Times They Are a Changin'...

We had our first "snow"... white stuff fell from the sky... but THANKFULLY didn't linger on the ground... I fear it's a "pre-show" of what's to come!

6 BIG BLACK TRASHBAGS have been filled... my "FAVORITES" list got (DRASTICALLY) pared down on the computer... my skin got "itchy"... I HAD to "clean house"...

When my OLDEST was little (around 9ish) he couldn't watch AIRBUD without busting out crying... 14 years later... not much has changed

We've switched over to a "Fall Menu"... soups, potpies and casseroles... and YUMMY CHILI (just spicey enough to give ya the sniffles!)

I was in the store the other day and had to stop short... WAS THAT CHRISTMAS MUSIC I WAS HEARING over the PA system? YEP...

It feels like we go to bed Sunday night... wake up and it's FRIDAY already... time didn't seem to FLY so fast when I was younger!!!

More days than not lately I just stand here DUMBFOUNDED and think to myself "WHERE did my SWEET GIRL go"???

We were HONORED to Attend...

And we will NEVER FORGET...

ALWAYS REMEMBER...

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed...

And nothing concealed that will not be known... or brought out into the open


Luke 8:17


I always think it's interesting when you "stumble" across something that seems to just SMACK YOU IN THE FACE...

9 Tids and Bits

We took a "trip" to BIKINI BOTTOM recently... Everyone had a fun time... warm weather... good company... and a SPECIAL CELEBRATION!

We recently replaced our 1979 WASHER AND DRYER with a 2011 WASHER AND DRYER

BEST TEXT I EVER GOT... 'I wish I had a BRITISH ACCENT' (although 'Nobody likes a stale cracker' ran a close SECOND)

3 DAYS of POURING RAIN... on the 4th DAY... woke up to 5" of what has been called "HEART ATTACK SNOW"

I was ONCE likened to LUKE SKYWALKER... and I was FLATTERED

A VERY SPECIAL SOMEONE is coming to visit... I'm HOPING they'll give me a HAND UP outta this hole I've been in...

I always wonder when someone ASKS for an OPINION... do they want an OPINION... or YOUR OPINION?

I think CURTIS STONE is just YUMMY... YUM YUM YUMMY

Spring HAS to come... right... it like a RULE or something isn't it???

***DON'T FORGET TO "SPRING AHEAD" tonight!!!***

ONE... but not the OTHER...

ONE is a "LOVER"... but not the OTHER... I can appreciate that...

ONE follows the "rules" of the house... but not the OTHER... that bugs me... RULES are RULES!

ONE is a RASCAL... but not the OTHER... BOYS will be BOYS so they say...

ONE is a HUGGER... but not the OTHER... It's a PERSONAL SPACE thing I'm thinking...

ONE likes to sit in the window and watch the world go by... but not the OTHER... Do YOU crave ANONIMITY too?

ONE likes to play "fetch"... but not the OTHER... Maybe you could learn the JUMP/HOW HIGH game?

ONE likes to be a neckwarmer... but not the OTHER... Isn't it ALL about WARM TOES?

ONE is the LEADER.. but not the OTHER... we can't ALL be LEADERS... right?

ONE is the FOLLOWER... but not the OTHER... If everyone else jumped off the BRIDGE... would YOU... would you REALLY?"

ONE is the TEACHER... but not the OTHER... Wax on... Wax off...

ONE is the STUDENT... but NOT the OTHER... our own "in-house GRASSHOPPER"...

ONE is cautious and careful... but not the OTHER... REMEMBER the story of the tortiose and the hare?

ONE craves a HIDING PLACE that cannot be found by the OTHER...

ONE wishes the OTHER would stop hiding...

Have Not... Have...

I HAVE NOT cleaned out and organized the closets...

I HAVE NOT picked out the paint color for the upstairs bathroom...

I HAVE NOT mopped the kitchen floor... seriously... it's like polishing a TURD...

I HAVE NOT decorated for Valentine's Day... I've bought some cheesy items to decorate WITH... but they are sitting in a bag in the pantry...

I HAVE NOT dusted... for a LONG TIME...

I HAVE NOT kept up with correspondence... I'm kinda feeling "important" with that double digit number in my "INBOX"...

I HAVE NOT picked out the paint color for the kitchen...

I HAVE NOT been exercising...

I HAVE NOT organized photographs... BUT I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS!!!

I HAVE NOT thinned out the videos/DVDs...

I HAVE NOT found a pair of BOOTS that I even half LIKE... let alone LOVE... although I DO LOVE my UGGS... they are "COLD WEATHER" CUTE... not DIRTY SLUSHY ICEY SNOW CUTE...

I HAVE NOT gotten a MUCH NEEDED haircut...

I HAVE NOT colored my hair... (which is also MUCH NEEDED)

BUT...

I HAVE gotten up every morning, SHOWERED and gotten dressed... in CLOTHES... and gotten Lilley-Kate to school ON TIME...

I HAVE packed Lilley-Kate LUNCH every day...

I HAVE become a FAN of ALL THINGS "JERSEY"...

I HAVE spent ALL DAY (most)somedays... on the COUCH... watching ALL THINGS "JERSEY"...

I HAVE walked around the house AIMLESSLY... looking at ALL THE THINGS I haven't DONE...

I HAVE formed a VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP with MULTI-GRAIN PRINGLES and PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms...

I HAVE figured out the PERFECT BLANKET LAYERING NUMBER to be cozy on the COUCH...

I HAVE vacummed every evening...

I HAVE made beds every day...

I HAVE THOUGHT about making a couple of new "HEAT BAGS"... since the SMELL OF BURNT RICE is getting pretty unbearable...

I HAVE been SHORT TEMPERED...

I HAVE been IMPATIENT...

I HAVE been WEEPY... WHO KNEW ALL THINGS "JERSEY" (and JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE) could make someone CRY???


OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD... Will it EVER STOP SNOWING???

Things That Drive Me BATTY...

People who wear PAJAMAS (and YES... those DISNEY CHARACTER LOUNGE PANTS ARE CONSIDERED PAJAMAS) to the GROCERY STORE...

People who "allow" their CHILDREN to ride in the FRONT SEAT of a vehicle... UNBUCKLED (noless)... I understand that you drive a "tank"... BUT still...

People who let their trashcans sit out at the curb EMPTY... trash pick-up was THREE DAYS AGO...

People who "allow" their CHILDREN to run RAMPANT through a "resturant"... YOU may think it's CUTE... but I don't... and I can prety much GUARENTEE other people don't either...

When LIVE broadcasts run "long"... and then mess up the schedule on my DVR

WIND... WIND that makes the temperature PLUMMET

TALKING the TALK.... but NOT WALKING the WALK

COLD Leather CARSEATS... and on the FLIPSIDE... HEATED SEATS

Getting STUCK behind someone who is OBVIOUSLY chatting it up on their CELLPHONE at a RED LIGHT (that turned GREEN 10 seconds ago!)

STATIC... I don't like getting "zapped"...

Asking a SALES ASSOCIATE a SIMPLE question and having them look at you like you have just spoken to them in CHINESE...

Coming home from the GROCERY STORE and realizing we DID NEED MILK... *sigh*

NAME DROPPERS

BRAND WHORES... I can TELL by the COLOR of your "cutesy" sweatpants WHERE they came from... I DON'T need to see the BRAND NAME plastered across your bum!

DISRESPECT

PEOPLE who will undoubtedly CARRY their INFANT up to my FRONT DOOR (dresses in an ADORABLE DISNEY COSTUME... hold out a PILLOWCASE and say "TRICK or TREAT"... are you REEEEEEEEEAAAAALLLLY going to let your INFANT eat the candy? Or are you going to SAVE IT until their teeth come in???

Catching Up...

WHEW! We are full sprint to the end of the school year! 2 Field Trips... EOY school carnival... teachers gifts/cards to prep for giving...


RECITAL is fast approaching... Lilley-Kate's last "Studio Lesson" is next Tuesday... formal portraits scheduled... then starts a week of "Stage Lessons"... Dress Rehearsal and finally RECITAL DAY!!!


"Shy Child" got a Summer Job at a neighborhood Convenience Store and has been coming home every evening with the most HILARIOUS stories...


Just when I thought GLEE couldn't get ANY BETTER... IT DID!!!


Our Annual Multi-Family Garage Sale is set for June 5th... My Dining Room has been taken over with all the "STUFF" for the sale


Michael INSISTED that the AC be turned on this past WEDNESDAY when the temp hit 88*...


Lilley-Kate is becoming quite the HULA HOOPER, JUMP ROPER, and BADMITTON PLAYER... now if we can just get her on her BIKE we'd be set!


The "Bird War" continues between Michael and the neighbor... it's a "friendly" war... but a war none the less!


We've been enjoying dinners out on the patio every evening...


Time has been flying by so fast... it's hard to believe the end of SECOND GRADE is here! Lilley-Kate is excited to see WHO her teacher will be (it's a toss up as our district does not (formally) allow "requesting") for THIRD GRADE... SHY CHILD will begin his SENIOR YEAR of COLLEGE (how did THAT come so fast?)... I've decided just to "hang on tight" and enjoy the ride as best as I can... THANKFULLY my calendar... and a cabinet front of sticky notes keeps everything is order!!!


Have a nice day!

A REMINDER of HOME...

Right outside my window...



Who says you can't "go home" again? Even if only in our memories?...

Just Sayin'...

My FAVORITE seamripper has went missing... I'm suspicious as to WHERE... I miss you FAVORITE SEAMRIPPER... PLEASE reappear soon

I'm going to have to take Lilley-Kate to have her feet measured... she's wearing shoes ranging in size from 13 1/2 to a 3... It's really got me curious as to WHAT her "true" shoesize is

I found out (quite by accident) that EASTER is NEXT WEEKEND... Hmmmmm... I thought it was 2 weeks away... so once again I am totally NOT PREPARED and have 6 days to get it together

Willard Scott STILL CREEPS ME OUT... and AL ROKER is starting to

Michael asked me how I was liking "being a FOLLOWER"... and then commented "how can you TYPE that fast?"... PRACTICE sweetie... LOTS of practice

Guest Blogging/Blog swapping... is it the newest trend? I'm thinking... but it's just too much clicking and backreading for me to enjoy

We're expecting SNOW... but have had a few "teaser days"... it gives me HOPE

Cleaned out my closet and drawers... got rid of a shirt I have had for over 10 years (and miss it almost as much as my FAVORITE SEAMRIPPER)

I really DON'T like it being "ALL ABOUT ME"... I'd MUCH RATHER it be more about someone else...

HUMP DAY...

Mid-week and my MIND is full of thoughts...

I HAVE to be ME... TRUE to MYSELF...

I have THE BEST BESTIES...

THANK GOD the OLYMPICS ARE OVER...

The SUN IS SHINING... (that is a VERY GOOD THING in my world)...

REGIS NEEDS to RETIRE... (PLEASE RETIRE REGIS)...

I'm NOT diggin all the "MOOBS" on SURVIVOR this season...

Even if we CAN'T choose our FAMILY... I'm SURE GLAD we CAN choose our FRIENDS...

PATRICK JANE is HOT HOT HOOOOOOOOOOOOT...

"RANDOMLY LALA"... whatcha think???

"Joe" KNOWS...

Life is a Garden... DIG IT!!!!

It's Simple Really...

One Word...

I love coming across "new" (to me) blogs... the ideas and inspiration is exciting!


I have struggled with myself for a while... putting on a happy face when all I really wanted to do was crawl into a closet, shut the door, and let the world pass me by...


Then I came across THIS POST last night... I read it... and reread it... thought about it... and started to feel a bit better about the "whole thing"...


And then I chose my word...

THIS Hot Mess...

Is at the TOP of my "TO DO" List...

Something to Think About...

5 On Friday...

WOOOOOOWEEEEEE... seems every time I turn around it's FRIDAY again... So here we go with my "5 On Friday"...




1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the "layway" option... it's a DANG SHAME that MORE STORES don't offer this "service"...

2. Although I LOVE browsing other blogs... I am a bit baffled... how can "someone" post a SINGLE PICTURE with NO TEXT and get over 200 "hits"/comments???... and some of the comments don't relate in ANY WAY to the picture that is/was posted (I realize everyone interprets things DIFFERENTLY but still... )

3. I'm making it a goal that once the weather turns colder I am going to learn what I can of PHOTOSHOP... I believe it IS POSSIBLE to learn more than I know (which is how to load the pictures into PS and whiten teeth)... I'm determined... D E T E R M I N E D!!!!

4. Soon it will be CHILI and POT PIE season!!! Our "coldest" night so far has gotten down to 42*!!!

5. I don't understand... the kids have been in school LESS THAN A MONTH... WHAT could there be for parents to complain about ALREADY??? SERIOUSLY... I wish some people would just take a deep breath and step back...

Have a GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!! :o)

A Day of Rememberance... 9/11/01

It's really hard to believe that it has been 8 years already... time has gone on... as have we... as individuals... and a nation... only stopping momentarily to briefly remember that life-changing, nation-changing day in 2001...

I heard today referred to as "Remembrance Day"... on the news and radio... and it made me wonder... DO WE REALLY REMEMBER??? TRULY REMEMBER that day... and the events that unfolded???

I remember... I WANT to remember... everything about that day... the CLEAR CLEAR blue sky... the sun shining so bright... the FEELINGS... HORROR... FEAR... DISBELIEF... ANGER... and SADNESS... deep deep SADNESS... and the SILENCE... so STILL...

I want to remember the guy down the street who came outside and walked up and down our street playing Amazing Grace on his trumpet... while the neighborhood came out, gathering in their front yards to listen... and just be... together... I want to remember the FLAGS... that appeared everywhere... a sign of UNITY and STRENGTH against an "UNKNOWN"... and the way I felt... seeing those flags... STRONG... and PROUD... UNITED

But with the passage of time... Memories have faded... and FEELINGS have changed... for some individually and as a nation... but I WANT TO REMEMBER... and if I my memories start to fade... and my feelings start to change... I WANT TO BE REMINDED... it's just that important...

That I NEVER FORGET...

5 on Friday...

WOW... it's FRIDAY already??? Yep... so here it is... 5 on Friday

1. I think people would be surprised to know what runs through my mind sometimes...

2. I could eat PIZZA for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 365 days a year...

3. I LOVE Summer... HOT... HUMID SUMMER... the HOTTER the BETTER (I thank my Southern upbringing for that!)

4. I hate to be cold...

5. I wish I knew THEN what I know NOW... it would've made things a LOT easier!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!

5 On Friday...

My Friend JENN recently started a little diddy she calls "10 on Tuesday"... I thought it was a fun idea so I decided to start "5 on Friday" (I decided trying to come up with 10 interesting things all in one fell swoop would leave me sitting here all day... LOL...) So here we go.... the first FIVE ON FRIDAY...


1. I am old enough to remember life without UNLEADED GAS, MICROWAVES, REMOTE CONTROLLED TVs, ANSWERING MACHINES, CELLPHONES, DIGITAL CAMERAS, and COMPUTERS (and no... I'm not THAT OLD!)


2. I am old enough to remember life with ASSIGNED SEATS ON THE SCHOOLBUS, ASSIGNED SEATS IN CLASSES, CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS, HOME EC. CLASSES and AFTER SCHOOL DANCES (and again... I'm not THAT OLD!)


3. I am old enough to remember life without 24 HOUR NEWS CHANNELS, MTV, VH1, BET, FOOD NETWORK, NICKELODEON, LIFETIME and CABLE TV!


4. I am old enough to remember life with AFTER SCHOOL SPECIALS, SATURDAY MORNING (only) CARTOONS, THE WALTONS, HAPPY DAYS, DALLAS and WILD KINGDOM! (and I don't even walk with assistance yet!)


5. I am old enough to remember life without DRIVE THRU BANKING, ATMS, DEBIT CARDS, and FAST FOOD RESTURANTS TAKING CREDIT CARDS!

Like I said... I'm not THAT OLD... but sometimes I sure feel THAT OLD!


Have a nice weekend everyone!