Mewsings of the Catlady

Homework helper

2009-04-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

I sure love my kids! Punkin wanted to help me at the computer today. I told her I was doing homework and I didn't think she could help. She insisted she could, and would be a very good helper. "Punkin, thank you, but I have to write an essay and I just don't know how you can help me with that." "But mom, there is the 's' and there is the 'a'", she said pointing to my keyboard. "I can push the 's' for you!"

"A" my name is.....

2009-02-11T20:54:00.001-08:00

We were in the car driving home from running some errands. The four girls were with us, and Boo asked Peach to play a game with her. They started the alphabet game. Peach started with "A" my name is Allie, and I like apples and alligators. Boo said "B" my name is... and before she could finish Little Cat broke in, "No! Your name is 'Peach'!" Peach tried to hush her, "I know, honey, thanks." Boo had finished and Peach was up next, "C" my name is Cora and I like... "NO! Your are not Cora! Your name is Peach!" I'm just laughing in the front seat. Peach tried again... "We are just playing a game sweetie" This continued through the alphabet until about N. I hear, very loudly, "Your name is PEACH!" Peach finally said, Okay... my name is Peach... to which Little Cat replied, "I just trying to help you, Peach." It was so commical.

Moral of the story.... don't play alphabet games with a two year old who knows she's right.

Martin Luther King Day

2009-01-24T21:53:00.000-08:00

January 19th was Martin Luther King Day. I remember when my goober son was in kindergarten, he came home from school and said "We don't have school on Monday!" I asked him if he knew why he didn't have school on Monday, grasping at a teaching moment. He said simply, "Yeah... some black guy died and they closed down the school." I had nothing to say to that, I just shook my head. (We did talk about it later...) Well, fast forward 16 years, and now his little sister Boo is in kindergarten. The Friday before MLK day, she too announced, "Guess why we don't have school on Monday." I said, "why don't you just tell me." She said "Okay, the king died so we don't have to go to school." I asked her, "the King?" She said she didn't know what he was a king of, but he was a king over something... she just didn't know where his kingdom was. Like brother like sister?? Well, I have two left to go to school, so we'll see if the understanding gets any better.

Learning Time

2009-01-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

Boo has been practicing telling time with a standard clock face. She can easily read the numbers of the digital clock, but she is getting really good at telling time the "old fashioned" way. Today she came in to me and said, "Mom, it is so WAY past our bedtime! It's 11:30." Totally confused I glanced at the clock and smiled, "No, Boo... it is 5 minutes to 5. But if your tired......"

What will they say next?

2009-01-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

Little Cat loves to pretend she's a cat (hence the nickname). She'll crawl around on her hands and knees meowing, and 'paw' at you until you reach down and pet her or scratch behind her ears and say things like "oh... good kitty." Punkin gets in the action and we end up with two kitties running around our apartment (even though we aren't allowed to have pets). Occasionally, they are dogs, but usually only after watching 101 Dalmations or something. Luckily, Little Cat will announce "I'm Pongo" so I know she's a dog not a cat. The other day the two were at it as usual, and I guess Boo had had enough. She said "I don't want to play cats and dogs today, can't we just pretend I'm allergic to pets?" I had to laugh. Sometimes you just don't know what they are going to say next.....

Merry Christmas

2008-12-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy with finals and getting the family ready for our holiday vacation that I haven't blogged in forever. We are leaving (today actually) for a week at Wolf Creek in the mountains. We rented a condo for this week. We'll set up the Christmas tree and play in the snow and watch the deer and just relax for a week. (Well, that's the goal...)

I do want to wish family, friends and everyone a very Merry Christmas. My family and friends are so important to me. I don't usually send Christmas cards, but I'm going to start. I want to stay in touch with people more than I do now. I've lost touch with so many good friends that I wish I was still close too.

Have a happy holiday!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

2008-11-15T03:19:00.000-08:00

My husband teases me about my "Rudolph Rant." In fact, whenever I get ranting about anything else, he will 'cough' into his hand 'rudolph' to let me know I'm on one. My older two children know my feelings about Rudolph but I've kept it from my younger children, not wanting to spoil the innocence of Christmas.

The Rant: If Rudolph was made as people instead of animals, it would never be shown. This is a story about a child born to proud expectant parents. When they discover that their precious baby has a deformity, they are ashamed of him. They try to hide his deformity and are ashamed of what he has or who he is. When the truth comes out, none of his friends are allowed to play with him anymore. Even the revered ruler of the community is ashamed of him and bans him from participating with others. It doesn't matter what his abilities are, he is ostracized by the community. In shame, he runs away. After running away, he realizes his own worth, and maintains his good heart. He returns home, and finds that his parents have gone looking for him. He has to rescue them. Then, the community begrudgingly accepts him until they realize they can use his deformity for their own benefit. Suddenly he is a hero. Putting aside his own feelings, Rudolph saves the day because it is for the good of children everywhere. I think it is selfish and mean and an awful show.

The other day, Punkin and Little Cat had watched Frosty the Snowman about 10 times. Over and over and over and over again, I had to endure the music of Frosty the Snowman coming from the playroom. Finally, I suggested, let's watch something else. I put in Rudolph (it came in a set of Christmas movies... I wouldn't have bought it on its own). I went back into the living room to fold laundry. After 10 minutes or so, Punkin comes running out just sobbing. It was such a broken hearted cry, I was sure that Little Cat had taken her beloved Rufus or something. "Honey! What is it? What's the matter?" I pulled her onto my lap and tried to comfort her. After her sobbing had subsided somewhat she said. "I don't like that movie. They were so mean to Rudolph and he runned away. That was so mean. They were rude to him and Santa was mean. I don't like that mean Santa. Rudolph was all alone and runned away!" She started crying all over again. I sat in thought for a moment. I was going to have to defend Rudolph. I tried to tell Punkin that Rudolph was okay, and he comes home and everyone says sorry, and he gets to lead the sleigh, but she didn't buy it. She told me should would never watch that movie again. After sitting quietly on my lap for a few minutes as I ran my fingers through her hair, she looked up at me and said "Can we watch Frosty again?"

When I told my husband about it later, he actually laughed. He said "Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"

The Icky Sickies

2008-11-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

Both Punkin and Little Cat have colds. Punkin's is worse. She sounds so croupy at night. Her nose is so stuffy she can't breathe, and she wakes up crying. She was sitting with her dad and me at about 1 in the morning, and she told dad "My nose is so full of boogers I can't breave". It was funny and sad at the same time! Poor little Punkin. I hate it when my kids are sick. They both have fevers today, but at least they are not really really high, and come down with ibuprofen. I guess it is just that time of the year. I hope Boo doesn't get it, but I think that is just wishful thinking.

Halloween Festival

2008-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Boo's school had a Halloween Festival. Boo and Punkin dressed up as scarecrows, and Little Cat was, well, a little cat. They had a ball. The school did a good job. There was a spook alley, crafts, cotton candy, games and lots of fun things all around.

Winter is on the way... or is it?

2008-10-22T06:47:00.001-07:00

Boo had to get out her new winter coat (compliments of Grandma!) to wear to school today. She has been wearing a hoodie or light jacket. It was 27 this morning (and felt like 19) when she had to leave for school. It is so weird because just three days ago we turned the AC back on because it was in the seventies and too warm inside. Next week it will be in the 70s again. What yoyo weather we are having. A couple of Saturdays ago, it actually snowed a little bit. The mountains are nicely topped with white tips, but that is as far as it goes. I don't want snow in the valley for a little while yet. I like the mild weather of fall, and it seems like it just got here. I'm not ready for the freezing temperatures. One more month of mild would be nice. It can get freezing by the end of November. Is that too much to ask? By then I'll be ready for the snow.

Oh.... and here's an unrelated shocker... gas was below 3.00 per gallon yesterday. I saw it for 2.97. Six months ago it was 4.+. Yeah!!

Fall Leaves!!

2008-10-13T07:52:00.001-07:00

I love the fall leaves!! I'm glad my little girls do to. Their big sister Peach took them out this weekend and they made big piles of the fallen leaves. Actually, most of the trees in the area haven't even turned yet. I love the time of year when everything is in color. The mountains are all in fall colors, and it is beautiful to go look at. Here in the valley, they are just beginning. It actually snowed this weekend, so the cold snap should bring the color out. When I was a child and lived in New England, we have marvelous falls. We had a lot of trees in our yard and I remember raking and raking leaves. We would have piles so big, and it was the best fun to run and jump into them. We stuffed scarecrows, and had bags and bags of leaves for the trash. I loved the maple leaves. They were the most colorful of all. Those memories of playing in the fall leaves are some of my best. It is a wonderful time of the year. I love the pumpkins out and the crispness in the air. There was a place in Massachusetts that we went to called Atkins. The place was big like a barn. To a child it was huge. It smelled like apples and pumpkin pie and maple syrup. There was a huge vat and they would actually make their own maple syrup from the maple trees in the area. I thought it was incredible and wonderful. I loved going there. It was one of my favorite places to go. We usually would get a small piece of maple sugar candy as we left, usually in the shape of a leaf. That was our treat. I remember the smells vividly even though I haven't been there in 30 years. We may not have an Atkins market, but we do have corn mazes, apple groves, pumpkins and plenty of fall leaves. I'm glad of that. When we lived in Texas, the leaves didn't really change color. Fall was missing. I hated that. Fall is my favorite time of the year. I'm glad it is finally here, and I'm doubly glad my girls can enjoy it like I always did. Bring on the leaves!

I'll skip 4

2008-10-06T20:30:00.001-07:00

Punkin has been having an adjustment to her big sister Boo going to kindergarten. She misses her during the day and tells her so when Boo gets off the bus in the afternoon. Punkin even walks around with her backpack and talks about when she is going to get to go to school too. I told her she has to be five before she can go to school. She asked if that was her next birthday. I said, next summer, you'll turn four. Then you have to wait another whole year before you turn five. She thought for a moment and in all seriousness said, "I'll just skip four, okay mommy?"

Thursday Thirteen 10/2

2008-10-02T07:26:00.001-07:00

Cat Lady's Thursday Thirteen

I decided to do thirteen things I'd rather be doing than going to school today. I have a midterm in Economic History, and I'm seriously struggling with studying for it. There are at least 100 things I'd rather be doing.

1. Sleeping. Does anyone get enough sleep?

2. Shopping. I need a new black dress. I could spend all day looking for one

3. Reading. I have three new books that are calling me and they are all more interesting than Economic Historty from 1600 - present.

4. Playing outside with my kids. I love this weather!!! I could play outside all day

5. Re-arrange my living room. I'm not really into rearranging, but it is getting old. I need to move the couch and the chairs and, well, just re-arrange everything

6. Go for a drive. The leaves are changing in the mountains and it is so beautiful.

7. Have lunch with my honey. He's at work, but I could go have lunch with him!!

8. Clean my room. Trust me... this is far better than Economic History

9. Go to the zoo with my daughter's kindergarten class. This should be number 1. If I had the day off, I would SO go with them to the zoo. How fun would that be!!

10. Scrapbook. I love it, and never have the time to do it anymore.

11. Make Boo some pj pants. I bought the cutest High School Musical fabric to make her some pj pants, I just have to find the time.

12. Practice the music for choir. We sing in a week and a half and I really need to practice.

13. Play on the internet... which is sort of what I'm doing. LOL I really need to get off my butt and get to class.

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I need a real fairy godmother

2008-09-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

Punkin has a stuffed dog that she loves more than life, I think. She takes it everywhere, and can't sleep without it. Her "rufus" is her favorite thing ever. She even takes it into the bathroom with her. I hate to think of what would happen if we ever lost it. Actually... one day we did sort of lose it. We couldn't find it and she called me at work crying because Rufus ran away. She was so distraught. I tried to console him over the phone, but she could not be comforted. When I got home we looked and looked. Finally, Rufus was found in the drawer with the craft stuff. Apparently, she put him in there when she took some coloring books out. She was so delighted to see him again. Several weeks later she told me (in all seriousness) "Mom, I need a real fairy godmother." I replied that I did too. She said "No, mom. I really need a real fairy godmother. I need Rufus to be made into a real dog because he just loves me SO much." It was so sweet. I really hope Rufus stays around for a long time because I don't think Punkin is going to be ready to part with him anytime soon. And... if anyone has ever read the Velveteen Rabbit... I think Rufus will definitely be a real dog one day.

Kindergarten

2008-09-23T19:01:00.001-07:00

Boo started kindergarten on the 5th. To say she loves it is an understatment. Every day she comes home so excited. She gets homework once a week, and she is disappointed that there isn't more to do. I love that she is so excited. She is starting to read words on billboards, at the grocery store, and in magazines around the house. It is so wonderful to watch her excitement over learning. Her teacher is really good with the kids. I think it would take a lot of patience to teach kindergarten. I hope the love of learning lasts a good long time... hopefully forever. I'm in school myself, and I still love it. I love learning new things. There are so many interesting subjects in the world. I hope all my kids can enjoy school as much as they do in kindergarten!

Stranger Danger

2008-04-01T22:58:00.001-07:00

There was an Amber alert in our city today for a missing 7 year old girl. She was a cute little girl with long dark hair and big dark eyes. I ached for the little girl and I ached for the family. I thought of my own daughters and how I would feel if anything ever happened to one of them. It would be unbearable.

When I got home from school, I asked Boo what she would do if a man came up to her when she was playing outside and asked if she would help him find his lost puppy. He may even have a picture of his cute little puppy and he may even be crying because he was so sad he lost his puppy, I told her. What would you do? Her answer is every mother's fear. "I would help him find his puppy because it would be really sad, and I wouldn't want him to be sad or his puppy to be lost." She has seen the video "Too Smart for Strangers". I know we've talked about not talking to strangers, and running away if someone tries to get you to come with them, but somehow the big message was missed. So... we talked again. Next week I'm going to have the same conversation. And the week after that. And I'm going to talk with Punkin, and as soon as I think she knows what I'm saying, I'll talk with Little Cat, too. I'm going to keep talking. I'm going to make sure they know.

At the same time, I want them to be compassionate, caring daughters with empathy and concern for others. It is hard for a five year old to draw a line between helping someone who really needs it and not helping someone because they are only asking so that they can hurt you. I have tried to explain that helping her friends when they are outside is okay... or helping someone when mom or dad says its okay... is okay. I hope she understands.

I never want to know the heartache and dispair of knowing that your child is gone. I hope they find this missing little girl. I hope she is okay and I hope her father will get to hold her again soon.

T13 5/17

2007-05-17T01:33:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things that matter the most.

I've been feeling rather blue lately. I know it has to do with the fact that my husband has been out of work for so long. We ran out of savings a long time ago, and we are having some trouble. I've been trying to stay positive, but there are days where I feel like crying (and often do). I know that I have a lot of blessings, and a lot to be thankful for. I am rich in ways other than money. When I'm feeling lowest, I think of the things that matter most to me, and I always know that I have what truly matters.

1.... My family My husband is a gift beyond belief. He is honest, loyal, and honorable. He loves me totally and completely, and is always looking out for me. I love him more than I ever felt possible. I've never been happier than I am with him. My children are my joy. I have been blessed with five wonderful children. They each have their strengths and differences, yet they each bring with them an incredible spirit, and they fill my sould with joy. This makes me rich beyond measure.

2.... My church I know who I am, why I am on this earth, and where I am going when this earth life is through. I am truly blessed to know that God, my Heavenly Father, loves and knows me personally, as does his son Jesus Christ. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ I have the means to be forgiven for my mistakes and to one day return to live with my Heavenly Father and my family for eternity. This makes me rich beyond measure.

3.... My home I have a modest three bedroom apartment that I wouldn't have chosen by itself, but I am really glad that I have it. I overlook a courtyard with a playground, and every day all the moms sit in lawn chairs under the shade of the trees there and watch our children playing together. We talk and laugh and share problems with each other. We talk about everything from current events to what's for dinner. How rich and fulfilling that is.

4.... My friends A person is truly rich who has friends. I know that when in need, I have certain people I can call on. I have true friends who love me in spite of our differences, and they know that the feeling is mutual. I would do just about anything for my friends. I am a loyal friend for life. I have friends I've known for 27 years now. We don't need to talk every day to know our friendship is secure. True frienships are worth their weight in gold.

5.... We don't go hungry I may not be able to serve lobster for dinner, but my kids wouldn't eat that anyway. We have food to eat and I'm thankful for it. My cupboards are full and my freezer is too. I don't have to worry about whether there is enough food for dinner. Many families do. Many families don't have enough to feed everyone. Some children go to bed hungry at night and wake up hungry in the morning. I can go right now to the fridge and have a snack if I want. I can sit here and plan tomorrows dinner, and have multiple options. I don't have that worry on my mind. To me, this is something to be truly thankful for.

6.... We are warm, safe and dry I go to bed each night in a soft bed with my pillow and blankets, after tucking my children in to their beds. We are dressed in pjs. The air conditioner/heater is on, (depending on the season) the house is cool when it is hot outside, and warm when it is cold outside. I don't worry about the rain coming down and dripping inside my home. I don't worry about predators coming in and harming us. I sleep peacefully knowing all is well. Tomorrow there are many options for what to wear. I don't have to wash our only outfit at night to wear again the next day. We don't have to sleep on the floor. We have clean running water for hot showers and cold drinks. What a blessing that is!

7.... My country I live in a country where I feel safe. I don't worry about what I am writing and if it is being read by the government. (If it is, it is just one more hit on my blog, yeah!) I can say what I want and it is okay. If I want to move to another state, I can. I can go to work as I please, and do as I please. I don't hear gunfire from my home. I don't see men in army uniforms patroling our streets with machine guns. I don't see homes and business destroyed by artillary. To me, this is worth a lot. What a blessing.

8.... My health I may not be 100% healthy, I take medicine for my blood pressure, but I enjoy good health. My family is healthy, too. We all can walk down the stairs on two feet, take a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, run, jump, bend over to smell the flowers, see the sunset, hear the birds singing in the trees and enjoy life. How thankful I am that we are not battling cancer, or some other dreadful illness. How thankful I am that we are not weekly, or daily patients at the doctor's office. Common colds and allergies aside, we are a healthy lot. I am so thankful for this blessing.

9.... Sunshine I love the sunshine. I love to watch it coming up in the morning and setting at night. It is so beautiful. I love to play outside with my kids and feel it upon my face. I don't like being incredibly hot, but where I live it is usually mild. It gets hot in late July and then is fine again by late August. Even in the winter, when the snow covers everything, I'm thankful for the sunshine. There are days when the sky is overcast and the rain is coming down, and I sit in my home and watch it rain. I love the smell of the earth after a good rainfall. Then when the sun comes out, I smile. It is like welcoming home an old friend. A simple pleasure I think, but one I am thankful for.

10.. Animals I love animals; I am the Cat Lady afterall. There is something to be said for the stress relief of petting an animal. I love to go into the mountains and look at the wildlife. I have seen deer, elk, wolves, fox, moose, and a variety of small critters. It is wonderful. How empty life would be without them. I look forward in the morning to hearing the birds sing. Animals add beauty and richness to my life.

11.. My talents I may not be able to do everything I want, but I do have my talents. I enjoy reading a good book; I know some who have difficulty learning to read. I can draw, I'm not a renowned artist , but I enjoy it. I love music, and with practice, I could play the piano better. I like to sew, I'm good with kids, I am fairly creative, I can write stories, I can cook; all these are talents. My talents enrich my life, and I'm thankful for them.

12.. Opportunities to serve others The chance to serve others makes a person feel very rich indeed. It may be something as small as bringing dinner to a neighbor who just had a baby, or baking cookies for a family that just moved in next door, but serving others makes me feel good inside. When we are out driving, my husband will often stop to help someone who has broken down on the side of the road. I remember being broken down in Missouri (nothing against people who live in Missouri, lol). I was obviously pregnant, and it was late November. We needed a jump and didn't have cables. Everyone who stopped wanted $10 to give us a jump. We didn't have $10. With disbelief I watched people drive away, leaving us. We ended up spending the night in a broken down van under an overpass in freezing weather. I don't want to live like that. I will gladly help anyone who needs help. I know that no matter what my circumstances, there are people worse off than myself. Sometimes just a smile will brighten someone's day. If you look everyday for some way to give service to others, you will find it, and your life will be all the more richer for it.

13.. My life I am supremely thankful for my life. Through all the troubles and trials I've had, and there have been many, they have shaped me into the person I am today. I am thankful for each new day that I have. Every day brings new opportunities, new surprises, new reasons to smile. At the end of each day, as I kneel in prayer beside my bed, I am thankul for the day, whatever the day brought. Each day is a chance to be with my family and friends. Each day is a chance to tell someone I love them. My life is good. I am rich! When I'm having blue days, it helps to remember it. I may not have money at the moment, but that is temporary. Where it counts, I'm rich.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

I need a vacation

2007-05-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

I need a vacation; a real vacation. Unfortunately, now that my husband is out of work anc can take the time to go somewhere, we don't have the money. Why do vacations cost so much? It should be a break from your everyday life... a chance to unwind and recharge. It doesn't work that way all the time though. I worry about packing everything and do we have enough money, and how am I going to keep the kinds entertained in the car, and when are we going to get there? Then we try so hard to get to see and do everything we can in the time we have that by the time we get home we need a vacation to recover from our vacation!

For the last two years I have given birth during the summer so that we can no go to my husband's family reuinion. Usually that is our only vacation of the year... camping for 4 days in Arizona with his family. I really enjoy my in-laws. We get along great and I love seeing them. I hate sleeping on the ground in a tent. I also don't like to be hot or dirty. You can't help but be dirty when you are camping and you can't help but be hot when you're in Arizona. I always come home tired and cranky from not getting good sleep, and aching from head to toe from sleeping on the ground. I do like being outside, and would enjoy camping more if I had a way to shower, and a comfortable place to sleep at night.

My idea of a great vacation is to rent a hotel on the beach somewhere... sleep in, have brunch, explore the beach, maybe go to an aquarium, swim, enjoy dinner & relax with a movie before bed... after a soak in the tub. Have I EVER had such a vacation?? NO! I would love to go to San Diego and see Sea World, and the zoo, and the wild animal park. I'd love it there... not to hot, nice ocean breezes. I'm not sure when we will be able to afford it, but I dream about it.

My husband and I decided years ago that we would go on an Alaskan cruise for our 10th wedding anniversary. However, it will come when we are both attending school, and it will not be possible for us to go then. It isn't realistic to even think we could pull it off when we are both in school. Now we are saying, maybe when I graduate we can take the kids to Disneyland.

I really don't want to wait four more years for a real vacation! I want one now!! I NEED one now! Now is when life is stressful. I'm overwhelmed thinking about school, student loans, getting unpacked from moving, settling in to our new apartment, when will my husband get another job, how are we going to get the bills paid, can we stall off a few bills one more month?, who will watch the girls when I go back to school this fall?, how are we going to pay for brakes on the Durango when we have no money coming in? I wish I can just pack an overnight bag for everyone and load up the car and just GO. I don't really even care where. I just want a break. I just want to relax, watch a sunset, go on a walk, play, de-stress!!! The problems will still be there when I get back but I will have the reserves to deal with them.

I'll have a real vacation one day. When, I don't know, but hopefully soon. Until then, I'll close my eyes and try to hear the roar of the ocean, smell the salty air, feel the ocean breeze on my face, and the sand between my toes.

Then I'll open my eyes and return to my real life.

T13 5/10

2007-05-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today is my Punkin's 2nd birthday!In honor of my little Punkin, my T13 is thirteen pictures of her. Happy Birthday Punkin!!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!

Being taught by a 4 year old

2007-05-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

This morning, Boo and I were sitting on the couch talking and the room got noticably darker. "What happened mom?" she asked, "it got darker in here." "It is okay," I replied, "the sun went behind a cloud." "Mom," Boo said in her most serious 4 year old voice, "the sun doesn't move, it CAN'T go behind a cloud. Only the clouds move. The clouds would have to move in FRONT of the sun. Actually, that means it will probably rain. When the clouds are dark and they block out the sun, it will probably rain. You have to say the clouds made it darker by moving in front of the sun, not that the sun moved behind a cloud." She actually kind of laughed at the end, like I was SO crazy for what I said. I sat their dumbfounded. SHE'S 4!!! My bigger question is, if she knows all that... WHY DID SHE ASK ME???

Thursday Thirteen 5-3

2007-05-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things that the Cat Lady LOVES to have for dinner

Since we have moved... and it took 10 days to get everything out of the old place and into the new... we have eaten take-out more than a few times. My kitchen is in chaos, as is the rest of the house, as I try to unpack boxes and find a place for everything. We have had one too many ham sandwiches for lunch and dinner!! So with food on the brain... here is my T13

1... Steak and baked potato. This is a great classic meal.
2... Chicken and fetuccini alfredo.
3... Homemade tacos. I make them the way my mother did, and I can't find anything at a restaraunt to compare. I love these things!!
4... Lasagna. My husband can make a pretty good lasagna, but the best by far is at a restaraunt called Johnny Carino's. It is 12 layers of delicious.
5... Chicken and dumplings. Great on a cold night.
6... Corn chowder with or without chicken. I love this soup. My husband likes it with chiken, because, according to him, it isn't a meal without meat in it. I like it without better.
7... Halibut AuGratin. This has to be one of my all time favs. I love halibut and it is fabulous cooked this way.
8... Halibut parmesan. Another halibut dish. This is also a good way to cook tilapia.
9... Lettuce Wraps. Asian Star makes the best I've ever had.
10.. Chicken salad. I love chicken salad that has chunks of chicken, grapes, celery and nuts. It is refreshing to eat on a hot summer day.
11.. Fresh vegetables. My mother used to make red potatoes with a white sauce, fresh green beans out of the garden, and fresh, crisp corn on the cob. Sometimes there were others, but those are my favorites.
12.. Spaghetti. I love a really good plate of spaghetti. I like it with a thick, meaty sauce and grated cheddar cheese on top.
13.. Fall off the bone, bbq ribs. Yum-O
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

On the move

2007-04-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

My Thursday Thirteen post announced we were moving. We are stll moving... and will probably be still moving at the end of this week. Why does it take us so long? It is a good thing we weren't moving cross-country... we had to take two U-haul loads as it was, and we still have a house full of stuff!!! I think about the pioneers and others who crossed the plains to settle out west, pulling handcarts or driving wagons. If I had to load all my stuff into a handcart, I'd be in a world of hurt, not to mention how hard it would be to pull the thing. I think people, in general, have to much 'stuff'. I wanted to downsize a lot of things, and met with more than a little resistance from family members. I just feel that sometimes we put to much emphasis on material things, and not the things that really matter. Moving this week has shown me just how much 'stuff' we have and I have to wonder if we really need all of it. Maybe, just once, I should pack a wagon or a handcart just to see what is really important to me, and what 'stuff' I can do without.

Thursday Thirteen 4-19

2007-04-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things Cat Lady HATES about moving
I am moving today. I decided to do thirteen things I hate about moving. I am going to enjoy my new place, but getting there is a bear!
1... finding enough boxes.
2... sorting through all the accumulated junk.
3... deposits, moving vans and other expenses.
4... packing, packing, packing and more packing
5... trying to pack around three little kids who want to "help" by taking things back out of the boxes.
6... all the heavy lifting. - Sore feet, back & muscles.
7... still doing all the things I have to do in a day like laundry and dinner and dishes and baths while packing, packing, packing.
8... total exhaustion at the end of the day.
9... unpacking at the new place, trying to find a place for everything.
10.. washing all the dishes over again because they have newsprint on them from packing them.
11.. trying to find things when everything is in boxes.
12.. cleaning the old apartment to get my deposit back.
13.. Can I say packing again?????

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Sleep? What is that?

2007-04-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Punkin would not sleep last night. At 3:45 in the morning, I had the thought that she might be getting her two year molars. She was up almost constantly. She would come in my room (I have a crib mattress on the floor by my bed) and then she would get up and go to her room, and then she'd be back and forth and back and forth. I was so tired! She was whiney and crying and I had no idea what was wrong with her. She gets acid reflux, so I gave her some medicine for that... no change. I checked her diaper, gave her a drink of water, nothing could settle her down. She finally went to sleep and I couldn't go to sleep! My head ached, my shoulders ached and I had restless leg. Stressed beyond belief, I woke my husband and told him I was taking a Benadryl to help me sleep, and he would have to get the girls if they got up again. Well, he woke me in the morning when he had to leave and the Benadryl hadn't worn off yet. I'm like a zombie today... I can't wait till nap time!! If it happens again tonight, Punkin is getting a Motrin!

Mundane Monday 04-16

2007-04-16T03:56:00.000-07:00

Today's question at http://mundanemonday.com/ is to list our top five favorite tv shows of all time..... hmmm let's see.

1. These are in no particular order, but the first one to pop into mind is Iron Chef America. I love that show! It is on the Food Network. Come to think of it I like most shows on the Food Network....

2. Trading Spaces. After it first got started, and for a few years, it was wonderful, new, funny and I loved the decorating ideas. After there were a zillion copycat shows like it, it kind of got boring, and the efforts to make it stand out didn't work, but for years, it was my favorite show.

3. Sue Thomas FBEye. This was on Pax. It may show in reruns now. It is based on the real life of a deaf FBI agent, Sue Thomas. It is family friendly and still entertaining and suspensful.

4. Farscape. I liked this show! I hated it when it got cancelled. It was great Sci-Fi. Two of the main characters are now on Stargate SG1, but I don't watch that one as much.

5. The Wonderful World of Disney. Yes, this was a show. It was on Sunday nights when I was a kid and we would watch it without fail. They would show a movie, or something else family friendly and we would watch it together as a family with popcorn or some other treat. Great memories. (... which makes me think of the Muppet Show, but I'm at my five.)

Just Boo & Me

2007-04-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my niece's son turned 1. They were having a birthday party over at her house yesterday evening. Boo has been running a fever for about 3 days, and I didn't think she should go. I've been battling a chest cold so she and I stayed home together while her daddy took the other two girls and went to the party. I knew she felt bad missing the party, as she loves to go to her cousins house, so I rented a movie, grabbed a happy meal, and she and I had a "party night" of our own. We sat in front of the tv eating our hamburgers and watched Cinderella III, a Twist In Time. It was cute... not as good as the original, but I still liked it. Boo loved it, and as soon as it was over, she wanted to watch it again. We had fun, the two of us, and when I heard the car pulling in I was almost disappointed that our "party" was over. When daddy came in with Punkin and Little Cat, everyone started talking then it was time to get everyone ready for bed. I thought about how peaceful it was just sitting with my little Boo and watching a movie and talking girl talk (for a 4 year old, she talks extremely well). I'll have to make a point to do that more often. We often do things as a family, but snuggling with my girl and having our own little party was really, really special. I loved it.

One down!

2007-04-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to C. Pitt @ http://crpitt.blogspot.com I have solved the dilema of the blogroll. Many thanks to her and check out her cool blog!

changes and more changes

2007-04-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

I changed the template for my blog today and lost so much!!! I don't have my rolling T13 box anymore, and can't figure out how to get it back. I also lost the links to my favorite blogs, and some of them I only get to because I linked to them. I really like the new colors and format, but I'm really upset because I lost so much in the transition. When I changed it said that it would keep a copy of my old format, but I also can't seem to figure out how to get back to that one either. Guess I'm stuck with this, and I'll have to make the best of it and figure it out as I go along. Anyone change from the old blogger formatting to the new blogger formatting and have the same problems???

Leaving the Nest

2007-04-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

Peach moved out today. She will be 19 in 2 weeks. I had been out on my own for over a year when I was her age, but her moving out today has really affected me. I miss her. She was really fun to have around. I know I'll still see her, she is only moving across town, but it is more that another of my children is grown and leaving the nest. My oldest two children and I had a special sort of relationship because for a while it was just us. We went through a lot together before I remarried and my wonderful husband adopted them. It is like that part of my life is over. It is hard to let go. She is perfectly capable and ready to be on her own. She is smart and has a good job, and she is ready. I'm not! I'm not ready for her to be grown up! I want her to still be my little girl. I want her to need me to be her mommy! I know in my head I'll always be her mother... but it is different now. I'll just have to get used to it. My kids are growing up. At least I have a long while before I have to go through this again! I'm still hurting now though. It will take time to get used to the idea that she is grown up, and on her own.

Thursday Thirteen 04/12

2007-04-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things about The Cat Lady
I've been away for so long, I thought I should "introduce" myself again.
1... I am glad to be back blogging! I missed it.
2... I have 5 children ages 8 months to 20 years old
3... I am a stay at home mommy and I love it.
4... I am starting college this fall at the University of Utah
5... I work part time as a crisis worker at a youth shelter. I love that!
6... I turn 40 this year... not sure how I feel about that.
7... I miss my best friend who lives too far away to hang out with.
8... I love to draw, write & read.
9... I collect cookbooks. I use them too! I love trying out new recipes
10.. I love to laugh and joke around.
11.. I am totally in love with my husband, who, as far as I'm concerned, is the greatest man in the world!
12.. I like to play dominoes or cards on the computer after my kids go to bed to unwind and relax when I'm stressed.
13.. I have started a "healthier lifestyle" (if I say diet, I'll sabotage myself!) and I'm going to stick with it this time!!!!!!!!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Dinnertime for the ducks

2007-03-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

We live near a river (which looks like a canal, but it is technically the Jordan River). Ducks often come right up the the wrought iron fence around our patio. Punkin loves to feed them bread. They come right up the the fence and calmly wait to be noticed. It is like their own private drive-thru. They back up a little as the almost two year old runs outside yelling "I got bed! (she leaves the second sound out of double consonants) Then she heaves the whole piece over the railing and watches as they fight over it. "More bed!" she yells and in she runs to get another piece. I try to tell her to tear it in pieces, and sometimes she'll tear it in half, but over the railing it goes. She loves it, the ducks love it, and I love watching it. We do go through a lot of bread that way though. Our local bread store will sell a grocery sack full of bread that is "not for human consumption" for $2.00 I am going to have to get some of that just so when the ducks come by on their rounds wanting fed, the good bread gets left in the kitchen. It is almost a daily ritual with those two ducks. Tomorrow though, they might get Cheerios.

My son... the goober

2007-03-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

I talked with my son on the phone tonight. He is in Texas, staying with my brother, while he decides what he wants in life. He will be 20 in 8 days. I thought about where I was at 20. Did I really know what I wanted? By the time I was 20, I already had Gooberboy, and before I was 21 I had Peach. I thought I knew what I wanted, but what I wanted then and what I want now are VERY different. He's making some good choices now, after years of very poor choices, and I am proud of him for that. I want him to find his way and be happy. Some people know early on where their way lies. Some people look for their whole life and never find the path they should be on. My older brother is a great guy and I'm glad he is staying there. If anyone can get through to the Goober, he can. Maybe then I can change his name from the Goober to something a little more grown-up.

Comforts

2007-03-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

It is strange what comforts people and why. When I'm really upset ~ heartache sick ~ I want cheese enchilladas & homemade soft corn tacos. Why?? I have no idea. BUT... it is very comforting. and I always feel better afterwards.

Years ago I had an old flannel shirt that I loved. It was a red plaid and had faded after years of washing. It was a little big on me and the ends of the cuffs were worn and frayed. There were also a few worn spots on the shirt, so I never wore it out anywhere, but I loved it! It was so comforting to get out of a hot bath at the end of a long day and slip that shirt on my damp skin. It hung low in the front and back, but was cut up a bit at the sides in the style of men's dress shirts, not the straight cut that is popular now. Again, I don't know why I loved it so much, or even why it brought me such comfort, but it did. I could put that shirt on after a cry or when I was feeling blue and as the soft flannel enveloped me, so did a sense of calm and peace. I have no idea what happened to that shirt. I wish I did. I haven't seen it in a decade or so.

My 4 year old, Boo, has attached herself to an old blanket. She calls it her "flower blankie" She sleeps with it at night, flowers on the outside, stripes running up and down. Why?? Who knows. I just know she sleeps better when she has it. Would it make a difference if the stripes went cross ways or the flowers were on the inside? It does to her.

There are times in my life when I wish I could eat my cheese enchiladas, snuggle into my old flannel shirt and go to bed with my own "flower blankie". There are times when I'd take comfort any way I can find it just so I can make it through the next day. Luckily those days aren't often. Tonight for some reason, I thought of that old flannel shirt and wished I still had it.

I'm back!

2007-03-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a year, but I'm back! I have been so busy that I neglected my blog. I have decided that I need this as a form of stress relief, so I'm making time for it. My girls are growing so big! Here is my Punkin, Boo, and my Little Cat.
I start college this fall, and we are moving next month. It is going to be busy and hectic, but I'm loving it!

Update

2006-07-03T04:56:00.000-07:00

I have an induction date of July 14! Yeah!!! The end is in sight. I have had terrible sciatica, and am really looking forward to NOT being pregnant anymore. My feet and legs and hands are so swollen that I hurt most of the time. I can't walk very well either. BUT... the end is in sight and soon, very soon, I'll have my little cat and it will all be worth it.

MIA

2006-06-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA for a while. The end of my pregnancies are the hardest. I start having complications. I was on bed rest with punkin for almost 10 weeks. I'm not on bedrest yet, but I have the beginnings of pre-eclampsia. I also have two kids to chase around! I just don't have the time to sit at the computer, and it hurts my legs to sit for very long when I do get a minute. SO... as much as I love blogging, I am taking a sabatical...LOL. I'm going to wait till after my little cat is born and then I'll be back. I have another 5 weeks or so. I'll miss my Thursday Thirteen group, but I'm going to do it again when I can.

Thursday Thirteen 05/18

2006-05-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things about Cat Lady

First off... sorry I didn't post last week. I actually got a little trip away with my hubby. No computer... but I thoroughly enjoyed myself!!

1... I'm pregnant with child #5 (6th pregnancy though)It is another girl.
2... I have one son and will have four daughters.
3... I love being a mommy
4... I recently quit my job so I could stay home with my girls
5... I live in Utah.
6... I love the mountains, but I miss the beach. I wish I could find somewhere that has lots of green trees, mountains to explore, beach to play in during summer, and snow in the winter. That would have everything!! LOL
7... I love to cook. I have a ton of cookbooks, and am always trying new food on my family. They don't seem to mind, thank goodness.
8... I love being married to my husband. He is a wonderful man, and I feel lucky that we are together forever.
9... I've been married twice. My first marriage didn't last long, because he was very abusive. It was long enough, though! Everyone makes mistakes.
10.. I love to read. Books have always been an escape for me. I have 5 bookcases filled to the brim, and boxes of books in storage. I love reading to my kids, too.
11.. I was born in Michigan, and have lived in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas & Utah.
12.. I went to Seattle on my honeymoon. We were there over the 4th of July and we watched fireworks from a ship over the water. It was incredible. We took a ferry to Victoria, BC and stayed overnight there, too. It was one of the best trips we have taken, and I would love to go back.
13.. My religion is really important to me. My relationship with my Heavenly Father is the most important thing. I try every day to be a good example to my children and teach them to choose the right. Each day I try to show kindness and be a good christian by living the gospel that I believe in with all my heart and soul.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen 05/04

2006-05-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons I Love Being a Mommy

1... The smiles of my kids. There is nothing that warms my soul more than to see my children smiling.

2... Hugs and kisses. My three year old, Boo, loves to give hugs and kisses. She says we can't leave the house without hugs, kisses and signs I love you.
3... Laughter. There is so much more to laugh at when you have kids.

4... Rediscovering the world. How often as adults do we forget to stop and watch a bug, or look for pretty rocks as we walk down the sidewalk??
5... Enjoying the simple pleasures. Boo has to stop and smell the flowers EVERY time we leave the house. I can't remember the last time I did that...
6... Teaching and Learning. I love when Boo learns a new song, or recognizes a letter on a billboard and yells A "B" mom! I saw a "B" on that sign!!
7... Achievements. When my children succeed at something they have worked hard for, it makes my heart swell.

8... Playing games. I forgot what it was like to play pretend store, or hide and seek till I had kids again. We stop playing and don't realize how fun it can be as an adult... at least I did. I think all adults should stop and play games once in a while.
9... Tucking my kids into bed at night. After a full day, there is such a simple pleasure in tucking my kids into bed after reading a book and that feeling of completeness.

10... Story time. I have discovered so many great stories that weren't around when I was a kid. I love reading to my kids and watching them obtain a love for books.
11... Watching them grow. I can't believe my son is 19 years old. It seems like I was holding him as a little baby just yesterday. I know that I'll blink and my little Punkin will be graduating high school.

12... Pretending. My daughter Boo loves to pretend. We make up stories and we make up songs and we pretend we are princesses. We pretend to go the store, and we pretend that we are on a boat. The possibilities are endless and life is so much more incredible when I'm pretending and imagining with my children.
13... Pure joy. I can't imagine my life without my kids. It would be so empty. They bring such joy to my life. There aren't words to explain the feelings. My heart is so full it is near bursting, and with each new child, it just expands and life becomes better.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen 04/27

2006-04-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Thirteen of Cat Lady's FAVORITE Movies

We have about 90 DVDs and a few hundred VHS movies... I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do like to watch a movie once in a while. My husband definitely watches more than I do, but I do have the ones I watch over and over again. There are more than 13 for sure, but here are 13 worth noting...

1…A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. - Ok... odd that this is at #1, but I love this movie! It is one of those that gives warm fuzzies every time you watch it. I took it to the delivery room to watch while having Boo and Punkin. I watch it when I'm feeling down and it always gives me a pick-me-up. It's great... and not just for Thanksgiving time.
2... While You Were Sleeping - I can probably recite this movie. Great feel good chick-flick, although my husband loves it as much as I do.
3... The Last of the Dogmen - If you have never seen this movie... WATCH IT!! Fabulous scenery, great story line, well acted... I love it.
4... The Last Starfighter - Old and cheesy, I still love it.
5... The Last of the Mohicans - Another great movie with fabulous scenery. I also love the soundtrack.
6... My Big Fat Greek Wedding - Windex anyone??
7... So I Married An Axe Murderer - Always good for a laugh. "We have a piper DOWN!!"
8... Bed of Roses - Christian Slater is great in this movie.
9... Young Frankenstien - You can't go wrong with Gene Wilder, this movie is hysterically funny.
10. Back to the Future - How can you NOT like this trilogy??
11. Only You - I love Robert Downy Jr., but this is a great story, too.
12. Galaxy Quest - Funny
13. Star Wars - I love the 4-5-6 trilogy better than then the newer 1-2-3. I remember waiting so impatiently to find out what happened to Han Solo. I still enjoy watching these.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Tagged

2006-04-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Chilady. In fact, I was tagged several days ago, but I haven't had two minutes to myself to respond. I'm lucky I got my T13 up. SO....

6 weird things about myself.....

1. I hate shoes with a passion. I will go barefoot in the winter. I take them off to drive, I take them off once I'm at work, and they are off my feet the second I am in the house.

2. When I'm tired, angry, or excited, I speak with a Texas accent. I lived there for 13 years! I can hold my diction most of the time, but it sneaks out when I least expect it.

3. I have a 19 year old son, and I'm pregnant with my 5th child at the same time.

4. I don't like watching TV.

5. I don't like to wear make-up. I wear it for special occasions only. My husband likes it that way though. I actually had a little lipstick on today and when he kissed me he said my lips were sticky... LOL

6. I went to 6 different high schools. It was hard to make and keep friends, but we moved around a lot.

And... I have to tag 6 people. I was going to tag my husband and other family members... but HE got tagged by someone else. Coincidence??? He has more time than I do, so he already tagged the people I would have. That's okay though, I read a lot of blogs. SO... here are my 6 victims.. err... tagees.

1. TigerSue
2. Surrender Dorothy
3. Jen's Horde
4. Island Queen
5. Lisa
6. Treasure of Jewels

Thursday Thirteen 04/20

2006-04-20T01:14:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons Why I'm Glad Yesterday Is O-V-E-R!!!

1…. I went to my OB appt, only to find out it was LAST Wednesday, not yesterday.

2.... When I picked her up, Boo was complaining that her ears hurt.

3.... After 2 calls to the pediatrician, I was told they couldn't see her till tomorrow.

4.... Boo started running a fever, so we decided to go to the Kids Care after-hours clinic.

5... After an hour wait, a doctor with a serious attitude and a nurse that had the bedside manner of a stick... Boo has an ear infection.

6... Did I mention she just had an ear infection??? She only finished the antibiotics Monday night.

7.... My son, the Goober, lost his keys... at a gas station of all places, so we have to run the spare set across town to him.

8.... He decided he couldn't wait for us so he decided to PICK THE IGNITION!!! ????

9.... I have a son with no brain.

10. Once we had the spare set to him, the ignition was BROKEN so the keys don't work anymore.

11. Somehow he also managed to break the spring on the trunk and now it won't close, either.

12. After trying to get it to work for 3 hours, we called a towtruck at 1am, and $110 and another hour later, we have the car home. I didn't really have an extra $110 just laying around doing nothing.

13. It is now almost 2:30 in the morning and I haven't been to bed yet. I have to get up for work at 5:30!! That is in 3 hours!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Finally Spring!!

2006-04-13T21:03:00.001-07:00

It was so beautiful out today! I loved it. It was warm and sunshine and my kids were chomping at the bit to play outside. Punkin loves being outside. We even ate our dinner outside in the sunshine. A pair of ducks came waddling up, (we live by a river) and Boo threw them some old bread. She was so excited that they came right up to the wrought-iron rail around our patio. I love warm spring, early summer days when the weather is warm enough to play outside and have picnics, and go for walks without be so warm that you get heat stroke. The trees are in blossom, the tulips and daffodils are out... it was a beautiful day.

Thursday Thirteen 04/13

2006-04-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

Cat Lady's 13 Favorite Cookbooks

I LOVE cookbooks. I'm always collecting them and have an entire bookshelf in my kitchen devoted to them. I love to cook, and am always looking for something new to try. My husband and family are more than willing to try new dishes. Some of them aren't ever repeated, and some of them become family favorites. Here are a few of my favorites.

1…. Pillsbury One-Dish Meals Cookbook - This is a fabulous cookbook that has page after page of wonderful recipes that are quick and easy, along with nutrition information.

2.... Cooking with the Groundhog - This cookbook used to belong to my grandmother, who is from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania... the home of the groundhog. I know I've found them for sale on E-bay. Good old-fashioned recipes from the Adrian hospital Auxillary, printed between 1958 and 1967... a great classic. (And there is not a single recipe that calls for groundhog!)

3.... The Cake Doctor - Lots of great ideas using a cake mix... and not just for making cakes.

4.... The Betty Crocker Cookbook - A reliable stand-by. I like that it has cuts of meat and how to cook fresh vegetables, as well as substitute charts and basic recipes.

5.... Better Homes and Gardens Potato Favorites - I picked this up at the grocery store check-out line and I love it. Wonderful side dishes instead of the same old mashed potatoes.

6.... Pillsbury Hamburger - Another great cookbook(let) I picked up in the grocery line. When I want something quick and I have hamburger on hand, this is the book I turn to.

7... Fix-It and Forget-It Diabetic Cookbook - This book has great slow cooker recipes that are healthy and tasty, with nutrition information.

8.... The Five Ingredients or Less Cookbook - I bought this from a high school fundraiser and LOVE it. From appitizers to main dishes, vegetables to desserts, this book has quick and easy recipes that my family likes.

9.... Lion House Classics - The most wonderful, best tasting dinner rolls you will ever eat in your entire life. The other recipes are good too, but I would have bought the book just for the dinner rolls. They are in a class by themselves.

10. Star Trek Cookbook - My husband didn't believe me when I told him I wanted this cookbook. He is a Trek fan, and I thought it would be fun to have this book. I love the recipes, and even if I don't cook many of them, it is fun to own.

11. Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook - Another reliable standby with classic recipes and simple, easy to follow instructions.

12. Betty Crocker Casseroles & Slow Cooker Meals - Contains good ideas for after-work dinners that the family will eat. Most are fast and use only basic ingredients.

13. My Cookbook - Probably my most used... my husband bought me a specially designed three ring binder for 5x8 paper. This cookbook is designed with a flap in the back that makes it stand upright, and dividers for different recipe categories. Specifically printed 5x8 paper lets me write down my favorite recipes and keep them in one place. If I find a recipe on the 'net, I can print it and hole punch it and add it to this book. I love the unique design. He found it at a store called Consider the Kitchen, and I've looked online but can't find one that looks like it.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Skittles

3. Lazy Daisy

8. Lifecruiser

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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More birthdays & holidays

2006-04-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

April and May are always hectic. My son turned 19 April 2, and then we have Easter, and coming in May I have Sunflower's 18th birthday on the 1st, which needs to be really special, and Punkin's 1st birthday on the 10th, which needs to be really special. It occured to me yesterday, as I was thinking about Easter, that I have 3 weeks till Sunflower's birthday and only a month till Punkin's. I haven't thought about either one yet. I'm still trying to figure out Easter... and I have 5 days left.

We do Easter a bit differently at our house. I don't like all the candy holidays. Starting in the fall... there is Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Why does each holiday have to have its own candy? I also think religious holidays, like Christmas and Easter, tend to stray to far away from the religious message. So, for Easter, we try to stay clear of the Easter bunny and focus instead on what Easter really is. Easter is a celebration of the greatest gift from God... His son. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ went through, and the resurrection, are the greatest gifts given to man. We celebrate the great and wonderful gifts of God at Easter. We talk about what Christ did for us, and the reason for the holiday. My children also get one gift that celebrates a gift from God. This can be almost anything. When they were little, they got books, coloring books, art sets, craft kits, cross-stitching kits, anything that helped them develop their talents. Our talents are gifts from God. One year we focused on animals, one year they got those inexpensive recorders (flute like instruments) with the music book, one year they got cds of their favorite church/primary music. Everything we have comes from God, and we use this holiday to recognize that, and work at developing the talents and gifts that God has given us. I'm still not sure what we are going to do this year. I'll figure it out in the next day or so. I have a few ideas.

There are a few milestone birthdays that require an extra effort... 1, 5, 8, 12, 16 & 18 specifically. I want to make Sunflower's 18th birthday special. I have no ideas. None. Punkin's 1st birthday will be a little easier. Hopefully it will be warm and we can go to a park and have a picnic, and let her eat her cake. I don't even know what to get Sunflower for her birthday!!! She loves clothes... what teenager doesn't. I just always do that. I want something different... something unique. I'm completely blank... and I'm running out of time.

My last day...

2006-04-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

I turned in my notice to quit working in February. I gave my boss 7 weeks notice, not the normal 2. My last day to work was to be March 31. So... why am I still working?? I have never seen anyone drag their feet so much in hiring. We would interview people who were totally qualified, and there would be just something that didn't connect. I reviewed 253 resumes, and singled out over 70 for interviews. We actually interviewed less than 10. Finally, though, we have extended an offer and a new person will start on Monday... 10 days AFTER my "last day." I agreed to stay and train this person, so I will probably work through this month.

I arranged to quit working while I still had some time before the Little Cat is born because I wanted to spend some time with my two little girls, and get them into a routine at home before we bring home a new little baby. I think of Spring Break, coming up next weekend at the high school, and how Sunflower will have some time off school... but I'll still be working. I think of the things I wanted to be doing right now, and accounting isn't one of them, and I get a little frustrated that my employer assumed and pressured me into staying another month. I'm trying not to let it eat at me, because that will only make me miserable and won't solve anything.

So, I'm looking forward to the day when I can walk out the door and know that I won't have to walk back into it... and yet I know when that day finally comes, it will probably be accompanied by tears. I have worked with this family owned company for five years. They treat me so well, and think of me as family. I love each of them, and it is breaking my heart to leave. I would call my husband in a panic every time we interviewed someone... "are you sure I'm doing the right thing to quit?? I don't want someone to take my job!!" I would always calm down, because I know in my heart I am doing the right thing.

I've never had such a clear example of mixed emotions. How can I be filled with joy and dread at the same time? I am so excited to be home with my girls, and yet I am sad about leaving my job. I've worked for the last 23 years. I've wanted to be a stay at home mom since Goober was born... and he just turned 19. I'm finally getting a chance to do something I've always wanted, and never thought I could do. I just have to come to grips with the ache of leaving something familiar to go into the unkown world of a stay at home mommy.

I'm plagued with questions... Am I going to go crazy without adult conversation? Am I going to get a shower or any alone time? Am I going to go stir crazy being in the house all the time? How are we going to make it financially? What if something happens to DH's job and we have NO income? There are no answers. The only answer I have is the look on the face of my sweet little girls when I pick them up each day and the promise in my heart that I will never regret the decision to stay at home with them.

The most important thing a mother can do is raise her own children. My job is to teach them what they will need to be successful adults. There isn't enough time in the world to do that on a part time basis. They can learn math and social studies in school. They learn tolerance, love, sharing, honesty, & charity at home. The home is a haven, a safe place away from the outside world. What better place to be than that?? Watching my little Punkin try to walk, watching Boo learn a new letter, those are rewards that are unmatched. Having them reach for me after nap time, and cuddling on the couch with a story. That is what moms are for. That is my chosen profession. It makes the other questions seem not as important. It makes the leaving easier. The panic goes away.

So, I look forward to soon having picnics in the park and walks along the river... pointing out ducks and birds and caterpillars... talking about clouds and leaves... learning to skip, learning to walk, learning about life. I'll be where I want to be, and in some ways it will be a dream come true.

Thursday Thirteen 04/06

2006-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons I Quit My Job To Stay At Home With My Kids

1…. They only get one childhood

2.... I don't want to miss first steps.

3.... or first words.

4.... That totally forlorn look when I drop them off at the sitters in the morning.

5.... I like my kids better than my boss (well, ex-boss)

6.... It's more fun to fingerpaint than to collate.

7.... More hugs and kisses.

8.... I can work in my pjs.

9.... Dancing in the living room is more fun with a three year old.

10.. Nap time.

11.. I don't have to take vacation time when one of my kids gets sick.

12.. Story time.

13.. The most important job I can ever have is being a mom. Nothing can ever take its place and nothing should ever be more important.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. http://www.bloglegion.com/skittles/
2. http://thoughtsandjots.blogspot.com/
3. http://lazydaisylog.grrrlmeetsworld.com/
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen

2006-03-30T06:13:00.000-08:00

Thirteen things I found under my bed

1…. My husband's shoes - In my husband's defense, he puts his shoes just under the edge of the bed each night... he just keeps two pair there.

2... An old used dryer sheet - at least everything will smell nice.

3... An odd sock - I'm surprised the dryer didn't take it.

4... A hanger

5... Dust bunnies - no surprise

6... The Little Golden Book "The Night Before Christmas" I guess it has been a while since I cleaned under my bed!

7... 2 Q-tips - they obviously missed the trash.

8... a piece of popcorn okay... who's been eating popcorn in my bed???

9... a soft, cuddly, stuffed leopard - I bet Punkin has been looking for this!

10... Sunflower's 2001 - 2002 Jr. High school ID card - ???

11... A hand towel

12... A Winnie the Pooh movie - Now I know who has been eating popcorn in my bed!!

13... A dry cleaner tag

All in all, I was surprised it was as clean under there as it was... however my side of the bed definitely had more stuff under it than did hubby's!!!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

How does your garden grow?

2006-03-28T07:28:00.000-08:00

Forget talking to your plants... it is staring at them that does the trick.

We are ready for spring at my house. Unfortunately, the weather says otherwise. It has snowed several times last week, and the temperature hints at being warmer - high forties - but then it always dips below freezing at night. Everything is wet, as it either rains or snows or both at the same time.

Since we dont' have a place outside to plant flowers or have a garden, I decided that Boo might like to plant some flowers inside. We could get a jump start on spring this way. I bought a rectangular flower box and a packet of flower seeds designed to attract humingbirds and butterflies. They are different varieties in bright pretty colors. About 10 days ago, on a Saturday morning, Boo and I got out the potting soil and I showed her how to plant flowers. She was so excited! She helped me carefully pour the soil into the planter. Then I sprinkled a few seeds into the palm of my hand and showed her the different seeds. "See, Boo? This one is small, round and black, while this one is sort of shaped like a banana. Each seed will make a flower grow. The different seeds will make different flowers." Trying to remember she is only 3, I was still excited to share this knowledge of nature with her, hoping she would understand. I sprinkled the seeds across our box of soil. "My turn!" she cried. I sprinkled a few seeds in her hand. She held it out to me. "Now look, mom. This seed is round, and this seed is like a shape thing-y, and this one is... well it looks like a... well it's just weird." I had to bite the inside of my cheek not to laugh. Sometimes she is just too darn cute! We sprinkled the seeds until the whole packet was gone. Then we carefully sprinkled a little potting soil on top and watered them. Boo was so excited! "When do the flowers come?" I told her in about a week, we would see little green stems, and it would take longer to actually have flowers. (50 - 84 days according to the package). She went with me to put the flower box on the patio, hoping for a little sunlight through the rainy day.

Every day Boo would come home and check on the flowers. She helped me water them and would sit and stare at them. Saturday morning, after being watered, Boo asked if she could stay on the patio on watch them. I tried to explain that she wouldn't actually see the flowers growing, but she was not to be deterred. She wanted to watch them. I agreed, as our patio is fenced, and fully expecting her 3 year old attention to wander after staring at a pot of dirt for more than 30 seconds. After a few minutes, she screamed "MOM!!! A GREEN THING!!!" I went out to the patio, and lo and behold, a little sprout had pushed it's head above the soil. "I TOLD YOU I HAD TO WATCH THEM!!" Well, leave it to nature to make a liar out of mom. I smiled and we talked about how they would keep growing, until the whole pot was full of pretty flowers. She was so excited! She kept going to check on the flowers all day Saturday, and by the end of the day we has sixteen sprouts. By Sunday we had about 30 and this morning, as I put the flower box outside for some sun (doubtful, it is raining again) we had more than 60 sprouts, some of them 2" already!! I'm surprised... Boo is ecstatic!

Now, I'm no gardening expert... in fact I usually kill potted plants, but I'm convinced they grew because they knew they were being watched and decided to show off for an excited three year old little girl.

SHE PASSED!!

2006-03-24T19:11:00.000-08:00

Sunflower passed her CPR test. She did really well, actually. She is super excited, and I am super excited AND super relieved. There will be more tests in the future... but this one is done and over with!

When a mom is powerless...

2006-03-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

Sunflower is in a CNA class. This is a wonderful career field for her. She has the personality, she is genuinely caring, has wonderful compassion, loves helping people, and is obsessed with becoming a doctor. The problem? Combine dyslexia with short-term memory problems. When she was 6 weeks old, she ran a fever of 105 - 106 for 5 days. It was 5 days of pacing in a children's hospital watching your newborn get poked and prodded till her feet were black and blue... listening to her scream as they did spinal tap after spinal tap, all in search of the elusive diagnosis of why she has this fever, and why can't we make it go down?? After the fever finally broke, and a day later when she was considered "normal", she was discharged with "fever of unknown origin", which to me, was frustrating as I wanted to know what was wrong. We will never know. However, I'm reminded of this experience daily as Sunflower has deficits in her short term memory, attributed to possible brain damage suffered during the period of high fever. She simply doesn't retain things. In 4th grade, she studied and studied her times tables, knew them by heart... for 5 minutes. She can't follow complicated directions that involve remembering several steps with details. She forgets where she puts things, she forgets what she is supposed to be doing. It is really frustrating for me as a mom. She has developed the habit of writing things down when she needs to remember them, and has worked over the years to develop ways of putting information into her long term memory. Now, enter dyslexia. Writing has always been a problem for her, as has reading. She has struggled her whole life to master those two skills. Her spelling is worse than awful, and her handwriting isn't much better. To her credit, she tries hard and has improved more in the last two years than in the five before. She will push herself to be in mainstream classes rather than stay in a resource class. She may not make A's, but she tries harder to earn a C.

There is SO MUCH terminology and memorization in her CNA class. She will spend hours and hours going over medical terminology, trying to put it in long term memory so that she can take her tests. I will quiz her (or her dad most of the time as he can pronounce those words) and she knows her stuff! The next day, she will have forgotten most of it, so she studies again. After quizzing, she knows what she is talking about and a few hours later at least half of it is gone. BUT... days of this and she can actually retain enough to pass her classes.

She had to take a CPR test. She can't pass the written test. Her teacher, I think, is equally frustrated. She told Heather, "I've seen you do it! You know what you are doing... you just have to pass this part of it." Heather has failed it 4 times. Her final attempt is today. Her teacher is actually going to read the test to her. Heather was crying yesterday when she called to tell me she had failed again. She only misses passing it by 3 questions. If she can't pass today, she can't retake the test. She is doing her clinicals at a local hospital, and if she can't pass, she can't continue to go to the hospital. I understand why, but at the same time, my heart is aching for my daughter. I want so much for her to succeed! She is so good at nursing and would make an excellent nurse. She loves it! She also has to try 10 times harder than the average student to be half as good on paper. As a mom, I want to just shake her and say "PASS THIS TEST!!!! NOW!"

As much as I want to rescue her, I can't. This is something only she can do. I'm sitting here with butterflies in my stomach, knowing at this moment, she is going through the torture of testing AGAIN, and wondering how she is doing. I pray that she can just pass this class and pass the state licensing test to be a CNA. I know that she will be a stronger person for going through this, but she can't see that. She just sees that she is different, and often times she labels herself as a failure or stupid. She isn't stupid, I know her IQ. Does she listen to me when I tell her she is not stupid? No, of course not. My heart aches when she tries so hard, and fails. I hear of other parents who are exicted that their son/daughter is on the honor roll for the 5th straight year. I want to jump up and down when my daughter gets a C+ on her history test. She still can't remember her times tables, but she is an incredible person.

As a mom, I wish I could somehow guarantee the sucess of my children so that I knew they would grow up to be happy, successful people. I am glad though, that I am there to celebrate the successes and I have a shoulder to cry on when things don't go quite as well. We can't, afterall, save them from life.

Say again??

2006-03-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. "

Our daughter, Boo, got Alice in Wonderland for Valentine's Day. She loves it. When she saw it, she exclaimed, "This is my favorite movie!! I've never seen it before!" She watches it at least weekly. There is a scene where the Mad Hatter explains that everyone has one birthday a year. That leaves 364 days that are un-birthdays. The Mad Hatter is having a party for his un-birthday, and everyone is singing a silly little song... "A happy un-birthday to you". Boo loves this song, but gets a little confused. She goes around the house singing "A unhappy birthday to you!"

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!

2006-03-17T13:55:00.000-08:00

Birthdays

2006-03-12T06:55:00.000-08:00

I took my three year old, Boo, to a birthday party yesterday. Her friend was turning 3, and the party was held at Gymboree. I've never been there, although I've heard of it. It was a wonderful party and the kids had so much fun! The Gymboree employee was wonderful with the group of kids, whose ages ranged from almost 2 to 6 or so. They had toddler sized gym equipment and they climbed and slid and crawled through tubes and had a marvelous time in self play. Then she had them make a circle around a huge parachute and they filled the middle with blow-up beach balls. The kids "made waves" by shaking the parachute up and down and of course the beach balls went up even higher. They were all laughing and even I was when the beach balls came down all over the kids. She had them play where they walked in a circle, stepping in and out of hoops she had placed on the floor. Each time the music stopped, they had to be standing inside a hoop, but she removed a hoop each time. The kids were never "out", they simply tried to stand two in a hoop, which was hilarious, and just as fun for them. They had color games and ball games, and so many original ways to have the kids be active and they totally enjoyed it. For over an hour, my child ran, jumped, slid, climbed, crawled, and laughed and I bet she didn't even know she was exercising. We then had cake and ice cream while the birthday girl opened presents. It was a wonderful party, and I'm going to remember it next party I have to plan!

On the way home, Boo said she wanted one. One what? I questioned. I want another birthday, she said. "You just had a birthday a few months ago. You can't have another birthday till December." "Well," she replied thoughtfully, "I think we should each get two." I had to smile at that thought. If I'd had two birthdays from the time I was three, I'd be pushing a lot more than 40! I'd be pregnant and 70! (Which is a thought too scary to even think about) And I thought I was tired now at 38... So I thought about it. When you are three, you want more than one birthday a year, but then it tapers off so that when you are in your thirties, you almost don't want one at all. So, when you are three, you have two birthdays a year until your 21 and then they go back to once a year until they are 35 and then you get one every other year until you are 62, and then you can have a birthday only when you feel like it.

Is that a good idea? Well, actually not. Having two birthdays from three to 21 would make you 40 right off the bat. And besides, think of everything we would miss in raising our children! We would only have them at home for 9 or 10 years and then they would be gone! My oldest son is turning 19 this year, in about 2 weeks. I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I still remember him as an infant, and sometimes I wonder where the time went. It was so fast! One minute you are trying to help him with spelling words in 3rd grade, and you blink and you're buying a cap and gown. Now he's deciding what he wants to do in college. Gone are the days of playing matchbox cars on the floor, and arm wrestling him to get him to do what I want. No, I tell Boo, one birthday a year is MORE than enough. You'll have to wait for December to turn 4, and don't you dare try to grow up any faster!!!

Private Taxi Service

2006-03-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how many places there are to go. We drive our two little girls to the sitter in the morning, drive our teenage daughter to school and drive to work. After work we pick everyone up. Then there is a stop at the bank, library, grocery store and chiropractor on a weekly basis, if not more often. Every Saturday morning, the teenager goes to clinicals for a nursing assistant class. At 6:45am, I load the sleeping little girls into carseats and drive her about 10 miles each direction, returning at noon to retrieve her. Then there is the "can you take me to the movie theater/mall/friend's house" during the week. Yesterday we drove an hour to pick up our son who wanted to come home for a visit. The first question he asked was could he use our car during the day to visit friends. On a typical day, I get off work at 4pm, and I'm really lucky if I get in my front door before 6... and I only work 3 miles away. I've considered asking my oldest daughter to ride the public bus, as we have a wonderful transit system, but she is adamantly opposed to the idea. I don't blame her, really. My son on the other hand loves riding the bus and will often use that option when he can't borrow the car.

I could take all this taxi service and get frustrated, but some of our great conversations happen in the car. Boo will look out the window and count basketball hoops. "Everybody gots a basketball hoop mom!" As we drive back home Saturday mornings, we count flags. Boo loves flags and is always on the lookout. "A flag! A flag! LOOK A FLAG!!". Sometimes we pretend to be the Gnome Mobile, and sometimes we just pretend. The other day Boo wanted daddy to be a dog. When he started talking, she reminded him that dogs don't talk. He then answered her questions by barking, but she couldn't understand what he was saying, so she told him to quit talking doggy. We have spent hours and miles singing songs and laughing.

My older children and I have had wonderful conversations in the car. I've made midnight runs to my husband's work to bring him dinner or something he forgot. My oldest son would always go with me. The best heartfelt conversations were had in the car. He would open up and talk about things I never could have got him to talk about if we had been at home, like girlfriends, sex, smoking, school, and his future. My teenage daughter will even ask, "Can we go for a ride? I need to talk to you."

When I think of how much gas we use in a week, and the miles we put on the car each month, I tend to get a little frustrated that I am always on the go. There are times I wish I could come straight home from work and just stay home. The moments I spend in the car add up to hours a day, but those hours can be priceless.

When it all began

2006-03-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was pregnant with my third child. It was 3am, and I was going to the hospital at 7 to be induced. My other two children, ages 15 and 14 were sleeping soundly, as was my husband. I was sitting on the edge of my bed with tears running down my face wondering what I was doing having another child. I paced the floor and asked myself... what are you going to do??? Your kids are almost grown! In four years they will both be out of high school. They can feed themselves, do their own laundry, clean their own room and help out with dishes. They can stay home by themselves if I want to go to the movie or on a drive with my husband. What possessed me to want another baby? Then I put my hand on my soon to be born daughter and felt her kick me. I guess I needed to be kicked. I knew why I wanted another child. I've always wanted a big family. I knew that I had waited years and years to have another child and I was finally getting what I had always wanted. My children were equally excited to have a new sister. Looking back, I can't imagine my life without that little girl. Now age three, my little bug is total joy in my life. She makes me smile on a daily basis. She is giving, kind and loving. She has a wild imagination and I love to just get on the floor and play with her. Two and a half years after she was born we had a playmate for her. Punkin may be only 10 months old now, but she too brings joy to my life on a daily basis. I love watching her face light up in a smile when I walk in the room. Yes, my oldest will be 19 next month, but I wouldn't change a thing. I get no sleep between being a full time mom and working a full time job. Punkin has decided she no longer needs to sleep all night, and frequently wakes up at 1am wanting only mommy, so what little sleep I manage to get is broken up throughout the night. My day starts at 5:30am and ends at 11, sometimes later. I run here and there and sometimes there are not enough hours in the day. But, I love my life and I love my family. Still, now pregnant with #5, I ask myself the same question. What am I going to do???