All that's missing is a crown...

We have our fingers crossed...

This is why I LOVE Eugene

So I was at 

Sweet Life 

again!

Almond Peach Muffins - this time

no chocolate...

But - I couldn't resist these... 

They are the tastiest shortbread cookies 

Little Miss H

likes them.

Devoured!

And - the best part...

they're

vegan...

Eggs for sale

K and E have long been the "chicken kids."  

Allowance does not come easy in a household of six plus kids so K and E started selling eggs a few years ago. Lately however the chickens have not been cooperative.  Over the last few months we have added on to their coop, introduced new "girls" to the flock, went through winter and had to break up a few chicken arguments.  I think that they all went through a rather long molt and period of stress.  They haven't been laying more than 2 - 3 eggs a day for over 6 months - not even enough for our family let alone for K and E to sell.  Last week I even ordered six laying hens hoping to boost our egg production.   

(Shhh don't tell the the man... he thinks we have too many hens as is! ) 

So imagine our surprise when the kids went out to the chicken coop yesterday and collected 81 eggs!   Eighty-holy-moly-one!  As Ricky Ricardo says, "Wha' hahpen?"

 

The weather has been great - in fact it has been beautiful and the girls have been getting along much better - so I don't know - maybe they were just making up for lost time.

K and E were beside themselves and sold 4 dozen eggs yesterday.  

They are saving up for healeys - you know those shoes with wheels on the heals so kids can glide.  

Conversations with E

So I am walking through Wal-Mart yesterday  - I hate going to Wal-Mart with all 6 kids so I was a bit distracted while E was chattering away about Karate and frankly I was not paying much attention...UNTIL he said this: 

 "and then sensai taught us how to pop peoples eyeballs right out!"

What?!?  I mean really what does a mom say to that information?

"Just don't do it to your brother" - It was the best I could do.

I have a chocolate hangover

Pass the Tylenol...

I would have never guessed that it would be possible but apparently it is...

After 3 solid days of everyone gifting me with chocolate from my absolute favorite place in the world - yes, that is right, Sweet Life , I am all chocolated out - done - kaput - and would like broccoli on Valentine's Day.

I highly recommend

that you send your husband on a business trip on your 40th birthday.  

The man must be feeling especially guilty because I am being spoiled today. I am sure he must have given the kids a good lecture because they are going way out of their way today.

This morning I got breakfast in bed AND a back massage.  I had to request a foot massage instead because it was too hard to swallow my toast when my 9 year old son was pounding on my back.

The night the man left he brought me lots of chocolate treats (and a new iPod):

Last night my niece brought this over:       

Then today these came:

I'm telling you - this has been a great deal...

Over the Hill

Today is the last day of my 30's

(cue nostalgic music)

Tomorrow I will be 40.

40 

Oh My Good Golly Molly!!!!

That just sounds so OLD!

I'm dealing with it quite well actually.  My husband is in Las Vegas and will be seeing the Blue Man Group without me ( he's claiming it is work related - ppfftt!  whatever...) while I am left to spend my birthday AND Valentine's day with 6 kids and an old dog.

Not to worry - I have chocolate - 

lots of chocolate...

Monday's Confession

I love watching The Bachelor. 

I know - I know

Stupid - base - lowest common denominator - yada yada yada...

(Believe me, I hear this from my hubby regularly)

I am hooked

I mean, seriously hooked.

I worry about Jason. 

I mean, who is he going to choose?  Will she be a good mom to Ty?  That little kid is seriously cute.   

I was glad he got rid of Naomi - she was just too young to make a good mom.  I like Molly and Gillian but are they really ready to be a step-mom?  

And now, I am all worried about next week - DeAnna who broke Jason's heart last season is coming back to see if she has another chance... 

She broke up with Jesse  - apparently at the luggage carousel at the airport leaving poor Jesse is heartbroken on YouTube. 

My advice to Jason:  Don't do it man - stay away from DeAnna.

Adoption News!!

Well after only two years we finally signed the finalization papers for Hannah's adoption. The papers are now sitting on a judge's desk awaiting his signature and as soon as he signs them (he may be signing them right now...) it is all done - whew - we can celebrate, bless her and take her to the temple.  

We feel very blessed

    

The Demise of the New Year's Resolution

Please feel free to enjoy this scenario from my morning:

5:30 am - the baby is crying and I am trying to ignore the whole thing in hopes that my loving husband will be fooled into thinking that I am still asleep and will take care of him.  

5:40 - It works!  It must have been the light snore and the drool... Hubby is up and changing a diaper and giving kiddo a bottle which will put him back to sleep - I can now blissfully sink back into my covers and - sleep.

5:45 - Just falling asleep... wait hubby is now poking and prodding me awake - does he want some hanky panky?  Hmmm, I could be persuaded.... 

No - it is not hanky panky - he is encouraging me to go work out - damn new years resolutions...

Should I offer hanky panky and therefore be able to stay in bed?  

"You should really work out," he says, "you'll feel better."

Crap!

5:55 am - I stumble into the bonus room with good intentions - look at the treadmill and then the guest bed...  I turn on the treadmill - 5.5 and a level 4 incline - turn on the TV - and then...

You got it, I climbed right into that guest bed and slept 'til 7!

*and how was YOUR morning?*

I have no talents

My kids have all of the cool talents. Sure I can change a set of poopy diapers in a flash. Whip up a homemade batch of cookies and even bang out a few tunes on the badly out of tune piano. But hula hoop???? No way - I can only dream...

Micah can even play the flute while hula hooping - I'll have to post that one...