Alone in my dark room, laying in my cozy bed, completely relaxed after getting a much needed massage, a random thought crossed my mind. 

Being the Googler that I am, I reached for my laptop to find an answer.  I very innocently opened the computer to see Beelzebub-o the Clown and his glowing eyes.

The oh-so-hilarious-and-grounded Daught taped this monstrosity to my laptop before leaving for her dad’s last night. 
Challenge accepted. 

I’m looking for fun ways you scare your children around Halloween. Nothing gruesome or too terrifying, I’m just looking for a little payback. 

#ClowningAround

#NothingScarierThanAClown

#IMayHaveYelpedAlittle

#OutrageouslyOrdinary 

I was making dinner last night to the sweet sound of my children practicing the piano when the Daught tells my little guy to hang on. 

She races to her room and comes back with her recorder (one of man’s less miraculous inventions, if you ask me). 

I hear her count out the beat and they play “together” through the whole song. I clapped when they were done to encourage the comradery, while mentally retreating to my Costco size bottle of ib profen.

The Daught said they should play again the same way.  My son said they should play it like the radio (basically louder with a faster beat). I said (with a chuckle) that they sounded like Donny and Marie, and went back to the kitchen.

I hear my son say, “Who are they?”  The Daught replies, “You never know with mom, she knows everybody.  Let’s play, 1…2…3…4”

#LetsPlay

#DonnyAndMarieOsmond

#WhoMadeRecordersARequirement

#ThankYouCostco

#OutrageouslyOrdinary 

The Daught wasn’t feeling well so we cuddled up after school. My little guy caught us dozing off and played with my phone. He’s such a great little photographer!  I’m thinking a camera for Christmas… any suggestions on a beginner model?

#CuddlesOnCamera

#FuturePhotographer

#PreciousMoments

#OutrageouslyOrdinary 

Every once in a while they do something so cute, so heart warmingly wonderful, that you have to take a picture to remember the moment you fell even deeper in love with this amazing character you are blessed to raise.

This was not that moment.

Here, my pride and joy sits at dinner.  He’s trying the wizard concept out for Halloween to make sure he doesn’t need any other props.  So far, the costume seems to be complete but I’m sure the prop epiphanies will strike a few hours before trick-or-treating begins. 

I made stir fry last night, a personal favorite, but my little wizard was less than thrilled. As I am not a short order cook, the deal in our house is that you eat what is made. 

A few bites in, he picked up his wand and started the famous “swish and flick” over his food. He muttered something but I thought he was just playing so I kept the eating and conversation going.

A few minutes later he did it again.  Such a great imagination he has, I thought.  I asked him what spell he was casting.

Wait for it… Wait for it…

“I’m trying to make this edible but I don’t think I’m powerful enough for that yet.”

Alrighty then. Dinner’s over Dumbledore.

#WhereTheMagicHappens

#HarryPotterWands

#ChickenNuggetsOrBust

#OutrageouslyOrdinary 

I stayed up late talking with an old friend last night.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but as I woke up this morning a few things crossed my mind…

1.  There are not enough eye drops in the world to get rid of the sandpaper that invades your eyes with every blink you take after a late night/early morning.
2. I took necessary naps when I was little, lazy naps in high school, fun naps in college, crucial naps after my babies were born… naps and I go way back, but they have clearly abandoned me in my hour of middle-aged need.
3.  My children seem to save their important questions and conversations until I’m tired.
4. When I fall into my fresh, clean sheets tonight after the rest of the house is asleep, I have no doubt that I’ll be wide awake for the first time all day.

#SleepDeprived

#BedTimeIsSoFarAway

#OldLadyTired

#OutrageouslyOrdinary

I may be Mrs. Robinson…

I made my way to the front of the grocery store line today, where the cliche high school aged boy was waiting at the register.  He had bed head, braces and just enough acne to make him a little shy but overall a very cute kid.

He started scanning my groceries without asking to swipe my rewards card, so after a few minutes I asked him if he wanted my number.

He looked at me horrified, laughed nervously, turned a burnt red color and said, “Not really ma’am, I’m a little young for you.”

WHAT?!  Nooooooooo!

Clearly I was talking about the card!  Clearly I have children who aren’t much younger than you!  Clearly I want to tell your mother you were rude to an elder!

I wanted to say he couldn’t keep up with me anyway, but that seemed a little too Mrs. Robinson for a lazy Sunday afternoon shopping trip.

And I really didn’t have the time or patience to explain who Mrs. Robinson is to him.

#MrsRobinson

#HowAmIAlreadyMiddleAged

#TooOldForJailBait

#OutrageouslyOrdinary

#SanityIsOptional
#OutrageouslyOrdinary 

What a week it’s been so far, and it’s only Tuesday. My sweet boy saw that I needed a smile and played me a carol because “Christmas always makes people feel love.” 

It is not my place to tell you to believe in God, but I will say that we could all use prayer.  I have absolute faith that through the most horrific accidents or occurrences our true heroes and angels are born. 

I choose to focus on the names of the strong and innocent, rather than those of the selfish or cruel. I choose to remember the acts of kindness and courage, rather than the details of the life of such a dark and desperate man.

I don’t know why the horrific happens, but finding the heroes and hope in such darkness will keep the light shining on what matters.

Here’s hoping this helps you feel a little of the spirit.

#TheSpirit

#PrayingForVegas

#AlphaChiOmega

#ChildrenAreABlessing 

#OutrageouslyOrdinary 

This is my weekend without my babies.  I spend these weekends getting stuff done around the house, seeing friends, and just trying to soak up the silence.

Silence, as you parents will understand, is absolutely out of the question when young children are in the house for two reasons:

1. On an average day, they have the stamina of ten Energizer Bunnies on a doughnut high in the middle of Disney World.
2. Silence means they are up to something and you need to run interference because chances are there is a Sharpee masterpiece on a younger sibling’s face or something unusual is being flushed down the toilet to see how many times it twirls around the tank before disappearing.

Silence is definitely golden, but I sure do miss the noise when they are gone.

#SilentTreatment

#EnergizerBunny

#OutrageouslyOrdinary

How ironically appropriate is it that Hugh Hefner passed away on a hump day? Bless his heart.

#OutrageouslyOrdinary