I want to thank you, Halloween.

Dear Halloween,

I just want to say that I heart you. I love the way you have treats at my disposal at every turn. A hershey's kiss here, a twix bar there, a handful of caramel popcorn, just 'cuz. Just Cuz!

Everywhere we go and everyone I see has candy or can get to candy, relatively easily. I want to thank you, Halloween. I don't know what it is that we are supposed to be celebrating, exactly, but I don't care. I am just happy that I can be part of this candy-thon. The "rules" are we have to dress up to get these treats, but that's not totally true, people are so willing to give out candy throughout the month of October, that a costume is just an added bonus. Even the supermarket gives out treats. It is really a great time for sugar junkies like myself. So I write you this letter, just to say thank you. Thank you just for being you.


Love,
Saylor 2 year old, and Michael, 37 year old.

Wordless Ode to Bumbo

Athena-ism #492

Conversation in the car


Me- I was thinking that we should have cupcakes for your birthday.

Her- I don't want cupcakes, I want a cake.

Me- Well, I was thinking cupcakes so that you could pass them around to your friends (plus it would be a hella easier to cut, clean, serve. And they would be infinitely cheaper than a cake) .

Her- But, I want a cake.

Me-Ok, yeah, ok, sounds good (I start thinking about picking one up at costco the day before party).

Silence in the car (don't see much of this action. ever)

Her- I want it to be black. With two astronauts holding hands. one is me and one is saylor.

more silence in the car

Her- and I want Jupiter on it. Yes, JUPITERrrrrrrr.

Long pause and more silence.

Me- (in tears thinking how HARD this would be) cupcakes are so much fun, they're like mini cakes, so each person can have one of their very own.

Her- No, I want a cake. Please.




So it'll look like this....but with a black background....two astronauts.....holding hands....Athena instead of Xander....and Jupiter.....the fifth planet from the sun and the solar system's largest.

Easy as cake. :(

Saylor had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb

Saylor had a little lamb whose vagina was full of cheetos.

So we've all read "tentacle bag", right? Well, apparently my 2 year old found out and decided she'd have a blog worthy ditty of her own.

I'm in my kitchen minding my own business or at least desperately trying to, and I look over to see a sullen Saylor. This rarely happens, so I decide to ask her...

me- What's wrong baby?

Say- mumbled sheep's vagina dirrrrty.

me- What, bub?

Say- sheep's vagina dirty

me- sheep's what?

she gets up from table and proceeds to shove Sheep's crotch in my face

Say- Cheetos on Sheep's vagina! A mess!

me- Oh. um. ok. let's wash it then.

she gets this huge smile and prances over to the tub and turns on the water

me- no, no, not a bath. I have to wash it in the washing machine. come on, over here.

we go over to washing machine. I toss sheep in.

Say- sheep's clean now!

Me- um, no, baby, not yet

another 8 seconds pass

Say- sheep's clean

Me- no, not yet

rinse. repeat. about 47 times.

Finally! The washing machine is done and now it's time to put her in the dryer. I transfer her from the washer to the dryer and Saylor catches a glimpse of her sheep. This was nearly catastrophic, I tried explaining to her about wet/dry/time/procedures. Nope. She wasn't getting it. Whine, whine, whine. Big fat tears rolling down her face, pout, just sadness all around.

Needless to say I took out the damn, damp sheep after about ten minutes. She grabbed her and hugged and said "sheep's vagina so clean".

Yes, baby, nothing like a clean vagina on a sheep.

I hope that big brother doesn't scan this last sentence and send who ever they send out for that sort of thing.

Bag o' laughs

A conversation between Athena (4) and Michael (37) after Michael gets out of bath.

Athena-daddy, whats that?

Michael-my penis.

Athena-no, no, behind your penis?

Michael-my scrotum.

Athena-what is inside your scrotum?

Michael-my testicles?

Athena-what are tentacles?

Michael-No, testicles.

Athena- (grimacing) Does it hurt?

Michael-No, it doesn't hurt.

Athena-daddy!!! why do you have hair on your tentacle bag?

I just laughed and walked out and let him handle the rest.

Waving White Flag

I wasn't going to write a july 4th post, then I was, but then decided not to. And I can do that kind of wavering cuz it's my blog :)

I did however want to show you the non-beach beach that we are now going to since we have nothing else. Remember this post? Same suits...nice life.

So....we surrender.

I have to tell you, it is growing on me. I don't know if it's because the girls don't care that it's brown/grey, or because it is a big open space that the girls are entertained for hours on end. No land lubber can argue with that.









Do they look like they care, even a teensy weensy bit?

Luxurious Summer Activities for the two I heart...

At the country club for a dip in the pool with friends



A Hands On- Art Appreciation class with friends (dollar store supplies and juice included)



Box seats for their favorite show



A leisurely read whilst in bed after their spa treatment (including tearless shampoo and manicure/pedicure with my nail clipper)





The Ooohs and Aaahh of a Summer Blockbuster



A toddler Cotillion....


The summer has just begun, but we have been able to give our daughters so much already. We don't want to go overboard or anything, but we will be attending the community pool later and stopping off at the SnoBall King. Nothing is too good for my girls :)

Bad Assery at it's Finest

Horton Hears a Who?

Just came back from the movie theater with my 4 yr old. We went to see Horton Hears a Who (HHaW). It was a lot of fun and great animation. Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey were great. Now, please tell me that I am not the only one that thought of what I am about to tell you. As when I read the book, I could not help but think of Barack Obama, his presidency, his ideas, and those of "others". Don't worry about it, I will not go on to speak about my political views or anything. For god's sake the blog's name is I heart 2 girls, not I heart to talk politics. Alls I'm saying is that I could not get the metaphor or the comparison out of my head. The entire movie.

With Dr. Seuss's deceptive simplicity, we hear about the persistence of doing the right thing no matter how hard and arduous the journey, even our faith (believing in something unseen). Also, all about our voices carrying and making a difference. I mean, "a person's a person no matter how small", right? and "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant".

Carol Burnett's character of the Sour Kangaroo's attitude of "If you can't see, hear or feel something it doesn't exist. And believing in "tiny imaginary people" is just not something we do or tolerate here in the Jungle of Nool."

Anyhow, just thiking about the movie on my drive home and wanted to share.

So, let's HOPE- "And so, all ended well for both Horton and Who's, and for all in the jungle, even kangaroos. So let that be a lesson to one and to all; a person is a person, no matter how small."

What do you think? Have you seen it? Am I trippin'?

Things I love about Houston, Texas

I will not talk about the heat, traffic, or crime. I will not talk about the heat, traffic, or crime.


Off the top of my head........


1. I am able to buy freshly made tortillas at the supermarket's bakery. There is literally a lady making tortillas there. Incredible.

2. The rodeo is a really. big. deal. It's in Feb and the WHOLE city gets revved up. I love it. There are even trail riders. Riders start off like 300-400 miles away and they actually ride through Houston.....for the rodeo.

3. The skyline. I just love it. *swoon*




4. The diversity in food. Really phenomenal. I could and should weigh 400 lbs. The food in this city is sublime. Whatever you fancy, it's here.

5. The Space Center, too cool.

6. Miller Outdoor Theater offers the most diverse season of professional entertainment of any Houston performance venue, and it's all FREE! Classical music, jazz, ethnic music and dance, ballet, Shakespeare, musical theater, classic films.

7. Discovery Green-an urban park in downtown. All events at the park are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Discovery Green presents Houston's diverse world-class performing, literary and visual art in its Art Series. Discovery Green's Entertainment Series offers movies, Extreme Wii competitions, and concerts by talented musicians that showcase a rich variety of Gulf Coast and Central Texas sounds. For the health and fitness-minded, the Healthy Living in the Park series offers a weekly urban market and exercise classes such as Pilates, Yoga, and Zumba as well as a Hip2BFit exercise class just for kids. The Families & Children Series offers hands-on workshops and activities suitable for children and their parents. On weekends, families can visit the park, put their pets in one of two dog runs and watch their kids play on the playground while they discard their newspapers and cans into recycling bins.

8. The Galleria

9. Dive bars, all over town. Fabulous.

10. Bellaire China town, the food (dim sum, malaysian, korean, vietnamese)

11. Good salaries and cheap living.

12. People use "y'all" even in a professional setting.

13. I could seriously go on and on.



Do you know Houston? Woudl you agree, disagree, add, substract? or would you like to brag about your own city?????????

Bloggy Break, explained

Yes, it's been a month. No, it's not ok. I think about my little blog all of the time and things I want to say, things I don't and things I wish I could :) I have ideas I want to share, stories I want to tell and retell, and curse words I want to use with the caps lock on. But, I do none of the above. I also up the ante and bitch about it.

What I have decided to do is to blog old school. The way I used to when I started. About everything. And Nothing. No holds barred. Anything that popped into the ol' noggin (I wrote pooped first and contemplated not fixing the typo). Like when I started back in May of 2008 with my inaugural post, when I became a brunette, this post, and this one and 150 others (I'll spare ya) :)

So, starting asap :) I will just rant and rave about all that is important, ridiculous, mundane, exciting, hilarious, sexy, and fun, TO ME. I know that I just need some free time and a computer to make it happen. I vow to make that much more often. I actually use this as my only creative outlet these days, so it behooves me to do this. If not, I cook or garden....neither of which I do well.

See ya on the flip side.

Made in the Shade

For all of my bloggy readers that have green bloggy thumbs, please turn around and come back next post. Seriously, it'll be painful to read, so, just heed my warning.

I, am not, of the gardening persuasion. I can admire your garden, comment on your flowers, and gaze up at your trees for all eternity, but do not ask me what they are, how they got there and how to treat them. It's like I'm that guy at the bar with all of these women around, not having the slightest clue how to act or talk to them. It's like I don't have a pick up line, and get all flustered just thinking about a conversation with them.

I don't want to be a cliche, but I truly DO NOT UNDERSTAND how to keep plants alive. Sadly, I think I have even unintentionally killed dandelions, which by the way, until recently, did not know they were weeds and that people hated them.

One quick example I have for you is this beautiful tree I got as a housewarming gift. In a beautiful pot. I was determined to take care of this girl b/c to me it symbolized our new home, our future...yes, I understand I should never had committed to this and should never have put this kind of pressure on myself, but I digress. I googled this plant, named this plant, read up on how to take care of this plant....almost joined a plant "yahoo group" just to talk about "plants". I was ready, I was set, I went. I was so excited. The plant slowly began to wither, brown, basically fall apart. It was in hospice and there was no turning back. As I left her dead, brown body in the pot for waaaaaaaaay longer than I should have, I decided to dispose of the body. As I pulled her out of the pot....I saw this black thing on the bottom. I didn't know what it was until I turned the knobby thing and realized that it was the plug. I had killed her. Drowned her. Why didn't anyone say to open that thing. Was I just supposed to know? Was it that obvious???

My most recent homicide or horticide was just atrocious. I had a coupon (don't all good stories start like this??) and it was for a free 15 gallon shade tree with a purchase of $25. I was so stoked. Athena had begun to show an interest in gardening because of her school (which is a montessori magnet focusing on environmental science), so we went together to choose our purchase and our tree. It was so much fun and I was getting really excited at that nursery. I was thinking to myself....."self: you can do this...look at all of these people, people actually enjoy this. You can do it, I know you can".

I picked a magnolia (because it is he only one I recognized the name of...they are all over texas) b/c I figured they had to be easy. So, I discuss with the cashier about the care of this plant and how to take it out of the planter and how deep to dig the hole, how far away from my fence to do this, and about how often to water it, etc.

I can do this.

I take home this mammoth plant in the trunk of my car. The leaves flapped wildly while I drove on the highway....I kept telling it to believe she was in a hurricane and that it will all be over in about 13 miles. I get home, I have no shovel. I (well Michael) carried this tree to the backyard. I would now have to hire someone to dig a hole for me and to "fix" her up. No biggie, I am big into paying for services that I can't do myself. Ain't no shame in that game. We all excel at certain things. Cooking, gardening, car washing, babysitting, and cleaning aren't one of mine. Whoops, I've said too much.

The tree is beautiful. It looks like it is really going to be part of the family. We water it everyday. We have found caterpillars, roly polies, and beetles in it. It has been so much fun to watch the girls love on their new sister. Surprisingly, she starts to have leaves turn yellow....bewildered, I continue to water it and pull the dead leaves off. She is just adjusting to her new home, I say. I'm not worried. I do however, make a bee line to the phone, and call the landscaper guy.

me- Can you come out to check on my tree?

him- sure. what kind?

me- oh (feeling chuffed that I knew the name) it's a magnolia tree

him- oh those are great shade trees

me- yes, I bought it for that reason.

him- ok, well, I can come over and take a look at it and plant it for you. I am going to fit you in tomorrow, so it'll have to be quick. Make sure you've decided on a shady place for me to plant it at.

me- no, there is not a shady place in my backyard. It is super sunny. That is why I got the magnolia.

him- well, ma'am, the magnolia is a shade tree.

me- I know.

him- It needs to be in the shade.

pause.

longer pause.

him- hello? ma'am?

me (holding back tears)- Can you come and pick my tree up for a donation?

She wants to lead.... the Glamorous Life......

There are spurts of instances when I catch a glimpse of my old self. These are the times when I am dressed in a sexy get up, or have on some fancy shoes (you know the ones that clack... a term coined by 4 year old's best friend), or am having a political, cultural, or adult conversations with others, or when people say "I didn't know you were a mom". I love that. Only because it means I must look clean and composed, is all :)

These events seldom happen, but I find them to be interwoven in my daily life much more frequently now than when I first had my 4 year old (when spit up, crap, nursing bras, drool, food, etc was the fashion I was donning. I couldn't help it. As cool and glamorous as I was in my pre-baby world, I just didn't make the transition all that well.

So, as I had just started to get gussied up again, we decide to have another baby. We figure we should do this so that we don't get too accustomed to the make up, dresses, traveling, parties, and date nights we had started up again. Back in the state of perpetual casual/lounge wear I go. We have our beloved 2nd and I seem to know more, and realize that I don't have to run for the Mayor of Frumpsville for another term. I sit it out and really try my darndest to get my sassy back, quicker.

Then, on a night like yesternight, I realize that the "ebb and flow" of our re-entry into one of the "pages" of our old life, is less subtle than that and can be much more like the shock of the cooler they toss on the coach's head after a winning game. Let me tell you about it.

Cue in uber cool restaurant with a sleek, minimalist and stylish decor, fantastic menu, libations, etc. This bar/restaurant is frequented by Houston's hippest and has a very cool scene. It was given the title of "best bar" by playboy magazine....need i go on? Y'all got it, right? We enjoy it to the utmost. Convos, drinks and food were excellent.

Fast forward to the very end of the night. Standing at the valet station (with a gazillion hot looking houstonites), I am feeling so happy and sexy and fun and soooo not a "mom". One of my cool and hip momma friends remembers that she has to give me something so that I can use it with Saylor (my 2 year old), so she goes into her trunk and pulls out a big ol' wooden potty chair (this one to be exact)



and hands it to me. In front of everyone.

Can you feel the ice cold water on your head? Yeah, me too. I couldn't help but literally laugh out loud as I grabbed it from her, thanked her and waited for my car to be pulled up to the valet area.

I would not change that experience for the world though. Seriously.

As sheila e. said.......

without love....it ain't much...it ain't much

Tell 'er

At the bank the other day, I know can you believe I decided to actually go to one? Hadn't been to one in years...but I needed to go to the teller b/c I had lost my check/atm card and needed money.

Anyhow, Athena is asking ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY questions (those who have met her know that I am understating that number) about the transaction, who she is, what she is doing, what am I doing, what's the suburban next to us doing, etc. We begin to drive off (as Athena yells from her window..."Thank you, tube lady"!! and this conversation ensues...

ABA- is she staying there?

me-yes, she works there.

ABA-works there?

me-yeah, like daddy works.

ABA-daddy works in downtown, not here.

me-true, but, well, everyone works and has some sort of job.

ABA- is that her job? I'm the trash helper in class this week.

me- well, she works at the bank. She helps people like me get to their money. She sends it in the tube.

ABA- oh. i want to work.

me- you do? where do you want to work?

ABA- ummmm. Subway.

me- Subway?

ABA- yes.

me- why do you want to work at subway?

ABA- so I can help people make choices.

me- choices? like what?

ABA- white or wheat? and what kind of cheese they want.




Shall I go and deposit the college fund back at the bank, I ask myself.

Talk to the Unicorns and Goldfish cuz the baby ain't listenin'

Are all mommy hobbies created equal?

I met a fellow mom the other day. We were discussing, this, that and the other. I was nodding my head and we were agreeing with each other. "The challenges...", "the sacrifices....", "finding time for me...". Y'know, stuff us moms chit chat about.

*her phone rings*

"Oh it's my dance teacher", and I say, "wow, how cool, a dance teacher. What are you taking?" She says Latin Dance from this incredible Russian instructor. She says "They are the best at it. His wife and him are fantastic". I continue to ask about the dance teacher. I like to hear about fun, active things out there. I ask how often she takes classes from him and she says twice a week. So, I ask for his number b/c I would love to be able to do this too. It sounded like loads of fun.

She says, "214-555-1212". "A dallas transplant, huh?" I say. "oh...he's in Dallas". Puzzled, I say "Dallas? Like, almost-4 hrs-away-Dallas, Dallas? "Yes, she answers, I just love it. It is such a break". Me clarifying "So, you drive 4 hrs each way, twice a week, to meet with your Russian dance teacher for lessons?" No, she says, I fly there, it only takes 30 minutes. I chuckled and said "wow, that's great". Me clarifying "soooo, you get on a plane, go to take your lesson and then get back on the plane and come home?"

of course not, I stay the night at a Ritz Carlton.

then I just straight up laughed and said "that is just plain awesome".

Next time I feel like I am unwinding and escaping at the Color Me Mine pottery studio, I'll make sure to remind myself of this ditty.

lol.

Friend of mine, swear2god.

www.TiffanyLFox.com


What are your thoughts???


Ideas?


Anybody in mind for her?


Would you do this?


Good Luck Tiffany!!!!!!!

Trippin' with my homeboy

We have a Cross in my house, and it isn't like up on the wall, but in this "hole" in the wall (wow...can you tell that architecture is my gig). We also have stairs in my house. Two small sets of stairs. Up, then a little landing, up again, voila...living room. We are always saying to the girls..."be careful, don't dance/play/jump/hop/skip/roll/push/pull/ on the stairs. They have never fallen or even tripped on them. I don't want to jinx myself, but 'tis true.

Yesterday, I was happily coming down the stairs, with my drink in hand (first one I might add) and I was just walking down. I (apparently) took a misstep, contorted my body (drink in hand), held on to Jesus Christ, (didn't want the cross, all of 18 inches tall and made of solid rose wood) to come crashing down. I had the cross and drink in my hands and ATE. IT. Martini, JC, and I. On the floor. I hear Saylor from upstairs.."mama loud, mama fall". Then as I was trying to get up, I let the now empty glass, slip out of my hands (6 inches) and cracked into many pieces.

It all ended with me having to use a rag to clean up apple-tini from the cross and massaging my hurting hamstring.

It all just seemed so wrong.

Michael Babysitting

Today's Top Ten

I totally just made this up, but I felt like it. These are a few of my all time favorite things. I added a challenge to myself, it all has to start with the same letter. They are in no particular order. Oh yeah and some will be tmi (too much information), of course.

B for Barbie (which just turned 51 the other day)

1. Burlesque Dancing
2. Bollywood
3. Bubble baths with babes
4. Bars
5. Babysitters
6. Burmese food
7. Brazilian Wax (I have no link to this....:)
8. Beatboxing
9. Bargains
10. Blogging

26 months

This is how old Saylor is today. This is also how old Athena was when Saylor was born. Get the picture?

I'm reminiscing, big time.

and now, you'll be dragged along too :)



Here is athena foreshadowing Saylor before she even knew that Saylor was a Saylor.




Will I be able to eat her...like this?




Wow, this is really gonna happen. Smile daddy, our life is about to change.





I'm gonna have to share all of this, aren't I?





What up???



Awww, she isn't so bad...kinda cute if ya ask me.



Oh boy. Can she see me?



Oh, she sees you alright.....

I'm gonna hug'er and squeeze'er and call her George




Bffs 4ever

Flying Solo

I recently had the opportunity to go on a three day training in Atlanta. I don't live in Atlanta, so it was going to be a "fly over there and stay in a hotel kind" of trip. At first I got a bit worked up because of the logistics of leaving the two girls that I heart and the man that I love, with them. Not that he is incapable, quite the contrary, he is exceptionally capable. If he were in a performance appraisal, he would get (if it were a likert scale) all "VERY" and "EXCELLENT" and "EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS", etc.

Buuut, I am the one that "runs" the house and it's little nuances, so I had to make sure that he was left as prepared as possible. I went to Costco, the supermarket, made a couple of dinners, did the laundry, left the girls the clothes they would wear (including panties and socks) in their rooms, and made sure there were movies on our Netflix queue.

Left early that Wednesday morning to the airport. Thinking about Athena Blaze, her obsession with writing and spelling, and how her "show and tell" was on friday, and about Saylor and her sweet unicorn and how she was making the unicorn kiss everything and do everything she did. I thought about these two happy little girls. I also thought about how I was also going to miss my handsome, delicious husband. I would miss them terribly but I knew they would be beyond ok, and I was going to get some brain fodder at the training.

Ummm, can I tell you that it took me all of 8 min to forget all about the suckers?

I got on my cell phone on the ride to the airport and talked to a few friends and listened....without interruption to these friends that I hadn't been able to speak with for a long time. I listened to music in the car, very loudly. I had also left with plenty of time, so I wasn't rushing, or in traffic or anything. I was relaxed and on vacation even though I hadn't even gotten to the airport yet.

Got to the airport and bought a coffee, then decided to do something I hadn't done IN YEARS. I bought a book to READ on the plane. This concept was a legend, a mythical creature, something so forgotten and unfamiliar to me, I didn't even know how to go about it. Well folks...it's like riding a bicycle. Ya never forget. I got myself a girly, chick lit, pretty color covered book, a bottled water, some fresh fruit, chocolate, and nuts. Yes, I spent $25 at the airport.

But wait...there's more....

I had a purse. A real. live. purse. It's contents were not suitable for Monty Hall's Let's Make a Deal like it usually is. It was a regular, boring, purse. I carried only this purse. And as I looked at my snacks, that did not resemble goldfish, fruit bars, or a juice box, I smiled from ear to ear.

I sat in the emergency row, b/c I did not have a baby in tow and could help the plane out in a pinch. I did however have to think of the baby once again when I looked over at the plane door and saw that it weighed 31 lbs. I thought, "my saylor weighs about that much, so I'll be fine". The flight attendent mentioned something about delays and detouring teh plane due to weather. I shrugged my shoulders and thought, "meh, who cares....at least I don't have to think about entertaining two girls while all of this is happening".

The trip just continued to go on like this. I ate when I wanted to. I showered when and how I wanted to. I could focus on one thing at a time. Conversations.....were complete. There was a true dialogue. It felt...so....easy. I remember thinking to myself that I couldn't believe how I used to live like this. All for me. It was really great. I truly savored those three days as my last meal on the Green Mile.

But as my trip.....plane ride back (in an exit row I might add).....and drive home came to an end, I realized that I was thrilled to be back home, ecstatic to see/smell/hear/touch my girls again, couldn't wait to be caught up to speed on the "doings" and

and that I would sign up for trainings every 6 months :)

Where there's a will, there's a way

Yep, we've arrived. We're adults. Full blown adulthood. We have gone and done the ickiest, most mature and responsible thing ever. We've gone and drawn up a ((((w.i.l.l.)))

shudder.

It was the weirdest thing because we went to the lawyers and she had asked for all of our information ahead of time, so we just had to go and sign it. So we thought. We were escorted back to this conference room that had a huge table (like, think, Last Supper or knights of the round table (except it was rectangular), or maybe like Donald Trump style. We were then each given a stack of papers to "look over" and sign here, here, annnnd here. I didn't think it would be such a big ol' deal. We weren't thinking we would be listening so emotionally, but we couldn't help it.

Imagine, sitting in this mammoth table, sitting facing your husband and hearing her read this...

"...a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care..."

"...executor is the person named in a will or appointed by a court to wind up the person's financial affairs after death....

"..to make any necessary health care decisions for you and to see that doctors and other health care providers give you the type of care you wish to receive..."

having fun yet???

"..if you become incapacitated..."

"...vegetative state...."

"...life support..."

"...you are unable to communicate your own wishes for care, either orally, in writing, or through gestures...."

"....If you want to donate your body, it's best to contact your chosen medical institution and make arrangements in advance..."

"if you should both die, who will be your children's guardians?"


Oh my gosh. It was a lot. even though my husband and I went in really prepared, there is nothing like hearing all of this coming from someone who does this for a living and was just reading the documents like she wasn't talking about me, my husband, or my girls.

Well, how's that for an uplifting blog entry???? Very happy happy joy joy huh?

In all honesty, we left there feeling really really good. We felt like, the girls, our money and our wishes were well protected.

Do y'all have wills? or think about it?????

Nuttin' Honey

I knew that this would happen. I just didn't think this early on. I have been wanting to blog regularly now, but life hasn't allowed me my guilty pleasure. Argh.

Look at the list I had in my head......

I want to resurrect TWT (thousand word thursdays) cause that was just plain ol' fun, I want to give y'all updates on so many things including mommy dates (apparently I am a whore.....who knew?), more on the road recipes like this one, what ever happened to this job, update on the ol' post baby bod , new foods and fruits that I've tried, how these conversations have gotten a LITTLE better, many many more athena-isms and this one, and one of my favorites...this one.

I also have awards waiting in the wings from some of the coolest bloggy brethren.

Anyhow, I just wanted to touch base and let you know that I intend on coming back here very very soon!!!!!!!!

Muffin Tops

This is not a pun(or bun as it will) or a catchy little post title so that I can talk about this

no, no. I am actually talking about Muffin. Tops. The tops of muffins. These glorious little chubby discs (stop laughing) of love that I found at the bakery this morning.

Who thought of this? What person can I thank for this???? Do you know that I end up eating the bottom half of the muffin, just cuz? Just cuz?

"Just Cuz" calories are the worst. You don't really enjoy them and your feel somewhat obliged to eat them. Ugh.

Not now folks, I have found the answers to my superfluous calories (in the muffin category). Muffin tops.

Even Eggo got wind of the discovery



Now we need "Cookie Middles", "Cake Corners", "Pizza Slice Tips", "Brownie Ends", and "French Onion Soup Tops"...whoops, I guess that would be "melted cheese".

What are your favorite foods that have superfluous calorie chasers?

She's a brainiac, brainiac on. the. floor.

and she's spelling like always spelled before..

I have a junkie on my hands. A spellaholic as it will. Everything needs to be spelled for my 4 year old. She is obsessed with trying to spell, spelling outloud, spelling on paper, spelling while on the move, in the car, walking. Asking the people in line ahead of us, asking waitresses, the cashiers.

She wants to spell words on the computer, on my phone, uses puzzle pieces to spell words, spaghetti, blueberries. It's like the tootsie roll commercial where all they see are tootsie rolls. Well, Athena only sees letters and their ability to be combined and make sounds and stuff.

I know I am no help, though. I have always shown them what they would be eating for lunch/dinner and I have taken a blank sheet of paper and written "rice", "carrot", "fish" or "domino's", (oops, did I just let out a bams dirty little secret?).

Numbers are her gig too. She can count up to 200+ and then she can count in tens and only tell me the numbers that end in zero. This folks is her dad. He's what we like to call "an egghead", the sexiest and most adorable egghead around, but an egghead nonetheless.

Really though, she an an innate love of learning and we can only be proud. It is exciting to see her excited about it. Soooooo in conclusion....


My blog, my brag, right? :) It's the way of my people.

Oreo Kidding?

Actual conversation with my new 4 year old (if you know her, you'll be nodding throughout)

aba- Momma, I want a snack.

me- what do you want?

aba-a cookie, the circle ones that have the letters o-r-e-o on it.

me-o.k.

aba- no, o-r-e-o

me- yes, yes, babe, I was kidding, yes, oreoes.

*I hand her a couple of oreoes and leave the bag out*

aba-momma? I need milk to eat my cookies.

me- you want juice instead? We ran out of milk this morning.

aba- No (looking at me confused). Look at the directions. See?

me- directions?

aba- the big cookie is making a big splash with milk. I need some milk.

me- babe, you'll have to make the cookie make a big splash with juice because we have no milk.

aba- oh. but juice is not in the directions.

me- I have graham crackers.....you want graham crackers?

aba- yes (as she hands me the untouched oreoes)

me- here you go (handing her the graham crackers)

aba- can you get me the box? with the directions.

What Christmas?

I have just taken any/everything related to/resembling/associated with/thinking about Christmas down. It was awesome. Cathartic.

Now, I don't think my 4 year old thought it was so grand. I had woken up and had my gonna-get- my- house- in- order look and said to her "can you help me put the ornaments back in the box" she cocked her head to the side and said "why?" and I said "because christmas is over". She began to tear up and talk about Santa, and cookies and snow and gifts and wanting to keep the tree up and "what about the star?? can we keep the star?". I actually felt terrible after listening to her. But, being the a-hole that I am, I was like "sorry, Christmas is over. This will all be back next year. If you're good" lol. <------in my head. Michael took the dead tree to get recycled. Hauled the thing throughout the house leaving a trail of pine needles. fun. Next year, I am going to go ultra "green" and rent a real christmas tree. Serioulsy, it's all the rage in Canada. Look here

Anyhow, back to my beautifully, uncluttered house. I sound so "ba humbug" but, I am no Scrooge, by any means. A whole month of "stuff" is too long, though. I am happy to have my Living room back. God, I am Scroogey.

Oh and all of the foods that I ate this holiday. Ridiculous. Everything was chocolate, creamy, mint/spice/ginger flavored, baked, decorated, in little bags, in trays, in the console of my car (oops, did I say that outloud). Glad to be done with all of that indulgent eating too.

Now, back to the gym, back to portion contro-hol (in Prince's singing voice), vegetables, etc. All of this work to be able to start the cycle all over again next Oct 31st, which is when my hibernation begins. It is lovely, but all good things come to an end.

Ok, I see pine needles that need to get cleaned up. I guess I will put "Polar Express" in the dvd player for my 4 year old that I can still hear muttering to herself.