Monday, April 30, 2007

Lexi's dance pictures

Current mood: gushy

Today was dance pictures for Lexi. She looked adorable. Here's the evidence.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Brain Droppings

Current mood: pensive

- I have the best husband in the world. He works hard - rain or shine, sick or well - to provide the best he possibly can for me and the girls.

- I have the best girls in the whole wide world. Lexi amazes me everyday with her abilities to learn and conquer new things. Abby is a joy (even when she is sick) and can fill your heart with just one smile.

- I have a final on Tuesday that I haven't started studying for. An A is impossible in the class, but I only have to get a 69 on the final for a B - it can be done.

- I need to get my hair done. It's been 3 months and I can't stand the dark roots or the bushiness around my neck.

- The house is a mess again. I really need to clean it on Wednesday after my final.

- Nights are lonely when the girls go to bed.

- Lexi has recital pictures in dance class tomorrow. I altered her costume today and we went to the store to get the required red lipstick. The thought of doing my 5 year-old's makeup is a hard thought to grasp, but you gotta do what you gotta do for the show to go on, right?

- I have a bed full of folded laundry that needs putting away.

- I have the best group mates possible in my teacher education class. We are working on our final project together and I think it is going to be awesome.

- I'm looking forward to a 3 week break from school. The only bummer is Lexi's not going to be out of school until the 25th of May, so it'll just be me and the Abster.

- My parents are going on a much-needed, well-deserved vacation to Vicksburg, MS this week. My mom's been itching to go there for awhile. I'm happy for her.

- I miss my Home Team and the connection I felt with them.

- I'm sore from installing drawer latches on 8 kitchen drawers. How pathetic is that?

- Abby is going to be 1 a week from Thursday and this just astounds me. What astounds me even more? The only preparations I have made thus far is the fact that I have sent out the invites. Much more work to be done.

- I need to get Abby's pictures done soon before she outgrows the dress I had picked out for her 1 year old pictures which is all together possible and probable.

I guess that's enough for now. Laundry awaits me.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

A day with the girls

Current mood: giddy

It always amazes me. You can give a child all the toys in the world, and they'll fall in love with the packaging. Today Abby decided that an M & M package was more worth her time than her assortment of toys. I HAD to take some pictures of this. Maybe one day they'll come in handy when she asks for something outrageous and I remind her that she used to think that just packaging was cool.




As for Lexi. I mentioned yesterday about her latest obsession with Ariel. I didn't realize that it went a little deeper than that. Today when we were at Publix, they had a display of princess storybooks 3/$10.00. Since my grandmother left her some money before she went back home, I told Lexi that she could use grandma's money for the books if she chose to. She picked out three books - one Cinderella, one Little Mermaid, and one Snow White. Quite the little assortment until I realized that they all had to do with weddings and/or anniversaries.

This brought back conversations Lexi and I have had in the last few weeks on the topic. I remember she would tell me that she wants to get married. I would tell her to wait until she was a grown up and to just concentrate on being a kid for now. She would then ask me how old I am. When I told her 28, she said she would wait until she was 28, too. Sounds good to me!!!

Anyway after we read all the books, Lexi was inspired to dress like a bride. She took her ballet tutu and turned it upside down on her head as an improvised veil, put on her "glass slippers," and changed into a dress (she had been wearing shorts and a shirt). Here's a picture of the little bride herself.




Later, once she changed back into her previous outfit, Lexi grabbed a book that she had been given by her Pre-K program called "Over in the Meadow." She grabbed a little chair and crossed her legs and began reading the book in a teacher-style voice.




She then finished the page and held up the book so I could see the picture and proclaimed, "I'm doing it just like Mrs. Eastridge!!!" (who is her teacher of course)




Aaaah! I didn't realize that I was the class and she was the teacher. Do we have a third generation teacher coming up in the ranks? We'll have to wait and see.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Stefan's looney mutt

Current mood: amused

Stefan's dog is seriously quirky as you've been able to discern in my previous posts relating to Looney Lou. Just when you think he's starting to border on "normal" he does something else to make you shake your head.

Lou sleeps in a crate and enjoys it believe it or not. He has comfy quarters. We even made a sleeping bag out a fleece mat for him to be more comfortable. Well, after a year (and spotting a good deal on a bigger, comfier fleece at BJ's) we replaced his ratty, old sleeping bag with a new fleece. This thing is entirely too big for his crate, but it gives him more material to work with when creating his "nest" in his crate.

Tonight, Lou dragged the fleece out of his crate and worked tirelessly to smooth it out so no wrinkles would cramp his style. This went on for 15 minutes before he was able to conquer the task. Now he will NOT budge from his spot no matter how you try to coerce him away from it. Too funny.

Lexism of the week

Current mood: good

Lexi's speech therapy has enhanced her life in many ways. She has come out of her shell socially and she chatters non-stop. Now it has improved her musicality in the sense that she is no longer as tone deaf as she once was.

Lately, she has been obsessed with Ariel from the Little Mermaid. She watches the movie over and over. She once asked me to sing the song that Ariel sings in her underwater cavern filled with "gadgets and gizmos of plenty." Now Lexi sings this song all around the house mixing the lyrics in a way that is too funny for me stand. I wish I could remember now some of her improvised lyrics. Maybe they'll come to me later.

None the less, she performs the song as she sings it. When Ariel says, "I want more." Lexi holds her hands tightly to her chest during "I want" and expands them up and outward as she sings the word 'more.' She's quite the little performer. I can't wait for her to see the Ariel show at MGM this summer. The last time we went, she was in awe of the show, but this time around she knows the words so I can envision her singing along. I can't wait.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Article on Dennis the Menace

As if there were any doubt about what I have written about our neighborhood Menace, this article appeared in the Cherokee Ledger that arrived in my mailbox yesterday. Just thought some of you may want to check it out.

Proud Mommy Moment

Current mood: the title says it all

Since Lexi was a baby, she has always loved to be read to. I tirelessly read book after book to her in an effort to fulfill her bottomless desire for the written word.

When Lexi was 3, she came to me and asked me to teach her to read. I decided that the alphabet was the place to start. I bought a workbook. Not liking the name "work"book because of the connotation that it was work and not fun, I called it a book of activity pages to give it a more positive spin. Lexi and I would work daily on her alphabet and once she recognized all the letters, we began to concentrate on the sounds the letters made. The next step was downloading the sight word lists from the local school's kindergarten's website and we began working on those. All this occurred over the span of about a year and a half.

It became obvious to me that she was a bit ahead of the curve when, at our first parent-teacher conference with her Pre-K teacher earlier this year, her teacher held up an early reader book and told me that I should begin working with Lexi on books like it. I chuckled because Lexi had been working with such books for quite some time at that point. Her reading has greatly improved since then and now she is reading not only by sight words, but by phonics too.

Today I was exhausted because it was the last day of the semester for me - signifying the end of yet another term and drawing me closer to graduation. While Abby napped upstairs and Lexi played in her playroom, I laid down on the couch in the living room and took a short, 15-20 minute snooze. When I awoke from my short siesta, I heard Lexi speaking in choppy sentences word-by-word. When I peeked in on her, she was reading a book that was considered a level 3 reader. I was shocked and amazed. This is a book that has sat on her bookshelf for when I thought she was ready and there she was...reading it.

She and Abby do things on a daily basis that make me proud, but up to this moment I must admit that this is the proudest moment I've experienced thus far. I'm sure it will be replaced in the not-too-distant future, but for now I am loving this feeling.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Brain Droppings

Current mood: chipper

Aunts visit from New York

Last Thursday, Stefan's aunts from New York came to visit. This is the first time they have both come and it was great. Friday, they came up to our house along with Stefan's parents and we all had a nice lunch together at Applebee's. From there, the girls all piled into the SUV (Sunny showed great flexibility getting into the backseat through the back gate because the middle row seats couldn't fold due to car seats being in the way) to go pick Lexi up from school.

Lexi was quite confused when she approached the car because she had never met Arlene before and the last time she saw Sunny was when she was almost two. She warmed up pretty quickly though. It was a good visit.

The Laser Show
I had planned to go to the laser show at Stone Mountain with Stefan's family Saturday night, but did not know if it would be possible because this is a very busy school week for me. I was able to get enough done to allow it, but Abby came down with the creeping crud that has been taking hold of the chests of all who dwell in our house. So, Lexi was Uncle Faron's date for the night and to hear her tell it, IT WAS SOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

Great Grandma visit

My Grandmother from Cali was here for 10 days. This was her first visit since Lexi was a tiny baby. I saw her five times during those days. In the five times I saw her she said a couple of disturbing things.

Disturbing thing #1
She eluded to the fact that she has lived a long, happy life and is ready to go when it is her time.

This is nice and all, but who wants to hear a loved one say such things?

Disturbing thing #2
She lectured me 4 times on how I should stick with school and not give up.

I have never given anyone the impression that I'm going to drop out. I am so close to being a senior and am almost done with my program. I am registered for class through this time next year. Does this sound like someone ready to throw in the towel?

Bother.

Here are pics from her visit.






She left to return home today. I miss her already. Selfishly, although she is ready for it to be her time, I hope that this was not our last visit.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Lexism - Gettin' crazy next week

Current mood: amused

Having a daddy that works at night is hard on Lexi. He's not there to eat dinner with or to tuck her in. About a year ago, I requested that Stefan call each night at bedtime to say goodnight to her so that he can be a part of her bedtime ritual. This means a lot to her and she looks forward to it each night.

When he calls, it is the usual "Hi, how are you?" or "What have you been doing today?" or "What are you going to do tomorrow?" Sometimes these conversations can go on for awhile. Then they say their good byes and off to dream world she goes.

Well, lately Lexi has been saying something during their good byes that just crack me and Stefan up. In a hurried way, she says "Good bye and I love you." But then she adds this...

"...and get CRAZY next week!!!"

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

I believe!!!!!

Current mood: ecstatic!!!!

Okay, so my faith in American Idol this season has been seriously shaken to see people like Gina and Jordan go home before Sanjaya Malakar. But tonight, my faith is restored in the show because Sanjaya is going home!!!!

Thar she blows!!!!

Current mood: chipper

This is a very busy time of year for us. Stefan's working like a madman, I have finals just around the bend, Lexi's year at Pre-K is coming to a close, and Kindergarten registration is this Friday.

Today, I sent Lexi to school for her cap & gown Pre-K graduation pictures to be taken. I can't believe this time is already here. Friday, we will register her at Liberty Elementary and this is hitting me so hard. Yah, she's been attending "school" this year, but this is different. This is the big school. She'll be riding the school bus and it's just a big time in her life. She's ready to take the school by storm, but I look at her and all I can see is the little bald-headed tot she used to be and I think to myself that she's still too young for this. (sigh)

Abby's hair is coming in so quick. It wasn't until Lexi was 2 that she had anything worth mentioning in the hair department. After doing Lexi's hair for pictures this morning I wondered if Abby's locks were long enough to merit a style. I tried the old "whale spout" that I used to do on Lexi and it worked. Stefan thinks that it's just me trying to make her look silly, but they're my little girls and that's part of being a girl - having girly do's. Anyway, here's a pic of Abby's new style.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

A celebration 2 days late, but much deserved

Stefan's had a rough proxy season - the worst since the first year we were together. Needless to say, since his birthday falls dead center in it, celebrations must occur only when his work schedule allows. Well, his big 30th was Friday, but there wasn't a chance for any celebrations until today. He actually got a day off. We dropped the girls off at his parents' house and enjoyed a lovely dinner at my favorite restaurant. Why mine? I don't know, it was his suggestion.

He's exhausted and both of us are kind of down with a cold right now, so he's in bed trying to get some rest. Tomorrow he is going to be out doing his lawn work with a new helper. He's excited about the new help. For one, this guy speaks English, so training him on the equipment and whatnot will be much easier. I haven't seen him this excited about a helper in a looooong time. That is a good thing.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Vote for Susie Flynn

I was sitting here working on a Spanish presentation with CNN on TV just for background noise, when a commercial came on that caught my attention. Here is a little girl with a cause! While she constitutional is ineligible to be elected, I still admire her conviction. You go Susie!

See her website and her ads here.

Lexism 2.0 for the week

Current mood: giggly

Growing up, my dad (for various reasons) would chidingly offer us a "wrap in the snot locker" as a joke. Not that he ever meant it or did it for that matter. I don't think I completely grasped that he meant a punch in the nose until I was about 7 or so. Well, like many, I have become my parents and certain things they said or did while I was growing up (that I swore I would NEVER do when I became a parent) are beginning to pepper my daily dealings with my little munchkins.

Today on the way home from a birthday party, I asked Lexi what she wanted for lunch. She was SOOO indecisive so I asked if she wanted a cheeseburger or a wrap in the snot locker. After a couple of seconds passed, she said "I want a snack in the lunch locker."

Friday, April 13, 2007

Lexism, Trike-A-Thon, and Dennis the Menace's latest

Current mood: pleased

Lexism

The Lexism this week in unique in that it isn't about something she said or did. More or less it is something her teacher said. We had a parent-teacher conference yesterday and it was a parent's dream! The goal when they leave pre-K is to count to 20 and recognize all letters upper and lower case. Since Lexi can count to 500 and read, I don't think that'll be a problem. The teacher also said that Lexi's penmanship is better than most of the third graders she used to teach. As always, they always need to find a negative or (an "area of opportunity" as my teacher education professor would say) but that negative was actually a positive in disguise. It was that Lexi's quite talkative. This is huge improvement for a girl that used to be so shy and speak in a squeaky voice without projecting. I guess a year in school and some time in speech therapy has really worked for her. Way to go, Lexi!!!

Trike-a-thon


Lexi's trike-a-thon was today. What chaos! Twenty five year olds racing around in a parking lot is not an easy thing to watch. No matter where you stood, you were in danger of being hit. These kids were seriously out of control (literally) and I felt like I was playing a bad game of chicken. I thought they would steer to avoid me but was sorely mistaken. They road so fast and so furious but it was a funny thing to watch. There were only two wipe-outs and one training wheel that lost a bolt and fell off with the rider still pedaling. Lexi's teacher located the missing bolt and performed a record fix Nascar pit stop-style in the middle of all the action. Lexi turned 11 laps. She was so proud that she had raised money for the sick kids. That's what makes it all worthwhile.



Dennis the Menace

Well, the neighborhood Dennis the Menace I mentioned in a previous post has finally escalated his behavior to epic proportions. He used to run around raising havoc and it was bothersome, but nothing to write home about - normal boy stuff. Then, about two weeks ago, I caught him after he spray painted the neighbor's fence. And now? Now he was showing different people in the neighborhood a lighter he had found. No one evidently thought much of it. Not enough to take it from him or tell his grandparents. Well, he set a grass fire that destroyed 2 1/2 yards, burned a fence and melted the siding of one house (on two sides) up to their second floor windows. The firemen removed all the siding and insulation up to about 5 feet exposing sheet rock in some areas (perfect conditions for the thunderstorm we're expecting tomorrow to soak through and spawn mold).

There's no question if he did it or not, because when the firemen got the fire out, the boy went over and showed them EXACTLY how he set it. Oh, bother! As one of the other neighbors said, all "Dennis" could see was that he did something and the cool firemen came to talk to him about his handy work. Seriously, I don't think he knew he did anything illegal. Wrong? Maybe, but not illegal. Maybe now his grandma will start to believe that the neighbors who would tell her about "Dennis'" antics were actually telling the truth and not just out to get her grandson.

Talk about scaring something out of you!!!

Let me preface this with I am terrified of snakes. I mean TERRIFIED!!! Regardless, this story was on comcast's login page this morning. Gross!!!

6 foot snake found in toilet

Wow!!!

I just realized that after this semester, I will be a Senior. Woooohooooo!!!! Graduation in December of 2009 seems so far away, though. Why will it still be so long? Because I'm silly and decided to add a minor to the mix. Oooo, if I had only known then how burned out on school I would be now, I would have given it a second thought. Oh well December 2009 here I come!!!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Stefan's Birthday

Stefan has less than four hours and he will be in an all new demographic. Tomorrow is his 30th. Unfortunately, his birthday falls in the midst of proxy season, so we never get to make a big deal out of it because we never know if he's going to have to work or not. So, needless to say it'll seem like just another day. He's working until 4 am tonight, will wake for a meeting at 1 pm, go with me to pick Lexi up from school at 2:30, and then back to the grind at the office. If you see him tomorrow, make sure you wish him a Happy Birthday and tell him how young he looks. :)

And Stefan, if you're reading this, Happy Birthday. I love you with all my heart.

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside...

I have bad allergies. Actually, I understated that. I have BAD allergies. I'm basically allergic to anything that grows - grass, weeds, trees, mold, dogs, cats, feathers and if that isn't enough, I'm allergic to dust and dust mites, too! Needless to say with record high pollen counts just shy of 5500 this year when 120 is considered high, I've had a miserable pollen season. I found a picture on CNN's website of a driveway coated in pollen with footprints through it - now that paints a lovely picture



Recently, the weather has dipped back down stunting the growth and even killing off most of the things that tickle my sinuses. I actually had a brief window of relief until today when oak, birch, hickory and sycamore trees decided to spread their joy. I can't step outside without sneezing my brains out. Now the weather is turning back around so the stunted grasses will start yet again. There's no relief in sight.

On a brighter note, Lexi's trike-a-thon is taking place tomorrow. I'll have to brave the air because this is something I don't want to miss. Claritin and Sudafed, here I come!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Stressed spelled backwards is dessert

Call me a chocolate cake! I've got a lot on my plate right now. Current drama aside, I have finals coming up and I have to give a 15 minute presentation in Spanish on Tuesday, my grandmother is coming into town for the first time in five years (yeah!), Lexi's kindergarten registration is this week, I've GOT to get this house clean or I'll go nuts, Stefan's 30th is on Friday, and I'm shopping for a different church to try this weekend. Needless to say, my world right now is a dessert sampler platter.

What makes it all worthwhile are the girls. They keep me laughing. Today, Lexi's playroom was in such disarray that when she came home from school I told her she had to clean it before she did anything else. She went to the hallway and was unable to even enter her playroom because the entrance was blocked with junk. She put one hand on each cheek and said, "Oh...My...Gosh. What a mess!" It's pretty bad when a five year old capable of overlooking most things thinks that something is worthy of the title "Mess".

Abby, on the other hand, deserves the title of Mess. She was worming around on the floor today when she decided to chase poor Lou (Stefan's dachshund). Lou doesn't mind and is a VERY mild tempered sort. Actually, he lacks a temper all together. I don't even think he noticed because he was too busy terrorizing Brandi (my yorkie) who wasn't thrilled at all. So there's Brandi, backed into a corner against the couch with Lou on his back pawing at her face and wagging his tail like a madman. This was too much temptation for Abby who wanted his wagging tail, so she was trying to catch it giggling her cute little giggle. Now that's bliss!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Everyone is a critic

I recently pointed out to someone that they were inappropriate for something they did only to receive a lashing with many assaults and hand grenades thrown and aimed for the heart of my character. Accused of making myself into a victim too much, I don't want pity. I bought into this load of crap hook, line, and sinker and actually for a moment yesterday moved my blog. I then rethought this because I didn't give you, my readers, any warning. I reverted and moved it back. I then locked the blog and granted permission to certain email addresses (the reason some of you received emails) but then thought better of it as I don't know the email addresses of all my readers. I then posted my last post telling you all that I was willing to inconvenience you just to lock out "a couple of bad seeds." But like this person who can't take any criticism whatsoever can throw me out of his/her organization, I can ask that he/she leave my page.

This is my spot here. I've been judged harshly for some of the things that I have said here. I consider this to be a mixture between a journal and an online scrapbook. I've written anecdotes involving the girls, rants of certain things that bother me (not trying to play the victim), and praises about the church that I poured 2 years of my life into.

One post I wrote "On When What You Can Do Just Isn't Good Enough" has been criticized for the fact that I was complaining about the church when I clearly stated that it was more or less about my own feelings of inadequacy.

Nonetheless, most of you are here because you were invited here as a window into my world because too many of us are too busy to remain in contact like we once did. It's understandable. A lot of you are friends or family from other states, some are people from the church, and some are local but we don't see each other very often because life gets in the way. Most of you have found your way here because either Stefan or I have invited you. Some are here by referrals from some of our family members so that their friends can see our girls grow up and I am thankful for every last one of you that is here without judgment and with good intentions.

I will not be made to feel that I need to run and hide from the boogyman. This is my space and I won't bend for anyone. Maybe later I will post about the situation that caused all of this. But right now, I need to let the emotional dust settle and allow my wounds to heal.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Do you want access?

This blog will be locked down in the near future and open only to approved readers. I have my reasons for doing this, and we'll just leave it at that.

So my friends/family and friends OF the family, if you want continued access you will have to take a couple of steps.

1) you will have to sign up for a google account for your login
2) you will have to contact me (or Stefan if he has directed you here) with your email address so you will be added.

I regret having to inconvenience you all just to lock out a couple of bad seeds, but I hope that you all understand and are willing to make the change.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Happy Easter

Easter Greetings
Well, the Easter Bunny did in fact make his appearance while we were gone to church. I guess another year goes by without a glimpse of his bushy little tail. He did leave some dandy treats, though. In Lexi's basket, he left pom poms, a megaphone, a cheer horn, a baton, and Cinderella III. She was overjoyed to say the least. In Abby's basket he left a toy phone, a toy camera, some bibs, a sun hat, some binkies, and some binky leashes.

When it came time for the egg hunt, guess who found the first egg?




That a girl! Kudos for a job well done on her first egg hunt. That was, however, her only egg. Lexi found the others.

Here's a pic of Lexi before church...




...and one of Lexi finding her first egg.




And once all the egg hunt fun was over, I got the girls together for this pic.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Not dressed up and somewhere to go

Have you ever heard of the phrase, "All dressed up and no where to go"? Well, tomorrow my beautiful darlings will experience the opposite. Despite the frilly dresses they both have for Easter, I doubt that they will be adorned in them when we go to church in the morning as it will regrettably be way too cold. They could wear them anyway with their coats over them, but how silly would spring, Easter dresses look with puffalump eskimo jackets over them?

Oh, I don't know...I guess we'll have to see.

The Easter Bunny is a well-orchestrated plan this year. Since I will be serving in the nursery during the 9 a.m. service and attending the 10:30, I convinced Lexi that if she goes to church twice on Easter, the Easter Bunny will hide the eggs at our house while she's at church. Of course, the Easter Bunny will be Daddy who will hide the eggs after I leave with Lexi and join me and my parents for the 10:30 service. Anyway, she bought it as I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow. I don't know what I would've told her if she said no! In fact she bought into it so well that, when I awoke from a nap today to find her painting her own fingernails in her bathroom, she actually cried when I threatened that she wouldn't be able to go to church twice tomorrow!

Friday, April 06, 2007

Lexism and more

Lexism

The Lexism this week is brought to you by the Plumbers Association of America.

Today before Stefan left for work he was hanging Lexi upside-down giving her an upside-down hug. Without fail, Lexi's pants started falling down as they always do because she suffers from a bad case of TB (AKA Tiny Butt). As she walked away exposing her crack to all, Stefan said "Say no to crack, Lexi."

Without skipping a beat, she repeated "Say no to crack!"

She then repeated this later when Uncle Faron said it to remind her to pull up her pants. Talk about your little smart aleck!

More

Lexi's friend, Mary, that I mentioned in a previous Lexism sent Lexi a gift today because she was sad that Lexi missed her so much. She couldn't have hit the nail on the head any better than what she did. She got Lexi a singing Princess Annaliese Barbie doll from the movie Princess and the Pauper and it came with the movie, too. She already had the Princess Erika doll so now she has the complete set and she couldn't be more thrilled.

This was Lexi when she opened the gift



Tonight, Lexi's Pawpaw and Uncle Faron graciously agreed to come play with the girls while I did some last minute Easter shopping. While waiting on Pawpaw to show Lexi dressed up for her Uncle Faron and wanted him to take pictures of her like she was a model. I think she may have over accessorized but I'm no Stacy London from TLC's What Not to Wear.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Easter

The Easter mailer for RSC hit every mailbox in the area today. This is the funniest piece of marketing I've seen since our Christmas mailer. Let me tell you this, if you don't have a church that you call home on Easter Sunday you don't want to miss the Easter service at RSC. We are located at the Carmike theaters on Riverstone Parkway in Canton. Don't worry about what to wear because we're not worried about what you wear either. We just want you to come and hear His word. If you still have doubts about this, check out the mailer here.



Now do you believe me that we don't care what you wear?

Poor, poor Abby

Abby is having another rough spell as of late. I think part of it is the fact that she is too busy to lay down whether it is for the night or for a nap, now that she can pull up and the other part is (and my mom brought this to my attention earlier today) she may be getting ready to cut some BIG teeth soon.

Yesterday, when I returned from the gym Stefan met me at the car to tell me that he was finally able to get her to sleep. Too bad it was in the swing on the back porch in the sun so she had to be moved or risk a sunburned head. Of course when we moved her, she awoke and that was the end of that.



Tonight, she awoke to yucky pants an hour after I uneventfully laid her down. I changed her diaper and she did not want to lay down. I let her "cry it out" to no avail. I peaked in on her and found her standing in the corner of her crib bawling her eyes out. After awhile she quieted down and I thought I had won the war of wills. When I poked my head into her room, I found her standing the way she had been during her bawl fest only now she was asleep. I wish I had a pic, but I didn't want the flash to wake her.

Getting my TV fix

Since I got my DVR, I don't watch live TV hardly ever. The problem is now I am capable of watching many shows that I didn't before due to time conflicts. For this reason, I have a list about a mile long of shows that I have recorded but have yet to watch.

Today, I've done some catching up. I watched the last two weeks of Survivor and let me tell you...I am thrilled to see that Rocky is gone. I was getting so sick of him. I also watched the last two weeks of The Apprentice and am again pleased to see the departure of Tim which effectively cut out the drama and put the focus back on the interview process.

As for tonight's American Idol ...MY GOODNESS!!! Did you people hear Melinda Doolittle and Jordan? Those two really brought it tonight. They gave me chills.

And last but not least (although I didn't watch these tonight they bear mentioning), ABC has really hit it home (twice). I am thrilled that Six Degrees is back. I had given up hope that it would ever return but it is back in full force and better than ever. And they also have a new show that just started last month called October Road that is a great show too.

I know I sound like I watch a lot of TV. Au contraire mon frer! I have the TV on a lot while I'm doing the tons of other things that need to be done around here.