Look at this!

I made a business card/label to sew onto things I make or to add to the back of art stuff. Cool, huh?

So about Mother's Day...

Oh. My. God! How sick was I??? It started on Friday, and Sunday morning was the worst! I finally started feeling a little better Sunday night. Still not 100%-if I eat, I still feel really bad-but much better than yesterday.

I actually did get a gift, though. But only because my mom took the kids out shopping while she was here. When asked, repeatedly, by Steven, what I wanted, I told him, repeatedly, the only thing I wanted was blueberry muffins, orange juice and coffee in bed...as in breakfast. Breakfast in bed. Blueberry muffins. That's all. Nothing else. Really! That's the only thing I request.

He forgot.

Weekend Word Challenge

These were not taken this weekend, but I'm entering them anyway...

Mothering: When we brought Frida and Remy home when they were tiny kittens, they immediately took to this wooden chicken I had on the table, filled with apples, as a centerpiece. They would cuddle up against it and sleep with it all day and night. I finally decided they had adopted it as their 'mother', and they needed it more than my table did. I took the apples out and took it off the table, named it their "Chicken Mama" and gave it to them. Since the apples were out, they could curl up inside of it and sleep that way. They LOVED that chicken! This is a picture of Frida in her Chicken Mama.



Wonder: Hmmmm...I wonder what this button right here does...*FLASH!*

Oh. Okay.

So I'm curling up on the couch with her, 1) just wanting to sit down for a few minutes and 2) trying to get her to stop crying because she has been crying all morning, and 3) watching ER. They bring in this woman who was all beaten up and bloody.

Claire: What happened to her?

Me: Some mean person beat her up and hurt her.

Claire: Well, I know it wasn't me, because I was never in Hollywood!!


ROFLMAO!!! Like if she WAS there, or if it happened in San Antonio, it's a possibility.

Lilly's such a good kitty!

Thank goodness Lillian is so easy going! Today, Claire has her in a little rolling, plastic bin, and is pushing her all around the house.


Such a good kitty!

Weekend Word Challenge

OK-so it's way past the weekend. Sue me.

I did manage to get a photo for one of the words: Peace


This is Ethan, playing in peace. I think this is the first time ever that Ethan has actually gotten to play outside in the "fort" alone. He was just sitting and playing...moving so slowly and gently. Very rare event for him. Just watching him I got that hypnotized feeling. It was nice.

Shopping with Mom

I've never really done the 'antiqueing' thing, but lately I've been very interested in things like vintage aprons...and teapots (?). I don't know...

Anyway, last Wednesday, the first thing we did when she got here was go to this little place that is probably about a mile from my house. It's a shop called Handmade somethingorother, and I thought it would just be some handmade toys, jewelry, stuff like that.... But, it's one of those places where people rent out little booths and keep their stuff there. It could be anything! And not even hand made! But I found a lot of old, crocheted (is that how you say it?) doilies and things, and several vintage aprons. I did good...all I bought was 3 aprons, but I'll probably have to go back for more! lol!

All of the aprons are my favorite for different reasons. I love this pink one with the little orange flowers, because it looks so dainty, yet everyday. It must have been for a lady who was very petite and tidy...probably didn't even need an apron because she never made a mess, and cleaned as she went along. Just minimally practical-only one pocket, and I really think she only wore this just in case she actually spilled a drop of something. (This must have been my mom's apron! lol!)

This white one with the purple flowers is nice...things like these are usually saved for special occasions, but nothing special enough ever REALLY comes up so it's never worn, but this one does have some use. I'm thinking it was used on Sunday's, or any day she just wanted to feel pretty. It's so sheer! And there aren't even any pockets!

This green one was quite the workhorse! It's made of a heavy cotton fabric, and the bottom is a row of 3 pockets! My kind of apron-I LOVE pockets...on anything! This one was worn all the time-day in and day out, only taken off long enough to wash and dry. It even has a couple of holes! Very worn and, if not loved, very appreciated. It really reminds me of my grandma. She ALWAYS had on an apron, and they usually looked something like this one.

Introducing Lillian!

Oh my goodness! So much is going on right now it's not even funny! Things are happening faster than I can blog about them! Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up eventually, but I am going to start here, with Lillian (Lilly), our/MY new kitten...

I have always wanted a little white, brown, black and orange calico, and I finally found her last Thursday at San Antonio Animal Control. They said she was 6 weeks old, but I'm wondering if she is younger than that, because she is such a baby. I've had 6 week old kittens before, but she really reminds me of a newborn human baby. She loves to cuddle up under my neck and sleep for hours. When I put her down so I can eat, she will sit on the floor next to the chair and "cry". It's so funny, yet sad! lol! And, she will actually groom me! My neck and ears and hair. I think she really thinks I am her mommy. (I hope she does, anyway! lol!)

This is Claire holding Lillian while I was trying to get a good shot of her face, but Lilly wasn't being too cooperative.


As soon as she could get herself loose, she jumped down from Claire's arms, turned her back to me and just sat there. I think she was making a statement, but, the joke's on her, because I got a great shot of her back!

Mom's here...

So...I may be away from the computer, since there is so much shopping to be done! lol! We're going to the new mall tomorrow! :)

I know where the socks go, but what about this other stuff?

Like tweezers? My tweezers are always disappearing and I am forever buying new ones. They only place I keep them is my makeup bag, so how do they just disappear?

Scissors. What's with the freakin' scissors?

All of my black pens. I only use black ink. The kids don't use that, they use all of those gel pens and stuff. Yet, all of the black ones disappear.

Oh! And my colored pencils. Of course, I think I know which little munchkins are responsible for that. But they are the good artist ones! They have TONS, really, of Crayola and RoseArt ones in their art area. Yet they sneak into my studio, searching and hunting until they find the good ones (because I'm smart enough to know I should hide them; yet, not smart enough because they find them).

Copy paper. Ummm...just refer back to the above paragraph.

ANYTHING that is MINE! I don't care what it is. If it's mine, it disappears. Right into thin air! Even things like bras and underwear...and shut up, Gayla!!! lmao!

Seriously, I think there is a spirit in this house that 'disappears' my things. Maybe it's time to burn some more sage.

For Cro...

Everybody thinks I'm the only person who takes pictures of manhole covers, and that I'm crazy...well, at least I'm in good company! Turquiose Cro likes them too. So here you go, Cro...just for you!

Are these really necessary in life???

I see these things, and I just wonder...what is the purpose of this? What kind of person would buy these, and would I really want to know them anyway?

ARE THESE THINGS REALLY NECESSARY IN LIFE?

Take, for instance...a plastic pig that poops candy. Would you really eat that shit???


Hmmmm...the wonders of Blogger...how many times have I not been able to post even one picture, and it posts this one twice... Moving on...
What about these? Doggie Leg Warmers! First of all, these weren't even in a pet shop...they were in a kid's clothing store...Justice for Girls, I think. Second...if it is so cold outside that, on the off chance your dog does indeed need leg warmers, GO BACK INSIDE!

The ONE day I don't have my camera in my backpack!

You know, I can take a lot. After 3 kids, not a whole lot shocks me anymore, especially in the way of bodily fluids and stuff. And like every man I pass on the road is picking his nose...eh, whatever it takes to keep you busy, dude.

But today...

Today I saw something I have never seen, and hope to never see again...

Absolutely, totally, the grossest thing I have ever seen...

Well, not sure if it's any grosser than sharing a toothbrush with somebody...

Well... yeah...I think it is...

I was stopped at a light, and the woman in front of me is BRUSHING HER TEETH!!! I want to puke just thinking about it now! And it was a real live toothbrush...not one of those little things you put on your finger to swab around with. So...you're brushing with a real live toothbrush IN A CAR, and getting all that yucky ick out of your teeth and into your mouth, and there is nowhere to spit!

Oh God...I gotta quit writing about this now...or I really am gonna puke!

The Outfit

Blackbird has asked to see "an outfit" for Show & Tell this week. My submission isn't the whole outfit...it's only a part. The part that counts!

My outfit starts out with a pair of altered shorts...it's worn with various t-shirts and shoes, with or without a hat....

This is a picture of the front...


The next few are details, so you could see it better...

And this is a picture of the back. The shorts are actually an ongoing project-they aren't finished. There are still things I want to add.

Just so you know we're not total heathens...

We did attend mass this morning! And the ceiling didn't even let out a little creak, much less cave in on us! lol! And I have to say it is a beautiful church.

But...you can tell we haven't been since Ethan was a baby. (We just couldn't do it with him...we couldn't even leave him in the nursery because they would just page us half way through.) Ethan and Claire had NO CLUE about anything. When we got to the pew, I was telling him how to kneel down to pray, so I told him to make the sign of the cross. Ethan promptly held up both arms toward the alter, and held his index fingers out in a plus/cross sign for everyone to see! LMAO! Then, the Monsignor stands up and it gets very quiet. (Steven is holding Claire so she can see.) Then he says, "Let us pray"...and Claire, in her loud voice, says, "Okay!" ROFLMAO! Then she kept wanting to know when they were going to hand out the Easter Baskets! lol!!! Needless to say, we were pretty entertaining to the people behind us! lol!

It's weird though...I still know every word of the mass (well, except for the readings and the Homily) and every song by heart.

Was there EVER a kid who knew herself better?

This is hilarious! My mom found this in the top of her closet and brought it to me this morning. This was an assignment I had in 4th grade...9 years old. It was called a "Research Project", though I don't know why the teacher called it that...there certainly wasn't any research involved. But, the assignment was to write a one page story on how you would run a business if you were the boss.

The funny thing is, this really could not be more spot on, even 30 (exactly) years later! The only difference is, I didn't, and probably wouldn't ever, work for a major oil company. (I probably just said "Gulf Oil" because that is who my dad worked for.) BUT, when I did work, I worked as a social worker for a non-profit (well, there goes the "rich" part! lol!) women's agency. There were NO MEN. I was the "Boss"/Director of a shelter for abused women and their children. After doing that for a couple of years, I because the Director of Community Service...educating the public about domestic violence. I was nice most of the time, but I was definitely "mean" when I had to be. I still say I'm not/wasn't/wouldn't be "mean"...but I am tough and demand the best of my employees and myself. I don't expect any more out of anyone else than I expect out of myself, and I don't put up with mediocrity or ignorance. If you don't know something you should, ask questions and find out about it...research the subject. If you can't/won't do that, then, you are mediocre and ignorant, and that definitely warrants a firing.

I must admit, if there wasn't much going on that day, I did always have a book (or two! lol!) on hand to keep myself occupied! And at non-profit agencies, you do get paid just about $25 a month! lol!

The absolute BEST part about working with a group of women is lunchtime! If we didn't go out every day, it was at least several times a week, and I know I picked up the tab a few times if one of us couldn't quite stretch our $25 a month to include so many lunches out!

So...here it is...my idea of how to run a business...



"It's a Tough Life"

"If I were the "Boss" of a company I would be nice & sometimes I would be mean.

I would make them do everything I wanted them to do OR they would be fired.

I would have a big office bulding with lots of offices and would not let any men work there.

I would be working for Gulf Oil.

I if I were "boss" I would relaxt and take it easy. I might read a book or two.

I would pay the people twenty-five dollars a month,

I would bring a few of my frinds out to lunch every day to a very fancy resteraunt that had very good food and I would pay there way in every day because I would be rich."

*So there you have it folks...a kid of 9 years old, who knew exactly what kind of employer she would be as an adult. Actually, come to think of it, that's the kind of mother I am, too. Hmmm...don't know if that's good or bad. Should I slack up on the little guys a bit, or stay tough and expect the best? And just so you know, I typed it out with all the original mis-spellings and everything...just like I wrote it then.

Golly gee...

Who would have ever guessed my biggest moral sin was 'Wrath'??? These guys must be geniuses! lmao! (I'm telling ya, these quizes are always right!)

Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	High
Wrath:	High
Sloth:	Medium
Envy:	Low
Lust:	Medium
Pride:	Medium

Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

Yes, it is definitely Spring!

And how do I know this? Well...because of all the beautiful Spring bracelets that are coming out! I got a Brighton catalog in the mail today, and the bracelet in this picture is devine! (I'm a bracelet whore, if you didn't know.) Mother's Day is just right around the corner, you know.

Then, of course, there are THESE...
Thank goodness they are only out during Easter, or else I would weigh about 3,000 pounds. Someone would find me one day, spread out across my mattress on the floor-because the legs to the bed would have long ago given out-and my face would be covered in peanut butter and chocolate!

So I was cool yesterday...

Today I'm just a waste of DNA. Should have been aborted when she had the chance. I've been through 4 yards of a cute print fabric and 4 yards of muslin, for a grand total of 8 (yes, EIGHT) yards of fabric...not to mention all the thread and 2 whole freakin' days of my time, and I can't even make a freakin' TOTEBAG!!!!!!!!!!!

I am totally cool!

Ha! I always new it! 97% of people are nerdier than I am, and only 3% are less nerdy. And I think that is only because I think I got the question right that asked what Mn was/is on the periodic chart. (Manganese, or something like that, right?)

Our Evening/Night/Morning at the ER & Happy Birthday Steven!

*Just want to make sure everyone understands that this is ALL STEVEN'S FAULT! lol! I was not at home when this happened. He was responsible for the children's safety and wellbeing!*


So...now that everyone understands this would never have happened on my watch...while Steven was in the shower (hmmm, funny how Daddy gets to take a shower alone!) Claire decided to do some sommersaults on the couch. She fell off and hit the very pointy corner of the coffee table. This results in a big gapping wound, so it's off to the ER...

We waited for a little while before she was called back into triage. There, the nurse cleaned her up and put this little pad of 'numbing stuff' over it, and stuck it on with gauze and tape. Claire thought she had an eye patch and looked like a pirate. So here, she is holding her finger up like it's her hook and going, "Aaaaarrrrggggghhh! I'm a pirate!"



After a couple of hours, she was finally called back into a room. Steven and the other 2 were out in the waiting room, so I was passing time taking pictures. She was having fun posing and saying, "Take a picture of me like this!" and "Take a picture of me with my hands like this!" and "Take a picture of my arms doing this!" (waving her arms wildly, back and forth). For this one, she said, "Take a picture of my SpongeBob slippers!".

Ethan back in the waiting room...all he needs is a toe tag. We were just hoping somebody didn't roll him away! rofl!

Two hours after we get called back, we finally see a doctor. He agrees with us that Claire definitely needs stitches...wounds this gaping cannot be held together with glue. By this time, Steven was actually staying in the room with her, and I was going back and forth between there and the waiting room. I didn't really want to be in there while she was getting stitches, but I was waiting outside the door. Then she started crying for Mommy, so of course I had to run in. They had her wrapped up in a sheet, Steven holding her sides and a nurse holding her head. I was just talking to her, trying to calm her down. Then I actually got to be the doctor's assistant! I got to squirt some saline, or something sterile, anyway, into a bowl! And I did not violate the sterile boundary like Steven did. ;)

Claire did cry, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. And here she is, right after stitches and an orange popsicle. "Take a picture of my face this way!"

Now, here she is The Morning After...yeah, she looks pitiful, but don't feel sorry for her! I'm just making her mad because I wanted to take a picture and she is trying to watch a movie. Seriously, she is bouncing around today like nothing ever happened. I bet she busts these stitches right open!

Just in case anyone is checking...

Steven's dad is having bypass surgery today...

*Update: Instead of the double or triple the doctor had thought he would do, it ended up being a quadruple bypass. He's doing fine so far...

Show & Tell Thursday

Blackbird (well, Kim, really) wanted to see our favorite chocolate bar. This isn't really a "bar"...it's a "square"...but, it is my very favorite chocolate. And the perfect amount, really.

So. How do I...

Decorate/attatch things to this velcro and plastic boot? What kind of paint will stick to plastic the best? And velcro?

I'm afraid if I sew through the velcro, it will ruin it a little bit and it won't work as well.

What about glue? What kind do you think would be best...for either?

Well...

It's a stress fracture. Now I get to wear this lovely, big, black, velcro boot thingy. The kids are fascinated by it! I'm thinking I gotta figure out a way to paint this or something to at least make it interesting!

Guess what?

I finally went to see a doctor about my foot yesterday...it's been hurting since the beginning of February for no apparent reason, so I keep thinking it'll just go away. But it's getting worse and worse, and now it's swollen all the time.

The doctor said she thinks I have a Morton's Neuroma, and need to see a podiatrist. So I call this morning thinking it'll take 3 months to get an appointment, like it usually does for a specialist-at least in Houston. But, the doctor actually had an opening today at 3:45! So I took it.

I'll letcha know how that goes...

Conversations with Claire

Claire is the doctor and I am the patient...

Claire is giving me a full once over...checking reflexes, checking in my ears and nose ("It's pretty dark in there", she says.) Listening to my heart and lungs. Then she listens to my stomach...

Me: Do you hear anything, Doctor? Do you think I might throw up?

Dr. Claire: Well...let's just say, I hope you're a good swimmer!

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! WHERE in the WORLD does she come up with this stuff?!?

And just to keep things interesting...

My father-in-law had a heart attack yesterday, and they also discovered he has pneumonia. Some kind of surgery is planned for tomorrow.

Bored? Come live with me! lol!

Guess what?

This was my week to not have to leave the house, remember? Ethan didn't have any appointments at all, and I didn't have to be anywhere else. So, after spending all afternoon yesterday at the doctor's office, then going to have Ethan's abdomen x-rayed (diagnosis: total constipation), guess what I got to do today?

GET MY CAR FIXED!

Car wouldn't start this morning. Dead battery. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH MY KARMA??? I'm a nice person, I let people get in front of me in line at the store when they have less to check out than I do; if there is a question of who goes next at the stop sign I let the other person go; I hold doors open for women with strollers and pretty much everybody else who is behind me; I seriously try to help people out whenever I can and I always try to do the right thing! OK-so I have some overdue library books and have accrued quite a fine, but is that really so bad??? lol!

All I ask is that I am able to take care of my responsibilities. But I have to be able to STAY AT HOME to get that done!

Sooooooo NOT my job description!

I swear, if it's not one thing it's another! Just when I think everything is calming down and I can work (like, ON MY SWAP STUFF that I am sooooooooo far behind on) this comes up!

Ethan was complaining about a tummy ache last Wednesday. He had just had popcorn, candy and a coke at the movies, and we were in my mom's car, which is very low to the ground and much different than mine, so I attributed it to car sickness. Even I was nauseous-which is normal for me, though. He mentioned it again on Thursday when we were driving home, so again I thought it was car sickness.

Yesterday he mentioned it, so Steven and I were thinking he might be constipated. Steven was pushing around on his abdomen and Ethan said it hurt. Steven went to the store for some 'unconstipating' things, but Ethan had totally passed out by the time he got back, so he didn't get anything.

Today, he went to the nurse's office twice at school, complaining of a tummy ache, so I had to pick him up. No signs of anything else going on, though.

So I started asking him just a bunch of questions and pressing on his tummy again. He said it still hurt, and yesterday, when he did go to the bathroom "red goopy stuff" came out. Great! Maybe you should have mentioned that yesterday!

Talked to Steven...he suggested that Ethan may need an enema. I told him, "That is NOT in my job description!"

So, now we have a doctor's appointment in an hour and a half, and I have to go take a shower and get dressed...which I haven't done yet today because I was sure that ALL I had to do was WORK ON MY SWAP STUFF!

And, speaking of Swap Stuff...We got ours from Gina this weekend! The greatest, cutest things!!! Thank you so much, Gina, Kyle, Allison & Emmie! I will take a picture and formally thank you in your own post as soon as I can...it definitely deserves it's own post!

Spring BREAK???

...is no longer a 'break'...it is now a 'whirlwind'. When did this happen? I'm betting it has something to do with the kids!

Today I am taking that long awaited soldering class from 1-6 pm. The only thing I have to bring is lunch money! Things are looking up!

After that...the rest of this weekend is ALL ABOUT ME laying in bed or on my red chaise! Hopefully watching 'Law & Order' on one channel or another, replenishing myself for all that I missed all week long!

Speaking of 'Law & Order', I am creating my own Wish List, like everybody else has with Google or Flicker or something but I can't figure out how to do it...my Wish List consists of that cool new Super Duper iPod that you can download episodes of 'Law & Order' on (along with other TV shows that I never knew existed) and watch it RIGHT ON YOUR PERSONAL, VERY OWN iPOD!!! Now THAT is technology that I MUST have! Who cares about the songs and the videos? They now have PORTABLE 'LAW & ORDER'!!! In Starbucks, in the car, at 5:00 am when it actually isn't on any station at all...oh yeah.

OK-moving on to:

Portable Restrooms and Conversations with Claire:

On the way back from Houston we had to stop and get some Dramamine for Ethan, because Daddy drives too slow and Ethan's tummy can't take it. (lol!) Then, of course, because Ethan had a tummy ache, so did Claire. So, we stopped at a Wal-Mart. Then had everyone go to the potty before we left. So I'm in with Claire...and the toilet has one of those automatic flushers. Claire is still sitting there when it goes off...she turned around to look at the thing on the wall and practically growls, "I'm not finished yet!" lol! Then I see her nose start sniffing around, and she says, well, yells and echoes really, "Did somebody bring some stinky, rotten food in here or something?!?" Well, yeah, kinda. Her creative analogies kill me! rofl!

Seriously...what happens in there?

I just bought a new package of socks. I put them in the washing machine last night. Three pair went in...only TWO pair came out! Where the hell did they go???

Cuddle Time Chimp/Conversations with Claire

Has anybody seen these? It's this monkey made by the Fur Real Friends people, and it makes chimp noises and hugs you and stuff...Claire has been talking about it for a while. I had never seen it, though.

So a commercial for it just comes on and she yells, "Mommy! There it is! Look!"

I watch the commercial, and I have to admit, it's kinda cute. When the commercial is over, Claire turns to me and says, "So, you TOTALLY want me to get one, right???" rofl!!! Is she a manipulator or what? She doesn't just come out and say "I want one of those", she turns it into something that I want for her!

When she was a baby...long before she could talk...if I was somewhere and picked up some outfit or some little toy I was considering buying her, I think she actually knew whether or not it was for her, and whether or not she liked/wanted it. And if she liked it, she would throw up on it! And I had to buy it then! lol!

Bloging will resume...

...eventually. I promise. I seriously have to work this week! Gina-If you are reading this, I promise I am trying so hard! lol! (How did you do it? lol!)

Spent ALL MONDAY AFTERNOON at the pediatric dentist's office. Seriously. Got there at 2:00, and we were the last people out of there at 5:20! The dentist is very nice, but damn she is slow! And now, one of Allison's fillings has already fallen out! Great. That means I get to spend another afternoon at the dentist's office.

Of course yesterday was spent making food for the teacher's luncheon, Ethan's doctor's appointment, convincing Claire that she IS NOT getting a hamster, and I FINALLY got a haircut! Now, if I can just work in the time to color it.

OK-I'm going to get a cup of coffee now and go to work! Please drop in or email and let me know what's going on in the real world!

It has a profile, people!

It started out like any other regular big, ol' pimple. Right smack in the freakin' middle of my forehead. Then I could tell it was turning into something a little more like Mt. Saint Helen's.

That was last night.

This morning...Mt. Vesuvius! It's so big, it actually gets in my way, and I keep hitting it every time my hand goes past my face. It's like when you are pregnant and keep hitting your tummy on countertops, doorways, and furniture or anything else that happens to be at that height. But there is no big whitehead or anything on it...it's just one of those under the skin kind that hurt so bad.

So I'm standing in the kitchen with Steven and I turned sideways and asked him if "it" had a profile. Steven tries so hard to have the right response, but I could tell he was shocked right away...*sucking in deep breath*..."Umm, n-n0. Well, not really." Me: "You're lying."

So I turned back around to face him and he goes, "Oh yeah, I can see it now."

Me: "Really! Straight on you can see it?!"

Steven: "Well, not really. Only because I know it's there. It's just a little red."

Me: "Hell yeah it's red! It keeps bumping into everything!"

Conversations with Claire

*out of the clear blue sky...

Claire: Mom, I'm not going to have a collection of skunks.

Me: That's good.




*at least I don't have to worry about skunks going through the washer and dryer, like most of their collections! lol!

As for the plans for today...meeting some friends for breakfast at this mexican food place. Mmmm...mexican breakfasts!

Then, back to work on "THE Swap"...I am loving doing this stuff and I am so NOT complaining, but, it is so hard to get this stuff done with 3 kids running around wanting something or fighting every five minutes. Doesn't help that Al and Ethan have early release all week! ugh!

Better go hop in the shower so I don't scare everybody at Chacho's!

How do they know???

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll.You're totally weird and very proud of it.Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way. Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatamericancityareyouquiz/">What American City Are You?

Seriously! How do they know? Every single time I do one of these, they are spot on. I want to know who does the research for this, and how!

I can't believe I forgot to show you my new shoes!

Well, maybe they aren't so new anymore-I've had them for a couple of months. But I love them! And here they are in their favorite setting...

Conversations with Claire

Background: I had a few different types of fringe stuff I was playing with and trying to figure out which one to frame my collage with. Once I picked the one I wanted, there were 2 left over.

Claire: Mommy, are you using this one?

Me: No.

Claire: So I can have it?!?!?!

Me: Nnooo. I mean I'm not using it right now, but I will in the future.

Claire: (in her deadly serious, looking up at you like you are an idiot face) Mom. There is no future.



*Make sure you link over to ArtSmith for a picture of the collage and photograph I entered in the art thing. They aren't up right now as I'm typing this (11:00 am) but I'll get them up in a little bit.

I stole this from Hayley...

But I just HAD too...it's way too good! Besides, she probably stole it from Kim! rofl!;)


EXPRESSIONS FOR WOMEN TO USE ON HIGH STRESS DAYS

1. You - Off my planet.
2. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?
3. Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.
4. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
5. I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years.
6. Allow me to introduce my selves.
7. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
8. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
9. I'm just working here until a good fast-food job opens up.
10. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.
11. Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.
12. I can't remember if I'm the good twin or the evil one.
13. How many times do I have to flush before you go away?14. I just want revenge. Is that so wrong?
15. Can I trade this job for what's behind door ..2?
16. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
17. Chaos, panic, and disorder -- my work here is done.
18. Earth is full. Go home.
19. Is it time for your medication or mine?
20. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
21. I'm not tense, just terribly alert.

By all means share with other women in stressful positions. A daywithout a laugh is a wasted day!


THIS IS HYSTERICAL!!!

Little Golden Books that Never Made It:

1. You Are Different and That's Bad
2. The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
3. Dad's New Wife Robert
4. Fun four-letter Words to Know and Share
5. Hammers, Screwdrivers and Scissors: An I-Can-Do-It Book
6. The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
7. Kathy Was So Bad Her Mom Stopped Loving Her
8. Curious George and the High-Voltage Fence
9. All Cats Go to Hell
10. The Little Sissy Who Snitched
11. Some Kittens Can Fly
12. That's it, I'm Putting You Up for Adoption
13. Grandpa Gets a Casket
14. The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
15. Garfield Gets Feline Leukemia
16. The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
17. Strangers Have the Best Candy
18. Whining, Kicking and Crying to Get Your Way
19. You Were an Accident
20. Things Rich Kids Have, But You Never Will
21. Pop! Goes The Hamster...And Other Great Microwave Games
22. The Man in the Moon Is Actually Satan
23. Your Nightmares Are Real
24. Where Would You Like to Be Buried?
25. Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
26. Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
27. Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
28. Daddy Drinks Because You Cry

Any other week...

Allison went back to school yesterday, for the first time since last Thursday. She came home from school running a 102 degree fever. Ugh! This morning however...nothing. WTH? Either be sick or get well! lol! I'm really trying to finish getting stuff ready to bring to the museum tomorrow to see if I'm good enough to get into an exhibition, so I'm really running out of time. I told Allison if she can just hang on until tomorrow afternoon, THEN I can take her to the doctor. Her lungs are fine, though. I think it's just a sinus infection-which, will probably need some antibiotics to clear up. Of course, she's allergic to all the normal stuff, and we are down to the sulfa drugs, which taste AWFUL, but she won't swallow a pill...but for right now Motrin and Tylenol are keeping her comfortable.

Other than that...I'm just beating my head against the wall. And I need canvases.

I feel so bad for Allison. She just feels miserable. She's at home again today, and I really wonder if I should keep her home again tomorrow. Her ribs hurt from coughing so much. It's just the asthma stuff, and there is nothing a doctor can do that I can't do here at home, and she's not contageous in any way but, I really can't send her to school coughing like that.

In other news, Ethan just pulled another tooth! He came to me saying his tooth was bleeding. I had him show me which one, and it was all crooked so I figured it was loose. Then I touched it and it was just hanging there! So I told him to give it a good yank and it would come right out...so he did, and it did! He was so shocked! lol! Guess we'll be having a visitor tonight...good thing I'm washing his sheets today, huh?

That's about it for our day...

Oh! This weekend I got 3 books I have been wanting: (UGH! There is no underline thing here! Book titles are supposed to be underlined...this is going to drive me insane. Why would they not have an underline thing???) Anyway: I got 'alphabetica' by Lynne Perrella, finally! I have be wanting it for so long and finally found it. Also got Claudine Hellmuth's book 'Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected', and it looks REALLY fun! And last but certainly not least...'Fabric Art Journals' by Pam Sussman. Beautiful, beautiful things in there!

PLUS...Michael's had some great coupons in the paper this weekend because of President's Day, I guess, and I was finally able to get the UTEE Melting Pot and the pasta maker thing for polymer clay! Now I'm totally jazzed!

Just a quick question: Why do children who dislike each other so much all they do is fight and argue follow each other around the house making themselves and everyone else miserable??? Why don't they just stay away from each other? Anyone understand this?

And I just have to tell y'all about these-Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies-yum, yum, yummmmmmmmm! From Target. Now you know what I'll be eating while watching 'Law & Order' on whatever cable station has it on tonight!

I think I jinxed myself...

Just talking last week about none of us being sick...and I even knocked on wood! I think that's just an old wive's tale, because it didn't work! But, it's not too bad, really. Allison just isn't feeling well...I think the allergy/sinus stuff is getting her pretty good. She was home 2 days last week, and still isn't much better today. She's not running a fever or anything, and her cough is loose, so she doesn't need breathing treatments, but I don't think a doctor could really do much more than I'm already doing.

And I've got the sinus headache from hell, myself. The whole left side of my face and head feels like it's going to explode!

I probably should quit talking about it now, so it doesn't spread to anyone else or get any worse! lol! I'm not even gonna knock on wood this time.

So we go to Starbucks between Dr.'s Appointments

Because, really, what else is there to do? We met Steven there for lunch, and the girls are sitting there coloring because, being the smart mommy I am, I have crayons in my backpack. But I'm not SO smart, because I don't have any paper, so they are making do with napkins, and, VOILA! Altered Napkins! lol!

So anyway, the real story here is "Claire and her Orange Skirt". Orange is her absolute favorite color, and when I saw this skirt the other day I HAD TO get it. I knew she would love it! And she does! She wears it all the time, with any and everything...and it's adorable! Below are pictures of "The Skirt"...



The picture below is to show you how "twirly" it can be...




So...we get to Starbucks and walk in and Steven is already there waiting for us. Of course, he makes a comment to Claire about how cute she is in her skirt. And, unbeknownst to me, Claire is also wearing her new Curious George panties, which she is also very proud of! So, as soon as Steven tells her how cute she is, she yells, "Oh Daddy! And look!"...as she grabs the bottom of her skirt with both hands and flaps it all the way up over her chest like a Vegas dancer or something and, still yelling..."Curious George panties!!!"

Everybody is trying not to bust out laughing while I'm going, "Yeah, nice Claire. Put your skirt down."

Then we got our stuff, went and sat down in the comfy chairs and enjoyed our time until Mr. Very Important Doctor came in...actually stoped and glared at us, because we were obviously in HIS SPOT, so he went and sat at a table next to us. Then, Ms. Very Important Doctor came in, DID THE SAME EXACT THING, and went and sat with him. I was actually facing them and got to watch all of the muttering and glaring over at us the whole time we were there. And nooooo, I didn't stretch out our visit at aaalllllllll, making them suffer in the land of the 'not so important'. pppfffffft! When we left, they about peed and tripped over themselves to get to those chairs...so see, it was a win-win all around! :)

*The girls' artwork is posted on ArtSmith if you want to check it out...lol!*

At least she didn't have to have it all shaved off...

Yesterday, while I was taking a shower, Claire decided she had her own project to work on. And of course this wasn't a day where we were going to stay home...we were trying to get out the door to meet some friends for the 11:30 showing of 'Curious George'. Anyway, somehow she managed to get the right side of her hair full of that blue sticky-tack stuff (that is used to hang posters and stuff on walls-it's like Silly Putty, kind of) and a Band-Aid. ?!?!? I don't know what look she was going for, but it looked like blue dreads. Of course, while I was trying to take it out, she was screaming bloody murder. So, I told her she was just going to have to go to the movie like that, then I would have to take her somewhere to see what they could do about it, and they would probably have to cut her hair. I don't think she really understood the consequences of that, because, she was just happy she was going to get a sucker! Ugh! (I did manage to get the Band-Aid out, though.)

So, after the movie we head over to the hair cut place...she tried to pick it out like it would work better for her than it did for me...then she asked if it was water soluble. I have no idea. So she tried to wash it out with shampoo-that didn't work either. But...then she decided to try some detangler. She worked some in and picked a little out...worked some more in and picked a little more out...and just kept on working. She actually started getting some pretty big chunks just sliding off of her hair! And Claire was having a ball, because she had never had her hair "...washed like this before, but my big sister did once!" She's just laying there all relaxed getting a nice cranial massage! That is SO NOT the consequence I was shooting for here people!

After the nice lady got all the blue stuff out of Claire's hair, she thouroughly washed and conditioned it, then blow-dryed it, and only charged me $4.00! I gave her $10.00, and still felt like I should have given her $20 for her patience. Then Claire got her sucker and we were outta there. Happy Valentine's Day.

BTW...'Curious George' was really cute! Especially for the 2-4 crowd. Kids a little older than that may enjoy it too, but, I think by the time they hit 7 or 8 it might be kinda boring. *Just a crazy mom's opinion.*

Never a dull moment...Allison has an appointment this morning, and Ethan has one this afternoon so, another busy day. I'm afraid I'll jinx myself if I say anything, but, Thursday and Friday look like stay at home days, so hopefully I can get some work done on these swaps!

This is good...

Your Blog Should Be Yellow

You're a cheerful, upbeat blogger who tends to make everyone laugh.You are a great storyteller, and the first to post the latest funny link.You're also friendly and welcoming to everyone who comments on your blog.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Oh. My. GOD!!!

I don't wanna retype it all over again...lol! So, link on over to ArtSmith to read about what I saw today!

Jeez, what a busy week!

I was barely home all week long...had something or other every single day. Then, when I was home, we were having internet problems...ugh!

Anyway...mom and dad are here for the weekend. It's nice because there is no agenda...nothing we have to do but visit, so it's great! And, Steven and I get to go out on our own, with no kids! So, we are about to go to a museum, then to a movie, then just probably hang out at Starbucks for a little bit.

I don't have anything really profound to blog about today. You know, like all my other profound posts! lol! And Claire is still talking about the camels down the street, telling Nana all about them, and how much she loves camels. Allison asked if she knew what camels looked like, and I said, "Goats!". Claire said, "No they don't!" roflmao here!!! So WHY does she think the miniature goats are camels???

Oh. And a question about email protocol...
Say someone...let's call him my father-in-law, for instance...calls and asks me to email pictures of my house to his brother's computer so he(fil) can print out some prints and the brother/uncle and aunt can see our house, and I do...shouldn't they send me an email back thanking me for sending the pictures (so I, AT THE VERY LEAST) know they got them, and maybe even make a little comment about: 1) the house; and/or 2) ask about the family; and or 3) blah, blah, blah...just make some small talk or something?

Or is that just me? We are having this discussion at my house this week. I just think it's good manners. Or is it just fine for them to totally ignore you? Pretend like you're Dear Abby or Miss Manners or something and let me know..

The Weekend

It was a blur! I remember taking the girls and meeting Steven and Ethan for breakfast at Mama's Cafe after Ethan's Tae Kwon Do class Saturday morning. But after that...I don't think I remember anything until last night!

We did get the playset built and standing up...now we just have to cement it into the holes Steven had to dig to level it. Of course, that's not stopping our kids from climbing up there! lol! They LOVE it! (I wouldn't let anybody else's kids up there yet, though.)

OH! Allison and I finally found a library! I thought the Kingwood library was bad, but this one isn't even as good as that. Although, you can check out as many as 50, yes, FIFTY, books at a time! Holy cow. Where would I put them all?

This morning, while we were at the bus stop, Claire looked up at the sky and said, "It looks like a good day to go get doughnuts!" And I agree. lol! So I made a bargain with her...we can get doughnuts if she will be good at Wal-Mart while I get some black fuzzy fringe to finish a thing. A friend of mine was saying the other day that she didn't get her Valentine's Day cards (that Krispy Kreme is giving away everytime you buy a dozen doughnuts) when she bought doughnuts last week. I'm thinking that's because they have given them all to us! lol!

I'll leave you with a Conversation with Claire:

Claire: (hanging on to Steven's leg) Daddy, I think your leg has a girlfriend.

Steven: And who would that be?

Claire: ME!

Steven: Yes, Ophelia! I love you too!

Conversations with Claire...and other stuff

*Driving home down Blanco Rd., we pass this tiny little field of goats...every single day. Not like she's never seen them or talked about them before...*

Claire: Look Mom! Camels!

Me: Claire, those are goats!

Claire: Oh. They look like camels.

And the thing is, they're like miniature goats, too! rofl!


Other conversations overheard from the backseat:
Claire: Uugggghhhhh! I HATE the sun! It's ALWAYS shining in my EYES! I wish it would go away!
Ethan: Yeah Claire, I know you don't like it but, if the sun went away, we would go into a second Ice Age and ...blah, blah, blah...spouting of facts about Ice Ages that I don't understand.

Plans for the day today:
Claire and I are joining some friends for a 'playdate' (I hate that word) at an art studio for kids. They are actual art teachers who introduce kids to the "Master's" of art, pottery, and stuff like that. This is a one time deal, but, they also have scheduled classes every week. If this is good, I think I might take Claire kind of regularly. At her age, the parent has to stay, so maybe I could learn something too! lol!

Oh, and yesterday evening, Allison and Claire made cupcakes. Devil's Food with Cream Cheese icing! Somebody please save me before I eat every single one of these!!!

Self Portrait Tuesday

And it ain't purty! Kath wants to see 'All of Me'...so I thought I would start out with the me in the morning.

So this is me first thing in the morning. I have naturally curly hair, so it doesn't look so great first thing. Serious bedhead! And yes, it's the end of January and I'm still wearing Christmas pajama pants, but, they're warm. This particular day, I got to enjoy my coffee while sitting on the couch, watching the Today Show. I don't know how I got custody of the TV, and Claire did not!


But then I quickly move on to this...working in my studio/study, if time permits. And yes, there are days when I will spend the whole day in this room, in my pajamas, never getting into actual clothes. Those are good days!

Just when I think I'm going to have some time...

Ethan pulls more shit like this...

After he got to school this morning, he put his backpack down at a spot at the table, then went to get some breakfast. (We don't feed him enough here.) When he came back, some other kid had moved his backpack, but, the kid who moved it was NOT the kid sitting in "his" spot. No matter. Ethan attatcked him anyway. Totally wailed on an innocent kid who just sat down to eat his breakfast. Now he's in 'In School Suspension'. Steven called Ethan's psychiatrist and talked to him...he decided to move Ethan's appointment for next week up to this afternoon.
Plus I just had to take him to his psychologist's appointment yesterday.

I don't want a lot! Just some happy kids! A day without a crisis! Is it REALLY too much to ask for?????

And here I thought I could really get back into my art...actually have time to work and complete something. I was such an idiot. I'm never going to have time to do the things I want to do in life, am I? I've wanted to go back to work for so long, but realize that that just is not going to work! Not with a kid like Ethan who I would have to be taking time off several times a week for. But I really thought I could do this, art, from home! But I can't even do that because we either have this doctor's appointment or that meeting to go to. And when I get a day, like today, when I "know" I'm going to get to stay home aaaaaallllllllllllllll day, and work on whatever I want to, just as I'm sitting down and getting the needle threaded and trying to figure out where to put the first bead, WHAM! Another call from the school! I even vacuumed and cleaned this morning before I started working on anything so I wouldn't have something hanging over my shoulder that needed to be done! But now I'm so upset...how can I get back to where I was? Now is when I wish I had a REALLY BIG easel in a REALLY BIG studio and lots of REALLY BIG cans of paint...mostly black, but a little bit of blue...and I could just start slinging it all over the place!

No wonder I can't get anything finished...all my stuff is happy stuff, carefree stuff...and I just can't stay there long enough to finish it.

Aaack!

Nobody told me Train was going to be on the Today Show! I almost missed it!!! AND they were singing 'Drops of Jupiter'...I haven't heard that one in a while...forgot how much I like it. That's probably one of my most favorite songs, ever.

I remember when...

I was a little girl...as young as like 3 years old, because it started when we lived in Port Arthur. We (my family) would all be outside, and my dad would send me in the house to get him a beer.

So, yesterday, Steven decides he is going to go ahead and buy the playset we have been wanting to get the kids. One of those big wood things, with the slide, swings, glider, monkey bars, a roof over the top to make a litte 'tree house' feely thing, and...a rock wall! (That part was supposed to be for Ethan but, I think Claire will like it more!) The thing is though, he has to put it together...because he is an engineer...and no one else can put it together as well as he can. (Which, let's face it, is probably true.) The problem with that is he gets sooooo frustrated! And Ethan and Claire are not helping things!

I was inside sewing, and Claire came in crying. I asked her what was wrong, and she said, "I was trying to help Daddy but I just can't stop touching everything!", and just started wailing! I felt so badly for her!

Then...ding...the little light bulb goes off in my head! I think we might actually have actual beer in the fridge-which is rare! I told Claire to follow me, and yup, we have beer. So I grabbed one and gave it to her, and told her to go give this to Daddy and tell him, "Mommy says you need to chill!" lol! So she started giggling and ran outside...and I can tell she is telling Daddy to "chill". lol! I was looking out the window and Steven saw me, held up the beer and tipped it to me and said, "Thanks!". rofl!!!

He was much more calm for the rest of the day, but I know it wasn't the beer, because he only drank half of it. I think sometimes we just need a reminder.

Change of Plans...

After surfing the internet for a while I finally found a real live art supply store that's not downtown! And, I finally found a branch library that's not too far away...our "library" is the high school library. No shit. I couldn't make that up! So...we can't use it during the week or anything because school is in session, and it's only opened for a few hours on Saturday morning. Can you believe this?!? I had read an article in the San Antonio Current about how San Antonio/Bexar County spends so little money on libraries, that there are only FIVE other places in America that spend less! That's really sad.

Anyway, Al, Claire and I were getting ready to go out and check out the library and it started pouring down rain! So we didn't go anywhere.

Then a friend asked if I would go donate blood with her...our local scrapbook shop was hosting a blood drive, and if you donated you got 25% off anything in the store. I haven't donated blood since collage but, for 25% off art stuff??? I'm there! So we met at Starbucks and chatted for a while then headed over there. I went through all the questions and stuff...even had to come up with the name of the tattoo parlor where I got my tattoo last October. I couldn't remember it. Had to call Steven. Anyway, get through all of that and I couldn't donate because my iron level is too low. Ya know, I even ate spinach on Thursday night! But damn...if I'm not getting enough benefit from it to even donate blood, I'm gonna quit eatin' that shit! It's bitter and definitely not my favorite vegetable! I'll just start taking a Flintstone vitamin every day!

I really had a lot of fun, though. It was so nice just to hang out with another adult with no kids for a change!

Goals for Today

1) Find an art supply store.

2) Find a decent library.

I think I'll find the art supply store...decent library-eh, not so much.

Mom Update

They did a CAT scan, checked everything, ruled out everything and diagnosed her with a stomach virus. I was talking to a friend of mine this morning, and she said the same exact thing happened to her a couple of months ago...she said she couldn't understand how a stomach virus could be that painful-all she could do was lay down; not move at all. Then she said it went away after a few days and she hasn't had a problem since.

I guess you learn something new everyday. But at least it's nothing serious!

Well...

Mom and Dad were supposed to come up this weekend. But, since last Thursday, Mom has been having really bad pain in her abdominal area. She has been to the doctor 3 times in the last week, and the last time she went he told her it was probably 'diverticulitis' (sp?). Gave her some pain meds, blah, blah, blah, come back for a colonoscopy.... That was Wednesday. Apparently the pain meds weren't touching it, and she ended up in the ER about 5:00 this morning in really bad pain. They are running tests and all that. I'm wondering if it's her gall bladder. I don't know much about the other thing, but I have experienced gall bladder pain myself, and it's a killer!

My dad called before the kids left for school, so I was trying to explain that Nana wouldn't be up here this weekend, but they are in total denial! They think the doctor will just wave his magic wand and she will appear here later today or tomorrow. Poor things! They love their Nana! Nothing but a bunch of Nana Babies!

Damn it's been a long week!

It seems like it's been forever since I posted here, but it's only been 2 days. If you do want to see what I've been up to, check out ArtSmith. Having a hard week with Ethan. I don't know what the deal is, but I've had enough of it.

Well, it's 8:22 pm and I'm still in my pajamas...I think I'll go take a shower and put on some clean ones and get ready for bed.

Self Portrait Tuesday

This is me at 6 weeks old, and it's the first picture ever taken of me. A little background here: I was born in Austin, TX and put up for adoption. Back in the 1960's it was quite different than it is now. I was placed in a foster home and kept there, basically observation, for 5-6 weeks, to make sure that I was an 'ok' baby to place. Healthy and all that. Then they called my parents and told them they had a baby for them. But, to make it even better and so stereotypical of the times, they called on a Saturday morning. My mom took the call and my dad was out on the golf course! Perfect! They were living in Port Arthur, TX at the time, and drove up to Austin to get me, then turned right around and came home. My grandmother was there, waiting, and apparently took me away from my mother almost immediately and started rocking me in a rocking chair...which she did for all of her "babies". Someone, I'm guessing my mom, snapped this picture...the first picture we have of me.

And THAT, my friends, is the story of where I came from!

OMG! How do they know???

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you.But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft.You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily.You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatdonutareyouquiz/">What Donut Are You?

I am pouting and on my way to KK right now, because we didn't have any more of my Boston Cream doughnuts this morning!

I'm trying to be patient...I really am!

With all of these construction workers out there...they are building on both sides of us. But they blast their music all day long, from dawn, literally, until 6-7 at night. And last Thursday, Steven had to go out there at 10:00 pm to tell them to cut it out. He actually told them, "That's it guys. You're going home now." lol! Friday morning I was literally at the end of my rope with the music and noise! (No wonder I have had a screaming headache for months!) So I called the police. Now, I have talked to the supervisor out here and he said he would take care of it, but he didn't. So I did.

And it's hard enough to get out of the driveway with all the trucks as it is; but now there is a HUGE 'River City Waste' trash container the size of a rail car out in the freakin' middle of the cul-de-sac! So, if I am just backing out of my drivway like normal, I would slam right into it! And all the workers decide they need to park on MY side of the street, right in front of MY driveway, so you can imagine the maze I am driving BACKWARDS through in an EXPEDITION! This morning, one guy actually had to move his truck so I could take the kids to the bus stop. But then when I left, he put it right back, but even worse!

GET A CLUE PEOPLE!!! They know somebody lives here and that I am at home, coming and going all day long! Why can't they park on the other side of the cul-de-sac where there is nothing? They can't build a house there, because that lot isn't a lot...it's a cliff.

Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Good Hats

For Blackbird and M...these are a few of my favorite hats. I love the colorful stripes on the one on the far right! I wish it wasn't a winter hat and so warm, so I could wear it year round...although it embarrasses my 11 year old daughter.

The CIA hat...is just too fun to wear!!! For some reason, when I wear it into a convenience store, it clears the whole place out! lol!

And the one on the far left is my work/art hat...I have to have it on when I'm creating...I've had it for like, 20 years...there's a lot of history in that hat!

Some Old Photos I Found at the Flea Market

These are some of the favorites of the ones I found a couple of weeks ago. 1) Every little girl should have a dress she is proud to show off!
2) The thing I love about this one is the baby...bald, looking around to see what else is going on, wondering how to make an escape...reminds me so much of Ethan!

3) Not sure where this was taken, but it reminds me of Barton Springs. This one has all of their names written on the back, and the little one in the middle is named Bitsy...which is what we called Claire for the longest time, or we would sometimes shorten it to Bits. But Ethan always called her Bits. And because of his speech problem, when he would say it, it would come out sounding like "Bitch"...which turned LOTS of heads in public! lol! I can only imagine what these people thought of this mother who let her son call his baby sister "Bitch"! ha-haaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Which of course reminds me of the stage Claire went through when she had to be called "Stephanie" (from Lazy Town on Nickelodeon) and I was "Uncle" (Stephanie's uncle). Of course I would forget, and we'd be at Wal-Mart or the grocery store and I would call her Claire, and she would start screaming, "UNCLE!! I'M NOT CLAIRE! I'M STEPHANIE!" Yeah...we've had some good times...good times...lol!

Ethan's ARD

Holy cow...we were in there for 3 hours!!! It started at 1:00 and we didn't leave until 4:00!

But everyone was there...his teacher, the school counselor, the speech therapist, the reading specialist, the school psychologist and the special education person. Plus me and Steven.

We went over everything...everything he has ever done here at Wilderness Oak and in Kingwood, and all the testing the school psychologist did...which was about every test a psychologist can give-including a Rorschach ink blot test! And he very well may be dyslexic, but they aren't diagnosing him with that just yet because: 1) all of his other emotional problems and stuff may be causing some of his delays, and 2) he is a good speller. Which is not usually seen in dyslexics...BUT, he has a photographic memory...once he knows how to spell a word, he will never forget it, and he knows how to spell words up to where he should be according to his grade level, but not his age.

Anyway, he does qualify for Special Education so he will be getting lots more help at school with everything. The thing is...the IQ tests they give that are just verbal, where he doesn't really have to write things down-he tests in the high 110's to the high 120's. But, there is some kind of learning disability where he can't get things from his brain to the page, and the scores on those tests are so low, that they are bringing his overall IQ down to 105. Which is still above normal, but obviously not where is should be.

So anyway, that should all start today, and he is actually excited about it because he gets to work more one on one with the teachers who pull him out of class. I think the largest group he will be in will have 6 kids in it. I am so glad that someone finally listened to me and saw that he needed help and are doing something about it!

Self Portrait Tuesday

This is a picture of me, Lauri, WITH RED HAIR! My hair has since turned brown (but it does get some reddish highlights in the sun). Two of my children, Allison and Ethan, both have
red hair, and I am ALWAYS getting asked about where it came from, and everyone is always astonished when I say I had red hair when I was little. Steven's family has no red hair! I am adopted so I don't know where exactly it comes from, but, I do know that Allison and Ethan got their's from ME and NOT my mother-in-law who colors her hair red! I just want some proof out there!

And...as an aside...it is VERY rude and completely inconsiderate of my and my children's feelings for people to say, "Where'd you get that red hair? The milkman?" (or insert any other random person there) Because although you may think it's really funny, and that it's the first time I've ever heard that, when you walk away my kids start asking questions that they really don't need the answers to at their young age. So I just have to explain that you, "That Idiot", to be exact, obviously has no idea about where children come from, and no, I did not get them from the milkman or the postman or whoever. So...if you must make a comment about their red hair, just tell them it is beautiful, and then please find something equally beautiful to remark about to Claire, who has brown hair. Thank you.

Too much 'Law & Order', perhaps?

So I'm driving the kids up to the bus stop this morning, and I see this 'thing' slumped up against the fence in an unnatural position, and a leg wearing faded blue-jeans and a white tennis shoe sticking out.

I was SURE it was a dead body!

So I get out of the car and make my way over there...by way of a big circle...lol!...but, it was only a big thing of rolled up plastic! lol! It sure did look real there in the dark, though!

How about a 'Self Portrait Monday'?

I was trying to hook Allison's camera up to the dock thing to print out some of her pictures and *FLASH*...it got me right in the eye! This is my look of concentration...too bad you can't see the wrinkles at the top of my nose between my eyes! lol!

Conversations with Claire

One from last night and one from this morning...

Last night...the kids and I are all in the garage; I'm working on ATCs and the kids are playing behind me, on the other side of the Expedition.

Claire: Awwwwww SHIT!!!

I thought I was going to explode trying to hold in the laughter! I have no idea what happened, but I couldn't ask either. But there was no crying involved, and she didn't come to me, so I guess something just REALLY pissed her off! lol!


This morning:

Claire: Mommy, did you think daddy was hot when you married him?

They don't have smilies on here to show you the expression on my face!

Self Portrait Tuesday

This topic came at an excellent time, because I had asked my mom to bring all the old pictures when she came for Christmas, so I could scan them.

So...people are always telling me that I have 'strong opinions' and an 'attitude', which is probably just a nice way of saying I'm a bitch. Seriously, I am not, BUT I'm not just going to let someone walk all over me, either. While going through all the old pictures, I found these 2...one is me on Christmas 1967, so I was about 16 mos. old, and I'm sticking my tongue out at someone. I don't know who it is though. I guess I figured I already had all of my presents, so I could go back to being myself or something! Just seems pretty daring for Christmas morning! The other photo was taken on Easter 1968. It's my grandmother, holding my cousin, Kim,; my mom, with me standing in front of her; my mom's sister, Peggy, with my cousin Cheryl standing in front of her; and my mom's other sister, Rita. I don't know what was going on with me and Cheryl, but I look a little pissed off. Are there any pictures of me just being cute???

I just wanted to use these to show that this attitude or whatever it is, is nature, not nurture! It's something you are born with. You either have it, or you don't.

Well, it's been a few days...

We've been busy, but nothing exciting. Although Allison and I did go to a flea market on Saturday and that was kinda cool. I got some old photographs and some old books in Spanish and German. Should make for some interesting collages!

Had lunch with Steven today, then went to Hobby Lobby and Michael's...I swear to GOD I don't know what happens to me when I'm in those stores!!! I went into Hobby Lobby looking for silver foil tape ONLY. They didn't have any...only copper as usual...and ended up walking out of there with $30 worth of stuff! Then I went to Michael's because a little package of stuff I got last week got lost somewhere in the vortex. Costs like $3.00. I ended up getting a few other things that I can use for the Artist Trading Cards I'm doing this week for a swap, but seriously thought I would get out of there for under $20. I have NO IDEA how I ended up spending like $65!!! I swear they add some kind of surcharge onto my bill! Seriously people...never let me go in those stores without a guardian! That is just going to have to be my New Year's Resolution.

Steven: I am very sorry! I swear to you, for the next 6 mos., AT LEAST, that I will not go in there without you! So you better get me one of those little ankle things that will shock the shit out of me if I even go in the parking lot...because Michael's has the cutest little 'pasta maker machines' JUST FOR SCULPEY!!! And they are only $24.99!

However, on a better note, I went into Old Navy and didn't spend a dime! I don't think I have ever walked out of Old Navy without buying something. So I've gotta get credit for that!

Oh...and the doc upped my anti-depression meds, so that's good too! But you know what? I just remembered...I think Ethan had an appointment with Dr. Pliszka last week...and we missed it. Better give him a call!

ArtSmith

I have several new posts and pictures on my art blog...click on the title of this post to link over there and check it out! (There is also a link on my sidebar.)

So the kids are back in school...

And everything is back to normal...right? RIGHT??? Yeah, like my life is normal anyway!

So, yesterday was nice...just Claire and I...went to the art store (ok, ok, it's a scrapbooking store, but I don't use the supplies for scrapping. I use them for art. There is a difference! And the scrapbook people don't seem to understand that! The people who work there are always so sweet and nice, and want to know "what kind of layout" I'm doing. I tell them I'm not scrapbooking-which first gets this "what kind of person are you" look from them-and that I am doing mixed media art. Which then gets the "Oh! So you must be the devil!" look from them. So...I call it an art store, because I can't find good art stores like they had in Houston here.)

Anyway, I was talking about something......
Oh yeah, Claire and I went to the art store, Super Target (!), which also means Starbucks (!). Had a great time. Came home and tried some new stuff...I made a collage and then covered it in beeswax. TOO COOL! After I covered it in the wax, I took my heat tool and melted some of the wax off, added more stuff, then more wax, then melted more off...this is a great piece. Well, I had a lot of fun making it, so it looks great to me. I worked on it for about 4 hours and had no clue that it was 9:00 pm until Steven came out to the garage to check on me because Claire was afraid the coyotes were going to get me! lol!

Problem is, I just started it out on a piece of watercolor paper, because I was just playing around and experimenting. Now I'm trying to figure out how I can mount and hang it!

In other news...Ethan brought home a speech 'report card' that claims he has mastered like 86% of the goal of being able to say his R's. Ummm, hello? Sure, if you are sitting with him and ask him to say "read", maybe he can do it. But have you heard him talking in real life?!? "Read"="weed" and "Run, rabbit, run!"="Won, wabbit, won!" I don't think he has a 'B' in R's. lol!

And Allison...oh, the hormones! I know it is only beginning, but please, God, let this go fast! Well, maybe not fast...she can stay a kid for a while...but smoothly! Please let it go smoothly! Oy!

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a year of health and happiness!
Love you all!
Lauri

*We now return to the 'Monk' Marathon on the USA Network*