i'm sorry. seriously?

granted. i would love for goo to have a doll house. but really?

700 big ones for a toy? that doesn't light up? or make noise? or somehow create revenue?

i love christmas

house divided

for the first time, we had a house divided last night.

but the lullably i heard growing up resonated beautifully throughout my home last night.

Fire ants

I hate fire ants.

I hate them even more after they stung Goo up and down both legs, her arms, armpit and her fingers.

They swarm so fast. Poor goo.

Is it possible for ants to feel pain the instant before they're incinerated? I'll get back to you on that.

Buzz unplugged

Some random thoughts about my last three days playing Mr. Mom...

Each morning after I drop Lil Man off at school, and I drag Goo away kicking and screaming I can hear a the teachers whisper in the hallway...DEAD MAN WALKIN'

My kids now say “boo” to each other as way to say good morning.

Lil Man told me he loved me and always will so that I never have a broken heart

When Goo doesn’t want me to take something from her she’ll say “ No daddy…I hode it”

Goo uses Ah as a subsititute for every pronoun
“Ah tis” here it is
“Ah boots” that’s boots
“Ah tur daddy” your turn daddy
“Ah pez” more wonderpets please
“Ah pink” I would like the pink please…no the other pink idiot

When I tell goo "it’s time to change your poop" she says “no daddy, ah tummy”?
Am I to assume she is telling me the smell is just gas?

When we got home from school today Goo and I played outside while Lil Man went inside. Goo is fascinated by the standing water in the sandbox which she calls mud. I rolled up her sleeves and she spent 20 minutes trying to get the water from her shovel to her little bucket without it falling out.

Goo has found the joy of hiding in the bathroom behind the shower curtain.

Little man is always hungry.

We had spider man mac n cheese tonight. Lil man was sad I had already put the noodles in but he got to add the cheese and butter.

Last night he wanted to wear his incredible jammies so he could be a super hero like goo (since she was wearing her superman)

Mysteriously, he woke up in car jammies this morning. Apparently mr incredible isn’t fully potty trained yet either.

JANET HURRY HOME!!!!

seriously

seriously.


the humble pie the Lord served me today was almost too much to swallow.


i got to california yesterday. met my roommate at the airport. she is awesome. loves the Lord. awesome. we had a great day getting to know each other. we went to a mixer last night to meet all of the (40) girls who are here for this workshop.


i love mixers.


actually, no. i don't


(note the sarcasm.)


but i did fine. way to go, janet.


this morning, we had class. lots of class. then, lunch. and then we were to break up into groups to shoot the various models assigned to us.


so i'm shooting. feeling confused. but ready to keep learning. after all, that's why i'm here.


i'm doing more shooting. and more shooting.


and chink. chink. kunk. kunk.


these are NOT good sounds coming out of one's camera. NOT GOOD SOUNDS.


and then. my camera stopped working.


let me repeat myself.


my camera STOPPED. WORKING.


so...cool. alright. i'm at a photography workshop without a camera.


talked to one of the instructors. we spent some time together. she said it didn't look too good.


she walked me back to my swanky hotel. i talked to the "whatever, whenever" rep about whether or not there was a camera store anywhere around here.


she arranged for a driver to take me to the one DOWN. THE. STREET.


i went in. and immediately burst into tears. i couldn't help it.


three unbelievably nice guys helped me. first, by asking me what year i was in college.


thank you. i'm 33. you are such a dear.


and they looked and looked. and then said, "time of death...4:30PM."


i called my parents. (totally by God's grace, i wasn't able to reach buz. i was afraid i would've totally lost it had i heard his sweet voice. course, i lost it when i heard my parents' sweet voices.)


so basically, he sold me a very basic display model camera for not much. at all. to get me through this week. i will decide where to go from here once i get home.


but my roommate was awesome, asking what she could do. and the instructor who originally talked to me about has continued to ask.


but God is good. i'm pressing on. i refuse to let this get the best of me. i am here for a reason. i know i am.


the hotel is awesome. i am surrounded by unbelievable talent. and some women of God. that part, i really love.


so tonight, i am heading up to the lounge with my (buz's) laptop to try to learn the bulk of what i missed this afternoon.


this is just a bump in the road. a big bump. but just a bump.


and i know my kiddos are being loved on by their daddy which makes all of this easier to take.


kelly, i love you. thanks for talking me down. :)


buz, i literally can't imagine my life without you.

two posts in one day

seriously.

tomorrow night? friday night? big h is having a friend over. and not just to play after school.

sleep over.

oh. my. word.

i could swear to you -- i just heard big h ask me if he could borrow the keys to my car.

i'm thinking that putting him in a pull-up is mandatory. yes? :) can't think of anything that would ruin the mood more than waking up to a wet spot in your friend's bed.

this is a little boy that big h has known for more than half of his life. longer than he has known goo. they started at the same preschool for MDO FOUR years ago. they have been in the same class every year. sweet, sweet kid. so he knows him pretty well. and he has a little sister a couple of months younger than goo. so the mom and i have gotten to know each other.

but i can't tell you all of the thoughts that have been running through my head.

will he sleep in the same bed with big h? will he sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor? will he fall asleep faster than big h? will that weird big h out? will big h want to cuddle with him? will they ever actually go to sleep? will his mom end up coming to get him at 930? will he want to come and get in our bed at 4am too? what will goo think?

this is way new.

but big h has been asking for weeks now. i finally bit the bullet and called his mom. and she said, "are you sure you guys are up for it?"

buz and i? we're risk takers. sure, we're up for it.

(kidding on the whole risk-taking thing.) :)

so milestone #671 will occur tomorrow night at home of the wisners. pray. pray for big h. that he doesn't weird out with his friend over. pray for his friend. that he has a good time here. pray for goo. that she'll be able to fall asleep with all the fun happening. and really, pray for buz and me. that we don't literally age overnight.

i'm doing it

i'm taking a big plunge. into uncharted territory. for me, at least.


this monday, i leave for san diego, california. for a photography workshop. like, a real one.


(and save your comments about me being a jet setting stay-at-home mom. i have gotten plenty of those from my spouse.)


i am nervous. i am anxious.


i will try and spare you the story of how things have gotten to this point. in a nutshell. took a darkroom developing class with a friend. she went hard core successful. she's amazing like that. i've watched from afar. with awe. but have wanted to be more. more confidence. more satisfaction. more. and to be honest, i think she's wanted more for me too. she has been the all-encompassing friend/mentor. she has helped me with everything. and when i say, i mean everything. like frantic phone calls about my "work" not looking right. and her response always being, "oh no big deal. we'll just fix it for you." and her other comments? basically can be summarized by "dude. you rocked that. seriously. you rocked it."


weentrab, i heart you so much. i love you for the photographer you are. but i love you even more for the friend you are to me. roots and now wings, right? :)



anyway. in APRIL. i took that next step. i got a call one saturday night. the four of us were having dinner. we normally don't answer the phone during dinner. but for some reason, buz answered. well, not for "some" reason. for a Jesus moment. it was one of the photographers putting on the workshop. she wanted to know if i would be interested.


um. duh.


luckily, that's NOT what i said. but it was close. don't think it's not what i wanted to say.


i knew it would be a stretch for buz and me financially. but we both felt like the Lord was making the decision for us.


easy enough.


so since APRIL. i have had time to be nervous. anxious. afraid.


all those warm fuzzies.


but i've been clinging to the comforting peace. i have officially breathed a sigh of relief. i feel like i can hear Him whisper, "it's going to be great. be still. know that I am God."


ok. well then. that's it.


so, now i'm packing. staying in a fancy hotel. gonna kick it roommate-style with a fun, new friend (who probably isn't it aware that i just used the phrase "kick it roommate-style -- bless her heart). preparing to learn from four unbelievable photographers from different parts of the country. and leaving my "duties" back home to my freakin' RAD buz and my parents.


so because i'm clearly so frequent in posting lately (tongue in cheek), i just wanted you to know that i'll be gone for a while. honing in on my mad skillz.


or whatever.

(and if someone can tell me WHAT IN THE HECK is up with the formatting and why my post is double-spaced? well, that would be great.)

so many things to say

so prepare yourself. as usual.

i haven't been around. for exciting reasons. like my recent vacation/"business trip" to montana two weeks ago. like big h turning five.

we're going bullet points tonight. because i want to get this written out. more for posterity sake than anything else.

(and beware. i'm not proofing any of the layout. like if the pictures are in the middle or on the left. which will kill the OCD side of me.)

and because lately, i would really rather be snuggling with buz watching fun shows and looking through the THREE FEET of christmas catalogs at night than blogging. it seems to have taken a number on the low priority list.

(speaking of buz. right now. he's looking through old pictures. to have scanned. friends of his on facebook -- consider yourself warned.)

• milestone #1 since we last "spoke." big h and goo went to the dentist.

this is pretty big. big h is FIVE and has not been to the dentist yet. don't judge. but you gotta start somewhere, right? and so we did it. took them both for the first time at the same time. and i'm here to report. nothing. my kids are freaking rockstars. ROCK STARS! big h went first. x-rays. check. of course, he's a boy interested in anything electronic. so he asked the tech if he could look. then, sunglasses and a movie on the ceiling. rotating toothbrush with toothpaste. check. water "squirter" to rinse off teeth. check. "straw" to suck out his saliva? check. fluoride treatment with "mouth thing" and straw? check. and a goody bag filled to the brim with new crayola toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, and coupon for kid rinse. not to mention a prize. seriously. he thought it was like going to the store. he told dad, "i got to get my teeth all sparkly AND look what all i got while i was there!!!!!!" and then it was goo's turn. they let her sit in my lap while holding nemo with teeth. she brushed his teeth while they did hers. hoss. she didn't care about the goody bag. but the bouncy ball was well worth it. and the icing on the cake. the dentist? my age. not only that. but it turns out we were both freshman at baylor the same year living in the SAME DORM. hello. and now you're talking to me about my children's dental hygiene. weird. yet surprisingly cool. which brings us to...

• huge milestone #2. big h using a normal amount of toothpaste. he has been saying for several months now that when he turned five, he was going to start using more toothpaste and spit like me. flattering. and by more toothpaste, he meant enough to actually see. well, every night since we got back from the dentist, he has wanted me to floss his teeth. i know. AND. tonight. he put a GLOB of turquoise lightning mcqueen toothpaste on his toothbrush and let me brush. EVERYWHERE. perhaps you don't understand how HUGE this is. if not, pretend. this is HUGE. and he was delighted. he even said that swooshing and spitting was cool. i love this kid.
• ENORMOUS MILESTONE #3. i am writing this out for my little online scrapbook of sorts. so please, please, please save the judgment for someone else. my child. my FIVE-YEAR-OLD little boy. has slept the last two nights in UNDERWEAR. for those of you without children, feel free to skip this part. you'll be bored. i can assure you. our awesome pediatrician suggested we wait to potty train big h until he was at least three. after goo was born. he has always been a little late doing things. talking, etc. but he always makes up for it. like, when we did potty train, it took THREE days to potty train. three days. and that was it. except for the nighttime part. and we have worked for TWO YEARS on wetting. i'll admit it. it's been a real struggle. but we knew in time, it would happen. and to be honest, i was done changing so many sheets all the time. so he's been in a pullup for a LONG time. well. i think it's happened. and i don't really believe in the whole "jinx" thing so i'm writing it on the internet. friday afternoon, we met some friends after school to play. one of the kids asked if something had scared big h. and he responded, "nope. i'm pretty brave. i'm pive. i also sleep in underwear." (can you imagine if it was ok for me to talk about what underwear i sleep in?) anyway. that night, he had gone to change into his jammies, and buz and i were getting goo out of the bath. (yes, it takes both of us.) and he came in. instantly buz noticed, and big h said nonchalantly, "yeah, i'm just wearing underwear tonight." secretly, i was bummed because i knew we were going back into the season of changing sheets. he woke up saturday morning totally dry and again was so nonchalant about it. this morning, he woke up dry too. TWO DAYS. unbelievable. i am so impressed with my little man, i can't stand it.
• now, the only other thing he wanted to do once he turned "pive" was to get a "real" massage. guess i need to get that scheduled.
• he had a fun birthday party. know how to take a flattering picture of yourself? send yourself down a bounce house slide. works every time.


• big h got stickers for his birthday. he's been rewarding himself for good behavior. again, i love this kid.


• seems that i cannot, CANNOT, stop eating peanut m'n'm's. have i mentioned i don't even like chocolate?
• goo has become increasingly more sassy. and i use sassy as a cute word for OHMYHEAVENSWILLSHEEVEROBEY.
• last night, she insisted on wearing big h's raincoat to bed. it was one of those battles i didn't want to fight. so she worked it in her bright yellow, way too big rain coat. all night long. goo.
• and several nights ago, she was adamant about wearing big h's rain boots to bed. and so she did. what is up with her obsession with rain apparel? too big rain apparel.
see? cute, little goo asleep. with her cute, little jammies. pink blankie underneath her head.nice.

• reasons i love having a daughter.

• two weeks ago, we had some family pictures taken by my friend, courtney. actually, we took hers, and she and her husband returned the favor. so fun NOT to have to use a tripod.


• what else? RIGHT. i went to montana. i freaking love montana. i so wish i lived there. not only does my best friend live there, the weather is unbelievable. do you remember the reason i went? the long story? the senior i photographed? um, hello? he could not be any more handsome. and the personality and character to go with it. and his mom was telling me that because of the accident, he will most likely go into full-time ministry for Christ. i'm telling you. this was NO JOB. he has a younger sister and brother, who are such neat kids. wait...young people? how not to offend 17- and 15-year-olds? cool? awesome? i'm finding myself feeling old right now. and their parents? so much fun. and wow...great parents. i SO don't want big h and the goo to grow up and be teenagers. anyway, they were such a blast to hang out with.

meet chase, the senior. i know. how handsome?

and his sister. brynne. gorgeous.

and his brother, cole. so handsome.

and his WAY CUTE parents. so young and hip. please let me look like this when i have teenagers.

• as for kelly? well, she remains my best friend. we did a bunch of running errands, eating, drinking dr. pepper (oh how the two of us can polish off some DP), talking about patagonia, making dinner for each other, and loving on little lizzy, who has more clothes and blankies than she will know what to do with. we watched movies, wore sweaters and jeans and warm socks, cried at touching things on the internet, talked about purses we wanted. we just were. which is how it always is. which is why i love her so deeply.
• and buz? well, he's just pretty much ALL THAT. he did such an awesome job while i was gone. awesome. you know what? after having such a great time, i was actually ready to go home. after spending time with kelly's kids, it really made me miss my own.
• let's see. anything else new? i think that's about it.
• oh wait! i told my mom and mother-in-law that i would start taking pictures of goo after church. it's the only time she wears something without a stain or pink converse. not to mention, she started smelling the flowers outside church. on her own. her very own photo shoot once a week. here you go, mom and ms. wiz.

which means now i will sign off to have a DP, cuddle with buz, and start making a dent in those catalogs.

the obligatory halloween post

so, i guess there's an unwritten rule that says when you have children, you have to post pictures of them in their halloween costumes. and of course, how darling they are.

and so, i am here to do just that.

see? darling.

big h as bumble bee, the yellow transformer. and goo, as a fairy bag lady of sorts.

we went to a carnival that a VERY LARGE church here hosts every year. here is big h riding in a parachute ride. couldn't believe he did it.

even more so...goo, the fearless wonder did it. almost fell out of the harness because she wasn't big enough. after that, she was done with "rides." (clearly, she was SO done with her costume.)

the fam enjoying some refreshments.

don't mind goo, who inhaled an entire polish sausage, including the bread. she's so dainty.

and that concludes the wisner halloween extravaganza.

happy birthday, little man

my sweet big h.

well, first. rest assured i won't repeat your birth story today. but please know that i really want to. like, really badly. i had no idea that i would join that club of women that tells their child their labor story every year on their child's birthday. but i joined that club at 639am on thursday, october 30, 2003.

big h. this year has been an incredible one. you have grown up so much. i can hardly believe it.

you love having our babysitter, J, over. you guys play the Wii together. i looked at my calendar, and i realized that you NEVER saw dr. g this year. never. as in, not once. you've still got your tubes in your ears. three years running. unheard of. actually, we're headed to see dr. m in about two weeks. if they're still in, we'll have to get them surgically removed. bummer. but wow -- we owe SO MUCH to those tiny, little miracles.

you played t-ball for the first time this year. your first organized sport. you didn't love it. but you learned to have an amazing attitude about it. your last game, your coach put on the "pitcher's mound." you went after every ball. and decided that you loved "baseball." last game of the year. figures.

you took swimming lessons for four straight weeks this summer. and big h. you did it. you went under the water. and really swam. you're not training for the Olympics or anything, but i can't tell you how my head swelled with pride for you. you overcame such a big fear.

you started your last year of preschool this year. excuse me while i get a kleenex. and you go everyday. you are such a big kid. you LOVE preschool. you have ten boys and five girls in your class. your obedience this year has surprised me so much. you have always had a love for all things structure. but the way that has started to manifest itself has blown me away. you love rules and crave obedience. you get really concerned when others don't. you're realizing that life/school is easier, more fun, and operates much smoother when kids/people obey the rules and do what they're told. apparently, there is a student in your class who frequently disobeys the rules and this bothers you so much and makes you so sad. you get your feelings hurt when people aren't nice to people you care about. every morning on the way to school, you and i talk to Jesus. i go first (at your request). you chime in sometimes and sometimes you wait until i'm finished. and the one thing you pray about every morning is that this specific student would make good choices. and then we let goo say amen. that's her favorite part.

speaking of goo. big h, you are, by far, the most wonderful big brother. sure, you don't let her play with your playmobils or legos or diego zipline or your computer reading games. BUT you let her pick the show you watch together. every time. even if it's a "girl show" or a "baby show." and you can't stop cuddling with her. and the things you say to her on a daily basis? make my heart melt. "goo, you're learning so many new words. great job, goo!"

and shows. just for posterity sake, the shows you watch are word world (but they don't have new episodes very often), wonder pets, max and ruby, wow wow wubbzy, and imagination movers. (for the record, mama cannot STAND imagination movers.)

you still sleep pretty good. you doddle a little more at bedtime, but dad and i are working hard on that. really, really hard. and a HUGE milestone for you. last night, you slept with only your lamp on. you have been sleeping at night with the overhead light on. i know...the people reading this are picking their jaws up off the floor. it's true. luckily, we've gotten away with the lowest wattage possible. but still. the overhead light, dude. so you decided (on your own) that there were several things you were going to do when you turned five. one was to sleep with only a lamp. and you did it. rock on, superstar. the other two things were to put more toothpaste on your toothbrush and get a real massage. yes, i'm serious. you want a chair massage at a mall. we promised that for your birthday. and we will come through.

when you get up in the morning, you come in our room. dad's already left for work. (dad's a morning person just like you. goo and i don't get that. at all.) you put your iceberg toes on my legs, and i love it. if it's before 7, you have to be quiet. i know, i have it made. we usually watch a show together. usually imagination movers. that sound you hear every morning? it's me sighing because of that show. but i wouldn't trade those thirty minutes for anything.

some days, goo gets up about the same time and you cannot wait for me to go get her. if it's early enough, i put her in my bed with us, and the three of us snuggle. but usually she doesn't get up until we're ready to leave for school.

you are totally self-sufficient in so many areas. putting your clothes on. brushing your teeth. putting your own ear plugs in at bath time. picking out what you want for breakfast.

you still love to take something with us in the car when we go somewhere. usually a lego vehicle that daddy has made you. (by the way, you have commented that i make awesome lego spaceships. just wanted that documented.)

you don't take a nap anymore, which is actually nice. when goo does, you do a great job doing quiet activities (playing computer reading games, playing legos, etc.).

as far as eating, i'll say it. you're picky. you love milk, chicken, turkey dogs, juice, couscous, pizza, any form of cracker, just discovered popsicles this summer, gummy fruit snacks, carrots, corn on the cob, and PASTA. oh how you love pasta. you can live on any kind of pasta (given that it is void of any "red or green things"). you don't like soda, and you're cautious when it comes to candy. ?? you like tootsie rolls (and call them tipsy rolls) and flavored tootsie rolls, cake and cupcakes, nerds (yes, the little sour crunchy candy), and you don't really like ice cream. crazy. you're like your mama. not into sweets but could eat your weight in a bag of nacho cheese doritos.

big h, so much has changed since you were born. you're an easy kid. (NEVER did i think i would say that.) you adore your family and friends. your conversations are incredible. three of your teachers (music, Spanish, and movement) have told me that you are the only kid who dances and sings at the top of his lungs in class. and that you are a joy to have around. you are absolutely delightful. i really feel like you're going to be a leader. you came home from school one day telling me "mama, i think i set a good example for someone today."

we went to pick you up from church one sunday, and you had a toy. i know they don't give out toys at church. you said you got it for learning your memory verse. "nothing can separate me from God's love." there is nothing sweeter to my ears that hearing you hide His Word in your heart.

you love your dad. you cherish the moment you hear the garage door open.

your hair is an amazing color. women have told me that they would pay money if "that" was sold in a bottle.

you love letters and numbers. your favorite number is one million. :) you love noticing letters that are lowercase. and you love when we go to CVS together because you tell me that you can read the sign. :)

this year, you are having your birthday party at a bounce house, which is funny because you have never seemed to enjoy them. oh well. and it is a batman theme. you love batman lately because he "depeats the bad guys." you are so into superheroes. you love to dress up. you'll be bumble bee the yellow transformer for halloween. you've never seen him before but you saw him at wal-mart one day and you love transformers. goo's going to be cinderella (aka "blue mama").

(and for the record, i am really sad. you are starting to say more and more words correctly. like you say "Four" and "Five" instead of pour and pive. i still get to hear you say your L's as Y's (i.e. i yuv you). but because i am proud of myself because i've really been teaching you the correct way to pronounce the words you aren't pronouncing correctly. even though it means i get to hear them less and less. i will miss your "speak." i love it. but i know that it needs to change as you get older.)

you and i started grocery shopping together once every two weeks at night. you are such a wonderful companion.

big h, i can't believe that five years ago, i heard, "it's a boy." i was so elated. and i proceeded to sleep for six straight hours. i was pooped. (here is where i am restraining myself from telling your birth story.) we have had a tough time over the years, you and i . but to my amazement, we have grown together and formed a beautiful bond. remind me to thank those who assured me that life would eventually get better (my two mentors at church, dr. g, all of the ECI crew, and your dad--even though i think he was as unsure as i was).

you are such a sensitive little boy. (hmmm...wonder where you got that. dad.) you are an absolute joy to be around, little man. i love you with all of my being. i am truly honored that God chose me to be your mama. i pray that daddy and i continue to work hard pointing you to your Heavenly Father.

thank you for blessing my life, HPW.

happy birthday, big h from janet wisner on Vimeo.

prepare yourself. it's a long story.

so my best pal kelly. you know this one? this one? yeah. her.

she just had a baby. and while i was/am happy for her, i was a little sad the day she delivered because reality had sunk in that i probably wouldn't meet her until she was walking and talking. because kelly didn't meet goo until she was two months shy of her second birthday. pitiful.

rewind to about a year ago. when kelly and i are talking on the phone, and she tells me about a horrible skiing accident that happened to a seventeen-year-old boy. he broke his back. this family goes to kelly's church. this boy's mother watched kelly's first child when she returned to work about five years ago. let's just say close family friends.

so i've been praying consistently for this boy by name. he's "fine" now. will never ski again. but apparently is back to "normal." and he's a senior.

fast forward to two days ago. his mom calls kelly and asks if i was coming to visit anytime soon. kelly tells her no. she asks if kelly thinks i would be willing to come up there and photograph her son for his senior portraits. she'll use her frequent flyer miles to get me there. and oh! how about janet come a couple of days early so she can spend some time with you and lizzy?

but there's a small catch. said senior has to turn in a yearbook picture by november 8.

um, please tell me you see where this story is going.

next saturday (the 25th), i get to board a plane for MONTANA and head out west to see my best friend, her baby, and meet the boy i've been praying for.

God is so good. you know why? (other than all of those things?) buz mentioned "now, you know. that is the week i was planning to take off anyway?" seriously.

my life freaking rocks.

so i'm leaving saturday and coming back on wednesday. i'm killing like fifteen birds with one stone.

at least goo thought it was funny

so big h has begun telling jokes. actually, he's been telling them for a while. but it seems that it's becoming a daily ritual these days. and typically we tell the same three knock knock jokes. and everyone laughs. which, really, is sad. because they're not funny. and after the token three have been told, the three of us start losing it and telling jokes that really aren't jokes at all.

the three token ones are:

1. knock knock. who's there? who. who who? hey, i didn't know there was an owl in here. (laughing begins)
2. knock knock. who's there? boo. boo who? oh, don't be sad. it's just a joke. (more laughing)
3. knock knock. banana. banana who? knock knock. who's there? banana. banana who? knock knock. who's there? orange. orange who? orange you glad i didn't say banana again? (and we're hyperventilating from all the humor)

then, the jokes that aren't really jokes:

1. knock knock. who's there? goo. goo who? goo had dinner tonight. (ha ha ha ha ha. wait, what? that doesn't make any sense.)
2. knock knock. who's there? daddy. daddy who? daddy is funny. (ha ha ha ha ha. huh? are these jokes?)
3. knock knock. who's there? car. car who? we ride in a car. (ha ha ha ha ha. ok. i'm sorry, but is this going to be over anytime soon? it's painful.)

the other night, goo had had enough listening to these. so she tried to tell her own. bless her heart. i think she might have told the punch line a little early.

great ending

today was good.

took big h to school. went home to play polly pockets with the goo. got back in the car and headed to music class.

you know. goo likes to kick it. she's got rhythm. and she knows it. i don't mind admitting it. it's kind of a cheesy little music class at the little church down the street. but it's something for the two of us to do together. today was fun. we danced in circles and then the music said, "freeze."

and home girl froze.

made me proud.

so home we went for a nap. goo. not me. though, i wish i had.

headed back to get big h. went to the grocery store really quickly to pick up a couple of things. big h LOVES this store. which is funny because he doesn't like fruits or vegetables.

i take that back. he does like bananas and carrots. i stand corrected. but ever since last friday when they had an "apple stand" at school, he's decided that he likes granny smith apples. and let me make a mental note today to get him saying "granny smith" on video. it's freaking hilarious.

so we went to sprouts to get said granny smith apples. now, he hasn't actually, you know, EATEN it yet. but we'll see.

but he HAS been singing A-P-P-L-E-S (to the tune of B-I-N-G-O) all weekend. so i'm hopeful for those granny smiths.

oh, and sprouts has his favorite chapstick. yes. my almost five-year-old has a favorite chapstick only available at farmers markets. whatever.

we headed home and watched two episodes of wonder pets. we love wonder pets. yes, i said we. i love them. buz thinks i would play a pretty good "tuck" if they were ever to need a back-up.

it was such a beautiful day (read: i had on jeans. Praise the Lord.) that big h suggested we go outside and play kickball. and that, we did. for an hour and a half. dad was going to be home late, so we went inside for me to make dinner, and we went back outside for a picnic.

i'd say it was a good time?

i would like to admit to dorkiness right now

i can't believe i'm comfortable doing this. it's probably all the medication.

i am in bed with buz's laptop. checking blogs. checking ebay. checking the weather channel and smiling that it will only be in the low 80s most of the week. making my christmas list.

and buz is happily reading his JCAHO manual.

i did it. i laid it out there for all to read.

we are geeks. and totally ok with it.

yesterday, i didn't feel so good. nothing big. just a little hoarse. kind of sexy, really.

had donuts with my little people. dropped them off at school. had one more teacher (the Spanish teacher) tell me that she loved that big h was the only one in her class who sings all the songs with all the words at the top of his lungs. makin' a mama proud. i heart my musical-lovin' little man.

ran errands. lots of them. and was alone for a long time. didn't really accomplish much. but didn't really care. just was glad to refresh my soul.

ate some ice cream after school. then off to a playground. dinner at chick-fil-a. baths and bedtime. buz played playstation. and i went to bed.

woke up with NO VOICE. whatsoever. those of you who don't know me? um, just know that not having a voice is like not having a limb. i love to talk. sometimes surprisingly i don't even have anything to say. i just like to get my words in. big h said i had a frog jumping around in my "froat." goo just kept staring at me. like "yeah, hi. where is my mama? what have you done with her?"

i went out to photograph a former co-worker and her ultra cute family. headed home. and here is what happened the rest of the day...

lunch was made and eaten. brownies were made and eaten. naps were taken. there was playing outside. boz was watched. cinderella was watched. dinner was made and eaten. baths were taken. and children were put to bed.

i say all of that in third person. because i took part in not much of what happened today. well, maybe the nap part.

i was a worthless member of the family today. buz, however, was king of the ranch. or the house, in our case. dude did EVERYTHING today. and the times i did try to engage? well, nothing happened. because remember? have no voice.

totally praying that it comes back tomorrow. course, i bet the couple in front of me at church isn't necessarily praying the same thing.

(don't think i didn't consider recording it on camera for you to hear.)

so tonight. i'm off to take my concoction of mucinex and tylenol cold nighttime. ahhh...the joys of a blog. a place where you can feel comfortable to tell of your illness woes.

see, aren't you glad you stopped by?

ever have one of those days?

that was so good you pinched yourself as you got into bed?

today? was that kind of day for me.

i dropped big h off at school. he was elated, and all was well at drop off. goo left a morning gift in her diaper, so we changed it at school before heading back home. when we finished, we ran into one of big h's teachers from last year in the hall. we talked and talked and did some more talking. and then she suggested we go to chapel to watch. i had never been. i felt funny because goo still had on her jammies and no shoes. i know. we're white trash. and proud of it.

but then we saw big h in the hallway walking quietly to chapel. and i said "what the heck, we're going."

oh. my.

i am so glad we went. all of the children walk in very quietly and respectively, while a pianist plays hymns. they begin by praying. then, they sing a beautiful worship song, with hand motions. then, a bible story with practical lesson. and then, they finish with a more lively song, also with hand motions.

the music teacher asked the kids "what's the first thing we have down in our heart?" and the kids answered "JOY" very loudly. then, "love of Jesus." and then she asked, "is there anything else?"

and big h. my big h. answered louder than anyone else, "PEACE THAT PASSED SOME UNDERSTANDING!!"

i can't describe how big my smile was. and because i was the only parent there, the sweet music teacher said loud enough for me to hear, "thank you, big h."

and then. then, he sang the song. with hand motions. lots and lots (or "yots and yots") of hand motions.

and then, goo ran down the center aisle. and that concluded our time at chapel.

i left with a big smile on my face and a lump in my throat.

took goo home and played polly pockets for hours. she took a nap. i ate chicken spaghetti.

we headed to get big h. not only was i still high from earlier, i had the music and movement teacher stop me in the hall and tell me that "i'm sure you already know this, but big h is the only kid who sings everyday. and sing? oh, he sings at the top of his lungs. everyday."

the smile actually got bigger.

we headed to the grocery store to pick up some milk and fruit snacks. watched a show and headed to the park.

and my kids and i had a ball. and then dad showed up. and the day got even better.

dinner time was easy. bath time was easy. i've read blogs and done all of my computer "stuff" for the night. and now i'm going to get in bed and look at catalogs and make a list of things to do tomorrow during my five hours alone.

God is good. and today was one of those days that He kicked me in the pants to help me remember it.

fun way to start my morning.

to be honest, i don't know how to start this.

other than to say...what is my deal with meeting bloggers these days?

this one was different, though.

perhaps you're familiar with my children's involvement with ECI? you're not? well, it seems that neither of my children had any interest in speaking "on time." which is funny. seeing as big h talks literally non. stop. all the time. every day. sun up. to sun down. every waking minute, the boy is talking.

it just took him a while. a LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG while. stubborn, i guess. (cough, cough. understatement.)

and goo? same thing. however, she's blossomed into a little talking flower herself.

anyhoo. during our second go-around with ECI (with which we are now finished), we met a lovely girl named krista. who was our early intervention specialist. she has since left the organization for a new career. but when she was leaving us, she mentioned that she had a fellow client that she believed i might enjoy. and would it be alright to give her my email address?

sure. no problem.

we've emailed several different times, back and forth. and i thought, "well she seems like a nice girl."

until i actually met her.

and LOVED her. seriously. i called buz, my mom, and my mother-in-law to tell them all about my "new little friend," (as buz has referred to her).

our list of similarities include but are not limited to the following: we both love Jesus, drive 4Runners, love Dr. Pepper, love the Office, "do" photography, were in the social work field, and are stay at home moms to 2- and 4-year-olds.

the odds of us being friends? um, i'm say pretty decent.

and she happens to be beautiful. please. go look. see?

so krista, oh ECI girl. thank you. thank you for setting us up. we're so grateful.

oh. and of course, just some pics from the very hot afternoon.

at the bottom of the priority list

which is where blogging has fallen.


that's not to say that i haven't been ON the computer. i'm just too busy reading all of your blogs. sheesh. you people have a lot going on these days.


and in the spirit of channelling my inner simple mom, today i plan on getting stuff out of my brain.


you know the drill. go grab something caffeinated. it's possible this could be long.

• goo got a haircut. she didn't really need one. however, her baby mullet had become too distinguished. no one has noticed. even i don't really notice a difference. except right out of the bath. i would love to be able to describe what goo's stylist initially tried to do to her hair. oh. my. we opted against her wishes and she was excited to do pigtails in goo's hair. goo ended up with the lovely inside out ponytail. she was enthusiastic as usual.

• big h got one too. i don't like it. i like his long, shaggy hair. but such is life.

• as i sunk into the couch this morning with my coffee and creamer, i turned on the today show. first of all, i have NEVER not had something to do when at least one of my children is in school. i am a to do list girl. an errand girl. a pick-up-my-house girl. i like to relax. but never do i sit and watch tv during the middle of the day. but this morning? well, i had a bit of a "tummy ache." you're with me, right? and so. i made the decision. the decision to do nothing today. and i didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. and as for the today show? i haven't watched this show since big h was about six weeks old, and i had nothing else to do while nursing. and i was already tired of a wedding story, an engagement story, or baby story on TLC. i was getting ready to watch me some hoda kotb (whose name frustrates the he-- out of buz) and kathie lee (deep breath). and then i got a phone call. the phone call. you know the one i'm talking about. the one from school. surprisingly, i've only received this call ONCE since big h started back in 2005. once. last year. because big h complained of a tummy ache. only, i figured out later that he had eaten his lunch too fast. because it was "too good." not a bad thing, i guess. anyway. they said goo had a runny nose and a fever of 99.8. (deep breath.) so i got out from under the covers, put my shoes on, poured my coffee in a to-go cup and headed out the door to get my angel. when i arrived, she was in the office. sweet goo. i carried her to the car. we played for a while and i decided to give her an early lunch and put her down. she ate her entire lunch, which was HUGE for my little punkin' and then i put poor sick girl down. and poor sick girl decided she was feeling so much better and proceeded to stay awake and read books and play with baby tad for about forty-five minutes. and only slept for about forty-five more minutes.


• monday. went to pick up big h from school. talking to kelly and listening to her baby coo (or cry at a high pitch) on the phone. turn into the parking lot and instantly realize that all is not right with the car. flat freaking tire. nice. and you know when you're a parent of toddlers, all of your common sense or intelligence literally goes out the window? i was paralyzed with indecision. for the life of me, i couldn't think of what to do. i called the school to let them we'd be a little late. (even though it happened in the parking lot. thank the Lord.) goo and i walk to the completely other side of the church. and i kid you not. within two minutes, i had five different people telling me they'd watch big h and the goo at the playground while i took care of things. and within one more minute, i had one of the ladies in the front office letting me know that there was a guy at church waiting for me at my car, ready to change my tire. what? he changed my tire. my kids were taken care of. and i went home feeling so blessed.


• the office and grey's anatomy starts tomorrow. period. and clearly, i am not the only one who knows this information.


• and big h? well, his social circuit has begun. the kid has freaking THREE birthday parties this weekend. seriously? he's FOUR.

i think that's about it. this post has taken me most of the day. and i can't imagine how boring it's gotten.

so i'm looking out for you. i'm turning in. and off to watch david blaine. freak of nature, really.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz