Good Ol' Fashioned Tea....bagging

Nothing says family fun like tea bagging your brother! Right?? On second thought that sounds kind of bad, let me explain.

This last weekend ALL of my family came to visit for the weekend...and by all, I mean ALL. Houses and cars were packed to capacity and everywhere you looked there were kids, kids, and more kids! But we had good reason to celebrate, my sister in law moved RIGHT DOWN THE STREET from me! She relocated from Virginia with her 2 kids while my oldest brother, Conrad, is deployed for 14 months to Afghanistan. So ALL of the family came to welcome them....including MY BROTHER CONRAD! It was the BEST surprise and it made for an emotional family gathering. He's been gone at training for 2 months and leaves for Afghanistan next week. While he was only here for the weekend, it made all of the difference to his wife and kids. But of course...we had to sneak in some family fun time.

I swear, even though we've all grown up, we haven't really grown up. I'm pretty sure our inner 12 year olds were out all weekend...Hence the tea-bagging!


Settle down sickos! I don't know what you were thinking when I said tea bagging...this is G rated tea bagging, Earl Grey style! Luckily for my brother, Nate, we only messed with him a little...falling asleep around our family can be dangerous.

But like the weekend, my family has come and gone and now its back to reality...pass the Red Bull and my car keys, this girl has got to GO!

Have an awesome day amigos!

Candy corn and jingle bells! WWTK Q&A Week 21

I love the holidays...like really LOVE the holidays. I may or may not listen to Christmas music in July, don't judge....sing along! And while perusing the shelves of my favorite store (Target of course) I found my cart filling up with Christmas goodies. LOVE IT. What about you? Do you love the holidays?! I wanna know this week on We Want To Know! So join me and the fabulous Mamarazzi for another fun Q&A....Holiday style!

<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>

Here are this weeks questions:

1. What is your favorite holiday?

2. Do you have any fun holiday traditions? What are they?

3. When do you start Christmas shopping?

4. What is your favorite holiday food?

5. Share a favorite childhood holiday memory

6. Have you ever actually tried fruitcake??

Read on amigos!


1. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas. Hands down. I love EVERYTHING about it. The smells, the tree, the lights, the true meaning! I love celebrating our Savior's birth! It is seriously my favorite time of year. Fa la la la la la la la laaaaa!

2. Do you have any fun holiday traditions? What are they?

Well, this may not seem fun to anyone else, but we have come to love it! Ever since I can remember we have listened to The Chipmunks Christmas CD while we decorate our tree. I have vivid memories as a child and can hear that music playing in the background. And now, every year, I see my kids singing along while they decorate the tree to the same music. It warms my heart to see the happiness it brings. And even though The Chipmunk voices are incredibly annoying, its one tradition that will never change!

3. When do you start Christmas shopping?

Umm....about 2 months ago. HA! You should see my stockpile, its intense! In my defense, I find amazing prices and shop smart....a lot.... :)

4. What is your favorite holiday food?

I have to pick just one? I'm going to have to go with hot chocolate. I know its a drink and not really a food, but there's something about a warm cup of hot chocolate that just SCREAMS happy holidays! YUM!

5. Share a favorite childhood holiday memory

I wish I could find the picture to this, but one year my older brothers and I all got skate boards and Body Glove sweaters for Christmas...we thought we were the shiz! I'm pretty sure that was the year we got Hypercolor socks too...it was a big Christmas for us that year, lol!

6. Have you ever actually tried fruitcake??

Oh heck no. And I don't think I ever will. There's something just not natural about it.

There ya have it friends! Now its your turn :)

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

Happy Birthday Humberto!!

In case you don't know who Humberto is, its my loving ALMOST 30 year old husband...Humberto is his pet name. Don't ask...it gets weird ;) You can just call him Jordan if it makes you feel more comfortable.

And today my man is the big 2-9!! He's getting OLD! I'm pretty sure he's Silver Fox status now.

{29 years of shakin' what his mama gave him!}

So hunny bunny, if you're reading this,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I love you more than Red Bull...that's major.

I hope you have an amazing day!

Now I need to figure out how to wrap myself in a box...hmmm.

Intervention time....WWTK Q&A!

Can I start off with saying mea culpa?! Last Wednesday was pure insanity and I didn't have time to make the rounds and check out your links....but I LOVE YOU! Forgive me?! I'll beg...I'm not above it.

Anyloveyoulongtime, its time for this week's Q&A and Mamarazzi has come up with some fabulous questions....all about one of my favorite things on the face of this planet. CELL PHONES! I loooove my phone...I'd be lost without it. I'm pretty sure I have an addiction to it. I wonder if there is therapy for these kind of things? Read on amigos....

<center><a href="http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbutton-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>

1. Do you prefer to text or call?
2. What is the last text message in your phone and who is it from?
3. What are your favorite phone apps?
4. At what age do you think kids are ready for a cell phone?
5. Share a current pic or video taken with your phone

I may have to sift through some of these pics and texts before I answer....gotta keep things G rated and all..meow! I can't wait to read your answers!

1. Do you prefer to text or call?

Text. All the way. I'm not much of a phone talker, but if you check my texts....we're talking thousands a month. No joke. Mostly between me and my sister-in-law....who lives down the street now! Apparently we have a lot to say to each other. And based on the number of LOLs in them, we think we're pretty funny. Sheesh. I need a new hobby.

2. What is the last text message in your phone and who is it from?

It's from my sister-in-law. Surprise surprise!! And it says: No problem! ;) (Exciting, isn't it?)


3. What are your favorite phone apps?

Ohhh...I love love love HeyTell. It's a voice messaging app that's like a walky talky. So conventient and perfect for sending random messages singing at the top of my lungs!

4. At what age do you think kids are ready for a cell phone?

I would say 12 is a good place to start. But only to have when they are out so that they have a way to stay in contact with us. I wouldn't let them have free reign of the phone though. I would say that they should at least be in high school before they have access to their OWN phone. With all the sexting, videos, and crap that goes on nowadays it makes me nervous to give my kids a potentially dangerous tool. On the other hand, it would make me feel more at ease to know that I could be in contact with them.

5. Share a current pic or video taken with your phone

{Toddlers for sale at Costco!}

The Little Miss was tired of walking so she decided to post up and read a book. Wish I could do that!

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

A night of passion...

With my man, The Groban....oh, and Jordan was there too. Last Wednesday night we went to the AMAZING Josh Groban concert, and ladies, I have just one word for it. SWOON! I l-o-v-e Josh Groban.....'s music...ahem...I'm a married woman, don't get me wrong. I love his music.

{Reunited and it feels so goooooood!!}

The last time we went and saw him, he held my hand and sang to me...yeah...chew on that for a minute. It was pretty much like heaven on earth. This time around the concert was almost as good ;). His opening act, Elew, was CRAZY awesome! And of course, my man didn't disappoint. His concerts are flawless....and I swear if you listen really closely while he's singing, you can hear chonies dropping across the world. Yup.

{So close...yet so far...}

I even took some granny panties with my phone number written across it. I was gonna launch a thong up there, but I couldn't fit all the numbers on those teeny little strings. Nothing says 'I love your music' like cotton hipster skivvies....rawr....

If you ever get a chance to go see The Groban in concert, DO IT! And invite me! Just don't touch him....I might have to shank you...for real. I will cut you.

Happy Tuesday Amigos!

Let my hormones ask the questions....WWTK Q&A

It is Wednesday already?! You know what that means? I'm going to the JOSH GROBAN concert tonight!! Hot dang! And of course....its time for We Want To Know with my lovebug Mamarazzi and your master of ceremonies for the day, ME!

<center><a href="http://houseofcline.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g328/OurDandelionWishes/WWTKbuttonSmall.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></center>

I've been reading some amazing books lately and they've inspired me, motivated me, moved me and made me smile. After reading The Help I found myself turning inward and asking some deep and honest questions (must be the pms) so I thought I'd share them this week!


1. What is the best advice someone has ever given you?

2. What is your greatest accomplishment?

3. Who do you admire?

4. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

5. How do you want to be remembered?

So grab the chocolate and the tissues and lets ride on this emotional roller coaster together!

1. What is the best advice someone has ever given you?

Don't get up from pooping until you pee the second time. No joke. That advice was actually given to me. Or...stay true to yourself. That's a lesson in life that I've had to learn the hard way. It took me a while to find ME, but now I wouldn't live life any other way.

2. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Hands down, being a mother. And not just a mother, but a good mother. Toot toot. Yup that's my horn. Because you know what? I am a good mother. And it hasn't been easy. Being a mother at 19 wasn't the easiest experience. Every thing about my situation at 19 was difficult, emotionally and physically. Three kids later and all of that pain has disappeared. I'm thankful for the experience and being able to reflect on what was, and what now is. Every day I look at my babies and know that there is nothing I can do in this life that will top them.

3. Who do you admire?

Oh man, well of course my Mom, but I think I've bragged about her too much ;) So for the sake of switching things up I am going to have to say my Mother in law. She. is. awesome. No seriously, she is. She is the epitome of patience. I've never seen her flustered, no matter what chaotic mess is going on. She's raised 7 children of her own and is a FOUNTAIN of knowledge! Plus she is a spiritual powerhouse. Any question I've ever had, she's answered. And trust me, I've had a lot of questions. She exudes love, patience, and warmth and seriously I wish I could be like her! I'm so thankful to have such an amazing example in my life. {this is totally making me the favorite daughter in law ;) }

4. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

My bowels. Dang IBS. But seriously now...let me think. I would change how defensive I can be. I have a hard time letting people in and completely trusting them. Once you're in, you're golden, but my past has toughened parts of my heart that still take time to soften. That's something that I have to work on daily. If I could change it overnight, I would.


5. How do you want to be remembered?

I want people to laugh when they think back on me. I want them to remember the way I snort when I laugh, the way my laugh sounds, and the love I have for them. If the only thing I leave behind are good memories that bring a warm smile to their face, then I've done my job.

Ok, enough of this mushy crap. I'm downing Midol like its going out of style over here. I can't wait to read all of your answers! I'll be thinking of you while I'm being serenaded my the one and only Groban....RAWR!! Happy writing!

All posts for We Want to Know should include:

1. The darling *new* WWTK button

2. A link to your co hosts Mamarazzi and Queso

Links must lead to WWTK posts that contain the WWTK button. Posts should lead to Family Friendly blogs. Blogs containing explicit language and/or sexually explicit content should contain an "adult content warning", or risk being removed from the link list. Kthanks!

Let me just apologize now...

At the beginning of each school year I go through a range of emotion. First off, its tears of JOY at the thought of having 5 minutes of sanity. Then its a little sadness...no wait...there's none of that, its pretty much just joy. Then its a little fear. Yup. FEAR. Because I totally have those kids. Heaven help Mason's teacher...I'm seriously going to have to put her on a prayer roll. Its gonna be a long year....I mean look at this face....

{His little cherub face...so precious...riiiiight}

Totally sweet and innocent, right? BWAAHHAA! Or not. The little shiznizzle...his teacher is going to be a hot mess by the end of the year.

Let's not forget about Boogie! He's still going to his special education program (which he cried at EVERY FRIGGIN DAY last year) but....BUT....he's starting his first mainstream preschool this year! This is HUGE for him. I honestly can't say how he'll do, but we are optimistic and hopeful that it will be a positive experience for him. He had a playdate with his new teacher and friends and for the most part he did great! And so did Presley...who had to be up in the mix and was convinced that she was part of the class. Oy vey that girl has enough attitude to knock Tyra over with her smize.

{Parachutes + Balls= Best time ever!}

{Peek at the bean bag....Little Miss made herself right at home!}

My fingers and toes are crossed that the kids have a good year...and that their teachers survive unscathed. I doubt it. But hey, a girl can hope, right? And if hope doesn't work, I'll pray....or bribe. :)