My World - part 2

Thanks to everyone who stopped by this weekend to take a peek into my world. I have a few more pictures to share with you, and maybe one last segment this week (we'll see, I'm not committing to that quite yet).

**warning: the next few pictures you are about to view are not pretty. They contain disorder and clutter. Proceed with caution!**


This, my friends, is where I do all my blogging. This is our computer area in what is also known as a family room. It is just across from the kitchen and 'informal' dining area. Remember how I had said I did a little cleaning up but not a whole lot so you could see me as I really am??? Well, here it is, the mess corner. In this area there are three plastic storage drawer containers, one of which holds my stamp stuff. The other two contain books I'm selling on Amazon as well as other stuff that basically does not have a home (ie: computer cords & cables and other computer 'stuff' that I have no clue what it is, extra speakers, extra telephones - in case the power goes out, yeah, that's why it's there, uh huh sure!). Then the stuff on top of the containers are empty (mostly) boxes and items for selling on Ebay. Of course then there is the lovely machine that brings me to you, the blessed computer! I am currently looking for an armoire that will house my stamp stuff so I can put all my stamp and crafty things inside and close the doors to the clutter within. When this comes to pass (for it will!), it will go in the spot where the storage containers are, then the containers will go by-bye! I. Can't. Wait!!!


Now here is another example of exposing my true self....here is my messy bedroom. I did tidy up a bit, but not a whole lot. If you notice in this picture and the next you'll see boxes in two areas. Keep in mind that there is less of them than there was just a month ago! I am trying to purge. These boxes hold miscellaneous office crap stuff that has no place to call home, as well as other miscellaneous things like baby blankets, an odd throw pillow or three, baby toys, and some of my china.


Ok, enough of my cluttered room! Moving on!


This is my ride! I LOVE my truck! I know, I know, it's not technically a 'truck' but that is what we call it. We bought it right before Isabel was born, to accommodate 3 kids in 3 car seats. When we bought it, Caleb was 2 1/5 and very much into trucks, so to make it more fun for Caleb we called the Pilot a truck and it has stuck. Anyway, back to my love. I like sitting up higher than in a car, it has power everything, leather seats, tinted windows, heated seats (not that we need them anymore, but they sure came in handy in the Michigan winter!), a third row of seats that can seat 3 more people, 6 cd disk changer, and a roof rack. It's got power and makes me feel impervious (though I know I'm really not, like I said....it came in very handy in Michigan winter...think snow levels and road conditions...nothing was keeping me stuck inside the house!)

The inside is quite large too! Can you believe that we (meaning Ryan) put a bathtub in there?! And the seating options are fabulous. I love to be able to have guests stay with us and still be able to all ride in the same vehicle as we tour around. This is a big plus when you consider the size of our family.


Here is an inside view of the second row. I know, not the best of shots but you get the idea. Right now the truck needs some alone time with the shop vac. We went to the beach last month and brought back too much of it with us. I'm not one that likes vehicle clutter either and for the most part the truck is pretty clutter-free, but not today (not by my standards anyway).

So there you have it. A peek into my world - where I live and what gets me around town. A little later in the week I'll do one more segment (yes, I'm committing to do it). I'll feature a bit of my craftiness and do a little raffle too. Stay tuned!

September Movie Review

September had a lot going on, so we didn't watch much. I only have 3 movies listed, but in all fairness the last one was a tv show on dvd and it took us a week to watch it. Here is what we saw:

1. The American - This was a PBS movie at one time, it was also a book by Henry James. It's about a young American man the comes to Paris in the late 1800's and falls in love with a young widow, who is under the control of her mother and forbidden to marry himn. It's actually a sad kind of story. I didn't like the way it ended and the acting wasn't that great either. It also had some scenes I had to fast forward through. So, overall I am not recommending this one.

2. Premonition - This was a good psychological thriller/mystery. It did not end the way I thought it would, but I still liked it and would recommend it.

3. Heros (season 1) - My brother was on my case about watching this so I obliged him. Ryan and I really got into it, much to our surprise. We watched it just in time too, the second season started last week! I'm still a fan of Lost but this is definitely a rival. I am totally recommending this. So, if you haven't seen it then you need to go out right now and get season 1 on dvd then start watching season 2 with me!!!

This months favorite is a no-brainer. Heros! Have you seen it, or are following it? If so, who is your favorite Hero and/or your least? My fav is Hiro, and my least fav is Parkman (his acting isn't all that great). I get a kick out of Hiro's reactions to things ('Waffles, yahoo!'). I was also surprised to find that he is a pretty good actor too, but that is only seen once you're further along into season 1. I love it and I can't get enough, or they can't air them close enough together. Watching tv shows on dvd is awesome, it's the way to go (followed closely to a DVR)!

So there you have it, another installment of movie reviews. By the way, our queue is getting low, any suggestions?

Surprise!

Do you like my new look?? Does it look good on me?

I decided to change my template in celebration of my 200 posts. Well, ok, so that's just my excuse for changing (not that I really need one, do I?). I liked the other one but a few things were starting to bug me about it and then I found this one, so it was really a no-brainer!

So, this is the little surprise I mentioned earlier. I know, not much of a 'surprise', but I bet you weren't expecting this now were you?

I do plan to have at least one more post with a peek into my world but that will have to wait at least one more day. It's Sunday and I'm off to take a nice little nap!

Number Two Hundred and One!

Today is the day that I've hit 200 posts, and then I went and passed it! I have been a part of blog world for a little over a year now and I LOVE it!!! My thanks to Wendy and her inspiration with her own blog. It's funny, a little over a year ago I really had no clue what a blog even was and now look at me, I'm blogging up a storm! It's official....I'm a Fragile Flower!!!

So, I've noticed that once a blogger hits a milestone such as 100 posts, a year anniversary or the like, they will do a list of a things about themselves or have their fans ask them questions. As much as I enjoy reading the lists and asking questions of my new friends, I thought I'd do something a little different. In this post I have several pictures that make up a portion of my world. Mostly they are pictures of where I live along with some tid bits of what fills it up and therefore sharing a bit of myself with you. So without further ado.......here's a bit of my world:


This is my front door, welcome to my house! If you look hard enough (or just click to enlarge the picture) you will see a pretty little glass beaded wreath on the door. I like the wreath, it's ok. But what I love most about it is that I got in on clearance for 7 bucks! What can I say, I'm cheap and find difficulty passing up a bargain (note to self: don't make eye contact with the dollar section at Target!).

Once through the front door you'll see my living room (in much need of a completed make-over, for those of you who have been following my living room saga.....I'm still mid re-do and have lost inspiration or desire to finish. HGTV please send me a make-over team to help me!).



If you turn around with the living room behind you, you'll see this, my 'formal' dining room area. We bought this table just a few months ago. It's fabulous!!! It pulls apart easily and a hidden leaf unfolds to enlarge the table. The table goes from seating 8 to 14 people in a snap! We are having Thanksgiving at our house this year and I'm excited to use our new table for the occasion. I'll have to be sure to take and post pics of it when it's decorated all pretty and festive and laden with glorious food!



Don't look too closely, but this is my kitchen. I tried not to clean up too much but I did have to do a little. I wanted you to see me as I am, untidy kitchen and all. I'm sure you'll notice the clutter point on the counter. This is where all the mail finds itself. And receipts. And change. And my purse and keys. And papers from Mae's school. And too many other things. I hate this part! It is the bane of my homemaker existence. Ok, on to other things (please stop looking into the vortex of the clutter corner!)



Just to the right of the kitchen is the 'informal' dining room/area. I love that table too! It has a fabulous stainless steel top that is super kid-friendly. Every household with young children should have one. It can be marked on, spilled on, and it is easily cleaned up. I'm telling you it has preserved the peace in our house and relationships!

Well that wraps up day one of the Flower Tour. Stay tuned for more peeks into my world. Oh! And I'll also do a drawing later on for some fabulous home-made cards soon too (details to follow in another post)! I do have one little surprise in this 200 milestone marker. It will be revealed sometime this weekend. Anyone want to take a guess???

Look At Me!!!

A couple months ago I submitted this picture at TopMomma.

What does TopMomma do, you ask? Well, they have a limited number of photos posted with the intention of having visitors click on them to visit the persons blog or website. The more clicks or referrals a Momma gets the longer their photo stays up. In essence, it is a nifty way to get new traffic to your blog.

So, go visit and don't forget to give me lots of clicks!!! Because...........

**and if you're visiting from TopMomma, thanks for stopping by.....and don't forget to leave comment and say 'hello'!

Dear Lord,

Please help me through these next few days. I am unable and incapable to live each day in a way that is honoring to you, without your help. Ryan has been gone since Saturday and came back last night but then is off again this morning. Thank you for his safe travel and the little break with having him home last night. I needed that, thank you! I've made it through the first part of the week with relative ease, but it's getting more difficult now. Please help me to choose patience, kindness, and love today. I need to hear and be aware of your voice speaking to me these next few days. Help me to be sensitive to your voice and presence in my life. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank you for the love you have for me. Thank you for hearing me and for your sympathies in my situations. And thank you for allowing these times to come so that I can learn more dependence on you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Overheard At the Dinnertable - the Toddler Edition

Isabel, sit down.

Eat!

Isabel, get back to the table.

Eat or go sleepy.

Eat. Your. D I N N E R ! ! ! !

What to do?

I just did a little adding up of numbers and found that I am four posts away from my 200th post (well, ok, it's really three once I publish this one). So, what should I do? I could do what lots of others do and do a list of 200 things about myself, or maybe just 100 since I missed that one way back when and to be honest I think 200 would be too difficult and too dull to bore you with. I was trying to think of a creative little something to do but all I came up with was to take pictures of things and places around my house that would give my readers a better idea of who I am. But really I don't want to take the time. But then again maybe I will. I don't know (can you tell?)!!!

So, what do you think? Should I do the list of 200 or even 100 things about myself? Should I ask you all to ask me questions then I'll answer them in the 200th post? Should I take a bunch-o-pics of my world and share?

Really, please do share your thoughts.....I wanna know!

Thanks for your input!

I'd Love to Have This.....

Who wouldn't want to have a Dyson? Maybe someone who already has one? Well, I don't have one and would very much like to be a proud owner of one. But since we can't, or may never, be able to afford one I entered a contest to win one.

5 Minutes for Mom is giving this pink Dyson away. And you could win it, just go here and sign up!

Dyson has made this limited edition pink vaccum and $40 of each sale goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. They are sold exclusively at Target (my favorite store!).

I'm not a fan of pink but I sure wouldn't mind me a vacuum in the color! Who knows, I might look quite fashionable while cleaning the house....I'd love to find out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of course I wouldn't mind this handy little set of tools either. There is a choice of pink or blue and in this case I choose pink. I think it's a theme....pink tools must go with the pink vacuum, right? Go over to Muti-Tasking Moms to sign yourself up! They are offering two sets!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I entered this contest too!

How would you like to win $50 to spend in a vintage children’s store? Kailani of An Island Life is holding a giveaway to Warm Biscuit Bedding Company. Stop by before September 28th for all the details.

My Living Room Makeover - Part 2

Wow, so many people eager to know what happened next! Well, Ryan came home and of course noticed right away. I stood there by the door in eager anticipation, along with a look on my face that pretty much said look!-I-rearranged-the-living-room-and-I-know you-don't-like-it-but tell-me-you-love-it-anyway-and-mean-it. I didn't get the response I wanted, only the one I knew was coming. *sigh* His first words......'no!'. And that was literally seconds after he walked through the door. *double sigh*

I explained my reasons, but they were only met with criticism. My argument was that we could not sit on the couch and watch tv (it was too far away, and it was!). His argument is that only one person can sit on the couch and watch tv from the current angle (this is true, but he's comfortable laying on the floor watching tv and I'm not. so I'd be the one on the couch, no change there!). Ryan also does not like the couch in the middle of the room. Well, I do. It helps break up the cavern.

In Ryan's defense, he did tell me later than night that when we had time we could talk about the options for moving things around. At this point we are leaning toward moving the cabinet to the right of the fire place, but that is only if the cable cord will reach that far. I was tempted to clear out the cabinet today and pull out the car jack with wheels so I could move it to a new position, but I restrained myself (ok, so I took a nap instead). I'll wait until Ryan can help me - or- until he's gone on a trip and try again! hahahaha

We did want to watch a movie last night and the couch in its current position wasn't going to work. So what did we do??? We moved the couch around and watched our movie! The pictures below will show you what we've done for the time being, it also shows how the kids are now watching tv (for those who asked). I'm tellin' ya, I need some of those hefty and handy men that they have on those redesign shows......you know, the ones that come in and move the furniture in and out of the rooms? Yeah, those ones, that's what I need to solve this living room delima....that and a few dollars to purchase the just-right furniture!














Mae looks quite happy under the bench, don'tcha think?!

See What Cable Television Has Done???

It's no secret. I've been watching a lot of HGTV lately. A lot. And I am a stay at home mother who needs a creative outlet. Put those two things together and you've got a girl who needs to redo her house!

Enter my living room.

It is HUGE and we have like 3 sticks of furniture to fill it up put in it. The last few people that have stopped by to purchase things I've listed on Craigs List have all said pretty much the same thing, 'did you just move here?'. Now, why would all these people say this? Well, because we have the cavernous living room with three sticks of furniture, that's why.

Enter cable TV.

So, we got cable tv a couple weeks ago and I love watching HGTV, namely the design shows. I love seeing the before and after shots as well as the crafty ways they make things or put things together. Now, we are renting so I can't exactly buy paint, and we are also saving for a down payment so I can't go out and buy furniture to fill the space either. Nor do I really want to, this is a rental and I'm not into investing money in something that doesn't belong to us.

Enter the need to do something!!!!

I had an idea on how to rearrange a couple of our sticks to make the living room feel less cavernous. The problem is that Ryan does not like it when I do this. Being the designer that he is, he needs to have a purpose as to why I would move something. For some odd reason I can't just move stuff around just for the sake of moving it around. This is something I don't understand. At all. But he is my husband and for the sake of keeping the peace I restrain myself. But I can't take it anymore! So, I did it. I moved the couch, coffee table and rocking chair. That's it. And really, they were in that position, for the most part, when we first moved in. We moved things around when we got the cabinet the tv is now on. My current issue with this, aside from having a cavernous feel to our living room, is that to be best comfortable watching tv, we lay on the floor in front of it. And you know what? My neck hurts. Enough I say!

Enter the before and after pics.

Before
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

view from the front door entry

view from hallway (just left, or straight ahead of the front door)

view from the 'dining room'

After

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get in trouble for this when Ryan comes home, but at this point it's worth the risk. I do have a smaller rug in another room that will work better in front of the couch, but I won't move it unless I get approval first. And I think the tv cabinet can be moved a little farther down the wall toward the windows, as well as move the tv itself to make watching it a little easier. I also have my moms old hope chest that I can move to the half wall once it is repaired a bit. Again, I'm not going to make anymore changes until Ryan ok's what I've done so far. But what do you think?

**if there are no more posts after this, then be aware that I will have lost all tv and computer privileges until further notice.

A Kind Note

Yesterday I received a nice little note from my dentist's office. Here is what it said: Deanne, It was a pleasure having you in our office. signed Dentist and Team

Lies.

A big fat lie I tell ya! I know there was no way that I was a pleasure to have in their office the other day. Remember the tears? Hello?!?! You know what this means, don't you? They are teeth-scraping, face-sucking, tooth-pulling maniacs that enjoy wielding scary objects of torture! Just another reason for me to stay away. Right?

I Want It!

I saw this on someone's blog today and I totally want one! I'm not one who likes to cook let alone deal with meal planning, so this is right up my alley. The only thing is.....I have a birthday coming up and as much as it would be a great gift idea I don't think I want to wait that long! I know, I live in an instant society and I've totally been assimilated.....so where's my new family meal planning cookbook already???

Dental Update

Well, my dreaded morning came and went. It's over, but not really, just prolonged. Things went fine, so they tell me. But I beg to differ. I have a small cavity forming under a filling and some bonding is needed at the base of the same tooth to cover/protect the exposed nerve. In addition to all that fun stuff I also have to have a deep cleaning. See? Fun stuff I tell ya.

So, I left the office with yet another appointment. I had a feeling that would happen. The dentist doesn't like people to leave without getting a commitment of some kind for a return trip.

The good news is that the bad news isn't terrible news. And all that needs to be done can be done in one visit that will endure take an hour.

Overall I suppose my time in the torture dental office wasn't so bad. But a visit, for me, is never complete with out at least two tissues and a good cry in front of people I've never met. Now I have another four weeks to gear up for the next one. Yeah. Can't wait.

Pray for Me!!!

I have a dental appointment tomorrow. Ugh. It's just a cleaning appointment, but still, I haven't been to the dentist in little over a year. This will be a first time appointment at this dentist so I will get the 'new client' treatment, which I am sure will include (but not limited to) x-rays, cleaning, flossing, scraping, and the dreaded suck-your-face-off straw suction thingy, as well as a lecture about my brushing and flossing habits blah blah blah.

I'm really looking forward to it. Can you tell?

My prayer and hope is that I've done at least an adequate job with my dental hygiene in the past year that I will be able to leave the office without having to make a follow-up appointment. Oh, and that I won't cry and/or have a panic attack while waiting, sitting, waiting, and enduring.

So, think of me (and pray) tomorrow between 9:30 to11:00 (they tell me it will take that long...stinkin' lousy!). In preparation, I will line my pockets with tissues so I can easily pull one out to dry my tears, as well as practice easy breathing techniques (who knew labor would come in handy later on?!). And I'll do my very bestest to be a big girl and to act like one too.

This Is Only a Test....

85%How Addicted to Blogging Are You? -

I'm not surprised, are you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deanne -- [noun]: A hermit living in the big city 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

This one does surprise me....how do they do that anyway, is someone watching me???

La Fiesta!

Yesterday we went to a real fiesta! One of Ryan's co-workers is Hispanic and his family was celebrating their two daughter's birthdays (age 5 and 1). Ryan was invited, so we all went. This famliy went all out man! The fiesta was at a park and had an inflatable jump house and was fully catered with authentic mexican food that also included delicious shaved ice (no wonder Ryan wanted to go!). Of course no fiesta would be complete without a ginormous Hello Kitty pinata!

I was not looking forward to going, but really I did not have a choice. It would have been perceived as rude if I did not attend with Ryan and the kids, and in our culture it would have rude as well. So I grudgingly went. Phooey on me for being such a poop. I didn't talk to many people, as I suspected would happen, but it turned out better than I thought it would be. The entire family was so hospitable and friendly (and the food wasn't so bad either!).

The kids had a blast jumping in the Hello Kitty jump house, as well as taking their turn whacking the pinata. Ok, I have to admit that my kids, being a bit older than most of the others in attendance, were pretty wimpy when it came to the pinata. Ryan and I were amazed at the force with which the other kids whacked at it. The only conclusion I can come to is that they are used to doing this. They are seasoned pros, no doubt.

We left the fiesta three and half hours after we arrived. I am a little surprised that only one of our kids fell asleep on the way home. They played so hard (but maybe not hard enough?). However they did go to sleep rather quickly last night! The food was so good and plentiful that I didn't have to cook dinner. Sweet! All in all it was a fun party, oops, fiesta, and I'm glad that Ryan drug me there. *big grin*

Ewe! Bugs!

I've come across four spiders over the course of this day, and one of them almost touched me! That's not good for this bug-a-phobe and I'm freakin' out over here. In fact, I have a good case of the heebie geebies! Every little unexpected wisp of air or a stray hair on my arm sets me into a fit of arm and hand flailing just to make sure no creepy crawly is on me. I'm also watching my steps as I walk down the hall or around the house. The bug juice has come in pretty handy today, let me tell ya! The bugs really have no chance of survival. They either cross the perimeter and perish, or drown in a pool of juice that I spray on them until they stop moving. See? No chance.

I hate bugs. I really really do.

Passport Please

Do you remember the movie "While You Were Sleeping"? Lucy was a wanna-be traveler and had her heart set on getting a stamp in her passport, among other things. Well, today I became a 'Lucy'. I am now a proud owner of a passport and have dreams of filling it up, or at least getting one stamp.

Next summer Ryan and I hope to travel together to Spain when he does his yearly research trip. We have lots of details to figure out before then but getting my passport was essential. Now that I have it, I know I am one step closer to a trip away with my husband (no kids allowed!). Like I said, there are plenty of details, but for now I am dreaming of that solitary stamp in a very specific location!

So Stinkin' Hot!

I'm not sure what to write about today. All I want to do is whine about how miserable it is here with the heat and humidity. But no one wants to read that. And I certainly don't want to think about it anymore either.

Yesterday we didn't have many options for escaping the heat so we did what any So. Cal. people can do.....we went to the beach! It was either that or stay home and run up the electric bill.

We got to the beach town in time for lunch, then walked down to the beach with all our gear (stroller and all!). What sweet relief was had once we finally got to the water! It was soooo nice, to say the least. The breeze was just right and the water was perfect, a little cool when you first get in but always refreshing. We stayed for 3 hours! Typically when we go to the beach we will stay for maybe an hour, but this time we were there under different circumstances.

Now all I have is the sweet memory of the cool water and playing with the kids in the waves. That, and I have a nice show of red on my face from all the sun. Today is supposed to be cooler and tomorrow even more so. If I can make it through today then I will have survived this heat wave. Ugh. I'm ready for winter.

August Movie Review

August was a busy month for us. We did some traveling and Ryan worked a lot too and was too tired some nights to watch a movie. So, for those reasons we did not watch too many movies last month. Here is what we did watch:

1. Wives and Daughters (This is a BBC miniseries that we had seen years ago, but I felt it was time to watch it again. It takes place in the early 1800's in a small English village and is about a coming of age young woman as she deals with change in her life as her widower father remarries. I like her character a great deal and I enjoyed seeing the movie again. I highly recommend it if you like Jane Austen-type movies.)

2. Hulk (Slow and terrible. And to that I add.....oh please don't let them make a sequel!!!)

3. Bridge to Terabithia (yet another family movie night. Good family flick, would recommend)

4.Gandhi (I somewhat enjoyed the film. I thought it interesting from a historical standpoint. To be honest I did not know much about Gandhi and what he did (and what I did know, or thought I knew, was waaaaay off!). If the movie was good at portraying who Gandhi was, and what he did, then I agree that he was a great man and he did great things for the people of India. From a spiritual perspective, however, it sad how 'good' a man can be, yet still be lost.)

5. The Devil Wears Prada (Ryan and I saw this at the theater last summer when we were in Tahoe for our 10th anniversary. But when my mom was visiting the other week she mentioned she had not seen it and would like to. So we rented it and watched it together. It was a fine movie and fun to see a second time.)

6. The Fountain (Weird. That's all I can really say. Just, weird. When I was a teen, my dad would let my brother go out on a Friday night to pick out a movie rental for the family and he would tell my brother "don't come back with anything weird". Well, this is exactly the kind of movie my dad would have been talking about, and I'm pretty sure my brother would like it -or at least rent it. How's that for a cryptic movie review?!)

Crazy Post Office Lady -or- Wild and Crazy vs. Sleek and Sophisticated

I went to the post office this morning. It was just Isabel and I as Caleb was playing at a friends house. When I walked up to the counter, the first thing the post office lady said was 'she (Isabel) has hair just like you!'.

Um, wha...???!!

My hair looks nothing like Isabel's! For one, I do not have a mullet (she is currently sporting the baby mullet look). Secondly, and most obvious, we do not have the same hair color! And thirdly, mine has style.

What is that lady smokin'? I see no resemblance, do you?

You Are Cordially Invited

When I was engaged I had several bridal showers, and of course I got tons of household things that we needed to start off our new life together. When I was at one of those showers, I remember a family friend saying she wished that she could have a shower every ten years or so. The only thing I remember thinking at the time was that she was a bit silly. I mean come on, a shower for married ladies?! *pahshaw!*

Well, now that I've been married for 11 years and my everyday dishes are no longer a complete set, the kitchen towels aren't as absorbent as they once were (if they even still exist in my house at all!), the sheets aren't used anymore since we upgraded to a queen sized bed years ago (still thankful to the Lord for that provision!!!) and our bath towels are fraying like crazy and look terrible, I now understand the woman's comment. I am still amazed that I even still have kitchen towels that have lasted this long. But I must admit that my being cheap has a lot to do with that fact more than anything. We received quite a bit of stuff at my showers and at the wedding. I don't think we had to buy much after that. But like I said, that was 11 years ago.

I've gotten rid of a few kitchen towels through the years, but I've also received a few as gifts too. However, it is time to get new ones and purge the old. I know this. Maybe I'll do that during my next outing to Target.

It's funny, I didn't quite notice the true condition of the bath towels until I started having regular guests. Suddenly I see that the towels look pretty bad, even to the point of being embarrassed to put them in the bathroom! I have recently remedied that situation.

A few weeks ago, when I was last in Modesto, I saw a great sale on towels and knew I had to take advantage of it! My mother was traveling back with us when we returned home and some new towels would be greatly appreciated in the guest bathroom, for sure! I found some FABULOUS towels at an even more fabulous price (nothing says 'fabulous' like 50% off!). These towels are big, and soooo incredibly soft (it feels like one of those super soft and cozy teddy bears!). So I snatched up a pair and took them home to be mine! I had no idea that such luxury could be had in bath towel. Now I do. I only hope that it doesn't take another 11 years to get some more.

Maybe we should start having anniversary showers? I think they'd be a big hit! So, I'll just print off the invitations......don't forget to RSVP!

A Bragger No More

We used to be able to baffle sales people that tried to sell us any form of extra tv (ie. Dish, cable, etc...). We used to. But not anymore. All because of a door-to-door salesmen. Really, who does that anymore? Well, AT&T does, they came by last week, and Ryan answered the door. Now we have broadband 'cable' (at least I think it's cable. whatever it is it gives us way more channels that we've ever had in our lives!).

I used to enjoy telling sales people that we had no form of cable and had no desire for one. It was a real conversation stopper (that and when Ryan was unemployed, telling sales-callers from mortgage companies that my husband was jobless....no one wanted to re-fi with us. shocking!). I also liked telling people (friends and acquaintances) the same thing. It was a prideful thing, I suppose. But I can no longer be so boastful.

We are now proud of being able to watch The History Channel and design shows on HGTV!

Why, you ask? Well, Ryan was totally prepared to tell the guy 'no thank you' when the he told Ryan that he could have internet access at airports with his laptop from work. Ryan does travel quite a bit, and being able to get on the internet while waiting to board the next flight must be an irresistible thing. We had talked about getting some kind of 'extra' tv so we could watch our favorite show (So You Think You Can Dance) but it was never enough to make us go out and subscribe. If the sales people only knew of Ryan's insatiable desire to connect while traveling, we would've been able to watch this last season of the show! Oh well, maybe next season. But for now I can enjoy the pleasures of design shows and who knows what else!

Look What I Did!!!

I saw this post on Amanda's blog and it looked like too much fun to pass up! All I did was follow the directions here and I'm in! I will be paired up with another person and we will each shop for each other and get little nifty things, then we'll swap! There is always a color theme and this time the color is RED, my most favorite color in the whole wide world!

There's still time if you'd like to do this too! The deadline is the 28th. So go sign up, but don't forget to tell me if you do....it would be fun to share this experience with you!


**no blog required to take part in this share-fest of red!

Big Ol' First Grader

Today was Mae's first day of school. Yep, she's in first grade this year. Seriously, where did the time go? This only means that it will speed up from here on out (right on out of the house....into college, marriage...ok, I'll stop right there, I've gone too far!).

Anyway, so today we made a little family outing of Mae going to school. We walked with her to her new classroom and found where her desk is. Of course I took pictures! What self-respecting mother would I be if I didn't? I think I even managed to do it with out embarrassing her. I won't expect that to last much longer though. I'll take 'em as long as I can!

This year Mae will take the bus to and from school. We took her to school this morning so she'd know where her classroom is, but tomorrow she'll be on the bus in the morning. I was there this afternoon, waiting for her when the bus pulled up to the stop. Yes, I had my camera with me, again. I felt a little silly taking pictures of her as she got off and walked home, but I'm more glad to have the pictures and record of this milestone in her life....being in first grade and riding the bus.


My first baby is in first grade. I'm really not too sure what to think of that. I don't feel old, but should I? But this does mean that graduation is only 11 years away. Sheesh! That'll be next month by the way the time is flyin'! I'll be pushing 'old' by then for sure!

** click the pictures to enlarge...and check out Mae's new hair cut and outfit! By the way, while you're looking at the enlarged pics....don't you think that backpack it way too big for her?? For sure to fit in a month or so, right?

So Long Summer, Hello School!

My summer fun is now at an end. All trips have been traveled, people have been visited and guests have all returned home. It was a good summer and it turned out better than I thought it would.

What marks the end of summer, you ask? The start of another school year of course! Mae will go back tomorrow, but this time it will be as a great big first grader. *sigh* Where did the time go? I know, I know, we've all heard this and said it many a time, but still.......I could've sworn she was just a babe the other day!

This year will be a little different than last year. For one, Mae will be in school longer (yes!), and she will also ride the bus. She is quite excited about it too. Mae has informed me that she already knows how to ride the bus, for she rode it twice last year for field trips. Well then, ok, that's settled. I suppose I won't have to go over the bus riding rules with her.

Tonight after dinner I'll take Mae to get her hair cut (her request) then we'll head over to Target to pick out a new back to school outfit. We are all excited about tomorrow! I'll be sure to be a dutiful parent and take pictures of my little girl as she begins yet another milestone in her childhood career. Then I'll be sure to post them so ya'll can see!

I'm pretty sure I can make it through this day. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..........

Seattle Recap

I'm back from our fabulous weekend trip to Seattle. It was grrreat! The best part, you ask? Well time with my hubs while my fabulous parents watched the kids, of course! It was a win-win for everyone. Here are a few highlights from our trip: (sorry, no pictures, as I remembered to pack the camera I did, however, forget to bring the flash card. doh!)

* flying solo (the screaming, hyper kids on the plane did not belong to me! score!)
* meeting my husband in the airport for a weekend away (this was my favorite part!)
* spending time with Ryan's family as we drove around Seattle, had dinner and attended a wedding
* seeing our friend Rob, whom we haven't seen in 3 years, and his newly purchased house (congrats again Rob!!!)
* taking the ferry to downtown Seattle (I've taken the ferry a few times before, but I think it's fun every time!)
* dinner at The Spaghetti Factory (I had the spinach and cheese ravioli.....mmmmm!)
* our hotel was very nice (Ryan called it 'pimpy', meaning it was sleek and modern), I loved our bed (so comfy!)
* the wedding was fun. It was the most fun wedding I've ever been too! The couple are both part of improv clubs and one of the groups did some improv stuff before the roast began, they were hilarious!!! I wish there could have been more improv stuff!
* after the wedding Ryan and I went back to the hotel where we spent some alone time together at the hotel restaurant and talked over appetizers, wine, and a mocha! (we hadn't been alone all weekend, not complaining, as our travel companions are fabulous and we never get to see them!)

Now I'm back at my parents house. I have one more day before the kids and I head back home. This time we'll have a travel companion as my mother will be joining us! She will stay with us for a few days before returning back to Modesto. We plan to take her to the beach. So far no complaints have been heard.

YouTube Tuesday - Beauty is Nothing without Brains

Hilarious commercial!!!

Why I Haven't Posted in a Few Days

1. Mae and Caleb (affectionately known as Mae'leb) have been at Vacation Bible School all week!
2. I've been running errands like crazy while they are out of the house (and enjoying having just one kid with me, let me tell ya, is bliss!)
3. I've also enjoyed some one on one time with Isabel (it's a rare thing when one has three kids)
4. The house needed some tlc (oh, and my mom is coming to visit for a few days next week and I'd like her to think my house always looks fabulous!)
5. There were tons of laundry to be done in preparation for our trip to Modesto, Seattle, back to Modesto, then home again trip!
6. On top of all the above-mentioned items, I'm also pms-ing and I took some much needed naps!
7. Pack for trip
8. Load truck (and not forget anything or your four-year old will flip out) for trip
9. Oh yeah, let's not forget, drive to Modesto in a record 7 hour drive (whoo-hoo!)
10. Then there is always the excuse reason that I just didn't have anything post-worthy to write about.

YouTube Tuesday - German Coastgaurd

Table Talk

At dinner this evening Mae had a question for her daddy.

"Dad, can I say the word fart?"

How does one keep a straight face when hearing that? Answer: you don't, it's simply not possible.

Thier Quiver is Full - or - Three is Enough for Me

I read this article today. I'm in shock. The woman has now had 17 children. All her own. S-e-v-e-n-t-e-e-n!!! She has been pregnant 17 times, has given birth 17 times, has changed, I don't know, too many diapers and has probably been nursing for half her life. Someone, who is good with math, figured out that she has been pregnant ten and a half years combined. But the shock upon shock is that she wants more! I'm not exactly sure what to think about that. She's either an incredible woman to have that many children or has lost her sanity for said reason. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and go with incredible woman. That's my final answer.

July 2007 Movie Log *updated*

Another month means more movies!

1. Evelyn (based on actual events that changed the Family Law in Ireland in 1953. Movie was ok, but it was compelling since it was a true story.)

2. Her Majesty (not a true story- about a girl that is basically obsessed with her Queen (Elizabeth II) and writes too many letters asking her to visit the little town she lives in. Oh she is a good friend and student and learns things along the way....blah blah blah. Boring, silly film - basically a waste of time)

3. Something the Lord Made (intriguing film, based on actual events and relationships, about two medical pioneers in the field of heart surgery. Takes place in the 1920's through 50's and touches on racial issues of the time. Although it was a little slow at times I really enjoyed it and would recommend if your into docu-dramas (if that is a real term).

4. Drumline (Ryan had wanted to see this movie for a while and it finally came up on our que, so we watched it. Silly (as in immature) movie about a young college student in the band who needs to learn to play as a team....blah blah blah.)

5. Warm Springs (HBO flick about FDR and his affliction with polio and the recovery he went through at a place called Warm Springs. Again, I enjoyed the docu-drama and would recommend.)

Whoops!!!!....forgot to add this one!
6. Five Kids and It (this was our latest flick for family movie night. I was pleasantly surprised with this one! It's pretty good for a kid movie with no super scary parts. It is very similar to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in its story line....5 kids get shipped off to a huge relatives house while dear Dad fights in the WWII, kids find an off-limits room where their adventure begins. For a family movie it's good and I would recommend it)

My favorite for the month is a tie between Something the Lord Made and Warm Springs. Both were very interesting and made we want to know more!

YouTube Tuesday - Yosemite!

When we were camping last week we took a hike to the bottom of Vernal Falls. When we got to our turn around spot we stopped and took a nice rest before heading back down. As we rested, snacked and replenished our water supply we noticed the local wildlife and how unafraid the squirrels were (and lets not forget the dive-bombing blue jays!). The squirrels were close to being tame and you could almost touch them! In this video that my brother shot, his friend Bryan was seeing how close he could get to touching a squirrel.

Our Camping Trip

And we're back! We survived our camping adventure in Yosemite with my brother and his family and a friend of his (and his family). It was a great week but, as always, it is also great to be back home. I think I finally have all the dirt out from under my fingernails! And oh how I love my bed, my glorious bed!

I am still surprised that all we had fit in our truck, even though we could not see out the back or check the blind spots. Next year we will have to get a pod or something to go on the rack on the top of the truck. But then again next year we won't have to haul a pack-n-play for Isabel either.

We left Modesto Monday morning and caravaned up to Yosemite. Everything worked out with our camp sites and we even managed to be altogether. Praise God! When we were checking into our site the ranger lady told us that the bears were horrendous this year. Yes, she used the word 'horrendous'. When we got to our site our 'neighbor' told us that the night before a bear got into one of the bear boxes a couple sites down. I think most of us were a little nervous about the bear situation but we were good about putting all food and toiletries away (we even went at far as pulling out the car seats so a bear would not go after the crumbs and leftovers that manage to lodge themselves in our vehicle). One night as we sat around the camp fire we heard a man yelling 'get away bear!' several times! He was not too far away either! I am thankful that the only bear we saw was in an open meadow and from the vantage point of a bus!

We rented bikes one day and took a great ride around the valley floor. We had to rent a bike with a trailer for Caleb and Isabel, and helmet rentals were required for the trailer. Poor Isabel....the only way she could see was to hold the helmet up! It was cute but I can only imagine that it was tiresome for her (maybe that is why she fell asleep as we headed back to camp).

Another day we hiked up one of the trails to Vernal Falls. We didn't go all the way up, only to a bridge that gives a great view of the falls. It is a popular stopping point with drinking fountains and bathrooms. We took a nice break there before heading back down. Ryan was not able to join us that day since there was no way to take Isabel. She is too big for the baby back pack and we only had room for the umbrella stroller (which is not trail-friendly). I must say though that the gym must be doing me some good! The next day I only felt a little bit of soreness. I had expected to be entirely sore, but that was not the case. Whoo-hoo!!!

The kids did pretty good. Although Ryan was pretty worn out from keeping Isabel in camp! She likes to wander around. A lot! You know you're not doing such a good job of keeping an eye on your kids when one of your 'neighbors' says 'You may want to get Isabel, she's running out of camp!'. Yes, by that point she knew Isabel's name. I think Isabel made her mark on the camp site, for sure! She could be heard early in the morning saying/yelling 'Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!' Another fellow camper, not in our group, responded from their own tent one morning and said 'Daddy, would you get that child!' Oops! Sorry lady! Overall, though, the kids did great. They got dirty, they played with the other kids, and actually didn't do too terribly bad with going to sleep at night.

It was a great week. I loved being able to spend time with my brother and his family. I am so grateful for the opportunity to take this vacation. We continue to be blessed with our move to Southern California and being closer to family. I look forward to having more times like we had this past week.

So Much To Do, So Little Time

I'm not too sure what to write about today. I've got many things to do and less than a day to do it. Mary is leaving on her own camping trip tomorrow and she has a to-do list posted for today. I think she is a wise lady, and because I am short on ideas and long on things to do I will create my own list (hope you don't mind Mary!).

So, as of this moment, it is a little after 10:00 in the morning and this is what I have to get accomplished before I hit the sack tonight:

• meet friend at pool with kids - go swimming
  
• go to store and get last minute camping items
• feed kids lunch
• vacuum
  
• finish laundry
  
• pack mine and Isabel's suitcases
• oversee Mae and Caleb's packing
• finish packing food stuff and other camping stuff
• pack ALL stuff in truck
• call Mom and Dad and see if they prefer beef ribs or pork ribs for Sunday's party
• order food for Sunday's birthday party extravaganza

You know, now that that I've written it down it doesn't feel so overwhelming! I just may get it all done without turning into super-crazed-stressed-out-mama! Wow. That'd be remarkable and a never before seen event. I'll keep you posted.

A Camping We Will Go!

Next week we are going camping! We will join my brother and his family along with his good friend and his family. Where are we going??? Yosemite!!! It's been years since we have camped. The last time was when Mae was 2 and Caleb was just a babe at 9 months.

In preparation for this trip we had to buy a new tent. The old one was a '4 man' tent and there was just enough room for Ryan and I with a kid on each side....absolutely no room for the size of our family now with all our crap stuff. So we bought a new one at Costco a few months ago (and got a great deal by the way). It's huge! I don't know how many 'men' it's supposed to sleep but I'd guess at, um, like 100! Well, ok, maybe not that many but it is for sure big enough for our family. The best thing about this tent is that it tall enough for me to stand up in! This means I no longer have to sit or crouch to changed my clothes (which is difficult to do, let me tell ya)! The other feature I like is that it has a sound proof wall/partition and therefore creates two rooms! Isn't that cool? (yeah, it's only my wish that it was sound proof.....maybe the next tent?)

The other week we set it up in the living room so we knew all the parts were there and that we also knew how to set it up. It's a good thing that our living room is ginormous and that we only have one couch for it took up the entire room! I feel like we've gone from humble to huge with this tent! Here's a couple pics of Huge Tent in our living room. Maybe after we get back from camping I can post pics of the tent in action at our campsite.



Well, I've got some shopping to do in preparation of our trip. Then I have to start laundry and then packing can commence. I hope I don't forget anything. I hate it when that happens! Like I said, it's been a while since we've been camping. Any ideas of things not to leave behind, things that might be easily overlooked?? I'm thinking about things that are typically brought on a trip or camping. Things that may make camping easier. Like, I bought a little cutting board and knife at Target, in the dollar section, along with some rope (you never know if you'll need some rope!). Things like that! Any ideas or suggestions???

YouTube Tuesday

If you are a frequent flyer or have flown in the past few years then you'll appreciate this video! Enjoy.



**thank you Rose for showing us this clip, it's great!!! (I may have to post the other one you showed us that night...stay tuned!)

Birthday Babe

Today is Isabel's 2nd birthday. It's hard to believe that my baby is now, offically, a toddler and no longer a baby. She'll always be my baby, no matter what!

So in honor of Isabel this day I will blow up her birthday balloons to cover the floor and bake her some little cakes. We will keep it low key simple as we celebrate her tonight. Next weekend we'll celebrate a little more with family when we are in Modesto. I'm thinking we'll go to a park late afternoon or early evening and have cake and ice cream while the two year old plays and gets dirty. What more could a baby turned toddler want?!

Est. July 13, 1996

Today Ryan and I celebrate our 11th anniversary. Wow. Eleven years! It seems that a lot has happened in the past 11 years. The Lord has been gracious to us in many ways. For one, if it were not for Him we would not be celebrating today.

Our first year of marriage was difficult, to say the least. If it were not for each of our relationships with Christ, and our commitment to him, either of us would have walked away from the other at one point in that first year. We've gone through a couple other 'rough' patches since then, but the Lord continues to show his grace to us.

Eleven years and 3 kids later we have managed to grow closer to the Lord and closer to each other. Ryan is my best friend. He gives me wise counsel, makes me laugh, and thinks I'm pretty. Ryan is my husband, he is my love.

So today I thank the Lord for his grace, mercy and love in our lives. I thank Him for helping me to let go of myself and to trust him with the course of my life. And I thank Him for my husband, whom I love and cherish.

I thank you, Lord, and praise you for the marriage that Ryan and I share today.

Happy Anniversary Ryan!

Another Tooth - Gone!

Yes, Mae has lost yet ANOTHER tooth. This makes five within 10 months (three of which have been in the last 3 weeks)! I never knew one could loose so many teeth in such a short amount of time. I have set a precedent for writing Mae poems when she looses a tooth. Do you know how difficult it is to write poems? Well, it takes time for me, and I'm in a pickle here! It wouldn't be so hard if she'd just space out the tooth loosing a little more! *big grin* Oh well, she is worth it. Who knows, maybe she'll look back and treasure these little poems that I stay up late at night writing for her? Hey, it could happen!

Before I unveil my latest poem I'll give a little background on the story behind the latest tooth escapade. First of all, this tooth has been loose for months now. And even more so in the last couple weeks. This tooth has been literally holding on by a thread (or is it a nerve?). Mae probably could have pulled the silly thing last week. Easy. I don't know which is more stubborn. Mae? or the tooth? My vote is Mae.

Your so proud
And I’m so glad
That you finally pulled that tooth!
I thought I’d never see the day
I never thought I’d here you say
“Look Mom, I pulled my tooth!”
But here it is
and there’s the proof
Yes, you have finally lost that tooth!

My Bargain Template!

Sooooooo????? How do I look? What do you think of the new me? Does this template make me look fat?

Kim, once again, has been an inspiration. A couple weeks ago she started changing her template and it made me want a new one too! I mean, come on Blogger, the templates to choose from are a tad boring. I wanted something new, fresh and unique. So, I went online and searched and searched and searched! And today I finally found a site that had a lot of free templates to offer (at least ones that I liked!). Yes, I'll admit it. I'm cheap. The word free will, in most cases, win my attention every time!

Are you, too, interested in changing your look (for free)??? I found my template here, and there are others here, here and here*.

Here is something to keep in mind if you do decide to change your template. If you are with Blogger and have a beta account then you will most likely want to keep it beta. If so, then make sure that your new template is in an XML format. That way you can make changes to your template (ie. add links to your sidebar) just as easily as you can now. If you choose a template that is not an XML then you have to do your changes the old fashioned way, which is mess with the html code.

Ok, I'm done. I'm off to enjoy my new look!

*this last link only offers about 3 XML templates, the rest are in the 'classic' template form.

Eight Little Things

I was tagged by Bringing Good Home for another meme. I guess I have to reveal eight things about myself. Here's the rules....

…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

I wonder how long it will take me to come up with eight things? Let's see....

1. I used to looooove the color blue
2. but now it's red
   
3. tulips are my favorite flower
4. I share my birthday with my friend Chris (although she is one year younger)
5. I learned how to drive on a stick shift
6. I currently drive an automatic and it is the first non-stick vehicle I've driven/owned, ever.
   
7. I have lived in three states (California, Oregon, Michigan)
8. This Friday I will have been married for 11 whole years.

Ok. That wasn't too difficult. Now I have to spread the love and 'tag' eight more people. Hmmm, whom shall I choose? Oh, I know! In no particular order, other than randomness....

Amanda at Oh Amanda
Cat at MommyCat
Wendy in her Tiki Hut
Mary in Mary-land
Heather, the Orchard Girl
Chris, at The Mayne Events
Jenn at her Ivy Six Pack
and
Kim, whom has been self diagnosed with Temporary? Insanity

There you go, ladies, you've done been 'tagged'. So, in your not-so-free-time go post 8 things about yourself.

Clean Up on Isle Four!

I went to the gym today. The kids came with. That was the good thing, that I went to the gym that is. Our gym has childcare up to age 12. Another good thing.

So, I check in then proceed to the kid check-in counter. They have this huge nifty room for the kids. It has a McDonald's size play structure, 4 video game stations, a tv, and two craft tables among other toys to play with. Also in this room is a waist high gate that keep the kids contained.

Here's where it gets interesting.

I decided to lift Isabel over this gate instead of unlocking it and letting her walk through. I thought this was a good idea. It wasn't.

As I was lifting her over and setting her down I had to let the gate support my weight for a bit. Bad idea. The gate could not support me so it stripped itself of its hinge screws and completely came off from the wall causing me to drop Isabel and fall on top of the gate! Isabel was fine, just a little shaken and confused. I, on the other hand, had other issues.

'Are you alright mam?'

'Yes, I'm fine, but I may need some stitches for my pride.'

YouTube Tuesday

I saw this on someone else's blog (I don't remember who, not one of my 'regulars'), so forgive me if you've seen this before. I thought it was worth repeating!



Is this guy for real?? Oddly, I think he is! I'm not sure if I should laugh my head off or be in awe. Well, I think I'm doing a little of both.

What's Missing From This Picture?

Caleb's fish, Fisher Eater, is no more. The worst part is that I think it is my fault! A friend was going to take care of him while we were out of town so I put him in a vase for easier transportation and I think the temperature of the new water did him in. I knew about this but did it anyway. I did try to make sure that the water was as luke warm as possible. And to my credit (sort of) he had survived the transfer many a time in the past when changing his water.

It happened Saturday night after Caleb had already gone to bed so we waited until morning to tell him. I wasn't sure if he would care since he didn't pay much attention to the fist anymore. But he was very sad when he heard the news. He didn't believe Ryan at first, he thought it was a joke. But he observed the non-moving fish laying on its side at the bottom of the vase and was convinced.

Caleb was very sad but did not cry. Poor guy. We'll get him another fish after we get back from camping. Caleb says he going to pick out a red fish this time. I just wonder what he's going to name it!

Our Resident Photojournalist?

The other morning I got up and did not find Caleb watching PBS as usual.

"Hmmmm, where could he be? He isn't still sleeping is he?!", I thought to myself.

So I went on a seeking mission where I found him in his room taking pictures with our camera. Later, as I was looking at some pictures I had taken, I came across the ones he had taken that morning. Here is a little sample of what he shot that morning. I say little for he took several!




What do you think? Maybe he has a future as a photojournalist???

I Can't Believe I'm Writing This Post, Kind of Post

The other day Mae asked Ryan the question. You know, the question we all dread as parents. The question that asks more than we want to say. The question that causes blushing and avoids eye contact.

Daddy, how did the baby get in Mommy's tummy? (ominous foreboding music played here)

Yes, that question.

I can say this, I am so ever grateful that she asked Ryan and not me! Ryan did a great job (again, glad she asked him!). He used specific words including, but not limited to, 's*x' and even 'forenication'! Ryan did the best he could to explain to her that it is was created by God and is something that is to occur between married people.

This conversation occurred while we were driving so I had the advantage of not having to worry about hiding my reaction to everything. But I don't think I did so well in hiding my nervous laughter (I tried real real hard to not laugh out loud. real hard!)

I'm not sure she understood too much, but Ryan told her that maybe the next time she asked she would understand more. Hopefully that won't happen for a while. Like maybe when she's twenty five (and married!). It'll make much more sense then. For sure.

Keeping an Eye on My Kids

Last week I had to take Miss Isabel to the doctors office. While we were in the waiting room (filled with toys) waiting for Isabel to be called back into the exam room I saw a sign on the door. It read:

Unattended children
will be given an
Espresso
and a
free puppy!

Um, yes, I was watching my kids.

June Movie Log

Here's what we saw last month:

1. Casino Royale (I'm not much of Bond follower but this movie was pretty good! The movie was about Bond as he starts out as a double-0 agent, so he wasn't as suave and confident as the character typically is. It was good, I'd recommend it.)
2. The Queen (It was.....good. I wasn't blown away and I wonder why it received so much praise. Helen Mirren did a good job of portraying Queen Elizabeth and it seemed to be true to the actually events. It does help answer some questions as to why the monarchy responded the way they did to Diana's death.)
3. Deja 'Vu (Mr. Washington is at it again! The story line was, let's say, odd. I didn't know that this movie bordered on sci-fi. It doesn't seem to matter much though, Denzel is just so cool, I'd watch just about anything with him in it! So, if you like action, mystery and a dash of sci-fi then I'd reccommend this film.)
4. Stomp the Yard (the dancing was cool. The story line, not so much.)
5. Miss Potter (this was the story of Beatrix Potter, author of the Peter Rabbit stories. I enjoyed the movie very much. It was a delightful little movie of how she got her books published as well a little romance thrown into the mix. Yes, I used the word delightful to describe the movie!)
6. Bleak House (this was a BBC production and, as always, they did a great job. The movie was based on the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. And since it was 3 disks long we watched it over a 4 night period. It was fun to have something to watch for a week and it gave us something to talk about....like what exactly was going on and what we thought the outcome would be. The characters were well developed in this tragic tale, and I highly recommend it!)
7. DreamGirls (Hmm. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but it wasn't bad. Long. But not bad. And I must agree....that Jennifer Hudson was pretty good too!)
8. The Wild (our latest family movie night flick. I can sum this movie up in one word...LAME. Even for an animated kids movie it wasn't good. I don't recommend it. Lam-o.)

This month my favorite movie was Bleak House. I enjoyed the character development and the mystery. Because it was a long movie it was hard to turn it off each night and not watch one more episode.