Did you ever worry...

...that when you grew up & had kids they would be hiddeous looking?

I'm very relieved to announce that mine are actually pretty darn cute.

A few photos from the past month as evidence:
(& I think Tyler is pretty cute too, but we traveled without him.
Hence the lack of his handsome face in many of these.)

Now that I'm confident my kids don't look like gnarly trolls,
I can move on to the,
"Gee, I hope my kid doesn't grow up to be dork"
phase.

Claim to Fame

So thanks to my friend Crystal, I made not my first, but second mind you, appearance on TV.

Crystal with Avy last year:

My friend from college, Crystal, works for ABC's "The View From the Bay" & sent me an email a couple months ago asking for recipes for the show's Viewer Recipe Challenge Week.

So naturally I quickly send the email off to Lindsay b/c everything she touches, or shall I say cooks, turns to gold. Both of our recipes were chosen (disclaimer...my submission is actually from my Mother-in-law...she is an amazing cook!)! Linds went on Monday & I made my appearance this afternoon.

Go ahead & take a looksie:

Lindsay's Summer Veggie Pasta
Recipe HERE
(Lindsay comes out at about 5:07)



My (Mother-in-law's) Peaches & Cream Cheesecake
Recipe HERE
(I come out at about 7:00)


So as the video proved, Chef Nick is known as "The Kissing Chef" in the Bay Area & he couldn't keep his hands off me (not that I can blame him), but still.

And in case you never saw my star-rated debut, you can check it out here:
(Avy & I come out at about 3:25)

The T. Atwood Family in a few years.

My friend Tracy showed me this & I was R.O.L.L.I.N.G!

Word to the Swagger Wagon.

Red Rover, Red Rover, send Mr. Linc right over.

In case you don't have the pleasure of seeing Buddy on a regular basis,
it's official...

he's a red-head too.

& a cute little red-head he is.

In Honor of Earth Day...

I wore my "Love is Green" shirt.

We took a walk & enjoyed the earthy foliage.

Tat's company officially went Public today!

Hallelujah!

 & how appropriate that it was on Earth Day, seeing as how Codexis is a Green company.

Maybe now since the IPO is over we can possibly see him more than a wink a week?

This is Tat as we speak...reuniting with his TV.

We dressed up as animal's of Mother Nature.

Tat brought home a couple trees & flower packets to plant.

And this guy celebrated Mother Earth Mardi Gras style.

Then I closed up the day by driving my gas-guzzling SUV to the mall & wasting way too much $ on pants that are made of anything but cotton & have no opportunity of ever being used as anything but pants.

But chill out, I saved my shopping bags & will most definitely be reusing them,

 for my recycling items nonetheless.

I'm just getting warmed up for GLEE.

Need I remind you about Tuesday, April 13th?

As you can clearly see...I take my karaoke VERY seriously!

10 points for the one who can guess what this song is:

Happy Be-lated Easter!

We went to my friend's 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch Saturday.

2008

"Life is a piece of cake with one little baby," said Tyler & Hayley.

2009

"Can't wait for her first trimester to QUICKLY BE OVER!" said Tyler.

"I am about to vomit," said Hayley.

"I dare my parents to put me down for a nap after all this candy I just consumed.

HAHAHAHA!" said Avy.

2010

"Gee I can't wait to see Clash of the Titans," said Tyler.

"I gotta change my candy-swiping tactics...Avy's on to me," said Hayley.

"I'm on to your candy-swiping tactics, Mom," said Avy.

"MILK!" said Lincoln.

If I would let her, she would eat hard-boiled eggs ALL day long.

I know, barf-o-rama!

Of course the E.B. hid some goodies.

(The creepy singing hamster was NOT part of his deliverings.

Crazy sister Whit gave that to me years ago & it's recently become a favorite around our house.

I've never heard, "Macho, Macho, Man" so much in my life.)

Easter Basket cupcakes...a Bird fam tradition.

Easter dinner with friends:

& an after Easter dinner & after Easter cupcake dance party in the rain:

What a great Easter weekend!

He's single, Ladies!

This dude's livin the life!

Whoever said being morbidly obese is a bad thing?

Ask George & he'll tell you his 600 pound self is the greatest thing that ever happened to him.

Why?

Well, he avioded jail because it would cost the state of Florida too much money to pay his medical bills.

Why was he arrested?

For scamming restaurants & stores out of FOOD!

I love it.

I KNEW eating that half, ok 3/4 pan of brownies was an inspired choice.

ARTICLE

A picture speaks a thousand words...

"Get ready for the ride of your life, Will Schuester. You’re about to board the Sue Sylvester Express. Destination: Horror!"

Tuesday

April 13th

9:00 pm

My TV

Who's in?

the monthly wrap-up

March was good to us.

We went to my Grandpa Griffin's 80th Birthday Bash in Arizona.  In true Grandma G fashion...

it was a party. 

I think there were over 90 relatives that came! 

Of course there was a night of bonfire & skits, & you better believe the Shelly Griffin Bird family did not disappoint.

We opened with a rap, then finaled with a rousing rendition of Leader of the Pack;

obviously dedicated to Gramps G.

The ditty was complete with lip syncing, leather jackets, & Mama Bird-made poodle skirts.

We visited the famous London Bridge in Lake Havasu.

me & little bro Jaxon

The Leprechaun Fairy visited us.

Avy was a bit weary of a tiny green man traipsing around her house, so we tacked on "Fairy" to the end of his name & all of a sudden he was a good guy.

Clearly he had to use the toilet while dashing around in the night.

We celbrated his happy day with green waffles & the like.

We celebrated 33 wonderful years of having Tat in this world.

Crepes for breakfast.

Pork barbacoa burritos for dinner.

Ice-cream cake for dessert.

The decorator:

I spent the month engulfed in the world's biggest Youth Conference Activity EVER!

It was amazing & such a powerful experience for both the youth & the leaders.

You can check out photos HERE.

I think this was actually February, but I owe it a shout-out.

Kidnapped this beautiful pregnant lady:

for some DELICIOUS DishDash dinner & dessert!

The shock of the kidnap must have worked b/c she has since had the sweet little Babe.

This little piggy decided to start rolling.

& since he's started, he hasn't stopped.

The mastered flop:

step 1- bracing for the big tumble

step 2- gaining great momentum with the right shoulder

step 3- flat to back (but no pic b/c this step is a quick one)

step 4- over to the opposite shoulder in preparation for the final flip

step 5- full 360' back to the tum-tum

step 6- proudly gaze out to the audience

Avycakes has been up to her usual tricks.

You know...the ones where she wears anything but normal clothing & does awesome dance moves?

Yeah, those.

My sister Sally, her 2 cutie boys, & sista Brooklyn came out for a week.

(KJ...Sally really does exist...see her in the pics below.

& Sal, leave a comment so KJ knows you ARE REAL & not made up)

Brooklyn is the gymnast of the Bird fam.  Check her out!

And last but not least, thanks to a thought provoking yoga discussion with LY,

Tatty has decided to take up yoga.

(ps- not tat in the pic, but i imagine if i were to show up at his office right about now,

this is what i would find.)

He would like to improve his strength & flexibility for his upcoming, annual golf trip...obviously.

He turned our living room into a yoga studio last night.

I was much entertained as I sat & watched.

So church ladies in the yoga group, I'm warning you now...

don't be alarmed if a man in spandex & a fuzzy headband shows up speaking Sanskrit.

It's just Tyler.