Jasmine

that was then....



this is now.

When pickle...my oldest...was 2, we decided to get him a pet. We knew someone who was looking for homes for the litter their cat just had. To this day, I'm really not sure what possessed someone so highly allergic to cats as myself to up and get a kitten. All I can remember is seeing them playing and being so lovable...kittens are the most adorable little things. Not only did we bring one home for the pickle, we brought one home for my sister. So our cats are cousins, yet brother and sister...I know it sounds a little backwoods hillbilly but it wasn't a breeding thing..just a home placement thing. hehe

Believe it or not we both still have these cats. What, 10 yrs now? Funny thing is, they both think they're dogs. Mine has always run dogs out of our yard and atleast one of my dogs is scared of her. The bigger of our two dogs, actually...but that's a whole nother story. And my sister's cat...well he runs with their dog. I guess our cats really are two peas in a pod. Here's a pic she sent me...



love it!

We've spent alot...I mean ALOT...on this cat that thinks she's a dog over the years. I remember one time she got sick. After a $500 emergency visit to the animal hospital and $100 monthly payments for over a year to the vet she came home to us with a hole in her neck that we had to feed her through with a syringe. I swear she's gone through her 9 lives by now...and then some.

We love our little fat cat Jasmine!

Cougars and the Hogs

My youngest, aka the nugget, joined a football league for the first time this year. It's been alot of fun. So far they hadn't lost any games. Yesterday they were scheduled to play Metamora and honestly we were a little worried that this could be their first loss. We were told they had some big kids and they played dirty. After talking to the coaches whose teams played them last week, our coaches spent the whole week training these boys to stand their ground. Boy were we all surprised to get there and see Morton waiting to play us. We knew nothing about this team but their players were huge! One of these kids was as big as their coach! I was squirming in my seat watching those boogers plow through our boys....well, that and that fact that I had to pee for about 3 hrs. I was so not using that porta potty..nasty does not begin to cover what I saw in there. Lets just say the used toilet paper was coming up out of it...I cringe.

Back to the boys... We weren't scoring at all but I was so impressed by these little boys holding the hogs back...yes, their name was the hogs. By 1/2 time the score was still 0-0. The Cougars didn't give up. Still can't get over how big the hogs were...
Anyway, At the end of the 3rd we started scoring. The Cougars ended up winning 20-0.
Noone saw that coming. I'm so proud of our team and can't remember the last time I saw such an exciting game.

I gotta say my nugget made me the proudest of all. They said his name over the PA system 4 times for his terrifying tackles...My heart stops every time he goes down... and he even recovered a fumble. That's my baby!

Nugget's team is now 4-0. We all celebrated with a pizza party at Coach Hefner's. Can't wait til the next game!

Thanks to everyone who's been coming out to support the Cougars this season. Nugget's so proud of his cheering section :)

Survivor

I haven't watched Survivor since the very first time it ran. I liked it but just couldn't get into it after that. Today a friend of mine sent me an email with a suggestion for the next season of Survivor. Thought some of you might get a kick out of it. Oh and for the record.... Mr.M says he's not interested in participating in this. Sorry Jeff Probst, you'll have to call someone else.


THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports
and either take music
or dance classes.
There is no fast food.
Each man must
take care of his 3 kids,
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
and complete science projects,
cook, do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money.

In addition, each man
will have to budget in money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember the birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time

--no emailing.

Each man must also take
each child to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make
one unscheduled and inconvenient
visit per child
to the Urgent Care.

He must also
make cookies or cupcakes
for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for
decorating his own assigned house,
planting flowers outside
and keeping it presentable
at all times.

The men will only
have access to television
when the kids are asleep
and all chores are done.

The men must
shave their legs,
wear makeup daily,
adorn themselves with jewelry,
wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,
keep fingernails polished
and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks,
the men will have to endure
severe abdominal cramps, back aches,
and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never slow down from other duties.

They must attend
weekly school meetings,
church, and find time
at least once to spend the afternoon
at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to
read a book to the kids
each night and in the morning,
feed them, dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair by 7:00 am.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information:
each child's birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size
and doctor's name.
Also the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear and
what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island
based on performance.
The last man wins only if...
he still has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over
and over again for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
to be called Mother!

Another nugget...

One more thing...
Sorry, I know I may seem a bit like a blogging fool today...what can I say...it's a busy day.

Just wanted to say Congratulations to Uncle Jake and Aunt Kelly on their new, adorable, precious, ..did I say adorable...little nugget of a nephew. I'm so happy to have a new baby in the family. Well, technically family...or will be one day since Jake's gonna marry my sister some day soon and give me lots and lots of little nieces and nephews.

Quit giving me that look Jake..it was just a thought :p

Enjoy the new baby guys!

Miss you

Today is also the anniversary of my mom's death. 13 years it's been now. Someone gave me this poem... I still cry every time I read it.

GOD ONLY TAKES THE BEST

GOD Saw That She Was Getting Tired
And A Cure Was Not Meant To Be

So He Put His Arms Around Her
And Whispered "Come With Me"

With Tearful Eyes We Watched Her Suffer
And Watched Her Fade Away

Although We Loved Her Dearly
We Could Not Make Her Stay

A Golden Heart Stopped Beating
And A Warm Loving Heart To Rest

GOD Broke Our Hearts To Prove To Us
That He Only Takes The Best

~Christopher Warner



We miss you mom!

My Alfalfa...

14 years ago today..the year was 1994. That was the momentous day that Mr.M asked if I might like to go to the drive in. How exciting... I'd never been to a drive in and I'd been swooning over the incredibly gorgeous Mr.M for about a month now. Yes, in those days he was a bit of a bad boy... I think that just made him all the more irresistible. He was just sooo cute....still is if I do say so myself. Plus my mom liked him. It couldn't have been more perfect.

What movie did we see? The Little Rascals. hehe I know, I know.... There was another couple going too and taking their little girl...in another car of course.
We had a good time...and that's how it all began. We've been together every day since. Well, except for a couple days due to the yearly canoe trip...male bonding macho crap. It's been alot of years and sometimes he drives me mad....but I love him more today than ever. He is my Alfalfa.

Always a lawyer in the bunch

Every great once in awhile I'll get up, look at the calendar, and realize.... we have nothing scheduled to do today. It doesn't happen very often but when it does I am so elated. Well, until it fully hits me...WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO TODAY! You get so used to the running here and there, always a deadline you're trying not to forget, that when you're faced with nothing... I gotta admit, I panic a little. I start out by cleaning. Don't ask me why. I don't know why I feel that when you have to much time on your hands you need to clean...I guess I've got a little June Cleaver in me too, Cari.

When there is nothing else that can possibly be cleaned, I start bothering my children. Yes, I said bothering. My children are at an age now where they still enjoy the occasional "hang out with mom" time, but not quite as often as they used to. It seems they prefer your average every day shenanigans that boys get into more than quality mommy time. What could possibly be more exciting about airsoft guns and football than the woman who gave birth to them?! Anyway, my point was... they're happy to spend time with me, just not hang out with me because I'm bored. They have lives.....that's what they tell me. kids!

So I suppose I should make a big dinner. We never have time for that during the week with all the practices, school and church requirements. I set out to make a dinner that everyone will stand up on their chairs and thank me for....just like in the Tyson commercials. Hey~ a girl can dream, can't she? I made it without things that I've been previously told my kids just could not eat without vomiting, something so plain jane even my youngest, who changes his likings daily, could not resist. After cooking for a good hour and a half, I serve this well planned dinner. They sit, they eat....and it starts. "What is this? I do not like this. I've never liked this. Did you make something else for me?" One guess who that's from....yep, Mr. can't remember what he does and does not like. My youngest. He could eat something today and then tell me tomorrow that he has never,in his life, liked that. He even tries to tell me that he's never had it. I don't know why he does this. I'm convinced the boy just lives to argue. The boy has seriously argued with me about the color of something that was laying right in front of me! I swear he will make for a very good lawyer one day. Believe it or not, I've learned to not take the bait...for the most part. He'll try to rope you into an argument about 50 times a day... you just gotta be strong. Good lord the boy has made me strong. hehe

How can you resist a face like that? Is that a sparkle coming from his smile? It's hard to stay mad at my baby for long.

The day wasn't completely a bust though. I did get raving reviews for my well thought out dinner from the rest of the mob. I know they were secretly happy about my youngest's pickiness.... they polished off his helpings in no time flat.

I guess my point is.... there's no use planning on a lazy day. Just take it as it comes, because you're always gonna have an unhappy little nugget in the bunch.

Cowboy take me away....

On occasion I like to meet up with old friends...have lunch, catch up. It's just nice to find out what new and exciting things everyone is up to. Yesterday, we had one of these happy little get togethers. This time around we actually gathered for a reason. An old friend of mine has decided to up and move across the country. Yes, I do believe she's done lost her mind. Getting rid of everything, packing up the car and driving off into the sunset with anything she can fit and a couple cats to boot. I'm a girl who likes a plan. I want to know where everything's located, what time it's happening, and how much this gonna cost me. So as you can imagine, this trip of hers freaks me out! Just thinking about it stresses me incredibly. What is she thinking?!

But wait..... starting a fresh... change of scenery.... getting new stuff... new adventures...... OK, this isn't sounding so bad anymore. How many people haven't thought of doing just that? "Cowboy take me away" by the Dixie Chicks is playing in my head right now. Oh, to escape from it all. How magical that sounds. I guess she's not so crazy after all. Now there's only one thing to figure out..... how do I fit 2 kids, a husband, 2 dogs, a cat, and a turtle in the car for our big escape? I'm sure my kids would gladly forego clean underware to save a little space. hehe Just kidding people...they're not that nasty.

Best of luck Kristi!

The most wonderful time of the year

Fall is finally here. Yes, I know according to the calendar it's still technically summer. Those of you who know me well also know i tend to rush these things. I simply can not help it. To me autumn is the most wonderful time of the year.... the cooler air, changing leaves, and don't get me started on Halloween...we love it! Considering today is only supposed to be a high of 64 degrees and our trees are already turning beautiful shades of red, I believe mother nature is a conspirator in my delusions of summer being a thing of the past. So, I've decorated for this wonderful change and don't worry....I'll hold off on the Halloween decorations...for now.



Ok so there's one Halloween decoration out already. To be fair, I did have it turned around. My children have inherited my fervor for the holidays though and they simply could not let this little guy's spooktacular smile not be seen. Who can blame them.....

Oh what fun a flood can be

Imagine my complete shock when I awoke this morning to my little town emerged by water. Yeah we get some big puddles but this...this was just unbelievable.

I turn from the window and walk..more accurately sprint...to my basement. There is no doubt in my mind that it'll be flooded. What a wonderful surprise when it was dry as a bone. My relief was short lived, though. By the time we got home from church we were under seige! The men quickly gathered to MacGyver our way out of this.

After extending the sump pump hose to drain somewhere that wasn't already under water, we decided there really wasn't anything else we could do. So of course the next logical step would be to go play in it! Oh did we ever play!

yes siree..that's a canoe right there

In the school playground...

tipped within minutes.

Then a few spins in the raft.

Oh what fun a flood can be!

Having children is like being given a second childhood. What a blast it was to splash and play!

Of course, we weren't gonna let them get back in the truck after this ....we're not that fun. So here are a few shots from the walk home.

hello

Well I suppose it's time for me to join the rest of this fast paced, high tech world of ours and begin my own blog. Don't get me wrong, I have blogged before. Those times were just little extras on different sites though. Never have I done one where there is nothing else to entertain you but the words that I've typed. Can't tell you how much the pressure is stressing me out at this very moment. Deep breath...ok, here's what I've come up with. I may ramble on and on. I might entertain you or bore you to death. Get over it... this is my crazy little life and if it doesn't interest you... move on. So there! Now that tantrum is over....I suppose I should go do something so I have something exciting to talk about tomorrow. stay tuned.