No Paparazzi! & One Bad Angle

2 Quick Things Before I Hit the Sack

1.

I laugh that as I was taking a ga-zillion pictures of Calvin at the pumpkin patch, he drew the line at this shot and erupted with, "Don't take my picture anymore, Mommy!" He acted like we were on Sunset Blvd. in L.A. I'm not 'entertainment tonight.' I'm your mother. Now smile.

2.

I have to update my "worst picture ever" choice. It's this baby down here. I can't pass this off as bad angle only. I must confess it's a mixture of laughing too hard, bad angle, and an unusually large, renegade nostril. I only wish that I could have had a booger up in there. That would have made it humiliating.

Who is Looking for a Job?

My love for all things sticky, sweet, and delicious has driven me to keep a running list of items I would put in a sweet shop and/or bakery. The list includes, but is not limited to:

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Whoopie Pies
3. Fruit Pizza
4. Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes!!!!! (yellow w/chocolate frosting, chocolate on chocolate, etc. you get the point)
5. Bite-size caramel apples on sticks.
6. Tennessee Walking Sticks (pretzel rods dipped in caramel and drizzled with pecans and chocolate)
7. Peanut Butter Kiss cookies
8. Fruit Pies and Cobblers (in the fall)
9. Chocolate Covered Cherries
10. Huge, big, fat slices of Red Velvet Cake
11. FUDGE
12. Cranberry Orange Muffins
13. Banana Bread
14. Nathan's Brownies
15. And Jello. Kidding. I don't think that is a dessert. At all.

The list goes on, but I think that you get the idea. I think that I might name it: What Katie's Craving. Because as far as I can tell those desserts don't have anything in common with each other except that I am probably thinking of one or more of them at any given moment.

Anyway, the plan is to get my kids a little bit older and then open up some sort of shop to fulfill my sugar-filled fantasies. I am currently taking applications for cash register and frosting taster. Please make sure to put your name, qualifications, and ideal salary (please note that you will be paid in desserts). I am also accepting menu item and store name suggestions. You will be awarded in futuristic dental money (a.k.a. - a free cleaning from Noah in about 3-4 years).

Lucky Me!

I just found $12.26 in the washing machine. Fair game. Now I can get those gallons of milk that I've had my eye on.

Photo Share

I didn't get a chance post the pics from when Mom was here. I'm not sure why there are so many pics of us taken by us. I guess we didn't want to trouble anyone. She was such a fun guest. She was willing to do anything. We walked around a ton, looked at lots and lots of dish stores, and ate one of the most memorable burritos of all time. Mom, I loved spending lots of time and your money with you.

Oh please pick me Wicked lottery!!!!

Mom, Me, Ryan

Pumpkin Patch-ing: The October Blog Staple

As with most other bloggers, our family hit up the pumpkin patch this past weekend. Our boys loved having room to roam. Noah and I loved the overpriced pumpkins and having to explain to our kids that they had to pick the smallest one they could find. Lucky for us they liked the tiny ones. Phew. Price gouging averted.

Wyatt wore himself out trying to pick up the ginormous pumpkin.

Calvin l-o-v-e-d this tiny "perfect" pumpkin. The hay ride was a real treat. No one fell off and we were serinaded with off-key Beatle's tunes from what I suspect was a crazy lady. Calvin got the best seat on the hay ride.
Wyatt didn't care much for the sites of the hay ride, but he sure did like the taste of his hand.

Get Well Soon!!

Dear Mimaw Caffy,
We are thinking about you every second of the day. We want you to feel better soon so that we can come and play with you at your house. We need to have a picnic, eat gummy bears, and jump on the "frantolin." Please tell Pipaw to watch over you for us and give you lots and lots and lots of kisses and hugs.

xoxoxo,
Calvin and Wyatt

Need A Good Laugh?

Have a few on me. Noah likes to take pictures of me when I am not expecting it. This began a few weeks into dating and has continued until today. We get a kick out of the awkward facial expressions and body postures.

Here was the first surprise shot. I was caught typing a seemingly very serious research paper.

This beauty is our favorite. It's been over six years since I was surprised just as I walked in and shut the door. I've accepted that there were more problems than just the angle.

Some shots are taken when I'm sleeping . . . wearing noise prevention headphones. Come on. If you have kids you know how precious an uninterrupted nap is. My favorite part is that it could be mistaken for me singing in a recording booth. If I weren't lying down . . . or asleep . . . or if I could sing.
Sometimes we're not quite sure what I was doing. It looks like I might be seriously contemplating the heel of my shoe.
Busted picking up a toy.

"Huh? Oh me. I'm just watching an episode of 'Lost' online."

I turned the tables and got a shot of him trapped in the bunk beds he assembled.

Last shot of him with a surprised, sideways smile. Too cute.

Late Nights

What do you do when you can't get your kids to go to bed? Should you threaten shutting the door? OR lay with them until they go to sleep? OR give them a special toy to help them stay in bed? Usually we do a combination of the previous suggestions. However, a few nights ago, I gave up and adopted the idea "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Or in our case, "if you can't get them to go to sleep, invite them down for some cookies and milk." I would say that all in all in was an effective idea. It went right along with my theory that teaching emotional eating early has great benefits ...... early on.

Tiny, But Miracles Nonetheless

1. W-D 40 takes crayon off of walls....and wood floors. . . . and kitchen tables . . . and kitchen counters.

2. Playdough kept Calvin occupied for my entire 30 minute workout video.

3. Wyatt didn't get out of bed when I put him down for a nap.

4. I had a good hair day.

5. I finished the laundry with time to spare.

Bath Time

I don't know which bath time issue was the grossest: Wyatt trying to drink the bath water and barfing up a partially digested Hershey Kiss or the mystery poop nuggets that neither boy would claim as their own (luckily the little gems showed up after the drinking/barfing incident).

Added Bonus: In Calvin's dinner prayer tonight he asked that I would be blessed to be funny. I knew that I needed some new material, but I didn't know that I was so far gone that I would need Divine Intervention for my sense of humor.

Suspected Poop-i-trater

Reminisce-Mix

It's so funny/odd/weird/strange/wonderful/interesting how hearing a song can bring back all of the memories you have related to that song. While I was changing out the music on my sidebar tonight, I tumbled into a bunch of songs that brought back fun memories. So........without further ado, you have a Reminisce-Mix. I suggest scrolling through or maybe even putting the mix on while you are flipping through your Better Homes and Gardens magazine. You might just find a few songs that you and I tore up the dance floor to. Or laughed at the lyrics of. Or sang to me when you asked me to marry you. Or put on our favorite songs mix after we were married. Or waxed poetic about. Or sang together because Mom and Dad made us. Or listened to at Guitars Unplugged. Or coaxed me to stop listening to on repeat. Or sang with me in chorus with Ms. Minga-Rose. Even if you don't find one, you might just enjoy a skeezy set of songs. See the pink music list on the sidebar for your listening pleasure. You might want to push the "pop out" button for ease of scrolling. Enjoy!

P.S. Sorry Jaime, I couldn't find Cinnamon Brown the Eskimos. I was sure that I would at least find Vulnerable.

Cat Pool

Yesterday in the car Calvin told my Mom that he likes to swim. After a little discussion he told her that we went to a "Cat Pool" this summer. Confused, I asked him what that meant and he said, "You know, the kiddie pool."

I have to wonder if he was disappointed every time we went to the pool and he didn't see a single cat swimming there. It also led me to question what he imagines when we drive in the carpool lane, read about the tortoise and the hare, or play the piano by ear.

One of our favorite books about homophones is "A Chocolate Moose For Dinner," by Fred Gwynne. We highly reccomend you pick it up at the library. Just make sure you return it on time. We know from experience that those fines really add up. Like, make payments add up. Don't judge me because I don't return things on time. Afterall, that is my only flaw.

By the way, I'm sure that you've figured out that you can't click on that picture. Sorry, it was the only one I could scrounge up.

Guest Blogger: My Mom

In an effort to bring diversity, equality, and plain ole' fun, I introduce my guest blogger: Kay Cruze (my Mom).

Topic: City Highlights

At the ferry
...Katie, "We have to run Mom."
Mom. "Run, run?"
Katie, "Run."
Katie, "You can stop running now." (with me still running)

My question of the day,
"Now where are we?"

Best statement,
"O.K, what next?"

What I learned in Kindergarten came in handy,
"Wait, we can't cross the street until the light changes!"

Walking Two Miles with Ryan for a Cookie
That Nobody Wanted to eat.

Walking, walking, walking, walking, walking.

Defective fans from Chinatown. Always check your merchandise, especially when you can't haggle them for a deal.

Lovely dreams...
Crate and Barrel, Anthropology, dishes, dishes, dishes.

"It's so simple, all that matters is chocolate." -a true insight from MAX BRENNER.

No Wicked for the weary, (sniff, sniff). Like lotteries mean anything.

A lovely night walk on Fifth Avenue.

One.... more..... ride..... on.... the..... subway.....uggg.

Watching the lovely city lights fade away on the ferry.....

What a lovely day with Katie, and in the words of Calvin, "I love the city."

4 and 4

Here is a little sumpin' sumpin' if you want to get down on some tagging. Go to your fourth picture file and select your fourth picture. Then post and explain. Thanks, Lori for the idea. Here is ours:

This is just a sweet picture of Calvin and Noah from February of last year. I've always liked those jammies that Calvin is wearing and the cute smile on Noah's face.

The Right Idea

Does anyone (who lives near me) want in on this?

Have You Missed Us?

Don't harp on me over that whole, "I'll post everyday for a month" thing. I've been living it up with my parents. Yesterday we took a jaunt into the city for the important stuff: lunch at Blue Smoke, rice pudding, and discount fans from China Town. We ended up in New Jersey outlet shopping and from there it was a blur of running, chasing, dragging, exhaustion, hunger, fun, and McDonald's. Here are a few pics of our journey.

Blue Smoke had the best pulled pork sandwich I have ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot of Buddy's BBQ and feel as though I could testify under oath that it pales in comparison to Blue Smoke's tender, oh so tender, and smokey sandwich.

We were only 24 hours early for the filming of a scene from CSI New York. We even beat the film crew there. We would have waiting longer, but our kids were cranky after just 6 hours of waiting. Just kidding, we didn't wait. We're not that crazy.

While meandering through the toy store with Grandma, Calvin found a little shopping cart and tried to load it up with goodies for himself. I have to say that I think it was the right approach. Grandma was eating out of his hands and if he had stuck with a moment of two longer, I think he could have haggled some more toys out of her.

When set free from the stroller for seconds, Wyatt ran right to some tree thing and climbed all over it. I don't have much else to say other than I thought it was adorable.

Let's Have Some Fun

Kay and Shane. Mom and Dad. Mimaw Kay and Bacca. Grandma and Grandpa. Hey You and You Over There. Call them what you will, but I will just call them, "I'm glad that you're here." Sorry the posts may be slow, but we're too busy enjoying our visitors.

Su-weet Date Night

We had chocolate with the bald man. The One. Then Only. Max Brenner. I've never actually met the guy, but his chocolate monstrosity desserts are enough to make me weep. Tears of pure joy. Tonight Noah and I met my cousin Ryan in the city for a little dessertishness. We ordered the chocolate marshmallow crepe with gummy bears and ice cream on the side. It was amazing. Whenever you come and visit me, we must go there. The vat of chocolate so loving displayed on my sidebar and again below can be found in the lobby of Max Brenner. A vat of chocolate?! Yes, spinning around deliciousness with every rotation. They also serve chocolate pizza, chocolate soup, chocolate fondue - even chocolate to spread on your toast. It's a chocolate lover's dream. Ahhh.....chocolate.

You Might As Well Scrap Today While You're At It

It seems I had some residual laziness from yesterday. Though the morning was efficient with a trip to the doctor and sink full of done dishes, the afternoon took a nose dive after I dropped Calvin off at preschool. My intention was to come home, do my workout, and then clean the basement. I managed to come home, change into workout clothes, and well, . . . . . I have to pick up Calvin in like 15 minutes and all I have show for those three hours is this:

Maybe tomorrow will be more productive.

Remember the Time? . . . .

That I got like a ba-zillion things done in one day? Things like, doing 10 loads of laundry, scrubbing the bathroom to an immaculate finish, washing the picture frames, teaching the kids physics, solving the Financial Crisis on Wall Street, and all in time for a well-made 5 course dinner.

Today is not that day. That was Monday.

Today was the day I sat around on the couch and thought about cleaning the cushions (but never did), took my kids to the park, but lazily sat on the bench, had Calvin make his OWN Peanut Butter and Honey sandwich, lallygagged on the phone with my Mom for 1 hour, did 9/10 of my workout, and didn't even shower afterwards. I'm hoping to finish strong with a half-way attempt at dinner named Top Ramen. Then I might really blow it out of the water and watch THE HILLS tonight and top it off with a few hours of nosey blog reading. No reason to call me Super Efficient today. Just call me Maybe Another Day Girl.

By the way, I am a little bugged that my Bail-Out plan didn't get approved. I worked all weekend on that baby.