Reviewing my poll

** Something seems to be wrong in the font sizing of blogger. When I hit publish, everything in the second half gets huge. Sorry! **


Well, everyone, I think that my "I'm bored, help me think of something to do" poll wrapped up quite well.

Let's review:


-18 of you voted for the new baby

Wow. People REALLLY love babies when they don't effect their sleep/girlish figure/feminine parts.

Heck, if any of YOU guys asked me if you should have a new baby, I would immediately say yes. Why not? Do it!!

Anyway, we all know that blog peer pressure and a good old fashioned poll are the best reasons to decide to reproduce, so we'll bow to your better judgment and perhaps start writing some letters to ol' Mr. Stork soon.




-8 voted that I take up a new craft or hobby

Isn't that so nice of all of you?

My guess is that most of the people who voted for this one remember oh so well the pain-swelling-water retention-sleepless nights-colic that come with a baby and that you are all trying to save me from myself.

The thing is, I am not so creative.
Well, I am creative in my HEAD, but it doesn't transfer well.

But, practice makes perfect, yes? I'll see what I can cook up.



NOW FOR THE KICKER


-3 of you said that I wasn't BORED, just LAZY and that I should get off my computer and clean my house.


Ouch, blog readers, ouch.

I know for a fact that 1 of these voters was my mother (don't deny it), and another one was my mother's identical twin sister.

So, who was the lucky number 3, eh?

And how did you know? Seriously. I do need to clean my house.

But doesn't having a baby sound so much easier?

The Diet

In lieu of my regularly-scheduled Thursday's Culinary Aventure post, I am sending out a plea for you guys to help me embark on low-to-no carb culinary adventures to serve to Brian.

Wait, What? That sentence didn't really flow well- and I'm too tired to change it.


Basically, what I'm trying to get at is:

-No culinary adventure
-I need low/no carb recipes.

Much better.


Here's the deal...


A week or so ago, Brian announced that he was no longer going to eat carbs after 3pm in an effort to lose weight.

Now, at first I was a little bummed about this idea;
I mean, seriously, how good is a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream when you have to eat it by yourself?

Well... pretty darn good, as it turns out.

So, to each their own, Brian can go on his diet, and I will continue to eat mixing bowls full of white rice whenever the mood hits.

But now, after a few weeks of trying to whip out delicious, nutricious, low-carb dinners (yes, I CAN do it all...) I am starting to draw a blank.


If someone doesn't help me soon, poor little Brian is going to get a chunk of cheese with a peanut on top for dinner tomorrow night.

Can anyone out there help me? Any ideas for easy no-carb snacks? Meals? Anything?

Yes, I do know that there must be TONS of low-carb recipes online, but I am WAAAAAAY too busy using my computer for online shopping, so I would prefer to have easy, nutritious, delicious, tried-and-true recipes handed to me.

Call it the easy way out if you will, I call it helping a blogger in need.

Sigh.

My ice cream is calling.

We won't be lonely if we have each other.

Just my ice cream and me....

I Have No Words.

 

 

Only laughter.

Lots and lots of laughter.

I love my little weirdo.

In which I discuss my tendency to overreact.

So, I was taking a pair of Joseph's pants out of the dirty clothes basket in my laundry room, and out fell the most hated of all creatures in my little world.

An earwig.

Now, I hate ALL bugs (in my house! I know that they are God's creatures, yada, yada, so I leave them alone when they are outside), but Earwigs are my least favorite by a mile. Disgusting.

I did what I always do when I see a bug-

1) Try not to burst into tears. (Why do I feel like crying?)
2) Think frantically of how I could Not Deal With This.
ie Is there any way that Brian will come home right now and save me?
Or Where is my Daddy?!


And then I ran to get the vacuum.

I came back about 5 seconds later (adrenaline makes me run fast. And some kind of a bribe- like cookies.) and...
you guessed it...
the earwig was gone!

I once again tried to fight back tears and ran to get Brian's BBQ tongs.

I proceeded to

Use tongs to pick up everything that I thought that the earwig could be under and

Use tongs to shove everything in sight into the washing machine and push start.



I tried to pull it together and walk away.

But then, Heavens to Betsy! There was something pinching inside my underwear!

So, of course, I had to strip down completely naked while shrieking and hopping around with the BBQ tongs.

Nothing was there, of course.

The pinching was all in my head.


Where is the earwig?

Well, I can tell you where it is not, because I looked. With the tongs.:

my shoes (any of them)
Brian's shoes
Joseph's shoes
my detergent-dispenser drawer
In my dirty clothes hamper
under the washer or the dryer.


Wouldn't you think I could have just taken off my shoe and smashed that darn bug when I had the chance?


And please tell me that somebody else wipes down their library books when they bring them home? Who knows where those things have been?!

Memorial Day Weekend

 

 

This past weekend was just about the most relaxing thing ever.

Every time Joseph was asleep, be it for the night, or for a nap, Brian and I would watch movies.

Heaven.  Just me, Brian, and my bowl of popcorn. (Which Brian wouldn’t eat b/c of his new diet- more on that later.)

In fact, these are the only pictures that I took all weekend- because I was too busy lazing around.  And Brian stayed in his underwear full-time.

In that one Joseph is on his way to put the empty fish-cracker bag back into the drawer.

Can’t every weekend be a three day weekend?  Doesn’t it seem that 4 days on and 3 days off is just more fair?

Friday Fragments

I have no cohesive thoughts. Only bits and pieces. Thankfully, it is Friday, so this works!




* On our morning walk today, I saw a truck in our neighborhood with a bumper sticker that said, and I quote directly:

"Patience, my ASS! I want to kill some wolves!!"

Umm...okay?



* The crazy Catholic lady who cornered me at Winco finally called last night! I knew that it was her, because she actually said, "Hi there- this is the crazy Catholic lady from Winco! "
Haha! Perfection!
It makes me actually like her a little.
Too bad I have to break her little conversion-hungry heart.
Maybe I will just not call her back.



* I was picking up garbage on our morning walk (I AM my mother) when some little old ladies started yelling "Thank you! Thank you!" from across their fence.

Then they started complaining for about an hour or so about "That Russian Lady" who lets her kids run wild and throw trash around.

It's always the Russians, isn't it?

At least when you're an old lady.

(Kidding! Kidding! Kidding!)



* Joseph played outside by himself for 5 minutes straight this morning while I unloaded groceries. HEAVEN!
During that five minutes, he emptied our bird feeder, sucked on Brian's BBQ tools, and broke a glass. I didn't even care- it was SOOO worth it!
(Except that there IS still a piece of glass missing...Note to self: Don't go barefoot in our backyard until we find it...)


* An old man cornered me at Winco today (what is it about this store and it's corners?) and told me all about the Great Depression and how his mother could make an entire meal out of a bacon rind and a cup of flour.

Now, I really tried to pay close attention to this man, because I know that history is so important, and those who have lived during the depression are rapidly disappearing.
And also, I know that this old man was so lonely and just wanted someone to talk to.

But, mostly, I was just thinking, Flour and Bacon?! What the heck kind of meal could I possibly make from that?

Bacon-flour soup. That was my only conclusion.

Other suggestions welcome.




* An email from my Dad regarding my survey:

"I really wanted to check #1 about making the new baby, but you know that a father lives in denial about his daughter(s) and that sort of thing, so I chose the new hobby answer.

Love ya, my chaste, virginal, immaculate conception baby girl. Dad"


I love that guy.

Survey

It's survey time again, folks- there's another one up in my sidebar.

Oh, and for anyone who votes for the "baby" idea, understand that this automatically signs you up for desperate, sleep-deprived calls for help when the baby cries all night and Joseph gets up at 5:30. I WILL track you down.

So choose wisely.

That is all.

Thursday’s Culinary Adventure

 

 

This adventure was, technically, supposed to be for last week from when my sister and her husband and kids were in town.

But, due to…well..procrastination?  It is just going up today.

Tonight, on Thursday’s Culinary Adventure:

with a reappearance from my niece, Brenna!

Doesn’t this just scream “Eat me for breakfast tomorrow morning!”

Well, it did for me.

Here we go

-

You will need:

5 c. day old french bread, cut into cubes

4 eggs

1 1/2 c. milk

1/4 c. sugar, divided

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 T margarine, softened

1 tsp. cinnamon

-

Spray the bottom of an 8x8 pan, and fill it up with the bread cubes.

In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk, 2 Tb. of the sugar, the salt, and the vanilla.                 

Pour on top of the bread, and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Mix the remainder of the sugar, and the 1 tsp. cinnamon together. 

Sprinkle on top of the bread casserole, and dot the top with the 1 Tb. of margarine.

 

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the bread looks all toasty brown.

 

Serve it on up!  (Fresh fruit optional, but highly recommended.)

Taste Testers Say:

Brian:  

My Sister Carrie: 

(She said not to post this because she didn’t have make-up on.  I was hoping that if I put it into soft focus..?)

My Brother-in-law Brian:

(He was being “mysterious.”  I have no words.)

Brenna: 

Grace: 

Aidan: 

And yes, I forgot to take a picture of me.  Sigh.  I am a servant.

Summary: 

It was a hit!  Delicious and just different enough from regular french toast to mix it up a little.  I will definitely make this again!  This weekend, perhaps?

Grade: A

Goodbye, American Idol, I am bored without you already.

****SPOILER ALERT!!****
If you haven't watched the finale, don't read this yet!




Did anyone else just spend their entire night watching the season finale of American Idol, only to have their heart ripped out when Adam Lambert didn't win?

What the heck??!!

Kris is...nice. I guess. But that's it.

Adam?

Well, let's just say that, gay or not (and he is folks, he is) I would marry him in a second. Just so that I could go to all of his concerts, and have him sing only for me. He is an amazing performer and vocalist. And eyeliner-wearer. I love him.

Sorry, Brian.
I'm just sayin'.


Boo!, American Idol, Boo! Pre-teen multi-voters, Boo! Boo! Boo!

Sigh. I must now eat myself into oblivion.

What to do when it's hot out

Nothing says "Hot Summer Days" like being naked with a hose *




(*tacky orange Crocs you convinced your mom that you needed entirely optional.)


This Naked-Fun-Session may or may not have ended with Joseph standing on the toilet in our bathroom, peeing all over Brian's hairbrush.

ARGH!

Our computer is having unexplained internet problems, which only leaves me with my husband's laptop. Which I can barely operate. Hopefully, I will be up and running tomorrow, because I have lots for you.
So.
Frustrated.

The Weekend

 

 

Hello, internet! 

Man, I feel disconnected when I haven’t been on this thing in a while. 

I start to believe that cleaning up Cheerios and wiping bums is really all that is going on in the world.

I have been pretty busy around here with a few projects that we are working on.  Hopefully, I will blog about them soon!

-

We had a lovely, but HOT, weekend in Boise.

        

I hate summer.  I hate being hot.  I send disclaimers to my friends explaining why I will turn down any invitations for outside activities when it is over 80 degrees.

But, besides that, lovely.

-

Joseph turned 18 months on Friday, and we celebrated by getting him a fun slide for the yard.

                                                

Well, actually, I just saw it in a resale shop and bought it, the whole 18 month thing was a coincidence.

Joseph also developed a new table trick this weekend:

                     

He has been sitting like this at every meal ever since.

We are trying to ignore it and hoping that it will go away.

-

Hope that you all had great weekends too- I am back in the saddle, and ready to blog!

Obviously, I have some issues

Remember the crazy lady that I told you about who just so happened to be Catholic (unrelated) who cornered me in Winco and wanted me to come to her Catholic-only playgroup?

Well, she hasn't called me.

Which I should feel relieved about,
but, strangely, it hurts my feelings a little.

Of course, I would just reject both her playgroup and her religious advances and ask her never to call again, but shouldn't I get that chance?

What if I really WAS interested in going to her playgroup?
What if I was completely alone in this city, and her invitation was the first chance at friendship that I had been offered?
What if I was a heathen who was willing to be converted, and this was my only opportunity to be saved?

Really she should call.

So that I can jilt her and go on my merry way,

And stop looking for her number on my caller ID every time my phone rings.

Wait, are we dating?

Oh Mango…

 

              You

Are

Delicious!

 

        

( He ate TWO for lunch yesterday)

Considering it all Joy

 

Every now and then, I come across the blogs of families who have lost a child. 

This happened yesterday, and I am, once again, struck by how lucky I am.

I am so lucky to have a healthy, happy, adorable, intelligent, naughty little boy in my life.

-

So, today, I am considering it all JOY:

-

When Joseph’s face looks like this at the end of the meal?

Joy.

-

When he is feeling a little bit under the weather and lays down for 10 minutes while I rub his back?

     

Joy.

-

When he chews on the blind cord for no apparent reason?

                                        

Joy.

-

When he makes this corny little fake smile face over and over until I can’t stop laughing?

                                                 

Joy.

-

When he kicks me like crazy during a poopy diaper change, which causes me accidently stick my entire hand into his poop?…

…Joy?

…

Well, some things are harder than others.

But I love my little guy and am so thankful for him today.

 

I have regained control

 

 

There is something about bugs that really makes me freak out.

If I see a spider on the wall, my palms instantly start sweating, and I close my eyes and hope that my Dad will magically appear.

Bugs in my kitchen?

The worst.

SOME PEOPLE may think that I overreacted.

They may say something about how a few sugar ants shouldn’t constitute tears, a hysterical trip to Home Depot, and most of the day/night spent gripping my bug-spray and staring at the walls.

Whatev.  I just FEEL things more than most people.  Yep, that’s it.

-

-

Anyway, I am back in control of my kitchen, my day, and my emotions.

So,

We had a great weekend visiting with my sister, brother-in-law, and their three kids

(They look maybe bored, but they were just watching Elmo)

Joseph was in HEAVEN with 3 playmates around, and Brian and I commented on how odd it was to have our legs both free of whining-clinging-boy.

            

He’s back, though, so don’t worry.

I also harvested my first batch of veggies from the garden- a big bowl of spinach!

Mother’s Day was fun and low-key.  Brian and Joseph gave me the privilege of picking out a hanging-basket (I would rather pick it out myself, so that works for me!)  which I ordered through a local farm and will pick up over the weekend.

I got to sleep in, and wake up to a husband-clean house. (As opposed to an ACTUAL clean one.  Do you feel me, wives?)  It was so lovely!

Thanks, Brian for making my day nice and relaxing and mostly about me!

Thanks Carrie, and family, for making the (long, boring) trek out to Idaho!

-

In other news-

My wisteria is blooming, and I think that it is just about the prettiest thing that I have ever seen.

       

I just want to sit and stare at it all day!

And, look what my little stinker did at breakfast this morning

It is quickly becoming routine for him to finish a meal by THROWING all of the remaining food/dishes off of the table.

As you can see, despite my yelling, he finds the whole situation very amusing.

Oh, and look at this adorable picture I snapped of Brian and Joseph this evening.

Daddy is SO Joseph’s best friend right now.

Don’t you think that tomorrow should be go-to-work-with-your-best-friend day?