What Do I Hate More Than Anything?

Violet has been particularly hard to feed lately. She won't eat some of the staples anymore. Today it was chicken sandwiches. She took a couple bites then told me she didn't like chicken anymore. I reminded her that she did, and she took a couple more bites. Later, she came to me and told me she was finished and that she would like a cookie. I asked her is she was really finished, and reminded her how much I hate lying. She said "yes, all finished." I told her I was going to check her plate, and if she hadn't finished, and had lied to me she would loose her cookie privileges for two days. She admitted she had a couple bites left. At this point I asked her, "What do I hate more than anything?" (The answer is lying.) She said, "Chicken sandwiches." Hard not to laugh.

For some reason my the picture I posted of my acne had a Barbara Walters filter. If you could see it in HD, you would totally freak out.

Zits And Giggles

Since my real problems are...unrelatable. (You know things like missing customer list and unresolved problems because of it resulting in not getting funded on those jobs.) I thought I would write about what is really bothering me. What is the deal with acne? (I said that in my best Jerry Seinfeld impression.) I don't ever remember having a serious problem with it in high school. Oh, I had the occasional spot here and there, but nothing serious. I thought I was on of those lucky ones, but I guess I am getting mine now. I was sure it was a result of the pounds of candy I would eat everyday. I was comfortable with that because when I decided to stop, my skin would clear up etc., but now I have been candy free for almost three weeks. (Except that one square of chocolate that I feel obligated to mention. You know, full disclosure. ) What is going on here? I am not pregnant, not eating too much candy, washing my face, trying unsuccessfully not to touch it obsessively, but I can't seem to get rid of it.
Now for the giggle part-

Cars And Ponies

I was just sitting here, checking my e-mail, blogging (only a little bit) when I heard this exchange.
"Thomas, you will NEVER control my ponies!" Apparently Thomas is the cars in the game and Violet is the ponies. Violet keeps getting distracted so Thomas is filling in the blanks. Fine, right? No! I am going to call this the best fight ever.
These pictures are live, from the game/fight.

Kind Of A Big Deal

Yeah, I was on TV last night. For those of you who obviously don't know me at all, Tom and I went to Antiques Roadshow. Unfortunately the treasures we took were pretty much worthless, but everyone knows that everyone goes just to get on TV. Mission accomplished. I tried to find our clip on youtube, but no luck. So let me describe it in detail for you. First you see Tom. He is sporting a slightly over the top mustache. Then I make my way into the scene. I am severely hunched as I follow my mustached man. Just as we are almost out of the scene, Tom looks back. It reminds me of the Sasquatch video you are all so familiar with. then we are gone. I recommend you do what you can to find it. It is definitely worth searching for hours online to find.
Wait, after hours of looking, I found it. For those obsessed with hunchbacked ladies and mustached men, click here

Home Means Nevada To Me?

I can't believe they are teaching this filth in school. These poor kids are so impressionable at this age.
Isn't Hazel cute?

Best Garage EVER!

We have finally finished the garage. I had no idea that when we started it we were delving into a two week long task, but now that it is done, hurray!
Some things that I realized that I am completely grossed out by are:
-Cockroach nests in the walls. (I just went ahead and painted right over those babies.)
-What I thought were oils spots that turned out to be cat pee. (Now that the floors are sealed and painted the spots glow yellow. Luckily animal messes are Tom's responsibility.)
-Macaroni pictures exposed to moisture hatch weevils (Didn't actually find any living, just a
bunch of exoskeletons.)
-I had actually laid down on the garage floor on almost a daily basis. (I am frankly shocked I am alive to talk about it.)
There is nothing more satisfying that starting a project and seeing it though to the end. I am very proud of Tom. He really did most of the work. I had the less taxing role of telling Tom where I wanted things to go, and reminiscing while I went though all my old junk. In a negotiation over who would pick up Dave, I even got him to mop the floor when he was all finished.
Notice the cat pee in the bottom left in the last picture? Highly visible, huh.

Donation

As many of you know, Tom and I have been spending the past couple weeks trying to sort through our past to separate the gems from the rocks. At the end we had a garage full of rocks. I don't think I would even call them rocks more like petrified poo. You know, the basics like potty trained on couches, exercise equipment, toys that I had taken from the kids when they wouldn't clean them up and never missed. I had taken four van/truck full loads to the DI (This is pretty amazing considering nearly every person who enters my house asks if we are moving because it is so bare. I just like it like that. Easier to clean up.). All was pretty uneventful until my fifth, and hopefully final load. I pulled up to the drop off entrance just as a car was pulling away. I saw the guys who had just unloaded his stuff laughing. When they had taken my junk out of my car, I pulled slowly forward so I could catch a glimpse of the goods. (Are you just dying to know what it was yet?) Click here to find out.

What?!

Albertsons no longer accepts competitors coupons. I am so disappointed. I saved so much money by buying only the things that were on sale, and using my coupons from all the other stores. Albertsons payed me two dollars to buy a turkey from them last Thanksgiving. I can't shop there anymore. Then I thought about it. That is exactly what they are trying to accomplish. They are weeding out those cheapskates, like me. They don't want us to shop there. I think the people who actually used competitors coupons were doing the same things as I was. Buying most of our necessities at Wal-Mart where we can price match and getting only the things that were a really great deal, and then using coupons to take even more money off. You have beaten me, Albersons. You have made my shopping day trips one stop shorter, sadly. I am going to miss the great opportunities to stock up on things and save.

You Decided 2008

As I mentioned in a long past blog post, I got my family pictures retaken. I finally got to view the proofs and now I can't decided. I would like anyones, and everyones opinion. New family pictures. Enter the site, go to proof, and my secret code is 41908. Shh.

Jealous?

I got bored. I just needed something new to do, and since I needed a good enough reason to not clean my disgusting bathrooms I decided to tear out a tree and plant a new one. I am really proud of myself. It wasn't just a baby tree I tore out, like the one I planted in it's stead, but a real tree. Three hours and one sunburn later we have a new addition to our backyard. Isn't she lovely?

He Walks!

This is a very long awaited event in my house. I have been looking forward to this moment for a couple months now. I was sure it was going to happen any day about 4 months ago, but Atticus was determined to prove me wrong. I haven't minded since he is my last baby to hit this milestone, but I am so tired of carrying that boy around. I am starting to look funny with my one really buffed out arm. I actually shot this video a couple of days ago, and he hasn't really taken a step since so you might have this exact post again in a couple of months.

Ready To Be Blown Away?

The moment you have all been waiting for. Here are the notorious New Orleans ghosts. These are the lost souls that not only had to endure a terrible death, but also a nightly ritual of under enthusiastic guides telling their stories.
Tom said I left out the best picture of Atticus at the beach, so I will add one of him.

Beach Pictures

We decided that we just hadn't had enough of the death and carnage so we decided to go to Gulf Port Mississippi to see the devastation. It turned out to be more depressing than it sounds. There were foundations all over where houses used to be. Nearly every lot was for sale-too many bad memories. If you want some beach front property, now is the time to buy. I saw 4 acres right on the beach for 900,000. (That one might have even still had a house on it.) You look to the left-depressing. You look to the right-beautiful ocean. It was surreal. I think the hurricane had damaged all the good sea shell. I collected a lot of fragments for my kids. (Those were their souvenirs.)

Don't Worry, The Ghost Pictures Are Coming.

Atticus was totally sunburned on that side of his face.
Tom right in front of the mighty Mississippi.

Where are we going?!?

This is me and (can't seem to remember their names) at the Laura Plantation. I would recomend this tour above all others. A special thank you to Jay, our tour guide, it wouldn't have been the same without him.Rust city

Amy, looking fabulous, at Oak Alley Plantation.

Oak Alley, in all her glory. Did you know those trees were planted more than 100 years before the actual house was built?

Real Aligator.

Pretty sure that light on it's tail is a ghost.

New Orleans

For those who don't know, I just got back from New Orleans. I had a great time. I had no idea that town had such a rich history. It all seemed just a bit tainted though. All the stories had someone dying in them.
I loved seeing all of the really cool plantations. That was my favorite part of the trip, besides the great company, of coarse. Here are some of the great pictures we took. Check the pictures of the houses in the French Quarter extra close. There are ghosts in them (The tour guide said the spots of light are ghosts and if you zoom in far enough it looks like the Mayan calendar.)
The "add image" feature isn't working right now. I will have to add the pictures later. I know you are dying to see the ghosts. Just look at the sun, it is pretty much the same thing.

Read My Earlier Post First

Violet just came to me with four bottles that she found lying around the house. She told me that one of them is really yummy. I asked her if she tried them and she said yes. She likes the blue one the best....ew. "Really yummy."

No More Breastfeeding Ever

I don't really have anything to post, but I need those pictures to move down! I will tell you all about my challenges I am currently going through. I have decided to stop breastfeeding FINALLY. Yesterday went better than expected. Atticus took a bottle with little complaining. A little resistance then he would give in. Today, not such good news. He won't even let me hold a bottle near him. Tom was able to get him to take a little, but not more than a couple ounces. I really want this to stick because I am sure if I give in at this point it will be much harder in the long run.
Things I am suddenly aware of. I should have been giving him a bottle all along. (I told myself after two previous weaning nightmares I would always make sure my kids would take a bottle. Why didn't I listen to myself?) I obviously favor the left breast. It is about twice the size of the right, and it is really hard to sleep with tender, lumpy engorged (even in your armpit) boobs. I am sooo tired. If you eat too many blue robin eggs, you milk will turn a lovely shade of blue. (Breathtaking, you should see it.) I know you shouldn't pump if you want your milk to dry up, but I am miserable. A 13 month old that gets the bulk of his nutrition from me (the rest from dog food) apparently eats a lot! See how tired I am? This makes no sense, and I don't have the brainpower necessary to make the needed corrections. You are going to have to sort through this mess yourself.

My Self-Portrait, Inspired By Emily

I was just looking around my sister Emily's blog. I noticed some pictures she posted that she took of herself. I thought they looked good, but I totally underestimated how hard it is to take a good picture of yourself. I took about 20 before I realized maybe it isn't my picture taking ability, but my face that is ruining every picture. I thought I would post some of the best ones. Or rather, worst ones. Don't I have a lot of freckles? Next time I try to take pictures of myself, I think I am going to put make-up on. Maybe even brush my hair.

Shameful...

I have an embarrassing admission. I have been eating candy again. It started after Valentines day. I just couldn't resist the half price candy. It has escalated. I bought WAY too much half price Easter candy. I ate it all already. I was looking around the house for something to satisfy my caving when I spotted a melted twix in the refrigerator. (Not one of mine of coarse, I would have eaten it already. Violet had found one of the neighbors Easter eggs in their front yard about a week after Easter.) I don't know why I didn't throw it away, but there it was staring at me from the fridge. I ate it. I am not proud. I feel sick.