From the mouths of babes.

Every time I tell my parents a story about something funny that one of my kids does, my dad always tells me that I need to write it down. I'm horrible about this, but the other day we had one funny moment that I just can't get out of my head.

We are deep in the trenches of potty training at home. When Hunter does things right there are songs to be sung and treats to be had. He's doing awesome, both at home and at daycare with all of it. Tuesday when the boys and I got home from work/daycare I had to use the restroom and I'm fully aware that using the restroom in peace with two toddlers is really out of the question. Sure enough, seconds into my alone time, here they come. This is how the conversation with Hunter went:

H: Mommy, you going potty?
Me: Yes Hunter.
H: Good job Mommy.
Me: Thank you.
H: When you done we'll do the potty dance and you get M&Ms.
Me: (Laughing hysterically)Thank you.

At that point H and B left me to my business and the second I came out of the bathroom Hunter was waiting for me. Again he asked if I had gone potty. (Yes) and at that point he took my hands and we proceeded to sing the "Mommy went on the Potty" song and do the celebratory dance complete with "WooHoo" and a high five at the end. After we completed our dance H says to me "Stay here, I go get you 5 M&Ms" and takes off for the kitchen.

This kid freaking kills me!!

Everybody cut, everybody cut...

Haven’t posted in awhile – Shocker… But, I thought I would give you a wrap up of my lovely little weekend.
Friday night I went and saw Footloose with two of my favorite people. We were all in love with the original, but, I have to say, the second one is pretty cute too. AND – I developed a ridiculous old-married-lady crush on the new Ren McCormick, Mr. Kenny Wormald. He’s ADORABLE. At the beginning of the movie I was kind of ho-hum about him and totally skeptical of this “nobody’s” ability to pull of the iconic role of Ren. By the end of the movie I was giddy-freakin’-smitten over him. Look at him – how could one not just adore that grin?

Saturday Chad and Grandma G took the boys to the pumpkin patch (their third one in a week) and I met up with some friends at the bar to watch the KU/KSU football game.

So…wasn’t much of a game for us KU fans. It was so disappointing. I have been on Team Turner all season, trying to believe that his soft style would build a bond between the players that would be reflected on the field. Newsflash – doesn’t matter how well they get along when they run around acting like they have no idea what they are doing. It was embarrassing to watch. Needless to say – I’m no longer Team Turner.
Sunday was a day for just me and the little men in my life. The morning was spent just being lazy and hanging out around the house. Baby B is finally starting to give real kisses and I must have gotten 100 yesterday. And every time he gave me one, Big Brother would want to give me one too. I was in heaven. After naps we met up with a friend at a local park. It was the first time that I had been to this park and I could sing its praises for days. It’s a public park but it’s built for those with special needs which actually makes it much more toddler friendly. The ground is even rubberized so we had NO tearful wipeouts. The park is completely enclosed which is great because I don’t have to worry about one kid making a break for it while I’m trying to keep the other from teaching himself how to use the firemen’s pole. The weather was perfect and I could have stayed there all afternoon but eventually we called it a day.
After a stop at the grocery store, we were home for the day. It was dinner, bath and bed for the boys and then I attempted my first vegan recipe. I am in no way, shape or form a vegan. One of my favorite people at work is and today is her last day so I had to give something a shot. I found the easiest recipe ever for vegan pumpkin chip cookies (3 ingredients!!!) and ran with it. They appear to be a hit today – so that’s good.
Now it’s Monday again and it’s back to the grind. We have a busy week ahead for Halloween. Our festivities this week include a cookie decorating class (for me), a family Halloween at work, Trick or Treating downtown, perhaps a little Boo at the Zoo action on Saturday and Monday is all about here, there and everywhere to show off the kiddos. Hopefully I’ll remember to take pictures. Happy Monday y’all.

5QF

It appears that I've been out of the loop as of late. New month, new perspective. I would like to think I"m going to blog a little more. Here's hoping I'm right.

I thought I would jump back in with a little Five Question Friday.



1. Shoes in the house - yay or nay? – I’m a yay on this one. Our house is run by toddlers, there are messes everywhere. Unless your shoes are covered in shizz, you aren’t going to do much damage so no need to lose the shoes.

2. What do you call them- flip flops, slippers, thongs, etc? – Flip flops. I cannot stand when people call them thongs. Yes, that’s what I called them in the 80s but now that word is reserved for an entirely different article of clothing.

3. What song are you almost embarrassed to admit you know all the lyrics to? – Okay, so there is this one song that I learned all the words to when I was a Freshman in high school and I thought I was SO COOL! It is probably the most vulgar and raunchy song ever in existence. I seriously can’t even give you the title of it because even the title is DISGUSTING. Anyway, we were at this party a while back and some girl had an “Old School Mix” on her iPod and that song came on and I still knew EVERY WORD. It was horrific – I was embarrassed for myself! Anywho, the song is by Akinyele and starts with the word “Put” – google it and prepare to be horrified. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

4. What is the best quality to have in a friend? – For me, it’s the ability to keep their friggin’ mouth shut. I have a really hard time confiding in people for this reason. I would never ask my friends to keep things from their husbands or family, but outside of that, if I don’t want other people to know the goings on in my life – I would hope that they would respect that. I feel like I do a damn good job keeping my friends’ secrets, I just hope for the same in return.

5. Do you know what you want for Christmas?
This...

La Mer Chain Wrap Watch
These...

KU Stackable rings
and These...

Houndstooth TOMS

HAPPY FRIDAY Y'ALL!

How we're spending our days...

I don't post often anymore. Not sure what to say, I guess. Just trying to get through life right now. But even on darker days - I have these two little guys around to keep me smiling.

This picture just kills me. They both look so big! I've had several people who have seen it tell me that they aren't sure which one is which - that they could be twins! They are growing up too fast for my liking. So many people on Facebook today have pictures of their kids' first day of school. I'm still three years away from that, but I feel like I could wake up tomorrow and it will be me. I'm not ready. So for now, we will sit back, relax and enjoy a few episodes of Bubble Guppies sans proper clothing.

Perspective

Tuesday I had every intention of posting a lovely “woe is me” post about how hard of a time I am having with the fact that Bo was turning one. It was all boo-hoo-hoo about the fact that I knew he would be our last child and I would never again get to hold a newborn of my own. I don’t want to be done having children, but for now, that’s the plan.
Then, as I was getting ready to put my thoughts online I received an email that I truly believe has forever changed me. A friend/coworker had received terrible medical news involving the word “terminal” and the prognosis listed “months” on the long end of things. One week ago I was sitting in our Loft eating lunch with this guy and laughing about life and kids and whatnot. Now he is making final arrangements.
He’s not the first person that I have ever known to get cancer. I’ve known people who have died from cancer. I have just never seen a prognosis so grim, so fast, and so out of the blue. HE WAS FINE A WEEK AGO!!!!
So quickly everything in my life seemed fine. I may not hold another newborn of my own, but the chances of holding a grandchild some day aren’t out the question. For him it is. How dare I bitch and complain about anything when I have good days left – days where I get to be truly happy. Does he? Knowing what he knows, probably not.
I am empathetic to a fault. I can’t help but weep for his wife and pre-teen children. Just because they have warning, I don’t know how you truly prepare for something like this.
So often I read blogs about moms that have lost their babies or have sick babies and I just sob for those parents and wonder what it must be like to go through that. What about when a 12 year old has to say goodbye to their daddy or watch him pass away?
Now don’t get me wrong – he has every intention of fighting this but it’s an aggressive little bastard that’s taking over his body and he knows his chance of winning isn’t good. Whether he wins or loses, his battle has certainly put things back in perspective for a lot of people.

One ONEderful Year!

Thank you Blogger - I forgive you...

Then...


Now...


How did this?


Turn into this?


Happy Birthday Bodey. I can't believe that you are already a year old. This last year has flown by at warp speed. Seriously, it seems like just yesterday you 10 pounds of pure colic! I remember thinking those nights were so long and that I didn't know how we would get through it. We did though.

You are certainly still a mama's boy - which I tend to love and loathe at the same time. It melts my heart the way you light up when you see me - but it breaks my heart when I can't pass you off long enough to use the restroom without you screaming. You're getting better though...slowly but surely.

You will eat everything and anything within arms reach. Our daycare provider was shocked by the warp speed at which you consume your snacks. I hope you stay a good eater and don't go getting all picky on me.

You are so in love with your brother and he is with you. You two could play together alone for hours. Saturday I walked into H's room to find you two like this:


Watch out Jonas Brothers. The Gerhardt Brothers are comin' up!!

My favorite part of the day with you is bed time. You are all snuggles as we rock to sleep. I cherish that part of the day and as you enter dreamland and your tiny baby snores sneak out - I pray to God to watch over you and your brother, and thank Him for giving me such an amazing gift.

Happy Birthday Bobo! We love you to the moon and back!!

Party TIme!

We celebrated Bodey's first birthday yesterday and it was just wonderful. Bo wasn't sure what to think when he arrived but once we introduced him to the balloons and removed the ridiculous hat I had been forcing him to wear, it was par-tay time!

He seriously just sat like this for the first half of the party and let big brother open all of his gifts. When we tried to get him to help he would just cry. So sad!

Seriously - hated the hat. Like his shirt? The adorable Molly crafted it for him!

Once he discovered the balloons it's like he was a new baby! All smiles and chatter!

Smash cake before

Smash cake success!

And the cake for the rest of us. I have seen versions of this around the interwebz and since his "theme" was just primary colors I thought that this would be the perfect cake. A good friend of mine made it and it tasted even better than it looked!!

One of the best parts about parties like this are that the cousins get to hang out together. I wish I had taken this picture before his cousin Eric had left so you could have seen all of them. They had so much fun just running laps around my parents' house!!
I’m glad that the party is over though. Now I have just one more full day with my sweet baby before he is officially ONE. I’m not ready for this at all, but that’s a different post entirely.

Pour Some Summer Goodies on Me!!!

I recently participated in my first blog swap and I'm so glad I did. I got paired up with an absolutely lovely woman and we exchanged summer goodies. It was great. There is nothing like getting home after a long, boring day of work to find a box full of great gifts - just for you! Here's a look at the pure awesomeness that I received.



First let's talk about that cup. Oh lordy, that cup is AMAZING. I'm kind of a drinking glass snob. I HATE cups that sweat. I drove my parents crazy growing up because I never used a coaster - now I don't have to!!!! I have used this cup EVERY day since receiving it. Admit it - even iced water tastes better in a really cool cup! When I first got it I thought I was going to have to hide it from Chad. He has deemed it the perfect whiskey cup. He's yet to get to try it out. Angie also included a Texas Margarita recipe which I'm sure will taste fantastic in that beautiful, double wall cup with the big plastic straw!

Then there were the flip-flops. So shimmery and summery. I don't have a lot of purple in my wardrobe yet, but thanks to this great gift, it may become my go to summer color. I already found the perfect shirt to match them. And speaking of shimmery - that lip gloss is so great - gives a super slick look!

I was in serious need of some new nail polish because I was in a dark depressing color rut. I have no fun colors at home. Only almost black purples, and almost black reds. I'll be donning this fun color all summer...and thanks to the toe separaters and file, my nails won't look too jacked from an at home pedi.

The best part of this whole blog was getting to "meet" Angie. She's an amzing woman with some of the most adorable kids I've ever seen. I had never read her blog before but now I'm hooked. I really admire her family's love for getting outside and playing together, not just hunkering down in front of the tv like so many families do these days (including ours FAR too often). If you get the chance to check her out, please do!

Thanks to Aly, Lindsey, Chelsea and Molly for hosting this great swap and
Thanks again, Angie, you certainly helped get my summer off to a great start!

5QF - 5/27

1. Do you apologize to your kids?
NEVER! Okay that's a total lie. I feel like I'm constantly apologizing to my kids. Like when I accidentally bonk Bobo's head on the door frame as we're walking out the back door or when I accidentally slam HDogs tiny fingers in the bathroom drawer. I even apologize when we don't have juice in the house when secretly - I'm freaking glad that daddy hasn't brought home more "juice" from the store. (side note - Hi-C does not equal juice, but Chad doesn't seem to get that.)
Last week I actually yelled at the boys to stop yelling. I was apologizing and begging for forgiveness before the original words were even completely out of my mouth. And then I cried. Mom fail.

2. What color are your nails right now?
Finger nails - Nude a la Mother Nature
Toe nails - Some horribly dark purple from OPI that I threw on last week. I had a great pedi complete with "Big Hair, Big Nails" from OPIs Texas Collection but had a huge chip on my big toe and I ended up pulling it off minutes before we left for the lake last weekend so I had to find the darkest polish I could to cover it until I could fix it. I still haven't taken the time to fixit. Nail polish fail.

3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good".)
I was the Queen of the "My Tummy Hurts" story. I don't know that it worked too well though - mamma saw through my BS from an early age. Typically if it didn't involve a fever, my bootay was at school. My best bet was to go to school, try to con the nurse into believing I was sick and getting sent home.

4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed?
I know that it was in the last two years because it was since we moved back from Hays. I'm already on the hunt for a new one. I bought that one on clearance because I thought it matched our bedroom walls, but it really doesn't. It totally belongs in a teenage girl's room. I'm really on the lookout for a cream colored quilted coverlet with some dark green accents. Anyone know where I can find one?

5. Favorite website(s)?
I will provide you with a bulleted list because that is the easiest way to do it:
- Facebook - I love me some FB
- Babycenter - Seriously, I attribute all of my parenting successes to things I learned from those women
- Twitter - It's slightly addicting. I mean, I know Ramona Singer's innermost thoughts...you can't BEAT that!
- textsfromlastnight.com - If you have not been to this site, you MUST GO. People text incredibly funny things while inhebriated.

There ya go, another 5QF down.
The weekend is almost here and I can't wait. If you need me - here's my agenda...
Zoo, Park, Lake, Park, Lake, Dinner, Movie, Bar, Lake, Pool, Pond, Home. And theeeeeeeeen I have to be at work at 5:30 in the A.M. on Tuesday. No rest for the weary!!! If you're luck I'll actually take pictures of some of these things and write an exciting post that actually includes current pictures, but don't get your hopes up. :)
I hope everyone enjoys their extended weekend - but don't forget the reason we have it. The only bad part about my busy weekend is that my husband's class reunion interferes with the time that I typically spend traveling through Northeast Kansas (and a little bit of MO) placing flowers by the headstones of my favorite war vets - my grandpas and my great uncle (as well as flowers for uncle, my grandma, and great aunt). Take the time to remember those you've loved and lost this weekend as well.!

Pure Randomness...

Two members of my family made trips to Urgent Care yesterday. One of them came home with 11 staples in his head. You can be sure that this person was NOT one of my children because then the second trip to Urgent Care would have been to have me sedated - which it was not. Short version - Chad has staples in his head because he seriously hit on the door frame of his truck while he was climbing in. GAWD. Seriously, he called me on his way to Urgent Care and was totally out of it. I thought maybe he'd have one or two but when he told me he had 11 I almost died!
Our second trip was when Baby Brother's mouth kept bleeding. I turned into uber paranoid mom and needed to figure out what happened. Verdict: Waste of a co-pay. They didn't know what caused it or what to do for it. Oh well. It finally stopped bleeding and he never seemed effected by it.

This is Big Brother's favorite thing to do. Please note - We do not mow the lawn with small children on our laps. But, once the lawn is mowed, Chad does like to take the kiddo for a spin around the yard (with the blades up). He lets H steer and it takes everything in my power not to pass out. H loves this so much. While daddy mows he stands on the couch and looks out the back window and waves at him every time he goes by and yells "I gon' wide da mowa" Melts. My. Heart.


Here's Chad's victory from turkey season this year. I hope you're not offended by it. Chad actually made me keep H up until he got home so that he could show him his trophy and they could get their picture taken with it. H fell asleep on the sofa waiting for daddy. Hence, he looks a little out of it in this picture!


Last but not least - during the months of March and April I spent a few weekends in KC helping my sister, the tax accountant, with some tax stuff. One of the weekends I was away Chad took the boys to the zoo and posted this picture on FB. I checked it on my phone and after doing a double and triple take I realized that Baby Brother's shirt is on backwards. Please note - It's a V-Neck onesie made to look like a jersey. How he missed that, I will never know. I called Chad to inform him of this and all he could say was "That explains why I had such a hard time snapping it." Ah, dads... God bless 'em!


I hope everyone has a great weekend (seriously, it can't get here soon enough)

You know you want to know...

{1} If you could choose a Super Power, what would it be?
I would love to move like The Flash. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day but if I could move at warp speed perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. And who knows - maybe I would be a better housekeeper if it only took 30 seconds to do the whole house.

{2} What would be your first frivolous purchase if you were awarded a million dollars tomorrow?
I want a boat! I'm torn between a big ol' Pontoon party barge and something with some speed. I just want it to be big and shiny. The rest of the million would end up going to gas! (or college funds - but whateva!)

{3} What would be the hardest current luxury for you to give up?
This is tough. I don't feel like I have a lot of luxuries but that makes me think I take too much for granted. I would have a hard time giving up my cell phone. It's not too fancy but it has Facebook - which is pretty much the only way I keep up with what is going on outside my own four walls.

{4} If you were given a choice between being given great wisdom and great wealth, which would you choose?
Can I cop out and say that I would choose great wisdom with the understanding that it would lead to great wealth? No? Too bad...that's what I'm going with.

{5} If you were to be stranded on a deserted island for 100 days what 5 THINGS would you pack?
- toothbrush
- a People magazine subscription (better have a mailbox on this island)
- TV
- Bobo
- H Dizzle

Go link up!!

5QF

It's that time of the week again...


1. Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none?
Out of that group I would have to say ankle. Though the lowest ankle socks imaginable please. If I'm going to the gym and I'm wearing shorts or capris it drives me NUTS if you can see my socks at all. I've been knowns to fold socks down so you can't see them.

2. Was your childs (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate?
With H, I got a text from a friend the day we found out we were having a boy and it was all of her favorite boy names. Chad started reading them and (obviously) like Hunter. There was really no question after that.
Bo was a different story. Before we ever got pregnant with bb#2 Chad had always said that if we had another boy he wanted to name him Bo so we would have Bo & Hunter (Chad = Bow Hunting Redneck). I was 100% opposed to the name. Fast forward 14 weeks to the night before our sonogram and we were watching the Olympics and Bode Miller won a gold medal and I was professing my love for him and decided that I really like the name Bode and thought that if we had a boy that could be his name. Chad jumped on board way too quick - because it meant he could call him Bo. Sure enough, it was a boy and his name is Bodey.

3. What is your favorite type of weather?
High 70's/Low 80's, sunny, no wind. Perfect for hitting the links or sitting on the patio of your favorite drinking establishment and enjoying some cool adult beverages while getting a healthy dose of Vitamin D.

4. If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day?
I would L-O-V-E to sleep until 8am every day. 7:30 wouldn't be so bad either. If I slept until 9am I would wake up only to question whether or not I had died and gone to heaven

5. Have you bought your cemetery plots yet?
Nope. We are plot free. Honestly, we haven't even had the where will we be buried conversation...

T-Town loves O-Town

Sometimes I like to come to my blog and write horribly embarassing stories about myself in order to prove to you all that I'm not perfect. What? You never thought I was perfect to begin with? Eh, whatever...

So here's a diddy from back in the day... almost 10 years ago.

My freshman year of college Lou Pearlman produced a little show called "Making the Band" (pre Diddy, Da Band and Danity Kane). My friend Nikki and I were OBSESSED with the show and the band of its creation - O-Town. We were nearing our twenties and still had so much teeny bopper L-O-V-E for this group. "Liquid Dreams" may go down as the cheesiest song in history but that's okay - we loved them anyway. Side embarrassing story: When their second album came out Nikki and I went to Hastings at midnight to get it. Some other uber popular album came out at the same time and the place was full of people buying that one. We were probably the only ones there for O-Town - but they were such a guilty pleasure!!!

Anywho… in 2001 O-Town was slated to play at Jingle Jam in Kansas City. We snatched up tickets with a quickness. The radio station hosting the concert was giving away tickets and meet & greets nightly and we knew that we had to get down on that. So for a few nights we would blow up our cell phones trying to be the 93rd caller. Finally, one night when we had three phones going, Nikki finally got through. We won tickets and the chance to meet and greet one of the artists performing at the Jingle Jam. We had a choice between Michelle Branch, Barenaked Ladies, Jessica Simpson and others. For us, there was no other option. We picked O-Town!!!

We decided that if we were going to meet The Great and Powerful O-Town we needed to come baring gifts. Since it was close to Christmas we decided that we needed to make them Christmas ornaments. “What did the ornaments say?” you ask. T-Town loves O-Town! Oh my lord, I have to laugh as I right that. Total Cheezeballs!

The next part of the story is really long…but I’ll try to trim it down. The radio station was supposed to call and let us know where to be for the meet and greet. They never called. Thankfully my ex-boyfriend worked for the radio station and when we got there he helped us track someone down…only to find out that we had MISSED the meet and greet. No shit – I cried! I was in the bathroom trying to compose myself when Nikki came running in yelling “let’s go – we get to meet them!” Through the help of my ex boyfriend (God bless him, such a good guy!) we actually got to hang out in the green room with them before their show. DYING! We were so nervous. When we got down there only three of them were there but they were so nice and (acted like they) really appreciated our ornaments. It was so much better than a meet & greet. We got autographs and guitar pics as well as memories to last a lifetime.

Last week, Nikki posted this picture on twitter and tagged Ashley (Parker Angel), Trevor (Penick) and Dan (Miller) in it:

I woke up this morning to this message on facebook: BAM! Trevor retweeted the picture.

That totally makes us famous!!! Now I am totally that 19 year old girl again getting all giddy and I’m totally convinced that they want to be our friends. (You can tell I’m excited because I keep using the word “totally”) Because maybe, just maybe, O-Town loves T-Town too!
Now, for your listening pleasure, I leave you with...

Because I needed something to break up the monotony that is my life, I decided to give We Want to Know Wednesday a try. Here we go...

What game show have you always thought you could be on and totally WIN!

When Chad and I had Hunter we also apparently turned into 70 year olds because now we always watch WOF after the 6 o'clock news. When Hunter was a baby he LOVED it. He would be sitting in his saucer and as soon as he heard that distinctive sound of the wheel going 'round he would whip around and watch the show. It was so funny. Anyway, Chad and I constantly try to answer before the other one. I consider it practice for when I finally make it on the show. And besides, even if I don't win, I'm guaranteed $1000 so that's winning in my boook! Oh yeah, and I have an unnatural crush on Pat Sajak!!

Do you have a tattoo(s)? What are they and what made you chose them? If not, would you get one, yes/no/why?

This is not my actual tattoo. But it's a google image of a similar tattoo. I got it when I was eighteen and just graduated from high school. I was actually at the tattoo parlor while my boyfriend at the time was deciding on a new tattoo and ended up getting one instead. I'm not a HUGE fan of it - I think I picked it because it looked like it would be quick which meant not a lot of pain. It still hurt, I still cried. It's not hideous and I often times forget that it's even there. I really want to get something to symbolize the boys - I just haven't decided quite what or where yet. I'm open to suggestions...

What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?

I received this as a Christmas gift from Chad at Hunter's first Christmas. It was very unexpected and much appreciated. I'm glad this question came up because it made me realize that I don't wear it nearly enough.

What is your driving pet peeve(s)? Other drivers in general! I'm not kidding. I have the worst road rage ever. I am whole heartedly convinced that everyone else on the road is out to piss me off. It certainly makes for an interesting commute! I've been known to get a little loose lipped with the French while the boys are in the car and Hunter loves to repeat what you say - bad Mommy!

What was your favorite sitcom growing up that you wish was still on?
I would just love to know what Clarissa and Fergface are up to these days!!!

Love to love ya baby!

The always adorable Molly tagged me for "10 Things I Love" and I automatically responded and asked if it was her subtle way of telling me to freaking post already! Either way - it got me back into the swing of things. Now, let's see if I can actually make a habit out of it.
Without further adieu - here are things I love:

1. These three guys. Is there really any question here? Between teething, tantrums and refusing to sleep past 5:30 AM they can certainly drive me crazy. And that’s just Chad! I kid. I kid. The little ones are the light of my life and answer the question – Why did God put me here? The big one is my best friend and my biggest headache.


2. The rest of the family… I am truly blessed to have one amazing family. My parents are AWESOME. They have been so supportive of me and I owe them the world. My sister is my closest ally and I love her to death. Her family is so beautiful and I love spending time with them.


3. My girls. I am so fortunate to be surround by such amazing women. They are all hilarious and know how to make me smile. The support and love that I receive from these women is pretty amazing.

4. Shoes. I had to admit, I’m pretty fortunate here. I’ve been given the opportunity to work for a company that allows me the privilege of feeding my addiction. I still have shoes sitting in boxes that I’ve never even worn – but just had to have because I couldn’t pass up the price. Strangely enough though – my favorite shoes, and the ones that I get the most compliments on and are hands down the most comfortable are a pair of $5 loafers I got from the Wal last year when I accidentally left home without work shoes.

5. The University of Kansas. I’m a lover of all things Jayhawk. This is no secret. While I don’t believe in regrets, I often do wish that I had been able to graduate from KU instead of moving home after my freshman year to go to the WU. But then I realize I wouldn’t have met Chad and wouldn’t have the two cutest boys on the planet, so I guess it was all part of the plan… Regardless, I still bleed crimson and blue. Basketball, football, baseball…you name it – I love it. I believe in the power of the Rock Chalk chant and there is nothing like hearing it first hand in Allen OR Memorial.

6. Baby stuff. Okay so, if you came here from Molly’s blog you’re probably asking yourself – did you just copy and paste her answers? NO! Though I got a little creeped out when I realized how many faves we had in common. I want nothing more than to open my own baby boutique and fill it with all of the wonderful baby things that I had to order because no one around here sells it – not to mention baby couture (side note: it’s almost impossible to find a baby seersucker suit in this town – even at Easter!) It’s true that you can find everything that you need for your babies at BRU or Target, but there are a few special things that you just can’t find there and I would love the opportunity to bring those things to my home town.

7. Sleep. Again, Molly hit the nail on the head with this one. As mentioned in my #1 Fave – I don’t get much of it. We’ve opened a can of worm with our oldest, who now likes to spend 50% of his evening in our bed and then wakes at 5:30 demanding cartoons or (gag) Barney. The sweet baby was sleeping wonderfully for awhile, but has, in the last week, decided that 3:00 is an awesome time to wake up and spend at least 90 minutes pushing me to the brink of my sanity. So sleep, yes, I love sleep. I certainly wouldn’t turn down more.

8. Diet Coke – quite the necessity considering I don’t sleep! I can be a little picky about my diet coke though. I prefer fountain diet coke - in a styrofoam cup - gas station style. My least favorite way to drink it is out of a 20oz bottle. It gives me the burpies!
9. Thai Food. Seriously – I LOVE it. I only get to eat it for lunch though because my husband has yet to come around to how amazing it really is. Now I’m craving it. Guess I know where I’ll be going tomorrow…

10. The lake. Any lake will do. We have a friend that owns a house on Otter Tail lake in Minnesota and I seriously think that was one of the most fun trips I have ever been on. Up at the crack of dawn fishing. Home to nap or float on the lake. Nights by the fire drinking and laughing are asses off. This year the annual trip to Minn has been converted to an all guys trip and I seriously cried when I got the news. So, a group of my girlfriends and I are heading to Table Rock in MO this July. This will certainly be a different type of lake trip as we are renting a new lake house and plan to do nothing more than drink wine and get tan. Can’t wait!

I'm supposed to tag 10 people to do the same but a lot of those that I would tag have already done this one so I will throw a few more out there... Be sure to check out there blogs as well. Good stuff!
Michelle @ Michelle's Moments
Ashlee @ Mommy, Unscripted
Mrs. EyeCanSee@ The Juice is Worth the Squeeze
Caroline @ Oh Pickles!
Amy @ Life Follows Faith
Lindsey @ Lovin' My Life

Thanks for stoppin' by!!!

Music Memories

One of my favorite things to talk about are the memories that can be brought on by songs. I always have my “Top 5 Songs that Shaped my Life” as well as know of songs that really trigger something in my head and take me directly back to a different time and place. That’s the magic of music. Anyway, when I saw Kate link up to The Perfect Compellation Tape - I had to join in because I love love LOVE this topic.

Below are my Top 5 Music Memories:

The Refreshments – Banditos
I had always been a fan of this song but rarely heard it because it came out when I was in the 8th grade and I would only catch it now and then during the “flashback lunch” on the radio. When Chad and I had not been together for too long we were driving around in his car listening to a mix CD and this song came on and he knew all the words. I was shocked. Not a lot of people really knew this song so for him to know all the words was crazy – he was like 11 when the song was “popular”. Strangely, at that moment, I decided this was a guy worth keeping – possibly marrying – someday.


Sisqo – The Thong Song
It’s hard to think about the summer after my senior year without thinking about this song. It was ALL OVER the radio. That summer I worked at Vanity in the mall with a bunch of great girls. We always had the same radio station on and that song seriously played once an hour. Every time I hear it, it takes me back to those days of hanging backless shirts (ugh!) and cheesy screen printed tees.


Better than Ezra – Good
Eighth grade year my friend invited me to Heart of America basketball camp with her. Mind you – I was NO GOOD but she was awesome. I’m pretty sure she just kept me around so she could feel better about herself – but I digress. My parents bought me two tapes for my walkman so that I would have something to listen to on our downtime and on the 2 hour drive to camp. Deluxe by Better than Ezra was one of them. When I hear this song it takes me back running wind sprints during the hottest week in Kansas history (at that time), where I had food poisoning and managed to lose 15 lbs in one week. Best. Diet. Ever!


George Straight – I Saw God Today
May 3, 2008. I was taking a shower and this song came on the radio. I was three months out from our miscarriage and for some reason the song struck a nerve and as I listened to the words, I started sobbing, bawling uncontrollably. I was engulfed in self pity. I was grieving for the first time in weeks. I was sure that I was “over it”. I got out of the shower to find that I had missed a call from my brother in law. He called to tell me that my sister was in labor and they were heading to the hospital. I packed my bag and made the 3 hour trek to Topeka to meet my parents and head on to KC. And many more hours later – I saw God that day – in the eyes of my newborn niece.


Matthew Sweet – Sick of Myself
This song always makes me think of my sister. I’m not sure why. It reminds me of her senior year and this big book of CDs that she had. I didn’t know Matthew Sweet beyond this song. I still don’t know if a lot of people even know who he is. The CD cover for this song was him when he was little wearing headphones. So cute. Jenny and I didn’t get along really well at this time in our lives, but we did seem to bond over music – and this song always makes me think of that.

HuntDog Talk and Hawk Talk

Hunter has learned out to climb out of his crib. He has also learned out to open his bedroom door. This is both adorable and terrifying. Last night we tried to lay him down and he was not happy about it. We kissed him and told him “Night, night” and closed the door. The little booger started screaming and 10 seconds later he was banging on his door to be let out (we had put a safety cover on the knob immediately after he proved himself capable of opening the door). We opened the door and the sweet little drowsy toddler walked out the door, turned right, headed down the hall and straight into our bedroom, hopped up onto our bed and went right to sleep. I was fighting back laughter because it was so stinkin’ cute. Chad was shooting me the “quit laughing, you’re only encouraging him” look that he’s notorious for. In the end, we let him snooze for a while in our bed and finally transported him back to his own bed – which he climbed out of again at 1:30 a.m. and knocked on the door until one of us released him. So, we are trying to decide what our next move should be…
I am not above putting one of these up…

Chad thinks we should go this route (what dad doesn’t?)…
But, we’ll probably just end up ripping the side off of his crib, converting it to a toddler bed and keeping this bad boy on his door to keep him inside. On to more exciting news… (If you don’t care about college basketball, feel free to stop reading here)
KU is back in the Sweet 16 Baby!!! (I’m channeling a little Dicky V for that one!). My sheer excitement over this fact is constantly getting tarnished by Facebook and all the haters out there – particularly some bitter KState fans. KState had a tough loss on Saturday and I really felt bad for them. Jacob Pullen played his little heart out, but unfortunately, it kind of looked like he was the only one that showed up in Purple and you can’t win a game of 5 on 1. Now that the ‘Cats are out of the running all of these bitter KState fans are just HATING on the Hawks. I find it highly annoying that they would magically become Richmond fans just to root against KU. I just don’t get it. I’m a supporter of the team, my state and my conference (with the exception of Missouri – but really, who cares about Mizzou anyway?) If KU was out of the tourney, I would route for the ‘Cats. Honestly, I would route for any Big 12 teams (sans Mizzou) that was in the tourney even if KU was still in it – up to and until the point that team went head to head with KU. That’s just the kind of fan I am, I guess not everyone is like that. I’m just going to have to avoid all the bitter Bonnies’ on Facebook after we take down Richmond on Friday.

There – I’m stepping down off my soapbox. Happy Monday. Have a good week.

Blogger Envy

Last month I saw a report on this article on the Early Show and realized that this was totally an issue that I was dealing with in my day to day life. Not only on Facebook, but even more so on the blogs. I wasn’t just putting my life out there as a fish story – in all its perfect glory, but I was also suffering from the issue of seeing what everyone else has put out there and getting consumed in the fact that their lives were so much better than mine.
Everyday I get online and read so many blogs about people’s wonderful lives. Their adorable families, all the great crafts they do, how amazing their husbands are and then I just become completely enveloped in the fact that while my family is adorable, I’m in no way crafty (and even if I was, I don’t have time for it) and while my husband is a great guy and a great dad – I don’t have “amazingwonderfulhusbandstories” to share with the world. That’s just not our reality. It makes me feel like I don’t belong. I’m only hurting myself. And yet – I continue to do it.
My life is not perfect. My life is messy. Chad and I love each other but sometimes we have to ask if we really like each other that much. We argue. We fight. We say things we (hopefully) don’t mean. We talk about next steps. We make up. We do it all again. Seriously, are we the only ones? That’s what it feels like a lot of the time.
Sometimes, I want time away but I refuse to make it. I feel so guilty asking for any time to myself. I haven’t had my hair done in 10 months (roots = ugh!). I have a gift card for a free pedicure that I got for my birthday 11 months ago that expires next month – I doubt it will get used. I try to make plans to do these things. Guilt takes over. I stay home. I WANT to stay home (sort of). I want to be with my babies, I want to cuddle them and laugh with them. They are what make all of this okay.Here’s the weird part. I’m not saying this because I want people to feel sorry for me. I’m saying it because it’s true. And I’m saying it out of respect for people that are honest on their blogs and on Facebook that do talk about life’s imperfections. They have my respect, and this post is merely my baby step toward becoming an open and honest woman and blogger.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

The time has come. Pencils are sharpened. Brackets are set. Ladies and Gentleman, I (or the NCAA) bring you THE BIG DANCE!!! I love this time of year. There is just a fun vibe in the air and whether you are a KU or KState fan (or any of the other 62 teams’ fans) it’s time to get down to work and devote your time to doing nothing but watching basketball and calculating the perfect bracket.

Here are a few of my thoughts on the Big Dance as it relates to the Big XII.

- #1 Seed, #2 Overall – ROCK CHALK Baby! Though I have to admit that putting them up against a “B” team has me a little anxious – but it’s time to break the curse. There is a great chance that these next few weeks will be the last time that we see the Morris brothers suit up in the crimson and blue so it better be memorable (and let’s keep the ugly fouls to a minimum boys).

- I would like to formerly apologize to all of the KSU fans that I made my NIT jokes to. Congratulations on pulling your heads out of your arse just far enough to make it to the dance. I kid! I kid! Though don’t be offended that in half my brackets you don’t make it past the first round. It’s nothing personal. It’s business.

- I’d like to send a big “What the F?” to the commission for omitting CU from the dance. Shutting out the Cats as well as beating Mizzou and Texas just weren’t enough to qualify? How is that possible? I guess a weak preseason lead to their demise. I’m not a Buffs fan, but I am a fan of the Big XII (of which they are still a part – for now). I Rock Chalk with the best of them, but heaven forbid the Hawks make an early exit, I will continue to cheer for other Big XII teams (the exception, of course, being Mizzou because, frankly, I hate them). But I digress… CU got screwed – Plain & Simple.

- Thank you to the braketeers for making sure that KU plays on Friday, not Thursday. I like to be able to enjoy my St. Patty’s Day for what it is – a great excuse for green beer. I prefer not to worry about KU playing basketball. I still haven’t recovered from the Bradley incident of ’06 where my day of celebration and fun came to a tragic end and I left the bar pouting and pissed off. While I don’t believe under any circumstances that KU will lose this week, I still like to keep my bases covered.

That’s it kids. Now I’m off to fill out yet another bracket… Any guesses who I have in the chip!?!

Because it's Friday.

1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?
So far – no – but this is a big time fear of mine. My parents lost me one time at a Kmart in Kansas City. I was probably 5 and think I’m still traumatized by the whole ordeal.

2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like...first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!)
Really gonna have to think this one out. I would have to say that it was Freshman year in high school and we went to see Mars Attacks. What a horrible movie and the guy I was with was a douche canoe. We may or may not have wandered around the mall too – because really, what else are you going to do when you’re 14?

3. What's your "silly" fear? (We're not talking water and heights.)
Hmmm… I like to think that I don’t have any “silly” fears, but I’m sure I probably do they just aren’t coming to me right now…

4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away?
Perhaps I should bucket confrontation as my silly fear. I really REALLY dislike it. If I’m in a confrontation I tend to just shut down and cave. I’m particularly spineless (which is fine because I’m aware of it, right?) and tend to just appease the people confronting me. I rarely RARELY ever confront anyone – other than my husband of course.

5. Wood floors or carpet?
Our house is carpet and tile but I would love to have wood floors as well. I’d also really like to have stained and stamped concrete floors in our basement…assuming that we lived in a house that actually had a basement.