Snake Charmer

Doesn't Everyone?

Doesn't everyone keep their matchbox cars and dead flower blossoms in the fridge?

Oh wait...maybe it's just us and just another example of the many

benefits of living with A.

Shore Thing: A.K.A. Happy Va-cay To Me!

Now let's just keep our fingers crossed that the traffic clears and we can actually get there!

My What Teeth You Have....

This picture makes me laugh.

I love my husband.

He is the silliest of silly and I adore him for it.

This picture says to me....

"Chomp!"

{and reminds me a little bit of this chica... }

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

A tooth is coming...

The Queen of Sheba Has Arrived

See these feet?

They haven't touched the ground yet today...

Remember A hurt her knees yesterday?

Well, apparently she "can't walk" because of her boo boos and the only way they can heal is if Mommy carries her wherever she wants to go...

I think maybe I'll run outside and scrape my knees so I can get carried around for the day!

Oh, and btw--wanna hear how A scraped her knees?

She was walking.

Then she fell over.

Sounds a lot like her Mama!

The poor kid inherited enough "klutz" genes from me so that she'll never be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

On a positive note, however, she inherited enough "princess" genes so as to be set for life.

The end.

The "How Not To" Series Part 1: How Not To Bandage a Scraped Knee

Do not bandage a scraped knee(s) with gauze and scotch tape.

It just isn't the same as a band aid.

Even if you don't have a band aid in the entire house--there are no acceptable substitutions.

Just get in the car, drive to CVS and buy some new ones.

Note to parents: Buy Bandaids.

{In bulk if possible}

Happy Memorial Day!

And, on another note, I totally want this "patriotic" shirt for A!

America's Next Top Baby Models!

Thanks for the fun idea Meg!

You can make one too!

*Monkey*-ing Around

Monkey shines at the zoo.

p.s. is it just me or is it a little disconcerting that mr. wonderful's face fits perfectly in the monkey-face-shaped hole?

Order Up

One cute 'rock star' baby with a side of ghetto fabulosity coming up!

Shelly is thankful that...

the sky is this shade of blue today

Have you ever...

had one of those nights where...

you've been up for 2 hours because the baby who sleeps so perfectly in your bed has been:
punching, kicking, hitting, rolling, sucking, flailing, sighing, dreaming, sneezing in your face all night and you just can't get back to sleep because somehow even though they only weigh 16 pounds they take up more space on the mattress than you and your husband combined and since you can't sleep and don't even really fit on your bed you decide to get up and write a blog about it because what else is there to do at 4:25 in the morning when it's dark and quiet and all you really want to do it sleep but can't because of said baby?

oh. you haven't?

well, never mind then....

Want to *know* what Shelly believes?

Then click here =)

Little Known Facts Continued: Splish Splash

So, I thought I would share another little known fact about Shelly.

It's a strange one

(which shouldn't be surprising at all if you really know me =-).

My dirty little secret is that I don't like getting wet.

At all.

Blech.

I hate swimming

at the beach

in a lake

in a pond

in a pool.

(I think it all goes back to those forced gym class swims in middle school...urgh...public swimming and public showering all in one afternoon is too much for a pre-teen to take).

I hate water-amusement parks.

They scare me.

(I think it all goes back to the time I went down a tube/water slide backwards and upside down...)

I hate showers and getting out and having wet hair.

(I think it all goes back to taking showers and getting out with wet hair).

Don't worry. I really am clean as a whistle and bathe regularly even though I don't like wet hair or wet skin or wet anything.

And for the record, I prefer to take a bath.

In summation I do not like to get wet.

(Unless I'm getting wet outside while splashing in puddles with A. In that case I don't mind and rather enjoy getting wet. I know....I'm an enigma).

Just thought I'd share.

Ah! The Finer Things...

What's that you say? Your toilet paper comes on a fancy schmancy roll?

Well, in our house it comes on a heap on the floor.

(Just one of the many perks of living with A).

So kiss me and say you understand...

Of all the boys and I've known

(and I've known some)

until I first met you I was lonesome

and when you came inside dear my heart grew light

and this whole world seemed new to me.

You're really swell i'll have to admit you

there's no expressions that really fit you.

So i've wracked my brain trying to explain all of the things that you do to me.

Bei mir bist du shein

Pease let me explain...

Bei mir bist du shein

Mans you're grand...

Bei mir bist du shein

Again i'll explain

***it means you're the fairest in the land***

I could say bella bella

Even say wunderbar

Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are

I've tried to explain

Bei mir bist du shein

So kiss me and say you understand

Awkward Moments Define My Life: Mommy Edition A.K.A. My face is still red...

It's time for another scintillating installment of Awkward Moments--this one brought to you by A and it just happened last night so the embarrassment factor is still going strong.... Ah, children--you've changed me forever--I'll never be cool again.

High off of my successful concert viewing night with M I decided to do the unthinkable and take both girls to Mr. Wonderful's last full concert at a local church (just a mile or so from the home). I scrubbed and brushed and dressed and tidied them (and me) up and off we went! We got to church just 5 minutes before the service was to start and I raced up to my husband and asked where the nursery was so that A could play. A was REALLY looking forward to playing in a "new nursery." She loves new nursery. I love new nursery because it gives my toddler joy and anything that gives her joy gives me JOY (and a few minutes to myself!). He wasn't sure so he asked a student, who wasn't sure, so he asked the student's mother who proclaimed, "Well, our church doesn't have nursery Sunday nights!'

And then my world came crashing down.

And then I told A and HER world came crashing down.

It wasn't pretty.

But service was just starting so I figured I could make due with the one small packet of fruit snacks I brought for her and M's one toy to entertain them both during the service. Mr. Wonderful brought his students up to sing and I told A--"See, you don't need nursery--we can watch Daddy and the big kids sing!"

This is when she decided that she wanted to watch them close.

REAL close.

She edged to the corner of the pew (along the wall of the church) and started to walk up the aisle. I caught her gaze and mouthed, "NO!" So, she sheepishly came back. Whew! Crisis averted. I mean, with one super duper wiggly baby in my hands I really didn't have a free one to wrangle a toddler--especially one that can throw a mean hissy fit when she doesn't get her way. Luckily it didn't come down to that and she sat next to me. Until....they started to sing "her song."

A spends a lot of time with Mr. Wonderful and his kids and knows most of their choir songs. She says they are "her" songs to sing and loves to sing with them! A's eyes lit up and she told me she was just going to look at the kids. She walked to the far end of our very long, very narrow pew (towards the center aisle). She gazed at me with a sheepish look. And then, THE GRIN. The grin that says, "Well, Mama, I hope you know I'm going to really embarrass you right now!" And boy did she.

She smiles and then took off up the center aisle. Walking quickly up to Mr. Wonderful and all of his singing students. Up the WHOLE church as we were in the far back pew. Up in front of 150 people--many whom I knew, worked with, taught and strangers of course. Up past the 15 other kids her age who were sitting quietly and well with their parents. Right up next to the piano where she stopped gazing at her father who was oblivious to her presence but assumed she was there as the kids were laughing out loud while they were trying to sing.

Ah. That took my pride down a notch--let me tell ya!

I finally edged my way to the inside of the long, narrow pew--holding my wiggly little baby who wanted to crawl and roll away from me. And I sat there. Frozen. It felt like an eternity but was probably only a few seconds. I knew there was no way I could walk up the center aisle with my wiggling baby only to grab a toddler who would probably scream bloody murder and completely ruin the song. So I sat. And I looked around at a lot of faces that were looking back at me--all of those faces were saying, "huh, I wonder what she's gonna do about this?"

And I had no idea.

Until a strange man came up to me and asked if I wanted him to get A for me. I said yes all the while thinking--she'll never go with a strange man she doesn't know. Ah. My stomach hurts just thinking about it.

He walked up the aisle, whispered something to A, scooped her up and brought her back to me (she was frozen in fear the entire time) where she promptly melted to the floor and started weeping and gnashing her teeth about wanting to sing with the big kids.

I comforted her the best I could with the wiggly baby in my arms and convinced her to come and sit down with me (luckily she stopped crying before the song ended so not everyone heard her). She listened quietly for a while as M continued to bash me with her head looking for an escape. I finally decided to take A to the bathroom for a diversion when an old lady saw me and took pity and opened up the nursery for me. I hurriedly explained that I never would have brought both of them by myself if I had known they didn't have nursery on Sunday nights and she replied...

"Well, we don't have nursery but all of our children always just sit perfectly still and listen."

Thanks. Thanks so much.

Never again I say! Never again! Will I take them both by myself to wrangle and to wrestle. I'll be calling ahead from now on to find out if there is nursery! Yikes. My stomach seriously still hurts just thinking about it. I don't think I'll ever be the same.

I've got my love to keep me warm.

There's an awkward moment coming....Brought to you by someone in this picture....stay tuned...

Six to One Half A Dozen to the Other

My concert flowers may have been commandeered...

But at least my concert hair is still going strong!
It's the little things that get me through the day. ;)

*OMG* NKOTB In Da House! ***update***

Ah, the "New Kids" are on the Today show this morning!

And although I feel as though the name of the group is hardly applicable or appropriate anymore I can feel that the 12 year old girl excitement within is rising!

Let's see if they've got the "Right Stuff" to make a come back........

After all, they have been "Hangin' Tough" for 15 years.

Haha haha and I'm done.

***amelie's review: i like their pretty songs!!"***

Concert Hair A.K.A. it's nice to get dressed up once in a while!

Overheard at the Doctor's Office

Doctor to Little Boy: "Look up to the sky and count to 10. There we go! Got it!"

Mother to Son: "NO MORE Polly Pockets UP YOUR NOSE! EVER!"

Son: "Okay Ma..."

I'm lucky to have a future sister-in-law who...

let me pick out my bridesmaid dress.

she totally rocks.

then again, anyone who can put up with loves my brother ROCKS!

Cause That's How We Roll

Have you ever heard of the....

If you're from South Jersey you've probably heard about the

Jersey Devil.

Legend has it that the big j.d. is roaming the pine barrens

looking for trouble.

Well, I've got news for ya.

The j.d. has a sister.

The lesser known "Jersey Angel"

While she also is looking for trouble

(and wrecking havoc everywhere she (army) crawls)

she is simultaneously being the cutest creepy crawler in the world.

She's a woman on a mission and my house will never be the same.

Best Toy Investment Ever

Wondering if there are enough Weight Watchers Points in the World to Account for:

This huge platter of ribs, chicken, corn, coleslaw, fries, bbq pork and beans sitting in my fridge.

The world may never know....

Thank You

Thank you to my darling husband for my fun new shoes

cute new dress

and for these "less than thrilled to be photographed" children.

Oh! And for my delicious Olive Garden Lunch.

You made my Mother's Day (and every day) Very Special!

I love you and dedicate this song to you:

"Wild thing, you make my heart sing....

you make everything, groovy."

Blessed Beyond All Reckoning

I'm so happy to be celebrating my first Mother's Day as a Mama to two of the most beautiful, amazing, loving, funny, sweet and well dressed girls in the world.

All my love sweet girls!

Feliz Día de las Madres!

Te queremos Madre!
xxoo

Pet Peeve #1

I, as you know, love to go grocery shopping.

Mostly because: A. I get to go to Wegman's. B. It is the ONLY place I EVER go alone. Ever.

It is a "sacred" experience.

But sometimes, it's one of those visits...you know...when you get the cashier who couldn't care less about your groceries.

You get Pet Peeve #1: The Horrible Grocery Bag Packer

You may think I have a little bit of a "problem" but I really enjoy a well packed grocery bag.

I think it ought to be elevated to an art form.

I believe so strongly in a well packed bag that I take everything out of my cart and place it on the belt in the exact order I want it bagged:

boxes go with boxes

meat with meat

cold stuff with well, cold stuff

produce with...you get the picture

So happily, I unpack my cart and send my groceries on their way and usually they end up mostly in the right bags.

Not today.

Everything was sailing along, minding it's own business when she put:

the milk with the strawberries!

tissues with produce!

cans WITH boxes!

milk with sun dried tomatoes!

and the worst offense of all...............

strawberries WITH MY HAMBURGER!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I know that in the scheme of life that this doesn't constitute a big deal.

But since I spend 1/3 of our income on groceries wouldn't ya think they could at least

"respect the food."

That is all.

Weekly Rhymey Reader

Monday: So far away, I can barely recall--I think that we walked with the J.P.'s and it felt like Fall!
Tuesday: A trip to the park with all of our friends--i'm so thankful that we could see all of them!
Wednesday: Took a walk and stayed to play, M loves to swing like a big girl with A!
Thursday: Walked to church to visit S, we ate some pizza--the girls cried when we had to leave.
Friday: Dance Dance Dance the Morning Away! Dinner with S, Old Country Buffet! (I won't go there another day!)

Who knows, my friends, what the weekend will bring,

I'm so happy that S will be home I could sing!

(And everyday with him brings good things).

Fin.

Happy Mother's Day to Me From My Parents

Awkward Moments Define My Life: Student Teaching

Just to prove that I'm not the only one with awkward moments...

Picture this: It was the winter of 2000-2001.
I was just beginning my student teaching in Jamestown Ohio.

I was excited.

I was nervous.

I was terrified.

All of these, but mostly terrified!

I arrived at school my first day and the teacher (a young, handsome man) explained my schedule to me--that I would at first observe and take on classes one at a time...

So that first day, I sat in the back of the room and waited for the student's to come in.

My teacher headed to the front of the room 1 st period.

Introduced me.

Collected homework.

Began a very serious discussion on The Great Gatsby and

sat down

kind of

well, actually he sat on the edge of his stool which

loudly

crashed

and smashed him onto the floor.

I don't think I've ever seen a man's face take on quite that shade of red before.

I couldn't look at him for a week

and that stool

well, that stool was pushed to the corner and I never ONCE attempted to sit on it

for fear of a repeat performance.

The end.

p.s. One of my favorite moments in all of my New Jersey life happened in someone's Audubon kitchen.

It was halloween.

There were pumpkins involved...

But it's not my awkward moment to write about.

Maybe someday she will....=)

People Finding People In The Strangest Ways

I love Google Analytics and being able to see how people come across my blog. Click on some of my favorite search phrases to see how people ended up at my blog from Google =)

daddy's darling daughters

cute liver surgeon

how to draw a princess in photo shop elements


This one really stumped me:

i love umamma

world famous diva

Shelly Wants To Know Why....

WHY in the WORLD is it HALF the price to fly roundtrip (with 3 nights hotel accomodation) here:

London, England

Than it is to fly here (without the hotel or the culture):

Syracuse, NY.

Seriously, somebody please solve this mystery for me.

Little Known Facts: My Not So Secret, Secret Obsession

Hello. My Name is Michelle and I have an addiction.

I've tried to overcome but it's an intrinsic part of my makeup and just can't get past

my longing

my need

my desire

to match and coordinate colors perfectly on everything that surrounds me.

Maybe that's why I made such a good art teacher.

I'm desperately, madly, deeply in love with color and creating perfect color combinations.

The Evidence:

1. I'm the crazy kind of Mom who doesn't like to buy toys unless they "match" my color schemes.

2. I loathe bright primary colored toys.

*gasp*

I know. I've got a problem.

3. I make sure my daughters and I are dressed in the same color family (and sometimes even in exactly the same colored clothing)

4. At the very least both girls and I must all be wearing either clothing with warm colors OR cool colors.

5. Often I don't even plan for the "matching" to happen--it comes so naturally that I just can't help it.

6. My closet is organized by type of clothing and then by color going from Red to Purple and shades from White to Black.

7. I used to change my nose ring to match my shirt.

Everyday.

(I'm over that now)

8. Every time I put my infant seat in my stroller I twitch b/c the patterns don't exactly match.

I'm twitching just thinking about it.

9. Don't even get me started on matching furniture to drapes to bedding.

Seriously. Just don't. I could be here all night!

Well, that's enough evidence for now.

I just had to share my obsession so you can know just how to pray for me.

I've gotta go and make sure A wears pj's to bed that match her sheets.

Ha!

A First Time Swing Girl

Thank You

Thank you to my Madre and Padre

who bought me

the most delicious and delightful cart-full of produce.

You are thoughtful

and kind

and generous and

I am grateful.

We love you and miss you already!

After and Before, Before and After: A.K.A. The Not So Dramatic Results

They're coming....

i bought a box

it was six dollars

i opened it

i mixed and prodded and picked and slathered

(with my mother's help)

and waited

and waited

and washed

and now,

the highlights are here!

i like them

money well spent

my hair is full of summer

Heard and Seen in Gymboree

Seen:
Boy punches his sister in the face while family is in line to pay.
Girl cries and is REALLY sad.
Heard:
Mom (screaming at the TOP OF HER LUNGS IN PUBLIC):
(to boy) WHY DID YOU HIT YOUR SISTER? WE DON'T HIT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! YOUR FATHER ANNOYS ME ALL THE TIME BUT I DON'T PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE!
(to girl) STOP CRYING! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU ARE GOING TO RUIN YOUR FACE FOR THE PICTURE!!!!!!!!
Seen:
Mom storms out dragging two (10ish y.o.) children--one crying, one screaming, while she is screaming the loudest.
Dad, standing with his mouth open at the cash register unsure what to do next.

**i would have paid good money to watch THAT photo shoot!

things that remind me of my grandmother in no particular order

black and white movies

folger's coffee

thrift stores

wind chimes

country music

toyota(s)

weird meat products (lamb's tongue, liver...etc)

cigarette smoke

lawn mowers

toast

false teeth

this poster:

Shelly is wondering when she began to look and feel so old....

I think it has something to do with the babies...

and the not sleeping...

yeah...that's probably what did it.

Where Oh Where Does A Sleep? A.K.A. You Can Lead A Toddler To Bed But You Can't Make Her Sleep.

Where oh Where Does A

Sleep? Oh Where Oh Where can it be?
In her bed?

In her crib?

Nope.
UNDER her Barbie castle....
Hmm....She says when she sleeps here the:can't get her....

I know toddlers are a little "different" and all....

but how in the world did she develop a fear of a light?

The world may never know....