Word of the Week 6

My blog sister, Sissy of And What Next, has been at this word of the week for 6 weeks now. She is trying to improve our vocabulary and the reading grade level of her site. Sad to say, I just don’t see using some of her words on a monthly basis, much less a yearly basis – Need an example? Like the word “troglodyte”.

And yet she has words that I have seen in books before, and could possibly use in conversation if I could just pronounce it. It’s true, I have problems pronouncing some words. And apercu is another one of those words. Pint is the word I always get wrong. My English teacher taught it to me wrong and I have the hardest time remembering which pronunciation is correct. Don’t believe me? Ask my mom.

It’s not just an odd word or two, I have done some major mishaps to the English language (written as well as spoken). Much to the amusement of others. You are just waiting for the story aren’t you? You might as well get a smile ready. This one is all about VW and not about the kids.

I use to teach computer basics at the adult community schools. It was always a challenge to make it interesting. Especially when I ended up teaching a ‘generic’ class on computers. One of the items I would have to cover was computer terminology. During this class, the mishap happened when I was reviewing the terms: bit, nibble and byte.

For those not familiar with those terms, a quick review: a bit is a one or a zero; a nibble is 4 bits; and a byte is 2 nibbles.

I don’t remember the joke I use to tell, but it was about eating. And for this class, I never got to use it. I wrote the words on the blackboard. Just like this:

Bit
Nip-ple (minus the hyphen, this is for those people who read this stuff at work)
Byte

Think about what I initially say (even say it outloud) – “4 little bits are a nibble and 2 nibbles give you a byte”. Needless to say, while the class was ROTFL, I figured out what happened and turned beet red. And this is a ‘written’ mistake. I am not going to admit to some of my ‘spoken’ mistakes. And I doubt you will ever hear me say apercu in public.

Are you willing to share any of your written or spoken mistakes? Go ahead, be brave.

Karnival of Kidz 6 is UP

Yipee! Sissy of And What Next kindly hosted this Karnival of Kids. There are castles, bicycles, toys from wood, learning to crawl, things kids say and more. Go ahead, check it out and let it make you smile.

The Rainbow

Sometimes it’s the little things that make you smile. I was taking the kids out for a walk when we saw this rainbow. By the time I got the camera and got back out it was not nearly as bright as when we first saw it. Still, I had to share it.

Another wonderful surprise was seeing the Pony peeking through the fence. Didn’t notice it until I pulled the picture up on the computer. He’s a cutie!

Memorial Day is almost here

It's almost Memorial Day. As I was reading through some posts, I came across one that Tammi at Tammi's World suggested everyone read. I suggest it as well. Please go read And The Families.

And for those who would like to know more about Memorial Day, please check out THIS SITE.

The Castle

It was hard not to mess with the picture and give it an ‘old’ look. I could see this being a castle on a hill. It’s just my house being built instead.

147.6

Yes, you read that correctly. I went up a pound. Actually I'm lucky. I weighed myself on Thursday and was 148.8. Bells went off and I started to listen to my Hubby. He had mentioned earlier that I was not drinking my water again. I.hate.drinking.water. It makes such a big difference in my weight though. Amazing how fast it comes on and how s.l.o.w.l.y it comes off. Next week will be better.

Carnival of Recipes is UP

One of my favorite sites is hosting this week. Fresh as a Daisy. And she did a wonderful job. Soooo many recipes. Definitely worth a look and many are worth making. Go check it out HERE.

How to Cause Grandmother to Have a Heart Attack

My boys found a new toy. It did seem to cause their grandmother a few deep breaths and Oh My’s. I must say I found this to be a great toy and something that kept them entertained for a long time. Makes you wonder why I bother to buy them any toys. Click pictures to enlarge them.

Pull My Finger

What a title. It's the title of a new blog. My blog sister, Sissy of And What's Next, gave birth to a full grown boy. Spurs has started his own blog called Pull My Finger. Go on, check it out. I know you want to see what in the world he could write about with a blog name like that.

Happy Birthday Machelle

Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday Machelle! Happy Birthday to you!

Here are some pictures for you:

Man 1

Man 2

Man 3

Random Pictures of Fun

All you Winnie the Pooh people… you WIN! Here is a picture of Tater with his new hat!

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Tot just had to mess with the camera.

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Those poor Geese. Got dragged all over the yard, washed, ridden, and generally annoyed. Good thing they are fake!

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“Look at how high I can stack the blocks at Mamaw’s house!” says Tot.

“I could have put this seventh one on if mom hadn’t snapped the camera earlier and blinded me!!!!” fusses Tot.

Karnival of Kidz Entry

Mamaw’s computer is in the perfect place – for two young boys! Imagine my surprise when I go looking for Tot and find him at the computer running the mouse. He is pulling up menus, shutting down windows.

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And not to be outdone… Tater has to join in the fun as well. Wonder if this is because they see me or dad at the computer at least once a day?

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Need to see the OLD links to Karnival of Kidz? Want to know how to submit an entry?

Go to the newest blog called Karnival of Kidz! This will be the place to keep track of who is next, what has already been done and how to submit entries. Enjoy!

19,863 and additional nonsense

That is NOT my weight. GRIN. That is the number of hits I am at right now (2:38pm EST). That means I will be hitting close to 20k in the next couple of days. If you are that person - let me know!

And the additional Nonsense is:

I was the Number 1 and 2 hit for Harvey The World's Tallest Dog. Click to enlarge image below:

And I was the Number 2 hit for Happy Slacking!

Dip for Fruits

This is my entry for the Carnival of Recipes this week. Ingredients 8 oz Cream Cheese 7 oz Marshmellow Cream (or Fluff) Fruits desired (bananas, pineapple, strawberries, grapes, apples)

Directions
Mix together the Cream Cheese and Marshmellow Cream (or Fluff) until well blended. This can be refrigerated but must be stirred again before serving.

Cut up fruit to bite size pieces.

Serve.

More Humor for Dreaded Wednesday

Finally, some definitions that make sense..........

ADULT:
A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle.

BEAUTY PARLOR:
A place where women curl up and dye.

CANNIBAL:
Someone who is fed up with people.

CHICKENS:
The only animals you eat before they are born and after they are dead.

COMMITTEE:
A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.

DUST:
Mud with the juice squeezed out.

EGOTIST:
Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.

HANDKERCHIEF:
Cold Storage.

INFLATION:
Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.

MOSQUITO:
An insect that makes you like flies better.

RAISIN:
Grape with a sunburn.

SECRET:
Something you tell to one person at a time.

SKELETON:
A bunch of bones with the person scraped off.

TOOTHACHE:
The pain that drives you to extraction.

TOMORROW:
One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.

YAWN:
An honest opinion openly expressed.

WRINKLES:
Something other people have.
(You have character lines.)

Humor for Dreaded Wednesday

Some days, I don't find this humorous. Others, it strikes me as just perfect.

WHY I LOVE MOM

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...? CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL..... (and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

The Third Child

Once my nephew (M) and his wife (MW) and their child (MC) settled in, so did everyone else. It was extremely nice to visit with them. I think my boys loved it even more. They had another child to play with and boss around. GRIN. Or so they thought. Wait until you get further down the pictures and I’ll point it out.

Tater is saying “Let me sit here”

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Tot said “Blahh. I’m outta here. MC you are on your own.”

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Which boy can feed her more grapes?

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They played well together in the sand pile.

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They drove everyone crazy wanting to be pulled in the wagon. Then Tater decided to take his turn (now who is the boss in this situation?).

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Tot didn’t want to be left out, so he monopolized MC in the garden.

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And you gotta love how kids hug one another. GRIN.

Karnival of Kidz 5 is UP

I go on vacation and all sorts of good things happen! Look at what Susie at Practical Penumbra did for Karnival of Kidz 5! You need to go check it out. She was extremely creative and it looks like fun without even getting to the links on the kids!

Jeff at Oh Dark Thirty

Oops, I was on vacation and the day I left a letter arrived. He wants snail mail! It's now two weeks and he hasn't gotten a thing. PLEASE write Jeff at bootcamp and give him a hello!

His entire letter can be read HERE (includes snail mail address). As well as his snail mail address (Spam Proofed) is here:

PFC Harr, Jeffrey E
E CO 3-10 (2nd PLT)
SPAMPROOF 495 Iowa Ave SPAMPROOF
SPAMPROOF FLW, MO 65473 SPAMPROOF

How Hot Was It?

Did I mention that Mamaw does.not.have air conditioning in her car? I do remember saying something about the 90 degree weather we were having up there. Here are some pictures of the boys in her car!

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For some reason, Tater wanted the window rolled up a small amount... GRIN

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Of course, having a kiddie pool certainly helped keep us cool! And when Tater wasn’t looking, Tot went in and claimed it as his – all his!

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And for good reason, Tot wanted it to himself… see what kind of trouble Tater was causing?

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Click pictures to enlarge them. And yes, I am only going to put a few out a day.

The Plane Trip

Waiting at the airport is not a lot of fun. Particularly when the windows are so high up. But my kids figured out a way to see the planes takeoff and land.

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Yep, those are lollipops. I was hoping to keep them quiet as well as help their ears. Hat tip to Army Wife!

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And of course on the first plane flight you have got to look out the windows!

146.6

Ok, so I took my weight at 6:30am before I ate or did anything else. Not even a glass of water. But it looks soooo good!

I ran at my Mom's house, and was busy helping her in the yard and more. Guess that means it helped take off all that good food I was eating. Or it might have been the last 2 days not being able to chew. ;-)

No crunches, nothing but the running. Sigh. Gotta work on doing those situps. Too much flab from having those kids. And I certainly can't afford a tummy tuck!

We Made It Home

I have not uploaded the pictures yet. Ugh. I didn't realize how many I took! Now I have to go through and pick the best ones out. The flight was basically uneventful (Thank Goodness!). Hubby didn't show up until the last minute (ie I had just gotten our luggage off the belt). Didn't have to pay for parking that way. GRIN.

Ok, I really need some sleep. I'm hoping to get some pictures up tomorrow. Thanks for all the support and help...

Also, Tater only went to the bathroom 4 times on the plane. Phew.

No posting on Saturday, May 21st

You saw that title correctly. I will be getting up at 3:30am to catch a 6am flight back to my own home. I woke up this morning with the left side of my face slightly swollen, a headache, a lowgrade fever, every upper tooth on the left side hurting and the awful thought of having to fly. Yep, I have a sinus infection. It will certainly add some entertainment to the flight home.

Saturday I plan on crashing. No blogging, no cleaning house, just sleep and relaxation (or as much as I can get with 2 small children). I may get on long enough to read some blogs, but as with this week... very little comments. I do have a plan to go back and link to some of the ones I read because they have been funny lately. But that won't happen until later next week.

Enjoy your Saturday of freedom! GRIN.

Carnival of Recipes 40 is UP

Jordana of Curmudgeonry is hosting this week. Go check out this wonderful list of recipes!

Having fun

It was a long night... we stayed up talking and the kids got up off and on. So here is some humor to get me through the day:

GROCERY SHOPPING: (For all moms who tote the kids to get the food, haha).

A man observed a woman in the grocery store with a three year old girl in her basket. As they passed the cookie section, the child asked for cookies and her mother told her "no." The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, "Now Ellen, we just have half of the aisles left to go through; don't be upset. It won't be long."

He passed the Mother again in the candy aisle. Of course, the little girl began to shout for candy. When she was told she couldn't have any, she began to cry. The mother said, "There, there, Ellen, don't cry. Only two more aisles to go, and then we'll be checking out." The man again happened to be behind the pair at the check-out, where the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there would be no gum purchased today. The mother patiently said, "Ellen, we'll be through this check out stand in five minutes, and then you can go home and have a nice nap."

The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. "I couldn't help noticing how patient you were with little Ellen..." The mother broke in, "My little girl's name is Tammy... I'm Ellen."

Quick Quips

Tot is showing his ability to outsmart his elders. Mamaw was trying to get a toy Thomas the Tank Engine train from Tot (since it was Tater's toy). Earlier Tot would bring her something and when she said 'Thank You', he would put whatever he had in her hand. So when he walked over with Thomas, she said 'Thank you'. Tot then saw Percy sitting on the table beside her. He picked it up and handed it to her. He.was.not.going.to.let.Thomas.go! GRIN.

Later in the day, I was putting suntan lotion on the boys. It was 'pool time'. Every day we have pool time, I put on the suntan lotion, take off their diaper/undies, leave a long t-shirt on and chase them to the pool. Yesterday, after I took off Tater's undies, he looked me straight in the face and said 'Don't forget my pe-nis! I don't want it burned'. I thought I would never be able to get off the floor since I was trying so hard not to laugh.

Reunion and Answer to Potty question

It sucks not having pictures to show you. It seems that the 2 young girls in the family are all black headed, bronze skinned beauties and my 2 boys are blond headed, light skinned cuties. I can't wait for later today when we all get together again. It will be interesting to see the kids play together. 1 1/2 year old boy, 2 year old girl, 2 1/2 year old boy, 5 1/2 year old girl. I think I know who is going to take control... considering we have always had a matriarch type family. Wink Wink.

I am taking pictures... and when I get back home this weekend, I'll post a few. Until then... I'll just put out a story or two for you to enjoy. Or anything else you think might be interesting. Let me know.

btw, Tater went the to the bathroom 7 times on the trip up here. Want to guess how many times we go on the way back?

Humor for Dreaded Wednesday

An elderly man in Florida had owned a large farm for several years. He had a large pond in the back, fixed up nice -- picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and some orange and grapefruit trees. The pond was properly shaped and fixed up for swimming when it was built.

One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond, as he hadn't been there for a while, and look it over. He grabbed a five gallon bucket to bring back some fruit. As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee. As he came closer he saw it was a bunch of young women skinny-dipping in his pond. He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the! deep end. One of the women shouted to him, "We're not coming out until you leave!"

The old man frowned, "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked."

Holding the bucket up he said, "I'm here to feed the alligator!"

Moral: Dirty old men can still think fast

Pool Pushing

Been a little busy today. Actually, I have been relaxing today. I was able to read some of a book, take a nap and generally enjoy some time with my Mom. And because it took me so long to get on the computer, I was able to tell you this story.

Imagine a small plastic kiddie pool. If you are dumping the water, you turn it over so it is bottom up. Then you turn it back right side up. Now try to picture Tot doing this. Even though the pool was twice his height, he kept turning it over and then right side up. All over the yard.

As soon as I got distracted with Tater, he succeeded in turning it over on to a plant and then climbing on it. This was a plant that Mamaw really wanted to survive. Next thing I know, she is up and moving. I was amazed. Then I realized why. We shall see tomorrow if the plant is going to make it or not.

A side note: I have been trying to read blogs, but I have not had time to post comments except one or two. You'll hear from me more... soon!

Tasteless humor?

It's hard to believe... but Jim at Snooze Button Dreams gave me access to his blog. Yep, really. I posted my first post tonight. I thought I would start with some truly tasteless humor. Go check out his blog (he's gone and bunch of us are guest blogging) and make sure you tell him that VW sent you! GRIN!

KoK 4

KoK 4 is not the Kokkola/Pietarsaari, Finland - Kruunupyy (Airport Code). It stands for Karnival of Kidz #4! And Bou did a fantastic job. Those of you missing pictures of my cute kids... go check some out at the Karnival Of Kidz 4.

151

Yep. Weighed myself finally. I have gained 1 1/2 pounds. I have been jogging every morning... but not as far as I have in the past. Not use to asphalt roads. Also, I have been eating lemon cake, macaroni and cheese, honeybaked ham, fried chicken and all those other goodies. I'll have to work harder at this if I'm going to beat Bou! But I will succeed. She visits her folks this summer before this is over... I might have a chance!

Nephew, wife and child arrived!

The family reunion was a success. My Sister and Mamaw were surprised! My Marine Nephew that got back from Iraq a couple of months ago, flew over to Florida with his wife and child. We got to meet them all for the first time. It has been great. They are here now, so this will be kept short.

But please be aware, I'm treading dangerous waters tonight. We are all going to Chucky Cheese for my Nephew's child's 2nd birthday. Chucky Cheese with a 1 1/2 year old, 2 year old, 2 1/2 year old and a 5 1/2 year old. Definitely in trouble!

Elastic Baby

Give your curser a good swing.... Turn the sound on. Have a good laugh. Something to keep you entertained while I'm busy with my family.

Click here: Elastic Baby

Family Reunion

Was busy last night. After my sisters left, I tried to help clean up. This means that I pick up one item for every 2 left by my kids. It also means, you never really get anything cleaned. ;-)

Today we are suppose to get together for a big reunion. Wheeeeeeee. I hope that it goes well. I'm also suppose to stop by Dad's grave this morning. Depends on what time Mamaw gets up and going. The kids and I have been up since 4:45am. Day 4 of this. It's getting OLD. To dark to go out and nothing on TV.

Any thoughts on how to get them to sleep longer???

Entry for Karnival of Kidz

Being a little busy with the kids at Mamaw's house, I found THIS STORY about the kids decorating a cake for their Dad. Thought you would enjoy it.

The locked door

Just a quick post, because it is early and my kids are awake and getting fussy! Yesterday Mamaw had a doctor's appointment. No big deal, but it required her to go in for blood work first. This meant she was going to be gone at least 3 hours. At my own house, this is not a problem. At Mamaw's it's a whole different ball game. To do something different and keep the kids from tearing her house up, I decided we would play in the front yard. I had bought some chalk and they could write on her sidewalk and driveway.

This went along fine until we tried to get into the house. Hmmmm. The front door was locked. Now I started to panic. I don't have a key. I have 2 young children. Yes, I know the neighbors but the first thought was EEEEEEEEEEEE all my kids stuff was in the house.

I was extremely lucky because Mamaw did NOT lock the back door before leaving. She also left the gate unlocked. Yep, we just went around back. But it is unusual for her to leave all that stuff unlocked as well. It would have made for a better story if I had to go beg off the neighbors, but I'm glad we got in and I got them down for their naps. Phew.

Ok, Tater is helping me... gotta go!

Karnival of Kidz is coming

Please don't forget to send in those pictures and stories of your kids, you as a kid or if you are feeling particularly vexatious... send them in about your siblings. GRIN. And here is how.

Carnival of Recipes is UP

Over at Bou's place you can find more variety of recipes than ever. Go take a look and enjoy some good food.

Day 2 of the trip

What a time I am having. There are NO drivers for my camera that work on my Mom's machine. Which means I will have to describe stuff in words. UGH. There is a reason why I became an engineer and NOT a writer. It also explains why you get lots and lots of pictures. GRIN.

Tot finally fell asleep at 2am this morning. Tater work up at 4:30am. It started on the wrong foot (gee, I'm tired and I can't imagine why I would be irratible at 4:45am). Tater would NOT shut up and go back to sleep. I finally told him he could talk but he had to whisper (and yes he knows how to do this). He told me No. A time out occurred in another room. Yep, I got up, got him up and off we went. At 5:30am, Tot woke up.

You can tell where this is going can't you? Probably not. I took a deep breath, decided not to kill my children (figuratively), and planned a couple of things for the day. I should know better by now, but I don't. We went to Walmart and the library. The trip to Walmart was the trip from hell. I left with most of the stuff I needed (including bubble wands and bubble stuff for the kids to play with outside) but not the stuff I really wanted... like another pair of shoes for Tot. Who just cannot stay out of the water. He has the instinct to find water that is unbelievable. And how he can get it on his feet is BEYOND me.

Tater has been good most of the day and is napping. Tot waited for 3 hours before going to sleep. I will not go into ghastly detail of trying to get him to sleep. There are reasons why I don't like taking trips and this is one of them. There are reasons why I take trips, like getting to see my mom that helps me put it in perspective. Of course this usually happens hours later. GRIN.

Gotta go wake Tater up, so he will sleep tonight. He has been asleep an hour and half. That's enough. Also, we have a surprise for him. Mamaw filled up a small kiddie pool with water. Since it is 90F outside, it should be fun.

Hope everyone is doing well. Not doing much blog surfing... not much time. As soon as we get a routine worked out... I'll visit more. Ohhh. And I have another surprise to tell you about tomo

How to stay in out of trouble

Being one of those people who cannot resist a challenge, I have decided to give this challenge a shot. I was told by my Blog-Mom, Bou, not to use her as my example of a troglodyte. After reading the following definition... I cannot see why she bothered to challenge me.

Troglodyte:
1. One of any savage race that dwells in caves, instead of constructing dwellings; a cave dweller. most of the primitive races of man were troglodytes. "In the troglodytes' country there is a lake, for the hurtful water it beareth called the "mad lake."" (Holland)

2. A genus of apes including the chimpanzee.

3. A genus of singing birds including the common wrens.

She is not a cave dweller... she is a savage woman that lives in a house. I would not consider her an ape, I leave that for the male species. And I would never picture her as a soft sweet singing wren.

So as much as I like a challenge, I must say... I cannot undertake the ability to use her in comparison with a troglodyte.

The Plane Trip

What a hoot. I would never suggest that anyone try to take a 1 yr old and a 2 yr old on a plane trip. I must say it was stressful yet fun all at the same time. We left such a mess for them to clean up. Cracker crumbs, sticky hand prints from the lollipops, and pretzel crumbs.

I have some pictures, but my Mom's computer is being difficult. I'll have to go get some drivers for the camera.

Here is a teaser for you. How many times did Tater ask to go P in the potty while on this tiny plane? Yes, they did have a toilet. It fit Tater fine, but add Tot sleeping in my arms and it was a joke.

More later. I have two upset children, no sleep and a Mamaw to keep from going insane. GRIN.

Pond Fill

“Let me take the picture MOM! Please!”, says Tater. No way I can resist my child when he says Please! So here is Tater’s picture of the pond:

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We can follow the truck tracks from the pond to the Truck!

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I didn’t notice when I took the picture that Tater moved in front of Tot. I believe it was done on purpose… the big stinker!

More Humor for Dreaded Wednesday

The Washcloth It’s stories like this that make me happy I have boys!

I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist later in the week. Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor's office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30 am. I had only just packed everyone off to work and school, and it was already around 8:45 am.

The trip to his office took about 35 minutes, so I didn't have any time to spare. As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn't going to be able to make the full effort. So, I rushed upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash in "that area" to make sure I was at least presentable. I threw the washcloth in the clothes basket, donned some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment.

I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called in. Knowing the procedure, as I'm sure you do, I hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away. I was a little surprised when the doctor said, "My, we have made an extra effort this morning, haven't we?"

After the appointment, the rest of the day was normal... some shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. After school when my 6 year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, "Mommy, where's my washcloth?" I told her to get another one from the cupboard. She replied, "No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it."

Humor for Dreaded Wednesday

An old Italian Mafia Don is dying and he calls his grandson to his bed. "You lissin-a me. I wanna for you to taka my chrome plated .38 revolver so you will always remember me." "But grandpa, I really don't like guns. Howzabout you leava me your Rolex watch instead." "Shuddup an lissin. Somma day you gonna runna da business, you gonna have a beautifula wife, lotsa money, a biga home and maybe a couple a bambinos. Somma day you gonna coma home and maybe find you wife inna bed with another man. "Whadda you gonna do then......pointa to you watch and a say, Times Up?"

Karnival of Kidz 3

Need something to make you smile? Go check out THESE STORIES AND PICTURES over at Prochein Amy's. And THANKS Amy for a job well done!

The Pointer Finger

Men of all ages… Did you do this as a child?

My son is p’ing. And no, you can’t see anything else. Because I’m posting it on the web, I zoomed in and made sure. Notice the pinter finger is sticking out. Is this normal? Not being male, I just don’t get it. My Hubby doesn’t see an issue with it. Sure does seem odd to me. Moms, did your boys do this?

Weight this week

You have seen the post below and know I will be out of town. Yes, I will still be posting... but I am not sure my Mom has a scale. So Amy, Bou, Army Wife, David, Sissy and anyone I may have forgotten, that does NOT mean you can give up this week. If I can find a scale (even if it is in a grocery store) I will post it.

I am going to be sweating my weight loss while I'm gone. My mom cooks the best fried chicken, fried pork chops, and all that other good food... you get the idea, it's going to be hard to limit the intake. But she did mention all the yard work she wants me to do, so I'm hoping it evens out!

Again - NO giving up this week!

Gonna Have LOTS of Stories Soon

Huh? I’m going to go see my Mom! I’m taking the kids with me! We are going to be flying on a Prop plane for 2 ½ hours. My Hubby is NOT going. See where this is going don’t you? I ought to be able to give you a TON of fun stories in the following week.

Luckily my Mom has cable modem access and a kick-arse pc. Posting should continue without interruption with the exception of Wednesday. That is the day I fly out of here. And chances are I will be e.x.h.a.u.s.t.e.d and not willing to post.

Today and tomorrow, I’m going to be trying to figure out the minimum I can pack and still survive the trip. The plane trip. I had some great stories about the kids this weekend. The neck hold, the head butting, and a few other things that boys seem to think is fun and funny. And the way Tater holds his pe-nis. If I get a chance, I’ll write them up tonight and post them tomorrow. But I’m STRESSING. Already ate about 20 m&ms. Now I’ll have to run 3 times today to make up for it. But when am I going to run??? ARGGGGHHHHHHHH.

This took me 2 minutes to type up. I hope it takes less to post. (Yes, I am a fast typist – use to drive my co-workers nuts). Gotta go--- gotta find the extra monkey and lion.

Big Mud Puddles

I did not write any posts yesterday. I was busy making plans for the next week and enjoying my day. I will try to get it all written up and share with you the joys of my little ones. Until then, I was sent this in an email and had to share it. Reminds me of my Hubby laughing when he saw Tater and I playing airplanes in the yard.

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

Author Unknown

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.
My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.

My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children!

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I wish you Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions!!!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away."

Lemon Squares

I'm on that lemon kick again. Got this from a co-worker. Luckily he kept me from eating them all. Don't forget to get your recipes into the Carnival of Recipes. Either from HERE or sending a note to carnival.recipes (at) gmail.com.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup butter
½ cup powdered sugar
4 medium eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups granulated sugar
4 tbl flour
½ tsp baking powder
6 tbl lemon juice

Crust:

Use 1st three ingredients and mix like pie crust. Put in a 15 x 9inch pan and press down to make a flat crust. Bake at 300F for 25 minutes.

Topping:

Beat eggs slightly and add remaining ingredients. Spread custard over baked crust. Bake another 25 minutes at 325F, or until custard is set. Remove from oven and dust powdered sugar on top. When cool, cut into small squares.

For My Mother’s Day

My son, Tater, made me a jewelry box and a pin at school. It is the best Mother’s day present I could have gotten. In fact, my Husband took some time off to take care of Tot while I had a ‘Mother’s Day Tea’ with Tater at school on Thursday. All of this gave me such a warm fuzzy feeling. Hard to explain but it was wonderful. I’m sharing the gifts Tater made me… Enjoy the picture and Happy Mother’s Day! Click picture to enlarge it.

149.6

Ok, it's done. I have posted my weight. My goal is go get below 135. 134.8 would work for me! (My scale is in .2 increments).

Occassionally you will see some odd posts about the amount of water I have had or situps I have done (as of today ZERO)... I'm hoping if I post it for the world to see, I will have more incentive to keep going. And I'm going to need it. Bou is going to be hard to beat. But I will do it. Just wait and see. Old age and treachery will beat young age and enthusiasm. Yes, I am older than her. BLHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I wonder if I should mail her a large hunk of Hoffman's dark chocolate? (BIG GRIN - and just joking... we both need to lose weight). Be sure to give us BOTH some words of encouragement each week when we post our weights!

Carnival of Recipes Number 38 is UP

There are a whole lot of delicious recipes up at Technogypsy! You have got to take a peak at the Cider Brine for ribs and the Refried Bean Soup and Homemade Mint Ice cream. There are so many good recipes. I think I'll be gone browsing for awhile.

The Competition

Get ready, get set… and on Sunday it will be GO. I will be posting my weight once a week on Sundays. What does this have to do with competition? I will be competing with Bou to see who can reach their goal. I need a lot of support here. Why?

1. Bou’s kids are at school most of the day. Giving her the opportunity to go and exercise on a regular basis
2. Bou joined weight watchers and has the ability to easily track her food
3. Bou gets to sleep the whole night most of the week
4. Bou is more competitive than I am when it comes to weight loss

Ok, I have one advantage over her.

1. She started already and has lost that initial ‘big’ number of pounds.

Something to consider when you see our weights and what we are losing… Bou is small framed and I am medium/large frame. GRIN. I also believe women should have a certain amount of ‘fat’ (cushion for the push’n) on them. Personally I believe a sylph woman of my age looks anemic.

Now when you see my weight on my blog once a week, you will understand why.

The response to the Awful Meme

I have had the privilige of having two very creative people answer the Turd meme. Click on the links below and have a good laugh!

Sally's got her POST to the tune of 'Skip to my Lou'

And Oddybobo has a great POEM for you to enjoy.

Veggie Oil instead of Gas?

My Husband sent me a link to THIS ARTICLE and asked why veggie oil wasn’t getting as much attention as fuel cells. After reading the article, I don’t know why it isn’t getting the same amount of attention. If you are savvy enough, you can make the veggie fuel at home. As pointed out by my Husband and the article, you will help American farmers, it has been around since early 1900s, it can used interchangeably with diesel (so if you can’t get it, you can use diesel instead), and it’s cleaner for the engine.

Does anyone else know about this? Is it really as good as it claims?

Yes, this is off my beaten path about posting about my kids, but I am just amazed at what I have been reading on this. And wondering if anyone of the people who read this blog has had real experience with it (or know anyone that has).

Stress In My Life?

No way. I’m not stressed. With small children, a house to upkeep, and a thousand other things going on… Which means you need to add just a little more stress just to see how far I can be pushed. What in the world would cause more stress? How about getting a house built?

And here will be the entrance to our new house:

If my posting is just one post a day… it’s because I’m following up on Mitigation fees, insurance, muck, house placement, pond fill and all those other things that will show up as the house is being built. Along with all the other stuff that comes along with having a house, two small children, a dog, a pony and a Husband. No wonder I forgot mother’s day. Good thing you can buy and ship from the internet. ;-)

An Awful Meme

My blogmom is going to be in trouble very soon. She hit me up for the ‘Turd meme’. I do not have a CREATIVE bone in my body for poetry. Plagiarize sounds like the right way to go.

The rules written by David at THIS POST are

1.) write a lil ditty built upon the phrase "Turd in a punchbowl." 2.) spread the lil meme to three others.

From Poop Rhymes, Riddles and Sayings, I found this poem. Modification by me in italics.

(contributed by Mary S. at Poop Rhymes, Riddles and Sayings:)

The sky was black, the moon was blue, And down the alley the shit wagon flew; Turd in a punchbowl, a scream was heard, And Bou was hit by a flying turd!

I can’t imagine passing this on to anyone. But the temptation is overwhelming. I believe I would love to see what Oddybobo at Bobo Blogger would write, as well as Sally at Whimsy Capricious and Stacy at Not a Desperate Housewife.

Fun with a Bags

Tater was having a blast yesterday playing with plastic grocery bags. We must have gone through 10 or 15 of them. And he thought this up all by himself. I was trying to figure it out the first time and had to run and get the camera the second time. It just got funnier and funnier as he walked around in a bag.

Here is Tater getting into the bag (and Tot heading our way to get in the way):

= = = = =

Here is Tater getting ready to walk:

= = = = =

Here is Tater telling me to take a picture of HIM! Look at that smile. Only for a camera shot. PS. Notice the pineapples in the background? They are getting big.

A Shadow?

Ever feel like you have a shadow even when the sun is not shining? I do. I was in North Florida and moved South. So did my shadow. I took this quiz over at Ogre’s and was a Monk. So was my shadow. I took the ‘what 80’s toy’ quiz and got to be a Speak & Spell. So did my shadow. My shadow took a test on gender of your brain and was more Male and my brain was more Male as well.

Then I figured it out! It wasn’t my shadow but a young woman who was trying to emulate ME! Geeze. I should have seen it sooner. I would have put my best face forward and try to teach her right!

But all got confusing when this young woman ended up being my mom. (Blog Mom that is). Doesn't that mean I'm suppose to emulate her?

Have you guessed who it is? Yep, it is Bou from Boudicca’s Voice. I just couldn’t resist a little humor on my part about her. Trust me, we have a lot of differences as well. I’m an extrovert and she’s an introvert. I’m short and … hmmm… she’s shorter (ok, not much of a difference). I have big boobs and she doesn’t. I only have 2 boys and she has 3. She’s very opinionated and I’m… hmmm… guess that won’t work.

You certainly can see the difference in our posting. Go visit her site and enjoy the stories she has about life.

Chicken Broccoli Au Gratin

This is from Campbell’s No Time To Cook cookbook. Tot and I liked it as is. Tater and Dad dipped it in Ketchup. I did not do the garnish.

Ingredients:

1 can (10 1/2 counces) Cream of Chicken & Broccoli soup
¼ cup milk
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
3 tblsp dry bread crumbs
2 tblsp grated Parmesan cheese
2 tblsp butter, melted
Fresh parsley sprigs and carrot flowers or carrot curls for garnish

Directions:

In 2-quart oblong baking dish, combine soup and milk. Arrange chicken in soup mixture, turning to coat.

In small bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Pat mixture on top of each chicken piece. Bake at 400F for 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Stir sauce, spoon over chicken. Garnish with parsley and carrots, if desired.

My Entry for Karnival of Kidz 3

Here are two pictures of my kids when they were the same age. Notice that Tot’s eyes are not as open. This is because he was my premie (5 ½ weeks early). Today? He is the same as any other kid his age. You can definitely tell they are brothers then and now.

Don’t forget to get your entry out before Sunday Midnight! And HERE IS HOW.

A huge Thanks to Amy at Prochein Amy for being our Hostess this week.

Humor for Dreaded Wednesday

THIRTY LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

1.. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't.

2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3.. I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!

4.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

5.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

6.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

7.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me

8.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

9.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

10.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are missing.

11.. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

12. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.

13.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

14.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

15.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

16.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

17.. Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!

18.. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

19.. Procrastinate Now!

20.. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

21.. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

22.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance

23.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

24..They call it PMS because MadCow Disease was already taken.

25..He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.

26..A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

27..Ham and eggs. A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

28.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

29.. The original point and click interface was a Smith and Wesson.

30.. I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.

Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. Will Rogers

Backseat Driver

Not me! And not my Hubby. It is Tater. He now has decided that he should tell me which direction to turn and when to go and stop. Part of this is my fault for encouraging him to talk to me while driving. I had no idea that teaching him left/right/straight ahead. Green means go, Red means stop and all those other little things would create such a monster!

Maybe he wouldn’t be such a monster if he didn’t have an excellent sense of direction. He knows which way to the train tracks. It doesn’t matter where we are at, he knows which way to turn to get there. The turkey. He loves trains right now. And he thinks if we go to the train tracks we will see a train. No matter how many times I tell him that I have no control over when a train is coming and there may not be a train… he still wants to go to the train tracks. Would you have thought a 2 ½ year old would have such a wonderful sense of direction? Not me.

And I have to go to the library this week. It's in the general direction of the train tracks, but still a mile or two away. I wonder what he's going to tell me today?

Picnic at the Beach

We went to the ‘Company Picnic’ this last weekend. They actually hold a really nice picnic. Catered food, always get the pavilion near the playground. This time they had a bouncy castle. Tater went into it for the first time. Every time before, he always went in and came out immediately. But he loved this one. It had other boys playing in it. Now these boys were from 6 years on up. A little on the rough side, but he had a blast with it. Finally bruised the bottom of his foot somehow and that stopped it for a while. When we left, he wanted to go back to the Bouncy House! Bad enough he talks non-stop (BTW, I love the fact that he is talking non-stop) but now he wants to go back. We get told NO don’t go, turn around, drive the other way and all sorts of stuff.

And both boys had a blast at the playground. There were swings, slides, stuff to climb, stuff to ride and more. Had a hard time getting off the playground to go eat lunch. Here is a picture of them. Notice that Tot is keeping a close eye on Tater. Wonder if that has something to do with being pushed down earlier that day? Click to Enlarge picture.

PS. I had SPF 60 on them. I tried sunglasses on Tater, but they kept falling off. I think Mom needs a lesson on how to find the right size sunglasses for her boys. Tot just ran when I came at him with anything. ;-)

What 80's toy are you?

UPDATE: Forgot about THIS LINK (need to turn off popup blocks to play with it).

Hat tip to Jennifer at Jennifer's World. I just had to share this with everyone!

You're a Speak & Spell!! You nerd, you. Just
because you were disguised as a toy doesn't
mean you weren't educational, you sneaky
bastard.


What childhood toy from the 80s are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

It’s UP! Karnival of Kidz 2

And the pictures and stories are marvelous, astonishing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awesome, breathtaking, extraordinary, fabulous, fantastic, incredible, miraculous, phenomenal, remarkable, singular, spectacular, staggering, stupendous, surprising, unbelievable, wonderful, and wondrous. Trust me, it is well worth going to read those stories and look at those cute pictures. Where is it this time? Over at Sally’s at THIS POST.

Happy Birthday

Today is my Sister’s birthday. Today is my Dad’s birthday. I had planned on putting something out early this morning but as you know, the best laid plans can go awry. I couldn’t find my favorite book of poems. I couldn’t get the scanner to work. This list goes on. I finally broke down and started searching on-line for something. Below are some poems I found. The one for my dad has been modified (though I am putting the author’s name with it still).

To my Sister:

Sisters rarely speak of their affection:
More than brothers, do, of course, but less
Than those sweet waves that break before expression,
Feelings too routine to need confess.
Romantic love has phases like the moon:
Waxing, waning, full, and gone from sight.
Sibling love is more a simple tune
Hummed silent and unknowing day and night.
But now I wish to sing out loud, and say
All the things that daily I might hide,
That you might see your inner grace my way,
And share with me my gratitude and pride.
Ah, sister! You will always have my love!
This part of us the years shall not remove!

Nicholas Gordon

To my Dad:

Your Birthday without you is like music
Muted by a distance undisturbed.
It is so faint I cannot tell the feeling,
Though I myself am gripped with pensive sorrow.

I listen all the more for what I cannot
Hear, and you are somewhere close beside me.
"It's joy!" you say, and then I nod, unbending,
Listening still while weeping like fine rain.

Yes, it's joy, and you again are with me.
I turn to you, and I am in your arms.
The music is a rhapsody around me,
And I am safe again and free to cry.

It is so beautiful, I cannot stand it,
I am a torrent, shaking in my gladness,
And you recede, as distant as the music,
Smiling dimly far across the plain.

"Please, please!" I say, yet know that what I'm asking
No longer is. Your day will come and go,
And I will crave and fear its restless turning
Because my happiness must be my pain.

Nicholas Gordon

Slacking off

It’s true. I have not had a lot of sleep over the last 6 days, so I have not been writing down all the cute stories about my kids. Like Tater learning how to P in the potty. Oh what an experience this is turning out to be. I should never have let him P on the tree outside. Even when in the house, he wants me to let him go outside to P instead of going in the toilet.

And the toilet is a bigger challenge lately. I have started using the dye in it again to get him to actually P in the toilet and not AROUND the outside of the toilet. Just yesterday he was standing at the toilet and aimed it to the bathtub curtains (which are right beside the toilet), looked up at me, smiled, and said “I’m a bad boy”. It’s tough not to smile (and I didn’t succeed – I just smiled, cleaned it up and told him he was a good boy for telling me had to P). Yep, he finally told me he had to P. For the last WEEK I have had to take him every 30 minutes or so. He wouldn’t tell me when he had to go. When he finally does tell me, he pulled that stunt above. What a little ball of trouble I’m raising.

The kids keep me hopping, but so does the Blog-sphere. Prochein Amy’s Mom has decided to start blogging. Her FIRST POST is marvelous. Please be sure to check out her blog called Primo Donna.

UPDATE: For those who buy stock, just wanted to let you know I am going through Clorox Wipes at a very fast rate. Just think about how many times I have to clean the bathroom of P in a course of day when Tater is going every 30 minutes on average. ;-)

Day of Random

Amalgamate

Gotten from my BlogSis Sissy and Oddybobo... and here is the directions from Phin.