The "imaginary list" (Tammi) in my head is all checked off! Went to bed at 2AM, about an hour earlier than I thought I would.
~Bought all 30 teacher's gifts--LOVE the dollar tree--little tins of tea and shortbread cookies in a stocking, yay!
~Root beer and party mix for the "1" male teacher, yay!
~Blanket washed and made and gifted last night during a little "get-together," yay!
~Kids' teacher's gifts de-tagged, wrapped and gifted this morning, yay!
~Different book exchange gifts bought late last night--LOVE Books-A-Million-open til midnight, yay! (dislike children who didn't like what I had already bought, yay!)
~Cinnamon popcorn made and tasted...yummy, yay!
~Lots of cherry Coke, yay!
~Hot tea, yay!
~Coffee, yay!
~Indoor plumbing (thank you Thomas Crapper), yay!
~TheraFlu for Anna, yay!
~Someone else made dinner and had us over, yay!
~Didn't have to wash uniforms 'cause today was "Christmas-wear," yay!
~Going back to bed for an hour, OH YEAH!
5 Kids 1 Great Journey
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
MY HOLIDAY CURSE(S)
I definitely should not be sitting down at all, not even to blog, but I need a break. I have a buttload of cinnamon popcorn to make by tomorrow for a school party; I have a blanket to make by 7pm tonight, and the material is just now washing; I was informed last night, VERY LATE last night, that my hubby thought he should probably get a small gift for the teachers--yeah, all us women know EXACTLY what that meant. I was up until 2:15AM helping Molly start AND finish a project that she has known about since Thanksgiving. We had words from about 11PM until 2:15AM about the importance of not procrastinating and how this will be the LAST time I stay up helping with a project last minute. It was worth 300 points, what could I do? I know, I know. Then I was up at 6AM to wake Anna so she could study for Mid-terms, as she has a bit of a head cold and went to bed early last night. Gerald and the kids off to school at 7:30AM and Zac and I head out the door shortly after to find those gifts for the teachers. Back home about 12:30PM, bank account depleted, and fed Zac the sandwich we picked up at Blimpie; he proceeded to spill his root beer and I said a Holiday Curse that went something like, "Well, shooting stars, Zac, how many times have I told you to put the lid on your drink?!" "Sorry, mom, it was an ancident." "Alright, I know, just be careful 'cuz I'm trying to be happy for the holidays." LOL.LOL.LOL. That's all I could do--stress laughing, I call it. I used to do it in my sleep at college during exams, or so my roommates said. They'd yell at me to be quiet and I didn't even have a clue I was laughing in my sleep. Weird, huh.
I was ahead, now I'm behind, such is the Holiday Curse. The Holiday Curse has nothing at all to do with Christmas, it is its own entity and allows me to blurt out "OH, HOLIDAY CURSE," and then insert whatever "word" I deem appropriate in my head and nobody has to be in the know about what I'm thinking or feeling of the holiday season ") Like the other day when I went to Target to buy cinnamon redhots for the cinnamon popcorn--they only had a little 6oz. tube for $2.99 OR you could buy them from the Jelly Belly counter for $6.79/lb. I was like, WHAT? Well, deck my halls, how hard is it to carry big bags of cheap cinnamon candies?! Now I have to go to the scrooge of all scrooges--Walmart. I absolutely hate Walmart. I cringe just typing the letters; however, I've had to break my boycott and go in there TWICE this holiday season. Seriously, makes me want to go through the self-checkout and scan my butt just to see what they would do. Sorry, mom.
I actually was stupid enough to schedule hair appointments AT THE MALL this past Saturday. We spent about four hours there b/c they were so far behind...and I had ALL the kids. No hubby, he was barricaded at school finishing about six projects for his master's degree class. That was on Saturday, it was due on Sunday. See a pattern here? Molly, Gerald. Then I went back on Sunday to have Jake's hair cut--my fault, I messed it up awhile back and it needed fixed. Oh, yeah, we also attended not any less than two athletic events this past weekend. We ate frozen taquitos and frozen chicken strips and frozen pizza. We did, however, fix fresh veggies w/each frozen, preservative-laden, non-food, food. We lost our dog on Friday. Found him on Sunday; I'm rethinking having put up "Lost Dog" signs b/c he's barking right now and I'm tired. VERY tired. We skipped church.
Well, I have to go double check that the kids' basketball uniforms are washed, yeah, games tonight. I've wrapped about eight gifts and have about that multiplied by 1,000 left to do...not really that many. I'm thinking about just sticking a bow on top of each box or tying a ribbon around each Target bag. Do the kids really notice anyway? I think not. Hmmm...not a bad idea; we waste too much paper and cut down too many trees as it is. Washer's done...time to make the blankets!
Happy Shopping, only 5 days left.
I was ahead, now I'm behind, such is the Holiday Curse. The Holiday Curse has nothing at all to do with Christmas, it is its own entity and allows me to blurt out "OH, HOLIDAY CURSE," and then insert whatever "word" I deem appropriate in my head and nobody has to be in the know about what I'm thinking or feeling of the holiday season ") Like the other day when I went to Target to buy cinnamon redhots for the cinnamon popcorn--they only had a little 6oz. tube for $2.99 OR you could buy them from the Jelly Belly counter for $6.79/lb. I was like, WHAT? Well, deck my halls, how hard is it to carry big bags of cheap cinnamon candies?! Now I have to go to the scrooge of all scrooges--Walmart. I absolutely hate Walmart. I cringe just typing the letters; however, I've had to break my boycott and go in there TWICE this holiday season. Seriously, makes me want to go through the self-checkout and scan my butt just to see what they would do. Sorry, mom.
I actually was stupid enough to schedule hair appointments AT THE MALL this past Saturday. We spent about four hours there b/c they were so far behind...and I had ALL the kids. No hubby, he was barricaded at school finishing about six projects for his master's degree class. That was on Saturday, it was due on Sunday. See a pattern here? Molly, Gerald. Then I went back on Sunday to have Jake's hair cut--my fault, I messed it up awhile back and it needed fixed. Oh, yeah, we also attended not any less than two athletic events this past weekend. We ate frozen taquitos and frozen chicken strips and frozen pizza. We did, however, fix fresh veggies w/each frozen, preservative-laden, non-food, food. We lost our dog on Friday. Found him on Sunday; I'm rethinking having put up "Lost Dog" signs b/c he's barking right now and I'm tired. VERY tired. We skipped church.
Well, I have to go double check that the kids' basketball uniforms are washed, yeah, games tonight. I've wrapped about eight gifts and have about that multiplied by 1,000 left to do...not really that many. I'm thinking about just sticking a bow on top of each box or tying a ribbon around each Target bag. Do the kids really notice anyway? I think not. Hmmm...not a bad idea; we waste too much paper and cut down too many trees as it is. Washer's done...time to make the blankets!
Happy Shopping, only 5 days left.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
A LITTLE PIECE OF ME
A little over a year ago, our life took a sudden journey through an unquestionably long and dark tunnel; we thought we might never see the light at the end. It was the Lord's plan, no doubt, but it was a very painful journey for many people in our lives; however, pain often inspires. It often is the catalyst for my writing, specifically poetry. I do not consider myself a poet in any sense of the word, that makes me laugh, I just consider myself a person that can put together rhyming words pretty well. I'm short on time and brain power today so I thought I'd share a writing of mine; I may think better of it tomorrow. I may totally embarrass myself. That's okay, that's life, let life be what it will. Hope you enjoy.
HANDS
First intertwining of lives together
Mine in his and his in mine
Unfamiliar flesh
Made familiar with time
Two parts of two bodies
Different and the same
Forever move like two of one
One pulse, one heart, one name
Cold with lonely
Wet with tears
Weary with work
Tremble with fear
Children held and let go
Parents tried and failed
Devil tried to part
Both had felt the nails
Eyes grow dark and cannot see
Feet refuse to stand
Ears turn off and will not hear
Still forever I'll know his hands
Amy 9-2005
Friday, December 15, 2006
ANYONE FOR VITTLES?
We moved to a "truly" southern state this year. I've noticed the past few weeks traps in alot of yards and after contemplating this for several days, I remembered hearing someone say a while back
, "We have trouble with squirrels chewing our power lines here." Instantly, I knew what the traps were for...EWWW!
A few of our neighbors have a trap in their front yard; they all had us over for a get-together before we moved into our new home.
Ya'll come back now, ya' hear!
, "We have trouble with squirrels chewing our power lines here." Instantly, I knew what the traps were for...EWWW!A few of our neighbors have a trap in their front yard; they all had us over for a get-together before we moved into our new home.
Ya'll come back now, ya' hear!
SECOND SURPRISE
I have to preface the following by saying that I am plagiarizing the idea for this blog from my friend, Tammi, who is a naturally talented and witty writer. She is as witty in person as she is in her writing; she's wise, she's beautiful and she inspires me everyday. She also is a talented photographer; she took this photo of Zac in about 30 seconds. It captures his whole personality. Thank you, Tammi, let me know what I owe you ")
My fifth, my baby, will be having his fourth birthday tomorrow. This year he has become a child; he is no longer a toddler. The following is a list of some of his milestones that have made him such:
1) He now sleeps in his OWN bed, not Dad and Mom's, Anna's, or Drew's. This was a BIGGIE!
2) He is completely potty trained: No diapers, no pull-ups at night, he cleans himself.
3) He dresses and undresses himself and does this at the appropriate times; although, he occasionally still plays nude football.
4) He talks in a language that has morphed into English and we can now understand.
5) He eats mostly w/utensils and wipes on a napkin if he has one; otherwise, it's his shirt or whoever sits next to him ")
6) He learned somewhat that the world does NOT revolve around him and he doesn't get everything he wants, WHEN he wants it. He's learned about change and moving to another state. He's somewhat learned what COLD really means ")
7) He learned to share and negotiate but that, in the end, tattle-telling works the best
8) He got his first real two-wheel training bike
9) He's learned how to be sneaky, blame the "invisible person" and perfect ornery
10) He can make his bed and a pb&j. He can pour his own drink even if he trashes the kitchen in the process; he can clean up his mess in the kitchen or come tell mom; he usually does the latter
Zachary Eli. He's an amazing little man. He looks like Gerald, is the only one with my wavy hair, is athletic like Jake, contemplates life like Drew, giggles and hugs like Molly and bosses all his siblings around just like Anna. He's everything I never knew he would be and everything the Lord intended when he decided four years and nine months ago that we needed another surprise in our life. I'm still wondering and waiting to see the Lord's plans for the world that he put Zac here.
He grew up faster than my others because he is #5. He didn't call me "mommy" very long; he learns everything the older kids do and therefore, I'm "Mom," and Gerald is, "Dad". He calls carrots, "rabbits" b/c of the picture on the bag, he calls his elbow his "knee" and his boo-boos he calls by whatever activity he was doing when he got the boo-boo; for instance, he got a BIG bruise on his chin when he slipped doing pushups and he asked me the other day if his "push-up" was gone.
His phrases almost all start with, "Can I have..." and he always wants to tell us "sumpting", especially at bedtime. He's a good sleeper but his eating habits could be described as grazing. He still doesn't understand that grandpa and grandma live 11 hours away when he asks to "go to Papa and Memaw's house today for just a minute!"
His favorite "real" food is macaroni-n-cheese w/chicken fingers, but if he could choose, he'd have popcorn, sweet tea...with a lemon, a cookie and a banana for every meal. He loves Thomas trains and big trucks and he got a letter from Santa yesterday and keeps asking when he can open the presents under the tree. He always tells everybody that Santa brings his birthday.
I love that he grew into a child this year, but still lays on the couch with me, thumb in mouth and watches QVC. I wish I could keep him this age-- full of wonder and love and squeezable cheeks, the closest he'll ever be to an angel. Soon, he'll be fighting me tooth-and-nail to become a man and a leader and I'll then have to balance being his mom and being his teacher--allowing him a little room to practice his male, future-leader, dominant-gene skills so as to hopefully, carefully, help him to become a loving, wise leader for his future family and career.
I have the most important role in his life for now. He has the most important role in mine. The Lord put this little man into our family; he definitely completes it. Happy Birthday, Zac-Zac.
My fifth, my baby, will be having his fourth birthday tomorrow. This year he has become a child; he is no longer a toddler. The following is a list of some of his milestones that have made him such:
1) He now sleeps in his OWN bed, not Dad and Mom's, Anna's, or Drew's. This was a BIGGIE!
2) He is completely potty trained: No diapers, no pull-ups at night, he cleans himself.
3) He dresses and undresses himself and does this at the appropriate times; although, he occasionally still plays nude football.
4) He talks in a language that has morphed into English and we can now understand.
5) He eats mostly w/utensils and wipes on a napkin if he has one; otherwise, it's his shirt or whoever sits next to him ")
6) He learned somewhat that the world does NOT revolve around him and he doesn't get everything he wants, WHEN he wants it. He's learned about change and moving to another state. He's somewhat learned what COLD really means ")
7) He learned to share and negotiate but that, in the end, tattle-telling works the best
8) He got his first real two-wheel training bike
9) He's learned how to be sneaky, blame the "invisible person" and perfect ornery
10) He can make his bed and a pb&j. He can pour his own drink even if he trashes the kitchen in the process; he can clean up his mess in the kitchen or come tell mom; he usually does the latter
Zachary Eli. He's an amazing little man. He looks like Gerald, is the only one with my wavy hair, is athletic like Jake, contemplates life like Drew, giggles and hugs like Molly and bosses all his siblings around just like Anna. He's everything I never knew he would be and everything the Lord intended when he decided four years and nine months ago that we needed another surprise in our life. I'm still wondering and waiting to see the Lord's plans for the world that he put Zac here.
He grew up faster than my others because he is #5. He didn't call me "mommy" very long; he learns everything the older kids do and therefore, I'm "Mom," and Gerald is, "Dad". He calls carrots, "rabbits" b/c of the picture on the bag, he calls his elbow his "knee" and his boo-boos he calls by whatever activity he was doing when he got the boo-boo; for instance, he got a BIG bruise on his chin when he slipped doing pushups and he asked me the other day if his "push-up" was gone.
His phrases almost all start with, "Can I have..." and he always wants to tell us "sumpting", especially at bedtime. He's a good sleeper but his eating habits could be described as grazing. He still doesn't understand that grandpa and grandma live 11 hours away when he asks to "go to Papa and Memaw's house today for just a minute!"
His favorite "real" food is macaroni-n-cheese w/chicken fingers, but if he could choose, he'd have popcorn, sweet tea...with a lemon, a cookie and a banana for every meal. He loves Thomas trains and big trucks and he got a letter from Santa yesterday and keeps asking when he can open the presents under the tree. He always tells everybody that Santa brings his birthday.
I love that he grew into a child this year, but still lays on the couch with me, thumb in mouth and watches QVC. I wish I could keep him this age-- full of wonder and love and squeezable cheeks, the closest he'll ever be to an angel. Soon, he'll be fighting me tooth-and-nail to become a man and a leader and I'll then have to balance being his mom and being his teacher--allowing him a little room to practice his male, future-leader, dominant-gene skills so as to hopefully, carefully, help him to become a loving, wise leader for his future family and career.
I have the most important role in his life for now. He has the most important role in mine. The Lord put this little man into our family; he definitely completes it. Happy Birthday, Zac-Zac.
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