I used to watch David Letterman religiously when I was in college, but late-night TV in general isn't as attractive an option these days as a good full-night's sleep. And even if I was able to stay awake long enough to watch, staying up to the end of the show just so I could see the musical "talent" is just not worth it. Most live performances, irrespective of whichever of the vast myriad of talk shows that are on at that hour, are highly average at best. Recently, however, I managed to keep my eyes propped open long enough to be absolutely transfixed by one group's performance on Letterman. If you missed this amazing performance, I am so excited to be able to share it with you here. From the first plucks of the harp to the final guitar chords, The Killers' performance of "A Dustland Fairytale" had me mesmerized, glued to my seat, and completely drawn in.
From what little I have been able to find about this song, lead singer Brandon Flowers wrote this song about his parents. They met, grew up and fell in love in the same trailer park. His dad was an alcoholic and converted to Mormonism when Brandon was five. (Brandon is still a devout and practicing Mormon, even as a rock-&-roller.) The last part of the song refers to his mother, who is battling cancer of some form, and was still alive as of December of 2008 when Rolling Stone interviewed the band for an article (a very good article, I might add, and worth reading). I considered adding the lyrics, but all I could find were various attempts by someone besides Brandon Flowers to decipher the words. I am including, however, the stanza about his mom:
Now Cinderella don't you go to sleep
It's such a bitter form of refuge
Ahh don't you know the kingdoms under siege
And everybody needs you
Is there still magic in the midnight sun
Or did you leave it back in sixty-one
In the of the cadence in the young man's eyes
And where the dreams roll high
Here's their performance from Letterman. Enjoy!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
A Little of This, A Little of That...And Then Some of Those
In my last post I lamented the fact that it is so very difficult to get Yummy's smiles caught on camera. Well looky here:
Little Bit got her giggling, and I grabbed my cell phone (my camera is AWOL) and snapped this. I love to hear babies laugh, and my Yummy is especially giggly. Doncha' love it???
*********************************************************************
If anyone out there lives near Waco, there was a puppy mill shut down this week in the Waco area. Mostly rat terriers, but there were also some Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (like WonderDog!). No decision has been made as of this writing as to what will happen to these dogs, but if you are interested in helping out, whether financially, donating supplies to care for them, or fostering a dog or two in your home for a time, contact Sheila Simmons of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Rescue USA, Inc. to find out more (www.cavalierrescueusa.org).
This is amazing to me, that people could be so beastly to those who can't defend themselves. Who says mankind is inherently good? "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one..." (Romans 3:10)
*********************************************************************
I love my sweet friend Flowerpot. She always has a smile on her face and a good word to share. She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met, inside and out. Our girls have been in different classes this year, plus she's been working full-time and I've been so busy with Yummy, so I don't get to see her happy smile much. Since our schedules haven't matched up well this year, I like to go check out her blog to see what she and her precious family have been up to. (I like to do that anyway, but especially since we haven't seen each other much this year.) One of my "favorite" posts that she has written was back in February called "Worship Check". It's a very convicting post. She talks about how and where we spend our time and our money, and what that reveals about us. Ouch. For me, it wasn't pretty. This particular post been rolling around in my brain's very packed file cabinet, just lurking for the right time to be used. Well, God's timing is always perfect, and He brought it out of its "file drawer" and is using it in our lives to honor Him and help others. The Hoffer and I recently made a commitment to be better givers, to give to God His 10% first, even if it's difficult. (And believe me, with our economy the way it is right now, IT'S ALL DIFFICULT!) We decided to give more not just to our church, but also when we see a need. And God was faithful to give us opportunities to give RIGHT AWAY. The Hoffer was able to share with some who really needed it. I got an email from our church about a new crisis pregnancy center opening up, and we are donating a sofa/love seat combo to help get things set up. I hope I don't sound like I'm patting myself on the back...I am just so OVERJOYED at the opportunities the LORD is giving to us! How generous of HIM to give us yet another second chance to honor Him. Here are some verses He used to reiterate to me that we are to give generously:
Psalm 37:21, 25-26:
The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
I love it when God gives me confirmation that I am on the right track...His track. :-) Thanks for the post, Flowerpot! Another jewel in your crown!!!
***********************************************************************
Little Bit has had a rough afternoon. She has two BFFs (best friends forever, if you've never heard the term) that she has known for some time and loves dearly. One of these BFFs has been very unkind to the other one, and Little Bit was defending the wrong one. It was just too difficult for her to comprehend that someone she loves so much could do something wrong. Many tears were shed, but she is coming around. We are praying for a peaceful resolution. I love that God uses difficult situations in our lives to help others in need, and I was able to tell her about similar situations from my growing-up years and how I dealt with those situations. It's a comfort to her to know that she's not the only one to go through this situation and that I can give her some advice on how to handle things. Just goes to show you that God doesn't waste anything. :-)
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Finally, we have only TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL LEFT!!! Bring on summer! I'm ready!!! And Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies and soon-to-be mommies out there!
Little Bit got her giggling, and I grabbed my cell phone (my camera is AWOL) and snapped this. I love to hear babies laugh, and my Yummy is especially giggly. Doncha' love it???
*********************************************************************
If anyone out there lives near Waco, there was a puppy mill shut down this week in the Waco area. Mostly rat terriers, but there were also some Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (like WonderDog!). No decision has been made as of this writing as to what will happen to these dogs, but if you are interested in helping out, whether financially, donating supplies to care for them, or fostering a dog or two in your home for a time, contact Sheila Simmons of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Rescue USA, Inc. to find out more (www.cavalierrescueusa.org).
This is amazing to me, that people could be so beastly to those who can't defend themselves. Who says mankind is inherently good? "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one..." (Romans 3:10)
*********************************************************************
I love my sweet friend Flowerpot. She always has a smile on her face and a good word to share. She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met, inside and out. Our girls have been in different classes this year, plus she's been working full-time and I've been so busy with Yummy, so I don't get to see her happy smile much. Since our schedules haven't matched up well this year, I like to go check out her blog to see what she and her precious family have been up to. (I like to do that anyway, but especially since we haven't seen each other much this year.) One of my "favorite" posts that she has written was back in February called "Worship Check". It's a very convicting post. She talks about how and where we spend our time and our money, and what that reveals about us. Ouch. For me, it wasn't pretty. This particular post been rolling around in my brain's very packed file cabinet, just lurking for the right time to be used. Well, God's timing is always perfect, and He brought it out of its "file drawer" and is using it in our lives to honor Him and help others. The Hoffer and I recently made a commitment to be better givers, to give to God His 10% first, even if it's difficult. (And believe me, with our economy the way it is right now, IT'S ALL DIFFICULT!) We decided to give more not just to our church, but also when we see a need. And God was faithful to give us opportunities to give RIGHT AWAY. The Hoffer was able to share with some who really needed it. I got an email from our church about a new crisis pregnancy center opening up, and we are donating a sofa/love seat combo to help get things set up. I hope I don't sound like I'm patting myself on the back...I am just so OVERJOYED at the opportunities the LORD is giving to us! How generous of HIM to give us yet another second chance to honor Him. Here are some verses He used to reiterate to me that we are to give generously:
Psalm 37:21, 25-26:
The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.
I love it when God gives me confirmation that I am on the right track...His track. :-) Thanks for the post, Flowerpot! Another jewel in your crown!!!
***********************************************************************
Little Bit has had a rough afternoon. She has two BFFs (best friends forever, if you've never heard the term) that she has known for some time and loves dearly. One of these BFFs has been very unkind to the other one, and Little Bit was defending the wrong one. It was just too difficult for her to comprehend that someone she loves so much could do something wrong. Many tears were shed, but she is coming around. We are praying for a peaceful resolution. I love that God uses difficult situations in our lives to help others in need, and I was able to tell her about similar situations from my growing-up years and how I dealt with those situations. It's a comfort to her to know that she's not the only one to go through this situation and that I can give her some advice on how to handle things. Just goes to show you that God doesn't waste anything. :-)
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Finally, we have only TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL LEFT!!! Bring on summer! I'm ready!!! And Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies and soon-to-be mommies out there!
Monday, April 27, 2009
I'm Heeeeeerrrrrre....
Wow...I have been gone a LOOOOOOOONG TIME!!! I can't believe April is almost gone! This whole year (translation: school year) has been such a blur, and my brain is so crowded with stuff. I decided I was long overdue for another blog post, so here goes.
I just HAD to share this picture. This is Little Bit with a family friend of ours from about five years ago.
OH MY WORD, ISN'T SHE ADORABLE???? She was SUCH a cute baby and toddler--she's about four, almost five here. Such a stinker. I always loved her hair like this. She hated it, but I'm pretty sure she was the only one who did. I went through a rather large box of pictures yesterday, dating waaaaaaaaaaaay back before she was even thought about! It was a ton of fun, seeing just how much Baby Bit looks like her big sister.
And speaking of Baby Bit, she will henceforth and forevermore be known as YUMMY. Because she is. Need proof?
Talk about sweet feet!!! Don't you just want to take a nibble? Here's the head-to-toe version:
And a head-shot:
Now you see why we started calling her Yummy. She's Super-Delicious!!! Many thanks to The Daily B for that fabulous--and I do mean FABULOUS!!!!--outfit. She wore it to Little Bit's school on Grandparents Day a couple of weeks ago and was a huge hit with that awesome bow! I love baby bowheads. :-)
And just in case you're wondering, yes, she smiles...quite a bit, in fact. She's incredibly ticklish, and we are merciless about making her laugh. But when it comes to pictures, I just can't catch her doing it with my camera. Argh.
Yummy had her 6-month check-up today (yes, yes, I know she's 7-1/2 months) and came through with flying colors. She is almost 17 pounds and 26-1/2 inches "tall". She is everything Little Bit was...times ten. If Little Bit was happy, Yummy is exuberant. If Little Bit was just a bit curious, Yummy is into everything. To steal a phrase from a favorite author--Deeanne Gist--she is everywhere at once! She isn't crawling yet, but when she starts I'll have to keep my running shoes on. She always wants to be doing something else. When she's sitting in her booster chair to eat, she wants to see what's going on out the window, see what Wonderdog is up to, check on the cat, play with whatever is nearby, watch her sister entertain her...you name it. She'll think about eating eventually. And when she does, it will be LOUD AND CLEAR. Did I mention she's LOUD???? It's funny to listen to her, but it can also get nerve-rattling. If I get to take a nap during the day, I can assure you...it is WELL DESERVED!!! :-) So needless to say, feeding time is interesting.
As for what she likes to eat, her favorites so far are sweet potatoes, squash and bananas. She'll also eat green beans, peas, egg yolks, banana-and-strawberry yogurt, and will try anything. She's at the age where I can puree whatever I'm eating, which is SO EXCITING to not have to make three separate meals for four people. Little Bit is very picky and won't eat what we eat. I'm hoping Yummy is different in that area.
Another first for her was our trip to the coast over Easter. The weather didn't permit much, unfortunately, but we did take the girls to the beach for a couple of hours. While Little Bit was rolling around in the sand and waves, Yummy stuck her feet in the sand and was done pretty quickly. She was ready for a bottle and a nap, which she promptly did. The rest of the weekend was a lot of fun, with the Hoffer's brother and sister plus families meeting us there. It's not often we all get together, but I was so glad we did. Brother lives in southern California with his three kiddos and sister lives in Houston with her two boys. Everyone had a busy life, so this was a treat to get to hang out with them. It was especially nice for me to have several helpers with Yummy, so my arms got to rest some. :-) Sorry, no pictures. The Hoffer packed my camera somewhere and we still haven't found it. It will show up at some point...!
Grandparents Day is a huge undertaking at Little Bit's school. I love it...taking time out of our every-day busyness to honor those very special gray heads full of wisdom. Each class prepares a little something for friends and family to perform on that day. Little Bit's class performed Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life", which became a favorite poem for me while helping Little Bit memorize it. Check this out:
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! ?
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
I am not big on poetry, but this one just jumped off the page for me from the first line. I plan to have this printed out and framed alongside the two "footprints" Little Bit made. One was for the Hoffer that said "Dear Daddy, I love the way you are funny. HAHA!" The other was for me and said, "Dear Mommy, I love the way you are perfect." (I'm going to have to keep that one handy for ammunition...;-)) She also made one for my mom, who couldn't be there because she is blind. It says "Dear Granny Bob, I'm sorry you can't see this, but I love you." She is so precious.
The Hoffer has been crazy busy expanding our business. He has been traveling a lot as well. I miss seeing him and look forward to our rare and short times together without the girls. In fact, we're going to watch some TV together and eat some super-delicious popcorn here in a few minutes. So let me share one last picture for today so I can go snuggle! This one is also about five years ago, after a race...which should explain the gear.
Okay, here are a couple more:
A contemplative moment. Not sure where this was taken...those aren't my curtains!
And would you trust your financial future to this little guy??? :-)
Ahhhh...it's good to be back in bloggerland!!!
I just HAD to share this picture. This is Little Bit with a family friend of ours from about five years ago.
OH MY WORD, ISN'T SHE ADORABLE???? She was SUCH a cute baby and toddler--she's about four, almost five here. Such a stinker. I always loved her hair like this. She hated it, but I'm pretty sure she was the only one who did. I went through a rather large box of pictures yesterday, dating waaaaaaaaaaaay back before she was even thought about! It was a ton of fun, seeing just how much Baby Bit looks like her big sister.
And speaking of Baby Bit, she will henceforth and forevermore be known as YUMMY. Because she is. Need proof?
Talk about sweet feet!!! Don't you just want to take a nibble? Here's the head-to-toe version:
And a head-shot:
Now you see why we started calling her Yummy. She's Super-Delicious!!! Many thanks to The Daily B for that fabulous--and I do mean FABULOUS!!!!--outfit. She wore it to Little Bit's school on Grandparents Day a couple of weeks ago and was a huge hit with that awesome bow! I love baby bowheads. :-)
And just in case you're wondering, yes, she smiles...quite a bit, in fact. She's incredibly ticklish, and we are merciless about making her laugh. But when it comes to pictures, I just can't catch her doing it with my camera. Argh.
Yummy had her 6-month check-up today (yes, yes, I know she's 7-1/2 months) and came through with flying colors. She is almost 17 pounds and 26-1/2 inches "tall". She is everything Little Bit was...times ten. If Little Bit was happy, Yummy is exuberant. If Little Bit was just a bit curious, Yummy is into everything. To steal a phrase from a favorite author--Deeanne Gist--she is everywhere at once! She isn't crawling yet, but when she starts I'll have to keep my running shoes on. She always wants to be doing something else. When she's sitting in her booster chair to eat, she wants to see what's going on out the window, see what Wonderdog is up to, check on the cat, play with whatever is nearby, watch her sister entertain her...you name it. She'll think about eating eventually. And when she does, it will be LOUD AND CLEAR. Did I mention she's LOUD???? It's funny to listen to her, but it can also get nerve-rattling. If I get to take a nap during the day, I can assure you...it is WELL DESERVED!!! :-) So needless to say, feeding time is interesting.
As for what she likes to eat, her favorites so far are sweet potatoes, squash and bananas. She'll also eat green beans, peas, egg yolks, banana-and-strawberry yogurt, and will try anything. She's at the age where I can puree whatever I'm eating, which is SO EXCITING to not have to make three separate meals for four people. Little Bit is very picky and won't eat what we eat. I'm hoping Yummy is different in that area.
Another first for her was our trip to the coast over Easter. The weather didn't permit much, unfortunately, but we did take the girls to the beach for a couple of hours. While Little Bit was rolling around in the sand and waves, Yummy stuck her feet in the sand and was done pretty quickly. She was ready for a bottle and a nap, which she promptly did. The rest of the weekend was a lot of fun, with the Hoffer's brother and sister plus families meeting us there. It's not often we all get together, but I was so glad we did. Brother lives in southern California with his three kiddos and sister lives in Houston with her two boys. Everyone had a busy life, so this was a treat to get to hang out with them. It was especially nice for me to have several helpers with Yummy, so my arms got to rest some. :-) Sorry, no pictures. The Hoffer packed my camera somewhere and we still haven't found it. It will show up at some point...!
Grandparents Day is a huge undertaking at Little Bit's school. I love it...taking time out of our every-day busyness to honor those very special gray heads full of wisdom. Each class prepares a little something for friends and family to perform on that day. Little Bit's class performed Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life", which became a favorite poem for me while helping Little Bit memorize it. Check this out:
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! ?
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
I am not big on poetry, but this one just jumped off the page for me from the first line. I plan to have this printed out and framed alongside the two "footprints" Little Bit made. One was for the Hoffer that said "Dear Daddy, I love the way you are funny. HAHA!" The other was for me and said, "Dear Mommy, I love the way you are perfect." (I'm going to have to keep that one handy for ammunition...;-)) She also made one for my mom, who couldn't be there because she is blind. It says "Dear Granny Bob, I'm sorry you can't see this, but I love you." She is so precious.
The Hoffer has been crazy busy expanding our business. He has been traveling a lot as well. I miss seeing him and look forward to our rare and short times together without the girls. In fact, we're going to watch some TV together and eat some super-delicious popcorn here in a few minutes. So let me share one last picture for today so I can go snuggle! This one is also about five years ago, after a race...which should explain the gear.
Okay, here are a couple more:
A contemplative moment. Not sure where this was taken...those aren't my curtains!
And would you trust your financial future to this little guy??? :-)
Ahhhh...it's good to be back in bloggerland!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day, and Thank you Deb!
Check these out, courtesy of Deb at the Daily B:
That's Baby Bit in her Valentine's finest! Isn't the hat AWESOME???? A HUUUUUUGE THANK YOU to Deb over at the Daily B! She made this and a few other hair embellishments for my girls! This is only one of them...pictures of the rest will come soon. Deb, you are such a love! Thank you for these sweet gifts! She was quite the hit at Little Bit's class Valentine's party yesterday!
That's Baby Bit in her Valentine's finest! Isn't the hat AWESOME???? A HUUUUUUGE THANK YOU to Deb over at the Daily B! She made this and a few other hair embellishments for my girls! This is only one of them...pictures of the rest will come soon. Deb, you are such a love! Thank you for these sweet gifts! She was quite the hit at Little Bit's class Valentine's party yesterday!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Final Holiday Thoughts, Facebook and Picture Day!
So Queen Flowerpot brought out her soapbox--and I LOVE it when she does--and reminded me that my list was all about "doing". My Christmas was a very "Martha" Christmas. You know, Martha in the Bible? It's found in Luke 10:38-42:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
Two Little Mermaids
I'd better stop there...Baby Bit is HUUUUUNGRRYYYYYYY!!!!
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
I really relate to Martha. It bugs me when I am "slaving away" (drama queen!) at something and others sit around, seemingly oblivious to the massive amount of "stuff" that needs to be done. It's very self-centered of me. Jesus would probably tell me the same thing He told Martha. After all, isn't Christmas His birthday? Why shouldn't He get what He wants? I love the Christmas "to-do's"...they make great memories and traditions...but they need to be in balance with what's truly important about the holiday. It's not just a cliche'; Jesus really is THE REASON for the season.
Thanks, Flowerpot, for the reminder. You can get up on your soapbox with me ANYTIME!
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I did it...I finally took the Facebook plunge!!!! On one hand, it's a drudgery to have one more computer-related thing to keep up with. On the other hand, I have friends from high school that I haven't seen since graduation that I found on Facebook, so I'm very excited about that. I was tagged by one such friend to post a 25 Random Things About Me, so if you are on Facebook, I would love to have you check it out. I had fun writing it, and it's a little different from the 7 Random Things I posted here last year.
I really tried to avoid the whole Facebook thing, but I had to finally give in. Little Bit wanted a page so bad, so I caved. She's the main reason I joined: I wanted to be able to see what it was all about and keep an eye on her all at the same time. Check me out if you're on Facebook too!
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My internet connection is finally fixed, and I can now post some pictures!!! YIPPEE! It's embarrassing...all it took was the push of a button. Argh...that's maddening. Anyway, here are some pictures I've been wanting to share. Enjoy!
I think she's about 3 months here.
No, we didn't give her the ice cream!!! But oh, she wants it baaaaad!!! That's my girl!!!
Wonderdog has great respect for the Dog Whisperer!
The HOFFER came up with this idea: Baby Bit's pacifier holder attached to the bottle to give her (him?) a "hands-free" feeding system. I'm not sure if I'm proud or embarrassed.
Baby Bit is about 2 months old here. Little Bit loves her baby sister! Next are some shots from Halloween:
My "little mermaids" and their daddy.
Two Little Mermaids
I'd better stop there...Baby Bit is HUUUUUNGRRYYYYYYY!!!!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Holiday "Hmmm"s
Was your holiday fun? Ours has been busy yet quiet. Not much planned but so busy with preparations for what little we did do. I'm looking forward to Little Bit going back to school next week, and yet I have loved having her here. She has touched my heart in some very special ways. At bedtime she gets cups of water for The HOFFER and me to keep on our bedside tables overnight. One night she pre-made some bottles for Baby Bit and put them in the refrigerator before heading to bed. One of the Christmas gifts she made for each of us was a "Gift of Words". She wrote out an anagram of our names plus Mommy and Daddy, and the words she came up with for us were so very sweet. Here's what she wrote for us:
D ude
A ctive
D addy-tastic
D addy-fun
Y ou rock!!!
M ommy-tastic
O ptimistic
M ore better than any mommy
M ore helping than anybody
Y ou are nice
I love the "D is for DUDE"...spot on!!! Oh my goodness...my daughter is the sweetest. I am so blessed.
I am craving some normalcy and routine. My brain just isn't up to the activity of the holidays this year. Perhaps a "new baby" thing, but I really feel like I've blown it to a certain extent this year. I know I'm still adjusting to Baby Bit and figuring out the "new mommy" thing again, but I still think I should've been able to make the holiday time more special than it was. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself, maybe not...I don't know. But the holiday is about over, so I can only go forward from here and try to do better next year. This time of year is one of Little Bit's favorites, so I hate that we didn't do more festive things. Thankfully, she doesn't seem very disappointed in her break, I don't think. At least I did my Christmas letter with pictures this year...although I have yet to send it out. Well, it's more than I did last year.
So what do I wish I had done this Christmas?
1. Get my Christmas shopping started and done much earlier, like July
2. Bake cookies and other goodies to give to neighbors and friends
3. Not leave teacher and classmate gifts for last-minute
4. Get Christmas cards/letters with pictures out by first half of December
5. Decorate house, inside and out (we did get the tree done!)
6. Make hot chocolate (the recipe on the Hershey's cocoa box is THE BEST!!!)
7. Check out Christmas lights more often (Little Bit loves doing this, especially in her pj's)
8. Set out cookies for Santa (even though we've had the Santa talk, we decided to go ahead and set cookies out for him anyway, just because it's fun.)
9. Had breakfast, lunch and dinner already prepared and ready to go into the oven so I wouldn't end up cooking and cleaning the kitchen for the majority of the day
10. Watched more Christmas specials with my family
However, since I'm so optimistic (Little Bit used this one because she couldn't think of a word that started with O!!!), I'm going to be glad for the things I did do:
1. Printed out Christmas newsletter with pictures of both girls to send out
2. Decorated tree
3. Made cookies for Little Bit's classmates and teacher, plus had extras to give out (a total fluke but still warrants bonus points!)
4. Made it to Little Bit's class Christmas party and took pictures
5. Drove around neighborhood looking at Christmas lights at least two, maybe three times
6. Drove through "Santa's Ranch" light display (required a 30-minute drive south of town and a 40-ish minute wait in line just to get in, plus $20 entry...ouch)
7. Didn't arrive empty-handed to brother's Christmas shin-dig...took cookies
8. Had my traditional gift-wrapping time while watching the traditional 24 hours of "A Christmas Story" on TBS
9. Watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" about six times and "The Grinch" about four times with Little Bit
10. Had a sweet baby added to my Christmas celebration
11. Read through "What God Wants for Christmas" with my family
At least I had more positives than negatives. That's not such a bad thing. And again, maybe I'm being too hard on myself. But there are women out there who can do all this stuff and more in addition to having a baby...I'm just not one of them. It seems I can't get my act together since bringing Baby Bit home. I've never been very "together" in the first place, and having a baby seems to have brought my worst incompetence to the forefront. My consolation is that I know what I need to work on and what to plan for next Christmas. And while I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, I do love having a fresh start, a clean slate, or a second chance. And that, for me, is the beauty of the new year.
D ude
A ctive
D addy-tastic
D addy-fun
Y ou rock!!!
M ommy-tastic
O ptimistic
M ore better than any mommy
M ore helping than anybody
Y ou are nice
I love the "D is for DUDE"...spot on!!! Oh my goodness...my daughter is the sweetest. I am so blessed.
I am craving some normalcy and routine. My brain just isn't up to the activity of the holidays this year. Perhaps a "new baby" thing, but I really feel like I've blown it to a certain extent this year. I know I'm still adjusting to Baby Bit and figuring out the "new mommy" thing again, but I still think I should've been able to make the holiday time more special than it was. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself, maybe not...I don't know. But the holiday is about over, so I can only go forward from here and try to do better next year. This time of year is one of Little Bit's favorites, so I hate that we didn't do more festive things. Thankfully, she doesn't seem very disappointed in her break, I don't think. At least I did my Christmas letter with pictures this year...although I have yet to send it out. Well, it's more than I did last year.
So what do I wish I had done this Christmas?
1. Get my Christmas shopping started and done much earlier, like July
2. Bake cookies and other goodies to give to neighbors and friends
3. Not leave teacher and classmate gifts for last-minute
4. Get Christmas cards/letters with pictures out by first half of December
5. Decorate house, inside and out (we did get the tree done!)
6. Make hot chocolate (the recipe on the Hershey's cocoa box is THE BEST!!!)
7. Check out Christmas lights more often (Little Bit loves doing this, especially in her pj's)
8. Set out cookies for Santa (even though we've had the Santa talk, we decided to go ahead and set cookies out for him anyway, just because it's fun.)
9. Had breakfast, lunch and dinner already prepared and ready to go into the oven so I wouldn't end up cooking and cleaning the kitchen for the majority of the day
10. Watched more Christmas specials with my family
However, since I'm so optimistic (Little Bit used this one because she couldn't think of a word that started with O!!!), I'm going to be glad for the things I did do:
1. Printed out Christmas newsletter with pictures of both girls to send out
2. Decorated tree
3. Made cookies for Little Bit's classmates and teacher, plus had extras to give out (a total fluke but still warrants bonus points!)
4. Made it to Little Bit's class Christmas party and took pictures
5. Drove around neighborhood looking at Christmas lights at least two, maybe three times
6. Drove through "Santa's Ranch" light display (required a 30-minute drive south of town and a 40-ish minute wait in line just to get in, plus $20 entry...ouch)
7. Didn't arrive empty-handed to brother's Christmas shin-dig...took cookies
8. Had my traditional gift-wrapping time while watching the traditional 24 hours of "A Christmas Story" on TBS
9. Watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" about six times and "The Grinch" about four times with Little Bit
10. Had a sweet baby added to my Christmas celebration
11. Read through "What God Wants for Christmas" with my family
At least I had more positives than negatives. That's not such a bad thing. And again, maybe I'm being too hard on myself. But there are women out there who can do all this stuff and more in addition to having a baby...I'm just not one of them. It seems I can't get my act together since bringing Baby Bit home. I've never been very "together" in the first place, and having a baby seems to have brought my worst incompetence to the forefront. My consolation is that I know what I need to work on and what to plan for next Christmas. And while I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, I do love having a fresh start, a clean slate, or a second chance. And that, for me, is the beauty of the new year.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Daytime Drama...or 57 Channels and Nothing's On
When I was in high school, many of the popular girls watched soap operas, or as they are called today, DAYTIME DRAMAS. And because I wanted to be popular too (I wasn't part of that group), I started watching soaps as well. I started with "All My Children", since that was the one I had heard the most about. Once I was hooked there, I added "General Hospital" to the list. Eventually, since "One Life to Live" was right between the other two, I ended up watching three hours of soaps each day that particular summer.
Alas, if I could only have THAT time back!!!
Since then, I have cut out watching television during the day. I simply don't have time for it. Yes, ladies, even Oprah. I actually never really got in to Oprah (GASP!!!). I did watch her show a few times, and each time ended up being a huge emotional investment, usually either tears or anger. As I said before, I just don't have time, or energy, for that.
Oh, and no offense intended to those of you who do watch soaps. They're just not my thing.
Once Baby Bit was born, however, I needed something to do while nursing her. Normally I would've grabbed a book and polished it off by the time she was done feeding. But I was typically in a sleep-deprived stupor, so if I read anything, I would have to go back and read it again later since I wasn't quite coherent enough to grasp it. So I grabbed the remote and started flipping. It took me a while, but I ran across a few daytime shows that I actually like. Some I had heard of for some time but had never seen; others were completely new to me. So here, in no particular order, is some of my favorite mindless drivel from daytime TV:
1. Clean House & Clean House Comes Clean (The Style Network): okay, this one really is my favorite. They ask such great questions when helping a family declutter their home. So great, in fact, that it has inspired me to go through my stuff and get rid of some things with which I thought I would never part. My grandfather's rocking chair, for example. I never sit in it, and neither does anyone else. I don't even remember my grandfather sitting in it, for that matter, so it doesn't really hold any memories for me. All it does is act as a catch-all, so out it goes. Too bad...it's a beautiful chair with a great creaking noise. :-) But I'm getting rid of it. Little Bit has begun tossing a few things as well. Maybe by this time next year my house will be a Clean House! :-)
2. Airline (The Biography Channel): THIS one scares me a bit. It shows typical daily drama for airline employees. It's amazing what is required of the employees in this industry. One episode in particular showed a passenger that had been removed from the plane because she was drunk. The poor employee that had to deal with her got a verbal assault full of expletives that went on for quite some time. Makes me a little nervous about flying. I think I'll stick to ground travel.
3. What Not To Wear (The Learning Channel): This is a fun show! I LOOOOOOVE before-&-after shows, and this is a good one. Stacy and Clinton are just a bit on the pompous side, I think, but I suppose they can be because they are good at what they do. Nick and Carmady, the hair guy and make-up babe, are incredibly compassionate with the people they help. Stacy and Clinton could use a dose of that. After all, there's no need to ridicule someone who doesn't know better. If they know better and don't act on it, well, THEN they can be uppity. But some of these people just plain don't have a clue and DESPERATELY need the help. All in all, they do a good job, and I love the show.
4. Carter Can/Red, Hot and Green (HGTV & DIY Networks): These two shows have Carter Oosterhaus as their host, and I just like to watch him. He makes my eyes feel good. ;-)
5. Ace of Cakes (Food Network): Love, love, LOVE Duff and his gang!!! These people are absolutely AMAAAAAAAAAZING when it comes to decorating cakes!!! They seem to have a lot of fun doing it too.
So those are my top favorites, but there are a few others I like that didn't make my favorites list: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and Food Detectives (both on Food Network); I Want That! and any of its "sub-shows" like I Want That! Tech Toys/Kitchens/Bathrooms (Fine Living Network...actually this one should be on my list! It's awesome!); What You Get For The Money (also on FLN), and Cool Tools (DIY Network). That last one is an oddity for me. I'm not a tool-gal, but some of the tools this guys shows are pretty cool, even for those of use who are "DIY-challenged".
So maybe daytime TV isn't quite so mindless after all. :-)
Alas, if I could only have THAT time back!!!
Since then, I have cut out watching television during the day. I simply don't have time for it. Yes, ladies, even Oprah. I actually never really got in to Oprah (GASP!!!). I did watch her show a few times, and each time ended up being a huge emotional investment, usually either tears or anger. As I said before, I just don't have time, or energy, for that.
Oh, and no offense intended to those of you who do watch soaps. They're just not my thing.
Once Baby Bit was born, however, I needed something to do while nursing her. Normally I would've grabbed a book and polished it off by the time she was done feeding. But I was typically in a sleep-deprived stupor, so if I read anything, I would have to go back and read it again later since I wasn't quite coherent enough to grasp it. So I grabbed the remote and started flipping. It took me a while, but I ran across a few daytime shows that I actually like. Some I had heard of for some time but had never seen; others were completely new to me. So here, in no particular order, is some of my favorite mindless drivel from daytime TV:
1. Clean House & Clean House Comes Clean (The Style Network): okay, this one really is my favorite. They ask such great questions when helping a family declutter their home. So great, in fact, that it has inspired me to go through my stuff and get rid of some things with which I thought I would never part. My grandfather's rocking chair, for example. I never sit in it, and neither does anyone else. I don't even remember my grandfather sitting in it, for that matter, so it doesn't really hold any memories for me. All it does is act as a catch-all, so out it goes. Too bad...it's a beautiful chair with a great creaking noise. :-) But I'm getting rid of it. Little Bit has begun tossing a few things as well. Maybe by this time next year my house will be a Clean House! :-)
2. Airline (The Biography Channel): THIS one scares me a bit. It shows typical daily drama for airline employees. It's amazing what is required of the employees in this industry. One episode in particular showed a passenger that had been removed from the plane because she was drunk. The poor employee that had to deal with her got a verbal assault full of expletives that went on for quite some time. Makes me a little nervous about flying. I think I'll stick to ground travel.
3. What Not To Wear (The Learning Channel): This is a fun show! I LOOOOOOVE before-&-after shows, and this is a good one. Stacy and Clinton are just a bit on the pompous side, I think, but I suppose they can be because they are good at what they do. Nick and Carmady, the hair guy and make-up babe, are incredibly compassionate with the people they help. Stacy and Clinton could use a dose of that. After all, there's no need to ridicule someone who doesn't know better. If they know better and don't act on it, well, THEN they can be uppity. But some of these people just plain don't have a clue and DESPERATELY need the help. All in all, they do a good job, and I love the show.
4. Carter Can/Red, Hot and Green (HGTV & DIY Networks): These two shows have Carter Oosterhaus as their host, and I just like to watch him. He makes my eyes feel good. ;-)
5. Ace of Cakes (Food Network): Love, love, LOVE Duff and his gang!!! These people are absolutely AMAAAAAAAAAZING when it comes to decorating cakes!!! They seem to have a lot of fun doing it too.
So those are my top favorites, but there are a few others I like that didn't make my favorites list: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and Food Detectives (both on Food Network); I Want That! and any of its "sub-shows" like I Want That! Tech Toys/Kitchens/Bathrooms (Fine Living Network...actually this one should be on my list! It's awesome!); What You Get For The Money (also on FLN), and Cool Tools (DIY Network). That last one is an oddity for me. I'm not a tool-gal, but some of the tools this guys shows are pretty cool, even for those of use who are "DIY-challenged".
So maybe daytime TV isn't quite so mindless after all. :-)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
If A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...
...then what follows are several thousand words, and I don't need to say anything else! :-) I had hoped to post more but am having trouble, either with my laptop (no surprise there) or Blogger. Either way, I hope you enjoy what I have so far. :-)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
For Someone Special
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JENSTER,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!
Hope you have a fabulous day, Jenster! My life is richer for knowing you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JENSTER,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!
Hope you have a fabulous day, Jenster! My life is richer for knowing you.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Bits of Updates
Get it? I made a BIT of a joke there...small pun...remember? I call my girls Little Bit and Baby Bit? Okay, so it's not THAT funny. I got a giggle out of it.
So my girls are doing well. Baby Bit is two months old now, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, and 23 inches long...or tall. Everyone who sees her comments on how tiny she is, but she is, according to her pediatrician, tall (75th percentile for height) and healthy (50th percentile for weight). She had her first set of vaccines on Tuesday, and she did not like them ONE LITTLE BIT (no, I was not trying to make another "bit" pun.). She is a sensitive little girl; when she gets cold, it's to the bone and she cries bitterly to let us know she needs a blanket. When she feels pain, it is very intense. Little Bit handled her first shots pretty well, but not so much Baby Bit. She had a tough night getting over them. I gave her a tiny dose of Infant Tylenol and she slept and slept and slept, and felt better the next morning. She has two major accomplishments of late: 1) she sleeps through the night (AT LAST!!!); and 2) she can turn over from her back to her tummy! We are oh so proud. :-)
Little Bit has us a bit (there it is again!) puzzled. She is not a tidy girl...not even remotely. If I could post a picture of her playroom, you would see just how much STUFF we have allowed her to accumulate over her short life. If you've ever watched "Clean House", you'll get an idea of what her bedroom and playroom are like. She comes by it honestly; I was the same way as a kid. Now that I'm grown up, I'm still not terribly tidy, but I'm not quite as messy as she is. So I bought her "Clutter Control" from American Girl. She's had it for several months but not applied any of the suggestions given in the book...till recently. We gave her some new storage in her bedroom, which gave her a place to put many of her favorite dolls and stuffed animals. I'm so impressed...she has kept her room picked up and walkable. I caught her cleaning out and organizing her notebook for school. Her bathroom is actually clean...and I didn't do it...SHE DID! She asked me if she could sweep the porch. Next she wants to tackle her playroom (which, once it's done, will be Baby Bit's room. I think she has forgotten this fact.). I am fairly certain that an alien has been switched out for Little Bit.
Finally, the COOLEST thing EVER happened to The HOFFER. HE HAS A TROPHY NAMED IN HIS HONOR! Is that not WAY COOL???? Here is the announcement that was made about the trophy:
We have a special surprise this year! It has been in the making for several years. It is our new "best of show" trophy. It is being named the Cash Matthews trophy. We picked Cash because of his Oklahoma background and if you have ever met him you would know there is no other individual who deserves this more! Right attitude, loves god and family and is a top notch representative for BMX. In the years Past we have also let Cash and the current ABA Hall of famers pick the winner. This year it will probably be half Cash/HOL and half fan favorite vote! If you win the trophy you can keep it for the following year for display with your bike. There will also be a number plate on the bars to keep forever that will have info on sponsors and to be a excellent thing to hang on the bike. The only thing we ask is that the trophy be returned by Oct. 1, 2008 to be engraved with the 08 winners info. This thing is huge and weighs a ton! LOL, so be prepared to ship it back if you win out! We would like to thank thumperpilot and the ABA for all the help they give to make this a fun deal for everyone. Also thanks to Osrlracer for his help in years past. BMX cyclery of Sand Springs,Vintagebmx.com, OSBMX.com and HRP number plates for letting us use some logos and for all the good work they do! And thanks to Cash for letting us put his name on the trophy.
What else can you say about something like that except "HOW COOL!!!!"!
Gotta go pick up Little Bit from school. More on the trophy thing, as well as the girls, soon.
So my girls are doing well. Baby Bit is two months old now, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, and 23 inches long...or tall. Everyone who sees her comments on how tiny she is, but she is, according to her pediatrician, tall (75th percentile for height) and healthy (50th percentile for weight). She had her first set of vaccines on Tuesday, and she did not like them ONE LITTLE BIT (no, I was not trying to make another "bit" pun.). She is a sensitive little girl; when she gets cold, it's to the bone and she cries bitterly to let us know she needs a blanket. When she feels pain, it is very intense. Little Bit handled her first shots pretty well, but not so much Baby Bit. She had a tough night getting over them. I gave her a tiny dose of Infant Tylenol and she slept and slept and slept, and felt better the next morning. She has two major accomplishments of late: 1) she sleeps through the night (AT LAST!!!); and 2) she can turn over from her back to her tummy! We are oh so proud. :-)
Little Bit has us a bit (there it is again!) puzzled. She is not a tidy girl...not even remotely. If I could post a picture of her playroom, you would see just how much STUFF we have allowed her to accumulate over her short life. If you've ever watched "Clean House", you'll get an idea of what her bedroom and playroom are like. She comes by it honestly; I was the same way as a kid. Now that I'm grown up, I'm still not terribly tidy, but I'm not quite as messy as she is. So I bought her "Clutter Control" from American Girl. She's had it for several months but not applied any of the suggestions given in the book...till recently. We gave her some new storage in her bedroom, which gave her a place to put many of her favorite dolls and stuffed animals. I'm so impressed...she has kept her room picked up and walkable. I caught her cleaning out and organizing her notebook for school. Her bathroom is actually clean...and I didn't do it...SHE DID! She asked me if she could sweep the porch. Next she wants to tackle her playroom (which, once it's done, will be Baby Bit's room. I think she has forgotten this fact.). I am fairly certain that an alien has been switched out for Little Bit.
Finally, the COOLEST thing EVER happened to The HOFFER. HE HAS A TROPHY NAMED IN HIS HONOR! Is that not WAY COOL???? Here is the announcement that was made about the trophy:
We have a special surprise this year! It has been in the making for several years. It is our new "best of show" trophy. It is being named the Cash Matthews trophy. We picked Cash because of his Oklahoma background and if you have ever met him you would know there is no other individual who deserves this more! Right attitude, loves god and family and is a top notch representative for BMX. In the years Past we have also let Cash and the current ABA Hall of famers pick the winner. This year it will probably be half Cash/HOL and half fan favorite vote! If you win the trophy you can keep it for the following year for display with your bike. There will also be a number plate on the bars to keep forever that will have info on sponsors and to be a excellent thing to hang on the bike. The only thing we ask is that the trophy be returned by Oct. 1, 2008 to be engraved with the 08 winners info. This thing is huge and weighs a ton! LOL, so be prepared to ship it back if you win out! We would like to thank thumperpilot and the ABA for all the help they give to make this a fun deal for everyone. Also thanks to Osrlracer for his help in years past. BMX cyclery of Sand Springs,Vintagebmx.com, OSBMX.com and HRP number plates for letting us use some logos and for all the good work they do! And thanks to Cash for letting us put his name on the trophy.
What else can you say about something like that except "HOW COOL!!!!"!
Gotta go pick up Little Bit from school. More on the trophy thing, as well as the girls, soon.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Of Babies And Their Stuffs
As I sit at The Hoffer's computer, Baby Bit on one hand while slooooooowly typing with the other, I am truly regretting my decision to wear a black shirt. The pool of spit-up on my left shoulder just doesn't go as well with it as I had anticipated. Neither does the follow-up shot flowing down the middle of my shirt. I prefer dirty diapers to spit-up. They are contained much better and have fewer surprises than a spit-up episode. Seems with spit-up there can never be enough urp rags to be found. A large tarp isn't big enough to protect me from the spit-up tsunami.
Baby Bit is 7 weeks old and doing beautifully. She has big dark blue eyes (at least for now), chubby cheeks, a dusting of red hair, and a gorgeous Gerber-baby smile. She can be embarrassingly loud, is fascinated by ceiling fans and mobiles, gets cold easily, and has a special wail for whatever she needs to communicate (hungry, tired, wet diaper, etc.). She "performs" extremely well for others: smiles, funny faces, great noises. When I nurse her, she often looks up at me like she knows something I don't and the joke's on me. She spits out her pacifier whenever something is about to come out, regardless of which end or what bodily function it may be. Except for the lack of hair, she looks just like Little Bit's baby pictures. And speaking of pictures, I have a TON that I want to post. Unfortunately, we are down to only one computer and it's not mine. I am hopeful our computer issues will be fixed soon. I am DYING to show her off!!! Till then, it's good to be back in cyberspace and feeling mostly normal again. I hope to resume my blog-hopping activities very soon! I'd better go for now. It has taken at least 30 minutes to type this short post! This one-handed stuff is anything but efficient.
Uh oh, the pacifier just came out. I NEED TO TAKE COVER! Ooops...too late. Time to change clothes...AGAIN. ;-)
Baby Bit is 7 weeks old and doing beautifully. She has big dark blue eyes (at least for now), chubby cheeks, a dusting of red hair, and a gorgeous Gerber-baby smile. She can be embarrassingly loud, is fascinated by ceiling fans and mobiles, gets cold easily, and has a special wail for whatever she needs to communicate (hungry, tired, wet diaper, etc.). She "performs" extremely well for others: smiles, funny faces, great noises. When I nurse her, she often looks up at me like she knows something I don't and the joke's on me. She spits out her pacifier whenever something is about to come out, regardless of which end or what bodily function it may be. Except for the lack of hair, she looks just like Little Bit's baby pictures. And speaking of pictures, I have a TON that I want to post. Unfortunately, we are down to only one computer and it's not mine. I am hopeful our computer issues will be fixed soon. I am DYING to show her off!!! Till then, it's good to be back in cyberspace and feeling mostly normal again. I hope to resume my blog-hopping activities very soon! I'd better go for now. It has taken at least 30 minutes to type this short post! This one-handed stuff is anything but efficient.
Uh oh, the pacifier just came out. I NEED TO TAKE COVER! Ooops...too late. Time to change clothes...AGAIN. ;-)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
So....It's been awhile since I checked my mailbox...
You can see by this picture that our postal carrier is a VEEEERRRRRYYYYY understanding woman!!!!
If you have sent us something recently but haven't heard a reply from us, rest assured that it's not for a lack of gratitude, but rather a lack of sleep. I take every opportunity I get to take a much-needed nap. My email inbox looks very similar to this stack of "snail mail". If you'll bear with me for just a bit, I promise you'll hear from me soon! Know that we feel so very blessed by all of you. I am so humbled that so many are rejoicing with us over our new family member. You have all been so very generous with your lovely gifts, not just for Baby Bit but Little Bit as well!!! And the meals being brought in...I LOVE IT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE COOKS!!! (The HOFFER just appreciates THAT someone cooks...PERIOD!)
So until I am back to my "normal" self, here are some pictures to keep you occupied. Enjoy, and once again, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, September 19, 2008
My Girls
Chubby cheeks: born 09/09/08; 7 pounds, 14 oz, 20-1/2 inches long at 8:03 am; looks like my dad!
Little Bit and Baby Bit
Everyone home and healthy. More to come...right now I need a nap!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Last Post Before THE BIG DAY
I can't believe it...I'm almost done, and my new daughter will be here tomorrow. It's still all just a bit surreal to me, but I know it will become VERY REAL tomorrow morning. We arrive at the hospital at 5 am, and Baby Bit should be here in the flesh by 7:30 am, assuming all goes as it should. So forgive this very short post...there will be more tomorrow. :-)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Worthy Reads from Cash Flows and The Coffee Stop
I don't have a whole lot to say today, so be sure to check out The HOFFER's most recent post over at Cash Flows. He always has something worth reading.
Another good read is my buddy Shauna over at The Coffee Stop. She has a funny post today...of course about those boys of hers!!!
We had our final OB appointment before Baby Bit arrives today...pretty much the same...all is well. We go in next Tuesday, bright and early (bright being a relative term!) at 5 am. If you're up at that time, please pray for us. I expect everything to go smoothly and without incident, but there are always those inherent risks involved with surgery that, in my opinion, would be better served with a large dose of prayer and God's grace. So thanks in advance for praying for us. :-)
It's past my bedtime, so I'm heading to bed. More this weekend. :-)
Another good read is my buddy Shauna over at The Coffee Stop. She has a funny post today...of course about those boys of hers!!!
We had our final OB appointment before Baby Bit arrives today...pretty much the same...all is well. We go in next Tuesday, bright and early (bright being a relative term!) at 5 am. If you're up at that time, please pray for us. I expect everything to go smoothly and without incident, but there are always those inherent risks involved with surgery that, in my opinion, would be better served with a large dose of prayer and God's grace. So thanks in advance for praying for us. :-)
It's past my bedtime, so I'm heading to bed. More this weekend. :-)
Monday, September 1, 2008
Happy "Going Into Labor" Day?
OH, HOW I WISH!!! I am SO VERY ready to have this baby! I will give you one last belly shot later this week, as well as a look at some of our sweet baby goodies.
Yesterday we went to the mall and did some shopping. The HOFFER took Little Bit to Build-a-Bear to spend birthday money from Grandma, and I went to the maternity store to get some must-have nursing items. And now that I have THAT out of the way, Baby Bit can come anytime she wants!!! I must admit I am a bit torn: while I am anxious to be done and have Baby Bit here, I also like the stability of knowing exactly when/where/who for my C-section on September 9th. If she decides to come before then (and I don't yet have any indication that she will), everything will have to be taken care of spontaneously and there will be some questions: will my doctor or a fill-in be there; can I get WonderDog into the kennel right now; did I pack everything I need, etc. If I can hang on for EIGHT MORE DAYS for my scheduled C-section, everything is a known factor and falls easily into place. So you understand my dilemma.
While we were at the mall yesterday, we ran into some friends of ours who were shopping for a mutual BMX buddy who is turning 40 this week. They decided, as did most of us, to get him a gag gift, and they chose a book titled "Sex After 40". Opening the book, you find a bunch of blank pages. These friends showed the book to their daughter, who is a freshman in college. She took one look at the title, and a look of abject fear at the prospect of looking inside the book spread quickly across her face! It was priceless! And yes, she took a chance and peeked inside. You could see the relief engulf her. :-)
After the mall, we headed to the Birthday Boy's house for a surprise party. When he opened his "Sex After 40" book, I was able to raise my hand and "debunk that myth!" The HOFFER raised his arms as if in victory. :-) It was a fun time but a long evening, and I was glad to get home. Today is a day to stay home, relax and do some "quiet" things, like write thank-you notes, finish some school items with Little Bit, take a much-needed nap, and of course, write the obligatory blog post. I had a pretty long post rolling around in my head early this morning as I tried to go back to sleep, but much of it has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Alas, Pregnant Brain strikes again! So it's back to bed I go for yet another nap...or perhaps to the kitchen for something to eat! More later this week!
Yesterday we went to the mall and did some shopping. The HOFFER took Little Bit to Build-a-Bear to spend birthday money from Grandma, and I went to the maternity store to get some must-have nursing items. And now that I have THAT out of the way, Baby Bit can come anytime she wants!!! I must admit I am a bit torn: while I am anxious to be done and have Baby Bit here, I also like the stability of knowing exactly when/where/who for my C-section on September 9th. If she decides to come before then (and I don't yet have any indication that she will), everything will have to be taken care of spontaneously and there will be some questions: will my doctor or a fill-in be there; can I get WonderDog into the kennel right now; did I pack everything I need, etc. If I can hang on for EIGHT MORE DAYS for my scheduled C-section, everything is a known factor and falls easily into place. So you understand my dilemma.
While we were at the mall yesterday, we ran into some friends of ours who were shopping for a mutual BMX buddy who is turning 40 this week. They decided, as did most of us, to get him a gag gift, and they chose a book titled "Sex After 40". Opening the book, you find a bunch of blank pages. These friends showed the book to their daughter, who is a freshman in college. She took one look at the title, and a look of abject fear at the prospect of looking inside the book spread quickly across her face! It was priceless! And yes, she took a chance and peeked inside. You could see the relief engulf her. :-)
After the mall, we headed to the Birthday Boy's house for a surprise party. When he opened his "Sex After 40" book, I was able to raise my hand and "debunk that myth!" The HOFFER raised his arms as if in victory. :-) It was a fun time but a long evening, and I was glad to get home. Today is a day to stay home, relax and do some "quiet" things, like write thank-you notes, finish some school items with Little Bit, take a much-needed nap, and of course, write the obligatory blog post. I had a pretty long post rolling around in my head early this morning as I tried to go back to sleep, but much of it has gone the way of the Dodo bird. Alas, Pregnant Brain strikes again! So it's back to bed I go for yet another nap...or perhaps to the kitchen for something to eat! More later this week!
Monday, August 25, 2008
If You Blinked, You Missed It
Didja' see any of the BMX coverage from the Olympics? Wowee...what coverage. I'm overwhelmed. I'm sorry, but plain and simple, IT SUCKED. Bob Costas, on the air, states that BMX "is a sport I know nothing about." Oh, silly me, I THOUGHT IT WAS YOUR JOB TO KNOW THIS STUFF. ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU GET PAID TO DO????? Nicely done, genius.
Oh, did I just write that out loud?
Because it rained in Beijing, BMX got rained out for a day, as the track was an outdoor track. (Yes, some tracks are indoors.) The good thing about that is our buddy Kyle Bennett had wrecked and dislocated his shoulder in one of his qualifying races, and that rain delay gave him an extra day to recover. The bad thing was it knocked most of the races off your TV screen, so BMX didn't get the coverage we had hoped to see. So in case you missed it, Latvia won the gold, and the US brought home the silver and bronze. Our friend Donny Robinson was the bronze medal winner! WOO HOO!!! Congrats!!!
***************************************************************************
Hang on...WonderDog needs a bathroom break, and I don't really want him using my carpet as his toilet.
Okay...thanks for waiting. I'm back.
***************************************************************************
School started up again for us last Thursday. I used to think this was a stupid idea, starting school with only a couple of days left in a week, but my mind has since been changed. The nice thing is it lets the kids, parents, teachers, etc., ease into the new school year. This way the getting up early for the first time in literally months isn't quite as painful, because only a couple of days later you get the weekend off to recoup from the initial shock. Little Bit LOOOOOOVES her 4th grade teacher, but school in general, and homework specifically, is definitely not her favorite thing. That should come as no surprise...neither the HOFFER nor I were that fond of school, so we get it. It's the vocalization of those dislikes that has become the issue at hand. Little Bit is not one of these people that gets things done in a hurry when assigned a task she dislikes. She draaaaaaaaaags it out, procrastinating in the hopes that she can get out of whatever task it might be, complaining the entire way, and generally making life miserable for anyone within earshot. And believe me, she does not give in easily. While I appreciate her dedication to her cause, there's always a point where she just needs to give in, suck it up and deal with it. Unfortunately, she hasn't figured that out yet.
If WE don't figure this out, this is going to be a very...long...year.
On a lighter note, if you haven't read Jenster's posts about her kids starting school, it's a riot!!! Here's "Ye Olde Tale" and "Ye Olde Tale, Part II". Quick, go read them, then pop back here. I'll wait.
*************************************************************************************
Oh, back already? That Jenster is a hoot, isn't she???
So I'm just a couple of weeks away from my scheduled C-section, and let me tell you just how excited I am about it. I can't wait for someone else to hold this very precious yet very wiggly baby girl. Things continue to progress as they should, and I've noticed a few contractions here and there. Nothing very strong...yet...but contractions nonetheless. After all, my body doesn't care if I'm having a C-section or not. We are just about prepared for her arrival. I have a few nursing items still to buy, but that should be an easy thing to get done. I frequently get asked if the nursery is ready, and the answer is no. Perhaps I should have taken care of that during my second trimester when I had the energy, but I figured she's not going to be sleeping in there any time soon, so I wasn't too worried about it. The problem that has arisen, however, is where I put all her STUFF: clothes, toys, etc. So I'm having to make room in my room for everything. Not too big a deal, but some of my wonderfully generous friends have given us clothes for several months down the road. I hope I don't sound ungrateful...I'm not. I just planned poorly. Oh well...it will all work out...somehow.
*****************************************************************************
I should probably add something else here, but I got nothing. So I'll stop here for now.
Oh, did I just write that out loud?
Because it rained in Beijing, BMX got rained out for a day, as the track was an outdoor track. (Yes, some tracks are indoors.) The good thing about that is our buddy Kyle Bennett had wrecked and dislocated his shoulder in one of his qualifying races, and that rain delay gave him an extra day to recover. The bad thing was it knocked most of the races off your TV screen, so BMX didn't get the coverage we had hoped to see. So in case you missed it, Latvia won the gold, and the US brought home the silver and bronze. Our friend Donny Robinson was the bronze medal winner! WOO HOO!!! Congrats!!!
***************************************************************************
Hang on...WonderDog needs a bathroom break, and I don't really want him using my carpet as his toilet.
Okay...thanks for waiting. I'm back.
***************************************************************************
School started up again for us last Thursday. I used to think this was a stupid idea, starting school with only a couple of days left in a week, but my mind has since been changed. The nice thing is it lets the kids, parents, teachers, etc., ease into the new school year. This way the getting up early for the first time in literally months isn't quite as painful, because only a couple of days later you get the weekend off to recoup from the initial shock. Little Bit LOOOOOOVES her 4th grade teacher, but school in general, and homework specifically, is definitely not her favorite thing. That should come as no surprise...neither the HOFFER nor I were that fond of school, so we get it. It's the vocalization of those dislikes that has become the issue at hand. Little Bit is not one of these people that gets things done in a hurry when assigned a task she dislikes. She draaaaaaaaaags it out, procrastinating in the hopes that she can get out of whatever task it might be, complaining the entire way, and generally making life miserable for anyone within earshot. And believe me, she does not give in easily. While I appreciate her dedication to her cause, there's always a point where she just needs to give in, suck it up and deal with it. Unfortunately, she hasn't figured that out yet.
If WE don't figure this out, this is going to be a very...long...year.
On a lighter note, if you haven't read Jenster's posts about her kids starting school, it's a riot!!! Here's "Ye Olde Tale" and "Ye Olde Tale, Part II". Quick, go read them, then pop back here. I'll wait.
*************************************************************************************
Oh, back already? That Jenster is a hoot, isn't she???
So I'm just a couple of weeks away from my scheduled C-section, and let me tell you just how excited I am about it. I can't wait for someone else to hold this very precious yet very wiggly baby girl. Things continue to progress as they should, and I've noticed a few contractions here and there. Nothing very strong...yet...but contractions nonetheless. After all, my body doesn't care if I'm having a C-section or not. We are just about prepared for her arrival. I have a few nursing items still to buy, but that should be an easy thing to get done. I frequently get asked if the nursery is ready, and the answer is no. Perhaps I should have taken care of that during my second trimester when I had the energy, but I figured she's not going to be sleeping in there any time soon, so I wasn't too worried about it. The problem that has arisen, however, is where I put all her STUFF: clothes, toys, etc. So I'm having to make room in my room for everything. Not too big a deal, but some of my wonderfully generous friends have given us clothes for several months down the road. I hope I don't sound ungrateful...I'm not. I just planned poorly. Oh well...it will all work out...somehow.
*****************************************************************************
I should probably add something else here, but I got nothing. So I'll stop here for now.
Monday, August 18, 2008
More BMX...And More Baby
Thanks to everyone who has participated in the BMX Hall of Fame voting! If you haven't voted yet, you need to do it soon. The deadline for voting is September 4th, so go make your voice heard! The three nominees suggested by The HOFFER (see last post) are very deserving, and voting takes a quick 60 seconds, so hop to it!!!
If you've never seen an actual BMX race, your big chance is this week while watching the Olympics! This was posted last week on the American Bicycle Association BMX website (www.ababmx.com):
Aug. 19th 8:00-9:00pm, Primetime, Live ET/CT
Aug. 20th 8:00-10:00pm, Primetime, Live ET/CT
If you've never seen an actual BMX race, your big chance is this week while watching the Olympics! This was posted last week on the American Bicycle Association BMX website (www.ababmx.com):
"The 2008 Olympics are well underway in Beijing, China and BMX racings' debut is just a week away. The excitement is building within the industry and fans with the anticipation for BMX racing hitting the world stage. Below are the airdates and times listed by NBC. We just wanted everyone to be aware of the dates and times so they don't miss out. Please forward this on to all your friends and family to spread the BMX word. GO TEAM USA!!
Aug. 19th 8:00-9:00pm, Primetime, Live ET/CT
Men's BMX Cycling
Aug. 20th 12:30-2:00am
Men's BMX Cycling Quarterfinals
Aug. 20th 2:00-5:00am
Men's BMX Cycling, Primetime Replay
Aug. 20th 8:00-10:00pm, Primetime, Live ET/CT
Mens and Womens BMX Cycling Finals
Aug. 21st 2:00-5:00am
Mens and Womens BMX Cycling Finals, Primetime Replay"
Be sure to set your DVR/Tivo/VCR/whatever you use to record TV shows for TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY to see some of BMX's finest giving their all. While watching, be sure to cheer on a couple of The HOFFER's buddies who are riding for Team USA: Kyle Bennett and Donny Robinson. WOO HOO!!!
***********************************************************************************
More baby stuff to come. Assuming she doesn't come early, we are three weeks away (as of August 19th) from welcoming Tiny Bit into the family. I'm feeling fine, although a bit panicky because I feel like I still have so much to do before she gets here. I was able to cross several big ones off my list this past weekend, after Little Bit's birthday and family leaving town. I had a huge burst of energy Sunday and got quite a bit done trying to return some semblance of order to my house and my laundry load! Yes, I know that is often a sign that the baby's coming soon. But hey, three weeks IS soon, so I'm counting on that!!! School starts on Thursday, so I will give you birthday party details and baby stuff at that time.
Till then, GO TEAM USA!!!!!!
Be sure to set your DVR/Tivo/VCR/whatever you use to record TV shows for TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY to see some of BMX's finest giving their all. While watching, be sure to cheer on a couple of The HOFFER's buddies who are riding for Team USA: Kyle Bennett and Donny Robinson. WOO HOO!!!
***********************************************************************************
More baby stuff to come. Assuming she doesn't come early, we are three weeks away (as of August 19th) from welcoming Tiny Bit into the family. I'm feeling fine, although a bit panicky because I feel like I still have so much to do before she gets here. I was able to cross several big ones off my list this past weekend, after Little Bit's birthday and family leaving town. I had a huge burst of energy Sunday and got quite a bit done trying to return some semblance of order to my house and my laundry load! Yes, I know that is often a sign that the baby's coming soon. But hey, three weeks IS soon, so I'm counting on that!!! School starts on Thursday, so I will give you birthday party details and baby stuff at that time.
Till then, GO TEAM USA!!!!!!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Hall of Fame Voting Commences!
Wow...I haven't posted in weeks and now I have two posts in less than 24 hours??? What's up with that???
When I first began blogging, my very first post was about last year's ABA BMX Hall of Fame vote. Well guess what, sports fans? It's that time of year again! Anyone can vote, and all you need is a valid email address. So take about 60 seconds and cast your vote! Here's the email that The HOFFER sent out recently about how to vote and who he voted for:
When I first began blogging, my very first post was about last year's ABA BMX Hall of Fame vote. Well guess what, sports fans? It's that time of year again! Anyone can vote, and all you need is a valid email address. So take about 60 seconds and cast your vote! Here's the email that The HOFFER sent out recently about how to vote and who he voted for:
One of the great honors of my life was to be inducted into the ABA BMX Hall of Fame. My time in bmx was meaningful to me as a kid and then again later as an adult. Many of you were helpful in submitting votes on my behalf, and I am still so thankful for that support.
The 2008 Hall of Fame is upon us and I would appreciate if you would take a moment now and vote for some very worthy nominees. It just takes a moment and it helps a very worthy cause.
Here is how I am voting this year:
Early BMX Pioneer: Danny Oakley. Danny was on the Mongoose Team during my own time there and was instrumental in so much about bmx, it is really hard to figure out how he isn't already in the HOF. He helped numerous companies get off the ground, was a bmx inventor, and most importantly, was a GREAT champion of bmx racing. Danny was one of the few guys to have a custom bike made in his honor by the legendary Mongoose Factory and to this day, he is one of the most respected racers and innovators in the history of BMX. Oh yea, he grew up to be an actual ROCKET SCIENTIST!
BMX Racer: Tim Judge: Tim Judge was one of the few riders from the East Coast to get excellent magazine coverage in the early days. Tim won numerous titles including a World Championship in the early 80's. Tim had perhaps the most dramatic style of any racer of his era, and frequently you would see kids imitating him "doing a Judge" over a jump. The BMX HOF has overlooked many east coast riders and the vote for Tim Judge is very worthy for that and many other reasons. Tim went on to be a Jet Ski champion and is to this day regarded as one of the finest racing talents of any sport.
BMX Industry: Roger Berg: Roger Berg was the inventor of the UNI Seat that stormed the US and the world during the 80's. His constant innovation in bmx was fueled by his experience at GM where he invented the square headlight and was near the development team of the famous Corvette. Roger was one of the first to use wind tunnel technology in the invention of bmx equipment. His products are some of the most copied to this day and his induction into the bmx hall of fame is just recognition for all he has done.
Please take a moment to vote now as the voting ends soon. Thank you for participating in bmx, one of the greatest sports for kids! BMX is in the Olympics this year as well so stay tuned on August 19 for some awesome racing! Thanks again! Oh, and if you have some friends who would like to help make history, please feel free to forward this to your address book! Anyone with a valid email can vote. You can vote from any valid email address! Have fun!!!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Miscellany and a Few Pet Peeves
I have been severely lacking in mental abilities and motivation of late, which partially explains my recent online absence. The other reasons are being just flat-out tired and having guests in from out of town. A friend's daughter, who for some reason thinks we are too much fun, came and spent several days hanging out with us. She's a sweet girl, and I hope she will come back very soon. Incredibly mature for a high school sophomore, I often forget she's not an adult. Regardless, we had a good time showing her around town and introducing her to our favorite eateries.
My brother is in town from Virginia for a couple more days. He and his two grown sons stayed with us for two nights and are now over "mooching from" another sibling (his words, not mine!) till early Saturday morning, when they will load up and head back to their goat farm. Little Bit and WonderDog are moping around the house now because they are gone! And by the way, if you've never been to that part of the country, it's a trip well worth taking. The scenery is incredibly beautiful, and the weather is amazing. Not to mention the TONS of history that went on in and around there. Their house is five minutes from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where John Brown conducted his infamous raid during the Civil War. Great place for history buffs, to say the very least. The house where my brother & family live, and where my sister-in-law grew up, predates the Civil War and has even been designated a historical landmark. Pretty nifty, if you ask me. Alas, no one did, but this is my blog, so I get to say what I want. ;-)
One of the places Big Brother and Sons wanted to go to while here in town is a BBQ restaurant called the Salt Lick. It's an absolute dive but has the best barbecue you'll find for miles. And I do mean miles, as it is a good ways outside the city limits. It's in a dry county, so those that want beer with their beef have to bring it with them. Seriously! On weekends, if you don't arrive before 5pm, you'll easily have a minimum 2-hour wait just to sit down and look at a menu. Thing is, it's worth the wait. We took them there the last time they came to visit eight years ago, and they've been bragging on it to their Virginia cronies ever since. After eating there the other night, one of my nephews commented, "Waited eight years for that, and it was SO worth the wait." Truer words were never spoken.
We are currently preparing for Little Bit's birthday next week, as well as my sister and her husband coming in from Kentucky for several days. School starts the following week, and we found out who our teacher will be for this next year. Little Bit had a couple of teachers she hoped to get and did get one of them, so she is very excited. All through 2nd grade she prayed to get a certain 3rd grade teacher, but God said no, not this time. So I am very happy that she has a teacher she really wanted. Add to that the fact that one of her best BFF's (best friends forever, for those of you who don't have pre-teen daughters) is in her class this year, and fourth grade seems to be shaping up into a great year.
I have just over 4 weeks to go at this point, and I am SOOOOO TIRED! My brain is shot, I can't seem to focus on anything, my house is a wreck, and I can't get comfortable to save my life. Tiny Bit is her busiest at night when I would REEEEEALLY like to get some rest. Fat chance. I try to remember at those times that it will all be worth it once she gets here, but I'm not always so successful. So while I'm in the mood to grouse, I'm going to pass on an article from the good folks at WalletPop.com: their list of what they think are the 20 most annoying things done at grocery stores. It's a great list, and I agree with most of it. I've even found myself doing a few of them...most often for me is aisle blocking. My sincerest apologies to anyone I have blocked!!! Things I would add to the list? People who don't put carts back in the cart stalls provided (there's a good reason they are provided, people!!!), and pedestrians crossing the parking lot that seem to think that they don't need to hurry and get out of the way of impending traffic (SO rude!!). So go see if you agree with their list, and I'll be back next time in a better mood and better rested.
Yeah, right.
My brother is in town from Virginia for a couple more days. He and his two grown sons stayed with us for two nights and are now over "mooching from" another sibling (his words, not mine!) till early Saturday morning, when they will load up and head back to their goat farm. Little Bit and WonderDog are moping around the house now because they are gone! And by the way, if you've never been to that part of the country, it's a trip well worth taking. The scenery is incredibly beautiful, and the weather is amazing. Not to mention the TONS of history that went on in and around there. Their house is five minutes from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where John Brown conducted his infamous raid during the Civil War. Great place for history buffs, to say the very least. The house where my brother & family live, and where my sister-in-law grew up, predates the Civil War and has even been designated a historical landmark. Pretty nifty, if you ask me. Alas, no one did, but this is my blog, so I get to say what I want. ;-)
One of the places Big Brother and Sons wanted to go to while here in town is a BBQ restaurant called the Salt Lick. It's an absolute dive but has the best barbecue you'll find for miles. And I do mean miles, as it is a good ways outside the city limits. It's in a dry county, so those that want beer with their beef have to bring it with them. Seriously! On weekends, if you don't arrive before 5pm, you'll easily have a minimum 2-hour wait just to sit down and look at a menu. Thing is, it's worth the wait. We took them there the last time they came to visit eight years ago, and they've been bragging on it to their Virginia cronies ever since. After eating there the other night, one of my nephews commented, "Waited eight years for that, and it was SO worth the wait." Truer words were never spoken.
We are currently preparing for Little Bit's birthday next week, as well as my sister and her husband coming in from Kentucky for several days. School starts the following week, and we found out who our teacher will be for this next year. Little Bit had a couple of teachers she hoped to get and did get one of them, so she is very excited. All through 2nd grade she prayed to get a certain 3rd grade teacher, but God said no, not this time. So I am very happy that she has a teacher she really wanted. Add to that the fact that one of her best BFF's (best friends forever, for those of you who don't have pre-teen daughters) is in her class this year, and fourth grade seems to be shaping up into a great year.
I have just over 4 weeks to go at this point, and I am SOOOOO TIRED! My brain is shot, I can't seem to focus on anything, my house is a wreck, and I can't get comfortable to save my life. Tiny Bit is her busiest at night when I would REEEEEALLY like to get some rest. Fat chance. I try to remember at those times that it will all be worth it once she gets here, but I'm not always so successful. So while I'm in the mood to grouse, I'm going to pass on an article from the good folks at WalletPop.com: their list of what they think are the 20 most annoying things done at grocery stores. It's a great list, and I agree with most of it. I've even found myself doing a few of them...most often for me is aisle blocking. My sincerest apologies to anyone I have blocked!!! Things I would add to the list? People who don't put carts back in the cart stalls provided (there's a good reason they are provided, people!!!), and pedestrians crossing the parking lot that seem to think that they don't need to hurry and get out of the way of impending traffic (SO rude!!). So go see if you agree with their list, and I'll be back next time in a better mood and better rested.
Yeah, right.
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