Have No Fear, Underdog is Here!

We got a care package in the mail yesterday. My fabulous sister sent a box full of goodies. First and foremost she took care of her little sis by picking up sheer curtains at IKEA for $4.99 A PAIR! Can you believe it??!! We don't have an IKEA here, so she graciously offered to buy them in beautiful (but waaaay too cold for me) St. Paul and ship them to me. I'm going to hang them in our screened-in porch. Slowly my vision of an all white, shabby chic porch is becoming a reality.

Anyway, along with the curtains there was a DVD collection of the old Underdog cartoons. I don't think I've seen this cartoon since I was a kid. I know a movie version is coming out in August, which my 5 year old is dying to see. We'll have to wait to see the reviews because we usually only go to G movies.

We're going to the mountains this weekend and we're going to save the Underdog cartoons for the ride. I'm so excited to see the kids reactions! I know they're going to be thrilled.

Although, I liked Underdog, I think my favorite cartoon growing up was Josie and the Pussycats. I could, however, spend hours talking about my favorite Saturday morning shows from when I was a kid (I was a little bit addicted - it's ok, I've been through Schoolhouse Rock Rehab). I had soooo many favorites.

What cartoons/Saturday morning shows did you love to watch?

Some Family Photos

I need a drumroll please.....

No I haven't mastered the digital camera yet but I did manage to find some pictures that my sister-in-law emailed to us from a dinner we had at her apartment, so here goes....

Mr. J:

Mr. C:

All 3 of my boys:

And finally, me and the little guy. By the way, I think this picture does not represent my true, um, fabulousness and model-like qualities (snort). Do you notice that the wine bottle is strategically placed in front of me? Hmmm....I wonder how that happened?! One thing all people in my family know - wine and chocolate always is presented in front of me.

Camera Shy

I've been reading several blogs lately that talk about how much they prefer reading other blogs that include personal pictures. I also love to read blogs that show other bloggers kids, homes, hobbies, etc. Here is my dilemma. I am completely technologically illiterate. I can cook, I can throw a pretty fabulous party, I can decorate, and I can do a pretty fierce tango (well, not really), but I have no idea how to use a digital camera. It feels so good to confess! My in-laws got us a digital camera 3 years ago and it's still sitting in it's box. The hubby and I will look at it once in a while and say, "Yeah we should figure that thing out," but alas, we're still using an antiquated camera that probably could have been seen in "The Breakfast Club." The last time I bought film for this thing (and I'm not kidding), all of the film cartridges in the store were covered with dust. Clearly no one buys this kind of film anymore except those of us who still live in the dark ages.

So, that being said I'm going to make a very late new years resolution and try to figure this thing out, as long as we still have all the parts. If successful, I want accolades and a lot of fanfare (just being my humble self). But I'll be excited to start posting some "real" things!

To Toile or Not to Toile, That is the Question

I love toile. I love french country design. Not the provencial kind that's yellow and blue but more the old world, old rustic pine farm table surrounded by mismatched chairs in shades of creams and greens. I love chandeliers, candlesticks, old pitchers, baskets...whoops, I'm digressing. Anyway, I really like my living room and dining room, but I'm still working on my kitchen and this multifunctional, all-purpose, we don't know what to call it, room.

Anyway. I found a great sale on these chair pads (pictured above), and the matching curtains and valances. I think I'm definitely going to get the chair pad for one chair that really is old but I'll distress it further and use it at my computer.

The office area, which is part of the multipurpose room, is right off of the kitchen. Here's my question - do you think it would be too much to also get the toile curtains for the multipurpose room and then a matching valance for the kitchen?

Prayers Needed

I just learned of this by way of Slacker Mom's blog. This sweet little girl drowned on July 19th. Her Mom is so strong but she's just hurting so badly. If you pray, will you take a moment to pray for their family and possibly take a moment to leave a word of encouragement on her blog:

http://hannahandlily.blogspot.com/

Oh Yes It's Ladies Night

I'm on a roll...two posts in one day! My hubbie has the day off and he took the kids out for a while. Yippee! Tonight I'm going out to dinner with some girlfriends. Now for those of you who read my blog frequently, you know I also went out last week. What I failed to mention was how I felt the next day. Thinking that I'm oh so hip and trendy and can keep up with the youngun's, I ordered myself a chocolate martini and then split a bottle of wine with 2 of the other girls at the table. I felt mildly "happy," but in complete control.

Well, let's just say the next morning this girlie was not feeling so good. Wooeeey. Talk about a headache and sour stomach. Thankfully, my wonderful, fabulous, kind-hearted friend took pity on me and took the boys for several hours so I could take a nap. How embarrassing! Clearly at twenty nineteen I can't hold my liquor anymore.

So let's hope this fun loving girl has enough sense not to get carried away tonight. If there's any dancing on tables or girls gone wild videos, I'll let you know (after I recover of course)!

Jumping for Joy

We are now the er, proud, if not somewhat paranoid owners of what seems like a gi-normous trampoline. One of my best friends had the 14 foot trampoline in her backyard for her 4 (yes 4 - I would have ripped my hair out by now) kids. They got bored with it so she offered it to us. The kids have been soooooo excited waiting to get the trampoline. Unfortunately, the night before we got the trampoline I discovered some of the dangers. I thought the only danger was falling off and hey, Julie was giving us the netted sides to go with the trampoline so there's no danger of falling off.

When I told my Dad we were getting the trampoline, he made me aware of some of the other concerns. Well, yikes! Anyway, after much research and stringent rules in place, we decided to get it and the kids absolutely love it. But as my friend Jenny said when she saw me with the kids while they were jumping on it, "You're gonna bite your nails every time they go on there aren't you?!" Yeah, pretty much but you should see their joy filled little faces as Mommy quietly has panic attacks, white knuckles gripping the sides of the trampoline. (Yes, my husband thinks I'm crazy, by the way.)

*Addendum: With a lot of coercion, I actually tried the trampoline this afternoon. It actually is really fun and wow, it's a really good cardio workout!