Halloween Hell

What contest in Hell did I win? I would really like to know. Oh sure, I don't have little, little kids anymore, but........



our beagles have sure been giving me a "run" for my money. Yesterday, the young one, Riley, decided he couldn't wait to go outside and number twoed all over the inside of his kennel. I went in to wake up Mark, and this hideous, taken on a life of it's own smell, smacks me over the head as soon as I walk in his room. Of course, at that very point, I had no idea who did what and where was it!

Today, I'm just cruising along getting ready for the day. Berkeley had climbed up on my bed, again, even though he definitely knows he's not supposed to. Again, a stomach churning smell. WHAT!!!!! Berkeley had vomited all over my bed!!!!MY BED!!!!

Right now my bedding is in the washer, hot water, and plenty of bleach. Thank goodness I keep vinyl sheets on all of our mattresses or I'd be out having to buy a new bed. So, again I ask, "What contest in hell did I win?"

Halloween Humbug

Just call me the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge of Halloween. Halloween, how do I dislike thee, let me count the ways:

1. The costume. Even as a child, I disliked wearing a costume. Maybe because we were poor and the only costume I ever had was a "bum" or "hobo". Now, I don't believe that "bum" is a politically correct term. The homeless might be offended by this. Dogs don't really like Halloween either. Would you like this particular form of humiliation?





2. The begging. Yet another hit to the homeless. Isn't Halloween really just legalized begging? I mean, you knock on doors, you hold your hand out saying "Trick or Treat". The homeowner then gives you a piece of candy and you skip off to the next house on the block! Of course, that could be a bit of a challenge this year.



3. The waste. Were we not taught to NOT play with our food?



I know I am in the minority here, so to all of you Halloween zealots, (and you know who you are) Happy Halloween, I'll be watching Hocus Pocus. Bette Midler is a hoot and half;)

The Secret Life of Bees

This past Wednesday evening was our monthly Bunco night with the girls. It was great fun and I won for high score. My prize was 2 VIP tickets to Harkins, a free popcorn pass, and a $5.00 Harkins gift card. I didn't tell my husband that I won until I called him at work this morning and asked him if he wanted to go on a date. Now, we're currently monetarily challenged, so I'm sure he was wondering how I was going to pull this evening off.

We went to see The Secret Life of Bees.


Based on the book by Sue Monk Kidd. Oh my heck, it was so good! The only problem was that I didn't have any tissues with us. Trust me, you'll need them. I just absolutely loved the female characters and the strong women that they were. That Dakota Fanning is such a great little actress!

Well, being that I don't want to ruin any of the movie for anyone, let me just say that we brought our Harkins cups and used the free popcorn pass, and some Reeses Pieces for Lee. All told, the whole evening cost only 50 cents out of pocket. Not too shabby!

Kid Tag

Most of the "kid tags" I have seen involve small children. Mine are older and somewhat smart alecky.

1. What is something your mom always says?
Andrew: "No."
Brittany: "Anything ending with a question mark"
Mark: "Make good choices!"

2. What makes mom happy?
A. Chocolate
B. Chocolate
M. Her blog

3. What makes mom sad?
A. People not helping around the house.
B. I don't know.
M. When I don't hug you.

4. How does mom make you laugh?
A. When she is being silly.
B. Being you.
M. When you say funny things.

5. What was mom like as a child?
A. Devil's daughter.
B. Little
M. Little

6. How old is your mom?
A. Fourty.
B. 40
M. Forty.

7. How tall is your mom?
A. 6' 1/2"
B. 6' 1 3/4"
M. 6' 2"

8. What is your mom's favorite thing to do?
A. Play Bookworm
B. Blog
M. Blog

9. What does your mom do when you are not around?
A. Go shopping.
B. Talk to the dogs.
M. Dance in the street.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
A. Being the #1 Scrabble queen.
B. Her shoe fetish.
M. Knitting.

11. What is your mom really good at?
A. Cooking delicious food.
B. Asking questions.
M. Cooking.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
A. What Brittany and Mark said.
B. Minding her own business.
M. Video games.

13. What does your mom do for a job?
A. She a trans-monster.
B. She dingles with numbers all day.
M. She's an associate thing.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
A. Spaghetti
B. Chocolate
M. Spaghetti

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
A. Her attendance to everything I did.
B. When she doesn't ask too many questions.
M. When she bought me an Ipod.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A. Marge Simpson
B. Marge Simpson
M. Taz

17. What do you and your mom do together?
A. Talk while copying checks.
B. Chill.
M. Cook.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
A. We almost like all of the same things.
B. We're both women.
M. We look alike.

19. How are you and your mom different?
A. I'm male, she's female.
B. I'm 18, she's 40.
M. I'm a boy, she's a girl.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
A. When she hugs me for a very long time.
B. When she doesn't ask me so many questions and lets me sleep.
M. When you hug me.

I tag: YOU!

Relief Society Enrichment

And enriching it was!


I don't know if you have ever heard of Keri Maughan, but, she is AMAZING! She gave a discussion on "Parenting our Heavenly Father's Way". It was definitely the boost that I needed after my "poor me" post of earlier that same day. This gal is funny and engaging and really had us in stitches as she shared with us some tools that we can use as parents to better parent our children.

Of course, when you look at her, she is like, so beautiful and her life has probably been a bed of roses. I would be wrong on that account. She shared some of her experiences with her children, she has four daughters, that really made her relate to all of us and the parenting mistakes that we make.

I was so happy that I went. I didn't want the evening to end. I wanted to bring her home with me and do a little "Nanny 911" number on my home and family. I did talk to her for a bit after the meeting. I asked her, "I have a child that has moved out of the house, am I too late to use these new skills?" Thankfully, that answer was "no".

She was so awesome! If you ever have the opportunity to attend any of her classes, DO IT! You will only be better for it. www.keriparentcoach.com

Am I?

Do you think that it is possible to know what kind of mother you are or were in this life? I know that we probably shouldn't look to our children for acknowledgement, it behooves being a humble, self-sacrificing, never looking for the glory in the mundane of everyday mom.

I have been touched over the course of my life, of children who were very expressive to and about their mothers and the wonderful examples they were. It's easy when they are very young, to know exactly how they feel about you. When they are hurt, they come running to mom to make it all better. The unsolicited hugs and kisses and the "I love you mommies", priceless treasures to behold.

But, what about when they get older? It's "natural" for children to want to separate from their parents and establish their own identities. Does this mean that we are no longer useful? Have we expired? Does the umbilical cord ever really sever?

I just ponder what kind of mother that I am and if I have made any difference in the world for my having been there. I didn't have the luxury of not having to work, and I really feel that it has gotten in the way of being the most wonderful of mothers. Am I the only one who thinks this way?

Tag.....I'm It.

My Quirks

I was tagged by Michelle

RULES

1. Link the person(s) who tagged you.

2. Mention the rules on your blog.

3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.

D. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.


Numero Uno. Whenever I eat candy corn, and I only do at this time of year and only if they are Brach's candy corn, I like to bite them one color at a time. This in itself is so quirky because they are made with honey and I don't like honey, go figure.

Numero Dos. I dislike melon of any kind. No watermelon, no canteloupe, no honeydews or any other melon. Ohmygosh, what a wierdo!

Numero Tres. I'm tall. Possibly even freakishly tall for a woman, and yes, I know it. I make you feel short? Well, everyone makes me feel like Bigfoot!

Numero Quatro. I love the feel of fresh, crisp, at least 220 thread count cotton sheets. Polyester blends pill, and I don't like the feel of that. I don't like satin sheets either because I am afraid I'll slide off the bed in the middle of the night.

Numero Cinco. Spelling errors really bother me. Most especially when I read the newspaper or a book. Hello? Is there an editor in the house?

Number Six. I don't like leftovers. For me, it's only good the first time, and if you reheat it, it just doesn't taste the same. Also, I don't like overcooked pasta. If it's not al dente, for get a bout it!

There you go. Try not to judge. I tag Sharon, Justine, Shellee, Melissa, Jen, and Michelle C.