Thursday, May 28, 2009

Grandma Ellie





My grandmother passed away 8 years ago this week. My cousin recently discovered these pictures of her in the college days @ UC Berkeley. I just love the pictures and think they look like they came out of an old Life magazine.

I don’t know if it was the trip to California last month or what, but I’ve been thinking about Grandma Ellie a lot lately. She was such a fun person and had a true zest for life. I think it would be so interesting and fun to have conversations with her now. As a teenager and young adult, I was way too self-absorbed to take the time to have that kind of thoughtful communication. Since I’ve matured (hopefully!) with age and experience, I think I could appreciate even more the person she was.

She experienced hardship in her life and never let it stop her from having a positive attitude. Even after a leg amputation because of diabetes complications, she didn’t seem to let life get her down. She kept her sense of humor, her friendliness, and her sass! That is something we can all learn from.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Giveaway ~ Hurry, Hurry!

Jelby's

Hurry over here to enter a giveaway for super cute baby burpies. And I don't just say that because my sister makes them. They really are super cute. All are custom made, stylish, and durable.

You can enter for a free set, and she's taking orders as well. Keep checking back, because she sells out quickly and updates her inventory often.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

American Idol ~ Top 2

Surely, you're on the edge of your seat waiting for my deep thoughts on the American Idol Top 2 night. Unfortunately, I didn't even get to see it. Gasp! The final day of our big family vacation was a little distraction from my normal viewing schedule. And low and behold, there is no DVR where we are. Can you believe it!!!???

So help me out fellow AI addicts. Tell me about the show and what you think the final outcome will or should be.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

His Singing Debut

As Tate’s vocabulary has been growing by the day, so has his interest in singing. He likes to sing Happy Birthday, Wheels On The Bus, Jesus Loves Me, My Hair Had A Party Last Night, BarbaraAnn, Old MacDonald, My God Is So Big, and Jesus Loves the Little Children.* He knows most of the words to those songs, because he can fill in just about any of the blanks when we sing along. But on his own, he gets a little bashful and does the condensed versions. This is a pretty cute stage, so I had to try to capture it.



*He also likes to sing the “Oh-Oh-Oh’s” from Beyonce’s, Single Ladies. But don’t let Wade know about that.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

American Idol ~ Top 3

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, tonight threw me for a loop. They were all good. This definitely has to be the most talented Top 3 in all of the seasons before. I don’t even remember a #3 from any other group.

So yes, they’re all 3 talented, but there was not a clear cut winner tonight or a clear cut one to go home.

Danny ~ Wasn’t crazy about the first song. Had never heard of it, and I don’t even remember the name. He sounded good…very Danny Gokeyish. But it was forgettable. I thought the Joe Cocker song was wonderful. I loved it!

Kris ~ I’m a big One Republic fan to begin with and thought he did a decent job at the song. I agree with Simon that the other judges can’t criticize if they don’t tell him what they want. Wish he had ventured out a little, though. But then he came back with the Kanye West song. I loved it and was way impressed!

Adam ~ As soon as he started One, I was excited that it was going to be an “Adam” moment (Tracks of My Tears/Mad World). And then the screaming started. Bummer. (And bummer about the ear pieces looking like an ode to Star Trek.) So I guess it was very fitting that his next song was originally by the screamer of all screamers…Steven Tyler. We get it Adam.

So what to do? He wasn’t my favorite of the night, but I still think Adam deserves to be in the final. I prefer Kris’ music the most personally, but I think Danny has the bigger fan base. So, I’m thinking it may be Kris going home. Who knows…even as I type this, I’m second-guessing. At least they’re all good. It will be interesting.

Thoughts? Come on, spill it!

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Through It All

anticipation
pregnancy
morning sickness
your hiccups
labor pains
holding you in my arms
bringing you home
feeding
no sleep
seeing you grow
so many diapers
no sleep
first smile
spit-up
no sleep
crying
new discoveries
finally sleep
giggles
so many diapers
cute outfits
rocking chair
walks
laughs
baby food
grandparents
throw-up
holidays
milestones
birthdays
sickness
mealtime drama
elmo
sacrifice
wheels on the bus
new words
new friends
walking
bumps & bruises
playing
aunts
uncles
cousins
coloring
fireman hat
so many diapers
brown bear, brown bear
“hold you”
naptime
cars
cars
cars
singing
crying
bathtime
food throwing
swimming
bedtime prayers
tantrums
“mommy’s turn”
sickness
trains
dirt
hugs & kisses


Through it all,
I love being your Mom!
Happy Mother's Day!

Friday, May 08, 2009

Bye-Bye Booty

What I would do for some Pirate’s Booty right now! Not the Somali kind, but the snack kind. Have you ever had a snack that you later decided could never step foot in your pantry again? That’s pretty much where my relationship with Pirate’s Booty is. It’s a love/hate thing.

Last year when we were trying to find ways to get as many extra calories into Tate’s diet (I know…if we could all be so fortunate), someone told me about this drug. I mean snack. It’s all natural, basically rice, corn, and cheese. It tastes delish, and it has more calories and is a “healthier” alternative to basic chips and crackers.

After Tate sampled some at Costco one day and woofed down all of the little morsels of yumminess, I bought the ginormous double pack. And wouldn’t you know it, once we’re in the comforts of home, he wants nothing to do with said delicacy. I’m never one to let things go to waste. And so began the drama of the booty.

I can’t get enough of it. But I also blame the booty on clothing fitting my own bootie a little tighter these days. Isn’t it good to blame that on inanimate objects?

So I bid a bittersweet farewell to the booty. Maybe we’ll meet again one day when I’ve learned a little more self-control?

Any other love/hate snack addictions out there?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

American Idol ~ Top 4

Rock Week. First off, I wasn’t a big Guns ‘N Roses kind of girl (gasp!), but I still couldn’t believe that it was almost 25 years ago that Slash and the guys started to make it big. I’m feeling older by the minute.

On to the duets. I thought that was a strange new twist to add. I would’ve much more preferred to add 30 minutes to the show and let each of the contestants sing another song.

Danny & Kris’s harmonies sounded great, but everything else about their duet made it seem like it was the absolute last place they wanted to be. Weird. Adam & Allison really did well together with a fun song. As far as Kara’s comment of “rock god and rock goddess,” that may be a little much.

So on to the Top 4. I have to say this first. The way I look at the show and who I think should win is not 100% about who I prefer the most. I’m a 33-year-old, SAHM, who saw ‘N Sync and Celine Dion in concert twice. I’m pretty sure I’m not the mainstream music industry’s target demographic. My views on the show are as to who is the best overall performer, artist, greatest potential, blah, blah, blah. All that to say…
Adam ~ By far the best this week. He looked crazy-creepy, and I would never download that song off I Tunes. But still. He was the whole package tonight. It was over-the-top, but not in the (quoting Simon here) self-indulgent way that last week was. This time it was over-the-top in a wild, rocker kind of way. Although, I would love to see at least one more song that is reminiscent of Tracks of My Tears. Still loved that.

Allison ~ I thought the Janis Joplin song wasn’t that bad. Not my favorite of hers, but not bad. I still can’t believe she just turned 17. I think she deserves to continue on.

Kris ~ Before the show started, I said that this might be awkward. I hope Kris doesn’t try too hard to be cool-rocker dude. I think he picked a perfect song for his style. I really thought it was pretty good. Not his best ever, but way better than what the judges said.

Danny ~ Oh how I wanted him to hit that last note. But man oh man, that was painful. My whole body cringed. He is not rocker guy (the glasses and vest proved that), so I wish he hadn’t tried to be with that song. What about Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion instead? He is extremely talented (they all 4 are), and he will definitely have a successful career. But based on this week’s performance, I think he’s the one to go. It’s getting way harder to decide.

I think Danny should go home, but it could just as easily be Kris. Danny seems to have quite the following. Who knows? Tomorrow night should be interesting.

Finale is in 2 weeks…predictions?

Swine Flu Day @ The Zoo

It wasn’t a snow or ice day, but a swine flu day (actually week+) that closed their school, so I offered to take my nephew, niece, and her friend to the zoo.

We all had a great time, and Tate was in heaven. He wants to be big so bad. It’s pretty cute (and kind of scary). If Trip walked with his hand on the rail, Tate had his hand on the rail. If Mary Tish said, “Wow…elephants!” Tate said, “Wow…elephants!” They’re not too old to be annoyed by him quite yet and think it’s pretty funny. Tate thinks it’s a party if they’re with him. So all in all, everyone has a lot of fun together.





And there’s not much to this video. It just reminds me of what it’s like to be 9 and 11. You can make pretty much anything fun.