Seriously…. read this – it’s unbelievable!

Did you guys all get to see the newest Sarah Palin’s SNL skit this week?  If not, please, please go check it out now.   Wow, is that Tina Fey spot-on with her impersonation – it’s incredible.  But what was more incredible, is that there was a real big chunk of one of Tina’s ridiculous answers that didn’t come from the SNL writers at all– but actually came from Sarah Palin herself – in her very own words.  Verbatim  (well, almost)!!  In a word: dumbfounding. Check it out

Here’s what Tina Fey said on SNL:

Like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this. We’re saying “Hey, why bail out Fannie and Freddie and not me?” But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those that are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy to help um… it’s got to be all about job creation, too. Also to shoring up our economy, and putting Fannie and Freddie back on the right track and so health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending because Barak Obama, you know… We’ve got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans also having a dollar value meal at restaurants. That’s gonna help. But one in five jobs being created today under the umbrella of job creation that, you know. Also.

Read how face-palmingly close Palin’s actual words:

That’s why I say I, like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this position that we have been put in. Where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it’s got to be about job creation, too. Shoring up our economy, and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade — we have got to see trade as opportunity, not as, uh, competitive, um, scary thing, but one in five jobs created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation.

Come on America.  Is this who should be second in command of our country?!?! 

Now I better post this and get moving, I have a great deal of catch up to do before the VP debate on Thursday.  I want to be well informed on both vice presidential candidate’s views.   And since I’ve seen all 3 of Sarah’s interviews (although I don’t think FOX news one really counts) – it would only be right of me to watch/read the 90 interviews that Joe Biden has given since being added to the Obama ticket.  Unlike some people I guess, I think it’s important to really know what the candidates believe in and not such see people for their gender.

Gratulerer med dagen, Farmor

We know the birthday is tomorrow, but wanted to give you an early birthday song !

Photos

Can you tell that I finally downloaded the photos from the past weeks?  Here are just a few more random photos.

This photo is just to help you image the noise level in our house at times.  Listen closely, I bet you can almost hear it!

Me and da boyz!  :-)

Beckett’s ready for the cool, autumn weather.

Miss Kindergarten, striking a pose.  (again, I blame it on Project Runway reruns).

Intense

Pappa intensely watching TV.  Beckett intensely watching Pappa.

Wild Waves

Last Sunday we spent the day at Wild Waves theme park.  It was a fun, last blast of hot, summer weather and we took full advantage of it.

We started the day in the water park area.  The kids loved the lazy river and especially the slides.

Then we headed to the rides area.  After a bit too scary Octopus ride, Campbelle decided that she was going to stick to the ‘easier ones’.  Christian didn’t seem to mind the more ‘grown up’ rides…. he was unaffected.  I guess she takes after her mother – and he his father!

Campbelle lost her 2nd tooth the night before.  It is still a bit traumatic for her, (actually, A LOT traumatic) but once the shock of losing it and after the blood is gone – then she acts very authoritative about it, explaining to Christian that ‘You too, will have to lose all your teeth someday.”  I guess it gives her comfort to know that someday he will share in her horrendous , yet brief, agony.

President Palin?????

I got this video clip from my friend Stephanie's site.  Matt Damon brings up a great point.  Listen, I'm all for women in power - but the RIGHT women in the RIGHT job.... and I don't believe she's it.  And to think there are really smart, sharp women out there that are now swinging their vote towards them because of her on the ticket.  Lord help us!!

Backyard Landscaping Project - Phase 1

So we started implementing our landscape plans in the backyard and got a big chunk of the work and plants put in.  I have some more plants to put in this spring and next fall, but I'm so happy with all we've done so far.

Take a look. 

Before:  (we had already rounded out the corners by removing some of the grass).

 

After:

I've got two of my favorite trees in the backyard.  The top photo is a Magnolia tree in the corner.  They produce the most gorgeous, big white, creamy flowers in the spring/summer.  The bottom photo has two Coral Bark Maples in the corner.  Their bark turns the brightest shade of coral you could image in the fall and last all winter long.  I'll take a photo and post it later... it is so beautiful and will be great winter color.

These are called dwarf Burning Bush and should turn bright red in a few weeks.  

So Phase 1 is complete and I'm already looking forward to Spring Edition Phase 2!!    Wow, who knew that I'd enjoy gardening so much; especially after all those years of complaining while I was growing up!!

Happy Belated Birthday Leif

It was Leif's birthday on Monday... we celebrated with dinner at one of his favorite restaurants Maylay Satay and then cake at home. Happy Bithday babes - I love you ... (sorry for not posting this sooner).

Sorry losers...

While watching the local news this evening, they featured a segment about the smartest city in the US.

Here are the results based on a poll from Travel+Leisure:

#1  Seattle

#2  Minneapolis/St. Paul

#3  Austin

#4  Portland, Oregon

#5  San Francisco

#6  Boston

#7  Washington, D.C.

#8  Denver

#9  Chicago

#10  New York

Sorry, but looks like all you Minnesotans are just not as brilliant as those of us on the West Coast. 

News flash

Kelly doesn't eat eggs!!

First day of Kindergarten

Campbelle had her first day of kindergarten this morning.  And let me tell you, that girl was sooooo excited!  She had carefully laid out her clothes the night before and meticulously went over her 'morning routine',  which consists of waking up to her own alarm clock, washing her face, brushing her teeth, combing her hair, getting dressed and then waking up her parents. :-)

Campbelle's friendly personality had already gotten to know about 1/2 the kids at the bus stop by the time the bus arrived and, like I predicted, got on the bus with the biggest grin and a quick little wave back at us.

Her favorite part of the day was art and recess time.  It's now only 3:30pm and she already has her clothes laid out for tomorrow and wondering when it's bedtime.  I would say that's a pretty successful first day.

Landscape Project

Leif is on paternity leave the month of September so we have a few little projects that we want to get done around the house.  The biggest, by far, is the backyard landscaping.  We hired a landscape architect to draw up some plans for us and we implemented the front yard design last spring and are going to be slowing doing the back yard over the next few years.  The first thing that needed to be done was bring in some more top soil... 6.5 cubic yards to be exact.  This is what half of that amount looks like:

Actually doesn't seem too back looking at these pictures, but believe me and Leif's back, it was a looong day!  The kids and Leif and I were absolutely filthy by the end.  Now on to the fun planting part.  I'll post more before and '1/2 way through' pictures later (although according to Leif's budget, more like 1/3 of the way through).  

Yearbook yourself

This is too funny.... I've spent the entire morning messing around on this site.  Did you ever wonder what you would have looked like in the past? 

Go to this site and Yearbook Yourself to find out.

This is me, in 1956. 

And here I am as my mom, in 1964:

And here I am as my Aunt Nancy in 1972:

(Really, don't you have a picture with your hair exactly like this Nancy??)

In 1974:  Sexy!!

In 1976, and my personal favorite:  (looks like MacKenzie Phillips from One Day at a Time!)

In 1980:  YIKES!!

And surprisingly 1992... this one is so close to real it's scary... although the black and white really hides the 'Sun-In' look in my hair.

And who do you suppose this ABBA loving guy is in 1976?

And again, this is all too real... truthfully long hair and all (really, I'm not kidding, Leif had long hair in the 90s), honestly, I've seen photos and they look just like this!)

Top #1 song on the day you were born

Follow this link to find out what song was number one on the day you were born.

Mine made me a bit sad, hopefully that is indicative of who I am.

Jill - Jan 13, 1973 - You're so Vain by Carly Simon

Leif - Sept 8, 1970 -  War by Edwin Starr

Campbelle - April 26, 2003 - In da Club by 50 cents

Christian - December 4, 2004 - My Boo by Usher and Alicia Keyes

Beckett - August 3, 2008 -  I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry

Funny, I don't know any of the songs that were #1 on my children's birthdays.  Perhaps I'm just too wrapped up in me!  :-)

1 month old

Beckett is one month old... 10 lbs 4 oz (he had lost an entire pound the weeks after birth, but finally gaining it back nicely) and 23 inches.  75% for weight and 97+% for height - go figure he's off the charts for height).  He is doing fantastic (except for a serious case of baby acne - a glimpse into his  teen years?!?)

I love looking back and comparing the kids growth with one another.  I can't wait to get home from the clinic and pull out their baby books to mull over all their information month by month.   And now, you will be subjected to my fascinating discoveries:

At one month, Campbelle was 11 lbs 3 oz 23 inches  (way off the charts on both accounts.  In fact, I don't think she has ever been on the charts her whole life.)

At one month, Christian was 9 lbs 4 oz 22 inches  (weight 25%, 95% height).  How uncomfortable does he look in this photo?? 

Don't worry, you won't be seeing this post monthly for the next year.  I always had good intentions of doing monthly pictures of the kids in the same place every month, but I think I made it to 5 months with Campbelle and Christian got the first 3 months before I would just forget to take the photos.  So given my track record, this might be the last month for Beckett's photo recorded growth! 

Christian's first day of Preschool

Today was Christian's first day of preschool.   He was really excited to go to his new school,  and when I pulled up to the drop off spot... he gladly left the van with this teacher (which 'dropping off kids without having to get out of the car' may be the most brilliant idea ... ever!!).  He goes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and according to him the best part of the day was eating breakfast at school (which 'breakfast at school' might be the 2nd most brilliant idea ... ever!!)

Campbelle starts kindergarten next week Monday.