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Monday, November 29, 2010

The Pendley Newspaper

The girls have decided to publish a daily newspaper.  One dictates the article and the other one writes.  They change roles, too, so that one isn't stuck doing all the writing.  Here are some of the articles from yesterday's edition...

Best Sisters
They are two best sisters Casey and Chandler.  Two regular girls and they live in the Pendley house.  They never leave each other's side.  Supporting and helping, twenty-four, seven.  And in any weather.  Also you can never split them apart.  Every day there is something to play, find and explore.

Wild Brother
Quinn, our wild brother.  He is two years old.  He may look small but hard to defeat.  The powerful mind of the house...well, besides Dad.  Quinn can escape any trap you put him in.  

Also in yesterday's edition was a weather report, and an article on Style for Kids.  Pretty impressive.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Feeling a Little Under the Weather

***This is your warning...you may or may not want to read this post depending on how comfortable you are with talking about vomit.  Just sayin.***

I woke up this morning around 3:30am.  I had a massive headache and my stomach was churning.  I laid in the fetal position with one arm wrapped around and squeezing my forehead.  My left eyeball felt like it was protruding out of its socket.  I whimpered a little.  I felt hot, which made me feel even sicker, but I was cold without the blankets.  My feet searched for a cool spot on the sheets.  Eventually, I got up to sit by the toilet.  I was that serious about feeling like I was going to puke.  But it was too cold outside of the bed to stay there, so I hobbled back into our room, bent over, and my palm pressing into my head.  I emptied the trash can that was under my nightstand.  When I say "emptied" I mean that I dumped everything out on top of my nightstand.  I crawled back in bed.  I rolled over.  I rolled over again.  I leaned over the side of the bed and spit the hot spit into the trash can, aka puke bucket.  At 5am I woke Chris up.  He went downstairs to get some tylenol for my head.  While he was gone, I made use of the puke bucket.  I thought my head was going to spring open and that every blood vessel in my eyeballs had exploded.  Chris came back up, fed me the tylenol and a glass of water.  He emptied the puke bucket.  He took the dog out.  We both went back to sleep.

So, I have been feeling a little under the weather today.  I don't have a fever, but I have that yucky, I threw up last night, feeling.  Chris thinks it may have been the fact that I had a chili cheese burger and fries from the Varsity yesterday for lunch and then followed that up with bratwurst and sauerkraut for dinner.  I marveled at the fact that I actually threw up.  I never throw up.  Seriously.  I think its been several years since I've thrown up.  And so I said, "I can't believe that I actually threw up."  And then Chris said, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, it was really just all stomach bile, so its not like you actually threw anything up."

Um, yeah, it came out of my mouth.  That counts as actual throw up.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Completely Random

Yesterday felt like a Saturday to me.  And I loved that I had to keep reminding myself that it was only Friday.  But today has felt like the end is near...and, well, I don't necessarily love that. 

I have a new love.  It is in the form of a Bissell stream cleaner.  We bought one this week (its an early Christmas gift from my parents) and I spent 3 hours steam cleaning yesterday.  I am in love.  I am thinking about giving up making jewelry as my hobby and just starting a steam cleaning business.  Anyone need me to come over?  Talk about a satisfying three hours!  I felt very accomplished.

We got the tree and the stockings put up today.  So, we're done.  If you know me, or have been a blog reader for a previous Christmas season,  you should know that I hate decorating.  All seasonal decorating - Halloween, Easter, etc. - and especially Christmas.  Hate it.  If I could get away with doing nothing, I totally would.  This does not run in my family...my mom is a decorating fool.  Its true...Santa artwork and the whole nine yards.  I figure that she does enough decorating for both of us.

Quinn hasn't gone to daycare at all this week (which is going to make Monday morning super fun for Chris), so we have pretty much spent every waking moment with him.  I am completely amazed by what he has to say for himself.  6 months ago, we couldn't wait for him to actually talk.  Now, we say at least once a day, "Why did we want him to talk, again?"  Because he doesn't ever stop.  Ever.  These are some of the things he has told us this week...

Casey pushed me.
I looooooove cake!
You scared me!

And he continuously says, " 'mon, ___________" and then fill in someone's name...Dada, Mama, Meme, Pop Pop, Casey, Chandler...and then motions for us to follow him.  If you tell him that you're busy, he just asks someone else.  He is generally not picky about who should come on with him.

Tomorrow we will be busily preparing for the week ahead...which promises to be crazy.  :)

Friday, November 26, 2010

A Story About Ike and Duke


Ike (our dog, on the left) traveled with us to my mom's house this week.  Her dog, Duke (the gigantic beast on the right), who weighs 102 lbs, was very happy to see him.  Despite the fact that they chase each other (poor Duke just can't seem to keep up) and nip at each other (Ike is notorious for biting Duke's rump and the back of his legs), at the end of the day, they were best friends.  Here they are on the double size ottoman.  Duke can't quite fit all the way on it, but he still wanted to be close to Ike.


The girls also helped to make sure that Ike had the most comfortable afternoon naps ever.  This is what I mean when I say this dog is beyond tolerant with our children.  He let the girls cover him up and adjust him so that his head was on the pillow.  And then he slept there...for quite some time.


This is evidence of Duke's ability to be a selfless host.  That's his bed that Ike is sleeping on.  Duke let him borrow it, and was happy to take the floor right next to him.

Now, if only we could get Ike not to poop in my parents' living room and ferociously bark at Tom and Randall, I think he'd be invited more often.

p.s. - Quinn calls them Bikey and Dukie.  That's funny, huh?  :)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thankful For...

  • My outstanding husband, who supports through my crazy ideas and loves me unconditionally...he also is a fantastic cook...and a fantastic father
  • 3 children who are happy and healthy
  • My parents, my in-laws, my many brothers, my Gram...and all those other crazy family members of mine that are out there
  • the wonderful leftovers that were waiting for me when I got home this evening (Sharon - they were even better the 2nd time around, Em - the pies...excellent!)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Our Time in High Rome

 Our time in High Rome (which is what the girls call the town that my parents live in...its not really pronounced High Rome...its Hiram) was spent with these guys - my younger brothers.  Matt (the strapping young fella on the left) lives in Texas, so it was especially good to see him.  Not that it wasn't good to see Randall...it definitely was...as it always is...I'm just saying that seeing Matt usually isn't an option.  So it was good.

This next picture just cracks me up.  As Randall was doing this, he was being teased about whatever he was doing...thinking about buttoning up your collar?  Who knows.  But this is just us...being silly...and there is always the threat of side pinching when the 3 of us are standing together.  Its been known to happen...like in my wedding pictures. 

This next picture is also just funny to me.  It was in between takes and Lord only knows what was going on.  Randall is apparently stretching in this one.  And my mom is going to die that all the world can see that she was wearing her slippers for the picture taking event.  Its okay though, she worked hard all day to make a fabulous dinner for all of us.

 The five of us.

All of us kids...Matt and Chalise, Chris and I, Randall and Ann.

There are more pictures to come...I just have to get around to loading them.  Ugh.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Guest Post

Hooray!  I have officially written my very first guest post.  You can read it here!

Coming Up for Air

I am only coming up for air inbetween meals and thought I would let you know that in the past 24 hours, I have eaten my weight in cabbage casserole and party potatoes.  Yay!  I have lots of pictures to share and stories to tell, but that will have to be an activity for tomorrow.  I have eaten so much today that I need to go lie down.  :)

Monday, November 22, 2010

On the Road Again

We look - no kidding - like we are going to be gone for weeks.  Weeks, I tell you.  During the summer, I can pack the kids in one small suitcase with enough clothing to last a month.  Jeans don't really lend themselves to that sort of packing.  So the girls are in one suitcase, Chris, Q and I are in a big suitcase, then we have a toiletries bag, a bag of supplies - pull ups, wipes and the such.  Then a bag of dog stuff.  And Mom wants me to bring the jewelry.  And we have the pies and the cake and the hard sauce.  I believe the Swagger Wagon is going to be a low rider for this trip.  Just sayin.

Last night, in order to get Quinn to go to bed (which has become quite the task), I told him that the sooner he went to bed, the sooner it would be morning, and then the sooner we would be going to Meme's house.  He took me seriously and woke up at 6am, asking, "Meme house?"  At 2 years old, he already understands the joy of Meme's house.  By 8:30 this morning, we had to call her so that he could talk to her.

So, soon enough, we'll be off.  Pray that we don't have to use the roof rails.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Quinn, an abacus and a pie


Quinn loves counting on the abacus.  And, of course, this makes Chris very happy. 




Chris and I collaborated last night and made this apple pie.  He did the vast majority of the prep work and I told him the incorrect amounts of various ingredients.  Sometimes that happens. I'm not a huge apple pie fan, but this one has a caramel and chopped pecan topping, so how can you not love it?   I used this recipe.   We are bringing it out to my mother's house this week and we felt like we needed a trial pie.  And a trial batch of hard sauce for topping.  We made ours with spiced rum instead of whiskey.  Woah, Mama!  The hard sauce with this particular pie may have been a bit much...it was seriously rich. 

Saturday, November 20, 2010

I'm on the Ledge

Chris is doing some sort of project up at county office.  And the day is not really going so well.  You see, I have these children.  And they are very messy.  Like, VERY messy.  Chandler's room looks like her binder threw up all over everything - papers scattered about, clothes thrown all over the floor...both hers and the American Girl's.  In fact, the dog has even peed on some of the American Girl clothes.  Which means that at some point she left her door open.  Which also might explain why the dog keeps pooping out silly bands.  Casey room isn't any better.  And their bathroom?  Ugh.  Chris had to leave the room when I told them that there was enough dried toothpaste in their sink for the whole town of Jefferson to use.  Their towels are (once again) on the floor under the towel bar.  The toilet is stopped up with a week's worth of poop.  And then they just kept on going and didn't tell anyone.  And there is used toilet paper on the floor.  I just don't understand this.  We are not nasty people...why do my children insist on going down the nasty people path.  So, I took pictures.  When I entered Casey's room to take the pictures, she was sprawled out on the bed reading a book.  Chandler?  Yeah, she was practicing her piano with the volume turned down low.  So, I took the pictures, and Chandler says, "What, w-w-what are you going to do with those?"  And I told her that I was going to email them to Meme.  And then she busted out in tears.  Sobbing.  Hysterically.  Because Meme would see that she is a slob.  At least she cares what someone thinks about her, because she sure as heck doesn't care what I think. 

Friday, November 19, 2010

Gigantic Earrings


{Dreamy Vintage Earrings in Tortoise $18}
 
{Dreamy Vintage Earrings in Red $18}

So, these are the earrings that my child thought were too big.  Well, my pair is black.  I made these for you.  I am in love with them.  No, really.  I was looking for different colors in the wooden filigree earrings that I have in my shop and when I stumbled upon these vintage lucite pendants (made in West Germany), I knew that they had to be mine.  Now, these earrings are not for the faint of heart...you must be bold to rock a pair of these.  Or at least be able to pretend that you are bold (like I did).

Thursday, November 18, 2010

One of Those Days

  • Apparently the morning was so bad here that Chris actually apologized to the children for the amount of yelling that happened.  The yelling was in response to Chandler "forgetting" to wake up - after being woken up three times, and the dog refusing to get in his crate.  And then, of course, all of the usual minor grievances.  I am not typically aware of these things because I leave before everyone else is ready.
  • The girls had an orthodontist appointment this afternoon.  I thought Chris was taking them and he thought I was taking them, so no one saw the orthodontist today.  I'm not terribly heartbroken because I know that the day is going to come when we go for a "check up" and they roll out the payment plan that will be the equivalent of a new car.  But, big sigh, we will reschedule.
  • Quinn gets a prize for going poop on the potty.  So, this afternoon he went to the bathroom by himself and sat there grunting, trying to squeeze out a little poop in exchange for a small container of bubbles.  We learned from this that he can indeed undress himself and climb on the potty by himself.  We also learned that bubbles are a fair trade for hemorrhoids in the world of Quinn.
  • Tonight I am taking the girls to dance and piano and then meeting my lovely friends for diet cokes at McDonald's.  This is what my life has come to - 45 minutes at McDonald's is considered my evening out.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I Don't Know About You...

...but next week is already starting to stress me out.  We have two more days of school and then a week (the whole week!) off.  This is what we have on tap...

  • Chris is doing some kind of project up at school on Saturday.  Don't ask me.  I don't know.
  • On Monday, we're heading out to my mom's house in the woods.  No, really.  Over the river and through the woods is how we get there.  (And of course, through Atlanta taking I-85 to I-20...but then its over the river and through the woods.)  I am really looking forward to it though because my youngest brother, Matt (and his girlfriend) are coming in town from Texas.  I love seeing them.  And I love that mom is cooking a BIG family dinner Monday night.  She's making cabbage casserole for me.  I am thinking about just taking the pan of it and locking myself in a room with it.  "Cabbage casserole?  What cabbage casserole?  I never saw any cabbage casserole in here."  We're spending Tuesday out there as well (Tuesday night will be Italian night...with a side of cabbage casserole) and coming back home on Wednesday.
  • Wednesday night, Chris is taking the girls to the Thanksgiving service at church.
  • Thursday we'll be dining with the Pendley's.
  • Friday...well, I think I will be installing waist expanders in my pants.  And, we'll be putting up our tree.  I don't think I will be participating in Black Friday shopping.  Big sigh.
  • And then a little relaxation before heading back to work.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My Son is the Devil

I have never experience terrible twos like I am with Quinn.  No, really.  I thought the girls went through them, but I now realize they were just having a bad day every now and then.  Quinn?  Well, he has a bad day every 3 seconds. 

Me:  Quinn.  Sit in your seat and eat your dinner.
Q:  No, Mama.

And then he proceeds to crumple onto the floor and cry/scream.

Chris:  Quinn.  It is time to take a shower (or bath, depending on the mood/day).
Q:  No, Dada.  No, Dada.
Chris:  Yes.  You have to.  You need to be clean for tomorrow.
Q:  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

And then he proceeds to make himself dead weight so that you can't pick him up.  And he cries/screams while doing this.

Me:  Quinn.  We have to put your pajamas on now.
Q:  No.  Me nakey.
Me:  No, Quinn, nakey time is over.  Its time for pajamas.
Q:  Nooooooooooooo.   No, Mama.
Me:  Yes. 

And then he kicks over the basket of Ike's toys while grunting.  Sometimes he then picks them up and hurls them across the room while grunting.  And then I get onto him.  And then he lays on the floor and cries/screams.

I mean, Sweet Jesus, give me a break, kid.  I work all day.  I am in counseling.  I really just need for you to cut me (and everyone else in our house) just a little slack.  Life doesn't have to be this hard. 

Ultimately, I have no one but myself to blame.  I was a horrible child.  I broke my leg when I was around 18 months throwing a temper tantrum.  My parents had to drag me (seriously.  I was laying on my back being dragged out of Zayre's while screaming) out of places.  I told my father "no" until I was like, 9 years old...and with God as my witness, he beat my hiney every time.  And now, it has come back, full circle.  My son is the devil.  And he comes by it naturally.

p.s. I wore the gigantic earrings to work today and received many compliments.  Hooray! 

Monday, November 15, 2010

What I Would Do Differently....

Have you ever read "If I had My Life to Live Over" by Erma Bombeck?  I remember reading it a long time ago and thinking "Humph.  Ok.  Sure,"  and then walking away and going about my day.  I think I was young and stupid back then...because clearly, I am so old and wise now.  But I keep finding myself thinking about this.  It might be because I spoke to one of the brothers yesterday, asked what he was doing, and was mildly amused when he replied that he was nursing a hang over.  I don't remember the last time I nursed a hang over.  Or at least, when I had the ability to slow life down to nurse a hang over as my main activity for the day.  Children don't really allow that luxury and so a drunken Saturday night is never really worth it.  But I digress...

So, I have been thinking about this...
I hate wearing a bathing suit.  Despise it.  But then I think that maybe I should do it more often because really, if I hate it now, how am I going to feel about it in another twenty years?  So I should embrace it.

I have been wearing bermuda shorts for the vast majority of my life.  Before they even came back in style.  And now I regret not wearing some daisy dukes in my younger days.  My legs looked great then and I should have been celebrating that.

I don't usually wear things that are super trendy or draw attention to myself.  But I am trying to change that...because I regret the shorts and the bathing suit thing and I don't want to continue having stupid regrets.  I wear leggings and skinny jeans (gasp!) because I hate the thought of in the future regretting not wearing them more than I hate the thought of looking foolish today.

So yesterday I wore a pair of really huge earrings to church.  They were completely out of the box for me.  They are super hip.  Totally in.   And my child said,

Child:  Oh, Mama.  Those are, like, really big earrings.  How are your ears even holding those things up?  Are they made out of some kind of plastic?
Me:  Actually, they're vintage lucite and they are very lightweight.
Child:  Well that's good because they could break your earlobes off.  They are REALLY big.
Me:  Well, I kind of like them.  And my earlobes are safe.  So, I am wearing them.
Child:  I think they might be too big.

Seriously.  Why is she trying to ruin this for me?  Does she not understand the concept of trying something new in order to not get stuck in a rut? 

But she's only 8 and she doesn't get it, so I forgive her.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Where Did My Weekend Go?

Because, I just don't know. 

I spent Friday night as a big ball of stress.  No, really, I was a GIANT ball of stress.  Because somehow I thought it was a good idea to do a Holiday thing at an elementary school.  Me.  Selling my jewelry.  To complete strangers.  Now, I know that everyday there are people that look at my shop and read my blog that are complete strangers, but I don't have to see them.  Doing things like this just reminds me of garage sales, where I feel like I give people puppy dog eyes and beg, "please, please buy my things" and I wonder if I have food stuck in my teeth or if I look confident enough.  And then they walk away and I wonder why they didn't buy anything...perhaps they didn't like me enough to buy something...and that's why they walked away empty handed.  And then I have to fight the urge to call them back over and get to the heart of the matter.  How ridiculous is that?  Pretty ridiculous.  And when I feel this stressed, I tend to stay up super late in hopes that if I don't go to bed, then the dreaded event of the next day won't happen.  Again, pretty ridiculous.  So then I end up stressed, nervous AND exhausted the next day.  Which is sometimes helpful because then I am too tired to care what people actually think about me.  Or, at least too tired to not care about it for long.

So, on Saturday, I did this thing.  And I didn't sell a whole lot.  And it was a really long day.  And because I was by myself, it was a really long day in which I didn't eat or use the bathroom.  So, that was awesome.  I did read a book though.  Because I had 5 hours in which I didn't want to look at anyone with puppy dog eyes.

Last night, to make up for my crappy day, I forced my daughters to watch Little Women with me.  I not only love this book, I also love the 1994 movie version with Winona Ryder.  And I want them to love it to.  But I don't think they did because at the end of the movie, Casey said, "So, was there supposed to be a lesson in that or something?"  Um, yes.  Love your sister.  Maybe we should've just watched Annie again.  Big sigh.  But I do love Little Women.  Its in my top 5 favorite movies of all time.  When it came out, I made my boyfriend at the time take me to see it in the theater not once but twice.  And both times he was the only boy in the audience.

Speaking of boys, my husband looked so cute today and we had such fun conversation on the way to church this morning that I thought about asking him to pull over so that we could make out.  But we had children in the car.  And making out on the side of 129 would probably not be the best idea.  And then we might've been late for church.  And then we might've had a conversation with someone like this...

Someone:  Running late today?
Me:  Yeah.  We had to stop and make out.
Someone:  Oh. 

And that would be awkward.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Quinn's Method of Calming Down


This is Quinn's method for calming down.  It may or may not work for everyone.  Perhaps I should have tried it out this afternoon when I spent an hour in the yard with Ike,  saying every 30 seconds, "Go potty," in a valiant attempt to get him to not poop in the house this afternoon.  An hour, people.  I stood in my back yard for an hour.  An hour when I should have been starting laundry and cleaning up the kitchen.  An hour that should have been gloriously productive because Chris and the kids weren't home yet.  I contemplated ways of getting rid of the dog.  Within 15 minutes of coming back inside, he pooped in the craft room.  And then I wanted to kill the dog.  Just sayin. 

Also, please excuse the fact that Q has a tootsie roll in his mouth during the making of this video. 

Thursday, November 11, 2010

My Child is Only Part Human

I picked the girls up this afternoon from Chris's school and then we headed over to pick up Quinn.  The girls were all sorts of wound up about the book fair next week.  They have a list of books that is a mile long that they want.  And they had to describe each of them to me in great detail.  At a very fast pace.  The only good news is that they didn't seem to mind if I didn't respond.  So, I didn't respond...until we got to this...

Casey:  And there's this book, with this cuuuuuuuttttteeeeee little guinea dog on the cover that has a bone in its mouth...and its called Guinea Dog.  Its about a guinea pig that acts like a dog or maybe about a guinea pig that is part dog....
Chandler:  Hey!  That's like me!  I'm part human and part coyote.  AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Ok, really?

Me:  Chan, I am really amazed by the way your mind works.
Chandler:  Why, thank you, Mama.  Thank you, very much.

*big sigh* *shakes heads* *grips steering wheel* *big sigh*

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Quinn's Favorite Word

Its not a secret that Quinn's favorite time of day is that after bath time when he gets to run around naked.  So, it should not be so shocking that his favorite word these days is "Nakey."  Usually it goes like this...

Quinn:  Mama!  Mama!  Nakey!  Nakey!  (he shouts as Chris carries him downstairs from bath time)
Me:  Quinn!  Are you naked?
Quinn:  Yeah!  Nakey!

And then he runs into the living room, screaming, and feeling all sorts of glorious in his birthday suit.  He does laps while Ike chases after him.  Sometimes, Ike nips at his tush.  It is a very cute tush.  Sometimes, Quinn stops and Ike tries to get a little too friendly with Q's penis.  In these cases, Quinn ends up putting Ike in a headlock.

Then, Q grabs the phone (which is pretty much always laying on the couch) and begins shouting into it...

Quinn:  Meme!  Meme!  Nakey!
Me:  Quinn, do you want to call Meme?
Quinn:  Yeah.
Me:  What do you want to tell her?
Quinn:  Me nakey.
Me:  Ok.

At this point, I dial the number and Quinn takes it from there.  When my mom answers the phone, he shouts into it....  "Meme!  Me nakey!"  And, well, that's pretty much all that he has to say to her.

Sometimes he tries to climb on my back and when I turn my head around to look at him over my shoulder, he pushes my head (soft and slow) and says, "T-roun, Mama, me nakey."  Like I haven't seen that before.

I think I will be sad when his little language becomes more grown up.  When he starts saying "naked" and not "nakey."

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

My Life...A Frantic Comedy About Stress

6:45am - leave for work
7:15am - arrive at work
4:10pm - leave work after faculty meeting
4:40pm - pick girls up from After School Program...they take 8 minutes to make their way from the gym of the school to the atrium, where I am impatiently waiting.  Chandler stands at the top of the stairs and begins,

Chandler:  So, Mama.  You know my friend...
Me:  Chandler.  We have to hurry.  We have to pick up brother and then you are going to CB's while Daddy is at a meeting, so that Mama can drive back up to school for PTO.  Tell me about the friend in the car.
Chandler:  Oh, right.  Do you know what happened today at lunch?
Me:  Chandler, go get your stuff.
Chandler:  Oh, right.  (scurries off to the lunchroom, stops at lunchroom door and begins yelling across the atrium to me)  MAMA!  Can I wear a t-shirt tomorrow?
Me:  Chandler!  Get.  Your.  Stuff.
Chandler:  You got it, Mama!
(Clearly, I don't "got it"  because it took me a million times of telling you to get your things before you actually went and got your things.)

4:52pm - finally leave the elementary school with 2 girls and a butt load of belongings.
4:56pm -  arrive to pick up Q
4:58pm -  Q's babysitter reminds him that he has to listen to his mother.  Things are not going well.  The only way I get him to leave is by reminding him that he is going to play at Loralai's house.
5:01pm - leave babysitter's.  I now have 3 children in the backseat...one of whom continues to talk nonsense to me...

Chandler:  Can a person actually die of a heart attack if they are surprised? (That's my edit.  I failed to put that part in, in the original post.  I told you I was tired.)  :)
Me:  Yes.  I suppose they can.
Chandler:  But how?
Me:  Well, I guess if they had a history of heart problems and were scared or shocked or surprised, I guess they could have a heart attack and die.  But I don't think it happens very often.
Chandler:  Well then why did that lady die in that movie?
(Um, WTH are you talking about????)
Me:  Um, Chan, what are you talking about?
Chandler:  That lady.  In that movie.  She died.  Why?
Me:  Ok, I really have no idea what you are talking about.  What lady?  What movie?
Chandler:  You know, in Annie.
Casey:  No, her mom died in a fire.
Chandler:  No.  When they all go to the movies, the lady in the movie dies, but why?
(Seriously.  That's the question you have about Annie???)
Me:  I have no idea.
Chandler:  Oh.
(Have you counted the number of times I have responded with "I have no idea."?  This is sad in my life.  I seem to be spending most of it confused.)

5:08pm - home, take Ike out, feed Ike
5:12pm - Chris calls.  His meeting got out early and he is on his way home.  I tell him that I have to take the kids to Loralai's anyway because Q will have a melt down otherwise.
5:13pm - load up the kids, drive 7 houses up the street to CB's (she and Drew are Loralai's parents...FYI)
5:20pm - leave to drive back to school for PTO meeting
5:58pm - arrive at school
6:00pm - sitting on bleachers in the gym
7:02pm - leave gym, drive back home
7:35pm - arrive home

I am tired.  Oh, so very, very, tired.  AND, the bonus is that we will be having round two of insanity on Thursday.  Yay for the Pendleys!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Living a Censored Life

I began blogging over two years ago.  A childhood friend of mine (whom I haven't seen since childhood) found me (thank you, internet!) and we rekindled our friendship via email.  We found that we still had tons in common.  It was during a period in her life when her husband was transferred a lot and so she began a blog as a way to keep her friends and family updated on their life.  I loved reading it.  I mean, like, REALLY, loved reading it.  And then I began to feel like our friendship was one sided...I knew all sorts of things about her and she only knew what I told her in scattered emails, so I began blogging.  The majority of my family lives in Chicago and so I thought it would be a great way for them to check in on us.  (I failed to take into consideration that my father doesn't really, ever, use the computer.)  At first, I blogged infrequently (who doesn't start out that way???) and had 3 readers.  At the time, Q was 2 months old, the girls had just started 1st grade, Chris and I were both working full time and we were both in grad school.  My blog was mainly a record of my lack of sleep. 

When I finished my degree, I vowed to be a more consistent blogger.  And then when the new year came, I challenged myself to write everyday for the whole month of January...and then January became February and February became March and so on. 

This is what I have noticed about blogging.  I censor myself.  I do not write about work (except maybe to mention when I am not working - summer - , or when book fair week is).  I do not write about my husband without his permission.  I do not write about people when they irritate me.  I do not write about every aspect of my life.  I write about what I want to share.  Some days, its very easy for me to ignore the real issues in my life and only write about a dinner conversation, or a song on the radio.  But doing so makes me feel like I am ignoring parts of my life...pushing them to the side...telling myself that they aren't blog worthy...not funny enough, too long to write, potentially controversial.  (Even though its my blog, I find myself worried about offending people.  And I want everyone to like me.  I worry about what people think, its true.)

As I write, I often think about binding my posts for my children.  All in all, this is a record of their childhoods.  But then I worry that they will only be getting half the story.  The censored half.  But as a blogger, where is the line?  The line of safety? 

And the funny thing about all of this is that I am anti-censorship.  Just in case you were wondering.  I also don't eat meat off the bone.  Ribs?  Absolutely not.  Fried Chicken?  No, thank you.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

I'm Not Sure if You've Seen This or Not, But....



I'm not sure if you've seen this or not, BUTTTTTTT....if not, you must.  It cracks me up.  I could totally be this girl.  I think she stole some of my moves.  And I am now only referring to our van as the swagger wagon.  Chris thinks that I only find this to be funny because I don't have to drive the van everyday...he does.  I think I would find it funny regardless.

Differences...and More!


Did you read on the pioneer woman's blog a couple of weeks ago when she compared her toothpaste to her husband's?  I could totally relate to this...Chris and I don't share toothpaste for the same reason.  And then tonight at dinner, I felt that I HAD to take this picture.  Yeah, um, Chris's potato is the one on the left.  Mine is the one that is mashed all over the plate.  He used to try to serve mine on a small plate too and I had to request a big plate.  I felt like my potato was too confined.  (We also had salads with dinner...just in case you were wondering, and a plate of seasoned sliced cucumbers...and that's my glass of milk - I have one every night with dinner and miss it when we eat out, but restaurant milk just doesn't taste the same.)  And this, really, is the difference between us - tidy vs. explosive.  I am the explosive one.

The girls worked on their Christmas lists this weekend.  Chandler's looked like this....
1.  at least 3 pairs of boots
2.  anything plaid
3.  a ceiling fan with a pretty chain
4.  American Girl doll clothes

Casey made hers based on the toy catalog from Target.  And she picked nothing but junk.  So, I am having her reevaluate her list.  I just really don't want to have another zhu zhu pet Christmas.  Just sayin.

I feel tired and the week hasn't even begun.  That's not a good sign, now is it?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

New!


{Scarlett Lovebirds Necklace $22}


{Orange and Red Bird Pendant Necklace $18}
 

{Berry and Leaf Earrings $8}
 
 {Khaki Flower Earrings $10}


{Vintage Style Blue Bird Necklace $22}
 

{Copper Honey Earrings $16}
 

 {Charmingly Bright - Shades of Red - Necklace $24}


{Charmingly Bright - Multicolored Glass - $26}
 

{Plum Teardrop Earrings $10}

Whew!  I've been busy.  Mainly because Chris was home with a sick Chandler yesterday and he did the cleaning and the laundry.  He's that kind of husband...the great kind.  Now, I think you should get busy with some early Christmas shopping!  Just sayin.  And don't forget about this.

Poor Movie Choices


Chris streamed The Land Before Time last night on Netflix.  He loved this movie as a child.  When it started, I made the face.  The what-in-the-world-were-you-thinking face.  Because, I, did not love this movie.  It was scary.  And my children felt the same way.  Or, rather, they would have felt the same way if Chris hadn't edited the movie down to a mere 25 minutes...he skipped all of the dinosaurs attacking other dinosaur parts.  During the first scary scene Quinn kept saying, "Oh no.  Oh no.  Oh no." in a somewhat frantic tone.  It was then that Chris realized that he may have chosen poorly. 

Someone once watched the girls for us when they were around 4 and thought it might be a good idea to watch Big.  They found out quite quickly that it was not.

Someone else called us while they were watching the girls to see if Forest Gump was a good idea.  Um, no. 

So, really, The Land Before Time, is an excellent choice in comparison.

Friday, November 5, 2010

So, here's the deal!

I promised you that there would be something big coming up for the shop, so here's the deal...  I am determined to hit 100 online sales by the end of the year...  but I need your help to accomplish this. (Clearly.  Because if I made the jewelry, listed the jewelry and then bought the jewelry myself, well, I think I would need more than just a little counseling.)  So, to help you, help me, in meeting my goal, I am offering these little incentives....

1.  Holiday Shipping!  Rates are $2.50 for U.S. shipping (.30 cents for additional items), $3.75 elsewhere (.50 cents for additional items) for the Holiday season.  If you are someone that I see in person and would like to make a purchase out of the shop, I will refund your shipping cost once payment is received through paypal.

2.  Super Reader Discount!  Leave a message for me in check out and I will take 25% off your purchase!  Yep.  You read that right.  Once payment is received through paypal, I will refund 25% back to you!  Yay!

So, now you should pop on over to my shop and, well, do some shopping!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Car Conversations

Chandler:  Mama.  Do you know Van Gogh?
Me:  Um.  Yeah.
Chandler:  Did you know that he went crazy, cut off his ear and gave it to his friend?
Me:  Yeah, something like that.
Chandler:  And then did you know that he went crazy again and shot himself in the chest?
Me:  Oh.  Where did you learn all of this?
Chandler:  School.

****

Chandler:  Mama.  Do you know Chris Van Gogh?
Me:  Nope.  Never heard of him.
Chandler:  Mama!  Chris Van Gogh?  You know, he writes children's books.
Me:  You mean Chris Van Allsburg?
Chandler:  No.  Chris Van Gogh.
Me:  I think you're talking about Chris Van Allsburg.
Chandler:  No.  Its Chris Van Gogh.  And he wrote this book, Jumanji, and I totally want to see that movie.
Me:  Chris Van Allsburg wrote that book.
Chandler:  Oh.  Ok.  Whatever.  I totally want to see that movie.

(My eight year old said "whatever" to me tonight.  Big sigh.)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

One for the Record Books

I was busy today, Friends (my school was closed for Election Day)...and even though I didn't get everything on my list accomplished (i.e. cleaning the God awful nasty bathrooms in my house, please don't stop by to use the restroom - I won't let you)...I am celebrating what I did get done, like...

1.  Purchased new winter coats for the girls.  (Old Navy = Super Sale!)
2.  Had lunch with Frankie...long overdue and it was wonderful girl time
3.  Stopped in the Ho Lo for some clasps and eye pins.  God only knows how I seem to go through these things so very quickly.
4.  Counseling appointment.  Making progress.
5.  Purchased new winter jammies for the kids.  No footed ones this year for Q - I know that footed pajamas + potty training = horrible idea.  Also, the girls needed jammies pants that weren't a good 4 inches above their ankles.  They looked like they were ready for a middle of the night flood.  Just sayin.
6.  Picked up the girls from school.  Helped with homework (except for that regrouping math problem...had to save that one for Chris). 
7.  Made doctor's appointment.  I haven't been to see Dr. Elder since my post op from Quinn.  Um, yeah.  Long overdue.
8.  Made appointment for Ike to get a manicure.
9.  Changed shipping rates in the shop.  That's right...HOLIDAY shipping rates!  Yay!  AAAANNNNNDDDD, there is more great news on the way in regards to the shop, by the end of the week.  I have to get all of my thoughts down on paper before I just start exploding with craziness.  You understand, I am sure.  Bottom line is, I am determined to hit 100 shop sales before the end of the year.  But I am going to need your help.  But, we'll get back to that.

When Chris got home with the boy, I informed him of all of my plans and the appointments that I had made.  He broke out into a fit of hysterical laughter.  When he regained a slice of sanity and calm, he explained that he knew I was starting to feel better about this because I was in scheduling mode....and I haven't been in awhile...and unfortunately, he was enjoying me not scheduling things. So, there you have it.

Monday, November 1, 2010

I Have Booked My Flight


I am leaving for Chicago on Thursday, January 20.  My sweet cousin, Phyllis, is getting married that weekend and I will be in attendance.  Yay!  I am flying up (by myself!) for three days.  My dad is picking me up from the airport Thursday night and taking me to my grandmother's house, where I will spend Thursday night and all day on Friday in my pajamas, digging through old pictures and convincing her to tell me her life story into my fancy digital voice recorder that Chris bought me last year for Christmas (specifically for this purpose). 

The wedding is on Saturday and I am super excited about it!  Except for the small little detail that it is a winter wedding.  And I don't know what to wear to a winter wedding...especially one where they actually have winter.  My father's advice:  Don't wear some skimpy dress and high heels.  Has he met me?  Does he really think that I would wear "some skimpy dress" anywhere???  *rolls eyes*  And then we had this conversation:

Dad:  We could luck out and it could be a really nice day.
Me:  Yeah, and by "nice" you mean a whopping 40 degrees, and I would still be freezing my tush off.
Dad:  No, no...by "nice" I mean 30 degrees.  Not nice and it could be 30 below.  Maybe you should look at getting one of those pants suits.
Me:  Yeah...that way I could wear my long johns under it.

I kid you not, I will be wearing long johns.  All weekend long.  I am prepared for this...that's how Southern I have become.

Picture from:
http://greaterchicagorealestateblog.com/2008/02/20/chicago-winter-weather-wonderland/