The Latta Family

Somehow turning 40, seems like a bigger deal than turning 30.  Turning 30 didn't really fret me too much.  I'm not really upset that I am turning 40 next year.  I'm not trying to reverse the clock, consider plastic surgery, Botox my lips, have a midlife crisis, or other stuff like that. I think it seems like a big deal because I actually remember when my parents and their friends turning 40.  I remember thinking my parents were such adults (except for when that People magazine picture of Patrick Swayze diving into his pool, and supposedly a very specific part of his anatomy was sticking out of speedos.  I remember the Mom's sitting around laughing about that for awhile).  I don't think they laughed when people said, "Balls." (however, after recalling that Patrick Swayze event, they probably did, and I just didn't notice). I don't remember them being as dorky as I sometimes am. They seemed mature and responsible. Of course. . . they were my parent...

I won't lie, this week has kicked my tail.  On Tuesday, I thought I had worked 2 days in one.  On Wednesday- I knew I worked 3 days in one, and today . . . well today, I am ashamed to say, today was exhausting.  I took a nap.  I ate peanut butter and jelly on toast, with chocolate milk for dinner. It kicked my tail so bad, that I fed my kids sandwiches with chips, and chocolate milk for dinner. I didn't have the energy to do anything else. Oh, sandwiches aren't so bad?  How about those sandwiches were made on white bread.  Yep.  Go ahead.  Judge. You know you want to.  I would. White bread is from the devil.  Why do we even have white bread in the house???  Doug used it in the breakfast casseroles he fixed for the FFA's faculty breakfast earlier this week.  The slices were leftover.  Andrew thought he was getting a treat.  White bread is a treat.  Bless him. I hope I step my game up tomorrow- and don't feed m...

Every now and then I have a blood sugar drop.  It almost never happens, but when it does I become a raging, irrational lunatic. It's the most unusual feeling.  I feel so out of control, and ready to lash out verbally & physically at anybody.  I am waiting for a fight.  Seriously- I would be willing to brawl with anyone- I don't care how much bigger or more experienced at fighting they might be.  I could take them.  Try me. It happened tonight.  I left school, picked up my groceries, got Alexa, came home, walked the dog, put up the groceries, and then straightened up, while Alexa and I hung out.  Well, 5:30pm comes and goes.  I'm hungry, but Doug & Andrew are coming home with pizza, so I am going to wait.  I realize- when the dog starts really nagging me- what?!  It's 6:03!!!  Where the heck is Doug?!  I'm hungry! So I feed the dog.  I get the plate outs, the drinks ready, and try to call- no answer.  ...

What is it about a Snow Day that I am suddenly inspired to cook and bake . . . a lot? Last night I made the most delicious homemade creamy tomato soup.  It was PERFECT for an icy, cold night.   Copycat Panera Creamy Tomato Soup.  I like Panera.  At one time, it was my favorite "fast food" restaurant.  It still ranks up there, however it tends to be a little more expensive than it might be worth and a little too salty. All that salt makes me suspicious of them.  They like to claim they use range free chickens, no hormone added meats, but . . . if it's so humane, and healthy- why do they add so much sodium?  They aren't tricking me into thinking I can eat a ton- because it's range & hormone free.  I see their marketing ploys. Oh yeah, I got on a conspiracy tangent.  My bad.  (If I am this weird at the ripe old age of almost 39, can you imagine what a curmudgeon I'll be when I'm 69, or even 79?!!!)  What I loved about this reci...

Doug and I are just a "little" competitive with one another.  I have no idea why.  For the most part, he's smarter than I am, more athletic than I am, and stronger than I am.  That doesn't exactly leave me in a good position to win often, but what I lack in those areas, I more than make up for in sheer determination to beat him.  I don't just want to beat him, I want to DESTROY him.   We are Trivia Crack addicts.  I LOVE Trivia Crack.  Actually- I LOVE playing Doug at Trivia Crack.  If we went back and counted all the many games we have played with each other, I have won more.  This is the only thing I can beat him at.  I attribute my liberal arts college education: Art History classes, English classes, and my love of Pop Culture are no match for his sports knowledge. On Tuesday he beat me.  He destroyed me: 6-1 in 2 rounds.  I got a very rude text from him to let me know: "Get some of that 6-1 in the first round!!! Who's you...

Alexa proves all the time- why she's the last child.  I mean- mostly she's the last child, because that's our plan, but she's also the last because: 1. I'm almost 40 years old. I'm tired. I didn't know infants could be like Alexa.  I didn't know 2 year olds could be like Alexa.  I know now.  I'm too tired to go through that again.  I can't be guaranteed I'd get an easy going infant and a less temperamental two year old. 2. I know colic is real.  Before Alexa- I foolishly thought it was a made up ailment by over dramatic mothers.  Karma showed me how foolish I was.  I got my payback.  No worries. 3. The Terrible Two's were . . . terrible.  It's frightening to consider going through that again. 4.  And most of all:  she's a DARE DEVIL. Today, she came and showed me a stuffed animal that I had forgotten about.  I thought it was weird that she had it.  I hadn't seen it in years, but . . . who knows, it could h...

When Doug and I first got married, we did a TON of projects together.  Landscaping, painting, kitchens, flooring, etc.  The worst project was by far the tile project.  We are typically not one for screaming fights. . . however, tile unfortunately, brought the psychos out of us.  When we finished that dreaded job, we figured out the problem: Doug is always the foreman, and I am the go-fer (you know, go- for this tool, go- for that board, etc)- except for tile.  It was a confusing moment. Doug didn't have the patience to be the foreman, and weirdly . . . I did.  So while we struggled through a role reversal, we fought. Since we've had kids, we haven't done projects like we used to. Obviously we have less time, plus the house was kind of how we wanted it, although we are in discussions for some more projects coming up- (none will be tile, and if they were I'd pay somebody to do it and it would be worth every stupid penny). We're talking about doing something...