I am going to need an eyeball transplant.

Happy Saturday!

I LOVE a beautiful Saturday morning with the sun shining through the now bare trees and the steam of a warm cup of coffee tickling my nose and the sound of a sweet little baby cooing from the backseat of the car on our way out to G-Mama and G-Daddy's.

There's just nothing like a Saturday morning.

The Hubs has to work today.  He is with us in spirit, however, as I can't stop thinking about him since he cleaned AND put away every last dish in our kitchen yesterday after the plumber came and fixed our sink.  I'm telling you, the Hubs is my hands-down hero.  I didn't even know the guy knew how to put away a week's worth of nasty dishes, and he did that and even managed to wipe down the counters and replace the rug in the kitchen.  I know.  I totally have the hots for him.

And I can't wait to see him tonight for his b-day celebration take 3 with my side of the clan.  We did take 2 last night with his parents, and I have some adorable pics to post as soon as I have a chance.  So I'll save the recap for the pics. =)

Today Newbie and I are hanging out at G-Mama's and G-Daddy's house so Mama can finish her photobook marathon.  Let me tell you something.  Six photobooks are not for the faint of heart.  I was at the computer until one o'clock in the morning for the second night in a row, and my retinas are burned to ashes.  Also, I can't feel my finger tips and somebody needs to take me on a vacation. STAT.

But Christmas presents are almost a wrap.  Or at least they will be by Monday if I can muster up enough eye sight to power through a few more hours on the Snapfish website. 

Have mercy.

Wishing you all a SUPER Saturday filled with sunshine and the hope of snowflakes. =)  Yes, it snowed here yesterday.  No, I am not ready.  But I will be by next weekend when I start decorating for Christmas. 

YES. That is going to happen. 

Don't judge me. =)

Suddenly I'm flashing back to the spring of 2005 and a shower rat.

Plumber is coming in the morning.  We're hoping he's a nice guy and a straight shooter willing to cut a coupla new parents a good deal on a major pipe clear-out.  If it's a pricey fix, I may have to offer to pay him in potatoes and Rice Krispy Treats. You know, like they did back in the day.

Tonight I'm huddled up in our computer nook cranking out a billion Snapfish photobooks before the sale expires on Monday...it feels like my junior year in college all over again, except without the teaching portfolio and crazy neighbors. Sub in 345,039 unedited pictures and a maniac puggle. Strangely, the stress still gives me a strong desire to binge on a large tube of raw cookie dough. Some things never change.  College flashbacks also involve almost failing Geology of The Great Lakes 201 and a shower rat, but that's a story for another time. 

Newbie is partying late tonight with his daddy on the couch (exersaucer for Newbie, new b-day video game for the Hubs), which means we might actually get to sleep in tomorrow.  I'm holding my breath.

And the best part?

The Hubs has the day off tomorrow, so this is our Friday night.  TGIF, baby!

Wishing you all a happy evening!

***Grandma P, consider this us knocking twice! ; )

We may need an intervention.

Last night I was up until the wee hours of the morning making a photobook of my pregnancy with Newbie. 

I went through picture upon picture of a growing belly and a fat lady eating Lucky Charms (seriously, I had like, 8 pictures of me in different outfits eating cereal...) and a sweet, squishy pink newborn. 

It was so much fun.

I got way too nostalgic.

And super sentimental.

It was tear worthy.

And, dare I say, it made me want to do the whole thing all over again.

Which I never would have said in the 9th month of my pregnancy or in the third sleep-deprived week of having a newborn.

But I've changed my mind.

Because they just get so big so fast.

And because carrying life is such a HUGE blessing.

And because I can really rock a massive baby bump.

 Oh yeah, baby.

Don't freak out. 

I'll come to my senses when I step on the scale Saturday and realize I'm still working at getting rid of those 79 bowls of Lucky Charms I downed last winter.

Anyway, I'm not talking any time soon.

I'm just talking someday. 

For now, I'm OK spending my days with just this guy....

....and trying not to blink.

I hope you take advantage of the buy one get two free Snapfish photobook sale today, because it is one heck of a good deal, man! 

...and if you don't want to use yours, can I use your account to make three more?!?  Because the dark circles under my eyes and the large cup of coffee I'm guzzling this morning indicate I might be addicted to fake scrapbooking at this point. It's a problem. 

Snap. Snap. Snap.

 (The picture has nothing to do with this post. It has just become one of my favorites, and I couldn't resist including it. And yes, on that particular day, we were both wearing our cookie pants.)

I have some free-form poetry for you today.  Penned by yours truly.

Buckle up. 

You are in for a treat. 

Some of this stuff may be Hallmark card worthy.  I am just saying.
__________________________________________________________________________________

there is a stud in my kitchen fixing a backed up sink

he may or may not be a little mad and grouchy

because it was reasoned that the project would take about half an hour

and it has been over an hour

yikes.

snap. snap. snap.
__________________________________________________________________________________

we busted out the Christmas music today

because I am overly enthusiastic

and I have chronic Christmas celebration issues

and I was tired of "The Wiggles" and "Curious George"

don't "wake up, Jeff". Keep sleeping until January. 

thankyouverymuch.

snap. snap. snap.
_________________________________________________________________________________

turns out corn stalks are a fertile breeding ground

for little creepy black bugs

so are pumpkins and gourds and decorative squash

all the more reason for the Christmas decor

to make a jail break in a couple weeks

WOOT.

snap. snap. snap.
_________________________________________________________________________________

a few weeks ago

I burned rice on the stove

the aftermath was so brutal

that we can't use that pot anymore

but I don't have the heart to throw it away

because it was a beautiful pot.

who wants a pot with charred rice stuck to the bottom for Christmas?

email me.

snap. snap. snap.
__________________________________________________________________________________

who wants burnt butternut squash baby food puree for Christmas?

email me.

snap. snap. snap.
__________________________________________________________________________________

today the Hubs took Newbie and I out on the town

where we bought Newbie a new baby bath

it is like a blow up pool for the bath tub

it is awesome

it was on sale

somebody's going to have a wicked fun bath tonight

there will be bubbles

and water toys

and lots of splashing.

snap. snap. snap.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Snapfish is having a buy one photobook

GET TWO photobooks

free sale

until November 8.

it is time to start fake scrapbooking.

adios.

snap. snap. snap.
______________________________________________________________________________

Live from the Bumbo

 Coming to you live from the Bumbo to say...

We got our vote on today!

The Hubs in all his patriotic enthusiasm got us up and at 'em this morning to vote before he went off to work.

.

  I was so happy he did. 

1)  I had to make all the political commercials I've endured the past month worth the pain.

2) I had to make sure I did my part to make sure we don't have Kermit the Frog or some other crazy having the say-so around here.

3)  I heard myself say to Newbie, "Today people are going to vote on who is going to run our country- that's a big job!" and I realized it really is a big job, and I had better get out of my velour and go get my vote on with the Hubs today.

4) I know there are people out there who don't get a vote in who is running their country.  It is a blessing that we have the freedom to vote, and I wanted to take advantage of that gift. 

5)  I wanted to get a cool sticker. 

...Those stickers only come around once in a blue moon, you know.

If you're having some trouble deciding whether or not to get out of your velour today to go vote, I can assure you it's worth it.  And don't fret, you can always climb right back into that velour when you get home.  Not that I did.  OK.  Yes, I did. Sheesh.  Folks, you know me too well. =)

 

Go get your vote on!

It's fun. And patriotic. And a gift.  

And....you get a sticker.

I hope you get a sticker today!

PS- Now that I've voted, Campaigners, please stop shoving fliers through the mail slot in my front door. They are wreaking havoc on my front porch harvest decor mojo.  Also, don't fake me out with snail mail any more because I am tired of thinking you are a letter from a friend or dear family member and being severely disappointed when you are just another flier. Gracias.

Big Blue Eyes

Big Blue Eyes,

Do you know

that your mama

loves you to the moon

and back...

times infinity?

Because I do. 

And I just thought

you ought to know.

You

and those big blue eyes of yours 

have my heart

for always.

Love,

 Mama

Rage against the candy corn

Let me begin by saying when I woke up this morning I heard a squeak in the corner of my bedroom.

An hour and 13 minutes have passed, I have had my coffee, I am blogging in my bedroom, and I have heard the squeak at least three times since I came back up here.

Visions of bats and mice and talking millipedes and rabid squirrels are clouding my mind.

Have mercy.

Going to my happy place...

Yesterday Newbie and I got ourselves a Halloween surprise.  We were planning on Trick-or-Treating at G-Mama's house sans the Hubs when we get a call from him saying he was getting out of work early to come Trick-or-Treating with us!  Woohoo! 

All week, despite the Hubs begging on his hands and knees, I have stood by my "No sir.  No way. Newbie is only 6 months old, we can't use him to get candy because he can't even say thank you yet" mantra.  Last night, however, in the face of fun size candy bars in every variety, my resolve crumbled, and I walked around my old neighborhood with my 6 month old on my hip chiding a very enthusiastic "TRICK OR TREAT!" at several door steps. 

I am not proud.

But I am full.

Of Laffy Taffy and Hershey's chocolate and a fair share of Willy Wonka Double Dipped Nerds. 

One of the girls I used to babysit for as a toddler is now THIRTEEN and was the blue lady from Avatar...you know, this chick:

 And GET THIS- she brought her horse with her!   I kid you not. It was such a fun idea!  She spray painted her horse a sparkly silver and rode that sucker up my parents' driveway, hopped off, came up to the door and hollered "Trick or Treat!" and "Thank you!" before hopping back onto the horse and back down the driveway.

The best part was the horse left a little "treat" of her own right smack dab in the middle of the driveway.

What a riot.  Best Halloween costume ever- she looked so cute-, and we were laughing our rear-ends off at the sight of that "treat".

It was one for the books, people.

It sure made me second guess my son's Halloween costume.  I mean, up until I saw the Avatar princess, I thought I was doin' pretty good. 

What he lacked in accessories, he made up for in snuggles and cuddles and cute. =)

 I want to wish a big  
HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY 
to my main man, the Hubs today! 

And with that, I'm outta here.  I've got a little boy who has slept in an hour past his usual wake-up time, and we have a Birthday Daddy to visit up at work today.  We're bringing in a birthday treat.  I can't even begin to tell you the turmoil involved in picking a birthday treat for a guy who works at a health facility.  I am queen of the Funfetti Cake or the Pumpkin Pie or the candy birthday treat.  None of it seemed eligible to sit on a table in the health facility's workroom.  I couldn't take the pressure.  I finally decided on trail mix with a few M&M's sprinkled in with the help of my mom, the ever-wise party planner.

I also poured in a bag of candy corns that have been laughing at me since I declared myself a Biggest Loser Challenge contestant.

TAKE THAT!  YOU DON'T KNOW ME!  I CAN DO IT!

Sorry.  A little rage against the candy corn.

Happy first of November!  Here's wishing you and yours a happy post-Halloween detox!  

"Who me?"