Please Read

This post really hits home. I think it should for all of us. We should stop pretending, and start being ourselves.

A Day in the Life

I love looking at the lives of others.  Especially when their world is so different from my own.  My grandma's life in Mexico is definitely different from my day to day.  I asked her if I could share this with you.  I think this could be an interesting little series.  If you would, please send me your typical day and I will post it, linking back to you, in the coming weeks.  I promise to share my own typical day as well.

Today is a guest post from my Grandma Florence also known as Flossie of "Flossies Fast Food Fly Through" A feeding station for hummingbirds.

I'll try to tell you a few things I do daily.
 

Before dressing I shake my clothes & shake out my shoes. I have never found a scorpion but others have, Scorpions are not every day things but they are around. I have never been stung.

We do not flush toilet paper. The pipes may be cement tile that is rough & snags the paper to clog the pipes. I have a sign that says No paper to be flushed. The bank & Library have signs too. I keep small plastic bags to put the paper in & the garbage man comes by every day except Sun. I have to have the garbage out before 7 am! 

We have a dry season & a rainy season. Of course it can rain a bit in the dry season too. The ad for our area calls it "The Land of Eternal Spring". It never freezes but I saw 43* once & 45-50*some nights in Dec & Jan. Rainy season can begin in May but usually about June 13th & lasts until Oct. Dry season the mountains are brown & rainy season beautiful green. 

Most Mexicans shop daily. They eat lots of corn flakes for breakfast & sweet rolls & milk or hot chocolate. The little stores make sandwiches of this ham like loaf & cheese & hot pepper & wrap them & sell them. The Mexican people eat anytime. If you go any place by bus or car you will see small stands & people eating. There is no water to wash hands or dishes so they put a plastic bag over the plastic plate & a new bag for each person. Saves water anyway. 

I walk to the store most mornings. Not for the warm buns that all stores sell, but looking for damaged or over ripe bananas. I love bananas & so does my dog. I buy a Papaya there each week. I buy eggs there too. They are sold by the Kilo = 2.2 lbs & are put in a plastic bag to carefully carry home. I have 2 cartons to put them in. There can be 14-16 eggs depending how big they are. Eggs are on the counter NOT in the fridge. On Fri morning I walk 4 blocks round trip to the plaza where they sell fruit only on Fri. I usually buy a few things & carry them home. Then Sun at 10:30 am my pastor picks me up for church. Near the church is a grocery store & then a tortilla place & then a fruit market so he stops & I buy more fruit & veges & corn toastadas at the store.  That is where I get heavy stuff as I get a ride to my door. I get my Jiciama there. It is a root vegetable that you peel & slice or cube to eat raw. Some people put lemon juice & salt on them but I don't. I seldom eat meat but eat beans,brown rice & barley & cheese & eggs. My eggs have been less than $1.00 a Kilo & here eggs are $1.50 on sale & MORE a dozen. I give away parsley,basil & lemon grass.   All fruit & veggies that can't be peeled we soak in drops of a disinfectent to kill parasites.  I have a friend who soaks melons,Papayas,bananas & eggs. I don't! Parasites can make you sick. I take a pill about once a year to kill off any I may have. Some people take a pill every 6 months. I do peel & cut up my Papaya & Cants  & put in quart Yogurt tubs that people give to me. Then they are ready to use.

I used to walk to the post office, but now as it is up a slight hill my gardener brings me my mail. I found out he went after mail for another lady so asked him to bring mine. 

Miss Me?

I'm finally back to post!  I'm using my lunch break, one of the first that was truly a break, to check in.  It has been non-stop at work and at home. 

Work has been non-stop interviews, presentations, meetings, and mailings.  It looks like a filing cabinet puked on my desk.  I worked late most nights last week, and when I didn't work late, I was at a school meeting.

Kaia started 2nd grade, and no surprise she loves it.  Mo is having a hard time adjusting to his sissy being gone, and has been in quite the mood.  I'm pretty sure both of them are going through a growth spurt, as more than 50% of the meals I make are going to the two of them, and Dana and I get what's left.  The twins are starting to sleep through the night, and they keep us busy when they are awake.  Dana and I are realizing that mornings are one of the few times we actually see each other during the week.  We'll hopefully get a date night this weekend to go see Resident Evil Afterlife. 

On the health front we've all been fighting a cold.  I'm still fighting this fibromyalgia or whatever it is.  I'm worn down, I hurt all over, and I'm tired of it.  So Labor Day weekend was us being a bunch of bums and lounging around.  I did tackle one big thing though.  Kaia's room.  I should have taken a before photo, but it was disgusting.  What's important is to know that there was a 2 foot layer of clothes, toys and garbage.  Not anymore.  And her closet is even clean.

I hope to be back to blogging, and visiting your blogs again very soon!  I miss keeping up with everyone.

Sewing

I used to sew a lot.  I made myself skirts and dresses, then I had kids, and pretty much stopped sewing.  Now I have a few items that need re-worked, and I found this blog: newdressaday.wordpress.com.  It's been all over the news, and it is such a fun blog.  I spent well over an hour looking at her creations. 

First I have a cute dress my mom got for free in the locker room at work.  It had been abandoned, and it was my size.  So after a year my mom brought it home. I quickly found out why it was abandoned.  It is poorly constructed.  I'm thinking I will just cut it below the armholes, add a band of elastic, and have a sleeveless tube dress.

The more difficult piece of clothing is a work shirt.  All staff and upper volunteers were given these very nice shirts.  Only problem is, I don't like the way shirts like this fit me.  They are too manly.  Any ideas on some tailoring that could make it softer more feminine?

Working Out

I was going to jump on the treadmill for 10 minutes before getting into the shower.  I was, but when I saw this, I decided on a blog post instead.

Maybe the racetrack made New Year's Resolutions?

Pet Peeve

Blind Dudley

Many of you may not know this, but Dana and I used to have 9 ferrets.  Yes, you read that number 9 (nine) correctly.  They were Frosty, Stoney, Holley, Haley, Harley, Dudley, Ashley, Chi Chi and Spud.  This may be obvious, but we didn't name Chi Chi and Spud.

We loved our ferrets, they were so sweet.  We lost Harley to cancer in the Fall of 2002.  Right after that we lost our hedgehog Thorndyke.  And right after that we learned I was pregnant with Kaia.  By the time Morgan was born we had lost all of our ferrets, but Dudley. 

Kaia loved Dudley.  He was our big baby.  Big, lumbering, dumber than a box of rocks, and so sweet.  He was mostly blind and had bouts of baldness, but he enjoyed being carried around by Kaia and was always up for some hopping around with her. 

So if ferrets are such vicious creatures, do you believe that Dana and I would have ever allowed our daughter to play with Dudley?  Of course not.  Yet every radio and tv commercial I've seen for the past 5 years has made ferrets out to be horrible biting creatures.  Even the APA recommends that they not be in homes with children (they don't like hedgehogs for pets either). 

Out of 9 ferrets, we had 1 (one) that bit.  Holley was a tiny, silky albino female.  We were her 5th owners, in just over a months time.  She had a biting problem. I personally had her bite down on my knuckle, hit bone and hold.  It started with the first owners, and each owner after brought her back because they couldn't handle her. 

Ferret babies, like kittens and puppies naturally nip when they get excited.  Ferret mommies or owners have to teach the babies not to nip.  Now at a pet store, you might hear the teenage worker tell a customer to "flick their nose" when the cute little baby nips.  Feel free to flick the teenage worker's nose, or whap them upside the back of the head.  Flicking their nose teaches them to bite because they fear hands.  Proper ferret training involves the scruff of the neck, pinch the scruff and drag the ferret while saying "no."  See, now you can educate any stupid pet store workers you may run into, although I think flicking his or her nose would really be more fun.

We don't know if Holley was flicked first and that started the biting habit.  What we did learn years later was that she had had her ribs broken prior to living with us.  They were broken and began to calcify, scaring the crap out of us when we were sure the big lump was cancer.  Even though someone did that to her, we were able to teach her that people were ok.  We took our time and handled her carefully.  We used proper training when she was naughty, and at the end of her life she only nipped if you made a sudden move toward her.  And then, it was only a little nip. 

I can't stop the media from demonizing these sweet pets, but I can at least tell my readers and you can spread the word too.  And if you ever need personal testimony just ask Kaia about Dudley.  But be prepared for the tears and lamenting over the loss of her pet.  She even used to ask me if Jesus would send Dudley back so she could have him here again.

Just in time for cold & flu season, Boiron

This last review is the one I'm most excited about.  I received a package of 3 children's cold & flu products from Boiron.  These products are homeopathic remedies for the viruses.  I love it when I can use natural and homeopathic remedies.  I have only used 2 of the products, as we have thankfully not had the flu in our home yet. 

The first product we used is Chestal Honey.  Mo and Kaia both had nasty coughs.  If you have young children, you are probably aware that traditional over the counter cold and cough remedies aren't recommended for children under 6 years old.  So while I can attempt to trick Kaia into drinking the expectorant by telling her it doesn't taste horrible, Mo cannot have anything but his nebulizer treatments which do not soothe the throat or loosen much of the phlegm.  Children's Chestal though can be used for kids 2 and up.  With the first rounds of coughs I opened the bottle.  It took some convincing to get Kaia and Mo to take that first dose, but once they did, they were the ones reminding me they needed medicine.  Mo declared it "dewicious!" And, it helped.  The coughs weren't so forced, they quieted down and sounded more productive.

The second product was Children's Coldcalm which is for children 3 and up.  This medicine is teeny tiny balls that you dissolve in your mouth.  Mo started to get a nasty cold, about 3 weeks after we first used Chestal (the crud has hit us hard this year).  You kind of kick start the fight by taking 5 of these little balls every 20 minutes for the first hour.  Then follow up every 2 hours that there are symptoms.  Mo again wasn't convinced that the balls weren't icky, but he took them without complaint and went back to playing.  He reported to Grammy later that day that he was feeling better, and he told me that evening that the medicine made him feel better.  Later during the cold when I'd forgotten about giving him medicine (I'm not sure why I would forget things...) his symptoms definitely began to make a reappearance.  Mo reminded me he needed his medicine, and I happily obliged.

Here is the best part about these medicines: They are affordable!  I honestly expected that these would be out of my price range and that I'd never buy them at the store.  So often the natural medicines are $15 +, but while shopping at Fred Meyer (a Northwest Kroger affiliate) I checked out there natural medicine section.  I was delighted to find that the products started at $6.99.  They were comparable to name brand over the counter medicines in price, but are safe for younger children and a natural medicine. 

If you have a child or a houseful of them, I completely recommend these remedies.  If you don't have a child, Boiron makes the same medicines for adults!  I have to investigate the safety of using them during nursing, but I will definitely use their products for myself in the future.  No coupons to giveaway, but if you are a mom with a blog and would like to try these products too, visit children.boironusa.com/freesample. 

Stay healthy this winter!  All my review business is wrapped up, and I'll be back on Monday with posts from our life.

Olay Professional Pro-X

Several months ago I joined Vocalpoint.com which is a marketing website for Procter & Gamble.   From the site, I received Olay Professional Pro-X wrinkle smoothing cream just after the boys were born.  This wasn't just a small sample either.  It was a real jar of the cream!  The marketing promises "your skin won't just look younger, it will act younger."  Kaia thinks this is amusing and keeps asking why I'd want my skin to act young.

I really like this night time cream.  It goes on smooth, but doesn't feel heavy.  I cannot attest to the actions of my skin though.  I'm not very good with a night time routine.  So I don't use the cream every night as I should.  I also started my sporadic use of it right after the boys were born, so my skin was going through just a few hormonal changes at the time. 

I do know is that my skin definitely feels soft and moisturized when I'm using it.  That softness, and you might even call it silkiness lasts through the day.  I think this cream could really make my skin look and feel better, and perhaps act younger, if I'd just figure out a way to follow a routine before bed.  I would definitely recommend the cream, and plan to look for it myself once my jar is empty. 

If you'd like to try one of the products in the new Olay Professional Pro-X line, then I have a coupon for you!  $10 off any single Pro-X product.  Just email me at DTKMKihn at yahoo.com requesting a coupon.  I'll send them first come, first serve.

Bounce Dryer Bar Review

Another free item I received after having the boys was my Bounce Dryer Bar from Viewpoints.com.  I admit to being unsure about using it.  Someone I know had a bad experience with the bar not sticking to the side of her dryer and it banged about inside during drying.  I decided I could live with that.  Then I smelled the package... Whoo!  It was strong.  I am sensitive to smells and typically avoid even walking down the detergent aisle at the grocery.  Did I really want to wear that smell?  I was also hesitant to dry Brendon and Bryce's clothing with such a strong scent.

All of those hesitations are long gone.  I really like the bar.  It is still stuck to the side of our dryer.  And, while the bar itself has a strong smell, our clothing does not.  The clothes come out with a faint scent that is just right.  Our air has been cold and dry, yet there hasn't been any static on our clothes. 

I haven't kept track of the number of loads of clothing we have dried, but it has been in use for 6 weeks and we wash at the minimum 3 loads of laundry a week, but we have done extra now that we have urpy babies that only have a few outfits that fit.  So I anticipate that we've washed 25 loads of clothes and there is still some bar left.  I'm not sure the cost of the Bounce Dryer bars, but I hope they are a good price.  It is wonderful not to have dryer sheets floating all over the house, or worse finding them balled up in my pants mid-day.

Review Week Children's Zyrtec

I've fallen behind in some of my product reviews, and it's time to catch up. This week you can read some product reviews, and I even have some coupons to give away!

In October I received a box of Children's Zyrtec Perfect Measure for Kaia to use. I received this as part of my work as a BzzAgent. The medicine arrived with perfect timing, I was just getting home from the hospital with the boys and Kaia was in the beginning of a cold with allergies helping it along.

I loved that the Zyrtec worked. It really helped with her allergy symptoms, and didn't make her drowsy. Also, with my hands full, it was great that she could be responsible for her own medication. With the pre-filled spoons, she could grab one when it was time and take her medicine without any assistance. Another bonus is that the medicine is dye free. Kaia doesn't seem to be sensitive to food dyes, but with her reaction to other dyes I prefer to keep things dye free whenever possible.

There are a few drawbacks to this product. One is the price. Suggested retail has it at $11.99 for 10 pre-filled spoons. So it's over $1 a dose. Second is the waste. I felt really bad about all the packaging we were tossing with each use.

At only 6 years old, Kaia can swallow pills. Allergy pills tend to be less expensive and have less packaging. Children's Zyrtec isn't available in pill form, but does come as a chewable and a liquid with measuring cup. I can really see this product working best for travel. It would be much easier to take along on the next vacation or camping trip than a bottle and measuring cup.

If you would like to try Zyrtec Perfect Measure for your child age 6 and up, I have coupons for $3 off. They expire the end of December, so if you are interested, send me an email at DTKMKihn at yahoo.com. I'll send out coupons until they are gone.

Naughty!

Dear Readers,
I have been a very bad blogger. I have had an appointment in Seattle, and haven't updated you all yet. We've received some fabulous gifts for the boys, and I haven't taken photos to show you. Just when I thought I'd be resigned to wearing the same 3 outfits to work every day for the rest of this pregnancy, I was gifted with 4 more shirts and a dress by my aunt and uncle and still no photos. We've been blessed with food and diapers from the congregation, and I haven't mentioned it until now. You have been by to say hi, to check on our progress, and I haven't written a post or even visited you in most cases.

I'm sorry! I do think of you, and I do miss reading your blogs and commenting. I've composed several posts in my head, but not one has made it onto this blog. Barb mentioned my ticker, and what's scary is I have fewer days than the 46. In 24 days or less, we should be meeting these boys. There is a big part of me that wants them to stay in at least another 11 days or more to cook, but another part of me would like them out now!

My appointment Wednesday was my last visit to Seattle! My good friend Jenny and her youngest daughter Anna came with me. The NST looked good, once I woke Bryce up. The ultrasound was done by a very sweet, but very SLOW intern. It took a full 2 hours, something that hasn't happened before. By 3:15 p.m. when I checked in for my should have been 3 p.m. appointment, I was beat! So was my perinatologist, who is about 4 weeks ahead of me.

She said that the boys looked great. Bryce is measuring at 4 lbs 3 oz and Brendon at 3 lbs 15 oz. She also explained to me why Dr. Walker (the specialist) recommends a c-section. She also let me know that with my history of easy vaginal births, she would be supportive if, knowing the risks, I wanted to try for that. 5% risk of complications is really small considering everything these boys have gone through, but I'm happy to cut that specific risk to pretty much 0 and have a c-section. Plus, that way I can have another tubal ligation.

The boys are doing so well, that as far as my peri is concerned, we've accomplished what we needed to with them. She said if I were to go into labor today, she wouldn't try to stop it. So my job of baby carrying has shifted from taking care because they need it, to taking care because I need it. I'm battling swelling, exhaustion, insomnia, upset stomach, reflux, and just general crankiness. If I've talked to you lately, and I was rude, I apologize. It's really not intentional, I just have no patience or tolerance left in me. Just thinking at times is too much.

I hope that doesn't read as whiny. That isn't my intent. I just want to keep track of what's happening right now. I think even easier to forget than the pain of labor (and I realize that I did have an epidural both times, but it hurt before the epi) is the way we feel before labor. Those last few weeks of waiting. In the last few months I kept looking back thinking I was whining too much those last weeks with Mo. It couldn't have been that bad. Well, now I'm here, and this pregnancy is very different from the last, and I no longer condemn myself for being a wuss. I wasn't, it's just easy to forget how it all feels.

I am still enjoying watching all the interesting shapes my belly can become. I also love to see the elbows and knees, hands and feet that seem to almost constantly be tracing my belly. I even enjoy feeling them push each other, especially after reading that it's in this last trimester that twins will begin interacting with each other.

I'll post again this week to share some of our new treasures for the boys. I can't wait for the day where I'm posting their birth announcement, and busy snuggling them in my arms.

Positive Day!

Today is Positive Day! This wonderful idea comes from Jen's Diva Daughter. I am more than happy to participate. Rather than write a new positive post, I want to share with you several of my recent positive posts.

If you've done any reading on my blog in the past 2 months, you will know that times have been trying. We could have let that bring us down. I could have let that bring this blog down. But, I didn't, we didn't. I've seen the good in all our struggles and God has seen us through them. We have 2 little miracles on the way, and we have been so blessed through their unexpected appearance, and through their health issues.

A doctor gave us hope and God taught me that He would give us strength. Jen was an amazing friend and updated all our friends and family post-surgery. Dana and I named the boys on our ride home from what appeared to be a successful surgery. Both boys showed improvement post-surgery.

God taught me a lesson in being served. God made me smile when I realized that the conception date of the boys was the same date as my tubal ligation just 2 years prior.

We get to see regular ultrasounds of our boys, on equipment that is amazing! We are blessed to have had the opportunity to see video of our boys, while they are still inside and developing, something that amazes me daily.

And last, I cannot forget that Dana and I have two wonderful, and goofy older kids to keep us smiling, laughing, and occasionally pulling out our hair. We make a great team, and we are all excited to meet the new additions.

Drama Queen

There has never been any question that our darling little girl is a drama queen! She just came out that way. After her grand entrance into this world, she was placed on my chest. We looked at her so sweet and quiet, and she looked up at us bleary eyed, and gave us the finger.

When we brought her home, she continued on her dramatic path. Screaming for 3 hours straight on the first night home was just a small hint of her present day vocal abilities. Soon she dropped the crying for hamming it up.

It wasn't long before she was able to turn everything into a life or death situation. For instance, sitting on metal turtles.

Once she started preschool she really worked the starlet act. She stayed up late, slept in late, and had to have beautiful hair while doing it!

Once she started kindergarten, the up all night and play all day had to go. The demanding schedule of entertaining a classroom of 20 every day required sleep. But when she was entertaining, she gave it her all.

Then came her big break. She finally had a play to perform in. It may not have been a lead role, but she took it just as seriously. She attended every rehearsal, even with a fever of 103 and a mask on to keep her from sharing her virus. (which turned into strep throat after the performance)

This morning she was so busy singing, making faces, and acting in the mirror, I could hardly get ready. I realized this summer is going to be crazy with her. I wish there were a free drama camp that she could spend all day at, where she could nurture her talent, and get all that energy out! Then she would really be ready for audtions this Fall.

Wait this Fall, is auditions, and the show. There is something else happening this Fall. Yes, it hit me. I have no idea how she'll get to auditions and the show, as most likely I will have had the babies, or be so close I won't be able to do all the running around. Guess I know what task, people that offer to "help" will be signed up for.

Photos 1, 2 & 5 courtesy of my dad.

***********************************

I have determined that it is Blogger and my Outlook that are not getting along. If you have a blogger blog, it may take me longer to visit you. I'm still working on correcting the problem (or abandoning my RSS feeds and using another reader), but I have some deadlines looming and Dana's surgery in Seattle is Monday morning.

I am not ignoring you

I just want to let everyone know that I haven't been able to go visiting in blog land. I'm sorry. I want to, really. But, my RSS feeds are freezing up my Outlook, and frankly, I'm too lazy to try to remember all of your blog addresses to manually go visit! I'm going through withdrawls here!

And to be fair, some of it is laziness, and some of it is busy-ness. It's easy to do a quick read in my inbox, then pop on over with my comment as I have time. But, it takes more time to go to your blog, wait for it to load, read through, and then comment. And for some reason, I don't get paid to blog and visit your blogs. I do get paid to maintain our Facebook, and I'm not even doing much there.

I'll be by soon, when I sort all this RSS/Outlook issue out, or when my work is all done and I can play. Whichever comes first.

*****************************
Now for more exciting news. Dana felt a baby last night! I didn't think their movements were strong enough to be felt from the outside yet. But, Dana came over and with one hand wide open gave my belly a few squeezes.

Frac apparently found that odd, and moved to the side, but Dana's fingers were still there, so Frac retreated inward. I felt it, and when I saw Dana's face, I realized that he felt it too. Fric was hanging out a bit lower and probably just barely noticed all the action. I thought it was great for Dana to experience some of the action I experience each day.

Good Reading

It was a busy weekend with nice weather, a birthday party and a barbeque. Next weekend looks much the same, but without the nice weather. I've enjoyed some good reading this week though!

Meredith @ Like Merchant Ships blogged about raising a bigger family in a smaller space and I loved it!

Crystal @ Money Saving Mom finished her After Baby Comes Freezer Stash, two weeks before her due date! (I only hope to be that prepared.)

Mrs. Mordecai @ Be It Ever So Humble posted a recipe for Black Beans and Rice. Not only was it easy, quick, and inexpensive... it was delicious and I'm still eating leftovers!

Nonprofits and Social Media

This is one of the reasons I love my job. United Way is really all about using social media to get connected with our donors. So much so National was featured in Beth's Blog.

If you'd like to see what I'm doing for my local United Way, check out our New Leaders Facebook page. Also my coworker and I manage our website www.uwcw.org.

2008 In Review

I'm participating in Kelli's review of the past year. The Rules? For each month, post the first sentence of your first post. Include photos, if you'd like. Head over to participate, and see what everyone else wrote during 2008.

January

This family has had soooo many accidents that I have decided I need to start a new label named "owies."

February

It's snowing yet again here in Eastern Washington!

March

It's impossible for my children to share the many Thomas the Tank Engine trains.

April

Manly enough to ride a girlie bike

May

TJ is not my real name.

June

Ok so this isn't really a no-money meal, but it's costs next to nothing.

July

I don't really know why, but our sinks and tubs are always clogged.

August

This shirt is So True!

September

Just your average dinner at our place.

October

This morning Mo came into the kitchen and said he was "foosty."

November

My favorite month of the year is here!

December

He looks so innocent doesn't he?

Phew.... That was a fun look back, although not the whole time. 2008 was a good year. 2008 was a difficult year. One thing I'm certain of is I'm looking forward to 2009!

My Husband

It has come to my attention, that I don't say enough about my husband on my blog. Thing is, I'm never sure how much to write about him. I have no problem saying things about myself, and potentially embarrasing myself, but I don't want to do the same for him, so I err on the quiet side. So it was perfect that Danielle tagged me for this meme about how well I know my husband. After 10 years together, this should have been easy, but I'm not all that sure I answered correctly.

1. He's sitting in front of the TV; what is on the screen? Bones
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch and sometimes Thousand Island
3. What's one food he doesn't like? Seafood
4. You go to a bar. What does he order? Duck Farts or Smirnoff Ice
5. Where did he go to high school? Selah
6. What size shoe does he wear? 11 usually
7. If he was to collect anything what would it be? Guns, Cars
8. What is his favorite kind of sandwich? Homemade Vegetarian
9. What would this person eat every day if he could? He likes variety, so not sure he'd eat one thing every day. Although peanut butter and cheddar cheese (not together) he eats most every day.
10. What is his favorite cereal? Lucky Charms (I think)
11. What would he never wear?A suit and tie
12. What is his favorite sports team? He roots for several football teams, but not sure he has a favorite.
13. Who will he vote for? For President? I don't know. Dino Rossi for governor. We both hope there aren't endless recounts this year that cost him the governer's seat.
14. Who is his best friend? I am.
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Pick at my hair.
16. How many states has he lived in? One for the most part. Although he did spend some time in Alaska and in California
17. What is his heritage? Umm... no idea.
18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? White cake, chocolate frosting, but I'm not sure that's his favorite.
19. Did he play sports in high school? Drag Racing, although it wasn't through the high school.
20. What could he spend hours doing? Riding his motorcycle, working in the garage, shooting at the range

Well honey, how did I do?

Catching Up

Last week I was given an award by Mrs. Mordecai and it's my turn to award it to others.

I think I'm supposed to nominate 5 people, but being the non-conformist I am, I rarely follow rules. But there are a few people I'd like to award the Brillante Weblog arward to.

First, had Mrs. Mordecai not awarded me, I would definitely have awarded her. I love all the great tips she has, and her thoughtful way of viewing the world around her.

Jennifer at Dust Bunny Hostage also deserves this award. She is always making me smile with her funny comments, and she's a great friend that checks in to make sure I'm ok when I talk about things like my pain pill use. I believe our dust bunnies have been collaborating, or some of them decided to move up North and take up residence. If anyone ever comes up with a Worst Housekeeper of the year award, definitely send it my way!

And Danielle also deserves this award. Mostly because I'm afraid of her. She's known for her job as executioner. Just ask the chick, oh wait, you can't it's decapitated! Just kidding! Her blog makes me laugh, and she handled the accidental decapitation very well. I would have been a big old sobbing mess! So hats off to her for keeping her cool!

Speaking of Danielle, she tagged me to share my 5 favorite YouTube videos. Well most of my YouTube usage is for music, so I apologize that they aren't as cool as her videos. But here are mine:
First is Live United, because I LOVE United Way!

Second is Taylor Swift, she's just so cute, and I like that she tries to be a good role model, since Kaia adores her!



This video I found on Jennifer's blog, and loved it! It was instantly added to my playlist.



And Margaritas anyone? I love Jimmy Buffett!



My last song comes with a Big Fat Warning: Do not play this one past 1 minute 30 seconds if you don't want to hear a crude song, if there are children around, or if your boss might hear it. Also he uses the big 4 letter word a few times. Ok, now you have been warned. That said, I think this is hilarious, and if there were a version without the mother of all 4 letter words, I would definitely listen to it. There isn't though, so I don't get to watch this much, but it makes me laugh.



Want to play? I'd love to see what you're watching/listening to.

Did ya know?

I have some amazing people around me! When I have a bad day, they are always doing something to make me smile. Lately the days seem to have more negative than good, so much to think about and consider, but I'm trying to keep it all positive here (as much as possible).

There are so many of you that don't comment much on my blog, but are always encouraging me. Granny in Mexico, Nana, Mom (aka Gramma Owie), Rebekah, June (Grammy)... the list goes on. (Dana is one of those non-commenters, although he does read regularly)

If you do read my comments you will see that Mrs. Mordecai and I both have sons the same age, and Ann's daughter and Mo were born just days apart. Mom's of two year olds can always commiserate together (they really are so much fun!). Kelli comes by and always makes me feel good. She has hundreds of people reading her blog, but she takes time to stop in and say something personal.

The commenter that has really been making me smile lately, Jennifer! We often have conversations in each other's comments. She always has something sweet and funny to say to me! I really appreciate that!

I lifted your photo, but it's always easier to ask forgiveness than ask permission!

There are many more of you that I didn't mention, but I just had to say Thanks for the smiles!