This is a boring post, so don't worry about reading it. I'm just rambling.

Like I said, I'm just rambling, airing the day's dirty laundry. And as is typical, I must employ the list:

1. I can't decorate to save my life. I mean that in every sense of the word. I can't decorate a living room, bedroom, Barbie house, kitchen, myself, cookie, cake, party, shoebox, garbage bag. You name it, I can't spruce it up. I'm just telling you this so that you know that I know. When you come over to eat a cupcake and see how many items I have spray painted black, just think back to this post.

2. For dinner tonight I ate cream of wheat and tootsie rolls. Then I fed my poor kids potato chips, oatmeal, kit kats, and milk. Noah had banana pudding.

3. I was in a bad mood today.

4. Noah and I tried to teach the boys about the Nativity the other night, but had to cut it short after they started fighting over the baby Jesus. I was touched that they both wanted to hold him, but confused that it ended in pushing. I had envisioned a much more serene lesson. With singing. And reverence. Not pushing. Or squabbling.

5. I felt great pride today when Calvin told me that his tooth hurt and I justifiably responded, "Go tell Daddy," and I knew he could take care of something that I couldn't.

6. I "borrowed" Calvin's Lightening McQueen bubble bath tonight. Like half the bottle. And I'm not sorry. Not even a little bit.

7. I don't have a favorite number or color. If I'm pressed, I'll tell you that my favorite color is blue, but it really isn't.

Good Night.

Ssssshhhhhh!! They're asleep.

Noah built the boys a fort today.

We both laid down with them until they went to sleep.

And Noah fell asleep too.

I was the only survivor.

So, I snuck downstairs all the way to the basement to tell you that I love my guys.

They are all three asleep in a big pile like puppies. If you looked in, you would say, "Ahhhhhhhhh......"



P.S. I'm still lovin' that sandwich. Jonesing for it.

Susie's Up to Sumpin' Good!

You still have some time to enter yourself into Susie's Surprise Raffle. So, go! Run along! Be a winner!

Bliss on Bread

You knew it was going to happen sometime. You knew I would dedicate a post to my favorite food one day.

Today was the day.

And.
It.
Was.
A.
Good.
Day.

I can't bear to keep this to myself.

BEHOLD - --- THE BEST SANDWICH EVER!!

I saw this beauty on the Pioneer Woman's website, and so Noah and I decided to make it tonight.
It was so, so tasty.

I'm talking finger lickin', mama slappin', eye rollin', mouth droolin' kind of tasty.

But don't take my word for it. Make it yourself. Then remember who told you about it, and think, "Man, that yo' mama is so full of good advice and silly humor. I wish we were besties."

To which the imaginary me in your head would say, "Thanks. Thanks so much. I wish I could really take credit for this. But alas, I didn't invent this sandwich. I just ate it. Let's hang out though. You can come over after my kids are in bed and Noah is studying, and we'll watch The Office. Then we'll french braid each other's hair."

November Was All About Breaking Rules

Perusing through the November picture file led me to conclude that we Shafers threw caution to the wind and lived our lives to the fullest.

The boys jumped on the bed.

And in their Undies! {GASP}

Mommy was busted with blue fingernails.

The Christmas Tree was up by the second week of November.
I wore my dressiest scarf on laundry day for no good reason.
Wyatt watched TV as a burrito.

And Calvin licked his finger the entire time he made gingerbread men.

You might want to steer clear of the Shafers. We are bad news.

A Christmas Gift Just For You!

I'm feeling givey today!

One Problem.

I don't sew. Sew what?

I try, and I will show you pics of my tries later, but anyhoo. That's another post - - for another day.

I don't make things to give away.

I'm not so crafty, unless you consider cupcaking artistic.

But, let's face it.. . . I'm not going to mail you some cupcakes. That would probably be waaaaayyyy expensive, and I think they wouldn't be as yummy as if you would just come over and let me chat with you whilst I baked you some up. So, just come over. But not this week, I'm headed to Tennessee. Try me in January.

Back to the point.

I made you a mixed tape. Kinda of. Just click on my sidebar. I replaced the reminisce mix with a house cleaning mix. If you don't like it, just don't click on it.

But if you do, just put it on in the background while you are busy. It'll be fun.

The songs are a blend of songs from jobs that I've had: dishwasher at Chick-fil-A, waitress at Cracker Barrel, Mom, babysitter, and file clerk. I can't remember them all, but that doesn't really matter. I also, just for the fun of it, included a few songs that my brothers used to listen to while they lifted weights in the garage.

Because cleaning up after your kids is a lot like weight lifting.

Not really. Unless their toys are super heavy, which my kid's toys are not.

Enjoy!

So, I Found This Old Picture From College

Among the ba-gazillion readers that I have who attended Ricks College, if anyone has some answers to my questions, please fill me in.

1. HOW DID WE SCORE THIS PICTURE WITH PRESIDENT BEDNAR?????
2. What ever happened to Dave-O?
3. Kelly and Dave, where were you guys? And why didn't you get the memo about spray painting your dancewear and dancing under the disco ball?
4. Meghan and Mark, see question 3.
5. What's with that look on my face (this question is open to everyone)? Jaime, is this really what dance face looks like? Why didn't I save it for the dance floor?
6. Cornrows? Seriously. Those are a little too dressy for a dance.
7. Does V-Max Peppermint really exist?

THE Parade

While Noah's family was in town, we took off to the city to watch the THE Macy's Thanksgiving's Day parade. Two things to note if we do it again:

1. Take EVERYONE'S advice and get there early, so that you can see. Try as we might in our alley, we could only see the ginormous ballons glide by. No Floats. Lucky for us, we were so busy keeping an eye on our kids, trying to keep them happy that we hardly realized that there was anything out there. Even luckier - - - we only got one decent pic of the floats: our dear favorite Sponge Bob. And you get just as good of a view as we did. 2. Don't stand next to the vent. My friend Mary Pack was right. Standing beside the nasty, stinky subway vent will ruin your parade experience. We moved after we noticed that stank. And no, I'm talking about the purple boots.Despite the imperfections, it was perfect! What's better than seeing your babies smile? What's better than laughing with your friends and family for a couple of hours? What's better than having this once in a lifetime experience in the city?

I can only think of one thing: coming home to Thanksgiving Dinner already made. Thanks to Boston Market and Cathy and Shaf.

I (heart) my life.

Farewell

We had a good run.

You and I.


And because we were always honest with each other, I feel like I can say this to you.


This is your fault.


I wore you faithfully. Nearly everyday. Even if I had to lay on the bed, suck in, and then zip.


It's a shame that it had to end this way, with a ginormous rip on the rump.


I've learned my lesson. I'll never again do a full, knee bend squat with a pair of jeans that are threadbare in the seat.


But you should have held on. Or at least given me a warning.


I'm sad.


I'll miss you Sevens.


You were my first pair of expensive jeans bought for me by a sister-in-law from a mutual friend's clothing sale for $20.


We had a good run.


Farewell.

It's Beginning to Smell A Lot Like Christmas

Chances are that if you know me you have received this as a Christmas gift. What can I say? Noah and I are pushing thirty, and we're still hitting school hard. We don't do fancy pantsy Christmas gifts.

Unless you are really special and one of our parents. Then you might just score a subscription to National Geographic.

For all of you others out there, here is a nice little potpourri recipe. For a gift, just put the ingredients (except the water, I'm sure they can get their own) in a basket or tin or whatever gift holder you choose with a recipe card of this recipe. It's thoughtful, smelly, and way easy on your budget. Whether you are poor college students, sufferers of this current economic crisis (which I'm still trying to fix, please be patient. I've got my friends on Wallstreet working overtime), frugal, or currently disabled from a motorcycle accident and low on cash, then this might be something you're interested in.

You can just make it for yourself, too. We do quite frequently during the holidays. Just make sure that you refill the water because if it burns down it starts to not smell like Christmas and more like burnt toast. But maybe that is what Christmas smells like to you. If it does, just skip the water altogether and burn the ingredients to the bottom of the pan.

Without further ado.......

Here's a nice little recipe for you blog readers:

Holiday Potpourri

1/2 orange
1/2 lemon
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
10 cloves

Place ingredients in a pan with about 4 cups of water and simmer. Let the aroma fill your house and then hum your favorite Christmas song.