It Was A Good Week!

Don't you love Friday?
Don't you love Mrs. 4444?
Get on over and give her some love!
You know you need to defrag!

* So many good things happened this week.  I really have to take the time to recognize the blessings and give thanks.  It's easy to whine and complain when things aren't going well.  I need to be more gracious and appreciative and express more gratitude!

* Tonight is Senior Night at the lacrosse game.

No, I don't have a senior but I've gathered bios from the seniors - well 10 of the 16 - and typed them up for the announcer.  I just have to purchase the roses that they are giving their mothers.

It's our second to last game tonight.

Tomorrow is our last game.

Wow!  The season went fast.

* Trammell sent me a picture of his report card.

He earned straight A's and a scholarship.

Yea Trammell!

Yea me!!!

When I told him how happy I was, he said I could go ahead and throw the tuition money toward his food budget.

Uh, no.

* Oh and Trammell made two more sales yesterday!  Woohoo!

* Garrett's special friend arrived.

To welcome her, Parker placed this

on her chair at dinner.

Where did I go wrong?

* No, I did NOT watch the royal wedding



* Try not to be jealous, but a giant rock hit Brian's windshield on the way to or from the airport and I'm off to have it repaired before it cracks and we "get" to replace the windshield.

Who said my life wasn't glamorous?

Have a great weekend!

IT'S ALL GOOD!

You know what makes Mom's happy?
Happy kids!

Kids don't realize how much parents want for their kids.
The list is long!
Sometimes things go our way, and sometimes not.

But today - we're celebrating THE GOOD!

Remember Parker's job interview?
I came home and found this

in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Ahhh......two GOLF shirts.

I guess he got the job!  Congrats to Parker!

Then, this

came in the mail.

After submitting an application, participating in a schoolwide election and interviewing with teachers and current student body officers, Parker made it into Student Leadership. 

It was a GOOD day for Parker Cox!

Then, Trammell made his FIRST sale of the summer.

Yep, someone in Arkansas is sleeping more soundly tonight with their new security system.

And Trammell has his first sale under his belt.

Congrats Trammell!

Garrett has a special someone coming to visit today -

We're pretty excited about it!

Yep - it's a good day!

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday

It's time to hang out with Leigh Ashley!  Go on over to her place and pick up this week's questions and link up!  You'll have fun!


{one} have you ever been stuck in an elevator?
Once.  A few years ago, we were in Cancun. Everyone was at the beach and I decided to run back to the room.  On the way back to the beach, I was the only one in the elevator and it got stuck.  I was a little bit panicked.  Everyone else laughed it off, but it was a little bit scary.

{two} have you ever ridden on an elephant?
Why, yes, I have.  We went on a ride in Thailand.

{three} have you ever met a well known celebrity?
Yes........kinda...........you remember all the hullaballoo with last Spring'sWedding of the Century.
{four} do you have any food allergies?
None.  I love ALL food.
{five} do you know how to sew?
I used to sew things like Halloween costumes (no zippers) or valances.  But my sewing machine broke and I never got it fixed. I want to learn to sew though so I can make things for grandchildren when I eventually have them.
{six} did you get an allowance when you were young?
Yeah, kinda.  It went like this - We would have a family meeting and my parents would say that we needed to receive an allowance and we would all eagerly agree.  Amounts were agreed upon and we would receive alowance for two or three weeks.  But then, we would approach my parents on the fourth week and no one would have cash.  Weeks would go by until we would present a "bill" to my parents stating they owed us the amount of the national deficit in allowance and my parents would proclaim, "We're going to start over!"

I vowed I would never be THAT kind of parent.
And somehow, I did the EXACT same thing.
{seven} how often do you fill up your gas tank?
I go to the gas station and fill up my tank every Tuesday (because I have a special discount on Tuesdays) and I whether I need 1/2 a tank or 3/4's or a full tank, I fill up.
{eight} have you ever been stung by a jelly fish?
Definitely not
{nine} have you ever been robbed?
Nope.  I've never had anything stolen. Don't get any ideas!
{ten} what is the worst haircut you’ve ever had?
Well, I'll state right up front: It wasn't my fault.
I was FOUR.  My mom thought I would look darling with a Pixie cut.
I didn't.  I looked like my brother.

There's a LOT of Random Going On!

Thank heavens Stacy is picking up the slack.  Keely had to go and get a new job.  So "All hail Stacy!"  Click on her rebel button and go visit her AFTER you comment here!



* Trammell made it to the "Natural State."  What does that mean?
Where did all the states get their nicknames?
Anyway, he made it to Arkansas where he will be working this summer.
He got there just in time for the tornadoes!  Yippee!
He said he had just left a house when he received a text from his boss saying, "Everyone get in their cars.  There's a tornado."  It was followed by a second text: "Never mind the car.  Get inside a house!"


Trammell went back to the house he had been in and asked the lady if he could wait out the storm there.
He played Angry Birds with her four year old until the storm passed.


* Parker has a job interview for his dream job this morning.
His fantasy is to work at a golf course - so he 1) can get paid and 2) can golf for free.
I would like him to have that job too!
The job comes with 2 free rounds of golf a week.
That would mean, he I would only have to pay for three rounds each week.
Wow!  What a deal!
Can you believe how lucky I am?


* We are counting down.
Well, some of us our.
Garrett has a countdown going on the computer. 
He leaves for his mission to Romania in 22 days 4 hours 18 minutes and 29 seconds.....28....27.....whatever.
He's just a little bit excited!


* I'm off to the hospital to hold a little 2 month old who has meningitis for a couple of hours so that her parents can get some things done.  You should be jealous!!!


* Are you staying up all night or getting up to watch the royal wedding?
I'm not.
I must be getting old.
I can't think of ANYTHING that I would stay up all night for.


* My mom started her second round of chemo yesterday.
I can't believe how fast the time is going.......at least for me.
She is doing well though.
Her blood counts look good and she's tolerating the treatment relatively well.
Hooray for her!

Easter Violence and Sibling Love

We had our annual Easter Egg Brawl Hunt.

I can't believe that my kids are 22, 19 and 16 and I'm still doing this.  Yeah - I had to get them out of bed at 9 am on Saturday morning.

The rules are always the same -

 Everyone gets ONE Golden Egg and ONE box of See's Candy and if you see multiples of other items, take one and let the other's get theirs'.  It's a tough concept.  Even for "almost" adults.

 No killing each other.

 Next year, I will add - no throwing furniture or each other.

 Be kind and loving.

 How come Parker has THREE Golden Eggs and Garrett has TWO boxes of See's?

 Additional rule - Don't shoot people in the eye. Oh, and pick up the mini marshmallows after you shoot them!  Oh and put the furniture back!

I hope you weekend was less violent than mine!

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

I hope each of you has a wonderful Easter weekend with your families!

FRIDAY FRAGMENTS

Wow!  It's been awhile since I've joined in on this one.
Maybe because my WHOLE LIFE has been fragmented!

Join our Hostess with the Mostest Mrs. 44444 and link up!

* All three boys are HOME for the next 36 hours.
That's it for 2 years!
Tomorrow, Trammell leaves for his summer job in Little Rock, AR.
And then in less than a month, Garrett leaves for his two year mission in Romania.
Tiny Baby is the only one who will stick around.
So if we only have 36 hours, why is everyone sleeping?

*Donut Delivery!
A friend just dropped off fresh donuts.
Should I wake the kids so we can eat them,
eat one in peace and then wake them,
or........my favorite choice...........hide them and hoard them?

* I received an email entitled "Confidential Email from FBI" with an attachment.
It was sent from "FBI Headquater."
Hey, if they can't even spell Headquarters, I'm not opening it.
The FBI will have to find another way to contact me with their super-duper confidential information.

* I"m completely out of touch with the news.
I only care about the weather forecast.
Have I missed anything?
I doubt it.

* So we pulled out the LIST of stuff Garrett needs for his mission.
You know how with the first one, you are an overachiever?
The minute Trammell's list of necessary supplies for Cambodia came, we started shopping.
Garrett gets his mission call to Romania in January and I'm like, "Ahhh...We've got PLENTY of time!"
Now it's the end of April and we don't have plenty of time.

But we've gotten on it this week.
We bought 2 suits,
10 white shirts,
12 pairs of socks,
1 black belt,
5 packages of mole skin <- yeah really!  That was on the list.
I'm feeling pretty good.
We only have about 50 more things to gather.

* Parker was all excited that he would be the ONLY one home for the traditional Easter Egg Hunt.
I asked him why he was so excited.

Parker: "Because then, I will get three Chipotle cards and all three golden eggs with money."
Me: "Wait.  Why would I even BUY three Chipotle cards if you are the only one home?"
Parker: "I don't know.  I just thought you would get the same amount of stuff but I would be the only one here to hunt for it.  So I would get everything."

Yes, that's my loving, generous youngest!

* Bad news Parker.
We're having the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday BEFORE Trammell leaves.
You won't be getting THREE of anything!

Well, I'm off to hoard share the donuts!
Have a wonderful Friday!

UPDATE: Everyone is up and we're having donuts and POTSTICKERS for breakfast.  Weirdos!

FOUR!

My sweet bloggy friend RAVEN over at Stuperhero Extraordinaire tagged me and she said that I didn't have to play along..........she's nice that way.........but I WANT to!
So here you go-


FOUR PLACES I GO -
I'm not talking in life.  I'm narrowing it down to the last two weeks.


1) Lacrosse Fields- Yep, anytime between 3 and 9 pm, you can find me at a lacrosse field somewhere in the metro area.  It's that season.
2) Meetings - I've had A LOT of meetings lately.  For whatever reason, I'm in meetings.
3) Target - Who doesn't go to Target?  They have EVERYTHING you need!
4) Shopping - I don't usually shop that much.  But Garrett and I are slowly going through the list of stuff he needs.  We've purchased 2 suits, 10 white shirts, 12 pairs of socks, and stationery.  <-Don't ask.  He wanted "nice" paper and he wanted it to be full 8 1/2 X 11 size, not stationery size.  Thanks to my friend Margaret, we found some nice paper!


FOUR SMELLS I LOVE -


1) Pumpkin Spice Candles - I know it's spring, but I love the smell of vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, etc candles.
2) Lilacs - Love em!  Our's have not bloomed but I can't wait!
3) Clean Sheets
4) Food cooking - I've been doing a lot of crock-potting and nothing is more comforting than coming home after church and opening the door to the rich aroma of something yummy!


FOUR FAVORITE TV SHOWS -


Hmmmm......I don't watch much TV, much less have favorites.
Can I answer for Parker who would pick Sponge Bob and ICarly?
Okay, let me think.
1) CSI
2) Oh, Oh, I know.........Say Yes to the Dress
3) House Hunters International or is it International House Hunters? See!  I don't watch TV
4) Those blooper type shows where people get hurt doing really really dumb things or the shows about idiotic criminals.


FOUR FAVORITE MOVIES -
Don't judge!  I watch movies as an escape.  I don't want to learn, reflect or think.  I'm shallow that way!
1) Tommy Boy
2) Christmas Vacation
3) Zoolander
4) The version of Trading Places with Eddie Murphy that they show on TV every 5 minutes.  Okay, so it takes 3 hours to watch a 90 minute movie but it's edited and it's hilarious.


FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS -
1) Go to Mormon Messages on YouTube.  They are awesome short videos with an uplifting message.
2) Go to  The Vintage Pearl - very cool Mother's Day presents!
3) Plant bulbs next Fall.  You'll love it when they come up in the Spring!
4) Don't wish away your life by thinking, 'I can't wait for school to get out."  Or "I can't wait until Christmas."  Live EVERY day!


FOUR PEOPLE WHO SHOULD TELL US THEIR FOURS
1) Life is a Pitch
2) Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs
3) Surviving Boys
4) Outnumbered

You girls don't have the option that I did.  I'm not that nice.
You HAVE to play along!

A Wee Bit About Me!

My desk is covered in notebooks.
I am simultaneously working on the lacrosse banquet AND the pioneer trek.
I doubt the pioneer trekkers would mind if I accidently scheduled Cafe Rio for their meal, but I'm pretty sure the lacrosse boys would have a fit if I typed "Wear your pioneer clothes!" on the lacrosse banquet invitation.
Maybe I shouldn't multi-task!


So......let's take a break from all of that and hangout with Leigh Ashley

Go on over and visit her!Link up!I am unable to link up because I don't have a picture tiny enough and I don't have the brain power to shrink one. {one} how often do you do laundry?Three loads every day.  Well, three loads five days a week.
{two} what is your favorite type of cookie?Sugar cookie with buttercream frosting. Homemade frosting with a little almond flavoring makes it really taste yummy! {three} what would you do with an extra $2000 per month?Hmmm.......that's a lot!  Probably save it.
{four} what was/is your favorite subject in school?I always loved English and Social Studies/History {five} have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?No and I've never had a desire to.  Probably won't ever do it. {six} what was your high school mascot?We were the Lions!  Our colors were purple and gold.  Because I wore the school colors 3-4 times a week, I swore I would never where them again.  I haven't purposely avoided those colors, but that combo just hasn't been in vogue for the past 30 years. {seven} if you had the chance to go into space, would you?Sure.  Why not?  That would be pretty cool. {eight} how often do you go dancing?Round about......never.  My brothers and I and all of our spouses partied it up on my 30something birthday.  We went to a club.....danced in cages....and then went to Village Inn at 2 or 3 am while my mom and dad stayed home with all of the sleeping grandchildren.  Yeah........that was a LONG time ago.
{nine} would you rather drive or fly?Fly.  But I'm cool with road trips. {ten} have you ever been caught re-gifting?No.  I don't think I've ever re-gifted without saying, "Hey, so and so gave me this and I won't use it.  You can have it if you want."  And acutally, I don't remember ever having said that.
Break's up! Parker's coughing up a lung and wondering when I'm going to pick up his prescription.  Garrett is circling my desk asking when we are leaving for Target.  I can't even remember what we are going there for.  Oh and I have to get this package in the mail to my parents.  I'm out!

RTT: I'm STUFFED!

I'm not the only one on hiatus.
Keely's been on an extended vacay too!
Thank heavens for Stacy! 

She's picking up the slack and letting us all throw it down and link up at her place.


* I'm not blogging as much right now because I'm livin' it up at life's buffet!

I have so many things on my plate, I don't know where to start.

And NONE of them are desserts!

* Garrett leaves for his mission to Romania in 4 weeks.
We have done NOTHING!
Okay, maybe not nothing.
We bought his suits.  That's it.
We should probably get out that list and start buying the 12 white shirts, socks, raincoat, first aid kit, sewing kit, shoes, etc.

* The Fantabulous Pioneer Trek is about 90 days away.
The plan was to have the events and the agenda set in stone around October so we could spend the rest of the time working on the details.  There are A LOT of details!
That was the plan.
That is not what happened.
We're working on reworking the agenda and events for the 3,000th time.
I don't exaggerate.

* I've had the pleasure of spending about 10 hours a week standing around outside.
It would be awesome if they were the hours between 11 and 2 pm when the sun is shining.
It is usually after 5 pm when the sun is setting and the wind is kicking up.
I LOVE watching lacrosse though!  Even when it's cold!


* It's time to plan the Lacrosse Banquet.
It's in three weeks.


* I've been hanging out at Brian's office working on assorted projects.
One of my tasks is the employee handbook.
Hmmm........working on the "paid holiday" section.
How many holidays should we have?
I take bribes!


* Somehow, I thought Easter had come and gone and I somehow missed it.
It's Sunday.
I better have a chat with the Easter Bunny.

Welcome to the FAMOUS Sixteenth Street Chapel!

Some people in our neighborhood are quite proud of the addition to their house.  The husband once told Brian that they are making the inside "look just like the Sistine Chapel."

That will be..........interesting.

They completed the outside a couple of years ago, but evidently aren't finished in the inside.

How do we know?
Well there are LOTS of windows and no drapes.
We have been able to see much of the progress inside.........whether we want to or not.

We can't see the ceiling.......which is the main point of interest at the Sistine Chapel.
And there are so many windows that I don't think they have put up any frescoes or Raphaelian tapestries.
But we can see the fireplace. 
And we have seen the addition of couches - none at the Sistine Chapel.

The other day, we passed the house and lo and behold standing in front of two of the windows are life size Roman statues.........except they aren't real.  They look a lot like mannequins and unlike real marble Roman statues, these ones have their togas or robes painted in lovely green and gold shades.

Me: "You guys!  Look at the statues!"
Parker: "What?  Are they seriously trying to make it look like the Sixteenth Street Chapel?"
Me: "What?  Did you just say Sixteenth Street Chapel?"
Parker: "Yeah. You know. The famous chapel in Italy."
Me: "Oh my gosh!  You said Sixteenth Street Chapel!  It's the Sistine Chapel!!!!!!"
Parker: "Sistine Chapel.  Sixteenth Street Chapel.  Whatever."
Me: "BUT YOU'VE BEEN THERE!"
Parker: "Yeah.  What city was that again?"
Me: "Rome.  Seriously?  The Sistine Chapel.!"
Parker: "You know what I meant.  Whatever."

Where did I go wrong?

My SICK and TWISTED Family

My brother suggested I NOT post this on my blog.
So I am.

My brother had some business to do in Chicago last week. He thought he would drop by my other brother's house and hang out with my bro and mom and dad.

He hand carried some condolence cards that had come in the mail for my parents.
Several people have sent cards to my parents in care of me or my brother and he played the part of the Mail Carrier.

My mother had a favorite and my brother emailed it to me with the comment:
"This was so sweet.  It brought tears to our eyes."

Huh?
My first response was "What?  Did they think Justin was in an accident with Jared and Jenner?"

My dad's first response was "Well, people all grieve differently."
And then, "Maybe they thought we were attacked."

My mom's first response was to laugh her head off.
Yeah..........she got it right away.
Through her tears (laughing tears) she said to my dad, "Now you know what I have put up with all these years."

I finally got it when I paid attention to the change in ink color.
My brother did SUCH a GOOD job imitating the handwriting.

Totally INAPPROPRIATE humor!
I'm still laughing...........three days later

Home Sweet Home

* We went to Idaho and fetched Garrett from college.
It was a fun-filled 1500 mile drive.


* Garrett's home!

And so is all his "stuff."

I wanted all of his stuff in my kitchen...........for as long as possible.

* This is in my kitchen too!

The leftover noose from Justin Bieber's demise.

*Oooohhh......I also came home to this -

Me: "Why is there a fish in my kitchen?"
Parker: "Gable and I each bought one to fight."
Me: "They aren't going to fight."
Garrett: "Yeah dude.  Tyler and I already tried that."
Me: "Of course you did.  Now get this fish out of here.  I don't do pets."
Parker: "It's not a pet.  This is his FTC."
Me: "FTC?"
Parker: "Fight Training Center."

Enough!
This conversation is going nowhere.

* Phew.......look what else is in my kitchen.

The famous patchwork polo that ALL THE CHICKS DIG!

Remember the tug-o-war when Trammell came home from his mission and wanted it but Garrett claimed "most recent possession."  I doubt the most recent possession argument would hold up in court, but Garrett went off to college with it.

Well, now it's back and Garrett is preparing to leave for Romania and guess what is remaining behind.
I wonder who will win Round 2 of the Patchwork Polo Tug-O-War?
No I don't.  I don't care.

Once again...........get it out of MY kitchen.

I hope YOUR kitchen is more boring and is filled with dishes and food and not teenagers and their random "stuff."

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday

It's Wednesday!  So it's a Wee Bit About Me!

First - I have to tell you that ANY decent pictures posted yesterday were taken by Parker.  He's a pretty good photographer.  I'll post more of his photos another day.

Any bad, blurry, ill lit, slightly wonky pictures are taken by me - like Justin Bieber's foot.

I don't care know how to use the camera and I don't have the patience time to really set the photo up.

On with the show -

Oh wait..........you can go over to Leigh Ashley's and play along too!  She has a linky thing!

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch?

I don't recall ever saying that I would never touch a food.  I think I ate just about everything.  BUT I do remember that when my parents grilled steak, they would saute a pan of mushrooms up for themselves.  They never offered any to us. (I was like 5 years old.)  And we were cool with them not sharing.  Now, I LOVE sauteed mushrooms.  Unfortunately, my kids do too!  So I have to share.

{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major?

Why yes.  Yes, I did.  I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations.  Can you believe that I never once changed my major?

{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)?

We see deer several times a week, coyotes a couple of times a month, an occasional fox, several owls, tons of bunnies, and various snakes.  Are those not exotic enough for you?
Hmmm.........I rode an elephant in Thailand.  It wasn't in a zoo.  It was kind of by the side of the road.

Oh wait..........we saw wild "gangsta" monkeys in Cambodia.  That's really what they are called.  They will come up to you and rip food right out of your hands.

{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller?

Nope.  Never.

{five} can you juggle?

Can I juggle?  Oh yeah, I can juggle.  I can juggle a husband and three kids in different schools and lacrosse schedules and volunteering at the school and church jobs and extended family and the house and............
oh, you mean like balls or flaming batons........no.
But having Trammell, Garrett and Parker is LIKE juggling flaming batons!

{six} hardwood floors or carpet?

Hardwood floors in most of the living spaces and carpet in the bedrooms.

{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”?

I call it both.  Pop at home.......as in "There's pop in the downstairs refrigerator."  And soda at McDonalds....as in "I'd like a large soda."

{eight} what was your first car?

A 1970 something brown mustang.  It was pretty cool.  At least it was way cooler than the red Pinto my brother and I shared a few years later.

{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?

It wasn't the SINGLE most decadent dessert.  It was the fact that at Armie & Elizabeth's wedding, they had about six kinds of dessert flown in from all over the country and I ate them ALL - Blue Bell Ice Cream, Macaroons, Wedding Cake, Groom's Cake, Caramel Cake, Cookies.  Yeah, I ate them all!

{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture?

I don't.  I use to.  But there aren't a whole lot of ways to rearrange my furniture.  I do rearrange the family room at Christmas for the tree.  But that's about it.
Well - that's it!  Now get on over there and snap up the link and do your own!