Parenting Skills

Every. Single. Day., I say to Shirley, "Don't yell at Mama."
Yet I always say it again the next day.
Is it me?

Expensive Habits

Yesterday at the store, I spent $8.18 on pacifiers and $7.49 on CocaCola.
That seems like a lot of money to spend on habits that don't do anything but ruin our teeth.
I've GOT to wean Richard off of his paci's.

Happy Birthday, Lauren!

I love you.

Cry Room

It was a tough night tonight in the Cry Room.
Shirley, usually very social and thrilled to spend an hour with Miss Jonay, completely FREAKED in the nursery, so we sat in the Cry Room, where she bonked her head on the chair and stabbed herself with her spoon when I gave it to her for entertainment.
All the while, little Courtney Jo filled two, yes TWO diapers, filling the whole room with giggles and shaking shoulders.
I don't think my mom heard a full sermon from 1981 to 1998 and I'm beginning to see why.
I can't think of anything for which I would trade a full sermon.

And I thought I'd never use algebra.

If x=time, then y=(1%of time)

If it takes 30 minutes to put pink foam curlers in your hair, it will take 18 seconds to rip them out in the middle of the night.

Frumpy Butt

In the past month, I have been called old three times.

1. A stranger at Target:

Stranger: How old are you?

Erin: 27.

Stranger: Oh, I would have thought you were older.

2. A cousin:

Erin: Are you on Facebook? You should look me up.

Cousin: You're on Facebook? It seems like a lot of older people are on Facebook. Imean,I'mnotcallingyouoldoranything.

3. My friend's girlfriend:

Girlfriend: You are what I'm going to look like in a couple of years.

Erin: Well, how old are you?

Girlfriend: 25.

Is it me? Is it something I'm putting out there? Is it my clothes? My hair? My makeup? Is it because I don't show stomach skin? Or back skin? Is my idea of modest dress actually frumpy?

Someone help me. I didn't THINK I was old, but I'm starting to.

Florida

Check out Haiku Baby for more photos from our trip to Sea World! I will be posting more photos from our trip just as soon as I am upright again.

I love you.

Hi, Blogworld!
I've missed you. Oh, how I've missed you.
I'll update as soon as I've read all of your blogs.

Again???

Where was I when this was happening?

Either my daughter is incredibly intelligent or I'm not vigilant enough with the paper products.

Sigh.

Outta Here!

We are headed to Florida for EIGHT DAYS!!!

I'll try to blog, but I can't make any promises. I will miss you all.

So...let me leave you with this little gem.

Would you believe there was a WHOLE Twinkie in the parking lot at the mall yesterday?

Guess where it ended up.:

Protect your own.

Really?

Where was I while this was going on?

Book Review

Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg
Synopsis: The story of a young Irish woman, Lydia, from South Boston in 1918 and her experiences during the Spanish Influenza Epidemic that killed thousands of Americans.
Readability: A little confusing at first to determine which character's voice we are hearing, but well worth flipping back to figure it out. To be honest, I listened to this one on my iPod, so maybe it would be easier in print. I'm not sure.
Predictability: Boy, I thought I had this one figured out. The ending is sort of a stunner. I had to think about it for a couple of weeks to determine if I was ok with it. I am.
Couldn't Put it Down Factor: It took me a long time to finish this one. Nevertheless, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I couldn't get Lydia out of my head.
Recommend it?: Absolutely. ABSOLUTELY. It's wonderful and touching and sweet and sad and fuunny and poignant and really just over all wonderful. I intend to find other books by this author.
Four out of Five stars--because of the stunning ending.

Book Review

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

Synopsis: A gruesome murder begs Robert Langdon's involvement in saving the Vatican and the Catholic Church from an evil Hassassin and an ancient anti-Catholic brotherhood.

Readability: Easy peasy. A very quick read. Violent and sexually explicit. Not for kids...or even teens.

Predictability: Well, I knew who the bad guy was right off the bat, though Brown made me doubt myself throughout, so I guess that was nice, though I have to say: I had my reservations as to whether or not Vatican City would be destroyed. I'm just saying.

Couldn't Put it Down Factor: Brown writes an exciting novel, that's for sure. Was it well-written? Nah. Was the story line exciting? Yes. Did I find any typos? Not in this publication.

Recommend it?: Eh. Like I said, it was exciting and a quick read, but now that I think about it, it's really quite gory and sexually explicit. If you're looking for a fun thriller, go ahead and enjoy. Just don't send me a rude email when you end up offended in the end.

One out of Five on this one only because it really was heart-pounding at times.

Shortbread for Dummies

These cookies are nice and easy because they don't require any rolling or cutting. Therefore, it's not traditional shortbread, but oh so delicious.

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter
5 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Slowly add flour. Dough will be stiff.
Roll into 1/2" balls and place on a greased cookie sheet.
Flatten with the bottom of a glass "dunked" in sugar.
Bake 9-10 minutes at 350. (Until barely brown around the edges.
When slightly cool, flip off of cookie sheet face down into sugar.
Eat standing over sink and hide from the children and your husband.

Update

Gertrude died last night in her own bed with her own dog. I am told it was very peaceful and painless. We will miss her greatly.

Hospice Care

Gertrude went into hospice care yesterday.
Bummer, man.
If she crosses your mind, please pray for her comfort.