"'Cuz I'm A Freak, I'm A Weirdo"

Reese makes a taco.


Mommy makes 3 tacos.

Q sees the tacos.

Almost got it...

Ta Da!

"Higher Now Than Ever Before..."

Not Her greatest performance ever...or the greatest video footage ever, but you get the general idea. I wish you could hear her better in the first video. Next time I tape her, I'll shut up. I didn't realize how annoying I would sound..or how much like a "stage mom" I would sound. She finally gets into her groove toward the end of the second video. This was a test run with the video upload. I couldn't figure it out, and probably won't be able to again, without help, for awhile so this is the best we could do. I give you Reese shredding the Rock Band skins to the Killers "While You Were Young"...her request. Maybe next time I'll pull out the camera in time to catch her doing some OkGo, too.

"So How You Gonna Fix It, Fix It, Fix It?"

Dear Meg,

Thank you SO much for the electric griddle! I know it is a few days before Christmas, but we had guests, and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches were on the snackin' menu, and there were a lot of us, and, and...well I couldn't resist tearing into it a little early. It is perfect, and I love that you bought it on sale. You are an excellent gift giver, as this is exactly what I needed. A large plate of perfectly crisped french toast will be coming your way VERY soon. Merry Christmas!

Many Thanks,
Meg

It's Rugga Rugga

When we were kids we would constantly bug my sweet-toothed dad for a bite of whatever yummy treat he was snacking on. Usually it was ice cream or grape popcicles, but once in awhile it was something REALLY yummy, like my mom's homemade candy, See's Candy, Christmas fudge, or some other wonderful delicacy.
Only a parent, who constantly has kids that come running the instant they hear the crinkling of a treat wrapper and then climb up all over you asking "whatchugot?", and demanding that you practice what you preach and "share", can truly understand why some things are just too good for children.

There are a few things to be considered.
1.) I don't mind sharing most things, but every now and then, I am gifted a wonderful bit of yummyness that my kids' hyperactive taste buds just won't appreciate. Like pumpkin cheesecake. Turtle cheesecake. Cherry cheesecake. Any cheesecake. Yeah, they'll take a bite and enjoy, but will they really appreciate it they way cheesecake should be appreciated? Most kids place GOOD treats in the same category as kid treats. Would they be equally happy to eat a Tootsie Roll as one of Annie Grover's Ooey Gooeys? Much too good for children.

2.) Another determining factor...how much do I need this treat for my sanity? Is this a therapeutic chocolate fix, or just leftover Halloween candy?

3.) How much of the desired treat is there? This is a big one for me. Were there two brownies on the plate or 12? Sometimes I just don't have a square to spare. That's when the kids get chocolate graham crackers and run happily back to play.

As children get older, they might not be able to fully appreciate the goodness that you are eating, but with time, they will understand the magnitude of how important it is to you. The fact that another does not WANT to share the item in question makes it much much more desirable to a child.

My dad found that the solution to this problem was to make the treat sound less desireable when we approached his plate with interest.

"Hmmm...Whatchugotthere?" we would ask

"Oh, you wouldn't like this. It's Rugga-Rugga." he would reply, placing an emphasis of total disgust on the word "rugga-rugga"
.
"Rugga-Rugga? Ew! Gross!" and off we went, while my dad sat and finished his bowl of blackberry cobbler topped with french vanilla ice cream in peace. Rugga-Rugga indeed.

He might have learned this art from his own parents....who were experts at deciding who got orange marmalade ice cream, and who got trail mix for dessert.

By the time we discovered that Rugga-Rugga=really really good stuff, we were old enough to appreciate that it indeed was good stuff, and were therefore graced with a bite, or two, or three.

I made the realization when I was asked to pass the treats over, and was told that it was just "Rugga-Rugga", but I could clearly READ the words ALMOND ROCCA on the can.

Then one year, we discovered this holiday snack mix, that we had no name for. It's sweet, it's nutty, it's chewy, it's crunchy, it's coconuty, it's full of butter and sugar,

...it's Rugga-Rugga.

"Haul Out The Holly..."

Remember these little gingerbread buddies?

I never posted a picture of the advent calendar:

There is a poem attached that says:

Here is our special family treat,
It's one, I think, you'll find
Will last and last and last and last
Right up 'till Christmas time.

A cookie you can snip from it
Each and every day.
And this is how we show we care
In a most delicious way!

cute right?
Not as cute as the little containers I made to give them away in!

Made with empty baby formula containers, wrapping paper, and love
...and a little bit of sticky little kid grime if Quincy touched it. She has a permanent case of what Luke from Gilmore Girls would call "jam hands".

I also filled them with rugga-rugga
What is rugga-rugga?
shame on you.
tomorrow's post.

"I Said I Wasn't Gonna Lose My Head, But Then POP! Goes My Heart..."

My doctor put me on "pelvic rest" today.

pelvic rest. seriously. It's a real thing.

What the ?

They didn't laugh like I did, when I thought she was telling a joke.

The nurse then rattled off a list of a million activities I am not to participate in until my 20 week appointment the first week of January.

She mentioned no more exercise a few times.

I laughed (again) at the thought of me doing anything that could be considered exercise lately. My muscles are so underused that I can't even keep from peeing my pants when I throw up. Does that sound like hard core muscle control to you? At least I know I have plenty of support from Aaron. He clearly feels that we are in this together... Together, we polished off an entire bag of chocolate covered peanut butter cookies, and fought over who had to get up off their butt to answer the phone and find the remote while we watched the Biggest Loser finale in our "fat pants" the other night. That's true love right there.

No exercise going on in this house, Doc. Rest assured.

But the rest of the list... no lifting, running, stretching, standing for long periods of time, wrestling with kids, wrestling with Aaron, working, swimming, carrying children, laughing, smiling, breathing...

Basically no doing anything but staying off my feet and "taking it easy", and just being grateful I'm not stuck on bed rest.

Question:
After hearing the list of no-no's...how is "pelvic rest" any different than bed rest?

Question:
How is this possible for anyone with two young children?

One more reason my 20 week appointment can not come soon enough! I am grateful our post Christmas plans did not get canceled. Staying at Grandma's is like visiting a bed and breakfast, but with really awesome toys.

"They Just Wanna,They Just Wanna-aa-a...Oh! Girls Just Wanna Have Fu-un!"

I just couldn't resist posting the rest of the pictures...

"Now remember, No nagging, bragging, sweating, fretting,
slipping, tripping,
Slurping, burping, twittering or frittering allowed.
Stay Present, stay pleasant, stay proud."

"To be a princess
Is to always look your best"


"To be a princess
Is to never get to rest"

"Sit for a portrait, never squirm
Sleep on a mattress extra firm
Speak and be clever
Never at a loss for words"

"Pinky out and Lift the chin and
Slowly turn the head from side to side"

"Breathing gently
Stepping lightly
Smile brightly
Nod politely..."

"Never show a thing you feel inside..."

"And, She has beautiful eyes
Your spirits rise
When she walks in the room..."

"She's like a rose that's forever in bloom"