Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Schedule Maker

The photo above may have been a perfect picture to describe my everyday life since Katelyn. Cooking, Cleaning, Caring for Baby with the two weekly trips to the Grocery, and the occasional StoryTime fun when we were up and felt like driving into town. The point is, I at least had the option to make or not make an event depending on how K and I felt, but that has changed. THIS is the first week of many where Katelyn's sports and activities run my schedule.

Here is our week:

Monday: Stroller Baby Group
Tuesday: Swim Class
Wednesday: Story Time
Thursday: Swim Class.

At least Story Time is still optional (optional being cost free) - There is a little hope that I can remain in my pj's until leaving to go pick up Victoria at least one day each week.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

PLUM*CRAZY

Now that I am all finished with the Sookie Series, I've started another one! If you watched the movie *One For The Money* then you have basically read the book. It was almost a perfect play-by-play, and I loved it. I had just as much fun reading it as I did watching it on the television. (Ok, that's not true. I really didn't LOVE the movie until the end, but the book is amazing!)

I've now finished Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly, and this morning I finished Four to Score. Each book is so fast paced and action packed. I love that I haven't had to force myself to suffer through any one section (although, I disappointedly did find a typo where the wrong characters name was used, and had to stumble back a few times to make sure I didn't skip a page or something in Four to Score.) Eh, those things happen. No biggie though. Still an awesome story.

The misadventures of how Stephanie Plum keeps falling into these scenerios is kept refreshing so far, and while not always seemingly the best choice, her choices have never been too far out of the scope of possibility for keeping the misadventures alive.


I really like the way Janet Evanovich writes. Last year, I read MetroGirl and stumbled on Motor-Mouth (The second of the Barnaby & Hooker series) earlier this year. I hope they get another story soon. (*hint*hint*) (I may be in love with Hooker.) (I may want to see this one be a movie.) (I may want to work as a spotter for Nascar now...or not...maybe.)

So, if you are looking for some good reads..there you go! Pretty much grab anything by J.E. and you're set.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Movie Monday



Katelyn is COLTSTRONG! This girl does not watch TV (no cartoons, no Sesame Street, nothing) - she has no interest in that big box, UNLESS... there is a Colts game on. She Bleeds Blue!


(Sorry, you have to stare at Chris crotch for a minute. We have to hide the video camera from her, because she LOVES to have the screen turned around so she can see herself.)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

I can't believe they NEVER told me!

With ALL the MANY cooking shows we watch, I can't believe my go-to people (like Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri, Giada, Bobby Flay, everyone on Top Chef/Top Chef Masters, Iron Chef, Chopped....you get the point) Have never once, not once, told me that all my pain and tears while cutting an onion could be avoided by simply chewing gum...No, they never mentioned it. I had to learn from a yellow paper placemat at MONICAL's Pizza in Danville, IL!!

I read it while dinning there, and thought nothing of it except "Suuuuure, another no-tear onion trick." But, while getting Sunday lunch ready for the crockpot this morning, my eyes started burning and tearing up. Before I knew it my vision was blurry, and I was certain a finger was going to get amputated, because I was getting that onion cut...right. then.

So, I set the knife down, squeeze my eyes into the sleeve of my shirt, and absently wish the onion would just magically cut itself and jump into the crockpot. Then, I look over and see my pack of Trident sitting at the other end of the counter. *LIGHTBULB* I recall the placemat, and figure it can't hurt to test the theory...BOOM-BADDA-BING-WHAM-BAM-THANKYAMAM! Burning. Tears. Instantly Gone!

Thank you Monicals - No more Wives' Tales "Tear-Free" Onion-Cutting spells for me!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Camera, Camera - Why Do you hate me so?

It should be pretty easy for me to catch up on my scrapbook and stay that way since my camera has finally found its resting place under the tombstone (or in the drawer) of dead cameras. I don't know why I hold on to them, I guess I am hoping that one day when i am in desperate need of a camera one will magically come back to life. It's never going to happen. This is the 4th camera to hit the drawer, and I could really use one to take pictures of Katelyn's halloween costume, but after double checking each one, I have confirmed that they just don't care that I really need one. Anyone have a suggestion on which brand/model I should buy now?

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

K's Birthday!




We celebrated K's first Birthday in Danville at Great Grandma's church. We loved the Minnie Mouse theme, and I think the guests did too! Our friend Lynnse made the cake, and proved once again just how talented she is. I had Katelyn's dress made just for her, and she looked like a superstar!

SUPER HUGE THANK YOU TOEVERYONE WHO CAME AND HELPED MAKE IT A MAGICAL BIRTHDAY!









Thursday, October 04, 2012

Sadie Hawkins Dance

We've been busy. We went to another Colts game two-weekends ago, this past weekend Victoria went to the schools Sadie Hawkins dance, and Chris and I managed to leave Katelyn with a sitter for 2 hours while we stopped in for a friends graduation party....but...

This post is mostly about the Sadie Hawkins Dance....WOW!



Lil' Abner and the Sadie Hawkins Dance.

The dance where tradition flies out the window, and the girl asks the guy to the dance. It all started from a comic strip (read more here). But- I loved the movie, and I loved the silliness of the girls chasing the boys, and the boys trying to force a certain girl to catch them.

I'm not sure if it is WHERE or WHEN I grew up, but the Sadie's Dance was casual and the "couples" wore a matching shirt. Mostly, we all wore jeans and a basic top. I still remember spending hours at the mall with my mom searching for the perfect shirt that I'd want to wear as girl, and that would also be appropriate for my date to wear. Others had fun painting their matching shirts, but for whatever reason I decided these sweatshirts looked real nice.

 
(Yes, that's me! Hopefully the long blond hair gives me away! Though I do apologize for the poor quality)
 
Needless to say, I was blown away by the formal attire that Victoria and her friends wore to Sadie's. I guess growing up in Small Town Illinois didn't prepare me for the fact that the Sadie's dance just might be formal at times. The girls and boys were super cute all dressed up, and I loved that I was given a great reason to dig through the old picture box to find this picture and several others.
 
 
(Here is Victoria with her very stylish and fashion forward friends!)
 
I loved how great all the students looked, but part of me was sad that it wasn't the good 'ole hillbilly fun. Haha!