Siblings

I think everyone can agree that most siblings fight. Actually most siblings fight a lot.

I remember when I was little I used to fight like cats and dogs with my oldest sister, thank goodness we finally learned how to get along with each other, but my poor mother had to clinch her teeth through at least, what? Probably about twelve years of fighting for it to actually happen. Of course that is a guesstimate, 'cause my oldest sister is six years older than me I don't don't even remember when we started fighting.

I just know I have memories of throwing grape juice on her nice clean white shirt (we both got grounded that time), and taking off on an uberlong bike ride to a friends house when she wouldn't drive me, mostly just to piss her off and prove that I would do it when she (keep in mind she was a teenager at the time) told me that if I wanted to go to my friends house so bad that I should "ride my bike". It was probably at least a six mile bike ride and I was only in the fourth grade at the time. I knew I could probably get into big trouble for it, but I also knew it was more likely that she would get into big trouble for it. Wasn't I a sweet little sister!? Best EVER I tell you!

Anyways, I point these things out mostly to say that I fully deserve what I got. And that is three children who bicker. A LOT. And when they aren't bickering it's rare... but it actually looks something like this :

And I count my lucky stars when that happens, cause I know it probably won't last long. It serves it's purpose though, and that is to remind me that there is always hope that the bickering may someday come to an end. It may take twelve years, mind you. But it WILL end.... eventually. :)

Boy I love them in spite of it though.

Talk About Bravery

May God (Or whomever you believe is in ultimate control of this universe) bless this man. I sincerely hope that he has a lasting impact on, not only his students, but his nation for a very long time.

If you didn't go to the link, it is about a man that lives in Afghanistan and runs a high school there where he not only allows boys, but girls to learn. It is a rare in that part of the world to have girls be allowed an education. He is getting death threats and such because he refuses to exclude the girls from his school. He is truly someone with foresight.

What a brave man.

A Friends Wedding :)

So last weekend Jer and I took a trip up to Island Park (sans kids, thank goodness) to go to a wedding of our friend James to his longtime sweetheart Lindsey.

James is a great guy, he works with Jer, and participates in the geeky fun of both World of Warcraft and Dungeons and Dragons with both Jer and I. He is really intelligent and has the funnest sense of humor.....

Anyhow, the wedding was beautiful! It did storm on us a little (it was an outdoor wedding) but as "they" say having it rain on your wedding is a good omen! I think it has something to do with the supposition that if it rains on the wedding day, all the days after will be full of sunshine. Whatever, either way, it wasn't windy and the rain was only light so it turned out OK in the end (though many of my pictures didn't!).

Afterwords the rain cleared out and allowed for a great dinner. Roasted pig and turkey and the works. It was great fun and I'm glad we were invited!

Best wishes on a future full of great times to both the groom and the bride!

Foul Mood

I'm in a foul mood today, foul, foul, foul.

I'm grumpy as hell, I think it's probably PMS, but it's really irritating. I'm even irritating myself! And that's saying something! (my poor children!)

Arrrrgh!

Time to go try for a short nap. Hope it vanquishes it some.

Silly kiddo

So for those of you that aren't around EB a lot, I will tell you one thing.... the kid is a toon!

The other day I gave each of the kids a cookie, in the basement (yes, I broke my own rule, but I really didn't want to have to go supervise upstairs and they were in somewhat distructo moods).

EB took his and quietly sat down against one of the big pillows I made, and pulled the little cow blanket up over his legs. Looked up and me (I was right next to him), grinned, and started to munch away at his cookie.

He so rarely sits still outside of being asleep I was surprised that he did it of his own accord :)

Missy's Hair

My favorite hair do site is doing this thing where she describes how to do a hair do and then you do it and take picture... so here are ours.

Best way to lose weight anyone?

After looking at photo's of myself that were taken this last weekend I've come to the conclusion that I'm nearing what I like to call the "just shoot me" weight.

Jer and I have talked about ever getting to a certain weight, and my plead to him if I were to ever reach it is to "just shoot me"... he of course argues that there is no way in He** that he could do that. My fear is that my body will revolt and do it for him, not necessarily through shooting, but more likely through diabetes or heart problems.

Holy crappola I'm heavy. The person I picture in my head is in no way shape or form the person that comes out in pictures. Where did she GO!?!? And DOG GONE IT, it's time to find her again!! No more misses "I think I'll exercise." Now it's misses "I'm going to the doctor to get some REAL recommendations, and possibly a gym membership, and letting myself on the computer ONLY if I have ALREADY exercised!"

Time to get out a chart and some stickers to mark those times that I've exercise so I can tell myself "Yah! I've done really good!" or "crap I suck! Time to get on it again!". Maybe that way I won't fall off the wagon and just stay off, maybe then I'll be inclined to jump right back on. maybe.

If that doesn't work? I honestly don't know. Hire a personal trainer? And possibly talk to a nutritionist to see what the crap I need to do about food intake? Maybe if my pocketbook feels it, it will be more painful NOT to exercise.

So... what have you found works best for loosing weight? Have you ever been REALLY overweight (you know, more than 20lbs) and recovered from it? How? Did you ever worry that by exercising to hard you might have a stroke/aneurysm? How the crap do you gradually work UP to a good exercise when you just want to make sure you ARE exercising?

Ugh.

I HAVE to fix this BEFORE my children learn my bad habits in a way that THEY struggle with it.

Boating wit der Fambly!

So Monday came along and the origanal plan was for Winders and her kidlets to take the loooooooong trek home.... but ALAS! They decided to stay one more day!!!! Yay!

So Dad decided to pull out the boat and take us all boating!

Here is another "picture overload" of the day :)

Qwerty holding EB on the boat as we race along and Dad being captain.






























Qwerty holding the boat to the floating dock so we could tie it up and play and have lunch!

After lunch (no pictures sorry... 2 hands, 3 kids, nuff said? m'kay) ... Winders and Missy swiming. When missy first got in she had a really hard time with her life jacket and keeping her face out of the water, it wanted to tip her forward, so Winders ran and jumped in a saved her! Yay for great aunts!

More fun on the dock!






























Goober and Miss Thang jumping into the water at the same time.:)


Miss Thang using the "floatie" lol I can't believe she actually got her legs through the holes.



























And Goober using the "floatie". He actually seamed to enjoy the thing even though it was ment for smaller kids :)

EB in Miss Thangs goggles... I didn't even adjust them. Didn't realize the kid had such a large noggin! And of course Missy getting ready for us to take off and go tubin'.


































Qwerty on the tube (he was AWESOME!)

And Miss Thang with Goober, then Winders and Missy went together "really slowly" :) Missy loved it.


















EB was so tired, he missed his nap, and therefore totally konked out on Miss Thangs lap as we were all tubin'.

It was so fun to have them come visit! I always love having them around, and while it hadn't been that long since last time we saw them, I was still sad to see them go. I love them tons and hope to see them sometime soon again, it's always a blast when they are around!

Der Fambly

So on Sunday my sister Winders and her kidlets stopped by my parents house for a visit. :)

So of course we went up for a visit as well!

Miss Thang and Goober went for a ride in the paddle boat...



Then Goober hopped out and Missy jumped in with Gpa J!































It was a beautiful day....

Then it decided to rain a bit.....

So we all decided inside was a better place to be for a bit.












You know.... playing Rockband and such :)

And when it got sunny again Goober and Miss Thang went out and caught some frogs by the pond! Here is Miss Thang with hers....


And a picture of one of Goobers little froggies....



















All in all it was a very good day! :)


And I even think some of the frogs survived it! Amazing!

Having a "Riot"

So Friday night we decided to take the kids to "Riot Zone"... it is after all, as close as we get to an amusement park around here (which is very, very, sad!). Goober had asked me a couple of days before if we could go golfing... and while neither Jer or I play "real" golf and Goober had never even set foot on a real course, I decided Miniature golf was the way to go to see if he even enjoyed it. In the event that he didn't enjoy it, Riot Zone had other "stuff" the kids could do instead. We invited Gma and Gpa J to come with us.

Needless to say it was a hit.

I've been wanting to take my kids there since last summer, but somehow whenever it would occur to me we wouldn't have sufficient funds, if you know what I mean. Well, this time I made sure it happened.

They had a great area that was chalk full of inflatable toys. Everything from a jump house to inflatable boxing etc... It was wonderful cause EB could get involved too! He absolutely loved this big inflatable slide and went down it over and over and OVER.

After a while the adults all decided that it was time to leave the inflatable area. The kids were getting overheated (mine overheat really easily, something they definitely get from their mother... put them out in the sun and have them run around for five minutes and they are bright red. and not from sunburn. Though that happens occasionally too). As we were waiting to get something to drink EB decided he was just as interested in the drain as he has been in the inflatable toys. Silly kid jumped/stomped on it for about five minutes without any sign of distraction.

Missy somehow ended up with an "owey" on her finger. She was distraught. Thank goodness Gma J had some Band aids (though she didn't "technically" need one) and Gpa J had some good snuggles.

Then of course the Shaved Ice distracted her from the owey for the rest of the evening... even though it (the shaved ice) didn't last that long.

EB got mad at me every time I touched his cup. He wanted to do it himself dang it! So I let him... I did have wipes in my purse after all. :)

Jer (as always) was great with the kids and enjoyed a rare shaved ice as well. It seams that they become less common as you become an adult? or is that just that you remember them less? I dunno.

Missy had a hard time hitting rather than dragging her ball around the course. We tried a few times to help her out and then just let her do it however she wanted. Besides, we were there mostly for the kids anyways :) It was important that they had fun.

Goober was pretty good to stay off the "green" most of the time when others were taking their turns. Though most of the kids were oblivious to others the whole time we were on the golf course. They were almost comical with how often they would have been run over by an adult had the adult not been paying attention. Good thing the adults were though. :)

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EB was really good while the rest of us played golf, and though Gma J couldn't play along with us (darned shoulder!) I was glad she came along anyways!

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After golf we let the kids play on the inflatables again for a little while and then took off for home. .
Not only did we have fun, but we got to sleep in today as well. Double Bonus!

Pictures

EB

Missy

Goober