a month and a half late

If you know Terry, you should love this video. If not, you might like it anyway.

How I feel:

Something Special Happened Yesterday.

Thing 2 had a birthday. Yup. She did. She is 1 years old. All morning long Thing Uno and I sang Happy Birthday to her. Of course, 1 sang the lesser known part of, NO! It's not her birfday party! We only sing Happy Birfday at birfday parties! By 10 a.m., however, Thing 2 grew weary of Happy Birthday. She stopped clapping after each rendition, which is a pretty big deal considering she just learned how and never ceases to do so. Apparently, she'd had all the Happy Birthday she could handle. Fortunately for her, my Better Half and I are carrying on the traditions of my father--er mother, rather--and did not have any festivities planned for today (as in the actual day of her birthday) other than the spontaneity of song-bursting. What? He's got tests and I've got 5 a.m. Weekends are much better for us. Though, I didn't have to teach seminary that morning and should have had a tad more energy--should being the operative word--and would have, had any of my (two) students let me know they were honoring Thing 2's b-day by sleeping in--a.k.a. NOT SHOWING. 6 a.m. no shows make for an angry anybody, let alone a mom with two Things. I pray every night that my Things will simply skip over ages 13-17 and grow into attractive, wise young adults. I am pretty sure with all the teenage angst--including my own hole-in-the-wall-kicking years--I've experienced in my wee little lifetime The Man will grant me this wish. Yup. Pretty sure.

Digressions aside, Thing 2, here are some of the reasons we adore you. I will refrain from listing the things that we...uh...don't adore in the very small instance that you do not skip your teenage years. That way when you read this, you can't blame your horrible, no good, very bad LIFE on me and the things I said when you were 1. Ha.

We adore you because:

• you might love playing peek-a-boo more than you love us. I have a video, but my Better Half has not given clearence as to its post-age yet--just FYI.
  
• you just got your first teeth, just shy of a year, and you've figured out how to use one of them to bite with.
  
• you still look like you did at 9 months old, thus, keeping you little, and me with out hunger for another.
• you give loves--performed by placing one's head onto anothers' shoulder--to any and everything, dirty old rugs included, especially when you're tired.
• you let us hold you once in a while.
• you have the baldest head this side a'the Mis'sippi.
• you love your blanket with all your might, mind and strength. We can tell this by the technique in which you tackle it upon sight.
  
• anytime we sing to you, you join in with your own melody, duh-duh, da, duh-duh... Sometimes you even lead.
  
• you giggle kick every time we come to retrieve you from your crib.
• you are precious, adorable, and full of life.
• you are you.
  

Happy Boody to ya, 2.

We wish you every happiness. May you forgive us for your chaotic, unconventional life which was the causing of many of your nap-skippings and the learning of nothing more than sarcasm and wit.

reasons to visit (besides seeing our cheerful faces).

slideshow

even cougar fans should get a kick out of this!!

And So it Begins

I've been feeling rather uninspired lately. Perhaps its the lack of sleep accompanying recent responsibilities, combined with current responsibilities, and a (not-exactly-sure-how-I-feel-about) resurrection of yet another responsibillty*. It could also be this twinging guilt imbedded deep in my gut reminding me of all the loved ones I've neglected lately, having left you destitute in a desolate land filled only with my better half's handful of mini posts--certainly not enough material to satisfy all four of our followers. Though, entertaining as they may be, these deep thoughts of his serve no real insight to the McIntier Reparte except to reveal what exactly my better half is actually "studying". Ummm, ya. At any rate, whatever the reason, I find myself museless, and to no avail as today is no different--but wait. It is.

Good Mornin' Lake Erie!

We've missed you, though I am sure you'll wear out your welcome in the upcoming months.

In other news: I've cut my hairs.** Perry, after a long awaited 11 months, has cut her first tooth--er teeth, she now has 4 and is working on numbers 5 and 6. We expect their arrival any day now. I've turned one year older (and wiser too). Jeff and I finally buckled under the pressure, signed a two year agreement with T-mobile, giving us new--and free, I might add--telecommunicaters, thus making us the proud owners of two fully functional (as in no duct tape, cracked screens, or water damage) cell phones: One pink, one blue. Yay for us. And Max still can't say Niagara Falls correctly.





*I ain't fishin' nor complainin'. I'm just sayin'. Been busy lately.
**I do have more than one, you know.

Do you think this would have changed things???

For Tupac (and Richard)

the only thing i can think of to say

It's too bad that Tupac had to miss this!  

(Check out lines 9 and 10 of verse two.)

Current Responsibilities

Comparing Alternative Investments

Dan Wetzel, a Yahoo sports writer, on gambling and college football:

"Now, we aren’t advocating the good folks in Nevada – the only folks that gamble on college football, of course – might consider these past results a predictor of future ones. If you’re crazy enough to wager on the performances on college kids, that’s your issue.

Fortunately in the other 49 states the government prohibits people putting money into a system with wild fluctuations, unpredictable results and the very real possibility that underhandedness and dishonesty have fixed the outcome.

Politicians know the stock market is a much safer and honest place for retirement funds."

HAH!!

For Ms Carpet:

You better believe we respect the Mississippi Mudflap!

I'm his friend...

Maybe the old man is just slurring his speech, but I swear John McCain just called his opponent "Sinner Obama." Subliminal message there? I guess if you got really excited and didn't enunciate properly senator could become sinner (try saying senator as fast as you can--you'll see), but I think it was just a well placed attack!!! I've got to give credit to the McCain camp on this one...very tricky!!

Someone got a haircut!!

What I just heard from the bathroom

Max:

"Hey can someone get this down for me!?!"

5 seconds pass

"Hey!! Mom!! Can you get this down for me?"

4 seconds pass

"ANYONE!! CAN ANYONE GET THIS DOWN!?!"

2 seconds pass

"HEY, ONE OF MAX'S PARENTS!! GET HIS DOWN FOR ME!! ONE OF MAX'S PAAAAAAA-RENTS"

a few more seconds

Abby: "What do you need?"

Max: "I need this thing down."

Abby: "No sweetie, we're not going to do that today."

5 seconds pass

"HEY, DAAAADYYYY!!!"

Help for a friend

One of my former mission companions has been chosen as a finalist in a competition through Wells Fargo to win $100,000.  If you have a few extra minutes, and wouldn't mind helping out, you can access his story here: 

http://memelabs.com/somedaystories/

He is Danny from UT.  

I know how hard it is to be a student and a father (his wife is expecting), and this would really help him out.  If you have time and could vote, we would all really appreciate it!  Thanks!

Although Arizona might be feisty, I think I'd take Chicago in THIS matchup!

From ESPN's magazine:

The NFL DEFINITELY should have scheduled the Arizona Cardinals vs. the Chicago Bears for the Monday night game the day before the election.  How great would that have been?! 

My Dears in the Headlights: A quiz of Toddler Verbage

Results 2008!

As many of you were unable to attend the results show for this season's contest , and feeling excruciating sorrow that all of your invites uncannily seemed to have been "lost" in the mail, being the gracious blog-hostess with the mostest that I am, I risked life, limb, but most importantly career, snagging the script for you. I know what you're thinking, it musn't have been easy prying that puppy from ol' J.B.'s fingers. Well, I'll tell you what. It wasn't. However, I found it necessary for me to make such a sacrifice for you, my faithful readers. Now you can read the show and it will feel as if you were sitting right there in the soft seats. You're Welcome.


[Que music/lights. Enter Abby Jane stage left waving to audience. Que CHEERING/ APPLAUSE] Welcome! Welcome! Good to see you! Thank you! Thank you! You guys are too kind. Really. No. Really. STOP. Just Kidding. [Que CHUCKLE.
usic fades] Okay, seriously, though. Welcome to this season's results show for My Dears in the Headlights: A quiz of Toddler Verbage! [Que CHEERING/APPLAUSE] A very tough race this season. Yup, yup. A valiant effort by all, I must say. I, myself, was very pleased with the contestants--and thier answers! [Que SOFT CHUCKLE] Yup. Everyone gave it thier best shot. Though, for most that still wasn't good enough, but hey! There can only be one winner, right? [Que CHUCKLE] At any, rate, let's hear it for the contestants! [Que CHEERING/APPLAUSE] Yup, that's right you guys were amazing. Take a moment and give yourselves a pat on the back--okay, that's good enough! [Que CHUCKLE] No, seriously, though. Let's get down to business. [Que dramatic music/lights] The moment we've been waiting ALL season for...the winner of this season's My Dears in the Headlights: A quiz of Toddler Verbage is...

...Coming up right after this break. [Que DISAPPOINTED AWWHHH]

[Que music/lights. Que CHEERING/APPLAUSE] Welcome back! I know, I know. That was pretty cruel, huh? [Que soft CHUCKLE] Hey! Don't blame me. I don't write it, I just read it! [Que CHUCKLE] But, seriosly. Let's get back to it. The winner--that would be that person with THE MOST correct answers--of this season's My Dears in the Headlights: A Quiz of Toddler Verbage is...

...Malin-Da Szarek! [Que fantabulous music/lights/confetti/balloons/sparking cider/Cirque du Soleil/The Muppets/Brad Pitt. Que CHEERING/APPLAUSE]

Since Ms. Szarek was unable to be here tonight I will graciously and honorably accept this award in her behalf. And Melinda? If you are watching right now, don't forget to claim your prize by picking my very next post*! [Que OOOOOH/APPLAUSE]

Thanks for coming folks! And remember, friends don't let friends drive drunk. See you next season on My Dears in the Headlights: A Quis of Toddler Verbage! [Abby Jane dances with Brad Pitt. Fade all. Cut to credits]


So? Whad'ya think? Too bad you missed the live version. If you can believe it, it was even better than what you just experienced. Oh well. Maybe next season, eh?

Before I leave you, however, I want to pay tribute to a few honorable mentions that didn't get any coverage during the show--don't know why. You'll have to take that up with J-dog. An Honorable Mention is awarded to Annie for The Most Guesses for #2 (none of which were correct, by the way), my personal favorite being hors d'oeuvres --because yes, he is that sophisticated and we regularly speak french with him--how did you know? Another H.M. goes to Gina Bina for Most Correct Answers Having Never Met--or Spoken--to the Verbage Creator (Max) and to Erica for Best Use of Knowledge and Deductive Reasoning to Come up with any Answer--many of which were correct. Now. Last, but not most certainly not least, an Honorable Mention is awarded to Kristie for Most Creative Answers All Around. You really made me chuckle little woman. To view all answers, both correct and benine (my better half answered them all for us), simply click here. Just for kicks, here are a few bonus words:

1. Duh-day
2. Costoon
3. Nem'nems

*list of posts you may choose from is here.

Best Shirt Ever!

Sorry to jump in on you in the middle of a contest, Ab, but I just wanted everyone to see one of the funniest t-shirts ever!




Please continue reading below for Abby's contest.

My Dears In the Headights

A quiz of Toddler Verbage. Leave your comment with your answers. No cheating--in other words: no looking at grandmas' answers. I will, however, give one hint per entry, but only one. Simply ask for it in a comment by telling me the number you are desperately struggling with. Hints may include, but are not limited to, definitions, using in a sentence, pronunciation. Tip: I did not say that it was against the rules to read other contestants' hints...

I know what you're thinking, What's in it for me? Right? I will tell you. The winner--that would be the commenter with the most correct answers (sillies)--gets to choose a post from the list. Can you believe it??? How exciting! I'm tingling all over I'm so excited and I'm not even entering! I can't even imagine what you're doing. Maybe I don't want to...

Well, I won't keep you. After all, you have much work to do.

1. orport

2. O-ders

3. obeseum

4. Wolcom

5. suh-een

6. zoo cass

7. Kobee Kanobee

8. mermai-goon

9. Lie-neenakeen

10. shiny ahmer

11. thcum

12. languish

13. miracle round

14. esgo

15. Memo

16. sleebs

17. wizzle

18. benchtables

19. bay

20. Beauk

Contest ends no earlier than August 21, 2008. I'm really hoping this keeps you all busy for a while, so I can work on some new material.