We have a date....

I have to give the oldest chops for persistence--
four invites later and we have a date for coronation.
Actually she asked three (I guess 4 if you count her cousin)
and her brother(on her persistence and recommendation)asked one--
only to be turned down also.
It has been a rather frustrating/interesting couple of weeks.
She had been planning on asking a friend she has known since birth--
and she did--only to be turned down
because anther girl had asked his mom about taking him first?!!
I didn't know that talking to the mom constituted date acceptance--
I have always gone on the first one to ask the person is the one you are supposed to accept--
guess everyone doesn't play by the same rules....
Then she asked another friend from another high school--
he had a sporting conflict that day and wasn't sure when it would be over.
She thought everyone had been asked--
so the other night she threw it out there with her cousin.
He was a good sport and said he would go with her--
but can anything ever be that simple in our lives--
NOOOO--remember this is high school.
We found out another friend from our ward had not yet been asked--
so with that information in hand
the daughter texted her cousin (because we can't actually talk anymore)
to see if she could beg out from their arrangement.
He obliged saying he wouldn't have been that great of a date anyway--
(I would have to disagree with that statement--
I think they would have had a great time together
especially since he was such a willing sport!)
Anyway--once she had gotten the green light to go ahead and ask
she jumped right on it--off to the store to get the needed supplies
poster board and Mountain Dew--
(remember we can't just ask--it has to be creative...)
This is what we she came up with

She ran over to his house and came home an hour later
with a big smile on her face.
She was laughing because his mom had been vacuuming his room when she got there--and then had spent the next little while hanging out talking and playing with the grand baby.

After an evening out
this is what we pulled up to

--much nicer than toilet paper or seran wrap.
My daughters jumped out of the car
and quickly pulled out her camera
(she is her mothers daughter..)

It was hard to read (only because it was dark)until we got in the house and this is what it said:

"I went to a mountain to look for you,
I even took the cans of Dew,
But you weren't there for me to tell--
So I lay down the cans so I can spell....
My answer; It's just what you'd guess.
I'm excited to go with you
so of COURSE I SAY"

Now we have the date--the dress????

That is another story????.........and the saga/drama continues.....

Superstitions

Just for the fun of it I was looking up superstitions today.
There are the common ones--like the black cat, and ladders and the mirror breaking--but i was more intrigued with the less common ones--here are few that i found interesting?!

CHILL

--If you get a chill up your back or goosebumps,

it means that someone is walking over your grave

----I am sorry--

but if you are in the grave and you are still getting a chill

--or goosebumps--

I think you have been placed there just a tad bit early....

You have got larger problems than someone just walking over you

--hopefully as they do this they will hear your screams

and get you out....ya think?

COW

---Cows lifting their tails is a sure sign that rain is coming.

---I have limited cow experience--

on the other hand my daughter has a little bit more

--but in my limited cow experience

it is not rain that you need to worry about

if they lift their tails

--atleast that is not what i call it anyway....

it is just a wee bit thicker than rain

--EWEEE

HAIR

---Pulling out a gray or white hair will cause ten more to grow in its place.

Now this is TRUE!!!

I have done this

and wouldn't you know more popped up in their place

--has nothing to do with my kids and them causing this to happen.....

Now this last one made me just laugh.

You know it was created by a bunch of men

who had been cooped up on a boat/ship to long.

They probably sat around thinking

--HMMM --

what could we do/say to get the clothes off of a woman?

--and thus a contest was created

and this was the winning entry.
A naked woman

on board a boat

is said to calm the seas.
Need i say more?

The TRUTH, the whole TRUTH, and nothing but the TRUTH

Why is it so hard for people to tell the truth these days?
It is as if we have to be talked into doing it—like it is a good thing—why is it even a question anymore?

We see politicians caught not only with their hand in the cookie jar but with a fist full of cookies as well and yet there they stand before the press saying that they didn’t do it.

I watched some kids messing around the other day and when I called them on it their father came over and told me that I shouldn’t have yelled at his kids because they weren’t doing anything—never mind the fact that I had sat there watching them do this thing they lied to their father about.

I just over heard a young lady on the phone saying that she was going to tell the truth—that someone had told her that is what she should do—UMMM YEAH!

I had a girl on my bus a while back who had lost her phone---she was asking her friend what she should tell her dad—and me being forever being the parent—jumped in and told her she should tell him the TRUTH!!! Why is this such a novel idea? She asked me—“You really think so?” “YES—your dad might be mad that you lost the phone but he will be even madder if he finds out you lied to him and you lost the phone—get it over with now”.

It is hard to trust those that lie. I want to believe what people say to me—I want to believe that those around me are living their lives with integrity—that they are choosing to tell the truth—not having to be talked into it.
“Oh the tangled webs we weave

when we choose to deceive”
I think that reality television has had a lot to do with the deterioration of honesty. Good television is about deceit and compromising our values. It was OK when we knew it was all fiction but now they show people getting ahead by lying to each other. People lie because they find it is easier than telling the truth and yet don’t understand that when the truth does come out it disappoints others that they could not be honest. If you are honest ALL the time there is no question....

The truth shall set you free.
--Years ago when you gave your word it was binding
—it was your honor—
I think we need to go back to that….
As a society we need to work on being

more honorable,
more honest,
Living with more integrity
—and not because someone talked us into it….

little mans hair cut

Little man loves to get his hair cut.
He is always asking--even if he doesn't need it.
The other day dear hubby mentioned that he needed a hair cut out load around little man
--big mistake--
little man quickly responded that he also needed one
(now remember that this child is non-verbal--but when it comes to his hair he makes his wants/needs known!!)
Hubby told him that they would get a haircut the next day since it was late. So this afternoon as soon as little man came off the bus he immediately reminded his dad that it was time for haircuts (dad had forgotten) Little man remembered the promise and was not going to let it go until he was taken---he can be very persistent when he wants something. Normally this is a boys out trip but since i was home i was invited along to take pictures. I didn't bring the big camera--i didn't want to totally stand out--so i brought the little camera in my purse--and wouldn't you know it--the batteries died on me. UGH--wait i have a camera phone--i can take pictures with that--so i did!!! Now i don't think the quality is that great--but then again i wouldn't know since i don't know how to get them off--one more thing for me to figure out.....
i did it! While sitting in San Luis i managed to upload my pictures off of my phone. Sometimes i scare myself....

this is our cute friend Brittney--we have known her since she was 2 1/2 years old--she pretty much looks the same as she did then--only her hair is longer and she is a tad taller--her dad was one of dear hubby's good friends....
she can move really fast which is important when cutting little mans hair--because you never know what he is going to be distracted by
"what was that streak of black that just passed" "Is someone going to get me a sucker?"
"Hey sucker lady--I am over here--I am almost done--I can eat my sucker and get my hair cut at the same time--really--i don't mind hair on my sucker so much....."

And here is dad--he swoops in for the rescue--not that she needed it--like I said she is fast--I think she had his hair cut in 5 minutes flat--and off he went to get his sucker--he knows why he likes to get his hair cut--he is not above a bribe---and since i was there anyway i went ahead and got my haircut--

i love the way it turned out--not bad for a "great clips" haircut--anyone looking for a good haircut go and see Brittany--she really does a great job--much better than my self portrait shows.....and just for the record--just after i took this picture my battery died in this camera as well

Busdrivers prayer

Today i drove a regular route--
in a regular bus---that wasn't mine.
When i got in this was hanging from the radio cord.
(no i did not take a pricture while i was driving)

I just have one word to say.....

"AMEN"

the characters i find in my bed

tonight i came home to a little man in my bed.
This is not an unusual sight--
i think of him as my own personal bed warmer.
I quickly moved him from my side of the bed and put him in the comfy chair.

As i snuggled in my warm cozy bed i realized that my side was being occupied by someone other than me. I tried to make it known that this was my space--but this little guy wanted none of that. He kept putting his hands on me---i couldn't get away from him--it was as if he was all arms and hands. I had enough of this space invasion. After the kicking him around didn't work i reached down and grabbed him--ready to read him the riot act--boy was he was one ugly fat dude... NOOOOO!!!!

I am not talking about my husband.....

this is the guy i found in my space--while not so big he is rather lumpy and annoying

A close friend of little mans

I don't know his name--

I will just call him

"short ugly dude with two many arms"......
not to be confused with the other person in my bed

who i will refer to as

"vertically challenged,

cute husband who snores"...

although he also likes to edge his way into my space....

Soccer

Can i just say i love the game of soccer?

Not actually watching it...

---just the timing of it.

I love that with soccer you know EXACTLY how long it is going to last--give or take a few minutes. They put 40 minutes up on the clock and you watch it tick down, and then they put up 10 for half time and again the time runs off. Then they add the last 40 minutes and baring any injury the time runs out and hopefully someone has won, none of this time out stuff--where the last 2 minutes last for thirty (ie. basketball or football)The times when i have somewhere to go after the soccer game is a sure fire indicator that it will go into overtime--and then usually penalty kicks---but other than that i do love the timing of the game. Now you will not actually catch me watching it---it ranks right up there with watching paint dry in my book---actually i think that would be more exciting because as paint dries the color changes--mellows....wait, I was talking about soccer....Now i know there are many who disagree with me about this game that has overtaken all of the parks on a Saturday---and i am OK with that---I love (there is a note of sarcasm) waiting for hours on end to watch my children participate for a few seconds/minutes in their collective sports--only to have to wait more....
to see them participate for a few brief seconds,
again and again and again---
waiting....participating....waiting.....participating.
I will say there is something satisfying to knowing when you will actually be done--with wrestling and swimming the best i can do is guess....

The rules of soccer are very simple,

basically it is this:

if it moves, kick it.

If it doesn’t move, kick it until it does.

changing phone times

I've been thinking about the whole phone thing and how it has changed in my lifetime.I think as technology has progressed so has our levels of rudeness when it comes to the phone.

As a teenager we didn't have cordless phones--so if I wanted to have a private conversation I usually ended up in the bathroom around the corner from the kitchen with the cord stretched just as far as it could go. I also couldn't just hang out on the phone all night--especially if someone else was out--because they might need to call for a ride....then came call waiting.

Call waiting seemed like a good idea at the time--but it was the start of the slippery slope into selective rudeness that currently exists with phone usage. It was good in that you didn't have to stay off the phone--but if you were in the middle of a conversation you now had to interrupt the person you were talking to and answer--because you never knew if the person on the other end was more important--and if they were you dropped the person you were talking to first.

Then came answering machines--again a good idea to begin with. It used to be that if someone called and your phone was busy or you were not home the person who was trying to get a hold of you would call until they actually reached a human being, and if the correct person was not home a message would be taken, a number would be given. We can't even it kids to write down who it was let alone a number since we have caller id, Now days--we call at times when we know that someone will not be present just so we can leave a message--put the ball in their court so to speak. Now we have the responsibility of checking our messages and returning calls--even if we don't have the time.

And then came caller ID--sometimes known as selective pick-up . We can all look at who is calling and decide if we want to talk to that person--or perhaps have them leave a message. No more playing Russian roulette with the phone--taking your chances that it is someone that you have no desire to speak with.


Now people don't even have home phones anymore. I am a hold out. As long as i can afford it I will have a phone in my home. We all know my history of phone problems and my ability to lose phones--so i figure as long as it is attached to the wall i will always know where one phone is...


I also find it interesting that with all the phones that kids have, they actually don't talk anymore. It is all about the texting. I guess i am old fashioned because i would rather call someone and talk to them to actually communicate. That is not the case with the younger generation. They think texting IS communicating. It drives me crazy. So many things can and are misconstrued with written communication. You can not tell the attitude or intent of the person--are they trying to be funny, or perhaps sarcastic or just plain rude? The kids argue by text--everything is immediate. When we would get in arguments in school we would have to wait till the next class period to pass a note along...and if your paths did not immediately cross it might actually be an hour or two for the response--none of this instant gratification. Plus we included in depth opinions and punctuation--emotions drawn in pictures.I understand the draw but i think we are doing a real dis-service to the way we communicate.


Do you think Alexander Graham Bell had any clue how far our ability to communicate would change from his first phone. And really with all of the "improvements" are we really communicating that much better or are we just more lazy at it....

the spoiled under 30 crowd

I don't feel old until i start reminiscing about the past and how things have changed. My dear sweet cousin sent this to me--and i so can relate--if you are 30 or older you are bound to get a chuckle....

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD !!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears
With their tedious diatribes about how hard things were.
When they were growing up;

what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning.
Uphill...

barefoot....

BOTH ways

Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up,

There was no way I was going to lay
A bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it
And how easy they've got it!
But now that...

I'm over the ripe old age of Thirty,

I can't help but look around

and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy!

I mean, compared to my Childhood,

you live in a Utopia!
And I hate to say it but you kids today

you Don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet.
If we wanted to know something,
We had to go to the library

and Look it up ourselves,

in the card catalogue!!
There was no email!!

We had to actually write Somebody

a letter, with a pen!
Then you had to walk all the way across the street

and put it in the mailbox

and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3' s or Napsters!

You wanted to Steal music,

you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!
Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio

and the DJ'd usually talk over the beginning

and screwed it all up!
We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting!

If you were on the phone

and somebody else called they got a busy signal,

that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either!

When the phone rang,

you had no idea who it was!

It could be your school,

Your mom, your boss,

your Bookie,

your drug dealer,

a collections agent,

you Just didn't know!!!

You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony PlayStation video Games

with high-resolution 3-D graphics!

We had the Atari 2600!

With games Like 'Space Invaders' and 'asteroids'.

Your guy was a little square!

You Actually had to use your Iimagination!!

And there were no multiple levels or Screens,

it was just one screen Forever!

And you could never win.

The game just kept getting Harder and harder

and Faster and faster until you died!

Just like LIFE!

You had to use a Little book

called a TV Guide

to find out what was On!

You were screwed when it Came to channel surfing!

You had to get off Your butt

and walk over to the TV to change the Channel

and there was no Cartoon Network either!

You could only get cartoons On Saturday Morning.

Do you Hear what I'm saying!?!
We had to wait ALL WEEK For cartoons!

And we didn't have microwaves,

(OK i did--we were a test kitchen but we were the exception)

if we wanted to heat Something up we had to use the stove ...

Imagine that!
That's exactly what I'm talking about!

You kids Today

have got it too easy.

You're spoiled.

You guys wouldn't have lasted

Five minutes back in 1980!

Regards,The over 30 Crowd

the things you find on facebook

There is a certain element of surprise that surrounds a house with teenagers. You go to bed and never know what you are going to wake up to. Almost exactly a year ago i came home to this lovely mess. It had a lovely glow about it at two in the morning--this was how it appeared the next morning.

Since that time we have had the blessed honor of being the chosen house to "get". I think it has something to do with the trees--once the toilet paper is up there it is hard to get down. With the perfect throws you can drape this tree very artistically. It takes talent to do a good job--just the right toss is needed to fully utilize all your rolls of toilet paper.
Sometimes you are left wondering who the talented TPers were--you have an idea but never quite know for sure---unless your culprit is foolish enough to post a picture on her facebook page

--like my wonderful niece did--standing in front of my TP'd house--
I have one word to say
RETRIBUTION!!!!

toilet paper and serane wrap

We are a home full of teenagers, which as i stated before makes us a target for fun and games during the evening hours. I just love waking up to face a busy day and see that our yard has been strung up during the night. You would think living under a street light would deter some of this nocturnal activity--but it doesn't. We actually have trees that can be hung gracefully--unlike those with desert landscaping we have toilet paper friendly plants.

On this particular night i think we were dealing with amateurs---it takes a certain finesse to get the right toss going to clear the tree. Anything short of perfection and the rolls end up lodged beyond the reach of said toilet paper--er-ers.

Which means there is less to actually clean up for us.It is such a shame to waste such full rolls of toilet paper--

not that i am encouraging them to come and practice on my house anytime soon....There they are hanging--because they are also out of our reach until the winds and sands of time disintegrate or blow them out of the tree...


Being toilet papered was not enough in one weekend...The next night we had the pleasure of some more visitors--but their M.O. was a tad different--only this time it was foiled. The dog started going nuts--which she usually only does when the bus pulls up for little man. Upon hearing the dog my middle son was at door and had it opened before my husband could get there. Apparently the fun for that night was to involve Saran Wrap and our cars. They had started to wrap them together--i think in the hopes of keeping them clean? I guess that would work to keep ice off the wind shied--that is if we had ice--but probably not. Anyway it was early into the process when they got caught so we didn't have too much to clean up--and we got almost two full rolls of saran wrap out of the deal--nice that they left us the supply....

sundays in a different ward

Sometimes it takes going somewhere else to appreciate what you have got right in front of you. Sometimes when you go away you look at things with new eyes--that was the case on Sunday.

My nephew was having his missionary farewell. Let me just say how proud i am of him and his choice to serve the Lord and the people of New York for the next two years. He has already started his journey of growth in deciding to go, and i know it will only continue the next couple of years and will make him a better man. He gave a wonderful talk as did the other young man who is also leaving for a mission. They spoke on choice and accountability and did a great job--it was too bad that so many in the congregation didn't feel the need to listen.

Being in another ward you are an outsider looking in. You are there as an observer since you have few ties with anyone there. I like to watch people--it is a habit of mine--the funny thing is that my children were watching others as well. After church we compared notes on things we saw--and let's just say we were appalled at some of the "choices" that were being made by those around us. I am not here to say i/we are perfect by any means. It made me think of my own behavior and how i act when i am at church. Am i there partaking of the lessons and the spirit or am i merely filling a seat? What would people say that are watching me--would i be appalled at my own behavior if someone reported back to me on what they observed? It really made me reflect and think.....

In our church we invite the children to come into our worship meetings. They are not always perfect but through the years they come to understand that there is a time and a place to be reverent. It is not something that happens overnight--but more than anything else they learn through the example of others--through watching others and what is appropriate behavior.

I have come to the conclusion now more than ever that phones have no purpose at church. I leave mine at home as do my kids, but.....those around us felt the need to have them out--playing games, deleting text msgs-sending txt msgs and looking at pictures (this was more than one person in our general area)I realize we think we are a generation of multi taskers but it does appear rude that we can't focus and concentrate on the person who has taken the time to prepare and give a talk....
There was a camera that was pulled out of a purse and the pictures were being reviewed with the row...my children caught this one
There was alot of primping that was being done around us--makeup applied--hair being done--on the adults as well as on several children. They did look cute when the mom's finished with the little girls--but with it being afternoon and all, I figured their was time to have done that before the meeting. My attitude is if it doesn't happen by the time we walk out the door then it just doesn't happen--i got the feeling that appearances were important here. I felt sad about that-we should all be there to partake of the spirit and not feel judged by what we are wearing or how our hair is done--or not.
The largest distraction occurred during the sacrament--and both my husband and myself had thought the same thing and shared it with each other after the meeting was over. There were three woman/girls sitting in front of us. They proceeded to talk about everything and everything throughout the entire administration of the sacrament. I could see that one was a mom and she was sitting with her daughters. My husband on the other hand thought it was just three teenage girls---and was about to say something but thankfully didn't (would have been a tad bit embarrassing if he had)So my question is how do we teach our children that there is a time to be reverent when we don't even acknowledge it as the adult? It was frustrating. I just wanted to feel the peace that comes with taking the sacrament.
So it made me think about my own behavior--what do i do that can distract from the spirit to those around me? What do i need to change? The only person we can change is ourselves--I hope I can be a good example for those around me and my own children--after all that is what we primarily learn by--good or bad......

WRESTLING IS LIFE?

WRESTLING IS LIFE

There are times where I am struck by something and feel the need to write it down—this was the case at the wrestling match on Saturday—but I was lacking my purse and anything to write on—so instead I settled for a piece from the roll of paper towels—all afternoon I was paranoid that I would use it to wipe up something or that it would get wadded into a ball and thrown away. Instead I crammed into my pants pocket and then it managed to get placed and misplaced—until finally I had time on a trip to transcribe these deep thoughts of mine. Were they worthy of the paper towel? Only time will tell…..

Years ago my husband went to register my oldest son for t-ball. Thinking it was a just a fun game for my boy to be involved in he failed to bring along his birth certificate. We soon found out that even to play t-ball a verification of age was necessary. In trying to plead his case we found out that people took this sport—yes, t-ball—very serious. My husband made the mistake and said, “it’s just a game for kids” and which point this man responded “No, it’s not—“baseball is LIFE”. After my husband got over the shock of this statement and the fact that this man actually believed it, he responded “not to a 6 year old it’s not. To him it is just a game.” We soon found out that baseball was not the life or game for this child…and we breathed a deep sigh of relief……

As I have been around various sports with my own kids and with my job, I have seen first hand at the intensity that some adults feel toward their given sport or the sport their child is currently occupying their time with. Some feel that it is “LIFE” and that winning or losing is the end all and nothing short of winning is failure. I have seen shirts that say “second place is first loser” and while there is truth to that statement it doesn’t give the whole picture. Why was the other team/individual better that day? Was it pure skill or desire—maybe training and the amount they put into it? So many factors go into determining who the best is. Winning all the time is a lot of pressure to place on anyone—especially kids—even teenage children. I have been disgusted at the way I have seen some parents treat their children after a loss. And I have also been disappointed with the way I have seen some people win.

Fast forward 10 years. My non baseball playing boy has found his sport and we find our time occupied in hot, smelly, stuffy gyms watching our boys participate in wrestling. While it does occupy much of our life—it is not life. My boys have balance, and enjoy a variety of interests and friends.

The thing that sparked all these thoughts was that someone walked by with a tee-shirt today that said “Wrestling is life” and while I disagree with the complete and total obsession for any sport and believe that life is about balance---that being said, I do believe that there are life lessons that are learned and taught through sports.

David and Goliath theory —otherwise known as the “bigger they are the harder they fall”.
I have seen smaller athletes come up to the armpit of their competitor and have come out victorious. If you believe you can win—you will play like you can win. It won’t always happen but when it does you will find more than just your friends and family cheering for you—everyone loves an underdog. We love to see those that shouldn’t succeed—SUCCEED. It is the stuff that great movies are made of---can you watch the movie “RUDY” and not cry?

Lose with style—win with Grace. We all like to win—some are more driven to win than others but when losses do come take them with humility as an opportunity to learn. More importantly is when you win be proud but not too proud. The other day I was commenting to one of our best wrestlers that I could hardly get a picture of him with his hand raised in victory because they were so quick to bring it down and run off. He responded that he did that because he did not want to rub it in the guys face—he knew he had won—no need to relish in it at the expense of the other kid. HMMMM---I was so impressed and hadn’t really thought of it that way.

Back to the losses—when they come—take the responsibility and try not to blame it on others. Recently at a tournament we watched a very heated match where a young man let his emotions get the best of him and it cost him some points. He had to work to catch up and when he finally did and was ahead he did something stupid that cost him the match. He was upset—mad at himself. He didn’t blame the ref and gave the kid he had wrestled a hug at the end. He knew the mistakes were his own making—something to learn from…

Hard work and dedication will pay off. These are lessons that apply to life as well as sports—things are not going to be given to you. Life is hard—sometimes we have to endure—and are challenged—that is when we have to work our hardest to succeed.
I have seen many games/matches are won in the final minutes/seconds of the game. Often it is the one who trains those few extra minutes—who does not slack off in practice—who works even when they are so tired and want to quit that come out victorious. It is a work ethic that is learned—it is instilled and it will carry you in your life.

Don’t take your talent for granted. We have all been given gifts/talents in this life—what a shame it is when we waste those that come naturally. I have seen hard work and dedication overcome natural talent. Any one can be talented—but you will be more recognized for the work you put into developing your talent than those that waste theirs.

There is more to life than just sports—we need balance. We need to balance the physical with the mental. The hard work that you put in the class room will take you farther in life than your accomplishments in the sports arenas. Always have a plan B so that when your plan A does not come to pass you can fall back on. You will never go wrong with education—those athletes who really have succeeded in life have used their talents as a spring board to get them where they want to. Talent and ability will fade---and the one thing we take with us when we leave this earth life is the things we have learned here---our experiences make us who we are—good or bad.

I think I am going to make a shirt that says
“Life is Life”—or is that too vague?

This ends the paper towel diatribe….

Stinky boys

We had the choice of three gyms today--
we chose the one that my son was spending his time in, which proved to be the best since it actually was cool and had a cross breeze. I have found that there is one major flaw with gymnasiums--they are typically hot boxes with little air movement, full of smelly athletes doing their thing.

Having spent a fair amount of time around various aged and gendered athletes I have learned that there is a distinct difference in hygiene according to their age and sex. Girls think they can cover their stinky-ness with overloading on the fu-fu --whether it be in the form of perfume or highly scented lotion. Freshmen boys on the other hand don't wait for an intense game to become smelly--they like to start out that way.

STANKKKIEEE!!!!

---hygiene is one of those underrated things at that age, they usually figure it out by the time they are seniors, at least we hope they do. I found it also depends on the sport as to the level of stinky-ness. The one nice thing about having a serious wrestler is that they realize (at least during wrestling season) the importance of showering. More than any other sport they are real particular about "skin" issues and know it can disqualify you if you have that problem. Showering helps with that--not always a guarantee but we stress the importance in our house. Even though they shower to keep ring worm away, there is the opinion with some that by eliminating the use of deoderant on match days, you can out smell your opponent--a secret weapon of sorts--only it is not so secret--(I think they have tried this in the middle east--with little success) it doesn't start out pretty, and it only gets worse by then end of an intense tournament.

Today there were a couple of young men that had

dread locks

--not a hair style known for it's cleanliness--but these boys were embracing their grungy-ness--they even had some of their dreads colored pink. Was the pink intended to help attract the girls?--I know we like color and all, but will those teenage girls see past the fact that these boys don't wash their hair and that it is dirty, matted, knotted and overall gross? Call me crazy,but I was always attracted to boys that smelt good--with soft hair that i could run my fingers through, or in my husbands case, a clean cut flat top that i could rub. It made me feel all tingly--not a possibility with dread locks--not if you actually want your fingers back. We already know at their age, hygiene is not at the top of their priority list,so why do they want to accentuate the fact with nasty, dirty, pastie, smelly, dread locks? Even some of the other boys were commenting on that fact--you know its bad when the boys split ranks and dog on the hygiene of one of their own. I made the comment to those young men that maybe they wore the dreads as a form of a chick repellent--they laughed at that--and then i made these cute, clean cut boys swear to me that they would shower and wear deodorant. Again they laughed and promised they would--and then i told them that they would have to work much harder to repel the girls--but it would be worth it---that girls are nothing but trouble--at least till they are out of high school--and with that they agreed. AHHH another group of young men i have set on the right path. LOL---if only they will keep their promises.....I DREAD the thought if they don't....

rollercoaster of emotions

As a mother we get to ride the roller coaster of emotions. Some days it is the extreme high of highs and the low of lows--with our stomach dropping in between. While riding on a real roller coaster you can scream your guts out (actually i am busting up laughing when i ride) which is not quite as acceptable in life--to walk around screaming. Not that you don't feel like it--but the idea of someone coming with a lovely white jacket and taking me away keeps me from exuding those emotions.

I found it is the 'TION" emotions that really get me---
frustraTION,
anticipaTION,
trepidaTION,
percepTION,
although i do enjoy appreciaTION.....
and on those days that i receive it as a MOM i lap it up--
the pay we receive for this job is not so great--
so any positive feedback is appreciated


And then there are the "ED" emotions---
embarrassED,
frustratED,
aggravatED,
disappointED,
discouragED,
confusED,
annoyED,
excitED,
exhaustED,
confusED.
(wait i already used that one--see--i really am so confused.

I feel like i have been on that roller coaster the last few days. The daughter has had some highs and lows as of late. It is amazing how the events in someone elses life can have such an impact on your own. When it is our kids--we take things personal--real personal. I would rather be the one that is hurt than to see my children hurting. I was warned about this before i had kids....who knew that the emotions could be so strong.....

Blogging Birthday

One year ago today I made a technology leap.
Being a bit of a technology retard this was a big deal.

I am still amazed at the fact that I managed to figure out how to set up a blog all by myself. It was going to be my secret…a place to record my thoughts that would just float around in cyberspace. I figured if I didn’t tell anyone, no one would know. You can imagine my surprise when I figured out how to sign on the next day (that was more challenging than actually setting up the blog) and found that someone had actually read what I had written and left me a message.? How did they find me? I was a bit puzzled.! I thought my entry was just floating around randomly and that you had to work to find it in computer land. Then more people found me and soon my secret was out. My thoughts were out for everyone to see… I had officially come of age---I was a blogger. It has become my journal of sorts (censored and short of intimate details at times) but it is me or at least my thoughts. It has helped me to become more present in my life instead of just “living it”. I know I reflect more and think more about those daily things. My life is changing and evolving—it won’t always be like it is now. It has been fun for me to look back over the year and see my joys as well as my stresses. It is written for me and my family to enjoy—and if no one else ever reads it---that’s OK.
Here is to another year in cyberspace….

Oh the places youll go

Who knew that on Jan 22 the post office would be such a popular place? The line would ebb and flow like a swollen river in the spring. Besides the popularity of packages it was thee place today for passports. Since the daughter has plans to travel half (actually i think it will be more than half) way around the world--getting a passport was top on the list. As i sat there waiting I thought about the places i have been with my passport--some of them no longer exist as they did when i was there. More than anything i was wondering where others were going that they needed passports--and i thought of my girl. Where would her passport take her? We know Africa is in the immediate future and i am sure there will be many more trips to Mexico, and maybe Canada again,but outside of her currently planned trips what does her future hold?-where are the places she'll go?--and of those places,how will they mold her--change her--enlighten her.... will the help her learn and grow, will she challenge herself, stretch her limits and foster an appreciation of both the world at large and the family waiting for her back home?

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights;

it is a change that goes on,

deep and permanent,

in the ideas of living.”

- Miriam Beard

Oh the places she'll go........

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You're on your own.

And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets.

Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say,

"I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains

and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down

any not-so-good street.

You'll be on your way up!

You'll be seeing great sights!

You'll join the high fliers

who soar to high heights.

Wherever you fly,

you'll be the best of the best.

Wherever you go,

you will top all the rest.

Except when you don' t

Because, sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so but,

sadly, it's true

and Hang-ups will surely happen to you

But on you will go

though the weather be foul

On you will go

though your enemies prowl

Onward up many a frightening creek,

though your arms may get sore

and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike

and I know you'll hike far

and face up to your problems

whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up,

of course, as you already know.

You'll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act

And will you succeed?

Yes!

You will, indeed!

(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!
---Dr. Seuss

mindless blogger

I have been a bad bad blogger--
my mind has been blank--
NOTHING has been rattling around
and then when it does rattle
i can not remember what i had thought about--
it this a sign of senility?
Or perhaps early onset Alzheimer's?
After all i am 40 now--
OK i realize it is nothing to joke about--
but i think having children has sucked my brain out-
or maybe the fact that i am NOT a morning person
and i have been up way before the sun the past few days-
it does something to me.
I do enjoy the sunrises--since i see so few of them--
but putting two thoughts together at that time of the day--
Not so good.
So dear people if i ramble and it makes no sense--
You can now understand

entertained by simple things

Some times it does not take much to entertain us.
Often it is really the simple things that we get a laugh out of.
Today it was a straw--

not your average straw
but a straw as long as my daughters forearm.

I don't know why we were so intrigued with this?
we just were....

can't we just get along?

My computer and my main camera are having issues.
My computer has decided that after years of working together it no longer wants anything to do with my camera. I thought i could patch the relationship--but the computer wants none of that. He is standing firm in his excluding the camera from playing with him. Ultimately this means that i am going to have to figure out another way to have them communicate with each other--a therapy of sorts. All i know is that it is going to end up costing me money to get them to work together again. Isn't that they way it always is--the children end up suffering?

Civil Rights day is a day to play...

Besides the noble art of getting things done,

there is the noble art of leaving things undone.

The wisdom of life consists in the elimination

of non-essentials.

-----
~Lin Yutang

Today was a beautiful day and i am not just talking about the weather although it was gorgeous. What i am referring to was the time spent together as a family. It was one of the few and far between days where we actually had time together. We did fit in

• putting up and taking down 100+flags
• as well as 3 different sports practices
• and even the hubby did some work from home since he was the only one in his business that seemed to have the day off.
• and we still had two therapy sessions for little man

In between "normal life" which = "busy life" we fit in a family friendly movie and enjoyed our time together. I miss those days of calm and just letting things happen. So much of our lives these days is scheduled--many, many schedules to navigate between. Each person has different directions that they travel in and sometimes that makes our time ALL together difficult. I love it--i didn't realize how much i missed it.

Alive to wrestle another day

The fun never ends around here. We are at another wrestling tournament this weekend--only instead of getting to sleep in our own beds between days we are in a hotel whose proximity is right next to the train tracks. I have already heard the train once and am hoping that once i fall asleep i will be tired enough not to hear anything till my wake up call.

Up to this point all the tournaments we have attended have been team based, meaning you win and lose as a complete team. These are fun since you get to see all the boys wrestle together and it helps build team unity. As a whole we have a pretty good team and the more the team wins the more matches the boys have to improve their records.

Now this tournament is a tad different. It is an individual tournament--double elimination--so you can only lose twice before you are out.

It is an EXTREMELY

(In bold type for emphasis)
hard tournament. It doesn't matter the size of your school--so we wrestle teams from all across the state and even a few out of state teams. So how did today go for my guy? Not bad....He won his first and then lost to the #1 seed. This kid that he lost to is ranked nationally--we did not expect him to win--but he also did not get stuck--that right there is a victory--minor but a victory. He won his next match which means it is another night of watching what he eats, and running so he can make weight in the morning. Sometimes that weight thing can be your toughest opponent.

my mild mannered son-as seen throwing someone around and then stickin' it to em'

We are looking forward to another long day--hopefully filled with some more wins........Wish us Luck

train #2 just came rattling by with its horn blowing--might be a long night....make that 3 and 4.....

VERY Exciting News

I had just received the text. In reading it you could hear the excitement in her voice--she was thrilled but it was the actual phone call with the squeal of delight
"I am going to Africa" she said,
more than once as to let the realness of that statement sink in. Only a week ago it was an idea, a thought, and now it has become a reality. She is so excited--and so am I--excited for her to have this life changing opportunity--to see the world--to experience another country and culture, but I wouldn't be honest if i didn't say I am letting my first born go with some sadness and fear and trepidation in my heart. She is going more than half way around the world without me....she is leaving the nest and flying far far away---it's only for a month but still.... We have a passport to get, money to raise and shots to be had in just a short time. I think these next few months are going to fly by......

If you want to read more about the organization that she is going with or even donate some money for her adventure check out this site--she leaves June 13......and then the adventure will really start

Sigh of relief

this is me breathing a deeeeepppp sigh of relief
AHHHHHHHHHHH.......
I am happy to report that the little mans aug com device made a reappearance today. I couldn't be happier---as I am sure the school feels the same way--since it was lost in their care. I have yet to figure out how to eliminate this in the future from happening again....short of him actually talking we will be using this for awhile.....

The grinch who stole Christmas

This was a day we have been waiting for with great anticipation. Every child remembers the day they get their first "bike". For most of my children that day came on Christmas with squeals of delight--and while I would have loved to have had little man's bike under the tree this year, it didn't quite work out that way. Unlike my other children i was unable to swing into the local Target or Wal-mart to pick up his first bike. We started jumping through bike hoops back in June and were hopeful that just maybe it would be here by his birthday in September--as that date came and went we were then wishing for Christmas--and just before Christmas we received a notice that it was coming in the next few weeks---we were elated! All the patience of waiting for the communication device and the bike was finally paying off. We received the Aug com and it was a happy day--a very happy day. Today he finally received his bike
--and while he is thrilled and has had a wonderful afternoon going up and down the block(with help)
i have had a sick feeling in my gut for most of the day. We found out that the Aug com device that we waited a year and a half for has vanished--disappeared. He loves his Aug com and wants to use it every chance he gets. He loves to tell us what he wants--and when he can focus he is spot on. The idea was that he would use this device at both home and at school. We started sending it back and forth last week and then on Friday he didn't come home with it--I was hoping that it had been left in the classroom and found out today that was not the case. It had made it to the bus and somewhere between the school and home it managed to disappear. I am hoping that it was inadvertently given to the wrong child and will show up--but i am still checking Craig's list and e-bay. So while we are thrilled that little man now has wheels to cruise up and down the block-- i would trade that for his opportunity to communicate---everything has a perspective and i am trying to maintain a positive attitude about this---things could always be worse....but right now it kinda feels like the Grinch has stolen a bit of our long awaited Christmas joy......

Health assesment

In order to receive a discount on our health insurance they ask us to do a health assessment, so today i have been online answering those probing questions. I find some irony as i am doing this while lying in bed--self diagnosed with STREP(yes i was assessing my own health)--i figure if the back of my throat is covered with white spots it is not a good thing and i need to take care of it before it gets worse. I have too much going on to get sick--problem is that I need to do much today and am not moving--at least not very fast. (Hopefully one day will not be enough to put me behind.)--Back to the assessment--it didn't tell me anything i didn't already know--or anything that the WII hadn't told me--although it was a bit kinder in its approach. It did make me feel good to check that i have fewer than 1/or none drinks a week and that i never touched cigarettes. And then there is the statement that I almost always wear a seat belt--at least that makes me safe when i talk on my phone--eat while driving and am distracted by the kids----none of which was mentioned in the test---thank goodness that omission was left out or i would have gotten an even worse score......

beautiful burritos

I am a simple person. It does not take much to make me happy. Food, a warm bed and a nap on a Sunday afternoon, all fit my description of a perfect day. All of these things came together today. With being gone most of the weekend at a wrestling tournament there was not much to be had in the food department--plus we were going to the grandparents house this afternoon for some "heart attack french toast"(appropriately named since it is dipped in cream, fried in Crisco and has a stick of butter added to the syrup--can you say YUMMY!!!!) Not wanting to spoil my appetite for this taste sensation but in need of something to tie me over, my dear son with use of his wonderful pan whipped up some sausage egg and cheese burritos. He used the last four eggs in the house and instead of putting the Valentina's hot sauce on the eggs he mixed it in. He also grilled the tortillas to give them that "authentic" look. It was the perfect snack to tie us over till the real feast came...one more item to be added to his ever growing list of specialties.

Beauty

My father used to always say
"Beauty is only skin deep--

but ugly runs all the way through" .....
That statement has stuck with me---it has been my mantra as to the way i try to treat people.
Some of thee most beautiful woman i know are not necessarily what you would call natural beauties or beautiful in the physical sense--but it is their beauty from the inside that exudes and you see past their physical "flaws" to really appreciate their inner beauty.

Beauty is as beauty does.....
Tonight there was a new reality show on that had to do with peoples beauty-- only these people who are on it think it is about their outer beauty- and most of them have failed to cultivate their true inner beauty.

The real sad thing is that when the true intent of the show was explained to the contestants who were eliminated and they still did not get it--that while they were "beautiful" on the outside what they really wanted to see was their inner beauty

“No object is so beautiful that,

under certain conditions,

it will not look ugly."

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....

I find it interesting and sad on what they value as beauty--
it is purely the physical--and some have altered their god given beauty in hopes of obtaining what the world currently views as beautiful. Years ago(actually more like centuries) in my full figured beauty i would have been considered beautiful--I have always said i am more of a Renaissance woman, but now days thin is in--is a bony figure beautiful? And what about all this "body art" and piercings? Will they still be beautiful after our bodies start to sag....

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good. ---Lao-Tzu
And what about the way we speak to others--some of the things that come out of our mouths are far from beautiful. Wouldn't it be interesting if the words that came out of our mouth had pictures attached to them. What would the things we say to our family look like? Would we think more about the things we said if they were daggers? Or maybe covered in filth? Or what if our language was full of sunshine and flowers? I have heard the phrase "Vomit of the mouth" and while that is a very visual description it does explain what some people have coming out of their mouths. So the question is "What words do we value as beautiful?" and do the things that come out of my/our mouths--do they make us beautiful or ugly?
Have you ever wondered which hurts the most: saying something and wishing you had not,
or saying nothing, and wishing you had?

Do the clothes make the man?

Fashion is what you adopt when you don't know who you are.
~Quentin Crisp

How we choose to cloth ourselves gives the world the opportunity to judge us. While it might not be a fair judgement in how we are assessed our clothing speaks volumes--good or bad.

Clothes can suggest, persuade, connote, insinuate, or indeed lie, and apply subtle pressure while their wearer is speaking frankly and straightforwardly of other matters.
~Anne Hollander

I find it interesting how people put so much value in name brands. Some feel that the more you spend the more it is worth--and while i agree that some things are better made and are more valuable i truly believe a t-shirt is a t-shirt.

Know, first, who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly.
~Epictetus

Again it does not matter how beautiful you are dressed if what you are covering with those clothes is an inferior product. We need to be the best person we can be on the inside--that is what we will be judged by...

If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies.... It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.
~Albert Einstein

I love the fact that i believe/know that I am a daughter of god. It helps me appreciate the blessings i have. I know that my heavenly father loves me know matter what. I was created in his image--he thinks i am beautiful. It is my responsibility to be as beautiful on the inside as he knows i can be.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgsen Burnett :
"'Whatever comes,' she said, 'cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.

We need to appreciate the blessings we have been given and be willing to help those who are down on their luck--by thinking of others it makes us more beautiful

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street,
I met a man who had no feet.
---
Ancient Persian Saying

We are all beautiful people--it is up to us to cultivate it in ourselves and each other.I think about the savior---was he what you would consider a beautiful person? I tend to think not. He was born of humble means, no beautiful clothes adorned his body. He lived modestly. Those that were drawn to him did so because of his spirit--the knowledge he had of who he was and what his purpose was here on this earth--he was beautiful--but his beauty came from the inside

If honor be your clothing,
the suit will last a lifetime,
but if clothing be your honor,
it will soon be worn threadbare.
----
William Arnot

Where did the break go to?

The quiet is deafening....
even with the TV's on for background noise....
my children are all gone...
back to school for the remainder of the year....
The holidays are over...

the tree and all things Christmas have been removed.
Playtime,sleeping in and eating poorly...
OVER.....

I am a bit sad---
sometimes life really does move too quickly.!
I want to savor those moments of unstructured life...
of just hanging with my kids--
playing games--

laughing
cherishing those moments for what they are
FLEETING!

With the start of a new year
it only serves to remind me of this fact.
We have now reached the oldest childs graduation year--

it seemed as if it was a long time in coming....
and yet....
I blinked my eyes and it is here--
in 5 short months she will be graduating
and while i will once again have all my kids home for the summer
it will be different.

We have started down the slope of the exodus...
some days i think i am ready for this
like when the busyness and stress are getting to me.
And then there are those other days--
like i had during break
where i enjoyed every--
I mean EVERY minute of my time with them.
Even cleaning was a pleasure...

I guess some things are just not as much fun by yourself....
Back to my solitude.....

.......at least i still have the dog to keep me company......