Top Headlines

These were the top head lines waiting for me when I opened my mail tonight. Everyone seems to be broke and ready to fight.

Is there any good news in the world today?

One Left

This is a sin! It's shameful! It's delicious! It's that time...

But really, who leaves one of anything behind? You don't leave one pretzel in the bag, or one bag of popcorn in the box, or even a pack of graham crackers in the box. So who would do this? This is a lack of respect for the house shopper! I would have assumed that we had plenty left in that big package and then there would have been none! My wrath would have reigned down!

Does anyone else go a little crazy over the pantry sometimes? Especially during that time? I DO!

Luckily I have a wonderful husband who replenished the premade cookie stock and brought home more butter to make them fresh. He also got bonus points for buy TWO boxes of tampons AND bringing home the right ones! He is pretty awesome sometimes!

She Loves Me!

I am the proud recipient of...

... and I'm stylishly late accepting it. AND to be stylishly cool I probably won't follow the rules! Such a rebel I am! So thank you Andrea!

Step 1: Share Seven Things

Oh boy... lets make it personal!

1. IRL I can be horribly elitist and snide. Sarcasm will openly flow from the hole in my face, as will big words with lots of syllables because I am obviously smarter than you! And I hate myself a little more each time that I am like this. It's so obnoxious!
2. I'm terrible at confrontation and social interaction. So much so that I will cancel plans and blatantly lie to get out of events that will make me uncomfortable. I will also plan out confrontations in my head, going so far as to pre-plan my remarks and comebacks while doing something mundane like dishes or folding laundry.
3. I no longer have any idea what size my boobies are. The above bullet has prevented me from going to buy new bras. The internet is little help too. Have you ever tried to measure yourself-impossible! Do you measure where they should be, or where they currently are, or where you're willing to settle at? And why can't Vicky make bra's without underwire? D and about, you're just stuck with it! I still don't see how it helps and why they can't make it not poke me!
4. I also have no idea what size shoes I wear. It always seems they are a different size depending on the shoe. So when it's time to buy shoes, I take off whatever pair I am wearing (usually flops) and start from there. I currently have two pairs of everyday footwear, one work pair, gloshes, and snow boots. All my dress shoes are pre-pregnancy and usually I find that they don't fit or I can't walk in them minutes before we are to leave!
5. I often feel guilty that one of my daughter's has a sentimental name comprised of two family names and the other, well, it sounded neat!
6. I currently live less than a block from where I was raised after swear for years I was leaving. So I left and came back. That being said, this housing market needs to get up off it's ass so I can move. My kids can't grow up here too!
7. I love to plan surprises for my husband. Big or small, it just makes me feel good. I also get a kick out of pissing him off because he hates it, but loves it, but hates that he loves it! Bwhahaha!

Step 2: Pass It To 15 Others

I'll do 5 since the girls are starting to stir and 15 will never get done...

1. Marcia @ 1,2,3 Blog
2. Mandy@ My Life as Described By Twin Trials and Triumphs
3. Rebecca @Unexplained X2
4. Erin @ The Never Ending Story
5. Krayzid0rk@ Housing My First Human

These girls along with Andrea @ The Mays Twins are my go-to, stop what you're doing and read, must check before bed blog friends!

Sunday Senses

I'm playing along with Rebecca and you should too!

Sight: The husband creature doing crossword puzzles.

Taste: Fresh baked cookies before bed! Deeeelicious!

Smell: Fresh bed linens, I can't wait for spring to hang them outside.

Touch: My greasy cookie fingers sliding across the keys and the luxury of high thread count sheets. Nothing below 400 for this mama!

Sound: Emma making some possessed demon noise in her crib. Throw in the towel kid, it's 9 o'clock!

Hope everyone is ready for the week ahead, I just have to finish these last two cookies and brush my teeth before bed. Are you jealous of the cookies yet? They are fabulous and so is the hubs for making them!

A Week In My Phone

I'm a bad mom, finding the camera is just too much effort. So most of my pictures are phone pictures for the day-to-day. Cause you know my phone is an extension of me, my last relic of the world outside this house! This week we have...

Emma found the printer tucked next to her crib. In rebelling against nap time she launched an offensive all over the floor, complete with everything from their cribs.

Mother of the year here! Just sit right here while I load the groceries...

Those adorable pea coats that prevent us from doing anything unnoticed in public.

They have both developed a love of hats and having things on their heads. So she spent a good 25 minutes running around with this on her head and squealing with delight. I so wish I knew what they thought!

Remember that baby gym you have in the corner? The one you haven't gotten rid of yet but your kids don't use. They've totally out grown it and it's been on your list to get rid of. Until today, when it suddenly came back in style! During a diaper change no less! Claire has been the "good" child this week. Look at the innocence she exudes!

Emma at her guard post. Only today she found the roll of tp I was substituting for tissues. Heaven forbid I go to the cold basement for a new box!

The first warm day of the year, in the middle of February, we finally got outside to play! It soo needs to be cleaned off and moved away from the trash cans but they were thrilled and I got to clean up dog poop-SCORE!

The Sneaky Chef's got nothing on me! Yogurt with butternut squash and fresh strawberries. I just had DH pick up her book for me, we are floundering in the food department...

The best find of the month! It almost made the trip to hellmart worth it! I never have anything to store my bread in and it eats up far to much cling wrap or foil. TaDa! I am amazed!

Emma again, at her post, crying because she was caught red handed unrolling all the paper towels. Hooray for developing consciences but it's not the end of the world!

Then Friday was BEAUTIFUL so we played outside for a bit. I have learned that the girls really enjoy being outside and that our backyard is the complete opposite of kid friendly. Low deck with no railing, open access to basement stairs, and stone scallops and bricks around the pool. There is also sloping, uneven ground and the usual hidden dog mine.

So we ended our week with a little alfresco dining. I think they enjoyed it, if the noticed at all that they were outside while they inhaled their dinner. It was so nice to finally get out of the house. Hopefully spring isn't too far away.

So that was a week in my phone. Hope you enjoyed!

20 Minutes In On A Friday Morning..

...and there is still no nap in naptime! WTH? Go to sleep. If you are rubbing your eyes, cranky, and have a dazed look that means you are tired. Lay down. Sleep. Give me a break already!

That actual falling asleep part of any nap or bed time is starting to drag out. It is against house rules to re-enter the room after the start of any sleep session. It has worked like a charm until now. I just took them to the doctor for a tune up, what gives?

On the upside it is Friday. According to the computer ( I love screen shots!) it is currently 59 out and over cast but not pretty cloud over cast, ugly blah rain over cast.

I think this means we will walk to the post office and maybe over to visit Poppy after lunch. Maybe I will let Poppy have some "girl time" and I will steal his truck. Because what else are father's for? I want to go pick up the flooring for the basement. I actually measured the basement, and it only took 4 months. Incase you don't remember this, the basement flooded horrible and since then we've been working with a carpet on top of the concrete subfloor. Concrete in winter=HELLA COLD! But spring is around the corner and I plan on finally putting the floor back down so we can again use our family room! Hooray! Downside is I don't exactly remember the style of laminate that is down there and I don't want to rip of the other half of the floor, let alone pay for it. It was Oak something-or-other, it shouldn't be that hard to match right?? Then reinstall the baseboards and call it a day. Who thinks I will finish before Easter??

Oh and did you look carefully at this week's forecast? 72 today and then a chance of snow next week? Why do I live in Maryland?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Doctor Day

Our day started with dropped DH off at work and coming home to putz around the house. We then hit the grocery store where every.single.person had to comment how cute the girls were in their matching pea coats. Note to self-ugly coats next year! Then we came home and who did we find? Bible knockers! Grrrreat! I'm not a fan of proselytizing. Coincidentally neither do my dogs. So I kept driving past the house and off we went again. Of course a block from the house the girls fell asleep so I went and grabbed lunch and drove around since it was a nice day. You can't interrupt nap time. So an hour later, with my 4 gallons of milk sweating in the back, I arrived home just as the bible knockers were leaving. At this point the dogs were overly excited and the girls wouldn't go back down for a nap. Not how I pictured my day going.

Would it be wrong to hang a sign on the porch?

So I had the diaper bag ready with my question list, lunch was over and diapers were changed. Off to the car we go and for once a few minutes early! We arrived early and the girls finished a nap in the car before we went in. Our Dr. is great, she really is! I do love her and I think it is important to really love your doctor. It's more than feeling comfortable and trusting, you have to have that vibe. Did I mention that not only does she check up on my children, she checks up on me?! I love that. It's not the generic how are things, it a genuine how are you holding up and are they letting you sleep. My favorite line today was when she told me not to be afraid to take a Mommy Timeout and just remove and collect myself. She also warned me that the next six months will be hell. Great, thanks for that heads up!

Then there was the screaming and more screaming! Oh, and the sympathy tears. I think I hate those most. You don't need to wail just because your sister is wailing, and when your sister stops you don't need to carry on. FYI. Suddenly these little girls that waltz around my house naked were full of modesty! Taking their clothes off, NO WAY! Weighing them, HOW DARE YOU! An exam, CALL CPS!! They were off the hook! Do you know how hard it is to answer questions about what they do and don't eat, how they sleep, behave, and when they poop while two sets of very healthy lungs are screaming? Oh vey!

Overall, there is nothing noteworthy.

E- 21 lb 12 oz, 10 percentile; 31 3/4 in

C- 21 lb 2 oz, 7 percentile; 30 1/4 in

They are growing and developing like normal kids. We have a mover and we have a talker. We have signs of twin language. We have nothing to worry about. I was worried about eating; she said not to, that toddlers are picky. I was worried about verbalization; she said not to, it's a twin thing. I was worried; she said not to, they're healthy and growing. I felt like a good mom. Then she sent in Hilary with our last booster till age 4 and all hell broke loose again! But before our booster, with children half dressed and screamy, I had to fill out a questionnaire and autism evaluation for EACH child.

4 papers.

2 screamies.

1 scrambling mom.

But I did it because I am rockstar, and they are still healthy and growing.

VD

No I don't have it, I would have to have sex for that! LOL!

Valentine's Day, silly!

I should start my saying I'm not big on the buy me lots of stuff and shower me with love, that should be done on a daily basis! It's a hallmark holiday, but when else can I bust out my heart shaped pans??

I put a lot of hard work into those brownies! From scratch and hopefully edible. When I went upstairs for my shower, the shower I take during nap time because getting up early is sooo not my cup of tea, I found that I had battle wounds! Cocoa comes out right?

I then got the bright idea to make cards! This will be fun, we'll color and throw a hand print down. It would be so much more fun if my kids colored, enjoyed coloring, or did something other than try to eat and break the crayons. The hand prints, dear gawd! Let me smash your hand on this pad and lay it flat on the paper. I know it feels amazing and one day I will take you for a proper manicure but please just make this work! It did. They're cute.

It was so successful in fact, that I made my own. Because I rock and who can pass up a chalk ink stamp pad?! Yes that non-toxic, washable ink is still on my hand!

DH finally made it home with some flowers for me. He also got me a pair of jeans-SCORE! Did I mention I had ONE pair of jeans that fit? Just one that didn't add to the muffinage or fall off my asset. I think he was just grossed at that I wore them for a week at a time. Jeans always fit better the second day anyhow!

Then after bedtime we had some sugary fun! Chocolate fondue-fantastic!

What you don't see is the time and effort that went into cutting this up. Half way through cutting old dog comes into the kitchen to greet me with 5 gallons of piss on my kitchen floor. WTF! Really? See old dog is afraid of loud noises, particularly those he can't see. So the with the wind howling all day, he refused to go out-at all-all day. So by 9 o'clock his 5 gallon bladder had surpassed it's capacity and spilled. Was I pissed, ABSOLUTELY! Were we out of paper towel, YOU BETCHA! Did he pee all over my new door mat, OF COURSE! But I still love him, I think. Besides, I had this waiting so I could try to erase it from my mind.

As for the children, I didn't capture their red and pink shirts. I didn't make them as I had planned, so I settled for the only red and pink shirts we own! What I did capture is the stair surfer!

All that rug burn on her face is from surfing face first down the stairs. Did I mention we have a Dr. appointment Thursday? Neither of us were too happy about the fall. She was exiting the basement and as I opened the door to let her out the old dog in his panicked state shot through the door and down into the family room, knocking Em backward and sending her surfing. Of course I screamed like a girl, repeating no, No, NO, NO, NOOO as she hit every stair with her face! She cried, I cried, and Claire just stood on the stairs watching us both. Some how the dog barreling, Emma sliding and me running down the stairs just breezed by her. Of course when all was said and done Claire was very upset that Emma was getting so much attention and more drama started.

Maybe one day they'll out grow the rivalry... I can still hope!

They're Taking The Fort!! 18 Month Catch-Up

Do you ever feel that way? Like they're taking the fort and all you can do it run to the highest point and hide, begging and pleading for mercy!!! That happened here at 18 months. They're hellians! OUT-OF-CONTROL! CRRRRRRRAZZZZZZZY!

They're just tall enough, just fast enough, just quiet enough to make me lose my mind. Worst of all they've learned the art divide and conquer, I'm sooo screwed! If they are not keeping me distracted from what the other is doing, they are quiet-TOO QUIET. The bad quiet where you want to act oblivious and enjoy reading blogs the silence because you know the minute you lay eyes on them you'll want to scream and run for the hills.

At least they've stopped hand feeding the dogs each piece of kibble right? Scratch that, Claire was feeding Kenton this morning, by hand, one piece at a time. WTH kid?

They do follow commands now so that is NICE! "Emma go get the dogs' bowls" and off she goes! Fantastic, aiding in my laziness! It would be waaaay better if they could answer questions! I know, I am always wanting more from them. Once we get cooking, cleaning, and laundry down I'll let up on them a bit. We know a few signs but using them sparingly. For now it's grunts, groans, points, tantrums, and DADDEN?? Always with the Dad, what is with that? Mom is here too, lets show her some more love!

So for 18 months, I feel we are verbally a bit behind but cognitively ahead. We have one demand down and it has made me reconsider encouraging verbalization! UP! All day, all I hear, is "Uh, uh, uh" with arms extended and head banging into my thighs. Thanks, they jiggle enough on their own! Claire has these babbling conversations and she sings to herself but Miss Em is all shrieks, grunts, and groans.

We are making progress on utensils and I blame myself for them not being further ahead with them but I cannot handle the mess! So says the woman who served nutella on toast for breakfast! In regards to what they eat, it's touch and go. They are still anti-meat, unless of course it is nugget shaped. Fine, be a vegetarian, just eat something! Some days they eat like birds but I don't want to get in the habit of giving them extra stuff they like just to fill them up. That being said, they are still tiny. I'm guessing around 21-22 lbs each but they actually fit in to the 18-24 month clothes they've been wearing since fall!

On the sleep front, they are MAH-VAL-OUS! We go down by 8, usually with some late night girl talk. I love it! It's too funny when they are still chatting an hour later, but they don't whine or cry out so talk it up ladies. We all know the later you're up, the later you wake! Which is usually between 7 and 8. Yes I get roughly 11 hours out of them! Fan-freakin-tastic! As for naps, it's a bit dicey. We always have one good nap, between 2-3 hours starting around 10:30. The afternoons are touch and go. We always do quiet time before dinner, but it's not always quiet. It does give them a chance to rest though so they are not total cranks for the rest of the night! I do enjoy that they don't seem to bother each other. They seem to sleep regardless of what the other is doing and they don't seem to make an effort to wake the other when they wake. Awesome, especially since they'll be sharing their closet of a room for as long as we live in this house!

So, we're on the go. I used to be able to run down the stairs to trade out laundry-HA! What a dream! They are down the stairs before I get to the laundry room now, and the basement is currently their favorite place to play! I think they miss the toys in the family room, but this Mama doesn't have the dinero to run the gas fire place for hours on end, day after day! They are profecient walkers now, enough so that I try to let them walk along with us while we're out. Emma can totally handle the walking, but not so much the hand holding. Claire would usually rather be held. The faster big bertha and I part ways, the better! They have also mastered climbing for the most part. On any given day Emma can be found atop any table or chair in our house. Did I mention we have a bar heigh dining set? She's a beast! Just this past Monday I rearranged their room a bit and this is what I found.

Seriously? This is not acceptable! But what can I do? I do love it and so far we have been very lucky on the injury front. I just have to make sure that the windows don't fall out of this old house and we'll be set!

Our 18 month check up will be this Thursday, a month late. Hopefully I will remember to schedule their 2 year check up while we are there. I feel so under prepared and all "go with the flow" as I have no question sheet prepared. I should mention that Emma has a very limited vocabulary, and that meals are becoming increasingly difficult but our Dr is very thorough (hate spelling this word). I have also accepted that any question I ask will be nothing to worry about, and everything that I think will come on it's own will be behind the curve and warrant attention. Kids are kids, c'est la vie.

Suzie Builds A Bed

So I had this crazy idea to build a bed. I found Ana White and was in love. It was only lust because I'm not really sure I have a style, let alone her style, so I made my own design. Reflective of my style, which really isn't a style, it's still a work in progress. Yes, I am that indecisive. We have a king size foam mattress because it can squish, squeeze, and fold it's way through our teeny, tiny, old house. A regular mattress won't fit, at all. Prior to this we had a full size bed that I brought from my parents house. A delicious cherry oak sleigh bed that currently is collecting dust in the attic. Full sizes beds don't make for happy marriages, or fun marriages, or apparently a good night's sleep for those over 6 foot. Sometimes bigger is bedder...ha ha, I'm lame.

(sorry for the crappy cell phone pictures all the time, I'm too lazy to bust out the camera and find batteries and my camera cable...solar powered bluetooth camera anyone??)

Wait? You're getting rid of this bed? Why? This bed here? What will I jump on? What is wrong with this el-cheapo-ikea-special-you-want-to-be-young-and-trendy-with-a-low-platform-bed? That sums it up nicely! To low, too cheap, and...

It's busted! Apparently the Swedes design furniture for people 50 lbs and under, and don't factor in, um, action. The bed breaking went from funny, to annoying, to don't twitch your ass or you might fall into the abyss! Luckily my side was abyss free, DH not so much.

This is what happens when you're a bed-building SAHM! Be forwarned!

(Side note, isn't the boulder holder sexy? It screams Grandma!! And I'm starting to get the shoulder dents! Fan-fucking-tastic! Oh, and I'm not a make up girl-EVER! Au natural here because I am just that lazy!)

So I took some boards and pretended to know what I was doing! I would just like to say DEAR GOD! the amount of random crap under our bed was ridiculous! Dust bunnies, a stray receipt, a bag from christmas-pure craziness! I should really clean under there more.

It didn't take long at all, and was easy to do. No box spring needed. It's much higher and seems pretty steady. I will have loads of storage underneath and it will be easier to clean under now. Disregard the floors, they are in desperate need of refinishing - and someone with the energy to do so!

So here it is. I hope you all approve. I feel a bit like princess and the pea! I am up so high. The top of the mattress is about hip height and my feet dangle when I sit on the edge. I think I am going to go back and add a few more support to clear up any wobbleage. Then I'll work on two night stands since our current ones sit a good foot below the top of the mattress! I need to focus on my headboard and possibly footboard first though, must finish one project before moving on. I have a bunch of salvaged boards to work with and I'm thinking either a cut out or something with a reclaimed/distressed look. DH wants to stain it, I want to distress it, but right now we are both happy to not be falling into the abyss!

Please feel free to leave some ideas. We are done with our green bedroom and would love to have an adult bedroom finally. I'm such a horrible decorator and am terribly indecisive!

Sunday Senses

I've linked up with Rebecca for Sunday Senses and you should too!

See: The darkness of my room thanks to the over cast day outside. But thanks to me spiffy new princess and the pea inspired bed I can view it from a different angle! Oh look, the top of a baby head!

Hear: The girls climbing up the stairs with sippies in hand. DH is taking care of the lovely ladies so I can rest. It's so fun to hear it all and imagine the craziness.

"Emma give me that. Oh no. Aww Man! This was Mr. Kenton's. He was eating. You don't take his food while he is eating. Oh look, sissy has the dolls."

Feel: A sore, scratchy throat with muscle aches all over. I feel horrible just in time for the nice weather! By nice I mean above freezing.

Smell: I can faintly still smell the lumber and I know that it will soon be replaced with the chemically smell of paint and varnish.

Taste: I taste sickness which is the worst, especially when it's mixed with milk. Gross. No amount of teeth brushing will help that!

Oh, You Haven't Heard?

So I'm going public with my private blog.

No boys allowed, this means you!!

It's a blog dedicated to me complaining about life-but there are pictures!!

Who wants in?

Breaking REAL WORLD News

Did Mubarak just step down? For real?? Did I think the box of nails were a box of screws and now I have to wait to build my bed??? Oh Egypt, entertain this lowly American!

This has been engaging for me, to watch it unfold and splatter across the internet. In true American fashion I read ever detail and tucked it away in my brain. DH is just "tired" of hearing about it. I was inspired by it. Not that I love drama, cause if I did there is always something obnoxious on TV like Jersey Shore which I've never seen thankfully, but it amazes me as an American that people can actually band together for change. To come together physically and not text 'Help' to 5555 to save the world! The people of Egypt came together as one to work for a common goal, and succeeded! Go Egypt. But is it part of a large, international downward spiral??

Mubarak supposedly left control to the military. Scary stuff. Militaristic societies are not my cup of tea. But what happens next? Who is there to provide order and stability? Will top military officials seize control by force? What will happen to the protesters? The innocent? The weak and poor? The elite? The formerly powerful? Inflation? Devaluation? Will there be bread to eat? These things are flooding my mind. It's played out so many times throughout history. The next few years will be rough, but will they be worth it? Will they find what they're after?

There will be a bit of chaos. Who will organize elections? Will there even be elections? Who will run? Will the campaigns be fair and in the best interest of the people? Will be rally again if they don't like the outcome of the elections? Will the elections be fair and just? Who will ensure that? It's easy to say that the military will establish order, elections will be organized and magically they will be a successful democracy-in 5 years! This is an entire generation that will be effected by lack of stable government that will be passed down. Children growing up in this chaotic landscape will not know how to lead when it is their turn. The adults of today demanding change will either fade into the abyss or become radicals and rebels. That is unless someone/group takes charge, which is exactly what they just forced out. Is drastic change really what people want and do they realize how drastic the changes they demand could be? Look at the craziness that is Iraq. Way to step in America and sprinkle your democrazy dust on a fractured society. I hope we, by we I mean America, stay FAAAAAAR away! Let's just send them a get-well card and call it a day!

Do we really need government?

Do they know what kind of government they want? Can they agree on that? Can we agree on that? I don't think any group of people can totally agree, on anything. Ever try ordering a pizza for a hockey team? How often to people in America truly ponder their government and their expectations?

I do, a lot.

But who am I? I am one of millions. One of millions who is unhappy with my government. What is the catalyst for change? How much government is too much or not enough? What is all this craps about rights and freedoms anyhow? Read up on your Carlin kiddies, a right isn't a right if the government can take it away and that is exactly why you elect them!

And rights aren't rights if someone can take them away. They're privileges. That's all we've ever had in this country, is a bill of temporary privileges. And if you read the news even badly, you know that every year the list gets shorter and shorter. You see all, sooner or later. Sooner or later, the people in this country are gonna realize the government does not give a fuck about them! The government doesn't care about you, or your children, or your rights, or your welfare or your safety. It simply does not give a fuck about you! It's interested in its own power. That's the only thing. Keeping it and expanding it wherever possible.

You Have No Rights

-Carlin quotes from Wiki

All that being said, I hope for the best in Egypt as well as for here and the rest of the world. I desperately wish I had a platform to gabber away about politics and social issues. I would love to, honestly! But I'll stop boring you, if you're still reading. All I can do is teach my children and ensure they're well-verse people, and most importantly teach them to question everything-including authority.

In The Beginning There Was Wood

And so it begins... Just after nap time and I dress warm enough to walk the three feet from my door!

Wish me luck!

It's Official

Suzy is building a bed!

Tomorrow!

Tonight I went and purchased all my goodies and tomorrow I will build our new bed. It's a work in progress (and dear god it's going down to single digits tonight!!!!) so it won't be completed but hopefully I'll be able to give you a little something tomorrow evening!

Uprising!

So my sweet angels are currently protesting nap time and I am writing a blog post from my phone. Why my phone? Because as part of their not so peaceful demonstration they managed to plug the plug on my internet access!!
YES I AM SHAKING AND DEVELOPING HIVES!!!
Was this necessary? Better yet, why can't Verizon make DSL work properly in my house instead to continuously trying to sell me upgrades?! Yes you read right! They can't figure it out so they offer me different service. Tards. As a result the ONLY room our modem will work in is the girls room and there is no explanation for why. The rest of the phone jacks throughout the house work. So our airport, modem, and printer and currently housed at the end of Emma's crib and serve as a buffer between her and the radiator. Great placement for electronics! So when she is being a little to roudy she moves her crib away from the wall and it will sometimes hit the airport. That leaves me with nothing.
It's time to pull out the water canons!

Foodie

Do you see that? Yes I did take a picture of the TV, don't judge me! Do you see who is no longer pushing over weight but is comfortably sitting in the normal weight range??? ME! Granted I am still 30 lbs heavier than I was pre-pregnancy but I was under weight then so I'll just leave the double digit weights in the past... :)

These young ladies recognize fine food when they see it, and they attack! Homemade bread, my new weekly luxury. They love it, I love, DH loves it. What's not to love? Super cheap, easy, and tasty! The only problem is they keep reaching, and demanding, till the bread is finished or out of sight. They will totally disregard their meal if there is bread in the room. You'll also notice the sauce on the pasta, made by moi with home canned tomatoes! The name is Suzie, Suzie Freakin' Homemaker!! I seriously love my Aunt for introducing me to canning!

After seeing Marcia's recipe for Apricot Chicken, I was curious about Apricots. I had never noticed fresh apricots in the store, nor had I looked. I grouped them with prunes, which I associate with old people, and grossness, and digestive aides...

But I found them, easily. $4 a pound for these little gems. Luckily they are the size of a peach pit and not much heavier. I was excited because I was imagining them like mini peaches, kind of like the 100 calorie version. Yeah, NO. So not peaches. Not disgusting though, I don't think the ones I purchased were as ripe as they could be, but not a regular purchase for sure. I think I would have liked it more if I wasn't expecting a miniature Georgia peach. The texture is all wrong too. The girls weren't thrilled, Emma did eat half of one and the dogs turned their noses up- SHOCKER!

But they are just so darn cute!

Lastly, before I hit the sack, are these two photos. For Marcia, and anyone else who needs help visualizing the ooey, gooey, goodness that is an apple crisp, I have today's creation that filled my house with it's wonderful appley-cinnaminey-vanilla fabulousness.

And for Mandy, these are my nightly treats! After I freeze them I pop them into a freezer bag and bake as needed. Best idea ever. Right now I have chocolate chip walnut, fresh from the oven, beside me with a tall glass of ice cold milk!

**Disregard the messy kitchen, there is no storage in this house.**

I guess it's time to hit the hay. Tomorrow is another day, and Monday's are dreadfully long! I have loose plans for a trip out with my girlfriend tomorrow night and need to make a few pumpkin rolls!

What's up for your Monday?!

Sunday Senses

I'm following along with the new "official" Sunday Senses, button and all!!

Sight: Rebecca's nose. LOL! I too am loving the sunshine coming through my bedroom window. I've had my share of gloominess.

Sound: The girls chattering before nap. I love to hear them talking to each other. I also hear DH's hand sliding across his crossword. I'm sure he hears me pounding on the keys. **Update** I also hear DH smacking his feet together, and it ALWAYS drives me crazy! Stop it!

Touch: My warm, comfy pants. There are various sub-categories of pants in my drawer. Of the house pants there are more sub-sub-categories. Sweats, warm fuzzy, stretchy, and scratchy(you know the old ones that get pilled because you've had them for 5 years?!).

Taste: Semi-warm whole milk left over from breakfast. All I drink is milk. People are amazed.

Smell: Appley goodness fresh from the oven. I made two apple crisps for work today cause that totally screams Superbowl. I added vanilla and the scent is heavenly. I really hope they taste as good as them smell!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday and they aren't wrapped up in football hell!

Friday Night

It's a crazy Friday night over here! PAR-TAAAY!
I've started the evening with a little pre-gaming before dinner, nothing like folding laundry to the music of my high school days! I rediscovered the massive CD binder I've been hauling around for the last ten years in the laundry room today-SCORE! Looking through it I see why I didn't have so many friends!

So while Sir Elton and I fold laundry and the children are entertaining themselves with who knows what I'm hoping every has a warm and fun filled weekend!

Pantry Stocking

Since becoming a mother and housewife, I've been very into DIY projects, making food, and stocking my pantry. I've asked for a canning book for Valentine's day, how romantic! Sadly my pride and joy is my pantry at the moment. I think I am turning into my mother with my love for stock piling food. I could feed a small nation at the moment.

Granted my pantry is small, not a real pantry at all. I would love to have a room instead of this haphazardly made closet at the top of the basement stairs, but I manage. Last weekend I was super excited to pack out my pantry! I was able to hit a store closing sale and grab a cart full of stuff for HALF OFF! Holla!!!

I even went back for second because all the bath and beauty was on sale, so my children have 6 toothbrushes now and bath supplies to last the rest of the year! Super Mom's the name, saving is the game! Ha!

Then FIL stopped by. He dropped his laundry off and a billion more groceries! Boxes of pasta, sauce, cereal, yogurt for the girls, some new clothes, more food. The man is a miracle worker in the grocery store! The deals the he finds are amazing. So as if my closet wasn't full enough, it is now over flowing.

Follow that up with me stopping by mother's house and her handing over some more goodies and of all things more pasta!

Now my kitchen cabinets are fully stocked, my pantry is over flowing, I have toiletries and baby supplies to last me through summer and beyond AND I still went grocery shopping! Perishables people! After all that I still spend $80 at the grocery store. Ridiculous! I need to invest in a cow. A quarter of that cost was just milk!

Look at my pantry, and my half clothed child. Both are sooo pretty!

So there is food and cleaning supplies and over flow food and toiletries stashed everywhere. I did my weekly grocery shopping trip. Can someone talk me out of a Sam's C.lub trip this weekend?!

How do you stock your house? Can I see your pantry? Am I obsessed with groceries?

The GP

I'm sure you trust your parents with your kids, in theory they managed to keep you alive till adulthood so they should have an handle on baby wrangling-right?

I'll throw mother a few bones...

• She never had two babies at once and that can be a little tricky, especially when they tag-team you.
• She's never really had to care for two kids at the same time regardless of age.
• She isn't very maternal, never had been.
• She didn't really raise me, and well, we see the wonderfulness that she produced with my sister-REAL WINNER!

That being said, as an adult I like to think that other adult(more so those with adult children) have a clue, have purchased a clue, or could at least borrow a cup of clue from the neighbor. Yesterday was one of those off days that happen on occasion. DH was working late and I was working late and had to hit the grocery store after work or we have starved. I left the children with mother after a very confusing car swap I'm still not sure how my father made it home but I know his fat ass didn't walk the entire mile and a half home. Mother had the children from 2:30p.m. to just before 9p.m. which is just over 6 hours. What could possibly go wrong in 6 hours?

Mwhahaha!

I checked in on them twice with no response. She finally responds at 6 to tell me she turned her phone off to charge it. Who in the hell turns their phone off ever? I mean I set it to silent to ignore the world but I like to see who missed me while I was gone. She also tells me that the girls are napping. WTF???????? Who lets a child nap at 6 oclock?! WHO!

Play with them, give them sugar, poke them with sticks but do not let them sleep!

Really? Maybe she's trying to kill me... Then I found out that they merely picked at dinner, which they always do for her, a dinner of hamburger helper and strawberry apple sauce. GRRRRRRRREAT! I'm amazed I survived at this point! When I arrived I was greeted by a zombie and a child who had passed exhaustion to the point of giggles and grins. One was in a food covered outfit, the other in a new outfit. Both still trotting around in their shoes which mother will not let them take off. I guess I should take solace in the fact they had fresh diapers on?

Nonetheless I'm happy to have free child care whenever I need it and luckily they are starting to like and get excited when they see her. So that's a step in the right direction. I guess the other stuff is small, slightly rotten potatoes and I'll survive. But in all seriousness, will I lose my parenting touch when I have grandkids of my own? Do you forget? I'd like to think that I am not so old that they have completely changed the parenting manuals...

And Again...

...we have bread. This time it is in nice neat loaves! Thanks to my cousin for my spiffy new pans!

Closed

Again.

School is.

DH is home.

Sanity is gone.

Go away ice!!