Abby...

This morning, Abby was waiting in the kitchen for me to come and fix her some breakfast. Her Daddy came in and offered to make something. She told him no, she would just wait for Mom. He said,"But Mom is still getting ready. Tell me what you want, and I'll make it." She looked at him, incredulously, and said, "YOU can't make my breakfast, can you?" Her Dad assured her he could, if she would just tell him what she wanted. She looked at him, doubtfully, and told him she wanted those little microwave Aunt Jemima Pancakes out of the freezer.

Tee-Hee.

Dad so seldom cooks that my child did not think he could MICROWAVE a frozen pancake.

Clearly, I need to give the man more responsibility around here.

She's a songwriter...

My little Grace was playing with the rubber duckies in the bathtub today, and thought nobody was watching.  She proceeded to make up a song.  This was the song:

Three little duckies swimming in the lake.  One fell in and drownded.

Two little duckies swimming in the lake.   A shark came along and ate him.  Duck's his favorite food.

One little ducky swimming in the lake.  He lost all his hair.  It fell out.

****We're a little concerned about her lack of empathy for those poor little ducks!!****

Yesterday Mighty Miss Grace told her dad, "Hey Dad!  I'm gonna be a ROCK STAR!  Listen to me!"  ... and then she proceeded to sing "Away in a Manger".

'Cause that's what ALL the rock stars are singing these days.

Basketball '09

Kate had her first basketball game today.  Her team (which I am helping coach) lost.  Badly.  But, they hung in there, and I really feel like they were "figuring it out" by the 2nd half.  It was Kate's first B-Ball game EVER, and she scored a basket!!  Go Kate!!  Mom is so proud of you!

Trixie Mae, Cow Dog

When we got home tonight, these little Yay-Hoos and their Mommas were walking around my yard.  Somehow one of the gates to the yard had been left open, and they were making themselves at home.I did not want them pooping all over my yard, so I headed outside to herd them back through the gate.  This is not as easy as it sounds.  I took my dog with me, and I wasn't so sure if that was a good idea or not... Trixie looked like this when she was a puppy, and she was  WILD.
Trixie immediately knew what to do.  She barked and tried to "show" me where they were.  We went slowly around them, and her instincts took over.  She knew how to herd the cows!!!!  We walked them back through the gate together, and put them back in the pasture.

Amazing.

Thank goodness for Grace, or I'd have nothing!

Grace was in rare form today.  Many, many, funny things were coming out of her mouth, and I should write them down just as soon as she says them, because I forget!!  Her most recent "funnies" went something like this...

#1

Mom:  Grace, close your mouth when you are chewing.

Grace:  (speaking with mouth totally full) Is that another one of those "manners" things?

#2

Mom:  That's a big hot dog, huh?

Grace:  Yeah, it's GINORMOUS.

#3

Mom: Are you tired of this movie yet? (Alvin & the Chipmunks... we have watched it 3,000 times since Christmas, and I do NOT exaggerate.)

Grace:  Yes, this movie is so bored.

#4

Grace:  Daddy, I don't want you to love any other kids.  Except for maybe my sisters.  They might be OK.  And my Mom. But that's all, OK?  I don't want them thinking you're their Daddy.

#5

Grace:  Watch this Dad!  I can make bubbles in the bathtub. (TOOT.)  See?  That's fun!!  (At this point, the other girls jump, naked and wet, from the tub, in complete horror.)

Ah... she so obviously takes after her father...

My Husband Rocks

Tonight I was talking to Luke and telling him that I was experiencing a case of "blogger block", in which I have nothing that I can think of to write about (except 70 year old women on foreign continents who are having babies.  Random.) 

Any-hoo, when I asked him what I should write about, he said, with a mischievous little grin, "me".

So, this post is about hubby.

He's really cool.

I just showed him this post, and he shook his head with disbelief.  Then, he asked me if I need a job.

Perhaps I do...

Random-ness Swirling Through my Brain...

Today I was a substitute in the Jr. High Library at our local school.

Not a lot going on in the ole' Jr. High Library, except a LOT of adolescent hormones.

I supervised two sessions of study hall, and checked out approximately 5 books.

I should have known it would be slow when the librarian told me I might want to bring a book or something else to do.

Hmmm...

So, while perusing the paper, I came across a story about THIS lady in India who recently gave birth to her first child.

Doesn't SOUND too exciting, until you read on and discover that SHE IS SEVENTY YEARS OLD!!!!    

Yes, you read that right, I said 7-0.  

Oh, my heavens.  Can you IMAGINE being a first-time Mom at 70?!?!?!?!?!?

I CAN NOT.

Science is capable of doing amazing things.  But, should it?

***update***

Tree is down.

Mom is happy.

Enough said.

ROUTINE

Today was the day that we were going to get "back in the saddle" with our routine... the older girls were heading back to school, Dad was heading to work, Grace would be ready to go to school on Tuesday... the world seemed to be righting itself after 2 plus weeks of chaos.

And then, last night, I watched the weather.

They were calling for a chance of a "wintry mix" of precipitation.

Wintry Mix?!?!?!?!?

What?!?!?!?

If there is a "wintry mix", they might call off school!  This can't happen!  I am telling you friends, this possibility was quite distressing to me...  Rules.  Routine.  Order.  I was craving them.  I needed a little down time without the children.  My CHRISTMAS TREE is still gracing my living room, for heaven's sake!  I haven't set foot in the gym in WEEKS (ok, maybe that's not the kids' fault there, but give me a little creative license! ha ha)

Anyway, I got down ON MY KNEES and prayed that we would not have ice and snow today.

  SCHOOL. 

 I needed it!!

And my prayer was answered.  We got rain, and the temperature hovered right at 32 degrees all day, but the roads never got slick.  We had icicles all over the roofs and fences and stuff.  Just enough for the kids to go out after school and play in the cold. 

And now it's melting, so they can go off to school again tomorrow.

Praise God.

That tree is COMING DOWN TOMORROW!!!!!  WOO-HOO!!!!

Christmas '08 in Photos

Well, since it's not even 2008 anymore, I decided I should finally post photos from Christmas 2008. 

Trixie Mae, our loving puppy, was relegated to the porch to watch the festivities.  She just COULD NOT stay out of the presents, so she watched us through the window.  (Lucky for her, it was nice and warm!)Here's Katie sitting in the middle of all the gifts, showing off her Fur Real monkey.  She liked it.  Santa obviously thought all the girls had ben REALLY good this year.

Here is a very happy Abby, showing off her swimming puppy that Santa brought.  He's pretty cute.  He even has goggles to wear while swimming!  He likes the bath tub - can't wait to see what he'll do in a swimming pool!
Gracie had some trouble opening her gifts.  The paper was a little tough, so she used her teeth.  Good thinking.  :-)
Oh, the joy and surprise!  Just what she asked for!  A boy baby alive doll (which, friends, just FYI, is ANATOMICALLY CORRECT!  Hmmm... I am pretty sure Santa did not know that when he ordered it off the internet!)
Christmas Day is also Bandit's Birthday.  Our little baby Pomeranian turned 14.  He's an old man now, and much too dignified to wear these goofy reindeer ears.

Trixie, however, kinda liked the ears, but she was so hyper that she kept shaking them off.
My "little helper" assisted in the making off all the pre-christmas gift baskets that we gave to friends, family, and teachers.  She only sampled a LITTLE BIT of the chocolate we used for dipping!
Here is a visual of SOME of the baskets we made and delivered before the holidays.  Whew!  Good cheer and joy and all that, but I'm GLAD that part is FINISHED!!
And, here are my little darlings, all dressed up and looking beautiful for Christmas Eve Services at church.  
Hope your holidays were merry and bright!  Bring on the New Year!