On Frozen Pond

Anyone who has been to my parents' house knows that they have a big pond in the back yard. This pond has been a source of anxiety for me since my kids were born. They can't go outside without supervision because they don't know how to swim. The pond has also been a wonderful source of fun for the kids. They catch fish, throw rocks, feed the fish, play in the water, and sometimes they even get to go ice skating! I have only seen the pond freeze that solidly once before. The kids had so much fun "ice skating" in their shoes and trying not to fall. Nicole was a little more reserved; Tyler was an animal. He didn't care how many times he fell, how wet his pants got, or how cold it was! He loved the frozen pond! The real trick was running from the grass, sliding on the pond and trying to make it to the other side. The pond is oval and we were sliding on the narrow part. It was a lot of fun. Here's some pictures of our time on the ice. I have a cool video, but I can't figure out how to get it on here. My video link seems to have disappeared!

Why?

That was my only question. Why? Why would you do this? Why would anyone do this? Why is the fire extinguished? Why are you hiding under the table? Why does our kitchen smell like a campground latrine in August? I wish I didn't know the answers, but I do.

Here is a cup.

Here is my fireplace.

 Here is my daughter.

If I asked you to come up with some scenario with those three things, what would you come up with? Hopefully not what ACTUALLY happened. Nicole had to use the restroom and for some weird, twisted, unbeknownst to us reason chose to do her business in a dixie cup. Yes people, a dixie cup. Not even a full sized dixie cup, one of the minis. I guess she didn't know what to do with the evidence of her crime -- at the Davis house we ONLY go potty in the toilet-- so she decided to BURN her evidence. So she dumped it in our fireplace! She extinguished the flame, put out the pilot light, and the pee was sizzling all around the fake logs. Ben and I were sitting on the couch and I heard this strange sizzling noise. I knew the fireplace doors were open and I was afraid something was getting ruined. Instead, I got into the room and Nicole dove under the kitchen table (I think she thought I wouldn't see her under there) and I saw the mystery liquid sizzling in the fireplace. I didn't know what it was at first, but as I got closer to inspect the damage, the smell hit Ben and I and we both looked at her and said, "Is this pee?" She didn't even deny it. We sent her to her room for the longest time-out of her life. When we asked her why she did it, all she said was "I don't know." Well, I don't know either, but I kinda wish it had happened to somebody else.

The pee was all over the rug too, so we had to move the furniture and hose it off outside. Then I had to mop the kitchen TWICE to get the pee smell of the floor! Nicole said she wants to learn how to be a "real mommy" so I let her mop up her nastiness. I should have done that anyway.

So now my rug is dripping wet outside.

I'm not sure where I went wrong, but my daughter is crazy and it's probably partly my fault.

Overdosed on Cupcakes

Don't judge her. We've all been there. You eat a cupcake and think, "wow, this is really good, I should eat more!" Then after a while you feel like you just want to die. Lesson learned, stop when you're ahead.

(oh please, we never actually learn this lesson, we just keep binging over and over again as our bellies and thighs and bottoms get bigger and bigger.)

Yet Another Home Improvement Project

We have been working on our kitchen since we moved in. This is what we've done so far:

-changed the pink mini-blinds to white stylish ones
-painted the whole room
-took down some sweet florescent lights and put in can lights
-ripped out carpet and linoleum and put in hardwood floor
-replaced the stove/oven
-added a built in microwave
-refaced all of the cabinets doors and drawers
-new faucet
-crown molding on the top of the cabinets
-replaced the pink tile around the fireplace with travertine
-built a mantle
-added a cool light over the kitchen table
-AND NOW WE HAVE DONE OUR BACKSPLASH!!!

Honestly, I don't think there's much else to do besides replacing the dishwasher and fridge (we really want a black fridge, but don't get us started on that!) and the countertops. I don't mind the countertop at all so we're in no hurry. We probably won't do anything with it unless it gets ruined. With three children, that's a serious possibility, but for now, I think we might be done. Here's some pictures of our new backsplash.

hmmm... those look like roses on the counter... could it be? YES!!! Ben bought me flowers for no reason at all. Just another reason my husband is better than yours.

Why I use a straightener

It takes about an hour for me to do my hair--that includes washing, drying, and straightening. People have asked me, "well, can't you just use a hair drying and BLOW it straight?" Gee, I hadn't thought of that! Oh wait, you don't have curly hair, you don't understand! So, for all of you who think that I should just use my hair dryer and save myself 35 minutes (give or take) of hair styling time that could be used doing more important things... THIS IS WHY I MUST USE A STRAIGHTENER.

Hair dryer                                              vs.                                               Straightener

The REAL Food Network Star

Tyler LOVES too cook. When I make dinner, he always asks if he can help. He's even learning fractions with measuring cups! He helped me make dinner last night and you can tell that he watches way too much Food Network. He sprinkles the kosher salt on the food in a circle and uses his hand to waft the smell to his face. It's hilarious. Ben and I both learned how to cook at a very young age from our mothers. I know men that would starve--or live on sandwiches--if their wives didn't cook for them. Tyler's going to be a master chef before he hits middle school!

Nicole saw Tyler cooking and immediately had to help too. She pretty much only wants to help when he's helping. She worships him and wants to be just like him. Hopefully she'll pick up some technique while she's copying Tyler.

My Picture Taking Days Are Numbered

This is what happens when I try to take a picture of Tori:

"Oh look! The camera! I'm so HAPPY!!!"

"Okay, that's enough for you, I want the camera now."

"No? You're telling me NO? That's it, I'm going to scowl at you so your pictures won't be cute. Take that!!"

"You'd better give me the camera NOW or I'm going to get REALLY pissed."