Winner, winner, Chicken dinner!!!

drum roll please....

The winner of the upper case living decal is:

Mama M.!!!

If you haven't checked out her blog, I recommned it.  She's a hoot (with a Minnesooooota accent).

Hope your little girls love this decal as much as I do!!!

Traditions: defined

This is what we call birdseed:

It's a snack mix that consists of cheerios (I used multi-grain), raisins, peanuts and M&M's.

My mom used to make it for every road trip, every camping trip, every going-away-from-home experience.  She had the big golden harvest tupperware canister that housed the taste treat.  I always tried to just eat the M&M's and discard the rest, but she was on to me.  You had to eat the entirity of your birdseed before you could grab another cup full.  Yeah, living was hard then.  I had to eat raisins.

Naturally, when we plan trips now, birdseed automatically (sometimes without conscious thought) gets added to the list (raisins included).  I even made a g-free version for myself.  After all, it is a tradition.  And what family trip is complete without a little birdseed?

Random Friday List

1.  The boys are FINALLY playing nicely and sharing.

2.  3 days before A. starts school.

3.  I think they're playing a cruel joke on me.

4.  I have scheduling conflicts for Monday.

5.  Actually, I have three.

6.  I'm reading the Ministry of Motherhood.

7.  I think every mom should read it.

8.  We have carpet laid in the addition today!

9.  I'm hoping to be in the addition by my birthday.

10.  Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.

Traditions

It's funny how we, as moms, can form traditions in our kids' minds without really meaning to.

This:

is a tradition for me.

Anyone want to guess why?

Well, its not the weekend, but it IS a giveaway....

I'm actually kind of sad to give this away. 

But I know it will make someone else very very happy.

I originally got this to hang in the addition.

I was going to put it on the mirror in our 1/2 bath.

But, now that the mirror has been purchased, I'm realizing that it won't fit on the mirror.

And there's not enough room on the wall to put it either.

It's a small wall.

It's a smaller mirror.

Hence, my dilema.

So, while I'm sad to see it go....I'm excited about the happiness it will bring someone else!

One of YOU!

Ever hear of uppercase living?

Love it.

I love the fun and warmth it adds to homes.

So, this is the decal I purchased from uppercase living two years ago:

It's muted because the protective transfer paper is still applied.

I literally received it and put it into storage for the addition.

It's in silver (since I was going to put it on a mirror).

You can put it on a colored wall, a mirror, a picture frame (a wide one).

It's a beautiful reminder to anyone that we don't need to be perfect in order to be beautiful.

I love this saying.

It measures approx. 18" by 9"

Ok...the details:

Giveaway ends Monday, August 30.

Winner will be chosen by random.org.

To enter: 

Leave me a comment telling me how you would use this awesome decal. (1 entry)

Follow this site (2 entries)

Yep!  That's it!

Good luck!

Random Friday List

1.  This week's pace has been slower than the rest of the summer.

2.  I needed that.

3.  The boys spent one night at their grandparent's house this week.

4.  I needed that.

5.  D's cousin did my hair for half of what it would cost in a salon.

6.  I needed that.

7.  I relaxed and played with my boys and just enjoyed their company this week.

8.  We needed that.

9.  I'm having a giveway this weekend.

10.  You need that!!!  Stay tuned!

In which I rant, and almost swear, but didn't bite....at least, not today.

There is a person in my life. 

Actually, there are 5 people like this in my life...at some stage of the game.

I really really really don't like this person.

I don't want to be around this person.  At all.

I don't want to be touched, talked to, nudged...NOTHING by this person.

And every year, I end up seeing this person multiple times.

I've put forth a galliant effort to avoid this person at all costs.

Everyone encourages me to see this person.

I hate that.

It's a conspiracy.....he's got everyone on his side.

If I don't, I'm risking a social issue.

I really, really, really don't like this person.

And to top it all off....

I flippin' pay this person to see me.

These archaic, horrible, barbaric things done to me in their presence...

...are flippin' PAID for!!!

And they're expensive too!

Who is this person, you ask?

Who is this awful, horrible, needs-to-fall-off-the-face-of-the-Earth person?

The dentist.

(shudder)

Even writing it makes me feel all kinds of yuck.

It started when I was young. 

My first dentist was about 80 years old, and I had horrible nightmares about him after I saw "Nightmare on Elm Street" for the first time. 

The second one tried magic to ease my nerves, but it was too late.  I was already on to them.  I waited at every appointment for them to haul out their leather gloves donning sharpened knives.  I swear he wore a red striped sweater under his coat every time I was there.

The third.  Yeah.  He liked to drill the "oh, just a little cavity" without Novocaine.  Which kind of makes me think that perhaps there wasn't a real cavity there and he just needed to bill someone.

I bit him.  He kept drilling after I told him to stop.  Actually, it came out like "ooopppp!!  oooowwww!  ooooooo!"  He didn't stop, so I bit him.  Then he got mad at me, so I swore at him.  Yes, I did.  See?  They bring out the worst in me!!!

The fourth, well, he work Hawaiian shirts.  Which was nice.  But he still had a freak load of picks and machinery from the turn of the century waiting for the screamers in the back room.

I threw up on him.  He got me all worked up, and I threw up.  Another time, the hygienist was picking and picking at the same spot.  I asked her (kindly) to move on and she didn't.  So, I pushed her (gently) out of my mouth, announced that the appointment was over and dropped the alligator clips at the front desk on my way out.  There was a purple star on my chart in this office.

And that brings us to the one I saw today.  The one that filled my mouth with numb-er, shots, drills, composite material....blech.

This one made me leave looking like a stroke victim.  And since I was in a post adrenaline-rush stupor, I thought it was fitting to go to Kohl's to spend my Kohl's cash.  Yes, cause I make the best decisions after a trauma like that.  (Yes, trauma)

And of all people, I wouldn't run into my sister in law and niece and nephew there...slurping up my drool.  Nope.  So, when my husband asks me why I debited the $14.86 today, I am going to tell him that the fricking dentist made me do it, and to take it up with him.

His appointment is next week.

Sandy, these things only happen to you....

I hear that alot.

I must be this attracting magnet for crazy things happening.

Thank goodness God gave me a sense of humor that I can laugh these things off.

This morning, at precisely 8:12 AM

(not 8:11 am, not 8:13 am...8:12am)

I did a radio interview for the other blog I keep.

Essentially, it is a 1-2 minute spot that highlights the happenings in our local area.

I highlight my top 5 activities for the upcoming week.

Last time I locked myself in C's bedroom and let them reak havoc on the house.

This time, everything was calm before the call.

Apparently, a little too calm.

Because after the calm, comes the storm.

In that 45 seconds to 2 minute spot the following happened:

Slight anxiety attack.....yeah, slight....

I had no less than 2 complete brain farts

C. woke up

C BLEW through his overnight pull up causing a bazillion little urine filled beads to fill his bed

My brother-in-law pulled down my driveway to fetch a tool in the garage

Both boys screamed, "Uncle Matt's here!!!"

Molly erupted in crazy protective barking

C. (naked and full of beads still) begged for breakfast

My work phone rang....and rang....and rang (For the love of Pete, where is my voice mail!!)

Actually, there's more...but for the life of me, I cannot remember them all.

While it was a decent radio interview, I wish it could have been spot on perfect.

But, I'm not a perfect person.

I still had fun, and got the job done.

And, once again, I have managed to survive another Sandy-type morning.

Sigh.

C turns 3!!! And we do not descriminate any commercially licensed characters.

Yesterday, my baby boy turned 3!

We started the day with some breakfast:  waffles and blueberries. 

During which, my baby boy let me know all the different ways he can count to 3.

(blueberries, toes, fingers, teeth, etc.)

Part of the morning was spent helping daddy and big brother lay the hardwood in the living room.  (!)

Then, errand running for the upcoming party.  I let each boy pick out a balloon on their birthday.  Party City had a special:  some of the mylar balloons that were already blown up were marked down from $9.99 to .50.  Uh...yeah, while I usually let him pick anyone, I gently steered him to a specific area of pre-blown up balloons.  :)

He chose boots.  (from Dora)

Then we went to Meijer for the cake.

He chose Elmo. 

Then I went to wrap his gift.

Enter:  Lightning McQueen.

And, since I'm cheap budget conscious, we used left over

napkins and cake plates.

So, Thomas the Tank Engine and  Zoey (Seasme Street) joined the party.

We had both sets of grandparents and D's uncle Greg and aunt Kathy (who were in town visiting) over for dinner:

(yum)

Presents:

(thanks everyone!)

And some yummy cake:

And just because I'm nostalgic about my baby boy turning 3...

here's one for the road.

Excuse me while I go weep.

Random Friday List

1.  We are getting C's 3 year old pictures taken today.

2.  THREE!!!  How did that happen so quickly?

3.  My mom's birthday is today.

4.  A. woke me at 2:27 AM to let me know that it was officially grandma Connie's birthday.

5.  Then, woke me at 6:45 AM to let me know precisely how old she really is.

6.  Thanks, mom, for having a birthday.

7.  My decreased melatonin level appreciates that.

8.  I have decided to embrace the chaos which is my life.

9.  It's much easier than trying to fight it.

10.  If it weren't for Curious George (and his awesome cartoon), I would never be able to shower.

These are a few of his favorite things...

Do you remember the blog post I did about planning meals on a monthly basis?

This month, A. asked me if he could "help" me plan meals.

This is what we ended up with:

Some more S'more, please.

D and I had some totally awesome friends over for dinner last night.

We're slowly adding to our repertoire of couples that we BOTH love spending time with.

This couple is one of them.

We love them.

They're awesome.

Enter a conversation she and I had last week about dessert.

"You know, we discovered eating s'mores with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups turns out really good."

I started to salivate.

(Reese's cups are gluten free!!!)

(Graham crackers are not.  :(  )

Anyway....

We got through dinner...

..merely because it's just a means to an end for dessert

Right?

Enter:  the goods.

and my poor tired little one

the men started the fire.

Marshmallows were toasted.

So, apparently, the trick to the Reese's PB Cups is to surround them on the cracker with a marshmallow on top and one on the bottom.

Enjoy.

and enjoy some more.

then grab a friend and enjoy some more.

Then smile for the camera.

Cause mommy thinks your face looks just *too* cute covered in s'more.

hers too.  :)

Random Friday List

1.  The boys are spending some time at grandma Connie's house.

2.  I need to be working....but I'm blogging.

3.  I broke down and took some cold medicine to help me blow this cold out of my head.

4.  Pun totally intended.

5.  A. starts school in 3 1/2 weeks.

6.  His backpack is already packed and ready to go.

7.  Although, I have nothing worked out in the carpooling department.

8.  At A's swimming lesson, and old Asian guy thought the kiddie play fountains were actual bathing fountains.

9.  What did I do?  I took a non-naked picture on my cell and sent it to my Asian friend.

10.  And then I brought her hummus.

Letter to the germ

Dear Summer Cold,

You're goin' down. 

I have vitamins, and I'm not afraid to use them.

Sincerely,

the management

Sometimes I feel like a crazy psycho stalker...

I spy on them daily.

I feed them, water them, I make them all plump.

I pick at them so they're just perfect come time to eat...

What's even more scary is that I've caught myself talking to them.

"Come on, little guys, ripen up..."

"Get a little bigger...."

"Soak up as much of that beautiful sunshine as you want..."

"Eat up the tender fertilizer I'm providing for you..."

"Because very soon, I will pick you, clean you, cut you up into many small slices,

cook you under intense heat, and gobble you up for dinner."

See what I mean?

Total psycho.

Mmmmmm. 

But a well fed one.  :)