Monday, October 12, 2009

Harmful to a Landfill But a Blessing to My Hips

This is the only kind of cake that is allowed in my house at the moment.


One that is cute and festive and calorie free.

100% calorie free.


This one is for baby Seth.  Apparently he is fashionably set and in no need of clothes for the next 15 years.  BUT, he does need an abundance of paper underthingys.  Paper underthingys to go beneath all of those clothes.

For his mother's sake, I hope that's not for the next 15 years.

 

The chocolate is for his mum.  To help with those late night feedings or hormonal down swings.

'Cause we all know that chocolate sings to a woman's soul.

Oh, sweet visions of chocolate bliss.



That makes the onset of lactation latching more tolerable.

***

* Post Note:  Before you start leaving me comments about how you shouldn't ever eat chocolate while nursing, and how nervy I must be to suggest such a thing, let me state for the record (while raising my right hand) that I never had trouble with any food while I nursed 4 babies.  Never.  Not chocolate.  Not jalapeno peppers dipped in chocolate. Not jalapeno peppers stuffed with horseradish-anchovies dipped in chocolate.  If Baby Seth's mum can't eat the above mentioned confectionery, she will know to not feel pressured to partake.

And will be encouraged to use the (provided) return to sender self-addressed stamped envelope. 

***

*Additional Post Note:  I'm certain I have the piggy flu.  It hit me like a ton of bricks tonight (or maybe it's because that's all they talked about on the 10 o'clock news).

If anyone is willing to delurk for the benefit of my welfare, I'd much appreciate it.  I'm sure it will make me feel so much better and help minimize my symptoms.  All you mysterious people out there not ever stopping to say, "Hello there, Kristen!"  "Top of the mornin' to ya, Kristen!"  "We'd love to send you chocolate, Kristen!"

So, please, just this once...for a feverish woman?

Bless you.


  

Sunday, October 11, 2009

A Sunny Ditty for Today

Don't know why, but this song cheers me up.  It's Kennedy's latest iTunes download and it is oh-so-perky-and-cheery-with-a-touch-of-playful-curiosity. Not the deepest of songs lyrically or advanced musically, but it's clever and peppy and I like the imagery the words give.

When I hear the melodious whimsy, it makes me want to run out into an emerald green meadow somewhere and dance my little hidden childish heart out while wearing glittering butterfly wings and a polka dot tutu.   

Doesn't that sound fun?  

(blank stares)

(crickets chirping)

OK, doesn't that sound kinda fun?

(the sound of a pin dropping)

Well, I'm going to find that magical emerald green meadow somewhere (maybe I'll go to Ireland to find it) and I'm gonna dance without a care in the world.  Maybe I'll take some ribbon streamers to really give it my desired effect.

(I promise you won't have to watch.)



Click here to start the humming fest.  If you want to read the words, click here.  Enjoy!


(That goes out to you too, Ry-Ry.  Try to give this jaunty and bubbly song a chance.)


Thursday, October 8, 2009

Celebrating My Inner Goth Again

Seriously, what is it about Halloween?







If you're bored out of your gourd and have nothing better or productive or worthwhile to do with your time (really, you too?), you can see and read more about the Gregson family's Ode to Halloween here.  In case you're wondering - No, the potion items are not on display this year.

I'm afraid my little monster would eat the witch warts and snake venom.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

DW 2009: A Numerical Tale

2,338:  Miles flown from Utah to Florida  

Also the number of tricks, treats, and tactics used to entertain a 17 month old on a long plane ride.

{Brittan doing a little flight reading}


88/100:  The average temperature and percentage of humidity the first 3 days of our trip

Thank goodness for buildings with cranked up A/C, lots of shady trees, and an abundance of water spots for the kids.  Luckily, the humidity was gone the last 3 days and the temperatures were pleasant.






66:  Number of sentimental journeys that these guys sent me on

Country Bear Jamboree hasn't changed one bit since I was a kid.  It's the exact same show, with the exact same music and characters.  I'm glad my kids got to see it. They no longer have this attraction at Disneyland.



8:  Pieces of sushi that Taiden ate in Epcot's Japan Pavilion



65:  Number of "Oh's" and "Ah's" we heard from strangers when Shaw had his first character encounter

He kicked up quite a fuss when his turn was over.



31:  Number of years that I've been able to call this great man "Dad"

I was 6 years old when my mom got remarried and I was then blessed to have 2 dads in my life. He has been such an amazing support to me and is an incredibly loving grandpa to my kids.






10:  Average wait time at the Magic Kingdom

Woo-hoo!




6:  Number of goofy hat photos taken on trip








99,300:
 Number of points I earned on the Toy Story ride

One of the coolest kids' rides I've been on.



54:  Minutes spent talking about how awesome the Rock-N-Roller Coaster (starring Aerosmith) was in Disney's Hollywood Studios

It's like Space Mountain on steroids.  Loops, and corkscrews, and hills, and speed. All in the dark except for bright neon painted road signs and L.A. sights. Aerosmith was blasting through the built-in head speakers. Truly amazing!




789,849,209,324:  Number of Lego pieces at the Lego store in Downtown Disney




32:  Number of times we said, "I love this smell!" while riding Pirates of the Caribbean

Again, some things haven't changed since my childhood.  Thank heavens for tradition.



17:  Number of times my dad said, "I think my shorts need to be laundered"



23:  Number of gallons we absorbed while riding Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom

We're soaking wet and Shaw somehow lost his pants.



13:  The age you have to be to wear these glasses and pull it off



11:  The number of countries at Epcot

This was China.  There was also Italy, Mexico, Japan, Morocco, USA, France, Canada, Norway, England, and Germany.


165:  Number of times my kids wanted to hold my hand

And I would never think of declining.


11:  Number of times Shaw was given a faux hawk with his sweaty hair

It's barely there, but it's there.



3:  Number of males in our family saving up their money for a car like this



11:  Number of times Jeff threatened to drop the kids off at "It's a Small World", let their feet be glued to the floor, and be forced to sing the same song over and over again (just like all the other naughty children)


7:  Number of Fast Passes we had for Expedition Everest

But with only 4 of us willing to take on the Yeti and a roller coaster that goes in reverse, we went on it twice.  Our second time around, the kids used the remaining Fast Passes, I jumped in the single rider line and, because all of our Disney stars were aligned, we met up at the front of the line and rode it together again.  Somebody must be living right.


1:  Number of school teachers we saw at Hollywood Studios

Mrs. Wyckoff, Britt's teacher, was in Florida the exact same days we were there.  We ran into her on day 3.  He obviously didn't get in trouble for ditching school for Disney World.



10,500:  Calories consumed at the Brown Derby

This restaurant was a famous landmark in California but closed in 1985.  The one in Florida is the only one still open.  They are famous for their Cobb salad and Grapefruit cake.  The food was excellent and the atmosphere was charming.


1:  Number of days it took Brittan to spend his souvenir money

True to form, Britt spent all his money the first day out of the shoot.  This happens every time we go on vacation. In fact, he was campaigning to blow a wad of dough on a toy airplane before we even left the SL airport.  We made him hold out.  Once he saw the Star Wars stuff at Epcot (after riding Mission Space) it was all over.


165:  Times I cursed at my camera for taking such scrappy pictures


3:  Seconds it took for these two gentlemen to jump out of their seats to dance with the beautiful belly dancer at the Marrakesh restaurant in Epcot




24:  Hours a day this little guy is cherished by his family.


6:  Gregson family members who had a fabulous week together because of...


2: Grandparents who were very generous in giving us an early Christmas gift