Question...

Can the blogdom at large see my pictures on the photo meme post? I can't see them, and I'm wondering if it's just my computer, or if Blogger vomited them off my post...again.

Photo Meme

So, my statemate, Krista, tagged me for this photo meme. I love a good meme, and this one is quite a lot of fun.

All you have to do is type the following categories into Google image search and paste the first picture that comes up, assuming the picture is appropriate, of course.

Here are mine:

Age at my next birthday:




Sad. Sad. Sad.





Place I'd like to travel:




We thought about going here (it's Greece) for our honeymoon, but traveling in Europe in August? I don't think so!




Favorite place:


This is where we really went for our honeymoon: St. John, USVA. Sigh...Gorgeous! Although, it was 85 degrees with near 100% humidity, and no rain. Yuck!



Favorite object:



My Haflinger slippers. The only slippers I'll wear! And no, I did not pay that much for them.





Favorite food:







with








Favorite color:




This changes from day to day, but lately it's been purple.





Nickname:


My current nickname from my in-laws is slightly different from the common nickname for my real name. It's not my favorite nickname, but there aren't many choices for my name. I'm not telling it.



Birthplace:




Home, sweet home!




So, who should I tag this time?

Because she needs to get blogging: Sydney.
Because she's so willing to play along: Twinmommy.
Because I think she'll get a kick out of this one: Beast Mom.
Because I haven't tagged them before: Wendy and Marie.

Tag! You're it!

Baby Food and Baby Faces

When Cinderella first started eating baby food, we gave her orange veggies.

You know, squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

I remember reading somewhere that starting babies on veggies before fruits is a good idea. Since fruits are sweeter, babies will be less likely to eat veggies after tasting fruits, or so the author's philosophy went.

Anyway, I bought it, and Cinderella loved her veggies.

She'd see me open that package of whatever orange vegetable was for dinner that night, and she would literally squirm with excitement.

Not that she didn't also love her fruits.

She just loved food in general, but especially her orange veggies.

So, priding myself that I did it correctly with the first baby (and the second baby would just naturally follow suit), I assumed that when I first started feeding Sleeping Beauty her orange veggies, she would bow down and thank me, her wonderful Mama, for the goodness that is orange veggies.

How wrong I was!

To Sleeping Beauty, squash is bearable; carrots do not sit well AT ALL; sweet potatoes are mildly palatable.

No excitement from Sleeping Beauty at all. Nothing!

And no thanks for me.

I've even tried to alternate bananas with an orange veggie; she's too smart for that trick. And though she thinks bananas are wonderful, no baby can live on bananas alone and not get backed up really quickly.

And a backed up baby is no fun for anyone in the house.

Since her iron levels are low, and she detests rice cereal, I finally caved in, tossed the orange veggies aside, and fed her pears mixed with rice cereal for dinner last night.

I had barely brought the spoon to her lips (not into her mouth or on her tongue, mind you; just to her lips) when Sleeping Beauty screwed up her face in disgust and looked at me with horror in her eyes.

"A white veggie?" she seemed to accuse. "You really think I'm going to eat this crap?"

I thought to myself, Yes, honey-babe; you are going to eat this crap wholesome goodness. (Baby food pears are good stuff!)

So, she plucked up her courage and deigned to open her mouth for me to actually place the pears and cereal on her tongue (like she really had any choice in the matter; I just decided to play along).

And surprise, surprise! She liked it! She actually liked it!

Duh, I thought; of course you liked it. It's pears; it's sweet; it's not an orange veggie.

Whatever works. As long as she eats her iron-fortified rice cereal, I'm happy.

The Snow Hath Come, Again

It snowed AGAIN last night!

Woo hoo!

This time we got about an inch, with another possible inch coming down today.

Woo hoo!

I LOVE snow! I love it even more now that I'm not working and don't have to drive 25 miles in it down roads that haven't been plowed, nor ever will be.

Snow is simply amazing! It's like we went from this:








To this:









Well, minus the gigantic sand dunes (although, we do have real sand dunes out here, down by where I live) and the pine trees.

Well, and the mountain, for that matter. On a very clear day we can see Mount Rainier from here, but I digress.

Too bad the snow is so icy that all you can do with it is compact it into an ice cube.

Doesn't matter to Cinderella, though. As long as she can eat it, she could care less what kind of snow it is.

Wordless Wednesday--Balloon Love

I know it was taken 2 weeks ago, but I love this picture of Sleeping Beauty.

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Check out more photos here.

Works for Me Wednesday--Embossing Powder

I just finished making 20 cards for Marie the other day, so I've got embossing powder on my mind.

And on my hands.

And on the counter, and floor, and bar stools, and cutting board, and Cinderella (she tried to help).

Anyway, my tip for this week is not on how to use embossing powder, but how to store it.

Yes, my friends: storing embossing powder is important.

As I see it, there are two ways to store embossing powder (I'm sure there are more; I just haven't thought of them yet).

1. Store in the bottle it came in. To use it, fold a scrap of paper, place stamped image on said paper, pour embossing powder on image, tap off excess powder, move powder to center of paper where fold is, take lid off powder bottle, and carefully pour excess powder back into bottle.

That's a lot of steps. And because it sticks to the paper, there is a lot of wasted embossing powder.

Or, you could

2. Store the embossing powder in a small, shallow tupperware (with lid). To use it, bury stamped image in powder, remove stamped image, tap excess powder back into tupperware, and replace tupperware lid.

Easy as pie! Plus, you don't lose the embossing powder that would normally stick to the folded paper, or those plastic trays.

Small, shallow tupperware; it's every embosser's friend!
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For more ideas visit Rocks in my Dryer.

Proof We Had Snow

I'm glad I took the girls outside this morning, instead of waiting until after naps were over. Right now, the snow is doing what it does best: melting.

Here is proof we actually had snow:

























It wasn't much, but it was enough.

The Snow Hath Come

IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!!!

Yea!

It's a beautiful, winter wonderland outside.

The leaves are frosted over, the grass is dotted with white, and the road is covered with snowy tire tracks.

Ahh! Bliss!

The Hose

hose

noun (plural hos·es)
Definition:

flexible tube: a flexible tube or pipe, often made of rubber or plastic, through which fluids such as water or gasoline can flow
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Cinderella was playing with play-doh this morning while I put Sleeping down for a nap. I came out of the nursery, and, of course, Cinderella wanted me to play with her.

So, being the great mom that I am, I did.

I know. I know. Hold your applause, please.

I didn't play with her for very long, however; I played play-doh until Cinderella started making this really long chain out of small play-doh snakes.

Well, I had assumed is was just as innocent as a chain.

Oh no. She quickly informed me that, no, it wasn't a chain of snakes; it was a hose. A really long hose.

After that, I was done; I just couldn't play play-doh with her anymore.

I was trying too hard not to laugh.

You see, "hose" in our house has a slightly twisted meaning from the traditional sense of the word.

After Cinderella began walking, she loved to follow Prince Charming all over the house. ALL over the house.

Including into the bathroom.

One day, Cinderella decided to check out that fascinating, constant plunking noise that her daddy was making in the bathroom.

Oh! What a noise! To her little one-year-old mind, that noise was the most fascinating sound she had ever heard!

When she peeped her head around the door, she was rewarded by the most spectacular sight: water cascading into a huge, white bowl! Glinting in the light! Making that wonderful sound! And coming from Daddy!

Being the curious toddler that she was, Cinderella just had to go check out this wonderful streaming water for herself.

So she did.

She stuck her little head right between her daddy's legs to see where the water was coming from.

Prince Charming, of course, completely freaked out and tried to leap out of the way, all while stopping the water flow on a dime and yelled, "Cinderella! What are you doing?"

Ignoring his question, Cinderella pointed to Prince Charming's exposed midsection as he was hastily repacking and asked, "What's that, Daddy?"

Sputtering and faltering, Prince Charming finally spat out, "It's my hose!"

And thus a new definition of "hose" was born.

The House of Sick

I'm sick.

Cinderella is sick.

Sleeping Beauty is sick.

Prince Charming is thinking about being sick, but isn't quite there yet.

This is absolutely no fun.

Stuffy nose, runny nose, coughing; blech!

Cinderella is so sick she's been waking up BEFORE 6AM!!!!

Sleeping Beauty is so sick she's having trouble nursing (ouch for me!).

I'm so sick I don't want to function.

'Tis the season...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

May you have a blessed time with friends and family.

And may your turkey turn out browned and juicy.

Works for Me Wednesday--Fun Baby Toys

I don't know about you, but we have waaaaay too many toys in our house. When you have the only grandchildren on either side of the family, this tends to happen.

The funniest thing about all these toys is that some of the ones the girls like(d) the most as babies weren't even toys.

Examples:

*the plastic lids from our Tupperware (in a basket)

*measuring spoons (plastic, to reduce the noise factor)

*a spoon (soup spoon or bigger, to reduce potential choking)

Other favorite baby toys in our house include:

*a bowl of assorted toys (refilled numerous times due to scattering)

*hand/finger puppets

*an inflated balloon (with parental supervision, of course)

These toys are what work for me (or Sleeping Beauty, since she's the one currently playing with them).

What works for you?

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For other great ideas, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

The Magical Fruit

Whoever said beans are the magical fruit obviously never gave prunes to a baby.

My Happy Place

Every morning is the same around my house: Cinderella is running all over the place, playing with everything she couldn't play with while she was sleeping; Sleeping Beauty is just so excited to be awake, she sits and plays with whatever I give her, making noise, after noise, after noise.

I, however, groggily pour myself a bowl of cereal and zone out.

I'm usually pretty good in the mornings. Unless there's a baby in the house. Then, I'm not so good.

Every morning I look forward to spending time in my happy place, where it is just me. Me and no kids.

Except for the one knocking on the door waiting for me to come out.

Except for the one making yet more noises sitting right outside the door in her bouncy seat.

Regardless, it is my happy place where I am free from the world outside, because it can't get in unless I let it.

And I rarely let it.

Every mom needs a happy place where she can go to escape mommyhood, even if it's only for 10 minutes or so.

My happy place is my shower.

Even if I'm not the Queen, I still need an escape time alone.

There are few things nicer for me than a piping hot shower. It just seems to wash all of my responsibilities away. I watch them go down the drain, and I wave bye-bye to them. I close my eyes and let the steaming water envelope me, close me in, make me invulnerable from what is lurking right outside my shower door.

Because, of course, my girls are right outside the shower door, making noises and wanting my attention.

My shower is the one place in my house where I can actually ignore them effectively and have a good excuse for not giving into their demands.

(What, Cinderella? I can't listen to you/watch you/show you/get you/help you right now. I'm busy. I'm in the shower.).

The best showers are those I get to take on Saturday, when Prince Charming is home, there's no where to go, and I can relax for maybe 15 minutes, instead of 10, before Cinderella comes to find me.

Ahhh! Bliss!

Once I step out, however, it's back to reality.

At least I had that one moment in the day to myself. It rejuvenates me, invigorates me, cleanses me.

I may not get my makeup on; I may not get my hair dried, or styled; I may not wear anything but sweats.

But I've had my shower.

It's the little things in life.

So, where is your happy place? Where do you go to escape from the kids have some alone time?

Another Recipe--Green Beans with Roasted-Onion Vinaigrette

In honor of Thanksgiving coming up NEXT WEEK (can you believe it?), I thought my recipe posting for this week should be something I make every year for the holiday.

I have a confession to make, first: I'm not a huge fan of the traditional green bean casserole. Canned green beans don't do anything for me. My green bean dish is a refreshing change from the usual green bean fare that seems to be universally served.

This is yet another Cooking Light recipe. Surprisingly, these beans are served chilled, which is a nice compliment to the other dishes that are yummily, piping hot.

Green Beans with Roasted-Onion Vinaigrette

2 red onions, peeled (about 1 pound)
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard
2 pounds green beans, trimmed, steamed, and chilled

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut onions in half vertically. Drizzle the cut side of each onion half with 1/4 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle halves evenly with salt and pepper. Place one thyme sprig on 1 onion half; top with other half. Wrap in foil. Repeat procedure with the remaining thyme and onion halves. Bake the wrapped onions at 400 degrees fr 1 hour or until tender. Cool to room temperature. Discard thyme, and chop onions. Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, onion, dill, vinegar, and mustard in a small bowl.
3. Toss the beans with the vinaigrette. Yield: 8 servings.

Here's how I make it:
*I only use fresh thyme if I happen to be buying it for my turkey. Dried thyme works well.
*I use white wine vinegar. I'm not even sure I could fine champagne vinegar out here.
*I use dried dill; it works well.
*I'm not sure if my mustard is stone ground or not, but I use dried, ground yellow mustard. It tastes fine.

Seriously, though. This is a wonderful green bean recipe. It has a kick to it, but it's not spicy. It really does compliment the mild, creamy flavors of turkey, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes very well.

Okay, I'm drooling now. I can't wait to make this next week!

My Mom Would Laugh her Head Off if She Was Reading This Right Now

I guess as a preschooler I was a talker.

Shocking revelation, I know.

I can't imagine myself that way at all; I don't like to talk (sarcasm is just dripping off of the page right now; there's plenty to go around, if you need to use some.).

Yeah, right.

I'm a talker. Just ask my husband.

Or my daughter.

Or my sister.

Or my friends.

Or my mom, for that matter.

Anyway, one of my mom's favorite stories to tell about me as a child is the time she told me to shut up.

She swore she'd never use those two words together to her children.

Then she had me.

Seeing as how I'm the oldest child, her resolution didn't last very long.

Probably only two years, maybe three.

So, one day I was following my mom all over the house, chatting up a storm, asking question after question. My mom had to use the bathroom, and wanted to do so in private (imagine that! A mom wanting a moment to herself! And having to result to locking herself in the bathroom and locking her child out! The nerve!) and to have a moment of peace from my incessant chatter.

I, of course, didn't get the memo on this desired peace and quiet, and so I kept talking away, following her into the bathroom, naturally.

My mom, who had had enough of me by this time, pushed me (gently, I'm sure) out door, slamming it and yelling, "Shut up!"

I'm not sure how I responded.

It must have been horrible, since I have blocked that memory from my mind (I was 2). A mom yelling at her oldest, beloved daughter! Never!

There is a point to this whole story. Bear with me.

While I have never (yet) told Cinderella to shut up, I have thought it before. Several times, in fact.

Why, you ask?

Cinderella is a talker. A good one. With a large vocabulary that she likes to use at all possible moments in the day.

She'll talk to me; she'll talk to Sleeping Beauty; she'll even talk to herself (during play, but to herself, nonetheless).

It must be genetic.

It's got to be genetic, right?

She can't do what she's told without asking at least 5 questions concerning what she's supposed to do, and how, and why.

She can't ask just one question without thinking up at least 3 more, relevant to the topic at hand or not.

I love her curiosity; I encourage her curiosity.

I love that she can communicate clearly and effectively; I've overheard some great conversations because of it.

But does she have to talk ALL THE TIME?!?

She's woken her sister up numerous times with her "whisper" voice that isn't whispering at all; it's more like shouting quietly.

She's woken me up, just to ask me if she can wake up.

Guess what just happened this afternoon?

Yup! I'm awake; Sleeping Beauty's awake and cranky; Cinderella is still in bed because I won't let her "wake up" yet.

I need a break from all the talking.

She needs a break from doing the talking.

So, what is she doing right now?

Talking to her toys...

Works for me Wednesday--Free Movie Rentals

Growing up, I hated going to the library.

Handling dirty, filthy, who-knows-what-has-touched-these books that were USED, of all things!

I do not like used books.

Uhn-uh. No way.

I prefer to buy my books brand-spankin' new, thank you very much.

Fortunately, this completely insane, OCD-ishness mental barrier of mine has passed enough since my pocketbook can't support my book-buying habit anymore, I have finally learned to appreciate my local library system.

Why, oh why couldn't I have appreciated the library system in Seattle? They have a great lending library in Seattle.

Sigh...

Anyway, besides all the great books I can now read for free, I can also get free movie rentals.

That's right: free. FREE!!!

What's better than free?

Sure, I may have to wait awhile to get the movie I want (I've been waiting for the Bourne Identity since August! There's only one copy in the entire system, and I still have to wait through 5 more people, though. Hopefully I'll get it in time for the final movie to be out on video.), but it's FREE!!!

I think it's worth it.

I just request several movies at one time, they usually come staggering in one or two at a time, and I get them for 10 days, FREE OF CHARGE!

As an added bonus, I don't even have to step foot in my library at all. My library system is so spread out that they'll even ship my books, movies, music, whatever, to my house for FREE. Return postage is FREE, as well.

Your library system may not be as great as mine about shipping, but you've probably got a way better selection than my system of small-town libraries piggy-backing on one larger town's library.

And it's FREE, shipping or no shipping.

Is that great, or what?

Hey, it works for me!

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For more great ideas check out Rocks in my Dryer.

Overheard

We were having a nice, quiet, family dinner one Sunday night, when all of a sudden, Prince Charming's flatulence kicks in. As I glare at him in a disgusted, accusatory manner, He says, "Cinderella!"

Cinderella looks over at her daddy and says, indignantly, "I DIDN'T!!!" Then she looks over at me and says, "Did I, Mommy?"

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We were eating lasagna for dinner another night. Cinderella was halfway through her serving when she looks down at her fork and sees a piece of cottage cheese. She looks up, confused, and asks, "Is this bird poop?"

Prince Charming says, sarcastically, "Yeah, Cinderella, we served you bird poop.

Cinderella responds, in all seriousness, "That's not appropriate, Daddy."

**********
I walked into Cinderella's room one morning to open her shade and make sure she changed her underwear. This is the conversation I had with her:

Me: Your room stinkies!

Cinderella (without even the slightest hint of a pause): Oh. That's because I farted in my bed last night.

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Cinderella is convinced she wants to be a teacher when she grows up, just like her daddy. This is what she told Prince Charming about her future job:

"When I get bigger, I'm going to have my own classroom, and you're going to have your classroom. In my classroom there will be beds and then the kids will eat lunch and I'll tell them, 'Eat your food! Eat three more bites.' After they eat I'll tell them, 'Time for a rest!'"

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While I was down changing Sleeping Beauty's diaper one evening, this is the conversation I heard between Prince Charming and Cinderella:

Cinderella: Chase me, Daddy!

Prince Charming (feigning deafness): What? I can't hear you.

Cinderella: Chase me, Daddy! Chase me and tickle me!

Prince Charming (feigning deafness again): What? I still can't hear you.

Cinderella (getting impatient): Daddy! Chase me! Mommy said so! You have to do what Mommy says, remember?

Milestones

Sleeping Beauty turned 6 months old today. I can't believe what a big girl she is! Sometimes I miss my little (okay, weighing 8 lbs 13 oz at birth, she was never little), snugly baby, but in all honesty, this stage of babyhood is my absolute favorite. I love seeing the changes that occur in my baby daily, and I love how interactive she is now.

It seems like she's grown up so much overnight.

Okay. Not overnight, but definitely in the last two weeks:


*Two weeks ago she finally mastered sitting up.

*One week ago she started eating rice cereal.

*Three days ago Cinderella made her laugh and laugh, just by throwing a ball around.

*Two days ago she had her first big-girl bath.

*Today, she's 6 months old.


That's a lot of milestones to have met in the last two weeks!

Where has the time gone?

The scariest thing to me about Sleeping Beauty being 6 months old is that Prince Charming and I have started contemplating Baby Number 3.

What are we thinking? Sleeping Beauty is still a baby!

A BABY!!!

But not for much longer.

Six more months and she graduates to toddlerhood.

It all goes way too fast.

Another Recipe--Sweet Corn Muffins

If I were willing to make these muffins every day, Prince Charming would eat them for every meal. They are fantastic! And they compliment so many different types of meals.

Goodbye, Jiffy!

These muffins are from Cooking Light.

Sweet Corn Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons fat-free milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, granulated sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine yogurt, melted butter, milk, and egg, stirring with a whisk; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
3. Place 12 paper muffin cup liners in muffin cups. Divide the batter evenly among cups. Sprinkle batter evenly with turbinado sugar, if desired. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Yields 12 muffins.

Here's how I make them:
*You probably don't want to cook these muffins for the entire 20 minutes; they're a little dry if you do. 17 minutes is usually good, especially if you're using paper cup liners.
*I use silicon cup liners. They make for a moister muffin, and I can cook them for the entire 20 minutes.
*I don't have turbinado sugar. I've never seen it. I don't think my little town even carries it. Regular sugar works just fine.
*Sometimes I don't sprinkle the tops with the extra sugar. The muffins are sweet enough without out it. I usually only add it for the crunch factor.
*I have substituted the following for the yogurt if I don't have it on hand: sour cream, buttermilk, or vanilla yogurt. Each of these works just fine, and doesn't really impact the overall taste or texture of the muffins.

These muffins are the absolute best corn bread muffins I have ever tasted. I will probably always use this recipe from now on. The muffins are just that good.

Enjoy!

Readjusting

We have been back from Texas for almost a week now. Cinderella still has not slept past 7:00. She gets grumpy and argumentative around 10:00 because of it.

I get grumpy and argumentative around 10:10 because of it.

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Sleeping Beauty started rice cereal Sunday night. I mixed it with water (the breast pump wouldn't work). She was so excited to try real food, and was so disenchanted with her first bite.

Poor thing!

Not that I blame her; rice cereal is nasty stuff!

Fortunately, every night since then has been better. I now mix a little bit of squash in with her cereal. She LOVES it!

Sunday night she slept terribly! Up every 3 hours, it took her an hour to get back to sleep each time.

I wasn't sure if it was the cereal or the spicy spaghetti sauce I'd eaten for dinner.

It was the spaghetti sauce.

The past two nights, Sleeping Beauty has slept in until 5:30.

Woo hoo! Yay to a full tummy at last!

Now this I can adjust to.

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Since Sleeping Beauty has slept through the night, I have woken up more tired than usual.

My body aches from lying in bed for so long.

My head aches from getting so much extended sleep, and wanting even more.

It is taking me a long time to fully wake up once Cinderella comes in.

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Poor Prince Charming had to go back to work on Monday. He usually sets his alarm for 5:45, and gets up with 10 minutes of it going off.

This week, I don't think he's been up before 6:15.

He doesn't usually see the girls before he leaves, since they used to be still asleep.

Not so this week.

Works for Me Wednesday--Backwards Day

Christmas is approaching way too fast this year. How do I know? I have been inundated lately with requests for Christmas lists for Prince Charming, myself, and the two girls.

Prince Charming is easy: he likes clothes. And shoes.

I'm easy: I like kitchen stuff. And clothes. And shoes. And handbags.

Cinderella is easy: as the oldest child, she needs everything.

Sleeping Beauty? She's impossible.

Since she is only 6 months old and the younger of two girls 3 years apart, there is nothing she needs. Absolutely nothing.

Her hand-me-down clothes are all in good shape; we have way too many toys as it is.

That's it. What else does a baby need?

So, my question for everyone is this: what do you get a baby who needs nothing? Any suggestions?

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For other questions that you just might have the answers to, check out Rocks in my Dryer.

Tag! I'm It!

Thanks to Twinmommy for the tag!

Here are the rules. (1) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. (2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. (4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I prefer chewy, sour candy to chocolate. I like chocolate, and crave it sometimes, but it's not my favorite.

2. I'd rather be cold than hot. I can't stand heat. Weather hotter than 85 degrees is my nemesis.

3. On Christmas Eve, I don't sleep very well. As a child, this is understandable; as an adult, it's pathetic.

4. I try to avoid caffeinated drinks. Coffee makes me jittery; cola makes my teeth sticky. Tea doesn't really affect me, though.

5. I can't seem to shake this extra baby weight. I lost the weight relatively easily after Cinderella, but this time it's been much harder. It would probably help if I exercised or dieted, but I don't.

6. I don't mind doing laundry. It's folding clothes I dislike. In fact, I dislike it so much, I tend to forget to do it. I'm good at forgetting to do it.

7. My favorite time of the morning is when my husband gets up, and I can move into the middle of the bed and stretch out.

8. The only part of my body that tans is the top of my feet.


There you go: 8 facts/habits about me. I'm tagging Sydney, Kristen, Janna, and Christina.

A Tough Day to Be a Mom

We are officially back from our week-long visit to the Lord and Lady of Texas (aka my brother- and sister-in-law). We had a wonderful time visiting with them, though we didn't see many sights.

Friday morning, however, was not so wonderful.

The only direct flight to Seattle left at 8:05 am.

We were staying an hour away from the airport.

Let's do the math: 8:05 am flight, minus 2 hours to go through security and wait at the airport, minus an hour drive to the airport, minus an hour to get ready in the morning.

Everyone have an answer? Yup. We were up and moving at 4:00 am!!!!!

Everyone was up: my in-laws, my Lord and Lady, Prince Charming, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.

Oh. And me.

Definitely not the Queen.

Queens do not get up at 4:00 am to catch a plane!

Nor do their children.

Seeing as it was the only direct flight available, though, I can't complain too much. It would have been worse with a layover.

4 hours on a plane was enough, without all the extra waiting in an airport a layover would have added.

Anyway, with the time change from Texas to Washington, we arrived at the airport by about 10:30 am, gaining two hours!

Yippee!

Unfortunately, the girls were still on Texas time.

Add to our extra two hours the end of Daylight Savings, and I've got two very grumpy, very confused girls on my hands today.

Cinderella was up at 5:30 this morning, though I made her go back to bed. She was officially up at 6:45.

Sleeping Beauty was officially up at 6:30. She has already taken what she considers her morning nap, though it wasn't nearly long enough for my sanity.

In another hour I fully expect both girls to just lose it.

Sigh.

I'm counting down the days until they adjust permanently.

It can't be much longer, can it?

I need a nap...

And the Winner Is...

Not me!

Well, me, and not me.

Before the big giveaway carnival over at Bloggy Giveaways, I did actually win something! I won $26 at Vienna's Treasures, and I'm planning on using it to get Cinderella a bracelet for Christmas. I'm thinking about this one:










Too cute!

So, yes, I did win something.

However, after entering over 300 giveaways during the carnival, I didn't win one single thing.

Nothing.

Zip.

Zilch.

Nada.

True, not all of the giveaways are closed yet, or the winners picked, but so far I haven't won a thing.

Sigh.

Oh well.

I did win a bracelet!

I think this all stems from my childhood.

Have you ever won anything huge, only to discover you never won anything ever again?

That's my story:

When I was younger, I won an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland.

Yep; you read that correctly: an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland.

Since that day, I have never won anything ever again.

Until I won the Vienna's Treasures giveaway.

I think my no-winning streak was broken at last!

Woo Hoo!

And now, it has begun again...