Best. husband. Ever.

So, yesterday, we had only been home for a couple hours after our Disneyland trip (which was AWESOME and deserves it's own posts - or many posts, as I have 200+ pics), when my lovely husband and Aden hand me a small gift bag.  An early birthday present, I am told, since we were all together right then and he'd be working all weekend, including on my birthday (Saturday).

Aden says, "It plays music!"  So I'm thinking they got me some little Disney music box on the sly.  I open the bag and, to my utter DELIGHT, see one of these:

(mine's black)

I jumped on him. I squealed.  Today I realized I can not only download songs - and movies! - but I can learn Spanish, listen to NPR, and get the KEXP song of the day for free.  Free, people.

My husband rules.

Won't be on this thing 'til next weekend, cause we're going to DISNEYLAND!!!

Peace out, my homies!  I got a date with Mickey:

(Woot!)

American What?

Right.  So I am going to diverge from my usual anecdote-telling,  baby-gushing family life usually discussed on this blog, and delve into pop culture.

Everyone who knows me, knows I love pop culture.  I'm like a sponge.  I don't know how I do it, but I just absorb useless factidotes from the media and world a

round me.  For example, I know that the entertainment world around me is currently focused on Cannes Film Festival, Ashlee Simpson's wedding, the release of the new Indiana Jon

es flick this week and Sex and the City (yessss!) the next, and of course... American Idol.

I really don't watch TV much at all these days - no time - but I do watch American Idol.  The best and worst of singing, bright eyed wanna-be stars, snarky commentary... love it.  In fact, I'm watching the finale right now.  

Unfortunately, Idol's one weak point is the forced, cheesy production numbers and numerous commercials hawking the Ford cars and latest Fox movie.  This year's finale is rife with them. Really, they've outdone themselves.  So much so that I'm blogging about it.

And now, without further ado, I give you the top awkward (and just plain wierd) moments from this year's Idol finale (in no particular order):

1. Big-voiced, skunk-haired rocker Amanda Overmeyer - see above - suffer through those cheesy girl group numbers. In pants.  (Damn those contractual obligations).
2. Poor Brooke attempting to dance during the aforementioned group numbers. Love me some Brooke, but girl's got zero body awareness.
3. Jason Castro.  (See: awkward).
4. Two words: ZZ Top?????
5. Carrie Underpants, Stevie Nicks called. She wants to show you the right wear to gypsy sleeves (and no, they're not supposed to be attached to each other).
   
   
6. David Cook's choke hold on new best buddy Bryan Adams. I hope for his sake they are as good of friends as he thinks to think - I kept waiting for him to lose that hand (below). 

7. David "Archie" Archuleta trying to comprehend the humor of Mike "Guru Pitka" Myers.  Mariska Hargitay to you, Archie.
8. Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and... Robert Downey, Jr?
9. David "I'm not gay, I just strip that way" Hernandez whispering "naked" during the George Michael medley.  Ew.  And speaking of George Michael...
10. George Michael gets the last star spot on the family friendly Idol?  Guess that wierd park moment from years back is forgotten at last, eh George. (We know, we know... it's your culture).

and last but not least...

    11.  Jordin Sparks, please shoot whoever told you to wear that gold lame party dress.  Immediately.  (I'll try and find a pic, but for now, here's the video)*

On a positive note, props goes out to my boy David Cook... I'm so glad he won.  Yes, he's a sell out, but I love how he's kept his rocker side throughout and just has fun with whatever he's doing.  Whether he's forced to wear some horrible white suit or dress like a gay matador in some horrible Ford Commercial, he does it with the enthusiasm of a bartender plucked from the obscurity of Blue Springs, Missouri and fixed - I mean voted - to win fame and fortune.  Good on ya, David Cook.

*My apologies for the YouTube quality on the links; it was just posted so it's fuzzy bootlegs. :)

I need a nap.

Late last night, I realized that I had a very productive week.  

Early this morning, I realized that the productivity had come with a price.

A very rare spurt of spring-cleaning energy combined with my poor husband working insane hours and having insanely hard days at work (due to a new boss) means that I have been doing double duty at both work and home.  In spite of the 90-100+ temperatures, I have been on a rampage - busting my butt at work only to come home and do project after project to finally - finally - get my house organized.

Within the past week I have:

At work:

1. Successfully managed the installation of a much-needed new postage machine.
2. Saved hundreds of dollars a month of my budget my doing some re-negotiations with a vendor.
3. Narrowed the 100+ applications I received (in 3 days!) down to 12-15 viable applicants for the position I am hiring for and started scheduling interviews.
4. Collected money from several departments and executives, went shopping at Babies R'Us and the local craft store, and produced a beautifully wrapped basket of baby essentials, complete with gift card and signed group cards, for my boss (the President), whose wife is having a baby on Monday.  It was worth it - I got a hug! (He doesn't hug).

At home:

1. I completely re-organized the cabinets under our bathroom sink, so our "master" bathroom looks pretty.
2. Completely re-organized my side of the closet.
3. Completely went through our bookshelf, tossing all the old unnecessary papers and other trash, and actually fit the entire stack of books that has been sitting on our floor for month.
4. Scrubbed both bathrooms
5. Done the dishes about 4 or 5 times
6. Done 75% of the laundry, washed, dried, folded.  
7. Vacuumed and mopped the floor (although you would never know to look at it).
8. Taken care of both kids - both of them got baths yesterday - and did I mention it's 100 degrees out and my baby is teething?

I also attended my last graphic design class for the semester and briefly attended the reception for our Spring Art Show (nothing of mine, but still cool inspiration). 

And that's on top of regular life... although to be fair, I've barely ate all week.

Whew! 

After all that, I decided to be a nice person and wake up with the kids this morning about quarter to seven.  I vaguely remember my husband agreeing to get up with them this morning, but I thought, well, I need to get up anyway.

My brain was reeling from all the things I needed to do; I was still riding the wave of productivity from last week.  (It's rare, but when the wave gets going it's hard to get off.) 

Today was the start of Aden's last week of preschool (ever! he starts kindergarten this fall), and as it was the only day we take him to preschool, it was also the last day we would get to take him to preschool ever.  Monday mornings I also have an 8am department meeting, and though I knew I could easily get off the hook, I still needed to call my boss (my other boss - I have two).

So, despite the fact that I wasn't walking in a straight line quite yet, I dialed the phone.  The first time, I realized I dialed the wrong person.  I didn't even know I had that number (I deleted it).  The second time I reached my boss, L:

"Alyssa, what's wrong?"

"Nothing.  I was just wondering if it's ok if I miss this morning's meeting.  It's the last time I can take Aden to preschool, and I'd really like to take him."

"Alyssa.... it's Sunday." (!!!)

"Ohmigosh!  I'm so sorry!  That should tell you how tired I am."

(Lots of laughter) "You know I'm never going to let you live this down".

"I know."

Like I said, the productivity has a price.  I plan on going to bed early tonight.

My Linny Lumpkin is getting SO big. She's 6 months old today! I felt like I should get her a cupcake or something, but she's not quite old enough. So we just had lots of play time when I got home from work.

So, in her honor, and ode to Linny Lumpkin, the love of my life:

In the stroller, looking so big (and almost blond)!

She eats solid food!  And loves it!  AND she's cutting three - three! - teeth (poor thing).

What? I'm hungry!

She loves to play.  She smiles big smiles and giggles that gurgly, squealing laugh that only babies can laugh. It's the best sound in the world!

She wants to crawl.

REALLY bad. (Must...get...toy...)

It's amazing how fast it's going already.  She's already showing signs of transitioning from a baby into a toddler.  She'll be a baby for a little while longer yet, but I know I'll blink and all of a sudden she'll be grown.  It makes me sad to think about it, but happy at the same time.  

Love you, Linny Lumpkin Who! 

The weather gods have forsaken us.

It's supposed to be 103F tomorrow. It's the middle of May!  This is just not right.

Oh, and I meant to post this earlier, but Spring allergies have again beaten my family down. Especially my poor husband.  He went to the doctor a couple weeks ago, and came home with this:

(Mind you the Zyrtec is missing in this picture)  

The pharmacy has helped him become a functioning human being once again, but he's still got along way to go.  I think he's getting tired of the "heroin chic" eyes.

You may have won this round, Spring. But we'll see how you do against your next opponent: Air Purifier.

Ahhhhhh!

Today has just been one of "those" days.  One of those weeks, really (and this was supposed to be a relaxing week)!

Only parents, or those who are constantly around children, can really understand what a bad day with kids is like.  It's usually not anything horrible... no one got hit by a car, no one did anything particularly embarrassing like swearing loudly in the checkout line or asking why that person looked funny, no one threw up all over me.  

It's more like Chinese water torture... an emotional drip, drip, drip until your forehead is numb and you feel like you are going to explode in hysterics.  

As I write this, Linny Lumpkin is screaming in the other room.  I have done everything possible - everything - to try and soothe her. I rocked her. I nursed her. I tried a bottle (both with and without rice cereal). I tried Children's Tylenol. I tried just holding her and shushing... nothing has worked. I finally just put her back in her room, waiting until she cries herself into an exhausted sleep. I hate it - every fiber in me wants to comfort her - but I've done all I can. She has Pumpkin's cold - runny nose, red eyes, a croupy cough - and on top of that is cutting her first tooth. I can actually feel the sharp little edge poking through her poor gums. I am no match.

Today was my afternoon off to be with the kids.  It was supposed to be a fun and relaxing afternoon - beautiful weather, a trip to the park, hang out with friends... but no.  As I mentioned, Lumpkin has a cold and is teething (no match, I tell you). Pumpkin is just getting over the same cold and is still at that snotty, coughy post-cold stage.  I was hoping to get some much-needed work done at home while the kids slept, but true to form, Lumpkin woke up from her nap the second I had put Pumpkin down for his.  Plus, I had to wake Pumpkin up from his nap to take the baby to the baby to the doctor... and I have been suffering the consequences of it ever since.

You would think 2 hours would have been plenty, but post-preschool with a cold, no.  I love our Pumpkin dearly, but when he is tired and not feeling well (and in typical kid-like fashion, doesn't know it!), he is Chinese Water Torture!  It was this wierd combination of bored, whiney, hyper, attention-seeking, demanding and bossy all at once.  Examples:

As I go to get him his promised snack:  

"Don't forget... I want an apple!  And not a smushy one like last time."

Drip.

At the doctor's:

"They have a lot of candy here.  Can I have a lollipop?"

"Yes,, but you have to promise me that you'll be really good, and play quietly in the corner while I talk to the doctor."

"I promise!"

While I am trying to discuss Lumpkin with the doctor (as he climbs on my lap): 

I'm the big brother!  What's that?  What does that mean?  Does that mean she won't heal? I can't see! Am I getting a shot?  Can I still have a lollipop?

Drip.

Dinner:  "I ate all my food!  Can I have dessert?" 

Me: "Nope, as I said before, no dessert and no snacks."

Pumpkin promptly opens the freezer to expect for himself.  

About 5 minutes later:

"Can I have a cheesy stick?"

Drip Drip.

At bedtime, Lumpkin was fast asleep until 10 minutes after Pumpkin was in bed.  Then she started crying mercilessly... this pathetic, coughy, croupy cry.  So of course Pumpkin starts YELLING:  "MOOOOOOM. The baby is crying!"

Drip drip drip drip... 

Going in the room, of course, means that it's free reign to stall bedtime further.  As I tried desperately to rock Lumpkin to sleep, Pumpkin sat straight up in bed, "Hi Mom!"  About two seconds after "Not another word!" he was still sitting straight up, grinning at me like he had just stolen a cookie. Two cookies.

It's almost 10pm now, and I think - I hope - the baby is finally fast asleep.  I'm dying to watch my rental movie (Juno), but all around me is the trashed house and unfinished work that I will probably end up doing this weekend.  Although I don't know when, as I am home alone with the kids almost all weekend.

Ahhh... and there's the screaming again.

Maybe I'll just curl up in a good hole.

This picture makes me happy

I don't really know why, but it does:

My blogging is giving me nightmares...

...Already! I had a terrible, vivid dream last night that Chris has quit his job. Well, it was more like he was fired for some political reason (it was really wierd) and Chris was like, oh well, and refused to do anything about it.

In the dream, we were someone's house or party and I just lost it and started yelling at him about losing his job, and I remember in the dream his reaction being so non-responsive that it really felt like we were going to split up. I must have been in a really deep sleep, because I had to tear myself out of the dream to wake up, and when I did, it took me a few minutes to catch my breath and realize where I was.

I know it's because blogging about his new job was the last thing I did before bed. Bad dreams = no bueno.

As I said, this deserves it's own post

Chris got a promotion to lead line cook (ie: chef in charge of other chefs)!  And a raise, to boot.

I'm so proud of my chef.  He's worked very very hard for this and he deserves every bit of it.

I'm SO excited about this, in fact, that in celebration I give you... the Hoff:

Workin' 9 to 5...to 8..to 11...to 6...

I was sitting with our bishop the other day (and no not this, and certainly not this! More like this)... anyway, I was sitting with our bishop the other day and he asked how things were going.  I told him honestly, we were very happy, but things were kind of rough.  

Now I realize, on a daily basis, that we are very very blessed - we have a nice place to live, food to eat, wonderful family, wonderful kids, stable jobs, and Chris even recently got a promotion (lead line cook and a raise! that deserves it's own post...)  

But life, in general, is one big ball of stress these days.  

It's hard out there for a pimp. 

Seriously, though, we struggle with the same issues all families do these days:

• The economy sucks and gas and food are through the roof (especially living in Cal-expensive-fornia). 
  
• We love our children but it's hard work raising two young energetic kids. While BOTH of us work full-time jobs, and then some.  Our beautiful 5 - almost 6! - month old is not a good sleeper. So none of us ever sleep.  
• We crave quality time as a family, and as a couple, but most days Chris and I high-five each other as we head in/out the door trading home & kids/work shifts.  I stay up until 11:30p or later most nights just to see him after work (and the kids wake up at 6am...and Lumpkin gets up twice during that period...).  I want a nap just typing that.
• The majority of our sparse one-on-one time is, out of necessity, business: did you pay the car bill?  what time do you work tomorrow?  who is watching _insert child_? How was Lumpkin's teething/crawling attempts/sleep habits?  Was Pumpkin behaved?  Do you need anything from the store?  
• Did I mention I will NEVER. SLEEP. AGAIN?

It's a very glamorous life on paper.

However.

The point of this post was not to complain.  We have it no harder than most other people out there, and have it a great deal better than many.  The point is the bishop said something very poignant.  He asked, "Do you and your husband love each other?" (Of course I replied yes).  "If you love each other, than I promise you everything else will work out."

And you know what? It does.  Life is definitely hard work, but the results are worth it. I'm a lucky, lucky gal.

Who is going to bed. 

My new favorite website

I love love love learning new things. If I could be paid to take college classes, that would be my chosen career.

An online learn-to-do-anything site? I'm there.