Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

OK, just when I think things are going to get back to normal, we get hit with a big 'ol snowstorm. The weather guys say the storm is "vicious," DH says it's going to miss us and everyone will have bought large quanties of BME for nothing (bread, milk, eggs). We'll see...

The more important news is that DH is well on his way to recovery after seven days in the hospital with the evil pulmonary embolism. He will be headed back to work soon. Thanksgiving was a little weird since it was just us and we had a catered turkey dinner instead of all the homemade deliciousness. But people, if I ever had a Thanksgiving more special, I can't remember it. Not only did I have him being home and healthy to be thankful for, but I was once again reminded of the special families and friends we have. I needed to be at the hospital nearly all the time and have someone care for the boys, and I would have been lost if it hadn't been for all the help. You truly don't realize how much your family means until you sit by your husband in the hospital and know that you are exactly where you need to be.

Anyway, so I am back and ready to get back to posting, uh, sometimes!

Trying times at our house

What a pathetic title but I am not thinking too creatively right now. My DH has been fighting pulmonary embolism for the last three days (more if you count the days leading up to it when we thought he would somehow get his breath). He is fine at the moment but still in the hospital and there's no ETA for home.

I appreciate the outpouring of help with the boys and prayers.

Meme: Nine Weird Things About Me

My buddy Chilihead tagged me for this meme. I hope I live up to her level of weirdness.

1. How timely for this first one! I don't like sweet potatoes or cranberries or anything with pumpkin in it. Other than being un-American, not so weird. That I must see all three of them on my table at Thanksgiving: that's weird.

2. I do not like the Beatles' music. Or the Rolling Stones'. I like a lot of music, but the two most popular bands in the history of rock-and-roll make my stomach turn.

3. The canister set on my counter top is ALWAYS straight. And so are the towels hanging on my oven door. (No, I'm not "Sleeping with the Enemy." My husband, however, might be.)

4. I have clean coffee mugs in my cabinet that have lipstick on the edges. Even after they've been through the dishwasher. I don't bother to clean it off, I just grab one with lipstick and everyone's happy.

5. When I'm out and about with both my sons and one is in the stroller, we almost always use the doors for the handicapped that open automatically when you push a button. Not weird. Teaching my older son to hit the button with the BACK of his hand to avoid more germs? Weird.
6. Driving home I go out of my way so my older son can check the progress of a house in our neighborhood currently under construction. (He now says "...it's lookin' pretty good...")

7. I sing to the radio in the presence of adults.

8. (Some would say) I have a blog.

9. My favorite guilty pleasure in a movie? The closing number in "Dirty Dancing." Don't we all secretly want to be Baby at that moment?

Hair!

NOTE: Scroll down for WFMW!!


I had my hair chemically straightened on Monday night. Just for the record, it is WEDNESDAY and per the lady's instructions I cannot wash it till TOMORROW morning. The only other time in my entire life I have gone so long without washing my hair, I had just given birth to my first son and washing my hair was last on my list of things to do. Anyway, here are the before-and-afters. I don't think I need to identify which is which (sorry for the poor quality of the first one).



















Some of my friends were trying to discourage me from having it done, saying things like "oh, I wish I had your thick curly hair." Well, people, it was a blessing and a curse. Lately mostly a curse. With hair like mine, you have to be committed to "calming" it every day, or it looks like the photo on the left. That process takes about two hours, two hours I don't have and my little boys aren't quite willing to help me out there.

One of my sisters had the process done six months ago and it is still gorgeous. She said it has "changed her life." Her hair is more manageable, easier to make smooth, and the volume of it was drastically reduced.

I hope it has the same effect on my hair, but right now I cannot see past dumping a huge handful of shampoo over the top of it. Mmmmmmm!

P.S. For those who are interested, here is the product that was used.

Overheard Tonight

I'm tucking in Son One and reading him "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." (He's 2.75). We've read it enough that I like to cut the sentences short and let him say the last word or two. It's fun for everybody.

So I get to the long list of food that the caterpillar ate, and he's breezing through them "cake!" "sausage!" "cheese!" (struggled on the lollipop) Then I say, "a big piece of cherry..."

"Coke!"

And I thought my love affair with Sonic was private...

WFMW: Totally FREE Cookbook

Today's WFMW tip is a no-brainer and one that I hope you have already tried, because if you haven't you have been missing out on one of the best freebies ever.

For you impatient types, go here and sign up. Now.

If you need more info than that, read on.

Kraft publishes a totally free, no-strings-attached cookbook. All you have to do is sign up. No shipping, no one-time charge, just F-R-E-E. And every quarter (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) they send you a new issue. It's about 70 pages of recipes and cooking tips that are practical and don't contain 47 weird ingredients.

Now, since it is free and there is no obligation to the consumer, expect every recipe to have name-brand, Kraft company ingredients in it. We all know we can get around that!

So go there. Now. And order it up.

For more great WFMW tips, visit Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

WFMW: Oatmeal Play Box for Toddlers

(I tried without success to upload the Works for Me Wednesday logo but Blogger keeps crapping out on me. Does anyone have any suggestions?)

I got today's idea from a book about entertaining toddlers. I got a larger-than-a-shoebox plastic bin with a lid and filled it about half-way up with oatmeal. I added a few measuring cups, bowls, and spoons. My boys absolutely love pouring and scooping, and if they happen to eat some, so much the better for my older french-fries-lovin' boy.

The book suggested you just put it in the middle of the kitchen floor and sweep up after each session, but this would make someone with my personality type implode. I prefer to keep it outside where the where the birds and squirrels can enjoy any messes and I don't have to sweep anything up or watch oatmeal dust float through my kitchen.

Enjoy! And for tons of other stuff that works, check out Rocks in My Dryer.