Passwords

What do you guys think about password-protecting a blog? I've gone back and forth on this ... yes, it's fun for people to find your blog, etc. But, on the other hand, the safety issue sometimes makes me think it'd be better to password-protect it with a password that would be easy for our friends and family to remember but hard for some random stranger to guess. What do you guys think?

A Few President's Day Weekend Pics

We had family in town this weekend! So much fun! We even took some family pictures on Saturday. That was not as much fun. Jacob was a stinker, and Eric was hungry. So, when the photographer remarked that he may have gotten ONE that turned out okay (meaning no one melting down in the picture), I was pretty stoked.

Here are a couple of shots we took in the meanwhile.


I can't possibly imagine why Eric would be crying. I mean, who wouldn't want Jacob's foot in the back of their head? :)


You just gotta love that mischievous grin!

Move Over Emeril

There's a new chef in town.

I was just lamenting to a friend today about how I never seem to have time to record all of the funny things Jacob says everyday ... there are just too many. And this one was pretty funny.

So, this morning, he's playing with his valentines ... yes, I let him keep a box of his valentines from his friends and some leftovers that we didn't distribute. Anyway, he lined them all up in these super long lines all morning, and around 10:30 this morning, he announces that we should make suckers to go with the valentines for all of our friends.

I thought that was a little strange but responded that I didn't really know how to make suckers (not letting him in on the little "mom" secret that I could find out how to do it on the Internet ... if I wanted to.). Well, not one to be deterred, he explains how we'll do it and what ingredients are required. I swear we are not raising him to be like Will Farrell's "Elf" character ... despite what I'm about to reveal.

Jacob says, "Okay, so we start with sugar. And then we'll add jelly and frosting, and then eggs and rice. And then some jelly and sugar." I think he must be recovering from the lack of sweets from his days in the womb when I had gestational diabetes.

The Men of Austen

I honestly can't believe I'm up so late writing this, but I've been meaning to check this Web site out for some time, and now that I have, I feel it my duty to share it with anyone with a remote interest or affinity for Jane Austen and her wonderful novels. For the last several weeks, PBS has been broadcasting, "The Complete Jane Austen" ... all of the novels that have been made into movies. They appear on Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. ... at least where I live. Anyway, at the tail end of the latest one that I watched, Mansfield Park, the announcer noted that the Web site had a section on the Men of Austen. There's a brief run-down on each man from the Austen novels and then you can select your favorite. Darcy was too easy a choice, so I chose Frederick Wentworth from Persuasion. (He was rated #2 behind Darcy, incidentally.) So, if you want to check out something kind of fun ... here's the site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/austen/menofausten.html

I'll have to blog about my "real life" tomorrow!

P.S. Tried to post a picture, but couldn't figure it out!

Is this a record?

I'm posting twice in 24 hours! So, the reason I'm posting is two-fold. First, I wanted to post a picture of the new tile that we're having installed in our kitchen and bathrooms starting tomorrow. The carpet is coming next. And new baseboards will follow that! So fun! Well, the end result will be fun. The three days of trying to keep one rambunctious bundle of energy from stepping on the tile will be not so much fun, but it'll be good nevertheless.

The second reason I'm posting is that I've been meaning to share funny anecdotes about the kids and the last post was so lengthy ... all about me! I believe the only mention of the yay-hoo kids was that they'd made me cry sometime last week. So, I felt I should jump back on and share some funny cute things. First, Eric is a pretty lousy napper, but he is super-generous with the smiles. He is totally starting to respond to Jake and will stop whatever he's doing (namely, eating) to watch Jacob's antics. It's totally cute ... sometimes.

Three-year olds are a riot. Jacob has been so funny. Anytime anything is broken around here now, he's asking for the "sticky tape". Maybe some of you have heard references to sticky tape (and its amazing capabilities) from one of our "babysitters," Dora ... the Explorer. I've also been privy to the explained miraculous capabilities of sticky tape by another of our favorite "babysitters", Mickey ... as in Mouse from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." If Jacob has a broken toy (and a few weeks ago, I caught him breaking a toy to test the virtues of sticky tape), he is fully convinced that sticky tape will do the trick. If only ... :)

Please Mom! No more pictures!

First, you might notice that I got a fun new background for my blog. My sister had a link to Matie Kay's blog and she had super simple instructions. Thanks so much Matie Kay. Once I can figure out how to link her, I'll do it so she can get some credit and everyone can partake of the goodness!

Secondly, I've been thinking of things all week to blog about, but life's beeso busy! So, as I was checking email tonight, I came upon a survey and decided to share a little bit about me. Hope you're all not too bored.

And as for the recipes, I'd love to share. Things have been turning out pretty good lately. Incidentally, I hope none of you were waiting with baited breath for this week's menu ... or else you've gone hungry! I'll get back on track soon.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

Julie from the Love Boat

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Last week ... probably from either Jake doing something naughty or from Eric not sleeping

3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Boars Head turkey

4. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Not too much ... I don't like being on the other end, so I try not to dish it out.

5. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yes

6. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

No way ... too scary for me!

7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Vanilla Creme Frosted Mini Wheats with fresh blueberries

8. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

Of course, but I don't wear that many shoes with laces.

9. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

I get really strong right after I have a baby and have to carry the baby in the car seat!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Premium vanilla or cookies n cream

11. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

probably teeth or clothing

12. RED OR PINK?

Pink

13. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

I think I talk alot, and I am not as great at listening as I want to be.

14. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Black pj pants and no shoes

15. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

I am embarrassed to say because it was so decadent, but a slice of the costco chocolate layer cake with raspberry sorbet.

16. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW

Dishwasher

17. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Citrus blossoms; rain; homemade bread or rolls or cookies

18. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Sister-in-law, Kim

19. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

college basketball, college football, golf, baseball

20. FAVORITE FOOD?

Mexican ... probably chips and salsa

21. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Happy endings without a doubt

22. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Northanger Abbey on PBS; at the theater, I last saw Dan in Real Life (very good)

23. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Navy blue sweatshirt (it looks awesome with my black pj pants!)

24. FAVORITE DESSERT?

Creme brulee with fresh fruit

25. What book are you reading now?

Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson (delectable mind candy in the form of a murder mystery)

26. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

MBA Logo

27. WHAT DO YOU WATCH ON T.V.?

Amazing Race, Survivor, Psych, Everyday Italian, Chuck, The Office (only when it's not a rerun)

28. FAVORITE SOUND?

Laughing babies/children, rain on the roof

29. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Hawaii or Mexico

30. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

My tongue can touch my nose

31. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Georgia