Whew!

Oh my goodness, I am so glad September is over. I did pretty well on my attempt to blog each day this month, but again proved to myself how very little I have to say. I do want to (and will)continue to blog regularly, but I will most certainly NOT be blogging every day in October. However, stay tuned for upcoming holiday posts!!

Last night Tucker woke up at 4:00 and had wet his bed (this is a rare, rare occasion for him). He was upset and sleepy and declared, sobbing: "There's water in my bed!"

Can't let today go by without commenting on the gorgeous weather we've had the past two days. Some days, the weather is so nice that it makes me feel like I have everything under control and I am on top of the world, and yesterday was absolutely that kind of day. Pure zen. I was even the mean mom that busted out the sweaters this morning. Lauren liked to have died. She ended up in a sweatshirt, but was NOT happy about it!

Not sure why this pic turned out blurry. Maybe my camera is tired of all the blogging as well.

Anarchist, Revisited

Lauren, tonight: "I'm allergic to sandwiches." (guess that explains why she hasn't been eating any of them!)

Lauren attended her first Daisy Scout meeting tonight. Oh Boy. I am excited for her to be able to be in a group and have fun with her friends outside of school. However, I never cease to amaze myself with what a non-participater I am! I really encouraged her to go, and yet as I sat there I found myself bristling at the whole notion. At what in particular, I am not sure...it is just an inherent reaction that I have! I am trying hard to squelch it, for Lauren's sake. She needs to be able to be a part of a group and get all of the benefits thereof. And really, there is a big part of me that wants to be a joiner and part of the group...but the bigger part of me wants to sit in the back and make fun of everyone else (in an inclusive, jolly way, of course). We have a long road ahead of us...

Hey, did I mention that Lauren will be selling Girl Scout cookies in a few months?! Oiy!

Sunshine, Finally!

Today was a lovely day outside!! At long last the air has a touch of cool to it & it actually felt like the end of September today! I was so glad to have a clear day after these last two weeks of humid downpours. Lauren and Tucker and I went to church this morning and pretty much just hung out the rest of the day.

I have been enjoying the start of the fall TV season this past week. Despite my promises not to, I did watch Desperate Housewives tonight. Others that we will be tuning into...How I Met Your Mother, Cougar Town (this one was super funny last week), that show that came on before Cougar Town...can't remember the name of it, but it was all right, The Mentalist, The Office, 3o Rock, Grey's...that is all that I can come up with off the top of my head. Andy's also into Mad Men, but I need to catch up on that one before I can add it to my schedule.

Here's hoping that the weather will stay nice so that next weekend we can actually get out and play!! Have a great week!

O'Neals: 2, Fish: 0

So, whoever had their money on today, please step forward and collect your prize. Sadly, today was Pirate and Slinky's last day with us. They made it a week and one day. I noticed this morning that they were looking a little...off, but after I banged on the tank a few times, they came to and ate a little bit. When I peeked in on them mid-afternoon, they had passed on. Lauren took the news well and helped flush them down the toilet. I told her that she had taken good care of them and this is just common with goldfish.

I also told her that they were now in heaven. Flash forward to the next time she went to the potty & asked, (pointing at the toilet paper) "Is that going to heaven, too?"........so I had a little more explaining to do on that one.

Pirate and Slinky

Sept. 18 - Sept. 26

This reminds me of a story that one of my friends told me in high school. Apparently, someone had told her that fish have a natural 'anti-freeze' in their bodies (?) and so to test the theory, she popped one in the freezer. When retelling the story, she said of checking on him, "he just kept swimming slower and slower!" I haven't thought of that in years...still makes me laugh!

Game Day

We aren't going to campus today, but we are still representing...

Roollllll.......

TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROLL TIDE

Old pic, same sentiment....

Roll Tide! Beat the Hogs!

Open For Business

Lauren and Tucker have gone into business for themselves, opening a home-operated pizzeria.

They have a built-in customer base.
And a quality product.

Tucker takes the orders...

And Lauren makes them to order. Specialties include bologna pizza (Tucker) and Minnie Mouse (Lauren's fave).

Not a Happy Post

Today it seemed like every thing I clicked on was such horrifically sad news. Overwhelmingly, devastatingly sad. A new mother, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant, suddenly dies days after giving birth to her first child. A family's home ravaged by flood waters and their child gets caught in the flood and drowns. Sometimes, I don't know how people pick up the pieces and continue on. I almost force myself to read these news/blog stories but I have to just stop. I can't even find the words, it is just too painful to read.

The saddest, and perhaps the most wonderful thing about such tragedies is that life does go on. People move on and somehow heal. I can't even comprehend how it happens. Time heals. It makes me so, so grateful for the boring life that I have had and thankful for all of the mundane day-to-day things that I normally kvetch about.

Put Down the Candy Corn

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup." -Buddy the Elf

It is not even October yet, and yet my candy corn consumption is reaching massive proportions. It is like crack!! I have to say that I never ever liked candy corn until two years ago. Lauren requested some and so we picked some up while at Target. AND THEN I MADE THE MISTAKE THAT WILL HAUNT ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.....

I got some peanuts. And some m&ms. Oh.My.Gosh. This is quite possibly the most perfect food combination ever invented, right behind cheddar cheese and onion on a frito.

And now, I'm hooked. I can't stay away. I've moved beyond having to mix the candy corn with the peanuts and m&ms, and now eat them straight. Help!

(bonus confession: I bought a bag of the pumpkins last week. those are no longer allowed in my house. went waayyyy too quickly)

Fashion Plate

Here's an outfit that I pieced together for Lauren. I'm kinda proud of myself for assembling it, and kinda shocked that she actually agreed to wear it.

We found the cute, lightweight floral cords at the thrift store.

And the cute, mustard top came from Target.

And lucky for us, purple ballet flats are so in this season!! Cute!

In other news, for all those wondering...the fish have survived the weekend. Now they are just living on borrowed time. Who knows--watch these live to be 15 years old!!

I have to dedicate this post to the magic of DVR. My excitement for the evening is that the new season of How I Met Your Mother starts tonight, and I am able to watch by recording. How did I ever live without this technology? It is rare now that we watch things when they actually come on. It takes the pressure off--we have a pretty rigorous TV schedule around here!!

Hypothetically Speaking, Of Course

What is it about Sunday nights that makes me want to drink wine straight out of the bottle?

Long Day

I am so over this rainy weather! These kids are seriously in need of some outdoor time, but we have been out of luck. This has been a long day. And weird...with the football game in the middle of the day, it was just oddly broken up. Tucker and I have been intermittently working on a 500 piece Snoopy puzzle (Great Pumpkin--it is HARD!) and Lauren has played some computer games. This evening L, T and I got out to explore Sams and Kmart and ended up with some good deals.

Hopefully tomorrow will be dry and we will be able to get outside and expend some energy!!

Let me introduce you to the two newest members of the O'Neal clan...

Pirate (orange) and Slinky (multi)
Lauren was so proud to cash in on the "Smiley Dollars" she's earned for good behavior in school. We had a deal that if she got 20 dollars, she could get a fish.

As I type this, it is raining cats and dogs outside. What is going on with this weather we've been having?! Lauren was off from school today, and she and I went to pick up Tucker and tried to go listen to the band practice...but the rain started in and we had to pack it up. It has been going pretty steady ever since. I am ready for some cool, sunny football weather! Maybe next week...

Musicale

Not much to report, other than Tucker had a successful day 3, and Lauren got a really LOUD recorder at Speech!

On a Roll

Tucker has had another successful day with the potty!! Progress!!! Tonight he went to the bathroom all by himself, and came out to announce that he had pooped!! Let's just say he's very male in the way he talked about it. We are proud!!

Funny, unrelated.

Tucker wanted a "milkshape" today. I told him I would think about it. Later, he asked me if he could have a spilt milk.

Lauren, practicing her prayers tonight: "Jesus, through the maggot heart of Mary..." (immaculate)

Oh! Happy Day!

(Apologies to any who have already heard me discuss this topic ad nauseum.)

I arrived to great news when I picked Tucker up from school today...he had pooped in the potty!! You may remember me discussing this topic before, but the truth is there hadn't been much progress since. I mean, seriously, I can count on one hand the number of times he has pooped in the potty. Who knows why? He is very aware when he needs to poop, and discreetly excuses himself to find privacy...just not in the bathroom.

Recently, Tucker moved up to the 'big kid' classroom, and he has since been inspired to ahem, mature in the bathroom arena. He will now insist on standing up to do his business. And, recently I have gone the cold turkey route with the pullups. I am done buying them. And, as gross as that can be at times, I know it is finite and that at some point he (we) will move past this stage. So I am so, so SUPER excited at this step in the right direction!!!

Wow. No more diapers. No more babies!! I am only a little sad, but mostly happy and excited. Woo Hoo!

One More Comparison

Same outfit. Lauren, roughly 15 months; Tucker, roughly 3 months.

Were they ever this small??

Nothing going on to post about, but due to several friends having or about to have babies, I went to the vaults to pull out some old pics of Lauren and T-Bone.

Lauren. Look at those little bird legs! She was so teeny tiny.

Tucker. Much meatier, you can tell. What a difference two pounds can make!

Heartwarming

Just a good story that made me happy today.

Randomness

1)Tucker rocked it out a little this afternoon to the ABCs.

.

2)A totally unrelated conversation with Lauren from this evening...

Me: Lauren, you have GOT to learn some patience!

Lauren: I don't know how!

.

3)I can't get the State game on my TV dammit!! I guess this is what I get for gloating that I got it last week when no one else did. Oh well...GO DAWGS!!!!

.

4)It is really funny how many people get to my blog by searching for 'got my lunch packed up, my shoes tied tight.' That was the title of one of my posts at the beginning of the school year. Since then, I have had several visitors from the across the US as well as Canada link here after googling that. I guess we all share a love for Billy Madison!

Mini Kid Quiz

Here's just a few of what the kiddos came up with when I asked them to fill in the blank...

*A penny saved is life - Lauren
*Don't count your chickens before your Diet Coke - Tucker
*Keep your nose to yourself - Lauren
*Close but no spanking - Tucker
*Between a rock and a loose tooth - Tucker
*Taste of your own cereal - Lauren

Me: Where does ground meat come from?
Lauren: the ground!
Me: Where does bacon come from?
Lauren: ........the store!

Mea Culpa

Alright, alright. So, 9 days in and I missed a day. My bad! But I have an excuse!! I took an OTC Tylenol muscle pain reliever last night (YOU try toting around a 40 pound three year old) and was totally zonked by 7:30. I barely got Lauren and Tucker in bed and I totally missed last night's episode of Toddlers and Tiaras!

But! Rather than abandon my project completely, I am getting back on the horse today and moving on. So, since I have already referenced my obsession for really horribly trashy reality TV, I will make that tonight's topic. I have been a fan of many many reality shows, dating all the way back to the early nineties and those seven strangers picked to live in a loft to find out what happens when people stop being polite ("Could Somebody Get the Phone?") and start being real. Since then, my tastes have changed, moved on, maybe...but not necessarily matured.

I have moved through Survivor, Bachelor/Bachelorette, Joe Millionaire, the one where the hotties date the dorks, the Mole, the Apprentice, the one on VH1 where all the has-beens live together, Oh! The Biggest Loser from time to time.....the list goes on and on. (okay, not to even begin to mention my obsession with the TLC channel...and I can't leave out the Kardashians...)

One of my all time favorites is Big Brother. The way I get involved in this show is downright embarassing. I have been hooked for 5 or 6 seasons now, and each time I get myself wrapped up in all the drama of the house guests. This season is wrapping up in the next week and I am so excited! And sad! That it will be over. But there is always next year...

And, speaking of next year, here is something that may bring me back to a reality show that has fallen out of my favor...

That's right, Ellen Degeneres is taking Paula's spot on American Idol!! I have been really over Idol for a couple of seasons now...I really don't think I watched one entire episode this last time. However...I love Ellen, I think she is hilarious, and I can't wait to see her on the judges panel!!

What do you watch?

Labor Day

Because I'm nuts, here's what I labored on yesterday...

Photo Walk

This morning we went for a walk on campus. This is one of our favorite things to do. I love living in a college town and having the campus to explore.

Lauren and Tucker got to interact with some art...

Flags on the Quad for...Labor Day, I guess? (edited to say that the flags are for 9/11 remembrance...I knew they didn't really go with Labor Day)

Saw lots of mushrooms...(just for you Nanny)

Lauren found a grub.

And we hung around outside the Publ!x

Diet, Schmiet

Well, I don't know about you but I have personally eaten my way through the weekend, and it is not even over yet!! Friday started with a "dip party" at work, which was basically and excuse to eat 3 meals during the (work)day with plenty of snacking in between. Yesterday was no better...it was the first day of college football, after all. We celebrated with pizza, buffalo chicken dip, and, ahem, trail mix. Which, at our house consists of peanuts, candy corn, and m & ms. Whew!

But, no worries, I was able to man up and continue my rigorous Labor Day feeding schedule into today which included lunch at Buffalo Wildwings (grilled wrap at least) and a barbeque supper from Full Moon. And more trail mix.

I will have to detox tomorrow!!

Lauren and Tucker have had a fun day today. Nanny and Granddaddy came over and spent the day, and then they got to play with cousin Taylor at Pa's house tonight. It was really fun to watch them play...they were really getting along well today.

What have you had good to eat this weekend?

Ready for some Football

We are so ready for some football at this house!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!!

Tucker put his game face on...

Quiz

I am a sucker for all the email and Facebook quizzes, asking what time I got up and how many piercings I have. So, today, I decided to pose a little quiz of my own to my favorite subjects, Lauren and Tucker. Here are their responses.

Tucker was awake first, so he was my first subject. (Tucker is 3 years and 3 months old)
Favorite TV Show: SuperWhy
Favorite Movie: Toy Story
What did you have for breakfast: Fran Flakes (this is true, he had Bran Flakes)
Favorite Food: (after much deliberation) Casserole (!?)
What food don't you like: (after much, much deliberation) Cat Food (good answer!)
Favorite Restaurant: The Peanut Restaurant (this is Logan's...where you can throw peanut shells on the floor)
Where were you born: At the doctor's!
What do you want to be when you grow up: a policeman (pweecman)
Favorite Song: "ABCDEFG"

And then Lauren, who hadn't quite got all her sleep out at the time of the quiz (note: Tucker was present when I quizzed Lauren) (Lauren is 6 years and 3 months old)
Favorite TV Show: Arthur
Favorite Movie: Cinderella (really?)
What did you have for breakfast: Frosted Flakes (as she was eating Cocoa Pebbles)
Favorite Food: McDonald's
What don't you like: Cat Food (after being prompted by Tucker)
Favorite Restaurant: McDonald's
Where were you born: (blank stare and shrug)
What do you want to be when you grow up: (and I quote) A Mom Without Babies (this has been her desired occupation for some time now)
Favorite Song: the Alphabet

Same Blog, Only Cuter

What do you think?

Working for the Weekend

This was Tucker on the ride home tonight...
...and I can't say I blame him. It seems like every day I have my list of things to do when I get home, and every day I get a surge of energy thinking, "I will really get to this tonight." And after the ride home, fixing and eating dinner, homework, bathing and brushing teeth, and wrangling the kids into bed....all I am ready to do is crash. Fiddle dee dee.

One Laurenism from this morning...she wanted to know if she could wear her high-heeled socks (meaning crew length school socks). What a hoot!

Farewell to Arms...

Lauren has two arms once again! She got her (second) cast off today. The doctor says her arm is 95% healed and that she can go about business as usual. Here she is enjoying her celebratory dinner of choice.

She is still favoring that arm, but hopefully that will go away quickly.

Tucker had to get in on the action, too.

Something to Say September

I have decided to endeavor to blog every day during the month of September. Let's see how much I can find to talk about!

Fortunately, I have something to share today! We are getting closer and closer to the day when Lauren will lose her first tooth. And, anyone who knows my child will know that she can be a little...skittish about certain things. I think she is willing her tooth to stay in place to avoid having the Tooth Fairy come in her room and root around under her pillow.

Then my dear friend Angie suggested that we get a cute bag to hang on her door, rather than the TF actually coming in her room. And that's where I got crafty...

I think it is cute! And Lauren seems super excited about it--she actually wiggled her tooth herself tonight!! Thanks, Angie, for a great idea!