Friday, February 27, 2009

Birthday Party!

Last Saturday was the joint birthday party for H and M. We held it at a local gym (they teach gymnastics and cheer, and rent the place out for parties). The girls have been to a few of their friends' parties at this place... when I finally decided to have a party for them, the girls immediately said they wanted it to be at The SpiritBarn.
Here are a few pics of the kids having fun!





For their "theme", H and M picked out "party puppies" (both girls are dog-lovers!). My wonderful, talented mother-in-law made the cupcakes! YUM!





As far as birthday parties go, this will be a hard one to top!





There are more fun fotos to be seen at Candid Carrie's!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Let's Get Ready to Tumble!

Just a very short video of H, taken at the girls' birthday party last Saturday...

video

She could very well be the next Mary Lou Retton...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Ever So Grateful

There are many things to worry about when you have your first child.  When I was pregnant with my oldest girl, one thing I didn't have to be concerned with was who was going to take care of my child when I went back to work.  

That person was Granny, my husband's wonderful grandmother.


I returned to my full-time job when my oldest girl was 4 months old and Granny began watching her every day.  Two years later when my second daughter was born, Granny was there to take care of her, as well.  Knowing my children were being taken care of (and even spoiled rotten!) by someone who loved and adored them... that gave peace of mind to this self-proclaimed worrywart!


Even though my children are now both in elementary school and I'm a stay-at-home-mom, there are still times when Granny gladly takes care of my girls when needed.  Whether it's getting to eat all the ice cream they want, or helping Granny bake applesauce cake... my girls know they're with someone who delights in them... and they're nuts about her, too!  

My girls are so blessed to have their great-grandmother in their lives.  And I'm ever so grateful to Granny for being there whenever I need her.  







Is there a caregiver in your life who you want to pay tribute to?  Visit For All the Ways You Care to share your story!


I really should send flowers...

Or at least a thank-you note.


To whom do I owe my gratitude?

That would be my local news station.


For giving me blog fodder (again!), like this gem of a "news" story that was on last night:


http://tinyurl.com/c3m5c6




I lost it at the 1:31 mark: "He's a little overweight; he likes those Little Debbies."


Sunday, February 22, 2009

The 1st Barbara Walters Oscar Special... starring ME!


A few weeks ago, the highly regarded Em (from Life, Liberty and the Pursuit...) sent me a few interview questions.  Maybe you've seen this "interview meme" going around the blogosphere? Anyway, when Em was interviewed, I told her to hit me with a few questions and she obliged. Em titled her interview post, What Barbara Walters would ask if she were HOT, and it gave me this brilliant idea to post my interview as if Babs herself was interviewing me as part of her annual Oscar-night special.


Well, it is now Oscar night, and my idea of grandeur has fallen flat. I can't get what is in my head to translate in writing, so I figured I might as well just get this posted!

And so, without further ado...



Name one moment in your life when you were very proud of yourself (non-child related!):

I've had such difficulty in answering this question!  Because, truthfully, the proudest moments of my life revolve around my two beautiful girls.  No other achievements or accolades I've ever received compare to the feelings of pride my children give me.



Which superpower would you choose, a) being invisible; b) reading people's minds; or c) stopping time?

Being invisible would definitely have its advantages. Reading people's minds might be cool at times, but I'm sure there are some thoughts out there which I am better off not knowing.

I think I'd want to have the ability to stop time.  Or at least slow time down a bit.  Time goes by way too fast, and I would love to be able to make moments last longer... 



What would your superhero name be?

Isn't that where you take your first pet's name and add it to the name of the first street you lived on? Oh, wait... that's your porn name.

(Mine would be Mitzi North Summit, in case you were wondering...)


According to Lula, to get your superhero name, just add the word "The" plus your 2nd favorite color and your favorite drink.

So that would make my doppelganger, The Black Sweet Tea.


Hmmm... let's try Googling "superhero name generator":


Your Superhero Name is The Ring Virtuoso
Your Superpower is Winking
Your Weakness is Men
Your Weapon is Your Air Knife
Your Mode of Transportation is Helicopter


(well, I don't know what an "air knife" is, but I do agree with men being my weakness {wink, wink}!)




Name your top three crushes - real, fictional, past or present:

1) My very first crush was on this boy:





YES, that is Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block (don't judge me... this was back in 1989 for cryin' out loud! My 12-year-old self didn't know any better!)



2) In high school, there were a few "mini-crushes" I had on guys, but there was just one real, big crush (does this make sense?).  It was on a guy that became a really good friend. He had moved here at the end of his junior year (my sophomore one).  We had a few classes together and sat by each other at lunch (yes, he's the one I was sitting by when I had milk dumped in my lap)... he knew I liked him but it took awhile for him to ask me out on a date. While we did have fun, by the end of the date, we both knew friends were all we were going to be.  He went away to college, but we'd call each other and I'd see him sometimes when he'd come home for weekends and such. He was even my date for my senior prom! I haven't seen him in about 7 years (he no longer lives here in TN), but we occasionally e-mail back and forth.



3) As for who is currently at the top of my celebrity crush list, that would be my cabana boy:







(let's have one more pic, just for gratuity's sake)



(sigh...)




So, there you have it.  Thanks, Em, for being my Barbara Walters.  If anyone out there would like to be interviewed by me, just let me know in your comment!


Saturday, February 21, 2009

"And the award goes to..."

You Would Win Best Actor / Actress

You are confident and talented. When it's time for you to shine, you step up.
You have a strong personality. You love attention, and you can command an audience of any size.

You tend to be a bit obsessive. You're the perfect person to immerse yourself in a big role.
You're both empathetic and expressive. You understand and communicate well.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Birthday Girls

This past Sunday we had a family dinner in honor of the girls' birthdays...



Enjoy more fun fotos over at Candid Carrie's!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

To M, on the occasion of your 6th birthday...


SCREEEECH! (that's me, coming to a whiplash-inducing stop...)


Just wait one minute, missy! Who said you could be six years old already?!??! It certainly wasn't me!


Wasn't it just last
year I was bringing you home from the hospital, wondering how I was going to take care of a newborn and a two-year-old, and work full-time, all while keeping my sanity? (and I'm still working on the "keeping my sanity" part...)

Wasn't it a
month ago I was coming into your room in the morning, to find you babbling and singing to yourself in your crib? And how you'd smile and hold your arms out to be picked up when you saw me?


I'm pretty sure it was just a
week ago I walked you into preschool class for the first time; and was yesterday not your first day of kindergarten?


No?!


Your sister turned 8 earlier this month and for some reason, that didn't really bother me. But I cannot seem to wrap my head around the fact that you are now
six. years. old.


I don't want to stop calling you "my baby", but you no longer fit into "5T" clothes... meaning I now have to shop for you in the "big girl" section of Old Navy/ Target/ The Children's Place, not the "baby girl" area.


So I guess I must come to the inevitable truth... you are a big girl now. My last baby is a baby no more... although,
my baby you will always be.


Happy Birthday,
baby big girl!







M,
Can you please, please, please slow down the whole growing-up thing, just for me? Thanks!

xoxo,
Momma

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Useful Information


I'm almost certain this info will come in handy one of these days...









Probably sooner than later...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Missing You...

M: "I miss Mr. Poppy."

Me: "You do?"

M: "Yeah... when can I get another one?"

Me: "HUH?!?"

*note: the girls call my dad "Poppy", and I didn't hear M say the "Mr." part, so that is who I thought she was talking about missing...

Uh,... no.

THIS is what she meant:


Meet Mr. Poppy (a.k.a. bubble wrap)... M was sad because she had popped all the bubbles.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Valentine's Dance


Last Thursday night, the girls' school had a Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Dance.  





Do you have any plans for Valentine's Day?  

Unless Shane has something up his sleeve, we'll be doing a big-fat-nothing.  
I know... how romantic.

Whatever your plans may be, I hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day!  


Thursday, February 12, 2009

My laminated list needs to be re-laminated...


For the longest time, the #1 spot on my laminated list of celebrity men has been a tie between these two:


       

Both exude hotness.  And have sexy accents that add to their appeal.  


But...



Awhile back, it was reported that my man Gerard hooked up with... I can barely say the name without throwing up in my mouth...


Paris. {gag} Hilton.  



Then last week, my man Christian's profanity-laced on-set tirade aimed at the poor, unsuspecting I'm sure he totally had it coming to him Director of Photography was all over the Internet and TV-entertainment shows.  

Uh-oh... I think someone is in need of a few anger-management classes!  






Dear Daniel Craig,

You've just moved up a few notches on my Top 5 list.





Congratulations.


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Another post about ME!

Guess what, y'all?!


I WON the necklace from Kristen! Woot! Woot!






(No, Lula... mine won't say "Owen" and "Will"!)





THANK YOU so much for the comments on my Featured Reader interview over on Kristen's blog! I appreciate every comment... and not just because each one counted as an entry for me to win one of Kristen's fabulous necklaces!






I've started a recipe blog... mainy in hopes to keep my favorite recipes better organized. But if you like, go check out:








Thanks to the lovely Divine Chaos for giving me this award:





Monday, February 9, 2009

Conversations in the car, Vol. 1


The following conversation took place one day last week, after I had picked up the girls from school and we were on our way home:

H: "Momma, we had a man from the nature center come to school today."

Me: "Oh, yeah?"

H: "Mmm, hmm. When owls go to the bathroom, they pee and poop at the same time."

Me: "Uh,.... um,... uh, what kind of cupcakes do you want for your party?"*

*the only response I could come up with to H's statement was to completely change the subject!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Ortho no mo'!




No more cast! No more brace!

(Don'tcha just love the grin on her face?!)


Michaela's last appointment with the orthopedist was on Wednesday. The doctor said her x-ray looks great; the bone in straightening out as it should. He wants Michaela to wear the brace for the next three weeks only when she's outside playing or in P.E. class; anytime she could be running, jumping, etc.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

A Limerick for Lizzy






There once was a gal named Lizzy,

Whose eye-crossing never made her dizzy,

She was quick with a smile,

Knew plaid would always be in style.

And her birthday caused quite a tizzy.



All around the blogosphere,

Friends from both far and near,

Sent wishes her way

For one awesome birthday,

To this gal they all hold very dear!



And from fellow Mommy Blabber, Shannon,

Came this heartfelt little canon,

She stayed up all night,

To get the words just right,

For Lizzy was much loved by Shannon.



So on this most special day,

Her pal Shannon just wanted to say,

"Lizzy, my friend,

I'll love ya 'til the end!

And hope you have one heck of a birthday!


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tuesday Tidbits


In case you missed it, I was featured yesterday over on Kristen's blog.  There's still time to leave a comment for me here... help me win one of Kristen's fabulous hand-stamped jewelry pieces (and thanks again to those of you who already have given me some comment-lovin'!)





My sister-in-law sent this video to me in an email... I think we could all use a chuckle, so enjoy:



video





Some of you may know about the sad loss of Tuesday a few days ago; one of Tuesday's favorite things to do were "wagie rides".  Her family will be holding a wagon and bike parade in honor of Tuesday.  I can't go to Colorado to join in the celebration of her much-too-short life, but I can be there in sprit.  




If you'd like to participate in Saturday's parade for Tuesday, go here to get more info.   



Monday, February 2, 2009

I'm pimpin' out myself today!


I'm being featured today over at Kristen's blog, La Dolce Vita!





I actually came across Kristen's Etsy shop before I found her blog (and what a cute blog she has! She always posts the sweetest "Wordless Wednesday" photos!)... I just fell in love with her custom hand-stamped jewelry! I have several pieces:




Cute, right?


Now you, my faithful NutHouse readers, can help me win this piece:









Just head on over to Kristen's blog and leave a comment for me on my Featured Reader post!

THANKS!!!