Hey there, hi there, ho there!

I went to the Braves game afterall. The seats were pretty good. It was very hot and I moved to the shade for awhile with the baby. The Braves stink this year. I really haven't kept up with them since 1998 or so. Well, when they were good:) I am a fair weather fan. Unlike my friend, Jeff, who is a Steeler fan through and through.

Caleb has been taking swimming lessons this week at Sonrise Fitness Center. It is a local church that also has a gym, swimming pool, and tennis courts. The price was very reasonable, so I went ahead and signed the family up for a membership. $35 a month with no contract. We have been swimming every morning while Caleb takes his lesson. Simon loves being in the water. The other children are also taking swimming lessons and making huge strides. They are not Olympic material by any means, but they are doing well. I need to buy some cheap tennis rackets at WalMart and take the children out to play. I would love it if Olaf and myself could take lessons together. Olaf, if you read this, that would be a great present. You, me, and some tennis lessons. No children.

Simon took 16 steps all in a row today. We all clapped and cheered and he liked that a lot.

You know you're fat...

when you play Wii and you are sore! How sad is that? I guess I need to get the Wii Fit and get busy.

Caleb starts swimming lessons tomorrow. They are free and only a week long. It is just for special needs children. The other children started swimming lessons last week with a local homeschool girl. According to Olaf they are doing real good. I stay home with Caleb and the baby while Olaf takes them to their lesson. I am going to take them this Thursday though, so I'll get to see what kind of progress they have made. I wish we could afford to get an in ground pool. It would be worth more than our house:0) We would need to do major landscaping as well. Oh well...I can dream.

I am going to start school with the children in a few weeks. We already received the books, but I need the DVD's for Grace and Cami. They should be here soon. I didn't order any books for Josiah because I still have several that weren't finished from the other two children. I think he is going to be tough to teach. He starts Kindergarten this year. Hopefully (crossing fingers) he will be able to read by the end of the school year.

Olaf is finally doing our will. We had to hire a special attorney to do Caleb's trust. It needs to be legally worded in such a way that he will not lose any state benefits etc. The special lawyer is just doing Caleb's part and then we hired another lawyer to do the rest.

Have y'all been watching "When We Left Earth?" It is the coolest series ever. We have been recording them on the DVR. I am going to make Camille watch them for history this year. The one about the Apollo Missions to the moon was so cool.

Simon is starting to take steps, but he still prefers to crawl. He'll take about 3-6 steps then sits down. He will be 14 months on July 4th. My latest walker by far. Camille was running at 10 months. Grace and Josiah were walking well by 13 months. Oh well...he knows I'll pick him up and carry him if he fusses in the least little bit.

My family, minus the baby and I, are going to the Braves game Tuesday night. It is way too hot for this woman to be out. No thank you. They will have fun I'm sure.

For Shoquaniqua

You know who you are:

I have been tagged

By Dawn, my twin. I am supposed to write six quirks about myself. Here are the rules:

Link the person who tagged you.
Mention the rules in your blog.
Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours.
Tag a new set of six bloggers by linking them

Six quirks about me....

My toenails are ALWAYS painted. Always.
I love to watch MAD TV. (adding that second ALWAYS above reminded me of MAD TV--The Depressed Persian Tow Truck Man)

Here's a clip of Stuart from Mad TV:

I am in the crowd parade scene in the movie Animal House. I am 10 years old.
I love, love, love to play Toontown
I used to be a very good swimmer. Not swim team good, just normal good.
My fingernails are paper thin and I am unable to grow them because they bend. Thank heaven for acrylic:)

I now tag:
Charity
and whoever else reads my blog.

Olaf's Father Day Gift

Regarding the failed test below, I don't want to be a 1930's housewife. Nope! Not me. I posted it because I was proud of my failing score. Gosh, I sound like a :::GASP::: feminist!

If I am a feminist then I totally bought into the whole Father's Day idea of honoring that man in my house:) I bought him this for his office at work. He loves it. Although to complete his coffee snobbery he must take in a Brita Water Pitcher because I was informed this morning that the water at Delta doesn't do the coffee justice. We made a few cups here yesterday and it was wonderful. When he got to work today he said the water ruined the coffee, so thankfully we have an extra pitcher for him to take in. If anyone has considered getting one of these fabulous one cup coffee makers, I highly recommend it.

I recently realized that we will be in Disney World for the general election. It's either I vote absentee, not at all. I have voted in every presidential election since I was able to vote.

I need to go because that baby is crying for his Mama. He loves me.

Times Change

Three years ago, I would have passed this test with flying colors. Now, not so much.

16 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Friday Felicities

Winning at Bunco last night-$40
Getting my nails done today -$25
Still having $15 in my pocket
My daughter's Iowa Test Scores-GO CAMILLE!!!
Underwear for fat girls from The Avenue
A husband who does a tooth fairy dance for a little boy who is losing way too many teeth.

FOR TODAY...
Outside My Window...
Its dark.
I am thinking...
which could be a bad thing.
I am thankful for...
my family.
From the kitchen...
Partners Potato Pizza
I am wearing...
My fat shorts and a T-Shirt
I am creating...
plaque on my teeth.
I am going...
to Disney World in November!
I am reading...
"If I am Missing or Dead" by Janine Latus
I am hoping...
to live long enough to see Simon reach adulthood.
I am hearing...
The History Channel behind me.
Around the house...
Clutter and more clutter.
One of my favorite things...
Coke Zero very cold in the can.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Hold the baby
Hold the baby
Hold the baby
and take Deacon to the groomer
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Friday Felicities

*Going on a date tonight thanks to a local church who is sponsoring a "special needs date night."

*That church is not only watching the children for free...

*They are feeding them...

*Have planned activities...

*and are giving us a $40 gift card to go eat...

*purple toes

*pretty nails

*my husband

Remembering Nattie

My friend, Nattie, has been gone a year this Saturday.  A whole year.  So, in honor of Nattie, I got a pedicure today and had them paint my toes purple.  I think Nattie would think my piggies look cute.  

Grace's 7th Birthday

Thanks to my Mac, I can now do cool stuff like this.  It is so easy.

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!