Evolution of Dance

This cracked me up!

Midnight Madness and Gratitude

Yes, it's 3 am, and I want EVERYONE to know what in the world I'm doing up so late... I just got back from the outlet mall up the street! They opened at 12:01 am on Black Friday, and it was a nut house! Unlike anything I've ever seen. Everyone told me about how Dallas loves her shopping - well OHMYGOSH! Families milling around...at 3 am. Crazy. I thought I was the only nutjob!

And onto the things that I am grateful for (besides easy access to an all-night shopping frenzy):

1. Health insurance: Calvin has picked up a new sport, and it's called chair-diving.

2. Place mats: Mackey, apparently, doesn't love my sweet potatoe casserole (which is killer - he's got 'issues'), and he proceeded to VOMIT the contents of his stomach onto said placemat during Thanksgiving dinner - protecting most of my new table.

3. Jon: He's got grit because before my not-so-mommy-like gag reflex could even kick in, Jon was over there cleaning up what had so uncerimoniously missed the aforementioned placemat.

4. Dickey's BBQ: They did a great job preparing the ham that we ate instead of turkey, thus maintaining my 14 year streak of NEVER having prepared a turkey at Thanksgiving...or ever for that matter.

5. Diet Dr. Pepper: Without which, most of the above wouldn't have been possible or bearable, and it is sooooo much better than Diet Coke.

6. Chiropractors: Without whom, again, none of the above would have been possible this week.

7. School projects: School projects make me happy! I'm not cleaning up the glue, and I probably wouldn't have come up with a papersack vest on my own.

8. Lifetime Fitness: For being open today - my first day back at the gym since the other, not-so-happy Friday - giving me the illusion of health maintenance during a time of "therapeutic" eating.

9. My wonderful children: If it weren't for them, I wouldn't need the chiropractor, the Diet DP, or many of the other things I'm grateful for. Mostly, though, I'm thankful for their wonderfully unique contributions to our family; their humor; their generosity and kindness towards others; and their flexibility in so many things...particularly because mommy said that she would make them pasta for Thanksgiving, forgot, and got away with popcorn as a substitute.

Another Krispy Kreme Post

ReBecca, I think of (blame) you whenever I eat a do(zen)nut(s). More free food tonight. I feel like a junkie; but is it the AMAZING amount of sugar and deep-fried goodness in those tasty morsels or is it the fun of free food? And it's always the same guy: Keith. Yes, the alliteration is lovely. He recognizes me, which I love and hate, and might as well call me "Norm".

Krispy Kreme Komes (K)through, Divalicious, Calvin's New Babysitter

Ok, so I scored another free dozen donuts. 'Nuff said. No, I didn't eat them ALL by myself. But I'm lovin' that I can still score free food! It's so strangely rewarding for me.

So, the whole thing that set the Friday Night Donut Splurge in motion was Lucy's Girl Scout Diva night last week. She had a great time, and I have the gravity-defying pictures to prove it. As some of you may know, Lucy inherited her mother's (ahem) grace, and she's lucky to have survived the night in those heels without a trip to the ER. And, by the way, NO, I didn't just start dressing my daughter like an underage...well, anyway...those outfits were part of the dress up trunk the lady had there. After she changed back into her regular, age-appropriate clothes, she told me that she didn't like being so immodest. Whew! Hold that thought another 8-9 years...Needless to say, after FIVE hours, I needed a little pick-me-up, and who doesn't need donuts? So, I thought if I was going to JUMP OFF THE SOUTH BEACH WAGON, jump big!

Lastly, I was doing some work on the computer yesterday, and I was having a hard time ignoring the din of Calvin's squawk. When I got up to see what was the matter, this is what I found...Calvin's new babysitter.

Life isn't Always Better at the Beach

Ok, not better at the South Beach, that is http://southbeachdiet.com . So, when Jon drags his foot off the wagon a little, I feel the compulsion not to simply "fall off the wagon" but to jump off head first into a sea of Krispy Kremes. And you know what? I hate when companies change the spelling of things - thinking they're clever. Spell one thing different for the sake of visual alliteration. Ok. But butcher two things for the heck of it? UGH. But it's ok, KK, you still have my business.

Confessions

I have a dirty secret...I don't think anyone else I know does this...but I let my kids, ok, just Mackey, dress himself. Unless you've spent time around him, you couldn't possibly get his flair for drama (total Fisher trait, right?). It's just not the battle I'm going down for. And if I weren't such a techno peasant (new phrase totally ripped off from Amy Foulger!), I'd figure out how to scan Mackey's preschool picture. Wouldn't you know - it's the best picture that cute little boy has ever taken - and he's wearing a t-shirt with a tie painted on with his mis-matched camo shorts. When my husband saw the pix, he was mortified. I giggled. I'm reminded of my friend Jenn Mangum's comments one time about a less than perfect school picture a child of hers got back; she said that it captured his essence during that time of his life. So, Jason, since my husband won't get around to helping me on this, would you please walk me through "Scanning: 101"? Or anyone else for that matter?

On a different note, this is what my kids look like when IIIIIIIII dress them...

Ok, I'm in total responsibility avoidance mode...I have a mountain of paperwork to do, and I wrote this random post instead.

Crazy Eyes, Jerry Seinfeld, and Poor Me

These were just funny pictures. When ReBecca came to visit, she brought funny glasses for the kids to sport. They were a huge hit! And as a worthy side note, ReBecca has a GREAT picture of her grandmother wearing them.

Also noteworthy - my most recent reason for having to scoot out of a restaurant in a hurry? No, not because Calvin was crying, but because he was doing a GREAT Jerry Seinfeld impression from the belly that says "heeeeellllloooooooooooo" episode aka The Voice Episode http://www.tv.com/seinfeld/the-voice/episode/2398/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;157. Loud but good. He does it whenever he is feeling ignored or wants a laugh. He's a total character. Calvin, not Jerry. Although, he's funny, too. Jerry, not Calvin. Has anyone seen the Bee Movie?

Yeah, so I'm writing in the middle of the day because I'm all laid up in bed. Trying to do Day 1 of the South Beach diet to boot. Yes, I would like some cheese with my whine. I hurt my back on Friday, and I'm not healing like some mythical mommy creature. Huge slant on mythical creatures lately thanks to a book called The Lightening Theif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lightning_Thief. Fun way to introduce Greek/Roman mythology to kids, but beware if "idiot", "stupid", and "dumb" are no-nos in your reading. I digress...but I can right? CUZ I'VE GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO! I'M STUCK IN BED!

Thank GOODNESS my husband has been around this weekend and is taking great care of me and the family. He is SOOO THAT guy. Which is funny, because we're both youngest kids in our families. (You KNOW how I love birth order studies...http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1672715,00.html). I'm the stereotype, and my husband is uber-responsible and considerate. Hmm...happy sigh. Oh. Oh, yeah...violin in background...poor me.