just visiting

Can you tell LA stopped by this fruit tray while we were at Papa and Nana's Christmas Even celebration?

lounge act

LA chillin' at Grandpa and Grandma's in the chair they got him for Christmas. He noticed right away his name was on it and just grinned from ear to ear. Good stuff.

Titanic upset; Colts hold Tennessee to Zero

...but was it really? Neither of us really needed to win and it was basically our JV squad vs theirs. No offense, Sorgi. Scratch that...great offense, Sorgi. We're proud to say we at BPM have never doubted you and now have more reason that ever to maintain that opinion. Passer rating hovering around 90. Not too shabby, my man. Led the Horse to 23-0 today. Solid.

A few pics of our first ever sweet suite visit to Lucas Oil Stadium...



Out with the old. (And, by out we mean massive implosion)



And, in with the new. Thank you, taxpayers.



Amos was selected as one of four that got to head down to the field during the first quarter. The above shot is a photo after Addai ran one in for six Mr Blonde absolutely did NOT take. You see, taking any photos during the on-field experience was strictly PROHIBITED.



Big thanks to Crystal's outstanding client for the Christmas gift! And, to Sarah's splendid hospitality! We had a wonderful time!!

Elefun

One of LA's three gifts from us this Christmas was Elefun. And, he can't stop playing it! Mrs Blondes says it's been around for years but Mr Blonde had never seen it until it was opened beneath the tree a couple days ago.

Anybody ever played this? Perfect for almost all ages. Hasbro calls it ages 3 - 6, but we would call it ages 2 - dead. It's a riot and only $25 bucks brand new. Retail chains often run strong sales on game items too. You can pick them up used on ebay or Amazon for closer to $15. Money well spent. The four C batteries it takes is a bit much, but that fan has to be powerful enough to blow up the butterflies through a 5 foot elephant nose. So, we cut the makers some slack. Great product! Love the communal games like this.

Here is video of LA playing with his little cousin Raymond while the family watches on pre-Christmas dinner at our place.

Merry Christmas!

LA sings and plays on his new guitar Happy Birthday to Jesus...



(for those of you picking up this update in a reader, there is a video embed)

average Sunday afternoon in December

...post nap-time



(for those of you picking up this update in a reader, there is a video embed)

Winners: Loop-2-Loop belt

The Loop 2 Loop belt giveaway random winners are #1 and #20. Congratulations! Stay tuned to Blondes, Poop & Mascara for more reviews and giveaways this weekend!

#1 - Lollipops said...
Pink of course! Poor little E, can't ever keep her pants up!! Thanks...

# 20 - Leah said...
I love the Pacific Blue/ Black Loop~2~Loop!!!! : ))) Soooo cute and perfect for my ds! : )))Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))

A hard day's work

"I'm going to work at race track."



"Out there."



"Buh bye. See you when I get back."

first M&M

Last weekend, LA helped Momma make some M&M covered brownies. Because he's never really had sweets (except for three cupcakes in his life) he didn't really know they were to eat...until Momma offered him one...



...which he thought sounded fun...



..and then loved it! And, wanted "More!" Maybe next time, son.

A Reminder: You Are Powerful

FANTASTIC spot put together for Amensty International by Mother...

#4: Top Ten Gifts That Give

Al Fadel's mother can't sleep at night. Even though she's now safely in the U.S., she stays up, wondering if the Janjaweed will find her family...again. You can still see the burn marks on her son's head from the attack on his Darfur village. But perhaps his family's biggest scar left no physical trace at all -- the fear that the violence will return. But Al Fadel has hope. Because of thousands of courageous supporters of Save Darfur.

As the conflict in Darfur enters its sixth year, conditions continue to deteriorate for civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, even by the most conservative estimates. The United Nations puts the death toll at roughly 300,000, while the former U.N. undersecretary-general puts the number at no less than 400,000.(1) Up to 2.5 million Darfuris have fled their homes and continue to live in camps throughout Darfur, or in nearby refugee camps. Click here for a longer brief of the desperate situation.

Show your support by picking up a shirt for a loved one in the Save Darfur store. They're as cheap as $10!

Don't need another shirt to give someone this Christmas? There are plenty of other ways to get involved. Like contacting your local government, advocating on your social spaces, sending postcards, lobbying Congress, etc, etc. And, stay informed. Sign up for their newsletter.

this tripping hazard brought to you by the Yellow Pages

Hate getting those 36 pound books dropped at your front door like twice a year? Us too. And, the negative effect on the environment for books that are largely unused by most of the public is tremendous! Que YellowPagesGoesGreen.com.Org. You can opt out of receiving those things! We did about 10 minutes ago.





Peep these facts...

How many directories are printed annually in the United States? 540 Million

What is the average weight of the directories? 3.62 pounds (I guess 36 is to too high)

How much is the directory industry worth to the telephone companies in the United States? $13.58B

How much is the directory industry worth worldwide? $26B

'09 Christmas card

They finally came in. And, no, we didn't ask for the smallest font size known to man. It just played out that way. Lucky us. :) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Also, our photo outtake is barely winning at this very moment (52% to Hess's 48%). Vote for us!

Winners of Chic Burpies!!

Random number 1 and 3 were selected!!

Medley Family said...
I would love to have the zebra burpies for my new little girl on the way. Thanks for doing a fun giveaway!


Chad, Erin and Ally said...
I would like to have the funky green burpie for my friend Heather, who is expecting her little boy in March. Check out the link on our blog! Thanks!

Congratulations! I will contact you today.

Fashionthropic Christmas shipping schedule

Get to Fashionthropic now and get your shirts ordered!

dedicating Boatboy

You already got a sneak peek, but we had the chance to publicly dedicate Boatboy in front our of local church body and family over the weekend. Dedicating him is really much more about us as parents than him. We read him a letter of promises in front of everyone and committed to a number of things as his parents. It was a great (and emotional) time.



The Momma and the Boatboy



The Dadda and the LA. Very funny because you can actually tell what they're both saying.



Aunt Elisha with the guest of honor.



All the family. Thank you again to you all for being there for such a special time for us and Boatboy!

the most famous shoe in the world

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've seen the clip of President Bush almost being clipped by an Iraqi journalist's shoe recently ...

A few things come to mind immediately...

1) Ole Pres' has some GREAT reaction time. Seriously! He's 62 and dodges that soul with insect reflexes! Notice the complete lack of reaction from Prime Minister/President/Important Iraqi guy to Bush's left (screen right).

2) Why does Secret Service take so long to get to the shoe thrower?

3) It's understood the shoe thrower was taking the side of the victims of war in Iraq. So, let's get this straight...one throws shoes to protest violence. Pot calling the kettle black? Not standing up for war here, buy just saying...geesh. Violence begets violence.

If you haven't seen the video, here's one of the first reports we saw by NBC's Brian Williams...

We're a Cristmas Card Fail finalist!

...so go vote for us!

CLICK HERE

Family Pic!

Our sweet little boatboy was dedicated tonight...I really wanted a family pic and this is all we could get...I look at this picture and laugh out loud! Oh, sweet LA...life must be tough!

Giveaway: Loop-2-Loop belts

Every time I find a pair of pants that fit LA in length the waist is too big. And every belt has such a big buckle that looks so tacky with his little waist. And then I found Loop-2-Loop belts. I fell in love with the concept and couldn't wait to try one.

Loop-2-loop belts are adjustable and buckle free. YEAH! I thought "Too good to be true." My friends, they really work! LA has worn his everyday with every kind of pants....jeans, dress pants, cords and cargo pants. It works so well. Here are some illustrations to further describe how it works. It is extremely duarble and so easy to use. No annoying tiny holes to pull as tight as you can to make his pants fit. The belt also has elastic fabric in the back so it is easy to pull the pants on and off. The also have so many color options for every outfit. I love our new Loop-2-loop belt and so does LA!

Buy it: Your own buckle Free belt for only 14.00

Giveaway: I get to give a Loop2Loop belt to one Blondes Poop & Mascara reader!

To enter: Leave me your email address and list your favorite color belt.

For an extra entry: Become a follower of my blog or blog about this contest on your site.

I will select a winner randomly on Dec. 20th. Thanks for entering!

Quench Thirst. Give Life. T-shirt winner is...

...Jenna over to simple. She wanted a gold one. And, what the winner wants, the winner gets. CONGRATS, Jenna. It's not too late to order your Quench Thirst Give Life T-shirt in time for the holidays! Get over to Fashionthropic to order yours.

new Fashionthropic release: Blueligans hoodies

Check it out! New Blueligans hoodies benefitting All Pro Dad are available over at Fashionthropic!

O Tannenbaum

The eldest BPM boys selecting our tree. We always roll with the real deal. No plastic, pre-lit anything around here. You just can't beat the tradition and the smell. Oh, that fresh pine smell!

Got'er home atop the mini! They love it.

Late night: LA and Boatboy fast asleep while Amos finishes the pruning/sawing/axing/drinking of Crown-Cran in the garage. Pretty sure it's a guy thing.

Next morning: LA loves the lights! We have video too and the expression on his face when he first rounds the corner in our hallways and sees the lights is purely fantastic. If only we could compress it digitally and share it with you. Our PC isn't that advanced yet.

"Turn lights on!....SO Preeeety!"

GIVEAWAY: chic burpies!

Two beautiful Moms have started their own little shop. Lollipops Boutique. They are a Mom and daughter team. How fun! There is no question their handmade products are quality.


Featured Products:

* Burpies

* Diaper Clutches

* Tutus


This is my personal favorite! This tutu is a must have. What little girl wouldn't love to have it?





These products are so great to have for yourself, but they also make incredible gifts!

THE GIVEAWAY: I have 2 Burpies to giveaway to two lucky Blondes, Poop and Mascara readers.

Win it a BURPIE of your choice by...

* Head over to Lollipops Boutique and let me know which burpi you would love to have!


* For an extra entry you can become a subscriber or follower to my blog, or blog about this giveaway on your site.

* I will select a winner using Random Integer Generator on December 16th.

Letterman's BSU Top Ten

...because Mr Blonde is a Cardinal, Letterman loves IndyCar, football is a sport of genius and humor is funny...

#5: Top Ten Gifts That Give

International Justice Mission

Say it out loud to yourself...go on...

International Justice Mission

It just sounds good doesn't it. Sounds right.

IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. If you aren't familiar with the statistics of this problem. They're sick. They're staggering. They're hell on earth.

• The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion (U.N.)


• Each year, more than 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade (UNICEF)


• 27 million men, women and children are held as slaves. (Kevin Bales, Disposable People)


• 1 in 5 women is a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. (U. N. Development Fund for Women)


• More than 1 million children live in detention, the vast majority awaiting trial for minor offenses. (UNICEF)

Check out this clip from Dateline NBC in 2003...



IJM investigators, lawyers and social workers intervene in individual cases of abuse in partnership with state and local authorities.

By pushing individual cases of abuse through the justice system from the investigative stage to the prosecutorial stage, IJM determines the specific source of corruption, lack of resources, or lack of good will in the system denying victims the protection of their legal systems. In collaboration with local authorities, IJM addresses these specific points of brokenness to meet the urgent needs of victims of injustice.

So, what role can you play in IJM this Christmas season?

Let's visit their gift catalog, shall we...the gifts focus on investigation expenses, advocacy and aftercare. We would like to highlight a half day of investigative work. What will that run you? Only $25. And, the recipient of your gift will receive a “Gift of Freedom” card explaining their gift and the work of IJM.

Oh, and another beautiful thing...rest assured that 75% of your financial gifts to IJM go directly to the need while the rest are used to run the ship, so to speak. Here is their Charity Navigator write up.

We have a tooth!

So, today was the arrival of Boatboy's first tooth. He was laying on my lap, I had just finished nursing him, and he was chewing on a piece of LA's foam toy...as happy as one could be! Then, he just started screaming and sure enough while he was chewing on the toy, his tooth popped through the gum. Poor little guy! I know, he will never remember. He is getting so big and becoming such a big boy. We are now eating prunes and will add some pears to his diet tomorrow. How times flies by... I guess we will just have to have another one soon!:)

Smile For Santa Photo Outtakes

Check out this carnival we just entered over at DesignHER Momma. Great idea!

We readily admit our photo isn't near as good as the hostess's own entry. See here. BUT, this one of our boys makes us laugh...

LA "hugging" Boatboy. Which is really just a brother bear belly hug so that he can hurry up and get done and get his reward for being so good. Marshmallows!

More on the rest of our little photo shoot once we sift through the 70-some shots we snapped in two minutes.

Giveaway: MUNCHIE MUG

If you are looking for a functional snack container look no further. The Munchie Mug is so great and my little guy loves it!

Here are a few things that differ from every other snack trap we have in our home.

* The Munchie Mug features a screw on top that makes it very difficult for the children to open. My little guy has tried and has had no luck. YEAH for no more messes in the back seat, right?

* It has a patened fabric closure that your child reaches through and it conforms to their hand, preventing spills. And a solid lid is included to keep the snacks fresh when the Mug is not being used! It really is such a great product. It is also 100% made in the USA and 100% recyclable.

Want One Less Mess?

Buy it - For you or a friend in need for $12.95

Win it - Leave your email address and a comment telling me your favorite feature this Munchie Mug has to offer. Any stories about messes your tot has made would be great to read as well! :)

I will close the giveaway December 10th. Be sure to check back for many more giveaways to come!

--------------------

Winner is # 38! Congratulations!

A Family Completed... said...
I LOVE the fabric sleeve I have avoided snack cups with both kids because of the hard plastic tops and the design looks like it would get chubby finger stuck. Thanks for the entry! I have a toddler mess story but it isn't one a munchie mug could solve... is that okay? I was driving home from the grocery store YESTERDAY and I kept smelling blueberries. I adjusted my rear view mirror to see my sweet innocent 16 month old son had gotten into my bag and opened a yogurt and had dumped it all over himself. I caught him mid "sip" and he froze and stayed like that until we got home with his eyes closed. I think he believes if he closes his eyes I can't see him?? I never realized how much yogurt those little cups held, I didn't even know where to begin!tonyamcrain [at] aol [dot] com

The Giving of Thanks Hoosier Tour

Our long Thanksgiving weekend was full of much travel, much fun and very little stress. Sounds a bit oxymoronic from most people as travel and time with family typically equates to rising blood pressures and tempers, but not so for us.

All the boys of BPM.

LA and Boatboy with their Great Grandma Grace.

Tryptophan coma? Nah, this was taken at about 10:30am.

On to the other Great Grandma's (& Pa's)...more affectionately known as The Farm.

LA takes his first ever picture with a smidge of help from his Dadda. We call this one..."Aunt Eesha!"

Reading some extremely cool books Great Aunt Doris got him.

Mrs Blonde has a tradition of making a gingerbread house with the other chicks from her family.

Hers was totally the best. :)

Momma, Nana and the boys at BW3's before the Circle of Lights ceremony.

The entire BPM family. Or, what you can see of us anyway.

All bundled up and ready to "go home." This shot was taken about 3 minutes before the big "switch" got flipped on the Monument lighting all 18,567 lights (completely made up number). Followed by fireworks. And, somewhere in the middle of all of that, both boys started bawling! Guess late bedtimes, juxtaposed naptimes and cold night air brings on a bit of sensitivity to the wee ones. Nonetheless, a wonderful weekend!