Why I DID NOT Vote Yesterday and To Axxium or Not to Axxium

So, yeah, I'll admit it. I DID NOT vote yesterday in the 2010 midterm election. Shame on me. I chose not to vote. Why? Well, I did not take the time to research any candidates or issues that were on the ballot. Not one second. I would have walked in the booth and basically Christmas-treed the entire ballot. Not cool. Kind of takes you back to those college test days, huh?!? :) And, I feel that if I'm just going to do that then I am actually not doing anything good for any candidate or issue. So, my pledge? Well, in upcoming elections I am going to make myself spend the time to research who and what is on the ballot so that I can make an educated vote!! Now, if I can just stick to that little pledge....

But, what did I do yesterday instead of voting??? I got a much needed mani/pedi!!! Yay!! And, just for the record, when the little guy has to go in the back to get a better tool for your heels, you know it was time for that pedicure! I actually got the OPI Axxium 14 day manicure. We'll see how it holds up. I chose a super neutral color so that if doesn't last like it should, I won't be walking around with trashy looking nails. This Axxium stuff you have to go back and get taken off, plain old nail polish remover won't do the trick! Basically, from my research (because you know, it's so much more important to research the manicure you're about to get rather than the election!) it's an acrylic nail polish that they put on and use UV light to set and an acetone resistant top coat to ensure that it lasts. The best part? Your nails are totally dry when you leave, so no smudging and chipping on your way out the door! Day 1- holding up quite nicely. I'll keep ya posted! :)

There's a POTATO Coming!!!

Yesterday we had some pretty nasty weather, as in a wind advisory and a tornado warning. When I picked the boys up from school they had to do their special severe weather dismissal and actually put every child in their car with their parent. I asked the boys about the sirens and what they had to do and why they had to do it. They response I got? "There's a potato coming!" Yes, Marshall informed me that there was a potato coming. Patrick was very quick to correct him and inform him that it was, in fact, a tornado and not a potato. I did, however, get a good laugh! So, keep your eyes peeled for those potatoes!! I hear they can be pretty dangerous. :)

The Mad Skills Posessed by Yours Truly

Yes, I have mad skills. I am almost a super hero!! Who else can manage to cook dinner, empty the dishwasher AND nurse a 3 month old all at the very exact same time?!? Me!! Dinner's got to be made, the dishes must be put away and our princess decides she CANNOT wait to eat. What's a busy mother or four to do??? So, yes, I am tooting my own horn a bit. But, I figure in umpteen years I'll want to remember how I did it all. And, I'll be able to look back at our lovely little blog and remember these times.

"Honesty Appreciated :)"

So, this past Saturday was our street garage sale. I participated. Well, I tried to participate. Let's just say that I learned that I am NOT a garage sale kind of person! It sucks. This was my first and probably only garage sale. You want to know why? Because I just don't care. It's stuff that I'm planning to donate and I'm not one to keep a lot of crap in the first place. I regularly take random things (mostly clothes and toys) to Goodwill. I actually make the boys pack up things and take them with me as a way to talk about those that are less fortunate. But, I tried to be a good sport and put some things out. How did my portion of the garage sale end??? Well, I gave up after about 30 minutes. I left our few toys, bins of clothes and old Halloween costumes out and placed a little jar that said, "Honesty Appreciated," and called it a day. I did, however, manage to make about $15.* People were actually honest about what they purchased!! I loved it! Maybe I'll invent a new type of garage sale. I'll just place my stuff out with prices and a cute little jar and continue about my day...



*Well, I actually ended up in the hole $40 after buying Italian smocked dresses for Bella Grace and stocking up on Playmobil for the boys!

Friday Family Fotos- Lovey Dovey

"Lovey dovey" is Graham's favorite thing to do with Bella Grace these days! He comes downstairs in the morning with all of his things (lovey, comforter and dog lovey) and wants baby sister on the kitchen rug so he can lay down beside her and be "lovey dovey." It's pretty sweet!! They both just lay there for a while, or as long as it takes Graham to decide he is no longer going to be "lovey dovey" and hit her! It's priceless, though. :)

A rare, sweet moment!

Marshall joined in "lovey dovey" time!
However, Bella Grace looks a little concerned
about the hammer he is holding. I don't blamer her...




Marshall taking a turn holding Bella Grace

Graham being extra "lovey dovey" and

giving baby sister a kiss!!

Meet 'Pat'

Meet 'Pat'...aka Patrick. First off, I must say that Patrick has made drastic improvements in his writing skills since starting our new school. However, he has recently started bringing home papers in which he simply writes 'Pat' instead of Patrick! Robert and I cannot help but find this hysterical!! Patrick gets extremely upset if we call him 'Richard' (his legal first name!) and we won't talk about what happens if we call him 'Pat!' But, hey, at least he is trying, right?! I figure he's just being a bit lazy and has figured out that it's a lot easier and quicker to simply write 'Pat' instead of 'Patrick.' And, it gets the message across that it's his paper. I can't help but say it, but it's such a male thing to do, huh? Reminds me of when my brother used to write 'Christ' on his papers in kindergarten instead of 'Christian!!' Gotta love the protestant kid calling himself 'Christ' while attending the Catholic school! :)

Friday Family Foto

Ready for Halloween!!! Last year- red dragons. This year- green dragons. Hey, I tried to get a little variety. At least they went for a different color dragon this year! And, Marshall decided Bella Grace needed to be a butterfly. So sweet! :) I just hope she does some major growing over the next month. She gets a little lost in that butterfly custume!