Ok so I may have more backbone than 10yrs ago,but this shows that some things really don't change :-)


You Should Try Mountain Biking
Riding a bike is just about your speedNow take it to the next level!

http://www.blogthings.com/whatextremesportshouldyoutryquiz

Quiz Time!

You've Changed 24% in 10 Years
Ah, the past! You may not remember it well - because you're still living in it.While you've changed some, you may want to update your wardrobe, music collection and circle of friends.http://www.blogthings.com/howmuchhaveyouchangedin10yearsquiz/

I have to admit that in some ways my life is not a whole lot different now than it was 10yrs ago. My clothing is still not what my kids think I should wear,but I dress more in 'classic' styles anyway which are pretty consistent through the years. My music interest has changed to include more Top Country. And most of my friends from then are still my friends now though I've been abundantly blessed to make wonderful new friends and reacquaint with childhood friends all who I hope will still be my friends in 10yrs.
The biggest change is that I'm now close to having SIX kids instead of just three! A few more grey hairs, surely more backbone, and unlike a fellow blogger who is counting years until her 40th bday and her eldest child's 18th (which makes me feel really old "S" LOL) I'm mere months away from my 40th and my eldest child will be 19 in a couple of weeks AND a married woman in a few short months!
Excuse me while I find my cane and BenGay :::::wink:::::

"We're the DOODLEBOPS!"

Ok WE aren't,but we did see them tonight. E-Male, Pickles and Lisa's nephew AJ are all big fans of the Doodlebops or "BopBops" as Pickles refers to them. They were here for one night and we decided weeks ago to surprise the boys by bringing them to the show. Given that it was nearly bedtime for all of them and that E-Male hadn't taken his nap I didn't quite know if they'd behave. I also worried that Pickles would be overwhelmed by the people, loud sounds and lights. Fear not! They were so happy; Pickles especially. It was actually kind of funny because AJ and and E-Male who are 3 & 4 respectively sat quietly through the whole show! And Pickles stuck to Grammie (Lisa's mom) like glue until just after intermission when he wanted to sit with me. The show was QUITE loud during a couple of songs especially one where it was the aim of the song to get the audience to yell as loud as possible. Poor K1 began to cry and Lisa and I took turns bringing her out to the lobby twice for a few minutes. Then we tried putting her into the sling so that it, plus Lisa's arms around her would help muffle the sound a bit and she drifted off to sleep within moments, unaware of the massive volume coming from the speakers not far from where she lay snoozing.
Overall, it was a good time. I think the parents in the audience enjoyed the show more than the kids at some points. LOL You know it's a good time when the grown-ups are doing more of the clapping and hand motions than the kids. The theater was super and we'll go back in the future for other shows. The crowd was polite and orderly. And the best part is that it's only 15mins from home! Sure beats fighting traffic or crowded Red Line trains to get to a show and hoping you make it in time. We weren't five minutes into the ride home when Lisa & I looked behind us and E, N and K1 were all sound asleep.

Tickets: $22 each
Parking: $5
Seeing the joy on these little ones' faces: PRICELESS!

Fun with FUR!

Yesterday was my one outing for the week. Ok I did go to WallyWorld on Friday night,but it was a rushed trip. Yesterday though was planned, at least in the beginning. Lisa & I were supposed to attend an all day baking seminar put on by King Arthur Flour; we've been waiting *3 years* to attend one. She called ahead the night before to make sure we could bring the baby and was told it was no problem. Well, we got there and due to poor planning on the part of the function coordinator and poor communication on the part of KAF's staff, we saw literally dozens of people standing around because there were no chairs left and no room to put more anyhow and then told we couldn't have the baby there. Needless to say we were much less than pleased and gone within about 10mins. As we left the hotel, we saw others leaving as well and they didn't sound any happier than we did about it all.

So what are two moms and a baby to do on a beautiful and warm sunny day? Why go shopping of course! Before Lisa had her daughter we had planned to go to Build A Bear to make her first lovie,but for various reasons it never worked out. Now we had no excuses. When we got to BAB, it was typically crowded,but we didn't mind; we were mommies on a mission! On Friday, Princess G had received a BAB email showing the newest lovie; a lamb and it is TOO CUTE! Princess G loves lambs; her very first lovie ever was a lamb and she still has it, she also went through a Lambchop phase when the show was popular the second time around. Well, when we walked around looking at all the lovies, we all thought it was just too cute to pass up. Mind you, we went in with the intention of making bears! Fuggedaboutit! When Lisa handed it to KeeKee; she grabbed it in both of her tiny fists and starting chewing LOL (lucky there was no mint jelly around eh?). We both made lambies for our baby girls and it set the rest of the day off in a much happier tone. (Princess G will get to make one for her birthday in April if they still have them).

After many hours and a few detours we finally remembered where we live and headed home having had many laughs, dozens of smiles, cheery conversation with other adults besides our families and best of all a happy baby who I must say was good as gold after such a long day. And beleive it or not I had only TWO contractions all day. Hmmm....a month of bedrest and contractions all the time while resting; then an outing like that and I got two? Someone 'splainy if you will. Maybe God figured I was due for a happy, silly day?

Now I ask you, doesn't this little lamb look like she's just asking to be played with and snuggled by a little girl?

And Good News Keeps Coming....

I found out tonight that I'm going to be an auntie too! Granted, all my nieces & nephews are actually through my in-laws,but I love them just the same. My youngest brother-in-law and his wife are having their first baby after a few years of marriage and we couldn't be happier for them. BK is actually due just days before Miss Tinkerbelle's wedding which should be exciting; having multiple little babies in attendance. My mother-in-law and Great-Grammie will both be tickled pink (and maybe blue too!). What's fun is that in this family since it's so large, there seem to always be at least two members pregnant at the same time and there are sooooooo many close birthdays! In fact our new princess is due the day after Princess G and the day before this brother-in-law. Well, BK is pregnant with me and due two days after one of our nieces so she's right in step! BK is understandably nervous this being her first baby; please keep her, my BIL and their sweet baby in your thoughts and prayers.
Since good news comes in threes, does this mean that I *AM* going to win the HGTV Dream House like I've been saying? Or will it be Powerball? ::::::grin:::::

From Baby.......To BRIDE!

So what do you give to the mom who apparently has everything? How about a vacation LOL
Well, I have to be honest here in saying that I love all my children to no end; what mom doesn't right? I even love them when they give me grey hairs (which tends to happen alot more frequently these days LOL).
That being said, how would YOU handle the long dinstance announcement from your 19yr old daughter that she's getting married? Hmmm.....yes folks not only am I having a baby within the next few weeks, I'm gaining a son-in-law as well. Certainly not the direction I thought my life was going in,but it is what it is right? After a week of shock (she'd called to tell her dad) I got a phone call too telling me her news, her plans etc and from her tone, looking for my approval and support. What can I say? I did not give birth to this lovely girl, she is not blood of my blood,but she is heart of my heart. I still think she's too young and that she should wait,but I think one of the toughest parts of parenting has to be letting them fly. She's on her own and has been for a year and if this is the choice she has made, what can we do,but try to be as loving as we can? She will always be our little girl and no matter what we'll always love her. I'm not taking the place of her mother and will not try on the big day,but I know that my Tinkerbelle always knows how much I love her and that this is just one more link in the chain we've built over the years. How did she go from being this beautiful, intelligent 3yr old who stole my heart before her daddy's did to now being close to being a married young woman? I must have blinked. Seems like just yesterday she was a giggly 6yr old tugging at the itchy crinoline on her flower girl dress while her dad and I exchanged our own vows. :::::::::sigh:::::::
So now my plate is more full as I prepare for our new little princess to arrive and help plan a wedding for our first. And Princess G? She couldn't be happier and is thrilled that she'll be a bridesmaid for her beloved big sister's special day. My girls are growing up ::::::::sniff::::::: I guess that's why God decided to send us another one. And if she's lucky, we MAY let her get married some day...after we are stricken by Alzheimers.
As the saying goes....
"A son is a son 'til he takes a wife, but a daughter's a daughter the rest of your life."

I love you Tinkerbelle!