And The Suspense Continues

So, now that you've witnessed our fairly boring, but beautiful trip Northward, I can now share what few pictures I took while actually in Michigan.

I have no idea what came over me, but I hardly took any pictures. I am such a complete and utter moron for this. Remember the cute basement room I told you about? The one my sister decorated and stocked?

I forgot to take a picture! Can you believe that?

Sis (my daughter, not my sister) had put up a sign and everything that read:

CLOB MEMBRS ONLY.

(Apparently we are having vowel issues in our homeschooling endeavors.)

And the room was even password protected. First, only girls could enter. Then, in order for us to enter we had to say: Pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl, pretty girl.

My child is nothing if not completely original (and possibly a little conceited).

Anyway, as far as pictures go,this is the best I can give you. Here it goes:


This picture may seem inconsequential to some, but this, my friends, is the fuel of the gods. This 24 ouncer is what enabled Monk to make the final leg of the journey from Ohio to Michigan. I felt it needed its place of honor.











This would be the MOST awesome Spinach and Artichoke Dip I have ever tasted! When eaten in conjunction with those new Triscuit Thin Crisps...divinity, baby. It too, deserves a place of honor in our journey because I totally pigged out on this stuff. This would probably be the beginning of my 6 lb. weight gain on our trip.

The Baby Girl bundled to the hilt. She hated the newly purchased hat almost as much as riding in the car seat.











Believe it or not, I am the proud wife of this man. Yes, he's acting like he is burning his hand in a fake fireplace. Quick. Someone run to his rescue. This was one of the weirder aspects of our trip as this was a local McDonald's that seemed to cater to the adult crowd. It had NO PLAYLAND WHATSOEVER! Didn't improve the food though.

Could the children get any weirder?
Please, don't answer.

Here is my girl. My strawberry-haired beauty with big blue eyes. She's helpful and obedient and loves her momma in spite of her downfalls.



(Do I look like I have curly fries on my forehead?)


I've commented before about how much Monk loves his girls. I don't think I've ever seen another man love his children so passionately.

But this one? She is all his. They are two peas in a pod.




Why in the world I took more pictures at McDonald's than anywhere else is beyond me. I guess it was just an all-around good time and I was in a picture taking mood. Because apparently I wasn't in much of a picture taking mood the rest of the trip!






This little place is called Alpine Valley. This is where some of the Michigan folk ski. I, personally, have skied here and witnessed my best friend Julie rip a chunk of skin from the back of her thigh here. TMI? Sorry. Monk got a good chuckle out of this one as he has skied in New Mexico. But hey, it works, don't it?








Have y'all ever been here? This place is like Walley World and Tar-Jay on steroids! I LOVE this store and I've missed it dearly. This was the first place I had to go. Meijer is my idea of a good time! Monk, on the other hand, was not impressed and all my girls could do was beg, "can we please go back to Aunt T's basement?". Phooey.




Okay. I think that's enough for today. I mean, afterall, we need to pace ourselves here. I wouldn't want anyone to faint from over stimulation or anything. There are only so many pictures of children at McDonalds and random hills and stores that an individual can handle.

So, please bear with me once again as I say....

To Be Continued...

(That is if this blog doesn't spontaneously combust into flames for sheer lack of content. Sigh.)

More than you ever wanted to know about our trip to Michigan...and then some.

Okay, yes. I'm going to be like everyone's Uncle Bob and show you ALL of our vacation pictures whether you want to see them or not.

You can leave now OR you can hang around and be entertained for a mere 2.4 seconds more and walk away mumbling to yourselves, "now, why'd I keep reading?".

I can sense the enthusiasm through my computer screen already.

Bear with me people. Bear with me. It's not that painful, I promise.

As I mentioned in my oh-so-live blog posting while en route (you can find them here, hereand here and here), we didn't leave our home until 1pm. Mostly thanks to me.

Okay. It was ALL my fault.

Anyway, this was how we looked while all snug in the rental van.


The girls, watching the first of many DVD's. This was while they
were still happy to be traveling 1200 miles.

Me looking back when I was still happy to be traveling 1200 miles.

See, I told y'all there was such a place as Bucksnort,TN!

I wouldn't, however, recommend stopping there. It isn't the kind
of place you'd wanna go to the bathroom in, if you know what

I mean.







Our beautiful Sis in the midst of the Fall foliage that seemed so strange and foreign to her. She was made for those Autumn colors, huh?

Liver Pie looking Fiendishly Fallish. Even with a big, green bruise adorning her forehead.

A man and his drunken baby. Relax, I'm just kidding. It was only Benadryl. Relax, kidding again. Sheesh, y'all need a sense of humor already.

Me trying (but mostly failing) to be artsy. Those leaves stayed in our van all the way to Michigan though. Apparently we felt as if Michigan wouldn't have enough leaves of it's own.

Lions and tigers and..DINOSAURS?

Oh, my.

And finally, revelling in the beautiful foliage of the hills of Kentucky.

I pretty much lost my sense of humor after this point and had no desire to take pictures of breathtaking scenery, much less my stain laden children. Basically, we made it to Michigan about 8 hours after this picture. It was late. It was dark. That's it.

To be continued.....

Coming To You Live From Memphis

Well y'all, all I can say is...I NEED TO GET HOME!!



Not that I wanted to leave my dear, sweet sister's house. I didn't. And even though I no longer am able to endure the sub-fridgid temperatures called Michigan, I would move there in a hearbeat just to be near her.



I need to be home because I am losing my ever loving mind in this van! And if I hear one more chorus of This Old Man coming from the back seat by two unassuming little girls I swear I will have to jump out the window onto I-40 and This Old Man won't be the only one who came rolling home! Just willing to take my chances is all I'm sayin'.



The baby is as close to a nervous breakdown as I am because she has more than had it with riding on her back in that carseat. And you know what? I can't blame her. If I had to ride on my back for umpteen thousand hours, I would be slightly grouchy too.



By the way, I am in fact, NOT fasting on the ride home like I mentioned earlier. Fact of the matter is, I just love food too much to do something silly like that. So, Milky Way bars (the little ones, y'all) and Double Stuf Oreos are the foods of choice to become ill on this time around.



Signing out for now and hopefully not doing this again until I'm home, on my couch, with a large glass of ice cold Coke, watching the baby roll all over the floor in front of me and not screaming in her carseat!



Bye, y'all!

It Aint' Over Til The Fat Lady Sings...or Throws Up

Oh. My Word.

I really wish I could just throw up.

I am so full I have made myself sick. Literally. I have sinned the sin of gluttony and I have asked the good Lord to forgive me a million times over.

M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E

Just so you know, two days of non-stop eating will do that to a person.

I told Monk I thought I might just fast on the drive home. For a girl that loves food as much as I do, that is some serious repentance.

And in case anyone is wondering...pumpkin pie and peanut M&M's might just be what pushed me over the edge.

Monk on the other hand is embracing his gluttonous ways and I'm quite certain he feels he the need to break some sort of food consumption record.

So. How's everyone else faring in their post-Thanksgiving eatin's?

A Season of Thanks

Once again, it is that time to reflect on those things for which we are most thankful. I feel as Christians we should be thankful daily, if not hourly, yet this seems to be the time we tend to express our thoughts on our thankfulness. So, I will do just that.

This past year in particular, I have looked back over the last 20 years since I graduated from high school. I am amazed when seeing God's Providence at work in my life.

I moved from Michigan when I was 18 to a Texas where I knew four people. Four. That's it. I went to a small college where I new one person. Soon enough I was surrounded by friends. Two in particular I am still very close to. I've lived in Texas for 20 years now and have been blessed with many, many friends.

I am thankful for those friends.

The fact that I have 5 children after 20 years completely blows my mind. The blessing in that nearly brings me to tears. I cannot think of any other "profession" I would rather have than being a momma. The Bible tells us children are a blessing and I am so thankful God chose to bless me.

I am thankful for my children.

I married my college sweetheart while in college and had my son when I was 22. My daughter at 24. When I was 27 my college sweetheart left me and I found myself divorced and alone with two small children. How can I be thankful for that, you ask?

Because once again, in God's Providence, He brought Monk into my life not long after my divorce. We met through mutual friends. He wasn't interested in getting serious with me and I certainly wasn't interested in getting serious with him. My, how things changed.

I not only married the man, but I have had three more children with him. I call him my confidant. My best friend. My beloved.

I am thankful for my husband.

My sister T and I have not always been as close as we are now. It's not like we didn't like each other or anything like that, we just weren't super close. Over the last several years our relationship has blossomed. Our walk with God has also been similar and she understands me better than the rest of our family. I certainly love the rest of my family, but my relationship with T is extra special.

I am thankful for my sister.

Mostly, I am in awe of God's grace in my life. I am still so amazed that he saved me. Me? I am nothing but a filthy rag, yet in His good Providence He chose to save me. He has guided my life according to His perfect will and I stand in awe of His goodness to me.

I look at all of the things that I've listed above and I realize in all humility that I would have none of this if it weren't for Christ's love for me. I deserve none of this. I've done nothing to earn any of this. I simply believed.

I am certainly and most especially thankful for God's grace.

My Sister is SO My Girl's Favorite Aunt!

My sister is a lot like me just shorter and more organized. She also talks with a Yankee accent and doesn't say "y'all", but you know what? Nobody's perfect.

She is basically a nut like myself. And while she isn't from Texas (of course, neither am I technically. However, I have lived here for 20 years which is longer than I lived in Michigan so I consider myself more Southern. But that's for another post now isn't it?), she has a heart the size of Texas. She is funny, talkative and laughs like there's no tomorrow.

And my girls just love her.

It doesn't matter that she spoils the livin' daylights out of them either. Like buying them ducks that sing If You're Happy and You Know It or animal puppets that MOO Old MacDonald and croak various songs. And we all know how much I love those kinds of toys.

My children love her for her and that's it. Period.

However, this week she has outdone herself. She has thrust herself miles ahead of the other Aunts. She has become the Creme de La Creme. The Big Dog. La Tia Suprema.

She is ...The Favorite Aunt.

How? Why? When, you ask?

Because she practically redecorated her basement for my girls! I know y'all are saying, "No Way". And I'm sayin'...

Way.

The woman decked out her basement with all manner of girly squalor so Liv and Sis would have somewhere to play and "call their own" while we were visiting. I'm talking giant pink pillows, ribbons and lip gloss, hair accessories and snow globes.

Yes people, snow globes.

There is a "Craft Corner" with everything from glitter glue to Fun Foam. There is a TV with DVD player. A CD player. Stockings filled with goodies (lip gloss, hair thingies and chocolate - she's a good woman). She even painted some flowers on the walls!What girl wouldn't want that???

Let me tell you, my children's eyes lit up like the 4th of July when they saw their cozy little room! They have squealed and played and about 100 times told me that they could practically live down there.

But the best thing of all. The pièce de résistance?

A MINI FRIDGE!

I kid you not, y'all. She put a mini fridge down there stocked with water, Lunchables and Capri Suns!

All my poor Brother-in-Law could do was whimper that he'd "lost his man cave".

Brother? With flowers painted on the walls? I'm not sure you'll ever get your man cave back.

Sister Shoebox Swap - Cozy Goodies!

I signed up for a Shoebox Swap through one of my favorite blogs ever, The Homespun Heart. Monica is so crafty and creative she must be related to Martha! Anyway, she and her sister Carrie hosted this Cozy Swap and what fun it was!

We had to write about what Cozy meant to us and answer a few simple questions about our holiday likes, traditions, etc... Monica and Carrie then assigned us to a partner and we were given her (our partners) answers to the Cozy questions. Clear as mud?

That is when the fun began! We got to shop for Cozy things or make Cozy things for our partner, wrap them up in a shoebox and mail them off to her. Cute, huh?My partner was Leanne and she was so much fun to shop for!

Here is her box that I mailed to her:
Her box contained:

- Candle holders and candles
- Homemade Chocolate Dipped Ritz with Peanut Butter (Dee-lish!)
- Scrapbooking stickers (Fall and Christmas)
- Snowman cellophane bags for candies, cookies, fudge, etc..
- Martha Stewart Holiday DVD
- Cozy socks (I got that one from her blog! I'm so sneaky!)
- Christmas mug with copious amounts of hot chocolate.
- Snowman dishtowel
- Mitten cookie cutter
- Fall mini muffin paper cups
- Thankful Heart
- Tin Heart Ornament

When I got my box from her this is what I found:


It was wrapped up so cute! Individual things had been wrapped and labeled with such things as: Cozy for you hands and Cozy for your bath. My picture didn't turn out, but it was too cute!
Here are all of my Cozy things! This girl got me SPOT ON!

- The cutest quilted snowman bag (How did she know I love quilted bags? Was she lookin' at my blog too? Hmm..)
-Snowman napkins
-A snowman oven mitt
- A really sweet little wooden snowman plaque that reads: Rejoice (which I totally love!)
(If you have picked up on the snowman theme here then you are very observant. I LOVE snowmen and that is something I collect. Ironic, isn't it? To love snowmen and live in Texas. It's tortuous really.)
- Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion ( Oh mercy! It smells SO good!)
- Bath and Body Works Simply Divine Cherry Pie body wash (Let me tell you - it smells Deeee-Vine! You just want to eat it, although I wouldn't recommend it.)
- And lastly, a bag of Hershey's chocolate! Does this girl know me or what? Chocolate!

I must dedicate a picture solely to the quilted snowman bag though. Words cannot express just how cute this thing is!It could be used as a purse OR a diaper bag. Sigh. What can I say? I just love it.

Thank-you Monica and Carrie for so much fun!

Thank-you Leanne for all the wonderful Cozy things you sent to me! It was so much fun getting to know you!

p.s. Oh, and Monica and Carrie? Feel free to make the theme of the next swap: What "chocolate" means to me. I'm just sayin'.

We're Heeeeeerrrrrrre!

Made it in this morning at 1:30 am. And because we weren't tired enough we all stayed up talking until 3:00AM. We are bright people, we are.

We got up bright and early to get ready for church and had a wonderful time of worship at my sister's church (very friendly people, indeed). I didn't get copious amounts of sleep, I didn't get a big cup of coffee (although I did get in a few sips of Michigan Cherry Coffee- oh mercy!) and I certainly didn't get a danish the size of Detroit. But you know what?

It's all good.

Me and my sister can't shut-up talking to each other (imagine two grown women who love to talk with ADD tendencies trying to have a coherent conversation. Can we say, look, there's a squirrel.), Monk and my BIL are totally enjoying one another's geeked-out personalities and their love of football, Baby Girl is just so thankful to be out of the carseat that she's as happy as a bug and the little girls are having a pinked out, prissy party in the basement (more on that one later).

Life doesn't get much better than this.

9:42 EST Somewhere in Central Ohio - Or the Middle of Nowhere

Oh thank you dear Lord that we are almost there. And I mean that truly from the bottom of my heart.

Since Nashville things have been a little...uh...how shall I say this?

NUTS!

Hope is waaaay beyond sick of her carseat and the new DVD player is not keeping the others to a point of tolerability. My back is killing me and Monk is just sick of driving.

But other than that things are great.

We will not be arriving until around 1 am which is only about, um, 3 HOURS OFF from our original time of arrival. I just keep going back to me and my 2 hour delay yesterday. Sigh.

My mind is so fried that I am unable to blog anymore at the moment. So, until I have more sleep, copious amounts of coffee and a danish the size of Detroit, then I'm callin' it quits.

12:41 PM Nashville, TN

Okay yes, I know it's taking us forever and a century to get anywhere, but you know....

We are learning not to have any predisposed expectations anymore. Because frankly, when traveling with children, especially a nursing infant, you're pretty much going nowhere fast.

We had a comfortable stay at the Comfort Inn last night because there was no room at the Inn. The Quality Inn, that is. Nice, big, comfy beds and my favorite amenity of all....CLEAN!

Sis woke up this morning and went to look out the window to see what Memphis, TN looked like.

Sis: Daddy?

Monk: Yes, Sis.

Sis: What's the red stuff all over the trees?

Y'all, my Texas born and bred child does not know what Fall foliage looks like!! She's read about it and seen it in books and movies, but when she got a real live glimpse of Fall, she just had no clue. This should tell y'all just how often we leave the state of Texas. Sad, really.

We had a lovely breakfast of Belgium waffles, sausage biscuits and Froot Loops, courtesy of our humble digs. It was delicious and better yet...FREE.

About 2 1/2 hours into our Northeastern journey we stopped at a rest area. Can I just say, BRRRR...it's getting colder. The girls played in the leaves and we took some cute pictures because we all know that Texas has no leaves.

Alright, technically it has leaves, it just has no seasons. It's all green and then one morning, after the temperatures have played 30 degree shift ping pong, we wake up and BAM! there are no leaves on the trees and it's winter.

We are currently trying to find sustenance in the form of Krystal's. If you have never had a Krystal's you are MISSING OUT! One can liken a Krystal's to the fine fare of White Castle. Or more affectionately know to some as, Gut Grenades.

What can I say? We're a classy bunch. And hungry too!

Still Surviving...Barely

9:35 p.m. Little Rock AK



Just left the Cracker Barrel. Bellys are full and eyes are sleepy. Except Baby Girl who is screaming her head off in the back because she has had it with that carseat.



She longs for the comfort of that queen size bed at The Best Western just like her Momma.



LiverPie is crying, "when are we stopping at the hotel?". Momma is crying the same thing.



I'm feeling a little responsible for everyone's tired discomfort seeing that we got going two hours late today because of my little problem with organization (or the lack thereof). I am, however, punishing myself by remembering that we could be TWO HOURS further if it weren't for me.



Monk downed three cups of coffee at The Cracker Barrel and he is buzzing out of his head, so I'm sure he'll be just fine. Plus I purchased his favorite candy. Black Licorice Drops. Have mercy, those things are disgusting. But if my man wants to eat candy that is black and smells like about 4 different kinds of nasty, then I will stand by my man and support his habit.



As long as he doesn't try to kiss me. That, my friends, would be a serious misdemeanor.



Speaking of Cracker Barrel. It was really weird to see all the Arkansas Razorback merchandise instead of Texas Longhorn stuff. I mean really, who would want to be called a HOG? I will say that as soon as we crossed over into Arkansas it certainly smelled like a pig pen. No joke, really. It just stinked stunk stank.



And a word of advice for those traveling. Anytime you walk into a gas station restroom and there is a plunger next to the toilet, it is never a good sign. I'm just sayin'.



Well, the baby is now sleeping peacefully, Liv and Sis are watching a video and me? I'm about to bust out my Razzles.



Because first it's a candy...then it's a gum.

4:09 PM in Texarkana Texas

How weird to be live blogging from the road. It's a dial-up connection, but hey...it's a connection, right?

Well, I haven't had the desire to kill anyone yet, but I have come under serious conviction. We brought along some CD's we bought from Vision Forum many moons ago that I haven't had the opportunity to listen to until now and let's just say...OUCH!

We didn't even make it out of the Metroplex (which by the way, we left TWO hours BEHIND schedule.) before I was succumbing to serious conviction. The CD we were listening to was The Centrality of the Home in Evangelism and Discipleship by Voddie Baucham, Jr.

Whoo-Wee, y'all. Good stuff.

We are currently exiting to invade a Best Buy so that we may purchase a handy dandy DVD player. Unfortunately, the traffic is HORRIFIC at this exit, so it is taking forever and a lifetime to make the turn. Ahhh...the joys of rush hour traffic on a holiday weekend.

In other news, the van we rented is a Chevy Uplander. Niiiiiiccccceee. The most incredible part about it is that WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK LIKE THIS WHILE WE ARE RIDING DOWN THE FREEWAY. That and the fact that the engine light isn't on is very...well...sublime.

Until this evening y'all...Life is a highway and I'm gonna ride it all night long.

Hittin' The Road

Today we will be loading up the rental van with the 7 and under crowd and hitting the road! Yeah us! It's the first vacation Monk and I have taken in almost 3 years.

I would love to say it's some highly exotic getaway location where we will run down the beach, splashing in the waves, tumbling to the sand in one another's loving embrace.

However, it's just Michigan. The best we can hope for is wet and 40-ish.

Besides if we were doing the whole exotic thing I can guarantee we neither one would make it very far running down the beach before we were both bent over wheezing, grabbing the stitch in our sides. Monk can't swim and I can't stand to have sand all over me. So, it's probably for the best that we're going somewhere that we're not expected to do more than wear our sweatshirts and lie around all day drinking hot chocolate and lattes. That's just how we roll.

Anyway, we will have a laptop and Monk tells me he has a special card for it so I'll possibly be able to live blog our roadtrip. Woo-Hoo! Aren't y'all excited?

Hopefully, nothing too exciting will happen. By exciting I mean vomitous episodes and others of the urinary nature.

So stay tuned my faithful few. There's more to come!

Book Junkies

Many of you know mine and The Monk's love of books is far reaching. For fun we go to bookstores.

I know. We are a trendsetting couple for sure.

The other day I determined we were a pathetic pair. Depending on how you look at it, we have have either stooped to a new low or ascended to a new high. Let me explain.

Several times a year we try and order a few or twenty new books. Most of them come from Vision Forum. We usually get a coupon from them around this time of year and that is when it's most convenient to take advantage.

Two days ago we decided we wanted these. And then I wanted this. We knew if we ordered them and had them sent to our house that they would arrive while we would be out of town.

New books. Here. All alone. With no one to read them.

We couldn't have that. So, guess what we did?

We had them express shipped to my sister's house in Michigan so they will be there when we arrive.

Yep. We're a sick bunch around here. Once a book junkie always a book junkie. What can I say? We like to read feed our addiction.

Somehow...I Already Knew This

Get a Cash Advance

So this little test determines the readability level of one's blog. As you can see, mine is High School level.

Now really. Does this surprise anyone?

I didn't think so.

Lucky for me it didn't do maturity level. Because we all know how mature I am.

Let me just say this...I am so not going to do anymore of those lame blog tests.

So there.

Wordless Wednesday - Gourd-geous

Does anyone else think she looks as if she is levitating above the pumpkins? Kind of creepy, huh?

Singing in a Barren Land

I know around here things are pretty crazy sometimes. Bloggy speaking, that is. I have a rather nutty sense of humor and I really do like to use it and share it. But plainly speaking, sometimes you feel like a nut...and sometimes you don't.

Right now, I don't.

I don't want people to think that I'm always just this obnoxious nut posting pictures of donuts and trying to give my children away. I really do have a serious side and I really do use my brain. More importantly, I really do desire the things of God. Sometimes I just need to take a break from the silliness and this is one of those times.


I know that sometimes I go through periods in my life of a spiritual barrenness. It is such a lonely place to be. I have felt like a dry and barren land, abandoned by God and too ashamed to admit it to anyone else. But God is good to me every time. He restores me always and again I am full and overflowing.


Then today I was reading in a Charles Spurgeon devotional I have. Nothing complicated, just simple, short devotionals. I came across this, which says it all beautifully:


There are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak; each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. In such a condition, what are we to do? I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has paid to me. I can magnify the great love with which He loved His people when He came from the heights of heaven for their redemption. I will go to the cross again. Come, my soul, heavy laden you once were and lost your burden there. Go to Calvary again. Perhaps that very cross which gave you life may give you fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for His fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the setting for the sapphire of His everlasting love. I will go in poverty, I will go in helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding; I will tell Him that I am still His child, and in confidence in His faithful heart, I will sing and cry aloud. Sing, believer, for it will cheer your heart and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that you are really ashamed of being barren, you will be fruitful soon; now that God makes you reluctant to be without fruit, He will soon cover you with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in Him is our fruit found.


Strengthen My Spirit from Charles Spurgeon


I pray that when another time of barrenness comes for me, and it will come, that I can look on these words of comfort. I pray that in my shame and backsliding ways, I will look to Him and still sing. I pray that He will bring that shame of my barrenness upon me and that I will want nothing more than Him. And I pray that once again He will cover me in clusters and my fruit will be found only in Him.

Badda Boom Badda Bing, Momma Just Won Some Teething Bling!

Oh yes! Oh yes indeed! Can you believe I actually won something during The Fall Bloggy Giveaway? Me...the girl who couldn't win a contest if I were the last person on earth! I WON!!

Just what is Teething Bling, you ask? Well it's cute, fashionable, wearable jewelry that your baby can teethe on while you are wearing it. Pretty slick, huh? One of those ideas where you smack yourself on the side of the head and think to yourself, "why didn't I think of that?". Some things are just not meant to be, y'all.

This Teething Bling is from Smart Mom Jewelry and I love it! Let me say that again a little louder now....

I LOVE IT!

I'm just gonna say right now, this in NOT a paid advertisement. (Although I certainly wish it were because I am nothing if not a baby marketing expert. Don't ya know? And I could certainly use the extra cash flow being that we are going on our first vacation in 3 years. But alas, since I am a blogging nincompoop I will probably never profit from my tortuous rambling. However, I digress.) They did not ask me to say all of these nice things. I'm just doing it because 1. I like love their product and 2. I'm a nice person. I've also linked them in my sidebar just 'cause I think they're pretty neat.

What? Pictures? You want to see pictures? Oh right!

The box. I had to take a picture of the box. It was just so cute.
(Isn't the crocheted doily an excellent and exciting effect?)

There it is. In all of it's Teething Bling glory! It's so purdy!

Are y'all jealous now? I know I'd be jealous of me. PUHLEEZ.

Anyway, I will hopefully be posting pictures later this week to show me wearing my new Bling. And if we're lucky maybe I can get a shot of Baby Girl chewing on the cute stuff!

Because we all know there is nothing cuter than a baby sucking on her momma's jewelry, right?

The Breakfast of Champions

Who would have thought a box of sugar and carbs could create such excitement around our house?

We have some happy (and hyper) children this morning.

The adults ain't doin' so bad either.

Processed Food Proficiency

So I went to our local Albertson's store the other day. They were running a special where it was basically a 10 for $10 kinda deal. I scoured my coupons and diligently marched myself (not really, I actually drove because I am WAY too outta shape to be marching like 3 miles. Plus marching makes my Mommy Muffin jiggle way too much) to the store.

I was bound and determined to only stick to my coupons and the 10 for $10 and not to be drawn in by other so-called specials. I'm easily distracted like that. Oh look, a squirrel. And so I got my shopping cart and cautiously proceeded.

My ADD tendencies kicked in immediately and I was looking at all manner of grocery store goodness when I told myself to STOP IT! I managed to regain control and began picking out my processed food extravaganza.

Mind you, these are not items I buy on a regular basis because I'm more of a "cook from scratch" kind gal. BUT...I had coupons and doggone it, I was gonna use them!

Here's my haul:-2 bags Chex Mix
-2 Betty Crocker cookie mixes
-2 boxes Pizza Rolls
-1 Toaster Strudel
-1 Pillsbury cookie dough
-1 Betty Crocker whipped frosting
-1 Betty Crocker scalloped potatoes
-1 Dove Nourishing hand soap

So. How much do you think I spent? Hmm?

I can guarantee you it WASN'T $10. It wasn't even $7. Or $5. At this point, after I had Monk guessing he began to channel Fred Sanford. He grabbed his chest, swayed, then said, 'I'm comin' Lizabeth.' Okay, he didn't really do that, but he was surprised that he had to guess lower.

$3.14.

That's it. And it would have been $2.14, but the dumb self-checkout wouldn't take two of my computer printed coupons totaling a dollar more off. Stupid self-checkout. Anyway, I began to feel the "angry eyes" of the customers behind me burning softball size holes in my back. So, I decided sometimes it's just best to leave well enough alone and to not anger the other non-money-saving-paying-full-price-forget-the-doggone-coupons kind of shoppers.

Ahhh, the joys of frugality. Now excuse me, while I go consume some partially hydrogenated oils.

Backwards WFMW: Traveling With Kiddos

So that crazy Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is at it again. It's another "backwards" version of WFMW. Asking for helpful tips and advice rather than giving it.

Mercy knows I'm all for giving my opinion, but today I need some suggestions for myself.

We will be leaving for Michigan in a week and a half with the three smallest of our 5 kiddos. We will also be renting a van so we won't have to drive the Loser Cruiser. This is a good thing in that if we were taking the Loser Cruiser we would have to be talking LIKE THIS FOR THE WHOLE TRIP. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE LOSER CRUISER IS 8 YEARS OLD AND IT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS AND IT'S NOT A VERY QUIET RIDE ANYMORE. That and the fact that we would probably be broke down on the side of the road somewhere in Bucksnort Tennessee.

So, my question to y'all would be:

Do you have any ideas, tips, fancy methods or sage advice on how to travel with 3 children ages 7, 4, and 4 months?

The rental van might possibly have a DVD player and that would be great. We are also thinking about purchasing one ourselves Just In Case, if you know what I mean. For those of you that have DVD players in your vehicles, do you like them? Do they become annoying after, say, the first 10 hours of driving?

I'm afraid there will only be so much of Disney I will be able to tolerate and that by the time we get to Michigan I will want to drown The Little Mermaid with my bare hands. The rebellious fish that she is. Or better yet, let the Beast go ahead and eat Belle for being such a mouthy, little snippet.

On the other hand, I could take my Walton's DVDs and spend the whole trip with John, Olivia, Gradmaw, Grandpaw, JohnBoy, Mary Ellen, Jason, Erin, Ben, James Robert a.k.a. Jim Bob and Elizabeth. And we mustn't forget Ike and Cora Beth or The Baldwin Sisters. I know, I know. Sick and twisted.

I digress.

Anyway, I would love and welcome anything you fine internet people have to offer me in the area of traveling with little ones and keeping my sanity. Bless you all.

And The Winner Is...

Actually, there were two winners. Let me do some 'splainin'.


The first winner that was picked (not by the paper tearing method, by the way. With 272 comments I didn't want to carelessly take down some tree just to write numbers down. That tree would be better used for toilet paper around here) was notified and ever so graciously declined the prize. Why? She had already won something and felt it would be only fair to let someone else have a shot at winning. Is that not the kindest thing ever?

Ann, you are a kindred spirit in my book!


So, then I had to pick a number again. And let me just say that I don't really care for that random integer thing. I wanted to make it more personal. So, I asked everyone in the family who could count to give me a number between 1 and 272. I then added all those numbers together and then averaged it out. That, y'all, was the winning number. I am warped beyond words. I know.


And if there are any sicko math loving junkies out there who want to point out some flaw in my system, let me just say here and now, that I am too pretty to do math and therefore anything you say will just go right through my blonde highlights and into oblivion. Please, don't put the strain on your fingers to type something to me because frankly, I just won't... get... it.


The winner, right? Not quite yet, y'all.


Seeing that I NEVER get 272 comments (much less 2 comments) unless I'm giving something free away, I decided that I wanted to savor my Blogger Rock Star moment a little longer and go over some comment highlights before I revealed the winner. Hate me if you want. It's my 2 seconds of fame and I'm gonna ride that pony for all she's worth, doggone it!



Here we go:



A Woman Who Truly Feels My Pain

Stacey said...
Hmmm, I do like the idea of the 16 y/o giveaway, but alas, I have my own 16 y/o son, their rooms smell. So unless yours comes powdered in baking soda, I'll just get the organizer! Love the post, very funny.

Stacey, there is not a 16yo boy alive who's room doesn't smell like the inside of an old, wet sneaker. Baking soda would not even begin to cover it around here. I'm pretty sure my son's room could cause the kind people at Lysol to gag.



Those Trying To Fix My Son Up With A Relative

-Mama Luxe and Amanda both offered me their cousins for my "purdy" boy. Why is it that visions from My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding keep popping into my head when I read this?

- And Sonya was possibly, sorta kinda, maybe, trying to offer up an arranged marriage for her daughter. Hello? I heard no mention of the word dowry here.



Girls After My Own Heart Who Also Inquired About The Pound Cake

Carrie , Susan , Rebecca, Katie B, courtcourt and Robin M.



Girls, let me tell you this is the single, best Pound Cake recipe I have ever made or ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot of Pound Cake in my 38 years. I have the muffin to prove it.



It is not my recipe and I will willingly and freely tell you that I found the recipe here from Boomama's site. And we all KNOW what a Blogging Rock Star she is! You simply MUST try it. However, if you have any sort of aversion to butter, Crisco or eggs...this might not be the go-to recipe for you.

The Most Blatant Attempt At Out And Out Bribery

Angela said...
I'd love to win but maybe I can bribe you with this tip. Unless you have slave labor to help you write and cut up those numbers into that bowl go to random.com/integer. The spelling might be off but its

Just for the record...Children Are Slave Labor. Why do you think I have 5?

And Finally, My New Found Best Friend Forever

striving... said...
okay, first I just have to say, and I am not kissin' up just to get free pampered chef, You do not look like that boys mama, you look old enough to be his girlfriend or for sake of not making him run and hide, good friend. I am serious, I thought it was a friend of his until I read under the picture. You go girl. Okay so, now the giveaway, I LOVE Pampered Chef. And this organizer caddy is awesome. Thanks for the chance.

I love you. What more can I say?

BTW, the girlfriend part? That apparently went a little too far with him and he proceeded to mutter words like "disgusting" and "gross" while running to the bathroom to take a 45 minute hot shower.

So. What was this post about again?

Oh yeah, the WINNER!!

LivingforGod who said: Cool gadget! Please count me in. Thanks

Congratulations LFG! I'll be mailing your new "gadget" this week!

As for me? Whew! All this Bloggy Super Star stuff has done wore me out! I'm goin' to bed!

p.s. in the name of fairness I wanted to mention I borrowed the comment highlights idea from Amy. Her musings crack me up and convict me all at the same time.

Please Stand By...

Due to technical difficulties, I cannot yet post our Fall Bloggy Giveaway winner.


I'm having a few problems contacting the winner which makes it difficult to post the winner, if I cannot, in fact, actually let the winner know that she is, in fact, the winner. Ya know?


The winner has until 5pm Monday to contact me or she will no longer be the winner. At that point I will then select a new winner. Which totally stinks for the first winner.


Are you feelin' my pain?


Anyway, please stand by. I know y'all are just racked with anticipation.

Lasting Impressions

My older sister went back to Michigan yesterday. I already miss her terribly. My kids miss her. He wouldn't admit it, but I even think Monk might miss her a little as well.

But don't feel sad for me people, for my sister has left a lasting impression upon my 7yo. This would be evidenced by the fact that last night she informed her daddy that she was, in fact, having a ...

Hot Flash.

Yep. Lasting impressions.

Dragging My Tail to Bed

Officially, all extra family members have left and returned to their respective homes.

Meanwhile, I'm pooped.

And the eating and shopping? Let's just say my Mommy Muffin is a little larger, possibly turning into a Mommy Loaf and now I'm broke. Was it worth it? You bet.

I have many pictures to share and much to write, but for now?

This girl is goin' to bed!