Happy New Year....

Oh right. I'm still here. It's just that when there's a lot on my mind I find it very difficult to put together a decent blog post. so, yeah.

There's a lot on my mind. Some of which I'll be sharing with you... just not yet.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures from New Year's Eve. We spent the evening with one of our most favorite families - and in just 19 days we'll be heading to Disney World with the same folks. And trust me when I say it's a vacation that we've all earned and will thoroughly enjoy...

It's Still Mine: Just With a New Name

Same great taste - brand new look.
I kinda miss my ol' name.
Guess it'll take some getting used to.

Coming Tonight...Second Guesses?

And AnglophileFF was the closest - with Cathy's Irish Pub. My first thought was McCathy's Pub, but then I thought, hey, tub, rhymes with pub, but then I could have the boys in the tub. So McCathy's Tub: Keeping it clean since 2005.

Thank you to the Napwarden!

Alright- you guys have come up with some really good names. None of which will be the new name around here. But, here's some clues.

Amy is sort of close, because it does use my real name in it. (She guessed Chatty Cathy)
AnglophileFF is sort of close, because it does have something to do with being Irish. (She guessed The Luck of the Irishmen)

So - it's got my real name it. Has something to do with being Irish. And - my first thought was like a place, a place you'd go to. And then I thought of the final title - and it's kind of like a place you'd go to, but not really. Hmm...any second guesses. Right now it looks like Amy and AnglophileFF will be getting some sort of prize...unless some second guesses pushes them out. Anyone?

ONE MORE CLUE - my first thought could be an actual place that you walk into. My second thought (and final name) is more of a thing, but you still walk into it. Hmm...too easy? As of right now - you've got 30 minutes. 'Til 6:00pm my time.

Also - don't forget to help me figure out a way to help Jaymun. See post below.

What's in a name, anyway???

So, Napwarden and I have been working hard, okay, well, she's been working hard and I've been keeping her busy by being just a bit picky about what I want for my New Look. When I started this blog in 2005, that's right, THREE years ago, I was stuck when the template asked me for a title. Um, I dunno. Maybe "Mine" since, you know, it's mine. I didn't know about all the cute titles for blogs out there. I didn't know about all the blogs out there. I only knew of my friend's, who moved way out west and thought it would be nice to copy their idea to keep in touch with them and others who have moved out of the midwest. (Why anyone would want to leave the midwest is beyond me - oh wait - winter.) So anyway, I didn't know about all the cute names out there for blogs and since I've been becoming more involved in the blogging world (good thing or bad thing - you tell me - and no looking at my messy house before you decide if it's good or bad) I've decided I want a new name - a cute name. And so I thought and thought and thought and thought and then I thought of one and didn't quite like it, but quickly thought of another - very similiar to my first thought, but it's better. I swear. Got any guesses of the new name? Go ahead and guess in the comments. If you get it right I'll send you something.. You have until Monday night to give it a go...so go ahead...and go!

(some of the) Blogs I Like to Read

Just Like Me (but different)
A Mom Two Boys - Come on, a mom of two boys, almost the exact same ages as mine. Just like me, except, yeah, she goes dolphin watching on the weekends. I go to the mall.
Anglophile Football Fanatic - She still sleeps with a teddy bear she got when she was 11 - I still sleep with a teddy bear I got when I was 11. (Mine was from my brother-in-law, while he was "courting" my sister - she stole hers off her brother's bed when he went away to college.)
Chronicles of a SAHM: The Keeper of Naps and Sanity - She likes naps. I like naps. She runs. I walk. The same, yet different.
OK, Where Was I? - Well, she's got two boys to, but she lives "out in the country" and spends way more time working on her posts than I do. Lots of pictures and funny as hell.
Life at the Condo - They just had their first baby in October. Reading their posts reminds me so much of how amazing being a parent is.
Mom, You're a Genius - We're both preschool teachers, have kids right around the same age, and are going to Disney World together. Somehow she manages to work full-time. My favorite thing about Amy, we've got very similar parenting styles when it comes to how we expect our kids to act in public (and at home).
Playgroups Are No Place for Children - She worked in schools as a speech therapist. I work in a school with speech therapists. She's got two kids - I've got two kids. She's got some great blog advice going on her page. Her posts are either hysterically funny or really make you think about things. Or both.
Problem Girl - We're both big Disney fans. Just like me, except yeah, she's adopted a son who has Aspergers and has been a surrogate mother (something I've thought about doing).
Raising the Boys - Okay, if there's anyone out there that totally reminds me of myself it's SusieO. Seriously, we've got boys that are practically the same age. We share a love of Irish names. And our lives seem to run parallel with each other. And I know you need to know, but our cycles match up.
VDog and Little Man - Kind of like me - we both went through an elimination diet to continue nursing our boys. She's a little more feisty than me.

Friends I Know in Real Life
Herzing Luv and Kisses - I went to preschool, gradeschool, high school, and college with Dan. Dan has always been one of the nicest guys I know - and he still is. (And Leah's cool too!)
Mom, You're a Genius - Our husbands were friends in high school. We met each other in college while dating our husbands. The best thing - we have so much in common without our husbands. Scrapbooking, early childhood, Disney, etc...

Making Me Cry (sometimes)
Jaymun's Journey - A story of a little boy suffering from a rare form of leukemia. His dad usually posts and has been doing an amazing amount of research for his little boy.
Post Secret - A place where people send their secrets via postcards.
Toddler Planet - An amazing story of a mom of two boys fighting cancer. Actually, she's in remission now, but sometimes I like to go back and read some of her posts from the beginning. This one makes me cry every time.

Inspiring Me
Jaymun's Journey - If either one of my boys was every diagnosed with anything like Jaymun, or even something totally different, I know Mike would be researching just as much as this guy. I think that's why I love it so much.
Post Secret - Sometimes I read secrets that I could have sent in.
Superhero Journal - She's so creative and really helps you think about yourself sometimes. Plus, Ben is adorable!
Sweet Juniper - I love the writing style here and the pictures.
Toddler Planet - Again - so inspiring to read about how much you should value your family and everything else.

My "Neighbors"
Girl, Please! -
Kristabella: Full of Snark
Mom, You're a Genius
OK, Where Was I?
Suburban Kamikaze

Not Sure Where to Put 'Em
Drama Joe
Nest Half Empty

The Big Ones
Dooce
I Am Bossy
Superhero Journal
Sweet Juniper
Mighty Girl