HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?

Some of us have used Vicks VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks VapoRub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

I'm here to tell you, it works.
My mom sent me this information in an email this morning, since life at our house has come to a complete standstill due to Shirley's nasty cold.
I am pleased to say that I applied VapoRub to SJ's feet at 1:43 this afternoon for her nap (I was very scientific about it and wanted to be as accurate as possible, so I checked the clock carefully!), and she has been sleeping soundly ever since, which, after our night last night, is a welcome respite.
Does anybody know how or why it works?

A Birthday Every Day

How is it possible that out of 515 friends on Facebook, some days (like today) three or even four of my friends have birthdays and other days, none of my friends have birthdays?
I have wondered this frequently over the last couple of years.
I think, when I reach the point that I have enough friends that one of them has a birthday every day of the year, it's time to be done on the ol' social network.
Thoughts?

Clues that you have reached adulthood:

-You run out of things like bread and milk instead of throwing them away because they've gone bad.
-Many of your friends on facebook have pictures of their children as profile pictures instead of themselves.
-You have a picture of your child/ren as your profile picture instead of yourself.
-You need to visit the chiropractor after going bowling.

Just some thoughts for this Sunday afternoon.

Iron Chef Roseville

Last night, after reading an FB post that a friend had been eating a lot of spaghetti, I HAD. TO. HAVE. spaghetti.
Of course, we didn't have any sauce...so I made my own.
In the time it took for the water to boil and the pasta to cook, I created a masterpiece:
-One can diced tomatoes
-Lots of salt
-Lots of garlic salt
-A tiny bit of minced garlic
-A dash of basil
-A very large amount of oregano (who took the oregano shaker top, by the way?)
-Some onion powder
-Lots of cayenne pepper
-A dash of black pepper
-A splash of olive oil
Simmer and stir while pasta cooks.
DELICIOUS! FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL!
I rule.

Try Again

Richard: Woah. If you dial 1-800-Geek-Squad you get a lady saying dirty stuff.
Erin: Are you sure you dialed the right number?
Richard: Pretty sure.

If Only

If Aldi did photo printing and sold The Real Thing, it would darn near be the perfect store.
Oh, and a Redbox.

Clean House

I used to have house-cleaning routine that I was very happy with.
Then I got pregnant.
Now that I'm starting to feel more like a human and less like a home for an alien-life-form that preys on its victims from the inside out, I can not for the life of me remember what that routine was.

"I will help where help is needed."

At the marriage retreat this weekend, Rich and I dealt with some spiritual warfare in the form of dreams, etc. This is not at all surprising when you think about it--if we go out to "the woods" to focus on our marriage, it's not going to make Satan happy. Right? Right.
Anyway, in the middle of the night, I poked Richard and said, "Can you pray with me?" He, of course, obliged and I went to sleep quickly feeling better.
This morning I said, "Thanks for praying with me last night. It helped a lot."
Rich said, "I prayed with you?"
At least he was willing to help in the moment.

Less is More

Did I feel silly taking this photo at the library this afternoon?

A little.

For Keeps

This weekend, I was reviewing with Richard the weekends coming up in September. All of them are busy.
I said, "I've got a baby shower on the 26th, and I'm pretty sure I'll be in major trouble if I don't take Shirley Jean."
He said, "Oh, so that means you're probably not going to Opening Day with me?"
I said, "No...I didn't realize they were the same day. Is that ok?"
He said, "Yeah, that works out fine. Brian called Opening Day anyway. You can't really mess with it when it's been 'called.'"
I said, "No, that's like, in the Bible."

What difference does it really make?

I drove to Eau Claire last night to have dinner with my parents (because going to the Minnesota State Fair wasn't enough activity for me in one day). While we were at the table, Shirley filled her diaper, which I noticed approximately 60 seconds before my parents.
My mom said, "Erin...do you have really bad gas?"
I said, "Yes."
She said, "Did you just...?"
I said, "NO! It's Shirley's diaper! Jeez!"

Nowhere Fast

When Richard says he's going to detail the car, he's not kidding around.

Dear Wisconsonites,

I can NOT believe how emotional I got reading your posts about the first day of school today. (Maybe it's the hormones, but that's not the point.)
I am praying for your children as they start a new year.
Sincerely yours,
Present Erin