Trick Or Treat!

child labor

Randy taught our kids all the important things in life. Stuff like riding a bike without training wheels, tying shoelaces, counting to 10 in Spanish, driving a stick shift. Oh! and painting!

Good Grief Charlie Brown!

Him: Did they have the "Great Pumpkin" on TV when you were little?
Me: Yes.
Him: Did you watch it?
Me: Yes I did.
Him: Was it the same one?
Me: Yes it was.
Him: No. What I mean is was it different?
Me: No. It was the same.
Him: No. You don't know what I mean. Was it a different Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin when you were my age?
Me: It was the same one we are watching together right now.
Him: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! You didn't watch this exact same one when you were a kid!
Me: I did. The exact same one. We are watching the one and only Great Pumpkin.
Him: Ok. Now what about Charlie Brown Christmas? Is that a remake?

plop plop fizz fizz

Sore throat. Runny nose. Achy. It's official. I have my first head cold of the season. Abe has it, too. Not sure who had it first but at this point it doesn't really matter.

On another note - for some reason when Abe went to his piano lesson he wore my crocks. My Mary Jane crocks.

And tomorrow I am wearing his Converse hightops.

dancing queen

We went out with old friends this weekend. Our lives have all changed so much and are so different than each others but it was like no time at all had passed. We danced to a live band. Played pool. We laughed so hard! And now Randy is all plugged up because of the cigarette smoke. Me? I'm ready to do it all over again this Saturday.

Anyone game?

Wuz Up? An update from Ms. Cranky Pants

My week seems busy but I'm not sure with what. Of course, there is always the Grocery Game on Sunday and because that wasn't torturous enough I went back to the grocery store yesterday. 10 boxes of free Green Giant frozen veggies and a free Nestle Chocolate Milk, thankyouverymuch.

It's cold and raining and I hate it. I hate being cold when I crawl out of bed. I hate being cold when I go outside. The bummer is it is only October and I have about 5 more months of this staring me straight in the face. Ba Humbug!

I voted early. No changing my mind now! There is so much buzz about this election. Always something new to greet me when I watch the news. The new wardrobe. Record fund raising. Lots of negative campaigning. The bright side - I have been loving SNL again. Anywho, can't get any worse than it is now. I probably shouldn't even say that out loud, should I?

Our little local Halloween Parade is tonight. I think we will skip it. It is too cold and too wet. Actually - it reminds me exactly of Halloween nights when we were kids. With those wet soggy pillowcases full of popcorn balls and caramel apples. It was always freezing back then - that was before global warming.

Randy has been working his tail off to pay cash for our portion of Annie's college. The college she doesn't like so much now. Eight weeks into her college education she is ready for a change. They told us at parents day this would happen but I always think they are talking about other families when they say that stuff. For the LOVE! I have been parenting for almost 22 years now. When will I ever learn?

hours of fun

Check it out!

Mamma has a brand new blog!

www.evyssong.blogspot.com

He makes MY cheeks hurt

One of the sticky points in parenting is trying to decide which extra curricular activities to put your kids in and then when to let them quit. It's not always cut and dry. We have to consider finances, time. natural ability. We tried to let our kids experience a lot of different things and then let THEM decide. However, they had no choice when it came to learning an instrument and learning to swim. Those were MY house rules. Swimming and music. That is where I became one of "those" parents who crammed my dreams down my kids throat. And I would do it again and again and I would recommend it to all parents. Not cramming your dreams but promoting an instrument and swimming!

I can justify the time and the expense because it will improve his math skills AND we have a very expensive keyboard that was Annie's when she was the up and coming Mozart (she still is). Somebody may as well be using it. I can only play Stairway to Heaven so many times before I get sick of it.

I could tell after 2 lessons that Abe had a natural ability. He also has a really great piano teacher who knows how to get the kids hooked. He is currently playing Star Wars and almost has the entire piece memorized (level 1A but still....) When I picked him up from his lesson yesterday he said he loves playing the piano more than anything. In fact - he can't stop smiling when he is playing. He even plays Star Wars air piano.

His exact words to me:

"I smiled so much at my piano lesson that my cheeks won't stop hurting!"

Baby Xia

I became a Great Aunt over the weekend. Randy's niece had a baby girl and that makes him Great Uncle Randy me a Great Aunt Stephie.

It seems like Lindsey was just a baby. The strange thing about life is while you are busy growing your own kids - the others all grow up, too!

no brainer

I am the most horrible test taker you have ever met. I get sick. I get emotional. I cry. It all started in the second grade when I sat beside a girl who I thought was way smarter than me (where did I come up with this as a 7 year old??) In the fourth grade I cried during a math test because I just did not know what to do. I eventually stopped crying but the test anxiety never did get any better.

Fast forward several decades. That accounting test last month completely stressed me out. It was 40 questions. multiple choice. Why are there "all of the above" or "none of the above" choices? I can hardly handle that. Are those always the right answer or are they trick answers? In addition to the test in class we had 5 "problems" that we had to take home and do.

So this week we had the choice between a 15 page comprehensive problem OR the multiple choice test (26 questions this time) and a take home portion.

What did I choose? You got it! The 15 page, 6 hours of homework, comprehensive problem. I was surprised that I was the only one who chose the problem! In fact, all those little kids thought I had lost my mind. I can't believe that I am the only nervous test taker out there. Am I? Am I????

because she won't accept me on facebook

http://twocollegeroommates.blogspot.com/

a laugh a minute

Yea!! We finally figured out that Abe is going to be a clown for Halloween. Sorry for the bad picture. It was on my cell phone and it was really dark when I took it. Abe took the wig out of the package and pulled it out of the hairnet and then put the HAIRNET on his head. Then he announced that if he decided not to be Bozo he could be a lunch lady instead!

really?

I like to say that I wish the girls were small again - but really I am glad they aren't.
I like to think that I raised them to be responsible and careful and gave them advice and a little wisdom to help them avoid some pitfalls along the way- but really in the end it is all about their personal choices and not so much about me.
I like to think that I am an encourager - but really I am more of a Debbie Downer.
I like to think that my life would have turned out easier had I went to college - but really I know plenty of graduates who don't have it any easier than me.
I like to think that I am eating healthy and will feel 100% soon - but really I think that was way wishful thinking.
I like to think that we are raising Abe to be a gentleman that will grow up and be a good provider and the best daddy and husband - but really we spoil him rotten. Hopefully, he will be all those things in spite of us.
I like to think that when I get my nails done they will last more than 24 hours - but really they won't.
I like to think that to government will get it's act together - but really both candidates are what they are. Politicians.
I like to think that I could plant mums in the ground and they would come back next fall - but they won't. I have tried it.
I like to think that the glass if half full - but really I only see half empty.
I like to think that I can pass accounting I -but really I should never have enrolled.
I like to think that tomorrow is a new day and a new chance to have an attitude adjustment - but really how many times do I say this before it will actually happen?

nature or nurture

Me: Why don't you wear your Bullpup Football t-shirt today since there is a game tonight.
Him: OK.
Me: It's homecoming.
Him: I remember when I was in homecoming. Was that like two years ago?
Me: It was four years ago.
Him: WHAT??!!! I was only four years old when I did that? Where does time go? It seems like only two years ago.

A-OK

"I lost my progress report that they handed out today at school. But don't worry, mom. It said there weren't any concerns at this time."

Happy Birthday Chadder Box!

It is my baby brothers birthday today. Here are a few things I remember about when he was born, so very long ago.

• I was in the second grade.
• I went to the lumber yard, in the next town, with my Grandpa. The entire drive there I kept thinking that I would never forget where I was when the baby was born. And I was right.
• When my dad came and told us we had another "little Talmage" the big Talmage cried and cried.
• He was supposed to be a baby sister. Her name was Carrie.
• While my mom was still in the hospital my day moved my bedroom from upstairs into the basement. I loved it until I had to sleep down there. Not long after - he moved me back upstairs.
• While I was staying at my Grandparents I had a sore neck. My Grandma had to leave work to come and pick me from school early. These days they would say that I was struggling with the adjustment of a new baby in the family. Back then there was no "label." Just a stiff neck.

Some facts about him:

• He had such blonde curly hair that my mom dressed him up in a dress to see if she could pass for a girl! And we wonder why he has issues.
• We had to stop at the ER in Texas on our way to Disney World because he was having an asthma attack.
• He was lost at Bush Gardens.
• He was always sick. He was the only one of us kids who had their own special Doctor (a pediatrician) because of all of his ailments.
• He took the doors off the kitchen cabinets.
• He did everything that his older brother did.
• We always spent the night at Grandma's on New Years Eve and we would tell him, "See you next year!" and he would go and cry to Grandma and we would get in trouble. EVERY YEAR!
• He was Abe's age when Randy and I started dating.
• He was the candlelighter at my wedding. He was in the fifth grade.
• He had a mullet in highschool.
• He had a mullet in college.
• He plays the drums. and guitar. and upright bass.
• He has Celiacs, too.
• He is a terrfic brother, brother-in-law and uncle!
• He has a great wife and four beautiful kids (I told you he did everything his brother does)

Happy Birthday Little Brother! I wouldn't trade you for anything now. Even a sister!

the million dollar question

A few weeks ago Abe decided on his Halloween costume. Obi Wan Kenobi. I thought that was perfect. Since then, he has been dying to go to Target to get it. Last weekend when we went to grab it I could not get myself to spend the $39.00!!!! I made the decision that we will have to find it on E-Bay.

A week later I am getting very nervous. The costumes that he wants are going for over fifty bucks PLUS shipping. Annie reminded me that her and Abby NEVER EVER had a store bought costume for Halloween. She wore Randy's painter overalls and carried a paint bucket for her candy and for several years (as long as it fit - she tells me) she wore my highschool cheerleading outfit.

What are the chances that Abe will agree that it would be cool to be a yell leader in a skirt and sweater?

tum tum tum tum TUMS!

A little bit of history to catch you up on.

First - Abe has recently realized that he was the only third grader that he knows that is still in a car seat. When we were at the state fair, the State Trooper did inform us that, legally, Abe can officially be out of the car seat. However, it would be safer for him to still use one. So, we have made the agreement with him that as long as we are in town he can just buckle up and when we leave the city limits he will buckle up in his booster seat. So now the carseat is in the back of the blazer. Hidden under a blanket.

Next - When Annie went off to college we loaded her up with anything she may possibly need from our medicine cabinet. Last weekend she informed us that she was not so happy with the flavor of tums that I had gotten her and next time could I please get her a better flavor and NOT Lemon Lime.

And finally - you all know about the grocery game purchases. I have been buying a little more than I normally do. What is ironic is that I have about 10 Tums coupons AND tums were on closeout - however, I could never find them.

....and now, the rest of the story.

Annie is home for a long weekend. We all climbed into the Blazer to go for coffee Saturday evening. Abe and I wanted to walk downtown but Annie thinks all she does is walk on campus. I'm glad we didn't because I would have missed out on this conversation.

Annie: Abe, why is your carseat in the backseat? I thought you didn't use it anymore.
Abe: I don't. Mom had to have the back empty for when she went and bought all those tums yesterday.
Annie in complete shock : Tums? Mom bought so many tums that she had to empty the back of the blazer? I wonder if she thought I bought a pallet full of tums because I had coupons.
Abe: Yes. She bought all those big flowers for fall. She showed them to you. All those tums!
Annie: You mean MUMS?

Sorry Annie. You are still stuck with those Lemon Lime Tums.

I would be in my highschool cheerleading outfit if it fit

A week before I was going to start college I was offered a job that I had applied for earlier in the summer. Randy's mom was terminal. I was nervous about college. I was offered a job that I would get paid a big paycheck. 40 hours a week at minimum wage. Yippee! It seemed silly for me to turn down a perfectly fine job to go to college. I should just start the real world right away. We would get married and live happily ever after. The end.

Kinda sorta. We are getting ready to celebrate 25 glorious years and am sure there are 25 more ahead of us. However, we have worked our tails off to get this far. I was a stay at home mom when the girls were small but for the past 16 years I worked part-time or full-time ever since.

Randy has worked two jobs most of our married life. Hard work has never hurt us and we have three beautiful children (2 in college!) and a nice home. But....had we had a college education I think our challenge would have not been so uphill. We would have had more opportunities. More choices.

That is why I have been telling my girls from birth that they WILL go to college. They WILL get that degree. No matter what they choose to do afterwards, they will have more opportunities. More choices. I'm not saying that it is cheap. Or easy. I know it is expensive. An investment, I always say. I know it is so much work. That accounting class about does me in.

Annie reminds me not to support failure. So I am trying to be an encourager and motivator for both of my smart, successful, beautiful girls. When you are 18 and 21 and you have around 50-60 years ahead of you that seems like a long time. This is your season to work hard and invest in your future. You both are beautiful and smart and well adjusted and healthy. Set your goal and work towards the prize.

While you read those text books and while you type those papers and while you paper mache that cylinder and speak Greek, please smile, and think of me (use your nice words). You will need important things like medical insurance and a retirement plan. If you happen to have a skill where you can get jobs that offer those benefits that is great. But those are getting harder and harder to find. With your work ethic and your diploma - the sky is the limit.

I love you both. You are both doing great! I am proud of each of you and so very proud to be your mom.

GO TEAM!