Thanksgiving

I know that today is YOUR favorite day. I hope you are surrounded by people that you love and that you know in return that YOU are loved. Thinking of you today more than most days...

xoxo

Happy Birthday Emory Caron

I remember what I was doing eight years ago today.

I woke up early and made a quick trip to McDonald's (I was craving a sausage biscuit). Scarfed that down while I was on the way to the grocery store. Made a quick run through the junk isle and stocked up (I knew I was gonna be out of commission for awhile).

Then it was off for a haircut real quick. You'd have thought I was Princess Di the way the ladies fussed and fawned over me (yes, I am 32 years old and I said fawned)

After checking off the haircut from the to do list I was ready.....

I arrived at St. Mary's hospital, checked in and 45 short min later I was holding Emory Caron Brewer in my arms. (I might be the only one to think this way, but I really do HEART C-sections)

Now tonight, eight years later I have just finished making an Indian Corn cake for her "On the Farm" themed birthday party tommorrow. The event planner in me had to let go of all control and just let the kid have fun (novel concept huh) We bought farm hats and bandanas instead of goody bags and the kids will get to go on a hay ride and play in the petting zoo.

I think I am as excited as she is...

Cupcakes, Raffia, and Reece's Pieces

Hard at work

Also hard at work,,,eating the supplies

It's the thought that counts right...okay guys, cut me some slack and just pretend that you see some resemblence to Indian Corn here..

Happy Birthday to my girl Diva

I hate it when my babies are sick..but for purely selfish reasons

unless you live in a hut with no running water or satellite internet providers you might not know that...

After being together longer than my two youngest children have been alive, the engagement has been announced. Yippeee! (insert Borat style voice saying NOOOOTTT here please) I am all for sappy romantic stories, I truly do love a good romance (especially cause I dont have one of my own right now to be wrapped up in) but I just don't get the fascination with this couple. They are prim, chic, proper, and private and I only wish they had either waited to announce or had a whirlwhind short engagement....I am truly dreading all the stories that are going to be front and center about Princess Dianna and the comparisons between this wedding and that one, I bet Elton John will write a moving tear jerker and Camilla will wear a horribly ugly hat and look all of the hundred cheating years old that she is..

Since they are not Americans it is not un=patriotic of me to say barf...(not that I would care if it was)

moving on

A story that does make me sad is this one..

can NOONE keep it in their pants anymore? I mean, there really can be no illusions that because you have more money than the average Joe that you have more of a chance of finding the real thing. You do have to work at it, and I'm sure that in Hollywood marriages you have to work even harder. I am a pessimist in most cases when it comes to Hollywood marriages but this one seemed so solid. I do use the word "seemed" loosely cause while reading more closely this is not Tony's first indescretion. How much do you really know about someone you can't possibly ever really know?

What in the heck is going through his mind? I mean, gorgeous, successful, wife who adores and supports every thing you do? hmmm. I would cheat too, who would'nt right??

oh man. I hope tommorrow I am back to being oblivious to what is going on in celeb gossip. the only reason I am so hip to the gossip today can be thanks in part to my sick children at home so we have been camped out in the bed. me on the computer, the Diva and the Prince watching the same.three.movies allll day

                                                             funny the first time we watched it, although I had to cleverly come up with an explaination for what fugly, and wasted meant...I think she bought it (who am i kidding I am just waiting for the teacher to send a note home asking me to tell the kid not to call people fugly) 

I was so completely clueless, Diva had to fill me in (she has apparently seen all the cartoons and knew what was gonna happen before it happened) i was just excited to get to see Jasper,,,er, Jackson again

I could tolerate both of those movie more than once, but I draw the line at having to wach this over and over and over again, so thankful for a laptop and whoever invented wireless.

Please please please let her be well enough to go to school tommorrow....

A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)

* this was one of those cheesy email forwards that I tend to just delete before even reading, for some reason I read this one....and thought I would share it with you,



Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.



The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'



Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.



He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

The end of one of the Greats!!

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I say goodbye to you my old faithful friend. It has been almost twenty memorable years that I have cherished and counted on you to to be there as I shed tears, try to calm the butterflies, shut out the chaos and share in my victories. You were discreet and never once did you complain as I dragged you from point A to destination B all the while quick to shove you in whatever space I could fit you in when I did not want you around. I think it's sad that it has been said you should be obsolete because we as a collective have gone from "listeners to users"..

I don't want to be a "user"...do I?

You will be missed old friend (typed as I popped my Gangsta Lean tape into the old sony for one last hoorah)

Writer's Workshop (three weeks in a row, how you like me now)

I have been on a roll today! Well, as far as blogging goes, not much else got accomplished but that is okay beause what is more important than spouting off several posts worth of absolutely meaningless banter when you have, say, five loads of laundry to do, the fish AND turtle water to change, and a four year old screaming "i wanna watch michael shackson (video's on youtube)".

see, I told you. blogging wins!

anyhoo, time for the concept. blah,blah,blah...or for more detailed instructions visit HERE

The Prompts for this week:



1.) Describe a moment when you ignored your intuition. What happened.


2.) What are your confessions? (inspired by Usher)


3.) A time when you stuck up for a friend.


4.) Something you wish you hadn't put off til the last minute.


5.) Sarah Silverman once gave an interview where she described her childhood depression as feeling homesick while at home. How would you describe it?

And since I have all this free time, and because I feel better about myself when I do more than one prompt I am writing about 2 and 3...





WHAT ARE YOUR CONFESSIONS?

• that i can't help but sorting my candy by color and eating it by two's. i throw the lone candy piece away, and i eat them starting with darkest color and ending with the lightest
• that i have only voted once in my entire life and that was this past presidential election...
• that my mom buys me shirts with puffy paint designs (or makes them herself) and i keep them and wear them so she will feel appreciated (but only when i know i am not leaving her house so NOONE will ever see me) and since i am the family photographer there is no photographic evidence..
• that when we moved i just opened the door and let the two poop machines stray cats that i never agreed to keep, run out the door and into the field across the street. i did NOT in fact give them to an elderly older couple that may or may not live down the street (a fact my diva questioned because "ive been up and down this street and never seen no old people") regardless, until my dreamer reads my blog and rats me out that is my story and i'm sticking to it.

so there you have it, my confessions....(at least the ones I'll admit to)


AND NOW ITS TIME FOR A BRIEF INTERMISSION...have I told you that my son LOVES.MICHAEL.JACKSON (we are on day seven of wearing the jacket)

And now back to your regualrly scheduled post.

RECALL A TIME YOU STUCK UP FOR A FRIEND
 The time I stuck up for myself er, a friend. Okay, so it was more me than my friend....See, I went to this elementary school where us girls were fiercely competitive of solos come time for the Spring Play. and I will admit that me and my clique were quite the thespians and we usually scored all the good parts. One time (at band camp)

just kidding... one time in the sixth grade BECKY BECKWERTH (names have been changed to protect the identities of the guilty parties) decided she was gonna pick on us. Well, seeing as I was the patrol captain at the time this was not a very smooth move on her part, because I of course reported her to Mr. Walker for not obeying the cross walk guards and.... not only that, but I decided to confront her after school one day at the big flag pool.

the conversation went a little like this;

Me; You need to leave me and my friends alone and stop talking about us.

Becky; You guys just think your hot stuff and your really not. oh, and You sing bad.

Me; Well, your breath is bad so get out of my face.

DID I STOP THERE? NO. DID I JUST ACT LIKE THE BIGGER PERSON AND JUST WALK AWAY? NO. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I MOVED IN FOR THE KILL...

Me; You know what? You are a bully and you are just jealous because the only thing you can do better than us is bounce higher...



*okay, so i forgot to mention that I had the skinniest chicken legs that ever anyone saw. And Becky...well, she did not. In fact, it was common knowledge she would threaten to sit on you if you messed with her. So as soon as that came out of my mouth I ran.

yes, I ran.


shut her up real quick though...she never picked on me (or invited me to her super cool boy/girl bithday parties) after that.......

I need to tie a string around this post so I will remember

Ideas to ponder as I get ready for the upcoming Holdiays (because I used to cut and save the articles but I always forget what I did with them) why not stash it here so I can be lazy errr share it with you.

I love the concept of family traditions. The cozy feeling they will (hopefully) get when they recall them years later, the giggly sounds that escape from the dreamer, the diva, and the prince make while we are making them. There really is no better sound in the world than hearing my babies laugh.

This year I pledge to make our holidays calmer, more deliberate in our activities and mindful of the lasting imressions it will afford my kids. I don't want to rush it or force it or have expectations for greatness. I want to revel in each suprise joy and happiness that finds us, no matter how little or fleeting it is.

i digress, on to the ideas...

• Take a small plastic bird and hide it in the tree. The concept is that the finder of the bird will recieve good luck in the coming year. i thought this a fun idea but I am thinking of hiding a small hollow objeect (like an ornament or small box) with a quote or love letter and include one for each of my kids. That way they will all be included and have a very personal holiday greeting just from me (or I could get various family members to write a thought instead) 
• While doing our "Dirty Santa" game (who came up with that name anyway) hide decoy gifts into the mix. The decoy gifts will look like normal gifts but will have instructions in them instead of the gift. wrap up things like CD cases, Gift card envelopes and the instructions will say things like "choose a new gift", or "switch gifts with a person of the opposite gender"
• Buy a plain colored tree skirt and each year draw your childrens handprints on the skirt. It is neat to see the way the childrens hands have grown over the years.

I am sure this will continue as I read/plan for the holidays hopefully this time I can remember where I put it :)

A Day at Wild Things Farm with a couple of wild things of my own

I am constantly in search of good birthday party ideas. What to theme them as, where to hold em, Who all to invite....

Past parties have been the usual Chuck E Cheese and swimming parties, We have done a Bath Junkie party where the girls got to make their own soap, lotion etc., We have done build a bear parties which were a big hit, and we had a bounce house and ponies at our house one year. I really try to make it personal to what my kids are into at the time..but since we moved I really havent had time to re-aquaint myself with what all there is to do here...

So I have been in the pondering mood for the last week or so, seeing as Emory turns eight in a couple of weeks. and I found it! I am gonna be the BEST.MOMMY.EVER once she, and her friend,s get a load of this place.

Saturday evening My parents and I took the dreamer and her friend to a cookout our church hosted. It was at the Wild Things Farm in Pocola (maybe 20 min or so from where we live) we played in a corn maze, had a hay ride, played in a fort and messed around with the animals in the petting zoo. It was a lot of fun and it dawned on me that Ree would LOVE it!

so, without further adoo, I need to stop blogging and get to the planning,complaining and invites for Emory's Wild Things Farm party
(insert picture of me wiping my  brow, venue chosen- theme established.. I can sleep at night now)

                                                              Mom and Dad (too sweet!)

                                                                    Kaileigh and Maddy

Getting Lost walking around in the Corn Maze

Me, Kaileigh, and Madysen

Feeding the goats

Playing on the "horse" tire swing

In the Tree Fort

Racing the pigs, Mom won (but I heard Dad saying she cheated)

Milking the cows.

Continuation of Friday Funnies

Cause I wrote my last post-post a glass or three of wine    and my life is such a barrel of laughs that the good times just keep on coming I had some more to add to that sentiment (you know, things that I thought were funny...on friday)

* today (while of course wearing his Michael Shackson Halloween costume) my four year old, the prince and I were watching old Mickey Mouse cartoons and one came on with Chip N Dale in it. He asked me what their names were (Are our children THAT uneducated that they don't know who Chip N Dale is,,,,WTH? sorry, but I HATE "modern day" cartoons like Spongebob-don't get me started)

anyhoo, he looks at me when the cartoon is over and adoringly says    "I jush jub Chicken Bell" to which I replied "I jush lub me some Isaiah"


*I read a party invitation that read "YOUR INVITED TO AN AWESOME PARTY"

as in, I am so uncreative and afraid that no kid will come to my kids party that I am gonna use the word "Awesome" and pretend that is gonna be an attention grabber....I just wanted to RSVP and say, I would respect you waaaaay more if you would just say "your invited" simple, plain, to the point.

NOT cornball, NOT desperate, my kids is NOT coming....

I wanted to tell her that it was blaringly obvious that she was a new parent (of a second grader) and that she needs to learn a few very beneficial facts if she wants to keep her sanity. A.) kids birthday parties SUCK. B.) you plan too hard and realize at the end you could have blown up six balloons and give them all noise makers and cake and they would be in heaven C.) In the end you have to just trust... kids will come, and your kid will have a blast because it is all about them....

I am telling myself this, because my own child will be having a birthday in a few weeks and I am sending out invites next week, and DANGIT..they will NOT say "you are invited to an AWESOME party"

*I have no kids tonight...and did I go case the bars? go to the High School Football game with my friends (come on, I live in a very small town and that is what you do on a friday night here) nope

my friday funny is that I spent the night with my parents......AT WAL-MART

oh sheesh I am getting old. We spent two hours there...yes, I said two! I am overjoyed to report that I found the PERFECT home alone, no kids, get to eat all of whatever it is I fix to eat so it better be good food...See I usually pick the Jalep. cream cheese stuffed thingeys from TGIFridays...but i hate the peppers so I end up peeling the batter back to rip out and throw away the pepper. I know it's like crab legs, all that work and little payoff.

BUT...tonight I found a batter filled cheese thingey with the TASTE of pepper ....cue angels singing ahhhhhhh and the white light of heavenly bliss.

and I ate the whole box (all 7 of em) yum!

okay, not really funny but it made my night so cut me some slack (you know, like I should have cut the mommy that sent that horrible birthday invite)

okay, Happy friday night people!

Friday funnies...

cause even though is is still my Thursday night, technically, it's everyone else's Friday morning..

the kid is on day five (as of Thursday-- give me tommorrow and it'll be day 6) of wearing this costume. Which I am soooo thankful for, it justifies how much I spent on that stupid pleather jacket and makes it all okay...

I should not be posting this but it was so funny I could not help but tell the story. Emory was practicing her Kook Sol and "accidentally" (or so I hope) kicked her brother you know where. He fell to the ground in mock agony and screamed in his "check me out, you should think I am cute" voice and says "oh snap, she kicked me in the nuts"

ummmm....I did not even know that my four year old knew.what NUTS were..and I don't think I like that word coming out of his mouth...what did I get myself into??

I took Kaileigh to the ER on Monday (stupid staph infection on her leg) and the nurse says to me "and who are you?" to which I look at him, we both laugh and I say "I'm her mother" and his response..

"Good job"

I had to think that this was funny because it is the typical response I get, I mean, it's not like I was 15 when I had her but most of her classmates have parents that don't look like they are old enough to be her sister...so we both laughed at him. but I am sitting here wondering what "good job" means???

hmmmmmmm

youtube does me in again....

But I'm not so what the heck. Every once in awhile I stumble across a video that I have to watch again (9 times out of 10 it will be a song) this is one of those times.

Some vids I need to bookmark, and where better a place than here. where I am most likely to revisit and remember why it got me in the first place...



have always been a sucker for a man (er..boy?) that can sing.



okay, so this was supposed to be a random post where I went through and found a bunch of different artists that I had just stumbled upon. But I am really digging this guy and every song pulls me in further....



Have I mentioned that I really heart guys with guitars...and raspy, angst ridden voices....too bad he is German (meaning he is NOT from Arkansas), and he is NOT in my age range).....

one more for the road..




can you say "MICHAEL SHULTE" fan????

Writer's Workshop (and done on time)

So this week I am getting an early start on the Writer's Workshop that Mama Kat hosts over here. I usually sneak in at the last minute and try to pretend that I am a good bloggy pupil...all the while knowing in my heart of hearts that alas, I am a slacker. and while I am happy that even though it is very late at night, and I have a small male child with his head resting on my knee sleeping that I should be putting to bed.....I will write this post. and sleep peacefully knowing that I. indeed. DID IT ON TIME...

here is the concept

Pick from a list of prompts. Write about said prompts and post on Thursday

simple enough huh? you'd think I could manage to do that once a week huh...but no, like I said. slacker.
but I digress, I'm owning it and moving on. here are this weeks prompts (settle in, she said I could pick more than one)

The Prompts:



1.) Look up a favorite childhood actor and tell us where they are now. (inspired by Missy from The Marketing Mama)

I used to get lost in TV land. I have always been a bit of a dreamer and if I wasn't pretending to BE the actor (female) I was in love with em (male). Here are some all time favs..



I especially LOVED Fergie (who was Stacie Ferguson at the time) and Martika (who went on to record "Toy Soldiers" as an older solo act and later on Jennifer Hewitt (who went by Love Hewitt at the time)



*sidenote- I get so distracted when doing posts like this, makes me have to go back and look up all the random things I had forgotten (like the "Toy Soldiers" video I have playing right now in the background as I am typing. ugh! I think I am ADD......

anyhow, more of my fav child actors/actress have been



my "first" couple infatuation...I wanted to BE Brenda and I definately just knew that Dylan was the boy for me.

and here is why...ugh. the angst



 2.) A post you regret publishing.
This one is not a clever answer, no cutesy pictures and it is one of the few times I let myself use the delete button. I regret posting when I am emotional when it comes to my birthmother. I say the first thing that comes to mind (usually with the help of some liquid courage) and what should be a private growing process becomes online for all to read. I have never had to censor myself before, so this newfound maturity of holding my tongue and taking the time to think of what my words may mean to the other person is one that I am growing into. I have often said I need one of these on my phone and my computer when I drink

okay I lied, I just made a funny...

3.) A hair disaster.  (are you kidding me, my hair changes weekly and to prove it, pics dont lie)

as you can see no color is off limits, no tool unused in my quest to explore the one avenue of my life that I truly CAN control....




4.) If you had made a career out of whatever you were passionate about when you were ten…what would you be doing?

                       I wanted to be a singing cabdriver who did interior design and wrote mind blowing         poetry in my spare time....






It's been fun. Thanks for hanging in there to the end of my post... now it's time for me to put this boy in bed before they take away my parent card (not really, if they havent done it by now I think I'm safe)