A new van!

Olaf has been looking at 12 and 15 passenger vans since he found out I was pregnant with Simon because our minivan is, well, filled. Today he found a van on Auto Trader that was north of Atlanta at a dealer. It had a good price on it and Olaf wanted to take the family up to test drive it. The van is in great mechanical shape, only 29,000 miles (auto trader has a misprint and says 48K), clean Car Fax, one owner, but there is a dent in the front bumper and the interior needs a good cleaning. It was obviously owned by a large family with a lot of children. After our fun test drive, Olaf offered the guy $12,500 which is $1,050 less than the sticker price and wanted a front end alignment done, oil change, and detailing included. They accepted his offer, so we are the proud new owners of a 15 passenger Chevy van! Kelly Blue Book retail is $20K so I think we did really good. He will pick it up sometime this week. The funnest part for me is it has OnStar. I don't know if we will activate it, but I SO want to.

Happy Birthday to my husband

Twenty years ago on this day I rented a limousine and took you out to dinner at Pamona Valley Mining Company. I had never been in a limo before, but you had and you told me all about it. Which made me mad. Because it included a prom date and White Castle. Thinks to self: I have no idea why we are married. You were 19 years old then, and now you are old like me. We have been through a lot together, eh? Rough patches in the beginning, God changing our hearts, your deployment in the Air Force and a three month separation, more rough patches, a career change, a move to Long Island, a few precious months with your mother before she died and a few horrible months with your father, more rough patches, another move to Georgia, infertility, adoption, parenting a mentally challenged child, pregnancy, another move, more infertility, more rough patches, more children, the roughest patch ever, forgiveness, and here we are twenty years later. Whew. When I think about it that way, I am so glad I can't go back to do it all over again. Although there have been a lot of 'rough patches' along the way, I wouldn't trade them for the world. We have grown up together...literally...and you have always been my best friend. Always. You make me laugh like no other person on the face of this earth. You love me like any woman could only wish that her husband loved her. We certainly aren't perfect, but we love each other and are committed to each other until death do us part. Happy Birthday, Goose. May we live to see another 39 years together. I love you.

Friday Felicities

*Tomorrow is my husband's birthday. This means we will be the same age for six weeks.

*Children who are chomping at the bit to go buy their Papa a present.

*Visits from family. I have an aunt coming to visit who I rarely (and I do mean rarely...like this will be third time I have seen her in my adult life) see.

*My sister in Oregon, who just signed up to be a Mary Kay consultant, and loves to tell me about their products. All of which I already know because I have been using it for years.

*My baby is on the Hugga Buns website. Scroll down:)

Just because one is wandering, doesn't mean they are lost. Tolkien

I seriously need to lose weight

I am the heaviest I have ever been and I just feel gross. However, Olaf brought me a huge Dairy Queen Brownie Sundae tonight and I ate the entire flippin' thing. I am so fat I only have one pair of pants that fit me. One. I know, I know. Stop whining and DO something already. Time to drag out the FIRM DVD's and get busy.

Gracie is reading fabulously. I bought her this Amelia Bedelia reader and she sat down and read right through it like it was cake. It is actually too easy I think.

Here is a photo of Simon in his Hugga Buns. So cute and chunky.



He weighs 19 pounds now. I am desperately in love with him. The entire family is. I want another one. Kind of like Lay's potato chips; you just can't have one. Hee hee.

The best margarita ever!

I know a lot of you don't touch alochol to your lips, but for those of you who do imbibe, this is the best recipe for a margarita ever!

Put these ingredients in a shaker:

1 shot Presidente brandy
2 shots tequila
1 shot Gran Gala
1 shot Rose's sweetened lime juice
fill the rest of the shaker with Maragrita Mix

Serve over crushed ice with a salted rim. Oh so fabulous!

I told you when I love something I have to share. Remember the Charlie's soap post and the Dyson post? Well, this is my Margarita post!

New Frames

They weren't done "transitioning" before I took this picture. Ashleigh Banfield eat your heart out.

Words to live by

Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes.

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

A closed mouth gathers no foot.

There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Ticked-Off Tuesday

Yes, I am starting a new meme. Ticked-Off Tuesday! My husband irritated me this morning, so I am starting this meme in honor of him. Y'all know I love my husband, I am so glad he's mine, but I have to get this off my chest:0)

Why in the world does it take 90 minutes for the man to get ready in the morning? He showers at night, he irons at night, he makes his coffee at night so all he has to do is hit the 'on' switch. I have figured that it would take me no more than 45 minites MAX to do what he cannot do in 90 minutes.

Get dressed, brush teeth, etc (10 minutes - he's nearly bald...no hair curling needed)
Take out dogs to potty (10 minutes)
Fix Caleb's breakfast (5 minutes - it's instant grits people)
Dress Caleb (5 minutes)
Eat (15 minutes)

I really don't care how long it takes him to get ready. The thing I care about is that he is late for work every single day. If he weren't a manager, he would be fired. FIRED! If a normal person can do in 45 minutes what he clearly will not do in 90, that is just irritating.

Friday Felicities

Happy 12th Birthday Caleb!

Yeah, we only had eight candles. He didn't care. The number on the car was an 11 but it would have been great if she would have put a 12 instead. Oh well. It is still a cute cake.

While others remember the world trade center

I will reminisce about my first child who was born on this day in 1995. After several years of infertility, Olaf and I decided to adopt. At the time I was certain this desire was from the Lord (more on that later), so we applied with Bethany Christian Services in Atlanta. Because we didn't care what color our adopted child would be, we were put on a list of people who would be willing to adopt a biracial child. Less than five months after our application went in, we got a phone call that a birthmom wanted to meet us. Needless to say, we met and on September 11, 1995 Caleb was born. At the time of his birth I was 14 weeks pregnant with our daughter. The Lord worked it out so they are exactly six months apart. She was born March 11, 1996. OK Misty, stay focused... Caleb was a very colicky, high needs (that is an understatement) baby. When he was about four months old, we noticed that something wasn't quite right. It was almost as if his eyes didn't "connect" with us. He did not babble or coo, was late hitting his developmental milestones, and his mouth was always hanging open in a weird way. When I mentioned all this to our pediatrician, he took a 'wait and see' approach. When Caleb was about 14 months old, we took him to a Developmental Pediatrician who took one look at him and said, "Let's get him tested for Fragile X Syndrome. He has all the physical characteristics." I remember being so relieved. Finally, finally, we might have an answer. I didn't know what Fragile X was at that point, but I was just so happy to have a diagnoses. Skip forward twelve years...

Caleb is 12 years old today. He is handsome, sweet, BIG, loving, playful, and his heart is full of joy. He adores Olaf (and he has no problem telling you that Papa is his favorite. NOT mom.) He also is hyperactive, cannot speak, incontinent, moderately mentally retarded (not PC I know) and has a whole host of sensory issues, and has seizures. I have to admit that there are days (too many I must say) when I focus on the hard times instead of the blessing that Caleb is. Raising a child with special needs is not easy. It is hard. Very hard. The hardest thing I have ever been called to do. I don't enjoy it in my flesh. I wouldn't have chosen this for myself. I am sure that sounds selfish, but as the old saying goes...walk a mile in my shoes. However, I have to trust that God has placed him here no matter what the circumstances. You see...

Before we even put in an application for adoption, I really felt in my spirit that we would conceive. It was almost as if God told me somehow that I just needed to trust Him and His timing. However, that wasn't good enough for me. I wanted a baby NOW! So, we started the adoption process. Thus the question; is Caleb my Ishmael? You know how God promised Sarah that she would have a biological child and she didn't believe him. So she sent Abraham out to Hagar and thus little Ishmael was born. I know I can't dwell on WHY Caleb is here at any rate. He is, God is sovereign, and we love him dearly. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!

Chocolate Stuff

This recipe is fantastic! It is from the book The Sweet Potato Queens' Big-Ass Cookbook and Financial Planner by Jill Conner Browne.

Chocolate Stuff

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 stick of butter
2 tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Beat two eggs with a cup of sugar and a half cup of flour.

2. Melt a stick of butter with two tablespoons of cocoa.

3. Mix the two and add 1 full teaspoon of vanilla. Add nuts if you want.

4. Put in a loaf pan then set loaf pan in bigger pan of water and cook at 300 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

It doesn't quite set up like brownies. You basically eat this stuff with a spoon. It is so PMS-delish!

I forgot...

How could I forget? On Labor Day, I got a Dyson Animal. Oh, how I love it. I mean, I think Mr. James Dyson is the smartest man to ever live. I have been wanting a Dyson for about two years but, man, are they expensive! As much as I am a laundry Nazi, I am also a floor Nazi. I already have a Kirby, an Oreck, and a Eureka. The Dyson is far, far, far superior to them all. I digress. Anyway, Target has a PINK Dyson advertised this week and I was going to get that one. They give you a $100 gift card with any Dyson purchase this week and I was all set to go. Then, for reasons that must have been destiny, I was flipping through the channels and stopped on HSN because they were selling...DYSON VACUUM CLEANERS! I watched them go through all the models. I watched them explain the technology. I watched them suck things up on carpet and hard floors. I watched with my mouth hanging open and my heart racing like a young girl in love. Then I promptly asked my husband to go buy a Dyson Animal right now. We had a 20% off coupon at Linens and Things so off he goes and brings me back the new love of my life. The man selling the Dyson's on HSN said to vacuum your mattress before you do anything else. So we did and all I can say is gross. I won't even go into what came out of my carpet. Moral to this story, save your pennies. If you want an awesome vacuum cleaner the Dyson is worth every. single. penny.

Busy

Well, busy for us. On Wednesday's my children have homeschool choir. They love it! Then on Thursday's, Camille takes a Spanish class with our local homeschool group. She is having a blast so far. Good thing I speak some Spanish so I can converse with her.

Today Simon and Caleb had well visits with the doctor. Simon weighed 17 pounds 14 ounces, 26 inches long, and a head circumference of 43.5 cm. BIG in every way. Caleb weighed 199 pounds and was 62.5 inches tall. Hee-Youg in every way. The main reason for taking Caleb was to get his tetanus shot and ask the doctor if she would sign the paperwork for a handicapped parking permit. We used to have one but it expired a long time ago. We only need it when we go places that require his wheelchair. Like the upcoming trip to Disney World. It is nice not to have to fight him in the WalMart parking lot as well. He obeys for the most part, but he is super hyper and has run in front of a car on more than one occassion. We have to hold his hand and make sure he doesn't get away, which at 200 lbs isn't always easy. Our doctor is very understanding and was glad to fill out the form for us.

The baby needs me right now, gotta go.

Four months old...WAY!

Four months old.
No way!
WAY!

New glasses...yippee!!

We went to Costco today where I had an eye exam and ordered new glasses with transitions lenses. Am I cool or what? New hair and new frames. Now if I could just talk my husband into letting me get new boobs my life would be fantabulous.

In the mail today I received a memory book from my 20th high school reunion that was held two years ago. I have had another child since then:) However, in my little "tell-me-what-you-have-been-doing-the-past-20-years" section, my blog url was posted. So, HELLO to anyone from Springfield High School class of 1985 that may stop by to see me.

And because make up makes the hair look better: