This is bliss.

They've already reserved their rooms at Tealridge. Yes, that's a white tree in the background.

That white tree has restored my faith in the Christmas season.

And if it actually gets decorated this year, I will truly believe in Christmas miracles.
Our sad little gingerbread house.
Even a Christmas miracle couldn't have saved that baby.
I wonder of Tealridge would frown on this?

Raegan and Mia painstakingly decorated my entire house with ribbons and about ten rolls of tape.
Anyone that is willing to work ten times harder than I am to decorate my house for the holidays gets to keep their masterpieces up all season.

Assuming I'm buzzed on ten cups of coffee, I love days like this.

I'm only posting this to document my husband in leopard print.
After his haircut he said, "Mommy, my hair not crazy anymore."

My how time does fly...

And so it begins...

There are so many pictures of Mia's opening night that I don't even know where to start. I just know that there is a fine line between documenting an important event and just plain obnoxious. I guarantee I will cross that line by the end of this thing.

Mia: Why did Raegan not wear fancy make-up to come to my play?

Me: Because she's normal.Getting flowers from her fans was the true highlight of the night.The cast of children: Her only concern: Was everyone able to see me?

Quote of the night: Mom, I might be so adorable that people will start throwing roses on the stage for me.

Me: You might need to prepare yourself in case that doesn't happen.

So we don't forget what our other child looks like:

Thanksgiving Day in the City...

As you can see, Bode had mixed feelings about it.

You're about to get really tired of this play - UPDATED

because there will be nothing else going on in our lives besides A Christmas Carol until Christmas Eve - literally.


Little did I know when Mia auditioned at the Pollard that this show ran for an entire month. Even littler (is that a word?) did I know that she would actually get cast and be in every single Friday and Saturday night performance at her bedtime, 8:00 PM.

However, anyone that has ever met Mia would know that she would ab-so-lute-ly love this play, that she would eat, sleep, and breathe this baby.

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet The Widow's Daughter, or Penelope Brown, as she likes to refer to herself (technically the widow's daughter does not have a 'real' name in the play but Mia could not accept that, thus Penelope).
Here is some green room action (which if I have to spend year after year sitting in this little room it's going to get a makeover, or at the very least a coffee maker):Her acting mentor, Kristin:

The "turkey boy" (he doesn't have name either but he is cool with that):

Tiny Tim, Penelope, and Turkey Boy:

If you are looking for a great holiday play this season come to the Pollard on a Friday or Saturday night, I guarantee you won't regret it.

*I just found out that friends and family of "The Penelope Brown" get half priced tickets. Let me know if you want to come and I will hook you up!

Cheap Labor

"And when you're done with the windows you can start on the toilets."

Upon hitting Mia in the face with a drumstick...

...completely unprovoked, I might add.
Me: Bode, you are in trouble because you hit Mia with a drumstick.
Me: The only thing you can ever hit with drumsticks are your drums.
Me: You never, ever hit people with drumsticks.

Me: Bode, is it OK to hit Mia with a drumstick?
Bode: Yes.
Me: Is it ever OK to hit anyone with a drumstick?
Bode: Yes.
Me: What is the only thing you can hit with a drumstick?
Bode: Mia.

Me: Tell your drumsticks good-bye, Son.
Bode: Guess what, Mommy?
Me: What?
Bode: I dead.

Homecoming through the years - Mia style

2004 - the matching blanket scarf sweater things. Hey, you do what you have to do when you are showing up at your homecoming with a one month old and a bunch of baby weight to hide, that's all I'm sayin'. 2005 - made by Yaya. Look at that sweet lil' thang (if you can even see her, oh the days of very few mega pixels).2006 - made by Yaya (and last years' outfit on Cianne) 2007 - made by Yaya, we officially got over the maroon and gray thing, it was just too limiting.
2008 - jacket made by Yaya, rockin' the Homecoming Court 2009 - made by Yaya

And then there's poor little Bode. His clothes aren't cute enough to document on this blog. Sorry, Dude, you didn't make the cut. Better luck next time.

Two things completely unrelated

Another Yaya original:

You give her a plain white shirt, she gives you a masterpiece.The inevitable ending to every water hose play session.

Apparently this fascination is something a woman can never fully understand. I'm fine with that.

Crazy Liar

This little boy had his Sunday school teachers running to the potty with him yesterday. "I need go potty in bafroom," he told them. The kid has never so much as glanced at the toilet in his life.

The lengths one will go to to ditch Sunday school....

It's ten o'clock, do you know where your child is?

Am I the only one that remembers those disturbing public service announcements from the 80's (or was it 90's? I am now officially old enough for my decades to run together)?

If your child isn't wide awake in an Elphaba costume playing with an Elphaba doll then we really don't have much in common.

Sneak Peak

Note to self: Work on posture.With or without Mia, this coat was having its picture made.

I know he had two socks on when he left the house.

These were not posed.

This is what happens when you sneak up on Mia looking in a mirror. I hate it when my shirt looks better on her than it does me.

And I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, "My goodness, can that woman not keep her room even slightly clean?"

And the answer is no, no she can't.

Thank you, MAC.

You were worth every penny. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have this:

I am soooo submitting this to awkwardfamilyphotos.com.

Mia, thank you for being Elphaba. Most girls would have wanted to be Glinda, the pretty, yet predictable, blonde who wears the pink ruffly dress and gets the guy (sort of). But not you, sweet Mia. You chose the complex, misunderstood, and not-so-obviously beautiful Elphaba. Keep thinking outside the box, sweet girl. You make your Momma proud.