I am embracing the "Birthaday Week"

It would seem as if this is a time for self reflection, as I keep learning things about myself.  I have decided that I am okay with being 40, its just a number.  I do not want to be living or serving anywhere else.  I am so in love with Scott and content with the life we have carved out. I would like to think that arriving at this milestone will really inspire me to look at my life and make certain I am leaving the mark God has planned for me.  I was blessed with a lovely birthday week that included a girls night out at the Outback, an awesome gift of a weekend away in Amish Country from my dearest of friends and family, and finally a surprise party with so many that bless my life.  My heart is full and my blessings too numerous to count. 

I have however learned somethings about myself.  What?  Why, yes I'd be happy to share.

* I am a bed hog, who despite getting a king sized bed still  does not wish to split the space evenly.
* I am a big chicken.
* I seem to cheat at "sock hockey" without forethought.  I think it's an illness.
* I do not mind shoving my children while playing hockey.  They should move!
* My dreams of being a witness are not going to come true.  I just noticed an eleven year old lamp at the Jones' home.
* I can be high maintenance.  I do not seem to wish to change this.
* I am not shy.
* I do not like to miss out on fun things with my friends.  They should never exclude me.
* I will never be on top of dusting.
* Even though I know it is irrational I would like Scott to just know things I wish him to know and then he could act on them without my having to ask.  I get annoyed when he isn't telepathic.
* My internal dialogue isn't always as internal as I think.

Life is good and full, I am glad to here in this place for this time with the people I am surrounded by.

Thanksgiving Day!!!!

One of my favorite things is Thanksgiving.  I love it for many reasons.  I love planning the menu with my mom, even though it generally looks the same year after year.  I love going shopping and preparing the food with her.  I am so thankful that she made sure I was competent in the kitchen.  She actually made sure I was not only competent in the kitchen but also at home among the appliances and food stuffs.  My mother is an excellent cook.  She just has a very natural knack for it and a great love of sharing so that makes her food extra good!  Thanks Momma.

I love eating the food.  The mashed potatoes, the broccoli and cheese casserole, French Onion Casserole, spinach salad, and ohh the desserts!  Yummy!

I love planning my Christmas shopping adventure with Jenny. I love playing games, and I love the talking and laughter.

I mostly love the people.  So let me tell you who I spent the day with and why I am thankful for them.

Scott-  His patience and great love of me
Allye-  Her joyful, ever encouraging look at life
Ash-  His sense of humor
Tucker-  His desire to always do the right thing
Landry-  His ability to laugh at himself

Momma- Her generous spirit
Daddy-  His complete dedication and loyalty to his family
Todd- His open heart and great love of everyone

Jenny- Her ability to stay on track
Barry- His willingness to say "yes I'll help."
Lydia-  Her spunk
Anna- Her quick laughter
Zane-  How he is such a total boy
Julia- Her Mona Lisa smile

Dawn- Her way of thinking things through
Steve- His great need to serve God
Jake- His desire for goodness
Cora-Her sweet smile and friendship with Allye

Tricia- Her wisdom
Mike- His love of family
Katie- Her desire to show God to her children
Mackenzie- Her "sistershood" with Jules
James-  His dimples

Leanne- Her calmness
Terry- His banana bread
Zachary- Being a good buddy for Z
Nicholas- Policing the other boys
Lucas-Protecting his mom from the scary Barbie van

Kendra- Her wish to be all God wants
Ben- His love of his family
Emma- Her feisty spirit
Kate- Her ability to laugh at herself
Jack- The way he makes my heart smile

LaToya- Her sweetness
Josh- His way of having fun with the kids
Brooklyn- Her openess of heart
Taylor-  Her subborn streak
Corran-  Those sweet cheeks

Brittany -  Her intensity
Shizoni- Her desire to play

All of these people are important to me and  I have so many reasons to be thankful for them, so I just listed what jumped in my mind. I am blessed with so many and so much.  This group of people is just a sampling of those that make my life richer.  Thank you all for being a part of my life.

I'll probably live.....

Back in the day, I think I was 1 here....

It happened,  I turned 40.  Dah dah duhhnnnn.......  Maybe there wasn't actually any startling, mood setting music to announce the day but hey, it kinda feels like a crescendoish sort of moment!

I still don't know how I'm feeling about this momentous occasion.  I really like my birthday because it's so near Thanksgiving, and I love Thanksgiving.  Spending the day with people I love without worrying that
I should be doing something else = magic.  However, I did take a bath to relax last night and ended up hosting a crying jag.  Hmmmm.....  If you ask why I was crying I couldn't say, maybe because I fear the early or even inevitable onset of menopause.  I reeeaallly am not looking forward to hot flashes.  It's possible I cried just because I got soap in my eye.  Either way I consoled myself by not setting my alarm for this morning, so I slept until 7:30 and no one else was up yet!  Happy Birthday to me!

I decided to give time travel a try and see what about my early, middle and now this later portion of my life I could recall.  Let's see how it goes..........

I remember my parents telling me I was born in an army hospital I always thought that was cool.  When I was in 5th grade, we went on a trip to Wyoming and they said we were going to see where I was born.  When we got to Ft. Hood, Texas I was so disappointed that I couldn't see the tents.....Yes we were a M.A.S.H. family.

I remember when I was little I wanted my named to be Suzy Mae.  I made everyone call me that or Suzy Q.  It stuck pretty well I still have an Aunt who only calls me Suze.

I remember that my uncle used to tickle me until I could only squeal, he said he'd stop when I quit squealing.  This probably explains many things.....

I remember going through a peanut butter and pickle sandwich phase.  Yes gross.  Must have been a shock value thing.

I remember in Kindergarten at Morgantown Elementary falling in love with Jay Toney.

I remember learning about the great honor we should pay the American Flag and should it ever touch the ground it might as well be burnt.  Unfortunately,I heard "Don't ever let the flag touch the ground because it will spontaneously combust." Yes I spent my early elementary years terrified of our flag.


I remember that Christmas was indeed magic!

I got a Barbie Dream house like this...

A Fresh and Fancy kit like this...

This Drowsy Doll

My newest toy!

And so many other awesome things! 

I remember Shaun Cassidy.

I remember my Yo-Yo's 

I remember when I realized with great sadness that I was not meant to be tan.  In 7th grade at church my Mamaw very sweetly and loudly complimented me on my new yellow outfit and my nice white panty hose.......  I was wearing a flipflop style sandal.....no hosiery.


I remember when I was about 7 or 8 and I loved Snoopy.  My Papaw made me a Snoopy shaped shadow box and filled each box with a snoopy character.




I remember the turning point in my friendship with Jenny when we both knew that we were meant to be life long besties.  Yes, Isis brought us together.  Our shared memory of that classic but little known piece of 70's TV.

I remember calling home from college one day and this guy I didn't know answered the phone.  We got to talking and eventually I came home from school and we met.  He was lots of fun and he seemed not to mind that I'm complicated, so I married him.

I "heart" him!

20 years later....

Well I am closing in on my 40th birthday.  I have been trying to decide how I feel about it, you know am I sad, depressed, on the brink of a mid-life crisis?   Of course that is assuming I live to be 80, I really hate to think I missed my opportunity to have a crisis....  I think more than anything I am kinda indifferent.  I really like big feelings so what to do what to do?  I still have some time to be faced with the reality of turning a big number so more on the feelings watch later.

On Wednesday, Jenny gave me a video tape to watch.  It was a video I sent her in 1990 while she was away at college and I was at home buying my first car.  For reasons unknown, I felt compelled to film the momentous occasion.  I filmed the tires(all 4, actually I just went back and forth twice to save the trip around the car), the bumper, the trunk and the cardboard on the floor mats.  All of this with riveting commentary.  I said things like "This is my car", "Lots of trunk space", "The cardboard is only temporary.",  "I've named her Sydney" and "Oh while I have your attention this is my Easter dress."  This has clearly demonstrated that my attention span has not improved over the last 20 years. I wonder what else hasn't changed...

~ I still rice krispy treats
~ I still do not like it when my parents do things different
~ I still like to out smart my brother
~ I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
~ I wanted to then and am still married to a dark haired, green eyed Texas boy.
~ I still like to have cinnamon toast with my hot chocolate
~ I still like road trips
~ I still love spending my free time with Jenny
~ I still get excited when my dad makes fudge
~ I still like to pretend I can sing
~ I still love to ride with the windows down in my car belting out a rock song.  Then I remember I drive a minivan.
~ I still love to find the perfect pair of jeans.
~ Most of my clothes are still blue.
~ I still like James Dean
~I still love big hair

How about you?

What a day........

So today was maybe the worst day ever!

Well, at least the worst if all you're counting are the trivial things gone wrong.  I had to wake up early and converse with people.  This could have been worse since it was my mom I was talking to.  I had to drink coffee not from my favorite mug.  I had to rearrange my day's original plans.  I had a minor altercation with the excessively bright sun and a guardrail.  I went to file a police report, turned into a total girl and started to cry.  At which point I had to explain that no one was hurt, I just needed to sit and "cry it out".  Once that humiliation was over I went home and spilled my giant Diet Dr. Pepper and had to settle for drowning my sorrows in mashed potatoes.  Turns out, I only thought I cleaned the DP mess up. What really happened was the drink ran slowly under the couch and after a few hours it made it to the other end of the sofa, giving the peculiar impression that a chair had peed it's pants.  So I had to move the sofa, clean the floor and arrive a bit late and flustered to drama class.

Anyway maybe tomorrow will be boring........

Bummer.....

Big Bummer........

More birthdays

Last night we got together to celebrate Scott and Julia's birthday.  By "we" I mean all the usual suspects, the Fuqua's, Boverie's, Zickafoose and Jones'.  My sister LaToya and her husband came by later and unfortunately my other sister Melissa does not live close enough to pop in for a mid-week dinner on short notice.  Daddy made a giant pot of delicious gumbo and we had cupcakes and coffee ice cream dessert.  YUM!!

After eating and visiting until 9-ish we headed home.  Walking home the boys were comparing notes on who got to consume the most dessert.  Landry only got two cupcakes, and Ash had 2 cupcakes and some of the ice cream.  Seriously unfair, I know this because it was announced loudly and with feeling.  Why would I ONLY allow 2 cupcakes per child? Why did Ash also get ice cream?  Truthfully, this 2 cupcakes and ice cream thing was because I wasn't paying close attention.  Anyway Ash told Landry if he hadn't been so busy playing with Jacob (the Jones' 15yo son) he could have gotten both desserts too. Landry promptly informed him that "Jacob is cooler than chocolate cake!"

How cool is that?  I would love to be cooler than chocolate, but that is a dream I will likely never realize.  This is just an example of the blessings that God has placed in the lives of my children.  Jacob is a young man who impresses me constantly.  He demonstrates such patience and concern for my boys it often brings me to tears. He makes them feel special and important, yet he makes sure he doesn't intentionally or inadvertently expose them to anything potentially harmful to keeping them close to God. 

Thanks Jake for being such a Godly young man and for keeping the hearts of my boys as near to Him as you can.

A day with shoes on my feet....

I thought about creating a post last night, but let me tell you I just couldn't.  I had to relax and unburden myself from the trauma of wearing shoes all day long.  I mean actual tie up with socks underneath shoes!  I put them on at 7am and took them off at 11pm.  Those who know me well understand what an emotional ordeal this was for me to endure.  In addition to having my feet imprisoned for an entire day I was out and about for most of that time too.

The day started with taking Allye to PATH (her homeschool co-op) at 7:30, then I had to come back home get the boys and take them to the orthodontist.  Always a treat, the orthodontist.  I mean he smiles all nice and patiently answers the boys questions even offering to let them come in and spend a day hanging out watching people get braces, work in the lab and cast molds.  What he is really doing is making me think he is all wonderful in the hopes that my heart won't stop when I calculate how much it's going to cost to repair the genetically flawed open bites my boys are sporting.  So after I realize he is not going to choose even one of my four kids to say "oh I don't he will require much therapy if you leave these large gaps in his teeth".  I tell him we need to prioritize the work.  You know start with the problems most likely to lead to a serial killer mentality if it goes unfixed, that sort of thing.  He says, "I would really enjoy the chance to work on Tucker and Landry's open bites."  Now I am thinking if he would "really enjoy" it he could do a BOGO free sort of deal, yes? 

Next up we go to Sam's to kill time between the ortho and drama class.  We didn't actually need anything from Sam's but the library was closed.  We cruised for samples, looked at the toys, tried out the furniture and then had lunch at the snack bar.  This I recommend its cheap and tasty, the four of us ate for $11.00.  Off to drama next and that was fun, Allye is Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  The boys are being extras, Landry is one of the frozen statues in the witch's castle. I now know he can remain motionless for at least 5 minutes while retaining consciousness.  

Drama ends at 2 and Allye has a run with the XC team.  So while she runs we get to the library.  On the way in the boys are arguing, this is a new hobby because after 11 years they cannot stand one another.  I was sharing with them my dream of harmonious relationships and a man approached me to say that could only happen if I took drugs. Nice! 

After we got Allye we were able to go home, well at least close to home we went to Momma's.  I needed to sew and since she donated her basement as my craft room we went there.  I was trying to sew some things that I can sell at our homeschool meeting tonight.  My stock is minimal but hey I can take orders.  I hope that my meager items are not totally lame.  More on that later.....

Anyway I left Momma's around 10:45, came home and released the prisoners.  I swear my toes sang.  Did I mention I hate shoes well wearing them that is........

Some people have big thoughts, mine are just ordinary.

I thought I'd share some things that have been on my mind lately.........

~Just this morning I recalled how much I really love slightly overdone bread products.  I like pancakes dark brown, biscuits just past golden and crispy, muffins to have a crunch on the bottom(but not a burnt taste) and I set my toaster on 4.  These are things that make breakfast worth eating.

Muffiny Goodness!

~Why can't someone invent permaclean glass?


~What started the hatred of dust?


~You should never take a poll of the odd things your sons may have eaten.  Just trust me.


~Do you suppose some people create horrible things just to get featured on snarky craft blogs?


~Since it's the thought that counts, can you deduct thought points for someone not thinking of where you could possibly display/store something?


~Can you imagine how long it must have taken to weave the fabric lengths necessary to create the "Bible Times" ensembles we see in pictures?  I mean no fabric weaving machine....  This makes me wonder did they really wear all those layers?

I know it's sad but these are actually the thoughts that drift around in my mind.  I have so many more but I'd like some of you thinking I am sane.

I enjoy people, especially small children type people.  I love the differences in personality, the unique mannerisms and general specialness that makes the world exciting.  I have met some funny folks, some serious hard to know people and frankly just some odd ducks, but sometimes I think my kids are the weirdest kids around.  They say and do some truly bizarre things, but I look at their parentage and realize they can't really help it.

Apparently Landry went out without a sweatshirt today because he didn't want fabric touching his arms.  What?  Ash drew a mustache on his face with a dry erase marker, turns out those do not erase easily from skin.  Tucker sleeps with seven, yes it says seven, pillows and they all have names and assigned positions on his bed. His favorite is named Pilly.  Really.  It's true.

They are very sweet and try and give me compliments regularly.  Like just the other day one of them told me that he wasn't going to tell me what he didn't like about dinner because that would be the same as insulting the disgusting parts.  Yep neat guy. 

Do you ever laugh so hard at your family and feel so full from the wonder of just being with them that you feel sorry for everyone who isn't you?  I do.  Especially when my teenage daughter says, "I love our family.  I wonder why some of my friends don't like theirs."  When one of my sons tells me that sometimes he gets so full of happiness that he has to hug someone.  When my son wants to know why everyone's mom and dad won't teach their children to know God so they can always be together.

Yeah I love that my kiddos are strange.............................

Game night isn't all about winning, but that's fun too.

On Thursday Momma and I thought it'd be a great idea to have a girl game night so we set it for Friday.  Turns out it was.  So many good things came of this evening!  Let me begin be saying that anytime you are with people you love good things have happened.

The evening began with dinner, first good thing, yummy yummy slow roasted beef!  Momma asked Jenny to pick up so rolls, which she interpreted as "go home and make them from scratch", second good thing.  I only had to make brownies and this was optional, third good thing.  Third and fourth if you count to bowl licking portion if the day.  We played Pennies( or Hand and Foot if you like, it canasta)  and Jenny and I won ( I won't say who we beat) fourth good thing!  It was fun.


Quite possibly the most productive of our activities was the list.  What list you ask?  Let me tell you......

I was VERY casually and kindly informing my mother of yet another something from my childhood that maybe my parents should not have allowed.  So she flipped to a clean piece of paper and said "Why don't we just make a list?"  Now while I would have NEVER considered the idea of enumerating, on paper no less, the flaws of my parents I do like to indulge their requests, so make a list we did.

~  When we were children, we shot fireworks on Christmas Eve(I don't know either).  This was not the problem, we were in charge of ourselves.  We would shoot the roman candles first so that we could use the spent tubes as rocket holders for our bottle rocket wars.  Yes we aimed at each other.  The real issue was the item we were given to ignite our fireworks, as you may have already guessed, it was in fact a shovel of coal from the fire place.  I know for sure they like their grandkids better than us because this would not be permitted for them.

~ Loveboat (Captain Stubing even annouced he likes "mountains" the Dolly Parton kind!)
~Happy Days.  I know what those kids were up to now.
~Grease.  Although I am not sure this should be on the list she says it should.
~She let me go to the mall alone with my friends, now if my daughter finds out she will want to...
~I tried to get her to put Preston as a bad influential brother on there but she refused.

~Most recently I discovered that it is quite possible that an item on this list is what mutated my ovaries and may even have been the cause of my having multiples.  When we were young we lived in a neighborhood where the ice cream truck would rattle through and we would be so EXCITED!  Especially if we were in a position to get a treat.   We also had this other cool truck that would rattle through the neighborhood regularly.  It was a very exciting fog truck!  Yeah, I know right?   I mean we would run to the edge of the street and dance and jump around in the fog squealing with excitement.  It was pure joy as we followed as far as we were allowed filling our hearts, lungs and nasal passages with the fog.  It was such fun that  we were able to ignore the smell and taste of the pesticide fumes that were being sprayed in order to create this awesome fog for us to play in.  Curious, huh?

Now we never got to the list of good things......

~My dad used to play records on the stereo and dance around the house with me.
~My parents used to play Uno, Aggravation, and Yahtzee with us all the time.
~My parents taught us that Christmas is magic.
~My parents showed us that if you can do it for someone there is no reason not to.
~My parents gave me a childhood so happy I can't visit a flea market or antique store without a teary trip down memory lane.
~My parents let my brother write on the wall that girls were silly so that when he had a crush they could remind him of his previous ideas on females.
~My parents used to let us paint our faces like clowns whenever we took a notion.
~My parents would always take the time to watch whatever dance I made up to my current Olivia Newton-John favorite.
~My parents showed us how fun it is to open your home to friends.
~My parents taught us honesty is crucial.
~My parents taught me to love God and to trust Him.

Yep they did a good job.  Thanks Momma and Daddy.