Grateful

So much to be grateful for!!!!

Structural Integrity vs. Sprinkles

Our princess Ella will be 4 tomorrow. We had a party for a friend Friday, so I decided to make Ella's cake a little early and "pretend" the party was for her as well. I was inspired by a cake that Nikki recently made for her little girl, and though I am no cake decorator I thought I might be able to pull it off. Turns out, not so much. But I'd like to think that what the cake lacked in structural integrity it more than made up for in sprinkles. And for what it's worth, the girls think I'm "the best cake decorator in the world!"

This is my Settlers of Catan cake......proof that both my cake decorating AND geometry skills need improvement.

My blogger's keeper?

My little brother started a blog! Although there's not much to see yet other than a picture of him as an adorable little boy and a picture of his adorable little boy, I know his blogging future is bright. He is one of the neatest guys I know.......smart, thoughtful, talented......I could go on about his other fabulous qualities, but I'd hate to make him uncomfortable his first day in Bloggyland. I will say, however, that I am hopeful he will post some of his original music (Did I mention he is talented?) Welcome to Bloggyland Justin! Can't wait to read what you write! (But can we just agree up front not to share any stories involving piles of pillows or dart guns?)

My awesome brothers and nephews.

There is no charge.......

...... for awesomeness........

...... or attractiveness.

 -my new favorite quote from Kung Fu Panda

So I still need to find the right ribbon to string these up, but I must say I was quite pleased with myself. Granted, the project only required the use of tape and scissors, but if you look closely you'll see that I even managed to line up my snips with the scalloped scissors correctly. For me, that's unheard of! I must be on a creative high because I already have plans to launch a business where I will specialize in personalized banners......or whatever you call them. I suppose I should at least know what to call my product.....:{

Pillow Talk: A Joint Effort

S: BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER, BE FOREWARNED: FROM THIS POINT FORWARD THIS POST IS AT THE VERY LEAST "PG" RATED.  

I am THE husband.  I don't do blogs.  I'm being held captive in my own king size bed against my will.  Joolee promised me a few favors if I cooperated.  So here's me throwing caution to wind.  (Closed circuit to Jules:  Is that good enough?  Can I go to bed now?)

J: Seriously? I knew this would happen. So much for our serious conversation about Christmas trees and acceptable Hanukkah presents (Steve thought one crayon a day for eight days would be enough to knock the kids' socks off). If we're not gonna share our heated debate about the upcoming holidays, then maybe I should insert a video clip of your smokin hot dance moves from earlier tonight? 

I would like to respond to a few things from that short, but oh so witty snippet.

One:  I was thinking of those real fatty crayons.  You know the ones with all the girth?  They look like little colored cigars.  By the eighth day they would be begging for the orange one to complete the set.

Two:  Since you brought up the X-mas tree...  I'm not a big proponent of any heathen phallic symbol in our house let alone one I have to water or paint so it keeps it's color.  

Three:  I couldn't help but sense a bit of sarcasm in your "smokin" comment.  Were you really impressed with my free style or was that just your way of saying I looked like I was about to overheat?

Now can I go to bed?

That, folks, is Steeb's big debut as a blogger. No longer can he openly mock me in front of his blog-hating friends or I will bury him alive along with his smokin hot dance moves. FYI....although he is about to saw some serious logs (logs with the girth of the Sequoias) he is already plotting future topics for Pillow Talk: A Joint Effort. So out of respect for his fragile ego, please refrain from commenting about the lameness of this post. This is what happens when two people are too lazy to get off their butts and go get their Bible study workbook out of the car or even watch T.V.(because they are participating in the Neilson Ratings and have to document everything they watch for a week in exchange for some cold hard cash.) It's dark in here and I can't see to type. Goodnight.

So much inspiration......so little time.......and skill.

I am not a crafty kind of girl. At all. I've been accused of being crafty, but the accuser's judgement was obviously clouded by one too many spoonfuls of my homemade chocolate chip cookie dough. I've found that if for whatever reason you're hoping to fool a few folks into believing you are crafty, all you have to do is whip up a nice meal of comfort foods, serve homemade cookies still warm from the oven, keep the fire crackling in the wood stove, light a few candles, and play a lil Jason Mraz in the background. Voila! Apparently.....instant crafty vibe.

Let me repeat. I am NOT crafty. I do not scrapbook. I do not stamp. I do not knit (although Julie's older sister Erica did teach me back in middle school). I do not sew. Occasionally I tie a pretty bow around something, but that is pretty much the full extent of my craftiness. 

Despite my lack of time and skill, I have decided that I would really like to get my crafty shwerve on. There are so many beautiful sites out there........eye candy that can literally make my mouth water. 

I spent last night drooling over my keyboard at this inspiring Heather's (different than our friend over at the EO) blog.

And just to keep you hanging, ("Can't......hang.......on.......much......longer") stay tuned for the big reveal of my recently almost sort-of finished creation.

Gabby Gwen

Mommy, I scribbled something on Ella's page and it's scary (with both hands in the air and fingers wiggling scarily.)

G: Am I mad? 

M: Why would you be mad? 

G: Because I am crying (and because she found her broken toy.)

You put me in your tummy?

And I grew up too?

*giggle* That's fun...I liked that!

Hunting Opener Triggers Rare Appearance of Fun Mommy

Fun Mommy appears to have made a half-hearted attempt to hang Christmas lights in the girls' room. In daylight, tacky. After dark, magical.

Concrete evidence of Fun Mommy's appearance........her favorite Fun Mommy playlist.

Evidence that Fun Mommy forgot about her lengthly to-do list to relax and dream a bit.

Looks like Fun Mommy was able to build a fire with wet wood. Only a super hero could accomplish such a difficult task while leisurely reading the Sunday paper.

Fun Mommy offers a non-healthy breakfast alternative.

Funny Mommy buys 4 little kid shovels to commemorate the year's first snow.

Fun Mommy even had time to style hair!

Fun Mommy let the housework slide for two days, but decided to sweep under the couch before the return of Fun Daddy.

AGAINST MY WILL..........

......I am sitting here semi-watching a previously recorded Rocky movie instead of following Fox News' Brit Hume (aka Droopy the cartoon dog) cover the disheartening election results.

......I got full body goose bumps as Rocky yelled "Hey Adrienne! I did it!!!!!"

......I have 3 of the kids' Halloween candy wrappers wadded up in tight ball next to me on the couch (as if to look like only one.)

Tonight is a disappointment on multiple levels.

A full body shot

The Julie Sofa

Available to the public for only $921.99

I may have unsightly saddlebags, but aren't those petite feet to die for!?