I know....

It's a lot of pomp and circumstance, but I really love royal weddings. What girl isn't captivated by being expected to wear beautiful gowns and tiara's and it's all deemed very elegant, not weird. And, Kate Middleton is the most elegant bride. She carries herself so well and I loved her dress and the simple flowers. So classy. That would be my wedding if I could go back, but minus the royalness and the Westminster Abbey!!! I also think it is funny that some commentary narrating the clip I watched referred to her dress as contemporary???? I am pretty sure that is a vintage style. Remember Grace Kelley's wedding dress. Very similar. Lame commentator. (As I searched for this pic, I saw lots of other people saw the same similarities to Grace Kelley's dress so I guess I am not the only one who got it)

Olivia

So I usually don't promote things, but I just hopped on Amazon VOD and they are selling 25 instant videos (each has 2 10 minute mini episodes per "episode") for only 14.99!!! OK, that is a screaming deal since they are typically like $14.99 for like 10 or 12 episodes, or singly as $1.99/episode. So if you love Olivia like us,, and have a TV that hooks up to the internet or a Roku or don't mind watching shows on your computer, I would totally suggest getting it. They are based on the books by Ian Falconer and they are smart and funny and no super annoying voices and my kids are totally entertained by them. We are not TV people. I let them watch only 20 minutes a day (and sometimes even nothing) while I take a shower, so these are the perfect length. You could even cut it in half and only let them watch one of the mini episodes within the actual episode. Screaming deal!!!!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone. This collage looks grainy, so click on it to see the pics better. Hope everyone had a nice day. I know my kids are enjoying all their finds!!

Are you seeing this???

I knew Phil was getting them. It seems like they were slowly creeping in, especially after the BAR, but his hair is sandy blonde so you just think it's blonde unless you get really close, and who's doing that?? Plus, it makes a man look distinguished. Me on the other hand, dark as night, can see those little evil gray hairs like they are screaming out at you and there is no hiding them. Luckily I never wear my hair back, so they can kind of be covered. Am I really that old??? I don't feel like I should be getting these yet.

add to my pet peeves..

people who clip their fingernails in church. Aaaaa, is this a bathroom or a chapel?? Click, click. Where are those things flying?? And there are no younger children than mine that attend, so it's no sleeping baby clippings. Not that that would make it any better. It's still pretty distracting.

You have to know......

.....my obsession with the show Arrested Development. Can be a little inappropriate at times, but it is my all time favorite TV comedy series ever. I typically watch it once a year during a crafting binge and find myself laughing out loud, still. It is so witty and the characters are amazing, the writing, amazing. It's basically the best. So you can imagine our joy of finding this yesterday. Look closely at the sign and pump your arms out while saying Steve HOLT!

dinner conversation

Phil took Ben to the local grocer where the meat department has no prepackaged meats. All are in the case, you pick, they bundle in white paper. Yum. Apparently as the service man was wrapping up the meat Ben exclaims (in his manly voice...if you've heard it you know it), "that's a MAN". Maybe there is something very mannish about wrapping up a package of fresh kill!! At least it made that guy feel manly. Then at the dinner table we were talking about it and somehow it came up that dad was a man. Amelia quickly rebuked us that he wasn't. So I asked, is he a boy...long thoughtful pause and she says, "he's a man boy!!"
Spot on, Amelia. Classic.

Pet peeves

So my best friend from high school posts a bi-annual ??(or so) Pet Peeves List on her blog. I look forward to this. It is hilarious and I find myself agreeing out loud with all of it. Then I am sitting there trying really hard to remember if I have ever committed one of her offenses and praying I haven't!!! So, today I am going to thrill you all with two of my pet peeves based on my day:

• People who make any sort of unsolicited remark about my kids throwing fits, or really anything related to parenting. I could go on forever, but I will spare you the rant. Sadly, I feel like this happens too much, basically once is too much. Every kid is different and every parent is different and I am doing the best I can and what I think is best for my child. You may feel differently, and that is your right. What works for you or how your child acts is not going to be the same as me and mine. As I get older and experience more mom stuff I feel bad for offering any unsolicited advice to other mothers on how to raise their children. I try to be careful of this and is really something I work on because I am not guilt free on this subjest. Now if you ask me for my opinion, I will give you my thoughts and I expect the same when I bring up the topic of what to do with my children. That's maybe your bad choice to ask me!!!!
• People who work at stores, see me standing in front of them politely waiting until they are done making up fake work to do so they don't have to help me, and then act so put out like I have been pestering them for the last 20 minutes. Learn some customer service skills if you have to work with customers. I've done it. It can be annoying, but it's not that hard. Fake it if you have to. That's your job. And you better believe I will not visit a store again if I get poor service. As I get older, I am now so bold as to talk to a manager, fill out a survey negatively or call a customer service hotline so they can fix the problem. And I will tell everyone I know about my bad experience.
  

That's it for now. Maybe in 6 months or so I will have more.

UPDATES

Ben's flu was over in 2 hours!!!! Talk about lucky. By 4pm he was devouring everything I would let him get his hands on and running around no problem. And........drum roll please, I got the Jessie doll. I feel lame that I didn't even check the actual Disney store in the mall. I assumed that if the online store didn't have it in stock, why would the physical store?? Well, you know what assume means.......something about you and me!!! So, crisis averted. I snatched one of the last 2, paid a good price and got to be mommy of the year, until I had to pry it out of her hands to put in the closet until August. Mean old mom, I know. But I get to be mommy of the year a second time when I let her have it then. This day started out pretty horrible and ended pretty good thanks to milkshakes and Disney. Ahhhh. Is 5pm too late for a nap??

knock on wood

Last week my sister was telling me about my nephew having hallucinations from the flu and all the horrible sickies in her house. I was telling her how grateful I am that my kids rarely get the flu. Although Amelia throws up from her allergies and Ben is notorious for throwing up in the car after 15 minutes of driving, but aside from that, I can probably count on my hands the number of times her and Ben have been sick with the flu. Actually probably all their sickness. They are pretty healthy. Well, I am eating my words now. Ben was having a hard time sleeping last night, which is very unlike him. I thought it was strange. Then this morning he seemed extra cuddly. Only a little unlike him. Then about an hour ago he just laid on the floor and threw up. Poor thing. Luckily he was half laying in our dining room half in the kitchen and when I heard that unmistakable pre-throw up cough, I just slid him over to the tile. Got to minimize the clean up, right. Now we are snuggling up on the couch and Amelia is being Ben's nurse and getting him blankets, songs and toys while providing comedy to make him laugh so he gets better. His spirits seem to be lifting, so maybe we are on the mend. That would be awesome. The hour flu. I am knocking on wood again. But between you and me, I am liking the excuse for all of us to be in jammies and lay around. And I made chicken noodle soup for my freezer on Friday. Sounds like the perfect thing to go and defrost!!!

For the Birds

We planted some flower seeds in some egg shells last weekend for a fun spring decoration. I woke up yesterday to find them spread all over my backyard. Apparently the birds got to them. Amelia's response, "I am so angry. Those birds are SO rude!!!" She took it quite personal that they ruined her project. I don't blame her. She put a lot of love into those.

Cute things kids say

Ben said to Phil this morning, "Mom doesn't like your face!!" That made me laugh out loud. He meant I don't like that his face is always so scratchy so I don't like it to touch me because it feels worse than sand paper. Phil's good sport response, "I know. Does she like your face??" Ben quickly and with a huge smile, "YES!!". Guilty. I would snuggle up with that baby soft milky white skin of his cheeks all day.

Ben loves Bubbles

Just look at these pics. Need I say more.