Terrible Speller

goodbye blogger ...

2007-01-07T23:33:00.000-05:00

and hello WordPress! It's offical, I have moved. My nerdy husband (he's so awesome) has worked real hard to help create a new home for my blog. So, come visit me at

TerribleSpeller.com

* There may be a few layout problems. We are still working out a few kinks. I was just too anxious, I couldn't wait any longer!

mess = happiness

2007-01-03T11:54:00.000-05:00

My kids seem to be the happiest when they are making a HUGE BIG mess. We've started schooling again today after a LONG break and while #1 and I are working, the girls are re-arranging their room. I peeked around the corner to see the damage and whoa, it's insane. But they have been so content and happy. Oh well, just hope we can all remain in a decent mood when it comes time to clean up, no whining and me not getting grumpy!

pre-Christmas fun

2006-12-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Friday before Christmas the 5 of us headed to Atlanta to visit Imagine It Children's museum. We bought a family pass almost a year ago and it has been worth every dime. It is such a fun place. Afterwards we headed to the Varsity for ice cream. I was feeling emotionally satisfied with us all together and I spoke up and said, "I love living in Atlanta. So many fun things to do here." Well as we walked out and headed to our car, we hear tons of sirens wailing near by. Then we see like a dozen or so cops fly by and they stop and get out on foot and start sprinting down the road. Next there helicopters were hovering. It was chaotic. We pulled into a gas station and learned it was a car chase. Helicopters we still overhead and then a ambulance flew by headed toward the scene. So we left the gas station and headed toward the interstate. While waiting at a traffic light, I am 90% sure I saw drug exchange. Next I was on the on ramp to I-75 and it was bumper to bumper traffic. My defenses went up as I had to cross 6 lanes to get to the HOV. Normally traffic doesn't freak me out at all, but with the previous events I was just on edge. So maybe living in Atlanta does have it's perks, but it definitely has a down side.

Oh, and Blogger won't let me upload photos. What is the deal?

I hope santa brings ....

2006-12-23T10:48:00.000-05:00

Don't start slandering my name when I say we don't really celebrate Santa. We've never felt comfortable making a big deal about him, yet we didn't think we should tell the truth and have our kids ruin it for everyone else's kids. So, we just don't really talk about him much. Three years ago, #1 told me he knew who really brought the presents. "Moms and dads go out and buy the gifts and pretend they're Santa." I asked him if that is what he wants to believe. He replied, "It's the truth." Anyways, the kids were watching a cartoon that was depicting Santa.

#2 asked #1, "Does Santa really bring presents on Christmas morning?"
#1- "yes." (I am honestly surprised he didn't say, "If you want to believe in Santa than you can." We've warned him not to spoil it for others.)
#2 replied, " I hope Santa brings me a white tank top"
#1- "Why?"
#2- "So I can color and draw pictures all over it."

I was listening from the kitchen and was surprised by her request. No, a white tank top has not been wrapped and placed under the tree. Not sure where I can find a tank top in the middle of winter. I hope she'll forgive Santa when she discovers he failed to deliver what she wished for.

Update: I made a trip to Walmart, and guess what, they had a white tank top!

my little cusser

2006-12-20T10:06:00.000-05:00

Well for the first time one of our kids busted out a cuss word. I was sitting on the bathroom counter putting on mascara when #3 comes up and stands on the potty to go through my makeup bag. She loves the eyeshadow and as she began to apply it to her cheek, the little wand falls down on my leg and she said, "Damn it, ... Damn it Damn it!" I gave her a curious look and replied, "Did you just say Damn it?" She nodded and said yes. I honestly wanted to laugh. Then I asked, "Who have your heard say that word?" Then I really wanted to laugh as she said, "Aunt Cindy." Which is a complete lie. Aunt Cindy would never even utter a cuss word under her breath, even on her worst day. Of course I explained that just like "stupid" is a word we don't say, we shouldn't say "damn it" either. She nodded and went on to apply more eyeshadow all over her upper lip. I think I really have Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs to thank for teaching my youngest to say her first curse word. Our whole family loves that show.

Christmas is almost here

2006-12-14T13:53:00.000-05:00

I went the other night and saw the movie Nativity. When I left my neck was wet from all the tears I shed. I thought it was awesome. I really needed it. Since I have become a mom, Christmas has just had a deeper meaning for me. I reflect on Mary and how it must have been to see her son grow up and be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind. One of my favorite things about the movie was is showed how often God invites us to be apart of his plans, and when we accept it means we do things differently than the world and even at times differently from other Christians.

Moving on from all the deep thoughts, I am supposed to be cleaning my nasty house today, but my kidlets seem to need me for every little tiny thing. (deep breaths and I whisper patience) We just took a time out from everything and snuggled up on the couch. I think it refilled the tanks, including mine, so now I am on to getting up the grim. The kids are off to a far off galaxy where Luke, #1, will fight off the bad guys and his twin sister Leah, #2 is following close behind. #3 is a character all her own tagging along and jumping in when she can.

So if anyone is feeling yucky about their house and thinks it is out of control, just come stop by and visit mine, I promise, you will leave feeling better about yourself.
Merry Christmas!

so proud

2006-12-11T20:24:00.000-05:00

I can't explain just how proud I am of my man! Check out his website!

my #3

2006-12-07T21:36:00.000-05:00

Today was a day when it felt like #3 either lost, spilled or broke just about everything she put her hands on. At my warnings she repeatedly chose to disobey. And to top it off, when she came in close to be sweet and snuggle, she either head butted into my nose, pulled my hair, or wallered all over my lap pushing everything and everyone else away. During one of her scoldings, I wanted her to recognize her wrong doings, so I sternly said, "Tell me what you did wrong." She looked up at me with her bottom lip quivering and poked out at least two inches and muttered, "I can't not know mommy ... I can't not know." -- My heart melted once again. Maybe tomorrow she'll be better.

This picture was actually taken at the beginning of the summer. Those lips can give some of the sweetest kisses, cutest pouts, form the most precious words and display the silliest expressions. I love them!

chew

2006-12-06T17:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, as I was putting on my makeup and eating lunch, I began to stare at my mouth as I was chewing. I never knew just how unattractive it is to chew food. I mean there is no way of getting around it. The way my lips move around and cheeks go in and out as I chew is not how I would want someone to remember me. So, if we ever eat together, don't stare at my mouth as a munch away on my grub, and I will be happy to do the same for you.

sick kid

2006-12-05T09:07:00.000-05:00

I have got a puker. #1 is sick. The amazing thing is that now that he is 7, somehow he has matured enough to make it to the toilet before he spews. This is a HUGE achievement. Normally it is just explosive and I am left to clean up the carpet, sheets, and other stuff.

It really makes me sad when my kids are sick. I feel so bad for them. #1 is just laying around. He doesn't even feel like building with his Legos. We're truly blessed that it is rare that the kids are sick. The only advantage about them not feeling good is that I get lots and lots of snuggling.

the weekend

2006-12-03T09:07:00.000-05:00

It has been birthday central at our house for almost a month. #1 & #2's birthday are so close together we combine the celebrations. This weekend we had their friend party. It was so crazy yet so fun. I love all the kids together. I love all their little friends.

Today was a girlie day. I completely soaked them up. We all 3 snuggled in my bed and took a nap, we made crafts, we went to the Living Christmas Tree at my parents church and then #2 and I snuggled in my bed and looked through her scrapbooks. She likes me to read every line on every page and study all the pics. I got zero accomplished around the house yesterday, but it was worth spending quality time with my girls.

My man & #1 enjoyed a "boy day"

the tree

2006-11-28T22:26:00.000-05:00

There is just this incredible peace I feel sitting in a room lit by just the Christmas tree. I can remember as a kid, my parents would have parties around the holidays at our house. I would frequently take small breaks from the crowds and escape to my room. There on my dresser was a small tree, lighting a corner of the room. I would go and sit and feel "all together" again. As an adult I can still gain that sense of calm just sitting and gazing at the Christmas Tree. Taking a moment to be still and reflecting what I am thankful for, how blessed I am and remembering how humbling it is that I am privileged to call the creator of the universe, Father.

Merry Christmas

chinese pop is making me cry

2006-11-20T18:28:00.000-05:00

Tonight as I was fixing dinner, my play list hit a Chinese Pop song from an album that my man brought back from his recent trip. I actually really like the music. I have no idea what the heck they are singing about but me, my man and even the kids really like it. Anyways. I began wondering if the Chinese mother of my baby knows that song. Is she listening on the radio to some of the same tunes I enjoy? Next thing you know, I just start crying. I long to know this woman and I want so desperately to meet my child. I haven' t mentioned much about the adoption. I feel discouraged b/c it seems like forever away. We've just completed our home study so right now it is looking it will about 18 months before we get matched. We are requesting an infant between 6 to 12 months. So if she is around 9 months when we get her, she should be conceived any day now. WOW, God is forming our baby. My eyes are full of tears and my heart is so full of love for her already.

the monster in the picture

2006-11-19T20:58:00.000-05:00

Leave it to the big brother to mess up a cute birthday pic.

the birthday girl

2006-11-17T10:57:00.000-05:00

There is something very special about today. 5 years ago I had my first daughter. The birth of each child did something unique and magical to me. With #2 it was so special to know I was not only delivering a girl, but a special life long friend. Her beauty has captivated me from the very start. As a new born she would scoot as inch her way until she was cuddled up right under my chin. It was like she just couldn't get close enough. Today she is still the same. Touch is her primary love language and her most favorite thing to do is to glue herself to you and snuggle. She is a big help to me around the house. She can melt her daddy in an instant. She is deeply loved by her brother and sister. #1 says he loves how compassionate she is, and that is very true. She is shy, but can be very loud. She is can be timid and other times very outgoing. She is 100% completely one of a kind, and I am so proud to have her as my daughter.

chain reaction

2006-11-10T09:16:00.000-05:00

I don't know about your house, but it seems like at ours, when one light bulb goes out, the next few days one or more blows in every room. Why is that?

11:08

2006-11-08T16:07:00.000-05:00

Nine years ago today, I passionately professed my love to the most wonderful man in the world and vowed to him and God that I would be his wife for a life time. Today as we celebrate our anniversary, I couldn't be anymore sure than the day we married that he is God's chosen man for me. It is such an incredible feeling knowing that whatever hardship we face or roller coaster ride we find ourselves on, he is my best friend, lover, helper, biggest fan forever. Who knew 9 years ago when we said our vows that life could be this good. Of course I always wanted a "happy" marriage, but never did I dream I would experience a friendship so amazing, emotion so wild and love so deep. I love you babe.

Our rehearsal dinner

Us now.

We are so blessed to have so many people who have helped shape our marriage. Thanks to all those who have supported us, prayed for us, loved us and encouraged us all these years.

imagine it

2006-11-07T09:27:00.000-05:00

What a fun day. We spent 5 hours at a the Children's museum, Imagine It, with some friends. It felt like we almost had the whole place to ourselves. The kids just played and played and played. My friend and I were able to just sit and talk and talk and talk: that is what I call mommy play. I hadn't seen our friends in a long time and I got to hold her sweet new born baby. It was so relaxing watching our kids play and make a big mess knowing we didn't have to help clean any of it up.

halloweenies

2006-11-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

Funny little story. This has nothing to do with Halloween, but I had forgotten about it until I typed in halloweenies. The other day, #1 and I had gone to church by ourself. My man was at home with the girls because they were sick. So, #1 and I were driving through Atlanta searching for a spot to eat lunch. We were at a red light when tons of women begin to cross the intersection. They all had on pink accents and it was obvious they were doing the Walk to help fight breast cancer. Women were every where. #1 asked me what were they doing and why did they all have on pink. So I tried to explain briefly what breast cancer was.
Then he asked, "What is a breast?"
I said, "Doctors and other people call "nickels" (long story) breast. You know like how I have nick names for you and your sisters. I might call your sister pumpkin, but that is not her real name."
Some how the conversation transfered to boy body parts.
I said, "If the doctor needed to refer to you po po he would call it a different name."
#1 replied real matter of fact, "I know, he'd call it a weenier."
I was so cracked up by his reply, I didn't get around to addressing the correct name for it.

Anyways, Halloween was so fun. My parents did pizza for all of us and we trick-or-treated in their neighborhood. I loved watching the kids go up to each door. #3 was so excited, she couldn't just walk, she had to skip to most of the houses. Everybody was extremely generous with the candy. We have enough to last us at least a year, especially since their normal ration of candy is 2 pieces a day.

sisters in the fall

2006-10-29T17:57:00.000-05:00

I just couldn't love my girls any more than I do. I adore them. They are wonderful friends but they are as different as night and day. I love it that way.

#2 is trying to get the cat to wave. Poor cat, she puts up with a lot from both of the girls.

wow, just what I need

2006-10-27T08:52:00.000-04:00

Got this idea from Aussie Teeny. You use Google and look up "(your name) Needs" and you post about your first 10 results. Here are mine.

1. Angela needs one more final surgery to remove the large tumor

2. Angela needs to be in the school for the disabled

3. Angela needs a crew of volunteers

4. Angela needs to find her way to the gate

5. Angela needs a b_tchslap, she's too defiant.

6. Angela needs to constantly "feel" the presence of God

7. Angela needs help and John is the only one who can give it

8. Angela needs the same strong parental support to help her deal with her cognitive delays and other developmental disabilities

9. Angela needs to complete a psychological evaluation

Didn't know I was so messed up, HA HA! But the last one, #10, is Definitely TRUE!

10. Angela needs her husband

2 princesses and a luke

2006-10-24T09:54:00.000-04:00

Star Wars in an ever popular theme around our house. #1 finds creative ways to suck the girls into his sci fi play. This morning I came around the corner into the living and I am suddenly reminded I am in deep outer space. The girls are in a Star Wars princess space ship and their brother Luke is flying the x-wing fighter. They crack me up.

coffee cat

2006-10-23T08:41:00.000-04:00

"Mommy, she is coffeeing me"

"STOP coffeeing ME!"

These are the words of my #3. Some how she when she heard the word copy it registered to her as coffee. Funny thing is the other two used to say the same thing. They now say copy correctly, I need to correct her but it just sounds so cute when she says it.

Both of the girls have been sick since Friday. Today I feel it creeping into my chest, ugh!

my little artists

2006-10-19T15:22:00.000-04:00

Today, I was working with the girls about drawing a "complete" person with ears, finger, etc. This is the picture #2 created. It is my grandmother : )
She looks pretty "hip" for a lady in her 70's!

My sweet #3 did a picture of me. She said this is what I looked like as a little girl.

shopping adventure

2006-10-12T17:15:00.000-04:00

This morning we had our monthly homeschoolers Lego Club. The group is really growing. We had planned to have it at someone's house. I am so glad we changed the location to a local church, because we had at least 20 kids show up. It was kinda crazy since we did not prepare for so many, but the kids had a blast.

After that we had lunch with my mom and dad. Yummy, Buffalos!

Then it was off to T.J. Maxx to find some jeans for my youngins and a birthday gift for a friend. My kids exhaust me when we shop. The instant we walk in a store it becomes a "fantasy land". They either play secret spies, hiding under every clothing rack we are with in 2 feet of (and if there is carpet on the ground I often find them doing an army crawl from one rack to the next), don't step on the cracks or you'll end up melting in hot lava, lets make bunk beds on the store shelves, or lets see how many things we can put of little fingers all over. At least they were so engrossed in their play I was able to slip a few Christmas gifts in the buggy without them even noticing. After the Maxx, I couldn't help but to run next door to Hobby Lobby. It is my favorite. After knocking 2 different items over, even after I said- touch with only ONE finger-I made the rule that they MUST keep their hands stuffed deep down into their pockets. Next thing you know, #1 blurted out the idea that his feet could be laser blasters. Then all three were kicking their feet around shooting all kinds of items and even people. #2 got a little too excited and knocked a candle stick over and of course it broke. Thankfully those great people at Hobby Lobby said it was okay. As we left the store, #1 said, "Man, I really like shopping in those stores." My mental reply, "Really, I didn't notice?!"

girl frog, boy frog

2006-10-11T15:43:00.000-04:00

A close member of the family passed along some ceramic frogs that were passed to her from a relative and I think that relative got them from someone else. Anyways, they had been stored in a little jewelry box wrapped in white tissue paper. They were given to the girls to paint. Last week #3 & #2 asked to get out their paints and I thought it would unwrap the frogs. Just as I was laying them on the tissue paper in front of the girls who had brushes ready in hand, I happened to turn them over. Wow, what a surprise. They girls never noticed it and I never brought it to their attention. I was dying laughing inside. Now the happy froggy couple are being stored in the top of the craft closet. Not sure if they'll ever make it back out.

Colorful tree frogs blending into their natural habitat. (Sun, grass, trees, etc.)

Turn them over and you get a sex-ed point of view.

they're gone

2006-10-05T22:54:00.000-04:00

I have been grumpy free for two days!

a grump

2006-10-04T08:05:00.000-04:00

Oh ... yesterday I had a terrible case of the grumpies. I felt completely suffocated by everyone and every thing. Frustration from the tiniest of things fueled it even more. Thankfully my man encouraged me to get out last night with a friend. He was so loving and patient with me yesterday it really helped me to see things more clearly and just calm down. He is amazing. I just can't even put it in words right now just how much I love him.

I am hoping today will be dramatically different. If it is not, well that is okay.

life after this

2006-10-02T20:40:00.000-04:00

"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went... " These are the words to a popular country song that I like. I can really relate to the song: fulfilling your wildest dreams before your life comes to an end. Honestly it's not a bad desire, but for me, those dreams that I wish could come true were shallow.

Recently at church our pastor did a series directed at myths people have about God. The first week he addressed heaven and eternity. As I sat and listened, I recalled some of my first thoughts on heaven. I remembered in second grade someone asking me what did I hope it would be like. I replied, "I hope I can eat tacos everyday, whenever I want." Deep down inside I dreaded the thought of dying. I kept thinking what if it's just like a big fat church service you have to sit through and listen to people talk about God. Sure that would be better than hell, but please say it isn't so. Then in my teenage years as I grew to understand more about the second coming of Christ and hearing people threaten it could be any day, I begged Jesus not to come until I had at least experienced my wedding night. Just thinking back to that makes me chuckle. The thing is, heaven is NOT where we spend eternity. Our minds just stop there. We fail to read on. God tells us that after Christ returns, He will create a NEW earth, a perfect earth. (Revelation 21) Now if God can create a ka-gillion stars, breath taking sea scapes and keep our little planet in perfect alignment with the sun, my eternity with my heavenly Father will blow my freakin mind! Life here is not the best that it gets. If I miss skydiving, which is something I want to do, I won't be sitting in eternity regretting it. If I died not ever seeing Ireland, so what. I am sure the new earth's beauty will be unmatched and I will have all of eternity to explore it.

So anyways, bottom line: For me it was an excellent reminder on what I need to be focused on everyday. That is, what will make a difference to eternity, not what I selfishly want to do before I get there.

almost a whole day on my own

2006-10-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

It's been an unusual day. All of us went to church, which is normal for Sundays. I sold Married Life Tickets at the first service, this happens quarterly. But then my family left to go home and I stayed behind to volunteer for ticket sales for the next two services, normally I only work one. Since I heard the sermon once before, I walked across to a BBQ place and had lunch by myself. As I sat alone in the restaurant booth, I felt anxious. I had NOTHING to do, no book, no one to talk too, I couldn't think of anything to sit and ponder about. I never run out of things to think about. It was weird. After about 10 minutes I spotted a stack of newspapers, yeah, something to read. I finished my lunch and headed back to church. I was having ZERO interest in the Married life event and I was noticing the flood of singles pouring into the doors. I kept looking for wedding bands and it was like one out of 10 to 15 people possessed one. Groups huddled together chatting, flirting, etc. I realized it was like I was surrounded by some foreign culture that I could not relate to. I got married right out of college, I barely remember the whole dating scene thing. Lots of people stopped by my table hoping I was giving out tickets to a "singles mingle" type thing, when they heard it was for married's I got the same responses, been there, just got over one, oh - that's not me. It got to be pretty humorous. All in all, I really enjoyed working the ticket booth. Standing there for several hours I got caught up on the latest fashions. I am in desperate need of fall clothing. All those single midtown women had it going on, so I took note of what I liked.

After church my man encouraged me to extend my "alone" time and do something for myself. I had credit at an upscale type of TJ MAXX so I headed there. It takes FOREVER to sort through all the clothes to find something you really like. I made promises to myself to not buy summer clothing and try to find an outfit, (not to buy misc. pieces). I broke them all. I suck at shopping. Summer stuff was on clearance so I just could not help myself and I just can't seem to bite the bullet and fork out the money to spend on an entire outfit. Oh well.

Something kinda crazy did happen while I was shopping. See, when you shop in downtown Atlanta, it is not that uncommon to spot a crossdresser. I met one in the juniors department. I totally had to fight the urge to stare. He was so close to me. I should have acted like I was talking on my cell phone and taken a picture since I just couldn't resist the urge to look. Some how I managed to control myself. I'm not necessarily making fun of him, it's just so odd, you want to keep looking. It makes you feel all out of place shopping for girls clothing near a man who is shopping there for himself as well. You keep thinking, "dude don't you know you still look like a man?"

As I got in the car to head home I realized it was nice to be by myself, but I sure missed home.

he's her favorite

2006-09-29T16:56:00.000-04:00

These two have been buddies from the start. His mom is one of my best friends and she delivered this precious boy just three weeks after #3 was born.

Recently they were both in the car with me and #3 leaned over and asked him, "When are you going to marry me?" He gave her an uncertain look and I just started laughing.

I hope they remain friends forever.

not blogging

2006-09-28T17:54:00.000-04:00

Ever feel like just not blogging? I am there. I have stuff I want to journal about, I just don't want to take the time to get it all out. So, maybe I will take a few days off. Maybe then I will get the feeling again.

Until then... you can check out the splinter drama that happened tonight on my man's blog.

it's late

2006-09-27T00:27:00.000-04:00

I am tired and it is late. We just finished watching the Contender finale. Can't believe I am into that show. I use to HATE boxing. I am sure my man will blog about it and he will sound much more educated in his re-cap of the night than I ever could.

Anyways. God is beginning to shed some light on some areas in my life that need re-fining. I am excited about it. I will write more later but it is how, to whom, and to what I run to when I need to "escape". I crave food, TV, computer and other things over Him. This all might not make sense. My eyes are blurry I am so tired. The point is, I sense Him calling me out on some things and I hope I can be disciplined enough to obey.

I am headed to bed. Nighty night.

2006-09-22T23:59:00.000-04:00

don't hassel the hoff

This cracked me up. I was such a HUGE Knight Rider fan growing up.

getting rid of distractions

2006-09-22T09:19:00.000-04:00

I have got a lot to do today. That means I need to get rid of some distractions. First of is the computer. I am turning it off.

Oh, I have to add one more thing before I go, one of my best friends and fellow blogger had a baby girl last night. I got to be there and she is JUST precious! Looks just like her brothers. I will let her fill in the rest of the details in later. In the mean time you can check out the nursery on her blog. It's soo sweet.

I am really doing it. I am shutting down. bye.

wanna quit, but I won't

2006-09-20T17:13:00.000-04:00

Today, is the first day I can honestly say I want to quit homeschooling. I won't, but it's the first day I have ever felt like throwing in the towel. This feeling does NOT stem from my kids behavior, or being with them almost 100% of the time, or anything like that. I am just mentally overwhelmed. I am starting a homeschool group and which I need to complete some tasks for, the adoption process and paper work has me stressed, and then lesson planning for one and now I realize I need to get #2 more involved, plus all the other junk ... I am whining, so whining, really whining like I need to be in time out whining. Honestly I would take a time out right now if I could. I know I am not alone. Millions of moms all over the world have the same junk on their plate as me, many have more. I don't care, I just feel like whining.

Okay, now it's out of my system. Note to self: shut up and suck it up. Breathe deep, Go to bed early tonight, remember God enables me to do all the things I need to do to bring glory to Him.

I don't know what to title this?

2006-09-19T16:41:00.000-04:00

As we were getting ready for gymnastics today, #3 looked all through her drawers and came running to ask me ... "Mommy, where my nastics-tard?" Oh, the things she says. Yesterday, I took her to the doctor to get her speech checked. What finally pushed me in that direction was when one of her playmates asked me why she still talked like a baby. He wasn't being mean at all, he loves her, but it made me realize it is time to get some help. I kept hoping she'd grow out of it, and she might, but the pediatrician agreed she needs to be further evaluated.

At gymnastics today, #3 kept wandering off to do her own thing. She is so head strong and daring with no fear of jumping off of anything. Her determination gets her in trouble many times throughout the day. It is hard for me to stay upset with her because I know she's not trying to be "bad", she is just set on doing things her way. (Plus she is so darn cute she just melts me) But strong willed or not, I need her to obey. Right now I am having to step up the consequences for both of the girls. Their listening skills stink right now and it really frustrates me. Hopefully they'll begin to listen now that they know losing some of their favorite toys for a day is on the line. I am so mean, Ha! : )

I am sitting here, trying to have 20 minutes of alone time. It is not happening like I had hoped. The kids keep coming in my room asking me a zillion questions. I asked them to let me have some "alone time" so then they go out in the hall and ask me questions from there. Also, I am starving. I really want Chick-fil-A hot Waffle Fries dipped in Polynesian Sauce. I so wanted to drive there after gymnastics, the $5 in my pocket was trying to get me to steer in that direction. Instead I am here at the computer eating a salad with lettuce, strawberries, blackberries, and avocado and it's VERY good, but I still missing the fries. Don't know what I will cook for dinner. I wish we could budget for a personal chef. Oh, isn't that so dreamy ... and they could do the dishes too. Just think of all the stuff I could accomplish if I didn't have to cook and do dishes. I would take a chef over a maid, any day. I hear some fake crying, I guess I should go settle it, oh, now I hear laughing, no, now it's whining, demanding, now it's a fit. Bye.

it was a dirty one

2006-09-18T23:02:00.000-04:00

Today during school we were finishing up our unit study on the water cycle when it began to rain. So the kids headed outside to experience it. 2 & 1/2 hours later, wow, they'd had some fun.

i do it by myself

2006-09-16T09:16:00.000-04:00

#3 tries to wash her hair all by herself!

telemarketers

2006-09-14T10:14:00.000-04:00

I hate telemarketers! What is even more stupid is when the DISH, which we have, keeps calling us to inform we that we have graciously been pre-approved for a DISH satellite system. We HAVE ONE. STOP CALLING! Ugh!

released back into the wild & #2's hair

2006-09-14T08:59:00.000-04:00

Last night I was able to convince my kids that the tadpoles needed to return to their original home. They have been hanging out in our kitchen and every time I got up close to them, my stomach would kinda tense up. See, at first they started eating each other. They would suck the insides out and leave just a hollow shell. It was REALLY gross. After about the second day, they stopped and their numbers never decreased, well except for the two I accidentally killed while changing their water. Even though they stopped the cannibalism, I just couldn't get over it. Plus, all that poop floating around, it just seemed so unhealthy. Luckily, we live like rednecks. On our back deck there is an old hot tub. It doesn't work anymore so we just have a cover over it. You are suppose to inflate the cover so that it doesn't sag. Well we haven't inflated it, instead we just have old boards up underneath it to keep it from completely caving in. The cover still doesn't lay flat and it creates little "pools/ponds" on top. That is home of all the tadpoles. The water is icky and green, but we can take a strainer and check up on the babies any time we want. I think that is a more satisfying plan for me.

This is a completely different subject, but I wanted to document it. #2 loves to wear her hair down. She says it is long and beautiful. Well sometimes it just doesn't look all that great hanging in her face and she has this cowlick type part on the top back on her head. Today I asked her to meet me in the bathroom so I could fix her hair. She gave me the usual, "No, I really want to have it down". So I granted her wish, wet the cowlick and smoothed it out. As I was brushing she told me this, "Mommy, when I get bigger and I am a mommy, if I have a little girl, I am never going to fix her hair. I will always like her hair down."

#2 questions God

2006-09-12T21:26:00.000-04:00

You have to love the conversations that happen in the car with your kids.

This one came completely out of the blue.

#2 - Mommy. Why did God create people?

Me - Because he wanted to have a relationship with us and because he loves us.

#2 - How come he wants to love people?

Ahh, I love it! She really hasn't been interested in learning much about our faith. Maybe now she will be ready to remember that Jesus is God's son, not his brother, as she has figured before.

the slide, my weekend and 9/11

2006-09-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

First off I want to say I am an idiot.

Friday night I was at a kids birthday party which was held at one of those places that has all the big blow up jump and slides. The kids had a blast. It was time to leave and we were one of the last families left. Before I rounded up the kids, the thought came to me, "you should at least go down the slide one time". So up I go. As I get to the top I recall #2 jumping and landing half way down the slide and sliding the rest of the way down as if it was the biggest thrill ever in her short little life. So as I stand up at the top, I think of #2's stunt. Why can't I have as much fun. So I jump up as high as I can. I never hit the slide. I free fell to the landing area. Landed on my rear and all I felt was crunch. My neck and back were in immediate pain. What the heck was I thinking. It was pretty funny though. I just had to laugh, I couldn't let anyone know the amount of pain I was in. The birthday girl's dad came over and said, " I seriously thought you broke your neck" Well yeah, I think I came pretty close. Needless to say, the entire weekend I spent in pain. Finally today I have felt better. I still can't think of the incident without laughing to myself. What was I thinking?

Saturday was so incredibly awesome. We went to an adoption meeting and got to meet our social worker. He and his wife have a three year old Chinese daughter that they brought home when she was 2. As I saw her curled up in his arms playing shy, I had to turn my head. I felt the sudden urge to just break down and cry. I know this will be a long process, but I just can't wait to get our child.

Well, 5 years ago today, my name changed for Mama to Mommy. During the events of 9/11, as I stared at the TV and became and emotional wreck, #1 who was not yet 2, saw my distress and referred to me for the first time as mommy. I am not sure just why he chose to switch the name, but I remember it clearly. I was pregnant with #2 and I kept thinking what kind of world will she be born into. I know 9/11 had a huge impact on everyone. For me, 9/11 and the events that followed led me to ask God a LOT of questions. I remember watching a news special on Afghanistan refugee camps one night. Watching kids bathing in the same water they used to drink and cook with. People dying from illness, the living conditions were inhumane. There I sat on my nice soft couch, in my air conditioned home, with my full tummy and my soft carpet beneath my feet. Why. Why I am sitting here, and they are living in hell over there? God used all my questions to really begin to deepen my faith. It really began to hit home that I am not created to live the American Dream. To keep striving to get a bigger and better house, more clothes, more "friends", I am not living to just better my life. I am created with a purpose. A purpose that will impact eternity. I am not loved by God more than those small children starving in Africa or Arab women who live in bondage. I was placed where I am today to be used to spread God's love to all people. Since then I cannot live life the same.

new pets

2006-09-08T11:36:00.000-04:00

#1 rounded up a bunch of tadpoles today and now they are our new pets. Not sure how I feel about it. I mean, I really don't feel like I have time to manage pet care for a dozen baby frogs. But our unit study is on the water cycle, lakes, ponds, oceans, etc, so I guess it's the perfect time to adopt some aquatic live. The things poop like cheap goldfish which really grosses me out. We haven't had them more than an hour and there is already lots of stringy poo floating around. It will be interesting to see just how many make it to adulthood. The girls are constantly wanting to poke around at them and pick them up. We've already have one incident. Poor tadpole got its guts squeezed out. I think #3 did it. He/she swam around with all its junk just swishing around in the water behind him. Pretty amazing. I'll bet that within a week they are all dead. I will try not to feel too bad about it. Hopefully the kids can learn a thing or two from the experience.

Shiney baby bellies of the tadpoles from the bottom of the jar he collected them in. We did put about half of them back.

Not even one hour later: See the POOP! Oh and one is already dead.

picking it up

2006-09-06T23:17:00.000-04:00

Finally today I was able to get the house descent looking again. (Thanks Muddy Hands for the babysitting!) The house has been TRASHED. You can straighten things up and within 30 minutes junk is every where. The girls especially have been little tornados. While #1 and I get school work done, they are having the time of their life playing with every toy they own. Well, not necessarily playing with it all at one time, they are just dragging it all out, room to room to room. I really do love how they integrate all their toys into one big happy neighborhood. See in my adult mind, I would never mix a Polly Pocket fashion boutique with a Littlest Pet's Shop play ground while inviting Little People to visit who arrive in their Little People yellow school bus, oh and by the way they stopped in Sweet Streets neighborhood to pick up the pool guy and his friends. I would keep it all segregated. All the Polly's live in their hood, Sweet Streets People in their village, Little People in their town and the Littlest Pet's Shop pets would be on their own planet.

So anyways, while they spent the afternoon at a friend's house, I turned OFF the computer, put on my ipod and picked up all my junk. I can be, well truthfully, "am" a messy person by nature. I have to put forth some extra effort in my brain processing to put things away immediately. I love to clean though. Give me an old tooth brush and I will smile the whole time I am scrubbing the scum away. Ask me to put up junk, UGH, I will easily get overwhelmed. Once my kids came home I sat them down and laid down the law about the house. I want no more whining, moaning, complaining "It's TOO big of a mess, I need help. Nooooo, please I don't want to clean up today.." Hopefully the consequences I laid out today will help us achieve that goal. I never mind them playing and creating, but when no one wants to clean up, that's when I have a problem.

This is minor compared to the other day. I kept thinking, "oh the girls are playing so well, so quietly" I went to their room, EVERYTHING had been dumped on the floor. So I guess today is improvement. There were still a few things on the shelf and all the linens are still on the bed.

i can't get enough of her

2006-09-05T14:28:00.001-04:00

trip down hairy memory lane

2006-09-02T22:20:00.000-04:00

My man loves to tease me about my "big Hair" days. I'll say something like, "one time in high school this girl said to me...." and he will always reply "You mean back when you had big hair?" Ha Ha he always thinks he is funny, but it's the sad truth. (But he was the one with the mullet!) Anyways. I was at my parents house tonight looking at the family historical wall of pictures. I realized my hair had its own sad story to tell.

Here I start out cute and normal and sandy blonde. Note: no curls

Still straight hair. By this point I was seeing the last of the blonde highlights. They never returned. I am sporting super cute home made barrettes. Too bad you can't really see them. By the way, I felt like a princess in that dress.

Okay so now I am the one with the mullet. Wow, I look really bad. Lace panty hose and all. I used the ever popular curling brush to create that masterpiece.
Right after that picture was taken, I hit puberty. I cut my hair all off and this is what happened. It made it's own fro. I blame it on the hormones. (This picture was taken actually 3 years after I chopped it off. I still had no clue how to handle the beast) ( I really need a tan)

Nice big hair for high school. I was still trying to get the bangs thing worked out. Finally by the time I graduated I gave up and started growing them out. I went through a phase where I hated my curly hair. I would blow dry it till it was frizzy then I 'd lean over an ironing board and iron it straight. That is how desperate I was to get rid of it. It looked horrible.
Check out my swatch. I thought I was so cool.

This is me in the now. Still crazy hair. The wind helped for this picture. I have accepted it curly. I don't straighten it that often any more. With each kid and the added hormones during the pregnancies, the curl would get tighter or more relaxed. Funny how that happens. Maybe when I hit menopause it will go straight.

playing in the rain

2006-08-31T23:09:00.000-04:00

Late this afternoon, I asked #1 to run some laps around the house to get some energy out. He loves to do this. I time him to see if he can improve his time with each lap. Well it was overcast but no rain. #3 joined in the fun and by the next lap #2. Then the bottom fell out and they just kept running in the rain. They had a blast.

bad habits are hard to break

2006-08-31T08:59:00.000-04:00

I am back to my old ways! Staying up late and sleeping in. My mind keeps racing every night with all the stuff I need to accomplish so it's been really hard for me to fall asleep which causes me to justify sleeping late. I used to get up early and walk most mornings, but that routine seems like a distant memory and one I am procrastinating to relive. I can tell my body needs the walks. I put on pair of pants and they were a bit snug. Maybe if I walked around the house all day in a bathing suit it would motivate me to throw away the mayonnaise jar and get my butt out of bed and do something. I know that no woman is never completely satisfied with her body. Every girl wants tweaks and revisions. Funny thing is, one day you can look in the mirror and say to yourself, "Girl, you are so fine, you don't need to change a thing?" Then 5 minutes later your come back to make sure you don't have a panty line and you realize you were mistaken. Your hair looks out of date and that skirt kinda "makes" your butt look really large, and so on and so on. Oh well, such is life.

out of the blue

2006-08-30T09:20:00.000-04:00

My #2 is really not the deep thinker in the family. You can ask her how she feels or what she is thinking about and more than likely her response is silent. Well yesterday in the car, she surprised me by asking, "MaMa, what do you think PaPa is doing right now in heaven?" Strange thing is, PaPa is my grandfather who died when she was just a year old. Next thing you know #1 jumped right in with his opinion and then we three shared a glorious conversation about eternity. You know, the older I get the more excited I become about what God has in store for us.

brain overload

2006-08-27T20:42:00.000-04:00

Could my head be filled with any more thoughts? Honestly sometimes, I think it is going to explode. It's like an insane sped up game of Atari Pong. Ideas, pictures, scenarios - bouncing off one wall of my brain to another at rapid speeds. UGH! So tonight as I was washing dishes I could hear a gentle voice calling me to get away. So I took a nice long walk and it helped me to slow down a bit. I know my Creator gave me an over active brain. I love to think and I LOVE to analyze things, but I want that brain power to be used to glorify Him, rather than to create worry, criticism and strife. I lose focus and my self centeredness takes over and I spend so much energy pondering on things that don't mean crap!

I do want to mention the HIGHLIGHT of my day! My best friend and college roommate had her 3rd baby a week ago. We headed up north to visit with them after church. OH, he is just so precious. I just couldn't hardly put him down. It was such a relaxing afternoon.

nighty night!

happy birthday #3

2006-08-26T23:32:00.000-04:00

Today #3 turned 3!
What an amazing gift she is.
Go check out her Daddy's site.
I can't believe my baby is 3!

its been a blog of a year

2006-08-24T22:21:00.000-04:00

I just realized I have been blogging now for a complete year! I am impressed with myself. Normally I get real excited about something and once the newness wears off, I am done with it. I guess it is a habit that is here to stay. I never knew I would enjoy sharing intimate details of my life with the world wide web. It's been like one big life scrapbook for me. I was revisiting my entries from this past year and it was great to relive stuff that I had forgotten about. Thought I'd list a few that I enjoyed rereading the most.

1. My first ever post! (getting it all done) A moment where I was overwhelmed and lost it with the kids. Nice way to start things out : )

2. Pornography- absolutely hate it!

3. Grossest moment of my life! don't throw up

4. Unsightly hair! ouch

5. Never a grandmother

6. Precious thoughts

For you who reads my junk, thanks. My blog is simply just a daily journal. It's been unexpected and completely awesome to make friends all over the world this past year. Here's to another!

my afternoon with the repair man

2006-08-23T08:10:00.000-04:00

This post is going to be raw/real. I hope it doesn't offend anyone. This is my perception, which doesn't mean it is universal reality, it is only reality to me. I am labeling people, with the intent to only paint a clear picture of the experience.

I have always lived in the south. I grew up in a white neighborhood. In my elementary classes there were maybe 2 or 3 black kids, and those kids were typically poor and lived in government housing. Growing up and watching the news, 99% of the faces they posted of criminals were black men.

In 2nd grade there was a boy named Calvin in my class. We would always joke around and I liked to feel the top of his head. He was black and I had never felt hair like that. We'd both laugh about it but the teacher discouraged us and inserted a note in my report card referring to the inappropriate behavior. I remember thinking what did I do wrong? I honestly don't remember thinking anything especially negative towards black people. Well I take that back, in my mind I probably thought the people I came encounter with were poor, but I don't recall any other negatives feelings. That changed one day in 6th grade when two 5th grade black girls accused me of putting my hand in their face. Honestly I had never spoken to them a day in my life. They would curse me in the hall, yell out stupid threats and I became scared. I was walking to a friend's house after school one day and they tried to jump me. (I put this story in my elementary days post) Freddy, a tall sweet black kid that had a crush on me, intervened and I never had trouble from them again. The high school years that followed, my experience with black girls left a very negative impression on me. They would bump into me in the hall and yell out "bitch move out of my way!" One day I was waiting to use the pay phone during lunch. I was next in line and a black girl had been talking twice as along as the time limit. I asked her to please get off. She verbally bashed me. ANYWAYS. The point is my perception became my reality and at the heart, it wasn't good. I couldn't understand their culture, it made me feel uncomfortable, so I labeled it as bad.

I never thought I would come back and live in the same neighborhood as I grew up. My kids would go to my elementary school if we didn't homeschool. Now, they would be in the minority as one of maybe 3 white kids per class. Our county has changed to where whites are very much the minority. Coming back to my home town, I have been asking God to deal with me about my racism. I have asked him to send me a black person that I can be open with to talk to and gain understanding of their perception. Who knew His answer would be through the refrigerator repair man.

Early yesterday morning I call the first appliance repair service listed in the yellow pages. Tim calls me back. He tells me he'll be there between 10 and 12. Noon comes, still no Tim. I begin thinking, this is rude. Just call and tell me you are running late. 12:30, Tim calls, he'll be here soon. Okay, so the door bell rings. Note: I am being completely honest, these were my thoughts. Pretty shameful okay!
1. I know he is black from talking with him on the phone.
2. He doesn't make eye contact and is not very polite. It makes me nervous.
3. He is missing a few teeth in the front and has a gold cap on another. I think he must be poor and not very smart.
4. He smells like smoke. Ugh, why do all repair men smoke!
5. He begins to diagnose the problem and I begin to fear he is going to take me for a ride.

I was SO SO wrong! For the next four and a half hours we talked openly and candidly about religion and racial issues. Tim was one the smartest self educated men I have ever met. The guy knew so much about history, world religion and the scriptures. He grew up in the church and then rebelled once out of his dad's farming house (he was #8 out of 13 kids!) He read the Koran and became Muslim for 10 years. He was a drug user and did not have any respect for women. God used a woman from his past that he had not seen in 17 years to transform him and break free from the bondage he was in. He now is a group leader at a Southern Baptist clinic in the heart of the city that ministers to troubled teens and drug addicts. He was able to share with me and I with him our first experiences with people of the opposite race and the impact it had on our lives. We talked about religious denomination issues, he grew up Church of Christ and disliked Southern Baptist, yet he now works with them. He explained to me why Islam is so appealing to black men. We even felt comfortable to joke about the differences of whites and blacks. At one point he said, "You know, black people discipline their kids different from whites" I looked at him and we both just started to laugh and agree, so we talked about that for a while. We talked and talked. He talked about his anger towards white people and how it took reading the prayers of a "negro slave for her white master" to motivate him to change. I explained my fears of the black race and how it all began with the media and the girls from my elementary days. I could go on and on. It was amazing how real we were able to be.

I am changed as a result of spending time with Tim. For a few brief hours we both were able to be vulnerable and view race from another color's eyes. He thanked me for expressing my fears of black people and I thanked him for helping me gain understanding of their heritage. Here in the deep south, blacks and whites have a long way to go to overcome all the crap that has happened in past. People can't bridge that gap, only the redeeming love of Christ can. I am so grateful to have gained this experience. I pray it will impact me forever.

a slap in the face from reality

2006-08-22T07:48:00.001-04:00

First off, thanks everybody for your sweet words of encouragement regarding our BIG NEWS! I really appreciate it!

Well I had an great week at the beach with my mom and dad. They always let us crash on part of their vacation. It was really relaxing and with one adult per child, it made for an easy week. Plus my mom spoiled me by doing all the laundry. So we get home and reality quickly sets in. We are trying purchase a new car for my man, that TOTALLY stresses me out. Thankfully he did most of the leg work while I was gone. I have to say he does a great job at researching to insure we are making a wise decision. Still, shopping interest rates and finding the exact car at the dealership that will give us the exact price we want, ugh! But hopefully by tomorrow we'll be all done and my man will be scootin back and forth to work in a new Honda Civic.

I had hoped to begin school again yesterday. Funny thinking because I was totally not being realistic. We came home to a clean clutter free home, well the bathrooms could use some work. After we unloaded all the junk from the car, the mess began. Then yesterday the kids enjoyed every toy they own. We tried to clean up once but within 30 minutes they were into their play again and everything was out of place. It does sound like I am complaining, but they got along so well, all of them were so creative and entertained I could hardly get them to the dinner table. That made me a happy mama. We can always clean up tomorrow.

Here is where I begin to whine. Remember how I said everything is breaking all around us. Well, my refrigerator is on its way out. Sunday when I pulled out the icecream to make milkshakes for the kids, I noticed it was very soft. I just passed it off and thought nothing much of it. Then yesterday when a popsicle was dripping all down the inside of the freezer door, I knew we were in trouble. My first reaction was to kick the thing and scream. I held it together and opted for denial. I turned the knobs up to the coldest setting and said, this is all in my head. Well it is not. We've owned the thing 7 years and this will be its 3rd repair. Don't ever buy a Hotpoint. It's a piece of poop! But on the positive side, maybe I will only have to pay one repair visit and someone can work on my dishwasher too. I am beginning to really miss it. Using one at the beach a seeing how convenient it is, made me long for mine to be repaired.

Ok, I am off the make a list of all the junk I need to accomplish today. Just as I typed that I realized the I in that statement. The first thing I need to remember is that God is accomplishing things, with or without me. I may write out a task list that will order the day my way, but I need to remember it's his agenda not my own that will satisfy.

so... here's the news

2006-08-20T21:19:00.000-04:00

It is OFFICIAL - we are adding a member to the FAMILY! No, I am not pregnant, but soon there will be an unknown Chinese woman who will conceive my next baby girl! I want to cry just typing this! Seriously - if you know us, the standard response to the question "So, you guys going to have any more kids?" has been the following, "No, I am not carrying anymore (after 3 c-sections I had my tubes ties) but one day, who knows, when we might adopt a baby from China" Well, it is time. It's been really amazing how God has confirmed the timing to begin this long long process. The whole family has been on board for a while, it just took me surrendering some fears over and trusting God in a BIG new way. When I got the call this week that we had been accepted, I felt like I had just read the positive sign on my first pregnancy test. We are all so excited. I have been at the beach with my parents for a week and its been killing me that I have had to wait to blog about it.

okay, I have to keep this short. I have a lot to accomplish, I just had to shout the news!

alive

2006-08-20T17:43:00.000-04:00

I am still living, I have just been out of town for a week. I have some SUPER DUPER exciting news that I will post later!

Be back later.

piggy banks

2006-08-13T14:47:00.000-04:00

#1 is in need of money. He has certain lego sets that he feels he just has to have. He recently used almost all his piggy bank money to buy an Exo-force lego robot dude. Now his fund are low. In fact he should have no money at all. For some reason this week, he dared his sister, #2, to drink apple juice with ketchup in it. He said he'd give her all the money is his piggy bank if she was brave enough to do it. I heard this proposition and I questioned him on it. #1 said, "I really mean it, I will give her all my money." Like any smart kid would do, she drank it. Later they both forgot about the wager. So, yesterday he came up to me and asked me to help him count all the money in his pig, I reminded him of what he told is sister and that all of his money now belonged to her. Tears welled up in his eyes. Mommy, "I really want to buy a $10 batman lego set". He has almost half the money saved up. I told him to go talk with his sister and maybe she'd let him keep some of it. BAD IDEA! He smoothed talked her into keeping only his pennies and letting him have all the rest. Poor girl she fell for the scam completely. The final result was a long lecture about integrity, when you give someone your "word" you stick to it. #2 was gracious enough to agree to only take half of his money. She was thrilled, #1 was upset yet relieved at the same time. Now he is just begging me to do chores so he can earn some fast cash. I haven't implemented a chore chart or allowances, I guess now is the time.

side note: Just read how the experts say not to link chores with allowances. Chores should be done regardless of an award. My kids do "chores" even though they have not chart to list them on and mark them off. I am not a good list maker any way. Hmmm. I have never paid them for chores, I just divide extra change we have around the house between all the kids. What works for you?

could something else break?

2006-08-12T09:09:00.000-04:00

What has been going on, I mean breaking, at our house: Two cable modems got fried within 24 hours of each other due to some severe lightening storms so we've been without internet for almost a week. My man's car has had some issues and the mechanic blames the troubles on a previous mechanic, plus they want to charge us gobs of money to fix it. We'll be a one car family for almost a week. The lightening storm caused us to have to have a mother board replaced on our PC Computer. Thankfully we bought an extended warranty which covered everything. We also have to replace our router which got fried from the storm as well. Oh, and the lawn mower we jointly share with my dad and aunt was out of service for a week. I am almost afraid to use any major appliance thinking something else expensive is about to break!

I feel out of touch with all my blogging friends. Hopefully I can spend some time today and get caught up with everybody.

Well, I am have off to have, hopefully, a "break" free day!

good morning greeting from my son

2006-08-08T08:06:00.000-04:00

I walk in the door early in the morning from exercising and I am greeted by #1.

Him - "Mommy, sit down. I want to show you all the stuff my new Lego thing can do."

Me - I sit down at the table

Him - "Uh, Mommy, you smell like (hesitate) you know ... P .. O.. P"

Me - "I smell like pop?"

Him - "No, sorry, not pop, uh ... P..O..O..P"

Me - "Thanks"

I never knew my sweat smelled so bad.

don't talk smack about macs

2006-08-07T07:49:00.000-04:00

Computers are glorious things. They can also be a big pain in the booty. We've had a mac for almost 3 years. It's been awesome. I had always worked on a PC before and I found the macs to be so much easier to use. Well about a year ago we had a problem with it. Then this past week, another. So with the original problem still plaguing us and then the new one, I was one frustrated mama. You don't know just how much you depend on the things until they break! We made the decision to take advantage of the tax free weekend here in GA and the special 9% discount they were offering to teachers, (homeschooling perk). We got a new iMac. It's beautiful. I really like it. I hate spending money on stuff like that. I remember what we paid for our first computer right after we got married. It was insane how much computers cost back then. Now they are a fraction of that cost. The best thing about getting our new computer is that is came with a free printer (scanner and copier included) and also a FREE IPOD NANO. Uh, Did you hear that? That was just me squealing like a little girl. I have a shuffle, but you can't see what song comes next and I am always going -one song forward three back - ah, now there is my song I was looking for. I have loved my shuffle but I feel like a BIG GIRL now with my new NANO. It's the perfect size for me and the absolute best thing was IT WAS FREE! So, it made spending the dough not quite as painful.

Here are some silly pics we took with the program photo booth:

so, um ... I didn't know

2006-08-05T23:50:00.000-04:00

Ok, so how did I not know that the Chronicles of Narnia might not be an appropriate movie for a family with kids ranging for 2 (almost 3) through 6? I mean this really is a huge indicator of just how out of touch I am. Tonight all the kids wanted to run with me to Blockbuster to pick out a family movie. Note to self - this is never a great idea. All the kids want all different movies. The girls want the Barbie movie, #1 wants the boy stuff. It is SO difficult to agree. Well the minute we pulled into the parking spot the flood gates opened and it just POURED. I mean it looked like we had stepped out of the shower we got so wet. I could seriously ring my hair out. Then we get in there and they can't accept debit cards b/c the storm has their phone lines down. OF COURSE I have zero cash, so we head back out in the rain to get cash. I have the great idea to hit the grocery store pick up a few things and get so cash there. We go to check out, no luck, the storm has messed up their machine and I can only use a charge card. SO I had promised a movie, so I still need to find cash. Back out in the rain again, and to the bank. Get the money and back to Blockbuster. Now we are in the family section and I see Narnia. I think wow, this would be great. I "heard" it was good and C.S. Lewis wrote the book, so this should be the one. The kids are reluctant but I push for it. I won. We get home. WOW. Let me tell ya. I really liked it, but it was weird hearing my four year old daughter say ... "I hope Peter cuts that witches head off!" The girls did get frightened but none of the kids wanted us to turn it off. So we kept going forward. In the end, #2 kept saying, "I loved it mommy, I loved it!" I glad she wasn't terrified and hopefully all will have sweet non violent dreams tonight.

These pics were taken of the kids yesterday. Though the kids have never watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, #1 has a lego set with all of them. #1 had the idea to make bandanas like the real ninja turtles wear them.
#1 ... he is trying to smile like his Lego Ninja Turtle smiles.

the heat and bones

2006-08-04T08:38:00.000-04:00

It's going to be another hot one. The past two days we have been in a pool trying to find relief from the heat. I really don't remember last year being this hot. My yard needs a lot of attention but I cannot stand being out. Oh well, the weeds win this year.

YES my man is home. AHHHHH! It was crazy how much I missed him. Poor guy, he's sleep is still all messed up. It takes a while to recover from all the jet lag. He was awake at 3:30 this morning and he could never go back to sleep.

Ok, here are a few pics from Monday when we got the cat bones. #1 thought the discovery was so cool, the girls felt sad for the cat. I bleach them, boiled them, bleached them again, and then I let them dry out for a few days. We plan on scraping one of the bones and looking at it through the microscope.

Cat Bones

sunday chit chat

2006-07-30T21:04:00.000-04:00

I handled the kids solo at church today plus sold Married Life Tickets. We had friends spend the night last, and I still managed to leave the house on time and treat the kids to doughnuts and make it to church ON TIME. Don't pass out honey, I am pretty shocked myself.

Afterwards my folks treated us to some good eatin at Longhorns, a move - The Any Bully, and then to DQ icecream! What a treat! The movie was super cute. The girls found parts of it scary as this miniature kid gets into ant size trouble. Oh, but I just remembered, lets back up. After church we are getting into the car and #1 proudly says "I didn't say one single bad word today at church" (we let our kids cuss around the house, just kidding, he is talking about potty language) Then he continues, "during our group time, we were asked to name a sin, well I said a good one. (pause as he stares intently at me) I said that calling someone STUPID is a really bad sin. Wasn't that a good one?" I nodded my head and giggled inside. Well today the movie used that word at least a dozen times. I wonder what he was thinking every time he heard it. I forgot to ask him. I will tomorrow.

While we ate icecream, #2 was sitting across from me. I couldn't help but to stare at my beautiful child. She was just so precious sitting there with her big wide eyes, enjoying her white cream of goodness. I wished I had a video camera at that moment. A mental video camera that could record every detail of her charming face and every emotion that I felt at that moment. I wish I had something like that so that when she is 20, 40, 60, I can cherish times like that again and again. I swear, like I am sure all parents feel, that there is just no way that a mommy could love their child as much as I love mine. It truly is a miracle the love God allows us to feel for our kids. (Thanks!)

Once we got home, I was so motivated to get the house in order so we could have a productive school day tomorrow, and no- I didn't crack but one reading book on Saturday. I told the kids they had to go play with the free baby sitter-the great outdoors. I locked the gates to our property and got busy on house work. Man it feels awesome ending the day with the house straight.

Well tonight we were still so full from lunch, we just ate poptarts and fruit for dinner. Then we got out the microscope. Oooh! We looked at bug wings, mold, apple, gooze, feather and a leaf. This afternoon I saw the strangest thing up next to one of our gates. Bones wrapped in some kind of fur. I got down close and I think from one of the paws it was a cat. Some of the bones were completely clean, just laying kind of scattered in a pile. I think I will get a few tomorrow and boil them. Then shave off a piece and look at it under a microscope. #1 was really hoping that after our dead cat rotted for a few years in the ground, he could dig it up and do a bone experiment on it. Well some neighbor's dead kitty just answered his prayer sooner than he thought.

I have only one more night and then HE comes home. I seriously just can NOT wait!

tour of homes

2006-07-29T11:06:00.000-04:00

Keri, over at my eleven got me interested in being in the "Tour of Homes", so I decided to join in the fun.

If your are a mailman, then come to this door. I know, a lot of work in those front flower beds needs to be done. Check out my squash on the bottom right busting through the monkey grass. I picked two pieces from it yesterday!

Otherwise, pull your car around and we'll greet you at the back.

This is the first thing you'll see as you enter. #1 completely takes over our table EVERY day. He has to clean it off every night so we can eat dinner.

The den stays pretty messy all day. Clean up time is right before dinner. (Oh, that is a ocean scence we did for school on the sliding glass doors, it's about to come down)

Okay my kitchen never stays clean for very long. Plus my washer and dyer are located in the kicthen as well. Right now I have little table in there so the kids can do crafts and not mess up the carpet in the den.This is #1's room. It is only clean b/c I did an over haul in there about a week ago.

This is #2's perspective of her room.

This is #3's.

This is the master.

And this is where all the blogging takes place. I am in that chair right now.

Our home didn't come together by just me and my man, it is a long list of family members who helped make our home the cozy little place it is today.

Thanks for looking, come back again!

Check out all the other great homes at boomama.

just a post about my day

2006-07-28T21:05:00.000-04:00

We schooled it today. I am having trouble balancing my time and attention between all 3 of them. (last year we always did school time during #3's nap) #2 wasn't that involved last year, now she wants to do "school work" the entire time. The minute she is done with one activity she is demanding I give her something else. So I am going to have to step it up and plan more assignments for her. She is not even kindergarten age, so I really don't want it to be anything too structured for her. Today she said "I get so bored with playing, Mama" So we all went to craft store to help her avoid getting bored. The other two kids love to use there imagination with action figures, role play, and building. #2 doesn't really enjoy any of that for long. She is very artistic and love loves to draw, paint, play with play dough, color, and she LOVES the computer. I hadn't really thought that it would be hard to teach all 3, but now I am seeing that with all their differences it may be a bit more challenging than I thought. I am also seeing my patience is really weak when it come to #1 reading. I regret that in the past I could be one of the factors as to why he doesn't love to do it. Thankfully, every day that we have read this week, I have heard ZERO complaining. In fact he has not complained once about any school work. I know we've only completed three days this week, but it really helps to start off in a positive way. I pray God will help me keep our work fun, fresh and interesting. Oh, our microscope came in today. #1 was about to bounce off the walls he was so excited. I am getting it out tonight and hopefully come up with some cool stuff to look at. To keep my goal for four days a week, we'll do school tomorrow. It really amazes me how quickly we can get the necessities done.

So I am just rambling. If you don't homeschool, I am sure you've already closed your browser window because you are bored to death. Sorry.

Well I just chatted online again with my man. Every time we communicate I cry. I am so pitiful. I don't know how women who have military men over seas do it. I am sure you get used to it, but man, I have been the biggest wimp. I do love how the distance creates this deep longing desire for one another. It really reminds me of just how blessed I am to have him.

Well I am off to explore the new microscope.

Rome and my reaction to China

2006-07-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

Just got home from Rome. What a great visit. I even got to see the triplets!

Top three memories of the trip:

1. #3 sneaked Co-Co's husband's beer from him while the grown ups were all caught up in conversation. I looked over and saw that she had stuck her straw down in his mug and she was just sucking it up! We couldn't help but to bust out laughing! I asked if she liked it and she shook her head "yes". We laughed even more. Yuck! I can't believe she liked that nasty bitter stuff. She gave me a kiss afterwards and she even had beer breath!

2. All four kids camped out in Nee Nee's room. Took them over and hour to finally get to sleep.

3. #3 was so so so tired on the way home. We left at almost her bed time. #1 was hungry so I stopped in at Dairy Queen. #3 was falling asleep as we waited in the drive-thru. I kept bribing her to stay awake. Once she got the icecream in hand she could barely get the spoon to her mouth she was so tired. She ate half of it with her little eyes closed fighting to keep her head up right. Finally she mumbled, all done, but half was left. Two minutes later that girl was on a serious sugar trip. Wide awake singing every Disney song she knew. The other two passed out shortly after but she kept on going.

Right as I walked in the door, my cell phone rang. It was my man. (heart starts skipping a beat a sigh!) I miss him so STINKIN much. Good news, no other women were showcased for him last night, whew! We chatted yesterday online for an hour as he told me the most bizarre story. Go on and read it. Crazy.

here are my reactions from his first night in China:

1. Heart broken for the girls who were in that "profession"

2. Sickened by the fact that the Chinese would consider it a sign of respect to put American men in that situation.

3. I began to sob for the lost.

Anyways. I had a few hours on the way to Co-Co's house to process all my emotion. Thanks Renee for helping me out. It is so easy for us Americans to take it for granted our freedom and our privileges. Life is not about me living in a bubble living the "American Dream". I was created with a purpose and this just pushes me closer to God asking Him to use me no matter what the cost. People are dying every day and every where who have never had heard the name of Jesus Christ. There is SO much work left to be done!

hadn't felt much like writing

2006-07-25T22:34:00.000-04:00

Don't know whether it is proper for me to say, writing or typing, which ever it is, I haven't been in the mood. I am not grumpy, just needed a break.

Well, my weekend with my mom was wonderful. We stayed in a cabin on the mountain campus of my old alma mater. I would sit here and try to describe what it feels like to be there, but there just isn't any way. All I can say is, it is one HUGE slice of HEAVEN. I really got a lot of planning for school accomplished.

We got back on Sunday and immediately I went to visit my friend who is moving to Colorado. It was the last time I would see her for at least a year. It was more emotional for me than I thought.

Monday, we began school. I will get back to that. BUT the big sad thing is my man left for China. He'll be gone just over a week. It was so tough to say goodbye. Yesterday was my mom's birthday, happy birthday mom!, and we went out to eat and this wonderful Italian place. I was miserable I got so full.

So, I stayed up too late last night, cause I couldn't keep my mind off my man. Woke up this morning and felt honestly depressed. I felt like a part of me was missing. The kids and I started school. I felt like I was putting on this brave face, but I was struggling to make it believable. Then I decided we just needed to get out of the house. So we ran some errands and on the way to the library I was on my cell phone with my mom, next thing you know, I broke down. Not the car, me. I was sobbing. The kids are like .... mommy are you okay? I could barely get out the words ... I just miss your my man. I mean he's been out of town many times before, but I guess just half way around the world is just different. I did hear from him once he landed. I cried again, and then I got my composure, didn't want to freak him out too bad, and said our I love you's and goodbye. I do feel better now that we have spoken, but I can still feel the emotion swelling every now and then. So, tomorrow I am taking the kids to see Co-Co. She's my college roommate and best friend, like a true sister. I am looking forward to getting away.

Now, I want to get my thoughts out about the upcoming new homeschool year. I am continuing with Weaver, even though I REALLY want to check out Konos, I thought I give what I have another try. After two days, I think #1 might get bored with it. The kid loves science. (Takes after his mama!) He begs me to do science. I ordered and microscope today from ebay for $1.99, seriously, only $1.99 and it's not a cheapy brand either. I CAN'T wait for it to come in. Okay on with my random thoughts. Yesterday the start up of school was going really well. Then while I was reading just with #1 things got ugly. The girls could not stand it that he was receiving one on one time with me. #2 had two melt downs and some other jealous behavior. Every mood she threw at me had me believing she was experiencing 4 year old PMS. Oh, and then #3 has mastered the skill of making sure she is in the clear when mama is mad at one of her siblings. Just when I am done with my ... you better stop/straighten up speech, she looks at me and says, "Mommy, I weally wuv you" It makes me giggle inside. But today went MUCH better. I am still toying with the idea of unschooling #1. #2 is so different. She would love to sit and do workbook sheets ALL day long. I am going to keep with the program for a one, no okay, let's say two months and re-evaluate then. Who knows, I am always changing my mind.

Okay, so I think I am up to date. Uh...no. One more thing I want to "type" about that I want to remember forever. Tonight we all watched my favorite all time Disney movie ... The Little Mermaid. OH, I just love it. Today, #2 was singing Ariel's song in the car, and I just knew I had to watch it. Something that #2 loves to do is to play mermaid in the pool with me. We sing one of Ariel's songs with lots of emotion as we twirl around in the water holding hands. And as the song climaxes to an end, she puts her feet on my legs and pushes up and I raise her arms out like she's floating above water and we sing ... wandering free, wish I could be, part of that WORLD! and for half a second we both feel like we are beautiful mermaid princesses. That is one memory I want to have forever.

new day

2006-07-21T08:17:00.000-04:00

The grumpies are gone, well for right now. Hopefully they will stay away for a long while. Went walking this morning and took some time to walk out on the community neighborhood dock that is behind where we live. I sat out looking at the water and then I laid on my back seeing the blue sky. I was filled with so much peace. The sun was rising to the right of me and it was streaking the clouds with beautiful shades of red and purple. Wow, I am so thankful I got up early and took time to be alone and see that.

Now I am about to put the vacuum in my hand and get busy. I honestly love to vacuum. I inherited that trait from my mom. We always joked that when she dies we'll bury her with a vacuum in her hand. Oh and just my mom and I are heading to the mountains this weekend. I am going to be deep in home school planning while she works on some projects of her own. I am really excited about getting away.

grumpy

2006-07-20T17:26:00.000-04:00

I have been fighting the grumpies since mid morning. I just gave in.. UGH! okay I am sitting here trying to find peace. I think I will go open the word.

little here, little there

2006-07-19T20:53:00.000-04:00

So, today was very unusual. We had a friend over Monday and his mom wanted to reciprocate the favor by having all three of my kids over to her house this morning so I could run some errands. Before we left the house, another mom called and asked if my kids could come play this afternoon. So I dropped off my three at the first kid's house. Went way south to make returns at an outlet mall. Picked up her older daughter on the way back, from a cheerleading camp. Then I get to their house and their next door neighbor was over (another close friend). She asks if she can take my girls for the afternoon. So I leave them with her and take #1 to his friends house who just happens to live in the same neighborhood. I take off and hit a ba-gillion different stores, taking advantage of my FREEDOM! It had been a long long time since I had been shopping. I was proud of myself, I didn't go crazy spending money. I didn't even buy one thing for me. Part of the thing is I am SO stinkin picky. Then if I see something I like, if it's not on sale, I won't buy it. I bought the girls several pieces. Little girls always need clothes! : ) I can so justify spending money on their clothing. I mean, I got a cute sundress on clearance for $8 at Old Navy. If I could find me a cute dress for $8, I would have snatched it up quick and then told all my friends where to go and get sweet cheap clothes. Sometimes I find myself more in to my girls fashion than my own. It just seems so much easier. I am stuck in that category I don't want to look like a "woman" but I don't want to look like a teen either. So I bounce between the juniors and womans sections constantly. I'll see a great outfit on a mannequin, try it on, look in the mirror and what do ya know-it fits all wrong. I bend over and show my whole crack, lift my arms and out pops the belly button. UGH! Thankfully I have a hubby who is good with style. He is always willing to help me shop and piece together the right look.

Okay let me get off that tangent to say, wow, it was nice running here, running there, without all the: buckle your seats, get in the car, hold hands ... I said hold hands cars are coming, stop playing under the clothing racks, stay where I can see you, panic glances b/c one or more kids has slipped out of sight, no-I have no quarters for the candy machines, if you do that "thing" again you'll be in the buggy for good, please don't run over other people with the stroller, REMEMBER -we are not the only people in the store, please stop touching EVERYTHING, no-#3 do not put any more clothes that we are not going to buy in the buggy (but I weally wike it mommy), so on and so on.

Needless to say I am pooped from all my running. By the last store I just longed to go home and be with my kids. It's nice to have a break, but nothing beats just staying home with them.

old pillow, new pillow

2006-07-18T08:23:00.000-04:00

This has been my pillow since I was about 3 years old. I love this thing. No other pillow could ever compare to my pillow. It has travel with me on many trips. It has blood stains on it from when I skinned my nose as a child. It has green marker smeared on it, that used to say "I love Joel" (that was my 5th grade boyfriend) It has absorbed many many tears, not to mention large amounts of drool, (gross, I know...I can't help it!) It has been my best night time friend for almost 30 years! Well recently I have been thinking I need to trade it in for a newer model. I have come to the realization that is really does look gross and with all those years of dust, drool, blood, and stuff, maybe it's a health hazard. So, I know I could buy an allergy cover for it, but instead I went and swiped a newer pillow from the spare bedroom and claimed it for my own. It's nice and white and stain free! I thought it would be a rough transition, but honestly the new one sleeps like a dream!

pics from the weekend

2006-07-16T23:15:00.000-04:00

#3 and her little man.
Don't ya just love friends who will hang with you while you clean out closets?
My lego boys

Today #1 had to take a break from all LEGOS as a consequence for saying "potty" words at church, AGAIN. SO, he was kind of lost today. I didn't realize just how like obsessive he is with them. So ... he created several characters for his sisters and him. Spider Man and Spidey Girl. They even made matching paper web shooters that they taped around their arm.

need a hero?

2006-07-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

I got a few around here, so take your pick!

sick of the pool?

2006-07-14T07:47:00.000-04:00

On hot days like these, I don't think we could ever get sick of the pool. I mean the heat is just exhausting. Our house was 83 degrees last night when we went to bed. I felt like we were camping outside. I am trying to think of new ways to keep this old house cool. I know one thing that heats the house up at night is me cooking in the kitchen. So on days that it is over 90, maybe we can justify eating out instead of firing up the oven and heating up the stove. Well I seriously doubt that will happen, but I can wish right? I am going to try to grill out more, but even opening the door to go out, you can feel the heat rush in. Aussie Teeny, I am envying you right now!

The report on my mom came back normal. We are VERY thankful. She is trying to get in to see a different doctor to help explain why her head is still hurting.

Here are some pics of my kids and their friends. We are sad. One of our close friends is moving to Colorado. This is the last day my kids will get to play with her for a long time. After we left the pool, I felt like crying. I am going to miss my friends.

another summer day

2006-07-12T22:50:00.000-04:00

I have had a yucky sinus headache ALL DAY. Tried two different meds, nothing has stopped it. But besides that, we had an enjoyable day.
The kids played campout in the yard

The girls painted lots and lots of pretty pictures

I washed a ka-gillion dishes

And #2 put up her hair with a million clips and played "Chinese Princess"

So I am off to bed, still with a headache. I guess I am having sympathy pains for my mom who has been suffering with a migraine for about a week now. She had a CT-scan on her head today, we should know something by Friday. I am worried about her. Please pray for healing.

Good night.

a pool upgrade

2006-07-11T22:46:00.000-04:00

#1 has been imagining what his heavenly dwelling place will look like. One of his wishes is to have "a pool that's only 4 feet deep. it will have a diving board. but that's ok because when i jump off i can still touch the bottom" Well today he "earned" an upgrade. My son over came one of his biggest fears ... jumping off the diving board. Several tears we shed on his part. A lot of stern encouraging comments from me of course. It went something like this ...
Him- trembling with fear in the corner of the pool, asking that I not require him to jump.
Me- I know for a fact he is SO completely capable. I talk it up big. List the friends, younger and older, who love to jump, "son, you know I would never ask you to do anything that would cause you to hurt yourself."
He nods and replies, "I am just so afraid"
Me "Do you think you might die from jumping off the diving board?"
Him -Blank stare
Me, "Listen, I will be in the water waiting for you. I want you to TRUST ME that I won't let you drown. You just jumped 3 times from the side of the pool, its not much further"
Him -Blank stare, with some tears
Me "Just repeat after me, say -My mommy won't let me die, Say that, come on lets say it together"
Me, (not him)- "My mommy wouldn't ever let me die!"
Him-Gives me this look like -You are the biggest freakin IDIOT!

So finally he asks me to walk up with him and hold his hand. We get up there. He is trembling. The girls are hopping around behind us, "JUMP! JUMP, come on #1 just jump!"

Me- "Quiet or you both will jump!"
Him- a quick glance in the girls direction and he gives them the evil eye.

We walk out to the very end. Poor guy, he was just a shaking. I start to count. He gets his mask on. He lets go of my hand and does a big long jump toward the side. He comes up, looks around. I can see a small smirk. I ask him to do it one more time. This time, no complaining, zero tears. He gets up there, a little bit reluctant, and jumps! After that he's smiling feeling cocky and he jumps at least a dozen more times. As we left, I asked him if his pool in heaven could now have a deep end. He looked up and me and just grinned and said, YES!

Why all the drama? Both my older kids have a lot of fear at trying new things. Especially if it pushes them physically. I am not wired quite like that, so honestly it is very hard to relate. I had to push him to get the training wheels off his bike. Lots of tears were shed, but just like the diving board, once he did it, he was glowing and repeated it again and again and again. Sometimes I push b/c I think if I didn't, he'd be 16 year old boy with training wheels, hanging out in the kiddy pool and would have never once experienced being king of the mountain on the jungle gym at the play ground. I can see his potential. His dad and I just have to help him see and believe it too. He is an amazing kid. I am so happy I was able to experience that with him today. I am so proud he braved up and did it. I wanted so bad for the trust he had in me to out weigh his deepest fear. Reflecting back on our time at the pool, I am reminded that God desires the same of me.

hamburgers, heaven and the devil

2006-07-11T11:15:00.000-04:00

Go visit my man's blog to read what #1 has been talking about lately.

elementary

2006-07-09T19:52:00.000-04:00

Today I packed up #1 and #2's bikes and we headed just a short distance down the road to my old elementary school. I never dreamed that my kids would grow up in the same school district as me. Boy has the community changed. The school looks almost just the same but a lot older and kind of ghetto. The grounds have been neglected for a long time, trash seemed to be everywhere. Saw a few old dried up used condoms, hair barrettes, papers, pencils, and more coke bottles than I could count. Still being back on the campus brought back a lot of memories.

1. It was second grade at lunch. One of my classmates threw up all over his lunch tray. A lady from the janitorial staff reluctantly came over and began to clean it up. As she wiped, I heard her say under her breath ... Don't know why y'alls can't make it to the bathroom.

2. Another lunch, this time 3rd grade. Some goof ball boy, Corey, stated aloud to everyone who could hear ... When I get my braces off I am going to screw my girlfriend. I had never heard that phrase before. So later while I was in the car with my mom I asked her. That is when I learned about the birds and the bees. Oh and I also learned that Corey must not know what screw meant either, b/c obviously it has nothing to do with braces being on your teeth.

3. My first grade teacher telling me one day I would be Miss America. Of course she was wrong, but what first grade girl wouldn't want to hear that?

4. Third grade class. We had a strict teacher. I sat beside this boy, Brian. He was always passing gas and getting in trouble for it. One day the teacher was out of the room and everyone was silent. I accidentally pooted, and it was very loud. The whole class began to laugh and say ewwww. I blamed it on Brian. He kept denying it and repeatedly said I did it. If my memory serves me right, I think everyone thought it was him. Sorry Brian.

5. My second grade teacher taught the class some basic sign language. I loved it. I thought I was the coolest b/c I could sign Jesus.

6. In kindergarten, my little boyfriend, Joe, was captain of the "boy team" I was so proud the day he made me his co-captain. Of course I fought by my man. Boys against girls. Fighting for rights to play on the jungle gym.

7. 6th grade, (still elementary in my day). I was walking after school to a friend's house. Two highly developed black girls were hot on my heels. They were threatening to kick my butt because they claimed I stuck my hand in their face. This was of course totally untrue. I could hear them getting closer, and I knew I did not stand a chance. Suddenly a hero came. Tall Freddie, who was also black and had a crush me, (honestly, he sent me a note asking me to go with him) stepped in. He said a few choice words and threatened what he would do to them if they ever bothered me again. Thankfully for Freddie my butt was saved and those big booby girls who had been pestering me for months, finally left me alone!

8. Another 6th grade memory. Two best friends, Amy and Amy. I was on both of their list to be their 2nd best friend. Every once in a while when they got in an fight I was promoted up. (I swear to you they truly had a list) Anyways. They missed a spelling test and my teacher, Mrs Jones (she liked me b/c we went to the same church) asked me to sit in the hall with them and call out the words for a retest. They asked me to help them cheat. When I said no, one of the Amys took a purple marker and put a HUGE line on my NEW WHITE JEANS! Mind you this is before washable markers were invented. I was SO crushed. I didn't tell on them though. I cried and cried when I got home. I thought it was the worst day EVER.

9. I loved hanging out in the library. One of the librarians didn't like many kids. I didn't like her much either so I guess that is why I forgot her name but librarian Mrs. Phillips was the best. I loved her laugh. I didn't know at the time it was a deep raspy smokers laugh that often ended with a little cough. I just loved to hear it. I remember me and some friends sneaking the book "Are You There God, It's Me Mary Margaret
" and just reading the last couple pages about her becoming a "woman".

10. 6th grade. Walking in a single file line to art class, scissors in hand. A kid named Billy was in front of me. For some reason I decided to torture him the whole way to class using my scissors to repeatedly try and cut his jeans at his butt crack. He got so aggravated at me. But I just kept on. Why he did not tell on me, I will never know. BUT I met his older sister one day during my college years. She reminded me of the incident and informed me that his mom was really mad b/c I actually ruined the pair of jeans leaving a cut mark along the crack. Sorry Billy!

11. Book Character days were the best. I was Fern from Charlotte's Web, a Care Bear and my favorite: The Pig who Wished for Wings. My dad made these awesome wings and spray painted them til I thought they looked real!

12. Walking the halls singing ... I saw you (and him) walking in the rain... and one of the janitors would always sing it back to me, then we'd laugh. (86 Oran "Juice" ... 80's music was the best!)

13. First grade. First Kiss. Several boys grabbed me and pinned me in the back corner of the play ground fence. Cliff Baxter came up and kissed me while they held me against my will. Where was my teacher? Who knows, but I did tell my mom and she got things straightened out at school. Now, as far back as my memory goes, I have more flash back about boys than girls. I was so boy crazy growing up. I remember almost every crush, but Cliff Baxter was never one of them. Had it been Brett Barfield that kissed me, I am sure I would have just blushed.

14. Last one and I will quit. Hope Evans. I'm sure there is a Hope Evans in almost every school that has ever existed. She is the girl that was a bit strange, odd, and worst of all she had cooties. Now I am not saying I never teased her, but I am also not saying I tortured her like poor Billy on the way to Art Class. We attended school together K-12. I wish could meet her one more time and say I am sorry. Her old house is on my walking route. I think of her all the time. I have even thought about knocking on the door, hoping who ever lives there might still how I could get in touch with her. I hope she had healed from all the crap she got in her past.

So this was us today at the old stomping grounds.

no time

2006-07-08T22:03:00.000-04:00

Time stood still for me twice today. And when it happened, I remembered how rare and precious those moments are.

1. Went on a long long walk today alone. I walked out on a community dock, (the neighborhood behind us is on a big lake) sat on the edge and realized no one was around. I laid down on my back, closed my eyes, and just listened. No watch, no phone, no ipod. My crazy mind actually turned off. I was inwardly and outwardly still. It was glorious.

2. #2 and I spent some time together today. Just us girls. We went to my aunt's house (who was out of town) to swim and jump on the trampoline. Before we left we sat in a chair, she in my lap, and played eye spy. Again ... no phone, no watch, no other thought than my girl in my lap, beautiful view of the lake, nature. It was awesome.

painted rock and walmart

2006-07-07T22:27:00.000-04:00

The kids and I went to Super Walmart today.. I have a love hate relationship with that store. The prices really are lower and for some items, A LOT lower. But the whole layout of the store just bugs me. There is so much stuff to get distracted with. The lines are always forever long. Just when I finally make it to the dairy section I remember I forgot to get Shampoo. It seems like it takes over 5 minutes to get back over to the Shampoo aisle. Plus all 3 kids like to hang on or somehow get in the buggy. Sometimes just to turn the cart I have to use my whole body to steer it in the direction I want it to go. When we finally got home, I was so exhausted. I have to say though, the kids behavior could not have been better. I've been so into to them lately, I could just eat them all with a spoon. That phrase probably doesn't make sense to anyone, but in my tired head, it's just does.

We bought some new paint today. They decided to paint our big yard rock. They were so adorable working on it together. Afterwards they took sidewalk chalk and worked on making their own hieroglyphics.

All 5 of us ended the day by watching some home movies. I love today.

I guess I should start some photo albums?!

we're home

2006-07-06T12:13:00.000-04:00

Our trip to the beach was one of my most favorite vacations we have had. My man has been working so much it was so so so nice to have time away. No phone, no computer, and no TV (well the kids watched a little). It was a great break from everything. MeMe & Grandad sure are sweet for letting us come visit paradise for while.

So, I am now back in the real world again. Bill paying, grocery shopping, planning to cook "real" meals, etc. Some how the kids managed to stay quiet this morning and I did sleep until almost 9 am today. Every morning at the beach the kids got up at Georgia time. I returned home relaxed but not rested. We are just taking it easy today. The kids said they don't want to go anywhere. That is fine with me.

The water was so clear and beautiful.

looking for sharp pain relief

2006-06-29T22:39:00.000-04:00

For all of you who keep hitting my blog, searching for "sharp pain in head" relief. Sorry, I am just a stay at home wife & mom who wrote an entry about one headache. You'll need to keep looking else where. Hope you feel better soon. Take care...

so today went a little something like ...

2006-06-29T21:53:00.000-04:00

On a whim, I called some friends and asked them to join us at my aunt's(who is out of town) pool for a few hours. We show up early. I have to put up their crazy mutt who has dug huge holes in their beautiful flower beds. She yanks me around fighting her fate of being locked up in the storage house. With the dog put away, all the kids file out of the car and run ahead. As I unload I hear ...

Mommy, eeww! You gotta come look at this!

I come around with all our swimming gear in hand and want do I see-DOG POOP in the pool! I mean come ON! What kind of crazy dog takes a load off in a POOL!

Anyways, the pool gets shocked and closed for the day. Luckily they live on the lake. So all the kids put on life jackets and swam off the dock. I got into. And I realized, at 31 I have still not out grown of my fear of little fishies nipping at my toes. I wore my life jacket like a big diaper and kept a close watch on all 10 of my little piggies.

Next we head to the doctor. Wet hair and all. Fortunately I think it had been over 6 months, maybe more since we had been. The kids have really been healthy, or at least not sick enough for me to justify taking them. Anyways, I had some random health questions and needed to get some refills for them. As I was about to leave, I saw #2's weight on her chart. I realized it's been the same for at least for over a year. I asked the nurse and she looked up her averages. The child is 80% in height and 15% in weight! Crazy. I knew she was thin, but hearing her averages made me want to go buy the girl a dozen milkshakes. They want to see her again in a few months and see if she will put on some weight. I personally have never ever been asked to put on weight. She inherited those genes from her dad.

Well, later I take dinner to a friend who is moving. I get there and I am greeted by her, her husband and her brother in-law. We are all chatting in the kitchen and I happened to look down and notice my fly is gaping open. Nice. I was thankful that I had a cookie sheet tucked under my arm. I casually slid it over and did a quick zip up.

Things were kind of hectic around bed. The girls we EXTRA WHINNY. I tucked them in a 7:15. That's the earliest my kids have ever gone to bed. #1 got to stay up late and wait for his dad to come home. I was cleaning out the refrigerator and he came up to me and honored me with a lego badge. He makes these lego badges as a sign of good deeds. I was awarded this one for being the best breakfast maker, best lunch maker and the best cooker for dinners. Considering he is an extremely picky eater, I am taking it as a high compliment. I am assuming the badge is a picture of food and a place setting or something. I sure do love my little man.

We're all leaving tomorrow to go visit my man's parents and vacation. So I am shutting up for a while. Have a happy 4th.

grandad in town

2006-06-28T22:16:00.000-04:00

Grandad is here on business. The kids swarmed him when he got in. We love having him here, but it's not the same without MeMe.

better

2006-06-27T16:46:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have one of those days you wish you were a better homeschooler, a better house keeper, more organized, a more patient mother? You want more energy, to eat healthier, to exercise more. You wish you could get your kids to eat healthier. I wish I read more, more about important things. I could wish all day and that would never change one thing. I am not really having a pity party. I am just seeing things that I would like to change. I get overwhelmed at all the things I want to be really good at. I know I am not a failure, I just see room for improvement. But at this moment, I am who I am. I will never reach perfection in any of these areas. Many I will struggle with forever, that is just the way I am designed. I need to stop focusing on all my weaknesses. I need to see the big picture. I am one person, uniquely created by God. He fashioned me in a way that I need Him. I need Him not just every once in a while, I need him all the time. Thankfully He knows that. He graciously gave me His spirit to help me. I am to submit to that spirit. When in submission, He can be GREAT. I need to get my mind off myself and praise Him for how incredible He is.

okay, I feel better. I guess I just needed to get that off my chest.

raccoon

2006-06-24T22:41:00.000-04:00

Our Saturday got really interesting after the ice creams. #1 and a friend were playing outside and in the monkey grass right beside where we park our cars, #1 found a baby raccoon. The boys came rushing to me. They were super excited. #1 picked the baby up and handed it to me. I saw no other ones around and of course no mom. He was making sweet little whining noises, so the "rescue" began.

The kids swarmed the poor thing. Each wanting a turn to hold it. I was certain that we'd ONLY keep it wrapped up in a dish towel and I would be the ONLY one to hold it since it's claws were sharp and he did snap at us a few times (though he had no teeth yet that could hurt us). He seemed content to stay warm in the old Christmas hand towel, snuggled sweetly in, hanging one precious paw out. It was at that moment, we all feel in love with him.

The boys decided they'd go on a mission to find it's mom or a new home for it. The girls thought it would be best to sit and snuggle with it while we watched "Barbie Repunzel". Shortly the baby realized we intended no harm and it fell asleep in my arms. I thought maybe it would be okay if #2 held it while it slept, no harm in that. I went to finish cleaning some dirty dishes and I peeked in to find the raccoon completely uncovered an snuggled up to #2 fast asleep. He'd wake up every now and then and stare up at us with those sweet little black eyes. We were completely smitten with him. #2 rubbed noses with him, petted him, loved on him, she was in mommy heaven. I sat down with her and took a turn and soon he began to nudge around like he was trying to find a way to nurse.
I told #2 ... look, see he still needs his mommy, he is trying to find his mommy's milk.
#2 leaned in and pulled the top of my t-shirt down and said ... baby raccoon, here is my mommy's "nickels'(long story as to why we call them that). You can get milk from them.
I replied ... Uh, no honey. Mommy has no baby right now so there is no milk in my nickels. And besides I don't think the baby raccoon would like mommy milk, he needs his mommy's milk.

Well the new plan was at dinner time, the raccoon was to be left outside in case the mommy decided to come back. As we finished up dinner we all started worrying that the mommy might not come back and what if he really was abandoned. We all agreed we'd keep him for the night and find a wildlife rescue person to come get him on Sunday.

Luckily we had a dog kennel left over from a dog we had over 6 years ago. With little bandit on my curled up on my back and with his head propped up on my shoulder, we washed out the kennel and began to prepare his little home. As the kids colored pictures to decorate the kennel, I decided to make a science lesson out of it and teach the kids more about raccoons. I sat down to the computer and began to get information. At this point the baby was asleep still curled up on my back. On the screen I read ... don't pick up a baby raccoon. They carry a parasite that is deadly to humans. Only use rubber gloves or a towel. Call an animal rescue person immediately.... Now this is the part where I FREAK OUT! ... GIRLS GET IN THE BATH, #1 GET IN THE SHOWER AND SCRUB DOWN! The more I read the more I panicked. I finally found a list of phone numbers of people to call who took in wild animals. After 20 placed calls, with no one answering, praise Jesus I got in touch with the right lady. She calmed all my fears and helped me figure out what to do. She said the mom will come back at dark for her baby, if she is still alive. If at my bedtime, he is still there, then bring him in and she will meet us and she'll take him. I took him by the kids beds, let them say their goodbyes, and out the door he goes. I placed him in the kids yellow construction helmet, and as I walked away, 6 feet away on the other side of the gravel path where we found him, I saw a small creature beginning to stir. Turns out it was his sister. She got ticked when I picked her up. I went and got her brother and placed them together. Back inside I kissed the kids goodnight. Daddy was at the movies with some friends and #2 began to cry for him. I asked her what is the real problem, is it the baby raccoon? She started sobbing and she could barely get the words our through her tears ... yes ... I .. just .. want .. to .. keep .. him. We had a little chat. Then she snuggled up to her stuffed "Lucy" and went off to sleep.

With the kids in bed, I armed myself with the high beam flashlight and the video camera, went to the window to wait for the mom. Just as I got there I could make out her silhouette climbing down the big tree that is near were we had found her babies. I put the spot light on her and her began to climb back up. So I gave her a few undisturbed minutes and checked back about 20 minutes later. Both baby raccoons were gone. I felt at peace for about 2 minutes. Then I began to pray ... God thanks for this amazing day. What a wonderful experience my kids and I have had. Thank you for marvelous creation. Take care of our baby raccoon. PLEASE dear Lord, let us not catch anything harmful from the sweet baby "bandit" Amen.

who wants ice cream?

2006-06-24T15:11:00.000-04:00

I feel like we are melting. It is so hot and dry! What better way to spend the day than in the bubble pool eating ice cream. I don't think they will ever tire of this summer routine.

home again

2006-06-23T09:40:00.000-04:00

2 adults and 5 kids all headed to the beach. One bedroom, one bath condo awaited us when we got there. The weather was perfect, the pool was huge, the beach was exciting and we all had a wonderful time.

heading out

2006-06-18T21:59:00.001-04:00

I am taking a week off. The kids and I are headed to the beach with some friends.

Have a great week. Take care and be good!

Oh, and before I go, I just had to post some pics of my "Super Spider Power Ranger Girl" She is pouting because she didn't want to stop playing and get her picture made. I am such a mean mom.

its over

2006-06-16T15:05:00.000-04:00

You know, I really enjoyed vbs more than I ever thought I would. In the beginning of the week, I remember sitting there with my 3 boys and praying, God ... Please use me in some small way to show your love to these precious kids. Well toady at our last small group time, I gave the boys a little heartfelt speech. They were busy going through their goody bags and I assumed it went in one ear and out the other. I summed it up thinking, they may never remember me, but at least I told them God loves them and so do I. As I was cleaning up and the kids were lining up to leave, I felt someone wrap themselves around me. I looked down and it was one of my boys squeezing me tight. It really took me by surprise. We shared a sweet moment and then one of my other boys found me and said he was sad about leaving. We both gave each other huge hugs and exchanged some sweet words. At this point my eyes were full of tears. I knew God had used me. He even used my boys to help give me a deeper understanding of his boundless love.

Here is a top 10 list of the most memorable moments of the week:

10. During prayer time, one of the first grade girls asked us to pray for her mom's friend and her spoiled rotten daughter.

9. Racing the kids down a big inflatable slide.

8. Praying for a dead cat one of the kids saw in the road. She didn't want to pray for the family whose pet had died, just the squished cat.

7. A sane competent woman asking me - out of the blue - how much did I weigh? Then she asked me my height. Never had this happen. (It was awkward, but I did tell her the truth)

6. The question, "Excuse me, why do you wear those water shoes?" She was referring to my red crocs.

5. Oh the countless white lies first graders say. I am in fourth grade. Really how old are you? 7
Day one: He's my god brother. Day 3, same set of kids: He's my brother. Day 5: Same kids new relationship: He's my step brother. Really
John & Peter healed a cripple man, Do you know anyone who is crippled? Every kid at my table had at least 2 or 3 crippled people in their immediate family. Including a dad who has been crippled 3 times.

4. Being so so SO thankful that the out going little girl who was ALWAYS glued to her teacher, never stopped pulling on her or holding her arm, hand or leg, was never assigned to my table.

3. A lot of the older home schooled kids from the church helped in several classrooms. They were all so nice and polite. It helped me know that kids who grow up home schooled all their life are not social freaks.

2. How old are you? How old do you think I am? All my boys reply 17, maybe 19. Now I AM married, oh then you are 20! Thanks guys but I am ... (Sitting there in one of my old sunday school rooms, in a little chair, in a room full of little kids, with out my own children, listening to the head teacher review the bible lesson, I felt like a kid again. It was hard for me to get my age out of my mouth) 31, now way.

1. My favorite: Those awesome hugs and memories of my first grade boys.

sharp pain in my head

2006-06-14T21:07:00.000-04:00

I don't think I have ever had a migraine before. I came close once. Dim lights and sleep was the only thing that would make it go away. Well tonight I am having sharp random pains on the top left side of my head. Every thing is fine and then... OUCH! It's like someone sticking a knife in my head. Just as quick as the pain comes, it goes away. Crazy.

Forgot to lay out chicken to thaw for dinner tonight. Oops. End result - no major dish washing tonight. I am thankful for that.

#2 is extra lovey today. She is like on this high. Tonight we bonded by coloring rainbow kitty cats. It was her idea. #3 sat beside us and drew her first ever recognizable people. This is huge deal to me. I remember what #2's first people looked like. They were just a big round circle with bulging eyes and two stick legs. No arms needed, just legs. #3 makes sperm people. Just a round head and a squiggly body line. I am keeping this picture forever.

She was able to point me out. I am in the middle on the top row. Recognize me? :)

vbs & me

2006-06-13T21:42:00.000-04:00

So, two days down and 3 more to go. This getting up everyday an knowing me and the kids are headed to the same place is ... okay. I am glad it is for only a week. #2 is really enjoying vacation bible school. #3 seems happy. #1 did not want to return today, but he did without complaining. I am helping out with a first grade class. We have 26 kids. We got so full we added an extra table and stuck it in the back. I was the last teacher to show up (of course), so it became my table. Only 3 kids and me can fit at it so it's just me and 3 boys. My boys are great. Very active and competitive as most 7 year old boys are. They love love love to talk. All 3 will tell me a long life story all at the same time. They just keep talking and talking and if I try to butt in and try to get them to go one at a time, they just keep talking. Today the asked me if I would be their teacher all week. When I replied yes, they gave me a big grin and said ... YES! I have to admit it made me feel real swell. During large group time we reiterate the bible story and then have prayer time. This is truly the comic relief time for the adults. One of the other teachers asks if any of the kids has a prayer request. Well, who would have known that every day over half of them raise their hand. Kids do tell all. Who died, who is about to die, who died last year, who lost their dog, a dog died, a cat got run over and they saw it in the road. It really is so precious to hear what really concerns them.

okay, I have a an hour worth of dishes to do. I better go.

summer friends

2006-06-11T22:54:00.000-04:00

We've been busy busy.. Our home schooling friends returned from their trip to Romania this week. We spent all of Friday with them. Then my "Co-Co" (college roommate and life long best friend) and her kids came to spend the weekend with us. It's been a great past couple of days. I am tired. We have VBS tomorrow at my parents church. I will be helping in a first grade class. I am not excited about getting up and doing the same routine 5 days in a row. This is so unlike me. I don't see how moms who take their kids to school everyday do it. I love our "free-style" family life. It is so perfect for us. Co-Co was just saying how she misses the routine of school days. I love her, we are so opposite in some things. I love that about us. I am a home body, she loves to go go go. You know, I could list so many of our differences, but our hearts are a lot alike. I like friends that aren't like me. It stretches me to think differently and to be more accepting of other people.

Any ways, I am too tired to ramble on. The point is. I love love love my friends. AND I love my kids friends. AND, final thing, I am so happy it's summer.

"Mommy, take another picture of me"

"Mommy DON"T take another picture of me!"

Our friends at the lake

My sweet girls

Co-Co kids and mine.

painted yahtzee

2006-06-07T22:12:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Hairy Keri and Aussie Teeny, I have moved on from playing boogle, which I really really stink at but continue to play b/c I am determined to up my rating, which still has not happened in the 5 years I have been playing. I am finally giving up and coming to grips, I will never be a master boogler. Now Painted Yahtzee is my game. Let's Play!

Oh, do your kids ever pick their nose? Or should I ask do you pick your nose? Check out my man's blog to read about #1's latest booger find. He told me a secret that one of his friends shared with him. He said, "Mommy, can you believe "Will" picks his boogers and eats them. He actually showed me!" Nice!

now playing

2006-06-06T22:03:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed that when you wear headphones and you are really into a great song, it's like you are making your own music video? Maybe it is just me, but I have been so into my shuffle lately. I loaded a bunch of "new" songs on it and I have been rockin out. It helps me burn a few more extra calories throughout my day. I use it in the mornings while I exercise and then yesterday while I cleaned out a storage closet, while I cooked, and then tonight I used it while I cooked and did the dishes (yep, still hand washing!) In fact I have groovy tunes streaming through my little head as I type this post. SO, 2 songs I can't stop listening to. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy. And my current number one favorite is Billy Ocean - Lover BOY! OH, the 80's. Good times! Forgot I added this one to my list, then as I was jogging, I was heading down hill, this song came on. At first I didn't recognize it but once I heard all the effects (whatever musical term it is) kick in, oh it was beautiful. Check out the video for it. It is so weird and just - well I won't say that word, but it made me laugh.
Loverboy - Billy Ocean

veggies

2006-06-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

Today something HUGE happened in our home. My 2 older children tried some VEGGIES! I am so excited. See ... #3 will try about anything, she "ain't" scared. But #1 & 2, they are so pitiful. #1 looks about like he is going to throw up the minute you suggest he try something new. He gets this awful look on his face and the whole time he is chewing he is having force himself not to gag! It drives me crazy sometimes at how picky they are. They won't even eat hamburgers. They'll see a commercial for a cool prize and Micky D's and ask for one. I say ... you have to eat a hamburger to get one. Quick reply from them ... NO way! #1 just recently started liking french fries! Honestly I am okay with them not liking the typical Fast Food. It forces us to eat at healthier to go places, well not many "places". We normally always end up at Blimpie and sometimes Chick-fil-A. Any ways, back to the point. I just really wish they would both try new foods without me giving the evil eye. Well I was trying to eat a healthy lunch, stir-fry-veggies and the girls decided to help me cook. So, since they helped me prepare the meal I asked them try it. #1 got in on it too, because I decided not to give him an option. They got to pick 2 veggies to try. I was shocked that both of them voted the onion to be their favorite. Not the most nutritious but at least it is a start!

Note: #3 dressed her self today. She loves the layered look!

spray me, feed me

2006-06-04T00:06:00.000-04:00

Here was our today: eat, Vacuum, eat, vacuum, hose down the kids, snack, list things on eBay, hose the kids down again, and then we all eat again, picnic style. It was fun!

affirmation

2006-06-01T23:36:00.000-04:00

How much affirmation do you need? My son needs tons! EVERY half way positive thing he does, picture he creates, structure he dreams up, he asks me if I like it, think it's cool, think he is smart, on and on. I always affirm him, but I don't go over board, like ... Wow son. You are the most creative kid on the planet. No kid could ever be as smart, funny and handsome as you. Though some times I do think the statement to be true. After all he is mine. I don't want to pump up his head to be too big. Is this normal for a kid to care so much of what I think of him? Then it hit me. Doesn't every kid want to think that in their mom's eyes they are the brightest, most imaginative, cutest, bestest kid ever? Well, he is in my eyes. All three out shine every kid on the planet from my biases perception. And tomorrow I will look at 15 other new lego things that have born from his creative mind, and I will smile and say, I really like that. You make me proud.

Alien lab: complete with ... alien space ship, 3 alien holding tanks, telescope, observation table (woman on it and man looking into her to see if there is an alien inside) alien guns, satellite dish and some computer control panels.

14 of the hardest things for me do

2006-05-31T08:54:00.000-04:00

1. go all day without wearing covergirl expresso brown eyeliner - my eyes are lost on my face without it.

2. get out of a hot shower

3. keep my closet clean and organized for more than 2 days

4. design a daily routine and stick to it for more than a day

5. impulsively know my right from my left

6. go to the grocery store and not forget to buy something I need

7. stop caring for a friend, even if they are the one who quit communicating

8. go shopping for me and not stop to look at children's clothing

9. get out of a warm cozy bed in our freezing cold house during the winter

10. have patience in a drive thru lane

11. walk by my computer and not check my email

12. buy accessories to spruce up my outfits

13. not people watch

14. refraining from saying what I feel

14, why 14? I was trying for a Thursday 13, but I came up with one to many.