thoughts on 2009

As 2009 ends I've been thinking back

This little family has done so many things

fun things, new things, amazing things, learned new things, accomplished things, loved things, enjoyed things, some painful things but most of all we've done them together!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Morning

Christmas Snow

Christmas with Dad and Betty

Christmas with Mom

This can mean one thing .....

That pile of hat, gloves, scarves, etc

drive hubby crazy

("you can't find anything in this basket, way do we have all of these?")

BUT on days like today.

I just dump it out and everyone

(G, G's friend, W, W 3 friends)

pick through it and attempt to be warm and dry!

They look silly, but they are warm!

I know I have yet to blog Christmas but I promise it's coming!

Julie and Julia

I finally had a little me time today

(not that I didn't have to keep pausing to take care of things)

and I watched Julie and Julia.

I liked it, it was fun, light hearted (no crying) and all girl!

Merry Christmas

Beautiful artwork by Liz Lemon Swindle

Christmas Eve Family fun!

This morning we had our

Traditional Christmas Eve

family fun.

Family Basketball

at the YMCA

Self Portrait of the event

We really aren't even in height.....

or talent.....

but we had fun!

This little attempt to let G

dunk the ball didn't work out so well.

After this picture, W raised G up,

G grabbed the rim

attempted the dunk but the ball missed.

W then tried to leave G hanging there while W got the ball.

G wanted no part of that .... yelling ensued (or should I say screaming).

sorry, I thought I had it turned, I'll work on this later.

The next attempt wasn't as successful in getting height

seems only 2 of the 3 were on board with the plan!

Christmas Eve 2009

No time off ....

Why can't I have at least one season without a thunderstorm?

I have a son that is leery of thunder AND a dog that is more than leery of the thunder.

Just one season, that's all I'm asking.... a 3 or 4 month period, just one season!

You think this sounds like nothing you try to carry in groceries and bags of Christmas gifts while NOT letting the dog shove his way into the house! They should give out a badge for the task!

Don't forget to breath!

Goals for the next couple of days.....

Make cookies for Exchange
Plan activities for exchange
get gifts for exchange
Attend G's Class party
send out the last of the Christmas cards
Gather enough food for W's arrival (might be impossible)
Wrap presents
make breakfast food for exchange (that's what we're serving this year)
attend cookie exchange
attend G's basketball game
work on church budget (that's funny, me making a budget)
find the candy canes I bought but now can't find
clean house
work on church project
laundry
fix supper every night
gather Terracycle things from the school
go through my gift list...check it twice
OH, and sleep!

Just for fun!

Brotherly Love

I had begun to notice the strong aroma of W's cologne as I sat at the computer last weekend.
It was strong enough that I was concerned about Just how strong was the smell downstairs!?!?

When I went down there to ask G (who was playing Wii) if he was OK, he claimed that he couldn't smell anything!?!?! I think his nose must have already been burn out of the smell.

A couple of hours later I hear .....

W yelling ~ "why would you do that?" "you're not suppose to do that, it will hurt you."

a few minutes later W comes up so I ask "what was going on"

Seems that G wanted to have some of W's cologne, so W sprayed some in the air for G to walk through. G had walked through with his eyes open and it had stung his eyes!

Yea, that's Brotherly love ... helping G smell better!

Oh, and the smell from before .. I asked W about that. It seems that W sprays his clean clothes with his cologne so they'll smell good when he wears them. Who knew?

P.E.O Christmas Party

My best buddy Stephanie belongs to a sorority type of group P.E.O.

They don't invite 'outsiders' to their meetings generally but I was invited to tour the Justice Center (our new Jail house) with them in October. That was interesting and hopefully I won't get the opportunity to 'tour' it again or at least not from the 'Sally'.

Then they invited me to their Christmas dinner at the country club and annual Auction on Tuesday. I was still recovering from Strep Throat, but I went to the dinner thinking that if I needed to go home I could before the auction.

Well, I made it through the dinner and then just went with the flow to the auction. They all make things (food, candy, gloves, dish towel, Christmas decorations) or purchase things to auction off. They have a lady with a great sense of humor doing the auctioning. It was fun, even though I was propped up along the wall, and fading fast. I slipped out after a couple of hours to head to my bed.

I must say I can feel that Stephanie is setting me up to be invited to become a member AND I must also say they need youth! Being with this group makes me feel young! Really really young. They are all super sweet and super funny! my kind of ladies!

I'm here and alive ~ I think!

I got my Rx Monday
Tuesday I was still feeling yucky but had a commitment so I was on the go
(I'll tell you about that in another post)
Wednesday around noonish, I came alive!
Thursday I was back feeling good BUT realized that I'd lost an entire week. Which wouldn't be anything to panic about except it's DECEMBER! It's a huge lost this month.
Friday I had a bit of a relapse ... I was chilly so I laid down to get warm and woke up 2 hours later!?!

Brotherly Love

This past weekend I was either on the run or in bed.

Hubby was out town playing basketball, so this left W to take care of G.

Sometimes this is a disaster, but sometimes they both rise to the occasion.

and this time they did.

Even though when I did meet up with the two of them

W gave me a warning that if G said *****(something I didn't hear and didn't want to have repeated)

it wasn't W fault. Evidently W said this ****(questionable statement)

in front of G but told him not to repeat it!

W got a "talkin' to" about his example with G. AND how I was going to ask for a refund from his

babysitting money if he I didn't straigthen up!

W knew before hand that I had somewhere to be on Saturday morning and that he'd be in charge of G. He had planned that they'd go to the Y. G could swim while W worked out.

AND they took a picture to document the day!

12 days of Christmas or maybe the 18 days of Christmas

I had been wanting to build the Christmas excitement for G. I had walked the $1 isles and picked up a few things but I was stuck at how to give them to him.

He answered my dilemma .......

This past Sunday evening (while I was sick) he and his daddy created a mailbox for the purpose of getting mail for his Detective agency (quite another story and it deserves a picture for sure!).

I now have a place to 'deliver' his little gifts.

To see what is being deliver daily go check out G's blog.

Please remind me ....

.....that I don't get a fever when I get strep throat!

Yes, that is what I have and once again I was waiting to see

if I'd get a fever THEN I'd go to the doctor!

I've done this 2x now

I should be able to retain this information for the next time.

I love the Take Care Clinic at Walgreens!

Take 2 asprins and call me in the morning....

Well, I've still got whatever this thing that I've got BUT today I'm staying home all day and going to work on myself.

Amazingly when I decided this I felt worse this morning. My usual symptoms have been feeling somewhat ok in the mornings (having the energy to do things, go places) and then by late afternoon, I start to feel runned down and by almost bedtime I'm just positive that I have strep throat. My glands are swollen and painful ... but no fever. BUT then I wake in to morning feeling better ????!?!?!

I don't know ... I'm just going to stay in today and relax.

have you noticed?

Just a couple of minutes ago I noticed that the

"Christmas Counter"

is off.

According to this counter Christmas

occur about 10 hours early.

Just how can this be?

Adventures in Subbing 09/10 #3

On Monday I subbed for what I thought was Miss Suzy in Preschool, I'd geared myself up for preschool fun (10 kids with 5 adults). When I got the school to sign in they corrected my thought .. .it was Miss Suzy in Science! I missed the preschool fun but I got to teach science to first graders.

When you teach a 'special' you teach for (generally) 30 minutes, switch classes and then teach the lesson all over again. I taught the food chain 4 times. By the end of the day, I was so confused at what I'd already taught and what I still had to teach. ALSO by the end of the day the first graders were catching on that humans aren't really the top of the food chain when I shark could eat a human .... or a "really mean dinosaur with a sharp gray beak thing" could eat a human. I was glad that was the last class because I'm not sure what I would have done if they'd all been that 'smart' or if that class had been the first one!

I got them back ... I informed them that kitties could be eaten by a coyote. This might have been a bit much for the kids that didn't live in the country. Country kids knew it was a way of life those little city girls didn't!!

November Blessing #30

I'm Thankful for this little Blog!

and

I'm thankful that I was able find something to be

thankful for each day in November.

November Blessing #29

Today I'm thankful that we sang

Christmas hymns in church today!

I loved it!

November Blessing #28

I'm just thankful I could get out of bed after yesterday.

November Blessing 27B

Today our family worked,
we rented a uni loader
boy we could all have fun if we could just own this thing!

We landscaped around the barn
We filled up the new flower bed in front
We leveled out a section of the yard that is hard to mow
We moved rocks
We moved more rocks

Our outside is ready for winter but even better our outside is ready for spring!

I'm Thankful for everyone working so hard.

November Blessing #27

Today (and everyday) I'm thankful for

My Boys!

Hubby ~

I'm thankful for his work ethnic.

He's helped me raise 2 great boys.

He's handy around the house.

He's challenging.

He'll eat almost anything!

W ~

he has a sense of humor

he's good to his mom

he's a great athlete

he knows who he is

he's level headed

G ~

he's funny

he's smart

he's a great swimmer

he's a great reader

he's busy busy busy

I love you Boys!

November Blessing #26

Today I'm working on being

Thankful for my Adversities ....

I know I'm the person I am today because of my adversities

and I like that.

At the time I don't know my own strength but when the winds

have past and the trials have calmed I'm grateful!

Now to strengthen myself for the next adversity!

**PS you gotta love the man that's thankful for breakfast, lunch and dinner!**

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm Thankful for laughter!

November Blessing #25

Today I'm thankful that

G made the Pumpkin pie

and

W helped make the

Pecan Pie!

November Blessing #24

Sometime I realize that I'm blessed or thankful in much deeper ways some time it just a surface thing. Today it's a surface thing but still I'm thankful ever so thankful.

Today I'm thankful for the fact that I have a small amount of conditioner in my travel bag.

I have to sub this afternoon (in G's class) and I'm totally out of conditioner. It's not even an option to go with out (static cling is WAY to powerful)! There is nothing, noda on the shelf, plenty of Shampoo but no conditioner. THEN the thought, my travel bag ....... yep, there is a small amount, just enough of today.

I'm blessed!

November Blessing #23

Today I'm thankful for being able to read. I know that seems like a given in this day and time but it is still it's one of the most important talents I can have.

Every few years I see a news story about someone that is a million years ago (or maybe in their late 90's) and never learned to read. Learning to read is their only true wish. I always cry at these stories purely out of the love they have for reading, reading something I do everyday and never think about it.

Reading is a blessing in my life!

Olive Kitteridge

I finally finished Olive Kitteridge

written by Elizabeth Strout

winner of a Pulitzer Prize.

What a book, what a woman!

I would high recommend this book.

It's written like no other book I've read AND Olive is like ....

well, I'm sure we all know someone like Olive.

Yummy Dinner

Tonight I tried 2 new recipes ... yea, I'm livin' risky these days.

Shredded Roast Beef Sandwiches ~
3-4 lb. lean rump roast (ask them to trim fat off, or if packaged, you can trim yourself)
2 tsp. salt, divided
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp. Parmesan cheese, divided
12 oz. can beef broth
1 tsp. dried oregano

1. Place roast in slow cooker. Cut 4 slits in top of roast. Fill each slit with 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 garlic clove and 1/2 tsp. of Parmesan.
2. Pour broth over meat and sprinkle with oregano.
3. Cover. Cook on low (preferred) for 10-12 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
4. Remove meat and shred. Serve on buns with meat juices on the side (I just put some of the juices on top of the meat on the sandwich. I also like it with thinly sliced cheddar cheese.

Also, I sometimes cut the meat into chunks and/or begin shredding it an hour or 2 before it's done cooking so it can continue cooking in the juices).

CrockPot Baked Potatoes ~

Scrub potatoes
Soak potatoes overnight in water with sea salt
Poke holes in potatoes
Coat potatoes with olive oil
Stand potatoes up in crock pot on their ends
DO NOT ADD WATER to the crock pot
Put lid on crock pot
Cook on high for four hours

OK, I'm not sure why you'd have to cook your baked potatoes in the crockpot in the first place but I suppose if you were going to be gone for just 4 hours this would be great. I also have a setting on my oven that would turn itself on and I could do Potatoes that way also. AND then there's the fact that I already had a smaller crockpot so 4 baker Potatoes fit perfectly on their ends. Well, at least if you find yourself in need of cooking Baked Potatoes in your crockpot you now know how.

November Blessing #22

Today I'm blessed to have found this blog.

I don't know this lady or family, but I stumbled along her blog sometime last year. I've 'stalked' (in the blog world) ever since.

This family is spending 3 mos in Paris due to her husband's job and I have gotten to go along via her blog. I've got on the Eiffel tower, to museums, on walks through the streets, I've watched her eat the most wonderful looking foods, I've gone to the parks with her, I've seen street bands..... I've just had to the most wonderful time in Paris with her. Hey, I even went to Brussels for the day and London for the weekend!

I'm thankful for Michelle's wonderful photographs and her trip to Paris.

Hi Michelle if you come looking! and thank you for taking me with you!

November Blessing #21

I have been waiting to see if I could really be Thankful about this or not, but decided that I'm thankful for the opportunity to see if this could work.

Hubby has suffered with blood clots (don't worry they won't kill him) thus causing his feet to swell thus giving him sores on his feet. Due to the lack of circulation in feet the sores just wouldn't heal. It's all a doomed cycle or seems like a doomed cycle. This cycle has gone on for months.

A couple of weeks ago he went back to the doctors and they had a wonderful surprise for him. They had a man in before hubby that was approved and got lab grown skin for his wounds. They'd only needed half of it for the man and half of it to give to someone else .....HUBBY! Notice the word GIVE, this stuff is expensive and they were going to GIVE it to Hubby. I'm tell ya it was the right appointment to have that day!

Well, they put it in place, wrapped it up and said don't peek for 2 weeks. That was hard wondering if the skin had taken or been rejected.

He went back to the doc yesterday they changed the wrapping, didn't peek and sent him on his way for 2 more weeks.

This time I'm once again thankful by Modern Medical Technology!

Beautiful grounded day

My school Terra Cycling stuff was getting out of hand and with the weather so cold and rainy (earlier this week) I didn't want be cold in the garage messing with it. Today when my plans got grounded by G's illness and the warm (60's) sunny weather I conquered the recycling. We've already collected about $30 for the school.

Then I headed out to hang up G's beautiful bright red bird house.

Picture to come later.

Hubby found a little tree that looks like a Deer had rubbed on it. If only our dog weren't afraid of the night he could really be more effective!?! When he is out (during the day) he's busy digging for moles in the field. He's driven one into the edge of the yard. I was looking at the 'mounds' in the yard one day when he attempted to start digging for one. I scolded him and he stopped, got that pitiful look on his face and thankgoodness hasn't dug in the yard since. I believe I could become Bill Murray from Caddyshack if this mole gets further into my yard.

I brought up a box of old movies (from W's days) for G to watch. Aladdin is currently playing.

November Blessing 20B

Today I am Blessed to be available.

Today I got a call from the

school saying that G was sick.

I rushed out of the house, scooped him up,

brought him home to be comfy and cozy.

November Blessing #20

This morning I'm busy googling to see who the Teacher of the year was in our state. I can't find it, of which I am not thankful for!

A teacher from the school that I work at the most was up for the award. She was the teacher of year for our region but now she was going for the top stop along with 7 others. The awards dinner was last night.

Yesterday I subbed for an Early Childhood Education program at this school so I got to attend a special surprise assembly for her. I have gotten to work with this teacher on a few occasions and I learn so much from her each time she's in the classroom with me.

So today I'm thankful for being able to work and be a stay at home mom. To get to work in a such a great school (they've had a teacher of the year finalist for the past 3 years).

There is a difference in the schools in our district and this school is certainly the cream of the crop! I love to work there because of the kids, because of the staff and because of the teachers.

November Blessing #19

I'm feeling blessed by Pork Chops today!

or I will once supper is done!

I love these pork chops

they're really nothing

I just pound out the chops with seasonings

then either grill them or fry them in a bit a olive oil

Slap'em on a bun with dill pickles

maybe some onions

and I'm BLESSED!

Love Love Love them!

The last time we had them W came home and

almost jumped for joy that there were left chops in the frig!

November Blessing #18

I was blessed today by a well tongue!

You know when you get that little sore at the tip of your tongue? The one that makes you aware of every tooth in your mouth and how much your tongue goes over every tooth?

Please tell me it's just not me!?!

Today my tongue was perfectly fine again!

November Blessing #17

I was Blessed by .......

Need I say More?

November Blessing #16

This past weekend I was Blessed by W

telling me that it didn't matter what I fixed for meal it was

still better than what the school had to offer!

That took the pressure of meals off.

I am Blessed for sending W to a school

where the food is yucky!

November Blessing #15B

For supper (or lunch it's the only meal I'm fixing today) we had these

 baked apples. 

 Actually, these aren't the exact baked apples that I saw Rachel cook yesterday.  They are basically the same, except she used a Kashi (cold) cereal.  She said we could pick our own cereal.  So I picked one with raisins, dates and pecans.  Then I added more walnuts. 

I couldn't find either kinds of apples and now I've forgotten what I used but I think they could have cooked a little longer.

Goodness they were good

and I felt Blessed!

November Blessing #15

Today I feel Blessed to have

 all my chicks at home.

They have played ping pong together,

 the older teaching the younger

and the younger being teachable.

We've even watched A Haunting

I do believe in spirits but

I don't ever watch scary things and

this just confirmed that I won't be watching again anytime soon!

November Blessing #14

Today I felt blessed to have a "do nothing" day.

I had a meeting on my calendar that would have been good to go
to but wasn't a have to SOOOO I didn't go.

I stayed in

stayed warm

piddle with the laundry

piddle cleaning up the kitchen

watched a movie

answered some e-mails

fixed a pot of beans with some corn bread

for supper

Just a much needed 'do nothing' day

November Blessing #13

I am so blessed to live in the country!

I have rarely (maybe can count them on one hand)

complain about living 10 minutes from 'town'.

I love the quiet,

the solitude,

 the beauty,

 the lessons it teaches us

and the wildlife.

G has been watching the corn fields being picked and loved predicting which field would be next, then predicting if they'd stop because of the rain, would they work until dark or turn the combine's lights on so they could continue working. He wanted to know where the corn went, was it still on the cobs or off and what was going to eat such hard corn.

Last night on our (G and I) way home we saw an 8 point buck munching his way through a freshly picked corn field. He was only slightly bothered with us, just enough to walk a bit furthers from the road.

A few weeks ago we saw the most hughest owl I'd ever seen!

It was quite a sight!

November Blessing #12

Last night I took the Cub Scouts to our county Veteran's Memorial.

We took paper and crayons to making rubbings of the names. 

We found out that it's not the fallen veteran's

 of our county but all the veterans. 

So little G found our neighbor Bob's name.

 He thought that was too Cool.

I'm thankful and blessed to work with the cub scouts.

 I know this could be my last night with them as a Den Leader

 and I'm so glad I could go out with a blast. 

They think anything is a blast but a fieldtrip is always a highlight!

11-11

This is the 11th picture from the 11th folder.....

This is what happens when W gets G's t-shirt in this laundry!

November Blessing #11

It's a blessing to live in this country and I'm thankful for those that protect my family and my rights by the sacrafice and service to our country.


In our family Military service was started by my Granfather, Estill, who served in the Navy in the 40's.

November Blessing #10

Today As I started back from my mom's it was raining.

 What a dreary drive it was going to be.

Then just about 30 minutes down the road, the sun came out!

I drove in sunshine all the way home.

It was so sunny at one point that I was thankful for the air conditioner!

AND as usual when I travel, the first night back

I'm ALWAYS thankful for my own bed!

Observations from a waiting room

While waiting 8 1/2 hours yesterday in a surgical waiting room I observed alot of things .....

Oats aged much better than Hall

They were on some talk show

Hall was scary

I think I would have pick him out of a rapist line up

WAY to scary for daytime TV!

It's almost as funny to watch older people watch

America's Funniest Videos

than it is to actually watch the videos themselves
They would laugh just like they were sitting in their living room alone.
If the husband would miss the funny part he would ask his wife what had happened.
They really enjoyed the screaming cat videos!?!

People will talk on a cell phone revealing

what seems like very personal things

with a complete stranger sitting right next to them

I made all my phone calls from the stair well
it was warm in there but it was sound proof!

November Blessing #9

Today I'm thankful for a Doctor

that looks like he could be my son!

**When my mom told me that I'd think that he was young enough to be a friend of W's, I thought weeeeelllll... She's probably just getting old and thinks that every young man under 30 looks like he's W's age.... BUT when I first met him, I thought "WOW you could be W's friend."

but enough about his appearance and on to his talent.

Today Doctor Looks So Young successfully removed a small cancerous tumor from my mother's left breast.

November Blessing #8

Today I was blessed to watch our church's children's program. They learn and practice their songs all year in preparation for this day. They learn lessons and give talks in Primary in preparation for this day.

As a leader in the past of this program, you always worry and worry about this day. The children always give you reason to worry .... will they know their parts, will they not wiggle so much, will they not punch the person next to them, will they not cry, will they actually know the words to the songs, will they get stage fright and not be able to speak....will they, will they, will they.....

ALWAYS, ALWAYS the program goes off beautifully, the children rise to the occasion and congregation is filled with proud parents!

..... and yes, I was so proud of G.

He knew he is part

He sang the songs

He didn't wiggle

He rocked!

November Blessing #7

Today I was blessed to hear the words ......

"Let us not be so engrained in the NOW

 that we forget about the things to come"

Kendal S Ross

November Blessing #6

I'm often reminded what a blessing it is to live in these United States.


From the little voices I teach when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance, to the cub scout's I guide when they gather for the flag ceremonies, to trips to the grocery store where food is in great abundance. As I watch the news (occasionally) I see how other live around the world and I just won't trade it for my life in these United States.

November Blessing #5

It is a Blessing that I have talent for and opportunity to work.
I love to subsitute in Kindergarden. 
They are forgiving, they are loving, they don't have any hidden adgendas, they love to please the teacher.
To be honest Subbing is great, I don't have to work everyday, I can still be a stay at home mom for little G, but still get to make some spending $.  Not money I can really count on, but it's still spendable!

November Blessing #4

Today I'm so blessed to recognize that someone watches over me!

 All this week my alarm has not gone off.  I have yet to figure out what exactly is causing this to happen or not happen as the case maybe, but I have still awaken on time (or with enough time) to get G to school.

Now to go figure out the problem so my 'someone' that watches

over me can move on to bigger and better things,

just in case I need something bigger and better than this!

November Blessing #3

Today I was blessed by

the grocery store.

When I see grocery stores in other countries

I'm always reminded how blessed I am to live in a time and place

where good food is always abundant.

Today I headed to the grocery store because

someone let me know that Walmart had

Campbell's creamed soup on sale for 58 cents!

That's a great price and there was tons of it!

I now have soup for the winter and maybe the spring!

Green

I just have to brag about my new find!

It's this power strip that saves you money by turning off your appliances for you!

People, it doesn't get any better than this!

Mine doesn't look just like this one but I guess there are a few to pick from.

I have one at one of our computers and one at one of our TVs.

I really didn't notice much going on at the tv,

BUT I've so noticed a big changed at our computer.

This is how it works, you plug your computer (or TV) into the Master plug, then all of your accessories (printer, scanner, monitor etc) into the other plugs. When your 'master' appliance (your computer) goes to sleep, then the power strip will turn off all of the other machines. Thus cutting your eclectic intake. Cha Ching! I noticed this at hubby's computer ..... when his laptop powers down, this printer was shut off! BRILLIANT!

When our TV powers down, all the sound system, the gaming systems, etc ~ shut off,

CHA CHING! when someone turns the TV back on, they all come back on.

Now the smart power strips aren't cheap, I paid $40 for my 8 plug ins (I think it was $30 for 6 plug ins) but I can already see how they're going to save me money.

I'm headed to get more.

November Blessings #2

It is a blessing to live a time with such great communication technology!

I know that nothing stands still and time as well as technology continues on.

I'm not sure this girl can glean all the new phone technology but I'm sure I'll glean the time!

As a matter of fact I was in the cell phone store a couple of weeks ago looking at new phones, when I pick one of the new fancy dancy ones up and called W. Who know the phones in there actually worked?!?! He answered and when I asked about that particular phone he said "Mom, that phone has more stuff on it than you'll ever figure out. aaaa no Offense Mom." He was right!

I'm sitting here waiting a phone call, an important phone call with life changing information. It's as if the miles will melt once the phone rings, but when just when will it ring!

At least I'm not waiting on he pony express to deliver a message that is months old!

Communication Technology is my November Blessing #2!

November Blessing #1

Today I'm Blessed by GREAT weather.

it was 70, calm breeze and sunny!

Simply BEAUTIFUL!

The Effects of TV

Yesterday, while waiting for the Sun to set so we could head out to Trick or Treat, I laid like a zombie watching TV. A marathon of Clean House. They found the top 3 dirtiest houses and decluttered them, fixed them, gave the people in the home all sorts of new appliances and furniture and then walked away.

OK, I have problems with shows like this ....

Did they fix the problem? NO. Hording and excessive shopping are mental issues, and unless they had them in a physc ward while they were off camera the Hording and shopping issues are still with them.

Giving them new appliances and furniture! OK, I understand it makes the end result look so much better, but seriously rewarding them for living in trash?!?! How good will it look once the shopping and hording takes over again?

What I did get out of it ~ I'm going to get rid my clutter. I have one room that is cluttered to the max. The room above the garage. I'm not going to make excuses for the mess, it's a mess because I've let it get that way. I got tired of hearing excuses yesterday on TV.

I'll clean it out, declutter it, and then sit and wait for my ginormous TV and new furniture~

Halloween 2009

G's school party was on Friday.
The game was to get a gourd across the finish line BUT you couldn't use your arms below the elbow or your legs below the knees.
Most of the kids used their heads but some of them used their bottoms.
Can you think of another way to move the gourd?

Friday evening we went to the church party, supper, (I took my mom's award winning chili) carnival (I took Brownies on a Stick) and then Trunk 'r Treat.

Saturday was a slow relaxing day until almost 7. G and I took off to town walked around for a 40 minutes gathering as much candy as he could.

It was strange, because Daylight savings hadn't stopped we couldn't leave as early.

G's dad has had the started the tradition that when you get home your sort your candy.

Time Out for Women

I left home yesterday at 12:30 ran by picked my friend Stephanie before heading to Time Out for Women. That makes it sound so simple, but that was the gist of the leaving process. For instance the pants I was wearing were new (never put them on before the few moments before leaving) and they had a button at the zipper, the button didn't seem to sewn on very well, NOW I got to fret about whether the button was about to pop or would it hold?

We went to have lunch at Olive Garden, neither of our families like Olive Garden so we enjoyed a huge meal. A huge meal because I had realized that my times to eat in the next 25 hours would be few and far between. As I was eating this great meal, I wondered again about the loosely sewn button UNTIL I dropped food down my shirt, (something new to think about) fortunately for me I had a sweater that zipped up the front on. It stayed zipped up all night NO MATTER how hot I got!

I had be working with the Time Out for Women group promoting the event for the past several months and now would be on staff for the event. My job was fairly simple, I was over the Hall greeters, but would start with a couple of meetings at 4 then end at 6:45 just after everyone had been seated and the program began. No time for supper.

Not only do we get to experience the great line up of speakers but we get to get reacquainted with old friends and make new friends! It was so fun seeing everyone new and old.

BOY, did I luck out with the Friday night program, my 2 favorite people were on the stage. I love love Jenny Oaks Baker (simply beautiful) and then S Michael Wilcox. (see my notes below)I knew the that highlight of my weekend would be over with the close of Friday night, BUT Saturday morning held the my #3 and #4 favorite speakers. It was all good. My friend had to leave for Oklahoma in the afternoon so we left at noon. I was happy and my cup was overflowing.

I didn't take notes of the talks. I find that too distracting from the message the speakers have for ME but I have mental notes.

Jenny Oaks Baker ~ we are blessed when we do as we've been prompted to do.
When you click the link, read and enjoy the information, but minimize it, come back here and you'll enjoy her music while you read!

S Michael Wilcox ~ The Lord is acceptance. He spoke about the woman that had great faith as she just simply touched the Savior's robe. The Savior turned to ask who had touched him, she didn't speak up .... why not? it was her fear that kept her from admitting her act of faith. But she knew that Savior knew it was her, she spoke up and the Lord accepted her and loved her. We all have times when we won't do what we're suppose to do out of fear or that we feel unworthy but that is our feeling not the Saviors. His is a feeling of acceptance.

Emily Watts~ Every fruit ripens in it's own time. As we watch our children grow, if we teach them, correct them, they will ripen in their own time.

John Bytheway ~ If we watch a sporting event where we already knew the end result would we watch differently? He then quoted Jeffrey R Holland (and I'm paraphrasing because remember I didn't take notes) In the game of good and evil we already know that good always win, so why do we spend so much time deciding which jersey we'll wear?

The Return of the Computer

My computer has landed at home once again. The thunderstorms seems to have arrive just a few hours after the computer got here, so I didn't hook it up (yes, out of fear) that was a couple of days ago. Still raining, still not hooked up! I told you I had PTS (Post Traumatic Syndrome).

I'm going after these mini surge protectors today. You hook them up between the wire and router and then as an extra precaution another on between the router and the computer. I think I'm creating a Fort Know protection.

I have a busy busy weekend so I suppose that I'll be back to regular posting on Monday.
I have tons of picture for G's blog so make sure you head over there after Monday.

update on the medical progress around here!

Little G only had 2 days of school this week (due to end of the first quarter) but missed both of those due to illness! In true G fashion we spent Thursday, thinking about and talking about all the great things he'd missed in those 2 days. As if he could have gone and just decided not to go ... that was not even an option he had a fever and didn't finish his 24 hours without a fever until Thursday, his first day of break! He's regained his health and strength but still has a loose cough.

Hubby is in bed with a sore again, things are looking much better but still have a while to go.

G made it well enough to go have our teeth cleaned yesterday, but we went in again today to get sealants on his teeth SO 2 days 2 trips to the dentist. It's a new dentist and I feel very acquainted now!

I've been getting so easily tired, makes me wonder if I'm next to get sick!?!

ALSO ~ my beloved computer isn't back yet! I was using hubby's laptop while he was at work whenever I wanted ~ well, when he came home this week. We have to share!?! Well, it's more like me hoovering around the bed waiting for him to air on the laptop and me pouncing on it! Today, I finally asked hubby "They would call you IF my computer were fixed wouldn't they!?!"

W is also all sniffley but hasn't got a fever. He's home, well.... he's in the same county as we are and his laundry is here!

Pause in Posting

My computer is still out of commission, so I'm resorting to borrowing hubby's laptop while he isn't around. So there will be a pause on Posting until I can get my computer back.

I have pictures to post, things to say, funnies to tell, ...... but it's all on hold, for awhile.

added ~ we had another lighting storm a couple of nights ago and now a few more things are not working. It's strange. I think I need to replace all the surge protectors this next week.

I now think I'm suffering from PTS (Post Traumatic Syndrome) and get nervous when the lightening starts. Another night like these past lengthening storms and I'll be a mess like the dog and G.

Repairman revolving door ~

It seems that we have a revolving door of repairmen minus one.

Yesterday we had the internet man here on top of our house replacing our internet equipment. Really thought he should have waited until a calm wind day .... NOT. They (the schedule department) messed up getting him here on the calm wind day so I wanted internet back so I didn't care that it was blowing 110 mph out there! OH, I should have given you an exaggeration alert before that! Great thing about this I had paid for insurance for the past 3 years that I though was silly and probably a waste of my $2 every month. Not a waste NOW it covered everything.

He replaces everything and then discovers my NEW shiny modem is bad (seems they can be bad from the store), BUT he gets on computer to run the Internet but nothing wireless. I run to Wal-mart, return BAD modem and spin the roulette wheel that I get a good one this time. Yep, hooked it up just minutes ago and I got a good one!

We did discover that the phone problem was/is related to the broken satellite receiver problem. So the phone is fixed ~ cancel repairman.

Now we're waiting on the satellite repairman....wait wait wait.....

Poor W came home last night, to no Internet, and no tv ~ he was thrilled!

Pioneerish!?!

Last night's lighting storm let out house with out ....

Internet modem ~ replaced this morning
Internet radio ~ repairman coming tomorrow afternoon
computer ~ just took to the repairman (did you know that you can get a little power surge that goes into the plug with the modem? I'm getting one!)
phone service ~ only one line (the other line works fine!?!), they are working on that
Satellite TV ~ only on receiver the other one works fine. That repair man is coming Saturday morning.

I've been on hold more today
than I think any other day of my life!

end result of this story ... it could take a couple of days before I answer any e-mails
I'm sitting at the Library's computer for this, but I can't stay here forever, or could I ...no no they close sometime.

Sampling through Costco!

Yesterday G and I went to Costco. That was good, but I knew....

I'd eaten breakfast later and then didn't eat lunch ... do you see what's coming?

Costco always has great snacks or samplings, whatever you chose to call them.

I didn't buy all the snacks, but I did get some. I passed on the polish sausages, knowing that I was the only one in my family that liked them thus the only one that would eat them. G tried them too, but still we passed.

We got the Hummus and Garden flavored pita chips. I love this Hummus and have had it in the past but the chips were new to us.

We got the salsa (that we already love) but got the Margarita lime flavored chips that we'd never had.

We skipped snacking on their pot stickers (I don't know why we like those but somehow we missed the stand)

We did try and got the fish sticks. G loves McD's fish sandwiches and these really tasted like that. We even had them for supper.

We tried the strawberry jelly but passed.

We tried the veggie chips and passed on those.

See I didn't get everything I snacked on!

G's beautiful Pearly whites

BEFORE ~

After ~

Eat dinner with your family

Our family has dinner together more than we don't so I think we have this covered

but it still nice to be reminded ~

It's a tie that binds!

By the way we had tacos last night

with chocolate chip cookies for dessert!

zero balance ....

After working on the checkbooks this morning,

it's now confirmed we're out of money

(OK not totally out but it's the same feeling)

G and I played a game of LIFE.

I made it to Millionaire Estates!

Along the way I cured the common cold,

created a new flavor of ice cream and

was elected President!

Ahhh, I feel so much better now!

FlyLady Where are you?

Why oh Why have I not been doing Flylady all along?

Today I'm getting the Chaos under control!

Quiet answer to prayer

I had been pondering and praying about the busy-ness of G's schedule.

Monday Piano 5:30 to 6

Tuesday ~ Swim team Practice 6 to7

Wednesday ~ Cub Scouts 7 to 8:15

Thursday ~ Swim team practice 6 to 7

Friday ~ Finally an entire free evening

I just kept thinking this was too much running!

G is at the point that he doesn't like Piano, but it comes really natural to him so after discussing it with Hubby we decided that it was not something he should drop.

He needs a sport and he really likes cub scouts.

SO WHAT GOES?!?

Then an answer to my prayers ....

Last week the Piano teacher mentioned that she could give him lessons at half the price if we were to go to her house (cutting out the community center that we'd been going through).

AND she lives right next to the church (cub scouts).

So we've eliminated Monday night lessons and just head out a bit earlier on Wednesday!

and it's half the price!!!

I'm so thankful that things just worked out both for G and our wallet!

Saturday was a blurr.......

Saturday seemed to be filled every minute .....

I slept LATE (9:30am)~

OK in my defense, I'd mowed most of the yard on Friday so my head was all stuffed up so laying in bed was about all I could do!

BUT I got up finished the last little bit of mowing ~

ran in showered ~

got G ready for his swim meet ~

gave hubby instructions about the swim meet ~

ran off to the city ~

watch a couple of games of Volleyball with W ~

enjoyed a lunch at Chipotle's ~

off to Kohl's to shop for W some clothes ~

dropped W back off at the next round of volleyball games ~

got gas ~

went to grocery store ~

rush home.

Arrive home at 4:15, find company has just dropped by (I'll discuss this later**) ~

I unload groceries ~

start a load of laundry

(W wanted to wear his new clothes to the wedding) ~

sit to visit for 2 seconds

but then realize I don't have the wedding gift ready ~

get the gift ready ~

then rush out the door at 4:55

(leaving hubby still chatting with the drop by guest and their 5 children playing with G's stuff) dashing across the field to the wedding.

I arrive just as they're starting down the 'isle'

I did have a nice, relaxing time sitting at the reception visiting and enjoying our neighbors!

**OK, people just dropping by is one of my pet peeves ** take note people, it's just not polite. If you drop by someone's house you need to be mindful of what's going on or the fact that the people you're dropping by might be busy!

Just call before you drop by!

Backyard Wedding

This past Saturday was the Wedding of a great neighbor, Cortly.

Cort and his family have been friends to both of my boys as well as our family.

Cort and his Bride

G and Christine (Cort's neice)

Cub Scout Wednesday

First of all I forgot to post last week's fun.

We played family games, we started with Uno attack and finished it off with some great games of Spoons!

This week, we were all about fitness. First we let them play tag, some of them even got some leg wrestling in (that's always funny to watch).

Then we moved into the gym, were my den assistant (a personal trainer) led them in exercises, most of them were wimpy! We then played around the world. This little bunch of boys never get to just play basketball in the gym. They felt like 'big stuff' when we had to keep telling the bigger boys to get out, it was the cub's turn!

wordless Wednesday

OH, you know I can't leave it wordless.

As I stepped out of the bathroom yesterday

(fresh from the shower)

I was meet by this .......

"Don't worry mam, I've got you protected."

"May I be blunt with you?"

oh, just one more .... I love this one, too!

lazy Saturday

After this busy week, I've had a lazy Saturday.

When I finished up my last day of kindergarten yesterday, I ran to the grocery store then came home and cleaned. It felt so good it have it done (or at least a good handle on it) when I went to bed. W was home, well, he'd stopped by for supper and to drop off his laundry before heading out. I even got busy this morning, paying bills, catchup the computer's check book up to date, and the laundry done.

BUT then it hit .... the lazies!

actually I slowly just didn't feel well. My allergies have been acting up. SO lazy was just fine!

"He's got a Man Cold"

I just couldn't resist ....if you're female you'll relate in a moment.

09-09-09

The ninth picture

from the ninth folder

in the 2009 folder

Right before W jumped this day he came to me and said that his girlfriend had just passed out at the hospital (while visiting another friend) could I find out what was going on! I made the phone calls, found out that she was in the ER after she passed out up stairs and they were running test. I don't believe they ever found out what was going on that day.

This was also the day that W's shins were hurting so bad that he didn't want to make the finals and but did anyway. He placed 4th!

This is the last night he long jumped I believe. Too much on his legs.

Blooming Monday

This past week, I stopped at friend's vegetable stand to pick up some tomatoes, okra and potatoes WHEN I spied Cactus (or should that be Cacti?) The stop I had put on Cactus buying flew out the window..... I was in Cactus heaven!

I can't leave you with out showing you how much my other succulents have grown...

And G's tomatoes looked so pretty today

AND I can't leave out Echo ...

she was busy trying to get attention the whole time I was snapping pictures.

Class Sizes by the numbers....

W's class sizes at college are big!

W's smallest class has 103 students.

Then moving upwards 356, 822

then the biggest of 989!

Awkward Family Photos

If you haven't been to awkward family photos you have to visit!

remember it changes daily

FYI ~ please know that these are NOT members of my family.

Cub Scout Wednesday

This week was our first time back together since our July Activity

We started out with learning how to leg wrestle, then played a few rounds of Frisbee Golf and ended the night with a game of kick ball.

All Boy, All fun

Adventures in Subbing 09/10 #2

This week started a 6 day subbing job in my favorite place Kindergarten!

Day one is a GREAT challenge. This is only day 17 of school, these children had never been to school 18 days ago ... I had to keep reminding myself! They'd gotten use to their teacher (who is a brand new teacher fresh out of college) for 16 days and then here I come in! I'm sure their little kindergarten minds are swirling.

I do have to say that it was so sweet the first morning. Their teacher is getting married and leaving on her honeymoon. She had told them that and that Mrs **** was coming in while she was gone. Well....in their little Kindergarten minds most of them got all that confused and I quickly became either Mrs Honeymoon or Mrs Honey or Mrs Moon and rarely Mrs ****. It was hard to get on to them when they're call you Mrs Honey!?!

By noon they had the name thing straighten out ... and the trouble had began.... there are 5 boys in this class that are a hand full ...and if you do the math I don't have 5 hands!

At the end of the day, I sternly chatted with the class and told them that I expected a better day tomorrow. AND I got it. I've always said it, If you're going to sub you really need to do at least 2 days in the class, Day one is HORRIBLE but it only gets better every day after that!