Quote of the DAY...

Another Quote of the Day from the very talented, and thoughtful Mojo Rowan...

Setting: My car on the way to the movie theatre to watch 'The Princess and the Frog'
Players: Mojo and Me

Mojo says, "Mama, the Princess is going to kiss the frog."

I say, "She sure does. And what happens to her then?"

~all quiteness and stillness coming from the back seat~

Mojo says, "She turns into a Frog!"

~pause~

Mojo ends with, "Then it's 'The Frog and the Frog."

Got that ladies??? He is going to be a comedian one day...I just know it!

Don't forget to kiss your Frog tonight...

YMCA: The Treadmill Saga...

WARNING::: Be advised ladies that this post will discriminate against those ladies still in their early twenties. Consider yourself warned.

I like going to the gym, when I find the time. So last night Morgan got to 'have an adventure' in the giant play structure while I sweated away to the oldies (minus Richard Simmons and the short shorts...) Running on the treadmill, well it is kind of 'blah', but when it is below freezing outside you run where there black ice only dreams of going...the treadmill.

Time:
9:05 minutes logged, just beginning mile 2. I am glistening at this point, starting to get shiny. Staring at myself in the reflected storefront, making sure my stride is long and my gait is steady.

Treadmill to my left:
a nice little walker

Treadmill to my right:
Oh No, where did she come from? We will call her M2S 'Ms. 20-Something' Short shorts, tanned legs, perfect little body (Did I EVER look like her BC [before children] ????)

Let the showdown begin...her eyes start to dart back and forth between my treadmill and hers. M2S adjusts her speed and begins. Hmmm - Really? You are going to go at the same speed as me? Well, here were my thoughts in no certain order:

1) Cool, this is going to be like having a running buddy, and not a virtual one either.
2) Great - I bet I jiggle more than she does, especially in the bee-hind.
3) Sigh - She is going to put me to shame

Well, what happened shocked and amazed me. She became my motivation.

Checking in:
18:00 minutes logged, starting mile 2. M2S keeps grabbing her side. Aha! Side cramps, no thank you I don't get those.

22:00 minutes logged, 5 minutes left M2S is starting to hurt...and I only have 5 minutes left to a finish my run.

26:30 minutes logged, okay its time to Kick and see what my body can push through. Nice! This feels good, and M2S is staring wide-eyed (probably from all the jiggling going on)

27:00 minutes logged, a good 3.2 mile run and time for cool down.

30:00 minutes logged, off I hop to clean up my machine...and M2S? She stares over at me and hits the 'Stop' button. Ahaaaaaa....age beat out youth this time ladies.

Lovely!

Free Trade...

Two Weeks ago, Cade brought home and extra slip of paper as extra credit homework. The only thing it said was, "What is Free Trade?"

At first I thought, "Wow, that is kind of a big thing for a 2nd Grader to understand." But then I started thinking about a shop that I visited with my Mom over this past summer. It is called Fabric of Life. It is an organization that helps women in undeveloped countries learn skills that can help them to better themselves and their families.

Now that was probably a bad description of only one slice of their work, but an organization like that will get my business any day. It also helped me realize that I need to start exposing my boys to these types of places and organizations to help them grow as well as myself.

So in the spirit of 'Free Trade' I picked up quite a few unique ornaments in the store, below is one of my favorites.



If you are interested in Fabric of life just go here....

Helping support a cause...no matter how small.

Like Mother like... Son?

So you all know I don't have a daughter...but two sons I do...and this one ~ he may be angry most of the time, and in time out the other half ~ but there is one thing we have in common...

We both love Jimmy John's Sandwiches!

and he eats a WHOLE one everytime...and check out HOW he eats it!

Love his individuality!

Quote of the Night...(Well, about 6 nights ago as I haven't blogged in a while)

Setting:
Mo's Room

Players:
Mo & Me

Convesation:
Me: [Silently, not saying a word] I walk in his room and begin to cover him with his blanket.

Morgan: [Completely Asleep] "NO Mommy! I don't want to be covered up ~ I just want peace."



Peace on earth [or at least whilst you sleep] to you all...

My Boys and Another tradition...

So ANOTHER tradition at Christmas in the Rowan Household? Why decorating Sugar Cookies of course! The boys ate just about as many cookies as they decorated as well...Even 'naked' (what they call un-decorated cookies) ones!

This year was a success...and there are only a few 1000 sprinkles to vacuum off the floor!






Sweet Tooth signing off...

The Christmas Cookies...

One more reason why I love this holiday. I LOVE to bake. Love it! Something my mom never discouraged me to do. Though she was always right behind me cleaning up the kitchen for that 'invisible' sticking layer. (Hi Mom! I know that sticky layer still exists today after I am done...heehee)

Well this year I went ALL OUT...and I am not done. So far ALL of the cookies have been good.

peanut butter...
...sugar cookies...
...crispy chocolate chip...
...chocolate walnut...
...oatmeal raisin...
...snickerdoodles....
...even english toffee.

I thought I was going to stir my arm off for the last one.

Now I still have Banana Bread to make and my signature 'Neiman Marcus $500 Cookies...oh yeah, and these great little peanut butter sandwich cookies too! I will have everyone successfully fattened up to look just like Santa!

HO HO HO to every baker out there!