GO CARDS!

The Cardinals have descended upon Indianapolis for the Midwest region NCAA tournament semifinals, and we're all suited up here to cheer them on. 

Two Worlds Collide

I got a giggle when I found this Ninja Turtle hanging out in Riley's babydoll stroller the other day. It's actually a nice representation of the chaos that governs our lives around here - the boys play with the dolls and you're very likely to find Riley chewing on a Spiderman - and during the course of an average day that all seems very normal. 

When I asked about Michaelangelo hanging out in the stroller, I was informed that it was his secret lair and he was in hiding from the evil scientists. Of course. Not sure why I didn't think of that myself. 

Irish Eyes

Hope everyone is having a great St. Patrick's Day. No green beer here, but still plenty of smiles. 

L Yes!

The Cards continued their winning ways last night by taking the title of Big East Tournament Champions. This, combined with their Big East regular season champs, must have impressed the NCAA Tournament selection committee because we just learned that they earned the #1 overall seed in the tournament. The Cards and Terrence Williams finally got some love last week on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and so right now is a very good time to be a Cardinal basketball fan. Bring on the madness!

Swoon

I forced myself to stay up late enough last night to watch "ER", and was paid back for my efforts with a surprise (sorta') appearance by George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross. I religiously watched "ER" in college, and basically quit watching it when Dr. Ross left (I was mad at the way they wrote his character off, you know, because I hold grudges against fictional characters. I'm very pragmatic that way.). In a strange way, "ER" might even be partially responsible for my marriage. When Rob & I met in college, he was working part-time as an orderly, and he bore a slight resemblance to Dr. Ross when he was dressed in scrubs. In fact, he helped an elderly patient one time who kept asking the nurses to send George Clooney back in to see her.

Anyway, I was thrilled last night to learn that Dr. Ross and Nurse Hathaway are living happily ever after in Seattle, and also that he still looks super hot in scrubs. Almost as hot as my husband does. Swoon. 

Handsome

Casey was a tightrope walker in the school circus yesterday, and he was so handsome in his black turtleneck that I couldn't help having a little mini-session with him. He is growing so fast - I'm bracing myself for the emotional shock of registering him for Kindergarten next week.

Told Ya So

I said I was going to have to find a square frame and mount "Lovefest" somewhere in the house. It's hanging in the kitchen, and it makes me smile every time I look up at it. 

Also, (and you may have needed to live in Louisville to get this) maybe its just me, but when Connor wears his hat like this I think it looks like he should be kicking a hacky-sack and smelling like patchoulli while standing on a corner of Bardstown Rd.

Starving Artist

I wrote a few weeks back about the cool kid's artist trading card swap that was being organized by some other bloggers, and Casey finally received his last art card in the mail yesterday. I doubt any of these budding artists are actually "starving", but they are all certainly creative. Casey received cards created with a variety of mediums, from pencil to watercolor to marker. I bought him a special set of kid's oil pastels for him to use in decorating his cards, and I was very proud of his vibrant creations. He was matched with a group of 5 other 4 1/2 yr-olds from all over the country, and yet 3 of the 5 he received were the "artist's" interpretation of Lightening McQueen from the Cars movie. I made this map for him on Google Maps so he could see where all his cards came from, and he thought it was pretty cool.

I'd like to somehow put them all together in a frame so that he can display them in his room, and if I get around to that I'll post the results. 

View Larger Map

The Close Talker

If you have the good fortune of having a conversation with Connor, most likely it will be held from the vantage point of the above photo. Connor, like the immortal "Seinfeld" character, is a close talker. Now that he knows how to talk, he starts as soon as his eyes open in the morning and doesn't stop until they shut at night. He seems to think everything he has to say is of great importance, and therefor he must say it right into your face. For example, this is the conversation I had with him yesterday while sitting on the couch. Keep in mind all of this was said nose-to-nose:

Connor: "Emember when that pider was in da basement?"

Me: "Yes, I remember when that spider was in the basement."

Connor: "And emember I  took da runny nose and ut da pider in da potty?"

Me: "Yes, I remember when you took a tissue and put the spider in the potty."

Connor: "Yah."

My days are filled with conversations just like that. I think it's a combination of a small miracle and him being so damn cute that I still manage to cling to shreds of my sanity. 

I Feel The Need, The Need for Spring (Spring Fever, Day 3)

All this wishing for warmer weather has paid finally paid off. It was a blustery 55 degrees yesterday, so the kids were able to play outside and I fired up the grill last night for the first time this year. Rob & I enjoyed a cold beer with our delicious grilled pork chops, and so it seems that all that's left on my list is some tan legs. 

We have no beach vacations planned, and I promised my friend David that I would never go to a tanning bed. Hmm, maybe if I was still living in Louisville I'd treat myself to the Sunless Tan Treatment at Josephs. Or maybe I could spend about the same and get this cute flower ring from Stella & Dot, and it would make me feel like I had a natural glow. I need a new swimsuit, maybe if I get this cute pink one from J. Crew I could slather myself with self-tanner, put on a Jimmy Buffett CD and pour a margarita and pretend I'm at the beach.

 Sigh. The truth is I don't really have the disposable income to invest in any of these options. See, if Obama would just send a tiny portion of that stimulus money directly to me I could really do some good for this economy!

I've Got the Fever for More Cowbell (Spring Fever, Day 2)

OK, so the title has nothing to do with the post. I just love that old Christopher Walken SNL skit...

Anyway, we've basically finished decorating the kid's rooms and baths, and one of my New Year's goals was to finally tackle our bedroom. I'm loving this duvet set from Target. The leaf motif is sorta' "springy", right?

Spring Fever

I've got it bad. I'm finding myself window shopping on the internet at night when the kids are in bed, drooling over warm weather clothes and accessories. I thought I'd share some of the goodness I've been lusting after...

The Sweet Tangelo Dress from anthropologie. Sigh.

   

These strappy Via Spiga sandals from Piperlime. Hmm...tan legs, warm weather, strappy sandals, cold beer. Sigh.

More to come tomorrow...

Service with a Smile

The current "Daddy's on-call" dinner: "Chik" nuggets (vegetarian chicken nuggets), alphabet tater tots (which Casey insists on calling "teeter tots"), yogurt & milk. For dessert I let them lick the remaining crumbs from the bottom of the Girl Scout cookie box.  Everyone is happy.