In love with vampires

Yeah yeah, its a 'young adult book' but whatever...I'm on the fourth...maybe that's why I haven't been on this thing in 5,000 years...whatever...the 1st book is Twilight...New Moon...Eclipse...Breaking Dawn...I'm addicted, its true...I'm going to see the movie this Friday when it opens...some of the girls from work are coming with me! We're so excited...the actor who plays Edward (the BEAUTIFUL vampire in the book) also played Cedric Diggory in the 4th Harry Potter Book...just fyi...so anyway, meet me at the movies on Friday night, the late (9pm) show...Fossil Creek...we'll have a coke to stay awake.

my little abercrombie models & a little nkotb

OK, so I'm combining posts because of...well, several things: 1. Gwen and Daddy are having bath time (and Graelyn's asleep); 2. I can no longer look at my blog at work...I know, I almost cried; 3. I have limited amount of time before someone will holler my name and I'll have 1000 things to do all over again!
OK, so here is a picture of the girls today as we went to the punkin patch! Fun times....to me, they look a little like the abercrombie pictures we used to take at OBU...think Grand Canyon girls...reality is that Gwen had NO intentions of staying still with all the bounce houses and Graelyn was just chillin' as usual.

Sooo, the other thing...last Sunday night 3 of my friends and I (all 3 of these friends are from 3 different stages of my life and have become "blog" friends and now real friends...it was AWESOME to go with them) went to see New Kids on the Block...you heard right...the tickets were free and AMAZING! Even better, the show rocked and I've now become a fan all over again...the show really was great, they are older but so are we...it was great...we laughed (because this lady in front of us had the old school jacket from the late 80's, no lie, read KJ's blog about it...and the lady, not KJ was CRAZY!) we sang and we screamed...it was a hoot.

Here are some pictures:

And finally, here's a video of them singing...cool...yes, I'm a fan and YES I would have purchased a t-shirt and worn it proudly but let's face it $45 is a heck of a lot of money to pay for a t-shirt...unless it's the cutest t-shirt you've ever seen and it makes you look like you've lost 15 pounds...I'd pay $50 for that kind of t-shirt...

And then you remember...

I'm tired...yeah, I know, its 10:43pm, I have to get up at 5:15 (ok, 5:30 because I'll snooze) and I'm sitting here on this computer typing...but something must be said...surely someone wants to read it. I get up in the morning, tired, nay, exhausted at the thought of taking another shower, putting on my makeup and getting ready again for another day at school...don't get me wrong, I like what I do, I miss my girls more than I can say but I like what I do...it's the ideal situation for our family right now...but lately, I've been complaining, not to anyone mind you, but to myself. Yes, I'm admitting that I talk to myself...whatever, you do too, you just might not admit it to thousands (OK, 10's) of people! 

Anyway, I've been complaining to myself, not enough time, not enough money, not clean enough, nothing fits, no time to run, no time to run errands, no time!!! Just before this, I went into the girls' rooms, I do this every night before I go to bed, just to check...really just to take one more look at them, breathe them in before I collapse on my bed. They are so peaceful, so beautiful, so close to our God...these are the times when I speak to our Father...these are the times I feel closest to him...it's almost like this is how he sees us, peaceful, pure, open...and quiet enough and still enough to receive his grace and mercy and love.

I am gratefully blessed by these angels God has given me...grateful for their precious hearts and giving spirits...they already have Jesus with them and I see it when Graelyn gives her best friend Abby hugs over and over throughout the day at Ms. Kathy's and when Gwen volunteers to share everything I've packed in her lunch on Museum School days...she wants to share with my mom...and she even wants to share candy corn...her favorite fall candy.

I need to be more like them...I need to dole out the hugs and share my candy corn, again and again, just like my girls.

I promise not to preach anymore this week...maybe this month:)

BOWS! BOWS! And more BOWS!

Sooo, my lifelong friend Kelly and I have been slowly, quietly starting our own business. We've been to a few craft fairs and are going to more this fall...and now...we've launched our own website! If you are in the market for bows, paci clips and other kid/baby stuff, check it out...let us know what you think.

Feel free to order something and let me know if you don't see something that you want, we probably make it or can! And as always, it's a work in progress so we'll continue to add things all the time!

Oh yeah, and here's the website:

www.abbygrae.com

You've Got the Right Stuff...Baby

Ok girls, admit it, you were fans of NKOTB...whatever you were! I went to 2, yes 2 concerts when I was in middle school so don't play. Anyway, I found this FABULOUS new site...check out my sites below under "as if you didn't get enough celebrity above" and scroll down...this chica went to the new concert!!!! I'm just dying because she LOVED it!!! Sooo, ladies, the New Kids on the Block will be at the AAC (that's the American Airlines Center for you weirdos) on October 19th...who's in...we'll just make it a whole weekend together...SERIOUSLY????

Museum School

Soo, 2 weeks ago was Gwenie's first day of Museum School...SHE LOVED IT! My mom's taking her and she just had the best time...she had such a good time that I have to now pack her a lunch to eat in the car on the way back to Ms. Kathy's...funny stuff! She thinks she's so big with her lunch and school...I think I'm going to have to re-budget to get her into more school...maybe Rebekah's preschool or something...she LOVES school...but so did I...LOVED it...maybe that's why I'm still here...who knows.

Doesn't she look like SUCH a big girl...tear.

Mothers of boys, have you ever looked like this???

OK, so Gwen and Graelyn and I were playing dress up the other afternoon and here's what she dressed me up as...sort of the Minnie Pearl of hair really...for those of you who NEVER watched HeeHaw, Minnie was the old lady with the hat full of pins and flowers...and she always said "HOOOOOWWDDDEEEE"

Anyway, this morning, Gwen dressed her, I mean my old Cabbage Patch Doll the same way! (a disclaimer, for those of you waiting for your Cabbage Patch Doll, they will be made available at Rebekah's little Blessings party thing...free gift with purchase kind of thing!)

You gotta fight for your right...to paarrrrrrttttaayyyy!

Here are our pics from the party...the rock'n'roll party...the girls had a blast! Thanks Dylan for a

great party!

Bath time!

So last night since Kim was stranded at our house (we had a blast by the way, not an intrusion like she says), Graelyn and Landon decided it was time to take a bath together with the promise that it would not, under an circumstances, occur again until they were both 28-30 years old...they figured that was a good age to get married so for now, this is it folks, enjoy.

Grad Cake

Here's a picture of the cake Kim and made this weekend. It was for my mom's friend's son...he just graduated from UNT! We had so much fun making this!

Here's Gwenie, making her own cake...she iced it and even put fondant on it and everything!

OK, seriously...

OK, I've looked all over the freakin' dashboard or whatever and can't figure out how to put the new "titles" underneath all of your fancy blogs on my list on my blog...Bek and Sarah and Jenny all did it..tell me how please!
OH yeah, and as for next Friday, the 8th....where, what time? I need to have a plan...I'm OCD like that.

Well, since Kim did it...

Here's a picture of my cake that I made for my final project in cake class with Kim...since I already made Graelyn's birthday cake, I decided to do something different...our teacher had that ribbon cutout so I put it on my cake...I know, I was totally brown-nosing but I can tell you that, without a shadow of a doubt, there was another lady in our class who was the WORST! at brown-nosing!

Grae's cake

Here are a few more pics of the party...specifically the cake!!

Is that you mommy?

OK, so this is a little self-indulgent but I was sitting here reading blogs and catching up and Gwen looks over (she was watching Cinderella on the VCR...yes, not on the monstrosity in the living room but our old fashioned but no less loved, tube TV in our bedroom) to the computer and says, "Is that you mommy?" and here's what she was looking at:

All I can say is the girl's got taste...both my daughter and Reese included in "the girl's" because let's face it...it's true.

Graelyn's Luau

Well...Saturday my baby girl turned one and had a bang up party! We officially had 20 adults and 10 kids in my little house! It was a blast and everyone seemed to have a good time...we have tons of food left over and TONS more cake! I'll revise my post once I get the pictures of the cake from my mom...she was in charge of taking pictures of that since I was busy doing stuff:)

Anyway, here's my recap...you should check out Sarah's recap though because it was way funny and honestly, very true...some of my comments will reference her's so be sure to check her blog out for sure!

My observations/experiences:

1. Graelyn didn't go crazy into the cake...this is how insane she got:

2. My husband Seth is a FANTASTIC daddy to our girls and loves them so much...plus, he makes mean burgers and dogs if I do say so myself...good job Seth on the grillin' my man! Oh yeah, and in this pic, he looks like he's saying "do what?" Which is totally a Texas phrase so he's for SURE not saying it:) (For those of you not from the South, "du wut" as its pronounced is another term for "pardon" (which we are teaching Gwen to say instead of huh?)).

3. Graelyn got really really cool gifts...some of which Gwen is wanting to steal but we're working on sharing and understanding that sister has her own toys now too:)

4. I have really really wonderful friends and family...my step mother in law Nancy commented on how sweet y'all all were and what great friends Seth and I have...well said Nancy...I agree...y'all rock!

5. Jenny was SUPER cute in her orange dress...she's always been so freakin' cute and sassy, love it and her "scrunched" hair! VERY CUTE! Good job dressing your boys too...oh yeah and Rob was super helpful with being my guinea pig...I didn't have utensils for the burgers, dogs or tomatoes and he helped me out with that...what a helper!

6. Sarah and Jeremy (and of course the Margs with her CUTIE bathing suit)should have stayed longer...it was sort of like a vacation at our house anyway because we had water, food, drinks and fun...I mean, it was like a resort...sort of! But this family is way funny and Jeremy and I have promised to dig up "Spring Affair" pictures of when we acted together at OBU...this should be good.

7. Kim and Aaron can talk to anyone...Kim always is funny and cute and fun and Aaron can talk to anyone about anything! He and Rob were chatting with each other about Michigan/Notre Dame/Ohio State (I think that was it...probably more) football and seemed like old friends. Landon of course, was cute and even got a little lovin' from my grandmother, MawMaw!!! He's so lucky because she's amazing! However, on a side note, she had to have an "adjustment" from the chiropracter today because of lifting heavy objects but other than that, she's fine...just kidding Landon...you are precious.

8. Rebekah and Chris walked in with Jamba Juice ONLY for themselves...you may not have anyone else jealous but you did me...I drank those things like Jenny drinks wine when I was pregnant with Graelyn...good stuff! Luke and Isaac had their own party going on outside on the slip'n'slide and pool...way fun...and they "ordered a hot dog" from daddy about 5 times and finally got one:) Mary is going to indeed be the singer in the family...and the stylish one with her bows...love it!

9. Abby, Kelly and Ms. Kathy are 3 generations whose genes run deep...they all are beautiful and all look alike...I love it...Abby has the prettiest pouty lips..watch out Andy, you're in trouble! PS. Kelly is my bow business partner...our site is almost done so I'll let you know when to go on an start ordering!

10. Holly and Ricky and Payton are all just too in shape...they are so sweet though and Payton is getting bigger and bigger everyday! Plus, they brought chalk!!!! YES! Gwen was TOO excited!!!!!
11. My mom is always so freakin' cute and no less so today...yes, folks, she had on skinny jeans...I won't tell you how old she is because she looks at least 10 years younger than that...but she's smokin' hot is all I have to say...she's the best mom ever and loves her girls (Gwen and Grae) so much!!! I have to say, Manny (That's what the girls call her) won with the gift though, Graelyn LOVED her baby doll and stroller! And the stroller is hot pink and black, 2 of my favorite colors!

Girls, I honestly think we need to get together just girls, soon! I know that Jennifer and Sarah are about to have to go back to work soon and I'll follow not too long after that so I'm thinking that we need to set a date now so we'll actually do it...we could just meet for drinks one night, like a Friday or Saturday night after the kids are down so the hubbies can't complain too much...and then make it a monthly thing! Let me know your thoughts!!!

Also, on a side note...if you are wondering what you are going to dress up for for Halloween...look in your kids' books for inspiration...I'm going to be Emily Elizabeth from Clifford!!! She's blonde and wears hot pink and black striped socks!!! OK so if you see some (they have to be knee sox) pick them up for me and I'll pay you for them because I'm going to dress up at school and everything! She also has a pink shirt with a white collar and a black skirt! HOW CUTE! And I'll find a Clifford dog and carry him with me all day! How fun!!!!!! Can't wait!

Stay tuned for more pics, my mom took some GOOD ones!

Why I hate Sugarland...

OK, so I'm sitting here working hard on this blog and Good Morning America is playing in the background and Sugarland is on...I HATE THEM. She really, honestly can't sing. So they've won awards, big freakin' deal. She and he suck! She does this thing with her voice to make it sound like she's got an accent (southern, you know, they ARE a country band) but really, she's from Atlanta...yeah, that's the south but unless you've lived in ATL for like, a century, you really don't have the accent she's trying to pull off...plus, she dances weird and seems to come on a bit when she does to her band mate...and he's married. I'm just sayin'. Had to comment because, to be honest, and I know this is a family blog, but she pisses me off...I don't listen when she comes on the radio and now I have to change Diane and Robin and I love them! And I have to go back to work soon people! So basically, she's depriving me of my summer luxuries. DAMN you Sugarland.

Some questions for my new cyber friend...Jennifer

OK, here are your questions Jennifer!!!
1. How did you meet your husband?
2. Soo, Carson is adopted (and the story is beautiful)...tell me the story of Griffin.
3. How did you come up with your kids' names? (I knew we should be friends because my uncle's last name is Griffin and I always thought that was such a great boy name)
4. Is it just you and your sister or do you have other siblings?
5. Where were you born?
6. Where did you go to school?
7. How do you know Sarah/Bekah?
8. How long have you been an administrator?
9. What's your favorite part of your job?
10. If you weren't an admin. what would you be?
11. Favorite vacation spot.
12. Favorite restaurant.
13. Favorite thing to do in your spare (ha ha) time.
14. If you didn't live in Texas, where would you live?
15. 1st thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
16. Last thing you do before you go to bed at night?
17. Finally...what do you want God to say to you when you get to heaven? (Have you ever watched "The Actor's Studio" with James Lupton? Anyway, he always asks that...that and your favorite curse word...which you can count as #18 if you'd like:)

Assistance Needed...

OK girls, I need your quarters...actually...I'll give you the quarters:) but Office Depot is having a special right now where you can get 20 folders WITH BRADS for a penny a piece!! Limit 20...I bought them out (and Bek did too this morning) at the one on 377 in Watauga but I plan to check out some more around town...anyway, I need the folders for my classroom. See, I have "theatre packets" I do for my 5th graders and that's what we work on for the 12 weeks they see me. However, in an effort to make my classroom a little greener, I'm going to create the packets, laminate the pages and put them in these folders and then let the kids use expo markers to write on the pages...at the end of the 12 weeks, I'll have them clean off their work and I can use them again! Anyway, if anyone has a spare quarter lying around that they'd like to help a sista out, that would rock!!! I'll pay you back of course...I'm paying Bek back with bows, clothes for M-Dawg and such so I'm happy to repay for other items as necessary!
Anyway, thanks for the help! GO GREEN!

takin' a poll...or is it pole?

Just kidding...taking a poll to all you out there who mop...what "mopping utensil" do you use and which is your favorite?
Here's why I ask this: I get down on my hands and knees and mop our kitchen and bathrooms...I hate it but its the Best way I've found to clean the floors...anyway...give me a shout out and let me know which "thing" you use!!

Not to become obsessed...

OK, so FINALLY my Celebrity Moms blog was updated (the blogger was on vaca) and here's what I find:
1. Well, OF COURSE Brangelina have given birth to twins, girl and boy (Knox and Vivienne)

2. Other stuff...cute pics of cute celeb. moms

3. and the thing I noticed the most: this picture of Tom, Katie and Suri:

Do you notice how Suri's hair is getting longer (note the bangs in the face that drives me crazy! Hello??? She's even got a headband on but notice, its not holding the hair back...tell me, what is the purpose???) but Katie's hair keeps getting shorter and shorter? I know my hair has recently become MUCH shorter than it ever has but seriously, Katie...let it grow at least longer than Tom's...come on! Anyway, this is pointless and most of you probably don't care, but I just had to share!
PS...for those of you coming to Graelyn's party...BYOB folks, I'm feeding you!

my future girl scout...or champion competitive eater

OK, so Sunday morning I'm in the kitchen making gingerbread pancakes from Central Market (these are a good, different twist on regular pancakes...don't rush out to buy them but they are a nice change of pace) and Graelyn is in there with me, opening up cabinets galore. You see, this is her favorite thing to do in the whole world. I should take a picture so you can see the damage she does...of course she has her 2 cabinets she's allowed to get in, the rest are off limits.

Anyway, she's doing her thing, I'm doing mine and I look over at her to see what she's up to...and this is what I found:

Wow mom! What a great breakfast!

Oh yeah, this is going to feel good coming out the other end!

Do we really have to clean it off?
I kinda think she looks like an elf in this picture...just something about her mischevious look on her face.

All I can say is "Aunt Bekah" would be so proud!!

PS, on a TOTALLY different note...the other day, maybe 2 days ago, I checked out my friends blogs (bloalker=stalker + blogger) and I was mentioned in 2, yes 2 of them folks! How exciting!!! So Sarah and KJ, thanks! That was the best shout out I've had in a while!!! YIPEE!

Graelyn's eyes...

OK, many of you have asked what the heck the lady at the Snooty Pig said about Graelyn's eyes...for those of you who haven't seen her in person...KJ (see prior post comment under the Cruise girls' photo) had made the comment that Graelyn's eyes are one of the 1st things you notice about her...and as her mommy, I can say, they are beautiful if I do say so myself...anyway...here's what happened:
Gwen, Grae and I went for breakfast muffins one morning at the Snooty Pig (little dive in Keller...GREAT muffins). We sit, eat our breakfast and then get ready to go...I'm on the floor cleaning up Graelyn's mess and several of the waitresses come by to say hi to the girls, say how cute, and whatever, etc. Anyway, this one lady comes up, kneels down and says:
Waitress: Oh, hey there...(pause...she looks at me) What's wrong with her eyes?
Me: Pardon me?
Waitress: What's wrong with her eyes, one's bigger than the other, what's wrong with them?
Me: (as I look at Graelyn) Um, nothing...they're fine.
Waitress: No, this one's bigger than the other...that one looks like she has a cold in it or something...somethings wrong.
Me: Well, pretty much the whole world has different sized eyes, they are ok.
Waitress: Just looks like something's wrong.
Me: Nope, she's good.

My sweet friend KJ has said I was WAAAYYY too nice and the further I got from the restaurant, the angrier and angrier I became and thought who the f&*K gives someone the permission to talk to a STRANGER"S kid like that????I mean, seriously! I was super frustrated and mad but I'm over it now...whatever...yeah, I was mad...who does that kind of thing anyway???? So, yeah, that's the Graelyn eye story! UGH!

SERIOUSLY????

This is for my friend Kim...Suri STILL has that freakin' bottle in her hands! Oh yeah, AAANNNDDD...she's got all that ridiculously long hair/bangs in her face...HATE that...she's still cute but COME ON PEOPLE! I'm poor and my kids look at least halfway put together 99% of the time! GOOD HONKS! Ok, my rant is over...on a side note...LOVING that Jake and Reese are cozy:)

The zoo

3 of my girlfriends and I went to the zoo and lunch today...between the 4 of us, there are 6 kids...you can see below the pictures of us...quite a group!

Payton (4 1/2 months), Dylan (10 1/2 months), Dominick (3 1/2), Gwen (same), Graelyn (11 months), Landon (10 months)

Gwen and Dominick go to Ms. Kathy's together...as you can see...they are BIG buds:)

Riding the train at the zoo...Dominick has just returned from Disneyworld complete with the Mickey tatoo...someday I'm sure he'll have Gwen's name below Mickey's head:)

Takin' a ride on the stagecoach complete with fruit snacks.

Everybody was kung-foo fightin'

OK, so then, as we're leaving the "Texas" area we run into none other than The Margs! (and her parents of course!) How lucky were we!!! It was not only exciting to see this sweet girl but it was even more exciting to introduce "blog buddies" as I like to call them...my friend Kim (see KJ) stalks, I mean reads my friend Rebekah's sister Sarah's blog (see favorites for all)...actually Sarah's my friend too...just for clarification...anyway...it was super fun to introduce these blog buddies...now we'll have to do a McDonald's trip for sure! (no Chickfila because, if you're keeping up, the Margs is allergic to peanuts...stupid Chickfila...seriously).
Anyway, random fun times at the zoo!

I think she ate a smurf...

Here is a picture of Graelyn, eating the remainder of Gwenie's popcicle...she got the blue part...yum.

OK, and here is a video of Graelyn at our friends Kim and Aaron's community pool/park thing...she did this about 100 times...she'd crawl until she couldn't breathe anymore and then I'd grab her and move her to the more shallow end...she had absolutely no fear, just hit the road and crawled straight for the deep end!

THE TILE IS DONE!

OK, so last week while Seth was out of town for work, I decided to tile the kitchen. My AMAZING FRIEND HOLLY...ok, seriously, I think I owe her my next child (what? they're cute after all!) because of all the amazing, back-breaking work she did for me...she showed me how to do it all and was there with me every step of the way...she did alot of the work too, cutting and all that other grimey stuff...anyway...I don't have a before shot but let me set the scene for you: on the right when you walk in was carpet (next to the bay window). I honestly think people who put the carpet in the kitchen were smoking crack when they did that...stupid. (on a side note...do you think smoking crack would make you do something like that? I myself have never smoked more than cloves on stage for a role in a play in college and that made me want to throw up so I guess you could just call me a "poser" because I have no idea what smoking crack could make you do...and let me add, nor do I WANT to know! OK, back to the kitchen). Anyway, so there's carpet on the right side and linoleum on the left...ugh...nasty carpet, nasty linoleum...gross!

We've had our tile for 6 months now...yep, you read that right...so I figured it was high time to get going on that business!

Anyway, here are some pictures of Gwenie as "tile-girl" here to save the day...those are knee pads as a cape and goggles as well...goggles, or a headband depending on how you look at it.

Seth was so excited and surprised! He loves it and now, I think, is feeling a little like I "one-upped" him so he's ready to do the laundry room and the bathrooms now! YIPPEE!

Candy Ballerinas

Gwen had her first dance recital today! She did so great and was absolutely adorable...I have to mention too that she was one of the only ones actually DOING the CORRECT moves to the dance...the other girls improvised, sure, but Gwen followed directions...something this anal-retentive drama teacher (are those oxymorons?) appreciates:)

Anyway, watch the video...Gwen's the one on the far left...then, pictures:)

Violet is FINALLY starting to get cute

Sorry Ben and Jenn...but your daughter is FINALLY getting cute...she sort went thru that "not so cute phase" for a while now...good to see she's taking after her momma and daddy:)

Hair pic and Grae eating ravioli...

OK, so here's the "haircut" picture of Gwen's creative do...as you can see, she left a long piece in the front, just in case she needed to braid it to make it a rat tail...in the front...I don't think she quite gets the rat tail thing because its supposed to be in the back:)

Here's the funniest picture of Graelyn I've taken in a long time! Last night we had ravioli (the real stuff not Chef Boyardi folks) and obviously she LOVED it!!! Good girl:)

I want the snow time again...it's too hot

This is what Gwenie says to me this afternoon when I pick her up from Ms. Kathy's...so in honor of Gwen's request...here's a picture of her in the snow this past winter...and a tribute to me learning how to post a picture...yeah, yeah, it was WAAAY easier than I thought...shut up.

Chocolate donut holes

Let's just be honest...donut holes are awesome..I love them, my girls love them...wait, Gwen loves them and now...Graelyn loves them! The other morning, I stopped by our favorite donut shop (the one that this sweet Asian lady works at and always gives us free donuts...that's why we love it!) to get donuts for Gwenie and the kids at Ms. Kathy's...anyway...we're getting our donuts and the lady, as usual, hands Gwen a chocolate iced donut hole with sprinkles...score...she's totally happy! Immediately after, here comes a plastic gloved hand, shoving a chocolate iced donut hole at me...no, wait, AT GRAELYN!!! Now, for those of you who don't keep up, Graelyn won't be 10 months old until the 27th of this month so this is a new thing for her...before I know it, the WHOLE THING is in her mouth and chocolate is drooling out of her mouth, all over her pj's and onto my shirt, that I have to wear to work no less! Needless to say, Grae at the whole thing and loved it, you could tell!
I was hoping to start off small with, perhaps, a regular donut hole but no, our friend at the donut shop knew better and skipped a few steps...well, I guess as my dear friend Sarah's husband always says, "Go heavy or go home!"

Haircut

OK, so the thing I SWORE would never happen to me happened last night...Gwen cut her own hair...now, before you think, chops and chunks of hair, be forewarned that Gwen is, after all, my daughter so it actually isn't that bad...I'll post a pic as soon as I take one:)
I was feeding Graelyn and had cut open the package of pizza rolls for dinner and left the scissors on the counter in the kitchen...moments, many moments passed and Gwen came in, walking slowly with an extremely odd look on her face...I think she was proud of herself because she was smiling. I saw what she had done (and the coif of hair on her shoulder) and my jaw dropped. I was totally shocked...she had given herself bangs...sort of side-swept bangs...not all together bad looking but DEFINITELY NOT what mommy had in mind for the summer! We have spent over a year getting her hair one length and now, we're basically back to square one...I haven't "fixed" it yet or trimmed it so its a bit more even but we did have a talk about how the only people who are allowed to cut her hair are Ms. Jodie (her hairstylist) and mommy...ugh...tears...more tears and sad faces...she knew that she, indeed had not made mommy happy. On the upside of this whole ordeal, it could have much much worse...I'm just not all that happy to be in the boat of mother's whose daughters cut their own hair...ugh...and besides, I'm growing my own bangs out so I can only imagine how horrible its going to be to grow hers out now too!!!

grocery game...confusing

OK, so my friend's sister...well, she's my friend too...whatever, does this thing called the Grocery Game...and I decided to sign up for a month and try it out. It was only a dollar so I'm not throwing alot of money away to do it. Anyway, every week, you are sent a list of the bargains and good stuff at your favorite stores...mine is Kroger...not ichy like Albertson's (the produce is not good) or really expensive like Tom Thumb (although I love it and the Starbuck's in it)...good middle of the road. Anyway...I sign up and off I go...but to what? I get confused...you are supposed to buy the blue items, meaning the ones on sale and the ones that you want to "stockpile." And then there are green ones, these are free after sale and your coupons (which you have to cut every Sunday). OK, so if you're not already confused it gets better. The only things that tend to be free is crap that I don't ever need! So, I ask you, is it worth it? I just don't think so...if you have a vote, care one way or the other or have other money saving tips, please, I'm all ears...the Lindblooms love a good bargain.

noggin rocks my face off

OK, so recently we switched over to ATT Uverse instead of Dish...we are paying a little bit more but we now have more cable channels, DVR and wireless, FASTER internet...score. You would think that these things would be enough to switch, right? OK, DVR is quickly becoming my new best friend but the thing that sold it for me was the fact that the "package" we got included the kid's channel Noggin! WHOOO!!!! For those of you either without cable, Noggin or children, listen up: Noggin will change your life! I know it sounds like I sit my children (OK, just Gwen) in front of the TV all day long and do what I want...I need to clarify...this is NOT the case. There are, however, moments in my afternoon specifically (since i teach all day) where Noggin provides you precious moments to get supper ready for the evening. Anyway, I digress. Noggin ROCKS! It's amazing and I'm so thankful for it! I know it may sound silly but in the afternoons when Disney Channel tends to lean toward the Suite Life of Zach and Cody and NOT Hannah Montana (go Miley and Billy Ray...did I mention Jackson is Gwen's boyfriend? She's got good taste...the cute funny guy...LOVE THAT!) Gwen can always find a happy place with Noggin...that's all I'm stayin'...so thanks Moose and Zee...you are officially my new best friends!

Poop...gross or funny?

OK, so my friend's sister talked on her blog about how she was trying to distract her almost 2 year old while she changed her poopy diaper...she asked like 100 questions and the one that "caught" shall we say, was, "Margs, do you want to see your poo poo?" To that, I thought, duh, who doesn't? I mean, if you don't look at your OWN poop when you are finished dropping the kids off at the pool, then there's something wrong with you...I mean, you MIGHT, MIGHT catch a glimpse of the illustrious corn...anyway, my friends will kill me for talking about all of that because its, well, gross...I have a feeling however, that their husbands are high fiving each other because they were thinking the same thing...soooo anyway...Margs does INDEED want to see her own poo (because we all do) and it falls onto her board book...a tornado of chaos ensues...need I say more?
OK Sarah, I can top that...so, Graelyn is about 6 months old and I've just fed her green beans...yum. She poops and I change her...we're out so its kinda chaotic (the kid kind of chaotic, NOT the Britney Spears kind) and I'm not really paying as close attention as I should. I digress. I am cleaning everything up, throwing the diaper away and cleaning myself up. Oops, missed a small something on my pinky...oh well, its green beans, I'll just lick it....OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! Can you guess, can you? NOT GREEN BEANS...poop...gross...so tag, y'all are ALL it...top the grossness factor of eating your own child's poop...well, licking it at least. I bet you all want a big kiss right on the lips from me right about now, don't you???

My "dirty" little secret

OK so last weekend some of my best friends came into town and stayed with me at my house. The week of, was, needless to say, INSANE...sooo, I called my friend Rebekah (aka partner in crime) and asked her the name of her cleaning lady. I need all of my readers (all 2 of you) to understand that I have NEVER EVER had anyone clean my house before...soo, we arranged it...Luz would come over and clean my house on Friday morning...sweet! The girls were coming in Friday afternoon...leave the key under the mat, the money on the counter and we're set! I come home to find my house immaculate! It was amazing! VERY clean indeed...sooo, I thought...yeah, I'm dead, I mean, dead meat...my husband will surely know I did not clean this good in the short amount of time I had on Thursday and Friday to do so!
The girls and I go to pick up my friend Sarah from the airport and come home to feed the girls. My husband gets home and life goes as normal...he helps me with the girls, helps with dinner, talks, laughs, etc...and now, almost exactly one week since the cleaning incident has he said ONE WORD about the house! Not even, "hey hon, the house looks great!" Or, "wow, you really cleaned well."
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I'm just waiting for him to read this now to find out...so Seth, I'm waiting...

Here are my 5 things...

So I challenged my friend Rebekah to 5 things we didn't know about her...here are mine...it's not fair that I would challenge her and then NOT do them myself:
1. I'm actually NOT an only child...I have an 18 year old half brother...only found out about him 5 years ago though...yeah yeah, Jerry Springer's calling tomorrow.
2. Sometimes when I drop the girls off in the mornings at Ms. Kathy's, I actually continue listening to Veggie Tales almost the whole way to work...whether or not I realize it is a whole other story:)
3. I had a Mormon boyfriend in 5th grade...he had 8 brothers and sisters...but only one dad:)
4. If I could eat my weight in iced sugar cookies I would.
5. I wish I could live in another country for a few years so the girls could experience other cultures.

bib, panties, what's the difference

So 2 nights ago I was getting ready to feed Graelyn her baby food. Gwen wanted me to stay in the living room with her so I pulled out the bumbo and put Grae in it...I went over to the pile of laundry to get a bib...the bib velcro was stuck to a pair of my underwear so I ripped it off and went over to put the bib on Graelyn. However, rather than putting a BIB on her, I actually tried to put a pair of my PANTIES! on her!!!! Hmmm...seems sort of similar if you ask me. I was talking to my friend Kim and she made an excellent point: both catch dribble and prevent you/baby from getting soaked by whatever comes out...hmmm, sounds good to me!
On a side note...I did actually get a bib and put on her though:)

java chiller

OK, so for those fo you who like coffee(I LOVE coffee) you should try the new java chillers from Sonic...I am working on my mocha java chiller (that's a mouthful)this morning and honestly, its really good! For my OBU friends, remember the java shake things from Deem's? Well, it tastes alot like those...not as coffee-y as Starbucks frappuchinos but a cheaper alternative in a pinch for sure...

Are stickers digestible?

So the other night I'm in the kitchen, getting supper ready and I have just finished feeding Graelyn...she's content in her bumbo so I let her stay...no, she wasn't on the table...she was on the floor, so she was safe, right? Well, enter big sister Gwen! Armed with a page full of stickers, she decides that Graelyn's bumbo isn't pretty enough so she puts 3, count them, 3 stickers on the bumbo. A few minutes go by, Seth comes home (which always raises the decible level in our home) and he picks up Grae...he then says, what is she eating? I say, nothing...I was about to feed her her bottle...he fishes around and comes out with nothing...I said, oh it was probably a leaf or something (he hates when I say that because it worries him). I turn to look at them and notice that there are only 2 stickers on Graelyn's bumbo...hmmm...weren't there 3 before? Yeah, Graelyn totally ate an easter chicken sticker and it didn't even come out in her poop...she's my kind of girl...

6th grade drama

Yeah, so I teach 6th grade theatre...and 5th grade actually...but that's not what I'm talking about today:) My 6th grade girls are FULL of drama...and not on the stage kind either...I prefer my "drama" to be left on the stage. The whole adage, "save the drama for your mama" is totally my mantra...well anyway...this morning some of my girls had some drama and I basically told them that they needed to keep the drama out of my classroom...that their lives weren't so difficult and stressful that they needed to bring on that much drama to their lives...so why, I ask, do 6th grade girls seem to flock to the drama automatically? I just don't remember having that kind of drama...I DO remember worrying that my bangs weren't big enough and that they wouldn't have that right "swoop" or "poof" anyway...just weird...I just wanted to tell them to go get a latte and get over it:)

look at us!

So I'm trying this blog thing out for the 1st time...I thought you had to pay for something like this...what do I know??? Anyway, am I supposed to say enjoy reading this? Like some random stranger is going to get onto my blog and read it? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard...but whatever...enjoy:)
I'm a little late into the "blogging world" but promise to get better...maybe:)