Confessions from Jack's mom

While I thought Jack was just having some good quality solo playtime in the loft, I soon discovered that he was actually busy removing all the wheels from any car whose tires come off...using his TEETH. Oh dear!

And, when after reprimanding him several times for his colorful choice of words to describe the lunch I had made him that he didn't like, I elected to use the good old soap in the mouth form of punishment...only to find out that he has a very fragile gag reflex, which left me the one actually punished cleaning up vomit from the rug in the kitchen. At least I kept my naughty words under my breath.

As if that wasn't enough fun for one day, later that evening he took a big swig of Bryan's gin and tonic (apparently I wasn't the only one who had a hard day!) and made such a terrible face since he was expecting water. As I was walking him to the toilet to spit it out, he swallowed it instead and then announced that he wanted more...yeah I am not about to win parent of the year today...maybe tomorrow ;)

More Fav Products!!

Well, I am in a sharing mood today so I have a few more items/products to share that I love and use everyday. You may remember my last such post here.

#1 High quality satin pillowcases...I have read in multiple books/magazines that these are great for the delicate skin on your face to reduce what will become permanent wrinkles from sleeping. Also, I read that the copper content in the satin helps skin retain firmness, which is further supported when I see lots of anti-aging products containing copper. They are easy to find, in fact the Linens 'N Things by my house is going out of business so I recenlty popped in and grabbed a couple of king sized cases for a reasonable price:



And even if it is all a gimmick, they really are so soft and luxurious feeling that I don't really care ;)

#2 ANYTHING from the H2O+ brand Milk line of products. I currently have the hair mask, body butter and some facial gel that is a miracle healer of any blemishes' remnants. This stuff smells SO good, it is hard to describe because it isn't floraly or fruity...a very unique fragrance from the milk proteins that make these products so rich and capable of rectifying all the damage I do to my hair from styling and coloring:



#3 I recently added a new supplement in addition to the fish oil I am now taking Lipoic Acid, which is a great antioxidant:



This is one that I suppose I won't know about how effective it is/was until years from now, but I figure it can't hurt. I take prenatal vitamins every day and the fish oil and lipoic acid, so it's not like I'm popping a bunch of pills...yet.

Also, I am trying to stretch for ~10 minutes per day since my back has been a little achey lately, probably from carrying Jack and running up and down the stairs a hundred times per day. I was a sprinter all through college so I am NOT flexible at all and can really benefit from even a few minutes of effort in this department.

I would L.O.V.E. to hear of any favorite products, supplements or actions that anyone has to share that they think makes a positive impact on their health, appearance or life!

As seen in...

...my living room on any given Saturday. NASCAR on the TV, NASCAR on the laptop, oh my!!



...my dining room...can you believe this candle holder was a wedding gift from Bryan's grandma that I just finally opened a couple days ago. Now that we finally have room to stretch out in the new house all kinds of things are possible.



...the office just about every evening. All the Star Wars creatures come out in full force, and voice imitations are included!

The Big 2-9

*I turned 29 on my usual birthday of November 9th, no big deal. Spent most of that day at Sea World and even went on a roller coaster - nothing says "I'm still young" like a clenched jaw and white knuckles on the Steel Eel, right? But ever since that last youthful hoorah I have been thinking "am I getting old?" Next year I will be thirty and I just want to make sure I haven't already settled into some kind of rut like I see other people in and wonder if they even know. Ya know?

So, I am ramping up my going-to-the-gym efforts and actually using the Crest White Strips that have been in my cabinet forever and drinking more water and basically making a desperate last attempt to make sure I am in check in my last year in my twenties...which is actually not even a year now, more like 359 days...AND COUNTING!!

*Bryan worked/played with Warren today outside throwing a football and MAN, the kid has some natural ability. Wasn't so much the distance he was throwing it (a mere 20-25 feet) but the speed and accuracy with which he was hitting his target. Sheesh, maybe he will make us rich someday as a quarterback ;) If nothing else we will definitely be enrolling him in football ASAP.

*The boys went to 'parent's nite out' at Warren's school last night and we went grocery shopping while they were there. I know we are lame but it is a treat for us both to go to the store and take our time. We got the boys new pajamas while at the store...with capes, because naturally all we end up doing when we are not with the rug rats is talk about them and buy things for them:

Snowday!! Hooray!!

It FINALLY snowed in Denver today, although by the time we made it outside it had all melted of course.

But that didn't stop me from bundling us all up though and heading out for a long walk. Warren got a new winter coat this year:

And Jack obviously has some growing to do to fill out his hand-me-down:

I certainly wasn't immune to the rediculous-ness of the winter coat, as is evidenced by my furry shadow:

It's the little things

Bryan painted the garage floor while I was in San Antonio last week and it is so amazing and clean, I am just so impressed...and yes I realize it might be odd to be so impressed with a garage floor.



But, ya know, sometimes it's the litte things that make me happy, like a sparkly garage floor...

...and a smattering of Christmas decorations that I put out early because I am just too excited this year:

I remember when...

...my little "bubba" would be waiting for me at the window when I got home from elementary school in Eagle River, Alaska. We were equally excited to see each other and would roll around on the floor playing. I didn't even mind when he drooled on me or bonked me in the head with his play toy hammer, he was just too cute!

Now, he is almost 24 and just graduated from boot camp in the United States Air Force. I am so proud of him for this accomplishment that he embarked on after completing college. I hope this journey is just what he needs.





Congrats, Airman Garrison!! We love you!!

Crafty update

Check out my latest project! I have been trying to come up with a way to display the boys' art work and such...and since you can't put magnets on the front of our stainless steel refrigerator, I came up with the notion of using clothespins on a ribbon to be able to continually change out the display. I think it turned out cute and Warren is loving looking at all of his art work.



And I'll just go ahead and address the elephant in the room...or rather the elephant on my republicrocs...



Yes, I am disappointed, but I am not one to dwell on the negative. So, it is onward and upward and looking into more crafts...like how to avoid paying taxes under this welfare advocating administration.

Goings On

We have my mom and sister here from Alaska, and have been busy basking in the early November Colorado sunshine. That's right, it has been in the mid 70s since they arrived so we are getting majorly spoiled.

I remember trick or treating with my fairy costume over my enormous snow suit in the -30 degree temperature going up hill both ways in Anchorage...okay, okay it wasn't that bad but certainly nothing like the Halloween weather we had this year in Colorado.



We had my aunt and uncle and cousin over for dinner and it was great to be surrounded by so much family, which is a rare treat for us! Cheers!



I was feeling so relaxed I had to break out my favorite hat that my grandpa Jack gave me...

Man and Boy's true best friend...

...NACHOS. Shirt is optional.

Not I said the...

I spent the whole morning painting up a storm and there is nary a white wall left on the main level in my house.

I tried to solicit some help.

"Who will help me paint these walls?"

"Not I, said the dog" -- too busy napping on a pillow like royalty


"Not I, said Jerome the Gnome" -- too busy fake painting in another room...
Fine, then I will do it myself!


A friend of Bryan's painted this painting and gave it to us as a wedding gift. It says "Il Primo Prossimo Esestesso," which means "Charity begins in the home" in Italian.

Marvelous, just Marvelous

Yeah for me! After frustratingly trying to start my own, I joined a local Mom's Group that I found using www.meetup.com

There is practically something to participate in every day and I have already RSVP'd for a few upcoming get togethers. I am so excited to meet some new friends for myself and the boys. What fun!

My mom is coming from Alaska this Friday! I can't wait to see her and my little sister and show them our new house...oh, but I really want to finish some painting on the main level before Friday and have everything be just perfect :) We'll see if I manage to accomplish it!

Especially since I can't seem to pry myself away from the political news today. John McCain just gave a 'surprise' announcement and it was marvelous, truly I felt like he finally hit one out of the ballpark. All I have to say is:



Yeah! Okay, so I am just having my own private McCain/Palin rally at my house this morning ;) I am about done, now where did I store all the paint supplies?

Marble Run

What a great toy! I remember playing with this when I was little and my boys love it now too. Although I have to confess that I had a bit of trouble putting it together and I have two Engineering degrees ;) After a few corrections, we finally got it all working properly and I had two shrieking boys watching the marbles and catching them at the bottom.


It is just so nice to see them play with something other than Starwars stuff for a little while!

Mmmm....smell the Love

I do love my new Harajuku Lovers perfume 'Love'...oh and also Diet Dr. Pepper while I am on the topic :)

Jack and I went to the play area at a mall nearby this morning and I finally caved and got this lovely fragrance. Well, actually I took something back and exchanged it for the perfume so as to not spend any money since, ya know, we are no longer a dual income family.

What else am I loving right now:
1. Bright sunlight in the afternoon without the accompanying summer heat.
2. The music to my ears when Jack says "I have to go potty!"
3. Getting a random compliment on my complexion from a complete stranger/passerby at the mall today...especially since the complimenter was a gay man with a great complexion himself!
4. Talking to Bryan on the phone today and hearing him say how happy he is with his job and company...thank goodness one of us found a career to love!

Our Busy Day

Whew! What a day. We spent the morning at a great Children's Museum in a town north of ours and then spent the afternoon collecting leaves for an art project and making a yummy dinner.

Jack took an after nap nap on the couch yesterday, which was just so out of the ordinary I had to take a picture:

I think he is going through a growth spurt because he has been sleeping so much lately and has quite the appetite for him.

Warren is so enjoying the days he spends at home and his demeanor has really improved and settled down...this smile says it all:


Lastly, here is the delish supper we had...Bryan is out of the state for work but that didn't stop me from cooking up a huge pan of spinach tortellini and meatballs. I made the sauce using canned crushed tomatoes and lots of yummy spices: