Today, Mom could be found at the zoo with 2 of the cutest boys in Arizona:

Then it was off to get pretty at the salon. Jack was a trooper and went with me; we had 3 hours to play with sticker books, watch shows and play games on the ipod touch, and get spoiled by my hairdresser (who loves to pass him candy).

Why, yes, I did just post a picture of myself with foils in my hair. I may regret that in the morning.

Can you spot the new dimple under Jack’s left eye from when he fell into the coffee table 2 months ago? Ouch.

After getting home and eating dinner, Michael and I hung out on the couch (and read some more of the Percy Jackson book).

I am thinking about adding a tag that says “make-up free Mom” so that you guys can expect the shiny face…

Have a wonderful week!

I just can’t figure it out.

On Friday night, we took the boys to Outback with some friends of ours. We recapped the rock story for her while Jack made all of his crayons “naked” (tearing all the paper off of them).

Saturday was relaxing… went running, cleaned the house a bit, and walked around Target with a girlfriend. Perfect day.

Sunday was Valentine’s Day. But you all know that, right?

I woke up to beautiful tulips and after going running with a girlfriend, I came home to fresh pancakes (with peanut butter and bananas, of course) made by my Valentine.

Last night, we went out for dinner with some great friends. We sat at the restaurant for 2 hours drinking fan-cee white peach and hibiscus margaritas, eating way too much chips and guacamole, and laughing at unsuspecting fashion failures people watching.

After we ate our weight in Mexican food, we walked on over to AJ’s and decided to do some window shopping.

If you’ve never been to an AJ’s, you should probably get on a plane and get on out here. It’s that cool. Amazingly beautiful bakery items, a sushi bar, a huge meat counter, and holycowthosearehugestrawberries produce. All at crazy expensive prices, but hey, you can’t have everything.  Hence, the window shopping.

I did manage to snag a picture of their beer selection.. It’s Steve’s favorite part of the store:

And I left with only one frivolous purchase:

Because isn’t she the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? It’s a dish scrubber. With it’s own little holder. Her name is Nicole, but she has friends… you know, in case you need one too.

So, we ate, we shopped, we came home.

And then.

Because the rock incident of the last 2 weeks didn’t wear me out enough, we hear this from Pauline, our amazing friend that loves on our kids when we go out:

“I need to tell you something.”

OhhhKayyyyy….  What?

“Jack cut his hair.”

Of course he did. He’s Jack. I’m not surprised.

“I’m sorry. I sent him in to brush his teeth, and he came out with his hair cut.”

Yup. That’s the Jack I know. But don’t be sorry… It definitely wasn’t your fault!

We couldn’t get a good look at it last night because he was zonked face first on his pillow. So we waited until this morning.

Before:

After:

Beautiful.

He’s proud of it.

I asked him why he cut his own hair.

He said, “It was too long.”

I took him to get it fixed today and the hairdresser gave him a hard time.

She told him that if he does it again, he’ll be getting a mohawk.

I completely agree with her.

Short, short, short… ugh.

He’s still adorable.

He told the hairdresser that it was ok to cut your own hair…

as long as your Mom says it’s ok.

I guess I must talk in my sleep.

*In the interest of full disclosure, there are affiliate links in this post*

How do you choose a new book?

Do you look for one with a pretty picture on the cover?

A catchy title?

Maybe you look for books that are written by authors that you have read before.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to read a book. A very special book. A best selling book, actually.

(Ok, that was a tiny fib. But it will be a best seller, I just know it.)

It didn’t have a pretty picture on the cover. Because it didn’t have a cover.

And the title? I didn’t know what the title was until I picked up the book to begin reading it.

And the author? I’ve never read a book by her before.

But I knew from the first page that I was going to love it.

It took me about 25 hours to read said book (because the little people in my house wouldn’t stop bickering. And needing things. Like, you know, food. And water. And band-aids.)

While I read the book (no, I’m not giving away the title), I smiled, and I teared up justalittle.

And at certain points, I couldn’t put it down because I was dying to know what would happen in the next chapter.

And at the end, I was satisfied, but sad. The story wrapped up perfectly, but it was over. And the worst thing in the world (to me) is when a book is over but you want to keep on reading.

You’ll get to read the book soon, I’m sure.

As soon as comes out, I’ll let you know. And maybe we can talk the author into signing a few for us?

For now, I’ll have to go pick up that that Jen Lancaster book that I have been waiting to read. *sigh*

Jen doesn’t even compare.

I’m unplugging for the weekend.

I have my nice comfy blanket waiting for me next to my spot on the couch.

I have my Coke.

I have my fuzzy warm socks on.

Oh, and I have this:

A certain someone’s manuscript.

I am so excited for this weekend.

See you in a few days!

(And Heather, I’m hurrying so she can send it to you!)

This week, Mom was celebrating with some of her favorite people!

My friend best friend sister (in the “we have different Moms, but are totally sisters” way) Kristin recently turned 40 (yes, you read that right. It’s not fair. She doesn’t look 40) and in true Kristin fashion, she decided to have a party in the park, complete with egg races:

a pinata:

three-legged races:

and almost 100 hot dogs! See my boy there? He grilled all. day. long. He loved it. Oh, and that guy next to him? Kristin’s husband. The same guy that redesigned my beautiful blog button and made me my very own twitter button! Go ahead… look on my sidebar… I’ll wait a second.

Isn’t it be-U-tiful?!

So, everyone had a great time, and when we got home we all passed out from exhaustion.

Hope you’re all having a wonderful week!

I have recently discovered guacamole.

Yes, I was sheltered growing up. (Just kidding, Mom!)

Last week, we had some friends over. I decided to make good use of my Pioneer Woman cookbook and make her guacamole.

Yum.

Did I say yum?

It was super easy and so tasty.

Everyone kept asking if I made it and where I got the recipe.

So, as we were looking through the cookbook…

Friend 1: Um…  do you know there’s an avocado seed in your guacamole?

Me: What? How did that get in there?… Just kidding. It keeps the guacamole from browning.

Friend 2: WHAT? I’ve never heard that. Does it work?

Me: Well, the guacamole isn’t brown.

Friend 3: How come you never told me that before?

Me: I thought everyone knew it. I never thought about it before.

Friend 2: Well, thanks. I’ve been making guacamole for years and never knew about it.

So, friends… I am telling you now.

I wish I knew where I learned it.

I can’t remember.

Obviously not from experience because I have only recently started making guacamole.

For more life changing tips (well, probably not life changing, but great tips nonetheless) head on over to Kristen’s blog.

-When your middle is getting a little thick from the lack of exercising you’ve been doing (because of your stupid feet), Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily a welcome holiday. But that won’t stop you from eating WAY too much.

-While waiting in a dark deserted parking lot for your Black Friday date to show up, you might be scared to death by a strange car pulling up next to you. But it’ll just be your date’s Grandma picking you up because said date decided to forego sleep and shop all night instead of getting up at o-dark-30 like the rest of us crazy people. That’s just a whole ‘nother level of crazy, if you ask me.

-And Grandma might decide to wake you up by driving in the bike lane and trying to run red lights while on the way to meet that crazy shopping friend. Then laugh about how it might possibly end up on your blog.

-But you’ll fall in love with Grandma despite the crazy driving. Because in the end, we all arrived safe. And because she’s adorable. Because she called our breakfast waitress a dimwit.

-I learned that if you wake up 3 hours early on Black Friday to go shopping, you’ll be really tired by 4 p.m.

-But those amazing pajamas that you splurged on during the sales will make you want to stay up later just because they’re so. unbelievably. comfortable. (And they’re on sale! Click on over!)

-I learned that taking your boys out to a fancy restaurant (fancy because they have cloth napkins) to celebrate your birthday (a few days early) may not seem like the best idea you’ve had all year.

-Because a certain boy might lay down at the table. And kick his brother.

-And then play hide-and-seek with his sweatshirt. (Note the change of seat)

-And then while Mom is in the bathroom, Daddy and the boys might play with the camera.

I can’t take them anywhere.

-I learned that in Arizona, when you see an advertisement for snow at a shopping mall, it’s really “snow.” That means that it’s foamy bubbles that look like snow. But this little guy couldn’t tell the difference, obviously. And it was a blast.

If money grew on trees and I bought myself a fancy SLR camera for my big day, you probably would have been able to see the “snow” in this picture. But it doesn’t. And I didn’t. And you can’t.

-Most importantly, I learned that dinner in a fancy restaurant with amazing friends + silly pictures + snow falling from the sky + hot chocolate + walking up the down escalator + sliding down banisters + doing some hands-on Christmas list research = an awesome, awesome pre-birthday celebration.

See for yourself:

So, what did YOU learn this week?

*I think I should mention that I didn’t get any free pajamas for posting a link to Dillard’s. But if any of you are looking to give away a pair or two, I would write amazing reviews on them…*

Hours and hours of stamp camps

Daisy Duke, Uncle Jesse, Bo, Luke, Cooter, Boss Hog, and Roscoe (you’re welcome for not posting pictures)

Pool parties at Lynn’s house

Robert Palmer and all of his girls

Pitchers of margaritas at Chuy’s

Girls’ night dinners with the kids (and macaroni and cheese)

Afternoons by the pool with cups of watermelon

Ice cream with sprinkles

Afternoon meetings at the park

First sleepovers

Birthday meltdowns

Tanks ’till the wee hours of the morning (well, for the boys) and Guitar Hero face-offs

Babies named Chunk Starfish

*Please see additional memories in comment section*

And here’s to…

A new home 2 blocks from the beach!

Annual passes to Disney World!

Green grass… without the seed!

New friends!

The perks of being an Officer’s wife!

New restaurants!

Full guest rooms!

Skype!

Friendships that stretch over state lines!

*Please note: Subjects in this photograph were not wearing make-up when photo was taken.*

Goodbye Nicole, Cory, Reese, and Blake.

We will miss you so very much, and are excited to hear all about your adventures as you begin this new chapter in your life.

Love you!