unfair advantage

Last night was simple but so much fun.

We took the girls to Kohls to let them cash in their points from the chore chart. On the way there Jer got a sampling of how hilarious the girls have been in the car lately. A month or two ago I picked up a CD entitled Rhinestone Cowboy, it's a mix of country music from the 70's. The girls LOVE the thing and make requests to hear their favorites while we're driving. There is nothing cuter than a three year old girl asking to hear "Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and then hearing her sing along.

More of their favorites:

Rhinestone Cowboy

Take This Job and Shove it

Dukes of Hazard

Here You Come Again (By Dolly Parton)

On The Road Again

They actually had Jer's size dress shirt in several colors so we bought 5. My post from the other day about how it sucks to be tall and lanky, yeah, the husband is just as bad or worse. If I see a shirt in his size that isn't $100 I buy it.

After getting home, baths, snacks, stories, and bed I challenged my husband to a Scrabble duel. He reluctantly agreed. So we opened a bottle of wine and I kicked his ass. Severely. He quit when I got to 350 points. After I gloated sufficiently he turned the tables on me and pulled out Stratego. If you've been fortunate enough to never have played Stratego let me explain. It's a war game that involves soldiers, bombs, and capturing a flag; and I suck royally.

He kicked my ass so badly that it was boring. Then he laughed at me when I lost and he asked me what strategy I used. I explained that the soldiers were evenly spaced in platoons. I claimed he had an unfair advantage since he actually knew what the hell he was doing.

are these ugly?

Some women are blessed with a great rack. Some women are blessed with great hair. Some women are blessed with great skin. You get the idea.

Me? I was blessed with freakishly long arms, huge feet, and crazy ass long legs. Before you say something like "I would love to have long legs" or some kind of crap, stop. It is hard to find clothes that fit me, if I do, it's usually a fluke. Like, the shirt with freakishly long arms that's on clearance because no normal armed person could wear it.

I have finally found pants that fit me. Several stores now make a 35" inseam. Buckle even has jeans that are a 37" inseam, do you know what that means? That means I can wear heels!!! Yeah baby!

I've been looking at shoes today and after going to Fashion Bug (yep, still hate that place), a shoe store here in town, and Kohls and finding only ONE pair of shoes that didn't involve laces and sporty socks I came home to my trusty computer and came upon the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I love Nordstrom. It's expensive as hell, and snooty, and I pretty much hate all the salespeople I've ever dealt with there but, they carry my size!

Now, don't go thinking that I can get any shoe in my size. Oh, no! Some shoes are only made for petite little dainty feet. Apparently making the shoe in a size 11 is impossible. What with all the extra leather and stitches, surely the shoe would implode. That or the shoe designer just thinks us big beefy footed women couldn't possibly have a use for a cute little gladiator sandal, surely we only wear cowboy boots with our coveralls out in the barn.

Gah! Can't a big footed woman get some shoe love?

Anyway. I kind of like these boots. However I'm not sure if they're cute or if I just like them because it says in the reviews on Zappos that they run big and you should size down. You know that means I'd order a size 10 right? It's kind of like finding a pair of jeans in a size 4 or something that fit you when you normally wear an 8 and you want to but them just to say they're a size 4. What, That's never happened to you? Shut up.

Ok, opinions please. I'd get them in Moss. I think I'd wear them with jeans and sweaters mostly, maybe folded up with knee highs and a jean skirt. Did I mention they'll be a size 10, not an 11.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2950256?origin=shoppingbag

new dress

I have been stalking this dress since last Christmas. I didn't buy it then because I just couldn't justify the money. Now, my cousin is getting married in October and I started dress hunting. Lo and behold "the dress" was less than half price, I didn't even hesitate. I'm sure they'll wear it for Christmas this year too. Now I just have to find ivory hair bows, tights, and shoes. Maybe a purse too.

Random

1. I have decided we spend too much damn money on groceries.

2. I need to spend more one on one time with each member of my family, even the dog.

3. I got the girls dresses for a wedding in October and I LOVE them. I have considered making them try them on just to see how cute they'll be. Pics may follow.

4. I am ready for fall and winter.

5. I am ready for the girls to go to preschool. I think

6. I have way too many ideas and not enough money to support them.

7. I have been planning a trip to TN and I really hope hubby will be on board. We need a little get away.

8. It sucks that my house won't clean itself. It could at least do the dishes.

9. I love school supplies.

10. I am sick of looking at summer sale stuff, bring on the fall clothes already, I've got babies to buy for.

# 9 and # 12

I'm starting on the list already.

I just got off the phone with a shelter for abused woman and children here in Troy. I've decided to start making blankets, stuffed animals and pillows for kids at the shelter. When we lived in CO a friend and I got a quilting bee together for the same reason and it was fun for awhile, but then it became more work for me and less work for everyone else. Also there was a question about who was actually receiving the things we made. I had had enough and stopped after that.

I'm hoping to get another group together in our new neighborhood. I like the fact that our things will go to kids who really need it right down the street in our own community. I plan to make sure every kid receives a blanket, pillow, and a book at Christmas.

So if any of you ladies from GW want to come down and tear it up with a sewing machine I'll keep you posted on dates.

for the next decade

So here we are on the eve of my 30th birthday. I don't feel like 30 to be honest. I'm not really sure what I feel like but I kind of like it.

Twenty things from my twenties, in no particular order.

1. had my first drink.

2. got a tattoo

3. graduated from college

4. got my first real job

5. got engaged

6. got married

7. had one paycheck that was bigger than my husbands (thanks to giant roomful of leather furniture I sold)

8. moved from OH to MD and bought our first house

9. moved from MD to CO and bought our second house

10. went through the rigors of ttc, 2 rounds of IUI, 1 round of IVF

11. got pregnant, quit job

12. got a dog

13. got my eyebrows waxed

14. gave birth to my babies

15. made new friends

16. moved from CO to OH and bought our third house

17. became confident in my parenting

18. went on vacations with my husband

19. started a blog

20. conquered my migraines (knock on wood)

And for the next ten years...

1. relax

2. enjoy

3. be healthy

4. go to England with my family

5. go to Alaska

6. take the ladies to Disney while they are still little enough to really believe

7. buy a camper

8. figure out what I want to do with my life

9. volunteer

10. take my girls to Hershey, PA to the spa

11. go deep sea fishing

12. make time for my hobbies

13. waste less time

14. take at least one vacation a year

15. let go of guilt

16. get another tattoo

17. drink more water

18. start using sunscreen even in the winter

19. stop swearing (as much)

20. stop expending so much effort on people who don't appreciate it

21. go on a vacation alone with my hubby once a year (even for only one night)

22. take my vitamin

23. try something new as often as possible

24. don't worry about what doesn't matter

25. don't worry about what you can't control

26. get a babysitter more often

27. try to get along with my husbands family

28. take more pictures and videos of the girls

29. do more one on one time with the girls

30. take Marty for more walks and find somewhere for him to swim

take two

Aright since the first batch of recommendations was well received I have another batch. Forgive me if I repeat myself, I'm not organized.

You'll have to fight over this bunch ladies, it's a grab bag.

Boy:
Aricin
Silas (let it be known that if I ever have a boy at some point in the future his name will be Silas Aricin and I don't care if you named your kid that or not)
Malcolm
Abraham
Gregory
Jonah
Isaiah
Malachi
Elias
Lang (means tall man)
Keegan (Unisex)
Tarin (Unisex)
Kale
Charlie
Hudson
Sawyer
Bryce
Carson
Reiley
Warren
Logan
Talis

Girl:
Amelia
Phoebe
Celia
Helena
Isodore (nn Issy)
Caledonia (nn Callie)
Beatrice
Stella
Rebekah
Eve
Delilah
Amelie
Josephine
Alta (means tall and lofty)
Brooke
Inna (means strong water) helps with the drowning inutero
Darcy
Matilda
Camile
Elsa/Elsie
Astrid
Carys
Sylvie
Arabella

my name recommendations for the three amigos

Broken down by amigo...

Theresa:

Collin
Carter
Cole
Caleb
Callum
Caden
Mason
Mader ---Kyle's first choice I'm sure
Noah
Ian
Aaron

Anne:

Boy-
Strider
Griffin
Owen
Chase
Hayden
Finn (as in Finished, lol)
Grady
Holden
Garrett

Girl-
Sydney
Madeline
Adeline
Ainsley
Jillian
Annabelle
Gabrielle
Chastity ...ok, maybe not
Opal
Julia

Kate: I remember you have a Henry and a Sarah but for the life of me can't remember the other one...

Boy-
James
William
Oliver
Noah
Adam
Miles
Oscar
Owen
Ethan
Ian

Girl-
Claire
Eleanor
Meghan
Chloe
Emma
Kyla
Tess (means fourth)
Anna
Mabel

well I wasn't ready for that and fireworks

The 4th of July was great. We did the parade thing with the Packards after devouring one of my mother's best recipes, sticky buns. I seriously need to not make those unless there are a lot of people around or I will eat them all. As the day went on it became more and more dreary. We decided to go to the fireworks with the ladies even though it was cold and drizzling. I am so glad we did. The girls loved them, especially Lily. Every explosion received oohs and ahhs. I think one of the best parts of motherhood is seeing things through your child's eyes for the first time.

Sunday morning Theresa called to tell me that her husband was annoying her and she needed to escape for a while. Like any good friend with in laws visiting I said I would love to go with her. She picked me up at 12:30 and we had a nice lunch at Panera and a good shopping excursion to Marshals and Target.

She dropped me off and as I opened the side door of the house I was completely surprised by all of my friends and neighbors and a 30th birthday party. I seriously had no clue and was in shock. It was great. We ate some great food and cake and played cornhole, Barbara and I are undefeated by the way.

Then I saw the invitation my husband sent out. Oh My God that guy is crazy organized! He had rules and regulations a page long. He put the fear of God into people! I guess that's a good quality for a program manager to have.

I can honestly say that was the best Birthday party I have ever had. Now I just have to actually turn 30, lol.