Why I love having 2 kids.

This was not a posed picture. This is how I found them yeterday morning. Oliver seriously had his arm around her. Precious.

Another note: If you want to see ridiculously close up pictures of the Coldplay concert in OKC see Ashli's Blog

If you want to hear Chris Martin talk about how his fly had been undone for 2 songs, check out Jamie's Blog.

Blobbing

Blogging is an interesting medium. It is writing, sharing pictures, stories and life. It is community. The odd thing about it is that it is out on this big scary internet. Some people are open bloggers. Meaning that they have no problem with people knowing who they are, their kids names and where they live. I am in that category. I think that there is always a chance of some weirdo finding out who you are and stalking you, but that chance is small, and worth the risk in my opinion. Some people are not so open bloggers. They protect their family's privacy by not telling names, sharing pictures or saying where they live. That's cool with me. They are not willing to take the risk mentioned above. I guess the bottom line is that This is the Internet. No matter how careful you are, someone (if they want to) will always be able to find out your information. If this makes you uncomfortable, then don't blog. It is a free world, I am aware of my risks, I am not going to publish any personal information about any of my friends on my blog without their permission first. This has always been my policy. I ask before I post. But, this is my blog and I will blog what I want to. I am not going to be censored by someone else's uncomfortableness. One more uncomfortable subject. Anonymous comments. I have these open on my comments because I want everyone who wants to be able to comment to go for it. I think it's stupid to have to have a Blogger account to post a comment. That being said. I have a friend, who let me know, that someone from my blog, posted on her blog some rude comments about her personal life. This has caused my husband and I to no longer have contact with this person. If this ever happens again, I will be devastated. It is rude, immature, and just really crass. Whoever did this is not someone I want reading my blog. So, person, back off! Get out and never come back. To do this to someone else who comments on my blog is against any sense of decorum, or politeness. It is just un-called for. So, think of this as me being a little ticked off, and shooting off a blog without proof reading it. Don't get angry with me I am just expressing my thoughts and feelings about the said subject. Sorry if I offend.

music and other thoughts.

So, I'm not really into that much music. There are a few things I do really love though. 1. DC TALK Free At Last. This CD rocks. It is just fun singing in the car to. Plus, I used to torture Bilbrey to it on the way to PCN. 2. Anything country. It just rocks. Especially Dixie Chicks, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Toby Keith, and Dirks Bentley. Just love it all. 3. After Beth's recomendation, Hollaback Girl. I don't know where I've been living, but this song kicks some serious ass. serious. dude. I went to the movie tonight. By myself. It was heaven. No one talked to me for 2 hours. Silence. (except for the movie of course). Super Fab. Welcome more of the kind of swanson clan to the blogdom. Kristen and Sherry Happy Friday Night!!

So I went to this scrapbooking store....

I know, the question is, why. why why why?? Because I want to make my own invitations for Chickies First Birthday Party. Here is the following interaction I had with the salesgirl... SG: Can I help you find something? B: Yes, I'm looking for crowns to go on my daughters birthday invitation. I've never been in here before and it's a really big store! SG: We don't have any of those, you'd think we would because they are so popular but we don't. So, where do you normally get your scrapbooking stuff? B: I don't scrapbook. I'm not very crafty. SG : the sales girl gives me a weird look, then just says "OH" SG: That's pretty brave of you to make your own invitations if you don't even scrapbook. B: Um, Yeah. (brooke walks very quickly out of the store)

Ringtones

Ok, So I was wondering. What kind of ringtones do you have on your cell phone? If you could be one ringtone on everyone you knows cell phone what would it be? I have Madonna (Like a Virgin) for Ashli, Mel, Kelly and Amanda I have I ain't as good as I once was (toby keith) for the lovely nick b/c he loves toby keith and the words are just hilarious. example: If you need some love tonight, I might have just enough. I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once, as I ever was. Funny stuff. I have MargaritaVille for my cousin Deborah. If I had just one ringtone for myself for every one to use it would probably be Like a Virgin. Just for the looks you get at the store. Cause it starts out LOUDLY with 'Like a Virgin, HEY!! Touched for the very First Time'. Funny Stuff. Everyone who reads my blog has to chime in. I'll do a boycott from my own blog if you don't. I know who you are. Get commenting.

Tis The Season

Of Sickness. I have a Horrid cold, virusey type thing. Charlotte Zelle has an ear infection in Both Ears. Oliver is healthy so far, but the dripping snot is starting. Good Times Everyone. I'll share new photos. The bottom right one is how oliver kept himself entertained at the dr. office yesterday. taking photos. the left right one is how i found charlie a week ago. yeah. oliver got 'sister' a yogurt. nice.

So Glad You Asked

I think that education is the key. Tell people about it. Hook up with WHO, Unicef or Amnesty International. To those of us who can't actually GO and help: Educate, Educate, Educate. Tell people where to donate money, Tell people what it is and who it's happening to. Gross People out. If they are disturbed enough about it, maybe they'll want to help too. I don't have a specific way to help,I'm trying to figure it out myself. And to 'From A Distance'.... Maybe he didn't kill them. But I would be willing to bet money that he did. His story thus far is that he found them dead at home, thought about killing himself but decided to run home to his parents in England instead. I think it's a croc of shit.

Another Soap Box

So, I am actually learning quite a bit at my job. 1. I have Nancy Grace, who despite our love/hate relationship, I think is doing a good job getting the word out about domestic violence. Raising our awareness to the point that I am ready to go and picket outside the courthouse of the man in Boston who killed his Wife and 9 month old baby girl. That is just one month younger than Charlie. 2. I work with a girl from Ethiopia named Emabet. She is pregnant with her first baby (a girl) and is one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen. We talk a lot about Africa. About the AIDS crisis, and how difficult it is to educate people there because most of them from outside the city don't have a written way to communicate, they don't read. So, education about AIDS has been difficult and slow-going. We also talk about Female Circumcision. Yeah, you heard me. Now, don't laugh at me, But I had no idea what it was and what it involved or that it even still happened around the world. But it does. It really does. Now, it has been outlawed in Ethiopia for about 10 years, but it is still practiced in Somalia, right next door to Ethiopia. After cutting all the 'bits' off, they proceed to sew the woman up until she gets married, leaving only a small hole for the urine or menstural bleeding. The infection rate is staggering, and the sheer cruelness of it is unbelievable. This is all done without any type of anisthesia. You can read more about it here. So, that is my soap box for the day. Find a way to help. Become a better person. I am trying to.

The Girl

WALKING!!

Having a make-0ut session with her baby doll.

And the boys' new haircut.

My *&%&#$ Computer

Bob (my bil) says I need to speak in love to my computer. I really should. It was free. FREE. But, it's so picky. I have been offline since Saturday. I've been making people read to me from the internet over the phone. I am pathetic. I was going to post some really cute pictures of Breklinn and Charlie, but my camera ate them. Big News Bulletin: CHARLIE IS WALKING. well, like 8 steps at a time. and all the time. and she is just so darn proud of herself it makes me want to melt. Oh, yeah, and happy Valentines Day. woohoo.

thank you to....

karen- for making me pee my pants this afternoon. i needed that laugh. ashli- for making that little doll anna-bannana. precious. i was esctatic to talk to her this morning. bilbrey- for remembering all those weird people we went to school with so we can laugh about them. jamie- just for having 5 kids. oh my god. you deserve some kind of medal melanie- for attending my first mary kay party with me. wow. interesting. it was less painful than i thought it would be. and for wearing orange make-up with pride. nick - for letting me buy a new outfit at the gap. oliver- for giving me a hug this morning and telling the haircut lady that he needed his hair like his dad's. charlie- for learning how to blow a kiss. you are the most precious thing i've ever seen. that felt good. maybe i'll do that once a week. maybe i'll make it into my own meme and it will become wildy popular and even dooce will do it. probably not. i'm going out to dinn dinn tonight with husband. i'l lpost again tomorrow

I Used to Be Funny

I really did. When we lived in England I almost always had something witty or inspired to write about. Living out the the 'Burbs is drying me up. (and yes I could mean that in more than one way.) So, I miss Oklahoma. I am jealous of Ashli and Jamie and Ginny and their group of mom's that has their coffee date on Thursday nights. I keep asking Ashli, If I lived there, could I be in the group? Please, Please, Please? It's not like I don't have friends here, I do. I have two. Melanie (who is the only normal woman who lives in Highlands Ranch besides me, and who is just a lot of fun) and Kelly. But, she is from Oklahoma, but is leaving me to go reside in the sooner state once again. I miss eating breakfast on Sat morning with the Scotts at Brazil, I miss going to Galileo's or Isis. I even miss the Conaco at 23rd and Western, and the girl that works there in the morning. I miss all the drama of Mesta Park, and all the MEXICAN FOOD to be had in the big OKC. I have a couple of good blog ideas, so stay with me readers (all 4 of you) and you'll be entertained.

Tuesday

Why are the days that I am off work so hectic? I just wish for one day off that is peaceful, relaxing, and kid-free. That is my dream people. Just one day. Today we went to the 'farm'. It was thrilling. thrilling. thrilling. Charlie hadn't had a nap all day so she was super fabulous. (note the sarcasm) Oliver was in good spirits, just not in a listening 'mood'. Here are some pics from the ultra-fab day.

and i just have to add in this one. this is how i found charlie yesterday morning

Three Things

1. Read this on the baby center website.... Having heard that babies like monotonous sounds like a fan or vacuum cleaner, inspiration struck at 2am when Violet was fussing and refused the nipple. I reached over to the side of the bed, hauled up my vibrator, turned it on low and placed it on the bed near her head. It worked! She quieted almost instantly, lulled by the soothing sounds of our sex toy. ok, see this is proof that every woman should have a vibrator. 2. Check this out on baby center. 7 signs your child loves you see karen, when spicy has a tantrum it really means she's saying ' i love you mom' 3. public apology to jamie for the deletion of her comment. i was having a bitch day and wasn't in the mood for humor. let me take this moment to tell you internet that i've been off my zoloft for a month now. the effects of my magic pill are just starting to show. i'm going back to the pharmacy this morning and will be pleading for mercy.

how do you

Punish someone who has done this to your darling baby daughters favorite toy? It was deformed by Oliver placing it in the oven sometime ago. He claims it needed a 'shed'. All I can possibly say at this moment is OH MY GOD. really. that's it.

Happy Anniversary

To myself and my hubbie. 5 years. wow. Never thought we'd make it this far. Love you.

Do our pictures look outdated yet??

A Little Poll

who do they look like??

another meme from karen

If I were a ______ what would I be?? Car: A Mini-Cooper. Cause they're just really cute. Book: Harry Potter. Cause I want to be magic Movie: My Best Friends Wedding. Cause isn't that the way of life? And Julia Roberts is just so dang cute in that movie. Weather: A Sunny Day with no Clouds in the Sky (but only around 75F) Drink: Most Likely a Diet Coke, cause that's about all I ever drink. Ice Cream Flavor: Something really boring like Vanilla cause I'm not all that exciting. Song or Genre of Music: Country Music. Cause I'm just an Oklahoma Girl at heart. Shoe: Old Running Shoes. Cause that's all I wear. Website: Probably Dooce, because I'll never be as funny as her and I just really really wish I was. Food: Rice. Cause I just like it. Plain Rice. tag yourself if you feel inclined and put a link in the comments.