Let some air in!

I love a fresh cool breeze wafting through the house. Dan doesn't like the fact that I leave the garage door open to achieve this. (Hey, you get used to the dirty diaper smell coming in from the garbage can!) Solution: Handyman Dan installed this beautimus door for me! I was telling Dan that the only people I knew in Meridian with screen doors were over 70, but he didn't seem too bothered by that fact. Hey, we're not old-fashioned, we're "retro!" And I love that fresh air!

My lucky little "terrible two"

Ok, Lukas and Sam both have 9 lives. Either that, or a serious death wish. During the last 2 weeks they have been spared multiple times of serious injury. Sam almost drowned not once, but TWICE (ok, once was my fault, but the other time was all his!), Lukas and Sam both "ran away" to the park (I found their dump trucks half way there, but no sign of the boys--talk about getting a pit in your stomach!), and then to top if all off, yesterday we were at the craft warehouse and Lukas pulled the shopping cart down on top of himself with Sam in it! If this happens again, so help me, I'm going to be the one dying--of a heart attack! Heaven help my two boys!! (well, obviously, heaven is....)

And they said it wouldn't last....

Here's to a Happy 9 Years, Baby!We've been on a journey of a lifetime together and it's not about to end! On May 27, 1999 we sealed our fate to eachother and the eternities and so far, so good! :) We were fortunate enough to get away for a day and a night and a day together. Ahh, alone time! We tried to go golfing, but the stars were not aligned in our favor and we ended up seeing the latest and not-so-greatest Indiana Jones movie. The best part of it was Dan stroking my leg in the theater. Other than that, can we say lame-o! Man-eating ants? An alien crystal skull? And how many times do we have to relive the road to Eldorado?!! "Themeless, dreamless, helpless, hopeless!"

But where was I? I digress. So, Dan kept saying he wanted to do something really memorable, something we've never done before. So, here's what we came up with (well, me, actually, dragging him along for the fun of it.) I've never sat in one of those cheap kiosks in the mall with a boyfriend before. I told Dan we HAD to do it or I would die, just DIE! (I can get dramatic sometimes, forgive me!) He obliged, and snuck in only when nobody was walking by. Oh, the terror of someone actually seeing him with a beautiful woman getting in a small booth with little black curtains! Well, as you can see, Cama does a much better job and we may have to splurge and go with her for our 10th anniversary photos next year. :) I actually had to take a picture of the pictures since our scanner wasn't working. Yeah, that's why they look so bad, not because they were only 3 bucks, right?

All in all, we had a fabulous time with real live flushing toilets and breakfast in bed at our leisure. What do the next 9 years have in store for us? Well, for starters, 4 more kids, of course! And then, chew on this--BJ will be only 1 year away from GRADUATING! Holy cow--time's fun when you're having flies. And vice versa. Indulge me in my mushiness, but I really am so lucky to have a hubby as hot and sweet and all that as Danny-boy. We go togetha like bread and butta. He really is my dream boat and I'm his dream yacht! Here's to many more years with you, Baby-cakes! Muah!

Ode to our Sewer

*as sung to "Oh What do you do in the Summertime?" This post was inspired by true events that happened over the blessed Memorial Day weekend and almost succeeded in thwarting our plans of enjoying our anniversary together. Alone. Thanks be to Mike and Katy who stepped in and saved the day by taking us under their wings during our time of desperate need. It is lovingly dedicated to them, our heroes who "weren't afraid of no stinkin' sewer crisis". Sing it with gusto while imagining Dan decked out in a gas mask with a garbage bag strategically attached with rubberbands up to his shoulder.


Oh what do you do with sewage sublime, when muck is suddenly leaking?
Do you yell “what were you thinking?
The whole house is stinking!
Now clean up this mess or die”?
Is that what you do? So did I.

Oh what do you with the sewer slime, when the mystery wouldn’t flush down?
Do you plunge with a frown,
Or curse at the “brown,”
Or wait til the sludge is dry?
Is that what you do? So did I.


Oh what do you with the sewer grime, when the smell makes your face go green?
Do you pee in a stream,
Or use a latrine,
Or sit back and wanna cry?
Is that what you do? So did I.

Oh what do when your sewer’s not fine, and your work failed to save the “can”?
Although you look grand,
With gas mask in hand
Do you reach for the phone book and sigh?
Is that what you do? So did I.

So here’s what we did in the “sewertime” when our pump came down with “the sickness.”
E’en though the toilet’s off limits,
I’ve asked for forgiveness
And we’re all going out for pie.
I know that’s what you’d do—you’re just like I.

So Says Emily...

Em: I think the reason why you guys married each other is because you look like eachother. You kinda go together...'cause daddy is really handsome and mommy is really cute.



Dan: Yeah, they say that you start looking more like each other the longer you've been married. It's kind of like how people start to look like their dogs.



Em: It's a good thing we don't have a dog.

Little Sailor Man

Emily has an unusual flair for fashion (her style falls somewhere around "the eclectic pioneer"). Here she's trying to incorporate it into Sam's wardrobe as well. To do this at home: take a regular hat. Turn it inside out. Flip up the cuff. Wear it like you mean it. You're all set!

Lucky for her, Sam loves the attention and has been wearing the hat like this for over an hour now. His latest antic has been to close his eyes whenever you tell him to "smile." He is so squishy, I love it!

She's done it again!

Cama just sent me some more shots of my kids that I just had to share! How she makes my kids look so darn cute, I'll never know! Oh, why can't they just stay little and sweet?!

Here Em was being a total hoot! Cama captured all of these expressions within about 30 seconds, along with Emily's sweet yet quirky personality. There's a model deep inside each of us...
These two really adore each other, and as you can see, Sam really is the "apple of Em's eye!" (I just had to say it!)

If I would have known Cama was going to get me in some of the shots, I would have paid more attention to myself getting ready that morning....Oh well, I think the expressions are what really count, right? :) I love the center one, he really is such a doll, isn't he? Then they grow up...

"Honey-do" gets "Honey-done"!

So, I started this crazy project last November....I really wanted something cute above my stove in the "massive void" (I was adamant about not having plant shelves because I didn't want to have to deal with decorating them, but looking back I think that would have been about 87% easier.). I bought this window pane at an antique store, brought it home, sanded it, painted it, found matching shutters from Franklin Building Supply, a damaged shelf at Home Depot that I fixed up, and was ready to go! I finished just before Thanksgiving when we hosted for all the Foutzes. They never got to see my handiwork. Last Friday I was tired of seeing the pane in my kitchen and resolved to put it up myself. I lugged in our 500 lb adjustable ladder and about killed myself numerous times putting it up. I got all the tools I needed from the garage and was good to go. I even found the studs all by myself. Unfortunately, what I desperately needed was a real stud to do this for me--I am a complete wimp and couldn't get the screws in! Thankfully, Dan saved the day and helped me get it up--in like 10 minutes. He really knows how to make a gal swoon! I had this awesome decorator from Kuna come and help me decide what to put on the shelf--I never would have thought of books on my own--Thanks, Katy! So, here's the end result: I'm so glad it's done! (Oh, and don't ask me how I hung that wreath up there. Let's just say thank goodness for foodstorage buckets that don't buckle under a lot of weight....my legs are still shaking from the thought!)

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

This book is truly amazing. It was my turn to choose a book for book club this month and we narrowed it down to this one and I'm so glad we did. It has changed the way I feel about the food I eat forever. I can't even begin to tell you what you will learn, you just have to borrow the book or check it out for yourself, and you will be forever grateful you did! Long live the locavores!

Mmmm, good!

The other day my sugar cravings got the best of me so I decided to whip up a batch of my mom's famous "Banana Drop" cookies (the name aint so appetizing, but you gotta trust me on this one!). They were always my favorite growing up, and lucky for me they're a cinch!

The boys were anxiously waiting for the first tender morsels to be finished. They learned that position from me--I call it my "Papa Murphy's Stance."

And while I happened to be taking those out, Sam stealthily got the stool back out of the pantry to snitch some dough. Nothing like some raw eggs to boost your immune system, right?

So, here's the recipe! (slightly modified...)

Banana Drop Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. white flour

1 c. wheat flour

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 t. baking soda

3/4 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. butter

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. mashed bananas (2-3 ripe)

2 c. oatmeal

2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400*. Sift Flour, soda, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a food processor (it will also work in a mixer). Cut in butter. Stir in eggs and bananas until smooth. Add oats and pulse til mixed through. Stir in chocolate chips. Dough will be an ooey-gooey mess. Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until light brown. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen, depending on raw dough consumption.

The Problem With Boys...

The following is a conversation Emily and I had on the way to school today:



Em: "The problem with boys is that girls like them but they really don't like girls that much. (long pause and sigh) That's how it is with Porter anyway."



Me: "Yep, you pretty much got it figured out."



Em: "Or, they might like you but the way they're treating you makes you feel like they kind of don't like you."



Apparently her "chasing" tactics at school don't seem to be getting her the results she wants, poor thing. As for me, I'm still not sure how a 6 year old figured out something I didn't learn until college....Kids these days just grow up too fast!

Gemini Season is upon us!!!

Let me know if you think this aptly describes me, as I happen to be a Gemini: (according to a recent MSN article full of more hard-core facts--if you're lucky enough to be one and were wondering exactly who you were lately you might want to check it out) "According to astrologers, Geminis tend to be quick-witted, changeable, talkative, versatile, and sometimes crafty or mischievous. Geminis are known for their ability to express themselves, and are witty, clever, and often well-read. They usually have something to say about everything. Astrologers believe that typical Geminis have highly developed intellects, and that they place greater importance on learning than on emotional or practical issues."

Have you ever noticed that there's something you relate to in EVERY horoscope? (I used to read them all just to make sure I really WAS in fact a Gemini, although Saggitarius usually had better horoscopes for some reason...) I think that's because they never really say anything bad per-se, and give so many adjectives that there's bound to be at least one thing you relate with! You're left thinking--hey, how did they know? Come to think of it, I have always considered myself to be rather witty, clever, and well-read. HOW DID THEY KNOW?!!

what are YOU worth?

I was reading a funny article yesterday about stay at home moms that said if you added all the hours of our daily duties, we'd be worth about $116,000 to replace. I was humored and baffled all at once. First of all, flattered that my ho-hum duties would add up to a 6-figure salary. Second, I bristled with the idea of even TRYING to put a monetary value on all my motherly services--HELLO, I'm priceless! (but I don't accept Mastercards--cash only, please) I mean, can you really quantify what it takes to raise a good human citizen these days? I think any mom who is actually TRYING to instill values like that is a great mom and deserves a huge pat on the back (or better yet, a massage from her hubby). I mean really, not even $116,000 would make me quit my day job of being the boogie cleaner, bum-wiper that I am. But, if you're just dying to see how much you are worth, just go here and see for yourself! (maybe I'm just sore because I came in way below the national average, I don't know...)

Heeere's Sammy!

In Cama's words, "Em stole the show," but who can't resist a little baby fat? Or big sticky-outy ears? All wrapped up in one package, he's adorable!

Awww, ain't she sweet!

OK, it's been awhile since I've had my kids' pictures taken. As in NEVER. I've stopped feeling guilty for things like that (along with scrapbooking, argh!) because I know in my heart that darn-it all, I'm a good mom! :) I love my kids dearly and they know that, so what else matters? Certainly not folded laundry or a clean kitchen sink, right?! I am fortunate enough to have a very dear friend named Cama who also happens to be an amazing photographer. She offered to shoot my kids--how cool is that? I can't believe how low-stress and dare I say FUN it was, both for me and the kids. Emmers was a hoot! And here she is, my darling sweetheart. Although a bit eccentric at times with wacky idiosyncrasies, she truly is one of the most kind-hearted children I know. Very sweet and loving and works hard to make people around her happy. Oh, I just love her!

officially on the blogwagon

After much contemplation and "blog envy," I heeded my friend's advice to ignore the kids and just do it! (well, she didn't exactly say ignore the kids, but I can read between the lines...) So, here I am in all my glory. (Meanwhile Lukas and Sam are playing in the toilet. I'm not joking.)My biggest fear is that this will be my first and last post. If that's the case, I can just add it to my ever growing list of "hey-that-might-be-cool-I-think-I'll-try-that-and-then-abrubtly-forget-it-ever-existed". Other things on that list include: selling cutco knives, selling pampered chef, selling discovery toys...well, at least I'm not trying to sell anything here, so I think I'll be just fine!