Not a lot to talk about today... I am toying with the idea of NOT unpacking our suitcases... since we're leaving for Texas on Saturday.... I mean, I'll just have to pack again. The same clothes. But the temptation of the full suitcase tempts Toby beyond resistance.. it is continually ransacked. My normal "put it up high" approach is possible, but the climbing! Oy vey.

Today I went to Walmart... had the oil changed on the van, and spent the cursory hour strolling and making impulse purchases (like yogurt, no budget for REAL impulse purchases)... I chose an adorable tiny pair of pink sandals for Bean... we had them through the dairy section... I saw them when I picked out the bacon... they were there when I got the avocados. But alas, they did not make it to the register. Somewhere, probably by the bananas, there is a pair of size 2 sandals ... they are so cute. And now they lie discarded... another time, we tried to buy a cheery green colander. It was worn as a hat throughout the store. Same story. I never saw it go. Ah well, another time.

I got a haircut. At first I hated it, so she kept cutting. Now, it's tolerable. Definitely not loving it. But it's short and blonde, so that's entertaining.

Like I said, folks... not exciting. Peace.

OH! And the Idol finale is tonight! WAHOO! And may the best David win!!

Sorry about the late blog. For once, it is not my fault. Well, it kind of is, because I forgot to pay the phone bill. But ultimately, the internet was broken.

Today, for once in his life, the MOG did not have class. Wow, you say. That's kinda harsh. Uh, what I mean is, the MOG was out of school, not that he was tacky or "classless". Anyway, if I said it that way, it would pretty much be a compliment in that he had never, prior to today, been classless or tacky. Which, frankly, would be untrue, because it has happened before. Albeit rarely. But I digress. Deliberately. Because it amuses me.

Back to talking about American Idol. When was I talking about Idol, you say. My my... you are chatty today, aren't you? You were talking about Idol in the comments yesterday, and today, that's when. ANYWAY. In reference to the Idols singing Shout to The Lord... (aka Darlene makes a Million)... I see this, and Christmas songs played in Walmart, as "Christ is preached." In other words, He still gets the glory, even if a girl in a belly shirt sings a song about how great He is, with no understanding. And 30 million people hear it? I think that's just great, all around.

Oh yeah, before I digressed, and then had a secondary digression, I was trying to talk about today. Since R1 did not have SCHOOL, I ran away to the library and the thrift store. If anybody around here had actually taken a nap, I would still be gone. But they slept not. Still, I had a great time and gleefully spent 3 dollars on a pair of pink checkered Vans and 2 baby dresses that are pretty pioneer-era. R2 loves them... he's all about dressing his baby dolls. Which, you know, is of some concern to his father, but whatever. Happy Friday and have the weekend Marvin Zindler would have wanted you to!

I have toyed with Craigslist and freecycle in the past... now, I employ them. I have been haunting Craigslist looking for a big dining table... I mean, there's 5 of us already. If we want to have a guest over, it gets complicated seeing as we have 4 folding chairs and a card table. So I have found a lot of good deals on Craigslist... many a time I have IMed the mister and he shuts it down... because the wood doesn't match our stuff or whatever. For $75 bucks... does it really matter? It's a table with 6 chairs! But noooooo, the MOG/Martha Stewart wants a table that's wood and white. Sheesh. So I haunt on.

And I want a bed for the guest room/R2's room. He was sleeping on the futon, and then we needed that, so now he sleepeth on a crib mattress on the floor. The empty crib is in Toby's room, as he has moved to the toddler bed. "I see multiple solutions to this!" you cry. We already thought of that, and no. So I am looking out for a bed. And on more than one occasion I have found a free mattress and boxspring. As in FREE. And I have been turned down for various reasons. Sheesh. What's 50 miles when it's free? And are you SURE we could not cram a mattress inside our van? Because I think we can. And I can't even rebel and go get it myself because I would have to take the kids, defeating the empty van necessity, AND I can't lift a mattress, that's crazy!

In his defense, he did drive and pick up my free boxspring for our bed. And load it and drive back and bring it inside.

So now I am waiting to hear if the free bed is still available. And where. If so, and depending on where, I will begin new negotiations. Sheesh.

Miss me? We had a fun day out ... grocery shopping and such, buying locks galore to keep Toby in the house.
So I'll blog forizzle tomorrow.
In the meantime, check this out! A Viking goes to Africa

Last night we found a resale shop. I just went in to check it out... wanting to spend the last of the Christmas money and maybe buy a temporary dining table. There were a couple of options, which were ultimately voted down by the Fashionista/MOG. More meals on the couch. Sheesh. Ugly does not equal no good. Anyways.

Later we attempted to attend a prayer rally/service for the Luke 18 project. We made it through worship, but as soon as it was time to sit down, Tobias felt the need to entertain the masses. Dancing, singing, crawling like a baby, running down aisles. We made a discreet exit by gathering 2 tons of winter garb, massive diaper bag, laptop case, car seat with Bean, and a whining Toby. Jumping R2 followed discreetly behind. Sigh. We are going to have to figure this out.

In other news, I really like this house. It is cozy and happy. And my kitchen is huge, although I am not loving me washing dishes by hand.

I need to finish unpacking clothes, and do some laundry. It is, however, approximately 30 degrees in the garage, where the washer and dryer are. So unpacking it shall be.

Sorry for the absence of a blog here today.. I had a funso day at Stephanie's and couldn't log in to my own blog for that. So I will now recap my weekend.
Simplify Christmas party Friday night... I got new hair color and cut and so on, and looked real cute. Unfortunately, no one took my picture. So you will never know.
Saturday my sons stayed at Viking Granny's and I used the opportunity to go nuts at the Dollar Store, Walmart and Target. Nuts for me, which is still not very expensive. Then I came home. after it was VERY dark, and used our fireplace for FIRE whilst I wrapped presents. Very exciting.
Sunday we went to Christ the King and said goodbye, and then we had a birthday party for Toby. And Georgia jumped in the pool fully clothed for cash. And we don't even drink!

Then today I went and had la Palma with some pals. tomorrow, I will put up some pictures from Toby's party on my picture blog.
So there you go.

My knees are sticky. I don't know why. The problem is, I'm wearing jeans. And the outside of the jeans are not sticky. Mystery.

Toby has been awake for over 2 hours and has not even picked up one of the presents I wrapped last night. I am amazed. Maybe he forgot about presents? Whatever, I'm not arguing.

About to venture back over to Walmart for all the stuff I forgot yesterday, and maybe the dollar store... MUAHAHAHAHA

And, my hair is burgundy. So there you go.
Chuck Norris and Mike Huckabee

The lovely Ruby Joy, 8 pounds 5 ounces.

I forgot to do Smartypants, maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder.

This weekend one niece got married... and another was born. Some kinda reincarnation or something there. Today, I will joyfully be spending a check someone gave us "for the kids".... plotting my path now -jeans for Brynn, shoes for R2... etc. VERY exciting.

So my two week shopping trip experiment worked... although we ran out of bread and milk and a few other things around day 12... BUT! I discovered that I miss going to the store. I LIKE getting out of the house, and since we're trying not to eat out as much, that is my primary outing purpose.

So, today I am going to the lovely and gracious Wal-Mart... and I will be shopping for approximately 1 week of food. Also discovered: I am quite ambitious when thinking about meal preparation, but in actuality me and the small gents eat a lot of PBJ's. And leftovers. And we ate out several times.

The plan: make a reasonable estimate of out-to-eat expenses... like fast food once?? or maybe twice a week- and then Sunday lunch out. I have to make a plan that we can stick to or it will go the way of all my other good intentions. Straight to heck. And then make meal plans for home that work... and don't stress me out.

Submit your questions for Ms. Smartypants today through Sunday. She will answer as many or as few as she darn well pleases. But she likes having a column. So go ahead, give it a shot!

Quite the boring house-wifey blog today. But you are what you eat. Or something.