Random Friday

I think I am going to keep riding on Rachel Sue's coattails.  I am really liking this Random Friday thing.  I like it because sometimes our minds just work like that. And I like the way she writes it.

A lot of you asked me what the heck those pod things were from Wordless Wednesday.  A couple of you gave some ideas.  A carob tree.  And itchy pods.  The pods themselves can in fact cause itching...bad itching.  So do not touch them. It took some searching...and because I can't let things go and I am a bit of dork... I give you the Brachychiton Populneus or Bottle Tree from the Sterculiaceae Family.

You can learn more about that tree here.  I think we should dub it the weird pod tree.  It comes from the land down under.  We also have Eucalyptus trees here.

I was driving to pick up kids from school, and got behind a very scary driver.  She kept drifting a bit and wasn't going much over 25 in 35 zone.  It was a little old granny hardly able to see over the stirring wheel.  Think Ferris Bueller.  Well maybe not quite that bad, but scary close.

I am more LOST now than I was last season when LOST ended.  They say this season will answer questions...they failed to mention it would also create MORE!

Kristin has bronchitis.  That sucks.  She is coughing hard.  She has been to the doctor.  She has meds.

Migraines suck.  Migraine medication rocks.

I was bestowed with an award from one of my newer followers.  Queen Vee.  Check her out!

  So now it is my turn to pay it forward.....

Here are the rules:
- Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
- Pass the award onto 7 bloggers.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

And the 7 Sunshines Are....

Laura from the Bignell Family
Lene from Embrace the Chaos
MochaTrina from Ah!...Me So Hongry!
Jen from Buried with Children
CJ from Simply Simonsons
Emmy from Emmy Mom--One Day At A Time
Rachel Sue from Trapped Between A Scream and A Hug

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

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Picture of the Day

 

yours truly in a high school play.

Writer's Workshop

It is time for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.  If you want to join the fun, check her site right here.  The assignment I have chosen to accept is prompt #5 List 10 things you never knew until you were mom.

I was not blessed with motherly instincts.  I know I played with dolls, but they are not foremost in my mind as my favorite toys.  I never was really fond of kids as a young adult.  In fact, I swore up and down that I was never going to have children.  Why would I want them?  They were wild, loud, unruly and obnoxious.  But that was before I became a mom.  Before I became a mom I was going to be a career woman.  And if--and that was a huge IF--I did have kids, well the husband was going to stay home with them.  Come on, I was 19.

Then I found out I was pregnant with baby number one, and everything changed.  I learned many things, and continue to learn.  Here are 10...top ten?  Not sure about that, but ten....

10.  Baby poop can fly as far as three feet across a room if baby is positioned correctly.
9.  A baby can poop an entire outfit and somehow manage to only get a streak of poop on the diaper.
8.  I can stick my BARE HAND in the toilet without batting an eye
7.  kids really do hear everything. you. say...verbatim.
6.  Monster rocks work
5.  I can clean up puke fairly easily
4.  Certain words cause children from miles away to suddenly appear.  These words are:  Cookies, food, toys, money, cake, and park.
3.  I can clear a room fastest when I start washing dishes.
2.  Kids are the bestest playmates.
....
And the number one thing I have learned....

I never knew, or rather, never understood the extent to which my love would go.  The fact, that I would lay down my life for any of them.  The fact that when they are sick, everything else stops until I know they are comfortable and taken care of. And even then, I am on 24 hour watch until they are healthy.  The fact that when they hurt it causes me ache like I never thought I could.  The fact that when they smile it makes my heart swell to the point I think it might actually burst.  The fact that when they make me laugh it's the best laugh I have.  The fact that their hugs make the worst day melt away.  And a good day especially sweet.

Those are just ten things I have learned since becoming a mom.To write everything I have learned thus far, would take too long.

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Picture of the Day

 

My cow socks...not to be confused with Emmy's monkey socks!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday...brought to you by Lene from Embracing the Chaos. 

No clue what these pods are...just all over a tree near my front yard.

                             

Post  editing...I added some more color using Paint Shop Pro X

The 4-Way Stop

When I was a kid, one of my favorite games to play with my friends was "red light" "green light."  You remember the simplicity of it.  Your friend faced you it meant stop, she turned around, it meant RUN!  Later in life we supposedly learn to drive.  Now I am not talking about myself or any of my bloggy friends, because I know that we are all excluded from this commentary.  However, I am still needing to ask the question...Why can't people do a simple 4-way stop???

It's not really that difficult.  There is even a website that describes it quite simply which can be found here.  But in case it is too complicated, I will simplify it right here.  Just for laughs of course.

1.  If there are no lights, but there is a sign this is not a suggestion.  It is a command.  Slow down BEFORE you get there.

2.  That sideways pedal will slow you down, and ultimately stop the vehicle.  No rolling.  (And btw it's not a CA stop when you are in AZ, TX, GA, UT, OH)it's just running the stop.  Now...don't go...yet.

3.  Look at all the other corners.  Are there cars there?  If so, who got there first?  Was it a tie?  It's that guy furthest from YOUR right.  Yeah him.  He goes first. And so on until it is your turn.  You do not get to go if the guy in front of you did.  This is NOT A LIGHT.  You MUST stop! 

When lights are broken, you must follow the 4 way stop guideline.  If there happens to be a left turn signal at that light, simply pull over, turn off your vehicle, get out of the vehicle, close the door, lock it, and please for the love of humanity WALK HOME!

I am forever amazed at how ridiculous people can be at these stops.  And what is worse, the one I see the most trouble with is the one right by the elementary school. And heaven forbid it is raining!  But then...it's just a question that I had to ask.
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Pictures of the Day

 

Ryan has the answer to not blinking when the flash goes off

 

An alternative

No Question

Today I do not have a question...well I do, but I am saving it for tomorrow.  Now I bet you all have a question for me.  "Why don't you have a question?"  Well I have the answer....

As most of you know, we have been in the process of buying the very house we have been renting for the last two years.  Well, after nearly 4 months of offers, paperwork, paper trails, appraisals, and just about anything else they could think of to throw at us, we are officially home owners!!! 

 

So how did we celebrate?   Well we started by inviting family:  my mom, sis, niece and her guy friend, Emmy & Eric, and wow even my nephew stopped by...whose name also happens to be Eric!   You invite said family for dinner and for a silly string war!!!

 

Armed and dangerous!

 

My cousin and I matched...shouldn't that mean we were a team?  If so, why was he attacking me?

 

It's okay, cause Ryan's got my back!
 

 

  

And when the cans emptied--which was very fast--we all resorted to picking it up off the street and throwing it at each other. 

 

They may be sisters but when it comes to silly string, it's every man, woman, and sister for themselves!

 

All in all it was a lot of fun.  And the kids--sans Ryan and Lucas--they liked it fine until they got assaulted with string.  At least Lucas stayed outside.  Ryan retreated into the safety of the garage.

 

Aftermath.  It's still there as a reminder of our fun and celebration.  There was never a for sale sign in our yard, no showings, and only a picture of the outside was ever shown in the listing.  Nice.  The best part is we don't have to move!  

Then we had a yummy ham dinner with lots of loud kid noises and grown up laughter.  It was a lot of fun.  And now we can breathe a sigh of relief as the stress of house buying is off our shoulders. 

A special thanks to my sister for taking the pictures of the silly string fight.  I had my camera, but I had forgotten to put the memory card back into it!  Sheesh!