That High?

Barack is very disappointed with me!


I only scored 20 on the Obama Test

Out With The Old, In With The New

I look forward to reading this piece every year: Dave Barry's The Year in Review

Bailey the Unknown Reindeer

The boys can't stop watching this - thanks, Grandpa I.!

Because I'm Too Busy to Blog...

Entertain yourselves!

You Know a Lot About Christmas

You got 9/10 correct You know tons about the history and traditions surrounding Christmas. When you celebrate the holidays, you never forget their true meaning - or all the little fun details. Random Christmas fact: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was originally a promotional gimmick for Montgomery Ward.

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

You Are a Gingerbread Cookie

You are an organized, responsible person. You value success, and you're likely to get an early start on the day. You are good with both planning and numbers. You have ambitious life goals, and you're well on your way to achieving them.

What Holiday Cookie Are You?

Oh There's SNOW Place Like Home for the Holidays!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Christmas Crack

(OK, not so wordless...)

CHRISTMAS CRACK
corn chex
cheerios
mini pretzels
peanuts
m & m's
peanut butter chocolate chips
powdered sugar

Mix all dry ingredients together. Melt chocolate chips (microwave works great) and work through dry mix until covered. Place mix in large ziplock bag and add powdered sugar. Close bag and shake to coat. Spread out on wax paper and let dry.

(No, I don't measure. Eyeball everything a la Rachel Ray. Just make sure you have enough chocolate chips to cover your dry ingredients.)

Eat in large quantities. Enjoy sugar high. Brush teeth.

For Your Listening Pleasure

In case you haven't seen this as it's circulated around the internet. Best version of the 12 Days of Christmas EVER.
UPDATE: Thanks to the popularity of this clip on YouTube, these guys got a record deal!


And, a great video of classic Christmas movies set to one of my favorite secular Christmas tunes (pause the Playlist player in the sidebar first):

Friday Fun

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

A tradition we've embraced from Dan's childhood is celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas. The Bishop of Myra came on the eve of his Feast Day and filled our stockings with animal crackers, M&M's, WALL-E book & ornament, camouflage gloves & wallet, the Josh Grobin Noel CD and a Hickory Farms beef stick among our numerous goodies!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Kindergarten Picture

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Meme

Tracy has tagged me in the 'Six Things That Make Me Happy' meme.

According to the rules, I have to post six things that make me really happy... and pass it on to give six more people a reason to be thankful!

So six things that make me happy...
1) 'White Trailer Trash Thanksgiving' with fabulous friends, delicious food & libations and everyone playing Wii bowling!
2) Our Christmas lights. They are beautiful, numerous and took Dan 5 hours to put up with 'help' from the Heroes.
3) The sound of Bittyman singing descant to 'Do You Hear What I Hear'.
4) Finding in our storage space (while pulling out the Christmas decorations) a Rubbermaid bin filled with winter clothes in Ittyboy's size!
5) Needing dressy winter outfits to wear while cantoring and scoring at Kohl's two skirts, a shirt and a jacket for $51! (Plus I received a $10 Kohl's giftcard back!)
6) Coffee with Coffee-Mate Festive Flavors creamer. (Too bad I'm out of coffee this morning. Diet Dr. Pepper just ain't cutting it.)

Now I need to choose six other blog friends... in no particular order... (does Samantha on DWTS bug anyone else as much as she annoys the living crap outta me? Someone get her a Fatburger and a Thesaurus. I have to mute her when she speaks... but I digress):
Sharon (Who reminded me that The Grinch is on tonight - Thanks!)
Amy
K (Who probably won't participate 'cause her husband is out of the country this week, but I'm thinking of ya!)
Becki (Who can participate while NAK her newborn, Grace! Check out her blog for pics!)
Teri
Grandmai (Who doesn't blog but can post participate by posting her answers in a Note on facebook, hint, hint!)

Wordless Wednesday

(Christmas Lights Schematic by Bittyman)
Wordless Wednesday

Disco Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Heroes in A Country Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Foto Friday

FYI, to all who might baby-sit the Heroes. If they ever disappear on you, look here:

What HTML Color Are You?

you are mediumblue #0000CD

Your dominant hue is blue, making you a good friend who people love and trust. You're good in social situations and want to fit in. Just be careful not to compromise who you are to make them happy. Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

I think that's pretty accurate. Although I'd be curious to know what my blog readers think my HTML color is. Take the quiz, describing me, and post your results in the comment box! (I'm curious if my online personality matches my IRL personality!)

Thanks, Esther!

The Simple Bittyman

The Simple Woman's Daybook
(As written by Bittyman since Diva Mom hasn't had her coffee yet!)

FOR TODAY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2008

Outside my window... I see a bright blue sky.

I am thinking... I don't know what I'm thinking.

I am thankful for... God.

From the kitchen... I ate strawberry oatmeal for breakfast.

I am wearing... an army jacket (his cameo shirt) and red pants.

I am creating... play-doh robot.

I am going... to to the movies with E.J. and Hailey on Thursday.

I am reading... a Little Critter book.

I am hoping... that maybe we can go to the park.

I am hearing... the computer humming.

Around the house... I like to trash the house. (Make a huge mess.)

One of my favorite things... Transformers, mint chocolate chip cookies, kitchen tools... that's it.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Go to the park, go to the movies, go to Sunday school.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Sunday Reading ~ Christmas is Coming

(A fitting post since I'll be spending 3 hours this afternoon rehearsing Christmas music with my caroling group... after I've cantored 2 Masses... want to place bets on the state of my voice Sunday night?)

Let's Go Christmas Shopping! ~ The Anchoress
Stores That Won't Use CHRISTmas In Their "Holiday" Promotions And Advertising (aka, stores that won't be getting Diva Mom's business this Christmas) ~ Cheeky Pink Girl
Official 2008 Black Friday Site
Black Friday @ Gottadeal.com
Merry Tossmas! ~ via Creative Minority Report
Organized Christmas
Make-A-Flake (Game)
Turkey Shoot (Game)

7 Quick Takes Friday

(A new feature from Jen at Conversion Diary. Thanks, Jen!)

~1~

The pictures posted on Wordless Wednesday are from a jazz festival that Dan and his band were performing at last weekend. We had a fantastic time, the band is already booked for next year, and the little Heroes were angels during 10 hours of total drive time. (i.e. they slept for 8 of those hours.)

~2~

Bittyman is on track break. (He's in a year-round elementary school, which has 5 different schedules or 'tracks'. I know, crazy. Welcome to an overcrowded school system.) He's off the entire month of November. The name 'track break' is misleading. It's only a break for the teachers.

~3~

Scrabble is back on facebook. I made my first 7-letter word, 'armorer' on a triple word score space, for a whopping 95 points! (Hey, Jen didn't specify that these quick takes had to be particularly entertaining or thought-provoking.)

~4~

I haven't started my Christmas shopping. Usually I'd be halfway through my list by Thanksgiving. I may have a caroling gig Thanksgiving night from 11:30pm to 4am. (I've been a professional caroler with a group that dresses in Dickens-period costumes and sings in a capella quartets for the past 10 Christmas seasons.) If so I'll go directly from the gig to the craziness of the Black Friday sales and try to knock out all my shopping in one swoop of my Kohl's card.

~5~

I refuse to do any Christmas shopping at a store that doesn't acknowledge that it's Christmas. You can find the 2008 'Naughty & Nice' list of retailers here.

~6~

Why is the closest Cracker Barrel 85 miles from our house? We stopped at one driving back from the festival and I was in heaven. Homestyle cooking AND shopping! Oh, wait! I have purchased one Christmas gift. The Heroes spent 15 minutes playing with a toy parrot that repeats back everything you say to it in parrot voice. Just hilarious - especially when it repeated back Ittyboy's 19-month-old 'talk'. After loading the boys into the car, Dan ran back in and bought it.

~7~

The number one Google search term that lands on my blog is "Turkey Pinecone Craft." (How cute is 2 1/2 year-old Bittyman there?) We'll be doing it again next week and I'll post new pictures!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Last Weekend's Getaway

Wordless Wednesday

To Our Veterans

Thank you and your families for your service and sacrifice! Especially those Veterans we know personally:
Grandpa I., Grandpa E., Uncle Tony, Mr. Eggers, Mr. Bettencourt, Mr. Saffell, Mr. Testa and Fr. Phil

Conservatives, let's learn from our mistakes.

(The video starts with a black screen - that's not a mistake. Stick with the entire 9 minutes. It's well worth viewing. Hat-tip to Fr. Erik at Orthometer.)

Election Eve Reading

Twas the Night Before Elections ~ A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
Vote for the Baby ~ Tales From The Bonnie Blue Horse
An open letter to our fellow Catholics on Election Eve ~ Our Faith Begins At Life, by Edward Morrissey and Elizabeth "The Anchoress" Scalia

Sunday Reading

Obama: Yes to Iran, No to WFTV ~ The Anchoress
What horrors await us in the penumbras formed by emanations ~ What Does The Prayer Really Say?
Are Witches Real? ~ Father Dwight Longenecker
Will the Washington Redskins predict the election? ~ Salon.com
NFL Predictions - Redskins 17-1 Predicting U.S. Elections ~ FanYard
McCain rocked the house ~ The Deacon's Bench
'SNL' Skewers Olberman As A Pompous Dishonest Buffoon ~ Newsbusters

St. George and the Penguin

Anyone else's households suffering from the effects of sugar hangovers this morning? We're draggin' here!

Foto Friday ~ Happy Halloween!

A quick picture taken yesterday before Bittyman's school Halloween party:



Ittyboy is going to be a penguin. If I can convince him to wear it. He looked adorable in the Gymboree store where I scored that costume, along with Bittyman's Knight/St. George (for tomorrow's parish All Saints Day party) ensemble, off the clearance rack. But Itty has refused to put his costume on since.

I wanted to go as Sarah Palin but I never had a chance to shop for a pair of square-rimmed glasses. Dan is going as a Green Bay Packer (i.e. he throws on his jersey and calls it a 'costume').

More pictures after trick-or-treating tonight, when I'm awake on my chocolate/caffeine buzz.

Wordless Wednesday - 8:33 am Edition

Wordless Wednesday

Pumpkin Patch Pics

A few pictures from our trip to the pumpkin patch last night. And yes, Bittyman is sporting shorts. According to my handy carmometer it was 82F when we arrived at 5pm. Fall may never come to our part of the country.

(Can you tell the Little Heros were exhausted?)

Sunday Reading

Church is not Wal-Mart ~ Domine, da mihi hanc aquam
The increasingly erratic, super-gaffetastic Joe Biden ~ Michelle Malkin
Editing Their Way to Oblivion: Journalism Sacrificed For Power and Pensions ~ Michael S. Malone, Edgelings.com
Ten Greatest Halloween Costumes Ever ~ Creative Minority Report
In the footsteps of St. Paul (Interactive Game) ~ A Catholic Mom in Hawaii

Hank Williams Sings "McCain-Palin Tradition"

You know your 18-month-old son is Catholic when...

you catch him putting his hand into the (thankfully clean) toilet water and making the sign of the cross.

Sunday Reading

Mission Sunday and the North American Martyrs ~ Young Fogeys
Morality and the Election ~ Agnus Daily
Let me get this straight ~ Stupid Fat Hobbit (via June Cleaver After A Six Pack)
Catholic and Democrat? ~ Thoughts of a Regular Guy
Wednesday Was Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty ~ K & the 3ds
Head to Costco if you're looking for a deal on Starbucks Cards ~ Starbucks Gossip
Would you pay $10 for 10 weeks of savings? ~ Want Not

Saturday Night Live

Friday Fun

Though the FreeRice Vocabulary game was addictive? Try this one: FreeRice Famous Paintings. (Wow, is my art knowledge lacking!)

Flex your brain cells while donating rice to the UN World Food Program.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Who Needs A Shrink When There's Blogthings

What Your Halloween Habits Say About You

You're a friendly person, but not the life of the party. You like making someone else's day - and you'll dress up if you think of a really fun costume. You are an overachiever and quite popular. You'd save the world if you could. Your inner child is open minded, playful, and adventurous. You truly fear the dark side of humanity. You are a true misanthrope. You're logical, rational, and not easily effected. Not a lot scares you... especially when it comes to the paranormal. You are a traditionalist with most aspects of your life. You like your Halloween costume to be basic, well made, and conventional enough to wear another year.

What's Your Halloween Personality?

Happy Columbus Day!

The History of Columbus Day ~ History.com
Columbus Factoids ~ Young Fogeys
Columbus Day Crafts and Activities ~ EnchantedLearning.com

Sunday Reading

The Our Father, Interactive ~ Reflections-Online (Hat tip to the Ironic Catholic)
Before You Vote... Meet The Shoes ~ June Cleaver After A Six-Pack
Considering Who To Vote For? Read This! ~ Creative Minority Report
More Than 100 Reasons To Vote Against Barack Obama ~ Fr. West's Catholic Blog
Vatican Official Simplifies Voting Guidelines for American Catholics ~ Agnus Daily
Sloppy Rams Stun Redskins for First Win

Foto Friday

A few minutes in the life of Ittyboy while Bittyman was at school.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Reading

It's Called Karma ~ June Cleaver After A Six-Pack
Dude, where's my bailout? ~ Michelle Malkin
'SNL' Skit Blames Democrats For Financial Crisis ~ NewsBusters
An idea for Sunday ~ Conversion Diary
The Deacon's Bench: Homily for October 5, 2008
It's a Wrap: Skins 23, Eagles 17 ~ Redskins Insider

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Will You Come and Follow Me...

Blogger has a nifty new widget called Following. (Mine is in the sidebar, under the Player.) If you have a Blogger profile (you don't have to blog to create a profile) click on 'Follow this blog' and your picture will appear. Click on my followers to see their profiles with links to their blogs.

It's an easy way to keep track of your favorite blogs, which are automatically added to your Google Reader and to the Reading List on your Blogger dashboard, and discover some great new reads like Parish the Thought by Fr. Bud Pelletier.

If you have a Blogger profile I invite you to follow me! If you don't have a profile, create one and follow me! C'mon, all the cool kids are doing it...

Wordless Wednesday - As Seen on TV

Wordless Wednesday

Menu Plan Monday

I'm an Organizing Junkie

I'm still menu planning, I just haven't been blogging my plans - until I saw this week's theme, "Family Favorites Edition".

I post many of my family favorites on my recipe blog, Diva Mom's Meals.

This Week's Meals:
Saucy Cheeseburger Sandwiches, fruit salad, chips *Family Favorite*
Beer Brats, baked beans, corn *Family Favorite*
Alton Brown's Grilled Cheese, fresh & easy's tomato 'n basil soup *Family Favorite*
No Fuss Taco Salad

Dan has gigs 3 nights in the next 7 so it's an easy cooking week for me. The Little Heroes are always happy with quick and easy meals like Quesadillas, Annie's Pasta Meals, and probably one trip to the Golden Arches.

Have a delicious week!

Happy 17 Months, Ittyboy!

At 17 months, Ittyboy:

• Has numerous words/phrases: dada, mama, buh-bye, hi, up, down, blub (for his tummy), eyes, nose, butt (when he needs a change), kitty, dog, birdie, baby, 'cuse me, good (when asked, "how are you?"), car, cookie, apple, , cheese, all done, nite-nite.
  
• Loves to do his 'jobs': pushing the garage door opener, putting the trash can back under the sink and closing the cabinet door, and picking out his shirt each morning (his favorite being his Wal-E shirt).
• Climbs onto the couch and from there the end tables.
• Climbs onto the dining room bench and from there the dining room table.
• Has mastered the child-proof cabinet locks, the child-proof stove top burner locks and one version of an oven lock.
• Loves to dance.
• Has his 8 front teeth completely in and is working on 4 molars.
  
• Thinks Jon and Kate Plus 8 is hilarious because of all the "BABIES!"
  
• Makes the sign of the cross and then shouts, "AMEN!"
• Nurses at nap-time and occasionally bed-time.

9/27/08 UPDATE: Diva Mom needs more caffeine/sleep/to regenerate the brain cells lost during two pregnancies. I originally posted this as 'Happy 18 Months, Ittyboy!'. Today (2 weeks later) I realized Itty won't be 18 months until October 17. Holy missing IQ points.

The Simple Woman

I've seen this on several blogs and it looked like a good way to start the week.

~The Simple Woman~

For Today...

Outside my Window... blazing hot sun. Will fall ever arrive?

I am thinking..."Is my coffee done yet?"

I am thankful for... Mr. Coffee, whoever he is.

From the kitchen... planning a run to Fresh & Easy after dropping Bittyman at school. The fridge is bare!

I am wearing... denim capris and an Old Navy polo shirt.

I am reading... St. Paul: Jubilee Year of the Apostle Paul Edition: A Bible Study for Catholics

I am hoping... it cools down soon so we can start walking to school instead of driving.

I am creating... a pile of items to put on eBay.

I am hearing... sniffles from Ittboy. Not sure if it's due to the 4 molars he's got coming in or allergies.

Around the house... Mondays are my general cleaning day, a la FlyLady.

One of my favorite things... relaxing with my three Heroes on Sunday afternoons.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... visiting with Grandma and Grandpa I. after they arrive tomorrow, a trip to Costco, continue my quest to find a Black Spiderman costume for Ittyboy (to go with Bitty's Red Spiderman costume), meeting our playgroup at a concert Friday night.

Here are two picture thoughts I am sharing with you...