Because I know at least ONE of you wondered...

Norwegian Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs (to be hardboiled)
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Hard boil the eggs and separate the yolks. (discarding whites) Cream the butter and hard boiled egg yolks. Beat in the sugar and add the flour & vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. Put through a cookie press or arrange by teaspoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets. (I roll mine into a 'log' shape & wrap in saran wrap & place in fridge for about a half hour till solid & easily cut into little circles.)
   
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
   

Self Expression...

Yeah, that's right... I'm wearing the shirt!

I'm sorry, you what? You have a problem with that?
Is that so...?

Yeah, well I'll stick this orange peg where the sun don't shine mister!

Hehehe, thought you'd like THAT one!

C'mon, with MY Momma, how could I be anything BUT TOUGH!
That's right, we're BOTH TOUGH COOKIES!
(mmm... cookies, Momma maybe we should make more of those norwegian butter cookies
and have them with some tea! What? That's not 'tough'? Oops! Sorry!
shhh we'll just do it later when nobody's lookin'...)

So, what was I saying, oh yeah that's right, I'M TOUGH!
(did I mention cute too?)



hee hee
(Bear would like to say, for the record, that he's neither tough nor wearing a shirt,
but wants you all to know that he supports the views of his Ruby 110%
and is fully prepared to use any color peg if need be!)

Why China... (continued)

...so after much thought, I've decided on who I'd like to ask share their 'Why China' story:

Even though I've already had the pleasure of hearing it,
I'd really love to invite Michelle
to share with us her story of how she came to be
the mother of her amazing daughter, Julia.

It's pretty good stuff... happy reading!

Why China...?

...ah, yes, Why China indeed.
The ever popular & always interesting thread started by our very own Johnny... has finally reached R.I.H.O.T.

Those who have answered his call thus far have had amazing stories to share,
all one of a kind, unique accounts of Why China?

It's funny, when I received an email from Sandra informing me that I'd been tagged, I was flattered that, yes it's now my turn...
...my moment to share with everyone, my 'Why China?' story.

I debated how far this story should go back... because honestly if you get right down to it, I've known since I was old enough to know my own thoughts, that the one thing in this world that I wanted to do, really the only thing I wanted to do, was to become a mother.
Period.

As a child I was the little girl with a bazillion babies around the house, all fed & bathed & clean & warm & snug in their little toy cribs waiting to be hugged & loved & cared for, by one very over enthusiastic kid (that would be me...) who never looked at them as 'dolls'... we didn't use the 'D' word in my house, no sir.
They were my babies, and they were real.
I mean, c'mon... have you all NOT seen the GINORMOUS doll case I have with far too many CPK's in it? (yes, they're all mine and I should definitely start a support group soon, but I digress...)


In grade school, I believe it was 2Nd grade, my mother made an impromptu visit to my 'open classroom' (1st & 2Nd grades combined in one big open room) only to find me off in a corner quietly resolving a conflict between Barbie & Ken over who was to get custody of one tattered old pound puppy.

It's many years since 2Nd grade (and for the record, c'mon, you know Ken didn't stand a chance, everyone knows judges always grant custody to the mother...) and although I guess I've grown in years, honestly, in my heart I'm still that girl who wants to care for everyone & everything...
...animals, friends, family, bugs, etc... if it moved & was alive, I was going to make sure it stayed safe. ( I still catch spiders & let them free outside, no killing for this Momma)

But of all the above, my biggest dream was to one day care for my own CHILDREN.


I started babysitting at age 13 & loved kids so much I quickly became the babysitter that every family in my neighborhood would fight over for Saturday nights...

When I was older & in high school & friends would be anxiously talking about what they wanted to do come college time, what career paths they'd chosen to pursue, I'd just smile & listen & then it was inevitable that they'd eventually come around to asking, "so Amy, what do you want to do?"

My answer was always the same;
"I want to be a wife & mother..."

Well, I just thought (as I'm sure most girls in high school did) that I'd definitely be married by the time I was 30 & have at least one child or have one on the way...

...boy was I wrong.

By the time I hit my 30's & realized that Mr.Right, much to my dismay, wasn't going to come barrelassing down my street to break down my front door & whisk me away...
I knew it was time to take matters into my own hands.

So-
I believe it was December of 2003 that I first thought to myself,
"Amy, it's time you became a mother...
...get off your ass & make it happen."

So, I did.

Now don't think for a second that during this whole process I didn't have several very close male friends who were more than happy to offer a 'fast swimmer or two' for the cause,
because I do, and they did.
I politely refused.
There were just far too many kids in this world already without parents, why, if I'm not happily married & in love, would I bring another life into this world when clearly, there were hundreds upon thousands who already were here & needed a family just as much as I needed a child?
Just didn't make sense...

I originally researched MARE, the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, for information on children legally free for adoption & what the process entailed.
I knew with my years of experience being a Nanny that I was great with kids of all ages & figured, why not give an older child, the ones who constantly get overlooked, a chance at a better life- while in turn giving myself the chance to become a parent.
It made perfect sense to me...

...so I made the call & they sent out some information to me.
By the time it arrived, it was a Saturday & I gave myself the weekend to educate myself on the process & get a good look at all the amazingly beautiful children there were without families, without homes.
Broke my heart & I wanted to adopt them all.
(My mom wouldn't let me have a bunny growing up, I was pretty sure she wasn't going to let me adopt them ALL... LOL)

So, I'm looking through their photo listing & there she was;
Maria.
She was a mixed race beautiful little 12 year old girl who loved allot of the same things I did growing up. She loved her babies, she loved arts & crafts, she loved to read & sing (she knew she wasn't a good singer but did it anyway because she said it made her happy- My kinda girl!), she loved to eat & cook, she loved to play in the snow, the list goes on & on...
This little girl just seemed perfect for my family and as my grandmother's name was Maria, the thought of having another Maria S. in the family, well... it just made sense.
The decision was made, since it was Sunday & MARE was closed, I'd have to wait till the morning to call. I'd call first thing & get the ball rolling.
I put the paperwork down & curled up in my bed happy in the knowledge that I was really going to do this, I was not only going to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a mother, but I was going to help make this little girls life do a 180 in hopefully a better direction.

I shut out the light & went to sleep.

That night, I had a dream...
...the type of dream where it's so real & so vivid, you wake up with chills and know that your life just isn't going to be the same.

I dreamt I was walking through the mall & I was holding onto this little chubby hand and upon glancing down, I noticed I was holding onto the hand of the most beautiful little chubby cheeked Asian girl with the most spectacular head of black hair I'd ever seen!
She had gorgeous nearly black almond shaped eyes and a sweet high pitched voice that made my insides giggle.
I looked down at her, she looked up at me, smiled & in one breath, she said "Momma!"

I woke up with a jolt...

Oh My God!
MY DAUGHTER'S IN CHINA!

I knew, I just knew...

I barely had time to wipe the sleep from my eyes before picking up the phone to call MARE.
"Hello? Yes, I'm calling about Maria, yes I'd like to speak to someone, I'm sorry what's that? She is no longer available for adoption? How come? She was adopted just last week by another family? Oh, ok... no, yes, I understand, it's ok. No really... Ok, yes, thank you, thank you very much..." *click*
~Silence~
Oh My God, my daughter's in China!

I called my mother that morning & without mentioning to her my dream,
I merely asked her the following:

"Mom, would it bother you if someday you looked at your grandchildren & they didn't look like our family?
Her: "Amy, are you pregnant?"
Me: "NO, Mom! C'mon, I'm serious... would it bother you if someday, you looked at your grandchild & you couldn't say " wow Amy, she's got your eyes or your brother's nose or your father's chin or my smile, etc..."
Her: "Well that's just a silly question, NO why would that bother me & why are you asking me? Are you SURE you're not PREGNANT?@!?"
Me: *sigh* Yes Mom I'm SURE I'm NOT PREGNANT!
Oy Vey!
Her: "Well then why are you asking me this?"
Me:"Because, I'm pretty sure I'm going to adopt a little girl from China."
Her: *tears welling up in her eyes* "Are you serious? Oh Amy, I've always said if I were younger I'd want to adopt a beautiful little Chinese baby!"

That day I researched agencies, found mine
and got their last singles slot for 2004.
I started paper chasing in April of 04, was supposed to be DTC by no later than Dec 1st of 04 but ended up being pushed back & wasn't finally DTC until Jan 14Th.
With a LID of Jan 31st... I was told 6-8 months.
(honestly with the wait everyone is experiencing now, I swear I think that's just the standard response they give everyone because as I'm hearing from nearly every waiting family now, they all were told 6-8 months... go figure.)

I finally received Ruby's referral on Sept 7Th, 2005.
Ruby's 1st birthday, and the first day of the rest of my life...

Here it was my daughter's birthday and she's giving me the most incredible gift imaginable...

...the gift of motherhood.
God is good & I am blessed beyond words.


And well- the rest, as they say... is history.



(And what a beautiful history it turned out to be...)

I'd like to thank not only Johnny for starting such a wonderful thread,
but also a special thanks goes out to Sandra for tagging me.
It's funny, no matter how many times I tell that story, it always does two things;

1. gives me goosebumps
&
2. makes me smile.

I love you Ruby Cate,
To China & back!!!

Now I can only assume it goes without saying that it's now my turn to tag someone but in all fairness I think I'd like some time to think about who that 'someone' might be... so stay tuned.
I promise to pick someone by days end, tomorrow. (Sunday)
G'night & sweet dreams!
*smile*

Everyone always says...

...Ruby's so mellow


...Ruby's so laid back


...Ruby's just so chill

How about...

RUBY'S DEATHLY AFRAID OF SANTA!


Ruby's ONLY TRUE LOVE is BEAR...


...and now she's quite the pissed off toddler at ME,
her Momma for even SUGGESTING she see the BIG GUY IN RED.
LMFAO

T'was a FAR CRY from LAST YEAR'S VISIT TO SANTA!
I mean SERIOUSLY, look how LITTLE SHE WAS!?!?!!
One lady in line was whispering loud enough for me to hear " I wouldn't have taken the picture like that..." (with her screaming) and here I am smiling & laughing my ass off cuz I KNOW blackmail quality photos when I see them!
hehehe Sorry Ruby but Momma loves you TOO MUCH not to capture ALL the moments, even if they're with my child' the 'screamin' demon'.
*GRIN*
It's just one hell of a picture isn't it?
LOL
hehehehe

Sans Stick...

Here is our Christmas Card for EVERYONE IN BLOG LAND to enjoy!
(and for the record, YOU ALL ROCK CUZ I DIDN'T NEED MY SUNSCREEN,
uh, I mean glue stick... hehehe)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Bear Lovin...

Misadventures of a gluestick... (warning, foul language ahead...)

...sadly, I wasn't going to blog about this, far too frustrating & embarrassing if we're being honest, but then again... when am I ever NOT honest?
Never, so... I digress.

It all started when while talking to my dear friend Karen she lent me her fantastic template for her address labels & told me the correct paper to buy etc.

Me: "You mean I don't have to hand write every one?"
Her: "Uh, nope, who does THAT anymore?"

So, it was with much excitement & great curiosity that I headed to staples to purchase a package of Avery Easy Peel Clear Mailing Labels.
(Template 8660 in Microsoft Word, and yes I know I have a MAC and YES my MAC runs MSword... SHUT IT!)

I came, I saw, I bought & left for home... all the while thinking, "wow, why hadn't I thought of this LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO?!"

More digressing...

So, I get home, have my list of address all ready to go, pop the paper into the printer & out them come, glorious 'ready to stick' address labels for my soon to arrive (better f'n arrive asaFp for the money I spent & the fact that I ordered them over TWO WEEKS AGO! sorry, mentally screaming in my head at the idiots at iPad/aka:snapfish...)

I look at them & they look great but why do I have this sneaking suspicion that some thing's not quite right? Hmmm, better get a closer look to be sure, don't want to put them on cards if they're all foobarred, right?

SON OF A.......! THEY'RE OFF THEIR CENTERS! COMPLETELY OFF KILTER!
grrrrrrrrr so I check the settings & try one more time...

Not!
So!
Much!

Seriously ready to scream at this point (& sadly this is barely where the story begins, although at the time I couldn't have known...)


I tried so much that I literally went through the ENTIRE PACKAGE OF LABELS &
NOT
ONE
CAME
OUT
RIGHT!

(someone please come push this dirty fork into my forehead please?)

So, what would anyone do in that situation?
Well what I WANTED to do was to throw myself bodily from my bedroom window to the street below but that would be fruitless as I knew I'd just bounce, so what's the point, right?

I then thought, "ok, fuck it, I can't get these stupid ass labels to print, it's COMPLETELY sucked any/all Christmas spirit out of me for the time being, so I'm gonna MAKE THEM MYSELF WITH REGULAR PRINTER PAPER, SCISSORS & A GLUE STICK!
Hell, I'm crafty, this should be a piece of cake, right?

(*sigh* you stupid stupid girl...)

Addresses are all printed out now on REGULAR BORING WHITE PAPER
(get over it Amy, it's better than the alternative!)

So, feeling slightly victorious, I saunter into the living room with my welfare labels & set them down so as to go grab scissors & a glue stick.

Ok, done.
Now for my little check list:

Cards all folded & in their envelopes? *check*
Festive holiday stamps on every envelope? *check*
Return address stamped in upper left hand corner of every envelope with our own designed 'Momma, Ruby & Ebenezer' family depicted in little black animated characters? *check*
Each address cut out individually & lined up on the ottoman waiting to be glued onto envelopes? *check*

Now, to the glue stick...

I go into the kitchen & reach into my little china cabinet in the hallway ( don't ask, it's usually where I keep most arts & crafts items just because, don't judge me!) hehehe

So, I grab the glue stick & head into the living room, thinking: "This really isn't that bad, sure it's a little more work but really, aren't my friends worth that?
Yes they are, GODDAMN IT!

So, I take the top off the stick & proceed to smear the lovely substance to the back of the address, gently but with firm even pressure, press the homemade label to the envelope & move on to the next one...

...upon moving the first one aside to start the second one, I notice that the label just fell right off the envelope.

What the?!?!?!!#$%@#?

Damn glue stick, I'm not in 4th grade anymore so why can't I make a GLUE STICK WORK?@#!
This ISN'T rocket science... damn you, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN...

I grab the first label again & AGAIN I attempt to smear the glue onto it & affix it to the envelope...
*EHHHHHHHHHHHH* thank you for playing!

JESUS CHRIST ALL MIGHTY WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?@#$%$%^$

I looked again at my STICK only to realize that, oh it's a STICK allright, but not of glue...
MORE LIKE RUBY'S FACE STICK /SUNSCREEN FROM THE SUMMER!

YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME?? I WAS TRYING TO GLUE LABELS TO MY CARDS WITH HER FREAKIN' SUNSCREEN? OMGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Could you even IMAGINE what would've happened had I tried to prevent sun damage to her little face with GLUE? OMG talk about being a total DUMBASS!

If I didn't know I would absolutely bounce, I REALLY WOULD'VE JUMPED!

I was so horrified that I could be THAT STUPID that I sat there in angry silence for what seemed like FOREVER... until I realized that my daughter, little miss Ruby Cate, was sitting in her chair in front of me, just staring up at me with this little look on her face as if to imply:
"are you ok Momma?"

One look at her little face & I knew I couldn't lose my cool... I merely walked ever so calmly into the kitchen, replaced the face stick to it's original home & dug the glue stick out from the silverware drawer.
(Yes, that's apparently where I stuffed it at one point, who knew?)

And as my beautiful little girl watched on with much curiosity and a stunningly sweet smile upon her face, I got every last one of those cards done... all the while saying to her: 'This is Momma's work Ruby, no touch ok? No touch..."

Towards the end of the 36 cards, my little noodle bug was repeating to me "No touch... No touch..." having been proud of herself for not only listening but LISTENING.

Yes it's hysterical, yes I'm an idiot, yes you can laugh at this & yes I DID manage to get all my cards out on time, but hear this... anyone who received a card from us had best appreciate it for MORE than just the card it appears to be, but more for the INTENSE LABOR OF FRUSTRATING LOVE that it TRULY WAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & TO ALL A GOOD FREAKIN' NIGHT!
*laughing*


(GLUE STICK HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!)

One & Ten...

It's funny, when I look back at pictures I can't believe that her little baby face was ever how she looked. To me she's always kinda seemed the way she is now & maybe it has something to do with the fact that I see her every minute of every day & have not ONCE been apart from her for longer than an hour or so. To me, she's always had that full head of hair, that beautiful toothy smile, those sparkling almond eyes and a giggle to melt a strangers heart.

Pictures say alot, these were taken one year ago today, upon our arrival home, and I honestly can just now see how very little she was, with that sweet chubby baby face and innocent expression...


...my girl is growing up right before my eyes & it's pretty amazing stuff...hard to believe it's been a whole year since Ruby & I have been home.


It flew like you have no idea...

...and if ONE precious year can fly that fast,

so can TEN!

I just pray I continue to pay the utmost of attention to it all &
to never have my digital camera too far from my waiting hands.

Happy One Year Home Ruby Roo...

...I'm the luckiest Momma in the whole world!


(We are truly a match made in heaven...)

Black & White...

... & Beautiful!

Watercolor...

Create...

Breaking bread... TOGETHER!

Ok, I just! Don't! Get! It!

Why is it that some parents let their kids eat ALONE?
I don't get it, I honestly don't.
And I know I'm gonna ruffle a few feathers here but too friggen bad, my blog, my rules!

That said, what on GOD'S GREEN EARTH is more important than TEACHING YOUR CHILD THAT MEAL TIME SHOULD BE FAMILY TIME?

It's no wonder most kids today want to eat on the run, grab fast food, eat while plunked in front of the T.V. or playing a video game?

I don't profess to be the world's foremost authority on child rearing but I do know that I have just a wee bit experience in this and I can tell you that from the YEARS of observing many different families, I have been privy to some PATTERNS that form.

Kids who LEARN ( and yes folks, this is a learned behavior, kids aren't just born knowing that family 'together' time is precious...) to sit AT A TABLE TO ENJOY THEIR MEAL WITH OTHERS end up doing better overall both emotionally and mentally!

Don't plunk your kid down in front of a meal (irrelevant whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner...) and then walk away to get 'a few things' done.

I'm here to tell you that the dishes will wait.
That laundry that's SCREAMING at you to GET IT DONE, can wait.
The bills you need to write out, don't know that you're not doing them THIS VERY SECOND, thus, they too... can WAIT!

You know who can't & shouldn't wait?
Your child.
Your toddler.
You teach them now that you're not putting much value into sitting down to share their meal time with them, what kind of message does that send to them in other areas of their lives?

Play with your kids.
Get dirty.
Share their meals with them!
Talk to them.
Trust me, it seems like such a little thing, but whatever 'IT' is that you feel you 'JUST HAVE TO DO', can't POSSIBLY be as important as that living breathing bundle of love you waited so long to have in your home. Waited so long to hear them call you' Momma'.
Waited so long, period.

I bet if you asked yourself to think back to all that time you spent waiting, I'm sure that you can recall MANY MOMENTS when you thought to yourself,
"man, if I only had (insert child's name here) with me here right now, I wouldn't care at all about my emails or my blogs or my im's... I'd just want to be with my child!"

So, I ask you... whatever happened to that?

Love & togetherness is a learned behavior, not instinctual...

...please teach love & togetherness, not solidarity.

All our kids as well as the future, will be better for it.

Good Stuff...

...is all that comes to mind when I think of what just happened to Ruby & Me, it's so heartwarming & amazing that you'll want to grab a drink, get a tissue (just in case) and nuzzle up for a good read!

Ok, so fairly recently I received a wonderful email from a woman, named Lois.

She lives in New York & I've never met her before, but she reads Ruby's blog religiously and had emailed me to say that the blog is an inspiration to her & her family.
Her beautiful bio daughter married a handsome Chinese man & together they have one of the most adorable bio daughters, I've ever seen next to Ruby.

She happened upon my blog by way of Bert Hamblin, (remember my ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS PEPPER MILL I AM BEYOND PROUD OF & USE EVERY DAY SINCE IT'S ARRIVAL IN THIS KITCHEN?!)

Well, she wrote the sweetest letter & I was surprised and happy to receive it!
(I always love hearing from lurkers who find the courage to finally say 'hello'!)
I immediately wrote back to her thanking her for such a lovely letter, telling her how completely scrumptious her little granddaughter is, and to also share with her my love for Bert Hamblin's pepper mills. I told her that as a single mother with a single mother's paycheck, I was blessed to have been able to save up & afford the one mill that we have.
Someday I'd love to get the little six inch pepper mill for Ruby so when we cook together she can feel like a 'big girl' with her 'own' special mill...

...but that will have to wait a while.

It's ok cuz Ruby doesn't really seem to mind since she's just happy to be part of the messy fun that is cooking in my house!
Ruby simply ADORES helping Momma in the kitchen!

Ok, so that was a few days ago, fast forward to just now...

Mailman arrives,
knock on door,
have to sign for a package?
Really?
From where?
From who?
I LOVE SURPRISE PACKAGES!

After signing for the package ( thanks Mom! ) I get a good look at the box & notice the return address & OMG IT'S FROM BERT HAMBLIN!
NO FREAKIN' WAY!
I DIDN'T ORDER ANYTHING!
My mother chirps in from the back round,
"You better NOT have!"

So, I run upstairs with the package, call Ruby over & the two of us open it up together...
...one guess what was inside:


See that short little six inch er on the left?
Yep, that's right, that would be Miss Ruby Cate's
VERY OWN PEPPER MILL
courtesy of one EXTREMELY GENEROUS WOMAN with a heart potentially as big as my ass!

Lois, I am BEYOND TOUCHED at your generosity and kindness in doing this for my daughter!
She has done NOTHING but hold onto her mill for DEAR LIFE & run around the house with it saying:

"Momma! Mill-A-Mill! Ruby's Mill-A-Mill!"
I asked her, "Ruby, can you say Pepper?"
Ruby replies with, "Pepper!"
I ask her, "Ruby, can you say Mill?"
She smiles & replies with a high pitched, "Miiilllll!"

I then ask her, "Ruby, can you say, Pepper Mill?"

She giggles & says:

"MILL-A-MILL MOMMA!"

And so, the Mill-A-Mill is born & I've never seen a smile quite this big on my child's face, ever.

It currently matches the one that's sprawled across my heart as I type this.
It's moments like this in life that make me smile from the inside out...
...it's just 'Good Stuff'.

Thank you, a thousand times THANK YOU Lois for such a grand surprise for my sweet & extremely happy little girl!

I promise the first time we cook together with them I'll post not only the recipe of what we made, but pictures as well!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XoXoXoXo

-Amy & Ruby Cate
(& one very loved, very short little six inch pepper mill made with love by Mr.Hamblin...
Bert, you ROCK!)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

OMG I LOVED THESE AS A KID...!

...DO YOU PEOPLE REMEMBER BRISTLE BLOCKS?@$#$%$%!!

OMG!!!

MY BROTHER & I USED TO PLAY WITH THESE FOR HOURS ON END!
Now, granted our blocks didn't have the little heads/faces on them, ours were just regular old blocks... but we STILL LOVED THEM!

When I EVER saw them the other day at Target, I nearly shit myself I was so PSYCHED!

Needless to say, these bad boys will SO be under our tree this Christmas, as I've already asked the big man in RED to be sure to deliver them to my Rubes.

We don't go hog wild in this house as far as gifts go...

(single mom + single paycheck = only a few gifts under the tree
& two or three little guys in her stocking)

Thankfully Santa was all too happy to oblige on the blocks so
I CAN'T WAIT for Christmas morning when Ruby sees them sitting under our little
tree waiting for her to PLAY WITH THEM!
So much fun, this time of year, as Ruby gets older...

*bigGRIN*

Hey Krista...

...this one's for YOU!

*smile*

And God Said...

...LET THEM EAT CAKE!

That's right, see this delicious little lemony hunk of heaven? It currently is sitting in my fridge waiting to be enjoyed later on today with my friends!
(aka: Ruby's Aunts)
Auntie Jen and Aunt Catherine are coming over before Cath heads back to Florida, so we're gonna have a little tea time celebration courtesy of KAREN (who rocks by the way) since she SURPRISED THE SHIT OUTTA ME and sent this cake to my HOUSE!
No lie, she is just FULL of surprises that girl!
(it's why we love her, among other things...)

So, I'll let you all know how it was but I'm pretty sure it'll take my breath away.
Cake usually tends to have that effect...

*grin*

Want some? COME OVER!

"No thank you, Momma..."

My daughter refused to go to sleep last night, period. Apparently she was under the impression it was a 'MAISY MARATHON' night on Noggin. (not so much...) SO- I put her in my bed just until she fell asleep & then was going to transfer her to her crib. (she usually is so dead to the world the transition is SEAMLESS!) This night, we both ended up falling asleep. Then, I got up 1am to pee (shocker) and when I returned, she was no longer snoring, but was awake, sleepily, and looked at me & said "diaper? bed?" so I took her to change her diaper & then asked "Ruby, do you want your bed or Momma's bed?"
she said 'bed', I asked again, Ruby, Momma's bed? .. clear as a bell she said "no thank you Momma, Ruby bed!"
Apparently she isn't too keen on co-sleeping once the sleep has been achieved. LOL
And, how nice that even when half comatose, she's still polite?
*smile*

MY GIRL!

So, "Ruby Bed" it is...


*yawn* Now, I'm going back to my bed & lose myself in a good dream... c'mon HUGH baby, meet me on the FLIP SIDE!
*drool*
LOVE THAT MAN!

G'night!

Thankful...?

...what do YOU think?

13 Words...

...how many of you are confident enough in your friendship with someone that you feel you could do them justice in EXACTLY 13 words?

No more - No less
just
13

See, it's tricky... anyone can describe someone, even someone they barely know in one or two words, doesn't take much creativity for that...

...and anything more than like 20 words is just one expletive short of overkill.
~SO~
Since my favorite number is 13, I'm issuing an open challenge- as it may be,
to those of you who feel you know me well enough to do my 13 justice.

Only two rules:

Be HONEST
&
be KIND.

LOL
;)

hehehe

The few I want to ABSOLUTELY take on this challenge are:
Karen
Katherine
Michelle
Jen
&
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST...
Aunt De

(Psst, Jen & De, it's you two specifically that I mention 'be kind' for!
lol YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL!)

Whenever you're ready, leave your 13 as COMMENTS.

*grin*