takes a while. Sometimes, if a toy isn't fixable, it get thrown out. I've vacuumed up some things that didn't get picked up.
(I was tired of yelling at the kids to pick up their damn DRATTED messes.

My son's stool (TMI, I KNOW) has not been ... regular. He's in the midst of little-boy diarrhea (Go me! I spelled that correctly! Woo hoo! <-- Must find joy in the stupid small things.)

I am not a Martha Stewart. I'm not a SuperMom. I'm not June Cleaver. I'm not even Claire Huxtable (though, GOSH, I wish I were! She was one cool monkey-fighter. :P) I'm not Maria Montessori, either.

I'm making an effort to read to my kids daily. Sometimes I make my goal.

I would love to have a clean house and children who help, unbidden.

I would be thrilled if I suddenly were the type of gal who knew what to make for dinner every night. And had it made, piping hot on a table SET FOR DINNER, the minute my big, strong man came home from his bread-winning duties.

I'd like to be stylish and cool. (If you are about to tell me that I am, you're so sweet to lie to me. Flattery will get you everywhere. ... And if you're protesting that last statement, then  my evil plan is working and I've fooled you all!)

I'd like to have fun and educational plans for everyday ... Kinda like Teacher Suzie on Sid the Science Kid. 

I am not going to judge another mom for her parenting choices. I think it's sometimes silly to be outspoken on some issues. It's not my business whether or not you decided to circumcize. It's not my business if you chose to breastfeed or bottlefeed. If you went with cloth diapers, good for you! If you didn't, good for you!

I'll confess that I moved my munchkins from their first carseat into their facing-forward a little early (well, for Bucket. She's always been about a pound or two lighter than Bruise. And about 1/2 - 1 ince shorter). I made the choice to do this because if HE got to be facing forward, I'd never have heard the end of it. (Until you've had twins, I really don't know if you understand the whole "Anything YOU can do *I* can do better! ... or at least JUST as WELL!!" ... because, heck, I sure didn't!)

I could have gotten some serious flack about it (and, technically, I did ... but I wasn't aware of it because I don't always re-read comments after I've posted on a blog. This was not one of the times I re-visited. But one of my dear friends was kind enough to erase it before I had the chance to see it and possibly be hurt). But ... I had asked my doctor. And he told me that it was really my call. And so I made my call. And I've never regretted it.

I've been called out (online) for choosing circumcision. And, you know, I'm okay that not everyone thinks I made the right decision. I almost didn't choose to snip. I've accepted that there is someone somehwere out in the blogosphere who thinks that I'm messed up in the head for an aesthetic reason. I did fret about it for a minute (or maybe a day), but, hey, by then it was months too late. :P
Also, I had one family member who told me that she was really glad that it was being done. A past relationship of hers wasn't snipped. And wasn't all that into hygiene. Iykwim. Aityd.
I also know of someone who had a DIY circ. (YES. For realz. I know this person, not just of him.)

And, on the way into the doctor's office, from the waiting room, one of the nurses told me how glad she was that I was doing it -- since she's seen one little boy come back repeatedly for Urinary tract infections (and since I had some of those as a little girl, I was not about to have my little preshus baybee boy at risk for those. I was pretty miserable when they'd occur.)

There are a few things that are important to me, for my children, my family. Maybe they're not the same as yours. And that's okay. It's great, even!

I feel strongly in favor:

• Breastfeeding - I LOVED nursing my kids. I know that it's not for everyone.
• Helmets while on bicycles - I know a gal who, when she was a teenager, had a bad bicycle accident and is brain damaged. So I grew up in a home where you MUST wear your helmet.

I think these things are a little silly -- and that's just me:

• Requiring car seats/booster seats until a child is 4'11" -- (1) where are the studies proving that CAR SEATS (and not just seatbelts) make accidents so much safer? (2) If these are SO required, why do they cast SO much? It's not like you don't have to buy at least one for each of your kids! and (3) Why aren't they being built in to automobiles? C'mON people!
• Potty-training before a child can talk/crawl -- I have twins. It seems like a wildly WONDERFUL idea ... but I know that I couldn't possibly handle doing it. I might have saved a fortune on diapers, but I'd be a total basketcase.
• Kids getting sued for kissing another kid on the playground. (Dude, if the kid's in Elementary school, s/he does NOT deserve a sexual harassment suit. That's just crazy.)

Things I wouldn't mind trying:

• Slings/Baby-wearing - It would free up a hand/arm. That'd be AWESOME.
• Cloth diapers - Truly, it appears that they aren't any better for the environment, since you're using water and bleach to clean them. But garbage day would be a bit nicer. ... However, when you kiddo has nasty-pants, you can't just chuck them out. Hm.

The only things that I feel are wrong, wrong, wrong are abuse and neglect. (I'm not against a little swat every so often. Sometimes it can be justified. I came from a family where spanking was the norm. Also a little shouting. I don't think that I'm a murderous, sociopathic abuser. Neither do my kids.) If those are happening, then something really should be done to change the situation. NOBODY, child or adult, deserves to be treated without respect.

I'm all for not judging each other's parenting skills/techniques. What works for one family doesn't always work for another.  Heck, what works for ONE child doesn't always work for another. (And that's why there are SO DANG MANY books/shows about childrearing. :P)

So .. now that that's out there, I'd like to hear some feedback.

What are some things that you'd like to be better at (doesn't just have to be in regards to childrearing, since not all of you, my dear readers, have children)?
Want to confess anything? I'm all about listening and commiserating with you.

And, hey, if you have any great advice, tips, or magic tricks ... let me know!

And maybe then I'll be a better (more-awesome) wife and mom. Because it's nice to be good at something, right? ^_^

Paging Noah ...

So, you always HEAR about kids overflowing the tub, right?

Well ... you know how we never quite do things according to regular stereotype ...

I think that Bucket's adequately summed it up: "Mommy, it all YOUR fault."

She's right.

------

Okay, okay, I'm not going to leave it just like that. 

SO, yesterday, the kids are in the bath. I've left the water running and am talking to Michael. He goes to turn off the water ... and it's over the tub and just starting to gently lap at the carpet's edge in the hallway. 

Oops.

So we drain over half the water in the tub to a NORMAL amount, I'm put on mop-up-this-unholy-mess detail (and am getting FAR too intimate with the state of cleanliness [or COMPLETE LACK THEREOF] of the children's toilet) and using the hairdryer to dry out the spaces where the walls and floor meet. And swab out all the water that's dripped down the heat vent. And Michael's on take-all-the-sopping-towels-out-of-carpeted-areas duty.

YES, only in MY house am I the one to flood the bathroom.

At first, when Michael and I FREAKED THE CHICKEN OUT at the water level in the tub, Bucket started to apologize. We stopped her. "No, it's not your fault," Michael told her. 
"It's my fault, [Bucket]. It's Mommy's fault. I should have been paying better attention," I assured her.

So, during our prayers last night, Bucket had me helping her. 
"Thank You for not letting the house be too flooded during bathtime," I prodded Bucket.

"Mommy, that all YOUR fault," she whispered back. "It YOUR fault, Mommy."

... And it's all I can do NOT to snicker. 
Because she's right.
And it's perversely funny that she's rubbing my nose in it.

(That'll wear off fast.)

------------------------

In other news, after Michael left for work, the internet stopped working.
(It's back on. Don't get your knickers in a twist or anything.)

So, I turned off the modem, restarted the computer. Waited a few minutes. Tried it all again.

Nothing.

So I called Qwest. 
In the past, we've not always had the best relationship with our phone company.

(They once turned off our phone for no apparent reason. Never refunded us any money for that. We pretty much hated them.)
However, the phone tree-recording guy did some magic. I went through the menu ... and when I got to saying "Internet service," he oh-so-apologetically said that there is an internet outage. And they're working on it ... but there's no time estimate for when it'd be fixed ... would you like us to give you a call when this is resolved? "Yes!"

And, at 9:02 AM ... about an hour after I had called to ask the phone company what the frig was up, I got the nice recorded-man call. And he was right!

Now, this isn't the first time that Qwest has made me happy (getting a nice price locked-in "for life" for our DSL was nice. Getting a new phone wire to help the DSL work well -- very nice. ... I'm starting to really like Qwest.) ... And I thought I'd NEVER say that. At least never with a straight face.

It just goes to show you that having good customer service can really go a long way.

(For the record, I've had good customer service from Verizon ... not that I usually ever have to give them a call. But I did give them a call about a charge on our bill. And the guy I talked to? He was great. And since, as he told me, their calls are ALWAYS recorded, I made sure to tell him that he should get a raise.)

(For the record, if you're customer service ... and I tell you that you should get a raise, feel really complimented. And I hope you get that raise!)

(Also for the record, if I sound all icy and, upon hanging up, say a VERY. BAD. WORD. .. Well, I am nothing saying it because I want you to get that raise.)

BUT, I will make mention that the toilet in the kids'/hall bathroom is SO MUCH CLEANER. I love what bleach can do for a bathroom. (Not so much what it does for my dark shirts. I now have some spots on one of my nicer brown shirts. *sigh*)

I would very much like a nap now. Thank you.

Also, if you haven't wished my sister-in-law, T2, a happy birthday ... go get on it! ^_^

No clever title.

Yes, yes. It's been about a week since my last confession post.

Sorry. I've been busy (playing far too many Facebook games) ... doing stuff. 

Michael and I tackled the ginormous pile of laundry. Half of it is folded. We've watched a few DVDs (Disc 1 of xxxHolic -- anime, pretty good; The Man with One Red Shoe, Saved! <-- No, really. There's an exclamation point in the title.).  We took the kids to the zoo Friday ... when, like, at least FIFTEEN schools had field trips that morning. Oy. Used to be that 9 AM at the zoo was pretty quiet. Not so much this time.  It was crowded. And I ran over more than one errant school-child's foot. Some were not on purpose so much. (Seriously kids -- get OUT of the way of a stroller. YOU have much better control. AND if you think that STANDING in MY way is getting you any sympathy, darlin', you're so wrong.) (Also, it didn't help that I'm in the throes of hormonal-caused madness and near homocidal-ness-essence.)

Michael did remark some funny things:

• "Maybe we shoudn't go anywhere the weekend that you're on your period."
  (No, really. He's allowed to say these things. And he's right. Unless I get a good dose of Valarian in my system, I'm rather ... bwitchy. I can be honest about it. ... And I'm not a huge fan of crowds.)
• "I never used like hippos much. But since Carl (Bucket's stuffed hippopotamus), I'm really offended at how people talk about hippos."
  -- As we ate out lunch, watching the hippos, EVERYBODY who came to see the hippos were all, "WOW, Those hippos are FAT!" "Look at how FAT those things ARE!"
  ... Since, as I've mentioned, I'm not at my most Christ-like and philanthropric point of my personality, I ALMOST said to one of the boys who was talking about the rotundity of said mammals, "Wow, genius. YOU'RE one to talk." ... But you should be SO proud of my restraint. I try not to make Jesus cry.

But, yes ... having children can change a person.

Also -- completely random -- I think it's HILARIOUS when Michael says "Damn." ... He wasn't even cussing the last time he said it. (He barely EVER says it. Which is why I find it so funny when he does.) ... He and I were reading a webpage and someone had misspelled it "dam."

But his inflection!! It was so great.  ... And so I sniggered and giggled, "You said, 'Damn!'"

(Because, yes, I am JUST that mature.)

Yesterday, my Ginger-cat ... my seventeen-year-old, geriatric baby-cat smacked me.
Okay, maybe it was just a love tap. But it was because I wasn't holding her.
It made me laugh. It's like she's all, "ExCUSE me? I want to be held. In your lap. NOW. Thank yeeeeeew."

Also, the kiddos really love the cats. They like to carry Ginger. And it's so funny, since they know to hold her bottom so that it's supported ... and, like, half of her is hanging over Bruise's or Bucket's shoulder as they (kid and carried cat) walk away. And Ginger is just looking like, "What? I didn't ask for this .... Oh well."

So, yeah, even though I'm all pissy, I still find a lot of humor in things. 

Like how, ... Okay, first, let's get this straight. When this happened, it was late. And we were tired.

BUT, as I was saying, we had gone to bed after a longday of cooking dinner and things. Michael made carne asada burritos for dinner. I made monkey bread/sticky buns.

As we lay down in bed, Michael started to say something, caught himself, and was laughing. 
So, OF COURSE, I HAD to know what it was.

He snickered that he had almost called the dessert 'monkey balls.'
Hee!!!

So now I'm SO tempted to text him (and he's probably in a meeting now) "Sweet monkey balls!"
(It's almost up there with the TV edit of the famous line from Snakes in a Plane ... I haven't seen the movie. But I have just that clip here for your viewing. And it's totally SFW [safe for work].)

Seriously, that makes me SO bust up. Don't know WHY totally. It just does.

Here are some more links that I've wanted to share with you.

Cute stop action movie ... music video, really:

SFW  (and hella cute!!) - How babies are made:

Silly - Pregnant women are smug:

(I thought it was funny. And for my pregnant friends/recently pregnant friends, I'm not 
saying/thinking that it applies to you. I just think it's funny.)

Not-so-safe for work - Kindra Sutra (What kids think about sex ... or what adults thought
when they were kids.)

I was not one of these. I was precoscious. I read the encyclopedia entry about sexxoring when I was in first grade. I was shocked that they, the Encyclopedia people, would use such language
as "v@gin@" or "pen!s." ... Yeah. My mom was SO thrilled. (Not.)

Also less-safe for work: "I Remember Andrea BETTER"
(Andrea hated her high school experience. So she sent a stripper to her reunion, pretending to be her. I thought it was funny. There's no nudity ... there is a bit of a striptease, down to undies.)

It really made me snicker. And briefly consider doing the same thing.
Except that I don't know any strippers. And I don't have a film crew. Or, to be honest, the moxie to actually DO it.)

And, to close up, ADORABLE piano duet.

I'm not dead! Really! Pinkie-swears!

Yes, I know. I've been a total and complete punk. I'm aware.

However, I'm here now. And I have been a little busy ... See??

Since I last blogged:

• My mom came up to visit.
• Bucket got her ears pierced (More on that below)
• Michael and Bruise deserted us (not really) for the Father/Son Campout (Which Bucket was very saddened that she did not get to attend. She REALLY wanted to sleep in the back of the truck with her brother and Daddy.)
• I had a Stake YW Camp meeting.
• We washed the cars. I barely recognize them now.
• Mother's Day ... with the calls to grandmas and great-grandmas (Well, we did miss one. Darn time-zones!)
• I've been working out just about every day. Fear me.
• I totally pigged out Saturday on jerky, Oreos, and Doritios. So it's good that I'll be working out today. And that I still have a couple months to fit in that matron-of-honor dress.
•  ... I DID get caught up on the dishes ... and am behind again.

That's most of what all happened in the last six days.

OKAY, I promised to tell about Bucket's earrings.

Michael has always told me that *I* would be the one to take her in to have her ears pierced. He has NO desire to see her cry. BUT he was fine with doing it whenever.
(Truly, if she and Bruise had looked more alike, I'd have had it done when she was just a iddy-biddy. BUT she and her brother aren't at all identical-looking ... so I figured that I'd wait until Bucket wanted to have them done. And that happened in the last few weeks.)

The day before we went, I made sure to prepare my girl for the experience. We watched videos on YouTube of little girls getting their ears pierced. We talked about how it would feel ... and do we scream? (No.) Is it okay to cry a little? (Yes.)  Will it hurt? (It will pinch. And you have to have BOTH ears done. Not just one.) 

My mom and I took the kids over. Bruise and Mutti (my mom's nickname) played with cars out in the food court while I took Bucket in, signed all the paperwork, withstood my camera's batteries giving up the ghost before the actual piercing took place, and getting some pretty holes in my daughter's head.

Bucket chose the "purple" (fake Alexandrite/June birthstone) earrings.
She was pretty calm, holding Carl (her toy hippo) while the gal marked where the holes would be. Carl, however, was pretty nervous. So Bucket and I had to hold his hands/paws/whatever.

The first earring went in. Bucket stared for a second ... then her eyes filled with tears and she let out a little whimper. So I held her for a minute so she could find her composure ... and in went the second earring. 

If you ask her, "Were you brave?", she'll answer (and rightly so), "Yes."
"Did you cry?" "A liddle." (She was MUCH braver than I was when I had my ears pierced that first time. I bawled and hollered a bit. However, my little Bug was pretty amazing. Just tears and a whimper ... and then she was done.

It's crazy how much OLDER she looks with her ears pierced. I'd never have thought that she'd look like such a little lady due to such a small change!

But she's being really good about them. She knows that I have to clean them 3x/day (Used to be twice back in the day when *I* had mine done) ... and she won't fight too much. Unless she's tired. Then she'll whine a little. ... Until I ask her if she'd like me to take them out and let them heal up. Then she'll let me work in peace.

Mother's Day was good. The kids did wake me up around 6 AM to give me my card and a box of chocolate turtles.  (Which, when I had gotten home from my meeting the day before, Bucket was SO EXCITED about that she almost spilled the beans about! SO my daughter.)

Then Michael took them to help make breakfast and watch a video and get ready for church.
When I finally got up and was showered, I found that Michael had gotten me (and had set up) a wireless keyboard and mouse! (My old mouse gave up its click-wheel/center button ghost a couple weeks ago ... and I was using his old laser-tracker mouse, with its cord all across my desk.)

And, after he had gotten the kids ready, he did say to me, "I don't appreciate or accommodate you enough, so I buy you presents."  And I was all, "What? What are you talking about? You do tons around here!" And he told me that he doesn't know HOW I get the kids dressed and ready for church every Sunday. (I don't really know, either. It's just some miraculous habit, I guess.)
But I do like my presents.

I've been playing way too many Facebook games. (But, hey ... if you're playing Bloodlines or Castle Age or a few others ... well, you could totally add me on there. ^_^)

What else is going on? ... Um ... I vacuumed. Go me. And I did my workout today. I plan on getting more laundry washed ... and it'll get folded. Eventually. Sometime.

And I have GOT to do those danged dishes! (Again)

But for now, I'm eating leftover Spanish rice. Yay. (No, really. I like me some Spanish rice. Carbs and I are supergoodfriends. So good, that it HAS to be alloneword.)

At least my nails look nice ...

I get to deal with LYING today.

And when I say I dealt with it, what I REALLY mean to say is that I sent my children to time out while I got a shower and worked at seeing if I've gotten any closer to fitting into the dress I'll be wearing at my friend's wedding this July (Answer: Yeeeees ... I'm still not totally and completely fitting in it perfectly. BUT with the right bra ... and someone else to help me zip up the bedratted thing, I'm very close. Close enough that with the jacket on -- since the top's sleeveless and I don't do sleeveless -- it will do. Phew!!) after my mad exercising for the last couple of weeks.

AND with how much better it is starting to fit, that lets me know that if I keep up with this whole "working out" thing, I am going to make my goal. And good thing, since the alterations people over at "Expensive Dresses R Us" are too booked. Not that they really could let it out at all. So I'd better keep up at least (AT LEAST!) two more weeks of exercising 6 days a week. Which isn't bad. Since I have like, what, another two months before the wedding. And, hey, if the dress is a little loose? Not a bad thing.

However, I will let you know that trying to zip up that little bodice-thing that calls itself a top? Dude, that gave me more of an upper-body workout than the belly-dancing video I worked out to this morning (Though it was CLOSE to the workout I got from the Dancing with the Stars workout DVD that I did yesterday).

But, yeah, I've been working out rather a lot. For me, anyways. I still find it hard to walk/jog on the treadmill for longer than 20 minutes. Mostly because (1) I'm sweaty and  gross, (2) I have little children who don't help me be totally productive all the time, and (3) I'm terribly out of shape, really. But I'm getting better at it. Bit by (small) bit.

Okay, my kids are making it worthwhile to be a mom: They're running around the house wapping each other with "swords" (wrapping paper tubes -- well, one tube, cut in half, since they were fighting over it so, so, SO much a few months ago). Excellent.

Okay, excellent until, instead of beating each other about the head and shoulders, Bruise smacked me in my arm fat with a tube. Owwwww. I'll be okay.

Yesterday, Michael made good on his bargain -- If I got the kitchen cleaned enough so that he HAD a space to do so, he'd make cookies. 
Dude, I was awesome. I cleaned out the pantry, the fridge, AND did a few loads of dishes.
(Now I have a couple loads to do -- the dishes from the food I had to throw out and the dishes we used to make dinner and the cookies. And one load that's soaking and ready for the dishwasher.)

Hey, random question -- any of you ever have this happen to you? You're eating something and then your mouth starts itching and your tongue feels all wonky? Dude! It turns out that since it happens to me when I eat raw apples and almonds (and something in my salad yesterday -- maybe the raw snow peas?) that I was able to figure out that my hay fever is to tree pollen. Crazy cross-reactions.

Well, my mom's due to arrive anytime. So I'm going to close this puppy up.

How's YOUR day? *head tilt*

The kids climbed in bed with me around 6:15. Before Michael has even let for work. 
I WAS asleep.

I tried to doze.

Then my dear, sweet, demure daughter farted in my face. (Not on purpose, but STILL.)

A few minute later, I realized my back was wet. Why?

Then I came to the realization that my back was WARM and WET.

Bucket had wet through her Pull-Up.

In our bed.

All before 7 AM.

Now it's a quarter after 8. I need to exercise, shower, get the kids dressed, and take them to storytime.

And actually do the dishes and fold/put away the laundry today. I NEED to do it.

*sigh*

So, um, yeah ... How's your day going?

Chilly ...

Seriously, after last week, where I had to turn on the air conditioner ... now I'm FREEZING!

Oh well. No big. It's springtime in Oregon! It's not like it's some huge surprise.

I didn't really exercise at all during the weekend. I was good on Thursday, when I used the treadmill before packing and everything for our little trip to visit my folks. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, though? (We got home Saturday evening) Nuttin'.

So, today I tried out my Bollywood Booty DVD that I ordered as a birthday present, thanks to my sweet stepsister sending me a gift certificate to eBay. So I got myself Strictly Ballroom (which, if you haven't seen it, HIE THEE HENCE!!) It's rather darling. And I really like movies that involve dancing. Bride and Prejudice? Excellent! Mrs. Winterbourne? That tango scene? LOVE IT! Even though Dance with Me isn't the bestest movie ever, I still love the dancing. Especially that cute gal ... the one who says, "I wanna do that, too!" Adorable. ... And if you see a version of Shall We Dance, please, for the love of all that is good and holy in the world, see the Japanese version. NOT the Richard Gere remake. Do it for the children! If you don't, the terrorists will win. *intense nodding* Yup, yup.

BUT, as I was saying, I did the WHOLE Bollywood Booty workout. It is pretty fun. And I was sweating GLOWING rather a lot, so I know it's working.

Michael did mention that he can tell that I'm getting more toned around the midsection. Phew!
(also, THANKS, Hon! I appreciate it!)

Well, I don't have a whole lot to share ... nothing really great. If you were wondering about the book review that I posted this morning ... if you join one site, they'll send you a free book to review. Once you post a review on a commercial-type site (Amazon, B&N, etc.) and your blog, you can get another book. For free. To review. And keep.

So, sometime this week, I need to post another review (I've had this book for at least a month ... but there wasn't any due date. The Noticer, however, is available for sale starting tomorrow. They requested reviews be posted today to help generate buzz. And, hey! If you like Mitch Ablom books, totally read this one. It's not the bestest book ever in the history of time or anything, but it was good. And I was able to get through it in an evening. Which helped. Since I'm a terrible procrastinator horribly busy. CLEANING HOUSE and GETTING IN SHAPE FOR THAT WEDDING and reading blogs and playing games on Facebook THINKING ABOUT DOING YARD WORK or READING TO MY CHILDREN ... or something. Yeah.

But I DO need to clean the house (do a load of dishes, sweep, vacuum, fold Mt. Laundry, do another load or two of laundry ... put all that laundry away ... watch a couple of DVDs that will be due tomorrow ... Read and review another book. Read some library books ... Spend time with MAH BAYBEES ... stuff like that).

And get a shower so I don't break out again. Maybe it'd help if I kept with my routine of washing my face at night? Do you think? *rolls eyes*

Book Review - The Noticer by Andy Andrews

The Noticer starts with Andy living under a boardwalk in coastal Florida. He hates his life, feels completely abandoned by his parents’ recent deaths, and is doing all he can do to keep himself fed and reasonably sane.

One evening, his solitude is disturbed by a stranger … a stranger who knows his name and knows that his parents have died. Andy is a little disturbed that this stranger knows all these things about him – how? The stranger describes himself as “a noticer,” he notices details that a lot of people overlook. He helps Andy, among others, to change their perspective in life for the better. This book, more than being about Andy’s change, is about the impact of one’s perspective on one’s life, relationships, and overall happiness.

 

As I read this book, I enjoyed the ways that Andy Andrews incorporated wisdom that he’s gleaned over his life into this fiction work. At times, it reads almost like a real-life study … especially since the protagonist shares the author’s first name.

 

Andrews writes characters and ideas that are easy to relate to: an adult left on his own after his parents’ deaths, a married couple at the end of their rope, teenagers wondering about marriage, a man trying to provide his ideal of living for his family …

There are some parallels between Andrews’ writing and some other books that I’ve read in the past. One chapter draws on the ideas from Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages. There are also some similarities in tone to Mitch Ablom’s books, which I have also enjoyed.

 

This is a good allegorical work with some very important life lessons. It’s also a refreshing and enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it. 

I was able to review this as a member of the Thomas Nelson Book Review group:  http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

Progress ... I think

I am still doing okay on eating more healthfully. I did eat a lot of pizza last night ... but it was so good.

I walked 30 minutes on the treadmill yesterday. 20 minutes today. While the kids are napping, I'm going to do a workout ... maybe two if I really feel productive.

I have a load of dishes to do. But just the one. Which is pretty awesome for me.

The kids are still sick. They're not running fevers today so far ... so hopefully that part is over. They are still coughing and snuffed up (Bucket more than Bruise).  Bucket woke up last night, coughing enough that she threw up. Fun.

I spent most of the kids' naptime yesterday in the shop, going through boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes ... Found a good deal of stuff for starting a little preschool thing, regardless of whether it's with the group of gals from church or if it's just T and me.

I also FINALLY found my workout-type stuff: yoga mat, strap, blocks (which are a little worse for wear), a few weights, some resistant bands/cords. And jump ropes. I also have a new kickball for the kids and a nice long jump rope. If I get another, maybe with some SERIOUS help, I could finally learn how to do double-dutch.

(Knowing how long it took me to learn to jump into a moving jump rope, I have some deep reservations on trying double-dutch. It looks AMAZINGLY cool when other people do it ... I just have some phobias about being hit in the face with those spinning ropes. Eeeps.)

I really wish that all health plans would cover chiropractic and massage. 
I'm just saying. My back isn't terribly sore or anything. 
And the massage? Total bonus. I think that everyone would be so much better off with a weekly massage to look forward to. Wouldn't you agree?

And I think that pedicures should be covered under mental health procedures. Maybe that's because I always feel so much happier and more feminine when my little piggies are all pretty and pampered.

Yeah, if I ran the world, there would be some things that would be quite different. Like, prisoners wouldn't have any priviliges that the common citizen doesn't. 
I'm just saying that *I* don't get free cable or healthcare or gym benefits. And I'm one of the taxpayers.

I also think that second-time offenders need to make TOTAL reparations ... and maybe have a swift removal from all forms of society. Yeah, check me out, Mizz Mercifulificity. (Can you tell that I'm a little angsty and hormonal?)

------------

Total different topic: My kiddos are cute.

As I was on the treadmill, listening to my iPod, Bruise and Bucket are bouncing around, "Mommy, you exercising! You walking! You exercising so you feel better!!"

Yeah, I do have my own little cheerleading section. Which ... well, totally rocks.

Gack!!

Why does it seem that once you START to get things in order, suddenly EVERYTHING snowballs into a giant whirlwind of "ohmycrap"ness??

So, I am still a little sick. Saturday, Michael and Bucket came down with the creeping crud. Bucket's nearly better today (just stuffy and coughing -- Not like yesterday when my little princess was fine with not going to church, telling me that "I not feel so good"). Bruise woke up last night with a fever and the cough ... he's almost completely better. Phew. Michael's still not feeling 100%, but he's back at work.

I tried on the dress/ensemble/thing that I'll be wearing at my friend's wedding this summer. TOO TIGHT. 
ACK! I should have known that playing all those Facebook games and eating all the food at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter ... and all the candy from and in-between those holidays was going to catch up with me!

SO, I've started a little exercise regime ... and I'm trying to eat more healthfully. I've done my new resistance-bands workout (I got a set with the three bands on sale at Joe's) twice so far this week. And I used my treadmill today. Got to break in my new playlist I spent a good deal of my sick-day yesterday building. (Note to people: "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen? Awesome song for walking/jogging/running. I'll let you guess what most of my half-house on the treadmill was spent doing.)

(Also, I'll be waiting for a couple of weeks for some CDs I put on hold to come in at the library. Yay for more workout music! Yay especially for radio-edits of fun workout songs that I wouldn't be able to listen to around my children otherwise!)

Funny story: The other evening, Michael and the kids were watching YouTube videos on his computer. He started looking up ones with princesses in them for Miss Bucket. One, I guess, had a Britney Spears song ... and after she states, "I'm Britney, b****," he quickly changed that one ... to "My Humps" by Black Eyed Peas. 
That set me off laughing because (1) Michael's uneasy letting the kids listen to PCD (Pussycat Dolls) with their provacative lyrics ... and (2) he OBVIOUSLY wasn't remembering the lyrics in this song ("What you gonna do with all that ***, all that *** inside your jeans?" ... No, I'm NOT going to tell you how I know these lyrics so well. But I will tell you that if you've seen the original BEP music video of "My Humps," that the cover by Alanis Morrisette is right HILARIOUS. Just sayin'.)

In other news, as I was surfing the webernet yesterday, the click-wheel on my mouse up and died. Now I'm using the other mouse that Michael had with his older laptop. ... I don't think I care for it so well. I mean it's sleek and black and has a little cushy bit for your palm to rest on ... Maybe if I try it without my (getting-beat-up) cheap-o mousepad (Hey! It was cute and on clearance at Borders!), it might work better. If not, I'm sure that I have my old mouse still in the shop. Somewhere. Maybe.

Also, while trying to get that new playlist that I worked so hard on onto my iPod, ... well the dang thing wouldn't work. It would tell me that my iPod was corrupted and that I'd have to restore it ... and then it'd say that the restore failed ... but, I did remember that I've recently updated the software and it needed a restart to finish the installation --- Thankfully, that did the trick. Phew! Because I needed a nice, new playlist. It makes me happy.

I also am all anti-social-ish and insomniac. Thanks, Mother Nature. Maybe Miz Britney Spears was referring to you in her intoduction? She sure could have been. I wouldn't really argue. *rolls eyes significantly*

Well, I have T coming over with her son, J. I need to do a load of dishes ... and get a little more caught up on the laundry. Wish me luck. ^_^

Oh, and I don't know how many of you are on Facebook with me. There was a little interesting story there:
I had remarked that I had a virus (the snot-fest that I've mentioned before). I also remarked in my status update that I was feeling lethargic.
One of my friends commented that "That's the pregnancy talking ... did I just tell everyone?"

Funny, sure. Except that people jumped on that. Two of my friends and one of my cousins are all, "Allanna, are you PREGNANT? Are you holding out on us???"

I'm not pregnant. Not at all. (As you can infer from a few paragraphs above, I'm SURE that I'm not pregnant.)

So, because my friend, D, loves to start a rumor (and is completely unrepentant about it, cheeky girl!), I had to change my status to read "Allanna is NOT PREGNANT. SHE HAD A VIRUS. WITH LOTS OF SNOT." ... Well, that's the gist of it.

Though I do have on a pair of my maternity jeans today. Because they're blisfully loose and don't ride up in places that denim should definitely NOT be visiting. NOT because I am a sacred vessel. Because the only thing in my belly is a weight-loss shake from Costco.

Yup, that's how I'm rolling today. 

Now, off to do those dishes. *sigh*

Birthday Aftermath/Easter Extravaganza

The day before my birthday, my mom called to let me know that my Stepdad wasn't feeling well ... and since he's of the previous generation (read: In his current age, he needs someone to help take care of him when he's sick), she wouldn't be able to come up. :(

So she and I were stiff-upper-lipping it to each other, saying that we'd get together as soon as we could ... that (from her) would it be okay if she came up next week and (from me) that it's important that she take care of my stepdad, that I'd be okay, that one can help these things.

Well, my stepdad was feeling better, so unbeknownst to me, Mom came up! I was just putting on a DVD and getting ready to paint my nails ... since I had put the kids to nap (which they did NOT do) after going to storytime and watching a show or two. 

As I put it to Bri when she called to wish me a happy birthday, "It was a total surprise! I had to button my pants!" (Yes, I had unbuttoned my jeans to paint my nails. Yeah, I need to start walking on the treadmill or something, huh?)

But it was a great surprise. Mom had checked with Michael to make sure that she wouldn't be encroaching on any plans that he might have lined up ... Nope. It was perfect. I had gotten caught up on the dishes, I had my mom up, we all went out to dinner and had delicious Mexican food ... Michael and I went out shopping (No, I STILL don't know what I really want for my birthday). Life is good.

I got quite a few calls -- my dad, Aunt J, Grampy (which was a surprise -- he apologized for not getting my card in the mail earlier. I had just assumed that I'd fallen under the radar. He has quite a few grandkids.), Bri ...

My (AWESOME) visiting teachers had brought me a (DELICIOUS) Coldstone Creamery cupcake (try saying THAT three times fast. Go ahead. I'll wait) ... which I devoured after putting the kids into naptime ... or an attempt at naptime.

I had bazillions of friends on Facebook (some of whom I only know through games ... they really didn't have to) wishing me a happy birthday. I feel very, very loved.

(And to my friends that forgot/were a little late, no worries. I know that y'all love me. Or at least tolerate me.)

Mom headed home Saturday, so it was a nice visit. Bruise and Bucket enjoyed all the Easter loot they acquired ... baskets from Mutti (my mom) on Thursday, Grandma and Grandpa (Mom and Dad C) Saturday night (AND playing with their cousins! Such joy!!), and the loot from us Sunday morning --- I'm thrilled to say that our IKEA purchases were a hit! Bucket loves her little Duktig tea set; Bruise was practically off-the-wall with his Lillabo train. It has a TUNNEL! It has a BRIDGE! It's so like the one at the library!

Grandma and Grandpa were able to come to church with us ... and so were Michael's Grandma and Grandpa (I'm resolving to try and go over to visit them at least once every two weeks. They only live across town. It's not like it's HARD to go see them). 

Since Mom and Dad C took the kidlets to Nursery, as Michael and I walked to pick them up (the munchkin brigade, not Mom and Dad ... they had to take off after they took the kids to their class), I joking said to Michael, "Hey, you want to bet that [Bucket]'s first remark will be 'Where's Grandma and Grandpa?'" ... We laughed about it for a sec ... and sure enough, I was completely correct. As if it had been scripted, even!

I made ham and mashed potatoes (the cream I had went bad, so I used sour cream in them --- good idea! Theyre were delicious!) and roasted broccoli. 

I'm back to having my gnarly post-nasal drip-thing. I don't know for sure if it's allegies or just a random virus -- I'm hoping for the virus, so that I won't have to anticipate being all snuffed-up and miserable whenever I do yardwork (Did I mention that, in preparation for Easter, I TRIED to clean up the yard? I seriously did some pruning and raking -- And then it rained Easter morning, so we didn't even consider hiding the eggs in the yard. And it was hella cold, too).

So, I'm doing my sick-thing today. I'm in my robe, sipping hot drinks -- beef bouillon cubes right now -- to help my poor sore throat ... and, wow, I should REALLY buy stock in Kleenex; I've been using more than enough. *sigh* And I get to wake up in the middle of the night with my nose completely stuffed ... Wah wah wah. Poor me.

I was feeling better for a couple days. I think it's gotten a little worse, since Michael and I were staying up so late during the weekend. My bad. 

Oh, I got a haircut with my mom. It's cute. It's not a huge change ... Bri, if you remember the haircut I got from you? It's pretty much the exact same cut. Funny, huh? I was looking at a picture of Rosemund Pike (from the newer version of Pride and Prejudice and Die Another Day, that James Bond one where she's Madonna's fencing protege?), and I loved her hair!
Turn out that it's my (grown-out) haircut ... just with some styling! How funny!

And it's still long enough that I won't have any problems in putting it back into an up-do for my friend's wedding this summer. (I was going to wait to cut my hair until after the wedding ... but I was really tired of my grow-out, so I went for it, knowing that, hey, if it's a little short, I'd still have some time to get used to it/grow it out a little before the wedding.)

So, yeah, that's most of what's gone on ... besides Bruise playing with the train and talking about "jelly beams" ... It's been a good, if a little busy, week. 

Now, just to get over this sinus-thing. Ugh. I think I'm going to mandate naptime today. And it'll be mandatory for ME, too.
That and some time watching the Colin Firth P&P before I have to return it to the library.

And then I'll tackle the housework that was negated by all the Easter excitement and Bucket trailing easter grass all over the house. And the "jelly beams" in the carpet. *sigh* But, at least, the kiddos have had lots of fun. So it's worthwhile, right?

Smile ... You are wonderful.

Okay, this is so frakkin' adorable. It's 16 minutes long; it's totally and completely worth it. (Okay, in all honesty, it is a little schmaltzy at the end ... but so darling!)



And, hello!! It's Hodge-Podge from Bones!! I LUFF him!!
(Seriously, a few season ago, I LOVED the exchange between him and Angela -- "Did you just SMELL my HAIR?" It makes me smile.)

But, really, this is a really excellent short film. I like it very, very much. 
So I wanted to share it with you.

I hate my sinuses ...

With THAT out of the way,  you should be really proud of us.

This weekend, we (mostly meaning Michael):

• installed a water line for the new fridge's ice machine/water spout-thing
• did our taxes
• cleaned our bedroom
• cleaned the living room
• cleaned the stove/oven
• got it so that the oven's more level
  
• watched some DVDs from the libraries
  We watched Fun with Dick and Jane, Horton Hears a Who, ... and we're now on the last disc of season one of Pushing Dasies ... which is REALLY cute.

This morning, I got the kids in some clothes and we (meaning ME) worked on the yard a bit. I filled up the yard waste recepticle with some branches and leaves ... I trimmed some of the shrubbery (oh, how I LOVE that word! Makes me think of Monty Python ... and makes it a little more worthwhile to have itching eyes and a Niagra-like flow from my nose. Yech!) ... I still need to rake a buttload (YES, that IS a technical term) of leaves (the ones that fell since I raked last ... in, like, November) and weed the yard. *sigh*

I need to research some good weed killer-stuff. Any recommendations?

I also finished addressing, sealing, and stamping the invites for my friend's bridal shower. And they are in the mail! Woot!!

Before the Strengthening the Family seminar, I was able to print off some rolls and stuff for Young Women's. Phew!  Now I need to work at getting the May calendar totally ready to be handed out by the ... let's see ... 26th. So I have a little time. Phew.

The kids are sacked out, waiting for me to get lunch ready, watching The Sword in the Stone. 
I have tons of laundry on the bed, waiting for me to fold it. But I'm more than halfway through washing all the dirty clothes. I figure that, after I get the kids to lie down for a nap, I can fold laundry while I watch The Jane Austen Book Club (since it's due back at the library tomorrow) ... and rake another receptical-full of leaves the H out of our yard. And do the dishes (so the kitchen will be almost totally clean. And try and read through a book or two ... And get a shower.

And I need to take a couple things out to the shop ... and grab stuff for dinner while I'm out there. Go me, having ANY idea of what to cook for dinner before 5:30 PM!! Yay me!!

But I've worked on cleaning little bits of our bathroom. And I cleaned the kids' bathroom yesterday. I need to vacuum the kids' room sometime. And I should read to them today.  But our room looks SO GOOD! Like, really, really good. Once I get all the clothes off the bed, I can make the bed and it's gonna look EXCELLENT.

And, before family comes into town, I can get the desk and the kitchen counter all cleaned up ... and we'll be doing great. And maybe my allergies (which I never USED to have this badly ... if at ALL. Stupid dust. And grass pollen. *sigh*) will quit being such a total punk-butt.

Yes, you are in total AWE of my mad vocabulary skillz. (Drat my German classes, though. I keep wanting to spell "vocab" the German way, since it's a totall cognate -- "vokab" ... It's not the only word that I have to remind myself to spell the American/English way, though. Just one of the bigger ones.)

Oh, and, btw, I gave up waxing. I'm happily hair-free and thrilled to be reunited with my razor. I might try a professional waxing sometime. But, really ... I was totalling things up ... and if I got ALL the waxing done I'd want (armpits, whole leg, bikini-area) I'd be spending around a hundred bucks. Ouch. Just THINK of how many books I could buy with that! I could get PAIRS of SHOES! I could buy some hardware for my computer! It ALMOST covers the cost of Publisher 2007 (which I'd like) ... I just don't know. I mean, I can't even bring myself to pay for a PEDICURE, I'm that frugal (read: CHEAPO!!) ... Yeah.

Maybe if we suddenly start raking in the bucks ... and, gosh, if we did, I TOTALLY know how to spend those bucks. I'm so GOOD for the economy, given the chance. ^_^

Gosh, can you tell that I'm kinda tired? Yeah, I am. I'm being even more random than normal ... if such a thing is possible. *sigh*

My Children ...

I'm going to be totally honest -- Going into this whole motherhood-gig, I totally knew that (with me as a mother), they'd definitely need some therapy.

Exhibit 1 - At the aquarium yesterday, Bucket is happily going through the gift shop. She has a killer whale toy in one hand and a wind-up diver in the other. She happily turns to me as she plays and chirps, "Look! It eatin' him!" 

Um ... yes, obviously my children are aware of the circle of life. And, obviously-er, they've inherited my sense of humor ... since I really, really wanted to laugh until I needed a clean set of underdrawers.

OR

Exhibit 2 - As Bruise comes out of the bathroom from taking a bath, he's crouched over and shuffling, hands over his crotch.
"Wook, Mom! Mah pen!s is gone!"

I really have no comment on that one, though it does remind me of a conversation with Bucket from the other day:

I was warning her of what would happen if she got gum in her hair (namely, that we'd have to get it out)
ME: And then we'd have to cut your hair short ...
Bucket: And I'd be a BOY!
Michael and I exchange a look
Michael: Bucket, you would still be a girl.
Me: Your hair length has little to do with your gender, baby. You'd still be a girl. You're never going to be a boy, okay?

I mean, really ... from how much my kids tell me that they're male/female based on the fact that they have an anatomically-correctly-named parts, you'd think that they'd GET things like that. Silly children.

At the Strengthening the Family seminar (about effective communication with your teen/pre-teen), Bucket didn't want to play with the other kids ... so, as Bruise happily interacted socially, Bucket sat with Michael and me for a lecture. Overall, she was okay. Michael did have to take her out to talk to her about the importance of being quiet so everyone else can listen ... and the fact that if Mommy can't listen to a lecture and take notes, she starts to go completely apoplectic. 
(Well, I wasn't privy to the whole conversations ... so I can only guess at how he put it.)

(And that part about me? Totally true. It stresses me out. I WANT to be able to listen. I don't think I've been able to focus on a talk in Sacrament meeting since the kids were born. And now I'm TERRIBLY out of practice of being able to pay any attention at all to a talk/lecture. It's like child-induced ADD. *sigh*)

By the by, Bucket is BEYOND excited to go to school. Poor girl.  She's going to be nearly six before she gets to attend, since she's got a winter birthday. I think she'll be beyond thrilled when T and her son and Bruise, Bucket and I do the little preschool-y thing that T proposed doing.

Today, we cleaned the ward building (well, we did our part) then hurried home to listen to General Conference. We set up the kids with a show in the living room and took Michael's laptop to the bedroom  (thanks be for wireless internet! I pink, puffy heart DSL!) and listened to conference while we worked at cleaning our bedroom ... and sneezed about a bazillion times. 
We dusted and put up the curtains that Dianne so nicely passed onto me ... they look so pretty! ... and I went through at least 40 lbs. of magazines. We hung upt clothes, sorted through things, and I rearranged the piles of books on my shelves. It's nice to be able to walk in there now. I have a sinking feeling that we'll be tackling the bathroom (with even MORE piles of magazines that I really WANT to read through ... but never seem to have the time to do!) tomorrow.

But, I'll have to say, it was really nice having the kids occupied in another room. I actually had the chance to try and LISTEN to talks. Sweet!

Also, I got a pair of pants for Michael -- slacks, brand new, flat-front -- $10 on clearance. Go me. So he had pants to wear to priesthood session, since I had thrown his other slacks (two pairs) into the washer. Oops.

My children need a nap. Thank goodness that it's nearly badtime. I think that after we tuck the kids in, we'll watch a couple episodes of Pushing Daisies. (I checked out Season One from the library) So far, the pilot was really cute. It's funny to recognize some characters from other shows. The male lead was Michael in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (which, if you haven't seen it, is quickly becoming a new favorite movie of mine). And one of the aunts ... I KNEW that I recognized her ... and that she had different colored hair in whatever I knew her from ... It's AUDREY from Little Shop of Horrors! So funny! It's good to see that she's still doing things. ^_^

So, yeah ... that's most of what's going on. That and I am AMAZING. I have my friend's bridal shower invites printed off and folded ... Just need to address the envelopes, seal, stamp and send them off. Woot!!