My First Brain Dump of 2012

1.  Happy New Year!  (14 days late).  But I think we can say that to anyone we haven't previously said it to till the end of January.  So, if you didn't hear me the first time, Happy New Year!
2. Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday.  Happy-day-before-your-birthday-Birthday, Mom!
3. Lauren and I are hosting a party for her.  She doesn't know what we are having.  It's killing her.  She may say she doesn't care that she does not know.... but trust me - she cares.  And it's driving her batty that she doesn't.  Why, yes, I am enjoying that.  Why do you ask????  *bwa-ha-ha-ha*
4. I am officially an android.  I upgraded my phone the week before Christmas.  I got the Samsung Infuse 4G.  Yeah, it's pretty awesome.  As the rep was setting it up for me, William approached him and very plainly said "So, does that thing have Angry Birds on it?".  Except for when I am at work or Will is asleep, my phone is not mine.
5. Dan and the kids spoiled me for Christmas and bought me a tablet.  The Asus eetablet.  Android based.  Yes, it has Angry Birds on it.....and again, unless I have it at work or Will is asleep, he has the tablet.  Not to mention there are a few other people in this house that seem to like the new toy.
6. I am now on Twitter.  @jenend74 . What's weird though, is in the past, funny things have been said or overheard and I would think "If only I tweeted, I would so put that up"  Now that I do.....I can't think of a freaking thing to say!!!!!
7. I still can not bring myself to join Facebook.  I just feel like it would take up too much time. 
8. We upgraded Jared's guitar this past week.  We bought him an electric guitar for his 4th birthday.  Looking back, it seemed like a good idea at the time but who gives their 4 year old an electric guitar????  Anywho.....he outgrew it.  And he is pretty serious about playing now.  So, we wandered to the music store and scored a pretty good deal on one.  Arianna has also expressed an interest in learning...so for now, they are sharing.  Makes me feel better about the purchase if two of them are using it.  And Will...well he inherited Jared's old one.....because, hey, he's 4....and in our house, 4 year olds get electric guitars.
9.  We had snow on Thursday and Friday.  Total accumulation = less than an inch.  But wow, did it ever make the roads an icy mess!  I am ok with winter starting anytime now.  My concern is the longer it holds off, the later summer starts.  And that would just make me a bit peeved.
10. We gave the kids apple jacks for dinner one night this week.  Don't judge us....they thought we were rock stars!
11. The Detroit Lions made it to the first round of the playoffs.  WOOT!!!!  They lost *sad*  
12. We bought the movie "Beetlejuice".  Our children now appreciate the awesome movies that the 1980's brought us.  Not to mention, the director awesomeness of Tim Burton.
13. We went to my friend's house last night for haircuts. She has 2 dogs, both golden retrievers....Lucy and Ricky.  Will asked us how we knew which one was the boy and which the girl.....I quickly responded back...."Well, Ricky is a boy's name and Lucy is a girls name".  That seriously seemed to satisfy his inquiry.  *Whew*!

J showing off the new strings

the tablet isn't always just for fun.  Using it to read a recipe.

Enjoying an unusually warm December day at the zoo

Playing with the camera settings on my new phone