How to Take a Christmas Card Photo - or Not

Did y'all know Christmas is 4 months and three days away? Time to start thinking about that christmas card photo

Trying to get three kids and a dog (Because she needed to be in the shots too) to look the same way is like trying to give a cat a pill.





YAY! It's almost Christmas (oh dear )



Notice the dog creeping in - she wants to be in the card this year too.



we'll look anywhere BUT at mom - notice the dog tail



What kids? I didn't see any kids. I need to be in the card shot too mom (this one cracks me up)\



Make sure you get my best side mom - hey what's that laughing sound?



Rabi SIT down!



then the karate chopping started - nothing says "Peace on Earth" like karate chop to your brother's head.


This should have been my cue to stop



but I didn't this is getting close



Nope



Then Joey saw a butterfly and took off and Tommy needed a drink (so did I of the adult variety) and the dog had to bark at the mailman. We took a break

Y'all know what time it is?????

It's time for me to start thinking about what is going IN my christmas cards.

I know it's still August and it's hot. But, seriously, it's almost time for christmas. October will be here before we know it. Then comes november and the Christmas rush is on. So NOW is the time to prepare.

Before Boy Scout popcorn and halloween even hit rest assured i'll be making my list, checking it twice and getting the ultimate christmas card shot.

in the heat of battle

in the heat of battle
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

sweet summer swigftly slides into september

How can this be?

It is almost September - time for school to jump into high gear. Time for Scouts and religous ed swimming and all soerts of other commitments.

As i glanced out the calendar. I stop and wonder where has summer gone? It seems just like yesterday that we headed into June with the promise of lazy days ahaead of us. Now they are almost all behind us.

Sunkissed Charles

Sunkissed Charles
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Here it is.

August.

As of today, there are only 17 days until school starts and summer slips by into fall.

Today's Love Thursday - contentment

Little boy, may your life always be this carefree and happy.

May you know all the love you feel in this picture now and always.

May your days be sunny and bright.

May you always be sweet and kind.

May you always be content.

What Are You Thinking Little Boy.

Joey in Sepia
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

What secret thoughts lie behind your eyes.

What thoughts are you thinking?

What things are you dreaming of?

What does your future hold?

Can you tell me?

Are you dreaming of knights and ferocious dragon battles?

Or, is it dreams chasing dragon flies in a field of flowers?

Are you traveling through time and space?

Did you just cross the finish line in a race?

What are you thinking little boy?

Bloody Hell!

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

I am cleaner than LL? Whoddathinkit.

When, in the course of human events

Old Glory and Charles
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Today is our nation's birthday. The idea that became the United States of America celebrated it's 231st anniversary of being. On July 4, 1776, our nation, and the dreams of freedom we have now were born when a few men had the courage to stand up and depose a tyrant, knowing that should they fail the result was death.

These brave men had the courage to say yes to freedom and no to taxation without representation, conscription, unlawful improsnment and death at the hands of Mad King George. witha few words "when in the course of human events...." words started a war. Before a single shot was fired. Our founding fathers stood up and took a stand to make us the land of the free and the home of the brave. They knew this would not be an easy fight. They knew blood would be shed and lives taken. They knew that anything worth fighting for was not free. Yet they did it. They signed the declaration and started a war for freedom and independence.

Today I look at my three sons. They sat on Idependence parkway and watched the parade float, march and drive past them. They stood, without prompting and saluted our flaag as it went past and they yellowed out thank you as our veterans drove past. I watched some one elses's sons and daughters march or ride past with the American Legion dressed in their military uniforms. I got chills as people stood up and saluted our flag and as they thanked those who fought to defend our freedoms that Declaration of Independence gave us.

I got teary and touched the rosary I carry in my pocket as a car carrying three Gold Star Mothers passed. These women smiled and waved and greeted paradegoers with "Happy 4th of July" I took a moment to say a prayer of thanks for these women who's children have bought our freedom with their lives. It is these women we too must thank on Independence Day. Their sons lives helped pay for our continued freedom from tyrany, terrorism and conscription. and secured the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with their blood. These women are just as brave as their sons and daughters

Wet Revenge

Wet Revenge
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

what happens to a boy who spashes his mother on purpose

View On Black

Yes Virginia, There IS Sun in Texas

sunny faces
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Finally, after days and days of "maybe we need to consider an ark" rains, we had day of sun. We woke up to blue skies and a bright golden, glowing orb on the sky.

The kids spent most of the afternoon out of doors. enjoying the beauty that we hadn't had in a long long time.

MY Oldest Son - the trouble has only JUST begun.

My oldest child thinks he's suave. He thinks he's cool. He thinks he's sexy in the way that only 12 year old boyc can be sexy. To be honest, I didn't think 12 year olds could BE sexy. But he assures me he is indeed sexy.

We're all for self esteem and having a good sense of body image.

Apparently girls his age find him sexy as well.

We went to our neighborhood's pool night last Saturday for a Neighborhood Night at the Movies. Charles saw some of his buddies at schools and sat by them. He was happy. I was happy. Two girls saw him and got all excited. I overheard one of the girls scanning the scene and telling her her Friend that Charles was there - he's so cute let's go sit by him.

He was happy.

His friends were happy

The wonton hussy girls were happy.

I was so not happy.

Question of the day

When will I ever learn to say NO! instead of "I'll do it?

and

Ehy does Hermione Granger look like manly girl in the HP movie thingy <-------------?

Love is letting your kids wallow in mud like pigs

DSC_0004.JPG
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Over the past week, I have received numerous comments on these pictures.

People congratulating me on being a good enough mother to let my kids play in the mud.

If allowing my kids to play in the mud, thus leaving me alone for ten minutes or fight with each other for ten minutes makes me a good mother, well I'll take that.

But I have been thinking, why is this so shocking? Why is letting kids wallow in mud like pigs so shocking these days.

I don't have the answer but my boys love dirt and bugs and worms. The love squirmy critters and playing pirates on the lawn furniture or pool toys.

I "allow" this type of behavior because they give me a few minutes peace to post on my blog or clean the bathroom or mop the floor or whatever else it is good mothers do.

Play like this also allows them to build their imaginations and think forthemselves, something video games and talking toys don't.

Also, they are kids, children. They are not accountants or whatever in training, they are not adults in Children's Place clothing. They should be out getting dirty, making mud pies, building forts out of tents and catching bugs.

The Lazy Days of Summer

seem to have slipped us by. june 1 was just last Friday and here we are. We are as busy as we were when school was in session.

We spent the weekend at Rusk State Park with Charles' Boy Scout Troop. After a wrong turn or 20, we got to the park early early June 2. We set up camp, got a few hours sleep and then headed for the train depot where we rode this:

.

We got back Sunday - through a torrential downpour. It rained here all weekend but we were blessed by a rain free weekend in east Texas.

Monday, Tommy started Summer School to help him grasp a few areas where he struggled last year. He's enjoying it.

Charles is also working on Algebra at home. He'll be taking a credit by exam test in August so he can hopefully skip re Algebra and Algebra this next school year. Together we are diving into polynomials, quadratic equations and x=y=z. I am amazed at how well he's doing. I am amazed how quickly it is coming back to me.

Joey is being Joey. He's enjoying having playmates.

Saturday, eric and I fly to San Francisco. eight days of child free activities.

We've been swimming



and sun bathing

Today's Post brought to you by the Letter S

Soak starts with S.

Snack starts with S

so does so, sweat, sck and sweep.

But today, dear readers, the letter of the day stands for SUN and SUCKS.

Today, I depart on a two day campout with my son's Scout troop - also S words.

We are going to Rusk State Park to ride the Texas some thing train. The only steam engine train in operation in Texas - the kids call it the hogwarts express.

But the reason today's word is SUCK because I was awakened this morning my my monthly visit from my red headed aunt. THIS SUCKS.

SUCKS ROCKS and lemonade it does.

I want to lay down on the hot pavement and remove my uterus with a spoon (another s word)

I want to drink medicinal margaritas and eat choclate.

NO.

I get to sleep in a tent. On the ground.

I get to carry tampax in my pretty new day pack.

The troop has a no snack rule. That means no chocolate

That sucks.

And the weather man calls for rain not SUN this weekend.

I get to camp in the rain in the wet and bleed like a stuck pig.

Thar SUCKS!

Mud Bath

DSC_0009.JPG
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

and to think, people pay hundreds of dollars to get spa treatments like this. Too bad getting them to take a real bath is never this easy.

creative hands

creative hands
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

School's Out for Summer.

Today - at 1:05 PM the boys are officially out of school and on summer vacation. We're FREE - at least until August 27 when we celebrate THe Most Wonderful Day of the Year - back to school.

My poor children are neglected and abused really. Charles is taking advanced Math this summer and Tommy is in summer school for a month. I also have learning activities planned each day to keep their minds sharp. Ccharles also has a summer project to do for English. He was sonot happy to have homework over the summer for a class he hadn't even taken yet! He'll get over it.

For a few days anyway though - we're going to enjoy sleeping in. We'll enjoy the pool before it turns into over-sized bath water.

School's out for summer.

YEEHAW!

Nothing

I have nothing witty or funny to share.

Anger and frustration, yes.

Funny and witty - nope. For the most part it's been same song different day.

So Iguess I'll just share some photos

Lucky 13

Thirteen years ago today, I was a bride. A 22 year old woman, or so I thought, embarking down the peach rose petal strewn aisle to happily ever after. I would forever be a Mrs. I dreamed of 2.5 kids, a big sheep dog, a white picket fence and a big brick house on the hill, and both of us in careers. . I have the big brick house and a big dog, three kids - I'm not going to be the one to tell Joey he's a half. The only thing I don't have is the career. But eric and I have each other. Sure the first thirteen years have been rocky. We've been broke. We've been broker than broke. We've been aprt physically and sometime emotionally. He's had jobs he hated (read Computer Corner) but he kept because it paid the bills. There've been times I wanted to smother his sleeping body and leave his lifeless body out for bulk pick up. There have been times I am sure he dreamed of doing the same thing to me. We've known grief and loss, when we suffered through miscarriages. We've known great joy, when our three boys were born. We lost his mom (I was sad for him). We've dealt with his dad. We've been friends, lovers and each others best friend for 13 years.

Here are the thirteen reasons ( 156 would be a long long post) why I am still married to my husband

1. Together we made three beautiful boys.

2. You are good at math and I am not - so when it's math homeowrk time I can say - "go ask your father."

3. You laugh at my jokes

4. You, unlike other husbands don't care if I scrapbook - in fact you call and reserve a spot for me JUST because you know I need my sanity

5. You indulged my pregnancy cravings.

6. You went back to Kroger to exchange the granny smith apples when I craved gala apples and I cried because they were granny smith not gala.

7. You actually remember birthdays and anniversaries.

8. You bought me rose bushes for valentine's Day the year we bought our house so I could have roses all the time - not just once or twice a year.

9. Your beard tickles me on the back of the neck - and I love it.

10. You still try to scare me in the shower.

11. You set a good example for our boys as a man of faith

12 You iron

13. You still think I am as beautiful now as I was when we got married.

Happy Mother's Day

Today, my boys gae me a watch. I needed a new one. They made me waffles and sausage. They let Joey wake my up by prying my eyeballs open. Alll in all it was a good Mother's day at my house. My gift, a time piece, makes me think about time. Two of my mommy friends are spending this Mother's day without one of their children for the first time. They are being celebrated and, at the same time missing one of their children. I can't imagine anything as painful and heartbreaking.

so today, while I have the gift of time, my heart goes out to all of those mothers who wish for one thing - more time with their children.

My needs

I saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun to do....you goggle your name and needs and see what comes up

Mary needs to be freed from all this. (Well, I’ve been saying that for years).

Mary needs to feed the sheep (Is this the lamb at the school because I don't have sheep unless they count the children)

Mary needs to balance her ‘big picture’ thinking with someone with solid financial skills who can really take care of the nuts and bolts of doing busines (I could use a big picture)

Mary needs to determine the best day to work her magic. ... (thats what eric might be thinking.....)

Mary needs assistance in all activities because she has not had a bowel movement for six days (um no)

The Lizard

Today , when we were walking back home from our neighborhood play area, we passed a grassy area just beyond the basketball courts. A tree had fallen a while back and no one has removed it. Joey saw it and yelled out that he'd seen a lizard. I turned around looking to see if I saw a lizard. I followed where he was pointing and saw the log.

He's right. The log does look like a lizard.



He very cautiously decided he wanted to o up and take a closer look



He stopped before it and looked at it



The he touched it with his foot.



Then, he reched down and took a piece of bark err a scale from the lizard and brought it to me.



I of course waited safetly on the sidewalk, afrad anything alive and squirmy felt the need to slither past.

Love Thursday - Love is Patient

For those of you who know me, I am not a patient person. I'm all about instant gratification and I do NOT like to wait. It's ninety or nothing in my book. Taking time to smell the roses is a hard thing for me to do. I shake my presents under the Christmas tree, indeed, I am so bad about waiting my husband waits until I am in bed on Christmas eve to even wrap my gifts and put them under the tree. I cannot wait for everyone to open their gifts. I don't DO wait.

Today however, was different. Along my front walk, are bushes that produce the most wonderfully perfumes flowers. Their sweet scent of spring fills the air. Their lacey white flowers add a sense of beauty to the walk. An added bonus is the flowers attract butterflies. The butterflies fly from the scented flowers as soon as the front door opens. I have been trying to catch a butterfly or two with my camera lens for about a week. Today, as I went out to see where my middle son was, I was rewarded. I ran back in and grabbed my camera and started shooting.

There were several butterflies fluttering around the flowers.




I got several like this



or like this



I really wanted one of a butterly with it's wings spread, ready to take flight. I got close.



Just as I was about ready to go in, I got what I wanted. So today's Love Thursday Post is: Love Is Patient.

Led to the Table

On Saturday morning, Tommy recevied Jesus for the first time. He was a lot less nervous about receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communiuon than he was about his First reconcilliation in December. Sacrament wise, eatting is a lot more fun than sin. Ftaher Tim had us all in stitches, I think half the class had a May 10th birthday. No one wanted to get married though - i guess at eight the opposite sex is aboput as desirable as a mountain of homework and the flu.



charles spent his time looking cool. I have to admit his hair is growing on me.



Joey was busy being goofy.



Then he fell asleep as Mass started. He slept through Charles' First communion a few years ago as well. I pray he stays awake for HIS First Communion in about four years.



One last parting shot!

Love Thursday-attraction

These bushes line my walkway. each spring the put forth the most delicate scenteed flowers that attract butterflies and bees.

It's MAY!

and it might finally be warming up. In all honesty, I've enjoyed that it is not so incredibly hot like it has been the past two years. I've enjoyed the violent nature of our spring storms - It's part of being Texan.

Dallas got a new bishop - our seventh on Tuesday. Kevin Joseph Farrell was installed at the cathedral. It was cool to watch the tradition meet the 21st century. The ceremony ancient rite yet carried live over the internet. I like him alrady - he has inflection and tone to his voice. He's nice to listen too.

Tommy makes his First communion Saturday. we're all excited. Other than that, it looks like things are calming down.

Love Thursday - concentration

Monday aftternoon Joey and I decided it was time to blow some bubbles. We went out to the front yard with a bottle of bubbles. we sat in the grass and Joey started blowing. At first he was blowing so hard the bubble solution sprayed out of the wand. Then he realized that he needed to blow softer. evrytime he'd blow, he'd scrunch up his face and would ever so gently blow. That had little effect either. after a few demonstrations from mom, he leared that modertion was the key to getting perfect bubbles to float and dance across the yard until the popped with a gentle plop in the spring breeze.

Fiesta rose - Favorite Photo Friday

Fiesta rose
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

This is one of the first roses off my biggest bush

Today, I Struggle

Today, as it has since Monday, my heart aches for my friend Karla. Karla lost her daughter McKenzie on Monday. McKenzie had health issues but still. Four years old is way too young to die. My heart breaks for Karla because she won't have the good night kisses and bedtime stories and "just one more glass of water Mama" from her youngest child any more. Karla will have one lees first day of kindergaten and one less high school graduation to attend. There will be one less prom and one less wedding. Instead she'll have anm empty spot in her home and heart. Instead there will be some one missing. Some one missing at the table some one missing from family pictures someone missing freom their lives - forever.

My heart aches for as it breaks just a little when I think of the two baies I lost, and those baies lost by my friends. I know, in heaven, McKenzie is with all of our angels. She's healthy and whole and shining in the light of the Lord. Yet, down here, Karla and her family have a hole in their hearts and grief that now, I'm sure, seems overwhelming. McKenzie was here and now she's not. Now she is wrpapped in the Savior's love, born again in Him. McKenzie's cross has been taken and today she flies.

So tonight at 5PM I'm going to hug my children a little tighter and I'll give them more kisses - even the 11 year old who thinks he's too cool. And we'll think of McKenzie. we'll thank God for her life and ask Goid to hold her family in His heart and guide them as they mourn and heal.

Works for Me Wednesday

I just saw Rocks in the dryer WFMW - this week she's covering birthdays.

I am not a fan of parties at places like the House of Rat (what I refer to Chuck E Cheese as) and places like that. Crappy overpriced pizza and all those seizure iduced lights and bells and singing rats make me want to consume large quantities of liqour. I much prefer home parties. My favorite party tip is leave the cake and ice cream for the last. That way you sugar the kids up, hand them bags of more and more sugar and send them on their merry way.

Howecver my best partty tip involves individual serving sizes of everything. At my oldest's last birthday party we did a kite theme. The kids eacg got a kite to tke home and it was an instant party game. To make feeding the kids easier we did pizza, veggeies and dip and individual serrvings of chips and juice boxes I bought a variety pack and the kids got to pick their favorite. I alkso bought individual serving sizes of ice cream and a cup cake cake so there was no slicing. The kids loved it because they got a choice. I loved it because clean up was easy.

Eggsellent

Eggsellent
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Every Girl is Crazy About a Sharp Dressed Man

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Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Joey has been dressing himself for a year and a half now, but I've always picked out what he wears, or I get one of his brothers to pick him out something. It's hard to mismatch shorts, a t-shirt and a pair of white socks.

Friday morning though, Joey decided he'd dress himslf.

I am not sure if yyou can see the shorts but they are red, white and blue plaid. He also insisted on wearing the tie that went with his Easter suit. Joey is ver proud of the tie.

The fashion police are going to LOVE him.

This picture I will save, and share with his friends when he's a snarly, hormonal teenage boy.

I asked him if he looked good. He said he did.

48

48 things I love about joey on his fourth birthday

1 You came into this world sunny side up and peeing and you've made it your OWN way since.

2. You are my mini me from your blonde hair and blue eyes to the way you walk and stand - except you are male.

3. Your made up Dog Cat Bee game and the way you always HAVE to be the cat.

4. The way you were brave enough to touch the slugs in the flower bed - and your big brothers weren't.

5. They way you sleep "with your eyes open"

6. The way you defend yourself against your big brothers.

7. The way you refuse to call brown brown but insead chocolate.

8. The way you LOVE chocoalte

9. The way you tell everyone you are a kid not a baby.

10. The way you insisit I give you a kiss.

11. The saddness you felt when your grubs died and went to slug heaven.

12 The way you nap on the dog and she lets you because you are you.

13 the way you belly laugh

14 because you make me mud pies everytime it rains - even if you do use the dog's bowl.

15 The way you got up and hugged Charles on Christmas morning because he bought you real kid crayons not baby crayons.

16 I love how you know exactly what you want and you aren't afraid to tell us - again and again and again

17. The way you dance with your shadow

18 the way you FLY in the swing

19 The way you think any day missed at the park is not worth living.

20 The way you love Alex the Lion

21 The way you like to sing Move it Move it

22. Your Joey dance

23. The way you delight in watering flowers with the watering can. The can weighs more than you but you still try to water the flowers

24 the cute way you say "can you help me?"

25 your monster roars.

26 the way you delight in simple things like blowing dandelion fluff.

27. The way you pull your chair to the counter to help me in the kitchen

28 the way you say "I'm HOOOOOOONGRY mommy"

29. Your vivid blue eyes

30 the way your eyes sparkle when you are happy

31 your love of frog shirts

32 the way you insist on wearing any shirt with a design backwards so other people can see the design.

33 The way you love peanut butter and jelly and would it it every day

34 the way you "read"

35 the way you like to "help"

36 the way you like my flimsy sloaty skirts, you carry them around and hold them next to because you like the faric

37. your love of my chicken slippers and how you "let" me wear them

38 the way you suck your fingers when you are sleepy -even though we shouldn't let you.

39 the way you like to cuddle in my "big girl bed" and watch sesame street every morning - before you do anything

40. the anal way you "organize" everyone's shoes by the front door.

41 your sweet smile

42 your belief that chocolate goes with everything

43 today you told everyone you are 55.

44 and you believed it

45 the way you insist you can do anything the big boys do and you do.

46 the way you still need snuggles with mommy

47 the way you let me paint your toenails and then showed your father

48 the fact that you are my baby. The baby I dreamed of and prayed for.

Things I didn't know but do now.

1. Slugs don't like rain. we left the slugs outside in their terracotta container. All the rain left them, well dead. Put a fork in them call the coroner dead.

2. Joey would mourn the death of Furball and Spooky like we mourn family members. He cried and cired even after I assured him they were good slugs and in slug heaven.

3. Slugs bite. This I am taking on faith. Joey said Shadow tried to bite him so Joey squished him in his fingers and Shadow went sqwoosh.

4. It can rain over three inches in a day and we can have a lake in our back yard.

5. The weather guys think we are in drought ending rain cycle - WOOHOO.

6. I'll have to come up wwith a new excuse for killing the flowers in my flower beds.

7. Pink suede garden gloves don't make you a gardener

8. Plants need fertilizer, water and well, water.

9. Roses are easy to grow.

Who Needs Larry Curly and Moe

when you have Furball, Spooky and Shadow?

Today, the kids and I decided, well okay they didn't decde they were informed, *I* did the actual deciding, that it was time to prepare the front flower bed for planting.

Last year, the drought killed all the stuff we put there and the landscape fabric kept the ground moist allowing grass to grow up through the fabric. We left it because in August it was the ONLY green grass we had and I was seriously green with envy. The grass stayed. I'd take off my shoes and let me toes bask in it's lush greeness. I'm kind of kooky like that.

So today, because the boys were aggrivating me and I am in need of stress relief we tore it all out. As we lifted the fabric and now dead suffocating grass off, we found grubs. How the grubs survived in our clay soil I'll never know but they were there. Charles and Thomas found them amusing but icky. Joey on the other hand fell in love with them. He went and got an empty clay pot and put the grubs in there with a bit of mulch. He named them. He chased his bigger brothers with them because they were scared to touch them.

So now, in a terra cotta pot with moist soil live Furball, Spooky and Shadow.

Our cat Broccoli, also named by Joey, is envious of the cool worm names.

Dream Dream Dream

In case you missed it, ABC has a new show- The Great American Dream Vote. Let's just say ABC is reaching.

The premise of the show is simple. Two people with similar needs battle each other - verbally - for a prize. The winner of each round wins a chance to compete with other round winners for their particular selected prize. America I guess gets to vote for the best winner.

In the first round was men who were prematurely bald. One guy was 22 and had been bald since he was 17. He looked 43. The other guy just needed to shave his head. He was 25 and looked good bald. He just wanted hair so he could propose to his girlfriend. She didn't know that's why he hadn't popped the question - I guess she does now.

The next round was two beuty queen moms. They wanted their daughters to have a chnace to compete to be Miss America or Miss Rodeo America. The Miss America wannabe mom abd the daughter were faker than Pamela Andersons boobs and sweeter than sachrine with a Nutra sweet chaser - she donated her crowns to kids who had cancer and kids went to heaven with her crowns. She couldn't carry pitch in a bucket.

Whatever. Some dude NEEDS a head of hair and this compares to a fake little brat who wants to be a beauty queen HOW?

THen we have the dude who wants to open a chicken theme park and a woman who wanted to open a basset hound ark for old basset hounds. Get a clue dude. I don't want to pet and cuddle a chicken. I want it battered a deep fried.

Then there are the guys who wants to have a love song he wrote to be sung by a professional for his wife. The other guy wanted money to open a flower shop for his wife. Both of these guys get points because they want to do something for their wives. I bet anything that Donny Osmond is the "famous singer" who's going to sing the love song.

Come on guys? Did ypou see the bald 22 year old? HE NEEDS hair.

But still - how long is this show going o last?

Is America really going to vote? We get 20% voter turnout for a Presidentail election and it's great. There's no crappy singers with pineapple heair or fat celebrities in sequins gliding across a dance floor to lure us into voting.

Time Time all I need is Time

Here we are- less than a month out from the big convention and I am up to my eyeballs in projects.

Just looking at my "List of Thigs to Do" makes me want to hyperventilate and drink heavily.

I have forgotten more than I care to admit.

So what am I doing instead of crossing things off my list?

I am blogging.

I am searching the web.

I'd like to call it stress relief.

It's not, it's really procrastination.

I believe myself when I say it's sress relief though.

I also believe myself when I tell myself that choclate and margaritas are medicinal.

They are right?

Things i'd love to say out loud

but because it's Lent and i volunteered to do this job I won't.

am cranky cranky CRANKY - to the dude that sent an ad for my program book from his Knights of Columbus - KNIGHTS is NOT NIGHTS - I corrected it for ya. Yer welcome

To the Catholic Daughter Courts that spell biennial BI ANNUAL - I fixed it - your welcome

We are NOT hosting an annual convention nor is it semi-annual.

Unity nd Charity should be Unity AND Charity

and there isn't a city spelled Ft, Werth - i checked - three times.

Hand written ads on a post it note are not CAMERA READY

Neither are printed out ads with writing on them

Nor are cut up and glued ads on funky paper.

If your pictures looks like a grainy pile of crap when you print them and send them in - it's gonna look worse when it's scanned - luckily for you, I'm talented.

On the verge of four

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Originally uploaded by blondie478.

In less than a month my youngest son will turn four. My baby baby will be four. I have to stop and think about where the time has gone. He no longer looks like a baby, even his toddlerishness is gone. He looks more and more like a little boy, less like my baby every day.

I love that he is independent and has a moind and thoughts, that he's all to willing to share, of his own. I love that he has an imagination and a zest for life. He, at 3 almost four gives meaning to seize the day. He makes me laugh and gives my heart a special beat. Plus he's pretty darned cute.

He's my baby.

Hell HAs Frozen Over

This is not a rant about the weather - really it's not. The weather here has been close to perfect, we even woke up this morning to discover it had rained.

But yes, some where , like here, Hell has frozen over. One of MY children signed up for a team sport. Charles , the oldest is not a team sports player. He likes it to be all about him and competeing withhimself, he's like his mother like that. He also is basically lazy when it comes to sports - me again.

Tommy it seems, is our joiner. He convoinced us that baseball would be fun. He'd LOVE to play baseball.

I'd rather poke something sharp in my eye.

I hate group sports.

I hate sitting in the hot sun watching group sports.

I hate sitting in the hot sun watching group sports with out an icy cold alcoholic beverage even more.

But, I will go and cheer my son on because that's what moms do.

I wish though, he'd adopted his brother's policy of not liking to sweat and run in the hot August sun.

I tried in vain to get Tommy to sign up for hockey. When it's 103° in the shade, I'd much rather sit in a cool hockey stadium that in a weedy, seedy baseball field on metal bleachers and emboss theose little lines into the back of my legs. Oh well.

He'll learn about cooperation and team work right?

In Like a Lamb

It's hard to believe it's March.

Blustery rainy and cold and windy one day warm and sunny the next day March.

At the end of the month, 2007 is 1/4 over March.

Spring Break March

ST. Patrick's Day March.

when I was in elementary school, I remember the saying in like a lion out like a lamb to describe this month.

The premise is that March roars in cold and blustery like a lion and exits into April gentle, like a lamb.

SO far we've had the lamb first.

Eight is Great

DSC_9.JPG
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

Tommy -

Today you are eight. You woke up bright and sunny this morning and announced to the still half-slumbering household that today was your birthday. How excited you are to finally be eight.

You are sunny ad happy most of th time. You are quick to laugh and smile. Though you ar not a fan of helping as much as you once did, you still, once convinced to do a chore you do it well.

You are happiest when we are all together as a family. Wether we are watching TV or playing a game or doing chores you like it when we are all safe at home.

Happy BIrthday may you live to be another year older and happier . You are our sunshine boy!

Musical Me

Favorite Song From Childhood: "It's Not Easy Being Green"

Favorite High School Dance Song: "Wake Me UP Before You Go Go" By Wham, and "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Senior Class Song: "Never say Goodbye - we wanted "Friends in Low Places" but it was "too risque".

Song That Makes You Think of College: "Friends in Low Places" and "Love shack" by the B52's "Prop Me Up Beside the Juke Box (When I Die)" (I went to college in Texas)

Favorite Rock & Roll Song: "Dr. Feelgood"

Favorite Disco Song: I don't DO disco

Favorite Country Western Song: anything by Randy Travis

Favorite Pop Song: As a child of the 70'80's this is hard. but I guess it's Walking on Sunshine - it just makes me HAPPY!

Favorite All Time Love Song: Love Lift Us Up - Richard Gere in Navy Whites - need I say more?

Favorite Break Up Song: "Here's a Quarter Call Someone Who cares"

Favorite Slow Dance Song: "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart

Song That Always Makes You Cry: "Go Rest High On that Mountain"

Songs About Your Kid/s:For Charles - "Tall Tall Trees" by Allan Jackson. For Tommy "You'll Be in MY Heart" by Phill Collins and "Sweet child of Mine" for Joey

Song That Reminds You Of Your Husband: "Everything I Do" and Two of A Kind"

Favorite Christmas Song: “Mary Did You Know?”

Favorite Gospel/Praise Song: "Down to the River"

Favorite Ringtone on Cellphone:Right now it Double Bubble from Hary Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

The post office delivers more than mail

Me: Joey where did you get your pretty blonde hair?

Joey: From Mommy.

Me: Joey where did you get your pretty blue eyes?

Joey: Mommy

Me: Joey where did you get your big boy feet

Joey: Daddy

Me: Joey how did you get to be so so tall?

Joey: Because Daddy is

Me: Where did you get your big dimples?

Joey: From the mailman.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

This was my favorite line - today any way

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

For me it is so easy to let all the "I have to's" and "need to's" get to me that sometimes I forget to stop, take a breath and look around me at the simple beautiful things. I was reminded of the simplicity of things today when Joey and I took a walk to the play area in our neighborhood. He was walking in front of me, dancing with his shadow, bending and swaying to meet the light. He was laughing and swirling and running. Simply enjoying the day that God made for us. When we got to the park he took off his shoes (he's so my son) and let the warm shredded tires slide between his toes and he ran to the swings. He threw his body into the swing spread his arms and FLEW.

For a minute I watched him and laughed as he giggled with delight. I took of my sandals and let the mulch warm my feet then I grabbed the swing beside him and soared - forgetting about the program book I am working on, the bills that need to be mailed, the housework and "what's for dinner "(In this house DINNER is a bug deal LOL). For a few minutes I let the wind blow through my hair. For a few minutes I flew. For a few minutes I simply took the time to stop and breathe in te beauty of God's perfect day.

So today, I am inspired by my three year old son. I am inspired by the beauty of God's day. I am inspired by the blue sky and the bird's nest, high a top a newly budding tree, we saw on our walk home and the dandeliions that have popped up in my yard. This afternoon Weed B Gone will inspire me as I battle the dandelions.

The Perfect Lenten Diet

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence."


Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

This is my thought for today. I'll be back with thoughts that inspire!

Today Was Made for Walking...

...and walking we did.

Joey and I decided such beautiful sunlight deserved a trip to the park to swing and climb and bask in the not quite spring warmth.

Today is aon of those February days that makes me glad to live in Texas. The sky, a light azure blue with wisps of cotton-white clouds floating across it. The warm breeze breathed freshness and almost spring warmth across our faces as we walked.

Joey loved the chance to be out at the park to run and climb and swing, in his not quite accomplished three but almost four year old way.

He looked longly through the slats in the security fence at the pool and asked when HE could get in and swim. He's as ready for spring as his mother. But, in the next instant he threw his body to the ground and laid in the rubber mulch (it's made of shredded tires and is soft and cushy unlike the wood mulch it replaced) and made a " snow angel'.

We took the long way home. Prolonging our forray into almost spring just a few minutes longer.

It's the Last Day of Fun

Yep. today is Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. Snrove tuesday. The end of fun for the next 40 days.

It's a big purple gold and Green stop sign telling us to live today for all the fun stops tomorrow.

The good times roll tonight, but tomorrow, we fast.

Tomorrow, we pray.

Tomorrow, we sacrifice.

As a toung catholic girl. Lent was hard. It was all about deprivation. It was all about saying no to chocolate and yes to God. For many years, that was my Lenten story. I gave up chocolate and somehow, on easter Sunday morning - after Mass, in a haze caused only by my bunny's solid chocolate ears, I KNEW the goodness of God. God's love came wrapped in golden foil and was shapped like Peter Cottontail.

As an adult, I find myself questioning this. Is THIS, giving up sweets and choclates, what God and His love is all about. Sacrifice is part of showing my love for Him. But, if I look closely, it's just a small scratch in the surface of Lent.

Lent, I think, is about coming to know and accept the suffering for that Christ did for us, and making it personal for ourselves. This year, I will not be giving up chocolate or sweets. But, instead, I'll be focusing on my intrinsic need to be in control. I'll be working on my ability to "Let go and let God". I like to be in charge and I hate surprises. I like to know the answers. To not be the one in charge scares me. Surprises for me are never fun. I am aconsumate present shaker) I don't want to wait and see what's around the willow bend, I want concrete proof, with illustrations and scale models. I want answers to all my what ifs.

Sitting back and allowing God to pilot me is going to be difficult. But, with God, ALL things are possible.

Mr. Golden Sun, Please Shine Down on Me!

Finally! The sun shines and warm weather is in the air. I know we are not done with winter yet. It will get cold a few more times - like Easter Sunday - where it wiull be rainy and freezing! Or on March 3, when I have 20 kids in my house wanting to fly kite's for Tommy's birthday party!

But, today, it is warm and sunny.

Last week, despite the cold, we;ve had some good things happen.

Charles and his sugar fed yeasts won the science fair. He's going on the the regional science fair in Denton. The school called us last Tuesday telling us he placed. We didn't know what place, be it first, second, or third, but they asked us to have him there for the viewings and the PTA meeting (I HATE PTA) where he'd get his medal.

we didn't tell him he placed. So, when we got to the school gym (It still smells like stinky feet and lunch remains - bleech) he looked through all of his class's projects and couldn't find his. He was shocked to see his project up on the winners table. It was like our own Master Card Commercial.

science fair project bord suppliues $15

Science fair experiment supplies - $30

winning the science fair - priceless!

Housework housework it's always housework

Because I'm procrastinating errrr taking my time with the Mass Book I thought I'd do this


1. Aprons – Y/N?
Nope

2. Baking – Favorite thing to bake:
Bread and anything choclate or pies - I love pie

3. Clothesline – Y/N?
No it's not allowed by our HOA. I miss the smell of fresh clean sheets off the line in summer.

4. Donuts – Have you ever made them?
Nope there are eight doughnut shops in my town - we need more doughnuts like a hole in the stinking head. I am a kolache gal anyway.

5. Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day:
wiping the toilet fixtures and well that's about it unless yelling at the kids to pick up their toys and junk counts as actual work.

6. Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze?
No.

7. Garbage Disposal – Y/N?
Definitely. It gets well used.

8. Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
This is a joke right? who would waste paper on a book about housecleaning?

9. Ironing – Love it or hate it?
That I word is a bad word. I do not do it - hadn't since 1994 -August to be exact. Eric complained about the way I did his shirts so I handed him that heating thing that I won't say and he's done it since (that's my housework tip - if you complain about the job *I* do it becomes yours) Now my refusal to i*&^ is so well known that it would kill my mother if I acually did so why chance it?

10. Junk drawer – Y/N? Where is it?
Yes, the kitchen

11. Kitchen: Design & Decorating?
About ready to be repainted from sunny yellow that doesn't match the living room to a nice almond color with chocolate and red trimmpngs.

12. Love: What is your favorite part of homemaking?
I love nothing about home making - I want a housekeeper. Unless cooking counts I like making a tasty meal. I love the smell of opening the door to something yummy wafting from the kitchen.

13. Mop - Y/N?
Yes.

14. Nylons - Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
It depends

15. Oven - Do you use the window, or open the door to check?
the door , we don't have a window in our crappy oven.

16. Pizza - What do you put on yours?
Mozzerrella, ham, green olives, red pepers and mushrooms.

17. Quiet - What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
Blog, scrapbook, work on convention stuff

18. Recipe card box - Y/N?
That's what the internet is for.

19. Style of house
just normal suburban brick

20. Tablecloths and napkins - Y/N?
Yes usually paper nakins and a table cloth.

21. Under the kitchen sink - Organized or toxic wasteland?
Minimally organized. Not enough "stuff" to be a wasteland.

22. Vacuum - How many times per week?
Four to five.

23. Wash - How many loads of laundry do you do a week?
too many

24. X's - Do you keep a daily list of things to do and cross them off?
No but I should

25. Yard - Who does what?
I mow, prune, plant and remulch. All he does is whine and weed eat after enough nagging and screaming.

26. Zzz's - What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed?
making sure lunches are packed and school clothes are ready

LL you are IT!

We've Got a Fast Car and Other Ramblings

Tommy's Cub Scout Pack finally had it's Pinewood Derby race this past Saturday. All three biys made cars to race. We entered one scout car and two outlaws. Tommy's car lost a wheel the first race. It didn't do well at all. Charles' car on the other hadn was a fast fast car. He was second place among the outlaws. The outlaw cars were faster than the scout cars. Joey's car was a middle of the road car.

Then, this week, Charles science fair project was due. After four years of science fair projects, I am still not sure exactly WHAT the purpose of this is. The paper work the school sends home says it teaches the scientific method. whoopdeedoo. That's what science class is for. I think the real purpose of these stupid projects are is to teach kids how long they can procrastimnate before the due date and still get a good grade. The expectations set on these "projects" are almost impossible for a kid to do it on his own. So for the past two weeks we've been working on this stupid project. Last night, it took us three hours to get the board presentable and then, we realized we had two elements in the wrong order. So we (meaning ME) had to peel those little crappy plastic letters off the board, off setting my centering- that we carefully measured.

I remember when I was a kid, yes that far back, project posters were done with crayons and markers, not computer generated graphics and pictures of the project. There's always a little note that says projects don't HAVE to be typed. BUt, any wise parent knows, only those typed projects will take top marks for neatness. This year, Charles is finally old enough to know how to do this on the computer and finally is a fst enough typist that he did most of the work himself but still.

Science fair projects are like classes like trigonometry and calculus. The only time you ever need to know this crap is when you have to help your children with their projects. So children, learn these lessons now. The real reason you have to take classes like calculus and do science fair projects and book reports is so when you have children of your own, you can help them do their homework. I have never had to make a science fair project board for kudos in the adult world.

what the heck?

side yard
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

We get this much snow and there is SCHOOL today. SCHOOL. when two weeks ago, there was just a dusting - big bald patches without snow and there was no school. Charles thought we should alert the Geneva convention. Crimes against eleven year old humanity had been greviously commited because he had to go to school when there was this much SNOW on the ground.

In other news, that stupid ground hog did NOT see his shadow. So that means spring is on the way. Somebody alert channel 8. They are going on and on and on about this weather. (Yeah I know I am too but whiniong is so NOT trhe same thing as continuous droning about how bad the road conditions really are NOT)

Some one also forgot to let God know that it IS February. we are not supposed to get this cold in February. the dadline for icky weather is January 31 in this area - TWO days ago.

what next - SNOW in March? I'll die. I am not giving up ANYTHING this Lenten season. I've done my pennance in January with the cold weather. I've suffered enough. I'll only give up choclate and fat and sugar if the tempratures get above 70 really soon.

When I get old like you

"Mom when I get old like you I am never gonna eat peas"

"Thomas, what do you mean OLD like me? I am only 35."

"Yeah but mom that's so OLD, grandma says you din't even have DVDs when you were a kid."

"No Tommy we didn't. I remember my best friend got one of the first VCR's at her house the year we were 12."

"WOW"

"Yes we spent the entire summer rewinding and watching Simon Le Bon and Duran Duran and their Cinemax special over and over."

"Duran Duran is that OLD?"

"Yes Tommy - Grandma used to bribe me - if I finished all my chores I could watch music videos on MTV."

"MTV played MUSIC? mom you really ARE old"

"Grandma and Grandpa are older than me. Grandpa was 38 when I was born"

"Moooooooooooooooooooom they aren't old they are grandparents.'

The Force Is Strong With This One Obi Wan

and the youngest begins to show signs as early as three.

I am not talking about THE FORCE but the force that pushes all sweet young children to become teenagers and therefore demon spawn. The force I talk about is the ability to not throttle that once sweet toddler and preschooler when he becomes a surly smart mouthed alien called a teenager.

Said surly alien thinks his (or her) parents are stupid, backwards and could never ever have been cool- ever.

Today, while straightening up, I caught glimpse that my now cute sweet son will be a surly obnoxious alien - with possibly two heads.

A CD game fell behind the couch. While I was vacuuming the baseboards, I found the CD. Joey picked it up and saw, from the disc, that it was Star Wars.

Because he is his father's son, Star Wars is only slightly below God and football in importance.

I told him it was a game and we couldn't watch it.

Again, because he's his father's son, he went to the computer and wanted me to put the game in so he could play.said pod race game.

A glance at the label on the CD case said "For Windows" .

I explained to him that we could not play the game because we didn't have windows.

My little pod racer to be looked at me as if I had said the stupidest thing known to man. He furrowed his brow and said " we do have Windows mommy RIGHT there!" as he pointed to the four windows behind me.

His voice already held a a bit of sarcasm and unbelief, the kind his oldest brother has now mastered and uses from occasion.

I explained to him that we did not have Windows on our computer.

He looked at me like I had three heads and tentacles. But put the game away and sighed.

Yes, the force is strong with this one.

MacGyver Would be Proud

Eric left for virginia today. He'll be back on Friday. Of course, that leaves me with Science fair to deal with. Charles has to do the Science Fair as a major part of his science grade. He wanted to do something that could explode.

Me, being a mother, and a girl (read I don't understand the joy men take in blowing things up) we had to reach a compromise (read - charles had to find a NEW , less explosive project) He found a project involving yeast and sugar substitutes.

On my kitchen table, we have set up a CO2 colllection devise using bottles of from water and soda.

There is plastic tubing and silicon. We also spent about $50 on yeast and "borroowed " sugar substitute packets from every resturaunt we ate at in the past month. I think our pictures are on kitchens across the area with the word WANTED; Sugar Substitute BANDITS.

So today, we see which sweetner rises to the occasion.

It Goes On and On My Friends

It has been cold and rainy for eight long days now.

On one hand, we really could use the rain. A 20 month drought put us in Stage Three water rationing. All the rain has made the lake level rise - a lot.

On the other hand, we Texans are not used to cold and wet.

The kids are going a little squirrely. Their mommy, a lot squirrely.

We NEED rsome sun.

The weather manis teasing us, taunting even. Showing us pictures of a big glowing orb of yellow in the sky for tomorrow. For his sake, I hope it does.

My children NEED to be able to play outside. This morning we found them building a cat trap. They have had it with board games, the cajillion cars, Legos and K'Nex we have. They are tired of movies. I can see how the alluer of capturing the cat was alluring. They took some fire wood, a basket, a bowl with catfood and string and set out to capture the cat. She fell for it. They set her free and captured again. I heard here meowing as I came out of the laundry room.

Part of me laughed at their ingenuity the other part of me felt for the cat.

for the sake of the cat, we need SUN.

LoveThursday

I LOVE and I mean am headover heals LOVE that today it is above freezing. My little weather bug on the tool bar on my computer says it's 34. I of course have yet to go outside to try out the warmth because I am of the anything below 65°F is freezing camp but still. it's not freezing.

Is it March yet?

SNOW DAY!

Look at all of our snow
Originally uploaded by blondie478.

It's the storm that never ends.

True to form, we, for the first time in a few years have the true seasons of Texas. Hot, Hotter, Is it still hot, and Jnauary.

This Texas girl is just about ready for January to end. It's STILL friggin cold. I HATE cold. I live in Texas because it is usually not so cold. IF I wanted cold, I'd live someplace up norht like Kansas.

This storm came in friday night and blanketed us with ice by Monday. The weather man said the "math looked like we'd finally break free of the freeze and get to 38° today.

The school closure and dusting of snow that came with THIS batch of ice shows that math sucks.

The weather looks like it's going to be winterish until Monday at the least.

On the good side, this is promising for the bluebonnets in April and God has a great sense of humour - he froze out Rick Perry's innaguration as governor. This shows God is saying WTH? I sent the peopl of Texas Kinky and the still kept Perry. So this ice is retribution.

God Bless Texas, please send April.

Weird Science

it's still cold.

Really really really cold - at least for this Texas gal

I was so not made to do 26°. I swear, one of my stretch marks says do not expose to tempratures lower than 75°F. I am not made for 50°, so anything below freezing slays me.

That being said. I was the lucky designated adult for the "adult supervision required" part of the Pinewood derby car painting process.

This year we did not procrastinate. We will not be painting cars Thursday night praying for the paint to dry before Friday's turn in (too bad I didn't blog last year and y'all could have read about my ill fated lesson in paint drying) We are finishing up the paint jobs today so we can seal them tomorrow so they can dry all day Thursday and Friday.

That being said, I found myself OUTSIDE this morning in 21° weather painting the third coat on said Pinewood Derby cars.

I learned that paint can freeze.

I learned that paint freezes in tuny blobs rather than leaving a fine coating over the car.

I fixed it.

But still.

If it's too cold for paint in a can. It's too cold for me.

The Big Chill Part Three - the math held true

The weather guy was right. We did freezing rain and ice. About an inch of ice covered my driveway and street this morning. My rose bush has icicles. To be sure, this is a not so common sight here. The past few years have been relatively mild compared to what we had this weekend.

I found myself laughing at the various TV news casts. How many ways do they need to say freezing cold weather? One station called it Ice Alert, I guess in an effort to downplay the severity of what we were getting. Another station called it Icy Blast Update. Still another called it Winter Chill Alert. The coverage, of course, was continuous. Do we really need to see each drop of rain as it falls?

This storm, though worse than our December ice storm, was downplayed. It's only January, words like the "biggest storm of the year" and coldest tempratures of the season" cannot be used so early in 2007. The big names like Arctic Blast and Freezing Winter Blast will be held back for us in November or December.

I have also noticed that we don't get up to minute glimpses of our summer heat. TV news crews won't be stationed by the areas hotest bank thermometers, showing the roses wilt and grass turn brown. There will be no Firey Heat Blast or Hellish Heat wave. The weather will be just "hot dry and sunny". In other words, typical summer.

IT's COLD!

According to my computer, we hadn't gotten up above 31° all day.

I stood in line at Kroger this morning for 30 minutes. everyone was stocking up for what is promising to be a cold stretch, like we hadn't seen in a long while.

It took awhile, but I got all of the stuff to make chili. Very spicy chili - no New Mexico for me.

The weather man is predicting accumulations of ice up to 2 inches in my area. That's a lot of ice.

wew're going to hunker down and stay in. where it's warm and ice free.

A Day of Changes

As I sat down today to write in my blog - a birthday resolution to myself - to write more. I noticed the little weather ticker at the top of my navigation bar flashing.

The temprature, at 12:33 PM is 65° however the flashing icon indicates a watch or warning in my "local area" The watch is for a winter storm watch.

The weather guy says "if the math holds true" we're in for a harsh weekend. Freezing rain and ice. The "coldest tempratures of 2007" (dude, it's only the 12th of January - there's not a lot of history to this year yet).

The storm is supposed to plummit our tempratures by noon tomorrow. so today I will go to Kroger like all the other good moms and buy cold weather supplies. when I get home, I'll watch every weather report there is, waiting for the first sign of frozen rain.

My list includes
1 wine
2. chili meat
3 rotel tomatoes
4 hot choclate mix - the good kind you make with milk with dark choclate morsels in it not he crappy swiss mix kind
5 wine
6 firewood
7. water - we still have water from two winter storms ago but I can gurantee there will not be a single bottle of water left in North Texas by 9 AM tomorrow.
8. canned tuna
9. candles
10. wine
11. propane
12. steaks - in our sick demented family we grill steaks -outside when it gets cold. scoffing at God for making it cold.
13. chocolate
14. wine

Tomorrow, there will be apot of chili simmering on my stove.

It's a rule.

In Texas cold weather means you make chili.

It's in the state constitution between, saying y'all no matter what when you leave Texas and not picking the bluebonnets.

If you fail to make chili when it gets cold, They pack you up, strip you of your Texasness and make you live in New Mexico- west of the Rio Grande or worse yet, OKlahoma where the wind comes blowing down the plain. The remainder of your family will forever bear the shame that you failed to make chili in a cold snap.

If you put beans in your chili, you get a warning. They make you stand in line in New Mexico's DMV office and you contemplate the dire nature of your sin against chili and humanity. After that you have to eat hot sauce from New York City.

Repeat offenders are almost unheard of.

On the Eve of 35

It's hard to believe.

Tomorrow I will be 35.

Thirty-Five

Advanced Maternal age thirty five.

Shouldn't I have money now thirty-five

Almsot middle aged thirty - five.

Holy crap! How did I get to be sooo freakin' old thirty -five.

Too old to wear a mini skirt thirty-five.

I am not sure why 35 bothers me. I was great with thirty. Thirty meant I was an adult, like the two kids and one on the way didn't mean that.

As I crept closer and closer to 35, I began to have issues with it. Forty I am fine with but thirty five? No stinkin way.

Maybe it's that medical science says my womb and eggs are now over the hill. Maybe it's the odd numberedness of it. Maybe it means that I can no longer be considered a young adult.

Maybe it's the inner conflict I am having with my carrer or lack there off.

I always pictured myself as a working mom. By now, I wanted to have a career. I wanted a family, sure. I didn't want to be defined by my kids.

I wanted to be the career woman, the wife and mom. Not just the wife and MOM.

Maybe it's just 35.

Maybe this will be my best year yet.

Maybe age REALLY is a number.

I'll let you know tomorrow!

ABC's of Me

A- Available or single?
Already taken

B- Best Friend?
my husband

C- Cake or Pie?
pie

D- Drink of Choice?
coke

E- Essential Item?
nice shoes with pointy toes and lipstick

F- Favorite Color?
Red

G- Gummi Bears or Worms?
bears - Harbo Gold ONLY none of the American crap

H- Hometown?
San Antonio, TX

I- Indulgence?
starbucks decaf grande two pump mocha

J- January or February?
January

K- Kids and names?
Yep Chaos, Panic and Pain or Charles, Tommy and Joey as they like to be called.

L- Life is incomplete without?
coffee

M- Marriage Date?
May 14, 1994

N- Number of Siblings?
1 a sister

O- Oranges or apples?
both

P- Phobias/Fears?
snakes

Q- Favorite Quote?
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
-Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

R- Reason to Smile?
coffee, sunshine and 80° , chcolate and my three year old singing

S- Season?
spring and fall

T- Tag three people!
nope

U- Unkown Fact About Me?
I'm shy and VERY anal!

V- Vegetable you hate?
I don't hate any of them I just would prefer not to eat zucchini

W- Worst habit?
Being unwilling to be out of control. I like to be in charge and get uneasy when I am not.

X- X-Rays you've had?
lots

Y- Your favorite food?
choclate and coffee and wine lasagna and cheese enchiladas with onions. I LOVE enchiladas.

Z- Zodiac?
capricorn

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Love thursday - okay not so much

I'm toxic this week, I'll tell you. I was attempting to get a Christmas card photo of the kids (yes I know it's the 14th - I have until epiphany to get the cards out - another good thing about being catholic - it allows for procrastinatioerrr preparation)

ANYWAY - my digital camera stopped working mid picture - the lens went in and stopped halfway and won'r go back in.

The dishwasher overflowed today too. It's a good thing I didn't just turn it on and go to bed last night because I'd have woken up to a mess.

Eric will be home tomorrow. I am thinking that is wise - if left to my own devices I'd blow something up.

I am supposed to meet a friend for lunch - but I'm not. I am afraid I'll total the van or something.

At least I have my fluffy socks.

Love Thursday

eric is still gone and I am starting to get lonely. The dog and cat are warm enough and furry enough. But I miss my husband. I enjoy spreading out in the bed but I miss the feel of his slumbering body beside mine I miss the way my hand reaches out for him in my sleep and finding him. I miss the feel of his hand on my body as he does the same thing.

Just one more night of being alone.

But there are somethings I do love today.

I love that it is a school day.

I love that the kids will get to see santa tonight as the jolly old elf drives through my neighborhood on a fire truck.

I love good looking fireman (see I'm really lonely)

I love my socks - seriously if you do not have a pair of Socks to stay Home in - BUY SOME. Forget aniumated penguins that sound like robin williams - these socks make for HAPPY feet.

I love my red wall because the color makes me happy

The Little Bird of Happiness crapped on my head

Eric is in Austin this week so the boys and I are single parenting it.

Joey is going through an "I love Daddy" phase. Mommy of course sucks.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO last night, the door knob going into the launbdry room breaks - Joey was in the laundry room alone getting his jammies and my pool sarong from the dryer. I jerryrigged it and got the door open and the dryer reloaded and running.

Then, this morning the alarm didn't go off - Joey turned off the alarm thingy on the clock - I diodn't notice and because he's in an I love daddy phase and daddy isn't here - he's not gone to sleep before midnight - just sure that if he screams loud enough and stays awake long enough - daddy will show up.

So we got up late.

Tommy went into the laundry room to get socks and shut the door.

At the same time - Charles was cooking eggs for breakfast and the stove top went out (the microwave died on Tuesday but it was old - older than my marriagae old so it was on borrowed time)

I freed Tommy, gave him peanut butter toast and sent him to school.

We got the eggs cooked and sent Charles off to school and thanked God for the coffee maker and it's espresso making capabilities and starbucks coffee.

I did get all but one burner on my stove working. Eric says he knows what's wrong with the burner.

At least it's still going to be 70.

If the coffeemaker stops brewing tomorrow I am taking it as a sign and calling in lazy and staying in my jammies.

Tuesday Tuesday

and all is well.

I have been trying for two weeks now, to get the boys together for a Christmas card shot. Anyone with children knows, getting all of the children to look the same direction and smile - a real smile - not some concotion of a smile, grimace or look of pain - is a feat. It's like eatting melting jello with a fork.

I found, brown shirts for the bigger boys, but not for Joey so he was going to wear green. we were going to sport a rustic look for our card photo. I had however been procrastinating taking the photo. Something always got in the way - first it was a booked schedule. Then it was homework. finally, it was freezing rain and ice. No one wanted to take a picture in the sleet - go figure.

Saturday, my procrastination paid off. While shopping at Penney's, I found sweaters, all in the same colors for the three boys. So tady, after the homework is done, we are heading up to the park to attempt to get a good shot, of all three kids, worthy of our Christmas card.

Here's our Santa photo- taken back before Thanksgiving:

Tradition Tradition!

We have quite a few traditions that make our Advent Season special.

First, we set up our nativity Set in Pieces. we start with the sheep th first week and then shepards the next. Joseph and mary start their trip to the fireplace the second week of Advent and I move them closer each day. The third week the angels makes her apperance and on Christmas eve Mary and Joseph finally make it to the manger. Baby Jesus arrives Christmas morning along with the Santa gifts. The younger kids think santa delivers baby Jesus. Once the Christmas seson starts the wisemen make their way to the stable. Last year, we had a nice collection of Little People animals joining the manger scence so Jesus was created by a giraffe, hippo, alligator and elephant in additon to the cows and sheep.

Our Second tradition is the Advent Chain. We string together a purple and pink chain of paper strips and place them on the tree. Last year the origional chain, started in 1995 finally died a painful death so this year, we start with a new chain.

The week the kids get out of school is baking week. we make various treats and goodies. we start it off with Sugar cookies. I mix the dough and chill it after the kids go to school the last day. Then, after dinner we roll them out and cut them and bake them. we eat cookies and drink cocoa in front of the fire and watch the Grinch. we finish up with M&M cookies on Chjristmas Eve made by dad and the boys for Santa.

On Christmas eve, while we are at Mass, the elves deliver pajamas to the boys. They are always delivered by the front door in plain white boxes with red ribbons.

Tis the season to be jolly - or not

Conversation at our house Tuesday- as we were putting up the rest of the Christmas stuff.

Tommy; Mom why are all our decorations either snow flakes or snowman or icicles to go along with Jesus?

Charles - duh it's jesus birthday

Tommy I KNOW buthead

Me: Don't call your brother butthead

Tommy: Mom you don't even LIKE snow so why do we have lots of icicles and snowflakes and stuff.

Me: Maybe if we put up enough snow things, God will think we've got enough snow and it won't snow here at all

Tommy: Mom snow flakes are NOT red

Charles - well maybe they are red in hell. Maybe in hell it snows red snow?

Me; In my hell there would be regular snow

Tommy: Charles how do you know that there is red snow in hell?

Charles: I don't know maybe when we die we know. wanna die? I could kill you and you could go to hell and then come back and tell us

Tommy: I would come back and haunt you and talk all the time just like now.

Me: Gee you guys really paid attention in mass on Sunday when they talked about love that comes with preparation and anticipation.

You know what time it is??

It's time to get our annual Christmas card photo done.

This year it's even more important. I am trying the Christmas letter thing. Mainly beause I keep forgetting to buy cards.

So today, we went to the mall in an attempt to get santa photos. The wait was three hours. Thankfully, my husband knows I so don't do wait - not in a line with three children sugared up from the free cocoa and juice the mall provided while we were waiting for santa to come.

so we're off tomorrow to attempt it again. This time at the park. where there are leaves and trees and things to bribe the children with.

Wish us luck

Same Song Different Day

I'm in a rut. A deep deep deep rut. I do the same thing - day in day out.

Something exciting needs to happen.

I need to cook and clean and do the laundry.

I want to take avacation to someplece sunny, some place exciting, some place like where there is lotsof wine and people to watch. There also must be coffee. Good dark coffee.

Oh well.

Love Is......

Love is your three year old making you a hand made mud pie meatball .

The 8th of November

Happy Day After the Day After Halloween

We made it through the Halloween - the holiday I affectionately call bring mom chocolate day! For the first time in four years, Halloween was cold, well cold by Texas standards any way. By the time the boys and dad swooshed out the door, the temprature was well into the 50's.

Charles was a pirate. we asked him if he wanted to trick or treat this year, thinking that, at 11, he might be too cool to beg for candy. Obviously we were wrong. He rolled his eyes and said "Of course he was trick or treating!" There was no way Medium John Silver was going to miss the pirate booty gathering day of the year.

Tommy was going to be a sun. we changed our minds (read I changed my mind) after seeing the weekend forecast calling for a cold front blowing through. He was a hobo after much discussion. He was all for the idea once he realized he got to carry a big stick - BOYS!

Joey was a scarecrow. He had a meltdown mid evening. Too much excitemnet and mom not handing over enough candy to make his three year old self happy. The highlight of his evening, or rather,MOMMY's evening though was Mommy teaching him to that KitKat bars were "Mommy chocolate"

This year, with our hectic schedule, we ended up carving pumpkins as a spectator sport. Joey and I carved pumpkins while the boys were at school. We did a goofy face for Joey, a vampie face for Tommy and a pi for Charles. Eric and I saw the pi carved pumpkin in a magazine and got a chuckle out of it. So did Charles. It was a hit.