Ghostbusters, Gustov, Potter and Buffy

I actually watched a MOVIE last night with Josh! Don't laugh but it was:


I let him pick it out. :) And when it was time to go to bed, he was a teensie bit creeped out so I walked him to bed and tucked him in... and gave him a flashlight. :) We spent the better part of yesterday rearranging his room. It's pretty cool now with the bed at an angle. It gave him a neat little corner to put his clock and electronics ... a fun little niche for his guitars and so he's diggin it. :)

I remember as a kid, my dad taking me to see the Howling and I had nightmares and was creeped out for MONTHS after that...so .. we were talking over dinner a night or so ago about how I wanted to watch the Lord of the Rings... I really wanted to make this a Lord of the Rings weekend... but oh no... that wasn't goign to happen. :) Josh was creeped out watching about 10 minutes of The Mummy. I thought he'd really never sleep alone again if he watched LOTR! SO... I 86'd that one and thought I'd check it out at another time. :)

And what about that little rain storm blowing through the Gulf... Gustov is it? What an odd name for a storm. . . they've got evacuations in place along the Louisiana coast -- amazing what one good smack between the eyes will do for a state, huh?



I'm honestly so glad that the projected path once it makes landfall INCLUDES the DFW area ... I'd love a day or three of rain! :) I don't know HOW much rain we'll get but I'm just thankful to be getting some! :) I love rain... and I love slow and steady rain days. Not that I want to get out of bed and be productive, but still, I do love and certainly appreciate them! :)

Because it's around the 3 year anniversary of Katrina, they sure are making a huge deal out of this storm... which is yet another reason for me to leave the TV turned off. Not that I don't believe we shouldn't remember the death and destruction... but we should also remember that WE should take care of OURSELVES and NOT expect ANYONE ELSE (i.e. the government to do that for us). Shoulda been doing that to YOUR mayor and YOUR governor.... I truly believe that more power needs to be given back to the local level of government...

Ok, I need to get off my soapbox now or I'm going to blow! LOL

On another note, I actually WATCHED TWO more movies today -- ones that I haven't seen yet! That's liek... maybe a total of 3 this year I've seen.. bwa ha ha.. I am SO far behind on my movie watching!! I watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

I absolutely love the creativity and the animation and computer graphics in the Harry Potter movies. I don't get into the whole religious debate... I look at it as pure entertainment and nothing more. Life's too short to get caught up in the ridiculous peril of morality assuming everything is trying to whittle away your "good" and leave "evil" in it's place. Yes, it's about wizards and witches, but it's nothing more than a novel full of imagination and creativity. If you REALLY want to look at good/evil... look at our government. Nuff said.

The other movie I watched was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Bwa ha ha ha... why? Because I never knew it was an actual movie. I only thought it was a TV show with really bad acting by Sarah Michelle Geller. LOL

The South...

We are a proud group. We are a strong group. And, isn't it funny that when they want someone to sound like an ignoramus -- they give them a Southern accent? With that preface, I give you the chuckle for the evening...

This news just in: All of the Wal-Mart stores across Alabama are sold out of ammunition as of yesterday. A reliable source said that one of the purchasers commented that while Russia may have invaded Georgia, they sure as heckfire ain't doin' it to Alabama!

Yee-Haw my Southern brethren! ROFL!

9 years old going on 30?

Yesterday was one heck of a day...

And remember… this is yesterday, after I was on 4 hours with tech support b/c my computer blue screened due to a registry error... Microsoft Outlook data file (ALL my e-mail, ALL my calendar entries, ALL my notes, ALL my contact) were gone! Oh fun!

…Sadie, Josh’s dog, has a thing for… for no particular reason it seems, PEEING on my bathroom rugs??? I don’t know if it’s just the scent from the rubber on the bottom side (the grippy side) or what but it’s ROYALLY horkin' me off because (a) I don’t like to step on cold tile and possibly slip from wet feet; (b) I like my rugs; (c) she is given PLENTY OF TIME all freakin day to go do her business elsewhere and (d) I’ve had to wash at least one of them THREE times in the last 10 freakin' days. So, THAT horked me off!

So I get that cleaned up... fast forward maybe 30 minutes... then SOME DOG (who shall remain nameless but is NOT black and white)… peed in my floor ON THE CARPET right on FRONT of my bathroom. Grrrrr!!! So, out with the huge spot cleaner machine and so I had to clean THAT up. I have a great cleaner but I seriously am getting new carpet in there... I'm just oogied out now. Ewww!

Then yesterday at 5 was Josh's first baseball practice (not ever, just in well over a year). He loves baseball but he didn't play during the last regular (spring) season because he was going to have to give up another activity and he wasn't ready to. He'd wanted to try something new so he was taking karate (and he's done well with that). So, anyway, he'd taken the last season off so really, he hasn't played baseball in well over a year.

And, he never played fall ball, only spring ball. At his practice, he was a completely pouty baby. I was so embarrassed by him… HE is the one that asked to play baseball… I didn' just sign him up… and HE is the one that didn't smile but ONE TIME in 1.5 hours… He acted like he was being FORCED to do everything, he found no joy in any of practice. He acted seriously like he had just had someone shoot his dog before him and then say to him, "Go play baseball." He had NO JOY.

Personally, I just don't think he's cut out for sports in a team environment… Well, maybe it's not that, honestly, he doesn't excel with ANYONE giving him constructive criticism as he is very critical of himself anyway.... isn't this NOT supposed dto happen until they're like... 14?

At first I thought it was just from Andy or myself…but after seeing how he acted yesterday it seems to be ANYONE. He totally needs to toughen up too… unless he truly has some highly over-sensitive nerve condition where someone TOUCHING him hurts (because he's always "ouch" "ouch" "ouch" all the time – Drew hit him with a BALLOON and he was like "OOOOOUUUCH" …??? ) He's just not tough enough.

And I am NOT the over coddling, put band aids on every boo boo kinda mom… it's not me… and him acting like he's going to die, he's going to get pelted with a ball, I'm sure of it… and he's going to think that the world has come to an end. It's highly annoying…. I have no idea what to do… they weren't being mean or ANYTHING… they were like… hey, try this… watch me…do it like this… he'd never pitched before and they were showing him how because it's kid pitch now. And you would have thought they were making him read The Iliad.

I read his arse the riot act on the way to eat afterwards… I'm like… I will have this conversation with you ONE time… ONCE and I never want to have it again. So listen up.

You have to understand, this is the LAST time you will just sign up and just be PUT on a team…. If you want to play spring ball next year you will sign up and then you have to perform for coaches and they will SELECT you to be on their team…AND I don't care if you're the best person on the team, with an attitude like the one you displayed tonight NO ONE will pick you. The kind of attitude you displayed will bring the morale down for the entire team. You guys are there to lift one another up and cheer / root for one another because if one of you succeed, then you all do. The team you are on is good. They came in THIRD last season

… you can't expect to have not played baseball for OVER a year and then come in and be the best person on the team again, that's not going to happen… but you were doing great…. I heard all the coaches tell you that… you were pitching really well also… you'd never pitched before…

And he interjects… but the coach had me come in when that kid was pitching and I only got 2 strikes and he told me to get out and let the other kid bat

I said… if the coach told you to swing just one time, you should have just smiled and said, "okay coach"…. And left it at that…. Stomping to me sitting in my chair to tattle on the coach that it wasn't fair was absolutely ridiculous….

The coach KNOWS how the other boys perform, YOU are the new kid and he wanted to make sure you and the other new kid got equal chances to bat so that he could see what you both could do.

But, regardless of that reason, HE is the coach, you do what he tells you to. If he says run to first, you run to first. If he says take one swing and go on… you take one swing and move on ….

And, most importantly, HAVE FUN. If you aren't having fun, there is no reason to do this… you have enough in your life to be stressed and miserable about when you get grown up and have your own kids…. Being like this now…there is NO EXCUSE FOR IT

I went a step further to say that I wish I'd had a video camera to record your deplorable attitude…. Those kids out there were smiling and having fun doing something they enjoy and you acted like you were walking around with a rock in your shoe…

But I'll make it even simpler for you… if I ever see you act like THAT again…. We will leave and you will never be signed up to play baseball again until you pay for it… and you will forfeit your allowance until your glove, registration and uniform are paid for completely.

I will NOT have that AGAIN.

Momma was pi$$ed let me tell you…

He was so obvious in his pout that BOTH COACHES came over to him asking him what was wrong after it was over… he was just in 1 million times pout mode… it was BEYOND annoying…

... we go eat at Spring Creek BBQ... the boys were great... get home...tuck them in...

I go to walk in the kitchen last night and some little 4 legged kid has POOD in the floor in there!?! I’m like.. WHAT THE FRICK you little $hit$! (pardon my Texan) I was LIVID at that point so much that I was just.... hot... I went to bed...

and so far today...things have been okay...other than the fact that we missed MOPS because Drew has a stomach bug... which ALSO means that we missed swimming lessons tonight. :(

Well, looking back 24 hours, I can laugh about the day – even though it was yesterday… and all my technical issues are now resolved.

I've been talking to my friend Felicia about it... and said that... you know... I don't know what it is… it's like this kid has ZERO self esteem or self confidence. Isn't that sad? I have no idea how to instill that in him… it's maddening!

She said "can you imagine the teenager stuff?" And I said the VERY THING last night… if he won't talk to anyone or won't be honest about his feelings right now... wow... how can I have already "lost him" … that's not supposed to happen till 14 or 15! Right?

I've totally been looking into what is the WHY for this behavior… this kid has everything in the world… so it's not that he's wanting… his emotional tank should be filled as well… ??? I don't know what is so lacking in his life that he can't just have fun and do his best…. ??

That's why I say if you're born with a penis, you're already genetically handicapped. :)

But opening a dialogue with this child to talk about it isn't the easiest task.. I think a lot of his animosity and desire to be perfect is to feel worthy in his dad's eyes because he feels some sort of responsibility in his dad moving to freakin Iowa… I think that his dad NEVER taking the time to attend ANYTHING down here in 4 years also has him feeling a little like… what IS WORTHY of his dad taking his precious time to come have something to do with him… ya know? It's very sad…and I think he's starting to figure it out which is why spending the $$ on counseling may not be a bad idea…because I certainly want him to have an outlet for frustrations and to learn to use words instead of bottling it all up… because that just irritates the crap out of me… I'm a woman…we have to talk about everything or we'll explode.

Prayers for my man please... he needs some!

Having Children Is Like....

OH the glorious wonders of having children... their sweet little chubby cheeks, gummy grins, oatmeal laden lips wanting to give you a big smack on the cheek....

and then there is reality...

but with reality comes hilarity... and only a TRUE mom could appreciate THIS. I read this and immediately burst into laughter... not just laughter but can't-catch-my-breath-tears-streaming-down-cheek-ugly-face-belly-laughs!

:) Again, only tread there if you can handle the truth!

And if you're looking for even more reality... I HIGHLY suggest subscribing to The Jelly Mom, Lisa Barker. She CRACKS ME UP!

enjoy the sample from one of her e-mail installments:

No Pitter-Patter of Little Feet In This House
©Lisa Barker


Why is it that my sons can’t whisper when they wake up? Why must they leap from bed, yelling at the top of their lungs, bickering with each other? Isn’t that bad for them? Doesn’t it give them a headache? I know it gives me one.

The thing is, even if I am well rested and could get up, I can’t wake up and deal with this nonsense. So I have been training them to get up and read quietly in bed until I come to get them for breakfast. We’re making small progress. It sounds something like this.

“JOHN DANIEL, MOMMA SAYS WE HAVE TO STAY IN OUR ROOM!”

“I KNOW THAT!”

Then, my bedroom door bursts open. “MOMMA, ARE WE DOING A GOOD JOB? WE’RE STAYING IN OUR ROOM LIKE YOU ASKED US TO DO!”

Finally, they did it. Not a peep sounded in their room, but the phone had to ring every fifteen minutes before the alarm went off. Four calls in one hour. I think my brain is scared to slip into REM sleep. No wonder I lie awake at night, scared to drift off. Who knows what I might wake up to?

I thought I’d outsmart the boys one day and snooze on the sofa while they had breakfast. I thought I could wake up gradually...until the doorbell rang. It was a police officer with the five-year old. He’d been running down the middle of the street like an escaped dog.

It’s enough to make me want to get up early and bust into their room and start bickering and screaming to see how they like it.

Even the teens are sick of it and it takes a lot to wake up a teenager. Now I wake up to people shouting for the boys to SHUT UP.

Why do I bother? And when will I be completely deaf? I look forward to the day that I can turn off my hearing aid. What bliss.

My husband and I have been debating recently who has the harder day. Apparently, he does. With great effort he gets up every morning, slips into his car ALONE, drives to work ALONE, and works all day without children screaming at him in his office.

Man, I’d love to have it so rough.

He says I have it easy because I can sleep in. I’d like him to define ‘sleeping in’. If that means lying in bed while my temples throb and I envision the boys tearing down the house, oh, yeah. I’m in seventh heaven. Just like he is when he comes home from work and one hour later he’s pulling out his hair.

Forget the pitter-patter of little feet. You’ll never hear it over the dull roar.


............... love it? Subscribe here:
When you sign up for the complimentary Jelly Mom™ weekly newsletter you're eligible for the monthly drawing to win a copy of Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent. Subscribe here: http://www.jellymom.com/subscribe.php

Words Women Use

My mom sent me this and I just loved it. :) Though you've probably seen it before, it's definitely worth another look-see. :)

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. Five minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4. Go ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5. Loud Sigh: This isn't actually a word, but a nonverbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6. That's okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you. Do not question or faint. Just say ‘you’re welcome.' (I want to add in a clause here: This is true, unless she says, 'Thanks a lot.' That is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome'--that will bring on a 'whatever').
8. Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying ……..!
9. Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to #3.
   
   
   

Michael's Coupon

I've been reading about Michael's accidentally putting out a 40% off coupon... now, it's not their REGULAR 40% off one item coupon, it was 40% off your ENTIRE ORDER coupon.

Michael's supplied this coupon erroneously as is obvious by the fact that the bar code on the coupon that is 40% off your entire order rings up as the very bar code that is only 40% off one item. Who would do a sale of 40% off your entire order?

And, while I understand it was a mistake on their part and yes, they should honor the coupons without incident. To me, knowing that it's someone's mistake... and you're cashing in on their mistake. To ME, that makes it wrong. To take advantage of someone's error to your benefit.... that is wrong.

If the bank erroneously deposited $400 in your account... it was their error.. to your benefit... but you know it's wrong so you don't use the money.

While I understand that it's a great bargain for anyone that likes to shop at Michaels, you need to understand, however, that it's still NOT RIGHT. It is nice that they are still honoring these coupons printed in the customer's favorite... but I still, personally, do not feel that it would be right to use them.

Tip Junkie - my tip for the day

I'm a sucker for a list of great time-saving, life-organizing tips. I have a folder full of them and from time to time, I pull it out to see if I can utilize any to save time or space or just help me be more efficient in life.

I realize that I have something that I've done that a lot of people just go "oh WOW I should do that" so I thought I'd share..

What is my little secret? I use vinyl pocket shoe organizers everywhere in my home. You know, the ones made from clear flexible vinyl that are made to hang shoes fron either a hanger in your closet or to be used while hanging over a door (those are typically what I purchase and I just put them on the wall with heavy duty photo hangers.) HERE is one from The Container Store that is only $14.99. Once you read these ideas, you'll love this idea so much you'll just run out and buy one yourself!! :)

I have one hanging in the pantry. When Drew was a baby I used it to store bottles upside down. You can fit 2 large or 3 small bottles in each little cubby... i would shove all the bottle rings and nipples in another... in the top pouches I would put medicines, thermometers....

In the play closet they serve as an arts/crafts organier... container of crayons, decorative scissors, paint/brushes, etc. the bottom also holds action figures and their accessories ... like a charm! :)

In the playroom, we have one on the closet that holds nerf dart guns EXCELLENTLY!

Places I don't have one but I was brainstorming about....

Kids' bathroom: I don't have one but if you used one or punched holes in it, it'd be a great bathroom toy organizer... what about a mesh one...that'd work better. Or if you have one bathroom that more than one kid uses... put one on the back of a bathroom door and let each kid sort their own stuff within two rows of having that so they always have their stuff handy and it's not in anyone's way...

Craft storage -- I know I have rolling tubs for mine but... using it for markers, paints, crayons, stickers, pencils, colored pencils, stencils, highlighters, staplers, glue, etc. That's be a great "go to" place for the the kids to know where something was

Garage: store bubbles, small handtools, balls, chalk, paint brushes, emergency flashlights

Girl's rooms -- hold all their hair care accessories

Coat closet -- a GREAT place to store all those gloves, scarves, mittens and hats when the cold of winter hits... each person could get their own row and make sure that their goods makes it to the same place every night.

Travelling -- they can be cut... why not use it in the car for an organizer for all your kids "stuff" while on a road trip.

Back of closet door -- use it for the electronic accessory storage outlet in your house... you know, when you buy something electric ... all those little parts and pieces that come with it. Get yourself a label maker and you'll never have to look for charging cords, spare batteries, etc.

OR

you could use it to hold your wrapping STUFF... ribbon, scissors, tape, tags, tissue paper... it'd be a great way to keep it all handy and visible in a spare closet

Utility room -- put your different cleaning supplies in each one with it's rag next to it... that's a great way to keep them away from little hands or organized so you know what you need when... you've got sponges in one, toothbrushes in another, rags in one... spray bottles, etc. everything in it's own place... wouldn't that be just a heavenly place?

Baby's room -- a cloth one on the back of a door is a great place to organize socks, tools, diapers, wipes, meds, onesies, burp cloths, rolled receiving blankets...

Playrooms for boys -- oversized car storage, train track piece holders

Kids rooms -- WEBKINZ STORAGE! Nuff said!

the possibilities are endless!

Sharing....

Another blog I'd love you to check out is HERE not that I don't enjoy and appreciate the visits and comments because I do but I feel the information contained on this blog is ... paramount.

Another prayer request if you please....

My dear friend Gwen in Michigan has friends named Vickie and Carl. Carl has been battling brain cancer for several years. He was in remission for the last few years when the tumor started growing again earlier this year. Gwen said this past week he's been having trouble with speech and walking. His newest MRI shows the tumor is growing. They're not ready to quit treatment yet, but at this rate, it may take a miracle. He is resigning himself that he may only have a few months left.

So if you could please take a moment of your time to lift this precious family up in your prayers... they need them more than ever. Thanks!

The Inconvenient Obama

HERE is a fantastic story by Andrew Breibart... I don't always get along with my sister but I'd never let her live in squalor. The audacity of arrogance! This man may have some great ideals for our country... but his arrogance, ignorance and racisism really monkey wrench in the well oiled machine called America. He's just a bad, bad choice. Everyone is so ready to get on his campaign and the bandwagon... I, too, appreciate that he's waking up people to get involved...but like I've said before -- rally behind a cause... not a color.

Updates

I've been a slug lately and actually did a LOT of updates on my blog from July 30 to current...

I don't know if those that subscribe to the blog get updates when they're predated ... so just in case... I thought I'd share that there WERE many updates done from 7/30 on. :) check 'em out!

Am I A Bad American?

You know... I love my country. I'm PROUD to be an American and as the Olympics are taking place in Beijing (or however you spell it -- CHINA... there ya go) I still get a little teary eyed hearing our national anthem being played. But, just because we had an athlete win, I don't feel it makes us any better than anyone else.

And then I look at some of these athletes... is ping pong REALLY a "SPORT" good grief... pretty soon they'll have Texas Hold 'em tourneys in the Olympics... those boys will probably be pretty po'd that they didn't get much more than a medal on a string though!

And synchronized swimming... it, to me, is more of an art to be appreciated... rather than something to compete in... I dunno. I just feel like... yeah, they're athletes but..???

What do you do... I dive. OK... so what ELSE do you do.... I dive. What's your contribution to society. I dive....

IN the grand scheme of things.. WHO CARES? I mean, it was really awesome and I watched EVERY ONE of Phelps' races...but in the end... ??? he's just a great swimmer (and yeah, has some wicked abs)... but does that make him a better person than anyone else? I don't think so... it's just fluff... I dunno... I guess I just don't feel so fluffy. LOL

Do you ever get annoyed?

Do you ever get annoyed when you WANT ice cream. You HAVE ice cream. You venture to the freezer to GET your ice cream only to find that it's frozen so firmly that if you try to spoon it out.. it literally BENDS the spoon?


Is that a sign that you really don't NEED ice cream? Probably so . . .


but I'm letting it defrost on the counter just a bit. ;)



... my dogs love ice cream. They were just standing there looking so adorable... and I had like... a table spoon actually come loose so I took a little nibble and then held the rest in my hand and let them lick it... Sadie (Josh's dog) actually bit the piece of frozen ice cream in half and gobbled it up. Lola just licked it until it was gone.

Please pray...

One of my best friends, Laurie, lives in Ohio... has a good friend Beth that is in need of prayers so I'm posting my prayer request here because I know you will read this and then pass it on!

Laurie's friend, Beth Watson is 42 years old... a wife and a mom to 2 kids (9th grade and 4th grade). Beth has been having headaches and ringing in her ears and went in for a CAT Scan at 1 on Friday. They then called her and couldn't track her down but left messages. When she got in touch with them around 4, they told her she has possible bleeding in her brain and they needed her at another hospital by 6pm for an MRI.

She couldn't track down her husband (he was working) so Laurie graciously took her in. They conducted the tests and let Beth go home and told her they would call her tomorrow (Saturday).

They (Beth and Laurie) were not really happy with that so Laurie insisted that they find out why the contradiction between "this is so urgent that she get to the hospital in the next two hours" to "go home, we will talk to you tomorrow and you can meet with a neurosurgeon on Monday." Didn't make sense. Her husband got there then and he tried - still to no avail. So - he said they would go like they are supposed to and he would call her dr on the way home and try to figure out what is going on.

One thing that stood out to Laurie and also to me when Laurie asked for prayers was that when Beth was in having her MRI, fighting the claustraphobic feelings, she sang - in her head - every hymn she could think of and tried to figure out who exactly her favorite Christian singer was. She thinks it has to be Michael W. Smith.

So fast forward to today and here is the latest update on Beth from today...

She started by saying that she still doesn't "understand" everything yet. She said there is so much information to process and since she still has not met with the neurosurgeon, she doesn't even have all the information.

But - as of now, what it appears is that she has a "lesion" in her brain.

They are not calling it a tumor (when she told me that - she added "yet" to the end - don't know if she added that or the dr did). It is 1.7 CM. It is NOT attached to the "S-shaped" thing in the brain and it does not have "tentacles". We don¹t know what that means but she said all she knows is that that is good news. She said that there was no talk of "cancer". Don't know if the
surgeon will address that or if there is no talk because they know it is not. Don't know - she didn't know either.

The next step is that she will meet with the neurosurgeon Monday. She seems to think that he will decide if they need to do surgery or just "monitor it with MRI's". I asked what the "bleeding in the brain" was that sent her to the hospital last night. She said "you know - I don't know if that ever got answered". So - I think with information overload, she just doesn't know.

That is all I know now.

Thanks in advance for all the prayer warriors around the country pulling for healing and miracles for Beth!!!

Drew's movin' on up!

Today was Drew's last swimming lesson for the summer session at Emler. He moved up from Aquatots to Beginner. :) His regular teacher, Ms. Jennifer, is actually a REAL teacher and was already back at work so one of the wonderful deck managers had her class. I absolutely adore this woman and she is SO amazing with kids.

They always work on water safety... how to climb out of the water by yourself on the side without the use of stairs (VERY helpful). They try to teach them by kicking in the water, it helps to propel you forward. They also teach them to float on their backs. One of the other swimming techniques they teach is to swim and then rollover to your back to catch a breath and then roll back over and swim. He's not so into the whole rolling thing yet so hopefully that will come. :) We shall see. I AM keeping him in swimming lessons through the winter because it's really THAT important to me that he learn to swim. Here are some cute shots of his final class.

This first picture is actually him with his shirt on. The last day of class they do stress water safety insomuch as to show the kids what it feels like to be in the water with your clothes on so that if they ever DID fall in with it... they'd know how it felt... Drew really freaked out about having his shirt all wet (even though I had another one with me)... he was mad about that (and the fact that I walked off with his goggles in my hand. :)



He was quite happy here looking up to see his shirt and socks hanging on the line drying.


Open Mouth CHEESE


He's no Michael Phelps but darnit at least he's trying!


The back float thing


And though this may look like a great "swimming" shot... he's not really swimming yet... his arms kinda flail around and he's not consistent with his leg movement so he kinda just stays in one spot "swimming".... once he "gets it" he will certainly take off and love it but until then... LOL... it's just looking good for the camera!


Racing the teach while practicing his kicks


Bootie in the air! LOL

The O-Man... dissected

This, my friends, is BRILLIANT!

Jack Wheeler was the author of Regan's strategy to break the back of the Soviet Union with the star wars race and expose their inner weakness. For years he wrote a weekly intelligence update that was extremely interesting and well structured and informed. He consults(ed) with several mega corporations on global trends and the future, etc. He is in semi-retirement now. He is a true patriot with a no-nonsense approach to everything. He is also a somewhat well known mountain climber and adventurer.

Written by Dr. Jack Wheeler

The O-man, Barack Hussein Obama, is an eloquently tailored empty suit.

No resume, no accomplishments, no experience, no original ideas, no understanding of how the economy works, no understanding of how the world works, no balls, nothing but abstract empty rhetoric devoid of real substance.

He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya . Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively.

What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it.

Let that sink in: Obama is not the descendant of slaves, he is the descendant of slave owners. Thus he makes the perfect Liberal Messiah.

It's something Hillary doesn't understand - how some complete neophyte came out of the blue and stole the Dem nomination from her. Obamamania is beyond politics and reason. It is a true religious cult, whose adherents reject Christianity yet still believe in Original Sin, transferring it from the evil of being human to the evil of being white.

Thus Obama has become the white liberals' Christ, offering absolution from the Sin of Being White. There is no reason or logic behind it, no faults or flaws of his can diminish it, no arguments Hillary could make of any kind can be effective against it. The absurd it of Hypocrisy Clothed In Human Flesh being their Savior is all the more cause for liberals to worship him: Credo quia absurdum, I believe it because it is absurd.

Thank heavens that the voting majority of Americans remain Christian and are in no desperate need of a phony saviorHis candidacy is ridiculous and should not be taken seriously by any thinking American.

Scary isn't it?

Crossing over... to the dark side

It was a day in the summer, we were bored, I was tired, the dogs wanted attention and it was rainy... what do you do? Why, make Darth Vader masks and dress up like The D Man himself of course!! :)

Meet the mastermind...


as well as Darth and Mini Me



If you act afraid, Drew will take off his mask and say, "it's just ME mommy, it's okay, don't be scared." This was Darth unmasked.


And a cute shot of my dad resting and Lola snuggling by his side because she just wanted someone to snuggle with. :)

What am I missing?

The Democrats have suddenly developed a keen sense of morality.

John Edwards has been banned from making a speech at the democratic convention for having an affair and lying about it. In his place Bill Clinton will be speaking.

What am I missing????

Time for play

While we had a break in the clouds, the boys took a much needed outdoor play date. I love when they have a great time together. It makes my heart feel good. I was inside for a bit working on, what else, CUB SCOUT STUFF and I just heard a flood of giggles and by golly, I wanted to be a part of it. I grabbed the little camera and out I went to check on them!



and I melt with this little mischevious grin...


My big man


And this is Josh's dog, Sadie, doing everything she can to look through the blinds to see what we're doing outside. She hates not being a part of the action. Look closely, she's pushing her face so far through it's pulling her bottom lip back to show her little teefies. It was TOO funny.


Do you notice the evidence of something chocolate on his face? Yeah, me too.


And monkey see...


Monkey do...


These two just melt my heart!

What does adorable look like?

Like this...



and this...



And just because I like the photo -- here is Drew and I from my friend Susanne's son, Brandon's birthday party I took Josh to. She got some adorable shots! Thanks for sharing them with me Sus! :) I love 'em! :)

How do you make Paw paw feel better?

Read him stories in bed, of course. :) Drew wanted to do whatever he could to make his Paw paw feel better (except surrender control of the television for the watching of anything other than Max and Ruby, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast or Transformers)...







And yes, you saw it right, he's reading books about the NFL to Pawpaw.... :) I'm sure his Daddy is SO proud. :)