tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90156412024-03-07T01:28:49.146-06:00BlogSmith"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
-Ralph Waldo EmersonLaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.comBlogger291125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-56407984211792723212008-07-30T18:44:00.002-05:002008-07-30T18:59:02.336-05:00The End...Just to let my 3 readers know...I have decided to do all of my blogging in one spot: <a href="http://laurismith.blogspot.com">ArtSmith</a><br /><br />BlogSmith is my first blog; my baby. I can't even remember when I started this...2004? Maybe.<br /><br />Then I created ArtSmith, because I wanted to keep the arting and crafting separate from the daily life. Believe it or not, however, it all kind of spills over into the other on both sides, and it has gotten hard to decide what should I say here and what I should say there when I really want you to read it all but I hate to duplicate.<br /><br />So...one blog it shall be. It's just weird, because I feel like there is a huge part of my life here. But...my life has completely changed within the last year so it just makes sense that the blogging should go along with it. But I'll be back to read and remember all of those little things: the "Conversations" especially!<br /><br />Good times, good times....<br /><br />Link over and join me on <a href="http://laurismith.blogspot.com">ArtSmith</a>!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-48935478020905785712008-03-30T13:33:00.003-05:002008-03-30T14:02:31.831-05:00I think I needed a break!Sometimes there is just too much life in your life. I have a lot of that. This has been THE WORST Spring Sickness season EVER...even Ethan ended up with pneumonia and he's my healthiest one-I think he has only been sick two other times in his whole ten years. Allison has been ok suprisingly! She's the one with asthma, but we've recently found a new specialist for her and whatever he is doing is totally working! I think this is the first time in her life that she hasn't ended up with pneumonia or bronchitis or something during this time of year...I'm very pleased with him and he is now my NewFavoriteDoctorInTheWorld! Claire, however, is another story...I know the first year of public school/Kindergarten can be tough on their little immune systems but, she had been in Mother's Day Out (until we moved to SA) and she is ALWAYS running around with her big brother and sister's friends. She's not afraid of anything and is no stranger to germs and bacteria! lol! But from the time she went back to school after Christmas until Spring Break she has been sick with one thing after another...a virus here, Strep Throat there, even some Tonsilitis thrown in for good measure. Hopefully, all of the germs in the school died out over Spring Break and we are all good to go for the rest of the school year!<br /><br />*Knock on wood here*<br /><br />Plus, I just haven't been feeling very much like doing anything. I have a gabillion ideas, just no energy. It's starting to come back though, and I spent 4 hours in Claire's room yesterday cleaning out EVERYTHING! I also cleaned out and organized the closet in the gameroom...there are a couple of games and puzzles I left in there that I'm not sure we actually have all the pieces for (like 'Mousetrap. Who actually has all of the pieces for 'Mousetrap'? lol!), but, I didn't want it to look too empty, if you know what I mean. Oh, and going back to cleaning out Claire's room...she has this really old Care Bear blanket that I have NEVER been a fan of. I had planned to throw it out. But, it must have gotten left behind somewhere between the giant garbage bag and the dirty laundry pile because there it was on top of her bed this morning! grrrrr....<br /><br />Anyway...we are all still here, alive and mostly well and Lucy's wardrobe is steadily growing! (I think that's where Allison spends all of her money.) I just want to say "Hello!" to everybody that comes around here...I really do appreciate all of you and I do plan to be back more regularly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_5rHSquoBoOhyJV378N1UTVW0jsiqiapYBlfEw0iiTwMKhVcuL4bpYtzK4Ydv7VFQ3GbVSj299WbHvquxv8T1dDIYtAeHwfImwZzB-9-d2iimTURZ2rA9jBa9HLRhLaqYaycng/s1600-h/Blog+Header+for+BlogSmith+3+Kids.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_5rHSquoBoOhyJV378N1UTVW0jsiqiapYBlfEw0iiTwMKhVcuL4bpYtzK4Ydv7VFQ3GbVSj299WbHvquxv8T1dDIYtAeHwfImwZzB-9-d2iimTURZ2rA9jBa9HLRhLaqYaycng/s400/Blog+Header+for+BlogSmith+3+Kids.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183611364932785410" /></a>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-53486842015844820152008-02-08T18:05:00.000-06:002008-02-08T18:37:01.263-06:00How did they get this picture of Lucy???<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/02/08/funny-pictures-why-u-not-read-doormat/"><img src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/02/funny-pictures-cat-dog-doormat-leave.jpg" alt="funny pictures" /></a><br />moar <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com">funny pictures</a><br /><br />I think she's been cattin' around!<br /><br /><br />Then I made this one of Frida, when she was a kitten...<br /><a href='http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/View.aspx?ificanthavc128469908923125000.jpg'><img src='http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/2/8/ificanthavc128469908923125000.jpg' alt='funny pictures' /></a><br />moar <a href='http://icanhascheezburger.com'>funny pictures</a><br /><br />Now I know why everyone loves the 'I Can Has Cheezburger' site...it is so funny!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-27548268598047303022008-02-04T23:54:00.000-06:002008-02-05T00:03:13.446-06:00Yes, we did survive last week...<strong>Barely. Ethan and Claire started out with the flu, then Claire went on to Strep Throat. They were home. For many days. Then Steven decided that THIS was the time to paint. After two and a half years of me begging it finally had to be done last weekend. After many days of children at home. So...children at home and man painting. I just locked myself away in my studio and pretended not to hear all of the yelling and screaming.<br /><br />It worked!<br /><br />Of course, he's not even close to being finished with the painting, so that will be all next weekend, too. But, Saturday I am teaching my very first sewing class! I still can't believe that. It's a kids' class, and we will be making a pillow, so I can handle that. No zippers involved!<br /><br />As for Sunday...I see a road trip to Austin in my future! lol!</strong>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-68764980569390494972008-01-22T09:46:00.000-06:002008-01-22T10:53:29.323-06:00BLOGGING FOR CHOICE!*This is not my best work. I usually write much better, more coherent...but, I'm in a big rush, and I really want this out there one way or another! Because I am DEFINITELY Pro-Choice!*<br /><br />I am a firm believer in Pro-Choice. Like you didn't know, but...I want that right out there. No question.<br /><br /> People think that that is weird, considering that I am adopted. However...that wasn't my choice to make; it was my bio mother's choice. She was the one who had to be pregnant for 9 months, hiding out in a 'Home for Unwedded Mothers" for 5 months, then go through labor and delivery just to hand the baby over to someone else. <br /><br />The choice she made-adoption vs. abortion vs. keeping me herself-worked out in the best way possible! For me, anyway. I would have had no problem being aborted, and I KNOW that if she kept me for herself my life growing up with her could never have compared to the life I had with my parents...in a good way! And I truly believe that giving your baby up for adoption has to be, MUST be, the single most self-less act a person can do.<br /><br />I know I could not do it. Ever. I know that if I had ever gotten pregant before I was ready to handle it on my own, and had accomplished the goals I wanted to accomplish in my life before I had children, I would have been in the fast lane all the way to Planned Parenthood! <br /><br />Even now, after having given birth to 3 live children, I still believe I should have the right to make my own choice. I am the one who has to deal with the consequences for the rest of my life either way...why should that choice be left to someone else? <br /><br />I certainly don't see any legistatures or people in the general public jumping up to help out mothers who don't have any support! Financial, Pre-natal, medical help for the mother and the child, diapers and formula, food, clothes, roofs over their heads, education in decent schools...I could go on and on Why should they have the right to force me to have a baby who isn't going to have the best in life? The people who campaign against it are nothing but a bunch of hypocritcal liars; many of whom feel it is perfectly OK to take out a living doctor or an abortion clinic full of living people to "save" an embryo that isn't even viable! I'm not saying that abortion should be a regular form of birth control, as repeated abortions can do damage to a female; however, saft abortions should ALWAYS be an option! <br /><br />And don't even get me started on what WILL happen if abortions are made illegal! (Well ok, a little bit...) There will always be the option for abortion, legally or otherwise. If people are forced to have illegal abortions there are more complications that could arise from that than I can even come up with. Including, but not limited to: infection, ruptured uteruses, scarring and damage so severe that if she ever wants to have another baby it won't be possible, and death.<br /><br />Remember what it used to be like? Let's not go back there. Vote Pro-Choice.Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-44902988361180314682007-12-13T09:40:00.000-06:002007-12-13T10:33:04.873-06:00Target and Other ThoughtsYikes-I know...no posts since before Thanksgiving! Believe me, it's not because there is nothing going on here. In fact, it's because there is too much! lol!<br /><br />So I received this <a href="http://target.com">Target</a> add in my email. It features gifts for men, women and children. <br /><br />Gifts for Women: A Gilligan & O'Malley Robe for $14.99; and a Turtleneck Sweater for $24.99.<br /><br />Gifts for Men: A $179.99 Camcorder and Leather Jackets ranging from $99.99 to $109.99.<br /><br />Gifts for Kids. Because they've been EXTRA GOOD this year. One of these is the Exercauser Triple Fun Activity Center for $119.99<br /><br /><br />Now...these are my thoughts on the matter:<br /><br /><br />How come the gifts that are featured on this Target add for women are a $15 robe and a $25 dollar sweater, and the featured gifts for men are a $180 camcorder and a $100+ leather jacket???<br /> <br />Hmmm...ever think I'd like a bigger lens for my Nikon (although I know they don't have those at Target), or a new and bigger TV that shows all of the colors equally and not just focus on red??? How about that Zune? I want one of those, too! And while you're at it, add that camcorder to my list, too. That Kodak 12 mp camera for $250 would be really cool if it really worked, but, I am having serious reservations at the ability of it actually being a 12mp camera-Point and Shoot, no less. <br /> <br />Seriously-men take one look at that add and go, "Hey! There's a Target 2 miles from here and I'm in and out and done for fifteen bucks. And look how happy she will be in that big bulky robe! Woot!"** Shit. Might at well throw in some pots and pans or a vacuum or crock pot or something. And the baby gift is some big noisy thing that would drive any adult over the edge! Then they wonder why their wives are mad at them all the time. <br /> <br />I think my favorite part of the add is this quote: "Gifts for kids. Because they've been extra-good this year." I think Santa has turned a blind eye to this house. You know they (the kids themselves) know they are in trouble when, while standing in line to see Santa last Sunday and they are hearing all the things about how Santa watches you all year and knows if you've been bad or good, and Claire leans over and you can hear the desperate whispering in your ear, "Ummm, Can Santa read your mind, too?" (Just might be time to bring this one in for confession! I think it would be very beneficial to her soul to let her skip a few grades!)<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />In other news, because I ALWAYS love to learn new words and their definitions-seriously. I love dictionaries!<br /> <br />**The word "Woot" has just been chosen by Meriam-Webster as the new "Word of the Year" for 2007! I just learned that this morning, and I'm already using it in a sentence. To be totally honest to the point that some people may think I'm a freak, the word "woot" has been in the pop-culture for years now, and I'm not so sure that it's timeworthy of 2007. Maybe something more like 2001. Personally, I think a more appropriate word would have been something like 'selflessness' or 'charity' or 'coexist', even 'sympathetic'...something to remind people that it's not ALL ABOUT THEM. Like it or not, we live with millions of other people, and the things I am trying to accomplish are as important to me as they things others are trying to accomplish. Take "Little Driving Man Talking on Cell Phone" this morning...just because you are dressed more nicely (and talking on your cell phone) than the woman wearing pajama pants and a t-shirt who had just dropped of one of her children and her child's friend at school, does not make you more important than she or anyone else at the intersection where you blew through the STOP sign, and would have caused an accident if the other driver hadn't been paying as much attention. Get a sense of equality, will you?<br /><br />Not to even mention doing good things for others, no matter how small. *Totally not to brag on myself here, but...* I was in line to check out at Target last week, with a basketfull of who knows what. I just know it was A LOT! A man walked up behind me with a package of diapers and a couple of other baby type things. I knew it was going to take me a long time to check out, and he could be in and out in about 2 minutes so, I told him to go ahead and get in front of me and check out first. He looked incredulous and asked if I was sure. I said of course...I'm gonna be here a while, you go ahead. He was very grateful and said thank-you several times, THEN he told me that his wife had just had a baby and they were on their way home from the hospital and had to stop for a couple of things...he ran in to get them while his wife and the baby waited in the car. The moral of this story is: do something nice for someone at least once a day, because sometimes you get incredible stories like this one! So totally worth the extra few seconds of waiting! And just from my own personal experience, I know how extremely grateful any woman trying to get in a doorway with a stroller will be if you will hold the door open for her! <br /><br />My mom always told me to live by The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I still try to live every day like that (sometimes I lose my temper, yes; I won't say I'm perfect!). But, living that way makes life that much easier for everyone, and sweeter, too. And it will all come back around to you!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-15517241421649721162007-11-15T15:12:00.000-06:002007-11-15T15:36:35.610-06:00Lucy, Claire, etc...Lucy is still my favorite dog...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-11xGt0nB3fkMyBLi3XbqxAoRF-1nzY6nESiivU6hzo3UQE9la-sG0d405QxScnXMU6gWfvPDw5tbxWU5dnA6JUBMyW4x0kxKlEFPPqIJ0xKEYMMXEzd8hcu2tlsh-FwFtwpK4Q/s1600-h/DSC_0489_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-11xGt0nB3fkMyBLi3XbqxAoRF-1nzY6nESiivU6hzo3UQE9la-sG0d405QxScnXMU6gWfvPDw5tbxWU5dnA6JUBMyW4x0kxKlEFPPqIJ0xKEYMMXEzd8hcu2tlsh-FwFtwpK4Q/s400/DSC_0489_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133178559964297442" /></a><br /><br />And the cutest one, too! Plus, I just cannot get over how friendly and loving she is, to everyone, including the cats. Lilly and Molly think she is great, even if Frida is still a little weirded out, and Annie is just plain not having anything to do with the whole thing! lol! Lilly and Molly also like the kennel, and are either inside it or on top of it all the time. I just wish I could get a picture of all 3 of them-Lucy, Lilly and Molly, all there at the same time. Here's one of just Lucy and Lilly:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-gRO0uwpEKdukELPgqIZ3auRCxo2qvcoGn7cr7dpnp9yyfwb_uSSrQIbNkJzCSNTzh7BWH-49kFX2u-eCPXC4Fii5lpe9G3eBw5kku0lwMJIWDTpihFv-CoIpdjpz5l2G0z_KQ/s1600-h/DSC_0489_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-gRO0uwpEKdukELPgqIZ3auRCxo2qvcoGn7cr7dpnp9yyfwb_uSSrQIbNkJzCSNTzh7BWH-49kFX2u-eCPXC4Fii5lpe9G3eBw5kku0lwMJIWDTpihFv-CoIpdjpz5l2G0z_KQ/s400/DSC_0489_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133179118310045938" /></a><br /><br />And I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week already! Tomorrow is the last day of school. Tomorrow is also the day for Kindergarten's program...some kind of Pow-wow. At least I don't have to go for lunch and eat the cafeteria turkey dinner! That's one thing to be thankful for!<br /><br />Among other conversations I've had with the kids, there was one in which Claire was talking about wanting to go visit my Aunt Carol and Uncle Rusty. They have a big pond that my Uncle keeps stocked with fish, so the little ones can always catch something, and Claire wants to go fishing...<br /><br />Claire: If I catch a fish...(she pauses, because something else has caught her attention)<br /><br />Me: I'm not gonna clean it!<br /><br />Claire: NO! We're not going to eat it or anything. I'm just gonna get one of Uncle Rusty's boards, because I know he has some around there somewhere, and I'm gonna nail the fish on the board and hang it on the wall!<br /><br />Ummmm...anybody out there have some air-freshener they need to get rid of??? lol!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-28336960389479564142007-11-12T08:37:00.000-06:002007-11-12T08:42:53.313-06:00Conversations with Claire*Just a quickie-because I keep forgetting!*<br /><br />So...mom was here last weekend and we were working in the yard, planting some flowers. Mom had been using the hoe to 'chop up' the dirt, for lack of a better term because a farmer I am not! <br /><br />When mom was done, she laid the hoe down in the grass, and eventually Claire came along and picked it up and said:<br /><br />"Aw! You're a dirty ol' hoe, but I love ya anyway!"<br /><br />I about busted a gut trying to keep it in...and I do know she meant "hoe" and not "ho", but it comes out sounding the same! And I am still laughing about it!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-91871515733171243252007-11-01T08:41:00.000-05:002007-11-01T13:57:24.019-05:00Because 2 Adults, 3 Kids and 4 Cats weren't enough...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-7-KFT5EUg51cbheJySDkmPvxTN-KbKSTELpwFu0UZbQp7e80imD5MKhVG8XaO2JQcwCSMznNm5l39Ms6yVxqegSMDPEVVIGyffsn3ZueVDGjRmx2_BQfXLv3t0EOvDL-RMrnQ/s1600-h/Lucy+Pink+Heart.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-7-KFT5EUg51cbheJySDkmPvxTN-KbKSTELpwFu0UZbQp7e80imD5MKhVG8XaO2JQcwCSMznNm5l39Ms6yVxqegSMDPEVVIGyffsn3ZueVDGjRmx2_BQfXLv3t0EOvDL-RMrnQ/s400/Lucy+Pink+Heart.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127938216423230690" /></a><br />We got a dog!<br /><br />And I wonder why I never have time to sit down. Well, now I have to sit down a lot though...to cuddle with Lucy and all. Dogs like to cuddle a lot more than cats! Oh! And they like to be dressed up and wear clothes, too. Really. Just ask them. And they also love to have 13 year old girls paint their claws with bright red nail polish! rofl!<br /><br />Don't ask me how this happened, because I really don't know. I never wanted a dog, and neither did Steven. We have been telling the kids "no" for years now. Then all of a sudden, I just had to have one! The only requirement was that it had to be female and small. So, I started "The Search". And there are so many cute ones out there! But, we finally found just the right dog for us, at the Animal Shelter in San Marcos. Lucy was one of 15-yes, that's right, 15!-Chihuahuas that had been abandoned in the Wal-Mart parking lot there. Fifteen Chihuahuas of all ages. Personally, I think someone decided to get a couple of dogs and breed them and make lots of easy money, then finally realized it wasn't as easy as they thought it would be, and just left them all there in the parking lot one night. Luckily they were rescued before any harm came their way. We went and visited with them and realized that Lucy was definitely meant for us! She is about 3 years old and has had more than one litter of puppies. She is so calm and quiet; she never ever bothers the cats; she RARELY barks (we've only heard her bark about 5 times in the 2 weeks we have had her)and when she does bark it's just for show-you know, that 'Chihuahua Attitude', she is so easy-going and never runs off...just an all-around great little dog! You know, I do believe that people, animals, things, etc...come into your life for a reason and right when you need them. I think Gayla sent Lucy to me. I lost Gayla forever and Claire to Kindergarten right around the same time, and suddenly found myself alone, with no one to talk to or interact with except the Scotch Tape I did have a long conversation with one day, and Gayla decided I needed a dog! lol! And although I still instinctively pick up the phone to call Gayla, I do think Lucy helps...and I can take her places with me, carrying her in her little baby carrier with her cute little clothes and blankets...although her little ears turn red when she starts getting hot in there, just like Ethan's and Steven's! lol! And when we are home, she is either right at my feet (I've actually accidently stepped on her a couple of times) or sitting on my lap the whole time. Definitely my dog. <br /><br />*Really-I'm not insane. I don't think.*<br /><br />So anyway, here are a few-okay, a lot-of pictures. And no, I didn't deliberately keep Ethan out of the pictures, it's just that by the time we got home with her after she had been spayed it was around 8:00 (because we had to stop at Target for cute stuff), about an hour and a half after his bedtime and he got out of the car and went straight to bed and we never heard another peep! lol!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBTspy513y_XSM72QoPHjhpHCfY0MOCPUZj8umQLuNLXY5YjmEiId16Po0OzAAvPrR8FCQ_EKtoKOnHLoWJ5jiXkALln_ucOCXUxMny6FeVGx50BhEjOltjkX2ae6xzygfRdOew/s1600-h/DSC_0413_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBTspy513y_XSM72QoPHjhpHCfY0MOCPUZj8umQLuNLXY5YjmEiId16Po0OzAAvPrR8FCQ_EKtoKOnHLoWJ5jiXkALln_ucOCXUxMny6FeVGx50BhEjOltjkX2ae6xzygfRdOew/s400/DSC_0413_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127937241465654482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFEiws0YqIaUc6Q3mXb8QKDj5C43mohLfF6FeYJN6jp5xmQjqI4t78JiCsXMmyLM3V0HD4gYiZkanuoXHmfTAe-GI2K2iJgvptF0idRsQVKNlxPpMa1UYGqPwNMdzws0DFGY1hg/s1600-h/DSC_0414_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFEiws0YqIaUc6Q3mXb8QKDj5C43mohLfF6FeYJN6jp5xmQjqI4t78JiCsXMmyLM3V0HD4gYiZkanuoXHmfTAe-GI2K2iJgvptF0idRsQVKNlxPpMa1UYGqPwNMdzws0DFGY1hg/s400/DSC_0414_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127937035307224258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AvOD-WzPu9bjfQ_aCnCvpgl4KADhPs8VHxRIVRBS2fGMsCAA6PHNdpImkegRShyphenhyphen1duZllTsAXEIsh2XYOH2fTT4DJudqy3rqydeLOq5e_hi16dz_RJsK3FRoCd7lJvcXc97Hkg/s1600-h/DSC_0416_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AvOD-WzPu9bjfQ_aCnCvpgl4KADhPs8VHxRIVRBS2fGMsCAA6PHNdpImkegRShyphenhyphen1duZllTsAXEIsh2XYOH2fTT4DJudqy3rqydeLOq5e_hi16dz_RJsK3FRoCd7lJvcXc97Hkg/s400/DSC_0416_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127936674529971378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoR_-DXS0zvD9M2b6U30g-OwX8sHLSbF2G0OcYZwCjtQwRii-5TnfCkktBp2srz-N_hXsyqlpahoFSOput4D-VyhSx2JiL2KKgfWTaD4x5DKnzliz8kvn62NalI63H44C9WlPUA/s1600-h/DSC_0417_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoR_-DXS0zvD9M2b6U30g-OwX8sHLSbF2G0OcYZwCjtQwRii-5TnfCkktBp2srz-N_hXsyqlpahoFSOput4D-VyhSx2JiL2KKgfWTaD4x5DKnzliz8kvn62NalI63H44C9WlPUA/s400/DSC_0417_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127936283687947426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj587wGsyvipR9cFy3EMN9EiQymAPaJE6YIoFWxkRuEmjJS53seyallmvk6szw5b0esqucwO0sOERPOVtcUV07DqKA3Wfp_FbFOCzkY3T694MjzOxoN2KEQEVQov0X4mVjajinWqg/s1600-h/DSC_0424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj587wGsyvipR9cFy3EMN9EiQymAPaJE6YIoFWxkRuEmjJS53seyallmvk6szw5b0esqucwO0sOERPOVtcUV07DqKA3Wfp_FbFOCzkY3T694MjzOxoN2KEQEVQov0X4mVjajinWqg/s400/DSC_0424.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127935961565400210" /></a><br /><br /><br />She's a Daddy's Girl!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi0Oqk_Ws9i7I-zaOtfCEQxXCZW9Z04EErg_1xx2saJCnBwAyQWwiRUdn-RlcOyqa5y67WxLu4pcLa7RtKfQXUgCofdvXSWuugqvH-XzWdCWejGFvKT4Vpgy7sQK1kzvD26Fn-g/s1600-h/DSC_0440_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi0Oqk_Ws9i7I-zaOtfCEQxXCZW9Z04EErg_1xx2saJCnBwAyQWwiRUdn-RlcOyqa5y67WxLu4pcLa7RtKfQXUgCofdvXSWuugqvH-XzWdCWejGFvKT4Vpgy7sQK1kzvD26Fn-g/s400/DSC_0440_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127935471939128450" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is Lucy's kennel with the banner I made...it has her name on it, although you can barely see it. Molly the Cat also enjoys the kennel! She likes to get in it when Lucy is out. It's so funny the way she sits in there, though: absolutely straight up and looking around at everything like she may be interested in buying. It's hilarious!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOntXUcNXnOwmhnlVX0fYpbhYKokleh_95WwJhgRsg7SOSUKxxf4g__H3b79rBkaDk3YZwXAck-aB9c6qH_cUC2xXHomy9_GEwnP66jm7NrPFAJ2F9ZDTjMa25RIz5YjCaDSjXBg/s1600-h/DSC_0443_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOntXUcNXnOwmhnlVX0fYpbhYKokleh_95WwJhgRsg7SOSUKxxf4g__H3b79rBkaDk3YZwXAck-aB9c6qH_cUC2xXHomy9_GEwnP66jm7NrPFAJ2F9ZDTjMa25RIz5YjCaDSjXBg/s400/DSC_0443_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127933960110640242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />There are no pictures of Annie or Lilly anywhere near the dog...in fact, we very rarely see Annie anymore at all! But Molly is just so curious about the whole thing! This first night, since Lucy was moving around too much for Molly to get a really good look at her, Molly just waited until Lucy was good and asleep, and then did a thorough checking out! lol!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknWH5TacuxMpdrKZ07w8JmPWs980CHoNpifsDuUt6GAa-5lAMeWn7fdNFtipKuoS7fllFH-0xRkiISalnNfBfHy5CfbX0XCZrdj_KRB0V3SZA6j413Js872rgqH0PErg4HBJAeQ/s1600-h/DSC_0453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknWH5TacuxMpdrKZ07w8JmPWs980CHoNpifsDuUt6GAa-5lAMeWn7fdNFtipKuoS7fllFH-0xRkiISalnNfBfHy5CfbX0XCZrdj_KRB0V3SZA6j413Js872rgqH0PErg4HBJAeQ/s400/DSC_0453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127932431102282850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DNnfhoQ7mqcbEpXnYwm2q58kxjedqrjzi-PLhbQMOSOQFO4ReZLjs7OIXlaWcs-m0yXnBYD4SdzQQQ-XlOThhu-84DmJSClQJUhgQ9j6BoYG4Pbt2bIHl_ZSgc3KGXNaqJx8mg/s1600-h/DSC_0456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DNnfhoQ7mqcbEpXnYwm2q58kxjedqrjzi-PLhbQMOSOQFO4ReZLjs7OIXlaWcs-m0yXnBYD4SdzQQQ-XlOThhu-84DmJSClQJUhgQ9j6BoYG4Pbt2bIHl_ZSgc3KGXNaqJx8mg/s400/DSC_0456.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127932023080389714" /></a><br /><br />Frida is just keeping her distance! However, she is coming around a lot more these days.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO7KNFOTrrKz0LUHfbS6y1QZ_ptPZE8f1DQY4ptY8c24_YeW8UmzU4ljWbDMXDvivCTt-sZzYoV9Xb4Vx6Lzrj_eYOEaIu9dXqu9Xz1GFkgp5kXok4qC0dMv5wewpLJCaBi18Xg/s1600-h/DSC_0455_edited.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO7KNFOTrrKz0LUHfbS6y1QZ_ptPZE8f1DQY4ptY8c24_YeW8UmzU4ljWbDMXDvivCTt-sZzYoV9Xb4Vx6Lzrj_eYOEaIu9dXqu9Xz1GFkgp5kXok4qC0dMv5wewpLJCaBi18Xg/s400/DSC_0455_edited.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127868990140353602" /></a><br /><br />By the end of the day, she was one worn out puppy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQKyHQX7MsDa0oePUGj04xYurS3-wenmHE0Emz9akOHujrm19NEWbfjhOduArr-HtdG5Cwe8FnhpGyH7T1IXUhZA4disoVpsfZSEGoKJXJ9MU1pg-k7ZBzp7z1fWB8pk7Txg6JA/s1600-h/DSC_0450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQKyHQX7MsDa0oePUGj04xYurS3-wenmHE0Emz9akOHujrm19NEWbfjhOduArr-HtdG5Cwe8FnhpGyH7T1IXUhZA4disoVpsfZSEGoKJXJ9MU1pg-k7ZBzp7z1fWB8pk7Txg6JA/s400/DSC_0450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127868388844932146" /></a><br /><br /><br />Of course, there has been so much going on around here I could never tell you everything, but, this is the biggest news by far. Well, that AND I got my hair cut! Maybe with all of the kids in school, I'll have time to do that on a more routine basis! Oh, I can give you a head's up on 'Future News'...my parents will be here tomorrow for the weekend or a month (however long I can talk them into) and Steven and I got tickets for the Spurs game Friday night!!! I haven't been excited about going anywhere in a LONG TIME, but I am sooooooo excited about this! I love our Spurs!<br /><br />Oh, and of course, I Love Lucy! ha!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mL7BLtq2i_NzMjm7QNo7wuekiVOlMquUdiEftCMvpd9nvt8uKOCkj9FI03Me6jnMMq00nPpETzrJpT_WpVDTo6a11DnYu9YG_tzWix20P1c23Z0jFJ66oPaTg3aXDxRxEhPhNQ/s1600-h/I+Love+Lucy+License+Plate+1989.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mL7BLtq2i_NzMjm7QNo7wuekiVOlMquUdiEftCMvpd9nvt8uKOCkj9FI03Me6jnMMq00nPpETzrJpT_WpVDTo6a11DnYu9YG_tzWix20P1c23Z0jFJ66oPaTg3aXDxRxEhPhNQ/s400/I+Love+Lucy+License+Plate+1989.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127946741933313266" /></a>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-45061588731331404012007-10-11T12:20:00.000-05:002007-10-11T12:50:32.444-05:00Just a quick update...First of all, thanks for the well-wishes! The kids are doing better...Ethan is still on the mend, not 100%, but I am seeing progress. I'm still going downhill..."Walking Pneumonia"...what is that??? To me, you either have pneumonia, or you don't; not a whole lot of grey area, but, I guess that just means that you have pneumonia, but the doctor doesn't want to give you a hospital vacation. lol! <br /><br />In other news, Steven and I had our 15th Wedding Anniversary yesterday! We got married on the 10th day of the 10th month at 10:00 am. Sounded like good and lucky to me, and it seems to have worked so far. We didn't do much because I haven't been feeling well, but, he did take the day off and we went to P.F. Chang's for lunch. Mmmm...I love that place! Before we went, we were thinking how nice it would be to eat like adults, without kids...but the whole time we were there, we were checking the time hoping we wouldn't be late picking them up from school! LOL! And OF COURSE a date for us wouldn't be a date without a stop at a bookstore, so we stopped off at Barnes & Noble on the way home. I picked up a Jane Austen novel, "Persuasion", and a book of Kate Chopin's work that includes her novel "The Awakening" along with some of her other short fiction work. I got home and immediately started in on the Kate Chopin book and had a hard time putting it down! After that HUGE lunch I was sure I would fall asleep, yet I was still going strong and blowing goodnight kisses to the kids from my chaise while reading. lol!<br /><br />Steven didn't get any books but...he did look at a lot of books with pictures! Ha-haaa! Old joke of ours...he doesn't read anything that doesn't have pictures in it.<br /><br />We also got an old Five for Fighting CD-America Town. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsjuP-IPfFaXNnyP8Pzbf8lOeu3a_PmMA1hkl3VyxEObrpsQIS-7yhNkw_1Xdl39RLCXS42CG10KS5uaCmqcC_5lhu7yjBqjxheptEMEg-ffiPaS2EA5o2RNmcyZUzRo9Ns3V2w/s1600-h/Five+for+Fighting+AmericaTown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsjuP-IPfFaXNnyP8Pzbf8lOeu3a_PmMA1hkl3VyxEObrpsQIS-7yhNkw_1Xdl39RLCXS42CG10KS5uaCmqcC_5lhu7yjBqjxheptEMEg-ffiPaS2EA5o2RNmcyZUzRo9Ns3V2w/s400/Five+for+Fighting+AmericaTown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120136344400520610" /></a><br /><br />I don't know why it took me so long to get this one. It was made in 2000, and it is wonderful...I love every song! I think I tend to just get lost in whatever I'm listening to at the time, and in 2000 it was probably MatchboxTwenty, so this one slipped right by. If you like bands like Train, Matchbox Twenty, Sister Hazel, Maroon 5, that type of stuff, I think you would like this and I would recommend it...if there is actually someone out there even farther behind in musicland than I am!<br /><br />And now I have 2 more hours before I have to pick up the monkeys, so maybe I'll have time to work in a nap...or some 'Law & Order'.Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-76802598286787216632007-10-04T11:00:00.000-05:002007-10-05T08:34:47.330-05:00What do you do...*If you aren't a mom and/or you get grossed out very easily, don't read. Because Ethan's lungs are gross.<br /><br />...when your doctor insists that whatever you have is viral and you don't need antibiotics, but you are still running a fever after 3 weeks? And so is your son? Who is also coughing up mucus out of his lungs??? I did make another appointment with the pediatrician for him though...called yesterday morning but they didn't seem concerned in the least, so his appointment isn't until 4:30 this afternoon. My doctor said not to come back unless my fever gets above 101. So I'm living my life on the couch, dying, just wishing I could cough out some of the crap in my lungs, until my head can't take it anymore and I have to take Advil, because I want to let the fever "do it's job"...and this will go on for days until I finally break down, because it's only running in that 100 degree range. And apparently, 100 degrees isn't enough to kill whatever MegaGerm we have. <br /><br />Really, I don't like going to the doctor because I don't want them to think I'm a whiner, but really...I need some advice here.<br /><br />***UPDATE: Ethan's Rx...pneumonia. Ay yi yi!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-76594682865475470612007-09-28T08:22:00.001-05:002007-09-28T08:29:28.421-05:00"They say she used to be nice."I've gotten a couple of super funny jokes in my email recently, and this is another one I've got to share! And maybe it's a 'cheater post' but, it makes it much easier to get something posted, so I don't have to think while I have The Plague. (And why am I the only one in my family who hasn't gotten rid of it yet?) Which leads to another question about moms...why can't we EVER call in sick??? <br /><br />This is also my message to the men of the world: Say NO to drugs and YES to chores! Because it's true...Mothers don't do spare time.<br /> <br />Why God Made Moms<br /><br />Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:<br /><br />Why did God make Mothers?<br />1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.<br />2. Mostly to clean the house.<br />3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.<br /><br />How did God make Mothers?<br />1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.<br />2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.<br />3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.<br /><br />What ingredients are Mothers made of ?<br />1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice<br />in the world and one dab of mean.<br />2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.<br /><br />Why did God give you your Mother & not some other Mom?<br />1. We're related.<br />2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.<br /><br />What kind of little girl was your Mom?<br />1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.<br />2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.<br />3. They say she used to be nice.<br /><br />What did Mom need to know about Dad before she married him?<br />1. His last name.<br />2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?<br />3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?<br /><br /><br />Why did your Mom marry your Dad?<br />1. My Dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.<br />2. She got too old to do anything else with him.<br />3. My Grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.<br /><br />Who's the boss at your house?<br />1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because Dad's such a goof ball.<br />2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.<br />3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad.<br /><br />What's the difference between Moms & Dads?<br />1 . Moms work at work and work at home & Dads just go to work at work.<br />2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. <br />3. Dads are taller & stronger, but Moms have all the real power, cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's house.<br />4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.<br /><br />What does your Mom do in her spare time?<br />1. Mothers don't do spare time.<br />2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long. <br /><br />What would it take to make your Mom perfect?<br />1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.<br />2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.<br /><br />If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?<br />1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.<br />2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.<br />3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-3822101546701114902007-09-25T08:23:00.000-05:002007-09-25T08:26:36.471-05:00Why did the chicken cross the road?My Aunt Carol sent me this joke, and it is the funniest joke ever...especially if you read it with that person's voice in your head!<br /><br /><strong>Why did the chicken cross the road?</strong><br /><br />Why did the chicken cross the road?<br /><br />DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize <br />that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road <br />before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to <br />do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his<br />'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.<br /><br />OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is <br />why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken <br />earn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm <br />going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the <br />road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.<br /><br />GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. <br />We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The<br />chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.<br /><br />COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the<br />satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...<br /><br />ANDERSON COOPER - CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but <br />we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the <br />road.<br /><br />JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now<br />against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the<br />chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.<br /><br />NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can <br />see it in his eyes and the way he walks.<br /><br />PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.<br /><br />MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was<br />going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs <br />when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any <br />insider information.<br /><br />DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad?<br />Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been <br />told.<br /><br />ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain. Alone.<br /><br />JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the <br />plain truth?' That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, <br />that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I<br />say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the<br />liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the <br />other side. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as <br />plain and as simple as that.<br /><br />GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.<br />Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.<br /><br />BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be<br />listening to the chicken tell, for the f irst time, the heart warming <br />story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to <br />accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.<br /><br />JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads<br />together, in peace.<br /><br />ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.<br /><br />BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only <br />cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance <br />your check book. Internet Explorer is a integral part of eChicken. This new<br />platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^( C .. ... <br />reboot.<br /><br />ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road <br />move beneath the chicken?<br /><br />BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your<br />definition of chicken?<br /><br />AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.<br /><br />AL GORE: I invented the chicken!<br /><br />COLONEL SANDERS : Did I miss one?<br /><br />DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-77396438358376667832007-09-22T21:10:00.000-05:002007-09-22T21:37:41.320-05:00Conversations with Claire*Overheard between Claire and Daddy/Steven:<br /><br />Claire: I know what the difference is between boys and girls.<br /><br />Steven: What's that?<br /><br />Claire: Well, guys only know about cooking and a little bit of cleaning.<br /> Girls know about make-up and fashion. So, that's why they have <br /> to have different bathrooms!<br /><br />Steven: You're exactly right, Claire.<br /><br /><br />ROFL!!! You can guess who does the cooking around this house! <br /><br />On another note: the two little children who I thought just had colds on Monday<br />ended up with a sick Mommy on Tuesday, and we've all been sick the rest of the week. I actually was/am sick enough that I went out and FINALLY got myself a doctor, since I haven't had one in the more than 2 years that we've been here. Apparently, we have a 'plague like virus' that won't go away...my words, not the doctor's. It is a virus, though, but I can't imagine that the plague felt any worse than this. I tried to send Ethan back to school on Wednesday because I truly thought he was doing better, but the nurse called and sent him back home because he had started running a fever again. They are doing good now, though. I thought I was doing better, but I was wrong. I thought my worse day was last Wednesday, when I had completely lost my voice. It came back...sorta...even though my mom said she didn't recognize my voice on the phone yesterday. Today, I somehow slipped into a virtual coma and slept until 5:00 PM!!! Totally and completely slept through and lost an entire day! Oh, and when I woke up, my voice was gone again. Ethan told me if I didn't drink so many Dr Pepper's I wouldn't be sick. Who does he think he is??? I called him a "blasphemous traitor" and told him that if there was any more talk like that, I'd have to kick him to the curb. He laughed and laughed, then suddenly got this serious look on his face, looked sideways at me and said, "Really?" LOL! When I said no and started laughing, he started laughing again, and told me to drink some orange juice. lol! Balancing right on that edge! <br /><br />Now I've been up for 4 1/2 hours, and I think it's time for me to go to bed again. Sleep tight, everyone!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-12221519157662751932007-09-17T09:38:00.000-05:002007-09-17T09:48:21.752-05:00I've finally realized..."Crazy" is my new normal. I always think it's crazy here and think to myself, "As soon as 'this thing' is over, things will quiet down." But as soon as 'that thing' is through, a new thing comes along. Today it came along in the form of 2 sick little ones: Ethan and Claire. Claire has come down with a bad cold/sinus infection or something; but Ethan is "sick" mostly because Claire is. He has had some problems with allergies, I think, recently though, so I have them both going to the doctor this morning. He can go back to school tomorrow, but I know I will keep Claire home at least another day...which will be kind of nice really. I miss the Old Days already! <br /><br />Oh, and about the nun picture in my previous post...earlier this year I posted about Allison asking me if I had ever pretended to be a nun when I was a kid. Steven, my mom and I all about popped a gut over that one! rofl!!! My mom just happened to come across a picture of two nuns in the newspaper shortly after that, and took one of the nuns out and put me in! I still laugh every time I look at it, and I keep it on my desk. If you want to read the original post, here it is...http://lorilaurielauri.blogspot.com/2007/04/conversations-with-allison.html<br /><br />Time to go get ready for the doctor...she might appreciate a shower.Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-46352372219560687032007-09-14T12:44:00.000-05:002007-09-14T12:49:37.853-05:00I'm still here...Having to take a little unexpected break from the computer as things are just too busy! They should settle down next week so, I'll be back!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2dbZd_HfsdNXSVXVjKPoz46ARTqIbmqjUSaxKQuGosXDp2C_uekWxYYW_rQvZWPbEkOmo8nzrca9f7ECuslGfO_83cW_C7O3zExZAYR9c7n1BNU-IE1XFIr_WbE32vYdDerWEw/s1600-h/DSC_0268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2dbZd_HfsdNXSVXVjKPoz46ARTqIbmqjUSaxKQuGosXDp2C_uekWxYYW_rQvZWPbEkOmo8nzrca9f7ECuslGfO_83cW_C7O3zExZAYR9c7n1BNU-IE1XFIr_WbE32vYdDerWEw/s400/DSC_0268.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110118311248999458" /></a>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-91198251906758655752007-08-30T10:09:00.000-05:002007-08-30T10:37:46.596-05:00Planning is in progress...For a Fairy Party for Claire's birthday. Just realized she is having one of those the day before yesterday. I have all these ideas in my head, so I hope I have time to get them actually made! Does anybody know where I can find some little plastic fairy figurines? You know...like little Army men?<br /><br />I've gotten some wooden dowels with stars on the end, some spray paints and all different kinds of ribbons to make wands with. There will only be a few...ok, 6, girls here, and I'm planning on making them very simple white cotton gowns with a fairy or two embroidered on the front (and I'm wondering if I should have some ribbons draping down the back) and hopefully Party City will have some rhinestone crowns, because Target sure doesn't! I still can't believe that. But, I did find some very cute little diaries in the dollar section at Target last night, and those will go in their goodie bags.<br /><br />She really wants a sleepover, but, I also know that kids that age rarely make it through the night at someone else's house, so, rather than making a bunch of phone calls at 2:00 in the morning, we are just having the party until 10:00 at night, then they can all go home then. Allison and one of her friends will be doing the girls' make-up and nails, and I need to figure out some kind of movie for them. I was thinking Tinkerbell, but, then I remembered it isn't "Tinkerbell", it's "Peter Pan"! lol! But, maybe I can find something that is fairy related. AND, since I already have GOBS of beads and all of that stuff, we are also going to make bracelets. I just want to see if I can find a little fairy charm. <br /><br />I think fairies need cupcakes, but Claire really thinks she needs just one big cake, lol! So, we found one of those, and I'll have to make some pink punch or lemonade or something...preferably with bubbles. <br /><br />And moving on...I was a bad mommy the other day. Now I'm a bad daughter. My mom's birthday was yesterday, and I forgot to call! But I think I would have remembered if I could have stayed awake past quarter to five! Happy Belated Birthday, Mom! I have your present, and I'm trying to make the kids finish the one they started for Dad...then I can pack them up and mail them together. Maybe even by Columbus Day!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-64744881025093117822007-08-29T08:54:00.000-05:002007-08-29T09:03:18.047-05:00Conversations with Claire<strong>With bonus: "Bad, bad, Mommy!"</strong><br /><br /><br />It only took 2 days this year to get a call from the school. But it was because of me. I had fallen asleep on the couch after lunch...and about 20 minutes after I was supposed to pick Ethan and Claire up, the school called-of course they wanted me to come get them. lol!<br /><br />Anyway, I get there and Mr. O had been talking with the kids, and Claire noticed he had this empty iced tea jug thing on his desk and was asking him about it. He told them he had (drunk? drank? dranken? drank up the whole thing? INSERT PROPER WORD/S HERE) the whole thing today. <br /><br />Claire: That's an awful lot of tea! It's gonna make you have to go to the potty, so don't hold it too long or you'll get a bladder infection!<br /><br />He was laughing so hard when he told me this...wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall in the Principal's office???Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-47212957957415512452007-08-23T15:16:00.000-05:002007-08-23T15:26:22.143-05:00I'm too old for kids!<strong>Well, sadly, since Dean didn't come anywhere near Houston, Dave decided he wanted his kids back, since he finished everything up in Chicago early. So the boys left today. I am wiped out, and my back hurts and the Aleve isn't doing anything to help it! lol! Now, if I can just make it through the weekend, school starts on Monday and I can be home all alone for the first time in over 13 years and enjoy the peace and quiet! : )<br /><br />Guess what we are doing tonight? We are going to meet Claire's Kindergarten teacher! I don't think there ever was a kid more excited about starting school. This is her teacher's first year teaching...good thing she has Claire to break her in right! lol!<br /><br />Tomorrow evening we get to meet Ethan's teacher. Found out she just completed her Master's in Education. Good thing too, because she's gonna need it!<br /><br />As for Allison, her biggest problem right now is finding a cool tote bag. Apparently it's not cool if your mom makes it for you. But it is cool to go to Old Navy and get one just like everyone else's. She is the 'Anti-Me'. lol!</strong>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-71285938330297973062007-08-20T15:08:00.000-05:002007-08-20T15:13:32.860-05:00Really cool!First of all, thanks for the birthday wishes! It was very nice...definitely much better than I had thought it was going to be.<br /><br />And now, Gayla's sons and a nephew are here with us! Gayla's husband is in Chicago on business and wanted to get the kids out of Houston because of Dean...just in case. His nephew, Mike, has been staying with them since Gayla died to be there during the day and while Dave was gone. So, now they are all up in SA with us, and we've been making plans for the week...it's working out great for us because I don't think Dean's coming to Texas at all and we will have great weather. So, see yall soon!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-52087527261082937422007-08-18T12:47:00.000-05:002007-08-18T12:53:26.132-05:00Only 5, 4, 3, 2...<strong>ONE more shopping day, everyone! While you are out running errands today, don't forget..."Tomorrow is Lauri's birthday!" LOL!<br /><br /><br />Oh, but Julie Panova, honey, mommie-in-law dearest: I got your little momento in the mail yesterday, and you have really outdone yourself, you c#nt!<br /><br />To everyone else...please, please, PLEASE pardon my french! I have never said that word in my life, but it just so fits here.</strong>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-30588318745181407402007-08-13T13:48:00.000-05:002007-08-13T14:07:14.097-05:00He is soooooooooo lucky!Last night I thought it would be a good idea to drink a glass of wine with my egg salad sandwich. I don't normally drink wine with egg salad, or even with dinner...I only drink it rarely, and usually that's because I'm at my mom's house and they are having a glass because she made spaghetti for dinner.<br /><br />I only ended up having 1/2 a glass.<br /><br />But I'm such a freakin' lightweight that 1/2 a glass was enough to do me in! <br /><br />Apparently I passed out on my chase somewhere around 3-4pm...right after my sandwich and wine...and didn't wake up until 9:45! Yikes. By then, the kids were in bed and I could hear Steven downstairs putting dishes in the dishwasher. I needed a snack so I tried calling him, because I had been in the same position for those 6-7 hours and could not move at all. I remember calling to him, but he couldn't hear me, and I didn't want to yell too loudly and wake up the little angels. So I thought if I yelled out something funny, that THAT would get his attention...<br /><br />ME: "Help! I'm your baby mama!"<br /><br />*That is when I realized I was drunk.<br /><br />**No response from Steven.**<br /><br />ME: "HELP! I'm your THREE TIME baby mama!"<br /><br />He finally came upstairs and (later said) he found me lying there with my arm up in the air like I was waiting for the teacher or someone to call on me. We then decided I needed the Baskin Robbins Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream that was in the freezer.<br /><br />Right choice? You decide.<br /><br />The next thing I remember is that I was in my bed, no longer on my chaise lounge, and I was in the early stages of vomiting. Like, it had made it to my mouth. I immediately sat up trying to stop it, and noticed that if I did end up barfing, it would be all over Steven's neck and face. Somehow or other, I was actually able to choke it back down and it stopped. Then I sat up for the rest of the night. <br /><br />And THAT, my friends, is how much I love my husband!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-41047357688349030812007-08-08T16:23:00.000-05:002007-08-08T16:39:15.403-05:00My New Philosophy on Life"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: "Woo Hoo, what a ride!"<br /><br />A good one, no?<br /><br />Onto other things:<br />1) It quit raining and damn it got hot!<br /><br />2) My children are THE MOST expensive children ever made! And I'm not talking about things like having to have "The" designer clothes, or "Those" shoes. Y'all know me; I don't go for that. I'm talking about just basic living and keeping them alive and healthy expenses. That must have come from Steven's side of the family, because I didn't have these problems.<br /><br />3) If Claire asks me one more time, "How many days until school starts?", I'm going to scream.<br /><br />4) Oh, who am I kidding...I'm gonna scream anyway. I am one slammed door away from the psycho ward! <br /><br />5) Tonight we get to meet McGruff the Crime Dog, and all the kids are gonna be finger printed. Like we'd have to worry. A kidnapper would have them for all of 45 minutes, be driven out of his mind and have his wallet emptied because <br /><em>something</em> would happen, and drop them off right at our doorstop ASAP! lol!<br /><br />6) Really, they are not that bad. And one at a time, they are my dream child and I'm living my dream life. But, having all 3 at home and together all the time? Not so much. <br /><br />7) Oh! Steven has an ulcerated uvula. Does that top a sinus infection? <br /><br />8) OK-seriously-it's not that bad. And I'm laughing as I type this, so I hope you take it in the way it was intended!<br /><br />9) Time for me to take a shower. I don't want to smell worse than McGruff the Crime Dog!Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-73156077711347020402007-08-07T21:21:00.000-05:002007-08-07T21:22:47.405-05:00When-Your-SpaceBar-Doesn't-Work...You-just-surf-around-and-make-stuff-like-this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.meez.com/imlauri" title="Check out this user's profile at Meez.com"><img src="http://images.meez.com/user14/01/02/0102_10021243373.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015641.post-84723375786190598852007-07-27T12:33:00.000-05:002007-07-27T12:49:20.176-05:00Ummm...HELLO?!? People who work at TNT!The people who watch TNT during the day are probably people like me: Moms who are home with or without their kids, love 'Law & Order', and absolutely, positively cannot stand Soap Operas! So WHY ON EARTH are you suddenly programming freaking GOLF TOURNAMENTS during our Prime Time hours??? <br /><br />We can't stand Golf Tournaments, either! Besides, there is the Golf Channel just for that specific reason! To show golf. All the time. Twenty-four seven. All golf, all the time. Not to mention ESPN and ESPN 2. Plus Channel 26 (on my TV) that, I have no idea what it is, but it always has sports on. Mostly basketball, but, seeing as how the San Antonio Spurs have just recently reclaimed their title of World Champions of Basketball and are entitled to a little time off, probably wouldn't mind sitting down and watching a golf tournament themselves. So use Channel 26 even! Use all 4, PLUS interrupt the SOAP OPERAS for Christsakes! They provide nothing valuable to the community at all. At least we can learn some scientific stuff with 'Law & Order'.<br /><br />Or...at the very least...couldn't you please, PLEASE wait until 'Charmed' is scheduled? Then interrupt all you want, by all means!<br /><br />Please, please TNT...I beg of you down on my knees...bring back my 'Law & Order'. Otherwise I'm just forced into doing things like laundry and cleaning bathrooms and mopping the kitchen...and I've really had enough of that.Laurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738480269575391608noreply@blogger.com4