Drinking From My Saucer

Miracles happen every day, blessings continue to flow...God Is Great!

A long time ago when I first started going online and set up my first e-mail account I received an e-mail containing a poem called "Drinking From My Saucer"

It seemed like such a simple "country" poem and I think it kind of touched me because my granddaddy drank coffee from his saucer and the content of the poem reminded me of him. (He is the only person I have ever seen do this...I guess it is an old "timey" thing and a fast way to cool your coffee.) Granddaddy never had a lot of material things in life but he was always laughing and his blue eyes always sparkled. His stained cracked saucer was the only thing of his I wanted when he passed away. Unfortunately, I didn't get it. I think it was discarded when they my dad and aunt went through their belongings. It was a pitiful looking thing with dark coffee stains in the tiny cracks in the China and an overall light brown stain covering it from 50 or so years of having coffee poured in it every morning so they probably thought no one would want it.

Here is the poem that I love and that reminds me of him and to reminds me to be humble and appreciate my many blessings. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Drinking From My Saucer

I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much,I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way,I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I don't have a lot of riches,and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loved ones around me,and that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for his blessings,and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,'cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.

So God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage,
when the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy,to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,'Cause my cup has overflowed.

~ John Paul Moore ~

Simply Sweet

I got a wonderful surprise this morning. Last night I put the kids down early compared to our new norm so I felt sure Samuel would crack his eyes open at 6:00 this morning....but after all was said and done I got to sleep until 9:30!!!! Woooo Hoooo!

It was actually Riley who woke up first at around 8:00. When I heard her get up I scooped her up and snuggled her into the bed with me. She was covered with sleepy smiles and oozing sweetness. She LOVES my bed so she was in heaven!!! With us snuggled up together she went back to sleep immediately with a big smile on her face and so did I.

Around 9:30 Sam woke up with smiles on his face and we got to hang out and play until Ri woke up around 10:15! Life is GOOOOOD this morning! Yay! I need a good day because yesterday about kicked my butt!

My kids may get on my very last nerve at times but they are precious and I adore them more than words could ever come close to express. I love being their Mommy and my life is so much more meaningful because they are part of it. Before becoming a mother I never knew love like this could exist.

Debbie Downer

Do you know someone who has an attitude that just brings you down when you talk to them and it feels like a chore just to call them??? I have someone like that and I literally have to talk myself into calling but I have to...almost every day. Negative attitudes are very draining for me to deal with.

I keep praying that this person's attitude will change and they will make the most of a bad situation....until then I will keep trying to be supportive even if it is starting to pull me down.

This Day Is Full Of Gifts....Bad Ones!!!!

It is only like 11:30 or so and I have had a day's worth of "fun" already.

Here is the receipe for that was used for my morning:

1 bowl of spilled Cherios
1 toddler who decided to strip off his pull up and pee on my bed
1 toddler who said he had to potty and decided to climb into the bathtub to finish pooping...as if cleaning the potty isn't fun enough...poop in the bathtub is a barrell of laughs!
1 preschooler who decided to sit and tie knots into the dogs retractable leash "just because"....that was really fun to fix.
1dog who decided to pee in the kitchen floor which ran under the refrigerator....I LOVED moving the fridge out to mop under it!!!!
1 preschooler who slammed her bedroom door in her brother's face and locked the door which made him scream for 15 minutes.

Mix all of the above ingredients together in a big ass bowl along with my already sour mood, 50 million chores I haven't gotten to yet, bake at 350 and you have an idea of my state of mind today! Good times!!!!

Cheeseburger In Paradise

Okay so I worked on my vacation video of pictures and tried for like an hour to add audio to no avail and I am tired and tired of trying to get it to work. Maybe it is a problem with Picasa or most likely a user error.

So, as a favor to me while you are watching my vacation slideshow sing/hum/imagine the song Cheeseburger in Paradise playing to get the full effect. ;-)

The video looked fuzzy when I posted it here so I added the link for you to follow to view it instead.

http://picasaweb.google.com/joymom1117/Movies#5352621006115353810

I could scream....even with the link it looks fuzzy...I GIVE UP!!!! How could they be crystal clear on my computer and fuzzy after the web upload????!!!! I am beyond pissed and really have to go to sleep! Grrrrrrrrr

Love ya'll and goodnight!

King Of The Grill

Jamey does all of the grilling around here. One of the reasons I love this time of year is because he loves to grill and I only have to whip up a quick pasta salad or steamed veggies and presto...dinner is served.

I have the veggies ready...they have been ready and sitting on the stovetop on low for like 20 minutes now so I asked when the chicken will be ready. "It will be ready when I finish this beer." I must have looked at him like he was crazy so he explained.

According to Grillmaster Jamey hamburgers and pork chops are done after 2 beers, chicken and steak are done after 4 beers and pork loin and ribs are done after 6 beers. So ladies...that is all you need to know to be a grillmaster too! :-)

Yaddy Yadda Yadda

I am in a super weird mood today!!!! Jamey was very sweet and actually entertained the kids while I took a very rare, very delicious nap but even that didn't boost my mood very much.

After my nap Jamey and Samuel went to return some videos, ran to Ingles for marinade for the chicken we are grilling tonight and they have been outside doing guy things ever since. I am loving the male bonding they have going on now days!!!! Having Samuel shadowing Jamey frees up a lot of my time which is nice. It gives Riley and I more time to play dress up and Barbies which she loves!!!

Today would be an ideal day if I weren't in such a funk/fog. I am not in a bad mood just a weird one. Maybe I am just dreading getting back to our normal ho hum routine tomorrow when Jamey goes back to work. I have thoroughly enjoyed our vacation time and hate to see it end tomorrow. :-(

I also have been plagued with very vivid, very odd dreams and when I wake up I am very tired and feel like I literally acted out the dreams physically. I don't feel like I have gotten a good night's sleep in a week or so.

I have really enjoyed editing my vacation pictures...that has been my one escape today. I have sat down a couple of different times just to look through them and make some changes to them. I have already printed a few and need to do all of the final editing so that I can get CDs made for a few family members.

My one and only goal for tomorrow is to go to the gym!!!! I have got to get back on the wagon!!! I feel so much better when I am working out and there is no excuse for not going! It is only 1-2 hours per day and I have got to do this for myself!

I better get up and get started on straightening the house up for the day before the dinner/bath time/bedtime rush begins. I want everything done before tomorrow so I won't have any reason not to get my fat butt in the gym.

Later Gaters and have a great evening with the ones you love!

Lucky

I wanted to do a big wonderful post of our vacation photos and details but have decided for now to just post something short and sweet.

As we were visiting Jamey's family it struck me how lucky my children are to be surrounded by so many people who truly love and adore them....especially their Nannie Annie.

Jamey's grandmother is wonderful! She is probably one of my closest friends and to see how much she adores our children warms my heart. They are so lucky to have her in their life. I don't know any other great grandmothers who initiate a water fight with preschoolers, can hop on and off of a boat with ease (more ease than I can let me tell you), beat EVERYONE at Wii Bowling and never tire of entertaining small children.

So, in this post I would like to honor Nannie Annie and her love for her family.

Home Sweet Home

We had a WONDERFUL vacation but the feeling of walking into my home after 6 days away was pure bliss!!!!

Vacation Is Good So Far

Other than the blazing hot heat, my back and shoulders being crispy red and a spastic dog that will not stop barking at us we are having a great time.

I am taking tons of pictures and I will do a big post later but I had a free minute and access to a computer for a minute so I thought I would check my e-mail and blog.

Jamey is out deep sea fishing right now, Sam and Nannie Annie have walked over to a neighbor's house to take her some tomatoes fresh off the vine and Riley and I are hanging out inside where it is cool. All is peaceful for the moment.

So far we have taken a boat trip over to Little Cumberland Island, have hung out and cooked out every night and visited a family member's pool. I also have also gotten a cutsie dutsie hair cut!!!! My hair is VERY short now and I really like it!

Tomorrow we have a trip planned to a kid friendly water park and we will play the rest of the day by ear I guess. I am bummed out that I didn't get a picture of the wild horses that live on Cumberland but between entertaining the kids, taking pictures of everyone and making sure my kids didn't get sunburned, too far out in the tide, bitten by a crab, stung by a jellyfish or "die" of thirst or hunger I really didn't have the time or energy to hike over the sand dunes to where the horses were. Maybe next year!!!! I did see them during the boat ride over and back but I had my hands full with Riley who was a little leary of the boat ride so I couldn't grab my camera. They are so majestic...wild and free. I LOVED Little Cumberland Island! The only structure on the island is a lighthouse and the beach was totally deserted when we got there. We had a party of 4 boats and only one or two more came the whole time we were there. It was so nice to be able to keep up with my kids and not worry about them letting lost in a crowd on the beach. They could also wonder as much as they liked and would not get in anyone else's space as we were the only ones there until the end and even then the closest people were about 100 yards away.

Well I better run. I am getting sleepy sitting here....I need to get up and move around a little I guess!!!!

Later Gaters!

My Dad

I just got a phone call from my dad. I literally only get phone calls from his if he either wants something or to tell me something like...he bought a house. Today he called me to tell me that he did buy a house and that he has had some breathing issues.

We were on the phone for like 30 minutes in which he only talked about himself and the house he bought. He did not ask about his grandchildren even once.

I really try not to get bummed out about the fact that my dad could care less about me or my kids but sometimes it does bother me....probably semi-annually or so. The reason it doesn't bother me more than it does that he is missing out on getting to know and build a relationship with Riley and Sam is because they are surrounded by people who do adore them. My step dad is known as Paw Paw to them and my dad is known as Paw Paw Elvin. The kids always look puzzled when I mention Paw Paw Elvin as if they are trying to place who he is. I guess that is because they rarely ever see him and when they do see him he pretty much ignores them.

I grew weary years ago of trying to be close to my dad. Sometimes I feel that he has the emotional makeup of a single celled organism...that was harsh...maybe that isn't true....maybe he is just an incredibly selfish person....what ever the deal is we are not close and he and I obviously have no desire to be. Honestly I hardly ever think about him...probably as often as I think of a general acquaintance. I know this probably seems very sad and tragic to the people who read this but it is jut the way it has always been for me and honestly it only bothers me from time to time. What is the old saying..."You reap what you sow"???? He never invested any time with me or my brothers and it is quite hard to truly care about someone that really doesn't care about you. I don't think he has any true connections in his life...even he and his wife have a very strange relationship. Sometimes I think I am the only person in the world who only lives a few miles from their father only see him 3 times each year. Weird.

Now I Remember

The kids are sleeping in a little bit this morning so I decided I would watch Good Morning America for a few minutes to catch up on current events....that was a bad idea! Iran is in an uproar and the crowds are chanting "Death to America", the economy still sucks and North Korea has some very big plans for the July 4th involving nuclear missiles and Hawaii. I got all of that good news in the 1 minute I watched. Then I remembered one of the reasons I somewhat avoid watching the news.

I also saw that it is supposed to be EXTREMELY hot today and today is the day I have to venture out with the kiddos to run some pre-vacation errands. I should have gone yesterday but I put it off and now we get to go in the blazing heat.

I really hope I am in a better mood today than I was yesterday! I think yesterday was my "crazy person" hormonal PMS day. Maybe I got it all out of my system yesterday...I hope so.

Unconventionally My Favorite

I love pleasant surprises and I was just looking through some of the 10 million pictures I have taken lately and I think I have found one of my favorite pictures I have taken so far. It was one I really wouldn't have thought would be but it is growing on me by the minute.

I have discovered that I am really growing to dislike "normal" pictures. I love the ones of my kids doing what they do every day. I am totally obsessed with taking pictures of my kids by this point. Is is a hobby or an obsession??? Who knows up I am having fun with my new obsession!!!!

Going Bonkers

Do you ever feel like if you have to break up one more sibling fight, change one more poopy pull up come on buddy...if you can tell me you are stinky you can totally tell me when you need to go dude!), make one more sippy cup, clean up one more sticky mess, put one more toddler in time out, prepare one more meal that your children refuse to eat, wash one more dish, do one more load of laundry, step on one more toy with your bare foot, mop one more room, scrub one more bath tub, have one more clogged toilet, hear one more ear piercing screech, explain the concept of sharing for the 100th time today, put off your shower...again, or get one more piece of bad news that you will totally go BONKERS???!!!!!

That is the kind of day I am having and I LOATH that feeling...I am teetering on the edge so I think I am going to put myself in timeout...in the shower. :-) Ahhhhhhh....that is a great idea!

Mommy timeouts are proven to work around here...I just usually forget to do it until I am already steaming from the ears....I am not quite to that point so I am officially in time out for the next 15 minutes!!!

Traveling With Small Children

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am that we are going out of town for a while. I honestly cannot wait until I am surrounded by the laid back familiarity of St. Mary's and all of our loved ones that we only see a couple times each year. Going down there to the coast always feels like food for my soul.

Even as much as I am looking forward to vacation I am really dreading the 6 hour drive with the kids and entertaining them once we get there. (Please let Riley limit her meltdowns to a maximum of one per day.) The good news is that all of the family members that live down there truly adore the kids...they are the ONLY kids on Jamey's side of the family. They seem to have reserves of patience and energy when it comes to Ri and Sam so for that I am so grateful!!!! There are also so many of them that we can take turns entertaining grumpy or bored kids and they are more than happy to spend as much time as possible with the kids as during the limited amount of time they can. (Since my kids tend to bet "better" for other people than for me I am hoping this vacation works out beautifully.) Jamey and I say that the day we had Riley and later Sam we were instantly moved to the chopped liver category. We are probably only invited because me are the means of transportation to get the kids there. :-) People think I am kidding when I describe how Jamey's family feels about our kids but it is very true....the people are a little obsessive when it comes to them. I love that my children are cherished and wish every child in the world could be as lucky as mine.

So everyone cross your fingers and hope that I successfully get everyone packed for the trip, that the car ride is as painless as possible and that we have two happy children during the majority of the trip...I know it is unrealistic to hope that they both will be perfect for the entire trip but I will be thrilled if they are content for the majority of the time.

I am going to start my packing today and I really dread it. My packing lists are 3 miles long!!!! I want to trade places with Jamey. I will pack only my things and he can pack his suitcase and a suitcase for each of the kids plus entertainment items for the kids....yeah right... a girl can dream can't she???

I am going to take my new camera...I am trying to think of a name for her...and I will do a vacation post when I get back.

Kamping With The Kiddos...Bad Idea!!!!

The kids and I camped out last night in the back yard and I am really regretting that decision this morning let me tell ya!!!!!

Everything started off great. I built it up all day yesterday...they were so excited about the campfire we would build, the camp fire stories and songs there would be, the tent, the sleeping bags on the hard ass ground, etc.

The night started out great. We gathered rocks to make a little fire pit on a bare spot in our back yard, gathered sticks for the fire, set up the tent, gathered snacks for around the campfire and finally had Jamey help us make the tiny little fire. We were having great fun at that point.

Jamey came inside to go to bed and the kids and I climbed into the tent. Torture does not even begin to describe what I felt. How does a sleeping bag get thinner and thinner as the night goes on? How many questions can two kids ask back to back? How do two dogs next door never get tired of barking at three campers next door? Why are kids so fascinated with shining a flashlight in the eyes of others? Why do children wiggle so much when they are trying to go to sleep knowing that it messes up their sleeping bag and that upsets them and they have to have their mommy fix their sleeping bag 10,000 times? How does a little girl wake up at 1 am from a dead sleep and have to pee? Why does a girl wake up again around 2 am and decide she wants to "go home" and is tired of camping? (Samuel was sleeping like a rock so I sent Riley inside to get in the bed with Jamey...he loves me for that this morning!!!) Where the heck are people going and coming home from at 2 am in the morning in our neighborhood?

So, with Samuel dead to the world I was stuck sleeping out there with him all night. Basically my night consisted of tossing and turning so that my arms and legs could take turns "waking up". I also tried imagining I was somewhere more comfortable and pleasant...that somewhat helped until exhaustion took hold.

Here is a valuable lesson I learned last night that I would like to pass along to you all....If you ever find yourself sleeping on the hard ass ground....for most people the front of your body is more squishy than your back or side (no feeling like a spine, shoulder blades or hip grinding into the ground)....SLEEP ON YOUR TUMMY!!!! Your boobs and belly give a better cushion.) You should be good until your arms fall asleep and the pins and needles sensation starts which wakes you up every 30 minutes or so. I didn't try laying on my tummy until almost dawn!!!!

I WILL NEVER CAMP WITHOUT AN AIR MATTRESS AGAIN!!!!! FORGET CAMPING THE REAL WAY AND ROUGHING IT!!!!!!! I am glad we did a practice run at home...now we know how the kids would do on a camping trip. Sam passed the test...Riley and I not so much!

I took a few pictures but I am too tired and too lazy to post them! I just want to go to bed...a REAL bed...my wonderful bed!

Where The Cool Grass Grows

Riley and Samuel were enjoying the new, soft, cool grass that their daddy is growing from his recent yard improvement project and I snapped a few pictures.

Here are two of them. I hope ya'll can tolerate me until the new wears off my camera and I get sick of taking pictures!!!!

Feelings Of Isolation....

Sometimes I really have to fight feelings of isolation. I have said before that sometimes I feel like a have the same day over and over again and I feel like my contact with people in the outside world has dwindled to the practically non-existant level.

I really enjoy my blog and reading the blogs of my online friends but it isn't the same as face to face contact and true personal connections. I also feel like I have no clue what is going on in the world either. I also try to read the news online....I never watch the news because I don't want Riley and Samuel overhearing things they shouldn't hear but even with seeing things in print I don't feel like I have anyone to discuss current events with. When Jamey gets here we have little to no time just to talk. The kids demand most of his time when he first gets home, then he has to grab a shower, next he goes outside to play with the kids and water his grass, dinner time is crazy and we only discuss child appropiate subjects of course, then it is the bathtime/teeth brushing/story time/cuddle time with the kids and finally we are alone and often too tired to talk at all....and the next day my day starts all over again.

I love staying home with my kids and would love to be able to until they both start school but I REALLY miss people!!!!! I miss the people I had relationships with at work and I miss day to day contact with clients that I had the pleasure of meeting and helping.

I am looking forward to our vacation next week SO much because I am going to have a different day every day!!!! Yay!!!!! We have several day trips planned and even if we are just hanging out that will be fine too because we will be enjoying a change of scenery and I will have other people to talk to!!!! Can't wait, can't wait!!!!! I wish we were leaving tomorrow!!!!

Little Chubby Riley Bug.....

I had to share a couple of pictures of Riley that I edited/updated. I really enjoy looking at old pictures and now I am having fun updating some of the ones from my archives!!!!

When Jamey and I first got married I used my trusty old 35mm shortyly thereafter he bought me a digital camera. I never really liked the digital one and I thought it took crappy pictures so I revered back to my 35 mm. Just before Sam was born I got my Kodak Easy share and loved it so much!!! Now I have my FABULOUS Nikon and am in picuture taking heaven.

The pictures attached were taken with my first digital camera. I have to say I am loving these two pictures of my cubby little baby girl!!!! (These were taken when I could get her to slow down long enough to eat. She was one in the one of her first tea party and she was 8 months old in the one with the tulips.

Randomness Goodness

I think I need to go to Addicted To Taking Pictures Annonomous.

My FIL has only been here since Friday afternoon and I am already kind of ready for him to leave.

My husband REALLY gets on my nerves sometimes!!! (Him not answering his cell phone while on the golf course when I call him 15 or 16 times in a row so he can tell me how to turn the damn house alarm off before the cops come....yeah....I was way beyond hot at him for that!!!! We have had the stupid house alarm since I was pregnant with Riley and we NEVER arm it....and for some reason it went off Saturday while Jamey was golfing...I remember the password but not the passcode and he would not answer his phone!!!! If you have ever heard someone's house alarm going off from your house imagine how loud it is from inside the house with two small children freaking out because of the noise to boot!!!! Here is a thought...don't put your phone on vibrate and leave it in the cart...I may need you and I did!!!! Thanks a lot honey!!!!)

I always dread Mondays late on Sunday night.

My daugher is rotten and I don't know what to do to fix it.

The book I am reading is kind of bumming me out but it is good at the same time.

I wish my house was clean all the time.

I am so tired of my kids getting my things and losing them...I searched high and low today for my foot brush/pumice stone combo...can't find it....I am sure it is stashed away in one of the little boogers toy boxes or something...gross I know....I don't know why they pick things like that up to play with....they have every toy known to child and they play with a pumice!!!!

What is up with Jamey not helping me with bath time or kitchen duty at night anymore now that I don't work anymore???!!!! Just because I don't work during the day doesn't mean I am super woman when it comes to doing tasks that have to be done at the same time of the evening!!!! GRRRRRR!!!!!

Laura's Sweet Boys

I snapped tons of pictures of my cousin Laura's three boys today and my two stinkers.

Ya'll are probably sick of seeing my little ones so I thought I would share some fresh faces!!!!

Laura is such a great PATIENT mommy to her little guys!!! We had so much fun today catching up and letting the kids hang our for several hours! We were quite a sight getting out and about with the five kids today!

My favorite picture of the day is the one of Laura coming out of a kiss with Jacob. Her smile is so pretty and genuine. She has her sweet Joshua the oldest, her kind little Jacob the middle son and her funny little baby Justin.

My New Camera ROCKS!!!!

I LOVE my new camera. I am still trying to get used to it and have taken tons of pictures so I thought I would share a few. I also edited some old pictures using Picasa...thanks SO much for the tip Jess!!!!

Has This Ever Happened To You?????

Riley wanted a corn dog yesterday...no biggie...1 minute in the microwave....1 minute not 10 minutes!!!!!

I popped it in the microwave on a foam plate and left it to go to the bathroom...I wanted to leave it sitting in there to cool for a minute or two so I bebopped away. Three rooms over I started to smell a horrible smell!!! Yep...awful smelling smoke was billowing out of the microwave and the smoke detector was screaming by the time I got back to the kitchen!!! That extra zero in the time made a BIG difference!!! That is what I get for not paying attention when I was putting in the time! My house still stinks (I think partly because the smoke was circulated through the vents.) and there are flies in the house because I had to open windows and doors to get the smoke to clear...and we never have company but my cousin and her kids will be here in a few hours...I guess I could Fabreez everything! MAN!!!!!!!!!

Couch Camper

My FIL is coming for a visit....AGAIN...and he will be camped out on our couch....AGAIN for several days!

The good new is Jamey, my FIL and my cousin's husband are going golfing tomorrow so my cousin and her 3 boys are coming over!!!! I am so excited because our kids get along great and we will have time to catch up while the kids play. We will start off here and we will probably end up at the park or Mickey D's for lunch. My kids are so much happier and entertained when they have other kids to play with. I think all three of us get tired of each other so it is really nice to have visitors!!!!

I need to clean up some before my FIL gets here and before Laura and her crew come over in the morning. I better hop up and get stared doing that actually!!!

Later Gaters!!!!

Okay...So I Cried....

My camera was delivered today while I was gone to my MIL's house and I just brought it in off the porch. I opened up the box it was shipped in, gave that box and foam peanuts to the kids to play with and just sat there on the love seat happily without opening the box the camera was in.

Tears popped into my eyes and I was grinning like a fool. I have never wanted a "thing" more than I wanted this camera. I was quite surprised that I was so excited I cried!!!

I just want to take everything into my bedroom, lock myself in and open everything up and read all about it but I can't. I have to wait until after we have dinner, the kids are bathed and in bed...dang....

So hopefully tonight by 9:00 I will have everything spread out on my bed!!!! I am WAY beyond intimidated...I have never mounted a lens on a camera before (This one has 3 different lenses!!!!!) or used anything other than a simple "push this button" to take a picture camera. I have a feeling I am going to do a lot of reading/looking at the manual before I touch the actual camera. I am also going to get all of the warranty info completed and ready to be mailed tomorrow...if I put that off I am afraid I will neglect to do it.

I cannot wait to start taking pictures!!!!

Our Simple Summer

Dreams....

Dreams really fascinate me.....

Last night I had a dream about my kindergarten teacher and that Riley was in her class...but she hadn't aged...she looked exactly the same as she did in 1984. (She still teaches here in the county and have seen her out several times so it is interesting that in my dream she was frozen in time.)

Miss Hambrick was my all time favorite teacher. I was a painfully shy child and she really brought me out of my shell while I was in her class. Her appearance was as plain as the day was long....she had mousy brown hair, coke bottle glasses, slightly overweight frame, and favored a pair of horrendous brown overalls. She may have looked plain but she was an extraordinary person!!! My memories of her are so vivid...her sweet disposition, her patience, outgoing personality and her trusty guitar! We sang the day away every day...I still think of her when I hear "She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain".

I hope Riley and Samuel get a few really great teachers that they will still remember when they are 30. :-)

This and That....

My camera is scheduled to be delivered on the 10th!!!! I am so excited! Like I said before I am not going to have a clue about what to do with it but I am going to have fun practicing!

I actually sewed something tonight. I have had a pillow that has had a gaping hole in it for like a month and I have a sewing kit I used to keep in my desk drawer at work but never opened so I fixed it. This is a big deal to a girl who has never even sewn on a button. The stitch work ain't pretty but who cares??? It's fixed.

We want to get rid of my 4 Runner and get me something with a cheaper payment and better gas mileage now that I am unemployed. We thought we may have had a buyer today but when they came and looked at it the lady mentioned that she found another one online for less. She liked mine better but we couldn't come off the price much because we have to take the money from the sale and pay it off. DANG.....

Today was a L...O....N....G day!!!! The kids were great all day but the day started so early and I just got them completely settled in the bed at like 10:00 because Sam took a late nap and woke up wired. I may as well forget even mentioning Riley going to bed before her baby brother...it won't happen...so I had to let her stay up late while he ran off the energy he gained from a late nap. Now I am really tired but restless at the same time. I am thinking a hot bath, finish the last two chapters of the book I am on and straight to bed after that.

There was a murder in the subdivision beside ours on Friday! A 28 year old woman stabbed her sister and the sister was pronounced dead at the hospital. I heard tons of sirens on Friday but had no clue what happened and I don't watch the news or get the paper so I didn't find out until today and read about it online. It was described as an apparent domestic dispute. I cannot even wrap my mind around an argument getting so heated that someone grabs a weapon and kills someone.

My mom offered to keep the kids for a while on Thursday or Friday to give me a break and do some of my running around. I am looking forward to getting some things done and taking advantage of some time alone! It seems like I am always needing a break but I think it is because my kids go nonstop all day every day and for the past 2 weeks with Samuel getting up in the middle of the night as well I am also not getting enough rest at night either. I wish I could get an injection of energy serum every morning!

I better go get my bath started!

Later Gaters!

A First....

Tonight we had a first in our house.....

When I put the kids to bed tonight they kept sneaking in each other's rooms upstairs and I overheard Riley tell Samuel how "unfair" (one of her new favorite words...along with the word BOOORING) it was that they had to go to bed early while Mommy and Daddy get to stay up late.

Ya'll are going to think I am totally insane when you read this but here goes...

When we were trying to decide if we were going to have another baby after Riley there were three main things I remember as being deciding factors for me other than the shear desire to have another miracle to love.....the very best decisions we ever made....to have a baby....and to have another one!!!!

1.) Every child needs an ali....someone to commiserate with...someone they can always count on throughout their life maybe even after their parents are gone....I remember my brothers and I having "meetings" when our parents were acting "dumb", "uncool" and "didn't get it"...Riley and Sam displayed that comrodory on their 4 and 2 year old level tonight....it was very cool to me.

2.) The more kids you have the more likely one of them will have you at least one grandchild to spoil and more likely one will stick around and take care of you when you are old...whether that be take care of you themselves or pick out a great nursing home for you and visit your grave from time to time.

3.) Riley needed a sibling to "ground" her...she was the first baby on Jamey's side of the family since his younger sister who is now 31...and she was the first girl born on my side since I arrived 30 years ago..Spoiled Rotten does not even come close to describing how she would be if she didn't have a sibling to force her to share the spotlight and realize that the world does not revolve around her. She would not have been an ideal only child...AT ALL!

Well...it is 12:30 am...better get to sleep....or try.....

Moving Away

About a year ago we had a some new "back yard" neighbors move in. At first it was two guys about the same age as me and Jamey. Very shortly thereafter, one of the guys moved out and the other guys girlfriend and her 6 year old daughter moved in. The little girl, Bailey and Riley became instant friends and she comes over to play almost every weekend for hours at a time.

Yesterday afternoon the familiar knock on the back door came and it was Bailey but she had news that this would be the last time she would get to play with Riley because she and her mom are moving away. I was heartbroken for her...her little eyes were so sad. (I will hold my tongue about my thoughts on introducing children to people the parents are dating and my thoughts on living with someone when children are involved...I do not know what their situation was....just how sad Bailey acted.)

I decided that we should make their last play date special so I did the best I could with just a few minutes notice. I let Bailey stay longer than normal, catered special snacks for the kids in the yard, played hide and seek with them, snapped a few pictures of the girls together and gave both girls a copy before Bailey left. I also wrote Bailey's mom a note with our address so that maybe with our help the girls could be pen pals...that would be so much fun for the girls!!!!

When Bailey left Riley fell apart! She kept crying and saying over and over that she would always remember Bailey. She also kept asking if her and Bailey would always be friends. It was heartbreaking for me that her little heart was broken!!!! I told her the story of one of my friends moving away when I was younger and that we wrote letters and that I will always remember her. After about an hour off and on she hung the picture on the refrigerator and seemed to be okay.

If only we could protect our children from all heartache!!!!

Ahhh....I Wish I Had A Good Camera

Almost every time I sit down at the computer and look at Jessica and April's blogs I have caught myself sighing to myself and saying "I really wish I had a good camera." Don't get me wrong my Kodak Easyshare has been a trusty companion of mine for over 2 years...I rarely if ever leave home without it and pick it up each and every day but I long for a camera that is "faster" and better. Mine is SO slow that I miss tons of great shots because I am waiting for the prior picture to save and when my kids are on the move the opportunity is lost forever.

Growing up I never had any hobbies....EVER...not kidding...sleeping and studying were the only things close to a hobby for me until I had kids and I started taking pictures of them....that became my only hobby...yay for finally having a hobby!!!! Not long ago Jamey bought me a new all in one printer, scanner, copier and I LOVE it! To the delight of our families they have tons of wonderful new pictures of the kids courtesy of my awesome photo printer and I have taken, edited, printed and framed some great photos but I still long for a new camera.

To my utter shock last night Jamey told me that I should get a new camera!!!!!! I spent a couple of hours online last night looking at the cameras and prices and was depressed.....they are SO expensive!!!! I rattled off some prices and of course he didn't go for the $7999.00 one I saw but he did go for the ones that were still VERY pricey in my mind!!!!! I was SHOCKED!!!!! I picked my my jaw up off the floor, asked him if he was sure and let him convince me that I could have one.

I had NO idea what I wanted/needed in a camera....just about anything would be an improvement over the one I have now! After shopping online until my eyes were about to cross I decided that I would go with a Nikon D60 Kit....camera, two lenses, extra memory, extended warranty, case, instructional DVD, and other accessories. I hope I did not make a bad decision and if I did....PLEASE don't tell me I did or I may cry! :-) The camera is ordered and on the way.

I am so excited but am feeling guilty about the purchase!!!!! This is the most expensive "gift" I have ever had other than necessities like a car and a house and my wedding ring set. I am really not a materialistic or a high maintenance person...I really don't like jewelry, I rarely ever go shopping for clothes for me, never get my hair "done" unless Great Clips counts as hair "done" but I don't think it does. (This gift takes care of my 7th anniversary gift, my next birthday in November and Christmas!!!!) The things that are keeping me from totally getting the guilt over take my happiness and excitement is the fact that I will use this item probably each and every day, hopefully it will last for a VERY long time and I have never had a hobby before so I have never spent money on hobbies....30 years of no hobby expenses!!!!!!!!!

I cannot wait to get my hands on my new camera....the camera I will have no idea how to use!!!! I will probably just stare at it for the first week...well no, I need to learn how to use it so that I all of our vacation pictures will not be out of focus I guess!!!!!

1:45 AM....Again....

Sam keeps waking up in the wee hours of the morning and it is beginning to get a little old for me. This morning he got up at 1:45...probably right about the time I was in the deep stages of sleep and I don't think I ever got back to that stage judging by the way I feel this morning.

The really great news is that both kids are actually in a GREAT mood this morning and if you know my kids you know that is a big deal. They are rarely ever in the same mood...good or bad at the same time...rest assured that on the rare occasion when their moods are in sync they are never on the good side of the spectrum...except for today!!!! Yay!!!!! (My children are polar opposites in many ways...Riley hates mornings, Samuel always wakes up jolly, Riley gets happier as the day goes on, Samuel plays so hard he gets grumpier as the day goes along, Riley sleeps late, Samuel is an early riser, Riley stays up late, Samuel goes to bed early...this leaves me getting up early with Sam, staying up late trying to get Riley in bed and one of my two children grumpy all day long.) BUT not this morning....as I blog they are playing together happily and I have not heard one screech or scream because one has hit the other or taken a toy away from the other! I love when days start off peaceful like today!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh.......

You Know The Feeling You Get When.....

I think I have discovered one of the best feelings on Earth for me....

When I look around my house and I see the following:

My living room is bathed in the soft glow of lamplight;

Both of my sweet babies are fed, bathed, teeth brushed and actually smiling, laughing at each other and playing nicely together in their comfy p.j.'s; (In my opinion cuddling a freshly bathed child is very near heaven on earth.)

My husband is sitting comfortably in his chair laughing out loud at something silly one of the kids said or did...I love to hear him laugh out loud...his voice is SO deep it always takes me by surprise and I can't help but laugh too; (Him sitting in his chair is a big deal because he rarely sits down for more than 2 seconds and when he does want to sit usually someone or somedog is always in his chair so he RARELY ever gets it that seat.)

My fat Cocker Spaniel is snoring happily on a CLEAN floor because my house is actually CLEAN.

Ahhh....that described how this evening was and most evenings around here....well....except the clean house part....that was a little extra treat tonight....I need to work on that being an every evening characteristic and I need to sit back and enjoy my blessings more than I do!!!!!

Dread The Day

Do you ever wake up and dread the day before your feet even touch the floor?

Yesterday was such a long day and I feel like today is actually a continuation of yesterday, which is not a good feeling for me today. Samuel got up in the middle of the night which didn't help my distinction between yesterday and today either.

As I sit here for 2 minutes I have a dog kicking her water bowl across my kitchen demanding water and I have two small children arguing over who should be able to lay in my bed to watch T.V. by themselves.

Oh yeah, a little tidbit about yesterday. I got the kids up early and ready to go yesterday to deliver Riley to Bible School and she refused to stay when we got inside. She dug her heals in, tears and snot were flowing and she acted like I was trying to deliver her to a high security prison instead of her familiar school building. Riley was crying to leave and Samuel was crying to stay. I had a bad situation on my hands. I am sure we were quite a site walking out to the car. Riley crying and going limp not wanting to walk to the car...demanding to be carried and Samuel screaming to stay at "Bible Cool". When we got to the gym their attitudes weren't much better when we were walking to the play room.

Yesterday was a stressful day and I am not getting a good vibe so far about today. I need to devise a plan of attack to force today to be easy for us all!!!!!!

It's A Small Town After All....

On Saturday Jamey and I divided and conquered some things we needed to get done. Basically that meant he took Samuel to get a haircut, lunch and browse through Home Depot while I took Riley to lunch and get groceries.

I have said before that I attract old people and the very weirdest of fellow shoppers/diners/pedestrians/etc. Well, Saturday's lunch experience reconfirmed that fact.

Riley and I were sitting in our town's somewhat crowded Wendy's on Saturday and a little old man made a beeline for our table and started making conversation with Riley first and then I was hooked. He sat down the table closest to ours and continued to chat with me while his wife was in the incredibly long line at the counter. Midway through the conversation we made formal introductions and continued to chat until his wife came to the table with their lunch and then she joined in as well. A few minutes later it was time for us to go and we said our goodbyes.

When he told me his last name it was a somewhat familiar last name....maybe a surname of a cousin of a cousin or maybe a family acquaintance so I asked my mom if she knew who he was. She said that he and my grandmother were an item years and YEARS ago and that she had known him her whole life. I laughed out loud. The old stinker was charming and obviously he had wooed my grandmother a lifetime ago and on Saturday he had his sights on her granddaughter and great granddaughter and didn't know who he was talking to.

Our town is growing so fast that sometimes I can go to 6 different stores in one day and not see a soul I know or that even looks familiar....but then there are days when I sit beside and have a conversation with someone from my grandmother's past....her first love perhaps???!!!! I thought it was pretty cool and I could see what she probably saw in him he was a very warm genuine person and I am glad I met him.