Updating

Okay...so this blog will be a MYRIAD of things afterall it has been like a month..where does one start?
Holidays...they were okay...with family stress it tends to take the relaxation out of it, however it happened and we all survived, and I think the kids had a good one. We did lots of extra fun things like lights at the zoo (nevermind we spent 90% of the time in the BuildaBear with the kids...I'll post pics later--it's funny!), watched lots of Christmas shows, did Breakfast with Santa, made a gingerbread house, etc. I think we did our parental responsibility of "making it fun", and even managed to have some fun ourselves---can you believe it?
Latest quotes from Alyssa...

• She put on a pair of overalls....and comes out saying, "Hey Mom, I am a farm!"
• One night she was sitting and looking at me..."Do you like looking at mommy?--
  "Yes. " "Why?", to which she responded, "Because I love you." MELT MY HEART!
• The other day my mom asked her to turn out the light in the bathroom, to which she responded..."IT'S NOT EASY!"
• And my favorite---Alyssa doesn't sleep well in her own bed---so when she does she gets a treat. One morning, I was having a chocolate to which she responded.."Mom you weep (sleep) in your own bed." "Why yes Alyssa I did!"

She is my clown all the time. It's hard to keep her in line cuz she makes me laugh so much.

Well I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and have WONDERFUL New YEAR! Loves to ALL!

Proud AUNT!

And the baby is here! My sister had a baby girl yesterday morning at 3:40---Lotus Dawn Katzoff! She is beautiful! She brought all the joy we hoped and knew she would to our family. She is so sweet and it was fun to see my girls loving her so much already. Alyssa couldn't stand not being able to constantly hold her. We had to laugh on the way home as we asked everyone what their favorite thing about the new baby was...Victoria and Jason loved her cry, I loved her long feet, but Alyssa---she loved the bow on her head! Leave it to Alyssa for a laugh. She was 7 pounds 11 ounces and 19 3/4 inches (I think..). Denae was a trooper and had an accidental naural birth---labor started at home at 2:30 AM and baby barely at the hospital at 3:40! WOW---We are all so thrilled. Here are a few pics of the girls with her last night!

Late list!

Okay...so I am feeling a bit negative and a bit like Eeyore ---whiney, negative and complainy *my own word*---hence I haven't been writing. I will keep it to myself as to the many reasons why...but I guess you could say I have been in a funk. It's been a challenge to understand a number of the things that have happened in my life over the last year---but I guess what it all comes down to is that "no man is an island". I think one of the most crazy ironic statements one can make is "It's my life." Every thing we do affects others for good or bad. Okay...so this may be a myriad of thoughts. Despite all the drama lately, I am truly grateful for a lot of the little things. I have probably spent more time being grateful this Thanksgiving than a lot of other ones...grateful for random things...things outside "the givens"
So here goes my random list:

• Electricity in the basement! YEE HAA! Loving my new laundry room light!
• Employment---need I say more
• A good class of kids at my work---I love these little ones!
• A decent hair cut---it's not perfect---but it sure beats some of the 80's do's!
• A new niece or nephew in a week or so
• A warm halloween and Thanksgiving--it was great!
• Blogging-it gives me an opportunity to think about my life and keep in touch with people I have lost!

Allright it was short and sweet, but it had to be before I mentioned the "givens"---SOOO what are you grateful for beside the givens?

I am a FRIEK!

Okay...so WHY would I say such a thing about myself--well the truth is that it is time that I acknowledge my strange gift. We all have been given strange gifts some that we are born aware of and others that we come to accept, love, and deal with. SOOO...what is it I am getting at...? Well as some of my long time friends have discovered I have an unbelievable LONG term memory. My short term memory sucks rocks! I could hardly tell you what I did yesterday (I have been told that is due to Long term use of meds for my OCD--but justify it as I may...I think I am just stupid sometimes...NE WAYS---I digress), however I can tell you stories that often you won't remember and many I would like to forget. Okay...so that is dealable right? It goes a bit further, I have anability to recognize people I hardly knew, after having not seem them for long amounts of time. This wasn't such an issue when I lived in North Carolina, afterall how often did I really run into people on the streets that I went to college with or high school, but having returned to St. Louis I have opened a huge can of worms. Here's the latest story:
So Friday I am at my work picking up Alyssa from school, a girl walks by the doorway as I am standing in the room, I recognize her without a moment's hesitation and say "Hey Jessica"---She is walking by so she returns...she looks at me, I say "Jessica---Melanie Silva"---Now she is frieked out---and we talk blah blah blah. This was not a close friend, or anything, just someone I chatted with at times. It had been sixteen years since I saw her and undoubtedly we BOTH look different, yet my mind recognizes her. The worst part is I cannot tell you the number of times I have done this and it is like I cannot control myself---we all know I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut---but this is like some friekish, tourette's syndrome thing---I know you, I see you, I must yell your name whether you know or remember me or not. SO there you have it...it has created some pretty interesting moments (especially on a number of occassions when the person has no clue who I am and how the heck I know them (until of course I use my gift to tell them exactly where we knew eachother from) and then they feel sheepish if they have no clue. Oh well...what are your unique gifts? Spill the beans friends!

Mouths of Babes

SOO it's been a while...things have been unbelievably busy---I will leave it at that. I have to brag about my girls for a minute---I hope THAT is allowed on blogging. They are my joy in life. They make me laugh and the following are a few stories on why!

• Torie (7) and I had a discussion on how it probably wasn't best to tell people on the phone I was in the shower or bathroom, and so if she could just tell them I was in "dispose" (after the following scenario, I would MUCH prefer she just told them where I was). As life would have it, I was in the potty and the phone rang and of course Victoria answered, much to my gratitude or so I thought. As I emerged from the bathroom Victoria said, "Mom, I answered the phone, but don't worry I told them you were Exposed"---In shock, I said "What did you tell them"--to which she repeated "exposed"---I broke into laughter and was greatful that she could bring such a good laugh to a friend! When Victoria actually realized the word she accidently used she was horrified---which made it funnier.
• Alyssa (3) did the child like thing to do and farted in the car---Victoria was appalled (while Alyssa giggled her heart out) and said "Alyssa--that is gross--it's not funny." To which Alyssa happily replied--"It's funny to me."
• Torie recently went to the ward chili cook off---when she was talking about it the next day she said, "You know mom, last night at the hot chili stand off."---It painted quite an interesting picture!
• Alyssa was outside watering plants with my mom...my mother told her that the plants were saying "thank you" to her for giving them water...my mom then sees Alyssa watering the plants and saying "your welcome, your welcome."
• Alyssa was helping me fold laundry tonight and was doing quite an amazing job of folding wash cloths---I expressed my gratitude to her for doing such a great job and gave her a hug, after each wash cloth she reached out for more recognition and another hug---to which I said, "you really love mommy to hug you don't you," Her response was, "yes and I like it when you call me the "bomb"---
• Torie loves to play soccer, however we have had a lot of laughs as she would literally skip to get to the soccer ball. I once stated, why does she want to play soccer when she is dancing on the field. We also enjoyed as she would run after the ball, and next to it, but rarely kick it.
• Lastly, Alyssa was a Poodle for Halloween---however no matter how hard she tried to pronounce it --it came out "piddel"---when people would ask what she was going to be for halloween---she would say "piddel" and people would say..."A pillow"---and I would explain a Poodle. It became a joke at work as none of the teachers could understand her and would laugh when the heard it...she got tired of saying it and a wee bit embarassed so she would just say "I don't know." I suggested she say a puppy---but she had other plans...when people would ask her then, she would say "A piddel" - get on all fours and run around like a dog. She figured if they couldn't understand her ---she would FIND a way to get the message across!

And there my friends is a little insight into my world of laughter. They make me laugh and bring a ray of sunshine into my life. EVERY DAY! I can't say enough how much I love my little girls!

It happened

Got tagged!
I guess with blogging, it's inevitable someone will eventually tag you and here it is!
Answer the questions with one word (or a little more) and then tag three people.
1. Where is your cellphone? purse
2. Your significant other? making a living
3. Your hair? back to natural dark brown
4. Your mother? giving
5. Your Father? funny
6. Your favorite thing? holding my kids
7. Your dream last night? don't recall one
8. Your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper (unfortunately it's come down to DIET)
9. Your dream goal? ability to find complete joy in life
10. The room you’re in?basement
11. Your hobby? Mmmhh..nothing off hand....
12. Your fear? Offending others
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? St. louis is fine
14. What you’re not? mean
15. Muffins? cinnamon struesel
16. One of your wishlist item? finished basement
17. Where you grew up? st. louis
18. Last thing you did?the park
19. What are you wearing? jeans/T-shirt
20. Favorite gadget? Pampered chef stuff--love it!
21. Your pets? two cats
22. Your computer? on
23.Your mood? moody
24. Missing someone? yes
25. Your Car? subaru
26. Something you’re not wearing? my glasses
27. Favorite store? Target
28. Like someone? lot of someones!
29. Favorite color? dark purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31.When was the last time you cried? yesterday

Mmmh and so here it is...who do I tag???? Gillie, Pinky, and Jessica. Have fun!

Mini-me....

Yes...two posts in less than three days...it's a miracle....I really must be on a roll here. Or maybe I just figure that I can take a break for like two months.
So seriously...the other day I asked Jason "Jason did you really think that when you married me, you would end up with TWO more of me? " And yes that is how it is at the Lott home...Jason, myself and mini-me 1 and mini-me 2. Victoria is very orderly about everything and likes things a certain way ----everything is fairly clear to her...there is a way for things and that is the way it SHOULD BE (like me) and Alyssa is the more spirited side of me...loves to tease. Now I must say that these two sides of me have fought amongst themselves at times, but it is quite interesting to see the two sides in two different miniature people turn into literal fights. "Mom, Alyssa said this...." (Victoria taking life too seriously/literally as I do)...Alyssa meanwhile snickering at the joke she just played on her sister (Alyssa letting the "Dennis" (and yes...Melanie) side of her out). So there you have it...meanwhile Jason is living with all females --including our Female cats who have even taken things out on him (One peed on his stuff once, once ((Johnny Dangerously---for those who know that flick))and even ate his pizza---they would have eaten mine had I left it down though.)
Is it just me or do you see strange ways your kids are like you and it totally makes you laugh...at least usually...there's been those moments when I say..."OH NO---PLEASE DON'T BE LIKE ME ...at least not in THAT way!" What do ya think?