Dreaming What Ifs...

There is no i in Occupy.

There are two choices. 

A - The tagger is an idiot and can't spell. 

OR

B - The tagger is brilliantly clever and I don't understand his symbolism.

My Santa Hats

Six in the Suburbs is a really cool blog that contains TONS of cool food ideas.  I made their Santa hats -  I think they turned out pretty cool - and sooooo easy to make.

Getting Called On It

It was a rather hectic morning and I walked into the bedroom to see The Caboose playing with his toys instead of finding shoes and coat.

"Get your shoes RIGHT NOW!"  I yelled and ran to the kitchen to prepare the lunch boxes.

Ready to leave, I ran back to the bedroom, and there sat the Caboose, still playing with his toys.

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU?"  I hollered.  'Get your shoes, RIGHT NOW.  We have to go."

His face fell.  He stood up, grabbed his shoes and walked over to me.  "I don't like you anymore."

Those words leave a parent quite deflated.  "Why?"  I asked, as I slipped his shoes onto his feet.

"Because you are just being quite rude when you yell like that." 

And.... he was right.

Another December 17th.

Happy Birthday to Me,

Happy Birthday to Me,

I'm glad this year is over,

It sucked to be forty!

The Camera Tells No Lies

Jammin' was a top popcorn seller this year for Cub Scouts (which I find oddly amusing considering he didn't actually ever go out and sell the popcorn.  Dave and I did.  That's parental craziness dedicaton).

As a top popcorn seller, he was offered a chance to tour the University of Oregon's new Matthew Knight Arena and watch the Ducks play some basketball against Fresno State.  Considering we are Beaver fans (by proxy) it was a hard decision for Dave to rally the energy to attend.  But, he managed to make it out the door and drive the 40 minute trip South to watch the game. 

Dave was in agony.  "Really, do I have to go?"  He detests the Ducks.  Dave and his buddy, Chris, text back and forth every Saturday complaining about the U of O football program and the fact they are winning this year and headed to the Rose Bowl.  His beloved Beavers were a no-show this season.  So, it rankled a bit to have to watch one of their Basketball games.

But, when they returned home after the game, he was smiling.  "The arena is amazing.  The court is made to look like you are standing in a forest looking up at the sky.  We had court-side seats.  It was a great game."  

He pulled out his fancy-shmancy phone and told me he had taken some pictures of the game and of the arena.  I couldn't wait to see so quickly downloaded them for my viewing pleasure....

   Hmmm.....I don't think this was a very good picture of the game OR of the arena.

My Favorite Things....not quite classic

Robin, my inspirational blogging poet friend, has always pushed me to do my creative best.  She recently suggested I write my own version of the famous song.....and so I did.

My Favorite Things

(sung by Julie Andrews, in my head)

 

Clean sheets on made beds and fresh pillowcases

Combed hair and brushed teeth and washed clean kid faces

The eight o'clock hour when I send kids to bed

These are a few of my fave things I said.

 

Bowls of ice cream with warm chocolate sauce

maybe a cookie or cupcake with frost

Licking the spoon without having to share

These are a few of my fave things I dare

 

Clean kitchen counter and toys off the floor

Dusted bookcases and laundry no more

Soft sleeping sounds coming from my kids room

These are a few of my fave things I croon

 

When the kids fight, When the pets barf

When I'm feeling stressed

I simply imagine my favorite things

and pray someone does them soon.

 

 

 

Only if We Can Have Pigs....

Dave and I have been thinking.

"A Dangerous Pastime, I Know."

We're contemplating a large purchase, which also involves a move.  We are giving serious thought to buying Dave's childhood home; a large 30's farmhouse on five acres.  No one has lived there for the past two years.  It has been sitting empty, waiting for Dave and his siblings to clean the property and prepare it for sale.

There are a lot of positives and tons of negatives to buying the place.  The positives are heart-warming.  The negatives are overwhelming.

We decided to include the kids in our thinking.  Of course, Buttercup was immediately against the idea.  "I'd miss all my friends.  I don't want to move." 

Dave suggested one of the positives, "You know, if we lived there, we could have animals."

Buttercup's eyes brightened immediately, "I could have a horse?"

Before I could respond with the obvious "no way", Dave nodded, "I don't see why not."

Buttercup took this as a sign of fortune.  "We could also get a sheep, a rooster, and goats."  Her eyes lit up with the idea of animal husbandry.

She turned to her older brother, "Jammin' what type of animal would you get?"

Jokingly, Jammin' answered, "A pig."

Squealing with delight, Buttercup ran and grabbed a piece of paper and pencil.  She plopped herself on the floor and began writing.

"What are you writing down?"  I asked.

"The list of chores we'd have for a horse and pig."  She responded, happily.

In her eyes, we're as good as moved.  Now if only we could win the lottery.  The decision would be so much easier.

No, dumbass - it's an illusion.

So - last year I posted about a graffiti artist who needed spelling lessons -

go ahead and read it here:  Power to the Typo   

It's been over a year now and that same empty gas station has acquired new graffiti.  Once again - they have no clue how to spell.  Listen up people - If you are trying to make a statement:  LEARN HOW TO SPELL.

 

My coolness level....

Went up a slight notch with the purchase of this cool new hat.  I'm not saying my level is very high on the coolness scale - but it definitely improved in the ranking.

 

I owe the Wolf-dog an apology......maybe

When one of our beloved chickens went missing we assumed that the menace of a wolf-dog next door had taken the chicken out.  She has chased them before.  They were too much temptation for such a half-wild creature. 

Since her owner is less than responsible, we assumed he'd keep the attack quiet.  Our other neighbors would totally own up to a chicken kill by their dogs (who are both Huskies). 

So, we just quietly mourned the loss (one less chicken-soup meal for us) and sent evil-eyes at the dog everytime she was out running around.  

Then one month later, (last night), I stepped into the chicken coop to grab an egg that had fallen out of the nest box - and there, laying in the far corner was a dead chicken...

I quickly counted my remaining hens.  Hmmmm....shock and gasping later, I realized the dead chicken laying inside the coop was the missing hen.  How could this possibly be?  She was there the whole time? **

Apparently, the wolf-dog did not kill our chicken.  I'm sorry for all the evil-eyes.  I apologize for thinking bad thoughts.  I.am.sorry....maybe

 

** I'd just like to point out that when I searched for that missing chicken, she was NOT inside the coop.  I searched quite thoroughly for her the day she went missing and her body was not to be found.  Is it possible her body was returned to that spot later on?  Just something to ponder on.....