I woke up in the middle of the night, just gagging. What was that horrid smell?
I thought maybe the dog had barfed in my bedroom, but after careful examination it wasn't the dog, and there was no puke.
NO.
It was Thing 3's cup of...
I don't know what.
Chocolate milk, maybe?!
It was gross.
It was nasty.
It made my whole bedroom smell like puke.
The cup has since been retired to the garbage can, yet my room still smells like puke.
The cup full of mysterious liquid spilled...
In my carpet.
Yup.
Nasty.
So, now I am on a cleaning frenzy...
Because, for those of you out there in internet spaceland who know me well, know that I have major issues with smell.
I hate to smell.
I hate my house to smell.
I hate my kids/spouse to smell.
Smelling is bad.
Very, very bad!
This, as you can see, is causing me a great deal of angst!
Oh well.
I guess I need to go put another box of baking soda on my entire carpet...
Hopefully, eventually, it will soak up all the stench of our mysterious liquid beverage.
No. More. Edible. Items. In. My. Room.

Poor little thing 3. We had a play date at the park today. She was sooo excited! She had met a little girl her age that she was having a blast playing with. She decided to try and do a flying jump from the platform to the monkey bars...
She missed.
And did a Superman fly to the ground.
She landed belly, face down.
She had playground bark and dirt everywhere and a bloody nose.
She has a black eye now and bruises on her face.
Poor little stinker.
She had to go to her next play date all battered up...
But, all that aside, she had a blast. She didn't want me to go up to the door with her. She jumps out of the car--- "See ya, Mom!! "
Wait! I wanted to yell. I'm not ready for you to not need me anymore!
But, she was happily playing with her new found friends.
She came home all covered in sand, and frosting.
It was a good play date.
Black eyes and all!

Here is my third one... getting better!

Here is my 2nd scrapbook page... pretty good eh?

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
- Abraham Lincoln

1. In The Absence of Sun - Duncan Sheik
2. Words I Couldn't Say - Rascal Flats
3. Greek Song - Rufus Wainwright
4. All I Want Is You - U2
5. I Don't Like Monday's - Tori Amos
6. Your Body Is A Wonderland - John Mayer
7. I'm On My Way - Richard Price
8. Cry - The Sundays
9. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
10. Plush (acoustic) - Stone Temple Pilots

Bonus: American Baby - Dave Matthews Band

Here is my first digital scrapbook page that I made today. My family gave me a gift certificate to an online scrapbook store. It took me quite a while to get the software installed to the computer... Then abut 45 minutes to make this page. I think once I get the whole software figured out, it will actually go quite fast... I am quite excited. The hardest part I found, was trying to figure out how to save it to the computer, and not in the memorymixer itself... That way I can email out to people. I'll get it... Eventually! Anyway... I really like this software. I am off to create some more!

Its the first day of school...
Doesn't Thing 1 look absolutely beautiful??
Thing 2 looks like the cool dude that he really is, and Thing 3 just didn't want to be left out! They were soo excited! They were ready for school by 7:30... It doesn't start until 8:45.
Can you say REALLY excited??

Is it really THAT time of year again?
In 24 hours, my big Things will be back in school again.
I thought that I was totally ready for them to be back in school...
But, reality is this: I miss them when they are gone. I feel like I hardly see them when school is in, and further, like I rarely get to talk with them. It's like pulling teeth to get them to tell me all about their day. When I drove them to school in Illinois, and they were both at different schools, it was easier for me to feel apart of their days. I would have Thing 1 for 30 minutes before Thing 2 got out of school. Then it was a 15 minute drive home. They were more willing to "download" their day to me while we were driving home. I have found that by them riding the bus, they are unwound from the days events and are DONE thinking about school. I actually miss not being able to drive them to and from school.
I know.
Weird.
We had a great tradition of reciting the articles of faith on the way to school. We had memorized almost all of them... Then we would sing our "motto" song while we were waiting our turn to unload -- I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ-- because I thought if that were the last song that went through their head before they got out the door... It would run through their head all day and help them make good choices. I don't know if it worked, but it made me feel better.
I miss doing that.
I miss them.
They want nothing to do with Mother driving them to school... Thing 2 will actually cry if he doesn't get to ride the bus.
I find them pulling more and more towards their friends. I know that is the way its supposed to be, but it makes me sad. I love my children. I love to see them play. I love to hear them laugh. I love watching them think.
So, my kids are excited today. I remember those butterflies... Excited butterflies. They are excited for the next adventure to begin. Thing 1 has been planning what she will wear with her friends. They are excited, happy kids.
As it should be.

Me on the other hand... Well, I feel a little sad today.
Its the last day that I get to have them ALL to myself.

Anyone who knows me knows that I SERIOUSLY love burgers and fries. I love 'em!
It would not bother me one little bit to eat burgers and fries everyday... Infact, I have done that. We used to grill every night in the summertime at our old place. Sometimes we would vary what we had... but usually it was burgers.
We had a smokin' deck.
An awesome pool.
Killer tiki torches.
And shade.
It was quite the place for us to hang.
And hang we did.
We grilled pretty much every night. That was the way it was. It was fun. It was comfortable.
I have said it before, and I will say it again. That is my version of heaven.
The grilling.
The smell of grilling.
The tiki torches.
The pool, and the smell of chlorine.
My kids laughter.
firefly's and cicadas.
Heaven.

But, alas, I digress from the reason of this post.

Jefe and I went out Saturday night. We were discussing our options of various eating establishments when we came upon a place called "The Burger Bar." I had recently read an article in the paper saying that said establishment was going to be closing... This week. I can remember all my guy-buddies in highschool talking about The Burger Bar and how awesome it was. We decided that we didn't want it to close without us ever having experienced The Burger Bar experience.
I had never been there.
Now I know why.
It was SOOOOOO gross.
I couldn't even finish it.
Jefe, who normally eats just about anything, didn't finish his either.
I have often said that you can never burn my burger too much. I like burned. Burned is good.
I do not, however, like them as burned as Burger Bar burns them.
It was totally gross.

However, the fries were good.
Very good.
The fry sauce was nasty!

Note to self: When you see a restaurant that has more flies on the inside than on the outside... Not a good place to eat!!

Grocery shopping sucks!
The end.

I hate not being able to sleep.
I feel asleep earlier tonight watching a movie about talking dogs & cats with Thing 3. It would put anyone, except her, to sleep.
But, then I woke up about 10:00... All bright eyed and busy tailed.
I really gave it my best shot. I laid there in bed for over 45 minutes. Listening to the heavy breathing of Jefe. I stared at the ceiling, willing myself to either go to sleep, or come up with a solution for world peace.
Neither one happened.
I even pulled out my trusty "I can't sleep- boring novel"... But I actually read 3 chapters.
I did discover that it really isn't that boring of a book. I must just be really tired every time I sit down to read it.
ANYWAY...
Here I sit. Too awake to sleep, but too tired to clean.
This new house we live in is a little more difficult to have insomnia. In the old house, when I would get insomnia... I could go down to the basement, where my piles of clean laundry sat on the couch. I could watch a movie and fold away. I would actually get all sorts of stuff done when I would have insomnia.
I have been Christmas shopping at 3:30 in the morning.
I have been grocery shopping at 2:00 in the morning.
I have done all my laundry in the middle of the night-- washing, folding AND putting away.
I have cleaned bathrooms in the middle of the night.
I have scrapbooked too.
At the new house, I have just been watching T.V.
But yesterday, I cleaned my office and pulled all my scrapbooking stuff out, and organized it all.
Now, when I can't sleep, and my "boring novel" doesn't work. I will scrapbook.
I haven't used a creative bone since I have moved here... And I miss that. There is something deeply satisfying when I am able to create.
My blog has been great for me that way. And I suppose, if I get real technical, I am "preserving" my memories by blogging. Hopefully, someday my family will treasure this.
In the meantime, I have decided to buy myself this great digital scrapbooking program. I am still a dinosaur when it comes to being techno savvy. So, I found "digi scrapping for dummies" basically. It's actually called Memory Mixer. My sisters have all read reviews on it, and tell me I will be able to create masterpieces. I just need to order it online.
That is on my list for tomorrow.
Right after the vet.
So... Now I am feeling sleepy.
Very sleepy.
Blogging has worked its mojo!

"A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely unhappen."
-Edward de Bono

It's Random 10 Friday... Again.
Here's what came up random on my music player. What are you playin'?

1. Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
2. The Song Remembers When - Trisha Yearwood
3. Sister Christian - Night Ranger (boy! thats old school!)
4. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before - The Smiths
5. Where Are You - Rascal Flatts
6. My Town - Montgomery Gentry (I'm digging these guys!)
7. Summertime - The Sundays
8. Walk Forever By Myside - The Alarm
9. Cab - Train
10. Little House - The Fray

Bonus: What's Left Of Me - Nick Lachey

Happy Birthday Jonathan Franzen. He is the author of "The Corrections" Its about a family falling apart. He had worked on this book for 5 years... While his marriage fell apart, his father died, and he quit smoking. At the end of it, he still didn't know what the heck his book was about. When his good friend got his book published, it was the kick he needed... So, he threw everything out, except 1 chapter about a family on a cruise ship. He finished the rest of the book in less than 1 year. His book was later chosen to be an Oprah bookclub selection. Here is where I think this author shot himself in the foot.
When the most powerful woman in the world picks your book, says she loves it, wants it for her INTERNATIONAL bookclub, and wants you to come on the show...
Do not tell her No, and further do not tell her that you don't want your book to be in her bookclub.
Yup.
He did that.
He didn't want people reading the book because Oprah had it in her bookclub. Or because he was on her show. Or because... Who the heck knows.
WHAT. A. FOOL.
He got more bad publicity from that stunt, than he ever would've gotten from going on the show. I never would've found the book if Oprah hadn't picked it for her show. I tend to read pretty much everything she has picked.
Some of the stuff I love... Some of it I despise.
That's reading.
Anyway...
I still haven't read the book.
I guess I need to. Just so that I can have an educated opinion regarding the book.

BTW...
Anonymous Sister in law is moving, and I get to go shopping for books in her bookcase. I am SO excited I can not even stand it.
I love love love books.

Thing 2's best friend lives behind us, and just happens to be his cousin. Anonymous Friend can't understand why, if Thing 2 and he are cousins, I am not his Aunt. He doesn't get... or he refuses to get it... And so I am Aunt Motherboard and Jefe is Uncle Jefe.
Anonymous best-friend ate dinner with us tonight. I got extreme pleasure from watching those two interact with one another. They were excitedly comparing their newest Yu-gi-oh cards and deciding which ones were cooler than the others. They truly are best friends.

The other day, they were at Anonymous best friends house, playing and Anonymous best friend said: "Thing 2, I love you." Thing 2 said "Anonymous Best Friend, I love you too." Then Anonymous best friend said, "Yeah. But not in that weird kissy kissy way. I just love you cause you're cool."
That makes me so happy. They love each other, and are very best friends. I am so grateful that they live right behind us and are inseparable!!
It makes me happy.
It makes life good!
Thing 2 has blossomed since moving here.
No longer is he a shy little guy.
He is solid.
He is happy.
He is Thing 2!

ATTENTION COMPANIES:
Please stop outsourcing all your customer service call centers to India!
It really sucks!!!
Thank You.

Today was Steve Martin's birthday.
Did you know that he has written several plays? AND several novels? He is more than just your average comedian. He has been a writer for the New Yorker!
He said: "I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot."

I KNEW I liked him!
Happy birthday!

The other famous birthday is the author of the poem: "Casey at the bat" Ernest Thayer.
"Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Mudville -- mighty Casey has struck out."

I remember this poem from the great Disney adaptation... The big ole burley man striking out over and over again... In the pouring rain.

August 14th...Fulll of birthdays of great artists!

This is a little girl who REALLY wants to sleep with her parents.
So much so, that she would rather sleep on the floor just outside their bedroom than in her nice comfy bed.
Too Cute!
I LOVE her army pants...
So sheik, and only 3!!

My friend sent me THIS video.
It's a band called OK GO.
They're from Chicago and bloody brilliant!!!
I totally dig this video! What great props!
My kids LOVE this song, and are trying to figure out how do something similar. They have another song, A Million Ways that has a freaking funny dance that they do. The kids LOVE it!!
We have spent most of the morning watching their other videos... The kids are LOVING dancing to this stuff!
Check them out HERE .

Our neighbor gave us 11 rocks.
Why is that so important, one might ask.
Well, because they are gi-normous rocks.
And, they were free.
We spent the better part of today placing those suckers.
They were FREAKING heavy!!
Jefe did a good job moving them.
We had to use some 2x4's as leverage... After the tractor left!
I was a little skeptical about rocks in my yard.
It seems to be the thing to do, have rocks in your yard... But amazingly... It kinda sorta looks good.

Besides, I can't even begin to explain the transformation that has taken place in this yard. It has come from being totally empty, except for the dead tree and nothing but weeds, to actually having things growing and living in it!!
It looks 100% different than when we first moved in.
100%!!

"Duct tape is like the force. It has a dark side, a light side and it holds the world together."
- Unknown.

1. Shelter - Ray Lamontagne
2. White Limousine - Duncan Sheik
3. Nice Day - Persephone's Bee's
4. The Heart Of A Saturday Night - Tom Waits
5. Bent Matchbox 20
6. Forever Is Tomorrow Is Today - David Grey
7. Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
8. Rock 'N' Roll Singer - Mark Kozelek
9. Crazy About You - Whiskeytown
10. Love Is Here - Starsailor

Bonus: I Know - Fiona Apple