I Had Him at "GO GO GO!"

The other night Boom Boom and I had the most romantic impromptu evening since our wedding night. I guess the stars aligned or something, because with 2 little hellions in the house constantly clamoring for whatever it is they think they need at the moment. (Children are SO selfish.)

Anyhoo, we were reminiscing while watching "The Hangover" which is now in my Top 3 Favorite Movies category, and there is this one part in the movie that reminded me of our second first date.

Boom Boom and I met on Myspace and so we did lots of communicating over the computer, especially since the day after we actually met he had to go to Mexico for like, a month.

During that month, I had been dating this other guy, and Boom Boom? He had some dead end relationships with loose ends all over the country and one of them came to visit for the 4th of July.

It so happened that he dropped her off at the airport on the 6th of July, and the guy I was dating went out of town, and I asked him to come over and hang out.

I also might mention here, that he brought back gifts from Mexico, including a killer red Mexican blanket, and a teeny sombrero for my teeny little dog, Ono.

Precious.

So we are hanging out with my Birth Mom and my Step Dad in the hot tub yucking it up drinking beers and of course, the old people bagged out early. I had only just moved into that house in February, so the whole step dad thing was a pretty new relationship for me too.

Anyhoo, we ended up going back to Boom Boom's place to drink his whiskey, and I ended up spending the night. (Dad, NOTHING happened! I SWEAR! But we were a little too tipsy to drive home, and I PROMISE he was a TOTAL gentleman.)

So the next morning, I had to be at work by 10, and I didn't have a car, so Boom Boom drove me home in his creepy molester style van. We were already starting to like each other a lot, and were joking and laughing when he pulled closer to my step dad's house, and I spied my step dad OUT IN THE FRONT YARD.

Boom Boom puts the brakes on and I get all military voiced and yell, "There's NORM! GO GO GO!" with military hand motions and Boom Boom, SHOCKED, floors the gas, the van speeds up and away we go, all breathless from the excitement of it all.

He turns to me and says, "Where are we going?"

And I, laughing maniacally, say "Oh, I don't care just make a loop and then drop me off in my driveway."

He thought I was CaRayZee.

And seriously, it was the hugest spectacle at 8:00 AM in our super quiet neighborhood in lovely listen to the leaves drop South Lake Tahoe. Especially considering the windows of the van (and every house on the block) were wide open.

But looking back, he totally admits, I had him at "GO GO GO."

Do Fun Stuff and Make A Difference

It's no secret that one of my favorite photographers is Ryan Marshall from Pacing the Panic Room. I started following his gorgeous wife Cole's pregnancy as he documented it with this maternity series. I KNOW, right? The whole darn thing is just breathtaking.

Getting to know their little family through this blog has been fun, and all of the (true) characters that make up their adorable reality has been delightful.

But, OH! The Littlest Buddy!

I will tell you this. He is adorable. He is funny. He is diagnosed with SMS. And today? Well Today I am asking you to help him out.

Ryan and some of his buddies put together an awesome CD of music for kids and parents to enjoy together, which will also benefit PRISMS and raise money for further research on SMS.

Click this big monster and BUY THIS CD.

It is truly awesome, and it can help to make an awesome difference.

DO IT.

Seriously, DO IT NOW.

Oh and see this little "Make a Donation" button on the bottom left corner? If you have any extra money please click that now.

You can make a difference in a lot of little lives.

And rock out to great tunes while you do.

Fresh and Local

Here I am in my "Thinker" pose.
Hmmmm.
What to do? What to do?


Thursday nights is a little artsy Farmer's Market in College Park, much like the one in our own neighborhood on Monday nights, only this one actually has more veggies than jewelry.

And that just means I will have to hit them both.

Guess who I met?
This girl.

She's 18 months and OHSO cute. A face kisser, a kid licker, and a tight little body to boot. Also? She is looking for a forever home.

Luckily for BoomBoom he met her first and told his foster daddy we had a full house.

BOO!

Me? Still thinking about sneaking her into the laundry room.
::side eye::


Madee is thinking of sneaking someone totally different into the laundry room.



Funny when I download the pictures, sometimes I see something I hadn't noticed. Like this "unknown assailant" with dinosaur tattoos nabbing cupcakes.


Umm, Madee? You gotta little something on your lips.

The girls at Bee's Knees are exactly that. Not only are they gorgeous, their teeny cupcakes are bite size pieces of heaven.

Just ask Eden.

Died and gone to heaven, doesn't even care if her dog came with her.

"What red velvet cupcake?"
I think she is ready for another.

I have a feeling that won't be the last time you see pictures of these girls' goodies. You can go to their blog here and follow them on twitter too! @BeesKneesSweets

You won't be disappointed!

Now speaking of bees, look at the adorable jars full of bee pollen!
ME? I have no use for the pollen but I am a sucker for little jars filled with pretty.

::sigh::

Oh the cuteness.

Also? Pretty little jams with to-die-for little lids.
So colorful, you can't help but smile.

Also, Ginger Jelly? YUM!


And the guys I came for...
Big Wheel Provisions

I didn't even KNOW that is who I was coming for, I was coming for the farm fresh non-salmonella eggs.

Little did I know they had all sorts of fancy goodness.

Do you see that little tricycle emblem they use? It's in the bottom right corner. I am in love.

But, again, that is not what I came for. (That is just the icing!)

They have grass fed local beef and also pork, and they make all sorts of delicious stuff. They serve a fresh natural dinner on their farmer's market nights, and teach culinary lessons. (individual or group)

They will come to your house and cook you a gourmet dinner, they will come do a cooking lesson party at your house! (I WANT THAT!)

And they cater.

And the owner? Tony? I may or may not want to be his new BFF.

And look at this adorable little statue of St. Anthony frying up some bacon in a cast iron skillet.
LOVE!

But ALL OF THAT?
Not what I came for.

I came for these.

Boom Boom LOVES the eggs. Me? meh.
So I have barely noticed the recall or the lack of eggs since the nation has "scrambled" due to salmonella poisoning.

I also hadn't noticed this video and blog post by CNN.
Yep it's dated August 25th.
My 4th grade History/current event maven teacher would be so proud of my accidental relevance!

Did you read that? It says:

Our Happy hens are fed an all-vegetarian diet
of all natural high quality grains and we never
use antibiotics or steroids of any kind and we
use no animal by-products.
Taste the Difference.

And you better believe that Boom Boom broke into them this morning, and he swears he can "taste the difference!"

After frying a couple up, he wanted more, but these babies are being rationed out!

It's Raining...Mostly.

I may have the tendency to run around in circles before I really get going.

I am not promoting that, it just seems to be what I do.

There are days when everything just seems so much bigger then me.
EveryONE seems so much bigger than me.

Okay not EVERYTHING seems bigger than me.
Like my bank account.

::sigh::

Sometimes?
I am insecure. Questioning so many things that I am/do/believe, and it can become exhausting.
I am tired of not doing things "just right".

I am tired of not being sure.
I am, well, just a tired person in general, so it makes the "fight" seem like more opposition than it even is.

Can't win, why try?
What is winning anyway?

There are battles and there are wars, my friends, and beyond that is a reconstruction and restoration period which can seem so much like more battles and war.

Life isn't a race.
There IS no clear winner.

::harumph::

Those just seem like some stupid odds.

The kids push me around.
Because I am tired, I give in, I can't see the winner's tape for all the sweat in my eyes.

And I KNOW I am lucky I have what I have. I know I have more than so many others.
I know it will never be "too easy".
And that if it looks "too easy" for someone else?
Chances are they break down and cry sometimes too.

And that is okay.

There is just no ribbons or trophies or awards of the month for the things I struggle to accomplish.

And maybe that is just the way things are, but when I am trying to establish a reward system for the kids, I just start to doubt that it will ever work, and then if it does work, won't it be pointless anyway when there just aren't rewards like that in life? And if they don't meet the criteria for the rewards am I just setting them up for failure/insecurity/a lack of worth?

What am I teaching them anyway?

Today, I feel very fortunate, but I also feel like I am daily defeated by what naturally works against me.

And tired.

I feel that too.

Freaking DISNEY

If there is something I have simultaneously dreaded AND anticipated, it is the first time I take my kids to Disney.

I grew up here. I have been to Disney LOTS OF TIMES.
And several of those times have been with Matt.
But this time was special, because it was our first BIG FAMILY TRIP!

THANKS MATT! You rock the Disney-teque!

I have watched the families, seen the crying kids, watched the freak outs (good and bad) over the characters.

I still wasn't sure what to expect.

Happiest Place on Earth?

Eden wasn't easily convinced.

We were dripping with sweat before we walked into the park.

No.
DRIPPING.


One of the first things we did was the carousel.
As you can see, Eden is NOT a morning person.
Or a horsey person.


We started out introducing Madee to characters like princesses. Not only does she know who they all are, but she knows they look like real people.

So, not scary.

We don't have Cinderella the movie, but Madee knows her anyway.

What is she looking at?
Belle.

Because we all know Belle is the princess of the century.

Talking to Cindy, staring at Belle.


Let's get to the goodbyes lady, sure you are cool, but you are NOT Belle!


Of course she loves Belle. She GETS Belle. Belle likes to read and she is attracted to BIG HULKY guys and they have the same hard fake smile.

Aaah.
There's Dad and Madee on the Dumbo ride. Madee AND Eden's first big ride.

Everybody hold hands.
NO RANDOM DANCING.

Are you happy yet, Ida?

K, how about NOW?

It must be almost noon, because morning grouch is coming around!
Musta been that huge messy popsicle all over her dress!

Sugar for the WIN!


Hahaha! There's a kinda happy girl!
Also? Eden was tall enough to ride this ride.
That is 32" with no shoes on.

Madee Andretti.
Two hands on the wheel.


She can hardly believe this is happening.


One press of the accelerator and she wanted back out.

Hand on the wheel EDEN!

Oh HAI Minnie!
I wasn't sure what she would think about the costumed characters - I have seen some kids really get scared.

Not my girl.
Going in for the hug.

Hi five Mickey! I LOVE your place!

Saying goodbye to the Mouses.
Question: if your last name is "Mouse" do we visit the "Mice" or the "Mouses"?

I almost bought the official photo of this serious alien shooting going on in the car behind us.
Boom Boom? Whooping butt and forgetting names.

The Happiest Girl on Earth.
In her Belle jewelry.

We actually made it from open to 4:30 in the afternoon.
EPIC
And I am still tired!


***I hate my point and shoot.
****That is all.

Here are Matt's pics of my lovely ladies...

Madee sees Cinderella's castle.

I think she likes it.

Ida running through the streets like an urchin.


Drunk on popsicle and the freedom of movement.

Photo Challenge: Orange

I just saw this Paper Mama site, thanks to adorable Mandy at Harper's Happenings just as I was thinking, "Why am I not in a photo challenge thingy lately?"

I used to do the Self Portrait Challenge, which I would link to, but alas, it is gone.

::pouty lip::

Also? I am so not into taking pictures of myself in the aftermath of the kids.
Tired on me is just not so cute.

But something that revolves around pictures of my little ones?

I can handle that.

So here is my first challenge, Entitled "Orange"

Folks I've been Missing

My old dog.
My Cousin.

My old body.
My Little Brother from another mother.

My old best fwend. (and her little dog too!)