Cutie Patootie

Here's Hope with her first hair clippie. Her hair is just barely long enough to support the clip.

And here she is wearing her new Reebok activewear. We got this as a gift when she was born and Kris put it on her for the first time today. So cute!

Toy Swap?

Here's what I SHOULD be doing right now: brushing my teeth and herding the boys together to leave the house. But I'm in a blogging mood. So I have an idea--does anyone out there want to participate in a toy swap? My kids are tired of their same old toys, and frankly, so am I. We've got baby toys, toddler/preschooler toys, and games and older kid building toys. If any of you would like, we could meet at my house (or I could come to you) with a laundry basket and swap some toys. Of course, we would return toys to the original family after a particular time frame, but in the meantime our kids would get to play with perfectly good, "new to them" toys without anyone having to pay a dime! Okay, gotta run--full day ahead for all of you, I'm sure!

What's on your nightstand?

Wow, it's been forever since I posted...a combination of being sick, busy at work, and not really having much to say. I just read Bonnie's post about possibly giving up Grandpa Wayne's "medicine" (i.e. candy) for Lent (as a family), and I think it's a great idea. I'll have to talk to Kris to see what he thinks. I know it would be really, and I mean REALLY, hard for all of us. Pretty sad, I know. I can already hear the whining from the boys.

How do you unwind? For me, it's reading celebrity biographies. I recently finished Tom Cruise's unauthorized biography by Andrew Morton (the same biographer who worked with Princess Diana to write My Story back in the early 90s), and wow, did I learn a lot about Scientology. What an odd and bizarre cult. Now I'm reading Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher--SOO FUNNY! Her style is to talk right to you as if you were hanging out together. It's hilarious. I'm also in the middle of Here's the Story, the autobiography of Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia Brady. Next up after those two is SToriTelling, by Tori Spelling. I know, impressive, right? I can't remember the last time I read a work of fiction--I just don't stay interested in a novel unless it's really compelling. I'd much rather read about real people, and when I don't want to think too hard, a celeb bio seems to be what I'm drawn to. I remember reading bios about Cary Grant and Marilyn Monroe in high school; the OJ Simpson trial when we went on a cruise years ago, Motley Crue's autobiography (yes, the band actually wrote their story--and what a vivid, sometimes stomach-churning story it is), and even one about Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. I suppose my colleagues are all keeping up on their professional reading while I deepen my knowledge of pop culture.

So, I'm curious...what's on your nightstand?

Making it all better

Yesterday was one of those crappy days at work...back to back meetings, complex issues that take time to resolve--but there literally isn't enough time in everyone's schedules to work on the issues, economic dire straits, and to top it off I have a raging sinus infection that was leaving me feeling clogged up and exhausted. So when I got downstairs to pick up Ross from his classroom it was such a relief to see his smile. I told him, "Mommy's had a really yucky day. I need a hug." Ross gave me a big hug. "May I have a kiss, too?" I asked. He kissed me on the cheek, and then I said, "Is there anywhere else I get a kiss?" I figured he would give me a peck on the lips and we would get coats on and go. As I kneeled in front of him, Ross did kiss me on the lips...then he took my face in his hands and said, "The other cheek (kiss), your chin (kiss), your eyes (kiss), your eyebrow (kiss), your nose, (kiss)." In his gesture of affection, my sweet little boy calmed me down, warmed me up, and made everything all better. Thank you, Ross. I love you, too.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding...

YUMMY!!!

Busy, busy, busy...

I've been so busy this week I haven't even READ any blogs until today, much less posted on my own. I was going to post something on Inauguration Day, but now it seems too far in the past. I do want to share that I was able to view the big event on cammpus in the ballroom with about 700 other citizens. Very inspiring. And the best part? Picking up Ross from his classroom and bringing him to the ballroom to experience the inauguration with me. He was so excited to wave his little flag, clap with everyone, and point to "Rock Obama" on the big screen.

Thanks to Bonnie for the advice to my previous post. We've moved Ross's carseat to the middle row in the minivan, and that seems to be helping with drive-time bickering.

Seeking advice from other moms....

on how to get my boys to stop bickering, hitting, and screaming in the backseat EVERY DANG TIME I pick them up at the end of the day. It's really getting to me; I've become snarly/screamy mom. Here's how it went tonight:

Grant: Mom, can I have a drink?

I pass Grant the bottle of water that I made sure to grab from gma Jeanne's fridge before picking everyone up (I park at my folks' house every day).

Ross: Can I have a drink, too?

Grant: You better not get cheetos stuff on it!

Ross drinks.

Grant: AHH GROSS! There's cheetos on the bottle now! I'm NOT drinking that, but (get ready for the whining) I'm soo thirsty!!!

And on and on and on--with indignant screams from Ross when scolded by his big brother.

There's also hitting, flicking, and other "picking" behaviors. Meanwhile, I'm trying to drive across Fargo on slippery roads without getting into a car accident at 4:30 on Friday afternoon.

I want to beat the living tar out of the two of them by the time we get to Hope's daycare. This has become a daily occurance.

Did I mention how much I hate pick-up time? And how much I hate picking up all three kids at three different places? It takes a full hour--or longer--if the traffic and weather are bad (and they almost always are). I know, I know. Now I'm the one who's whining.

So, what do you suggest?