Almost..

I'm almost ready to start blogging again. I've started bathing again and I consider that a huge HUGE step in the right direction. Don't you?

Stay tuned ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Web Slingers

The leaves are falling and crunching at my feet. The air is crisp and full of the scents of Fall. Caramel apples and pumpkin pie are always on my mind. And my children are daily talking about what they want to be for Halloween. Ahhhh, the joys of Fall. I love them so.

There is only one thing that I can't stand about this time of year. Only one pet peeve that drives me batty and makes me feel witchy.

Be careful, one tug on that dangling spider and you'll get a stone bird implanted in your cranium. Who knew fake webs could be so dangerous?

I'd ask you to have a seat, but every chair in my living room is draped in the stuff.

On the bright side, though, it's helping me to stay away from that pesky TV addiction I have.

Kids and fake webs, it's a scary combination.

The Loner/Loaner

Today, Monster Man got off the bus wearing this lovely little number:
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I asked him where the coat came from and he said it was a loaner jacket because he didn't have his own jacket for recess. I could have sworn I gave him his jacket this morning, but I guess I didn't. Isn't he an 8o's stud muffin in this get up? I love it.
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So, Monster Man, will you remember to wear your jacket tomorrow so the whole neighborhood doesn't think we're starting Halloween early this year?
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Lesson learned!

Climbing

The baby can climb.
The baby can reach, grab, and pull.
The baby can tantrum like non other.
The baby can drive me absolutely out of my mind till I want to run away and never look back.
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But...
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The baby can giggle and laugh.
The baby can wrap his arms around my neck and pat my back.
The baby can run to me with arms outstretched, smiling, and singing, "La la la la."
The baby can drive me absolutely out of my mind with love for his small little body and his amazingly bright mind.

For Just One Week

Well, it was a messy goal and I did miss two days, but otherwise it was a success. Sweet Terror and I made blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookies, no bake cookies (is that cheating?), lemon bars, and meringue cookies. We had a lot of fun together and she was so excited every time we started a new recipe. My floor is sticky, and I think I have a cavity, but it was worth it for all the times she said, "Thanks for letting me help you mom, I love to cook because I'm a great helper. Ooooo, the sugar is so sparkly and pretty, mom."

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For this next week I'm going to step waaaaay out of my comfort zone. WAY out. I hate talking on the phone. I hate it so much that I would rather be seen as rude than return a phone call. It is a bad thing. I talk too fast, I interrupt, I laugh too loud, and I never know quite how to end it. So, for my next challenge I'm going to call someone special, besides my sister and my mom, everyday. The people will be (in no particular order):

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Tiffany

Grandpa

Jami

Wendy

Laura S. T.

Rachel S. P.

and Rochelle E.

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There are many more people who could easily be on this list but I feel that these 7 people are those who have gone out of their way to reach out to me but who I have been too timid to reach back to, and they all mean a lot to me. Hopefully this goal will help me become a bit more comfortable with using modern technology. Just don't expect me to use the video phone on my computer anytime soon. That is whole other ball of insecurities.

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What can you make yourself do For Just One Week?

For Just One Week

Ah, my lovely For Just One Week, where have you been? Stuck in some random, unpacked box you say? Well, I'm glad you're back because I really need to shake things up around here. I have been rather lazy and uninspired without you.

I have a little girl who loves loves loves to bake. I bought her an easy bake oven at a yard sale last month and I've never seen a girl so excited, so elated, so grateful, so verbose, "Oh thank you, mommy, for my pretty little oven. I love it. It is just right for me. I love sparkly cookies and chocolate cake. It's pink and it's for a girl, and I'm a girl, and I love it 'cause it's just like for a little girl, mommy. And daddy will love my little cookies, mommy. I have sprinkles, and hearts, and chocolate, and I just love it. Look at this, mommy, it's a little cake pan. I love my little cake pan. It is just right for me." She is more than willing to spend 1/2 hour mixing, pouring, and mostly waiting (there is a lot of waiting), for 2 extremely little cakes to come out of that little oven. 1/2 an hour for a cake that is gone in 4 bites. And the mess is just as big as if we'd made a full size cake for the family. Egads! But that is beside the point. She loves to bake, whether it is with her tiny oven or with me making cookies and whatnot. The problem is that I haven't found the time to do much baking these days. I know the time is there, I just need to make it happen.

So, For Just One Week I am going to bake something with Sweet Terror every day this week. Sure, I'm aware that I may gain 15 pounds from this endeavor, I know I will have to mop my kitchen more than once this week, and I realize that my kitchen sink will never be empty, but I can guarantee you that it will all be worth the sweet joy that it will give my little girl.

(and I can always exercise everyday For Just One Week next week.... right?)

What can you do For Just One Week?

1st Day of School

Most mom's are posting cute pics of their kids in spanking fresh new outfits and super cute Gap kids hairdos and writing about the tears shed over children leaving home, or shouting for joy over their new found freedom. This morning I made sure my kids were just as spanking fresh, and I even moussed my boys' hair so that it would hopefully retain its Gap kids spike in the front. I packed their half-day snacks in monogrammed brown bags, and reminded them not to participate in dirty jokes or bad language. I marveled at the maturity of my oldest as she she came out of her room looking so hip and so beautiful. I said a million little prayers as I dropped my boys off at the door because I couldn't find Sweet Terror's shoes so we couldn't walk them in. But the one thing I forgot to do was take a 1st Day of School picture. *sigh*

So all I have to show you today is this:




A picture of the cookies I am stuffing in my face, as I curl into a fetal position on my couch, and mutter calming words to myself. No, I'm not worried about my kids (even though one was lost this morning and no one at the school could find her... but they eventually did and forgot to call me to tell me that they did, and then finally called me back after I called them a million times and was about to start a search party). No, I'm just so glad that it is all over and can now try to recover some of my sanity. I've never been through a more complicated, stressful, and rushed event in my life as I have these past 4 days.

Things I've learned:
1. The East coast LOVES its paper work.
2. The East coast loves its rules.
3. Orange Milano cookies can lower blood pressure like nothing else I know.