Thursday, May 31, 2012

Birds are Juvenile Dinosaurs?

I'm not sure how much I believe this, but then again, I am not a scientist.  It seems a little crazy to me, but so does Einstein's Theory of Relativity and look how that worked out for the guy. 

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-birds-dinosaurs-20120529,0,7306734.story?track=rss


Also, check this out.  Dinosaurs and their nasty gas may be the cause of global warming?  Again, sounds crazy to me.  This is just us trying not to feel guilty for totally polluting the planet with cars and factories.  "Blame it on the dinosaurs who lived millions of years ago!  Yeah!  It was all their fault!  Sorry polar bears!  It's T-Rex's fault that you're clinging to that ice cube in the middle of the ocean!" 


http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-dinosaur-methane-20120508,0,5712036.story




Damn you, dinosaurs.


Have a great day!

A note after my post yesterday.....people who love Lindsey apparently do not like or understand the word BOOTY SHORTS.  I can see why because we are talking about my child, but I swear that it is a dance thing and the mothers are not putting their girls on the streets and it really isn't anything inappropriate.  They are called "booty shorts" because they COVER the butt, like bloomers do under a cheer uniform.  When you are a dancer, you know that they actually do more covering up than even a leotard, but I understand that it could sound a little strange to someone not in the dance world. Instead of calling them booty shorts, we could call them boy shorts or something like that.  Thank you for understanding and for caring about Lindsey, those of you who brought this to my attention.  :)


haimish \HEY-mish\, adjective:
Homey; cozy and unpretentious.



Wednesday, May 30, 2012

I'm Tired

The rain woke me up several times last night.  Between the noise that the raindrops were making and the bad dreams, I didn't sleep very well.  I dreamed that my house flooded and there were giant waves crashing over it because I lived on the beach.  I guess the rain doesn't bring me very sweet dreams. 

I had to be in Cartersville at 9:00 for Lindsey's rehearsal, which of course, we were a little late for because Lindsey couldn't find her black booty shorts.  I have been chronically late for like the past six months and I don't know why, but I suspect it's because I haven't yet ordered the missing piece for my Garmin.  I am surprised I can find my way out of my neighborhood without a navigation system.  I never know where the hell I am anymore.  Between that and missing bows and booty shorts, UGHHHHH, I just can't get it all together lately.

Anyway, the girls had rehearsal until 1:00 and since we were in the absolute middle of nowhere, I had to drive like 20 minutes to get Lindsey food.  An hour later, because I got a little lost, I came back with Subway.  I swear, all I did was drive today.

The girls were given their opening number costume and their white booty shorts for their lyrical costumes, which were WAY too big for them.  Lindsey's were a small, but they were falling off of her.  They fit me (I tried them on just for kicks), so they have to be taken in.....THANK YOU, Kalpana!  She's a saint, since I don't know how to sew!

Lindsey and I cleaned and did some laundry when we got home since the boys were at Grammy's.  After getting a few things done I took Lindsey to try out a tumbling class.  She loved it.  She is going to take cheer tumbling this summer.  It's a really good deal.  They can go for 8 weeks and up to four times a week for just $150.  (For the entire 8 weeks.)  I was about to fall asleep in the bleachers while I watched her and I am about to fall asleep now, so I have to wrap this up.

I am about to pick up the boys.  I hope I can stay asleep tonight, but that is doubtful since I wake up if a breeze hits a leaf a mile away!  I am just waiting for Lindsey to finish taking her bath.  She is shaving her legs for the first time tonight....well, the first time with PERMISSION. 

Lindsey has a recital tomorrow, one on Friday and two on Saturday.  I love these things, but we are always exhausted.  This is the worst writing of my life.  I am like a monotone robot.

Have a great night!  No Word of the Day because I don't care to learn anything today.  HA!


-Brit







Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Ryan Gosling Salute


My cousin has a picture of Ryan Gosling as her screensaver on her iPhone and when she was visiting I found myself staring at her phone whenever it lit up. Ryan Gosling, we salute you.  You could make an atheist a believer.  My "Hey Girl" picture is all the way at the bottom, but of course, I didn't have time to photoshop it like everyone else.  Ryan Gosling would help me with that.  HAHA.


Here are some of my favorite Ryan Gosling pics with captions.......











 

Hey Girl,

Why don't you watch Mad Men while I get the kids to bed.  When I get back I'll feed you Sour Patch Kids with my teeth and give you a neck rub. 


That picture is insane, RIGHT???????


Monday, May 28, 2012

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Yay! School's Out!

I am just as excited about the kids being out of school as they are.  It was a long year and we are all burned out.  We are excited to just chill and not have to run around so much.  We actually get along better in the summer because we are spending quality time together.  It's nice.  I was thinking back to August when I was coaching Lindsey's cheerleading squad and running her around to dance (not that this has changed) and it seems like it was forever ago.

I have two 6th graders now.  Isn't that crazy?  That's so weird!  Our parents weren't lying when they said that time flies.  OH!  And Peyton is in high school next year.  So weird.  It doesn't seem that long ago that Peyton used to say he wanted to stuff me into his suitcase and fly me back to Texas.  And Logan and Lindsey, geez.  I feel like they were just in diapers.

The craziness isn't quite over though.  The beginning of June is always insane for us.  Lindsey has dance all next week.  She has rehearsal for three hours on Wednesday and her first show that night.  The Company A show is Thursday night, which is probably the most exciting because I think she gets to perform all of her dances.  She has a show Friday night and two on Saturday.  She's really excited.  I am a little nervous about keeping all of her crap together.  She has costumes for Company A, Opening Number, Lyrical, Tap, Jazz, and Ballet.  So what is that, six?  Six costumes and their accessories to keep track of.....great! I pray that I don't lose anything. 

Have a great Sunday!  Here's the Word of the Day:

ventose \VEN-tohs\, adjective:
Given to empty talk; windy.




Saturday, May 26, 2012

The Proper Use for a Hatchet

Katie sent this link to me.  It's very short.  Read it and come back.  It's about a man asking for a break in child support for his 30 children......


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/desmond-hatchett-30-kids_n_1528850.html


Just when I begin to think that Maury Povich is staged, Desmond Hatchett comes along.  Hatchett.....I know what we can do with a hatchet if you don't keep it zipped up from now on!  How does this happen?  Not only does this man learn slower than a slug, but these women are so retarded!  I feel sorry for these kids.  How the hell does this happen?  I can see it now.....Hatchett is in line at Taco Bell and meets Baby Mama #47:

Hatchett:  Yo, baby.  You lookin' fine this evening.  You wanna share a packet of cinnamon twists?  Of course they won't be as tasty as you lookin'.

Baby Mama #47: I love cinnamon twists. 

Hatchett: You mind payin' for 'em though?  I would, but I just spent my last 57 cents on a taco.  I am 33 and I have 30 children. 

Baby Mama #47:  Ooooh, baby!  Take me home!  That's hot!

Hatchett: Oh yeah, that's another thing...we'll have to go to your crib because I've got my 30 kids for the weekend.  They're at home with my mama.

Baby Mama #47: That's cool, Daddy.  Let's ride. 


I mean, seriously.  How does that happen?  I would be walking around with a can of RAID if I knew that there were sperm like that within 500 feet of me and yet these women voluntarily sleep with the idiot?  Michael Phelps ain't got NOTHIN' on his little swimmers!  Kryptonite Sperm.  Damn.  He's in Tennessee....little too close to Georgia; makes me uncomfortable.  Did you see that one of the women only gets $1.49 a month?  That can't even buy you a Happy Meal! 

And to think that there are couples out there who can't have children.  Life really isn't fair sometimes.





Friday, May 25, 2012

Flashback Friday-Thanks, George Michael.

I really don't remember much from when I was a kid, but one thing that I do remember is getting out of the car and walking through the parking lot to go into a store and getting yelled at.  I was six years old.  I started singing this dirty song and my mom screamed at me.....I was really upset and embarrassed because I didn't understand what I had done wrong.


http://youtu.be/Ij_rqLiI43Q


Have a great Friday!  Today is the kids' last day of school! 


ingeminate \in-JEM-uh-neyt\, verb:
To repeat; reiterate.



Thursday, May 24, 2012

Miles-4-Major 5K Race

Good morning, everyone!  (Or goodnight, to those of you who recieve my blog by email.) 

My friends have a three-month-old baby who was born with severe hearing loss.  This baby is the cutest stinkin' baby I have ever seen (other than my own, lol).  He has the most wonderful parents; I love them very much and I have a favor to ask of you.

Miles-4-Major, a foundation that helps families with pricey hearing aids and ear molds, is hosting a 5K run/walk on Saturday, June 9th.  This foundation has really helped my friends over the past few months and I would love to see some familiar faces on the 9th!  I don't usually announce where I will be and when on my blog, just in case there are weirdos or stalkers reading, but it's for a good cause.  If you are a stalker, I am a nerd.  Save yourself the trip and the gas money. 

Please come out and support this cause.  You'll get some exercise and good Karma Points.

Here's the information and the link to register:

Date

Saturday, June 9, 2012 @ 7:30 AM (No whining.  It's not that early!)

Address

63 Maple Avenue Marietta, GA

http://www.miles4major.com/




Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Stairage

A couple of months ago, I filmed Lindsey and her friend, Hannah, doing an infomercial for "Stairage".....storage for your hair.  They solve two problems at once....having nowhere to put their stuff and having boring hair.  It's cute.  I uploaded it to You Tube; the link is below. 


http://youtu.be/G14HMCwyl3g

Here's the Word of the Day:

gambit \GAM-bit\, noun:
1. A remark made to open or redirect a conversation.
2. Chess. An opening in which a player seeks to obtain some advantage by sacrificing a pawn or piece.
3. Any maneuver by which one seeks to gain an advantage.



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Not Exactly Dance Moms

Saturday night I had dinner with my friend, Kolpana.  Her daughter, Prema, dances with Lindsey and we have all gotten very close this year.  We decided to have a mom/daughter sleepover on Saturday night because we were getting up early and riding to the competition together, except the girls didn’t get home until late—so late that they didn’t even see each other.  The sleepover was mainly for us, haha.  She did my nails, which look beautiful!  Don took Lindsey to the ballet and Prema was at a skating party, so we just hung out until their dads brought them back.  We got up at 6:30 Sunday morning, got the girls ready to go and met our other “dance mom friend” at her house.  (Kim and her daughter, Macie Grace.)  This time, Kim drove to the competition.  Kolpana and I have had very bad luck in the past.  We got stuck in the parade back in March and the girls almost missed their stage time, if you recall.  Then in April I drove and forgot Lindsey’s big red bow.  Remember that mess?  Anyway, we couldn’t have been more prepared and careful this time and we got to the Rialto downtown ON TIME and in ONE PIECE, which was great.  We figure that Kim driving brought us good luck.  It turns out that check-lists really help me with Lindsey.  She is like a slug….all of her stuff leaves a trail behind her.  It’s very aggravating.

First of all, I have to mention that Kim, Kolpana and I have a really great time together.  We have great conversations and laugh a lot.  We have what I guess you would say, great chemistry—same thing with our girls.  Lindsey, Prema and Macie Grace are a great little trio.  I wonder if it’s because they are all a lot like their mamas.  We all started having babies relatively young, so we are all the same age and we have a lot in common.  The girls are our firstborns and we all have younger children. 

Ok, so the “big deal” yesterday was that the cast and crew from the show “Dance Moms” was going to be at the competition.  For those of you who haven’t heard of it, it is a reality show on Lifetime that makes the mothers of dancers look like complete psychopaths and it’s really rather embarrassing.   The moms are bitchy and constantly making the female race  look like a bunch of self-absorbed, gossipy and catty losers who are vicariously living their fat asses through their daughters.  (Like “Toddlers and Tiaras”.  Could those moms be uglier and more overweight?  Sorry.  But it’s true.)  The times I have seen “Dance Moms”, I feel so sorry for the little girls because all they want to do is dance and their moms always cause drama and make their daughters cry.  Having said all of this, of course, our dancers and even some of the moms (cringe) were overly excited about the fact that they would be competing with us.  Lindsey was completely star-struck.  She met the dancers and said that one of them wished her luck—I heard that the girls were very sweet.  I heard that Abby Lee Miller was sweet to the girls as well, but Macie Grace said that she yelled at her.  I didn’t hear much about the moms. I did see them.  They sat across the aisle from us during the awards ceremony.  They really just sat there watching like all of us and looked normal.  However, it was in a way, very staged.  Abby Lee’s girls looked so bored the entire time the awards ceremony was going on, and then perked up for the camera when it got closer to their big win….same thing with the moms.  I can’t explain it, but it was bizarre and a little uncomfortable to watch “reality” being staged.  It was flat-out weird.  There was one team, their dance was called “Sassy”, and they were a lot better than Abby Lee's girls.  But who do you think won 1st Place?  Abby Lee…..they were giving out scholarship money…which taught our girls that money and fame win in the end.  It was a lot of bull, actually, and I sort of resented them even being there.  It really wasn’t fair to the girls.  (Not ours, but the Sassy girls.)

Reality “stars” look exactly the same in person; I don't know why I found that odd.  It makes sense.  Celebrities that have an actual reason for being famous probably look different in real life (when I have seen them, they always look a bit different) because they are made up and stuff on magazines and TV, etc.  These moms looked just as bad in real life as they do on TV.  Sorry, that is mean, but they are not very attractive.  They look sort of trashy, in my opinion.  The girls were just as adorable as they are on TV. 

I guess my main thing is that I had to remind Lindsey that they are no better than she is.  I told her that they are there to dance, just like she was.  I reminded her that she is doing the same thing every day that they are doing—dancing and practicing…..they are just doing it in front of a bunch of strangers, which I would never allow.  I could never put my kids on a reality show.  I don’t get it. 

When I say that it’s odd watching “reality” being staged, I guess watching reality is odd as well.  Kim, Kolpana and I were sitting on the floor people watching and we saw a dance coach smack one of the dancers with a stack of papers and get onto her about how she was executing the moves….we started laughing.  We probably look somewhat cliquish because we only hang out with each other and our girls aren’t doing company next year.  We can’t help it, looking cliquish that is.  We have fun and enjoy the girls dancing, but we just sort of try to stay out of the ridiculousness and stresses of competing.  We think that it’s stupid to get your panties in a wad about a missing bow or a missing rhinestone on a strap.  We especially laughed yesterday because it was even crazier and more unorganized than usual. 

Oh, by the way, we had to sign a waiver in case we or the girls are on TV…….they approached us to ask if we would sign.  There were some moms who approached the TV crew to sign waivers.   We laughed at that.  Lame. 

On the way home, we listened to our girls behave more like boys than little girls.  Macie Grace had a flatulence app on her iPhone.   She was going through the menu and naming the fart noises….we didn’t want to laugh, but she did it in a British accent and the names were really funny.  She would say “Perhaps you prefer the Short but Sweet!  Or we have the Nuclear!  Or then there’s always the Long and Painful!”  Macie Grace is hilarious.

You wanna see some pictures?  I’ll shut up now.



Lindsey stopping to eat Jimmy John's

Prema, Lindsey and Macie Grace....Hot Hot Hot costume
Macie Grace, Lindsey, Olivia and Prema
Two little handfuls right here.....

Company A in the lobby

Company A

The girls in the pink jackets are Abby Lee's girls, Lindsey is
right behind them.....I knew she would like it if I got a picture

Craziness
Girls with their trophy
Ride Home...Lindsey is STILL trying to finish her Jimmy John's.
She had like ZERO time to eat!

Thanks for reading!

Word of the Day:


belabor \bih-LEY-ber\, verb:
1. To explain, worry about, or work more than is necessary.
2. To assail persistently, as with scorn or ridicule.
3. To beat vigorously; ply with heavy blows.
4. Obsolete. To labor at.



Monday, May 21, 2012

I Hate Gnomes

What is it about them?

There are some movies that I am forced to watch over and over, and "Gnomeo and Juliet" is one of them.  I really hate this movie.  Elton John does the music, which is cool, but I just don't like Gnomes.  I actually get very irritated when I have look at them.  I wish the kids would scratch this movie and I would never have to see it again.  The movie is stupid and it's just weird when they lose body parts.

I am working on my blog about the dance competition that Lindsey was in yesterday.  The show Dance Moms was there, so there is a lot to say.  I hate reality shows.  Being famous for absolutely no reason is the most obnoxious thing.


Here's the Word of the Day:

omphalos \OM-fuh-luhs\, noun:
1. The central point.
2. The navel; umbilicus.
3. Greek Antiquity. A stone in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, thought to mark the center of the earth.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Jon Hamm is the Freaking Bomb

I have been meaning to post this for like a week now.  Jon Hamm is the coolest famous person around.  I love him more and more the more he talks.  "Enjoy the Hunger Games...."  Haha.  Take a couple of minutes and click......

http://youtu.be/fkIPwx7_6Vg




Saturday, May 19, 2012

50 Shades of Hypocrisy

Ok, so I have a bone to pick.....

I have several friends who are in the midst of reading "50 Shades of Grey" or have already read the entire trilogy, even numerous times.  My friends talked me into reading the first book and before I stick up for my girls—don't worry, girls, it's coming—I HAVE to say that the writing sucks and she totally ripped off Twilight.  It's like she followed a formula when she was creating this series.  Having said that, I wish I would have done it because now she is rich and I am not. 

To briefly catch everyone up, 50 Shades is a very sexually explicit set of books.  It is a love story that explores a world where there are Dominant and Submissive partners in the bedroom.  My dad reads this blog every day, so I think I have said enough.  If you want to read up on it some more, that would be cool because it would save me the embarrassment of writing about handcuffs and riding crops in front of my parents.   

First of all, I find it funny that women were reading what was being called "mommy porn" for months and the dudes had no idea.  All that the guys knew is that they were getting laid more.  I wonder how many babies are going to be born next year due to this little phenomenon.  "The Grey Babies"...haha.  Anyway, I imagine that these men must have thought that all of the sex they were having had something to do with their new aftershave or the fact that they had recently cut the grass.  I watched it all go down even before having read the first book.  I can still hear my friends giggling as they shared this little secret with me....

Ok, so months go by and word finally got around to the men about what their wives were reading.  The media started calling it "50 Shades of Yay" for obvious reasons, and some husbands started feeling duped and used.  A lot of my friends are in trouble right now because their whiny baby husbands are offended that they would read this “trash”.  Really, the guys just feel stupid and their egos are bruised.

Ok, I am about to pick my bone…….

You husbands are the biggest whiney babies!  You can dish it, but you can't take it, right?  What, you don't like when you get back what you have been giving us girls for CENTURIES?  Hugh Hefner is a millionaire for a reason, guys.  We aren’t the ones buying Playboy.  Marilyn Monroe wore that white dress decades ago and we all still know which one I am talking about.  Why?  UMMMM because men look at other women and they have since the beginning of time and you can’t tell me that you don’t use your visuals as “inspirations” with your wife of 25 years.  What is Maxim's top 100?  Who's the smartest?  No, it isn’t.  And who is reading that?  YOU!  Men!  Come on, guys.   So, your egos are bruised and your confidence is crushed?  Get over it.  It's a book.  Not only is it a book, but it is a series of books that benefited YOU and gave your 10 year marriages and sex lives a jumpstart.  Oh!  And here is a tip.....Christian Grey is the main character.  I would be willing to say that his confidence and lack of insecurity is one of the qualities your wives find the most attractive. 

I think the whole thing is funny, ladies.  It is pure hypocrisy that these guys' boxers are in a bunch—that is all it is.  Read on.  If this floats your boats, then burn those bras and READ ON! 

One last note for the dudes.......next time one of your friends emails you a picture of a girl with a nice ass and you like it, you tell me I am wrong when I call you a hypocrite.



If you are uptight about sex or these books, then maybe don't click on this link.  SNL did a "Mother's Day" skit about "50 Shades of Grey".  Lighten up and have a laugh.....

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqmofb_saturday-night-live-fifty-shades-of-grey_shortfilms



pip \pip\, verb:
1. To peep or chirp.
2. (Of a young bird) to break out from the shell.
3. To crack or chip a hole through (the shell), as a young bird.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Flashback Friday-Dagmar




Me, Ash and TyTy with Dagmar on Lake Michigan

I think that one of the best things my mom did when I was a kid was to have Au Pairs.  My mom was single and worked her butt off and needed the help.  By doing this, we always had a "nanny" to take care of us when she wasn't there.  I haven't traveled the world, but by having these women in my life, I feel like part of it was brought to me.  It taught me that people are different and it doesn't make them weird.  It also made me want to travel.  (When my kids grow up, maybe I will.)

Our very first Au Pair was Dagmar from Germany; she was my favorite and was never replaced.  We had François from France, who put mustard on her Cheerios.  All she did was cry and smoke cigarettes.  Then we had Patricia and Claudia who were both from Switzerland.  One of them brought us chocolate.  Patricia was “the hot one” and I remember that men were always hitting on her when we were out. I remember that she loved the movie "Pretty Woman" and had the soundtrack.  Patricia had a friend (my mom’s friend’s Au Pair for her son, Steven) who was apparently a slut and party animal.  She was always trying to get Patricia to come out and get drunk with her.  Then we had a girl named Isabel from Hell, or Spain.  She was the Angel of Death and I hated her.  She wasn't with us long because she hit us.  I had nightmares about her.  Yasmine from Haiti was our very last Au Pair.  She loved Jesus and used to pray with us at night.  We had another one from France named Brigitte, but I remember absolutely nothing about her. 

Dagmar was my favorite.  She was the prettiest, sweetest girl in the world and I loved her.  She was living with us when the Berlin Wall came down and I remember her telling me that she had family that she hadn't seen in years or at all....I was little and I can't remember exactly what she said, but I remember her talking about how big of a deal it was.  She was from West Germany.  I remember being really nervous the night before 2nd grade because I was going to a new school.  I told her that I had decided not to go.  She said "But Brittany, ALL of the little boys and girls around the whole world are going to school tomorrow and you don't want to be the only one not to go!  It's exciting that you are going somewhere new!"  I remember that her accent and soft voice calmed me.  I was a sleepwalker and there were many nights that I woke up sweaty and freaking out from nightmares, and she was there for me and would walk me back to my bed when I was terrified.  She used to speak German to me and taught me basic phrases.  I often wonder what she's doing. 

I told my sister, Ashli, that I was writing about our Au Pairs today and she said she remembered Dagmar having jeans with Bugs Bunny down the left pant leg.  I don't remember this at all.  My sister always remembers the funniest little details, so I am not surprised that she remembered this one.  One night, our beautiful, Persian cat named Mozart was sitting in my bedroom window.  Our house was like 100 years old and the windows were heavy.  When we wanted to open the window, we held it up with a piece of wood, like a stake or something.  The stake fell down, and when it did, the window fell on my cat's leg and he was dangling and panicking.  Dagmar tried helping my cat and when she did, Mozart tore up her Bugs Bunny jeans.  (This is what my sister remembers about the night.) I remember my mom trying to help the cat by pulling up the window and he started biting her hand and spazzing out.  I remember my mom bleeding everywhere and when she finally got the window up, Mozart ran away and hid under the bed.  I remember him making these scary, growling noises.  My mom called animal control and they picked Mozart up and took him away because he was "ruined".  I was very sad that night because my mom's hand was hurt and I lost my cat.  I guess Dagmar was probably mourning those awful Bugs Bunny jeans.

The only thing that I hated about having Au Pairs is that I got very attached to them and I hated when they had to leave.  The night we dropped Dagmar off at the airport we cried until our eyes were puffy.  In the same trip, we picked up François.  She really didn't have a chance because we compared her to Dagmar.  I remember hating François her for not being Dagmar, and like I said, she put mustard on her Cheerios.  I thought it was ketchup, but Ash swears it was mustard. 

I think that it was a great experience and I have thought about how cool it would be to do the same for my children, if I weren't at home with them.  Lindsey has a habit of saying "Eww.  That's weird" when something is different and it drives me insane.  I would like my kids to be more open than a lot of the close-minded morons out there. 

That’s my memory for the day!  Have a great Friday!  Here’s the Word:


spruik \sprook\, verb:
To make or give a speech, especially extensively; spiel.



Thursday, May 17, 2012

Trypophobia

I am going to have to refrain from watching or reading the news until this flesh-eating bacteria thing is over.  Now a mom of twins has contracted a flesh-eating bacteria.  These poor women.....it's so sad.

When I was reading the news today, I realized that I have never mentioned at any time on this blog that I have a phobia.  The people closest to me know about it, but that's it.  It isn't something that I can even talk about without getting completely freaked out, so I am making this short and you can research it yourself.  It is called Trypophobia.  Pores and clusters of holes completely freak me out.  I seriously can't even talk about it without itching all over.  My friend, Katie, has the same thing and we often freak out together.  We wonder if something happened to us when we were little that caused this irrational response to disgusting....ugggghhhhh, no more.  Some people are afraid of snakes, heights, going blind.....I don't like groups of holes. 

Ok, I will man up and give you an example.  Lotus pods and other disgusting creations like this will trigger me to put scratch marks all over my skin.  Even now, I have to stop writing.  It completely freaks me out. 

Please no pictures of gross things that will make me claw myself until I have a rash......I am being totally serious.  I share everything about myself on this blog, so why not the one thing I am afraid of?  Ok, that's a lie.  It isn't the only thing.  I am also afraid of losing my fingers in the garbage disposal.  I multi-task most of the time and I am afraid that one of these days I will try to save time by turning the button on while my hand is down the drain.  You know, checking to see that it's clear?  Maybe I am the only one?  Ok, I admit.....that's blonde, but it could happen when you have kids screaming in your ears and things hitting you in the head. 


Here's the Word of the Day:

altiloquent \awl-TIL-uh-kwuhnt\, noun:
High-flown or pretentious language.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What the Kids are Doing

I sometimes need to jot down what the kids are doing.  I originally wanted to use this blog to fill in where my memory will fail me one day, so bear with me, or skip this entry altogether. 

I can't believe my babies are three.  I took them to the dentist a couple of days ago and they went back by themselves.  I couldn't believe that they just went ahead without me.  I was happy that they did; it's healthy to grow up.  I know that they should be getting more independent, but they are my babies and I won't be having any more unless TLC comes to me and offers me a million dollars for a reality show.  (Just kidding.  No amount of money would make me carry twins again.  I'm good.) They can operate the iPad at Grammy's and they play computer games on the PBS website at home.  They love their Vsmile games, and they still love cars and anything related to sports.  Carson loves playing golf, or "goff".  Dylan loves kicking balls and throwing anything, even things that aren't balls.  He often hits people with hard items such as sippy cups and goes to time-out.  He has a hard time containing himself from throwing things.  He doesn’t mean any harm, but he loves using his pitching arm. 

Carson and Dylan say the cutest things.  Dylan calls his flip-flops "hip hops" and he calls the trunk the "hunk".  The other day he said "Maybe my car is in the hunk, mama."  He also seems to pay attention to everything I do, including my driving.  If I get irritated the slightest bit while driving, he says "What'd that car do, Mama?  He not let you in?"  I kid you not.  He always says "What'd that car do, Mama?  He's a mean car?  Is that a mean guy?"  It isn't like I am yelling or honking or anything.  He just pays attention to everything on the road!  Dylan also gets out of bed and says "I had a good heep, Mama."  (He had a good sleep.)  When you aren't looking, Dylan gets the peanut butter out of the pantry, unscrews the top, gets a spoon and eats the peanut butter straight from the jar.  So if you are at my house, you probably want to pass on a PB&J.  I need to get him his own jar.  He likes honey too.  He will tell you that "bears eat honey and konkeys eat bananas." 

They are both speaking very well.  They have filled in the "blanks" that allow them to speak in full sentences.  I love the conversations that you have with toddlers; they are so cute.  If you will take the time to listen to a little one, you will find that they have a lot to say. 

I don't know if I have jotted this down before, but Carson says every morning "I missed you, Mama" when he wakes.  He always asks for kisses and hugs and says "I love you, Mama."  He has this thing with me where he says "baby hug" and "big hug" and they are obviously, different hugs.  He does the same thing with kisses.  Both of the boys have always been affectionate and they say "I want youuuuuu, Mama", but they sound extremely southern when they say it.  It cracks me up.  They still love to snuggle and they love their family.  Carson has a lot of energy, and for the most part, he is pretty patient and easy….but he has his very difficult moments.  He can be feisty, but I find that he mainly gets angry when someone can’t understand him.  I will say “What is it that you want” over and over, really trying to help him, and he gets so upset.  The second he can communicate what it is that he is trying to say, he is fine and what he is asking for is usually something totally acceptable.  Luckily, this is happening less and less now that he speaks clearer. 

The boys both like to help me, they like to please people, and they like trying things on their own.  They can sit at restaurants like normal human beings nowadays.  Actually, they probably have better manners than some adults. We have hit a temper tantrum and demanding age, but it's normal and the tantrums don't last near as long as they do when coming from a strong-willed child.  (Like Logan.  I am surprised I never jumped out of a window when he was two and three.  He never gave up.  He is still like that.) 

Logan has poison oak, yet again.  He is doing well in school, he is going for jogs every day and girls are asking him “out” at school.  A few days ago, five girls asked for his number.  He got his yearbook out and showed me which girls.  That was funny.  He is still the same goofy Logan.  He can be very sweet and he can be very stubborn. Logan never changes.  He is a reader, he is curious, and he is still a handful sometimes.  He is also very sweet and helpful.  We were just laughing on Sunday because Logan always looks the same, just bigger. 

Lindsey is very busy, as usual.  She is dancing every single day right now, and I mean EVERY day except Sunday.  She says she is getting called a "goody-goody" at school and says that there are some girls who are being mean to her and doesn't understand it.  She has a lot of friends, but she isn't participating in some of the sex talk going on at other tables with who she calls the "popular girls", which I am fine with.  I went to see her at school and found that she would rather sit alone than with the group of girls who already have developed and who are talking about boys.  She has a bit of a temper and an attitude now, which is a pain in the ass to deal with, but she is as sweet as she can be the rest of the time.  She is helpful and very independent.  This is an age that I am really worried about screwing up.  Physically, she is changing quickly.  Her legs are as long as mine, her feet are the same size as mine, her hair is down to the small of her back.....everything is just growing and changing and she is looking VERY mature.  She comes up to my chin, but her hip bone is equal with where mine is.  She is going to be very beautiful I think, and I am not prepared for her to be a teenager at all.  She has very good posture, probably from ballet, and she looks very graceful a lot of the time.  (Except she acts like a boy at home with her brothers.  This kid can burp!)

Ok, kiddos......that's what you are up to lately.  I love you and I am so glad that God gave me such beautiful, smart, sweet children. 


Here's the Word of the Day, for those of you still reading:


intromit \in-truh-MIT\, verb:
To introduce; to send, put, or let in.




Tuesday, May 15, 2012

What Gave Me Peace Today.....

Last fall I put 1 Corinthians 4-7 on my bathroom mirror and the kids' bathroom mirror.  I told Logan and Lindsey that it is very easy to say that you love someone when you don't show it and sometimes you believe someone when they say that they love you, but they don't.  Just saying you love someone isn't enough because your actions make it tangible.  I taped the verse to the mirror so they will remember how to treat others and to recognize love (or lackthereof).  If we all knew how to love each other, we wouldn't have many problems.  Loving your neighbor is not always easy, but it is definitely the most important thing you can do.


Most of the time I think what I say goes in one ear and out the other, but today I was putting Lindsey's laundry away and I saw something that made me smile .  This is what I saw on her whiteboard on my way out:


Chorinthians.  Heehee



matrilineal \ma-truh-LIN-ee-uhl\, adjective:
Inheriting or determining descent through the female line.



Monday, May 14, 2012

Cool Covers

By now has everyone seen this kid, Noah, cover LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It?"  It's awesome.  Gotta love young talent......

http://youtu.be/vsvlsuLau5c

It reminds me of Dynamite Hack's version of Eazy-E's "Boyz in the Hood".  I used to laugh hysterically when it came on......punk ass trippin' in the dead of night......haha.

http://youtu.be/pIo81Fk6J5g


Here's the Word of the Day:

prorogue \proh-ROHG\, verb:
1. To defer; postpone.
2. To discontinue a session of (the British Parliament or a similar body).



Sunday, May 13, 2012

A Note for my Mom

Mom,
Thank you for being there for me every day and for teaching me what you have taught me. Thank you for understanding me and my personality and thank you for accepting me and loving me as I am.  You have always told me to be myself and never change for anyone, unless something about myself sucks and I am being unreasonable.  Haha...good lesson.  You have always accepted my blabbering mouth and taught me how to share my feelings.  (Not sure the rest of the world appreciates this, but thank you anyway.  Haha.)

Thank you for spotting my talents and for encouraging me to use them.  Thank you for teaching me to appreciate books and for supporting my writing.  You have always managed to push me harder throughout my life without making me feel bad about myself, which is not an easy thing to do.  Teaching me that I can demand more of myself without feeling like a failure in the present has come in handy, especially since I have two sets of twins. You have always told me that I can do whatever I put my mind to....my whole life, that's what I heard more than anything else.  You always required me to use my brain and told me that when God gives you a gift, you have a responsibility to use it.  At the same time, you taught me that happiness is more important than money, and that is why I went into writing......thank you for not pushing me into a direction that would have made me miserable, yet maybe more "successful" by other, shallow standards.  If I never publish a thing other than this blog, I followed my heart and abilities and I thank you for teaching me to do that.  You definitely gave me a compass.

You have always been patient with me, even when I am not necessarily being nice to you.  Thank you for teaching me to love others and to ask for forgiveness when I am wrong.  You taught me that I should never be too proud to say I am sorry.  Thank you for teaching me that not everything is black and white.  You have taught me to be accepting of people who are different than me and this is one lesson that has made me very capable of love and friendship.....maybe the most important lesson you could have taught me.  Having an open mind and and trying not to be judgmental has made me a better person and it has allowed me to love a lot of people.  Love is the most important thing in the world. 

I wasn't capable of fully appreciating the work you put into raising me, Ty and Ash until I had Lindsey and Logan.....I continue to appreciate it every day as the kids get older and as I experience the different phases that kids go through.  Thank you for giving me the love and attention that I required because now I know how to be with my children.  Thank you for being a great Nonna and for being there for the kids in a way that I cannot be.

Thank you for teaching me to learn from my mistakes and how to push on toward the future.  You have taught me about strength and courage and how to be happy even when things are crappy.  I have lived a very happy life so far because of this sunny outlook you taught me to have. (Dad, you did this too.  And I think it's somewhat genetic, so thank you!)

I love you, Mom!  I wish I could be there.  Have a great day and RELAX!


Brittany




Saturday, May 12, 2012

Great Parenting

I know that the Internet has brought more concerns and problems for us parents, but the discipline has gotten so much more creative as well!  Personally, I think that this is so much better than taking away their Playstations.  I love it!  This is awesome.  These parents rock!


She isn't sure if she should be posing, smiling, frowning.......
ahhhhh, so funny. 


Here's the Word of the Day:

obtest \ob-TEST\, verb:
1. To supplicate earnestly; beseech.
2. To invoke as witness.
3. To protest.
4. To make supplication; beseech.




Friday, May 11, 2012

Flashback Friday-Barfing at the Lilith Fair

When I was a senior in high school, five of my friends and I went to see Sarah McLachlan at Lilith Fair in Orlando.  We went to the mall first and I spent all of my money (like $300) on clothes and I had no money for food and drinks by the time I got to the concert.  I ended up getting dehydrated and having sun poisoning from the 105 degree weather.  I was sleeping on the grass with a migraine.  Finally, when Sarah came on stage, when the sun had set, I threw up in a cup that I had grabbed from the ground.  Everyone backed up and I got to enjoy the concert without gettting stepped on. Oh, and the cup had a hole in it and I barfed on my shoes.  I looked drunk, but I wouldn't have had money for beer, had I even been legally allowed to drink, because I spent it on shirts and jeans.

Brea, do you remember how sick I was???  I was about to go to the first aid tent!  Remember that Julie got separated from us and watched the whole concert with a lesbian who was trying to take her home?  HAHA!  I guess none of us had cell phones, or not enough of us had them?  So funny.

I was so goofy and irresponsible.  My dad wanted to yell at me, but I was his princess and I think he thought I was funny.  Right, Dad?  Thinking back on how silly I was, it makes me remember to try to cut my kids some slack, especially Lindsey.  She is a clone of me.....poor thing.  She is so much smarter than I was at her age though.

One of my favorite Sarah songs, I Love You:



http://youtu.be/YZnSS1UOzpI





Thursday, May 10, 2012

Becoming a Morning Person



Why can't we all look like this when we wake up?  OH!  5:00!  How wonderful!

I think like everyone, I go through different sleep patterns.  When I was little, I hated getting up in the morning, but once I was up, I was happy and alert.  In high school, I jumped out of bed the first time the alarm went off.  When I had Logan and Lindsey, getting up sucked and I hit snooze as many times as I could get away with.  Then when I was in college, I was the annoying girl who showed up first, smiling and cheerful and chatty.  Some have appreciated it and some have been very irritated with my pleasant A.M. demeanor.  When I had the boys, I didn't care whether I was a morning or night person, I was actually neither, because I was so sleep deprived.  Once they began sleeping through the night, I was up again between 5:45 and 6:00 and enjoying my mornings.  The mornings are the only time I get to myself to write, read, or just watch TV without someone asking me a million questions.  I know that most people hate waking in the morning, but I really have learned to enjoy the mornings rather than staying up late.  The mornings are so awesome because you haven't yet had a crappy day.  You haven't had all of your patience tested, no one has cut you off on 75, no one has hurt your feelings, and you haven't failed at anything yet.  If you take care of yourself the right way, you have more energy in the morning and your day is a clean slate. 


I found an article on Fox News about becoming a morning person.  Thank you to Ayren Jackson-Cannady for these tips.  These are some specific things you can do to help yourself:

1.      Shave off an hour of your day.  We often overextend ourselves and setting aside an hour of the day for yourself at night can help you unwind.  Learn to say NO and do not do too many things.  (Easier said than done, I know.)
2.      Eat more protein: You need an energy-filled breakfast after sleeping and going without food at night.  If you just drink caffeine and chew a stick of gum, you will never wake up.  The article says "think Greek yogurt and fruit".  I usually eat eggs, personally.  I feel so much better if I eat protein rather than just carbs or nothing at all.  Also, avoid fat, sugar and crappy foods that make you crash.
3.      Reward Yourself: They say that rewarding yourself with an extra few minutes in the morning in which you don't have to be rushed, to meditate, read the newspaper, etc, can help motivate you to get up and out of bed.  (Mine is coffee and quiet time.)
4.      Pep Talk: Take the "glass is half-full approach".  For example, what do you GET to do, rather than what you HAVE to do.  You never know when your last day is, so make the most of each day and whatever you get done, you get done.  Try to live your life while doing the stuff you don't necessarily enjoy.
5.      Exercise in the morning: I love working out in the morning because you not only have the most energy during your workout (once you get used to it) but you also have more energy throughout the day.  You get those awesome endorphins all day, rather than at night.  (Which will keep you up and make it hard for you to sleep.)  They also say that you burn more calories in the morning.
6.      For the Girls: Try doing your hair at night.  Ummmm, ok.  I don't know how much I agree with this one.  I guess they mean wash it. 
7.      Also For the Girls: Braid your hair.  Ok, that is what they are saying.  They say that you can tell if you are a morning person by the way your hair looks.  That is funny, but true.  You will feel better all day if you actually do your hair, rather than looking like you got caught in a jet engine. 
8.      Revamp your Make-up Routine: Apparently the author of this article knows that the chicks have more to do because this is the third tip that does not apply to men.  Men, you are the biggest whiners.  All you have to do is take a shower and dry off.  OH, and you have to put your clothes on your body.  Poor things.  Ok, girls, they say to use a liquid to powder foundation to cut out a step.  They say to use cream eye shadows and blushes because they are quicker, and to only line the top eyelid. 
9.      Invite Light: Buy a light box.  These boxes can give off natural looking light that help you rise in the morning.  They range from $50-$200.  Unless you sleep in a coffin like a vampire, I am sure you could just open your blinds. 
10.  Turn Everything Off: It is hard to go to sleep if everything is as loud at 9 PM as it is at 4 PM.  Start calming your house before you get ready for bed and this will calm you and make you sleepy. 

Also, a while back I heard Dr. Oz say that you should cool your room to 65 degrees at night and use a red-numbered alarm clock.  Blue and other colors stimulate the brain.  He also says that rather than music, you should use white noise to help you get a good snooze. 

I have a CD alarm clock, well the kids broke it, but I had one.  I used to burn a "happy CD" to wake up to and trust me, waking up to a cheery song is a lot better than the annoying alarm clock sound.  I used to get up at 5:00 for school and I bounced right out of bed the first time I heard my alarm clock. 


I hope that these tips will help you.  I really am a morning person unless there is something crazy going on in my life, and even then, I strive to do these things because they make my life so much more enjoyable. 

Oh, and they said that by reading my blog every morning, you can also become a morning person.  Ok, I made that up. 

Have a great Thursday!

cicatrix \SIK-uh-triks\, noun:
1. New tissue that forms over a wound.
2. Botany. A scar left by a fallen leaf, seed, etc.






Wednesday, May 9, 2012

New Rules=Clean House

I have pretty much had it (yet again) with the older kids.  They talk back constantly, they fight constantly, they complain about doing ANYTHING that isn't what they want to do, and then they expect to get whatever they want.  For their own good, I have a new set of rules that hang magnificently on my fridge.  Here they are:

Notice I used a Mary Poppins magnet to hold these rules in place.  HAHA!
How I amuse myself.

As you can see, I shall have the cleanest house on the block and probably the cleanest house in the state of Georgia.  They will now do a chore any time that they misbehave.  They hate cleaning and I love a clean house, so it works well because I won't have a problem following through.  Just in one conversation, Logan got 22 marks on the board, which means 22 ways that that the house will look better.....should I thank his smart mouth? No.  That's going too far.  I was really frustrated with his mouth.  Eventually they will learn that they can't act this way. Can you hear me cackling? Heeheehee, I shall never dust again!  Ok, I am totally kidding. 



Look at this picture.....Lindsey called Chipper the Incredible Kitty.  (From the movie "The Incredibles".)  Poor kitty.



Have a great day!