Say it like it is contest

Today was my day.

"WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PORTRAY YOURSELF AS A GOOD MOM"


1. Do not wake up at 7:15 when you need to be at a very important doctors appointment at 8:00.

2. Do not waste your money and order a hot caramel latte from sonic thinking it will be cheaper than starbucks, it WILL NOT taste like starbucks.

3. Do not forget the week before to have your doctor do a TB skin test when you are doing an adoption physical, or they will call you back in to the office at 7:45am on your husbands day off.

4. Do not try to take fingerprint cards printed on PAPER to the police station, because they will send you to go print new ones on cardstock and you will have to go to Target at 8:30am after your stupid TB skin test.

5. Do not forget to keep cheerios stocked in your house at all times if it is your children's only breakfast of choice, or you'll have to get that at Target too.

6. Do not wake up your bed-ridden sister-in-law at 9am to print fingerprint cards because you don't have the time to fix your own printer.

7. Do not assume that the local police station knows what they are talking about when they "schedule" you for a 10am fingerprinting.

8. Do not let your three children yell, jump and scream while you are waiting for an officer to come in "off the street" to do your fingerprints.

9. Do not bring your children at all.

10. Do not tell your children that you are doing "fingerprints" because it sounds a lot like "finger pricks" and you've already terrified your children of those at their pediatricians office previously.

11. Do not assume sippy cups will keep children quiet.

12. Do not waist time checking email once you are home and your husband has gone to his adoption physical because you will regret the rest of the day not cleaning your house.

13. Do not wait until the last minute to dress your children for THE NEXT THREE appointments you have after that.

14. In fact, DON'T EVER schedule that many appointments in one day.

15. Don't forget your kids gymnastics leotards at the house and remember them AFTER you've driven 30 minutes down the road, dropped off your husband to tutor and dropped off your youngest for Occupational therapy. You'll have to spend the entire 1 hour therapy driving back to your house to get TWO LEOTARDS and drive back.

16. Do not wait until the last minute to get gas when you are late, you'll have to be even later to stop and get the gas.

17. Do not try to save money by packing your kids a lunch and feeding them in the car while you are on the go. Do not EVER give them peanut butter sandwiches in the car. You will find peanut butter in all sorts of interesting places in the van... and on your children.

18. Don't assume that while you are making stops that your children are leaving their clothing ON in the car. Sisterly shouts of accusations of nakedness from the backseat should be taken seriously.

19. Also do not assume that your children will leave their seat belts on at red lights. You will have to pull over to put them back on.

20. When you take your kids to gymnastics in the pouring rain, whatever you do, DON'T walk to quickly into the building. YOU WILL SLIP AND LAND ON YOUR BUTT IN FRONT OF EVERY PARENT WAITING ON THEIR CHILD. And a near broken tailbone hurts for hours. Trust me.

21. Don't pretend you're fine, the hand you land on will start swelling when you've broken two blood vessels under your palm. Get some ice instead.

22. Don't assume that because things are in the same area that you can run errands quickly. It will take you all of the 1 hour gymnastics lesson to make 1 trip to the bank and 1 drive through for dinner.

23. Don't tell your husband he can go watch football next door when you get home even though you are completely exhausted and not entirely sure you haven't broken your tailbone and have one big swollen hand... if you don't mean it.

24. Do not go a whole day with out allowing your kids to nap... it DOES NOT make them more sleepy at bedtime.

25. Don't stay up until 10:30 writing blog posts... it won't really accomplish anything but help you wallow in your own self pity!! :)


If this day doesn't make any sense to you... its okay, it didn't make any sense to me either!!!
But if you've ever had a day like this... a day of everything NOT to do if you're wanting to look like a good mom... check out this blog. You're not alone!

The Hippopotomus Song

So much for Silent Night, Away in a manger, or even Jingle Bells... my kids' new favorite Christmas song is the "Hippopotomus Song". They heard it on the radio and being products of a new era, they knew that I could find it on itunes... "Will you pleeeeeease put it on your ipod mommy?" :) Yeah.

So here it is, for your listening pleasure. The Hippopotomus song.

**UPDATE- The hippopotomus song has been removed from this site. Not only for the reason that Christmas is over, but for the reason that it was driving me crazy. You can search for it on iTunes, but be forewarned that it will get stuck in your head for the next 24 hours.**

Christmas Program

If you missed it last night, my big girl Ashley did such a good job in the Christmas program!!! She was so focused on Mrs. Barb, and she didn't take her eye's off of her. :)

She and all of the other kids in her class were dressed as presents at the bottom of a tree full of kids from other classes dressed as ornaments. It was precious! And very creative. :) Ashley's box was wrapped in Tinkerbell paper (of course!) and she looked adorable. It was really fun seeing her up there with her little buddies, Ellie, Christian, and Levi... this was their second Christmas program together. I don't have any pictures (my camera is broken, ugh!), but as soon as I have some, I'll post them. I'm sure the other moms got some good ones.

The second and final performance is Christmas Eve... I don't think they will be recording it but there is a small chance it could be on a live feed on the grace chapel website... maybe.... ?

I didn't get to see the rest of the play, I was a parent volunteer, but I'm hoping to get a peek Wednesday night. I heard it was great. Good job everyone!

And Merry Christmas!

The mom song

My sister-in-law sent this to me today... I LOVE this!
(Pause the song at the bottom of my page first)

Someone condensed everything a mom says in a 24 hour period into a 3 minute song.

Emily's hair...

Well... I'm assuming this kinda thing happens at least once in most families. A couple of days ago, Ashley decided it would be a good idea to cut Emily's hair. Hm. She took the scissors to the playroom, first gave a trim to a large stuffed horse, then gave it a whirl on little Em. They were both VERY excited about it until they came out and saw my face. Needless to say, they both got proper consequences, and after I shut myself outside where the girls couldn't see, I had a good laugh then back inside to quickly do my best to "fix" Emily's hair. I would have taken her to have it cut but between the adoption and Christmas, we're pinching every penny we can. So, besides the large chunks cut out around her face, the back is kind of a "gradual bob" for you chics out there who know what that means. Its not horrible... kinda looks like... well lets just say we probably won't be sending out a family picture this Christmas. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I'll try to post some soon. Its a really good thing she's so stinkin' cute and has those killer big blue eyes!

So HATS would be a good Christmas gift this year...

November birthdays

Yes, everything I do on this blog IS long overdue and a month behind. Oh well, it is what it is. I'm kinda busy ya know? :) At least I'm keeping up with it right? Now I'm runnin' TWO blogs and still trying to lead a normal life. ;) Haha, anyway, here are some pictures from Abby's sweet second birthday as well as a couple of shots from my own. :) Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Abby's party, she was a LITTLE overwhelmed, but definitely had fun. And if she's anything like Sara Krikac, I know she'll treasure the pictures for years to come! :) (Thanks Brian!)

And yes, I'm the big 26 now. We went out for Hibachi and Sushi with my family and had dinner with the Spencer's to celebrate with them as well (my mother-in-law made me some yummy taco soup, although I forgot my camera for that).

Clearly the above picture was taken before Emily's little hair incident (oh but thats another post!).

Me and my big girl, Ashley!

Me and my Papaw

Four generations!

My brother and Dad enjoyin' some Asuka