Long Day = Long Post

This morning, while having coffee, my friend and I were discussing the homecoming dance. She didn't know if her son was going to the dance because his girlfriend was in Kansas City at the races.

My mother was with us and she said:

"When is she getting her braces?"

My response: RACES NOT BRACES!!
******************************
This was on my answering machine when I came home from coffee.

"Your dog is at our house in the 700 block of South Chestnut and we think she is ready to come home."

My Response:

If she is so ready to come home why didn't she just stay here in the first place. I called Randy and he went and picked her up, brought her home and promptly fixed a hole in our fence.
******************************
This afternoon while visiting my father-in-law in the nursing home I asked him what he had for lunch. He told me he didn't eat lunch because he wasn't hungry because he had such a big breakfast. I asked him what he had for breakfast.

This is what he said:

"French toast with peanut butter....wait right there! Who on earth puts peanut butter on french toast???

My response:

Randy and Abe do, too!
******************************
At Stone Creek Nursery I saw an acquaintance. She mentioned that she always thought of me as an artistic person and asked me if I could help her figure something out.

My response:

I think you have me mixed up with my daughter, Annie, who is in AP Art and quiet possibly will be an art major in college. Said acquaintance really does not know me at all!
******************************
I had an e-mail from Abby today. Her and Stella made cut out sugar cookies last night. They had cookie dough and frosting EVERYWHERE! This is true. I saw the pictures.

This is what she said:

"After Stella and I were finished making cookies, Jeff was so nice to clean up the mess he did not make."

My response:

"Now I know why she was in such a hurry to marry the man! I've really never known Abby to clean up her own mess!"
******************************
Abby also told us that Stella decorated a purple and pink pumpkin sugar cookie.

Abe asked me this:

"Are they going to eat that thing or is it just a decoration?"

My response:

"I think they are framing it. Abby told me that they don't have much wall decor or maybe they will make it into a magnet and hang it on the fridge. Whatever they do with it I'm sure we will see it in person when we go for Thanksgiving."

Good Grief! Whoever heard of using a sugar cookie as a decoration?

Abe's response to me:

"I think I am going to frost one of our pumpkin sugar cookies with pink and purple frosting and call it STELLA!"

My Response: HUH????

******************************

This evening we went to an "all you can eat" German buffet.

This is what Abe said:

"Mom, these green beans are so much better than the ones you make. No offense.."

My response:

No offense taken. I just open a can. I guess I will search for a new brand.

******************************

We had 20 highschool kids here for dinner before the homecoming dance. TWENTY! I don't even have my OWN friends or family over! What is up with that?

No! I did not cook. Pizza Hut delivery rocks! (Go Tab!)

This is what I heard one of the boys tell his date as they were leaving for the dance:

"Hey! Let's see if we can get kicked out of the dance tonight!

I am sure he was kidding? Don't you think?

My Response:

"If Annie would happen to get kicked out of the dance - it would be a very long time until any of you would ever see her again. If ever!"

I was kidding. Don't you think?
******************************
At 8:30 I am standing on my porch watching 20 teen-age drivers load up into their cars to go the dance.

My Response:

I felt as if I was giving an Academy Award speech on my front steps as I said. "No drinking. Make good choices. Buckle up! If you go to Hutch to I-Hop I don't want you passing on the highway. No left turns." (I always joke and say this)

Their Response (in 20 unison voices): YOU SOUND JUST LIKE MY MOM!

10. Lessons

It appears to be a kid blogging Friday. So here is mine!

10 lessons from my children.

1. Love at first sight. November 10, 1986 (6 lbs 2 oz). February 19, 1990 (8 lbs 4 oz). May 16, 2000 (7 lbs 6 oz).
   
2. You can be sicker than a dog at 7 a.m. and appear to be perfectly fine and back to climbing door jams by early afternoon - the same day!
3. My child may move very far away (Chicago!) and I will survive. I didn't say it was easy, though, but I'm doing it.
   
4. Toothless grins let you get away with murder.
   
5. It is true what they say - they do grow up way too fast! There were some days where I thought I was loosing my mind and then POOF! All of a sudden - Class of 2008!
   
6. They are not a mini me. They will make choices that I would not have made and that is OK. In fact - some of their choices are better than mine would have been.
   
7. No matter how old they are (or think they are) they will always be my "babies."
   
8. Kid's don't put God in a box. I have enjoyed watching my girls claim their own faith and walk their own walk. I especially needed this lesson in my ever-so-legalistic life.
   
9. Don't ever, no matter what, run out of JIF creamy. In fact, always keep an extra jar in the cupboard.
   
10. A mothers love and concern (worry? not me!) for her children never ends. Even when they are all grown up and married and are a mommy, too.
    

Just goin' for a walk!

Yesterday, the nursing home put a "Wonder Guard" on Papaw Bon.

I thought it was some contraption to help him with his "accidents."

I was wrong.

Apparently, Papaw decided to go for a walk.

OUTSIDE!

He had been MIA and they found him trying to get out the front door.

Randy doesn't think he could punch in the key code.

I think he doesn't give his dad enough credit.

So now he has a Wander Guard bracelet on.

He can't go more than 5 feet from his room without it alerting the nurses that he is on the "run."

I am thinking that today we will find out that he has been in the time-out chair, too.

Tummy-ache Tuesday

Almost every morning Abe gets up and eats breakfast with Randy at 5:30 a.m. Then he comes and crawls in bed with me until we get up to get ready for school and work.

This morning, as he is crawling next to me and giving me kisses from his dad and then kisses from him, too, he informs me that he has a tummy ache. But not to worry because after his PBJ toast and glass of milk his dad gave him a Tums. Great.

I feel like my ESP has kicked in. I KNOW that he is going to throw up. Just not so sure when.

I ask him if he needs the throw up bucket (which are stored under every single bed of our house.)

He says he thinks he will be fine. He did take a Tums, afterall.

An hour later I wake up. Wondering how on earth I could have slept through my alarm for the second day in a row. This is when I realize that my side of the alarm has been shut off.

I wake Abe up telling him we need to hustle. A typical morning of us running behind.

He looks at me and says his tummy hurts really bad now and he is going to the bathroom. He runs to the bathroom.

The good news is that he made it to the bathroom in time!

The bad news is that he is definitely sick. With fever and throwing up.

So Randy and I are now working split shift. He worked until 10:30 and picked up Sprite and Saltines on the way home. I put chicken in the oven for chicken noodle soup and headed to work.

Oh! The joy of being a mother who also works outside the home.

Friday's top 10 - on Monday!

Ok. Ok. So here is my Friday 10. Very late. I turned in an extra-credit (11 items) to make up for my tardiness.

We have worked non-stop on our little dream home for almost three years now. Our "to do" list has dwindled tremendously but because I am still part of the equation - there is still much left to do.

Top 10 "homework" projects on my (our??) TO DO LIST:

1. Garage - needs a complete overhaul. And I have this brilliant idea to build a trellis over the garage door (driveway side.) It will make my garage look like it belongs in Nantucket. If I can't go to the coast I will bring the coast to me. To Maple Street.
2. Power wash front porch - A summers worth of dirt and cob webs call our porch home. You may think I have decorated for Halloween. For a haunted house. I did not.
3. Paint the entire back side of the house - Randy says the best way to paint a house is a side a year. His brilliant idea, not mine. What if I want to switch the siding color? Then what?
4. Clean the attic - I have tried to do this several times since Abby moved. It always ends with me in tears. It then takes several days for me to kick it. I'm not going there - literally.
5. Clean Windows - Seriously, some of these windows have not seen vinegar since 1968. And I just read in a magazine it's one of the easiest and cheapest ways to brighten your home! Mom? HELP!
6. Paint an old coffee table black - I wanted to feel successful and so I cheated and put this already finished project on my list! Randy did this over the weekend. I just moved it back in today. Love it, too!
7. Finish changing Abe's outlets - all brand new white outlets and covers have been in his desk drawer since last October. One of these days.....
8. Clean out our garden - Seriously, Abe brought in a cucumber the size of watermelon and wanted it for supper. Too bad the fair is over. I think we have a 60 pounder!
9. Paint the trim in our office - We went through gallons and gallons of bright white oil base paint when we moved in. All baseboards, trim, crown moldings & doors (minus said office) have been primed and two finish coats. I'm sure in 1972 the trim where I am currently sitting was "white". In September of 2007 it is the color of the dead millers I find all over my house.
10. New bathtub & tile - Our tub is plastic with a built in shower stall (GROSS!) I want a whirlpool tub and stone tile behind it. I'm dreaming.... however, I think if I say it out loud it will come to be. Right? I saw that on Oprah.
11. A bathroom in the attic (this is my extra credit) - I would love to have a bathroom upstairs for when the Jone's come home to visit. (I hope they will come to visit.) I don't know how I feel about brushing my teeth while my new son-in-law is behind the shower curtain taking a shower! This one might need to go on the "urgent" list of things to do!

Urgent OR Important?

Children grow up.
Parent's grow older.
Friend's move away or their life may take a new direction.
Paths eventually stop crossing.

When do we really connect with people? Should it not be more than cell phones and e-mails?

Those work to fill in the gap but what about the way our grandparents lived?

More intentional.

Face to Face.

Checker to Checker.

Dinner plate to Dinner plate.

I heard this today and cannot stop thinking about it:

If we sat down and took two pieces of paper, and wrote down the important things on one page, and the urgent things on the other, I believe we'd find that the two are never on the same page. Paying the bills, taking care of the fires, they are all on the urgent list. Doing what the world dictates appears to be important. But the truly important things, our families, serving God, helping the poor, encouraging the down trodden and the sick, they are not on the urgent list. And there is a battle for the mind everyday. Unless you and I force the important on the list, we will never accomplish the truly important things of life. When we die, no one will remember 50 years from today what kind of car we drove or what kind of house we live in, but we will be remembered for the important things that we did. Keep the focus. What is the main thing?

-David Jeremiah

Sweet Tea and Strawberry Milk

We are a family of sweet tea drinkers.
This summer we discovered several McDonald's that serve sweet tea. Two, actually. Branson, MO and Emporia, KS.
Saturday, we buzzed through the Park City drive through for a drink. As is my habit, I asked if they sold sweet tea.

Imagine my surprise when she said "Yes."

I ordered two sweet tea's. We can hardly wait!

I pulled through to window #1 and paid for the drinks. I told the worker we were excited because we love McDonald's sweet tea and have a hard time finding it around here. I am sure she was thinking that I was more than a little odd because she mumbled something about them making their own sweet tea.

What does this mean?

Don't all McDonald's brew their own tea?

While we were waiting in the drive through lane my passenger and I joked about them dumping some sugar into our cups before handing them to us.

How stupid would that be? They wouldn't know how much sugar to put in?

Then we joked about getting unsweetened tea with a bunch of sugar packets.

That would be stupid. If you add sugar to cold tea the sugar just floats around. It does not dissolve. That is not sweet tea. YUK!

When we finally arrived at window #2 this is what they handed us:

Two unsweetened iced teas and about 10 sugar packets.

I had to change our order to Rootbeer and Diet Coke.
Guess what? No Rootbeer.

Doesn't McDonald's Make it my way? or is that Wendy's. Burger King?

We finally drive away with 1 unsweetened iced tea and 1 Diet Coke.

More on drinks....












Abe (while drinking chocolate milk): Where does chocolate milk come from?

Randy: From brown cows.

Abe: No, really. Where does chocolate milk from?

Randy: Really. It comes from brown cows.

Abe: Sweet! I'm gonna go find myself a pink cow. I love Strawberry milk!

Go Patriots!!

We survived our first flag football game. It was lots of fun.

TGIF

My week has been long and busy. I am so ready for this weekend. It can't start soon enough.

My Friday morning didn't start out so hot, however. From the getgo I was preoccupied with a family situation which has been brewing and isn't pretty. Then while I was unloading the dishwasher I broke a drinking glass, Annie was not happy about our choices of breakfast cereal and I was really sleepy. This morning was yucky.

Nowhere to go but up - Right?!

Here are a few things I am looking forward to from 2:30 forward!

Today: After school we are baking Monster Cookies (Abe has been begging).

This evening: a nursing home visit and then smores in the back yard and my 3 mile walk.

Tomorrow: Coffee and roll with my dear friend. My weekly therapy which costs me right around $3.00

Abe's first ever flag football game. This morning he was getting nervous. He told me that he is the quarterback and he doesn't even know how to throw the ball. I reminded him that he was the running back and not the quarter back and he does not have to throw the ball. Oops. He forgot!

After the game I am going to spend the entire rest of the day (and maybe evening) in Wichita with one of my most favorite people. We haven't hung out in forever and I can't wait! It is just what the Doctor ordered.

Sunday: Church and nap. My walk. I would love to try a round of Pitch with my family. Who knows? We are still in the process of teaching Abe how to play. He has lots of potential to be winner. He is my new partner!

This schedule is subject to change but with my laundry caught up (thanks to Randy) and my house clean (that would be me!) I think I can be very flexible. I can roll with the punches.

Monday - we will start all over again!

Words that have touched my heart....

Here are some random words that I have heard in the last 24 hours.

• From Abe (referring to his gym teacher): I don't remember her name but she has hair to her shoulders and it has white and black stripes in the back.
  

Either his teacher is Ms. Skunk or she has some major highlights goin' on!

• From Annie (while looking through pictures from Abby's senior year): These pictures give me a knot in my stomach. It seems like Abby was just my age. I don't want my senior year to end. Ever.
  

Everyday I realize how much our two hearts are so alike.

• From Papaw Bon, with tears in his eyes (on why he should still be in the hospital and not in the nursing home): I almost fell down three times this morning. I really don't think I am well enough to be here yet.

I feel his sorrow. It reminds me of being stuck at church camp. Forever. Trying to make yourself cozy, with too small of bed, too small of living space, linoleum floors, too much cafeteria food and being very homesick.

My Big City Girls

Annie is going to Chicago in October. She gets to see her sister! I wish I could crawl inside her suitcase and go along. But I can't. I don't fit.

I also have a friend who is going to Chicago in a couple of weeks. I am going to see if her suitcase is any bigger.

I miss my girls!

Running Back

Abe started flag football this week. His position is running back. Last night, after practice, I asked him to explain what the running back does.
This was his answer:
"To run down to the end of the field to get a better view of the game."
Looks like football season will be very entertaining!

An attempt to save $25.....

Me: What do you think you want to dress up for Halloween?

Abe: I don't know.

Me: I have an idea.

Abe: What?

Me: Well, it is my all time favorite Halloween costume. Annie was this when she was your age.

I am attempting to build up much excitement with these clues.....

Abe: What?

Me: A Scarecrow!

Abe: Where do you get it at?

Me: Oh! We don't buy it at the store. We make it at home.

Abe: I want to look for one at Wal-Mart.

Me: When the girls were little we ALWAYS made their costumes. We would have never bought one from the store. Homemade ones are so much better.

It really wasn't even an option back then. Our choices were Cinderella costumes or groceries. Food always won out over Halloween costumes.

Abe: Really? They never bought one from the store?

He really cannot comprehend this. This one is spoiled.
Spoiled rotten.

Me: Daddy makes the best scarecrows! Annie will paint your face. You will be cutest trick-or-treater in McPherson.

Abe: I think I will wait and see what they have at Wal-Mart.

This is the day.

This morning, while Abe and I were eating breakfast, he asked me if this was the day Papaw Bon was going to move into his new room.

It always amazes me how this seven year old is so aware of what goes on around him. He lives in an adult world. It makes me sad but it is what it is. For far too long he has been drug back and forth between the hospital, The Cedars, Papaw's house and all over again. He has helped pack, opened doors, carried boxes and tried to entertain himself without getting into too much trouble.

Last night, Annie spent the evening watching a movie with Abe. I can't even remember the last time that she was home for that amount of time. (I think it was an evening in October when she was in the 8th grade-I'm really not sure.) I am so thankful for those couple of hours, free from Abe, because it gave Randy and I some time to run to Wal-Mart and buy what we needed for the nursing home. We were able to go together to the hospital without a busy little boy tagging along, hearing every word that we say-words that are too grown up for his little ears.

At the hospital, we were pleasantly surprised to find Pastor Tim visiting Bon. Randy's sister was also there. We all laid hands on Bon while Pastor Tim prayed.

It was amazing.

It was the best 10 minutes I have spent in many weeks.

I am holding onto the faith that prayer will carry me through the transition of the next few days.

Wad of Cash

When we were kids my little brothers loved to be "in character." They would watch 10 minutes of a football game on TV and then they would go outside and be the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos. After 10 minutes of the Six Million Dollar Man, they were Steve Austin. After 10 minutes of C.H.i.P.S. , they were Ponch and Jon. When we were really young, Tal's favorite character to be was Heath Barkley off of The Big Valley. I was Audra! I was Jeannie and he was Jeannie's evil sister.

We would also pretend to be "real people." When we played house, Tal was always one of our dad's co-workers. So I guess it comes as no surprise that Abe is the way he is. He doesn't play with cars & trucks or tractors & combines. No. He is always pretending to be "somebody."

He may be Superman or Batman. He may be Spiderman or a Ninja. Sometimes he is a Power Ranger.

For the first time ever - he is pretending to be a real person. Somebody we actually know.

This weekend he has chosen to be Uncle with a wad of cash in his pocket.

It seems like some people carry a ridiculous amount of cash on them and then others (this would be myself) never have any cash. I can barely scrimp fifty cents for a cup of coffee without having to use my debit card.

An Uncle (who shall remain unnamed) happens to carry lots of cash. On occasion, he will hand out cash to my kids. Abe was the recipient of his generosity this weekend. He pulled out his wad and gave Toothless $5.00 for each of his missing front two teeth. Abe was thrilled with the ten bucks but more impressed with all that cash!

He has put that money along with $20 he has been "hiding" and the money Grandma Judy gave him (for the same teeth) for a grand total of.... $35.00. He has all of his money folded up and wrapped tightly with a rubberband. He loves to carry this in his pocket and pull out his wad of cash to show it to us. He winks and point his finger (with his itty bitty thumb up in the air - kinda like he's shooting a gun) and says "Look at my wad of cash!"

He has even tempted Annie with it.
He said, "Look at my cash - to you it's money for gas!"

Instead of us calling him Spidey or Bruce Wayne we just call him Uncle Rick. (oops!)

10. "2007" State Fair Memories

1. We watched our first ever Pig Races. All the popular pigs were there: Oprah Swinefree, Arnold Snortsanager and Sarah Jessica Porker, to name just a few.
2. Abe got tattooed from head to toe with every possible Kansas college mascot imaginable to man and then developed rashes underneath every single one of them.
3. Great food- Pronto Pups, corn on the cob and the best funnel cake I have ever had!
4. High school marching bands. I was in the marching band and loved it. I'm still a band geek.
5. Seeing lots of McPherson friends trying to enjoy the fair in the yucky weather, too.
6. Finding out Abe weights almost as much as a bushel of corn. (minus a few kernels)
7. Abe got a blister on the TOP of his foot from his shoes.
8. In Step (a rock-n-roll band) had just finished their second song, Mustang Sally, when they cancelled the show due to inclement weather. This is what I was looking forward to the most. Bummer.
9. Rain & Cold!!
10. We were very excited over our KWCH Channel 12 pens with 4 different colors of ink. We are truly a pathetic bunch!

Moundridge Math

We are a card playing family. We used to have "Pitch Tournaments" all the time. It was always Abby and I against Randy and Annie. I hated when it was my turn to keep score. I would have to use my fingers and toes to count the points. How embarrassing for a grown woman! Sometimes I wouldn't add correctly and the score would be all messed up. It would appear that Abby and I were loosing when we were actually winning (Abby and I were always the winners.) Randy and the girls started calling this "Moundridge Math." They would always give me a hard time and say stuff like "Mom's doing her Moundridge Math again." Or "It's that Moundridge Math."

Now, I am sure there are some very smart mathematicians that have come out of USD 423 but, unfortunately, I am not one of them.

Much to my surprise both of the the girls have been great at math. Better than great. They are smart!

When Abe came home from school yesterday he had big news for us. He could hardly contain his excitement. This news was HUGE. My second grader was in third grade math! Yippee!! All three of my kids will grow up and know how to add and subtract!

Three cheers for McPherson Math!!

Three cheers for Randy's math gene!!

We seemed to have lost something....

When your phone rings at 3:22 a.m.....

Annie & Papaw Bon at Abby's wedding reception

Randy's cell phone rang this morning at 3:22 a.m.
Since he could sleep through a tornado I was the one who answered.

Conversation:

Judy weeping: I've waited too long, Stephie. I've made a terrible mistake and waited too long.

I immediately know what she is trying to tell me. She thinks that they should have moved into the nursing home way before now (their move in date to assisted living is September 22) and she can no longer care for Bon. Especially in the middle of the night. Her burden is much too heavy and she needs somebody to take over for a while.

Me: Randy will be right over.


After taking care of his dad, changing bed sheets and starting laundry, Randy came home around 5 a.m and headed to work at 6.

At 7:30 this morning Bon went, by ambulance, to the ER. He has been admitted as a patient. They are running tests.

We're not sure if it's the Parkinson's. The family will meet with the Doctor this afternoon.

For the past couple of weeks Randy has been on evening nurse duty. He heads to his dad house around 9 p.m. He helps him with his bath and puts him to bed. He can longer do that by himself.

Neither one of us has even thought about our parents not being able to take care of themselves or becoming dependent on us.

I'm almost scared to ask this. What else we haven't thought of?

Will He EVER listen?

Tonight we were at Papaw Bon's house. While Randy was taking care of Papaw and I was helping Grandma Judy we lost Abe. This happens often. He gets lost in the shuffle a lot. Poor little guy. I found him in the basement. Trying to catch Edna. The cat. The cat who really doesn't like PEOPLE. This is funny because I really don't like cats. Edna and I could possibly be best of friends except that we would HATE EACH OTHER!

I told Abe he had better leave the cat alone. Edna doesn't like people or kids! Especially... little boys. Enough said.

I have a gift of reading minds. I've done it for years. ESP. I believe in it because I can do it. I knew exactly what Abe was thinking.

"Silly Mommy - you hate cats. I bet that is a nice kitty cat. I'll just wait until you are busy and will come right back down here and play with this cat."

I am the adult. He is 7. I have years of wisdom behind my words. He has none. Everything I say to him (except what I don't want him to hear) goes in one ear and out the other. I repeated my warning. Enough said.

A little while later Abe was in the kitchen crying. Very upset.

While we were busy with Papaw and Grandma, Abe was busy catching Edna. He finally got her. She got him worse. She hissed (whatever sound angry cats make) and scratched his head and his arm. More importantly, Edna scared the living day lights out of my little guy. I felt terrible for him. However, I did try to warn him. I asked him if he remembered what I said about Edna? He did. What part of DO NOT PLAY WITH THE CAT didn't he understand?

The wedding reception was on the 5th floor of the Opera House. There was an elevator. Abe loved that elevator. I was busy being mother-of-the-bride and seemed to have forgotten that I was also mother-of-a-seven-year-old. Abe was running around like a loose cannon with nobody watching him. At one point I saw him getting off the elevator. I took him aside and explained to him that he could get hurt or get stuck if he continued playing on it. No more elevator.

ESP: "Silly mommy - You will not ruin my fun day on the elevator. I will just wait until you go and talk to more people and will get right back on and play."

I am the adult. He is 7. I know a thing or two about elevators. I repeated my command. Enough said.

A little while later Abe was hysterical!! The elevator did not shut on his hand (as I had predicted) but the door opened and pinched his fingers while it was opening! I felt terrible for him, however, I did try and warn him. I asked him if he remembered what I had said about the elevator. He said he did. What part of DO NOT PLAY ON THE ELEVATOR didn't he understand??

The next time you see me - Abe will be following close behind on one of those kid leashes.

TOP 10

Since I have had a rough week, I am going to turn this ship around and - gosh darn it - be happy! Even if it kills me! 8 days is way too long for one person to mope.

Here are 10 things I am thankful for:

• Mr. Walker - He always sees the glass 1/2 full. (odd. I always see it 1/2 empty)
• 2 girls + 1 boy - I love them to the moon and back! Even if the three of them are solely responsible for EVERY gray hair on this head. The gray I just paid a small fortune to hide from the rest of the world!
• My home - Dream home, money pit, work in progress. Whatever I call it, it's home sweet home.
• My brothers - I wouldn't own a computer (not a working one) if it wasn't for them. We share a past I will treasure forever.
• My parents - They always support me and this crazy life of mine. Dad can always makes me laugh! Mom's cooking is incredible. (I feel an invite about now!)
• My Sisters'-in-law - They are my sisters.
• All my nieces & nephews - There was a time when Christmas at Grandma's was way too quiet. No more! Much noise now! The cousins add lots of spirit to our family.
• My health - I can walk. I can breath. I can see. OK. I can't see close up so much anymore (something about 40...) but I am trying out these bi-focal contacts. I am so not impressed!
• My friends - They color my world with lots of sunshine & words of wisdom.
• My job - My bosses have been so accommodating for 12 years. They have put up with me through so much. Even when I quit once or twice (or was it three times???)

I think I'm feeling better already!

Stella's First Day of Kindergarten

Today Stella joined her family as a full-time student!

Class of 2008

Annie - first one on the front row.

It is hard to believe. Baby Sister is a senior in high school.

I know she is not technically the baby of our family, however, she was the baby for 10 years so that makes her Baby Sister.

During the first few years of her life (and then some!) I had no idea we would ever make it to the first grade much less high school! I used to tease her that she is the reason I went back to work part-time. Mamma Bear needed a break.

She was always in "Wanda's Office" at Kids Kampus. Always in some sort of trouble. She was a biter. She went potty right on the floor (AFTER she was potty trained) She colored on the walls (the letter "A" all around her room - Red crayon- 2 feet high) She threw award winning fits. If we looked at her wrong or said the word "NO" she had a major melt down.

After she started elementary school they knew her on a first name basis in the office. Not for being naughty (amazing, I know) but because she was always "sick" or had a "tummy ache." That nurses station was her second home. The school finally stopped calling me to come and get her. They just dealt with it.

My little white-spiky haired crabby patty has grown up to be a beautiful lady with a beautiful heart.

This year she is volunteering in a 1st grade class room. The teacher she helps was her 2nd grade teacher. Annie has a teachers spirit. I always think you can spot a teacher a mile away. That is our daughter. She is full of compassion and love for each of them. They love her, too. She really connects with the students who seem to get in trouble. (surprise!)

She is also a gifted writer and artist.

Lots of dreams. Lots of possibilities.

I am thankful for her. For what she means to me. What she means to her family. What she means to her friends. I can't wait to see what God has planned for her....

....I'm on the edge of my seat!

Worth every penny!

Abe lost his third tooth today.

While the Tooth Fairy was at our house she told us that she gets lots of notes from kids. Here is the one our son left for her tonight.

Leav a 100 $ bill

When Abe wakes up tomorrow he will find a brand new Gold Dollar. The Tooth Fairy apologized but she was all out of 100 $ bills. Maybe he should have used "Please" and "Thank You"