Hands down, the best protest sign at the Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear.  They give you so much meat and veggies and only three tortillas!  THREE??  How on earth can you fit all that in only three tortillas???  HOW?!?!?!?!

(via)

(via hatecation)

I’m not sure if it makes me feel better or worse that AT&T customers have been dealing with “no signal” since time immemorial.

WonderGirl’s Halloween-ness, minus the Snow White costume she wore for school.  She’s in dress-up HEAVEN.  I had more fun than I ever dreamed giving her princess hair - my thrill stopped just short of Toddlers & Tiaras fervor.  For the big day, she requested to be a sandwich, so dear Dani actually sewed one up for us!  We’re going to the big town to-do tomorrow so I’ll have plenty of pictures of that.

Motherhood is hard.  Seeing your little girl with her face aglow because she feels super special makes up for a large portion of it.

(via saraplainandtall:stellarandblonde) This is one of the sweetest proposals I’ve ever seen. I’m not gonna lie, this made me cry. Partially because I miss my $%#@$% iPhone.

YES!!

(click here if you are confused) 

NaBloPoMo

NaBloPoMo

Oh, and November is right around the corner.  Who is going to join me in National Blog Posting Month??

throwback thursday

I’m in a boring blogging rut.  Even this throwback is boring!  But it reminded me of what I feel like now sometimes - oh, I’m back in the USofA, but I’m nowhere near my comfortable ‘burb living.  Here are my boringest of boring musings from back on December 10th, 2007.  Also, the squeeze cheese they put on the pizza is called catupiry and it is vile.  Oh, the sad, sad things Brasilians do to Italian food…

2 weeks until I’m in America!! And all I want to do (besides enjoy my family and stuff) is go to Target and EAT EVERYTHING AMERICAN. Jared is planning on bringing back a frozen block of sharp cheddar (he knows someone who sucessfully did it) and most everything we are planning to buy is fooood.

I’m gonna eat KFC with those yuuuummy biscuits and mashed potatoes and coleslaw - I don’t even NEED the chicken! And In-N-Out Burger, and Papa John’s and Taco Bell and just sour cream and cheddar.

All I miss is the food…. and the joys of Super Target. I never had the highest standards for food, and yet except for the nummy nummy Churrascurias (those BBQ places they bring the meat to you and cut you a piece of it with a sword - it’s $50 a person in the states, and $5 here - my dad is gonna FLIP when he comes!) I have been met with disappointment. Dang stupid American. I’m open-minded! I swear!

**Mom, I don’t need an e.mail on how you didn’t raise your kid to be a picky eater, just wait until you try the pizza with squeeze cheese all over it!! You’ll understand!!** 

Most of the disappointment comes from the lack of food quick - not just fast food, but yeah… it’s really hard to get anything here “on the go” and many times we really are on the go. Don’t take fast food for granted America! Hey, the states even have GOOD food fast, like Atlanta Bread Factory, Quiznos and Einstein Bagels…
Dang, I gotta stop now. I’m starving!

SUPERCRACK is going to gain 46 pounds over Christmas and it’s ALL WORTH IT!

i don't do cold.

I am progressively getting angrier and angrier as it gets colder.  Keeping layers on the kids and trying to hold onto a wiggling child while I am covered in slippery layers myself are proving to be a day-ruin-er.  Grr.

Now, in happy news, I forgot about the Halloween things WonderGirl had to do yesterday and thankfully, I have an awesome mom who bought WG both a Snow White and Cinderella dress that came in handy for school and church.  I did her hairs all fancy for the first time too - bobby pins and curling irons, oh my!  She was really a vision… I made such a lovely little girl!  And tomorrow we are going to the main event - the Boo Fest in downtown, where she will be a sandwich.  Made especially for her by my bestest Danielle.  Pictures forthcoming - it is beyond adorable!!

Aaaand that’s the latest.

GPOYW - Trying To Get My Whole Costume In The Tiny Frame Of My Webcam - edition.  I’m a gypsy!

I posted the pictures from my parent’s visit + our wee family photos.  Click on over if you feel so inclined.

OH. MY. HECK.

You know how some kids stick their thumb in their mouth for comfort?

MINE STICKS HIS IN HIS NOSE.

Just to have it in there.  He does it if he’s crying and needs to calm down.  He does it when he’s in the mood to be funny.  He does it when his hand is bored and his finger wants to go for a little trip.

THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING MORE DISGUSTING TO ME THAN NOSE PICKING.  I AM USING CAPS BECAUSE I AM INDEED SHOUTING.  I SCREAM, I TRY TO IGNORE IT, THERE IS NO STOPPING HIM.  I AM TRYING TO KEEP FROM VOMITING ALL. THE. TIME.

Help.

cannot… look… away…

(via ratherchildish)

The computer works again!!  Huzzah!!!  This is possibly my favorite pic of the whole bunch.  I love how the Dude is looking at his toes - it’s that look of wonder and curiosity and “how cool is this?!” that he has most of the time.  Love it.

dagnabit.

Looking in the mirror this morning, I whined this to the husband: “Okay, I know without a doubt that I’m not pregnant - but why am I getting acne and having trouble sleeping? I know I’m not pregnant because I’ve been eating a ton of chocolate lately and haven’t been getting heartburn, so why the zits and insomnia??”

………….

And then it occurred to me that a side effect from excessive chocolate consumption could possibly be acne and difficulty sleeping. Curses. I still have half a bag of fancy dark chocolate from my birthday that I have every intention of snarfing down, regardless. I can sleep next week.

must.... have..... fix.....

My computer is currently in 800 pieces. Already today I have taught WonderGirl a piano lesson and a reading lesson, tidied rooms that were trashed almost instantly, fed both kids, made a play dough monster for WG, wrote a talk for her to give in church tomorrow and helped her already memorize the whole thing.

And now the Dude is sleeping. My much needed break in the day. But since my computer is in 800 pieces, I can’t surf blogs or find funny videos on YouTube of the “The Rent is Too &%$# High” candidate. I’m actually getting clammy and shaking a little bit. Is this what it feels to go through crack withdrawl?? I am so hard core.

Weezer : All My Friends are Insects Friday night dance party. Seriously. With a disco ball even.

Weezer : All My Friends are Insects

Friday night dance party. Seriously. With a disco ball even.

29+1 in review

Jane did hers, Cathie did too - and for the last 9 years or so, I’ve faithfully made a big long list on my birthday of the accomplishments and big things I’d done.  It was always fun when I got to mention all the countries I’d been too.  But this year I forgot, and then when reminded by J and C’s lists, I was struck with how little I’ve done.  Compared to years past.  But tradition is a tradition soooo..

Celebrated my 30th birthday in style in Chicago.

Discovered giving birth to The Dude had given me slightly curly hair.  And there was much rejoicing.

Got to spend Thanksgiving in CO and had my lovely family and friends throw me a surprise party which was quite the surprise, seeing as it was a month after the actual day :)

Survived a winter in Wisconsin.  Barely.

Spent Christmas at a waterpark resort which is also 15 minutes from my house.

Celebrated my 5th wedding anniversary.

Bought a house and moved to ClownTown (one town over from Iceburg).

Got to play a Scottish Festival with my former Celtic trio.

Got to go to Colorado and witness my amazing brother marry the most amazing girl that I totally set him up with *SQUEEEEE!!!*

Played in Oregon with my mom and my crazy aunt.

Survived Nauvoo in the summer TWICE.  Just barely.

Had The Dude turn 1.  Continued being ridiculously gaga over him.

Threw an actual kid party for WonderGirl’s 4 birthday.  And there was much rejoicing.

Got to spend my actual birthday with my parents for the first time since I was 17.  It was #%^$#%^ amazing.

Okay, the list doesn’t seem all that sparse,  although there’s no “Got my masters” or “Went to Australia” in there.  But as exciting as those years were, I’m a really big fan of the ones where I get to live in a nice house with a husband and kids who love me.  Who knew?

the Dude is 14 months old.

I just got The Dude out of his crib after leaving him in longer than he liked this morning.  He was thrilled to see me.  I walked down to the living room and sat in the middle of the floor and put him down so he could roam freely.  He stood up, looked around the room, then turned around and buried his head in my lap, then began yammering in gibberish to me, as if to say “I’ve been waiting all night to tell you what I’m learning!  I sure do love you.”  And last night as I was putting the WonderGirl to bed, he toddled into the room, kneeled down in front of me and wrapped his arms around my neck and buried his head in my chest, then stood up and toddled back to Daddy, who was standing at the door with his nightly bottle.

To say I am head-over-heels for this little boy would be a gross understatement.

Do you have a Stomp Rocket?  You totally should.

gfthvhjfdd

My parents have gone home and I feel alone. And the internet has failed, along with my diabolical laptop. I have the most amazing pictures to share, too! Ug, I neeeeeed to blog, but typing on my teenytiny phone keyboard just makes me feel fat. A large fat giant. I have to wait until the husband comes home and works magic on the intraweb and my laptop. I sure do miss you.

My dad has one of them super fancy cameras (drooooling…) and I asked him to take some pictures of our wee family today while my mom did distraction control to get the kids to smile.  This is the cow pasture right across the street.  There are tons of pictures to go through and I’ll post them muchly - but this outtake made me smile.  I like my family.

Flesh Eating Liberals

Flesh Eating Liberals

For my mom.

Who has a mommy??  Me has a mommy!!  We spent my birthday together for the first time since I was 17!!  Life is goooood.

telegram to the intrawebs

so sorry for not posting [STOP]

my parents are visiting for a whole week [STOP]

tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of my 29th birthday [STOP]

life is goooood [STOP]

will post random pictures soon [STOP]

have a nice day [STOP]

‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Animated Series Headed To Fox

Network orders six episodes of show voiced by original stars Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and more.

I’ve decided to be cautiously optimistic about this.

i've been a mom for 4 years today.

I could write a huge long entry on how amazing WonderGirl is.  I could write a huge long entry on how crazy these last 4 years have been, and how happy I am.  Instead, I’ll just simmer in a wonderful compliment I got the other day from a friend facing a very difficult pregnancy and impending parenthood: “The only hope I have for this comes from you and my mom.  You’re the only two who don’t sugarcoat things or give me a guilt trip about how happy I should be.  When I look at how hard it was for you at the beginning, and how you have become a really great mom (and you and I know you were the least likely to be the mommy-type before you had WG) - I know it will be hard, but it gets better.  And it’s okay to be terrified, because eventually I’ll be good at this.”

I paraphrased a little.  As she told me this, I was racing around Wal-fart trying to buy things for WG’s party with the cranky Dude trying to climb out of the seat and a hungry WG running circles around every person she saw.  I stopped for a second in the shoe department and cried tears of gratitude.  

I am so unbelievably lucky.

Then I wiped the tears off and rounded the kids into the bathroom to change a diaper on a unwilling one year old.  It was awesome.

I just made a long entry with lotsa pictures of the party at the family blog.  Click on over if you are so inclined.

is it possible to teach a kid too MUCH manners?

WonderGirl at park:  ”Hey kids, may I please play with you?”

Other kids: “Okay.”

WG: “Thanks!  Allow me to introduce myself, my name is *** *****.  Actually, ***** is my last name, I don’t have a middle name.  Where may I play?”

yeah, and she’s not even 4 until next week.  eeep.

throwback thursday

Last night we were watching The Middle (it’s hilarious and sweet, you should totally be watching it) and part of the plot surrounded a teenage girl acting like a freak about a boy she had a crush on.  Ug, I do NOT miss being a teenager.  Or single for that matter.  So today’s throwback is from those single days, where (if possible) I was even more neurotic than I am not.  September 18, 2001.  I’m so glad the husband forced me to marry him.  SO.  GLAD.  Even if it means now that when I say “I love you,” there’s a reasonable possibility that he’ll say “I told you so.”

GPOYW -  Mommy freaked out about the party that she invited half the universe to (it seemed like a good idea at the time) so she started decorating, so now let’s hope everything stays up through Saturday - edition.

party time

And the party now has a VERY loose theme of the circus AND rainbows.  A colorful circus.  As cheesy as it is, I’m totally making a sign for the entryway with “Cirque du *Insert my kid’s name here*.”  With her spelling of course.  I just made 9 feet of banners to hang everywhere and I have a sack full of streamers.  I can see why people just give a ton of money to Chuck E. Cheese and throw tokens at the kids.  I look online to get ideas and there are so many over-the-top amazing parties people throw… NO chance of that happening, but I’ll do my darndest.

I think my birthday present is that my daughter has her birthday 5 days before mine so I get to plan a party.  

Reason #652 I dig my kids: WonderGirl is desperate for attention, and the Dude is desperate to give attention. Everybody wins!

can't help loving that man of mine

The following is a transcript of a IM chat I had with the hubs while stressing about what dress to get for my brother’s wedding.  I’d recently had some awkward experiences with dresses that looked long enough on the hanger and when standing still, but exposed far too much while trying to pull a one year old out from under a couch.  

He says: you really should focus on finding dresses that are mid-calf

 She says: why?

 He says: that way there is no possibility of them being too short

 He says: a dress should cover your knees when you sit.

 She says: they don’t really make dresses that long, have you noticed?

 He says: I have noticed.  But I still see people wearing them…

 She says: Maybe a time machine back to 1985 would solve that?

 He says: I can look for one on ebay

 He says: a time machine that is

 She says: I wouldn’t put it past you :)

 He says: http://cgi.ebay.com/Magical-TIME-MACHINE-wicca-pagan-TIME-TRAVEL-device-/160425021864?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255a1391a8

She says: OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD

 He says: not at all what I thought it would look like

She says: YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE

He says: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DeLorean-Back-To-The-Future-Time-Machine-Time-Machine-1981-DeLorean-Back-To-The-Future-Time-Machine_W0QQitemZ200463030088QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item2eac871748

He says: that’s more like it

He says: bret michaels was in that car

He says: look at the pics

He says: make sure you put a tissue on the seat before you sit on it

She says: ………..

She says: I give up

He says: he has the yuckies

He says: you don’t want to sit where he sat

When you ask WonderGirl what her favorite color is, she’ll say “Rainbow!!”  And when she saw these cupcakes a few months ago, she insisted they make an entrance at her next birthday party.

So, I’m trying to organize a rainbow-themed party for her next weekend.  I have a plan for the cupcakes, ton of colored streamers and some chocolate coins for treats - plus a hankering to have a photobooth, but I need to figure out how to physically make one….  Aaaaaaaaaand that’s it.  I think there will be about sixty thousand kids from baby to at least 8, so structured games are out.  

Any ideas, oh great intrawebs??

Andrew Wyeth

Christina’s World

Tempera on gessoed panel, 1948

“The woman in the painting is Christina Olson (May 3, 1893 - January 27, 1968). She had an undiagnosed muscular deterioration [most likely Polio] that paralyzed her lower body. Wyeth was inspired to create the painting when through a window from within the house he saw her crawling across a field. Wyeth Bhad a summer home in the area and was on friendly terms with Olson, using her and her younger brother as the subject of paintings from 1940 to 1968. Although Olson was the inspiration and subject of the painting, she was not the primary model — Wyeth’s wife Betsy posed as the torso of the painting. Although the woman in the painting appears young, Olson was 55 at the time Wyeth created the work.” (via beautifulshadows:liquidnight)

Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here.

Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here.
Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (via jeffersoncampbell)

Weezer : Viva la Vida The other day, husband told me - “I just found out my favorite song from the new Weezer album is a cover of a Coldplay song.” Seriously. *edit* I am not ripping on the cover, I do love it - but just flabbergasted that he had not heard the Coldplay version. Aren’t all Coldplay songs licensed out so many times that even survivalists living in tiny huts in the mountains have heard them?

Weezer : Viva la Vida 

The other day, husband told me - “I just found out my favorite song from the new Weezer album is a cover of a Coldplay song.”  Seriously.  *edit* I am not ripping on the cover, I do love it - but just flabbergasted that he had not heard the Coldplay version.  Aren’t all Coldplay songs licensed out so many times that even survivalists living in tiny huts in the mountains have heard them?