Cutie Patooties

I was all ready to have a little photo shoot before church. The kids? Not so much. This is the extent of the pictures I took. All 3 of them. They are still pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself. I love these kids!

One for me

Kit, Pour Toujours by Thaliris

What did Brady do...

...when we were all watching football? Check it out over here at Sarah's blog. So cute! Looks like he had a great time!

Desktops

So, I have been putting off scrapping actual photos because I am at a few activities with massive amounts of pictures, and I am lazy! So I decided to try my hand at making desktops! Here are two I made. I like them both a lot. I would love to make one for anyone that is interested! All I need are a few pictures to make them personalized!

For Sarah (I really like this one!):

Kit, Lets be Friends, by Tangie Baxter

For Kelli (I am not really thrilled with this one, but I wanted to complete at least one to send to her. I want to make something that has at least least one little critter/creature on it!):
Kit, Boyish Charm by Mira Designs

Holy Cereal Batman!

We are big cereal eaters in this house. It is a relatively healthy and quick breakfast and we all love to eat it. The only problem is, is that cereal is expensive (sometimes more than $4 a box), especially when you are like me and can't stand the imitation stuff. I like the brand name! This week Tom Thumb had an excellent deal on cereal. Some boxes were priced at 2 dollars a box, and take an extra $5 off when you bought 5 boxes, and some were priced at $3 a box, and take an extra $5 off when you bought 5 boxes. You can't beat cereal for 1 or 2 dollars a box! So I spent $25 on all of this cereal and saved a grand total of $31.95. Now that is some savings! AND we are totally stocked up on cereal for what should be a long time! Run and get this deal before it stops!

Good Things

*Thanks to all for your good advice on bedtime. Again it is so nice to know I am not the only one that has struggles!*

I feel like I have been only posting blah and negative things lately. Though it may not seem like it, life has been pretty good here in the Bowers house. We do have our struggles, but I make an effort every day to remember good things, no matter how small, in my every day life. Here are a few things that have been bringing small smiles to my face in the last week.

1. Brady has developed a small stutter when beginning his sentences. Now I know that may not seem like a good thing, but I researched online and it is actually very common in kids his age and it will go away. So for now we just chuckle and enjoy the cuteness.

2. School clothes shopping with Natalie (with a full separate post including pictures to follow soon!). This was one of the funnest nights we have had in a long time, and I hope it becomes a yearly tradition!

3. Having some nights off to spend with the family, including being able to tuck my kids in, cook dinner for the family and just be a lazy bum and watch TV!

4. Finding a great smelling laundry detergent, that I can afford! I love Tide, but it is so expensive so I have been experimenting with different detergents and I settled on Gain Island Fresh powder. It is way cheaper than Tide and the powder is cheaper still, and it makes our clothes and house smell SO GOOD! I have been doing laundry all weekend and I have been so tempted to jump into the clean piles like the lady from the commercial!

5. Break and bake cookies. Yum. This time we got the Tollhouse Ultimates chocolate chip lovers kind. Oh. My. Goodness. They were SOOOO good, I had to contain myself not to eat all of them! Seriously, try them, you will not be disappointed.

6. Keith hanging up all that laundry I washed, as I type this!

7. Natalie and Brady letting us sleep in, in the mornings. They won't go to bed, but at least now in the mornings they get up and will play quietly so that Keith and I can snag a few extra minutes. I don't know what I enjoy more, laying it bed a little longer, or hearing their little whispers of "shh, be quiet" and "don't wake up momma".

8. Always having something to watch on the tube. I am going to miss the Olympics!

There are always so many more that I will think of once I post this, but isn't that great? Too many good things to write about! Man I really needed that! To actually write down the positive, no matter how small or silly. What are some of your good things?

What are we doing wrong?!?

Why won't my kids go to bed before 9 o'clock (and sometimes 10) without a fight? I think we need a REAL schedule, a solid routine that we do every night. What works for you? I am sick and tired of these kids being so sleep deprived during the day, it makes them almost unbearable! I just want them to sleep! They need it so badly! They are almost like strangers now sometimes because of the behavior that they do during the day, and I know it is just horrible, but MAN! I just want them to quit it! Just stop for once, just stinkin GO TO BED without us having to make you run laps or play hard at a friends till 10 at night (thanks again Sarah!!). Just stinkin go to bed! ARG!

Friday Fun

The kids and I have been cooped up lately and so I asked Keith for a good idea for something cheap to do, and he said Chuck E. Cheese. I think he said it a bit too loud, because the kids heard him so they got it in their heads we were going! After an early lunch we drove over there and it ended up being so fun! We didn't eat so it was pretty cheap, 10 bucks for 50 tokens, those lasted about an hour, and we came home with some cute prizes (thanks to mom who struck it rich on one of the straight play for tickets games).

The kids favorite ride was this small simulator that had a few different choices of "rides". They looked so hilarious on it! The little seat vibrated at one point and they were saying "ahhhhh" and their voices were vibrating, hard to describe, but you know what I mean!


Anywho, we had a fun time and it was nice to do something so out of the ordinary with the kids. Next time though I need to take Keith so I can win more tickets!! The kids weren't so impressed with the tickets, they sure were impressed when they got something fun to take home though! Natalie picked out a little headset microphone thing, so now she can be Hannah Montana (her idea, not mine) and Brady of course insisted on a sucker! He wasn't really getting that he could get TWO things, he was just a crying for that sucker! Good times and fun memories!

Apartments, ugg.

There is no creepier feeling than coming home and having the sense that someone has been in your house. Today after our weekly potluck Brady and I came in (Nat stayed late to play with Samuel) and were headed to the bathroom to clean up and I saw something on the floor. It was something small and brown and I would have sworn it wasn't there when we left. I scooped it up with a wipe and was just going to pass it off a mystery clump of dirt from the bottom of one of the kids pants, or maybe even a stray piece of...well, poop...from Brady's diaper (ewwww!). So anyways I picked it up and put Brady to bed and was planning on really scrubbing the spot during my little cleaning session. But, it was bothering me. We don't wear shoes in the house, and that dirt was freaking me out. One of the main things I hate about apartments, is that if we are not home the top bolt can't be locked and anyone from the complex can come right in. Well, I am cleaning up and I went to set something on the kitchen table and what do I see? A note informing me that they were IN MY HOUSE while I was gone. Nice. So they came in because supposedly our AC is leaking outside, which that's great (that might also explain some of the outrageous charges we have been having on our bill, not that they will reimburse us or anything), but HELLO! You got MUD all over my floor! This is MY HOUSE! and you got it dirty! ARG! I can't WAIT to move, we are so ready for the privacy of a home, no more loud obnoxious people outside, no more new neighbors who like to use the top step of the stairs as an ashtray (I am totally going to put a can out there for them. Do I need to remind people that cigarette butts are TRASH! not biodegradable people), no more loud thumping music, no more of any of this crazy crap! Just get me out of here, and STAY OUT OF MY HOUSE!

Farewell Texas Stadium

Last week Keith told us that the Cowboys were having an open practice at Texas Stadium that was going to be FREE! Now, I have heard, through email and interviews, that a certain Mr. Jerry Jones never does anything for free, and it turns out that is pretty accurate. Last night was the first open practice at Texas Stadium in 17 years! Wow! Cool!

Keith had school till 5:30, and the gates were opening at 4:30, so we knew that if we even wanted a CHANCE of having a good seat that Natalie and I would have to go up early on our own and secure some good ones! After dropping Brady off at Sarah's (thanks a million, billion!) Natalie and I headed up to the stadium. We got super great parking and hit had me optimistic that we were there "early". Haha haha ha. No, once we rounded the corner looking for a gate that had a "short" line we were surprised by super long lines and lots and lots and LOTS of silver and blue! You can't help but get excited when you see all those fans! So we found our way to the line and after a short wait, a brief period of chaos when the line disappeared, and a tiny fibbing moment when I told the security guard that Natalie was on a strict diet (um, it didn't say ANYWHERE that we couldn't bring food into the stadium) we were in. Natalie held up pretty darn well for just having to sit there for 3 hours! She ate her snacks, watched the people, danced a little bit. We had fun waiting for Dad. The best part was realizing that we were sitting about 4 rows up from where we would have gotten drenched when the rain started! That was a nice bit of luck!

Anywho, after a while Keith got there and not too much later the official practice started. It was sweet to see the Cowboys doing their little drills and exercises and all the other stuff that gets them prepared for their games. Wade Phillips (the coach for all those not in the know ;) ) said that it helped their practice to see that many people show up. Well, glad we could help! LOL. It was loud and fun, and I wish we could do that more often!

WaitingThe little boy on the left kept staring at Natlie. She was not thrilled about that, and she kept hiding behind her little paper fan that the stadium had handed out to all of us. Oh! This girl was SO happy when Daddy got there! She was starting to get worried he would never show up!I think I need to get Keith some of those T.O. tights....just kidding! But, he sure was cracking me up in those! He was such a crowd pleaser, the man knows how to put on a show, and we love to watch him!Of course Tony was being a monkey and kept his helmet on most of the time. My camera started to get a little grainy because I was pushing my zoom to the limit on some of these pictures. Jason Witten, tight end. I swear that is his position title. ;) More Tony stretching.Best friends. I love how these guys are always talking out there, you can tell they are buds.
Jason Garrett and Jason Witten More Witten. Darn that zoom. I was pushing it to the limit! Oh, did I mention Jason is my boyfriend? Yeah, it's true.Roy Williams (38) and Greg Ellis (98). I could tell Keith was pretty stoked to get to see some of these guys close up and in action without all the gear on. Though I doubt he would admit it! He was grinning like a little kid! So fun! Natalie in her new "Future Cowboys Cheerleader" hat. Very trucker like, but it was the only pink one, and she insisted. Oh! Haha, so we are watching them practice, and all of a sudden on the other side of the field there is this guy running around, and then we notice all the guys in yellow starting to run after him, then the two "cops" got in on the chase. They finally got him to the ground and it was like a dog pile. Some of the crowd started chanting "Let him go! Let him go!" It was pretty darn funny.Well, we had a great time. And these are the things, I think, that create fun memories for us. We all had a good time and it was nice to enjoy the atmosphere of the old stadium before they start ripping it apart!

Oh, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the evening was the drive home after picking Brady up. He was so cute telling us all about what he did at Miss Sarah's house. He had a good laugh about falling off the couch. He said it was very, very, very, very funny. That cracked us all up! I love that little man!

Holy Crap!

So Keith just told me his BAR review course is going to cost...wait for it....3 THOUSAND dollars! What the frick! For serious?? Hello?? He isn't a lawyer YET!! We don't just have that kind of money laying around! I mean, what law student does, I would like to know?!? So he either doesn't take the class, which is not an option because then the chances are greater for failing and then all the other TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars that we have racked up in loans will just be for naught. Or we fork over the dough so he can have a better chance at passing this last hurdle between him and a "real job". So here's my idea...I figure if all my readers donate say, 5 bucks, we will only have...lets see....about 2,975 dollars left! Hmmm.....I think that plan may be flawed.

On a lighter note..

Hope to see you there!

Dirty Laundry

Since this has become a sort of journal for me. I feel the need (sometimes) to get everything out. But, since I am not brave enough I will just ask a question. Do any of you ever go to bed and just feel like a bad mom? Like you screamed too much, or lost your temper to fast? Or just didn't take the time to stop and pull that spare ounce of patience out when it was really needed? Why is being a mom so hard? It is the MOST wonderful thing in the world, but it also brings me so much pain sometimes. When you just don't feel like you are doing it right. And you think you are ruining your kids. And that they will never forgive you. It's just. so. hard.

Tag! I am it, again!

Here is another cute tag, from Sarah this time.

Four random things I love about my husband :
1. His soft inner arms. (is that too much information?)
2. He cleans the kitchen. Every day.
3. He doesn't snore.
4. Every once in awhile one of his jokes makes me laugh until I cry.

Four jobs I’ve had:
1. Deli girl at IGA
2. Computer lab assistant
3. Law clerk-ish/personal assistant ;)
4. NightHawk Radiology


Four movies I have watched more than once:
1. Dance with Me
2. Legally Blonde
3. Hope Floats
4. High School Musical

Four TV shows I watch (right now. I watch a million during the "on" season):
1. Project Runway
2. Big Brother
3. Army Wives
4. Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Four random places I have been:
1. Tillamook Cheese Factory, Oregon
2. Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho
3. Rainbow Row, Charleston South Carolina
4. Salem, Massachusetts

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Potatoes
2. Nectarines
3. Chinese
4. Flaky Pastry

Four places I would like to visit:
1. Ireland
2. Church History sites (Missouri, Illinois, New York)
3. Philippines
4. France

Four things I am looking forward to in the coming year:
1. Moving into a HOUSE!!
2. Keith graduating from Law School
3. Seeing my family...sometime!
4. Going to see the SYTYCD tour on October 10th!

Four people I tag:
1. Mindi
2. Julie G.
3. Kristy P.
4. Danielle (if she has time!)

Picture Update

Yeah, I just noticed it has been FOREVER since I have posted pics of the kids. I have no idea why, I have been taking them, just not putting them up here. Well, today is your lucky day!

*Don't miss out on my other random posts from earlier today, I know this was a heavy blogging day, but I wanted to get these pictures up today!*

Waiting in line to throw a ball to try and dunk the Bishop at the Pioneer day activity. Playing at the city pool.One of our many "ideas" on how to keep Brady in his room at night, rather than coming out 20 times. He stood there for a good 10 minutes not saying anything, it was pretty humorous, in a stinkery kid way. Hard to get so mad when they look so cute!Natalie in her sick bed, when the kids had that weirdo 24 hour bug that included vomiting (woo hoo) and diarrhea (wheeee!). Lots of fun was had all around. Getting to take a rare bath all. by. himself. And loving it!

Doesn't hurt to ask

Wow! These are things you learn as you get older. We just got our kWh rate on our electricity lowered from .188 to .135. Yeah, that is a HUGE difference. If we would have had that rate on our last bill it would have been 190 instead of 275. Yeah, that is pretty much a HUGE kick in the pants. You live and learn I suppose. But, dang!!! How much money have we just been throwing down the drain. I don't want to think about it, it makes me literally sick to my stomach.

So Tired

Anyone else getting so tired because of all these late nights spent cheering for the US? Man, all I can say is I am glad I work too, because that helps keep me awake. Last night was amazazing. Watching Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson both work their hearts out to get those medals I was in tears (yeah, so what? I cry at they Olympics). I hope ya'll are watching because they US has been representing very well. Don't even get me started on the wonder that is Michael Phelps, even Natalie, every time she sees a swimmer, asks me if it is Michael. She loves to watch it! Who doesn't? The man is faster than lightening, you can SEE how fast he is when swimming. Normally they are ALL fast so you can't really tell, not so with Michael. The man blazes through the water!

Heaven

I just want to wrap this weather around myself in a nice cool blanket. Why can't every day, or at least every other day be like this? Sweet, sweet fall is on its way.

I don't care who you are...

...you look like and idiot with your bluetooth headset thingy in, walking around the store talking to whoever. You look like you are a crazy person, yes we ALL know you are on the phone, but you still look like a loony! Jabbing away to yourself. (no offense to those of you with these silly things. well maybe some offense, but none mean spirited!)

...if you are under the age of say, 70, you are too young to be blaring polka music in your car. Especially if you're under the age of 25, you're seat is waaaay back and you're driving in your pimped out Cadillac. You know what I am talking about.

...you would love to be sung to sleep by Michael Buble. (I also wouldn't mind if maybe he held my hand and stroked my hair while singing. Just sayin'.)

...kids (that you know and love) look adorable running around in their diapers. (This excludes kids that you DON'T know and love. Say for example kids at the local Wal Mart.)

...it's annoying to get halfway to the store and realize that you have left your list/coupons/sale adds/whatever-shopping-paraphernalia-you-use back at the house. Arg.

...you will agree that Texas is fricken hot. (Too hot in my opinion, but I won't get started on that!)

...electricity bill day sucks.

Sale!

Of course the day after we get our huge, huge, HUGE electric bill I learn that Black Apple is having a sale on all her stuff to raise money to pay for her kitty Miette's emergency surgery (sad, huh?). Well, even if I can't buy anything, I thought I would pass on the good savings for a good cause to everyone else! Check out her shop here.

One more try. Maybe.

I just can't make a header that I love, it is kind of like your wedding dress. They say you buy the first one you try on. Well, the first header I made I loved (especially the white frame), but I want something different. The blue one was NOT for me. I think this one is a bit more my style, my favorite colors (actually this is the only kit I have ever PAID for), but I don't know! I know it is just a blog, but I look at it ALL the time and I want to like what I see!

I hit it on the first try, but the green was a bit too bright for me, but that frame is so perfect.
Ugg, I don't know why I can't stand this one. Bleh!

Too much time on my hands...

When I am not working and I don't have to nap I just am amazed at how many hours there are in the day! I have time to clean, read, nap, play or....digiscrap! LOL! So my friend Mindi's blog needed a face lift for sure, and I wanted to give her one! Check out what I did here. I think it turned out really cute!

Restless

Now, that I know how to do it, I want to change my header all the time! For those of you that see my progress I apologize. Come back and see what I can come up with!

**Update** I am pretty sure this blue one is the one I am sticking with for the rest of August. I can't wait to do a back to school one for September!

Taking it easy, sort of...

Not much has been going on these last few days. I have been working some extra hours for a lady, so that has kept us home bound for the weekend. I worked ALL DAY yesterday, that was craziness, I have never in my life worked ALL DAY before, not like that, but I did it, and I have to say I was pretty darn proud! Then after work the only excitement of the weekend began! I started making calls and a plan was worked out to get to see my friend Jenny that recently moved and had come back into town. We ended up going over to Sarah's house (even though she was working, SORRY Sarah!!) and chatting till about 11 I think? It was so much fun to be able to see Jenny and just catch up in PERSON instead of over blogs!

The other thing that has been keeping our attention this weekend has been the Olympics. The TV is basically on ALL. THE. TIME. and we watch whenever we can. Natalie has fallen in love with them too, which I adore! She even has fallen asleep to watching them the last 2 nights, and for naps today! She saw some men's gymnastics while I was gone, and told me this morning, "they did some really cool stuff". That made me laugh out loud for real, and of course the horses and the swimming she liked a lot too. Even though we had NO IDEA what the horses were actually supposed to be DOING!!! Anywho, we are having a great time watching them, and for right now cheering Michael Phelps on! And I think we get to see some gymnastics tonight! We have been following the TV schedule here (though you may need to change the zip code to where you live) and it has been very helpful.

Oh, and one other thing that I am not sure if I mentioned, I moved my computer into my bedroom. The combination of a sun room with no working AC and 100+ temperatures outside was not making for a very pleasant working environment. So now the sunroom is all neglected and lonely, so it is my goal to get that into a working craft room! We even got another pantry cupboard to store all of my crafts since the other one has been over run by puzzles, coloring books and all manner of tiny toys that Brady isn't supposed to get his hands on. I am excited to see how the room will turn out, once I get up the courage to get myself in there to clean it up! It is HOT in there!

Oh, and Brady has taken to calling us all resepctively, Daddykins, Mommykins, Sissykins, and Bradykins. Um, can you say cute?

Wow! Amazing!

Wow, wow, wow! Who was privileged to see the opening ceremonies tonight? That was the most beautiful thing I maybe have ever seen on T.V. It brought me to tears. The work and the pride that went into that show. Wow! Nothing I can say, it was just beautiful. Stunning. Wow. I will try and post some clips tomorrow for those that missed it! Oh, and for those of you that did see it, my favorite was the blocks...with the guys inside!! Wow!!

Clean as a Whistle

Well, I did it. I finally went to the dentist for the first time since Natalie was born. For those of you that can count (meaning all of you...) that is over 4 YEARS ago. I know, right? Wow.

So, I went in expecting the WORST. I mean, I haven't had a professional cleaning in ages so I figured things would be BAD. The reason I haven't gone in so long was in the first place I wasn't insured, and then once I was insured I wanted to make sure I went to a great place. So I finally got a recommendation (Thanks James!) and I actually loved it there. The lady that did my x-rays, and fitted me for me FREE whitening trays (WOO HOO!!) was so nice, and we just chatted the whole time, at least all the time that her hands weren't in my mouth! Normally they just do a type of screening the first visit with the x rays and Dr. Bright taking a look to see what the damage is, because if you have BAD teeth (aka DIRTY) a cleaning can take an hour or more. Well, I had to admit I was pretty bummed when she told me that because I was really hoping to walk out of there with that sweet, sweet feeling of a clean mouth. Well, when Dr. Bright came in and took a look she said....they're not that bad! Woo hoo! So, I was able to get the first step of my teeth cleaning today...which consisted of a poky thing, some vibrations, and a whole lotta you don't want to know being suctioned out of my mouth. My teeth feel SO GOOD. I mean I LOVE this feeling!

So, if you made it through all that you are probably wondering what the damage was? I mean were their cavities, rotten black teeth? Well, the answer is NO! Yay! I don't know how I did it, but I did. The only "extra" work I need to have done is a crown placed over and old filling that had chipped and taken a bit of my tooth with it, and the dreaded Wisdom Tooth Removal. I know what you are thinking....She hasn't had that done yet?? Nope! Somehow I never had to have them removed while I was younger, and Dr. Bright said that because I do have a hard time reaching them with my brush (they are WAY back there!) and because the lower ones are only partially out that it will be safer all around to just remove them now, before I wake up with a huge abscess in my mouth, or a cavity in one of them. So yeah, I have that too look forward too...but my teeth are clean!!!!

P.S. Can you tell I L-O-V-E the dentist??

SYTYCD

I laughed, I cried, I WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOed! I even voted...a lot!

What did ya'll (that have watched it) think?? I will leave my thoughts in the comments so as not to spoil it for those who haven't gotten to see it yet!

Presenting...

Congratulations Holly! She is beautiful!

P.S. Aunt Sharon can you send me a number to reach Grandma at?

News...

Good news: football started today! Woo Hoo!

Even BETTER news: Somebody is going to So You Think You Can Dance Live!! Better get your tickets soon, they were going FAST!

Better

Well, the kids are better. At least no weird body fluids today. And now Natalie is walking around singing Super Trouper. I need to get some of these antics on tape.

Great

My kids are sick. Natalie has thrown up 5 times already. Luckily Brady has only had one episode of diarrhea. Please pray for no vomiting from the 2 year old that has no concept of making it in a bowl. Please pray that Keith and I don't get it. Please pray that it isn't anything viral or transmittable, I don't want us to be the starter family of the next flu epidemic! Oh geesh, life is never boring, is it?

Musings...

...I REALLY want to buy So You Think You Can Dance tickets this weekend.

...This wonderfully crafty lady has gotten me started on my Christmas gift list this year. I am bound and determined to get gifts for the ones we love this year. The last few years we really haven't been able to do much, and still this year we will be tight, but I am thinking if I start now I can pull together some great, heartfelt and home made gifts this year! Wish me luck!

...My Cousin, Holly, had her first baby! A girl named Peyton Jean (which I adore!) and I need pictures (hint, hint)!! (but I am pretty sure my emails don't make it to my Aunt's inbox...maybe if you add me to your safe contacts list? So stinkin' frustrating!!)

...I am SO SAD at who got voted off SYTYCD this week, though I am not allowing myself to complain TOO much because I DIDN'T VOTE...idiot.

...I really, really, really miss my Mom.

...It is AUGUST?!?! Holy Cow! Where did the summer go, for reals! I can't believe it is August already, I am just not ready to come to grips with that fact!

...I have been blogging for over a year! Wow! That is crazy to me! I totally missed the actual anniversary (July 13th), but I am trying to come up with some fun thing to do a late anniversary/end of summer give-away. I just love sending gifts...

...When I can actually mail them ON TIME! I just sent my niece Kyra's birthday present to her...um, yeah her birthday? It is in March! And I just send Mindi's Sierra her birthday presents too, her birthday is in July so I wasn't TOO late on that one, but STILL! Get your act together Shannon!

...The Olympics start on Friday!! Yay! I love the Olympics, I think I got that from my Mom, we would always watch them, and I am so excited for this year. Too bad I am working, BUT we moved my computer into the bedroom (the sun room was a bit too hot in the 100+ degree weather!) so now I have a T.V. I can turn on!

Wow, that is a lot of things, but much easier than a million posts!

Date Night and a Movie Review

Last night I was finally able to go on a much needed date with my sweetheart. My little Natalie. We decided to go out to dinner and a movie, and maybe try and squeeze in some shopping if possible. We started off at Chili's and gorged ourselves on spinach artichoke dip. macaroni and cheese and the big mouth burger bites (SO, SO good! Oh goodness!). We were so full, we brought home TONS of leftovers! There were a few different movies to choose from, but we both decided to see Mamma Mia! I know, I know it is rated PG-13, BUT Natalie is still young enough that any innuendos just went right over her head and she just LOVED all the singing and dancing. Of course I bought the soundtrack, and she just loves Honey, Honey and Money, Money, Money(and she just requested I turn it to "the one where Sophie is one the beach" aka Lay All Your Love On Me). I loved the movie so much, the music is so good, and the movie was done so well! I also wanted to jump right in to the movie set and settle on in! It was absolutely stunning where they had the movie set. Even though the hotel was supposed to be old and falling apart, it was absolutely perfect, from the colors to the atmosphere! My idea of paradise! My favorite song segment was the S.O.S. song sung by Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, so good. The whole thing was good, if you like ABBA at all, you will love this movie. I highly recommend it, and of course I always recommend Chili's!


I was so glad that Natalie and I were able to get to spend some nice time with each other, just her and I. It needs to be more of a regular thing I think, and will need to be something we do until she moves out. I feel like she is able to be heard more, and it helps me to know what is going on in her little world. Plus, I think it just makes her feel special!

P.S. How many times can one post have the word "good" in it, methinks I need to pull out the thesaurus! Good, good, good!