Westminster Dog Show

There are only two things I really hate about not having cable. I don't get Bill Maher's show on HBO, and I can't watch the Westminster Dog Show on USA. Today I saw a little blurb about the dog who won Best in Show, and I didn't even realize the competition was the last two nights. I can tell you which of the seven groups virtually any dog falls into, and I'm spot-on with the pronunciation of even the weirdest dog breeds.

I long for the days of obedience training with beloved Beamer and precious Kismet. How we practiced and practiced, and what a joy it was to see the proverbial light bulb go off over their heads when they finally "got" their training and nailed it. Talk about mama pride!

Even so, I swear that behind my back Kismet used to tell Beamer, "Hey man, even if you don't do all that crap, she'll still feed us." :)

Weird Combo

Ever had Bugles and White Zinfandel together? It's not a bad combo, actually.

Salt-sugar, salt-sugar, salt-sugar.

LMAO!

Run of the Mill

Today was about the most average Sunday around here.

Pancake day, big fat newspaper, loads of laundry, Stephanopolous; PacMan, iPods, arguing, screaming, lunch, Valentines, hugging, folding the clean laundry, Tom 'n Jerry videos, snacking, recycle, garbage cans, showers, pedicure (mine this time), another load of laundry, reading school books, reviewing school papers, stacking more onto my stacks of reading material.

Kids got their new Lands End backpacks and they sure are snazzy!! Sturdy, with their initials monogrammed and nice colors with strong zippers. We'll see if those strong zippers are Baumgardner proof, haha. Later, I wanted to watch a DVD, but I couldn't get it to work in the living room.

So after all that, off to bed. "One minute til night-night."

Happy Birthday Nana B.!

All of BaumgardnersFour wish our Nana B. a very Happy Birthday!! Here's a little song for you:

We hope you have a very special Birthday! Love you with Hugs & Kisses!

Valentine's Dance

The kids' school had their annual Valentine's Dance tonight. It's hard to believe how much fun can get packed into two short hours. John Sam and Caroline drank too much soda, ate too much pizza and sugar, and danced their precious little behinds off. The cafeteria was gloriously decorated with Valentine colors and they didn't skimp on anything! The DJ was rockin' and he organized an American Bandstand/Soul Train kind of lineup where everybody forms two lines and one person from each line dances down the middle - I laughed so hard at all the students' style and reckless abandon. I wish I could post the pictures of everybody dancing, but since I don't have permission, I'll just post the ones of John Sam & Caroline. We are all pooped out and ready for a good night's sleep.

Hoping for a warmer weekend

This is my official announcement that I am COMPLETELY OVER COLD WEATHER. I've had enough. This morning it was 29 degrees when we had to leave the house for school and work. Yep, I'm done with all that.

Bring back the 70s!

Tooth Fairy, please stop here!

Isn't this the BEST picture you've ever seen of a little girl who just lost her first tooth?!

After getting cleaned up, Caroline was putting her PJs on and then she happily screamed, "Mommy, I got my tooth out!" She's been messing with it for days, but was just a little too scared to pull it out. Her new tooth was behind it and tonight was the night that there was no more room for the baby tooth.

John Sam was so excited for her, and reminded her that he was six, too, when he lost his first tooth. His memory is sharp--it was just about 2 months after his 6th birthday that the Tooth Fairy visited us for the very first time. Makes a mama's eyes water to share another milestone with one of my little ones.

Stanislaw J. Lec

"Every snowflake in an avalanche pleads not guilty." - Stanislaw J. Lec

Seen on Robinson Street on a church marquee on my way to work.

Perils of PMS

Whoever invented PMS, I hate her. It just ruins so much and frankly, I'm tired of being her victim. Not sure how much of it is psychological prowess--I actually think I have my fair share of mental toughness. (Maybe someone else's shares, too?) But it just doesn't seem to be about that. No matter how I vow that last month will be the last, each month it creeps up on me and shows her unlovely behind, despite my taking vitamins daily and the B6 which I believe must stand for bull#%$!

Again I melted down when John Sam acted up badly this morning. Instead of being the role model I'm supposed to be, I also lost control. More reinforcing the bad instead of the good. Overcast skies, rain, traffic, and then the cold front moving in all conspired to cement my irritation. That cough I have has signed a long-term lease with what's left of my lungs because no matter what, it ain't going anywhere! Groundhog saw his shadow, and more wintry weather to come. Big surprise.

In the few spare minutes I had today at work, I realized how much I didn't get finished this weekend. Calls, thank you notes, housework, "me time." That just irritated me more. I hardly got to watch any Super Bowl commercials, even though I did watch the last 6 or 7 minutes of one of the best Super Bowls in recent memory. (A small digression: Every year Sam and I try to remember, who won last year? So, for posterity: Steelers beat the Cardinals, but oh, what a game it was. Down to the last minute we watched!! ) Feverishly, I added to my to-do list (and, hold on here.... didn't I say I wasn't gonna do those anymore?!).

Then neither of the two packages I was expecting came in the mail today. I am using the rolling pin to get the foundation out of my tube just to have enough makeup to wear to work. Also hand washing the dishes - again - after I prepaid for 3 day shipping that doesn't deliver. More acting up from both chickadees when they got home, and what to make for dinner? For the last seven nights, I had dinner planned out, but tonight, I couldn't have cared less about making or eating dinner, and truly, do I have to clean up this kitchen one more time when I didn't even make the mess?! So the kids ate late, no vegetables in sight, homework was quite the chore, and apparently the children's bedtime is more like a guideline than a rule in this house.

Oh, and then, don't forget you have to do at least 2 loads of laundry so the kids will have warm clothes because another freakin' cold snap is nigh. Can't let the clothes sit in the dryer because then they'll be all wrinkled and what's the point of washing/drying if you don't get them hung up or folded and put away? It's always a reflection on the mother, don'tcha know.

And another thing. Why is there a new episode of House on Monday at 8 pm? Isn't it supposed to be on Tuesdays? So I missed taping one of the few shows worth watching. Geez. Can't keep up with everything. More accurately, I can't keep up with anything.

Would a Blackberry help with all this? Maybe next month will be be an improvement. Hope springs eternal!

New Calendar Page on Super Bowl Sunday

One of the best things about a new month is turning over the calendar pages. The "glitter" calendar I got this year is so beautiful--how do you like this colorful page?


Was hoping to get a few items in the mail yesterday (Sat. 1/31): my Mary Kay order, and the part for my dishwasher that was supposed to be 3 day shipping which has turned into 5-6 day shipping. Nothing in the box but a couple of items for Sam and nothing for moi. Tomorrow, then, should be a great mail day for me. Later this week, probably Friday, the kids will get their new monogrammed backpacks from Land's End. You know, the kind with lifetime zipper guarantee! :)


To make a note of this day in history - GO STEELERS! I had to get the kids plain old "Super Bowl XLIII" balloons since all the Steeler balloons were gone.