P.S. It's Read Me Day 2

Despite the drama, I'm continuing on with Read Me week and my promise to blog my family's favorite kids books.

Book #2 is:

Humu: The Little Fish Who Wished Away His Colors
By Kimberly Jackson

(image from JacketFlap)

Most people know how I feel about the Rainbow Fish book. I'm not a big fan of encouraging kids to give up what makes them unique and special so they can have more friends. Call me crazy, but I think we need to do more celebrating of the things that make us different. Not more compromising of those unique traits.

So since I have such strong opinions on the topic of celebrating our differences, the story of Humu is right up my alley. We originally bought this book on one of our trips home to Hawaii to see Thomas' family. I've never seen it in a bookstore on the mainland though the link in the title takes you to the Amazon page and I'm sure most bookstores can order it for you.

It is a great kids book about Hawaii's state fish the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (yeah, that's really the name and I swear I double checked the spelling!). In the book the little fish, Humu, realizes he is more colorful than all of his other friends. He is upset that he doesn't look like everyone else and makes a wish to be the color of sand so he isn't different any more.

But, he does so without telling anyone and when his friends find out they are sad because they know his colors are part of what make him such a special fish. They tell him that it was those crazy colors that made him special because they made him unique. Realizing he made a mistake, he wishes for his colors back and with the help of his friends he gets back the beautiful colors that made him so different. In the process Humu realizes that it is those things that are uniquely individual about someone that make them who they are and they should never be wished away.

The illustrations are beautiful and the story is such a great celebration of individuality that it has instantly become a family favorite. I highly recommend picking it up and reading it with your kids!

Your turn, what books celebrating individuality and uniqueness does your family love?

And the worst part is that it's not cute or cuddly...

Yesterday I tried to have a baby.

I woke up feeling just a bit off. By 10 am I was having cramping. By 1:00 I was having stabbing pains and contractions. But I waited. Because I didn't want to be one of those crazy preggo moms (a.k.a. me in both previous pregnancies) who went to the hospital for every little thing. Plus this one is on me, folks, so when I'm paying I want to make sure I'm paying for the baby and not false labor.

So I took a bath and waited. And they got worse. MUCH WORSE. And then they were 15 minutes a part. And then 10. At which point I went to the doctor. Because something was clearly up. From there they went to 7, 5, 3 and that is when they wheeled me into L&D. Because I was clearly having a baby.

The doctor told me they'd have the C-section that night because it was more dangerous to stop labor at this point than it was to continue. I, of course, called all my family. But, the doctor on call that night had different ideas. And she gave me two shots of terbutaline and stopped the contractions.

But the pain just wouldn't stop. And oh. my. Lord. did I want to punch the nurse when she asked if I thought it was a pinched nerve. A PINCHED NERVE??? No. It wasn't a pinched nerve.

Once the contractions stopped, though, it became very obvious what was causing the pain because it was (unfortunately) a very familiar pain when separated from the pain of contractions. Kidney stones. No, that just doesn't do it justice. It was FREAKING KIDNEY STONES!!!

Oh this cruel, cruel body of mine.

They sent me home with one measly percocet and instructions to stay hydrated. And within 5 minutes of getting home I passed the stupid thing.

Thomas dared me to take a pic and blog it, but the truth is I like you guys too much and I want you to actually come back here again in the near future and pictures of kidney stones probably wouldn't guarantee the future of our relationship, right? I didn't think so.

Read Me.

This week is apparently Read Me week here in the South which as far as I can tell is one whole week dedicated to reading books to your kids and helping them learn that reading is cool.

And since we're all about reading being cool here in the Land of Lovings I thought I'd spend the week reviewing a few of our favorite books for kids. Come by throughout the week and check out which books we're enjoying and leave suggestions of your own favorites!

So, without further ado, our first selection for Read Me week is:

Junie B. Jones

I know these books are a bit controversial for some moms. Junie B. Jones is, after all, a bit of a troublesome little Kindergartener. But, as it just so happens, I have a soft spot in my heart for troublesome Kindergarteners so we quite enjoy these books.

Junie B. doesn't teach kids perfect grammar or manners. And she's a no wallflower, that's for sure. But, she's hilarious and adventurous and a hysterically funny read. Both Kai and Ivy are glued to the book series and look forward each night to seeing what crazy feat Junie B. will pull off next.

I'll even admit that there have been nights when I've read more chapters than I promised to read just because I'm curious to see what is going to happen next. Which is more than I can say for some of the other kid's chapter books we've read around here.

There are tons of books in the series for every occasion and the series is also available in box sets so I highly recommend picking one up and diving in to the crazy adventures of this even crazier kid!

Now it's your turn. What books are your kids (and you) enjoying?

What no one tells you about the birds and the bees.

Here's what no one ever told me about the "Birds & the Bees."

No one ever told me that I should pay close, close attention to what my parents said about this because someday as a result of the Birds and the Bees, I'd have a daughter of my own to explain it to and no freaking clue how to do it.

No one ever told me that said daughter would start asking about these important things before she even reached her 5th birthday.

No one ever told me that it would be so hard to answer questions like, "Why is our Rooster riding piggy back on our hen?" and "If they're going to have babies, which one of our (8) hens is our Rooster married to?"

And, most importantly, no one ever told me that these issues would come up at the most mundane times and render me completely speechless in 5 o'clock traffic.

So, now what? With a baby on the way and a barnyard harem in the backyard how on Earth do I explain to my 4-year-old exactly what is going on with the whole reproductive process in a way that doesn't guarantee her a spot on a therapist's couch in 10 years?

Here's where I come to you for some help. Because somehow I woke up one morning to find myself swimming in the deep end of the parenting pool completely unprepared!

What went fantastically right and/or horribly wrong in the Birds and Bees discussions in your own life? Did your parents shove a book at you to read or scar your for life with an overshare? With your own kids, when did you get into the whole thing and how did you explain it in a way that answered questions without giving them more than they were ready to hear?

This is what FEAR looks like.

Alternately titled:
Photographic proof that I am a total coward.

This is my husband and me as newlyweds having a "wonderful" time on the Chattooga. Hooray for white water rafting.

This is my husband falling out of the boat at the scariest part of the river. (Notice his foot in the water right beside his oar?)

This is what my face looks like when I sense immediate danger for myself my beloved husband.

I've never claimed to be a brave woman.

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Wish I were here...

Today instead of spending my time on a tropical beach drinking fruity cocktails and watching my children frolic in the sun, I am tackling my least favorite household project:

Cleaning the kids' playroom/bedroom

I can't tell you how much I loathe this job. It will include (but not be limited to):

• Picking up at least 1200 kids books and arranging them on the bookshelf by classification (soft cover vs. board book) and size only to have them all end up on the floor by 5pm.

• Finding at least one discarded pull-up under the bunk beds after ranting (yet again) that all diapers go in the trash every single time with no exceptions thankyouverymuch!

• Discovering that Barbie and her stylish friends own more shoes than everyone in my house combined. And that none of them are a complete pair.

• Throwing away no less than 3 dismembered Dollar store "Barbie" bodies and worrying about why it is my children insist on murdering their dolls in this cruel way.
  

So, what I could use now is your tips for cleaning playrooms and keeping them clean. Got any nuggets of wisdom to make my job easier when I tackle this in the future??

To see what other folks are tackling this Tuesday head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Let's get down and dirty.

Okay, so I know that I don't have to spill any dirty truths until tomorrow. But, I just have the need to get something off my chest. And, so, if you are a male and/or you know me IRL you may want to stop reading now. Really. Unless you want to know more about me than you probably should.

Here's what I want to know today. Ladies who are pregnant or who have ever in your life been pregnant could you do me a favor? Could you raise your hand if your pregnancy hormones ever made you have the libido of hormonal 18-year-old boy? Because everywhere I turn I see that stereotype in the media and I'm starting to feel like maybe I'm missing out on an important benefit of pregnancy.

Actually, to be more accurate, my poor husband seems to think he is missing out on a major benefit of pregnancy.

Though my theory is that finding a pregnant woman with this particular pregnant symptom is kind of like finding a unicorn please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Valentine's Day, as a result, is a day of undue pressure on those of us preggo chicks who are not hormonally crazed in a good way. It's just not fair.

To make things worse, did you know that they make things like this? Talk about pressure!

So, can you guess how Valentine's Day went down at our house?

Here's a synopsis:

Scene: Valentine's Day night. Living room sofa, 11:00 pm.

My sweet husband, snuggling up to me on sofa: "Hey, baby. Happy Valentine's Day. Did you like your flowers?"

**kissy-kissy-kissy**

Me: "Speaking of babies, when are you going to paint the baby's room? And I'm starving. Could you grill me a steak? Also, is it like 150 degrees in our house or what? Crap my left butt cheek has fallen asleep again. Could you move over? Is our couch made out of cotton balls or something 'cause suddenly it is all lumpy and out of shape. It's probably the fact that I'm huge, huh? I'm ruining the sofa from sitting on it. Do you think I look huge? Don't lie. I can see it in your face. It's not really fair to judge me right now, okay? I am, after all, growing the son you've never had. Just get off my case already."

My sweet husband: "Huh? Um...your hair looked really pretty tonight at dinner. I love you."

Me: "Yeah, well I guess that is what happens when you get a chance to take more than a 30 second shower and actually wash your hair. I know I've let myself go, alright? It's just hard to take time to get ready during the week when I'm constantly getting the girls ready and taken care of. Can't you just pretend not to notice?"

My sweet husband: "Um...I think I'm gonna go to bed. I love you, though. Okay? I really do. I mean, if that's alright with you."

Me: "Fine. Lay the guilt trip on. I wish for just one moment you could feel how I feel so you would understand why I'm not all lovey-dovey at the drop of a hat. I know what married couples are supposed to be doing on Valentine's Day and I'm sorry. But, you know, I'm not some Stepford Robot Wife so just cut me a little bit of slack."

At which point my sweet husband slinks away to the safety of another room.

End Scene.

--

Yeah, I'm a heartless wench. Really. And feeling hideously guilty for not being a better wife lately. And also I'm kinda not into, well, you know, marital congress at the moment what with all the pressure of a 6 lb. baby simultaneously sitting low in my belly and kicking me in the ribs. Thank God my husband has the patience of Job.

One down. One to go! **updated**

We had a big night at the Loving house.

Last night, for the first time, Thomas pulled a tooth. I mean, he actually pulled the tooth out. Oh, we've lost teeth before. We lost two in July. But this tooth? This tooth was stubborn. And hanging on by a thread. And giving mom the heebie-jeebies with every wiggle it got.

Thankfully, Kai is easily bought off. All it took was the promise of Tooth Fairy loot and a Popsicle and she was on board.

There was plenty of cringing and freaking out and wincing and Kai was actually a little bit nervous, too. But a bit of embroidery floss (purple - of course!) and a few good yanks on the thread and we had lift-off. Literally. It flew across the room and caused a bit of drama, but it was out.

Thank the Lord.

It's next door neighbor is pretty darn loose, too, so I'm imagining we'll be seeing him come out this weekend though hopefully he'll pop out the old-fashioned way. In an apple. Or, better yet, a Sugar Daddy candy bar.

The very best part of all this?

The Tooth Fairy actually remembered to come this time! I must be getting the hang of this mom thing after all...

(Head over to Life is Sweet to see other "Best Shots" of the week!)

**Updated**

So, it turns out we didn't have to wait long at all. Last night after a poorly planned leap from bunk bed ladder to "thinking chair" Kai managed to actually knock her other tooth right out. Let me just say, there was LOTS more blood than the first time but the tears disappeared as soon as her dad reminded her that it meant she'd get more $$ from the Tooth Fairy.

Now, she's got the adorable lisp of a kid who has no front teeth. Which means her dad and I have to try our best not to giggle everytime she exclaims, "Theriothly Guyth!" I need to capture that on video for posterity...

Last Minute Valentine

If you're anything like me you sometimes have a hard time getting into the "spirit" of a holiday until, oh, you know, a day or so before. As a result, I've managed to collect quite a few cool last minute holiday crafts that can be done with little or no prep work.

That's what happens when you're the Queen of Procrastination!

This year we made these great little heart shaped fragrance stones. They're perfect for leaving in clothing or linen drawers. You can even leave them out in a nice little bowl to add a subtle fragrance to a room.

We made hearts for Valentine's Day and used regular food coloring to make them pink, but the great thing about these stones is they can be whipped up easily for last minute treats for any occasion! Wrapped up in little bags and tied with raffia or twine they make pretty little gifts.

Have fun!

Fragrance Stones

1-1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
1/4 tsp. cornstarch
2/3 cup boiling water
1 T fragrance oil (we used Rose)
Colorant of your choice

Mix all dry ingredients. Heat water in a Pyrex cup in the microwave or on the stove. Add the f/o and the color to the water. Stir water mixture into flour mixture. Mix as best you can and then knead the dough with your hands. At this point you just want it to look like pie or cookie dough. Roll it out about a quarter of an inch thick. Cut into shapes or use cookie cutters. Another option is to stamp the flat shapes. Let the dough stones dry. They get hard as rocks and will last for months.


(I found this recipe online ages ago so unfortunately I can't give credit where credit is due. But, just wanted to note that this isn't a recipe I came up with...)

Why I can't turn my back on my kids

Or, What My Kids Are Doing While I'm Blogging Watching Dr. Phil Cooking Dinner

Turns out while I'm busy being productive, my kids are busy being productive, too. Building obstacle courses that include what they called a "high dive." They reassured me it was completely safe to jump from the top of that upturned bench 'cause they had plenty of pillows around.

Sounds reasonable to me.

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Total Truth Tuesday: You tell me...

For this week's edition of Total Truth Tuesday, I want to know what you think. So, you guys give me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Seriously, I can take it.

Did I waste my education?

I was having a conversation with a good friend a while back about the value of educating a woman who will eventually stay at home with her children. It was an interesting discussion, completely amiable, between a SAHM and a working mom. Both mothers of daughters.

Through this discussion the question was asked, "Is there any point in going to college and spending money on an education if you're planning to stay at home and raise kids?"

At the time, I couldn't really articulate my thoughts eloquently on the subject. When it comes to debating a topic, I know two speeds. They are: politely restrained and out for blood. Just ask my husband. He'll be glad to tell you which speed is my favorite. (Hint: It isn't restraint.)

And since this is a very good friend and truly was a friendly discussion, I didn't lock and load and throw all my effort into this argument.

But, this was certainly not the first time this conversation has come up in my life. A year or two ago I was given a child-rearing "manifesto" by a more conservative friend. In no uncertain terms, it stated that girls should not receive education beyond high school since the Bible "says" women are to raise children and care for the home. (Click here to read my opinion on that myth.)

I realize people on both sides of the educational fence could say I wasted my education. Some feminists might say I am wasting my education by staying home with my kids when I could be "contributing" to society. More conservative folks would ask why I bothered to go to school and get "educated" when I clearly should have been pursuing more domestic training.

But, here's why I think it is important for a woman to be educated whether or not she plans to stay home later with her children.

1. Things don't always go according to your plan. Have you read this guest post on Rocks in My Dryer's website? It is a beautiful and heartbreakingly honest post from a self-described "wife without a husband and mother without a child." A woman who planned to get married and have children. And a woman who found that life had other plans. Imagine if she had decided to forgo education because she planned to have kids one day.

2. There is more to learn in higher education than academics. I think higher education can mean a variety of things. I want to make this part really clear, I don't believe an "education" has to mean learning in a traditional college setting. But, I do think attention must be paid to learning things about the world outside. Whether it be apprenticing or traveling through Europe or mission trips or a traditional college degree or anything in between, learning about other people, places, and cultures is important. How can I, as a mom, impart a sense of wonder about this big huge world to my children if I've never seen how big it is? I was an English major in school. Not necessarily the most practical of degrees. But, is what I learned wasted on my time at home? Of course not. I learned about people, relationships, history, art. I got the opportunity to travel and live abroad for a short period of time. I learned self-reliance. I learned to be a part of a community. All of these things are an important part of raising thoughtful, articulate, and well-rounded children. For that reason, I cannot look at my education as wasted.

3. Perhaps most importantly, being a SAHM means so much more than just staying at home. Whether you like the term SAHM or Homemaker or something loftier, you have to recognize that this "job" entails much more than sitting on the sofa watching kids play all day. Yes, there are days when I color in coloring books or play Barbies for 80% of my day. And, of course, there are times when my days feel like nothing more than glorified babysitting. But, my job is much more like family CEO than anything. I balance the books and manage all the bills. I am responsible for finding educational and entertaining activities to keep my children happy and busy. I am a conflict negotiator between two emotionally high-strung and often irrational individuals. I am responsible for making healthy meal choices for my family (which may occasionally include cupcakes for breakfast, but, hey, I'm doing my best here!). I am wardrobe consultant, hair stylist, laundress, housekeeper, teacher, chauffer, accountant, event planner, cultural ambassador, Sunday school teacher, and more. And I am better at all of these things because I didn't simply give up on learning about the world after high school.

Perhaps what frustrates me most (and tends to make me feel the most self-conscious of my decision to stay at home) is the notion that I am "just" a mom. The notion that I am wasting my time, my education, or my resources on my children is a frustrating one for me.

And, if you're saying to yourself, "me thinks the lady doth protest too much" - well, you're probably right.

I'll admit that, some days, I am my own biggest critic when it comes to convincing myself I'm not wasting away at home. But, in my (albeit rare) moments of clarity, I know that my education ultimately contributes to my ability to be a good mom to my kids and that, in the end, the only thing I'm really wasting is the time I spend worrying about what other people think about my choices.

But, what about you? How do you feel about higher education and raising children? What would have done differently in this particular area? What are decisions are you thankful you made?

Spring Fever

The recent warm spell here in Georgia has brought out the Spring fever in our house. Couple that with the euphoria that comes from the massive boost in egg production from our chickens and we've caught the self-sustaining bug again. And that means it's time to get our garden started.

Despite our currently blissful weather pattern, this is Georgia we're talking about and we've been known to get a random snow in February and we can't quite risk getting the garden into the ground quite yet.

(image from www.burpee.com)

So, this weekend we picked up one of the Ultimate Growing Systems and a plant growing light bulb from Home Depot and we're getting our garden started in the basement so we can plant it outside once the weather becomes a bit more predictable.

We've got room in this kit to get 72 plants growing and since it magically self-waters the plants all we have to do is make sure they get the right amount of light and when our official spring season arrives we'll have our garden on the right track.

So far, here's a list of our 2009 garden plans. We'll be growing:

*Radishes
*Garlic
*Corn
*Onions
*Tomatoes
*Carrots
*Green Beans
*Zucchini
*Peas
*Banana Peppers
*Spinach
*Bell Peppers
*Lettuce
*Squash

To find out what other projects moms across the blogosphere are tackling this week, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom's Tackle it Tuesday!

Cheaters Tortilla Soup

One of my preggo cravings this time around has been Mexican food. Actually, more specifically, the HUGE bowl of chicken soup from the Mexican restaurant that you can get for $3 and feed your whole family with. Yeah, I can eat that all on my own in one sitting. Don't judge me.

Unfortunately, my husband loathes this particular type of food so getting to the restaurant to get some has not been without drama. But, in my first trimester there were several nights the only thing I could stomach was the "chicken soup" from our local El Azteca.

I just wish I'd had this recipe then, because this is the easiest and most delicious cheater's Mexican Chicken Soup I've ever had. Definitely not any kind of authentic recipe, but I'm not pretending it is. It just hits the spot when you're craving some good easy chicken soup with more of a Mexican flare.

So, I thought I'd post the recipe for you in case you find yourself pregnant and about to inflict bodily harm on someone because they are refusing to take you to get Mexican food no matter how badly you want it and you need some other way to fill the craving. Not that it has ever happened to me. **ahem**

Mexican Chicken Soup (adapted from Real Simple recipe)

1 12-ounce jar salsa verde
1 lb. cooked chicken
4 cups chicken broth
1 and 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
2 green onions, chopped
2 cans Ro-tel diced tomatoes (undrained)
fresh cilantro, chopped
2 limes, quartered
No Yolk noodles
2 avocados, diced
salt (to taste)

Empty the salsa, broth, water, and tomatoes into a large saucepan. Cook 2 minutes over medium-high heat, then add the onions, cilantro, and cumin. Bring to a boil. Add cooked chicken and limes. Add noodles and allow to simmer until noodles are soft. Top with avocados and serve with your favorite side dish!

Enjoy!

Things I've had to say: The Bathroom Edition

Potty seats are NOT hats! Take that off right now!

No you absolutely cannot ever pee in our cups at home. I mean it!

No, the baby definitely doesn't go through the poopy maze (intestines) before he comes out.

Can I please, please, PLEEEAAASSSEE go to the potty in private?!?

Better late than never, right?

I've (finally) drawn the names for the Skinny Nut Giveaway and have sent emails to the winning commenters. Sorry it took me so long to get that together!

If you've received an email about the giveaway, just drop me a note with your address so I can forward them on to the great folks at Everybody's Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios who will drop your snack packs in the mail to you ASAP!

Thanks to everyone for participating in the giveaway!

Work that Wig

Every year after Halloween I buy all the discounted wigs I can get my hands on. Because my girls love them some wigs. And here's the photographic proof:




For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Works for Me Wednesday

According to my mother, I have been an insomniac since the ripe old age of 2. So, it's no surprise that my kids have inherited that gene.

Cruel? Yes. Surprising? No.

But, I have found at least one fool proof method for getting them to sleep even on the toughest of nights.

Hypnosis.

Okay, I'm kidding. But, not totally. See, on nights when they seem like they will never get to sleep I employ a little bit of relaxation therapy. Start with some soothing music. Add a bit of back patting. And top it off with the most important step of all: the power of suggestion.

I have found that if I quietly and calmly tell them to relax each part of their body starting with their toes and working their way all the way to their head that by the time I get to their shoulders they are completely asleep.

It goes a little something like this:

"Relax your toes. Let the muscles relax and go to sleep. Your feet are tired and sleepy and they're falling asleep." It works like a charm. Every single time.

When I was a kid a counselor suggested I try this to get myself to sleep at night. Focus on relaxing each part of my body and feel myself falling asleep. It never worked for me. But, for some reason, the power of suggestion and the calming sound of someone's voice telling them to relax just puts my kids to sleep.

It takes about 10 extra minutes to do and I only really do it when I'm at my wit's end since I'd rather them learn to fall asleep on their own, but on nights when we're all about to lose our mind it is worth the extra effort and it's a heck of a lot better than spiking their milk!*

To find out what is working for other moms, head over to Rocks in My Dryer for Works for Me Wednesday!

*For the record, I would never spike my children's milk even if my grandmother does swear it is the best way to get a child to sleep. I'm fairly certain she may have pulled that on me when I stayed with her as a child and look how I turned out. Yeah, it's a warning people. Don't spike your kids milk. Or they may just turn out like me...

Total Truth Tuesday

Can someone please tell me who on Earth came up with the term baby "bump?" 'Cause calling what I've got going a "bump" is the understatement of the year, don't ya think?

So here's my Total Truth this week. This is me. At 32 weeks pregnant. Apparently gestating a single child the size of a small army of infants. Or at least that is what the strangers I see in public seem to imply with their "Wow! You're so BIG!" comments. And, for the record, if one more person tells me how huge I am you will be hearing about me in the evening news.

But here's the Truth part 2. And I swear I'm not lying. I have gained ZERO pounds this pregnancy. I swear. You can ask my doctor. Pregnancy is the one time in my life I don't gain weight simply by looking at or thinking about food. But, that hasn't stopped this mammoth belly from growing out of control.

So here you have it. The picture I swore I would never post. My 32 week belly pic.

To the friendly Jehovah's Witness who had to see me in my nightgown-

I appreciate that you want to save my soul. I truly do.

But, I'm pretty sure that obsessively ringing my doorbell on a Saturday morning when I'm trying desperately to clean up before my husband's family comes over is not the best time to do it. Especially when I'm still dressed in the one nightgown I own and not my usual yoga pants and T-shirt that I can often pass off as lazy day clothes and not pajamas.

Because when you show up on a Saturday ringing the doorbell of a pregnant woman who is flustered and irritated that her husband is off having a nice relaxing morning coffee and not helping clean up, here is what inevitably happens:

She will answer the door against her better judgment because seeing a strange man in a suit on a Saturday morning might make her think that it is something very important. She may even be so paranoid about owning chickens (and a rooster) and having been quoted in the paper recently on such matters, that she will think you are some kind of county code enforcer come to snatch her children's' chickens from them. Even though she knows that county code enforcers do NOT wear black suits.

Except maybe on days when they go out to witness to neighborhoods on behalf of their churches.

And so she'll hide in the dining room and insist her 4-year-old run and get her a pair of jeans to throw on with her nightgown so she can answer the door in something other than the Pollyanna nightgown she finds herself in. But, she'll forget that the differences in maternity jeans and men's jeans might be indecipherable to a 4-year-old. So, she'll end up wearing her husband's jeans with her nightgown when she answers the door for you.

And she'll be grouchy. Sweet merciful Lord, will she be grouchy.

But, most important, in her haste to put on the jeans over her nightgown she will forget something very important. Something she will not remember until after you leave. She will forget one of the most important steps in dressing one's self in pants.

She will forget to zip up her husband's pants.

So, while you are trying to witness to her and save a place in the sweet hereafter for her grouchy, messy self she will be flashing you a very undignified view of her undergarments that will be accentuated by the obvious Pollyanna nightgown poking through the aforementioned unzipped zipper.

And she will close the door after meeting you, realize the state of dress she was in, and go on to call her husband and blame him for all of this.

Because, after all, he was the one who was chilling at Starbuck's while she had no choice but to sleep in too late, fail to get dressed properly, and answer the door to a complete stranger. So, it has to be his fault, right? I thought so.

The Skinny Nut. **Giveaway!**

Back in October, the folks at Everybody's Nuts sent me a sampler of their Pistachios. I am a big fan of pistachios and an even bigger fan of freebies, so I accepted their sampler box and expected to be no more or less impressed with Pistachios than I was before I tried them. Though, I was grateful nonetheless for the chance to give new flavors a try.

But, just like there is a big difference in gas station coffee and a Grande cup of Starbuck's Daily Blend, there is a huge difference in quality flavored Pistachios and the sticky red kind you find in the aisle of your local convenience store. I was immediately a fan and started buying their nuts from that point on. (Once you've had their Salt & Vinegar Pistachios you'll never go back to the gas station variety!)

So, when I got another chance to try Everybody's Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios samples I jumped at the chance to do so and turn it into a giveaway for my readers as well.

Here's what you may not know about Pistachios. These little nuts pack quite the nutritional punch. Among snack nuts, they have the highest content of phytosterols. I know, I know. Phyto-what? Basically, they have a lot of this really good stuff that has been shown to reduce cholesterol absorption and basically make them super heart healthy. Guess they aren't called the "skinny nut" for nothing.

Geez, what I wouldn't give to have that nickname.

Anyways, here's where the giveaways come in. Because they know that once you try these nuts you'll be so convinced that a snack can be healthy and delicious, they are offering to send 10 of you a sampler of Everybody's Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios.

And here's what you have to do to enter. Head over to the Pistachio Health site and check out the facts, then come back leave a comment with one interesting Pistachio fact you learned while you were over there. I'll be shutting down comments at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 1st and drawing 10 lucky winners.

**This giveaway is open to all U.S. addresses (sorry, no international folks this time.) Be sure to leave an email address or blog link in your comment so I can get in touch with you and get an address to have your sampler sent out ASAP!**

Head back to Bloggy Giveaways to register for more cool giveaways!

Works for Me Wednesday - Kid's Coat Solution

We have a secret coat closet at our house. We hide it right by the front door. Apparently it is only visible to the adult eye because it goes largely ignored by the kids in our house.

In the winter, my constant refrain has been, "Hang up your coats. In the closet. No, coats do not go on the floor!"

In all fairness, when dealing with preschoolers it is a little much to expect them to be able to reach the hangers and hang their coats up. But, after picking coats up off the floor morning, noon, and night I knew something had to give.

Which is when we got smart. And picked up a couple of initialed towel hooks. We hung them beside the coat closet low enough for even our littlest kiddo to reach and ta-da! A solution was born.

Now, my girls not only hang up their coats every time they walk in the door, they can also reach them easily and put them on without me having to get them out before we leave. They love being self-reliant and I love not having a coat pile in the entry way every day. It's a win-win, I say!

So, that's what is working for me this week. Head over to Rocks in My Dryer and see what's working for others across the blogosphere.

Our experiment in Purplicious-ness.

Kai's been begging for months to have purple hair. But all the purple hair dye I've found is permanent or semi-permanent and I just wasn't ready to dive into the deep end with hair color just yet. But, I finally found some purple hair spray at the Sally Beauty Supply down the street and she got her wish.

I let her choose whether to do highlights or her full head and (big shocker) she went all out and chose to have her whole head sprayed purple. Her more reserved sister, on the other hand, chose a single purple highlight.

It didn't seem to matter whether we sprayed a lot or a little though because the next morning their pillowcases were identically purple!

For more Wordless Wednesday from moms who might actually be able to keep it, you know, wordless head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

Total Truth Tuesday

You all know Jane over at What About Mom, right? If not, go now 'cause she is awesome. Seriously. I'll be here when you get back.

No, really. Go.

Okay, back now? Good.

Last week Jane posted pics of what a real house looks like. You know, the kind where the spirit of Donna Reed is not channeled on a daily basis and where the kids don't live in some kind of plastic bubble where messes are never made. I loved her post. I admired her honesty.

And, I was so inspired by her Full Monty post that I decided to post my own. Because, you know what? I'm all about keeping it real here at the Land of Lovings.

So, in the spirit of transparency brought out by brave Jane, here's my own Full Monty post. This was my house on Saturday and Sunday morning (note how many dishes were left out since FRIDAY? **hangs head in shame**).

Actually, I'm shocked at how much cleaner it looks in pictures. Because, it was bad, people. The worst part? My house has actually been in worse shape. And, I don't have any real excuse for it. Except that I've got two unruly kids and I'm gestating a human being. And, you know, that I'm hopelessly addicted to day time TV. Do those count as valid reasons or just lame excuses? Actually, I don't care either way. Last week it was simply our reality.

So, here you go. My house in all of its messy disheveled glory.

You know, I think with posts like this one (and my infamous baby bottle post) I may be guaranteeing that my mother completely avoids my blog on Tuesdays. Sorry, Mom!

What about you guys? Any dirty little housekeeping secrets lurking around your house?

(Click the pics so you get the pleasure of reading
the details of the mess you're looking at!)

Does this look like a boy to you?

I hate car shopping. Mostly because, and please forgive me for this, I don't like dealing with used car salesmen. They aren't all bad, I know. But there's always one who seems to go out of his way to fit into the stereotype.

Take for example the guy who tried to sell us a minivan a couple of weeks ago. He was so busy trying to sell us the car he didn't bother to notice that I have two girls instead of a boy and a girl.

It grew increasingly uncomfortable as he kept referring to Kai as "little buddy" and "big brother" while I tried over and over again to stress my feminine pronouns and refer to them loudly as my girls.

Finally, when he left us alone for a minute Kai asked me why he kept calling her "buddy."

I explained that he wasn't paying attention and that he couldn't tell the difference between a little boy and a little girl.

She looked at me incredulously and said, "You mean he didn't notice that I don't have a PICKLE?!?!?"

So, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when he finally got back in the car and she said loudly, "Hey, mister. You know, I'm a girl, right? And I don't have a pickle. Ooookaaaaayyyy?"

Guess he had that one coming.

Works for Me Wednesday - Bath Time Saves the Day

Every mom needs her quiet time. You know, time when you're not negotiating peace treaties, threatening time outs, cleaning up dirty clothes, or dressing the Snow White Barbie in her ball gown for the hundred-thousandth time that day. (Why, oh why, can't they make these outfits easier to put on?!?)

And kids need to be clean, right? They get into crayons and markers. They run around and get sweaty. They put sand in their hair. You get the idea.

Combine the two and you have my favorite sanity saver. Bath Time. Oh, how the angels sing at bath time.

Now that the girls are almost 3 and 5 I can let them bathe largely on their own. Before you start sending concerned comments about me leaving them alone in a tub of water, you should know that I am always right there with them. I am generally not more than a few feet away from them while they are bathing and absolutely always within earshot. But, the fact that I don't have to physically chase them all over the house for the 30 minutes (or hour or two) that they're bathing is blissful. And if I get the hair clean and stinkyness washed off first, they're good to go the rest of their time in the bath.

I can sit beside the door to the bathroom and read a book. Or eat a candy bar. Or just close my eyes and breathe. Ah, the peace of bath time.

And they couldn't be happier. Some cups, some spoons, a few plastic toys and occasionally some food coloring to make the bubbles pretty and they are good to go. They sit in there until they are pruney and happy and their mom is less frazzled than she was a mere 30 minutes earlier.

Which is why my kids may be accused of being unruly or undisciplined or uncontrollable, but they will never be accused of being unclean. Because sometimes, just sometimes, they even get two baths a day.

Hey, whatever it takes to make everyone happy, right?

That is what is working for me this week. Head over to Rocks in My Dryer to see what is working for other moms!

When you give a kid an ink pad...

Check out those hands! Is that the stamping equivalent to coloring outside the lines?


For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom!

To my children on this historic day,

I feel like this day should not go unnoticed in my documentation of your childhood. But, I struggle with how to explain it to you today.

When I look into your eyes filled with innocence and excitement, how do I explain the importance of this day without also telling you about some of the darkest truths in our nation's history? How do I explain that we live in a country of possibility without revealing to you that there are others who would try to limit your achievements based on your gender or the color of your skin?

How do I tell you that today is a momentous day because only 50 years ago your parents would have been breaking the law by marrying outside of their race? How could I explain that only a few short decades ago you would have been looked upon with disdain and anger by many simply because of your mixed race and yet on this historic day we swear into office our country's first bi-racial president?

To expain this to you now would be destructive. Though, I'm not sure it would ever be a productive thing to explain. But, someday you will know. And someday you will learn how far our country has come.

I am thankful beyond measure that this will likely be something you can never fully grasp. It will seem to you an unbelievable and outdated ideal from a time long ago. I pray that when you are old enough for me to tell you these things you will look at me in disbelief and accuse me of exaggerating the truth. And I pray that when you are even older and can truly understand our national & cultural history you will be filled with gratitude and hope at how much change can be accomplished in such a short amount of time.

For now, I will tell you that we are getting a new president. That it is an important and special day. And that, though politically we may disagree as a nation, we can come together on this day to celebrate the hope and the knowledge that America is and will always be a land of unmeasured opportunity. For all people. Of all colors.

All Cooped Up

When we have a long weekend and no fun & exciting getaway plans we always end up doing the same thing. That is, we always end up getting around to the boring, yucky, no-fun tasks that get lost during the hectic weekday shuffle.

This weekend we tackled the chicken pen. And by we I mean, of course, my husband and kids. They had coop duty and I was there to document it all. You know, for posterity. And also so my hands were too full to actually help scoop chicken litter out of the boxes.


Chickens, we've found, are no more messy than any other animal you might have as a pet. But, they're no less messy either. And luckily (or not) all their mess gets concentrated in one specific spot.

On a bit of a side note, I have just one thing to say to you all: Clean your eggs.
(Okay, so the ones you buy at the store are most likely bleached and sanitized, but Lord knows I will never be able to think of eggs the same way again after seeing where some of our girls end up laying theirs.)

What does it take to keep a coop in good shape? Glad you asked.

We clean out the chicken boxes (I'll spare you a before photo) and put the litter in our compost bins to decompose into some nice healthy soil to use in our Spring garden.

We put down some fresh wheat straw in the boxes to keep the chickens warm in this super cold winter weather.


Finally, we spread the remaining hay stray all over the coop for the chickens to pick and scratch at.



All in all, it's not that bad. Kind of like cleaning a big cat box. But, actually, a bit less disgusting and perfumy smelling.

Thankfully, our ladies (and Rooster McLovin) now have one lovely freshly cleaned coop to lay all those beautiful brown eggs in. And if we're really lucky it will stay that way for at least a day or two.

That's what we tackled this week. To see what other folks around the blogosphere have been tackling visit Tackle It Tuesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom!

And just so you don't think we spend our days forcing our kids into deplorable child labor conditions, here are a couple of pics of them actually enjoying (I promise!) spending the day outside with their chickens.

Yeah, I'm phoning it in. **Sorry**

Okay, so I've been sofa bound all week for some high blood pressure issues. Let me say, I missed out on the 1960s so seeing flashing spots and blurred vision because of an ultra-high BP yesterday was about as close as I got to the whole hallucinogenic trippy experience. I don't long to experience it again.

Not too much exciting or inspiring happens when you're stuck on the couch, so I've decided to cop out and finish out the week with a Meme. Forgive me for not coming up with something more original. I promise to do better next week!

Technically I'm supposed to tag someone, so I'm tagging all of you. You copy the list and bold the things you've actually done. Leave me a link in the comments if you do it so I can come by and read all about the things you've done!

99 Things I've Done

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band (does a Marching Band count? : ))

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29 Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33 Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41 Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45 Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60 Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67 Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job (does it count if your parents fire you from their company?)

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Okay, I'm off to watch a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Marathon since there is nothing left to do on bed rest. Hey, at least it isn't Rock of Love Charm School, right? (Actually, it's only because I watched all I could stand of that yesterday. **sigh**)

I think it's starting to sink in.

Turns out we're gonna have one these around our house in less than 3 months. It's getting exciting!

Ivy (two weeks old)

Kai (2 days old)

Ivy (in hospital)

Kai (in hospital)

Check out more Wordless Wednesday over at 5 Minutes for Mom!

Apparently this is Satan's Laptop...

I know I disappointed all of you (and by all of you, I mean my Mom) by not having my Total Truth Tuesday ready today. I was busy being all poked and prodded at my 30 week doctor's appointment. I'll get back in the swing of things tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy this awesome product review my sister found for me at Target.com.

Click the image to make it easier to read.
You don't want to miss this one!

Promise me this isn't scientifically possible.

Last night I had a nightmare. A horrible, horrible nightmare that nearly woke me up screaming in a fit that would threaten to wake up even our neighbors two houses down.

I dreamed I was pregnant.

Wait, I am pregnant.

I mean, I dreamed I was pregnant and apparently miraculously still ovulating and that I managed to get myself pregnant - again. I remember vividly in my dream waddling my hugely pregnant body into the bathroom to take a home pregnancy test. I remember waiting for the results and seeing a horrifying pink plus sign.

In my dream, even though I was currently 7 months pregnant, I discovered that lurking inside me was a new baby. A baby that would take another 9 months to mature. Which, of course, meant that delivering this baby would not free me from my prison of gestational "bliss." Can you imagine the cruelty of that discovery?

And, for the love of all that is sweet and holy, if you can't have, um, marital relations without fear of getting pregnant when you're, you know, ALREADY PREGNANT then when can you?

I'm pretty sure this is due largely to our recent discussions of whether or not we'll be adding a fourth to the mix at some point.

I know, I know. Talk about putting the cart before the horse. I'm always one who is rushing too far ahead for my own good. But, the idea of a fourth is pretty much all my influence. Four just feels right to me.

If we do decide to take the plunge, Thomas' thought is to "rip the band-aid off" and try for a fourth about two or three months after this baby is born.

Clearly, he hates me.

You should have seen the look on my parents' face when we joked about that. They did not see much humor in the thought. And, I can assure you, that will not be happening. Though I know it works out wonderfully for some people. Heck, Thomas' older brothers are 10 months apart. 10 months, people!

If we do decide a fourth is on the horizon you can count on it being a good year or so before we even think about it. I like the idea of a fourth coming along right around the time this little guy is two. It is an age difference that has worked out so nicely with Kai and Ivy.

Still, for now, I'll be rejoicing that come March this little guy will be out of the baby cooker and I'll have at least a year or more to enjoy being the only person living in this body.

For now, let's just hope I start dreaming of something less frightening. You know, like El Chubacabra or the Anti-Christ.

Now that's what I'm talking about...

See that beautiful shining bowl of brown egg goodness above? That is why we decided to get chickens for our backyard. And, they taste even better than they look in the picture with their shimmering shiny halo of angelic eggliness. (I have no idea what eggliness is supposed to mean. I like the way it sounds. Just go with me on it.)

After months of our hens not laying eggs and mooching off us, Thomas went out to check the coop on New Year's Day and found 14 beautiful brown eggs waiting for him. We had 2 more by the end of the afternoon. They've been laying eggs regularly ever since! I am fully convinced it is a sign that 2009 is going to be a wonderful and prosperous year.

And it is entirely possible that it is pure coincidence that all this has started as McLovin the rooster has just begun to crow, but I'm gonna give him just a little bit of credit for finally getting these ladies in order. Egg production should go up even more in the Spring and I can't wait to get a chance to hatch a few baby chicks when the weather gets warmer.

'Cause that's just what I need, of course. 2 preschoolers, a newborn, a puppy, 8 hens, a rooster and a half dozen needy baby chicks!

He really does look like our baby. Just with creepier eye movements.

Thanks to the VW Routan Baby Maker we can get a preview of what our little man might look like. Be sure and go make your own baby here. It's too fun!

At least when I have a boy his toys will be less naked, right?

I'm pretty sure Barbie is going to be making an appearance on season 3 of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Last year, I found her and some friends like this:



And then tonight she was passed out on the dining room table with some random fabric rubber-banded around her like a skirt. Even if the rubber banded skirt wasn't a total fashion disaster, she still needs a shirt, right? If this isn't rock bottom I don't know what is:


I mean, really? Who goes out of the house like this? Barbie, get help now. Before Skipper, Midge, and I are forced to stage an intervention.

(By the way, this is exactly why I love those Barbies with the clothes painted on.)

For more Wordless Wednesday (with less plastic nudity) visit 5 Minutes for Mom!

Total Truth Tuesday

God Bless you, my secretly named boy child, I love you with my whole heart. But, you will be here in 10 weeks and your nursery isn't even started (let alone finished and sitting waiting empty for you like your oldest sister's was when I was a mere 24 weeks pregnant).

And you only have about 5 littles onesies and pants to your crazy secret hippy name. I promise we'll be bringing you home from the hospital after you're born, but we just have to make the time to pick up a car seat for you first.

And, BTW, you're not going to come with a bag of the necessities packed are you? It's been a few years since I had a baby and I'm not sure whether things have changed since your sister was born. If not, I guess I'll need to make a Target run and pick up some blankets, and pacifiers, and a swing, and some bedding, oh, and probably some diapers, right? You're not bringing diapers with you by any chance are you?

Here's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. My precious Baby #3 is getting a much less prepared welcome than he deserves. At least that is how it feels lately.

It is not that I am any less excited about this precious new addition to our family. I am thrilled to have a snuggly, cuddly, little bundle of wrinkles and baby pudge to hold and love, but finding the time to get everything ready has just been harder than I thought. I told someone the other day that I have friends who aren't even pregnant yet who have more prep work done than I do and it's seriously true.

I'm feeling horribly guilty about not having more things done and ready and waiting for this little guy and I've got to get moving before he comes home to sleep in a pretty pink bassinet. I mean, what kind of mom would I be if I couldn't even be bothered to pick up a new set of bassinet bedding, right?

Am I a terrible mom or is this just third child syndrome here? Please tell me I'm not the only mom to get less and less prep work done with each subsequent pregnancy...

Bring on the Waldorf

Part of my New Year's Resolution was to get better about our homeschool structure and curriculum. So, I set out to find a schedule and structure that would work for a family that didn't really do structure and schedule. Turns out that is harder to find than I thought. Most of you homeschoolers out there have it way more together than I do!

The Waldorf-Steiner educational philosophy has long been something I found fascinating. I love the emphasis it places on the role of imagination in learning and it's focus on the coordination of education with the rhythms of everyday life. If I had my wish (and money was no object) I'd have them enrolled in the Atlanta Waldorf School in a heartbeat. I really truly think this philosophy of education breeds imaginative, innovative free thinkers with a love of learning. And that is an approach to education I desperately want for my girls.

Since we're not ready for fork over $10k for Preschool/Kindergarten right now, I set out to find an inexpensive (or free!) Waldorf style curriculum to use for our homeschool trial. Since Waldorf doesn't really emphasize a strict curriculum for pre-school and Kindergarten I found a site that has great information on Waldorf philosophy as well as some of the stories, fingerplays, songs, and crafts that make up it's early curriculum.

I'd been avoiding tackling this project but with the help of the links I've included above I've managed to create a great Waldorf style rhythm that works for both girls.

Part of Waldorf is having days of the week being designated for specific activities. Which means Mondays are now Baking Days, Tuesdays are Watercolor Days, and Wednesdays are Clay Days. This gives the girls a chance to know exactly what creative exercises we'll be doing on what days and allows for a bit more structure and predictability in their schedule.

Since it just seems impossible for me to fully commit to a schedule, Thursdays are "Wild Card" Days and Fridays are Field Trip Days. I need just a little wiggle room in our schedule so this seemed like the best compromise.

I feel great having finally gotten this part of our life organized, structured, and down on paper! I can't wait to see the difference it makes in our homeschooling weeks!

To see what other moms are tackling this week, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom for more Tackle It Tuesday!

Here is where I should be resolving and stuff...

I had a post half written about what happened in 2008. And how crazy life was. And how wonderful it was. And how stressful it was all at the same time.

But, then it occurred to me that if you wanted to know what happened to me in 2008 you could probably go through the archives and read all about it.

And I actually had gotten into my resolutions and predictions for 2009. I elaborated on my feelings about becoming a family of 5 in a few months. And on what lay ahead for us. But, then I thought, why tell you now when you'll just get stuck reading it in a a few months? 'Cause if you want to know all you have to do is come back and read what's going on. I'll put it up here for all thirteen of you to read.

Then it occurred to me that I didn't know what other people's bests and worsts of 2008 were or what they hoped to see happen in 2009. And that is way more interesting to me than my own year. I know what happened with me.

So, if you're inclined to share let us all know what you did this year. Or what you're looking forward to in 2009. You can share it in the comments or leave a link. I'm always looking for some good New Year's resolutions to add to my list and may even steal some of yours to apply to my 2009!

Regardless, I hope everyone has a wonderful, wonderful start to 2009 and that it brings happiness and growth and joy to each and every one of you.