Yes, I'm crazy.

It's 9:20 a.m. and I've been back from Target since 8:00 a.m. And let me say, I was a little surprised not to bump into any of my friends! However, the parking lot was FULL at 7:00 a.m. CRAZINESS! I got the last scooter/skateboard thingy for mini#1 though and that's why I went. I love and hate this day. I'm not too patient, but I love a bargain. And, surprisingly, I was one of the few wearing makeup this early, but that's not strange. I don't go ANYWHERE without my makeup. Some women appeared to be wearing their pj clothes! You go girls!

As I type I'm waiting for my brother and mother to get their slow arses in gear so we can head out again.* I have to chauffeur them around so mom can shop for brother. Like I really need to go to REI in search of snowboard boots! Oh well, at least I'll be relaxed because I've already accomplished my main goal for the day. Happy shopping! Do YOU participate in this Black Friday madness?

*Ok, so my mom got a new hip 5 1/2 weeks ago. She's excused for being a wee bit slow this morning. And, yes, we will be using her handicapped parking pass today while we shop!

Just thankful

In all the rush to get it all done this week I'll quickly post a few pictures of what I'm most thankful for...my minis. Last weekend we went to the Raleigh Christmas Parade and stood in 32-35 degree breezy weather as Christmas floats dazzled the minis. Mr. Pink and I were standing behind the minis as they sat in their coveted curbside seats to see the action. Mr. Pink and I could see the floats way down the road so we spotted the Geiko Gecko on one and were thrilled. Mini#2 loves the Geiko Gecko! So we watched mini#2 and waited for him to finally spot this green lizard. The moment he did he yelled back at us and said "DAD! THE GEIKO GECKO!" We noticed that any time mini#2 saw something he liked he would inform Mr. Pink. Any time mini#1saw something he liked he would inform me! So strange. Anyway we were cold, but loved every minute of it. Being curbside the minis got lots of attention and goodies from the parade participants. Afterwards we went to our favorite hot dog place for lunch and then home to watch our beloved WOLFPACK destroy our rival, the UNC Tarheels, 41-10 on their field! Awesome day!

Princess Leia stopped by to shake the minis' hands!


My pint-sized pilgrim.

Monday, Mr. Pink and I went to the mini#2's preschool Thanksgiving feast. At the beginning the kids all lined up in their festive hats they had made in class and sang a couple songs. It was so precious. Mini#2 was one of the few to keep his hat on after the "show". He even wore it to the grocery store afterwards. He plans to wear it tomorrow as well and he promises to sing his Turkey song for our guests. We'll see. By the way, mini#2's sweater sleeves are not too short in above pic. I guess the teachers folded the sleeves up to work on one of their many crafts or to wash hands. Nonetheless, I wanted to clarify that for all of you!

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! Travel safely and eat lots! Gobble! Gobble!

Question

Am I surprised about?
a) finding 2 pieces of mini#2's hot dog from TUESDAY's dinner in my half bath's sink tonight?
b) mini#2 waking up this morning with wild, sticky, greasy yet fragrant hair? (It was determined that he tried to wash his hair with liquid hand soap at some point in the night.)
c) mini#2 smearing Hershey's chocolate lip balm all over his face to look like Barack Obama. I kid you not. He said this when questioned!
d) none of the above. Nothing mini#2 does surprises me anymore.

And this, my friends, is what drives me to drink. Belle, it's officially cocktail hour at the Pink house tonight. Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday

Starting to feel it.

You know. The ever present stress that inevitably creeps its ugly head into your holidays. In the shower this morning I was already making my mental grocery list for Thanksgiving. My parents, my brother and my mother-in-law will be joining us for Turkey Day. However, one arrives Tuesday, one arrives Wednesday and two arrive Thursday. I can handle entertaining, but in waves like that it gets a little tricky. Who sleeps where, what do we eat each meal, do we go out to eat on Wed? Then sprinkled into the fun we have a preschool "feast" on Monday (making those yummy chocolate chip cookies), a US president project due on Tuesday and classroom volunteering on Tuesday. You know the normal chaotic life of a mom.

And, while I mentioned it, I may or may not have had to send mini#1's teacher an email last night requesting that project's information sheet again. And I may or may not be calling the cable company today to pay my bill via phone because I couldn't find that bill last night either! Jeez. When did I become so disorganized? Hey, but give me credit. At least I know the cable bill is due tomorrow thanks to my trusty bill spreadsheet I keep. I just can't find the darn thing. Yes, and one day I will resume bill-paying online. Just haven't done it yet! I think I need two more hands, a few extra hours in each day and a little more quiet in this house. Then maybe I'd return to my calm, cool, collected pre-mommy self on a regular basis! Tell me I'm not alone ladies.

How we added drama to a simple family outing.

This year we only planned to go to one NC STATE football game as a family. We only have two season tickets so Mr. Pink takes a mini or me, but not all four of us. So yesterday was the day we had all planned to go together because we got our free junior wolfpack club tickets for the kids for this game. The weather was mild, but the clouds were looming and rain sprinkled off and on pre-kickoff. Just prior to kickoff I took mini#2 to our regular (read: 45 yd line primo seats we buy from our friend with more seniority every year)seats while Mr. pink and mini#1 scaled mountain elevations to reach their free seats. We had settled in and even saw the canons blasting off fireworks to draw attention to the Wolfpack team barreling out of the locker room onto the field. All was good.

First quarter was underway and we were happily munching popcorn when the PACK scored the first touchdown. Mini#2 couldn't see so he stood on the seats beside me as we cheered the touchdown. And then, before I realized it, we had another down. Mini#2 was down. Off of the seat and resting not-so-comfortably against the cement back of the seats behind us (no one was in those seats). He started crying. I grabbed him up and then I saw red, not of NC State fanwear variety. Blood was gushing from the back of mini#2's head! The lady behind that row said "Do you know where first aid is?" Uh, no. I didn't. Never really knew my fine university had that service at football games. While others watched us, she lead the way up the stairs while I applied a wad of napkins to the back of his head. He, by the way, was no longer crying, but I was fighting tears back. We arrived and 3 or 4 nurses/hospital administration people took action. Ice packs for him, a sink for me to wash off my child's blood. Our friend called Mr. Pink and minutes later the rest of our family arrived while I was answering questions like "When was his last tetanus shot?" What? Then the paramedics arrived to transport him for stitches. WAIT! We can take him. Then another nurse looked at his head and, once the blood stopped, it was determined that no stitches or staples were needed. He just had a goose egg on his head and sticky, bloody hair around the gash. Once we were calm again, or had normal heart rates (me, not mini#2), we all returned to our seats with various ice bags and ice packs. We weren't going to let something like a LOT of blood send us home. Uh, hmm Mr. Pink. No, it really was ok. Mini#2 kept saying, "Mommy, it's ok. It doesn't huuurrt." One of our seatmates and friend had sent a text to Mr. Pink when it happened saying "You better get down here. Child protective services is looking for Mrs. Pink". Not so funny! Nonetheless, we survived and even sat in the rain for the last half to watch NCSU win a much needed conference game. Mini#2 was happy. We got home and cleaned the bloody head and it looks alright, but they told us it would bleed again and it has. This kid is 3 1/2 and it's his second bloody episode. He had stitches on his face Oct. 30, 2007 at 2 1/2. Both times, Mr. Pink was away. Maybe I should be concerned about child protective services! Or maybe I should just keep mini#2 inside for the next 15 or so years!

Friday Gift Suggestion

One of the best gifts Santa brought to our house last year was this book for mini#1.
If you have not heard of these they are called My Adventure Books and are available here . What makes these books so unique is that you order them to be personalized with your child's name. You also supply your child's address, birthdate and friends' names to be scattered throughout the book. Mini#1 was AMAZED when he saw this book. He loved it and still does. I plan to order one for mini#2 this year. They are only $16.99. You can also order different books like Disney Princesses or Cars, etc. if you don't want the Christmas book. However, the Christmas book does a nice job explaining Christmas customs in other countries as Santa takes your child in his sleigh to help deliver presents. Check it out. Makes a great Santa gift!

Happy Friday! Have a nice weekend. All of us will be attending the NC State vs Wake Forest football game on Saturday afternoon. GO PACK!

Thursday Tune

Here's a cheerful tune I enjoy and came across again today. Please help me though. Was this ever in a movie? Which one?

I'm back from a fun play group this morning where we sipped cappuccino, shared wrinkle cream regimens, and let the kids run wild. Actually the kids were great. Mini#2 played with their mini basketball set most of the time. Therefore, he is quietly resting right now. Of course he is also tired after being up several times last night. He went to get his brother and then the two of them came into our bedroom twice last night to discuss mini#2's fear of the dark. Poor mini#1. I'm sure he's a wee bit tired in 2nd grade today. Poor Mr. Pink. His side of the bed is closest to the door so he was the one discussing darkness fear, not me.

Try it.

I'm back from Charlotte. It was a fun weekend. My mom is recovering nicely. I didn't have to help out as much as I anticipated. It turned out to be more of a visit. She wanted some cookies so I baked my famous chocolate chip cookies. Ok, so it's Nestle's famous recipe, but I made them. The secret- use MILK chocolate chips and salted butter. Other than the cookies we went out to dinner Friday, light shopping Saturday and to church on Sunday. The boys went to visit my mother-in-law. Please keep her in your prayers/thoughts. This round of chemo is really taking its toll on her. Hopefully, she'll finish this preventative chemo at the end of December.

Now here's one of those bloggy fun quizzes. I have an interesting name. So interesting it's difficult to pronounce! Try your name.

Your Noble British Name Is:

Lady Egidia Georgiana Portal

What's Your Noble British Name?

Happy Friday! In a few hours I'm leaving to go to Charlotte to visit my parents for the weekend. My mom had hip replacement surgery a couple weeks ago so I'm going to help her around the house and give my dad a little time off. I hope everyone has a great weekend! It's going to be unusually warm here in NC. I love this time of year.

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, it's my wordless Wednesday so I make the rules. This requires words. This, I'm sure a very nice person (female I believe), was once somebody's baby. That the heck went wrong? This totally scares me!

Breaking News...

The wedding is off for this Bachelorette couple. DeAnna dumped Jesse...at the Colorado airport when he was retrieving her bags! How tacky! Supposedly she loves him but isn't in love with him. Despite how lovey dovey they appeared, I was never truly buying this connection. Were you?

Don't forget to VOTE today. And, in honor of Election Day, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, and Ben & Jerry's are giving away free coffee, star doughnuts and a scoop of ice cream. Take advantage of the freebies! I think I'll go get that pumpkin spice latte after I drop off mini#1 at school.

52 days...

That's how long we have until Christmas moms! Seven and a half short weeks to shop. Usually I am ahead of the game here and have already purchased a lot of gifts. Not this year. And it's starting to give me chest pains. I feel a big anxiety attack coming on in the near future. Yes, 52 days sounds like plenty of time, but mini#1 tracks out of school for five weeks beginning December 5! That's around the corner so I definitely want to have the minis purchases made by then. I am proud of one purchase for mini#1 I found yesterday at Target. He's back into Lego's, but he's more about designing buildings/ houses than airplanes/rockets that you usually see. He may be my future architect! Anyway, it's a beach house and so cute. He'll love it. And it was only $28.99! Some of those Lego kits are $50, $80 or more! Crazy for a bunch of plastic pieces I will inevitably painfully step on while barefoot or will constantly try to avoid with the vacuum.



Now, if I dare back track to Halloween. It was a great night. The minis went out with Mr. Pink, some other dads and their minis. They brought home a ton of candy while I stayed at home and made sure to get rid of every last piece of ours! Unfortunately mini#2 is home from preschool today with a cold and that croupy cough again. The cold air wasn't the best for him Friday night, but you can't deprive a kid from trick-or-treating! I hope everyone had a great weekend. It sure was beautiful, sunny and warm, in the south the rest of our weekend.



Mini#1 is a gangster, not a pimp by the way!