Another Dance, just a Few More and They Will Be Done! :(

Sunday night was another dance for Alex. It was the high school sorrority/fraternity's winter dance. Kind of sad that each dance she attends will be the last one I will have a daughter going to. In a few years, I will have a son going to these. Now that is even more weird!!

As you can see, they had fun. Even after the long talk from John. I think the guys expect this talk now!!

Happy Birthday Beth!!

Okay, today is Beth's Birthday. Everybody dance now! Dunt, dunt, dunt, dunt!! Happy Birthday Beth! I tried finding a picture to post and realized Beth usually hides from the camera. I found this one and some of her in her bathing suit at the beach and some pregnant. I thought she would like this one better. I almost posted one of her in her bathing suit in our younger years where Nancy, Sara, and I were also in our suits admiring something she had that we didn't, but um, we were ALL in our suits, and though I only wish I looked like that now, I didn't know if I would still be alive if I printed it. But Beth, YOU know the picture and you know how GOOD we all looked, don't you? Love you and hope your day is great!!

Happy Birthday!!!

So Paula reminded everyone about Pat's birthday. I would like to say Happy Birthday to Pat and a day early Happy Birthday to Nash. We love you both!!!!! I am not good with everyone's bday, but I am trying!!

Memory Lane:

After reading Ashley's blog about "Bunny" I had to put these pics up from this summer. I think Ashley put a scrapbook page she had made about bunny on her blog at one time, but I felt bunny must be showcased. He is that important. (Kind of like Patrick's fish blanket.)

Her blog did not share our end of it. We were just heading out to the basketball game to see Alex. John was there ahead of us and Dani and I were kind of waiting until closer to halftime. Well, when Ashley called we said yeah, we'll drop him off before we go up to the game. On our way to Ashley's house, the phone rang and John said the second quarter had already started. He asked why I was going to Ashley's first, since there wasn't much time, I told him about Bunny and he immediately understood the gravity of the missing Bunny at bedtime. We were in a mad dash to drop Bunny off and still make it to the game in time. We pulled in to the driveway, Dani made the pass of Bunny to Brian at the door and ran back to the car. We then rushed back to the school. In the meantime Alex calls us asking if we were there yet. Dani, in her wisdom suggested we park in the second parking lot and run from there. I, imn my wisdom, had to try and get a closer spot, but alas there were none and we had to go back to the lot Dani suggested in the first place. Of course, as we were running (me - gasping and running), I got to hear "I told you so!" Well, we did make it in time and I got to take pictures, but it was quite a little adventure. I just thought I would share the WHOLE Bunny experience. Now, you know the REST of the story!! (Anyone know what THAT is from?)

Homecoming Court

Alex was on the Homecoming Court last night. She looked so beautiful, as always. She didn't pick her own escort, they were assigned. They were assigned one of the guys in the running for "King". She said he is a very nice guy and it looked like it as she was laughing with him out on the court. She didn't win Queen, but said she didn't expect to, within minutes of it being over, she was changed and hanging out with friends. I am proud of you Alex!

And, is this a cute pic of Dani and John or what!?

Happy Birthday Mom!!

There is no way I can beat Kristy's post. But I had to say Happy Birthday to the world's best Mom on my blog also. Thanks for being there for all of us. Most of us turned out OK! You guess which ones didn't .... ha ha.

I thought we could look at you when you were young. Did this young lady know she would become the tired Mom of 8 children?

Love you and Happy Birthday!!

Speaking of Old Pictures

A while back Uncle Lawrence gave me this to give to Mom. I told her about it, but you see that she doesn't have it in her hands. Isn't he handsome?

And how old is he here Mom?

A Great Joke I Heard Today!!

WHY YOU NEVER QUESTION A DRUNK

I was shopping at the local super market where I selected:

A half-gallon of 2% milk,
A carton of eggs,
A quart of orange juice,
A head of romaine lettuce,
A 2 lb. can of coffee, and
A 1 lb. package of bacon.

As I was unloading my items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind me watched as I placed the items in front of the cashier.

While the cashier was ringing up the purchases, the drunk calmly stated, 'You must be single.'

I was a bit startled by this proclamation, but I was intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since I was indeed single.

I looked at the six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about my selections that could have tipped off the drunk as to my marital status.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I said: 'Well, you know what, you are absolutely right. But how on earth did you know that?'

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The drunk replied: 'Cause you're ugly.'

The Biggest Loser Contest!

Okay.... I am the biggest I have ever been in my life. I have these super pissy genes from the family of my father. (No last names given.) They are not from the family of the pissy skinny family of my mother (no names here either). But, anyway, I digress. I decided this was it and I had to do something to motivate me to stay with my diet and exercise. So, at work I put out the word and set up the biggest loser contest. We had 19 people join and we are doing it until May 19th. Something about these challenges just make me stay with it. Last time I was the biggest loser. But, then I think I turned around and became the biggest gainer.

So, wish me luck and slap anybody who happens to be near you who inherited the "skinny" genes of this family.

ha..... I am ready to do this and will keep you informed of my progress.... not my weight, but my progress!!

My Busy Men!

This weekend my guys were still busy working on the back deck. They have put so much time and effort into it, I am so proud. Around 3PM, John told CJ to take off when some neighborhood boys came and asked CJ to go shoot air soft guns. He doesn't really "play" much with kids around here, he is usually playing with his father. ha

I was so busy in the house, I didn't even take a picture, but next weekend I am going to make sure I get out there and do that.

Tuesday, my voice left me and is still refusing to come back. It is driving me totally nuts. I may have to visit the doctor and I HATE to do that!! It is not really hurting me, but I know it is because of all the congestion I have. I think John has enjoyed it.

Hope everyone has a great week.

A Picture That is SO Ashley!

I looked on Dani's Facebook and found this picture she took of Ashley and the kids. She took it when she was home and with Ashley at Old Navy, but it just was just so perfect, I HAD to post it!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!!

Dancin' Queen

So, we had our Preschool Dance again tonight and of course our own little dancer had to come join us. That is one of the fun things about my job, Kendall and Kate can join in on our fun nights.

I invited John and he came in and danced for a while.

SOMEONE is getting blog lazy...

Hey everyone! It's Alex! We have a snow day today but my mom still has to work. :( I was looking at this blog and figured you guys might want something fresh on here. We don't really have any new pictures but I guess I could add some random ones. Anything is better than this same ol same ol!!!

Thought this picture was pretty humorous. I think I was in 6th grade, meaning this was about 6 years ago.

This picture is fitting for today, being a snow day and all. It's me, Jessy, and Dani. We were soooo excited about that tiny bit of snow! I remember Dad and Uncle Jeff even sent us down the tiny hill on trash can lids. Of course, I only remember this through pictures because I was obviously too young to remember this. haha.

I will have to upload the picture of us doing this yesterday. It was a lot of fun, Dad enjoyed it most of all. I kidd I kidd. He would still be on the ground if we had done that! And CJ probably would have broken his neck sitting right there. Haha.

Well, just wanted to get something new up here. Sorry it's nothing too exciting!

Turning Over a New Leaf

Okay, so when I was first married I used to plan and fix yummy homecooked meals all the time for the love of my life. Well, as my kids were born and got busy and picky, I found I slowly transitioned to more kid friendly meals, then as they got older and more busier and I started working, it got harder and harder to plan anything. I was getting home late, kids were ready to eat or not home until really late because of their sports. It got to where we had more and more convenience foods. Homecooked meals turned into Stouffers lasagna, Spaghetti, grilled cheese, eggs or anything quickly thrown together.

Well, I decided to get back into the swing of real cooking. I have a husband and one child at home who really loves homecooked meals and one young man who would rather me just let him eat mac and cheese and just leave him alone. But CJ is coming along. Since XMas, I have been planning on Saturdays and preparing the night before what needs to be done the next day. I have made my kids wait a little while if supper isn't ready quite when they are ready. In the past, they were all starving and by the time I would get home, they had helped themselves to waffles, cereal, or whatever they decided they wanted to eat. Now, they have a little snack if they have to and then wait.

In the last 2 weeks, I have made:

• Meatloaf
• Shells and Cheese Chicken Casserole
• Pork Chops and Gravy
• Creamed Spinach Spaghetti
• Beef Stoghanoff
• Beef and Gravy
• Impossible Ham and Cheese Pie
• Taco Pie
• Homemade Pizza

Of Course, we had lots of side vegetables

• Potatoes - mashed, sliced, baked
• Noodles
• Corn
• Green Beans
• Green Bean Casserole
• Peas
• Salad

So, keep your fingers crossed and pray that this continues for me. Tomorrow night is Roast with potatoes and carrots. Wed. night I have taken pity on my son and told him we would have grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese.

Happy Cooking.

My day

Okay, even Mom is chastising me. I need to do another entry. My kids don't do all the cute things the little ones do, so I don't have fun quotes and pics to add daily.

I am going to the eye doctor today for a check on my contacts. I had saved my medical spending money from work to have eye surgery to find out for the first time in my life, my eyesight had improved since last year. Not a ton, but enough that they won't let me have surgery until there is no change. Good grief. So now, I am back to contacts. Dang. And trying to find all the receipts for my copays and medications, etc., so that I can get reimbursed from my medical account. I get that money since I turn down insurance, but it can only be spent toward medical things. I would rather just get the money, wouldn't you?

I also have the "other" kind of doctor appointment today. Yuck. No fun. But I did take the whole day off and am going to the gym first thing with Ashley, then appntmnt., then play , then back to my appntmt. (Alex is meeting me, as she has her apptmnt too, you know family affair.) I am going to go wake Dani up to see if she can make herself get up and go with us to the gym. I hope so. Fortunately, she has turned into the not so typical teen and goes to bed at reasonable hours and wakes up by 9AM usually.

Well, I will try to think of more exciting things to write. Have a great day everyone!!