We don't need no stinking recliner!

For years I have pondered the differences in West Coast and Mid-West culture. And when you boil it down, the dichotomy can most apptly be explained in this statment: In the Mid-West they have recliners in their living rooms. Now I am from Missouri, and I love all things midwestern including a good stuffed Lazyboy. However, as I have discovered, Californians would rather be shot dead than have a chair the size of a Geo Metro in their living room, that serves no decorative function and whose main purpose it to lull you to sleep in five minutes with a beer in hand.

Really, this says it all. Californian's will sit up right in an uncomfortable chair for hours with a sore bum as long as said chair matches the color scheme and doesn't disrupt the feng shui of the room. "Fashion Over Function" should be the California State Motto.

(Hand Raised) I am guilty of this. I f-ing love a recliner. It is in my blood. I can tell you the color of everyone my family ever owned. At one point we had a Lazyboy and a sectional (as big as a short bus) with two reclining seats at each end! But, now transplanted in California myself, I have opted for no recliner. I don't even think that local visitors coming to my house would know what to do with one, and one person I know in particular would have a heart attack. Sidenote: I once caught him telling a hostess at a party while she was making a dessert that included the ingredient Marshmellow Fluff, "Wow. That dessert is quintessentialy white trash!" And, I miss the recliners of yore. I can't wait to get back to Missouri for Christmas and nap in one. It's like Papa Bear put his arms around you.....ahhhhhh

I know deep down in my baby's ID he is yearning for a lazyboy. It's unfortunate that his Californian EGO will not let him give in to his desires. For now, he'll use the dog.

Update: This Christmas my mom really out did herself. She got new furniture consisting of not one, not two, not three, not four folks, but 5 recliners!!! Seem impossible? It's not. I'll show you how: one couch (recliner on each end), one love seat (recliner on each end), and a stand alone recliner. They were comfy. The best part was trying to watch Brett get out of one for the first time. He sort of kicked his legs down just a bit and huffed. Then again, a little harder. Then again. My sister starts to laugh. "How do you get out of this thing?" he asks. "Geez Brett, have you never sat in a recliner before. Kick it harder and lean forward." my sister is obviously a pro. Born and raised mid-western recliner professional. Heave, Brett!

I done gone and lost my mind.

In a moment of Brazilian Sugar Cane Liquor haze, I agreed to what just might be the most hilarious endeavor of my life. Now you have to remember that up until about a year and a half ago, the number of times I had been in a gym could be counted on my fingers and toes. Now add that to the fact that I love to eat, then multiply that by my medal-worthy ability to lounge around the house and you will get a great big laugh out of my commitment to compete in a FITNESS COMPETITION! My friend Amber has appealed to my idealistic side (which is the side of my brain that tells me I can look like Angelina Jolie but better, ha!) and so yesterday I hit the gym for a weight lifting session with Amber, Brett, Matthew, and Jed. I said if you have 5 people it counts as an exercise class, so my classmates and I proceeded to push and pull around heavy weights targeting only two muscle groups for an hour and a half. Not the most productive thing I have done lately. But, I am convinced that over the next 6-8 months I just might make my goal to look like this:

I gotta go, it's time to get to the gym to work on the glutes! (I kind of want to be her and kill her simultaneously! You know you do to)

Fun Old Fashion Family Vacation

This past weekend we took a trip to Lake Arrowhead and rented an adorable cabin with some friends and family. Wyatt had a blast and as you can tell he enjoyed his time running wild "Pooh Bear" style (just shirt, no pants, you remember the cartoon). It was totally relaxing and we got to go into the water on the "beach". Jed fought me on the terminology saying it couldn't be a beach without an ocean to which I replied, "but it has sand!" Whatever you want to call it it was a blast. We will do it again soon, put your name in if you

want to come.

Free SH*T!!

How, you ask can my little boy get toys for free from Target? By being an adorable round mound of rebound that's how. He saw a girl at Target re-stocking toys and he got so excited when he saw her carrying this ball that he began to shout with glee "Ba. Ba. Ba." She thought he was so cute she let him keep it. Onward to Nordstrom to see if Baby can get Mommy some new "Sho"!!!

Silly Rabbit Showers are for Kids....

Wyatt has learned the joy of showering. Here he is during his first stint in the shower alone. You can see his friends there with him Mr. Whisk and Mrs. Hair Dye Bottle. It's the little pleasures in life (now smile and sigh).

Here we go....

I thought I would try my hand at this. Although I must say I am little scared about opening my life up to the world wide web. "You mean anyone can read this?" is the thought that keeps running through my head. But, to hell with it. I like to write, and I need to post pictures of my baby so everyone who is so far away can see him daily.

I will hopefully give you a humorous glimpse into my life with my hilarious, independent, and gigantic 1 year old boy, 2 crazy dogs who individually almost out weigh me, and my loving husband who has physique of a gladiator and the heart of a teddy bear. Welcome to my world.