So delectable

I just want to eat her face!

First day of first grade

Today is Jenna's first day of first grade. My God, she is growing up way to fast for me! Can someone stop time, please?

I miss frivolous

I'm tired of not having any money. Wait, let me rephrase that: i'm tired of my money having to go to places i don't WANT it to go. I want my money to go to places like...oh, i don't know...my SAVINGS account, perhaps. Or maybe to my 401k, or maybe a Roth IRA. I'd also like my money to go to the girls' college fun, or the girls' FUN fund. I'm tired of paying bills. Bills are no fun. I remember when i used to have extra money--when i used to get pedicures and facials, and could take my babies to do fun stuff. UGH. This sucks.
That being said, I'm lucky.

I have a roof over my head, and food on the table. The bills are always paid on time, and well, ALWAYS paid. I'm not a frivolous person. But I sure as hell miss being one. Both for me AND the girls.

One day, i'll be back to "I have money in savings and can afford to be frivolous." I can't wait.

I've been tagged!

EvilPig’s aka Stewbie's Quirks

1.  I always brush my teeth starting on the right, upper side. If I don't, I feel like something's amiss.
2. When i'm in bed, the sheets have to be folded over the top blanket.
3. I like my silverware to be lined up evenly.
4. I often break into song(and so do my girls).
5. When speaking, if i'm really into the conversation, I flap my right hand/arm--as in, I bang it on the couch. 
6. I whisper words a lot. I don't tell people I know, so random public, keep it a secret. 
7. My house is clean. REALLY clean. REALLY clean. 

Ejumacated

What's wrong with this picture? I received this in an email, encouraging me to go back to school. Really, I'd love to--it's just that "fustrating" traffic!

Piercing, but not the nice kind

To the nice lady at Claire's in the mall:
She said she wanted her ears pierced. For YEARS, i've been trying to talk her into it. I mean, come on--look at her--she's a gorgeous kid; earrings would look precious on her. FINALLY, she said she wants them pierced, with NO prodding from me. She just came out and said it: "I want my ears pierced. I want earrings." Hallelujah! So, on Sunday, we went up to the mall, and stopped in your Claire's boutique. She was nervous. She kept telling us she was nervous. "Are you sure you want to do this?" "Yes," she kept saying, "Yes." Although, i think a large part of the "yes" was due to the fact that Gamma said she'd buy her that stuffed "Tigress" if she went through with it. She sat in the chair and started crying. "It's over so fast," you kept telling her. "Don't cry," I said, "It's only a pinch, and a little sting." "I'm scared," you kept saying. "Are you sure you want to do this?" "YES."

You know...why am i going through with this post. Let's cut to the chase:

Jenna on the floor screaming her head off because she can't get tigress unless she gets her ears pierced and after 30 minutes the ears still aren't pierced.

So to you, kind, plump working-lady at Claire's boutique: I apologize for the HUGE scene my child caused. And to all the other bystanders, I accept your thanks. Now you have some kind of "example" to remind your kids of how NOT to behave at a mall.

And to you, security guards, thank you so much for not responding to my child's horrific screams as I dragged her out of the mall. Wait, actually, it's a little unsettling that you DIDN'T respond. I could have been kidnapping a random child!! Shame on you!

--sigh-- We'll try again when she's 10.

------------Edited to add---------

You know, the more I think about the fiasco that happened yesterday, the more I realize that it could have been avoided. When we got into the boutique, Gamma let Jenna pick out a prize. She let her hold it, and Jenna was so excited to have it. But Gamma told her she could only have it if she got her ears pierced. So, even though Jen was scared shitless and had decided she DIDN'T want her ears pierced, she wanted to go through with it because she wanted that damned stuffed animal. So then, when Gamma took the animal away from her, the meltdown just got worse. UGH. Can't believe I just didn't see this yesterday. Or, prevented it from happening in the first place.

UGH.

I had to wake up early this morning. Well, not TECHNICALLY early, but I DID have to set the alarm clock to make sure we all woke up. Meaning, I set the Dora the Explorer alarm clock in Jenna's room to be sure that SHE got out of bed. However, by the time Dora started dinging, me and Clairey were already awake. You know, because she had been in my bed for approximately 45 minutes wrangling my hair with her hands, and kicking me in the ribs with her little toes. We all got up, got dressed, and headed out to Clairey's 830am dentist appointment. Except that today is the 6th and not the 7th. And that her appointment is actually at 810am and not 830am. TOMORROW. --sigh-- Oh, and did i mention that when i pulled my hamper out of the laundry chute this morning that there was a huge tree roach in the throes of death hiding behind it? Did i mention that? Hmmm, perhaps not. In that case, I WILL mention that when I got home from dropping off the chicks at the sitter's, and walked into my home, there was a hulk-sized OTHER tree roach lumbering it's disgusting self across my KITCHEN floor. Sweet baby Jesus. I hadn't even had coffee yet. It was moving SLOW. Until, of course, I screamed like a crazy anime person ("AIIIEEEEEE!!!") and lunged at it with a wad of paper towels the size of my head. THEN that stupid bastard ran with the speed of an Olympian. I managed to get it and flush it, but then had the shakes for about an hour. My kitchen is totally disinfected now, since i basically emptied a can of Lysol in there. I hate the rain. Yes, yes, i know it feeds nature and all that bullshit, but it also makes the tree roaches eek their way into my home. Oh, and the cat?? You would THINK that she would try to get the tree roach. Not so much. She looked at it whilst I screamed, "CAT! CAT!! DO YOUR FUCKING JOB!!" I hate that cat, too. The only way to fix the mess that was my morning was to finish off the bag of chocolate-chip graham snacks and drink copious amounts of coffee.

DONE.

However, i'm still scared to set my feet on the floor.

My mosaic

Here’s how you do it...Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr search, using only the first page, choose your favorite image, copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).
The questions:
1. What is your first name? (Stephanie)
2. What is your favorite food? (Artichokes)
3. What high school did you attend? (Spring)
4. What is your favorite color? (Green)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Zorro--not really a celebrity, but he's sexy, yes?)
6. Favorite drink? (chai tea)
7. Dream vacation? (italy)
8. What do you want to be when you grow up? (full)
9. Favorite dessert? (tres leches)
10.What do you love most in life? (my girls)
11. One word to describe you. (alive)
12. Your Flickr name. (stewbie--this actually came up with several pics of me)

Um...okay

Clairey likes to run around with underwear on her head. I'm somewhat frightened.

Edited to add: A friend of mine wisely told me, "Don't worry--they're HER panties. When she has panties on her head and you're not sure who they belong to, THEN it's a problem." Well said.