Not A Significant Source...

The Dingbat Diaries...Revisited

2012-01-22T22:21:00.000-05:00

Somebody around here is determined to take his sister's place as Head Dingbat while she's away at college. I'm not naming any names, but he knows who he is, and he's been working overtime this weekend!

Recent conversation:

"Hey Mom, what day is it today?"

It's Sunday.

"No, I mean the number. What number...what date?"

It's the 22nd.

"How many days in January?"

You tell me.

"Umm, I don't know...28?"

Seriously?

"24??"

We need to have your head examined. Go look at the calendar in the kitchen and get back to me."

"OH! OK, 31. I was thinking about February with the whole 24 thing...OK, cause I was just gonna say, it's almost April Fool's Day."

Which is...in...APRIL...hence the name April Fool's Day...???

"Yep!"

Okaaaay.

And then, a loud crash as his brother, who was sweeping the kitchen floor, hit a light bulb in the ceiling fan with the broom and shattered it. The oldest one took the broom and swept the glass up so no one would step on a sliver. After that he reached his arm up and unscrewed the remaining end of the light bulb from the socket. The Head Dingbat in Training said...

"I'll grab another light bulb and the step ladder so you can put in a new one!"

Um...your brother was tall enough to reach the light bulb and REMOVE it from the ceiling fan, but he won't be tall enough to insert a new one??

Shaking my head and rolling my eyes. Maybe there's a lack of oxygen in the house that's causing this??

She wanted a change...

2012-01-21T12:38:00.000-05:00

Our curly blond college girl is now...a red head.

I think it looks amazing on her!

I'm so EXCITED!

2011-12-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

Today we met with an architect and discussed ideas for our new home! He's coming out to the property after Christmas to get a better grasp of what our site looks like, but it seems like he's right-on with what we want. He should have some preliminary sketches for us to look at soon.

NOW it finally feels like we're moving ahead. There's a light at the end of the tunnel! We may actually be living on our land soon instead of just visiting it!

I'm so excited!! This house...the one that we've been living in forever...it's been a wonderful house. But. It was built in 1974. There are good things and bad things about houses that were built in 1974.

Good things: large bedrooms, big sunny, eat-in kitchen, all bedrooms at the opposite end of the house from the "living" spaces so teenagers can stay up all night making noise without bothering parents.

Bad things: teeny, tiny bathrooms. I mean microscopic, one normal-sized person could just about sit on the toilet and brush their teeth at the sink while soaking their feet in the tub...that kind of bathrooms. That small. Three of them.

And I'm a little anxious. Because I really, really, really want a great big, old-fashioned, claw-footed, deep bathtub that isn't harvest gold in my new bathroom. But my hubby? He wants a giant shower we'll have to run around in to get wet. Preferably with multiple shower heads blasting water at us from every angle, and one that rains on our heads. Who wants to clean a shower the size of a garage?

And I'm somewhat apprehensive. We will definitely be downsizing at first. From five bedrooms to three. Which is fine since chances are we won't have all four kids living with us forever. But what the heck are we going to do with all this STUFF??

And I'm also just a bit sad...because that means this is probably our last Christmas in this house. Our kids have grown up here. It's been a good house. I can't picture someone else living in it. Some other kids sleeping in the bedrooms. Some other rotten dog barking in the back yard.

That will be weird!

OK, I'm off to take pictures of this house so we'll always remember what it was like our last Christmas here....

Here we go again...

2011-12-13T13:09:00.001-05:00

Three and a half years ago Darling Daughter had surgery to replace her completely ripped ACL with a piece of hamstring taken from the muscle in her leg. While he was digging around in there, the doctor cleaned up her meniscus as well. A few months (and a whole lotta physical therapy) later, she was released to "do whatever she wanted."

Let's just be clear...those are not really words that should ever be said to our daredevil daughter. You just never know what she's going to want to do...

Which is why I spent the morning in the orthopedist's office, dangling a sleepy four-month-old off one hip, as my now college-age girl explained how she first felt the snap, crackle, and POP in her left leg while POLE VAULTING and realized through volleyball,surfing, running track, and JIU JITSU that perhaps..just maybe...the fact that she can't get out of her bed in the morning without rotating her lower leg back into place could mean that something is WRONG with it.

If only I had a picture of the poor doctor's face when she casually mentioned pole vaulting.

And so, MRI in the next week and surgery to follow as soon as she's out of school for the summer. For now, she's no longer allowed to run. Or jump. Or to do anything that requires her leg to take a pounding. She is allowed to walk, bicycle, swim, and go to Spain...which means she's still moderately happy. As long as Spain isn't out, it's all good.

Say what?

2011-12-09T10:26:00.001-05:00

Our college girl is home for the Christmas holidays now, and she's been a huge help with Little Bit. Yesterday she fed him his afternoon bottle, played with him on the living room floor, got him into a giggling fit, and kept him occupied for an hour or so while I was busy in the kitchen getting dinner ready and baking cinnamon rolls for this morning's breakfast. (Umm, the cinnamon rolls didn't last that long...they were pretty much consumed before bed last night...but anyway...)

As it got later, Clayton became fussy. He's an awfully good baby, but by 5:30 or 6:00 pm he's sort of done with the charming smiles and adorable cooing and babbling for the day. And Darling Daughter is a tremendously talented babysitter and loves caring for kids, but she was nearing her wit's end and had run out of ideas when she brought the baby into the kitchen and handed him over to me, "Here, Mom, I don't know what else to do... I've fed him, burped him, changed him, bounced him, tickled him, played with him...I don't know what he wants, so he's all yours." With that, she turned on her heel and retreated happily to her room to facebook and itunes.

That's when one of the boys stuck his size 9 teenaged foot right in his mouth. He half-jokingly made the comment, "This is why 18 year olds should NOT have babies! They don't know what to do and it never works out well. Their kids probably won't turn out very well."

Spoken like a true smart a$$.

I couldn't help myself. I had to laugh!

Hubby turned around and said, "So that's what's wrong with the four of y'all?!!"

(Our oldest was born about a month before my nineteenth birthday...twenty-two wonderful years ago.)

The slightly obnoxious teenager quickly changed his tune, "Oh, uh, I mean, well, except NOT for you and Dad...because y'all are great parents and we uh...well, you're not too young cause you're in your forties now so...uh...and we sure are glad we don't have really OLD parents and all...yeah...ummm...SOME people would probably do a good job at any age! Like y'all! So...never mind!"

Well, OK then. I'm glad you cleared that up for us, dear.

I think we've done a pretty good job with the four we were given. Perhaps one of them could stand to broaden his mind a bit, but overall, they're terrific kids. Or young adults. Or whatever it is that they are now.

I'd like to add, though, that I am certainly NOT ready to become a grandma just yet, so I'm very glad that none of MY kids have had kids at eighteen...nor are any of them planning to reproduce in the near future.

I hope.

Give me five years, at least. Please?

Santa Baby

2011-12-07T21:47:00.001-05:00

Well, look, I realize it's been a while since I've posted regularly, but in my defense I do have a very good excuse. How could I be expected to type anything with this sweet little angel around?

I mean, it's actually a wonder we've been able to get any school done around here. All six of us are busy coaxing toothless grins out of a blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked four-month-old.

Can you blame us?

Look at this face!

Those cheeks just need to be kissed! Like every three and a half minutes between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:30 pm daily. By his favorite aunt.

That would be...me.

He's a multi-talented little boy, by the way.

He can roll over, gurgle, and make a six foot tall man babble like an idiot.

He also speaks whale as well as Dory, the fish from Finding Nemo.

So you see my dilemma. I couldn't possibly be expected to put that baby down long enough to blog.

Could I?

Besides, if I put him down, someone else will pick him up and steal my sugar!

I'm pretty much left with nap time to attend to other business...like Biology, Algebra, laundry, dishes, dinner, grading papers, ordering teenagers around, etc. But you don't blame me for neglecting the blog, right? You know you'd spend your time doing the same thing!

Spoiling that little one completely rotten.

First Christmas...

2011-12-02T19:34:00.001-05:00

The Christmas Star

May the Light that shone
from the Christmas Star
On that night so long ago
Fall on you this Christmas night
and set your face aglow.
May it shine from your eyes.
May it rest in your mind.
May it burn in your Spirit bright.
May the Peace it spoke to a weary world.
Bring joy to your heart tonight.

~Mary Garren

Alpha Dog?

2011-09-10T11:26:00.001-04:00

Lucy & Koda don't get along so well yet. I'm hoping that will improve over time, after all it's only been about three and a half weeks and relationships take time, right? Eventually, Lucy will welcome the big baby into the pack and he'll stop try to use her as a chew toy. They're just trying to determine the pecking order or something...that's why they snarl at each other all the time.

Right?

Lucy may run into the doggie door and hide from Koda for hours at a time (which leaves poor Koda quite puzzled and causes him to sit very still, staring at the doggie door, whining and cocking his head back & forth as he tries to comprehend the magic portal that transports his friend to places unknown) but she doesn't run away when it's dinner time! In fact, Lucy has taken control of the bowls and she won't let the puppy eat until she's had her fill.

Seriously.

It's hilarious to watch a delicate, ten pound Chiweenie sneer and growl her way to the dish, scaring the twenty-five pound goober of a Lab out of his puppy chow. I'm not sure she realizes that he'll soon be large enough to pick her up and hurl her over the fence.

Koda knows that she'll go away once she's had her fill, so he'll lie patiently for a bit. But occasionally it's just too hard to wait much longer and he tries to inch his way, ever-so-carefully, toward the food...

"If I keep it Low & Slow, maybe she won't notice me 'til I've stolen a bite!"

Almost there....

Ooops...she snapped at him again. Duck & cover! Poor Koda.

"Maybe if I sneak around from the other side..."

"I'll just ease my way on over..."

"And try a loud WHOOF!"

"Yep...she tucked that tail and ran to the magic portal!"

"Who's the big dog now?? Huh?"

She's baaaack!

2011-09-02T22:40:00.000-04:00

We picked up The College Girl this afternoon!

And ok, my mind is officially mush. My ears are officially ringing. My brain hurts. I don't think she stopped talking long enough to take two breaths all the way home. But it is SO GOOD to hear her voice and have her with us, and so nice to hear about her experiences, new friends, roomies, classes, basically, her NEW LIFE (insert bawling here) that we wouldn't mind if she talks 90 mph all weekend.

Her daddy and I had a little contest going on the way up this morning. I just knew that my Darling Daughter would come to me for the first hug. And of course Daddy knew his little girl would go straight to him. (Yeah right.) I warned him that he was going to get his feelings hurt. I mean, Daddy's cool and all, but I'M her MAMA! Puhleez.

I also laid down the law and told him he had better not be motioning, pointing, begging, dangling her favorite food, promising a shopping spree or waving money at her to get her to go to him over me.

And no calling out his nickname for her. We were only allowed to get out of the car and yell, "HEATHER!!" (Kind of like when Little Orphan Annie had to call Sandy in front of the dog catcher, huh?)

What I didn't tell him was that I'd already texted her and told her to come to my side of the car first!

Why yes, I am sneaky like that.

But she totally would have picked me anyway.

You know what else?

Her twins couldn't stop smiling to have their sister back.

Ryan hugged her about three million times on the drive home.

We're hoping that we'll get a chance to see her again at some point this weekend. She's made plans with all her friends and headed out the door an hour after we arrived back.

She seems to have gotten shorter over the last three weeks. Or it could be my imagination. She's seems thinner, too, but that could be theCheerios. She's pretty much existed on Honey Nut Cheerios for three weeks because she doesn't like the food up there.

She's a little calmer, a little more mature, a little more self-sufficient. She just seems to be so much more grown-up and young woman-ish than she did a few weeks ago.

Well...

Yeah, maybe not.

The "Replacement"

2011-09-01T21:10:00.002-04:00

Darling Daughter has left us and gone away to college, leaving a gaping, empty hole in her poor mother's heart. Not to mention there's no longer anyone to watch Dance Moms with me on Wednesday nights, no one willing to accompany me on walks around the neighborhood, and no one to swipe my stuff and make off with it.

I get lonely without someone to make snarky comments to during my favorite shows, you know what I mean? It just isn't the same watching Toddlers & Tiaras if there's no one beside you, squealing and howling with laughter at the hideous hair and bunny teeth.

Clearly, there was a spot in this household that needed filling.

So when my cousin mentioned on facebook that they'd found a small abandoned doggie that needed a home...well...we just couldn't say no.

OK, so my husband could easily have said no. As a matter of fact, he DID say no. Quite loudly. And he's said it quite often in the past few weeks, too. But this beautiful blond baby needed a family. My cousin had tried to find his original owner for weeks. They canvased the neighborhood with him, asked around, posted the pup on facebook, contacted the SPCA and local vets, but no one came forward. And since he showed up early one morning before daylight, whimpering at the garage door, covered in burrs, scratches, filth, and extremely hungry AND he was just a tiny baby, perhaps 8-9 weeks old at the time, AND well...look at these delighted faces:

Koda has lived with us for a few weeks now.

He's had his first round of puppy shots and a clean bill of health from the vet, whose best guess is that he's probably around 12 weeks old now.

She says he seems to be a yellow lab. (Well, duh, we figured that out ourselves.) He still has all his baby teeth. He also has a precious personality and he's really smart!

For example, he has already located every air conditioning vent in the house.

Those are his preferred napping spots.

He knows which toys belong to him, and how to look pitiful when he grabs someone else's toy for a quick nibble...such as Daddy's remote control, work boots, or laptop cord.

Lucy doesn't like Koda much right now, so Koda prefers to spend his time wherever his new family is hanging out. He enjoys napping at the kitchen desk while Ryan does his Biology work.

(Another AC vent is right behind his fuzzy butt.)

He walks well on his leash and likes to go for trips around the neighborhood in the morning and evening. He even motivated Ryan to go for walks with us! It's never boring with Koda along. There's always something needing to be sniffed or chewed.

He's good about watching my shows with me...he hates spray tans and big hair on two year olds almost as much as me.

He's learned several cool new tricks since his arrival, too! Like I said, he's very intelligent. Also, he's willing to do just about anything for a treat! So far he knows: Sit, Lie down, Shake (with both paws, no less!), Stand up, Go to your place, Come, and he's working on Roll over. He makes it onto his back and about two thirds of the way over before he stops and looks confused. But hey, we've only had him for a few weeks. (On the other hand, we've had Lucy for almost for years and she still only knows Sit, Shake, Down and Roll over. In that order. Specifically. In. That. Order. If you ask her to roll over before you ask her to shake, she's hopelessly lost. Poor thing.) I'm hoping Koda will be able to learn to vacuum and change the sheets on my bed once a week, but I know it'll take some time.

Did I tell you how much he loves to ride? He hasn't ever peed in our vehicles. Or pooped. Or puked in them either! (Guess who does that EVERY time she goes for a ride. I won't say her name here and cause her embarrassment, but I think you know.)

Another plus is that Koda isn't gun-shy. He's already been "hunting" and hasn't so much as flinched. He's pretty much housetrained, goes to sleep in our bathroom at 9:00pm every night and sleeps through till about 6 without a mess or an accident.

Now, if he could just learn not to bite our toes and chew on our knees, we'd be completely thrilled!

This is what happens...

2011-08-28T07:45:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when your daughter goes off to college and doesn't do laundry for weeks:

Donut Disaster

2011-08-27T09:15:00.001-04:00

We were feeling a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get so much as a drop of rain from an outer band of Hurricane Irene yesterday as she blew right by South Carolina. (We're praying for those who are in the direct path of the storm...hoping our family and friends in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey stay safe and damage-free!) We're storm-watchers here at the Source household, and we love nothing more than watching a Weather Channel Nut-job hang onto a pier piling, body horizontal, windbreaker flapping like a flag in the gusty gales as he screams into the microphone describing the hunks of debris whizzing past his head! Reality tv at its best, folks!

After grilling our bison steaks and five dollar rib-eyes (Earth Fare, $5.00 for 16 oz. this week with coupon!) the man of the house realized that we had nothing sweet in the house to snack on while watching the Weather Channel. Gasp! Man cannot lounge on the loveseat and watch meteorologists getting hammered by 100 mph winds and rogue waves without a cholesterol-laden hunk of sugar in hand!

Late night Krispy Kreme run!

The four of us hopped in the Tahoe (that would be me, the husband, Ryan and the puppy...the other twin decided to stay home and babysit his video games) and drove to town. I leaned over and placed our order into the speaker of the drive-up window. Couldn't really understand what the girl said back to me, but it sure sounded like, "Drive around." So I did. The Krispy Kreme girl opened the window and said, "Sorry, but I didn't understand your order." (This was about to become glaringly obvious. She. Did not. Understand.) I repeated, "We'd like six chocolate-covered crullers (for the husband with the bad cholesterol), four chocolate-covered, cream-filled (for the twins), and two glazed (mine! all mine!)

A few seconds later, another woman appeared at the window. "Can I take your order?" I explained that I'd just given it to the other girl. She politely asked me to repeat it to her, so I did.

A few seconds after that, a dude opened the window. "You gave somebody your order yet?" he asked. Um, no, I just thought I'd pile the family up in the car and come hang out at your window for a little Friday night fun. "Yes, I have already ordered, thanks."

The first girl came back, handed a box out the window to me, stuck a receipt in my hand, and shut the window in my face. Hmm. Thank you. Husband checked the donuts (because he always needs to ensure that a maximum amount of chocolate has been slopped all over his crullers or the world as we know it may come crashing to an end) and discovered that the cream-filled donuts were not, in fact, coated in chocolate. I had also noticed that the girl hadn't given me any receipt to sign. At this point, the man had come back to the window, so I explained this to him and handed the donuts back in. He found the girl, who protested that we HAD ordered our cream-filled without chocolate and that I had already signed the slip and she'd put it in the register. She also had a few ugly things to say about stupid people.

OK.

Krispy Kreme man handed her the box so she could go correct the order while he found our receipt, which wasn't signed, and we took care of that. She handed us the box back and mumbled something ugly again.

Since there were cars lined up behind us, (Krispy Kreme being the "in" hangout on Friday nights, apparently) we drove on around. Hubby opened the box and guess what? She had taken out all the chocolate-covered cruller and replaced them with plain ones.

Ugh!

At this point it was determined that a face-to-face explanation of the intricate donut order might be best. Hubby went inside. He patiently (no, really!) stated to the guy at the counter that we had ordered 6 chocolate-covered crullers, 4 chocolate-covered, cream-filled, and 2 glazed. Currently we had a box containing 6 chocolate-covered, cream-filled, 4 plain crullers, 2 glazed. The guy took the box and went to the back. The girl could be heard back there yelling, "What's his problem now?"

THIS time? Nope, still not right. Try it ONE. More. TIME. Please.

It ain't rocket science, people. It's donuts. You pick them up. You place them in a box. They're already sitting all neatly in rows that are labeled for you! A third grader could accomplish this task!

And while you're at it, you could keep your rude comments to yourself.

We never did end up with exactly the right order. Although we did get four extra donuts because they couldn't just keep throwing them away. Eventually, we made it back home. By this time, however, the show in the car was way better than the one on tv...Hurricane Irene had nothing on the hot air coming from my husband's ears & nose!

Krispy Kreme. Perhaps it would be best if you began screening your employees for basic intelligence? Have them sort shapes and colors during the interview? Play a game of Candy Land with them? Put pictures on the trays of donuts and on the order form so they could just match them up? Anything to make it a little less complicated.

A little sweetness to start your day

2011-08-24T08:40:00.001-04:00

Things that make you go...hmm?

2011-08-23T11:15:00.001-04:00

Our daughter has been off on her own experiencing college life for almost two weeks now.

Thanks to modern technology, (cell phone conversations, text messages, facebook, skype dates) her dad and I have the luxury and privilege (??) of keeping fairly updated on the daily events up there in the foothills of the Carolina mountains. This seemed, at first, to be a good thing. After all, we miss our baby girl and she misses her mommy and daddy. A cheerful morning text message before class, a quick bedtime skype, a peek at her facebook page to see what's up...being able to stay in constant contact is a huge plus. Right?

Yeah, not so much.

Because posts like this:

This was captioned, "This has to be the hardest program EVER!" Really, sweetie? Looks challenging!

Apparently this screen has something to do with college Chemistry?? Which has something to do with an online homework program. Which has something to do with an Apple, Banana, Potato game?? Which involves sorting veggies and fruits into their proper categories...which...uh...

Wait, what the heck does that have to do with Chemistry, please??

Never mind.

I'm not sure I want to know why a $24,000 a year education includes colorful sorting games.

And then there's this:

"Look, Mom! We're going to be EMT's on campus and work in the clinic and ride in the ambulance and rescue bleeding students from impending doom!"

Well, now, I'm all for getting an early start in your chosen career field. I have no problem whatsoever with working for your school, learning about exciting things in a hands-on kind of way, and giving something to your fellow students. Also, keeping busy keeps one out of trouble, usually.

Only, my ~~child~~ grown-up young lady calls me later to relay the details of EMT training...where she ran up the side of a mountain (ok, a small one) for half a mile carrying a backboard, splinted the "broken leg" of a "patient," plopped him on the backboard and carried him down the mountain. With the help of a few team members, naturally. She's a beast, to be sure, but she can't tote 165 pounds all by herself.

After their adventure, the kids were standing around, sweating, cooling off a bit. She set her Bobble water bottle (that is attached to her at all times) on the ground beside her foot for a minute.

It got crushed to smithereens!

Because the Gator (ATV-golf cart-looking vehicle) that RAN OVER HER FOOT also smashed her water bottle. Holy crap!

In her attempt to be ever-helpful, she posts things like, "Woke up with my knee popped out of joint, can't get it back in...lots of pain! How will I get to class?? Guess I'll call campus security!"

And this little gem, "Dirty, scraped, sweaty, tired. Best day EVER!"

Huh??

"On the top of the mountain, looking at cool graffiti!" at 10:30 pm, missy??

"Playing softball in the dorm!" Shouldn't you be studying?

And then there's the post she left on facebook last Friday evening that stated, "Headed downtown with Kayla, Timmy & Josh!"

Hold it just one minute, my dear. Who said you could go downtown this time of night? Aren't there rules about children traipsing around unattended on the city streets after dark? And who are Timmy & Josh?? I don't know these people, but those certainly sound like boy names to me. I am not familiar with any Timmy & Josh! I don't recall saying you could go anywhere with them! Did we tell you you could go off with boys? I'm telling your father!

And then, to send her mother straight over the brink into insanity, there was this:

Yes, a lovely photo taken from the front passenger seat of someone's car (I'll assume either Kayla, Timmy, or Josh!!) of billions of twinkling city lights.

No...take a closer look.

Those aren't city lights. Those are police lights!

Emergency-type, Code three, lights & sirens, something's-going-on kind of lights!

Never fear, folks. She was thoughtful enough to let us know...THE NEXT MORNING...that a political candidate (umm...Rick Perry, Ron Perry, Rick Paul, I don't know...) was giving a speech at the river park.

Why thank you, Darling Daughter, for clearing that up for us. Your aging parents. Who changed your diapers and wiped your little nose and rocked you to sleep and kissed your boo boos. Who are happy that you're living it up there at college. Who have gone bald and senile over the last two weeks because we don't get any sleep when you post photos of cops on riot duty at bedtime and don't say that you weren't lying in a ditch under a tractor-trailer or being smoke-bombed or held hostage or run over by a train!!

We will survive this. We may have to disconnect the internet, throw away the cell phones,and resort to writing letters, but we WILL survive.

I hope.

Excuse me, I need to go lie down on my air conditioning vent with my teddy bear and my new puppy now.

Addition and Subtraction.

2011-08-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

Or maybe I should have entitled this post "Borrowing and Carrying?"

As in, we subracted one daughter and added one...well...

We carried the girl to school and we're borrowing a new...

Never mind.

On August 11, we packed up our dear, sweet Darling Daughter and moved her to her new home.

College.

As you can see, she was a huge help in getting the car loaded.

She held her desk chair in place so it wouldn't roll away.

Dad and Daniel (our extra son) piled all of her stuff into the Tahoe early in the morning.

We weren't actually sure it was all going to fit with enough room left over for the humans that were traveling with us...her grandma and best friend went along for the big "Good Bye!" Luckily, we had borrowed one of those big luggage thingies that go on top of the car...we were able to get all seven of her pillows in there!

Unfortunately, we forgot to remove the luggage carrier before attempting to pull into our garage when we got back home that night and ummm...well, then top of the luggage carrier and the siding above the garage?

Yeah, they took a hit.

Oh well.

We arrived in town and checked out the falls.

Had some dinner, walked around...

caught a very interesting Mickey Mouse-shaped cloud in the sunset...

petted a humongous snake on the street downtown...

and ventured back to the hotel where we made the Grandma sleep on the floor!

Not really!! Not really!

Actually she slept in the tub!

Just kidding.

She chose to sleep on a blow-up mattress by herself rather than take her chances getting kicked and smacked by Heather all night long. And she didn't really sleep hunched up like that, either.

She was picking with us.

The next morning, we were up at 5:30 am because...well, because it takes the girls for EVER to get ready. We had to be at the school for check-in at 8:30 and it was about a 30 minute ride from the hotel, so we knew we'd better get an early start!

We still arrived 15 minutes late.

Oh well.

Check out the gorgeous view of the football stadium from her dorm!

Worship service in the chapel with all parents, family, and freshmen students. I'll tell you all about it later, but THIS is where I began to cry. And cry. And cry some more.

I mean, when the president of a University gets on his knees in front of an entire room full of people and prays for his students, it's moving to say the least.

So, then we got her room unpacked. It's a fairly large room, as dorms go. The walls are a little rough, though, so nothing we brought would stick, and we weren't able to decorate. However, we did go and grab some heavy-duty velcro tape, and I think that worked.

One last photo with the BFF.

One last hug from daddy...

And then...we headed back home...without our only little girl!

I mean, our big, grown-up college girl!

A few days later...we added a new member to the family.

This spoiled rotten monster here:

Meet Koda.

Sweet, Snoozing, Snuggly Sleepyhead

2011-08-03T21:17:00.001-04:00

Passed-out, precious, pint-sized pooh-bear.

Contented, college-bound cousin cuddling charming cherub.

Delightful, delicate, diminutive dozing dumpling.

Lovable, lazing little lamb.

Tired, tiny, tender treasure.

Adult son in awe of adorable, armful of angel.

We all enjoyed our afternoon spoiling the newest addition, little Clayton, while his mama caught up on some much-needed rest. The twins had never been around a baby this small and were absolutely enthralled!

Todd? A bit nervous at first, but then admiring his teeny toes and fingernails. He was happy to hold his small cousin until he uh...he did what babies do shortly after they've eaten a few ounces.

Heather? A natural. She had that diaper changed and the baby wrapped up like a burrito, rocking and cooing at him before I could blink.

And then...well...we had to give him back. Mommy missed her little fella.

But next time she's running on empty, we're right around the corner, and baby snuggles?

They're welcome any time!

Fifty-five Days

2011-07-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

I realize it's been quite a while since I've posted.

I have my reasons.

The most important reason being that we have a limited number of days with Darling Daughter before dropping her off at school in August.

And another reason: this is probably one of the few remaining summers we'll get with ALL four of our offspring living under one roof.

We're savoring every moment.

So, blogging will most likely resume regularly after we've taken our girlie up to school.

And, you know, once I've come back home as the lone female in a house occupied only by hairy, testosterone-filled, calorie-consuming, muscle-building, yard-working, truck-driving, music-blaring, sweaty, growing, Swamp People-watching, big-footed men.

And Lucy.

The dog.

And after I've finished sniveling and whining long enough to form somewhat coherent sentences again.

In the meantime, why don't you enjoy some snapshots of life in the past 55 days since Darling Daughter graduated from high school:

We ran into the Gour Clan in our Wal-Mart just before we left for the beach the first time. Heather got to meet Asher for the first time. And also get some hugs from her favorite Charleston girls, Isabel and Claire!

We kidnapped the Gour twins and took them with us to Hilton Head.

(I'm not even going to tell you what these teenagers were doing out on the beach at 2am. Some things are best left unsaid. Besides, we all have those moments our parents don't need to know about...right?!)

The kids rented a surf board for a day and some of them got pretty darn good at it!

(Hilton Head isn't really known for its huge waves...you have to wait until a storm blows through. That's why we rent boards when there's a chance of anything worth riding!)

We played some seriously intense games of Kubb on the beach in the evenings!

My team, The Singing Walruses won once or twice.

The boys, Ryan & Zach, left on their first ever mission trip (without Mom, Dad, or either older sibling!) as soon as we returned from our first beach trip. As you can see, they were absolutely thrilled beyond words to be traveling five hours away from their family for a week. I don't mind telling you that as their mom, I felt even worse about it. I think I drove my poor hubby out of his mind the week leading up to it. I mean, I know they're almost 14 and all, but these are my BABIES. You understand? The tiny 3 pound, helpless infants who need their MOMMY!

I felt much better after some heavy prayer.

And also when Hubby grabbed me by the face, popped a Xanax in my mouth and clamped my face shut.

Needless to say, they survived, and so did I.

They went to Tabor City, North Carolina with World Changers. Zach's crew painted houses. Ryan's made wheelchair ramps for two different homes.

Imagine my delight when Ryan phoned the first evening to tell me he was having a crisis and needed my help.

Luckily it was only girl trouble.

The next heart-attack occurred when he called me the following night to report that he'd been using a power saw. Huh. And here I thought he'd be wielding nothing more deadly than a paint brush.

He came home with all appendages still firmly attached.

Thank you, Lord!

Back to the beach (again...who can get enough beach? Not me!) for the week of the Fourth.

Mush fishing. Not by me, but by the men-folk who enjoy spending large amounts of time on such things.

He's proud of that one...but you should see the one that "got away!"

So here's the thing about Hilton Head.

When the life guards rent these sailboats, they typically spend about 2 and a half minutes on a safety-use-of-sailboat type presentation and then they send unsuspecting people out into the ocean.

And usually, the people sort of float, drift, dangle, mess around with the sails, then somehow end up way down the beach and waft up onto shore. My step-dad and the kids ended up "rescuing" multiple families and couples (and giving them rides) by offering to show them what to do and help them back up shore.

And then we rented one for ourselves.

Since Step-dad sold his a few years ago, the kids are all bigger now and really missed sailing!

Zach and GF went parasailing.

An exciting adventure for the guys who aren't so much into slimy fish guts.

Should I even need to mention that Todd is a bit weird?

This summer, our brave rescue hero took a ropes course and also played a victim in a bridge rescue rappelling exercise. He's handy that way. He applied for a job as a real officer of the law, too. And then turned it down because he has two more semesters of school.

He escorted three (not one, but three) beautiful blond ladies to dinner several nights during our vacation.

But this is HIS lady. (His sister & her bestie don't count.)

Oh, and there's a new Grand-dog in the family. One of the cousins has adopted a fluffy new creature.

He's kind of huge already. He hasn't been introduced to Lucy. He's probably bigger than she is. I know his feet are bigger than my daughter's!

Ok, almost!

Amid travels, we have also been collecting things for the Dorm Room. This isn't all of it. And it isn't all she needs, either. Apparently moving into a dorm equates to starting up a whole new household.

Who knew?

A couple more beach shots...Daddy & his girl in matching Salty Dog shirts.

My twins and Gour twins in the pool.

Mid-July brought a baby shower for our youngest sister!

(Those are my sisters Mendy & Rachel and that's me on the right.)

And then...finally...the highlight of this summer:

Little Clayton arrived!

And now Darling Daughter definitely doesn't want to go away to college when there are baby snuggles to be had...and their just a couple of blocks down the road!

And who can blame her? Look at that sweet face!

I may be slightly biased, but he is undeniably the most adorable newborn I've ever seen in person.

My kids were all kind of odd looking for a few months. Scraggly, scrawny, bald, wrinkled, blotchy. Clayton's got perfect pink skin...flawless. Little rolls on his legs. A head full of fluffy hair.

Those baby noises! And that baby scent!

Just think! We get to hold him and spoil him and coo over him and rock him and ooh and aah over him...

and then give him back!

So that's it.

For now.

I'll return in mid-August and you can help me work through my emptying nest!

Class of 2011

2011-06-03T11:17:00.002-04:00

"I've heard it said that people come into our lives

For a reason,

Bringing something we must learn,

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them,

And we help them in return.

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true.

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you.

It well may be,

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime...

So let me say before we part...

So much of me

Is made from what I've learned from you,

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart.

And now whatever way our stories end,

I know you have re-written mine...

By being my friend.

Like a comet pulled from orbit

As it passes the sun.

Like a stream that meets a boulder

Halfway through the wood,

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But, because I knew you...

I have been changed...for good!"

Congratulations, Darling Daughter

The Class of 2011!

Go get 'em, Mustangs!

** Lyrics from Wicked, the Musical**

Slow it DOWN, please.

2011-06-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

Way back, like maybe thirteen years ago, when I was a stay-at-home-mom with four much smaller children, I remember thinking (as I was pulling my hair out by the roots) that when my children got older life would settle down. I distinctly recall looking at my four precious babies...my red-headed, freckle-faced eight year old ball player, my energetic, curly-topped blond four year old girl, and my itty-bitty teeny, tiny twins not yet a year old...and knowing that some day things wouldn't be so chaotic. Because they would grow up some and it would get easier.

And then, maybe six years ago, I remember looking around in bewilderment wondering why it life had only gotten more nerve-wracking and it seemed I got even less accomplished because certainly it wasn't all that difficult to manage kids at 15, 11 and 7? Only I had become a stay-in-the-car mom by that point, shuffling them around to and from three different schools, between all their activities, helping with homework, picking up stuff for projects, washing football practice clothes and tying shoes for smaller ones and packing bookbags and lunches and no...it wasn't getting simpler. Maybe in a few years. By then, a couple of them would be driving and they could help with errands and practices and take themselves to school. By then, they would be nearing the end of their formative years. They would be almost grown. Who was I kidding?

Here we are, at the end of Number Two's senior year and guess what? Things are just as hectic...maybe even more so...than they were when I had four babies who depended on me for their very existence. One comes and goes at all hours because he works full-time and goes to school full-time and his job is dangerous and school is rigorous. Burning ceilings fall on his head. People get violent when they're being arrested. He needs to eat and wash clothes whenever he can...which might just be 2 am sometimes. The next one? She went to college while she finished high school. She volunteered three days a week at one place, one day a week at another, earned her blue belt in jiu jitsu, managed to make good grades, apply to college, write for scholarships, babysit for spending money, and now...baccalaureate, awards day, end of year banquets, senior breakfast, field day, college orientation day, a dorm room to furnish, vacations to pack for, books to buy...

In the midst of all that, we homeschooled two 7th graders because homeschooling should be less stressful, right? Ha ha ha! Planning, lessons, grading, reading, checking, rechecking, editing, ugh), planted a large garden, moved in an extra college kid for seven months, attended co-op group and PE classes, went on field trips, read through about a third of the Bible, joined an archery group, learned lines for the school play, and bought twenty acres which we'll be building on as soon as life settles down a little...

But it doesn't look like that's going to happen after all. The settling down part, I mean. Oh, it's easier to deal with four kids who are 21, 17 and 13. It's nice to be able to send them to the store to pick up a hose for the pool or bring something for dinner. I love that they all do laundry and help with the house and yard. I love that they're responsible and maturing every day. It just seems like life keeps going faster and faster. The boys grew about 5 inches when I wasn't looking. Their voices are changing. Our daughter turned into a young woman. Our oldest is a man. We're getting OLD! I don't know when we're going to find a spare minute to just BE.

But it better be soon, because if they keep getting older this quickly, we'll be grandparents before we know what's hit us and then of course we'll be ruined. Because who could slow down when there's little ones to snuggle?

Just not yet!

Ok, I'm finished rambling, I think. I'll leave you with a lovely picture from the reception after Darling Daughter's baccalaureate service in May. See what I mean? Young lady. In heels. Help me.

From left to right:

DD's BFF The Blond Band Leader, Miss Yearbook Editor, Darling Daughter, The Salutatorian, The Future American Idol, and The VWANCS.

Do your kids do this?

2011-05-31T16:55:00.000-04:00

Do your children walk up to you and start jabbering away about something when you're clearly not paying attention to them? Because maybe you're right in the middle of trying to read an article or you're concentrating on the news or making dinner while on the phone and you had your mind completely on that task so when the child (ok, teenager, there are no children here...so they should definitely know better, right??) anyway, the point is when the kid stands by your shoulder just out of eyeball range and yammers away at you and then goes, "So can I?" you have absolutely no clue what the heck they just said and what it is they want to know because you were busy and your forty year old mind doesn't work quite as quickly as it once did and if you've told them once you've told them a million times please make sure you actually have my attention otherwise you're wasting your breath and driving me insane it's like mosquitoes buzzing in my ears....

Or is it just me??

It happens every day. One of them approaches from behind holding a take-out container of egg rolls and fried rice and begins, "Mom, do you think I could heat up this leftover Chinese food for lunch cause we're out of turkey for sandwiches and I wonder if it's still good since we had Chinese on Thursday, and how long would you warm it for? Can I have another Coke cause someone drank all the tea and I don't want water?"

"Mom?"

"Mom, how long?"

"Mom...thirty seconds? Yes? No? Coke? Helloooo??" Shaking styrofoam box in my face...

Startled out of my stupor by the smell of week-old Chinese food...Huh? What? Did you want something? Were you talking to me?

"I just asked you a question. Weren't you listening?"

Did I look like I was listening to you? I have earbuds in my ears for heaven's sake! I was typing away a mile a minute here. Instant messaging. Facebook. Very important stuff. What gave you the impression that I was aware you were speaking to me? Was it the way I wasn't looking at you? The way I didn't even know you were in the room? No I wasn't listening to you, Only Person On Earth. How can I help you??

"Never mind."

I keep telling them...please...just tap me on the shoulder. Lean over and look me in the eye. Grab me by the neck and give me a good shake. Scream in my ear. Anything. Don't just stand there assuming I'm focused on your every word because most likely...if you're mumbling behind me...I have no idea.

How hard is it to get in your mom's face and yell, "EXCUSE ME?? GOT A SECOND, LADY??"

A little courtesy, please?

2011-05-30T11:32:00.000-04:00

Friday was Darling Daughter's last day of high school. Well, her last day of 13 years of public school education. OK, so technically Friday wasn't actually a "school day" for her since the Seniors were finished once they either too or exempted their exams earlier in the week and she only had to take one. Friday was supposed to be "graduation practice." I don't know what they have to practice...I'm pretty sure all of the kids know how to walk, and how to sit, and how to shake hands. It seems fairly simple to me.

Apparently what they don't know is how to sit quietly and listen when school administrators are trying to speak to them, though, so they ended up wasting a grand total of 3 and a half hours standing in a crowded gymnasium while their teachers lectured them. Now they get to practice graduation again on Wednesday.

Fun.

A highlight of Darling Daughter's fun-filled Friday morning included having her name called out in front of the Senior class and being informed that she owed "fees" and therefore she wouldn't be getting her diploma this Thursday unless those fees weren't taken care of immediately. She texted me with a frantic message asking if I could come up to the school and pay 85 dollars plus 17.95. Right away!

Um. No. I don't think so. They waited until the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL to tell my daughter that she owed over a hundred dollars and she'd better pay it now or she won't graduate? What about a note, email, phone call, certified letter or any attempt at communication at all letting us know that we hadn't paid something?? First of all, $85.00 happens to be the exact amount of Senior registration fees that had to be paid before she recieved her schedule last summer. I know these fees were paid because I wrote the check and I mailed the check and she was handed a schedule in July. Secondly, the school never hands out report cards without pitching a fit about fees that are owed. She's gotten every report card this year. And third...I have the canceled check in my possession. Someone deposited the $85.00.

So I called the school. The very friendly bookkeeper (no really, she was...) told me that she had no idea which fees Darling Daughter owed because she didn't "have the list" of kids owing fees. The Senior Class Advisor/Teacher had the list out in the gym so that she could yell out the names of those non-paying juvenile deliquents to everyone. (OK, she didn't say exactly that...she was polite but clueless and asked me to call her back later.)

I texted DD and asked if the Senior Advisor could let her know what fees she owed. She went and asked. The teacher told her no...she didn't have any knowlegde of which fees...she only had a list of who owed.

Huh?? So obviously there's some sort of a list of kids who owe, and there's some sort of a list of what they owe...but no list of who AND what they owe all together on one sheet some place?

I was so confused.

I called the bookkeeper back a few hours later. She informed me (very nicely) that she still didn't have the magic list, but she saw on her computer that Darling Daughter owed her registration fees ($85.00) and she owed $17.95 as well, but the bookkeeper didn't know what that money was for. It could be a late library book or a lost textbook or a Senior class fee for something...there was no notation.

Imagine!

Darling Daughter only had two textbooks this year. She already turned them both in. She had been by the library the previous week and taken care of her $3.10 fine. The bookkeeper decided that since no one knows what the $17.95 is for, perhaps she could just delete that and concentrate on the registration fees. Sounds like a plan to me...because you know, apparently anyone can sit at the school's computer and enter random amounts for kids to pay without reason. I mentioned that I had in my possession the canceled check showing that someone from the school deposited our $85.00 back in July. She told me to send her a copy of both sides and she would take it off of DD's account. I asked her to send me a receipt marking it paid in full. She said no problem. Happy ending. Smiles all around.

Not.

Darling Daughter drove straight to the school. The (always rude) school secretary told her the bookkeeper had left to make deposits and she couldn't see her and would have to come back later. Darling Daughter said "I really need to make sure she gets this, so I guess I'll just wait for her to come back." She took a seat. She chatted with a boy who was also in the office. Moments later the principal's secretary came out from the back, scowled at her and asked, "Are you the young lady who refuses to leave?" Looking around and seeing no other young ladies in the waiting room, DD answered...Ummm...well, yes ma'am I guess that's me. "Well, what is your problem?" My mom wanted me to show this canceled check for me registration fees to the bookeeper so that she can see we paid them. She told me not to come back home without a receipt. I'm just waiting for her to get back.

The principal's secretary got an attitude and told her that "We can't be writing receipts for things that have already been paid previously!"

Hello? What the heck are receipts for then??

She wrote me a nasty note on the page with the printed copy of the canceled check telling me that she would "look into it" later.

Yes, but graduation is Thursday and if the school is so incompetent that they can't mark fees paid from 9 months ago, how is this supposed to reassure me??

She told Darling Daughter to go home now. The secretary sat behind her desk smirking at her.

I just don't get it. Power tripping adults who have nothing more satisfying in their lives that to be mean to as many teenagers as possible each day? Have they no other pleasures in life? Probably not. Being a secretary at a public high school for dozens of years cannot be all that fulfilling, I guess.

Anyway, after treating DD hatefully and sending her home without any proof of payment...well...her daddy got involved.

Needless to say both of the secretary's were all sweetness and kindness when he walked in. Butter wouldn't melt in their tight-lipped mouths. The principal's secretary went back and brought out the record book...and made the startling discovery that Darling Daughter owed NOTHING to the school in the first place. All balances were ZERO. No registrations fees...those had been marked paid in July. Stunning! No $17.95 random fees. Nothing. Then she handed my hubby a RECEIPT (Gasp! for money that had already been paid!) and thanked him for coming to take care of the matter.

No one yelled at him for sitting and waiting. In fact, no one made him wait in the first place. No one accused him of anything. No one talked rudely. No one made him feel confronted or wrong or out of place. No. That's reserved specially for teenagers. Because they wouldn't dare treat a grown man that way. Only a 17 year old.

Luckily, the Hubby mentioned as he left how thrilled he is that after Thursday we will never have to deal with them again. Our boys will NEVER go to school there. If I die a horrible death before they finish their education, they will just have to be adopted by another homeschooling family until they complete high school. I don't want them to have to experience people who consider themselves bothered and annoyed to deal with teenagers. Instead, they can interact with actual human beings who treat kids kindly and teach them how to handle conflict in a calm and polite manner. Thank you Lord, for a wonderful support system!

Teens and Driving

2011-05-28T09:04:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Darling Daughter and I visited this sweet, smiling face:

Mac and Darling daughter cheered competitively together for a few years. There's no one sweeter or more adorable that that pint-sized blond. (And I do mean pint-sized...she's a teeny little thing!)

Only, this time, instead of seeing Little Mac tumbling across the cheer floor or yelling atop a pyramid on the sidelines of a ball game, we saw her in the hospital. Her beautiful face, stitched up by a plastic surgeon, peeked out above a child-sized neck brace. Her tiny 15 year old body barely rumples the bedsheets, she's so small in that huge bed. She was propped up on pillows, covered in a fluffy purple blanket, clutching her cell phone & stuffed moneky, surrounded by her friends. Justin Bieber posters decorate the walls of her hospital room. Flowers, candy, thousands of balloons, and gifts are everywhere.

On Thursday afternoon Mac was sitting in the back seat of a friend's SUV, riding home after a bite to eat. In an instant, the young driver lost control of the vehicle, over-corrected, and hit a tree. The handsome 17 year old boy sitting next to Mac was killed. The other four passengers (besides Mac) were not badly injured...just shaken and scared and terribly sad.

Please warn your teenagers to be careful every time they get behind the wheel. If they are driving, they should ensure that their friends wear their seat belts or get out of their car. They should remember that driving is a dangerous business and other drivers aren't necessarily watching out for them. Always be alert. Always be safe. Always minimize distractions.

That cell phone call or bag of french fries can wait a few more minutes.

If they're riding with someone else, don't be a distraction.

Don't bounce around, don't yell, don't reach in front of the driver. They're responsible for your safety when you're in their car, so you be responsible for your behavior.

There is no indication that these kids were doing anything wrong. The driver wasn't under any kind of influence (alcohol or drugs) and there isn't any evidence that she was texting or not paying attention. She was simply inexperienced. She may have misjudged her turn or driven too fast. It just happened.

But I'm still sitting mine down and reminding them one more time...they always need to be vigilant about safety whenever they're in a vehicle. Whether they're driving or riding.

Little Mac...we're praying for a speedy recovery! We're so thankful you're going to be ok. We hope your dazzling smile is lighting up the sidelines at the football games again real soon! We're praying for your friends and their families, too.

Just a little miracle...

2011-05-24T21:48:00.000-04:00

Congratulations, Seth, on graduating from kindergarten tonight!

Oh, and for WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE!!

There may have been a hundred kids getting diplomas this evening, but rest assured all eyes were on YOU and your huge grin as you proudly made your grand exit to thunderous applause!

You are living proof that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. We're so happy for you, little man! Never let anyone or anything stand in your way!

In His Hands

2011-05-19T15:52:00.001-04:00

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." ~ Psalm 84:11

Last night, as I went to bed and waited for the melatonin to kick in so I could drop off to sleep, I prayed that God would erase the worries from my mind. Darling Daughter has had her heart set on a particular college since she was in the 8th grade, and while she was accepted and she did receive scholarship money from the school...it just wasn't quite enough. It's a small private university and it's fairly expensive and well, we just weren't sure where the rest of her money was going to come from. I mean, sure, we have a couple of twins we could put up for offer on Craig*list, but I kind of like those boys. Plus, I'm not positive we'd get enough out of them to make up the difference. "Please, Lord...show us what to do. Her dream is right in front of her. Surely You didn't dangle this carrot in front of her only to yank it away?"

"Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." ~ Psalm 37:4-5

This morning, Darling Daughter mentioned that she'd been praying last night, too. "God, just help me be truly thankful for what I do have and not to question what I don't. Help me to be proud of my friends and excited for them. Make me content with Your plans, however they turn out."

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:19

Sometimes...He just blows us away! Here we were...all set to send off her application for student loans...and this morning...she went to Senior Awards Day needing several thousand dollars...

She walked away with MORE THAN ENOUGH!

We were all in tears. He has provided. In His perfect timing, and in His prefect way. We had no idea. She was so stunned that she almost didn't get out of her seat and walk to the front to accept her award. She was sure there was another student with a very similar name that had won it. Not her.

Congratulations to our beautiful daughter. She was awarded the Mustangs of Merit, American Citizenship Award, and the Principal's Award, the President's Volunteer Service Award, the Nestle's Best in Youth Honorable Mention, and Advocate of the Year in addition to completing a double major in English and World Languages on her diploma, earning Cum Laude status as a Honor Graduate, and winning a grand total of nine scholarships in all (four straight from the college and the rest from the community.)

I guess now I know why God only gave us one daughter. There couldn't be another as special as this one!

Keep your eyes on God, baby girl, and keep all your trust in Him. God has had His hand on you since before you were born. He's got so much planned for you.

We are so proud of her and thankful for all He's provided. Tomorrow? Off to register for her classes and tour the school! Next week, exams. And June 2nd...graduation!

Future Farmers...we need a name!

2011-05-18T17:00:00.001-04:00

As of earlier this week, this:

is the entrance gate to our new dirt road...or well, I guess just really, really long driveway will do.

And this:

is the new yard. Or part of it, anyway. It's going to be a really big yard.

And this:

is the stall where a horse or a donkey or a teenager could possibly go.

And this:

is where a possible tree house/fort/or something could go. Or maybe a nice park bench underneath?

And this:

is part of the new back yard.

Because we just bought right at 20 acres and as soon as we pitch a tent, sell our house, gather up our worldly belongings and haul them over...we'll be moving!

We may have to drag the Oldest with us kicking and screaming, but we're moving. He's somewhat unhappy about it, but we're moving. He never wants to leave his bedroom, never wants to drive down a different street to come home, never wants to leave his friends, never wants things to change, but...we're moving. May have to ask the new owners if they'd mind renting him the man cave out back for a while. Being a creature of extreme habit, he's just slightly less than thrilled about all of it. But he'll live. I mean, he is twenty-one years old. It's not like we're making him change schools. Plus, you know, he has two trucks...he could just drive ten minutes and see his buddies. Or come stare at the house.

Or, I don't know, find an apartment or something.

Just kidding, son. You never have to leave your family.

The rest of us?

Well, the hubby is on cloud nine making plans. Plus, he'll be much closer to work, so if gas continues to rise he can just walk. (Not.) The twins are excitedly contemplating the necessity of a four wheeler, a zip line through the trees, tents in the woods, and hours of target practice or exploring. Darling Daughter? Well, she won't be around much anyway, so she doesn't care one way or another. As long as she has a place to lay her curly head when she does come home, she's happy. Lucy will love the room to roam...as long as she stays away from the slobbering, snarling Rottweiler on the neighbor's land.

And me? Well, believe it or not, I'm planning on getting some chickens. That's right. There's a chicken coop already on the property and I want to raise some egg-laying, bug-eating fowl. I've got a fourteen year old chicken expert on retainer. She's promised to help me through the learning process.

I'll keep you posted as we make progress toward moving. But for now...we need a name for our new place.

Got any ideas??

The Dingbat Diaries, Forrest Gump edition

2011-05-17T15:55:00.000-04:00

Forrest Gump:

"Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them."

Poor Forrest Gump's mama. She was all by herself, raising a child with learning issues, looking out for his best interests and seeing that he got a decent education. I'd say she did a pretty good job of it, considering how things turned out for Forrest in the end.

I don't know how she did it.

It's a mystery and a wonder to me how Mrs. Gump didn't go stark raving mad while Forrest was a kid.

I've mentioned here before that one of our twins takes things very literally. And make no mistake about it. When I say literally, I do mean very, very, VERY literally. There have been times in the past when we've told him to "Go get in the shower" and well...yeah, that's just exactly what he did. He got in the shower.

And then he got out again.

He has been known to brush his teeth without using toothpaste because he wasn't told to put any on the brush. He's taken the dinner dishes off the table right out from under our noses when asked to clear the table. He's carried the dog around for an hour because we told him to "Bring Lucy in, please" but we didn't tell him what to do with her once he did. We didn't specify that all he had to do was open the doggie door to allow her access to her laundry room retreat.

Now, he doesn't do these things to be obnoxious. Really. He's the sweetest, most helpful child out of the four we've raised. He isn't trying to get on anyone's nerves or get out of doing a job. In fact, Ryan always does just as he is told. He always obeys. He just...well, he just processes things a little differently, that's all.

We've learned to deal with it over the years, and usually we make certain that either A: our directions are crystal clear or B: he understands what we're saying even though we didn't spell it out for him. We're trying to help him develop some sort of common sense. I mean, after all he is a really smart kid, independent and motivated and capable of getting his school work done without assistance.

But sometimes? Well, I admit that as loveable as he is, it's a little annoying when I tell him "Go to bed!" and he does go to bed but then he just sits on it and watched tv for hours. Because I didn't say "Go to sleep."

Other times it's not annoying, it's just downright hilarious!

Take today, for example. Hubby asked him to cut the grass in the front yard and told him he could use the riding mower rather than the push one. That is a pretty big deal because Ryan's been mowing the yards for a couple of years now, but has never used the riding mower without direct adult (Dad) supervision standing right there watching every move and ready to sprint to the rescue in case of danger! Previously, he's only used the push mower all alone. But today, seeing as how he's almost 14, he finally graduated to Unsupervised Riding Mower Privileges. Oh yes. He did.

Well, temporarily, anyway.

Cause uh...well...Dad told him not to move the blade. (Meaning, don't adjust the level any higher or lower.)

So he didn't.

He didn't bother the blade at all. Nope. Didn't touch it. Just as he was told.

He didn't even engage the blade. So, all that time he spent riding in neat little circles, round & round the yard, carefully turning and keeping in nice rows...he didn't cut so much as one single blade of grass.

But BOY was he proud!

Poor ~~Forrest~~ Ryan. If only Dad had done like Forrest's Mama did and explained things a little more clearly.

Love Never Fails

2011-05-10T08:27:00.002-04:00

Meet Jack:

Jack is a farmer and a widower with one daughter.

Jack is down on his luck because it's 1932...the Great Depression has hit, and Jack's farm isn't doing so well.

Dust Bowl, you know.

Jack tends to nip at the corn liquor too much.

He keeps a tight reign on his young daughter, Mattie.

He loses his temper a lot.

Jack will soon be accused of breaking into the town store and stealing a pair of shoes.

Poor Jack.

Poor Mattie.

Meet Calvin:

Calvin was a wealthy businessman until the stock market crashed.

He has a snooty wife (Victoria) and a stuck-up daughter (Penelope).

He doesn't have much money these days, but he is easily persuaded to do without his lemonade so that the ladies in his life can have lovely new dresses for the town 4th of July picnic.

Underneath that proper manner, he's got a kind heart, that Calvin.

Penelope isn't very nice to the other girls in town...especially Mattie.

She points out that although Mattie has recently become a Christian, finding religion doesn't raise her station in life. Mattie's still just the poor, shoeless daughter of a drunk.

This is the dress-rehearsal for the big town picnic.

You may notice that the blue checkered table cloth is missing.

That's how I know it's just the dress rehearsal.

Mrs. Whitney, the wife of the owner of the General Store, sits with the town children at the picnic.

It may seem like they're just enjoying a game of jacks...but they're not!

Actually, they're keeping an eye on these two dear old sisters who are plotting to "borrow" the recipe for Mrs. Whitney's prize-winning apple pie! They're tired of Mrs. Whitney winning the blue ribbon every year.

Eventually, the sisters sneak off with Mrs. Whitney's PIE and try to recreate her recipe.

But once they taste it, they determine that they don't really like it much any way!

All that work for nothing!

Ol' Jack stopped in at Whitney's store for some supplies one day.

He met Ed, the town banker's grandson.

Jack wasn't too impressed with Ed.

Jack didn't think too much of wasting time in college when a man could be earning his living tilling up the land.

Jack didn't take to kindly to his daughter Mattie falling in love with fancy, high-falutin' Mr. Ed.

In fact, he downright forbid her to go to the 4th of July picnic with Ed.

Poor Mattie!

Mean ol' Jack!

As you will learn, though, Jack is a pretty good judge of character.

And he does love his daughter, even though he doesn't show it well.

Please take note of that slimy-looking mustache on Ed's face.

Makes him look sneaky, doesn't it?

Little does Jack know, Mattie's in love with Ed.

She thinks he's dreamy.

She sings about him.

She gets butterflies in her stomach every time she sees him.

Unfortunately, Penelope ends up getting a date with Ed to the picnic.

Since Mattie wasn't allowed to go.

And you know, since Mattie's poor and shoeless and all.

Mrs. Whitney sympathized with Mattie's aching heart.

She told Mattie to keep doing what was right...listen to her father even though she may not agree.

Be kind and don't hold any bitterness toward Penelope.

Uh oh! Jack showed up at Whitney's store past closing time one evening!

He'd been swigging from that liquor bottle again, and he was in a bad mood.

Also, he was wearing brand new shoes!

Now where would Jack get the money for brand new shoes??

Everybody knows he won't even buy his daughter an old pair of shoes!

Jack spends all his money on whiskey.

After stumbling around and yelling at Mrs. Whitney about minding her own business, Jack leaves.

The next day, most of the town is convinced that Jack is the one who's been breaking into stores.

Well, it certainly seems that way.

Only Mr. & Mrs. Whitney stick up for ol' Jack.

After all, everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt.

He may be an alcoholic, but he's never been a thief!

And guess what?

Turns out, they were right!

Jack didn't steal from the townsfolk.

ED, the banker's GRANDSON did!!

Shocking, I know!!

Because his daughter was loving and respectful even when he wasn't an ideal dad...and because Mr. & Mrs. Whitney were loyal friends, never turning their backs on him in his time of need, ol' Jack apologized for his unsavory behavior and turned away from the bottle. In the end, Mr. Whitney prayed with Jack and Jack turned over a new leaf, accepting Jesus as his Savior.

The town was elated!

And Ed? Ed went to jail.

Penelope didn't have a date to the picnic after all. She decided to skip the festivities and sulk at home instead. But Mattie went and found her and asked her to come anyway.

Sweet Mattie. Always doing the right thing.

Everyone showed up at the picnic and had a wonderful time!

Because Love Never Fails.

(That's the name of the play...)

The End.

Our homeschool co-op's drama class presented their end-of-year musical last Saturday night.

The cast did an amazing job.

Their directors were so patient!

It ain't easy getting a group of teenagers to put aside their anxieties and get up on stage to sing & dance & act & forget about the audience or what people might think of them!

Congratulations kids!

Meant to Be

2011-05-04T10:14:00.001-04:00

I hope my children always know that they aren't on this earth by random chance.

I hope each one of them understands and never forgets that they didn't just "happen." They aren't just blobs of flesh & tissue, they are beautiful human souls with a purpose.

I hope they live each day with joy, knowing that their lives have meaning and their Creator loves them dearly.

I hope YOU know it, too.

Here are the lyrics to the song above...it's beautiful!

Long Before You Drew Your First Breath

A Dream Was Coming True
God Wanted to Give A Gift To The World
So He Wrapped It Up In You

Every Step That You’ve Taken
Every Move That You Make
Is Part Of His Plan

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be

Long Before You Took Your First Fall
You stumbled to the ground God started telling the story of you to the angels around

Every failure and victory
Everything in between
Its all in His hand

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

For every breath that your taking

And every move that you make
It's a meaningful life you've been given
Live it well

Happy Easter

2011-04-23T22:35:00.000-04:00

Because we only have ONE of our four children at home to wake up with us on Easter morning this year...which means that I won't be getting any gorgeous Easter morning pictures of my sweet family.

And because the Teenager Formerly Known as Pip Squeak thinks he's doomed to be short all his life and doesn't think he's grown any in the last few years...

I dug up an old photograph from three Easters ago.

May I present, our 14 year old Darling Daughter and the 10 year old twins of terror.

March 2008

The twin in horizontal stripes is now 5'5" and clomps around with feet the size of his dad's.

The tiny fellow in glasses is just about an inch shorter than his older sister and has the voice of a man.

Pip...I don't know what we should call you now, but Pip Squeak just doesn't fit right anymore.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Cravings? Or Aversions

2011-04-23T13:55:00.000-04:00

First, a little business:

** Momster, Hezra, Lorrie, and Heather ~ Your copies of Outlander are on the way to you even as I type! Leave me a comment and let me know they arrived! **

**Patty ~ I have one reserved for you, but need an address in order to mail it. Please drop me an email at fourmonsters (at) yahoo (dot) com and I'll get it mailed to you first thing Monday!

I was just reading Lindsay's post about pregnancy cravings over at Suburban Turmoil. I'm amazed at some of the freaky things woman want to eat just because they're expecting. I mean, ok, there was a serious risk that Darling Daughter would be born with a caramel & nougat center, packed with peanuts and coated in chocolate, but there's really nothing odd about craving Snickers candy bars, is there? With the twins, it was Baskin Robbins peanut butter & chocolate ice cream. Are you seeing a trend here? I've always been addicted to anything with peanut butter, chocolate, or peanut butter and chocolate. It's a serious problem. I blame my parents. This is where I ramble on about nothing for an entire paragraph...

You see, when my sister and I were small, they took us out for ice cream after gymnastics practice sometimes. Back in the 70's and early 80's, Baskin Robbins used to have a "Flavor of the Month" contest and they'd feature some pretty off-the-wall stuff for a few weeks at a time. Well, peanut butter & chocolate was a Flavor of the Month. Luckily, it hung on for quite a while, and although I seem to remember my sister bravely trying new flavors from time to time, I never did. From first lick, it has always been PB & C for me. Anyway, at some point, the people at Baskin Robbins warned my parents that they were discontinuing that creamy, delicious, heavenly flavor! In order to save me from certain instant death, they bought a freezer full. Humongous cartons filled our basement freezer for months and we were thrilled beyond belief. My poor unsuspecting parents fed my addiction as surely as if they have been handing over cigarettes. I may be able to drive past an ice cream shop without a backward glance, but just let me walk in the door of an ice cream shop and I react like a recovering smoker without a nicotine patch! I gotta have a scoop!

By the way, thirty years later, Baskin Robbin still sells PB & C ice cream. And I...have rarely eaten another flavor. Oh, I may taste something else on a tiny pink spoon, but I am a creature of habit and I cannot refuse a chance to consume what I know I will love!

Now, back to the pregnancy thing: While I had a few cravings while carrying my kids, I tended to go through several months of extreme vomiting with every gestational period. Every. Pregnancy. Got. Worse. I ended up losing more weight than I gained with my twins. Pregnancy puking was bad enough to out me in the hospital. It was the worst thing I had EVER gone through. Nothing like a stomach virus or a bad meal. Every waking moment was torture.

And once something comes back up a few times, you just don't want to eat it again. EVER.

So, instead of odd cravings, I developed aversions.

April is the month when I first became pregnant. Twenty-two years ago, I had a brand new life growing in my belly. I was going to be a Mommy! My carefree days were over!

So were my days of Eggo waffles. And creamed corn. And big breakfasts from Huddle House with scrambled eggs, sausage, and grits. (My poor hubby still has nightmares about that night!) I haven't eaten a meatball sub in more than two decades.

What is it about pregnancy hormones that imprints things so strongly in our minds?

Because while I have worked up the courage to allow my kids to purchase and try Eggos...I cannot even stand to smell them! Still. After 22 years. Not that it's necessary to my ability to function in life, but...

Did you have cravings? Or aversions? Did you eat happily throughout your pregnancy? Or did you experience hospital stays with IV fluids or did you enjoy your heightened senses and pig out?

Special Olympics

2011-04-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

If you've never been to a Special Olympics in your area, let me show you what you're missing:

Making new friends.

Marching in the opening parade.

Remember Seth? He had spinal surgery about a year and a half ago...

This is Seth participating in the football throw. Look at how straight he's standing!

This is Blake, a sweet friend from church, and his buddy

(Darling Daughter's friend the VWANCS.)

Running the obstacle course together.

Blake burning up the track, leaving the others in his dust!

Her new friend from swim team.

Blue ribbon Blake and the sheriff.

Teens Times Three

2011-04-16T22:52:00.000-04:00

I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but as I write this, I'm sitting here all alone, in a blessedly silent house on a Saturday evening. With a Hershey's bar and a spoonful of peanut butter, a good book, and my best buddy Lucy.

Because...the Hubby is working night shift. The Oldest is working a 24 hour shift. Darling Daughter was invited to a friend's Sweet 16 party.

And the twins?

Those precious little babies?

The ones who can be counted on to keep their mom company and drive their mom nuts on a weekend night?

Yeah, they abandoned their mother.

They actually got spiffed up, combed and cologned, jumped into the car with their sister and headed out to PARTAY.

I don't know who told them they could go.

I don't know who told them they could stay out till 11:00pm.

I'm not sure who said they were old enough to even GO to a Sweet 16 party.

I'm still trying to figure out why they aren't sitting in the living room floor watching Star Wars the Clone Wars and shooting each other with Nerf guns.

I've got a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with the invitation handed to them by a pretty young lady at Co-op. And the mention of music and dancing. And the words "plenty of food!"

Yep. That's all it took. The promise of female company and some snacks! They ran outta this house like it was on fire! And left me sitting here wondering...when did they get so grown up? When did I become the mother of an adult and three teenagers?? When did they stop looking like little boys? When did they start caring about how they smell?

And when did they get so tall??

Fantastic First Grade Alliteration Attempts

2011-04-15T12:14:00.002-04:00

Darling Daughter has been observing and assisting in a first grade classroom for weeks now as a part of her Teacher Cadet program. Do I need to mention that she's fallen head-over-heels for all of those little ones? She loves working with children.

Probably because she's a big kid herself.

Anyway, this was the week that she had to design and present her first lesson plan, complete with identified state standards and goals...and with her own teacher and the first grade teacher evaluating her as she took complete control of the class.

For about 30 minutes.

The lesson she designed was on alliteration. The children needed to learn about alliteration so that they could include some examples of it in the "research papers" they'll be working on. I was not aware that first graders did research papers. Apparently I'm seriously behind the times.

She brought home the papers (I think she'll keep them as part of her portfolio or something) and I had to share them with y'all because they did an amazing job. These papers are priceless.

And who couldn't use some adorableness on a Friday afternoon?

I will even translate for you, too. You're welcome!

Kaidyn's kitten kicked a kid.

(Notice it also says "I love Heather!" and the kitten is literally saying, "I'm going to kick you." Hilarious!)

McKenna's mighty monkey made magnificent music.

(I'm not sure why McKenna's face is green??)

Rambunctious Ricky ran a race in the rain.

(He put arrows to show the direction of the track.)

Harrison's hair is HOT!

( I wondered about Harrison and his hot hair...is he trying to pick up little girls already with his cool 'do? Thankfully, no, he had just returned from recess. )

Everett's pet elephant laid an Easter egg.

(Love the elephant's nose...and the brightly colored egg he's pooping out...)

Likable Lauren licked a little lemon lollipop.

(They circle the words they don't know how to spell and the teacher either has the kids look them up or she spells the word correctly for them later. I found it interesting that Likable Lauren's lemon lollipop is black...?? I wasn't expecting that!)

Gabriela got a good girl goat.

(Which is way better than a bad boy goat.)

Samantha said, "I see snowflakes."

(Samantha spelled everything right...except her name. She has very nice handwriting, don't you think?)

It wouldn't do for me to teach a room full of kids.

I would never be able to throw anything away and pretty soon I'd be drowning in cute little papers!

Outlander Giveaway!

2011-04-12T21:33:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, a package arrived on my front porch Monday morning with an unfamiliar return address. I had no idea who it was from.

But it was such a pleasant and unexpected surprise!

Because when I finally got around to opening the box, I discovered:

BOOKS!

Eleven of them, to be exact.

Ten 20th anniversary, paperback editions of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon...to give away!

And one hardback copy of Diana's newest book, a graphic novel called The Exile. (For me!)

Why, you may ask, did this box of books make me so happy?

Well, let me explain.

I discovered Outlander when it was first published, way back in 1991. Yes,that was twenty long years ago when my oldest child, Todd, was just a toddler. (Todd, the toddler, ha ha.) I picked up the paperback version of the novel one afternoon while I was pushing my little red-headed baby boy around a Houston mall. I chose it because it was really thick, because it was set in Scotland, and because the main male character had red hair.

I mean, let's be honest here, how often do you come across a hero with red hair??

Not all that often.

Well, since I had a handsome red-headed young husband, had never been to Scotland (still haven't), and needed a serious diversion (a long novel to get lost in while my child napped) I purchased the book.

And fell in love.

Now Outlander is not your average novel. It's a historical novel, but not stuffy or boring. It's romantic, but not a "bodice-ripper." It's fast-paced. It's interesting. The author has a wonderful way with words. You just have to experience it for yourself. Jamie and Claire are likable characters. You can help wanting to hear more about their lives.

I've recommended Outlander too many times to count over the past twenty years and I'm proud to say that I'm personally responsible for dozens of converts. In all these years only one person (Hi mom!) hasn't liked it. (Which was weird since we usually have pretty similar tastes in reading material. I figure she must have some deep-seated issues concerning tall men or red-heads or something...)

Anyway.

Here we are in 2011, and now there are seven books about these characters lives and adventures. They just keep on getting better. I own a hardback copy of every one, and I can't count how many times I've read them through. Can we just say that most of them are worn out. In fact, a few of them are sort of falling apart. Sadly, I loaned my first edition, hardback copy of Outlander to a horrible person last year and will most likely never see it again. Sigh.

The eighth novel is due out...umm...well, I don't really know when, but I can definitely wait.

Yes, I said I CAN WAIT.

Because this is potentially the last book about these beloved characters and I don't know if I can stand it if she writes about either of their deaths. Well...they've been a part of my life for 20 years, so you know...

You don't know?

Would you like to?

Because I have some copies to give away.

Five of them, actually.

If you're one of the first five to leave me a comment telling me which is YOUR all-time favorite book, I will mail a copy of Outlander to you. You can keep it for yourself, or share it with someone else.

But only if you live in the US.

That shouldn't be a problem since five people rarely comment here.

Seriously, I get the traffic, I get no comments. I have no clue...

Thank you, Random House, for sending me such a terrific surprise!

Random House sent ten copies of Outlander to me for the purpose of giving them away to friends.
My opinion of Diana Gabaldon's works were not solicited in any way, nor was I compensated for giving writing about them. No one asked me to review the books or comment on them.
I fell in love with Diana's novels twenty years ago and have been raving about them ever since.

Marvelous, Magnificent Monday Morning!

2011-04-11T17:14:00.000-04:00

The Source Family observed Spring Break last week, since Darling Daughter's high school was on break and the dreaded, traffic-snarling, restaurant-clogging Golf Tournament of nightmares was in town. We didn't go out of town or do anything extra special, (unless you count middle-of-the-night runs to Krispy Kreme for hot doughnuts). We didn't go anywhere especially warm and sunny (unless you count the front yard). We didn't have any stunning experiences (unless you count the buckets of blood we cleaned from my mom's bathroom floor...courtesy of a tournament guest who apparently burst an artery while staying in her house...that was pretty stunning).

We just thoroughly enjoyed being together and doing a whole lot of nothing. Even though we didn't go on a fabulous vacation, though, a week off sure left us less than enthusiastic about returning to school work and finishing up our year. We were dragging this morning.

The mail carrier came early, though, and left a lovely brown box on my doorstep. When I sent Thing One out to check the mailbox he came in with the box, grinning. (We love packages around here. We get excited over little stuff, you know.) He wanted to know if I'd won the little lamp I was bidding for on eBay, but no. I wasn't expecting anything at all. I thought...maybe Hubby had ordered another cooking contraption or the Oldest had ordered another blinding, blinking light for his truck.

But no.

The box was for ME!

It had my name on it! Me, me, me, me, me, ME! (Sing that like the Conga song.) I hadn't even ordered anything. I did a happy dance and quoted Elle Woods from Legally Blond when she finds her name on the list of interns for the law firm.

I yelled "ME!"

I told you, we get excited over little things...

I didn't recognize the return address, either, but since both my parents AND my mom-in-law had been out of town for over a week, I thought maybe they had sent us something. You never can tell.

Anyway...I didn't open the box right away. I wanted to prolong the suspense. Because when am I going to get another suspicious, surprise, unexpected package again? I mean, it's been 40 years so far and this is pretty much the first one. I may not live long enough to see the next one...just sayin'.

Besides, we had school to do.

And also I like to torture my boys. They were half crazed with curiosity.

Ok, so was I.

I didn't make them wait long.

After lunch, I grabbed some scissors and slowly slit the packing tape...

And I peeled back the edges of the box...

Then I carefully pulled away the layers of bubble wrap...

And gasped!!

Really?? For me!??!!

Just for ME!! ALL FOR ME??

Tomorrow, I'll show you what was in the box.

And then, I'll share it with you!

Nothing ruins a beautiful morning...

2011-04-06T08:49:00.000-04:00

I made a a fabulous dinner last night. Chicken alfredo with my special homemade sauce...it's been known to make a station full of firefighters sing in ecstasy...it's that good!

After our meal, the kids (are they still kids? Three teenagers and a young adult?) cleaned the kitchen. And htey did an excellent job. They cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher, swept the floor, wiped the counters, even hand-washed the pots and pans.

When I went to bed, my kitchen was sparkling.

Don't you LOVE waking up to a clean kitchen? Isn't there just something cheerful and satisfying about starting the day off fresh??

Can you imagine my disgust when I walked into the kitchen this morning to find garlic bread crumbs strewn all over the counters. (Yes, they were strewn. I thought maybe they were flung. Or even scattered. Littered maybe. But after further investigation, no, they were actually strewn. It was that bad.) Anyway, back to my rant...gralic bread crumbs strewn across the counters. A plate, which had previously held my son's dinner (because he wasn't home when we ate) was resting amid the crumbs...alfredo sauce glopped (It was glopped, I checked.) onto the counter and all the noodles missing. Empty plastic containers tumbled out of the cabinet above the dishwasher and into the floor. Plastic wrap oozed (It definitely ozzed) out of its box and into the mess.

I was shocked.

Well, not really. It's happened before. And no, it wasn't my children.

It was my forty-four year old husband. Making something to take for his lunch at work. He always claims that he was in way too big of a hurry to bother cleaning up behind himself, but I know the real problem.

He just doesn't care.

He obviously assumes that I wake up every morning wishing there was something...some random, menial grunt-work kind of task that I could tackel right away...just to prove my self worth. Some way that I could justify my place in this world. Some job that I could do in order to make up for the oxygen I waste on a daily basis.

And since he cares so much, and wants to be sure I feel needed...he leaves his underwear wherever he walks out of them. He leaves his wet towel on the foot of the bed that I'm still in! He leaves the hanger from his work uniform in the floor so that I can step on it and get my foot tangled in it and trip. He leaves beard trimmings and toothpaste in the sink just for me! He leaves the closet doors open and he always slams the door when he leaves.

He's so thoughtful!

But the absolute BEST thing that he does?

The way that I know he loves me beyond all reason?

The way he leaves behind utter destruction in my kitchen at least twice a week.

I'm going to show my appreciation right back to him. I'll make a special effort this week!

I will not be washing his underpants or socks. I'm going to hide the clean towels, too. His beard trimmer will be going on vacation. I may even hide his toothbrush...after I scrub the bathtub with it.

And he can find his own dinner, too. If he's smart, he'll eat it outside before he comes into my house!

Dear Hubby,
I know that you love me, and I want you to know that I love you, too. I need you to understand, though, that I love you much differently than I do my children. I was SUPPOSED to clean up behind them...when they were small. You'll notice I don't do it much any more?? That's because they're all BIG boys and girls now. And you? You moved out of Mommy's house long, long ago, dear. Mommy doesn't come here and wipe up your messes. Your magic clean-up fairy hasn't shown up lately, either. I think she's on strike.

We are rapidly approaching retirement years, honey. If you really do plan to live happily on many acres with me forever and ever...and not reside in a concrete box by yourself six feet UNDER the acres....I strongly suggest you know off the Humongous Toddler on a Rampage Act. I'm tired of it! I do not like finding your messes. I'll be waking you up a little earlier than your alarm clock will...just so you can have a few extra minutes to make things right!

Love,
Your WIFE...not your MAID!

In Honor of DWTS tonight...

2011-04-04T15:59:00.000-04:00

And the fact that Ralph Macchio appearing on DWTS actually made me think, "Hey! I should totally make the twins read The Outsiders and then write a paper on it...

I dragged (drug?) out the junior high scrapbook and scanned a few pages of Teenaged-Dream straight from the yellowed pages of Tiger Beat magazine, 1983.

Sigh...

My twelve year old heart used to skip a few beats at the sight of those brown eyes.

What is UP with that scarf, though?? The wardrobe people couldn't do any better than that?

I don't remember him being quite so bony.

Or having so much hair.

I do, however, recall thinking that he needed some braces on his teeth.

Not that they interfered with his smile at all.

He's SO going to win Dancing With the Stars!

Unless Kirstie Alley does.

But she better not.

Who was your favorite crush when you were a kid?

Cause I have pictures of Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, & C. Thomas Howell, too.

Poor Patrick.

Whatever happened to Ponyboy, by the way??

GA Aquarium...YOU should GO!

2011-04-03T12:50:00.003-04:00

On April Fool's Day, the boys and I woke early (well, 7:30 am is early for them these days) and had a quick breakfast. We packed up our things for a day trip...including iPod, Nintendo DS, literature books, the module 14 science test, and last year's Swimming Creatures science textbook.

Also, a list of questions and my camera.

We climbed into the Tahoe and hit the road...bound for Atlanta...and we were excited!

The following six images were not taken by me.

They are property of Georgia Aquarium and are used here with permission and with huge thanks!

Because we had been invited to a sneak preview of AT&T's Dolphin Tales, a brand new show at the Georgia Aquarium! The show officially opened to the public on Saturday, April 2, but aquarium members and bloggers were invited to check it out the day before.

Yes, it was a school day.

Why do you ask? I mentioned that we took our literature and science with us, right? Besides...field trip!!
We visited the aquarium last year, but beach lovers like us can never get enough of ocean life.

When we arrived at the aquarium, we were shown into the dolphin gallery where we got to talk with staff members, animal trainers, and marine biologists. I'm sorry that we didn't get names; they were so patient and friendly! The boys cornered a biologist and riddled him with questions about dolphin care, conservation, behavior in captivity vs. natural habitat, lifespan, family groups...you name it. The doctor was very open and interested in talking with the boys, answering their questions and asking them some as well. The aquarium? Very homeschool friendly, by the way. They offer some really cool programs for homeschoolers from preschool through high school. We absolutely plan on checking them out in the fall, since we love an education-friendly place to go.

But back to the questions:

Where did the dolphins at Georgia Aquarium come from? Were they captured or raised in captivity? There are eleven dolphins currently at GA Aquarium. Most of the dolphins come from other facilities around the world and all but one were born under human care. Only one dolphin comes from open ocean watersShe didn't come to GA Aquarium from the ocean. (Info on the GA Aquarium's website, if you're interested in knowing more about her story.)

Do dolphins tend to have longer lifespans in the wild or in capivity? Dolphins typically live longer under human care (plus or minus four years longer according to the biologist we spoke to). This is because they're monitored for illness and injuries, nutrition and well-being, stress, adequate stimualtion and exercise. Also because there are no dolphin predators swimming in their habitats in the aquarium.

How does the aquarium try to simulate the dolphins' natural environment? The dolpins have adequate room to swim, jump and exercise in 5 different pools totalling over a millions gallons of water and 84,000 square feet. Their pools are between 25 and 30 feet deep and include places to play and explore, hide, scratch and rub their backs against rocky areas as they would in the ocean.

Are all of the dolphins cooperative or are some of them stubborn? Do they have favorite trainers or favorite playmates among themselves? Each of the dolphins has a unique personality. Some of them are more playful and some are more mischievous. Some have bonded more strongly to their trainers than others. Some have bonded strongly with each other...made "friends." Interestingly, the doctor says that the younger dolphins tend to want to hang around with each other. They're more energetic, it seems. Kind of like human kids prefer to hang with each other, rather than with old folks!

Since dolphins are conscious breathers (they have to keep surfacing in order to breathe, even while sleeping) how can a trainer or caretaker tell if the dolphins are asleep? Their habits vary, but some dolphins sleep by floating near the surface and closing one eye. Others rest on the bottom and surface occasionally for a breath.

Now, about the show. It was spectacular! There is a story line about Star-Spinner, an ancient sailor whose ship was sunk by sea monsters and rescued by the dolphins. There's beautiful music orchestrated just for the show. There are dazzling lights, dramatic scenes, special effects involving storms and rain showers and "lightning" and thunder.

And then...there are the dolphins!

The dolphins are stunning!

They leap and twirl and flip and swish through the water like silver bullets!

They toss their trainers up into the air!

They interact with the audience, waving and gesturing.

Every child in that arena was enthralled!

(OK, the adults were impressed, too!)

There was laughter, applause, ooohs and ahhs, gasps of delight...

All pictures from this point ^ UP ^ are from the information pack given to us by the GA Aquarium. I did not take these photos, and I am using them here with permission. All images above belong to the aquarium.

We want to go back again!

The boys? Want to be marine biologists or animal trainers when they grow up.
No surprise that they wished they never had to leave. If they could have jumped in, swam away, and follwed a trainer after the show, I'm pretty sure they would have offered to stay and clean the tanks for the chance to see the dolphins in action again.

They want to swim with dolphins, now. I'm sure I'll never hear the end of it.

They want to learn more about dolphin conservation and care.
And they are all geared up to take Marine Biology in high school...
but we have to make it through Biology I, first!

The aquarium is a wonderful place for children (and adults) to learn more about ocean life and how we can take steps to ensure these animals have clean and safe environments to live in.
They're also active in the rescue and rehabilitation of animals that are stranded, stressed, or injured due to weather, accidents, or natural disasters.

Here are some of our photos from the trip...

Inside the Oceans Ballroom before the show...

The belugas were there this time! They're gorgeous!

Having a snack.

Mantas are ENORMOUS...in case you wondered.

Hammerhead!!

Grouper...very ugly yet tasty.

Ryan showing us a ray.

Seahorses.

Moon jellies!

Whale shark and umm...lotsa fish!

Touching the little rays and sharks.

Manta!

OK, every time this creature swam by, I heard "Oh, knowledge exploring is oh so lyrical, when you think thoughts that are empirical!" Yes, I have watched Finding Nemo one too many times.

This is where all the swimming creatures bring their little ones on field trips...the people tube!

Look at all the different kinds of human beings!

Dinner at The Varisty. Chelsea, just so you know...I totally ate a chilli slaw dog for supper. It was the first hot dog I've eaten in almost two years. It was absolutely delicious! And it totally killed my stomach. Ugh!

Zach wouldn't eat one. He informed me that he knows what hot dogs have in them and there was no way he was putting one in his digestive system! Smart kid.

They did enjoy their famous orange shakes.

I don't know if I'm supposed to put any sort of a disclosure on this post, since we were visiting at the invitation of the aquarium...but probably. So here it is:

We were invited by the Georgia Aquarium to view their new AT&T Dolphin Tales show for the purpose of blogging about it later. We did not receive any compensation for our opinion, but we were treated to free admission to the show and the aquarium. They did provide us with images and information for use in writing about the aquarium, but all opinions are my own!

WE LOVED IT!

YOU SHOULD GO!

Fabulous Friday Fun for April Fools.

2011-04-01T07:13:00.002-04:00

We're outta here!

Well, some of us, anyway. Others of us must stay at home and attend school or work as usual. But three of us...we're headed somewhere fun!

Tomorrow, I'll let you know where.

Transformations

2011-03-28T08:08:00.000-04:00

I was informed by one of the boys last night, "MOM...you really need to update your blog!" so I thought I'd share what we've been up to lately.

Here's photographic evidence that I'm just not cut out for the whole "baby" thing. I don't like tiny people much at all. Unless they're mine. Really. I'm not the one you want to approach to keep the nursery at church. I protest. A LOT. And I don't babysit other people's infants, either. Just ask my sister. Been there. Done that. Over it.

I have no use for small ones until they can walk, talk, and make their own breakfast.

See?

These are a couple of the munchkins I help care for during the first hour of homeschool co-op each week.

(And no, they're not really twins. They're both about 9-10 months old.)

Ok, so maybe grandbabies would be sort of fun. One day. In the future. Very far in the distant future.

I'm still not sure exactly how I got roped into the birth-to-one-year nursery this school year in the first place. I will be the first to admit that I went kicking and screaming. I would much rather have hung out with the high schoolers. It's just that someone else was already teaching Physics.

Oh yeah, and I never took Physics, but I have changed a few diapers.

I had just about made up my mind that I would just have to suffer through nose-wiping, baby-rocking, diaper-changing duty this year when I realized...what kind of an attitude is that anyway? I wouldn't want some woman who resented her job to be tending to MY precious ones for an hour each week.

So I prayed about it. And then I prayed about it some more.

Still, the babies were babies. They missed their mamas, and they cried. They got sleepy. They got cranky. They didn't want to be held. They did want to be held. Some days, ALL of the babies screamed for an entire hour and both of us nursery workers just did the best we could.

We won't even mention the diapers.

But every Wednesday, I prayed that I would enjoy the babies and they would enjoy me. I prayed that my attitude would be changed and that I would look at this as an opportunity. A chance to experience some little miracles growing and changing right before my eyes.

(This little character is the "big boy" in the room at about 18 months. He's hilarious.

When he's not missing his mama terribly!)

And you know what?

It worked.

I actually look forward to seeing those smiling little faces. I've loved watching them grow from lumpy, boneless three-month-olds into busy, curious, babbling , crawling nine-month olds. I've watched infants undergo transformations...from helpless and completely dependent into
thriving creatures who can find and pop their own pacifiers into their mouths, hold their own cups, pull themselves up to standing and crawl faster than I can run!
And the "big boy?" He's changed, too. He's not just teetering around on unsteady legs. He's a running, climbing, laughing, giggling bundle of energy!

And you know what?
I'm going to miss those munchkins next year when I'm in the high school room dissecting eyeballs!

So maybe this hasn't been such a bad year, after all.
Maybe God's taught me something through this nursery experience.
Maybe I've learned that my plans aren't necessarily the best or only way.
And a change in attitude is sometimes in order. And that a new attitude goes a long way.
Maybe God knew that I could use a little sweetness, a few cuddles and some slobbery kisses.
From someone other than my hubby, that is.

However. Don't get any bright ideas. I will not be running a home daycare any time soon. Nor will I be keeping church nursery or hiring out my sitting services.
Once a week is quite enough.

Beauty

2011-03-20T21:44:00.000-04:00

Sunset. March 17, 2011. From the back deck.

Supermoon. March 19, 2011. View from our house.

Just in case you were wondering...

2011-03-20T11:08:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd link to the Gour Family's blog today. Since so many bloggy and real-life friends helped to bring their little Asher home, it ocurred to me that maybe you'd like to know...

He's home! He's adorable! He's happily adjusting to life with his mom and dad and many siblings! He's being weaned off of McDonalds and had his first Tootsie Pop.

Go check out his story. You'll be glad you did.

Mixed Emotions

2011-03-16T11:21:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I spoke with the admissions counselor at the university and we finalized housing and financial arrangements for the fall. So I guess it's officially official now. Darling Daughter will be heading upstate in August.

I can't explain how proud her daddy and I are. She's been a such wonderful blessing to us these seventeen years. We've watched in awe as God carefully arranged and ordered her college plans so that they fell perfectly into place. We know she's going to be in His care. We know she's going to make an enthusiastic and cheerful roommate! We're confident that she'll make the right decisions and study hard and try to follow where God leads her. We are thrilled with the young lady she's become and we're excited to watch her take the first steps toward independence and the fulfillment of her dreams. We are SO incredibly happy for our girl.

Yet...oh my gosh...how awfully much we're going to miss her smiling face! What will it be like without her singing, laughing, shrieking, exclaiming, rambling, incessantly babbling and bouncing off the walls here? Who's going to make us laugh with off-the-wall comments and seriously, startlingly, dingbat remarks? What will my twins do without their little mama hen?

And before you ask, no, it wasn't like this when the oldest one graduated. We knew he wasn't going anywhere. He still hasn't. I'm not sure if he ever will. ;)

It's a difficult position. We know it's time for her to go. We want to let her go. But we want to keep her here with us, too! We don't want to share her with the world yet. Even just the tiny little part of the world she's going to...

Those of you who are in a similar situation this year, I'm praying for you and I feel your pain. Those who have small ones and won't face this for a while...cherish every moment because it'll be here before you know it.

I don't have anything profound to say here...my heart hurts...I'm gonna miss my baby girl so, so much.

In the words of E.T., "Ouch!"

How to waste money without even trying.

2011-03-15T16:35:00.000-04:00

According to the newspaper there's going to be a new store opening in our local mall. There going to be selling flip flops. Just flip flops. Flip flops that cost between $20 and $100.

My first reaction to this stop-the-presses story?

Whew! Thank heavens. We sure could use a flip flop store around here! It's about time dangit!

Second reaction?

Hold on there just a minute. Hundred dollar flip flops?? HUNDRED DOLLAR FLIP FLOPS?

Well, OK so my hubby would say that twenty dollars is ridiculous for a pair of flip flops. What are we talking about here? A little bit of foam rubber and a piece of plastic? I mean, maybe, if they're really cute and sparkly. With sequins. And polka dots. But hundred dollar flip flops? I don't get it. Are they made of gold? Are they woven out of hair from the back end of an endangered Beav-coon? Cause otherwise...

Unless...maybe they come with fake, press-on toenails or something. For that kind of money they'd better make my toenails look pretty AND give me a foot massage.

Shouldn't flip flops cost about a dollar and a half at Walgreens?

My Life as a Book Title

2011-03-14T17:20:00.000-04:00

Back in March of last year, my bloggy buddy Tonggu Mama wrote a post discussing which movie most mirrored her life in high school. I don't remember which one she chose, but I do remember that I, naturally, borrowed the topic for myself and wrote about which movie most symbolized my own life during high school. That post would be HERE. In order to save you the trouble of clicking through, I wrote about Ferris Bueller's Day Off, because...well...why do you think I wrote about it? I didn't actually like sitting at a desk in a classroom so much when I was fifteen. Or sixteen. Or seventeen for that matter. That's on reason I like homeschooling my own kids so much. There's not much desk-sitting going on around here.

This morning I was thinking about what movie I'd pick to portray my life now...and the only title that stood out in my head was Dazed and Confused. But no, that wouldn't do. Mostly because my family and I aren't really into ingesting and inhaling all kinds of illegal substances. But anyway...

So there I was, thinking, and just about to jump into the shower real fast before my sister came over so I could write her resume for her...when my dear, handsome husband called me over to the bedroom window.

Like...I was already about to literally step into the shower, water running, clothes on the floor, kinda thing going on here...

"Hey Babe...you gotta come here and look at this!"

"What? Now?"

"Yeah, hurry up!"

"But...is it important??"

"Just come here, it won't take a second!"

OK, so it's urgent. Maybe there's a bear eating the broccoli plants in his garden or something...I went over to the window to check it out. And he showed me...

Dog poop.

On the walk way.

But it was really important that I pause my shower and come out of the bathroom to observe the dog poop, because apparently it wasn't Lucy's dog poop. There was just no way it could be her poop. Or at least that's what my hubby informed me. Because that poop on the walk way was too big to be Lucy's. Clearly, some other animal (possibly another dog?) had come into our back yard over night...and done it's business on the walk. Some other animal that Lucy didn't bark at. (So it must have been not only invisible but absolutely silent because Lucy barks at dust!) Some other animal that had the ability to silently leap the four foot fence in a single bound. (Since the walk way is just outside not just our bedroom window, but Todd's as well, and we never heard a thing.) Some other animal that didn't have to dig under the gate, and didn't want to stay and have a bite of Lucy's leftover dinner, and then snuck right back out as quietly and as quickly as it came...just so it could poop on our walk way??

Yes, I'm seeking psychiatric help for this man.

And that's when it hit me.

No, not the dog poop.

What hit me was this: My life may not look like a movie anymore, but I'm totally married to a man from a novel!!

And I don't mean a dashing, daring, swashbuckling Scottish Laird from the 18th century, either. Thank you very much. Although he does have red hair like the main character in Outlander, but...what is swashbuckling anyway?

No, the man I'm talking about is the husband from Wifey by Judy Blume. I read that book about twenty years ago and I can vividly recall thinking, "That poor woman!" I mean who would want to be married to a man named Norman who keeps a chart recording how many times the family dog poops on his walk every day?? And yet..here I am. Married for almost 21 years to a man who now finds it urgent to have his half-nekkid wife hang out the upstairs window to look at crap on the sidewalk!

This is what my life has become??

Converting the Grandparents.

2011-03-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

When you first begin homeschooling, people ask all kinds of questions. What curriculum will you use? Will the kids have to be tested every year? Are you sure you can do this? How will they make friends? Will they have social lives? Do you have to take attendance? How will you know if they're actually learning anything? (Duh!?)

They ask your kids things, too. Do you like homeschool? Are you bored? Do you miss your friends? Do you wish you were back in public school? Is your mom a good teacher? (Duh!?) Do you enjoy school now? (They're still 13 year old boys people, they would prefer to be hanging upside down by their toenails than writing a paper about the Revolutionary War no matter where they go to school.)

As time goes by and people see that this homeschool stuff is actually working, the questions begin to change. They ask you where you're going on the next field trip? When is school over for the year? How did they enjoy the medical lab they toured? How is their garden coming along? Are you taking them to PE this week, and if so can I come along?

The family members? They slowly become transformed into homeschoolers, too. Oh, they may not remove their children from conventional school. They may not even have school-aged children. Doesn't matter. they're on the look-out for educational opportunities for my boys and they love to share! We love it that they love to share!

I get emails about civil war reenactments. I get text messages about science enrichment days at the local college. I get voice mails about berry-picking and bee-keeping and writing competitions. And it's not just family members, either. My daughter's public school teachers are busily scoping out experiences for my kids, too! They send home ideas and websites and extra-practice opportunities all the time. I love it!

My mother-in-law called this week to let me know about some kind of weird katydid bugs that would be crawling out of the ground this spring...for the first time in 13 years, apparently...and told me that I should bring the twins up to her house so they could see them. The bugs, not the grandparents.

Mmm hmm.

And then, the icing on the cake. That very same day my own mom called to tell me about her root canal. And how when the dentist pulled the offending root from her tooth socket, she commented that it was pretty rare to remove an entire root intact. And my mom...actually LOOKED at it! And then...considered asking the dentist if she could bring it home to her grandsons because they're studying the human body systems right now and they would LOVE to see what a nerve looks like! Maybe they could put it under the microscope? How fascinating!

Umm.....

Anyway. Homeschooling has become a way of life around here. It's rubbing off on everyone. I guess it really does take a village to educate a child?!

Morning Mania

2011-03-08T08:31:00.000-05:00

Early morning.

Early, early morning.

Early, early, pre-dawn morning.

Like, before 6:00am early in the pre-dawn morning.

I hear a noise. A rustling. There's a faint movement in the hall outside the bedroom door. I look up. If I squint my eyes, I can barely discern the shadowy outline of a tall figure lurking in the doorway.

Then, a sniffle. A clearing of the throat...

Oh NO!

Cue the creepy theme music from Jaws...

DAA dum. DAAAAA dum. DA dum, da dum, da dum, da dum...

No, it's not an intruder. No one's waiting to bash me in the head or steal my stuff. It's worse...

It's the dreaded EARLY RISER!

Yes, it's the homeschooled child who refuses to adjust to the laid-back, easy-going, We Don't Have to Wake Up With the Chickens Any More schedule that is the biggest blessing of our little homeschool world. Not one to laze about in the bed until a more normal (sane) hour, like, say 8:00 AM. Oh, no, the Early Riser is up before the teacher (who needs a full twelve ounces of caffeine in order to form a coherent sentence.) The Early Riser is wide awake with a smile from ear to ear and a mouth full of words that need to be said right now. The Early Riser doesn't need an alarm clock, breakfast, a splash of cold water on his face, a cup of coffee...he's raring to go and ready to meet the (still snoozing) world head-on. Before the world is up. Before the dog has to pee. Before the roosters have gargled!

Quick! Roll over and pretend I didn't notice him hovering in the doorway! If I'm very, very quiet, don't alter my breathing pattern, don't let the moonlight glint off my bleary eyeballs, be perfectly still...maybe...just maybe he'll go away. Go back to bed. Lay down in his own room for at least another half hour. Give me enough peace to greet the day sloooowwllllyyy....

Darn!

Dad's alarm clock went off. The Early Riser heard it. All the encouragement he needed. He's back! He's in the bedroom now and he's talking, "Good morning, DAD! How'd you sleep last night? Are you working today? What time do you get off? Want to work in the garden later? What's for breakfast? Want me to make pancakes? Did you start the coffee yet? Why'd you hit the snooze button, Dad??"

Grrr...patiently, I turn to my teenager...

"Look, Son, I know you're enthusiastic and excited about the day. (Although, I'm not exactly sure why since it's just an ordinary one and nothing special is expected to happen, but I'm really glad you're glad to be alive and all.) Unfortunately, the entire rest of the household is either on Spring Break this week or they would prefer to wake up when SUNlight is actually available to then and they don't have to strap a cave-diving light to their foreheads to see more than three inches in front of their noses. Would you mind terribly if I asked you to walk quietly into the living room, find a comfy chair, sit on it and stare out the window for an hour or so? Without talking? Or turning on the tv? Or banging pots and pans? Or getting the dog out to play? Or putting the headphones on for a morning sing-along? Great. 'Preciate it! Good bye! See you later!"

"Love you, Mom. Let me know when you wake up, and I'll bring you some nice hot pancakes with butter and syrup..."

Ugh...an arrow right to the heart.

He may be an Early Riser, but he sure is a sweet one! Ok, fine, I'll get up, too and I'll eat your pancakes you delightful teenager, you! At least I don't have to drag you from your bed kicking an screaming and threaten to toss ice water on your head! Which reminds me...where's your brother??

Trash that textbook!

2011-03-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to say anything bad today about our local public school system. Really, I'm not. All four of my kids have had some excellent teachers (and some not so excellent ones) throughout their years in regular school.

But things have changed over the years. Oh, how things have changed.

When Todd (our oldest) began kindergarten way back in 1995, he spent the hours between 8:00 am and 11:30 am learning to read, write, count, get along with others, keep his hands to himself, and open his own milk carton. The Opening of the Milk Carton was quite a huge, hairy deal at his elementary school. In fact, none of the kindergarten teachers would assist the children in the Opening of the Milk Carton at lunch time...ever. It was absolutely essential that all 25 children master that important life-skill immediately upon entering the lunchroom that first day. Because who ccould expect a woman in charge of a posse of five year old to do such things as open cartons? They're busy people! If they open milk cartons, the next thing you know folks will expect them to tie shoelaces! Where does it end?? (My kindergarten teacher found time to do all those things plus wipe noses, buckle belts, help children on with their coats, dump sand from shoes, give hugs, patch up wounds and we still managed to go to first grade reading and counting just fine. Hi, Mrs. McKnight!)

Fast forward to 2011. Our daughter, now seventeen and in her last three months of high school, has had many amazing experiences during her public school career. Experiences she may never have had if she had been taught at home as her brothers are. Experiences such as being told when she does and does not have to use the rest room. (An experience that the boys don't miss very much, as evidenced by Ryan's comment to me last week, "Mom...one of the BEST things about homeschool is that you never, EVER tell us we can't PEE!") Experiences such as being told that seniors who have early dismissal may not return to campus for pep rallies (because leaving and coming back later could result in danger!)...but they absolutely must return for their fourth period class once a month when the entire school system has early release day and the schedules are rearranged so that the kids go to 5th, 6th, 7th and then 4th periods. Yeah, that makes sense!

Experiences such as being told that she is not actually aloud to read her textbook during class.

Silly me, I thought getting an education included reading the textbooks assigned for classes??

Last week, poor Heather was read the riot act by her teacher. The teacher had declared that there would be free time and the students should, "Take out a book and read quietly" until the bell rang. But before I go any further...wait...

I should probably point out that this woman is the Advanced Composition teacher. She's supposed to be teaching the kids to write some jam-up awesome papers before they head to college this fall. It's an honors level course. They're written two papers so far this year. Two. Papers. In Advanced Comp. All year. Surprisingly, none of the students did very well on them. They've spent most of their class time engaged in such meaningful learning activities as writing in their "journals" and sharing with the class so that they can laugh and joke and make fun of each other for an hour. They have also made a poster representing what they "got out of" a book she had them read. Good stuff. They were given a grammar test last week, as well, and were told that they could bring whatever they wanted in the way of notes to use for the test. Heather took the twins' GRAMMAR BOOK with her and she was allowed to USE it during her test. This is also the woman who informed them that all of their rights as citizens and human beings ceased to exist once they walked through the doors of the school.

Oh, the excellence in education going on in that class just astounds me. I sent her a copy of Bill O'Reilly's Kids Are Americans, Too!

But back to my story. The class was told to get out a book, shut up, and read. The teacher said a book. She didn't specify what book, she just said a book. So Heather took out her Sociology textbook and began to study. Soon the teacher looked up and noticed her there, quietly perusing the pages of her textbook and trying to commit to memory all that she would need to know.

SHAME on her!

She was immediately told to put that textbook away! The teacher did not mean for the kids to take out TEXTBOOKS when she told them to read. She meant a book. (I'm assuming she had prize-winning novels in mind, but she never said.) She informed Heather that she would have to put the textbook away because the principal did not want them reading textbooks during free reading time. If she didnt' have another book with her, then she could just sit there. And do nothing. And waste her time. When she could be studying. In school. Where she's supposed to learn.

Does anyone find that odd at all??

I told my girl to stick a copy of Green Eggs and Ham in her book bag. Next time she's told to read...well...it isn't a textbook, right? So it should qualify??!!

All of this rambling to arrive at this point: my twins? Will return to prison over my cold, dead body!

Turning FORTY...a tutorial.

2011-02-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

How to enjoy turning FORTY and drag things out so the party lasts a whole week...

First, grab an accomplice and head out of town for the day.

If it's cold and yucky at home, be sure to choose some place warm and sandy!

Put on your sunglasses, park your butt in a chair right in front of the ocean and chill until the sun goes down and you get to chilly to chill anymore.

Then grab some super-huge cupcakes from Fresh Market to eat for dinner on the way home.

Because everyone knows that cupcakes are just as healthy as Bragg's aminos when it's your birthday.

Right, Chelsea?

Next, celebrate your husband's and your nephew's birthdays (but not yours) with cake, cake, and more cake. Preferably, there will be Reese's cake involved. That way, you can ensure that every last bite will be eaten, and you will not have to take any leftovers home and stuff yourself silly. This is especially important since you won't be having YOUR cake for a few more days.

The initial cake consumption is just for warm-up.

Well, hello there, handsome! Want to spend another 24 years with me?!

Three generations of beach bums!

OK, so after beach day and the initial cake-consuming, the next thing on the birthday list is a romantic dinner with your loving husband and your parents. Pick a place you love! Good conversation, pleasant atmosphere and scrumptious food are a must!

Later in the week, go shopping with your sister.

Try on brightly colored mu mus and take stupid pictures of yourselves in the dressing room mirrors.

Be careful not to laugh too hard or the girl working the dressing room may call security!

Take your sister to lunch at Moe's! Buy an extra-huge queso dip!

Remember, it's your birthday (all week) and calories don't count!

Eat so much that you have to be rolled out to your car.

Spill your drink all over the table if you really want to see your sister jump out of her skin...it just adds a little entertainment value to the day.

Open an obnoxious yet carefully thought out card from three of your children...

then smack them for being so rotten!

Blow off a little steam at the gun range with your oldest son...the future law enforcement officer.

Shoot some holes in the paper bad guy.

It doesn't matter if you aren't all that accurate...he'd be bleeding pretty profusely, anyway.

Finally, birthday party weekend will arrive at long last!

You will need some beautiful flowers...

lots and lots of delicious food...

a random, crazy nursing student who may or not be dating your son...(this one is, in fact, dating our son, but if your son isn't dating a nursing student or you don't have a son you could probably all up the local university and have then send you one over for celebration purposes. They're highly entertaining.)

You will need a good photographer.

If she's your sister, even better, since she won't charge you a dime and she'll upload all 200 pics to facebook for you at 3AM. Unfortunately, she won't edit all the pics to make you look 20 pounds lighter...oh well. You get what you pay for, right?

You're gonna need some friends to help you celebrate, so be sure to invite plenty of those...

and be sure to have them bring any darling little girls they may have sitting around.

Little girls LOVE cake!

No, really, they do! Just look at how Casey's eyes lit up when it was finally time for her huge, sugar-smothered hunk of cake...at 9:00pm.

Never fear, Casey is just like my Darling Daughter. Sugar has no affect on her level of hyperactivity.

She's on wide-open all the time anyway.

OK, in order for your birthday week to be a complete success, you're also going to need some family.

How about a mother-in-law who's known you almost as long as your own mom?

Yeah, that'll do nicely.

If you want, you could invite the woman who gave birth to you all those years ago, and arranged this little shin-dig just for you.

Oh, and told you your top looks like you went shopping in your great-grandma's closet. Thanks, mom.

If you're really lucky, your sister will get you the perfect gift.

A Star Wars blanket that your kids will want.

Now to buy a light saber to fend the twins off...

And last, but not least, if you can manage, you should gather some of your high school BFF's to help you celebrate another year. These two? They helped me turn 14 and helped me turn 40, too. Between us, we have eleven children from age 21 to age 3. Thank heaven I'm not the one with the three year old!

All in all, this was a fabulous week!

Thanks to everyone who helped make my week so special!

Turning forty was so much fun, I may have to do it again next year!

The BEST 40th birthday gift...EVER!

2011-02-22T21:06:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I often wonder how I'll know when my job as a mom is complete. I mean, I know a mom's job is never "done." But certainly their comes a time when the "raising" part is finished.

So, how will I know? How will I know when I'm finally done with the molding and shaping of my children's characters? How will I know when they've actually learned the lessons their dad and I have tried to pound into their heads all these years? How will I know if I've been successful as a parent?

Will I know that I've reached that point when they've graduated college? When they've headed out into the world and made a place for themselves? When they achieve their dreams?

How will it feel when someone (besides me) looks at my child and sees in them all the wonderful things that I (as their mom) have always seen? When someone else (besides me) sees in my child the potential and the determination and the drive and the heart that their daddy and I have known was there from the start?

Well, now I know.

On my fortieth birthday, our Darling Daughter was paged overhead to report to her Principal's office immediately after class. There, she was met by her guidance counselor and the main man himself. Puzzled, she took the seat offered to her and waited to see what the heck was up. Well, she knew she wasn't in trouble...but anyway...

It seems the Principal had recieved a package. A package containing an award. For Darling Daughter. She has received the President's Volunteer Service Award! The President! Of the United States.

As in...the WHITE HOUSE.

Obama.

Yes.

That president.

Her school received a framed letter congratulating and recognizing her (yeah, MY DAUGHTER) for her service, and they were given one to present to her on Senior awards day! Her Principal informed her that he's never had a student win that honor before...he was so proud of her! She was in tears! In fact, she called home to tell me about it and she was so excited that she couldn't drive until she calmed down!

I'm sharing the letters below. (I blocked out identifying info, I hope!)

The first is a copy of a recommendation her teacher wrote for her.

The next two are her letters for the award.

I'm here to tell you, there isn't a better feeling in the world, there couldn't have been a better birthday present in the world, nothing tops this! The knowledge that our daughter...she gets it! She understands that life is all about. She has a servant's heart. She loves others. She gives of herself every day with a smile in her heart and on her face. She's a young lady that her daddy are proud to know and to call our own.

And I? I know...I know that our job with her is pretty much complete.

She's a beautiful person through and through. And that's what our job was all about.

Twenty Four

2011-02-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

Twenty-four birthdays shared with each other...from our 20th and 16th to our 44th and 39th.

What?!

So you did the math and something didn't add up right?

Well, add it again.

I am NOT turning 40.

Well, not for another few hours, anyway.

Happy birthday to the man of my dreams.

I hope we have at least 24 more together.

And 24 more after that!

Thanks for wearing the matching Star Wars pajamas your mama gave us!

I love you <---------------------->

Sending up Prayers!

2011-02-13T20:22:00.001-05:00

This week, as we at The Source house continue with the same old daily routine of work, school and laundry, our friends the Gours will travel to the other side of the globe.

That's right! It's time!

Chelsea and Paul will finally hold precious little Asher in their arms in just a couple of days!

Will you join me this week in praying for them?

Safe travel, a smooth transition, patience, hearts overflowing with love, good health, and anything else that you can think of that needs to be placed in the Lord's hands while they're away...for them and for Asher and for the family anxiously awaiting their return home.

Name That Disney Movie!

2011-02-05T21:33:00.001-05:00

How many Disney movie quotes can you guess correctly? And...if you know the movie...can you guess which character said it?

1. "I despise guessing games." Scar ~ The Lion King

2. "This is a perfect time to panic!" Woody ~ Toy Story

3. "I create feelings in others that they themselves don't understand." Lightning McQueen ~ Cars

4. "Good afternoon. We're gonna have a great jump today!" Squirt ~ Finding Nemo

5. "I don't know but it's been said, I love scaring kids in bed!" Sully ~ Monsters, Inc.

6. "I'm sorry I bit you...and pulled your hair...and punched you in the face." Lilo ~ Lilo and Stitch

7. "Even if you hadn't grown up a savage beast, you'd be lost. There are no trails through a woman's heart." Clayton ~ Tarzan

8. "All right, Sparky, here's the deal. If you wanna court the little lady, you gotta be a straight shooter." Genie ~ Aladdin

9.   Disappeared, but it was the Emperor of China in Mulan.
10. Also vanished, Ursula the Sea Witch The Little Mermaid.

11. "Temper? Temper!? Woman, you ain't seen my temper!"    Amos Slade (the hunter)~ The Fox and The Hound

12. "Sufferin' sassafras! My rudder's on fire! Bail out! Bail out!" Orville (the airplane bird)~ The Rescuers

13.   "You know, I wish my parents played Mozart when I slept because half the time I don't even know what the heck anyone's talking about!" Kari (The dingy babysitter) ~ The Incredibles

14.   "Stay back! If I stare at the lock really hard, it'll burst into flames and melt." Bolt ~ Bolt

15. "How can you read this? There's no pictures!" Gaston ~ Beauty and the Beast

Delicious and Nutricious!

2011-01-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

I got involved in a vegetable soup conversation on facebook this week, and mentioned this yummy soup that the Hubby makes. It's something we found on Food Network's website so I can't take ANY credit at all. All the applause go straight to the Neely's. Darling Daughter turned up her nose at it when Hubs was cooking it...she said she didn't think she wanted to eat anything that looked like red celery with poofy leaves on top. However, as soon as she smelled it, all bets were off!

If you don't want to use chickpeas, you can substitute black eyed peas, which is what we did because we had those on hand. (Well, ok, we didn't really have any rainbow chard just lying around, but we already had the peas.) If you're making it for little ones or you don't like things very hot, then only use a little hot sauce...it doesn't have a spicy taste it just has a bit of flavor. And you could totally leave out the bacon, it didn't really add or take away anything important.

Ingredients

3 slices bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 large carrot, diced

1 (6-ounce) piece smoked ham steak, diced into 1/4-inch cubes

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

1 small bunch Swiss chard, stemmed and sliced into thin ribbons

1 quart low-sodium chicken broth

1 (16-ounce) can chickpeas or black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes

Hot sauce, as needed

Worcestershire sauce, as needed

Grated Parmesan, for garnish

Directions

Add the bacon to a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium heat. Fry until crisp, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve. To the same Dutch oven, add the onion, garlic, and carrot, and saute until the vegetables are tender, roughly 4 minutes. Add the ham steak and red pepper flakes and adjust the seasonings with salt and black pepper, to taste. Add the Swiss chard and saute until it begins to soften.

Stir in the chicken broth, chickpeas or black-eyed peas, and the canned tomatoes with their juices. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and let cook for 30 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if necessary. Splash with some hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese and bacon.

Birthday Girl!

2011-01-27T11:40:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I know I already had a post up this morning, but then my Darling Daughter happened to mention that today is someone's special day so of course I had to say:

HAPPY

18th

Birthday

TLT!

Over the years, we've had the privilege of getting to know some pretty wonderful kids through our own children. They bring home the most interesting friends. Watching them grow up into amazing young adults makes us just as proud as if they were our own.

There aren't many 18 year old high school seniors who like adventure as much as this girl does!

You may recall that I introduced you to the Valedictorian With Absolutely No Common Sense a few days ago? She was the one with my daughter at the concert...the one where they backed into luggage and ended up on the tour bus.

Yeah, those two have done plenty of random, crazy things over the years. Including interviewing random elderly people at the local park...on video. They have also run through fountains, fully clothed, in public. And they have braved touching the haunted pillar! (Long story, someday I'll explain.) And climbed into storm drains just to check them out. (Smart.) Once, when they were younger, our dogs really DID eat their homework. They had pictures as evidence to show their teachers.

I'm not sure I have ever known another girl who's made it all the way from kindergarten to senior year without ever making so much as an A MINUS on a report card. (Well, that would be why she's VALEDICTORIAN, duh!)

If you have actually gotten a B before, Madam Birthday Girl, please don't tell me! I'm an old woman. I enjoy living in my own little world of illusion.

There probably aren't many high school seniors who drive around in their bright red convertibles wearing a purple dinosaur on their heads, either, but on this one? Well, it just works.

There probably are even fewer 18 year olds who would chose to spend their week after graduation at Harry Potter World rather than at the beach scoping out hot guys...but VWANCS is all about the Wizard Boy!

Eighteen year old high school seniors aren't notorious for hanging out with 13 year old boys, either, but VWANCS, she always makes my twins feel like they're a part of the big kids group. When she's around, they fit right in. (Or, at least they think they do, and that's what matters, right?)

Thank you for VWANCS for being a good friend to our daughter all these years. Thank you for being her partner in many, many adventures! Thanks for being so sweet to my boys. And thanks for reading my ramblings here on the blog and not correcting my grammar mistakes in the comments. We here at the Source House wish you the very happiest of birthdays, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for a young lady as amazingly bright, talented, and unique as you. You're going places, girl! Just make sure you come back and say "hi" once in a while! Happy birthday!

Proof

2011-01-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

Here is is.

Proof that our parents tortured us.

Proof that we had to invent ways to amuse ourselves.

Proof that we had no toys, evidently, and resorted to playing with brown paper grocery bags.

Proof that we were very strange little girls.

Meet Bagley and Hagley. (That would be me, on the left, in the Miss Piggy nightgown and my sister in the Winnie the Pooh jammies sticking her tongue out through her bag-mask. Sigh.

If only we'd had Barbie dolls and dream mansions.

If only we'd had a swingset or a play house.

If only we'd had some sort of creative outlet, such as a sport or music lessons.

If only we'd had friends!

If only our mother hadn't completely ruined our self esteem by putting us in child beauty pageants and teaching us that our only value lay in our good looks, then perhaps we wouldn't have felt compelled to hide our heads in shame on bad hair days!

Weapons of...uh...never mind.

2011-01-26T06:00:00.002-05:00

In the car on the way home from picking the boys up from their grandparents house this weekend, the conversation quickly turned to all things hunting. (Well, of course it did, Ryan had just been in the woods shooting a 20 gauge...) Ryan was questioning his dad on various types of rifles and shot guns, how much they normally cost, what kind of ammo they use, etc. He's saving his money to buy a hunting rifle of his own. His dad informed him that the gun he wants to buy usually runs a little over $300. Ryan lamented that it was going to take him quite a while to save up that kind of money!

Heather piped up from the back seat with these helpful words, "Or you, know, you could always buy a double-barreled sling shot for 20 bucks at Wal-Mart!"

"A what? Double-barrel? For real? Dad...what kind of sling shot is that? I never heard of one before."

"Son, trust me. You don't need one of those. Those double Barreled sling-shots have been gettin' men in trouble for years!"

Poor kid. He has no idea.

Three

2011-01-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Our little baby...

who came to live with us when she was only slightly larger than a Beanie Baby...

had a birthday yesterday.

She turned three years old.

She was very excited.

Because that makes her 21 in doggie years, which is the same age as our Oldest, Todd.

Lucy asked him to take her out for a drink in celebration, but Todd said no.

He didn't want to be seen with another woman.

Especially one a lovely as our Lucy.

His girlfriend might get jealous.

One would assume that our princess would have calmed down somewhat now that she's officially an adult.

One would be wrong.

Lucy is as wild as ever.

One might also assume that long three years would be adequate time for a dog to learn where she is supposed to, ahem, do her business.

One would be wrong.

Lucy is quite fond of doing her business in Todd's room.

Or in front of Zach's closet if Todd's door happens to be closed.

Which explains why Lucy spends an extremely large portion of her days outside!

One may also assume that, at the age of three (21 in dog years) our little Lucy would have stopped sharking at the table and whining whenever her human family is eating dinner. Or that she would have come to the understanding that every time a human puts his or her hand up to his or her mouth that human is not, in fact, inviting Lucy to partake of his or her cookie, piece of fruit, Tex-Mex chili or Diet Coke!

Again, one would be wrong.

Lucy is a huge fan of all people food.

Her favorites include carrots, Pop Tarts, marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats, all kinds of cereal, bits of bacon, bites of steak, scrambled egg, and of course, anything left on the counter when no one is in the kitchen and she can climb onto the kitchen chairs, hop up onto the table and jump over to the counter for a nibble.

She maintains her girlish figure by staying active.

She chases butterflies, birds, squirrels, neighbors, bugs and leaves from the yard on an hourly basis.

She also notifies us by barking loudly every time the wind blows.

Or a cloud floats by.

Or the sun rises.

Or a speck of dust wafts past.

Yes, we adore our little Lucy.

We wouldn't trade for her anything.

Not even a calm, quiet, well-behaved, potty-trained dog.

We'll keep her around.

Happy Birthday, Lulu!

You rotten little thing.

My Daughter, the Groupie

2011-01-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

This is my daughter with Christian singer Mark Schultz at a concert last month.

Yes! She got to meet him, and get his autograph and have her picture taken with him!

She also got to see the inside of his tour bus...more on that later.

In case you've never heard of Mark Schultz (get your head out of the ground and turn the radio on, already!) he sings some beautiful songs...such as I Am, I Have Been There, and He's My Son.

Just a side note...the very first time I heard of Mark Schultz, I was in my car driving home from the Children's Hospital on a very cold night in March, 2001 while our extremely ill three year old lay in a bed on the fourth floor fighting to breathe. He had become so dehydrated that when the nurses tried to start an IV in his arm to administer fluids, the blood droplets just pooled up on his hospital gown and rolled off...his blood was like gel. It wouldn't soak into the fabric. My mom had to hold him through a spinal tap.

He had endured so many tests and he wasn't getting any better...it was a terrifying time.

In the car that night, I heard a song.

This was the chorus:

Can You hear me?

Am I getting through tonight?

Can You see him?

Can You make him feel all right?

If You can hear me

Let me take his place somehow

See, he's not just anyone

He's my son

I just bawled. All over my steering wheel. Listening to Mark Schultz sing the words I felt in my heart.

But anyway, my baby boy got better. He grew up just fine. I still listen to Mark Schultz.

And I still tear up every time I hear that song. I probably always will.

Darling Daughter likes Mark Schultz, too. So when she heard he was coming to town, she asked for tickets as part of her Christmas. She and her friend the Valedictorian Absolutely With No Common Sense (VWANCS) drove over to my sister's side of town to see Mark and a band called Down Here.

They only got lost three times on the way there!

With specific written directions.

AND a GPS!

AND cell phones with GPS!

Well, I did mention that the Valedictorian has no common sense, didn't I?

And anyone who's read my blog before realizes that my daughter is a dingbat of the highest degree.

They got to meet the other band, too. Notice the bunny ears the girls are holding up behind the band members' heads. So grown-up and mature of them. So classy and refined.

Following the performances, the girls headed out to the VWANCS's little red Volkswagen Bug to buckle up and drive home. As they got into the car, they noticed that there was a rather large, shiny, silver bus parked right next to the little red Volkswagen Bug. They also noticed that there was some luggage right beside the large, shiny, silver bus and right behind the little red Volkswagen Bug. Darling Daughter, being ever so helpful and resourceful, decided to get out of the car and MOVE the luggage so the girls could back out of their parking spot and drive home.

For some reason, she then photographed the luggage next to the bus where she put it:

And then she got back into the Volkswagen and gave VWANCS the all clear.
So, they proceeded to back up...straight into the luggage that Darling Daughter had just moved out of their way...knocking the luggage over and into the large, shiny, silver bus. Much shrieking and screaming, a little giggling, and many shouts of "OMG!" ensued.
At which point a large, hairy man came walking around the bus and politely inquired "What the HECK?"

That man was the tour bus driver.
The girls had just knocked the luggage into the TOUR BUS.

Yeah.

Somehow...somehow...I have no idea how exactly...but somehow...running over the luggage and knocking it into the large, shiny, silver bus merited the two Dingbats an invitation to climb on board the bus and have a look around.

Huh?

Probably the bus driver has a dimwitted teenage daughter himself.
Or he felt sorry for the two lunatics who'd escaped the asylum for an evening of fun.
Or he had a sense of humor??
I dunno.

But as long as she's going to hop on a tour bus and look around, I guess it's a darn good thing it was a famous Christian Artist's bus and not Gene Simmons or Metallica or something.

Off to have another conversation about stranger-danger, driver awareness and the hazards of getting into vehicles with men you don't know!