Sunday, December 28, 2008

I'm not that great without at least an entire cup of coffee. For real.

So Meadow comes down this morning after I've had about three sips of coffee. Our conversation went something like this:

Mom, how come this snow globe that Santa gave me last year says "Made in China" on the bottom?

Maybe there are elves in China?

{annoyed silence}

Let me see it. Huh. Well have you ever heard of out-sourcing?

{more annoyed silence, and laughter from husband}

Well that's when people need help to get all the work done, so they get others to help. Santa's got to have a lot of presents. And Wiis!! Santa doesn't make those - he gets them from Nintendo. So see, he totally gets help. So maybe he got help from China.

{still annoyed}

OMG. I don't know.

{rolls eyes and walks upstairs}

[yelling after her] Maybe you could write him a letter and ask him!

***

So you see how I'm not that great without coffee. *sigh*

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Nutcracker '08

I have tried for the better part of the day to post Meadow in the Nutcracker. Apparently it is too long and will need editing. So here's something else I got today. I call it "life with sick toddler."

Merry Christmas!!!

Snippet

Momma, Momma! Santa is comin' to town!

Yeah! He's coming tonight!

No!! He's coming to TOWN!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Blunk drogging

Yeah. So I should post pictures and stuff. Also, I should tell you about how school went. Except they haven't posted all my grades yet. And I've taken a few pics, but not a lot. Also... I've had a lot of rum. OMG I LOVE the rum.

River has strep. Big kids are disease free so far. Still have a few things to do for the holiday. Bugger off if you're judgy. I'm busy!

More tomorrow!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Hello there

Finals will be done late Thursday. I have purchased stocking stuffers and absolutely nothing else. So Friday, I will be sweaty and in need of several drinks after having joined all the other clearly brain damaged people who are still shopping. Then Meadow has dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker and performances all weekend.

Things that are on my radar:
  • Take pictures for blog.
  • Pretend that construction isn't going on and that I actually have counters and appliances.
  • Craft an internet Christmas card so I feel less guilty about not sending out cards every year.
  • Wrap presents.
  • Beer. Or maybe rum... so many decisions...
  • Enjoy not studying.
  • Hang out with kids:)
  • Blog.
  • Celebrate 10th anniversary with hubby.

Regular blogging should resume shortly.

Merry merry!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Go comment please

I read Rude Cactus every day. Today he's going to donate 50 cents for every comment he gets in the next 24 hours to Fisher House, which I think is pretty cool. So I'm taking a study break and I hope you'll follow the link and make a comment.

Thanks!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It's the "year of water damage"

So the wood floor in the kitchen is ruined. (What possesses builders to do that anyway?) There were industrial fans and the kitchen was walled off and it will be out of commission again when we fix it... but that's all I have to say about that for now because finals start Friday and go through next Thursday, so I should be studying. Thus, you get no pictures or stories. Soonish though. Pictures AND stories.

Promise.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Things that make you go hmm

So we have these exams where we interact with standardized patients.

The paperwork I reviewed before the patient came in said that the patient was a 60 year old female. When the patient actually came in, she was in her late 20's, early 30's and she had a ring through her nose - like a bull - not on the side. Which is cool, but distracting.

I bet you didn't know that acting is a required part of my education.

I can't wait to volunteer for this kind of stuff after I graduate.

Also, when I'm 60, I'm so totally gonna get my nose pierced!


***I promise I'll start taking pictures as soon as finals are over!***

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Snippet

Today River and I were going up the stairs. He got up about two of them before he turned around and said, "I'm too heavy mama."

Then he reached out his arms for me to carry him up the stairs.

And I did.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Do Not Call

Remember this? Yeah. Me too. So I'm always curious who is calling because we just don't get that many calls any more. Love that do-not-call list. Anyway, curiosity got the best of me and I picked up the phone. And there, on the other side of the line, my "unknown caller" was a recording offering me a free DVR and installation in up to four rooms of my house! Except, that, again I ALREADY PAY THEM FOR THAT. So I pressed 1 and waited to find out why they were calling me and if I could please get off that list. And then I was connected to a very nice lady in India who, when she discovered that I probably wanted something she couldn't give me, promptly HUNG UP ON ME.

I'm pretty sure my contract runs out this summer.

Any bidders for the next one?

p.s. One more call and I'm naming names.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Frosty

This is Frosty. He wanted to pose with Hunter, but Hunter just wanted to get back to his game.


River thought Frosty was kind of cool. Kind of, except when he stole his chair.


Frosty thought Dad's broken ankle was a bummer and tried to cheer him up.



Frosty felt a little squeezed, but was far too polite to say anything.


Then he got his seat back. Yay!




Then the Merry Chrismoose totally stole his seat, clearly indicating that it's on.



This is what happens when school sucks up all my brain cells. Cool or sad? Depends on your perspective I suppose.




Friday, November 14, 2008

For Real

If you expect me not to post on my blog or surf the net during lecture... you must be compelling in some small way.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

So Very Proud

Eight years ago I stayed up late in to the night and I cried. I cried when they called the election for George W. Bush.

Four years ago during the Democratic convention I was watching a keynote speaker named Barack Obama, whom I had never heard of before, and I cried. I cried because I was moved that someone could speak so elegantly about bringing people together when things were so bitterly divided.

Tonight, as they called this historic election, I cried. I cried because I was so happy and proud that we have a leader who represents what I believe.

Thank you America. Tonight I have more hope than I've had in a long time.

You rock.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Snotty

I'm used to getting snot rubbed all over me. I'm not new at this mom thing. So when River came and rubbed his snotty nose on me, I just made sure there weren't any huge boogers. Glamorous, eh? I also said something along the lines of "Ew, gross dude!" River ran off and I didn't think anything of it.

And about 30 seconds later he came back with a brand new roll of toilet paper and furiously shoved a wad near the snot mark he left on my shirt.

Seriously, does it get any cuter than that?

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Not a lot; a couple links

Tired. Couldn't sleep last night. Still have to function like a grown-up. Yuck. So... I don't have anything except my mad, mad love for Wyatt Cenac.

Go see this.

Then go see this, because it's still funny.

Vote people!

Ciao.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

A couple pictures. Very busy. Suck it people.

Awww. Aren't they cute? Seriously, the only one I've captured of him so far.
Cute little pug.


I didn't even have to alter this. I just suck at taking pictures THAT much. But it turned out pretty cool this one time...


More pictures after Halloween if I remember to take the camera. No promises. Head is brimming with information.


Sunday, October 19, 2008

I have lots of boyfriends

Here's my newest boyfriend's latest interview.

How do you stop yourself from just wanting to hug him!?!

Even if you're sad that I'm voting - vote. It really matters that more people participate. Also, you don't get to complain if you don't vote. What more could you ask for?!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Happy Blogoversary

So, apparently I missed it, but I started blogging about a year ago. 10-12-08 to be precise. It seems like only yesterday, and also about a hundred years ago. Probably it feels this way because I feel like I've neglected the old blog lately. Truthfully, I'm going to continue to post lightly until Christmas break. You see, I spend about a billion dollars on school and daycare, so I really should make an effort to do it well. Because someday I'm going to have to pay those student loans back and it could really be hard if I don't have a lucrative job.

Things I plan to do:
  • Take some pictures of the kids so you can at least see their cute little faces.
  • Um, study and then study some more.
  • Check the mail for my mail-in ballot.
  • Take the kids on a walk.
  • Sit down and write one of the many papers that are due in the very near future.
  • Procrastinate writing stupid papers because I actually hate writing. For real.
  • Feel bad about not writing stupid paper.
  • Start laundry during guilt phase of not writing stupid, stupid paper.
  • Focus on negative political ads so as to distract self from writing stupid, vile paper.
  • Watch Grey's Anatomy while pretending not to remember horrible paper.
  • Do the dishes and clean toilets because clearly they have priority over irritating paper.
  • WRITE THE &*^$^%$@x PAPER ALREADY.

So I'll get on that picture thing.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Drunk Pumpkin

School is crazy busy and I haven't taken many pictures. So I have to rely on whatever I can for post material. Mike forwarded this picture to me and I thought it was hilarious. So now I'm sharing with you!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Let me tell you about the time I put a tampon up my nose...

So I was on my way to school last week and I needed to blow my nose. So I grabbed my last Starbucks napkin and blew. And then I got a bloody nose. Thing is, I had just used my last napkin. So, since I was wearing my white lab coat and professional attire, I did what any resourceful idiot in rush hour traffic would do. I found a beat-up lonely tampon from my purse, ripped it open and shoved it up my nose.

Not a drop of blood hit my pristine white lab coat.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Sometimes you just have to read good stuff (that's right, I said stuff, give me a break - my brain is full)

Read this.

Yeah, I'm bossy. So what.

Just some random Hobo...!?

The kids and I were talking about the blog the other day and Hunter was really interested in the world map that shows where all the hits on the site come from. Then the conversation with Meadow went like this:

Have we had one from Hawaii?

Yep.

We have family in Hawaii?

No. Well, not that I know of. Just somebody checkin' it out.

So, some random hobo is lookin' at our blog?

Um, no. Just random people. Besides, where is a hobo going to get a computer?

Maybe they saved their pennies.

Maybe they did.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Parental Supervision Advised

Hunter and Meadow were sick and had to stay home a week or so ago. Mike took the day off to stay with them because HE'S THE BEST HUSBAND EVER. And also, I really needed to be at school. I wanted to let him sleep as long as possible, so before I left with River I told the kids they could get breakfast and not to get Daddy unless they really needed to get him. They asked if they could make toast and I said yes, "but you know you're not allowed to cook anything else, right?" Nods assured me this was understood.

So when I left the house at 6:30, I was surprised to hear my phone ring a few minutes later.

It was Mike.

Apparently the toaster was set really high. So when it burnt the toast it set off the fire alarm. Mike was rudely awakened to a fire alarm and his daughter screaming her head off in the kitchen.

On the upside, the house wasn't burning down.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Dancing With the Stars, an update

I love Lance Bass. And the judges were mean tonight. Boo hiss!

**Updated**

OMG I love Warren Sapp too!!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

A reason I'm old *OR* Why my grades are about to take a nosedive

I LOVE Dancing with the Stars.

So much, that when they dance well... I totally cry.

p.s. The Cheetah girl got robbed. (A few seasons ago. I will NEVER let it go.)

Sunday, September 21, 2008

An economy story

In the spirit of deregulation (Big business Republicans), the banks around here (Mike) decided to extend loans that were, perhaps, questionable (to Meadow). She secured a loan of $3 to purchase one High School Musical water bottle. Then the bank (Mike) sold the original loan to another bank (me). The questionable buyer (Meadow) decided to default, even though she could have paid, she decided she didn't want to. This caused the new owner of the loan (me) to repo the water bottle. Now I have a water bottle that is no longer worth $3, what with High School Musical being so yesterday. Oh, and it's used. Now since the bank (me) purchased too many of these loans, and now I have the rights to tons of crap I really don't want and can't use because it holds virtually no value, I should suffer consequences... right? And somehow I didn't notice the problem until it was in the BILLIONS. But then, the best thing ever happened. The government decided to socialize business and totally saved my ass. So now, you, the American public own a tiny little piece of that High School Musical water bottle. And I still get to keep my job, because you're going to pay for all those bad loans that I bought even though I knew they were risky.

Congratulations.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Bits & Pieces

Me: What do you think you want to be when you grow up? Are you still thinking you might be a ballet teacher?

Meadow: A millionaire!

Me: But how are you going to make that money? What job?

Meadow: I don't want a job, I just want money!

Me: You're going to have to get a job to get money.

Meadow: I'll just keep cleaning my room and getting money from you.

Me: That's not gonna get you to a million sweetie.

Meadow: What!?

Me: Yeah, I know.

Meadow: Well I'll just keep saving and I won't spend ANY money.

Me: Okay.
**********************************************************************

Me: If you don't spend any money when you're a millionaire, how are you going to pay for your house?

Meadow: A house?

Me: To live in.

Meadow: I'm living with YOU!

Me: Even when you're old?

Meadow: Are you saying I can't?

Me: You can stay until you don't want to anymore.

Meadow: Cool.
**********************************************************************

Hunter: *gags*

Me: Do you need to puke?

Hunter: Yeah, then I'm going to eat.

Me: Okay. Can you go puke away from the dinner table while we're eating?

Hunter: Sure. But when I'm done I want to eat.

Me: No problem dude.
***********************************************************************

River: Popsicle?

Me: You want a popsicle?

River: Cheese stick?

Me: You want a cheese stick?

River: Popsicle?

Me: You want a popsicle?

River: Cheese stick?

Me: You want a cheese stick?

**repeat as often as necessary, with no end in sight**

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Study break = garden photos

We planted nine tomato plants this year. Meadow and I are the only ones who like raw tomatoes that aren't in pico de gallo. There are so many, but she and I eat them like apples. Yummy! I really like this one because you can see the reds.
If summer was a plant, this is what she would look like.
Or maybe this...
I liked the bee in this one, although he was fluffier in person.

One of the morning glories that killed the tomatillo plant. Totally worth it.

The pumpkin seems to have gotten about as big as it's going to get. It looks like it's starting to turn a little yellow/orange in spots. Stay tuned...
Study break over.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Tom Brokaw rocks my world. Shut up, I'm totally serious.

Seeing Obama was awesome. I didn't really write about it because I'm so busy stuffing so much stuff into my head for school, I just don't have as much time as I would like to reflect. And that's still true.

But there's something else that was fun for me that night. You see, having worked in radio, I kind of got over the whole meeting famous people thing. Rock stars are just like you & me except they are way cooler and they've got more cash. Then when we lived in Iowa, we got to meet all kinds of political people. So now that's a little less exciting too. BUT. I have a reverent feeling for news people. OMG I saw Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopolis and Wolf Blitzer and Donna Brazille and, and, and. So while that was nice, I LOVE (IN ALL CAPS FOREVER AND EVER LOVE) Tom Brokaw. I saw him bopping to music in between broadcasts or during commercials. I still smile thinking about it.

Then, this week, when I looked down at my Starbucks cup on my way to school, this made my day:

The Way I See It #130
It will do us little good to wire the
world if we short-circuit our souls.
There is no delete button for
racism, poverty or sectarian
violence. No keystroke can ever
clean the air, save a river, preserve
a forest. This transformational new
technology must be an extension of
our hearts as well as of our minds.
The old rules still apply. Love your
mother - Mother Earth.
--Tom Brokaw
Journalist
Love him. Have a good week!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Pictures! At last!

So I finally brought the camera in the house from the car. Now the magical little cord that puts them into the computer can do what it does... and we have pictures.

This is what Hunter does when I try to take a picture. (Gets yelled at by life guard to quit running.)
Jelly bean.
Little dude.
Again, the girl one.
Ah ha! Got him.
He's got his moobie stars on.
A rare glimpse of the Mom.
That was one of our last days at the pool before it closed.
School is really busy this year. There is so much info, I just don't have as much time as I did last year. Once we get into a groove, I'm sure I'll figure out how to carve more time out for fun things - like blogging.
All is well. Remind me to tell you why I hate the school nurse some time. For real.
We're putting up Halloween decorations this weekend. That's as big as the plans are going to get for now. I will take more garden pictures soon. We've got sunflowers and the pumpkin keeps getting bigger.
Well, that was pretty disjointed, but I don't have time to edit, must cram in a little more during Bronco game.
Later.


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Toddler speak

heppi-cocker = helicopter

Monday, September 1, 2008

Still here, just insanely busy

So... it's been busy. I will try to post once a week while school is in session.

Quickly:

It's the last day the pool is open. So we're home for lunch and nap, but will be swimming again later as long as the weather holds. I will attempt to take pictures.

School is awesome and awful. You know, you really have to study. Gross! As a side note, people have asked me if I will use the Dr. title when I'm done. The answer is F*** YES. I am paying a ton of cash and working my a** off. So, yeah.

Oh, and the BEST THING EVER!!! My sister-in-law, Lori, scored tickets to see Obama on Thursday for us. (Thank you!) I had been waitlisted and had given up all hope of going. If I figure out how to transfer pictures from my phone, I'll post them later. In short, it was fantastic.

Well, I'm going to put the little one down for a nap and dig into some homework. More (at least pictures) later.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

River, sky, dog and plants

Say what? You're in charge? How come no one asked me what I thought? Really wish you could see the next three in person. It's so much better.


She thought she wasn't getting enough blog time.
Pumpkin progress.
Yum.
We planted sunflowers late. I was afraid we wouldn't get flowers. I think they're coming...


When creativity fails, fall back on weird kids

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Random thoughts posing as a post

There is something wrong with having to repeatedly ask your husband if he's sure nobody followed him home from a soccer game.

I, resident teeth snob, just had my first cavity ever. Mike was pissed that they didn't have to give me painkiller. He said it doesn't qualify as a "real cavity" unless Novocain is used. Whatever. (Who's the snob now?)

River likes to drink pool water. Last week he drank a lot. Then he puked. In the pool. Where people were swimming. Good times.

Meadow started ballet again yesterday. I can't put her hair in a bun because it's too short. Hope it grows enough by Nutcracker time.

Hunter is testing boundaries lately. Age appropriate, I'm sure. I wish it weren't also annoying.

Mike is in Minneapolis this week. I miss him already.

The pumpkin is huge! I haven't taken a new picture yet, but I plan to soon.

We tried to convince Hunter to try swim lessons. He said no because "that leads to swim team". Oh, the horror.

River is such a fun little person. He's exhausting, but wonderful.

I start school again next week. I feel the internet withdrawal already. I'm excited to have some time to myself.

For those of you who have toddlers: River has finally started to tolerate cartoons and he LOVES the Backyardigans and Wonder Pets. Now I can't get the songs out of my head. Wonder Pets! Wonder Pets we're on our way...

[Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!]

Friday, August 15, 2008

Do You Like Waffles

This is the latest thing the kids have been singing over and over and over and over. It's so totally NOT annoying.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A conversation at the pool (or, how toddlers wear you down)

Mom, Hontanna!

Hannah Montana?

Yup. (points to spiderman towel)

Oh, that's spiderman. Not Hannah Montana.

Spider?

Sort of. SpiderMAN.

(shakes head) Hontanna.

Spiderman.

Hontanna!

Spiderman.

HONTANNA! HONTANNA!

Okay.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Pictures again

We've never grown pumpkins before so I'm kind of in love with this thing. It hasn't even been a week since the last picture and it's gotten tons bigger! Cucumber.
I *love* this picture. He's always trying to see the pictures and it's much harder to take them now.
When the kids got home from the first day of school on Friday I was all, let's take pictures and pretend it was this morning. Meadow was confused.
Then River kept making it hard. This make look cute, but ask Hunter how his toes felt after the little "rammer" made contact.
I put River in his room.
Today he wanted to be like his "Big bigs" (big kids).
He knows he's cute.

Can you believe he's only 2?

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Another garden picture post

Here is our first pumpkin. Zucchini!
Our jalapeno plants didn't really do well, but this was pretty.
So yummy!
Pumpkin flower.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Video of the boating

Kids pictures

Meadow making chicken. Hunter wanted to help!
What she means is: Seriously? I'm cooking, enough with the camera lady.
He's sailing!
Boat repairs?