Missing me yet?

You may have noticed (but most likely didn't) that I didn't have an article on Patch yesterday. I know, I know-- I have probably thrown off your entire week (well Jim, maybe you and Mom anyway!).

Truth is, I have taken a week hiatus to try to get my creative juices flowing. Seems like I've lost me mojo and have been struggling with a serious case of writers block. Hopefully next Wednesday I will have a riveting, hilarious, insightful article for you to read, causing you to belly laugh at least a little bit.

In the meantime, these should get you belly laughing. Happy Thursday people.

Want more? Just google "blunt card" and click on images. You can blow an entire day cracking up at these! XOXO- Kristi

25 Weeks: Moving right along

... but boy, November sure seems like eons away! I seriously feel like we are light years away from winter which makes me feel like I'll be pregnant 4-EVA (Mark Wahlberg reference anyone?!). The only good thing about the fact that I've got 4 more months ahead of me is that I can keep eating Ramen noodles and ice cream at the pace that Charlie Sheen does blow-- non-freakin-stop! Holla!

Ava has taken to my diet of ramen and ice cream, too (or "eye cream" as she calls it). She has been very artistic lately... demanding to paint with her watercolors or to color with her "mar-mers" (markers). Thank God they're "washable". Not sure what our parents did to get that crap off our grubby little fingers when we were little. Turpentine? Perhaps.

Picasso, hard at work

She is just a wee-bit happy

Helping Mommy hold the "25 Weeks" sign

Christmas in July

Not sure what has gotten into me as of late but I cannot stop thinking about the holidays-- I want it to be Christmas already! Maybe it's because I know that our Baby Boy will be here by then and it makes me excited to think about our family of four, gathered around our Christmas tree, enjoying the fire and having some hot chocolate. Sadly, the reality is that instead, we'll probably have a screaming infant and a wild-ass toddler that will no-doubt insist on climbing to the top of the damn tree, and ripping off every glass ornament, sending them crashing down into a million pieces, leaving hazards for all of us. Yes. That sounds a wee bit more realistic.  Ahhh, the holidays.

Now that Ava is getting older, I think it's important for her to wake up in her own bed on Christmas morning-- especially if Santa is going to visit. He can't be expected to load all of his gear to Grandma's house every year, only to load it all back (Yes. I'm getting lazy.).
 
With that said, we will soon have to decide if this year will be our first year (in my entire life) that I will not spend Christmas with my family (in good ol' Q-Town). It makes me kind of sad to think of being without them. On the other hand, though, it makes me a teency bit excited for my little family to start our own traditions; I'm already thinking of fun things I could make for breakfast (snowman pancakes for the kids, Mimosas for Mom & Dad) and what kinds of things we'll do all day long, just the 4 of us. If it's anything like the way we spend Christmas Day in Q-Town, we'll watch "A Christmas Story" 12 frigging times and start drinking around noon. Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Jesus!

While I'm on the subject of the holidays, I thought I would give you a preview of our Christmas card for this year.

What do you think? Too much? ;-)

I'm on a boat.

Today was spent at our friend's lakehouse. We had a GREAT day and Ava behaved like an angel, something that has been rare as of late. Here are a few pics of the day:

Look at that booty. Could you die?!?!

Reason #873 for why I dislike mosquitoes

Poor kid

We decided to have a little fun in the a yard last night. We got the sprinkler out and let the little booger run wild.

When we came in for her bath I noticed she had a bug bite on her eyelid, right on her brow. It was pink but nothing that alarmed us. So into the bath she went and soon after, she was tucked away in bed.

This morning, I woke up to a kid that looked like she got socked by Mike Tyson.

My poor sweet baby. She looked so pitiful. It didn't slow her down one bit though; she was up to her old antics of jumping off the couch, climbing onto the counters, watching TV, etc.

We got some meds (the bubble-gum-flavored antibiotic I remember as a child) from her Dr which will hopefully help her. She is sleeping soundly now and I can only pray she wakes up with an eye that looks a little less like a gargantuan golf ball.

Bonzi!!!!!!!

Daniel-son was having some fun this morning--just playing in her playroom!

Something for your sweet tooth

It's that time of year again. I have started planning Ava's 2nd birthday! I've decided the theme for this year will be Mickey Mouse-- something I chose because she won't be baby-ish for much longer, which means I won't be able to get away with a Mickey theme as she gets older.

I am making the invitations by hand, which I will post pics of later... it's a labor of love, let me tell you. But I have to say, they are darling.

And last weekend, I ordered her birthday dress which is so darn cute, I can barely stand it.

As I'm sitting here, looking online for some fun cake ideas, I decided to check out Sweet Mandy B's website (where we ordered her cake last year).  Lo and behold, there is Ava's cake that I had designed for her 1st birthday! See, I knew it was cute!! :)

Anyway, if you live in Chicago and have the chance to hit up Sweet Mandy B's, I highly suggest you stop in for a treat (their red velvet cupcakes deserve a moment of silence). Scratch that. Stopping by is not a suggestion, it's a must!

That birthday cake will forever hold a special place in my heart (and ever growing rear end). I say that because it was easily the most decadent, rich and amazing thing I have ever eaten in my life. Don't worry about the fact that it cost an arm and a leg. It was worth every penny!

RIP sweet baby Caylee

As I look at this picture, I cannot help but see the similarities between sweet little Caylee and my own daughter Ava. Ava is just about the age that Caylee was when she went missing.

How could someone do something to such an innocent sweet child? Look at that face. Those little hands. It makes my heart weep from sadness for that poor child and her poor life that was stolen far too soon. It makes me physically sick.

I for one think the jury made a grave mistake, letting Casey Anthony off on the charges of first degree murder. If I had been one of the jurors, she would not be walking out of the prison alive. Her days would be numbered. And her way of death would be the same way that she murdered her sweet innocent child.

Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. At least we can rest assured that she will get her own judgement from God, and I certainly hope he takes NO mercy. And I doubt I will be the first to say, I hope she meets him sooner than later.

RIP sweet baby Caylee. You did not get the justice you deserved.

What kind of car does a midget drive?

... A MINIVAN! Har har har!

Ladies and Gents- It's done! The minivan purchase has been made. We opted to go with the Honda Odyssey Touring. We ordered it today and it's expected to be delivered in 2-3 months. I know, hard to believe they're THAT much in demand-- well, that and the disaster in Japan certainly doesn't help matters when it comes to production.

Anywhooooooo, in a few months, yours truly will be an official minivan rollin' Momma! We picked out a black one--I thought it was the sportiest-looking color of the bunch (making the transition to mommy-mobile a little easier).

Good news is that it comes loaded with a ton of cool features to keep my Daughter & BITO (bun in the oven) entertained during long car trips. It's hard to believe I'm saying it, but I can't freaking WAIT for it to get here!! Woot woot! I mean, it's not nearly as cool as an old V-dub wagon but what can I say, I'm a sucker for the Navigation, DVD & Bluetooth. Pretty sure none of those options are available in the Volkswagen. In fact... are there even floorboards in that bus-mobile? :-/