Oil...

Hmmm...a curious commenter asked about my feelings for Paula Deen.
I love me some Paula Deen, ya'll.
I've never made a single recipe she's made, but ya'll, I am obsessed with how she talks.

I love the way she says "for." It sounds like "Fa."
I love the way she says "Oil." It sounds like "Ohl."
I love that her two favorite things in life are butter and mayonaise.

And my other fav, is when she tastes things. Awesome.

Veggies and Handsome...No Sense...

"Mom? I am going to be a Princess, Farmer, and a Momma when I grow up!"

"All honorable professions, Lucy. I am especially excited about you being a farmer!"

"Yes! And I will sell peas and tomatoes at my lemonade stand!"

"Great items, Luce! A nice addition to the lemonade."

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Can I sell edamame, too?"

Now that's what I'm talking about....a girl who knows her Thai cuisine...

In other news...someone is all of a sudden DARN HANDSOME up in this house...WHAT was I waiting for??

Latest Pics...

Lucy's latest obsession....drawing and writing notes and letters to everyone she knows. This is where you can find her most days...at the dining room table working on a very important project.


Her other obsession? Babies. As I have mentioned before, half my world of friends has recently birthed baby #3 (nuts!) and Lucy has been loving it. Here she is with little Colin, visiting from Chicago. Lucy read him books all morning...and if I tell her, "Great job babysitting, Luce!" she beams with great pride.


What do I do with Tomma's hair, I ask you? I feel like he is starting to look like Loyd from "Dumb and Dumber." It's luxurious and all...but he always looks like he needs a haircut, even after a haircut. Should I have them use a razor on it? I have no no clue how to do boys hair. But he is damn cute with his legs crossed, isn't he?


And here he is being rowdy with his cousin Will...good buds.

Dreaming of Taking the Garbage Out...

Every once in a while, I find myself suddenly desperate for some "me time." That aching feeling really hasn't come around in a long time. Which is a sign, I hope, that my gym time and afternoon "quiet times" really do reenergize me.
However, things have been bad lately. I have been dreaming about just being alone. I am never alone. I poo with a child talking to me, and I shower with Lucy in there with me. Seriously. Ridiculous.
I have been daydreaming about going to Starbucks alone. Just to sit in the window and sip my latte and think. Holy moly that would be luxurious. Or...a day to shop. I have a date set with friends at the end of March for an all-day shopping event and I am soooo excited, I am literally counting down the days. 37.
So yesterday, I was blessed with 2.5 hours on my own (thanks, mom!!). I made the best of it. Shopped leisurely, went to the coffee shop and ate lunch, sipped some hot tea and made some notes on professional goals...just basically thought about ME! No kids, no phone calls, no nothing. Pure luxury. I think I need to do this more often.
I really DO feel better today. I feel like I can handle everything a little bit easier. Sometimes that is all it takes. At least until Sunday, when I tell Matt I have to head to Starbucks. Alone.

The PLG Mall Parent....

I tend to forget that everyone doesn't parent the same way I do, or run their days the same way I do. I am so very lucky that I have a group of other stay at home girlfriends who keep me on my toes, like to do things with the kids daily, don't make any judgement on my skills, and make me laugh regularly. I thank my lucky stars I met these girls who I clicked with right away and made parenting easier and even more fun in so many ways. Not everyone is so lucky.
In an attempt to shake things up a little bit this morning, the kids and I headed to our PLG mall play area - one that alledgedly cleans their stuff down every morning (I have witnesses) and that is less crowded than the larger mall nearby. I have only been there a handful of times, but every time I go, I always notice something.
There are a lot of PLG parents there who don't make eye contact. I can tell they are socially awkward and there is a lot of "shifty eye action." I get a lot of "quick lookaways" when I smile or laugh or look to make a connection with someone when my kid does something ridiculous.
Also? They all tend to look pretty sad and bored with their life. Not a lot of jazz goin' on. And many choose to ignore their child unless they do something wrong, in which they shriek across the play area to "COOL IT!"
I found myself sitting there this morning, chasing the kids and laughing with them about things...and feeling like a freakshow. I felt closely watched and like the oddball out. My cell phone rang...one woman looked at me all annoyed.
I don't know what my point is. I just know I was having fun and not taking it all very seriously. And there were A LOT of people (dads and moms alike) who were taking themselves and the mall play area VERY seriously.
I wonder if they are the norm or I am the norm. Or what is the norm? Maybe they were perfectly happy and just deep in thought about whether they should vote for Barrack or Hillary. Could have been.
But secretly, I think they just weren't having a great time and maybe they need a friend to help them step out of their box. PLGs...

A Morning Massacre in Pictures....

Lucy went to her friend Jack's house this morning for a playdate. I would change names to protect the innocent but let's get real...are any 3-year old's really innocent? I was going to give a synopsis of the morning drama but, thankfully, Lucy recalled it all in artful interpretation and I just couldn't help myself but share....


Here is Lucy...enjoying her morning at her friend's house.


The photos take a sudden turn when the kids fight over Matchcars! Suddenly, Jack pelts a Matchcar at Lucy's forehead, causing blood to ooze down her forehead, nose and shirt - like the prom scene from the movie "Carrie!" Mom quickly swoops in (apparently, based on this photo, with a smile on her face) and starts dabbing wound vigorously, trying to reach the point of entry. This photo captures that moment beautifully, wouldn't you agree?


All is well...here is Lucy after the wound has been cared for. She has a smile on her face and rosy cheeks (perhaps her way of sharing her rise in adrenaline, hmmm?) Please note, much care was taken in drawing blood droplets all over the bathroom floor and counter. Sadly, this was sort of the scene on my poor friend's bathroom (Sorry Sarah).


And lastly...blood still on the scene, but Lucy wanted to make the point that she added Jack's kitty "Baby" to the picture (see blob to the right of her smiley body), as playtime resumed and worshipping of the cat prevailed.

Never a dull moment.

Four Weeks and Counting Down...

Seriously. The weather is absurd. Are you kidding me? 12 inches of snow in ONE DAY last week? -20 degrees and blowing snow this past Sunday? Why, Lord Jesus, did we choose Michigan as our place of residence? We left sun over 300 days a year in Colorado for this? Oh yeah...people we love are here. Damn the people we love.
Lucy made PLG Valentine's cards for the neighbor kids on Saturday and we STILL haven't been able to get outside just to walk them around to everyone's mailboxes. Why? Because I don't want to be labelled an unfit mother allowing my daughter to get freezer-burnt cheeks.
So I have decided in my mind, that I just have to get through the next 4 weeks and things WILL turnaround. By mid-March, things are always winding down. I'm not saying we might not see a little snow (once or twice!) but for the most part, it goes away fast and the faintest signs of spring start to make an appearance. And the most important thing for me - the kiddies can finally be outside regularly again!
In the meantime, we will try and hibernate just a little bit longer.

Toilet Talk...

6 a.m. I get up to go to the bathroom. As I'm taking care of business, a little girl appears.

"Mom? Can I go potty after you?"

"Sure."

"I love you Mom. (Hugs me). You are the best momma. I am so lucky I have the best mom."

"Thanks."

And we both head back to our respective bedrooms.

Heart-Warming Car Conversation....

Lucy: "Mom? Why is Dad at work?"

Me: "Well, he has to make money for our family."

Lucy: "Why do we need money?"

Me: "So we can pay for our house and food and clothes."

Lucy: "And my college."

Me: "Yep, and your college. You and Tommy will go to college."

Lucy: "And Tommy will be my husband."

Me: "Well, that's nice to say but your brother probably won't be your husband. Maybe you'll meet another boy you like and he'll become your best friend and then he'll be your husband."

Lucy: (Thinking....thinking out the window...) "But Tommy's my best friend so I want him to be my husband."

Me: "I can't argue with that one Luce."

I'd be lying if I didn't admit I sometimes worry that they won't be super tight as adults, seeing as they are separate sexes. My sister and I have a great relationship that is so unique and special to any other relationship I have. I just sometimes feel bummed that neither of them will experience the "same sex sibling" thing.
I literally thought about that on the ultrasound table, when I found out Tommy was a boy.
However, a good friend of mine always reassures me they could still be very close, as she and her brother are the best of friends. I like to hear her stories about them together.
And really, I think it comes down to the personality and people they are, as opposed to whether or not they are a boy or girl.
All I hope is that when something big, exciting, or scary happens to either one of them in life, that they think to call each other first.

February CLEAN OUT!

Attention any and all items in this house not being used or loved: You are OUTY! I am on a large clean-out spree. Especially in regards to home decor, etc. I decorated this house 6 years ago this upcoming May and I am really over it.
Of course, I don't have the fundage to overhaul everything in the house, so I am improvising and going to all my favorite places to "redo," "simplify" and "refresh."
Some favorite places are World Market, Target and TJ Maxx. A little imagination and a good eye can take you a long way.
In addition, I saw an Oprah a while back where some organizing expert guy said "If you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it." I'm following that rule and cleaning out my closet. Perhaps a spring garage sale is in order.
Why does it feel so good to do these types of things? Out with the old...in with the new. The weather has been so ridiculous, it's kind of nice to hunker down at home and accomplish some things.
And this, offically, is my most boring post to date.
So I shall jazz it up with a random cute photo....my sister found this one the other day from Easter 2006. That holiday was a blur because Tommy was one month old and I was in that hazy "up all night" phase of having a newborn, mixed with "gotta keep things fun and normal for Lucy" guilt. It feels like a million years ago and she is so chubby and blond and little. It's photos like these that remind me that everything changes so fast...