Ahhhhh....Miss Flame

So, this post is mostly for Ashley, because she has bugged me the most about it.

Here we are...Miss Flame Past (1979) and Present (2008). I love my 80's hair, don't you? Too bad the poster board is covering my cool brown leather boots. The picture of Kate was taken at home. I don't know where the ones from the fire station are located on my computer, so this will have to do. Anyway, in the words of Grandma Connie, "I have 'passed the torch'"...HA!

Twenty-Six Years

So, I was looking at my children's blogs, and I looked at Em and Jame's picture of their wedding day one year ago, and decided I need to post our wedding day of 26 years ago!
So many wonderful things come from marriage. My children are by far the most precious gifts. I'm so thankful for each of them. I feel blessed to have added 3 more to the bunch, with a BONUS of a beautiful grandson and granddaughter!
I posted a few words from a song when I did a post for Ken's birthday, so I thought I'd add the rest today. I love the song because it says just what I want to say!

After All This Time

After all this time together,
Looking back across the years,
Through sunshine and stormy weather,
We're still here.
When we crossed over troubled waters,
It was God who saw us through,
And after all this time,
I still believe in me and you.

God has taught us to forgive,
Time has helped us to forget,
Faith will show us how to live without regret.
We'll let nothing come between us,
And I'll spend my life to prove,
That after all this time,
I still believe in me and you.

What God has joined together,
Nobody else can sever,
The best keeps getting better,
So for now, and for forever,

We have our dreams for each tomorrow,
And our memories from the past,
And we will always put God first,
To make love last.
Years ago I pledged my heart,
And I promise I still do,
And after all this time I still believe in me and you.

Happy Anniversary Honey, I Love You!

This Is Dedicated To The One I Love...

After all this time together,
Looking back on all the years,
Through good times
And stormy weather
We're still here

Years ago I gave my heart
And I promise I still do
And after all this time
I still believe in me and you.



Happy Birthday Honey!

High School Musical 3

Okay, Liz had the day off school,so we went to see High School Musical 3. I know I'm old, but I loved it! It even brought a tear to my eye. Kudos to Kenny Ortega for making a clean, fun, dance movie. I felt like I was at an awesome theater production. I found myself wanting to clap after every song! The opening high school basketball game scene took me straight back to the 1980 state bound Willard Flashes! Woohoo! Okay, you can all officially laugh at me now, but I know Rick and Ash will be singing HSM 3 for years to come! LOL

Okay, really quickly...

I have to go to work, but really quickly...there are a couple of things that really bug me.

1. I have Italian skin, (green-yellow undertones), and my husband put flourescent bulbs in our bathroom. When I look in the mirror I'm yellow-green. I hate when that happens.

2. WHY is it that I always sneeze immediately after applying mascara and wind up looking like Tammy Faye Baker (may she rest in peace)?

Ok, off to work!

P.S. High School Musical 3 is out today, therefore making this the best day of Liz's life!

Okay Erin, Check This Out...

You know how they say God speaks in a still small voice? Well...lately I have been hit over the head with it! I came home recently angry about something that I felt was an injustice. My devotion waiting for me was entitled: Let the Lord Be Your Defense (and it even went into the SPAM folder, when they have never gone there before!) It has happened so many times recently I can't even count them. God gives me exactly what I need to hear. Today I read your blog Erin, about Phillipians and learning to be content. It was very good. Something we all need to be reminded of. What I find interesting is that after that I decided to read my devotion, and it is entitled: Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled. Here is a portion, "So, when fearful, anxious thoughts come, remind yourself of Jesus' words: "Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." Even when things appear to get worse, say, "Lord, I refuse to worry about this. In the midst of all this, I see the finished work of Christ. He said, "It is finished!" So my child's healing is accomplished. My marriage is blessed. My debts are cleared. I will not let my heart be troubled by these things. Beloved, I cannot "let not" for you. Your family and friends cannot "let not" for you. Only you can "let not your heart be troubled". So guard your heart from being troubled. You don't have to guard your career, reputation, children or even health. When you guard your heart, God will guard everything else for you!"

Once again, it's about a daily choice. Choosing to have faith, even when you don't see possibilities of things being fixed, or healed, or mended. So easy to talk the talk!

Luckkkkyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

In the words of Napoleon Dynamite "luckkkyyyyyy!" That's how I feel when I stand on my deck that overlooks the field next to my house. I hope no one ever does anything with it but grown corn and soybeans on it. I have a beautiful view of the sky, with no trees blocking anything. This picture was taken on my cell phone, so it's not very good. You will have to take my word for it, that it was one of the most beautiful sunrises. The colors were bright orange and pink. So pretty that when I pulled in the driveway after taking Liz to school, I had to go outside and just look at it for awhile.

The only thing that could have made it better, is someone to look at it with. Farmer, where are you? :-)

P.S. I don't really believe in luck. I know it's really a blessing! I just like how Napoleon says it!

Crash and Burn

So...I'm the type of person that goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes...then, all of a sudden, BAM! I crash and burn. I can't function even if I want to. I don't care what's going on around me. I'm spent, done, finito. I slept my entire Sunday away. I slept that entire night, getting up in the morning only because I had to. I got home today from my Uncle's funeral, picked Liz up from school and fell asleep. This is a cycle I go through. My body just decides, okay, enough is enough. Now it's 1 a.m. and I'm talking with Em in Australia, so when morning shows up, I'm gonna be really tired again.

The Real Me...

Don't worry, I'll call a counselor... LOL

I AM … overweight and mentally challenged (those are nice words for fat and stupid) - that's the negative self talk I always use! I have been trying to replace that with valuable and made in the image of God. We wouldn't call "made in the image of God" stupid, now would we?
I WANT… to love and be loved
I HAVE … an awesome family - I really do like alot!
I KEEP … way too much stuff!
I WISH I COULD … take away all the hurtful things
I HATE … INJUSTICE!
I HEAR ... the bathroom fan and television
I DON’T THINK … I'll ever feel carefree
I REGRET … oh my word...we don't have enough space to even get started (another major problem I need to fix)
I LOVE … SINGING, SINGING, AND MORE SINGING!
I AM NOT … the person on the outside that I am on the inside
I DANCE … whenever I hear fun music...if I'm not somewhere I can physically do it, I'm dancing on the inside!
I SING … A LOT LOT LOT
I NEVER … want people to suffer, even if I don't like them!
I RARELY … have the time to be alone and even more rarely have time alone with the man I'm married to.
I CRY WHEN I WATCH … Bridges of Madison County (every single stinkin' time)
I AM NOT ALWAYS … patient
I HATE THAT … people have to suffer...really I do, have I mentioned that already? Remind me to tell you sometime about the fight I had with Ken over the death of a frog...I hate anything to suffer...bird, ant, spider ( I rescued a cricket from a spider's grasp, just in the nick of time..only now probably the spider is suffering because it's hungry)
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … some of the things I believe or don't believe (I'm working on that)
I NEED … to find a way to help my children out of school loan debt...
I AM ... pretty serious, after reading over my answers and in need of some SERIOUS FUN!

I love this picture...

I love this picture...if Em had been in it, it would have been perfect!

What were we thinking?

I just wrote a nice blog and published it, and it disappeared. Now I'm mad and don't want to write it all over again! So, I'm not going to. These are pics from prom 2003 that we developed today. Yes, 5 years later. I had lots to say about them, but now I'm mad, so I'm not saying anything!

Homecoming Crash...

Today is the day of the homecoming dance. Kate and I spent the morning polishing the inside of the Armada so she and 7 of her friends could take it out to dinner and then to the dance. Then, after we were finished with that, Kate went in to shower, and I went out to wash the car, pick up nails (did you know they make glue on toenails now? It's the best Kate's feet have ever looked! lol), get hairspray, and pick up her flowers. This year she had a wrist bracelet. It is basically a flower arrangement done on one of those slap wrist bracelets. (Thanks Pam, great work!) When I got home it was afternoon and we began applying the toenails. I then gave her a french manicure on her "finger"nails. Then we went to the bathroom to begin doing the hair, then the make-up. Finally, she was ready, it was not quite 3:30, so she was actually on time. I told her to just drive my car to her date's house (just around the corner), instead of having him have to leave a car here. She left and just a few minutes later...I hear what I thought was a gunshot, at very close range. I walked back out of the garage and looked to see if our neighbor was still on his feet. He was, but then I noticed my car in the middle of the road and another car off the side...and I remember saying "oh no" and running barefoot up the road. By the time I got there, Kate was climbing out the passenger's side, because her door wouldn't open. (I was mostly feeling awful because I didn't want her day to be ruined) I walk over by her and see that she's okay, and the back of my car looks okay...then I walk to the driver's side, where I believe my first words were.."Ohhhhhhhh Myyyyyyyyyyy GOSH! This is what I saw...

A lady coming down the side road didn't yield and ran into Kate. She couldn't have seen her, because she actually hit the back door. (I might add, the Armada was sitting square in the middle of the road as if nothing had happened to it.)

So, poor Kate had to stand in the misty rain for what seemed forever until the state patrol arrived, then she got to sit in his car. Her date and friends were sweet enough to just wait until Katie was finished, and then they took her date's parents minivan out to eat in Mansfield. I don't like that my car is crashed, but since no one was hurt, I could see the humor in it. We have more "fun" pictures but they are on Kate's camera, so I'll have to post those tomorrow. So, they went out to eat, came home got dressed and now they are at the dance, enjoying teen life as they should! Here are a few pics...




Katie's foot is far right...lol

Forget about stopping this train...

So, I've decided I'm not going to stop this train, I'm simply going to train for something...something physical. I want all of you to help me decide what and when it is. Before you ask, yes I'm serious. I know it's not going to be biking, so don't choose that. So, whoever is reading this...give me some ideas. I've already done the "back and forth to the fridge" race, so come up with something better than that. Chop! Chop! I haven't got all day. :-)

P.S. I had to edit this post so that I can say...give me your ideas and when I pick one, you all can determine my training from day to day...and I'll have to report in. Will I do it? or...will I fail yet again? Time will tell, it always does.

WAIT, I MEAN WEIGHT

We all knew it was coming sooner or later didn't we? If you know me, you know it can't go forever without the big "W" coming into play. So...today, I was busy as usual. I have been unusually busy lately, so much so, I haven't thought much about the big "W". Ummm...that is until today. As we all know, my mom has had trouble speaking. She just can't think of the words she wants to say. Today after I was finished delivering things to area churches, I was so close to her house that I thought I would stop in and say hello. Now, even though mother can't speak very well, she has gotten less uptight about things, I think. We had a pleasant time. Dad was pleasant too. We watched a woodpecker up in the tree. We talked about "the baby". We talked about Faith and Erin. It was lovely. It was time for me to get Liz from school, so I kissed them both goodbye. I got in my car, and as I was pulling out of the drive...mother motioned for me to roll down my window. Can you picture her doing that with her hand? It was cute. I roll it down, waiting to hear what was so important. She hesitates, and then drops the "F' bomb. I in no way saw it coming. Now, it's not what most of you think. What she said in her determined monotone way was: "Irene says you're FAT!" I thanked her, rolled up my window and waved as I drove away. First of all, why should I let that take hold of me and bother me ever since she said it? I know I'm fat. It's not like it came as a surprise! ("What? I'm fat? Why didn't anyone ever tell me!") Second, I continue to let those 4 little words proceed to ruin my day. It's all I can think about between ice cream bars and the kids lunch items for school. Three little letters so powerful, they can control all of your other actions. On the other hand, every time I picture her motioning me and then blurting out, "Irene says you're fat" I crack up. Sad, but definitely funny! *sigh*

No, seriously, stop this train...

Katie for "dress up like your favorite character or movie star day at school". I took it with Pam's camera before I returned it! I made her ears, but you can't see them since it is so dark here in the mornings. The apron was grandma's and we spray painted some old shoes yellow. Today was 80's day, I'll see if I can't post that tomorrow.

For those of you reading who do not want to hear (or read) me whine, you must stop reading now. I am telling this story, because it is therapeutic. I am in no way complaining about watching the baby, I love her. I am not complaining about helping people, I enjoy that. It's just humorous when you look back on it all...

Yesterday...I had to go the hospital for a cat scan, work, and go to the doctor about the cat scan in the afternoon. That was going to work out fine. I figured I could juggle everything. That's what mothers do after all. Did I mention I had the adorable baby since Saturday afternoon? (speaking of Saturday afternoon, Kate and Ry got their behinds kicked by two teams they had already beaten...so they are now 20-2) Anyways, the baby was supposed to go home yesterday morning, but her papi's truck had some problems in Pennsylvania, so that was where my trouble began. Kudos to all mothers taking care of even ONE child! I don't know how I had a 3, 2, and few month old child and SURVIVED! I took said baby with me to the hospital for a cat scan. I check in, and say, I'm really sorry, but her daddy didn't pick her up this morning...can you guys watch her? They are thrilled to watch her. She smiles her beautiful smile and never cries. Even the Dr. that reads the x-rays (gosh, I guess that would be the radiologist) got in on the action. He loves to speak Spanish, so he carried her around for awhile speaking her native tongue to her. I get done, get dressed, take her back and drive to the farm to see when her daddy is coming back. They tell me around 5. So, I'm thinking...hmmmm. I take the baby to work, where she is only satisfied sitting right in front of me on the desk. I do what I can. I leave there and drive over to the N. Fairfield farm. She had fallen asleep, so Ken gets her carseat out with her in it, so she doesn't wake up. I make lunch, which Ken said he would be right back for. Well, a half hour passes, no Ken, and now it's time for my other appt. that is in Norwalk. I "lug" the car seat back to the car (it's not the "intended to take out" kind *oh wait, that would be portable*, it's not the portable kind). I figure out how to strap it in. I am completely unnoticed. I leave. I get to the wrong doctor's office in Norwalk, but quickly found the right one. I walk in (and I'm not kidding when I say this) to gasps and ooo's and ahhhhh's over my baby. People can't not get enough of this child. I feel like royalty. (maybe you SHOULD have "7 childs" with him Emily) So, I have to listen to everyone tell me how beautiful she is, how old is she? what's her name? is she your only child? (oh, yeah, I got the grandma thing once too) Then I had to go to the room. The nurse comes in and says, I noticed you were having trouble getting the paperwork done, would you like me to hold her? sure, nurse, here ya go! While she is holding her she is asking if she can take a picture of her. I say, sure, why not, she follows up with: can I take her out where the other girls are? So, while I'm filling out paperwork BY MYSELF for 1/2 hour, I can hear oooo's and ahhhhh's and laughing and "she is so beautiful" going on. She finally brings her back, and wants the whole story as to why I have the priviledge of having her. Then the doctor comes in. He goes on and on about the baby, her hair, her earrings, her lips, her smile... then tells me I have little blisters on my lungs...nothing to worry about...if one would pop come back and see him...have a great day. All that paperwork for a few short sentences? I'm happy with that though. Much better than...I'm sorry you have blah blah blah. So, I take the baby and while I'm rummaging through my purse to pay, the lady behind the glass says.."oh, I'll take her for you" Once she gets her, she says..."you don't pay anything today". Oh, okay, thanks lady, now give me back my baby! As I'm leaving I got stopped by a lady in the waiting room. She wanted to tell me all about her 5 month old grandchild who has the same long black hair. Her name is Mara and she is Columubian, and she is beautiful, but she lives out of state, but she wishes that she didn't, because seeing my baby made her miss hers that much more. I told her I understand how she feels, that I have a grandbaby out of state also. Finally, I make it outdoors, and get going back home. (I have decided by now, I am not going to the tennis match that is in Fostoria) Ken must have finally missed me, 2 hours later, and called to see where I was. :-) I asked where Liz was? It is now 3:00 and I forgot about her. He had his mom pick her up and take her to the farm with her. So, I drove to the farm to get Liz. She is loving the new baby. She sits in the back with her. We ran a few errands, like returning Aunt Pam's camera (which Erin is home and it's always nice to see her sweet face!) They ooo and ahhh over my baby. Then Dan came home, he oooo'd and ahhh'd over my baby. Then we were off to the farm to see if Papi had returned. After all, it was nearing 5:00. When we get there, Papi is not there, but Grandpa H. is and is motioning me to pull over. He comes to the window and says, "this girl is having some health problems, can you take her to Dr. Paik right away?." Of course I can. That's what I'm destined to do. The girl gets in my car. She is a Mexican girl who looks so relieved and says..."habla espanol?" with a smile on her face because she is sure that I do. (after all, I'm dark and I have a hispanic baby sitting in my back seat). I say "un poquito". She begins rattling off a whole bunch of stuff, to which I say "mas despacio" which to me means more slowly. I have no idea what it means to her. We have an awkward ride to the Dr.'s office. I pull in and ask her in Spanish if this is her doctor. She shakes her head no. I ask her if she was ever there before? She shakes her head no. Well of course Dr. Paik isn't going to see her in his office. I told her she would have to go to the hospital. She shook her head no. So, now I need Becky to translate. I call our farm and put her on the phone with Becky. Becky got to the bottom of what the issues were and I headed to the hospital. While in the waiting room I discover that this girl is married to Margarito's cousin. So we chat it up in Spanish awhile. She knows who Ken is. I tell her we have 5 children and she asks me if Liz (who is with me) and the baby (who is with me) are my last two. (In my mind, I'm thinking...she's probably wondering how I have such a hispanic looking baby knowing Ken is blonde haired and blue eyed...hmmmmmm)! So, I quickly explain why I have her. Then they call us back, where I have to translate stuff I can barely translate. By this time I have asked Becky to come and help and am praying she shows up soon! I do what I can, and the nurse is SO NICE! What a pleasant change to how things usually go when you arrive with a non-Enlgish speaking person. Becky gets there and this girl that I brought grabbed my hand and thanked me over and over again. It was very sweet. She was very sweet. I really don't mind doing things like that (you can imagine what would have happened had Grandpa been the one to take her...makes me chuckle just thinking about it...can't you just hear him? "What do you mean he won't see her? Didn't he take an OATH to help people??? Guy, I'm telling you what!")! So, now it is almost 7. No papi, so Liz and I and the baby head back to N. Fairfield, since Becky is translating. I will say, I was of no help over there at all. I made supper and had Liz get a shower. We left N. Fairfield at around 11:00 p.m. Papi and Mommy didn't get home until around 11:30 p.m. Baby and parents were happily reunited, and I closed another day of life with All My Children, plus one. *sigh*

Stop this train...

John Mayer said it best:

No, I'm not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind
But I just can't sleep on this tonight

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

Don't know how else to say it
Don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game
To find a way to say that life has just begun

Had a talk with my old man
Said "help me understand"
He said "turn sixty-eight
You renegotiate"

"Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
And don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train"

Once in awhile, when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
Till you cry when you're driving away in the dark
Singing

Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train

1st Day of School

So, I've published alot of posts in the last two days, so be sure to check them all out. What's one more? These are a few pics from the girls first day of school, so Liz probably won't look too happy! This is Katie's first year driving. She decided to get her license the Friday before school started. She actually washed the car too! I was shocked, because we didn't even TELL her to!

Better late than never, eat your heart out Richard...

As promised, some pics of Liz's tent. Please notice how spacious it is, and how all the windows have screens, and what a beautiful view of the deck she has...what more could a girl want? The first one is looking through the back door window out the front door window...it looks like no screen at all.

Nobody Likes a Poor Sport...

Ready, Set, Action!
Kate and Ry chatting it up in between points...probably about the weather or something non-tennis related.
"I like to look like a lovely Greek statue when I serve!"
How low can you go?
Oh you know she's ready! Bring it on!


(These pictures are from a week ago, not today with Norwalk)

Kate and Ry are still undefeated! YAY! They played Norwalk for the 2nd time today. There were a few casualties. Jenna opened a can of tennis balls and cut her hand pretty badly. Amy face planted onto the court and chipped off 1/2 of her front tooth. There was a doctor from Norwalk at the match, so he tended to both girls, thankfully. I must say, however, that I just don't like poor sportsmanship. One of the team members Kate and Ry played is easily frustrated. She also blames her problems on the other team. (i.e. when she was walking off the court she was crying because "those girls" served the ball three times when she wasn't ready) She also hits her racket so hard on the ground you would think it would break! She ALSO THREW her racket when the match was over. They won 6-2, 6-2. Having said all that, you have to be amused with Kate and Ry. First of all, when they are warming up they are making all kinds of mistakes. They always laugh and giggle and look TOTALLY LEGALLY BRUNETTE! I think that's the first step to their winning...they seem like they wouldn't really care or know how to play tennis. Then, during the match, one of the things I think they do, that acutally helps them win, is stay calm. It seems no matter what is going on they enjoy all of it. They take the time, in between points, to cheer on their other teammates on the court, or comment on a pretty cloud. Their opponents are growling and banging rackets and telling themselves how stupid they were, while Kate and Ry smile, and high five each other, even if THEY didn't get the point. So today...before the "shaking of the hands" "that was a great match" took place, the one girl threw her racket across the court. You can see Kate and Ry trying to keep themselves in check, but as soon as the handshake was over, they turned the other direction and walked off cracking up at the ridulousness of it all. It's just something you have to experience. The Ryleigh-Kate Experience. Don't miss it, if you have the chance.

Seriously, who could resist?

So, I've been MIA for awhile...

That's because I have had alot to do. I know everyone else does too, but I didn't have time to blog. One of the most rewarding things I have been up to, is watching the precious, adorable, little girl pictured above. (the baby, I've been watching the other adorable little girls their whole lives!) I took care of her for 2 full days and most of a 3rd day. She is such a good baby. She is quiet and smiles all the time. She does want to be held all the time, but I don't mind. Even Ken is smitten with her. I know some of you (my older girls) are asking themselves...how can she watch a baby when she gets so paranoid? I still got paranoid. I was touching her chest 50 times a night to make sure she was breathing. I guess I was able to do it because the alternative for her would have been riding around in a semi truck for 2 days with only her daddy, who happened to have to drive the semi truck. How can you care for a 5 month old while driving a semi? I couldn't stand the thought of that. Her mommy was in the hospital, they have no family here, so my heart overtook my fear. We all just love her. Liz was so cute when we had to take her home Saturday morning. She kept saying that we just couldn't return her, that she felt like she was going to cry. I don't think I could ever be a foster parent. It would break my heart if I had a child for months, or years, and then have to give them back. Kudos to foster parents! (good foster parents, that is)

In other news, I went to Kate and Ry's tennis match yesterday. They won, so they are still undefeated. We're very proud of how well they have been playing. They have another match this evening. Liz has been home the last two days with a cold. She hasn't minded one bit, though. :-) Today, is my last Tuesday to drive Ang for her radiation treatments. She is on her last week. Please pray that they have done what they are supposed to do. She has been through so much! It's Uncle Alan's 50th birthday today! If you think about it, give him a call, or send an e-mail! I guess that's about all for now. If I don't get going, I'll be late to pick up Angela. For those of you wondering where Liz will be, I'm dropping her off at the trailor in North Fairfield. I'll probably have to ask Pedro to check in on her, so "someone" will remember to! LOL

That's all for now!

Love to all!

So far....UNDEFEATED

So far, Kate and Ry are undefeated. They play doubles together. It's pretty cute that they play together, because they've been "playing" together since they were babies. Today was a nail biter. They lost the first set, won the second set, and came back to win the third set after being down 4-1. They are funny, because their opponents will be so frustrated and Kate and Ry will just laugh about it all. They stay calm and relaxed while we sit on the edge of our seats.

Pete and Repeat were sitting on a fence, Pete fell off, Who was left?

So, it's Sunday. I would like to write about Sunday dinner with Grandpa P. My girls are very amused with him, especially Liz. He has famous lines that he repeats every Sunday. Every Sunday we laugh at them, as if we don't know they are coming. Now, please understand, we don't laugh gratuitously, but genuinely. I guess it's his delivery that gets to us. He used to walk in every Sunday and say, "well Kenny, if we keep this up we're gonna have to put a "lean to" on the side of the house." That progressed to "well Kenny, ya got my lean to built yet?" He doesn't do that so much anymore. He used to ask Rob every Sunday if he was gay. Now that Rob is gone, the minute he sees Kate, he says, "Katie got dumped." Followed by, "oh boy Liz, when are you gonna get dumped, Katie got dumped." I must say that she takes it quite well.
But when it comes to dinner, those are the lines you can count on week after week. We'll start with Ken's prayer.
"Well Kenny, yer gettin' to be as long winded as the preacher!"...or it could be, "I wouldn't have gone to church, if I knew I was going to get a sermon here."
Then it's time to eat. The lines here start off with, "why did you cook so much food Pam...I mean Cindy..Margaret....Karen...Robin".
"I'm so full, I won't have to eat any supper tonight."
"I don't want any more meatloaf!" ...followed by "give me some more of that meat loaf."
Dad, do you want ice cream and cake or canteloupe? "yeah"
Dad, do you want more lemonade? "yeah, only 1/2 a glass" followed in a few minutes by, "hey, give me another glass of that lemonade!"
Here's our favorite: "I'm so full I couldn't eat another bite, what ya got for dessert?"

Life is different than it used to be with my parents. They have mellowed out. Mom just sits quietly and smiles, unless Dad says something inappropriate, then she'll reprimand him. Overall, it's quite pleasant. We enjoy our Sunday dinners. Ask my dad how he's doing...he'll answer, "I'm still above ground!" If you are reading this, you can be thankful for that too!

Guilty

Okay, so I was checking up on all my children and discovered that I have been talking about Sarah Palin way too much! I have come to the conclusion that I LOVE SARAH PALIN! I do, I can't help myself. I like how she talks, how she acts, how she delivers speeches, how she governs, how she can step out on a stage with a family who is not perfect (like all the rest of us), and look confident, and smile, and be so doggone appealing! So, I am guilty as charged! I LOVE SARAH PALIN!

Phantom Kitten

The kitten left yesterday, but its spirit remains. Whenever Liz would get out of a chair or walk anywhere in the house she would quick run so the kitten didn't attack her. I kept hearing phantom purring and was sure my earlobe was going to be attacked at any moment. I'm not kidding. I have been hearing that kitten purr, or at least I think I'm hearing it. It's amazing how used to something you get and even though you know it's not here, you think it still is. Why don't I think that about Ken? He's not here, and I don't imagine him snoring in bed (ha ha), or hear him walking through the house, or think he's going to throw open the basement door and jump out. I KNOW he's not here. I KNOW the kitten's not here, but it sure feels like it is. You know what I think? We are victims. Victims of kitten abuse. That kitten was in control of our home for weeks and now we are so beaten down and fearful of being bitten, scratched, earlobes sucked on, that we just can't allow ourselves to BELIEVE that we are free! That's what I think! LOL

Cats, Kids, and Other Mysteries...

Ok, so yesterday I wanted to post, but I didn't have time! Why? Well, I went to the MH unit at the public school to see if this would work out well for Liz. (MH, multiple handicap...or MD multiple disabilities, not sure what it's called) It was good that I went there, because even though Liz isn't performing as an average student in a regular classroom setting, she would probably be the highest functioning in that particular classroom. There are all different levels of disabilities, downs, mute, visually impaired, mild retardation. I have to say I admire the teacher (there is only one, with a couple of aides) because she has things under control and pretty well organized for dealing with grades 5th through
8th. I just don't feel it would be fair to Elizabeth to put her in that situation when she has the luxury of a full time aide (which we are constantly reminded that that "never" happens). Liz really liked it because she felt it was fun and easy. So, we'll continue to try and modify her curriculum until we reach a point where she isn't stressed so we won't be either! :-) After that I took Liz to CCS, for about an hour, then picked her up, then drove her and a friend to the farm, then left to drive to Cleveland to pick up my car, which was being repaired, then drove back, picked the girls up from the farm, drove through McD's got them a highly nutritious supper, dropped Liz's friend off, dropped Liz off at our house with Katie, drove to the church for a 7:00 meeting, returned home at 9:10, just in time to put Liz to bed, watched Mrs. Palin and went to bed myself! Whoopeee! I don't like days like that.

In other news, my darling precious Katie. What shall we do with her? Her dad sent a check to school with her 2 days ago to pay her school fees. We asked her about it this morning before she left. The conversation between her and her daddy went something like this...
"Did you pay your school fees?"
"yes"
"Where is the receipt?"
"I don't know."
"Did they give you a receipt?"
"I think so."
"You think so, or you know so?"
"I think so."
"But you don't know for sure?"
"no"
"Why don't you know?"
"I don't remember"
"Katie, it was 2 days ago, did they give you a receipt or paper or anything?"
"I'm not sure."
"How much did you write the check for?"
"I don't know."
"Katie, you just wrote the check 2 days ago and you can't REMEMBER the amount you wrote in? Don't you remember writing it?"
"no"
"Did you even write the check?"
"yes"
(mother interjects "I bet she didn't even write the check")
"I'm positive I wrote the check"
"But you don't remember writing in the amount?"
"no"
(Dad calls the school, secretary says, if she wrote a check she would absolutely have been given a receipt)
"Katie, the secretary says that if you wrote a check they would have given you a receipt, did you write the check?"
"I'm sure I wrote the check"
"Then where is the receipt?"
(by this time, she is rummaging in her purse, and I ask her if she is looking for the receipt)
she says: "no, I'm trying to find my lip gloss"
So folks, I think that says everything I need to say about that.

So, Rob's kitten is supposed to leave my house today. Let me remind you, this is a kitten he brought here because Kaje would just KILL him if he got rid of it. It would only be here for a little bit and he would take it to Chicago. Rob's been living in Chicago, the kitten is still here. Imagine that? And now...the kitten that he HAD to haul from Grand Rapids to here because it was SO LOVED is now being given to Kaje's sister. Where is Kaje's sister? GRAND RAPIDS! WHY then, did we have to suffer all these weeks? WHY? It's going right back to the city from whence it came! This kitten is a freak. Two nights ago I was laying on the couch, it came running over, jumped on the adjacent couch facing the kitchen. It was on it's hind legs standing straight up staring at something for a long time. WIERD! When I was doing Liz's hair for school, it jumped on the edge of the toilet and was playing in the water! GROSS! Yesterday, I was sitting in a chair. It jumped on the back of the chair, then put its front paws on my shoulders and began trying to nurse from my earlobe. When it wants to suck on your ear, it's purr gets so loud you wouldn't even believe it. FREAK! If I have to run out somewhere, when I come home, Liz has all the doors in the house shut and the cat locked behind one of them because "it was trying to attack her AGAIN!" If you were to come to our house in the evening, let's say while we are watching Sarah Palin deliver a fantastic speech, you would find us covering our ears and begging the kitten to stop trying to nurse from our earlobes. It's like an old horror film, we all hear the Ear Sucking Purr begin and cover our ears and wait for the attack! I wish I was, but I am NOT EVEN KIDDING! So, today, I will say FREE AT LAST!

Oh, and Emily, I need some life coaching. I have been a little busy and stressed, and with that I have slipped back into my diet coke addiction. I feel awful. Everything aches, and yet, I keep returning to my drug of choice! WHY oh WHY?