Mona's House

Do you remember Rockies??

2012-01-25T20:47:00.002-06:00

I was reading some of my old posts just for laughs and I encountered the post about my love of skin damage...and in the comment section one of my friends talked about trying to lose weight, really - thin thighs is what I think she was after ;) and she talked about wrapping her thighs in saran wrap so she could get into her tight jeans ! Now as everyone who knows me knows, I am a child of the late 70's and 80's and Kim's comment about tight jeans brought me right back to my glory days and tight jeans... not just any tight jeans mind you... Rockies... you know the kind, those garish colored jeans/pants that you wore with equally hideous tops of various materials (maybe even a half shirt... only on thin days!) and your boots - ropers that is... and the jeans were so high-wasted you practically tucked your bra into it - and you wore them really long and bunched up... (I am 5 foot 6 and have been since 5th grade... ok maybe not 5th but for sure 6th!! and I wore 36 length!!!) Rockies were worn tight - the tighter the better... now my dad is probably reading this thinking - I don't know what she's talking about - did I buy those? Let me set the record straight - no Dad you didn't because Rockies were the bomb back in the day and clearly you would have never bought me anything so awesomely frivolous!! I can't really remember but I remember them being pretty expensive - like $45... gasp!!!

My sister had all kinds of Rockies because she worked at my Dad's office and liked the finer things in life ya know - like Coach purses... (she knows what I'm talking about!!) and so she would take her paycheck and go to town!! she would buy Rockies and Mobetta shirts - do you remember those??? (the shirts that you have to custom order... and everything was a different color - let's just say Garth Brooks pioneered Mobetta shirts... and you KNOW what a style icon Garth Brooks is... just saying...) You should have seen her and Shawn, Shawn is her high school sweetheart now husband of like 40 years... no... not really but a LONG time... him with a mullet, her with a big Texas perm and their matching Mobetta shirts!!!

I'm pretty sure Shawn had this shirt...

and if he didn't I'm sure he had this one...

He was jazzy like that...

Here they are in their engagement pictures... notice the Rockies on her...

Kidding...I'm just kidding.... this was their high school prom....

No I'm kidding - my sister doesn't look anything like that...

This is what she looks like with her son, Jackson (Mobetta) Uselding..he..he..he..

Now I had several pairs of Rockies but my favorite were some button up ones that if I was lucky and saved some of my paycheck I would have them starched - heavy starched where you would have to stick your hand in them or a broom stick to unstick them... that sound is delightful when you first unstick them.... magical!!! because everyone knows that you looked thinner in tight jeans and even thinner if they were starched!! and you would have to use a wire hanger to pull the zipper up and at the end of the night when you took off the jeans you have crease marks from them being so tight... Oh if only Sarah and I had known how really good we looked in those jeans - we could have probably ruled the world... just saying...

Be sure to comment and tell me your favorite late 70's and 80's favorite fashion!!

P.S. Shawn - don't feel bad - Brandon had a mullet too....

Show time baby...

2012-01-22T21:20:00.000-06:00

This past week has been a doozy..... let's recap:

1. I'm a special education teacher and each and every one of my kids has a special plan that rules their world!!! It's called an IEP and every student needs a meeting about their schedule and classes and modifications, every year, and all those meetings have begun!! and so has the stress and the fever blisters!!! yikes...

2. Scout has turned 17.... soak that up people... I have a seventeen year old!!!

(where did the time go???)

3. The annual Childress County Livestock show and sale was this past weekend... and as Sager so eloquently put it - "Total domination baby..." (We're currently working on the idea of humility and humbleness... Sager hasn't quite mastered that yet....) Sager and his chickens did very well... Grand and Reserve!!

(Look at that sharp dressed man!!)

4. Shaw has mastered the humble and humility lesson as his lame show pig "pimp" walked into third place...(that would be an ever so slight shuffle and drag...)

(look at his skills... maybe next year he'll get showmanship....)

5. I lost my cell phone - don't try calling it - clearly it's dead.... I have looked high and low.... I feel so lost with out it....

6. Scout didn't even spend his birthday with us - he went to Spearman to visit his "friend" while I washed chickens... nothing says happy birthday like wet chickens....

(here they are at the Rudolph run in Amarillo...) I guess 17 year olds don't want to spend their birthday with their mom? Can that be true? I don't know if I believe that??? Do you??? I'm going to need some independent research...

7. Brandon is down in Huntsville for training... he left literally hours after the stock show sale... who am I going to iron clothes for? who will I have to find underwear and socks for?? who's going to eat at Arby's with me??? I don't know... you mean I have to sleep in the bed and NOT listen to snoring? wait a minute.... I might just like this... kidding..kidding... I already miss him terribly...

Well I hope everyone's week goes good and I look forward to hearing from you, subscribers and stalkers alike!!!

Readers, Followers and Stalkers...

2012-01-09T18:47:00.001-06:00

This blog is a funny thing.... usually when I write I have specific stories in mind and then when you, the reader, reads it, you get another story. Speaking of readers... if you're reading this blog, please make sure you subscribe to it, that way I know who all is reading it, and not just stalking it! ;)

Am I pretty? Am I a Good Dancer? Am I Old?

2012-01-04T13:44:00.001-06:00

Have you ever had one of those moments when everything that you thought was true and right turned out wrong? I have had a few lately....

the other morning, scout had on some music as we fixed breakfast. before school ..and i bust out in some sweet dance moves - clearly i have moves.... i do... or at least i think i do.... how do i know whether i do or not? Should I ask my family? well brandon wasn't there, clearly sager will agree with me, shaw will be indifferent but scout... would he tell me the truth... we're pretty tight ya know but as I'm dancing for a split second i realize.... i'm old - older than my children clearly.... but i hate to admit this.... i am not hip.... now i am not talking elaine bennis off of seinfeld but clearly i will never win a dance off... just saying...

i am a product of the 80's and that was a long time ago... the realization hit me hard and heavy.... so if I'm a dorky dancer - what else is going on that i haven't been paying attention to? my clothes? my hair? what about my bangs... granted they are not as big as they used to be but i refuse to let them go - i can't ... not yet anyway....

i knew this day would come but i guess i was in denial.... I am peoples mother....i mean good gravy...scout will be 17 on the 20th of this month....17.... oy vey....

i had better get to setting some new year's resolutions since i'm an old adult now....

Bring on the Holidays!!!

2011-12-24T14:43:00.001-06:00

Santa's little helper!

Well, well, well... long time no see...even longer no blog... yikes!! sorry about that! lots of drama going on - none of which I'll discuss here... only the happiest of thoughts on this blog... that's right... POSITIVE I tell ya!! As most of my friends and family know - I don't really care for the holidays, too much baggage of Christmas gone horribly wrong but a couple of years ago my sister and I were talking about how we feel about Christmas and decided it was time for us to make it better for our children than we had it so now that is exactly what I have been trying to do - for the past week I have visited, cuddled, sat close (ya know teenage boys...), cooked with, watched movies with, and laughed with my kids so that they will understand that this time isn't just about presents... that being said, Sager bought all of us presents at the Elf Shelf at school - you know the little store that the school puts on to raise money first and foremost but allows the kids to buy goods for their family... Sager gave so much thought into each and every gift that he bought - it did my heart proud... a heart necklace for me, a #1 dad magnet for Brandon, a bravest brother key chain for Scout and a camoflauged watch for Shaw... precious... absolutely you could feel the love coming out of those lead ridden china made trinkets.... anyhoo...it was magical no matter how you look at it...

Today is also a great day because fourteen years ago this day, my sister called me to take her to the mall to buy her husband another Christmas present because she had been so horrible to him. You see she was pregnant and VERY, VERY, did I mention VERY hormonal.... and so Scout who was still so little and cute and I load up in my chevy cavalier and go pick her up, in the snow, in the cold, on Chrismas Eve... do you see where I'm going with this??? and she says on our way I think I need to go to the hospital... WHAT???!!! sure enough we're in the elevator trying to make sure whatever she thinks is going on is really going on and her water really does start to break and not too long after that Jackson was born (literally, I didn't even have time to get out of the room!!! ha!) So here's to the sweetest boy around, the best brother and my favorite boy (don't tell my kids... oh whatever - they know I just LOVE jackson!!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a great new year - remember you are who you are and your life is what you make of it - so make it special!!!

Love, Maria

The Hereafter...

2011-10-10T14:27:00.001-05:00

Ok so for some reason I have been obsessed lately with the hereafter.... Especially since Scout, Shaw and Sager (well really not Sager since he didn't make it past the first 10 minutes of the movie!!and me watched a ClintEastwood movie that stared Matt Damon -I can't tell you too much about it or I'll start and then I can't stop and then it wouldn't do you any good to watch it unless you're one of those people who watches a movie over and over and over and over (kind of like my nephew, Jackson, who I kid you not watched John Wayne's The Cowboys no less than 10 million times!) Now this movie had me and Scout crying and all of us mesmorized. It's basically about these people who each are destined to meet up - one is a little boy who tragically loses his brother, one who is a psychic who is trying not to be a physchic and another woman who has had a near death experience and has many questions about the hereafter. It was a great movie if you're looking for one to watch... Now this leads me to my new FAVORITE show The Long Island Medium...

It is so something.... let me ask you this, if you could have a meeting with the Long Island Medium who do you think would make a connection with you? Friend, family? I absolutely can't watch this show without crying - it is so sad but yet so wonderful the peace that these people feel after they meet with her... it's like they just need to hear it from someone else that it's going to be o.k. and that they're absolved from their guilt - that's the biggest thing there is so much guilt associated with someone dying. You ought to check it out... Scout always ask me - why do you watch it if you're going to cry!! I say I don't know - it's just so sweet and fills me with hope, love, peace and happiness - it's like therapy!! Love it!! Anyhoo - I've got lesson plans to type up, today was a holiday for us at school so I've made some cards, and some pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting... yum-mo!! Have a great week!!

Times are a changin....

2011-09-21T19:52:00.000-05:00

Well tomorrow is a big day.... Shaw-lee-tamale will turn 12! yikes where has the time gone?? This school year has been a new and exciting experience for Shaw. Jr high... you remember those days don't you? I do - boy I'm glad I don't have to relive those days and don't even mention high school - geesh!

Well this week Shaw had picture day and about a week ago, I noticed that Shaw had a little spot on his nose, so I did what any other mother would do... I teased him about getting his first pimple - got him pretty good - even cracked him up a time or two but then.... the pimple didn't get any better... in fact it started to look weird... so weird in fact that we went to the doctor... take a guess what it was - go ahead - imagine the theme song to Jeopardy and take a guess - yes Aleck - I'll take weird bumps on a 6th graders nose for $110 because after the co-pay and the creme for the offending bump - that's how much it cost me!!! The bump- could be ringworm but maybe not... what kind of diagnosis is that? I don't know but $85 creme should take care of many, many things!! and of course he had to get his picture made for the annual with that thing on there... my kids always get me good when it comes to school pictures - one time Scout was so cute and dolled up when I dropped him off for school and when I got the pictures he's wearing a white hanes t-shirt, and one pant leg is rolled up - What the heck?? how about the time Sager got his picture taken and scratched his head right before the photographer snapped the picture so a giant tuft of hair was sticking straight up - yup - bought those too, so clearly a giant ring-worm-esque thing on Shaw's nose wasn't that big of a deal....

Look at that sweet boy - oooohh how I just love him... but this is what is really something... Brandon asked Shaw if anyone asked him about his nose and he said yeah that he just told him Sager got him with a stick... and Sager tells Shaw - ya know it's always better to tell the truth than to make up a lie.... such a smart brother but clearly Sager doesn't know how jr. high kids really are!

Fall is in the air....

2011-09-07T19:16:00.000-05:00

Well here in Dogpatch as my dad so lovingly calls it, we've had a cool spell. It's been around 80 degrees and it has been glorious!!! Glorious I tell ya! We've had a long weekend what with Labor Day and all.

So let me tell you about a phone call we received. Scout received a call on his phone which in and of itself is a novelty because I don't know if you know this but teenagers don't answer phone calls... they answer texts. It's much more impersonal and cold but that's just how it is.... Clearly my father doesn't understand that but that's a whole 'nother post in and of itself... anyhoo... Scout answers the call and low and behold it's his PawPaw... he called to reminsce about a pivitol time in Scout's life. It was the threshhold between child and young man, and without a doubt, Scout failed miserably.

When Scout was a Kindergartener, he went to the Grand Canyon with PawPaw and ChaCha. It was quite the ordeal... but suffice it to say I should have probably thought twice about sending one of the sweetest little boys off with his grandparents but I had another sweet little baby at the house, was working full time and going to school - I thought Scout might enjoy a little break from me... so after days of riding locomotives, rock climbing, and traversing the Grand Canyon, PawPaw and the gang are at the hotel... a hotel which has a pool... which Scout was dying... DYING to get in... PawPaw says Scout can you swim? and here is where it gets tricky... knowing that he can't but wanting so badly to be able to, Scout says with all the bravado a Kindergardener can muster and says... why of course PawPaw... there was the line - He wanted to be big, wanted PawPaw to be oh so proud of him, wanted to go swimming but here was the problem... he COULDN'T no more swim than the man in the moon!!! PawPaw gets the towels, and trapses Scout downstairs to make all of his little wishes come true... Scout runs and jumps in and promptly sinks straight to the bottom of the pool and before anyone else could react - Selden promptly jumps in after Scout with his wallet, boots, jeans, knife and belt on... Long story short - Scout calls me and says (hiding under the blanket on a cell phone trying to whisper... PAWPAW NEARLY DROWNDED ME!!!!!) and immediately starts crying and the jig was up.... well this weekend ChaCha washed PawPaw's jeans which had his wallet in it and as he was laying his money out to dry, the act of airing out all his business reminded him of a time not so long ago... when a little boy tried to be big, as big as his PawPaw and failed miserably....

Isn't that the sweetest thing but wait it gets better.... PawPaw also called to tell me that he got my high school annual for me... that's right - I'm nearly 40 years old and I never got my senior high school annual - and quite honestly I only got one annual - they were kind of pricey... so I never got them... for the record - I never got my senior pictures taken either... well so I had asked my dad to get the annual when I figured out that I wouldn't be going to my 20th high school reunion and he hadn't mentioned it... so I figured he just forgot about it - it wasn't that big of a deal besides - most of the people I went to school with probably don't remember me and that's cool but deep down inside - I wanted that annual... I longed for it... but it would be silly to tell people that... so after Scout got off the phone, he and I sat side by side and teared up a little bit.... because he knew what the annual ment to me and I knew what the memory meant to him....

Summer is over... in approximately 2 days!!

2011-08-20T11:35:00.000-05:00

Memories... like the
corner of my mind...

Summer will be over in two days.... sigh.... sob.... no really I'm ready for school to start - are you? well too bad - it's starting whether you like it or not! ha! Today I have been reflecting on all that has been this summer... how about you? was it all that you wanted and more? yeah? not really for me - it was something... Scout was busy running, he ran at Tech for track camp, he ran in Cloudcroft New Mexico with Tech cross country camp (which I highly reccommend!) Sager was busy growing... it took 9 years and 9 months to get to 40 pounds and 3 months to get to 51 pounds! wowzer...Shaw also is growing - he's wearing the same size shoe as Scout and he's officially starting Jr. high... I have a kid in Elementary, Jr. High and High School - holy crap!! I can't take it... you know what else I can't take it's this... seg way into what this post is really about...

misty water-colored memories...

People can we get real? Can we get honest? There are a lot of people who need to get real... honestly is there a way for one person to know everything? NOOOO... and quite frankly who would want to? I have a ton of useless knowledge in this ole noggin of mine and if I worried about everything and tried to know everything, I couldn't function... heck - I can't find my keys half the time and if I had more useless information I would need a chauffer. There is no way for one person to know everything about every situation... I love a fair amount of gossip but there is a place and time for people to just get on with their life... and that's all right... let's make a pact - you and I to get real with our lives, this year this is what I'm gonna do - I'm going to encourage and try to be as in tune with my kids as possible. These are important times - I'll never get them back once there gone. I'm gonna check and make sure Sager is happy and being successful (whatever success is for him...) in school and in his life. I'm going to make sure Shaw is finding his niche in Jr. High, that he knows he's one of a kind and that's important. I'm going to make sure that Scout has his eye on the prize (whichever prize he wants...) and not worried about how long his side burns are... just saying - it's one example... I'm going to be positive and encouraging. If people don't like me, I can't change it. I can't change them. I'm going to be honest and I'm going to be real - no delusions of grandeur.

of the way we were...

What are you going to do? Tell me because it's a fact that if you tell someone you will become accountable for your words and actions. Let's have a great year and do something great or good or even pretty good. I have faith in you - you can do it!!!

I know two posts in one day...

2011-08-03T17:07:00.000-05:00

As I am making dinner the other night (fresh fettucine with pesto with turkey meatballs - notice I'm trying to be healthy here!) I'm halfway listening as Scout flips through the channels occasionally landing on something and he lands for just a minute on TLC's Toddler's and Tiaras.... are you familiar with this tidbit of Americana? Holy moly... now while most people would be appalled at the outrageous antics of stage mothers (or cage mothers in the case of my sister - ha!! if you know my sister you'll have to ask her about this!) and their proteges, I love it!

Why? well even though I am pretty much a tomboy, what with my love of jeans and pigs... I love, LOVE pageant hair and makeup!! I do... is that sick or what? If I had a make-up artist and hair stylist, would show up for school in FULL pageant wear!!! I would. I absolutely love the look of perfection. The heavy foundation, the liquid eye-liner, tri-colored eye shadow, fake eye lashes... oh my... be still my heart.... and the fake teeth - the flippers!!! gasp and swoon!! Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to cover every flaw that you have... granted I'm really talking outside flaws but let's not quibble... how could you act ugly when you look perfect! Not me... well I'm off to find me a form fitting sheath pageant dress with just the right amount of sequins for the first day of school!!! Let me know if you've watched this fabulous show (psst... I won't tell anyone if it's your guilty pleasure...) and what you think about it!!

Summer is almost over...

2011-07-31T12:24:00.000-05:00

Summer is almost over... and that is a little disappointing because it doesn't seem like we really did anything because it's been sooo HOT!! Every day I wake up thinking that it will finally be the day for it to cool down but it hasn't happened yet!

I've made a lot cards, washed a lot of dishes, cleaned out closets, helped re-model a bedroom, watched our bathroom get re-modeled, traveled to Colorado to watch my nephew play baseball, read a bunch of books (I'm reading one right now about a man who went to federal prison for kiting checks who ended up at the last colony of lepers in the United States... it's fascinating...), watched Scout run near Palo Duro Canyon, watched Sager and Shaw play video games - we haven't even hardly played in the water since we're on water restriction because of the heat... gone to Dallas and Lubbock and will go to Amarillo soon for Sager's doctor's appointments.... so a lot of things done but none tooo exciting.'' Have you had a good summer or have you had a GREAT summer?

Sager's birthday is coming up and he had wanted to have a party ot the city pool but they've drained the pool so that's a no go!! oh well... we'll figure something out...

I love, love, love skin damage....

2011-06-10T15:40:00.001-05:00

I know - the title of this blog is definitely not politically correct - I almost put a disclaimer on here that said if you are Sharla Miller please do not read this!! (because of Sharla - a skin cancer survivor - I vowed never to go to a tanning bed again!) however - I didn't promise to stay out of the sun.... sorry Sharla!!!

When my sister and I were little we would "lay-out" all summer long. When I say "lay-out", I mean literally lay out in the backyard, the city pool, the Amarillo Town Club (remember those days Sarah - that's a whole 'nother post!!).... even the pool in Gruver, Texas (that is the "new" pool that probably is quite old now but when we were little they had an indoor pool and that was the old pool - at the high school - how swanky is that? - but then when we were in jr high or high school they got a new pool that was totally outside... ) We would go outside in the backyard and take drinks, chips, sandwiches, our boom boxes - you know the ones with the D size batteries... geesh - those batteries were expensive (and half the time we would just use an extension cord and plug in the radio - ya know.. po') because you couldn't be going inside all the time and missing the sun and letting all the cool air from the swamp cooler leak out of the house (do you know what a swamp cooler is? my kids probably don't know what they are... it's an evaporative cooler, you know the ones with the pads that you had to run water over in order for the fan to spin and cool the air - and when it was really hot someone would have to go outside with the hose and spray more water on it....geesh! how ghetto is that!!!) and lay outside for HOURS....HOURS I tell you. Sarah and I had given the topic of tanning many, many thoughts. (at just a side note - Sarah grew up to marry Shawn - a total tan-orexic who goes to the tanning bed EVERY day.... hmmm.... and he just thought it was his charming personality, mullet and mustache that hooked her!)

Since we tanned pretty easy and we were poor... as in po'.... we couldn't buy the expensive tanning lotions that smelled like coconut (hello hawaiian tropics - I would wear that as perfume if I could!!!) no, no we had to improvise.... only now that I look back at what all we did, does it seem really, really ridiculous.... especially since I was out in the backyard today tanning.... sorry Sharla.... watching the boys play in the water when I decided I needed some sort of oil to really get me good and tan so I asked Scout to get me the canola oil out of the pantry and when I did... he stood there for half a second and stared at me like I had spoken swahili.... then and only then did I realize... I have a little problem.... When my sister and I were in our prime tanning years, we would get baby oil and put iodine in it for a really nice tan - anyone know where that came from? If someone is reading this and knows the origin of the baby oil, iodine concoction, I would love to know! We also used crisco, laid on aluminum foil, pooled money together and went in for a baby pool to lay in so it was like we were at the pool, (because everyone knew that the reflection of the water off your skin was necessary for optimum skin damage...) we did the sprinkler with the lawn chairs, you name it we tried it...

Those were the days.... I smile at the idea that as long as I was tan, I was beautiful.... how simple....I had a friend named Jennifer Carroll who got a tan and didn't want it to peel and she took her big ole' bottle of lotion to jr. high school (because everyone knew that you must keep your skin properly hydrated so your tan wouldn't fade....) clearly it wasn't just my sister and I who wanted to be tan.... anyhoo...I'm off to watch baseball and try to sit in the sun... just kidding...I'm just kidding.... sort of.... I have a sickness - you people shouldn't judge me!!!

My kid came home at 3 in the morning!!!!

2011-06-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Well... it happened... one of my kids came home at 3:00 in the morning (2:45 in the morning to be exact!) It was a shock. As I waited for him to come in the house, all these questions were going through my head... was he all right? what had been going on? how was I going to react? would his future actions hinge on how I handled this?.... I asked him - what's going on? and he says - I've had a long night - I just want to go to bed.... I asked him what happened? he said - I don't know....

after reading this - you probably think it was Scout right? well you'd be wrong! It was Sager. He had been over at a sleep over and he got sick and his Aunt Holly had to bring him home.

The reason I tell this story is because of this.... sometimes when you only know part of the story, you don't really know all the story. For me, it gets really old people only learning part of a story and then talking about it... if you want to know something find out the real story - as Paul Harvey always said - the rest of the story (especially if it's about me - just ask...but be ready - I'll have some questions of my own - just saying...)

Now on a more positive note - Scout is getting ready to go to his first camp at Texas Tech - he's very excited - it's a track and field camp - woo-hoo! Shaw is finishing up his baseball season - he's absolutely hysterical - at his last game there was a triple play and he got out on a pop fly - Brandon was asking him about it and Shaw tells Brandon - well clearly I wasn't thinking....too funny! and Sager... he's been sick since the last week of school - he's been to Amarillo and Dallas for doctor's appointments but he's still going strong! Shaw will be with me next year at Jr. high and Sager will be a big fourth grader - holy moly!! Where did the time go?

Sager Shaw Scout

2011-05-21T11:58:00.000-05:00

Shaw: what he is: loving (but not for long - ya know how jr high boys are with their mommas...),laid back, middle child, baseball loving, his best friend - Doc Holiday the dog, nail biter, kind, courteous, hard of hearing unless it's possible gossip.....

what he isn't - a morning person, Scout, Sager, assertive, early riser, tidy, health food nut, scared to use the public restroom, totally NOT obsessive compulsive, vegetable eater....

Sager - what he is: kind, loving, obsessive compulsive, nail biter, lip picker, dehydrated, cheese lover, Taylor Swift lover, funny, sarcastic, witty...

what he isn't - passive, quiet, tidy, afraid, vegetable eater, afraid to speak his opinion,

Scout - what he is - competetive, health food nut, lover of all things running and running related especially apparel, smart, loving, confident, loyal, slightly obsessive compulsive (almost as bad as Sager)

what he isn't - neat, afraid of wearing non matching socks, coke drinker

Three boys all different, three spirits different as night and day but all mine!!

Aaaahhhh Mother's Day.....

2011-05-07T18:55:00.000-05:00

Today has been a wonderful day before Mother's Day. Today was the epitome of why I love being a mom. This morning I was awaken by my teenager who was showering in my shower at 6:30 this morning... did I mention it was Saturday?...at least he didn't start singing!! He was headed out to play baseball in Canyon, Texas (the Bobcats by the way just won Bi-District! Great day to be a Bobcat!!!) Then I promptly got up and fixed breakfast for the two remaining children that I gave birth to... Shaw had pictures and a baseball game - and as usual Sager was along for the ride! Shaw had a great day of baseball.... wait - that's not true - it was 98 at 11:00 and his team the rangers got trounced! Sorry Dude, but you looked sweet in your red socks. Then we came home where I did more and more laundry, made some cards, washed some dishes and played in the sprinkler. Does that sound very exciting? probably not but it was just like I like it!

   Anyhoo - here is my ode of love to the most wonderful mother I know, my sister Sarah. As I write this, she has hauled her family to Albuquerque, NM so that her sweet baby boy (who is over 6 feet tall...) can play ball!!! (For the record he gave her two out of the park home runs for mother's day! isn't that so thoughtful - he knew just what she wanted!!) She was our surrogate mother growing up, the oldest child of an alcoholic who was the peacemaker in all that she's ever done. I've written about the fight we got into because she was mad at me for coming in late after canoodling with my boyfriend. She was in the right, I shouldn't have been out that late on a school night, but you couldn't have told that to a teenage girl filled with hormones and hate!

   Sarah has always been the fabulous one, she was beautiful, inside and out and tried to take the best care of me as best as she could. I was living with her and her husband when Scout was born, and I can still remember how mad she was at me for getting pregnant first but how much she loved Scout and now his brothers. She wants so much for her children and there's nothing that she won't do to make them the best. She always said - I'm a do-er - I'm going to get it done. Often, people take her nice ways and run over her, but she's getting better about being more assertive... God help us all!

   She's my favorite person in the whole world. Literally. I've given my feelings for her many moments of contemplation so I can say that with no apologies to no anyone else because they haven't been together as long as Sarah and I have. We have always been together, even when we're mad at each other, we're still together. She's Shirley to my Laverne. She's Lenny to my Squiggy. So here's to you sister of mine.... you're the best! The best mom, the best friend, the best! I love you!

My sister Sarah and her baby boy Jackson!

Austin, Texas Here We Come....

2011-05-04T19:04:00.001-05:00

I mean, Austin Texas here comes Scout!!! This week, Scout and his fellow Bobcats went to Odessa Texas to compete in the Regional Track Meet. Now for those who don't understand the process.... They ran in Fritch Texas where they competed against about eight different schools.... let me remind you of what transpired....

Shame on you.... Bushland guy... here he is about to whack Scout!!

Now that everyone is on the same page...once they placed in the top four of that meet, They went to Regionals where they competed against about twenty five or so more teams. On Monday, you had to place in the top eight to make it to the finals in Odessa and then they ran again on Tuesday and they had to mplace in the top two to make it to State, in Austin, Texas... So Scout made it to the finals in the 800 run in the last spot but then his coach wanted him to be fresh for the mile relay so he didn't get to run... bummer - I know but on the other hand.... the mile relay placed second so they are STATE BOUND!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

Here's some pictures....

On your mark...

Get Set..

Go!!!

All the Bobcats going to State!!

We are so stinkin' proud of Scout and his team - you would NOT believe how incredible they ran... AWESOME!!!! I'll have to keep you posted as soon as we get back from the Big City!!

Long time... no blog....

2011-04-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

How have you been? yeah... I know... it's been quite a while since I've graced you with my witty commentaries on life as I know it. Let's recap the recent activities....

Baseball - Scout has been playing baseball, Varsity and Junior Varsity - just wherever they need him. This picture is from the Clarendon baseball game... seemed to be a little confusion, Scout was just trying to get home and the nasty catcher wanted to get him out.... what to do, what to do... don't worry all you Bronco fans.... Scout was ejected, and the kid was all right, we still don't know what the ejection was for.... any hoo.... Shaw has begun little league - they had opening ceremonies last night, it was a huge turnout, so glad to see all the support from everyone - so glad to see these kids participating and getting up off the couch - boys and girls! Take that childhood obesity!!

Sager is singing with the Togetherettes but he really wants to take a Mixed Martial Arts class... we'll just have to see... his mouth is already mean enough - he'd be a contender if his body was as tough!!!

Here's Scout on the first lap before he gets knocked off the track by Kale Lane of Bushland, he's the kid with his head hung down in shame for what he's about to do!

Track is in full force. Scout recently competed in the District Track Meet in Fritch, Texas. Scout placed first in the 800 m run as an individual and then the mile relay team which he's on placed first so they'll be going to Odessa, May 2 and 3rd! We're so excited but there's a long story about it so I'll have to save that for another post!! Here's some more pics from the meet...

The family that cheers together, stays together...

Maniacs... straight maniacs!!

Brandon and I just love track meets (he would love them even more if they were closer but oh well!!!) Shaw is still getting ready to play for his Guild competition in Quanah, Texas and then the end of the year piano recital, and this year he'll be playing in the Fifth Grade Follies - kind of like a talent show, it should be a lot of fun. Well until next time, I'm writing about the saga that was the District Track meet but you'll have to wait until I'm finished...

You may not believe this...

2011-03-24T21:33:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, I joined a lot of stuff because many of my friends from school joined. Yes, I was a loser, I know... Did I really want to be a cheerleader? no... especially since my mom had to sew the outfit - hideous... and who wants to be the biggest cheerleader on the "squad", yeah no.... I played basketball - that was a lot of fun, except we sucked.... and I looked like a (I was going to use a deragatory term for a girl who likes other girls... but I forgot that my "boss" reads this - sorry about that...) I looked like an ugly, manish version of Dorothy Hamill.

the socks?

My dad even signed me up for stuff, let us not forget the swim team - green speedo, second to last place ribbon.... thanks dad - I still need therapy for that, how about the violin lessons - once again dad - thanks... but what this post is about is the mistreatment of me by my beloved father... he signed me up for .... wait for it.... ballet. Yeah that's right - pink tights, black leotard, ballet shoes... HIDEOUS... Here's the deal though... my step-sister took ballet - clearly where Selden got the bright idea... but Anna was long, lean, athletic, lean, thin, skinny, not fat, not plump, and did not look like a manish version of Dorothy Hamill.

No wonder I need therapy... look at the daisies on my leotard....

Sometimes my mom would drop me off at the "dance" studio and I would act like I would walk up the stairs - wait til my mom drove off and then I would sit on the stairs and wait til the lesson was over... horrible it was so horrible. I can remember wanting to be long and lean so bad and some times I would look out the window and convince my self that I wasn't so bad - I could do this! (especially if I got the special square bag that all the "real" ballerinas carried their stuff in - my sister knows what I'm talking about) and then the teacher comes up and says uh excuse me... are you planning on taking the dance test (some test that dancers have to take to move up to the next "level", you get a special certificate with your name on it - in gold lettering, classy... I wanted it but never got it.....)? so I say uhhhh..... and she says before I can decide my destiny.... yeah you probably don't need to..... ouch! Well there goes that dream... no olympic gold medal in gymnastics, no first chair in violin, and no prima ballerina status.... when will the mediocrity end?

Reason 101 NOT to get a Tattoo till your older....

2011-03-18T18:03:00.001-05:00

This morning as Sager is getting out of the shower and drying off, flexing his guns, he tells me - ya know when I get a little bigger I'm going to get a BIG tattoo across my chest..... So I say Really? Just what exactly do you think you're going to get a tattoo of???

He thinks about it for just a second and says.... (wait for it..... because it's good....) a giraffe! He says yeah, either a giraffe or a giant turtle.

So here's a picture of his guns and just imagine his chest with a big ole' giraffe across it.... just saying...

More spring break news...

2011-03-16T16:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the boys and I went to Altus for a little spring break fun... we had a delicious lunch, went shopping, had ice cream, and then headed home. On our way home we saw the strangest thing.... beef-a-lo's. They looked like a buffalo but not really - they were colored differently than a buffalo and their hair was more like beef cattle. One had a very pronounced hump, and one had a smaller hump and the last one had a huge front end and was soo big.

The funny thing was is that when we pulled back around to get out to look at them - Scout whistled and called to them and they just moseyed on over... We stood at the fence and all three of them stood there looking at us. The biggest one stuck her head OVER the fence and let me pet her face and licked my hand. It was AMAZING!! We giggled all the way home!!

I've read a little bit about beef-a-lo's but I wondered about them.... Scout thinks they're sterile but I'm not sure... I better google it! Well Sager sang today and he'll sing tomorrow at the Senior Citizens center (the busy beavers'), we'll see how it goes!!!

How's Your Spring Break?

2011-03-15T21:06:00.000-05:00

Well, how's your spring break going? Our's has been pretty uneventful and that's just fine with me. Sager's going to sing today at the Lion's Club or Rotary, (I can't remember which!) he also has to sing tomorrow and the next day. Shaw's busy with friends and Scout's about to go get his hair faded.... The only excitement we've had is going on a small fishing excurision at a local fishing hole. Here's some pictures ....

Look here's Morgan with his fish.... clearly having a good time....

Look here's Shaw, with out a fish.... clearly not having a good time.....

Look here's Sager - with no fish - clearly same as Shaw - NOT having the best of time!!

Here's Brandon.... he's having a fine time since yours truly just got done paddling him around in the canoe while he fished... and then he had the nerve to call me Sacajawea!!!

oh well.... I'm off to listen to Sager singing Molly Malone!

Here's the Running Man....

2011-03-07T21:15:00.000-06:00

Well my dad wanted to see some pictures of Scout running this weekend and since I always do what my Daddy tells me to.... here you go! (Now Daddy don't forget - if you want to see the picture bigger - just click on it and it will get bigger...)

I hope everyone had a great weekend.... only one week left and we'll be on Spring Break!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

Happy Valentines Day.... I guess....

2011-02-14T17:49:00.000-06:00

So today the Valentine's parties were held at the elementary school. Shaw of course got gobs of candy and of course Sager was highly disappointed - he said - all I got was paper (uh they're call Valentines dude!) so I went through their sacks and I found the sweetest Valentine's card. It was handmade - you know that's my favorite! Well I called Sager in there and asked Sager who made it and he made an awful face and I said - what's up with that? and so he procedes to tell me that he really liked the card and that he thought that it would be from someone really sweet and kind (like Ansley), but it wasn't. So I said well Sager what if they couldn't afford store bought Valentine's? and he said being poor is fine but being mean isn't and she's mean....hmmmm... I believe your right young man.

So moral of the story - I don't know - maybe even a handmade card can't change a hateful heart or made handmade or store bought doesn't really matter unless you give a really, really big piece of candy with it.... just saying people - I'm a realist.

Have a great Valentine's Day!

Much love,

My Real Therapist.....

2011-02-10T20:25:00.001-06:00

The other day one of my friends asked me if I had ever been to a counselor. I said well yes, yes I had. So of course that brought back a plethura of memories... It was circa 1989 or 90 and I was still in high school, I think my sister was either a senior or right out of school. One night - I came in late... really late and I'm sure it was a school night.... I had been meeting my deadbeat boyfriend who my father lovingly referred to as a slackjaw or dog breath.... whichever anyhoo... my sister had the audacity to jack me up about coming in late because just who did she think she was - she wasn't my mother - which I believe I told her just that same thing... and she attacks me!!!.... Well thank God I had begun my ninja training at a young age, so I deflected her blows and landed a hard right... right on her eye - truly I have to admit it - it was a lucky shot - and Sarah got me back by pulling a plug out of my hair... well it went from bad to worse - my brother separated us and the next thing I know I was on trial..... that's right I said TRIAL!!!! My father thought that he would scare me and he threatened to sell my show animals and .... and.... this is where the story gets kind of hazy.... I asked my sister what she remembered and she said that I walked out of the trial! How about that! See I am tough!!! ( and for the record - I did contemplate running away but I didn't have any money and I didn't have a way to get there and the idea of walking in downtown Amarillo was really not what I had in mind for a good time.... I was tough but I wasn't stupid!)

Anyhoo part of the sentence was that my sister and I had to visit a therapist.... get real!! Like I was going to spill my guts to a complete stranger right beside my sister who I was presently highly ticked off at....

Well so my sister and I show up at the Chinese Therapist (whose name was Shirley Sherwood) (and my sister said that she remembers that the room was colorless like she was in a science fiction movie... see clearly she was crazier than I was.... and she was the one who instigated the whole incident!!!) (I was FRAMED!!!!) and she encouraged us to "float on the love river...." uh.... Shirley.... I currently was hacked off at my sister and I really wasn't gonna float anywhere with her and conversely she felt the same....this is what she said about the whole ordeal... I don't remember much besides the river of love thing. I think I've blocked it from my memory. I remember you were totally pissed because we had to go and you thought "Shirley" was on my side. I also remember the room was dark and there was no color anywhere...weird, Kind of like a science fiction movie. I also remember thinking I shouldn't have had to go because I was the VICTIM...haha! Hope this helps.

The victim.... and her attacker but which one is which ?
Look at her, doesn't she look mean in her red preppy sweater? I was framed I tell ya.... framed!

Anyhoo.... where was I going with this? Oh yes... I highly encourage anyone and everyone to go see a therapist whether it's a Chinese one who's name is Shirley who encourages you to float.... or not because the moral of this story is that the love river must have worked because my sister and I are the bestest of friends... and clearly we won't be in public in a bathing suit, floating anywhere!!! just saying!!!

An Ode to my Marine Therapist....

2011-02-02T11:30:00.003-06:00

As I left school yesterday, I went home and promptly donned all my cold weather gear in order to feed our friend, Matt Burba, who can help you with all your pig needs, big or small he can help with it all.... (yes just a shameless plug....) anyhoo... I realized that I may have jested too much about my Marine Corp Therapist aka my father, so here is an ode' to dear old pops, Father, Dad, Selden...

Dear Father - Thank you for the kind and generous things that you have bought me in my life.... here's a few pictures of them...

look just what every princess needs - a pair of ~~pink sparkly slippers for dancing at the ball~~ hunting boots that can be used for feeding pigs since everyone knows my aversion to hunting.....

look ~~a ball gown~~ warm coveralls that of course are camoflauged (does anyone see the trend here?) that just like the boots can be utilized for feeding pigs.....

now here is one of the most important things - gloves, now these gloves I had to steal from Scout - thank goodness he's out of town - but my dad still bought them.... just saying....now if that doesn't say kindness and concern - I just don't know what will!

Now here's the final picture, now I know what you're thinking - I got the nose from him, well I did but the picture is of the tabogan, the hat, because it was FREEZING!!!!

So thanks dad for all the princess paraphernalia that you have given me since without them I would be a sissy and everyone knows how I feel about sissies - just think if I was a sissy - that would be one giant part of the population that I couldn't make fun of!! and how dreadful would that be!!!

Random pictures....

2011-01-31T21:19:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting on the couch waiting for the snow, ice, wind, sleet, hail - whatever coldness they have predicted to come.... it hasn't yet... so I thought I would post a few random pictures of things that have happened lately...

Look here's Sager's prize winning chicken... one of them that I washed in the bathtub... not many mothers would do that....

Look - it's Shaw-lee-tamale struttin his stuff showing his prize winning gilt - Beyonce - isn't he dapper? I just love this guy....

Look here's Shaw and Scout with some of their winning ribbons from the livestock show.....

Look it's Conner Washington and Scout with more blue ribbons... my favorite!!!

Sager with his GRAND CHAMPION banner...
look at that smile - pride is oozing out of him!!! Look at Brandon - I think he's in shock....

Look - here's Scout's badge of honor.... the toe nail is almost completely gone... at least it's not black.... this is at his first half marathon which I might say was fabulous... have you ever gone to a running event... these people are great - not a negative one in the bunch, positivity surrounds these people, loved, loved, loved it....

Look here's Brandon - he was looking for hobos while we waiting for Scout to finish running - not to be judgemental but there's a lot of hobos in Wichita Falls.... what's up with that? Does anyone know? Clearly after one day in Wichita Falls, I saw more hobos than in Amarillo.... let me know if you know why....

Look - horrible pictures from my misguided youth.... first of all would you classify these britches that I have on as gauchos, wide legged pants, capris (you can clearly see my socks - which don't even match - although what color of socks would you match with this ensemble?) (Maybe who ever knows about the hobos in Wichita Falls can help me with this outfit - on second thought - I look like a hobo.... my sister and her howdy from Texas shirt is way better than the gauchos.... once again I get the shaft - my cousin clearly in a handmade garb that her mother so lovingly sewed.... just saying.... hold on - I've got to get my therapist on the line.... oh wait - I don't have a therapist - my therapist was Selden B. Hale, and his words of love, adoration, comfort and concern... SUCK IT UP!!!!) (Let's just say - having Selden for a therapist is kind of like that Geico commercial - with the marine as the therapist....substitute me for the mamby pamby and Selden for the Marine therapist...) Now you can get a clear picture of my misguided youth... sans the un-matching socks!

Everyone keep their fingers crossed, Scout's showing Big Red in Ft. Worth this week - in the snow and ice.... no.. not really but he is in Ft. Worth showing the pig - his first major show - I'm so excited for him!! Loads of fun!!! Everyone stay warm and cozy until all this blows away!

This is classic Sager....

2011-01-18T19:27:00.000-06:00

Well it has been a while since I've posted, but I've been, real, real busy washing pigs and chickens and winning!!! This year was an extraordinary year - somehow all our stars were in alignment and we did very, very well at our county show.... how well do you ask? Well, Shaw and Scout both placed 1st with each of their pigs (four first places) then Shaw won Breed Champion with his poland china, Beyonce, then he won Reserve Breed Champion with his duroc and then Shaw won Reserve Grand Champion with Beyonce!! Woo-Hoo! but it gets better!! Sager won Grand Champion with his chickens!!! Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!! How lucky are we!!!

So this is classic Sager - we stop by our friend's, Matt Burba (who coincidently bred Shaw's Reserve Breed Champion duroc, so give him a call for all your pig needs, big and small, he can handle it all!) and his friend, Drew, well Sager and Drew have had prior troubles, there was an ugly whistle incident, clearly no one clued Drew into the importance of letting Sager blow the whistle in P.E. but that's all been forgotten.... ever so slowly by Sager..... and maybe forgotten isn't the right word.... maybe.... pushed to the side of Sager's brain ... still there but not as big.... anyhoo I digress.... so somehow we got to talking about watching tv and Sager says that he likes the show Strange Addiction (on A&E) and Drew tells us about how his grandparents used to drink a little bit of bleach to clean out their system.... so Sager gets real quite and says well.... I was startin' to like you until you brought that up..... hmmmmm.... totally hysterical! He says the funniest things!

Well two more days and then sigh.... gasp.... sob... Scout turns.... 16!!!! ugh!!! right now he's sitting beside me showing me his badge of honor.... and that would be a blackened toe nail that is fixing to fall off.... did you know that people who run (excessively) are prone to have their toe nails fall off? I didn't but as I'm looking at a blackened nail - I believe it..... As I was coming home from the store this evening, I saw Scout running, and for a moment I had a total panic attack, I thought - OMG he's running away from us..... figuratively and literally... I'm sure it's the whole turning 16 and him not being a baby and me being too young to have a 16 year old... yada, yada, yada but I don't know... me no likey.....it's not like he's moving out of the house, it's not like he's going off to college, it's just.... I don't know - it's something.... well, I'm off to finish supper and await the falling off of the nail... until them I'll be planning next year's pig and chicken coup.

Let's Get This Started!!!

2011-01-02T11:43:00.000-06:00

Shaw-11,Scout-15,Jackson-13

Well the new year has begun! I just love all the possibilities that are just around the corner!! January will be extra action packed - we have the livestock show on the 15th - Sager is showing chickens, Scout and Shaw are showing pigs! Sager might have to show them how to do it! Look at that handsome boy!

Scout will go to Ft. Worth with FFA to show his barrow at the end of the month. I sure hope he has a good time - I always loved going to the big shows... Scout turns 16 on the 20th - (God help me, Jesus dear Lord...) and then on the 22nd he wants to run in a half marathon...(once again God help me, Jesus dear Lord....) I mean it's not like I'm going to run it... I mean that would be ridiculous.... then baseball for Shaw and Scout, maybe golf for Sager - he's undecided as of yet.... then TAKS tests then SUMMER!!!! WOO-HOO!!! but as of now I'm sitting on the couch, covered in a blanket watching TV.... last night we all sat on the couch, ate ice cream and watched the wildest, weirdest thrilling movie... Shutter Island... have you seen it? wild... wild... it was really, really good... I won't tell you what happens but it was something...well here's one more picture of the sweetest little boy around... besides Shaw and Scout....

I hope everyone had a great end of the year and I hope this year brings everyone new and fantastical times!!

Minnie Lee

2010-12-23T19:58:00.001-06:00

Sager addressed Minnie's envelope....

This week has been a very sad week for our family, especially Sager, his babysitter, Minnie Lee King passed away. He was sooo sad. Honestly he loved Minnie with all of his heart. When I first started to go back to work, Sager would stay with Minnie, they would watch Price is Right, he would sit in her lap and she would just love him. Even after Sager started to school, we would have to go by and visit with Minnie. I would tell Sager - we are only staying a few minutes so get in there and hug her, love her and then we're leaving...... next thing I know 2 hours have passed and Sager's eating cookies, and drinking a Dr. Pepper and Minnie and I have visited about all sorts of things. We would laugh - it was the best. Minnie was 88 and had lived a long wonderful life. This was the first time that Sager had to deal with real death and sorrow. When I first told him, he was furious with me. He said Why did you tell me!!! and then he cried and cried. After a while, he accepted it and was just worried about logistics. Was she happy? Was she going to be all right where ever she was? Was her house going to be empty? Was someone with her when she died? (He was really worried about this one, he did NOT want her to be alone... how sweet is that?) When we got home, he told me that he needed to write her a letter, and so I reminded him every so gently that she wouldn't see it, and he looked at me and said, if I write it, she will see it... duh....how silly of me...

Here is the sweetest little letter that he wrote her. This kid will never need therapy! Never... he's totally in touch with his feelings. This is what Christmas is about, love, adoration, honesty, and loyalty. I don't know how she did it, but Minnie has filled Sager's heart and he will love her and remember her forever.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and remember to love someone in such a way that they will love you, forever, just like Minnie Lee King and Sager.

Poor Santa....

2010-12-04T15:45:00.001-06:00

Well, it happened this morning. It did. I was hoping it wouldn't happen but deep down inside I was so glad that it hadn't happened. It was my last hold of something special. It really was. Lord knows I gripe and complain about Christmas. You've heard my rants and raves about my woebegone childhood. But having Sager believe in Santa was sweet. It was. This morning, Scout was out of town hunting with PawPaw and Jackson and so Brandon loaded us up and we went to get breakfast at the bakery. We were waiting in line and Sager said well I know there's no Santa Claus. ummm.... do what????? So I immediately said - WHO TOLD YOU THAT????? and he totally looked at me like I was crazy and said no one did - I figured it out myself. First it's riding a bike and next thing you know Sager doesn't believe in Santa. Holy Moly....

He had to figure it out right? I mean really a magical fat guy (and we all know how much Sager loves overweight people and their quest to get skinny) who flies around in a sleigh with magical reindeer delivering toys to children round the world? but man... he's still so little, well, I guess he is, he can't shave, doesn't wear deodorant, can't tie his shoes (we're working on that one.... pretty tricky though... have you seen how little his fingers are?) anyhoo... I just thought he would make it a little bit longer... although I really shouldn't be surprised, he's pretty logical about things... I'll have to let you know about how it ends up... Merry Christmas!

What's up?

2010-12-03T18:29:00.000-06:00

Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I can not believe that soon Christmas will be here... wow time is really flying... I don't have anything to really post about but I thought I would just check in and see how everyone is doing... I have some great pictures to share but of course I can't find my camera cord so you'll just have to be patient! I'll be back soon!!!

Wait.... did you hear that?

2010-11-18T19:35:00.000-06:00

Wait.... did you hear that???? It was Sager, he just grew up!!!! Holy moly... the day has come, Sager has officially become not a little boy anymore!!! I picked Sager up from Mr. Monson's ukulele lesson and we decided to go and visit our friend, Lindsey,who just moved to town. There was this little bike in the front yard and Sager asked if he could ride it, I told him sarcastically (I know... how else would I say it? duh!) sure get on that bike and it you can ride it - I'll go get you a brand new one from Wal-Mart!! and let me tell you why I said that.... Sager has wanted to ride a bike but he really wanted to ride a bike with training wheels. Scout and Shaw took off his training wheels from his old bike because they said that he needed to ride a real bike not a baby bike... no soft warm and fuzzy brotherhood here I'll tell ya!

So Sager picks up the bike throws his leg over and rides off. Just like that... he aged instantly!!! I just stared and he's giggling the whole time!! I bust out laughing because in that moment he went from my little baby to a big boy with one turn on the wheel. Holy moly.... how is that? He was a baby... now he's not.... and to top it off my sister called and asked if we were going to have a big party for Scout's 16th birthday in January. Do what? oh that's right... Shut your mouth!!!! I'm going to the store to buy a bike and maybe a six pack.... would that look bad? at this point - who care's.... Sager's not a baby anymore.... gasp, sob, boo-hoo!!!

BOO HOO Cross Country is over....

2010-11-07T12:45:00.002-06:00

Well this year's cross country season is over... boo...hoo... gasp.. sob.... and Scout made it from District in Spearman, Texas to Regionals in Lubbock, Texas this weekend. For the record the wind only

blew 9,0000miles per hour, and Scout and the rest of his team, who are all ladies, ran really, really well despite the wind. Look at Sager's hair.... he kep trying to jump up and fly!!! Scout ran so hard and he was at a dead sprint between the guy from Bushland, TX (I should post his name so everyone could send him hate mail but I'm the bigger person, I'm the bigger person... sorry I was chanting to myself...) anyway Scout passes this jerk and was leaning in to take the 5th place spot when this creep, who is a Jr. at Bushland, Highschool, whose initials are K.L., I'm just saying...., reaches over and grabs Scout and slings him back and takes 5th and Scout gets 6th. Of course I start yelling, DISQUALIFY HIM.... but alas they didn't listen to me and they let that punk have 5th place, although I should add that Scout didn't feel good and didn't run his best but he was still better than Mr. L, so Scout gets to go to Regionals, again, second year in a row, second year in a row that he's the only one from Childress going.... yeah that's right - I'm stinking proud of that sucker!!!

Here's a picture of him and all the high school girls who ran... Hannah, Brooke, Scout, Marisol, and Rachel.... for the record - They totally rocked too! Look there's Scout holding his award and wearing his obscene sunglasses (that's what his ChaCha calls them, even though he worked and paid for them) anyhoo... this weekend was Regionals at Mae Simmons Park, in Lubbock, Texas and Scout ran a really good race even though he thought he did terrible - he forbade me from looking up his time

which I promptly did and even though I won't post it here - He did good.... really good - but the thing is - this is the best of the best and Scout was there among them. It's called perspective people!! And for the record, Mr. Jerk-wad from Bushland, Texas placed 61st - which was far, far, far behind Scout.... - Karma babe - Karma.... anyhoo Scout has begun to think about Track and Baseball coming up, Shaw is already ready for school to be over with (yikes!) but is looking forward to baseball and Sager is running nearly every day, I sure hope the residents at the Old Folks Home across the street don't think I'm making Sager dress up in red from head to toe and run their back lot... maybe Sager will be the next running man.... ya never know... I know that some people may get tired of my ranting and raving about how fabulous my kids are but you know what - I DON'T CARE!!!! That's right - I don't care. This is my blog - get your own if you don't want to listen to me!!!

Every day I see kids whose parents don't give a flying flip about them and so I'm not going to be one of them!!! (now let me clarify this... please don't think that I think my kids wouldn't ever mess up... As a parent, I totally am right in the middle of the people who think their kids are perfect and those who don't even know where their kids are, I'm aware that Scout, Shaw and Sager could screw up at any moment and I also know that they could be totally ready to become what ever it is that they want to be - my children are not perfect - they're real and they're mine!!!)

...here's just a shameless plug.... here's a picture of my sweet sister and her boy Jackson, who is a baseball super-star - he's in the 7th grade!!! Look how tall that sucker is!!! I just love Jackson and can't wait until he's totally playing in the major leagues but only if he keeps going to strength and conditioning class.

... I'm just saying Jackson.... listen to your mummy and your mia mia!! Love him!!!!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Open letter to Blue Bell Ice Cream Makers....

2010-10-18T17:34:00.000-05:00

Dear Blue Bell Ice Cream Makers,

My name is Maria Hale and I am a devoted follower of all things Blue Bell. While I have been a devoted follower for quite some time now, there's a few things that I need to talk to you about. Why oh why must you be so delicious? Why? How do you expect me to come home from a long day of dealing with misfit junior high kids and ~~need~~ want to take just a few little bites of something wonderful and delicious to calm my soul? Do you realize I get to work early and stay late and have to deal with CSCOPE? Do you? Do you know how horribly inappropriate it is to knock back a six pack of beer every day after leaving school? Horribly. I mean really???? How would that look? That's why I load my freezer with your delicious product. (Mainly the pints, cuz I have a little self esteem and how would that look to be sitting on the couch watching National Geographic eating straight from the gallon, (Shaw says get real you're watching Jersey Shore.... whatever ~~Situation~~ Shaw) Let's take for example the pint that I just knocked back. Caramel Kettle Crunch. The ~~empty~~ container claims that it is vanilla flavored ice cream with caramel coated popcorn and caramel sauce. Who comes up with this stuff? I have eaten the WHOLE pint I tell ya!!! THE WHOLE PINT.... This whole time I have been blaming my soft and squishy (Sager's words not mine) body on kids (even though my youngest is 9.... I 'm just saying....) however, I think it's your fault Blue Bell. I hate to say it but I'm going to have to change my ways. I know you'll miss me but I can't go on like this... our affair is over (after I knock back the blackberry cobbler ice cream, two pints of homemade vanilla and the last mint chocolate chip...) I'll miss you.... maybe I'll see ya around...

Hmmmmmm... what's up?

2010-10-17T18:11:00.000-05:00

Well, let's see what's been going on? This past week was very busy. Scout ran on Thursday in Burkburnett, he placed 2nd. Very nice... very nice... then Brandon and I went to Canyon to watch my dad get an award from WTAMU for being a distinguished alumni... very nice... very nice.... then on Friday, Scout traveled to Slayton with the mighty Bobcats who mightily got whooped... not nice.... not nice.... I sure wish they would win something, those kids need some mojo to help jump start some excitement in their playing.... I think it's going to take more than noodles to get them going.... Saturday we hung out at the pigs and visited with our friend Matt Burba.... very nice.... very nice... and then today, I spent most of the day up at school preparing for the week.... not nice... not nice.... I think everyone up at school needs to eat noodles to jump start them... things are very different this year with everyone.... there's like a negative vibe in the air and I know where my negativity stems from but it's different for everyone... it makes me sad that last year was so wonderful and this year I've tried googling team building exercises in hopes of changing the air at the school. I don't know, maybe we need karaoke in the lounge on Wednesdays.... maybe 80's music???? hey... maybe I'm on to something.... I'll keep you posted.... oh don't forget.... Scout runs tomorrow so noodles for EVERYONE!!!!!

2010-10-06T18:38:00.002-05:00

Look at my new signature.... it's official - I'm a real blogger now!!!!

Milestones.....

2010-10-03T18:03:00.001-05:00

As many parents know, there are many, many milestones in your children's lives. Today Scout reached one that I had hoped he never would reach. Let's face it, I'm a realist. I know that I have taught my children many lessons and whether or not they listen and take heed, I never know. Let me set the stage for you. It's a cool October Sunday (today) and I've been diligently doing laundry, dishes, took Sager to a costume party, made breakfast and dinner is in the crock pot. Scout had come home from work early and was in his room listening to either Katy Perry or Cannibal Corpse - I never know which. Anyhoo... I digress..... I walk into his room to ask him if he has any clothes that need to be washed. He gets up from his desk and looks around. Let's just say - it ain't pretty. There are 10 pairs of running shoes, Gatorade bottles, running magazines, school backpack, dirty dishes, water bottles, his work clothes.... you get the picture. So even with his loving and devoted mummy standing in the filth and funk, he does the unmentionable... I hate to even write about it but... I know that there are mothers in Uganda who have dealt with the crap that I'm about to see. I know there are Aborigine mothers cringing that their sons do the same thing that I'm about to deal with..... Scout stands up.... bends down and picks up some shirt off the floor and.... and..... SMELLS IT!!!!! Oh my gosh.... all my years of mothering, teaching and guiding down the toilet.... but wait it gets worse... he throws it down and moves onto the next pile and smells it and says yeah... that's dirty... Can you believe it? My heart is broken. Where is that sweet little squared away boy that wiped his hands after every bite of breakfast at the day care???? He's gone I tell you - gone.....

The good ole' days when Scout listened to his mummy.

The only consolation is that he ran in Iowa Park this weekend and placed 2nd!!! Woo-Hoo!!! He whittled his time down to 16:51. That is super SWEET!!!!

Now this is scary!!!

2010-09-23T19:34:00.002-05:00

Isn't he sooo scary??? I know not really. I've had so many things that I wanted to blog about but I just can't decide anyhoo.... I asked Shaw what I should blog about and he said - blog about blogging... boring.... I have to say that I have several super funny stories in my head but I question whether or not I should tell them. (You know my boss reads my blog... I'm just saying...)

Did you know that I used to want to be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader? I did. Those white zip up boots were the bomb!! In elementary school a lot of the girls wanted to be cheerleaders and marry Dallas Cowboy football players but here was my problem. I was so embarrassed to admit to the other cheerleader wanna-be's that nobody watched football in my house. I had no idea about anything remotely attached to a football game but I did know about the cheerleaders! So I read the sports section of the Amarillo Sunday paper looking for a famous Dallas Cowboy to marry. Well there wasn't a whole lot of pictures of famous footballers so the article that I read was all about Tony Dorsett. Do you know who Tony Dorsett is? Well, he was this awesome running back from back in the day. Well I promptly went back to school and told all the girls that I was going to grow up and marry Tony Dorsett. (keep in mind this was 78, 79...) They did kind of look at me crazy but I just thought it was because they didn't believe that I would actually marry him. So I faithfully started reading the sports page to keep track of my man. Then one day it happened - there was a picture of him. He's black. Did you know that? Not me. Not that's there's anything wrong with that but not a whole lot of interracial dating going on at St. Joseph's Catholic school. So what's the moral of my story? It's this. If you want to be a trashy, big haired, white boot wearing hussy prancing on the sideline of a professional sporting event - Do It!! but don't do it to fit in because sometimes one lie leads to another and then another. And everyone knows - I'm a bad, bad, bad liar!!! Have a great weekend!!!

What a weekend....

2010-09-12T17:28:00.001-05:00

We had a great weekend. This weekend we watched Scout run a cross country race in Seymour Texas. He shaved a minute off his time so I can totally tell that his hard work is really paying off. Sometimes you can say hard work will pay off but sometimes you can't. I know that there are kids who have a ton of talent but are too lazy to go to practice and they still are rewarded with accolades and praise. Boy does that hack me off. I know that Scout has worked hard and that should be my main concern but when there are kids who get more recognition than athletes like Scout who go to every extra practice and stay late and get there early then it just makes me want to fire off a hate filled e-mail to the Athletic Director to make it right. Make it fair. But alas, Scout and Brandon have me on hate-filled email restriction so I'll just gripe a little and then get over it like I always do. I know that there are so many more important things than who's the coaches favorite and who's riding the bench. How do I know this? Well because I sat with Sager and listened to him talk about trying to get someone to help him fight off a bully (to no avail) and I watched him root for Scout, screaming at him to hurry, run fast, COME ON BUBBA!!!

I know this because I watched Scout run three miles in the heat, by himself because he has no other teammates to encourage him and then when we got home, he got up the next morning and went to work. No lounging in his pj's playing video games!

I know because I watched Shaw ask his Daddy this morning if he could mow the lawn. He told him - I know I can do it. I also watched Shaw play with Sager at the parking lot across the street and when they came back, Shaw made sure Sager looked both ways before crossing the street. How sweet is that?

I also have thought of Leah Helm and her family in the fight for her husband's life and the enormity of how things can change in an instant. In the blink of an eye. Snap your fingers and it's gone. How can that be? It just is. Boy.... that's what's important not that other stuff. I'm going to lie in the bed in the fetal position... maybe Sager will bring me a snack.... honey... bring momma a cookie.....

Boy oh boy....

2010-09-03T20:24:00.000-05:00

Boy oh boy... what a week - what am I saying, what a couple of weeks!!! School has started and we have just finished the first two weeks. I love the schedule of school but we have started a new curriculum, CSCOPE, and it's killing me!!! This is my third year and I absolutely love, love, love my job (although I did have a small melt down Monday and a small amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth was involved but I stayed in my room so nobody saw the hideousness!!!!) but this year we've started the year out with some craziness. At our Jr. high, literally to me, I feel like we're one big family. Of course I would be the black sheep with my humor and love of interpretive dance! but I digress.... One of the sweetest teachers who teaches math, who taught my Ninja, her husband contracted the flesh eating bacteria and was air-flighted to Amarillo. He is a strong man with a ruddy west texas complexion, who farms and loves every minute of it. It was a shock. A total shock. She is the personification of quiet strength. At the end of the year last year when I was going on and on about how Scout let me down by making a B, she sent me the sweetest e-mail - from one momma to another and in it she said basically that there are more important things than making a B. Those words have echoed in my ears. Her family is in my constant prayers and in my thoughts. She is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders and yet there she is with quiet strength. She has two daughters and a son and to me she is the best role model for love, strength, devotion, and courage. If you're reading this.... take a few moments to contemplate what you would do if your life changed in an instance. Would you be a role model or would you fold? Take a moment to count your blessings. I know I have. Right now as I type, I'm watching TV with Shawlee Tamalee. Last night I sat with Scout, who by the way, placed 5th in his first cross country race (out of 117 runners) (not too shabby!)we both had our laptops out, watching TV and just catching up. How lucky I am to be blessed with such wonderful boys...

The Bounty Hunter...

2010-08-04T15:45:00.001-05:00

Here's Sager's best friends.... they just don't know it! (We actually
have this picture hanging on our refrigerator!)

Do you know who Dog the Bounty Hunter is? Now some of my faithful followers know that I have already addressed this issue in a previous post. (The five marriages, 14 kids, his wife's alias, his wife's big boobs, the mullets, TDC time for accessory to murder etc, etc.) But... believe it or not there are actually people who do NOT know who Dog the Bounty Hunter is. (The counselor at our school did not, I repeat, did not know who Dog the Bounty Hunter was....) (what's up with that????) Anyhooo...... Today is Wednesday and Sager was unable to leave the house a) because he was sick, his head and ear were hurting and b) uh... Dog was coming on duh.... (yeah that's what I deal with.... feel sorry for me? you should!!!!)

Well I was talking to Sager and asked him just why in the world did he like Dog so much and you know what he said? He said that it was because everyone on the show had a special skill like door kicking in skills, pepper spray skills, talking on the phone and driving really fast skills. So I say well what is your special skill and he thought of it for a minute and said well even though I'm kinda mean sometimes I can be nice, I'm a pretty fast runner and I'm cool and awesome. How about that? What do you think your special skill is? Mine.... (Sager says well you're pretty - uh hello... I have a brain buddy!) I can tell a pretty good story and I love my kids. I guess if you're a mom, you don't really need any other skills except I would like the pepper spraying skills for special occasions... I'm just saying.

Let me know what your special skills are!

How long are you out when you faint?

2010-07-29T15:56:00.003-05:00

Here's a little conversation between Sager and myself, it goes like this...

Sager - you know when someone rings the doorbell and you, well not YOU but like me goes and answers it and it's like a famous person.... kind of like.... oh, I don't know.... Taylor Swift.

Me - has that happened before?

Sager - no but I'm just saying....

Me - Oh, o.k. because I was just wondering if maybe I missed something...

Sager - well let's just say it happens... o.k.?... so Taylor Swift is at the door and you, well not you but me, answers it and you scream, you know not you but me...

Me - yeah I get it... not me...

Sager - yeah well when I answer the door and I scream and faint, what happens when you faint?

Me - Well - I've never fainted... so I don't know....

Sager - What happens when you faint? Is it like sleeping?

Me - yeah I guess so...

Sager - well let's just say that I fainted, how long are you out?

Me - I don't know - Is Taylor Swift coming over later?

Sager - I sure hope so!

Sager's growing up....

2010-07-23T11:47:00.004-05:00

Yesterday Sager went to a birthday party for some sweet little girls who were with him in the NICU when he was born premature. Abbie, Allison (and soon Sager) are 9 years old. I can't believe it's been 9 years since they were all born. Here are some pictures of Sager at their party. He just loves swimming!! After we got home, I worked on some laundry and I went into his room and he's sitting mesmerized in the middle of his room on his toy box. I asked him what he was watching and he took just a second and said this girl has been infected with Cryptosporidium. She got it from drinking contaminated water. Really? geesh! You gotta love Monster's inside me! Have you watched it? Sager is totally, totally mesmerized!! Maybe he'll be a scientist. Summer is ending soon.... we better get busy getting some things done!!!

Friday Flip Off's.....

2010-07-09T18:33:00.003-05:00

Yeah you read it right - It's Friday and I'm flippin' off everything that made me mad this week. I saw this on another blog and loved, loved, LOVED the idea of it.... hmmmmm where to get started?????

To all the people who wore the most inappropriate bathing suits at Hurricane Harbor - here's to you a full flip off!!! you wouldn't believe all the boobs, butts and guts that we were subjected to on Thursday - holy moly - and the old lady who stood at the lockers lotioning and oilying her 70 year body - I'm flipping you off with both hands because as you bent over to lotion up your legs - you flashed Brandon and I some of the scariest two things I've ever encountered.... **shudder**

To the freckles and age spots that came after we left Hurricane Harbor - boo-yah to you too!!! you're going to get a single flip off because part of it is my fault - I didn't wear sunscreen but that shouldn't matter - everyone knows that you look better with sun damage.....

To all the rain - yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that farmers love you but enough already..... I'm tired of the wetness..... flip -off!!

To teenagers - a behind the back, over the shoulder and up in the air FLIP-OFF!!!! I once went to a work shop that says teenagers are really only demons for three years - I'm currently testing this theory - you'll have to wait on my findings!!!

Now so that no one thinks that I'm nasty and negative - I have High-Five Friday for some fabulous things that happened this week!!!!

A High-Five goes out to Cook's Children's Hospital.... they had volunteers in the waiting room playing and coloring with the patients - how nice is that????

Another High-Five goes out to Dr. Scott Perry of said Cook's Hospital - a fire ball of knowledge and humor - he's our new pediatric neurologist - as we're visiting with him - Sager leans over and tells Brandon - I like this dude!!!

A High-Five of course to Sager for being so well behaved at Cook's Hospital - he had to get an EEG done and when the guy finished with the test, Sager stuck out his hand to shake and told the guy - thanks for everything - you were great - how mature is that?

A High-Five goes out to Scout for going and helping his Pawpaw go build fences in Gruver. Surly but sweet - I just love it when someone other than me has to feed Scout and share in my grocery pain!!! Ha!!!! (I really should high-five Scout because he is working at Heather's and working some at a local vineyard.... but I wouldn't want his head to get tooo big!)

and so no one will ever accuse me of being un fair - a HIGH-FIVE to Shawlee-tamalee, we are so blessed to have him - I just love that guy!!!

So there you go - Flip offs and High Fives for this week - who do you want to flip off or high-five???

Hey you....

2010-06-27T17:11:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm been having some trouble with blogger.... so I'm going to try to post some pictures and see what happens, I lost some stuff that I posted so I'm going to try just to post some pictures.... I hope everyone is good.... and having a great summer....

How Can This be My Baby?

2010-06-05T14:54:00.003-05:00

Here's a picture of Scout for my sister - do you see what I'm talking about?

maria

a whole lot of nothing....

2010-06-03T17:09:00.002-05:00

A whole lot of nothing is going on and that's what I like! This is the first week of summer and it's been great! well except that our pool has a leak in it and it's supposed to be 107 this Saturday.... there's something way wrong with that especially since Scout has a double header on Saturday. Speaking of Scout - he had to shave his "soul patch" on the second to last day of school so he gets the bright idea not to shave all summer... sadly his beard is growing quite nicely... no really it's a beard... the guys at summer work out have been calling him Castaway, wooly mammoth, a man - yeah a little weird - I can't wait until the first day of school when he walks in with a full and hairy beard (it'll be reminiscent of ZZ Top by then) and then they'll be wishing all they had to deal with was the soul patch!!

Baseball has been going good - Shaw's next game is the 7th, he and Sager actually have a golf tournament that same day but we're going to baseball it instead. We've been going to the range to hit golf balls and Sager's already started complaining about how hot it is - not so good...

Not much else has been going on - and that's ok!!! I hope everyone is having a great summer so far - I'll talk to you soon!

whew!!!! it's almost over!!!

2010-05-26T18:33:00.002-05:00

It's almost over - the school year that is.... today was our last day before semester tests and it was a long day.... one of my students threw a fit and acted horrible. We were going to have a great day - make marshmallow catapults and end the school year on a wonderful note. WRONG!!! I swear, it was just like an inmate who's scared to leave the unit - and after the whole thing was over and I had to talk to the counselor - no really I did - for my sake as well as on behalf of the student, that I realized this poor little darling is upset about leaving school for summer. How depressing is that? It is really depressing. This year has been filled with some "Oh Lord" moments but today took the cake. What do you say to a kid like that? I'm praying that the summer takes as long as possible and this kid doesn't want it to even begin. I need to re-charge. **** disclaimer***** I love, love, love my job. It's a little sick I know but I do I love it. I love everything on a whole, some things are horrible wretched and dismal but then my kids will do something and it makes it all worth while. I love the people I work with and for. I love that I'm not the only person who loves getting out for summer but when august swings around - they're just as excited to come back! Do you have big summer plans? Me, I'm working on my melanoma riddled tan. I'm going to make a couple of golf scrapbooks and haul my kids here and yonder and love every minute of it!

Piano Studs....

2010-05-22T15:08:00.003-05:00

Here's some pictures from the brothers yearly piano guild competition in Quanah, Texas. I just love to see them dressed up! (For a moment I forget all their wicked ways! Ha!!!) They've gotten so used to me taking their pictures - they're pretty good at hamming it up! Have a great weekend!!

What a Looonnnggg week!

2010-05-19T18:14:00.004-05:00

This week has really crawled by. I mean crawled by like trying to crawl through the Mojave desert with no chap stick and no water (and a wedgie!). Boy has it been rough. This week has been filled with disappointment for Scout, tiredness for Sager (and a bruised thumb!) and Shaw's had to put up with a gripey mother - don't you feel sorry for him? You ought too!! I can't take disappointments. Not initially - once I have worked through it, I'm generally able to see the entire situation and I'm normally able to see the positive spin but not this week. I have struggled to see anything positive with Scout and his situation (a less than stellar grade) and I hate that. I know that he is a great kid but when he falls short, I feel like a failure. I know that there are mom's who for whatever reason don't have contact with their children and so I know that I am very blessed to have such good relationships with them but it's me - I'm being selfish. As soon as I gripe at Scout and Shaw and even Sager, I hate how I feel. There are soooo many things worse than a bad grade. I tell my sister all the time - I swear - I should have gotten chihuahuas instead of kids. I worry that Scout isn't trying hard enough but really I worry that I am not trying hard enough. So many parents aren't there for their children whether physically or emotionally, and I really worry that I have let my kids down. When will this child raising thing get easier? arghhhhhhh.....

I'll be ready to get this week over with and move on to another one and maybe, just maybe I'll get some mojo back until then just ignore me!!!!

On a positive note - just for my faithful readers.... I am incredibly blessed to have the coffee club at school so I start my day out laughing and in case I need a perk up - my lunch group gathers so that I can listen to them and they can listen to me and I can remember what's really going on... nothing but love! Hugs your chihuahuas!

Forgive me Father, I have sinned....

2010-04-30T09:50:00.004-05:00

Yes, I have. I acted ridiculous at my son's little league game. I tried not to - I made it until the last few moments but I had to, I swear it Father. Please forgive me.....

Last night Shaw, poor sweet little Shaw, had his first little league game of the year. Unfortunately, we played the Little League team from Quanah, Texas. (After I type this, I may start to work on my tirade filled letter to the editor to be mailed to the Quanah, Texas newspaper, if they have one? who knows? anyhoo.... I digress.) This is the first year that these 4th graders have had to pitch so it's all a little new to them. I thought they played a really good game. They went back and forth with Quanah for the lead but they rallied and at one point were winning 10-5. Well we had some trouble with our pitching because of course 4th graders get tired after pitching 60 some odd pitches and we had run through all the kids who had practiced pitching and we were pulling from the ranks. Let me just say that these kids tried. They did and isn't that what we want? The Quanah adults sitting in the stand, berated and belittled and basically acted like fools through out the WHOLE game. I was shocked. Through out all of the years that Scout played, I just thought we saw some "enthusiastic" parents. Nah...., nah..... how these fools acted was shameful. They cheered and I mean cheered, celebrated, and acted out and out crazy over every little thing.... if our pitcher walked one of their kids - look out.... it was scandalous..... now don't get me wrong - I am prone to complain, fuss and possibly cuss under my breath about bad calls or whatever but not like this.

I made it until the last inning, the last play of the game when it happened, this enormous, rotund, fatty boom-ba-latty stood up and said - YEAH - WE GOT MORE HEART THAN YOU!!!!! What? What? Are you kidding me? They're little boys, kids, youngsters. LITTLE LEAGUE!!!!!! Obviously this woman is living vicariously through her child but come on. When was the last time she played catch with him? When was the last time she ran the bases? The only thing that she's running is her mouth.

So you know what I did..... I did it..... (I'm sorry Kyle Vannoy - he did look at me a little crazy when I began my tirade and really if he hadn't of been sitting there, I might have yelled some obscenities but in the back of my mind I thought hmmm..... probably better reign it in a little.....Kyle Vannoy - the voice of reason and restraint.) I yelled SHUUUUUUUTTTTTT UUUUUUPPPPPPP!!!!!!! SSSSSHHHHUUUUTTTT UUUUUPPPPP, I even had spit coming out of my mouth.... it was hideous..... but that lard butt pushed me over the edge..... how dare she tell our kids that they don't have any heart? Does she even know our kids? Does she know what's going on in their lives? NNNNNNOOOOOOO - like my poor child - do you think it's easy to be sandwiched in between Scout and Sager? NNNNOOOOOOO, I myself had to jump his case this very same day after the bus driver said that he wouldn't wear his seat belt - so I did what every other mother would have done and waited for the bus to pull up and I immediately walked on the bus and embarrassed him and made him apologize to the bus driver.... no heart? How about having to put up with a lunatic mother like me? That boy's got a bigger heart than that woman's butt and that's big!!!!

So there you go - I've confessed my sins, (I even told my principal) so now all I have to do is a little penance and I'll be good - maybe 25 Hail Mary's and a couple of Our Fathers ought to do it..... and maybe buy Shaw a little prize....maybe.....

I know, I know - long time no blog.....

2010-04-29T09:41:00.004-05:00

On the way to school today - I totally thought of a funny idea for a post but now I just can't remember - that's what TAKS will do for you!! Sucks not only your energy but your brains as well! I guess I'll just catch everyone up on what's been happening.... Sager went on a field trip to Caprock Canyons while some of the older students were taking TAKS test at his school. He had a pretty good time

although he did tell his teacher he was going blind and he had to sit and drink a bunch of water while he cooled down.... (sounds like fun, doesn't it!) then they went to the lake and looked for shells and then they

had lunch and he was totally distraught that he had to throw away his leftovers which he had planned on bringing home (even thought he knew that he had to throw it away!) Mercy!

Shaw has been taking the TAKS - Math and Reading - he thinks he did pretty well... we'll see... (he did really well last year so I'm not too worried) he's also been getting ready for a piano competition and last but not least he's started little league up again. This year he will be pitching. It makes me so nervous. He does well but they always look so little up there on the mound - I can't stand it when the other team starts heckling! The other night they had a scrimmage and Shaw pitched pretty good so when we get home, he asks me where Sager and Daddy were (after Shaw finished with baseball he had group lessons for piano so Brandon had taken Sager fishing at the park) and I said fishing, so after a while I noticed that Shaw wasn't inside... I worried that he was upset over how he pitched or hit or something so I didn't say too much to him. Well when Brandon and Sager got home I told Brandon that Shaw was upset about something and I thought it was baseball so when Shaw came inside Brandon asked him why he was upset and Shaw starts crying (big ole' crocodile tears...) and says..... I.

... I.... wanted to go fishing too!!!! holy cow! I thought it was about baseball... oh well... so much for my maternal ESP!

I took Scout to get his learners permit to drive yesterday. Holy cow I practically had a melt down right there in the DPS office. I just am ill equipped for this parenting thing. When I think back when I was pregnant with Scout, I thought I was soo self assured - when I went into labor, I brought my Lamaze handbook so that I could review the breathing exercises prior to labor... I had told myself that all those other women who had complained about how awful labor was, were basically just sissies! I could do this - I mean after all women had been having babies in the fields, in the mountains, and in caves for centuries - nothing to it!!!! and then my water broke and basically it's been down hill with the ill-preparedness. As Scout and I were driving around yesterday, I just couldn't believe that the little baby that I brought home from the hospital is driving... 15 years it's been... 15.... I think about learning to drive with my granny and I just marvel at the difference in my life and in Scout's (and Shaw's and Sager's!) My granny was so patient and would say - you're going a little fast, you're going a little slow, don't take the curve (the one right before you get to the yellow house) too fast... (but we always did...)just calm and patient... so wonderful.... I wonder what she would think of ole' Scout, I'm sure he'd charm her, I know that she would love Shaw's sweet ways and Sager's ornery ways... I'm trying to be a calm, loving force in my children's lives... but that whole calm thing - not really working out for me...

Elvis

2010-04-17T18:27:00.003-05:00

Elvis. One name, no other one needed. Everyone knows Elvis. Sager even knows Elvis. Elvis died 23 years before Sager was even born but yet he knows who he is by sight and by sound. My friend Stephanie of Artist Diva blog posted a video of Elvis singing "I Can Dream." I just LOVE this song. Heck - I just love Elvis. I can remember listening to his records at my Granny's house, my sister and I would play Elvis records, Tom T Hall and others. My Granny loved Elvis. Who doesn't? If you don't, please don't tell me - I'd hate to stop being your friend. No really.... I would have to. Sorry but that's just how it goes. I was 5 when Elvis died but had I been born earlier I would have totally been one of the girls standing at the stage waiting for Elvis to wipe his sweaty head and then look at you (the most important part - the connection... I'm swooning just thinking about it.... Mercy!) and then throw the scarf to you. Then the girl (me) would scream and start crying and hyperventilating and have to be escorted out.... doesn't that sound delightful to you? It does to me.... Why Elvis? I don't know. He was a fabulous singer but kind of weird. I've read all kinds of books about him and Priscilla (Cilla). (I even had a pig named Elvis - he had a weight problem and kind of swaggered when he walked.... I loved him, his pen at the Ag farm was dubbed the Heartbreak hotel.) However, I digress. Elvis was a total mamma's boy who wanted to sing Gospel music but practically sold his soul to the devil (Colonel Parker) to be famous. He only wanted to marry a virgin but ran around with women of low morals if you know what I mean. (not that I'm judging them... since I would fight to the death for a sweaty scarf....) Why is that? I think that once people found out about Elvis the man they could see their self in him. Sure he probably had some self esteem issues - did you see him in the jump suits when he was fat... of course he had issues. Anyone who used that many jewels is trying to cover something up. But he was human with all the human frailties. I mean who hasn't tried frying a peanut butter and banana sandwich in a pound of butter late at night when no one is looking? I confess I tried it. It was pretty good. Which was your favorite Elvis? younger or older - I myself like the young Elvis but I think my favorite is the comeback special when he's in the black leather - mercy... I'm swooning again. Tell me what you think - Elvis or Beatles - young or old - jumpsuit or no.... but remember don't admit to not liking him because that would be weirdest of all!

I'm TIRED!!!!!

2010-04-07T10:21:00.003-05:00

No, really I am.... here are just a few things that I'm tired of:

I'm tired of not being able to sleep 12 hours and wake up when I want to!!!

I'm tired of being able to sleep 12 hours but can't because my internal clock goes off at 5:00 a.m.! (this is what officially makes me an adult - when you get up with out the alarm clock!)

I'm tired of having to wait up for Scout to come home from ____________.(fill in the blank - baseball, track, cross county, school trip, being out with friends)

I'm tired of Scout getting so old and not wanting to stay home with his momma and read books in the chair.

I'm tired of Scout's teenager ways.

I'm tired of Sager's teenager ways (and he's not even a teenager!)

I'm tired of Shaw's getting tired of Sager and Scout.

I'm tired of Shaw beginning to hint at growing up. (Where's that sweet little boy? The one in his place wears dumb ole under armour cuz it's cool and pees on the seat cuz he's too lazy to lift the lid and leaves his dirty clothes on the floor - just like some other kid in my house who will remain nameless - Scout!)

I'm tired of getting old.

I'm tired of getting plumpy. (that's what Sager calls it - plumpy, plumpish, squishy - nice.....)

I'm tired of not knowing all the answers to how to raise sweet boys who grow up to respect their mommas and I worry that they'll end up in jail or robbing banks!)

I"m tired of not being able to stop time so that my babies will stay babies forever.

I'm tired of knowing that I'm going to miss all the tiredness.

What are you tired of? Let me know.... but keep it short because I'm tired of reading!!! (not really!)

Running Man Ninja Style

2010-03-27T11:47:00.014-05:00

Scout has been working on a GT project. When he completes it, and I guess if it's good enough then he will get to go see the bodies exhibit in Dallas, Texas. It's where an artist has taken dead bodies and preserved them and then displayed them. It sounds a little creepy but it really is something. Anyhoo, I watched Scout's movie and ...... I didn't like it. Now don't get me wrong, he has made some really good and funny movies. This just isn't one of them. So I told him I could make a better movie than that. So he said - do it then. So here it is.... maybe - if I can get it to post! Ha!

Boo Hoo... Spring Break's almost over!!!

2010-03-20T13:32:00.001-05:00

This spring break has flown by.... I started my spring break one day early and my sister and I flew to Houston to help take care of my Dad after his surgery. Not that I'm glad that he had to have surgery but we had a really good time. It was good to spend time with my sister and her girls, we laughed a bunch - I mean a bunch! My sister and Jaelie went to the Children's museum and Jamison and I went to Galveston and saw the ocean for the very first time - isn't that sad - the first time I've ever seen the ocean and I'm old! Here's some pics...

Here's Jamison helping feed her sister Jaeli. Aren't they sweet?

Here's Jamison and the little girls... Elena and Anna. They are my brother, Michael's, little girls. They are super sweet and super cute. They are always wearing these little dresses. (No little sweet dresses in my house!!!) Look at the ocean!

Here's Rice University... maybe one day Scout will run track there... you never know!

Wordless Wednesday....

2010-03-03T16:50:00.000-06:00

Long time... no blog....

2010-03-03T15:32:00.002-06:00

Here are some pictures from Sager's latest hospitalization. He had to have the tube from his shunt replaced. He was fortunate that he didn't have to have the whole shunt replaced - which would have been three times as bad!!! What is funny is that many of Sager's nurses from last year came in to say hello - they totally remembered him. How funny is that! I'm hoping that by tomorrow he'll be able to go to school although he still hasn't taken a bath since last Thursday... I don't know.....

Sager before his surgery....

being wheeled away.....

after everything was over with.... poor baby.....

The Olympics are Here!!! (Look at my Olympic Hopefuls...)

2010-02-17T20:18:00.000-06:00

Have you been watching the Olympics? I have. As most of you know, I have a great love of TV. I just love the Olympics. As a young girl, I often thought about training to go to the Olympics. Which sport you might ask? Well I never narrowed it down. I did have the Dorothy Hamil haircut so maybe I could have been a figure skater but I was pretty plump and I lived in Amarillo, Texas so not a whole lot of skating was going on. Then I thought about swimming but I was on the swim team for the Amarillo Town Club and once again the plump thing and the green speedo racing suit didn't really suit me. (Especially since, I tired very easily... it was hard building stamina while watching TV...) Then I thought about gymnastics... but once I found out that the girls were like 4 feet tall and weighed 85 pounds.... and I was 5'6'' in the 6th grade that kind of ruined things for me there.... but whenever I watched the games, deep down inside I knew that one day, one day I could be there standing on the podium singing the National Anthem, tears streaming down my face as I waved to the crowd, mouthing the words, Thank you.... Thank you.... but alas I didn't make it. So now I've shifted my dreams vicariously to my children - don't you think Sager would make a good curler? I don't know.... I better get busy with him.... where's the ice rink in Childress?

Soul Train!!!!

2010-02-07T18:22:00.001-06:00

I'm watching a VH1 show - about Black History Month, it's about Soul Train!!! Now this may sound silly, but I myself watched ALOT of Soul Train!!! I've been very open about the fact that I watched too much TV when I was little. I'm well aware that most kids were not watching as much TV as me. (I would never let my kids watch as much TV as I did!) My mom worked nights and slept during the day so there wasn't much to do when you're little. So on Saturday Morning, we watched cartoons, American Bandstand and then some Soul Train. I loved American Bandstand but Soul Train was a trip!! I had never seen dancing and shaking like that. When they line up and dance through the lines of people - loved it!!!! I thought it might be alright to have an afro until I got to Jr. High and watched all the sisters putting vaseline in their hair in the bathroom. Then I changed my mind (ha! especially since I rocked the Dorothy Hamil hairdo until I was in the 6th grade!) This wasn't my first foray into the black society, my dad had been taking us to the black church in Amarillo and the NAACP meetings for years! At the time, I thought holy crap - he's going to get us killed. One time we were at a NAACP meeting or banquet or something and the speaker was a Dallas councilman, who was kind of militant and starting talking about sticking to the "Man". I leaned over and asked my dad "Do we need to get out of here?" and he just laughed and said - "I don't think so..." and I wondered if my dad was the "Man" and I was ready to claim total Hispanic heritage if I needed to but the evening ended and there wasn't any trouble. (looking back I'm sure half the people had used my dad as a lawyer or knew someone who had used him as a lawyer!) I'm sure my dad was trying to teach us about diversity, mankind and the such but at the time it was crazy!!! I wonder what my kids would think if I drug them to a NAACP meeting - Shaw wouldn't be fazed, Scout would probably be able to hold his own and Sager would probably try and pick up a girl! (You know Sager loves all color of girls!!) So here's to Black History Month! Love, Peace and SOUL!!!!

Total bit of randomness.....

2010-01-31T17:07:00.001-06:00

This really is a kind of random thing to write about but here for the past couple of days (we've been without electricity so I've had time to ponder several mundane things....) I've been thinking a lot about these things... first thing is Dog the Bounty Hunter. I'm sure you're thinking, ok....., but riddle me this, Dog the Bounty Hunter is quite frankly one of the most recognizable television personas. The mullet, the bad false teeth, the huge breasted wife Beth (who has an alias - Beth isn't even her real name...) who also has freakishly blonde hair, the dangerous job, cameras following him around, all of it, leads Dog to be infamous. But did you know that Beth is Dog's fifth wife? 5, Fifth, 1,2,3,4,5!!!! That's a lot. Did you know that he has 14 children? 14? What's the child-support on 14? Most of them are probably old but did he pay child support on all of them? This bothers me. Now I'm well aware of the allure of bad boys. They're dangerous. They're exciting, but really.... Five wives... What does Dog really bring to the table? I've seen him. I've heard him. I think there's something up... I'm just saying....

Now the other thing that I've been contemplating... Dan Jansen. The Olympic speed skater, you know who he is. There was a commercial about him and Scout asked me who he was and as I was trying to tell him who Dan Jansen was, I started crying, just thinking about the sad story that was Dan Jansen. He was the favorite to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics and early in the morning before he was to race, he found out that his sister was on her deathbed from Leukemia, and he fell during the race and the gold medal alluded him. Then he came back at the next Winter Olympics and lost a race or something and then finally won an Olympic gold medal and skated around the track with his daughter Jane, named after his dead sister. Now, I must profess that I was a total Dan Jansen supporter. But looking back on it.... didn't he know she had leukemia? Doesn't it take a while to get to your sick bed from leukemia? Was this some sort of made for TV drama? I'm disturbed by this. I'm also disturbed that he left his wife for some Sports Illustrated hussy. Should we forgive his infidelity because of all the angst that he must have been feeling because of his sister? I'm sure his wife might disagree with this especially since it was supposedly a surprise to her when he asked for a divorce.

Now this also leads me to John Edwards. I have listened incessantly about how his wife had changed from when they were young and in love and that after their son died and then John went into politics, she changed. Andrew Young, the guy who's telling all John Edwards' secrets stated that Elizabeth wanted in the White House just as much if not more than John Edwards and she worked hard to get there so that makes her a witch who basically deserves to be cheated on. He also stated that when she found out about the affair, she yelled at John Edwards and said crazy things... uh..... yah.... no duh!!!! Of course she became an overbearing, cell phone checking, midnight calling, crazy woman... why wouldn't she? If I think my man is stepping out on me with some flake who has come into our life, you better believe that I'm going to do some hollering, some trash talking and a lot of unnecessary phone calling! What is wrong with that ninny Andrew Young and his wife.? I don't care how enamored you are with someone, right is right and wrong is wrong. If I was Andrew Young's wife - I might be calling him at midnight because if he is going along with all this deception, there's a chance that maybe he's doing something unsavory. Holy moly... these people are ridiculous!!!

So that's my rant and rave. Think of it what you will - but I do feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest!

I Got Tagged...

2010-01-28T08:05:00.000-06:00

So my friend Debbie tagged me to fill out these questions, so since I'm already up and dressed and they've cancelled school, I guess I'll play along....

* 1. What is your occupation right now? Special Ed Jr. High Teacher

*2. What color are your socks right now? Black and hot pink

*3. What are you listening to right now? VH1 - Lady Gaga (not that I like her - it's just on!)

*4. What was the last thing that you ate? an apple turnover that I made for the brothers' breakfast

* 5. Can you drive a stick shift? well duh... of course!

*6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Leah Helm - calling me to tell me school was cancelled!

*7. Do you like the person who tagged you? Sure do... Debbie's alot of fun to be around!!

*8. How old are you today? 37 years old

*9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? I really only like watching the Olympics... I usually don't watch sports.

*10. What is your favorite drink? Coke

*11. Have you ever dyed your hair? one time but I bought dark brown so you couldn't even see it...

*12. Favorite food? frosted sugar cookies or birthday cake!

*13. What is the last movie you watched? Ferris Buehler's Day Off (it was on TV)

*14. Favorite day of the year? duh! My birthday!

*15. How do you vent anger? Usually I clean house.

*16. What was your favorite toy as a child? I had a stuffed dog name Bookie.

*17. What is your favorite thing to do this season? Stay inside!

*18. Cherries or Blueberries? Blueberries

*19. Do you want your friends to participate? I would be more fun if they did!

*20. Who is the most likely to participate? I think Ginger too!

*21. Who is most likely not to participate? Maybe Keely only because she's got a sweet little baby at home that takes extra energy!!!

*23. When was the last time you cried? Tuesday

*24. What is on the floor of your closet? shoes and some of my sweaters

*25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are tagging? I don't know if I'll tag anyone!

*26. What did you do last night? went to the baseball meeting at the high school!

* 27. What are you most afraid of? electricity

*28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? how about a bacon cheeseburger!

*29. Favorite dog breed? Great Pyrenese... we used to have one named Yahoo and he was the best dog!

*30. Favorite day of the week? Friday

*31. How many states have you lived in? 2 (Texas and Minnesota!)

*32. Diamonds or pearls? Probably pearls only because of the trauma that goes into mining diamonds...

*33. What is your favorite flower? Iris

And here are some that Amanda added:

*34. Besides the Bible, what is the best book you have ever read? To Kill a Mockingbird

*35. What is something you would like to change about yourself? Try not to have a low self worth

*36. What is something interesting that most people don't know about you? I have a lot of useless information in my head from trivia to pigs facts.

*37. What is something you try very hard to do each and every day? Be nice and thankful!

*38. If you could trade places with anyone in the world for the next 24 hours, who would it be? I don't know... If I traded places with someone I wouldn't have my kids and I would be really sad about that even if it was only for 24 hours.

*39. What is your dream job? Show pig producer.

*40. Why do I always think I need to make a questionnaire come out on an even number? :)

I'm not tagging anyone but I can't wait to see what other people write!!!

Man oh man...

2010-01-22T18:57:00.003-06:00

Its been a long time since I've blogged last. First thing is Shaw showed Rosie the Pig, his back up pig, the one we really planned on showing ended up lame, at the Childress County Livestock show. He got first place in his class and third for Reserve Breed Champion. He did such a great job. He listened to all the advice of his parents and our friend Matt Burba, that's what Sager calls him, not Matt, but Matt Burba. Shaw had the best time, playing with his friends, helping his daddy and me and taking care of Rosie. Any hoo... here's some pics...

My friend, Lisa took the picture of Shaw with Rosie. Isn't it the coolest picture? That's a good lookin' pig!! We are soooo proud of Shaw. Do you know how much poop he had to scoop? Do you know how many times he had to brush her and walk her? Alot! Isn't he the sweetest? I love him!!

The next thing that we had to do was Scout's 15th birthday. I know, I know, how can anyone so young as me have a kid whose 15? Just kidding.... we had pizza, and cake... let me show you a picture of the cake...

Summer Schaefer made it. It was chocolate and delicious!! We're almost done eating it! Well... that's about all I have to report... for now anyway.

Oh one thing... this is a total plug for my nephew Jackson. Jackson just turned 12 at the end of December and he plays baseball in Amarillo. He plays alot of baseball. He loves baseball. I mean he LOVES baseball. Anyway Jackson goes to this baseball thing to try and get his name out there for maybe like a Junior Olympics team and he throws some pitches and they clock him on a radar gun and he is throwing a 61 mile an hour fast ball! 61 miles an hour!!!!! Is that crazy or what? I just can't hardly stand it!!! Jackson keep up the hard work and soon your Mia will be watching you on television!!! WOO-HOO!!!!

2009-12-29T12:54:00.000-06:00

Well, Brandon asked me why I hadn't blogged in a while and to tell you the truth, I've just been blah! I really want to go out to my scrap shack and stamp but it's really cold out there!!!! So I've washed all the sheets, towels, socks - you name it I've washed it! I'm contemplating what to fix for supper and I have baby shower invites to finish up (I've brought those in the house where it's warm!!!) but I'm thinking that's not really blog worthy. My kids are drooling on their Wii's, DS's and play station so not alot of excitement there... we did have a really wonderful time at my sister's in Amarillo for Christmas day. Shawn, Sarah, the baby and I all watched some movie on TV and stayed up past midnight!!! I can not tell you the last time I was up and awake at midnight but it was too fun! Shawn had started a fire - I wonder why he didn't let me start it? I don't know.... Sarah and I visited and Jaeli refused to go to bed. The cousins played video games which sounds awful but they have the best time trash talking and just hanging out.

The snow's coming down... boo hoo - I'm tired of dirty shoes. I know that sounds weird but when it's wet or snowy, the shoes pile up by the front door because every one takes them off as soon as they get inside so I have to look at a pile of dirty shoes every time I go into the living room! Gross!

Oh ok, here's something... Sager burned his face on a flamin' marshmallow, we don't know exactly how he did it, but he did! He was over at Aunt Holly's and she was trying to show him a good time and so that means fire and fire means marshmallows! Sager leaned in close to blow out the flamin' mallow and somehow he burned his cheek and his nose! I hated to say I told you so to Sager but I said it.... I can not count the number of times I've told him to be careful with flamin' mallows!!!

well it's not much of a post but it's something.... we'll visit later!!!

Thankful for Thanksgiving...

2009-12-10T17:33:00.000-06:00

Here is my sweet little niece Jaeli. Scout took this picture of her at thanksgiving at my Uncle Tom and Aunt Quetha's house. All of the kids were there with their kids. My brother Blue even made an appearance with his family. Isn't Jaeli the sweetest? Spoiled rotten - just the way she should be.

Now look at this little dumpling... I like him... he looks like he's about to do something... maybe something ornery... he's cute too... Hey Samuel when you coming to visit?

Sager just loves Samuel... I'm not quite sure if the love is reciprocated (ha!) maybe one day Samuel will understand what a nice cousin Sager is. (Sager looks so big in this picture...)

Jamison came back to Childress with us after Thanksgiving. We had the best time with her. Notice the puppy in her arms. Jamison acted like Paris Hilton the whole weekend - she carried that dog everywhere she went. I tried to get her to put it down and she said Mia - I have experience with this, I can handle it! ok! sister handle it!! Jamison has been dilligently practicing for the Nutcracker production in Amarillo. She is doing so good. Jamison we are sooo proud of you! What a great dancing cousin the brother's have!!!

OK - so I couldn't be unfair and not have a picture of Jackson - (uh... Jackson... could you please take off the sunglasses... I think they're silly... every time I try to take a picture of you, you have them on... give Mia a break will you?

Jaeli - I needed just one more picture of you... ooohhh I just love you... you're soo sweet... Come to Childress - Mia Sager misses you!!

If I was being really fair - I would put a picture of Scout at Thanksgiving too...

and one of Brandon - and goodness knows that I'm fair... look at Brandon can't you just hear him complaining... now Mona get that camera away from me, you do not need to take my picture... ha-ha-ha!!! I took it any way!!!

Girl...

2009-12-01T17:10:00.000-06:00

Just look at this... my cousin David emailed this pic to me. This proves to me that life is in the details. Look at me sandwiched in between the pretty and thin girls. Look at my thighs - stocky from the get go... Look at my sister's and my cousin Monica's dainty and sweet sandals... what do I have on tennis shoes with no socks - how gross is that? Look at how sweet Sarah and Monica look, sweet little smiles... Do I have a sweet little smile - nope - that's a scowl... (and while part of me loves that I was so unique part of me doesn't) This picture was taken a looooong time ago. I know exactly where we were but I have long forgotten what we were doing. This is at my Granny's house obviously in the summer but what were we up to? Who was in charge? I'm sure my Aunt Quetha is taking the picture. My mom didn't take pictures of very many things. Obviously the reason why I take a plethora of pictures at every encounter, every production, every waking moment of my children's mundane lives. It kind of makes me a little sad. First of all because I look so unhappy and second of all because ... well because of too many other reasons... poor little girl - I had such potential. Somebody should have taken me under their wing and said - girl - get some socks on!!! girl - smile for the camera - girl - did you know that you can be what ever you want when you grow up? girl - you don't have to be second - you're first place material - girl - you're not like your sister or your step sister or your cousin - you're a one and only... but no one said that. The only one who came close was my Granny who quietly loved me and explained things to me that I needed to know. But there was a lot that never got explained. Now don't get me wrong I knew that my dad loved me and I knew that ChaCha made sure I was all right (goodness knows she taught me how to look for sales and to never pay full price for anything!) but kids need more than that. Everyday at my school I see kids that are leading lives where they are just getting by. (As my dad would say - leading lives of quiet desperation.) No one to sing their praises, no one to take them under their wing and say - get some socks on!!! Sometimes, just sometimes it's nice to hear that you're a little something special. So if you're reading this, make sure you take the time to let someone - your son, your daughter, your spouse - whatever you call the loved ones in your life - that they are special for whatever reason - don't just say Oh you're something special - say you're special because... because .... because.

Veterans Day

2009-11-12T09:01:00.001-06:00

Well, how are you? How did your Veterans Day go? Mine went pretty good. No pomp and circumstance. Just a little quiet contemplation. Many of you who read my blog know that someone who is very dear to me is a veteran. It seems quite unnatural to think of my little brother as a veteran but he is. Blue went to Marine Officer Candidate school after graduating from West Texas A&M. It was soo odd thinking that my little brother was not only going to be following orders but giving them as well. Let's just say that Blue was laid back, REAL laid-back not the over achiever that our sister Sarah was (HA! - I had to throw that in for my sister....) Anyhoo - after he finished OCS I flew with my Dad and ChaCha and my stepbrother Michael and step sister Anna to Quantico, Virginia to watch him graduate. The minute we got there and watched him marching with all those Marines... I knew that things would never be the same. No longer was he just my little brother, he was a man... He was a man of courage and strength. Long gone was that kid who used to sit and watch cartoons and gripe about taking a bath. My Dad was so proud of Blue - I must admit it was a little sickening but deep down I was so proud of him. He listened and learned and totally transformed into a Marine. Blue was deployed twice. What all he did over there is still a mystery to me and it doesn't really matter to me. I know that he accepted his assignments and completed them to the best of his ability. How do I know that? Because he's a Marine and that's just what Marines do. Plain and Simple. Sempre Fi. Always Faithful. How's that for a slogan? Faithful to your work, faithful to your brothers and sisters who are Marines. Faithful to an ideal. These people called Marines are different. My Dad's one - trust me I know because that's how he defines himself. When I speak of Blue that's how I define him - you know my little brother - just got out of the Marines, or you know my brother's a Marine. That's just who and what he is. So here's to you Salty Dawg... jar head... devil dog!

from your sister, who is always faithful... to you.

Pics from this weekend...

2009-11-08T12:17:00.000-06:00

This is it...

2009-11-06T14:38:00.000-06:00

Today is the day that Scout leaves for Lubbock for Regionals. We are so excited about his meet tomorrow. Let me say though that I am not just proud of how fast and long he runs but of the young man he's becoming. Last night was his last practice and unfortunately his coach didn't show up. I told him just to start running. He was so worried that his coach would get there and think that he hadn't shown up. So I told him I would wait there for a while and when the coach got there, I would tell him that Scout had already started running. So Scout started off and as he ran off I thought well doesn't that suck. He's the only, ONLY kid going from his school - now I am not saying that he is all that - but he's something, and here he is worried that the coach will think bad of him and the coach isn't even there. Well, I wait and I wait and I see another coach come out and I ask where Scout's coach was and they said that he has left a while ago... blah, blah, blah... it didn't matter - but it does.

So I wait and all the basketball boys leave, the basketball girls leave, someone turns out the lights in the gym and it's dark so now my car is the only car in the parking lot and I wait... and then I see him coming, he's running, he's running to catch a dream, not a big dream just a dream that maybe he might be something special, maybe he might be something good and I'm the only one there to watch him try, to watch him hustle, to watch him achieve his dream. As he runs in, I start clapping for him because I know how hard he's worked, I know it hasn't been his coach on his butt. I know. Brandon and I are so unbelieveably proud of that boy - nobody has been there cheering him on, we've only gone to one meet and yet he's still going with no team mates to lean on, no coach to help him, no one but him.

So there's my homage to that sweet little boy of mine, who has worked so hard, I hope this will show him that hard work does pay off maybe just a little. Good Luck Ninja - we're behind you all the way!!!

Happy Halloween!!

2009-11-01T08:57:00.001-06:00

Happy Halloween everyone!! Last night we went trick or treating - I use that word loosely because all we really did was walk down town. It's pretty quick and easy and painless. There were a good amount of kids and their parents and everyone just walks down the sidewalks and collects candy from the merchants downtown. Here are some pictures:

Sager was a vampire and Morgan was a ninja. Shaw decided not to dress up this year which was fine with me because in the end I had to buy Sager two halloween costumes. He had a transformer costume and Brandon didn't like it. So Brandon comes up with the bright idea that he should be a vampire about 1:00 on Halloween day!!! Luckily our favorite place in the world (it must be our favorite because we're there all the time!!) had a vampire costume! Sager really hammed it up! Scout went carousing with his friends and got twice as much candy as Sager and Shaw combined! Go figure - ever the overachiever!! We'll I'm off to fix breakfast and then to take care of the pigs! I hope everyone has a great Sunday and a good Monday!

Just a few pics...

2009-10-30T19:38:00.001-05:00

Cowboy Day at Elementary
Look at these handsome cowboys - you just got to love a couple of good looking elementary boys dressing up like cowboys!!!

Here are some pictures of Scout with his medal and his cross country team

Now look his name's in lights - hopefully not for the last time!

Run, Scout, Run!!!

2009-10-26T20:12:00.000-05:00

Sager was crying when Scout crossed the finish line - I said why are you crying and Sager says - I don't know!!!

Today, Scout ran in the District Track Meet in Lubbock, Texas. I must say it was kind of chilly. The wind was blowing but the sun was shining, not too bad of a day to run. We took the little boys with us and made pretty good time, of course by the time we got there, I really, really, had to go. Well, as we pull up and get situated, I finally can't take it, and Brandon says just go in there - I think it's a school. I walk up to the door and a man is walking in and he holds the door for me (he's very well mannered) and I tell him - I'm really just looking for a bathroom, he says (very politely) you can use the staff restroom - how nice was that! well as I'm walkin' out of the bathroom wiping my hands on a paper towel (you know you can't touch the door handle - it's riddled with germs), someone says excuse me who are you and what are you doing? (Did I mention I'm wearing a big hooded sweatshirt that says Childress Bobcats on it?) Well, I told the man who is sitting at a desk(and who doesn't get up - no manners at all), and a woman who is standing in the doorway(who doesn't move or introduce herself - also no manners at all) that I had to go to the bathroom and a man said that I could use the staff restroom. The man who still has not gotten up from behind the desk starts to question me about what I was doing, and I told him that I was with the cross country track meet - he says it's not until Thursday - I said well - there's a bunch of kids out there who are getting ready to run and I didn't see a port-a-john or else I wouldn't have walked in here with the man through the front door that wasn't locked - it was open - the man and the woman who still haven't introduced themselves are still arguing with me about whether or not there's a track meet going on and I said they are running today and then regionals are on another day.

Well, we go round and round and I had said that I was sorry like ten times and he says well this is an alternative school and I said well the front door was open. The whole incident was a complete joke. I wish that I could have said - why don't you get up from behind your desk and see what the kids are doing outside and maybe you ought to be walking the halls of your school to see what your kids are doing... but of course he didn't ask me for my opinion - like I said - no manners - geesh!!!

Anyhoo - here are some pictures of Scout and the brothers, you know that we are super proud of Scout and how hard he was worked. He has made this day his!!!

Hola mis Amigos!!!

2009-10-18T12:13:00.004-05:00

This year for the fourth grade musical, they did things a little different. They had a Fiesta Celebration!

They told a few historical facts, and sang a couple of mexican songs. Then the P.E. teacher, Coach Botos, had the kids dancing!!! It was totally cool! I haven't ever seen some of these kids move faster than a slow walk! Seeing all of the kids up and dancing was the best! Everyone of them was smiling and really showing off. It was great. Look at our little Pedro - I mean Shaw!!

He's always wanted to be Mexican - even if it's only for a night! After the program, we had a potluck dinner and we all dined of some delicious mexican food!
Good Job Pedro - I mean Shaw!

New Friends

2009-10-17T16:32:00.010-05:00

This was the first year that we've gone to the Childress High School Homecoming parade. Scout is a freshman class officer so he helped decorate the float and rode on it as well. I didn't even know that there was a homecoming parade! Who knew? Sager, Shaw and I went and watched and then went to the little pep rally after the parade, I think the boys liked it - it was pretty fun - the band played, candy was thrown and something was set on fire! (all the components for some home-town fun!) I had to work in the concession stand for the homecoming football game, so that was pretty fun. When I say it was fun, standing and making frito pies and nachos wasn't fun but seeing all the kids with their mums and garters was kind of fun and visiting with the other parents in the concession stand was fun.

Scout is growing up so fast, it seems like just as soon as he reached high school - he aged instantly! This is such a fun time for him - I hope he's making good memories that will last him his whole lifetime!

You can see that Scout has his Cross Country sweatshirt on - he is so proud of that thing and what it means to him! He has worked so hard to get better every week - and it's all on him - there's no other members to help him or to rely on like in football or basketball - it's all on him... Brandon and I are so proud that he's listened to at least some of the nagging that we have done to try to get him to work hard and accomplish something! We're going to go to District Meet - it's going to be in Lubbock, Texas - I can't wait!

Look here is our new friend. Her name is Rosie. Shaw's going to be showing her and Juliet at the Childress County Livestock show. He's been very dutiful in looking after them, cleaning up after the both of them, scooping poop, trying to get them calmed down, everything. Aren't they sweet? I hope he's enjoying them and all the memories we're making!

2009-10-03T21:12:00.002-05:00

This is Bucky. He's the horse that Brandon bought not to long ago. He's like a big ole' dog. He is sooo gentle. Brandon rides him nearly every day so he is getting his money's worth out of him. I don't know... he's pretty cute!

Looky Loo!!!!

2009-10-03T20:51:00.005-05:00

Look at our new friend! Juliet.

Isn't she the sweetest? This is Shaw's new show pig. We decided to get another spot, I guess because we just loved Romeo (maybe I shouldn't say loved especially since I took him to get butchered...) but he was such a good pig!!! and Shaw won a little bit of money from ole' Romeo. In fact Shaw just spent part of his pig winnings today on a new scooter!!! This morning we went out to check on Juliet and I'm worried that she's not feeling very good. Hopefully after we give her some medicine, she'll start feeling better! Get well soon sweet girl!!!

What to say...

2009-09-26T19:23:00.003-05:00

Well hello there, how are you? I'm good. I just haven't been a very good blogger lately. I've been a little busy - no more than the usual but I just haven't felt like writing. To tell you the truth, I have too much to write about and sometimes it's difficult to decide on just one thing. I have a bunch of stuff to do but I'm a little unmotivated. I did get the pig pen cleaned out so we're ready to get Shaw's new show pig and I did get almost all of the laundry done. Some dishes were done, and Scout cleaned the boys bathroom. So I should be motivated to do something but alas I'm not. I need to go to school to work on some things but I think I'll do that tomorrow.

Let me see... what can I regale you with, some witty stories perhaps, hmmmmmm.... I just don't know.... ok here's one - my sister calls me and tells me about how she went down to my dad's office and his secretary hands her a birthday card and says Happy Birthday!!! and Sarah (my sister) says thanks but my birthday was in July. It was hysterical especially since it's MY BIRTHDAY!!!! My dad's secretary said well can you put it in another envelope and give it to your sister?! too funny. My sister said oh no, Maria will totally get a kick out of this! She asked my dad's secretary - does it have money in it? So Sarah said that she left the money in there and she's going to mail it to me - I'll let you know if she left the money in there or not!!!

My dad is kind of a dork! He has soo many things in his head, I totally don't sweat the small stuff like him forgetting whose birthday it is. One time when we were younger, he took my brother and I to school and then he took my sister to school - the wrong school - he took her to the elementary instead of the jr. high! Now that is funny!! Because you know in his mind she's still a little girl and in her mind she's so grown up!

I hope that everyone has a great week and hopefully I'll be a better blogger this week.

I'm so excited!!!

2009-09-17T20:36:00.002-05:00

We're packing our bags and getting ready to go to the pig show in Tri-State Fair in Amarillo. I just am soooo excited!!! I love everything about going to the livestock show. I love that Shaw and I have worked together so that he can show his pig in Amarillo. I loved showing animals. My sister got us started - she signed up for an Ag class in high school and showed a lamb. Somehow she hooked me into helping and I think I even ended up helping to clip it on the day before the show - maybe because she was over snogging with her boyfriend!!! Shout out to Shawn!!! I don't think that she did very good but we had a good time.

I've showed lambs, pigs, and steers. I loved everything about showing. I love watching the kids get their animals ready with the parents hovering close. I love watching their serious faces as they try hard to prove their animal is better than the next kid's. My little brother won a showmanship buckle for showing his pig and of course he never even said thank you to my sister and I for giving him all of our showing advice!!! Ha! We were on the outside of the ring as he was showing and he was on the inside ignoring us! Doesn't he know that that's what older sisters are supposed to do? I've talked Sager into showing some chickens and Scout too! Shaw's the only one whose going to show a pig. I think the others are too scared!!!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and don't forget to be nice!!!

Operation Nice

2009-09-12T10:18:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone is having a good weekend, it's nice and cool with a little bit of rain. I just love it!

The other day I stumbled across this website : www.operationnice.com . I hope that if you have a chance, you ought to click on over. I have really been noticing nice people and not so nice people. You ought to try paying attention to whose who are nice and who isn't. It really doesn't take very much to be nice. I'm not talking fake nice. I mean just nice. This website is all about being nice. Can it get any better than a little bit of niceness? I don't think so. It doesn't have to be a big thing just a little something. I think I noticed how nice my kids are being in school and it got me to thinking. Why were they so ornery in the past but now they are being pretty darn good? I don't know but I like it! So try to do something (just a little something) nice and let me know how it goes!

My Lucky Day....

2009-09-07T11:03:00.002-05:00

What a day! This could be my luckiest day in a while. We were supposed to go to the lake this weekend but Brandon and I decided not to go. He spent Saturday and Sunday riding his new horse and I stayed at the house and got caught up on my chores! While that doesn't sound all that fun, I feel so much better knowing that my house is situated! This weekend wasn't all work and no fun, I went to the golf course with Shaw and Sager, and Scout and I baked some banana bread, (I did the cooking and he did the eating!!) and then I went and visited with some of my teacher friends on Sunday evening. (Brandon had cooked out for the boys and had cleaned the kitchen by the time I got home!) I had a blast laughing and just hanging out. Today I found my camera that I thought was at the lake, I found my other brown flip flop that I had been searching for for like a month and I also found my favorite black Land's End polo shirt that I have been missing since this summer! How lucky is that!?!

I also found Scout's results for his first cross country track meet! I tell ya I'm lucky!!! Scout's first meet was quite the disappointment for him. He really wasn't as prepared as he should have been. Although it wasn't his fault, if your coach has you run a 2.2 mile run at practice and your meet run is 3 miles - it's not your fault. I'm trying to be positive for him but man it's HARD!!! He wants to do better and I'm all for that! Anyway after searching for a little while on the internet, I found that he finished 38th out of 95 kids! That's not bad! He finished first out of the Childress kids (he just barely beat the kid that he runs with! like 2 seconds!)

I'll be anxious to see how he does at the next meet! Wish him luck everyone! I hope tomorrow is as lucky for you as today was for me!!

Sunday...

2009-08-30T12:41:00.003-05:00

This morning Brandon and I took the little boys to hit some golf balls (Scout decided to stay home especially since he had just woke up at 9:30 (really closer to 10!) - teenagers - go figure!. I hate to admit it but I had to go back to the car for a jacket!! It was so nice! Everyone knows I love a good tan, and the sun and swimming but I'm a little over it!! I am ready for fall, and cooler weather.

We had a good time especially since Sager had to show Brandon how to sink a putt (twice!!) you gotta love it! I'm ready to week 2 of school. Are you?

Look what I found!!

2009-08-28T17:55:00.003-05:00

Maybe I shouldn't leave my children in my school room with my computer!! Look at Shaw biting Sager's head... I didn't teach him this!?! Where do boys learn this?

Friday, Finally!!!

2009-08-28T08:37:00.004-05:00

This week has really gone slow, maybe so I could savor all the new things that are going on!! My classes at school really went smooth, I'm a little nervous that something bad is going to happen because it went sooo smooth. Scout has weathered his first week of being a freshman, Shaw is an old pro at being a fourth grader and Sager, well let's just say Sager may need a little more time. School itself has gone fine for Sager but he's really missing his old friends. He feels like he doesn't have any friends (he says he's lonely). It absolutely pains my heart that the new kids haven't taken to him like the other kids did. I don't know what it is... The other day I asked him how school went and he said awesome - he said - I saw some of my old friends and they called my name because they wanted to talk with me. I've thought about bribing someone to be his friend but Brandon tried that and it didn't really work!! Scout says that's what we get for making him do second grade over - Scout says that it would have been better to put him in Special Ed and let him have his friends than to hold him back. You know it must be pretty obvious that Sager's not happy when his teenage brother is worried about his little brother's feelings. (I know that Sager is soo blessed to have Scout and Shaw but now neither one is on the playground with Sager! =(

Maybe week two will bring some more goodness not just for Sager but for everyone around!! Be a good friend to everyone - you just might bring someone a little bit of happiness when they need it the most!!

Day One is Done!!!

2009-08-24T19:42:00.002-05:00

My first day of school was pretty good. How was yours? Sager said his was awesome, Shaw said his was really good and Scout had nothing negative to say at all. They are growing up sooo fast which is so weird because I'm only 23 (in my mind!) (I wish!) (No I really don't wish because even though I thought I knew everything and was sooo mature at 23 - I really wasn't! Do you believe that? I know you don't but believe me it's true. Sad but true!)

I just love seeing all the 6th graders, they looked a little scared. Our sixth graders this year, I was with them in fourth grade so I really like to see them. They are not little kids anymore, are they tweens? They are pretty close to being teenagers but not really! I see the difference in them and it makes me worry about my own little dumplings! Sager told Shaw this morning - you look like a teenager! Shaw is growing up and is so sweet. I hope he stays that way. (I know he won't but maybe he won't be too bad!)

I think this year is going to be really good. How about you? What are you going to do this year? Well, whatever you do - do it good!

What am I thinking....

2009-08-22T10:23:00.002-05:00

We are waiting for Brandon to get home so that we can leave to go to the lake!!! I know I should be up at school or doing laundry or something but the lake does sound so inviting!!! We went school clothes shopping yesterday so clothes are done!!! My school room is done, my lesson plans are done, I made all my copies for this week, I have posted all my class stuff on my class blog, I really think that I'm situated so I guess going out of town shouldn't be too traumatic!!! I will go up to school on Sunday just to make myself feel better and I'll probably have a touch of insomnia Sunday night in anticipation of Monday (but I have it every Sunday!!!) but I am really excited to get school going and get in the groove!!! I have so many things I want to do with my classes, I hope all goes well!!!

Everyone have a great weekend!!! Maybe I'll get one last delicious tan!!!!

Here we go...

2009-08-17T07:45:00.003-05:00

Is this my official first day back to school or was it last week when we did all the training? I don't know. What I do know is I have to go to school today and my kids are still in their pajamas and watching cartoons. I'm not really sure this is fair. But what I love is that I left them a list of chores that they have to do while I'm at school. hee hee hee, haw haw haw!!! I love being the parent!!!!

I am excited about school starting. I'm excited about seeing the kids but what I'm most excited is seeing all my friends. I work with absolutely the best people!!! How did I get so lucky?

Here are some pictures of our summer... time sure flies when you're having fun!

Thank you's

2009-08-13T07:03:00.002-05:00

Please read all the comments for the birthday post. Sager wrote a few things to his peeps!

Today is the day!!!

2009-08-12T07:37:00.002-05:00

Today is the day eight years ago that my darling Sager was born. This day came after four days in the hospital and ended with an emergency C-section. Sager's original due date was November 15th. Shaw was only two and Scout was six. It was such a roller coaster ride of emotions. We were so happy that he was alive but at the same time we wondered if he would be healthy or even happy. He stayed in the hospital for 71 days. Then when we brought him home he didn't leave the house until he was two except for doctor's visits or hospitalizations!!! But enough of the sad stuff! He is an absolute joy who absolutely brings a little bit of love everywhere he goes. He is very thoughtful and tries to be as kind as he can be!! So if you see him today - wish him a Happy Birthday!!

One Last Hurrah!!!

2009-08-09T18:13:00.003-05:00

This weekend my family came up for one last hurrah before summer was officially over. My sister and her kids came down Saturday morning and then my dad and chacha came down around 6:00 Saturday evening and then my brother and his family came down Sunday morning!!! All the cousins had the best time. We ate, played and visited. We celebrated Samuel's and Sager's birthday. Samuel was 2 on the 3rd and Sager will be 8 on the 12th!!

Tia and her kids got Sager a Taylor Swift CD. Holy cow!!!! He literally gasped and swooned!!! Then he starts crying!! It was quite possibly the sweetest thing I have ever seen!!! Sager loves Taylor Swift!!!

It was soooo good to have everyone here for a visit. Between Scout, Jackson and ChaCha, I cooked over 3 pounds of bacon!!!! That's a lot of bacon!!!

Tomorrow I actually have to get up early (like 6:00 a.m. early - boo-hoo!!!) to go to Floydada. Wish me luck!!!!

Romeo, Romeo where for art thou?

2009-07-31T21:56:00.002-05:00

I can not believe I have not shown you pictures of our new friend. Shaw will be showing him at the Tri-State Fair in September. Whenever we were deciding what to name him, Sager said what about Lady (uh Sager it's a boy...) Brandon said His name is Romeo. Just look at your momma, she's got a sparkle in her eyes for that boy!!! Isn't he hysterical?! Romeo it is!!! Poor Shaw was so worried about Romeo the other night in the storm, we had to check on him first thing in the morning!!

I'm a bad poster!!!

2009-07-31T21:48:00.004-05:00

It's been a little while since I posted... bad blogger, bad blogger!!

Here are some pictures from the Old Settler's parade a while ago. The boys always love the parade - I guess it's the free candy!!

Miscellaneous Pictures...

2009-07-25T15:35:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures from Lake Kemp - I'm ready to go again!! I'm really going to be sad when summer is over. Aren't you?

Nerd Alert...

2009-07-25T15:23:00.002-05:00

Unless you're a Harry Potter nerd don't bother reading this post!!!!

Yesterday the boys and I went to Altus to do a little bit of shopping, get our pool water tested and see a movie. We saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. This was quite possibly the BEST movie I have ever seen but let me clarify that I am a total Harry Potter nerd and that possibly could be why it was the BEST movie I have ever seen!!!!! It was a little scary, totally suspenseful, and at the end I was sobbing, and mid sob the movie stopped!! I thought I was going to get in a fight, I was like - What's really going on??!!! (It was literally the last 5-7 minutes of the film!!!) Scout was like - you better calm down!!! Luckily they started it back up and I was able to resume my sobbing!!

After the movie we went to Braum's and ate and had ice cream! We totally had the best time!!!

I've been flocked!!!!

2009-07-16T17:51:00.002-05:00

This afternoon the door bell rang and lo and behold it was our friend Chelsea Champbell!! Chelsea is going to state for softball! She's such a good girl!! How much fun is it going to be at state? FUN!!!! They are trying to raise money to go to state so she had placed a pink flamingo in our yard. You had to pay to get rid of it, pay to get rid of it and have it put in someone else's yard or even more money to have it never return! We sent it to Holly's house!! Your welcome Marshall - it's for a good cause!!!

Good luck Chelsea!!! We're cheering for you!!!