A Game of Hope

My good friend, Ann, sent this video to me. It is well worth your time to watch it. Be sure to hit the pause button on my playlist(clear at the bottom) before you begin to watch the video.

Way Back Wednesday

So this post is dedicated to all my friends out there who are potty training 2 boys, sending a child off to war, hoping and praying for more children, dropping off kids at college, becoming grandparents and mourning the loss of a child.

So basically everyone I know and those I only know through this blog.

You know that song by Lonestar.....Let Them Be Little.....I LOVELOVELOVE that song. Sometimes I can listen and smile and go on....sometimes, well I have tearstearstears. In May 2008, (and for about 4 months after) there was no way I could listen to the song without being a total and complete mess. I would literally have to turn the radio station if the song came on.

And then I see pictures of my kids.....and I want to tell everyone....Let Them Be Little. It's only that way for a while.

Enjoy each moment....don't wish away the time. You can't get it back.

Enjoy the little things and the big things.

Give hugs.

Take pictures. And print them.

Go to Grandma's...a lot.

Be present.

Let Them Be Little.

Let them sleep in your bed.....I can guarantee that doesn' t last forever. Mine barely step over the threshold into our room these days....maybe they figured out what REALLY goes on in there.........

Play outside. Shoot hoops....let them win. Once.

Tell stupid jokes. Laugh at their made-up jokes.

Eat dinner at the table every night.

Find out who they played with at recess. And why.

Experiment.

Cook with them. Even if its Hamburger Helper.

Tell funny stories from your childhood. And laugh at your brothers and sisters.

Pray for them.

Tell them no. And mean it.

Go to church.

Make family rules....you must help carry in the groceries and help put them away in order to eat. Help with the dinner clean up. Sweep the floor. Clean the bathroom. NO overnights on Saturdays.

Most of all.....

Let Them Be Little.

Nuts

No Word Monday

MySpace Countdown Clocks

Something Funny

So I got this from my good friend, Vicki, today
and I thought it applied to soooooo many of us.....Enjoy!

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed,
observing his wife,
looking at herself in the mirror.
Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.


'I'd like to be six again', she replied,
still looking in the mirror.


On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms,
and then took her to Six Flags theme park.
What a day!

He put her on every ride in the park;
the Death Slide,
the Wall of Fear,
the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster,
everything there was.


Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park.
Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.


He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a
Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.


Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and
her favorite candy, M&M's.
What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted.
He leaned over his wife
with a big smile and lovingly asked,
'Well Dear, what was it like being six again?'


Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly
changed. 'I meant my dress size, you retard!!!!'


The moral of the story:
Even when a man is listening,
he is gonna get it wrong.

Stupid Video....but I Couldn't Resist

Way Back Wednesday

We all look a little different these days....just sayin'.

Dancing Girl Saturday

Hard to believe...but I spent all of Saturday sitting in a gym watching Dancing Girls. Round here we call it Drama Team but most people call it Drill Team. It was a contest and it was....well it was OK. It was long long long sitting sitting sitting. It was fun to sit with people I don't get to see all that often and visit. There was lots of good...you know, let's just go with FANTASTIC....80's music and some pretty good dancing. Here is one of three routines our Drama Team Girl performed....Enjoy!

No Word Monday...Sort of

Gifts

So it's Friday the 13th. And listen up. Do not complain. It's all about attitude.


See this picture? It's College Girl....on Friday the 13th. Yep, she was born on a beautiful Friday in April. It was the greatest day EVEREVEREVEREVER. Big Guy and I were in Heaven. Over the moon....Friday the 13th? Greatest day ever.

And she was cute, too. And smelled so sweet...for a minute. And those lips...I just love baby lips. Oh, and my good friend, WB, will tell you I LOVE baby feet. First thing I do is take off those socks and check out the feet. Baby feet are the greatest.


College Girl did have a hairy forehead. Her hairline kind of....well...really just started at her eyebrows and went to her butt crack. Hey, it happens.



College Girl was pretty darn special, too. First grandchild for my mom and first great grandchild for my grandparents. Here are my grandparents on their first official visit to College Girl. They still liked me best. Sorry College Girl.


But guess what? 4 years and a month later.....it's Friday the 13th. And guess what? Yep, The Twins are born on a sunny Friday in May. It was the greatest day EVEREVEREVEREVER x 2. I am telling you that on that day I was amazed at Him. How lucky can I be? 3 kids...2 birthdays....all on Friday the 13th. Big Guy and I were in Heaven. Over the moon....Friday the 13th? Greatest day ever.


This is Frick. He's the middle child--sort of. Feel bad for him...he is sandwiched between two girls who think he is the greatest thing. Oh don't let them kid you.....they love him.

And look at his lips. Oh, I love baby lips. Boy, he could eat. Well....still can.



And here is Frack. Ooohhh...look at those lips! She was such a wonderful baby....they both were. If they had been born first we probably would have had 10 kids...just kidding, Mom. But really, Frick and Frack were great babies. We had such a good time with all 3 kids. College Girl loved the babies soooo much and she was such good help.

I know what you are thinking....Oh my, is that your real hair color? Might be...I was 27. Man, whomever sold me those glasses ought to be shot. Them suckers are butt ugly.



Here is my grandpa with Frick and Frack....I love this picture. He was so proud of those babies! He still liked me best. Sorry Frick and Frack.





They grew up so fast....Big Guy and I are amazed at how fast time has gone. Friday the 13th's are very special around our house....3 of the greatest gifts ever...came to us on Friday the 13th.




Today I was called to the office for an urgent message. So I went on down there....and the Secretaries pointed to this:


Flowers. FLOWERS. Flowers from my Husband with a card that read, "Happy Friday the 13th!"

Flowers from my husband has only happened about 3 times in 22 years.

Friday the 13th is a gift. Have a wonderful day!

Way Back Wednesday

Happy Birthday, Uncle Tom!

Today is my Uncle Tom's birthday....and he is older than me and my mom and my other uncle. He is basically...the oldest. I am not sure how old he is in this picture, but since my Uncle Butch isn't in the picture I am guessing around 3, so that makes my mom almost 2. Aren't they cute? And lucky for them....I have a current picture just so you can see the difference...........

And yep, just like everybody else in my family....he likes me best.

No Word Monday

Cora

Joel and Jess over at The Macs are suffering. Please pray for them and Sweet Angel Cora. May Peace Be With Them.........

Way Back Wednesday

I am not sure there any words to go with these pics.....College Girl is the one in the pink. Her very good friend...Almost College Girl is next to her in the denim dress. These girls were so silly when they were together!! I am pretty sure this is the basement of the Methodist Church in 1994 after a Raggedy Ann and Andy Preschool Christmas program. Why did College Girl wear that dress to a Christmas program? Lord knows I am sure I suggested other attire...but who fights over clothes with a 4 year old?

Isn't that a lovely sofa? It was mine for a very loooooong time. It was the greatest sofa to take a nap on....it was just ugly. Don't even ask me what these two are doing.....I couldn't begin to explain them. It's their dad's. Gene pool issues.

Oh....here they are all grown up with one of their favorites! This is why they became friends in the first place....the greatest Day Care in the history of the world. She used to let them do her hair...curlers and everything! And fed them donuts and chocolate milk.


Here is a special one....Almost College Girls 8th grade Promotion in May, 2005. That is Almost College Girls dad. Why do his lips look like that? And what is that smell? And is that Donald Duck? He might be why they act the way they do...........just sayin'.


These two had a thing for matching outfits. Not real sure which mom bought these fleece pullovers...but they were great! And they wore them and wore them--can you say oversize? And College Girl....exactly how many chins do you have?


Again, with the matching outfits!



OK...so I am telling you that these are NOT MY DRESSES!!!! These are Almost College Girls moms. I think the blue one might have been a prom dress....man, I am glad I didn't own anything that looked like this! Wait, that might be a lie....I...um...yeah. It's a lie.



College Girls 5th or 6th birthday. This might have been the happiest she appeared in any photo all day. She hated having birthday parties...in fact, moments before the guests were due to arrive, she laid on the floor bawling and screaming for me to--get this--"Call them all and tell them not to come! I HATE birthday parties!" I just walked away and we had the party. We had about 1 more party after that.....truly. She had a birthday party in 2nd grade and then again when she turned 18!

And these markers...........One Saturday in early May we decided we would get all "pulled" together--remember if College Girl is 6 the Twins are 2--and go into the City to attend church and eat out. So we pull this feat off and we are driving home. AaaHhhh....it's nice and quiet in the car--my first mistake--we are simply driving along. Peacefully. Quiet. But wait...what? WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! College Girl has used THESE markers to color all over herself, her sister and because she couldn't reach her brother, she had given him the marker to color on himself. And when I say color, I mean she completely covered her sister. There was absolutely no uncolored place on that child. So like any crazed lunatic sleep deprived mother of 3....I yelled, "GIVE ME THOSE MARKERS RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY!!!" I promptly rolled down my window and tossed all 10 markers in the ditch as we drove by at 65 mph. Almost College Girl hasn't really ever forgiven me.



This is Almost College Girls 4th birthday. And I know this because Almost College Girls mother wrote on the back of the photo--and this photo came with the thank you card she sent. Overachiever. She loved birthday parties...and her mom was good at parties. They were always fun and my kids--all of them--would get to spend the night. She is the bestest friend!!



Heaven only knows what this get up was all about.............notice the shoes............




And did you ever see such lovely brown eyes? Almost College Girl---Nice Smile. College Girl--close your mouth already.


Happy Birthday Almost College Girl....its a big one...and we know we're a little early....Have a Wonderful Day!! We are so proud of you....and we love you tons!

No Word Monday

Um....OCD, Maybe?

OK. So I have this thing for....Lysol. I have several cans (4 and 2 spares under the counter) spread throughout my home. I spray it...a lot. Obviously not enough because someone in my family woke up with the stomach flu yesterday. You know what? Whomever introduced the stomach flu to the modern world ought to be shot. I hate the inventor of the stomach flu.

This can is in the downstairs bathroom. Which I cleaned yesterday and sprayed with Lysol every time I walked by the room. Which was a lot because it is next to my laundry "area" and I did 10 loads of laundry yesterday. Don't worry I have at least 10 more to do today. BTW---this kind smells really good. Like a spring waterfall. AaaHaaa. Makes me feel like I am in that Paradise called Mexico. Which I know some of my "favorite" regular readers are going to Paradise soon. Take some Lysol there might be germs there.

This can is just hanging out in the laundry "area" of the basement. I sprayed it as I was cleaning bedrooms in the basement. Hence, the 10 loads of laundry yesterday. Who bought these teenage girls all these clothes? And why do we have so many dang blankets? Geez, we could provide clothes and blankets for a small, third world country.



This can hangs out in the upstairs bathroom. Look! There I am...in the mirror (got my hair cut this week...done with grown up hair....returned to the back end of a chicken look! Yes! I love it!). I cleaned this room yesterday, also. And I sprayed and sprayed this can. I even carried it around the house sprayingsprayingspraying several (like 10) times. At one point Big Guy looked at our people and said, "Well, if the stomach flu doesn't kill you, then Lysol poisoning will." HaHa....very funny. Do some laundry already, will ya?

You know how I like to blame some of my quirkier habits on my Grandma? This is not her fault. She liked those fruity air fresheners--you know the ones that are made of that gel like substance and you twist up the top....she liked those. You know the smell...WalMart bathroom smell. Mmmmm....ick. Not so much.

This Lysol thing....well, it's....my mom. She always sprayed it. She still does. The people in her office appreciate her diligent war against germs. And so do I. She used to pack it in her suitcase when we traveled. And she would spray down the hotel room. OK OK... I only remember her doing this once...but isn't it a great idea? Man, my mom is smart. Must be where I get my smarts.



OK...this can is...well....on top of the refrigerator. Did you know that if you have a small kitchen fire it causes a lot of smoke? And that Lysol will cut that smoke right out? Did you? Did you? Or if by chance you...say...accidentally burn something like popcorn or get a pan little too hot before you put the sausages on and smoke the place out....that Lysol will get rid of that smell lickety-split? Good information to have if this ever happens to you.

Excuse me while I continue on my mission to rid my house of smoke...um I mean, germs.