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Monthly Archives: August 2006

Relapse.

Ok. So after two weeks without the binky, I thought we were in the clear. That we would be alright.

But the fact is, he hit me where it HURT.

He decided he wasn’t going to be taking naps anymore. And while he seemed to be ok, pleasant enough during the day, *I* just needed that nap time. I could deal with the fussing when it was time for bed. But man. I need more nap time. He just can’t give that up.

So he wins. I dug up an old binky and offered it to him. A little peace offering. A bribe, perhaps. I was afraid he wouldn’t want it after all this time. But he took the bait. And he took a nice, long nap today. And went to bed really easily last night. And now we’re both happy. I’ve never been so happy to lose a battle. :)

This time, the rule is, it stays in the bed. He’s happy to comply. And we’re both well-rested.

August 28, 2006 - 6:00 pm Katie Harris - Good for you! The photo in your last entry was just adorable! It just cracks me up to see little kids with their binkies! -Katie

August 29, 2006 - 5:12 am Julie - Jenna did the no nap thing too after the binky was gone. Like she was protesting or something. I expected to come into her room and see "Bring Back Binky" signs in her hand or something.

August 29, 2006 - 9:19 am Hilary - OH no.... naps reign supreme. Glad you fixed it. I need to call you...

August 29, 2006 - 4:00 pm Mindy - I would've done the same thing. Priorities, right? When you've gotten used to that nap-time break, it's hard to give it up. Isn't it weird how sometimes they go to sleep better at night after they've had a long nap in the day? I could never figure that out...

August 29, 2006 - 5:58 pm alison - lol...I would have done the same thing. Naps are still a MUST-HAVE here..not for me, but for the baby. take that time, and all bets are off. And like everyone alwasy says..it's not like he'll be taking it to kindergarten with him...

August 29, 2006 - 11:35 pm erin yamabe - cheers to good sleep!

August 30, 2006 - 4:28 pm Stefani - Don't feel so bad. Nap time is a priority. :) My nephew did not give up his binky until his 4th birthday. We had a 'throw the binky away' party the morning of his 4th birthday.

bye bye big baby binky

Binky I took this picture August 12. I had been thinking about how he wouldn’t be using a binky or wearing diapers much longer. Dave has been wanting me to get rid of them, because we both knew he didn’t really need the binky and he could probably be potty trained fairly easily, but I just couldn’t do it. That would be admitting that he’s not a little baby. And with no more on the horizon, it’s just hard. I want to keep him small a little longer. Nothing says baby like binkies and diapers.

As luck would have it, he lost his binky on August 14. We couldn’t find it anywhere. Eventually, we just put him to bed without it. I cuddled him and he kept waving and saying "bye-bye binky" (rather joyfully, I might add) and went to bed without crying. The next day, we left for Lake Tahoe. I was really nervous, thinking the timing couldn’t have been worse considering we had a four hour drive ahead of us, but he handled it like a champ, only whining for about 20 minutes before he finally took his nap 3 hours into the drive. He’s done pretty well. I’m having a harder time getting him to go down for his afternoon nap, which stinks (he’s crying in his room as I write this), but other than that, life without the binky has been good. I really was tired of searching for that thing every time it went missing.

Anyway, I thought it was pretty ironic that I’d taken this little rememberance picture right before he lost it. :)

August 24, 2006 - 3:37 pm Maureen - So happy you got that shot! I'm with you....pacifiers and diapers....scream baby to me! Hard when they are done in many ways!

August 24, 2006 - 6:31 pm shannon c - He is so cute!! I have a little guy who needs to be potty trained. After 9 years (older brothers) of changing diapers, you would think I would be all over the potty training. Hmmm. Nope.

August 24, 2006 - 6:34 pm kelly - Lucky you! I just wrote about this too, but Chloe didn't handle it so well. We said, 'bye-bye, binky', but we had to say 'hello' again. Now we are considering a more subtle withdrawal method instead of cold turkey. :)

August 24, 2006 - 6:39 pm Hilary - WOO HOO FOR THE LOST BINKIE!!!! about time!

August 24, 2006 - 11:03 pm jamie - ahhhh another milestone. :) he looks so cute and BIG now!!!

August 25, 2006 - 5:42 am Julie - I'm glad he's taking it well. Jenna did a lot better with it than I thought she would when it was time to lose hers. I was BAD with that and didn't take it from her until she was two and a half. I know, I know. I'm bad, like I said, but like you I wanted to hold on to the babyness, because I am not sure that we can have another one. Glad you got the photo though! Good timing. =)

August 27, 2006 - 1:00 am gillian - Oh, I'm the WORST when it comes to taking the binkies away! My daughter slept with hers (only slept) until she was 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that's just WRONG!

August 28, 2006 - 5:27 pm alison - ooh..that was a scary time. Both times. Big congrats to you and the little man!

August 29, 2006 - 1:45 am Jessi - Okay, that pic is classic!!!!!!

August 30, 2006 - 7:24 pm kent - Oh man! He is looking too much like a little boy now. Time flies!!

Hi.

I’m back.

Have been for a few days now.

It was wonderful.

And the floors of my new kitchen are done, which makes me very happy.

But I’m still in a crazy crazy mess. And I’m behind on everything.

But I just wanted to check in and say hi. I’m doing very well. And here are a few pictures, just cuz. (not of the trip, because I haven’t even unloaded them, but random of some recent sessions.)Elsinggoddard_18_1 Elsinggoddard_21_1

Huynh_14 Hunter_04    Pellegrino_28

Pellegrino_05_1 (I removed the stray hairs on this later, BTW) :)

Pellegrino_24 Tucker_39 Tucker_05  

Ok. That’s enough for now.

Obviously I prefer black and white. Well, I do love color, too. But often I just really love the storytelling abilities of black and white. And the fun of color. Ok. I love them both. :)

August 22, 2006 - 6:30 am Alison - welcome back, dude! Love the pictures. Let's see that new floo,r now...

August 22, 2006 - 7:24 am Julie - Gorgeous photos Shannon. I'm glad you are back and your floors are done. Yay!

August 22, 2006 - 7:45 am Hilary - SO glad you're back. Let's get lunch once the kiddos are in school. Great pics btw!

August 22, 2006 - 9:38 am sherri Winstead - great work shannon!! Hey email me at the email address above. I have my 2nd proofing session on my BD site, and I remember you wanting to "take a look". So please do!! I'll email you personally the password!

August 22, 2006 - 11:11 am Mindy - Glad you had fun, Shannon! It's nice to have a break from the routine sometimes. When do your kiddos start school? We start tomorrow--YEAH! Awesome pictures, as always.

August 22, 2006 - 11:12 am erin yamabe - those are just beautiful! thanks for sharing. my fave is the one of the mom close up holding her son's head from behind.

August 22, 2006 - 3:40 pm Kia Gregory - Hi, I'm a blog stalker and just wanted to say, love your photography! WONDERFUL to look at and feel the love in the pix, ya know?

August 22, 2006 - 3:49 pm Katie Harris - Your work is wonderful! I really like the color shot of the boy, those blue eyes are gorgeous! I also prefer b&w, but color can be fun sometimes! -Katie http://creolewisdom.typepad.com/ http://creolewisdom.typepad.com/khphotography

August 22, 2006 - 7:23 pm Lisa - Hey, I know most of those people! Great pictures Shannon as always. Glad to hear that hubby of yours got his act together and finished those floors.

August 23, 2006 - 1:25 pm Kim - you need to share more often, chica!! These are wonderful. =)

August 23, 2006 - 4:23 pm kellidarr - Wow! Absolutely amazing:) Keep on sharing! I love your work.

August 23, 2006 - 5:22 pm stacey kingman - Those are fabulous. I am certainly doing something wrong with my camera...

August 23, 2006 - 6:32 pm kent - So the new floor is in and not the cabinets? Glad you're back and AWESOME photos!

August 26, 2006 - 8:13 am Layle Koncar - Gorgeous photos, Shannon!

September 4, 2006 - 7:01 am candi - beautiful photos shannon!!

September 4, 2006 - 10:40 pm Shelly - I haven't checked your blog for awhile...great shots! I recognize a few of those people ;-) Thanks again for a wonderful photo shoot, our pictures are amazing!

September 6, 2006 - 9:45 pm Shelby - wow! so gorgeous :)

September 10, 2006 - 2:27 pm Heather - Amazing pictures Shannon! ;)

Just what I needed…

some time off!! Well, it’s not totally time off, since I’ll still be with my kids, but at least it’s a different location. I’ll take that! I’m headed to the mountains for a few days. Lucky lucky me.

By the way, any robbers that might be reading this… Dave is staying home. So don’t get any wise ideas. Unless you wanted to come help him rip out the old kitchen. In which case, I’m sure your help would be appreciated. :)

Hopefully (but not likely) I will have a "while you were out" makeover done to my kitchen while I’m gone. Maybe (in my dreams) I’ll come back to a brand-new, beautiful kitchen. Riiiiiight. :)

August 14, 2006 - 9:39 pm elizabeth - Sounds like fun! I hope you don't have a lot of robbers reading your blog. ; ) And when you get back... we've got our Oakland Zoo pass in hand... I know how to get there and everything : )

August 14, 2006 - 11:21 pm Alison - so maybe it's just too raw still, but NO it doesn't sound like fun. LOL. And what's with you playing the out of town card, huh? It feels really good, I mean REALLY good, to help break up the ugly stuff. Hopefully things are new and sparkly when you get back. Go Dave!

August 15, 2006 - 7:33 am Hilary - yeah.... that would be nice... Where are you going? Don't you guys start school soon?

August 15, 2006 - 7:26 pm erin yamabe - here's to dreaming, and fun before school starts!

August 16, 2006 - 8:53 am Mindy - Shannon, for a minute there I thought "going to the mountains" might be secret code for "coming to Utah" (hey, we've got mountains, right?). I did a little investigative work and discovered that Tahoe was your destination. Good for you! Have fun.

August 16, 2006 - 10:51 am maggie Holmes - good for you - have a great time! and i hope you do get that makeover!!

August 16, 2006 - 8:24 pm Robyn - For fun!!! :) Have a fabulous time!

boondoggle baby

So to avoid continuing my little discussion with myself about feeling like a failure and mentioning our not-so-little trip to the dentist today that just confirmed my failures, I’m going to give myself some credit. :)

I taught Shelby and Matthew how to Boondoggle yesterday.(because I don’t have a picture of what they did, and also because I think it’s hilarious that someone is trying to sell it on ebay, I’m linking it there to ebay.) They both caught on quickly and thought it was lots of fun. A totally useless craft, but something fun to do anyway. It brought me back to the "olden days" when I would sit and boondoggle for hours, pretty proud of my creations. I don’t know if that makes me a cool mom or the nerdiest mom ever… probably some of both. :)

August 9, 2006 - 1:32 pm Michelle Riddle - I have been lurking on your blog for a while enjoying your posts and pictures, but always felt silly commenting. But..I just had to thank you for todays post. For the life of me I could not remember what that was called and the only word I could ever come up with to explain it was "gimp"..isn't that what the stuff is called that is used to boondoogle? I actually bought some of the stuff a few month ago, but even with the instructions could not get it started! And as for yesterdays post..I can TOTALLY relate.

August 9, 2006 - 2:03 pm Hilary - I'm pretty sure that bondoggling is right up there with clogging. :) WTG!

August 9, 2006 - 2:03 pm AmyG - funny! I didn't know it was called that. We used to make those things at girls camp. lol

August 9, 2006 - 6:01 pm kent - Just to let you know "Boondoggle" is a Utah word. I can't remember exactly what I used to call it growing up (which is the correct word byt the way- hee hee) but we have a joke at work about it because Keri mentioned THAT word one time and I was like what the heck are you talking about. Then another co-worker popped around the corner and she knew the word too but she was from Helper so it doesn't count. I think that is the funniest word in the world and I can't believe someone is selling them on Ebay (maybe it is the girl from Napoleon Dynamite).

August 9, 2006 - 6:02 pm kent - Oh! I just read the comment and we DID used to call it Gimp - maybe that was an East Coast thing!

August 9, 2006 - 6:35 pm stacy b - k california calls them lanyards. that's pretty funny that everyone has thier own name for it. you are a GREAT mom for teaching a totally useless but oh so entertaining thing to your kids. my brother is the one who used to make those and i wouldn't even know where to begin. you're great. :)

August 10, 2006 - 6:58 am Julie - Never in my life have I heard "boondoogle" until today. I don't remember ever making anything out of the plastic stuff. We always made stuff out of yarn, thread, etc. Of course, I'm down here in Oklahoma, =). Don't hold it against me. I think it is cool that you taught your kids how to do it though. I always had to figure those things out on my own, but I would sit and make bracelets and keychains for hours, like you said.

August 10, 2006 - 3:17 pm Lee - LOL... I love seeing the different names of stuff from the US to Australia. When I saw Boondoogle I thought... what??? In Australia they are scalled Scoobies! Hee hee hee... too funny.

August 10, 2006 - 3:30 pm kate - that's a new term for me!! they're lanyards here (seattle) too! :) i did it all the time when i was a kid - it was cool then - i'm sure it's cool for them now too!!

August 10, 2006 - 9:47 pm Alana M - I was what you were talking about into I saw the photo...okay lanyards, yes lots of fun.

August 13, 2006 - 11:47 pm erin yamabe - i think that is very cool...didn't know it had a name!!!

August 14, 2006 - 7:05 am Kathi - I had no idea it was called boondoggle. I remember making them at summer camp and having a ton on my one key-key chain.

Ok. Here’s the deal.

I’m a perfectionist. You would never guess it by the looks of things around here (my house…as if you could look through the computer and see my house). But really, I am. I’m a frustrated perfectionist. I was talking with Dave about this last night. He asked if maybe I didn’t have opportunities to shine when I was a kid, and I realized it was the exact opposite. It was EASY to get feedback, feel successful. Grades, trophies, competitions, there was always a way to gauge how well I was doing, and I loved being successful. It’s just that it’s harder now. As far as mothering, I really won’t know for another 20 years, just how well I’ve done in that job, and even then…factor in the reality that kids make their own choices regardless of how they were brought up, it will be an iffy measurement. And as far as housekeeping…my only measurement seems to be perfection. Clean, organized, well-managed. None of which apply to the job I’m doing. Because I get frustrated and give up. When I look too closely, I want to go crazy, but I don’t have the energy to go crazy, so I try not to look to closely.

I was thinking about how I feel like such a failure sometimes. That I disappoint everyone at some point or another. Myself, most of all, then when I feel the slightest disppointment directed my way from someone else, I take it to be a hundred times worse than they actually felt it. But the fact is, (housekeeping aside) most people looking from the outside in would probably think I was pretty successful. That I’ve pretty much always achieved the goals I’ve set for myself. That I do a pretty good job at what I’m trying to do (again, housekeeping, meal-planning, and budgeting aside.) :) It’s those big things, the housekeeping, meal-planning, and budgeting that bring me down. Make me feel like a failure. And the thing is, I’m not a failure ALL the time. It’s just that it’s a daily thing. A job that is pretty much impossible to succeed at all the time. I need to find a way to be gentler on myself. To give myself credit for trying, and not look at things as pass/fail. I’ve always felt like I’ve embraced imperfection. I have, really. But if I could just stop being so frustrated by it… :)

Geez…I’ve gotten too seriously lately… PMS. :p

August 8, 2006 - 3:32 pm Alison - yes. and yes. and YES. Those are my three biggies, as well. For me the issue is compounded because back in the good ol days of having just one child, I COULD do it all, and it was easy, and I had time to things like host weekend gatherings, and feed everuone home made manicotti (no...I still don't have a life:p). And so I find myself always trying to get.back.to.that. But it is just impossible. Which is mighty frustrating. So, yeah. Just know that you aren't the only purple-faced woman staring at laundry piles in absolute disgust. I'm right there with ya. :)

August 8, 2006 - 9:00 pm Hilary - Wow.... PMS, yeah.... Shannon, you're a wonder... you've just gotta love yourself for the little things. We all do. :)

August 8, 2006 - 10:53 pm stephanie thiel - I wish I could pin this on a bout with pms...haven't had that luxury in over 6 years...BUT, I still have those feelings of failure when it comes to the house, etc. I am also a perfectionist my own worst critic. Boy can I be hard on myself! It's worse living where we do...most of the moms have housekeepers, gardeners, poolboys, nannys...and their homes are spotless! I try to stay level-headed and keep my feet on the ground, but sometimes it just gets the best of me. Someone really 'sold us a bridge' when they said we could do it all. Little did they know how much 'all' really means in 2006. Ms. Shannon...the stuff you feel is universal among most of us. Few of us admit it. Just keep talking and keep plugging! And...somewhere in the middle of the craziness, lies our bliss.

August 9, 2006 - 6:50 am Julie - I think most people are harder on themselves than other people are. Especially being mothers, we put all these expectations on ourself to be "the perfect mom, wife, support system, etc". I feel like my life in those three departments is very chaotic and I only have one child...I think you are doing a great job. Your kids are going to remember that Mom spent time with them, not that Mom kept the house spotless 24 hours a day...do you catch what I'm throwing? Don't be so hard on yourself sweetie. You are GREAT!

August 9, 2006 - 8:28 am Tina - This was a hard one for me, too. I've decided to not try to be perfect at everything, but rather I chose the things that I knew I could be successful at and forged ahead, knowing that those other things would still get done, but not perfectly. And that it would be just fine that way. I'm not a perfect mother but perfection in that area is something I'll always strive for and, like you said, we may not know how successful I really am at that for quite a while. I've found in parenting and mothering 24/7 is something I MUST take one day at a time. And I always feel WAY less optimistic about all of this for about a week each month. HANG IN THERE!

August 9, 2006 - 9:51 am Jami - Shannon- I feel like that SOO MUCH. I just can't put it as eloquently as you can, and whenever I mention something about it on my blog it turns out to not make sense and then that's just ONE MORE THING that I'm hard on myself about. Anyway, you're amazing. I'm excited to live so close to you in less than two weeks!!!!!

August 9, 2006 - 2:17 pm Sara - So been feeling this way too lately...good to know there others out their that are just as frustrated as I am. Thanks Shannon.

August 10, 2006 - 7:23 am Andrea - You are a working girl now!!!! Sis, seriously, I think it's time you gave yourself a HUGE present and got a housekeeper. Just once a week. Or once a month. Seriously. You have earned it, you deserve it. Freak girl, you can pay for it with your own allowance! Think of how much happier you will be.... :)

August 11, 2006 - 3:17 pm Stacy - Fellow perfectionist chiming in here. Don't even start projects because I know they won't be up to par. On the home front, you are busy rasing 4 young children. As long as they are fed, cared for, have clean clothes and are loved, YOU ARE A SUCCESS! Stacy

August 12, 2006 - 12:50 am MarilynH - I feel like this all of the time! it is hard for me, too, being a perfectionist and an organizational freak. I am a totally different person than I was ten years ago, being that I have such a messy house now that I used to be able to keep under control (I didn't have four kids back then, either). I hate that I can't seem to get a grip on everything and do better at EVERYTHING. I guess thats life. it did make me feel better knowing I wasn't alone, though! ((hugs))

August 15, 2006 - 12:13 pm tania - i could sign my name to that post. i can sooo totally relate. seriously. you said it better than i could have myself. when you find out what works, please share with the rest of us. please.

August 16, 2006 - 9:46 am staceykingman - I could apply most of that to ME. You are a sweet, precious, well-meaning, all-or-none perfectionist! The hardest hurdle to get over is that you think need to to everything perfectly at one time. Like right now I am sitting here in my scrap room thinking that I can't get it ALL clean at one time, so I do nothing...

sorry

I’m sorry if I offended anyone with my language in that last post. I would never say anything like that in real life. I’m too chickenshizzle. The hard thing about the whole blog thing is that I’m giving people impressions of myself that may or may not be correct. Since people don’t know me, they may not understand the sarcasm, or the motivation behind my words. I know I’ve said some things in the past that have made people feel bad or were taken the wrong way. Always unintentional, of course, but hurtful to someone for some reason nevertheless. It makes me sad. I hate conflict. I hate making people upset. I hate disappointing people. I hate that this blog has done all of those things at one point or another.

August 4, 2006 - 11:07 am Julie - No offense here Shannon. Some people (like the dude at Arby's) just don't think before they say things out loud. I think you handled yourself gracefully and of course your inner voice wanted to react in a different way. That's called being human. You are a sweetheart. We all know it. =)

August 4, 2006 - 11:17 am Mindy - Shannon, you rock. One thing I love about you is that you say whatever you darn well please on your blog. If people don't like it or they get offended, they can stop reading. In that situation (at Arby's), I probably wouldn't have said anything either, but would have boiled inside all afternoon, thinking about all the choice words I SHOULD have said. You are awesome and I would be super sad if you changed your style so as to not offend anyone.

August 4, 2006 - 4:36 pm Hilary - Ahh... this is why I love not being a garden l with less perfect strangers reading my mind... or whatever is LEFT of my mind. :)

August 4, 2006 - 8:58 pm Abby - Huh? I'm sorry? I just don't get why others would be offended because of the language of your last post. I wasn't offended, in fact I completely understand why you felt the way you did when you heard that rude remark from a complete stranger!! You handled yourself gracefully and eventhough you think you should have said something, the fact that you held your self in check shows your children why you are teaching them to be polite, caring people--and not end up like that man! Shannon, this is your blog. You shouldn't have to apologize because you shared with us--readers who willingly visit you--how you REALLY felt.

August 4, 2006 - 11:17 pm erin - i wasn't offended, no worries here. it is your post, your blog, your choice to put whatever you wish to describe your feelings... just my two cents. cheers!

August 5, 2006 - 2:13 pm stephanie thiel - I couldn't find anything offensive...not one f-bomb anywhere! ...and even if I did it's your g-damned blog anyway! love your posts..keep 'em coming!

August 5, 2006 - 4:16 pm tifsmith - i can't speak for anyone else but it made me giggle.

August 5, 2006 - 5:03 pm Karen - I love catching up on your Blog! And absolutely no offence here! I think of good good comebacks after the event!!! It did make me giggle though!! This is your space on the web and you do and say whatever you want, I'll still come back and read and if anyone gets offended they can click on the little cross in the corner. Your fantastic!!

August 5, 2006 - 8:22 pm kimberly lough - It's your blog and you can cuss if you want to:) Don't change for anyone, we like you just the way you are:) Kimberly Lough

August 6, 2006 - 2:24 pm Alison - I jusr read that post like six times and am hard pressed to find any profanity. And why does juicy stuff always wait to happen until I'm busy and have to miss it? LOL Really, though...unless someone is sending you the eight bucks a month for your account, feel free to do as you wish there. :)

August 8, 2006 - 7:35 am gabby almejo-garza - no need to apologize shannon. really. i don't even know you (like for reals) and i think you're a great person. so accomplished and above all a great momma. besides, everyone (i think) has a bit of sass in them. but that does not mean that it encompasses all of who they are, right? i am also very sarcastic at times. many times my humor has been perceived the wrong way, but hey....that's just me. holding myself all in would make me (literally) sick. so you go on and be yourself....to date i don't think i've seen you get nasty, rude or mean. - g

August 8, 2006 - 11:47 am Katy - no offense, ok, I giggled more than a bit. I think we are all just a sum of our parts and your blog writing is just one part. Don't know how many parts you have (since I've never met you irl), but I am sure that all together they make a lovely, fun person. period. ;)

August 8, 2006 - 1:16 pm shannon c - Totally love your sense of humor. You seem to sweet to be offensive. :) Now update. :)

Random

S_1  I didn’t get a ton done for the garden this month. Oh well. I scrapped a bunch of pages for no reason and I ran out of time. It’s been a while since I scrapped just for fun… And it was fun. :) I’ll post them later.

As far as our dog search, we met a couple of the dogs we like on Sunday. We had to test and see if they passed Matthew’s allergy test. The initial result is that the test failed. He ended up getting really itchy eyes on the way home. :( There are several factors involved that could’ve caused his reaction, so the dog isn’t totally out of the question, but it definitely took the wind out our sails. I’m not all gung-ho anymore. We might try again later, but I’m not in a hurry right now.

And the passive-agressive me finds the need to ask The Internet (as if it’s a magic 8-ball) what would’ve happened if I’d gone with what I wanted to do this afternoon in this situation:

Sitting down to eat at Arbys with three of my kids (and they were being pretty good), the guy at the next table, only a couple feet away, says to the girl he’s with "And you want more than one?" to which she replies, "yes." And he snorts and says "Look at them!"

At this point, what I really wanted to do was say, "Hey, (*eta*) idiot, I can hear you."

Internet? What do you say? What happens next?

(the real-life ending: moment passed before I could say it, and I decided it was for the best, since the kids didn’t need to see me get all agressive to a bigmouth. But I’m wishing I could rewind and perform this little experiment…) :)

August 1, 2006 - 3:35 pm Hilary - A) Ok, seriously -- you've NEVER thought that before in your life -- when you saw mom who was totally overwhelmed (and we've all been there) -- I think we're just smart enough not to say anything, mostly we feel sorry. B) You could just look at him and tell him how great it is, great things about each of your kids. Make him feel like the lunatic that he is.

August 1, 2006 - 4:39 pm tifsmith - ohhhh, that's bad! i don't even know what to say. but aren't you glad that you are the lady with the 3 cute kids at arby's. and not the guy that makes rude comments. chances are your the happier one.

August 1, 2006 - 7:07 pm Alison - no, no dude..you belt it out. We've discussed the young mom curse before. You just speak your mind. They already think you are shiza. Why not help them cement the thought? ;) And on the dog front...what about a poodle? I have a fantasy of getting one of the big giant ones and grooming its fur into a spiral. That should stop the kids from turning their noses up at the old lady dog... AND they are hypoalergenic. Too bad boys don't come that way, eh? ;)

August 1, 2006 - 8:57 pm Katy - my question would be "you want to have kids with HIM?" ;)

August 1, 2006 - 9:30 pm kent - Oh man I wish I was sitting with you. I would have egged you on. First of all because I think it would have been funny to hear you swear and second of all to see the schocked expression on the man's face!

August 1, 2006 - 9:55 pm maggie Holmes - oh man, some people just don't get it!!

August 1, 2006 - 9:55 pm elizabeth - ha ha, what katy said : ) that was a stupid person. remind me to tell you about his nasty brother who sat in front of us on the airplane in april. ugh. ok, so i just now figured out that this is a PAGE, not your beautiful little girls holding a giant "S" that you cut out that was so big. i was trying to figure out how in the heck you managed to do that. i can't believe i even admitted this, that i was this dumb. : )

August 2, 2006 - 8:24 am shannon c - Don't let "The Man' get you down. You know your children are a blessing. I have 4 boys and people always ask me if they are all mine, like it is an impossible feat or something. I just smile, ruffle their hair (my kids hair, not the stranger's. Although, thinking about that made me laugh.) and say "Yep".

August 2, 2006 - 1:06 pm Jayna - Elizabeth, I thought that was a huge "s" too! I didn't realize it was a scrapbook page. I was trying to figure out what it was. Shannon, Just popped over here from kellicrowe's blog. Sorry about the jerk!

August 2, 2006 - 1:06 pm Janet Ohlson - I would have said, "YOU probably don't need to have ANY kids." If I was able to think about it in time.

August 2, 2006 - 7:54 pm Amanda - Yorkshire Terriers are great for people with allergies. They have human quality hair and no dander so those who are typically allergic to dogs don't typically have a reaction to Yorkies. They also make great family dogs.

August 2, 2006 - 11:54 pm karen - I would have been a smart-a** and said something like: "only real men can handle big happy families" "It's even harder remembering who their daddies are!" That would have made his jaw drop huh? Don't let the jerks get to you!!! ps--love the layout!

August 3, 2006 - 1:37 am erin - that is a beautiful photo of your girls, and i love the design in the center, an "s"? very cool! and yes, that guy was a complete ignorant one to say the least!

August 3, 2006 - 6:53 am Julie - I love what Katy would have said. People can be jerks. God has blessed you with those beautiful babies Shannon and you are a great mother. You are the bigger person for not saying anything, but that doesn't mean your inner voice can't say something like, "yes, look at us and how fabulous i am with three very well behaved children and how sucky you are without even one." or "hey a$$hole, i can hear you" i'm sure the girl dumped him immediately after getting her free lunch. =)

August 3, 2006 - 1:06 pm Rene - In a perfect world, I would have walked up to the woman and said "Don't have more than one...there would be more of a chance they would turn out to be a jerk like him". Sigh. But that would be rude and two rudes don't make a right. You have three great kids is all that matters.

August 4, 2006 - 7:26 am staceykingman - I am sorry. That kind of stuff can really make me feel bad, even though the person who said it is obviously really clueless and doomed to a life with his idiot self.

August 4, 2006 - 8:38 am gabby almejo-garza - what a jerk! sometime i just don't get people like that. you go on with your happy self and your beautiful kiddos. on the dog front....i love yorkies too. they are the cutest and they fit virtually everywhere. but...they're expensive. good luck finding the "right" dog. - g

August 4, 2006 - 8:26 pm Deneen - Being the mom of four daughters (the youngest are twins) I have had some pretty rude statements and comments from people. Once a lady walk up to us in the mail and asked if all four of the girls were mine. My reply was yes then she proceeds to ask if they all have the same father (which they do) my oldest at the time was 7 and says "Yes we do" my response was "Honey that doesn't even deserve a response" and I walked away. Hugs to you and sorry you had to hear something so nasty.

August 4, 2006 - 8:27 pm Deneen - Being the mom of four daughters (the youngest are twins) I have had some pretty rude statements and comments from people. Once a lady walk up to us in the mall and asked if all four of the girls were mine. My reply was yes then she proceeds to ask if they all have the same father (which they do) my oldest at the time was 7 and says "Yes we do" my response was "Honey that doesn't even deserve a response" and I walked away. Hugs to you and sorry you had to hear something so nasty.