real life?

There's a table in my basement right by the window where it's perfect for sketching, crafting, homeworking, playing, reading and whatever else-ing

Quite often if I want to use it I have to make room by digging my way through the piles of books my boys have read there.

I had to laugh and snap a picture this time.

• The Far Side Gallery 
• American Standard of Perfection 1985 edition (poultry)
• Children's World Atlas
• The Dangerous Book For Boys
• a Sketch book and some markers

These books weren't there because they'd cast them aside on their way to do something else.

They were there because they had been intently studied and read!

At least my boys are well rounded?

and geniuses?

It doesn't matter!

It makes me smile!

BTW: one of these boys when he was 6 asked me, while I was driving, and I was extremely pregnant (significant because pregnancy makes it hard for me to concentrate so I was already distracted.)

Son: "Mom, why does the word matter have two definitions? One being it has no consequence and the other being the basic element everything is made of. How do those two definitions relate to each other?"

Me: thinking, what? where did this child come from? and concentrating so hard I missed the speed limit sign that said it changed from 40 to 25...ooops...

The Police Officer wasn't compassionate at all on this pregnant woman with 4 children in the car who apologized profusely and said she didn't speed intentionally, she was only distracted by this extremely intelligent question that just came out of her 6 year old's mouth as this same son asked him if he was going to arrest his mother.

No, not compassionate at all......he gave her/me a ticket!

So On my birthday (7:30 am) I went to the court house to see if I could get the judge to reduce my fine and the points on my DL. I couldn't find anyone to watch my youngest (3) and so I packed a bag with books and a few toys and waddled my 8 1/2 months pregnant self to the courthouse. 

I placed the tote bag on the conveyor belt that went through the x-ray machine and herded my little man through the metal detector and then I went through too.

On the other side the security officer was taking a close look at my bag through the x-ray machine. 

Finally he stopped and asked with a confused and amused grin, "Mam, do you happen to have an octopus in your bag?"

"I probably do." I answered as I opened the bag and pulled out a small red octopus with its legs spread wide.

The man laughed and said I couldn't figure out why you'd have a Chinese star in your diaper bag so I decided it had to be an octopus.

I laughed and said, "And I bet you've never had to ask anyone if they have an octopus in their bag before?"

"No, and I probably never will again either." he said.

When it was finally my turn to see the judge and plead for leniency my little man had HAD it and the judge did not look happy to see my little man there.  

After hearing my side of things the judge offered to take the ticket off of my record completely if I went to driving school.

I told him I'd like to but I didn't think I'd have time because I was due if a few weeks to deliver my 5th child.

He nodded his head and then it was like it finally registered in his mind what I'd just said because he stopped, his eyes got wide and he said, "Wait. What? How many kids did you just say?"

"Fifth." I answered

He shook his head and said, "Yeah, you're right, you won't have time."

I guess he took pity on me because he reduced my fine from $250 to $30 and took all of the points off of my DL record.

Happy Birthday to me!

I guess the point to all of this is ..... if your boys read like this it can be a good and a bad thing but it's definitely worth it for the amusing story.

Treasures.....a flash-back friday

My parents cleaned out their attic and basement earlier this year.

As a result my attic and basement are now full of my old junk and their old ping-pong table (which we love!!!).

Some of it has been fun to go through....old dance costumes, letterman's sweater (I didn't want a jacket.), old school papers, childhood diaries, etc.

.....some of it not so much.....junk my kids think they need to keep, embarrassing old school photos/assignments and notes to friends, etc.

.....some of it I'm keeping....

...and some of it has made it's way to D.I./Goodwill and some to the trash.

However, I did find two treasures that are not leaving my possession under any circumstance. Even if they aren't necessarily mine....they are now.

Treasure #1 the car pictured above. It belonged to my oldest brothers so I'm guessing it's late 1950's early 1960's. I love it. I remember playing with it too. Currently it's setting on a shelf and it makes me smile when I walk by. But I have let my little ones play with it....just a tiny bit.....the love it too.

Treasure #2 my dad's freshman button from college. It's still blue and gold (although faded) and you can see his name (barely) written in his own hand.....circa 1947.

When I asked my dad about it he said he had to wear that button and a matching blue and gold tie and beanie every day to class. I was curious to see if he still had the beanie and tie, he told me "Somehow the beanie got "lost","  a couple of days after he got it and he hadn't seen the tie in years.

I was a little disappointed because it would have been great to put all three in a shadow box with a picture of my dad but at least I have the button.

With these two treasures in mind I've been finding it nearly impossible to thin out my boy's toys and some other things that have been hanging around.

We need the space and less clutter but a lot of those things have good memories for the boys.

Maybe I'll put them in a box and when they have a house of their own I'll call them on the phone and say, "Boys, come get your stuff out of my attic." and then they can deal with it.

I guess, now I know why I inherited so many boxes of my childhood stuff these past few months.....

I'm not done yet!

I guess I'm not ready to be done looking back at some old posts yet!
So.........here's a two'fer.
Have you seen my new shoes? - January 2008
and
Guess who? Guess how? - December 2007

She's just so darn cute!

374 posts!

Great Green Greasy Limpopo River Batman that's a lot of posts!
If you read one post from this blog a day - you'd be reading for over a year!!!!! [gasp]
I missed celebrating our blogaversary last August because we were moving and I missed celebrating 365 posts because.......I don't know......I have 5 kids....it's summer.......who knows.
But here we are!
Oh how we've changed.

• I'm less sleep deprived now our youngest two are sleeping through the night.
• We still have a ton of laundry around here -- it's just that as the kids get bigger so does the number of loads of laundry -- funny how that works.
• We moved to a new state.
• We (adults) still love all things chocolate and tasty -- more of our kids have discovered they also love all things chocolate and tasty.

So,

I thought I'd celebrate in my own way --By doing a little looky-loo back to some of my favorite posts. Over the next few days I'll be posting some links to some past posts you may have missed.

Enjoy!!!! I will!

click here for Happy Moldy Cheese Day - Posted October 2007

a-ha , take on me, literal version video from you-tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QFvjIqQZws

If you didn't already know ---
I am an 80's girl.
One Friday night (when I was a preteen), after hearing this song, seeing the video and
LOVING IT,
I called my favorite radio station and requested it.
I waited for HOURS with my finger at the ready on the record button of my tape player so I could record the song of all songs and not miss a note.
Around 1 am I finally went to bed disappointed that they never played it.
A couple of weeks later they played it every 30 minutes and I got so sick of it.
Now I'm not so sick of it and it brings back good memories of a simpler time.
This particular version (actual music video w/lyrics changed to say what's happening in the video) CRACKS ME UP!!!

(okay, so I'm just posting the link because of questionable video links pulled up by youtube after the video, they also say something about kicking a donkey toward they end of the video, the poor animal, I really don't think it's right to take your frustrations out on an innocent animal. Now, if they were going to kick a ferret I would understand)

flash back friday

Who is that 7th grade beauty with the Molly Ringwald haircut?
Wasn't I hot?
By the way, to complete the ensemble I have on cobalt blue stirrup pants, hot pink socks, and cobalt blue shoes.
Oh Yes, I thought I was all that.

flash-back friday - new and improved

2005 - beginning of 2006

More for JuLee

As per your request ward talent show 6-16-06.

Banana Skit

Flash-Back Friday

Summer 2003

I was pregnant w/Mr.Man. The family came to GP for a family reunion. I got my portable dishwasher (love that thing - still use it every day). And, I made all of the skirts for Banana's tap class' recital -18- that was a lot (3rd pic down).

flash-back friday

The first part of June, 16 years ago, I had my first kiss. It was shortly after graduation and I was embarrassed about the fact I was sooooo old and had never kissed a boy.

One warm evening this really handsome guy, I really liked, called and asked if I would go on a "Slurpee run" with him. I said "sure" and he came right over. We got about half-way down the street and something went wrong with his car (I don't remember what). So we went back to my house and ended up playing night games (hide-and-go-seek) with the younger neighbor kids. He held my hand and commented that it smelled like oranges - (I had eaten one right before he called). He made some witty comment, I don't remember exactly what, I was embarrassed but happy.

Later we jumped on the trampoline and then sat and talked. Eventually he asked if he could kiss me. I said yes but I was so nervous and embarrassed. Unfortunately, when I'm really nervous I laugh, and thus, ---we kissed, ---I laughed, ---not good.

Fortunately for me, he didn't give up on me.

~*~*~

13 years ago this month we were married.

It feels like yesterday. If it weren't for the 5 kidlettes running around here I would think it was just yesterday.

*`*`*

Here's to kissing my best friend, my crush, my love. It's turned out pretty good.

*LIFE IS GOOD!*

flash-back friday

Missing family and remembering the great time we had in England 2006,

The following 2 pictures are why you probably don't want to travel with me.

Flash-Back Friday, guest author MDH - Hating Miss Daisy or The Day the Cow Went Berserk

Written for English 111, WSU, 1995

I didn't always hate cows. At one time in my life I used to enjoy going to my Grandfather's farm and watching him take care of his dairy cattle. He seemed to have a way with animals and they always seemed to act just the way he wanted them to. No, my hatred for the bovine started to develop the day my dad brought home the creature that would change my mind forever about cows. At first she seemed like any other farm animal and we called her Daisy. I guess in all reality she never really had an official name. My mom had always made sure that all our pets had a name. But because our cow was kept so far away from the house, we simply called her The Cow. It wasn't a very creative name, but it fit. I think the Daisy part came from my little sister, but I can't be sure. All The Cow ever was to me was the animal I had to feed and water twice a day, nothing more than another chore on my list of things to do around the farm. It wasn't that big of a responsibility until the calves were born.

The calves were born in early spring. This was the first time I got an indication that there was something not right with this animal. She gave birth to twins right in the muddiest part of the corral. This meant that we would have to act fast to help them out so they could stand up. It wouldn't have been that hard except for Daisy. She wouldn't let us near those calves. She was a very protective mother so we just had to stand by and wait. Miraculously, they survived. I didn't know it at the time but I would live to experience her motherly protection of those calves first hand.

My responsibilities changed once the calves were born. Now I would have to accompany my older brother, once in the morning and once at night, to the milk barn. There, he would squeeze enough milk out to fill two quart-sized bottles. I would then take those two bottles, attach the corresponding nipple-lids and head out to feed the calves. It was a necessity for me to get the calves fed before my brother finished milking because our calf pen was in the middle of the corral, and we were all afraid that our cow would go insane if she saw us within even thirty feet of her babies. We were right.

This particular day I had taken the first two quarts as usual. The calves were happy enough to see me and quickly drained the milk from the bottles. I enjoyed this part of my job. The calves were just finishing their dinner when I heard the most terrifying groan I had ever heard. A groan only a serial killer victim or an angry cow could make. Unfortunately for me it was the latter.

By the time I turned to see her coning it was almost too late. I froze for an instant. My ten year old mind tried to figure out what would be the best course of action. Then something in the back of my mind yelled, "run!" I was no match for Daisy. I took a few feeble steps toward the fence surrounding the pasture. I felt like I had been the victim of a cruel plot. It was like one of those dreams where the monster can run three thousand miles per hour, and you can run about the speed of a Galapagos Tortoise. She was close enough now that I could see the hate in her eyes. I was sure that my mom would cry when she found my crumpled up, pitiful, cow-trodden body. The cow lowered her head and seemed to take strength from the fear that must have been evident in my face. I braced myself for the worst. I tried to remember what I had seen Bugs Bunny do in similar situations. Unfortunately, it was too late. Her head hit me square in the stomach.

I don't remember whether it hurt or not. Maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe the surprise of being hit by a cow, whatever it was, I knew that Sir Isaac Newton had been right. Objects in motion do tend to stay in motion unless acted on by an outside force. My outside force just happened to be the wire fence surrounding the pasture. In some amazing way, that cow had hurled my body a distance that any college football field-goal kicker would be proud of. The fence recoiled at the weight of my body. I looked up to see the cow racing toward me for another try. I didn't have to think about what to do this time. With Olympic-like skill I leapt over the fence. the cow saw the top strand of barbed-wire and quickly halted her attack. She sauntered back over to her babies as though it was an ordinary occurrence for her to chase blond-headed pre-teens out of cow pastures.

I stood up and shook the dust off my corduroy toughskins pants. Had what just happened really happened? Yes, it had. In some way that cow had declared war. I wouldn't soon forget this experience because she had picked the wrong skinny farm boy to bully, this time.

Through the years our battles continued. I learned from that experience that I would never again think of cows as "dumb animals." they were definitely a worthy adversary, and I took every opportunity to have my revenge in the years to come.

Flash-Back Friday

Today I thought I'd do a family Flash-Back in honor of my niece Nicole who was married yesterday. So hard to believe she's old enough. If we had a scanner I'd scan in a picture of her at my wedding, she was so young and so cute.

Here's one of her parents' wedding photos. 1980-something, I'm the darling little girl on the right, the other beautiful little girl is my oldest niece, Jennifer. We wore ballet slippers that night and loved dancing around the cultural hall all night long!

My parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration.
So there have been a few changes to our family over the years. Some of the most notable are

• The increase in the number of spouses.
• The increase in the number of grand kids, there are 29 and 1/2 now, 30 in November! Go Debbie and Alan!
• The change in my brothers' hair -or- the lack there of. You're bald boys but dashing!
  

Some things are still the same

• We still have a good time together.
• We laugh a lot when we get together!
• Mom is still the best cook ever.
• We're still a pretty darn good looking family!

Family photo 1970-something.

We've (my husband and I) been told quite often that Sweet Cheeks looks a lot like me. I could kind of see it but not really until I found this photo while visiting my parents. I see this same little half smile and folded arms pose on my daughter almost every day. Her hair is a little lighter than mine but the same curls. Amazing.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME!

*Thanks Nicole A. for your scanner and email services.

Flash-Back Friday!

My sister emailed the following to me - I got such a kick out of it I thought it might be fun for a flash-back.

IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 70'S....

You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked. -Wanted it, but no.

You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it. -My bike was white with a dark-blue glittery seat and I loved my basket,also white plastic with bright plastic flowers - perfect for carrying mine and Jill's scientific spy gear. -We were the worlds first CSI agents.

You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels. - Actually I think I learned on the Fisher Price strap-on-your-shoes kind and then graduated to white with yellow wheels although we did have a pair of these around the house.

You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!) - Maybe.

You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island. -I loved this show! For years I thought he was saying "De-pain! De-pain!"

You had either a 'bowl cut' or 'pixie', not to mention the 'Dorothy Hamill'.People sometimes thought you were a boy. - I think mine was long enough and I was "cute"(;0)) enough people knew I was a girl. I think that because I mostly wore dresses probably helped.

You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days.YEAH! -Loved my moon boots, so warm and soft!

You owned a 'Slip-n-Slide', on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once.

-Best way to enjoy the slip-n-slide was to put it on the hill in the back yard then I didn't have to run very much to get a good slide.

You owned 'Klick-Klacks' and smacked yourself in the face more than once ! We had them but I couldn't ever figure them out.

Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession.- No Holly Hobbie bag for me but I did have other paraphernalia such as a doll.

You wore a poncho, -Yep!

gauchos, and knickers. -Yep - Yep!

You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon. - I got the personal size one -LOVED IT!

You had the Donnie and Marie dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or the sunshine family - I got Marie for my fifth birthday ---I loved Marie -I wanted to be Marie (sometime I'll write about my Marie experiences.)!

You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once. -My swing set never tipped over because I had a smart dad who cemented it into the ground, although when it was time to take that swings set down I'm not too sure my dad was glad he had cemented it in.

I did spend many hours swinging and making up songs about what ever was on my mind and I scratched the initials of the boys I liked into the paint. Thank goodness that swing set is long gone.

You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. (Oh yeah!)- My favorite were red and white.

You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). -Oh so comfortable Doctor Scholls!

You also had a pair of salt-water sandals. -Don't know what those are!?

You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on thePrairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture;and you despised Nellie Oleson!-I loved my ruffled shirt, and my mom made it!

You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink! -Yuck -No way! Kissing a boy was the last thing on my mind---maybe that was my sister's secret wish.

PONG! ('video tennis' ) was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of ! - I wasn't much of a gamer - I'm still not.

Your hairstyle was described as having 'wings' or 'feathers' and you kept it 'pretty' with the comb you kept in your back pocket.When you walked, the 'wings' flapped up and down, and you looked like you were gonna 'take off'. - Yet again not something I did but I remember my sis had a few wings - sometimes .

You know who Strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends, Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie. -I still have my Strawberry Shortcake bedspread my mom made me.

You carried a Muppets lunch box to school and it was metal, not plastic. -Actually mine was Bionic Woman - She was so cool!

You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend. -My friends did but I thought they were both ugly and I wasn't aloud to watch. The shorts were too short and the fights were too violent. It seems like a kid's show when compared to the ones on TV now.

YOU had Star Wars action figures, too! - You bet I did!

It was a big event in your household each year when the 'Wizard of Oz' would come on TV.Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags! -Right on! I loved it when it went from B&W to color - I usually fell asleep before it was over.

You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question: 'Who will I marry.Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?' _ Again not interested in them but my friends had the ball which we asked all kinds of questions to, like "Will I be rich?"

You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record album. -I didn't have the album but Delaney recorded the songs from Grease for me with her tape player when they showed Grease on TV.

You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage,or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom. -Of course I did .

You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts! -Holly Hobbie shrinky dinks were great and my T-shirt with my name ironed on it was my favorite.

You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker. -I did, and I recorded myself being a radio DJ and introducing the songs.

You thought Olivia Newton John's song 'Physical' was about aerobics. (?? its not??)

You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with hearts or rainbow designs. -Yes!

You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer. -Maybe

You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off. -The best stuff EVER - I don't think my did liked it very much though.

So now I find myself wondering what kinds of things are going to be on the list for the 2000's.

Polly Pockets, ponchos, Pokemon, any other suggestions?