Umm..No. Wait...wait...still no.

The question is..... would you pay $175 per pound for this?

So what is the consequence for THIS misbehavior?

Now I have seen some young people do some crazy stuff in my day, but this....

Hottie of the er...week?

I have been a bit of a slacker about the hottie of the week posting. So I thought I would make an effort to get back on track.

This week my hottie is Big. As in Mr. Big.

Chris Noth.

Just sittin' here wastin' time

Posting on my blog is such a great way to avoid doing things that would be truly productive.

I could make up a long list of things I could or rather SHOULD be doing instead of posting. I won't list those things though because it would be boring, and then I might actually start to feel guilty and that isn't fun for any of us.

So I have been shopping around and doing a little research on digital cameras. I got some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket baby!

I don't need anything terribly fancy, just something that will take decent pictures, but I find myself overwhelmed by the enormous array of options. Ultimately the decision will come down to price, but it is kind of fun to see what I could get were my funds unlimited.

Hopefully I will get the opportunity to go out and get my new toy this weekend. I hope to have it by Saturday evening. We have a grown-ups only gathering planned for New Years Eve, and you just never know what crazy things can happen when you get a bunch of parents with small children together without the children present. All bets are off I tell you!!

It's going to be wild I tell you. Dinner out, then games, beverages, and snacks at Chez B.

A far cry from the drunken New Year's Eve parties of my youth. Some of you out there may (or may not, there was a lot of drunkeness) recall a couple of those.

Good times...Good times.

I am hoping to make it until midnight this year. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Sick o' Sickness

If you think YOU are tired of the illness theme that has gone on for the last few posts, imagine how sick WE are of living it.

My...that was a bit.....cranky...shall we say?

Well that is because I am cranky about it damn it!

Here is the *&%@#!$ update.

#2 has been sporting a fever since Christmas day. Her main interests for the past two days..crying, and lying around ON me. Ever lay around with a 35 pound electric blanket on top of you? THAT my friends is what it is like to have a feverish 4 year old on you all day. Thought today that she was getting over it, fever was low all day, she played, talked, and laughed. Apparently she was just saving up for when I got home from work at which time the fever shot up and the crying began again. Lucky me.

#1 Has been complaining all evening that her leg hurts. Just came in here crying hysterically AND took me up on my offer of Tylenol. (she NEVER takes my offers of medicine.)

I tell you I have been doling out Children's Tylenol the past two days like a bartender on fifty cent shot night.

Did you know that it is possible to make a teaspoon and a half shot of Tylenol last 10 minutes? I think #2 has set the record for LONGEST POSSIBLE TIME EVER to finish a dose of Tylenol. I had no idea a person could take such tiny sips of anything.

Beloved Husband and I continue to fight colds and coughs, that fool us in to improvement for a day only to turn on us again the next.

We here at Chez B have a long standing tradition of being ill over the holidays. We came to the disturbing conclusion this evening that we could not remember the last Christmas break where every one was healthy. I think it was maybe 1995. I am not kidding either unfortunately.

Tomorrow I think I will begin to price home fumigation. I fear that is our only hope at this point. Maybe I should burn some sage or something. Do they sell Lysol in gallon buckets? Can I get a special attachment that will allow me to shoot it from my garden hose?

All I know is next year we are going under quarrantine immediately after Thanksgiving.

I think I will refrain from posting until I have something to say that is not illness related.

P.S.
Thank God there have been no annoying horrible illness comments from my mother. At this point I can not be responsible for what I may say or do in response to idiotic remarks.

Cough, Cough, Cough...Cough, COUGH, Cough, Cough, Cough...(sing to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Yes 'tis the season to be phlegmy at Chez Us.

Illness update...

#1 Missed one day of school due to fever, headache and nasty cough.

Yours truly..made it to work all week, was sent to bed immediately by my Beloved upon getting home from work Thursday evening. Congestion has moved into a really annoying cough.

My apologies to anyone who eats the holiday goodies I have prepared this week. I think I mangaged to avoid coughing directly in to food.

Everyone else seems to be O.K.

AND...my mother has not once suggested that I call the doctor to make sure that #1 is not suffering from Whooping Cough which apparently is on the rise in our fair state. I bet it comes up tonight though. I will keep you posted.

Despite the illness we are one crock pot of a knock off of Chili's Queso away from being totally set for Christmas.

Tonight it is off to my mother's to partake of yummy food and gifts. Then put the littles to bed so that Santa can come and do his thing, and Mommy and Daddy get to watch It's A Wonderful Life without having to wrap gifts or put any complicated toys together. I will do my annual Christmas Eve perfomance which consists of me falling asleep during the viewing of the above mentioned movie. I will wake up in time to see my beloved give his annual Christmas Eve performance..he will get emotional at the end of the movie. It is so cute, I never miss it.

What are your Night Before Christmas rituals???

So...Happy Holidays from all of us here at Babble On. (OK... that is just me, but the wish is just as sincere as if it were coming from a large and well paid staff!)

So I don't have psychic powers

Well I was a bit off in my illness predictions. #2 Came around and was fine for all of her performance committments.

#1 however is not faring quite so well. She has been coughing and complaining for the past two mornings, but not appearing to be too bad off.

This afternoon afterschool she has succumbed to the dreaded fever.

Man I hate the fever. For completely unknown reasons they make me nervous. I try to let them do their work and not medicate unless the fevering child is really uncomfortable, or we have reached the 102 degree mark.

It is hard though. I have to keep my over active imagination in check too. I have the capacity to envision all sorts of horrid illnesses.

I keep those thoughts to myself. I realize it is crazy thinkin'.

I do know how I come by it though. My mother. The difference is she voices her concerns, and allows her crazy flag fly proudly.

"#1 complained of a pain in her side for 2 seconds one time as she runs around the house never looking more healthy? Oh dear I hope it isn't appendicitis! You had better keep an eye on her!"

"#2 has a cough? She coughed once the entire day? I sure hope it isn't tuberculosis. Maybe you should call her doctor."

I promise you, my mother can come up with the most debilitating illness possible for any symptom regardless how minor. It is something to witness, I tell you.

My beloved has wondered if there is such a thing as being a hypochondriac for other people.

I am looking in to it.

Meanwhile I will NOT voice my crazy thoughts. I WON'T!!!

Oy

Vey!

The Ticking Time Bomb

Last night or I guess more accurately it was 12:30 this morning I was awakened by a crying #2.

Never a good thing.

She couldn't sleep because her nose was too stuffy. Yes indeed she did soud rather congested. A dose of Simply Stuffy (note to the parents of young children out there... this is good stuff!) was administered with a kiss and a tuck, and Mommy stumbled back to bed.

A short time later....

#2 is crying again, this time at my side of the bed, the complaint: her tummy feels sick.

Oh man.

Being a compassionate(read TIRED) mother I allowed her to climb into bed and snuggle with me. There was no peace for me though I gotta tell you. I had to do the "please don't throw up on the bed" chant multiple times until I finally fell back to sleep. (It worked by the way.)

Any one who has had the joy of sleeping next to a 4 year old knows that you don't sleep for long periods of time when the 4 year old is in bed with you. So at my next wake up time, I sent #2 back to her room, grateful that we had avoided vomit on the bed.

Today, no fever. Still stuffy, lethargic. Cranky. Took a long nap, then wanted to go to bed early and fell asleep right away, didn't even come in for her extra snuggle time. All of this added together does not look very promising.

Unfortunately #2 is supposed to perform as an angel in tomorrow's Christmas program at Church, followed by a dance perfomance at the mall in the afternoon. #1 can cover the part in the Christmas program, but can't fit the dance costume. Last Pre-School Christmas program is Tuesday morning.

Not great timing here.

Prediction:

We will be awakened tonight by a feverish child who will stay that way for the next few days. Soon to be followed by sister, mother, and father in no particular order. Likely the next victim(s) will fall just in time for Christmas.

I am feeling a strong urge to get Christmas wrapping, stocking stuffer buying, and baking done right now.

The above urge is beat out by the one I have to bathe the house in Lysol in a futile attepmt to kill germs that in all likelihood have already infected us all.

I fear for the future!

Stay tuned....

You know it is not a good morning when......

GRANDMA gets told that she is, "Really Mean."

Is it bad that I was just a teeny bit glad that someone besides me was getting called mean for a change?

And the Bad Parent Award Goes To......

ME.

# 1 lost a tooth yesterday, and as children who lose teeth do, she put it in her special tooth bag and carefully placed it under her pillow, never doubting for a moment that when she would awaken the next morning her tooth would be gone and in it's place two shiny quarters.

That did not happen. #1 awakened and came to me and said sadly, "The Tooth Fairy Forgot Me."

I did manage not to burst into guilty tears thank goodness.

I did suffer from a flashback however.

You see when I was the same age as #1 the Tooth Fairy forgot me too. I awakened to see my tooth right where I had left it. I tore my bed apart looking for the loot, POSITIVE that the Tooth Fairy had just forgotten to take the tooth with her. Finding nothing in my bed, I ran to my parents room to share my unbelievable news. Their response was, "Uh-Oh, looks like the Tooth Fairy messed up." For whatever reason at that moment the light bulb came on for me. I said to my parents, "You are the Tooth Fairy?" They were honest and said yes. Then like a chain of explosions I realized that if the Tooth Fairy didn't exist then that meant trouble for Santa and the Easter Bunny too. I slowly asked about those beloved characters only to have my worst fears confirmed. No Santa, no Easter Bunny. It was a VERY traumatic morning.

#1 did not let this forgetful fairy thing dent her belief system one bit. She rallied herself with amazing speed and said, "Well, I am going to write her a note and I think you should call her and I bet she comes tonight." I said sure, I will call and you write your note and I am sure she will come tonight.

#1 wrote her note, left a response card for the Tooth Fairy to write back, along with a choice of 4 markers to write with. She asked me what color I thought the Tooth Fairy would like best and I told her. All those things along with the tooth are under her pillow. When she asked me if I called the Tooth Fairy I said yes and told her that she had a bazillion kids to deliver too and just couldn't make it here before #1 woke up. #1 was very understanding, and we speculated on the subject some more. Perhaps she was not really expecting to visit #1 because the tooth became loose and came out within a day. Etc..etc.

#1 is holding no grudge and is very forgiving to the beloved Tooth Fairy.

I only hope that we will fair so well when she discovers the truth.

I just couldn't bring myself to tell her today. She will be young for such a short time, and she gets such pleasure from imagining about these fictional characters that I just don't have the heart to break it to her yet.

Someday....just not now.

Me so lazy

I have been sorta lax in the posting recently. For many reasons which I really want to list for you.

1. I am lazy.
2. My job has been rather demanding the last couple of weeks. I am ready for the January slump.
3. Birthday. Parties.
4. I had a new People and now Glamour magazines to read.
5. I have had to spend a lot of time thinking about exercising.
6. One night I did get on the treadmill.
7. Haven't had any thing truly inspiring to write about.
8. I.....am..........LAZY.

So there you go.

I do have something I want to give a short rant about. In the many conversations I have with a rather large variety of people I have noticed what I think is a new trend in language particulary among women, and I have to say that I don't like it.

That trend is replacing phrases like, "That is great." or "ok" just to name a few with the word perfect either by itself or as part of a phrase.

I had a conversation on the phone last night with someone and part of that conversation involved me giving directions to my house. In response to my directions this person must have used the phrase, "that is perfect." at least three times.

Now first of all I really don't think she can judge my directions as perfect until she successfully navigates herself to my house with out any problems beacause she has followed my directions.

Secondly, the bar is raised too high too soon! I really don't know this person, already I am perfect just as a result of giving directions to my house. Will perfection be expected on all levels now? I am not sure I can do that.

Is it that I came across as needy and she felt compelled to give me such a HUGE pat on the back because I somehow transferred very strong insecure and in need of validation vibes over the phone?

Likely I will never know.

I do know this. I will not succumb to this trendy rate every little thing as "perfect." OK is good enough for me.

Now I must go because my dog just barfed on the floor right beside me.

Perfect.

Hottie of the week (Secret crush/embarassing revelation edition)

Ok, I will tell one of my dark and sad secrets.

At one time I had a crush on Ricky Martin.

Yes, it is true.

I thought about it when I was reading an article about him in the USA weekend insert in the newspaper today.

Too bad he did not look like he did in the USA today picture 5 years ago, because if that were the case I would not be making this startling revelation for sure. Can't find a link, but suffice it to say he has some serious Alfalfa hair going on and it is NOT HOT.

So join in my shame in honoring this week's hottie...

Ricky Martin.

Party Update

Well we survived party day. Many presents were opened, and a good time was had by all.

My horse cake kicked some serious ass too I must say.

One of the best, if not THE best one I have done yet.

Man, my back is really getting bruised from all this patting I am giving it.

Look for a picture sometime in the next 6 months which is likely when I will get around to developing that film.

Santa, if you are reading this I could really use a digital camera.

Awwwww...

Isn't that sweet?

Who gave permission is what I wanna know?!

When you are the parent of a small child, the general rule is that you the parent gives permission for your child to do a fair amount of what your child does.

Given this I want to know one thing...

WHO TOLD MY BABY SHE COULD TURN 8??? AS IN 8 YEARS OLD???

It sure as heck wasn't her parents.

Because there is no way, ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I am old enough to have an 8 year old child.

Didja hear me? NO WAY.

I warned you all this post was coming.

Yes, Number 1 is turning 8 years old today. Officially at 11:21 AM CST. (We tried to convince #1 this morning that she was not actually 8 until the time of her birth, but she wasn't having it.)

Apparently turning 8 is a big deal. Only two more years before her age will be a double digit number. Big things happen when you are 8. Now what those big things are, I am not exactly sure, but #1 knows they are out there.

At some point today, it is likely that #1 will request the telling of the story of the day she was born.

That is always a tough one. For now # 1 gets the edited version of that story because the unedited version is sad, scary, and really hard for Mommy to get through without getting upset, and 8 years old is not quite old enough for the full disclosure of that day.

Her birth was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced. I guess I am going to have to leave it at that because my multiple attempts today at trying to write about that experience just won't come out the way I want. I can not find the words.

While she was in NICU I was sent to a breastfeeding clinic, and I was the only one there without a baby. As we waited for the nurse I sat and listened to all of these mothers complain about how their babies woke them up during the night, and all the other things that new mothers complain about. I burst in to tears right then and there because I was so jealous of them and their complaints. I had not even been able to hold my baby at that point.

I try to remember that experience when I am really frustrated with #1 and she is driving me beyond my personal point of sanity. I am not always good at it admittedly, but I try to remember how lucky we are that she is here and able to make me that crazy.

So I may moan and groan about my age and her age, but I am forever grateful that I have that to moan and groan about.

Now I must leave you.

There are cupcakes and horse cakes to bake, and we must prepare for the festivities to come.

And I won't moan and groan about it.

Much.

No clever title today

Not much to report today. We are busy turning the homestead into Birthday Central. Number 1 turns 8 this Friday. Those who know number 1, know that she can be a bit shy and standoffish at times. When she has important information however she will share it with anyone who will listen. This evening we had several errands to run, and Number 1 felt that every cashier we encountered needed to be informed that her birthday is Friday and she will be 8 years old.

Every single one.

Four total.

Five if you count the guy at Sam's club who checks your cart contents against your receipt before you leave the store.

So my next few days will be filled with baking cupcakes for the "Friend Party", cookies to take to school Friday, Pumpkin bread for the breakfast in bed on your birthday tradition we have at our house, and a cake in the shape of a horse for the family party.

The theme this year is horses in case you had not guessed.

I will be throwing two parties on Saturday, here's hoping I stay healthy. I have been sick on party day the last three years. I have yet to beat the year I did two parties in one day while sporting a 102 degree fever. That was the day I officially earned Supermommy stripes. Or crazy in the head mommy stripes. Depends on who you ask.

Fair warning...

Please be prepared for a post lamenting the fact that my oldest child is 8, and reminiscing on the day of her birth. (Maybe, that one is tough.)

Ta!

Hottie of the week (Naughty Boy Edition)

I realized suddenly that due to my post-Thanksgiving Day be lazy and slothful festival this past weekend, I neglected to elect a hottie.

In honor of the beginning of the season where it is determined whether one has been naughty or nice,

I present this weeks naughty hottie.......

JUDE LAW!!!!!!

Be Careful What You Wish For...

Last night I took a poll after story time to see who was ready to go back to work/school today. Only Number 2 expressed any desire to return to the "normal" routine.

This morning Number 2 and I troop out to the car on our way to Preschool, only.....my car decides that today would be a good day NOT to start. Oh she tried....she tried so very hard to turn over. But alas it was not to be. There was also a distinct burning smell when I got out to head back inside.

That probably isn't good.

So we called Rescue Grammy to get the youngest off to school and I called Rescue Roadside Assistance to have my car taken by the car equivalent of the ambulance to the automobile emergency room, aka the dealer repair shop.

Now I await the dreaded phone call with the diagnosis. Fortunately this car has the automobile equivalent to health insurance...Bumper to Bumper Warranty.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

Do you think they have a get well bouquet for cars? Will the service center accept flowers?

Oh for the love of...

Why do I read this crap and let it irritate me?

And the Hottie of the Week goes to.....

Bono


Because I like him and his music.

That is all I have to say about that.

TGIF

TGIF is a phrase I have always hated. However I am almost always glad that it is Friday, I think it is just not something worth bugging the Big G with. I think he knows.

I don't have much to share right now, and I fear that babbling on and on about my anxiety over getting my house cleaned and a door on the downstairs bathroom before 25-30 members of my family converge on this house for Thanksgiving Dinner would be boring.

So...in anticipation that the days proceeding the above-mentioned event may not provide me with much time for posting I will list a few things I am Thankful for, because I know you all are DYING to know.

What I am Thankful For in no particular order...

By

Missy

1. Toasted Chocolate PopTarts and a cold glass of milk. (Just had this and it was GOOOOD)

2. My Beloved owes me two weeks of supervising bath time.

3. An end to my annual fall single parent festival. (Lasts from end of Sept-Nov, you should check it out)

4. Sitting idly by while my beloved, #1 and #2 catch up on play rowdy with Daddy time.

5. Two days off work baby!

6. I kept my promise NOT to get involved in a Christmas show this year.

and of course...

7. All my peeps who take time to read my babbling on.

and this goes with out saying, but I will say it anyway because it is important...

My honeys: Beloved, #1 and #2 because they mean that my life is NEVER truly dull.

Whew! That almost got all sappy and sentimental. I can't be having that on here. What would my public think?????

Ta!

What is the surprise?

Recipe of the week in today's Topeka Capital-Journal....

Surprise Balls.


Hmmmm...

BEWARE! This post contains the (belated and retro) Hottie of the week

I thought I should include a warning for those who have found my hottie of the week post's to be well...sexist.

So here I am! I figured if I could take time to read and comment on other blogs I could take a few and post on my own.

Also, I have a gross kitchen to clean up and I don't wanna.

On to the hottie. This week's Hottie of the Week posting is going to go a little retro. Back to that golden decade.. the 80's...when nobody put Baby in a corner (hint! hint!) This week we recognize a man who could take out Yankee forces with only one fully functioning leg....a man who made millions of teenage girls want to dance with boys in such a naughty way...a man who was by far one of the sexiest ghosts that I personally have ever seen....a man whose woman was Tyler with whom he shared time...

Without further ado I present this Retro Hottie of the week....PATRICK SWAYZE.

A shout out to my good friend Poopie (don't ask just accept) who gave the idea and inspiration for this week's hottie. My partnah in watching a bazillion hours of the North and South trilogy while our husbands do their Geek Thang.

I will do a real post eventually

I have either been busy or lazy for the past few days, and I am not sure at this point when that will end.

So stay tuned.

I Love Little House

We have been reading the Little House on the Prairie Series with the daughters since the summer. Right now we are nearly finished with Little Town on the Prairie, the third book from the end of the series.

I LOVED these books when I was young. I can not tell you how many times I read each one, but it was several. Somehow though, I never managed to own a set of the books, until shortly after my beloved and I were married, he bought me a GORGEOUS leather bound set for my birthday. I read them all again immediately after, and picked them up a few times here and there since.

This time reading them through with my daughters has been just as enjoyable as every other time I have read the books. It is interesting to see how my thoughts and perspectives on the stories have changed now that I am an adult and a parent.

It is hard for me to imagine and harder still for my children to imagine the life Laura led. This was a girl who was thrilled and thought she was incredibly lucky to get a tin cup and a penny for Christmas. She was ecstatic about getting an orange at a party, and was sad that she could not take it home to share with her family. An entire winter was spent eating nothing but brown bread and potatoes, and they had to grind the wheat for the bread, because no trains could get through due to blizzards that started in October and lasted through April with only a day or two between storms. Things we can not even fathom, and certainly would not take even half as well as she and her family, because complaining was not tolerated.

I also find it interesting to see the huge difference between Almanzo and Laura's upbringing. If you ever read Farmer Boy which is entirely about Almanzo when he was a young boy, the descriptions of the meals he and his family ate are incredible. I can not imagine putting on this kind of spread three times a day, let alone on a wood fired cookstove.

Some things have been difficult to read to the girls, mainly some of the not so kind references to Native Americans as Ma hated them, and a description of a minstrel show was a little hard to get through as well. It does help promote good discussion about diversity at least.

All and all this has been a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend time with #1 and #2. If you have children, I highly recommend these books as they provide so much to talk about. If you don't, give them a read just because they are good, and classics among children's literature.

My big dream now is to go and visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder homes in Missouri and South (or is it North?) Dakota.

I just bought....

A 22 pound turkey.

That is one big motherf$#@&*! bird!

Wonder how long it will take that bad boy to thaw out.

I probably should have started today.

It will probably take me three days just to roast the damn thing.

Oh yeah! I nearly forgot!! I also get to peel, boil, and mash 10 pounds of potatoes.

(and make two pies, and two pans of my famous hashbrown casserole. We like to have a variety of starchy foods at my family feasts. No such thing as too many potatoes!)

Now can anyone tell me why I thought Thanksgiving at my house was a good idea?

I had to think about this one

I awoke to this comment this morning....

There are more smokers in China than there are people in the US.

Damn.

If I may be shallow for a few moments

I know the 90's are over but there is still a part of me that REALLY wishes I had Jennifer Aniston's hair.

(Watch the video clip to see what hair I am talking about. Couldn't get the link to be direct to the video clip. Sorry.)

However I am stuck with my curls that resist being straightened.

Sigh.

What is this S@#%????

I need to register a complaint with mother nature.

What the hell is this 80 degree high in November crap?

It is fall and I want some fall temperatures dammit.

We need to be wearing jackets and long sleeved shirts. I want the air to be crisp when I walk out that door in the morning, afternoon AND evening.

If I wanted this balmy off season B.S. I would move to Florida.

I want my seasons to act appropriately dang it.

AND I MEAN IT!!

Hottie of the week

Credit for this week's hottie must go out to my good friend at Lies! All Lies! Her experience with this week's hottie winner inspired me. Also the music industry has been woefully overlooked in the hottie department on this blog.

So without further ado may I unveil this week's hottie..........

STING!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this is what they call one of them there "senior moments."

So I am on my way back to the office from a therapy appointment that stood me up. I am listening to the radio, and amazingly enough I was able to stay on the same station for more than 5 minutes. Not happening to me very often since I lost my beloved 97.3 the Planet.

Anyway as I am driving "Head Like a Hole" comes over the airways and I am instantly transported back a "few" years to my freshman year of college, when this song along with the old standard "Beers Steers and Queers" by the world famous band the Revolting Cocks were staples at the club my posse and I used to frequent in Lawrence. Ahhh the good old days of dancing and drinking at the......the.......th............

I can NOT remember the name of that club to save my life.

Please help me.

Poopie...I know you have the answer to this one so please respond. (Anyone else who remembers is welcome to help too.)

Respond soon or else I might well drive myself crazy.

One more time on trees.....

This evening I learned something new to me about trees. You have to be careful standing under pine trees at certain times of year, or you can get sap in your hair.

How did I learn this? As #1 screamed while I combed through her hair that was scented with pine and sticky with sap even after washing it. Her shampoo is scented with Raspberry by the way.

Good times.....gooood tiiimmmees.

Fall Color...It's a Good Thing

My job requires that I do quite a bit of driving around town. As I have been making my daily treks across our "fair" city it has come to my attention that we have some gorgeous fall color going on around here right now.

If you have the time may I suggest taking a drive down Burlingame Rd? The trees along the stretch that begins at about 27th street and on past 29th has some beautiful looking trees right now.

Going along I-470 there is also a beautiful stretch of trees around the 21st St exit to the Gage Blvd exit.

When I was a kid every year around the end of October we would take a trip to visit my great-grandparents who lived in Joplin and Webb City, Missouri. For those who are not familiar with that area it is quite near the Ozarks, not far from Branson. We made our trek at that time specifically to see the trees. So a love of fall colors was instilled in me early on.

Unfortunately we generally don't have the time to take a road trip to "see the trees." So I am glad that we have our fair share of autumn beauty right down the street.

So I encourage you all! Take a drive! Find pretty trees and leaves! Press them in a book! Make imprints with crayons and construction paper like we did in grade school! Find some clear contact paper and make some placemats!

In short...get your Martha Stewart on!

No More Halloween

I was officially done with Halloween at about 11:00 AM yesterday.

Unfortunately Halloween did not officially end for everyone else until about 9:00 PM.

We now posess one extra large mixing bowl full of the chocolate obtained by #1 and #2 at the three different trick or treating opportunities they had, and class parties. My large stock pot contains candy obtained by #1 and #2 at the above mentioned opportunites that does not fall into the chocolate category.

We got a lot of f&%$#@n candy.

Pictures of the loot will come later. We have yet to advance to the digital age for cameras.

Hottie of the week...I KNOW

He may be overexposed, and people get tired of hearing about him...blah, blah, blah.

It still does not change the fact that he is so very enjoyable to look at.

So without further ado I present the hottie of the week .......

Brad Pitt.

He had to come up sooner or later. I voted for sooner.

Being the only vote is rather nice sometimes.

However, being an open-minded blogger I am always willing to consider outside suggestions for future hotties to be featured here at Babble On.

Serious buyers only please.

If you are going to Hell be sure to keep your tighty whiteys covered

This evening we attended something called Judgement House at my mother's church. It is described as a Christian alternative to haunted houses. There is a plot and you go in to different rooms where short scenes are enacted to tell the story. My mother directed the event this year and thus the reason for our attendance.

One of the scenes was supposed to take place in hell. (Surprising I know!) It was of course filled with evil looking characters and Satan was there. Black lights were used to help create the atmosphere. It did look good. Until...

Two of the characters were thrown to the ground before Satan, and taaaa....daaaaaaa.........

Great glowing bands of tighty whities peeking rather prominently above the waistbands of their pants!

I mean it's bad enough to be going to hell, and then on top of it to have everyone be able to see what comes after London and France...

It's just wrong.

Huh?

Has anyone else noticed when running a spell check on a post that it does not recognize the word blog?

I thought that was kinda funny.

Oooohhhhh...I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

Man am I full.

I had a rather long day with no breaks, and so my beloved kindly offered to take us all out for dinner and I got to pick where we went because I had worked the longest and was the most tired member of our family.

I chose Little Tokyo, a new Japanese Hibachi/Sushi place on Huntoon. The food was great. Quality-wise it was just as good as Kiku (one of the other Japanese options in town for anyone reading and not familiar with Topeka. Although I really don't think there is anyone like that reading this blog. If someone out there fits the description of not being familiar with Topeka speak up! No need for being shy around here!) The service was EXCELLENT. Far superior to Kiku. The prices on the kiddie menu were terrific. And....AND....we came home with enough left over for both my beloved and myself to have a delicious lunch tomorrow. Bringing home leftovers is always the mark of a good meal in my book.

I am hoping we are able to move by then.

Now I must go unbutton my pants.

A plug for a new family owned business

For all of you out there in the Topeka and Lawrence areas...

My aunt and uncle own the Iwig Family Dairy and are now bottling and selling their milk. It is bottled in half-gallon returnable bottles which is said to greatly improve the taste, and it is bottled right there on the farm and much fresher than what you get at the store. They are selling whole, 2%, skim, and chocolate. Right now you can buy from the store they have on the farm. In a few weeks it will be available at Food 4 Less in Topeka and Hy-Vee in Lawrence.

Details can be found here.

I will be buying tomorrow, so can not comment on the product yet, but have it on good authority from other family members who have had the opportunity to sample that it is the best milk they have ever had.

If you can check them out!

Home Alone

I don't find myself home alone very often. I guess technically it happens more often since I changed jobs, because I can do work from home. That isn't quite the same to me.

Thursday has become the day that I work late to accomodate those families who just can not meet before 5 PM. This particular Thursday my beloved opted to go ahead and feed the children and make the weekly trek to the grocery store without waiting for me to come home to join them, in the hopes that he will get done earlier. So I found myself with the opportunity to choose wherever I wanted to go for dinner. (Tonight it was Bo Bo's, I guess I needed some grease in my life.) I got to eat and at the same time catch up with my internet browsing. Our house rule for dinner time is that everyone eats at the table together, no TV, toys, books, etc. Music is allowed, but we try to keep things as distraction free as possible so that we can hear about everyone's day, tell silly stories, make plans, all that good family stuff. We do that whether all four of us or home, or it is just two or three of us. It usually makes for a rather pleasant time.

Now there are times when I really wish for those precious few occasions when I am home alone. I think about what I could do, blah, blah, blah.

Once I actually get them they are always disappointing in some ways. Some how I can't seem to remember all those things I wanted to do, and find myself just hoping everyone comes home soon.

I guess my feelings could be considered good or bad. Good of course that I love my family and want to spend time with them. Not so good in that some might think that I have have lost my sense of self, and that taking time for myself is critical to being a "good" wife and mother. (A phrase that makes me CRINGE) Even though it makes me cringe I devote a lot of thought to whether or not I am being a "good" one. Everyone has to have something to be neurotic about. That concern happens to be one of...some...things that I am neurotic about. (Beloved Husband may not reply to this statement on the grounds that his home life may suffer if he does!)

Just some thoughts....

Now I must go and press my nose against the door and watch for my honeys to come home.

Wait....there will be groceries to unload and put away...maybe I will just pretend that I fell asleep.

Can I simply say...

That I really AM NOT enjoying myself today.

Thanks.

I Got nothin' to say to you

Well kids, I am fresh out of ideas for today. It really is a pity that I can not discuss what goes on at my job...I have some GREAT stories.

I would like to keep my job and my license, so I must stay silent.

Life for me is not exactly blog entry inspiring at this point. At this time of year my existence is a bit like a revolving door of work, seeing after the home and children, sleep, work, seeing after the home and children...You get the idea.

My beloved is gone quite a bit tending to his high school musical directorial duties, and as production nears he will be gone even more.

Thus it is nearly time for my annual reflection on why I would never make it as a single parent. This usually involves me forcing my beloved to swear his undying love and devotion to me, and I extract my yearly promise from him that he will never divorce me because I don't do solo parenting NEARLY as well as I do duet parenting. I really like him too, so I make sure to throw that in too, for good measure.

It happens every school year usually around the first or second week of November, or about two weeks prior to production time. Like clockwork. I do like my routines.

Maybe I should have guest writers or something.

#1 could share her short story, "Hamlet the Talking Dog." A riveting story about a dog who can talk in human language. Ask her about it next time you see her. She worked very hard on this book and is quite willing to share it with others.

Maybe I could start a forum. I have always wanted to do that.

That would require a topic.

I really don't have one.

#@$!% Technology

I should be working on paperwork for my paying job, but I can't get logged on to the system for some reason this morning. So since I can't do my real work, I guess I will just blog.

I love technology and I love it that I can do at least part of my job from the comfort of my own home when I choose. I find however that I have no patience at all when the technology I have grown to love and depend on does not work. It does not bring out the best in me I must say.

What is really neat is that as I am writing this my computer continues without success to connect to the system at work.

Driving me @!#%$&(! crazy.

So before I curse in front of # 2 I think I will calmly shut down my computer and do something else.

EXTREMEY!!!!

This is what #1 yells every Sunday at about 7:00 PM CST. That is the call to let us know that it is time to watch her absolute favorite show... Extreme Makeover Home Edition. #1 discovered this show not long after it's debut about a year and a half ago give or take. We started watching it together as a family as it is one of the few shows on that: 1. Had appropriate content for all ages in our household to watch. 2. It did not drive us crazy to watch it.

If my beloved and I are honest the bloom is off the rose for us as far as Extreme Makeover Home Edition goes. The cheese is getting to be a bit much. (That new theme song goes on mute with the first note 'round here) Ty trying to get in touch with the family's feelings makes me cringe. It reminds me of a surfer boy trying to do therapy, "Dude.. so it like must have really made you feel sad when your dad died in that fiery car wreck...bummer." The little "ha-ha aren't we cute?" romp through Sears is wearing thin, as is the blatant product endorsement. This season the best solution for the midnight snack attack at the construction site is a burger from Wendy's! Hell they truck 'em in on a great big mobile Wendy's catering unit.

Of course they always say how this family is the nicest family they have ever met and the most deserving. In response to this my beloved and I want to pitch an idea. Extreme Makeover Home Edition: The asshole family episode. Just to shake things up a little.

Despite our complaints we continue to watch with the children each week. It is fun to see their reactions to what is happening, and we get to have fun joking with and teasing #1 about her crush on Ty Pennington. In case you were not aware he is her boyfriend and she plans to marry him. She has yet to inform him about this.

So earlier this week I found out that "Extremey" was in Kansas, just outside of Wichita. Now last season they did a house in KC, MO but I didn't hear about it until too late. My Beloved and I talked it over and decided to take the girls on a little road trip to see what we could see. At 9:30 AM we were off to Rose Hill, Kansas.

We all had pretty low expectations about how much design team action we would get to witness. So we weren't disappointed. We had sightings of 5 design team members, got to see some filming and construction. We had a great view of the house, there were not too many spectators today. The big reveal is tomorrow so I guess people were waiting for that. Not us. It would be cool, but WAY too many people to deal with. We got to see #1's boyfriend drive by in a truck. So all in all everyone was pleased with what they got to see and felt that it was worth the drive. The girls even got t-shirts.

So in honor of my trek to see the latest EMHE home this week's hottie is Ty Pennington. I agree that he can be very annoying on the show, but the bottom line is that he is mighty easy on the eyes so I forgive a little obnoxious behavior.

But if he ever yelled in my face with that damn bullhorn, I promise he would find it shoved right up his tight and fine ass.

P.S. Here is my Beloved's current favorite way to tease #1 about Ty. He has said that he is going to get a pig for a pet and name it Sty Piggington. Drives her nuts, because that is now how he refers to Ty at all times.

Never mind the mainstream

I read something in a magazine yesterday that said the average American watches 8 hours and 11 minutes of television EVERY DAY. I had to read the sentence three times to be sure that I had not misinterpreted what I was reading. I shared the stat with my beloved and he had me read it again to be certain I was right.

I would find it amazing if our TV was on eight hours in one week. Where do people find this kind of time to watch TV? Do they get to watch at work? Is there that much that is interesting to watch? I have a hell of a time finding much that I am interested in personally. Granted we have the most basic cable plan available, which is more or less the local network channels and a few others. 25 in all I believe. Even so, part of the reason we gave up expanded cable was due to the fact that there was so little we were truly interested in watching. (And my beloved's problem with stopping himself from flipping channels despite the fact that he did not want to watch anything.)

I am well aware that we watch a lot less TV than many people. Those of you out there who know us well are aware of our constant crusade to decrease how often we turn on the TV. The most effective remedy has been moving the TV to the attic. Out of sight out of mind really does work. With the advent of TV series coming out on DVD so quickly we rarely watch prime time at all any more.

It was just startling to me to see that we are apparently way out there when compared to the average American. Not that I think that is really so terrible. I guess I just consider myself to be a fairly average person... nothing too exciting or strange about me or my family.

This is the second thing in the past couple of months to make me stop and think about the fact that maybe my views and taste in things is just a little farther out of the norm, average, whatever you wish to call it, than I originally thought. The first was my favorite radio station getting switched to a new (AND VERY CRAPPY) format because they were in the bottom three radio stations in KC. This was completely unbelievable to me. This station was the best, well not THE best. That award has to go to KFOG in San Francisco. But this station was a close second. It was and still is unbeliveable to me that not everyone or for that matter many people at all apparently thought the same.

So I guess maybe my ideas about and taste in certain things in not what you would call mainstream.

Not a bad thing I guess.

Just makes it hard to find something to listen to on the radio.

Anyone remember...

Some reasons why I have said I wanted to go in to my chosen profession?

I find myself wondering about that today.

We are officially old

My Beloved Husband and I have been suspicious for a while now that we are what you could classify as old.

It really kind of snuck up on us.

The first hint came a little over a year ago when the house next door became a rental and was leased to 4 young men from a small Kansas town. These 4 young men happened to be college freshman. This was NOT exciting news to me, as I feared loud drunken parties that went on for all hours.

My fears came true and then some. I did not count on neglected puppies left to cry all night outside our bedroom window, or the purchase of a trampoline that sat right under the same window, and apparently only worked at night with very loud and intoxicated young women.

Oh yeah and then there was the week they had tents set out in the front yard for no apparent reason. Our assumption was that they had run out of room in the house and were charging people to live on their front lawn. It also seemed that their sound system had only one volume, that being loud enough to shake the walls of our house, and it was only able to play bad rap music.

Over spring break they had four parties. On the fifth one, after we had gone over and complained to them with no luck (Surprising I know!) We finally called the police. I will admit that I watched out the window like your stereotypical nosy neighbor and literally cackled with glee when the police arrived and the people began scurrying out the back door like rats. (First REAL proof that we are old)

One glorious day in August a big trailer pulled up in front of the house and they began to load furniture in it. I am not ashamed to admit that I did a very happy dance. I managed to keep from putting my foot through the big speakers they had sitting in the yard while they moved furniture. I also fantasized about hurling them into the street and screaming, "I don't like these and this is what I am doing about it!" That was a tough one to keep in the realm of fantasy land.

So they moved. Peace at last.

Or so I thought.

A week later three young men began moving furniture in to the house. I tried to hope for the best. Soon however my worst fears were confirmed. More college boys.

I had hope. I met the girlfriend who asked if she could use our outside faucet to get water to clean since they did not have the water turned on yet. She said that the boys were pre-law, pre-med, and pre-vet. Also upperclassman. Frat boys, but not the rowdy kind. At least one had a serious girlfriend too. I tried to stay positive.

A few months went by and we barely hear a peep out of them.

Then last night the honeymoon ended.

We could hear the music and people when we went to bed at 11. (They do have better taste in music, Chili Peppers this time.) I did manage to fall asleep but awoke again at 1:30 when my beloved got up grumbling that he was done and began to put on clothes to go over and complain.

Definitely old.

What sucks even more is that next time..... It is my turn to go over when a complaint needs to be made.

Damn college kids.

Anyone got some cheese to go with my whine?

I'm tired. A little grumpy too. Wanna know why? Too bad because I intend to tell you regardless of how you feel. This one is all about me.

I had a long day.

I had to do a home visit at 8:00 this morning. That home visit ended just in time for me to speed to the office to sit in training all day. Not the passive sit and listen while you munch on good snacks kind either. This was the type where there were no snacks (unless you brought your own) and you had to participate! Role play! Demonstrate that you could properly use the skills being taught! It went from 9-4:15! We only got two breaks not counting lunch! I had to deal with work stuff on those breaks too!!! Then I had to rush home so that I could get dinner on the table, actually eat some of it and see my husband and kids for a few minutes. Oh yeah, at the same time I was making menus for the next week and making up the grocery list. Then I had a home visit to do at 5:30. When I got home from that at 6:30 I got to change clothes, get in the car and go to the grocery store. AT WALMART. It just so happens that I hate Walmart. It also just so happens that they have the cheapest groceries around so I suck it up and deal with it. Not always graciously I will admit. Then the groceries had to be put away. (Now what kind of crap is that?) Then children had to be put to bed. Then I had to complain about my busy day on my blog.

Ahhhh....I feel much better now. You all are such great listeners.

Now that I have un-loaded I plan to eat some chocolate and watch the last of Arrested Development Season 2.

What is in a name?

#1 is beginning to show an interest in.... (GULP).....I don't even know if I can type it...here it goes.......

BOYS.

In past years at both pre-school and elementary school there has been passing mention of boys that she considers boyfriends and at least one that she considered to be her future husband.

This year it seems that the whole liking boys thing is moving on to new levels. Levels that make her father and I uncomfortable it seems, so we have been teasing her about it a bit. Probably not a great idea, and we intend to get that under control.

Here is my question...

Should we be concerned that her current love interest seems to go by the name of Nasty Boy?

And to think that I saw it on Mulvane Street

Earlier this evening while I was making pasta, a horse named Ginger gave birth to 14 colts in the space of 30 minutes. This was not a case of in-vitro fertilization. These (with the exception of a few) were single birth episodes. It seems that this is birthing season for Ginger.

Now if you think that was amazing, I strongly urge you to sit down right now before you read any more.

A stallion named Bronco gave birth to triplet colts, shortly after Ginger birthed her last colt.

This was all just before dinner.

You just never know what will happen in your own home.

Mother/Father and babies are all doing well by the way.

All Hail Missy...Queen of Domesticity

(Insert Queenly Wave Here)

Yes...I am the Queen of all things domestic, wifely, and motherly today. I have laundered the clothing of my beloved husband and children. Cleaned the top floor of the Boyer Castle. Cooked a delicious meal that actually involved chopping, grating, sauteeing, and the use of several pans. Trashed the Royal Kitchen in the process. Broke the Royal Decree that one who cooks does not have to clean up...because the Royal Kitchen was in such AWFUL disarray after my queenly cooking extravaganza.

Of course a Queen is nothing without her court. HRH Jeffrey.. King of the Boyer Domicile was right by my Queenly side assisting with all domestic duties today. Princesses #1 and #2 also did their part as well.

So now things are winding down at Boyer Castle. The Princesses are tucked in to their beds, and the King and Queen are now preparing to retire to the Royal Basement to fold laundry and walk upon the Royal Treadmill while watching TV.

Who says the life of a Royal is easy?

Ta for now.

A Comic Strip You Should Check Out

If you have the time and inclination I would recommend checking out the comic strip "Boondocks." It is usually pretty darn funny and has a definite political bent to it. Now those of you around Topeka, our fabulous Capital-Journal (said with sarcasm) does not carry this strip. The KC Star does or you can find it on-line here.

Let's see I have posted a hottie for awhile, so let's give a little picture of this weeks handsome hunk o' man. This week's winner is......Goran Visnjic. The only reason I still occasionally tune in to er.

I know I said there would be no deep political discussion here but..

Say it isn't SO!

Stuff I personally should not read

Does this whole bird flu potential pandemic creep anyone out besides me? Mutating viruses...bad...BAD!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

I got fired by # 1 this morning. I am no longer her friend apparently. What did I do, you may ask to fall so far out of the good graces of my eldest? I had the audacity to make her change an outfit that she had outgrown. Today is picture day for her and we had chosen her clothing last night before she went to bed, not knowing that the Grow Overnight Fairy had been to visit her recently. It has probably been about a month since she last wore this particular skirt and shirt, and they fit fine last month. This morning however we had belly and nearly nipple exposure, (not to mention massive complaining that the shirt was not comfortable.) # 1 is pretty famous for being extremely picky about what she wears. If she could get away with it she would wear nothing but sweat pants and t-shirts and or fleece shirts. You have no idea how many fabrics are "itchy." I myself was not aware until # 1 came along.

Serenity now.

I've got a date with three of my favorite men

Sorry for the short post folks, but I have a date with my husband, a pint of Ben and Jerry's Half-Baked and the second season DVD of Arrested Development. I will try to say something clever tomorrow. Unfortunately right now my brain is clouded with visions of gorging on ice cream and TV.

I'll take mine with cream and two sugars

Preschooler thought for the day....

What if people were buried in coffee cups?

Makes you think.