Tuesday, December 30, 2014

2014 is OUT!

So here we are on the cusp of a new year, and I, like everyone else, sits back and reflects upon the events of the 365 days that just zoomed past.  I have to admit that, while I am indescribably grateful for the life I've been blessed with and the opportunity to live this last year, it wasn't my favorite year by any stretch of the imagination.  I've been frank about our difficulties, our challenges, our "opportunity to grow" (as an optimist would phrase it).  But with all that said, I'm not sorry to put this year in our rear view mirror. It was difficult.  Nonetheless, as I type this entry, I can look at my beloved husband who is slumbering loudly next to me, and know that my family is all that matters.  And to add a little cherry to the top of my family, I have to admit that I have some pretty damn awesome friends.  I'm beyond blessed.

Sure, this isn't what y'all come here to read.  I know that the funny shit that is my life drives traffic to this blog (or at least, it used to drive traffic to the blog when I posted regularly), but why hide who I am and what's going through my head?  Truth be told, my life really could be a reality TV show.  I'm not sure how funny shit happens to us all the time, but it does.  For example, my kids were discussing "Pole-Dancing Barbie" yesterday.  With wide eyes, I listened to them question why she could only wear underwear.  George literally asked, "Why can't she wear clothes?"  My only question was, "Where in the world did you guys hear about this?"  Luke promptly answered with true joy and innocence in his voice, "The internet!"  Anyone got any suggestions for a good parental control software/device/whatever?

I hope you all had an absolutely wonderful Christmas and that your new year is absolutely AMAZING!  I plan for mine to be awesome, but we'll see how it goes.  I'll be back with pictures sometime soon!  Hugs and love to all!

And don't forget to eat  your black eyed peas on New Year's Day!  (Anyone have any other traditions I should follow to guarantee a wonderful 2015?)


Saturday, December 13, 2014

That doesn't sound good at all.

One of my dear friends just had her second baby!  She brought home a sweet little brother for her daughter.  Absolutely cannot wait to go visit and see Mason in all his sweet-smelling babiness!

Anyway, I volunteered to bring a meal to her on Monday.  We all know that cooking isn't my greatest gift.  No, it's okay; we can all say it out loud.  I know.  Anyhow, I decided to go ahead and look up "meals to bring to new moms".  I mean, surely the internet knows more about these things than I do.  I had a few meals brought to us when we had babies, but not many.  To be honest, we made most of our local friends after we had kids.  So, when we received a bag full of casseroles and meals from our friend who owns McKinley's Bakery, I almost fainted in relief!  That girl is quite a gift in my life even if we don't see each other as much as we'd like.

Anyway, the point of this post is to mention how crazy the suggested meals are.  I mean, I have to tell you that the last thing I would have wanted delivered to my house postpartum was a vat of Lentil and Kale Soup or Moroccan Hand Pies with Eggplant and Apricots.  Seriously, people?  WTF?  Now there are some good things on there, but I ended up just opting for a recipe I already know and love from Emeril.  Check it out; this stuff is amazing: Chicken, Mushroom and Spinach Alfredo Lasagna.

What did you guys like when you had kids?  Anything in particular that I should drop off to please a nursing, sleep-deprived mother of two???

Friday, December 12, 2014

What? What?

I am so excited to tell you that I'm updating this blog from the comfort of my living room couch.  I know this may seem silly and inconsequential to all of you, but this is HUGE news.  I am using my new (well, refurbished) MacBook Air to post this.  It is an amazing thing!  It took no time at all to set up!  I opened the box 10 minutes ago!  Isn't this amazing?!  I haven't had a working laptop in years.  I'm so dang excited!

Maybe now I'll update more often!  Maybe more movie quotes because I'll be able to post while watching TV!  Maybe, just maybe, I'll work more - which is actually why I made the purchase in the first place!

Okay, so that's it!  Just had to get this out there and tell you all how freaking amazing this is!!!  Welcome to the 21st century, Professional Mother!

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Holiday Movie Quote #5

I'm late!!! Here is is. I'm pretty sure this may be my favorite Christmas movie. Yup. Enjoy!

My dear partner, when what's left of you gets around to what's left to be gotten, what's left to be gotten won't be worth getting, whatever it is you've got left.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Yes, that happened.

I think I must be on some crazy pre-menopausal hormone trip because I am getting teary eyed over just about everything - movies, books, newspaper articles, YouTube videos...  It's really pretty ridiculous.  Chuck caught me yesterday watching my phone with tears in my eyes as I watched this video: Merry Christmas Proposal

and then this video: Dad Sits His Blind Baby at the Piano Then a Miracle Happens

and then after this video I gave up trying to keep it in: Thank You Project

All the ladies can take a moment to fix their eye makeup now.  I'll wait.

On a happier, funnier note, we played the board game Beat the Parents last night and the kids won, of course.  But George was the ultimate winner, when he came up to me with Hobbes in his arms and said, "Mom, I want to ask you a question that isn't on the cards."  This happens all the time, so I said without any question or hesitation, "Okay."  And then he dropped this on me, and I had to record it and share it on Facebook.  Since two of my very important readers are not on FB, I had to share it here too.  Plus, damnit, it's freaking hilarious.

 
As of right now, this video has been viewed on FB 710 times since last night.  Our dear vet (and my wonderful friend, Lauren) posted the very best answer we could have ever asked for.  I'm pretty sure I have the best friends in the entire world.
 
 
This kid amazes me with his questions every day. He's also pretty amazing when it comes to trivia because he was pulling out answers to the questions in Beat the Parents that Luke and Evie didn't even know! I'm very impressed. If only I could get him to wipe his butt successfully!

On a final note, I would have never guessed that I'd post a picture of a cat's testicles on my blog.  Life is strange and unexpected.

Holiday Movie Quote #3 and #4

Okay, so I missed a couple days I guess.  Boo for me on Movie Quotes.  Here are some easy ones to get you all in the spirit!

Holiday Movie Quote #3: What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

Oh my goodness, I LOVE this movie so much!  So many quotes from Movie #3, so I'm giving you another one that I think is fabulous: A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town.

I swear, I'm tearing up just thinking about this movie.  I'll have to make time to watch it soon!

And then here's the next one:

Holiday Movie Quote #4: Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.

Alrighty, time to send me your answers!

Monday, December 1, 2014

Thanksgiving 2014

Did y'all have a happy Thanksgiving?

We did!  Lots of travel for us. We spent our Thanksgiving tailgating with Chucky Love and his closest 200 friends in College Station.  Luckily, we actually had Wednesday entirely to ourselves just as one big happy family.  Most of the day was spent getting ready for the tailgate the next day, but I'll take it.  We still had a great time and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful for tailgating!

Hanging out at the Dixie Chicken for lunch.


 
Learning to play dominoes at the Dixie Chicken.

 
Grandpa Chuck showing the kids where he lived.

 
Our Monkeys at the Century Tree.







 
Playing piano in the MSC.  I learned that George can play Mary Had Little Lamb! I had no idea!

 
Setting up the tailgate with the entire family in tow.



That night we took the kids to the Student Bonfire off campus.  It was really a great thing, although much smaller than it was when it was on campus.  That's probably a good thing.  The kids thought it was pretty cool - amazing how hot it gets!  I think we all had a great time! I'm so glad we took them to see it!

 

 
Before:
 
After: 


The next day there was soooo much food!  We ate tons of turkey, stuffing, and all the fixin's!  So delicious!!!!  I didn't really even lift a finger, so thank you to all those wonderful people who cooked! Yum!

Here are Chuck and Tim posing like sorority sisters.

 
Kids on top of the Army Truck which I ended after George climbed up there.

 
Of course, they were not very happy that I ended their fun!

 
But at least Luke still liked me.

 
And later we got to see some wrestling.

 
Plus, fun with the family - my brother Mike and my sister-in-law Lisa
(who is really more like a sister - no "law" needed)!

 
And then at the game!  I swear we are closer than if we went to a high school football game. 
I love it!







 
Such a wonderful holiday!
 
We topped the whole trip off with a visit to my mom's house and a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner on Friday evening at my Tom & Jennifer's House (my brother and my sister-in-law - no "law" needed there either).  Lordy, but that woman can cook! 
 
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!  Now time for my favorite holiday of the year!!!

Holiday Movie Quote #2

We watched this fun one with the kids last night.  It is not really a classic, so I'm going to give you a couple of quotes in hopes that someone out there has any inkling of what this movie is.  If after two days, no one has gotten it, I'll try to remember to post the answer.  If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend it.  It's a fun one for the family! Plus, I love the main character!

This is from the end of the movie:
You're all fired, in the morning you'll all be on a bus back to Elfistan!

This is from the beginning of the movie (and yes, I copied and pasted because it's hilarious!):
You're gonna get hooked on that thing. I can see it now. Sixteen thousand bags of Cheetos later, you'll wake up, you're thirty-five, you're overweight, you're crying about your life in front of the soaps. I just did you a favor. You get outside, play around, make some friends, play kick the can, do some athletic stuff, go to school, you're comfortable enough to play sports, you get a partial scholarship, you got any ethnic in your background, any ethnicity in your background? I bet you do. It's America, you know what I mean? Find out what it is and put that down on the application for college. Now all the sudden you get a little extra money on the side, Uncle Sam's none the wiser for it. You take that extra money, you buy a motorcycle with it or something. Be a lady. Maybe meet a guy while you're at school. And then you'll get pregnant with child, it works out with the guy, it doesn't work out with the guy, who cares? You're blessed to have that kid in your life. You're going to be athletic, you're going to be a moderate to lukewarm student, and you're gonna have a child before you graduate college. And who are you going to have to thank for all that? Not the big guy in the red suit, but your pal Fred.

If you have absolutely no idea, just picture Vince Vaughn speaking the last big quote. Hilarious!  Seriously, I love that guy!