There are some people who know me IRL, who are laughing their asses off right now

Stolen from Peaches: actually this is fairly accurate of me. It's just the intellectual part that will induce a few giggles.


You're a political intellectual.


What Sort of Intellectual Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Oh, come ON, Barbara!

She is a bit odd. A slight curiosity, perhaps. But THE Most Interesting Person of 2005? I think not.

What a boring year this was.

Puh-leez!

If you look up "Ironic" in the dictionary...

Is it just me, or is this funny?

There are just so many things on that page that made me laugh.

MORE Phrases I almost never use in conversation with adults

Yes, it's that time again, folks...you can read our first installment here.

* Yogurt is not a finger food.

* It's 16 degrees outside. Perhaps you should wear pants.

* That does NOT go in the toilet.

* Carseats!

* Why do you have dominoes in your pajamas? (answer: Because they make a funny sound when I walk!)

* Did your pants stay dry last night?

* Don't put that in your nose.

*Sit on your bum!

* No, you cannot type W right now. (especially since the W got knocked clean off Mommy's keyboard. Any suggestions??)

* Look with your eyes, not with your hands.

* No, your hands do not have eyeballs!

SNOW!!!

Okay this is a couple of days late. But give me a break, I had to cook Thanksgiving all day yesterday. And then last night we watched Madagascar. Actually, we are were (I have been working on this post all night, hard to believe, I understand) watching it again tonight. It is the hot new movie in Candyland. I may have to learn to post video just so that you can see and hear Bug sing & dance to "Moob It Moob It." Then, he will tell you that BabyFafe yikes it, too.

The snow is all gone now. We are actually supposed to be up into the 50's by Sunday. I may shave my legs. Nah, why go crazy?

THE POINT OF THIS POST??? To show you how much fun SD and the kids had in the snow on Wednesday. But now? I am too tired. Uploading those photos is such a pain in the butt. So, here is the link to the Flickr set. Trust me. Fun was had by all. Even me. Only you don't see me. 'Cause I was taking the pictures. And then making the hot chocolate. Mmmmm. Hot chocolate. That would be good before bed.

So....snow pictures---->Flickr! Go! See!

My hot water is boiling. 'Night y'all!

Not here...over there!

I already did my blog work for the weekend. The lovely ladies of MommyBloggers asked questions of several bloggers (probably you, too). My answers are posted there today and tomorrow and yesterday too! Go visit. You'll be glad you did!

Thirteen Thursday Thankfuls

Thirteen Things Buffi is Thankful for: 1. My children are healthy and happy and well adjusted (as far as YOU know) 2. My husband is the most amazing man on the planet and loves me like I never imagined someone could love me. 3. I have never, ever gone to bed hungry, cold or afraid for my life or my children. I've never had to worry about how I will feed my children or whether or not I can afford to take them to the doctor when they are sick. Trust me. I know what an enormous blessing this is. I truly and honestly thank God every day for this. 4. My parents are both alive and healthy and married - to each other - and are a vital part of my kids' lives, even from several states away. 5. I have the most wonderful girlfriends in the world. People I know I can call in the middle in the night and would be there for me on a moment's notice. And they know I would do the same for them. 6. I have some of the coolest, most compassionate internet friends who validate me every day and help me know that I am not the worst mom ever. I love you guys! 7. I have gone a whole week without a migraine! Yay Topamax! 8. TiVo. (any questions?) 9. My daughter was sooooo angry with me at bedtime tonight. Why am I thankful for this? Because even as mad as she was (trust me, she was pissed), she still wanted me to lay in her bed and read a chapter of her book to her and sing her a lullaby. She will be nine in six weeks, folks. I'm treasuring every one of these moments I have left. 10. Snow. No really, I hate snow. But my kids? They love it. And they had a blast playing outside in the snow today. So I am thankful for snow. Funny how that works. (pictures soon, I promise) Talk to me about this again in March... 11. Pampered Chef. 12. Central Heat. 13. DAILEE! (I know you were waiting for this) Keep up your prayers, people, because they are powerful! After I posted last week, she went home from the hospital on Friday afternoon. She had a scan on Monday and her tumor has shrunk significantly and the lesions that were on her kidneys are gone. Her counts are up so much that she is being allowed to go to her daddy's high school football team's play-off game. (He is a coach). They are all thrilled beyond belief. She is eating and doing really well. She starts her next round of chemo next week and it is supposed to be a particularly nasty one. (You know when the oncology nurses say it's nasty that it's gonna be a bitch). So keep up the prayers and good thoughts folks. God is sooo good. 14. I know, I know...but I am so thankful for all of you who come and read here. You all are a huge boost to my confidence every day, whether you comment or not. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday. Much love to each and every one of you!! Mmmmmmwwwwwaaaah! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

How can you argue with this logic??

My boys have enjoyed playing "firefighters" as of late. They put on their rain boots (Bug's are red and Bear's are yellow), their jackets, and their "helmets" and they play up in their room, putting out fires, rescuing cats from trees, etc. They stay entertained for hours! It's great!

Bug likes to take his boots off and toss them down the stairs. I've asked him not to do it. Why? I'm not sure. Is it going to break the stairs? The boots? Probably just because it sets a bad precedent. I don't like imagining the other things that might get tossed down the stairs next.

However...(and you knew that there was a however right?)

Bug tells me last night, grinning as his boots bounce down the stairs, "But, Mommy! Dey go 'bom-pity bom-pity!!'"

So you see my dilemma, right?

Geez! The whining! It never ends! (and I'm not talking the kids here!)

I spent the weekend feeling miserable. Evidently, I get ill in installments. Fever a couple of weeks ago. Then this weekend, I had the sore throat and fatigue. MAN was I tired. Friday night I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Achy joints, headache, stuffy nose, scratchy throat....no fever. I woke up Saturday morning feeling even worse. So SD let me go back to sleep. I finally got up around 11:30. I had to run a few errands which were so NOT FUN.

I needed to try on that bridesmaid's dress but felt sooo crappy. But I love my friend, so I drove over to a different bridal shop. This white-trashy woman tells me that their (skanky) dressing rooms were "by appointment only" and that if I wasn't going to buy the dress from them, I couldn't try one on. I tried explaining that the bride & the wedding are in Dallas, but she really didn't care. I also tried reassuring her that I would purchase shoes and my daughter's flower girl dress from her but she was just a bitch-on-wheels and wasn't going for it. I was about to cry.

I got in the car & pulled out the phone book and called another bridal shop to see if they carried this brand of dresses AND could I please, pretty-please-with-sugar-and-a-cherry-on-top try them on there???? This girl was all "Well, of course darlin! That's tha SharLee's difference!" I love her.

Only this place is waaaaaaaaaaay over about two towns away. I thought I knew just the way to get there. Only I was wrong and I went through some scary parts of town to get there. But get there I did. (With the help of SD and Mapquest - that was fun). So, tried on dress, only really it's separates and I get to pick my top. So I've narrowed it down to three tops. Heh.

Get home. WRUNG OUT. SD has to go to mass. I suggest pizza for supper and my suggestion is met with enthusiasm by all. After supper, I have everyone in bed by 8:15. I feel so good (not) that I crawl into bed with a book (YaYas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells) at 8:30. By 9:30, the light is out and so am I. SD is stunned.

I slept like a rock but had really weird dreams, so I didn't feel all that rested. SD got up with Bug and Bear for me again. SugarPlum woke up and wanted to go to Sunday School. So, I got dressed and drove her there so that SD could study a little. Came home....hung out with the boys...got them down for naps....laid back down and restedread my book some more. Until...

My friend, G, called and went with me to decide which top I wanted for the wedding. She is the good kind of friend who will tell me, "Um, no, that on is not flattering," or "This one really accentuates your 'positives.'" Definitely someone you want to go clothes shopping with. Next, I had to get the girl at the shop to take my measurements. LOVE that. I'm telling her how I'm going to the gym now and won't be nearly this humongous by April, blah, blah, blah. She gives me that pity smile that says, "Yeah, I hear that a hundred times a day. Now let me go get the extra large tape measure..."

After that fun, G & I go get a quick coffee at Panera and I get home with seconds to spare before SugarPlum needs to leave for choir. I say needs to leave. Because she doesn't actually leave until ten minutes later because she "got distracted" upstairs by a book. (What parent complains about her kid reading? This one. The one whose kid is always ten minutes behind due to Harry Potter or some other literary phenomenon.) I blog a little. I whip up a yummy chicken pot pie for supper. I blog a little more. I stay up way too late for a sick person. And then, dammit! It's Monday morning. How did THAT happen??

Now....because it has taken me almost as long to type this as it has for you to read this(Yes, I mean you, because I cannot imagine more than one person making it this far) ....it is Monday evening. And I still feel crappy. In fact I feel feverish. And my throat hurts. And my ear hurts. And frankly, I can't stand to listen to myself whine any longer. I'm putting you out of my misery now. Nighty night.

Weekend Recipe Exchange - Thanksgiving!

Theresa finally posted the theme for the recipe exchange TODAY! So I decided to share The Queen's recipe for cranberry sauce. Actually, I have embellished it by adding mandarin oranges to the mix. I'm also contemplating stirring in some walnuts, but haven't been brave enough. What do you think? I love this sauce. My boys like it, too.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!


Spiced Cranberry Sauce

1 C. Water
1 C. Sugar
1 3" piece fresh ginger, peeled
1 firm pear, diced
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1 12oz pkg. cranberries
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
2 Tbsp lemon juice


Bring first 2 ingredients to a boil in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly(who actually stirs CONSTANTLY??). Boil 5 minutes. Add pear and lemon peel, return mixture to a boil and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cranberries, reduce heat, simmer without stirring 3-5 minutes until cranberry skins pop. Remove from heat, cool. Remove and discard ginger. Add mandarin orange. Cover and chill. Stir in lemon juice just before serving. Enjoy!

Hot & Bothered (a love letter)

I shall seek and find you.......


I shall take you to bed and have my way with you.....


I will make you ache, shake, and sweat until you moan and groan.


I will make you beg for mercy......


beg for me to stop.


I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I'm finished with you.


And you will be weak for days.........


All my love,



The flu



Now get your mind out of the gutter and get your flu shot!

Time outs for all my friends!

Why is it that when my kids have a day off from school, I always think it is going to be such a great thing? Until about two hours in. *sigh* How long until bedtime?

Calgon take me away!

Buffi's Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Thoughts from Buffi 1 . For those of you who commented on my not purchasing any Pampered Chef items, if you look, you will see it said "YET." Last night I gave my friend an order for...well, more than $50, because with an order over $50, you got a free bottle of their Double Strength Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract. And I'm all about the free stuff. I also placed a Tastefully Simple order, although SD made up most of that order. The Garlic, Garlic was more than he could pass up, among other things. 2. It is cold and snowy here now. At 3:30 in the afternoon, it is 28 degrees. I am officially DONE with Ohio. 3. I went to try on bridesmaids dresses for my friend Elizabeth's wedding in April. I drove all the way over there yesterday morning and once I finally parked in front of the shop, I saw that they didn't open until NOON on Wednesdays. WTF?? So now I have to find another day that I am childless to go do this. 4. SugarPlum's teacher had such good things to say about her at our conference last week. She has straight A's. (Although, SP pointed out to me, it's an A- in math. Whatever.) Her only "problem," the teacher told us, was that sometimes she wants to teach the class. It's mostly because she gets so excited and interested in what the teacher is talking about that she comes home & gets on the computer to research what they are learning about. Then she goes back to school & shares what she finds out. Who DOES that? She is such a great kid. (Remind me of this next time I rant about her. On second thought, don't. It will just piss me off.) 5. I went to the doctor this afternoon. Doogie, who I saw in July, is no longer at this base. So, I saw another PA who was just a cool. My migraines have been getting worse as of late. To the point that I requested preventative medication. So I am starting on Topamax. I have heard differing opinions on this medication. Namely from Holli, who has had success with it and Angel, who hates it with a passion. At this point, I am willing give it a few weeks. 6. I also needed to discuss my crazy pills and how they don't seem to be helping as much. He said that maybe once I get the migraines under control, maybe my depression issues will be eased as well. He didn't want to change too much of the medication all at once. I'm inclined to agree. 7. Starting Topamax means that I must now stop nursing Bug. I'm sure that there is a collective "It's about damn time" out there since he is two and a half. But it is part of his bedtime routine and he is my last "baby" so I am having a really hard time coming to terms with it. But the migraines are making me be NOT a good mommy, so that is what settles it for me. I haven't been home the last two nights at bedtime, so tonight, I will have to be "creative" on the redirection. I've been doing the LLL "Don't offer but don't refuse" method. Not successful. When I say "Ready for bed?" he tells me, "No, Iona nuss." *sigh* Wish me luck. 8. I have decided to stop making Bear take naps. He was having trouble going to sleep at night. And given that he is four and a half, I suppose that it is time. However, this is cutting into my naptime, so I'm having mixed feelings. 9. Did you realize that Thanksgiving is in ONE WEEK?!?!?! 10. One week, I tell you! How did that happen? Wasn't Halloween the day before yesterday? 11. We had dinner at Quaker Steak and Lube Saturday after the museum. It was actually very good. I was surprised! The kids loved it. Pictures will be on Flickr soon, hopefully. 12. I have so many pictures that I need to upload onto Flickr. I am dreading it. Why will it only take fiveat a time? What is that about? I hate having to keep going back and do five more. It takes forever. 13. Dailee is still in the hospital and having fever. She is finally eating, mostly McDonald's chicken nuggets and mashed potatoes, but hey, that's better than nothing. She is on her fourth antibiotic now. They can't seem to get a grip on what is wrong. She has had a transfusion and a bunch of other stuff. It's pretty scary. Please continue keep her in your prayers. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Angel - Give Me Something to Sing About 2. Sleeping Mommy 3. Karin - Heartsongs 4. Multiple Mania

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

It means "no worries" for the rest of your meal....(sing it with me!)

I got to go to a Pampered Chef party tonight. It has been far too long since I had been to one. I seriously cannot turn one page of that catalog without finding something on it that I own. And there are many things of which I have multiples. Pampered Chef = Mommy crack.

This particular party was paired with a Tastefully Simple demo as well. I, somehow, had never seen one of these kitchen shows. Now I have something else to spend money on. That's good. Because really, the cash was just piling up around here. I've GOT to find some way to spend it all. Yes, the Air Force pays that well. *snort*

And do you want to know how much I spent tonight? Do you? Nothing. Zero. Zilch. NADA. I didn't buy anything. Yet. I always have to bring the catalogs home with me so that I can decide what I want. (Notice I said want, not need.)

Anyway. I had such a good time. There was good wine. Good food. And the chance to get to know some really neat women a little better. We are all Air Force wives whose husbands are in the same program. It's cool, because we all come from different backgrounds, Air Force-wise. But we have been thrown into this situation with our husbands. (Yes, there are women in the Air Force and in this program, but their husbands don't come hang out at the Pampered Chef parties with the girls. Go figure!) The hostess tonight, G, is actually someone I sorta, kinda, but not really knew a long time ago. Our husbands were at pilot training at the same time, though not in the same class. We have had a blast getting to know each other. She is very sarcastic and witty and of course gorgeous, like me. *cough, cough*

I ate soooo much. The Tastefully Simple girl, J, also an AF wife, had us sample a good share of their product line. Yummy. And of course, we had the PC food. She prepared a Tiramisu Ice Cream thing. And this frittata that was delish.

My problem is that my kids have been stuck on watching The Lion King lately. So every time she said "fritatta," I had to giggle. Because going through my mind was the theme song for a new Italian cooking show. Featuring brunch items. Called "Hakuna Frittata." I crack myself up.

Hey! We actually DID something this weekend!

***Please go over to Mommy Matters for a second and give my good friend, Christine a hug. Her beloved puppy dog, Kabiel, passed away last night. I know she is very sad and could use the support. Thanks!***


We finally decided to get everyone out of the house and do something this weekend. So, after naptime Saturday, we loaded up and headed out to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. It was a good move. We all had a blast. There was something for each of the kids. Lots of science: physics, water stuff, animals.

The Ohio wildlife exhibit was cool, but a little sad. There was a coyote that just looked so depressed. She was in this glass enclosure with some hay to lay on, but no place to run and be a real coyote. She just lay there looking resigned to her fate. The same for the bobcat that they had. Just sad. The otter at least had a pool of water to play in. He was pretty social coming up to the window and the people watching him. Of course, he could have also been telling us to leave him the hell alone.

We lost Bug for a few minutes while we were in there with the animals. SP and I were in there looking at the animals with Bug, while SugarDaddy took Bear back to the "garbage" exhibit. There was another little boy there about Bug's size. I thought Bug was right next to me, but when I looked down it was the other little boy. Panic! I looked around and called & called for him, but no response. Finally, I told SP to stay there while I went to see if he walked out to where Bear & his daddy were. No dice. I went back in with the animals and here came SP walking up with Bug. He had been back there looking at the "Snakes, Mommy!" the whole time. Yes, I had physical contact with the child the rest of our time there.

Finally, it was time for feeding the otters and we got to watch that. Bug thought it was a riot that they fed him hamburger meat first. He's still talking about it, except that he thinks it was a beaver so he says "Beaver eated a hungaburger!" Then Bear & SugarPlum went downstairs to see the otter/beaver (botter? ottver?) catch the fish that the guy threw in there to him. Then he would bring it up out of the water to eat it. Otters have big teeth!

After the feeding, SD took SugarPlum over to the "Grossology" exhibit. It had stuff about poop and puke and burps and farts. An eight year old's dream come true. The boys wanted to stay and "shop" in the little General Store that they have set up, so I sat and watched them. They were so funny. There were kid-sized carts and shelves with groceries (empty boxes) and bins with fake vegetables, bread, etc. Then they got to take it over to the little cash registers and check it out themselves. And then? They put it all up themselves! It was quite a strange phenomenon, I've never witnessed anything like it.

(on a side note, whenever I say the word "phenomenon," I think of that "Manamana" song from the Muppets and now I will be humming it in my sleep)


They also had a place where the kids could work on a play pick-up. My boys could have stayed there all day. AND there was an "Animal Hospital" where they could doctor stuffed animals. At the end we let them play on the climbing structures and in the water tables. They were soaked.

We went ahead and paid for a family membership when we first got there. I am so glad we did. We are totally going to get our money's worth. I'm thinking we will be spending a lot of time there over Christmas break.

SugarPlum popping her head up in the "Wild Ohio" exhibit

Bear being a vet in the "Animal Hospital"
Bug tries out life as a turtle
This truck held the boys' attention for quite some time!
Bear told me he was "workin' hard!"

more pictures in the post below...

Okay, I lied, sue me. Blogger is being a pain in the ass & won't upload my pictures. I'll try again tomorrow, I'm going to bed. Got it fixed! Go!...See!

More pictures from Boonshoft

Extreme time out

Look! The otter/beaver!

Bug & Mommy watch the otter/beaver

Splish Splash, let's all get soaked!

Chillin' on the ride home after a fun day!

(notice how wet his clothes are!)

Shamelessly stolen from Busy Mom

I always wondered how I would exact my revenge on the world. Now I know....


click on the picture to get your own.

Thank You for my Country

I believe that far too many of us take what we have for granted. There have been so many lives sacrificed and so many acts of bravery to attain and maintain what we - what I - have come to know as being an American.

I don't pretend to be anything close to an expert in history. But I do know what a tremendous act of courage it was for those men to sign the Declaration of Independence. And what sacrifices families have made over the last 200+ years to preserve that freedom proclaimed and fought for by those early patriots.

My daughter's school did their Veterans Day program yesterday. Her speaking part was about how Veterans Day was originally Armistice Day and how nobody could have fathomed a war more brutal than World War I, the so-called "War to End All Wars." But a few short years later, World War II began and acts more horrible than anyone had ever imagined were being perpetrated on fellow human beings. And each time America stepped up for the "good guys." Our soldiers, sailors and airman fought to rid the world of oppression and tyranny. Not so that they could look good or receive glory. But because it was the right thing to do.

Stop for a moment and consider how different your life would be if those brave men and women hadn't gone into battle for you. Because Hitler wouldn't have stopped with Europe. And those Cold Warriors, who get little recognition, are the reason you don't have to stand in line for your daily ration of food. The reason you are allowed to go to church. Whichever church you want to attend. Or NOT go to church. The reason you are allowed to wear the clothes you want to wear, read the books you want to read, drive the car you want to drive, and be friends with whomever you like. They are the reason that you can say that you think our government stinks and that you should be the president. And even the reason that you won't go to jail or be executed for burning the flag (Just don't let me see or hear about you doing that, because I reserve the right to open a giant can of whoop ass on you if you are so foolish as to do so). You have so many freedoms that you don't even think about day-to-day, because somebody fought to preserve them.

So I would like to personally thank each and every one of the people who have served this country - my country - and defended her in times of war and in peacetime. I have a safe place to raise my children. I am so proud of you. I am proud of my husband. My grandfather. And all of the fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, sons and daughters who have stepped up to the plate and said "I will keep you safe."

God bless you all. And God Bless America.

Which came first?

earlier this evening...


Bug (yelling from downstairs): I stuck, Mommy! Hay-ulp! I stuck!

Me ::running to the stairs, seeing my two and half year old half in/half out of a basket about the size of a...well a basket (and wishing I had brought the camera)::

What are you doing in the basket?


Bug: It's da egg, Mommy!



**of course it is!**

Buffi's Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Buffi 1. I am feeling much better, thanks all of you who have been checking on me. The fever was random & unexplained. Just enough to make me achy and whiny. 2. The pizza clean-up wasn't nearly as bad as I was afraid. Mostly just that cookie sheet. 3. I'm sick of pizza. 4. SugarPlum's school had the Third grade Veteran's Day program this morning. Lots of patriotic/Americana songs. She had a speaking part. She did great. 5. Yesterday, it went from 71 degrees to 59 degrees in an hour and a half. There aren't many leaves left on our trees. 6. We put the flannel sheets on our bed last night. Mmmmmmm! I love that. So warm & cozy & flannelly (it is a word now). SD said he was hot. Whiner. 7. I got the boys pictures back yesterday. Bear's is soooo good. And the one of them together was very good as well. Bug by himself? Not so good. Sort of a forced smile. I didn't buy it. BUT they did get canvas tote bags with their picture on it. Bear is very proud of his! 8. That "Family Night" at SugarPlum's school last week? Was just the Book Fair family night. My boys at a book fair. Not a good idea. They love books, but since they couldn't dump them all in the floor, it was no fun. The were b-o-r-e-d after about 18 seconds. SD took them home. So, SugarPlum and I walked home. In the dark. I never realized how dark it is on this side of the school. I won't make that mistake again! 9. This afternoon is our parent/teacher conference. I enjoy those. She's a great kid. 10. Since tomorrow is Veterans Day, SD is off and SugarPlum has no school. I've decided to keep Bear home to have some time with his daddy. He is happy about that. He LOVES being with his daddy! 11. I'm excited about Theresa's new site. The piggies have flown away and now she has this sassy new place called This Mom Blogs. Go check it out! 12. I have been really bad about the gym this week. I went on Monday and rode the bike for about ten minutes before I gave out. That's it. I haven't been back this week. I've felt so crappy, physically and mentally, that I couldn't muster up the energy. Maybe tomorrow. (Yeah, right, Scarlet!) 13. Finally, for those of you wanting an update on Dailee...she went home yesterday after her second round of chemo. It has been rough. She went week before last for the one day chemo and ended up staying several days due to an infection. A round of antibiotics and a blood transfusion got her home finally. Her hair started falling out & she decided to let Scott shave it. He has shaved his head also. Several of the guys on the HS football team he coaches shaved their heads as well. How cool is that?! She had a hard week this week on chemo. She was really sick at her stomach. She hasn't really eaten anything in nearly a week because she says it all tastes "like a sewer." She is so tiny anyway, she can't afford to lose much weight. She is drinking though. She also gets nasty headaches, but won't take Tylenol because she hates the taste. Her blood counts are pretty low right now and she is scheduled for another transfusion tomorrow. Bless her little heart. It is so difficult to imagine having to watch your child go through this. Please continue to keep them all in your prayers. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Sleeping Mommy 2. Multiple Mania 3. Jen & Davin 4. Heartsongs (Karin) 5. Angel ~ The headache slayer! 6. Heather ~ Blah, blah, blog

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I think I'll be okay

Ben had this link over at his place:

Death By Caffeine

I'd have to drink 227.50 cans of Diet Coke before I was dead. I've only come close a couple of times. It's that last half a can that puts you over.

My morning addiction, British tea, is a little more intense: 170.63 cups to kill me. I'll have to keep that in mind on those mornings when I have been up all night with the kids. Or blogging. *yawn*

Is it warm in here or is it just me?

As I type this, I have a fever of 101.1. Interestingly enough, this has nothing to do with my post. Just thought I'd whine a little. Wah.

Sunday was a little hectic in Candyland. Well, actually that is not entirely true. We decided Saturday night that since everyone in the house was dead tired, we would not go to church. Bug has been getting up between 5:15 and 5:45 since the time change. And then he didn't have a nap Saturday. Bear has been on the verge of a cold for days and didn't go to sleep until nearly 10:00. SugarPlum actually asked if I would just let her sleep in Sunday and that girl never wants to skip church. So, we decided it was best to have what a friend of mine calls "a bedside service" on Sunday.

Bug was the first one up at about 7:30. I know this because SD told me. I never heard him. SugarDaddy had a big test on Monday and was needing to study, so he finally came in and got me up at about 8:45. SugarPlum actually slept until 9:30. We hung out in our PJs all morning. It was nice. I got the boys (and me!) down for naps at a reasonable time.

After naps, SD tells me that a guy from class is coming over to study. This throws a kink in things because SugarPlum has church choir at 5:00 and she can't miss it. If I take her, then dinner gets messed up. We try to always eat by 6:00. We decide that I will take her & run to Meijer to pick up something to go with the roast I have in the fridge for dinner. I had planned to take the boys with me, but they chose to stay home & watch a movie and promised be good so that Daddy could study. SCORE!! I got to shop all by myself. That never happens.

So on my way back to the church from Meijer, I call SD to tell him that I didn't get any potatoes for dinner, could he start some rice? No problem. A few minutes later he calls back to 1) ask if I wanted him to make new rice or warm up the leftovers and 2) tell me "Oh, by the way, the freezer in the garage must have gotten unplugged at some point because pretty much everything in there is thawed." CRAP!

Mental scan of what was in the freezer.....spaghetti sauce.....waffles....eight, yes 8, frozen pizzas of varying size and type. Now what's for dinner? PIZZA! It's a pizza extravaganza! I get home and there is pizza in the oven, pizza in the microwave, and pizza waiting to be cooked. Thing is, unfrozen frozen pizza doesn't take as long to cook as frozen frozen pizza. So we had some interesting experiences. Also? Frozen pizza crust that has thawed some and then set on the kitchen counter to finish thawing? Not quite so firm or able to hold its shape. Gloppy, goopy, gooey mess. In my oven. I wish I had taken pictures. Because no words can express how gross (yet funny!) it was. SD slid that last pizza (spinach, portobello mushroom, & garlic!) into the oven, only it didn't slide so much as droop. And stick. And slide. We slid an emergency cookie sheet beneath it, but by then it was all mashed and wadded up. Not appetizing at all. Personally, I do not recommend this method of pizza cookery.

Also? The milk I bought at Meijer? Had a hole in the jug somewhere. Milk everywhere. So while the unfrozen frozen pizzas are cooking, I am scrambling to find something that can hold (not quite) a gallon of milk. Who's cup needs refilling? Howzabout let's have a Colorado Bulldog to drink with our dinner, honey?! Yum. (Yes, the hangover is a fading memory) Sheesh. Like I need that much stress at dinnertime. Over pizza of all things.

So, we finally get all the kidlets to bed at a halfway decent time. I came downstairs, took one look at the kitchen- cookie sheets and oven racks and just the oven all coated in hardened, baked-on cheese- and got all Scarlett O'Hara about it: "I'll think about it tomorrow!"

Punny Business

The Mole Family

A mama mole, a papa mole, and a baby mole all live in a little mole hole. One day the papa mole sticks his head out of the hole, sniffs the air and says, "Yum! I smell maple syrup!"

The mama mole sticks her head out of the hole, sniffs the air and says "Yum! I smell honey!"

The baby mole tries to stick his head out of the hole to sniff the air, but can't because the bigger moles are in the way so he says, "Geez, all I can smell is....


You may never forgive me for this one...

MOLASSES!

7 things Meme

Okay, many moons ago Sleeping Mommy (as well as several others) tagged me with this meme in one version or another. Then more recently T'pon of Prolly All the Time tagged me as well. Sorry it has taken so long. I'm not tagging anybody because, as far as I can tell, you have all done it! If you haven't, get busy, it's YOU I'm tagging! Hey, guess what! Erin did it, too!

Now on with the show!!


7 Things To Do Before I Die:
1. Go back to Italy
2. Go to Russia
3. Visit all 50 State capitols
4. See my children happily married with kids (and grandkids!)
5. Get in shape
6. Have my house clean & organized
7. Move back to Texas for good.


7 Things I Cannot Do:
1. Go to bed at a decent hour.
2. Sew anything beyond replacing a button or fixing a hem.
3. Listen to Celine Dion.
4. Keep my room even picked up.
5. Go to bed without tucking in my kids & giving them one more kiss.
6. Resist a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.
7. Go a day without Diet Coke.

7 Things I CAN Do:
1. Nurse my children forever (apparently)
2. Cook amazing meals for my family.
3. Eat an entire economy size bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.
4. Sing Ave Maria.
5. Drive a stick shift.
6. Read to my children for hours.
7. Sleep. Anytime, anywhere, for as long as you will allow.

7 things I say most often:
1. "Are you making smart choices?"
2. "Do you have stinky pants?"
3. "Time out, mister!!"
4. "Mommy loves SugarPlum/Bear/Bug."
5. "Clean up this mess."
6. "Who loves you most in the whole wide world?"
7. "I said no hitting/pushing/biting/head bonking, etc!"

7 Things That Attract Me To The Opposite Sex:
1. Eyes
2. Sense of humor.
3. Good laugh.
4. Good hugger.
5. Smile
6. Moral
7. Likes kids.

7 Songs I Know All the Words To:
1. Ave Maria
2. Amazing Grace
3. Baby Beluga
4. The Voice of Truth
5. Held
6. The Facts of Life theme song
7. Nearly every lullaby out there.

7 Celebrity Crushes:
1. Matthew McConaughey
2. Chris Noth
3. Cary Grant
4. Colin Firth
5. Sean Hannity
6. Tom Selleck
7. Tom Hanks

But it worked so well the first time...

My resident "Scawy Dinosaur," SugarBug informs me just now that he wants to put on his "cosasume (costume)."

When asked why, he tells me "Iona go twick ah tweat outside!!"

Upon being told that, no, trick-o-treat is over, he tells me "But our bags are all gone (empty)!!"

That kid. What a problem solver!

The Lap of Luxury

Yogi and Snazzy sleep comfortably on their $1200 dog bed. Also known as my couch.

visit the Friday Ark

Buffi's Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Buffi 1.The weather is so nice today. Almost 70 degrees. So, why am I having to force my children outside? Right now Bear is wearing a long sleeved t-shirt, sweatpants, no shoes and a winter hat. Crazy boy. 2. Yesterday for SD's birthday we went to TGIFridays and had terrible service. We went early so that we could have plenty of time for birthday cake afterward. As it turned out we didn't get our food until about 45 minutes after we ordered. The manager would only say there was "a delay." That the kitchen was so busy that they got backed up. Whatever. That would hold more water if all of the people around us hadn't gotten their food & left before we got ours. Dork. We got our dinner for free, though, plus over $30 in vouchers, so it wasn't a total loss. 3. I was up way, way too late last night doing those stupid "Blogthings" quizzes. It's like a disease, those things. 4. Tonight is "Family Night" at SugarPlum's school. I am glad to finally get up there and see what she is doing at school. But I am in such an "unmotivated" mood that I am wishing it were another night. 5. A couple of days ago, SugarPlum came to me holding one side of her chest, telling me it hurt. She did it again the next day and wanted me to feel it. I told her that I thought she was beginning to "bud." (trying to tell this and avoid creepy searches.) She blushed form her toes up and said, "That's what I thought," and then she was giggly the rest of the night. I am so not ready for this onslaught of hormones! 6. I finally started eating Halloween candy. Now I can't stop. 7. In a related story....I have only been to the gym once this week. And that was Monday when I rode the bike for a grand total of nine minutes. That was it. 8. Oh, and that Pilates kit I bought a few weeks ago to use on the days I'm not at the gym? Still in the box. 9. My best friend, Elizabeth, who is getting married in April, keeps sending me pictures of wedding dresses. It sucks, because I so want to be there in the shop with her to help pick out the dress. But I love that she is including me in her quest. I miss her. 10. My other best friend (what, am I in junior high?), Kristina, is getting married in May. She hasn't even started looking at dresses. She has two kids (my godchildren) and a very, very hectic, busy life. I hate that I can't be there to help her with her wedding. 11. Note to SugarDaddy: Please don't take this as me being mad at you for moving us up here. Because really, what I want most in the whole wide world is to be with you. I'm just whiny today. 12. Is it juvenile that I have three "best friends?" Kristina has been my best friend since high school. We've been through a lot. Elizabeth was my pledge trainer in college. That's a fun story I'll have to share sometime! And The Queen has been my best "Air Force/mommy" friend since we met in England. I love them all more than I can express and cannot imagine my life without any one of them in it. I think I am just very lucky to have these three extraordinary women in my life. 13. Dailee goes in tomorrow for her second round of chemo. Keep her in your prayers still. There have been many obstacles and scary things over the last couple of weeks. I will give a more thorough post about her tomorrow. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Multiple Mania 2. Sleeping Mommy 3. Erin 4. Jen 5. My Blather

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

To the man I love

Picture removed at the request of SD.

Long story...

Someday he'll come along, The man I love

And he'll be big and strong, The man I love

And when he comes my way

I'll do my best to make him stay
He'll look at me and smile, I'll understand

Then in a little while, He'll take my hand

And though it seems absurd

I know we both won't say a word
Maybe I shall meet him Sunday,

Maybe Monday, maybe not

Still I'm sure to meet him one day

Maybe Tuesday will be my good news day
He'll build a little home, That's meant for two

From which I'll never roam, Who would, would you

And so all else above

I'm dreaming of the man I love

~Billie Holliday

I found him already. And my life is so much better for it. Fourteen years of wonderful. What a blessing. I love you, Sweetheart.

Happy Birthday SugarDaddy!!

Yes, this is a very, very old picture. But trust me when I tell you it was the best one I could find (of me, because really it's all about me, right?). He is very handsome though, isn't he?!

Halloween in Candyland

Bring us your sweet, your sour, your chocolates, yearning to be eaten! (Quote from Brian!)

SugarPlum chose to be the Statue of Liberty again, saving me the money for the Hermione costume. We couldn't find the torch. But that was cool, because really, it just weighs you down.

SugarPlum and her buddy & next door neighbor N.

My "Scawy" Dinosaur. You have to hear him roar. Cutest. roar. ever.

My sweet little fighter pilot! He was pissed that we didn't have boots like Daddy's for him to wear!

Making the world safe for us all!

He's done. No more trick. Give me the dang treats already!

We all had such a great time last night. The weather was beautiful, even in the dark, it was 60 degrees. Just cool enough that nobody was hot in their costume, but warm enough to go without coats.

SugarBug wasn't quite sure what we were doing at first. He wanted to go into every house. Once he figured it out though, he was all about Trick-or-Treating! He kept telling me "I YIKE trick-or-treat!" He wanted to walk and stay out of the wagon at first. Since he is a little slower, I stayed back with him while Bear and the girls went on ahead with SD. We caught up to them about every third house as they zig-zagged across the streets.

After about 10 or so houses, Bug needed a rest. He got out if there was a dog or a "baby" (anyone his age or younger) and he kept telling me that the little girls were Baby Fafe! (His internet crush)

At one house, these guys were outside being pirates and basically scaring the pants off all of the trick-or-treaters. They were very good natured about it and had kids "walk the plank" to get candy. My boys were not impressed, unless you counts clinging to Mommy and shaking "impressed." The guy handing out candy was nice & walked the plank to them and let them pull out a chocolate "finger" and "ear." Pretty funny. Bear couldn't wait to get home & eat the finger. But, when we passed back by that house on the way home, we had to walk waaaaaay on the other side of the street!

We stopped at another friend's house. She is a college math professor, and they had the best pumpkin/jack-o-lantern ever. At first it looked like it just had numbers carved into it. Then her son showed me the Greek letter carved in the side and told me that it was "Pumpkin Pi!" Hahahhaaha!!! Sure enough, the number around the top was 3.14(whatever.....). That cracks me up!

By the time we got there, Bug was completely done and just wanted to ride in the wagon and have a lollipop.

We got home just before bedtime and let everyone have one piece of candy. Bear, of course wanted the "finger!" Then we got to hear about how they all wanted more. And how it wasn't fair. It was a fairly half-hearted argument from all, however, because they were so worn out from the walking. And, in spite of the sugar, they all went to bed fairly easily.

I'm thinking of letting them just eat as much candy as they want after school today, just to get it out of their systems. They aren't used to much sugar. I'm thinking if they overload today, maybe they will develop an aversion. Fantasy, I know, but please allow me to cling it for now. I really don't feel like fighting them today. And, who knows? Enough candy and maybe they will all just fall into sugar comas and sleep until tomorrow morning. And then, I won't have to cook dinner. This fantasy just gets better and better!

Oddly enough, I haven't had any of the Halloween candy. None. At. All. No reason, really, just haven't wanted it. I know, call a doctor. Maybe the gym is doing me some good after all.

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!