The Art of Eating an Oreo

THE JONAS METHOD: You eat the icing first. Very carefully scraping off each nugget of goodness with your index finger and promptly licking it off.

 THE JULIAN METHOD: All the goodness all at once!

30 Years Young

I tried to google a clever quote on turning 30, but they were all depressing. So, I'll settle for quoting myself. Birthdays are awesome, no matter what the number. It means you've been lucky enough to have another year with your family, friends, and kittens. It means you get your favorite supper, cake, presents, kisses, hugs, and well wishes from all kinds of folks. Who doesn't like birthdays? Crazy people, that's who! I'm here to tell you, this has been the perfect birthday!

Doug got up with the boys this morning so I could sleep in AND take a shower---luxurious! 

Came downstairs and fried the boys some goetta--their favorite, and listened to them giggle and holler while they munched.

Around noon, I headed out to run around with Miss Jovita and grab a bite to eat. We had my favorites: Skyline and Graeter's. You know, if I can't have soup beans, fried taters, and corn bread from Dwarf, I'll settle for a 4-way with onions and a chocolate milkshake any day. Thank you, Cincinnati, for having delicious food.

When I got home, the boys were ready for a nap! I love naps because they always begin with and end with me getting to rock and snuggle my dudes. 

That's all 3 of us piled in that recliner.

We ended the night with some light reading (only about 15-20 books) and more kisses and hugs. 30 ain't so bad!

Our Day (in Pictures)

When Doug gets home from work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the first thing he asks is, "What did you guys do today?" So, today, I thought I'd capture our day in photos for him so he knows what we're up to while he's at work.

Goetta for breakfast!

Dinosaur Train while I cleaned up the kitchen.

The Bear took Jules for a spin.

"Hey, Brother. Let's play cars!"

Playing cars on the window sill...their new favorite spot!

Playing cars on the slide. 

Time for a snack! Mmm grapes!

Reading some books.

Jammin.

Helping me run the sweeper.

Annihilating some bacon.

Annihilating some of Grammy's Cincinnati Chili.

Finally dressed for the day and SLIDING!

Reading some more books.

Uncle Dacian's home!

Nap time!

Wranglin' a gator!

The Birds

For Thanksgiving, the boys, Doug, and I headed on down to Dwarf. It's always such a fun time being home and hanging with my family. We have a good time visiting with each other, telling stories, and eating lots of food. And laughing. We love to laugh.

This past weekend was no exception.

We were sitting in the living room watching Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds while the rest of America was watching football. The room was full of about 6 or 7 family members.

It was at that part in the movie where the birds were starting to come into Lydia's house via pecking through the windows.

My Uncle pipes up, "Boys, he just stuck his pecker through that window!"

Well, you can imagine how we all roared with laughter over that one.

We recovered, the movie played on, and directly, the birds moved from coming through the window to coming through the doors!

What follows almost put us all in stitches. 

Mommaw says, "Boys, they've got some hard peckers!"

Hot Wheels

Look closely at the left hand of Jonas Abraham for it holds something incredibly valuable: the only Hot Wheels car in our house. That's right, friends. Today has been nothing but one giant brother fight all because of that little teal minivan.

Dear Santa,

Screw peace on earth. I want peace at 125. Bring us some dadgum Hot Wheels!

Your friend,
Alli G

Old People and Shopping

I googled an image for "people of wal-mart." They were all too
repulsive. I decided to go with these good-looking dudes instead.

Now, you all know that I love old people. They always have a good story to tell; they're old so they've stop caring what anyone thinks of them; and they're sweet. What's not to love?

I went to Wal-Mart the other morning on my way to drop off some goodies to the Children's Home*. Yes, I know what you are thinking. "Wal-Mart?! But Allison HATES Wal-Mart!" I do hate it, but it is en route and the thing I hate most about Wal-Mart, the people of Wal-Mart, was not a problem...because it was 10 o'clock in the morning (do I sound like a Republican?).

Anyway, there I was cruising down the aisle, when this little old dude stopped me. He was standing in front

Duncan Hines was a Ky boy.

of the cheese section looking puzzled and in need of help. "Excuse me, ma'am." he said. "Yessir. What can I do for you?" He looked at his grocery list and then back at me and asked, "Have you ever heard of cheese tortellini?" Aww! I explained to him what it was and where he could find it. There was a Wal-Mart associate nearby who overheard and said he'd take the little guy to find his pasta. Later when I was heading for the checkout line, I passed him. He waved and said, "We found it! Thank you!" 

I hopped in line behind an old woman. This lady was decked out! I mean, I realize a pair of jeans is decked out for Wal-Mart, but this woman was truly stylin' and profilin'. She reminded me of Lucille Bluth. She had on a dress, a fur jacket, her sunglasses, and a giant Coach handbag. While she was checking out, I overheard her telling the cashier that she was going to be baking this afternoon. "Honey, it's the best thing you've ever tasted. Get ya a box of Ducan Hines Spice Cake, a can of apple pie filling, and 3 eggs. Mix it up, bake it, and there you go! Delicious dessert." Well, that sounded mighty fine to me, so when I was at Target hours later, I got me a box of Spice Cake and a can of apple pie filling and I whipped up that cake. Wouldn't you know, it was a hit! I added some cream cheese frosting to it, and folks lapped it up!

Tony Delk and Darius Miller. I love everything
about this picture.

Today I went to a Kentucky shop. I don't know what the name of it is. It's just a little store that sells UK apparel. I was on a mission to find Carol a birthday present: I wanted to get her a UK scarf. Alas, they did not have one. 

I walked into the store and the sales associate was a little old dude. He hollered, "I'll give you anything in the store 20% off, and anything on this shelf, 40% off. I looked around hoping I'd find Carol something, but nothing was screaming Carol.

I gave up on finding Carol's gift, and went to look to see if they had anything cool for the boys. They did, of course. I picked up two little UK jerseys: #00 and #1. I went to check out. "Twins?" the little old dude asked. "Yep! Too bad there's not a #2 and a #5." I replied. "Yeah, that would've been neat. But these ain't bad numbers. Double-zero was..." I finished his sentence, "Tony Delk." "Right, and #1 was..." "Darius Miller." I said. "You sure know your Kentucky basketball, girl." We then went on discussing how James Young shot the lights out on Tuesday night and how this team has been fun to watch thus far. I think I ought to go up and hang out with the old feller every now and again.

*We've been donating to the Children's Home for a whole year now! Woohoo!

Back at Rupp

Rupp's rafters. 

Oh, boy! How wonderful it was to get back to Rupp today! I have missed that hallowed arena. The wait from March to November is so incredibly long. But finally, college basketball is here.

I swear. Kentucky basketball really is a religion. I want you to know that reel of Kentucky greats they show right before game time, it gets me choked up every dang time. Why am I so fanatical? I just can't help it. It's in my blood, as they say. Why, my Mom has been stressing about Tom Izzo and his Spartans for weeks.

An actual phone conversation between my Mother and me:
Me: Hi, Mom. What's going on in Dwarf?
Mom: Oh nothing. I just wish November 12th would hurry up and get here. I'm worried.
Me: What happens November 12th? Dad go to the doctor?
Mom: (talking to me like I'm an idiot) That's when we (didn't you know, my Mom plays for the Cats) play Michigan State! It's our first true test! They're a veteran team. I don't know if we can handle them. Your Dad thinks we'll lose.
Me: You are mental. And Dad always thinks we'll lose.

The most surprising thing about that conversation, as my friend John pointed out, is that I didn't immediately
know what she was talking about. It's come to this, people. I am as blue to the bone as my crazy Mother. Well, maybe not that blue just yet. Years down the road, one of my children will call me and ask, "What's going on, Mom?" And I'll tell them about how I've just changed into my lucky UK t-shirt, have my UK earrings in, my fingernails painted blue, have my fingers crossed, my head's pounding, and I have gone to the other room away from their negative Nancy father to watch the game in peace. (Yes, these really are the things my Mama does on game days. I come by it naturally.)

Oh, my boys. They are in for a real treat. I do look forward to sharing the experience with them. Sitting next

to us tonight were two dads, both with their daughters. The girls were decked out in their UK gear and were being very enthusiastic cheerleaders. Doug had the pleasure of sitting directly next to one of them. I think her pom-poms nearly took off his head a couple of times. "I should've worn my safety goggles!" he groaned. When she wasn't cheering, she was wondering whether or not dogs played basketball. I see an Air Bud movie marathon in her future.

I had a great time cheering on the Cats as they thumped on our brethren to the north, Northern Kentucky University. Here's to hoping the boys in blue play some awesome basketball on Tuesday night when they play Michigan State. It's for the health of my Mother and me.