Corrupting our child

Just a fun holiday moment with Little Man boxing with his cousin, M. (It's M.'s Wii. Or should I say it's my brother, Craig's?) The Wii is seriously the ONLY video game I would consider letting into the walls of my home because you actually have to DO something.

Note: I STINK at Guitar Hero. I'll just add that to my list along with Dance, Dance Revolution. Maybe if I actually spent time playing them I would get better. (Don't worry I didn't do Dance, Dance Revolution 7 1/2 months pregnant. That would NOT be a pretty picture).

It's a bird, it's a plane...

No, it's BUNNY-BOY! The little man will run around like this and yell, "Bunny-boy!" Sometimes I even become "Bunny-mom." Sorry, no picture for that one.

Bunny-boy's special powers:

X-ray vision (those eyes have to do something!)
Super-fast running (he goes around and around our dining room table)
Can make a huge mess in less than 1 minute
Can clean up a whole basement in less than 10 minutes when bribed with Little Einsteins
Can spill his drink 5 times during 1 meal
Can tackle his sister in 2 seconds (it helps that he is only 1 pound lighter than her)
Can make you laugh at his antics all day
Can give the best hugs

Banana Feet

I have been searching for the perfect yellow heels for months. About a month ago S. found THEM in J.Crew. A little too pricey, but thanks to patience, sales, plus extra 20% off sales, plus the wonderful internet where you can find codes for free shipping for your favorite stores, they are now mine. Good thing accessories still fit with my growing belly. Merry Christmas to me.

In the Spirit of Christmas

Boo: "When I grow up, before I even become a mom, instead of wasting my money on cars I'm going to give it to people."

Two weeks prior, we were driving to Grandma and Grandpa Mud's and we saw a Ferrari and after pointing it out to the kids S. said he would never waste money on that. The kids do listen sometimes.

Snow=Sleep

Ahh, the first snow. I don't think I have appreciated snow this much since 1996. I got up at 5am this morning to check if there was a delay, and SUCCESS!! A two hour delay=no seminary!! I feel like a high schooler again and finding the joy in no school.

S. came home early yesterday to take the kids sledding. They bundled up and had a great time while I made dinner and some hot chocolate. I remember back in college S. came and knocked on my window and woke me up with the first snow. He had walked all the way to my house in the snow just to let me in on the excitement. Glad to see not much has changed.

P.S. Happy St. Nick Day!!

100-1=

99!!! Can you believe it?! My grandmother is 99 years old. I can only DREAM of living that long! I probably won't make it because of my lack of exercise, use of pesticides in our food, living in Provo, UT with the pollution of Geneva Steel, living in London and having black boogers--that can't be good, or living in Mexico City and all the pollution there. I think I need to do some research on what the cleanest city is and try to earn some years back on my life that I have lost.

If I were to learn from my grandmother what the keys to living to 99 are:
SALT. Seriously. She piles on the salt AND butter.
Don't eat out.
Do your floor exercises everyday.
Read the newspaper.
Keep your brain active.
Be selfless.
Be a hostess of the Southern kind (She is from Kentucky).
Laugh.

I am constantly amazed at her memory. She can recite poems and tell stories like she is 16.

She was an English teacher for years at Washington Lee High School and even taught Warren Beatty and Shirley Maclaine. Whenever she reads about them in the newspaper she just says, "Oh, Warren." She's almost famous.

We lived with her and my grandfather for about 1 1/2 years (before and after Mexico). She is an avid reader, and keeps up really well with current events, even though she has never used the internet and keeps all of her cool whip and country crock butter containers. One of my favorite questions that she asked us after reading the newspaper was, "What does "Dubya" mean?" After having a good laugh we told her that it was talking about George W. Bush.

What takes the cake? She still lives in her own house, and even took care of my grandfather until he passed away in May. She is COMPLETELY with it, minus some hearing. We love her, and my kids ADORE her (as she does them).

Fall Fun

S. played hooky from work so we could go to Cox Farm. We met up with my sister, Jeannie, Mom and some friends. It was about 80 degrees and this pregnant lady was not dressed for that! We had a fabulous time riding the slides, hayride, eating apples and drinking cider. It was pretty funny to see the kids running around yelling, "Bees!" when we were getting the cider.

Little Man's first time down one of the many slides was a little crazy, so he was apprehensive for the next couple and had to go with S. He got over it soon enough and was his usual dare-devil self. Love these moments. Why can't we play hooky everyday?

All Hallows Eve

I am a preteen trapped in a 30 year old's body. S. and I still have that 10 year-old mind-set that the one with the most candy wins. It's quite funny, because I can honestly say our kids haven't had one ounce of their trick or treating candy since All Hallows Eve (I have only had some of our leftovers). But the sheer joy of getting free candy makes my heart palpitate and my blood-sugar level rise. I think the baby in my belly even did a little dance as we walked around the neighborhoods.

The kids had a great time getting the treats, but not appreciating the few tricks they experienced. We went around our neighborhood for a little while and then headed to Gma and Gpa Mud's house for some hearty soup, homemade rolls and Hocus Pocus (well, the kids didn't watch it, they just went trick or treating some more). One of the Mud's neighbors dresses up every Halloween like someone who died that year and acts like them. It is always entertaining. Last year he was the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin (moment of silence) and this year it was Robert Goulet. The man even sang us "If Ever I Would Leave You." Boo didn't want any candy from him afterwards--I don't know if it was his white zombie face or his singing.

At least next year the baby will let me pick out his/her costume! So much for me deciding what my kids are going to be. Apparently the kids had a theme this year--red. Boo is Gabriella from High School Musical (but she is nothing like the actress in real life--scandal), and Little Man is of course his favorite character, Elmo. He talked for weeks about how he was going to be Elmo.

My latest obsession

Love, love, love this new show on ABC. It is a dark comedy with characters that you want to be (can I please have Chuck's clothes and hair?!). And a sitcom that breaks into song? A pie shop called The Pie Hole? Now, that is right up my alley. Watch the first four episodes online at abc.com and I bet you become addicted like me. I told S. it was a sacrifice for me to go to bookclub last night and not watch it at the regular time. He told me that was ridiculous--that was like saying it was a sacrifice to miss dessert to go to a movie (Thank goodness for DVR/Tivo so it wasn't too much of a sacrifice). Just shut your pie hole and watch. See you next Wednesday at 8:00.

Columbus sailed

Who gets Columbus day off? A lot of the counties nearby didn't get it off school. But, S. got work off, and we didn't have to teach Seminary! Any holiday is welcome here! We had a fun day going to Glen Echo Park, even though the Carousel was closed for the season (Who knew? It was 80 degrees that day!)

One of the {MANY} benefits of being a Virginian--Great Falls. Not really a benefit of living in Maryland--the view is not NEARLY as good from their side (can you tell I am a Virginia Snob?). For Columbus Day we went to Great Falls after picking up some cuisine at La Madeline. We were a high class family eating at the picnic tables. The kids loved climbing the rocks, but I have to admit I was a little paranoid seeing all the signs for how many drownings there are each year. I haven't been to Great Falls in years, and they have blocked off a lot more places so risks HAVE to be lower. I love how in the pictures we are holding our children in someway so they don't fall. Call me overprotective.

Candy Crack Corn

I love this time of year. The air is crisp, leaves start changing color, you can wear cute jackets, and I can TOTALLY rationalize eating tons of CANDY CORN. I love it. I know only a few who can join me in my obsession (Mary!). What is it about those little nubs that are so scrumptious to me and leave me longing for more? That's right. All that SUGAR and COLOR.

How to eat a candy corn:

1. Buy only Brach's. Those other might LOOK fine, but nasty.
2. Don't go for those pumpkins or even the "chocolate" candy corn (and don't even get me started on the "Christmas" candy corn).
3. The three flavors DO have different tastes.
4. Never eat them in one bite (unless they are on a cupcake or a cookie).
5. You must hold one in your hand, and take small bites starting from the white part, up.
6. Don't think that Jones Candy Corn soda will actually taste like the real thing--it doesn't.
7. For best results, eat only in the fall.

We have a decoration with candy corn in it on our front table in the foyer. The kids always ask for them when we are getting ready. I give in a lot, but they sure are fast at getting those shoes on!

Sing us a song, you're the piano girl!

We finally have a real piano!!! About a month ago Kitt's music was having a piano sale so my mom and I went to check it out. I called S. at work to have him help me decide. He basically gave me the go-ahead to get the one I wanted. It took me a while to decide, but I finally went for the nicer of the two I had narrowed it down to--a Kawai upright. It has the sound of a baby grand, and basically the only way up is to a grand piano. S.'s only comment was, "Do you really need a concert piano?" My reply, "No, but Boo might" (Seriously, she is amazing. Yesterday she played Ode to Joy by ear).

A couple features I love about it--the middle pedal you can move to the left to make it quiet. Unfortunately, Boo has figured out how to take it on and off, but the Little Man hasn't. I still have SOME sanity. And it has a slow fall cover for the keys--no smooshed fingers like on my mom's baby grand. For a few days after getting it S. would joke about getting his plasma tv now, but I clearly pointed out that something to develop a talent came before entertainment. We have a rule that you have to wash your hands before you play it. Boo is so good about it, and she always makes sure I have washed mine when I'm playing, too.

I think I can start to get over my bitterness towards my oldest sister getting my mom's upright. Here's the story: My mom used to tell us that the best pianist would get her upright after she got her baby grand. I practiced, and practiced and waited for the competition (okay, not really, but I still was up for the fight). Enter oldest child: the one who told my mom her secrets, the one with the big mouth (yes, Jean, you, but you never read this so why am I writing it?). She gets married, owns a house in Atlanta, and gets a calling at church to be the primary pianist. No more competition. Oldest child wins out--she gets the piano. My other sister, Mary and I are thinking, temporary, right? We are the ones who can actually play (no offense, Jean). Jeannie moves up here, and Mary now has a house (so it took us a little while to have a house), strange thing happens--Jeannie gets to KEEP the piano. First children always get the best stuff. Maybe parents do love their first a little more...(not me, Little Man, I love you both).

3 Decades Old

It's official. I am 3 decades old. No longer will I say my age in years--What? How old am I? I am three decades. This is a milestone than many of my friends and siblings have already reached, so it doesn't feel like a big deal. Besides, 30 is the new 20, and life is GOOD. Here are a couple pictures from my past three decades, and a few moments.

Ages 1-10: Florida--(no, I was not born here, but I don't remember anything from my birthplace, Belgium, and we left when I was 3! I hope Boo remembers her good friends in Charlottesville!), snakes under our swing set, our "yellow brick road" of dandelions in our backyard in Ohio and how they ruined my favorite Cabbage Patch Kid outfit.

Ages 11-20: Walking 25 miles in white KEDS when I was 12, Girls' Camp, silly card games with "kings" (who knew I would marry one of my "kings?"), Oakton Stake youth conferences and dances, silliness, crushes, being wild and crazy, getting my license, tping, swimming in the resevior, singing at Disney World.

Ages 21-30: Craziness at BYU, London and graduation, marrying the man of my dreams in 2000, Mexico--teaching, living right behind Cartier and Louis Vuitton, 1st child, 2nd child, fabulous friends in Charlottesville, "real life" in D.C and loving it.

I can't wait to see what the next 3 decades hold!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Wow, a lot of things have been going on, but I am going to start with one of the most important--MY BABY IS TWO! The Little Man turned 2 on Wednesday and we had a relaxed celebration (with another one with cousins in a week) with his two sets of Grandparents. It's so nice when you can decide what they do for their birthday. Okay, well, I THOUGHT I could decide, but the man of few words was INSISTENT on an Elmo birthday cake (as he is that he is going to be Elmo for Halloween. How does he even KNOW about this stuff?!?!?!). His wish came true, as did his wishes he didn't even know he had--he got a basketball hoop. He's got skills.

This Little Man can seriously crack us up. I just want to squeeze him and stick him in my pocket, but due to his size (he weighs as much as his sister that is over 2 years older than him) I can't. Now that his is officially over his screaming stage (my apologies to all those who beheld that), he is so cute. Here are some things I love about him:

1. His LONG eyelashes and big eyes.
2. His word for Okay, "Duh."
3. His excellent t-ball skills (he bends his legs and actually takes a step when hitting the ball--before he was even 2).
4. How he puts on his shoes by himself and has since he was 17 months old (so, their crocs, but still it makes my day easier).
5. How he SLEEPS! He is a dream. We read books, read scriptures, pray, and when I sometimes TRY to just hold him and rock him he says, "Night, night" and points to his crib. I consent and put him in and he doesn't make a peep.
6. How he says, "money"--"num-uh-num"
7. How he listens and obeys---seriously.
8. How he sings (and laughs when Elmo laughs, or say "Ahem" when one of the characters does) to Elmo and the Orchestra, and always requests it first thing in the car.
9. His silly laugh when he's with Boo, how he just LOVES her.
10. How he is just so HAPPY, kind and fun!

He is going to be a great BIG brother! We love watching him grow and learn new things. We are so glad he is part of our family.

Disney

What I learned at Disney World:

1. It is perfectly acceptable for 55 year old men to wear Mickey Mouse Ears.
2. All Disney characters wear wigs--including those that are just dancers.
3. Ariel is stacked.
4. Disney World is TOO expensive.
5. Every girl can be a princess.
6. Chuck E Cheese is where a kid can be a kid, but Disney World is where an adult can be a kid (a kid that makes money, that is).
7. Disney actors are CHEEEEEEEESY (and this is coming from someone who would LOVE to play Belle on Stage)!
8. Apparently it is cool to go for your honeymoon and wear Minnie ears with a veil.
9. Disney World rides are just a big ad and all the same (the ones you can take kids on, anyway).
10. Why ever go anywhere else in the world when you can see it all at Disney? Safaris, China, Norway, Mexico, England, Germany...it's all just the same at Disney World (I hope you know I am kidding).

We did have a fabulous time--the kids were great on the plane, and we didn't have any breakdowns at the park even though they didn't have naps and we got home late. We ate breakfast with the princesses, met the Little Einsteins, rode TONS of rides, and saw a plethora a shows! Boo's favorite rides were the White Water (she got the wettest both times she went on) and Goofy's Roller Coaster. Little Man wasn't so sure about the roller coaster (he only wanted to ride once--no crying he just said he didn't want to go again), but he loved everything else. Thanks to Disney World, our son has his first sword. He carried that thing everywhere. What are they TEACHING him?

Now, it's back to reality, and on to teaching seminary at 6am. What a shock to the system.

New Beginnings

Today was Boo's first day of Preschool. Yes, it was a little hard for me and it's only 3 hours MWF!! I'm just trying to prepare myself for full-day kindergarten next year. The picture was actually taken AFTER school. I had to wake up BOTH kids (8:40) in order to get her to school at 9:00.

Boo had a great time and played with all of her friends that were in her Joy School class last year. I think Little Man loved the fact that he was King of the radio, toys and shopping cart. We head to Disney World tomorrow, so she'll be missing Friday, but I don't think she'll be too upset.

S.'s bro, Jesse entered the Missionary Training Center today in Provo, Utah. In November he'll be heading to Taiwan to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are very excited for him and know he will pick up the language quickly and do a great job.
The kids will miss Uncle Jesse!

Wipeout

I remember first going water-skiing around 12. My parents had won a water-skiing trip at a church "auction" raising money for the youth. My puny little muscles couldn't get me up. A couple years later my uncle bought a boat. We went to the lake a couple times each summer (good memories with friends growing up). I favored riding the tube. One time I finally got up on water skis. I can't even remember when the momentous occasion was.

We went to Lake Anna on Saturday, and even pregnant, I still have it...well, sort of. Remember when I got tagged? I mentioned I have a strange attachment to my body? I am by no means a dare-devil when it comes to water-skiing. Please, go slow, please, don't go over the wake...you see where I'm going. Well, apparently that chickenness (new word) intensifies when I'm pregnant.

The kids loved the boat, although Little Man missed riding the tube because he fell asleep. Before he feel asleep, he just wanted to keep jumping out of the boat into the water every time we stopped. He is fearless. Boo had a great time on the tube with her Aunt Jeannie and Cousin E.

I love Lake Anna. The only other place I have ever attempted to water ski was in Utah. Okay, so I couldn't even get out from under the blanket and off the boat. It was freezing. I prefer to be warm in water--even if it is heated by the nuclear plant nearby. What a way to end the summer.

Vacation

Last weekend S. and I took our first vacation ALONE since Boo was born--yes, that is four years! We had been planning on Spain, but S. needed a new passport and we knew it wouldn't arrive in time. The next idea was Puerto Rico or the D.R., but with hurricane season in full force we decided not to risk it. In the end we decided to go to Chincoteague, VA and use the money we would have used to go to Spain or P.R. to go to Disney World in a couple of weeks with the kids.

It was so fun to get away with S. and not think about who was watching the kids! Why have we not done this before? Oh, we were poor students.

Some highlights:

• Breakfast at our Bed and Breakfast, The Watson House
• Riding the waves (we went to the beach 4 separate times in two days!! Oh the speed without kids!)
• Hairspray Movie (okay, maybe not a highlight for S.)
• Biking to the beach (first time I've gotten on a bike in 15 years--no joke. I was a little chicken riding on the road. Besides, it was a HUGE bike. I felt like Kermit in the Muppet Movie)
• Shopping--me getting a really pretty necklace on shells
• Dinner (okay, the food STUNK--who gives you instant mashed potatoes for a $22 meal?!?!?, but it was fun to be with Sam. We actually had lunch at Central before we headed out of town on Friday--it made up for it--soooooo good)
• Putt Putting (S. BARELY beat me. But, I got a hole in one, and he didn't).
• Going up the Lighthouse (I have a fear of heights which S. finds extremely humorous. He doesn't get how I can picture myself falling out of the lighthouse with no opening ).

The kids did great while we were away, except for the fact that Boo woke up a couple times the first night due to the chiming of the Grandfather clock at my parents' house. We did get a warm greeting from the munchkins when we picked them up.

I'd be up for another get-away soon!

My future husband

Yesterday we celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary. What an adventure the past 9 years have been. Oh the drama and excitement of dating, and the happiness and comfort of being married.

Back in our college days I let S. and his roommate, Mark, borrow my computer. My roommate had one, and being the nice friend/girlfriend (we dated on and off so I have no idea if I was actually dating S. when I let him borrow it) that I was I gave it to them. Man, it was old school. Anyway, I didn't think to remove any of my past assignments, but soon I realized my mistake and was as mortified as a girl who doesn't get embarrassed could be.

One day on campus S. and I were walking and out of the blue he started dropping some sentences that sounded oddly familiar. He proceeded to pull out a piece of paper that had my name written at the top with the heading for my Marriage Prep class with an assignment entitled "My Future Husband." He and Mark had found the document on my computer, printed it out and actually checked off the characteristics S. possessed. I was NOT the type of girl to make a list like this on my own and how embarrassing that the man of my dreams had found it. It was purely for my class assignment. Why had I NOT ERASED IT?!!??!?!?

Well, I am happy to say that he still gets checks by all of those requirements (always has in my mind, actually. He just thought he fell short of a couple, but who isn't poor in college, anyway?). Actually, he has fulfilled all those hopes more than I could have ever dreamed. He is my real-life Prince Charming.

Here's to eternity, Funnyman. I love you.



The picture was taken by Syd

Grown-ups

It's official, we're grown-ups. We have been homeowners for 1 year. We love our townhome, but embarrassingly enough it is still not completely decorated! Oh, well, priorities, priorities.

Here are a couple of my favorite spots. I have somehow instilled the joy of cleanliness in Boo. Often she will walk between her room and Little Man's and see whose is cleaner. I have never made a chart for my kids (not even for potty-training), but when my parents watched my kids a couple weeks ago my mom made a chart for each kid. When we got home that day, after naps, Boo said out of the blue, "I'm going to clean my room so I can get a sticker on my chart." I didn't bother to check the room, and she gave herself a sticker. I went up a couple hours later to put something away and her room was immaculate (and let me tell you there were tons of Polly Pockets lying around before)!! Why did I not do this before?!!?

Tag, you're it! I have Base Power!

I just got tagged by my long-time friend, Carrie. There are very few friends that I remember the very first time we met. Carrie is one of them. I was in seventh grade, she was in eighth. She had just moved to Virginia and she joined us in a church leader's van to go to the Washington D.C. temple. We were friends instantly, and seeing as she was from California and had all these AWESOME shirts that she made (kind of like puffy paint shirts) I thought she was SOOOO cool. Carrie is right between me and my sister, Mary in age (Mary and I are 19 months apart), so through the years Carrie would be more my friend, more Mary's friend, more my friend, more Mary's... you see where I am going. Now it is great because we are all friends. Thank goodness my older sister got nicer. HA! Just kidding, Mary. I know I'm the annoying little sister (on a side note, one of the two disagreements Carrie and I had growing up had to do with her bossing her younger sister around. I stuck up for her sister, Syd one morning in high school when Carrie told her to run inside and get her shoes. I told Syd not to do it, that Carrie should. I mean, hey, younger sister's unite! I had done hundreds, no thousands of things for my sister, just because she said so. Those older sisters need to learn to do things by themselves). Carrie's kids are right around my kids' ages so it is so fun when we all get together. And, our two oldest are betrothed.

So, I am to list 7 random things about myself. Here goes:

1. I am not OCD, but some of the things I do may lead one to believe that I am. For instance: my clothes are arranged in my closet according to the rainbow, my shoes are also arranged according to color and style. My CDs that are in my CD book are arranged according to genre, listed alphabetically. I have to make sure that my door is locked every night. Sometimes S. has to go downstairs and double check (or I will wake up at 3am and check).

2. I had a perfect childhood, or at least my selective memory believes I did. Apparently I have blocked out the bad. My siblings will be talking about times they tortured me (throwing sleeping bags from the balcony above on me, making me eat weird "food" and such) and I have have no recollection. I still have a selective memory. And for the record, so does S.

3. When I was 5 we had fish sticks (my mom's first mistake). I broke out in a rash that went down my esophagus and it was decided that I was allergic to fish. I never touched fish until randomly, when on a date my sophomore year of college I decided to see if I still was. It's not that I was trying to impress the guy (I can't even remember his name), I just thought I'd see. What better way to get back into the fish gang then to eat Tuna---raw. Yes, I chose to test my allergy at a Japanese restaurant in Provo, UT with sashimi. I discovered I am not allergic to fish, but I am still developing a taste for it after all those years.

4. I have this odd attachment to my body. I have to be in control. This led me to lie that I was "studying" instead going skiing with my Uncle and siblings while in Utah. Why would anyone attach 4+ foot long extensions to their feet and go down a hill? I just snow plow the whole way so I feel like I am in control. Not very fun for the aftermath--my thighs KILL! This has not completely limited me in how adventurous I am, however. If someone else controls me I am more willing to try new things. For example, I have done parasailing, gone on those Skyflyers multiple times, and I love roller coasters.

5. I can be quite loud. I like to think I have gotten quieter with age, but S. might disagree. I have been told I am the loudest in my family and my mom has told me numerous times, "You're going to ruin your singing voice!!" In my high school Jazz choir my teacher asked me almost everyday how I felt and I would stand up on my chair and yell, "I feel GRRREAT!" It was kind of how we started the class. When I was in London on a study abroad I was given the nickname, "Cajun Mama" in part because of my loudness, but also the way I would speak and my intonations, "Let me tell you something about..."

6. I was born in Belgium. We moved back to the states when I was three and when I went back in 2000 I didn't remember anything (again, see #2--selective memory). In fact, in the past year I even researched to see if I could get dual citizenship--no. I had to live there for 10 years instead of 3. Oh well, I don't know French anyway.

7. I have performed an array of characters. When I was 8-10 I performed with a patriotic group called Young Citizens of America. We performed at schools, and were even in parades in Washington D.C., and Phili (the same as my girlfriend, Carrie before I knew her and she was there from CA!). I have performed Sixteen going on Seventeen when I was the one turning 18. I was basically Chiquita Banana in my high school's performance of Guys and Dolls. I wore this crazy outfit with all kinds of ruffles and showing lots of leg amidst those ruffles. I have performed at Disney World's Epcot Center 2 times, I was "Julie" in a tri-stake church production of Saturday's Warrior my senior year of high school. It was so cheesy, that S. hates to admit that he married one of the stars of that show. I have sung at weddings, and even a high school graduation (one that I had not attended). I was co-director and a soloist of a church program about women in the Bible entitled Women at the Well.

Okay, I hate it when people don't officially TAG others because then nobody does it, so here is who is tagged, and I hope you tag some people on your blogroll because I want to read theirs, too. Okay, 1) Michelle 2) Lynn 3) Vanessa 4) Tracie and 5) Haley. I can't wait to read yours!

I am a winner.

I never win anything. I'm not talking board games, because I am master at them, well, except for Boggle with the in-laws. If you want to feel good about yourselves don't EVER play Boggle with the Mud crew. It will just bring down your self-esteem when you get zero or one point (if you're lucky) time after time. I'm talking raffles, giveaways, guessing games. For almost 30 years of life I can remember winning three events like these. 1) When I was eleven years old at a church halloween party (I was bacon and eggs that year) I guessed the number of candy in one of those plastic pumpkins. 2) At my senior all night grad party my friends kept winning things throughout the night--cameras, phones...I felt robbed. Then they had us all gather in one room while they pulled some more names for the bigger prizes. At 5:00am I finally won my prize--a 19-inch T.V. Now think back 11 years...that was AWESOME! That T.V. served me well, and my brother, Craig and his wife, my roommates and I, S. and I, and even S.'s brother, Jesse at Princeton this past year. It's in fine working order, you just need the remote to turn it on because Boo broke the power button when she was 2. And I would not recommend watching a movie with subtitles on it. We just got a "new" T.V. in September (gotta love Craig's list). Once again we can enjoy foreign films. 3) At the American School Foundation in Mexico City I was at a teachers' meeting and guessed the number of candy corn in the bowl.

Well, I haven't won anything since 2001, so it was high time I won something. Well, I did. Two things to be exact. There are a bunch of blogs who have giveaways, and I have recently won two of those giveaways by pure luck of the draw. 1) From the Momblogs. A place I happened upon and visited once. I won the DVD of Because I said So (I'm still waiting for it, though). and 2) Mod Mom's giveaway of the diaper/laptop bag. She has tons of giveaways of cool stuff. Wasting time on the internet has paid off.

Fairyland Party

Boo finally had her b-day party with friends (almost a month after her real b-day)! It was a "really fun celebration" (quote by the b-day girl herself). How did we spend our fairyland time?

Decorated the house like fairyland.

Treasure hunt of Fairy and elves' favorite things: feathers, flowers, magic pebbles, shells to earn our wings.

Decorated our cookie wands.

Danced a fairy dance to the Nutcraker.

Played Fairy Freeze game.

Played Musical Flowers.

Read Peter Pan.

Ate fruit wands, star pizzas, and drank fairy punch (raspberry lemonade with edible flowers), and fairy cake.

Opened presents.

Exited into a sea of bubbles (leaving a little bit of chaos).

Boo was so cute. When she was going to sleep that evening I told her I was proud of her for playing so nicely (with 11 guests) and not crying or getting upset. She said, "Yeah, nobody cried or was mean!" A party to be remembered. My favorite quote of Boo's was when she was talking to her friend Ben who was one of the first to arrive and said, "You need to be nice to my friend Benjamin who is coming, because he's my best friend." So funny. He is still considered her best friend even though she sees him maybe once a month.

Now the question is: Do I do the idea where you only have parties for your kids every four years (the big ones--8, 12, 16)? We'll see. We had a lot of fun. I might miss it!

I need some assistance

Okay, clearly I have developed a shoe fetish. Last Friday I walked into DSW Shoe Warehouse and exited 36 minutes later with four pairs of shoes and two bags. Now, when I bought these I didn't think I would keep them all, I just couldn't make a decision, and I had to pick up my kids from Adri's. So, now, I have worn 3 pairs, but I can't decide on the fourth pair. They were only $11, but I just can't decide if they are too hoochie. I definitely want some animal print shoes (Stacey and Clinton approve), but I don't know if the combination of the peep toe and open heel give a "woman of the night" feeling. Your thoughts?