No False Alarm.

OK, Yesterday afternoon I had to drive the bus, but I also need to get home by 4:15 so I could get Evelyn to the Doctors office to find out what was the matter with her and then needed to go pick up Lyston from work. I thought it's Monday and I don't have to take one of the kids to grandma's and I should have plenty of time. Little did I know that I should never make plans when kids are involved. I had left the school and was just past my 1st stop when everybody started hollering about something, I couldn't even hear what they where saying. I finally got the bus quite and found out that at little Pre-K-er had gotten sick, OK I'll pull over and see how bad it is, last time I was told someone got sick it was a false alarm, Not this time. She had covered her self and her sister's coat. the best I could do was put the coats in a plastic trash bag and throw some Throw-up powder on it. I did this and continued on my run. I got back to the school about 4:20 and ran to get Evelyn to the Doctor on time, just made it. Doctor said Flu and gave us to Rx for both girls since he figured that Elisabeth would get it too, Good thing he did, read other story. I took Evelyn home had to got get the scripts filled, 1st pharmacy I went to was out of the medicine, DARN!!! 2nd Pharmacy (Wal-mart) was not going to fill any more prescriptions until the morning, WHAT!!!! that is crazy, I need this tonight!!!. 3rd place (CVS) didn't have any but was happy to call there other store and see if they did, sure enough they had some and would be Happy to save it for me. YES!!!! 3rd times the charm, but by now I'm going to be late picking up the hubby, I take care of the Rx and while they are filling it I go get the hubs. We go back to pick it up luckily they have a drive thru because I was getting tired of running in to all these stores. I also had to stop by the grocery store to pick up some more drinks and dinner. I get home and all I want to do is go to bed, but I can't my bus is sitting up at the school with a "pile of sick" waiting for me to come clean. It is now about 7:15 pm the sun has set and the bus doesn't have the best lights in it, on top of that the "sick" is between 2 seats and by now has dried to the floor I had to scrape it up with a scoop like a credit card. Then disinfect the whole area, Luckily my friends the Janitors at the school where still there and I got some cleaner from them, but I'm not sure they are still my friends or not because they didn't want to come help me clean the bus. Finally about 8pm I got home and had to scrub my hands until they where almost raw, I had gloves on but you never know, and I never feel clean until I know I have taken the top layer of skin off. I was unset again as I realized that the Pizza I had bought for me and the Hubby to share was ALL GONE!!!! Oh well what did I except. It was bedtime and I was tired.

Been there, Done that, but I DO NOT ever want to do it again, YUCK!!!!

It's the Flu!!!!

OK I said I was going to blog this so here we go... off to Neverland... Oh sorry I got carried away wrong story.

Here's the story, Daddy, and E-squared (that is both girls) went to Richmond on Friday, just a day trip for his Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. They made a stop at the Tredegar Iron Works, Civil War Visitor Center, they where outside most of the day which was a beautiful day. "Lil e" complained of a sore throat starting sometime during their visit, but Daddy didn't have anything to give her for it, (and didn't think about stopping by a pharmacy) they went on to visit with Oma and Papa (Daddy's mom and dad) and went out to dinner with them to celebrate this Great milestone. They returned home to me about 11:30pm, the 1st thing I notice is the Evelyn is not feeling good she can barely talk, I just figured that it was such a long day and she was tired, I did give her something for her sore throat. When she got up the next morning she was not feeling any better maybe even worse, with a low fever. My 1st thought was she has strep again (just got over it a month ago) and I made plans to take her to the doctors, they have Saturday walk in hours. She was Tested for Strep and Flu and both came back negative, Nurse Practitioner said it was probably just a virus and it will pass in a couple of days. Well the next 24+hrs she was not doing better, she started throwing up, then Temp went up as high as 104.5, that caused her to have to take a cold bath, well she thought it was ice water in the tub but I told her it was the same temp as a warm swimming pool in the summer, she didn't believe me but was a trooper and laid down in it. By Monday morning I decided I would call Doctor and see if this was normal for the virus, got call back 5 1/2 hours later and was told bring her in to recheck. Take her to doctors almost having to carry her as she hadn't eaten much for 24 hr and was very weak. They retested her for Strep and Flu, Strep was still negative, but the Flu test came back positive before it's time was even up. So the kind Doctor who knows my girls was kind enough to write two Rx one for each of the girls. Which was good because "Big E" decided she might have a fever and checked her Temp with the same Thermometer that I had been using with her Sister, she didn't replace the little plastic sleeve on it, Not smart, now I have both home, just glad the doctor was nice enough to send home script for both.

Been There, Done That, and need a Case of Lysol.

Walking & weight

As of about 2 weeks ago we are now a 1 car family. This has been a blessing in disguise. When I took the job as a bus driver I wanted to walk to the bus and back everyday. I only live about 1/4 of a mile from the school in fact I can see it from my bedroom window, and if the wind is blowing right I could probably throw a rock at it. From my front pouch I can hear the bells ring. But not long after the school year started I got lazy and was not walking as much as I could have, then as winter got colder I stopped all together, telling myself that starting in the spring I would do it again. But Heavenly Father who knows me best knew that I needed the extra help to get myself walking again. So 2 weeks ago my husbands car gave up its ghost, after 15yrs of great service it had had enough. We don't have the money to buy a new/used one and right now we don't really need to. I am thankful that I live close enough to walk to work. This means that in 1 days time I will have walked about 1 mile or more, which is great for my health. I don't walk to the bus in the morning yet, it is still to cold and hubby doesn't have to leave until after my run in the morning any way. but I walk up there for my Lunchroom monitor job then walk home then walk back up there for the afternoon bus run and walk home this make 4 times that I walk about 1/4 of a mile. when spring gets here and warms the mornings up I will add the morning to the rest of the walking. Now the reason for this post is because today I put on a pair of pants that I bought last summer that didn't fit they where way to tight, but today I can button them (if I hold my breath), they are a little tight around the waist but I can wear them and wear them I will. I have also noticed that I have not been doing the roller coaster, 5 pounds that I usually do ever week my weigh has stayed at a constant and maybe even a little less than normal, I hope that with the continued walking that I can have a all down hill roller coater ride with my weight.

Havent' been there yet, Haven't done that yet, but Working on it.

Work in Progress

This post hopefully will be a work in progress today, I will come back and change things though out the day so you can see what I have done.

You see today I am a free Woman, not that every day I'm not free. But today is special, My wonderful hubby, is taking a day trip with both of the girls to visit his Parents for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I unfortunately I have to work, (the tears are falling and shorting out the keyboard, NOT!!!) I need some mommy downtime. Something I don't get much of since I drive a school bus the one that my kids ride, I work in their school lunchroom as a monitor and I'm home with them most of the time. Don't get me wrong I love my Girls and would not know how to live my life if anything happen to them. But as all mothers know we sometimes need a day off. Well As I said this is a work in progress so here is my progress.

8:45 am...family out the door.
9:oo am... Elisabeth knocking on the front door, "daddy forgot his pills"
9:01 am... family gone again.
9:15 am ...clean bedroom, change sheets, gather all the dirty clothes and toss them down the stairs.
9:45 am... Realize I'm not dressed for work yet, and I don't have any clean pants to wear.
9:50 am ... search closet for pants, find pair that didn't fit when I bought them, put them on and they fit.
10:00 am... go down stairs being careful not to fall as all the dirty laundry is on the steps and piled on the floor at the bottom of stairs and in front of the front door.
10:02 am... find the towels and throw them in the washer to say I have the laundry started.
10:05 am... Sit down in front of the computer and blog about my pants and how the fit.
10:25am... realize that I have to walk to work and be there in 5 mins, if I want to have lunch before starting.
10:26am... realize that getting out the front door is going to be a problem, can't move clothes,
10:26 & 1/2 am... I shove the clothes out of the way and run to work... well this body doesn't run but I walked pretty fast, I have to have my free school lunch, it's free what can I say.
10:30 am until 1:30pm... work in the lunchroom handing out Ice Cream, cleaning up spills, taking out the trash, sending kids to the nurse to cover bleeding scratches, and dismissing the classes as they are finished.
1:30 pm... hitch a ride home with a co-worker.
1:35 pm... start sorting dirty clothes, and start another load in the washer.
2:30 pm... time to walk back up to the school to drive bus to take students home for the weekend, for some reason they don't want to stay at school all weekend, I would have thought that would be fun. Did you notice it took me almost 1 hour to sort all the dirty clothes, I think every piece of clothing in the house was dirty.
2:45 pm until 4:30 pm driving school bus for kids that don't want to stay the weekend at school.

Now it's 5:30 and I'm tired of working and I'm missing my family... wait a minute what am I saying. Yes if I really admit it I miss them... they bless my life so much... I wish I had gone with them... Oh well... I have to go the buzzer on the dryer is telling me another load is done.

Been there, Done that, and still folding laundry.

The Snow/ Elisabeth

Theses pictures are of the Big storm that never was.
My oldest Elisabeth (11yrs) took these with her new camera.
we did end up with about 3 inches but that is not enough for me
I am still waiting for a 2-3 footer.

New Theme

This song was sung at the girls school holiday concert. It has become the new school song I think every grade now sings it. It has also become my new theme song I wish I could find it for a ring tone on my phone. I would love to have the sheet music to it too.

"The weather man is saying that snow is on the way.
The sun is disappearing, the sky is turning gray.
I listened to the forecast, I hope it isn't wrong.
And that is why I sing this song.

There'll be no school tomorrow, no school tomorrow,
No school tomorrow if it snows.
There'll be no school tomorrow, no school tomorrow,
No school tomorrow if it snows!

I'm wishing and I'm hoping that snow will fall tonight.
I'm crossing all my fingers so very, very tight.
I hope we get a blizzard and snow the whole week long.
And that is why I sing this song.

There'lll be no school tomorrow, no school tomorrow,
No school tomorrow if it snows.
There'll be no school tomorrow, no school tomorrow,
No school tomorrow if it snows!

No school, no school,
No school if it snows.
No school, no school,
No school if it snows!

(spoken) And now as dawn is breaking, I jump up from my bed. And yes, I still remember what the weatherman has said.
I run straight to the window to see if he is right (rest for 4 beats)
Every thing is snowy white! (Hold the note)

There Is.
No school today,
No school today,
No school today because it snowed.

There is no school today,
No school today, No school,
Because it snowed!
Please snow some more!

Been there, Done that, and still a kid when it snows.

My Love and Secret Life.

I am an avid reader, but at one time I admit there were several books I swore I would never read. "I hated Harry Potter!" I believed it was full of witchcraft and I wasn't going to bring it into my home. I was even thinking of trying to get it band from the schools, but thought I can control what my children read but I shouldn't take away that right for others.

The change came one day when Lyston, who was working at R.R. Donnelley (book printing & binding company) brought home a copy of the book the company had just printed, "HP and the Order of the Phoenix." I couldn't believe he would bring it home knowing my thoughts on the book series; he said it was a give away and anyway what could he do about a freebie?

The book sat for a while, until I was bored one afternoon and was looking for a quick read. I decided to check it out, I thought I can't be against something that I have not really tried to understand, isn't that what the missionaries put up with every day? The first Chapter piqued my interest; 4 chapters into the book, I had to know what came before. So I went out, bought the four preceding books and spent the next week immersed in the Wizarding World. I've been hooked ever since.

I was at the last two midnight book release parties and have been to the midnight showings of the last two movies. I was interviewed for our local paper for the last and finial Book release. I have dressed up as a Loony Luna Lovegood, and Molly Weasely. I have even made a portable clock similar to Molly's described in the books, it tells where her family is, either school, work, traveling or mortal peril, there is a hand for each member of the family. I have radish earrings and a necklace with Butter Beer caps on it. I have also made wands for myself and my two girls. I love Bertie Bots Ever Flavor Beans, including grass flavor, but I try to stay away from the boogie and vomit flavors. I even love trying to do magic spells, the only one that works for me is the Alohomora the unlocking spell, and only on my car not other peoples.

I know that I am a little on the crazy side for liking Harry but I can tell you that he changed my life and my daughters they both are following in my footsteps and love to read about him. I just started the series over again for about the 6th time.

Been there, Read that, and still love Harry more than Edward.

The spill

I wish it was a spill. This morning I was going to my bus to get it ready for the day when I twisted my ankle and fell into what could have been a big mud puddle but luckily we haven't had any of the wet stuff lately. As I was laying out on the ground trying not to cry I realized that I don't bounce, I hit the ground like a flat basketball does. As I was getting my self back up I knew I hadn't broken anything thank Heavenly Father for that. I was thinking I need one of those buttons to wear around my neck where if you fall you push it and say "I've fallen and I can't get up" I that is what I want for my next birthday, by the time I celebrate another one I will be old enough for one. you see I'm going to stay 38 for a long, long, long time.

Also Jill I can't find a supplier of bubble wrap that can get me enough of the stuff to wrap my entire body. So I guess I'll have to just be happy that I'm a flat basketball and try not to stop the ground from coming up with my body.

Been There, Done That, and It HURTS!!!!!! wheres my cane.

Activity Days to active!!!

Wednesday was our first Activity days of the New Year, We did a little getting to know you activity. But first I had share some things about myself. I shared that I love to read (Harry Potter being my favorite) I even told them a big secret that I have even tired some of the magic spells (the only one I can do is the Alohomora, the unlocking spell and for some reason it only works on my car, go firgure). I also told them that I like Teddy Bears (I have over 100) and many other things but the one thing I forgot to tell them was that I have a daughter that has a hard head. I guess it was good that I didn't because I found out later that one of the other girls in the class actually has a harder one. She and Elisabeth had a run-in literally in the hall way and this is what Elisabeth got from it. I guess we where lucky that her tooth didn't go all the way though the lip, also a good thing I don't faint at the sight of blood either. the Next morning I asked her if she wanted to go to school she looked and me and said "Do I look like I WANT to go to school, seriously mom, I don't think so!!!" I let her stay home, she looked a lot better that afternoon. we thought that she might have a hairline facture of her cheek bone but I think it was just bruised really badly, we are now a week out from it and she says id doesn't even hurt any more. I guess next time we have Activity Days I should teach one on First Aid.

Been there, Done that, and forgot about it by the time I was married.

More Power

I'm sitting here waiting and waiting and waiting for just 2 pictures to upload to my blog. I just wish I had more power, as in High Speed internet, this Dial-up stuff is for the birds. I guess I will have to wait until I win the lottery, Oh! I forgot I don't play it. Even if I did we don't have highspeed out this way yet. OH!!!! H*LLO!!!!

Need SNOW!!!!!! Part 2

I saw my first snow fall of the 2008-2009 winter sometime in October, I was taking a field trip group to Skyline Drive. Since then I have seen many, many flurries. And even one heck of a snow squall, that covered everything in 5 minutes, but then was gone after that. One day last week it snowed the whole hour that I was driving the bus to pick up kids for school, I thought for sure that the weather man was wrong that day and I would be called to take the kids home early, but NOPE! We have had many times that the weatherman has said that we where going to get snow but when I wake up in the morning... NOTHING!!!! It is now the 13th of January, and not any snow in site. It's can't be as cold as it is without snow, it's not fair, the temp this morning 22* and tomorrow is suppose to have highs in the single digits but NO snow. I have very little hope of having a decent snow this winter season here in the Shenandoah Valley. I guess it's time to move to Alaska or Iceland. I WANT SNOW AND I WANT IT NOW!!!!!!

Announcements

My sister told me to get a paper today because my Brother's engagement announcement was in it. Here it is I know I posted about it before but since it is in the DNR it's official.
Mallory Paige Newman - Benjamin Christopher Williams

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Newman of Dayton have announced the engagement of their daughter, Mallory Paige Newman of Chapel Hill, N.C., to Benjamin Christopher Williams, also of Chapel Hill, N.C.

Williams is the son of Phillip Williams of Manteo, N.C., and Carol Williams of Harrisonburg.

Newman graduated from Turner Ashby High School and the Rockingham Memorial Hospital School of Radiologic Technology and is pursuing a specialty in nuclear medicine at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. She is a PRN radiologic technologist at Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

Williams graduated from Turner Ashby High School and received a certificate in automotive technologies from the Universal Technical Institute. He is a certified Volkswagen technician with Maxwell Volkswagen in Burlington, N.C.

An Oct. 10 wedding is planned in Clover Hill.

Little did she tell me that on the same page was my Favorite Storytime lady in all the world, Miss Annie!!!

Annie Hololob - John Robert Layne

Joseph and Magda Hololob of Eastport, N.Y., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Annie Hololob of Waynesboro, to John Robert Layne, also of Waynesboro.

Layne is the son of Jim and Teresa Layne of Fishersville.

Hololob graduated from Eastport High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history at Purchase College, SUNY. She works in client services at Rosetta Stone in Harrisonburg.

Layne graduated from Tabb High School. He works at the Virginia Truck Center in Weyers Cave.

A Sept. 6, 2009, wedding is planned in Harrisonburg.

It looks like next Fall is going to be busy!!! Better mark my Calendar.

Been There, Done That, Love looking at the Pictures!

Craving Nuts

Do you know what Filberts or Nu-Nuts are? If you are allergic to tree nuts you better they are Hazelnut (Filberts) and Nu-Nuts are peanuts that have been de-flavored and re-flavored with a nut like pecan or walnut.

What is Glanduja? This is a nut past that is found in imported chocolates. German and most good European chocolates have a hazelnut paste in them, that is what makes them So GOOD!

I have a daughter that is allergic to Tree Nuts, now you might think that means she can't have peanuts, don't worry you aren't alone, everyone thinks this. But Peanuts are NOT tree nuts they grow underground not in trees, she can eat all the peanuts she wants. But! Tree nuts are in just about everything from BBQ sauce, cereals, cracker, ice cream and chocolate. With this allergy she has to carefully watch what she eats especially when it comes to desserts and most chocolate that comes from over seas like German and Swiss, the best in the world. I have to read every label that is brought into the house to make sure it is OK for her to have if not I have to tell her and then usually I will put it in my secret hiding place for myself. Until she was diagnosed, around the age of 2, with this allergy I didn't like nuts, I would eat them if they where in the brownies or cookies but I really didn't care if they where there or not, and all the recipes that I had that said nuts optional I never included them. Well now I have nut cravings, I can't past a pecan without my mouth watering, and cashews are my biggest cravings. We try to keep a nut free house, which is hard considering that my family is the biggest bunch of nuts I've ever seen.

Been there, done that, and still reading and learning about Nuts.

Need SNOW!!!!!!

OK I'm home from work today because "little e" is sick. I have wanted a snow day since the beginning of December but have not had one yet. I can't even call this one because I'm actually only home for one of my jobs, I still have to drive the bus this afternoon. I really, really, really need a snow day. Why, you may ask? I love snow, I love watching it fall, I love walking in it, I love going sledding, I love drinking Hot Coco, I love making and eating Snow Cream, the list can go on and on. I really want some snow soon and lots of it.

The Best Book Ever.

For the 1st time in my life I have been reading the scriptures mainly the Book of Mormon and wanting more. My family has been members of the LDS church since I was 5 years old and I have read the scriptures many times. But never in my life have I ever read them and not wanted to stop at the end of my allotted time. I have been wanting this to happen to me for many years but it has never happened. I would write more but at this time I want to go back and read...

Rainbow Dreams

Wednesday was another in a long line of rainy days....sigh.... I was really hoping that the weatherman would be made a lair and we would get snow and not rain, but no such luck... So as I left this morning to start my bus what does Heavenly Father decided to do... laugh at me, by having a torrential down pour precisely at the same time I had to do the pre-trip inspection (out side the bus)... NOT FUN... then all day long we had the wonderful liquid sunshine ... as a best friend of mine call's it... I don't call it that... I usually like rain but not in the winter time when it's suppose to be snow... Well Heavenly Father decided this afternoon we still had not had enough of the stuff so we got more and more and more... I felt sorry for the kids that had to walk home in the rain but what could I do... but this time he was teasing us with some sunshine in between the clouds... After I dropped the last one off and Evelyn and I where headed home (Elisabeth rode another bus home) I came over a hill and as I crested it the most wonderful thing in the world was in front of me... A RAINBOW... this was not just your here it is rainbow that disappears in about 30 seconds... this one was hanging around for a long time... I was reflecting on the reason for rainbows, the covenant that Heavenly Father made to Noah after the flood... It made my day to see that rainbow at the end of a long and stressful day... I know I slept better that night... dreaming about rainbows.

Resolutions

I don't like to make New Years resolutions, since I end up breaking them before I get through the 1st week of the year. So this year I decided that I wanted to try something new. Sunday at church listed in the bulletin was 4 resolutions that I thought I would try. I thought they sounded familiar so I looked them up online at LDS.org and found them in an Ensign article from 1994. So I'm going to share some of it here, my thoughts are in RED.

Resolution
1- I resolve to expand my intellectual horizons, to increase in wisdom. (D&C 88:118; D&C 90:15). What we choose to read will make a huge difference in the development of our minds and character. I have never really had a problem with this, I love to read now that I don't have to read.

2- I will be resolute in preserving and strengthening my physical health. It is impressive that more than 160 years ago the Lord revealed a health code, the Word of Wisdom, that can make all the difference in how we feel and perform. With good health, we can be happier and more successful. Without it, we are curtailed in almost every way. I do have a problem with this I have had problems my whole life, luckily for me I don't have health problems that go with it. I plan on memorizing D&C 89

3- I resolve to be a truer friend and to become more socially acceptable to people of high standards. I can be more open with myself and push myself to walk up to strangers to introduce myself.

• Become genuinely interested in other people.
• Smile. (Remember, the Lord commands us to “be of good cheer.”)
• Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
• Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
• Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely.

4- I will grow spiritually—I will increase in favor with God. This will be my biggest challenge, this past year I have really tried to not do this, believe it or not I have not succeeded in it. I have tried to prove to myself that Heavenly Father does not care about me but he just keeps getting in the way, so now I guess that it is time from me to try it his way.

• resolve to overcome as much as possible the sin of pride.
• Resolve now that you will read from the scriptures daily.
• resolve to really pray and not just say prayers.
• remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy

I have decided that these will be my Resolutions this coming year, and if I fall I can start over again every Sunday when I partake of the sacrament. I also know that my wonderful friends will also help me by reminding me.

Taken from Dec 1994 Ensign article by Elder Joe J. Christensen
Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Not Baking As Much This Christmas

Ok here's the List

~Oatmeal cookies- Done but may make one more batch, they are my hubby's favorite.
~Sugar cookies- Done, but Burned to black 2 doz. may have to make another batch, probably not.
~Sausage Cheese Balls- Done 146 beautiful little balls, Ready for Christmas Breakfast.
~Williamsburg Ginger Cakes- Done, But I love these may have to make more after Christmas for New Year's party.
~Reindeer Poop- Done, sounds gross but taste great.
~Pizzelle- Still have to make, but waiting until the kids are in bed, easier.
~Chocolate Covered Pretzels- Not done and not sure if I they will get done.

As for the no doing as much baking, this is only about 1/2 of my usual list.

My Kitchen is clean, my back hurts and I'm still not done. I also have presents to wrap and have to go to Wally World for last minute shopping. Why do I always put everything off until I run out of time?

Been There, Done That, and Still Procrastinating.

I BELIEVE!

Ok, I went to bed early last night, 3 hours of sleep the night before just doesn't cut it for me, (I LOVE sleep) even though I took a 15minute nap that didn't help either, So off to bed I went. I get up this morning ready to get the day started and come downstairs to a mess, now grant-it the living room was not clean before I went to bed, a stack of DVD's on the table, the piles of laundry still waiting to get in our much to small for a family of 4 the washer (Another story for another time). But I was not expecting to find that my girls had left me an even bigger mess when I got up this morning, I should have theses are my kids I'm talking about. But they did and I was about to blow my Top and pull them out of bed to clean it up, BTW it is 4 am. I decided that I would let them sleep for about an hour more, I wasn't ready to deal with crumply kids yet.

So I thought Will at least clean up my mess. As I was staring to work on the mess that I had I came around the end of the Blanket Chest/ coffee table, And what do my wondering eyes see but 6 neatly wrapped presents laying uner our Christmas tree, I know that they where not there before I went to bed, you see I am the only one in the house that Wraps Presents and I have not done that this year. So I go to find out who has been wrapping boxes with my wrapping paper. then I realize that i don't have that kind of paper. That's when I noticed the gift tags on each present says "To:" then names a member of our family "From: Santa"my heart melts and I begin to cry. as I sat there on my knees looking at these gifts I also find laying on the table 2 giftcards with money for our favorite store. I cried even more, I say a prayer of Thanks to my Heaven Father because I BELIEVE, that there is a Santa, this is the 2nd year her has been to our house and left presents for us.

After this I decided that I'm not going to get my girls up early to clean the Livingroom and I finish cleaning it, they have a little pile of things that they need to put away in their room but other than that they are going to get up a Happy mom, today.

Thank you Santa, you made my day.

Not a Vacation

Why is it that when you are looking forward to something, something always gets in the way. Like all week long I could not wait until Friday evening so I could start my 2 week vacation by spending the evening watching a movie with my girls. Well I got the movie "Horton Hears a Who" but I also got a Headache that turned into cold chills (no fever just felt like I was freezing to death)then turned into an upset stomach, which in turn turned into a miserable night for me. I slept on the couch hugging a bucket, I never used it, all though I think if I had I would have felt better. Then this morning the headache came back with a vengeance, I spent most of the morning sleeping on the couch again with an ice pack on my head. My wonderful hubby, who is also not feeling well (Head-cold for him) did go to our neighborhood 7-11 and got me a Big (imagine 50 gallon drum) cold coke, we have found out if you take your own cup in you can get "refills" for 89 cents. This finally settled the stomach and helped the head. So I was able to get up and work on cleaning my kitchen.


Now this evening it's starting all over again, BUT! this time it's my youngest Evelyn's turn. Good thing I have already been through it so I know what will help her. She is now in bed with a movie, ice pack, Pepito bismuth in the belly and some Tylenol for the headache, hugging the bucket just in case.


Been There, Done That, and Have the T-shirt.

The Value of a Smile

It cost nothing, yet creates much.

It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give.

It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes last forever.

No one is so rich he can get along without it, and no one is so poor but that he is richer for its benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business and is the counter sign of friends.

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best antidote for trouble.

And if in the hurry and rush of the day, you meet someone who is too weary to give you a SMILE -Leave one of yours.

For no one needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give.

Author Unknown


When I went to work for Lowe's home centers many years ago I was given this by our Area Manager. I have cherished it since then and thought I would share it with my friends.

The Imperfect Mom

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 108

I love this quote, I don't think I can added anything to it, except that I need to be a better mom.

Wassail, Wassail/ Mannheim Streamroller

Thanks, Stephanie, for a great tag!

1. Put your music on a listening device on shuffle (like an ipod)
2. For each question, press the button to get your answer
3. You must write down that song name no matter how silly it makes you look
4. Title this post what the answer to your last question is
5. Good luck and have fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS ' IS THIS OK' YOU SAY? You Make me Feel Like a Natural Woman/ Celine Dion

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Dany Dwr/ Enya

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A BOY/GIRL? Fins/ Jimmy Buffett

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? The Longships/ Enya

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? What is Christmas/ Trans-Siberian Orchestra

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Endless Love Songs/ Hollywood Love Songs

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? In the Bleak Midwinter/ Westminster Boys choir

WHAT DO YOU OFTEN THINK ABOUT? Lone Palm/ Jimmy Buffett

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? O That I Were an Angel/ Mormon Youth Chorus

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Prayer/NXL

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Stars/ Broadway cast of Les Miserables

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Air III/ Lee Galloway

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Blow, Gabriel, Blow/ Cast of De-lovely

WHAT WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Christmas Irish Washer Woman/ Unknown

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? Silent Night/Enya

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? The Butterfly/ Celtic Woman

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? The Way We Were/Hollywood Love Songs

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NAME THIS EMAIL? Wassail, Wassail/ Mannheim Streamroller

So now it is your turn to play along!! I tag whoever would like to play along. This is a fun one!

Found the switch

Earlier this week I couldn't find the switch to help me with blogging now I think I have found it. 2 in one day that is amazing and I have more floating around waiting to come out of my fingers but I have to find the time to sit still. I have to remind myself that I am a mom and I have to take care of the family. So if I get a chance later to night to sit and let me "fingers do the walking" I may post some more but don't hold your breath, I don't want any blue readers.

Been there, Done that, and it doesn't fit here.

70 Birthdays

Last weekend my neighbor, Claudia, the best in the world, had her 70th birthday. What an amazing feat and honestly she doesn't look a day over 50, she doesn't act a day over 20. She is always making something, either scrapbooking, baking cookies for anyone that happens to come by, to planning and cooking every meal (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) with the extras for her whole family on the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend. If the grandkids come to visit they will not be bored she has been known to go tubing on the river, take them to the water park, snow tubing or shopping at the mall, on top of feeding them 3 meals a day that she has planned and worked on for a week before their visit. Oh! Don’t forget the Baking anytime a family member comes to visit they get at least one of their favorites of hers.

Her family is not small either, the "VA kids" include (I might forget 1 or 2) Diane and her husband with their college age daughter (I'll talk about her more later) and teenage son. Then next is Chuck and his girlfriend plus he has at least 1 son (this is where I forget). Next are Kelly and her hubby the crazy sports fans. And last but not least the baby Kim with her husband and their 2 teenage daughters. Then there are the kids "Down South" that I can't even remember all of them, but I do know that there are 3 Sons and families that lives "Down South," so let’s add them into the mix, equals one big family.

Then she has her extended family, the college age Granddaughter, has caused Claudia’s family to grow to I don't know how many but I do know that she spends every Saturday baking cookies or making dinner for a dorm full of Grammie lovers. (Oh BTW Grammie is the name that all of her Grandchildren blood or not call her.) Then there are my 2 rug rats that think Claudia is the best thing next to cookies and juice boxes. They are over there at least every other day, every day if they sneak around mommy. She has never asked for them not to come over unless she has been sick or if she is working on something that they can't help with, like painting the living room. Even if she is in the middle of working on her scrapbooking she will find some time to let my girls do a page of their own. She also counts the two older children (my Husband and myself) as part of her extended family. She is also known around the neighborhood as the one that will have the most beautiful yard in the spring and summer and the friend that you can just talk to.

But back to my story, sorry I ramble but I wanted you to know what this lady is to my family.

So last weekend her VA children decided to throw her a Surprise Birthday Party, she has never in all her years had a birthday party so this was a big deal. Also her kids are not the greatest at keeping secrets so this was especially hard on them. But they had 11 family members there and had invited 1/2 the neighborhood (I think we numbered 11 too) we all hid in her kitchen waiting for her to come back from picking up the college granddaughter. As she they walk through the door and we all said Surprise she fell to the floor (something she always does when surprised) she was so "Floored" that we were not sure if she would get up but finally she recovered and couldn't believe what was going on. She thanked every one of us with a hug (that is all we needed) then we had food like you would not believe, all made by the kids. She received cards from everyone and a few small gifts from some but I think the best present of the night was seeing all those that she considers family in her home at the same time, we did miss the "Down South Kids" but everyone else was there. It was the best birthday party I have ever been to, the love that was felt there is the kind that you can only feel from a family and Claudia has the best family she could want. And I'm proud to call myself part of it.

Been there, Done that, and hope I live to 70!

WHY????

Why on earth would a completely sane woman in her late 30's sleep on the living room floor?
Why would this same person also get up every 2 hours with out setting an alarm clock?
Why would she decided in the middle of the night, 11:30 pm to be exact, to clean the bathroom that 20 minutes earlier was clean?
Why would she decided to wash clothes in the middle of a perfectly good night for sleeping?
Why would she THINK that cleaning a carpet in the middle of the night was a good thing?
Why would she not want to get/give hugs from her beloved hubby?

Because this woman is a MOM and this woman is me! My oldest Elisabeth decided yesterday that she needed to come home early from school she was not feeling well. First off the Vice-Principal came running into the Lunchroom saying "you need to go to the office Elisabeth is in there and she doesn't look good!" well what am I to think I go running into the office and find Elisabeth in the nurse's office as pale as a sheet, and looking a little green around the gills. So I take her home nothing happened most of the afternoon while I was on the Bus. But then when we got home all heck broke lose, I have had maybe 3 hrs of sleep and that's adding it all together. I have cleaned my bathroom 2-3 times in the middle of the night, done at least 2 extra loads of laundry, cleaned the carpet in the bedroom with a sleeping child still in bed a sleep. AND I slept on the floor of the living room so that I could be next to my precious child in the night (she slept peacefully on the couch, all night, once all the plumbing issues had been flushed out). So now at the start of what should have been a SNOW DAY!!! I have to get my butt up and drive a school bus then come home and finish the jobs that I just could not get done with one eye open and the other one trying to sleep. I hope my Family knows how much I love them, because once the holidays are over with I'm going to have a big break down and go into hibernation for the next 6 months. OH DARN!!!! I can't I'm a mom!

Been There, Done That, and don't want the T-shirt (it smells like spew!)

BTW I don't want hugs from my Hubby because I don't want to spread the love, so I guess I will be sleeping on the couch, until I decided that I don't have the "plumbing sickness."

Fire in the Sky

I am one of the fortunate people that get up before the sun, which means I get to watch it rise. my two favorite times of day are sunrise and sunset. Now you know that everyone of them is different but not every one is beautiful or spectacular, there are average sunrises or sunsets. Well today I got the rare opportunity to see a beautiful sunrise. I was driving the bus (as always) when I noticed what appeared to be a fire. The more I looked at it the more I noticed that it was not a fire but the sun coming up. It set the sky on fire. I was reminded of the old saying that my Grandfather, a seaman himself, taught to me “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning." Well I should have known that we would have a sunless day, but it made me curious as to whether the saying was true or not. So I looked up online what it meant and here is what I found out.

Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning. A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way.

Red sky at night, sailors delight.
When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

So according to this we should have had a bad day for weather, which we did no sun and rain. We should also have a good weather for tomorrow, but the weather man says otherwise, he is telling us that we are in for some more of the same and maybe snow too.

I love looking at sunrises and sunsets they remind me that Heavenly Father is a wonderful artist. The color pallet he uses is of the finest quality. He has the Deepest Reds and the most Beautiful Blues. My challenge is the next time you find yourself up early run out and watch the sunrise, it WILL brighten your day.

Been There, Done That, and have the Pictures

Can't find the switch.

I know that my friends have been bugging me to post some more here, BUT I think that my Brain has stopped working. I am having problems getting the stories that are floating around in my brain to float down to my finger tips and out on to the keyboard. if anyone has any idea of how to jump start my brain again I'm up for them. just post them in the comments and I will try them and see what I come up with. Thanks in advance.

Been there (I think), Done that (I'm sure I have) and looking for the on switch.

My Wonderful Husband

I have by far the most Wonderful Husband in the world. He is thoughtful, bringing me gifts of my favorite cookies or candy. But the most wonderful thing he does is the cleaning, vacuuming and cleaning the kitchen up for me just about every weekend or his on his day off. This is no small feat either for him, he doesn't just clean the areas that you see but he always picks up all the furniture to vacuum (sometimes I don't like this because he doesn't always put it back the why I had it) he also removes everything off the counters to clean and scrubs the kitchen well. I will not describe how he cleans the bathroom, just that he does a wonderful job there. He is always thinking of me and how he can help.

Well this morning I decided to surprise him, he didn't get to clean on his day off this week so I decided that I would clean for him today while he was out donating plasma, and running errands. when he called me about an hour and a half later I realized that I would not get finished in time, but I thought why not let him go somewhere he always wants to go, but we never have the time or gas. Well he asked and I said sure. I have now finished and am very proud of myself. the only things I didn't get done was 3 loads of laundry but that is a never ending battle with our small machine. The kids even helped with the vacuuming and making our bed. Now we just have to wait for him to get home and see what he thinks....

Well it took him a few minutes to see what we had done, but over all he was surprised. It wasn't what he was expecting. I'm not sure he knew how to act for the rest of the day, so he decided to that a nap.

Friends

This is for all my friends Past and New, But it is also for one special friend. I know she doesn't remember but she had a profound influence on a young woman's life, even when she was young herself. In fact she is the one that gave me this Poem (I collect poems) on a magnet that has hung on my refrigerator ever since, the background picture has become faded through the years, now going on over 20, but the words are a clear as ever. I truly believe that all of my friends where there with me before the world began.

What made us Friends in the long ago
when first we met?
Well, I think I know;
The best in me and the best in you
hailed each other Because they knew
that always and always
since life began our being friends
was part of God's plan.
George Webster Douglas

To All My Friends