My 4 year old, Max, and I were at WalMart yesterday picking up a photo book.  While we were approaching the Photo Center way, way in the back of the store we passed the book section.

Max got all excited and yelled out, "Mommy, LOOK they have a book about diarrhea!!!"

I couldn't help but look.  He's 4.  I wondered what kind of picture would be on the cover a book that would make him think it was about diarrhea - fortheloveofGod.  I didn't want to look, but it's like driving by an accident on the highway...you just can't help it.

So, I glanced over at the bookshelf but didn't see what in God's name he could've been looking it.

He got annoyed with me, "RIGHT THERE, Mommy.  See?!  It says D-I-A-R-Y.  That spells diarrhea."

I think I proved right then and there that one cannot die laughing.  Because if you could, I totally would have.

Diary.  Diarrhea.

Curse you, WordWorld for making my 4 year old such a good reader.

At least he'll be staying away from his older sister's diary.  Wouldn't want to touch that diarrhea, lol.

Yep, this is my daughter.  She's SEVEN.  And I have NO idea where that voice came from.  I couldn't carry a tune if my life depended on it.  I love to watch her onstage.  This clip is classic because you can literally hear the crowd say "Awwww" when she is introduced...like "Awww....how cute, a little girl singing a little girl version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

After she starts singing, you can hear a pin drop in the audience.  It happens every time...and totally gives me chills.

The local paper said:

Seven-year-old...surprised crowds with her mature performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

She is WAY cooler than I'll ever be;)

Poor Chester.  He's my 95 pound Australian Shepherd.  If you know anything about Australian Shepherds, you know that they typically max out at 45ish pounds.  He looks like he was mixed with a St. Bernard - and is incredibly cute and sweet, so we love him dearly.

Chester is never satisfied with his meals.  Never.  We know we're feeding him the right amount because we are maintaining his weight.  He isn't gaining or losing.  He's getting enough food, no doubt.

The other day, he could smell bacon cooking after he ate his typical breakfast.  He just sat there and sulked quietly hoping for more food.

I dare you.  Look at that sweet face and NOT give him a piece of bacon.  Nay.  I double dog dare you.

So...

Thank you very much to those of you who actually clicked over to The Softball Blog to check out the design for me.  I appreciate your input.

Did you notice something while you were over there?  Like, the fact that there's a picture of me, but I introduce myself as Coach Kim.

Ahem.  Oops.  About that.

Yeah, so.  Um.  After almost 3 years of blogging, I guess the cat is out of the bag...

My real name isn't Ashlie.  It's Kim.

I was extremely paranoid about security when I first started blogging.  For the first year, I referred to myself as THE Mommy.  Then I got to know you all and realized that THE Mommy was completely impersonal.  I wasn't ready to share my REAL name yet, so I went with Ashlie.

Wanna know how I came up with Ashlie?

Well, when I was a senior in college I rented a mini-van with a bunch of my sorority sisters and drove from NH to Florida for spring break.  I kid you not.  True story.

We got 2 speeding tickets before leaving New England.  About halfway through the very looooooong state of NC, we decided to change our names for the rest of the trip.  Stupid, college girl thing.  But it was kinda fun - and funny at times over the course of the week.  

Anyhow.  My name was Ashlie.  She had a LOT of fun on spring break and probably did a few things that Kim was too prissy to do.  Ahem.

So when I had to pick an alter ego for Mommycosm, it felt natural to pick Ashlie.

Voila.

Yes.  Kim is my real name.  But I still think that Ashlie should be in charge of Mommycosm.  She has more courage.  She speaks more freely.  She's just WAY more fun to have around.

Thoughts?

This little PhotoFunia break was inspired by Heather at CMGD.