sidekick

The weather is turning soon so I made sure to appreciate today's delightful running conditions. 

Oh, and I took the boy.

  We stopped for some pictures.

Then raced the sun home.

thrill-seeking lego athletes

We believe that Brenda's latest lego creation was inspired by the TV show "Wipe Out".

Have you seen it?

It's one of Brenda's favorites.

Sadly, it looks like none of her contestants got very far...

Nobody likes a braggart.

So I won't go on and on about my PR (personal record) 10k time.  ...53:46.  I won't.  ...That's 8:40 pace.  That's all I'll say.  That's it.   I really should just keep it to myself since I said earlier in the summer that I wanted to do a 10k in less than 50 minutes, before Fall.   ...Failed.

Totally failed.

And yet, I'm still JAZZED!!!

The 8 attending RA members gathered at the start.  (RA, Runners Anonymous, is the coolest facebook group of all facebook groups I am sure.)

 Solana, me, and Sheri.  Just LOOK at that view!

Just Mommy and me.  (Book reference!)

I'm not the only one that PR'ed.  Mom and Solana can be braggarts too!  And we'll hang out, just the three of us, 'cause nobody likes a braggart.  ...Unless you're a braggart yourself.  Then you can just hang out with other braggarts.  ...And have smoothies. 

Do my pins interest you?

So out of curiosity I joined Pinterest.  Everyone else is doing it.  Then found out it's pronounced pintrest.  ?  Then got bored.  I'm never really gonna do anything with this.  Then got annoyed.  Thank you for the email every 30 seconds.  Then got even.  Make me sift through lame stuff.  I'll show you...

So I started pinning things like this:

and this:

...then starting thinking, Oh this is fun!

Now, I'm not completely wasting time.  I found a few things that seem to more fully embrace the Pinterest spirit-

...but I'm not touching my floors and that dress would look terrible on me.

Back to the good stuff...

HAHAHAHAAA!

Brenda contributions

I think Brenda could give lessons on proper decorum in the doctors office.  

She's a pro.

night, night

"Suzie, are you sleepy?"

"No.  Mom? a mountain?"

"Yes, that's a picture of a mountain.  Good job."

"A mountain!  OOOOhh! ...Mom!  A mountain!  Tanks!!  ...Mauphoblikoopy?  Abekochoo!  I  yuv you!"

"I love you Suzie."

"See da mountain?  Mommy! DANCE!!"

(I'm bopping)

"HAHA!!  mrflipo... (something in Korean)  Mommy STOP!"

(I stop)

"Tanks Mommy.  Dere's a mountain!  MOM!  What doooooes a COW SAY??"

"moooo"

"What dooooes a peecharmay?"

"Ummm ...what does it say?"

"JOPE!!  ...What dooooes a sheeeep say?"

"Baaaa"

"Dat's right!  A cowmoblipormintweeeee..." (more Korean)

"Suzie, ready for bed?"

"No tanks.  MOM!!  A MOUNTAIN??!!"

"Want to see Uncle Tyler tomorrow?"

"Hucko Tider?"  Where's Hucko Tider?  HUCKO TIDER!!!"

"Let's go to bed."

"NO.  (Puts hand over my mouth)  (whispers) Quiet Mom." 

..

....

"....Hucko Tider?"

bribe vs incentive

I am all for giving my kids incentives.  I've heard parents say that they don't believe in bribing their children.  Well neither do I!  Bribing involves criminal activity and I'm not that desperate.

Anyway, Brenda has been refusing to comply with teeth-brushing time.  And by refusing I mean screaming, crying, slamming doors, hitting...  And by the time she is disciplined, held-down, brushed and sent to bed we are all tired and grumpy.  Time for some incentives!!  So I made this chart-

Each time she complies with a proper brushing she gets a square checked off.  Twice a day.  Hopefully each week she fills a line and then gets herself a new lego set.  (You know those 4-5 dollar little sets?)  After a month I'm hoping to just do a check per day and start stretching out the rewards.  Otherwise this will turn into a bribe as I will be forced to start stealing legos.  (Those babies add up!)

And since I am a nifty-chartmaker I rewarded myself by drawing up a new dream house plan.  The kitchen is raised up with a half-wall, giving separation with an open feel.  And I'm willing to have a third guest bathroom if the kids will leave it alone...

Now let's have cereal for dinner.  ;)

cheap chair & Mike is ...where?

I showed off my latest FIVE-DOLLAR, 2nd-hand find to my sister-in-laws and they were sweet.  and quiet.

They said it's "me".

(Well, they said it's "you" 'cause they were talking to me.)  

(You get it.)

Why yes it is!  That's why I love it!!  

One particular SIL said it's a grandma chair.  I think she and I should totally go shopping together.  We'll both find things we love without snooping into each others carts!  Wouldn't that be fun Talitha?  Wanna?  Let's!!  I need to look for grandma rugs...

I plan on giving this lovely, lovely piece of furniture a re-cover eventually.  I like what's there but there is a small collection of stains which will soon begin to grow with the tenacity of ketchup, mud, peanut-butter, diapers, juice, crayons and three kids who will remain nameless.   long sentence.

And where is Mike while I'm having so much fun?

He's got JB's back.

...Savin' the world.

See him?  Isn't he cute? -Uh, I mean BRAVELY HANDSOME?

an honorary obligation

I was hesitant to do a post in honor of the date.  It just seemed obligatory.  But after I posted my facebook status:

10 years ago I was weeks away from having baby #1.  It was the first time I experienced the "momma-bear" instinct.  Who DARES to destroy my child's country?!


-I thought about how I am part of that history and that makes what I have to say worth something. 

But instead of my words, how about Garth Brooks?  One of his best songs was used as a tribute to the Oklahoma City bombing.  I think it applies today.



And if you're not wanting to take the time to listen now then here's the best line from the song,

"What I do is so 

this world will know

that it will not change me."

Garth Brooks | Myspace Music Videos

If I used my time wisely...

...well then there'd be no drawing/picture of Garret watching Toy Story in the living room with a new rug, some missing furniture, missing toys/mess, missing wall-hangings, an oddly-placed backyard view of France, and too many stripes.

Does my living room really have so many stripes?

Talk about productivity...

Hmmm, let's call this one: French Toy Story

P.S.  I saw, on my stats, that someone ended up on my blog after doing a google search with the phrase- "I'm not sad anymore".  I'd like to say to this happy stranger - "Excellent!".

Brenda & Suzie

If sisters were free to express how they really feel, parents would hear this:  "Give me all the attention and all the toys and send Rebecca to live with Grandma."  

~Linda Sunshine

I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness.  

~Emily Dickinson

Sister to sister we will always be,
A couple of nuts off the family tree.
~Author Unknown

If Netflix told me to jump off a bridge...

Netflix was all like- "Because you liked North and South and Wives and Daughters we just know you're going to love My Princess.  Wouldn't you like to neglect everything and watch it now?".  And I was all- "Really?  Do I look like an idiot?  Don't you dare waste my time with some Princess-Diaries-gaggy-blah show Netflix!!" 

...But Netflix assured me that it knows all and I will obey.

So glad I did!

Oh heavens it's adorable.  10 episodes down- 6 to go.

Does anyone here speak Korean?

sigh of relief

I am not sad to see the Summer break end.  Nope.

I need some order.  Some quiet time.  Some structure that I'm just not capable of ...producing?

But we still gave Summer a proper Goodbye with family and fun-

Why don't I take more pictures?   

('Cause I'm lazy, that's why.)

I like the look o' this!

 LA LA LAAA!!

(ahem)

I enjoy perusing home-decorating blogs and just picking out rooms for my house.  Want a Lindsay-dreamin' tour?

family room

Just change out those odd ottoman legs and we're set!

sun room

Oh happy room!

dining room

I could kiss that floor.

kitchen nook

a nook that could inspire me to cook...

den

As soon as I move in that chandelier is gone.

Aren't those such pretty rooms?

I would declare a tour-of-homes week within our blogging community, but that would mean I have to clean the whole house and expose all the unfinished rooms and damage that is has occurred...  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Anyone else have pretty house pictures to share?  Anyone feeling inspired to decorate?  Wanna go vintage-secondhand shopping this weekend?  We could "OH" and "AH" over old wooden iceboxes.  Then we'll go out to lunch.  Something with focaccia bread and cheese.  ...and caramel and nuts.

LA LA LAAA!!

Suzie decorates with duckies.