AHHHHHHHH I CAN'T SEE!!!!!!

Ok, so it was just temporary. I went to the eye doctor for the first time in forever. I can't remember when the last time I saw an eye doctor. One thing I do know is that when I did go, I never got my eyes dilated. OH. MY. GOSH. That was the wierdest thing. I can definitely say that I have a new appreciation for my 20/20 vision. I went to the PX afterward to get some things, and I had to ask the cashier lady to read something to me. I bought some shampoo for my kids and I just took it out to put it away, 6 hours later, and I thought to myself, "Oh, that's what kind I got." I couldn't read anything. I feel like a new person now that my eyes are back to normal. And I can read.

Needless to say, I didn't get much reading done this afternoon during Vivian's naptime. I guess I'll have to stay up all night reading. For those of you who are interested, I am reading The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters, by Elisabeth Robinson. I am only about 35 pages into it so far, and I am not totally impressed. I am hoping it'll get better.

I am going to tuck my kids into bed. Well, only half of them. The other half get to stay up for a little while longer. I guess now that I have my sight back, I have to fold and put away the laundry that's residing on my bed. Fun. Fun. Fun.

The Glass Castle

Yes, I have read another book. I have at least 8 of them stacked up on my nightstand. So, for the next couple of weeks, you all are going to get book reports. Don't worry. It won't last too long. I am a fast reader. I read in spurts. I'll read nonstop for a couple of weeks and zip through a bunch of books, then not pick up a single book for a month. I think I'm a manic reader. Ok, On to the book and why you should read it.

Over the past couple of days while reading, all I could say was wow. I was amazed that what I was reading was an autobiography. I literally just finished reading it about 15 minutes ago. It is an incredible true story of a woman and her family who faced tremendous challenges such as poverty, alcoholism, mental illness, you name it.

It made me gasp with horror when the woman tells the story of when she set herself on fire at age three while she was making hot dogs on the stove. And I laughed when she told of the time she got in trouble at school in second grade because she turned her math homework in using binary numbers instead of arabic numbers.

The children in this family are an inspiration. They are an example of hard work and perserverance. They epitomize the American Dream. This is a must read.

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

should i be worried?

I just finished reading the book The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve. It's about a woman whose husband is a pilot and dies suddenly in a plane crash. In the weeks following his death, she finds out that he had another life (in another country).

I also just watched the movie Catch and Release, with Jennifer Garner. In this movie, a woman's husband dies and she finds out that he had a totally separate life from what she thought they had.

This morning I brought up this point to Mel. I told him that if he has another life, more kids, another wife-whatever that he should just let me know now. I want to be able to deal with it now while he's alive. (Translation: I want to be able to kill him before he's dead.) I did point out to him that this is at least the 5th time in the past 8 months he's flying to Arizona. Maybe his other family is in Arizona. OR maybe he just has lots of work to do in Arizona and I just read too many books and watch too many movies and have too much idle time to think about dumb things.

Naturally, he looked at me like I was crazy. This happens often at my house.

Look what happened to us in West Virginia!!

Marshall doesn't eat much. He can't. His mouth is too small.

Baby Ruth??

She is having a hard time blowing her nose since the accident

Carrie is the smartest kid on the block. Just look at how big her brain is!

Just call me blockhead

Vivian is the kid with the biggest cheeks!

Watch out! Mimi's teeth are going to get you!!

AAAAAHHHHHH It's a cyclops!!! Run for your lives!!!

I love my Stroller Strides friends

You girls are so fun! I can't tell you how much I enjoy torturing- um, I mean working out with you.

For those of you who don't know what Stroller Strides is, I'll tell you. It's a great exercise program where we can exercise with our kids who are still in their strollers. You don't need a jogging stroller to participate, you can use a regular stroller (just not an umbrella stroller). We meet at the Mall in Columbia four days a week. We do lots of cardio and toning exercises. We do get sore and sweaty, but in a good way. The kids stay in their strollers the entire time, so in order to keep them entertained, we sing songs, tickle them, make faces, run around, you name it!

So, if any of you want to get some exercise, but don't want to commit to anything come and try a free week. It's so much fun. You'll love it! You'll meet some great new friends. You get to window shop early in the morning when no one is at the mall. And you'll be setting a great example for your kids.

I hope to see you there.

The Greatest Show on Earth!!

NO, I'm not posting nude pictures of myself on the web. Get your minds out of the gutter.

We went to the Circus on Saturday night! It was so fun. Much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. The best thing, is that everyone (even "I'm too cool for anything" Patricia) had a great time. We got there early and were able to meet the clowns and see the other performers before the show.

Doesn't Mel make a cute clown?

I love Trystan's expression. The performers were so good at what they do. I wish I could have gotten better pictures of them to post. They did such a good job entertaining all of us.
This was my first time going to the circus and definitely not the last. I usually think of the circus performers as a bunch of people who can't get jobs anywhere else, so they 'join the circus'. But, these people were so professional and talented. I must say, I don't hold that stereotype anymore. I can't wait until they come to town again!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!!!

Do you scream for Ice Cream?

Have you created your own Ice Cream diet?

How are things going?

Have you discovered new flavors?

When I was in Hawaii, I had this pineapple flavored Ice Cream. I have never had it before. It was so yummy!! I can't wait to go back to have more! Harmony, you are in for a treat!!

Have a great Saturday ladies.

still awake...

It's almost 1:30 am. "Ahhhh, the night is young," some of you might say. But I have to get up in less than 6 hours. I want to go to sleep. My body is tired. So are my eyes. But my mind is wide awake. So, that's why I decided that I should sit here and complain about why I am not asleep. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Isn't that what they recommend? (whoever they are) No, I don't think they recommend obsessive behavior.

So, while obsessing, I cruised the blogs of my friends. I also checked out the blogs of their friends. And their friend's friend's. No, not really the friend's friend's. What do you think I am? Wierd?!!?? No, I'm just kinda delirious. That's all.

I really want to be in my bed on the laptop, but I don't want Mel to have to suffer because I can't sleep and don't want to just lay there. It's not his fault. I am also fighting the urge to eat a cupcake. I don't need that habit - stay up until almost 2 in the morning blogging and eating cupcakes. UH, no thanks. I guess I'd better get myself into the bed where there aren't any cupcakes. I hope you all have enjoyed this little rant. It felt good. Maybe I'll be able to get some sleep now. Wish me luck!

I'm evolving

I have moved on to another chapter in my love for baked goods. Well, at least temporarily. I am making cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes! I am testing out different recipes to make for a very good friend's son's wedding reception thingy. This evening I am bringing them over to her house so they can taste them and decide which ones they want. I kinda feel official. I have always had this dream of catering and doing this kind of thing, and here I am!!

Last night, I made tons of cupcakes. This morning I made tons of different buttercream icings. First, I made peanut butter buttercream. That one is for filling a dark chocolate cupcake. I also made this fabulous marshmallow buttercream filling. And for toppings, I have a dark chocolate buttercream and a white chocolate buttercream. I was going to do just a plain buttercream, but I decided against it. I am kinda getting tired of whipping butter, sugar, and other stuff. I am officially buttercreamed out!

I am, however, NOT cupcaked out. I still have my appetite for cupcakes. Well, guess I'd better get back to decorating and filling. I only have a couple of hours and I still have to make dinner for my family. HMMMMMMM... maybe I'll serve chocolate cupcakes ;)

I need a vacation

I know I just got back from one last week, but hear me out first...

1. I don't really have anything great to write about now. When I was on vacation, there were fun things and good pictures to go along with it. Now, it's just normal life. I mean, woo hoo! I did another load of laundry. Whoopee! Vivian didn't throw another major temper tantrum for the first day in a row. I am so thrilled.

2. I don't really have any more reasons. I am actualy glad to be home. I just want to have good stuff to write about.

Oh, by the way, I did end up making cookies. (big surprise there) They tasted great. I ate at least half of them. Maybe I should blog about how I survive on Diet Coke and chocolate chip cookies.

It's late. I should be sleeping. I am getting over a cold. I need to get better so I can workout again so I can feel less guilty about eating cookies all day. Or, I could just stop eating the cookies.... Naaaaah! I'll just exercise more. Maybe I'll try whole wheat cookies next time. I do have 48 more ounces of chocolate chips left!!

Any ideas?

I was in Costco yesterday and it called my name. It actually said, " Yo! Marianne! What up girl? Where you been at? You know I need you to mix it up fo' me. Put a little heat to it and make thangs do what they do." Seriously! That's what they said. And since I can't resist sweet talking like that, I had to bring them home. Now what should I tell my husband? Stay tuned...

ho hum...

Life's back to normal now. I'm back. I didn't feel the need to post a picture along with witty commentary on Saturday when we got home. Sorry. I must say, I am less than enthusiastic to be home. Correction: at home in MD. It's not the fact that I had a whole week with no responsiblities beyond myself. I realized that I actually enjoy taking care of my family. It's just that Hawaii is so beautiful. I could ABSOULUELY see myself living there. I just loved it. I know the kids would love it too.

So, here's my new mission in life: To get us back there. Permanently. Well, at least for three years. I am putting Oprah's secret to work for me. Now I must say that I'm quite skeptical, but I'm willing to try. What could it hurt?

Ok. Here goes! I see myself sitting on my front porch (in Hawaii), typing on my computer. I am getting ready to go to the commissary (in Hawaii) to buy desperately needed groceries. My kids are coming home from school in about an hour and when they get home we're going to spend some time at the beach before we have dinner. We are planning to go to Honolulu on Saturday to spend some time with friends. I think we're going to all go snorkeling. Sounds good, huh?

Wishful thinking? We'll see in a year.