one Saturday in Tucson

One Thursday in Tucson: I posted about my daughter's messy room

One Friday in Tucson: I wrote a draft about ordinary stuff. Book. Recommendations. I didn't finish, but figured I'd finish up the next morning.

One Saturday in Tucson:

since then: posting that draft seemed futile and silly. I wanted to write something, anything, but it seemed like I was making the events about me when they weren't. At all. I know I haven't posted because I feel like I should mention something, but there isn't much I can say. I felt terrible. I was shocked. I felt violated, like it could have been anyone. Now I just feel lucky. We're all wishing Gabby the best.

That's all I'm saying about that. Tomorrow I'll go back to posting about ordinary, silly things. That's my life, and I'm tremendously grateful to be lucky enough to live an ordinary, silly life.

I warned her . . .

Brianna's closet could no longer be opened. I'd told her countless times to please clean it out. As always, I suppose she assumed I'd get tired and just go in there and do it myself. I get a lot of "but you don't leave things where I can find them" and "but you throw away everything" but ultimately, she ends up not having to clean it herself. This time, as much as it's bothering me, I'm not going to clean it. Once again, I. Am. Not. Going. To. Clean. It.
She had plenty of time over break to do it. She didn't. I warned her that next up, I'd be taking pictures and showing her friends. (insert evil laugh here) I walked into her room a little while ago and saw her upside-down on her bed on the phone.
Notice the unmade bed, and the clothes and backpack on the bed. Eww.

But I guess you're telling yourself that I'm making a big deal and am probably exaggerating. Oh yeah? Bam!

Yes. That's her room right now. All that was stuffed into her closet. Notice the JCPenney bag full of old papers she's "going to throw out". Yuck. I think she's auditioning for an episode of tween hoarders. I'm {{this close}} to just going in there and throwing things out/cleaning things up myself, but I know that's what she's waiting for. It's an old fashioned stand-off and I'm not backing down. My next move, I'll post these pics onto her FB account. If that doesn't work, I'll tag all her friends (insert full-out cackle here).
I'd like to take this time to thank the technology world for not having invented blogs and/or FB when I was a kid. Whew!

"Put to bed the son and sister moon. I'll be hiding in your dirty room".

***UPDATE***
It's clean! It's super clean and the closet is sooooo organized. I LOVE it!

my sometimes funny kids

My kids crack me up. Not right this minute but sometimes they do. At this minute, I'm trying to get Alec to please, please, please finish up his homework before we go off to soccer. Brianna has an after school meeting today, but when I go get her she will undoubtedly scoff at something or roll her eyes or do some other sort of annoying thing that only 12 year-old girls manage to perfect.
I was looking through the old blog, though and came across some old posts from 2007 about silly things the kids said. I'll share them here for you just as they were written then . . .
(Sorry if you've already read them. Pretend you haven't).

Post about Brianna titled: Oh My God Cholesterol

Brianna: what's "Oh My God cholesterol"
me: huh?
Brianna: Oh My God Cholesterol. What does that mean?
me: where did you hear that?
Brianna: I read it on the dressing label
me: let me see that
I looked at our bottle of Ranch dressing to see what she was talking about. The label reads 0mg Cholesterol.
me: oh! This isn't "Oh My God Cholesterol", Birdie, it's "Zero Milligrams".
Brianna: Oh!

Yeah, I tried not to laugh, but I had to. Now I'm here thinking how the heck does she know "OMG" anyway?

Post about Alec titled: Boy Cheese

A few weeks ago, my son asked me if he could have some "boy cheese". At first I thought I wasn't understanding what he was saying. I pretty much ignored it thinking he was asking for something else.
Yesterday right after school, Brianna asked me for a grilled cheese sandwich. Right after, Alec said, "Yeah, and I want a boy cheese sandwich".
Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!! He thinks Brianna is saying "girl cheese" and that's why he asks for "boy cheese". Cute but uh, ewww. I explained and I hope he hasn't told his teacher that he likes boy cheese sandwiches.

Ah, my kids. Whether they're making me laugh or getting on my last nerve, there's never a dull moment.

".. come with us we'll sail the seas of cheese"

Eat In Challenge

People have been stopping me on the street, knocking at my door and calling me wanting to find out about this challenge we're doing for January. Too much? OK, a few friends have asked me about this Eat In Challenge I posted about on FB. So, I got the idea from here and it's just what it says, no eating outside food for the entire month of January. At all. None. All meals or snacks must be cooked or prepared at home.
It really interested me, in all honesty, to save money. Plus, I was feeling a little yucky after all the holiday feasting.
So far, it's been going well. If you notice, I've been posting our dinners on the right side -->
I only post dinners because we pretty much always have breakfast here as it is. It is very rare that we'd go out for that. Also, I really don't "cook" breakfast other than on weekends anymore. We have the usuals: cereal, toast, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, juice and coffee (of course not all on the same day, calm down). For lunch we'll have leftovers or some quick little meal and in the evening I cook dinner.
I was soooooo tempted tonight, though. I was tired and all the recipes I'd planned out for the week seemed like they'd take about 75 million hours of prep. I almost caved. Almost. After a while I reevaluated what I had, changed it up and make some little mini burgers. The kiddies loved them which is always a good thing.
I think it'll be harder on weekends or when we pass right by a Starbucks, but for now, we're hanging in there. Wish us luck!

"Have a banana, Hannah. Try the salami, Tommy. Give with the gravy, Davy. Everyone eats when they come to my house!"

2010 Music Faves

Music is very important to me. I used to like to think that I had a pretty open mind, but when it come to music, I like a very specific type and hardly deviate from there. Sorry, there will be no country music played in this house or my car. Ever.
I never got over making "mixes". Now instead of recording mix tapes, I make playlists. I make several per year then at the end of the year a "My Faves" playlist. Here's this past year's list . . .

- Animal: Neon Trees <-- I know, I know. I'm over it, but heard it A LOT this past year.
- Crystalized: The xx <-- This song was on my list last year (as those of you lucky enough to get a copy know) but I only started loving it at the end of 2009, so I had to include it in my 2010 list as well.
- Die By The Drop: The Dead Weather
- Futile Devices: Sufjan Stevens
- The High Road: Broken Bells <-- I played this song over and over ALL summer
- Holiday: Vampire Weekend
- How You Like Me Now: The Heavy
- Howlin' For You: The Black Keys
- Islands: The xx
- I Want You To: Weezer
- Light of the Morning: Band Of Skulls
- Lisztomania: Phoenix
- New Fang: Them Crooked Vultures
- Pumped Up Kicks: Foster The People
- Radioactive: Kings Of Leon
- Ready To Start: Arcade Fire
- Sweet Disposition: Temper Trap <-- Yes, I know it isn't from this past year, but I only heard it this year so it counts for me
- Tighten Up: The Black Keys
- Write About Love: Belle & Sebastian
- You Will Leave A Mark: A Silent Film

Do you make one? Care to share your list with me? Any songs you loved this past year?

"Patrick actually used to be popular before Sam bought him some good music." - The Perks of Being A Wallflower

mellow yvett

I had a massage today and I really can't post right now. Let me clarify, I had my first ever professional massage and facial which was my Christmas gift from my amazing husband. I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness. I went here and if you live here, run, don't walk. You want to go to there. So, I'll maybe post details at another time. For now, don't bother me, my Chakras are all balanced. Om.

Of course, I snapped some quick pictures. How could I not? When the therapist left the room so I could a-hem "disrobe", I took a few. Here are the left-over Chakra cards I didn't pick. I chose the first three (missing here) by the card then got to smell each of them without knowing what they were until I picked my favorite. The one I ended up choosing was "Wisdom".


"I haven't felt the way I feel today in so long it's hard for me to specify . . . . "

December 2010 Recap

My family, just like yours, had a pretty busy month. It seems like we all pack so much into the end of the year. We had fantastic highs and suffered a terrible loss of a friend. I think that this loss was a big part of my blog overhaul. With her passing, those of us that knew her were suddenly aware of just how precious life is and how we want to share moments and happy memories with loved ones. Here I'll share some of our December 2010 moments.

- The owners of my favorite restaurant hosted a get-together for 75 of us at their new restaurant. It was a blast! We had to wear ugly Christmas clothes and got the chance to taste their yummy food and cocktails for f-r-e-e! Here's Brian, the owner, giving a speech thanking us for supporting them. They are amazing! If you live in town, you really should go!

Here is our good friend Mike and my husband in their terrible Christmas shirts.

But I was the winner of the best, er, worst dressed by donning this little gem. Jealous?


- We attended Alec's class performance of A Christmas Carol in which Alec played Jacob Marley. Let me add that he took his role very seriously.


- I hosted our 2nd Annual Cookies & Cocktails party where we had yet another sugar overload.


- Alec's soccer team played their last game of the year and wound down for a three week break.


- We attended the lovely Celebration of Life for our dear friend Kim. I cried and cried and cried some more. Then I saw her amazing husband. He's been holding it together and sharing with us. He's been quite gracious. After the service, there was a reception. This was one of the rare moments in which I considered not taking a picture. But I did, in celebration of Kim. She would have loved the service and I would have told her that the food was delicious. Look at Alec enjoying it!


- The night of the Winter Solstice eclipse, we packed the bed of our truck with blankets and pillows and laid out there watching the moon. Alec, half asleep, right at the point when the moon was all red, glanced and said, "Oh yeah, I've seen that before".


- We spent Christmas Eve . . .

. . . and Christmas Day

at home eating, playing and napping.

- We went to Texas to visit our families. Here's Brianna with Great-Grandma (my "Ata")


- Badger must've been a good boy this year. Santa even left presents for him at Grandma's house!


- We had Monopoly games that went well past midnight only to be continued the next day.


- Brianna turned 12! I can't believe it. Can someone please explain to me how I am the mother of a 12 year-old?


-We went out for a hilarious evening of bowling. We were quite terrible but had a great time.


- New Year's Eve was spent at my boss's house. They hosted their 5th Annual Kid Friendly New Year's Eve Party. Here's Brianna with her "fancy drink" (Sprite & grenadine)


- The kids painted their faces and we all played Just Dance 2 on the Wii. It was a night of laughing and snacking and great company. Oh, and yes, you're not truly proud of your child until you see that she painted a martini glass on her forehead.


- Overall, I have to say that December with my family was pretty great. We laughed a lot, were very silly, ate a lot, ate a lot, ate a lot, and hung out. I don't know how it will be tomorrow when we go back to "normal". We've been on break, so we got to the point where we didn't even know what day it was. We haven't woken up at 5:00 AM or had the kids go to bed at 8:00 for over two weeks. Ugh, good luck tomorrow, all!

"And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last. I can't remember all the times I try to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass".

1/1/11: New Year, New Blog!

In December of 2003, I started a blog. At that time, my little kiddies looked like this. . .

At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, at that time, it wasn't as easy as it is now to blog. I needed to learn about HTML code to just change a color or add a picture. If you wanted comments, you had to have an outside source to host them.
Blogging is super user friendly now and MANY more people are doing it. I love it! When I first started my old blog, it was strange to send out my words into cyberspace. I had intended to use it to keep in touch with friends and family, so what ended up happening was a complete surprise. I made an amazing group of friends. You guys know who you are. Throughout the last seven years, we have followed each other through marriages, kids, moves, fertility issues, deaths, babies, food, travels and everyday life. I have a group of friends that I've never actually met, yet I'm closer to them than I am with relatives.
I've loved my blog. I've grown it, I spent countless hours on it but I sort of felt bloggy ennui as of late. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I think it's just that I'm not the same anymore. I'm grateful to have it and it's awesome to have an online journal of the past years, I'm just not "on the same wavelength" anymore. I'm no longer on diaper duty and no longer feel like a new mom. I don't like the old name (which was chosen as an email address when I was college age and far from being a mom). You are still welcome to see it and read it. I'll share the link with anyone who wants it. Many of you still have it. It just felt like time for a new start.
Now my kids look like this . . .

We live in a different state, have made more great friends, have added a furry baby to the family and are overall more grown up. What better time to start a new page than on 1/1/11? It's time. I don't know if I'll post to the old page too often, but for now, we'll share with you our life on Lot 65. Welcome. Here's wishing you a great New Year!

"Well I've been afraid of changing 'cause I've built my life around you. But time makes you bolder, children get older, I'm getting older too".