PBK, I am onto you!

Since I am now a bona-fide copyright infringer, I may as well clean the skeletons from my closet. Remember this cutie from (I'll protect the innocent) Ceramic Structure-Where-Farm-Animals-Live Preteens (If you are struggling, shoot me an email, I'll walk you through it)?

Well, I liked it. I don't have much Thanksgiving decor, so I decided I could save myself $59 plus S/H by whipping one up. My faithful Wonder-Under Tutor Leslie deserves most of the credit as she introduced me to the Craft-N-Bond.

One thing led to another and, on Friday night, my gals (protecting the innocent again), Doris, Betty, Hazel, and Birdell and I crafted one for each of us. I would have loved to have proof but somehow I had back spasms that day and really wasn't that useful. However, it was fun and, I'll shoot anyone the pattern if you desire.

Ways I am becoming my mother

I have a great mom. She taught me well and I have always wanted to make her proud. I realized the other day, that I am becoming her. Not that any of these things are bad, they are just very Melanie-esque.




1. Ava forgot to bring home her lunch bag. As I was packing her lunch the next day, I shoved the entire ensemble into the recently emptied granola bar box for her to take to school. Why waste a paper bag?




2. I frequently reply to the statement, "Mom, I can't find my ________" with "If I find it in your room, you are grounded for a week."

3. I allegedly have used the statement, "Your dad and I have to have this furniture long after you are out of the house, so stop abusing it."

4. I put onions in stuff even after Mark begs me not to.

5. I think I have gone to the mailbox in my bathrobe.

6. I loathe school fundraisers and wonder why they can't just send home an envelope asking for donations.





No matter how hard I fought against my mom, she wasn't going to let me fall off the edge. Thanks for the wonderful legacy you have given me, and a definite standard to measure up to!

The New York Times endorses Obama! Beware!

What's Judy doing looking at my blog anyway? I would have taken a pic of the nasty scorpion, but Mark obilterated it with Ava's church shoes....

Sorry!

Found in my comments:
"Hello,I just came across your blog and found a copyrighted image there. About.com owns the copyright to that image and doesn't allow it to be reproduced without permission and a fee. I ask that you immediately remove that image. Alternatively, you could certainly link to the page at my site where that image appears. Here's that link.I am supposed to report copyright violations to the legal department of The New York Times, but I would prefer to give you the opportunity to correct this mistake.
Thanks for your quick attention.
Judy Hedding
About.com Guide to Phoenix, AZhttp://phoenix.about.comwww.
About.comAbout.com is part of The New York Times Company

Uninvited

A high-pitched scream from Mia is not uncommon in our house, but when it accompanied a scorpion-sighting, we all had heart attacks!


(There was a picture of a scorpion here, but the Obama-loving New York Times made me remove it!)


We came home last night around 7:45 pm and as we entered the house from the garage, Mia started to scream and I saw a 2-3 inch scorpion hit the tile.



My friend's daughter was stung recently so I knew to wash the wound, ice it and give her Tylenol, then we called Poison Control. They were most helpful although I had to leave Mia wailing in the kitchen and go into the bathroom so I could hear the nurse. She told me what to expect (lots of intense pain) and what to be alarmed by (eyes jumpy, like she's had 20 cups of coffee). I was relieved to hear that in 50 years, not one person has died from a scorpion bite in Maricopa County. Whew!

Happy Halloween from Neverland

The girls and I had great fun with the Neverland theme this Halloween.

Ava is Wendy, and Layla is supposed to be Michael, but her pink sleeper was so small, I thought she was going to be like the Incredible Hulk and rip right out of it.

Mia totally fits the Tinkerbell mold. Pretty to look at but a little sassy.

I am Peter Pan. I hated to include the following photo (eyes closed) but that was the only one of the entire ensemble.



Since I was cranky pregnant lady last year, I decided that I was going to really get use of the costume this year. I wore it to Mia's preschool party on Wednesday and I was the ONLY one dressed up over the age of 5. I think I would have felt more comfortable naked.