Tuesday's 10

1. Well, I gave up. I'm on Facebook. Technically I've been on there for a while. But now I've stopped pretending it doesn't exist. Adding it to my blackberry was a nice touch and gives me something to do when I'm bored.

2. We still have no set plans for the fourth. We have options but no plans. Whatever we decide, we'll be sticking close to home this year.

3. Nearly 5 years ago, I was in the delivery room when little Emma was born by c-section. It's all smoke and mirrors... Okay, no mirrors but there was a lot of smoke. I mean a lot of smoke... Don't worry, I didn't tell KT until about a year ago after all her babies were born.

4. Now they are moving to GA :-( The bad new is: I'll be all by myself... But you can check out their sweet little house.

5. The good news is: I'm officially accepting applications for new friends. Just kidding... kinda... not really... maybe. Depends, whatcha offering?

6. It takes an amazing amount of tolerance to put up with me. On the surface you think I'm nice and quiet. I hear people say that all the time. But you'd be amazed how much I can rant & whine. Or maybe, if you're a regular here, you're not that surprised at all.

7. I'm handicapped when it comes to typing on my laptop. My palm constantly hits the mousepad and sends unfinished messages requiring responses from friends such as 'huh?' and 'what?'

8. I'm still wondering why it is that the one doctor I don't want to see is the only one available when I need to be seen. The injustice of it all.

9. I think I've made one good parental decision this week. I actually researched the new Transformers movie before opting out of taking Aiden to see it. Yeah for me - trying to make intelligent, informed decisions.

10. I have three new cookbooks. Any bets on how long it takes me to use them?

Looth Toof

Friday Aiden lost his first tooth at nap time - a central incisor to be exact. He was pretty lucky though because his permanent tooth was making its way, whether or not this other tooth ever came out. For a moment I pictured him looking like a shark or something with rows of teeth!

Please excuse the nostrils, dirty finger nail, and stained upper lip! Apparently he was breaking the new tooth in with a blue ring pop! No wonder the dentist loves us...

In Honor

In honor of the late great Michael Jackson, I give you Thriller - presented by Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. Okay, I realize I'll likely be the only one to watch this clip all the way through. But you gotta love JG, and I completely crushed on Mark Ruffalo in this film. Shhh, Jamie doesn't need to know.

Here Little Fishy

When I took my camera to Aiden's last day of swim lessons to 'capture the memories,' I envisioned that my pictures would be, well, picturesque. I imagined him springing up from the water, droplets catching the light, and a perfect all-capturing smile on his face. What I ended up with was slightly less than glamorous.... And yes, I can post these because I have far to few naked baby pictures to blackmail him with later down the road!

There were a few that qualified for keepers too...

The end result... Like a fish in water.

Wordless Wednesday

Taken two summers ago -

I think he'd still be wearing these shoes if I'd let him

If I May Be As So Bold To Say...

Along with 9.8 million other views I got sucked into watching the John & Kate show last night. Now, I should preface this by saying that I am not a follower of their show. I do catch it from time to time and read the tabloid commentary about their lives. I find it interesting to see how a family of 10 functions, in much of the same way I would watch the Dugger clan. Again, please don't think I sit around watching reality TV all day. (Honest, I'm not that big of reality TV fan, I prefer something as fictional and as far away from real life as I can possibly imagine to entertain me.) However, I do imagine that my peaked interest probably stems from my inability to control or run a household of 3 successfully, so I can't imagine how the rest of the world functions.

But here are my thoughts...

If you've ever asked yourself what is the cost of a marriage?

Then I would say that J&K have successfully placed the value of their marriage at $75K an episode. I know that is bold to say being that I do not know these individuals, their family, their problems, etc. However, as it would appear to me, a single viewer, many of their problems stem from the stress that comes along with being on TV, including and most specifically - the media.

So, what do you do to remove yourself from the media? You stop the show. Not just for yourself, for your children, for your marriage. Both of them stated several times that they are doing what is best for the children. Really? Do you honestly believe that? And at what cost?

And to answer the reverse of that question, how do you not stop the media? My guess would be to announce your pending divorce on national television.

Now I won't venture into who the good or the bad guy is in their current situation. I've seen how she orders him around like a dog, but I also heard his less-than-concerned responses to the most difficult questions last night.

I guess in the end, it would seem to me (a wife, mother, daughter, social worker that deals with the difficulties single parents face on a daily basis), that if they were truly concerned with saving their marriage, then the answer would not be to continue the show. But to do away with it - for a season, for a lifetime, whatever it takes. To really heal a marriage, you have to put it first. (Don't worry, I'm preaching to myself as well here.) But you can't do that with camera crews and paparazzi. I wonder what their life would have been like without this show? My guess is that they'd be a lot like you and me - struggling to make it in the real world, they'd cling to one another and to their family because it's all that they have, all that really matters.

I do wish them the best and I hope that they are able to find whatever happiness they are looking for. Much like I hope this for myself and to you as well. And by the way, it's okay to disagree with me. I don't know everything. Just don't tell Jamie or Aiden that - it's taken me a long time to teach them otherwise... heehee.

Looking Forward To The Weekend

Provided by Cartoonstock

Usually I post following each weekend, giving you a recap of the weekend's events. But I have to say, I'm kinda looking forward to this hectic weekend we have planned.

Tonight, Gigi's coming to stay with us. We're going to catch one of the summer outdoor movies offered through the local parks and rec center. Tonight's showing: Happy Feet. Now, being that ABC Family has shown this twice already this week, the only thing that is going to be a surprise will be the end. Not that we haven't seen that before or don't own the DVD... But it's the fun of watching it outdoors, under the stars.

Tomorrow is when the fun really begins. My mom and I are attending a girls only Tea Party with big brimmed hats and fancy teacups - the works! I'm looking forward to this experience. Following this, we're treking to Creedmoor for a birthday party. (Happy Birthday Joss!) Aiden is psyched because they're going to get to swim and he wants to try out his new skills he's learning from swim class.

And finally, Sunday is Father's Day. (Happy Father's Day Dads!!) We're doing the usual church and have another birthday party that afternoon. Following that we're going to take Jamie out to celebrate his special day! Can't tell you what it is, it's a surprise! (Plus it's not all planned yet...)

The bad news is that Monday is going to be here sooner than I realize!

Flowers Galore

Guess I was feeling a little inspired. Or just needed some time outdoors. Either way I drug Aiden out for a little outing this evening. There's a great little garden near work, so we took advantage of the great weather and my new lens.

A Little Pre-K Pomp & Circumstance

Well, it's official, our baby is school bound. Today he officially graduated from Pre-K. This year has been one of the best years. He has grown and learned so much. And I have all praise for his school. The staff and teachers have done an amazing job. I have no doubt that he is ready for Kindergarten. Just not sure I am... I hope to have a video clip for you in a day or two.

Aiden and Matthew

Aiden, Matthew, and Jansen

Aiden with his stole & diploma

Aiden and Ms. Deborah

One of his two great teachers

Aiden and Ives

Aiden and Grandma

The Great Wolf Lodge Picture Overload

For weeks we've waited for this weekend. And I'd have to say that it met our expectations. We had a blast. Thanks GiGi and Poppy for giving us great summer memories.

Cousin Savannah

The magic of the wands...

Junior Magi Aiden and Magi Caed

He's a Muscle Man...

Wiley

The Tower Clock & Characters

Can I still do 10 if it's not Tuesday?

1. It’s not Tuesday. It’s Wednesday, Hump Day. One day closer to the end of another week. Can I get an Amen?
2. This weekend we are going to the Great Wolf Lodge, or a ‘hotel with a pool’ according to Aiden.
3. Seven weeks from now I’ll be doing absolutely nothing and it will be glorious! I’m taking a week for a little mother/daughter time while on a conference in Oklahoma.
4. Twelve weeks from now Aiden starts Kindergarten. My stomach churns just thinking about that.
5. I’m officially apologizing and sending a big THANK YOU to KT. Somehow she remains to be my friend no matter how big of a whiner (or bitch) I am. Opps, sorry. Someone cover the children’s ears when reading this aloud.
6. We just had the world’s most expensive car inspection ever - $1000. Say bye-bye emergency fund.
7. But I’ve learned a lot about my car through the experience. Apparently she was made in Canada but has California Emissions. In addition, the manifold and catalytic converter are molded together (so when one breaks you have replace both and in my case, find a place that sales one that meets CA emissions as well– yeah, good luck…) And I think it was also mentioned that I have two catalytic converters on my car. Does that mean I have two manifolds too?
8. What is a manifold? Sounds like a man’s wallet to me.
9. Last weekend we formally joined our church (finally…). It feels right to have made that commitment. This is only the only church I’ve ever joined besides the one I grew up in.

10. I wrote this on a 'left hand smoke break,' so I should probably get back to work now.

Maybe Size Matters...

Yes, I'm talking about my camera. What were you thinking?

I arrived home this afternoon to see my birthday present resting safely on our doorstep. A new lens for my camera!! Yea!! Jamie and Aiden got me the 'Sony 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens' (that's the official name). What does it mean? I can take lots more close ups, get more detail. And I'm psyched.

Just from my doorstep I was able to take some amazing close up shots from far away. Take a peak...

And a few indoors

Seriously, the back of the Clorox bottle from across the kitchen. I'm in love.