Sunday, August 30, 2009

You Turned THREE!

[though she did over a month ago, I am just getting this posted as I have come back to it and added bits here and there]

* * BIG sighhhs * *

Our Little Someone turned three. I sit here to write about it and a whirlwind storms my brain. I know, all you other mommas understand. But, trying to "capture" her in words... well, I suppose it is not easy to 'capture' anyone in words.

Since it may be the case that she will read this someday, I'll do what I do in a paper journal I have for her, that is, address her.

E, where do I begin... well, first, I have to say that I will probably have to come back and finish this as I am watching you on a monitor while you sleep and as soon as you stir, I'm off. We need to get going early (to Walmart).

E, you are so smart, sensitive, considerate, meticulous. You love animals and you definitely like to "do it yourself(!)"... I guess that would be called being "independent". You insist on taking tissue to stuff in your shirt even though many times it falls out. You see, when I don't have pockets, I often will put a tissue (or the dog zapper) in -between- my... bosom (hey, they're good for more than producing milk). Well, you have seen me do this so often, you have to get your own tissue. I've tried to explain that you don't have a bra so that is why the tissue falls out. Welllll, you've said that you want a bra... so I've tried to explain that when you get bigger boobs, you will get one (and I've tried to explain about when that will happen). Ohh, the joys... you have been a joy.(well, you're awake, will have to come back to this later~)

Other joys: like I said, you are considerate. You, on your own accord, have thanked me or your daddy for doing things for you- without prompting and that's nice. We took you to the "Waterfall Playground" and you told us Thank You twice at two different times when we were there. Also, on day three of swim lessons (which you, at first, did not care for), another little girl about 2 1/2 yrs old sort of whined/cried on the big step next to you. Her momma told her (from her chair) to get a toy out of the basket they had. Well, the little girl just sat there crying a bit. You got up, went to the basket and brought a toy back to her. E, you JUST turned 3 years old 3 days before doing this... you are so sweet.

You are sensitive. It shows with how sweetly you pet Booger Kitty or if your Daddy or I get a bit terse with you, you will ask, "Are you happy?" ...just waiting for us to be 'happy' again. It's nice to know that you care what we think. Hmmm... wonder if that is to last through the teen years?

You are meticulous. Hoo-boy, does the apple not fall far!?! I know, I'm sure the things you are meticulous about are just as important as the ones I am... but, come on, do you really need to line up your farm animals JUST SO before leaving the living room?? Or, do you really need to fold your Bear-Blanky that certain way to 'get a rub' before you come in to eat?? I'm just glad you get muddy, play in the dirt, like the rain and stomping in puddles and ride our pup dogs on the spur of the moment... everyone has their meticulous moments.

You l-o-v-e animals, which stands to reason as your daddy and I both do. You've never known life without them. At first, we called Smidgen and Smudge your 'big-sisters' (I guess at 164 &167 lbs each, they qualify as 'big'). Though you love both pups, I think Smudge endears you a tad more... you wanted a "Smudge" birthday cake for your 3rd B-Day. Well, Grandma did her best and Smudge became immortalized in cake form. "Booger Kitty" was your 1st B-Day cake. You always want to help with feeding the horses or putting 'Julieboo' out after she's eaten. You love riding her. Sometimes, when the dogs are laying down on their beds, you just walk up and give one a little hug around the neck and then you have to go to the other and make sure they get their hug. It's very cute. You also put them in their place quite well, taking it upon yourself to yell 'HUSH!' to them if they are barking.

You know what you want and will say so... you definitely have your own mind on things... this trait has its merits, but can be irritating at times. You like to tell me 'how the cow ate the cabbage' even if I tell you that, indeed it didn't- you sometimes will adamantly argue and tell me that 'Yes it did!' ... or that you 'WILL get cake balls' or sometimes, just say the opposite of what I say (not even understanding fully what I'm saying in the first place). I'm sure ... I think... this is part of your age (?!?).

You have a fabulous sense of direction for your age. For example, we were traveling down the road, on our way to the further TSC store and you said,"Hey, this is the same way to the place we saw the alligator". Well, I know what you meant, a nursery down the same way had an alligator pond statue. I asked, "You mean XYZ Nursery?" and you said, "Yup, that's where the alligator is." This is not the only example when this has happened. It has on numerous occasions.

You like to PLAN. I can only say that this, historically has been an "A----" (my maiden name) family trait. Nature or nurture, your momma has 'it' and it looks like you do too. "Where are we going tomorrow? What are we going to do? Can we do this? Can we go here/there? Talk to me about our new day tomorrow."

You want to know what's going on and you like warning about things- especially when fun stuff is going to end. Your daddy and I do well to tell you 'Okay, this is the l-a-s-t time, then ... time for bath... time to eat... etc.'

The other evening, you told me how you have "good thinkers" (you meant you think well... have a 'good thinker', I suppose). You also said that you have a good memory... booooy, you do. You bring up stuff from a year ago at times that I haven't thought about in ?!? (you're three!)... blows me away.

Yesterday, I was using some tin snips to cut thick faux mulch tree rings for several of our trees that are hard to Round-Up around... my hand was getting so tired and sore after much difficult cutting. I was sitting on the mower's step and stopped to rest my hand and said, "Gosh, this is starting to make my hand sore." You said, "I'm sorry, mommy"... I gave you a big hug and asked if you were going to be sweet like that when you grow up. You gave a cheery "Yup" as your answer.

Oh E, if you could know how much I love you... it's more than words can say.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

48 Things About Me

I was not "tagged", per se, for this. But, since it has made its rounds on 3 of the 4 blogs I visit, I thought, 'what the heck'. So 48 things things... some of which may change before this is hits the blogosphere.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 AM

2. How do you like your steak? Medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Heck, I can't remember. I know my husband and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean II the weekend before our daughter was born-remember thinking 'My Gawd, this movie is dragging on.' (I had to go to the bathroom).

4. What is your favorite TV show? Don't have one, but like science and history stuff.

5. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Where I am.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Blueberry cereal.


7. What is your favorite food? Boiled shrimp.

8. What foods do you dislike? Oysters.


9. Favorite place to eat? (recent choice) Chili's -they're kid-friendly

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ford Expedition

12. What are your favorite clothes? Men's boxers and a sleeves-cut-out t-shirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Scotland

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Like to think I'm pragmatic and can ascertain the difference in different situations (I know, you're saying OMG)... I am an upbeat person with enough sleep, so... 'Half Full'.

15. Where would you want to retire? Where I am

16. Favorite time of day? Evening, right before dusk being outside.

17. Where were you born? SE Texas

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Horse jumping

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? Not looking for tags.

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? Not looking for tags.

21. Who are you most curious about their responses back to this? No one in particular

22. Bird watcher? Yup.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Tend towards the PM

24. Do you have any pets? Yup.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? ...ummm... no new news... although, I have been poked a few times lately, in the bladder, in the middle of the night.

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Horse Trainer


27. What is your best childhood memory? ..best?? ...I don't know about 'best', but I'll pick ... all the horses memories, others filled with dogs and Colorado

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Am not one of those that thinks you HAVE to pick (we have both), but there is more relating with dogs... at least here, there is.

29. Are you married? Yes.

30. Do you always wear your seat belt? Yes.

31. Have you been in a car accident? Yes.

32. Any pet peeves? Yes. Just to name 3... people in my space, political correctness, and Pink Elephants (I have great difficulty sitting there and acting like it's not there w/o saying something).


33. Favorite pizza toppings? Hamburger

34. Favorite flower? ...lately... my New Zealand Rose (have always answered "mauve lilies" to this before).


35. Favorite ice cream? Double Fudge Brownie

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell

37. How many times did you fail your driver's license test? None

38. From whom did you get your last email? my husband

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? 1st. wouldn't. 2nd. store that goes on card a lot: Home Depot

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? 'spontaneous' is relative... does buying 14 small trees count?

41. Like your job? Despite never feeling caught up ...heck, never BEING caught up [except when 'Grandma' visits-she's the laundry Queen.... I leave for an appt./shopping, come back & holy smokes(!), didn't know the washer worked that fast (& we're talking masses that have bred like India rats)... if the clothes didn't smell so clean, I wouldn't believe it... like my masthead say, I am blessed.. but, I digress..] ... and feeling tired much of the time... Momma-hood is good.


42. Do you like broccoli? It's alright... better with cheese.

43. What was your favorite vacation? Can't pick a "favorite" -like 'em for different reasons. Would like to go to Disney World someday when child(ren) are older.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Husband and daughter.

45. What are you listening to right now? The hum of daughter's room monitor

46. What is your favorite color? Mauve

47. How many tattoos do you have? None.

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? None.

Friday, August 21, 2009

My "Blogoversary"

So, what's a "Blogoversary" anyway? It's an "anniversary" of a blog.

Well, it's been one year ago today since I started this 'blog thing'. Wow, does Father Time become a lead foot more and more (you know, stepping on the gas... going faster... anyway..). Time flies.

Quite sometime back, I thought I'd do a celebration of sorts, on this day, with a giveaway ...welllll, it ain't happening.... and yes, I know, on anniversaries- the one having the 'anniversary' is supposed to get, not give... nevertheless, that is not the reason for my lack of giveaway. I just have ENTIRELY too much on my plate right now (anyhow, with maybe 3 readers... woooo... wouldn't be much of a contest!).

So, suffice to say... I plan to forge ahead with this blog thing and hope to make it more of a place to 'record' the special, funny, interesting, telling, memorable, and/or everyday things that happen in our/my blessed life. And, indeed, it is.

Happy Trails for now ~ better get. Y'all take care.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Hokey Pokey



Daddy, Little Someone, and I did the Hokey Pokey tonight.
We have read the book, shown here, before bedtime for the last three nights in a row.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Wrench in my Gears...

... or maybe I should say the "stench" in my gears. Had a lot planned for today, but the best laid plans have been rerouted by a d**n skunk ...or should I blame the 164 pound Dane that ran into the dark when she was supposed to be doing her last potty of the evening?

Suffice to say... that pooch didn't get to come in for the night. AND, by virtue of me just standing 100' downwind, I smelled this beast all night (probably had seeped through the pores of my nose). Off to do skunk out chores....
Eeewwwhh!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Hello London,Canada! [Home of at least One Dim-Witted and/or Brainwashed Socialist '...' (you fill in the blank)]

Okay, this really does beg the question... "Does she (meaning me, the one writing this) have too much time on her hands?" ...No, I really don't and part of me is really annoyed that I even feel compelled to respond to a Dim-Wit... alas, I am. However, rest assured, I won't spend much more time (if any) on such ...??.. "idiocrity".
So, here's the deal, I had a post a bit back, a VERY short post, that went:
Health Care is NOT a 'right'!"

Wellll, I recently received a comment to that post. The commenter, "Mike" (which I don't believe is his name- I will get to that), said:

"heel,youall sound likewell off people.if you were poor,would you think any differently? .HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT.NOT JUST FOR THE WELL OFF,AND IDOTS LIKE YOU,I HOPE YOU GET SEIOUSLY ILL "

(for what it's worth, I didn't do any corrections/changes to the above, just cut/pasted as is)

Now, my first two thoughts when I read this were:
1. I was taught from a VERY young age to never wish 'bad' on others.
and
2. We have a Bill of Rights here in the US, and last I checked ...umm... nope... "Health Care" was not listed.

Fact of the matter is, ANYone can (and does) receive health care here in the US ~ NO ONE gets turned away- EVEN if you are illegal.

The crux of everything is, I *and so many others* have a problem with someone taking what we have so earnestly worked for (and, by the way, I don't consider having to worry about my child's college fund or worrying about my husband's and my retirement being "well off", so guess we're not in that crowd).

Our gov't already takes enough to give to others- in a form called PROGRESSIVE TAXATION... in other words, our gov't ALREADY punishes those who earn more. Hey, a flat tax would be great and still those that earn more would pay more, just not progressively more (perhaps this concept is beyond some).

Universal Health Care will be/would be a fiasco like every other gov't run program. Laissez-faire capitalism is the only way to go if one wants to
1. Lower costs
&
2. increase quality

So London, Canada (or is your real name "Lavinia"?), I'm sorry you're so conditioned to think down on a system that surpasses your own (and every other one in the world, that's why other country's leaders come here when sick).

Even with such a hateful comment being left, London Canada, I do not wish you ill. There are two reasons why I don't:
1. To wish another ill is a component of being evil and I believe it does no good.
2. Being ill in a country, like your own, with socialized health care really decreases your chances of being taken care of properly and in a timely fashion, so it'd kind be like two 'bad' wishes against you.

Do take care.

[Oh, I said I'd explain why I'm not so sure "Mike" is the commenter's real name... well, about a week ago, on a semi-political blog I read, a liberal idea-gog left a comment attacking the blogger and his post. Well, I left a comment disagreeing with the leftist, liberal, socialist sap. ANYway, the person is from Canada and, lo and behold, my nefarious commenter is from Canada (FEEDJIT let me know). Anyhoo... I haven't had Canada visit before ... sooo... I could be wrong, but it sure smells. And cowards, they just grate on me.]

Monday, August 3, 2009

I'm Humane!

Well, at least someone thinks so ... Libby over at Neas Nuttiness was so kind to choose me as one of her ten for this award. The "Humane Award" is given for the following reason(s):

“The Humane Award is in order to honor certain bloggers that I feel are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn’t for them, my site would just be an ordinary blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendships through the blog world.”

I have to say, Libby was quite ..??.. gracious in choosing me because this here blog you're reading is not "tastefully done on a daily basis"... Albeit, I do like to think it is "tastefully done" ... it's just not on a daily basis. Just ain't happening.

Thank you Ms. Libby for thinking of me.

Now, I'm supposed to pass this on to TEN other blogs that I feel the same about... wellll, that ain't happening either. I only "follow" about 3-4 blogs ... sooo, I have chosen one very special "blogging buddy" because... well, the award is titled the "Humane Award" and this person is very Humane in so many senses of the word (I'd give it to my dad because he is about the most humane person I know, but he's not a blogger). Annnyway...

* * drum roll * *

I choose a Fruitcake.. err... I mean, the Fruitcake... umm... "Fruitcake Sandy" over at It's Never too Late for a Happy Childhood as the Humane Award recipient. She is one of the most caring individuals I have been graced to know. She certainly deserves it. Hop on over and have a look-see here if you get a chance and let her know you stopped by. She's a bit fruity... and if you ever think I am ...uhhh... well, perhaps the fruit, I mean 'apple', doesn't fall far from the tree.