My Feet by Joe Joe

I sneaked out of my room early the other morning in search of candy. Drat, Mom remembered to put it on top of the refrigerator. Why she doesn't just throw it away is beyond me.

[caption id="attachment_1571" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="What's this black thing?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1569" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="One small step for me, one large step for toddlerkind"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1570" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="If one foot is good, two feet are better. Right foot a bit shy."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1568" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="If two feet are better, two feet and three mini newtons are best!"][/caption]

I am getting bored with photos and have moved on to taking videos.



[caption id="attachment_1576" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="Brian came over Saturday night and carried me and Lily around before borrowing Dad's fancy shoes and heading out to the pub to score chicks. Yes I realize I'm much too old for a binky. Send your angry emails to my Daddy."][/caption]

Bye-bye.

Joe :D

The Seedy Underbelly of The Kephart Compound

I find it's best to write my blog posts as soon as I get up, before my brain has a chance to click into gear. Every morning I awaken a babe in the woods among you—unsullied, fresh and eager to make new friends and tackle new challenges. By noon, not so much. :?

Given my present state of mind, it seems a fabulous idea to share with y'all the seedy underbelly of our home. The "B" side, if you will.

[caption id="attachment_1588" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="I found this wad of playdough on the floor the other day. The embedded pattern looked strikingly similar to that of my shorts. Hope I didn't wear it to the store."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1589" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="The Kephart children like to raid our pantry on a daily basis. Sometimes Lily reaches into the trash can and grabs things. I'm going to Hell for allowing that to happen."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1590" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="I allow my baby girl Lily to sit in mud puddles on a regular basis."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I get up and put my hair back. Usually I remember to take a shower and fix it. Not this day. My husband Dennis told me I looked like I was from "the South"."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1592" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="I allowed this to happen too."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1593" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Lily has taken to removing her diaper during sleep sessions and flinging poop all over her room. I found poop on each page of the small book in her crib, and on each shelf of her changing table (Daddy found her first). Yes, Grampy and Grammy, this is the doll you gave Lily for Christmas. Don't worry - it came out in the wash. She sleeps in pullups now."][/caption]

And there you have it, folks! Wishing you a lovely, relaxing Sunday surrounded by the people you love.

WritersWeekly 24-Hour Short Story Contest

I first learned of this contest from AnneOnWriting. Great find, Anne!

Click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page for the contest guidelines.

Taken from WritersWeekly:

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WritersWeekly.com's 24-Hour Short Story Contest!

You can enter the Winter 2010 contest below.

Please note: You must be entered in the contest before the topic is posted in order to submit your story. You cannot write your story first, then enter the contest.

24-Hour Short Story Contest! - $5.00

Select this to register for the Winter 2010 24-Hour Short Story Contest. Start time is January 23rd , 2010 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) central time. Held quarterly and limited to 500 entrants. Don't miss out on the ultimate source for creative stress...and tons of fun! More than 85 prizes! (When you purchase this, you'll download a PDF file of the guidelines. There is also a link to them in the email receipt.)

I want to enter the Winter 2010 contest.

Winners from the last contest

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1st Place

$300 Cash Prize

Publication of winning story on the WritersWeekly.com website.

1 - Freelance Income Kit

Includes:
1-year subscription to the Write Markets Report
How to Write, Publish and $ell Ebooks
How to Publish a Profitable Emag
How to Be a Syndicated Newspaper Columnist Special (includes the book; database of 6000+ newspapers; and database of 100+ syndicates)

2nd Place

$250 Cash Prize

Publication of winning story on the WritersWeekly.com website.

1 - Freelance Income Kit

Includes:
1-year subscription to the Write Markets Report
How to Write, Publish and $ell Ebooks
How to Publish a Profitable Emag
How to Be a Syndicated Newspaper Columnist Special (includes database of 6000+ newspapers and database of 100+ syndicates)

3rd Place

$200 Cash Prize

Publication of winning story on the WritersWeekly.com website.

1 - Freelance Income Kit

Includes:
1-year subscription to the Write Markets Report
How to Write, Publish and $ell Ebooks
How to Publish a Profitable Emag
How to Be a Syndicated Newspaper Columnist Special (includes the book; database of 6000+ newspapers; and database of 100+ syndicates)

20 - Honorable Mentions

Honorable mention winners receive a one-year subscription to The Write Markets Report AND one ebook of their choice.

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DOOR PRIZES (randomly drawn from all participants)

15 - One-year subscriptions to The Write Markets Report

5 - Freelance Income Kits ($49.95 value)

5 - copies How to Publish A Profitable E-mag

5 - copies of Query Letters That Worked
Features real query letters that landed these contracts: Woman's Day - $2,800; Redbook - $3,500; Ladies Home Journal - $3,000; DiscoveryHealth.com - $2,000; Lifetime Magazine - $3,000; Life Extension magazine - $6,480; Natural Remedies $11,300; and many more!

30 - Grab Bag!Winners of grab bag get one ebook of their choice from our list HERE.

Daily Journaling for Children

What do we all think about the idea of creating journals for our toddlers and preschool-aged children or grandchildren?

From the AARP article "Start a Tradition With Your Grandchildren",

The Write Impression: Dahlia Duran, Oak Brook, Ill., one grandchild
I started a journal for my four-year-old grandson even though he can't write yet. When I sleep over, I ask him what he would like to remember about his day when he grows up, such as events that took place at his preschool. I write down his answer and he draws a picture on the following page. He loves it! I thought this was a good way to get him to tell me about his day, and when he's older and learns to write, he can take over the journal.

My dear sweet Mother emailed that blurb to me the other day (thanks, Mom!) and I had one of those a-ha moments one experiences in the face of a simple but brilliant idea.

As part of our nighttime routine with Joseph, while I am nursing and rocking and reading to Lily, Dennis reads to him and plays with him for a bit. Then it's my turn to read to Joe and and attempt to cuddle him while he pushes me away and climbs on my back and tries to "ride" me. That would be a perfect time to ask him about the day. I would put his words on one page, and let him draw on the right side of the page, then read to him. If he ended up getting too wound-up by this activity, I would move it to the time after lunch, just before nap time. Then, when he is older, I could ask the questions and he could fill in the answers himself. Eventually, hopefully, he would want to do it on his own, and learn to take refuge in his journal, to share his joys, or unburden himself, whichever the day should call for.

I don't think it matters if we use expensive journals or reasonably priced notepads. I just think it matters that we do it. What a wonderful gift to give our children. The gift of self-expression. And I know for certain that they would cherish these journals in their later years, as would their children and grandchildren. Perhaps it will even become a family tradition.

We will start today. :)

Thanks for my Best Blog Award!

Thanks to Poncho Meg for bestowing the Best Blog Award on me! I appreciate you thinking of me. I'm touched. :D

[caption id="attachment_1435" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Thanks for the award!"][/caption]

The Best Blog Award rules are:

To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers you've awarded to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Okay, here are my picks! I cheated, though. I couldn't keep my list to just 15. I'm a bad, bad girl.

• Aswani (Future Perfect)


• Anne (Anne on Life)


• Ceblogger (Blog From Cebu)


• Ching Ya (Social @Blogging Tracker)


• Connie (Brain Foggles)


• Damien (At The Speed Of Life)


• DiTesco (iBlogZone)


• Elmot (Pinoy Sounding Board)


• Eric (Blog De Manila)


• Gem (The Lady Programmer)


• Holly Jahangiri (A Matter Of Perspective)


• Jan Geronimo (Writing To Exhale)


• Jannie (Jannie Funster)


• Jaypee (Jaypee Online)


• Jed Chan (JeD Chan dot com)


• Jena Isle (Random Thoughts)


• Jhong Medina (Qlick Cafe)


• Justin Germino (DragonBlogger)


• Karen (Blazing Minds)


• Kelvin (Kelvinonian Ideas)


• MinnieMadz (Unrevealed Thoughts)


• ReyJr (ReyJr dot com)


• Roy (Roysville)


• Yatot (Yatot Chronicles)


• Zorlone (Filipino Poet)

Mad Men Yourself!

Thanks to Cindy the  Bat Lady for sharing this link to Mad Men Yourself.

Enjoy! If you Mad Men yourself & upload the photo somewhere, please post a link so we can giggle with you. :D

Here's mine: (I had that very same dress when I was a baby. But I regret not putting the donut in my hand. And re: the coffee, it's iced coffee. Hot coffee intimidates me.)



Oh, and here's Cindy the Bat Lady's Mad Men Yourself. Couldn't resist posting it here:



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Edited to add: Here's a link to Anne's "Mad Men Yourself"!I love it Anne! Looks like you're at the opera. 8)

Going Mad [Men] With Heather & Cindy The Bat Lady?

Guest Post: Cindy the Facebook Bat Lady

Those of you who are Facebook friends of mine are familiar with Cindy the Crazy Bat Lady. For your reading pleasure, here is her ode to Cinnabon. Enjoy! 8)


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Oh Cinnabon, oh Cinnabon why do you tempt me so? your luscious layers coiled so sweetly around a quarter lb of butter, caressed ever so gently in the intoxicating mixture of sugar,cinnamon creamy icing, and love,or is it lust dear Cinnabon?, whatever this emotion, it stirs my soul, Yes my soul !! Cinnabon, only you could make me leave my bed in the early hours of noon to trek long miles scorning basic hyegine, barely noticing the concerned looks of passer-bys as I make my way to you. Arduously I press on to the mall where you wait for me. Sequestered behind the glass I see your loveliness,oh how I long to simply reach out and make you mine, I demand to have you!! I throw all my worldly wealth at your gatekeepers in hopes that I might persuade them to let me have you, to indulge myself in your sweet warm sticky moistness held warm in little pans lined with parchment paper containing your sweet sweet love. I procure your freedom and at last we are one! Aww my sweet sweet Cinnabon! OH RAPTURE,RAPTURE ,(oops the plastic fork broke) upon RAPTURE!...but alas it it over all too soon, and I am left ashamed, sticky, and curiously wanting more...Oh Cinnabon my tummy's desire, my love for you grows as does my hindquarters, you are not good for me Cinnabon! I must leave you now & vow not to partake in your delights again. Sadly I know I will, and I know I must, maybe next time you'll just increase my bust, oh what kind of fool thinks like this?My Cinnabon,my sweet Cinnabon, I fear you have done me in.

~ Lil' Cyni (that's my rapper name)
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