I hear little hearts breaking already!

Real-life Babydoll

What's grosser than gross?

Less than two weeks after the ER fiasco...Enter Stomach flu! Just in time for Pedro's 30th birthday, In-law house party and Christmas!

If my head is buried in the toilet for the next few days, Happy Barf-tastic Holidays!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Dear Mason,
Today is your fourth birthday. Part of me feels like the past four years have flown by, while the other part feels like you've been in my life forever. The past two years I wrote all about you. This year I want you to see all we've done together.
I love you, more than you'll ever know.
Mama

2nd Birthday here

3rd Birthday here

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Size Totally Matters

My camera? It's working again. It was the lens that took a poop, and a huge poop it was. For my birthday, after 869 tongue lashings Pedro bought me a new lens. It is huge! Almost intimidating; like it might hurt or something?

My photographer friend has gone all pro now so she uses all the red line lenses. This left her other lenses all sad and lonely. Not for long. She is letting me borrow her 28-90mm lens until she needs it, maybe, some day. I am giving it all kinds of lovin! Yeah Baby!




sweet little thang. 28-90mm


Big Black Bad Ass. 75-300mm

Quaaack!

Phew. I'm back. I just needed a few days to get my bearings back.

About two weeks ago we made plans the go to Minnesota and do some hardcore Christmas shopping. We were going with my parents and stay Friday through Sunday. Both my kids had been sick since Monday, but I figured they were at the tail end. Ha ha Ha. Stupid me. We packed up our car at noon on Friday. Both kids threw up on themselves in the car from coughing before we even left our city. We got there around 4 and checked into the hotel.

Mason coughed. We went out to dinner. Mason coughed. Harper was getting better and Mason was getting worse. By morning, after a rough 2-3 hours of sleep we knew we needed to take him in. He was so exhausted from coughing. We found the nearest Urgent Care and took him in. The Doctor called it croup and said there was really nothing that could be done. He highly suggested we take Mason to the nearest ER to be admitted for exhaustion. I paid $138.00 and was on my way. We headed back to the Hotel and packed up the car. I wasn't comfortable taking him to a hospital out of town and I wanted him to be at our local hospital if he had to.

We got home around 4 on Saturday and took him into our local ER. I told them what we'd already done and they were shocked. Shocked that the Doctor wanted to admit him for exhaustion but never thought to give him a breathing treatment to ease his coughing. They took x-rays, gave him a breathing treatment and we were on our way home. It wasn't croup, he had fluid around his lungs that was making him cough.

By Sunday morning after getting some sleep Mason was 90% better. Today he's 99% better. I am just pissed. The more I think about it the more angry I get that the Doctor said there was nothing that could be done. That he was probably at the worst day of the croup cycle, but that the exhaustion needed to be treated.

The Cherry? The clinic was private. Insurance not taken. (Bend over and let me have my way with you. Then you will pay! And say Thank You when I am finished!)

What would you do? We have been told to try and stop payment on our credit card. We have never done this but do you think it would work?

Holiday Cheer!

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes, yo! It came and went with a crazy HUGE snowstorm!

Harper was feeling better by the end of the week and by Sunday (that's 2 days people) her nose was running like a faucet again. This time it claimed Mason as well. The last few days I've spent waiting on my two sick children hand and foot. As much as I love all the snuggling and rocking, I am pretty sure if I never heard either of them whine again I'd be forever happy. It really does drive a person crazy especially when there are two of them whining in unison.

I think the sickness is claiming my brain now too. On Monday I invited Pedro's entire family over to my house for Christmas.

*Let's all have a moment of silence*

I've always known that I was nice person, but this? Above and beyond. I am not sure what got into me. Yes, right. The sickness eating my brain.

The Pro's

We are doing it on December 23 which means no traveling on Christmas.

At my house so my kids can nap when they need to nap.


The Con's

Pedro's entire family in my house, all at once.

Pedro's entire family in my house, all at once.

Pedro's entire family in my house, all at once.

Pedro's entire family in my house, all at once.

Pedro's entire family in my house, all at once.

Pedro's entire family in my house, all at once.

Really, I am sure it's going to be fine. I'll be on my best behavior and have lots holiday cheer, and beer, for everyone.

I am keeping the wine for me. All me.

Twas the night before 30

Twas the night before 30,
my days still chaotic.
So tonight I'll feel better,
by drinking Hypnotic.

My week was a bust.
As bad as they get.
But I posted everyday,
never even took a rest.

Tomorrow I'm 30
I hope it slows down.
For just a few hours
I'm a queen with a crown.

Bring the body wrap,
the massage,
the dinner, just us two.
Cause after this week,
My brain is a big pile of goo.

I wish I were happy,
full of fun birthday cheers,
But really you're more likely
to catch me with tears.

(intermission) (Christmas Party at Ms.Mammas)(Home post 2 glasses of wine)

The wine was delish
The hor 'd orves were so tasty.
Won't be going to Weight Watchers
Cause I'm flabby and pasty.

The last decade was rad.
Was as good as it gets.
Shouldn't be all, "wah".
Look at the goals that I've met.

There is just one more thing
before I lose sight...
Happy 30's to all!
And to 20's? Goodnight.

Can't seem to FOCUS.

The house is quiet. Pedro is out watching a football game and both kids are sound asleep. I've got eleventy-bazillion candles lit because I still can't calm down. Harper is going through that crazy desrtuctive phase. THe one you almost forget about after it passes until you have another baby then WHAM! I think I have to say it is my least favorite phase of all developemental stages. Wait. What are they learning by being destructive again? Right now I don't even care.

Tonight my camera took the abuse. Yes, my brand spanking new camera. I had taken some pictures this afternoon and left it on the kitchen counter after I was done. After dinner when no one was in the kitchen Harper reached up and pulled the neck-strap and crack went my camera (insert dry-heaving here). The lens, is totally effed (insert profuse,spontaneous pit sweat here). Tomorrow I am taking it in (insert $$$$$ here).

That's all I can say.

Me, me, me.

I was thinking today that I'd really like to spend a couple of hours Saturday morning doing something for me. I really haven't done anything pamperish in months. What would you do? Would you go to a Weight Watchers meeting on your birthday ready to hear bad news? Yeah. Me either.

**UPDATE**
I just found a gift certificate from nearly two years ago for a spa package.
Queen for a Day- includes an herbal body wrap and a one hour massage. How's that for a day of pampering? It's all free too! YAY!

Some things are probably better left unsaid.

Tomorrow is the day I get my girlie parts inspected. I don't get nervous like I used to. I've had babies now and when that happened I am sure my modesty was passed as well.

My va-heena. It has served me well.

The thing I've been thinking about is different. During the inspection my boobies get the once over as well. When this is happening I always feel the need to chant,

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

So maybe I don't actually say that. That was my Christmas Story tribute. But honestly, I do feel the need to say something to the effect that milk may in fact squirt out. I have said this for the past 4 check-ups (Dear God I've now been nursing for 4 years. Straight!) I think I am just being courteous but I've also done/said some inappropriate things in my day. What do you think?

Here, have a picture.

I wanted to give you a family picture taken at Thanksgiving, but they all blew. So instead I give you my pretty little girl.

In the top ten for the worst day ever.

I am so tired I can't believe I am even going to try to describe my day. It was long and horrible and HORRIBLE!

Harper woke up this morning to a beautifully snotty nose. Everyone though it was so cute that her snotty cousin was feeding her pumpkin pie from his fork. They were all "awww, how sweet!" as my germiphobic mind was all "are you serious? The kid has snot running from his nose directly to his mouth and I see nothing sweet about it!" I just get tired of being the germ crazy in-law so I zipped the lips that time. Stupid. While I am very aware that kids need to build their immune systems. I don;t think you need to go around licking Pietre dishes. I think that is overkill.

Pedro spent the weekend working on more projects. Our partially finished attic is now a nearly finished playroom. While I can't wait for the kids to have a room to call their own, I need a little time to breathe on the weekends. This weekend, the very long weekend, I felt like I held my breath for hours at a time. By noon I blew and went pyscho informing Pedro that he wouldn't be taking on another project for a year. I am not sure where I came up with the time frame but it was what came flying out of my rabid mouth. By one o'clock I was sent out the door (psycho works!). I needed to catch up on a ton of things, including grocery shopping.

My first stop was at the home improvement store to get paint for the "project" room. I picked out the paint color, had it matched and went to check out. As I ran my debit card thru, the cashier looked at me and said it was not accepted. Just as all this was happening, Pedro happened to call my cell. I told his what was going on and he said it was not possible for the card to be declined since there was money in our account and in our overdraft account. With the line behind me growing, they told me to go up to customer service and call the credit card company. I was embarrassed and pissed and irritated with a short fuse. I told them I really didn't have time to sit on the phone and I left- with no paint and more ammunition for my powerfully shitty day.

I got to my car and told Pedro the rest of the story and that I was afraid to go grocery shopping, fearing my card would be declined again. We both decided that I should go and get cash from an ATM. I drove to the closest ATM which was also our bank. I stuck my card in and immediately it said that my card had been confiscated and that I should contact my financial institution. I think I may have also seen a little green monster pop out with his thumbs in his ears singing- neener, neener, neee-ner.

I am not why I didn't start crying at this point. I drove home and Pedro informed me that our debit and credit cards had been blocked. After a half an hour on the phone with the card company we found out that yesterday there was suspicious activity on our card. I put $25 in gas in our car and 2 minutes later at the same gas station our card was charged another $75. They noticed the strange activity and blocked our accounts. The $75 got erased but my fricking debit card is gone.

When thing finally got figured out I went to grocery shop and to get new paint. As I was walking into Wal-Mart to get some new Dutch Boy paint, two cars slammed into each other five feet from me. It was Wal-Mart. Typical.

T minus 6 days.

Do you remember when you were a teenager and you never really saw yourself at 30? No, really. I imagined getting older, getting out of college, getting married and having kids but I never had a clear picture of 30.

My clear picture is just about to come and slap me upside the head.

Bring it! I am ready to take it on.

(Can we just end this NaPoBloBlah-blah-blah already?)

Big Boy, still my baby.

IMG_0119.JPG
Originally uploaded by glamgranola

As I write this, my baby is sleeping in a huge big boy bed. Until a few nights ago, he loved his crib and wanted nothing to do with the big bed taking up space in his room, but tonight's the night. Why do these tiny little milestones tug at my heart so much? I'm going to be such a mess when he starts school.

More Talk of Oil.

Since it is Thanksgiving night and I am pooped from all the travel and family, let's not talk about it ok? At least not for tonight. I've had about all the screaming-baby-in-the-car that I can handle for while and I can handle a lot! So let's talk about something all adult and crunchy. Like, OIL!

I am loving the results from the oil cleansing. So much so that I talked my husband into trying it and he likes it too. My skin as I mentioned before is very dry and pretty sensitive. I get an occasional pimple that Mason loves to point out as an "owie". I never use anything on my face that has a fragrance. It is so dry that if I were to work out, and sit around for a couple of hours the amount of sweaty oil that would be on my face would be welcome. I am always searching for something that makes my face feel silky. Not tight and not greasy, just silky.

Pedros skin is perfect from the get-go. For the record, before I knew what his name was called my roomates and I called him "Pretty Skin Boy" or a tad less cheesy "PSB". He too gets an occasional blemish but his skin is naturally silky. I would classify him in the normal category. He was convinced that rubbing oil into his skin would put him over into the oily category. I even had my doubts but it worked like a charm for him too.

After doing OCM for nearly a week I told Pedro that my face just felt balanced. Think about it. We wash our face and strip away the natural oils, bad and good, then slather on a nice moisturizer to replace what we just scrubbed off. After I do OCM my face feels like I just moisturized with the nicest face cream ever but also super clean. I hope I am not reading more into than I need to but my pores seem tiny and the glow is something similar to the best post-sex glow ever.

The only downfall is the time. Most nights I am so tired by bedtime that I seriously just want to splash my face with a little water and go to bed. This takes around 3-5 minutes which sometimes is too long. I really don't see myself using it nightly forever, but for the winter or if you want your skin to feel amazing, oil it is!

It's all about the turkey.

Tomorrow we are packing up the kids and driving 2 hours to see Pedro's family. I think Thanksgiving is a great, meaningful holiday, yet I am not at all thankful for all the hustle and bustle of driving in a car with two kids for a meal. Gah.

So tomorrow morning I am waking up with the birds or 7 o'clock and my neighbor and I are going for a long walk before we gorge ourselves the rest of the day. I love eating on Thanksgiving, I just hate how disgusting I feel after.

So tell me, what are your most and least favorite parts of Thanksgiving?

So Close, Yet So Far Away.

Today was almost the best day ever. But not. Last week I was talking to my dad about my new fancy-dancy camera. I remembered there was a time way back when my dad was into photography. I remember him splurging on a nice camera. When we were talking I asked him what kind it was. He didn't remember; It had been years.

This morning I was online looking at some even fancier lenses than the one that came standard with my camera. Later during the morning I was talking to my dad and asked him if he ever looked to see what kind f camera he had. He went to go look as I was talking to him. It was a Canon! With a macro lens! An old school Canon but a Canon non the less. What you may or may not understand is that the cool thing about Canon cameras is that all the lenses work on all the bodies. Even film to digital. I was so excited I nearly wet myself. He told me I could take them if I'd like. It was good Karma payday for me. I drove over to there house within an hour and belted down stairs to inspect my new accesories. They didn't fit. The old school parts went out in the late 80's. Wah!

So back to the search for a new lens for my camera. At least Christmas is just around the corner?

The crunchy things I do #432

Tonight I am going to start OCM. Have you heard of this? I have super dry skin and really have never found a cleanser that I love. So I am going to try this starting tonight. I am using 3 parts olive oil to 1 part caster oil. I love the fact that there are no scents involved and it removes make up too. I hope it is a success.

I'm so dizzy my head is spinning...

I get in these writing slumps. I write a paragraph and then hold my finger on the delete key until all I see is white. I think to myself," Gah! Boring! No one wants to read about this." Then I just get all over-analytical and end up taking the day off. But this month, I can't do that. I am forced to write my most mundane daily occurrences. I can't over-think and I shouldn't. The thing is, the censor thing or lack there of, is a very slippery slope. This is my blog, yes? I should say whatever I please, yes? Not really. Some things I think about are really better left unsaid and just thought about. Sometimes the things I think about are very opinionated and borderline and um, bitchy. Not at all the kind of person I want to be in writing or in real life.

This all came about when I was thinking about some of the blogs I used to read. Many of them lost my interest because they turned all "preachy". Frankly, when I have free time to look around online I generally do it for entertainment. Sometimes to learn about something, sometimes to look for a laugh, sometimes it's looking for hope (that I am not a crazy looney) but usually it is just for fun, like reading a good book. I am not all secretive about my opinions. In fact if I were asked about a controversial topic I can't think of a single topic I'd plead the 5th on. I just don't like to be all hardcore, all the time. I like my censor.

So where am I going with all this? I am not really sure. Just writing about what's on my mind.

I do have to add, to jumble up my post even more, that the very thing about speaking what's on a persons mind is what is so lovely about kids. I love how frank Mason is. So innocent and yet so direct. No fluff included. They are kids they are not expected to know what to censor. That happens during that "growing up" part.

Last night Mason and I went to Target. I let him sit in back of the cart as I pushed it through the ladies department. As we were weaving in and out of racks,the cart at one point faced directly to the lingerie department and a plethora of bras hanging perfectly in rows. Clearly they caught Mason's attention because out of nowhere he blurted,

"Wow! Look at all those boobies!"

How did I respond? I didn't. I just laughed.

Well, Shit.

Today I woke up starving. I truly never wake up starving but of course my head knew I couldn't eat before my WW meeting. You know what I am talking about right? When I first started going to meetings I went at 6pm and good Lord that was a long time to not eat. So I knew I could handle fasting until 9am.

I walked into the meeting pretty unsure of what the outcome would be. I worked out a lot this week and also ate a lot this week. I stepped on the scale and dun, dun ,dunn...I lost .6 of a pound. Just over a half of a damn pound. That leaves just 4.4 left until December 1st. Miracles do happen, right? Right?

iPod Revamp

I've made my playlist for working out. Thanks for all your suggestions, they helped me pick what will get me all revved up!

Here is what I was lisenting to:





Now, my new and improved playlist for getting my sweat on:

Thanksgiving- one week early.

Today we spent around four hours in the car and the rest of the day doing funeral type things. Funerals, they're exausting in all ways possible. The one positive thing about them is how grateful I am by the end of the day. Grateful that I have two healthy kids who run me ragged, a hot husband who gets crabby and a big family with issues galore. Today nothing else really matters, I'm just happy they're all here.

Weight Loss, What?

Today was one of those days that makes me wonder if there is a god somewhere who wants me to be fat. My Mom called this morning and asked me and the kids to meet her out for lunch. Because I never turn down a lunch out, I got us all ready and out we went. We went to a little diner that has been in town forever, nothing fancy, just good plain food.

I look over the menu and made a reasonably healthy choice. The old me would've ordered something like chicken salad on a croissant but the new me who wants to be hot again ordered a portobella mushroom sandwich. OK, the old me may have ordered that too, but this sandwich sucked! The mushroom itself was thinner than a McDonald's burger and it just came with lettuce, tomato, a dry whole wheat bun and a pickle spear. Thank God I'd ordered a cup of chicken noodle soup or a may have started looking for food droppings under the surrounding tables.

I left hungry. I got in my car and drove directly to Starbucks and ordered a nonfat Chai latte and an Oatmeal cookie. I swear I am going to be in BIG trouble when I stop nursing, because I just can't eat enough, ever. Seriously? Who leaves a lunch date, hungry?

On Life and Death.

When Mason was born prematurely we spent two weeks in the NICU. It was all consuming. I thought about nothing else. I cared about nothing else. It was just Pedro and I and our little helpless baby with an occasional visitor thrown in. Nothing else mattered.

When the day came that we were given the okay to take our tiny baby home I remember having the strangest feeling. Everyone was the same. They had been going to their jobs, they had gotten haircuts. They were just living. While we were experiencing some of the hardest days of our lives, everyone else was just living.

On Sunday I called my friend,neighbor, photographer at 9:30 am. She was at her in-laws house while her Mother-in-law was spending her last days at home. I asked her how things were going and she told me her mother-in-law had passed away just a half an hour earlier. They had been spending the last 30 minutes soaking up all that was left of her. They gave her her last bath, they took pictures, and they said goodbye.

Later that day I was in my car, on my way home from grocery shopping and I had the strangest feeling again. While another family was grieving the loss of someone they loved so much, I was out shopping for food. I felt a little ashamed.

I think about all the times that little coincidental things happen and I say "what a small world". But the fact is, it's not small at all. It's huge-and sad how little each life being born or passing really affects the rest of the world. We are all just little water drops in the ocean that is life.

The weight is over.

This Saturday, I went back to Weight Watchers. Not that I ever left or anything, I just wasn't going. It was been months since I lost a mere pound. With my 30th birthday approaching in 18 days I've been revived and I am going to look good. I've set a reasonable goal for those two and a half weeks of 5 pounds. I can do it! Why five pounds? Because 5 pounds would put me at a very pretty number(to me). A number that I've been wanting to snuggle with.

I am not usually one to care about numbers. It's been made very clear that a number is nothing more than just, a number. I still weigh much more than I did in college but some of my smallest college jeans fit me with ease. My body is so different. My B's have become functioning D's. My once flat stomach has grown 2 healthy babies and is marked with proof. My budonkadonk no longer carries as much junk in the trunk as it did in my party days. So basically I still have problem areas, they are just new areas. Should we even talk about the muffin top? No? Good. I hate that.

So for the next two weeks I am working out hard, molasses cookie intake will be kept to a minimum and I am going to lose five pounds by December 1st.

Also, if you haven't left me your favorite workout song, could you help a girl out? So far, so good.

Music makes the world go 'round.

I am in search for new workout music for my ipod. I need help. The stuff I've been listening to works. So well in fact that I'm inspired. I've noticed that when I am on my long walk and a really good, upbeat song comes on, I get the urge to run!

I know, right? Who would've thought.

The problem is very few of the songs on it are fast and furious. So my question for you is...tell me one or two of your favorite workout songs or a song that you can't help but start grooving to when you hear it.

Don't be embarrassed. The ones I have ready to go are:

Since You've Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson
Who Knew - Pink

So bring it on! Can't wait to hear your suggestions.

*Laura, you should have a huge list for me since you run marathons. A whole lot of music can be played while running 26.2 miles. She runs MARATHONS people!

Bargain Babe!

I like nice things. I like deals. I am not sure which I love more. I think it's fair to say I've found some awesome deals that I am going to pass on to you. You'll thank me; Unless of course you like to pay lot's of money for your stuff. But then? You are probably just a little on the not so bright side. I kid. I am not about the verbal assault. Here is the info, take it if you please.

First things first.

Do you see what I see? Do you wear glasses? Wouldn't it be nice to keep an extra pair in your desk at work or in your car? Except they cost a gazillion dollars. Mine were and now they are "all custom" with scratches. I want to kick myself for waisting money when I could pay under $20, have them shipped to my door, and not care
too much about what happens to them.

Holla! I'm your girl! This site advertises the $8.00 glasses. The whole package $8.00. I took them up on it and bought my super cute husband a pair to try.


Not bad huh? They are prescription sunglasses. They have more expensive ones too but I think the most expensive package was $29. Who can refuse? My only suggestion is to have an idea of what you want, then try to match it. Otherwise there are hundreds to look through, not to mention that each frame shown has probably 5 other color options. I like to use the search box and type in exactly what I am looking for to narrow things down.

Next.

Do you like shoes? Duh. Who doesn't like shoes. My new "Mom" shoe obsession are Earth Shoes. They are kind of expensive though, right? Well I started doing my research and found them at Sierra Trading Post for half the price, sold!

I have more, but it'll have to wait for another day. Now go buy yourself something real pretty m'kay?

Babysitting 101

I need a damn babysitter. Stat! One of my big issues is that I need a break every now and then. The problem? I am so picky and rightly so. So tomorrow I start my search, hardcore.

I've got 2 girls in mind, one would be available daytime hours. The other one nigh time, so maybe a dinner out more than once a year would be an option?

Fingers crossed.

Easy Button

You know that old saying about "It you don't have anything nice to say..."? I am applying that today.

Somedays wouldn't you give anything to go back to the days that were so carefree and simple?

Yesterday Mason and I were having a conversation and I asked him "what he wanted to do today?"

"Just play."

All over a bowl of Corn Chowder.

Last night I had my Mom and my brother's girlfriend over for Corn Chowder and crusty, fresh bread. Since my dad and brother were out of town I thought it would be a nice thing to do. They came over and we all sat around eating bowls of soup when some how the conversation turned to showering and washing ones hair. We all had our own vues but mine was something like...

" I shower everyday, without fail. Occasionally if I don't have anything important to do that day or anywhere to go I won't wash my hair."

Pedro jumped in at this point saying "but then you have a big speed bump in the back!"

Pedro and I laughed because I do in fact wake up most mornings with a nice little perma-lump in the back.

I giggled a little but then quickly said "but I don't go anywhere like that!"

He was then quick to jut in, "last weekend you left with a huge one!"

"Ah! And you didn't tell me?"

"You were mad at me anyway."

Passive-aggressive Jerk!

You think I should've told him about the big chunk of oregano from the pizza we had for lunch lodged between his teeth before he went back to work?

Ah, Karma. How I love thee.

_____________________________________________

Show me your stuff!

A few of you wanted to see my kids' rooms. So today I give you Harper's Bedroom. For some reason it also happens to my favorite room in our house. It's tiny and fresh and positively girly all without being nauseatingly pastel.
Mom to Cass, Ashley and pgoodness, here is Harpers bedroom!


"H" is for Harper!


Hours are spent in this chair everyday and night. Sometimes there is no other place I'd rather be.


Dresser with changing pad I never used.
Note to self: Get rid of it already!


I still love her bedding!


Isn't she so sweet, that Harper! I kid. That's Rosy, Harper's stunt double.

There you have it! Until tomorrow...

Bonus! Molasses cookie edition.

You will really love these cookies when you see how easy they are to make! I am all about the one bowl cookie and also about recipes that make a gazillion. Because then? On one of those nights when you have to have something sweet, you pull cookie dough out of the freezer and viola! Ten minutes and you've saved yourself a trip to the grocery store at 10pm to get donuts! Not that we ever do that...ever.

OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES COOKIES LIKE
GRANDMA MADE

1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. molasses
1 c. Crisco shortening
2 eggs
2 tsp. soda dissolved in 2/3 c. hot water
4 to 5 c. flour (about 4 1/2 works)
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tsp. ginger
3 tsp. cinnamon
3 tsp. cloves

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl. Drop by spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees approximately 10 minutes. They split on top when they are done.

* I also sprinkled the tops with raw sugar to make them sparkly. Apparently I am all about the sparkle.

** I also refrigerated my batter overnight. Not on purpose but because my kids woke up before I could start to bake them. Many of the recipes suggest you do that so the flavors of the spices can blend.

Now go make them and dunk them in your coffee. Pure Heaven!

Have you seen my BenGay?

Dude! When did I become such an old lady? My newest love, the molasses cookie. In Love. I can't get enough of them or Ginger Snaps either. I wonder if they'd go well with my favorite candy, Good and Plenty? Five years ago you couldn't have paid me to eat either of those and now I am all hardcore.

This morning I made homemade molasses cookies.

See that one right there, to the left?

I ate it! Along with like five others.

Am I totally old lady or would you eat one? That's what I thought. Just put me out of my misery when I start telling you how wonderful my new Rose air freshner smells.

and...

Speaking of spray to cover bathroom funk. I present you and MP, our one and only bathroom. That's right our family of four functions with one bathroom. Pretty smoothly infact. Except when we are all plagued with stomach flu. Then it's not so pretty (I'll leave it at that).

Self-Portrait Sunday

Vanity at it's finest!

But, there's more!
I have a favor to ask. Since I got my new camera I've been trying to take photos all the time. What I am asking of you is to give me a subject or object. It really can be anything that you want to see. Want to see my closet, my fridge, my favorite room in my house? Anything. You name it! I'm going to call it Show Me Your Stuff and I'll link you with your question. Thanks! I'm ready when you are...

Lullaby

We've been limiting the amount of time the TV is turned on during the day. It was just becoming a habit to get up in the morning and turn the TV on leave it on all day long. Even though we weren't plopped in front of it most of the time, I wanted other things to take the focus, like music. So lately we've been turning on the TV in the morning. Mason still watches more than enough until late morning when Harper wakes up from her morning nap, then it's off the rest of the day. It hasn't been a challenge at all. Instead, my kids are being creative, doing things like this.

A couple of days ago. It was mid-afternoon; time for both kids to take a nap. I turned on some of the slower songs on my iPod to help wind the kids down. The song Lullaby was on. Have you heard this song? I am not a country fan at all and the Dixie Chicks are just OK for me, BUT, this song is one of the most amazing songs over.

Anyway, Mason came over and sat on my lap facing me. He wrapped his little arms around my neck and we snuggled and swayed as I sang along to the song. After a minute, he lifted up his head from my shoulder and said, "Mama, this song makes me love you."

How's that for the power of music?

Because I'm Worth It, dammit!

You know how I dissapeared for a while? I was busy making passionate love to my new camera. Pedro suprised me with it because he appreciates all I do staying at home (or he wanted a "favor"). It is fantastic! I good camera really does make a difference. I am doing nothing different than I did before, but my pictures? They rock.

(Like how I am tooting my own horn? At least that's all I am tooting.)

Without further ado...






Oh my God, those side by sides just made me realize how alike my kids look! The teeth, the eyes, the hair. Why didn't I realize this before?

Not off with a BANG, but a toot!

Why am I doing this to myself?

Have you ever taken a Yoga class? Were the "normals" discussed? You know, like passing gas? It is actually super common because of all the "stirring up" your body in ways you don't normally do on a day to day basis. I've been teaching now for 3 years and just about every class someone lets one rip.

Sometimes the person is open and honest and will say something like,"Whoops! Shouldn't have eaten that chili before class!" We all giggle then just let it go (oh the puns). Other times someone will let one fly and pretend nothing happened. In those cases we all pretend like nothing happened.

Well. This week, after 3 years, It. Was. Me. I should be comfortable with this, right? WRONG! I was up in front of class demonstrating the tree and , "pop!" Oh Sweet Lord! I even did the obligatory little cough after. You know, that tiny little bit of hope that my whole class would think it was a little cough? Riiight. I pretended nothing happened. Lame right? I should have at least had a cute, breezy little comment to make light. But I was too damn embarrassed.

What a way to start NaBloPoMo! Humiliation. Good God I hope I don't have any ex-boyfriends reading my blog because Wow! That would be embarrassing.

Oh who am I kidding? I probably farted in front of each one because I am totally hot that way!

Pffft.

Halloweener!

Well hi there! Remember me? I've been busy. Busy eating my sons hard earned halloween candy. Mmmmm, I love me some twix bars, but Heath? Why didn't anyone hand out Heath bars.

You want to see pictures of my little gobblins, don't you?



Harper was a Ladybug with a blue sucker!



Mason was a Chicken. I very cute chicken.



But there was this weird lady we saw...



who was a scarecrow per her sons request.



The things we do for love!

Girl Interrupted

...so much on my plate right now. I need some time to sort through it all. I'll be back November 1st. Who knows, maybe it'll make for some fantastic NaBloPoMo material? Are you in by the way?

Ongoing Battle

My little quad of a family is doing fine, except for the constant cycle of colds that we've been passing around for the past 3 weeks. It's been impossible for any of us to get a decent nights sleep.

That's all pretty petty though.

I know I've mentioned before about my families struggle with addiction and substance abuse. It's back. It's exhausting and hurtful and a relief all at the same time. A relief because now that things have come to a head, hopefully healing can start.

Hopefully.

It's easy to get caught up in the negative, but I am not going to. Instead I want to tell you a little story about a Friday night a few weeks ago...

In Wisconsin, we have what is called "Friday Fish Fry". Other states have fish and chips but none of the ones I've had have ever compared. When Pedro and I lived in Florida, I am pretty sure that not a Friday went by without us reminiscing and drooling over our beloved Wisconsin Fish Fry.

A couple weeks ago, we all went out for a Fish Fry. It was disastrous! Our waitress was the worst ever. She reminded me of Napoleon Dynamite, the awkwardness of it all. We gave her our order she wrote it down without ever looking up and then just walked away without saying a word. No "Thank you" or "I'll get your order right in." Nothing.

Our kids added to the "fun". Once our food came we began putting food on
Harper's little place mat. She ate a very few bites and then directed all her efforts to ripping off her place mat. She pulled and pulled until finally the suction cups gave and little bits of food went flying and landed on the table behind her. No, I am not joking. The table let out a little "what the hell?" then went on trying to have a nice dinner out. Ha! Good luck with that when we're here!

During all this drama Mason was singing, "put the lime in the coconut and stir it all up, put the lime in the coconut a mix it all together." Each time he sang it was getting louder and louder. Nice. It was by far our most chaotic dinner ever.

Without even finishing our meal, Pedro and I decided we needed to get the hell out of there. We started packing up all our stuff and also apologizing to the tables surrounding us.
Everyone just smiled and said it was fine. It wasn't though. It was like The Gong Show except the gong never rang to end the skit.
One guy actually said, "Thank You. I had a really tough week and you made my night. It was funny."

That man is my new hero.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Who's Weird? Not Me!

Ms. Mamma tagged me for this one claiming I've got "isms". She knows me well and she was spot on. I am full of quirks. Here goes...


1. What kind of SOAP is in your bathtub right now? Lush Karma, a yummy smelling handmade soap my mom got for me and 3 different shower gels.

2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No, no melons whatsoever.

3. What would you change about your living room? NEW CARPET!! It is the only room that has carpet and it is nasty. Embarrassingly nasty.

4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Clean and hot. I just ran it after lunch.

5. What is in your fridge? Homemade Minestroni soup, provalone cheese, organic 2% milk for the boys, skim for me, go-gurt (have you tried it? It is awesome! Healthy, not so much but better than a lot of junk.) Turkey, salsa, butter, butter spray, 4 salad dressings and more...

6. White or wheat bread? Whole wheat.

7. What is on top of your refrigerator? Dust. Place mats I almost never use, a basket full of tea bags, a loaf of crusty french bread for the soup I made.

8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? It is a Martha Stewart one with multi-colored stripes.

9. How many plants are in your home? 2

10. Is your bed made right now? No. I wish I could say yes because my room looks so nice when it is, but I can't.

11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Comet. I need the harsh stuff to feel like things are clean. Oooo, except for the Magic Erasure. I love that.

12. Is your closet organized? Ha! It's a big hot mess.

13. Can you describe your flashlight? Does this have multiple meanings or am I just a 13 year old perverted boy? We don't own a flashlight, do we Pedro?

14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? Always glass, Always. It is one of my things. Unless it is my big water jug that I would never put anything other than water in...

15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? No, I do hot tea this time of year with local honey.

16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered? Yes. We just cleaned it out a few weeks ago so it is not as bad as it was.

17. Curtains or blinds? Curtains and shades but no blinds.

18. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2.

19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? No way.

20. How often do you vacuum? Almost everyday. Never less than every other day.

21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard.

22. What color is your toothbrush? Lime green.

23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? Yes, but it doesn't say "Welcome".

24. What is in your oven right now? Nada.

25. Is there anything under your bed? Nothing on purpose but I am sure there are various matchbox cars and mini socks.

26. Chore you hate doing the most? Putting away clean dishes and clothes. Especially silverware.

27. What retro items are in your home? My big red pantry in my kitchen bought at an auction.

28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? No.

29. How many mirrors are in your home? 6. Is that bad? I swear we are not incredibly vain people. We just use them as wall decorations in every bedroom.

30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? Hell to the NO!

31. What color are your walls? In different rooms, Terracotta- living room, Buckskin- kitchen, olive green-dining room, cafe mocha-my bedroom,Stone brown-bathroom, Banana cream-Harper's room, Corn Husk green- Mason's room. I like color I guess.

32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? I've got a Knife block. I got Nothin'.

33. What does your home smell like right now? Pumpkin Spice with a little dirty diaper in the background.

34. Favorite candle scent? Pumpkin Spice.

35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? Homemade from my Dad.

36. What color is your favorite Bible? Good Lord. I plead the 5th.

37. Ever been on your roof? Not at this house.

38. Do you own a stereo? Yes. But I dream of the day I have a house that has one built in. I love those.

39. How many TVs do you have? Two.

40. How many house phones? 3 handsets one retro wall phone.

41. Do you have a housekeeper? You're lookin at her.

42. What style do you decorate in? I would love it if you told me it looked Pottery Barn-esque.

43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Solids. We finally got smart and splurged on leather and wow, is it easier to keep clean!

44. Is there a smoke detector in your home? Yeah, two.

45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? Just my kids and my husband if he wasn't being a crab that day...Love you Pedro. Otto(the dog) would be right underfoot like he always is!

I am going to tag That Chick, Rachel, Ashley and Lizarita. Anyone else? Just let me know so I know I am not the only crazy chick out there!

Big Bad Mama Bear

Monday I taught Yoga. I came home and Pedro said, "Jake bit Mason."

"What? Hard? Did he cry? What did you do? Did you bring him in the house?"

"Yes, yes, I brought him in the house."

"Mason, come here. Can I see your arm?"

After seeing his arm, I had to use all restraint I had not to march over and make sure that little boy knew that biting is never acceptable. I was fuming!

I am not sure why this is bothering me so much. I don't think I am totally unrealistic. I mean, kids slap, hit, push ( mine included), and I am well aware that many, many kids bite. I can't figure out why this has me so bothered? I am sure it doesn't help that we are at day 3 post-bite and there is still a perfect bruise of a 3 year-olds dental records on my sons arm. Gah! I can't get over it, Why?

Let her eat CAKE!

It's my birthday!



All these cupcakes, for me?



Other kids get a entire cake to devour. I get a tiny little cupcake. My mom says something about too much sugar? Lame.



At least it was Red Velvet! Mmmmmmm...

Sparkles!

Last week a few of my girlfriends and I decided it was time for us to get out. Two of the 3 of us are still nursing so we couldn't be gone all that long or drink all that much! We went to a fancy, over-priced restaurant that has fantastic happy hour specials.

My neighbor friend walked over to my house so we could ride together. She walked in and Oh. My. God. We were dressed pretty much the same. SEQUINS! It was a little embarrassing but had no impact on our couple hours of girl time. We had the best time. My other friend drove from another city (Hi Jill!) and met us there. She was less flashy, sans sequins. We joked about the fact that my neighbor and I were dressed alike. Her reply was fantastic!

"That's what happens when you are a stay at home Mom and you get out...you wear sequins!"

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the three of us, just my neighbor and I.




Since Jill met us there I had already had two sips of wine by the time she got there and my brain had stopped functioning and I didn't take a single picture. Total lite-weight, make that feather-weight. We were home by 8pm and back to our kiddos. It was a perfect night out.


As much as I love being with my kids, being out with the girls was so great and reassured me that I still am more than a stay at home mom. I am multi-faceted just like the L'Oreal commercial.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short!

First things first. Do you know what today is? No?



That's right, today is the day to pop out and just say Hi! Come on. Every one's doing it. Just one little hit. Hear that Britney? I said a little hit.

Have I told you lately how excited I am that super low jeans are becoming a thing of the past? Good Lord I am ecstatic! For a while I felt like I had to make the painstaking decision between Mom Jeans and the trashy plumber-crack ones. I will never be caught dead in the first, so butt-crack exposure it was. Talk about being self-conscious. I just don't think that my crack is pretty enough to put on display, is that so wrong? So for the past few years, I haven't been able to find any in-between and now they're here. Who-Rah! In the past week I've bought two new pairs and I feel confident enough to bend over in a crowded room. Now that's a good thing!

Edited:
I am not usually one for false promises, I swear, it is one thing I pride myself on. Our computer was totally constipated yesterday. So constipated in fact that my uber techie husband was going to wipe out everything and start from scratch. It just wouldn't budge! This morning I went upstairs and looked at all the blinking lights on the motem and saw that the internet light looked a little shakey. I unplugged everything and replugged and look at me! I am totally blogging without constipation. So now I am a little sad that I missed out on the great MOFO delurk. If you'd still like to say Hi, I 'd love to hear from you! Otherwise, I'll wait until next time...wwwwahhhhhhh!

Back with a Vengence!

Sit back, take your shoes off. Hell! Go make yourself a margarita!

This could take a while.

Button's new resident is moving in today and we could very well be slapped with a lawsuit from Captain Dickwad. First, we got phone call informing us that we should write him a check for around 4 thousand dollars, just cuz. Right. Let me get right on that. We didn't and he had his lawyer write us a somewhat threatening letter telling us to pay an absurd amount within 5 days. I don't know about you guys, but do people usually have 4 grand in between the couch cushions? What a dumb ass. The totally hard up realtor went and tried to find any way possible that he could get some money out of us since we fired his sleazy ass. I guess there is some clause stating that if a seller refuses a full asking price offer, commission is to still be payed. We were actually offered full price with the contingency of replacing the furnace ( a 2 thousand dollar contingency BTW) so we aren't too worried. Asshole.

Button's new resident is a girl I know. She is actually a single mom with a three year old son. She is super excited to be moving in. The day she started moving in, we were hanging out chatting when my other friend and neighbor walked a fresh baked apple pie over to my house. It smelled fantastic and was and still hot when I got home. Who knew you could be both a fantastic photographer and pie maker. Not to mention a Weight Watcher sabotager, hmph. Anyway, we sliced a piece and devoured it. I decided I should take a slice over to the new button owner. I got it all ready and told the kids I'd be back in one minute since she's right next door. I headed out the door, dropped off the piece of pie and Mason was directly behind me. We headed right back to get Harper who I could hear screaming at the door. I reached for the door and Oh, Shit. LOCKED! She must have been reaching for the door handle and spun the lock just enough to lock it. I ran around to the other 3 doors of our house, all locked. I started to freak out. Before I could think of anything else, I went into the garage, grabbed a screw driver and sliced the hell out of my bedroom screen. Mason was willing to be my little helper and crawled right in and unlocked the door within 10 seconds. Thank God for my little helper and my safe little girl.

I feel like after my writing slump, I all of a sudden have so much to talk about! Oh, and tomorrow, make sure to stop by. That's all I'm sayin...

9-21-07...

One year ago today, I woke up scared to death. Scared of giving birth. Scared to meet the little person I was growing inside of me. Scared of our nice little family changing. At 2:36 your warm gooey body was draped across my chest and I knew everything was going to be just fine.



We brought you home after only 24 hours and you were healthy and perfect in every way. At least your dad and I thought you were. Mason? He wasn't so sure. He loved to hold you and kiss you but he took a while to learn how share his time with you. It is unbelievable how things have changed.



You are so in love with your brother it makes my heart ache. You try to do everything just like him, even trying to mimic his occasional temper tantrums, squealing and then checking to see if we are all laughing with you. But more than anything else, I love how the two of you hold hands in the car. It is so sweet to look back at the two of you and see each of your arms reached across the middle seat hand in hand. It is truly amazing.



You are a very active little girl, walking all over. You started a little over 10 months and never turned back. You say a few words like Mama, bye bye, uh-oh, guh-boy (good boy). You are a great impersonator; If I blink hard you blink hard. If I blow a raspberry, so do you. Speaking of raspberries, you hardly eat anything. You prefer milky and that's OK with me; It is what I am here for.



The relationship you have with your Dad is a special one. Watching the two of you, I can feel the love you have for each other and it makes me love both of you that much more. I love to tell people how you have him wrapped around your little finger. When he tries to tell you "no", you just cock your head to the side and smile at him. He cracks every. single. time.
Good Girl!



I have to say though, you are still a mama's girl. For the majority of this past year you've not gone to anyone but your dad and me. At times it was frustrating but deep down we love it. We've learned that our babies are babies for such a short time and we need to soak up all the lovin' we can get. Your grandma was over last week and we talked about how shy you are. You are never short on smiles, but you are happiest in my arms.



Now, looking back on the past year I can say that everything was better than fine, it was amazing. Of course there were times that were hectic but I wouldn't change any of it. You've blended right into our family and brought out the best in all of us. You make me feel like the most special person in the world.



I love you baby girl!
Mama