This Week In Pictures

#1

Baby made a boat out of apple and said:

"Put this on Facebook and say:

'People say you shouldn't play with food, but actually it is really fun!'"

 I declined to impart those words of wisdom on Facebook and saved it all for you.

You are welcome.

#2

In other riveting Furious family developments, Big Boy has claimed another baby:

 The girls are going to be pissed when they find out he stole their Care Bear.

#3

Big Boy & I watched the Women Tell All episode of The Bachelor:

 (mostly Big Boy, he weirdly LOVES watching things on the computer or iPad)

Interestingly, Mr F came home that night, 

and I revealed I'd watched the episode

and he shouted out 

"Noooooo!"

I was a little surprised, 

because he always acts like he is doing me a favor when he watches.

But, this isn't the first time he's become invested in The Bachelor.

#4

Kid's class hosted Chapel with a little play this week:

She was super nervous about using the microphone.  

In the end she is the only one who managed to pull off a normal moderated volume.  

#5

 I made a big batch of meatballs:

I'm still more or less following a weekly menu & stocking up my freezer with double/triple batches.

It has made basketball nights totally doable.

#6

 I witnessed the cutest moment in Baby's classroom the other morning, 

when a younger classmate came up and asked Baby if she'd read this book to her:

 I'm so glad I was there for that.  Baby is such a sweet girl and is always helping the Kindergartners in their K/1 class.  There isn't a morning that goes by that a classmate doesn't come ask her to draw a certain thing, or cut something out for them, or show them how to write their name in cursive. And she always puts down what she is doing and cheerfully helps them out.  

#7

Twice this week I've had to stop my workout to get a snack.  Weird.  

#8

 I got these cute dresses for the girls to wear to the Rehearsal dinner in Mexico:

 and this dress for Kid, which she is 100% in love with:

 "Wait, I look like that?"  She said when she saw the picture.  

"Yep, are you surprised you look like a teenager?"  I asked.

"Yeah."  She replied.  Me, too.

#9

And, lastly, I've been on a serious kick with this pizza.  I'm making it twice a week.  Everybody freaking loves it. 

It is THIS recipe.

Constructive Criticism

I've been trying to flush out our travel wardrobes for our trip to Mexico at the end of the month.

My bathing suit is old, so I had ordered this one on sale:

not sure... but it was $20 total...so cheapness for the win... 

plus the white makes me look less white in comparison... win-win...

and the flying child distracts you from my mid-section... win-win-win

But anyway,

I was at Cost Plus World Market exchanging curtains when I found what I believed would be the perfect beach cover-up:

(pull out the magnifying glass, peeps)

And I was like... how can that not be fabulous?

It made me feel like I was going to Mexico.

(and I am)  

So, I bought it and brought it home.

I put it on and walked right out into my living room full of critics 

(not having seen myself first)

I was pretty confident that it looked as good as it felt.

Mr F immediately shouted out "Negatory!"

Which was a little harsh, and I was kind of in disbelief.

I mean, it is a cover-up, not an Oscar's dress.

"It feels like I'm light & breezy & drinking a Margarita." I countered, 

hoping if they could understand the motivations of my beach character they'd see the positives.

"No, it feels like you are some strange bird in a weird play."
Kid clarified.

"It is some kind of special horrible, I can't even describe."  Mr F added.

"It is like you are a flying squirrel.
It doesn't even say 'clothes'."  He continued.

At that point I decided to look for myself:

And it was everything they said.  

I couldn't even believe something that felt so 100% awesome on

could be so outrageously unflattering.

I might as well be 8 months pregnant in that.

What the HECK?!

"What if I wore it as a shirt without the bathing suit underneath?"
I asked, 

desperate to keep the Mexican beach dream alive.

"No!"  They shouted in unison.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

JUST getting home from PTL...

exhausted

checking homework

going to bed

Shattered Dreams

My slightly too small dream house has already sold!

Damn it!

I knew it was a good deal.  

Now I'm forcing myself to love my back up... 

Which I'm embarrassed to even show you 

because it is such an aesthetic step down.

But I'll do what I have to do

To keep the dream alive.

Even if it means living in a 70s raised ranch, people.

(It does have a historic barn, granary & 33 acres to soften the blow)

Unfortunately, it is also nearly twice as much money.

And it is literally down the road from Lil' Yellow...

And my red hot hatred 

for its *real* owners 

might rob me 

of any happiness 

I could eek out of 

my original 70s kitchen and bath.

Boo.

The Wait Is Finally Over

I don't know about the rest of the world,

but here, in Southeast Michigan,

today is

for eating these:

Richly decadent glazed fried dough balls

stuffed with pure deliciousness.

Comparing these to a jelly donut

is like comparing a crescent roll to a croissant.

I mean, they are from an entirely different stratosphere of pastry.

If you are living without Paczki in your life,

you are living in a sad, sad world.

Rectify it immediately.

Monday Musings

Kid's basketball team was ANNIHILATED tonight.

Whoa.  It was a blood bath.

Other than that, I got an 80 min workout in today,

 which always makes me feel accomplished.

I owe it all to Biggest Loser Season 10 episodes.

That was a great season!  I cry during EVERY episode.

Also, on a related/unrelated note,

I got Mr F sucked into the last few episodes of The Bachelor

(Downton Abbey ended, and beggars can't be choosers)

We stayed up until almost 3 AM

waiting to find out

what "dramatic" thing went down in the Fantasy Suites.

Spoiler Alert:  Nothing.

Gah!

We really regretted that the next morning, let me tell you.

We might as well have been drunk and actually had fun.

That's it folks.

P.S. tomorrow is PACZKI day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drum Roll, Please...

The dress came:

I think I'm keeping it.  

It's a perfect compliment to the color & style of the girls' dresses.