FOOD FIGHT!

Today is C's 100th day with us! What blessing to have her with us... though after today ... she might be having second thoughts.

But then... what else is there to do on a sunny Saturday in May but have a food fight.  Yes, you heard right.  Food. Fight (and yes, I questioned my sanity going into this whole thing).

But it all came together as a result of the seed the Diary of a Whimpy Kid books planted in Geo's mind.  And so I went with it.

A full on ...

Baked beans and chocolate sauce ...

Whipped cream and mustard....

Flour and tomato sauce ...

Mashed potatoes, strawberry syrup, and cereal FOOD FIGHT!

And in the end, we had a group of very messy people...

And one excited boy, ready to mark "Have a food fight" off his list of things to do before he's old.

Click here to check out all 151 photos (we put the camera on a timer and went to town)

If Life is a Highway

What time is it: 618P though my eyes tell me they think it should be later

Where am I: Oklahoma Christian University library while C has tutoring; realizing I have likely spent more time here in the past month than all four years of school combined... though... in reality I was hardly on campus those four years which is a prerequisite to being in the library

Listening to: a girl desperately trying to explain to dad how to send a file to her school email since mom is not home to do it.  It's like that scene out of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Thoughts:  I've been spending a lot (A LOT) of time in the car lately and have two very odd thoughts to come of all this driving.

1- I honestly don't know what the speed limit is most of the time.  I don't know if space out between the stop light and the sign or if I'm checking the mirrors to change lanes or messing with kids or whatever (and no- I'm not texting, that's been saved for the long waits at the the stoplight) but whatever the time warp situation may occur, most of the way into the stretch of asphalt and I realize I have no clue what speed I should be going.  None.  And I have begun to think that they should put a courtesy "Hey Moron" speed limit sign somewhere in the middle of the mile for people like me. So as it stands I aim for 40.  Most of the time in Edmond that's either 5 over (and I pray for grace from the police) or 5 under (and I pray for understanding from the drivers around me).

2- When people are walking on the sidewalk near the road and I'm driving in the right-hand lane, I have this fear that they will trip and fall on to the road and I will have to suddenly swerve to miss them.  Which is why texting is relegated to stoplights.

Me and Jamie Lee

What is is with me that has me on the coldest day of the year

shearing my hair

Maybe I'll die it gray and pretend I'm Jamie Lee

RTT: Before I Get Old

What time is it: 1007p

Where am I: at kitchen table making my way towards bed-- trying to be better about getting up early means needing to equally be better at going to bed earlier.

Listening to: two fridges dueling it out-- need to move borrowed fridge out now that real fridge is here. REAL FRIDGE IS HERE!!!

Thoughts:
Geo has really been into the Diary of a Whimpy Kid Books so for Christmas we got him the Do-It-Yourself book.  Within the book there is a list of "Things You Should Do Before You Get Old."  I was pretty proud of the fact that I could check off many things on the list.  But one of them- one of them has alway alluded me.  Until tonight.

Tonight I win.  Tonight I made it through a whole lollipop without biting it.  And a toostie roll pop at that. Check!

I'll Never ...

There's a well known fact within my family that if you say "I'll never ...." mark it on the calendar cause girl, it's sure to happen.  In fact, I had to very carefully word my hatred of the DFW airport and Dallas traffic when picking LK up there once on our way further south just to beat the system.  I believe I hedged my bets by saying "I'll really be upset if we ever move here," rather than stating "I'll never move to Dallas." Because, well I know what would happen if I said the latter (Texas here we'd come).

But after the last two weeks, I might have a new family saying to add to the list.

No one ever ....

When our first contract busted I began to pout and say "No one ever looks at a house this close to Christmas."  And four days later, we had three showings on the calendar.

After those showings with no offers, I buckled back down and stated as sure as fact "No one ever looks at houses the week between Christmas and New Year."  SEVEN showings later, my sure as fact statement was disproven.

Yes, but (I said after getting a few lower than expected offers) "no one ever buys a house in the middle of winter for what the house is really worth."  And yet, tonight we sit with three really good offers in hand and an all but a signed and finished contract.

Though honestly, after the last one, I don't believe I be exhaling until the names are signed at closing I'm marching my happy self out the door with keys to only one house.

But in the mean time, I'm pretty sure no one ever buries gold in their backyard before moving out of state and leaves said gold behind forgetting they ever had it. ... so I'm off to find a shovel.

The Eve Of

Two presents left to wrap, but given that I had not wrapped a thing before 8:45pm tonight, I'm feeling pretty good about only having two items left. And since technically I don't need those items until lunch time, I'm calling it a grande success (despite the fact that I ran out of tape and could not remember which moving box the spare rolls were in and thus I wrapped 80% of the gifts with duct tape).

Here's to a very Merry Christmas.

RTT: The Goodest Word

What time is it: 841A

Where am I: Old House preparing to head to New House for crunch time work

Listening to: the washing machine churn, ISH play Lego Star Wars, and my stomach growl

Last ate: Per statement above- haven't gotten around to eating breakfast yet, so I guess... coffee.

Thoughts: ISH likes to know the rules not so much in the want-to-know-so-can-break-em sort of way but want-to-know-so-I-don't-do-it-wrong sort of a way (I've said it before and will say it again- I have very compliant children. Blessing!). When we give him a new rule, for roughly the next week we will have discussion with ISH as he comes to make sure his foot is not over the perverible line or more to the point to make sure the foot is not even near the line when he does _______ instead of doing what he knows he should not. Yes, I struggle to not be annoyed by the constant questioning of what is in bounds and is it in bounds enough.  I know he does it with a pure heart.  He's a good puritan child.

Our most recent "we don't do that in this family" conversation was when the 5 year old neighbor dropped the F-bomb. Yes, you saw that right FIVE-YEAR-OLD!!!! Since then ISH has been concerned about the word being in his mind and the possibility of accidentally saying it. It's been a good discussion of the junk-in-junk-out rule.

 Through it all I've been trying to help him by saying that God wants us to focus on whatever is good, noble and pure so if he can focus there, the bad will not be as strong in his mind.  Let's focus on the good words I've told him.

Today he came to me and wanted to know if that is a very bad word, what is the "goodest word."

After a moment of thinking I replied, "Well, I guess it's love.  After all, isn't that all we need."

The great Beatles reference was lost on him. But he's young yet and that means we still have time to install the importance of good music.

Random Thought Thursday: The Santa Question

What time is it: 345P

Where am I: on campus waiting for Geo during piano practice

Listening to: Geo play the piano- auto correcting the line he keeps missing in Ode to Joy.

Last ate: Ramen- the dietary staple of my life as I work at New House which does not yet have a refrigerator.

Thoughts:
I was asked point blank yesterday about Santa by my youngest. Strangely we don't talk about Santa around here, or didn't really until Geo came home from first grade educating us all on the wonders that is.

But strangely, I found myself caught. I don't want to tell my child that there is a kind and loving man watching everything that goes on and if we are good this man will reward us... to only later tell him said man isn't really real but oh by the way let me tell you about God...

So I didn't want to say the truth but didn't want to burst his little happy Santa-loving heart.

Instead, I played the "what do you mean by is Santa real" question to see exactly what he was wanting to know. It boiled down to the question of can Santa go back up the chimney, and he seemed satisfied with the idea he came to that Santa must go out the door.

In my defense I never did say he's real- and in fact once said he wasn't- but then the talent of ISH's selective hearing tuned that out (he, of course, gets that talent from his father).

So I'm curious- do you do Santa? Do you tell your kids he's real? Do you go the route of a past friend of mine whose mom put footprints near the fireplace in the name of childhood magic? Do you squelch any Santa talk in the name of full on honesty? Or do you find yourself somewhere in between?

And in my own defense- at least Agatha the Gift Bearing Beagle did actually exist.

I think Jason Mraz is stalking me

Or maybe it's just the 14 hour painting spree I've just come off of. (It's very possible that this blog post will go unfinished because my hands will leave in protest of still being used now that I'm back at Old House).

Why might I think he stalking me? Because no matter what Pandora station I listened to today he kept showing up- Hip Hop (yes, I listen to Hip Hop), The Killers station, Folk- doesn't seem to matter he is always there. So clearly he is either the common denominator of all music genres or ... a Pandora restraining order against him might be necessary.

Other thoughts that I have from spending 14 hours with my Pandora account and paint

1. After prolonged exposure to Counting Crows from various live recordings, I think it is quiet possible that Adam Duritz may one day start lowly committing suicide on stage mid-concert and no one will really be shocked given the tone of his live concerts.

2. Does anyone think Justin Timberlake sounds Michael Jackson-esque in Rock Your Body?  Maybe that was what he was going for but close your eyes and think about it.

3. I plugged in Human to Pandora (Because I hadn't heard it awhile and so I put it on, that's why) and everything that came back sounded like it belonged on some sort of movie sound track or at least a Scrubs episode.

And now I'm off to talk LK into massaging my right thumb a bit more.  If by chance this post makes no sense to you, let's blame it paint.

The Crazy Target Lady

I won't be getting up to fight off crowds at 3, 4, or 5am. I won't be camping out in front of stores to be the first through the doors. Why? Because unlike this women, I have not lost my mind.



Seriously lady, seek medical attention.

Dear Rainstorm

Dear rainstorm,

While I appreciate your watering the earth and all, we have a showing at 12:30pm today. So, if you could kindly get this out of your system before then and let some sunshine come and make our house for sale look all happy and homey, that would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Random Thought Thursday: Rocks

What time is it: 1102P

Where am I: at the old house (oh the life of a land baroness)

Listening to: Frasier rerun

Last ate: I don't know if it counts as "eaten" but I did finally get around to trying an Earl Gray Latte from Starbucks, pretty good. Not a regular choice in the making, but not bad.

Thoughts
I think next year they'll add "2 bags of playground rocks" to Geo's school supply list. Judging by the amount of rocks the kid brings home in his shoes each day that's the minimum I will owe them by August of next year.

Random Thought Thursday: The Other

What time is it: 257P

Where am I: in line at Geo's school waiting for pick up time

Listening to: ISH in the backseat count to 100 over and over then randomly break into some previously unknown song.

Last ate: Fuji Apple salad from Panera. About to go to Starbucks and get some afternoon coffee with Mom (thankful to have them in town for a bit)

Thoughts
Yes, I'm one of those people. I'm one of those people who googles my name every now and then to see what's out there. But what I have found from this exercise has become very helpful over the last few weeks. Apparently there is another with my exact name, another who creates some pretty interesting things. Another whose friends inadvertently send emails to me which are originally intended for the other. Such as emails from her love interest inviting her to New York for the weekend. Or emails from the place she use to work asking her to come to this year's Christmas party. Or emails from other roommates with new roommate applications attached. You have no idea the temptation I've had to fight from the reality of the fun I could have screwing with her life.

Word to the wise - check the "to" field when sending emails.  You never know what kind of a weapon that information in the hands of the other could become.

Why Don't We

Tonight in Q groups Geo was asked to lead the prayer.

"And God, be with the Devil."

Oh dear- I thought, wondering what in the world was coming next.

"Help him to come to know you and make good choices."

Well, that wasn't what I expected.  I'm not sure what I thought was coming next, but that wasn't it.  And yet, it raises some questions for me.

Why don't we pray for the Devil?  I mean if he made the choice to fall, cannot he not eventually choose better?  Or is he just a hopeless cause?  Or if we are commanded to pray for our enemies, isn't such a prayer Biblical?

Random Thought Thursday, the Eve of 32

What time is it: 859P

Where am I: in the living room with LK

Listening to: Mom and Grannie in one room preparing for the week ahead, dad in another room wrapping up a business call, and the boys radio playing their good-night CD- an odd mixture in deed that is every now and again peppered with snorts or groans from the dog.

Last ate: The Wedge Pizza (the Prosciutto E Formaggi is by far my fav) about to be followed up by Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake, a lovely family birthday celebration

Thoughts: Tomorrow I leave for Brazil. My first time to the South American continent. Tomorrow I'll be on my way to 6 continents down, 1 to go. And yes, I do plan on getting to Antartica before I die if nothing more than to prove those who say I can't wrong.

Tomorrow I turn 32. Birthdays aren't a sad time for me- I don't pout or cry because I'm getting older. (I do, however, firmly believe that with birthdays come cake. No cake on my birthday- then you'll see pouting and tears -- you can ask LK on that one).

I love birthdays. Not because it's all about me- but more that it's fun to be getting older. I even love the fact that I've started to get gray hair. I figure if I'm not getting older, I'm dead- so I'd rather be getting older. And hey! I turn 32 tomorrow and am at this very moment wearing (and wearing well) pants I bought when I was 21 (thanks to Woolite and -most the the time- smart eating habits). So getting older doesn't mean it's all downhill. Getting older is just part of this grand adventure I plan on living for as long as I can (and living it well).

Sitting here feeling blessed,

In case you don't hear from me for a while

It's because I will be completely engrossed in this blog: Ana White!

Anyone who knows me well knows my love for all things Google SketchUp mainly because I'm so visually oriented that I can't understand how to make one shape into another without doing it (the geometry problems about take this object and flip it X degrees, now what does your object look like were always difficult unless I could have the object in front on me).  But this woman uses Sketchup to provide people with VERY easy to understand project plans for all things made of wood.

How I found her?  Well, I'm not really sure.  I think I was searching for ideas for burlaps curtains and came across another new favorite blog TaterTots and Jello who posts weekly reviews of things her followers have made.  From her weekly review I found Pregnant with Powertools, and while I am not pregnant (let me state the NOT again to make sure everyone understood it: I am NOT pregnant), I'm a superfan of her discourse on proper nailgun selections.

From there it's a little mucky where I went but regardless, I came to a site with an advertisement listing "Learn how to build knock-out knock-out furniture, just add boards."  And baby you had me at hello!

So if you can't find me, come check in the garage but it's likely I'll be in there with my big girl hammer (or hopefully a nail gun) building something fun.

And just as a public retort to Mandy's comment on being anti-minivan: find another way for me to haul two kids, a dog, LK, 12' boards, and various other home improvement materials to and fro and we'll talk about trading in the mommy-mobile for something more stylish- as for now, it's the only way you'll see me driving.

Have a great weekend:

Random Thought Thursday: To All Those Bible Class Teachers Out There

What time is it: 1044P

Where am I: on the couch not feeling totally great

Listening to: Colbert Report talk about the bed bug epidemic (that's not why I don't feel well, but on top of the yucky tummy I'm now feeling itchy)

Last ate: Saltines (bleh)

Thoughts: If you're going to be a child's Bible Class teacher, especially one focusing on stories of the Old Testament, you know that Isaac has two "A"s, not to "C"s, not "S"s, but two As.

Thank you.

Random Thought Thursday + 1

I know! There was a time when you thought I wouldn't shut up and now here I am going days without a word.  But between work, getting kids ready for the start of school, and starting to toy with the idea of moving to a different house (which in turn means projects to the nth degree)-- blogging has moved down the list more than a few notches.

But here's my RTT on Friday-

What time is it: 1207P

Where am I: kitchen table, sitting under the new chandelier I installed last night

Listening to: Word Girl playing on the TV in the living room (ISH hasn't started school yet)

Last ate: Um with all the projecting I haven't been eating regular food just grabbing what I can when. I think the last thing I ate was probably yogurt. Or maybe it was the rice krispy treat, but I think it was yogurt.

Thoughts:
It's hard to determine which was my worst idea of the week. It's probably a toss up between the spray paint and the paint stripper. But I am thankful for my dear LK who is not an "I told you so" sort of a guy, even when it is very very very very deserved.

Random Thought Saturday or Thursday or Saturday ...

I just came back from a wedding, yes, on Thursday.  This has now totally screwed with my day-perception.  I want to turn on the TV to watch SNL and I'm looking forward to Pop Tart Day (that blessed day where the boys eat Pop Tarts and watch kid shows and I sleep in.  I believe it's know as the weekend to the rest of the world) but neither will happen.  Why?  Because it's Thursday.
I'm so confused.

In other news, happy birthday to my wonderful and loving LK.

Thoughts from ISH

So I wasn't able to do random thought Thursday this week but have no fear! ISH was full of random thoughts throughout the day today to make up for it.  Here's a sampling:

After overhearing a conversation between a man and a woman where the man says his cats are his children: That man says his cats are his children, that's silly.
(side note, yes the man heard)

After emerging from the bathroom: I wonder why they call it a neck.

During dinner: They really shouldn't have named an orange orange.  There was already a color that name.

After dinner: I really don't like it when I hear someone throw up
(side note, no one threw up at dinner, just so you know)

Before bed: When girl has a mommy she calls her Mother.

Yup, never a dull moment around here.

In other news, the "While you were out" project continues .... pictures to come when finished.