Tooth Brushing

I was reading the October edition of Real Simple (gasp... I actually found a moment to read a mag!) this last week and came across an article that interested me. Brainpower Boosts. Although staying at home with my children is incredibly rewarding, I sometimes feel like my brain has become a little mushy... a brainpower boost sounded very intriguing.

Most of the article talked about doing things out of routine by exercising your 5 senses... switching lunches with a coworker, having a silent supper (I almost started rolling on the floor laughing out loud at that... hello, I have a 2 and 4 year old), trying to remember your grocery list when shopping (puh-lease... I would literally end up spending 5 hours getting groceries with 2 unhappy preschoolers... don't think so).

Anyway... there was one that I felt like I could try... switching up my tooth brushing routine. Listen to this... using your non dominant hand while brushing your teeth "challenges your brain to exercise nerve cells on the side that you don't typically use. Fighting cavities and memory loss." So, I tried it and I must report.... IT IS SOOOOOO HARD to brush your teeth with your left hand! Really, it is. But, if I do say so myself, I feel like my brain is firing at crazy impressive levels now. ;)

Thief or Magician

Some stages in my children's lives I enjoy more than others. I'm sure you mommy types are picking up what I'm throwing down here...

You have the sweet baby stages where they rest so preciously in your arms AND THEN that adorable little baby that you've been cuddling for all those months wakes up one morning with the ability to say "NO." AND quite forcefully. How does that happen??!!

Back to the point... Cole is in an precious phase of life right now. He is spouting off words, keeping up with his big sister and coming up with his own tricks that he thinks are ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS. His latest...

Sticking toy coins up his sleeve, pulling them out and shouting "ta-da" with his cute little "Mater-style" smile. Yep, it doesn't get any cuter than that... let's just hope this is a magician phase of life and not practice for being a future swipper.

What's that noise???

Yesterday Sadie, Cole and I were in my bedroom changing Cole's diaper. We were all talking (well, mainly Sadie and I) and then we heard this loud crash. Since I was in the middle of taking care of some little buns, I sent Sadie in to see what the noise was about... it's always a good idea to send a child to check on a strange sound.

She quickly ran and did what I asked and quickly ran back reporting that Bubba was sitting in the high chair. I thought, "Surely not." Well, it was surely so. When I walked into the dining room here is what I found... guilty much???


I had to laugh a little bit over this because just yesterday morning as I was cleaning the kitchen I was having a prideful moment over how Cole never leaves a mess in his seat. There is never a stray cheerio or dried green bean on his cushion!!! Well, I'm afraid Mr. Cole really isn't that neat of an eater and that when we are away from the house ol' Boston is helping himself to the open buffet in the high chair. He is another mouth to feed and care for, but I think I'll keep him around as my little Dirt Devil.

Augusta Strikes AGAIN!

You may remember my recent post on the Augusta Water Report... you know, the one about us having the "Best Tasting Water in Kansas???" I tell you... this city never ceases to amaze me. This week we received a "Sewer Cleaning Notification."

Eric and I have been homeowners for a little over six years and have never heard of a city sewer cleaning - so this is either something special that Augusta does or our previous community never informed us of such an exciting event. The notification shared that "sometime this week" our sewers would be cleaned and that we should know that the sewer lines can develop pressure during the cleaning process that is supposed to dissipate through your plumbing vents (wherever those are) BUT if there is an inadequate venting, the pressure could escape through your sinks, toilets, showers etc. Doesn't that sound lovely??? So to keep this from happening we are to cover floor drains with plastic and weights, cover toilets with plastic and close toilet lids and if you smell an "unpleasant odor" you are to run water to refill the traps.

I guess the moral of this great story is...
- My sewer system is gonna be "so fresh and so clean, clean" by Friday
- AND that if you need to potty at my house, be sure to pull back the plastic before doing your business. HA! Like I'm going to cover my toilet when I have a potty-trainer... we're lucky to make it in time to get the lid up, let alone plastic! :)

Only in Augusta, KS...

This week, I received a "Consumer Confidence Report" regarding our water supply from the city of Augusta that I just can't bear to throw away yet... it makes me stinkin' crack up every time I look at it. To be honest, I don't actually understand everything they are reporting, but there are two things that I understand very clearly:

• There were two water samples taken last July that returned positive with E Coli (who knows how many samples were taken or how many glasses of water I drank on the contaminated days)
• AND Augusta has the "Best Tasting Water in Kansas" - apparently a team of "professionals" judged water samples in Kansas and picked ours the best!!!
  

Are you rolling on the floor laughing your head off right now... I just don't know how those two things can be documented on the same report!!!??? My friend Erin put it best... Drink on Augusta, drink on.

Lions and tigers and SADIE, oh my!

Tonight the Shriner's Circus is in town! We are going to take the kids... and I'm considering seeing if they would be interested in Sadie. :) She has many talents that she could perform for them... but check out her newest stunt that I ALMOST witnessed this morning...

I was switching some laundry and left Little Missy and Coley to play in the living room. I returned just in time to see Sadie perched on a blue stool preparing to jump (the long ways) over her little brother. I busted out my best mother "eh-eh" just in time to give her a moment to think again. When I asked what she was doing... "I was just going to jump ober my wittle bruder." Yes, I'm sure you were.... AND thank God for that helmet. We may be needing it.

Would you dare???

I read a marque sign this morning...

"Try our fish tacos and shrimp quesadillas."

I LOVE fish. I might even try these dishes at a "sit down" restaurant... but at TACO TICO??? I think NOT! One word for this... disgusting.

FLASHBACK

Today as I was clipping coupons I stumbled upon a coupon that caused me to have a flashback to my preteen/teen years... remember "Teen Spirit"... the deodorant that YOU HAD TO HAVE???

"Teen Spirit" is apparently no longer cool (although after some research they still carry it in Sweet Strawberry, Berry Blossom, Pink Crush, and NEW Pop Star). This deodorant better be steppin' over and making room for THE NEW Hannah Montana Anti-Perspirant by Secret.

Oh, and if that's not enough for you, they also are making Hannah Montana tooth paste, nail polish, lip gloss, body wash... and my personal favorite... Hannah Montana Drama Clean Shampoo and Conditioner. Sounds like drama to me, alright.

I'll save the coupon for you... I won't be using it.