Family Adventures Family Adventures When my children are grown and gone, I hope that they will look back on their childhood and remember the sound of their mother's laughter. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Articles
good to be bad
2007-10-06 20:06:00 Lily's favorite thing to do these days is to learn to spell new words. She is always asking me, what does ---- start with, what does ----- start with? She knows how to spell lost of words, she also knows lots of words that start with each letter of the alphabet. It is just something fun we do to pass the time.But, lately her favorite game to play is something she made up called, wrong letter. She tells me, Alligator starts with Z and I laugh and say Zebra starts with A. She laughs and says Goat starts with W and I respond Watermelon starts with G. She will do this for ages. I tell myself this is a good thing because we are having fun and she is learning. I am trying to see if she will see the patterns in how I answer her or if she will pick up and add some patterns into her game. So far I do not think she sees the patterns.My only worry is that when she goes to school she will answer all the questions intentionally wrong to be funny. Oh well, she has found a way to combin... More About: Family , Daily , Good
yucky, sad, nasty, stinky, dirty...
2007-10-05 16:15:00 For as long as I can remember Lily has been a very observant little back seat driver. She keeps careful track of which streets we use to get to each destination. I can remember when she was just two, she once started crying because I had told her we were going to gymnastics and we turned down a different street, to mail a letter before going to gymnastics. Lily is always talking about our journey, this is the road with Wal-Mart, this is the road with the water, I don't like this road, etc. A few months ago I decided to take a new route to Lowes, and Lily was furious with me, as she always is when I don't take the path that she is expecting. I thought to myself that perhaps I should teach her the names of all the streets, so that she would be better equipped to tell me off when I went the wrong way.It took me about a week. Jeff drove her somewhere and came home utterly amazed that she told him which way to turn and the name of every street along the way. At the stop sign plea... More About: Daily , Dirty , Nasty , Inky
Thursday Thirteen #10
2007-10-04 15:15:00 I am addicted to politics. So much so that for my final project in my web design class I am building a web site all about the upcoming presidential election. For research purposes for my final project I am going to list thirteen issues that are being debated by the presidential candidates. I am wondering which of the following issues is the most important to you? Of the following issues, which one do you feel that the next president needs to be in agreement with you in order to get your vote. Pick one, if you want you can also write your thoughts on that issue, but sometimes sharing our political opinions is a bit touchy, so that is not required.IraqUniversal Health careSocial SecurityEducationCrimePovertyBorders/Immi grationOvercrowded PrisonsTax CutsFEMAHomeland SecurityEnvironmentUnemployment/jobs going overseasHappy TT. Join the fun, more Thursday Thirteen s are located here....I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog.
ProBlogger Birthday Bash
2007-10-03 15:46:00 PROBLOGGER is giving away $54,000 in cash and prizes between now an Monday. Click this logo to enter. I also want to take this opportunity to say that problogger.net is one of my favorite blogs, stop by and enter to win some prizes, but also be sure to bookmark this site so that you can add it to your daily read.I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Blogging , Birthday , Bash
Custody: Women Rule, men drool
2007-10-03 14:12:00 The other day Jeff made a comment about the Britney Spears - Keven Federline custody battle, at the time he was under the impression that Britney had gotten custody of their kids. Now I think she lost custody? I don't really pay attention to these things but Jeff feels that men tend to get the short end of the stick in custody battles, and I agree. I however, think this is a good thing, he thinks this is wrong.All things being equal, meaning both parents are stable honorable people, women tend to be the care givers, they tend to put the kid's before their own. Isn't that the most sexist comment I have ever made? In our family, I am the primary care giver. I gave up working, to care for the kids and Jeff. Before that I always put the family before my jobs. I would only apply for jobs that fit into my role as parent, meaning good hours, health insurance, and ability to call in sick for kids. Which meant crappy, low wages, no advancement opportunity, doing things I hated. ... More About: Women , Daily , Feminism , Custody , Rule
BookWormsRus October books choices
2007-10-02 15:58:00 For Kim...The Road by Cormac McCarthy A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. They sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing: just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they were wearing, a cart of scavenged food-and each other.The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, The Road is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.The Space Between U... More About: Books , Reading , Choices , October
Blog Carnival
2007-10-01 16:26:00 I am participating in another blog carnival. My friend Naomi, from Diary from England, who I met at blog village is hosting the England goes Gonzo blog carnival. Which kicks off today. Blog carnivals are an excellent way to meet new bloggers, find interesting things to read, and have a lot of fun. Blog village is the my favorite blog community, the best place to list your blog and find great blogs to read.Click here to go to the carnival.Click here to join blogvillage.Click here to read, Harry Potter in London, my submission to the England goes Gonzo blog carnival.Click here to read, Baby Elephant, my submission to a previous carnival, and my favorite blog post ever.I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Carnival , Blogging , Blog Carnival
I'm Going Pink For October
2007-09-30 21:29:00 October is breast cancer awareness month. To remind you and me to go get our boobs squeezed I have turned my blog pink for October. Join the fun and turn your blog pink too.For more information go to Pink For OctoberI follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: October , Going , Goin
Between, Georgia
2007-09-29 01:56:00 Written by Joshilyn Jackson - Between, Georgia is the story of Nonny who was born in the small town of Between. Nonny's biological mother conceled her pregnacy and gave birth to her at the home of her mother's least favorite family the Fretts. The Fretts adopt Nonny and when her biological grandmother finds out the animonsity between the families only increases.The Frett family has money, the keep a clean house, and are respected members of the community. The Crabtree family, Nonny's biological family are poor, dirty and live life on the fringes of society. Hey. this could be my story. I enjoyed the rich descriptions used in the story. The neighborhood which was walking distance from the house where Nonny grew up, the houses surrounding her biological family home, had burned out houses, abandoned houses, the inside of the home was also described in vivid details. The squalor of poverty and knowing this is where you come from. Having those people want you to acknowledge your conne... More About: Reading , Ween
Book Worms R US
2007-09-28 16:55:00 In September we read two books, Flirting with Forty and Between, Georgia. The discussion for Flirting with Forty is taking place at Kim's blog, Wheaties2bk, and can be found here.I think I was the only one to participate in that discussion. There is no reason you can't still swing by and leave your thoughts. I also wrote a general book review and impressions about Flirting with Forty on my blog here. I enjoyed Flirting with Forty very much and the discussion about women and happiness that ensued.Now it is time to discuss Between, Georgia. I am hoping that we can have more of a discussion than we have in the past. I guess we all come to the book club for different reasons. Most of us come to get recommendations for new reads, and that is fine. But, I really enjoy the discussion part and that seems to have been lacking. In an effort to get more of a discussion going, I am going to host the discussion for Between in a little bit different way. I am going to post my review o... More About: Reading , Book , Worms
Harry Potter in London
2007-09-28 15:56:00 Mandy and I are huge Harry Potter fans. When the first movie was coming out we found ourselves living in Italy and not speaking any Italian. It was November 2001. We managed to convince Jeff that it would be a good idea to spend our Thanksgiving weekend traveling to London to see London, but really to see Harry Potter in English.I was able to book our family a flight from a town less than an hour from our house, directly into London for less the $200 round trip for all three of us. Thank you Ryan. This airline is fabulous, it is like nothing I had ever seen before. You buy your tickets online, that is the only way. You are given a e-ticket. There are no seat assignments, you show up and sit where you want, like a bus. People pile onto the plane and sit down, the plane leaves. Takes about five mintues. They don't give you anything like food or water, instead they sell you stuff the whole flight. Water bottles are about $10 bucks. Just kidding, I don't remember how much... More About: Carnival
Moving, not all it is cracked up to be
2007-09-26 16:32:00 Last night was the last home game of the season for Mandy's volleyball team. The stands were packed - every hit, every miss, was reflected by the entire crowd, with a cheer or a gasp. We were one, the parents, the players, and the boy fans who come to cheer for the girls. Those boys are so cute, with their cheers and their songs. What a hoot to see the boys in the stands cheering on the girls. The score would volley back and forth like the ball. We were up and then they were up. Every hit and every miss counted. Our girls were smoking hot. After a season of losses, a season of fans watching players watch the ball hit the ground, the girls were finally putting some effort into their game. Doing the one-two-three, hit-set-spike. They were spiking it into the empty places on the other side of the net. It was like magic. Especially since we have not won a game all season. All season. The stands are always full, we parents invest our hearts in every game and we lose,... More About: Family , Moving , Cracked
To do list
2007-09-25 13:36:00 Why yes Lorelei, I am enjoying having my husband home.We decided to give preschool a try. We thought we found one, but spoke to director yesterday and found out that she does not want to take on any more kids right now. Back to the drawing board.I joined Twitter. You can follow what I am doing or thinking at twitter or on my sidebar, I added a widget. Fun.My class is so much fun. We are learning about how to add things like a drop down menu, a guest book, or address from to a web page right now. My little brain is jumping up and down with excitement.I got a new haircut, something very different. I am quite pleased.Gotta go to the dentist, I am one of those babies who is not good with the dentist.Re-starting my exercise plan. Walking three days this week for thirty minutes, or riding the exercise bike in my bedroom. Three thirty minute workouts. Do you have a exercise goal for this week?I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Daily , List , Spuds , To Do
Must See Youtube
2007-09-22 21:58:00 Check this video out over at Special K Family. It made me laugh. Have a great weekend.I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Youtube
Evacuation kit
2007-09-22 02:23:00 All day I have been preparing for a hurricane. Now it appears we are just going to have a good storm. I am new to tropical weather terminology but I am pretty certain that is what is going on. Today at the Wal-Mart, which is usually pretty quiet at 10AM, it was totally packed, all the parking spaces were filled all the shopping carts gone, the lines were half way down the isles.While I was standing in line, buying my emergency food supplies, I couldn't help but notice what the other people had in their buggies (shopping carts to you Yankees). I saw a lot of salsa, chips, beer, water, dog food, and paper towels. I didn't get any of those things, I am thinking I am not prepared. I almost got out of line.I filled the car with gas, got some money, planed my escape route. Now I have to take with me two kids, a cat, a dog, extra gas, important papers, and....What would you bring if you had to evacuate and you only had a little bit of room left in your tiny little car? I was thin... More About: Daily , Evacuation
Out of this world, link love
2007-09-21 13:39:00 The nap warden has created an award, called your blog is out of this world. And she nominated my blog, isn't that sweet? I am passing this along to some of my friends whose blogs I have especially enjoyed this week. However, I love you all. Some of the world's best writers are on my blogroll but too busy living their lives to write on their blogs consistently. But, I still love you.If you buy on ebay you need to read about Angel's experience here. You really have to see this halloween costume. at Chronicles of a SAHMWho? Lynn from A Tired Moma writes candidly about caring for her mother who has Alzheimer's disease.October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, Shelia from Alabama Kitchen Sink has created some buttons, t-shirts, post cards, etc to help you get the word out to your family and friends, to get a mammogram. Her ideas are cute, clever and important.Dixie always has the best Meme s and this one about movies is not exception, of course Dixie is also a brilliant and poin... More About: World , Love , Link
Jeff's Marathon Slideshow
2007-09-20 15:57:00 I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Marathon , Slideshow , Jeff , Mara
Don't be a hater
2007-09-20 13:30:00 Thanks for all your kind words and support. Lily actually went to the dentist yesterday, first thing in the morning. And the hygienist was so patient and sweet that Lily did great. At the end of the appointment she said it was no wonder Lily had tarter on the insides of her back teeth, that Lily really fights you when you try to clean them. But, during the visit she was sweet as pie to Lily and that really put her at ease.Later in the day we were picking up a couple of things at the grocery store and the cashier started a conversation with Lily. So, Lily proceeded to tell the cashier a lot. Her whole day, her whole life, in a long fast sentence. Lily has a lot of words. I heard the cashier remark to the next customer when we left that Lily is hyper.It really struck me cause it was like a light bulb moment. I was thinking up until then that Lily is not hyper at all. Especially as I was reading the ADHD paperwork. But. it isn't all the time. I have the ability to get her ou... More About: Hater
When everyone tells me that I am wrong, should I listen?
2007-09-19 01:52:00 Today was Lily's four year old check up. I made a list and talked to the doctor about her behavior issues. I think I did a good job. We have been refereed to specialists to determine if there is some sort of problem. The doctor also recommended that she go to preschool. Jeff agrees, I do not. I am going to try it. But, I am so scared. So very scared.Lily is difficult. But, she is so sweet. No one has ever been mean to her. I am afraid that her teacher wont be able to handle how hard she is, I am afraid someone will be mean to her. Jeff and the doctor feel that if Lily is away from me she might be able to learn how to behave. Doesn't that sound like it is all my fault?Today at the doctor, the person taking our information before we saw the doctor, he screamed at Lily. Lily was talking very loudly, she doesn't like it when I talk to other people and she talks over my conversations until I give her my attention. This drove him crazy and he yelled at her to sit down an... More About: Listen , Wrong , Tells
Blog Rush
2007-09-17 17:21:00 I have joined Blog Rush , which is the latest and greatest tool to bring real readers to your blog. If you want to join you can give me credit for referring you by clicking this link.I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Blogging
Don't blame me it is just who I am
2007-09-17 16:16:00 Last night as I was driving Mandy, my 16 year old daughter, home from work at 10PM, I asked her if she had done her homework yet or if she had put it off until the last minute. She said, she had put it off. I asked her if she needed the computer, we only have one, because I had also put off my homework. She said, no - that she did not need the computer for her homework.We then proceeded to have a debate our DNA. Mandy believes that her procrastination was inherited and is therefore just who she is, out of her control. I told her that all things are within her control it is all about choices. When she puts things off she has made a choice. When I put things off, I have made a choice. We are both capable of choosing to do our homework early. Mandy does not believe she is capable of doing her homework early, she says she tries but just cannot. This is who she is and I should just accept that and move on.What do you think? Is our tendency toward procrastination a flaw in our... More About: Family , Daily , Blame , Lame
The Dentist
2007-09-17 01:11:00 I forgot to tell y'all about our visit to the dentist. We had to go and pick up Mandy from school because someone (Jeff) thinks we should schedule all our appointments at the same time. The process of getting your kid out of high school is excruciation. That took us a half an hour. But, still we managed to make it to our new dentist's office about 10 minutes before our appointment. I had a mountain of paper work to fill out twice, once for each of the girls. Before I was even done, they called Mandy back to begin her exam.Jeff had purposely scheduled Lily's appointment before Mandy's, but they called Mandy first. So back she goes and we do not see her again for over an hour. She finally comes back to the waiting room, she has not had the chance to see the dentist. Someone cleaned her teeth and took xrays but no dentist. Another lady who came in 45 minutes after us was called back. Lily still hadn't been seen. After another 10 minutes I went up to the counter and tol... More About: Dentist , The D
Air Force Marathon
2007-09-15 16:04:00 Jeff is currently running in the Air Force Mara thon . His first. Please take a moment to send him good wishes, in hopes it will give him a boost. I will let you know how he does.Update: Jeff finished, 5 hours and 38 minutes. Now we can all send wishes for a speedy recovery from the aches and pains.I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Air Force
An Afternoon Walk from Hell
2007-09-15 14:41:00 I have been feeling like crap lately. It is a physical, emotional, spiritual, bla. Don't know why. I thought I would do something to try and feel better. The first thing that came to mind was fresh air and exercise. On that note, one day last week I decided to take Lily for a walk down to the beach. Our dog really wanted to come along and I thought why not. First I coated us with sunscreen, then mosquito repellent (while I hate doing that we have fair skins and a number of west Nile virus cases have occur ed in the local area). As we were heading out the front door Lily requested the opportunity to ride her big wheel instead of walking. Thanks, to her dad who let her ride her big wheel down to the water over the weekend. We gathered her big wheel and proceeded to open the door. The dog shot out the door like a rocket and broke her retractable leash. Instead of just putting her back in the house, I coerced her to come back in the house with me by promising cheese. Gave ... More About: Daily , Afternoon , Hell , Adventures , Walk
Taking a four year old to the dentist
2007-09-14 13:39:00 Lily and Mandy have dental appointments this morning. Lily woke up, immediately remembered that she was mad at me last night when she went to bed and started crying again. She hadn't even gotten out of bed and she was already crying again. I don't think our appointment is going to go well.I tried cuddling her, while watching cartoons. I tried breakfast. She was still crying about how I sent her to bed last night before she had a chance to put her babies to sleep. It was well past her bedtime because we had to pick up Mandy from school after 9PM due to an away volleyball game. Lily had missed her nap because I had to take Mandy to school, to get on the bus for the away volleyball game. Usually we spend ages doing our going to bed stuff. Last night there was too much drama. After reading books, drinking milk, going potty, washing hands, brushing teeth, I was done with it all and I made Lily go to bed without allowing her to put all of her ten thousand and one babies to bed... More About: Year , Dentist , The D , Taking
How I lost my BFF
2007-09-12 16:57:00 In the early 1980's my family moved from Mays Pond in Bothell, Washington to Elk Grove, California. It was mid January and on myu first day of school I remember walking around with a map trying to find my classes and having a group of kids point to my lazy eye and chase me around saying, look she is stoned, look at her eyes this girl is stoned. Fun.Later that day I met Danel in my science class. We sat next to each other. She was nice. Turns out we had a lot in common, like both of us were taken from our bio moms at the age of five and both of us were placed in foster care. We were both the same height and weight too. We became best friends and remained so for over 20 years.Taking Different PathsIn our early 20's both Danel and I found ourselves pregnant. She had been dating a boy for more than two years. They decided to keep the baby and get married.On the way to the chapel he changed his mind. She was three months preganant and chose to go to San Francisco to get an abo... More About: Lost , Memories
comment verification codes
2007-09-12 15:33:00 I am a fairly good typist. I was even a fairly good secretary in a past life. I took a year long typing class in high school. Yet, I cannot for the life of me do the comment verification codes. It always takes me 3, 4, 5 times to get it right. Drives me batty.I follow comments. Leave a comment and I will come visit your blog. More About: Blogging , Verification , Comment , Codes , Odes
Are you prepared to file an insurance claim?
2007-09-09 16:08:00 I don't really know all that much about insurance. Except how to pay the bill. I have never in my life had to file an insurance claim. We pay out more per month in insurance than we do to the bank for our house. Sucks. Watching all the coverage of the anniversary of Katrina here in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, I learned a couple things about insurance that I thought I would share with you.The Big MistakeWhen you sign up for your insurance policy, for home owners or renters. The insurance company will ask you to estimate the value of your belongings. How much would is cost to replace your belongings? You estimate and the rate you pay is based on this estimation. I was under the impression that if all my stuff is destroyed, this is the amount my insurance company would give to me and I would go replace my things at my discretion. Not the case, according to the people here who are still battling the insurance companies for their money.You Need ProofIf your things are destr... More About: Insurance , File , Pare , Prep
Playground Justice
2007-09-08 14:58:00 The other day at the playground, Lily was playing with a little girl who looked to be about a year older than Lily, that would make her around five. Lily and the little girl were the only kids at the playground and they were laughing and having a great time. The two girls decided to play hide-n-seek.At first they decided to count to 20. The other little girl changed her mind and wanted to count to 100. I am sure that it was her idea and not Lily.(counting is one of Lily's favorite things). Instead of hiding Lily was listening to her count. Every time this girl missed a number Lily would point it out to her. They would both laugh and the counting would continue. When the girl was supposed to say 80, she said 90 instead. Lily corrected her. The little girl's dad called the little girl over to him.The dad then told her to stop counting to 100. It takes too long. To count to 20 instead. That counting to 100 takes too long. The little girl walked back over to Lily, the da... More About: Family , Daily , Justice , Playground
Thursday Thirteen # 9
More articles from this author:2007-09-06 16:42:00 Thirteen things that make me happy.The sound of my kids laughing.The sound of my husband laughing.Hearing one of my favorite songs from childhood come on the radio unexpectedly.Desserts with chocolate.Soup on a cold day.A finished project, like finally being done with decorating my new living room.Sunshine. I love the feel of sun on my face.Conversations with girl friends.Swimming, I just love the way it feels to submerge myself completely under the cool water, holding my breath and straining to swim fast and far. The world is mutted, the sun is bright while I am cool. It is one of the best feelings.Lazy days with a new book.The first day of a new class. I am a returning college student currently taking an intermediate web design course CMST 386 for those of you familar with UMUC.The season premiere of a favorite show, like Survivor.That moment in the afternoon when Lily is down for a nap, just before Mandy comes home from school, with Jeff at work, that moment in the day that i... More About: Thirteen , Thursday 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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