Easter Dinner As Prepared By A Multi-Tasking Ditz

So....I'm a mother of 2 excitable children & the cook & a girl who likes to look pretty & a
hostess & a church volunteer & an assistant to the Easter Bunny.

On Easter morning I was taking pictures of Easter Basket Awe, trying to look pretty for Easter Mass, trying to make sure my family and my guests had their coffee and pastries while they were getting ready for church, working on getting my Easter Lesson by the front door so I would be prepared for my lesson during Children's Liturgy (children's church), ensuring my children looked adorable for church and then making sure Easter Dinner was prepped since twin and family had a 7 hour drive and we needed to eat shortly after arriving home from church. I had to leave to get to church early since our daughter was singing in the children's choir. In my haste my husband tried to help (he's a good cook as well) and he threw the ham in a pan with all the stuff I tossed at him prior to leaving.....pineapple, cloves, brown sugar and a glaze. I told him to put it in the oven on 200 as I left.

About 3 hours later we came home. We're smart people. Smart multi-tasking people who were more worried about getting to Mass then the ham apparently (which is a good way to prioritize life I believe). I opened the door to the oven immediately and laughed for about 2 minutes as my family all drifted into the kitchen laughing as well. The ham that was the centerpiece of our dinner was black...we dumped sugar on our ham and left for hours?!?! What were we thinking!!! Hilarious. I had to change out of my dress because I knew life could get messy. I laughed, changed and then pulled my hideous ham out of the oven. I asked mom to take her best "June Cleaver" shot of me and my ham. Screw perfection. ;) I'm fabulous under pressure. While I was thinking about all my great sides and discussing the fact that a meatless dinner may be a possibility, I simply picked the layer of sugar off the ham, cut away the dark parts, put the good pieces (about 80% of it was good) in a pan and then dumped some fresh pineapple and brown sugar on it. Viola, pre-sliced ham for ease at the buffet. Happy Easter!!
-Kim

Spring Baking!

HAPPY EASTER!! Here's my bunny cake made with the William Sonoma bunny pan,

a lot of chocolate and even more patience!!

-Kim

Memories Expo--Scrapbook Convention!

Oh ladies, you MUST join me in this! So many people I know are into scrapbooking but don't know about these expos! I think that the perception is that it's either for the die hards that scrapbook in groups for 14 hours/day or for businesses. It is for both--they have midnight scrapbooks and I'll tell you a bit about these folks later and owners of SB stores go to see new products but for us moms who love to scrapbook it is just plain shopping heaven!

It is just like an indoor art festival. Are you picturing it? Booths with vendors. Some are stores that travel and sell their stuff at the expos, some are small businesses that chooose to get their product out there by selling at expos and they usually make their own products and/or have unique items that you don't see everywhere and some are brands themselves that blitz their entire line in a booth for one stop shopping. It makes my heart beat faster just telling you about it! You can go and pay $8 to enter the expo and then just shop and shop and shop!!!! Take a break for a diet coke and you decide to leave when you can't carry any more bags!

And speaking of bags, lets talk about those that stay up all night and scrapbook. Now don't be offended if this is you because I have many friends that do this. I'm talking about the ones that are a BIT over the top. They travel multiple states to do this and they haul more stuff than I have in my entire kitchen. This years expo had new "policies" because of the literal luggage that people bring for their overnight scraps. I mean, here's my thing, by the time you load up all that stuff, couldn't you have just gotten a few pages done at home? I just don't get it. They have bag after bag after bag and their bags loop and stack together so they can transport it all. I'm not kidding, the money that I have spent in the decade worth of scrapbooking I've done, these women have invested in just their bags and cart boxes. So back to the policy, since people used to haul their suitcases on wheels through the expo to load up on the stuff they buy, that I doubt they could ever use, they had to make a no luggage and no stroller policy! Because people also took strollers with no babies! Next year, I'll have to take a picture of the check bag area--it is hysterical! I am NOT one to do things on a small scale but let me tell you I am a minimalist when it comes to some of the crowd at this place!

But back to WHY you should attend:

I already told you about the shopping but the other fun thing is to take classes! I signed up for 4 classes. My favorite was the flip flop book! It's hard to know what you are signing up for and it's always a bit of a mystery in regard to figuring out what you get based on the description. I loved them all but this one is the cutest. thing. ever. You pay $20-30 depending on the class and each class is 1-2 hours long and they give you very detailed kits and 'how to' info. They walk you through it all in class but what you don't finish, you take home and can easily finish. I did this book almost all in the class and tweaked it at home. It has tons of tabs and a mini fold out book and a box to store it in that has more tags on it.

How amazing is this book?? It is so cute and I adore it and am proud that I made it but at the same time, it is so simple to complete their kits, it's not like I did anything special.

We are going on a family cruise in October and I'm saving this for that trip! So look for your next Memory Expo and go, I swear it's fun!! You can look here for one near you!!

http://www.scrapbookexpo.com/Index.html

Rascal Flatts

Builder Jim, Me, Kay and husband John

For the record, I wouldn't say I was a "country music fan". If the song mentions boots, trucks, break ups, dogs, fishin'--you know those songs, I really can't stand it. A bit of twang and I cringe. But there are a few that not only can I handle but that I LOVE! Sugarland is fabulous and anything by Rascal Flatts ends up a favorite. Who can't connect with God Bless The Broken Road? So, I was very excited when my friend Kay got us tickets! Kay is my PTA Hospitality committee partner and I knew we'd double date together as well as we worked together! We went to dinner at the Orlando Arena before the concert and it was great to drink wine and just walk upstairs instead of worrying about who was driving!!

Do you see them behind us? They extended the stage over the crowd on the floor by having a bridge cross over them and used this second stage right in front of us quite a bit! It was a great concert and a great night out!

Resolutions.....I still like them

Yes, I know...people hate New Year Resolutions. Perhaps I'm a simple girl, but goals are still something I need and enjoy. Here you go...Kim's New Year's Resolutions:

• Don't be a witch. I'm a woman, we can all be witchy. I'm going to try not to be witchy ever, unless it's a service issue because I have high expectations and I won't lower my expectations of others. (yes, that was meant to be funny, I'm not crazy)


• Get Trugreen to replace the plants they killed. That relates to the above resolution. I may have to get sassy, and I will. They killed my plants.


• Lose all my baby weight. Yeah, you've noticed my kids aren't babies, shut up. ;) Those two angels plus infertility & miscarriage has really screwed with my scale. That's ending this year....the scale is just doing down...not up!


• Get caught up on my scrapbooking. I asked twin if I can even call myself a scrapbooker since I am so behind. This is my biggest issue in life this year.


• Seriously consider being a caterer. The world needs me. Well, Augusta needs me. Okay, maybe they don't need me since my ambition would just be to feed them dessert, but they want me....they just don't know it yet.


• Be a better wife. I'm a really fabulous wife so this will be difficult. But, I'm sure I can find an area to improve. Perhaps take the plastic off his dry cleaning within the hour the clothes arrive home? I could find a new little container to put his dental floss things in, that's something that needs attention.


• Be a better mom. I'm a good mommy but I need to aim for perfection. I should read to them nightly. I should hide veggies in their food. I should make sure they really wash their feet in the bath. I should take them to the park more. I should make sure they're never rushed by being absolutely organized each afternoon. I'll try!


• My husband says (jokingly) that I could spend our savings $15 a time. I will try to decrease the spending of our disposable income & increase our long term savings. That means staying out of Target, Kohls & Marshalls (I'm in Augusta, I'm limited).


• Download more songs on my ipod.


• I go to church weekly & we're very active at church but I should do some study of some sort on my own or with a group. I am easily distracted and honestly bored so I never stick with anything! Is there a woman's bible study geared towards distracted mothers? What am I looking for.....a 3 minute bible study loaded with humor? I'd say my expectations need adjustment.

Perhaps I'll check in with you mid year and tell you how I'm doing. Stay tuned!

-Kim

A Present To Look Forward To

My cute daughter and I are going to see Wicked in April!! Here is a trailer from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0m6sclZkH0&NR=1

I'll tell you all about it!

My boys' favorite thing to do

Legos! They play with their legos all the time and James shops on lego.com every chance he gets. I just love this picture of all 3 of my boys, so content and focused while trying to complete a Christmas present.

Christmas Eve Brunch

Every year, I host brunch on Christmas Eve. I love starting the holiday as early as possible and this forces me to be DONE with all holiday shopping and errands. We welcome family and freinds and enjoy being a part of the start of their holiday as well!

Here are just a few decorating pictures from that party:

Coffee Bar

Cups from the hot cocoa area on the pool deck

Toppings for Waffle Bar

Rice Krispy Treat wreath, donut trees, carrot cake muffins

Candy trees that Kim made and Reindeer Food to go home with every family

Ribbon trees that I made

My sweet boys with their favorite babysitter!


Merry Christmas!

Bethlehem, a 6 year old's perspective

I just got this from Southern Living At Home. Look closely. Do you see it? Is there anything sweeter than your 6 year old little boy integrating his dinasours into your nativity scene?

Slinky Incident With Multiple Injuries Foils Mommy Play Date

This weekend I had plans to shop all day Friday & all day Saturday with 2 girlfriends. We had sitters or friends picking up our kids from school, our husbands were scheduled to be super dads all weekend, we were ready to relax and have fun and we deserved it!! Myself and a friend from Augusta drove to Charlotte to meet a mutual friend who moved last year. We pulled up to a very large and very nice mall. Our time was valuable......only 48 hours with no kids, no husbands and no responsibilities but to shop......so we chose to valet, like all smart mothers would. We open the doors to hand our keys to the cute valet and a phone rings. My Charlotte friend says "oh no" and we immediately knew that it was definitely a school for one of her 3 kids. We kind of sink a little and try not to smirk (because it was inevitable, right?). We hear "uh huh" "oh no" and then "he needs stitches?". Okay, so we know it's her 7th grade son, her other 2 kids are girls. My Augusta friend is a doctor's wife (Chief of ER Pediatrics I believe) so she knows a lot about "kid emergencies". She very quickly says "how does a middle school student have an accident at school?" I naively giggle and say "good point". Cute valet guys says "you're not shopping are you?" He was very amused. We are still refraining from laughter for fear that he is hurt and say "um, no". We climb in the car as she hangs up the phone and says "he was in an accident involving a slinky and needs to go to the ER, he cut his hand". Okay....we lose it. We laughed and laughed......not only at our bad luck and the bad timing...but a SLINKY was involved? We glance back at the big beautiful mall as we depart.

She calls her son back to get more details because my smart medical friend is asking a lot of valid questions. The slinky incident involved multiple students and there are multiple injuries, he has a big cut but it's not bleeding anymore so we determine there is an issue but he's doing fine. Okay, hysterics. A slinky incident with multiple injuries. I need to mention, recently this friend of ours was in a car accident involving a raccoon and prior to that her last vehicular accident involved an automatic car wash. To say her luck is amusing is an understatement. We had been looking forward to this day for a month and it was foiled by a slinky. Of course........it was foiled by a slinky. We take her to her car, she directs us to a mall closer to her son's school and she departs. 4 stitches and 3 hours later our friend joins us. She missed hours of shopping and a great brownie. We all missed lunch because we did not want to enjoy lunch without her.

The update: three students were injured, two required medical attention. Apparently, the kids get a "health break" for 15 minutes so they can get some fresh air (they do this in prisons, right?). Her son was innocently playing football. Allegedly, two kids had a metal slinky that they pulled apart between them. A football player ran into the slinky, it flew and hit two other players, one being our friend's sweet son. The school is now trying to assess whether there was malicious intent with the boys who had the slinky and suspension is being discussed. We should all say a quick prayer for the kiddos, my friend's son loves playing guitar and he is inconvenienced and in pain and we feel bad for him!

That evening, over a wonderful dinner and a bottle of Merlot AND Riesling, we giggled a lot as we reflected over our day. As moms we are always ready to run to our children's aid anytime they need us. As moms will will continue making idyllic plans to reward ourselves. As friends we will continue to smile and giggle (and laugh 'til we cry) as we realize that idyllic plans are sometimes impossible but watching life unfold together is half the fun.

-Kim

Sugar Cube House

I have fun at Christmas. - Kim

Best Cryptic Christmas Present Phone Call 2007

My Brother: Hi Kim

Me: Hey!

My Brother: So, you make a lot of cupcakes right?

Me: Oh yes

My Brother: Do you travel with them?

Me: Definitely, to school all the time

My Brother: Do you find them difficult to transport?

Me (pause and try not to giggle): Why, yes, they are very difficult to transport actually!

My Brother: Okay, love you, talk to you later

Me: Love you Bye!

Hilarious. Hey, good thinking! I own about every baking thing a girl like me needs and I can't believe I don't have one of those!

-Kim

Gingerbread Gingerbread Gingerbread

Hi. My name is Kim and I'm addicted to Gingerbread. As you learn more about me, you'll learn that I'm really addicted to gingerbread. I adore it and I have fun making my annual house! Here is my 2007 home.

-Kim

Shot Glass.....A Mother's New Use

I read "Real Simple". They always have ideas for different uses of everyday items. Like line your drawers with dryer sheets. Well my parents visited this week. I don't keep appliances on my counter. I put the toaster in a cabinet and we take it down daily. We use cinnamon sugar often and I've always mixed it in a pastry duster (the thing you'd put powder sugar in to dust on a cake). Well, we needed more and mom and dad used a shot glass! It's tall and thin so it fits well in the cabinet and we, honestly, never use our shot glasses now that we're old and boring. So...viola....a great use for an items that's traditionally used for something entirely different! Other uses for shot glasses that I've implemented this year...holding toothpicks which I use often when dying my frosting. One day we'll be cool again and use the shot glasses, right? Really, who has time for shots?

-Kim

I Love My Self Absorbed Daughter

I always prayed I would not have a weak, meek child and I do not. Katie is hilarious and enjoys her life thoroughly...she giggles all the time. She enjoys keeping herself happy, just like her mom. My husband thinks I'm a bit self-absorbed but he's amused by me. I told Eric the story I'm about to tell you and he smirked and said "she's your child honey". Today Kate and Derrick were given $20 each for Secret Santa at school. The school buys tons of gifts and pre-wraps them. The kids pick out gifts, for their loved ones, and a volunteer labels them after talking to the child. Parents don't go since this is their time to buy gifts for us. Tonight Kate had her Secret Santa bag filled with wrapped gifts and said "can we open our presents?". I said "No way, they're for Christmas and there's nothing for you in your bag anyway". She said "yes there is" and laughed. I took her bag and took out the gifts to see:
"From: KATIE To: ME".
Some volunteer probably got a kick out of that. She cracked up, thoroughly amused with herself. As a mother who loves that I have a strong decisive child, I was thrilled that she made the decision that she deserved a little something for herself too. She's adorable.

-Kim

You CAN make a red hot tree!

Kim says you can't but you can! See, Kim was just too precise! Here is the proof! Throw out the rules and get messy and it's a breeze!


In case you want to do it, here's what I did:

• put a large plate down below where you are working
• cover a small area with hot glue
• drop red hots on it
• quickly dump red glitter over the same area
• use a tiny paint brush to ently get the glitter off the candy so it's only in the spaces
• keep going!

Done, a red hot tree!!! I tried it with regular glue but they literally slipped off. Hot glue is the only thing that dries fast enough. My 8 year old helped me by dumping the red hots on and we had a blast!

Here are the three trees that I grouped together:



I bought the set of trees from http://www.orientaltrading.com/, aren't they cute? They came with the bases, trees and then a stick that joined them together so they were easy to decorate separately. The tall one is candy canes and was very tedious but so worth it! The small one was really too small for any candy so I just used ribbon and I think it turned out cute. I used glitter and more ribbon for the bases.

I love a good Christmas craft!!

Kiersten

Hosting A Gingerbread Party

I host a gingerbread party every year. I could go on and on about how to host a gingerbread party and would be happy to elaborate if anyone would like. For now, I wanted to show you my candy. Candy is obviously a very big part of a gingerbread party and I have so much fun getting all the candy ready! Yes, I have a list so I make sure I don't miss anything critical to gingerbread homes!

Merry Christmas!

-Kim

Christmas, Candy & Crafts

I love crafts when it involves home decor. Check out my easy creations. I don't even think I need to explain how to do these things. Grab a hot glue gun and have fun. Oh, and get a strong hook, your candy cane wreath will be heavy.

Kim's Craft Tip: don't ever bother trying to hot glue red hots to any form. I tried to make mini wreaths with red hots. 4 blisters later I was amazed......I was being so neat but there was no way to keep the gloss of the candy. The glue got on the candy due to the gun or my fingers and it was a mess. Just don't do it. I just saved you hours, I am so kind.

-Kim

I know I'm not the only one . . .

with real estate issues. Yup, seems 1 out of 2 people are in the midst of trying to sell their house or have a story of their best friend with the same problem. I've been under contract for months to close on the sale of our old house early December and that just fell apart. Worse yet, they are renting our house as they needed to settle in this area and get jobs so now do I not only need to try and sell this house again but have to determine when they are going to move and what condition my home is in. WHO is coming over with some wine??? :)

Here's a picture of my bathroom at my old house. I hand textured and painted the walls myself and loved this bathroom. I had hoped that someone else would love this bathroom and buy my house but seeing as there are 30,000 other bathrooms to love in central Florida, this hasn't happened . . . .

Cheers to everyone else out there with real estate struggles--we will all get through this somehow. But it's easier with wine . . .

Kiersten

Part 1 of 'project-get caught up' is done!

I ordered my digital prints--over 300! I am SO behind--aack! I am thrilled to have done that as it took HOURS to edit, sort, upload, pick quantities, etc. I have ordered from many sites but Walgreens had a great sale--some free prints, free shipping, and 12 cents by mail so I used them this time. This way, it will come straight to the house and I don't even have to remember to stop at the store! Yea!

I'm thinking about using Creative Memories' new software. It seems to really help with organization and merges from editing right into their online ordering page as well as their digital scrapbooking software. One thing their software does is mark which pictures you have printed so you never wonder 'have I done that yet'? I need that! Anyway, just on my mind--haven't ordered it yet but I've heard great things about it!

Kiersten

The Reality of My Scrapbooking Life

Check out this picture of my beautiful scrapbooks! I AM very organized and love having my books on display and pride my self in my scrapbook accomplishments. There is nothing more rewarding than being caught up with your books!!! Well, here's my little secret. I am SO organized, that I have managed to 'sort' my pictures into so many to do bins by major events, stacks of pages ready to make, accordion folders filled with random events ready to plan pages for and then a stack that has been growing of pictures that need to be sorted that I am now BURIED in to do stacks. ALL need to actually be 'SCRAPPED' but staying on top of what you need to do is a job in itself right? Well, I seem to be a pro at that. I pulled everything out today so I could sort the stack that got too big and here is my reality. I am behind 2 1/2 years. I couldn't believe it. I saw my son Carter's birthday pictures from his 4th birthday party--he turned 6 this past August. Oh boy. Here is a question--has the digital world confused others or only me? That's another issue I have. I sorted what I have but this stack doesn't even include the pictures I have on my computer that I need to print!!! I haven't ordered prints in over a year! So I have the pictures from my kid's birthdays that my family has given me but then have to sit down and figure out, have I ordered mine yet? And then can't do the page until I do! And if your solution is to print myself, I have done that in the past and spent too many hours loading ink and paper and cutting them off the sheet and it seemed like SO much work to me! I LOVE digital cameras but this is my newest frustration. Anyway, back to my stack! I am sorting and ordering digital prints this weekend and vow to get caught up. Here is my personal goal--to be done through the holidays by the time the kids are out of school. I'll let you know!!! Oh, and wish me luck!

Kiersten

Cutest Halloween Costume Ever

I saw this child while trick or treating and just thought it was the cutest toddler outfit ever!!! How sweet is she? I always look at things and wonder if I could make it and this is a definite yes! Orange tulle with some green and orange silky material and you are set!

Kiersten

My cute Ninja and Police Man

Here are James (Police Man) and Carter (Ninja) with Jim. James doesn't like candy but he loves to trick or treat. We will toss all of his candy soon after the big event or I will eat it all.

Kiersten

Spooky Food!!!

I had lots of fun making food for the halloween party we attended! Here is my gooey snake (pie crust filled with provolone and turkey sitting on lettuce) and spiders on sticks (hard one-- chicken nuggets with spider rings and ketchup). As you can see, whereas my twin has a high talent in actual cooking and baking, I excel more at presentation! I managed to turn frozen nuggets into something that kids and adults alike thought was so cool! One little girl was scared to eat it and we had to explain what it was. Both were big hits and so simple!

Kiersten

Raising Children.....Kim's Opinion (I'll always have one)

It's still Halloween Night....I just heard my door bell beep about 40 times (not exaggerating). I figured it was my husband being obnoxious although I didn't think he was that obnoxious. I opened the door to find about 12 teenagers. I am nice, usually. I had multiple teenagers thank me for not boycotting them tonight. These kids, different. I smiled and said "y'all are going to break my door bell, that's not nice". Then I gave them candy, because I am nice. Why does this child think he can risk breaking my door bell? Can you break a door bell? If so, I'm sure he almost did tonight. My opinion: teenagers should be lectured by their parents prior to leaving their home "have fun, be safe, be polite and only ring once".

One of the 12 was a teenage girl in a tight black dress with "blood" smeared on her neck, face and arms. What is her mother thinking? Bad parenting, bad. My opinion: Slutty Halloween costumes have their place....they are for college girls and young women with no children. They are not for teenagers and they are not for mommies. Dress up and have fun....if you're an adult and you're not doing it in my neighborhood around my children.

Yes, I'm opinionated but I know you love me.

Kim

Shiraz, Pumpkins, Costumes and Candy

It's Halloween Night. The kiddos are adorable, I fulfilled all my mommy duties: made a special dessert for the kids (not that they needed any more sweets), planned and managed my son's class party this afternoon, carved some pumpkins, bought an easy but fun dinner, roasted pumpkin seeds, lit the pumpkins, handed my husband his one and only Halloween t-shirt and begged him to wear it, perfected the costumes, took pictures & stood by my husband as he opened a bottle of Shiraz.

Eric took the kids out, we have too many neighbors to ditch our home so I stayed here and handed out candy. Our neighborhood is funny because a decent percentage of people own and use their golf cars...so you don't just walk. You ride in your golf car. We walk but I should make it a goal to have a golf car by next Halloween. If you need to buy or sell a home in Augusta, call me, I need a golf car.

I thought about making a drinking game out of this holiday. Every time the doorbell rings, I take a sip. But, I haven't done that. I've barely touched the glass because I've been sampling our candy.

By the way, I was freaked out at a haunted house when I was little and grew up not liking Halloween. I remember everything about that event, someone told me to walk close to a person in a coffin. I was obedient and did as they said. He jumped up at me and I cried and cried. I remember Daddy taking me to a cool toy store while everyone entered another room on the right. I told mom this story recently and she said "Kim, that was Disney World". Ah, I didn't remember that part. Pumpkins, scarecrows & candy....that's more than enough for my kiddos and they're having a great time.

Happy Halloween!!

Kim

No I Can't Bake 4 Dozen Cookies, Next Question.

I drink out of a mug that says this. I use this mug when I'm baking for events or coordinating volunteer events, which means I ignore this line of thinking.

I like to be busy. I think it's fun. I did the following from 4pm to 8pm:

1. Son's Room Mom: Call all of the parents to ask for more donations for the party I'm responsible for on Wednesday. Some parents are great. One donated 17 pumpkins & $25! Another donated cookies & goodie bags for each child.

2. New Job: Chair for the 40th Anniversary Celebration in Sept 2008 at my church: Sent out the initial emails. I get to plan a carnival. Any advice?

3. Football Coach Gift Coordinator (Eric pulled me into this): Email those who have not donated to figure out who and who is not giving so I can go buy gifts tomorrow for the proper amount.

4. Hospitality Chair for PTO: Sent an email out to 40 volunteers asking for "fall inspired" brunch donations for a breakfast for 135 teachers & staff next week.

5. Chair for a Neighborhood Group in my subdivision for church: We throw parties for all church neighbors and coordinate support when necessary. I emailed the chair of this entire project tonight and asked her to replace me. Aren't you proud of me?

6. Son's Birthday Party: Need to plan his sleepover and did some research.

I feel so productive and helpful.

Kim

I want to be Hugh Hefner's Next Girlfriend!

That's right! NO, I don't have the figure you'd expect (here I am in a bathing suit and yes I'm aware it's pretty much a complete blur. That was done for your protection). NO, I'd never make it in his magazine so I wouldn't be a future girlfriend like the rest of the past playmates. NO, I don't have any interest in the man himself, Hugh Hefner. NO, I don't want a divorce as I'm married to a great guy. HOWEVER, being a 'girlfriend' means you get to plan parties every day and that's my dream! I've always noticed that all these girls do is plan parties, have you? Every Birthday is the biggest bash, every holiday has them deciding on the next over the top thing they want to do (slip and slide that is 40 ft long?), every event is fully catered and set up and cleaned up and served but the girls get to plan whatever part they want! Their annual Easter bash has them decorating as many eggs in any way they would like but the staff buys it all, gets the craft items, sets it up, cleans it up and FINISHED whatever eggs the girls decide they don't want to do! Come on! How do you not want to live like this? And they have a new outfit every single day! Okay, time to eat. Pick up the phone, ring ring, 'Hi, this is Kiersten and I'd like a Ceasar salad please. Oh 3 of my best friends stopped by in their bikinis and Karen wants what? oh, a grilled cheese sandwich and Julie wants sushi and Kim will have a burger no bun. Thanks so much . . . . Sure, we'll eat in the dining room. We'll be there is 15.' And lets not leave out that they also have movie night once a week (that's them at one) and have consistent parties annually--I do thrive in stability. And we also can't leave out the gifts for the parties, by the way. It's your birthday so here honey, have a new car or a pink golf cart (my current favorite wish list item) or these silly other gifts that we spent all day shopping for because that is our LIFE this week. Enjoy! Name anything you could want from a lifestyle (well, other than the older shared boyfriend bit) and a home and tell me that being a 'girlfriend' isn't the way to go?

-Kiersten

Camping is Not For Everyone!

We are a cub scout family and went camping, full of excitement and energy! Well, it rained so horribly from 2-4 a.m. and we got soaked. I tried to tough it out as we were supposed to stay until Sunday. By 11 am on Saturday, I was packing up. Picking up James' sleeping bag and having it pour out water was the end of it for me! We came home around 3 and I have never been so glad to see my house!!!! I don't think I can camp again. I REALLY tried, I swear! I have lots of 'how to survive camping as a mommy' secrets but it still just isn't for me. I attempt to be a good mommy to my two boys but I can no longer pretend to tolerate it. It is horrible. I don't like to sweat and it isn't good for my skin. I don't mind the natural breeze and sleeping under the stars but that usually comes with humidity and mosquitoes and an inability to sleep. So the stars are just perhaps prettier from my spa with wine? I've heard this word 'GLAMping' and I promised the boys when we broke their little hearts and told them that they would be missing their pack meeting and fire and another fun night of camping that I would figure out a way for our family to still camp. I don't know where the word 'glamping' came from but I assume that it could be similar to my new camping plans-
-Invite all my other 'we can't camp' cub scout friends over for 24 hours
-Set up our tent around 3 pm by the pond
-Make the cots and put out sleeping bags
-Put my hair in a headband, wear flipflops with a tshirt and wipe off my mascara which officially means 'roughing it'
-Kick around a soccer ball and play a sack race
-Hop in the pool with wine
-Grill out and eat on uncushioned chairs NOT in the screen enclosure--we are creating an environment here so flies have to touch our food and we can't alway be comfortable
-Toast marshmallows in a fire pit that we can make by the pond for these 'trips'
-Get a mosquito bite or two in the name of 'camping'
-Let the kids run wild outside while we adults get in the heated spa with wine
-Get the kids in bed in the sleeping bags
-Lie on our cots for 15 minutes while they calm down
-Kissy kiss the kids goodnight and go inside to shower and put on pjs
-Turn on the baby monitor that we set up under our cot so we can hear them if they need us--we are good parents
-Wake up in the morning and take a pan to the grill and scramble eggs outside--again, environment
-Shower inside or if we want to get crazy, on the patio deck
-Let the kids swim
At this point, I hoe that they are over this, and we can go inside for the rest of the day. I think I could do that every two months and be a good cubscout parent. I have packed my car with more stuff I would need to leave the country many many times for these camping trips and I have tried to be a good sport. But I just can't do it again. It may be like child birth though. The next time I may not remember all this and think it's a good idea. But as of now, the above is the only way I will ever camp again!
-Kiersten