Vote for Spencer!

I randomly took the boys to get their pictures taken a couple weeks ago. I decided since it had been a year since their last picture together, and since they were so cute in their Easter clothes, it had to be done.

This was the first time I've ever had trouble with one of my kids in getting pictures. Usually they're hams. But Josh was super grouchy, and the only way we could get him to cooperate was with props. (Hence the blue ball and the teddy bears.) Spencer was actually sick, but I didn't know it until after. (He even had a fever!)

But despite all that, we got a couple of cute shots.

Here they are with their 'bebes'. Pretty cute, although the tag sticking out on Joshie's bear drives me nuts!

My two cute boys. And a random blue ball.

One of the rare shots of Josh smiling and not holding anything!

I think Spencer looks like a politician in this picture. "Hi, I'm Spencer and I'm running for congress. Please vote for me. I approve of this picture."

Tic Tacs

Do you ever have one of those days where too much has happened, and you don't feel like you could scale it down into a blog post and do it justice?

Today was one of those days. First, we cleaned the house this morning. Then I spent several hours at a baby shower for my friend Elizabeth. (Who is going to be an awesome mom, let me tell you...) At the baby shower I spent most of my time chatting with friends and catching up. This included Ashley, who has just had a baby, and so of course we had a million things to talk about. Then I spent the evening with some more friends, who live in Chicago and we don't get to see very often. Lots and lots of talking.

Okay, it's not like a ton happened. But it feels like it did because I got to have so many great conversations with so many good friends.

And I just can't do it justice by simply blogging about it. (Besides, most of you don't know these people, and what we talked about wouldn't be of much interest. Or any of your business, for that matter. :)

So instead, I'll completely change the subject to this:

I bought a 36 pack of Tic Tacs the other day at Sam's Club. What does a person do with a pack of 36 Tic Tacs you ask?

This:


(And then put some in the car; the kiddos luurrvve them!)

Bee Boy

Josh and I had this little conversation as I was getting him out of the tub this morning.

Me: Josh, why'd you let all the water out?

Josh: No.

Me: I guess it's time to get out.

Josh (holding hims arms out so I can pick him up): No.

Me: Did you have a good bath?

Josh (clapping happily): No.

Me (picking him up): Oh, you're getting so heavy, baby!

Josh (in total seriousness, as if reprimanding me, with brow furrowed and lip pouting): No bebe. Ai bee boy.

(Translation: I'm not a baby anymore, mother. I'm a big boy and I'd appreciate it if you recognized that fact.)

Me: I stand corrected.

Josh (snuggling in the towel): No.

Fun with Anagrams

I've been trying to come up with something to blog about all day. No inspiration. It's been a *meh* day. Like when someone asks you "How's it going?" and it hasn't been a bad day but it hasn't been all that great either, you just say "Meh." At least that's what we say around here.

So anywho, I did find this fun website. It'll take your name and make an anagram of it. I know, not super exciting, but you know you're going to go there and find your anagram. (It's best if you put your full name.) Here are the first names of people I put in:

Maren: Mean porn dreamers. (Yep, that's me!)
Lance: Well! Manic ladies' man! (For reals!)
Spencer: Misplace mean swindler.
Josh: Oh Jesus! Apron dream.

The Madsen Family: Dynamite flash me. (We are a bit flashy...)
LANily Home Evening: Oh man! Lively engine.

Harry Potter: Try hero part.
Voldemort: Overt mold.

So what's your anagram?

Loungin'

Wednesday morning. Comfy sweats. Tennis shoes. Soft couch. Big screen TV. Elmo's World. Cold juice.

It's a good life, isn't it?

Book Carnage

Behold the ravages of a teething toddler:


Avert your eyes! Keeps small children away from such graphic violence!

I came upon this scene of carnage today as I was changing the sheets in Joshie's crib. The blankets were littered with the cardboard entrails of his poor victims.

Where did I go wrong as a mother?

p.s. I'm about to start giving him dog biscuits to chew on. Anyone have any good ideas on what to give him? He won't chew on teething toys anymore.

Self-portrait Tuesday

Last week I discovered Lance's cousin's blog. Her name is Elizabeth and she's great. I wish I could see her a lot more often, mainly because that would mean I was in Hawaii, where she lives with her husband and three adorable kiddos. (Wanting to be in Hawaii seems to be a reoccurring theme lately, doesn't it? I think it means that I really should be there. Soon.) ((Also, I don't want to see her just because she's in Hawaii. When we lived in UT at the same time and we were together for family events she was always so nice and friendly. Hawaii is just a bonus.))

Anyways, back to the point of this post. Which I hadn't really gotten to yet, because the subject of Hawaii apparently distracts me quite easily. Man I wish I was in Hawaii...

Okay, to the point!

Elizabeth's blog introduced me to Self-portrait Tuesdays. I Googled the term and got this and this. The first site describes it as:

Self portrait tuesday is about self expression and exploration. The idea is each tuesday you post a self portrait on your blog, give a brief explanation of the picture - you may include your state of mind, what you were trying to do, technical information about the image etc. Link back to the list of other SPT people - thus enabling everyone to share and explore each others self portrait experience.

I think that's a great idea, because even though this blog is about me (me me me!), I rarely post pictures of myself. (My blog book had about 3,694 pictures of my kids, 6 of Ginger, and 4 of me.)

So I'm gonna do it. Except for linking to the project, because I don't wanna. I'm sometimes lazy like that. But maybe I'll create my own graphic for it, because that sounds fun. I'm sometimes bored like that. Oh, and I don't know how introspective it will be; in case you can't tell (which means you haven't been reading this blog very long), I don't tend to take myself too seriously. As you will no doubt see in today's self-portraits.

(Yes, there are many today, mainly because the boys and I had so much fun with the self-timer.) ((Plus, it's my blog and I can do what I want.)) (((So there.)))

I spent most of my day holding and wrestling a teething Joshie. Do not doubt me when I say in all sincerity that he turns into a MONSTER when he gets teeth. And they all come in one at a time. And take FOREVER. It's really quite torturous. All he wants to do is sit/climb on my lap and fuss and whine and get his way even if he doesn't really know what his way is. No fun.

But my day wasn't all bad. Once the Tylenol kicked in for Josh we got to play a bit with Spencer. (Always a ham for the camera!)

And here's the one picture of just me that I was able to take without anyone else in it. (Harder than you would think around here.) Ack, why do I even do my hair in the mornings? The boys seem to have some secret pact to see who can get their hands the dirtiest and then use my head to clean up. Such a glamorous life I lead.

And is there a way to take a picture of yourself without looking like a dork? I guess only Tuesdays will tell.

How's that for introspective?