Why I Hate Doritos

Listen up, all you mommas of BOYS. 

This is why I now HATE Doritos (and no, it has nothing to do with yesterday's Super Bowl commercial!)

Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday.  (I know YOU know this... but just getting us all on the same page.)  We went to a party.  It was a big party, probably 30-40 really fun peeps, lots of which were (really suprisingly well behaved) kiddos.  Good times, just a really nice afternoon in TX.

And this momma was BUSY.  Because the party was so crazee, I had to hold the sweet punkin most the time (lest she get trampled by the bigger kids while she's trying to figure out the whole walking thing - see how close she's getting?)

Between the punkin AND tending to my drink (vodka. fresca.  Have I told y'all that we're halfway thru a 10wk Biggest Loser contest and I've been winning the entire time?!)... So between the punkin AND my drink AND socializing... I didn't have time for much else.  And my big kids were being really good, so I didn't get in their business much.  I noted that Gman had a handful of Doritos EVERYTIME I saw him, but I was like... Whatev.  It's a party, he can knock himself out.

Cut to 2:15a.m.  Gman calmly shows up at my bedside and says, 'momma, I spit up on myself.'  I take him to the bathroom, where we can take a peek in the light.  He is covered, on one side, in NACHO CHEESE VOMIT.  All in his hair, plastered to the side of his face, all in his PJs, in every nook & cranny of his little left side.  AND, all over his bed, he announces.

He's calm, not scared or acting like he's got a stomach bug.  Because he doesn't.  He's puking because - in typical BOY fashion - he ate his weight in freakin' nacho cheese Doritos.  mr. fix-it put him in the tub, and I went up to his poor room.  Remember the one?  We may have to change the color scheme.  To navy blue, crisp white.... and nacho cheese orange!!! 

Hope you enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday as much as we did.... minus the 2am repeat of nacho cheese!!
This is post-party, on our way to Punkin's crib... with 52 seconds left in the game.  I think the GIANT football head behind us is hil-arious.   :) 

xoxo,

I like this gig

Okay, so I'm not so delusional to think that it would be all playdates at Chickfila.... fun playtime with my (well behaved!!) kids in our living room...and baking cookies..... even though we've done all those things this wk.... BUT, I cannot tell you how much I've been enjoying my time off! I've gotten to be a SAHM for the past week, with 4 more days to go, and I.am.loving.it!!





I'm loving:

~ the patience I'm having with my kids, because I'm not forced to do 8 things at once


~ that a trip to the dentist office for my 4yo can be fun!! when not stressing about how much time it's taking, and how fast can I possibly get back to work?, and what meeting am I missing


~ getting my laundry....grocery shopping.... you name it.... done during the week. And during the DAY!


~ getting to cook for my family. I love to cook but right now I only do it on Sunday evenings (that's when I prepare 2-3 meals that we can eat all wk! We don't get home til after 6:30 on weekdays and the kiddos are too hungry to wait for me to cook!)


~ listening to my kids (really listening!), getting on the floor and playing with them (I know it's sad, but I don't usually have much time for that!), taking them on day-to-day errands (we're finally going to go set up G-man's savings account!)


~ getting stress-free sleep! OMG, I didn't realize how stressed out I usually am.... and how it affects my sleep.... I haven't slept this well in years - always 'thinking' (stressing?!) about the next big deadline, presentation, meeting....


Funny thing is that several people I know (mostly in the working world!) told me how bored I'd be... that I'd be dying to come back to work, have some time without the kids.... that I'd go crazy.... but I've been far from it! I've still been BUSY (I think that's just my nature - I'll always be busy, no matter what!), but I've loved slowing down a bit.... spending time at home!
.
Now.... if only I had another week at home, I could get started on my 'project list.' :) Watch out, Mr. Fix-It! This 'time off' could get addicting! ;)


ETA: Tonight I tried a new recipe (more on that to come - I tried a Pioneer Woman classic!), AND we gave the kids baths, AND settled into the living room to play..... by 6:45, the same time we're usually getting home! INSANE! LOVE IT! :)

Cat, bat............bucket, ?

So, clearly, Big Sis is learning how to rhyme in school. By rhyming everything. All day. At first I thought it was going to be a (welcome?!) break from her constant singing, but she's just incorporated the rhyming INTO her singing!

So, converstion between Big Sis and Mr.Fix-It the other night (while I was out to happy hour!):
Big Sis: know what rhymes with cat, daddy? Bat!!
Mr. Fix-It: yeah, that's great, sis...
Big Sis: know what rhymes with dad? Bad!!
Mr. Fix-It: right again!
Big Sis: know what rhymes with bucket? ____ it!
Mr. Fi-It: NO MORE RHYMING!!!!

Um, I'm sure you can guess what she came up with to rhyme with bucket. Where she got the idea to rhyme a 2-syllable word... I have no idea. But I hope she doesn't go showing off her advanced skills at school. ;)

Tutu Cute - Big Sister's Ballet Debut

I had talked it over with a couple other moms and we all agreed... tonight would be entertaining, yes.... interesting, yes.... but prima ballerinas....

.....we doubted we'd see. We might have been mostly right, but what a surprise!

When I ask Big Sis to see what she learned in ballet for the week, she usually gives me a vocabulary word (sometimes as impressive as arabesque!) and can usually demonstrate it. As far as stringing together more than 1 (maybe 2!) moves.... that happens about as often as I've been jogging in the last couple wks (never!!)

This is Big Sis's bff.... they're the tallest girls in their class and when they get together they are SILLY! Which is maybe why the ballet teacher put them on opposite ends of the 'stage' for the recital? ;)

But, wow! I was so proud! Big Sis paid attention and was one of the best little dancers! Her toes were pointed, she was on beat (mostly).... I almost got teary!! My little ballerina is growing up!

Here's a little Under the Sea action ;)

Each ballerina did her 'ballet walk' around the room by herself. My ballerina was definitely not one of the shy ones!

A class full of pretty girls

For having a momma who never took ballet, Big Sis was impressive! And for being the momma who never took ballet... I'm hooked! Tonight was so fun! :)

That Silly Elf!

Yes, it's looking like Christmas at the Semi-Homemade House (although you'd never know it with my total.complete.lack of blogging lately. Sorry! I know I'm the only overwhelmed one around here!) ;) I promise to share a few semi-homemade decorating ideas - like this Preppy Pink & Green Tree I did for Big Sis's room - really soon! (Yes, that's tulle - shut up! I decorated this for PENNIES and what's even cooler? I can store it fully decorated and just get it out again next year!)

The silly Elf on a Shelf first came to our house last Christmas. And although Big Sis was a little young for it, probably.... this year she's ENTHRALLED with it. Every morning, she seriously bounces out of bed to look for him. (Because, in case you don't know, every night the Elf leaves and goes back to the North Pole to report on the kiddos' behavior that day. He comes back before morning and is in a diff spot!) Sometimes, he's done silly things, and he's left a small gift or two (think princss lip gloss from the $ section at target!), but mostly he just moves around and waits to be found!

This is where we found him one morning over the weekend....

sitting in a bunch of candy (and with the candles mom had just covered with scrapbook paper!)

And just look what this silly Elf did today. Santa came to school today to see the kiddos. And the Elf knew that, of course. So, what did he do? Laid out their school clothes ON the Christmas tree! Right down to Big Sis's (princess!) panties and tights and G-man's socks. Crazy Elf...

And just to share an amazing find.... This was NOT the year we wer planning to replace our kids' tree that we decorate upstairs (duh, we're in a recession!), but when our old tree (meaning so old I had it before I married Mr. Fix-It!!) broke at the base AS we were putting it together with the kids (picture totally disappointed Big Sis when we told her she couldn't hang the ornaments she's made at school for past holidays!) But.... wally world to the rescue. For $35, we scored a 6ft pre-lit tree with white lights. Amazing!!

And here's the recession-proof tree, all lit up. Ahhh... :) Hope you're enjoying the holiday season!

Life is about to get a little crazier....

.... and you thought that wasn't possible, ha!

G-man took his first steps last night! On the 1 year anniversary of his due date, I might add... ;) I'm so thankful to have gotten to witness them, especially as a working momma. I was in NYC for business the week Big Sis took her first steps. She was only 9 months old, so we weren't expecting it and I was super sad....

But it was the most amazing thing! 3 precious little steps! And I got so excited and gushed over him for so long that it wouldn't have surprised me if he did anything to avoid getting that kind of reaction. ever. again. But he took a couple more tonight! (And all this with me encouraging him for months NOT to walk! Just kidding. Kinda.)

So, now.... I need advice! This boy needs shoes! Big Sis wore shoes from birth... I worked in the shoe industry prior to moving to TX and I had friends near and far buying her the cutest, girliest shoes. G-man has worn shoes... maybe twice. I'm guessing the flexi-sole kinda thing is what I'm looking for.... and style is big for G-man (I mean, you saw his rocker pics, yes?) But here's the thing... don't forget the damn recession! I'd rather not break the bank, ok? So... fill me in! Here are a few I found in my 2 seconds of spare time that I liked:

Oh, and before a bunch of you suggest crocs..... those are not allowed at the Semi-Homemade School (or Big Sis would be in them sometimes!) Oh, and most of you know of my love of Amazon and/or free shipping... :)

Thanks for your help and celebrating G-man's big milestone! Hmmmm.... wonder what size he is..... g'night!

My Little Southern Lady

As I think back to my first mother's day, I can't help but smile. MY child was the most amazing thing ever, I thought she just hung the moon. And I still do. I like to call her my Little Southern Lady.... and on that day, my first mother's day, we celebrated her baptism.


My Little Southern Lady has all the characteristics of your average Southern gal...

She's got the drawl. She says things like:
Mom, let's have chill-ay (chili).

She's polite. She says "yes ma'am" if she thinks she might be in trouble or if she's trying to impress. ;)

She's got the 'look.' She loves to have her nails and toes painted pink. She insists on wearing dresses, even if she's sick and on her way to the dr. Over the weekend, she let me put sponge curlers in her hair!

She makes me and Mr. Fix-It so proud. Even the tough teachers say she's their best helper and the most compassionate friend. That she's polite and mature for a 3yo. That she acts older and sets a good example. And when I'm stressed (like I've been - sorry for yesterday's rant), these things make me relax a little and feel like I'm doing something right....

Here she is, being baptized in our church.


We had an entire weekend celebration! Everyone came in to town on Friday - family from both sides. Saturday we did some things together and ended with a big BBQ at our house, followed by a family bowling outing! Sunday, we had brunch before church and celebrated mother's day. Then off to her baptism. Everyone was anxious to get on the road afterwards, and we'd had a big breakfast, so we sent everyone home with goody bags of snacks and drinks for the road!

Here's the cutie in a semi-homemade baptismal photo shoot! ;)



Awww..... she was 5 months old, and that was 3 yrs ago. How time flies...

Thanks for being my sweet Little Southern Lady, Big Sis!

(Okay, gotta finish up at work and GET HOME!)

The art of saying no.....

Just how does one go about saying "no?" I just never seem to be able to do it, and I know that's a super uncommon trait of moms. ;)

But why is it on my mind now? Maybe because.... even though I told myself I wasn't going to participate in the bake sale at the kiddos' school this time..... I found myself making homemade cookies with Big Sis yesterday evening, after getting the email plea from school that they hadn't received enough baked goods for their fund raiser... So I baked a batch of those yummy oatmeal choc chip cookies.

And maybe because I'm so exhausted right now that I'm wondering how I can attend my 3:00 mtg, much less lead it. Because we've traveled 3 of the last 4 weekends and the whole Semi-Homemade fam is beyond worn out. Because I didn't say no. We haven't had a spare couple of hours since the first of February. Because I didn't say no. And there has been more than one occasion where we've forgotten show & tell, someone has not had clean clothes to wear, there has been nothing for dinner, and the house is embarassingly chaotic. Because at some point, I didn't say no.

I am looking forward to this weekend more than Christmas. We have NOTHING! I've been craving it. Being alone with just my hubby and 2 cutie kiddos. We're going to have family movie night one night (any suggestions, fellow mommies?).... We're going to have a Puerto Rican Staycation Sat night.... complete with a Puerto Rican dinner that we're cooking ourselves (I've GOT to start looking for recipes!) and fun, festive music. Who knows, maybe we'll throw on our swimsuits for fun (it DID hit 90 here yesterday, okay?) Ahhhhhh...... and did I mention we'll have a totally helmet-free G-man for all this fun? I could cry, I'm so excited. Or tired. Whichever.

Night Driving

I have tons of mommy friends that swear to me night driving is the best thing since being able to sleep thru the night. I have had my doubts and now I know why....

I am TOO tired for night driving. Or even night I'll-stay-awake-and-keep-the-driver-awake riding. While Mr. Fix-It drives the whole way here. (Thank you, babe!) My days are much too long to be on the road til 1am. But that's what time we got home. After I had to RUN out of my big meeting to make it to preschool orientation. 10 minutes late. But it was awesome. Great info from the teacher (who I never see because my kids are some of the last to be picked up - which is sad, I know, don't get me started...) And I met the parents of 2 girls who Big Sis talks about ALL THE TIME - "Sinny" (i.e. Sidney) and Samantha. Anyway, orientation ran 30 min late.... then we had to eat, pack and finally pulled out at 8:45. For our 4 hour drive.

Anyway, Big Sis does NOT sleep in the car... so why would the fact that it was past her bedtime change that? Um, yeah, it didn't. She slept for 2 1-hour stretches.... then whined and was upset the other 2 hours. Love that. Esp since, by then, I was a cranky momma. G-man rocked it though, and slept the whole way with one small exeption. Thank you, G-man!

And my kids never sleep later when they go to bed.... no! They're just totally sleep deprived the next day. Just ask Big Sis.... I hope both kiddos and Mr. Fix-It are able to take amazing naps this afternoon. While I'm sitting in a board meeting until 5. Oooh, better get going - it's time to get there! More from me later. We're heading to the OSU spring scrimmage tomorrow with both our kiddos and my sis and her munchkin - should be chaotic, hysterical and super orange.

Look what we had to do tonight...

Okay, so G-man has been on breathing treatments since the day after Christmas (with a two week exception in January). For the last couple months, we've just been doing the preventative meds... but tonight we had to bring in the real stuff. Poor g.... he got a cough sometime over the weekend and we've been watching it closely - we know how it can go from okay to dangerous in the blink of an eye. Tonight he was wheezing when I picked him up at school.

I'm hoping that since we know the drill, we can prevent my 3rd trip to the pediatrician in less than a week....

It's no wonder that one of the baby's favorite toys is empty! medicine bottles. They're everywhere the eye can see!

Semi-Homemade Easter Card

The plan: to take my sweet, happy, well rested kiddos to a nearby park (complete with a pond, gazebo, flowers) on a sunny, warm Sunday to take Easter pictures. Then, while those sweet kids napped, I'd leisurely pull together the cutest Easter card you've ever seen.

The reality: Sunday was cold and as windy as the Land of Oz. There was no way we'd be able to get a decent picture outside and Big Sis would have frozen in her sweet seersucker dress. So... Big Sis wasn't happy because she had caught wind of the plan to be outside and was sad it had gotten squashed. As for G-man... After being fine with being off schedule all day on Sat (at the 5k, Egg Hunt, hair cut, etc), he wanted to change his schedule when Sunday rolled around. And be mad about it. Hence, we took the pictures of a sleepy G baby and his irritated Sister inside in our dining room. And in the midst of a mile long to-do list, I threw together a card in 5 minutes so I could mark something off that long list.
(Don't ya love photoshop? I mean, fancy it is not, BUT at least it's custom!)

So, I present you.... this year's semi-homemade Easter card...

The Semi-Homemade Family wishes you a blessed Easter!

And here's to hoping that we score some much improved pics on the actual day! After putting in 80 hrs at the office by noon on Fri, I'll be escaping so that we can head to my inlaws in Pawhuska, OK (ever heard of it?) I'm lucky to have THE best inlaws who make visiting fun and RELAXING. Ahh, I can almost hear the sound of nothing to do already... I love that.

~~~Oh, and if you're looking for another fun and easy Easter craft to do with your kiddos, check out this DIY Chick & Bunny Treat Holders!

Is it my fault?

Seriously. Project: Make Sleep a Priority is NOT going so well.... Let me explain (I originally forgot to include this! Damn sleep deprivation, I'm not even making sense!) Last wk, I prayed/begged/pleaded to have just ONE WEEK with no illnesses, no one feeling bad, no parents missing work. And I got that. Last week. So this week? All bets are off....

11pm - The evening is not going quite as planned.... I had a hair cut and had brought home a huge pile of work to do before all my meetings today. Got to bed later than planned.

2am - Get a lovely wake up call at 2am from Big Sister. Big Sister never wakes up at night unless something is wrong. And it was. She was hot and running a fever. Wonderful. So, at 2am, Mr. Fix-It and I have a conversation about today and how I absolutely CANNOT miss my big mtgs, etc.... He has an important training thing, etc. Mr. Fix-It nods back off. I lay there and stress.

4am - Big Texas storms blow through and wake up both kids. But not at the same time. They spend the next hour and a half taking turns being awake until I finally get up.

7am - I leave to take G-man to daycare while Big Sister stays home with Mr. Fix-It. The nurses are going to wonder if he has a crush on one of them, since he was just there for G-man's 6 month shots yesterday and will likely return with Big Sister today.

8am - I arrive at work and a coworker tells me I look rested. While that's probably supposed to be a compliment, I want to smack him.

I'm so jealous of Big Sister and Mr. Fix-It, at home in their PJs on this rainy day.... while I'm in meetings 9-11:30 and then 2-5.... love that. ;) That picture at the top? It's Big Sister - her first Easter - and it makes me laugh.... which I could use today! Have a good one, y'all!

Weekend Family Fun

Doesn't this just say SPRING to you? Ahhhh, it was so nice in TX this weekend. Here's Big Sister chasing bubbles. My mom and sister were here for some shopping for my sister's upcoming new arrival! Here's Big Sister with that baby belly:

Here's a rare sighting of baby g sans helmet! Don't they look like an old couple, sitting on the porch, just chatting as the world passes them by?

A super, super rare picture of ME!! It's kinda dark.... but truth be told, that's probably a good thing! ;)

Oh, what a weekend! I did some Easter shopping, too.... time to start thinking of semi-homemade Easter ideas!

A different kind of anniversary

March 9, 2006 --- That was my first day back to work after my 10 wk maternity leave with Big Sister (that's her in a Hawaiian dress for Mr. Fix-It's 30th bday party!) Definitely one of the saddest days in my life... I'd had an amazing time at home with her and was loving being a mom more than I'd ever imagined! (I wasn't one of those girls that went into motherhood thinking it was all baby showers and cute clothes.... I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved being a mom!)

Wow, 3 years have gone by.... It's also been 5 whole months since I came back to work after maternity leave with G-man (I came back on Oct 9 - and that marks 5 months of pumping at work!) Going back to work the 2nd time was tougher in some ways because I knew what was coming. That heartache, that true, physical pain of dropping off your precious baby for the first time. With Big Sister, I held out until I got in my car and then sobbed the whole way to work. With G-man, I was crying before I even handed him off to the teacher. I told Mr. Fix-It that I wouldn't do it again.... that if we have a #3, I'm staying home with her/him longer than just a few months.

Whew, sorry for that crazy Monday moment! I've got big meetings this wk on Wed, so I'll try to pop in as much as I can. I've got some pics of my cute preggo sister to share from the weekend! (But for now, one more of our favorites from Mar 2006!)

If today wasn't Friday....

I'd quit my job. That's a saying one of my best galpals and I used to say to each other. Every. Friday. We were working together at our first jobs after college. And oh, what we didn't know then. Neither of us were married, no kids.... probably the most pressing issue was how we could get promoted and what we were wearing out that night. The old days...

Fast forward to now. And the reasons why I'm thankful it's Friday:

1. G-man was up all night. With a piercing, horror movie scream. I honestly don't know how the kid does it. His Big Sister never tried to pull anything like this. That boy is dra-matic! What was his issue? Not exactly sure, but it went something like this... when I gave him baby orajel, it was his ear hurting... and when I tried the ear drops, it must have been his teeth. This momma is tired.

2. Girl time! Mrs. Everything and I are going to try to hit up a movie tonight.... the Shopaholic one or He's Just Not That into You.... Opinions, anyone?

3. I'm really, really looking forward to a weekend that isn't jam packed (especially since we all know my to-do list is so long that it never gets 1/2 done anyway!) Big Sister is really looking forward to going to church, something we've been totally sporadic about since... forever. So, we'll indulge her on this, I suppose. ;)

And one thing I'm not so much looking forward to, but MUST do. Workout #3 on week 6 of my c25k..... Tomorrow morning, my treadmill awaits.

Thanks to everyone for the great comments/emails on g's Semi-homemade nursery. Be on the lookout for Big Sister's Semi-homemade big kid room!

Picture day..... not so much

So, this is G on picture day....

Yep, at home with me. With a fever of 102.2. And an ear infection. Poor g..... So, thanks to all of you who called, emailed, commented, smoke-signaled your opinion. (For the record, most of you thought he should be photographed in his stylish head gear. He has it off right now because it's making his fever worse!)

I had all these visions of posting some great blog-read today.... but the kiddo hasn't slept at all (minus a small nap, in which I was able to get in my c25k workout - wk 6, day 2!!)

Oh, and in other ear news today..... My niece A has an ear infection and walking pneumonia and is on her way to a 2nd set of tubes in her ears. And the Everything's daughter P has TWO ear infections and has been advised not to get on a plane (they're supposed to be traveling on Thurs). Seriously, it's an epidemic!

Okay, he has reached super pissed off status now. I'll be back tonight (I hope!)

Strep throat - again. Or still. Whatever...

Yep! When I said Big Sister was confused last night and kept getting up... I didn't mention that she was also really hoarse (she's a hoarse little kiddo anyway). Well, by mid-morning, she was complaining that her mouth hurt, so when we looked at her throat... damn, it was bright red. So, off to the ped, who told us that, in fact, Big Sister does have strep throat again. Or still. She's 3 days off her antibiotics from the last strep outbreak.

So, on the negative side, it's not looking good for our sweet little Valentine's dinner with the Everythings. No one is more bummed than Big Sister, who cried herself to sleep over it at naptime.

But because I'm trying to be positive... I'm just thankful this happened on a Saturday. And that the doc cleared her for daycare on Monday. That's a pretty big deal....

So, Mrs. Everything, if you read this.... I'm bummed! Let's figure out when we CAN get together... and when we're going to go to that girly movie.

Migraine madness!

I had big, big plans for tonight, while Mr. Fix-It was gone and the kids were in bed. I was going to:
- Post pics of the semi-homemade valentines that Big Sister and G-man took t school today (along with the small teacher gifts)
- Whip up a banner/header for my blog so I can be more comfy 'coming out'
- Plan the menu for tomorrow night's Valentine dinner with the Everythings
- Download new music in hope of inspiring me to start getting that 3rd jog in every week

But this little headache is turning into a massive migraine.... and Big Sister has just come down the stairs AGAIN. (Seems she's confused that Mr. Fix-It is gone tonight and she's having a hard time sleeping.) So I'm off to put her to bed. Then put myself to bed. And I'll try to regroup in the morning!

'Roid Rage!

And that's how G-man rolls on steriods.... :(
He's 6 months old and has been up since 4:45am!
RSV stinks - Send help!