Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

I hope everyone is safe and has lots of fun out trick-or-treating tonight with your kiddos...or in whatever your plans are....it is going to be fun!!!  I have lots of things to catch you all up on and some new pictures to post....hopefully tonight after the kids are asleep, I will get some time to work online and catch up!  My household has been extremely busy these last few days and I sure have had to let some things go to the side....I have added a few new links to the webpage and am still working on tweaking a few little things each day....so I haven't abandoned it or anything.  Life with three kiddos just keeps me hopping!!!  Have a great Halloween night!!!!  And don't eat TOO MUCH candy!!!

The Husband Store...

Ok ladies...a friend of mine emailed me this and I just had to share.  You may have read it before...I never had and I just about fell out of my chair laughing!  Enjoy!

 

The Husband Store
A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband.   Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates.
"You may visit the store ONLY ONCE!
You may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor,
But you cannot go back down except to exit the Building!"
So, a woman goes to The Husband Store to find a husband .
On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord.
The second floor sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.
The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.
"Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead good looking and help with the housework.
"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"  
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead gorgeous, help with the  housework, and have a strong romantic streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 6 - You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor.  
There are no men on this floor.
This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.

Thank you for shopping at The Husband Store.

Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!

Please send this to all men for a good laugh and to all the women who can handle the truth!

Happy Birthday Sis!!!!

Ok...I know you have been checking to see if I was going to forget in my old age and not wish you a happy birthday....HA!  I didn't forget....just wanted to make you wait and wonder! 

 

 I can't believe that I am wishing my baby sister a Happy 19th Birthday Brittany!  WOW!  Does that really make me feel old!!!  And it really doesn't seem possible.....it really does seem like only recently when I first met you....and yes I do remember the first day you came home from the hospital....since I was the ripe old age of 12!  You have grown into a gorgeous young woman!   Even though we don't live close and don't see each other much....just want you to know that Shane and I keep up with you and your accomplishments and that we are proud of you and what you have become!  Keep up all the hard work!  Good luck in your classes at the University of Houston this fall and in all you do in life!  Love you Britt!!!

There's more than corn in Indiana...

I think about this song everytime that I drive to my hometown and everytime I drive back towards Alabama.  It was a cute little tune to a commercial that I used to hear all the time growing up....advertising an amusement park in the northern part of the state....Indiana Beach...and to my amazement it is still around.  Granted, I am sure it has changed since the last time I visited it ???? years ago.  I don't even remember the last time that I was there....but I can still see that  big ole' crow and that commercial on the TV screen and hear the song in my head....There's more than corn in Indiana...at the super sensational, exciting vacational, Indiana Beach!  Now, I could hum you the tune....but it is just something that you would have to hear for yourself!  :) 

And yes, there is much more than corn in Indiana for me!  There is family, love, warmth, home, and memories....lots and lots of memories!  I was born in Bloomington and grew up right there too.  A majority of my family still lives there and I try my best to get up there as often as I possibly can to visit.  Over the last few years, Shane and I don't go as much as we should....or even as much as when we first got married.  I guess I make too many excuses...but it is more difficult with children...especially three of them!  Although, they absolutely love to go up there....especially when they get to see snow! 

As we were driving back yesterday I kept thinking about what I could write about and how I would tell about our trip.  Well, let me tell you that we had a great time!  It was great to see our family and spend quality time with them!  We remembered funny moments from the past and made memories that will be in our hearts forever!  I took lots of pictures...too many to post here....however, just let me give you some of the highlights and summarize our trip.

• Parker got to meet his Grandpa Dan and Grandma Patty for the first time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Mallory got to help Pappaw dig sweet potatoes in the garden...she could not wait to get out there and get dirty! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• We celebrated all the September and October birthdays in our family....Happy Birthday to Patty, Adrienne, Tim, Brittany, and Chad!  It was a blast and the cake was yummy!

 

 

 

 

• Grandpa Dan introduced us to some new computer stuff and we were hooked.  He taught Mallory how to use the new game...Zuma....and he showed me about a new messaging service called Trillian.  Both of them are awesome and I am loving using both of them....but be careful...if you decide to download Zuma...it is addicting! Once I started playing the game it was hard to stop....it is like the energizer bunny...you just keep going and going!

 

 

• We had great food, fun times, lots to do, many good memories, and a very hectic household.  I think there were sixteen there for supper on Monday night.  We had a good home cooked meal of fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, homemade yeast rolls, yummy sweet potatoes, homemade slaw, and I can't even remember what else...but it was so good and I enjoyed it so much!  BTW, I have a couple of new recipes that I got from my Gram that I am gonna post to the recipe page also.  One is for homemade apple butter and it is out of this world!  My Gram made some and we had it on our biscuits one morning....so I brought the recipe home and  I am gonna attempt to make some of it!  Can't wait!  Yummmy!!!!!

There are so many things that I could go on about, but I know this post is already long and I think you get the idea....WE ABSOLUTELY HAD A GREAT TIME!  We loved the visit and the fun we had....lots of memories for my girls and for us....and that is what it is all about!  FAMILY MEMORIES!!!

A little piece of advice....Take advantage of every minute that you are blessed with....you just don't know how many minutes or how much time you will have here on this earth with your family.  Tell them that you love them and make lots of great memories to have as you grow old!

Have a great night and day tomorrow!  Take care!

We finally made it back!

We made it back last night and got the kids tucked in and started unpacking!  Whew!  Glad to be home....but hated to leave!  We had a great time with family and a the time on the road wasn't too bad either.  I have lots to catch up on....emails, unpacking, laundry, etc.  I will update later with pictures and funny stories!  Have a great day!

What I have learned...

Tonight I tried something new that I normally don't do...I took a random picture for no real reason, except that I liked what I saw.  I was looking out my kitchen window, after what was a rather yucky day, weather wise, and saw this... and I had to

 

 

 

 

 

take some pictures.  I have been taking a photography class and like to feel like I have learned a few things in class and I wanted to play with some settings on my camera and see what kind of results I could get....well this is what I came up with from my patio.  I was pretty pleased!  :)

Now if I can just learn a little more about Photoshop and how to tweak the many, many, many pictures I have saved on my hard drive!  :)

Only one more day of school left this week.  Today was Hat/camo day and of course Mallory dressed for the part.   She didn't have any camo to wear, but she did borrow one of her daddy's hats to wear.  She doesn't look too thrilled to get her picture made...does she?  Hmm...might have something to do with the time of morning?  :)

Tomorrow is school spirit day!  That will be easy and fun too.  I think they are having a pep rally right before school let's out for the day.  Nothing like that....get the kids all excited and hyper....and then let them go home to their parents!  Don't you love it! 

We will be off to Indiana after Mallory gets home tomorrow for a few days to visit with family.  The girls are excited to see the grandparents! 

Family is so important...

We went to Memphis this past Saturday to meet up with my grandparents, Pap and Gram.   Mallory and Kennedy could hardly wait to get there and see them and they hated to leave!  They always hate to leave them and it makes me so sad when we have to leave!  I am so glad that they love being with them and that they are having the same opportunity that I had growing up...of getting to know these wonderful people and getting to spend time with them while they are young.  Even though they don't know it now...someday they will realize how blessed they truly are to know their "Pap and Gram" and to have got to make some wonderful memories with them to carry all throughout their lives!

Pap and Gram were driving down to Memphis from Indiana to attend the Spiritual Sword Lectureships at Getwell.  So we decided to drive over and meet up with them since it is only a short drive for us over to Memphis.  We got there on Saturday afternoon and spent the night and then went to church with them on Sunday. Saturday night we all went to Olive Garden and ate supper!  Yummy!  I love that place, but we hardly ever go unless we are with Pap and Gram because nobody in my little crew really cares for it but me. 

Of course, it would not be right if the kids didn't get a surprise when we arrived.....I guess.  Or at least that is what the "grandparents" must think....because they are always getting them something.  I knew ahead of time that they were getting something for them since I had already been asked if they liked this...or do you think they will like that???  LOL  The answer is YES!  Anything you give my kids they will like....they just like surprises!  Mallory got her first dose of American Girl stuff...and I have a strong feeling that this won't be the last of it either.  She is in love with American Girl now!!!  Of course, the one she got was Molly....which is her nickname that my grandparents call her and she just giggles every time she tells someone about that!

Kennedy has been begging for a Doodle something...it didn't matter what...just something.  Mallory had a Doodle pet and doll and Kennedy has been whining for one too...so I dropped that bug.  Well...low and behold...what do you think showed up in Memphis???   That is right!  A Doodle Bear....and I think it was the deluxe edition...whatever that means! :)  She loves it and is loving the fact that now she has one too!  How cool is that? 

And of course it wouldn't be complete if Parker didn't get something .... right?  WRONG!  He is five months old!  He doesn't know the difference!  LOL!  But anyhow....they did!  So he came home with a toy too and I had to find a place to put it....but I will have to admit that he has been entertained by it when I show it to him and seems to like the little rings that are on it!  :)

As you can tell, we all had a great time and the kids were so loving seeing Pap and Gram! What is so funny is that we are leaving tomorrow to meet them back up in Indiana and stay several days with them.  My parents flew into Indianapolis last night from Houston, Texas and so we are driving the 6 hours to my grandparents house to visit instead of the 14 hours to Houston to visit!  This will be the first time that my parents have gotten to see Parker and they haven't seen the girls since last October...so it will be a great trip and so good to get to see them again!

I said all this to say that family truly is so important.  I hope that I am instilling this in my children and teaching them to connect and stay close to their roots!  I am so glad that they are having the opportunity to grow up knowing their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I always loved visiting and being around extended family when I was growing up.  It was always something I looked forward to and enjoyed and I want them to feel the same!  Can't wait till this weekend!

Catchin' y'all up...

Well, as promised I am going to attempt to give a recap of the week from last week and fill you in to what fun we had and how busy we really were.....I will try to be brief...but that probably won't be possible...I mean come on...I have three kids and you know how I like to talk about them.

Monday-Wednesday Mallory was out of school on Fall break so we tried to cram a lot in during those days!  Monday was one of those stay at home and watch cartoon days, relax, chill with Mama, play....do whatever days....but then Tuesday....well that was a little different.  Tuesday started off pretty boring but by 10am we were throwing on clothes trying to get ready to head to Meridianville to go to Tate Farms with my friend Telah and her three kiddos.  We were getting ready...not exactly sure if she was going to be able to swing it because she was waiting on the "refrigerator guy"...you can read more about that on her blog.  :)  But thankfully it all worked out and we got to go...so I loaded up and headed that way.  The one disadvantage that we were at to begin with is that Tate Farms doesn't open to the public until 2pm.  Yuck!  Which means that it messed up the afternoon schedule...not that Kennedy naps any longer...I couldn't be so lucky!  However, our husbands come home around 5pm and at times do expect us to be home and have supper ready....imagine that????  :)  But anyhow....we went and had a blast!  My kids did not want to leave and I promised that we would go back and I intend to keep that promise, because I had a blast too!  That place is awesome and has grown so much since the last time I went!  WOW is all I can say!  I have put in a couple of my favorite pictures from the day here ....but then I put a bunch in a photo album on the left hand side of the webpage that you can view...there are just so many good ones from that day.    

Of course that night we have a home cooked meal and everything went smoothly     and .... yeah right!

Ok, now here is the part where you are going to call me CRAZY!!!  So we survived Tuesday and then woke up to more fun on Wednesday!  I had already planned with my good buddy Melissa to go do some fun stuff with her that morning after her dentist appt. in Decatur.  So to put this in a nutshell,    we ended up going to visit with himself at his house.  We spent a couple of hours there with Melissa and her twin girls, Jolie  and Jessie .   They all had a blast!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Now to top it all off when we left here we had to head straight to the beauty shop to get haircuts.  So off we went!  While we were there, I called and managed to get a sick visit to the Drs. office for Parker.  I needed to take him and see what the problem was...something wasn't right and he has seemed sort of fussy.  Boy, am I glad that I did! 

He ended up with a ear infections in both ears and started on an antibiotic and some Dimetapp.  He had been cranky and I knew he didn't feel well.  My first and biggest clue was when he wasn't eating well....lol...anyone that has seen my boy and knows us knows that if Parker  is not eating well .... then there is a problem!  Well, so we got that taken care of and now we are on the road to recovery. 

So basically that is what we did during Fall Break...I know it seems crazy...and most parents would probably think I was for tackling Tate Farms and Chuck E. Cheese within a two day period...believe me...I thought about it too...but we had fun and in the end that is what matters the most!  School started back on Thursday and we stayed home for a couple of days...only to head to Memphis on Saturday to see Pap and Gram...more on that later tonight!

Tomato Pie

Submitted to me by Betty Pritchard

Tomato Pie
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1 refrigerated pie crust
2-3 tomatoes, sliced
Fresh basil leaves, torn
Shredded mozzarella
Prepare refrigerated pie crust.  Keep cold until time to put it in the oven. 
Mix 1/2 cup mayo with 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.  Spread that on the bottom of a pie crust.  Slice tomatoes (probably 2-3 per pie) and layer them on top of the cheese mixture, sprinkle with a little salt, pepper, fresh torn basil (or about 1/2 tsp dried) and top with more shredded mozzarella.  Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or so, just until the tomatoes are bubbly and the cheese and crust are browned. 
NOTE: You could also add a little crumbled bacon in with the tomatoes.

I need suggestions and FAST!!!

This week is homecoming week....ok.... I can handle that....Here is a partial schedule for the week:

Monday:  Pajama and Wacky Hair Day

Tuesday: Twin Day

Wednesday:  80's Day

What am I gonna do for that?  Of course Mallory want to dress up or participate...she has no clue what it means and I have tried to explain it to her .....but that is besides the point....she wants to dress up for 80's Day...

Any suggestions?  I can barely remember what today is let alone try to figure out what I was wearing or what was popular in the eighties???  Please help to jog my memory and send some suggestions my way of what I could throw together for her to wear to school tomorrow!  Thanks!

Wondering???

I have been working on trying to improve the looks and the content of the website today.  It has been raining here and yucky...a really good day to be inside...so I decided to tackle some things that have been on my to do list.  I am working on trying to get my "Category Cloud" up and running ... so you may see many new posts over the next few days....this is mainly because I don't know any other way to do it yet but to post to the main page in order to get them into the categories I want also....so that is just the way it has to be for now.  Anyway, I am adding a category cloud and hopefully a couple of tribute pages.....some new links.....and a few new things.  Sorry if things have been messy or looking sort of freaky....hopefully I will get things back in order this evening.  Thanks for your patience!  Have a great afternoon!

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Broccoli Slaw

2 bags (3-ounce) Ramen Noodle Soup in Oriental (other flavors will work, too)
3/4 stick butter
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 bags (12-ounce) bags broccoli cole slaw (in the bagged salad section of the grocery store)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Chopped green onions, for garnish

Dressing Mix:
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup brown or white sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 ramen noodle seasoning packet

Put the ramen noodles in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin while melting butter in a large skillet over low/medium heat. Add the crushed noodles and slivered almonds to the skillet and saute, stirring occasionally (keep temperature at low/medium heat). Meanwhile, whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Place the shredded broccoli into bowl and toss with the noodles, almonds, and sunflower seeds. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Garnish with chopped green onions.

Corn Casserole

Submitted to me by Amanda Johnson

 

Corn Casserole

1 stick margarine

1 can cream corn

1 can whole kernel corn drained

1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

1 egg

8 oz sour cream

melt margarine in bowl, add other ingredients, mix well, cook at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until top starts to brown in spots, does well in 8 X 11 ½" dish or 8 X 8" (can use light margarine and light sour cream if desired)

Granny's Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Submitted to me by Lisa Bagents

 

Cream together 8 oz cream cheese and 3 sticks real butter until fluffy.

Add 3 cups sugar.

Add 6 eggs, beating well after each one.

Add 3 cups plain flour.

Add 2 tsp real vanilla.

Add a dash of salt.

Pour into greased and floured bunt pan. Bake 300 degrees for about an hour.

I make this all the time for the little sweet ladies at church and they love it. Hope you like it!

Lots to catch up on....but later

I have a lot that I want to post about and catch you all up on from last week, but for now I will post a little snippet about this morning at our house.  We got in last night from Memphis and the house is a wreck.  I have a lot to do today and a busy day with lots of activities...so I am not sure how much attention the house and laundry will get today.  Kennedy has dance class and I have to go get more baby food at Walmart.  Anyway, it is just one of those days and so let me just tell you how happy I was when I woke up this morning and remembered that it was Pajama day and Wacky Hair day at Mallory's school!!!  I didn't have any clothes to iron and it really didn't matter what her hair looked like....the worse the better in my opinion.  Woo Hoo! 

So I got her all fixed up and she was thrilled with the results!  She took her Minnie Mouse slippers in her backpack and she was out the door looking like this...   and she was loving it! Shane was laughing at her and making fun of her hair... referring to some 80's band...like she knew who they were???                                                                                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          

 I thought to myself....what I wouldn't give to be able to go out the door looking like that today and know that it would be alright and nobody would look at me and wonder what I had been drinking?  :)  Ah to be a kid again!!! 

 

 

We did so many cool things last week and went a lot of places. I have a lot to fill you in about and hopefully I will get to do that sometime today.   I am off to try and get ready to take Kennedy to her class.  Everyone have a great day!  It is rainy here today and overcast, but I am still smiling!  You do the same!

Milestone Markers in our busy life...

Wow!  This week has flown by and I mean flown by...I don't know where all the time has gone!  Well, I mean I guess I do, but it just doesn't seem possible that it is already Friday night.  We have been busy, busy, busy this week and having a lot of fun too.  Mallory was on her Fall Break from school at the beginning of the week.  She was out on Mon.-Wed. and then went back on Thursday.  Why in the world they were out on M-W instead of W-F?  I have no earthly idea!  I don't make the calendar, but it sure wouldn't have been my first choice.  Anyway, we are back to regular school schedule and I don't think I have ever been so glad to see a Thursday morning roll around as I was yesterday morning.  :)  Not that I didn't love having her home and spending some quality time with her...because I did....but I was a little tired of the screaming that she and Kennedy were doing at each other!  :)

Speaking of Mallory...she is so proud of her four loose teeth and one of them is really starting to wiggle around a lot. She thinks she is big stuff and keeps asking me if it is loose enough to pull yet.  I think it is so funny!  I can remember being like her and being so excited about having a loose tooth!  And I can remember being told all kinds of stories about how to get rid of that loose tooth...everything from tying a string around it...to yanking it out with pliers!  She has hit one of those milestones I guess....she is a BIG first grader now, is starting to lose her baby teeth, getting so tall, just growing up so fast and I am missing my little girl.  She is still a sweetheart and in my heart is still my little baby girl, but I know that before I know it she will be grown and gone.  She wanted me to take a picture of her tooth to show everyone and she wanted to type something on Mama's blog, but I told her I would take care of that part for her....so here it is.... her daddy can't stand to see her wiggling it...so she will just walk up to him and do it to get on his nerves and I just laugh because it doesn't bother me in the least.  I know it doesn't show up much here, but her top middle two and her bottom middle two are all loose and I tease her and tell her by Christmas she is going to be a snaggle tooth!  She always giggles when you tell her that and argues that she won't be!  What a cutie!

Since I started off talking about milestones, let me tell you about Kennedy and Parker and what milestones they are reaching in their young little lives...

Kennedy is something else...she is so sweet and loving, but so Kennedy and very much knows what she wants when she wants it!  She is three and well...she is just three....not terrible twos....not fantastic fours....just three.  She is in the middle between an older sister and a baby brother and she is three.  Did I tell you that she is three?  I know that someday Kennedy will be a leader!  She will be successful and well respected in whatever she chooses to do with her life.  She will be great!  Of course, with Kennedy being in the middle...sometimes she doesn't get the recognition that she deserves so she has to make herself known and she has successfully mastered the art of doing that...trust me on that...but the one thing that came to mind when I was trying to think of milestones in each child's life....immediately for Kennedy I thought about the fact that finally she is now the BIG sister.  Now she is the protector, she is the boss, she is the one in charge, she is the one looked up to and loved....all those great things that Mallory got to experience...she will too and I think that is just awesome for Kennedy.  Parker loves to play with her and smiles each time she talks with him and loves on him.  She kisses him and tells him that she loves him constantly and is just a great BIG sister!  Way to go BIG sis!

Now on to Parker...wow he has a lot of things that I could talk about!  I mean he is at an age where almost everyday he reaches a new milestone in his life....and it is so much fun.  It makes me sad in a way because I know that this is the last time I will experience all of this precious "baby stuff", but this is the way it is supposed to be and all parents go through it and I will make it too.  The most recent thing that my little man has started to do is roll over on his tummy and hold his head up and play on his belly.  He has gotten so good at it!  We find him on his tummy in the mornings, when we lay him on his play mat, on the living room floor, etc.  Now, he only rolls over once to his belly....he hasn't figured out how to keep rolling over and over and over yet, but I am sure that is coming soon.  He is so adorable and so good....he just rolls over and grabs at a toy and plays.  He is doing so much better at holding up his head and reaching and grabbing on to his toys too.  Here are a couple of pictures that show his progress.  Isn't he adorable?  I know, I know...I may be a little biased!

                                                                                           

I am sure that there are many more milestones that the kids will exhibit over the next few days, weeks, and months and I will do my best to update...but these are just a few that come to mind today.  Thanks for visiting and reading about three of the most precious things in my life!  Have a great day!

Funny....

Ok...so I didn't get around to posting like I wanted to last night...so I will get back to it this evening...but here is a little funny to amuse you...I thought it was cute....but not true....we would never really mean anything other than what we really say .... would we???  :)

The guide to wife translations:

The wife says: You want
The wife means: You want

The wife says: We need
The wife means: I want

The wife says: It's your decision
The wife means: The correct decision should be obvious

The wife says: Do what you want
The wife means: You'll pay for this later

The wife says: We need to talk
The wife means: I need to complain

The wife says: Sure... go ahead
The wife means: I don't want you to

The wife says: I'n not upset
The wife means: Of course I'm upset you moron

The wife says: You're ... so manly
The wife means: You need a shave and sweat a lot

The wife says: This kitchen is so inconvenient
The wife means: I want a new house.

The wife says: I want new curtains.
The wife means: Also carpeting, furniture, and wallpaper!

The wife says: I need wedding shoes.
The wife means: The other forty pairs are the wrong shade of white.

The wife says: Hang the picture there
The wife means: No, I mean hang it there!

The wife says: I heard a noise
The wife means: I noticed you were almost asleep.

The wife says: Do you love me?
The wife means: I'm going to ask for something expensive.

The wife says: How much do you love me?
The wife means: I did something today you're not going to like.

The wife says: I'll be ready in a minute.
The wife means: Kick off your shoes and take an hour nap.

The wife says: Am I fat?
The wife means: Tell me I'm beautiful.

The wife says: You have to learn to communicate.
The wife means: Just agree with me.

The wife says: Are you listening to me?
The wife means: [Too late, your doomed.]

The wife says: Yes
The wife means: No

The wife says: No
The wife means: No

The wife says: Maybe
The wife means: No

The wife says: I'm sorry
The wife means: You'll be sorry

The wife says: Do you like this recipe?
The wife means: You better get used to it

The wife says: All we're going to buy is a soap dish
The wife means: I'm coming back with enough to fill this place.

The wife says: Was that the baby?
The wife means: Get out of bed and walk him

The wife says: I'm not yelling!
The wife means: Yes I am! I think this is important!

In answer to the question "What's wrong?"

The wife says: The same old thing.
The wife means: Nothing.

The wife says: Nothing.
The wife means: Everything.

The wife says: Nothing, really.
The wife means: It's just that you're an idiot.

The wife says: I don't want to talk about it.
The wife means: I'm still building up steam.

Still here...just busy with my family...

Hopefully I will get on this computer late tonight and update a little bit to all of this weeks events...there has been a lot going on this week...some humorous stories...some stressful...some hectic...just a plethora of things going on in this family...fun times and just the way it should be...this is what keeps it interesting and keeps me going...be back later tonight with some stories and new pictures for you!

Apologies and Birthday wishes...

First, let me apologize for the site being so wacky today and tonight.  After I got home this evening I was working on it trying to get some graphics loaded up and trying to make it more user friendly and more pleasing to the eye....my dear husband was helping me with the color combos and what looked best....so we were playing rainbow games and for any of you that may have been looking at the website...you may have been wondering if your brain was playing tricks on you.  It was not!  :)  I just wanted to make this a site that wasn't too feminine so that my husband and the whole family could use it...plus, even though I love purple and bright colors....it was a little hard to read.  So are the colors better?  Does it still hurt your eyes?  Let me know what you think????  I still am trying to add some animated bullets to my lists and things tonight...but will work more on that after I post.

Now for the most important part of this post... :)

 Just wanted to wish my Uncle Tim a very happy birthday!  I am pretty sure that he will see this...in between his Euchre games...or whatever he is doing on the computer this late at night. Hope it has been a good one and there are many more to come...which is why Shane and I were talking about it and decided that probably at your age you needed to hand over the keys to that Mustang and start relying on this to get around from now on...it is stylish and hip...but still what a man your age would need to be comfortable and to not have to depend on your poor kids to get around.  I mean come on just look at how old...I mean great you would look sitting in this chair!  Even though you are old we still love you anyway!  Even Kennedy said today...I still love Tim even if he picks on me!  Hope it's been a Happy Birthday!  See you in about a week or so!

Are you as fed up as I am?

Although it has been happening for a long time...it just struck me this morning for some strange reason that I am sick to death of telemarketers calling my home.  I am tired of seeing unknown caller, out of area, or whatever else it is that I see listed on the caller ID about one hundred times a day.  Obviously, my attempt to be on the no call list did not work.  I did try though....so I found this list this morning and laughed so hard about it....and I just may try some of these in the near future.  It might be fun for them to get a taste of their own medicine!

Ways to Terrorize a Telemarketer

1. Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write EVERY WORD down.
2. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
3. Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their HOME phone number so you can call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their HOME number, you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree and you say, "Now you know how I feel!"
4. After the telemarketer gives their spiel, ask him/her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.
5. Tell the telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you a case of coke and a pizza.
6. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends... would you be my friend?"
8. Cry out in surprise, "Judy! Is that you?  Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of pause as she tries to figure out where in the world she could know you from.
9. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.
10. When they ask "How are you today?" Tell them! "I'm so glad you asked because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died..."

If you are sick of them too...try a few of these and let us know how they worked.  I am sure we would all get a good laugh from reading your stories about them.  Have a good day and enjoy!

And so it begins...

Now, before all you Bama fans start bashing me....just remember that my husband is part owner of this website....and also he is the one that emailed me this article this morning....so you can bash him!  I just thought it was funny...especially take a look at the author....:)

Isn't college football season great?  Roll Tide!!!!!!!!

BTW, for all of you who don't know....Bama plays Duke tomorrow evening at 6 pm....but of course it is on Pay Per View....sorry.

I love normal everyday life around our house...

You know our days and nights are pretty routine...I mean our schedule doesn't change that much.  We try to be consistent and structured.  The kids know what to expect and we pretty much stick to that...in other words we are pretty boring!  HA!  Yesterday I went to one of my most frequented places and bought this for the girls.  I can't believe that they have never seen it!  I think I watched it hundreds of times when I was growing up!  So anyway, I was determined to get them to watch it tonight.  I mean come on....it is a great movie!  So while we were eating our supper, we decided to sit down and watch the movie.  Soccer practice had been canceled, homework was done, baths had been given....so tonight we are going to sit down together and watch this oh so cute movie!  What was I thinking?  Did I forget that my girls are such big chickens?  One is almost in tears because of the sea witch and the other is saying "I am never going to watch this again!" and the whole time I am thinking it is going to be nightmare city in the Jewell household tonight.  Well it is now 11 PM and nobody has been out of bed or been screaming out yet, so maybe we are safe from any bad dreams. 

I know Parker is out like a light for the remainder or the evening.  Shane took him to the pediatrician this morning (just to be on the safe side...after our little episode earlier this year with him) I figured that he just had a nasty cold and pretty much that is what the doctor said.  Yucky nose, a little cough, watery eyes, but still a big cheesy grin everytime you smile at him.  That's my boy!  He is such a great baby!  We are truly enjoying every minute with him!  Anyway, back to my story....the doctor gave Shane some samples to help dry up all the (SNOT) I mean secretions!  This must be some strong stuff!  He is only taking a 1/2 teaspoon per dose and it just flat puts him to sleep.  This afternoon I kept going in to check on him and watch him to make sure he was still breathing.  I know, I know....but I am sure that I am not the only Mama to ever do that!

We got a good rain here tonight and I am glad because we needed it!  That is the main reason that we didn't have soccer practice and I am sure that it cooled things off outside too.  Tomorrow is Mallory's last day of school for awhile.  Next week she gets a mini-vacation with a fall break she will be off school on M-W.  I think we are going to try to go to a children's museum and the library and just hang out together a little bit.  She is in need of a short break.  I can tell the the newness is starting to wear off...last night she said, " Mama, can I just check out early tomorrow? "  I just chuckled under my breath and thought....ahhh....here we go!

I am working on a post for later with some really cool (or at least what I consider really cool) links that I have found tonight while searching on the world wide web.  There are some really interesting and informative sites out there that I have never seen nor heard of and I think they look like something that would be very helpful with scrapbooking and really just a variety of things.  Be looking for that information in the very near future!  The internet can be such a valuable tool and such fun too! I know this post tonight is long, but thanks for reading...just had a lot to tell about tonight.

More later on...and have a great night!

Working on .....

Well, I can answer that one with an astounding ... my prayer life.  There are many times when I really struggle with giving things over to God and with praying enough in good times and in bad times....in a nutshell...I just don't feel like I talk to God enough and I know I need to focus on it so much more.  That is a goal I have set for myself and I am working on daily.  Recently, some events have happened that have caused me to stop and pray and then wonder....why I don't take the time to stop and pray more often?  Do I spend enough time each day talking to God in prayer?  NO!  Do I set a good example for my children and encourage them to pray without ceasing?  Well, I try, but I think I could do better....and be a better example for them and others.  I don't know how many of you have a prayer list....we see one in our weekly bulletin from church each week and I see them in various other bulletins that we receive in the mail....so I decided that I am going to start one here too....feel free to add names or things that you would like people to pray for....you can be generic or specific....whatever you feel comfortable with....I know that prayer is powerful and when friends ask us to pray for them, I want to do just that and ask others to pray for them too...so will you help me?

Please pray for:

The Norris Family - for comfort, for understanding, for strength,

The Boyles Family - for patience, for faith that everything will be alright, for a quick resolution to the situation, for strength

These are two families that are friends of ours and that are on my mind right now....I will update this and add more names periodically and if I seem to get a good response I will just add a list in one of the columns that you can click on and see all the names that people have submitted....thanks for reading this and thanks for your participation if you are praying for these families...I know they would appreciate it!  :)

My thoughts and musings...

Good morning!  Let's see....has it been?  Yes, the sun is shining, I am blessed beyond measure, and I am alive and well.  It has been a busy morning around this house already and  it is only 9am.  Already, the garage door has been fixed, the cable company is on their way to see what the problem has been with our connection (and of course the internet and cable are running fine this morning), made several phone calls, cleaned up the kitchen and working on laundry....but now it is time for my time.  I do this almost every morning....at least I try to...sit down with my breakfast and a glass of tea  and read my email and look at some websites....

Today is also Ten on Tuesday....and you will find that at the bottom of this post.  I want you all to know that I am really enjoying writing to this website because it makes me think about things that I normally wouldn't think about and it makes me search my memory to record things that maybe I might not have written down without having a place to do so....all that I write for you to read is saved and I will look back at it and someday my children will probably look back at it and wonder, laugh, cry....who knows???  I was thinking about this last night when I was reading some emails....why do I write and record things?  why do I attempt to scrapbook?   Well, for my children... 

 Because I want them to understand how important family is and how lost you would be without people who love you. Because I want them to value friendships and relationships and treasure the moments that they share with their dear friends.  Because I want to teach them that every moment in time is significant and meaningful and not to let time pass you by too quickly....take advantage of every moment that you are given.  Because I want them to understand how much I love them and how special they are.  Because I want them to know where they come from and how they became who they are.  Because I want them to understand and love traditions and to carry them on with their children....oh there are so many reasons why I scrapbook and try to do things that will leave something for my children to look back at in later years...I just hope that someday it will all be meaningful to them too!

Now to switch gears a little....here is a little fun list for you today. 

 

Top Ten Things That Adults Learn From Kids:

1. There is no such thing as child-proofing your house.
2. A 3 years-old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
3. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh;" it's already too late.
4. Play-Doh and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.
5. Super glue is forever.
6. No matter how much Jello you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
7. You probably do not want to know what that odor is.
8. Always look in the oven before you turn it on.
9. Quiet does not necessarily mean don't worry.
10. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy. It will however make cats dizzy.

I got these from a website that I found the other day and I laughed till it hurt....mainly because I know my day is coming....and I will experience some of these.  There were lots of good, humorous things I found....I may do a few more in the next few days if you all like these.  Enjoy and have a good day!  :)

What I love about Fall...

There are a lot of things that I love about the fall season...cooler weather, changing leaves, caramel apples, Halloween, warm sweaters, football...I could name more.  However, the thing I dread the most that always seems to strike when I least expect it is the CRUD.  You know what I am talking about...that yucky nose, runny eyes, sore throat feeling that you don't go to bed with, but wake up with and it just seems to drag you down for the rest of the day.  I can deal with it....cold medicine and rest will help....but what I can't stand is when my little ones get it....because there is really nothing I can do for them.  Nothing really seems to comfort them and of course they are not happy about cold medicine being forced down their throats...so that is a battle.  That is the worst part of the season for me....but this too shall pass. 

Speaking of best and worst...I have a little quiz for you about this.  Take a look at it and post back with you answers....let's see what everyone has to say....and for all you scrapbookers out there...maybe it will help prompt an event that you want to scrapbook about.

Best & Worst

1. The age in life you've most enjoyed so far: 30
2. The age in life you disliked most so far: teenage years
3. The best day of the week: Friday and Sunday are my two favorites
4. The worst day of the week: Tuesdays
5. Your finest cooking accomplishment: My chili
6. Your worst cooking disaster:hmmm....nothing really bad...but have a lot to work on
7. The color that looks best on you: red, black, green
8. The color that looks worst on you: not sure
9. Your favorite movie of all time: Steel Magnolias and Cinderella
10. The worst movie ever made: Dumb and Dumber!!!!!

Can't wait to read everyone's answers to this post!

Hopefully I will get to log on this evening.  I am off to try and get a few things done around the house while my little man is sleeping.  He doesn't feel too well and I am trying to let him rest...however it isn't going to well this afternoon.  Lots of projects I want to complete this week and have a list a mile long of things I need to do...got to get on a better schedule and get more accomplished each day.

Have a great day and evening!  More later on...