Why I Hate the Internet and Technology in General

Because somehow it's taken me one hour and 15 minutes of my precious Sunday to:
Call Shutterfly and alert them that my picture order had an odd white border that I didn't order.
Learn they recommend that I upload them again but direct to Shutterfly this time vs. through Picasa.
Upload them.
Wait.
Wait.
For 28 minutes.
Finally review photos and fix red eye on several. Wait for that. (The little hamster in my laptop is running super slow today, it seems).
Painstakingly make decisions on the ones I want/don't want.
Get error screen.
Get back to main screen - AH.
See "O" in the Halloween 2007 photo folder - oh no!.
Realize all pics are unexplainably gone.
Get cursing mad ... realize must start all over.

THIS is why I never get anything done like, oh, print photos from the last 10 months. Two weeks ago I boldly decided that I'm going to order pictures as I take them! And I will start with Halloween, YES! Only to get the technology smackdown.

Next on my to do list was checking our online bank statements but ... God forbid that system's down ... my laptop screen might not survive it.

What a Week Can Do

I was out of town this week and I swear my son grew. He also turned 19 months (Michael had to correct me when I said 18 last night).

He also learned how to initiate patty cake. Started doing it himself during my Welcome Back, Mommy dinner at Chevy's last night.

He has gotten even better at building with blocks.

And he's more regularly asking for the dogs by names - if their names are Body and Miphy.

AND he's sitting still on the changing pad now ... IF you let him pull it out from under the bed, and also let him open the cabinet to pull out the diapers and wipes.

And, finally, he was even more full of overgrown blond cowlicks than when I left, I swear. So off we went to Cool Cuts today.


This ideallyic scene belies the chaos that is about to ensue upon Ms. Nikki's first snip.



Does he look like he's plotting a giant struggling fit?

I couldn't get any photos of the main event because I was too busy pinning his arms down.

After much screaming and many giant crocodile tears, Ms. Nikki accomplished her goal and my son's head is tidy again. Followed by new, equally pathetic tears when I tore him from the Thomas the Tank train playset in their waiting area.


We left the shop with me leading him reluctantly by the hand, through the parking lot, him bawling and telling me "No, no, no, NO!" like I was tearing his little 19 month old heart right out.


NOW I get why kids are spoiled. Because, especially after work pulls you away more than you like, you just want to make them happy. And you'd do anything to avoid a face like THIS.

Anyone Else Hate This?

I love it when nice older ladies call me hon, or babe. I feel cared for, in good hands, like they know wordly things and they'll just handle whatever comes our way. Hey Babe, how you doing? Love it, love it.

But for some reason, when women my age or - gag - younger than me call me Honey, it makes me want to punch something.

I guess I take that back. If you are my very good friend and we are having a deep heart to heart and out of sheer concern you say, Oh, I'm so sorry you're having a hard time, Honey. Well, I can appreciate that.

But calling me Honey or Sweetie, multiple times in one passing conversation, when discussing non-personal - and in fact, business-related - matters, and when I suspect that I was in second grade on the day you were born ... well now, come on, that is just a little bit MUCH.

And Now for Something Lighter (sort of)

Profanity aside, my God, this "dramatic reading of a real break-up letter from a real person" made me laugh.

Post-Halloween High

We've been having a pretty good fall week here at the Muldrows, starting with Halloween and through this weekend. On Wednesday, I got home just in time for a marathon pumpkin carving session.

We also found time to admire our handiwork ...

Oh yeah, did anyone see my chicken around here?

Then, per tradition, we packed up said chicken and met the gang at Trainwreck like we do every year. (Note to self: why would we EVER question the location? We always say expensive beer and bad service. But there are two other much more important words: Mexican ravioli).

And we had new friends join us this year - Mike's friend Brad and his girlfriend Dawn, who are both big Matthew fans, and vice versa.

AND we got some very awesome incredible and just so amazing news ... that I maybe shouldn't share here - but to the readers who know who they are - YAHOOOO!!!!

We had a great time, and you'd have thought it was Valentine's not All Hallow's Eve, the way the love was in the air that night between our oh so coordinated former lion (beautiful Bridget) and former chicken.

(Hey Matthew, her eyes are up here, buddy).

So it was a great Halloween, and through this weekend, we've been on a post-Halloween high ... could it be the weather? The pumpkins still on the porch? The crisp golden leaves decorating our lawn? Or perhaps, might it be the vast soup pot full of Halloween candy we're been stuffing ourselvevs with whenever we pass through the kitchen?

I think the number "six" was involved when counting up chocolate bars yesterday. Those mini Kit Kats just TAUNT me so.

p.s. For the complete Muldrow 2007 Halloween EXPERIENCE, check out our Picasa album (to the right). Grandmas, you can easily download high resolution copies for printing or screen shots - neat trick with Picasa you can't do with Shutterfly, so it's worth the free software download.

Fabulous Fall Fun

After a long week of Work, we finally let our hair down at the Pumpkin Patch this weekend. The boys stomped around the patch.

Matthew toted his "laloon."

And of course we were lovin' the punkins ...

... Punkins ...

...Punkins ...And more punkins!

We had a wonderful day - blue sky, nice crisp weather, and a fabulous funnel cake. It was a happy day to be a Muldrow.


Happy Halloween week, everyone!

P.S. Here's the very giant album of all our fall fun last weekend.

Time to Make the Donuts

That's how I've felt and that's why I haven't posted. For two weeks or more I've been in to work 1 1/2 early, staying 2 hours late - and sometimes bringing more home for a night shift. It's productive, and appreciated by my team, and lots of great opportunities and responsibilities right now. Just, ya know, a sh--load of work. And no so much on the balance.

I can't believe it's been three weeks since I've posted. In that time we've attended Danny's first birthday party and celebrated our annivesary. And Matthew spent the weekend with Aunt Kim and Uncle Mark. AND we had dinnner with Don, Rosanne and Morgan (my brother's family), which involved trying a new restaurant - one of those cool Japanese places where they cook it right in front of you.

So it's been busy, and I can't even get into it all here. But suffice to say blogging has been lower down on the list past showing up for work, sleeping, feeding Matthew and washing my hair - not always in that order. And sometimes not that hair part.

Erin commented on her blog how hard it is to jump in once you've not posted and there's mountains to talk about. I agree. So I will pull the plug on this post - Hey, I posted! And just add the link to Danny's bday pictures once its available. On that note: At 122 photos long, it's voluminous. But you gotta at least see the two cousins in their PJ's. Our sweet little angel boys.

In the photos are Fernanda, my sis in law and Danny's mom, Scott her husband and Mike's brother, Fernanda's parents Maria Lucia and Fernando - up from Brazil no less - and to that end, a number of Brazilian friends they have in Chicago. I don't think I snapped one of Carole, Fernanda's sister. They are Matthew's third family and such a blessing in our lives since Fe and Scott got married. If it weren't for that whole, on another continent across two oceans thing, we'd love to see them more often.

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dale, who flew in from Colorado for Danny's day and our visit. Due to travel schedules, we only got to cross paths briefly, so we're really looking forward to big fun over Turkey Day out at their place.

And if you can't wade through the pics - and I really don't blame you - these are more for the two mommies than anyone - here's just ONE capturing the spirit of that cousins weekend: Danny's in love with Matthew, and up for a friendly cousins cuddle (or wrestling match?) anytime. And Matthew is studiously, like, soooo over caring.