Good weekend so far

Gracie had a great birthday.  We went to Chuck E. Cheese as usual and ended up with a huge amount of tickets for our family.  It is tradition that all tickets be given to the birthday child, so Grace made out this year.  Both Olaf and Camille hit a 250 tickets jackpot, so we had over 1400 tickets for Grace to spend.  It was fun.  Grace's friend was supposed to come over on Saturday but she got sick.  We did a pinata, had cake AND cookie cake, and she opened up lots of fun presents. Her favorite was this.  

I have tried a new flavor of Coffee Mate that I like.  It is Sweet Italian Cream.  They discontinued every flavor that was fabulous like Toasted Almond and Vanilla Nut.  

Simon has a fat lip...poor baby.  He fell and hit his lip on a toy.  He is so cute.  Oh my word.  I really like him.  

My nails still look pretty:)

On a whim...

I totally got pink and white nails like these today.

Actually, mine are short and square. Cute though. I like them. I went into a nail salon to buy a couple of gift certificates for Caleb's bus driver and monitor. The gal that sold them to me had the pink and white french manicure and I said, "I want nails just like you!" I must say my hands look so much more feminine.

All the children have colds. Simon can't sleep because his nose is stuffy.

Grace turns SEVEN tomorrow! I cannot believe it. My little Gracie thinks Hannah Montana is the best singer in the world and wants Hannah Montana everything for her birthday. ::sigh:: She even wanted a Hannah Montana birthday cake. I don't want her to grow up. I took her with me to get my nails done and they painted her nails and painted flowers on her thumbs. She chose the most awful color of purple you have ever seen, but it is absolutely perfect for a seven year old:) Tomorrow we will go to Chuck E. Cheese and share the colds with the rest of the world.

I have a twin

I have been reading Molly's blog for years now, and I love her to death. Our lives have paralleled each other in our spiritual journey the past couple of years and she wrote something today that literally could come word for word out of my mouth...and heart. Since she writes so much better than I do, I have copied it. Just pretend I wrote it...

To make a long story really really short, I just found a file full of papers, emails, and discussion board posts I’d participated in around ten years ago (as a new youth/music leader’s wife and a mom of one, with baby #2 on the way). Reading them was truly shocking. I could hardly stand the person doing the talking, which was a little sad, since that young pup was me.

She was audaciously authoritative, judgemental, and so sure of herself, her head must have been watermelon-sized at it’s most humble moment. You could tell that she was completely unaware of all of that, though, and was full of well-intended and passionate desire for truth. She was just convinced the truth and common sense were antithetical terms. Her thoughts were charged with passion and all aspects of life seemed one big huge black-or-white issue (from the KJV being the only trustworthy translation to the fact that headcoverings had to be for today and that men were meant to do the speaking).

There was no point trying to discuss anything with her—-she couldn’t hear you (and, plus, she already knew everything). The Bible said what the Bible said, which was another way of saying that her interpretation was the valid one, not yours, though she would have never put it like that. To her, there was no such thing as “interpreting.” There was the true way of seeing things, and then there was all the fluff that masqueraded as so-called interpetations.

I read some of the arguments typed by those disagreeing with her. They were balanced and well-thought out and laced with wisdom and maturity, but it was patently obvious that she heard nothing that was being said. All she saw (when trying to read their words) was, “Feminist, Humanist, Fleshly, Demonic Agenda Trying to Decieve God’s People,” in big huge flashing neon letters. There really wasn’t anything they could have done to help her. She literally could not hear a word they said.

The whole thing was really disconcerting and gives me quite a bit to process through in regard to the way one approaches theology (and in understanding my own history as well as my relationship and/or comprehension of Yahweh). But as an aside, I wondered how anyone could have stood to be within ten feet of her, much less bothered to listen. So here is where I pause to give all my Real Life Friends a big huge hug. Thanks for loving me.

Yeah, thanks for loving me:)

This, that, and the other

A laptop really will help me to blog more:)  I can sit here in my Lazyboy aka The Throne and type away.  Our desktop is in a wet bar area and Simon hated it when I went in there.  

Did I tell you that we are going to Disney World in November again?  We'll be there for my birthday again.  Totally planned.  We loved the Epcot Food and Wine Festival so much we had to do it again.  November is fabulous weather in Orlando as well.  

Olaf is meeting with the school superintendent tomorrow morning.  I hope it all goes well or my head will explode.  Lucky for Mr. Bass I only have one child in public school.    

Remembering Karen

I have a new friend that is walking in the 3 Day this year.  Will you consider making a donation to her in memory of my dear friend Karen Isherwood?  Thank you....

ARRGGHHH!

The Coweta County School System is pissing me off.  Caleb brought home a note in his backpack on Friday saying he is being transferred to another middle school next year.  No one called us, it's not in his IEP, they just sent a note home in my MENTALLY CHALLENGED child's backpack and hoped it got here??  So, I am doing what any good wife would do.  I handed the responsibility over to my husband who is much more diplomatic than I am.  So far he has talked with two women who work in special ed at the school system to no avail.  So, off to the Superintendent he went and I think we will finally get some answers.  Tomorrow night is the school board meeting and he just may have to show up there as well.  Holy cow this is frustrating.

As far as the homeschool year, we are done.  Camille is happy to be finished.  We will start again in the beginning of July.  I will definitely homeschool Camille through 8th grade, but we may put her in a Christian high school.  We have a few years to figure it out.  

I got a crown put on my tooth today.  I am still numb.  I need another crown, but it isn't an immediate necessity.  Olaf needs some dental work done so I'll let it be his turn now.   Simon had a check up with the ENT.  His ears are looking pretty good.  Not 100%, but pretty good.  

 

Mother's Day 2008

I'm sure you have all heard that Michelle Duggar is expecting baby number 18!  Wow.  I wonder how much they get paid from the Discovery Channel for the shows that they do about them?  I sure wish they would get rid of the girl mullets, but to each their own.  

Today is Mother's Day and I am on my new Mac.  It is so much fun.  It will be even more fun when I figure out how to do everything.  It's so cool how all the software interacts with each other.  It's almost too easy.  I mean, I was able to set this thing up to use my cell phone for the internet in about 20 seconds.  I didn't even know what I was doing, I just followed the prompts and it did it all for me.  That made me smile.  Maybe I will blog more...Hmmm....  

Olaf contacted his half brother in Germany a few weeks ago.  It went pretty good even though the brother had no idea that Olaf existed.  It was kind of a shock for him.  Now we have his contact information and Olaf was able to send him some photos that we found of him in Papi's house.  I am happy that Olaf chose to contact him and let him know that Papi had passed away. There was some debate within himself as to whether we should try to contact him, or just sweep it under the rug.  I am glad he chose to do the right thing.

Mother's Day

I am using my new Mother's Day present.  Granted, I have no idea how to use a Mac, but I guess I will learn.  Anyone have a Mac that wants to help me?  

The children did fabulous in their choir performance last night.  It was a late night, but they all did well.  I am glad it's over though.  I am so sick of running.  Looking forward to the summer and hanging out at home.

I hope all my friends have a great Mother's Day!  

Homeschool Choir

My children are participating in the homeschool choir patriotic show tomorrow. Tonight is their dress rehearsal. They are state delegates. Josiah is the delegate from the state of Maryland:



Yachting is big in Maryland, so he's a Captain.

Grace is from the state of Hawaii...lucky girl!


And Camille, my Camille, is from my home state of Oregon!

Of course, she's a hippie!!! There are lots of people that still look like that in Oregon! LOL!

Simon is ONE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!

The Hormone Guide

The Hormone Guide

Women will understand this! Men should memorize it! Every woman knows that there are days in the month when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his hands! This is a handy guide that should be as common as a driver's license in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, co-worker or significant other!


DANGEROUS: What's for dinner?

SAFER: Can I help you with dinner?

SAFEST: Where do you want to go for dinner?

ULTRA SAFE: Here, have some wine.


DANGEROUS: Are you wearing that?

SAFER: Wow, you sure look good in brown!

SAFEST: WOW! Look at you!

ULTA SAFE: Here, have some wine


DANGEROUS: What are you so worked up about?

SAFER: Could we be overreacting?

SAFEST: Here's my paycheck.

ULTRA SAFE: Here, have some wine.


DANGEROUS: Should you be eating that?

SAFER: You know, there are a lot of apples left.

SAFEST: Can I get you a piece of chocolate with that?

ULTRA SAFE: Here, have some wine.


DANGERSOUS: What did you DO all day?

SAFER: I hope you didn't over-do it today.

SAFEST: I've always loved you in that robe!

ULTRA SAFE: Here, have some wine



13 Things PMS Stands For:
1. Pass My Shotgun
2. Psychotic Mood Shift
3. Perpetual Munching Spree
4. Puffy Mid-Section
5. People Make me Sick
6. Provide Me with Sweets
7. Pardon My Sobbing
8. Pimples May Surface
9. Pass My Sweat pants
10. Pissy Mood Syndrome
11. Plainly; Men Suck
12. Pack My Stuff
13. Potential Murder Suspect

Some pictures

This is where Mami and Papi's ashes were spread.



Olaf and Scott.





Now to find Olaf's half brother, Clemens. Clemens was Henry's son by his first marriage. He needs to know that Henry has passed away. If any realtives in Germany read this and know where Clemens is, can you please e-mail us.

Don't Break the Elastic

I saw this on Nattie's blog today and loved it:

Don't Break The Elastic
by Maya Angelou

When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn't hold my tummy in to wear a belted dress. But now that I am older,
I've set my body free;
There's the comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.
And how about those pantyhose-
They're sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on
The crotch is at my knee?
I need to wear these glasses
As the print's been getting smaller;
And it wasn't very long ago
I know that I was taller.
Though my hair has turned to gray
and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I'm the same old me,
It's the outside's changed a bit.

What a trip!

We just got home from New York. We drove, yes drove, with five children and a puppy. I didn't want to go...at all...but Olaf was pretty insistant. I gave in (very unwillingly) and pretty much bitched the entire time I was there. The baby got sick on Wednesday night in the hotel and ran a high fever. He kept the fever until Saturday and then broke out in a rash on Sunday...Ah, roseola! Olaf and his brother spread Papi's ashes at the beach on Friday. The same beach where we spread Mami's ashes back in 1992. We brought home some photographs and momentos, but not too much else. I am certain that Olaf will need to go back a few more times before the estate settles. Scott has a lot more work to do than Olaf since he is the one that lives in such close proximity. He also had a much closer relationship with Papi than Olaf did. Scott was only 17 when Mami died, so Papi has been his only parent for the last 17 years.

So, I leave you with a photo of Papi when he came to visit us in October of 2006. The children LOVED him, especially Josiah and Grace.

Rest in peace Heinrich.

Sad News

Olaf's father passed away. Please keep Olaf and his borther, Scott, in your thoughts and prayers.

Update

I know, I know...I rarely post anymore. Honestly, I hold Simon all day long. And let me just say he does not like to sit at the computer. Ever.

Margi is growing like a weed and so, so, so cute. My children are doing a great job caring for her. She has never pooped in the house. Not even once. She tinkled twice, but it was as big as a nickle or so. She is doing really well on the potty training. Her fleas and worms are gone! YAY! She is very playful and is a hoot to watch. We all love her.

Simon is almost 11 months old. That is hard to believe, eh? When he smiles he just melts my heart. Those cute teeth and that scrunched up nose. Adorable. He is looking more and more like Camille.

We ordered DVD's for Camille and Grace for next school year. That means I will just have to do Kindergarten with Josiah. Hopefully it won't be too hard. I have never taught a boy before. Speaking of Josiah, he looks exactly like me. Of all my children he definitely resembles me the most.

Diet isn't going too great. I need to start the FIRM again. I like exercising.

Happy Easter

I was saying to Olaf yesterday when we were out shopping, that no one has a problem saying Happy Easter. You know how some people won't sat Merry Christmas because they don't want to offend anyone so they say Happy Holidays instead? Well, what is more "offensive" than Easter? I haven't head one person say "Happy Spring" or "Happy Solstice Day." Do people not know that Eater is when Jesus rose from the grave? I mean, you can make Christmas more pagan than Easter! Anyway, just my two cents on the subject. I hope everyone has a lovely Easter.

Peep Show

Thank you, Stephanie, for making me laugh!

I'm on strike!

I went on strike yesterday. Too many little things piling up on me during my premenstrual week. This weekend I am going to do nothing and make the children do almost everything. It's good for them to get a reality check once in awhile. Oh you mean, clothes don't wash themselves? Go figure.

Olaf is home today for Good Friday. Yes, Delta still gives their employees Good Friday as a holiday. He is about to leave to take Margi to the vet. She has worms (I managed to get rid of the fleas PTL) and she needs that wormer medicine...now. That is just totally gross to me. ::shudders:: She is such a cute dog though. It's almost hard to call her a dog because she is so small. She's more like a rodent; but cuter.

I had some dental work done on Monday and my cheek is so bruised from all the shots. He has to give me several shots with two different medicines in order to numb me. I am in the process of getting a crown, so I have to go back for another appointment and I am not looking forward to it. I am usually numb for 12-20 hours after I go to the dentist.

I haven't been to Weight Watchers in a couple of weeks due to appointments on Mondays. I have eaten terribly and probably gained all the weight I have lost. I am just not motivated for some reason. You'd think being fat would be motivation enough, right?

Simon is crawling really fast now. He has at least five teeth through and another three sitting at the gum line. He is so cute but getting so big.

Meet Margarita

That's Margi (hard g like in Margarita). She is our new seven week old chiuaua that we just bought in front of our local WalMart. We were all going to go grocery shopping when we saw the sign that said "Chiuaua Puppies for sale!" All of us (even my husband) wanted to stop and look. We have had her about an hour now and everyone in the house is smitten. Except for Deacon and the cats.