Birthday Overload!

Was everyone born today, or was it just my family?

Have I told you I have the greatest mom?  If I haven't it's because this blog is freshhhh!

Well, today is my mom's birthday!

Looks like my mom and LKB could be sisters. 
But then Ben would be my cousin, so no thanks on the sister thing. 

My little brother, who's 100 pounds heavier than I am, has a wife, Krista, who's 100 pounds lighter than I am. 

I love her.  It's her birthday too! 

Coincidentally, it's her identical twin sister's birthday as well.  Ironic or what?

My sister-in-law is the one on the bottom...I think.  :)

Happy Birthday to you 3!

Like it or Not?

Here I hopefully come! 

So, I started this blog for no reason at all, other than I <3 to write, but never do. 

Well...I'm turning my random ramblings into some more...productive hopefully...

Anyhoo, if there's anyone checking this blog now...just wait!  I'd give it about 5 to 7 days and you'll see direction to this little diary I'm a keepin'!

xoxoxox

SO CLOSE!

OH my stinking stars.  As I sit to write this, all of the feelings about what almost happened 4 hours ago come flooding back. 

Just this afternoon Ben and I were going through security at the Chicago airport.  Neither of us got body scanned.  :( 

However, we did spot a uniquely beautiful young girl who looked so familiar.  

Had we seen her on America's Next Top Model?  No.  Was she one of the Real Housewives daughter's?  YES!  Ben was the one that finally figured it was probably Danielle Staub's daughter, Christine.

I was pumped.  Pumped doesn't even describe it.  I'd say I was nearly as excited as I get when I'm driving 20 minutes from my house and see someone I know on the road in a car next to me.  I FREAK! 

Just getting through security, I speedily/rapidly/frantically put my shoes back on, get my purse and carry-on and have my camera up on my phone READY to snap her. 

You'd assume Ben would be on the same mission, right?  Nope.  He was still calmly getting his belongings. 

We were too late.  I had to stand waiting and watching who I think is Christine Staub walk down Gate K.  I couldn't catch up.

Ben almost got dumped.

Realistically, Ben and I should publish a book on sleep training your child(ren).

This became apparent when we were super excited that we got her to sleep before 10PM!  That's right!


However, we will have to have a guest author address how to get your child(ren) to sleep in their own bed and in their pj's!

Oof da...We need sleep help!

Piper's Valentine's Day to her Dad!

She was pretty proud of her picture!

We surprised Ben with a special latte.

He showered us in gifts.

I'll share my Valentine with my other Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a wonderful excuse to celebrate L-o-V-e!

I'll never forget my first Valentine's Day with Ben. 

We had been dating just 5 weeks and I was CrAzY about him, but didn't want to go overboard and freak him out.  Therefore, I bought him a non-Valentine card with pebbles on it - random!  I also got my "medium" boy an XL sweatshirt.


Sooo, ya, I went way too underboard instead of overboard.  That's a big zero points for me.

Ben, on the other hand, was the over-the-top PERFECT Valentine.

He picked me up at my dorm and brought me to his apartment.  He had the most beautiful black magic roses and petals all around his place.  I was blown away. 

We made a HUGE meal and Ben insisted I ate every bite.  It was delicious and we were stuffed.

Then he brought out a pink bag of gifts.  He had sweet Valentine's candy, lotions and stuff and a silver necklace just said, "love".  Oh ya!  I was psyched and only over analyzed the necklace for 3294028 hours!

We painted a chair, ate Pop Tarts and drank Diet Mountain Dew for hours. 

I'm guessing Ben didn't tell his friends what he had in store for Valentine's Day.

Ben made me giddy then and makes me even giddier now.

Today is the 7th Valentine's Day we've had together and I love him more than I can even write- or say, for that matter.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY BEN!  I love you!

My heart breaks for a lovely couple we're friends with that just lost their seemingly perfect baby girl Monday.

I've been praying for peace, comfort and understanding for the whole family because there is nothing I can do or say to help them.

Or is there?  If anyone has suggestions of what to offer that could bring my friend a tidbit of joy, please let me know.

Prayers would be appreciated, friends.

Ready to Rumble!

I'm so excited for the big Super Bowl! 

As soon as I get to the party I'll find out which two teams made it this far!  :)  I'm devoted like that!

Mosaicing Mickey?

Loving the look of mosaic pieces, I decided I wanted to try it out myself!
 
Ben found a tray that we weren't using and we just went to Home Depot to get tile, grout and glue. 
 
After Ben broke the tiles with a hammer, I glued them in place, let it dry and filled it in with grout!
 
Now all I have to do is polish up the tiles and apply a thin layer of lacquer, so the unevenness doesn't spill my drinks.
 
I feel all Mickey Stuartish!  I'd send everybody one, but it would be pricey to mail a 251 pound tray!

Dorito Lovin'

I've always been attracted to pretty much every single thing about Ben.  He's an easy one to love!

After 6 years of marriage, I realize the more I'm with Ben, the more I love him and find out new things about him to love.

One of my favorite things about Ben, I didn't notice until around year 4 of marriage. 

I'll share:

The manchild starts out eating his Doritos like a civil human being.  Placing between 1 to 3 chips in his mouth, he chews them (crunching slightly too loud, simply because he's enjoying them) at a standard pace.  A few seconds later, Ben will go back for 1 to 3 more, eating them at a standard pace as well.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  And then it gets good...

Looks pretty normal, eh?

Just when I think that boy has had enough chips I realize, oh no, he has NOT had enough!  That point is where the excitement begins.  Ben starts literally whipping Dorito after Dorito after Dorito into his mouth.  It's so fast and so furious you feel like fireworks are going off!

We now call it a "Grand Finale".  He does it every stinking time he has chips. 

Ben even admits this finale wasn't up to par since the chips were basically just crumbs. 
I've gotta get that cute man a fresh bag and get a pic of the finale!

It's charming.  It's endearing.  It's awkward to watch and I LOVE IT!

You all are going to want your significant other to do the same.  :)

Happy Groundhog Day!

Status Update

Hi loves!  So yesterday I mentioned that I always always always  always think of what I want my Facebook status to be.  Right now it would be:

Michele M****** H***** bit her lip inpersonating Kristen Wiig.  BADLY bit her lip.

Sweet dreams!!!

Status Obsession

I'm thinking I need my own Facebook.  Either everyone else could kindly leave Facebook or I need to make Ownbook, where I could constantly post only to myself.

Last time I physically updated my Facebook status was 14 days ago.  The last time I verbally updated my Facebook status was 3 seconds ago. 

I'd say there are probably 4,356 times a day that I say to Ben, Piper, my mom, Katie, my dogs, cat or to anyone around basically, that I want this or that to be my status. 

Why do I hold back? 

• I don't want to be that person updating Facebook 493 times a day. 
• I've finally realized people don't find me as funny as I find myself at odd times throughout the day. 
• It would take too many 'characters' to give the background and reason for each status update.

Anyway, does anyone else constantly come up with status messages in their head?  If you do, (or even if you don't) please write a comment to TELL ME you either do or don't update your Facebook mentally more than physically!

PS - I'd love to hear from you.  All you have to do is press "0 Comments".

xoxoxo

All Things Disney

Nothing is more annoying than the person who won't stop talking about their vacation and posts 8 million pics on Facebook (aka ME). 

Seriously though, Disney is magical!  Piper had the week of her life, which means Ben and I did too!

Does it get any cuter? 
She was loving the BBQ at Castaway Cay!

We went on the Disney Magic Western Caribbean Cruise and loved it.  After this picture sampler, I PROMISE I'll never speak of this cruise again!


There were characters everywhere!  The 2nd day Piper saw Mickey Mouse walking the other direction and pouted, "I never get to see Mickey Mouse".  She'd seen him in person 4 times in 2 days.



Even their towels are amazing! 
You could dry off with a sting ray...or a chicken, or a lobster, or a bunny!



Chip and Dale didn't get any tip from me! 
I was expecting them to be wearing pleather pants, a bow tie and body oil. 
Sad face! 

Piper loved the Pirate Party almost as much as I did!  My hand is still shaped in a hook.

Ben met a new girl.  My heart is broken, but who could resist a princess?

 

The vacation was amazing.  The best part, unquestionably, was spending time with Ben and Piper.  I could have been in a port-a-potty with them for a week and loved it.

I'm in luck!  If a few days into the cruise, the late night buffets meet my waist, I won't need new pants!

http://www.amazon.com/WAISTBAND-STRETCHER-Extender-Stretch-Tight/dp/B001GT347U

The only downside is that it only stretches 5 inches! 

***This Friday***

The stud below,

with the beautiful bed headed lady below,

who looks even cuter in the following pic,

with the awkward subject below,

are all three going to meet up with

and spend a week on this little boat:

!
To quote Barat, we are "very excite"!

Has anybody been on a Disney Cruise?  Any suggestions would be helpful!

Socialmedia-ologist

Who doesn't have a trillion friend with a jerk husband, unhappy with their life, living on a dime, with rotten kids and a job they hate? Always sad.

What's odd is when day after day you wake up and that person's facebook status reads:

Passionate moments with the hubs, brisk 6 mile walk with Lady (aka Wonder Pup), had a blast teaching my super full pilates class, sipped a whey protein shake and enjoyed steel cut oats, homeschooled the the kiddos and got dinner in the crock pot all BEFORE leaving to work by 8! Life.Is.Good!

You I can't help but get jealous, as you I typically start my day by stepping in dog poop on my way downstairs to microwave my bean and cheese burrito in my messy kitchen.

How about the person who only communicates 2 ways - behind your back or super sweetly on your wall? Always pleasant!

I could give so many specific examples, but I don't want my friends to unfriend me or it won't look like I have almost 450 friends.** I'm going to start incorporating that I have 450 friends in my daily conversations.

The other day my friend brought up a great question. Is there a name for people who have a different personality online than they do elsewhere?
Think of the money you could make by becoming a Socialmedia-ologist and marketing just to your friend list?

What I have to realize is that people shouldn't focus on the negative and air their dirty laundry on Facebook. I know I don't.

**With 450 friends, how could I not have plans tomorrow night?

I've got to update soon!  Although I'm writing now, it's not an update.  It's just writing.

Here's why I'm not updating lately...I started reading the most hilarious blog ever and couldn't compete!

http://www.seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/

It's a FAKE mom blog!  It's a total spoof (everything about it) and makes me laugh out loud.  Seriously, I read the blog and I lol and even rofl and then I say ha ha and then I again lol!  IDRTLTATSWAJBAATB (I Don't Really Think Like That And That Sentence Was A Joke But Abbreviations Are The Best).

In all seriousness, however, when I read TAMN's blog, I keep thinking I wish I had thought of that.  We moms do sound ridiculous and her blog nails it!

Anyhoo - I'm going to get back into blogging, so expect an update soon!!!

But when expecting an update, don't expect much.  We are a simple family.