Speak Now

The talent show was last night at 6:30.  It was very cute.  It was modeled after American Idol and they had a “judging panel” up on stage.  They had pictures of the principal, some other teacher, and Justin Bieber glued to poster board at a table to “judge”—pretty funny.  There were like 48 acts and it lasted until 9:00!  Lindsey was around the seventh act after intermission.  She did very well.  I think I already mentioned it, but she sang Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now”—it’s on her new album.  I won’t say much about it because I am putting up the video and you can just see for yourself.  I will say though that I was very proud of her.  It takes guts to get up and sing in front of a room of parents and your peers.  Logan, her Uncle Bill, her Granddaddy, her Daddy and I were all really proud of her.  (Grammy had to miss out; she watched the boys for me.)  I’ve heard her sing and I knew that she had a pretty voice, but I have to say that I was still really surprised that she looked so calm and composed.  She messed up one time at the end but caught up right where she was supposed to be.  Our only tip for her was that next time she should back up from the mic.  All of the kids who sang sort of muffled into the microphone because they didn’t know that they were supposed to back away.  This was Lindsey’s first time singing in front of anyone and there were a lot of people there, so the fact that she got up there, it was so awesome!  Don looked especially proud!  She had a lot of friends supporting her while she was singing and after she was finished they all came to tell her what a great job she did— that was nice to see.  I often joke about how irritating it is that she socializes constantly and won’t just be quiet and do her work, but this was a moment that I was happy that she is social.  She felt very good getting off the stage and having friends to greet her.  I talked to her teacher last night at the show and she said “Lindsey’s come a long way this year.  She’s  a little social butterfly, but she’s getting better and she’s focusing more when it’s time to work.”  I was glad to hear that.  I worry that she’ll be like me when she gets older and I didn’t really grow up and take school seriously until college!  Sometimes it’s scary to see that your kid bears the same qualities that you do.  I know that I am extra hard on her because I recognize it.  I’m happy that she’s social; I just want her to do what I didn’t….focus.

As far as Logan goes, he was the calmest boy in the room.  It’s funny how your kids can behave when they’re in a different environment.  He has a lot of nice friends.  I met some of them for the first time last night and they are all really funny and seem very sweet.  Logan was a really good brother last night.  He was very proud of Lindsey and had a lot of nice things to say about her when she finished singing. 

Oh yeah, the other acts that were really good…..a boy hula hooped for three minutes, which sounds dull, but it was awesome!  It was in the dark to a cool song, the hoop had a light on it and he even kept it going when he was on his knees!  It was one of those crazy acts that you think “How did that even start?”  There was a little boy who did some kind of break-dancing; he was good.  A little girl played Beethoven, it was unreal.  There were probably 6 or 7 acts that were very, very, very good.  I loved that the kids came up with everything themselves; the adults let the kids just go with it.  It was so cool to see their creativity, that’s my favorite thing about kids….seeing what they come up with.  And all of the kids were so polite and supportive of one another.  Don and I found it amazing!  As a whole, I thought the kids were so sweet and well-mannered.  I was impressed.  They’re so cute.

I will try to post the video of Lindsey singing later today, or tomorrow.  I still have to get it off of the camera.  Things like that always seem to take me a while. 

Here’s the Word of the Day: 

effloresce \EF-luh-res\, verb:

1. To burst into bloom; blossom.
2. In chemistry, to change either throughout or on the surface to a mealy or powdery substance upon exposure to air, as a to change either throughout or on the surface to a mealy or powdery substance upon exposure to air, as a crystalline substance through loss of water of crystallization.

The Royal Wedding!

I don’t now why this is so captivating to me, or everyone else, but it is!  I am watching the wedding right now with Dylan; Carson is still sleeping.  People are totally obsessed!  Brea's company named a bra after Kate Middleton.  Can you imagine someone naming a scoop neck bra after you?  I love Kate, I love that she’s a normal girl, and I love that it gives hope to all of those little girls who grow up and realize that they really AREN’T princesses and that they’re really only their daddy’s princess.  And I love the crazy hats!  Why can’t we wear crazy hats and feminine dresses over here?  I am not writing long because the countdown is at 37:16, but I do want to say that I have always been obsessed with England’s history.  Actually, it all started in high school with Brea.  Brea and I were in the same World History class and we watched “Anne of a Thousand Days”—we were hooked.  We watched it at home when other kids were out drinking, isn’t that funny?  We love King Henry VIII; well we don’t like HIM, but the era.  Brea is so lucky.  She’s been travelling to London for work; I wish I could go with her.  We’d have so much fun. 

I really hope that it turns out differently than it did for Di, I have been very negative.  But I have now watched so many programs about Diana and Kate that I believe that everything about this marriage will be different.  Even the paparazzi will have to be different because William protects her.  I still wouldn’t want to be Kate.  I’d be throwing up right now in the Abbey if I were her.  Can you imagine getting married in Westminster Abbey???

By the way, Dylan doesn’t have an ear infection or strep throat.  He has a stomach bug, so please pray for us that we don’t all get it!  You know if you read every day that we are sick constantly!  Oh, and also pray for Lindsey.  She sings tonight in the talent show.  I am probably more nervous than she is.  Here’s your Word of the Day:

osmose \oz-MOHS\, verb:

1. To gradually or unconsciously assimilate some principle or object.
2. To undergo osmosis.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day....

I talked to Brea last night and described my day and I told her that when I write this stuff, I wonder if it’s even believable sometimes.  But believe it, it’s true. 

Yesterday morning I walked a mile and a half to take the kids to school.  I took the babies, Lindsey, Logan, and our neighbor.  It looked a little grey outside, but I saw everyone else walking and so I knew that it was still on.  Since we had to leave the house at 7:30, I didn’t look at the weather and I wasn’t too concerned about it.  When I walked up to the school the vice principal saw me pushing the jogging stroller up the mountain of a hill and she shouted “No way!  No way!  I can’t believe that you came! You’re my idol!”  Then later, she saw me again and repeated that I was her idol.  I’m not sure what there is to idolize and I giggled about it, but it was very flattering and sweet.  She’s always so nice when I come in.  I had to talk to the music teacher about Lindsey’s music for the talent show; it needs to be cut down to three minutes.  I guess that everyone else left to go home within the ten minutes that I talked to the teacher because when I walked home, there was no one else out, which was fine until the sky got dark and the TORNADO sirens started sounding!  It started to rain out of nowhere and I pulled down the plastic on the stroller to protect the boys…..then I started crying and freaking out.  I called my neighbor to see what was going on.  She turned on the news and sure enough, there was a tornado warning until 9:45.  She came to pick me up and I ran as fast as I could until I saw her car.  I know that I called Don and tried to tell him that I was scared, but I probably just freaked him out more than anything.  It would have been one thing if it had only been me out there, but I had my babies and so I just kept praying to God that He would keep us safe.  Once my neighbor got there we hid the stroller in a ditch and put the boys on my lap—NO CAR SEATS. I am such a stickler about car seats and seat belts, but it was an emergency—I still couldn’t believe that I was riding a mile without them strapped in.  I was relieved once we were home, but then I was worried that someone would take my stroller.  It’s a very nice stroller, so I picked it up as soon as I could.

It had already been such a crappy day, why not get even crappier?  Dylan woke up with a fever of 99, but he is also cutting a tooth, so I didn’t think much about it.  He fell asleep after we picked the stroller up and when he woke up I took him to the table for lunch.  From the time he woke up and the time it took for me to make them a grilled cheese, he was burning up.  He was laying his little head on the table and not moving, so I knew that something was really wrong.  I took his temperature and it was 103!  I called the doctor and gave him Motrin.   When his temperature would come down he would sleep, and about 5 hours later it would spike again.  It wasn’t a good day.  Poor little Dylan says “Mama” all day over and over when he is sick.  Even now, on my lap…..”Mamaaaa, mamaaaa,” it’s his favorite word when he isn’t feeling well.  He says it pitifully when he’s throwing up, and then lovingly when he’s comfortable but sick, like right now.  He’s so cute.

Last night we had terribly scary weather; if you’ve watched the news, you know that.  The sirens were going off all night.  Brea called me last night and as soon as I said the words “I had such a bad day,” Dylan barfed on me.  She of course started laughing because any time she’s present in any way, a kid barfs on me.  I hadn’t noticed the coincidence, but it is true!  So yes, Dylan is throwing up now too.  I think it might be Strep or an ear infection.  He always throws up after I give him his fever reducer too, which sucks because then I don’t know if I should give him more or not.  I don’t want him to OD!  I am glad I talked to Brea last night, it cheered me up.  We had a great talk while Dylan slept on me. 

This morning I am taking Dylan to the doctor to see what’s going on.  I’m supposed to read to Logan’s class and I am determined to do it because it means a lot to him.  I don’t know though.  I still have to figure it all out.

I hope today is better than yesterday and I hope that everyone is well.  I have to go clean up the two barf spots on the carpet now.  And I can't even read through this or edit it, so if you found mistakes.....oh well!  Here’s the Word of the Day:

polymorphous \pol-ee-MAWR-fuhs\, adjective:

Having, assuming, or passing through many or various forms, stages, or the like.

Busy Bee

I only have a few minutes to write because Lindsey and Logan’s school is doing this “Walk to School” thing and we have to meet at the park at a certain time.  Today is going to be an insane day for Lindsey.  She has rehearsal for the Talent Show after school and then from there we are rushing to dance, which she has until after 7:00.  She has packed bags for both, since she has to have different clothes for both.  She is one busy little bee! 

The Today show is on right now and they are talking about William and Kate, yet again.  I think that she is a beautiful girl and hold a bit of curiosity about the wedding and the couple myself, but you know what I really keep thinking?  If I were Kate I would feel smothered and depressed; I would feel like cancelling the whole thing.  Seriously, it’s a circus just like it was with Princess Diana (so I hear) and we all know how that turned out.   Why must we always repeat history?  If I hear one day that Kate suffers from severe depression, I can’t say that I will be surprised.  Wow!  Where do I get my optimism from?  It’s awesome! 

I finished “Rebecca” last night and all I can say is READ IT!  It is so good.  It’s made it to my Top 10.  If anyone is interested, email me and I will tell you about it.  It is just, OH!  I loved it. 

Here’s the Word of the Day:

jamboree \JAM-buh-ree\, noun:

1. A carousal; any noisy merrymaking.
2. A large gathering, as of a political party or the teams of a sporting league, often including a program of speeches and entertainment.
3. A large gathering of members of the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, usually nationwide or international in scope

Chin-Dip Monstrosity

Ok, so I have to write about this woman at the gym.  I was on the elliptical and decided to lift some weights.  There are two machines next to each other that assist you with chin-dips and pull-ups.  I was on one and there was a woman who was maybe 40 years old on the other.  Every single time a man was around us the woman next to me would burst out into crazy orgasm noises.  And I’m talking about the kind in the movies that we all laugh about, like Sharon Stone or the red head in Jerry Maguire.  It was so annoying!  I was thinking “Really?  You’re in that much pain that it’s bringing pleasure noises and ONLY when a man is around us?”  Sure enough, when we were alone in our little space, she could manage to lift herself without the noises.  A man came around, “MMMAhhhhhh,oooohhhhh!” Again.  Then she gets off and says to one of them “I’m just sweating out pure tequila!”  I am sure that I was making rude faces; it was so obnoxious!   I wanted to bitch-slap her off of the machine!

The boys and I came home, had lunch and played.  I did some work, but I really left most of it for myself to do today.  Woo-hoo!  I met the big kids at the bus stop and hurried to take Lindsey to her uncle’s and the boys to Libbie’s.  I had a hair appointment.  Lindsey’s Girl Scout meeting was at the movie theatre; they saw that new surfing movie about Bethany Hamilton.  Both Bill and Lindsey loved it.  Since my hair takes like 15 hours to do, I pretty much picked the kids up and went to bed. 

No word of the day, they didn’t email me one, which is weird.  Never mind, I’ll look one up!  I’ll choose my favorite word for the woman at the gym:

mon·stros·i·ty

noun \män-ˈsträ-sə-tē\

plural mon·stros·i·ties

Definition of MONSTROSITY

1

a : a malformation of a plant or animal b : something deviating from the normal : freak

2

: the quality or state of being monstrous

3

a : an object of great and often frightening size, force, or complexity b : an excessively bad or shocking example

Our Little Amélie is Three Today!

Today my niece, Amélie, is three years old.  Happy Birthday, Amélie!  She is having a fairy princess party soon and I wish I could go; I hate that she lives so far away.  I miss her and her shenanigans. 

Here she is with our old Madeline dolls.......

Have a great day everyone.  By the way, I am tempted to watch "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" on Encore this morning rather than the news.  Sarah Jessica Parker looks so young!  I loved this movie when I was a little girl, but I really should see what's going on in the world instead and at least try to be an adult! Right?  Me and my 80's movies.....

Here’s your Word:

 marginalia \mahr-juh-NEY-lee-uh\, noun:

Notes in the margin of a book, manuscript, or letter.

Happy Easter!

We’ve been busy this weekend getting things done around the house and Don’s been working in the yard.  Last night Lindsey, Logan and I watched “The Passion of the Christ,” as planned.  I was really amazed.  Lindsey watched the whole thing and was very mature about it, but of course, emotional.  In our church you decide when you want to be baptized, the parents do not do it for you when you are a baby, and Lindsey and Logan say that they are ready to be baptized.  I feel so good about the fact that they understand what they’re doing and that it’s a decision that they are making; it makes me feel like they’re with God and that’s all you want as a parent. 

This morning the Easter Bunny came and brought the kids their goodies and then we all got ready for church.  We made it on time, which is always amazing.  In a little bit we’re going out to lunch and then the kids are going on an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. 

I hope that everyone is having a great holiday with their families!  Here’s the Word of the Day.  It’s very close to yen, which is their money.  Am I right about that?  Oh, no, that’s Japanese money.  I googled it just now.  Haha!  Thank goodness for Google!

yin \YIN\, noun:

A principle in Chinese philosophy associated with negative, dark, and feminine attributes.

The Play, Shopping with J-Lo, and the Post-it Mystery

Last night Lindsey, Carson and I went to see her friend in “The Secret Garden”.  The play was very good and Carson enjoyed it.  He sat on my lap the entire time and watched intently.  After the show was over Lindsey went to say hello to Henry and he signed her program.  He was very quiet and smiled a lot.  It seemed like he was happy that she came, but his mother and sisters were there and I think that he was probably trying to avoid getting teased.  Lindsey was the only one in their class who came and therefore I think it embarrassed him a little.  She said that he acted very strange.  I know that Logan would’ve acted the same way if I were around.  As a mother, you don’t intentionally tease your kids, but even asking a question about the opposite sex completely humiliates your kids, especially little boys.

Last night I had a dream that J-Lo was my best friend and we were shopping for our twins.  Isn’t that strange?  She’s never been my favorite person, so it was sort of weird.  I wonder if she would have another set of twins if she ever got pregnant again.  Or does that only happen to me?  Sometimes I realize how crazy it is that I have two sets.  Maybe on some unconscious level I wish I had a friend who had twins. 

This morning I saw something really funny.  One of our neighbor’s cars was completely covered in Post-its and toilet paper!  I suppose it was either a high school student or a scorned lover.  Either way, I thought it was funny.  For his or her sake, I hope it wasn’t an ex.  That’s like really scary and should be in a movie.  I was so curious that I wanted to get out and look at what the Post-its said, but I’m not that much of a loser.  Maybe each Post-it said one reason that the person sucks?  I suppose I shall never know!

Have a great Saturday!  Here’s the Word of the Day:

peregrinate \PER-i-gruh-neyt\, verb:

1. To travel or journey, especially to walk on foot.
2. To travel or walk over; traverse.

Updates and Really Clean Diapers......

Good news to report today!  Carson was checked out by his doctor yesterday and everything looks great!  He is allowed to “resume normal activity” but no rough play.  So I guess to rephrase it, he can sort of resume normal activity.  I saw the incision for the first time and although I cried, it did look good.   It looked like it was healing well, but seeing it was a reminder to me that my baby was operated on and that he was in pain at some point.  The nurse told me that Carson is famous at the office for being their best patient.  She said that they can’t believe how chill he is in the office; he just lets them do what they need to do.  Then of course when they heard that he didn’t even attempt to walk on it and didn’t throw a fit about it, well it’s flat-out unbelievable.  I’m so proud of him.  He’s so smart and obedient.  Carson was the happiest yesterday that he’s been in two weeks.  He was smiling all day and he was so excited to play with his toys.  I bought him a gigantic bouncy ball and told him that it was for being such a tough and patient guy.

Lindsey had to try out for the talent show yesterday; she made it.  I think that everyone makes it as long as their acts are appropriate.  She said that at first she was nervous, but that her nerves calmed as soon as she began to sing.  She was really happy. 

That weirdo, you know, the one that’s shopping for bodies to put on ice?  I’m just kidding; I don’t know that for sure.  Anyway, he was in my yoga class this morning in jeans and a polo.  He actually stayed the entire class, but he doesn’t have a membership?  He’s so scary!  Then when I was leaving he was right behind me and I went in to get the kids from the daycare center and he was lingering around the counter looking over at me.  I wouldn’t leave the center until I saw that he was gone. I’m not kidding, he is so creepy!  I didn’t want him to see my kids, so I just took a long time getting them.  I know he’s not after me, but he’s still giving me the creeps!

Dylan had his first real time-out today at lunch.  He likes to throw his food on the floor and he knows better.  Usually I make him pick it back up, but today he looked at me before he threw it and I told him not to do it.  He did it, so he sat in the chair.  I couldn’t believe that it just took a few times of putting him back into the chair for him to stay there.  He cried and yelled “Mama” the whole time.  Then I told him to pick up the fruit.  He wouldn’t, so back to the chair he went.  Finally, he learned that I meant business.  It’s a hard punishment to master as a mother of twins because while you’re supposed to be consistently putting one child into the chair, you’re chasing the other.  Today Carson wasn’t running around, but he was climbing up into the Chair of Shame too! 

Tonight I’m taking Lindsey to see “The Secret Garden.”  Her good friend, Henry, is playing the little boy in the wheelchair.  She’s talked about this little boy all year and I've thought that he was just a good friend, but I am starting to think that she might have a crush on him.  If she does, well, it makes me feel good that she likes such a nice little boy and isn’t into the bad boys.  I know it’s hard to believe, but there are bad ones in 4^th grade.  I have been hearing about them all year.  The boys call each other “bitches” already.  Isn’t that crazy?  Logan told me that there was a little argument the other day and one boy said to another “Whatcha gonna do about it, you little bitch?”  Wow is about all I can say. 

I threw some clothes in the washer throughout the day yesterday and didn’t actually start the washer until last night.  Today when I went to get the wet clothes out to throw them into the dryer there were two USED diapers mixed in with the clothes!  Luckily they were just wet diapers, not dirty ones.  But the most amazing part, other than how they got there in the first place, is that they were totally in tact.  They were fluffy and huge, but in tact!  The only thing that I can figure is that one of the boys picked them up to throw them into the trash and instead threw them into the washing machine; I do usually keep the lid up.  They like to throw their garbage away and put their worn clothes in the hamper.  Don’t worry, I threw the diapers away and then rewashed the clothes! 

Actually, you know what else I found today?  I was getting something out of one of my drawers and I found the boys’ dirty clothes stuffed on top.  I know that it was Dylan because he took his and Carson’s clothes to the basket last night….they just didn’t make it.  Kids make life so funny!  As I write this, Carson has taken his pants off and is trying to put a pair of shorts on.  So cute.

I hope that everyone as a great Easter weekend.  Personally, it’s my favorite religious holiday.  It screams “new beginnings” way more for me than New Years does.  (Not that New Years is a religious holiday, you know what I mean.)  I sort of make religious resolutions at Easter.  I don't plan it that way, it just seems to always happen.  I always watch “The Passion of the Christ” because it helps me to remember what Jesus did for me and it always makes me want to be a better person.  Last year I let Peyton and Logan watch it with me because I knew that they were ready.  This year Lindsey wants to watch it, and although it’s the one rated R movie that I think is acceptable, I have some reservations about Lindsey watching it.  Then again if she is asking and says she’s ready, maybe God wants me to let her.  I am going to let her watch it, but I am going to warn her ahead of time and tell her that if it gets to be too much that she can leave at any time.  I can barely get through it and I cry the whole time; I’m not sure if I could have handled it at Lindsey’s age.  However, maybe I would have been a better kid had I really understood why it was important to TRY to be a good person, and more importantly, feel remorse and ask for forgiveness.  Anyway, I hope that everyone has a great Easter weekend!  Ours was going to be awesome; Peyton was supposed to come.  He has strep throat and I didn't end up getting him yesterday, so we're all sad about that.  Something always seems to pop up when it's time for us to get him, not sure why.  We'll still have a good weekend; but it's never complete without him. 

Here’s the Word of the Day:

homunculus \huh-MUHNG-kyuh-luhs\, noun:

1. An artificially made miniature person or creature, supposedly produced in a flask by an alchemist.
2. A fully formed, miniature human body believed, according to some medical theories of the 16th and 17th centuries, to be contained in the spermatozoon.
3. A diminutive human being.
4. The human fetus.

Never Too Old....

We had a very scary storm last night.  The lighting was cracking right over our heads and the thunder was so loud that it scared me and Carson out of our sleep at the same time.  Both of our eyes opened like silver dollars and we just sat and stared at each other and he snuggled as tight as he could get.  Dylan is the lightest sleeper typically, or at least I think so since he wakes up every hour when he’s in his bed, but he didn’t wake up.  Lindsey came in with her pillow and said that she was scared, so she got her sleeping bag and slept on the floor.  She asked me if lighting could hurt the house, and I told her that she didn’t have anything to worry about, but the truth is, I was scared that it was going to hit a tree and the tree would collapse onto the house.  I was very scared!  Remember, I am sleeping with the boys right now because Carson can’t walk and I didn’t want him to get up in the middle of the night and break open his incision, and then of course Dylan doesn’t want to be alone.  Today I am taking Carson to the doctor for his check-up and hopefully he’ll look good and he’ll be allowed to walk again today. 

After the storm passed and Carson and Lindsey went back to sleep I was awake for a while.  I was so happy that I was awake because Lindsey was giggling like Betty Rubble in her sleep.  She has a great giggle.  It was so cute.  I tried asking her what she was dreaming about, but she didn’t wake up.  She told me this morning that she had had a dream that Carson and Dylan were getting their pictures taken and that they made funny facial expressions and had a pointy elf hair-do.  I love when kids giggle in their sleep.  I do it myself sometimes, I know because I wake myself up.  I started to think about how you’re never too old to laugh and giggle, even behave like a child.  As soon as I do, I think I will be depressed or something.  When I was a little girl, under 5, I had a little play kitchen.  My dad used to tape pictures of old people getting out of their recliners on the tiny refrigerator.  I know that sounds bizarre, but it was the whole “Help!  I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” humor.  Anyway, he always did this and even about 5 years ago, I was about the put my blush on and found one taped to the top of the compact.  A few weeks ago I realized that it was still there! 

Yesterday I gave a shout out to Mr. Bear, Kellie’s Mr. Bear, and I received an email from Mr. Bear himself thanking me for mentioning him in the blog and this photo:

Kellie is hilarious and Dylan thought that the picture was so funny!  Here I am laughing hysterically and so is my two-year-old.  I love that.  I think that the smaller the gap between children and adults, the better.  Sure, I watch stuff on TV that’s funny and shouldn’t be seen by a 10-year-old, but it really is great when we as adults can tap in to the kids that we used to be and just enjoy life and laugh!  I was thinking last night about the people that I choose to surround myself with and I know that one reason I am happy is that I know such funny people—I’m a lucky girl.

Here’s the Word of the Day:

mumbo jumbo \MUHM-boh JUHM-boh\, noun:

1. Senseless or pretentious language, usually designed to obscure an issue, confuse a listener, or the like.
2. Meaningless incantation or ritual.
3. An object of superstitious awe or reverence.

Bo, the Germ Infested Bear

Dylan has given Mr. Bear a new name, it’s “Bo.”  Sorry, Kellie.  I know that you loved the fact that we have a Mr. Bear too.  For all of you other readers who have no idea what I am talking about, one of my best friends has a stuffed bear named Mr. Bear and she still sleeps with it.  She’ll be 30 soon— I think it’s so adorable and funny.  Anyway, Dylan calls him “Bo” now.  And Bo needs a bath.  In fact, he’s needed to be washed for many days now, but I can’t ever get him away from Dylan long enough to do so.  This bear goes in the swing at the park, down the slide, eats Dylan’s food and he’s probably been dropped on a couple dozen dirty, public floors.  I don’t want to even think about the bacteria and germs making a home in Bo’s fur.  Yep, he’s getting a bath…..he’s like a kitchen sponge at this point, infested.  Ewwwww.  It makes me think of that disgusting commercial for Mucinex.  You know, where the blobs of snot move their furniture into someone’s lung and hang picture frames and get cozy—that is until there’s an earthquake from the Mucinex and they are sneezed out with their furniture.  Who the heck writes this stuff?  It’s so gross!  What about the toe fungus commercial where the disgusting little critter LIFTS the toenail up and scratches at the skin under the nail?  I want to throw up every time that this commercial comes on, it’s so gross.  Not only is that critter weird and creepy looking, but the way that it claws at that skin pad, bluhhhhhhhh!  Gives me chills even thinking about it.  And this is what I’m picturing going on in Mr. Bear, pardon me, I mean Bo.

Lindsey has taught Carson something new.  Now I have to say that both of the boys are talking, but Carson is in a stage where he repeats everything you say even when you aren’t telling him to.  I check out at a grocery store and say “Thank you,” Carson does it too.   Whatever you say, he repeats.  Awesome, but scary, right?  Well, Carson now says “Yo, baby!”

Here’s the Word of the Day and then I have to run.  I have to wake the boys up to take Lindsey to school early-another day of rehearsal. Oh, and by the way, my English professor was right.  "Rebecca" is turning out to be a GREAT book.  You should read it!

abaft \uh-BAFT\, adjective:

1. To the rear of; aft of.
2. In a ship, to the rear.

Feeling Charitable?

I have one horrible thing to say this morning.  Has anyone noticed that every single time you purchase something nowadays they ask if you want to donate to the charity of their choice?  You can feel the people in line behind you.  Their eyes are burning the back of your skull and their ears are perking up—they’re waiting to see what you’ll say.  I don’t care if I say yes and people hear me because I don’t give to impress other people, but when I decline I feel like the ONE selfish bastard in line that can’t spare a dollar for a sick child!  And I just know that everyone is thinking the same thing that I am feeling.  “It’s only a dollar, butthead.  Can’t you spare a dollar?  What a great citizen you are, selfish a-hole!  What are you going to spend it on instead, a pack of gum?”  First of all, I think that it’s a great way to raise money, I really do.  But when you get asked every single time, well, you just can't say yes every single time.  It all adds up just like Starbucks does, and I only go to Starbucks for a special treat now.  I guess maybe my conscience feels guilty when I say no and I don’t like that.  Plus, I am not a butthead.  Sometimes I say yes, but the people in line still think of me as a selfish a-hole that can’t give back to the community!  I heard someone say no after I was walking out the door, I did not think that of him……maybe I’m being silly.

Here’s the Word of the Day:

akimbo \uh-KIM-boh\, adjective:

With hand on hip and elbow bent outward.

Away We Go.......

I have had the same movie from Netflix for over two weeks now because I haven’t had time to watch it.  I finally watched “Away We Go” last night and aside from thinking that they cast my brother as Burt, I also thought that it was adorable!  It was a cute movie and hysterical in a non-Will Ferrell kind of way!  If you haven’t seen it, definitely take the time to watch it.  I saw that it was rated R, so the kids weren’t in the room of course, but thank the Lord that they didn’t walk in.  I was just praying during the first scene that Lindsey or Logan wouldn’t wander in telling me that they couldn’t sleep!  See it; you’ll know what I’m talking about.  For those of you who have seen it—John Krasinski cussing so that the baby’s heart rate will go up and pulling out the stethoscope?  Wasn't that so funny?  And the soundtrack was awesome!  I'm not sure that it is a true story, but I know that it is at least inspired by Maya Rudolph's parents.  I heard her interviewed on a talk show a long time ago. 

Here’s the Word of the Day:

corybantic \kawr-uh-BAN-tik\, adjective:

Frenzied; agitated; unrestrained.

Here Comes Colombo!

I just have a minute to write and I guess that’s ok since nothing interesting has happened and I haven’t had any interesting thoughts lately, which is what I prefer to write about—but  I do have a funny story.   Logan and Lindsey LOVE to tattle on each other.  You can see the excitement on their faces when they’re about to get the other one into trouble and because they’re so hateful to each other, I love when I get to tell them that I am really the culprit and that I’m responsible for what they’re tattling about!  Logan gets to tell on Lindsey because she picks at him and she is equally as mean to him as he is to her, but he doesn’t ever get to tell on her for something REALLY juicy because she doesn’t do anything crazy-bad but maybe once or twice a year.  Last night Logan came to me while I was in the kitchen and looked really happy, like he had big news.  At the same time, he seemed alarmed and was preparing me that I was going to be alarmed and angry.  He said “I saw Lindsey with a pen and I saw a tiny speck of ink on my sheets, so she must have colored on my sheets.  Then,” he is very dramatic at this point, “I went into the bathroom and she drew CIRCLES ALL over the WALL!”  Well, I burst his little bubble and said “Lindsey didn’t do that.  I did it.  I am painting polka dots on the bathroom wall to match your shower curtain.”  Logan, aka “Colombo” went back to his room disappointed that he didn’t get her into trouble.  I don’t know why that’s so funny to me!  HAHA!  She does it too, and I get the biggest kick out of it, I guess because like 20 times a day they really DO get to tattle and I have to end up yelling at someone.

Here’s the Word of the Day:

scurrilous \SKUR-uh-luhs\, adjective:

1. Grossly or obscenely abusive.
2. Characterized by or using low buffoonery.

Spring has Sprung!

Don’t you love Saturday mornings?  I have my coffee, make everyone breakfast, and the kids sit with Don and watch “American Idol” because we never have time during the week.  This means that I have time to blog this morning!   I think it’s going to be a really good weekend.  The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow and even though it is supposed to rain today, it looks nice as of now. 

Lindsey has to go to school today to perform for the PTA, and at some point she wants to have a lemonade stand to make some money.  I told her that I would help her with that tomorrow.  Logan and Don don’t have anything going on, and I have a wedding shower to go to tomorrow.  I’ll probably get some things done, but I plan on just enjoying the weekend.  I can tell it's the end of the year because I just spent 20 minutes putting the kids' activities on the calendar.  They have rehearsals, a graduation ceremony, pictures, etc.  May and June are always crazy months for us, especially for Lindsey.  Spring has definitely sprung!

The babies are really talking well.  They are saying phrases and copying us right and left.  They even grasp how to have more of a conversation.  For example, last night I said “Do you want to go upstairs?” And Carson said “I do.” Not just “Yea.”  And Logan was in a lot of trouble last night and Dylan was trying to spank him and he was chewing him out and saying “No, Logan!”  We stopped him because we didn't want Logan's feelings to get hurt, but it did make me realize how much the boys understand the conversations going on around them. 

You probably gathered that Logan had a really bad week.  He was in some kind of trouble every time that I turned around and it was extremely frustrating.  Yesterday it got even worse.  I was home when the kids got off the bus, but they knocked on the door and I didn’t hear them.  They must have knocked for .2 seconds and assumed that I wasn’t home……that never happens.  Truly, never.  I am always here.  Well, I come outside and tell Lindsey that she needs to come in and see me before she plays outside.  She explains that she thought I wasn’t here.  She then proceeds to tell me what Logan is doing.  I go upstairs and look out his window.  He got a ladder from the back yard and he and our next door neighbor were trying to break into his bedroom window.  First of all, it’s nice knowing that he and his friends would break into the house if I weren’t home, right?  Second, what the heck was he going to do?  Rip open the screen and break the glass?  Also, we have an alarm system.  He could've set the alarm off and the police would've showed up.  I seriously don’t want to know what he was going to do.  I asked him why he needed to get in so badly and he said that he wanted to play baseball and needed something.  Then he blamed it on his friend.  This is why I baby him so much.  He wants to walk to the park by himself, but what if he did something stupid like helped a stranger find his dog?  Honestly, I can’t imagine what he could think up and I don’t want to know.   Of course his judgment isn't good, he’s only nine, but it’s actually worse than a typical nine-year-old’s.   Logan is extremely intelligent, but he is impulsive due to his ADHD.  I had Don lecture him for trying to break in to his window; I didn't want to deal with it.   On top of that, Logan did and said something very profane, so he was in trouble for that as well.  I don’t even want to go into what he did.  Put it this way……Don told me to hang on to the couch when he told me about it so I wouldn’t fly through the ceiling. I'm glad he prepared me because I would've shot through the ceiling.  When your innocent child behaves like a buffoon and some kind of common pervert, it's hard to accept. 

He’s going to the doctor on Monday to get back on his ADHD medication.  It isn’t fair that he’s in trouble almost every day for poor judgment; he really can't control it.  I just want to be able to punish him REGULARLY.  Kids will be kids, boys will be perverts and buffoons, but it isn’t normal to have to get on to them 20 times a day.  He’s pretty much immune to punishment and because he has a good heart, I know it isn’t that he doesn’t care.  He does care about what we think and he wants to be good. 

Oh, I ended up not getting Peyton because of the weather….tornadoes.  He called me and told me that I can pick him up on Thursday because he has Friday off!  Yay!

Have a great weekend!  Here’s the Word of the Day, it’s pretty basic:

undertone \UHN-der-tohn\, noun:

1. A color modified by an underlying color.
2. A low or subdued tone of speaking.
3. An unobtrusive or background sound.
4. An underlying quality or element; undercurrent.

Organized Circus

About a year ago I decided to start a little business.   I did the research, bought the domain name, but I eventually got stuck.  Yesterday I decided to start it back up and I figured out an easier way to get the whole thing started.  Starting is the hardest part and this time because I gave it so much thought, I am determined to do this.  I worked on it a little last night and again this morning.   I would talk about the product specifically, but I really don’t want to because I don’t want to give it away until it’s ready.   I just started thinking yesterday about how I have so many ideas and although I don’t have a lot of time to work on them, money can sometimes buy you time, so maybe I should just be persistent and get started—even if the start isn’t like a firework, but more like the flicker of a lighter.

So, today I am working on a prototype and possibly picking Peyton up in Birmingham, but I’m not sure about that yet……we’re awaiting a call.  I hope that everyone has a great Friday and weekend.  Oh, and by the way, Logan came home a different kid and he was awesome this morning.  I think that something I did must have worked and made him realize that I was serious. 

Lindsey missed the bus this morning because she was crying and freaking out about not being able to find something.  I filled out her permission slip for the talent show last week and this morning she realized that she can’t find it; it is due today.  I have to take her to school now to fill out a new one.  Look at the Word of the Day.  I swear, Dictionary.com emails these to me and I never alter my blog entry to fit the word, but they almost always naturally fit what I have talked about!  I lectured Lindsey about placing things where they go, stressed the importance of being organized….and I swear, no matter how organized we are, things like this still happen.  I realize now that our house is an organized circus, but there’s still a lion or two a day that still get out of their cages. 

We just heard back......we're getting Peyton, so it looks like Carson and I are going on a road trip today!  Yay!  I miss that little dude in Bama!

Here’s the Word of the Day:

vociferate \voh-SIF-uh-reyt\, verb:

To speak or cry out loudly or noisily; shout; bawl.

The Odd Couple

I sometimes wonder if Don and I will ever be able to watch a show together in peace ever again.  We used to watch “The Office” religiously, but around the time that I had the boys we stopped watching it.  In fact, I just learned that the show is almost over and I am so sad!  The reason that I am saying this is that Don and I attempted to watch “American Idol” together last night and I think we had to stop at Hailey. 

The evening went like this: I had to take Lindsey to dance and the boys and I stayed and watched her for a while but then we had to leave to run an errand.  As soon as we did that we turned around and picked Lindsey up from dance.  She got her costumes yesterday for her recital, so after signed for them we went home and she had a little fashion show for us.  The costumes are so adorable this year!  Her teacher always picks out the best costumes!  After the fashion show we had some of the Chicken and Rice that I had prepared before I took Lindsey to dance.  The boys had fallen asleep in the car and I knew that it was going to be hard to get them to bed, so I just let them stay up with us while we watched the show.  Logan and Lindsey were supposed to be getting ready for bed, but there were about a million interruptions and distractions and reasons that they were not going to bed.  Finally, they went to sleep…..at least we thought that they did.  Then Logan comes downstairs and tells on Lindsey for keeping him awake, which is odd, since they have separate rooms.  He said that she’s sleeping on his bottom bunk and that she was talking.  We asked him, if he was telling us the whole truth, he said yes.  We called Lindsey down and it turns out that he wasn’t telling us the whole truth.  Lindsey thought that it would be a nice thing to do, to have a sleepover, because we had just had a conversation about the two of them getting along and being responsible for their own behavior and being friends.  It turns out that he was making fun of her, telling her that she had a bad voice and that the song she was singing for the talent show was stupid.  He said that it’s “Opposite Day” but we weren’t buying it.  He really just didn’t want her in there.  She was crying because he hurt her feelings, and we told her that she just shouldn’t go in his room.  He has issues with people being in his room and she’ll just have to respect that and not try to have sleepovers.  Don looked at me when they were fighting and telling us the story, and he said "Are they married?"  He told them that they sound like an 80-year-old married couple.  Haven't I said that before?  Geez!  It's so ridiculous! 

As I was writing this I just had a major problem with Logan and the way that he was treating Lindsey.  I calmly ended it by telling him to go outside and wait for the bus in the driveway; I didn’t let him finish his breakfast.   He wouldn’t go and threw a fit about me taking his breakfast away.  I explained that had he been a decent human being he would have been allowed to finish his breakfast, but if he was going to act like a jerk, well then he was obviously finished eating.  Things escalated, he was screaming and crying like a toddler and wouldn’t listen.  I ended up throwing his tennis shoes and backpack out the front door and sent him with them……just to get him away from her and stop the temper tantrum.  I gave him his snack for school; he threw it in Lindsey’s face.  So of course, ok, he didn’t get one.  I put it back.   Then right before the bus came he tackled her to the ground and stole her snack.  Of course, now they are gone, and I just had to email his teacher and tell her about it so she can take the snack that he tackled her for.  If he eats that snack, then that teaches him that he can take what he wants.  I see that putting him  in football was worth the money......now he's tackling his sister.  This is ridiculous.  Anyone want a kid????  Of course I say that kidding, I love him so much.  But I can’t understand this behavior—he’s almost 10.

Here’s the stinking Word of the Day.  Hope your morning is better than mine.

moratory \MAWR-uh-tawr-ee\, adjective:

Authorizing delay of payment.

Diaper Scootin'

I actually have a pretty mellow day today.  I have a couple of errands to run, but nothing crazy like a photo shoot! 

I have to tell everyone about the newest thing that Carson is doing.  First of all, we’ve always known that he’s intelligent.  When he was born everyone commented on how alert he was and he’s been that way ever since.  He understands everything you say, and he actually listens and obeys.  He’s my little sidekick and although he beats up on Dylan at times, he is most of the time a very well-behaved little boy.  I have been absolutely shocked about how well he’s stayed off of his leg.  He doesn’t even attempt to walk on it.  He’s for the most part been fine with being held or rolled around in a stroller for the past week, but yesterday I was trying to dry my hair and I sat him on the floor with some toys and he lifted his leg up in the air and started scooting across the floor to get where he was going.  It is the FUNNIEST thing that I have seen in a long time!  And you have to remember that he feels no pain, he isn’t in discomfort anymore, so he is scooting around knowing that he is supposed to stay off of his leg, because Mommy and Daddy told him to.  This scooting is making holding Dylan easier, well, possible, and it will make this next week a lot easier.  He can’t walk until next Thursday when I get him checked out at the doctor’s office.  One more week to go!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day!  Here’s the Word of the Day:

praxis \PRAK-sis\, noun:

1. Practice, as distinguished from theory; application or use, as of knowledge or skills.
2. Convention, habit, or custom.
3. A set of examples for practice.

Say Cheese......Or No.

I woke up this morning and took Lindsey to school (early) for Music Makers.  She has rehearsal twice a week until the play.  She also has try-outs for the talent show next week, and I have to say something very un-ladylike….. she has balls that I do not have.  I am more nervous than she is and I’ll only be sitting there in the crowd!  She’s singing Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” and although she has a beautiful voice and knows the words by heart, I am still scared!  Of course I haven’t told her that I’m nervous, I just do what a mother is supposed to do….cheer for your kid, bury your fears, and pray to God that she won’t get stage fright.  I’ve never seen Lindsey scared, but she’s also never sang alone on stage.

After I took Lindsey to school I finished my first cup of coffee and fed the boys breakfast.  We then had to hurry up and get ready for their two-year-old pictures.  Ok, so they were mellow at first, but as mellow as they were, it was harder this year to get them to cooperate.  I successfully took their pacifiers away from them, but then getting them to laugh and smile at the same time was a problem.  Carson sat there because he couldn’t walk, but Dylan was running around everywhere.  I’d yell “Say Cheese!”  And sometimes they’d say “No!”  We finally got a few good shots and then I took them to get a cookie like I had promised.  I’ll see if I can post some, but I probably won’t be able to.

We’re home now and Dylan is napping.  Carson WAS looking through my make-up which was giving me a laugh because he looked like a caveman the way he was dissecting everything, but I just had to stop him because he destroyed my powder foundation by clawing and scratching at it.  It’s all over the floor and I have to go clean it up.  I have to run a couple more errands, go to the gym, and cook dinner and do some things around the house that I have been putting off.  I need to vacuum the air vents…..woo-hoo!  Fun! 

Here’s the Word of the Day:

oppugn \uh-PYOON\, verb:
1. To assail by criticism, argument, or action.
2. To call in question; dispute.

Wrinkle-Faced Psycho

First of all, I did something to the margins and it's spaced oddly.  I tried to fix it, but I don't know what I did!  Sorry about the sloppiness!

The carpet cleaners are here right now and I feel the satisfaction of a clean house.  I can't believe that I got so much done over the weekend!  I'm very proud of myself considering I have one two-year-old who isn't allowed to walk and wants to, another two-year-old who wants to get into everything, and the Masters was on.  How many men out there got yard work done?  Don managed to watch AND get yard work done....I'm pretty impressed.  Go Don, It's your birthday!  Haha.

I just took Dylan to Libbie’s house because I am without my little helper today; she had to go back to school.  Because Carson has to be held 24/7, Dylan also wants to be held too.  Without another person here, it’s impossible to keep both of them happy, so Libbie is keeping Dylan until I have another body here.  Dylan has a lot of fun over there and I'll pick him up this afternoon.  I also have to take Carson back to the doctor to get his leg re-wrapped.  The gauze we wrapped on his leg keeps sliding off. 

So, I said yesterday that I was going to write about this weird guy at the gym.  The reason I feel the need to write about him is because the first week that I blogged I wrote about squirrels, yoga pants, and schizophrenics, remember that?  Go back and read it if you have not and you'll understand this rant you're about to read.  I truly believe that I either notice bizarre behavior more than the average person or I am a magnet for bizarre behavior and it just so happens to find its way near me.  I think I just notice it, at least, I hope that's the case. 

The nicest thing that I can say about this guy is that he’s weird looking.  He doesn’t look like there’s something physically wrong with him, but his face is weird looking and he always has this bizarre expression on it.  He sort of looks like one of those wrinkle-faced dogs.  He's always raising his eyebrows and looking at you with bug-eyes and the wrinkles on his forehead are disturbingly deep.  They would be the type of wrinkles that I'd have nightmares about.  Basically, he’s really creepy looking.  Aren’t I nice?  The first time I saw him I was in Pilates, this was months ago.  He walked up to the glass and stared at us, and being that we’re all girls and our butts are in the air for half of the class, all of us noticed his presence.   He’s always wearing a polo and jeans—not exactly clothes suited for working out, so it is alarming when some guy in street clothes is staring at you while you’re stretching and lunging.  He’s never working out.  He may pretend to be; he may sit down and lift a weight once, but that’s it.  And what’s really creepy is the look you get if you make eye contact with him, which I always do because he freaks me out.  I know that I must be paranoid, but I imagine all of these creepy scenarios like he’s scoping out his next victim to throw in the freezer of something.  And even if he’s not out to get me, I know that it’s a possibility that he'll pick me just for accidentally looking at him and I scare myself to death. 

The next time I saw him was at a coffee shop after I saw “Black Swan” with my brother-in-law.  Again, he had not purchased a coffee or muffin, but he pretended to be doing something productive at the counter that holds the napkins and sugar and stuff.  He was looking over at me and freaked me out again.  On top of that, I was no longer at the gym, but somewhere entirely different so I started thinking that the guy was following me.  Bill was talking to me and I stopped him and said “Do you see that guy there?” And I told him what I just told you. 

I saw him at the gym again and we locked eyes, yet again.  I tried looking away, but every time I looked up, he was sitting there staring at me.  You know how uncomfortable that feeling is when someone is staring at you-it's so uncomfortable that you can't help but continue checking to see if they have stopped.  This is what was happening.  This time he went into the empty yoga room, grabbed a mat, did a meditation pose (with his fingers clasped and all) for about 10 seconds and got up.  He walked around a bit and left.  I just saw him a couple of days ago again and I finally asked the front desk if he had a membership and they said that he does not.  They said that he’s a people watcher.  Well, it made me feel better because he’s known for watching people and he’s not just staring at me.  But, what the hell is he doing?  Is he like Jeffrey Dahmer?  And why does no one else find it odd?  Please someone tell me…..am I paranoid or would you find that strange and creepy too? 

When I was around 23 I dated this guy  who was getting his Master's in forensics or something; he wanted to work for the FBI.  He told me about a story about this guy that had a wife and kids and seemed completely normal.  Well, he wasn't.  One day his wife found his secret.....he had dozens of pairs of womens' feet in the freezer in the garage deep freezer.  I thought at the time "Man, did she not cook?  How would you not notice something like that?"  Can you imagine going out for hamburger and finding a human foot?  Bluhhhhhh!  So sick!  And sad, I am not making fun.  My point is that I have never forgotten this story and I cursed the guy for telling me.  Turns out that this crazy foot-collector only killed brunettes and the reason he never killed his wife is because she was blonde.  Isn't that so scary?????

I had a friend at Georgia State who is living proof that strange people and strange things surround me.....he was almost always there to witness it.  He said "Brittany, stop looking so happy.  Stop looking nice and approachable.  Look at me.  I look like a dick and no one messes with me.  You need to stop looking at people with a friendly expression because it only gets you into trouble."  I thought that it was so sad, but I know that he was right.  I know that this guy isn't out to get me, but he is a reminder that there are bizarre people out there.  And I may be paranoid now, but it's only because I have seen the wrong people with rose-colored glasses in the past.

Here's the Word of the Day.

balderdash \BAWL-der-dash\, noun:

1. Senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; nonsense.
2. (Archaic:) A muddled mixture of liquors.