To the dentist I go...

Last Friday I received a phone call from my dentist office saying I was scheduled for a check up and cleaning on this Monday. Drats. There went my free time for Monday morning. I could have sworn I was just there. But it turned out to be a very pleasant experience. I was there an hour (I didn't think I had that much stuff to scrape off my teeth). My hygienist is very gentle and she doesn't talk my head off. I actually can relax there. The music she was playing was some oldies, which I find very easy to listen to. Duh, I guess that is why it's called 'easy listening'. Anyway, no cavities to report! Yeah for me! I think I will reward myself with some chocolate.

After the appointment, I drove down town to Clayton's preschool to pick him up. We were driving down the street and he recognized the location as to being near our church.


Clayton: That way is to my church.

Me: Yes, Clayton, it is.

Clayton: My like my church. My like the people. My like the church people.

Me: Do you like Jesus?

Clayton: Yes. My like Jesus. I want to talk to Jesus and ask him to come to my house and play.


I thought that was so darn cute. Then he started talking about Jesus' car and I knew he still didn't quite "get it". Oh well. It's a start.

So far, so good for my weekend...

Friday night I asked my husband if I could sleep in until 8 am on Saturday morning. He originally was going to take our black lab out for pheasant hunting, but seeing how I still felt awful from my cold, he relented. Ahhhhhh. I didn't get out of bed until 8:30! He was up early anyway and he had even made pancakes for the kids. So, when I got up, I had pancakes and bacon, too. Major points for my husband. And it is amazing what sleeping in does for a cold.

Mid-day, Pete had to drive about two hours to a wedding. The couple used to work in the lab where he works, so he and another guy drove down together. I was on call for the hospital and was sweating the whole day because I hadn't made any plans for the children if I got called in. The Man upstairs was looking out for me and I didn't even get a phone call! Then around 3 pm, I called a neighbor to see if I could look at her newly painted kitchen. I really needed the kids to get out of the house because they were picking on each other. It really worked out because we ended up staying for dinner! Then we went home to see a little of the football game. No surprise, THE Ohio State University sent the little kitties running. I tried to explain to the kids that all those people were just about 20 minutes down the road and it was very exciting. They just didn't get it. And then, I put the kids to bed after their bath.

Last night when I lay my head down on my pillow I said a little prayer. I prayed for two things: 1)My brother's marriage situation and 2)that the kids would sleep until 7 am. (One or both kids have been waking up at 5:30 am the last 10 days!) And I can say that the kids stayed upstairs until 8AM!!!!! Thank you, Lord!!!!

I can honestly say up to this point, it has been a good weekend. This evening we have band practice (yes, I am a singer in a band and Pete plays guitar), but I doubt my voice will be able to do much tonight. We have a gig December 1.

This and that...

I spoke with my mom yesterday about my brother's situation. She called me, for I had not quite come to terms with everything and couldn't stand the idea of my mom being sad about it. Turns out that she called to "vent". I don't think I've ever had her call me for that reason. So, it was a good conversation and I think we felt better after we were able to compare notes and all.

On a lighter note, I managed to stay awake for "The Office" tonight. I think the 30 minute episode is easier to watch. And I watched the season premiere of "Scrubs" right after. I love that show. It is so goofy.

Well, this old gal better get some sleep. I'm fighting a stinkin' cold and I hope it goes away soon. And THE Ohio State University is coming to town this weekend so that means stay in your houses everybody and no one will get hurt! Traffic is going to be awful and I am on call this weekend. I hope and pray I don't get called in since Beaver stadium is next to the hospital.

One more thing. Tomorrow is my first real parent/teacher conference for Kendall. I can't believe I have a kindergartner.

I Remember

I was tagged by Char for this "I remember" meme. I feel honored. :) Anyway, I am a very sentimental person, so I hope I can get through this one.

I remember watching the Carol Burnett Show when I was very little and thinking it was so funny.

I remember sharing a room with my sister when I was very little and we would 'write' letters on each others back and try to guess what we were writing. We would get in trouble for not going to sleep.

I remember my sister diagnosed my chicken pox when I came home itching from Kindergarten. I was her first patient.

I remember my first neighborhood friend, Lindsey Chambers.

I remember I had a tortoise shell cat when I was six and her name was 'Colors'. She was the best cat ever.

I remember my first friends when we moved from Harrison to Fayetteville, Arkansas. They were Sarah and Cheryl. I was the new kid in second grade at Asbell Elementary. Go Roadrunners!

I remember my first real crush. It was Bobby Foster in sixth grade. He was so shy.

I remember my first solo in church. I was so nervous. I'm so glad my mom made me do it.

I remember my first concert. It was Chicago and I was in eighth grade. I went with my best friend, Andrea Cummings. My mom stayed up late and washed our shirts so we could wear them to school the next day.

I remember getting ready for school on the first day of September when I was in high school and the radio played "September Morn" by Neil Diamond. I will never forget the feeling I had as I listened to the song. That is when I first realized the power of music.

I remember my first love. I was in high school.

Fast forward a few years.

I remember the hour and day when I met my husband. It was a Thursday, January 6, 2000, around 8 am. I was wearing a grey turtleneck with over-alls and black buckle shoes. My seat was by his on a flight out of Chicago on American Airlines. We were both flying to Fayetteville. I remember our conversation. We were on the same flight heading back at the end of the weekend.

I remember thinking I have met the 'one'.

I now tag
Cheryl
NYKat

Ups and Downs

Last week I had a few days where I was really down. No reason, except maybe some fatigue. The husband and I also had an argument and sometimes words get said that cut to the bone. Anyway, Thursday, I just couldn't shake my funky mood. And I know my kids (and husband) deserve better than that. So, of course, that always brings along the guilt. There were some things that made me feel better this past week with my mood. Such as Flight of the Conchords and some ice cream.

This flavor is the best and it has half the fat. So that meant I could eat twice as much, right? And there was something else that made me laugh last week. Kendall and Clayton dressed up in their Halloween costumes and looked really cute.
Clayton will be "Bob the Builder" and Kendall will be Ariel as a bride. (you know, the little mermaid gets married in the end and she gets to stay as a human). But, seeing them playing and laughing did cheer me up a bit.

Then my sister called me tonight to tell me that my brother and his wife are going to divorce after 30 years of marriage. My heart sank. Although, I must admit, I wasn't shocked. They had been through some trying times and I was surprised they were still together. I love them both so much and I am having a hard time seeing through my tears right now. I can remember sitting in Pam's lap when I was just a child and she and my brother were dating. I idolized her and wanted to be just like her. She taught me how to twirl the baton (I wasn't any good) and she has been the best aunt my kids will ever know. But, I know there is always two sides to every coin and no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. I feel so sad for my brother (he doesn't want the divorce) and I hope he can weather this storm now. A few years ago, both of their daughters were going through, albeit different, some medical troubles. I honestly felt like no family deserved either one and my brother and sister-in-law got a double whammy. One daughter was diagnosed with bipolar and there is a lot of stuff/heartache/problems that go with that and the other daughter had to endure two separate brain surgeries to remove a tumor--all before the age of twenty. Like I said, I am not surprised with the outcome. I am very saddened, however. I hurt for my brother and my sister-in-law.

So, sorry for the downer post.

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength;They will soar on wings like eagles,they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."Isaiah 40 : 31

My daughter paid me the highest compliment yesterday. I had just picked her up from school and we were driving across town to deliver some food to a couple that just had a baby. Anyway, one of the streets downtown is undergoing construction so I took a back alley to avoid an intersection. I turned onto a street that came out to a traffic light. While I was waiting for the light to change, I noticed something in my periphery. It was a black, furry spider. You know the kind. The kind that gives you the heavy jeevies. Well, I immediately put the window down and grabbed one of Clayton's socks (what? you don't have extra socks on the front seat of your car?) to try to knock the spider out of the car. I accidentally threw the sock out onto the street and the spider eluded by swipe. I undid my seat belt and jumped out of the car to reclaim the sock and I looked at the inside of the front seat to see if I could find the spider. I saw it crawling along the edge of the car and down into the floorboard. There was my chance--so with a quick movement of my feet, I stepped on the spider with my right foot and made sure it was dead. You know, come down hard and twist the foot back and forth to make sure. Well, it was surely dead. I quickly hopped in the car and put my seat belt on and the car in drive all before the traffic light changed to green. I gave a big sigh of relief and that is when my daughter said, "You are a good spider killer, mommy!" Now, isn't that the best compliment?

He's back.

Well, my husband got back yesterday from his hunting trip. The weather was really nice, not good for duck hunting, but he had a great time. He even got a wood duck! And some grouse. The grouse will be delicious and he plans to have the wood duck mounted. He even thanked me for watching the kids while he went on vacation. And that got me thinking. Vacation? It never occurred to me that he was taking a vacation!!! So, I must start planning a vacation for myself, too. I could call it a hunting trip if that would make it more palatable to him. Now, what would I "hunt"? I think I would hunt sand, water, margaritas and Mercado 28 in Cancun! And sleeping in wouldn't be so bad either. I guess it never hurts to dream....

Truth is stranger than fiction...

You know the saying, "wild horses couldn't keep me away"? Well, last night was my very much anticipated dinner out with the play group moms. So, Becky, our baby-sitter arrived promptly at 6:30 pm and I was just heading out the door to go pick up Ronda when I noticed there was a horse in my driveway! I looked a little more closely and there were 4 more behind him/her. They were brown and white and not as tall has a regular horse and not as short as a pony. I fed them some floppy carrots (you know the ones that sit in your fridge for months---turns out there is a use for them). After several calls to the local farmer neighbors, we were able to locate the owner. His fences are always breaking and it seems like live stock get out every so often. By the time I was leaving, they had headed back down my driveway into the woods near our house. I had called the non-emergent police in case we never found the owner. I didn't want the horses to get hit by a car. The kids had an exciting night! They got to see a police officer in uniform and Clayton wanted to know if the horses were going to get into the house. It was so strange--they would hang out in the front yard and then run to the back yard. Eventually, the owner was able to round them up. Yeehaw!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and this morning Kendall told me that they watched Peter Pan last night. Which means that I didn't record The Office! Boo hoo. I had the DVD recorder all set and ready to go. Good thing I had asked Ronda to save it for me on her TIVO. So, I hope it was a good one.

Yeah!!!! It's Thursday

It's Thursday and I like it. Tonight is extra nice because The Office is on and 30 Rock. But, the reason tonight is extra nice is because it is Girls' Night Out for our play group. We meet on the second Thursday and go out to eat. No kids. No husbands. Sometimes we go to a non-chain, but tonight it's The Olive Garden. Unlike my husband, I don't mind chain restaurants. I mean if they are good, who cares if they are an original? OK, my husband would say The Olive Garden is not good, but I guess that is his opinion. And we know what can be said about opinions.

And I am going to need this evening out. My husband left for his annual duck hunting trip this morning at 4:30 am. Is there anything worth getting up that early for? OK, if Sting called and said "meet me at such and such place at 4:30 am to go duck hunting," then I guess I would say some things are worth getting up early for. Ha ha. Pete will return on Sunday, exhausted, but hopefully with good stories of how Cody made some awesome retrieves. He took my camera so I hope he gets some good pictures.

Happy Thursday, Y'all!

Is it just me, or is it hot up here?

I can't believe this October weather we are having in Central PA. Don't get me wrong, I love warm weather and could live where I wear T-shirts, shorts, and sandals year round. I think cooler weather is headed our way tomorrow. My husband is lamenting this balmy weather since he has his duck hunting trip coming up in a couple of days. I imagine all the ducks will still be flying around in Canada and not migrating south. So, for my husband, I'm hoping for some cold, yucky weather confined to the Black Lake area of northern New York, please.

Hey, are there any "lurkers" out there? Show yourself! I would like to have a "de-lurker" day!! How's the weather where you are today? Sunny in Australia, India, and California? And, my friend, Diane in France, is not a lurker but I will say hi to her as well!

Take care everybody!

Ni hao and hola!

Tomorrow, Kendall starts a new school. We received a phone call last week from a *charter school in town that requires all their students to learn Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. We had applied last January, but Kendall didn't get in this year at the beginning of the school year. So, I started to get involved in our local elementary and even went to the volunteer meeting. Kendall enjoyed riding the bus and even buying her lunch at school. All was well, and we were adjusting to our new life. Then came the phone call. My heart sank. I was beginning to feel as if I was part of a wonderful community. Kendall had friends and I was meeting new parents. But, my husband and I felt like this school was going to be a great fit for our girl. The school originally called to say that she was moving close to the top of the waiting list and that we needed to call by 6 pm if we were still interested. Of course, I called. Wednesday morning the school's vice principal called to say that no one else called and the spot was ours for the taking. Kendall is very excited about her new school. I hope it does not disappoint. No more bus rides, no more lunch trays (this school does not provide this). We took Kendall in to meet her new teacher and she participated in an activity with her future classmates. She seemed to love it and the class did seem to be a good fit.

The scary thing about kids is that you never know if you did the right thing until later on down the road. I hope this is the right thing.

*a charter school is a public school with a mission. This school is a multi-cultural school that teaches from a global perspective.

LOVED THE OFFICE TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just finished watching The Office. I just love that show. There are way too many quotes to remember, but tonight I laughed out loud a couple of times. I think one of the things that makes this show so funny for me is that it supposedly takes place about 2.5 hours from here in Scranton, PA. I even noticed that Toby (HR guy in sitcom) had a PSU sticker on the wall in his cubby. Oh, and Pam and Jim were 'outed'. Where, oh where, are the *writers taking us?


*I just hope the writers of this show aren't part of that group that might strike. What would I do without new material?

My husband sent this picture to me and I couldn't resist posting it. This is our daughter, Kendall, when she was probably under 6 months old and Abbey was about 6 years old. Kendall is now 5 and a couple of months and Abbey is gone. She was such a tender dog.