It's a twista!!

Use your best Jo Frost voice for best pronunciation of entry title. 

Go back, try it again.  You know you want to.

(Your mom wants to!)

And why am I talking about twisters, you ask?  Because by the time you get up from reading this entry your hair will be tousled and you'll have to shake off a serious dizzy spell.  And I beg you to pardon me just this once (okay and eighty seven other random times) from decent topic transitions.  It is 10pm, Jack is STILL yelling at me from his crib, KJ has no loose teeth but plenty of questions about the Tooth Fairy, Kevin is STILL at work from 6:00 this morning, and I just finished off the pot of coffee and am too damn tired to brew a fresh pot.  That's all.

We've done everything in the last three days just short of figuring out the meaning of life, so prepare to be impressed.  (Or fake it.  That's good with me too.)

On Friday night we scoured the internet for real estate possibilities, creating a list of 24 houses in our price range.  After one of many Come to Jesus talks, we shaved the top off of our previous price range, deciding that maybe we really do like life's little extras such as laundry detergent and chicken. 

On Saturday morning we took that list, and not only finally decided on what town we plan to buy our new house in, but we even have it narrowed down to the ideal elementary school area.  We are ON! IT!  And while we won't be buying a 3000 square footer with all the perks, a 1500 square foot brick bungalow that shortens Kevin's commute by a good 30 minutes grows happily on me as each day passes. 

During our seven hours of pure hell for the children neighborhood hunting we stopped at what will be our new local park, and now KJ is even convinced that this is the place to live.  Two words: Splash. Pad. 

Also to KJ's delight they have not one, but three of those curved ladders where he climbs above my head, causing me a mild heart attack that he will lose his footing and crash to the ground with his first broken bone. 

He's so excited.

Also?  Not as exciting?  I forgot what it's like to take a newly toddling toddler to a park.  Where he can walk RUN! around. 

What newly toddling toddlers are pretty good at is walking.  What they are not good at is following any sort of directions or pleas to Cooooome Baaaaack!  Mostly they just go.  And hope you follow. 

Or, they don't care if you follow.  They just go.

You would possibly think the above picture is a tender moment shared by fourteen month old son and I, but actually, it is me completely exasperated, holding him the only way that keeps him happy (high, in the air, usually to jet plane sound) after I chased him down a good hundred feet from the play equipment.  I can't wait to take both children by myself.  One will break bones while the other one gets lost. 

(Enter your own pretend transition here.)

Saturday night we met up with the only members of my extended family that I happily claim blood relation to, at the biggest Chinese Buffet around.  Then we went home and polished off a container of cookie dough.  Then a bottle of tums.  I swear I am going back on my diet. 

(Enter your own pretend transition here.)  (Don't get sassy with me, you!)

On Sunday, after I ate my weight in Chinese food and Coconut Krisp Cookie Dough (damn KJ's school fund raisers.  Why can't he sell wrapping paper like everyone else??) my mom and I went dress shopping.  If you're wondering if dress shopping is easier with your mom (haha, your mom!) instead of your fourteen month old precious lunatic son, it is.

I found a dress!

I totally should have tucked those armpit strings keep-your-dress-on-the-hanger-thingies inside.  Shut up.

It's black, it's simple, it's pretty.  It's relatively inexpensive ($59.99 on sale, baby!) and it's in my happy size.  Here's what the top part looks like:

Shut up again with the strings.  Your jokes have grown old.

And, you guys were TOTALLY RIGHT about New York & Company! While I bought this dress at JC Penney, we first went into that store and I nearly BOUGHT THE PLACE OUT just for fun, because it really does have that much awesomeness and is that affordable!  Wow. 

(What other secrets you got up your sleeves, internet?)

Also, I bought theeeeeeeeeese!

Who doesn't want to get up in the morning and jump to their feet when they can wear brand new shoes?

They motivated me all the way to this:

Every. Single. Cabinet. in the bathroom.  Organized.  Scrubbed.  Organized.

Also, this project brought to you by one dreamy phone call from Lowe's, who is coming to install CAR-PE-TING this Thursday so that I can close out Project Holy Crap and begin Project Room of Crap.

Naah.  That name is vulgar.  We'll have to think of something else.  When I am, like, awake.

Whee!  Carpeting!

Popular, plush, beautiful carpeting!

Okay, that's all folks.  No real transitions, and no good ending either.  I'm going to make lunchmeat sandwiches.  Because we are going to the zoo in the morning!  Helloooo sixty degrees!

Love you, love your show, internet.

Comments

[Amy W]

You need to get on NY&C mailing list. They send out great coupons (like $30 off if you spend $75).

I am very, very afraid to take two kids to the park by myself.

[Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, what Amy said. Get on their e-mail list. My sister and I always go shopping there with that coupon because between the two of us (okay, we could totally do it on our own but we have to be sometwhat responsible with our money) we can easily spend $75. I love that place. Your mom loves that place!
Oh, also there's this store called Target. It's fabulous. Ever heard of it? Your mom's heard of Target!
Love the dress. Love the pics of the boys. Love this post. And also, I don't blame KJ at all for wanting to move there for those.two.words. and only those two words because DUDE...that would be so much fun!

[Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi]

Once again, I knew I would forget something. See, when you bloggers go all talking about more than one thing, my mind can't remember everything I wanted to say about everything you talked about.
I LOVE those shoes!!!! I got new shoes yesterday, too. But they are the most butt ugly shoes I've ever seen. Why did I get them you ask? I had to, for Jazzercise. Teaching as much as I've been teaching, support and comfort and safety wins over stylish. (It pains me to say that.)

[Rachel]

From what I just read, Silly Hily has had waaaaaaaaaaaay toooooooo much caffiene and/or sugar! Good luck to you on finding a house! And, the zoo? I would love to go. It is gonna be 80 here today!

[Stacey]

The dress is awesome! Very good choice. I like the shoes too, but looking at them just makes me feel guilty for not exercising.

And your bathroom cabinets? They delight me...you have excited the OCD part of my brain. :)

[Isabel]

The dress...it is beautiful.

And you will get so much use out of it!!

[Mar]

I love the dress! Every woman needs a little black dress in her closet. Just think in 18 days I get to see you in it too... Time flies when we're having fun planning! I want to go to the Zoo too. Should have called off work today and played hookie with you and the kids!

[Frema]

You can thank "the Internet" all you want for your NY&C find, but I will know, deep down, that it's all because of me. Because I SAID IT FIRST.

The black dress is gorgeous. Gorgeous! Can't wait to see pictures of you in it.

Luke and I also experienced some epiphanies while away in Chicago. I will have to call you so I can tell you about them.

[SJ]

Love the dress, love the shoes. Hooray for shopping! And for NY&C! After I post this I'm going to join their mailing list, I had no clue!

And the house hunting...man you covered a lot of awesome stuff in this post!

I want a splash pad!

I totally understand what it's like to take a toddler to the park, you are all over the place. Fun times, fun times!

Yay! Just felt like saying that....