"Mama, Mama. It's your birthday, you haf-ta wake up!
We got you some really neat presents. Come open your presents."
So, I open my presents and get lots of great candy! After all the presents are opened and the candles blown out, Thing 3 says to me "Mom, can I have your candy now?"
Sure.
Happy Birthday, Motherboard!

Would you like to hear the latest exploits of my "little Thelma and Louise?" I would like to say that it was Little Thelma that was helping Thing 3 to come up with her crazy ideas. But, alas, I can not. All of the crazy antics of Thelma & Louise are straight from the mind of Thing 3. I had this confirmed to me yesterday when I came home from a church meeting to Thing 3's head looking like it was soaking wet.
It wasn't wet.
It was greasy.
Yes.
Greasy.
Jefe had already washed her hair twice... but it was still greasy!
Greasy.
Lets get real people. Where on earth does she come up with these ideas?
I asked her what had happened. She said "Well. I decided that I wanted my hair to be pink."
Oh really? I said. Pink huh? "Yes Mama. Pink. So I took the Pink chapstick, and painted my hair pink."
Oohhhhhh. I see. That's actually chapstick in your hair... and that lovely fruity smell isn't my clean house!?
Right. OK.
Yes she really did take an entire tube of chapstick, and "painted" her entire head with it!! Makes perfect sense to me. Pink chapstick means that you would have pink hair right?!
In her book it does.
"Thing 3, help me help you. You have been coming up with some amazing ideas. Please tell Mommy all of your amazing ideas and I will help you execute them so that they have better results. We could have gotten this really cool hairspray that would turn your hair pink."
REALLY? Can we get it now?
Uhhh. No.

I hope and PRAY this is not indicative of what is coming for me in the years to come...
Holy crap if it is!

Thing 3 has this friend, whom we will call Little T.
Its really fun to see that she has this little friend. The first thing she wants in the morning when she wakes up is a cuddle from Jefe and I and then "can I play with Little T?"
There have been days, when Little T is out of town, that we have said if you say her name 1 more time, you are grounded from her when she gets back!!
Really.
We have.
It gets THAT obnoxious.
When they get together they play so nicely together. I never hear anything from them, just two happy little girls playing, and laughing! They like to go dig in the backyard for bugs. Thing 3 loves bugs, and Little T knows how much she loves bugs. She will find a bug, and run all the way to our house (all 3 houses away) screaming "Thing 3 I found a rollie pollie!! "

However, lately they have been quite the little "Thelma and Louise"!
And I am not even kidding. Who would have thought that 2 little 4 year old girls could create such havoc?! I totally understand the whole Lord of the Flies now!
Seriously.
Jefe said something to the 2 of them when they were together, and it made Thing 3 cry... Little Thelma over there got all mad and started yelling at Jefe cause he made her friend cry. "You're not being nice to my friend!"
Uhh. Ok.
Thats Loyalty. Yelling at an adult for your friend!
Lately their exploits have gotten bigger and well... badder... is that even a word? It has gone from loosing all my silverware and bowls in the backyard to bug excavations to the bird feeder being dumped out and "planted" in the backyard. The mattresses in the bedroom being flipped over and hanging off the bed to make them a fort...
Now.
Just this week let me tell the exploits of Little Thelma & Louise.
On Monday, they decided they wanted candy. So they got the jumbo bottle of vitamins and started chowing on them. They had locked themselves in the bathroom and as soon as I tried to get in they were yelling "We're not doing anything wrong". Once I got in there, they had their hands hidden behind their backs and their mouths stuffed with vitamins. I FREAKED out... made them spit the vitamins out and then drink giant glasses of milk. Why milk? I dunno. I thought that sounded like a good idea. I immediately called poison control... thankfully poison control said they would've had to eat 35+ vitamins a piece for there to be a need to rush to the emergency room.
Then the next day they decided they wanted to feed the birds.
So. They took the GI-NORMOUS bag of bird food and threw it all over the driveway. Then they started making giant piles of bird food for the birds to come eat from. That little escapade took me over an hour to clean up. We also had the destroyed bedroom with the mattress all funky for their fort.
The next day was when they were hair stylists. Please Thelma and Louise, go to school first!
Now today Thelma & Louise have become artists. Full on artists, resembling Picasso or Rembrandt.
What did they paint you ask?
Yes.
PAINT!!!
Well.
Not the walls.
That of course would've been to easy.
Not the floors, that wouldn't have been any fun.
Not paper, how boring Mom!
No they chose a living object to paint.
My DOG is now lovely shades of green, yellow, red and blue.
Yes they did.
They painted the dog.
AND THE DOG LET THEM.
I guess the Dog really didn't have a choice in the matter.
I mean its not like she could say "UHHEM. Excuse me, but I do not want to be used as your painting easel. Please do not paint my entire body a rainbow of colors!"
NO.
Boxer dog can not do that. So boxer dog sat there and let them paint her.
Her entire body.
All over.
It's a good thing I walked in when I did, cause they were starting to work down her backside!

Sheesh.
Thelma & Louise... This is going to be a LONG summer!

How nerdy am I that I know that today is my dogs birthday?
Pretty nerdy!
She's 6 today.
You would think that she would stop acting like a complete retard, but no luck.
For her birthday, she's getting one of THESE.
Grin.

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handy (SNL Deep Thoughts)

1. If Mama Ain't Happy - Eddie Coker
2. The Lucky One - Alison Krauss
3. Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - Jack Johnson
4. Stay - Alison Krauss
5. Clocks - Coldplay
6. Is She Really Going Out With Him (Acapella) - Joe Jackson
7. Baby Hold On - Dixie Chicks
8. Wonderful Tonight - Michael Buble
9. The Lighthouse's Tale - Nickel Creek
10. Over You - Daughtry

Bonus: Sweetest Thing - U2

Thing 3 HAD long, beautiful hair. Practically down her back. Well. At least to the middle of her back. When she would let me REALLY fix it-- put stuff in it and blow it dry-- it was stunning!
WAS.
Past tense.
She has a cousin, Colorado cousin, that she just loves to pieces. This cousin has short hair. Thing 3 decided that she wanted short hair...
Oh yes she did.
She cut her hair.
Again.
I was combing her hair last night, before bed, and screamed "Oh My Gosh! What happened to your hair??" She had large chunks of hair missing. All over her head. Sections of it had been cut up to her chin. It was quite the hack job! She started to cry, 'cause she thought I was telling her that she looked ugly.
No baby. You're not ugly. We just have to go visit a real hair cutter person now. Jefe explained to her that Daddy's don't cut their own hair. Mommy's don't cut their own hair. Thing 1 doesn't cut her own hair... and Thing 3's should cut their hair either. But I wanted short hair like Anonymous Colorado cousin, Mama.
Uhh. OK. But, next time can we chat about it before you take the scissors to your hair?
She cried the whole time she was getting her hair cut today. I don't want it cut now, she screamed. Uhhh... its a titch late for a change of heart sweetie! I was worried about how it would all turn out, but I have to say that she looks darling with her hair all cut up to her chin! Actually, it will be super easy for us to take care of this summer!
Whew.
She is all spiffed up. And the scissors have been hidden!

Balboa park! I wish we would've known that everything was closed on Mondays. We should have done Balboa park on Sunday when all the cool stuff was there... free concerts, united nations village with food... it was an awesome park! Not to mention all the museums... a must visit again!

The San Diego Temple! What an amazing site to come around the bend on the interstate and have that building burst out at you! AWESOME!

Hotel Del Coronado. We ate an amazing meal on Coronado! Yummy halibut with macadamia nut sauce. Just thinking about it now.. yumm! This place really was quite awesome and quaint!







This photo was taken on top of a moving bus. Pretty good shot if you ask me! My good friend, Louisiana chick, suggested that we eat here. Come to think of it, she suggested pretty much everything that we did... Good job Louisiana Chick! You made awesome suggestions!


What an awesome awesome awesome mall...Horton Plaza!! I would've liked to just hang there some more, but it was getting late when we finally hit that place... Too cool!
These beautiful flowers were all over San Diego. They were like trees or some crazy thing! There was also jasmine everywhere... WOW! Did that stuff ever smell sooo good! I wish it would grow here in the desert. I heard that I could plant it as a potted plant, and then just move it inside for the winter. I just might have to do that, cause it has an amazing aroma!

This was taken from Seaport Village. We had a blast there, and spend 1/2 a day there. There was yummy Greek food, and then yummy ice cream, all on the ocean.... Lots of fun shops to hang out in... I really liked that place!



This was our first night there.... I was a little psycho about eating in Old Town (which BTW is my favorite place in San Diego) at this Mexican restaurant... we had to hike all over Old Town to find the one that I had wanted to eat at, The Cosmopolitan... and I am glad that everyone was patient with me cause it was definitely the best Mexican food ever!! The other place we ate at before we left was The Old Town Mexican Cafe, and it had the best tortillas I have ever tasted! The first place we ate had awesome enchiladas and the second place had amazing tacos!! YUM! I found these two restaurants online in the San Diego magazine, and they were listed as the top 2 best places in San Diego for Mexican food. (see how freaky I am about my food? Researching out restaurants... I mean what kind of crazy person does that besides me??)
Yes siree! I would have to agree! Amazing Mexican food!!

Good grief! Todays Random 10 Friday is wicked, kickin', screamin' AWESOME!!
I couldn't have made a playlist this scha-weet if I had tried to do it myself!! I LOVE it when that happens!!!
Have a rockin' day people! School is out today! Yeah!?!

1. Hot Cookin' - G. Love & Special Sauce
2. Blue & Lonesome - Alison Krauss & Union Station
3. Let Me Down Easy - Chris Isaak
4. Home - Daughtry
5. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
6. Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
7. Idiot Boyfriend - Jimmy Fallon
8. But You Know I Love You - Alison Krauss
9. Magic - The Cars
10. When In Rome - Nickel Creek

Bonus: Shadowlands - Ryan Adams
And just cause its the last day of school: Somebodys Crying - Chris Isaak

Thing 3 found a Lady bug yesterday. My oh my. Was she ever excited. She started squealing at the top of her lungs... trying to catch that silly little bug. It was quicker than you would think... keeping just out of her reach...
Once we got that little lady bug caught, she lovingly looked at it and then said:
"Oh Mama! I'm so 'a-cited' to have a lady bug. I never see'd one in real before. I only see'd 'em in da books!"
Seeing the world through the eyes of my children...
Priceless!

"The leading cause of death among fashion models is falling through street grates." - Dave Barry

1. Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake
2. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
3. Let Me Touch You For A While - Alison Krauss
4. Galileo - Indigo Girls
5. New Years Day - U2
6. Cupids Chokehold (feat. Patrick Stump) - Gym Class Heroes
7. Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
8. A Message - Coldplay
9. Typical - Mute Math
10. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani

Bonus: Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.

I'm Back! I'm up and running! YEE HAW!!
Thanks to the generous donation of my sister, Ima10cow, I now have a working, functioning computer. I am soooo happy! I am now saving for one of those spiffy little flat screen monitors so that I can move the computer into the kitchen. Much better location. When I work on the computer, I feel like I have been banished to a cave!
Anyway. I'm back. Sigh. Did you miss me? LOL.
It's Random 10 Friday people. What are you listening to?

1. It's Not Over - Daughtry
2. When The Stars Go Blue - Tim McGraw
3. When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss
4. My Town - Montgomery Gentry
5. Whats Up - 4 Non Blondes
6. New Years Day - U2
7. Wanted Dead or Alive - American Idol Season 5
8. 29 - Ryan Adams
9. When You Know - Shawn Colvin
10. Someday We'll Know - New Radicals

Bonus: Tom's Diner - Suzanne Vega

OK.
So my computer is still broken. I think the reality is that my computer has gone to computer heaven.
It has ceased to exist.
Gone.
Goodbye little computer. You were such a good little computer, always willing to help me out at a minutes notice. Full of so much wisdom and knowledge. Oh how I will miss you, my little computer. sniff sniff

I was in San Diego this past weekend. Yee-haw it was a total blast!! I hadn't been there in well over 10 years... so it was a lot of fun to get re-acquainted with the city. I would LOVE to take my little family down there! We were able to have some amazing food! Those of you in computer land that know me know that food is a major deal to me. And boy oh boy, did we have some amazing food! YUM!
I have so much to update you all on. The trip was a smashing success! I have all sorts of photos to upload... proof that we didn't kill each other. lol.
I will do that tonight when Jefe gets home from work with HIS laptop. I have really upped the campaign for my own laptop. It is a necessity now. How does a family function without a computer? I think that it is almost impossible now. I am getting desperate!
Must. Have. Laptop. NOW.

I was unable to post before I left on the trip that Thing 2 took first place in the Pinewood derby at church. Yup. First place. Little stinker. He and Jefe really worked hard on that car... they only used the stuff that the church lady gave them... and just painted the crap out of it! They even accidentally broke one of the wheels, and had to superglue it back together! But, if I'm lying I'm dying, Thing 2 won the whole deal. He was clueless as to what really was going on with the whole thing. He was having so much fun running around racing the kids. Jefe had to really explain-- in depth-- as to what really happened! I think he would've been just fine if he would've taken 3rd place or no place at all... he was just having fun.
Anyway... I have much to post, and will do it later tonight with photos and all. I know. You are all just holding your breath in great anticipation of my posts... hee hee
This whole using the Internet at the library thing really puts a kink into my life...
A Great Big Kink!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my sister, Islandmom and her new website... Fontologie.com
It's a pretty sweet site and if you like fonts, like me, you will totally dig this website.
She is pretty talented, and I find myself hoping to be her when I grow up. Go check out her site and then go and tell all your friends!!

"The look, it was like something out of the Adams Family." Simon Cowell, American Idol


1. Mayberry - Rascal Flatts
2. Firefly - Tony Bennett & Kermit the Frog
3. Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
4. Ebay - Weird Al
5. Speed Of Sound - Coldplay
6. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
7. Geek In The Pink - Jason Mraz
8. On The Way Down - Ryan Cabrera
9. Never Know - Jack Johnson
10. You & I Both (Live) - Jason Mraz

Bonus: When You Come - Crowded House
And just cause its a nice day.... Sleeping To Dream - Jason Mraz

Thanks to Pandora.com I was able to get this here little list put together, since I had to sign that stupid (we don't say stupid mama) contract to not download crap onto Jefe's laptop. Check it out, its a pretty slick little sight. You can type in an artist or song that you really like, and then the music gods will find all sorts of music that is similar...
Scha-weet! Rock on!
What are you playing?

OK. I sort of disappeared off the face of the earth here for a little while. Let me explain why. On Tuesday, I was sitting, happily I might add, playing on the computer. Thing 3 decided that she should climb up onto the desk to "play witch you mama". She used the actual motherboard for the computer to help boost herself onto the desk... see whats coming? The computer tipped over, and ceased to exist. It no longer will even turn on. I think that it is now beyond resurrection. Its dead and gone. I just need to have that little funeral for it!
Sigh.
So, I have been yanked from a world of being connected to an antiquated world that I do not understand how I even survived! I mean, lets be real people.
Google.
1 word.
Google. How did we ever make it through school without this amazing device? If I want to know something, rather than taking the old school way of actually researching at the library, I go to the source of ALL knowledge,-- Google and there it is, my answer, in 2.1 seconds.
Amazing! Jefe says that Google is really just another word for God.
He (God) is all knowing, and so is Google.
Coincidence? I wonder.
Anyway... I have been disconnected from the world for a week. I had to do some major groveling to get to use this little laptop here... Jefe's laptop. I had promise him a little of this and a little of that... sign a waiver and a contract that I wouldn't download anything... meaning no fonts (gasp) no music (bigger gasp) nothing... sigh. But, my little Internet friends, that was worth it. Just to be connected again.
I feel human... well as human as can be expected!

I made a little proposal to Jefe... I would move all the bookcases from the family room, and get a recliner for him, take the desk in the office down and make a reading room if we could in exchange get a laptop to have in the kitchen to use... all of us use. He hates the bookcases in the family room, he wants a reading room in the office. I think that's a fair exchange don't you??
As you can see, I am pumping up my campaign efforts for a laptop. I had one at one time. But, Jefe gave it to a single mother that needed a computer. I hope she likes it. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad we could help her out. I am just missing my laptop right now, especially since I don't have a computer. Oh well. As Jefe says, no good deed goes unpunished... I'm sure that's not really true. But. People. I Want a Laptop.
Maybe I should start an Internet campaign and start taking pay-pal donations? Humm. That is something to think about!
Ta-ta for now.

Why does he get a laptop?

Periodically, I check the blogs of note, just to see what is out there. This one Tumaini kids
really caught my eye. Typically I go around with my head in the sand with regards to the rest of the world... but as of late, I have felt compelled to try to understand what is going on in Africa. I don't really understand why, other than it totally puts into perspective how stupid I am when I complain about completely absurd things. The gals who helped put together Tumaini kids also have a blog about their experiences, Tripping on words its a wonderful blog, and very insightful.
You should give them both a lookie-lou... you will be better for it.

"There were moments of complete torture in that vocal to be honest with you." - Simon Cowell to Gina.
Its Random 10 Friday... AGAIN?? I can't believe that it is 4 days from being May. MAY!!?! What is happening here? Did I somehow hit the fast forward button on my life again? Please find that danged remote and press pause for me!
Whatcha jammin' to people?

1. Dancing When The Stars Go Blue - Tim McGraw
2. Not Ready To Make Nice - Dixie Chicks
3. Taylor - Jack Johnson
4. Babylon II - David Gray
5. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
6. Smoothie Song(Live from Austin) - Nickel Creek
7. Cold Roses - Ryan Adams
8. Landslide(Live in Boston) - Fleetwood Mac
9. If Everyone Cared - Nickelback
10. I Don't Wanna Die Anymore - New Radicals

Bonus: God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - Coldplay

Yesterday a local dairy farm was bringing around free samples of their milk, and trying to get you to sign-up with them to be your "milk man". I'm all for free samples, so I let them give me a gallon of milk. Whats the harm in trying, right?
Well, I was pouring the milk for the kids to drink with dinner last night and Thing 1 was asking all sorts of questions... "Why is the milk in these weird containers? Where did it come from? How fresh is it?"... yada, yada, yada... Thing 3 was shoveling her food in so fast, I didn't think she was even paying attention until she dropped her fork, looking all shocked and sort of yells "Are you kidding me? This milk is from a REAL cow? No way!" Yup! A real cow! She was stunned, and started mumbling "Wow. This milk is from a real a cow. A real LIVE cow! It tastes so good!" Then, she drank 2 adult size portions of that milk that is from a cow. She LOVED it.
Huh.
I guess I should have told her milk came from a cow a long time ago!

Oh. BTW, we signed up for the milk service. How could I not, with Thing 3's enthusiastic response??

Thing 3 came to me last night and asked me, while I was getting dinner ready, if I was going to go to work. I told her: "No baby. Mama is staying home tonight."
She said "oh" and looked sort of dejected. I asked her if she wanted me to go to work, and she perked up "Yes! Cause then I get to sleep in your bed and protect Dad from all his nightmares! Cause I have nightmares too, and I need a real live human to sleep with me!"
Oh.
I see.
I guess this Mom working thing is a good deal for you then?!

"Like eating a hamburger for breakfast, it doesn’t go together, I don’t think you and that song went well together." - Simon Cowell, American Idol

Uhhh. Is that not a good thing? Hamburgers for breakfast? I do that all time!
Ummm! Burgers! (said in my best Homer Simpson voice)
I love Hamburgers... Anonymous BabySis says that I will put anything on burgers, and it wouldn't suprise her if I came to her and said :"Ohh. Have you ever had waffles and syrup on your burgers? Its soo good."
I'm a burger nut, I admit it, but not that big of a nut!

Whats playing today folks?

1. More Than Words - Extreme
2. When The Stars Go Blue - Tim McGraw
3. Rock N Roll - Ryan Adams
4. I Don't Wanna Die Anymore - New Radicals
5. Silent House - Dixie Chicks
6. Jeremy - Pearl Jam
7. Pride (In The Name of Love) - U2
8. Home - Michael Buble
9. Loser - Beck
10. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - Coldplay

Bonus: September (Alternate Version) - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

I changed the tunes on my little player...
Its spring--- despite the intense rain that is falling right now---
I thought some happy tunes would be appropriate. Most of these tunes have sunny, happy memories attached to them... Or they just plain make me want to bounce, and dance!
The Things reported to Jefe that when I hear music I can't hold still, that I am constantly moving. AND further, that during our little Elementary school choir practice I am always dancing, and that is sooooo embarrassing!!
Well. This is true. I admit to it. I've been caught dancing in the street...
I am sorry. I can't help myself. Sometimes. No all the time. I feel like dancing.
Is that so terrible? I guess it is when, according to Jefe, I dance like Elaine on Seinfield.

Click HERE Or HERE to see her dance...
I'm sorry Things. Your mom is a big geek and loves to dance when clearly she should'nt be dancing. I just can't help it, nor can I stop.
Anyway.
It may not be pretty, but I like it!
So, click on those tunes and jam people. Life is too short to just sit there!!

We had Thing 3's play group here today. I love the idea of her being in a play group. I hate the idea of having to host the playgroup. 7 little 3-4year olds running around, screaming, running around, screaming... not my idea of fun.
I had to come up with a craft, and I really had zero creative juices running... then I remembered the infamous Pet Rocks. Thing 3 and I went and gathered all sorts of rocks... various shapes and sizes, washed them & dried them (at her insistence). The we bought googly eyes, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and markers. We were set for the event!
How do you know that it was a success? 7 little girls covered in goo and a 12 year old girl happily creating for 3 hours. Thing 1 came home from school, saw the rocks, markers, and glue gun and went to town. I heard nothing from her for almost 3 hours. When I finally went to see what she was doing, she had created a rock zoo. A rock elephant, spider, snail, sheep, bunny, turtle, snowman, duck, mouse, and more.
That's how you know your craft for the 3-4 year olds was cool... 12 year olds want to do it too!
Rock on!

I came downstairs into the family room this morning and found quite the sight.
Thing 3 was watching a Care Bears Movie, laying in the bed that she made on the floor with probably every single blanket she could get her hands on. She was happily sipping her cup of OJ, laying there in her bed, watching some T.V. and typing on a keyboard... That wasn't connected to anything. I asked her what she was doing, and she looked at me as if I had grown 2 heads and said: "Uhhh. Checkin' my email. Duh."

"I presume there was no mirror in your dressing room tonight." Simon Cowell to Sanjaya

1. Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
2. Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part - Ryan Adams
3. The Lighthouse's Tale - Nickel Creek
4. My Town - Montgomery Gentry
5. But You Know I Love You - Alison Krauss
6. Closing Time - Tom Waits
7. New Years Day - U2
8. Walk On The Ocean - Toad the Wet Sprocket
9. 83 - John Mayer (Serendipity Soundtrack)
10. Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson

Bonus: Something To Be Proud Of - Montgomery Gentry

I got off work last night around 10:30 and called Jefe to see if I should bring him home a treat. He said: "Yeah. And Thing 3 wants something too."
Ummm. Excuse me?!
Yes. It was true. My 4 year old was up at 10:30 at night... Yapping away at her Daddy. Jefe said that she had been talking his ear off non-stop. They talked about allergies, and how Mommy is allergic to cats, so that meant that Thing 3 wouldn't ever get to have a cat. (in her words) Then she proceeded to tell Jefe that she was allergic to Werewolves and that he was allergic to Seagulls and Roli-Polies.
Oh.
Ok.
Seagulls and Roli-Polies?
How does one find out that they are allergic to Seagulls and Roli-Polis... And Werewolves for that matter??
I really would like the answer to these nagging questions!

I had to work last night, and I didn't get off until 1130... I had to swing by Wal-Mart to get some milk and bread to make it through the whole Sunday ordeal.
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
You would've thought that it was Christmas what with the way people were acting... and how many people were there. The lines to check out were 10-15 people deep--- making the wait over an hour. It was disgusting. I had been getting increasingly more disgusted at work as the night progressed. People were coming through my line getting hundreds of dollars of clothes for, as they put it, "Easter presents".
I mean, lets get real people! When did we start treating Easter like Christmas?
Did I miss that memo?
Then, when I got to Wal-Mart and saw the madness that was unraveling...
Well.
My disgust was complete. When people would see "Easter" type stuff, you would hear screaming, and yelling and the pounding of running feet.
There were ZERO eggs... Real eggs to fry up... None. Anywhere in the store. The shelves looked like the locusts had descended. It was gross!
Easter isn't the Easter bunny people. Nor is it silly presents and hundreds of dollars of clothes.
Its Jesus and his resurrection.
There has been no memo changing the meaning of the holiday.
So. I boycotted the whole deal. The kids didn't get little plastic eggs. Nor did they get a plethora of "Easter presents".
They got a basket full of candy. That's it.
And know what? They couldn't have care less. They just wanted the candy. They sat around eating their candy, watching T.V. and everyone was happy. I could be wrong, but I don't think that anyone will need therapy over this little episode... and I think that I will repeat it for next year too. No more consumerism on Easter.
I have drawn the line.
Now, lets just hope I don't cross it!

Tonight my entire family-- Sisters, husbands, parents, kids everyone (except the dog, much to my horror!) got our family photos taken. The first time in 5 years that we were able to do that! I think that we will have some awesome photos. Islandmom arranged with one of her scrapbook buddies, who has a photography business to come and do our photos... I think that the photos are going to be AWESOME!! I am soo excited to get them back! We did an entire family shoot with all 20+ of us, then just my parents and my sisters, then individual families, then all the grandkiddies. I am excited, and once I get them, I will post them here! The Photographer did a fabulous job... she was even able to get our stubborn little Thing 3 to smile! Amazing!
Anyway. It was fun to get our photos taken and to see all the kids running around playing. Afterwards, we went out to dinner and got Pizza. We went to a place I haven't been to in about 20 years... seriously! Yummy yummy pizza! I had forgotten how awesome it is! It was fun to look around the room, and see all the cousins laughing, talking and stuffing their faces. All of us together, eating. I think that will be what its like in heaven! Sitting around, laughing, talking, and of course eating! What better way to spend eternity?
Anyway. What a great night! And a great way to end a great week! It was fun to have everyone here. I wish that we all lived by each other. So we could sit around and scrapbook all day, and eat and talk and laugh! And the cousins could run around screaming and yelling and playing all day long... together.
Oh well.
Thanks girls! I had a fab. time!
xoxo

"My family is big and loud but they're my family. We fight and we laugh and yes, we roast lamb on a spit in the front yard. And where ever I go, what ever I do they will always be there. "
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding

It's Random 10 Friday again... didn't I just post last weeks? Where has this week gone? Crazy!
My sisters have all been in town this week, and its been fun to just hang out with them. I forgot how much fun we can have together when we are all being nice and getting along! We haven't all been together at the same time in 5 years! FIVE years... That is just plain ridiculous, and sad. When I was younger, I thought that we would always see each other-- every day and hang out together, and eat together, and raise our kids together... and all that comes with that.
Reality has a way of changing those ideas... those dreams. It was nice to have everyone around all week. Thing 2 was in hog heaven with his Island cousin being here! They LOVE each other and LOVE to play together! It was soo fun to watch them playing and pretending! It really warmed my heart!
Anyway... Whats playing on your MP3 player?

1. Sleeping To Dream - Jason Mraz
2. The Sweet Escape(Edited) - Gwen Stefani
3. Walk On The Ocean - Toad the Wet Sprocket
4. Thinking About You (Radio Single) - Norah Jones
5. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
6. Hysteria - Def Leppard
7. Look At Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch
8. Martha - Tom Waits
9. Easy Silence - Dixie Chicks
10. Mysterious Ways - U2

Bonus: Please Forgive Me - David Gray

Among those whom I like or admire I can find no common denominator. But among those whom I love I can. All of them make me laugh!