The Unhappiest Baby on the Block

That is going to be the title of the parenting survival guide I write someday. I want it to be on the shelf right next to that other book with a very similar title (less the un). My book may be quite a bit more depressing, but at least it will be real.

The Bodester has been sick with something or another for about, oh, 16 months now. Apparently his ear infections are no respecter of holidays. He had a 104.5 right as we were opening gifts and things only got worse until we could get him to the urgent care clinic. Here he is getting some sympathy from Dad:

Thankfully he wasn't too out of it to pick his nose...

and then carefully examine it.

And we are off to Dallas for a concert, some shopping, and some always needed r&r. Praise God!

I get knocked down, but I get up again...

So I am not too proud to admit that I failed my children miserably by trying to serve them bricks with icing (aka my homemade cinnamon rolls) on Christmas morning. Andy, the man who can't (or is it won't?) boil water, intervened and made donuts because as he so delicately put it, "These things aren't edible, Babe."
So after I had myself a little pity party I decided to do what I always do when all else fails, I called this woman:

And together we consulted this woman and let's just say the rest is now permanently upon my hips and thighs. These beautiful babies are proof that with a little help from my mentor, Ahmo, miracles can happen. And let me tell ya, the heavens opened up and I swear I heard angels sing when I sunk my teeth into them. And someday, when my children are telling their children about my wonderful cinnamon rolls, I will remind them that if it weren't for Ahmo, they would still be eating fried canned biscuit dough for Christmas (not that there's anything wrong with that). Thank you, Ahmo, for passing down your talents and passions to all of us.

Success

The gifts, that is, not the cinnamon rolls. But we won't talk about that.

And in case you are wondering if Santa was good to me, let's just say I'm typing this in cashmere...

Here's to family traditions

So for the first time in, oh, 30-something years I am spending Christmas eve and Christmas morning at my own house like a big girl. And in the spirit of being a big girl I thought it was time that we started some family traditions of our own. On my tradition agenda: family devotional, the whole Santa thing, and ooey-gooey-my-kids-will-remember-these-forever-homemade cinnamon rolls.

We decided to sing some songs and talk about Jesus for our devo - surprise. So, we asked Mia to lead us in a song and she insisted, with the determination of a, well, 4-year-old, on leading the Turkey Pokey (thank you Sonshine School). So imagine the family putting our right wings in... Bode just stood on the coffee table and spoke his pig-Latin Mandarin alien language the entire time.

Now the cinnamon rolls, oh the cinnamon rolls.....Being the self-proclaimed Undomestic Goddess should pretty much sum these babies up. They could be considered weap0ns of mass destructi0n. I expect the government to ascend on the house at any moment.

The jury is still out on the whole Santa thing. So far Mia's bike looks like the picture on the box, except without breaks. I finally convinced Andy that breaks are overrated. Who needs them? Certainly not an overly-cautious little girl who has never ridden a bike in her life. Certainly not. Santa does have his cookies, thanks to Stacey Bonham, who sent them home with Andy yesterday.

And now Mommy needs her mocktail...or maybe something a little stronger (to get through the next batch of cinnamon rolls).

Happy Holidays

Bode just found out we were going to church after the photo session.
This is what happens to your tree when you let a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old hang on it, use it for hide-and-go-seek, jump into it, and decorate it at least 50 times a day:

It wouldn't be Christmas without "the look."

I really don't care about anything as long as I have this in my life:

I almost forgot...

Okay, i did forget...until just now.

Bode is 16 months.

What happens at the Murder Mystery Dinner stays at the Murder Mystery Dinner

I'm just sayin....or rather, I'm not sayin. All of these ministers need to keep their jobs...







I know what you're thinking: a bunch of ministers and their spouses at a murder mystery dinner. That sounds about as exciting as open mic night at the Golden Corral. Well, it can get pretty crazy at the Golden Corral. I'm just sayin....

Well Helllloooo Ladies

Dance

My child had a Christmas dance show yesterday and this is all I have to show for it. My camera battery was dead and when we set up the video camera last night to show Daddy the big show it was on some sort of pixilated jumbled alien setting. You should have seen Mia's face fall when she realized that her debut as a Broadway star isn't documented for her future E True Hollywood Story. Devastating.

City family heads for the hills

We just returned from a trip to the hill country. Think tire swings, a dirt pile, big sticks, an awesome cabin in the woods (Andy's aunt and uncle's place - amazing), and a quick trip into Branson for a show. Basically, think foreign country. My kids were in heaven.

Mia came out of her room like this Friday morning and announced that this is what she was wearing on the trip. I quickly announced that she was so, so wrong.

The second cousins:

Bode's hero: Uncle Lucas:

Do not be deceived, this is not how most of the trip went. But isn't it a sweet, sweet sight:

Typical night at the Lashleys

Black Tuesday

Yesterday, December 9th is a day that will go down in history in the Lashley family. The day that changed everything with this one sentence, as quoted by my four-year-old:

"I'm not wearing bows in my hair anymore."

And, like any normal mother who has every intention of putting huge bows in her daughter's hair for the next 10 years, in a moment of panic and weakness I chose to simply ignore the grotesque verbiage that had just spewed forth from my child's mouth and continued preparing her hair for the over-sized, over-priced, custom-made-to-match-the-outfit bow I had picked out for the day.

"Mo-om, I am a big girl and big girls don't wear bows. I'm not wearing bows."

In my last ditch effort to save my own sanity: "OK, like all big girls, you can take your bow out as soon as Sonshine School is over. Don't forget to do that."

One day down, 3,663 more to go.

This is what happens when your 4-year-old wakes up before you: Nails are pink, toes are light purple, bathroom floor is still slightly pink, large pink stain on rug, and a few splatters on cabinet. Darn that snooze button....

I don't think they're missing us one little bit...

Playing in the leaves in front of my Ahmo's (my grandmother's) house:

Just a word of advice for those of you that have not sent your children away for the weekend. Send them. Now. It is good for them and even better for you.

Mom, Dad, and Ahmo, thank you so much for taking my darlings every once in a while. They are making memories that will last them a lifetime and I am storing up sanity for the next week. It's a win-win situation.

Classic

I've been tagged...

...and I feel special, there I said it. I feel special when people tag me. I am glad I finally got that off of my chest.

8 Things About Me

8 TV Shows I Watch
1. I don't really watch anything
2. occasionally the weather on the Today Show
3. and occasionally I will watch a funny SNL clip on YouTube
4. and of coarse I have to watch my brother-in-law's movie reviews (usually after the fact, on You Tube, sorry Lucas).
5.
6.
7.
8.
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8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Charleston's
2. Cheevers
3. Flat Tire
4. Starbucks
5. Starbucks
6. Starbucks
7. Starbucks
8. Starbucks
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8 Things That Happened Today
1. ate the best piece of fudge pie ever (thank you Nancy O'Neal)
2. also ate the best piece of cranberry apple pie ever (thank you again Nancy O'Neal)
3. and also ate the best strawberry banana cake from Leo's
4. chickened out and made Andy go in with Mia to get her shots
5. laughed so hard I literally fell over
6. enjoyed fellowship with friends
7. looked at blackandwhitedelight.com
8. answered e-mails
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8 Things I Look Forward To
1. going to Dallas with Andy later this month
2. having this weekend alone (thanks, mom)
3. finishing my Christmas shopping
4. ordering tons of pictures
5. getting lots of Christmas cards
6. seeing Mia in about 30 minutes
7. taking my kids back to Disney World
8. going to RefresHER on Tuesday
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8 Things I Wish For
1. My family to be in heaven together
2. My family to be healthy and safe
3. to finish my master's degree
4. my parents to retire and move to Edmond
5. To get to take Mia on a girls trip someday
6. to have more time...for everything
7. for my children to find their passions and use them to glorify God
8. to write a book someday
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8 People I Tag
1. Sada
2. Tonya
3. Gena
4. Tara
5. Chrissy
6. Andrea
7. Rebecka
8. Suzanne

Because I can't stand not to...

...more pics of the kiddos.

Mia, ever the compliant little poser:

The Bodester, well, we'll just take what we can get with this little guy:

.