The fog.

It is silly that I should feel obligated to such a little thing like this blog. I think about it several times a day and wonder if anyone is offended by my lack of posting. I imagine all my cyber friends wondering where I have been and feeling like they have been dumped.

This guilt is a really sick thing going on in my head these days!

But honestly, I am still here. In a daze...a fog.

Here is the best way I know how to describe the last few months.

"It was hot. I had a baby. Now it's cold and I don't know much in between. "

There have been birthdays and deaths, laughter and tears. All very blog-worthy. But I honestly don't know where the time has gone. I am still here...doing my best to keep all the plates spinning.

Bear with me. I love you all.

And to quote Arnold, "I'll be baaaack."

Yada, Yada, Yada, October.

Hi. My name is Janelle.

I have a blog. There was a time that I loved to update often, almost daily.

Then came baby 3 and all of life turned topsy-turvy. So in hopes that I don't loose all my loyal friends, I need to review the month of October. It was a big one...birthday, birthday, Halloween, and more birthday.

But I must warn you...

Unless you are family, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. It's all pictures, albeit cute ones but may be as boring as Uncle Frank's slideshow of his trip to Tennessee. If you are a relative, sorry. There is no getting out of this one.

Just pull up a chair and sit awhile.

Do you remember the purple hands? This is why. Our little Loulabelle turned 5 and she desperately wanted a bowling party. I said tea party, she said bowling. Tea? No, mom. Bowling!! To put a spin on it, we did a 70s Groovy Bowling Party.

Our Lou. What a firecracker she is. From day one, she has had a spunk about her that we adore. She kept us on our toes in the early days. I had never heard so much crying, crying and more crying. So much crying! Nowadays, the crying has been replaced with laughter and silliness.

My kids. I love them and am so proud that I get to be their GROOOOVY mom. Whether they think so, or not!

My lollipop girl!

What is better than a blue Slug Bug? A blue Slug Bug made out of chocolate!!

The bowling was fun. I loved watching all the little ones bounce their ball down the lane. They were so cute!

The Tie-Dyed cuties!

The next day was Preschool Helper day and we celebrated some more! This time we had KK donuts. They were yummy. One little boy in her class kept saying, "This is the best bagel I have ever eaten!"

The one thing she wanted for her birthday was an American Girl doll. She named her Hannah. It stood to reason that Hannah needed to celebrate her birthday, too!

Happy Halloween, Great Pumpkin! This in one pumpkin I could eat up!Little stroller action! Look out, next year!

Padme and the Clone Trooper had to join us. I wonder if there are any Reese's in that bag?

That about sums up the night for him. No candy, no walking, no tricks. Just fingers.

Happy Birthday to ME!! Good friends joined me in celebrating at the local BBQ joint. Good friends, greasy burger, ranch dressing and funny stories. HEAVEN!

And a surprise Banana Foster, to boot. I have never had one of these treats. IT WAS AWESOME!

Spoiled me rotten!

Photo bomb!

These girls are amazing. I love each and every one of them. They are all so special to me, my husband and my kids. I love this town!

If only I would have known to stop smiling!

The most exciting part of the night was a late showing of High School Musical 3. You can tell who my REAL friends are in this picture. Surprising that the whole group didn't want to go!! It wasn't ONE BIT CORNY! I had tears and I will defend that to the death!

So, yada, yada, yada this is October. Actually just the last week of October. I am still catching my breath! I promise not to stay away for all of November. I won't make you suffer through that again!

Love you all!

Is it really that "super"?

My apologies if you have clicked here looking for the REALLY BIG NEWS report. We have yet to go. A case of heartburn and an ice cream craving have woken me from my tossing and turning. Make sure to check back later for the REALLY BIG NEWS!

In the meantime, let's ponder this question. What makes the SuperCenter so "super?" Is it the convenience of the one-stop shopping that lures us in? I, myself, have been known to purchase 3 shirts while running in just for some milk. Or is it the big city feel for us small town folks? It has EVERYTHING, mind you.

Except for these. No more, my friend, can you find these little two-bites of heaven located on their shelves. This fact alone has almost rendered the "Super"center dead to me. The only saving grace is that I can no longer stomach the two-bites of heaven. I am sure this is a temporary problem because who doesn't like little chocolate cakes with the perfect amount of frosting per bite? I have a few months before I figure out what to do when my tastes buds return. Do I switch stores, or will I be forced to MAKE MY OWN? Gasp.

Oh, but I digress. The other day while driving home from the Big City, I was having one of those familiar cravings for the NESTLE CRUNCH ICE CREAM BARS . Boy, I tell you this baby is one demanding little creature. What this baby wants, this baby is sure to get. It already has me wrapped around its translucent fingers. This baby NEEDS ice cream and it is very specific.

For example. I was feeling a certain bond with the baby when he/she suggested that I seek out vanilla ice cream with M&M's mixed in. Sounds simple enough. Found a drive-thru that served custard and ordered my M&M goodie. The baby was NOT happy with the result. This establishment, which shall remain nameless, used Mini-M&M's in their "ice cream treat!" This baby demands that only regular sized M&M's are to be used at all times. People, I am telling you that this little 5 ounce person has big opinions. I did manage to stuff the whole thing down, but I could tell someone was hiding in the corner of the womb pouting. Maybe even telling the placenta how mean I was. The nerve!

Anyway, back to the "Super"Center. Here I was searching high and low for the Nestle Crunch bars. I couldn't find them anywhere. What kind of place doesn't sell a staple such as Nestle Crunch?

I did find a substitute product but was completely turned off by the packaging. It was for the Blue Bell KRUNCH bars. Which would have been completely OK with me. I have lived in Blue Bell country. I know the appeal of the the Blue Bell name. But some marketing genius got hold of the product and decided it would be in their best interest to put a dirty man on the box. Yes, you heard me correctly. On the box is pictured a man, dirty from head to toe. He looks friendly enough as he bites into his KRUNCH bar, but still. He HAS DIRT ON HIM FROM HEAD TO TOE.

Now, I don't mean to be picky. But I don't want my food associated with anything dirt-related. Are you with me? I don't want to get my ice cream bar and feel like it may contain some of the mud that is sticking to this man's face. But what is a momma to do when the little person inside is DEMANDING the ice cream? I bought it, dirt and all. But I was NOT happy about it.

While I know this is not the "Super"center's fault. I am still thinking they could have chosen the Nestle alternative. The product that doesn't show a dirty man on the box. I am just saying.

Like many of you, I will forgive the "Super"center of it's shortcomings. I will continue to shop for the convenience of the one-stopness that it offers 24 hours a day. In time, I am sure that I will forget about the two-bite brownies debacle and the Blue Bell KRUNCH mishap. It will continue to be my source for cheap clothes and milk and oil changes. That is the American way, afterall.

As far as the KRUNCH bars are concerned. If you close your eyes while digging them out of the box, you won't even think about dirt. And the taste completely makes up for it. I assure you that no mud was used in the making of the product.