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Pat passed his National Dental Boards Part 1! He did an awesome job, though apparently he doesn't want his score to be posted on the www.

Stay tuned for the highly anticipated sequel/final chapter of this drama in 2011.

Vindication!

Some of my friends commented that maybe it was a little strange that immediately after peeling a banana I put the sticker on my kid's forehead. I could see on their face they considered this to be some strange IE behavior. The best part was when I showed this to my neighbor, pausing for my "I told you so" moment, she asks "Where did you get that?" As if I had stickers printed for my bananas! When will people come to accept that I know stuff? Albeit unimportant stuff, but stuff nonetheless.

Your Snapfish Home Videos subscription has been expired. more info

Yummy!

Had dinner with Mike and Tamara tonight (because when you are pregnant with triplets you should at least get some Taco Soup out of the deal!) and we ate this delicious cake. Quite accidentally I believe it is VEGAN! Ha, I served Mike vegan food and he didn't even guess! This is a guy that wears a t-shirt that says "I love animals...they are delicious."

I substituted 1/2 c of unsweetened apple sauce for part of the oil because that is how I roll. Served dusted with powdered sugar and sliced strawberries because Stater's had a HUGE container for $4.

Here you go internet...

Quick Chocolate Cake
Mixingbowl.com
6.5 pts.

Moist chocolate cake with no eggs

Servings: 12

Prep time: 5 min.

Cook time: 30 min

Total time: 35 min

Ingredients:

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 c. cold water
2/3 c. veg. oil
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients and beat until well combined. Pour into 9"x13" cake pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cake tests done.
Serve with whipped cream, Cool Whip, ice cream or just powdered sugar.

Jump in your DeLorean...

Saw this Dress on the Forever 21 website and had a strange surge of memories from my 8th grade graduation.



It is true what they say, "If you wore it the first time, you can't wear it the second time." I am just afraid that because I experienced the 80's so early in life I will have to suffer through my grandchildren wearing pegged acid washed jeans, and using AquaNet hairspray. This by the way is why I was so afraid of getting bangs.

Blogger Beware

updated 5:43 p.m. PT, Wed., June 10, 2009

ST. LOUIS - When Danielle Smith and her family posed for their Christmas card photo last year, they knew they'd share it with family and friends. But the Missouri family wasn't expecting it to show up in the Czech Republic, splashed across a huge storefront advertisement.

Smith, 36, who lives in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon, said Wednesday that she posted the photo on her blog and some online social networking sites. It featured her, her husband Jeff and their two children.

About 10 days ago, a college friend was driving through Prague when he spotted their huge smiling faces in the window of a store specializing in European food. He snapped a few pictures and sent them to a flabbergasted Smith.

Is this the craziest thing? Note to self:only post low-resolution photos on my blog. Note to other bloggers:seriously reconsider some of the pictures of your kids you publish.


I do wish I had pictures of myself so good-looking that Czech grocers would steal them for ads. Wouldn't it be tragic to find a picture of yourself somewhere as a "Before" picture. I'm going to the gym right now.

Jack the Tank

Jackson on the occasion of your second birthday a better mom would have made a video montage of your sweetest moments. Instead I have decided to post a video of what I see as your future. As one might expect it's R rated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVVfRDU0H-A

I love you Jackson. You make me laugh, you make me cry, and I get out of bed each morning hoping I can teach you to keep attacking life at a break-neck pace, without actually breaking your neck.

By the way: no beer til your 21, that girl better be your wife, and eventually you will start having to wear pants.

Jack the Tank! Jack the Tank! Jack the Tank!

Save the Date

May 29, 2011 Dr. H & Mrs. Dr. H are having a party. I am calling to reserve the margarita machine right now...

Born-again Blogger

Well this is old news to most of you at this point but since Jackson is now cast-free I finally have time to let you know that he fractured his arm. And if my grandmother is reading this, those dishes on the counter are clean.

Cupcake

We have a new addition to our family and her name is Cupcake! She is a Cairn Terrier Mix, who has had a few too many cupcakes by the looks of her.

We adopted her from the Riverside Humane Society which was an great experience. The facility is SOOOO nice, the staff was super helpful too. They reminded us that they were a no-kill shelter and that all of their pets would find homes. They really wanted us to find the right fit, not just feel sorry for an animal. Everything was clean and warm, not that scary animal shelter feeling. They even set up TWO interviews with our family and Cupcake, Jack was having a bad day the first time. They all cheered and were so excited for us, and the dog of course! They also have under retail priced pet items in their shop, that supports the shelter.

Cupcake is low-key, has only barked once. She sleeps happily in her crate at night, and did fine while we were gone for church. She is warming up to the kids, but gets a cautious look in her eye when Jack is around. Good instincts. Luckily since I got the huge baby gate for Christmas I can keep them separated when I can't have both eyes on them. She'll be trapped in the kitchen. Like me.

Worst Good News Ever

Yesterday I was discussing the state of the economy, especially as it relates to Pat getting a job when he graduates, with my dad. Pat has the option of pursuing a one year residency that would delay both the repayment of his loans and might buy some time for the economy to rebound.

My dad pointed out that since Pat will have a technical skill even if our economy collapses Pat will be able to provide for our family. People will still need health care and if worse comes to worse Pat could always barter a root canal for some chickens.

What a relief.

Just like Gayle

After easily unsubscribing weeks ago from Red Plum, who used to send unwanted ads to my home twice a week, I searched for the Pennysaver unsubscribe to no avail.

Ha! You will not defeat me junk mail.
http://www.pennysaverusa.com/mailinglist/removalform.aspx

Seriously I go outside some days and there is nothing in the mailbox. Ten years ago that would have depressed me, today I need less communication from strangers I guess.

Can't wait to tell my neighbor (though it does secretly satisfy me to see her mailbox overflowing everyday).

Leonardo di Caprio will be happy, and so will Ella. Though I am sure this will lead to more of the continuing tirade, "why do I have to empty the trashcans just because its Monday? They aren't even full!?!"

This just proves that if Oprah gives me an assignment I will complete it. Quit receiving junk mail. Check. All that's left on my Oprah list is to not eat out for a month, get sized for a bra, and decide what I am "really hungry for".

P.S. Dude, I already don't get mail on Saturday, now what?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28897426/?GT1=43001

Full Circle

The last day of every illness seems to start with me having stayed up all night. I think this happened when I had my second child, since there is no taking it easy with that little table dancer, nor can my husband call in sick.

I started with what seemed to be a minor stomach bug Friday, took a nap when Pat got home. Went to Chili's, and then went to bed late because of said nap. Slept in Saturday. Went to a birthday party. Later Saturday night felt barfy, stayed up later. Sunday we all missed church and I slept the day away. Little by little my bed time has crept up until now, when apparently I no longer have a bed time.

Tomorrow, well...today now, I will be exhausted through lunch with Sam and Marsi, dying by the time I get through our new troop's first Daisy Girl Scout meeting, and then I will collapse at a reasonable bed time. At which time I will consider myself over the stomach flu.

Did I mention I find inane details of my life fascinating when I am sleep deprived?

The elves arrived a few days after Christmas.

Little cleaning elves it seems have been to my home and I could not be happier.

A few days after Christmas, Pat and I went to Vegas (baby!) to belatedly celebrate our tenth anniversary. Awesome time was had by all but something even better happened when I came home...my house was spotless!

While my in-laws stayed here with the kids elves must have steam-cleaned my carpets, cleaned the microwave, emptied the vacuum(man I hate that job!), AND got the mildew out of our shower that I was sure was permanent. I would be mortified except that I am so freakin' happy that it is all clean. I am sure there are other surprised I have yet to discover.

On our drive home from the aforementioned awesome trip we were discussing our need to make it an annual trip. Now that I have seen my house I am considering semi-annual.

Do elves work in June?

Ready to potty train?

If Jackson picks up his sister's Dora the Explora' potty seat insert and puts it on his head, would you consider that a sign of readiness?

The best part was that when I held it up and said, "this is for your booty," he looked at me like, "what the heck would I put it there for?"

I wasn't prepping Jack for potty training, I was trying to clean the bathroom. Trust me I am in no rush to potty train Jackson. Ever.

Now that I am an old and seasoned veteran in these parenting wars I know that potty training is only the end of diapers, but does not represent any sort of new freedom. I will be racing to find the nearest restroom with a panicked child and handling poo for perhaps the rest of my life.

Seriously...

...go buy this right now. Unless you like your hot chocolate to taste like the cardboard box it came in.

Whisk into hot milk, top with marshmallows, sip coffeehouse quality cocoa. Like I am right now. Mmmm.

Advent opposites

Every night during dinner we have been lighting our Advent candles. Ella is terrified of the matches. Not the flame. She's terrified of that too, but that is not irrational. The matches though, she doesn't want to touch them. Or have them on her side of the table. She really doesn't like when we touch them, which makes it especially difficult to light the candles. Apparently Ella has picked up the whole Smokey the Bear don't play with matches thing.

Jackson on the other hand stares at the flame with a playful look in his eye. Like, "if I could just get my hands on that thing, then things would get really interesting!" I am grateful he is strapped into his highchair.

Thank God for Jackson though. Really, can you have a whole family full of don't play with the matches types?

Tooth Fairy

Ella lost a tooth!



This is especially good news since she has a dental student for a father. We have the cutest "Tooth Fairy" set from Once Upon a Family with a pillow and a few other secret accessories to help the fairy. I can't wait for her to fall asleep.



Ella asked today if the Tooth Fairy lived close to Loma Linda. When I mentioned it to my dad, he said she lived in Arkansas. (You have to go where the work is.) Then after Girl Scouts she mentioned she wanted to write the Tooth Fairy a note. Cute right? No. She wanted to let her know, "I only take dollars."

Hobo Store

There is a "store" near campus for students called the Little White House. It is like a free thrift store with various household items, furniture, toys. After seeing Kit Kittredge, An American Girl we started referring to it as our Hobo Store. "Take what you need, leave what you don't."

We have picked up some great things there, mirror for Ella's room, Elmo toy for Jack, Le Creuset spatula for me, and our coffee table ottoman we painted and reupholstered. Pat even picked up a textbook he needed.

Well if I wasn't worried enough about the economy after the stock market tumble, I'm panicked now. When we drove by this evening there was a line 20 people deep to get into our Hobo Store!!! If I start seeing our neighbors in blue scrubs walking to school with their belongings wrapped in a hanky, hung from a stick, I am stuffing my mattress.

The bright side, as I often point out to Pat, is that we picked the best time possible to be broke. Imagine if we owned a house, had been saving for retirement, or had jobs that we could lose. Suckers!

Aaaahhh! Isn't poverty refreshing.

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1 hot guy
2 kids
3 more years of dental school
4 cars
5 years of dating
6 moving vans
7 churches
8 jobs
9 budgets
10 years of marriage

Morning Lark

If I could change two things about myself, I would be naturally thin and be a morning person. I know anyone can make themselves get up in the morning, I mean I want to greet each day energetically, get more done before 9 am than most people do all day.

If you know me, you know I love a program. So after a little searching(thank you internet!) I have great tips to becoming a morning person.

1. Set your wake time, incl. weekends, holidays, etc. That's tough but I will have you know that I got up no later than 7:30 all weekend. This was especially helpful because I could watch the Olympics from the night before early enough that I didn't run into any spoilers. Oh Mikey Phelps, I love you.

2. Leave house immediately for a 1/2 hour walk. The daylight turns off your melatonin telling you that you are awake. Jack occasionally looks at me wondering why we are outside when he could be watching Elmo.

3. Avoid bright light at night. Strangely this might be the toughest one for me. I love running errands at night sans anklebighters! I almost ran to Walmart absentmindedly last night, forgetting that the bright daylight inside there would throw off my body clock.
They suggested you could wear yellow sunglasses. If I did I would have to go around singing "Man, I love these Blu-Blockers!"

4. Take otc melatonin at night. Not brave enough to try this.

5. No caffeine or alcohol after 3. This means no diet coke at night, but I am fully cleared to start drinking at lunch time.

If any of you know how to be naturally thin please comment.