The Adventures of The Williams Family

Sweet 16!

2010-01-10T17:43:00.000-06:00

Guess who turned 16 in November?

Jessie had a surprise party! Her Mom organized the whole shin-dig and Hubby & I took her "home" to find a big surprise waiting for her :)

There were Silly String fights....
And Jessie got just a little Silly String on her...

Austen managed to either avoid most of it, or pull it all off before I found him with the camera...

And there were Whip-Cream eating contests....

This is one of my favorite pictures....Jessie getting fed Whip-Cream by her two besties....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our princess who is growing too fast!

Smile!

2010-01-09T17:38:00.000-06:00

The Fam
November 2009

Black Friday In July!

2009-11-01T06:16:00.001-06:00

Once (or is it twice now?) a year, children's resale shop Once Upon A Child holds their $10 Bag sale. The rules? Fit whatever red line tag items you can in this bag for just $10!

Now, if you've got a little one with tiny clothes, oh my gosh you could REALLY score! I wasn't sure how much would fit in the bag since my boy is older and wears a size 6 boys. But I wanted to see if it was worth the effort, so I headed out to get in line about 15 minutes before store opening.

Word of advice: if you plan to attend this sale, get there early! The line was literally wrapped around the sidewalk & they had to stop letting people in the store because of fire codes, and then it was one person out-one person in from there on. I was shocked! But I suppose I'm not the only one who loves a bargain.

The other word of advice: make sure you look for red line items only! There were a number of folks just grabbing anything and everything & at checkout were disappointed their items weren't included in the sale!

So what exactly did I squeeze into my tiny pink bag for $10? Let's see!

The count came to 9 tshirts, 1 collared polo shirt, 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 pair of athletic shorts, & 1 pair of swim trunks. For $10!

The cashier was surprised I squeezed so much into my bag, and the secret was rolling the clothes tightly. I tried folding them, but rolling them into little "logs" allowed LOTS more to be stuffed into the bag!

Now, giving full disclosure, the selection was limited. The entire store was not all red-lined items. I went from my son's size & two sizes up to find the clothes I liked and were red-lined. Some of the red-line items had a small stain or a hole, so I passed those up.

If you are willing to dig a little, you can score a great deal at the Once Upon A Child's Stuff-A-Bag sale!

Zoe...

2009-08-27T15:25:00.001-05:00

Meet Zoe,

the laziest dog in the world...

Isn't it nice of us to make a room just for her?

NOT!

Flies are nasty...spiders are purty

2009-08-25T09:04:00.002-05:00

We went on a bug hunt a few days ago & I managed to sneak up on this fly...

Go back and look at that nasty sucker. Look at those hairs on his head & back. GROSS.

I like taking pictures of spiders much better. They are so unique looking, & I love finding their 8 eyes in the pictures...

This little guy was about the size of a grain of rice. He let me get really close, but he kept turning so he could see me & I'm always afraid one of these days a spider is going to jump on me!

See! He turned to face me again. I love how furry he is...

And then I found this green, almost transparent, garden spider... Her eyes are such pretty ovals...

This green beauty was really tiny...smaller than a grain of rice for sure. She didn't hang around long though.

And why is it, that I called the brown fuzzy spider a He, and the green sleek sipder a She? Ha!

Trip Report...

2009-08-18T07:15:00.003-05:00

We left August 8th for our first cruise out of the Port of Galveston. We usually leave from Port Canaveral, FL but decided that since Galveston was a driveable location & we were bringing Jessie & her BFF, we'd give it a shot.

The drive from home to Galveston took about 5 hours but it was a great drive. No traffic. Straight shot down the highway. Definitely more convenient than having to fly to Orlando!

When we got to the port, we used EZ Cruise Parking. I would highly recommend using their service again (and we will when we cruise out of Galveston in a few months). They have gated parking for a reasonable fee. For an additional fee, you can have your car covered or washed while you are gone. We made our reservation ahead of time online which saved money, and they offer a free shuttle to the cruise terminal which is just a few blocks away. The only negative about EZ Cruise Parking was that the parking spaces were small. We drive a Mazda CX9 crossover SUV and when we returned to the car after the cruise, Jeff had to crawl over the passenger side seat because a huge pick up truck had parked too close to the driver's door.

Since we were limited on our time choices (the girls had to be back for school), we went with the 5 day cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy. We had 5 people and didn't want to split into two rooms (I wasn't comfortable taking someone else's child along and putting two teen girls in a room across the hall!), so we were left with the Penthouse Suite as our only option. Poor, poor me...I know. *wink*

We have cruised a handful of times and I had no idea what to expect from a Penthouse Suite. When Reese, Jeff, & I cruise we get a balcony room, and it's fine for the three of us. But I was concerned about us all being on top of each other now that we had 5 people.

Boy was I wrong!

This room was the biggest cruise ship room I've seen! We had two Queen beds (the second bed was the couch that folded down) and Reese's roll away twin bed, and there was still ample room for walking around. During the day, the room steward folded Reese's bed up and moved it to the side (you can see it in the far left corner) which left even more room.

The other thing I wasn't sure about was storage space...especially since we were bringing two girls with lots of clothes, shoes, & accessories! No worries though here either...there was a walk in closet. Wowza!

That picture was only half of the storage space...there was more on the other side! Even though this cruise cost about 3 times what we typically pay (we cruise off-season and don't bring 5 people!) I felt like the room was worth the extra cost.

Our cruise itenerary took us to the ports of Progresso & Cozumel, Mexico. I suppose we aren't typical cruisers, because we don't get off the boat. We love port days, when the ship is empty and there aren't many people in the pool, at the restauraunts, or just around the ship in general. It almost feels like we have the whole boat to ourselves!

Day 1 was port day & at sea, Dayy 2 at sea, Day 3 Progresso, Day 4 Cozumel, Day 5 at sea.

Reese relaxing and watching a movie before going back to Camp Carnival.

The beds were amazingly comfortable & we all slept like rocks.

Look at those lips...

Reese moved up to the next age bracket at Camp Carnival and was now with the 6-8 year olds. The first day he didn't like Camp Carnival, but I think it was mostly because there were so many more kids in there than he was used to. When we cruise off-season, there's a handful of kids but this time it was packed.

Well, the above is true for Carnival cruise lines. On the Disney cruises, the kids club was packed all the time with lots of kids!

By the second day though he decided we were too boring and that he'd give Camp Carnival another try. Lo and behold, it was better :) From then on out, we brought him back with us for meals and some afternoon resting time but that was about it!

The girls were completely entertained as well. I was thrilled as they searched out every free activity they could find...samples of makeup & perfume at the shops, tasting rum cake samples, eating sushi, singing kareoke, taking naps on deck, playing tag with the walkie talkies, trying on jewlery at the jewlery shop, taking in shows, ordering room service, going to high tea...and these were just the stories we heard about.

We don't ever go to the sit-down dinners, because frankly, they take too long and we don't like to eat a 2 hour dinner! But the girls enjoyed getting dressed up and going to dinner...

Reese loved blowing bubbles on the balcony...

And of course there's always yummy food and towel animals!

Working On My Inner Impressionist Painter

2009-08-16T14:51:00.004-05:00

So what do you think??

Actually....the picture above is a photo-shopped "painting" of the picture below...

Have you ever in your life seen the middle of the ocean so completely still? Jeff woke up to this Wednesday morning on our last day at sea. He looked out the windows and thought we had stopped...the water wasn't moving at all.

Well, we were moving at a quick pace, but as far as the eye could see the water looked just like this:

It felt like we were in a huge movie sound stage. Remember the Truman Show, when they filmed the ocean part? Just like that...

Thank goodness we weren't in a sail boat, because we would still be sitting there :)

Beautiful

2009-08-14T21:21:00.001-05:00

We just got back from a fun cruise vacation with Reese, Jessie, & Jessie's BFF...

I have pictures, of course, about our fun time...

But I just had to post this picture by itself...

My single favorite picture of the whole trip...

You are beautiful sweetie!!!!

I got the joy, joy, joy, joy....

2009-07-29T15:16:00.002-05:00

I came home from the morning out with Reese to find this on my desk:

My favorite candy bar...ever!!

Hubby left a special treat just for me....love him!!!!!

Hidey Spidey

2009-07-19T16:18:00.002-05:00

Teeny little spidey hiding in the flower pot...

Teeny hairy spidey watching me from the flower pot...

Teeny hairy spidey watching me with his 8 beady eyes from the flower pot...

Please don't jump on me!

Lifting Pics Off FaceBook

2009-07-18T08:06:00.002-05:00

It's interesting what you can find on FaceBook when you are 'friends' with your children.

Austen got a tattoo on Monday and I have yet to see it...he didn't mention the new black hair. And where the hell did all these muscles come from?

I wish he had waited a few years on the tattoo...I told him I hope he liked what he got because it's there forever now! But seriously, where did my little Austen go? Who is this man staring at me in the picture?

Bugged Out

2009-07-16T22:07:00.002-05:00

This little guy was about the size of a staple...

I was afraid if he saw me he'd jump on the camera!

ACK! Don't look at me!

Moving on...

A butterfly is much more my speed....

Check out that spiraled proboscis...

My favorite picture of the evening...

Getting a big drink before calling it a night....

I love the cup-shaped tips of the antennae...

How To Entertain Your Dog In The Hot Texas Summer Sun

2009-07-16T08:40:00.002-05:00

Meet Buddy. Buddy is hot and wants to play. What's a dog to do?
Why are you barking Buddy? What is it boy?

It's the beachball! It's floated back for you to play with...

Except when you try to bite it, it just floats away....

Don't worry Buddy...it will come back in a minute!

**Repeat 570 times until dog wears himself out and needs a big nap!**

Fuzzy Wuzzy

2009-07-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

Found this little guy, and about 10 of his buddies, eating our hostas in the back yard.

He's lucky he's so fuzzy & cute, or else he would have been squished.

I just threw him in the woods instead.

Isn't he the most fuzzy thing you've seen?

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2009-07-10T17:11:00.001-05:00

Can you tell what's wrong with this picture?
Take a closer look...

Texas summers are too damn hot! Get me outta here!

The Worst Daughter...Ever

2009-07-01T15:16:00.001-05:00

Luckily, Grammie is a good sport. I taught her how to play the Maze Game online...but I just so happened to pull up the Maze Game that shows a scary face and screams at you midway through the game....

Love you Grammie! :)

Family Reunion Time!

2009-06-30T22:08:00.001-05:00

It's The Birthday Boy!

2009-06-14T18:36:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to the

best Hubby & Daddy on Earth!!!

We love you more than you'll ever know....

Even if you look like Mr. Potato Head wearing heels....

8 Years With My Best Friend...

2009-06-13T00:23:00.001-05:00

Happy Anniversary honey!

Keep The Change

2009-03-28T17:04:00.001-05:00

Grammie's Home For Wayward Pugs

2009-03-26T15:01:00.001-05:00

We visited Grammie a few weeks ago & got to meet Maddie, the newest addition to the pack.

How could you not love this goofy girl?

That tongue is not mid-lick either. Most of the time it's out like that :) Silly pug...

The Best Of The Best....

2009-03-24T16:16:00.003-05:00

The best of the best

is having all 3 here at the same time...

Even with messy rooms,

make-up on the counters,

extra toothpaste in the sinks,

shoes in the kitchen,

candy wrappers all over,

3am noises in the hallway,

three times the normal laundry load...

I can't get enough of

all 3 here together.

I just wish we had more of them,

instead of always having to say goodbye

to one, or the other

or both.

Is it summer yet?????

What's The Deal With Trader Joe's?

2009-03-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

I've always wondered why so many people rave about Trader Joe's...we don't have them here & I always thought I was missing something good.

Apparently, I am...

I want a Trader Joe's!

Win A T-Shirt Quilt!!

2009-03-17T13:26:00.001-05:00

We all have t-shirts that hold memories, right? Kid's jerseys...vacation souvenirs...you name it.

So what do you do with all of them after they're no longer wardrobe-worthy?

Hope over to BurbMom.Net and enter their contest! The winner will receive a quilt, made from tshirts, to keep forever. But that's not all...check out the examples on the Texas T-Shirt Quilts website. Number 6 is my favorite...check it out!!

Happy St. Pattys!!

2009-03-17T08:24:00.001-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

He Didn't Laugh...

2009-03-12T17:25:00.002-05:00

We drove to Grammie's house today & my wonderful Hubby fed my Diet Dr. Pepper addiction by surprising me with a pop from McDonalds!

The first sip was so delicious...I told him my Diet Dr. Pepper was like drinking candy. It's THAT good!

So what do I proceed to do?

Pick up the cup by the lid, attempt to take a sip, and spill the whole damn thing into my lap!

My first instinct was to cry. Ice & a full pop all over my jeans, the seat, everywhere. CRAP! Luckily, the seats are leather so the clean up wasn't too bad.

Me? I rode to Austin in my undies while my jeans dried on the back seat. Yes...I did! Sorry to any 18-wheel truck drivers who saw my lap! Jeff offered to give my his jacket for my lap...but I decided to live a little wild.

After I wiped up all the pop, threw all the spilled ice out the window, & gathered myself, Hubbs said he held back his laughing. Which I greatly appreciated...but I'm sure it looked darn funny!

StepMonsters Don't Get Flowers

2009-03-10T15:29:00.003-05:00

When I went to pick up Jessie, I was given this amazingly sweet bouquet of flowers, cut from their garden, wrapped lovingly just for me.

I can't tell you how special it made me feel that Jessie gave me something she put together...the smell of the hyacinths tickled my nose for almost a week while they sat on the counter in a vase.

I feel so lucky to have such a strong relationship with Jessie...and she really made me feel extra-loved with her thoughtful gift!

Not My Problem...

2009-03-05T15:31:00.000-06:00

An Open Letter To The IRS...

2009-03-04T15:00:00.001-06:00

An open letter to the IRS, which I heard on the radio this morning. While I didn't pen this, I couldn't agree more!!

Dear IRS,

I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to pay taxes owed April 15, but all is not lost.

I HAVE paid these taxes: accounts receivable tax, building permit tax, CDL tax, cigarette tax, corporate income tax, dog licence tax, federal income tax, unemployment tax, gasoline tax, hunting licence tax, fishing licence tax, waterfowl stamp tax, inheritance tax, inventory tax, liquor tax, luxury tax, Medicare tax, city, school and county property tax (up 33 percent last 4 years), real estate tax, social security tax, road usage tax, toll road tax, state and city sales tax, recreational vehicle tax, state franchise tax, state unemployment tax, telephone federal excise tax, telephone federal state and local surcharge tax, telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, telephone state and local tax, utility tax, vehicle licence registration tax, capital gains tax, lease severance tax, oil and gas assessment tax, Colorado property tax, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico sales tax, and many more that I can't recall but I have run out of space and money.

When you do not receive my check April 15, just know that it is an honest mistake. Please treat me the same way you treated Congressmen Charles Rangel, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and ex-Congressman Tom Daschle and, of course, your boss Timothy Geithner. No penalties and no interest.

P.S. I will make at least a partial payment as soon as I get my stimulus check.

Things On My Kitchen Counter..

2009-02-28T15:02:00.003-06:00

Feeling really random today...which is what my kitchen counter looks like. What's there?

*A bag of chocolate donuts, half eaten (mmmmm!)

*My camera that needs to be uploaded to my computer, but the cord isn't unpacked from vacation yet

*Jessie's glasses

*Geometry In A Box game that I pulled out for Reese but haven't done anything with yet

*A rock

*The 3rd book in the Twilight Series, half read...waiting for time to read more

*McDonald's Diet Coke

*The manuals for all appliances in our home. The fireplace pilot was out & wouldn't light, so Hubbs fixed the problem for us after I found the manual. Thanks Lovey!!!

*4 bars of Ivory soap, for making laundry detergent tomorrow

*A broken Star Wars ship of some sort. Need to put the cockpit cover back on for Reese

*A wine glass filled with hyacinths...thanks Jessie!!

*A toy shotgun (we live in Texas, so that's not too random, right?)

*Three bags of Halloween-themed foam pieces, destined for Freecycle

*Jug of bleach

*Cherry pie I baked this morning

*Electric skillet from pancakes this morning

*Lid to the trashcan...got distracted while planning to empty the trash. Must empty trash. Must put lid back where it goes!

*Bin of stickers

*Giant Hershey's kiss, a Valentine treat from Jessie

*Red, glittery heart cutouts from Valentine's Day (see, I'm so bad about putting things away!)

*A bag of magazines that are free at the FM Library

*A big hat box that had a bunch of fun Valentine gifts in it from my friend T. Again--bad about putting things away! I did empty the box, but it still needs to be put away!

*Han Solo

*A Sharpie. Can't live without my Sharpie! I even have one in my car :)

*Folder full of insurance claim stuff. Some to file, some to follow up on. Some have been paid. You mean it doesn't belong on the kitchen counter?

*sigh*. What a mess. Must get busy cleaning things up & putting things away. I'm the worst about just setting something down & leaving it there for a week! I hope you're less cluttered than I am!

Monday

2009-02-24T11:39:00.003-06:00

Monday we checked out the Marriott Vacation Club in Lahina...

I brought along my new waterproof housing for my camera to test it out in the tide pools. This was taken on Macro setting, with my camera lens underwater. Not bad!

Monday evening we went back to the tide pools...

While Reese & I explored, Daddy watched the whales in the ocean.

We found this on a rock!

Reese also spent time at the hotel pool/hot tub.

While he swam, Mommy read book #3 in the Twilight series & Daddy relaxed...

Hi handsome!

Mommy tried to protect her head from getting sunburned further....

Reese loved going back & forth between the freezing pool and the nice warm hot tub.

It feels so wrong to dunk your camera underwater!

But it stayed dry, thanks to my waterproof housing, and I experimented with some silly underwater pictures of Reese...

Exploring The Tide Pools

2009-02-20T20:49:00.003-06:00

One of our favorite things to do is explore the tide pools...

There are so many little critters hiding everywhere...

Reese loves to throw washed-up coral & rocks into the ...

I always think this urchin-type thingy looks like a sunflower...

It's amazing what tiny little exotic fish you'll find in the tide pools if you just stop & look...
And there are urchins everwhere...
Crabs if you wait patiently...
Sea slugs here & there...

I could kneel & search to pools for hours if I had the chance...
The tiniest treasures are just waiting to be discovered!

Sale Item: Maui-Style

2009-02-19T18:04:00.003-06:00

We stopped by the grocery store this morning in Wailea...

Glad to see Twinkies are on sale...

Whaaaat?

A box of 10 Twinkies is 8 bucks. On sale?

HA! No thanks....

Let's Go Bowling!

2009-02-17T16:09:00.000-06:00

Catching up before we head out tomorrow morning for Hawaii!

Last Friday, we joined our CoOp friends to see

"Click, Clack, Moo" at the Dallas Children's Theater.

It was a GREAT performance!

Afterwards, when trying to decide on a lunch location,

Some of the Mommies had dueling iPhones!

Mrs. Holly led us all to Steak n Shake for lunch which was a great choice!
After a big morning of theater & lunch,
Reese zonked out in the car on the way home!

For Valentine's Day on Saturday, Reese & Jessie got little gifts from Jeff & I.

Earlier in the week, Reese worked hard on signing his Valentine's cards for his CoOp buddies.

Those boxes for his name were tiny!

Reese found some "edible paper" in the gift section at WalMart & I told him if I bought it, he'd have to wait until Valentine's Day to open it.

He waited for over a week to taste it...he asked every single day if it was time to eat it yet!

Finally, it was Valentine's Day & Reese wrote a message on his paper...

And took a bite!

Hmmmm....not as good as he thought it would be...

We attempted a bowling trip, but the wait was SO very long on Saturday.

We ended up heading home with one very sad little boy...

We ended up bowling on Sunday though & had a great time together!
Can you tell who bowled in the Junior Bowling League?

Reese had a blast bowling too!

Sissy & I didn't use the bumpers once. Um. Maybe once.

Or twice.

Hope your Valentine's Day was fun!!

What Is Love?

2009-02-14T21:56:00.004-06:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, and after stealing this idea from Sandi at Lucky Thirteen And Counting, I thought I'd post everyone's definition of "love".

"When you kiss somebody. And when you love somebody" Reese

"What is love...baby don't hurt me..." Jessie (done with a dance & twirly fingers...)

"When you share your life." Daddy

"When someone fills your heart." Mommy

I hope you feel loved every day!

Please Read This...Everyone...

2009-02-13T21:55:00.003-06:00

A letter I wish every Congressman & woman would take to heart. I've never felt more "un-represented", how about you?

You won't want to miss reading this.

When You Think Your Son Is At College Working Hard...

2009-02-10T17:14:00.002-06:00

When your son is 4 hours away at college...

And you think he's working hard...

Luckily you friended him on Facebook...

And can see what he's really been up to!!!

Hope his grades are good....

Surprise Your Sweetie...

2009-02-08T15:59:00.001-06:00

Click the link above...what can you find for your sweetie on Valentine's Day? Amazon sorts it out by category with SO many choices for each group! And while you're at it, you can send a link to your sweetie as a hint of what you'd like :)

Happy shopping!! :)

**This shameless plug comes to you because our family will get a small percentage of each purchase if you click on our link. My hope is to build up our fund for Science supplies! So know your order buys Reese some school stuff!**

Hello, Beautiful

2009-02-04T09:32:00.001-06:00

A picture from our fun day at the

Ft. Worth Zoo yesterday...

Mommy LOVES the flamingos!

'Cause It's OK When It Comes From The Other Side

2009-01-31T16:31:00.001-06:00

Dress Like You Mean It, Sir

2009-01-31T11:46:00.007-06:00

"Dress for the job you want."

Have you ever heard that quote?

About.com suggests wearing work attired based on the job you are set to perform. For example, they suggest you dress slightly better than you would if you were an employee. If the dress code is very casual, you should take it up a notch.

In an article on WikiHow, they offer the following advice:

"Although there are stereotypical wardrobes designed for "power", you need more than the cliché. A President / CEO should display leadership, control and direction. True leaders instill calm, as well as leadership and discipline. The suit you wear to inspire your sales force will be significantly different than the one you wear when addressing the board of directors. For each occasion, you need to consider what subliminal messages you are transmitting to your audience. "

So when I read this article about Obama going with a more "casual" dress style, it really frustrated me.

If you are going to hold the most powerful job, DRESS like you mean it darn it. Choosing a casual style because you feel like it is disrespectful to your job, but more importantly, to your country.

Why do you think you were all gussied up for Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's? Were you allowed to come to the table in your pjs? It showed respect for all Grandma's work preparing dinner, & gave a sense of formality and importance to your dinner.

Why do we dress for church on Sunday? Why not just show up in your cutoffs & a tank top?

So when President Obama decides to come to work dressed in "business casual", it shows a complete lack of respect for the country, his job, and the power his job holds.

Clothing not a big deal to you? How 'bout this...

It has been a long standing tradition to introduce the President, before he enters a room for a speech, as "Ladies & Gentlemen--The President of the United States." You've heard it hundreds of times. The President is someone worthy of an introduction.

Last week, when Obama entered the room to speak about the economy, there was no introduction of honor. It was simply Obama who walked to the mic & said

"Hello, everybody – good to see ya."

I'm sorry. You are not welcoming everyone to the annual Mary Kay Cosmetics conference.

You are The President, and by not taking that introduction & instead trying to be an "every-man" you are turning your job into something less...something smaller...something not as important.

Not enough for you? How 'bout this...

We all recognize "Hail To The Chief" that is played for the President. It's an important part of history, and the tradition of playing it for the President dates back to the 1840s. Well, Obama decided that he's just "not a pomp-and-circumstance kinda guy." So he hasn't had it played for him since his first day in office.

What does Obama choose instead?

Instead of a the US Marine Band's traditional duties, Obama is most often just accompanied by a lone piano. The new songs includes Cole Porter's "Night and Day" and Sting’s "Desert Rose."

President Obama, you are making a mockery of your job. You dress like you don't mean business, you shrug off important traditions because it's just not your "thing". The United States President comes with traditions...expectations...protocols.

Just another sad example of the Change promised. I am saddened by your idea of change.

Things You Don't Say To Your Wife

2009-01-30T14:39:00.001-06:00

More Than I Cared To Know About Obama

2009-01-24T08:32:00.000-06:00

Make It From Scratch Carnival

2009-01-20T08:21:00.003-06:00

Come check out the Make It From Scratch Carnival this week! Some of my favorite ideas...

*Make your own Minestrone Soup . My favorite soup in the world!

*Recipes to make your own playdough . As a homeschool Mama, aren't I supposed to do things like this?

*A free crochet pattern to make your own Valentine's bag out of used grocery sacks!

*Got little girls who love kitchen play food? Check out this blog post that shows how to make your own little felt & bead pies from seed beads, felt, & a bottle cap. SO cute...what dollhouse couldn't use a few fresh pies?

There's plenty more to find at the Carnival...check it out!

Ice Cream Hooters

2009-01-16T16:42:00.002-06:00

My Mom is lucky I document her visits...so she can have shots like this to show her friends...
Thanks, Cracker Barrel, for the awesome dessert!!!

Brothers In Bling

2009-01-12T20:05:00.002-06:00

We swung by and picked up Austen today & all went to Peter Piper Pizza together! I was so glad he called just as we were passing by his neighborhood so we could bring him with us.

Reese, of course, loved having Austen there...he introduced Austen to all his friends & the Mommies that were there. Then it was game time!

So what do you buy with this stash of tickets?

Bling, baby!
I can't get enough of these two! Austen heads back to school tomorrow....the countdown starts again for when we get to see him next!

A Letter From The Boss

2009-01-09T17:51:00.002-06:00

A Letter From The Boss

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn’t pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Cadillac outside. You’ve seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I’m sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don’t see is the back story.

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was
converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn’t have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business — hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom’s for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn’t look like it was birthed in the 70’s. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don’t. There is no “off” button for me.

When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe
this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden — the nice house, the Cadillac, the vacations… you never realize the back story and the sacrifices I’ve made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who
didn’t. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I’ve paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don’t pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my “stimulus” check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check?

Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you’d quit and you wouldn’t work here. I mean, why should you? That’s nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don’t understand … to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn’t need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don’t defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you?

Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it.
Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It’s quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child’s future.
Frankly, it isn’t my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I’m done. I’m done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be
destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So, if you lose your job, it won’t be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this
country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about….

Signed,

Your boss

I found this at Right Wing Chicks and thought it was worth sharing! Go see what else they're up to over at RWC...it's good stuff ya'll!

A Dance With A Mouse

2009-01-08T08:41:00.000-06:00

We're back to the most Magical Place in the world!

I took this picture last night as we walked...

Magically, the round globe lights turned into

Mickey Mouse!

We've had great weater (except for a little rain yesterday)...

Fairly short lines....

Us? Stressed?
No way!

Reese & Mommy flew with Aladdin on a
magic carpet ride...

We caught a sunset that was full of

pinnks & reds at the

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

We zapped aliens with Buzz Lightyear...

And Mommy did the impossible....

Check out her score on the Buzz Lightyear ride!

It goes no higher....

We're dressed & ready for our day....

Come see what we're up to!

Recycle Me!

2008-12-31T17:00:00.002-06:00

In February, our Early Childhood PTA group is having a recycled art contest! After getting my Big Ass Book of Crafts book for Christmas from my wonderful hubby I knew I had found the perfect project to enter into the contest....

It starts with this.....

Any guess what I'm making & what it will be? I've almost completed this project and will take photos & post a step-by-step tutorial for anyone else interested.

It requires magazines, some free time, & hot glue. What, oh what, will it be?

Loving SmileBox!

2008-12-30T20:35:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Seeing The World Through Different Eyes...

2008-12-30T06:20:00.001-06:00

I Stumbled upon this website that has tons of pictures of Earth. The above picture represents the life expectancy on different parts of the planet. Isn't that a neat way to look at it? Check out World Processor to see lots more unique ways to look at statistics!

That's One Scary B*tch!

2008-12-29T17:33:00.009-06:00

We all have those childhood memories...that one teacher who sent chills down your spine.

For me, it was a wonderful woman who taught Computer Lit in middle school.

You see, if you were a 6th grader at CTMS, you were at the bottom of the food chain. As if it wasn't bad enough having bad hair...

bad clothes....

bad skin....

and trying to find your way around this ginormous new school, we had to deal with her. This teacher brought fear into the lives of 6th graders school-wide. You didn't dare cross her path, because she would spit fire and eat you alive.

OK, maybe not eat you alive.

But she sure as hell delighted in rubbing your face in the dirt. See, she taught 8th grade Computer Lit, and in our school, 8th graders were the shizz-nit.

It was rumored that She would drag you into her classroom full of 8th graders and yell at you in front of all of them. Yay for quality teachers!

Surely, this had to be a rumor. I had straight As. I was a cheerleader. I was perfect in every way. (maybe a *tad* bit of exaggeration here)...

The purpose of my life at 11 was to please everyone on Earth around me!

So imagine my surprise when I was walking to class & was jerked backwards by my arm. Apparently, I was going in the out door, and for that I deserved a Royal Thrashing.

She pulled me down the hall by the arm, into her classroom full of 8th graders, and poked fun at me. For going out a wrong door. I remember feeling SO small, so humiliated.

She had to have been a truly horrible, miserable woman to feel the need to treat children that way. Or maybe her underwear were shoved up her ass. You decide.

**As a side note...can you tell what generation I'm from? The Christmas door was decorated with Reagan, Gorbachev, & Santa. Yeahhhh...**

Merry Merry!!!

2008-12-25T12:00:00.004-06:00

Sending Merry Christmas wishes your way...from our family to yours....

We've had the best time with all 3 kids together in one place! Lunch together...

And making cookies for Santa was especially fun!

Everyone got in on the decorating...even Daddy!

Austen worked hard on his cookie for Santa

Jessie puts up with my picture taking...
Reese needed blue icing for his Christmas tree....

A plate full of Christmas cookies to share...

And a special letter to Santa:

Dear Santa, These cookies r for you. Love, Reese

A special plate of cookies for Santa...one cookie made by each of us...

Opening Christmas gifts together...Daddy got a very special, handmade gift from Grammie!

We hope your Christmas was a fun-filled morning with many blessings!

Don't Buy Caramels Anymore...Make Your Own!

2008-12-21T19:07:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago, Jeff & I were talking about Christmas traditions and he remembered homemade caramels as a special Christmas time treat. Given my limited talent in the kitchen, I wasn't sure if I could pull off Homemade Caramels or not.

The first batch didn't turn out well. I didn't have a candy thermometer, so getting the caramel to the proper temperature was a guess...and I didn't guess so well! While it tasted really good, it was way too soft and had to be dumped. I guess we could have used it for a caramel topping of some sort, but it was just easier to start all over in this case.

After getting a candy thermometer, and giving it a second try, we were really pleased with the results. I was most pleased, though, that Jeff loved them!

Check out our yummy recipe & enjoy!

Ingredients:

*1 cup unsalted butter

*1 lb. light brown sugar

*dash salt

*1 cup light corn syrup

*1 14oz can sweetened, condensed milk

*1 tsp. vanilla extract

What To Do:

*Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Add brown sugar & salt. Stir until thoroughly combined.

*Stir in corn syrup & mix well.

*Gradually add milk, stirring constantly.

*Cook & stir over medium heat until candy reaches firm ball stage (245 on candy thermometer). This will take about 45 minutes. Make sure you stir constantly so the cooking candy doesn't burn.

*Remove from heat & stir in vanilla.

*Pour into a buttered or heavy duty foil-lined 9 inch square pan.

*Cool in the fridge & cut into squares.

We also made some Turtles with the caramel. Lay 4 pecans on parchment paper (turtle's legs) so that they touch in the center of the Turtle. Pour a tablespoon of caramel in the center, top with melted chocolate & let cool!

And it's great to get those little hands helping wrap all that caramel!

People Do Stupid Things

2008-12-21T10:49:00.002-06:00

Oh, how I LOVE the video montages of people doing things they KNOW are stupid!! This video is full of people doing less-than-intelligent things, along with some really funny accidents :) Humor me...I'm easily amused!

Post #400! It's A Skate Party!!

2008-12-17T07:52:00.002-06:00

This is post #400 for the Williams Family Blog. Who the heck knew I had so much to say? In honor of number 400, we're having a skating party! I remember going to the skating rink as a kid with daycare & how much I hated those brown rental skates with the broken laces...

The video below is not for little ears :) Happy Skating!

MiceCube: A Review!

2008-12-05T09:46:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago, I found some mouse droppings in both garages & was less than thrilled to know that we had been visited by a rodent. However, I can deal with a mouse or two outside. We back up to a big field and are surrounded by fields and a golf course...plenty of places for little critters to live!

However, when I found droppings in Jeff's office and in the laundry room behind the dryer, that was enough! Mice are not welcome in the house!

I set out to WalMart to find something to trap our guests. I didn't like my options much.

*Poison: I didn't like the idea of a mouse eating the poison and having to walk around the house before it died. What would it touch with it's poison-laden feet & poop?

*Sticky trap: Completely inhumane. Even though I don't want the mouse in the house, I also don't want to give it a death where it must starve over a period of days.

*Traditional snap-trap: I couldn't bear to find a squished mousey. And Reese is very curious...I was worried he would just need to touch it. Even though he's a big 5 year old now, the bones in his fingers are still very tiny!

Then I stumbled upon the MiceCube. This is more along the lines of what I was looking for...a live mouse trap. Something to catch them & then I can take them to a field far away and let them go.

The MiceCube is about the size of a stick of butter, and is made of gray plastic. There is a little trap door at one end, and when the mouse enters, gravity closes the door and traps the mouse. To release the mouse, you simply turn the trap upside down, the door opens and the mouse can be set free.

We set the trap according the the instructions: Put peanut butter on a little part of a cracker and place at the back of the trap. Put a little peanut butter on the outside of the trap door to leave a scent trail. I placed the traps in the places I had seen mouse droppings.

Sure enough, it only took 2 nights to trap this:

He was the tiniest little thing and had a big cracker snack before I took him far away from our house and let him go in a field!

To clean, I filled the trap with hot water & dish soap and let it soak.

We're waiting to see if any more mice come to dine. The first night the traps were set, the mouse (mice?) had licked all the peanut butter off the trap doors but didn't enter the trap. The second night, we caught 1 mouse. Nobody has licked the peanut butter off the trap doors in 3 nights now, so perhaps he was the lone mouse in the house?

I would highly recommend using the MiceCube if you've got a rodent in the house & you'd like to consider an alternative to killing it. The MiceCube worked exactly as it was supposed to!

It probably seems odd that I'm writing this review, but I was so excited at the success of our MiceCube that I just had to share!

Reaching Into My Circle Of Friends For Advice...

2008-12-04T06:28:00.000-06:00

Reaching into my circle of friends for advice is likely to get me injured or perhaps contract rabies.

Take, for example, my friend Holly. A sweet little birdy was trapped in her house. Instead of opening the door and letting it fly out, Holly first grabs the camera, which also means she grabbed an accomplice and then proceeded to make an instructional video on how to catch a bird in the house!

The final result was a success, but you'll want to watch the video for finer aspects of achieving such great feats. And then watch it again 'cause the music is funny. Silly Holly, thanks for the laughs!

Get Your Creative On With These Carnivals...

2008-12-03T11:05:00.001-06:00

Blog Carnivals are such a great way to discover bloggers you may not have read before...and there's always tons of great ideas! I submitted our Chocolate Lollipop Recipe to the carnivals below. What else can you find?

*A recipe for homemade vanilla extract...oh yum!
*Crafts galore
*Christmas traditions
*Loads of recipes for gifts-in-a-jar (cookies, brownies, bread mixes)
*A cool instructional for a no-sew rag rug (save all those old bluejeans!)
*Make your own pressed birdseed treats just like in the catalogs
*Find 10 bargain birthday gift ideas
*

So join me at The Carnival of Family Life, The Carnival Of Recipes, The Make It From Scratch Carnival, and the The Festival Of Frugality

Gone Already?

2008-12-02T04:07:00.001-06:00

OK... Thanksgiving Break for college kids is WAY too short! We went to San Marcos last Tuesday to pick up Austen and bring him home for Thanksgiving, and he's gone already. *sigh* I can't wait for Christmas Break when he's home for an entire month!

Hey Aus!

The view from Austen's dorm window...

I love the Hill Country veiws...

When you & your roomie are Computer Science majors, you just have to have a decked out work space!

I think Reese was most excited to see Austen again...

We encountered lots & lots of traffic going through Austin,

and we stopped around Waco for dinner at IHOP.

I'm already ready to have Austen back home...this visit was WAYYYY too short!!!

Marcus High School Choir Madrigal Dinner 2008

2008-12-01T03:52:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday, Reese & I went to the Marcus High School Choir Annual Madrigal Dinner. We chose the dessert matinee instead of the dinner performance, because it was shorter & recommended for elementary/middle school aged children. Of course, the most important reason we went was to see Jessie perform!

We arrived early (Mama is a bit obsessive about being on time!) and picked up our tickets right away at the Will Call table. We visited the flower cart, and since this performance was the last of the year, the flowers were specially priced. Reese picked two bouquets for Sissy...

After being entertained by a Jester, watching some girls get put into the stocks, & listening to a poem read, the dancers came out! Reese & I made our way across the room so we could see Jessie well.

I guess when you're in high school, it's not so cool to have a parent whip out the camera. So I signaled to Jessie "Just one more picture!" and snapped this....

But I couldn't help myself snapping some pictures while she danced! She was partnered with her friend Caitlyn & they did a great job dancing to a Medieval song.

Unfortunately, the producers requested no photographs/video taping, so I didn't get one single shot of the whole show! It was a very cute tale of Prince Charming (of the Charming Family), who was looking for the princess of his dreams. He encountered three very wrong princesses, and found out this his true love was the village poet girl who had been helping him woo the princesses.

I was amazed at the strong voices of all the participants, & Reese was equally entertained the entire time (about 2 hours). Although I think Reese's favorite part of the entire show was the monster-sized piece of chocolate cake that was all his!
We will definitely return next year! We were completely transported to a Medieval castle, entertained by great acting & even more amazing singing, & got to see Jessie doing her 'thang & bringing tears to my eyes with her singing of Ave Maria.

Happy 15th, Jess~!

2008-11-29T08:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Sweet Jessie....

It's hard to believe you're 15....

I couldn't be more proud of the person you've become,

the choices you've made,

the direction you're heading.

And I'm so privileged to be a part of your life.

Love you!!!

Come See Me Elf Myself!

2008-11-28T16:38:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Blessings

2008-11-27T09:57:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's My Favorite Things!!!

2008-11-26T12:55:00.002-06:00

My Favorite Things Swap box arrived last week, & boy what a fun treat! :) I was paired with Shar from That's What Shar Said and she spoiled me :)

Look at all this fun stuff!

Here's what's inside....Thanks Shar! :)

1. C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint. Seriously, if I wear anything colored on my lips, it's THIS! How did she know?

2. OPI pink polish. Beautiful shade!

3. The cutest felt handmade flower clip.

4. Redken Satinwear Blowdry Lotion. OK, I dry my long hair about 5 days a week. This should save my poor hair!

5. Pumi Bar. This was a perfect idea, because I loathe rough heels and my days of weekly pedicures are long gone!

6. LashBlast mascara. Can't wait to try this!!

7. Fekkai Glossing Cream. Yet another miracle wonder for my hair. And it smells so amazing!

8. Bath & Bodyworks AntiBac Hand Lotion. My all-time favorite lotion ever. How on Earth did she peg me so right? Seriously...it was eery!

As you can see, I got seriously spoiled. Thanks, Shar!!!!

Me Loves A Bargain!

2008-11-26T03:10:00.000-06:00

Oh how I love a good bargain!

I ran to Hobby Lobby on Saturday for some Christmas gift supplies, & their entire stock of Fall decorations was 90% off!

I found this adorable little signs, and with the 90% discount,

I paid....

$1!!

I soooo love a good bargain!

Found This Post...Welcome To The Way-Back Machine!

2008-11-25T08:39:00.000-06:00

In cleaning up the blog, I found this post that I never posted for some reason...so welcome to my thoughts from August!

We always have frogs & toads that visit in the summer. This little fellow is a frog, with slimy skin, webbed feet, & a long mouth. Reese & I caught him in the pool after he was scared out of the bushes by the dog.

We looked at his webbed feet for swimming, his tiny nostrils on the top of his nose that were opening & closing, so he could breathe or hold his breath. We talked about why he had nostrils on the top of his nose instead of anywhere else (so he could float in the water with just his head above water & still breathe). We checked out his ears (that perfect little circle behind his eyes). We talked about why his eyes were on the top of his head (so he could float and still see above the water for danger). We felt his slick skin & talked about the protection it offers. We talked about his camoflaged colors.

Then we put him back in the bushes where we found him & said goodbye. He's always out on the patio at night though, so it wasn't truly goodbye for good!

Make It From Scratch carnival

2008-11-24T21:48:00.002-06:00

Come visit the latest edition of the Make It From Scratch Carnival. My recipe for Ham & Eggs On Croissant was featured along with so many wonderful ideas for cooking, crafting, & everything in between! I found the neatest recipe for homemade vanilla extract that I can't wait to try.

No Matter What You Chose...

2008-11-24T08:39:00.002-06:00

No matter who you voted for, you have to admit this is very interesting & troubling ....

The video came from How Obama Got Elected. To find their video participants, the website says "These voters were chosen for their apparent intelligence/verbal abilities and willingness to express their opinions to a large audience."

And because interviewing a small handful of voters isn't scientific at all, How Obama Got Elected also commissioned a Zogby Poll which showed the same results. Quoted from the Zogby website, note the following:

*94% of Obama voters correctly identified Palin as the candidate with a pregnant teenage daughter

* 86% correctly identified Palin as the candidate associated with a $150,000 wardrobe purchased by her political party

*81% chose McCain as the candidate who was unable to identify the number of houses he owned

All of the above are hardly related to any election issues.

Now, please note the following statistics (quoted from Zogby), which are quite important when considering a candidate:

*83% failed to correctly answer that Obama had won his first election by getting all of his opponents removed from the ballot

*88% did not correctly associate Obama with his statement that his energy policies would likely bankrupt the coal industry

*Nearly three quarters (72%) of Obama voters did not correctly identify Biden as the candidate who had to quit a previous campaign for President because he was found to have plagiarized a speech

*Nearly half (47%) did not know that Biden was the one who predicted Obama would be tested by a generated international crisis during his first six months as President.

The point is, the vast majority of people only know what the media feeds them. The media is overwhelmingly biased. If you want to hammer Palin, then hammer everyone else as well. But that's not what happens. Then those who care to know the facts can make an educated choice, if all candidates were given a fair shake through the media.

Doin' The Happy Dance!!

2008-11-21T13:54:00.002-06:00

Ohhhh....I'm so excited today! When I got home from WallyWorld, Jeff had brought in the mail and my Favorites Thing box arrived today! I was partnered up with Shar and she and I must share some of the same taste, 'cause I love everything she sent...

I've snapped pics & will do a big post about what was in the box. My favorite thing off the bat? LOVE the foot pummice thingy! I battle rough feet constantly. What am I most excited about? She sent two delicious smelling hair products that I can't wait to try!

Thanks to Shar for sending such fun gifts, and thanks to Dandelion Wishes for organizing such a fun little swap. I can't wait to post my pictures :)

Make It From Scratch ideas!

2008-11-18T07:25:00.001-06:00

Come check out the Make It From Scratch carnival for tons if great Christmas ideas you can make with your kids! I even had a featured recipe for body scrub...good stuff ya'll!

Would You Rather: Day 2!!

2008-11-15T14:34:00.003-06:00

The Tattooed Minivan Mom put up her second installment of "Would You Rather", so here are my answers below. Want to see my answers for #1-#16? Click here!

17. Would you rather walk across hot coals or drive a nail through your foot?
I would rather drive a nail through my foot. With one swift WHACK of a hammer, it would be done, like piercing your ear. But hot coals? First, it would take a long time to walk across, and then you'd have to deal with the burned feet. Do, definitely the nail through the foot. And I'm up to date on my tetanus shots, so I won't have to get one!!

18. Would you rather have city street water splash on your bare feet or lick a shovel from a horse barn?
City street water on my feet please. Licking a shovel from the horse barn is GROSS and it's your MOUTH. The water on your FEET is just a no-brainer for me.

19. Family blog...go see Tattooed Minivan Mom if you want to see this question!

20. Would you rather have to go pee ALL the time, or have to go pee really bad but never be able to go?
Pee all the time. 'Cause my kidneys hurt when I have to pee bad and can't go. And you can always pee behind a bush if you couldn't find a toilet!

21. Would you rather drown in Coke or Pepsi?

Can it be diet? 'Cause then I'd choose Diet Pepsi. But both would burn your nose when you sucked in that last breath...but you're pretty much dead then anyway so a burned nose is probably the least of your worries.

22. Would you rather eat a bar of soap or drink a bottle of dish washing liquid?

Drink the soap. The bar of soap would get stuck in your teeth, right?

23. Would you rather be stranded on an island alone or with someone you hate?

Someone you hate. 'Cause you'd have someone to eat once you killed them. Wait...did I say that out loud?

24. Would you rather papercut your eyeball or step on a nail?
Step on a nail. Again, tetanus shot covered already. You could go days without walking if you had to, but not to see? I assume if you papercut your eyeball you'd have trouble seeing...

25. Go see Tattooed Mini Van Mom for this question :)

26. Would you rather lick a frog or drink rusty water?

Lick a frog. Can't be that bad. Rusty water would hang around your guts for long enough to do damage I would think...

27. As a blogger, would you rather be famous like Dooce and too busy to really connect with bloggers, or not so famous and have connections? (Good one CW!)

I guess not famous?

28. Would you rather live without water or electricity?

Electricity. I could get into making my own candles and lighting fires for heat. Cooking over the fire would lose it's novelty I'm sure, but to live without water would be a PAIN in the arse...

29. Would you rather shave your head with a cheese grater or be audited?
If you're honest (or creative, says Jeff) then an audit would be a cake walk. So I say audit.

30. Would you rather drink a gallon of dirty hot dog water OR a shot glass of foot sweat?
Definitely dirty hot dog water. Just really salty probably. Foot sweat...UH gross!

31. Would you rather loose your 4 front teeth after bouncing your head off a cement curb OR get a paper cut on your eye?
What's up with people wanting to papercut my eyeball? This time, I would choose the eyeball paper cut. I have a real problem with loose teeth, missing teeth, bumping my teeth, that sort of thing.

32. Would you rather have explosive diarrhea OR uncontrolled vomiting?
I think vomiting is more socially acceptable than pooping everywhere, so I'd go with that.

33. Would you rather have a Permanent Yeast Infection or Permanent Hemorrhoids?

Since I've never had either one I have no idea what they feel like. I can't answer...I really have no idea!

34. Would you rather be able to read your husband's mind? Or have him be able to read yours? (Good one!)

I'll be selfish and say I'd want to read his mind.

35. Would you rather suffer from incurable baldness, everywhere, or wolfman's disease, everywhere?

Baldness. You could choose some kick-*ss hats to wear, but it would be hard to hide the hairy man problem. And never have to shave again? That would be GREAT!
36. Would you rather share your house with a skunk or a porcupine?

Porcupine for sure! Skunk stink gets EVERYWHERE!
37. Would you rather eat opossum roadkill (that's been jacked up) or bambi.

Sorry, but I say Bambi. Roadkill can have all sorts of diseases & bugs. You didn't say I have to SHOOT Bambi myself...so I could eat Bambi if I didn't see her alive first.

Would You Rather?

2008-11-14T16:00:00.004-06:00

The Tattooed Minivan Mom asked everyone to submit their questions for her "Would You Rather?" segment. She got so many fun questions that she's got TWO day's worth of questions! Today, here's my answers to the first part...what fun!!

1. Would you rather eat a cockroach or a bull nut?

I would rather eat a bull nut. I don't do bugs....I don't do bullnuts per se, but I'd imagine they'd taste more like my normal fare than a roach.

**EDITED: Ok, I don't EVER eat any form of nut, so when I say "normal fare", I'm speaking of being a carnivore and not eating scrotum!**

2. Would you rather not shower for a month or not brush your teeth for a month? (Remind me not to hug you should we ever meet in person someday.)

I would definitely choose not brushing my teeth. I can't stand not taking a shower for more than a day. I could always rub my teeth with a washcloth & eat some gum.

3...Not sharing #3 on a family blog...go see Tattooed Minivan Mom's site if you want to know the question to #3!!

4. Would you rather find true love or 1 million dollars?

I have both...but only one will last forever.

5. Would you rather always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?

I'd rather not speak again. 'Cause I could write to communicate, or learn sign language. But I'm afraid I'd scare people away if they knew my mental commentary all the time!

6. Would you rather know it all or have it all?

I'd rather know it all. Although, if you knew it ALL, that would be a big responsibility...so I'd want the strength to know it all.

7.Same for #7...family blog...go find the question yourself if you're curious!

8. Would you rather skip Christmas for a year or skip your birthday for a year?

I'd skip my birthday. Christmas is a big family celebration, and I wouldn't want to take that away from anyone!!

9. Would you rather be followed by a cloud of dust or a cloud of gnats?

Probably a cloud of dust. But where could you go surrounded by either one?

10. Would you rather eat a toenail omelet or a hair sandwich?

Toenail omelet. I guess. Gross.

11. Would you rather lick the discharge from a cats eye or lick the dried spit from the corner of a teachers mouth?

I can't even answer that question....isn't there a "none of the above" choice? I guess if I had to choose, it would be the spit because cat-eye-discharge? Vomoot.

12. Would you rather have dinner with the Obamas or go on a date with George Clooney?

Uh, dinner with Obama...so I could tell him what I think of his policies. Politely, of course. :)

13. Would you rather be paralyzed or blind?

I would choose blind.

14. Would you rather blog or sleep?
SLEEP! I never can get enough of that!

15. Would you rather take a cheese grater to your sunburned back, or pour alcohol in a new hole in your toe:)

Pour alcohol on a new hole in my toe. Assuming the hole was already there by some other mistake & I wasn't making a hole for the purpose of pouring alcohol into. You can sleep without putting pressure on your toe. I can't sleep without lying on my back for part of the night...get your minds out of the gutter....

16. Would you rather use the woods or a port-o-potty?

Definitely the woods! Port-A-Potties are sooooo nasty and stinky and in the woods, you don't have to see anyone else's left over business!!

Ah, Hidden Talents

2008-11-10T13:21:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the genius at Navel Gazing who posted this video, I am able to share it with you! I'm in awe of his silly talent! For all those Star Wars fans...this is for you...

Thanks, Dandelion!!

2008-11-09T10:04:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited to be participating in the Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap!!!

To put it simply, you think of your favorite things....things that are simple but you love....and gift them to someone else! I've got my list going--it's growing and growing...

We are to mail them by Novemer 18th, and I'll update here when I get my fun surprises!!! What a FUN idea, Dandelion Wishes!!

I Got A Blog Troll! Goody Goody!

2008-11-08T20:58:00.005-06:00

So I got an Anonymous Blog Troll...not a very smart one. I think "Shannon" needs a hug today....

Shannon has left a new comment on your post "Let's Look At The Statistics":

WOW. You have got to be kidding me. I have read your blog and how dare you (a woman who has married a much older man with money and popped out his kid)cast stones at "poor people." You have no CLUE as to what NORMAL people deal with on a daily basis. Just keep doing what you know how to do...not working...going to Disney World a million times a year because you are "teaching" your child...sitting at your computer countless hours to update your BLOGS as to what your family is doing (by the way - might want to get a speech therapist working with your son)Honestly- you need to just - SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!

Let's Look At The Statistics

2008-11-08T08:02:00.001-06:00

The average "poor" person, as defined by the government, has a living standard far higher than the public imagines. The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:

1. 43% percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.

2. 80% of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36% of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

3. The typical poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

4. Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31% own two or more cars.

5. 97% of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.

6. 78% percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62% have cable or satellite TV reception.

7. 89% own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and a more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.

Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry, and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, liberal activists, and politicians.

The original poster of those stats and comments is Dr. Mark J. Perry, a professor of economics and finance in the School of Management at the Flint campus of the University of Michigan.

...

2008-11-05T09:16:00.000-06:00

For My Bud

2008-11-01T21:38:00.003-05:00

I learned something funny about my closest friend last Thursday night...she loves a rapper named T.I! Who knew this Hummer-driving, yoga-goin, suburban mama loved his music? Heck, I didn't even know who he was.

So, T, this post is for you!

Yesss....I know this is not the original. It's Weird Al's parody. I like his version :)

I've Kept My Mouth Shut Until Now

2008-10-31T08:56:00.003-05:00

If you've got your own ideas & strong beliefs, say it, damn it. When you're reading from a script & the magic script goes away...you get this.

Must See...

2008-10-30T20:49:00.000-05:00

Last Game...

2008-10-30T16:09:00.001-05:00

Jessie's last volleyball game was Tuesday night. They...uh...got whooped. And Coach only let Jessie play 1 of the two matches. But, as always, it's fun to watch her play & she makes us so proud...

Look at those jumps!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-26T20:15:00.001-05:00

Beautiful Jessie

2008-10-17T16:30:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Denise, we have some pictures of Jessie with her friends from their choir concert last week. She sang like an angel & she makes us so proud :)

Mother Superior

2008-09-26T19:23:00.001-05:00

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis?

2008-09-26T15:35:00.000-05:00

Vacation Reading

2008-09-23T16:02:00.006-05:00

I tend to over plan my vacation reading, but I'd rather have too many choices instead of not enough! The way I figure it, we'll be in the room for a good 3 hours each afternoon while Reese naps. He tends to take BIG naps on vacation, so that's 21 hours of time to read. Plus the plane ride there & back...another 5 hours total. So I figure three books should cover it!

I'm bringing:

*The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. This was on our library's "Oprah's Book Club" list. Not that I care about Oprah's book club, but I was looking for a good emotional story and this seemed to fit the bill. The Amazon.com synopsis reads:

The horror of losing a child is somehow made worse when the case goes unsolved for nearly a decade, reports Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel columnist Jacquelyn Mitchard in this searing first novel. In it, 3-year-old Ben Cappadora is kidnapped from a hotel lobby where his mother is checking into her 15th high school reunion. His disappearance tears the family apart and invokes separate experiences of anguish, denial, and self-blame. Marital problems and delinquency in Ben's older brother (in charge of him the day of his kidnapping) ensue. Mitchard depicts the family's friction and torment--along with many gritty realities of family life--with the candor of a journalist and compassion of someone who has seemingly been there.

Perhaps reading a book about an unsolved missing child case (fictional), while on vacation with a child seems stressful. I hope it's a great book! Apparently, it was made into a movie, which I never saw, so the book won't be spoiled for me.

*Her Last Death: A Memoir by Susanna Sonnenberg. I love the search feature on the online catalog of our local library. By searching for "Memoir", I have found so many great stories...one of my new favorite genres! Amazon.com's synopsis:

Susanna's mother gave her a copy of Penthouse when she was a ten-year-old, cocaine when she was 12, and seduced her boyfriend at 14. Sonnenberg recounts "the true calamity of being daughter to this mother." The glory of this memoir is that the author survived her traumatic childhood and somehow navigated her way to a deftly written book capturing her dismantled youth. The daughter of a glamorous, falling-down addict of a mother and a gifted, self-absorbed father, Sonnenberg never falls into the trap of attempting to analyze two people never meant to be parents. Instead, we are allowed to feel the strange and powerful familial currencies running between mother and daughter through the keenly observed writing of Sonnenberg. The writing is razor-sharp and raw, a significant feat considering the untethered early years of this immensely talented writer.

The beginning description reminds me of Drew Barrymore's story. I'm drawn to people's life stories....

*Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. Another book I found in the "memoir" search word in the online library catalog. I've wanted to read this for years, & when it popped up in the search results, I was excited to grab it! From Amazon.com:

"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes Frank McCourt in Angela's Ashes. "Worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." Welcome, then, to the pinnacle of the miserable Irish Catholic childhood. Born in Brooklyn in 1930 to recent Irish immigrants Malachy and Angela McCourt, Frank grew up in Limerick after his parents returned to Ireland because of poor prospects in America. It turns out that prospects weren't so great back in the old country either--not with Malachy for a father. A chronically unemployed and nearly unemployable alcoholic, he appears to be the model on which many of our more insulting cliches about drunken Irish manhood are based. Mix in abject poverty and frequent death and illness and you have all the makings of a truly difficult early life. Fortunately, in McCourt's able hands it also has all the makings for a compelling memoir.

This is another one that has been made into a movie, but I have not seen it! I've thumbed through all three books & they all look so good. Where to begin, where to begin.

The library also had the National Treasure DVD checked in, so we rented that for movie night on Thursday. National Treasure 2 will be shown on the cruise, and we've not seen the first OR second movie...so we'll catch up on the first movie to prepare for the on-board viewing of the second.

Can I just say I LOVE the library? There are two local libraries that we have cards for, and there are so many DVDs to check out. Which obviously costs nothing. For vacation, Reese picked out The Incredibles, Muppets Treasure Island, & Honey I Shrunk The Kids. Chicken Little was on his request list, but it's still checked out. It's so much cheaper (obviously!) than renting them from somewhere, & you get to keep them for TWO weeks! Love me some free library videos!

Stupid Bird

2008-09-22T08:46:00.000-05:00

Reese, Jessie, & I were sitting on the couch Saturday afternoon & as I looked at the cabana out back, I saw this land on the roof:

An egret or heron I believe....how pretty!

Hey, you! Don't do that!
Do what you ask?
Hey...it's still dribbling down the roof. Gross.
Stupid bird.

Not YOUR Mama!

2008-09-21T06:22:00.000-05:00

Reese has had a great time looking through all the Halloween costume catalogs that started coming in the mail lately. He's gone from wanting to be Darth Vader, to a UPS man, to a Power Ranger, to a Storm Trooper.

The catalog that came today had some interesting costumes. Here's what he picked for Mommy:

While Daddy gave a big thumbs up, I said, uh, no...don't think so! I thought the whole french maid attraction didn't start until they were older? What's up with that?

Itinerary For Vacation

2008-09-20T18:11:00.006-05:00

Here's the itinerary for vacation...we leave next Saturday!! We'll have the computer & email access so feel free to say hi. And I'll update the blogs daily so you can see what we've been up to :)

Saturday: Port Canaveral
Sunday: Castaway Cay
Monday: At Sea
Tuesday: Grand Cayman
Wednesday: Cozumel (we'll think of our CoOp friends!)
Thursday: At Sea
Friday: Castaway Cay
Saturday: Port Canaveral

We're about half way packed & the paper chain that counts down the days is getting shorter and shorter!

Two Weeks Can't Come Fast Enough...

2008-09-13T16:47:00.004-05:00

Two weeks from today....

We'll walk though here....

To make memories on this....
To visit here twice along the way...
To slide down this about 100 times....

We're counting the days until we leave for our 2nd magical cruise. We can't WAIT!!!

**Pictures of boat taken by Disney

Jessie & The Homecoming Float

2008-09-11T14:55:00.002-05:00

Jessie & her Freshman volleyball team rode in the Marcus HS homecoming parade. She's on the bottom row, sitting, fourth from the right. She's got a flag in her mouth...silly girl :)

Water Mark From Last Summer....Was It Really That High?

2008-08-31T08:18:00.000-05:00

Last summer, I believe Lake Grapevine was up about 16 feet past normal. We don't visit the lake ever, so it didn't really sink in just how high that really was.

When Reese & I went to the lake to meet some homeschool friends on Tuesday, I noticed the watermarks on all the trees. Holy smokes!

You can see the water line, above the picnic pavilion. Way above the picnic pavilion. Which means that everything we were standing on & looking at was very much under water last summer. Amazing!

Supah Fly

2008-08-29T08:16:00.000-05:00

Even a fly can have a pretty day...

Can Dogs Get Divine Intervention?

2008-08-28T13:51:00.004-05:00

Buddy is going on 10 years old, which for a Jack Russell isn't supposed to be that old. A few months ago though, all the sudden, Buddy got old. He started having trouble walking. His back leg(s) were hurting. He wasn't eating & you could tell he lost some serious weight. He kept his tail ducked and head down most of the time when he did walk, but most of the time he just laid on the couch.

We took him to the vet (no answers), we bought some spendy joint supplements (he won't eat them unless smothered in peanut butter), we put him on aspirin therapy (81mg/day), we changed to soft food mixed with dry food (worked well to get him to eat!).

He's given up his long-held post lying on the back of the couch. I brought in the dog bed to the living room so he had a soft place to rest his weary bones.

Last week, it just seemed hopeless. Nothing we were doing was helping. He would just sleep though the days, only limping around if absolutely necessary. He pooped on the floor, in front of the dog door. He hesitated for long moments before he would go up or down the small step to get in the door. I had given in to carrying him down the steps to the backyard many times a day to do his potty business.

This was no way for a spry little Jack Russell to live. Always, always, his tail was tucked, his head was hung low, his eyes were just so sad.

On Tuesday, while driving to violin, Jeff & I talked about what we were going to do. This wasn't fair to Buddy. He shivered all the time from pain. He can't be happy, & what we're doing isn't helping.

We decided I'd take him to the vet to see what our options were. Was there anything else we could do to help? Was it time to make "that decision"? I called the vet from the car & set an appointment for today (Thursday) at 7:30am. I cried the rest of the way to violin lessons. Luckily, I had on my sunglasses and Reese was watching a DVD in the car, so he didn't know I was upset. I cried harder thinking about how we would tell Reese. Austen & Jessie are older and I think they would understand better, but Reese is 5. How does a 5 year old say goodbye to his life-long Buddy?

Then comes Wednesday. Jeff & I both comment to each other about how much better Buddy looks. He's walking around!?! He wagged his tail! He came up the stairs by himself?

At the end of Wednesday, Buddy came down with some hives, but that didn't stop him at all. He wanted on the couch, so we helped him up, & then he made his way to his perch on the back of the couch. I can't think of the last time he's laid up there, where he can see everything that happens in the house.

I called the vet Wednesday evening & cancelled our appointment for this morning. Was he better, or just on an up-swing? Seemed silly to take him to the vet if he was acting like this...I had prepared the vet for a dog who we didn't know what else to do for him.

This morning....new life has been breathed into this dog! He's running, eating dry food on his own, he hasn't had any aspirin, he actually hopped onto the back of the couch himself, he played football with Reese & I (he grabs it & runs away with it when Reese drops it), he wagged his tail & did the "excited prance" that dogs do.

How did this happen?

Our poor dog, who Jeff & I both thought might be making his way to death's door, has completely turned around today.

I have no idea why. I'm just glad we have more time with Buddy, because I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Another First...PLEASE Slow Down!

2008-08-25T19:48:00.005-05:00

Dear Time,

Please slow down. In the blink of an eye, this little girl:

Turned into this beautiful young woman:

And started high school today.

In a matter of months, she'll start driving. I swear, I blink & you've fast forwarded ten years, Time. Please, for me, slow down! I'm afraid I will blink again and we'll be packing her bags and moving her to college.

It feels like only a short time ago, she slept on our floor at night because she was afraid of the lights that shone in the windows. Was it really ten years ago that we first met? It seems like yesterday I was smearing shaving cream on the bathtub walls so you could spell your name, and cleaning the Mickey Bar out of your overalls at Disney. The days of special loops tied in your laces "just right" seem not that long ago. But they were...ten whole years. Where did they go?

Time, I know you must march on. But please dawdle a bit, because I'm not ready to let go of another one into the world just yet!

What's The Best Freecycle Item You've Picked Up?

2008-08-25T17:38:00.002-05:00

Last week, we picked up a breadmaker!!! Thanks to my friend Holly O...I didn't even know she was the person who offered it up. We've made 3 loaves of bread so far. First one turned out flat because I didn't set the loaf size high enough. Second loaf was a white bread that turned out good. Third loaf was a 100% whole wheat loaf that was dense but still yummy.

Our next loaf will be a wheat mix...maybe it will be a little lighter & more fluffy.

Waiting patiently for the first loaf to finish baking...

"Mommy, I want to take your picture!"
"And I want to take this picture of Zoe too"

I Won't Have This Again Until November...

2008-08-23T20:12:00.002-05:00

Austen's back at school, and I won't have all three of my kiddos together for a whole three months. Poop. I miss him already.

Jeff talked to him just as he was settling in yesterday & you could just hear the joy in his voice. He was ready to be back at school, hanging out with friends, making his own schedule, choosing his own path. They had an all-night video game blowout planned for last night.

Even though it hurts to know he's four hours away for so long, it makes my heart sing knowing that he's happy where he's at, and he's where he wants to be. He's one heck of a son....

Don't Hate Us 'Cause We're Beautiful...

2008-08-18T22:52:00.001-05:00

Jessie & I lookin' beautiful....and she hates when I always take pictures of her!

Splash!

2008-08-17T14:45:00.001-05:00