Three Reasons I Haven't Posted in a While...

As always these pictures are 100% pure truth -- 

Only a few messes, dishes, spills and laundry piles were left out to protect the innocent... 

or maybe just because I was feeling too exhausted to clean them all up let alone draw them all.

Excuses are lame I know -- but soggy cat food puts me in a seriously bad mood.

Why so Hideous?

When you were a kid did you ever see those National Geographic World Magazines? If not you definitely missed out. 

 My sister had a subscription and when she wasn't looking I used to like to thumb through it.  My favorite part was the very last page.  There was always a grid of abstract angles or super close up pictures of things.  The point was to try and guess what they were.  I loved it -- thus my inspiration and wordy explanation for today's picture layout.

Can you guess?  

The not so beautiful things that happen to moms after having gorgeous little babies -- 

A - Ultra saggy lumpy bumpy skin and funky stretch marks (not pictured --Deflate, inflate, squirt, drip or hang -- you get the idea, right?)

B- Hair falls out in bunches and grows back eerily similar to how a 4 year old's does when they cut their own bangs

C - Goopy white sticky smelly decorations on my either way too baggy or rubber-banded to button clothes... and just FYI -- right now I DESPISE all of my clothes and my closet too.

D - No, I didn't get mugged on the street, I just haven't slept for longer than a 4 hour stretch for 7 months

So -- the other day I was thinking about all of these amazingly opposite of sexy things that happen to us after giving birth.  I couldn't help but wonder -- WHY!?  Seriously, we just did one of the most amazing possible things by participating in the wonderful miracle it is to bring a new glorious life into the world!  Shouldn't we get to be beautiful and radiant and full of extra energy?  I thought to myself, what kind of payback is this for all the work we moms just went through and are about to face?? ... and then with the possibility of sounding slightly irreverent, I thought -- maybe someday if I get to be in charge I might just take these not-so-fun side affects away.  I might make women who have just had a baby suddenly look like super models simply because in my opinion (and feeling as hideous as I do right now)... it seems we deserve it.  Goodbye stretch marks.  Hello nice smooth curves, glowing skin and flowing locks.  Sounds nice right?

Then it hit me --- Maybe there is more to it.... Maybe all of these unattractive things are just nature's way of helping us keep these little darlings well spaced apart.  Something like natural birth control.
I mean seriously--- if we were hotter than ever after having a baby... well you know.   Our bodies must become ugly on purpose just to up the chance of getting a longer break.
Sounds completely logical to me  -  I guess there are good reasons for everything...

That said -- I still hate my hair right now.

Seattle Sunglasses

When we first moved to the Pacific Northwest I remember hearing on the radio that more sunglasses were sold per capita in Seattle than any other U.S. city.  What!? At the time I thought that a bit strange.... doubted it even.

But now.... 

I get it, I truly do.

Have a very Happy Seattle Sunglasses day!  Soak up as much Vitamin D as you can while you can get it without taking a pill.

Perceptive Little Buggars

Recently I have been involved in some weight loss competitions to help me stay motivated to lose the weight that I gained with my pregnancy.  The first competition I did with Jake and since then he has been very supportive and interested in my journey.

My kids have also been paying close attention to the whole process -- CLOSER than I realized.

Oh SO funny -- Bet she doesn't realize she just lost the privilege of sharing mom's stash! :)

A Guinea Pig Lesson

It all started when we went downstairs to have breakfast and found that our cat had knocked over one of the plants in the night....

What!  This plant is poisonous keep it away from small animals!?

Not knowing what else to do we left to walk to school.  Both girls were a mess.  Tamsyn felt terrible and Tasha was worried her guinea pig was going to die any second because  her sister had fed him a toxic plant.  Feeling helpless and worried, I called Jake.  He calmly offered to call the vet and then called us back just before we arrived at the school.

Seriously - Let Them Eat Cake! A 4 Year Old's Perspective

For my sister and her cute and spunky little 4 year old, Justee Rose.

Totally embarrassed that her mom followed her and caught her asking the neighbors if she could move in she ran and hid her face in mommy's shoulder.

She didn't much want to talk about the subject anymore.... but did come to this conclusion ---

This really happened.  It blows my mind that she slept on it and still was determined to go out in search of a new family the next day.  All I can say is -- Four year olds are AWESOME!  You never know what they might do over a piece of cake.

Grandma Bunny

This year Grandma Bunny helped fill Easter eggs.

Her disposal of the packaging showed that she was a little out of practice --

Now this could have been a complete disaster ---

Grandma Bunny may be a little rusty when it comes to hiding the evidence -- but luckily she still has her wits about her.