"what i've said, that will i bring about & what i've planned, that will i do." isaiah 46:11
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Saturday, December 29, 2007

- ANOTHER HOMECOMING -

it's so fun to attend these homecomings & we were blessed with the opportunity to attend another (37 so far for us!) - it's good to see any child come home, but when they arrive happy, healthy & bright eyed, it's far better & that's how this little one arrived tonight (midnight!) - i'm so happy for the family & for their family being complete for now (hehe)

Thursday, December 27, 2007

- TRYING SOMETHING NEW -

here's my niece katie singing, "mary had a little lamb" (you'll have to turn my blog music off to listen to this video - the blog music's located on the lower left side of my blog towards the bottom)

- VIDEOS ON BLOGS -

how do you all do that? - i've taken video on our video camera (uses memory chips), have downloaded them onto my puter, can pull them up to view them & everything, but can not for the life of me get them to download onto my blog (by clicking on the 'add video' button when i'm posting a post) - what am i doing wrong?? - thanks ahead of time for all the smart people who'll respond & help me out!!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

- CHRISTMAS MORNING AT OUR HOUSE -

dustin, brittan, kiara, karleigh, megan, ruby (back behind megan) & katie
dustin & brittan
dustin/railing, brittan, kiara, karleigh, ruby, megan & katie
brittan & dustin
nana, doing what she does best... passing out snacks! (kiara & karleigh)
kiara & megan going what they do best... 'snooping'!
brittan, doing what she does best... looking pretty
ruby, kiara, karleigh, megan (& rusty too!)
sharon & katie
katie & nana
ruby getting a polly pocket carwash
brittan & her jewels
karleigh with a dress she'd gotten from barbara
kiara dressing polly pocket dolls (man, those things are tiny)
here's some pictures from last night & also from this morning as the girls opened their gifts - they got everything from dolls, candy, dora camping tent, robes, books, cd's, leapsters, etc. & seemed to love just about everything - kiara's most favorite thing was the polly pockets as she's been playing with them all morning since they were opened - ruby's favorite was her leapster & her dolly that santa gave her - karleigh loves her leapster, but HATES one of her items & will walk all the way on the other side of the room, just to get away from it & what is this item you may be asking... A PEN! - it's apparently very scary as she's petrified at the sight of it - below's a picture of the pen in question & next is a picture of karleigh's face when she sees the pen (how funny!)
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Monday, December 24, 2007

- OFF & RUNNING -

yes, it's started - last night we took the girls out to see christmas lights, stopping at mcd's for dinner (i know... nutritious) - we got up this morning & now brittan & i are on our way to get barbara at the airport - she brought another child to their family last night & i talked to that family this morning & man, what a neat christmas gift that was! - we're heading to dad/mom's tonight for dinner/get together & then it's home to get the bear cubs into bed - i'll post more later & remember, with us getting together with family, i WILL be posting pictures later!!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

- MY INHERITANCE -

well, i was thinking about what i was going to blog about today & while talking to my dad on the phone (yeah, you remember mr. sweet wienie himself), i thought of it! - i'd share with you all what my dad's leaving me as my inheritance (no, he's not gravely ill, no bad dr. reports, etc.), but give me a few minutes & i'll share with you what i'm talking about
`
dad, for many years (& for no real reason) has collected things - he's got several dressers FULL of 'stuff' - nothing like old antique jewelry (wow, i'd love that!), or lots of $ (yep, i'd love that too), old memorable things from my ancestors (how nice would that be), nope, he collects nothing like any of this - he says what he's got's much better than all of this - "what could it be?", you might ask
`
happy meal toys (from mcdonalds, burger king, wendy's, etc. & yes, he's been known to drive from one fast food joint immediately to another just to get another toy that looks different than the one he just received - he'll go to these places to eat & will order himself a happy meal JUST FOR THE TOYS! - my bear cubs don't even ask for happy meals EVER as they'll say, "no, we don't want happy meals coz papaw takes our toys!", how sad's that!
`
we went on vacation last year with the caswells & dad called one day right as we were heading to grab a bite to eat & he talked all of us (11 of us total) into getting happy meals at mcdonalds just so he could have all the toys! - here we'd 6 kiddos with us & as they were eating their chicken nuggets, they were watching 'their' toys being loaded into a bag for mr. wienie)
`
we bought the girls hot wheels recently for them to play with in the car - a couple days later we'd stopped by dad/moms house to visit & when they were loading back up to head home, they were showing dad (from a distance), 'their cars' - dad (happily) said, "wow, that's neat, can papaw see that?" - instantly all 3 of them hid their cars behind their backs so as to not 'loose them' - (sidenote: i don't want anyone to think he's mean about it, he doesn't just take the items & leave them with nothing, he's good at 'swapping with them' for something else (ie: snack, hug, kiss, etc.), so i guess in the long run, they all make out fine with what they end up with)
`
other 'hot items' he chooses to collect are: pee wee herman dolls from garage sales, little stuffed animals that are small enough to fit into your palm, matchbox cars/hot wheels (not old ones either!), boxes & bags that these 'treasures' all came in, anything/everything that's plastic, i kid you not!
`
i keep telling him that this' what he used to make fun of other people for doing - this what old people do & that he needs to stop - it's at this time he laughs (he thinks this' all so funny) & says, "awww, c'mon lori, you know you're going to get this all when i'm gone - i'm really just doing this all for you - just look at it as your inheritance!" - well, as a big sister to 2 younger siblings, i think i'm willing to pass my 1/3 over to them to split - aaron, madisyn, it's all yours!!
`
CLARIFICATION: all items listed above are for the pleasure of aaron & madisyn, my dear sweet siblings to do with what they want, but if there's ever any old jewelry, $, memorable things from my ancestors, etc., then i'll for sure want my share, so c'mon mr. wienie, collect those items, will ya!!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

- OUR DAY & A KARLEIGH(ISM) -

whew is all i can say - i began wrapping gifts this morning, took a break mid day to run 2 errands, then eat lunch with the girls (spike was gone to the funeral showing with all 3 of his siblings - we stayed home to get 'caught up') - i then went back to wrapping & i can honestly say, i've wrapped sooooo much today, i'm for sure someone will want to make a cd of me - i'm happy to announce though, that i'm done shopping, done thinking about shopping, done wrapping, done thinking about wrapping & have everything put under (et hmmm... around/next to) our tree - i've even helped the bear cubs wrap their gifts for daddy - yeah... i'm done!
`
on a lighter (et hmmm... stickier note) a funny karleigh(ism) happened today while she was wrapping daddy's present (she bought him bubble gum - hehehe) - i thought i saw her do something this' how the conversation went:
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mommy: karleigh, what'd you do?
`
karleigh: (acting shy) um, picked my nose
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mommy: & then what'd you do?
`
karleigh: (with eyebrows raised as it she was going to 'inform' me of something i didn't know) i licked it!
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mommy: YOU'RE KIDDING ME!
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karleigh: (with eyebrows still raised VERY high as if so 'share' more of her knowledge) yeah, jacob at my preschool said if you don't have a tissue YOU CAN JUST LICK IT... SO I DID! (smiling as if so proud of herself as if she'd done something wonderful!)
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mommy: (looking disgusted) don't do it again, k?
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karleigh: (looking depressed) alright, i'll tell jacob we just need to keep a tissue with us all the time... 'just in case'
`
(thanks jacob!)

- THE MOM BEFORE CHRISTMAS -

twas the night before christmas,
when all thru the abode,
only one was stirring,
& she was cleaning the commode...
`
the children were sleeping,
all snug in their beds,
while visions of nintendo & barbie,
flipped through their heads...
`
the dad was snoring,
in front of the tv,
with a half finished bike,
propped on his knee...
`
so only the mom heard,
the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh,
'now what's the matter?'...
`
with toilet bowl brush,
still clutched in her hand,
she descended the stairs,
& saw the old man...
`
he was covered with soot,
which fell when he shrugged,
"oh great", muttered the mom,
"now i've to clean the rug"...
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''ho ho ho!", cried santa,
"i'm glad you're awake,
your gift was especially,
difficult to make"...
`
thanks santa, but all i want,
is some time alone,
"exactly!", he chuckled,
"so, i've made you a clone",
`
"a clone?", she muttered,
"what good is that,
run along, santa,
i've no time to chat"...
`
then out walked the clone,
her identical twin,
the same hair, the same eyes,
tha same double chin...
`
"she'll cook, she'll dust,
she'll mop every mess,
you'll relax, take it easy,
& she'll do the rest"...
`
"fantastic!", the mom cheered,
"my dream's come true!,
i'll shop, i'll read,
i'll sleep a night through!"
`
from the room above,
the youngest did fret,
"mommy! come quickly,
i'm scared & i'm wet"...
`
the clone replied,
"i'm coming sweetheart,
"hey", the mom smiled,
"she sure knows her part"...
`
the clone changed the small one,
& hummed her a tune,
as she bundled the child,
in a blanket cocoon...
`
"you're the best mommy ever,
i really love you"
the clone smiled & sighed,
"& i love you, too"...
`
the mom frowned & said,
"sorry santa, there's no deal,
that's MY child's love,
she's trying to steal"...
`
smiling wisely santa said,
"to me it's clear,
only one loving mother
is really needed here...
`
the mom kissed her child,
& tucked her in bed,
"thank you santa,
for clearing my head...
`
i sometimes forget,
it won't be very long,
when they'll be too old
for my cradle & song"...
`
the clock on the mantle,
began to chime,
santa whispered to the clone,
"it works every time"...
`
with the clone by his side,
santa said, "goodnight,
merry christmas, dear mom,
you're doing all right"...
`
i just read this on my best friends blog & it really touched me (alright, brought tears even!) - i'm a mother of 5 (wow, that sounds so neat as i've ALWAYS wanted a big family) & 3 of those are small (5, 4 & 3) - i'm exhausted EVERY night when i go to bed (or should i say every morning as i never... literally never... get to bed before 2am) - then i wake at 6am to get the first one (ruby) off to school (visiting with brittan all the while, before she goes off to school), then it's the next ones turn (kiara) at 7am to get her off to school, then it's the next ones turn (karleigh) at 8am to get her off to school - we then start the routine backwards as i travel around picking everyone up (side note: anytime anyone needs a ride from one side of town to the other, let me know as i can transport you with no problem at all for free, as i travel this route many times a day) - i rarely ever get to sleep from 2am - 6am without an interruption - it's either someone's wet & their sheets need changing, someone needs to pee (so as to NOT get wet) or ruby's standard 'visit' where she calls me VERY loudly for me to run wildly through the house (yep, it's a sight) for her to finally get to her - i'll sign, "what" & she's sign, "i love you... i need a hug... i'm going to sleep" - it drives me crazy as i'd love to sleep my short 4 hours uninterrupted, but.............. then i read things like what's written above & know that one of these days she'll not need a hug in the night or feel the urge to share with me yet 1 more time that it's 4am & she's going to sleep - it's at that time i think, "lori, what's a few more years of interrupted sleep for those 'visits in the night' that'll one day mean more than i can say - i look at it this way, we're just making memories!!

Friday, December 21, 2007

- A CHRISTMAS DIVORCE -

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York a week before Christmas & says, "I hate to ruin your holiday season, but I've to tell you that your mother & I are divorcing - forty-five years of misery's enough". "Dad, what are you talking about?" the son asks. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer", the father says. "We're sick of each other & I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago & tell her. Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced", she shouts, "I'll take care of this". She calls Phoenix immediately & screams at her father, "You're NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back & we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing" & hangs up. The old man hangs up his phone & turns to his wife. "Okay", he says, "they're coming for Christmas & paying their own way"!

- OUR UPCOMING DAYS -

just wanted to share what's we're going to be doing over the next few days - spike & i went shopping for all the 'last minute things' this evening - we're now done (we think) - we're taking all 4 girls out tomorrow night as they'll be buying for us & brittan will be buying for all her siblings - then on saturday we've got a funeral showing to attend out of town (spike's uncle) so we'll be traveling to/from on saturday - we've got church on sunday, brittan will work the 4y old class & kiara's got a christmas program, then it's home to begin (yes, i've not even started) wrapping gifts UGH - on monday (christmas eve), we've got to pick barbara up at the airport at 12:20pm, then we'll be heading to my parents where we'll enjoy christmas with my side of the family (barbara, my parents, my brother & his wife, 2 of their girls (5y & 3y), us & our 5 children & whatever friends stop by) - we'll then head home late to catch some sleep, then it's up in the morning on tuesday (christmas) around 7:30-8 to spend the morning with our kids (all 5 of them!) - we'll then all get ready & it's off to grandmas house where there will be tons of people (barbara, spike's mom, spike's 3 siblings, their spouses, their 8 children, their spouses, their 12 grandchildren children, us & our 5 children, my parents & whatever friends stop by) - we're then off to take barbara back to the airport so she can head out to visit her daughter in NY for a few days before heading back to haiti to get 'more kiddos out'! - so maybe on wednesday we can... rest?? *wink* (angela, when we planning on getting together??)

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

- CHECK OUT OUR FAMILY -

either click on this link or copy paste it into your search bar & check out our family - the first link's spike, myself, dustin & brittan & then the other link's kiara, ruby & karleigh - we're lookin' good, don't ya think?
`

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

- NEW PICTURES OF MADISYN & LOUDNIE -

these were taken by a friend of ours just last week - how sweet they both look!! thanks bob for taking them & passing them along so quickly!!

- THE HOSPITAL WINDOW -

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives & families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they'd been on vacation. Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he'd pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened by all the activity & color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks & swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color & a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes & imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days & weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arri ved to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who'd died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened & called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch & after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who'd described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind & couldn't even see the wall. She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Monday, December 17, 2007

- ELLLLLVIS & the chick monks -

we took all the girls to see this movie tonight & it was so cute - they all had a blast as did we - when you ask kiara what we went to see, she yells, "ELLLLLVIS & the chick monks!" - the entire movie she kept asking, "is that elvis??" - it's so funny how they can hear something & it sounds so different than what was really said

- KARLEIGH'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM -

here's karleigh's christmas program & she'd such a wonderful time - up to that night, she'd told me that her class was NOT doing any christmas song & was NOT doing any songs with hand movements (hehe) - she's so funny! - after the program i asked her about why she told me that & she said, "oh mommy, i was just teasing" - isn't she adorable!!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

- THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN -

the other day i was on my way to moms house & i'd just gotten a new camera & so i decided to take some pictures - it was snowy & all, but i drove by the house where i remember growing up - we moved there just before i started school & lived there for a few years, until we moved into the 'big house' where my parents still live - just thought i'd share!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

- GOT ANY WIENIES?? -

well, he's at it again - my dad's gotta stop as he's very embarrassing to all that's around him when he begins saying the things he's been saying - not long ago, my parents were at the supermarket & mom overheard dad saying this to the man at the meat counter - dad said, "excuse me sir, but can you show me your all beef wienies" - mom quickly grabbed him & out the door they went - we've all be telling him that they're hot dogs, not wienies!!! - then, this past week, he called as he was on his way home from work (he delivers parts for an auto company) & said that he was so thrilled as that particular day, he had the short route (one he normally doesn't have) - he said that when he has this route, he stops at a local restaurant & eats lunch - he said, "yeah, i pull up there & yell into the speaker, i want some of your sweet wienies!!" - i said, "dad, you didn't!" - laughingly, he said, "yes, that's what they are" - he said they're coney dogs with a sweet sauce, but that he calls them sweet wienies - i said, "then why don't you say coney dogs with the sweet sauce?" - he just laughed - he grew up in a family where they called them wienies & he's one that apparently won't break tradition
`
so if you're ever out & there's a man asking to see people's sweet wienies or asking for his own all beef wienie, please load him into your vehicle & bring him home to me - see what i've had to grow up with all my life!!!