Quizlet

Need some entertainment? Want to win a fun prize? Take the following quiz and enter to win! (I'm not kidding.)

Here's how it works. Translate the following "Jillsonisms" and submit your answers to me via email or a private message on facebook if you are so inclined. I know it would be easier for you to leave them in the comments, but then you could cheat off each other. The person with the most correct answers (or most amusing if there is a tie) wins a fun prize, customized to suit the winner, made by yours truly!

Attentive blog readers should know at least a few of these. I'm sorry, Gutsy Dad, you are ineligible to participate.

And now, without further ado, here is your quiz:

Jillsonisms
1. Grow Mup
2. Blayslip
3. Tunnister
4. Bidoo
5. Clumpalin
6. Effalint
7. Lapkin
8. Hunders
9. Blehfrist
10. Tashit

Good luck!

Zen & the Art of Attitude Maintenance

I just read on my sister-in-law's facebook that she is remaining amazingly calm about the fact that my 3-1/2-year-old nephew drew on her white couch with a black dry erase marker. Not two seconds after I read this Jillsie perched herself on top of the coffee table and knocked over my latte which splashed all over Zephie, the couch, and landed in a big plop on my nice rug. "I will remain amazingly calm," I thought to myself. Then Jillsie looked at me and said "I sorry, Mommy. I sorry I ruined your coffee." It's all good, Jills. But if this had happened yesterday I would have yelled, and I do not like to yell.

Let's discuss yesterday. At one point, Zephie came over to me to ask to go out. I ignored her. She started breathing on me heavily. Without a thought I yelled at her: ZEPHIE, GO LIE DOWN! Jillson came running from the other room and said "Mommy! What's wrong? What's wrong?" I answered: "Zephie was breathing on me." She said "Oh no. Zephie, don't breathe. Don't breathe Zephie, Mommy needs privacy." Actually, Mommy just needed a wake-up call on her attitude. Who yells at a dog for breathing?

So, thank you for drawing on the couch, Teddy. And thank you, Trinnie, for remaining amazingly calm. Consider this attitude adjusted.

On to other topics. We Gutsy Girls have been on our own this week, what with the Gutsy Dad in Bulgaria again. It's been okay (aside from the inexcusable yelling).
I'm making plans for two CTMH workshops I'm giving in April and I'm working the details for our upcoming trips to Rome and Ireland (also in April). I'm fantasizing about what last minute trips and forays I'd like to make when Meme visits (Poland, Paris, who knows) and I'm beginning to face the logistics of the Big Move (June).

I got a kick out of this: last night Jills and I were playing with a deck of cards that have animals on them. She hands me the zebra and says "This is the daddy." Then she hands me the duck and says "This is the baby. Her name is Binderly." Then she hands me the kangaroo and says "This is the mommy. She has a baby bjorn on with the baby inside." I replied: "Yup, that's true. All mommy kangaroos have built in baby bjorns!" Too cool.

There's more I'd like to say today (I have a head FULL of topics, some meaningful and
some meaningless, that I need to spill out so there is room in there for other thoughts) but that will have to wait. I need to go make a replacement coffee.

Hugs and happiness to all of you!

They Start 'Em Early Over Here

Imagine my surprise and delight when Jillson was served her first gratis "kiddie-chino" over here at the local Bruenner Baeckerei. Of course it is just steamed milk, but Jillsie squealed "MY VERY OWN COFFEE!" when it was delivered to her. She reminded me and the Gutsy Dad that is was "meins" on several occasions and said to me in a very conciliatory voice: "This is not for YOU, Mommy." She then ate all the strawberries off the top of her quark schiffchen and looked supremely satisfied. I have no explanation for the napkin on Jillsie's head other than this: she's two and a half. In case you're wondering, Maddie slept through the whole super-fun outing.

The Gutsy Dad would like me to tell you that these photographs were taken on his new BlackBerry. Yes, after nearly 20 years, his employer finally has issued him a cool electronic device. And, as I'm sure you can imagine, in our household at least, this means that the Gutsy Dad has finally arrived.

My Psyche According to iTunes.

I've been enjoying listening to my favorite songs in my iTunes library by arranging the playlist in alphabetical order by song title, as opposed to by album or artist. This leads to a natural "mixed tape" feel, which of course also makes me happy.

Anyway, I glanced over at my computer a moment ago and caught this portion of the "i" section of my playlist. Couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read the sequence of songs.

I'm A Mess
I'm Alright
I'm Yours

Ah, yes. It's all true. My psyche according to iTunes.

Why is this baby smiling?

You would be smiling, too, if your panties were this cute:The gDiapers arrived yesterday, and so far so good. I think the Gutsy Dad is still a bit skeptical, but mommy and baby are lovin' it so far. Detailed report to follow. Meanwhile, here are some more recent pics of the girls. Maria, these are for you!

Snowing, Growing, & Going Green

I cannot believe it is snowing again. I had full-on Spring fever, but this morning began with a windy hailstorm and now it is snowing steadily. To fight off those Winter blues, I cheered myself up by ordering these, and I can't wait to try them out. Thanks to Mom on the Move for sending me the link! Stay tuned for a full report as the Gutsies go green (or, at least Madelyn's private parts do).

Meanwhile, the kids are growing like weeds. Maddie had her 2-month check-up and is 50th percentile for height and around the 75th for weight. (They did have her down as weighing 16.5 pounds--way off the charts--until I made them re-weigh her. She is actually 12 lbs 11 oz, which is about what I thought. I mean, I know my kid has (adorable, dimpled) cheeks that a sumo would envy, but she is not an obese 2-month old. The most alarming part, in my opinion, is that no one was concerned that she weighed 16.5 pounds until I started asking about it. Don't you think a doctor should remark if your child's weight is off the charts by a good inch or more?)

Big Sis seems to grow taller by the day, but every time we measure her, she's still hanging around 36 inches tall. This is tall for her age, but not outrageous. The docs still predict that she will be about 5'10". Perhaps she appears taller to us because she is losing her "baby" looks? This is a bittersweet transition for me. She'll be 3 in July, so she certainly isn't a baby anymore, but time is flying, and I just want to cuddle with her in my arms for as long as she will let me.

Finally, I leave you with the latest installment of "I Made This." The first three photos are of my newly created recipe stand. This is part of my recipe book (food we actually eat) project. I can pull recipes out of there and put them in this easel album to have on the kitchen counter during the week, since both are the 6x6 format. The counter-top easel album holds 24 recipes which slip in and out easily and are protected from kitchen stains. How cool is that? The others are cards I made for recent occassions. (All supplies by CTMH. I can hook you up.)

Magic Formula

2 Advil + 2 Sudafed + 1 latte + 2 chocolate chip cookies + 1 good run = Happy Gutsy Mom. More on this topic soon.