Barnes, Noble and Me

Hubster gave me a few hours to myself and I did something I haven't been able to do in YEARS.


Went to the bookstore by myself!


It may not sound like much but I can't really remember the last time I got to just peruse the aisles. The pleasure I get from an unhurried trip; flipping through the crisp clean pages, judging books by their covers, cracking bindings for the first time (robbing their future owners from that privilege but I can't help myself) is an often underrated delight.


I found several new books that I will buy on my kindle, a new beach/bathtub book and this little beauty

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship :)


Also I am dying to read Mindy Kalings book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?", because I heart her and her weird sense of humor.  I think we would be friends.  And not in that weird "I'm an obsessive fan and just know if she would give me a chance it would be cosmic" way, but in that actual "she reminds me of my real friends and it really would be cosmic" way.  There is a difference.




P.S.  Funny little anecdote, I was perusing the discount paperbacks and without really paying attention I started straightening a stack so that all the bindings were in perfect alignment. It wasn't until they were exactly perfect that I took a moment to look at the book.

Well played B&N book stacker who obviously had an agenda when stacking these particular books in such a haphazard way, well played.

Every girls gotta have goals

My 33rd birthday is right around the corner.

In June.

Its 4 months away.

As a thirty something that feels right around the corner.

I wanted to set some fitness goals for myself with my 33rd birthday as the deadline. (note to self, come up with a friendlier name as opposed to DEADline, thirty-somethings don't just toss around the D word anymore)

Here are my goals...

~ 33 second L-sits
  {current record is 5 seconds...this needs a lot of work}

~ 33 double-unders
  {current record is 3.  Hubby tells me once you get it you just get it and all of a sudden I will be able to do 50 unbroken...he often sets unreasonable standards}

~ 3 unassisted pull-ups
  {I dont have the kipping pull-up down yet without a resistance band so this is going to be tough}

~ 33" box jump
  {28" is my max, gotta get jumping}

~ 3 toes-to-bars
  {I set this record 3 weeks ago and I already have 2, this one is in the bag}

~ 3 handstand pushups
  {I may have been high on chalk fumes when I came up with this one.  Neva.  Gonna.  Happen.  It seems I too set unreasonable standards}

~ sub 9:00 2000m row
  {I set this goal 3 weeks ago as well and I currently have a 9:17 time, easy peasy}


There it is.  My goals for the world to see.  (Or at least the 4 of you who read this - actually I know I get many new hits a day, whoever you strangers are who happen upon my tiny blog...well, I'm sorry the inter webs dropped you into this weird corner.  I have a strange sense of humor that only I understand.  The good news is, I think I'm hilarious so if you are even slightly entertained this blog should be a beacon of light for you for many moons to come) (Do you think there should be a limit for how many words or sentences should be allowed in parentheses, that one when on for a while) (And do you need to utilize proper use of punctuation while in a parenthesis?  I hate when a period is just sitting there right next to the end parenthesis) (.) (and which spelling is considered correct, parentheses or parenthesis?  Both are nouns according to the blogger dictionary) (.)

Check out this little rock star with a perfect L-sit!

Chronicles of iMessage

I'm starting a new trend on here...

Chronicles of iMessage- I feel the need to attach a unique title to everything, not sure why, I'm sure it stems from some desire for attention. It can likely be traced back to my mother. She screwed me up. At least, she is who will shoulder the blame today. I have already attached separate blame to my husband, kids, high school math teacher and elementary track coach this week, it's her turn.

Anywho- I often have entertaining textversations via iMessage (entertaining to me at least) so I will start sharing some here.

This iMessage brought to you by my brother, who barely tolerates me. In his defense he has had to put up with me his ENTIRE life. Can you imagine?

Riding unicorns

Alex is usually my down to earth kid. While Beau is dreaming of magical places and imaginary friends, Alex dreams of playing in the real world.

But occasionally the magic of being young captures even her...

"Mom watch me I'm riding on a pony"

"Yeah?! What's your pony's name?"

"He's name is rascal and he's really a unicorn. He takes me flying. Watch!"

Watching the quiet joy on her face while she played with Rascal for the next 20 minutes will be ingrained in my brain for years.

That kid just makes me smile.

Perp-Alex-ing moments

While I do the dishes I like to order my little minions around.

Easy things, like "pick up that toy", "put your shoes away", or "stop finger painting on the floor with the almond butter"-yes, that one is real. They groan and whine like every other little kid but they usually do it.

Well one day Alex was having a particularly hard time following directions and just WOULD NOT pick up her shoes and put them away.

I told her once.

I told her twice.

I literally told her 10 times (and that is a literal use of the word literally, not an "I literally cleaned the whole house today"-a regular of mine), and she still didn't budge.

Finally I yelled "PICK UP YOUR SHOES AND PUT THEM AWAY!"

This is when Alex would usually pucker out that bottom lip and summon her fake tears like only she can and say something like

"you had to be nice to me mom, no yedding (yelling)" with that little repremanding finger pointed at me and stomp up to her room.

To my surprise she took it in stride and said

"ugh fine. ROBOT!...ROBOT? Where is he? Ugh if my robot was here he would do it!"

I chuckled against my will.

"You don't have a robot"

And she replied in the clearest tone of 'well, duh' I have ever heard,

"We'll den I guess you should get one for me"

Beauism of the week

Beau was very excited to tell us all about what she learned in school yesterday because it was about her favorite topic, FOOD. Her class had watched "the magic school bus healthy food show" And she was regaling us with all the healthy foods she needs to eat to keep her body strong. 

"I need to eat apples, and oranges, and grapes, and strawberries, and grapes, and mango swords, and grapes, and watermelon, and broccoli, and-"

seeing this could go on for a while I decided to switch tracks and asked her what she shouldn't eat

"We'll the guy on the movie ate gum and that's bad"

"Yeah, what else shouldn't you eat?"

"...umm...well...poop?"

More hours in the day

I have so many things I want to post and so little time to do it!  If there were just a few more hours in the day, sigh...

Here are a few recent highlights...

Day 25 of 25 days of Christmas -   The girls took a full hour to open all their presents.  It was an absolute blast for them and us but there was just so many new things that it took days before they really got to play with everything.  It took 3 days to reorganize their playroom and find a place for all the new stuff.  I wish I was one of those people who always has toys for any age kid that comes over but frankly I cant stand having that much stuff.  Their playroom is very organized and surprisingly minimalist for a playroom.  I like order and if something doesn't have a place it will probably be thrown out.  I thought I prepped enough before the big day by tossing 3 bags but after this christmas there is another huge box to be dumped.  Well, donated.  I am that crazy lady who drops off bags of clothes/stuff at the thrift store twice a month.  I like an organized, clean, and green house so we always donate/recycle.  

Mom and Dad got their fair share of stuff too.  And a credit card bill to prove it.  I may have done some damage this year.  I kind of get a little panicky when I think about it.  

I start breathing heavy...my mouth gets dry...before I know it I'm pacing the house looking for something of my husband's to sell.  

"Two pairs of shoes?! I can scrape the dog poop off this pair and make a few bucks."

"He doesn't need this many pens, what are we staples."

"What the heck is this thing? I'm for sure selling this! Oh, wait...no that's mine." (places it back in the drawer)

It's not pretty.  

If you can stick around for a few minutes past the pleas and vows to spend less money next year, you will soon find me flipping through the post Christmas Sale ads from the newspaper, pen in hand circling my next purchases.  

I'm not proud.

 Before.  Plus Santa gifts not pictured.

Halftime

Daddy playing with his new Atari.

 They love their new easel.

I guess there is always next year to focus on teaching them the true meaning of Christmas.

New Year 2013

The last day of 2012 was calm and perfect.  Mom and Dad got some time to buy our new iPhone 5's (squeal!).  Some friends came to hang for a few hours.  The boys indulged in cigars and scotch while the girls watched Brave with all three of their new Merida dolls on hand.  We let the kids stay up late and when they finally dozed off the adults ventured to the neighborhood party.  Lots of laughs with friends and hugs and kisses at midnight.  

Cheers to this guy surviving another year with me!

And I didn't end the night looking like this! ;)

2013 has some big shoes to fill!

Beau has become a writing machine

Beau has learned to sound things out and loves to write notes for everyone.  Her favorite game is playing waitress and asking everyone what they want to eat while she doodles on her notepad.  It is endless entertainment for us to try and decipher what she tried to write.  

I woke up the other day with a note on our chalkboard and Beau screaming

"Mom! We get to go to Miss Ambers house today and play at the pool!  See I wrote it!"

and tha has a pol

(and they has a pool)

here are some more...

Beau is fayrsot

(Beau is five years old)

I wont a jrm

(I want a drum)

And my favorite, my xmas card this year

It says:  "Merry Christmas!  I love you.  Beau and Mom and Daddy and Alex and Owen", but she really likes to put lines between some words and not others so it became "I love | you" and "DadyandAlex".  Oh and I love that she included her cousin Owen, even if she spelled it Omin :)