Tis the Season ...

For fights at our house.  Seriously, my girls can argue over anything and everything.  Not that this is anything new, but you would think with Snowball the Elf watching they would try a little harder.  Here are a few of the things they fight over:

• Who sits in Daddy's chair
• Who sits next to Mommy
• Who opens the door
• Who turns on the Christmas lights
• Who sits in Mommy's chair
• Who takes a shower/bath first
• Who uses which bathroom
• What television show to watch
• Who puts the forks versus the napkins on the table - because did you know forks are so much cooler than napkins?  Me neither!
• Who hugs Mommy first
• Who sits next to Nana and Poppa
• Who sits on what chair to skype Grandma and Grandpa
• What movie to watch
• Who sits next to Mommy on the couch

Seriously they fight about all of these and more on a daily basis.  It is driving Mr. ESPN and I insane!  Can you imagine how they will be when they are teenagers (God help us)?  The one good thing - 5 minutes after arguing about these things they are loving on each other.

BTW - thanks for the comments on my last comment on my last post.  The whole drop kicking someone for complimenting Mr. ESPN on how skinny he is was based on my MIL.  God bless her she is a sweet woman and I love her dearly but every time I talk to her recently all she can talk about is how skinny her son is and even referring to him as the Incredible Shrinking Man (no I am not even kidding!).  They are spending a week with us at Christmas and I am not sure I can handle those kind of comments for 7 days straight!  We all love our husbands dearly but doesn't it get a bit annoying when people compliment them over and over and over again (even if they are great husbands and look good)??? 

100th Post

Wow - I finally made it to 100! I kept thinking I would do the 100 things about me list, but decided I am just not up for it. So just some random Thursday thoughts.

• If I was doing a 100 things list (but I am not since I am too lazy) I would tell you I am extremely Type A, Christian (who is striving to be a better one), conservative, Republican, love to bake, have a Master's in Taxation (riveting I know!), love college sports (and most sports), Arizona Wildcat, originally from Florida (and in a lot of ways still think of it as home), Mr. ESPN was originally plan B, mom to 2 independent stubborn girls (just like their momma!), Chatty's first name is my maiden name (Lacey), competitive, love fountain Diet Coke with a splash of Cherry Coke, love my southern roots, have a love/hate relationship with running and exercise, yacked one time on the way to Yakima, WA, left handed, want to go to nursing school, love Bud Light, wine and most food .... along with a bunch of other useless information!
• I have tackled a decent portion of my to do list - Kahlua cake and brownies baked, packed at work, purchased new shoes, Amy had to cancel lunch (boo!) and Mr. ESPN completed painting project
• I still have the biggest portion of my list still left to do - DEEP clean my house, bake cookies, cut out some vests from paper bags for our Battle of Jericho lesson/craft for Sunday school, grocery shop (but list is complete and coupons are ready), need to exercise this afternoon, tomorrow and Saturday to complete my 5 day goal this week.
• Mr. ESPN and I are having date night with our friends Ang and Lars on Saturday night - yeah for grandparents babysitting!
• Bia is obsessed with Boobees (yes Chatty went through this phase too). The other morning Mr. ESPN was getting her dressed and she was pointing to his shirt saying "Boobees, boobees! Daddy has little boobees!" Just how he wanted to start his morning! I told him at least she didn't say he had big man boobees!
• Bia loves to snuggle in the morning ... this morning she woke up around 5:45 and ran into our room with her entourage (blankie, little blankie, puppy, monkey and pluto), threw them up on our bed and then climbed in next to me to snuggle! I love it!!
• Chatty didn't make her day twice this week at school (and once last week) ... not sure what's going on in her head. I reminded her this morning that God is disappointed in her behavior and she responded by saying, "Yeah Santa is too!" Uggh! I then proceeded to explain that the only one that truly matters is God ... hopefully a little of that will sink in.
• Still trying to work the Coco hook up for a single lady in Austin for Uncle Greg ...
• Still haven't made a dent in the 10 pounds I wanted to get off by the holidays - doesn't help that I had donut holes for breakfast yesterday morning (in my defense I had a 7:00 am meeting and needed some fuel! Laurie - I don't always eat that bad in the morning)

Kahlua Cake recipe per Dee and Sass' request (it came from my friend Ang). If you love chocolate this is your cake - so easy and so good!

• Box of German Chocolate Cake Mix
• Large box of Chocolate instant pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup oil
• 16 oz. container sour cream
• 12 oz bag of chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup Kahlua
• Mix ingredients together by hand; Spray bundt PAM generously with PAM; pour batter into pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour (or until toothpick inserted comes out clean); Let stand 10 minutes and then remove from pan and let cool completely. Once cooled sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Variation - I have used mint chocolate chips and it tastes great too (if you like mint)

Still Here

I have been a lackluster blogger the past few days ... feel like I have been going non-stop trying to get some projects done around the house before the in laws arrive on Saturday. It didn't help that sweet Bia got sick last Thursday ... Mr. ESPN stayed home with her that day and I was off Friday but was scheduled to volunteer in Chatty's class so Nana and Poppa to the rescue. Bia was better on Friday and we enjoyed a nice lunch out and trip to Costco with Nana and Poppa (after I was done volunteering). Bia proceeded to tell her Poppa everything she wanted in Costco as well as everything we already have from there. She managed to convince him to get her some new coloring supplies (and some for Big Sis too)! They sure learn how to work the brown eyes and pouty face young in our family!

In the midst of all this Mr. ESPN and I stripped and re-finished our kitchen table and chairs. What a chore ... I think we are finally done ... that was a week long project. On Saturday my good friend Mrs. Kingston came over and we made cookies ... sugar cookies with icing. She taught me the tricks and I made some cute ones for favors for a baby shower I am hosting next month. They are in the freezer with strict instructions to Mr. ESPN not to touch! I still have a list of a few things for Mr. ESPN to complete before his parents arrive on Saturday. Our office is moving to another building so I am off this Friday too ... so that means cleaning/packing at work this week and serious deep cleaning of my house on Friday. So below is my to do list this week (in addition to my normal parenting and wife duties):

1. Bake a Kahlua cake, chocolate chip cookies and brownies for a craft fair at our church and drop off Friday morning
2. Bake some more cookies for my in laws
3. Prepare Sunday school lesson for next week
4. Clean House - Deep Clean!
5. Follow Up with Mr. ESPN on his projects - namely painting baseboards and door frames
6. Pack up my stuff at work
7. Exercise - at least 4/5 times this week
8. Grocery Shop (the list has been made)
9. Meet Amy for lunch on Friday
10. Buy some new shoes - hey you gotta have fun too - plus I have two coupons that I can combine at DSW!

I know I am forgetting something in there ...