Sectum Sempra

So, I totally forgot to write about the HP6 extravaganza that I had. (Harry Potter, and the Half-Blood Prince). I was asked by a friend of mine, Jordan Quist-Goodson, to volunteer at the HP6 party that the Jordan commons was having. I met Jordan at a few other midnight movie premiere camping crazinesses that I have been to. and so he knew that I was a but nutty for this type of thing. He also asked that Stef, (The Cap'm) join in the fun, as well as invite two others who could volunteer with us. I asked my sister-in-law Jen and her husband Devin if they could help us out. Stef and I dressed up as the Weasley twins, Fred and George, and Jen and Dev were Mad-Eye Moody, and Professor Trewlany. Stef and I handed out Pygmy Puffs, and candy from the "Weasley Wizard Wheezes" store to random people. We were assigned to check VIP people in. Jen and Dev ran the "Hogwarts Express". The evening was complete with butterbeer and cauldron cakes. By the time the movie started, we were all exhausted, but has had a really great evening.

Practice What You Preach

This is another gem that I found in a parenting magazine. I have had it hanging on my fridge for a few years (it is from the September 2005 edition), and it is pretty hammered. I decided to post it here so that I can finally throw it away, but share it with you as well.

Practice What You Preach
Are you sending mixed messages about good values? See if any of these little slip-ups sound familiar.

You tell your child it's nice to help others, but you never drop anything into your supermarket's food-drive bin.

You shout,"Turn off those cartoons", but you spend every evening watching TV until bedtime.

You tell your child she's perfect just as she is, but you're obsessed with your weight.

You explain that people come in all shapes. sizes, and colors, but when a neighbor tells a racist joke, you laugh.

You tell your child to be a better listener, but you interrupt his stories to answer your cell phone.

You say it's polite to take turns, but you hog the remote control.

You tell him to control his tantrums, but you curse at anyone who cuts you off when you're driving him to school.

You say, "Use your words!", but when you're angry at your partner and he asks what's wrong, you snap, "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

You urge your child not to compare herself to others, but you get jealous if your neighbors take fancier vacations than you do.

You teach that it's wrong to steal, but you take towels home from the hotel.

Things Every Mom Should Know (or, What I have Learned From Motherhood So Far)

I found most of these in a parenting magazine. I thought that they were really good.


1. Do household chores while the kids are awake. Using up naptime to clean the bathroom or wash the dishes is truly soul-crushing.

2. Embrace your children's quirks.

3. Put Band-Aids on everything your kids want to...why not?

4. Lay with your kids in bed if they ask. It will be too soon before they stop asking.

5. Don't forget to play board games with your kids...sure you will have to suffer through Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders, but Connect Four and Disney Scene It are actually pretty fun. And who can resist a good game of Jenga?

6. Find out all about stuff that your kids are interested in, even if it doesn't interest you. Then, when they talk about it, listen intently, and have intelligent things to say about it.

7. A trip through the washing machine and a run under the iron can work wonders on DI clothes.

8. Try to like the books that they do. It sucks when it's "Bob the Builder", but is awesome when it is Harry Potter, or Lemony Snicket.

9. Buy kids deodorant before they need it.

10. Don't administer a punishment that hurts you more than it does them.

11. Make sure you know how your kids like their burgers and eggs cooked. This will save so much time when ordering at the diner.

12. Expose your kids to a variety of foods early and often. You will squash pickiness early.

13. You're never too old to dress up and decorate for Halloween. It is more fun for everyone if you are in to it...and it also entitles you to some candy. :)

14. Give awards for actual achievements.

15. Just throw away the poopy underwear.

16. Read to your kids in the morning at breakfast. Also use this time to practice spelling words. (Then check two things off of your To-do list).

17. Eat somewhere nice(er) instead of a fast food place, and order one entree for you and your kids and split it. This will save you money, and is not as gross.

18. Independence is a wonderful thing for everyone...and so is together time. Make sure you have a healthy dose of both.

19. Volunteer in your child's classroom. You can help the teacher, as well as observe how your child interacts with the other children in the class.

20. Teach your children healthy eating habits, and then don't beat yourself up when you have Cold Cereal occasionally for dinner.

21. It is OK to have your own hobbies.

22. Don't compare your kids to others. Just love and embrace the child that they are.

23. Expose your children to different races, religions, and ideas than your own. (Especially if you life in a community that is filled with people who all look and act the same as you.)

24. Don't compare yourself to other moms either.

25. Love every day with your kids. Don't pine for their infanthood, or babyhood too much, or your run the risk of missing their childhood. Find joy in every stage they go through.

26. Motherhood makes you a crazy person. Accept it and move on.

FYF

So...I have to take a minute and publicly declare to the world what a wonderful husband I have and how grateful I am to him. I was attracted to him from the first moment I saw him...and have not ceased to be since. I can't think of anyone else in the world that would be as supportive of all the crazy things that I do than he is, and the knowledge that I have left my children in the most capable hands possible when I do go out on an adventure is invaluable. I appreciate how hard he works to make this family have every comfort imaginable, and that he does so without complaint. I love that he can listen to me talk to him for hours, and still listen the entire time. I love that he still flirts with me, and teases me the same way that he did when our relationship was new. I am so glad that I can be so in love with him...and so infatuated with him at the same time. I love that he is such a driven individual and is not afraid to push himself to accomplish whatever he wants. I love his amazing runner's physique. He is never one to say anything negative about me, and I am so appreciative of that. I love the way that he gets so passionate about something new. I love to watch him play with the kids when he gets home from work. He has never been above doing the dishes after dinner...and he has done them 95% of the time in our entire married life. I am sorry ladies of the world...I married the best!.

The Mayan

So, Bryan decided that it would be fun to take the kids to The Mayan for lunch on Labor day. I have to say that The Mayan is one of my favorite places. The food is OK, but every time that I eat there, I feel like I have stepped into some kind of Disneyland extension. The kids love it as well. I love doing fun family things, and feeling like a bit of a kid again myself. I am also so grateful for a husband who values time with our family as well. I am a very fortunate individual. I also love having a family who is not afraid to embrace the ridiculous a bit as well...as you can see from some of Liza's pics. :)

09/09/09

So, my birthday was a day filled with a lot of craziness. First, My sister brought me some breakfast (which was LOVELY...strawberry and cream cheese muffins).
Then, my mother and Marf took me out to purchase a skirt from the mall.

Marf was very excited to try skirts on, as you can clearly see from her picture.

I can't remember why we were looking melancholy in the picture, but whatever. I did find a really cute black skirt, though.

Next, Bry and I went to lunch with his mom. It was lovely. We ate at Red Robbin, and I had some kind of Asian Rice bowl or something.

Marf had decided that it would be a good idea to try all 31 flavors of Baskin Robbins ice cream, as I turned 31. I have to say that I don't recommend this. Although I was certain of the flavor that I wanted by the end, I had a bit of a stomach ache for a while afterward. It will be a while before I crave ice cream again.

The next event was a pie fight at the park. It was HYSTERICAL FUN!! (However, adding to my aversion to things cold, sweet, and creamy for a while). For those of you who were not in to getting this messy, I have to say that you totally missed out!! It was a scream!

The final part of the day was a movie night with a bunch of people. I don't know what my problem was, but I asked the kids to take the pictures of that event, and there were mostly pictures of the dog, and the treats that were brought, but none of people...so I apologize. We watched "Twilight" with a Riff Track. It was HYSTERICAL!! (For those of you not in the know about Riff Trax, they are tracks that you can buy that play along with movies and make fun of them. They are done by the same people that did Mystery Science Theatre back in the day.) I highly recommend watching that movie that way. And, if your have a husband that didn't originally want to watch it, he would watch it this way. :)

I had a great day, everyone! Thank you for making my AWESOME 09/09/09 birthday amazing!!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!!!

I woke up on Sunday morning to find my kids doing this ridiculous thing. I think you will agree that it not only needed to be videoed, but shared with the world as well...