Perfect for Boating

Today the kids were FINALLY feeling okay (after almost an entire week of quarantine in the house with no guests and no field trips due to two hideously awful cases of strep throat with E and D), so we went out on Katie's and Jim's boat on the St. Croix river. It was really windy, but gorgeous.

To see many more cute pics, go to our Picasa web albums: http://picasaweb.google.com/BlumerLaMotte.

We hung out on an island in the St. Croix. D was so tired after all the sun and running around that he zonked out in my arms on the boat ride back to the dock. He didn't care how bumpy it was or how hard the boat hit the water, as long as he was in my arms -- he was out cold!

My Favorite PSA

Speaking of brains from my post last week... who remembers this public service announcement about drugs? Do you think it will be effective when I start talking to E about the dangers of drugs?

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Yesterday evening I snapped at my eight year old daughter because she hadn't been listening ALL DAY. She surprised me by turning around and with a straight face stating:

"You used to be sweet and mellow like a nice sponge cake, but now you are like a volcano all over!"

[Like a nice sponge cake?!?!?!?]

Hello?!?! What was I supposed to say to that? For the record, I burst out laughing hysterically and told her that was a "good use of her words and a fun analogy."

Out of the mouths of babes...

Brain Scan

This is your brain.
This is your brain while parenting a two year old and a three year old at the same time.

Note the stark differences between the two pictures. When the healthy brain scan of an empty-nester (left) is compared to the brain scan of a parent with a toddler and preschooler (right), it is easy to see the difference in brain activity. The left scan is busy with vibrant, healthy, positive, well-rested, colorful sections, but the right scan is full of dark, frustrated, stressed out, sleep deprived, colorless sections.

Evidently, the Center for Toddlers with Parents who are Sleep Deprived (TPSD) sponsored this study to prove that parents of young children (and they speculate parents with teenagers) have decreased healthy brain activity when forced to deal with the constant power struggles and dramatics of psychotic but adorable children who do not obey.

She Hates Me

WARNING: Don't let your children listen to this. There are explicits used rather freely in the song.

Back to Lyric Tuesday... (Any catchy name suggestions for this new series would be appreciated. I am fresh out of creativity.)

This next song is one of my favorites for the melody. [Is that the right term when you just love the way the song sounds?] The lyrics can be a bit offensive, but it's funny too. I remember the first time my husband listened to this song around me. It drove me insane. I couldn't stand the lyrics and was outraged that the singer would speak about a woman taht way! Then... I tried to pull the stick out of my butt and just enjoy. Now I am addicted.

"She Hates Me"

Met a girl, thought she was grand
fell in love, found out first hand
went well for a week or two
then it all came unglued

In a trap, trip I can't grip
never thought I'd be the one who'd slip
then I started to realize
I was living one big lie

She fucking hates me
trust
she fucking hates me
la la la love
I tried too hard
and she tore my feelings like I had none
and ripped them away

She was queen for about an hour
after that shit got sour [my favorite line!]
she took all I ever had
no sign of guilt
no feeling of bad, no

In a trap, trip I can't grip
never thought I'd be the one who'd slip
then I started to realize
I was living one big lie

[Chorus]

that's my story, as you see
learned my lesson and so did she
now it's over and I'm glad
'cause I'm a fool for all I've said

[Chorus]

la la la la la la la la la love
Trust
la la la la la la la la la love
Trust
and she tore my feelings like I had none
she fucking hates me

Dismantled!

My son dismantled my back screen door!

It only took him two minutes of alone time with the door and my stainless steel pasta spoon. (Don't know what a pasta spoon is? Click here.)


It's hard to decipher what is what in this picture since it was taken with my cell phone -- but you get the idea!!! He took the pin and slidey thing off the part of the door that connects it to the frame and controls the tense or something. I have no clue what the proper termology or names are for the parts of the door.

Jeepers! If this is what a boy is like at TWO YEARS OLD, what should I expect him to dismantle at age 5 or 8 or 13 or ... or... or... ?!?!?


Lord have mercy!

Got Wheels?

Check it out! This is my baby sister (who is, of course, an adult) riding my eight-year old daughters bicycle and helmet -- while wearing a skirt and her work clothes. LOL! Crack me up. Seriously, it's always chaotic and fun at my house. Rarely a dull moment.