December-Eve, how did that happen?

Can you believe tomorrow is the 1st of December? That totally snuck up on me. Here's
a little of what's been going on.

The good news is, I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. I'm completely
done with Santa shopping, woo-hoo!

Emma's birthday party is next weekend though. That'll be some work. We're going
to do a 'movie and the mall' party with about 20 kids. Yikes.

Mark's been at his new job for about 3 weeks now. There's been some ups and downs,
but I think he (and we) are adjusting slowly. He's been working mucho hours, as in he
leaves at 4:00 am and gets back at 7:00 pm, but we're hoping this doesn't last long. Please
hope with us.

Emma is a sheep in her Christmas play and a cuter sheep, I have never seen.

Anna starts basketball practice next week, and is super-happy about it after having missed
the soccer season, because her bad mother didn't sign her up.

John M. has discovered the joy of playing Pac-Man and goes around saying 'I wanna play my GAME, mama!' all the time.

That's all for now. I've been blog-o-boring lately, can you tell?
But I do love y'all. Promise.

Black Friday I Wanna Know

So, if I have something that I really want to get for my girl for Xmas cheap... and it's at Best Buy starting at 5:00a.m. Friday.
What time do you think I would have to be there to beat the other crazies to it?

Ideas?

Happy 11th Anna!

I (heart) Montages by OneTrueMedia

Emma Marie


Anna Adele


John M.

The last 10 days or so

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, or kept up with my bloggy friends. It's been a crazy last couple of weeks. I'm going to try and post some pictures here, if Blogger decides to cooperate.
We spent a nice Sunday in a small town right across the Mississippi River from us. We did a little eating and a little shopping and just enjoyed the nice South Louisiana weather.
















Last week, I got to go on Emma's field trip to the corn maze. I even rode on the bus, something I haven't done in quite a while! We had a great time, and completed the maze first. We won't mention the little bit of cheating we did to accomplish that.
















Then, last weekend was Anna's 11th Birthday Sleepover. It was challenging, let's just leave it at that. Some of the girls didn't go to sleep at all that night. They're killing me here.
















A hot man in a pink soccer coach shirt. ;^)














Now, I'll just leave you with 4 of my favorite eyes.

Times, they are a-changin'

I don't like change, have I mentioned that?

Changes are coming though. Mark starts a new job Monday. After being at the same
company for over 11 years. And the job is 90 miles away, one way.

He traded in his gas-guzzling Chevy Silverado for a Corolla. He's not thrilled about that.
But 39 miles/gallon is a lot better than 18.

Wish us luck. Hopefully this new chapter will be a good one.

Okay ... I take it back

Remember this post?

Well, little Miss Talkity-Talk is at a sleep-over tonight.
And you know what?

I miss the talking.

My other girl

Kelli and I were like 2 peas in a pod growing up. We always had a built-in playmate in the room next door. But that doesn't mean that we didn't long for an extra girl. Someone to hold the other side of the jump rope so one of us could jump in the middle, someone to be the 3rd Charlie's Angel. What good are Sabrina and Kelly without Jill, right? We had that in a cousin of mine who lived a few houses down from us. She was Jill, she held the rope, she got on our nerves often, but hey, she completed our 'Three Muskateers'.

This face to the left is Anna and Emma's third muskateer. She's my niece, Katie. Right between my two girls in age, she's in 4th grade, while Emma's in 3rd and Anna's in 5th. She has been their partner in crime ever since they were toddlers. They've had many sleepovers, choreographed countless dances, and fought and argued like only 'sisters' can. I can't help but be reminded of my sister and I growing up with my cousin whenever I look at them. It's great that Katie lives just a couple of houses down so the 'commute' from house to house is a common occurrence.

Kelli and I grew apart from our cousin when we got a little older. I hope that this isn't the case for these three. I look forward to many more sleepovers, all day swimming marathons, and having 3 girls on occasion, instead of 2, to keep me smiling.

The Butt Paste of Champions

Do any of you use this stuff? It's great! For diaper rash. Or anything else you so desire, I guess.

I have Boudreaux's on the mind because John M. made me almost pee myself laughing a couple of weeks ago, as I was changing his diaper. I noticed he had a little bit of a rash, so I told him "stay right there and Mom's gonna get you some cream". I walk back over to him and he says, "Boo-doh's, Mom?". I had no idea he could identify the butt paste.

I called everyone in the room to hear it and we grill him regular now on what I spread on his bottom. Anna especially loves to hear it.

Anna: John M., what does Mom put on your 'wee-wee'?

John M: Boo-doh's!!!

Anna: Boo-doh's what?

John M: Buh Pace!

I'm so proud.

From Billy Ray to Miley

Emma's latest purchase is a 'Hannah Montana' CD, you know from Disney? She is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus (remember? Achey Breakey Heart?) and her real name is Miley. My girl has been waiting for a Miley Cyrus CD to come out since the summer, so she pounced on it when it appeared at the Mart of Wal.

Here comes the strange part: I listen to it all the time. In my car, by myself. Sans kids. What the hell? The thing is, I love fun music. It doesn't have to be quality music, as long as it's fun and dance-able. In my own 'white-girl', geeky dance way, I enjoy it. To quote American Bandstanders, if 'it has a good beat and you can dance to it.' , I'm there.

And it doesn't hurt that when I don't have the girls with me, Hannah Montana keeps their energy with me. So, I'm learning every single song on that CD and I'll be singing them over and over for a while, at least until Christmas.

So, try not to knock those 'weirdos' listening to The Gogos, Debbie Gibson, New Kids OnThe Block, Tiffany, Midnight Star (and the list goes on . . ) because hey, I'm one of them.

Now, I'm off to rock to some Milli Vanilli.

Halloween 2006

One slightly hoochified pumpkin girl (Lillian Vernon costume that was rather short), one Queen of Hearts, and one petrified dalmatian pup.
He was terrified of my 12-year old nephew's costume (I kind of was too). That's him in the back, looking like a giant squid is engulfing his face.





I think John M. thought if he shoved his face in the side of the stroller, the monsters couldn't see him. Later . . .