. . .

. . . but not today, because I am busy.  November seems to be getting busier every year, or I just forget that it is full every time it comes around.  Anyway, for now I am working on. . . a soccer coach gift, anniversary stuff, Jo's birthday decorations, Christmas wreath for the door, Thanksgiving dinner plans, pictures of the girls, lions tigers and bears oh my, and Christmas presents and cards.

So no mean texts or emails saying there isn't anything new on my blog.  ;)  My real life is much too interesting at the moment.

five words tell a story

Stumbled onto this site that has all this word art.  It was fun to look through, cause, well I love fonts and graphic design, but also some of them resonated as well.

These in particular kind of tell the story of what's always on the back of my mind. . . and Miley's.
A little bit of Africa.

idling

Finding things, or time, to post on the blog has become almost impossible. . . but here I am for a second to tell you I have nothing to add.  I just needed a place filler for today, and here it is. . . in honor of all my lost fonts here are two games to entertain yourself. . . on the internet. . . go on try them!

Kern Me  and  Cheese or Font

a little housekeeping

A couple items today. . .

First, I'd like to offer one last chance to enter your birthday for my 'year of birthdays' celebration starting in January!  If you want a big happy birthday from us, well me, here on the blog, now is your last chance to say so. . . or forever hold your peace.  If you've already left your info with me in the initial post then consider your birthday on the very important list, and not to worry.  It will be fun!!  Another perk of having me know your birthday. . . in the future you may get a card or something equally cool in the mail.  I do love sending cards and things.  It's always a possibility.

Second, if you found yourself in the mood to buy a three-year-old little girl named Miley something for Christmas and could use some hints, no worries, I can help.  You know those kids that are so focused on one kind of toy or subject that nothing else matters to them, yeah Miley is nothing like that.  She loves everything and is interested in everything.  Buying for her is super duper easy, which is why Dave has to tie my hands to keep from going overboard.  ;)  Seriously, she loves and plays with every single toy she owns.  Everything gets a turn, nothing is forgotten.  So my suggestion would be to buy what you think looks cool, without being way over a three-year-olds head.  Like, for instance, I haven't taught her how to play chess, because I don't remember how to play it myself.  ;)

You need something more specific. . . ?  OK, she would enjoy more food items and stuff for her kitchen.  Baby doll stuff is always fun.  Legos are much loved.  Coloring books and regular books.  Princess things are starting to have pull for her as well.  Pretend makeup and hair stuff.  Man, she's getting pretty girly.  She loves boots of all kinds and would need a size 8 or 9 in any shoes.  Clothing she's a size 4T or if it's for the somewhat future, 5T.  She's not afraid of toys that talk or move anymore, so don't let that stop you.  If that isn't specific enough, I do have an Amazon wish list that I keep full of ideas for her.  Let me know and I can point you in that direction.

and my hopes came crashing down

The other day Dave was outside playing with Miley while I was working on something.  He came back into the house and actually grabbed my camera.  Gasp.  Picture my mouth wide open.  I think I stood there shocked for a moment until the sound of the door shutting shook me out of it.  I smiled to myself, so proud that he wanted to document a proud Daddy moment playing outside with his daughter. . . I don't know, teaching her to play catch or throw a frisbee, plant a tree or save a hurt bird.  You know, noble Daddy daughter kind of milestones.  ;)

Yeah well, bubble burst once I uploaded his great pics. . . Oh and he was so proud of them too. 

What am I supposed to do with pictures of birds, clouds, and plants?  . . . Put them on the internet and mock my hubby a little, of course.  ;)  Thanks for the memories hon.

here's the deal. . .

It's spring break, well for everyone else this month, and we happen to live in a rather nice clime right now so we're full up with guests.  I flipped on the 'No' on our vacancy sign for at least the next couple weeks. . . and in doing so I don't really have access to my computer which is located in my former office, currently however, guest quarters.  You see where I'm going here. . .  Yep, no posts forthcoming.  In fact, I snuck in and over and through, to do this one.

I wouldn't want to leave you with nothing to read however, and so my sister will be keeping you updated on our doings or whatever she sees fit as the case may mostly likely be. . . see the first installment here.  Thanks* Tiff.

*Disclaimer, I have no idea what she is posting and therefore you may not hold me responsible for any craziness she inflicts upon you, my unsuspecting readers.

Where's Perry?

Happy Platypus Day!

How you celebrate it. . . I don't know.  But since Mie is a big fan of Phineas and Ferb, it's a holiday at our house.  And to be honest, she was not so happy about me interrupting her watching it to take these pics.

vacant

evidence that sleep is important.

Totally Rad

I love Photoshop as you know, and I love love Photoshop actions that take the work out of editing pics.  Well I thought I'd pass on this little giveaway because it's Totally Rad.  She's giving away one of the best action sets out there. . . so leave a comment on her post and I hope you win, because they really are RAD!

crap on toast

times three. . . Yep, we're all sick here.  Lovely timing to have all of us sick at once.  I can see light close at hand however, I think I've reached the depth of the sickness and am coming back.  Miley is too, but her poor little nose is pretty red still.  Dave will probably take a little longer, he is a boy after all and can't help that he's weaker like that.  ;)  His voice is gone too, which is fun cause he's working this weekend. . . and apparently that doesn't stop people from asking him incessant questions.

Stupid cold winter weather.  I wonder if we moved away from winter all together if we'd be free from the winter side effects.  I thought they'd be less since we moved away from snow, but that didn't really work.  I mean, we get to avoid frostbite, and I'm glad about that, but sickness followed us still.  Ugh.

Miley told me she needed some medicine.  I take that as evidence we live with a pharmacist or maybe just good sense.  She reminds me to take my vitamins too.  ;)

I was going to make our neighborhood treats this week, but no worries I'm not doing that while sick.  They've been postponed.  I also did not lick the envelopes for our Christmas cards either.  I'll wait until we're healthy.  No use spreading the sickness to people who won't bring business to my hubby.  ;) 

In the meantime we're just recuperating at home. . . we're grateful for skype allowing us to see the outside world. . . or just my sisters who call us all the time.  ;) 

You should really get skype if you don't have it.  It's awesome.  Free video chats.  We love it because we don't live by family and yet still get to see them. . . and if you had it and called us this is what you'd see. . .

Nice right.  Thanks for the pic, Tiff.

everyone is normal

. . .until you get to know them.

I've got the word normal stuck in my head.  I don't know why.  I think it has to do with all the adoption paperwork stuff.  It's hard to understand who someone is merely on paper.  It's slightly frustrating and complicated.  At the very least it should involve some sort of origami or pop ups.  ;)  I don't want to appear normal and boring.  Sadly, LDSFS doesn't offer that kind of awesomeness in their profiles.  Nor does the internet.  Not that I'd want it to be infected by the stupid 3D craze.  Oh that is getting old.  I guess it's my challenge to show us as genuinely as possible without, I don't know, scaring people away.  Tricky.

For that matter, this blog is probably ripe with misunderstanding.  You never know how you're coming off to others.  Dave never usually reads my posts before they appear here, but I usually ask him afterward. . . you know, if I went too far or come off wrong.  Not much I can do after it's public and all, but good to know nonetheless.  He's not really the best judge though, because well, he knows me, like for real.  Did that sound 80s to anyone else?  Halloween is totally affecting my brain right now.  Totally.  ;)

I get a lot of questions about our family and adoption too.  People are curious about our 'normal' life.  Well, let me tell you our life is our kind of normal.  We don't fit the mold of people who produce their our genetically similar offspring.  Our life is different.  It will always be different.  Not better, not worse, just different.  I think it is assumed that at some point after you adopt a baby you'll morph into or maybe it's simpler than that, maybe it's automatic that you'll be normal like most other families around you.  Not so, we'll always have different issues to confront.  It's normal to us.  This surprises people.  I guess it's still kind of a novelty to have the family we do.  You can't ever understand other people's lives unless you've lived it. . . and I don't know how that is possible without some sort of sci-fi script involved.  Which is probably why I still get a lot of questions and will forevermore I assume.  I'll have to wrap that into our kind of normalcy too I guess.

I don't know.  I can't explain the complexities of this.  The only thing I know is that I'm not really fond of the word normal.  I don't like to use it, even though I have a number of times already in this post.  ;)  Oh well, no one is perfect, or normal as far as I can tell. 

So what do you think?  You think you know me from this blog?  Do you think I can pull that off on the millions of forms I have to fill out for the adoption stuff?  Are you too bummed out by this post, that wasn't funny or had any photos, to even read this far let alone comment?  

You know how first impressions are the worst to prepare for. . . you just can't, it has to be unplanned and natural. . . well that's like the antithesis of this process.  We're planning a first impression on paper/internet, how awkward is that?  I guess what I would like most would be to come off as anything but normal.  The office has very good intentions and tries to smooth out your profile to be the most likable to the most amount of people.  Just normal.  Boring.  Which means they ask me to erase anything they find will put someone off, the originality or even the big words.  I get why, but I'm not looking to attract attention from everyone.  We're looking for the right birth-families for us.  The not normal ones.  ;)  Like last time.  Sorry guys, I totally threw you under the bus there.  But if it makes you feel any better, that's why you're perfect.  ;)  

That's the plan.

dark thoughts

In German (and since that's what I am I'm going with it) one of the meanings of my name is dark. . . and I kinda think it's fitting.  Beyond my awesome tan I mean.  ;)  Other than my whole 'i love halloween' thing, I kind of have a tendency to entertain devious-like thoughts.

For instance, you know those I'm-proud-of-my-procreating-ability sticker families on the back window of all minivans?  I'm pretty sure at some point I'm going to take a family member off of one and switch it with another from the van nearby.  Musical family members anyone?  I don't know why I want to do it, but there it is always a temptation when I see them. . . which is pretty much all the time.  Be warned, your little johnny may be hitch hiking on another mini van if you park by me.  I just want to broaden his horizons a little. 

I have a thing with Santa Claus.  I don't like him.  Well I like him in movies, but that's the extent of our relationship.  Yeah, I know it's not normal but it's true.  I think the idea of telling my kid that a big-fat-old stranger is magically sneaking into our house at night is creepy.  Seriously.

I wanted to be zombie Santa and Mrs. Claus one year for halloween, but that idea was rejected by my friends because it would have scarred their children.  Come on.  Ok, maybe a little.  So I'm seriously thinking about leaving Santa Claus out of Miley's world.  How mean is that?  What?!  I won't have to lie to her about his existence which I know is a small one, but I don't think any lie is ok.  She'll still get the gifts and also be free from nightmares of being smothered by giant white beards while asleep.  I know, now you're not going to let your kids talk to my kids, right?  Whatever. ;)

You know that blog that makes fun of all other mommy blogs, Seriously So Blessed?  OK, it's kinda funny, but mostly annoying how she spells everything wrong.  Well I feel like making a facebook page along those lines of mockery.  I think facebook is the most annoying/ridiculous/pointless thing ever.  Yeah, I know I'll be dragged into the street and stoned for this confession.

If I find any more dog poop in my front yard I'm going to assemble a nice little pile in the middle of the sidewalk and put up a big Lost and Found sign in it.  That's right, I'm one of those gross/annoying people who like to make public nuisances out of themselves over little things like big stanky dog poop.  Where's the Weed Nazi on that one?

I'm trying to talk Dave into working out more.  You know, to build up muscle so when it comes time (I'm talking apocalyptic) to turn on one of your family members to survive in a cannibalistic manner, he will be able to sustain Mie and I.  I would take one for the team here, but let's face it Dave just has more life sustaining ability in him. . . I mean literally.

I would admit to more, but I feel like I've already shown too much of my hand at this point.  ;)

engaged to be married?

of course Lizzy, what other kind of engaged is there?  (oh, I really love that movie)

Well, it's true, my sis is engaged and Miley loves her ring and wanted to wear it as much as possible.  It's sparkly you know, and she's girly like that.

Pics of Tiff wearing it coming soon-ish.  I've got about a billion to dig through first.

quality, or lack there of

I noticed a definite lack of caring today as I cut out some primary activity invites.  They weren't all the same size.  Symmetrical, smetrical.  Whatever.  Randomness is part of their charm.

Well this isn't usual for me.  I don't know what happened.  I even pulled out the old invite from a year previous and swapped the dates.  Can you say lazy?  So not like me.  I hate repeating myself.  I get bored making things more than once.  I don't do mass production well.  I don't get the charm of deja-vu.  ;)

How do I account for this?  I'd like to blame the heat, because one, it's excessive, and two, I can't think of anything else.

Well wait, I guess it just doesn't register on my priority list.  The kids aren't impressed with any of it and I'm sure it barely makes it home before the garbage snatches it from their grasp.  Oh well.  Apathy setting in.  The spark of service has fizzled and now I'm your run of the mill help.  Sorry Brit.  Fire me if you must.  ;)  Or take over the invites if they shame you with their similarities and lack of creativity.  I would understand.  In fact I may judge you for not thinking ill of my repeat work.  ;)

Once again, oh well.  Do I say that enough?  Yep, definitely apathetic.  For some reason that makes me smile.  huh. 

math problems

one little mouth + two new teeth x (the fact that they're molars) + zero pain tolerance = one very cranky girl and one very tired mama

one sick Bear + one good vet + one x-ray /(one pooped on x-ray tech) + one helpful pet food store owner = relief and answers

vrooom

As most know, we are big car aficionados. . . right. . . so it was a safe bet that you'd find us at the car show this morning.  Actually, I believe Dave went for the food (you were right Trish, it was delish).

Anyway, here are our favorites. . . mine. . .

Dave's. . . (he couldn't pick one). . . he liked the second one because it reminded him of Better Off Dead (sorta)

Miley's. . .

. . . who am I kidding, her favorite was most definitely not a car. . . it was this. . .

She didn't even want to share it.  What a stinker.  She's right though.  I didn't want to share either.

Kari, you'd be proud, most of the pics Dave took were of the beloved Camaro.  Dad, I found a few cars I could totally see you driving, including a purple sparkly one. . . and plenty of fuzzy dice that proves that you're right, they are still cool.