A to Z: It's all about ME!

You know what I need more of in my life right now? Mindless internet memes. Most particularly of the talking about myself at great length variety. I love those! This one came courtesy of the lovely Jen @ Stuff Jen Says. Love her.

A. age :: 28

B. bed size :: Queen and apparently that makes our frame too big to fit upstairs which is why we are currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Luckily our mattress is so comfortable and fantastic, that this works well for us. For now.

C. chore you hate :: most of them? Particularly mopping, cleaning toilets and bring the laundry upstairs or downstairs. Also, I really hate it when the dishes pile up to the point where both sinks are full and I have to unload the dishwasher before I can load it and get the sink empty again. I could really use a Rosie the Robot.

D. dogs :: are a possibility because I’m not allergic to them. But we are currently a pet free zone for now.

E. essential start to your day :: coffee with a handsome husband. I can live without it, but I’d really rather not. Also, I hear breakfast is important.

F. favorite color :: green. Which my husband knew before I did, but he is so right. I love green. It’s my power color. MM’s favorite color btw is yellow and has been for months now. I love that he has “favorites” now.

G. gold or silver :: Silver for jewelry. Gold for pirate treasure that can be shipped to my house ANY time. Oh heck, I’ll take silver pirate treasure, too. I’m not picky.

H. height :: five feet two and a half inches. Those half inches are important, you know.

I. instruments you play :: does drumming on the kitchen table count?

J. job title :: Chief Manager of Household Operations and Diaper Changes

K. kids :: one boy, one girl – a perfect combination

L. live :: Yes please. I like living. We currently do so 24/7 in Wisconsin.

M. maiden name :: Yeah, nice try internets. You aren’t getting that one off of me. You’ll have to friend me in real life and then ask nicely.

N. nicknames :: mom, mama, mommy, wifely, love of my life, other things

O. overnight hospital stays :: two cesarean births just like My Alternate Jen-Ego apparently.

P. pet peeve :: stupid people, rude people, people who aren’t nice to me, jealous haters :OP

Q. quote :: “Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got, I’m still – I’m still Jenny from the Block. Used to have a little, now I have a lot. No matter where I go, I know where I came from.”

R. righty or lefty :: right handed for surely

S. siblings :: Several half siblings and siblings-in-laws but I was raised an only kid. I know, my life is strange and complicated.

T. time you wake up :: Up to recently, I’ve been getting up around 7 or 7:30am but apparently MM’s bus picks him up down the street at 7:18am and school starts at 7:30, so I’m thinking we need to start waking up earlier. We’ve been shooting for 6am lately and I gotta say, it suuuuuucks. If I could have just one wish, it would be to wake up at 9am every day. Please?

U. university attended :: UMass. One of ‘em. Yes, there are several. No, it wasn’t that one you heard of once.

V. vegetables you dislike: Peas. Violently and with passion. I’m also not a big fan of peppers, raw onions, brussel sprouts, beets or any Grown Up vegetables that most people haven’t heard of. Can’t I just eat carrots and broccoli – oh and eggplant. That’s good, too.

W. what makes you run late :: my whole love of sleeping doesn’t help. Also children who dawdle when mommy is in a hurry.

X. x-rays you’ve had :: Pretty much all dental and bambino related. I haven’t had much happen to me in the broken bone department.

Y. yummy food :: I am a fan. I am pretty clever and married a terrific cook so between the two of us, the several food blogs I follow and the fabulous dining options in Wisconsin, we do pretty well.

Z. zoo animal favorite :: gotta love the kitties! I love seeing the lions and tigers. MM loves the giraffes and penguins. BB loves stuffed polar bears that say ROAR in cute squeaky little girl voices.

Don’t you just feel so much closer to me now?

Daybook: August 22nd

moody skies meet peaceful blue on 365 Project

Today

Outside my window: it’s a warm sunny day with temps in the 80′s. This morning I took the kids to the zoo and for awhile it was in the low 60′s and lovely – perfect weather for roaming around and looking at animals with our good friends. I cannot say enough how much I love having a free zoo here.

Rock Climber? on 365 Project

little BB “rock climbing” in the zoo play area

This weekend: we did an awful lot of hanging around the house as poor Dan has been suffering a dreaded summer cold. Aren’t those the worst? We tried to make the most of things by watching some fun movies (Pippi Long Stockings and Big with a very young Tom Hanks – MM loved both!) and ordering take out when we needed it. Thai food and sausage and pineapple pizza (our favorite) from THE best pizza place in town made the weekend much less miserable.

We also: finally finished putting up some homemade curtains in the toy room and BB’s room. Aren’t BB’s pretty?

window dressing on 365 Project

Right now I’m reading: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese – which I’m not making great time with considering my book club will be discussing it on Wednesday and I’m not even halfway through! Ack! Surprisingly I am enjoying it, but I need to kick up the pace, especially because I have two review books waiting impatiently for me: Finding Aster by Diana McQueen – an Ethopian adoption story and The Hour That Matters Most by Les & Leslie Parrott about the surprising power of the family meal. Luckily both of those are much smaller than Cutting for Stone AND look really good. Maybe after that I can get in some reading for just pure fun?

Things you should click - PINTEREST edition:

Three Happy Things: I read in a magazine recently that focusing on the positive (and meditation and regular exercise) are crucial to being healthy inside and out. I know, duh. Well anyway, I was going to write 3 things a day but apparently I’m too much of a slacker for that, so how about 3 things a week? Three things that have made me happy this week are:

  1. Meeting MM’s kindergarten teachers last week – how amazing are kindergarten teachers? All three were so awesome and I am very excited for MM’s first year of school now!
  2. Thai food. It has a very special place in my heart that makes up for the high cost of take out (and all the lackluster Chinese food in the area). Plus an order of pad thai, mus mun curry and chicken satay somehow got us through three meals this weekend – with almost no dishes involved. Hallelujah!
  3. The gorgeous qualities that mother nature provides. Lately everytime I look out my window or walk down the street, I am just awe struck by all the beautiful stuff that surrounds me with very little help from us humans. The beautiful clouds in the sky, random rainbows that show up at just the right moment, sunsets, wild flowers, beautiful trees. What more could an amateur photographer ask for? How about two beautiful children? Oh wait, I have those, too!

One last picture to share before I go: another random picture of BB at the zoo this morning. Why am I so in love with the side of her head?

extra: archaeological playtime at the zoo  on 365 Project