Now I think that a tomato is technically a fruit which would make ketchup a fruit, but that just doesn’t sound right. Vegetable sounds much better.

Anyhoo.

Hailey is such a picky eater that I am really hoping that ketchup counts as a vegetable since that’s about all she will eat. And she doesn’t like fruit either. About the only fruit she will eat is jelly. Is that even a fruit?

When I give her almost any food she will usually try it. Then take it out of her mouth, hand it to me and say, “Gucky!” (yucky) We go back and forth with this throughout every meal.

“Hailey, try your food.”

“Gucky!”

“If you try it you might like it. Just try it.”

Hailey puts her food in her mouth, takes it out and hands it to me and says “GUCKY!”

“It’s not yucky. You liked broccoli last week so I bought some more. Now please eat it.”

“GUCKY Mommy, GUCKY!”

“How about you eat some of your chicken then? You like chicken.”

“COOKIE! COOKIE!”

I do not give her a cookie and I have never given in and given her one no matter how much she demands and screams and cries for it. “We’re eating dinner. We don’t have cookies for dinner.”

“Yo-Ye-O. Peeaazzz! Yo-Ye-O.” (Oreo. Please! Oreo.)

“After you eat your dinner you can have an Oreo.”

“All done. Me yook ousssside. All done.”  (Me look outside)

And that is how most of our meals go.

I usually try to stay away from my computer on the weekends. And Saturday I did especially great avoiding my computer. When I got up in the morning I did have to check my email and my blogs just in case there was some sort of blog emergency. But then it was well into the afternoon before I actually sat down to use my computer. And it was wonderful.

I started out my morning trying to get Hailey ready for our daily walk (I’ve done it for 4 days in a row, so I think it now qualifies as a “daily” walk.) She loves to go for a walk so I don’t know why she fights me so much. She kicked and squirmed while I got her dressed, refused to open her mouth to have her teeth brushed and ran away as fast as she could when I tried to put her sunscreen on. The entire process probably took at least 45 minutes. Finally we were ready to go and enjoyed our morning walk.

After our walk Hailey and I played out front until I got tired of chasing her down every 15 seconds when she would take off running right towards the road. So we went to the safety of the fenced in back yard. Hailey had a blast with her sidewalk chalk, painting with water, going down her “whee,” and watching the ants on our patio.

Then we “helped” Rich wash the car. Hailey thought it was a blast, as long as she didn’t get wet and no one touched her bucket or sponge.

What a little helper.

After we finished washing the car it was time to come inside for lunch. Which of course caused much kicking and screaming (by Hailey). Since she had gotten up bright and early that morning (6am) she went right down for her nap after lunch.

At that point I decided that it could wait no more- I needed a hair cut. It has been over a year since I have had my hair cut, no trimming or anything. So, I’m sure you can imagine that I was very much in need of having my hair cut. And suddenly I felt the urge to have highlights as well. So, off I went to have my hair done.

So now about the title of this post, the one where I said there would be a picture of me? Here you go.

This is me modeling my hip-t a few ago- notice my hair. You can’t really tell but it is several inches past my shoulders. And it is also brown.

And now?

This is me on Sunday morning before church. I did my hair just for you (and also just in case I saw anyone while at church). See how short it is? And you can’t tell from the picture but it is really light. I think it is too light actually.

I know this picture is blurry, but have you ever tried to take a picture of the top of your head before? So in this picture you can kind of tell that it is much lighter but you can’t really tell how light it is. I mean I did tell the hairdresser I wanted the highlights to be noticeable, but I didn’t want them quite as noticeable as they are.

I was so sad with my hair that I thought that maybe I shouldn’t even go to church. Or that I should at the very least wear a paper bag over my head so that no one would notice my hair. Then the lady who sits behind me in church every week told me that she loved the new style and the new color about 3 or 4 times and I started to feel better.

So, tell me what you think- just remember that it is a lot lighter than you can tell from the picture.

When I was a little girl I knew just how my life would be when I grew up. I was going to be a stay at home mommy. I would spend my days playing with kids, taking them to the park, reading books, doing fun activities, etc. Do you know what wasn’t a part of my dream? Laundry, bills, making dinner, cleaning, sleepless nights, taking a toddler grocery shopping, and certainly not being sick and still having to do all of that. I really had no idea how hard it would be to be a mom.

I was recently watching a show where someone said that they had heard a little girl say that she wanted to be just like her mom when she grew up and “do nothing.” As kids we really had no idea the sacrifices our parents made for us and we couldn’t possibly comprehend all they did for us. Once you become a parent you suddenly realize “Wow! My parents did a lot for me!” (Thanks, Mom and Dad!!)

I think for most of us, even though life isn’t exactly how we dreamed it would be it is still pretty good. We have a lot to be thankful for even if it means being thankful for the piles of laundry and all of the extra cleaning we have to do. So, even though I have to cart a big old basket of clean laundry up my stairs every few days I am still living my dream. It’s a little bit different than what I had dreamed of when I was a child, but it’s still a great life.

I have a shirt from LTDChix with this graphic on the front of it and I love it! The two ladies who started these Living The Dream shirts are both moms who are living the same dream that you and I are living- carting kids around, trying to find a few minutes to exercise, and doing lots of laundry. And these fabulous ladies have agreed to give one of you one of their fabulous shirts.

Here is what you need to do if you want a chance to win:

• Click on over to LTDChix. Look at the choices they have for shirts and pick the one that reminds you of your life as a mom.
• Come back here and leave me a comment telling me which one is the most like you.

Want two chances to win?

• If you’d like a second entry into the giveaway you can post about this giveaway on your blog linking back to this entry. Then leave me a SECOND comment with the URL to your post.

This giveaway will end on June 27th at 11:59 pm EST. I will use the random number generator shortly after that to pick a winner.

A few weeks ago I found a new (to me) blog while I was chatting over at The Mom Blogs.  So, while I was visiting this new (to me) blog Outnumbered 2 to 1, I saw this fabulous marital rating scale from 1939.  Oh how it made me laugh.  And what kind of bloggy friend would I be if I didn’t share a good laugh with you.

Basically what you do is read the checklist and give yourself demerits and merits- add it all up and see if you are a good wife.  The entire chart is not actually here because it was quite long, but I think you can get the basic idea of what kind of wife you are with this first page.

So, how did I do?

I received demerits in these categories:

1. Slow in coming to bed- delays till husband is almost asleep.  I am always asleep well before Rich is.  

3.  Fails to sew on buttons or darn socks regularly.  I can’t even remember the last time I sewed a button on and I have certainly never darned a sock.

4. Wears soiled or ragged dresses and aprons around the house.  Well, technically I’ve never worn an apron and I don’t usually wear a dress.  But, what about ragged sweats and a t-shirt.  Does that count?

7.  Seams in hose often crooked.  I suppose that fact that I do not wear hose would earn me extra demerits.

9.  Puts her cold feet on husband at night to warm them.  Always!

10.  Is a back seat driver.  Not really.  But that is because I sit in the front, not the back.  And I hang on to the door for dear life while slamming on my imaginary break.

And I received merits in these categories:

3.  Can carry on interesting conversations.  At least I think it’s interesting when I share the latest information I have found on my friends blogs.

5. Dresses for breakfast.  Okay, I didn’t receive a merit here, I just think it’s hilarious.  I guess if you count my sweats and t-shirt as clothes then I am dressed for breakfast.

7. Personally puts children to bed.  Yes, I do this!  Woo Hoo!  A real merit for me.

9.  Asks husbands opinions regarding important decisions and purchases.  I repeatedly ask until he can’t take my harassment anymore and he agrees with me.

10.  Good sense of humor- jolly and gay.  I think I’m pretty jolly and gay

11.  Religious- sends children to church or Sunday school and goes herself. We go every week.

12.  Lets husband sleep late on Sundays and holidays.  Ummmm, no.  How would we get to church on time if I let him sleep in??? 

So, I’m pretty sure I fall into the very poor/failure category.  How about you?

(It’s the last day to sign up for my From*me Tees giveaway, so make sure you have entered!  And make sure you come back tomorrow because I have a fabulous new giveaway starting!!)

**This is a sticky post.  Please scroll down for newer entries.**

Okay ladies, let’s be honest- we’re pretty good at complaining about our husbands.  But we married our guys for a reason- because we love them.  So, stop and think about why you love your hubby and what some of your favorite things are about him.

See that picture?  Over there on the left?  That’s me.  I’m wearing a shirt that says “my husband rocks.”  Because he does rock.  And I am happy that I am married to him.  And I think it’s a great idea to tell everyone how I feel about him.  

One of my favorite things about Rich is the way he can always make me laugh.  No matter what is going on, his great sense of humor can always bring a smile to my face.  He is also an awesome dad.  I love to watch the way he is with both Brooke and Hailey.  And I love how much he loves them.  You know what else I love about Rich?  His awesome cooking.  And not only is his cooking amazing- but the fact that he is willing to cook dinner so that I don’t have to, tells me how much he cares about me. 

Those are just a few of the things about Rich that makes him rock.  So, now it’s your turn.  What are some things about your hubby that rock?

Do you want to proudly wear one of these shirts so you can announce to everyone you see how fabulous your hubby is?  Well, From*me Tees has agreed to give one of your choice of one From*me Tee marriage tee valued at $18 or less.  (By the way, From*me Tees has shirts for men to wear to brag about how great their wives are too, so men are welcome to participate in this giveaway.)

How can you win?  Simple:

• Click on over to From*me Tees products and look around.
• Come back here and leave me a comment.  Tell me which product you like the best.  And tell me why your spouse rocks.
• For an extra entry- blog about this contest on your blog linking to this giveaway and to From*me Tees.  Then come back here and leave a second comment with the direct URL to your post.

And here’s a little bonus for you.  If you make a purchase from From*me Tees while this giveaway in running and before the winner is announced and you happen to be the winner of the giveaway- you will be fully refunded for your order and receive two additional shirts (valued at $18 or less) for free.  So, basically- you would end up with 3 free shirts.

And, as if that isn’t enough- From*me Tees is offering a discount for those of you who do not win.  Starting right now you will be able ot get free shipping on any order of 2 or more products.  This special will end on June 17th.  How it will work is you will place an order for 2 or more items and the shipping charges will be charged.  Then send an email to info@frommetees.com to let them know you participated in my giveaway and your shipping charges will be refunded.  Or when you place your order mention my giveaway in the “how did you hear about us” box during check-out and your shipping charges will be refunded the following day. 

So then.

Head on over and check out the From*me Tees products.  Tell me your favorite product and tell me why your spouse rocks. 

This contest is open to all shipping addresses and will end on Friday, June 13th at 11:59 pm EST when I will use the random number generator to pick a winner.