No Resolutions Here Baby.

So, I feel pretty sure a marketer could slap this picture on ANYTHING and I'd buy it. Serious. My heart almost bleeds when I look at it.

Sean: Why is there four wheeler in our garage?
Me: Did you see that picture with the kids on it?

I once bought a toothbrush because the packaging had glitter on it. I knew that was why I bought it and didn't even care. I figure if someone is going to glitter something, they should be rewarded. Glitter, glitter, glitter...

Thought I'd briefly check in and let you know that I have zero New Year's resolutions. I know you were dying to know what they were, but that is that.

I do, however, have a few hopes for 2011. By hopes, I mean these things are completely out of my control.

1. Lil' Rory Jane to get here safe and sound. Seven weeks left! Woot!
2. No one in my family takes a trip in the ambulance. Fingers crossed! Jared seems to take one every February. I'm hoping to break the trend. Really. That'd be great.
3. My family and everyone I love to have a happy and good year.

That's about it.
Welcome 2011.

Merry Christmas Outtakes!

Welcome and Merry Christmas.

And now for the Christmas card outtakes of 2010! Before we get going, This is my most favorite of photos. I got Jared back for calling me a Christmas clown.
This was the winner! Yeah! None of us look crazy OR sleepy. Double bonus.
I love that we captured Jared's teaser look. He always has this expression.

It didn't start off the best.
Some one's excited to be here!!!

Have you ever wondered how we look at Wal-Mart? Here's your answer. Triumphant, rapping pose Jared, frazzled mother, and NO Santa hat. The battle continues to rage.

This is a darling photo of my men in blue shirts. But, in the end, my arm was determined to be a great big space hog.

Jared planning his big escape. Is it just me, but does Sean look very manly here? And aren't we all happy I'm wearing a modest t-shirt underneath my dress.
Here, Sean and I appear mostly normal, but I get an undercurrent feeling that both of us need a nap, or are on cold medication. I've also determined that my daughter does not take a bad photo.
That ten second button thing can be a bit tricky to figure out.

Here, Sean looks like he got a great idea! I look like I just got goosed.

This is probably the best of them all!

Merry Christmas!

They Stand No Chance

So, this cat from Shrek. He has a human twin. In the form of my son. Recently, Jared has figured out that if walks up to ANY counter, be it at the doctor's office, or the hair salon, and peeks over the edge of the desk, a frenzy will ensue until he gets a candy. He doesn't have to ask. He only has to look at the lady behind the counter for her to frantically start combing through drawers or her purse.

Heaven help me when he figures out what actually causes the candy panic.

But he won't for awhile, because he has an insane mother still forcing him to be a baby.

Phew!

Varying Emotional Degrees of Karate

Yesterday, Gracie disappeared. She left as Gracie and came back a karate master, complete with a stylish little outfit. Sean, the intrepid family photographer, followed her around. Below is a documentary of the varying emotional degrees of karate and...life. First, HOPE. What are we without hope? At the start of any project, one is filled with hope. The desire to work hard, to succeed. The bright, shiny eyes. The light in the heart. The eagerness of spirit.
Second: DOUBT. We're not entirely sure how we got here. Chances are the outcome might not be good, let alone what we hoped. We've climbed high and are facing the possibility of falling, of scraping our chins, and failing. Failing big.

Third: DETERMINATION. But when faced with failure, we'll not give up. We'll take to the air and give doubt a great, big, what-what. Doubt will never know what smacked it to the ground, only that it saw a flash of white and pink.


Fourth: PEACE. We realize that what we're attempting might take years, decades to perfect. But that's okay, because we have determination. The hope returns. We'll keep at it. And at it. And at it.

Finally: CONFIDENCE. Our determination has paid off. Doubt has vanished. Peace resides in our hearts. We'll go forward, working, kicking down all obstacles in our path. The future is bright. Bright. Bright. Bright.

Get us some shades.

Hello Kitty ones preferred.

FYI: Christmas is coming. I know this because I bought a wreath that looks like a breath mint.

Not to be a bummer...

But I already miss summer. Hello. We are barely into fall and I'm already dreaming about sunny, warm days. Well. I'd better buck up because I'm in for a long haul. In fact, I'll have a new baby before summer returns. I also have nine million other things to accomplish before then, like a total re haul of the kids' rooms, potty training, and basement organization. But I did allow myself one good wallow and took a nap at six tonight, because I felt sad about the cold.

Any good tips on how to keep the winter-ish blues away? Thanks heavens for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Anyone want to come make Christmas decorations with me? I'll make hot chocolate. I have a special machine and everything. Any good reading suggestions? *Lest I forget to mention it, I'm about a month away from having an actual finished draft of my YA novel. Phew. I'm ready to check that one off my list.*

So as not to be a total downer about the drop in temperatures...I could'nt have snapped these pictures without the leaves. My kids were pretending to be birds and were nesting and protecting their eggs. Just in case you needed some background. I find a little background always helps. Not too much. Just enough to give a clear picture.

I will now pull out my cardigans, knee socks, Jane Austen DVD's and make myself comfy.

Lil' G #3

Number One: You must admire her daring in mixing prints. Number Two: The Charming Joker

And Announcing #3: A very wiggly, darling female fetus!

(This is actually Gracie, but you get the point. For the real pictures, please visit my fridge.)

We are very excited and due the beginning of March!

What is this thing called a blog?

A Girl This Cute Must Come with a Little Fight.

So, I discovered my blog again today and thought I'd share a little story.

I don't remember this (so I can't really tell you if it happened or not), but my mom told me that when I went in for my kindergarten shots, I threw such a raging, hysterical fit that they needed to bring in more nurses to hold me down. And just to make things interesting, I held my little (and I'm sure darling) backside so tight that they couldn't get the needle in.

Fast forward some 25 years later. I now have a daughter.

And lets just say...

What goes around.

Does come around.

I went in with fake blond hair and left with authentic white.

I've never really experienced anything quite like it before.

And I mean really...who actually likes getting flu shots? I know. No one. Can't really blame her. And now I will sleep better at night knowing that her fight or flight reflex is in excellent working condition.

On the plus side, I pulled out my MOM contract and it says I get a bonus if I get their shots done! I think a pint of B&J's might be on the next grocery store list! Or boots. Nice ones.