Thumbs Down

*A purse full of tantalizing snacks, an Ipod with a movie loaded on it=Thumbs up
*A stroller for Liam and a positive yet stern discussion to the kids about behavior at the post office=Thumbs up
*Waiting in line twice because the post office doesn't have their boxes stocked and then getting jilted on the cost of sending two small packages=A heavy most definitely thumbs down!!


I filled out the address labels and just had to toss stuff into their priority mail boxes and seal them up. Of course, no boxes available, so I had to stand in line to ask for a couple. I finally get to the front of our long line with only one cashier and he tells me to use a specific box to make it cheaper. That's nice. So I step aside, take about 60 seconds to fill the boxes and seal them, then look back at him hoping he will let me jump back in...No. He looks at the next person in line and calls them up. What a...jerk. So I get in line behind 8 people! And wait. Again. I get to the front and he acts surprised to see me. huh? Our post office is about as big as my living room. Plus I had three kids with me. AND someone commented on Liam's great lungs. (what can I say? I was venting my frustration through him)

So I get back up there, and he says, "Oh, I thought this box was the cheaper one. It's actually twice as much. Sorry." Again..huh? He won't budge on the price. He asked if I wanted to rebox it, and I said, "well, I don't want to stand in line again." He just nods and says "oh, yah." What a...jerk. So I ended up paying a gazillion dollars to mail two small packages. Honestly, the postage costs more than what's inside. Hmph. Sorry, I had to vent for just a minute. Argh! Can you feel my pain? So needless to say, I will go to the UPS store by my house. I guess I'll add this to my list of "Things I've Learned the Hard Way". (I really do have a list called that.)

Thanks for reading and sympathizing with me. I just needed to let it all out and now I feel much better. ahhhh....now where was that little bag of chocolate in the freezer......

Begin the Birthday Fun

Josh's 35th birthday is this month...holy smokes! I admit, I'm only a couple of years behind him, but it's just enough to tease him about what an old man he is. hee hee hee.. I thought'd I'd post a couple of his greatest pictures, one I thought was great, and another he thought was the "coolest picture ever". See if you can tell which is which.

Guess Who's Coming

So the news has slowly been leaking out, and we'll just make it official. We are expecting a new little one the end of August! We are really excited and surprised. Excited for obvious reasons, and surprised because, if any of you know my "fertility history", it seems I've done a 180 degree turnaround compared to the old days.

We went to the doctor's and did a little ultrasound to check for due dates, and my fabulous Dr. McDonald gave Ammon and Shayla each their own copy of the baby. Josh had to go back to work after the ultrasound (our doc delivered a baby so our appt was very late), which left me and the kids to play out the rest of the appointment and all the fun and probing events that go with your first huge visit. If you ask me about it in a couple weeks I may be able to laugh about it instead of cringe and tense up. argh.

So happy we are with our growing family, and we'll hopefully soon be able to find a new house that fits the size of our brood...and that's a whole other story!

Princess for a day

Shayla has been really into recruiting Josh or I into playing make-believe with her lately, and the other day it was princesses. Well, Ammon just wants to be a prince and drive his car around. And Liam the Horse just won't go where Princess Shayla commands, so that leaves me to be her BFF in princessland. She dressed up as Princess Annalise from the Barbie movie we have, and I was to be Cinderella. Hmm. Appropriate, at least the cleaning part. So we both got dressed up and played our parts until hunger got the best of the both of us and we broke for lunch, but it was really fun playing with my sweet little lady, and we were both able to pause long enough for Ammon to snap our picture.

Cleaning the house is fun to do, fun to do, to do to do

At least that's what Ammon and Shayla thought this morning! We were cleaning up a storm, windows, mirrors, walls, tables, bathrooms, everything, all while listening to Skip to My Lou and other gems that keep you working hard. I went to a seminar this weekend that was so great, and one of the things that stood out to me, was the guy said if you have young children your house should be clean. Of course we all laughed heartily.... but then he said how important it is to teach your children to work when they are young, and that they should be working hard and playing hard. That's what families do together. So that is what we did today, and I have to tell you, my house is clean, the kids are happy, and who can ask for more than that?

Happy Belated Chinese New Year

We celebrated Chinese New Year in our household this year with homemade fortune cookies and a fiery red dragon dance. Our celebration lasted one whole day...we're working up to the week long celebration that is traditional. I just don't have that much party in me right now!

The kids made a dragon that we danced around with, and then ate fortune cookies to our hearts content. We got some books from the library to see how the new year is celebrated in China, and I think I'd like to adopt some traditions into my own family's portfolio. Like cleaning the house from top to bottom before the new year comes. And all the food and candy all week long. That's ok isn't it? We are multicultural after all, right?

Another Six Weeks of Winter...surprise surprise!

Happy Groundhog day everyone! I love celebrating holidays, including Groundhog day, but I have to tell you. I have a friend who has a fancy breakfast and does all things Groundhog on this day, and I wish I could hang out with her all day long and be a part of it! As you may have heard, Punxatawny Phil predicted another six weeks of winter. What a surprise...I think I'd have a heart attack anyways if the sun shone for more than three days in a row.

Holidays are a great way to break up the everyday-ness of the weeks. Last week we celebrated Chinese New Year's with homemade fortune cookies (not too bad to make, fun to put your own fortunes inside) and a dragon dance.

As you know Valentine's is coming, and you guessed it. We will be celebrating to the nines! Hearts and red and candy and love...all things I adore. And the kids will love it too darn it!