Wish Kristin Happy Birthday.

Wish Kristin Happy Birthday.

Today is my best friend from high school's 28th birthday. I have a tradition of thoroughly embarassing her for her birthday--gifts given at school that were wrapped nicely and ripped open in front of a crowd only to be packaged again in feminine product boxes, envelopes sent in the mail with pictures of her in her skimmies on the outside--I was a great friend like that. We live across the country from each other and I so rarely get to see her and miss her tons, but this year I decided a photo tribute on my blog would still keep the tradition in place.

Happy Birthday, KristOn!

Send swap package.

Send swap package.

I signed up for this swap a few weeks ago--the idea behind it was basically, you find 3 "mellow" (this is up to interpretation) items in the same color family, send them to a stranger you are assigned who also signed up for the swap, and receive a package of the like in return.

What's not cool about sending gifts to/receiving gifts from a stranger?

My stranger was particularly cool and I received the nicest package full of pink hues! She was even thoughtful enough to include a little something for my kiddos, which they were, and still are, thrilled about.

We must have been on the same wave length because I sent her pinks too! Here is the pic she took when she received it--to my relief, (as far as I can tell) nothing is broken!

Thanks again so much, Laura! Check out all the swap photos on Flickr here.

Play Guitar Hero.

Play Guitar Hero.

I knew I would love this game.

What I didn't know was I would love "kickin' my husband's trash" in a video game even more.

Our friends came over and introduced us to the phenomenon last night, inspiring my husband to buy one (well, two) first thing this morning for our house (no doubt so he can practice, beat me, and reclaim his video game supremacy), and also inspiring my friend to start her own sure-to-be awesome blog, "Sue's Fun In the Sun", here.

Vote for American Idol.

Vote for American Idol.

American Idol finally convinced me to vote last night by promising to donate money for my votes. Blake Lewis all the way baby!

Then the fine representations of my southern homeland on the show tonight convinced me to make my own donation.

Well it was either them or Jack Black's awesome rendition of Seal's "Kiss from a Rose" and the reaction of Black's biggest fan in the audience who was crying, holding his own rose. Classic.

Throw big party.

Throw big party.

I've been wanting to throw a big party and I pulled the "birthday card" to guilt Jake into agreeing to an 80's-Themed Murder Mystery this past weekend.

How can 30 people decked out in neon colors, jelly bracelets, acid wash jean jackets, biker shorts, and crimped side ponytails NOT have a good time?

Add to that a little role-playing, murder solving, and of course breaking out the running man to Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now"--it doesn't get much better than that.

These pictures are courtesy of the awesome looking friends pictured in the second photo. I thought my camera was broken so I didn't take any pictures. Turns out I had just put the batteries in wrong (those AA batteries are complicated) but that's another story. . .

Lenny and Linda . . . er, My hubby and I . . . we were characters in an 80s band Jake named "Crying Heart" (you can't see it but those are tears and a heart scrawled on his face).

"Mark" and "Maria" in their like, totally awesome outfits!

They look innocent enough, but the two assasins on the left (even the one on crutches) murdered about half the party before it was over. And stole their victim's loot, giving them the most money at the end and winning them the acclaimed DVD "Teen Wolf". Oh yeah, Michael J. Fox at his best.

I wish I had pictures of everyone. Mostly so I could use them later as blackmail.

Rock on Crying Heart!

Watch TiVo-ed comedy.

Watch TiVo-ed comedy.

When events of the world hit me strongly, I think it's healthy to release some of that stress through laughter. You probably already know this, but in case you don't, these are the 3 best laugh-out-loud shows on TV to do so:

Doogie Howser --as he will always be known to me--totally makes this show. We watched the re-run episode with Lily as the hunchback stalker last night, seriously, so funny.

Buy mullet wig.

Buy mullet wig.

I bought this new mullet wig on eBay and really, really hope it arrives in time for Jake to wear to our 80's party Saturday.

Download songs.

Download songs.

My own tiny little shuffle (perfect for running with- I don't do arm straps) was finally delivered (blue was totally the right color-choice) and I am especially happy with my engraving word-choice on the back :

"michelle rocks"

(get it? get it?)

I am now faced with the impossible quandry of which song to honor by downloading it first- Suggestions?

Throw out mouthwash.

Throw out mouthwash.

Coincidence the three of us using this product were sick the entire month we were using it? Guess not.

Thanks, Doc, for recommending I poison my kids.

Play with Kids.

Play with Kids.

The Easter Bunny brought each of my kids a great toy.

My favorite is this Barbie.

Taylor saw an advertisement on TV and loved it. It crossed my mind to consider whether it was some kind of SNL commercial. Alas, it was not.

Let me tell you how it works. You open the dog's mouth by lifting its tail and feed him the tiny magnetic "treats". You then push down his tail and the "treats" come out the other end.

That's right. But the good times don't end there.

Barbie, the community-conscious diva she is, then properly scoops up the mess with her magnetic pooper scooper rod, and deposits it in the doggy trash. The treat-turned-mess then falls through the trash into the conveniently located doggy treat box, ready to be recycled again for hours of pooper-scooping fun.

After viewing the commercial, I told Taylor is was kind of weird. She said, "yeah, but I really want it."

And after playing with her all morning, I admit it is strangely entertaining. Good call, Easter Bunny.

Work out.

Work out.

Not being able to run on this sprained ankle is driving me crazy.

Does anyone know of a worthwhile workout I can do?

Ice Foot.

Ice Foot.

A friend invited me to meet her with my kids at the gymnastics gym for "open gym" yesterday. My kids needed to exude some energy so 15 minutes later, I was out the door, kids in tow.

I was excited for my kids as I took off their shoes and socks and they looked wide-eyes in anticipation at the rock climbing wall, padded obstacle course, trampoline, and of course, the foam pit.

Then it happened. One of the instructors said to me, with way too much nonchalance for my reaction, "Adults are allowed to play on all the equipment too."

I held back for a bit. I bounced with my kids on the trampoline. I hung on the rings. I walked on the balance beam. But two things were calling me. The open spring floor and the climbing rope/foam pit.

I haven't done a roundoff backhandspring since my cheerleading days and even then, it wasn't all that pretty. But I have been dreaming of the chance to try it again on a spring floor for years. So I did it. Twice. And landed on my feet, (thank you, thank you), which was my only goal.

Up next: Climbing rope and foam pit.

I waited in line with the 6-year olds for my turn on the rope. I was pretty sure my weak arms would merit me, at most, two hefts up before I plunged in the soft foam below. But what I had forgotten was the techique involved of using your lower body as well. When those elementary school contest-winning skills came back to me, I was up the rope in no time.

Then came the fall into the soft foam below.

. . .Or the not so soft foam. Seems I weigh a BIT more than the 8-year old I saw do this before me and more weight=more momentum=more force=sprained ankle.

The doctor put it in a splint and I'm just hoping it heals in time for me to at least jog the 5K in two weeks I've paid for.

But I'm told the fall was really cool looking and I totally showed up those other 6-year olds.