Just Me!!

Broken. 1. What's the last thing you broke? -My husband's heart when I told him that I had forgotten that I had signed up for a fourth work day this week (I signed up in August so I truly did forget). I was reminded last night! 2. What's the most expensive thing you've broken? -Mark's leather jacket. I accidentally ripped it down the side when I grabbed at it. We were dating at the time. I think we paid 80.00 post marriage, to get it fixed. I loved the black leather jacket...it smelled so much like "him" that I would take it, and sleep with it in my dorm. It also had one of those silky linings. You know the kind that you loved as a kid...the ones that you could rub it with your fingers and suck your thumb at the same time? I hope that wasn't just me who did that... 3. Do you consider yourself clumsy or graceful? -Has anyone ever seen me do step aerobics? If so, you have seen a definite clumsiness to my routine. 4. How much money do you have in your wal...

Let's give a hearty welcome to my mom, over at Crown Duchess of Veggie ! She has been a commenter for along time, and like -ch , found out that she wasn't allowed to comment on my daughter's blog without having an account first. I hooked her up, and am very excited to see how this might decrease my phone bills over the next couple of months! I will still call her daily, just not 5 times a day!

It all began in 1986! My parents volunteered to host a Japanese exchange student, through our local church! Norie flew to Washington State for a 3 week introduction to the our country. We hit it off the minute I met her. She came, with my parents, to pick me up from summer camp. Her little Japanese/English dictionary was the only way we could communicate. I guess in the end it didn't matter! She fell in love with the States, and I fell in love with Japan. I think that is what my parents had in mind, for us to understand a bit of culture that existed outside of our own. She quickly became my best friend. Through the years, she has visited twice (one of those times was when I was married in 1994), I have visited her in Japan in 1992, and then in New York in 2004. Norie loved the States so much that she ended up attending college here and currently resides in New York City! She has taught me so much respect for the Japanese culture. My desire to live there, has remained constant sin...

Thank goodness Journey has dedicated people in its congregation that love serving in children's ministry. I think it was Kristy yesterday who taught the kids about the value of a promise! I, so often, fail the kids in this area. I will tell them, "we are going to do that soon, or on such and such a date we will..." and then never end up doing it. The take home paper that went with their Sunday School lesson spoke to me loud and clear. Stop lying. Tell the truth. Let your word be your WORD. Along with Jeff's lesson on loving one another our day pretty much mapped itself out. Love our children, and keep our promises (even though the sermon was on loving the church body, we knew we needed to start in our own home). After reading the " Growing Together " Sunday school exercises, I knew that I needed to fulfill a long awaited promise I had given the children. The kids wanted a pet. We love going to Petco in L.R. Everytime we go there though, we promise the kids ...

Just The Facts, Mam! Where were you last night? -At a Miss Pixy Pageant at the county fairgrounds. My friend's daughter was crowned 3rd runner up! I tell you, if Valerie ever wants to do this...please someone shoot me! These girls were hard competitors. They all knew how to walk, talk, turn, and amazingly kept eye contact with the judges at all times! Although, I believe the pageant to be highly influenced by community politics, Morgan did a great job displaying her "talents." Did you speak with anyone? -Yes. Valerie and I talked through the whole pageant. I spoke briefly with Micheal and Wendy Knobloch after the winners were announced. What were you wearing? -Purple camisole,a gray slim fit top, and blue jeans. What did you eat or drink? -Valerie and I shared a nacho and a Pepsi. Can anyone verify your whereabouts from midnight to 5 a.m.? -Mark. Slept right next to him the whole night!

It's like candy, but with blood. Which is so much better! 1. How much TV do you watch? -Don't you all know the answer to this question, already? Two episodes of Buffy, like a cup of warm milk at night, soothes me to sleep nearly every evening (when I am not at work)! We are nearly finished with the last season, for the fourth time, so we are not sure where we are headed next. I think it is time to re-watch Angel , though. Recently tried Lost (the T.V. series) but I felt like there was never any closer to the episodes. My mom said that after two seasons things were still left unanswered...producers obviously need to learn how to tie up loose ends, if you ask me. 2. What type of show is your favorite? -Drama and lovvve all wrapped up in one! I do however enjoy a little horror every now and again. Bring on the blood and guts, but don't turn off the lights afterwards. I hate anything demonic or "candlelight" satanic . Mark's had to adjust to that li...

Check out my new niece! Andrea Grace. She was born September 8th, 2006. She weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces. Length 21 1/2 inches long! Mark did a wonderful job in announcing her birth, so I am pointing you in that direction for more details. I will have to post the birth announcements he made for each of our children. Precious and well scripted!

Happy 34th Birthday, Honey! Glad you hit these milestones before I do...he hee. Hope you day is incredibly happy. Cheesecake forthcoming!

It's called O nce A M onth C ooking? Anyone heard of such a concept? Well, I realized recently that this is something I need to start! I have spent so much money on eating out lately, that I am ashamed! So, I had this idea...OAMC. I don't really want to do it alone, since my sanguine personality forbids me to be alone! I had an ingenious thought...get a group together, decide on the recipes, and have everyone cook that same meal for everyone in the group. What you end up with (if say, you have 5 people), is a weeks worth of pre-cooked, healthy, super cheap, super speedy dinners. Does this interest anyone? I will get some books and recipes together if anyone is interested. I can't wait to get this group up and running! Common y'all were in this together! What we would end up with is less dollars out of the pocketbook and more time with our families. I know of one in our tight knit group that bakes fresh bread. What an excellent companion to any meal. Anyone game?

Our weekends have been full, lately! Since I have started working, we feel like this is the only times we get to spend, enjoying the family...which sometimes my weekends are during the weekdays! I thought you might enjoy a few pics of what we have been doing with our "family " time. Mark and I spent the first half of this weekend at the Marriage and Parenting seminar hosted by our church. We had a fun time listening the stories of two families and how they dealt with their own struggles of raising children, and trying to grow in their spiritual walk at the same time! Let me tell you, after a weekend like that you realize that things are not as peachy as you thought they were. Don't get me wrong, I think Mark and I are excellently suited, and in love with one another, but the "raising" the children thing, is a little helter skelter if you know what I mean. Needless to say, I begged my mom to send me the huge 20 lb book my dad used as a devotional with me, whenI...

Doused in mud 1. When is the last time you dressed inappropriately for a situation? -I think this is every night for me. I try to be all snuggly wuggly with Mark, but I usually fail to get my point across when wearing my ultra thin, green, 4 year old, ripped, Gap shirt to bed. It has something no other shirt has, comfort! I want to be buried in it someday...hopefully Mark lets me keep it that long! 2. How many friends do you have? -Alot! My personality type is sanguine! You all know those types, right? Can't shut up or won't! Easy to make friends...! Although I have to say Arkansas has been the hardest place for me to find friends. No one wants a Yankee for a friend! I may be a bit odd for them...Anyhow I would say I have at least 6 good friends (includes Mark and my mom, both of whom I talk to daily). 3. Are you running on time today? -No. It is 10:00 a.m. and I should be snoring by now! I will be hurting at work tonight with 2 hours of sleep lacking from my sc...

Welcome my new nephew Jaxson Lee born September 5th 2006 at 10:42 p.m. 7 lbs. 6 oz. 19 1/2 in. someone please get me a picture!

5 Things I did this morning: 1. Called Mom and Julie to see if any of the babies arrived. 2. Searched Zabasearch to locate old friends from college. 3. Felt bad for being rude to Mark this morning. 4. Cut out a darling jacket pattern to sew for Valerie. 5. Discussed Vertebrobasilar Arteries with my mom. 5 Things I did this afternoon: 1. Read pattern instructions, seam ripped, and almost completed Val's jacket. 2. Saw the bottom of the laundry hamper...that is, till Ethan gets home to fill it up again. 3. Apologized to Mark for being rude. 4. Listened to old Petra, Whiteheart, and Crumbacher tapes. 5. Enjoyed 3 Diet Cokes...argh. 5 Things I did this evening: 1. Cooked dinner and made the kids' lunch for tomarrow. Homemade mini pizza's! 2. Enjoyed seeing Valerie all curled up next to her DVD player, listening to Christian music. 3. Freaked out when we found Ethan with the cord from his curtains around his neck. He has petechiae all around his neck...still freaking out! 4. Ca...

Jeff's latest idea truly shows the people of Monticello, he cares! He is always looking for ways to connect people! My dad has always taught me the importance of connections! In any business connections are as important as customers. You business folk, look at this site! Don't tell me your not dying to be connected in our little corner of Arkansas. Thanks to Jeff, now you are able to share your business with the community. I was just talking to someone this weekend how frustrating it is that we have no source of city news, other than the Advance Monticellonian. I see so many gaps in the towns communications system, that MonticelloLive will repair! Jeff, truly you have gone above and beyond to improve our city, it's members, and our communication.

Fajita Ham and Rice Salad 2 c. water 2 1/4 c. uncooked instant brown rice 1 1/4 c. chopped lean ham or turkey 1/2 c. celery 1/4 c. chopped red onion 3 Tbsp. chopped olives 1/4 c. light mayonnaise 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 1 1/2 tsp. fajita seasonings 1. Brink water to boil. Stir in rice, and cover and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Let cool to room temperature (you can skip this part). 2. Combine rice, ham, celery, onion, and olives in a large bowl, and toss well. Combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and fajita seasoning in a small bowl; stir well. Add to mayonnaise to rice mixture; toss well to coat. Serve immediately or chill. Serve with tortillas, salsa and sour cream. This recipe is a lively, easy to make, healthy south of the border feast! I hope the picture doesn't detour you from trying it. It was my first attempt at food porn ! I didn't have any celery tonight, so it was lacking a tad flavor! It always satisfies my whole family, and gets smiles eve...

Val's riding lessons started last week. Mr. McLemore is teaching my city girl to ride! It was so cute to hear him say over and over again, "don't let me see you get down off that horse like a girl!" She rode the horse all by herself, back and forth in the stable! There are a few things she needs to work on, like smackin her lips and wiggling her feet so the horse will move for her, and of course listening to Mr. McLemore (she was in pure bliss, so she had a hard time focasing on what he was saying). We were able to stay longer and watch a couple of other girls ride in the big pen! She is so excited to move out the stable and into the pen where she can run her horse. Next we're gonna have to buy some wranglers and boots! I told Jerry he needs to take the city out of the girl! I think he agreed...

I thought up this wonderful idea of having a photo meme! How many of us just let our scrapbooks sit there, unviewed? Isn't it fun to relive some of those wonderful memories through our photo's? I believe whole heartedly that this was they way I convinced Mark to try for child number two! I opened up Val's album, with him next to me, and said "remember when she was that little" or "look at that picture of her hugging you." Boom, child two! Okay, not that fast but you know how the story goes. Moving on, now! I'm not sure if y'all were aware, but I worked for Alaska Airlines/Horizon Airlines prior to moving here. Mark and I enjoyed flying around to all areas the airline serviced for an amazing $8.00 fare, among those cities included San Francisco. We, prior to children, had a wonderfully romantic time in San Francisco. We stayed at the Howard Johnson, walked through each shop on the waterfront, walked through the Wax museum's Chamber of Horror ...

I love fall, and all that it brings. Halloween, mainly. I saw this exciting challenge over at the blog jar and searched for the source! The challenge is to read any book, or books, that are gothic in nature. Anything scary, spooky, or any that makes you pee your pants at the turn of each page! I think these books are alittle out of my comfort zone, but they were suggested by Mr. Gothic himself! Mark! By the way, in the future, look for him to change the face of gothic literature forever (sorry no hints--boo's the word). Count me in for this challenge! Anyone want to join me....what a freaky way to begin this holiday season! My suggested list: 1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 2. The Monk by Matthew Lewis 3. Northanger Abby by Jane Austen 4. Julian's House by Judith Hawkes 5. The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl

This is me with my binki. I started using a binki when I was a tiny baby. Whenever I felt upset or cranky, sucking on my binki made me feel better. Whenever I felt sleepy, my binki would be there...Even when I got older, I still liked my binki. Of course, it wasn't easy to talk with it in my mouth. One day Nanny said, "Ethan, you're too old for a binki. Why don't we put it away?" I was not happy. Nanny gave it back. But I knew Nanny was right. I was too old. Not one of my friends had a binki anymore. And to tell you the truth, it made me feel a little silly. So... Bye-bye binki. It's been nice- But now I'm taking good advice! Bye-Bye, needing you each day. It's time to go outside and play. You used to help, but I have grown, And I can do things on my own! There are times when I still wish I had my binki. But then I take a deep breath and find something interesting to do. Because I'm big now...just like you. And big kids don't need binki's. ...

1. When I'm angry, I hash the scenario out dozens of times till Mark is sick to death of hearing it! I don't want to hear any suggestions on how to fix the situation. 2. The first time I saw Mark I also thought he was a mobster, or a BO BRADY look alike, from Days of Our Lives. 3. I was born in the same year and month that Nixon was sworn into office. 4. My favorite piece of furniture in our house is an old trunk my mother in law restored for me 12 years ago. Rumor has it, she is working on another one for me! 5. I laughed so hard when Mark gave me a Buffy card for Valentines day. It featured Giles and Buffy as lovers. It was sooooo wrong, in so many ways. You sick bent! I love you, honey, for indulging in our shared quirkiness.