Disgusting!

I'm all for teaching my child, but I'm pretty sure if she's experiencing diarrhea, she doesn't need a book to explain it. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's pretty self-explanatory.

Goal For It

Found this great website. Used it to make a cute chore chart for A.J.


It hangs on the fridge as a reminder for her, and at the end of the day we log on to the computer and she puts a virtual sticker on the things she did. It even calculates her money earned at puts it in the moolah bank. Each of her chores is worth between $.01-$.05 and she is saving up to donate to the Pennies for Primary fund raiser at church. This will also be her introduction to the principle of tithing and she can stash away some of her "own" money for Disneyworld.

Can I also just say, it's great that all day I can remind her, "If you don't listen now, you won't get your penny." And it works! Best money I'll ever spend. I may actually start picking up stray coins on the ground. A found nickle is worth almost a week of obedience!

Happy Tunesday: Covers

Some recent great covers I've been enjoying:

Hey There Delilah by Brandi Carlile

With Or Without You by Allred

Free Fallin' by John Mayer

Close to You by The Cranberries

Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy

In Your Eyes by Sara Bareilles

When The Stars Go Blue by Tyler Hilton and Bethany Joylenz

I Melt With You by Jason Mraz

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Sheer, morbid curiosity just might be enough to make me read this.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies features the original text of Jane Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Complete with 20 illustrations in the style of C. E. Brock (the original illustrator of Pride and Prejudice), this insanely funny expanded edition will introduce Jane Austen's classic novel to new legions of fans.

Vacation Countdown

We are gearin' up for our trip to Disney with my family. To say that AJ is excited is an understatement. To help ease the anticipation, we made this countdown calendar to hang in her room. Each night until the trip, she takes off a mickey**, revealing a disney character sticker underneath.



**Can't say I had the guts to go into Home Depot and take 80 paint chips. Good thing I have a cute husband with no moral reserve and an undying need to fulfill my crazy demands- love ya babe!

Happy Tunesday: Projects

This is my current playlist to have on in the background while I am working on projects:

You and I by Ingrid Michaelson
Falling Faster by The Love Willows
Sweet Ride by Courtney Jaye
AEIOU by Charlotte Sometimes
Done Stealin' by Carolina Liar
Coldfront by Amie Miriello
All The Same To Me by Anya Marina
Enchantment by Lily Frost
Hello by Schuyler Fisk
Exactly by Amy Steinber
Shy That Way by Tristan Prettyman and Jason Mraz

Book Club

Saturday was my turn to host bookclub. We discussed A Thousand Splendid Suns.

I LOVE this book. A must-read. WAY better than the Kite Runner.

In keeping with the book title, I decorated with sunflowers.



Craig surpised me the night before with a beautiful bouquet to add to the tablescape.

We had a smaller group this month, so I kept the menu simple, with garlic rolls, antipasto and make-your-own pizzas.

And what good is pizza without some yummy rootbeer?


Throw in some lemon pound cake for dessert and you could say it was a nearly perfect afternoon.

(I've cropped out my head, but I looked WIERD and this was the only picture of me. And I got this fab new apron this week. It's my blog and I'll be vain if I want to.)



I am blessed to have a life filled with so many wonderful friends. I hope if you're reading this you had some lovliness this weekend too.

Maybe We Watch Too Much American Idol

For the past couple weeks, AJ has been dancing around and singing into her turkey baster microphone. She loved watching the American Idol audition episodes and would predict with each contestant whether or not they would get a golden ticket. So the other night as she was be-boppin' around singing her heart out, she heard something flapping on the front door. She opened it and literally screamed, (Are you ready for this? I'm not exaggerating - this is word for word) "I'M GOING TO HOLLYWOOD!" The local gym had placed a yellow flyer on our door and she thought someone had heard her singing and brought her a yellow ticket. She was ELATED!



I'm thinking maybe we need to cut back on TV time.

Ha Ha Ha!!!

Jonni already posted this on her blog, but I thought it was too funny not to share.


Seriously, I'm trying, but I don't get these guys. I guess I am offically old and uncool.

If I Was Willing to...

spend $230 on a swimsuit (ahem, and do a whole bunch more sit-ups), I would totally buy this:

Happy Tunesday: Spring Cleaning

Perfect for getting you going in the morning and spurring you on to tackle that housework I've you've been putting off.

Crank this baby up to 10 and get some major housework done!

Move Over Goldfish...

The new snack that smiles back:




We've been consuming a lot of these at our house lately. They are a mere 60 calories of chocolaty goodness. I take it as a good sign that he's happy to have me eating him.

Pizza Pizza

Last night we had pizza, compliments of AJ. She's quite the chef! I think it's great that even at her young age, she loves to cook. I know lots of people see cooking as a chore, but it is truly something that I enjoy. It makes me feel good to make a healthy meal for my family each night. And for me, there is something almost theraputic about cooking - just zoning out and focusing on the food. With my little chef always at my side, of course.

She was very meticulous about topping placement:




Showing off her masterpiece: Pepperoni, artichoke, pineapple and olive - yum!


Anxiously waiting out the cooking time:


And finally, enjoying the fruits of her labors:

Since When?!

Log Cabin Village

We killed an afternoon as a family at the Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth. It was actually pretty fun - who can complain about a whole afternoon for under $5?!

AJ learning how to hand-weave:


I'm so glad we don't wear bonnets anymore, but this was fun:


Working the water pump:


In the hen house:



Chillin' in the Indian Tepee:


Checking out the water wheel:

Happy Tunesday: Bundle Up

Though it's warming up in my neck of the woods, the cold is settling in around a lot of others. So if you are caught in frigid temperatures, hunker down with some hot cocoa, a soft blanket and pop this baby into the player. I think it's perfect for a cozy day in.

Arrgh...

Pics of AJ before going to her friend Matt's Pirate Birthday Party.




I told her to pick a pose - this is what she did:

I don't know where she gets this stuff. But she had a great time at the party. Thanks to Dee Dee for a great party and thanks to Christine for lending us the pirate gear!