The Catch of the day

The Tortilla Method
otherwise known as how Charles catches fish.

1. Get some bait - the liver the better



Then you take pieces of dry cold tortilla and drop them in the water. Observe where the fish pop up and drop your line. wait patiently.



The plan works!



Charles and the catch of the day - he had to throw it back because it was 1/4 inch too small.



trying to get back in the water - once the fish heard he was free he couldn't wait to get back in the water.



Actually, Charles refused to touch him so his mother had to put the fish back in the lake.

It's the First Day of School!

/

It's a time for new beginnings. clean binders and fresh sheets of paper and unsharpened pencils and poiunty crayins went to school today. Minds will be opened. Knowledge will be imparted.

But. most importantly there is NO FIGHtiNG at my house.

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.