Some Events That Must Be Discussed

There have been a few events around here that must be discussed.

1. A Stuffed Animal Pageant

Claire orchestrated a pageant for several of her beloved animals.  The contestants were: Blue Bunny, Pink Poodle, Yellow Sun, White Rose, Plush Appeal (seriously), and Marley Monkey.  Each animal came out on "stage" and posed several times.  There was music playing in the background, and Claire introduced each one using a (drumstick) microphone.  Brian and I were each distributed ballots on which to vote.  It was very well thought out.

Marley Monkey tap danced for her talent

All lined up waiting for the winner to be called

The contestants gathered around the winner ~ White Rose!

It's funny because I can't recall Claire actually seeing a beauty pageant.  So either I have forgotten (which is more than possible with the state of my memory lately) OR it's true that pageants are just in our southern girl blood from birth.  I spent many evenings watching various beauty pageants with my Mama when I was a little girl.  We used to get out our notepads and write down our favorites at the beginning of the show.  Then proudly declared when one of our favorites was picked as a winner or finalist.  I even went over to watch Miss America with her the other night.  Now don't start judging and saying that they are disrespectful to women, etc.  If you feel that way, I understand.  But I still love them.  And this is my blog. Long live the pageant!

2. Naked Barbies Doing Splits On The StoveTop

If this is the direction the pageants are headed around here then we are in trouble...

 Put some clothes on Barbie (and friends)!!!! This is a family pageant! For the love!

Actually, this wasn't a pageant at all.  Just Barbie and nine of her closest friends doing splits on the stove top. No biggee.

3. The Bachelor Week 2

In Week 2, Sean did his best to be as cute and charming as ever. So far, he hasn't let me down.  I am totally confused on which girl(s) I really like and would be best for him.  There was sweet Sarah who went for a ride in a helicopter and then jumped off the side of a building with Sean.  I still can't figure out how those Bachelor producers created an exact reproduction of my first date with Brian way back in the day. He still picks me up in his helicopter occasionally, but we gave up jumping off buildings a while back.

Then there was that whole romance novel photo shoot.  Tierra is still acting strangely which is such a shame because she is so cute.  Kristy won the contest with her "skills".  Let's move on.

I think Kacie B. is going to have some struggles.  Even though Sean says he wants to try to get to know her as more than a friend, I think she is going to have a hard time climbing out of that "just a friend" category.  Time will tell.

And then there's Desiree.  Or Des as Sean likes to call her.  I seriously cringed every. single. time. he said Des.  I actually really like her.  She's pretty, sweet, and funny.  She took that practical joke like a champ.  I would have died if I had been in that room alone when that art broke.  She has nothing going against her at all in my opinion.  Except that he calls her Des.  Stop it, Sean.  Her name is Desiree.  Thank you.

Lots To Catch Up On

 We've had a fun weekend! The weather has been really nice, but it's supposed to get cold again tomorrow.    I really, really, really want some snow.  However, if it isn't going to snow then the 70 degree temperatures are welcome to stay! 

My Silly Parker

 Claire decided to use some of her Christmas money to buy an iPod Touch.  We ordered it, and she waited and waited and waited for it to come.  Finally, it arrived! The heavens opened up and angels were singing.  And one little girl was very happy.

 We had to laugh at her entry in a class book from Thanksgiving.  Her description of how to cook a turkey included shooting it and cleaning it.  The funniest part was that her daddy burned it, and she had to eat it.  She a funny one!

Last night, she went to a sleepover birthday party.  Parker went with me to drop her off and had fun playing on the trampoline for a few minutes.

 Sydney's mom survived eight seven year old girls.

So with Claire occupied, Parker and I went on a little date.  He chose Chuck E. Cheese to play games.   

 And then wanted Italian Village for dinner.  A boy after his Mama's own heart.

That's good right there...

 I don't care who you are!

After I took Parker home, I went Mom's to watch Miss America with her and Megan.

This may have happened.  For the record, I wasn't the only one.  

But you should give me a little credit because I ended up only eating half of it.

Miss New York was clearly shocked that I only ate half.

We worked with the kids at church this morning.  It got a little wild.

Then a fun lunch and play time at McDonald's with The Freemans.

I'm hoping for a restful afternoon and evening before we start a new week tomorrow.  I hope you have had a fun weekend too!

The Bachelor!

Unfortunately, I don't have that much to report.  I thought Mr. Sean was as cute and sweet as ever.  None of the girls stood out to me except Tierra.  She seemed just darlin' at the beginning of the show, but the previews have me thinking that we've only seen one side of Tierra so far.  I know some of the other girls will grow on me as the season continues.  Anybody else watch? Huh? Huh?

Not Your Average Monday

It started out fairly average.  School was fine, other than having four kids out sick today.  I'm praying the rest of us can stay healthy, and that my four cuties will be back tomorrow.

We went to Red Pig tonight.  Fun!

 Then the roller coaster was finally finished.  Putting that thing together was a major undertaking.  Don't let me mislead you.  I had nothing to do with it.  Brian was the mastermind of the project with some very special helpers.  

 So what, you ask, is not so average about this Monday?

Here you go...

That's right folks, The Bachelor starts tonight! Woohoo! Sean is back.  I think you know how I feel about Sean.  So I hope you're watching it.  If you're not, then I'm mad at you.  One of you in particular.  And you know who you are. 

Maybe I'll take some notes and report back tomorrow.  

Having Fun!

We survived our first (short) week back to school.  I was pretty tired on Friday night and very thankful to make my sa-weet Chef Boyardee pizza and go to bed.  

Saturday morning arrived and brought along a major chore.  The taking down of the Christmas decorations was almost the death of me.  Seventy-two hours later, we were finished.  So we went to Carrabba's.  I know.  You should be so jealous.

 Then we moseyed over to Barnes and Noble.

 Claire wanted to sleep with curlers in her hair in preparation for a BIG TIME party.

We had a great service at church this morning.  Of course, we always do.  We love our church!

 Has anybody seen Parker? 

Here's Parker practicing his skills on the microphone.  He is determined to be the lead singer in a rock band when he grows up.  He's a natural!

 Then it was PARTY time! Claire was invited to a friend's American Girl themed birthday party.  She was so excited that she talked about it for days.

Here she is at the makeup station.

 Time for hair!

 Making a tutu for her doll 

 Look at all of those girls!

She had such a fun time! 

Let's Talk About Books

I've read (or tried to read) quite a few books over the last few months.  I need to start by telling you that I have certain rules about books.  The first and most important one is as follows:

Thou shalt always finish what thou starteth.

For many years, I made myself always finish a book once I started it.  It didn't matter how much I hated it or how much I wanted to quit reading.  I made myself finish it.  Maybe I thought it would get better if I could just stick with it (sometimes that happens).  Or maybe it's just that I couldn't allow myself to feel like a quitter.  That's the more likely option.  I can be pretty hard on myself even about silly things.

I had a breakthrough.  

It happened with this:

Don't get me wrong! Tina Fey is hilarious.  Her book was recommended by so many people.  I really wanted to love it.  The truth is that I just didn't.  About half-way through, I did it.  I even shocked myself when I put it down and decided I was done.  There was quite a bit of bad language, and I honestly just didn't think it was that funny.  

Then with my fancy, new-found freedom I started and gave myself permission to quit a few other books after that.  They were so forgettable that I can't even remember the names of them as I type this.  So I just threw caution to the wind and stopped reading them.  And guess what? The world didn't end! However, we did have that close call on December 21.  Anyway...

I have found a few winners along the way too.  When I read Kisses from Katie, I cried and tried unsuccessfully to convince Brian every night that we needed to sell everything we own and move to Africa. It's an amazing story about a young woman who gave up a very comfortable life to create an even more amazing life in Uganda as the mother of 13 children.  

I also read Jen Hatmaker's challenging book:

At which point, I cried and tried unsuccessfully to convince Brian that we needed to sell everything we own and move to downtown Austin to live on the streets and minister to homeless people.  

Oh, I kid.  Kind of.

It was a VERY challenging book though.  Jen made it clear that the book was not intended as a guilt trip of any kind.  She is so funny and entertaining while also being so honest and real in her writing.  I quickly decided that she should be my friend.  Assuming of course, she knew I existed.  

(Jen ~ In case you are reading this, call me.)

Most recently, (other than a few Christmas books that got the ax), I read Gone Girl.  

I need to tell you that I am usually not drawn to mysteries.  At all.  

But here's what happened:

I kept seeing it show up on recommended book lists everywhere.  Literally everywhere.  My interest was piqued.  

Then I somehow caught word that they are making it into a movie.  That Reese Witherspoon is producing.  Interest double piqued.  

So I decided to give it a try, knowing full well that it might be out the door quickly considering my new, relentless habit.  If it didn't tow the line, it would indeed be a Gone Girl.  GONE!

The author's writing style had me at hello.  I was the one who was a goner.  It was one of those that I couldn't put down.  

At the end, I couldn't even decide whether I liked it or not.  I know that sounds crazy! It's just that it really made me think, kept me interested, etc. BUT I was still frustrated.  Oh, just go read it! So we can talk about it! 

(Warning: Some language and themes are not the best.  I SO wish authors could write good books and leave out all of the trash.)

If you read it, I really need to know! Maybe we can go see the movie together.  Rumor has it that Reese may even be in the leading role.  Which, if you've read the book, you would know is very intriguing.  Oh, go read it already!

P.S. If you have any book suggestions, please let me know!

Happy New Year!

So many things to look forward to in the next year!  Praising the Lord for another year!

But for now, I have to face the fact that school starts again tomorrow.  And this is how I feel...

For real!  I've eaten so much the past two weeks.

So tomorrow I may just call in fat.