Beezie Parcheesi

Our Little Fats MaGee has all sorts of new tricks up her sleeves these days. Here are a few.

Being Naughty

Smiling with Pops

Checking out the Ocean with Pops

Smiling big for the world to see--and drooling like nobody's business!!

Showing off a dapper, swirly hairdo--we call it her feziwig

Figuring out that the knobs on her new exersaucer turn and make noise

Pledging allegiance to Google

Chatting with Auntie Mallroy

Snuggling up to Auntie Jo-Jo

Laying it on thick in the antics department

Doing a little dance

Employing clever disguises to evade bedtime

Rockin' a bubble fro

Still workin on that big smile

Shoving her entire fist in her mouth

Arching her back to escape the Bumbo--naughty, naughty...

Laying on more antics to make sure they still work. They do.

Yawning

Working on those fine motor skills by playing with her blocks

And, last but not least, finding her thumb to suck on.

And that concludes the list of B's latest tricks. Hope you enjoyed.

2011 is Going to be MY YEAR!!

I have tons of solid evidence backing up my claim. Yeah, yeah..it's almost February and I have squat to show for January. But from here on out, it's going to be MY YEAR! Here's why.

2011 is the year I get to meet Donnie/NKOTB/BSB. July 1st in LA, July 2nd in San Jose. Yes, peeps, I get the boys back to back. I discovered at Thanksgiving that my cousin's girlfriend is also a Blockhead, and she's doing LA, San Jose, AND Vegas the following night. I'm keeping this in my back pocket so I can point out that I'm only doing 2 shows when people tell me I'm crazy.

Come and get me, Kaari!! I've waited long enough!

Because I'm hauling around extra weight like I still gots a fat baby inside me...I have decided to join the Y. Water aerobics, treadmills, free babysitting, a song named after it...it just seemed like the right thing to do. This will help with the aforementioned Donnie meeting, because I am going to be tanner (spray), thinner (YMCA), and generally hotter (will happen with the other 2 points)

This is the year we FINALLY get a new garage door! We did the front and back landscaping several years back, then took a hiatus from working on our house. The new garage door is definitely going to spruce things up.

This is our new garage door. And that's TOTALLY our awesome house.

I am also going to paint the house this year. Yes, I said that I am going to paint it. I feel like I kind of got tricked into it because Lancer told me that he "might allow me to paint the house" and I somehow thought I better hop on the offer and lock myself in. Call me the Lil Dutch Boy, because one spring has sprung, I'm getting to work. I'm going to paint it gray with white trim, and a red door.

This is the current color--kind of a golden mushroom soup color. Meh.

I also have this awesome plan for making food. Because I'm an on the go gal with Beezie, we have been eating a TON of Indian at my new go-to place since Gene and Fuel abandoned me. It's gotten so bad that the guy at the counter was scared to tell me that they were out of chicken korma. That only happened once. Now, when I arrive and they don't have any, he runs to the back and makes up a batch. Now that's service with a smile!


I digress. Because this is a bad habit, I bought a rice cooker, and it's totally going to change my life. Here's how. Because Sunday is a total bust in terms of shopping and fun, I am going to employ my new rice cooker and my 3 trusty crockpots since I'm home all day anyway. I will cook for the whole week, and then have delicious meals ready to go all week long. Genius, right??

The only wrench in that plan is the fact that Lancer will never know what we have to eat, and will end up eating some weird old crap from the back of the fridge. So...I bought a family organizer for our fridge door. Everyone has a column, so we can keep track of dates, appointments, travel, etc. One of the columns will be for dinner, and we will always know what's up for grabs.


The only problem with that plan is that our fridge door is stainless steel, and the calendar won't stick to it. Enter Mayfair Lane. They sell these incredible little clips that work on stainless steel appliances so you can hang calendars, photos, notepads, etc on your fridge. I bought the set below.

Also--I turn 35, which is going to be an AWESOME birthday. I'm going all out. I'm trying to decide between 2 themes--a 50's/60's sockhop, or a 70's disco. Discos are always fun, the music is great, and the costumes are easy to come by. But--I think everyone has already been to a disco-themed party, so it's not super original.


The sockhop would be super fun and more original--oldies music, burgers and shakes, fun costumes (though it would require more work), and the ability to do the Twist, the Hand Jive, and to Rock Around the Clock all night.

Anyone have thoughts either way?

See--2011 IS going to be my year!! I can just feel it in my bones!

Fun in the Sun

It's been absolutely beautiful here the last few days.We're all over our colds for the most part, so it's back to being on the go. We enjoyed 2 fabulous park days this week.

B loves the sand, and enjoys watching the kids around her. I need some sand toys, pronto!

Blake practiced sitting by herself. She is doing a pretty bang up job!

Getting the hang of it...

Look, Ma--no hands!

Colin and Ingie were there, too. We joined them at their park day after the Storytime class I teach on Tuesdays. It's pretty fun--I read books, sing songs, do fingerplay, etc. Tuesday was my first week, and I think the kids liked it.

We continue to use the jogger every week doing StrollerHikes. I love B's expression in this pic.

B's favorite new toy is her crunchy book. She flips the pages, makes a ton of noise, and then puts the book in her mouth. Nice.

She also loves her jingling ball

Last Friday, we took in our first (and likely last) basketball game as a family. After we stayed for one lone quarter, Lancer declared that I should go with friends down the line. I'm not really a sports person, but I think one game a year is fun. Lance thinks once a decade is enough. So who will go see the Giants with me this summer?

Took in a very tasty dinner at Palo Alto Sol, a delicious Mexican restaurant in PA

And--joy of joys--we celebrated National Pie Day last Sunday. This is a real holiday people, and all you do is make and eat a ton of pie. My kind of celebration! I made a GF chocolate cream silk pie that was tasty. Thanks for hosting, Team Ashby!

Post-pie coma

Now I have to join a gym. I think I am going to join ClubOne in San Jose. It's a bit of a drive, but it has a water aerobics class, which is exactly what I'm looking for. They also have a great on-site daycare. Unfortunately, my leg is still numb, and I'm trying everything I can to help it without having to take drugs. They have other fun classes, too, and a great pool for B.

See ya at the park! Or the gym! or Strollerhikes! Or eating pie...if that's your thing.

Is it Just Me

Or does Jennifer Garner look a little too excited for someone watching a kid chopping up bell peppers. Is she going to eat the veggies or the kid?


Yes, I read people.com. Yes, I know it's a waste of time. I'm trapped in the house because B has a cold. It's torture. Except for catching up on stupid celebrity gossip. That part is totally awesome.

PS-Did you know Khloe Kardashian only had her hair dyed red for a mere 9 days before going back to her natural brown color?? Riveting stuff!

PSS--In response to the Garner pic, my good friend Louis just sent this link showcasing women laughing alone with salads. I think I know Jen's next role-and, no, it isn't Daredevil 2. Nice find, Louis! It turns out salad is freakin' hilarious!

Girls Only Want Boyfriends With Great Skills

I am married to Napoleon Dynamite. See the following conversation from this evening, and I think you will agree.


Lance/Napoleon: I think I found a new hobby today!

Me: Great! What is it?

Lance/Napoleon: Knife throwing!

Me: Um...

Lance/Napoleon: Yeah, I got this super sweet knife at the Army Surplus Store today. It was only $8! (whips out knife)


Me: What? Why?

Lance/Napoleon: Cause it's cool. I betcha Tyler will join me in my new hobby!

Me: Which one? Atwood, or Carter? I'm not certain either one will be tricked into participating in your new "hobby."

Lance/Napoleon: BOTH TYLERS!!

Me: Doubtful, sucka.

Lance/Napoleon: Think about it. It's a hobby, and a self defense mechanism. I can also use it to hunt foxes.

Me: Um....

Lance/Napoleon: Now I just need to build a post out of corkboard and plywood to throw my knife at. Where's your glue gun?

So, ladies. If you have a man with skills, send him my way, and our husbands can throw knives at a corkboard target together. And, if you're ever robbed by a mugger, or chased by a rabid fox, well--you will be in luck.

My personal take on the situation is that this newfound hobby will go the way of the dodo bird in a few weeks, just like my desire to sew waned when I realized it took patience and attention to detail. And like Lance's short lived career looking for hidden gold with his metal detector on the beaches of California during a short (but highly memorable) period of unemployment. I wish I were kidding on that one. Proof below.

The dusty and abandoned hobby of days gone by. Neglected by one Lance D. Jacobs.

So--which one of you will sending your husband my way? I need to know so I can out of the house, protecting my carotid artery.

Blakely's Blessing

We had Blakely's blessing on January 2nd. My mom was still in town, so we thought that would be the perfect time to have it. My dad drove up from LA where he was visiting my uncle, and Dave and Bon-Bon drove down from Utah.


Bonnie had offered to make a new dress for B, but my mom thought she had saved the dress from when Eriika and I were little. Sure enough, she found it, and it was in great condition, expect for a few little spots on the inside. It was exquisite. It was purchased 38 years ago by our Aunt Eileen, who was a very fancy lady with great taste.


In the circle we had Lance, my dad, Lance's dad, Dave Ashby, Steve Leeflang, Tyler Carter, Tyler Atwood, and Louis Gray. It was a wonderful blessing, and a great day with friends and family.

My family

Lancer's family

The whole fandamily

After church, we had a little luncheon for close friends and family. I served 2 (very juicy and delicious!) hams, Brooke's creamed corn, 2 orange Jello's and rolls. I did 2 GF double chocolate bundt cakes for dessert.

Lance made quick work of carving up the delicious hams for the crowd

Everyone dug in, and stayed to visit and eat

After lunch, Bon-Bon and Dave had to head back to Utah, and my dad headed back down to LA. We sat around chatting with friends for a few hours, and then gloated about B's good behavior, citing the fact that she made nary a peep during the blessing. What a little Angel.