Ebby's Birthday!

Tolina Loves Birthdays!

Education

Ok so I received an email a few days ago, not really stopping to give it adequate attention to it I passed in on like some other emails I have in the past. This time I sent it to my younger brother David. I feel as though I need to post his email because he really taught me something.

"All,
I rarely reply to forwards, but sometimes things have to be said. Most of you have no idea who I am but you apparently know either my father or my sister. I have included every e-mail on every distro list I received with this forward. Feel free to forward my thoughts further or reply to me with your feelings. I am an officer in the Army currently stationed in Iraq. Today I am just over 6 months into a 15 month tour, my second tour.
I know full well what extremist Muslims have done to this world and Americans. I have lost close friends to the hands of such people and I have held Soldiers under my command while they passed on. While you all have the right voice your own opinions and practice whatever religion you want, I would like to share my views on this subject with you and maybe cure some of your hatred with education.
First off let's take a little trip back in time to remember why this great country of ours was formed. Pilgrims from Europe wanted freedom from religious persecution. Islam is a religion very closely related to Christianity, Qu'ran and the Bible share many of the same stories. If you look far enough back in recent history, you will also find that America could be held responsible for starting this conflict we are in right now. We all remember Desert Storm, but we probably don't all realize that just a few years prior to the invasion Saddam Hussein was America's biggest ally in the Middle East.
Eid ul Fitr is the holiday that the stamp in question commemorates. For those of you unfamiliar with the Islamic religion, EID celebrates the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month long fast in which Muslims do not partake in any "pleasures of the flesh" for a complete moon cycle. They don't eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco, or anything else that could be considered pleasurable while the sun is up. Can you imagine waking up before the sun rises to eat breakfast then fasting completely for the rest of the day until the sun goes down for an entire month? EID lasts 3-5 days, depending on which country you are in and which Muslim sect. It is a huge celebration where entire tribes and villages come together to for feasts of lamb, chicken, fish and rice and to pray. There is nothing in EID that includes killing Americans, much like the rest of Islam.
I work hand in hand with Muslims and am here to tell you now that they don't like the war, or the insurgency, any more than we do. More Muslim Iraqis have died in last five years than Americans and most have been killed by other Muslims.
This has gotten a little long, but I wanted to provide some real information on Muslims for those who are interested. The point I am trying to make is that the idea of boycotting something simply because it has a religious meaning is going against everything this country is founded upon. Further I hope that with just a little education some of you will realize that all Muslims are not bad people. There are some that need to die, if this stamp had Osama bin Laden on it, then this would be a totally different story, but it doesn't. This stamp represents a holiday, it is the holiday season, so what is wrong with that. Sure, Muslims don't celebrate Christmas, but neither do Jews, or Buddhists, or hundreds of other religions. The issue brought up by this forward is much larger than a stamp." David

Here is the stamp that was created, I did not realize that this is an old email when I forward it since it is for 37 cents and we are using 42 cent stamps now.

I realized when I received David's email response that I was perpetuating hatred. That was not my intention when I forwarded the email. Just like I do not want to be judged by what a few may think or do I to can't judge what a few Muslims may do. As a mother I try to teach my little girl to be nice to everyone, to treat them as you would want to be treated. I have big dreams for my little girl, just as every other mother in this world has dreams for their children. My brother is my hero he may not realize how much strength I have borrowed from him, how he has been an example to me in my life. Thank you I miss you.

Trick or treat

Tribute to Our Troups

Tagged

So I have been Tagged by Architect at Sweet....Pretty....Naughty.....
A. Attached or single? Married
B. Best friend? Eric
C. Cake or pie? Fruit Cake
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? Cell Phone
F. Favorite color? Purple
G. Gummy bears or worms? Cinnamon bears
H. Hometown? Glenrock
I. Favorite indulgence? Ice Cream
J. January or July? July My birthday
K. Kids? Only 1, Tolina
L. Life isn’t complete without? Eric and Tolina
M. Marriage date? August 2001
N. Number of magazine subscriptions: None
O. Oranges or apples? Fresh Apples from Washington
P. Phobias? Bugs
Q. Quotes? Can't think of something right now.
R. Reasons to smile? When my little girl says “Mommy, I Love you!”
S. Season of choice? Winter where I live now, but spring and fall in Washington
T. Tag 5 people. Tammy, Rhonda, Kim, Betty, and Ellie
U. Unknown fact about me? When I was in High School I Accidently hit a girl with a shot put (8lbs steel ball) I felt really bad and still do.
V. Vegetable? Green ones
W. Worst habit? Chewing my nails
X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound.
Y. Your favorite foods? Any comfort food bread, bread, and sweet rollsZ. Zodiac sign? Cancer

Portraits

Walmart will now let you buy the copy writes to their Photo studio prints, so while in Washington we all got our picture taken at Picture Me in Walmart.

More Washington Pictures!

Tolina and I had so much fun, we enjoyed hanging out with Grammy, Grandpa, and Uncle John.

Playing with Uncle John

Uncle John had all kinds of fun toys to play with including, a flying saucer, saucer shooter, and glow in the dark jewelry.

Hay Maze

I had a very hard time getting Tolina out of the Hay Maze she liked playing in the little houses they made out of apple bins and plywood on top. She loved being outside in Washington because it was warm during the day and cool at night without any bugs. We played out side everyday.

Picking Apples

Tolina loved picking apples with Grammy and Grandpa in Washington!!

Wordless Wednesday!

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The Pumkin Patch in WA

Wordless Wednesday!

This turtle could feel two ways as I do:

1. Excited as all get out - because I am going to see my mom for the first time in seven YES seven Years.

2. Scared to death that he has 2 papers to write, 48 hours of clinical hours to finish in a month, and 2 presentations.

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Picture was to cool to pass on but is not mine.

Thursday's Thirteen edition 4

Thirteen favorites
1. Hearing my husband say “I love you!”
2. Hearing my daughter say “I love you!”
3. When Lena says “It is ok Mama’s got you.” As she hugs your neck.
4. “Good morning Mama.” When I walk through the door in the morning after working all night.
5. “It’s ok I won’t leave you.” As she gets down off the bed after nap time.
6. “Whatever!” when you tell her that she cannot have something she wanted and has figured out that you are not going to change your mind.
7. “Um no, you listen!” when she does not like what I am telling her to do.
8. “You understand me” when she is trying to get me to clean up her toys.
9. “No my husband, No my daddy.” When we are bidding for daddy’s attention.
10. “We’ll share” about the third time.
11. “ I miss you mamma” after a day at school
12. “Mamma I want to nuggle” right before she falls asleep.
13. “Get up! GET UP! GET UP NOW!” when she wants to play ring around the rosy.

Here phrases have changed as she has gotten older but they are still full of love, and make me lover her even more every time I hear them.

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Missing Blogging!

Blogging has had to g by the waste side because of school. This quarter is the last for my BSN. This quarter I have all new instructors, and I feel that I need to concentrate more on school. I will post when I have time.
I am so EXCITED because in 2WEEKS I am going to see my Mom in Washington, I can not wait to see her, Phil, and John. Lena and I are flying on an air plane, so all Lena talks about is going to see Grammy on an air plane. Lena said "I'm going to see and air plane on Gammy" I thought that was so funny. Every time we are getting ready in the morning she asks if we are going to Grammies.
So I will have about 2 weeks off from work so I am hoping to blog, studying, and playing with my mom and little girl. I am excited to show my little girl all of the cool things in Washington.

Wordless Wednesday

Keep that tongue in your Mouth!

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Wordless Wednesday that is not so wordless!

This is a picture of my brother (left) and two of his friends when they graduated from West Point in 2005. My brother David is currently serving in Iraq. This is the second time he has been sent there since he graduated. My brother and I have not always gotten along but, as we grew up we became closer. He is a good man; he works hard and plays even harder. As I have moved from Wy, we have not been able to see each other very often; in fact this was the last time that I saw him. It is still amazing to me that my little brother grew up to be such an incredible man. I often wonder what he is doing, where is he at, and is he having fun? My little brother is only about a foot taller than I am, and could quite effectively kick my tail, so I would not dare pick on him like I did when we were kids. We had our fair share of disagreements, but I was the only one that could pick on him. As an adult it is funny what you remember, Dave was in high school I think and my dad hit his head on the cupboard and he slammed the door and then threw a roll of paper towels, my Brother said "Teach that cupboard a lesson I am sure it won't hit you again" or something like that. From that point on I saw Dave in a different way like he just grew up in that moment. I am always waiting to here that my Mom or Dad received an Email from him.

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Every one has a favorite Bear!

Since everyone should have a favorite Bear, Stacey over at All because Two People Fell in Love there is a wonderful contest for a Build a Bear gift certificate. My daughter loves this store, early this summer we took a trip to the mall and found this store I had never heard of Build a Bear before so we had to go in and see what it was all about. What great fun we had just some mommy and me time. I was very impressed with the staff they were very aware of my little one’s shyness and allowed her to warm up to them before stuffing her alligator. I really appreciated the time the bear maker took with my little girl, I am planning her birthday party at this store in February, for six children it is only 60 dollars and everyone gets a bear. Plus I have signed up for their mailing list and I get e-coupons and mailers which Lena thinks is just for her from her Bear company. Five dollars off is good, I think when I was there the first time I spent right at 30 dollars for a Gator and outfit. I thought it was worth it for an extra special occasion. I hope you enter and best of luck!!

Photo courtesy of Build a Bear and Nature award winner.

Wordless Tuesday

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Fay strikes

So Friday night around dinner time the power go off, since it is ready my family eats dinner, my husband not liking to be without power says “what do you think we should do?” I am thinking I am not sure, maybe go to bed early, I don’t know so he says to me that maybe we show go to his mom’s (going in to the storm), or maybe we should go North? Hmmm…….. I guess if we are going to leave in the DARK we should leave and head north so I call a hotel they have a room and well I did not have to give them an arm and a leg, so that is where we headed in the dark. On a normal day it would have taken us about an hour to arrive to our next location but Friday nit it took us not quite twice that (just for power). So here my happy family is at our hotel I check in giving them my appendage, the attendant says “Your room is closest to the third door on the right when you go around the building.” Wanting a first floor room for a two year old so that we did not receive a complaint I ask “well is it really far down the hall?” The attendant stated that it was “OK thank you, have a good night” as I walked to my car. We drove to the third entrance I tell my husband it has to be further down because it is so close to the main entrance (that is covered) he asked me to just go check so here I get out of the car (in the sideways sheets of water) sure enough there is our room maybe twenty feet from the desk. So I go out and get my husband daughter and junk with an umbrella (when the wind blows leave the umbrella in the car) so here I am caring Lena her doll and the umbrella. I had to walk in circles to get the umbrella to turn right side out, I am not sure how it was doing it but about every three steps it would turn inside out so I would have to turn again. So I get her to our room along with our stuff and a very wet husband. So we the complete idiots decide we want dessert, so here we are about eleven going out to get dessert. I am thinking Chick-fil-a is right next door and we could get a milk shake FYI they close early none of this open late for them. So here we are driving around to fine a dessert we figure we will go somewhere that we do not have, so here we are at Stake and Shake. We go in to the restaurant because we do not know what we want again with the umbrella inside and out again. We get our food and back to the hotel, all the while not parking at the front or letting me take Lena in under the cover we all get wet and with that Dam umbrella. Well dessert was nasty a hard biscuit with strawberries and ice-cream the only part that was good was the vanilla ice cream (how could you mess that up).
Saturday, so after a night sleep on a brick we got up about 7:30am and laid in bed until about 9 got up. We went to Cracker barrel for breakfast again it was raining so with the baby in one hand and the umbrella in the other and I still got wet, at least she stayed dry. So now we were on our way to the house home sweet home. We drove home roads were washed out on both sides trees down that were cut so that we could get through. I prayed the whole way home I could see all kinds of trees down on roofs, houses, and just everywhere. I just knew that we had three large trees in our yard and anyone of them could fall. As we pulled in to our neighborhood I gasped when I saw a large branch down on a power line (at least I thought at the time it was actually a phone line) but that was the only limb that caused any problems. Well we went in the house and guess what the power was off again. So my dear Hubby says “what should we do now? “ I had no clue; should we stay at home with no power and the risk of a power line coming down, go back to the hotel or to Eric’s moms, I had no idea. Heck I didn’t know so I say lets head south to the Mother-in-law’s (thinking Lena will have someone to play with). So we head south (into the storm) as we get about 1/3 of the way there hubby says “I think we should have headed north to the hotel”. I just wanted to kick him sure now tell me that…. Thanks. Any way we get to his mom’s we are all having fun no big deal, the rain lets up a little, so Eric and I go get some dinner while we are out I decide to call some friends to see if they have power and alas they do cool. With it getting dark, raining and the wind was blowing so we opted to stay. No big deal we will just head home in the morning……..or so we thought. The late news comes on and all roads to our house are closed Yes all the roads all possible ways in to our home are CLOSED!! OK, so I am thinking, no big deal it is just like back home they will send out the snow plows and clean off the roads, sure. Yeah, wrong type of precipitation (there is a difference in rain and snow people can move snow, rain moves people).
Sunday morning I call the Sheriff office, they are so kind to tell me that all roads are still closed and have no time line on openings. OK deep breath, now what I am an hour away from home and I WANT TO BE AT HOME! So we eat breakfast that my mother-in-law was so nice to prepare. Then I thought it is mid morning hey they should have things cleaned up so I called……..well they had one way patched up enough that we could get home so I packed up and off we were, I wanted to go home. When we left it was not raining but there was a little thunder nothing like it had been, so I thought OK this is going to be easy. Ten minutes out it is a down pour so bad that Eric turns to me and says “You know that if the road is closed I won’t be able to see it….” Great vote of confidence, thanks! Thank goodness about the time we are to turn off on to the smaller road the rain slows to a drizzle. Then he asks “why are you in such a hurry to get home?” What am I supposed to say “I thought that we both want to get home?” As we drove I saw many, many, many down trees some were up rooted and some broke off. There was one tree that was up rooted and laid right next to a trailer most of the limbs on one side were on the trailer, I just felt sick because I knew it could be my house. There were parts of the road with no shoulder that had been washed out. Again when we pulled into the neighborhood, there was that same limb on the power line and one in the front yard but that was it, along with the pool being very full of water and leaves. I held my breath until I flipped the light on……..thank goodness the power is on. If it was not on I knew I was going to get a ration. So we carry all of our junk in, cleaned up a bit and then tried the phones, still no phone service and since our phones, Internet, and cable are all grouped together we had nothing but power, at least Eric did not give me a bad time.
What a weekend but what did I learned:
1. Umbrellas suck
2. Even if you do not have power don’t leave at dark in the storm
3. If you have left don’t leave second location until the storm is gone, you know you have power, and know that the roads are open.

PhotoHunt # 5

Wrinkled Nose Lena is seeing her hiar in pig tails for the first time, on her second birthday! Please visit more PhotoHunters!

Lena is back to school after going to Oh, the transition back to school this year was allot easier than last year. She has not cried once when we drop her off, she walks into her class room just like a big girl. I am so thankful for the Christian preschool that she goes to, they are all very nice. They make me feel good when I drop her off and pick her up, like she is one of their own children. There is an older lady that works at the preschool that takes her on Mondays while I am in school. Lena does not like going to her house because she knows that mom picks her up every other day from school. Although this semester I will have 60 hours of clinical to complete so I see her going to Ms. O another day a week unfortunately at least until I finish all those hours. I don't understand why on earth we need 60 hours of clinicals, but it is just another hoop to jump through. At least I only have three more months of hoops for my BSN. You ask "What will having a BSN give me?" Well for my current job I think I will get a 50 cent pay raise, I hope. But my BSN will also help me to find a day job if I am so inclined, or if my Family demands it. Any way we are all back in school for now so I hope everything go smoothly until December.

Wordless Wednesday

Wait one minute Mom! Please visit more Wordless Wednesday!

Back to School

I am back to school which started Monday for the last quarter!! Hey I am taking Management, Ethics and Stats (barf). I am having to take stats because my Statistics was older than Five years, which is OK for my bachelors but if I want to continue in January for my Masters I need to retake it so I am taking it this quarter. The only blessing is that Stats is all online. I may not be able to post as frequently as I did in the summer. I go to school on Mondays and have sixty yes 60 clinical hours. Photo courtesy of Fotosearch.

Colorful PhotoHunters

This turtle is in a park there are a number of different turtles in the park that are sponcered by different businesses. Since I love turtles I thought this would work for Colorful PhotoHunter. Please visit more Great photos at PhotoHunter!

Thursday's Thirteen Fourth Edition

If you noticed I have not posted in over a week because we have been in Ohio for my Husband’s Granny’s Funeral, so it has put my grandmothers on my mind lately missing both of them. So My Thirteen this week are things I wish I would have told my Grandmothers before they died.
1. Thank you for raising my parents the way that you did because I would not be the person I am today without them.
2. Thank you for making lefsa.
3. Thank you for traveling on the bus for six plus hours to visit us.
4. Thank you for making Christmas so special Oyster stew and all.
5. Thank you for the hugs, that made me feel so loved.
6. Thank you for worrying about my mom and us and saving us your extra food.
7. Thank you for correcting my English so that I know now how to sound intelligent.
8. Thank you for having high expectations for me.
9. I am sorry that I did not keep my room cleaner when I lived with you.
10. I am sorry that I did not show you more respect.
11. I am sorry that I did not handle moving to Washington differently.
12. I am sorry that I did not visit Wyoming and Philadelphia more.
13. I love you.
I had some very incredible grandmothers, whom all I miss. My grandma Farrar made the holidays special she always wanted me to do my best correcting me when I said something wrong. My grandma Karl would visit us she would cook and clean.

Photo Nature photo winner.

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Congratulations!

To every one who voted for me THANK YOU! The winner of he Write from Karen's photo conteset was Kim of The Misplaced Midwesterner Please go check out her winning picture was really good I really like the smile on his face as he is coming out of the water! Check it out!

IT IS TIME TO VOTE!!!!!!

I would appreciate your vote click the above picture to vote! Then scroll down to the gray box to find Kim at Kim’s Photo Blog , There are a number of other great entries please check them out they are great pictures!!!! Just click here to vote! Thank you Thank you Thank you for taking the time to vote!!

Wordless Wednessday!

Looking at all the Fish!

Please Help! I need voted Until Noon EST today scroll to the top of my blog to vote Kim at Kim's photo blog! Thankyou!!

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Five Minutes for Mom Photo Contest Entry!

I chose this picture of Lena having fun in the pool! She goes all over our pool even in the deep end, although she had a floaty swimsuit on I am close behind her! Please check out more photo entries at Five Minutes for Mom!

Granny

Granny and her children.
Pictured left to right standing Kathrine, Herb Jr, Ebby, Carol, Sitting Granny, Auqunette and Reva.






Granny and some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pictured left to right Tony with his daughter in front Shayla, Eric, Serita, Angle, and Renee. Granny infront with Lena sitting on her lap.

Granny with my Husband's family
Eric's grandmother passed away lastnight. I remeber my first trip to Ohio to meet Eric's family, I was so nervous, but Granny made me feel welcome. She told Grandpa (Eric's Grandpa Herb) "get over there and hug tht girl shes going to be your Granddaughter" I loved going to visit although we were not able to go as often as wewould have liked. Granny We love you and will miss you greatly! Love Kim

Photo Contest!

I choose this picture of my Daughter and Husband because I see the love in his face, and how happy she is with him. This was taken at a time when all she would do was cry when he held her, so it is much needed break for him.
This is my entry into Karen's Summer photo contest and at Five Minutes for Mom!
Please come back and vote for me on August 2, 2008, I will put a link up! Thanks Kim

Summer Shots!

These pictures are of Lena, from Summer 2006 to 2008!

PhotoHunt Clouds!

This picture was taken by my cousin Linda, she was visiting in July of 2007 when this picture was taken at Wild Adventures the ride is the Hangman it is a blast your feet are dangling over wild life. There is so much to do at this park that it takes a good two days, and they have so many concerts during the year I love living close to Wild Adventures! Please visit more Photohunters, they have a number of interesting and beautiful pictures!

Family

The Dysfunctional Family
In this day of space-age technology the social class had to have a label to distinguish themselves from “the rest of us” the learned psychologist came up with the term dysfunctional family.
This anyone who doesn’t fit into their “norm” is dysfunctional. Taking the definitions from Webster’s Dictionary: The definition of function is the normal action of anything. Dysfunction means abnormal functioning.
Okay let’s take a look at our family and see where we fit in. You tell me? Mom and Dad had to raise six little people. Mom was the strict disciplinarian. One of those Southern Alabama women who made you go out and get your own switch, which she would apply to the seat or your pants. You better not come back with some little skinny stick or she would send you back for a bigger and thicker one.
I think that was the beginning of our dysfunctional life. How normal is it to go out and get a boulder knowing you are going to get beat with it? Mom was loving, but wouldn’t put up with any foolishness. Here’s an example of how Mom meant business. One of her most famous sayings was “I will kill you’re a (double) s and dare your soul to move!” I don’t know about the others, but this sent chills up my spine. Now imagine this, she’s going to kill you ant then dare your soul to leave your body. That’s bad! For me she was bigger and badder than the boogeyman!
Like I said, there were six of us little people, Reva being the eldest and setting the example for the rest of up, she was the designated babysitter.
She would let Ebby and Acquanette sneak to the store on the corner and buy Blue Bird pies when Mom was gone. That was nice for Ebby, but Acquanette gained all the weight behind it. Unfortunately, Reva’s babysitting skills left something to be desired.
One evening danger was lurking on the back porch. We heard a noise and then a crash. We all ran for the steps to run upstairs, but our “designated babysitter” tried t run over us younger ones pushing us out of her way to save herself. What is that about? Is that survival of the fittest, or should we say survival of the oldest or abnormal behavior?
Reva, did you know you had a great influence on your sister Ebby’s future dreams? She considered you the “hamburger, beer and cigarette queen.” Her dream was when she grew up she wanted to order her own hamburger and beer and smoke a cigarette just like her big sister. Did you know that Mom? Such great expectations! Duh!!
Pride and Self respect was a hard lesson learned by Ebby and Karolyn. One summer day Ebby and Karol were behaving like best buds, unusual but it did happen. They were walking around with their arms around each other gleefully and singing loudly. As they walked up the front porch their little happy behinds fell over in the sticker bushed. Mom had to help fish then out. Then she spanked them for clowning around making a spectacle of them selves in front of the neighborhood and told them to “go around back acting like dummies” what’s up with that?
One of us who will not be named because of the personal nature of this incident had constipation problem. Mom caught her standing up in a chair at eh cupboard eating Argo starch, for those of you who don’t know what Argo starch is ask Ebby. The person had a mouth full of this starch when mom caught her. Little rocks of starch flew every where when she was startled by mom and tried to speak. Needless to say, she had to go get a switch. Abnormal behavior, you tell me! “Eating Clothing Starch?”
Ebby’s partner in foolishness had a few other quirks. Now, this is one for the Twilight Zone. Late in the evening when the full moon was rising at the witching hour she would rise up out of dead sleep and pick unidentified object out of the air. They were visible only to her eyes. This most definitely was not the behavior of normal person!! Sorry Karol!
And Karol’s twin…..Me (Kathy) I am thankful to be here because I almost wasn’t. Karol got mad at me one day and came at me with a butter knife, she missed. After that, we tried to keep sharp objects out of her reach. Anyone who communicates with unseen forces is capable of anything.
But then Karol may have inherited her homicidal tendencies from you Mom. Remember Jim’s old lady, the “red neck” as you called her? Mom was a scrapper. She didn’t back down from a fight. We think that was her Alabama upbringing. Jim and his old lady lived next door. This woman called mom out of her name. Mom had some hedge clippers in her hands and started off toward this woman with vengeance in her eyes. It took all of us kids hanging one her to hold her back. In reality, I don’t think our sweet little Mom would have whacked t woman’s head off, but she surely would have laid a real hurting on her. Ewe!
Speaking of Mom, Poor dear never learned to drive. A well meaning neighbor and friend decided to teach her how to drive, Karol and I(Kathy) remember this well. We were in the back seat. Now this woman had never been behind a steering wheel in her life. One of us twins called out “Mommy.” Mom turned around to look at us and ran into, tearing up three or four brand new cars while making an illegal U-turn. Ebby ended up with a fat lip and mom had to pay a fat fine and received a scolding from the judge. She never had a driver’s permit! Needless to say, that was the first and last time she ever got behind the wheel of a car.
The experience scarred Ebby. She had a Driving Miss Daisy complex for 30 years. She would always get in the back seat when dad would taker back and forth to work. Thing is, was the only passenger in the car. Weird huh! But, let’s all give Ebby a hand of applause because she beat dysfunction junction. At the ripe old age of 36 she finally made up her mind to get her driver’s license, and she did! Hoorah Ebby!!
Oh, let’s not forget our nest to the oldest sister Aquanette. She was the proverbial black sheep of the family. If there was something to be tried, she was the first to do it. And she was hard headed. I think she got more spankings than all of us combined. She was a revel and had to have eth last word. She loved running the streets. When she turned eighteen Dad would tamper with her car so it wouldn’t run all weekend long, but it started up real good come Monday morning for work. She never figured this out until we told her about eight years ago.
She became the dreaded designated babysitter after Reva left t nest. Her and Karol never got along in the capacity. They always ended up fighting and Acquanette would have to call Mom and tell her about Karol acting wild. There were times when she would have to literally fight Karol off with a chair as if Karol were some wild animal. The only thins missing was a whip. Something, someone, or someone’s isn’t functioning in normal capacity here. This is one for the books.
Acquanette learned first hand what Mom’s phrase “when you think you are grown you get your own place to hang curtains.” When she was 19 she left the nest, got her own apartment and hung her some curtains. Now who would have ever thought this complicated free spirit would be the saved person she is today?
Now, our dear brother, Herb Jr. formerly known as Herbie, his childhood dream was to be an elevator man. He would run that Home Company elevator up and down the shaft collecting trash on the different floors and then climb and jump from shelf to shelf like a monkey.
One day Herbie thought he had a secret. He had a thing about chocolate Ex-lax. He found a box sitting on the table and ate the whole thing. He told me about it and asked not to tell Mom. Of course, smart intelligent me told hen no one had to tell Mom, because shortly she and everyone else in the house will know what he did. We did! OF course he got the switch. Who in their right mind would eat a whole box of Ex-lax? Yuk!
Herb was a sneaky little devil. One day Mom saw something shinny in the sticker bushes. Upon investigation, she discovered herb and one of his little friends has hidden a six pack of beer in the bushes to sneak and drink later. Busted! He got grounded. I think Mom thought herb was really into fresh aromas, because he was always burning incense in his room. Personally, I don’t think it was to cover up the smell of his stinky feet.
And now last but not least me (Karol). I guess it’s only fair that I should rattle a few skeletons of my own or I’ll here about it. I have been called a racist. One summer when the family went to Birmingham, Alabama, I was minding my own business until my uncle, (my Mother’s brother) pointed out this dark, poor little raggedy black boy. He told me to call the boy “Little Black Samboo.” Like a dummy I did it. Got bad with it too. I didn’t just do it once but called him that three or four times. “Little Black Samboo, Little Black Samboo.” I seemed to get bolder each time I said it. Well, imagine a high yellow calling a dark skin black boy down south Black Samboo! Yes I had to go get a switch. It seemed like those southern switched were wicked. That was the last time I behaved like a racist.
You might say I also had a Mafia Complex. I would loan people money, but you better pay me back when you promised you would or we were going to fight. Ask Karol, she sported a fat lip for a week. I asked her for my money and she had the audacity to tell me “I’ll give it to you when I get good and ready” POP! She gave me my money and I never extended her another loan.
In closing, I’ve just given some of you a peek into our past. The Normal and the Abnormal. Were we a dysfunctional family? Who can really say? Its how we turned out that really matters. Let’s all give Mom a round of applause. You raised us right and we all turned out to have good careers.
Reva – A teacher
Acquanette – Wiz in accounting records at the college and now a recognized
Writer though a publishing company
Ebby – Executive legal secretary
Karol – Investments and now training for pharmacy assistant
Kathy – Mortgage banking and Real estate
Herb Jr. – Executive vice president at Coca Cola Company

You did a great job Mom!! The secret might have been in those switched.

As read by Kathy at Mom’s eightieth birthday party written by Acquanette.

Granny

For our mother

We’re celebrating you today

A mother laughs our laughs, shed our tears, returns our love, fears our fears. She lives or joys, cares our cares and all our hopes and dreams she shares.

It’s always good to know you’re always there with advice when it’s asked for, with encouragement when it’s needed, with kindness when it means the most.

A mother’s love is like a garden reflecting tender care for wherever there is beauty, a mother’s love is there.

How do you find the words to thank her for sacrifices she’s made – for the ones we know about and the ones she’s never told us of – and the countless times she put our needs before her own?

I hope you always know in your heart how much we love you, respect you, and thank you for the countless ways you have helped make our lives what they are today.

You’ve given love and so much more that all of us are thankful for and in our hearts, we all agree you’re all a mother is meant to be.

As written and read by Evelyn D Edwards.

Thursday's Thirteen edition 3

Thirteen Reasons I love my Husband, since his Birthday is this week I thought this would be nice to share.
1. He lets me choose more often than not what we are going to do, where we are going to eat, or how we should handle something big or small.
2. He likes a clean house.
3. He takes the time to clean the house, while I am in bed asleep most times.
4. He does 90% of the laundry.
5. He works hard, he loves to come home at night to his family.
6. He loves our little girl.
7. He is very protective of our little one, to the point if she gets hurt someone else has to call him and tell him what happened, not because I am scared of him but I cannot bear to tell him.
8. He is protective of me, he gets mad when I forget to lock the doors.
9. He finds what I loose, my glasses, my keys, my books, my keys, my phone, my purse, my keys, my wallet, my keys, my phone, the house phone, my keys, my phone, did I mention my keys and phone?
10. He puts our little girl to bed every night, seven days a week, without fail.
11. He is a great daddy, he plays with her, he fixes her hair, and he puts perfume on her.
12. He supports me in my goals, dreams and aspirations one hundred percent.
13. He looks at me in the eye when we talk, his eyes are full of love even when I annoy him or lose something.

Playing with daddy in the pool!
My husband is my best friend whom I do not get to spend nearly enough time with. He is the one who I want to share good and exciting things with, the one who will support me when I want to cry. I fell in love with this man three thousand miles away, it still seems impossible that it could happen but I did, I found my eternal companion. What a blessing Eric is in my life. I love you!

Please visit more 13 Thursdays!

Wordless Wednesday!

Lena is fearless, I could not believe that she got that close to a rattle snake! Please stop by other Wordless Wednesday! Or Five minutes for Mom!

Lena's New Bed!

Potty Training

Lena, is trying to potty train, the cowboy hat helps her think!

Hanging

This picture was taken at a park near our house Tolina thought that she could cross the monkey bars alone, she kept telling me "No Mama I do it!"
Please visit more Photo Hunters!

Memories

Ellie, has this game from one of her friends and I thought that it sounded fun so here it is on my blog too.
So here's how it works...
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.
If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.So there you have it! Post away! Oh,and if you don't "know" me well enough to have a memory, feel free to use anything you've read here. A favorite post you've read, etc. that way everyone can play!

Wordless Wednesday!

My little Girl is such a girly girl, she loves her "Lips" and her purses. Her Daddy bought her this purse a while back that has "Lips", finger nail polish, and make up in it. Mommy put it up for safe keeping but, Daddy didn't think it was a big deal for him to play with "Lips" now we have PINK spots on our couch. So Mommy now has the "Lips" and Tolina can use carmex for her "Lips" ONLY under Moms direction. None the less this is a cute picture, enjoy it now because if mommy gets her way Tolina will not wear makeup for another twenty or thirty years!
Please visit more Wordless Wednesday!

Thursday's Thirteen

My thirteen Thursday are my favorite Tolina sayings
1. No mama!
2. I go shoppin
3. Wait! Twooooooooo minutes
4. I be right back K (as she pats her hand toward you)
5. Come here Come here NOW(as she extends her hand to you and wiggles her fingers)
6. I do is myself
7. My daddy, no My daddy
8. Don’t be mean da me (as I am trying to correct what she has done)
9. Ok Twoooooooooo minutes (when I ask her to clean up)
10. Mommy, Good morning you tired? (Since I work nights this is how she greets me when I get home)
11. Mamma I want to nuggle (snuggle)
12. A nurse (although she no longer nurses I still have fond memories)
13. I love you!
To see more Thursday Thirteen!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Lena on the Fourth of July Running and Playing in the yard! To find more Wordless Wednesday!
Please Help, I wanted to have larger pictures but when I did it was to wide because it kept the black, I want to cut all of the black out so that my pictures are in the center. How do I fix it???

Support

This is my Husband and I, he is my support. Eric supported my while I was in nursing school, the first time and now that I am in nursing school again working toward my BSN instead of financially supporting me he is doing the laundry, cleaning the house, and keeping our little girl happy and safe while I work at night which really sucks, because I do not get to see my husband nearly as much as I would like to. He supports my in all of my dreams, goals, aspirations; he hurts with my failures, and marvels in my success.
He supported me when I wanted to breast feed my baby girl even after she lost a whole pound in two days, he told me that if I wanted to breast feed then he would do everything in his power to help me in that desire. To his chagrin she was a great breast baby after the first month or so. When I went back to work at six months I thought that my little one would just take formula like when she was first born but she would not and I did not have any breast milk in the freezer so he had a few weeks of ruff nights until she got accustom to being with dad. So this is my husband and I in May of 2005 we were in New York for my brothers graduation and to visit friends.
For more posts with pictures of Support please visit Photo Hunt.

Anywhere!

Since I am a nurse, who does not have an Office at work I thought my home office but that is on the couch so what would go in all offices now days a computer. Let’s face it most of us could not do the jobs we do or have some of the fun that we have without our computers. I was trying to get a close up to of the key board to make it look Giant, but alas it did not work. Please check out more Photo Challengers that I am sure are better than mine just click! Kim

Thursday's Thirteen

Since today is my birthday that is my list:
1. Balloons
2. Streamers
3. Candles
4. Confetti
5. Cake
6. Clowns
7. Games
8. Bows
9. Party hats
10. Ice cream
11. Piñata
12. Goody bags
13. Poppers
Please check out more 13 Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday!

This is Lena over the Fourth of July weekend Playing in the Yard, What a beautiful weekend!

Birds in the Livingroom!

My husband and I have been married seven years, during that time the number one thing that we have issues with is cleaning, and you would think that I would be the one complaining but no my husband is the neat freak in our family. I work nights, so I pick up our two year old at 11 am after preschool we take a nap and play during the afternoon. His biggest pet peeve is me and my daughter not cleaning up our mess in the living room and not making the bed. So one night not so long ago he took a picture of my living room after my daughter and I left it a mess. The video panned around our living room ending on his hand giving me the bird. OOPS! I should have cleaned up! I wish I could find the video! It was pretty funny! For more Hump Day Humor!

Monday Moment!

When I was a kid we did not have a weekly thing that we did together, but we had nightly meals together. We also spent time doing things that my dad and brother enjoyed, hunting, fishing, building, repairing things, and shooting. Now that I am a mom I cherish the time that my little girl and I get to spend together playing without the TV on which is only when my husband is at work, it is the first thing that he does when he walks though the door. The TV stays on until he goes to bed about 1am. Enough of my complaining, an idea is taking one night a week for no TV, instead planning a family activity i.e. going to the park, my little girl loves to go the park and play, especially having all of our attention. Before we play I share a short lesson 3-5 Minutes because of her age, the lesson is pertinent to my little girl like sharing, playing nice, saying prayers, short stories from the scriptures, just about anything that I feel is important for her to learn about. I try to look for things that she is learning during the week to talk about, this week we are talking about potty training and telling mommy and daddy when she has to go potty. Most weeks I have to work on Mondays but this week I am off from work so tonight we are playing the potty game with a short lesson on using the potty, wiping, washing our hands, and flushing the toilet. I like to end our night with a treat like Angles on Horse Back (S’mores), ice cream, or popcorn, something special that we do not usually have. Good Luck with your Monday Moment! For more Monday Moments please hop over to http://rappleyefam.blogspot.com/.

My point is!

My point is No Pee in the Pool! We are trying to potty train my little girl, but for some reason she is having a hard time, she can pee in the potty but only if I ask her she will not tell me when she has to go, except when we are in the Pool. So that takes me to my point no pee in the pool.

Thursday's Thirteen

Thirteen things I would do this week if I did not have to work:
1. Go swimming with my little girl more than just on the weekend.
2. Go on a date with my husband out all by ourselves
3. Go shopping with my little girl just for fun not Wal-Mart
4. Visit my mom if I could also get a plane ticket to WA
5. Watch my little girl ride here jeep
6. Take my little girl to the park for a picnic
7. Play with my little girl on the floor with whatever she want to play with
8. Take my little girl to the beach and play in the sand
9. Go to a movie (not a cartoon) with my husband.
10. Run in the yard chasing grasshoppers with my little girl
11. Make a cake with my little girl and not care how big of a mess we make.
12. Take an afternoon nap with my little girl
13. Go to the bathroom by myself (if daddy were off this week too!)

Wordless Wednesday!

This picture is of my brother and three of his buddies. Be Safe! Much Love!

Generations of Service!

My Grandpa Farrar (left in the blue coat) along with his Brother my Great Uncle Stew served in WWII. My Grandpa Jerry served in the Navy. My Brother is currently serving in Iraq after graduating from West Point (center in uniform), my Uncle Ray serviced in the Navy. All of these brave men have served this country so that we could have the liberties that we all too often take for granted. This Fourth of July I would like you to think about those in your family who have served in the Military for our freedom, tell them thank you.

Pool Fun!

Daddy and Daughter in the pool on a hot summer day! I really like this photo the composision alowed me to change it from color to black and white with clear deffinition of subjects.

PhotoHunt Bright Summer Day!

My little one on a bright summer day with a bight smile!