Pee Pee On The Lawn, a cautionary tale

Emerson came home from school the other day very upset.  His class had entered a contest where everyone had to come up with something artistic about uniting people around the world.  His class chose to display that through pottery.  Everyone had to fill out a form, giving thier pottery a title and a small explination.

He didn't win anything and he was super bummed about it.  I proceeded to cheer him up with all of my best mommy speeches about doing your best and being proud of your work.  blah blah blah...

He doesn't look convinced and hands me his form to throw away.  I quickly glance through it and something catches my eye.  In the middle of the form in very large lettering my son has written, PEE PEE ON THE LAWN.

"Ummm....  Em, why does your form say, pee pee on the lawn?"  I ask.

"Because, my pot is yellow and it looks just like the color of pee!" he replies.

"Well, that explains why you didn't win." I tell him.  "The judges are a bunch of people who are looking to be inspired about how we can all love each other and you write pee on your entry form?  That pretty much sealed the deal for you."

He shrugs and concludes, "Well, it does look like pee...  oh well!"  Then happily skitters out the door to play.

The moral of the story is, don't name your art after bodily fluids.

I hope we've all learned a valuable lesson today.  I know I have.

Christmas fun

I've been working on a new project that I will be unveiling to you very shortly.  It's taken up a good amount of my time-- so, sorry.

The  other half of my time has been taken up by this...

The mister has an annual obsession about Christmas.  His goal this year is to have our house visible from the freeway.  Next year's goal is to have it visible from space.  His inspiration is our all time favorite holiday film, Christmas Vacation.  This is what the mister sees when he thinks about Christmas.

Every night he thinks of something else we could do to make our house more memorable.  It's crazy-- but also crazy fun.

One Sweet Slice Review

Last night I met a few friends at a cupcake joint.  We stumbled upon a little piece of heaven.  You know how I feel about cake-- I'm addicted.  Their cupcakes were epic.

We had a small party and they set up this table for us to sample all of their cupcake flavors.  (Yes, I was totally geeking out excited-- cake sampling!!!  It doesn't get any better than that!)

I made a plate of my favorite kinds.  I adored the key lime coconut, the chocolate orange and the peppermint french macaroons.  The flavors melded together for a taste explosion.  The macaroons melted on my tongue... (I went back to the table about 10 more times to try every thing.  I wanted to be sure I ate the best ones you know.)

The store was decorated adorably.  I sat and looked and looked, plotting more ideas for my house.  I had so much fun.  I think I'll be going back very soon for another cake fix.  Yum!!

They also do specialty cakes for weddings, birthdays ect.  Here are a few pictures from their wonderful site.

If you're interested in visiting them you can check out their website HERE.

You can also visit their store (and eat your weight in cake) at

1644 W. Towne Center Dr

South Jordan, UT

(Not sure where that is?  It's right off of Redwood Rd and about 1700 in the strip mall with Material Girls, Cafe Rio and The Pie)

My Little Fruit Loops

This morning my kids were all jazzed to open a new box of Fruit Loops from the cereal cupboard.

Rugby told me, "Em just wants to open it because he wants to know what we won."

I told them to go ahead and open it.

Emerson's face was priceless when he realized that we hadn't won anything.

He said, "We could have won an ipad or a bike.  They even have video games."

He was so defeated.  He said, "I knew we didn't win because the box was really small."

Wait, what?!?

He explained that if we would have won the box would have been bigger to fit the prize inside.  Duh.

Rugby helped him out by adding, "Next time look for the box that has the bike sticking out of the top-- OK Mom?"

Ummm... not OK.  Something is seriously wrong with my boys if they think I could just pick the ipad shaped box to win it.  I tried to explain that if you win there is a code inside and you redeem it online.  They weren't sure my logic panned out.  They figured the box with the bike hanging out of the top made way more sense.

"Fine, next time I promise to pick the bike shaped box.  Happy now..."

They were.

Ahhh, the mystic joys of being a kid.  You gotta love a good box of magic for breakfast.

Jim Gaffigan gets me...

If you know me, you are aware of my intense feelings about camping.  If you need further proof just check HERE. 

Last night the mister and I found this from Jim Gaffigan.  I love that guy.  He captured my feelings for camping spot on.


I also have a serious cake addiction.  He couldn't be funnier!  I love it!

My Front Room Masterpiece

If you are wondering why you haven't heard from me this week- well, I've been busy.  OK?

The mister left for a business trip for the week and I got to thinking...

 My front room is boring-- dull, snooze fest, lack luster, lame... you get the picture.  It took a little courage and a lot of paint and now it looks like this...

 So.... what do ya think?

 Better from this angle?

(Full disclosure!)  I wasn't in love with it immediately but it defiantly brought a little life into the front room.  Which means, I couldn't stop there.  I found a few other things that needed life around the house.

 I attacked this tree and added some lemons for color.

These door hooks were plain cream-- BO-ring!  I spiced them up.  Now I find myself just staring around the house at what I could attack next.  I'm plotting my next adventure in the kids rooms.  Oh yeah!

I just love a good project.

So Busted!

I was running a little late the other day and called my kids to let them know.  I told them to walk home from school, have a snack and start their homework.  I promised that I would only be a few minutes.

I figured they could handle it.

A few minutes later I started getting texts from the girls.

It looked like this.

Those are my little angels.

Here is what the girls recommended.

When I got home I called the boys together and asked them why they were throwing snow and ice at the house.

"Mom, we weren't..."

Out came the video.  (thank you girls)

"Um, OK, maybe we were throwing snow-- but not ice."

Totally Busted!

One of those rare parenting moments when you actually have proof to throw in their faces.  (so glorious!)

Whenever I leave the kids at home the girlies get real creative with their cell phones.  This isn't the first time I've been gone and received video clips from them.  I'm not sure I actually want to know sometimes.  Ignorance is bliss you know.

Pinterest Treasure

Source: stumbleupon.com via Aleca on Pinterest

Saw this on Pinterest and I was crying--  literally crying.  That's how funny I thought this was. 

Enjoy!

Halloween Candy

What the hang do you do with your Halloween candy?

Seriously-- I'm staring at gobs and gobs of this stuff.

The thought of my children digesting even half of it makes me sick.

I have a secret...  It's really bad.  I mean evil bad.

I throw my kids' candy away.  Bit by bit.  I start with the stupid candy.  You know those orange and black wrappered peanut butter thingies?  They should be banned because they are super nasty.  Then I move on to the tiny candies no one will notice went missing like tootsie rolls.  I pounce on the sugar dusty ones like Dip Sticks and Sweet Tarts because eating those is like putting in a sugar IV.  I widdle it down to the chocolates and skittles.  I save the good ones that the mister will eat and stuff those in the cupboard for later.  In a few days my kids forget about the candy and it's all gone to a better place.

There, I told you.  You can hate me a little bit.  But my kids don't have cavities. So there.


What about you?



Thank heavens above.... a wonderful reader left me a comment for this link...

http://natalienortonblog.com/2011/10/31/the-great-pumpkin-waging-war-against-candy-and-crazy/

That is genius!  (Thanks jacs23-- you rock!)

Out with the old and in with the new

I'm physically relieved that Halloween is FINALLY over!

I absolutely despise Halloween.  I tried to get out of my Halloween rut this year.  I decorated the house inside and out.  I threw a party.  I bought a costume.  Still, it felt wrong.  My kids loved my sudden interest in the dark holiday.  They really go into painting signs and spreading cob webs.  But I am so glad to have that scarey business past me.

I tore every last bit of Halloween down today and dusted off my box of Christmas sparkelies.  I'm giddy with anticipation.  We are scheming a big ta-do in our front yard.  I thought we still had lots of lights packed away in the few mystery boxes we have left from the move.  It turns out I sold most all of them at our moving garage sale.  Oops!  The mister was not pleased.  But guess what?  I can just go down to Target and buy more.  Which I have already done. 

Giddy, seriously giddy.

I can't get enough of Christmas.

I would bust out my Christmas CD and put up the tree except for one small problem.  Thanksgiving.

I like Thanksgiving and all but it really is a speed bump to Christmas.

So I'm itchin' to deck the halls and warm up my credit card for some Christmas magic.

May I be the first to wish you a happy holiday season.  Yahoo!