I have a new niece as of 8 something this morning. Lily Karen Sacran is her name. I won't get to see her until Christmas but I'll just soak an extra amount of lovin' from her then. That makes two Lily/Lillie nieces for me. I'll just say Lillie with an "e" and Lily with a "y". Maybe it will make them feel like Anne. When I was a little girl and someone made me feel like Anne I felt like I was the version of me that I had always wanted to be.

I'm thinking about doing this to my hair. What do you think?

Happy Anniversary

Back when I wrote this post I was so impressed with myself because it was the first post that I had written that was more than a sentence long that didn't have one single picture in it. I thought it was the longest worded post in the history of the world. I really felt that I had accomplished something fantastic. Now, after posts like this and this, it feels rather obviously short. Life changes. I change. My brain seems to change. (For the worst I'm afraid.) My blogging has changed. I think for the better. I hope for the better. The first year that I blogged, I posted 19 times. So far this year I've posted 171 times.

Thanks for sticking with me for the last 3 years. It's been fun. And random.

After writing this entire post, I decided to look and see what day I actually started this old thing. Turns out it was this month. Turns out it was was exactly a week ago this month in 2006. I had no idea. That's kind of cool!

A few thoughts and some looking-good (or bad) fashion opinions.

So, while Andrew is posting about politics and deep thinking subjects, I'm going to graze the ever-so-important fashion topics and perhaps also mention a thought or two that has been flitting through my head as I have cleaned, scrubbed, folded, wiped, changed and laughed the day away.

I really, really want this top and I don't know why. I want to wear it with dark skinny jeans. I vowed that I would never ever ever wear a pair of skinny jeans but this top might just make me break my vow. Except that I'm not going to be actually owning the top therefore I will not need a pair of skinny jeans to go with it.

This thing looks like you are assisting with target practice.

I remember the first time I realized that I was an adult or at least heading that way. I was at Nana's house on South P and someone was watching a basketball game in the living room. It was probably Joshua or Daddy. They always watch the most boring things on the television.
Anywho Anyway, it was a college team and the announcer was giving the stats and info on a player and he was younger that I was. At the time, that revelation was shocking and life changing. Ok, it didn't actually change my life but it did make quite an impression on me.

Back to fashion.
I am wondering about this little piece. Exactly what kind of outfit would this accessory compliment?

This is what I want to wear to the banquet next year when we go to DC. The problem is that that is the only place that I could wear it and no one needs a dress that they can wear only once. And the problem is also that it is cha-ching!

I really like this trench coat as well although I would not be wearing it as a dress. Who thought that was an appealing picture?

I will be traveling with my children to TN tomorrow so I ask for your prayers of safety.

I can't think of my other thoughts so I guess I will close with this:

Goodnight Dr. Pepper, where ever you are.

Weeelllllll...

I don't vaccinate my children. I just don't. If you don't like it, don't be one of my children.

Eily had a little dimple show up in her left thigh when she was a newborn. It was triple cuteness. Then she grew. And it grew. Now it is an indented spot the size of a quarter and has no pigment. I took her for her 15 month checkup last week and pointed out the growth to her doctor. She immediately set up an appointment with Children's Hospital for last Monday. Mom went with me and after waiting and hour and a half (we showed up waaaay too early) we were taken back to the rooms. A doctor would come in, look and poke around on the spot, leave and get another doctor. They would come and look and poke and then have a secret meeting in the hallway and then go get another doctor. This went on until we had five doctors in the room examining and consulting.

The diagnosis is this:

Iatrogenic Lipodystrophy.

I'll break it down for you.

Iatrogenic means physician induced.

Lipodystrophy means A disorder of fatty tissue characterized by a selective loss of body fat.

Backing up in history a little bit.

Eily was born. I signed the form refusing the Hep B vaccination. They took Eily to give her the vitamin K shot. When the nurse brought her back in she handed her to me and said, "Here she is, Mommy. She's had her shots and is all clean and ready for you." I said, "Shots?" She didn't get the Hep B shot, right?"

Turns out, the nurse had just asked the other workers in the nursery if Eily was supposed to receive the shot and they said yes so she just gave it to her without checking Eily's chart.

Fast forwarding to Monday.

The doctors said what happened is this. When the Hep B vaccination was given it killed her fat at the injection site. That place is going to continue to grow with her body and she will have to have reconstructive surgery when she is about 10 years old.

On the bright side,

Eily got two new pairs of shoes this week. Nothing makes that girl happier than shoes.

Here we go!!!

Sorry about the delay in announcing the winner. We've had a busy 5 day streach.

The winner is ellie-bird. She was the first person to answer and she answered every question correctly. Horray ellie!

The suprise winner is Margeretta. Horray Marge! You will recieve a 5 dollar gift card to Starbucks.

Thanks for playing everyone!!
---------------------------------------------------------
My sister just called to tell me that she read my blog and that I have no pride. I wonder why she thinks that? :)

I have the comments set to where I have to approve them first. That way no one can cheat and copy someone else's answers. First person to correctly answer all the questions wins the gift card. Good Luck!!

1. What nickname did this fictional character (pictured) call his wife (also pictured)?

"Lovey"

2. On the Periodic Table of Elements, what does the symbol “Ag” represent?
Silver

3. Stemming from the Latin word for “ten”, what three-syllable word means “destroy”?
Decimate

4. Whom did the Washburn Crosby Company create in 1921 as a way of promoting its flour and baking products?
Betty Crocker

5. What famous novel begins with the line “Call me Ishmael…” ?
Moby Dick


6. Which male performer was awarded the very first gold record?
Perry Como

7. Which of the following does not belong in the list?

Flute
French horn
Bassoon
Oboe
Saxophone
French Horn

8. How many states begin with the letter “I”? Four

9. How long did the Hundred Years’ War last? 116 years

10. Germany is divided into how many states? 16


There it is everyone! The contest will end Friday night at 8pm. August 14, 2009. I will reveal the winner first thing Monday morning. It would be sooner but as I mentioned before, I won't have access to a computer because I will be at the Rich Mountain Association.





There might be a surprise giveaway to a random participant so enter even if the time is about up.

Time for a giveway!

It took me a lot longer to earn 130 Swagbucks than I thought it would but it is done. I have completed my goal which means......








A Giveaway!!






The winner will receive a $10 gift card to Starbucks. I really wanted the $20 dollar gift card to Target but as often as I search things that would still take me forever.


So Starbucks it is.

I didn't want to make it too easy for you and I always love when The Pioneer Woman has The Smartypants Quizzes so I think I am going to do something similar to that. It will take me a while to come up with all the questions so check back later in the day. See you then!

The rain smells wondeful!!

We are having the most luscious smelling summer rain at this very moment. I went outside a few minutes before it started and just walked around the yard trying to find little bits of paper that might have tumbled upon our yard throughout the day. I mowed the front and most of the side yard a little of the back yard this afternoon. Jason mowed the rest. We have a nest of dragonflies somewhere in our backyard and every time we started the mower they would swarm all around us but never touch or bite. I actually enjoyed their presence although Claire did not. She wanted to go outside and swing and we wouldn't let her just in case they had decided they were mad and in attack mode.

I have a question. I just spellchecked that last paragraph. It is telling me that incase should be
in case. Which is correct? I always thought there was no space but I usually assume The Computer to be smarter than me when it comes to spelling. Unless it tries to tell me that Ceridwen is spelled wrong. (Which it always does.) When that is the case I just laugh in its face and ignore its bright yellow highlight.

We are headed to the Rich Mountain Association Thursday. Jason cannot go because of lots and lots of work. I am really excited because I haven't been there since either the day Lyndol and Alisa got married or the day that I backed into Adam's red car. I can't remember which event took place first but I do know that I went to Hot Springs on both occasions and one of them was my last visit.

Guess what? My van is almost done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This 'n That

I feel like I have been in a blogging slump for so long now. Probably since May 12th. That car being gone has sucked the life out of me. Not really of course, but I do think I shall give her a big ol' hug the next time that I see her.

The two oldest girls are back on my bed watching Elmo's Potty Time. Let me rephrase that.

The two fully-trained, have been wearing panties for months/years girls are back on my bed totally engrossed in Elmo's Potty Time. Have you seen it? You should. It has all the word variations for poop and pee.

I am trying to decide what curriculum to start using this September with Elaina and Claire. We are a part of the homeschool co-op now and I feel like it is time for Elaina to get a feel of what school is all about. Claire is just tagging along for the ride. I think I have decided on My Father's World. I still want to check out a few other options before I make my final decision. Any suggestions are completely welcome. QS, what did you start out with? Your children seem excessively bright in the areas that I am weak and I really want the girls to get a well rounded education.

Eily has a personality now. It's a little scary. She seems very opinionated and stubborn. But I still love her. Today we were playing a kissing game and her mouth made the cutest shapes while trying to kiss several times in a row very fast.

Jason accepted a position as an adjunct professor at the college. He is very excited and so far his work seems ok with working around the class time. He is going to be teaching a 2-D Design class to highschool students who are earning college credit.

I have started selling Pampered Chef products. I love it and have had such a good time finding my "show groove." I have my 4th show tonight and for the first time I am not nervous. I feel a tad bit confident.

Check out this! There's another one!

Signing off,

The other Ceridwen

I have not had my van since May 12th. May 12th, people!!!!

Such a long way to go!

www.letmeclarifythis.com

Sorry for the gap in posts but Blogger was being a "cranky button."

When I was a little girl, after we had a nice summer rain, my mom would take us all to the low spot in the driveway and let us play in the mud puddles. We would strip down to our underwear and then once we were all through, she would spray us off and we would play outside until we were dry and we never once got back in the mud. She was a smart woman.





















The other day I decided I would take the girls on their first mudwalk. We don't have the luxury of having a mostly private yard so there was no stripping and no hosing and no playing in our underwear until we were dry.





































We just walked out to the small ditch in the front yard and the girls had fun running in the mud. I finally had to get down with them and show them how to get their hands dirty and make awesome mud cakes and pies. Elaina LOVED it. Claire liked it. Eily hated it.

It was so fun but the next time it is scheduled to rain I think I will take the girls to Nanny's house and show them what a real mud walk is all about!