This would be better if...

If I were prepared with a camera at hand like everyone else who blogs seems to be capable of! Rowan is finally ASLEEP! So sweet and peacefully rocking back and forth in his swing. I shouldn't complain- he has been sleeping through the night for several weeks . But when he goes for a week waking up at night and being fussy for hours I tend to get a little fried, tired, freaked out... ahh frazzled is probably the best word. The past two days have been icky. I can't even count how many times I've had to remove 'poo' from not only Row but myself-why he must always inadvertently put his hand in it I do not know. However, maybe tonight will be good. I can only hope! Especially since I have to be somewhere at 8:30 in the morning. And surely Row has to be out of poo. One can only make so much right?

I'm a sucker for pretty things...this is a little long.

Lately I've been pretty popular-maybe popular isn't the best word really. Either way I've been invited to several 'parties'. Some are called 'spas' some just 'parties.' Last week I went to a Beauty Control 'spa.' SOOO NICE. Unfortunately I can't afford any of the products but I did enjoy the face wrap, shoulder warmer thing, and the whole spa-ness of it.... Somehow I even managed to say that I would host a party...excuse me... SPA at my house. And now I have no idea what to do because I just don't know people in general. Or too many people willing to come all the way out to my house to listen to someone convince them that they need to spend more on their face... (oh but it will feel nice!) grrrr... SUCKER.... anyone want to come on the 25th- It's a Saturday. I'll feed you!! And you DON'T have to buy anything. I didn't.

And THEN last night I went to an Arbonne party. This was a PARTY. Mikayla decided she needed to come with and it's a good thing too! Apparently it was DIVA NIGHT. We were each given a sparkly wand AND tiara. I was offered a margarita too-an actual first for me (I politely declined)

I told Randy to come pick me up in an hour so that I would
a)have a valid excuse to leave before purchase pressure
b)be able to feed Rowan, thus providing a 'need' to leave
c)prevent me from eating to many of the goodies (they were GOOD)

Ran showed up at the door, peeked in and saw a large grouping of middle aged women wearing tiaras and waving wands. Needless to say, he didn't knock. This left me open to purchase pressure. If you know me, you know I don't say no... AND I love pretty stuff... And somehow I end up buying pretty stuff.

Alas, there was no purchase pressure here either! You just got a gift if you scheduled a party. GRRRR.

Anyhow the nice woman sitting next to me had a beautiful little girl- with eczema, just like my beautiful little girl. And she quietly told me about a certain lotion that she could actually use for her daughter's skin. She didn't even know Mik had eczema! This was really music to my ears- Mik can't use soap, normal shampoos, sunscreens, etc. And I was sunk... It wasn't even the sales person... I am so weak... Plus the doctor sitting next to me 'prescribes' the diaper cream for her patients with severe, chronic diaper rash. Thankfully we don't need that.

BUT- I now have what I hope will be a wonderful sunscreen (and the lotion) for Mik and Row and I won't have to cringe every time I use it, or have to wipe it off after 20 minutes because Mik is crying from the burning!! YAY- and it was only a few more dollars than the grocery store stuff. Weak or not- sun protection, here we come!!

Oh, and I'm having a party for that too. grrr. It was a really pretty gift. And it smelled nice. But don't worry. That one is a 'web-in-ar' or 'web-inar.' Whatever. I invited my sisters. Bless their hearts. It's online! I'm not so sure how that will fare compared to the 'spa.' That one was super relaxing. I'm done after this. At the first party I at least said no to the products. That's a first. At the second I obviously didn't fare as well, but I truly have no guilt about that one. Skin cancer on both sides means a little spf for a little cash is worth it. ( Dad, I do listen- thanks for grounding me every time I got a sunburn)But- No. More. Parties. I'll gladly attend for the food, but I won't buy anything and I won't host one either. I CAN say no... it'll be my new mantra.

A Picture is Worth...A Good Explanation

So, I finally found the camera. As I perused the pictures, I found a few things that may be of interest. Due to Mikayla's recent Permanent Marker Fame, we shall begin there:Could Mikayla look any more dejected? For an explanation, read Beth's previous entry. As for the next picture, this is Mikayla's cousin. He found an old afro wig and modeled it for the rest of us, as many of our visitors over the years have done.

The last set of pictures is of your truly. As an Assistant Wrestling Coach, sometimes I come home with souveniers. On this occasion, unfortunately, I was wrestling a kid whose defense is somewhat lacking. When I shot for his legs (always going for a slam) he didn't try and avoid me. He just bent his knees and I ended up getting a close up of one of them. Maybe he is better at defernse than I thought. Mikayla didn't notice the souvenier for a few days, but when she did she insisted on patching me up.

Yes, I AM scared of my mail box and I really don't like markers

We have had a great week. I (Beth) have been experiencing some fun adventures that I will dish on some other time, Randy has been anticipating spring break and bemoaning students that make bad decisions, Mikayla has been learning more about cause and effect, consequences, etc., and Rowan has been cooing, bubbling, and eating some oatmeal cereal- more like applesauce with a dash of oatmeal- and we have all been having fun. Especially me and of course Mikayla. Let me tell about Mikayla's recent antics:

Friday morning. I had had a late night before, but a strong rather pervasive odor woke me up. As I rolled over to look at Mikayla I made the connection: permanent markers. My beautiful daughter had found the ONE marker I somehow did not put away. This happened to be a marker I bought at the Chinese flea market (who can turn down a pack of 24 for a $1?) and I have no idea if it is toxic or not, the smell was so strong it lasted for several hours and to top it all off my daughter was pretty much wearing the marker.

Let me describe because no picture will ever do this justice: a FULL facial- eyebrows, beard, 'stache, cheeks, lips, complete left arm, both legs below the knee... get the idea? Ahhh. True beauty. I promptly placed Mik in the tub, proceeded to be horrified as my entire tub turned blue and as Mik started to cry while she scrubbed her now red and itchy skin... apparenly the marker burned her sensitive skin. And worrying that Row might cry any minute because he hadn't had breakfast yet.. Sad day. Ran promises to post pictures soon.

AND she had not only made herself beautiful but she also nailed my new upholstered glider. Permanent marker really is permanent. Sad day again.

On a good note, I hadn't cleaned the tub in two weeks so it had just enough soap scum to prevent the blue from really sticking- so my bath tub is looking ok (let's hear it for semi-lazy housewives!!) after a good scrub, Mik's skin calmed down after a few hours, and Rowan (such a cute little man) found this all funny and was smiling and cooing the whole time. WHEW!! And to Mik's relief- mommy doesn't really spank. Instead Mik just couldn't watch any tv or cartoons for the ENTIRE day. This somehow turned out to be the harshest punishment ever created for a three and 1/2 year old that had just checked out three movies from the library the day before. She even told the next door neighbors.

And yes, I am scared of my mail box. Mostly what comes out of the mailbox- bills, weird mailers, and oh yeah, more bills.... Could the doctors just all get together, bill me once instead of 10 times, and get it over with? (don't respond to that David)But I do love the beautiful things from the grammies and grandmas of the world! And I do like catalogues. So maybe my mailbox isn't that bad.