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Monday, April 30, 2012

Viva La Vlog: Introduction

A week ago when I attended Bloggy Bootcamp, Danielle Smith challenged us to vlog.

Vlogging? Really?

I'm a writer. How do I make vlogging relevant?

Well, Kim from Kimperfection had the answer. She created Viva La Vlog. Each week she will feature a meme to vlog about. I thought what the heck I'll give it a try.

Our first theme...Introductions

Lights, Camera, ACTION!




Want to join us? Here's the low down.

VIVA LA VLOG!
The rules (not really rules) are easy:
1. Kim give you a theme to help you come up with something to talk about – however, if you have something else you want to say, go right ahead :)
2. Kim will put the theme up at the end of the week, Thursday or Friday.
3. Grab your video device (camera, phone, Flip, etc.)
4. Shoot a short video. Like Danielle said, two minutes are fine!
5. Put it on your blog and link up below so we can all check it out.
6. Display the Viva La Vlog button with a link here…maybe we can encourage others to join in!
kimperfection

Friday, April 27, 2012

A {Scenes from Bootcamp} Sound Bytes of the Week

Happy Friday!!!!

Some of you may recall last Friday's {Firsts} Sound Bytes where I mentioned that I was headed to my first Bloggy Bootcamp, and this week I'm feeling the aftermath. The combination of information overload, a short work week and the beginning of E's spring sports have truly wiped me out. Which means at 5 p.m. today, I will be cracking open a beer, putting my feet up and letting the weekend calm engulf me in its embrace. 

So, how was my trip to St. Louis?

Well, I'm glad you asked, because this week's Sound Bytes are the Top 10 Things I heard at Bloggy Bootcamp. 

10. "Welcome to the Gateway Arch."
Upon my arrival into St. Louis the glorious arch welcomed me into the city, and I was lucky enough to make it to the top during my short visit. I can cross that one off the bucket list. While it was neat going to the top and seeing the city, I spent all of two minutes up there before heading back to the hotel for happy hour.

9. "So what do you blog about?" 
I believe I was asked this about a million times and each time I stumbled, I mumbled and I still couldn't REALLY give a definitive answer. So, if you are a loyal reader and would like to offer some insight to that question I'd totally appreciate it.



8. "Would you like to go to dinner?"
Yep, I asked a fellow blogger {stranger} to dinner that very first night. You know how when you meet people and you just click, that's how it felt when I met Kim from Rubber Chicken Madness. She was my partner in crime the rest of the weekend.



7. "The washer just crapped out. What kind do you want me to buy?" 
This was a text received about mid-morning on Saturday as I was trying to concentrate on SEO. Let's just say I'm glad I wasn't home for that fiasco and I won't be doing any laundry until our new washer arrives on May 1.

6. "As bloggers we must reach up, reach across and reach down."
This statement really hit home with me. It means reach up to find a mentor, reach across to find friends and reach down to help someone else. I think this rule can be applied everywhere not just in the blogiverse.

5. "Squirrel"
Story of my life. I often lack the ability to stay focused.

4. "Please don't Tweet that."
I think every one of our speakers said that at least once, or twice.

3. "You should really switch to Wordpress." 
I heard this the moment I handed someone my blog card. And after hearing it at least a 100 more times at the conference I have hired the talented Napwarden to create a new look for the blog and move me back {don't ask} to Wordpress.


2. "Fake it till you make it."
Oh, so true. If you want to be successful you need to act like you already are. I forget this ALOT and I need to remember to believe in myself, because if I don't how do I expect others to.



1. "If you shut your computer they will come back to you."
BAM! There it is the statement of the day. The one that had myself and the lovely Tiffany Romero in tears. There needs to be a balance between work and family and I need to remember to close the computer and spend quality time with them. Oh, and Wednesday nights will be a lot more exciting too.

What did you hear at Bloggy Bootcamp? Or this week? I'd love to hear it.


Whew! That was my trip, and as I drove home my head was swimming and my heart was full.

And when I walked through the door I heard the BEST Sound Byte ever.

"Welcome Home Mama."
__________________________________________

I also want to thank all of you for your sweet comments on my Mamapedia article. As I sat and read all the comments tears welled up in my eyes, and I realized as women we really just need to love ourselves more, because we RULE!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Preconception equals Misconception: Just Be Enough

“Oh, you wouldn’t understand,” she said to me. “You’re skinny.”

Whoa…hold the phone. What?

Was she talking to me?

I might have an athletic build, but I never label myself as skinny. In fact, I HATE that word, it cuts through my soul. For years the number on the scale and image in mirror haunted me, and while I never weighed more than 130 pounds I still worried about my weight. It’s sad, but it’s a fact.

But because I’m typecast as the skinny girl weight isn’t something I should worry about.

Did you also know that because I’m skinny I’m:

Dumb
A Bitch
I must be obsessed with fitness
I’m popular
I’m wealthy
And I can eat all the Oreos I want without gaining a pound

I’d have to say that last one makes me laugh till milk comes out my nose, because seriously people I DON’T allow Oreos in the house for that particular reason. {See I do worry about my weight}.

As for the other preconceptions…

I’m pretty smart {at least my five year old thinks so}
I believe I’m a nice person
I workout, but I’m not nuts about it
I was NEVER popular
If I’m wealthy, that’s news to me and my full-time job

So let’s drop the dirty s-word, and the preconceived ideas that go along with it. Weight and body image are a universal struggle whether you are a size six or twenty six.

Before we start having preconceived ideas of who people are, let’s get to know them. No one is perfect and no one has it all together. You never who maybe struggling with the same issues and you just might be lucky enough to find a friend, a confidant or a nice shoulder to lean on.


Be Enough Me Monday | Just.Be.Enough.

Friday, April 20, 2012

A {Firsts} Sound Bytes of the Week

Good Morning!!!

Today is a big day...it's the day of FIRSTS.

It is my first feature on Mamapedia today, and I'm so happy to share my story. Hopefully, it will help someone else who is facing their own challenges. Curious? Head over and give it a read, and if you like it make a comment.

This is also the weekend of my first blog conference. Hopefully, by the time you read this I'll be on the road headed to St. Louis for Bloggy Bootcamp. I know I sound like such a blog geek, but I'm so excited {picture me jumping up and down right now. Everything is packed and ready to roll.


So, let's roll out this week's Sound Bytes of the Week.

3. "Oh no the commode might suck me up." 
This was said by the school nurse at our kindergarten round up meeting. She was commenting on the worries our children might have. Hilarious, and kind of true as the toilets at school are pretty big.

2. "Mom can you put your thumb right there to pause the page."
E says this every time he wants me to save his place in a book. We now call it the thumb pause.

1. "I smelled something all the way from school to home. It was a fart that you've been holding onto forever." 
Living a house full of boys I will never get away from the fart comments, so at some point I just have roll with 'em and laugh too.

Well, there they are in all their glory. What were your Bytes this week?


I hope you have a GREAT weekend, and may you keep on rolling.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Stop and See the Sunrise: Bigger Picture Moment

It's pitch dark when I leave the house for my annual pilgrimage to the gym.
After my sweat session, I always witness the sunrise. Typically it's pretty awesome in all it's grandeur of reds, and yellows. Lighting my way home.

I love taking sky photos it's one of my favorite {and dangerous} past times. Especially since I very rarely stop the car to take them. Stupid to be sure in this day and age of texting and driving, but...I have places to be and as we all know by my multitude of speeding tickets I'm constantly rushing and never stopping.

But today. Today was different. The sunrise was perfection and the view rushing past my driver's side window didn't do it justice.

As I pulled off the interstate, I pondered it a moment then took a right instead of left. I took a detour and headed away from the city out by the airport where there were no buildings to obstruct my view.

Then I STOPPED, and stepped out of the car to take the photo. {Actually five photos}

I took a deep breath and just stared into the light.

Life has been so busy lately, good but busy and it's been hard to sit still. But today I did.

Today I stopped and stepped out my life to appreciate the beauty of the day.

Ironically, it's rainy now and the day hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows, but that sunrise made the day perfect for me.


Share a picture, words, creation or list; just come to the table with the beauty in the simple moments of the week..
Live.
Take a moment to cherish the little blessings in life.

Capture.
Grab your camera and snap it to save it for that rainy day.

Share.
Link up your gleaned moment this week at Undercover Mother Please be sure to link to your post, not your blog. Your post must link back here or have our button in your post or the link will be deleted.

Encourage.
Visit at least the person linked before you and encourage her in this journey we call life.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Hopping on My Soapbox: I want a CHOICE

Typically, I don't get involved in political shenanigans, but the whole Rosen vs. Romney debate fired me up. So forgive me as I hop on my soapbox and give my two cents on the situation.

First and foremost I agree with Rosen, perhaps not the words she used but the meaning behind them. I don't care what kind of mom you are, you can admit the fact that Ann Romney never had to work [for a paycheck} a day in her life. For real. she was rich even before she met her husband and we all know he's loaded. They come from a life of wealth and wealth leads to privilege which leads to an easier lifestyle.

A lifestyle that over half the American people know nothing about, nor do they care because they are out working long hours for that paycheck so they can support their kids.

I'm one of those people.

I'm a WORKING mom. Yes, I know. All moms work trust me I get it. But both B2 and I HAVE to work or our kids will be eating ramen noodles everyday. Even with the added cost of childcare {which exceeds our monthly mortgage payment} it's still more cost effective for me to work outside the home. Because right now I make more than my husband. Yep. that's right. He owns his own business and there are times when he makes more than me, but it's never consistent. So, it's up to me.

Who was it that said moms can have it all? Well I guess I do.

I'm bringing home the bacon and frying it up in the pan...

This isn't feminism speaking, it's just a fact of life. And there are days when I wish I had the luxury of being a SAHM. {Ok don't slam me for using the word luxury} Let me explain before anyone's feelings get hurt. I know the job of a SAHM is tough I get it, but to me it is a luxury and one that my family can't afford. And it is a luxury to not have to worry about things like...

1. Getting fired. Even though my job is great and I'm totally awesome at it. In a world full of surprise layoffs and a tough economy this is a constant fear.

2. Missing your kids. I miss them everyday. Not only that but I've had to miss shark presentations, soccer practices, and E getting stitches all because of work obligations. And when one of the kids gets sick B2 and I need to check our schedules and figure out who can use a vacation day to stay home with them. It makes me sad. We even missed G's first word and first steps {all done at daycare}.

3. The heartache of going back to work after maternity leave. With E this was overwhelming. To the point where every morning I would cry on my way to work and cry on my way home. For the first two years of his life I left for work before he woke up and spent only an hour with him before bed. It was terrible. My current job is much better, but even after having G it was hard going back to work.

4. The cost of childcare. It is astronomical, and sending E to kindergarten will be like winning the lottery in terms of childcare.

5. I don't have a choice to stay home. NEVER. Not once was that a choice. It was decided before we even had kids and not by me or my husband, but by the economics of this jacked up country we live in.

I'm not here to say one is better than the other or to debate who sacrifices more, but let's get real do you think that Ann Romney had to worry about any of those things. NO!! And that's what makes her completely unrelatable to me, and to many other women.

We are all juggling this job of motherhood on top of ten million other things in life. But let's just recognize that some of us don't have the choices that are offered to the Ann Romney's of the world. And perhaps we can work together to fix the country's problems, so that whether to work or not can be more of a CHOICE instead of a NECESSITY.

*I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings with this post, and if you disagree or have other opinions please share them, because there are no judgements on the blog.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven: Meet Me In St. Louis

I'm heading to St. Louis on Friday for Bloggy Bootcamp and I'm so excited {I think I've Tweeted, Facebooked and Blogged that a gazillion times, but it's so true}. Since I'm going to be meeting so many wonderful bloggers I thought this would be a great way for them to get to know a little about me. Oh, and for those of you that THINK you know me...these answers might surprise you.

Before I get started I'd like to thank the lovely Sarah over at This Heavenly Life for tagging me for this fun meme. Now let's get started.

First off the Rules:
1. Post the rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself along with 11 random facts.
3. Answer the questions given to you in the tagger's post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag new people to answer them.
5. Visit the people you tagged to let them know.




The Randoms
1. I'm not a redhead and no one in my immediately family was a redhead, which means we have no idea where G came from.

2. Sometimes I don't feel like I gave birth to my boys, like they are someone else's kids and I'm just along for the ride.

3. I talk to myself ALL the time, and if someone catches me I just pretend I'm singing.

4. There are days when I don't clean the kitchen and I just leave all the dishes sitting there because I'm too lazy to deal with them.

5. When I leave for the gym early in the morning I get in the car, lock all the doors then open the garage door just in case there are zombies outside. {I watch WAY too much Walking Dead}.

6. I honestly believe that toys come to life after we leave the room just like in Toy Story. I also believe the cats know this and are in on the joke.

7. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to a playdate with Tina Fey. I think it would be a blast.

8. I met my husband online through a personal ad on Yahoo! Personals. You can read our story here.

9. My trip to St. Louis is my first solo trip where I'm not meeting anyone I know. So please come talk to me, I'll be the quiet redhead in the corner.

10. I don't wear makeup and I don't put any product in my hair. YUCK!

11. I'm an only child and I lived with my dad from the time I was three. I feel this experience made me a stronger more independent person.


Sarah's Questions
1. Do you always read the entire book once you get started, or have you ever stopped halfway through a book?  If so, what was it, and why? I REALLY try to finish any book I pick up, but there was one that I said "To heck with it." To be honest I can't remember the book title, but it had something to do with a Shakespeare masterpiece and a mysterious transcript. It was VERY slow.

2. Which would you prefer to spend an afternoon doing: painting with a room full of preschoolers or painting with a group of adults? Adults for sure. I never get to do anything like that.

3. Is there a television show on right now that you try to never miss?  What is it? GLEE. I love it! I get up and sing and dance. B2 hates it, so I have to watch it when he's not there.

4.  What is the most adventurous food item you've ever tried? Some sort of fish eggs on sushi. I couldn't really tell if they had any flavor, but they did pop when I bit into them.

5.  If you could have as many children as you wanted without fear of discomfort (either physical or financial) or social judgement, how many do you think you'd have? The two I have are just fine. I think if I could mentally handle it I'd try for a girl, but I'd probably end up with another boy, so it's not worth the risk.
 
6.  What foreign culture fascinates you the most? Indian. I'm not sure why.

7.  When you're grocery shopping, what snack item has the greatest ability to tempt you into an unnecessary purchase? ICE CREAM...Specifically Whitey's ice cream.

8.  When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Did you succeed? I wanted to be a fashion designer. And since I can only draw stick figures that dream died a while ago.

9.  If you could go back to school and get any degree, would you choose differently than you did the first time? First of all I wouldn't have a major my first year in college, I'd just do all my General Ed classes and see what I liked. Then I would probably have had to switch schools and go to Iowa State {ugh, devil school} because they have an actual advertising major and that's what I should have majored in instead of being Pre Med.

10.  You have a $500 gift card to the closest mall: what will you spend it on? I would probably divide it up a bit and buy myself some new clothes and shoes, but then I'd get the kids and B2 some things they wanted.

11.  You are headed into a party full of people you've never met before and where mingling is expected.  What one word describes your mindset as you open the door? Well this will be happening when I get to St. Louis this weekend. Butterflies.


My Questions

1. If you could be rich or famous, which would you choose and why?

2. What was your favorite book as a child?

3. If you could have any super power what would it be?

4. What's your greatest fear?

5. What is your favorite blog post? Post a link and tell me why?

6. Have you ever gone on vacation alone? If you did where did you go?

7. What is your favorite season and why?

8. Hunger Games or Twilight?

9. Do you have a favorite baby name that you either used, plan to use or didn't get to use?

10. When was the last time you cried and why?

11. What did you dream about last night?


The Tagged
Karin at In Bloom
Hyacynth at Undercover Mother
Courtenay at Iowa Soup Mama
And anyone else that would like to join!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

FIVE!

E YOU ARE FIVE!!!

There was a time when I thought our lives were full, and then we had you.

Immediately our lives changed. Our house was louder, there were toys scattered about and there were messes. Our house was finally alive.

You were our first, our number one. It was hard, and we had no clue what we were doing. Your dad and I even took classes so we would know how to change your diaper, and swaddle you.

And now five years later our house is still buzzing with energy.

This birthday is bittersweet. I knew it would come, but I'm not prepared. As much as I want you to grow and explore, I still want you to be my little guy.

When you were tiny you had to have two stories, a song and be rocked until your eyelids drooped. Now we read and chat. You tell me about your day, but there's no song and no rocking.

Things are changing and it's taking all my willpower not to hold on tightly and keep you from getting older.

When you were little you were gregarious and loved to meet new people. Lately you are cautious testing the waters before you commit to a situation {just like your mama}.

These past five years I have watched you become your own person. Always, bucking the trend not doing what everyone else does. You wear what you want when you want. PJs outside? Sure. It's blue day, but you want to wear green. No problem. Batman mask to the mall? Of course. You march to your own drum and you always have. I admire that about you.

You can recite all the species of dinosaurs and name all the superheroes that ever existed. I find it humorous that you can remember all these things and yet you can't tell me what you had for lunch.

Telling stories and playing make believe are your forte and I can see you becoming a writer or an actor someday.

Above all your daddy and I are truly blessed that your little spirit chose us, and we love you so VERY much.

We are looking forward to more adventures.


Friday, April 13, 2012

A {Five} Sound Bytes of the Week

Greetings!
This week's Sound Bytes are brought to you by the number 5.

Because tomorrow E is turning 5..whew!

Honestly I'm not sure I can handle it. Yesterday was kindergarten round up, and yes I was the crazy mom with the camera.  I even started to tear up a bit when I let him go off on his own with the teacher. Oh, boy am I in for it this fall.


Then as we were walking across the street he refused to hold my hand because he's a big boy and he's going to be 5. WTW.

No. No. No. This can't be happening. I haven't aged a day how on earth can he be 5 already?

Well, since we are having a big celebration tomorrow {and I will probably tear up at some point}. I took today off to prep and plan. I have a VERY long list to accomplish, which always happens when I schedule a day off. Hopefully, I can get the majority of it done, but we'll see. With B2 being gone to his annual Wookie Watching {aka Comic Book Convention} it might be hard as a solo act.

Since I'm in a celebratory mood, and since we've hit a big milestone. I've decided to offer up the 5 best Sound Bytes of the Week, by E.

5. "I have my bum force field on."
For your information, you need to turn on your bum force field when you go over those big bumps that take your tummy away and tickle your bum.

4. "Yeah. My toothpaste farted."
B2 and I about busted a gut when we heard that one...good grief. In his defense though it really did make a farting noise.

3. "I can't sleep because the toots keep fooling me."
It's fine if the toots fool you just don't let the poops fool ya.

2. "Knock Knock."
    "Who's There."
    "Stinky Underwear."

Oh, the humor of a four year old boy. I believe armpit farts and boob jokes are next.

1. "Jumpy the squirrel is in my pants and I'm gonna give him my nuts."
We joked with E that he had ants in his pants, and he said no he had a squirrel and it just snowballed from there. B2 and I laughed so hard we cried.

Are you noticing a theme with this Top 5 list. I have to say that E, without even knowing it, has cornered the market on boy humor. Oh, if this is a sign of things to come, I'd say I'm doomed. Yowza.

What Sound Bytes do you have up your sleeve this week?


I am officially off to run my million errands, bake some cupcakes and try to get a run in before I have to pick up the boys. Wish me luck.

Here's a high 5 to milestones, and a great weekend.


Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Grow in March: Bloom without Boundaries

I step outside and take a deep breath. Fresh air rejuvenates me, and the sun warms my face. The cold metal of the garden shovel cools my hand, and I shift it to the other so I can slip on my gardening gloves. I eye the aged terra cotta pot I plan on using for the flowers. It is then that I realize the pot is too small. No matter how I configure the flowers they won't fit. I'm not willing to sacrifice the extra flowers, to split them up and put them somewhere else. "I'll just have to find a new pot," I think to myself.

Then it hits me. One of those "Oh, boy, Yes I see the irony" moments. 

During the month of March I resembled those flowers and that pot. I'm blooming and growing, trying new things, planning adventures and nurturing my writing. But I'm growing a little too fast and too big for my pot. With each passing day it's getting harder and harder to fit everything in. To do all that I want to do...to expand my mind, my opportunities and my physical strength. 

I need to be cautious or I will choke myself out. Expelling all my resources, leaving nothing for me or those I love. 

But the need to grow is overwhelming. There's only one solution. I need a bigger pot...or better yet no pot all. No boundaries.

That's easier said than done. Changes need to be made. It's time to prioritize, and call in reinforcements. 

Flowers that bloom too fast and too soon can whither. So I pace myself just as I would in a race.  Because my flower needs to grow strong and resilient so it can bloom without boundaries.


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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

An {Early Bird} Virtual Coffee

Good {yawn} Morning.

It's so early the birds are just waking up. Typically, I'd be at the gym this early, but...due to some shall we say irritating rules about staying in scheduled class times, I'm not allowed back at the 6 am class for another week. Grrr...

But that's good news because I'm here to have coffee with YOU! Even though you are probably still slumbering in a nice cozy bed. Keep snoozing, I'll keep your coffee warm.

If we were really meeting for coffee today, I'd of course have ask you about your weekend and if you had a nice Easter.

We spent most of the weekend in the Quad Cities with my mom and stepdad. On Saturday as mentioned in Friday's post we headed to an egg hunt.

Perhaps my memory is foggy, but I vividly remember actually having to find the eggs. You know look under leaves and around trees, etc. However, I guess in this world of Egg Hunt for Dummies, they just throw a bunch of eggs in an empty patch of grass and let the kids go to town. After the herds of kids were gone the park was spotless, not one egg was left behind. Why can't they clean up their toys that well?



E did a great job getting eggs and according to my mom actually gave one up to a little guy, as they went for it at the same time. Making mama's heart proud.

Upon inspection of the eggs we soon found out that all of them were filled with ... dum...da...dum...STICKERS!!! UGH. You should have seen E's face. He HATES stickers. Seriously, anything sticky and especially stickers. He was so bummed. G on the other hand wanted to plaster them all over his body.


A breakfast of blueberry pancakes quickly turned E's frown upside down and all was good.

On Sunday, my mom made her famous ribs and we gnawed on bones as E {who barely ate anything} kept reciting dinosaur facts, because you know dinosaurs are carnivores. Then we ate the bunny!


While the boys napped, B2 and I headed to the movie. After an odd mix up with movie times {they change the time on Sundays. WTW???} We ended up on the other side of the river watching American Reunion instead of 21 Jump Street. In typical R rated comedy style there were ample amounts of F-words and boobs. Seemed a tad sinful to watch on Easter Sunday, but...at least we were out of the house, alone, doing something other than running errands.

Lastly I thought I'd share so exciting news {and no I'm not preggers}. I submitted some writing pieces to some various mommy websites and I was asked to be a contributor so you will be seeing some of my writing on Mamapedia and Momiverse. And while neither of these are paying gigs, I'm still so proud to have my words out there. I'm thinking I can finally call myself a writer.

I hear the birds loud and clear now, and some little footsteps too. Better head up stairs and start breakfast. This week is going to be a little crazy, B2 will be gone for a couple of days, we have kindergarten round up on Thursday and E is turning 5 on Saturday. Perhaps I need a caffeinated coffee to make it through this week.

Hope you have a great week and now that you are awake, here's your coffee. Tell me, what's up in your world?

Don't forget to head over to Amy's for more conversation, I'm sure she's awake by now.

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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Hoppy Easter
















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Friday, April 6, 2012

An {MIA} Sound Bytes of the Week

Knock, Knock ... Hello??? Anybody there?

Oh, yeah. I'm here. Alive and well {barely}. After the week that ate Iowa City. I had no intention of taking a blogging break and in reality I didn't as I've been writing my butt off behind the scenes.

And speaking of writing {nice segue right}. I participated in Writing Circles this week. Created by my super talented friends over at Bigger Picture Blogs. If you are a writer or an aspiring writer you TOTALLY need to try it. Basically you are given a prompt, word count, style and then you go to town and write your little guts out. Then you get together with the other writers in your circle via Skype and tell each other how awesome you are. Ok, maybe that last part is a little much, but seriously everyone in my group on Tuesday was rocking the writing. So...that's where I've been...writing.

I'll even show you my shower as proof that yes...there are words coming from this wacky brain of mine. Although they have yet to be published.


So, I'm sorry I've been silent, but I promise the blog will be brimming with words and stories next week. Really...truly.

Now, on to our not so silent Sound Bytes of the Week.

3. "Finding a gardener to speak in May is like getting Santa to speak on Christmas day."
Yep, that's been my job all week to find a speaker, and I finally found one yesterday. Ahhh...sigh of relief and beer in hand.

2. "Whi Ox"
I swear this is G's way of saying White Sox. Go White Sox! Boo Cubs.


1. "You need to eat your corn like a typewriter."
     "Mom. What's a typewriter?"
And...now I officially feel ancient.


Now it's your turn.


Do you have any Easter plans?

I REALLY want to take the boys to an Easter egg hunt. When I was little I remember having a minor panic attack during an egg hunt and to this day I regret not participating. So this is my opportunity to live vicariously through my two munchkins. And...eat their chocolate eggs.

No matter how you decide to celebrate keep on hoppin'.

And may your kids share their chocolate bunnies. Happy Bunny Day!

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