For those bored nights

I'm not sure how Hulu came to Wade's attention, but it would've been better if it hadn't. For those nights when we're not thrilled with our Netflix options (need to remember to stay on top of that queue), we Hulu. And because my husband is smart when it comes to cords, we can hook our computer up to the tv, enabling me to watch without whipping out the ole crooked glasses. (I'm not sure how they got crooked. I never wear them and as far as I know they stay in the case. The one time I wore them I was at the grocery store and it was so nice to be able to read the signs that say what's on what aisle.)

The choices are kind of B list. And the ones that aren't don't necessarily have all the seasons available. Despite that, some of the best tv ever is on there. We're talking Firefly, News Radio, The O.C. (season 1), Kitchen Nightmares. Good stuff.

Two down

Belle is officially a school goer. She goes to the coolest school ever. We went for a visit last year and tried to get in, but it's so cool that nobody quit. Her schedule isn't too bad - three hours a day three days per week.

Wade's schedule, on the other hand, is kind of crazy on Belle's school days. Ava has to be picked up around 2:30, or whenever the teachers get them out, and Belle's pick up time is 3:00 several miles away through serious traffic. Next year the girls will be going to the same school, so I think we can deal for one school year.

Like the photo? That's Belle saying, "Here's your freakin' smile. Now get the heck outta dodge chumps."

Where do you draw the line?

I draw it right here. At this outfit.


Ava prepares her outfits the night before and I usually double check them. You know, to make sure she doesn't wear stuff like this in public. I'm all for the kids using their clothes as a creative outlet, but damn.

My initial reaction when I saw this fab combo was to take her straight to our eye doctor. Obviously there's something seriously wrong with her sight. She was dead set on wearing the shirt. It looks lovely with her jean skirt. So, I encouraged her to pick the jean skirt and gave her the night to ponder it and hopefully dream about the taunting she'd receive and the phone calls I'd get from her teachers.

Here's the up close in case that first picture didn't make you retch.

As you'd imagine, it didn't work. She woke up consumed with the thought of how great the colors complimented each other, a sore throat and miserable with allergies. Having been beaten on by ragweed all week, I felt for her and decided that she should spend the day at home.

Belle's Birthday

You're not going crazy. Belle's birthday isn't until Christmas Eve. But she's been planning her fifth birthday party since two days after her fourth birthday. It would've been the day after, but since that was Christmas Day, she was occupied for a few hours.

She'd like it to be known that she's having a Mario Party. I've been stalking some Mario pans on ebay (since they're from 1989!) and came across this uber cute Super Mario Mushroom Cookie that I'll have to make. Looks like Wilton has taken down all their old shaped pan instructions. Surely they didn't trash all that info and it's just buried deep in their site.

In case you missed last year's party, it was a royal event involving Princess Ariel. Due to the unfortunate date of her birth, we try to party at least twice (we've even done half birthday parties, which opened a can of worms I wasn't quite prepared to deal with and landed Belle with a seriously infected ear lobe) in an effort to prolong her realization that she's going to be screwed.

Blowing out the candles. Note the placement of the candles. Not my idea.

More cute cookie cutters

Look what I found! More cutie cute cookie cutters. I saw them last year before Christmas, but just decided that I had to have them. If you've never heard of Fred, it's probably best. They have a knack for making products you really don't need like the Pick Your Nose cup - animal or human, Lego Utensils and Salt & Pepper blocks. But you must have them. You must or you won't be able to go on living.


When I purchased these cuties I wasn't sure if I'd keep them or give them to my friend with a cookie biz that shares my love of cookie cutters. (Side note: don't try her fab cookies unless you plan on ordering some on a regular basis.) This has always been a problem for me.

When I was about 7 - you know, the age when advice sticks for a lifetime - I couldn't come up with a gift for my friend. My mom (or grandma, that part is fuzzy) told me that the best gift is one that you'd like to keep. So, I tend to get gifts that I really don't want to give you. And chances are I've probably used your gift before giving it to you. No, I'm not joking. But it's gotten better over the past few years with Wade's belittling and the ability to order online and have the item shipped directly to the recipient.

The game called Poop

Last weekend the girls were getting restless. It was way too hot to play outside. We had played our homemade match game a few times and a few of our other trusty boredom busters. But that wasn't enough. No, they demanded more.

In a moment of pure genius, Wade decided that we should teach them bullsh*t. Fine by me, but we had to give it a more kid friendly name. Wade thought bull would suffice. But then I reminded him that they are kids. Kids think that think the word poop is the funniest thing since Spongebob.

We played a few rounds of poop and discovered that our girls are fabulous poop players. (Imagine that.) They seemed to have an unending tolerance for that game, but Wade and I finally got pooped out and had to call it a day.

Dry erase markers smell much worse than Sharpies, but thankfully aren't as permanent

It was peaceful. A little too peaceful if ya know what I mean. The girls were playing happily in their room with the door shut. Pretty much insures no interruptions or destruction by the little brother. Luke was occupied and I was enjoying the quiet. I was enjoying the quiet.

Who do I think I am to enjoy quiet? I have three crazy kids. Quiet and good do not belong in the same sentence around here. Unless it's bedtime.

Then, as I perused the net, I caught a whiff of a bitingly unnatural smell. It seemed to be coming out of the air vent, so naturally I got down on all fours to see (since smells aren't invisible) what was going on. It took me a minute and then it clicked. Luke found the dry erase markers that one of Ava's teachers pawned off on us at the end of last year.

So I did the walk run to the office to assess the damage. Legs? Check. Three foot area of carpet? Check. Desk? Check. Rocking chair? Check. I asked him what he was up to. "Coloring." Mmmm hmmm, I see that. Are you supposed to color there? "It's kyoot."

Kinda hard to punish that. We hate the carpet and plan on ripping it out sometime soonish, so no real harm done there. And since it was dry erase it pretty much wiped off the rest of everything. Except Luke.

But how many times has your defense/reason/excuse for something been, "Well, it/he/she was so darn cute." It totally works. Why'd ya spend $500.00 on a bag? Well, it's cute. Why'd ya spend $950.00 on that ho? Well, she was insanely cute. Why do you keep that destructive munchkin around? Well, he's ridiculously cute.