I'm changin' their names

GIRL #1, GIRL #2, BOY #1 and BOY #2 really got the short end of the stick when it comes to names. Turns out these are common, not proper, nouns and since I want to have proper, well behaved children, I figure GIRL and BOY just don't suit them well. So I sat them down and we all decided it was time to get 'real' names.
Introducing my 9 year old daughter:


My 6 year old daughter:


My 3 year old son:


My baby, the 18 month old:


And poof--just like that, they have brand new names.

Vacations

This is about the time of the year we plan our summer vacation. I look forward to vacations as much as a dread them. You see vacations (along with sick days) were not included in my compensation package as a stay at home mommy.

Last year, we went to one of my favorite little coastal towns in Florida. It was beautiful, it was sunny and we got to wake up and look out at the ocean every morning. I also got to spend every morning searching for bathing suits (even though I very carefully placed all items in specific drawers upon our 12:45 am arrival), making sure teeth are brushed, packing the beach bag and carefully applying sun screen--being an all blonde family is not without it's issues ;).

Upon arrival to the beach or pool, it was time to set up the six towels, and become a sheep herder as the sheep, I mean children, ran into the ocean at full force. Within minutes, everyone was hungry and that had to be handled. Then, well you get it, I am sure.

So now, it's time to start planning it again. Don't get me wrong, I love how excited my kids get, I love that my husband can relax--it's just the fact that there is no real break for me. Well, except I don't have to clean the floor or wash the towels or even make the beds. Hmmmm.....that gets me thinking. Wherever we end up going, I have every intention of throwing every wet towel in sight on the floor, eating and drinking barbecue and rice in bed and then making giant forts with all the pillows and sheets (and remaining clean towels) daily. 

Don't worry--I'm a very good tipper!

Like mother like daughter

I am soooo excited--TOP CHEF starts tonight. This show is the equlivalent of chocolate and bacon for me!!! I have been silently giving passing glances to our ancient TV and occasionally watching but not really. Amazing Race is fun, The Office makes me laugh but oh when I hear Padma or Tom, I am at full attention. My kids could be starting fires in the backyard and I am oblivious. I dream of being in the top chef kitchen, chatting with Tom about the future of fois gras, dishing about the latest Jimmy Choo line with Padma and of course wowing my fellow chefs :)
The chefs this year look, as usual, just awesomely talented. Girl #1 and I were going over the bios when I decided to ask her who she thought was cute.
"Oh, I only like the girls," she said. "I don't think boys are cute." ("except Zac Efron, he doesn't count"--a real quote from earlier)
"OK," I nodded. "Who do you think mommy likes?"
Without even pausing, she says the hottie chef's name.
I just laughed.
She giggled, "Well, it's so obvious."
Hmmmmm, so does she know me or do we have the same excellent taste in the boys?!
So do you have a favorite? Surely you know who the hottie is---it's so obvious ;)

The blizzard of '08

Yes--we had snow! A whole 3 inches as a matter a fact--ok, ok, I know you yankees are laughing seeing as most of you saw 3 inches fall in the past hour but for this Southern family, three inches is nothing short of amazing!

As soon as the snow began to fall, all four children were scrurrying about the house ripping off tags of never used mittens, hats and boots. And of course mommy had to assist all four lovely children with their attire ;) After a good 40 minutes, all children were ready for the snow (well the baby and boy #1 wanted nothing to do with mittens or hats but after 30 minutes I was done with that battle). Now it was time to go out but wait, mommy needed the camera (how else would the blog world believe she had snow?!). After standing by the door, mommy grabbed the camera, video camera and extra hats. Finally after 70 minutes of the first sighting of snow, we were ready. The initial reaction on the snow was complete and utter joy:

Exactly four minutes later:

And then for the next three hours, mommy was busy warming blankets in the dryer, making a fire, making homemade cocoa and snuggling with some very cold babies. 

And so for the blizzard we spent 70 minutes dressing, 3 hours warming up and a total of FOUR MINUTES in the snow.

Thank goodness I live in Texas:)

And a big thanks to the very classy OHmommy for sending me on a picnik to 'fix-up' my photos!

I was having one of those days...

I was having a really crappy day, seriously. It seemed like everything I wanted to do could not get done. And then I found this video from my son's kindermusik teacher and after I got over the initial cheesiness and the fairly forward preaching, it touched me. I am going to need to fix my eye make-up now. 

Where did you learn that?!

Part of girl #1's homework is to memorize the preamble to the constitution. To get her ready for memorization, I was going to have her copy it (it's not that long and it helps her handwriting!).
"But Mommmm," she moaned. "I already know it."
I smiled, "OK-say it."
And....she said it word for word (well some wording was slurred thanks to a horrific orthodontic device called a spacer).
"When did you..."I stopped I was at a loss. We have never gone over the constitution.
She sighed, "Mom, I've known the preamble since I was three."

Now I am speechless. Where on earth... and then a tune begins to fill my head....We the people in order form a more perfect union...

Schoolhouse Rock.

And people say TV rots your brain ;)

The last post on this subject--yes, chicken pox

We are nearing the end of our plague here :) The baby finally caught it just as his big brother was getting better. He has been a pill but still manages to smile as you can see.
Now to clean this house!