Random Things

1. Why is it that I have one child who could care less about eating and my other child wants to eat everything in sight? Eva will eat food items and non-food items alike as if it is completely normal. For example, breakfast for Eva might include the following: a cup of milk, a waffle, some fruit, half of a paper towel, a handful of dog food and a booger. Not even kidding. I'm talking DAILY she eats dog food despite the fact that we continue to tell her how gross it is and that disciplinary action will be taken if she keeps doing it. Somehow she is not getting the message.

2. The other day I found Eva blowing bubbles...in the toilet water. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up a little bit.

3. Eva thinks it is hilarious these days to toot on purpose just to get a laugh. She will strain and strain just to produce one little toot and then she looks around to see if anyone heard it and just laughs. I am an easy audience of course because I think passing gas is extremely funny but we are working on saying excuse me since this type of behavior is obviously socially inappropriate. Her other socially inappropriate behavior that she has started doing is picking her nose and trying to wipe it on me. I know some of you who know me well and know that I think toots and boogers are funny maybe shocked to hear that no, I did not teach her either of these things. I promise! Again, we are working on what is appropriate and that there is such a thing as Kleenex. They have those now you know? Pretty sure they do.

4. Where have all the El Camino's gone? You know what I'm talking about. Those half truck/half muscle car combos that leave you wondering, "Is it a truck? Or is it a car? I'm not really sure."

In my opinion they are hideous looking but a GENIUS idea. Anyway, the other day we were driving to a doctor's appointment and were stopped at a light and hit the jackpot! A bronze El Camino pulled up beside us and to our delight the driver had the most amazing mullet I have seen in a long time. AND, wait, there's more...to add even more greatness to the story we still to this day are not sure whether the driver was a male or a female. GOOOO! I don't know which is worse a male mullet or a female mullet...I'm thinking the female mullet is prreeetty rough. In my mind the stereotype is that if you own an El Camino you more than likely will also have a mullet but in reality seeing the two together is a rare sighting so this just made my day. This person was obviously stuck in another era and you just know their car music of choice was probably like Journey's "Wheel in the Sky" on repeat or something. You can almost bet on it. Anyway, bring back the El Caminos I say. Are you thinking what I'm thinking...Eva and Ella's first car? That's right, El Camino baby, yeah...minus the mullet of course.

5. Ella has been doing this move a lot. I'm not really sure if she is practicing her hurkey or what she's doing. I was not a cheerleader but just in my observation I'm thinking that the hurkey may be the #1 move to know so Ella, you're on your way sister.


6. I have a motto that I've been going by lately because it seems like we like to take the difficult route for pretty much every situation these days so to prepare myself I like the motto of "Go in with low expectations and you will be pleasantly surprised." Let me explain. For instance, you get up in the morning and you think, "on my way to work I will probably have a wreck, total my car and be late for work." When none of that happens and you get to work a little early you are "pleasantly surprised." Another example, you are going to the grocery store and you think "the store will probably be out of everything I need, the kids will throw a fit and there will be some annoying person who stays on my tail with their cart down every aisle." And when none of that happens, you are what my friends? All together now..."pleasantly surprised". Do you see how this works? Are you picking up what I'm putting down? That's my theory, low expectations people, it's the way to go. :)

7. Because things have been diffcult and frustrating lately one of my very sweet, funny and caring friends, Nicole, showed up at my house a few weeks ago with a stack of plates from the dollar store. Plates you ask? Do tell. She thought that maybe if I could just throw a few plates when I'm frustrated it might make me feel better. Awesome idea! It makes me feel SO much better. I'm sure the neighbors are wondering why they occasionally hear breaking glass and someone crying in the backyard. No one has called the police yet, who by the way live right next door so I think we're good. Yeah, there's no counting to ten or taking deep breaths around here, it's just straight up plate-throwing for the Carders. That's just how we roll.


8. Last week my twin sister Ann and I turned 25 again. :) I love that I always know what to expect on my birthday from Ann. Every year we wish each other "Happy Birthday womb-mate,"...get it? Ha! Womb-mate, because we're twins. I know we are so clever. Anyway, then Ann usually gives me a card with some sort of inappropriate humor, language or both. Classic, she never disappoints. Anyway, we had a fun birthday and some of my dearest friends also happened to be in town so we all got to partay--haaay, together. I love spending time with these girls. I think my maturity level drops a few notches when we all get together from just being silly and laughing a lot. You know how it is when a bunch of girls get together, there's lots of loud laughing and everyone is talking at the same time but is still able to catch every word of what everyone else is saying. It's great. Thanks for the fun day ladies! And thank you to everyone for all of your calls, texts, and cards on my birthday, I felt very special.


My roomies from college, me, Kimberly, Ann, Christiana

Ann bought herself a shirt for her birthday and decided she liked it so much so she got the same one for me too. Our friend Holly said she would pay us to dress alike on our big day but of course we said there's no need to pay us, we would be more than happy to dress the same! Do you see what I mean by maturity level dropping a notch or two? Don't worry, we didn't go out in public dressed alike since that is a little awkward and we don't usually make a habit of dressing the same. It was just for the day and we didn't leave the house so it's cool.

Aunt Kimberly with Ella. She put her right to sleep.

Ella with her friends Neva and Callie all in their leg warmers

Ella and Callie in their matching pjs

The whole gang!