This looks like a good place to chill .

Get it?  Chill.  He's in the fridge!  See folks, this is what Sally Sunrise has to offer.  With this brilliant combination of Ben's sweet yet mischievous face and my charming, hilarious wit, how could this NOT be your new favorite blog?  You're welcome.  ;)

In keeping with the post title, I guess I should talk about chilling.  I've been doing a little too much of it lately, I must admit.  Well, not in the literal sense, considering it's been a hundred degrees here in the Midwest for the last month.  Oh what I wouldn't give for a literal chill!  I can feel it now, if I close my eyes...

... the cool breeze blowing through my hair- my hair that I can actually wear down, flowing free and not even sticking to the back of my neck.  The smell of my morning Pumpkin Spice latte still lingering, intertwining with the aroma of the beef and onions I'm browning; a big batch of Nana's Chili simmering in the crockpot.  I can hear the sweet sound of a college marching band, and the announcers talking about running backs, bar-b-que, and Coaches for a Cure.  I can feel the fuzzy warm hug of my favorite navy blue hoodie, and the comfort of a worn out pair of jeans.  Ohh, the hoodies and jeans...  

I'm sorry, where was I?  Oh yes, chilling.  NOT in the literal sense.

We leave for our Vegas trip on Wednesday night, which has led me to realize that I have done nothing around the house lately!  Ok not nothing, but it is certainly not up to "welcome home from vacation" standards.  Clearly, I've spent too much time chillin with Ben in front of the boob-tube, and not enough doing laundry.  Laundry is the WORST!  I think everyone has that one chore that they just can't stand to do, and laundry is definitely mine.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I do all my folding and organizing on our bed, but I can't seem to get through one load without feeling ready for a nap!  The first luxury I'm signing up for when we're rich will most definitely be laundry service.

One of our favorite ways to chill (i.e. avoid doing laundry) this summer has been to spend time at the library!  We've tried several different ones in the area, but Indian Creek seems to have the most fun kids' corner.  Ben loves to show off his puzzle skills to younger toddlers, and knock down the carefully structured block towers of the not-so-impressed older kids.  (oops!)  He is currently obsessed with "things that go," so we are not allowed to check out any books that don't include cars, trucks, trains, planes, or boats.  Here he is reading one of his current favorites to his friend, Kitty:

Another of our favorite indoor stops this summer has been Monkey Bizness.  For those who don't know, Monkey Bizness is an inflatable play place similar to Pump It Up, BounceU, Jumping Jax, Leaping Lizards, or whatever one you have in your area.  Wes and I used to work for Pump It Up in Tulsa, so it's been kind of neat to watch our own kid enjoy it.  For all those who worked with us, you know what a big deal this is... (and if you don't know, let me tell you, it's a BIG deal!)...  My little baby boy can now do the 20ft slide all by himself!  ::sniffle::

Well, all this talk about chillin has really worn me out!  Ben and I might just have to relax the rest of the evening.  We'll order in and watch a movie or something.  What??  No?  Uggghhhh.... Ok, OK.  I'll go do the laundry.  But only because it must be done, so that in three days my hubby and I can enjoy a nice, refreshing, four day chill in Vegas!  Also not literal.  It's hot in Vegas, too.  Hmm... maybe we didn't think this through.  ;)

Is this thing on??

Well hello there, blogging world!  It's been quite a while... since the days of xanga, I believe.  (Does that even count?)  I won't tell you all how long I've been working on this thing, but it's been long enough that I am already unsure it's worth all the effort, before I've even submitted my first post.  But alas, my adoring fans have just been dying for me to share all the juicy details of my crazy, scandalous life as a stay at home mom (yes, that was sarcasm), so I shan't let them down.  Oh boy, did I just use "alas" and "shan't" in the same sentence?  This is going to be fun.

I suppose I should start by explaining the purpose of this blog and elaborate on its title, which I'm sure has some of you guessing.  I'll start with that.  I didn't want to use my real name for obvious reasons.  This blog is going to become very popular very quickly, and I just don't have time to deal with the damn paparazzi following me to Wal-Mart and the public library.  But why this specific name?

Well the first name, Sally,  is the name my dear, sweet husband has given to the version of me which is - how should I put this? - less than pleasant.  You know what I'm talking about, ladies.  We all have some sort of "evil twin" who comes out on the days when the hormones are rampant.  And I'm not just talking about a certain time of the month, either.  No folks, once you have a kid, Sally comes around whenever Sally pleases.  She eats all the ice cream and blames it on her husband, cries for no reason (truly! none at all!), and argues seemingly just to hear her own voice until, inevitably, she cries again.  Now I know this doesn't seem like something a wife would actually like to be called, but he uses it carefully; more to make me laugh and snap me out of it than to call me out when I'm driving the crazy train.  He knows much better than that.

I chose the last name, Sunrise, for a couple of reasons.  I originally thought of it because I quite enjoy a good Tequila Sunrise.  But then as I considered the names together - Sally Sunrise - it reminded me of that game kids play in elementary school to figure out what their "stripper name" would be.  There are lots of different ways to play:  your dog's name + the street you live on, your middle name + the town you were born in, your favorite candy + your best friend's name, etc.  Sally Sunrise sounds like a good, solid, elementary school stripper-game-name, and that just made me laugh.  And so she was born, my alter-ego: Sally Sunrise!  Pleasure to meet ya.  ;)

As for the purpose of this blog, I'd say it's mostly entertainment.  I enjoy writing, and this is a place where I can pretend to actually be good at it.  I know you all - my wonderful friends and family - will tell me that it's awesome, so who am I to argue?  I think it will be fun to share stories that might be a little too long for a facebook status, and I'm pretty stoked about the idea of having a place to be as cheesy, sarcastic and snarky as I like; this page is named after the crazy version of myself, after all!  Plus, there are two sets of grandparents out there who I know won't mind the extra pictures and details regarding a certain little someone.  ;)  So sit back, relax, and enjoy the occasional musings of Sally Sunrise!  Hope you enjoy.