CA Girl

What can I say? The picture speaks for itself! I woke up this morning and did my usual routine of showering and getting dressed. I knew all the kids were up and likely downstairs with Daddy so I knew nobody was in any immediate danger. I knew it was going to be scorching hot today, so I went from room to room closing the windows in the attempts to start early at beating the heat. Ryan's room was the second of the kids room that I came too. And I was greeted with this. He had emptied one drawer and plowed half way through the next. Surprisingly the picture shows the better part of the mess. It was quite a rude awakening.

Exactly one month ago, I began dental treatment on a tooth in need of a crown. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am not a good dental patient. These last four weeks, have been, to say the least, very trying for me. First, I hadn't been to the dentist in over a year. It wasn't entirely by choice, I mean I do have some sense. It was largely due to insurance and lack of it. Finally, insurance was settled and the first initial visit was made. I was told I had two cavities and needed a crown. Not fun, but I will do what I need to take care of my mouth. The temporary crown was in place, and then the trouble began. You know, this tooth was just fine until they started messing with it! Suddenly the tooth was shocked back into awakening and every single nerve within it was hyper sensitive; particularly to cold. Chewing on that side was no longer an option. After two weeks, and no change my dentist was not comfortable putting the permanent crown on until I was ch...

Since I didn't have to cook dinner yesterday, I had the chance to play outside with two of my kids. Emily was a hermit and stayed inside. We took turns blowing bubbles, and Kristin and I took turns with the camera. Chasing bubbles Big Sis blows more bubbles. Ryan's turn. Mom blows a big one. Checking the finished product. WOW! Pop!

In church today, the focus was of course on mothers. During one talk a few poems were read about mothers. One of which I had heard, and another I hadn't heard before but could totally appreciate it. I don't have a copy of it, so I will simply paraphrase. About a son who did a list of chores for his mother and put what he felt was an appropriate fee next to it. The mother took the paper and turned it over and wrote a list of things she had done from carrying the child for nine months to wiping his nose and so on. Her charge for each item was zero because her love did not have a price tag. It was very sweet. The other one, I have heard before, and I will share it here. I have always loved it. It is called "Was Your Mom Mean?" Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had ...

A Mom A woman named Emily renewing her drivers license at the County Clerks office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ….? "Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I’m a Mom." "We don’t list ‘Mom’ as an occupation…. ‘house wife covers it," said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like "Town Registrar" or "Official Interrogator." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know… The words simply popped out. "I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, bal...

Usually I reserve this category for things that just make you go "DUH!" but I think it is fair as well as reasonable, to add things in it that make you go, "hmmmm." Tonight my oldest is having a friend over. I remember those days. I always had a blast. I don't remember it being so noisy when it was me though. At any rate, a sleepover requires some kind of tasty treat so I decided to make a cake. The only problem was I didn't have any ready made frosting. This actually kind of humorous in that I insist on homemade everything--my mother has ruined me. Meaning she always cooked from scratch and I want that same kind of food. I digress. For some strange reason, I always cheat and buy the store bought frosting. It's not like it is hard to make. And it's probably cheaper, not to mention it plain tastes better. Well, I needed canned milk and I didn't have any so I got some from my mom. I asked my sister how she made her chocolate frosting, ...

I thought I would star something new in the blog. I have emails that date all the way back to 2003. Why do I keep them? Because it is a journal of sorts. It's fun to go back and see what kind of trouble I was stirring up. If my memory will serve me--yeah right--I am going to attempt to post one a week so as not to overwhelm. So without any further ado, I would like to introduce The Chronicles of Lourie . Today's entry is from May 20, 2003. Kristin was in kindergarten and Ryan wasn't even thought of. This afternoon, I went as usual, to pick Kristin up from school. You know the drill...get in the car, start the car, drive the same route as always...I got as far as the corner, and what do you think I saw right there in the middle of the road? A turtle! He was about five inches in diameter. Just minding his own business. Sunning. Until....I jumped out of the car and rescued the unsuspecting critter from certain doom! He got scared. His little feet were ...