Wordless Wednesday

Retro pic of Al, the birthday boy.
And further proof that my children are clones of him.

Top Ten Tuesday: All Things Al

Here is Al spooning MJ when she was brand new. Be still my uterus.

In honor of Al's birthday tomorrow, here are the top ten things that make him the unique and wonderful specimen that he is.

1. He is such a wonderful father. He is a kid at heart and loves to get on the floor to play with the kids. You can count on him to be the biggest goofball at the playground, flying across the monkeybars.

2. He has an incredible work ethic. He is completely devoted to being the best at his job so he is able to provide for his family. His hard work has allowed me to be able to stay at home with my babies - I don't think he'll ever know how truly grateful I am for his sacrifices.

3. He may be the biggest dog lover that ever existed. We joke that he should have been a pet psychiatrist because his connection with all animals, but primarly dogs, is just unreal.

4. He can always make me laugh.

5. He does cute things like ^that^
(To see the photographer who captured that sweet moment, click here)

6. He has always been so supportive of me. Let's face it, not too many people would understand a gal going to law school, accruing insane amounts of law school loan debt, working for three years, and then deciding to stay at home with her babies. He has never once made me feel guilty about this decision, and even encouraged it because he knew it's where my heart is. I love him for that.

7. He is a closeted romantic. Remind me to tell you about how he proposed to me.

8. He is the least pretentious person you will meet. He doesn't know how to be fake, and he gets along with everybody.

9. He is a homebody. He much prefers to hang out at home, in his comfy pants (that I wish he would let me throw away), watch a movie, and eat pizza rolls.

10. He makes me the happiest gal in the world.

This post is linked to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday

32nd Street Blog Parade

I'm way late to this party, but better late than never, right?

1. What's your favorite time of the day, and why?
Early in the morning, when I can drink my coffee and catch up on my blogs in peace before everyone wakes up.

2. If health wasn't an issue, what food could you live off of?

Guacamole and chips. Definitely. When I was pregnant with MJ, I would polish off two whole avocados in one sitting. That picture makes me want to lick my computer screen.

3. If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?
For our house to sell quickly when we put it on the market.

4. What's one thing that you get teased about a lot?
I tend to make up words and I mispronounce words all the time. I'm also awful at spelling. How I graduated college and law school I will never know.

5. If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?
I would definitely want to be a student at Hogwarts, a Gryffindor of course.

6. If you could have one talent that you don't already have, what would it be?
I wish I knew how to knit and that my sewing skills were more developed. I also wish I were more crafty. Ohhh, or that I was better at designing websites. I would love to speak html more fluently.

7.If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?

Koh Samui, Thailand

or

Bora Bora

8. If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?
I'm not sure what genre Sarah MacLachlan, Jewel and DMB fall under, but that would be it.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?
Target. I have the hearts for Target and I'm pretty confident I could stretch that money o-u-t.

10. If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?
That's a tough one. I would have loved to live in the pre Civil War era, circa Scarlet O'Hara days just so I could wear those huge dresses.

11. If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?
Black. I don't mean to, but I usually end up purchasing mostly black clothing. So it's just a color I'm used to seeing myself in often. And it's the reason why my mom calls me Morticia.

12. If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be?
(Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, or Dopey)
Definitely Sneezy. I have had a cold for the past week that I just can't shake. I coughed up a lung and a pound of phlegm this morning. Not pretty.

13. What's the last album you listened to?
Glee. The kids and I are obsessed with Volumes 1 and 2 and we are constantly singing songs from both albums. Much to the delight of Al.

14. What's something we'd be surprised to know about you?
I love tacky reality shows and goofy movies. Zoolander is one of my favorite movies - that's not something I'm very proud of.

Friday Follow

I'm always looking out for new blogs to read, although I should probably stop. My google reader count is up to 80. I can't help it - I love "meeting" new people and being able to catch glimpses into their lives =) I spotted this blog hop on A Mommy's Blessing and thought it would be fun to participate.

This is my first Friday Follow but here is what I have gathered - it is hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades.

You link up your blog with the MckLinky at any of the sites listed above (just add it on one blog and it will be seen on all of the blog hops). Follow the 3 Friday Follow hostesses (listed above) listed in the first 3 slots, and as many other blogs as you would like. Comment on the blogs you follow telling them you're from Friday Follow, and follow back when you get a new follower.

Easy!

"Look Mommy, big sticker!"

Yes, that is my son playing with a panty liner.
I think it shows real creativity on his part.
Yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Retail Therapy

My little dude is giving me a hard time lately. I've really been struggling with ways to get through to him, and I know he's only three but trust me, he knows how to push my buttons.

Al, God bless him, heard the despair in my voice and came home early so I could escape the house by myself. That didn't exactly work out as planned because as I was putting on my boots to leave, MJ came over to me with puppy dog eyes, asking if she could come. Of course I said yes. I'm such a sucker.

My idea of good, quality shopping is probably very different though: the closer my bill comes to zero, the more fun I have.

I scored all of the above for $7. That and the cute quality time with MJ helped me completely forget that bubba was a gremlin today.

Happy Monday

It's going to be one of those days.

Running 5 minutes late this morning trying to get the kids out of the door to take MJ to preschool. Car door wouldn't open when I pressed the automatic door opener. Scared to open door with key because then car alarm will go off. After ten minutes of frantically pressing buttons, finally decide to unlock car with key. Hold my breath waiting for alarm to go off. Alarm doesn't go off. Realize that door opener and alarm are not working because the battery is dead. Flag down a neighbor to see if she will take MJ to preschool (her son goes there as well) and flag down another neighbor to help me jump my car. Realize how much my neighbors must hate me.

Car successfully starts with jump. Drive bubba around the neighborhood for 20 minutes because I'm scared to turn the car off. Realize that the radio/CD player are not working. After ten minutes of frantically pressing buttons, decide to consult the car manual. Discover that because the car battery died, the radio/CD player are disabled as some kind of anti-theft device. Further discover that they will start working if I enter a 6 digit code. Bang head against steering wheel. Call Al for the 20th time and complain. Discover that the code is written in the back of the manual. Do little victory dance and enter the code. Get an error message, wrong code.

So that's where I'm at friends. No working radio/CD player just in time for a road trip to NYC tomorrow with MJ. Not to mention that I'm now scared my car battery will just decide to go on strike again *knock on wood* My day would be at a complete loss if it weren't for this cute guy giving me peanut butter and fluff kisses.