The Soundtrack of My Life

This is such a random post, I know.  But I started a 90's playlist on my iPhone, and all these memories just started pouring through.  Like most people I know, there are songs that define certain parts of one's life.  And that definitely holds true to me. 

Like Paula Abdul will forever remind me of my tweens.  I had her VHS tapes, where I would play them over and over again to memorize the choreography.  I was going to be the "Paula Abdul Princess."  Because Michael Jackson was the King of Pop and Madonna was the Queen of Pop.  So, out of respect to them, I would just be a princess.

Or how Uptown Girl always brings me back to 1986, where I would put on concerts for my mom.  Using the fireplace as my stage and taper candles as my microphone.

Or how Meatloaf's "I Would Do Anything For Love" reminds me of my 14th Birthday Party, where Lee Anne Guiducci broke it down, using a sleeping bag as her cape.

And how Jewel got me through my biggest high school heartache.  Oh, how I remember the nights I would just cry and cry and cry to "You Were Meant For Me."  Hell, I even wrote a paper my junior year in high school about him.  To this day, I still think of Chris when I hear that song.

And Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" will remind me of the Summer of '00 when I used Mindy's ID to get into a Purdue Bar. 

Ahhhh.....see the memories are great.  Music is definitely a driving force of memories.  So if I had to make a soundtrack of my life thus far this would be it.  Hope these bring back some memories for you, too. 


Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go                                 Wham!
The Longest Time                                                          Billy Joel
Uptown Girl                                                                  Billy Joel
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)        Whitney Houston
ABC                                                                             The Jackson 5
Thriller                                                                           Michael Jackson
Smooth Criminal                                                            Michael Jackson
Jack 'N Diane                                                                John Cougar Mellencamp
Forever Your Girl                                                          Paula Abdul
Opposites Attract                                                          Paula Abdul
Like A Virgin                                                                 Madonna
Heal The World                                                             Michael Jackson
Livin' On A Prayer                                                         Bon Jovi
My Prerogative                                                              Bobby Brown
Wind Beneath My Wings                                               Bette Midler
Hold On                                                                        Wilson Phillips
Poison                                                                           Bel Biv Devoe
Step By Step                                                                 NKOTB              
Ice Ice Baby                                                                  Vanilla Ice
U Can't Touch This                                                        MC Hammer
The Humpty Dance                                                        Digital Underground
I Wanna Sex You Up                                                    Color Me Badd
Gonna Make U Sweat                                                   C + C Music Factory
Baby, Baby                                                                   Amy Grant
Motownphilly                                                                Boyz II Men
Good Vibrations                                                           Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
Summertime                                                                  DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Jump                                                                             Kris Kross
My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It)                         EnVogue   
I Will Always Love You                                                Whitney Houston
Informer                                                                        Snow
Weak                                                                            SWV
Nuthin But A "G" Thang                                                 Dr Dre
I Swear                                                                         All-4-One
Hero                                                                             Mariah Carey
Again                                                                            Janet Jackson
Funkdafied                                                                   Da Brat
Whatta Man                                                                 Salt-N-Pepa
Linger                                                                          Cranberries
Who Am I (What's My Name?)                                   Snoop Dog
Big Papa                                                                      Notorious B.I.G.
Gangsters Paradise                                                      Coolio
Strong Enough                                                             Sheryl Crow
1st of the Month                                                          Bones-Thugs-In-Harmony
Macarena                                                                    Los Del Rio
Because You Loved Me                                              Celine Dion
Who Will Save Your Soul                                            Jewel
In Your Eyes                                                               Peter Gabriel
Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me                    Jewel
I'll Be Missing You                                                      Puffy Daddy/Faith Evans
Wanna Be                                                                   Spice Girls
My Heart Will Go On                                                 Celine Dion
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It                                                       Will Smith
Adia                                                                            Sarah McLachlan
I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing                                       Aerosmith
...Baby One More Time                                              Britney Spears
Hands                                                                         Jewel
Thong Song                                                                Sisqo
Bye Bye Bye                                                             'N Sync
That's The Way It Is                                                   Celine Dion
Independent Woman, Part I                                        Destiny's Child
Hero                                                                          Enrique Iglesias
Hit 'Em Style (Oops!)                                                 Blu Cantrell
It Wasn't Me                                                              Shaggy
Young                                                                        Kenny Chesney
Good Morning Beautiful                                             Steve Holy
She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy                                   Kenny Chesney
You Make Me Sick                                                   Pink
Cry Me A River                                                         Justin Timberlake
Your Body Is A Wonderland                                     John Mayer
Milkshake                                                                 Kelis
Come Away With Me                                               Norah Jones
Butterfly Kisses                                                        Bob Carlisle
My Little Girl                                                           Tim McGraw
Forever                                                                     Chris Brown
Disturbia                                                                    Rihanna
OMG                                                                        Usher

Emma's Kinderdance Performance

Emma had her Kinderdance "Year End Demonstration" this past weekend. This was the chance for all Kinderdancers to show - or "demonstrate" as the teacher likes to call it - what they've learned this past year.

It was short, but sweet. They did their warm-up routine, and then a few dance numbers. Both in their ballet shoes, and then a couple of songs in their tap shoes. Emma does a really good job with direction, so she did a great job of dancing the entire time. You can just see it in her face: she watches Miss Emilie very closely, doing all the moves and hand gestures accordingly. It's sad that it had to come to an end, but we've already got her signed up for next year, where she'll be a Kinderdancer, level 2!

Mr. Man

Now that he's a full-blown "sentence-talker", Drewbie is really, really starting to show some personality. Could it have something to do with his crazy and funny sister? Possibly. But Mr. Man is quite the little mischievous one! Currently, his new favorite saying is "Stop it, Momma." or "Stop it, Daddy."


He loves to wear sunglasses and hats. And he's always, always holding some ball. Whether that's a baseball, football, or round potpourri ball.

And he gives the funniest look. I was able to capture it on film the other day. He puts his chin down towards his chest, then rolls his eyes upward. It's a fun game we all play at the dinner table most nights.

Fun with the Fatbooth

I downloaded a fun, new app a few days ago. Well fun, if you consider looking at yourself as a morbidly obese person! Check it out. (And if you don't laugh out loud, then there's something wrong with you!)  :)

Tuckered Out

While at my mom's the other day, she came inside the house to find Drew asleep on the floor. I guess he was just so tired from playing outside with his sissy and grandma, that he didn't have the energy to do one more thing! So he just lied down right on the floor and went to sleep. Precious.

This One's For the Girls

A girlfriend passed along a note today that I found too cute not to share.  Enjoy!

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles, Please no bags
And please lift my butt before it sags.
Please no age spots, Please no gray
And as for my belly, Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy, Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord, For all that you've done.

Five tips for a woman....
1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to You.

4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.

5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.


Foot Note:
One saggy boob said to the other saggy boob:
'If we don't get some support soon, people will think we're nuts.'

Busy, Busy, Busy

That's what my life has been like lately.  I've been absent from blog posting (sorry Dad), discombobulated at home (now where did I put my keys?), and in a sour mood at work.  One of my major pet peeves are people who cry at how busy they are, so here I am.  Becoming my own pet peeve.

But last night, after a fantastic spin class, it occurred to me why I've been "out of sorts" lately. 

I MUST SPIN.

It's totally my drug and if I don't get my high at least 3 times a week, I become ugly.  Not only do I drag ass, but I just become short-tempered and impatient.  Spinning has absolutely become a part - no, make that a NECESSITY - of my life.  Now that the weather's finally getting warmer, I've been able to ride outside (and I must take 2point2 to brag about my 38 miler the other day.  Did it on my Flex Friday. Felt so good, so powerful. Totally ready to take on the 75K I'm doing in a few weeks.).....but riding outside doesn't give me that immediate "high" I need.  There's something about kicking ass for 60 minutes straight, burning 850 calories and sweating it all out. 

I'm getting excited just thinking about it now!

Drew's 2nd Birthday Party

We celebrated Drew's 2nd birthday a couple of weekends ago.  It was pretty low key; just family and close friends.  Nothing too crazy at this young age....we fully take advantage of low-key parties for as long as we can!  :)

As per usual, Drewbie looked cute as could be, in his doggie attire (thanks to Kel), where he matched the theme perfectly.  Between the doggie invitations, doggie cake, doggie ballons, doggie attire, "puppy chow," and doggie presents, we were doggied-out!  Next step is to actually get a doggie.  Andy?......

The Birthday Boy!

Drewbie loves his grandma (and grandma loves him right back)!

Typical right? His favorite gift was the $.99 bubbles I got at the Dollar Store. 

The Doggie Cake 

The handmade invitation 

It's so hard to get a good family shot. This one made me smile a bit: both kids have their finger's in their mouths. 



Happy 2nd Birthday, Drew!

Dear Drewbie,

Before I’m able to even start this letter, tears of joy are streaming down my face. I love you more than words can even describe. You are my little man; my little baby boy who I adore more than ever. You and your big sister bring so much joy, love, and fulfillment to my life.

It is hard to believe that just short two years ago, I gave birth to the most precious baby boy. From the moment you came into this world, you were just a sweet, sweet boy who loved to nestle in softness of anything fluffy. You loved your papasan, which surrounded you with the comfort of it’s plushness. After sleeping in it for 6 months straight, it’s no wonder that you’ve taken a liking to doggies and your blanket so much! Every night, I look forward to checking on you before I go to bed. You are the most sweetest thing, all cuddled in your blanket and over-sized doggie.

Your vocabulary has really blossomed these past few months. And the wonderment that spreads across your face when you see something new is pure excitement. Anything from a tiny ant gets you animated: “Ant! Ant!” We call you our little Ant Hunter.

Oh, Drewbie. You’re just so amazing. I love you more than life itself. Happy birthday my little man. May you continue to bring decades more of love, enjoyment, and happiness to our lives.

Love,
Momma



Mower Man

Drew loves to push things, whether that's his broom or in this case, his mower.  He pushed this for about an hour straight the other day; up and down the sidewalk, through the yard, in the garage, everywhere.



Emma's First T-Ball Game

Emma's first official T-Ball game was held this past weekend.  As you can imagine, it was the cutest thing to witness.  A bunch of 4-year olds standing around, not really knowing what to do.  Some were looking up in the sky at the ducks that would pass by, others (including my daughter) were busy making shapes in dirt on the field, while others were either picking their nose or their butt.  But they all had their team t-shirts on, cleats, helmets, and mits and looked stinkin' cute!!!

We don't keep score at this age; the main goal is that they just have fun.  For most of them, this is the first time they're being introduced to an organized team sport.  So just getting a basic understanding of the fundamentals is really what it's about.  Every kid gets a chance to hit the bat, and every kid gets to run the bases.



Look Ma, No Hands!

Now that the weather has started to turn, we've began taking family bike rides.  During one of these rides, I noticed that Emma wasn't really using her training wheels a lot; they were still attached, but it was as if she was balancing herself, just using the two training wheels every once in a while.  So I made a comment to her that we needed to teach her how to ride without those wheels.

So the next weekend, we took the wheels of one of her bikes (Yes, she has two. She's spoiled. What can I say?!?...),  thinking that she'd have one with training wheels and one without...in case she wasn't ready. 

Well.  I'm not sure what we were thinking: wasn't ready?!?

Please.

The girl got the hang of it after 20 or 30 minutes.

And I'm not exaggerating.  Andy literally walked behind her about 4 times before we saw that she got the hang of it.  So we packed up her bike and took her to our neighborhood's church parking lot so she had some wide open space to ride.

(BTW, these pictures and videos were taken last Sunday.  As of last night, she's now a full-on non-training wheel rider.  Able to start, stop, and turn without hesitation.)

Check it out.  It's amazes me how quickly she got the hang of it.

Wait.  No it doesn't.  She's my daughter.



And here's some footage of her first fall, after fully getting the hang of it.  I think she got a little too confident; she was going a little too fast while taking the turn....