Lucky Ducky - - - - Maybe you!!

I finally won something on a blog!!!!! I won an awesome, adorable clipboard from my friend Rachel.

Do You Want to Win Something From Me??????

Here is How IT Works:

Comment on this post to be in a drawing and maybe win something made by me.

I get to choose what You get.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It might be a five page essay on your good qualities, a random baked goody, a photo collage that I have of pictures of you, or maybe even A NEW CAR!!! (kidding, I'm not a smelter). Probably it will be a mixed tape. Or a custom drawing of your face (think Napoleon Dynamite). Who knows??? The sky is the limit.
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your own blog and offer the same deal to 5 of your own lucky blog readers.

So, I will have a drawing to find out who is the winner. YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT BY TUESDAY AT MIDNIGHT IF YOU WANT IN.

Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it.

Now, let's just hope that I get at least five comments. That's a real challenge for a little ole' non-artsy blog like mine.

Photo Shafer, er, I mean Share, from March

Found this beauty on the camera. I don't even think that I need to put a witty caption with it. This is how I let the boys occupy their time while I was laying the hurt down on my ginormous pile of laundry. (see previous post)

{Shhhhhhhhh.......} don't tell mimaw kay we were jumping off of her couch.

Again with the goggles. They are a flattering look for him. In case you don't know, we are pumped for summer and biding our su-weet time until be can turn into pool rats again.

Random, Random, etc....

How I knew it was laundry day.

A note of advice about these socks.

Yes, buy them if you want. Buy them like Noah and I did because our kids love Thomas the Train. Just beware that all of the thread that makes that cute design on the outside of the sock is just lurking in tangled, stringy knots on the inside. Be warned that your kids will cry for two reasons: 1. Their adorable little piggies get caught on the strings inside. 2. They want to wear them despite the discomfort. It is a simple case of darned if you do and darned if you don't. They will weep and wail when they see them in their drawer because they want to wear them, and then they will weep and wail when you try to put them on them.

This bugs me.

I get bugged when I make a Supreme Tombstone frozen pizza, and I have to pull the sausage off, and it pulls off some cheese with it. It doesn't seem like that much cheese with each bit of sausage, but by the time you get the ga-trillion pieces off of your slice you are completely cheeseless. So, you basically have to suck it up and eat the sausage just to enjoy the other toppings on the supreme. I just want a supreme frozen pizza minus the sausage. I think that pepperoni AND sausage is just too many meat medleys on one slice. But, hey, that's me. (And, smarty pants, don't even suggest that I take them off when they are frozen because I am the only one who doesn't like the sausage, and I have to leave some on for those who like it. PLUS, I can never tell how many slices I'm going to pack away until the moment. It's just not something that I can forsee.)

And, HEY, dontcha wanna fly with us?

Remember the Time . . . .

That my husband got me a ticket to see In the Heights on Broadway for Valentine's Day?

And remember how I loved it and thought I would like to become a Dominican dancer?

And how I also wished that I knew a little more Spanish?

And how I got my picture taken with KeKe Palmer from 'Akeelah and the Bee' even though I've never seen that movie and didn't know she was famous until Susie recognized her?

And, finally, remember how much I love Noah and how he always does super sweet things for me, and I just happened to document this one?

Yeah, I remember, too.

Cactus Q & A with Yo' Mama

As an expert in this field, I feel it is my duty to answer your burning questions about Cacti safety.

Q: Are there any kinds of "tricky" cacti out there?
A: Funny you should ask. There is one pretty tricky cacti. You will know it by it's furry needles. You might even get tricked into thinking that there are no needles because they seem so soft.

Q: Where is this "tricky" cactus's habitat?
A: The treacherous deserts of Home Depot.

Q: Would you recommend introducing you children to this particular cacti?
A: Visually, yes. physically, I would have to say no. They may seem okay to touch, but leave tons of tiny, painful hair-like needles wherever they are held. For this reason, YOU SHOULD NOT LET YOUR KIDS HANDLE THEM.

Q: If you are unaware of this very important rule, and say, allow your child to hold it, and then rub his face with the then-needled hand, thus spreading needles to both cheeks, what should you do?
A: Definitely leave the Home Depot. I'm sure people will stare at your crying child, and you will most likely get the pit sweats from worry and embarrassment.

Q: Is there a medical treatment you would recommend for needle removal? It seems that removal by tweezers would be near impossible, tedious, and painful.
A: Nice observation. If you happen to try the tweezers method and find it very unsuccessful, try putting a thin layer of glue on the needled area and then place gauze over the glue. When the glue is dry, remove the gauze, and the needles will be taken out as well. Make sure to follow up with lots of kisses, sympathetic gazes, and bubble gum. Don't forget to wash the area with warm soap and water to remove any extra glue.


Q: Should you call your husband in a panic?
A: It never hurts to needlessly concern someone else who is at least 1 1/2 hours away. You might see if he has access to free gauze as well.

Q: Does Elmer's wood glue work as well as Elmer's white school glue in this case?
A: After reading the label, I can affirm that it does because it is considered non-toxic.

Q: How did you learn so much about cacti?
A: I got my online degree just today.

Q: Are you ever worried that you might scar your children for life with all of your crazy Mom antics?
A: Everyday.

The Cutest Discovery

When a little one finds that he has pockets, and then puts them to use in every situation, it is nothing short of adorable. Little ole' Wyatt was introduced to them by his wise father, Noah.

And it's been love ever since.

Not only does he stroll the mean streets of Staten Island as casually as he can with hands dug deeply in, he also leisurely stuffs his adorably pudgy little digits in his jeans as he observes other kids at play.

Please don't grow up. Pretty please.

Lamentation to Winter. Ode to Summer.

Get thee hence, foul snow!!

Give me sunshine, warmth, and a picnic before I go mad.

I have grown tired of the coats, mittens, and scarves, and long for that once familiar piece of clothing which brings true happiness - - - the swim suit.

Come to me sweet Summer.

Make Haste.

How I long to shake the sand from my children's underpants.

How I wish to partake of the free summer lunch program offered only in our semi-socialist city of NYC.

How I desire a meandering walk with my children at the slightly stinky South beach boardwalk.

How long have I suffered this bitter cold.

I shall sorrow no more.

No.

I shall only hope for the quick return of the Beauty of the Seasons.

Fair Summer.

Pictured Above: My humble chariot surrounded by snow.

Valentines, etc.

We frost-a some-a cookies on Valentines. It's our tradition. I know. I know. Yours too. But ours is awesome because we are Shafers. From the looks of these pictures we either had no idea that our picture might be taken during cookie decorating, or we were just lounging around the house in our jammies.

Here is the ultimate cookie decorator, who always manages to make me blush with his sweet comments on my cookie. Yes, we decorate each others. As you can see, I have chosen to not only write a sweet nothing (Mom + Dad = Love), but also given him a slug-looking blob of frosting. That's because I know that true love is spoken in the language of frosting.

Wyatt was feeling particularly ambitious.

Calvin also understands the importance of lots of frosting and somber looks. Have you ever seen his brown eyes in person? They're incredible. Just in case you didn't know.

Ah, here she is, the goddess of afternoon slumber herself, the ever nappy yo' mama. My man knows about the frosting and never disappoints. That's why I married him.