Attention Mr. Obama:

Jack's response to "Ten Things a Good President Should do..."

The (future) voters have spoken.

Ride 'em Cowboy and Hook 'em Horns!

More to come on our trip to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo...

"Let me upgrade ya."

I finally got the stainless steel appliances, tumbled stone backsplash and built-in microwave I've always wanted.



My new kitchen upgrade even includes a super cute personal chef, always willing to serve up some gourmet coffee, potatos and Hot Wheels. In the same pot.

Luckily, Big Brother is a regular at Cafe Davers and is always a satisfied customer. Hmmm, looks like pizza in the oven. Again.

If we ever run out of oversized plastic ingredients, we make a quick grocery store run.

I am so glad Jeff finally agreed to the kitchen upgrade for Christmas. As soon as he realized how many hours it kept the boys occupied, I never really heard any more concerns about it not being manly enough.

* When I read back over this post, I realized it looks like I have a brown pile of poop in one picture and a huge pile of green poop in another. Those, of course, are a saugage patty and disproportionate plastic broccoli respectively.

Say what?

I was pretty mortified yesterday at Freebirds when Stacie starting laughing as I was belting out "ANIMAL!" "AnimAL-al-al-al!" "ANIMAL!" to one of my favorite Van Halen songs. I was totally rockin' out until she told me he is saying, "PANAMA."

What?!?!

You mean for all these years, he's being saying "Panama?"

Pox day by day. Day FOUR!

Day ONE (left) and Day TWO (right):

Day THREE: It's all in his scalp. SO gross. We called the school and found out his 21-yr-old teacher has it too! Poor thing. She does NOT get paid enough for this!

This picture cracks me up. He seems so glad to get his itchy clothes off just sitting there with full belly and full diaper.

Day FOUR: He's finally started scratching his scalp and he was up pretty much all night last night. Well, so I hear.

While we went to work today, Davis stayed with Sandi, a church family member who hardly knows him but totally loves him. What a blessing. Thank goodness Nana was able to take a day off tomorrow, and then Sandi's Mom... whom I met today... is keeping him all day Thursday.

I guess it really does take a village.

... as a buggie in a ruggie.

Nope, we're not embarrassed. We love our Snuggies.

Jack's came with Snuggie socks. Perfect for bedtime stories. Well, story. After one, they get kinda sweaty.

So, we had to get matching Longhorn Snuggies for Uncle Trey and Aunt Tiff.



Then the clencher... Mel and I wore ours to see Avatar Friday night.

The guy behind us said, "This is the first time I have seen someone actually wear a Snuggie... IN PUBLIC."

Neither Jeff nor Van would take our pic, so we had to do it ourselves. It's such a relief to have reached a point in my life where I truly don't care what people think.

The only bad thing is, the four people in the row behind us started talking about their work in the ICU... rounding with doctors, etc. It was the perfect chance to give them a business card and offer information about Methodist's critical care openings.

However, a professional recruitment conversation hardly seemed possible in the blue Snuggie and big 3-D glasses. Maybe next time....

Out for a-pox-imately one week.

The little guy got the chicken pox after all.

That's right. RSV, a mystery fever/virus, and being bitten weren't enough for Davis' first three weeks of daycare.

Here is a picture of his little back, taken this morning (Chicken Pox, day two.)

He spent Saturday whining and moaning all day, never wanting to be put down. I enjoyed the rare one-on-one snuggle time with him, but have to admit I started to feel itchy all over after a while.

You can tell the warm extra-long baths are just miserable.

In the meantime, I might as well post his 18-month bear picture. Now that I am sportin' the mini-van, the "I Dig Soccer Moms" shirt is even more fitting.

Blog Brag.

I am fully aware of my own bias, but check out Jack's newest drawing of "rainforest pteradactyls." (click to enlarge.)

I am amazed at his artwork at age 5 years, 5 months old. I am even more amazed at his patience and attention span to create so much art outside of his bajillion art project homework assignments.

When he finished this one, Jeff reminded him to always sign and date his work. So, what does he write?

"From Jack Griffin to Miss Brockman. Jack Griffin 20010." Of course.

Jeff said, "Nope, Mommy and I are keeping this one!"

How in the world...

... do working Moms manage it all?

I just emptied the dryer (onto the couch), my hair is wet, baby is napping, kitchen is a mess, making grocery list, on my way to a birthday party, packing diaper bag, monitoring Davis' fever, checking him for Chicken Pox at each diaper change, both kids need lunch before we leave, and Jack and I need to get dressed. I have about fifty unanswered personal e-mails and voicemails from people who mean the world to me wondering why I am not keeping in touch. I hate that, but I am just staying above water.

Tomorrow is church and then Monday it all starts again. Thank goodness I love the job itself. It's been a lot of fun so far and will certainly certainly challenge me. A lot. Yes, I wrote certainly twice.

No time to blog I guess. Can't wait for my birthday present to myself. After the party, while the kids are napping, I am calling to schedule the housekeeper.

Cue the hallelujah chorus.

Houston, we don't have a problem.

Last night Jack asked me to call and check on Meemaw and Paw Paw because he heard there was a bad earthquake in Katy.

So there you have it.

Jeff and I decided to compliment Jack Everett on his awesome work and let Mrs. Brockman give any feedback.

Win-win-win!

Mommy is proud, Mrs. B is happy, and Jack's first-teacher crush lives on.

On the spot.

Sign on Davis' classroom door this morning at the daycare:

"We have Chickenpox!"

*sigh

Please pray that he doesn't get it, especially since he is not vaccinated against it. Neither Jeff nor I can afford to take a lot of time off work.

Silver lining: At least Jack has already had Chicken Box.