My Little Snowman

The snow is finally almost gone here, thankfully. I've never been a big snow person since I became an adult. As a kid, though, I loved it. All the snowmen, snowballs and the sledding-loved it. These days though, I'm usually pretty happy to see it go. However, there is one small thing that happened this year to make me enjoy it again. Chase discovered it.









I guess it's time to invest in a new pair of snow boots.

Whoever let the dogs out is going DOWN!

A few weeks ago, my youngest sister Amanda decided that she would like to have her engagement party at one of our local bars this past Saturday the 20th. (Did I tell you she and Tim got engaged? They did!) A few weeks ago that sounded like a great idea and I've been looking forward to it, since it was a legitimate excuse to get an overnight babysitter and drink...heavily. So finally Saturday rolls around and guess what. Snow. Lots and lots of snow. So we called a cab, packed in and headed out, praying that we made it to where we were trying to go. Most of the invited guests backed out but there still ended up being a pretty good showing and we had an interesting night.

The beautiful bride-to-be:



We had lots of good Kodak moments thrown in there. Like this one with me, Brett, Katie and Mandy:



and this one with my sisters, my dad and me:



and Chuck was cuddly:




Mandy danced with my dad:



But then! Things got sloppy...






and kareoke was sung... ("Baby Got Back" to be specific)




and people did bad things to my father...




and then we danced... (to "Who let the Dogs Out" naturally)






And our friends went from looking like this:




To this:




And this:



So by this point, 1:00 am, I was tired and done. So we called the cab service and were told that it would be at least an hour. Well, ok, I thought. I figured that I could survive an hour or so wait. It wasn't THAT long ago that I stayed out a hell of a lot later than 2:00 in the morning so, no big deal. So 2:00 AM rolls around and no cab. Chuck calls the cab company and they say something along the lines of "Sorry, sir, we're really behind and we'll get to you as soon as possible." Ok. So 3:00am rolls around and the bar is closing! Still no cab in sight. So uh, what the hell were we supposed to do? There wasn't anyone that could come and get us that was close by PLUS they would have to drive us all the way out to our home which was NOT close to the bar we were at. And the weather was so horrible! So we decided to wait it out. At the CVS.

Here we are in the "lobby", as we were calling it, of CVS. It was cold, with no place to sit and definitely no outlets because we sure as hell would have bought a heater or microwave or something.

Cold Gary, Mandy and Tim to my left in CVS Lobby. Chuck was to my left also, just so close to me that you can't see him...because I was FREAKING COLD!



Cold/Drunk Katie to my right in CVS Lobby:



FINALLY, the cab shows up at 4 AM! 4 AM PEOPLE! I didn't get into bed until 5:00 AM! Yeah, I can't hang, I've decided. And I've decided that I'm ok with that. Just next time, someone please make me go home after "letting the dogs out".

Whoa! I'm not a freak!! I swear!!

Ok, so it has come to my attention that ummm, one of the pictures that I was using in my favorite TV shows post was ummmm, replaced online by whoever I was borrowing the picture from. I deleted it too quickly to even see where I had originally got it but oh my. Let's just say the picture of what was supposed to be Studio 60 was not a picture of Studio 60. I did not have that picture intentionally placed there and I am so freaking embarrassed right now. So umm, lesson learned. Do not use other people's images. Period. Sorry for whoever saw it and was offended and you are welcome to whoever saw it and liked it.

More pictures, less words.

We had a fabulous Christmas/New Year/Chuck's birthday! I don't have much to report but I do have pictures!! I'll be back soon with something a little more wordy next time, maybe.

Here's Chase and I enjoying Christmas, even IF he was a little possessed at that moment.


Chase and I opening his favorite/my least favorite toy of the year. Yes, it's noisy.


Jackson is getting so freakin big! Here he is with my mom...


And lounging with my dad...


And snuggling his "pelt"...


And hangin' with Uncle Chuck.


Chase and Ashtin did NOT play well together this year. I'm sure a fight was brewing at this moment. Ashtin's already taken off his pants in preparation. He fights dirty.


Chase got a big boy bed from Santa. Here he is on Christmas morning checking it out.


And here he is telling me that I rock!

As if he needed to tell me.

Hope everyone's holidays were as great as mine!

My Current Favorite Websites (that I haven't plugged here before)

Just so you know, I'm really anxious to do a Christmas present post but the problem is, a lot of people that I'm buying for, read this blog. I'm getting people some really cool things this year that I'm excited to tell about. So *sigh* I guess I'll just have to wait. So anyway, today we have 3 website reviews but these are cool too.

#1- Woot This is a shopping website that carries 1 product each day. "How boring" you say? Not at all. This one product is usually something pretty cool and it is HELLA CHEAP! I've only made one purchase from this website so far but it's a Christmas present for someone else. So I can't tell you about it. BUT let's just say they sell the same thing at Target for $300 and I got it for $150. I want one for myself so badly but that just isn't the Christmas way now is it? The one tip that I have about this website however is, don't read the comments. I'm not sure what kind of person comments on the Woot website but they are angry and never like the product for sale. Some of them are kind of strange too.

#2 Mamapop This one is a blog run by two ladies that are extremely funny. It's kind of a pop culture current events type blog and is oh so funny. It usually features YouTube videos that either a) make me laugh or b)cry like a baby. You must check this out.

#3 The Warholizer You can upload a picture and it turns it into your very own Warhol and a really cool addition to your MySpace...if you are into that kind of thing that is. Which I am.




Ok, so that's it. That's what I've been doing for the past month or so. Hope you find them as interesting as I do.

Top 10!

Ok, ok, you can all stop with the emails already! Fine! I get it! You are desperate to know my top 10 favorite shows on television at this moment. Ok. Stop with the hounding. I got the message.


#10 My Name is Earl- I really liked this show in the beginning. It was funny and new and cracked me up. This season however, I dunno. It's lost it's shine for me. We still watch it but, well, that's why it's at the bottom of the list.



#9 Medium- I like this show despite the fact that it's pretty much the same week after week. Somehow it's still good. That takes talent...or maybe it just feeds my dark side.



#8 Aqua Teen Hungerforce- Ok, I'll admit it. I'm a nerd. A big nerd who watches a basically obscure cartoon about some fast food on Cartoon Network. Go ahead make fun all you want but trust me, if you watch it, you will laugh too. I love me some Master Shake and that's all I'm going to say about that.



#7 Wheel of Fortune- Ok, I know you all are about to stop reading this post right now but trust me, it gets more respectable. I just couldn't live with myself for not adding a show that we watch every night. Pat Sajak is snarky in his heart. And that's why I love him. Especially when he bitch slaps the contestants for yelling their letters. I love it.



#6 Saturday Night Live- Even though I'm still in mourning over losing Tina Fey, the other cast members are still great and the show still continues to be one of the best.

Oooooh, we're down to the top 5. The suspense!

#5 ER- I lost track of ER for quite a few years but came back to it around 3 years or so ago. Maybe it got good again, maybe I had just forgotten but it's such a good show. Blood and guts, funny, sexy, occasionally heart warming, this show has a good mix.

#4 Desperate Housewives- Eh, ok, what can I say that hasn't been said by a million others. It's a great show, we're hooked, nuff said.



#3 Studio 60- Now this is a show near and dear to my heart currently. I have to say that I was a West Wing fan formerly so I was already predisposed to the quick paced and witty rhythm of this show. But the characters? Adorable and hilarious. It's the dry humor that I love and I'm praying this show stays on the air. From what I hear, it's struggling and that really breaks my heart so now I will do my duty. WATCH STUDIO 60 FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! If you are already watching this show and saw it this week, don't you just love the new plotline with Danny and Jordan??? I love where this is going and my heart may have melted just a little while watching.


#2 Grey's Anatomy- Yes, I know, another shocker but what can I say? It's well written and well cast and well, just great all around.


#1 The Office- Oh my, I love this show. It is so funny that it's almost too much to handle sometimes. We do not miss an episode. Ever. And the episode where Jim sends Dwight a fax on Dwight's own letterhead to convince Dwight that it's a fax his future self is sending him? I may have mentioned to Chuck that in another life, I would have married Jim. Pam? Get it together girl. Oh right, I forgot to add that Pam is one of my Myspace friends and I regularly read her blog. Ok, so now you can no longer doubt my loyalty. Dinkin' Flicka.


So, that's it, my top 10. I hope everyone is satisfied. But wait! Of course you can have a bonus..

Bonus: 24 The only reason it is not in the top 10 is because it's not back with it's new season yet. Otherwise, you know where it would be.

I'm only allowing myself one "poor me" entry a year so today is your lucky day.

Well, let's see, where to begin. I think this all began with winter deciding to make it's appearance here last week. Yes, I definitely think I will blame this all on winter. First came the ice, then came the snow and then Chuck wrecked his truck...into his coworkers car. His parking lot at work was a solid sheet of ice and well, things happen. Everyone is fine but the vehicles are not. They are both requiring repair but his coworker is being awesome about it. We owe him a beer... or three.

Then Chase got the flu. Oh my. That was not fun. Puking and diarrhea are not welcome guests in my home. Especially out of the one member of our family who isn't yet aware of the toilet but who is capable of eating Taco Bell. Ok, yes, I admit, giving him Taco Bell was my idea. Sometimes I'm just dumb, alright? But I seriously thought the puking was over. Still though, in retrospect, very dumb. By the next day he was better but by that night, yours truly was sleeping in her least favorite room in her house. The room that you know its bad news if you have a pillow and blanket in it. I've been miserable. I'll spare you the details but let's just say that 36 hours and two missed days of work later I'm beginning to think I'll survive. These moments in my life are when I'm so glad that I'm married to a great guy. He's been taking care of EVERYTHING so I can just lay (lie?) around and complain about how I hurt. Yeah, his life hasn't been so easy lately. So that just leaves him left to get this nasty bug and so far so good. *knocks on desk that I'm not completely sure is made of real wood* *thinks about it* *knocks on chair that I know for sure is made of real wood* I really don't want him to get this, folks. I'm not sure how he's dodged this bullet so far but whatever he's doing is working. The good news to all of this is that I've lost 9 pounds-yahoo! Now all I have to do is keep up this diet of nothing and I'm golden. I'll be in those pre-wedding jeans by next week! Yeah, I don't have high hopes either. Alright, I'm out. Thank you to everyone that's been calling to check up on me. Even though it's just the flu, it means a lot. Sap over, I'm out.

Flinstones, Gnomes, Going Mental and Stealth

Disclaimer: This post is full of random thoughts. If you're looking for something of value, eh, today's not the day. However, if you are looking for further evidence of my decreasing sanity, well here ya go.

Crushed Dream #87
Our pediatrician recommended recently that we start Chase on vitamins, which I had been considering for a long time but had yet to purchase them. So at the drug store this past weekend, Chuck and I bought a bottle of Flintstones vitamins just like the ones I used to take as a kid. To be honest, I was a little excited. I looooved those vitamins as a kid. They were so yummy that I would have taken the whole bottle given half the chance. I just knew that Chase would love them too and I was dreading the fight that I knew would be coming soon. He would quickly learn the word "vitamin" and be begging for them everyday. When we got home one of the first things we did was open that bottle of vitamins. I broke one in half, per the doctor's orders, and gave it to Chase. He quickly put it in his mouth, turned to walk away but then stopped dead in his tracks. In one quick motion, he took the half of Barney out of his mouth and threw it to the floor and then said, "Blech! caca!" I was mortified...for both the correct use of "caca" and for the hatred of the Flintstones. Sadly, I ate the rest of Barney and quickly spit the thing out as well but my choice of words weren't as nice as "caca". In case you are ever curious, they are not good. I repeat...NOT GOOD. I'm not sure if I got a bad bottle or if they've changed the formula or if I got some crazy special kind but NOT GOOD.

Office Gnomes
My elbow has twitched all day and it will not stop. Not sure why but it's driving me crazy. I keep thinking someone is touching me.

"8675309" Sounds Vaguely Familiar
Our password for our computers here at work for the past six months have been a set combination of things that include 4 digits out of our social security numbers. We set these up for ourselves when we logged in the first time. Last week I realized that the social security numbers that I have been using for the past six months were 4990**. Those numbers appear nowhere in my social security number. No where. And they mean nothing to me. I think I'm going crazy.
**Yes, I've since fixed it, so Hackers? Back off.

Our Cat-like Stealth
So, we saw a mouse in our garage yesterday. I saw it and froze. And then called for Chuck, who saw it and froze. It's a good thing that mouse was already dying (or maybe it froze too) because it would have been long gone before we pounced into action. The poor thing allowed Chuck to go and pick it up (with the proper equipment of course) and throw it into the neighbors yard. Our neighbors already don't like us, don't worry. Poor mouse but yay us! Maybe he had found that half of the discarded Flinstones vitamin.

When Zombie Stepmothers Attack

This year for Halloween we decided to take Chase up to our local mall for trick or treating (because it was cold. and we are lazy. and he didn't know the difference).

Our first stop was at my dad's house to visit my stepmom, eat a quick dinner and get dressed. Little did we know, a roaming pack of zombies had beaten us there.



We were all happy to be there and enjoyed our visit. Trisha, Adin and Ben even came by to say, "Hi".



Chase and Chuck were even enjoying themselves...




when she appeared. (Please note that Jackson, in the background, couldn't care less.)



The kids scrambled to get away. Well, except for Ben who was just fine with being attacked by a zombie, I guess.



The kids were brave and fought off the wicked zombie so we headed off to the mall, as most people do after they've destroyed a zombie or two. It was pretty uneventful other than Chase refused to hold his bucket out for the people to put the candy directly into it.



The highlight of the evening, however was getting to meet the famous Abby Cadabby.





All in all, it was a fun evening. And since Chuck and I are such nice parents, we even let him have one piece of candy before we ate the rest.




The end

One of these things is just like the other.

I'm sorry for the delay in doing Chase's birthday post but this past weekend was a rough one. Not only did Chase turn 2 this weekend, we also lost my grandfather to cancer. So it's been hard deciding which one to post about. It just felt wrong posting about one and not the other. Since Chase (and I) wouldn't be here if it weren't for my grandfather, doing both in one post seems right, in the end.

I love you and will miss you, Grandpa. Thank you for all you've ever done for us, which was so much.






Chase's two years in review:

October 2004



November 2004


December 2004


January 2005


February 2005


March 2005


April 2005


May 2005


June 2005


July 2005


August 2005


September 2005


October 2005


November 2005


December 2005


January 2006


February 2006


March 2006


April 2006


May 2006


June 2006


July 2006


August 2006


September 2006


October 2006


Happy Birthday Chase!