The Mosquitoes Buzz

Mr. C turns TWO! ...and gets a haircut the next day

2012-01-20T22:43:00.001-06:00

Restraining underway

C LOVES trains.
[Thanks 'GRRRrandPA' (grandma) for the cake.]

Mmmmm...

More Mmmmm!

Who DOESN'T love cake & ice cream?!?

So grown up from one day to the next.

Cute from the back too!

A Little Bit O' Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T14:29:00.000-06:00

It was great seeing Santa!

A right, cute, jolly little boy.

A baker deluxe- did her own Christmas Tree Cake.

The big one of our Christmas trees.

Our blessings -not in disguise here :-)

All Boy / All Girl:

2011-12-18T23:14:00.001-06:00

...and both sooo cute.

An Iron in a Bottle

2011-11-13T13:32:00.000-06:00

What WILL they come up with next?!? I got this stuff on a whim thinking, "Ahhh, really??" ...and Holy Ironing Board... they put an iron in a bottle and made it liquid. A.MA.ZING!

Typical Weekend Morning... (of which, the pups are used to)

2011-10-20T14:53:00.000-05:00

...before we go out & about our day, this is how we start our day on the weekend.

What are you looking at ?!?

2011-10-06T23:22:00.001-05:00

Haven't you ever seen a toddler with food in his hair?!?

Stumbled upon Expression

2011-09-28T22:15:00.000-05:00

When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart and you shall see that, in truth, you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Khalil Gibran

Dog Tired...

2011-09-18T22:14:00.002-05:00

Laddy

This is a Blogger test...

2011-09-18T21:48:00.000-05:00

...if this post, then Yahooo!!!! ... I have had Blogger issues.

Our Latest Addition:

2011-08-28T15:13:00.002-05:00

No, it's not these two.

(We added them some 5 & 1.5 years ago... and boooooy, if you could cage them, I'd have more of these crates around the house. Okay, no I wouldn't, just kidding. However, they both threw a fit to BE locked in it. IT was paraphernalia for our new addition.).

They asked for it.

And here he is, the third child in our home...

Isn't he cute!?!

My Sweet Lumps...

2011-08-28T15:01:00.000-05:00

Bah-Deee-Uh!

2011-08-12T10:57:00.002-05:00

Bah-Deee-Uh: a sound that comes from a certain 19 month old boy when calling for his blanket that HE just threw on the floor (from his playpen or crib) for the UMTEENTH time.

Thank Goodness he's so cute!

Whoa... check out my sis!

2011-07-29T14:45:00.000-05:00

...actually, thinking about that further, now that it's been typed... makes me nervous about the future.

Two of my FAVORITE & EASY Recipes...

2011-07-09T21:55:00.000-05:00

....that we have had SOOO many times in the last number of months. My husband and I love both because they are both cool and fresh - especially when it's hot outside. The first recipe (mousse) is one that I came up with kind of accidental like and then refined. The second one, I found online and tweaked/added to.

Why?? are these in my "favorites" file??

Because:

1. They are YUMMY!

2. They are SO EASY.

Blueberry Mousse

4 C (1 lb) blueberries
1 large box blueberry Jello
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 -8oz tub cool whip

In a large bowl, make the Jello with 1/2 the water called for (1 c boiling & 1 c cool water instead of 4 total cups). Then add cool whip (if it hasn't thawed, that's okay-will just take more stirring to melt). Then add sweetened condensed milk. Stir/mix all until smooth. Pour into decorative glasses and leave about an inch at the top. Divide and add blueberries. They normally sink somewhat or you can push them down with a butter knife a bit if you want. Chill for a couple of hours and they're ready!

My kids and husband love this. It is a hit in our home. I'm going to do strawberries next time... just change the fruit and jello flavor, my guess is it will be just as yummy.

Texas Caviar

1 can Black Beans (drained/rinsed)
1 can Black Eyed Peas (drained)
1 can whole kernel Corn (drained)
1 can Mild Rotel
1 can 'Mexican Cilantro & Lime' Rotel
1 can mushrooms stems/pieces (drained)
4 oz (1/2 C) Zesty Italian Dressing

(Not my pic, but looks similar)

Mix all thoroughly and ... there you have it! If you're not a mushroom fan, leave it out. It's something that I added after 'playing around' with this recipe. And/or you can do different Rotel flavors to your liking too.

On a chip, cracker, over chips or crackers OR BY ITSELF, this stuff is great! I must say, by itself is how this is how been eaten quite frequently in our home. Hey, this is cool zesty eating that is not 'bad' for you. We absolutely LOVE it.

Hope someone out there in the land of Internet abyss tries and enjoys!

Cherubs watching Sesame Street

2011-06-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

Sweetness abound...

He is all boy. Really, he is.

2011-06-28T22:36:00.000-05:00

But still, this is too cute to not share: Mr. C in Miss E's shoes...

Easter Weekend 2011...

2011-06-06T09:59:00.002-05:00

....at a club near us that has an Egg Hunt every year. Turned out the drain here was our stand for many pics.

I know, Mr. C is in none of posed pics below (he was with momma).

Daddy & Miss E...

Grandma & Miss E...

Grandpa & Miss E...

And Mr. C!...

Then, with these eggs below that we colored (and a few others plastic ones with goodies inside), we had the official Easter Egg Hunt (Easter Morning) that the Easter Bunny had orchestrated.

Checking out our stash after the hunt!

See ya later!

Oh My Gosh ...and she's Only Four!

2011-05-27T14:41:00.002-05:00

Yes, she is only four and she has lost her first tooth. Went to the dentist and all looks great/normal... she is just "very advanced". Gees, that would be music to most parents' ears... but maybe not so much when it comes to "physically-speaking" (and it's just another reminder that Father-Time is running).

:-)

Did you know...?...

2011-04-28T09:24:00.001-05:00

....that you can nurse an elephant?

...that shoes taste great?

...and that sleeping sideways is quite comfy?

I can only hope that they grow to have a bond even stronger as adults...

2011-04-12T23:01:00.000-05:00

Sleeping Sweeties...

2011-03-23T22:40:00.000-05:00

Quote:

2011-03-21T09:09:00.000-05:00

In the best of times, our days are numbered anyway. So it would be a crime against nature for any generation to take the world crisis so solemnly, that it put off enjoying those things for which we were designed in the 1st place: the opportunity to do good work, to enjoy friends, to fall in love, to hit a ball, and to bounce a baby.
~Alistair Cooke

Miracles Happen

2011-03-16T21:19:00.000-05:00

from AP News...
The photo, below, shows a Japanese soldier right after he discovered a four-month-old baby in the rubble in the village of Ishinomaki. The soldiers somehow managed to locate the baby's father, who thought his baby had washed away with the tsunami's waves, and reunite them. "Her discovery has put a new energy into the search," a civil defence official told The Daily Mail. "We will listen, look and dig with even more diligence after this."

I'm so glad Spring is here!

2011-03-13T22:30:00.007-05:00

I think they are too...

Happy Birthday Smudgester

2011-03-07T10:44:00.005-06:00

We love ya, Smudge.

I Have Officially Hit the Bottle...

2011-03-04T13:40:00.003-06:00

...it's not my fault. I don't buy the stuff for the very reason listed in the post title. My husband got it.

I will say though... I have a better understanding of the phrase 'kids driving you to drink'.
Hey, it's non-alcoholic.

Happy Birthday Mr C.

2011-01-12T13:13:00.004-06:00

You are one year old today. Too many thoughts to type with not enough time. Will have to hand write in your journal (since I type so slow).
Suffice to say, you are absolutely adorable.

E-isms of the last few months...

2010-12-26T16:26:00.010-06:00

Miss E is 4 1/2 years old. The "E-isms" below were saved over the last 3 months. And though many may sound like something she is repeating, that is why they are on this list... because she came up with them on her own (even the "it runs in our family" one). Also, these are word for word. If she says something that is funny or strikes one of us odd or cute, I will email it and/or call and leave it as a message so her words can be saved and not paraphrased. Sometimes it's the word choice that is so funny or memorable.

(said while on the pot- poor thing takes fiber because of constipation)
E: I wish there were fairies.
Me: Why?
E: So I could say please grant me a wish. I wish that when I had to go poo-poo that it would not be hard and come out soft and smooth forever.

What Miss E said after erroneously drinking some watered down formula that was in a spill proof cup for baby brother, Mr. C. She went to rinse out her mouth and I told her I would of liked to see her face. I asked what did she do. She said: 'My saliva started not liking the taste.'

Gma: You are So smart.
E: I know, it runs in my family.
Gma: (laughing out loud) ...you're funny too.
E: That runs in my family too.

E: Momma, when my Grandma dies, will we ever get a new Grandma?
Me: No, could we ever get the same grandma?
E: No.

E: How did they get the medicine in your body? Where did they put it? (for my c-section, so the cutting wouldn't hurt).

E: Momma, when they didn't have batteries, how did machines work?

Upon seeing something similar on Sesame Street...
E: Someday I'm going to get into our mailbox and when you go down there to get the mail, I'm going to jump out and say 'Boo!'.
Me: Do you think you'd fit in our mailbox?
E: I'm not sure, maybe C (her baby brother) would!

E: Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum... We have a situ-a-shee-un (situation).

E: Mommy, can we go to the place that has the signs and dead people in boxes? (there is a lovely little cemetery with lots of trees at the edge of our small town and, on occasion, we have taken a drive through it).

We were driving to the zoo and we crossed over a metal grate in the road where construction was being done. It made a loud noise and E asked what it/the noise was and I explained and she said, "Oh, it scared off my thinking."

E: Mommy, I just may live in Georgetown when I grow up.
Me: Oh, why is that?
E: Because then I can go and see Grandma and Grandpa easier.

(Conversation while E and her daddy were on the porch having breakfast while the sun came up)...
E: Look daddy, Smudge (our dog) is sniffing around for the raccoon.
Daddy: No, she's sniffing for a place to poop.
E: I have a pretty smart brain, I know these things.
At this point, E gets up to watch the dog. As the dog commences to squat to poop...
E: Well daddy, you're right! Ding, ding, ding!

If I could Twinkle-Twitch My Nose...

2010-12-13T20:41:00.014-06:00

Do you remember, from the early 70's, how Samantha on "Bewitched" did her nose ? Well, if I could twinkle-twitch my nose to get one household chore done, it would be for doing the LAUNDRY.
Our laundry BREEDS (I swear, it really seems too).

I probably don't help matters by being so ..... (hmmm)... ??anal-retentive ... obsessive compulsive ?? about how the laundry is done. I mean, I have, ohhh, say six+ different load groupings: dirty whites, clean whites, brights, dirty darks, clean darks, really dirty all others (& then sometimes that has to be split). And then there's an order to which you load the washer; put water in, then detergent, THEN clothes... and the spray stain remover has to soak for what the bottle says.. you can't throw them in immediately. Okay, so it's no wonder it's not my favorite chore (although, I will say, my clothes are really clean). I mean with vacuuming, I at least get immediate gratification with a clean floor (having a Dyson sure helps though).

So... laundry... some people seems to be faster at it than others and SOME people seem to be Wonder Woman of Laundry... namely, my mom. I swear (I know, you're not supposed to swear)...anyway, my mom can go through a busting hamper of clothes like it was a small bag of miniature milky way candy bars.

I am a blessed person in SO SO many ways... but the way I am talking right now about deals with her bionic speed of clothes washing. She visits fairly regularly and (though I tell her not to worry about it, honestly), she usually washes whatever clothes that can be found in the hampers and she does it so... so fast. She gets it done in half of the time (or less) than it would take me. I usually forget the load when it's done washing because I'm doing something else. Or the dryer has stopped and I have to start it again to get the clothes hot so they won't be wrinkly when I take them out. I think she (my mom) has a laundry timer that has been implanted in her head.

So, I'm curious, if you stumble onto this site... whether you're from London, Saudi, Hong Kong, Spain, Dublin, Canada, or Texas, etc.... you get the picture. I would be curious to hear what chore would you Twinkle-Twitch your nose to get done?

[to do so, you just click on the 'comment' button-you don't have to have an email or anything-a person can choose 'anonymous']

p.s. For what it's worth, I'm just venting... I am grateful to have a washer & dryer and the ability to wash clothes and grateful for the clothes that need washing... etc.. yada, yada... just venting and saying THANKS MOM.
LYM

Our Clan, Jingle Jangle-ing...

2010-12-07T21:43:00.005-06:00

On My List of Things to Do this Holiday Season...

2010-12-03T08:22:00.004-06:00

Yeah right(!).
I can't seem to get ANYthing done because SOMEone has new found mobility and seems to think the Christmas tree is his magnetic polar opposite ~ if you get my ...pulling, gravitating, alluring, magnetic, enticing, enchanting, drawing, appealing... DRIFT.

Him's just a Cutie...

2010-11-16T22:31:00.002-06:00

No Van Gogh Here....

2010-10-29T08:12:00.001-05:00

...but the subjects are beautiful.

Pigeons, Raccoons, Bats (& Waldo) ...Oh My!

2010-09-26T22:07:00.019-05:00

I guess we'll start with "Waldo"... Wheeerrre's Waldo? Remember each pic can be made much larger by clicking on it... wait, ...uhhmm.. I don't know that I want you to do that because there is NO telling WHAT may be lurking on the floor or in the background. Not that I have seen anything, but.. still... one never knows.
Okay, back to Mr. C.. 'Waldo'. I was sitting and folding clothes (yes, mom, I know how to do that) and Mr. C was talking away, then resting his head, and talking and resting... then sleep! Glorious sleep! After getting the camera, I actually laid down for 12 minutes before he woke up.

"Mr. C" with his adorable smile...

And pigeons... we have a flock (is it "flock" for pigeons?) anyway, a grouping of about 9-12 pigeons that have come to our pasture for about a week or so now. As my taller half says, "As long as they're not in the barn". Ain't THAT the truth... very messy, that ONE, that disappeared.

We have our own cat girl... No, on second thought rather, Pretty Kitty.

This critter... varmint... was finally nabbed. "Varmint" because for at least a week, he (or she?) was getting into our cat food container in our garage -despite trying to store the container in various ways at various heights.

And the hummers are back...

with a vengeance...

Candid was the camera...

During 'quite-time', Miss E decided to pick apart a basket (that contains only a portion of her stuffed animals), so she could "make a nest" for the bat.

[if the walls look blank behind her, it's because she picked off all of the humming bird, dragonfly, & butterfly appliques that were up]...

The loves of my life...

Here's looking at you!

We don't always sit down at the dinner table to eat...

2010-09-09T22:56:00.004-05:00

Sometimes it's lunch in the shop... because WHO wants to come in from playing to eat?!?
No one here (well except the little guy in the stroller may prefer his boob while cuddled in a soft chair).
Sometimes it's lunch "like a picnic" on the living room floor on the picnic blanket, of course (with animals lined up watching)...

And sometimes it's breakfast on the porch...

...with a view that's priceless.

We're blessed.

Why is it?

2010-07-23T08:05:00.005-05:00

WHY is it that if you have more than one child- that neither seem to sleep a little bit later ...AND when/if they do, they don't do it ON THE SAME MORNING?!?

She's Still Three... but not for long.

2010-07-12T06:50:00.004-05:00

Our little girl is growing up. She will be four soon... in a week.. but she is still 3 years old and will not be 4 until that day. That day that marks another year... another fast, ever-changing year. A year marked by growth, tears, smiles and hugs and by me walking the fine line of parenting... "Am I being too soft??" "Am I being too hard?? Gosh, I hope I'm not teetering this way or that too much."

**sighhh**

I hope she knows I am doing my best and question so very often my actions, responses, and way of being. I hope. I hope she knows that I love her More Than Words Can Say.

So, before Miss E becomes a year older, I thought I'd post some things that she has said or done over last couple of months (I've emailed myself over that time saving these up).
Enjoy...

Daddy's a great 'kill-a-bugger'. (said after her daddy killed a spider).

(telling the horse vet, while out at our place, what she's going to be when she grows up): I'm going to be a wild animal care-taker.

Mommy, pick me up please.

Mommy, how does the lava stick together to make the sun?

I want to wear my ballerina dress with my new flip flops [said after getting a 'surprise' for having a dry diaper overnight (about the 9th one now)].

I miss Daddy (told to mommy after daddy left to work on a Sunday b/c of BP leak).

E: Mommy, I'll take care of you when you're older.
Me: Maybe then, you will pick me up.
E: No, I won't (was not said in an uncaring way, just thinks it's 'undoable').

Mommy, if there were no people when dinosaurs were here, how were people born?

Mommy, this rice sure is good. You're the best cooker.

Mommy, talk about what's inside our lungs (heart, head, how food goes in as food and comes out poo-poo..etc.).

Nooo, I want to do it THIS way (insert multiple things where the word "it" is).

Mommy, I'll miss you picking me up when I'm older.

[background info: When my mom's here to visit, Miss E follows her around just about everywhere ... including the bathroom. That, coupled with the fact that my mom had a hysterectomy at a very early age (25) and never was a very hairy person (arms/legs), lends to the following... ].
I was getting Miss E ready for the morning one day and she says: "You know, Mommy, Grandma had surgery that makes her not have hair here and here (she points to her eye-brows and private parts), then says, "She draws hair on her eyebrows. She needs to draw hair here too" (while pointing you know where).

Miss E and I were doing her calendar where a child can also choose their 'feeling' for the day. Miss E left "Proud" up from the previous time she had a dry diaper. I asked if she wanted to change it to "Happy" this morning? She said, "No, I want to leave 'Proud' up because I'm proud to have the best momma." (so sweet!).

E: Mommy, what would it sound like if a windmill sneezed?
Me:I don't know.
E: It would go, "Wih-wih- chooo".

E: Mommy, what if I'm just imagining it?
Me: Imagining what?
E: My life.

I was playing a song for my husband on the computer and, since we were in the other room, I turned the speakers up LOUD. Miss E wanted to go back into the computer room and I didn't want her in there, potentially damaging her ears. So, when she started in that way, I said, "No, don't go in there." She said, "Why?". I said, "Because I said 'No'". She said, "No, why?" Her daddy then said, "Because we love you." With that not satisfying her curiosity, she then said, "No, that's not the reason daddy, let mommy explain."

[while in the garage where our cat brings her kills...]
Me: See any bird guts in here?
E: I see a clue.
Me: What?
E: A feather! Maybe a momma bird was in here. We have a mystery we need to solve.

Upon asking, for the umpteenth time, if Miss E was done going 'poo-poo'. When she said, "No." I sighed and she said, "It's a long poo-poo day."

E: Mommy, I want a pig.
Me: Oooo, E, pigs stink.
E: Don't worry mommy. I'll put a wire clip on your nose so the pigs won't stink so badly and you won't smell it.

(said 1/2 awake when she woke momentarily, when I went to check on her in the wee hours of the morn)... Mommy, when will I be able to skate on ice?

While sucking a lollipop, Miss E says, "Mommy, I made up an expression". I said, "What's that?" She said, "Pop your lillipop" (not lollipop). I said, "What does that mean?" She said "It means 'come on'".

[after coming back from the bathroom and previously talking about camping sometime in "The Enchanted Forest" (our front grove of trees)]: Mommy, I realized something while I was in the bathroom. I realized something that was not in my brain. I don't have any sleeping bag memories. We don't have any sleeping bags, do we?

Happy Birthday Miss E.

I love you More Than Words Can Say.

He's a Breast Man...

2010-07-09T17:18:00.005-05:00

....ughhhh, to say the least. I have tried getting this boy to eat SOMEthing other than ...nursing off of momma (ughh again).
FINALLY have him doing half/half breastmilk/formula once, say, every other day to keep him used to a bottle (boy, that was an ordeal). Although I do plan to breast feed for at least a year (did my daughter for 14 months)... I would still like him to be versatile enough to take straight formula.
ANNNND being almost 6 months old and HUGE, I have been trying to get him to eat; cereal with formula, cereal with breast milk, tried baby food (peaches) yesterday. This boy just wants to suck... will not do food. I know, I know, in time...
I'M READY NOW!
:-)

Our Sentiments...

2010-07-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

(pic is of our flags by our front gate)

....and, I believe, the sentiments of our forefathers.

Happy birthday America.

Something Might be Wrong with Me...

2010-06-18T08:28:00.003-05:00

....because this morning, while changing my 5 month old son's diapers, I said, "What a cute little package you have!".
It was. He was cold (apparently) and all had about disappeared and shriveled (poor little guy)... but it was cute.
Ok, call the authorities.
:-~

FACT:

2010-06-03T17:09:00.002-05:00

Oil & Gas is the second largest revenue source in the US -after income taxes.
Stupid president.

Waaaaa-waaa....

2010-05-16T12:03:00.004-05:00

(sniff-sniff)... okay, my mom is here and we ...actually, she is going through Miss E's clothes and Mr. C's clothes for all clothes that are too small.
SHE is is doing the initial "going through" because I am aware of my sentimental weakness. You see, I want to keep some clothes for/from each so a Memory Quilt can be made....
BUT I MUST TELL MYSELF THAT I CANNOT KEEP EVERYTHING.
:-(
Yesterday is gone.
Damn Father time is in too good of shape... he could slow down a BIT, you know!

Hippity Hoppity Happenings... & other stuff in pics

2010-04-26T17:11:00.006-05:00

Well, here's the latest...
although some of the "latest" is about a month old. Mr. C is growing like a weed during a wet spring. Was over 2 feet tall at his 2 month appointment.
Miss E is a thoughtful big sister that will tell you if you're doing it wrong.
Hmmm... wonder what the future holds for us.
:-)
We had several 'bunnies' around at Easter time...

and another bunny~ Hub-Bunny...

Miss E bunny...

Mr. C: "What's all the funny bunny business?!?"...

and holding a bunny...

Cute as a bunny...

A "The End" to the bunny festivities for this year...

A cutie that found his thumb...

Am still getting used to saying "kids" ...we have kidS ! ...adorable ones at that.. and nooo, I don't think I'm biased.

~ :-)

Life Lately ... in no particular order

2010-03-20T23:38:00.008-05:00

Yummmm!

GRAND Dames...
Little Handsome...

and again...

and again. What a smile~

A dancing, we are...

and again...

(she slips in our closet while getting ready for bath and repeatedly gets these "wedding shoes").

Little Handsome's daddy, Mr. Handsome (off to a meeting)

A blessing seated ~ aka momma BZ (baby zapper)

How do we spell 'Ahyy-yi-yi'...

How sweet...

And Creative too... took a tank shirt of mine and turned it into a halter dress... and again, those shoes.

My blessings (and sleep stealers)...

Giving a little "nose-nose"...

A wistful gypsy...

2010-03-02T20:28:00.012-06:00

Golieths Lil Diamond Smidgen
"Smidgen"
3/29/2002 ~ 3/1/2010

The Power of the Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But...you've given your heart for a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart for the dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long--
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Rudyard Kipling

I've Officially Fallen Off the Face of the Earth...

2010-01-08T09:44:00.006-06:00

....am not sure when I'll be back either, as I am writing this 4 days before a scheduled cesarean. You'd think little short ditties like this post could be written in a flash, but nooo... I henpeck type and don't always think so fast and then, sometimes, revise here and there (I'm incorrigible).

So I am gonna type everything I can think to "announce" and then let it be. I hope I'm not jinxing myself in any way by doing this ahead of time... I know, I'm a 'worry-wart'... an incorrigible Worry-Wart.

Our little C (though I'm not sure how "little" he will be, at 5' 2+ inches short, I feel like that girl that ate ?? something blueberry on Willy Wonka and needed to be rolled out)...

Arrived on Jan 12, 2010

At 1:23 PM

Weighing: 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Length: 21 inches l-o-n-g

With black hair and long legs and fingers (yes, this was typed before delivery and is correct!).

Pics to come when ?? downloaded.

A Note to our Little Someone:

2010-01-06T12:10:00.008-06:00

E Sweetie,
I have been savoring as much as possible our time until your little brother comes (cesarean is in 6 days, unless I go before then). I will miss the time alone with you. Things will be different, but I think we will see you in another light as well... an additional one. You will be a wonderful big sister. But, yet ...at the same time, you will always be my favorite little girl.
I love you more than words can say.
Your Momma/Mommy
***
Sweetpea,
I have been noticing you more than ever now that we all are about to have the newest member of our family join us in our home. You have benefited from our full attention and now.....that is about to change. You will adjust just fine. I think your intelligence and desire help out will see you through this change and allow you to develop in a way you otherwise wouldn't have. I look forward to watch you teach your little brother the ropes. Especially with reading and writing. The foot races will be a sight for sure but this time, I won't be holding your hand. I melted the other night when I was washing your hands and I said to you that I just love the little Emma. You said to me " Why do you say that Daddy?" I said "I am afraid if you get big you won't want to give me hugs and kisses." You replied " Silly daddy, I will always want to give you hugs and kisses."
Hugs and Kisses,
Daddy

"HAMPER"ing the Truth?!?

2009-12-31T10:48:00.005-06:00

Nooo, I'm not.
I swear....... no lie....... honest to God....... I kid you NOT....... Seriously speaking....... No joke....... I tell ya....... it's the truth that while my laundry waits to be washed in that dark, stinky, romantic hamper, it BREEDS!

I Didn't Fall Off of the Face of the Earth on Christmas!

2009-12-26T13:39:00.005-06:00

What I mean is NO CHRISTMAS BABY WAS BORN!! Yippee!!
Feeling like a waddling Oompa-Loompa, I was worried about going into labor on Christmas --the further from Christmas, the better is our thought (cesarean scheduled for 1/12)... SOOO, point is... phewww!... Christmas will be just that -no (future) birthdays on the same day.
:-)
Ohh, and the "falling off of the face of the earth"... that is what happens with me when a newborn arrives. Took me about 5-6 months to crawl back over earth's edge with our daughter.
Hope y'all had a good Christmas!

Compare & Contrast II

2009-12-17T22:15:00.022-06:00

So, here we have another Compare and Contrast (you can see the 1st Compare & Contrast here). So, with the two pics below... notice any differences?
Yes, I know in the first one on the left, there is a towel on the mantle because we had a (arrghh) leak and in the second pic (on the right), stockings are hung and Christmas decorations are abound.

Any other differences?
Well, I'll tell you the difference. The pic on the left was taken in the summer, in the early morning hours before we left so our daughter could be delivered (via cesarean).
The second pic was taken A MONTH BEFORE I am scheduled for a cesarean (sched. for the 12th of Jan.) -Ha! ...wonder if I'll make it... seeing as I am as big as I am.

We think our Little Someone-that was there in the first pic, hidden, will be a great big sister!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

2009-12-08T21:47:00.015-06:00

We got SNOW!!!

Now that may not be saying much to some of you folks. But here in SE Texas, it's saying something. Not only did we have SNOW!, but we beat the record for earliest timing of it ever happening. December 10th was the date of the previous record. We got SNOW! on December 4th.

AND, we got more than the little sprinkle that is gone once it hits the ground.
Just look!

{Remember, all pics can be clicked for a spectacular view~ you may even see the Woodpecker on the tree with the swing}

Our little cow dinner bell even caught snow...

A view off the back porch looking towards the barn...

Below is a view looking off the end of the front porch towards the one neighbor we have.
We're holding onto that sad tree as long as it can hold a swing-we had a big 'replacement' tree put in directly behind it just waiting-you can't see the tree in this pic, but those are the leafed branches from it sticking out.

Looking down the front porch (hi pups) towards the pasture...

Our little tree and the SNOW! outside...

We even had enough to make a little snowman -thanks to 'daddy', of course...

Acorns served as eyes, a baby carrot was his nose, and an aloe-vera leaf was the mouth...

The next day, most of the snow had melted away- enough for Smidgen to get a good sunning in dry grass...

Looks Like We're Covered...

2009-12-02T22:16:00.017-06:00

...err, I mean HE will be covered. Boy, oh boy! (no pun intended). Seeing as we... I am major huge pregnant with a boy and we have a girl, I have few hand-me-downs from her. Welllll, not any more!

Wowey, wow, wow. Indeed. As things currently stand, looks like we're covered for boy clothes until about age two.

You see all these clothes below ... on the table. There's more there than meets the eye. A friend of mine from our local library (and her sister-in-law) gave me TONS of baby (and older) boy clothes. That stack on the left of the table....

...see closer below here. That stack alone has 26 little baby onesies.

And, oh my gosh, the socks. May not look like that many here. But I counted: 56 pair! ...and that isn't all of them. I told my friend, she must be the Emelda Marcos of socks.

And if that wasn't enough, another friend from the library, that has two boys, blessed us even more(!). One of her boys is a month older than our 3+ y/o and she has another that just turned 2 y/o. (I can never complain to her because she is around my age with TWO boys that close in age). ANYway, just LOOK what she gave us (and that's a king-size bed all that stuff is on):

And I'm talking NICE stuff! Just look at this jacket:

And CUUUUTE onesies...

And shoes...

We are truly blessed. Before we got all this, I had only bought FOUR things from a city-wide yard sale from the the itty-bitty town down the way.

There is so much to do with taking care of four horses, 2 huge dogs, a kitty, a HOUSEhold; doing dishes, all meals, washing laundry (that, I swear, breeds in the hamper), cleaning, bills, horse business taxes/paperwork... keeping an active, smart 3+ y/o little girl stimulated... I haven't even gotten to getting baby room ready, stuff stored, etc.... much less getting to the clothes thing... and you know, uhh, that's a necessary thing (I do have some unisex baby clothes from our daughter and had planned on getting those out-so I wasn't completely lagging in that department) ....but heck, now, NO worries!

WE ARE COVERED!

?s & Comments that I've Noted over the Last Few Weeks

2009-11-12T00:01:00.002-06:00

Our daughter, whom I refer to as Little Someone (LS) is 3 years, 3 months old. These are just some of the things that she has said very recently.

Do ducks get the hiccups?

(w/ whiny voice and sad face):
Mommy, I can't change the weather all by myself.

LS: I just had a sick burp.
Me: What that's?
LS: When throw up gets in the back of your throat and you swallow it.

(after vacationing):
Mommy, I liked driving in the dark to the motel.

(pointing at her Daddy's forehead wrinkles):
Daddy, what are those lines on you that mommy doesn't have?

Mommy, I want kitty babies and puppies and cows and chickies and ducklings ...and I can take care of them all (and probably others were said, just not listed).

Ewww... that truck smelled (diesel) ... like stinky bottom!

Can kangaroos fly?

Look mommy! Look! I caught my first moth!! (while holding a tall decorative tin w/ a moth in it).

Daddy, I miss you when you go to work.

I had fun going to the cabin, going to the motel and going to Dewberry Farm (an amusement farm for kids).

Weren't those baby goats SOOO CUTE!

(w/ whiny voice and sad face):
LS: Mommy, I want to be able to fly and I can't.
Me: Well, you can fly in an airplane someday.
LS: (while flapping her elbows) No, I want to fly like a bird.

Daddy, you need to fix the mower. It needs to be cleaned out.

What's a comet?

Me: It's absolutely, positively gorgeous out.
LS: Why do you say that?
Me: Because the weather is SO nice out.
LS: It's an ice cream world.
Me: Why do you say that?
LS: Because I like saying those words.
Me: Ice cream?
LS: Yeah, and when it's nice out, it's an Ice Cream World.

Mommy, we haven't made any cookies in awhile.

(LS started crying after I left her room one night from our bedtime routine~ I went back in and she said...):
I can't sleep. I'm crying. This is not my favorite part of the world.

Mommy, I cleaned my mouth with my tongue. Tongues are useful.

(after opening the house windows one AM, it was still cool out):
That cold is tickling my knees. Put them (the windows) down.
(so, upon putting a fuzzy fleece blanket on her):
Oooo, warm and cozy.

I sure had fun in the mountains.

(while driving back home from running some errands):
LS: Mommy, my tummy hurts.
Me: Why, what's the matter? Is it hungry?
LS: No, it wants to go somewhere else.
LS: (then proceeds to use different voice): I want to go somewhere elllllse.
LS: (then in a normal voice): It's being whiny.

(referring to her Daddy's black & white hair):
Daddy, you have sprinkles in your hair.

Grandma's a blob-o-saurus. Daddy's a blob-o-saurus. Mommy's a blob-o-saurus. I'm a T-Rex.

What's Health Insurance?

LS: I suuure do like dogs.
Me: Well, mommy and daddy do too. So it stands to reason that you would.
LS: Yup.

(Our neighbors have a hand full of cows on a 20 acre pasture which adjoins our back property line. Every now and then, we might give the the cows a bit of hay over the fence. This was said while we walked by an area that the cows had been the day before):
LS: What's that smell?
Me: (sniffing the air) It's cow poop. When we gave the cows hay yesterday, they stayed around that area to eat it and pooped while they were there.
LS: I like it.
Me: You like cow poop smell??
LS: Yeah, it smells good. (in defense... and many will say 'huh!?!'... but the smell was more of a wild grass smell than poop).

(while sitting outside our home, having a picnic lunch- LS points at my leg and says...):
Why do you have those cracks on you? (spider veins... yes... what LOVE-ly things come out of the mouths of babes).

UPDATE Re: 21, TWENTY-ONE, Two-One...

2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

...this post is just below, 2 posts back.
The Update?... well, the piece of paper was in "my court"... sitting on my bathroom sink counter, a bit behind a little heart shaped music box my sweet other half got me when we got married.

ANYway, the 21 Note was discovered in a sock this AM... my sock, to be exact... heeeyyy, it was my turn. :-)

Guess I better get a Round Tuit.

Halloween: In a Pumpkinshell... I mean Nutshell

2009-11-01T23:23:00.018-06:00

We did pumpkins two weekends before Halloween. They lasted one week and started molding and caving in. Our Little Someone asked where the teeth on Daddy's pumpkin were going. By the way, can you tell whose pumpkin is whose?

I'm the 'traditionalists'. Little Someone picked out her mouth, nose and eyes... and daddy? ...he's the life of the party.

Since those pumpkins were starting to stink up the place, they got thrown to the cows in our neighbor's pasture. Well, we had to have a pumpkin for Halloween, so a day or so before, got a little small jobbie that we cleaned out and carved indoors.

After a choice of pattern pics, a kitty cat was the winner...

The big night begins as we slowly transform... well, my midsection didn't (I guess I could have painted that section orange and gone as a wandering pumpkin).

"Abby Cadabby" in the making (a fairy from Sesame Street):

And here she is:

A pot-belly scarecrow (?) in the making:

(thanks for the help Grandma)

All dressed and ready for the walk... except, hold on, I've got to go to the bathroom ONE MORE TIME (me, not Abby Cadabby).

A motley crew?

Abby Cadabby flying with Daddy:

No, Miss (real) Abby, I'm not biased... Someone here is cuter:

One last shot after our excursion and before we transform back...

21, TWENTY-ONE, Two-One, 10.5 + 10.5, 3 Shy of 2 Dozen...

2009-10-26T16:33:00.016-05:00

I had a little chuckle this AM while putting on my right sock.

You see, I put my foot in my sock and felt something strange... my first thought: "What on earth?" (and then in a nanosecond, thought changed to...) "Ohhhh" ...followed by an audible chuckle. All of this occurred with no one around- just me, my right sock, and a little folded piece of paper stuck into the toe of my right sock... thus stopping me from putting it on.

Whaaaat... is she talking about?!?

It all started about..??... oh, a couple of months back. My husband tells me that he needed some slacks washed for work. I went and looked in the laundry hamper. There were TWO pairs of slacks in there. I went into our closet and COUNTED the number of slacks HANGING up... 21, that is TWENTY-ONE pairs of slacks hanging up in the closet.

Sidebar: In all fairness, I should give my husband's side of the story. He says that he will hang his pants back up after being worn because he doesn't know when I will wash them (he does this provided they're clean because he sat at a computer most of the day). He also said that there many pants hanging up that he doesn't wear and need to be donated.

Sidebar: In all fairness to me... I have asked him how am I supposed to know that he needs pants if he has 21 pair hanging in the closet. I look at the hamper and I'm not going to do a load of two pair of pants. I am a big load washer person.

ANYWAY.... so... where was I? .... oh... piece of paper.... So, that evening, upon counting TWENTY-ONE pair of pants, I write a note and stick it to one of the pair of pants hanging on his side of our closet.

(you can click on the pic for a closer read)

Welllll... over the course of the last couple of months or so, that note has traveled. Next thing I know, I find the note in my mirrored medicine cabinet. So I put it in my husband's medicine cabinet. Next, I find it in my pillow case. So, I put it under the bed sheets, his side, down by his feet. Well, it finds its way to my side, under the sheets. Next, I find it in my undies drawer. I put it in his underwear drawer, BUT I folded it small and put it inside the pair of underwear. ....you know, I just can't remember all the places it's been.... I know it made it to my sock drawer once before and, I think, to my bra drawer and his sock drawer.

With all this note surprising, I really thought I had him when our daughter and I went to visit 'Daddy' at work.... the ball was in my court on this piece of paper. So, we go to Daddy's work, we visit, we meet other people, we go back to his office and while our Little Someone had her Daddy's attention, I put it in a mug that's in a drawer that contains his coffee paraphernalia.

Ahh-ha! Away from home.... I have deposited it somewhere in his stuff... away from home.

Well, as of this AM, I see... felt... that it found its way back.

Hmph.

Oh, the games one plays after (almost) 22 years.

Compare & Contrast

2009-10-17T00:15:00.000-05:00

Do you remember those papers in school that you wrote whereas you had to compare and contrast paired items from a list? I didn't mind them because I could always find some offbeat tangent to go on.

Sidebar: Evidently, I am or have been found to be "offbeat". More than one person has said I march to a different drummer (you know, my drummer doesn't sound different to me?!?). With this in mind, my mom even had a Robert Frost poem done in Calligraphy with my name intertwined off to the side... the poem is one of my favorites: The Road Not Taken. She said it reminded her of me.

ANYway, where am I going with this... Oh, compare and contrast... Aside from standing in a bit different position and other small ancillary background things being present/not present in the below pics, what IS the difference between these photos??
Do a little Compare and Contrast, you won't hurt my feelings... I'm a brick hooouuuse.

So have you studied and found anything?? Okay, well, I'll tell ya... the pic on the left was taken during my first pregnancy at 30 weeks ~ the pic on the right was taken during this current pregnancy (3 & 1/2 years later) at 26 weeks... yes, that is ONE month earlier in the pregnancy than the 1st photo.

Oh Lordy, oh Lordy and I'm forty (hey, it rhymes) ....and feeling like a h-o-u-s-e... like an imMobile home.

Okay, well enough for now, it's time to park this motor home and go to bed.

You Can Eat Off My Floor

2009-10-15T23:39:00.003-05:00

Today, at 6:45 PM CST, you could eat off my tile floors.
I just had to note this... because I don't know when I will be able to again.
Yes, I know, I should have a pic. Alas, I don't. But just think, shiny cobblestone CLEAN tile... I mean CLEAN enough to eat off of!

High Elevation Expansion

2009-10-06T10:36:00.004-05:00

We got back from Colorado a few days ago. For those that don't know, when you're in the higher altitudes, food items, etc., that are vacuum packed, expand and bubble out to the sealed ends of the package.
That happened to me.
But, since we have come back down to our Texas elevation, I have yet to decrease from my expanded mode.
Pregnancy... hmmph.

Hey! (poke, poke)... Hey You!.. (jab, jab) Yeah, you!

2009-09-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

Holy Moly... okay, it's one thing if you're lying down to sleep and your bladder is being poked from the inside. Yes, makes sleeping difficult... but, come on, SITTING at the computer or watching a little TV... now that is becoming unnerving at times. So much so that I had to stand up and walk around the other evening while at the computer. I couldn't focus.

Geeez... I thought someone was practicing some martial art like Jiu-Jitsu -when I realized that, 'Taekwondo' deals more with kicks... so that's it... whatever, I've never been into martial arts... I know I am just thinking 'sheesh, I'm only half way (5.5 months)... is it gonna get worse?!?
:-)

(and this pic was taken a month ago!)

p.s. My husband says 'boy muscle is different and that's why' ...hmmm.. maybe like chimps have more strength per weight compared to humans... what, do they have super amounts of testosterone coursing through their veins?? Seriously, what's that super strength about??
But, I digress... while being jabbed.

You Must Be A Beautiful Baby

2009-09-11T07:30:00.001-05:00

{Below is a little diddy I used to sing all the time (and still do sometimes) to our girl -sung to the tune of "You Must have Been a Beautiful Baby"}

You must be a beautiful baby.
You must be a wonderful child...
because you know,
you make me smile so,
even though you drive me wi-ild.

You must be a beautiful girl,
Sweetest in the whole wide world.
I love you so,
Don't ya know-
You are momma's girl.

You must be a beautiful girl,
Smartest in the whole wide world.
I love you so,
Don't ya know-
You are momma's girl.

100 % Whole What?

2009-09-09T13:09:00.002-05:00

100% Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Muffins... just about defeats the purpose.

I'm not a 'neat freak', BUT....

2009-09-06T11:18:00.005-05:00

...it felt so rewarding to sweep out our attic... yes, I said attic (perhaps I'm "nesting"). We simply store stuff up there -Christmas and other seasonal decorations +. Husband finished making some shelves to store more stuff and before the 3rd set of shelves went up, I swept all the little bitty squares of insulation off the plywood platform/walk areas.
Hey, it's the Little Things.

You Turned THREE!

2009-08-30T23:20:00.003-05:00

[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.

48 Things About Me

2009-08-26T08:41:00.001-05:00

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.

My "Blogoversary"

2009-08-21T08:00:00.002-05:00

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.

Hokey Pokey

2009-08-17T23:07:00.003-05:00

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.

The Wrench in my Gears...

2009-08-12T11:18:00.005-05:00

... 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!

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

2009-08-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

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:

"So Many Stupid Idiotic Politicians PLAYING with Your Life and Livelihood...

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.]

I'm Humane!

2009-08-03T10:45:00.002-05:00

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.

Conventional Commodity: Wagon Wheel Clock

2009-07-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Con-ven-tion-al: adjective, (kuhn-ven-shuh-nl)- ordinary rather than different or original.
Com-mod-i-ty: noun, (kuh-mod-i-tee)- something of use, advantage, or value.

We live "out in the country" to a certain extent. And, in terms of pictures, paintings and the like, we tend towards the ?? rustic, look -without being 'hickish'.

For example, we like Charles Russel and Windburg paintings. And we have a fair amount of finished wood in our home. So, this clock fits right in. It hangs in our living room above a large window that is one of three. The clock is large enough to see from a good distance too... and, with my eyes, that's a plus.

Here's a pic -below- to show you where it hangs... this pic was taken years ago in B.C. times (before children)... back when single pup, Smidgen, used to come into the sunken living room to watch TV (and that dog really watches TV).
The clock hangs where the blue * is in the photo.

First Watercolor and Finger Painting

2009-07-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

These were both done quite some time ago. I am just now getting them posted. But, such Fine Art deserves a commendation, even if it is late.

Our Little Someone loved using purple. In fact, purple has the least amount of color left in the watercolor tray.

These weren't the finger paints that I remember growing up. These were a clear gel with the color labeled on the lid and they only work on the special paper... and then, at that, it takes a few seconds for the color to show up... not much on the quick reinforcement. Will have to find some of the old tried and true finger paints that can mess your walls up.

So Many Stupid Idiotic Politicians PLAYING with Your Life and Livelihood...

2009-07-22T08:55:00.010-05:00

Health Care is

NOT

a 'right'!

Daddy and Little Someone Dancing

2009-07-17T22:50:00.008-05:00

This picture was taken right before bedtime. Daddy and our Little One were 'slow-dancing' to music (yes, the TV screen was on, but music was playing).

This pic was taken when this child was not even 3 y/o, yet and look at how LONG she is. To get an idea, Daddy is 6' 4" tall. Our "Little" Someone is 40.5" tall. She has remained "off the charts" on height since she was about 1-2 months old.

I'm 5' 2 & 3/4" tall (hey, every bit matters).... but I have tall genes... you'd just never know it by looking at me. So, at least I can say that I didn't detract from her height. :-)

Turning ... F...F-F.. FFFFFF... For ... F-F ..FORTY... Alright, I said it!

2009-07-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

... First, let's see what the dictionary says:
for⋅ty
/ˈfɔrti/[fawr-tee], noun, plural -ties, adjective
–noun
1. a cardinal number (a cardinal sin??), ten times four.
2. a symbol for this number, as 40 or XL (lovely) or XXXX.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. forties, the numbers, years, degrees, or the like, from 40 through 49, as in referring to numbered streets, indicating the years of a lifetime or of a century, or degrees of temperature: His office is in the West Forties. Her parents are in their forties. The temperature will be in the forties.
–adjective
5. amounting to 40 in number.
Origin: bef. 950; ME fourti, OE fēowertig (c. OFris fiuwertich, OHG fiorzug, G vierzig).

...and then I found this while looking for a poem that grabbed my sentiments:

How to Celebrate a Fortieth Birthday

A fortieth birthday is the official commencement of middle age (again, lovely), even though most Americans don't make it all the way to 80 (can I bury my head in the sand now?). The reality hits that half a life is over, and although it's tempting to lament the loss of one's youth, and mourn the fortieth birthday, it's also true that there is a lot of life left, and depending on circumstances, it is often the perfect time to try something new. The following suggestions will help to celebrate rather than lament this momentous occasion.

Attempt an extreme sport. Examples include scuba, bungee, or sky diving. I thought the idea is to KEEP living.
Build a nest egg. -working on it
Clean out all the closets. Include the garage and the attic. There are probably lots of mementos awaiting rediscovery and removal. -am trying to downsize for other reasons (see # 13 ).
Drive on Route 66. If you're in the USA, this is a great and leisurely way to celebrate. Alternatively, drive across your country or do it on a motorcycle. -I'd like to see the CA Redwoods someday.
Eat the worm. -uhh, ummm ...I have (teenage years -WHAT was I thinking!)
Expose the wizard. Visit a talk show or movie set. no desire
Forgive your mother and call your father. Take them out to dinner. It's about time you finally understood they are only human too. Am gaining understanding/thankfulness more and more everyday.
Get back in shape. At the very least, join a gym. ha
Give a really great toast. Recall the great things life has given you. -not one to make myself the center of attention.
Give up on your extra marital affairs. Okay, so you don't have any but if you do, quit immediately and rediscover the love at home. pretty sad this one is listed... obviously doesn't apply here.
Give up road rage. In fact, give up all rage. I only have wee moments few and far between.
Go fishing. Get out into nature and discover why it is relaxing, rejuvenating and calming. Love nature and get out in it as much as possible.
Have a baby. There's still time provided you are healthy and energetic. It's a great reason to remain that way for the next 20 years too. ha.. I sure hope so, because I am pregnant.
Host a dinner party. Or throw an Oscar party or a Super Bowl party. No. I'm too busy and, like I said, I'm pregnant.
Indulge a little. Do this by buying a $50 bottle of wine, a piece of real art, a car that costs more than $50,000, or a jewelry box full of jewelry. You've GOT to be kidding... a car that costs more than ?!? ..I'll indulge and pay more toward the mortgage or, maybe even, get a massage.
Investigate the key tenets of a few major faiths. Pick one. We all need something to believe in. Hmmm.
Learn something new. Try out new activities like a foreign language or the tango. No, they need to learn English.
Learn to work your own VCR, DVD player or master a mass-transit system. Enough time spent relying on others to assist you. This is the manual reader in the house.
Meet a new friend. Choose a friend of a different race and a different religion than you or reacquaint yourself with an old friend. Have.
Move into the house of your dreams. Do this even if it's the house you're living in now, the house your children grew up in. If so, renovate or shift the furniture around. Spend more time there. Am in the house of my/our dreams- love it too.
Pay off all your debts. Or, at least, pay off your credit cards or your student loans. -see #15.
Pierce something other than your ear. Consider getting a piercing elsewhere, or get a tattoo. Geezus... some Hollyweird liberal must have written this one.
Play a new computer software program. Borrow it from your kids and forget to return it. Too busy doing this darn thing.
Play poker. Keep that straight face as long as you can. I'm good when I have... well, so I thought- my other half says no.
Quit your dead-end job. Want to do it another 20 years? No? So, apply for a promotion, or take a sabbatical or go somewhere new to work. The time is now! Oh I did this 5 years ago.
Learn new lyrics. Read the lyrics of one classic rap song, one popular country ode, and one rock anthem. Am pretty good at remembering lyrics, but coughed when I read "classic rap song".
Rent the classics. There aren't any more excuses for missing them. Other than time being spent doing other stuff.
Ride a roller coaster (again). Yeah, this sounds like a good one to do someday.
Ride in a limo. Get the entire works - the champagne, the music and all. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. I would just have a hard time enjoying it... just not my thing to enjoy or spend money on.
Serve on a jury. If you're asked, of course. I have never tried to get out of jury duty... maybe they smell my opinion coming, cause I've never been picked.
Show gratitude. You can do this many ways but a great way is by sponsoring a poor child. Call me a skeptic with those types of programs. I'd rather go straight to the child/family... and have.
Sleep under the stars. Choose a balmy night, a good sleeping bag and a friend or two to join you. This IS a fun thing to do.
Stop smoking, finally, at long last. Stop other bad habits too. Enact a two-drink maximum or kick the all-day caffeine habit. Eehh... don't do any of those things... my habit is chocolate. It's a toughy to kick, but I did the whole 14 months I nursed our daughter.
Stop speeding. You're getting too old for that and your eyesight isn't as good as it used to be. What's your hurry now? Driving faster to the end? Not a great idea and you want to see 50 don't you? Don't you? I completely agree and am getting better.
Take a cruise. If you've been putting it off for "one day", today is that day. I am NOT getting on one of those disease incubators of a sardine can.
Take center stage. Try out for a movie, a play or a choir or sign up to teach a class. Perhaps in time.
Take up a new sport. Squash anyone? Squash sounds so good right now.. little butter, tad of salt... yum!
Try your least favorite foods. Taste buds change and you might be pleasantly surprised. Now would be the time as I am hungry.
Visit a new place. Visit a new country, a new state, a new city or go somewhere that makes people scratch their heads, wondering why you went there! Would like to visit NY just for a day or so, then I can appreciate the simple outdoor life even more.
Write. Write a book, an article, Part One of your autobiography, a website or a blog. Or write a wikiHow. Here we are.

...then I found this. While it doesn't express my sentiments exactly, it was still worth posting:

Turning Forty
by Kevin Griffith

At times it's like there is a small planet
inside me. And on this planet,
there are many small wars, yet none
big enough to make a real difference.
The major countries—mind and heart—have
called a truce for now. If this planet had a ruler,
no one remembers him well. All
decisions are made by committee.
Yet there are a few pictures of the old dictator—
how youthful he looked on his big horse,
how bright his eyes.
He was ready to conquer the world.

What?? ..."he WAS ready to conquer the world"... I'm still ready... let me just take a nap first. Then, maybe if/when the 2nd child gets to, say, around 2 or three, I'll start feeling like my old self again and will resume "conquering".

While You Were Sleeping

2009-07-09T14:09:00.002-05:00

Last night, 1:04 AM and I hear a low muffled whining on the monitor. I don't jump up as, often, Little Someone puts herself back to sleep. I just listen. Then I listen and watch (the monitor) because it continues. Well, once it turns into low crying & talking, I get up as I know it will only escalate.

The problem?...the stuffed lamb was in her room, not the living room (ugghhh). Okaaayyy, so I move it out. Once all the good-night routines are taken care of and we are just about ready to let go holding hands and say our final Night-Night...

Little Someone toots and asks, "Do you smell that?"
Me: No, but I heard it.
LS: You heard it?"
Me: Yes, I heard you toot, but I don't smell it.
LS: I smell it.
Me: What's it smell like?
LS: A skunk.

Oh the Beautiful Stench

2009-07-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well, for someone that doesn't like to get flowers for occasions (they're expensive and they die), I do like to put flowers, that I find around our place, in a bowl or vase.

These flowers, however, are not from our property. I found the pink ones along a roadside swell while on our way home, after leaving the back way out of a small town's library (we're talking rural).

I got the little purple ones while turning onto our private gravel road on the same trip- thought they'd accent well.

Got to say, these puppies stayed on the counter just long enough for "Daddy" to see them. These puppies stunk! Both kinds... but they were pretty.

Beyond the Sea @ Bathtime

2009-07-02T15:35:00.002-05:00

This is another favorite that is watched before bath time. It's occurrence has waned a bit since the Mahnamahna one. But, let me tell you, it was watched for about 2 weeks every night... so much so, that Little Someone knows the words to the first two stanzas of the song (and can sing it too). But, don't try to get her to take her bath before this ends... she HAS to watch the last part where the "little fish eats the Angler fish".
I love the music.

Remember ~ turn your speakers on.

On Again ~ Off Again

2009-06-23T16:05:00.004-05:00

Arrghh... computers! Alas, I do have a love affair with them-what tools for learning at your fingertips.

BUT, ours is having problems. Long story short, it looks like our 'C' drive will have to be reformatted -wiped out. Much 'house-work' to do before then to save ?!?

Sooo, maybe when all's finished, I'll go faster & do more in a shorter amount of time.

*
p.s. Still pg., tired and tired again.
p.p.s. Am already feeling guilty about the loss of time with Little Someone (assuming all continues).

A Mother's Prayer

2009-06-20T15:00:00.003-05:00

Found this poem sometime back. Even though I do not have two on the ground, I still identified with it. When I became a parent, I realized that there is this whole club of 'parents' out there.

In B.C. times (before children), I could imagine what it was like or going to be like to have children and be a parent. But one really doesn't know until they are... I don't care HOW much you baby-sat or take care of your nieces, nephews and the like... it's a 'whole-nuther ballgame' having your own children.

Which brings me to a quote by Sophia Loren... it is so true:

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

Enjoy the knowing smile this may bring....

A Mother's Prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my sanity to keep.

For if some peace I do not find,

I'm pretty sure I'll lose my mind.

I pray I find a little quiet

Far from the daily family riot.

May I lie back--not have to think

about what they're stuffing down the sink,

or who they're with, or where they're at

and what they're doing to the cat.

I pray for time all to myself

(did something just fall off a shelf?)

To cuddle in my nice, soft bed

(Oh no, another goldfish--dead!)

Some silent moments for goodness sake

(Did I just hear a window break?)

And that I need not cook or clean--

(well heck, I've got the right to dream).

Yes, now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my wits about me keep,

But as I look around I know--

I must have lost them long ago!

~Author Unknown

Just For the Record

2009-06-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

1. Well, my 'I could be doing something better' work paid off... though "paid off" is not the term I'd use since we're not getting paid -just getting reamed less. Was able to get what the CAD says our 'Market Price' per acre is down -from $31,600 per acre to $21,700 per acre.

2. Am still pregnant. Wasn't sure. Had some bleeding. Wasn't liking the roller-coaster ride of wondering, so I went in to know one way or another and all is still going. Still very early, so I defer to 'what will be, will be'.

3. I'm tired....... oh..... yeah...... you're probably getting tired of hearing that. I can assure not as tired as I am.

I Have Better Things to Do...

2009-06-12T00:36:00.004-05:00

....but NOOO(!), I have to spend my time researching in order to protest our property taxes before the Appraisal Board next week. Oh, yes, it is a choice... I don't HAVE to do it. But, holy mother of and entity that forces one to unmercifully defend what they have properly bought and paid for... Lease Rape by the government is one thing to call it or Legal Extortion by the government.
POINT BEING... I am spending time that I could be SLEEPING looking up an ungawdly amount of "comparables" and I have not been having fun.

Sorry if I sound negative... I'm tired.

Hmmm... I think I've said that lately.

Nuff Said?

2009-06-09T12:54:00.002-05:00

I'm one month away from Forty. I'm pregnant. I handle the WHOLE household (bills and ALL else)... plus five horses, two dogs and one cat. Oh, and my husband and I have a coming on three yr. old toddler.
I'm tired.

Been Offline... AND,

2009-06-07T15:39:00.003-05:00

Indeed(!) what I've been able to get done has been nice (our server was down while we had some upgrades done). So, if you haven't 'heard' from me this is why... ha(!)... I inflate myself so... like ANYone even missed... uhh hellllo?? ... (hollow echoing sound)... hellloo?
Well, you get the message.

My Head in the Clouds

2009-06-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

So, I'm vacuuming the other day and have ....oh, about ?? seven other irons in the fire. Who knows what they were because I cannot remember. And I'm not even old ... I mean, I used to think that my age was old ... when I was young ...ger.

Hmmm... I was saying SOMEthing... oh... that's right... vacuuming.... ANYway, so I was vacuuming the other day. And I'm in the living room and I'm trying to hurry because our Little Someone isn't keen on the noise. She is okay with it, but not keen on it.

Well, at one point, after leaving the room to tend to some other iron in the fire, I came back into the room to resume vacuuming. I turned the vacuum on and noticed that it seemed louder than usual.... I'm pushing the vacuum ...wondering why does it sound like that?? After more seconds than it should have taken me, I realize...

This is not what my vacuum cleaner is supposed to look like:

It should look like this:

Yeah.... uh... ummm... I forgot to put the bag-less canister back on after I emptied it (and tended to that other iron in the fire)... duhhh. Hey, it did only take me about ...??... (counting to see)... about 4-5 seconds to realize.

That's not too bad... is it?!?

Mah-na-mah-na ... do-doo-d-do-do!

2009-06-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

Before bath time, our Little Someone gets to watch a short video/song on the computer (all have been pre-screened, of course).

Well, after watching a song OVER AND OVER AND OVER... one cannot HELP but get that song stuck in their head. So here's what's been going on in my head the last three nights while laying down, trying to go to sleep:

Mahnamahna ... do-doo-d-do-do
Mahnamahna ... d-doo-d-do
Mahnamahna ... do-doo-d-do-do-d-do-do-d-do-do-do-do-do

Nowwww... I'm not so sure on the last one there -if I have the right number of "do"s ... but, regardless, it might help you get the picture.

It's funny, yesterday evening, we were getting our Little Someone ready for bath. I had the bath ready and was waiting for her in the tub. Daddy was helping with getting her undressed and having her use the little potty we have in the Master bath... all the while, Daddy is singing, "Mahnamahna" ...then I would follow and sing "do-doo-d-do-do". We just kept going back and forth... him singing "Mahnamahna" and me singing"do-doo-d-do-do". Needless to say, now our daughter does it too.

Friday's Quiz Answer: 1966 Shelby Cobra Replica

2009-05-30T07:00:00.002-05:00

These are the pics you were given:

This is the whole picture...

My husband built this car from a kit. And it is faster than I care to think about. Our Little Someone likes to ride in it up and down our gravel road, all the while the dogs chasing on the other side of the fence.

Friday's Pop Quiz: What is it?

2009-05-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

So, here's the 'quiz'... I give you part of a pic and you make a guess as to what it is? Try to be as specific as possible.

I will post the answer (bigger picture) tomorrow. All pics are taken here at the ol' Homestead.

Happy guessing!

I know, the little pics don't have great clarity- this was a pre-new camera pic.

Oh, if you are family or you answer to the name of Mr. D.... no fair, you have insider knowledge. :-)

SOMEthing's Up

2009-05-26T07:00:00.006-05:00

Blogger has been adding spaces (like herein) AGAIN to my posts so that I, then, have to go and delete them repeatedly (very annoying).

I'm having weird dreams... like my shorts are too small and my diapers are showing in gym class

OR

dreams that I have a thick magnolia leaf in my mouth and it's unpalatable so I need to get a new, thin, fresh, soft leaf and put butter on it and it would be fine.

A few times, Blogger or ?? has not let me open up certain website unless I log out and come back and try again (arrghh!).

My *$#@ legs have been driving me nuts in the middle of the night making sleep quality stink.
{I have RLS (restless leg syndrome)- your legs can wake you up with this horrible tickling feeling (or like you have ants crawling under your skin) -you can only stand it so long before you jerk your leg to get the tickling feeling to go away. I counted... once I move my leg, the feeling comes back after 3 seconds and builds until at 10-12 seconds, I HAVE to move my legs. Taking Iron helps... guess I'll have to up my Iron more... and then there's lovely side effects with that. Sorry, I digress.}.

When lay down to go to sleep, my heart beats so loudly, it keeps me awake for awhile.

AND

I've been questioning -am I hungry or not hungry? ...should I be hungry?

*

What is up?!?

*

Hmmm...

*

Maybe this............

*

If all continues, E.T.A. is Jan. 19.

?'s & Comments that I Remember from the Last Few Days...

2009-05-25T07:00:00.007-05:00

Our daughter, whom I refer to as Little Someone (LS) is 2 years, 9 months old. These are just some of the things that she has said very recently.

Do spiders poop?

Thank you for taking care of my itch.

Do spiders have families?

Does Smidgen (one of our dogs) get the hiccups?

I'm going to go tee tee in the grass (followed by, "Oh, no you're not. Let's go to the potty"-which, we did).

Do snakes have hair?

Is that poo-poo dust? (this was said while pointing into the 'big potty' -okay people, perhaps I shouldn't admit, my toilet needed cleaning- you know where the water level sits in a toilet, how it can mildew a bit... it wasn't that bad, but our little one notices everything).

Do cars walk?

Do bugs have mommies and daddies?

Thank you for giving me a strawberry mommy.

That's a concrete truck (noted on the way to Home Depot).

How does the concrete come out of the truck?

I love you (while grabbing my arm to hug at the table).

Do horses cry?

Do elephants cry?

Do dogs cry?

Your breath stinks.

Do dogs talk?

I want to do it(!) -(said on SO many occasions, it cannot be counted).

I need to go potty (while we were at Home Depot.. and on the way to the potty..) "I'm holding my tee tee. I'm holding my tee tee in my uterus." (don't worry, I explained it).

Dogs don't talk (while watching 'Clifford').

LS: Are you thinking what I am thinking about?
me: I don't know, what are you thinking about?
LS: That the horse trailer is too big.
me: It's not too big.
LS: It is big?
me: Yes, it is big, but not too big.

Do wasps have baby eggs?

Can I help you bake?

Can I help you do laundry?

I'm such a good girl.

I like playing in the mud.

Mommy, will you carry me?

I'll keep on trying (while trying to put the horse halter on the dog).

I'm a good helper.

Mommy, I don't want to go to sleep (at bedtime).

Mommy, I don't want you to leave (at bedtime).

Mommy, don't leave. Stay and talk to me (while holding my arm at bedtime-very difficult).

They Gave...

2009-05-24T09:28:00.002-05:00

We're Free

Be Thankful

Friday's Quiz Answer: A Bottlebrush Tree!

2009-05-23T07:00:00.005-05:00

{My goodness, that Robynn @'Robynn's Ravings'... she's goooood! She guessed it!}

Here's the pic you were given...

It was taken from the right top quadrant of this pic...
Here's what the tree looks like...

They're a beautiful tree that the Hummers love. We have three of them, all young like this one. Got them from a nursery that had two planted on site and were good size, maybe 20 feet tall. They stay spectacular like this 3 seasons out of the year since we are in a warmer climate. Also, are non-deciduous, which is nice since we get some green color during the wintertime.

Hope you had fun with this type of "quiz". Got a real doozy lined up for next week!

Friday's Pop Quiz: What Is It?

2009-05-22T07:00:00.004-05:00

So, here's the 'quiz'... I give you part of a pic and you make a guess as to what it is? Try to be as specific as possible.

(You can leave a guess by clicking on the comment link underneath. You can do so anonymously if you choose)

I will post the answer... that is, the whole picture tomorrow. All pics are taken here at the ol' Homestead. Happy guessing!

Thankful Thursday: The Navy

2009-05-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you remember the man (who was a husband & father too) that was captured by Somali pirates -he was captain of a large cargo ship. Well, if you remember how it went down and he was saved, you may appreciate this:

I'm thankful for our Navy.

The Letter of the Day While Taking "Tour" Pics

2009-05-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

It was suggested by a reader to take some pics and give a"tour" of our place. I am *slowly, but surely* working on it. In doing so, our Little Someone and I took a walk to three of the four corners of our property and I snapped up pics with our new camera.

We walked back down our (and a few neighbor's) private gravel road. As we neared the front corner, I walked rather quickly to get to it and snap the pic, then head back to the gate before our daughter had to backtrack too. You can see her here better if you click on the pic.

Before I started walking faster, we were perusing along the grass and gravel road with me just, maybe, 20 steps ahead of her. I was snapping some flower pics in the grass and she started carrying on about something in the road... while I was trying to figure out just how close I could get to a particular flower. I could tell it wasn't something dire and could wait a few (literal) seconds... or so I thought.

Her beckoning became louder, so I asked what was the matter. It was at that point she upped the ante, Come see! Come see! LOOK! Well, she had my attention... now, I'm wondering if it's some strange bug I've got to worry about her touching or it biting. So I quickly head over and she drops her flowers that she had picked and pointed to this...

...and said, Look! It's the letter "I".

I was so proud of her.

Baring My Laundry (along with a real cute LS)

2009-05-18T07:00:00.003-05:00

Okay, I've decided to post a video taken back in January. Our Little Someone has not repeated this incident, but it lives on in video.

But first, some very important disclaimers [acckk, I'm actually posting this video?!? (saying to self)]:

*This was a heavy laundry day... there were LOTS of clothes to be done.

*When I do laundry, I separate it into piles.

*The piles are many. I am obsessive, thus I have ...ooohhh, say six different piles at a time (hey, at least we have clean uncontaminated clothes. You got to know, we get grimy and when we get grimy and I don't want grimy socks washed with my bath towels):

dirty whites
clean whites
light colored, 'middle of the roaders'
dirty darks
clean darks
darker colored 'middle of the roaders'

POINT BEING, OMGracious, the clothes on the floor **sighhh** (gees, I feel like I'm exposing myself here).

Okay, so here we go... Oh, and don't forget to turn your speakers on.

Grocery Store Trip ? of the Day

2009-05-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

I was at the grocery store yesterday, Thursday. We (my toddler and I) were in one of those HUGE Wal-marts... which is SO difficult to shop because it is SO big. ANYway, we were on the downhill slide when we noticed a noisy, busy, boy (probably 4 or 5) standing next to his little sister which was sitting in the grocery cart seat while the mom was pushing it. They were a ways down an isle that I was passing by. I said, "That boy is hyper." My daughter (2 years 8 months old) says, "What's hyper?" I tell her it's when you have a lot of energy and you move around a lot.

Wellll, we stopped to pick out some lunch meat and are passed by the aforementioned group. My daughter, sitting in the cart seat, looks down at the boy walking by and says, "Are you hyper?"

Today's To Do List:

2009-05-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

Change a diaper
Fix breakfast
Start some laundry
Ready ourselves
Encourage potty use/Change a diaper
Grocery shopping
Unload groceries
Encourage potty use/Change a diaper
Fix lunch
Dishes
Clean kitchen
More LAUNDRY
Encourage potty use/Change a diaper
Read to daughter before nap
Nap time
A bunch of other stuff

The productive part of my day is in the AM... once nap time ends, it's all just tying up loose ends from the first part of the day.

Looking back at this list above... ha! If I tried to write down all the ancillary irons in the fire, I'd be sitting here for awhile and I've GOT to get my priorities straight... namely, SLEEP for me (I type these often the night before). Sooo, a short incomplete list it is.

p.s. Our Little Someone is getting better about telling me when she needs to use the potty and holding it when we're not around one. I haven't been one to push the issue. I hear when they're ready, they're ready.

Got a New Camera ~ Whoo-Hoo!

2009-05-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

...and wow, is it NEAT! Sheesh, I shouldn't have waited so long to get one.

Am not going to be long on words today... but I would recommend clicking on some of these pics so you can see the DETAIL ...the wasp on the hummer feeder is quite amazing with that oblong back end on a stick. And I left it gargantuan so when you click, you'll see the spikes and hairs on his legs.

All the pics were taken at our place... sadly, the last one too (in our house!). Does anyone know WHAT kind of spider that is?? If you do, please send a comment. I would love to know what you think. My husband and I know it's not a brown recluse, wolf spider, black widow (they have a dot)... but we don't know what this is??

Needless to say, this was pic was taken right before his timely death.

Our Annual Protest

2009-05-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

I'm whooped. And having to protest one's property taxes... stinks. I do it every year and that's what I did yesterday (Monday). My husband and I have gone together a few times. But, it seems I have better luck going by myself. So, at it alone, I go.

I WON'T GET ON MY BANDWAGON... because I may not get off of it before I need to go to bed... suffice to say that we CATEGORICALLY believe property taxes are extortion - one can never OWN their home/property. They have to 'lease' it from the government -a gov't that, incidentally, constantly increases your lease amount without your consent.

Sales tax... ALL for it. A person has a choice with a Sales Tax and the state still gets change in their pocket (plus, research shows that states get more from a Sales Tax).

ANYway, went to protest after doing my research up until 2AM the night before. Did get some 'relief' on our 'improvements' (ha... what a joke). But, my husband and I will both go before the Appraisal Board to contest our land value (we have 8 acres). Since we bought our property 11 1/2 years ago, the county has gone up in our "appraised value" a WHOPPING 449% ...how's that for 'legal' thievery!?!

OMGracious ...I cannot get started, it's too late and I need sleep too much to go and get my heart rate up.

**deeeep breathhh**