The ABC's of Dating

Being the blog stalker that I am... (I'm really not bad, honest) I found a GENIUS idea. This girl and her husband are doing Dating ABC's, which means, they started with the letter A and are working their way through the alphabet on dates. So, each letter gets a new date. (Going dancing on D, playing basketball on B, etc...)
So, BRILLIANT! How often do you want to go on a date with your hubby, but the same old dinner and a movie sounds, well LAME-O KA-BLAME-O? Or, you want to go on a date but have a brain fart as to what would be fun (and still affordable)? My favorite thing is, they aren't doing anything extravagant or expensive, just different, out of the ordinary routine. BRILLIANT! (That is my favorite word for this post.)
So, Brandon and I are embarking on the ABC's of Dating. Unfortunately, we are stuck at A... (and I want to get to C because I want to go canoe-ing and we just found out that some friends of ours have a canoe!!! We are going to go canoe-ing. That's right, CANOE-ING!! Fun, fun, FUN!!!)
So, of course I think A and immediately I am wanting to take an art class (how awesome would that be?!) yea...Brandon's not going for it. He's not going for an Art gallery either (I can think of other words beside art that start with an A, but come on, this girl wants some culture...)
So, here are our best ideas....(at least the ones we will agree on)

• Argentina night - we will eat empanadas until we puke and then run around on the soccer field as Boca Juniors and the other Argentina team that Brandon has a jersey for... I don't remember their name, but in real life, they don't play against Boca Juniors because they aren't in the same league.
• macaroni Art - the only art I could get Brandon to agree on. Well, that and sidewalk chalk.
• Arcades - This is probably what we will end up doing. We LOVE arcades! However, since we love them, our last (and only) 3 dates have been to an arcade...so it's not exactly something new and original.

You know what I wish we could do....Alligator wrestling, now that would be cool.
So, if you have some suggestions for the ABC's of dating, post your ideas here. (and it doesn't have to be for the letter A) maybe we will use one of your suggestions. I am excited! Please remember we are a young family, so the more family friendly (as in cost effective)the idea, the better.
(Of course, those of you who know me, know that I stayed up all night one night and made a list already of every possible thing we could do for each letter...yeah, I'm that messed up. But, sometimes your brain jumps over perfectly spectacular ideas. That is where you come in.)
Stay tuned for some fun.

Minty Fresh

Actually, it's "sparkle fun" fresh... Landon had a little help getting ready for church yesterday. Apparently babies need fresh breath too. Landon thought it was yummy.

(Look at that blond hair...??? It's not really blond in real life.)

Dilemma

So here it is people; my gangstaphrenia is giving me problems...You see, I cannot decide which word I prefer. It is a delicate problem. I am trying to pick a word for the people we know. Here are my options:

1. posse - I don't know why, it's just a GREAT word. (Plus, it totally rocks in the free credit report dot com commercials: "my legs are sticking to the dash and my posse's getting laughed at." Funny funny. Great word) Here is my favorite definitions: A gang involved in crimes such as running guns and illegal narcotics trafficking. But it also means a group of friends or associates.
2. entourage - never seen the show, but once again, GREAT word. It has an air of importance about it. (Don't you have to be fairly important to have an entourage...kind of like a celebrity...kind of like me...) Just think about it. Defintion: the group following and attending to some important person
3. chums - it's kind of old school. reminds me of my chums/mates over in New Zealand. (Remember Graham, Gina??)
4. peeps - Well, this one works with my little birdie header. (and it's short for people. I call people people all the time... he, he.)
5. outkasts - REALLY KADON GET A BLOG! I can't have an outkast section until I can put you in there...everyone else might get offended.

Honestly, the biggest debate is posse vs. entourage. I might use both, one for friends, one for family.... But which for which? Sound off (that's cool talk for leave me a comment and let me know.)

Dinner Maker

I heated up leftovers for lunch today. Apparently Kami wasn't cool with that idea. So, when she whined, I told her if she wanted to eat something else she could make it herself. Do you know what she said to me

"No, because I am not the mom"

I said too bad. Just because I am your mom doesn't mean I have to do everything you say. Of course she responded: "uh huh!"

"You have to make my lunch because I'm not the dinner maker because I'm not the mom yet."

Seriously?! In her defense, although she was being snotty about not eating leftovers, her responses about not being the mom were more of a matter of fact statement. (in her little mind)

Oh Kami...

She is, by the way, quite happily sitting at the table eating leftovers. So I guess that makes me the dinner maker and the boss...

Owie!

I cut my finger on a stupid olive can tonight. Don't ask how. I'm not exactly sure myself. It must be some super human klutz gene I inherited from my mother. Stupid olives. (not stupid mother) Seriously, there was one tiny, microscopic area on the can the could inflict pain.

OF COURSE my finger finds it.

Stupid finger...stupid olives.

And do you know what, it really, really hurt. Actually, it still hurts. Chalk it up to one more reason to hate olives. Stupid olives, I'm never buying you again.

I only wish Brandon were here to kiss it better...

Watch This!

Phineas and Ferb, on the Disney channel. You will not be disappointed.

Efficiency

I am proud to say that in our household we have streamlined our tantrums for maximum efficiency. Here is the low down on how that works: Each child is allowed three "steps" to their tantrum. The steps must be completed in rapid fire succession. And, said tantrum must begin or end with a squawk. (Do you get the blog header now?)

Let me illustrate with an example from earlier this morning:

Today. Children were fighting over a stuffed animal. Mother took said animal away. Outbursts/tantrums of high efficiency followed as such:

Child 1 (Kameryn) squawked, raised her hand high in the air and slammed it down on the table.

All three components, expertly played out. Good job girl.

Child 2 (Cooper) stood, squawked, and then shut himself in his closet.

Again, all three components, yet he decided to add an air of finality and mystery by locking himself in his own closet. He's a cunning a one.

And that is the conclusion to this mornings tantrums. That is efficiency at work people. It must needs be pointed out that a wait period of only 5 seconds is allowed before the child (or children) involved in an effective tantrum must "get over it". This is usually signified by the phrase "hey Cooper bud." And, in reality, that concludes the tantrum of high efficiency. Patent pending.