Important Observations and Questions

Summer gives me time (ha!) to ponder the big questions in life and wax philosophic on who I am.  Here's a glance:

1. What universal law dictates that all emergencies occur upon the ringing of the phone?
2. Jumping spiders - no matter the size - are utterly horrific.
3. Mosquitoes - a reminder us that no matter how good our lives are, a mosquito bite (or 5) can make us forget our blessings. 
4. Summer TV would blow if it weren't for Big Brother - coming soon!
5. Why DOES it seem like so little's being done about the BP oil spill?
6. It's pretty hard to exercise in the summertime, when the kids are home 24/7. 
7. Heat + unpoppable, under the skin zits = unhappy mommy.
8. Sometimes when I start rubbing an eye, I can't stop until it's swollen shut.  That's just gross.
9. I recently decided that a woman's work is truly never done. 
10. I saw a police officer getting gas at the gas station today.  ???  I thought they had a "lot" where they did things like repairs and keeping their gas tanks filled. 

These are the things that flit in and out of the cavernous corridor that is my brain.  Summer = deep thoughts.  There's a lot to figure out in this world.

Grabba Cuppa Coffee and We'll Catch Up

I love the requests to keep you posted about various things 'round here!  Let's catch up then, shall we?

The Great Pacifier Elimination Weekend - It came.  The Paci went.  As predicted (in my wittle brain - I didn't share that prediction with you), Oldest cried harder than Youngest.  Even though I told her this was not her cross to bear.

It was so sweet when I asked Youngest to say a few words about her paci:

"Pathy - I love you.  Have fun in the gawbage."  Then she threw them away ALONE, with Oldest sitting at the table bawling.  I'd laugh, but . . . it wasn't that funny.  And if I'm being honest here, I was a bit teary myself.

How did she do the first night?  Sadly pitiful.  She never asked for it - she would say, "I want ma pac- I want a snack, my blankie, a drink (insert anything that can be placed in the mouth)."  And she really didn't know how to fall asleep without it.  So she was up until 10pm.  Then we had about an hour of wake time at 4am (is there any other time when you feel that half-dead?  Unless you really are half-dead?), but otherwise pretty good.

And she's improved daily.  But I'M over the every evening "Moooommmmmy, can we cuddle?  Mommy, I have a question.  Mommmmmmmy, can you come up heah?"  That's been going on every night about 20 minutes after bedtime - up to an hour.  Mommy ain't gonna be the new paci, sister.  I've got TV to wat- oh, guess I don't have that excuse for a little while, hmmm?

The Family Mission Statement - It's happening over several weeks for those of you who have never done it.  We're going to call it Team Our Last Name.  Well, not Team Our Last Name really, but Team (insert our last name here).  Husband vetoed writing a song of it, which shocked me, actually.  But, whatevs - I'm happy to write that bad boy up (not him for refusing to make it into a song) - the "Famwy Mithion" that is.

Our standout words at Sunday's strategy session (which makes me laugh to call sitting around the dinner table giggling over mission words a "strategy session") were:

1. loving - 3 votes
2. silly, fun, enthusiastic, happy
3. kind
4. noisy with pets
5. awesome
6. dedicated
7. sweet
8. believing - 2 votes
9. musical
10. listeners
11. educated - 3 votes (including an enthusiastic "dedgucated" from Youngest when she heard it - literally giving us all the thumbs up while yelling it)
12. open
13. respectful
14. honest/with integrity
15. supportive
16. committed

Clearly, this Sunday we's gots some work to do, narrowing that abundance down.  

Giving up TV for Lent - an anonymous commenter talked about stocking up on books (check) and projects (not check).  Anyone have tips for extended no TV times?  Projects for kids ranging from 2 to 7 years old?  I can drag them around the house with me decluttering like a Maaaaaaaaddddd woman (go ahead, cackle while reading that, like a maaaaaaaadddd woman would), but it might be nice for them to have some kid-friendly things to do too.  Or hard labor.  I can do either.

And to clarify, no TV means no DVDs, Wii (which we don't have), or "other TV type things" either.  Except for the exceptions mentioned yesterday.  Like LOST - OMG - Tuesday's was gooooooooood.  Pant, pant.

That's all.  Random thoughts and updates by Missy.  You can all start sleeping again.  Phew, you!  Now, to get back to MY sleep issues . . .

What's in a Name?

Check out the poll in my sidebar.  I'm almost finished either tweaking, completely overhauling the look or now making final, minor edits for Loving My Children's Gifts new 2010 look. 

I've put some new name possibilities for my "cast." 

I've always thought Husband, Oldest and Youngest is a bit . . . DULL.  I didn't think those monikers through back in August.   So it's time to jazz 'em up, spiffi-fy them, give them some pizzazz.  The problem is . . . most of the ones I can think of are boy names - I have two girls.  Drawing a painful blank here. 

Help? 

Vote on your favorite in the sidebar OR give me a comment with your other, EVEN BETTER IDEA.  Winner gets . . . the satisfaction of  . . . the winning choice!  Kidding - if you have a button, I'll post it on my sidebar!  If you don't, I'll give you a shout out publicly.  That's how I roll.  Shout.  Out. 

Also, don't forget the Twitter gifted chat tomorrow at noon - #gtchat.  Check out http://www.ingeniosus.com/ for full details and explanation of "how to get there."  Or ask me - I might be able to guide us.  :)

See you tomorrow!

Extremely Important, Random Thoughts

Is there a juxtaposition in the title?  Just asking.

Does anyone else wonder about this stuff?  (Submitted by a random sample of people in our family).

1. Now that Grissom has left, is the original CSI jumping the shark?  Didja SEE Thursday's episode?
2. Why are avocado pits so large?
3. Will snail mail Christmas cards become a thing of the past?
4. Now that I've had my H1N1 vaccination, can I stop washing my hands?
5. Does everyone's dryer steal one sock per pair as slowly and relentlessly as ours does, eventually leaving all of us with no matching socks on a Sunday night before heading back to school and work?
6. At what point does your drafty, old house get so drafty that you are actually living in a tent for the winter?
7. Which would be the better reality show to compete in - Big Brother or Survivor?
8. How long would it take to drive Route 66 from start to finish - with children <10 years old?
9. What's more important in your child's school environment - the opportunity to develop socially or academically?
10. And finally, did little Pluto's feelings get hurt when it got demoted from planet to dwarf planet?

Give me your answers!  Depending on the comments I get, one (or more!) of these lucky questions might become a future post - Random Thoughts - Solidified . . . or something super witty like that.  I will do it up right - theory, research, analysis, conclusion.  So make sure you vote!  (Even those of you who send me a separate email, rather than comment - you know who you are).  :)

Because it's all about the fun and games over here, people!