Best Commercial EVER!

Being a HUGE Star Wars fan, a big fan of VW, and an appreciator (is that even a word?) of little kids going the distance (as well as advertising agencies hitting the nail on the head), I share with you the best commercial ever:

Love Netflix Instant!

The other day I was sitting and listening to five kids laugh and giggle as they watched Home Alone 2. After about 10 minutes I had to walk away - can't stand that movie. But what I really liked was that the kiddo that was staying over mentioned the movie, two of my kids asked if we could watch it, and I could say Yes because it was on Netflix and I could stream it instantly. How cool is that.

Later on I was sitting at my computer looking up a few TV shows that I wanted to catch in the past, and noticed that Netflix made a few recommendations for me. That made ME laugh and giggle - this is why:

The Scorpion King

Veronica Mars

Gavin & Stacey

Psych

Best in Show

Assassins in Love

Black Hawk Down

Dora the Explorer Season 2

The Taking of Pelham 123

Saturday Night Live Season 31

Yes, these are the things that Netflix suggests that I watch based on what I have in my queue. Here's what they say:

How these are chosen for you:
We create this list based on your recent rental and watching history, ratings, queue adds and taste preference settings.
We try to present a regularly updated selection of titles chosen specifically for you -- older titles that you may have missed and new releases.

Huh. Dora and Taking of Pelham 123? Yeah. Best in Show and Psych? LOVE them! But Veronica Mars, Assassins in Love? Just don't get it. I guess they think I'm all about British comedies/children's cartoons/adventures/teen dramas/dark humor. Never thought about it like that, but they aren't too far off.

Birth of an Island

This kind of stuff blows my mind when I see it. We all know that it happens, but to see actual video of an island erupting is really cool:

Hang in there!

Found the doll this way a few weeks ago - just hanging on by her...head. Reminds me of that "Hang in there" kitty picture that we all know and *ahem* love.

Cool lens #1!

Well, it's a six image mirage lens actually, and it pops right onto my iPhone! It's just about the coolest of the three lens filters that I recently got from Photojojo! And it really does help to have a willing subject. Thanks Max! More pictures with me three new lenses coming soon!

2 Year Old Chores

Yup, our two year old does chores, and has since before she actually turned two. All of the rest of our kids do chores every night, so she figured that she'd jump right in on those too. Since she was so willing, we gave her age appropriate chores - picking up her trains and unloading the dishwasher. Yes, you read that correctly - Lucy unloads the dishwasher, and does a pretty decent job of it too. Recently though she's started trying to LOAD the dishwasher. Now, when you are just below counter height, can't reach the sink, and still aren't 100% sure which is the trash and which is the sink, maybe loading the dishwasher isn't a good chore for you. But Lucy did it anyway. I came around the corner and this is what I found:

Lucy couldn't find any actual dirty dishes, so she got some plates and bowls from the cabinet and loaded those in the dishwasher, along with a wrapper from a bar, which was clearly dirty. Two year olds are entertaining.

Safety latches?

Really now. When a barely two year old kiddo can break the childproof latches and get into cabinets, then perhaps the childproof latches aren't so childproof after all:

Yes, those are two of the six that we had around the kitchen, three of which are broken or no longer attached. Nice, huh?

Day 6

This is the first in a series of posts that were written as my husband spent a chunk of time out of town recently. Just sharing them with everyone now that he's back safe and sound, and I've regained my sanity (and have gotten some sleep as well).

Apparently I can make it five days without my hubby and maintain my sanity. The sixth day, however, nearly sent me over the edge. It had nothing to do with the actual day today. The kids got off to school relatively smoothly (the bus came early but no biggie). I had my nephew here for a few hours and he and Lucy LOVE playing together so that was easy. The boys brought a friend home from school (it's Friday after all - woo hoo the weekend!), and they all played fine. Max has a really late soccer game (starts at 9pm) but he caught a ride with a friend, so no bedtime issues here.

So what was it that is throwing me for a loop? Nothing in particular, everything in general. Soccer, school, PTA, toddler, boys, girls, (Cat is good - no stress there), and the list goes on. Dishes are done, floor is as clean as can be expected, and aside from the toys strewn about by the two year olds this AM, house is in good shape. So what is it really that's giving me jitters, making me antsy, pushing me to the edge?

Honestly, I think that I've shifted from a real introvert - always have been one - to someone who needs her alone time but also needs to download at the end of the day. I have been married to Tom for the past 12 years, together for almost 17 total, and this is going to end up being the longest stretch since we moved in together that we've been apart. Tom used to travel a lot, but the kids were MUCH younger, and I was able to talk to him all the time. Knowing that I'm not going to talk to him much over the next week or so is an interesting thought, one I'm trying to balance with my daily load of stuff that I usually share with him each night.

So, I think today was a minor hiccup, and I'm moving on. Little gripes and observances will just have to sit for a bit longer, or just go away. Nothing major brewing so no need to reach out to anyone - spending time over the weekend with the kids and other grown ups at soccer will suffice. Odd thought though - after 17 years not talking to Tom for a full week. I'll get back soon on this - gotta let it simmer some more.

Gulp!

Can we say spoiled? At least it's caffeine free...

But hey, what are you supposed to do when there's no juice to be found and you can't run out to get some? Let's chalk this up to fine motor practice and call the first canned soda a successful venture (just ignore the wet jacket)!

Caught in the act

Caught the little one reading

one of her favorites - Dora the

Explorer. Seems she doesn't

mind being dragged to the

craft store by her mom so

much after all.

Go Cowboys!

Yes, even Lucy is getting in on the action around here. It's coming up towards the end of football season - you know - that time of year when I reappear after spending HOURS each weekend in front of the TV. My poor husband calls himself a football widower. But this year wasn't so good for any of our teams. Two didn't make their playoffs (Dallas and UTexas) and one did make a bowl game and not only showed up but played well an won - GO FSU! But it was a lame-o football season all in all. The BCS Championship was only shown on cable TV, and we might have two #6 seeds playing in the Super Bowl. Good thing we had our little Cowboys fan around to make us smile! We are tried and true Cowboys fans around here - no fair weather fans in this house! And the only rule for the kids is that you can cheer for any team you want unless they are playing the Cowboys, and so far so good on that front. So pay attention to that big grin Cowboys - she's got a winning smile and we want a better season next year!