watching history.

I invited (without options) the kids to watch the Inauguration with me today.


Joey kept asking where Hulk was.

Andy gave me a token comment, "Yeah mom. The guy's got a good job." Then he disappeared.

Dani braided my hair.

Jake stood on his head. Most of the time.

Kacie slept.

And now we have a new Mr. President.



I watched my kids watch.
And thought about how Dani may be 18 when we watch this again.
And thought about change.
And thought about Abraham Lincoln's bible, and Joey's new underwear, and Jake's excitement when he saw Oprah.
And thought about Sasha having sleepovers.


And about how tomorrow, today will be history.

So I better watch.

this is what Dani wants for her birthday.

Not a video game.
Not an animal.
Not pokemon.

A typewriter.


I love this girl.


(found this one on ebay...it's perfect...Dani loves yellow...ends Sunday...7 bids...i'm nervous...wish me luck...a typewriter.)


I lost the bid by $1 in the last 2 seconds. hmph.

potty confessions.

Joey's potty training this week, and I'm so happy. Not only because buying 1/2 the amount of diapers each month means more money left over for fancy peanut butter, but because my mom's here. So...so happy.

Oh, you say, so sweet. She loves her mom so much. And I do...oh I do...and I love baking bread and talking shop with my mom...but my jubilation is utterly selfish. Completely.

Because.

My mom is the ultimate Potty Trainer. And I have taken advantage.

Confession: I have only trained one of my 5 children. Dani. Jake did it himself, for the most part. My mom trained Andy 3 years ago. I had nothing to do with it. And now, while she's been emptying the portable plastic potty for the last 2 days for my 4th born, I've been...uh...I hesitate to say...shopping.

I know. Brat.

Here is where I lose all credibility and no longer relate to my loyal and loving blog readers because now I have admitted my spoiled rotten-ness. Yes, indeed, I spent a complete 3 hours ALONE at Marshalls and Old Navy finding deal upon deal and resisting impulse buys, while my sweet and so generous mother whom I love so much was at home teaching my child how to pee in a pot.

It's kinda like when Kate + her 8 gets the free trip to the penguin farm and you're like "uh, this isn't real life. Whatever." Or when you love a blog because the author is so much like you and then she talks about her appearance on Martha. But you still love her, you just know there's no longer a chance she'll be your bff someday. Or when the lady at church says she's so tired because she only got 8 hours of sleep last night and your sleep-deprived self is like "I hate you."

Don't worry guys. I don't sleep much. I still work hard and suffer with you in all other areas of yuckiness. I wipe the noses, the dirty bums, the unidentified stickiness.

But yet, it's true. I did shop.

A little guilt. I got a pair of Levis for $15.

Thanks mom. You're the best. I love you.

perfect Valentine for your lovey.

The Man Pit.


it's all about your level of committment.

goose grease.

I love these guys. I want...I mean...I would very much enjoy a custom Cruze family to sit on my mantel. I'm not sure how Michelle and Kelly would get Joey's finger up his nose, though, if we're going for details here.

They're pretty talented. I'm sure they could figure it out.

Each picture is linked to their Etsy site. Check 'em out.

better than Christmas.

I cleaned so hard I moved the couches. Do you guys do that every time? Me, not so much.

Little did I know the festival of new discoveries this would unleash or I would've done it long ago.

Not only did the repositioned stinky sectional suddenly gain a whole new respect in its new temporary placement, but we're talking City of Lost Toys people! Better than Christmas, says Andy. And indeed it was. They jumped and squealed and cheered with every new inch of exposed carpet. It was like revealing a goody bag of sweet memories; over and over.

Andy found MarioPinball, his "motht favwitetht lotht thing...evoh!!", and a random green stretchy bracelet that suddenly had special meaning.

Joey found books, cars, the red connect four piece that has been haunting his empty space on the grid, darts, pokemons, and nasty half eaten snack bags galore. They're not allowed to have food in the bonus room; and there it was in its sneaky glory.

I am happy to have found 4 lost hair accessories. A good bleaching of these ouchless babies and I'm back to ponytails. Woohoo!

And finally, the one we're all real thrilled about....
The BurpMaster 2000.

Take it away Kacie.



Fabulous.

isabelle.

I used to sneak into the basement and steal fabric from the big box to make bags for my bears and girlie trinkets. Now it's electronics. Isabelle gets a cozy little home for her new Nintendo DS and portable DVD player. With pockets just the right size to hold Nintendogs. So fun.

I love straight A's.

And my hard working kids.

Friday was report card day. I love report card day.

My kids are not only hard workers, but they're smarter than me. And I'm so grateful. Because Krispy Kreme awards straight A students with half dozen hot doughtnuts if they bring in their report cards.

HOw cool is that?

Very cool.

So after our "you deserve something cool" reward trip to Target (walking in with a whole lot of indesicion, and leaving with Pokemon cards and a Tiny Pet Shop trinket, and covergirl pressed powder) we ventured into the beloved building of joy and happiness, picked up some hats, some free doughnuts, and I kissed my kids. Again.

And then we ate doughnuts.

Good job, Dani & Jake. You're awesome.

Melissa's Mexican Fiesta Biscuit Bake

For Caryn.

Go beyond chicken and potatoes.

Spicy dinner making powers, activate.

1 (1 lb. 1.3 oz) can Pillsbury Grand Biscuits

1 (16.oz) jar thick and chunky salsa

12 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 Tbsp chopped cilantro

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced

sour cream for topping

Cut your biscuits into quarters and put them in a big bowl. Add salsa, cheese, green pepper, onion, cilantro, garlic, and chicken. Stir it up.

Place mixture in a greased casserole pan. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Melissa made this for all of us last week. It was so so so good, so I tried it right away at my own table. Every single one of my kids loved it. I even got the "this is the best dinner in the world" award last night.

But even better, the "you should be on Food Network Star" trophy came out a couple times, too.

Those words make me happy.

Thanks Melissa.

My hair is deeply moisturized.

Beauty products kill brain cells.

I did a few wild and crazy things in my old age and wrinkly face, I'm willing to admit...I bought products last month...and I started a face washing regimen. I've never really washed my face before. I'd rinse it, maybe use a cotton ball, do the Noxema splash, but that's it. Never with hair pulled back and the washcloth and the soapy eyes mummy walk to find the towel. So, I liked the new Dove commercials and chose to browse the beauty aisle. As a result, I've become bedtime buddies with the gentle exfoliating Dove soap bar, a washcloth, astringent, the lotion, and the mummy walk. The whole shebangbang. And I pluck. Which has nothing to do with my story.

So here's where it gets good, bad, and ugly...

As we were packing for Alabama I grabbed my face lotion and threw it in the toiletries bag with my tweezers. Then, for the first time in like a month I took a second look at my hair de-frizzer to decide if I really needed to take it with me.


And I was like...



Because. And this is why...

The bottle on the left is my face lotion. The bottle on the right is my hair cream.

*** the crickets chirp here.

Uh...NO it's NOT!!

Big humongo DUMB!!

So there it is, my beauty product buying friends and forever family who will choose not to make fun of me. The reason I don't call. My brain is dumb. And my rebellious hair is apparently untamed. But it is UVA Protected.

Here are my excuses for the mix up...


um.


In my defense, they are both 4 oz. Very similar.


Dear 2009,
I promise, with all fibers of my being, to pay more attention when applying anything creamy onto my body, or any soft surface, and to leave the beauty deals for the smart people. I will not allow genius marketing skills to target my 30 something vulnerability. And I will write a letter to the Dove top dogs explaining the miraculous results I've had using their hair cream. On my face!

The end.

Dumb.


I'm making Mexican Fiesta Biscuit Bake tonight. in case someone needs ideas. And still believes in me.

drinking chocolate.

Dump all this in a big pot

and heat until the chips melt

and the heavens open.

1 cup chocolate chips

1 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4 cups water

You can adjust the chocolate and water

if it's too rich for you. Wimp.

i've learned this lesson before.

don't leave popcorn unattended.

ever.

and...don't leave bonnie or clyde unattended.

ever.

both life lessons are important to remember. again.

Alabama Vacation Photoshare.

Stone Mountain Georgia & Taladega State Park.

holiday hangover.

Today was spent unpacking, snacking, wiping, boxing, hanging, washing, wiping, sweeping, sleeping, picniking, and more wiping. Not leaving nearly enough time to spend with my welcome back to blogLand post, blogging about Christmas bloggy stuff. YOu know, cute pictures of kids in new pajamas ripping off fancy wrap, the menu for our Christmas morning feast and a half, what I got, what they got, what we'll be returning...you know, the uje.

It's dangerously close to dinner time to start deep descriptions; and I'm oh so sarcastically anxious to finish off my day with some cooking, sweeping, eating, wiping, and wiping.

So here's the quick rundown...no pictures, too tired. LIke 5:00 am too tired. We had Cookie Crisp for b-fast. Got a wii, and we're doing lots of this.


My wii age is way too high to be comfortable.

Tomorrow I do some jump-jacking, push-upping, stair-running, snack-avoiding; life-saving stuff.





And I'll blog.
It's good to be home.

what are you making for dinner? quick, gimme something.

To Family. And expensive cameras.

We're in Alabama. Loving my family.

I know what you're thinking...
How in the heyday did they get all those lovely faces pointed in the same direction for such a fabulous photo? Answer: we didn't. My brother-in-law is a MacDaddy, and he cut and pasted entire heads with his Mac brilliance. Now you know our secret. The Sethinator.

So until I return on Monday, I will leave you with happy New Year wishes, the fun task of figuring out whose heads are fake, and 3 good reasons why I will pretend buy me a fancy pants camera on sale at Costco for Christmas '09.

I love my family.

And a good photo shoot in the hills of LalaBama.