Look what I'm doing before book club on Sunday.

Yippy!

A Nice Little Friday

Daycare was closed today, so I stayed home with Griffin. Well, we didn't really stay home, we went on a treasure hunt. Grandma B. picked me up early this morning, we then picked up Aunt Rachel and were off on our adventure. 1st stop, a cute home in South Amana for an old window I have been wanting for quite some time. I'll post pictures of that find after I pretty it up a bit. I have some big plans for that baby.

We finally reach our destination---Great Grandma & Grandpa Y's house.

GG&GG (Ruth's parents) have a house full of treasures. They used to be in the antique business. Rach & I were let loose in the basement and found some fun stuff. There were a few items that Great Grandma wasn't ready to part with, but both Rach & I came away with some beauties.

It was nice to spend some time with GG & GG without the whole entire clan there. The only time we really go to their house is when we have family gatherings & you NEVER get one-on-one time. It's just not possible.
We need to do this more often!

These are my fantastic finds. I love the glass canisters. I already have two that store my sugar & flour. I got two more to hold brown sugar & powdered sugar. The plate is pretty milk glass & I got an old sewing drawer. I have some good ideas for that little guy.

I love the canisters. They are a pretty way to store the essentials.

Seriously, this blog post has probably taken me 2 1/2 hours. I have gone into Griffin's room (no joke) 10 times trying to get him to sleep. I've rocked him, sang to him, walked around with him.

I quit.

He wins.

No nap for Griff today....aside from the 20 min. cat nap in the car.

Awesome.

Should make for an interesting evening.

Better go get him out of bed. Later Dude!

Things that make you go Hmmmm.....

I have about a 25 minute commute to & from work everyday. My mind tends to wander. I have random thoughts. Here are just a few things I ponder.

Why are those Oreo Cakesters so damn good? They are the devil!

Why are vampires so stinkin sexy?

Who invented the "F" word? I will admit, I swear like a sailor and use this word occasionally, but why is it so different from truck, or muck, or suck? While we are on the subject, who invented "giving the bird" or "flipping you off"? It's a finger people. duh.
(i am working on the cussing thing for the sake of my child who has turned into quite the parrot)

What the "F" happened to Michael Jackson?

Why do men have nipples?

Greg Focker: You can milk just about anything with nipples.

Jack Byrnes: I have nipples, Greg, could you milk me?
(Meet the Parents)

What do people in China call their good plates?

Why does Walmart have 25 check out lines but only 3 cashiers?

Why does my kid like to wrap things around his neck or put things over his head?

Does anyone else think about these silly things?

I'll leave you with one last thought....

Ya know what I'm going to do?? I'm going to put my whole self in and shake it all about!

Volleyball, Book Club & Stupid F@*%$!% Computer

Had a volleyball game tonight. It was obvious we didn't bring our "A" game. We jabbered throughout the games about books, our children, sinus issues, hair coloring, jobs, weight watchers, you name it--we probably touched on it. We let the third game slip through our fingers. The other team jumped for joy. They won their 1st game. No really, like probably their 1st game EVER...they were THAT bad. How nice for them.....embarrassing for us.....but nice for them. I just threw a picture of me & a teammate on the blog tonight---oh, doesn't my bum look HOT in those bottoms?



While I was at volleyball tonight, husband was fighting with the computer. I had visions of returning home and finding a scene much like the one in the picture above, but surprisingly husband was fairly cheerful and was even emptying the dishwasher and had just done a load of laundry. Apparently the computer was working fine, but it wasn't picking up the internet signal. I tried to be helpful and call our internet carrier --I'm sure I gave the customer service guy a good laugh.
"Ma'am, can you please unplug your router and then plug it back in"
"..........Ummmmmmm, what's the router?"

I'm a MORON when it comes to the computer stuff. It is amazing I can do this blog!



Amen sister....A clean house IS a sign of a broken computer....or wireless router.

After husband had tidied up the home, he went back to working on the computer/router/modem. I don't know what he did, but he fixed the router thingy. He did have the nerve to ask "Do you think we might have a virus because of all the blogging you are doing?" That is just plain nonsense!

Book Club Update:

Our book club is having its official first meeting on Sunday to discuss The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Overall I liked the book--but it was very hard to get into. You have to take into account that I was coming off of reading the Twilight series--so NOTHING can compare to those great books. I struggled through the first half of the book, but the second half was a quick read. The book is about a group of women that are all from different backgrounds that come together because of their love for knitting. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It is worth your time. I sucked at book reports as a kid, so I'm not even going to try as an adult. I'm just going to throw out the 2 thumbs up and tell you to READ IT YOURSELF!

Next book up on the agenda:

Love the one you're with, because you are never going to be with Edward Cullen........

Kinda knew that was coming....

So, I missed 1/2 of The Bachelor tonight....I was too busy enjoying a good game of chase the kid. Silly boy, do you really think I can fit my fanny in there?

the game got boring for Griff when he realized i wasn't following
mom, do i HAVE to go to bed??? yes son, mommy needs a little Bachelor therapy!

so, i kinda knew this was coming. although stephanie is beautiful & kind, she seems too old for jason. i can see her with an older, richer man (hello sugar daddy!) who could take care of her & her daughter. don't get me wrong, i don't think that she is a gold-digger--i just think she is accustomed to a certain lifestyle and she needs someone that can help her maintain it. plus, i DO NOT see her throwing around the football in the backyard with jason's son---she might get wrinkled.

molly remains my favorite. i can't wait for the hometown dates!

so while i watched the last hour of The Bachelor in peace, i decided to put together griffin's valentine's for his daycare buddies.

i got these cute containers at Jo-Ann Fabrics for 40% off---bought some candies & stuffed them in. love the mini M&Ms! i also threw in some reeses peanut butter hearts (praying they aren't laced with salmonella) made some fun labels & attached them to the handles. the little tags read "be mine". they look cute in person....not so much here on the blog. stupid camera! maybe for valentine's day husband will buy me a new one......doubtful. very doubtful.
we are trying to save some money. not really saving for anything in particular, but just to see if we can build up our savings. it seems pretty wise with the economy/jobs the way they are.

so please representatives from The Gap, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn for Kids, Land of Nod, Michael's, Pier 1, Hobby Lobby, & Target hear my plea---PLEASE stop sending me emails about your sales, coupons for anything less than 90% off, pretty ads that contain gorgeous colorful items that i know would look perfect in my home. i'm weak i tell you. please, NO MORE, my husband begs you!

There's No Place Like Home

Griff & I took a little trip Saturday to visit my parents. We hadn't been back there since Thanksgiving. Jason had to work, so it was just the two of us road trippin. Griffin spent the day playing with Grandma & Grandpa E. ---and showing off for Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma E. He was a hoot at my grandparent's house. Although studies show that kids don't get "sugar highs", I strongly disagree and challenge the researchers to study my kid.

While we were back at my parent's, Grandpa E. showed Griff his vast collection of tractors. My camera doesn't do his collection justice. I'm not sure how many tractors my dad has, but he has a lot. Grandpa grabbed a tractor & cut it out of the box so Griffin could play with one. (It must not have been a high dollar tractor---at least I hope not!)

this picture is from this Fall at The Machine Shed/Living History Farms in Des Moines--i love it!

Griffin might not be a farmer when he grows up, but at least he will have an appreciation for tractors!

My parent's dog Riley puts up with Griffin's antics--they are actually good buds.

Riley telling Griff a VERY important secret.....

Griff snuggling with Grandma......

walking a mile in Grandpa's shoes.......

4 generation picture

Even though I am an adult, with my own family & own lovely house, I still feel most relaxed in my parent's home. I could be laying on the couch at my parent's house with a room full of people talking, and my kid on the floor playing and feel completely comfortable falling asleep. I love the familiar smells, the softness of my mom when I hug her, the sound of my dad laughing at something funny my sisters said or something on the TV. I love my parent's home.

OH, and to end this WONDERFUL day we spent with my family, we ate at my favorite restaurant, Hickory Park in Ames. I'll have the usual please, taco burger and carmel chocolate chip malt. YUMMY!!

(p.s. my diet starts tomorrow)

Apology to Husband

So a couple of blogs ago I was lovingly joking about my husband's home improvement skillz, or lack there of. I may have gone too far. I would like to publicly apologize to him. He may not be Bob Villa (google him if you don't know who I'm talking about)---nor is he as bad as Tim The Tool Man Taylor (home improvement??? maybe nobody watches as much TV as me) Jason does have plans to work with his Dad to finish off Griffin's toy room---and I'm sure if he had more time to spare he would have done a lot of the other work around our house. We are just lucky that Dan-The-Man is around and just rely on him and Ruth to do things for us when we are too busy ourselves. (people, let it be known that i can't tile, i can't hang drywall, i can't do much....i'm really the one with NO skillz!)


Husband might not be Bob Villa, but he is SO talented in other areas. He is one helluva CPA. Need help with your taxes (unfortunately it IS that time of the year)....give him a shout! Also, when I was talking about taking his shirt off in the earlier blog--i meant it--H.O.T.!!! Shirt or not! Love you husband!