hard to say

Goodbye belonging
Goodbye tree that my children spent hours climbing
Goodbye comforting bumpy road that lulled my babies to sleep too many nights to count
Goodbye tunnel of beautiful trees that gave me a sense of peace in a very confusing world
Goodbye wildflowers that blew in the breeze and calmed my soul when I needed it most
Goodbye familiar paths that led home
Goodbye beautiful downtown, thank you for letting me wander around your streets and find myself too many days to mention
Goodbye little homestead thank you for allowing me to take my vows under your strong roof and large walls.
Goodbye tall hay that my babies ran through until they grew too tall to play.
Goodbye winding roads that I drove to get away from life so often, you settled my mind
Goodbye familiar town, I have loved you
There are not enough words
to describe the feeling of belonging
a place that is sewn into the fabric of my heart

to a place

that I love

Goodbye Mt. Perfect
Goodbye old friend

pictures later

(in case you can't read it- The passion of the Christ and My dog Skip)

Does this seem like a weird combination of movies to you?
Or... is it just me?

a hole in one

For many weeks I have had my eye on something a little out of the ordinary, but I really wanted it. Most days, I saw this little treasure on the side of the road near our house and needed it. As I drove by and this little beauty caught my eye so many times I could not deny that it was calling my name. It wanted me too.

So, I told Mr. B. this very simple fact- “If you love me you would get that for me”. He made the big man sigh, because he was hoping I would not see it and ask him to get it for me. It’s heavy, what the heck will I do with it, he always wonders that!

So, the day before he left I pulled into the driveway and there it was in all its woodpecker hole in wood glory and we were in love!

It was heavy, it was wet and it was dirty. He got it anyway- He DOES love me!

Isn’t it cute? What do you think I should do with it besides love it?

awwww.... isn't he nice?!

I have such a sweet husband. I like to always tell people how sweet he is and how happy we are and I have earned the right to do so because we’ve been married 17 years and our marriage hasn’t been all cupcakes and roses. He and I are proud of where we are today knowing that we worked so hard to get here. We appreciate each other more now than we ever did before and I wouldn’t have our life any other way- we worked HARD for it.

He’s been in El Salvador for the last two weeks on Navy business and we missed him so much. Kid4 is a hermit out of her shell without her sweet Daddy.

I have been keeping him informed of the situation with Stellan (surely you know about Stellan?) the whole time he has been gone, he and I have been praying for Stellan. Yesterday I called him and asked him if before he left he would take a picture of Stellans name somewhere in El Salvador to send to McKMama and he did. I love who he is, because he knew it was important to me. Some men would say… wha…? Why…? Who…? But not him. In fact he sent me 6! He is sweeter than sugar, I love him so much. I love him because when I asked to take a picture of Stellans name he knew exactly what I was asking, who I was talking about and didn’t even question. He said “Sure, of course I will”. And sent them that evening.

NOW THAT’S A NICE MAN!

He’s nice for other reasons too but that’s another post entirely!

This little boy

Does need a haircut
Is the sweetest little boy ever
Does get good grades
Is so kind to others
Does listen to his mother
Is a deep thinker
Does still cuddle with me

I love you kid3, you’re amazing!

When you road trip with mom you might...

Get one of these

or end up with a face like this

we're road tripin' again...

on the road again... la, la, la ....

We're on the road again!

Mt. Perfect here we come!!

BatGirl- get out your Depends, we are gonna do some serious laughing till we... well you know!

Prelude to picking

After all the strawberry picking, juicy red faces and full bellies we had visions of strawberries dancing in our heads!

pray! pray! pray!

EDIT- Stellan has had a very rough evening and may go into surgery as soon as tonight(Mon).

Dear Friends,

I am blogging tonight to ask you for something that you probably are already doing, telling you about something that you are probably already aware of. I know that so many of you have prayed your throat dry, knelt your knees skinless and begged God to heal Stellan. I’m asking you again please kneel down today and ask God to see him through his ablation tomorrow morning. I think it’s important to ask God for specific things so tonight and tomorrow I am asking God to give MckMama peace and comfort in such a heart wrenching situation. I don’t even know what else to ask for, I’m not even sure how to be specific about a baby having heart surgery. I’m so sad and worried about little Stellan. I know those of you that know about him are rooting for him and praying for him. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.

I remember feeling a similar feeling when Harper was born being worried, dying inside for Kelly and her family. Not sure what to pray for but begging God to heal her and to protect the hearts of Kelly and her husband.

There are sad things happening with babies more and more, through this blogging world we are more united and can see what’s happening around us. It’s not just Mommies losing their babies, its Daddies losing their wives and humans struggling to band together for the good of each other. I think we ARE responsible to pray about one another. There are quite a few babies and families that need our prayers. My nightly ritual is to look at Kelly’s blog and pray for the family’s on her prayer list along with my own list- it can take awhile.

Please take a minute and pray for baby Stellan and the whole Mckfamily- they need us right now. If you have anything orange please wear it Tuesday in honor of Stellan. My family will be wearing orange all day to show our support for this precious little boy.

I also have a friend (N) who had a teeny tiny baby girl (M) on March 31st please pray for baby M, she had brain surgery this afternoon and I haven’t heard how it went yet. Please just ask God for his healing hand to bless this teeny tiny preemie princess.

Self portrait of a 4 year old

Girls LOVE to take their own pictures.

Trust me I have the pictures to prove it!

Kid4 loves herself.

Don't ya' wish you were 4 again?

promises, strawberries and memories!

Today my mission was to fulfill a promise to one very excited and strawberry-less little girl. She has been begging to go to pick them “just like last year” and today we did just that. We got up not so early and set out on our very own strawberry picking adventure and had a great time.

We love to pick strawberries, eat strawberries and make everything strawberry-ish around our house. Spring around here brings lots of red stains and juicy strawberries to eat, we love to pick them ourselves and then make homemade strawberry jam, (I like the freezer strawberry jam best- it stays so pretty) strawberry pie, and strawberry shortcake (chocolate shortcake)!

Today was the day. It was a day of making memories, enjoying the outdoors and spending time with my girls.

Kid2 was asking me today if it was cheaper to pick your own strawberries to make jam, pies etc it made me think about why we do it. We do it for the memories, not the money. It’s about the days at the Strawberry field, home crushing the strawberries for jam, pouring boiling hot homemade jam into jars that will last through to the next season. It’s about the kids growing up remembering the times we picked, the times we cooked and just being together.

Is it cheaper? Nope. Is it better? Absolutely!

Cheers to memories, good times and JAM!

PS- Kid 4 chose her own hairstyle today and bows too... individuality can be a real fashion train wreck!

held hostage and bored!

Today we had some crazy fun in the car… we went on a long ride so I could pick something up from Craigslist so while we I was holding my poor kids hostage in the car this is what they did…

*note my oldest did not participate (aren’t teenagers fun)
**another note- the above statement was 100% sarcastic!

a subtle hint

This is the email I recieved from my daughter this afteroon- do you think she would like to see the Hannah Montana movie?

Kid2 to me:

HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH MONTANA HANNAH



Hannah Montana:

The Movie‎1hr 42min‎‎ -

Rated G‎‎ - Comedy/Family‎ - Trailer -

Galleria 15 Cinemas

2980 Watson Boulevard,

Centerville, GA -

HEY MOM, LETS GO SEE THE HANNAH MONTANA MOVIE!

busy, busy, busy

see kid 1 over there in the chair- doesn't he look like he's having a blast? 17 yr. olds like childrens museums right? o' well

While Gran was here we did lots of stuff
We visited children’s museums
We visited the Harriett Tubman museum
We had lunch at a place that has the BEST banana pudding EVER made- I promise!
We shopped till I dropped
I got Mr. B. the cutest clothes- he is even cuter if you can believe it!
We drove and drove and drove and drove
We shopped for antiques and found lots of treasures
I had great baked potato soup at Chili’s- try it
I visited more discount stores like Marshalls, Ross and TJ MAXX than I care to admit
I made her go to Wal-Mart- she cringed

Thanks for coming Mom- we had fun!

everlasting words

I’ve been admiring the cemeteries and experiencing Macon Georgia. I have to say it’s really a beautiful place. I think that Macon is so over looked, skipped and missed out on. There’s so much to do there. There is a whole museum district that so many miss.

My Mom loves cemeteries and I would normally not admit it but I’m learning that it’s not so weird to like a cemetery- Mom you’re not so weird after all! My Mom is captivated by the Rose Hill cemetery and anyone would have to agree, it’s breathtakingly beautiful, strangely mysterious and absolutely historical. I tend to not love a cemetery as much as my mom but this one is quite fabulous.
Can you imagine the thought that people use to put into special headstones, the last words that would be read about the deceased person for as long as it stays etched in the stone. Can you imagine writing out exactly what you want said on your headstone, exactly in very few words what you want to be remembered about you?

The thought, the beauty, the words will stay with you for months, possibly forever when you visit and read and soak up Rose Hill cemetery.

History, mystery, loving last words, broken but well loved statues and markers for loved ones. It’s unfathomable the effort that was put into so many laid to rest.

Bat Girl and I visited a very interesting cemetery in Hugo Oklahoma. It has a whole section of circus people that have been laid to rest there. We went to laugh, so many told us it was funny. We left humbled and heavyhearted at the words some used to describe the ones they had loved. It made us think of what we would want others to remember us by. I left wanting to remind those I loved that I loved them before it was too late. She left knowing what I wanted on my headstone.
I encourage you to visit your local cemetery, a historic one if available. Read the words, soak up the thoughts.

What do you want your headstone to say?

Help me Hannah...

My girls want to see the new Hannah Montana movie and I’m apprehensive. Isn’t that crazy? I mean for pete’s sake- it’s a kids movie for cryin out loud and I kind of want to see it myself! I think the issue is simply this-

Have you ever sat through a REALLY RE-ALLY boring movie? I have and I don’t even have to remind Bat Girl of what it was either. If you saw her and you said to her “Hey Bat Girl, what’s the most boring you have ever seen” She would quickly answer- Country Bears.

Can I just freely tell you that I would rather pick some else’s scabs and glue them to a canvas in a beautiful red and brown mosaic than watch Country Bears again. I didn’t love Chicken run either but after living in Mt. Perfect I think I could actually appreciate that one a little more.

So the problem is simply this; am I going to be horribly bored, am I going to be so uninterested that I start plucking my own hair and braiding baskets for next Easter?

I’m going to try it, think of me, wish me well, pray it’s good!

Love at first sight

Do you believe in love at first sight? I do. I always have.

The very minute I laid my eyes on Mr. B. I knew he was the one. Our life certainly hasn’t been perfect but I have always loved him.

The second I saw my children I loved them. In fact I loved them before first sight, I loved them just knowing they were there. I have a few other children that I loved the second my eyes saw them. I looked into those big brown smiling eyes and fell instantly in love with them.

Have you ever looked into the eyes of a puppy or kitten and fell instantly in love? I definitely have! When I was little I had the strict policy to look into each of my cabbage patch dolls eyes before buying them- oh I fell in love with so many!

So the other day it happened again. I was driving down the road and BAM! There it was another love in my life. I day dreamed and day dreamed about this beauty. Yesterday Mr. B. and I took a look at this new love and the inside was even more beautiful than the outside- if it’s possible!

THIS is the newest love of my life! Seriously I HAVE to have one!

name calling

Don't kid2 and her Daddy look SO much alike?! It's nuts!

Kid2 and Mr. B. at the Father Daughter Dance this year.

My Mr. B. and I call each other names- lots and lots of names. Some would say it wasn’t nice. I would say to those who say it isn’t nice- you don’t know us!

After a long day of baking cookies Mr. B. will come home and say “Hello, Cookie McCookerson”

Say I have driven a long night to Mt. Perfect and I call him to say that I have arrived safely. He may say to me “Glad to know you arrived safely Drivey McDriverson”.

Maybe he spent a long day mowing the lawn? I might say to him, “Hey there Sweaty McSweaterson or Mowey McMowerson”

Lets say he fixed my brakes and worked on my truck, I would probably say to him, “Your quite something Truckey McTruckerson”

Sometimes he calls and I might be taking a nap. When he comes home he will probably say to me “I tried to call you today Sleepy McSleeperson”…

So lately I have been calling him “Leavey Mc Leaverson” because he is leaving the country and I am Sadey McSaderson about it!

the trip, poor Chad!

A few weeks ago and what feels like an eternity ago when I went to Mt. Perfect I picked up a friend of Kid1's- Chad. I don't think Chad could fathom how far the drive reallywas, I don't think anyone who doesn't enjoy driving like I do can fathom how far the drive really is... so I worried about this poor boy and how he would react to a long raod trip with BatGirl, Kids 1 and 4 and Dusty. I worried before the trip ever started.

I probably don't have to tell you that BatGirl and I are NOT quiet. We're not only NOT quiet, we're LOUD! I also felt like it would be best if we travelled during the night so that there would be less stops, less feeding, less pottying, less griping, less whining, less of everything. I think it may have made poor Chad nervous to travel at night with us. I told him he would just have to trust me on this one- night is better with many children- TRUST ME!

We ended up leaving at a weird time due to weather. We headed out of town Saturday late afternoon instead of later or Friday night like I had planned. Poor Chad never knew what hit him. He piled in the car, the far back seat and settled in for a long drive.

As the hours past I could look in the rearview mirror and see him wiggling, and moving around trying to make the seat bigger, trying for all he was worth to convince himself that going with us across 5 states was not a terrible idea...

We arrived in Georgia during the night, Chad was a trooper, there was little whinning, less griping, not a lot of eating, some stopping, and much to our dismay lots of pottying! We won't point any fingers (BG).

Chads mom sent me the most thoughtful gift and I was so surprised. I was thinking it was such an honor that she let us have Chad for a whole week, and what an honor it was that she trusted me with her son. She gave ME a gift? I loved it! It was truly such a sweet and thoughtful gift. Don't you love it? Isn't it beautiful? It matches my kitchen just perfectly.

Edit- I don't have a pictureof what she gave to me- trust me -it's CUTE

Chad we had a fantastic time, I'm sure you have learned your lesson about travelling with us, but we hope you'll come again as soon as you can! And really, you havn't travelled with us until we have ALL the kids!

*evil laugh*

My girl (Kid2) actual birthday April 9th, yesterday

My darling first daughter turned 15 today. I can’t begin to tell you how we wanted a girl. I wanted a girl for my first baby, and when I found out it was a boy I was so sad. I of course grew to be excited about a boy, and now so happy to have the “older brother” around here.

Kid2 was the baby we decided to be surprised about. I bought all white baby gowns, and brought needles, thread and little pink roses to the hospital. If it was a girl, I would sew on those little pink bows, if it was a boy we would leave them plain white. I brought a little white bonnet and a plain little white hat. I brought a little white thermal knit blanket and wrapped pink and blue ribbon around it. I was so excited.

We went in the morning to be induced and she was born later on that afternoon.

Mr. B. has a bit of a problem with authoritative nurses- he was all Mr. big stuff and decided that he knew what was best and he kept asking the nurse question after question and when she needed him out of her way, she gave him a HUGE shove into the wall. It was so funny. I was minutes from birth and can remember being tickled about that big ol’ hoss of a nurse and my big ol’ boss of a husbands little scuffle! (turns out he was right though)

We were so excited. My parents we’re waiting outside and when she was born our dear Doctor, Dr. Hardin pulled her close to him, and held her in the air with her little bottom covered and said: “Guess what it is”…. We we’re so excited, he asked us again and we screeched laughing and he held her in the air saying “IT’S A GIRL”! We were thrilled and her Daddy cried. He held her all wrapped up in that hospital blanket and I can still see him saying “I love you Angel Pie”. He was enamored by her every move from the day she was born.

For the first time Kid1, my first baby looked so big to me. His hands looked giant and all of a sudden he seemed grown, a big brother, he was 19 months old. She adored him, he was the first person she smiled at, and they are close friends today.

She amazes me with her strong spirit and can do attitude. I love how she’s a go-getter. She has always impressed me and those around her. She is a loving, positive and smart little girl.

Kid2 is a daughter, cousin, friend, granddaughter and niece to many who adore her. She makes us all proud daily and I wouldn’t have any other girl in this whole world as mine.

I love you DEARLY, completely and truly my sweet first baby girl. No matter how big you are, no matter how tall you are, no matter how old you are, you will always be my little girl. There won’t be a day when I don’t love your face, your heart, the whole you. I think you are perfect in every way, every day and I couldn’t have imagined having a more perfect daughter. There are not words to tell you how proud you have made me. I love you my sweet angel pie and I always will.

lets hear it for the seasons

Do you love a certain season? Does one season in particular speak to your soul?

I spent a lot of years in Eastern Oregon as a young child and I took for granted how beautiful winter was. I didn’t recognize how wonderful a snow covered white wonderland could be. I couldn’t conceive that later on in my life I would miss those pure white flurries. I didn’t know I loved the beauty because I detest skiing!

My personal feeling about skiing are about to follow-
It seemed to me when I was young that snow meant skiing. Skiing meant hanging in the air over an iced covered mountain from what felt like a twig, falling off the lift and being kicked by other skiers, freezing, falling, being tied in a knot with ski’s, thick snowsuits and goggles- not my thing! I couldn’t see past the horror that was skiing.
The end (about skiing)

I moved to Hawaii and lived there for a long long time and never missed snow, I never looked back. I grew up enjoying the island warmth, perpetual summer, palm trees, soft sand and blue water. I loved everything about Hawaii and never realized that I missed the seasons until I moved to Colorado. In Colorado I truly admired and learned to love each season for what it was, snow and all.

There is certainly SO much beauty in each season. I love winter because is it pure and white in some places and stark and brown in others. The air feels so fresh and crisp. I adore summer because it is full of sticky faced children, green soft grass, long late nights and grilling until my grill begs for mercy. I yearn for spring because is there anything better than the trees coming alive again after a long winter? The trees bloom in every color imaginable, the flowers poke through the ground as if they couldn’t wait another minute to show their lovely faces, and the weather is heavenly; cool some days and warm others- it’s the best of both worlds I’m telling you. I am enchanted by fall; I stand in amazement every year at the reds, oranges and yellows that suddenly appear from the leaves. It’s like a sudden intermission in the play of the seasons and the leaves change into their most gorgeous costumes for the performance of a lifetime.

Bravo for the seasons. Aren’t they utterly amazing? Let’s thank God for them, he planned them all, every little leaf, every little snow flurry, every little rain drop, every little blade of grass and every costume change!

Astonishing!

please pray

My dear real life friend Stephanie’s Dad is having a quadruple bypass today. Please take a minute to pray for him, his family and friends. He is a man who has done quite a few amazing things in his life to say the least. This man HAS had an impact on others. He has never been the kind of guy to be sedentary; he has taken an active part in life. I have some great memories hiking, camping and getting into trouble at Steph's house, her Dad was always a lot of fun!

He is a father, a son a husband, a grandfather and friend. He knows about Gods plans and his mercy. Please get down on your knees and take a minute to pray for a good mans surgery, for a quick recovery and for peace to surround his family and friends. God is good, God has a plan.

Thank you.

I don't wanna be right

Is giving your children Dramamine for a long trip even though they don’t get car sick wrong?

Is giving the kids Dramamine to mute their little voices during the long drive to Mt. Perfect wrong?

Is asking them to take a “vitamin” before a long trip wrong?

What about hiding Dramamine in warm sweet thick gas station hot chocolate is that wrong?

Would preplanning the whole thing out so well that you pack two spoons to crush the Dramamine pills with be the wrong thing to do?

If sneaking Dramamine into the kid’s hot chocolate for a looooong silent 13 hour drive is wrong, then …

I DON’T WANNA BE RIGHT!

sexy food? WHAT?

Have you ever noticed that EVERY SINGLE commercial is about either food or sex or both? Are you shocked at the new Quiznos commercial? Mr. B. told me about this commercial and it went like this-

Him- have you SEEN the new Quiznos commercial?
Me- no?
Him- there is a before 11pm commercial and an after 11 commercial! Neither one is okay for the kids to watch.
Me- WHAT? What are you talking about?
Him- Im not kidding, I wish I were kidding! I saw the one before 11pm and thought it was a little risky, and then I saw the one after 11 and was totally embarrassed and hoping that the kids weren’t up late watching TV!
Me- (a total disbelieving face) I don’t get it!

He showed it to me online and I Was shocked. This one is totally inappropriate after 11 PM, it's inappropriate ANYTIME. I for one am NOT eating at Quiznos again! It’s not okay to sell sex through sandwiches.

I don’t want to boycott TV all together… although I know I should… I need to be like my good blogging buddy Lacy Razor, she is so strong and gave up her TV for the good of her kids and herself. Her ideas about life are so right on- she’s awesome. I should strive to be more like MckMama to, she abonded her TV for the good of her little MkKids… she is so smart. Im not ready to be that smart yet… I like TV! But Bravo for those smarter than me!

com' on baby light my fire!

Do you believe in Ear candling?

Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is an alternative medicine practice claimed to improve general health and well-being by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal. According to medical researchers, it is both dangerous and ineffective. Claims that the practice removes earwax have been thoroughly debunked. In spite of requests to do so, the manufacturers have refused to stop making false claims. The practice originated with the Hopi tribe.

Bat Girl and I tried it. It hurt me, it didn’t hurt her. We’re not sure it worked. Did we see wax? Yep. Could we hear better? Nope. Did it work? We’re just not sure… how confusing!

Have you tried it? Did you like it? Do you think it works? Would you do it again?

visiting, newness and Grandmas

my Mom came today. So it was all

excitement

new things

sleepovers with Gran

look at my this and that

look at me, look at me

I love this and that

can I hold Grans hand

Can I sit by Gran

I WANT TO SIT BY GRAN!

heres the new house how do you like it

heres the bathroom

hope you don't see a "palmetto bug" (this is south Georgia ya know!)

The newness of Gran never wears off! Do you think she would mind if I asked her stay forever? My Dad wouldn't be lonely right? Kid4 is just so entertained by a Grandma...

irony? joke?

Is this the definition of irony?

has anyone else noticed that Curves is usually right next to a food joint? Is this a joke? You just look around and tell me if your local curves is next to food? I bet it is!

the beginning and the end. Where's the middle?

You may be wondering…. Doesn’t that nut have 4 kids? What in the world happened to the other kids? Let me tell you, pull up a chair, you know how I love to tell you stories!

Our trip to Mt Perfect was very slim on kids and here’s the run down why-

Kid2, our beloved strong spirited dancer of an almost 15 year old daughter has dear dear friends in Colorado Springs that very generously and sweetly fly her to them once or twice a year. She was in Colorado Springs enjoying the mountains, the high altitudal air and fresh snow- lucky girl!

We met her sweet friends when they were in Kindergarten together and Kid2 was a rootin tootin 5 years old. Kid2 was the biggest handful of a kid you can imagine. They loved her always her rotten ways and all. They never minded her frown for pictures or her wearing her nightgown to school because she refused to get dressed ways. They loved her despite her refusal to wear boots in the winter and sandals in the summer. They even loved her when she would refuse to stand in line during field trips and even when she would not write her name on her kindergarten papers. They have loved her always and I suspect that they will love her forever. They are forgiving towards her teenage mistakes and they are truly her second family. We love them for loving her. They are the most generous family anyone could ever hope to meet and I hope she grows to be like them. So she was there, in Colorado soaking up their goodness and bonding with her oldest and dearest friend.

Kid3 did not join us despite being Cody’s best bud, he is still in school. Kid3 ran scared and hid when I mentioned homeschooling him. He shrinked back into the dark corners of the house until I promised he could stay in school. He is a socialite and could not fathom staying home daily with his siblings. He also gets straight A’s and NEVER EVER gets into trouble so I let the home school vs. public school be his choice. He is our kid that truly never lies, hardly ever gets into trouble and we can trust 100%. He takes after my Dad, I wish I could say me…. He did not join us because he was being scholarly at school and hanging out with his Dad. He loved the time alone with his Dad, being an only child, having all the attention- of which he has never had before being the 3rd child.

So only Kid1 and 4 joined us on our trips, which left us much more room than usual for more toys and whatever they wanted to bring… it was a trip with only half of us…

And that’s the story of why I only had the beginning and the end of the kiddos!

quality time in Mt. Perfect

Kid4 and I had a really nice trip to Mt Perfect, we did lots of mother daughter things and tried to enjoy each other despite the exhaustion from all the travel.

We went out to lunch, just her and I.

We got our nails done together.

And our toes!
We visited old friends.

We had play dates at McDonalds.

We had a great time in Mt Perfect and can’t wait to get back soon!

oklahoma roads

I’ve been travelling down these Oklahoma roads my whole life. Some of the best memories of my life happened on these roads, in this state and on the farm of my Grandparents.

When I was a little girl I knew what those old red Oklahoma roads looked like. Oklahoma roads look different than other roads. These well travelled byways meant home to me when I was young. The Indian Nation Turnpike toward Hoof-ville has a certain rhythm to it. It’s kind of like a certain road tune; I can hear it in my mind as I write.

As I grew up and began driving these roads myself the excitement never changed for me. The rhythm of the turnpike turns into the streets of Hoof-ville and then a right turn takes me to a well used country blacktop and finally that bumpy red dirt road that leads to a farm full of memories for me. The farm meant freedom, free time, dirt and my all time favorite- PIGS!

I have almost always loved visiting hoof-ville, there have been a few exceptions, my Grammie’s funeral (no explanation needed), my birthday trip (got a flat tire), and once when my sister had the flu and threw up on my toothbrush. (My Grammie offered to just boil it- you know the frugal farmers wife. I declined and just bought a new one).

I have been to hoof-ville twice in three weeks and this time when my little Kid4 shouted for me to go fast down the hills of that red dirt road, pointed out the new pony and was awed by the baby calves, it gave me a sense of pride. I’m proud to be able to take my little one to share very similar memories to those that I had when I was a little girl. I’m glad that they also enjoy the bumpy road, the animals, the run down barn, and the memories left from those before them who have also enjoyed it!

Note to self- remember not to take subway down that red dirt road to Grandaddy for dinner!