A Package of Bubble Tape, A Smattering of Gummy Bears, and 1 Fast Break

Tonight we Shafers settled. We started off well enough, but managed to end . . . ehhh ( that's a disgusted sound meaning we settled). We had grand intentions of returning our redbox movie to the Stop 'N Shop and while there pick up some ice cream. This was Plan A.

We were gonna go big. By big, I mean Klondike, Nutty Buddy, or Ben & Jerry's. The ice creams that yo mamma would never buy you. Yeah Baby.

The kids got impatient, so we moved to Plan B. McDonald's soft serve. You'll never hear me complain. I've always respected the Mickey D's soft serve. So, we're driving, and I'm imagining stealing a lick from Wyatt's cone. Then. We. Spot. The. Wendy's.

Oh! Maybe Plan C would be better? We almost sidetracked for that Frosty. MMMMmmmmm.....I like those frosties. But alas, no dice. No drive thru (I know. I thought the same thing. I'm not sure why they don't have one, but it wasn't there.)

Back to Plan B. We pressed forward to the Mickey D's. The drive thru line was too long.

Plan D. Mickey D's up the road. Ahhhh!!! What do you mean you don't sell ice cream. Whatever.

Plan E. CVS. I know, I know, I know. But we did it. We settled for:

1 package of Bubble Tape

1 package of Gummy Bears

1 Fast Break Candy Bar

All paid for with the change from the change jar.

Look Out World!

Since giving up my one true passion, I've turned my focus to blogging so I can, you know, fill the time. I going to post something new everyday for a month. Now you have been warned.

You may become bored of seeing my kids and say to yourself, "Doesn't she realize that no matter how many close-up pics of their faces she posts that we still know what they look like?" (To answer you, I don't care. I like their faces - a lot. And so do the grandparents.)

You may cry at the lackluster writing. So hard that you'll have a headache the next day.

You may laugh at the embarrassing moments, and then you might even feel some sympathy embarassment for me.

You may become bored with the tireless complaining. Sorry. That's just part of this blog.

You may fall head over heels in love with all of the delectable food on the sidebar, and then we'll just naturally become better friends.

But I will press on. An entire month. Whew. I'm already tired.

NOAH, AGE 3

Fridays Are The Best Days

The Boys and I decided to take Friday off. We called in sick to work and took a jaunt into the city.

We stopped at the playground to play.

But decided to chase pigeons instead.

Ate our lunch.

Took a ferry to Governor's island and took advantage of Free Bike Fridays.

We smiled at the feeling of the wind blowing through our hair.

Found a cool "cave" and climbed in.

Jumped out.

Finished exploring the island and went back to Manhattan to wait for Noah at the ferry terminal.

While there we wrestled . . . .

. . . and hung upside down.

And went home for a big, fat nap.

It was a good day.

Remedy

If your way too EARLY morning started off with two kids crying (I still don't understand why if they are still tired they don't just go back to sleep. For Real. That's what I do, and then I feel better), then this is for you.

If your morning continued with an angry toddler who flailed wildly and seemed to grow an extra set of arms as you put him in the carseat, then this is for you.

If your oldest child took off his difficult-to-put-on-in-the-first-place Air Jordan tennis shoes in between every one of the four stops you made and drove you crazy each time because you had to put them on AGAIN, then this is for you.

If your usually sugary sweet baby lapsed into a conniption fit when you walked by McDonald's and wouldn't take him in, but then you caved and took him in because you knew he would stop crying even though you don't really have the money to go in the first place, then this is for you.

If both of your kids wept, wailed, and gnashed their teeth all the way home from New Jersey (except when they paused briefly to smile sweetly at the toll booth guy and hear him say, "What adorable kids," while you could barely suppress an eye roll), then this is for you.

If your brave first-time-to-pre-school son gave you the saddest look and in his pleading voice said, "Can I please just come home with you. I don't want to stay at preschool." and it took every ounce of your mommy stick-to-it-ive-ness to not cry and say, "I'm sorry, but you have to stay," then this is for you.

If you carried in, like, a ga-zillion heavy bags of groceries, and still couldn't find something to hit your taste buds right, then this is for you.

ENJOY!! Because you're back on in 10 minutes.

Fudge Pie

1 stick margarine
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt margarine, add cocoa and stir until blended. Add sugar, eggs, flour and vanilla. Beat well. Pour into a 9 inch pie shell.
Bake at 325 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes.

Don't forget to eat it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!

This is my Grandma's recipe, and it does not disappoint.

Chickitee - Check This Out

I just realized that I could give a shout out on my own blog. So, here's to Calico. You should check out Cally's blog and enter her free give away. She's no joker. If you win, you'll delight in this su-weeeeeet bag she has made. It's cute. It's quality.

So go.

Get out of here and enter her drawing.

You'll be so glad you did when you see her on Oprah and can say, "I totally have one of her bags, and it was free."

Food, Glorious Food

I'm dieting in earnest today. If I were eating anything I wanted, I'd start with this

Then I'd chase it with this little saucy baby.

Add a little bit of this.

And finish with this. Oh baby, that's the way I like it, except with a little more frosting. Uh-huh.

Then I think I'll linger over a slice or two of this.

Okay, just one more of these.

Oh, what the heck. I'll have ONE MORE slice, and then I'm done.

I'm full now.