Rockabye, sweet baby James

So,

My sister and I exchanged blogs for the week of Thanksgiving.

She is an evil genius.

After she wrote "Tuesdays Confession and Resolutions",

 I got even by writing a few posts on her blog about her love of Tupac and the joys of self medicating:)

 Anyway, I feel like I owe my readers the truth, so here is the blog she wrote, only updated to reflect the TRUTH!

I admit it. I am a beast during the holidays.
 (I am NOT!)

I fuss about many things when my fam gets together,
 (I would never use the word 'fam' and I do NOT FUSS!)

but this year it will all stop.

I promise.

And you can take that to the bank.

This year,
I won't try to control the TV. We don't have to watch TLC 24/7.
 (Yes we do, they are having a 'say yes to the dress' marathon!)

I won't count presents.
 (I only count because I always get less then everyone!)

I will admit that I am spoiled.
 (I will never ADMIT it!)

I will eat whatever is served.
(yuck, no way)

I will let Danielle nap whenever she wants.
(Danielle's whole life is one long nap!)

I will be especially sweet to Junior.
 (Junior does not respond to sweetness. He responds to a firm tone and promises of treats!)

I will put no pressure on anyone to have the most super magical holiday ever.
(This will be the most super magical holiday ever! Even if it kills us!)

Hope you enjoyed our blog switch!

 It will be back to the same old, same old starting tomorrow..anyone have an idea for Will it Wednesday??

p.s.- On a side note, Happy Birthday to the most beautiful boy in the whole world:)



Lori Ann

Tuesday's Confession and Resolutions

I admit it. I am a beast during the holidays.
I fuss about many things when my fam gets together,
but this year it will all stop.
I promise.
And you can take that to the bank.

This year,
I won't try to control the tv. We don't have to watch TLC 24/7.
I won't count presents.
I will admit that I am spoiled.
I will eat whatever is served.
I will let Danielle nap whenever she wants.
I will be especially sweet to Junior.
I will put no pressure on anyone to have the most super magical holiday ever.

We can all find ways to better our family holidays, and these are mine. I really want to change this year. So, let's hear it for me!! I think I can do it!!!

On the reef of Norman's woe

It's almost Thanksgiving...ding, ding, ding.. let the family squabbles and tears over pumpkin pie commence!!

Anyway, I have been encouraging my clients to think about all of the things they are grateful for, and it occurs to me that I rarely count my own blessings.

I would list them all here, but I don't want anyone to be even MORE jealous of my high rolling lifestyle.

It would make all of your lives seem even more trivial and pointless than you already secretly suspect them of being:)

That having been said
 (in the most convoluted manner possible),

 I will list just one thing of many which I am grateful for.

My sister Danielle.

She doesn't know it, but she is amazing at everything she does.

 She is the reason I served a mission.

 She is the reason I finished college.

 She is the reason I stayed in the church.

 She is the reason I never borrow sweaters from anyone!

 She also happens to be the mother of my four favorite people.

There is so much more I could say, but I think Tennyson said it best when he said:

There she weaves by night and day

A magic web with colours gay.

She has heard a whisper say,

A curse is on her if she stay

To look down to Camelot.

She knows not what the curse may be,

And so she weaveth steadily,

And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott.

Lori Ann

p.s.- After you read this, could you finish changing Megan-Peter? :)

I met a man in Tennesse and he was headed for..

One week until Thanksgiving!

We are kinda excited:)

 Off to Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie!

Lori Ann

A little case of History repeating

I love watching the History channel, not necessarily for the programming but for the narration.

Every program is the same.

"And now we will take a look at a mystery that has haunted the world for the last ten centuries."

What makes it funny to me is that sometimes the topics are quite obscure, like "Various early Lincoln assassination plots" or "Did Cleopatra murder her siblings?"

I don't want to speak for anyone else, but neither of these topics have ever really haunted me.

Oh History Channel, why do you make me laugh so much?

Lori Ann 

I lived in Heaven a long time ago, it is true

I get into a lot of strange conversations.

 Maybe because I work in mental health.

However the strangest conversations I have are always with my nieces and nephews.

Tonight, Jack and Danielle were out on date night, and the kids and I were watching Robin Hood (not the Kevin Costner version) when James abruptly asks me:

"Where did I come from?"

Oh boy..I wasn't expecting this one for another 5 or 6 years!

So, I took a deep breath and in my mind rehearsed..

 " Well, it all began when your mom and dad decided to play Russian roulette with their birth control methods."

 From there I was going to hit all the main points..sex, growth of the embryo, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters, labor and delivery.

After an internal debate, I went with "You came from Heaven!"
which is pretty much the same as the whole sex, 3 trimesters, 'don't get gonorrhea' discussion I was going to have, just the condensed version.

Lori Ann

p.s.- Tonight James also announced that when he was older he wanted to marry Elly.

To which Elly responded that she wasn't available because she wanted to marry an elephant.

 I tried to explain some of the legal impediments to both of their choices, but they were really back into Robin hood by that point. :)

Will It Wednesday- The Duet Version.

Well, I didn't get a topic for this Will It Wednesday, but that's ok..I kinda know what people want...and I am going to give it to them.

Without further ado...

more Elly movies!

(and people, this is no run of the mill Elly footage..its the best Mormon duet this side of Donny and Marie!)

p.s.- That wheezing sound in the background is me trying not to laugh at the unbearable cuteness of this duet:)

Lori Ann

I used to live alone before I knew ya

So, as I was in Primary Presentation Practice with my class today, I was watching my nephews do their parts of the presentation and I was so proud of them because they did such a good job when I suddenly realized..

I can't leave them...

How can I move away from my muffin babies?

Who would I have apple cider and brownie parties with?

Who would let me join their secret club?

Who would make me laugh until I feel sick?

I need Elly to boss me around, Jack-Jack to tell me stories, my James to give me hugs and kisses, and the Katy Cat to chase around the house.

I literally cannot imagine my life without them.

Lori Ann

Teach your children well

Ok,

So, you may or may not know that I work with children.

*sigh*

I hate to get all serious..that's not what this blog is about.
(This blog is about chocolate and how I plan to get even with my mother..just to clarify;)

What is UP with kids today?

It is SCARY, the stuff that I see.

I was just rereading the story about that girl who was raped outside her school dance and no one did anything.

 Most of the kids stopped to watch or take pictures.

I started to think about this because of a this blog, which talks about the working vs stay at home mom debate.

A lot of people were commenting on this blog post, like "don't judge, let every family do its own thing" and it made me think...what about the families that raised those boys who committed that rape?

Shouldn't there be a way to intervene in those families?

 Shouldn't someone be judging them or at least evaluating them before these kids get to an advanced age with no real conscience?

 When its too late to help them?

And trust me, social services is overworked, and, for the most part, has no power to make the parents of these kids change how their raising their family.

 Social services is a band aid at best.

Suggestions?

Lori Ann

So you say you want a French Revolution

(James took the celebration to a whole new level!)

Today was "Celebrate November!" day for all of us in the Monroe/Hinsdale clan! (Which is all of the Monroes..and me)

 We make it our mission and duty to celebrate ALL months, but we strive to EXTRA celebrate the months with our birthdays!!

Our celebrations included making a giant calender of important November Events (the most important of which is the 28th..the birthday of the one and only Jamesaroni!), and reading a November poem, as well as generally enjoying the 11th month of the year, which is named, somewhat innapropriately, after the Latin "Novem", meaning 9.

*If you are interested in learning more about the exciting month of November, look no futher than here!*

As a bonus, in the month of November, we will be celebrating Katherine, and her big blue eyes!

Lori Ann

What happens when my sister is not home

I know we told you it was Crystal, the neighbors dog, that teepee'd your creeping myrtles..but it was US!!

                 The Kat Rat, rocking her pink hair..I have a feeling you have some difficult teen years ahead of you!

Jack-Jack did all of his own facepaint:) 

I knew those art skills would pay off when it was really important!!

Elly-Belly. This is only 1 of like 100 crazy photos of her. I will try to make sure that they do not resurface during her political career!!

Jamesaroni..your little nudist! I think he was prepared to paint himself all over and run out there nude! Now, that's the spirit of a true tee-peer!!

Lori Ann

Halloween..because I couldn't think of a more original title

How I spent Halloween

By L. Ann Hinsdale

Yes, my pumpkin says LOL..I didn't plan it that way but apparently carving is not my forte and I lost two E's, changing my LOLEE pumpkin into a disturbing tribute to online acronyms.

So..another Halloween night has passed.

 I spent it in much the same manner that I imagine my mother
and grandmother and great grandmother before me did...

eating the trick or treat candy and watching Matt Damon movies:)

Lori Ann