Dang It

I hate it when I toss my marshmallows.

Hes not tricking anyone...hes totally saving that one for later. See it? In his pocket.

Sticky Sunday

I decided to do some baking this morning.

What looked like this in the oven....


Soon looked like this once they were inverted....


After breakfast was over, I was really thinking that maybe(just maybe) I should have possibly, perhaps, had some of this instead. Only because that clementine there on the left. Yeah, that one. It was giving me mean looks the whole time I was eating my sticky bun.

Waiting and Wishing

Aside from the fact that we really wish it was summer time where the sun is blazing hot and you get to sport sunglasses all day long......

This is what G does while we wait to pick up prescriptions.

ON

OFF

Look at those eyelashes.


Surprised.


Checkin himself out.


Definitely trying to look serious.


An idea has overtaken him.


See, mama? I am showing my belly the mirror so that it can see my sunglasses.


Thats very sweet of you, G. I know your belly will appreciate that.

Rainy Days

This morning we woke up to gray skies. Not too long after it began to rain. And it was really cold. After those two 60 degree days last week, G was itching to get outside. Sadly, it wasnt gonna happen today.

What better day to pull out some crafts.

I got the basic idea from The Crafty Crow. (But then I changed it up a bit to use things I had on hand.) It is a really great blog that is a collection of many different craft ideas. A definite hot spot for days like today! I didnt have a large heart cookie cutter, so I just cut out the shape and then used it as a template for the rest of them.

Then I set G up with the hearts and some oil pastels.


He knew what to do!


So many colors to choose from.


Admiring his work.


He appears to be very pleased with it!


Naturally, we had to hang it in his room.

Bucket of Books

Today, our local bookstore of 20 years, closed its doors for good. This was a tragic thing in our house. If you didnt know already, the way to our kids heart is thru a book. S and I are pretty easily won over that way as well.

There was a huge commotion in town when everyone realized that they were closing. Losing a local shop is a big deal. Especially one that gives back to the community as much as this one did. One of the big questions that was surfacing was what was going to happen to all the customers who had gift cards to redeem.

The answer to that was soon revealed in the newspaper as well as the local news stations. They would reopen the store for a few days to allow final sales and the redemption of gift cards.

So, thats why at 945, this past Friday morning, you would have found me heading towards this. Can you see S in that crowd? I was taking this pic as I was walking up to meet him. I made the best mama decision ever and decided that G would not partake in this bookstore event. He got to stay at Grammy's house and play.


Everyone in front of us. We are headed for that pointy roof up there.


This man in front of us knew he was in for a lomg wait. He brought reading material. Good idea.


Dont you just love his hat, tho.


Good waiting in line shoes.


This is our spot. Right next to the hydrangea tree. It looks much prettier in the spring. Honest. (Right about here in the line was where the lady that worked at the ice cream shop came out and began to take coffee orders. Then she brought out steaming hot coffee to people. Very good idea. And I dont even drink coffee.)


Can you see us?


The back of the line. Look. Theres our very own weather forecaster from one of the local news stations.


Shes my favorite weather forecaster.


Inside it was a ZOO. People everywhere. Walking around with piles and piles of books in their arms. Everything in the store was for sale. Even the silverware at the cafe. Even the coffeebeans. The smoothie mixes. The little bell that you rang to get help at the counter. Yep, that, too. You name it, it was for sale.


Here's my purchases. A bucket and a pile.


We entered the store at 10 am. and got in line at 1045 am. The line was already at the back of the store. About the time that S made it past the music section his arms were getting pretty tired. So, thats when he unloaded all the books he had into that great metal bucket. When I found him in the line, I, of course, had to tell him how much I liked his bucket. Which is when he replies, well thank you. It was either this nice bucket or that black cauldron over there. And I thought that you would like the bucket better. I have such a good man.

S had to take off at 11am. I, on the other hand, got to stay in the line to use all my gift cards. I had 6 with known amounts and 3 with unknown amounts. The line was moving very slowly and I chatted with a couple people behind me. Till they bailed anyway. They couldnt take it, I guess.

At any rate, I finally made it to the counter. But not before the big story of the morning reached our part of the line. Said person that just checked out spent a total of $980 dollars appx. Really? I wonder if that was all in gift cards?

The counter area was crazy all on its own. People would enter the store and see the long lines. Decide they didnt want to take the time to stand in the line. They would then proceed to try to sell their gift cards right there to the people getting ready to check out. They were making bargains....$20 card for 15 bucks. Some people took the deal. Others did not.

As for me? I managed to spend $147. The rest of my cards I handed to the couple behind me as I got done. Final time? It was 1240 when I departed the store. I spent a long, damn time in that line. Had it not been for the kids Im not sure that I would have done that. Long lines, lotsa people, crowded spaces? Not my cup of tea. Im just sayin.

Life's little surprises

Have I ever mentioned how much I love to get mail? NO? Well, I love to get mail. Like real mail. Snail mail. The kinda mail that may be in the form of a letter or a package or a bill....okay, maybe not so much the bills....but the tangible idea of communication. It has always been so cool to me.

When I was younger I used to have a pen pal and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I mean, EVER.

These days, letters and stuff seem to happen less and less due to the whole online and internet age. BUT, they still happen. Sometimes totally out of the blue.

Like this.


I was so excited when the mail carrier brought it to my door. AND, I was home all by myself....what better time to open it! Look. That has my name on it.

Awwwww....a little rooster.


Then, I undo all the tissue paper to find this. Now, as I stand there I am having a moment of dejavu. Thats right. I seem to remember having seen this exact thing somewhere before.....

But, this time I know what it is! OMG. Its a chicken. Isnt it the cutest thing you have ever seen? My guess at a hat was WAY off base. But I was right on when I said that the colors were great. Arent they great?

And I got a chicken magazine. All this great stuff came from Mim. She knows its gonna be a bit before I get some of my own chickens, so she thought she'd try to make the wait a little more bearable. How sweet is that? Pretty damn sweet, I say.


So now the question becomes...where do I put the sweet little gal?

With this llama?


Or these llamas?


There clearly is not enough room to be with this trio of llamas.


On my cozy bed?


On my favorite, little stool?


On the buffet?


I know, how about near the fruit? Chickens like fruit.


Decisions, decisions.

Thank you, Mim. I LOVE my new barnyard friend.