Happy Valentine's Day!

Ah, Valentines Day.  Love is everywhere....

Chase has had a girlfriend for over a year now.  I know!  He's beating me in the long-term relationship department these days!  At any rate, I sat him down last week to have a serious conversation about girls and Valentines Day. I explained that his girlfriends deserved a little something extra on Valentines Day... that it didn't have to be anything big, but he couldn't give her the exact same valentine he gave out to the rest of the kids in his class, because she's special. Well he took that advice and ran with it! He thought really hard about what she would like, and even made his dad drive to three different stores to find just the right gift.  When he found it, he was so proud.

It was too big to bring to school so we had to arrange a time to come by and drop it off to her at home.  It was really sweet.  She even made him rice krispie treats.  Awwwww....

Chloe, on the other hand, apparently has two boyfriends and she was going to make something for each of them but then decided that was too hard... she wasn't going to make anything for either one.

*sigh*

On another note, Chloe wanted Foxy to come to work with me on Valentines Day for some reason, so we had some fun!

I first tried to put her to work:

But her furry paws were messing everything up, so I let her sit in my special chair and watch me work instead:

Then she got a special valentine...

...which apparently made her feel a little frisky:

Bad Foxy!

Then I went home and spent the evening with my valentine!

(What a stud!)

New Year's Eve Wish from Chase

Chase would like to write a New Years wish to you all.  He has become quite computer savvy:

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chase

Photos, Anyone?

If anyone wants any copies of any of the photos in our Photo Album, just let me know which ones and I'll order them for you (free). I have so many pre-paid credits I don't know what to do with them, and if I don't order anything by September 12th they're going to delete my account!

If you need the album's room code, let me know!

Nature Attacks

Here are just a couple deer photos to show you just how close they get to our house! This, combined with the cardinals that keep attacking (literally) our windows, makes us feel like we're under attack by nature at times!

This one was taken from the car, after we pulled up to the edge of the driveway:

(Yes, there are five of them.... And they aren't going anywhere!). This next one was taken from the back porch:

Brian took this one because the deer was seriously pounding its hooves on the ground and grunting at the house!

Super Bowl Sunday Comfort

We are all sitting around watching the Super Bowl. Chase didn't think Daddy looked comfortable enough, so he helped him out:

Sorry for the poor quality. My camera battery is dead so I had to use my phone.

(I have no idea why I feel the need to apologize for that!)

Anyway, Brian (apparently hot... imagine that!) suggested that Chase cover ME up with all the blankets and pillows next, and my darling child's response was, "No, Mommy's too big!"

:O *gasp!*

I'm not THAT big yet!! Thanks, son. Mommy loves you, too.

Mutant Grapes

Brian and I went to the grocery store today and bought some grapes. Scratch that.... We bought some mutant grapes:

Oh, I'm sorry.... You probably need something else in the photo for scale. Here it is with its friend, the adorably average red grape:

Still not doing it for you? Insert my freakishly long thumb:

You actually have to take bites of these grapes. You can't just pop them into your mouth. It takes like three chomps!

Yes, I'm blogging about grapes. But to be honest, they kind of freak me out! They can't be healthy.... I'm sure they're pumped with steroids or something.

P.S. This is my third post of the day. Check out my previous two posts if you haven't already!

How to Kill a Killer Spider

What do you do when you find this in your house while your husband is at work?

Step 1: Call him and beg him to come home and save you.

Step 2: When he refuses, ask the cat for help:

Step 3: After the cat tries to "help," but really just plays with the thing, causing the beast of a spider to run all over the room and bolt into places you know you'll never be able to find it, push the cat out of the way, grab a book and throw it on top of the spider.

Step 4: Do a victory dance.

Step 5: Scream in horror as you watch it crawl out from under the book and dart across the floor.

Step 6: Grab a box. Surely that is heavy enough!

Step 7: Throw the box.

Step 8: Miss.

Step 9: Scream.

Step 10: Repeat steps 7-9.

Step 11: Repeat steps 7-9 again.

Step 12: Throw the box again and hit the darn thing this time.

Step 13: Do a little victory dance.

Step 14: Scream in horror as you watch it crawl out from under the box and dart across the floor.

Step 15: As it heads under your bed, where you know you will never catch it and therefore will never sleep again, certain it is crawling all over you, suck it up (because now you're a little peeved at the sucker) and dismantle your bed for a mattress support board.

Step 16: Whack at it with the board several times while chasing it around the room (screaming continuously, of course).

Step 17: Finally injure it enough so it can't run as fast.

Step 18: Say "Ah HA!" in your very best evil mastermind voice.

Step 19: Beat it with the board continuously, whacking way beyond the necessary amount of whacks needed to declare a time of death.

Step 20: Lay the board on top of it and walk across its dead body... for good measure, of course... not because you enjoy it at all (because that would be evil).

Step 21: Jump up and down a couple times (just for added good measure). Try not to smile in the process.

Step 22: Stand proudly over the body and declare victory:

Step 23: Scold your cat for trying to take credit for the kill:

Cookie Saga, Part 1

Brian is teaching all day today, so I thought it might be fun to have some "mother/son bonding time" and bake/decorate cookies with Chase. Last week we made Rice Krispie treats (my first time making them ever!) and it was pretty fun. Look at me, trying to be all domestic here!

Anyway, because I try to do things the easiest way possible, I bought the pre-made cookie dough so we could skip the whole messy preparation part (I know my mom is shaking her head at me right now). Well, it turns out it is probably not that much easier to buy the dough already pre-made, because it is extra gooey and sticky and harder to work with. I eventually gave up on the rolling pin altogether and we just used our hands to press it all out. We were able to cookie cut our shapes, but getting them to keep their form while scooping them up and transferring them to the pan was another story.

Pop quiz: What are the following figures supposed to be? (Hint: It is not a giant turkey and its wattle.)

I won't keep you in suspense. Here are your answers:

Oh, well. As soon as Chase gets up from his nap we'll start decorating. Stay tuned to see how the canned frosting works out!

Let the Painting Begin!

Yesterday I started my big summer project of painting the house. First room up: Dining Room.

Don't you hate it when you run out of paint this close to finishing?!?

I'll post before/after pictures when it's finished!

March Madness!

I recently posted a comment on a friend's blog about her oh-so-scientific method to filling out her March Madness brackets, where I listed my own method for choosing teams. Thinking that my rules may be beneficial to the rest of my blogging universe, I have decided to post my methods here as well. Here are my rules:

1. I always pick Mizzou to win the whole thing (assuming they are in it). I figure there is power in believing and maybe the team will feel my positive vibes. It’s a little like Seabiscuit some years, I’ll admit it.

2. I always choose #1 seeds to win in the first round (this is only because Brian told me a #1 seed has NEVER lost in the first round). This is a new rule as of this year... because Brian just informed me of that fact a few days ago. But if a #1 seeded school plays Mizzou, this rule is null and void.

3. I support the states I have lived in.

4. I go with whatever state I would rather live in. This method is by weather, not by cost of living. I may not be able to afford to live in LA, but you can't pass up that reliable sunshine. UCLA it is!

5. I support the schools I have ties to. Now that I'm at Texas A&M (and Brian teaches there) I have them going all the way up until they play Mizzou (who wins, of course). If ECU were in it, they would go far. I'm told by my brother that in the future I will have to support Boise State, too, because he goes there. This is getting tough! It's all about prioritizing, I guess.

6. Sometimes I pick teams because I like their names. For example, I picked Siena to go pretty far this year because I think it's a pretty girl's name. Gonzaga always goes pretty far because it's just fun to say... Gon-ZA-GA!

7. Every once in awhile I’ll pick a team that I just know is always good, regardless of the weather of that state. That’s when I feel like I might actually know a thing or two about basketball… until they lose and I’m like, “MAN! I KNEW I should have picked Siena! Their name is so much prettier!”

The last time I checked I was tied for first place in our little family poll. I always manage to do really well in the first round… and then fail miserably after that. Wish me luck!

Wow

I just had to share this. This version of the Star Spangled Banner was sung at a Texas Tech University Basketball game by five elementary school girls. The two young ladies on the right are six years old, the two in the middle are seven and the one on the left is eight. Unbelievable!

Wow. Just.... Wow.

It's time to get rid of our Christmas tree. It's beyond dead. So we bought a tree disposal bag:

And it came with this disclaimer:

Ummmmm.... OK. Wow. Really? They have to put that on there? What exactly does that say about us as people?

Scorpions?!?

I just saw my first Texas scorpion...

...in my house.

It was hiding under one of Chase's puzzles! I picked it up to put a puzzle piece away and it scurried out. It could have killed my baby!!!!

OK, OK.... I'm being dramatic (which is so unlike me, I know). It was very small and we were told by our builder that the small ones are not uncommon around here and that they are too little to do damage to us. STILL....

There was a scorpion in my house!!!! Brian killed it and now I owe him a back scratch.

Update 11/17: I just found this information about Texas scorpions online:

• Scorpions are non-insect arthropods. All species of scorpion are poisonous. Texas scorpions produce a bee-sting like reaction in humans. It is very painful, but not life-threatening to most humans. Body size of the victim is very important. Children, because of their small size, are at greater risk of severe envenomation than are adults. There are no scorpions in Texas that are considered lethal to man.

It makes me feel a little better but I still don't want Chase to get stung by one! And next time I guess I won't let Brian kill it with a kleenex, either....

SPIDERS

Remember what I said about the spiders here? This guy was on my back porch. I wish I had been brave enough to put my hand next to it to give you an idea of the scale. I would bet his front legs were as long as my thumbs. If anyone knows anything about spiders, will you please assure me this one isn't a killer? Brian wouldn't kill it because "it was outside and we need spiders to kill other bugs."

I secretly think he was just too chicken.

(And yes, I am hoping that the fact I publicly called him "chicken" prompts him to prove his manhood and go out there and kill it.)

The Birds

Ever since that trip we took to Cedar Point when I was in middle school where a seagull pooped on my head I have had a hate/hate relationship with all birds. They freak me out. And of course everyone loves to mess with me about it, too. One summer when Brian and I were dating we went to the beach. There we were, laying out under the sun in the sand. I had my eyes closed, so every time I saw a shadow (seagull) pass overhead I would quickly cover my face. After about 10 minutes of laying there in peace (if you can call frantically covering my face every 15 seconds "peace"), listening to the waves crash on the shore (ahhhhh)... I heard a giggle.

Brian had been waving his hand over my face the entire time.

That's love.

ANYWAY.... My parents are avid bird watchers and shake their heads at me for not being a big fan, so this post is dedicated to them. This is a view out my back window....

Granted, it was Brian's idea, but I did OK it! I mean, Chase loves the birds and I have to admit after watching them... from INSIDE... they are pretty funny little things. But I don't think it will be too long before I ask him to move it a little further from the porch.

10 Things We've Learned About Texas

DISCLAIMER: Texas is a huge state. We are very well aware not all areas here are the same. These are just a few things we have learned about the area where we are living.

1. Never leave your chapstick in the car.
2. Never leave your plastic ID badge in the cup holder of your car... unless you want it to take the shape of a cup holder.
3. If you want your cup holder-shaped ID badge to be flat again, leave it lying on your car's armrest for a few hours while you're in class.
4. Car seat buckles get hot really fast (Chase oh-so-delicately informed me of this fact).
5. There are deer EVERYWHERE. It's only be a matter of time before you read a blog post here titled "I Finally Hit One" (or "One Finally Hit Me").
6. There's a whole lot of testosterone down here... especially on the road!
7. People eat squirrels. By choice.
8. People eat squirrels. BY CHOICE!
9. You remember ice cream trucks? We have those... in addition to taco trucks.
10. All the spiders I have encountered here are furry. Furry!!!!

That's it for now! I'm sure there will be more....

Tagged.... I'm It!

So, Barb tagged me from A Tale of Two Twinkies to sum up my life in 6 words. The Meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. It's a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn."

After some thought I have settled on:

Two steps forward, One step back.

I hereby tag:

1. My parents at 4-Points Photography
2. Karen & Mark at The Evansons
3. Liza & Greg at Anderson Adventures
4. Melissa & Dan at The Bertram Blog
5. Monica & Kev at This Blog Sucks

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. Don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

If I didn't tag you and you still want to play.... Well, do it anyway!

Time to play... Name That Crud!

This is a photo of how I spent my night. Any ideas what this stuff is on my carpet?

Leave your best guesses in the comments section. Answer coming soon!

Peter Alsop is My Hero

To all you parents, teachers and other caregivers out there: If you haven't checked out Peter Alsop yet... DO IT.

When I was little I had his album "Wa'd'ya Wanna Do?" It was a copy of a tape someone made for my mom and I played that tape CONSTANTLY and sang all the songs... all the time (I'm sure I drove my mom nuts). Anyway, Mom was cleaning out her attic a little while back and found the tape. I was SO excited to have it back but then sadly realized I didn't have a tape player to play it on! I went online to see if somehow, some way I could find a CD of it and was thrilled to find he had a website with tons more albums and other products (DVD's, song books, etc.) to purchase!

I ordered my CD, got it super fast and have been playing it constantly since. Chase loves the music and I have to admit I play it in my car on commutes when Chase isn't with me because I still remember all the words and it puts me in a great mood.

The wonderful thing about Peter Alsop's songs is that besides being fun, they teach great lessons. Without going into detail I can tell you that Peter's music made an incredible impact on my life as a kid, and still does today when I revisit it. Peter Alsop taught me invaluable lessons through his music, and I'm so excited to find he has more products because Chase will be getting lots of them throughout the years.

Peter is an educational psychologist who writes songs for kids AND adults. You can learn more about him and order products, etc. on his website at www.peteralsop.com (and if you click on "Peter's Tunes" you can listen to sound clips of some of his music). If you are looking for great songs that teach great lessons and are sick of cheesy Barney tunes, definitely check him out. It just may change your child's life, like I believe it changed mine.

We're Moving... to another planet!

So I think everyone has probably heard by now that we are moving to Texas! Well yesterday I was told of a news story out of Stephenville, TX (2 hours north of where we'll be) and thought I'd share. I have no idea what we're getting ourselves into!

Dozens Report UFO Over Texas Town

I mean, I knew we'd be in for a culture shock but... Omigoodness! To quote the article:

"'You hear about big bass or big buck in the area, but this is a different deal,' [Ricky] Sorrells said. 'It feels good to hear that other people saw something, because that means I'm not crazy.' Sorrells said he's seen the object several times. He said he watched it through his rifle's telescopic lens and described it as very large and without seams, nuts or bolts."

Hmmmm.... Big bass, big bucks, big rifles... and aliens. What planet am I moving to here, people?!? At least I know what all those things are. I mean, I DID grow up in Alma, MI.

Actually, truth be told, I may just fit in very nicely. Thanks to my friend Brian S for outing me!

(He used a photo taken about 4 years ago, right after my most horrible hair chopping crisis EVER!)