In Trouble or Not?

Yesterday, Taylor and Maddie were on the back porch. I allow them to play out back alone as long as they stay on the back porch where I can see them (and it is the only shady spot as well). Unfortunately my attention was on the television on laundry, dishes, vacumming, and scrubbing toilets and I didn't notice that they had found a small chunk of charcoal and were drawing on the concrete with it. I dragged them inside, yelling, and practically had to give them bathes in the middle of the day because they were so filthy. I was angry, I admit. Then, later, I noticed what Taylor had been drawing.

I asked her what she wrote, and she said "my name". How can you really be mad when your 4 year old daughter, who is not in formal preschool, was writing letters all on her own?

Yesterday, Gretta was spayed. I know, you all wanted to know that! I had it done through Emancipet, which is an organization that performs vet services for the shelters and also for regular customers at a low(er) cost. Being the cheap person that I am, I declined the purchase of a collar to keep her from licking her incision. Well, last night she was licking with a vengence. It was too late to go anywhere to pick one up so my adorable, resourceful husband made one for her.

Yes, that is a Luvs box. And no, it didn't last long because she is a houdini.

Hot

It is so hot and dry here, it's almost unbearable. Not for my girls, though, who still want to be outside digging in the bone dry dirt. Sigh. The poor grass.

Another brag on Maddie:

Taylor said "I miss Dezi" and Maddie immediately said "I miss Dezi too Mama".

Maddieisms

Maddie's speech has suddenly taken off, blossomed. Her reasoning and logical thinking have grown by leaps and bounds in the last month. She is talking in complete sentences now! (Not all the time of course, but still yea!) Here are some she said today:

"You need to take a nap." (I had just that I was really tired)
"I want this one."
"I love Taylor."
"I love tv."
"I love Pooh bear."
"I want to hug you."
"I have poop."
"I see you Mommy."

Maddie is only 21 months old. I really don't remember any of my others using more than 2 words at a time, if that, this early. Maybe it's because there are so many older children talking up a storm around here.

Poor Folks' Swimming Pool

A Cat's Life

Alternately titled "Gretta Earns Her Keep"

Topicless Tuesday

I have to keep a close eye on this one when my computer is out. She has ripped multiple keys off, multiple times. The "P" is gone for good. You can see it if you look closely. Yeah, I have a ghetto computer now.

Here is her hand sneaking closer and closer.

What? I wasn't doing anything. Not me. I'm innocent.

Ahhh...Ice Cream

Finally!!

We are very thankful that we are finally rid of what I not-so-lovingly refer to as the "death trap". And you all should be thankful that you will no longer have to listen to me complain about that old car and it's plethora of issues.

***Rebecca, it cracks me up that you seem to know me so well and thought I may have gotten another puppy! Cause that's the kind of crazy stuff I do!

Blog Love

I appreciate those of you who took the time to let me know that you are reading my drivel here. All 3 of you. Ha! Not an overwhelming number, but those who did respond are important enough to me to keep this blog going. Thanks guys, for showing you care!

Oh, and big HUGE news (at least in my little world) is coming. I just need time to take a picture.

New 'Do

Both Maddie and I changed our hair a bit yesterday. Here is Maddie's...

I think I missed my calling as a hair stylist. Yeah, right.

Last night, Corey and I watched "The Fourth Kind". It is a movie about alien abduction, supposedly based on actual occurences back in 2000. There is real audio and video tape recorded by a psychologist. One word...terrifying. I was terrified. Corey laughed at me, but I was terrified.

I'm trying to decide if I should keep this blog going, or just fold up shop. I don't seem to have too many readers, and even less commenters. I don't want to beg for comments, but if you read here regularly, or even occasionally, can you please leave me a comment so I know if anyone is really even interested in my innane ramblings? Thanks.

Have a great Sunday!

Happy 33rd Birthday Corey!

And now, you can't claim to be a whole 2 years younger than me. At least until January, when my age adds another year!

Tonight is one of those nights that I would gladly trade my left foot for a cigarette.


Now, obviously that's not entirely true because the Chevron down the road would not ask for one of my feet, only for $6. I just mean that I am struggling with cravings today. I have to admit that I am concerned that if I continue to feel the urge to smoke now, while I am still eating (or taking, or whatever the verb is here) these lozenges, what will it be like when I don't even have them to fall back on?

On this birthday eve of my dear husband...

I am just so thankful to have this man in my life.

He is strong, supportive, affectionate, passionate, and full of unconditional love.

***Maddie thinks so too, even if it doesn't appear true in this picture!

Just Another Manic Monday

You can mute the music so you can hear the video if you scroll down to the bottom of the blog. I sound ridiculous, so maybe you don't want to do that.

Please excuse the title of this post, that song popped into my head and I don't really know why.

***By the way, this video and the picture are from today. I know this post is remarkably similiar to the one you saw a few days ago. Maddie comes to me and asks to play "Baby" all the time, ever since the inception of this game.

Random Ramblings

It is really hard to do anything when you are right-handed and your right hand is out of commission, did you know that? Last night while making homemade fish sticks, I sliced my right index finger at the knuckle. The jury rigged bandage with gauze and three q-tips I have taped around it (to keep the finger from bending, as every time I bend it it opens up again and starts bleeding) is quite a sight to see. Dishes, diapering, laundry, showering, it's all very difficult with my left hand.

Corey is at work again this morning, and we are all just laying around the house with not much to occupy our time.

We are still not smoking around here. Since it has now been one month, I think we can officially claim to have quit, and call ourselves nonsmokers. Wow. I never thought I'd see this day, at least when not in a pregnant state.

And a special thanks to BlogHer, and Macy's, for I have won a $100 gift card to Macy's from their giveaway that I entered several months ago. Yipee! The only thing better than shopping is guilt-free shopping.