4 Loads, are you kidding me?

Okay, if you just cannot take another blog about my laundry woes, skip this one. But if you can bear with me for just one more time, I want your opionion on something. As you know I am having trouble keeping up with the laundry around here now that I work every day. I am sure this shouldn't be the case, but when you are used to having at least one full day to get it all done, sometimes 2, it is hard to get into a routine of a load every day, HOW DO YOU EVER GET CAUGHT UP??? So, in discussing this with my husband and kids, we have been arguing over how many loads of laundry there really are when you sort them. Mark and some guys at work were discussing this, and they all could only come up with 4. 4--are you kidding me? Here were the loads, according to them: Darks, Lights, towels, wives stuff. I laughed out loud at that. So today, when I sorted all our laundry, I had Mark take a picture, so that I can prove my point, to me at least, and ask all of you who do laundry for your family, how many loads do you have? Am I creating unnecessary work for myself? Here are the loads we end up with every time.
1. Darks that should be washed in cold, rinsed in cold. Things you don't want to shrink.
2. Cords, slacks, khakis, pants that aren't jeans. Sometimes can be combined with darks, but usually too big of a load to combine.
3.Darks that need to be washed in warm(hot) with cold rinse. These include underwear and socks, things like that, with some shirts, pants thrown in if there is room.
4. Jeans.
5. Dark colored gentle cycle. Mostly me and Skylers stuff, but sometimes Marks and B's get in here too. Need to be treated gently, not in the regular wash.
6. This is the white pile...underwear and socks that are light colored, not dark, and lighter shirts, pjs, etc...hot wash, cold rinse.
7. Dark colored towel, hot wash. Cannot be washed with next pile, because colors may bleed and then you just have dingy looking towels
8. White or light colored towels. See above
9. Light colored gentle cycle, not to be mixed with dark colored gentle cycle for obvious reasons.

So, I cannot wait to hear from you all on how this can be made into 4 loads. Or even 6. Granted sometimes, I can combine loads, but most of the time, this is how it is. Anyone, Anyone??

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

In my job with the realty, I have opportunity to be "out & about" a lot. I love this. It is great to see the seasons change, although summer is still my favorite by far, to be out during the day putting up signs, running errands...I just love it. It also gives me opportunity to see some really cool houses, barns, and scenery. So today I am going to post some of the things I have seen so far. Not everything of course, but a few things.

So, from top to bottom, in no certain order:
1. This house is in Ash Grove. It is not for sale, by us or anyone else, but I thought was so cool. It is in the historical district, and there are some really cool houses around it too, but this is my favorite.
2. This house is on Oak Grove, and this is the best picture we could get(Barrett was helping me). I have dreams about this house, even tho Mark says it is ugly, but I am certain if I could just get a look around inside, I would be able to stop wanting it. Would it be awkward to just ring the doorbell and ask if I could take a look around??
3. I saw this house from the highway one day and found it later after work to take a picture. There is also a barn, and the house goes on in the back, but I couldn't get any better of a picture with out going over the fence, and since there is a no trespassing sign posted clearly, well...
anyway, I love this house. I realize that it is uninhabitable, but I still think it is so cool. I love old farmhouses, and if I had my druthers, this is the kind of house I would live in. Or a cute bungalow style...whichever.
4. This is a round barn on the way to Ash Grove. It is just cool, no two ways about it. I would love to see the inside of it too.

just a quick note

This is a quick one, as it is midnight Sat/Sun and I am trying to get to bed...but I wanted to make a comment on Hillenblogs latest poll. I helped with it, and so I feel I can comment freely on it.
I cannot believe that the majority of people voting think it is uberweird to kiss a relative on the lips. Granted I agree it depends on the relative, but I don't think it is weird at all. We are talking pecks here, not involved kisses.
I have always kissed my daddy on the lips, and it has never seemed weird to me. I kiss my mom on the cheek, and we have always done it that way, so both seem perfectly normal to me. I used to kiss hillenjr on the lips, but since he is growing up, he put a stop to that, and that is okay too. But I never kiss Sky on the lips, cause she would freak out. In fact recently it happened purely by accident and she nearly went balistic.
Anyway, i just wanted to clarify for my parents, and those who know me, I am not ashamed to kiss relatives on the lips, and if you do it, you shouldn't be either. And I am not gonna stop either, okay daddy?
Well, I am heading off to slumberland, but I have some pictures to blog soon...and new thoughts to share!
Merry Almost Christmas!!!

I can't believe how easy this is....ha ha

I'm back!! I could only find one picture for now, and this one has maybe already been on hillenblog, but i wanted to introduce you to one of the best drinks ever---A MochaNut from the Mudhouse.
It is an amazing concoction of coffee, stuff, and hazelnut flavoring, with real whipped cream on top, of course. it is better than a frap, and in my world, that is saying a lot. Cause a frap is a good mood in a cup, that's why! I gotta tell ya, I can almost taste it now.

I am growing my hair out. Just thought I'd tell ya.

Blog Block

my fingers are poised...hovering over the keyboard...anxiously awaiting some kind of signal from my brain to tell them what to blog about, even tho it's only been three short weeks since my last blog! alas, they wait in vain, for I seem to have "BLOGGER' S BLOCK".
I think my problem is i begin by reading everyone elses blog, and by the time I am ready to update, I can't think of anything to say. My long absence this time has mainly been my lack of time, because I hadn't sat down to read or blog for almost 2 weeks. Of course, I read my immediate family's blogs, if for no other reason than to find out whats going on with them, but i hadn't read anyone elses for so long. so tonight I sat down to read, sure that I would be inspired, but no, nothing, nada... okay, maybe a couple of things.

First, a very good friend of mine (lisa) got me a donny osmond christmas cd this past week. She said she almost left the price tag on, cause it only cost $6.99! Poor Donny! Beyonce's cd next to it was $16.99. I know how he feels.

I haven't yet seen "HAPPY FEET", the newest penguin movie...no one in my family wants to go, and i haven't heard from sybil yet...maybe when it's at the dollar movie. I am not sure I want to spend that much to see an animated movie about penguins. I loved MARCH OF THE PENGUINS so much, and I just don't know if i want to see this one, even tho i have heard it is very good. Ah, delimma, delimma.
I just put a picture in my blog for the very first time...i think I am already addicted. I gotta get a camera. This is my man, no one else like him, don't know what I would do without him. I wonder what other pictures I can find to blog...be back in a minute...

who is that man, mama?

Today was a great day. First, church...where i had planned to leave right after sunday school and come home and get my house the rest of the way ready for Family Dinner Sunday. By getting ready i mean sweeping the floor, making sure the tiolet was flushed, and shutting everyones bedroom door! But as He sometimes will, the Lord had a completely different plan for me. I ended up staying for church, and sitting by a friend who i hope was as blessed by it as me, and hearing a great message from Pastor Eddie. (We also got to watch mark and scotty try to figure out new software.) I needed the message, and you know what? Turns out I had plenty of time to sweep, and no one noticed if the toilet was flushed or not, or at least no one mentioned it(since I forgot to check) and we had a great lunch with my family.

Yep, today was family dinner Sunday, and we had a great time! George and Linda could not be here, and becky and her kids weren't feeling well, and jon was out of town, so we totally missed having Marks family here. But all my brothers and my sister were able to be here, and we haven't all been together for a long time. Of course, that meant a picture, both of all us kids, and then with mom and dad, with us laughing most of the time. We planned out our christmas next month, and since it is so busy during December, that will be our family dinner sunday as well. So, to any of the family that reads this...thanks for a great day, we missed those who weren't here, and I am looking forward to next time, and the time after that, and the time after that...

Thanksgiving was great as well, and of course you surely know by now we put up a silver tree...I was not so excited about that, but it is growing on me, slowly. It is definitely bright and shiny, and it makes my family happy, so i will love it soon i'm sure.

I cannot believe how fast the past four days have gone. I have enjoyed everyone one, even yesterday, which my husband and kids probably won't believe, but i did.

Elvis is in China!

Reading Kim Hollands blog about conner's embarrassing comment made me laugh. It also reminded me of two of my favorite stories about my kids.

When skyler was about 3 years old, Mark and I were watching some style show on the E! channel, and sky was playing in the floor, oblivious(or so we thought) to what we were watching.
So some designer was being interviewed about the runway show going on and said "This years fashion focus is on the pelvis and vagina(I hope that isn't offensive to anyone, it is really what he said)and I looked at Mark and said "WHAT DID HE SAY??"
Well, 3 year old skyler looked up at me and said: "He said Elvis is in China!"

That story has been shared with people all over the world, and i'm not kidding! Steve THompson told it to many a person on trips overseas, and many others have shared it also. We still get comments from people about it!

When Barrett was also about 4 yrs old, we were at DMP, in the old building. At that time, there was a person who was rather large, and we were walking out behind him. Barrett looked at Mark and said "Wow dad, that guy is big!" to which mark replied, "Yes, he is tall, isn't he?" Of course, Barrett looked at his dad and said, "yeah, and he's FAT too!"
We just ignored the whole thing and finished walking to the car, and to this day we aren't sure if the person heard us or not. (At least that is what we tell ourselves.)

Kids are funny, aren't they? I could tell you many a story, some that would absolutely embarrass my kids to death...and i am sure they could tell some on me as well.

Time for church, this is the first time in a long time I have actually been ready early! See ya there!

39 and counting...

Today I am 39 years old...how did that happen? I started celebrating yesterday actually when I got my 1st card in the mail, from my mom and dad. Fun, Fun! Then this morning, Barrett gave me a card on the way to school, Napoleon Dynamite, very funny. A card from Mark waiting for me when I returned from dropping Barrett off... a happy birthday email from Lisa with a picture of her and Jessica with a man who had to be 7 feet tall in a dress made of film strips...a carrot cake(homemade) delivered to work by my mom in law, with a sweet card,and I had a slice of cake right away! Excellent. Then another card under my windshield from Mark, and a card from Jeff, Deb and Stanley, and one from the church in the mail.
Dinner hanging out with the wilson girls, steph,andrew, crystal, tiffany and my kids and mark, THANKS for dinner babe, it was amazing!Skyler, the red velvet cake was so so so GOOD! You are a very talented baker, my dear...thank you for making it for me! Loved my gifts, everyone so thoughtful...penguins, penguins, penguins! I can once again wear the penguin charm that Gma Minnie gave me so many years ago, my 1st Christmas in the family, i am so happy.(wink, wink, Sky)
I must say a special something to my husband...about that donny video. I don't know that I have ever met anyone so thoughtful as you. It may have taken me longer to fall in love with you, but you are more than worth the journey. Donny Osmond was a crush, you are the love of my life. He was unatainnable, you will be with me always. He was never gonna love me back, and you will never stop loving me. You are the real thing, and I would not want to celebrate being almost 40 with anyone else, including Donny Osmond.


...but I do enjoy that video!!!:)

I blogged too soon

So, Donny Osmond is not gonna be in Branson after all. I noticed the comment from yesterday, and went to the web site. He is in NYC until Dec 24. So, I really don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but i have no need to go the Branson show now. Here is a copy of an email I got from my new friend, Darlene, thanks for the info.

Hi!

Your blog mentioning Donny Osmond came in on a Google Alert...I see you mentioned he was to be in Branson - he is actually in NY on Broadway playing Gaston in "Beauty & the Beast" - you can check it out here:

http://disney.go.com/theatre/beautyandthebeast/index.html

Under his photo click to see the video interview & some play footage! I saw his first 4 shows & he was fabulous!! In fact, I'm leaving in the morning for NY - he's having a big fan get together on Friday & I'll see 2 more shows.

I just didn't want you to be confused that he was coming to Branson - he's booked in NY until Christmas Eve. Let me know if you have any questions - hope you get to see him in this show!

Take care, Darlene

So, even tho it would have been exciting, I'm over it. Really. It was just Puppy Love anyway.
I would just like to sit and look at him. That's all, honest. I mean, its just a third grade crush, get it? But I do enjoy the White & Nerdy video he is in...


Tonight was volleyball, and I played terrible. The more I played, the worse it gets. But I refuse to be beaten down, and we did win the first game, and since we only had time to play 2 games, it ended in a tie. Oh, and I found out this week that we actually won our games last week, cause the other team did not have enough players and had to forfeit. We really were just playing for fun. Not just pretending to play for fun:)


I thought of something I want for Christmas...I actually mentioned it to laurad and hillenblog last week, but that is about how long my memory and attention span are.
Anyway, i want the Bible on Cd so I can listen in my car. I am driving quite a bit with work, and since talk radio makes me mad, listening to The Word would be much better I think. Laurad, what version did you say again?

Good night, sleep tight, may your dreams come true. Unless they are like the nightmare I had last night, and I am not even kidding...I can't type it and actually see it in print, you'll just have to ask if your curious. Also, watch out for walking scarecrows...they are scary.

Happy November

Mark just called me and gave me very exciting news...Donny Osmond is gonna be in Branson for shows running thru Christmas...AND WE MAY GO TO A SHOW!!! He is looking into getting tickets now...plus maybe spending the night. In Branson, not with Donny, silly...
I cannot tell you how excited I would be if I really get to see him in person. When I was in the third grade I told all my friends that Donny had been to my house, but my brother told them I was lying. Well, of course I was, but I wanted him to be at my house. I was also sure I would marry him one day, but he married some chick named Debbie, and they have been married a very long time, so I guess not. OH, and I really love being married to hillenblog, so that works too.
I also had the Donny and Marie dolls, you know, like Barbie, and he had purple socks. They also had very big, very white teeth. They were great. I don't wanna say what happened to them, but I think my little sister might have had something to do with it. Maybe.
My mom always let me watch the Donny & Marie show when it was on, even when my brothers wanted to watch Star Trek. Way to go Mom, i still appreciate that!

Tonight is the last football game for Barrett and the Hickory Hills Spartans. Hope we win. It is gonna be so cold, and dark before it even starts. But layers and blankets will make it fun. And
they sell hot chocolate. Not that we ever buy any, but it is nice to know we could!

Christmas is coming, who has their list ready(besides Skyler)? I have no idea...but if I get to see Donny Osmond, I won't even need a Christmas present...

Sorry Laura

So was today the perfect fall/winter day ever???Today is what I mean when I say I hate cold. Today was not cold at all, in fact it is 9:00 pm and 64 degrees outside! This was the perfect fall day, at least weather wise. Actually, except for the pictures on hillenblog that were not supposed to be blogged ( hence the title of MY blog), it was a great day all around.

I know some of you were thinking I was gonna break my promise, but here I am, late at night, blogging to keep my promise. I can't promise greatness or profoundness, but a blog I can deliver.

Do you like knock knock jokes? I do. Some of course are better than others...but it is neat to hear little kids telling the same knock knock that I told when I was their age. (Yes, my children, there were jokes when I was a kid.) It's also funny to tell my kids a polack(how do you spell that word???) joke because they don't have a clue what I am talking about. Now instead of an American, a German, and a Polack go into a bar, its a brunette, redhead and a blonde...basically the same jokes, just different fall guys, I guess. Although some blonde jokes are funnier than the polack jokes ever were.

The kids just got home from flag football superbowl, and i am gonna see how long it takes for one of them to ask me how long I will be on here. Okay, Barrett just asked, but only cause he is reading over my shoulder, and sky is using the other one. So much for that one.

Fall Fest is this Tuesday, 6:00 pm and hillen and I have a room with the gooey guts. Kind of like a duck pond, only with pumpkin guts and intestines...cool huh? Be sure to come by and see us, I think Burch maybe is helping too. If you don't have a job already, feel free to come by and help us, we are for sure gonna be the coolest room. probably.

I can't believe it is already November on Wednesday. This year has flown by. I will soon be 39 years old, and as I have said many times, I am not sure how it has happened so fast. I was sharing a story tonight after church about one time when JB was still on republic road, and Nancy and I were working together. This little old lady, probably in her 80's came in to look for something, and when she got ready to leave, she took out her plastic head scarf and put it on, and headed out the door. Nancy looked at me, I looked at her, and she said, "What age are you when you wake up and say'Today i am gonna buy myself a plastic headscarf!'" I mean, I remember my grandma having a plastic headscarf, and even tho she seemed old at the time, she really couldn't have been very old...50? 60? I just can't see myself with one. But maybe I will feel differently some day...after all, never thought every picture of me would have a double chin in it either!!

Well, gotta go read the newest blog from none other than our own Jen Cleaver...nice to have ya around Jen. Everyone have a great week, okay? Pray for Patrick Ngei, and the other pastors. and vote no on admentment 2 on November 7. Seriously.

Little ole lady who?

I only have a few minutes before I have to go get Skyler from the boys and girls club, where she is volunteering thru Old Navy, but I wanted to let you know I am aware I have not blogged in FOREvvvvvvER, but I plan to remedy that this weekend. So this is short and not even sweet, but at least you know i am gonna post.

I got to tell some new people the penguin story today, it is still the best story ever!

It is cold, rainy and windy. Just like Fall is supposed to be, right? See, that is not complaining, just stating the facts, jack.

Okay, gotta go. I will post more later...this weekend...promise.

Baby it's cold outside

So last night as I stepped out of church, i quickly thought to myself--"Whoa, is it like 2 degrees out here or what?" of course it wasn't but it was cold enough to make my teeth chatter! And this morning, after I took Barrett to school, the song Baby, its cold outside started singing in my brain. That thought of course, made me think of christmas muzak at Jellybeans, and that made me realize that in about 2 weeks the christmas music will be playing at JB, and i will miss it. I had to call Jenny today and tell her about it.
It is funny how we mark time passing in different stages of our lives. when you are little, it is just day or night. But when you go to school, it is summer vacation, labor day weekend, thanksgiving holiday, christmas vacation, easter and then finally memorial day that seem to be the markers.
Then as you get older, maybe it your college schedule, or if you are working, legal holidays may mark the time passing. (this is of course, not counting birthdays, births of children, marriage, etc, just a thought i was having.
When I worked at Jellybeans, time could be measured by holidays, or Zutano arrivals, but mostly by Easter pictures with the bunnies, and christmas pictures. You knew it was gonna be a wild 1-2 months of taking appointments, which for easter began in jan or feb, and for christmas, began in september when we sent out our birthday postcard. then when the picture week for christmas arrived, usually the 1st week in november, the christmas music would be on. Not that i don't like christmas music, i really do, but it was funny how many times you would hear a song, sometimes 5 times in one day, just done by different people. Jenny today mentioned how much she loved the Elvis songs--NOT--and it made me just a little sad that I won't be hearing them. And you could count on the music being changed 1st thing January 2nd! Here is wishing JB the most successful shopping season yet! I love you guys!

I haven't figured out how time is marked at my new job, except by ad deadlines!

Kent and Ethan are here tonight, Ethan announced he was staying for 7 DAYS as he walked thru the door, and seemed happy about it! Kent had alot of homework, and i have to say, i still hate math, and am still not good at it, cause guess what, it is all different, that's why!

Mark and Barrett are playing volleyball, hopefully I will play next week, sky is there to watch and fill me in on the competition...good luck everyone..i just hope I can serve the ball!

I know you were not expecting another post so soon...keep those expectations low, 'k? :)

WOW

Well, it had been awhile since I read the blogs, let alone wrote one. Lots going on, eh? Drinking vs. not drinking, What will Lucy be, how fast do you shower, Hook em Horns, hey, look, its me driving, laurad is a yahtzee phenomenon, nb is (gasp) 27!, just a few more days til NYC, handsome rob is anything but a nerd, and toyhelen is a halloween fooll! And that is not even 1/2 of it. I gotta keep up better.

We had a great weekend, nothing to do but laundry on Saturday, so that is almost done :), and then a fun evening of chili and friends on Sat. night at the Jeppsens.
Sunday was singing for Pastor Rogers, a great message, and a short walk in the hall getting to know Pastor Eddie a little better.

This has been a good week so far, pretty laid back. All that is about to change, cause we are keeping the Liles boys while j and b go to a conference in oregon. The Liles girl is going to spend the week with gma h, except for a slumber party on Friday night with the hooge kids.
Now, I am not saying it is hard keeping the nephews, and nieces, but it is definitly harder than when it is just my own teenagers. There is a reason I am finished having babies, but we love to have them come stay with us, and how cool is it that they like it, and that jon and bec ( and min & per) trust us with the most valuable treasures they have?

I feel i must clarify something...I don't really hate fall, mostly just the fact that winter is next. I would love it if the coldest it got was 70 and the sunset was not until 8:30. But i do enjoy the colors of the leaves, watching them fall, but not raking. I do enjoy the way the sky just looks like fall when it has big clouds in the blue...just different from summer sun/clouds somehow. I do love turning off the air conditioner, and opening the windows. And I do love the smells of fall, fireplaces and leaves burning, pumpkin pies baking, or candles that make it smell like it.
things like that. I guess it is knowing that it will get colder than 70( 50 should not be the high), and that the sun will soon be setting at 5:30 that I don't like. But I will try not to complain...after all, this is where God has me, i should celebrate it, right?

Orange, cause its fall, get it?

I miss seeing my friend Jenny W, who works at JB. That is not all of course, i could just do a blog on all the things and people i miss. But I have to say, I love my job. It is a little different every day, and i really like being out and about on the days i have to be. It is funny, because i was so scared at first, and some things still make me nervous, but i really thought at first, will i ever not have a stomach ache? But now, if my stomach hurts, it is cause i need to eat, ate too much, or am singing...the same old reasons it used too!!! I am learning things everyday, and let me tell you if i had my own camera to take pics with, i would absolutely be able to post them on my blog, cause i learned about that at work, that's how!

great bible study on Daniel on Wednesday nights, kinda scary, tho, cause it is gonna get really convicting, i believe...since it is already. See ya there.

That is all for now, no more saying i will blog again soon, who wants to be a liar?

I am afraid to blog

Having a blog is a great responsiblity. It makes me afraid. I told someone when I first started blogging, that I just knew I would end up offending someone, that I would never have anything to blog about, because I am so cynical about things and people, and even tho this is my blog, I won't ever be able to really vent on it. AND I WAS RIGHT!!! Oh, I haven't offended anyone, at least not that you or anonymous has commented to me, but man, my familia sure has! And I am sure someone has gotten mad or aggravated at the very least at me. And, let me tell you, it sorta put me off blogging, in fear of being offensive. Even to those who maybe need called to the carpet. Which is sometimes me.

But, I find I miss it. Not everyday, but enough to try it again. And also cause I can say "Hi Daddy" in the middle of my blog and he will reply. Also, "Tell mom I love her." So, even tho most times i don't have anything worthy to say, or what i want to say is mean, I will not. Say it, I mean. I will blog.

My job is great. Just in case you were wondering...I think I have the hang of most of it...and it's fun. I am learning a lot, and that is fun too. And, Friday is denim day, so that is even better! :)

Last week was great. The missions conference was wonderful. Lisa and Gary, and everyone who helped you, You all did a great job. It was great to get to see all the missionaries, the tour guide idea was perfect. It was a great length, not too short, not too long. Always interesting. And Sunday was just great all around. Great music, great message, love the candlelighting... wonderful lunch guests, and what a pie auction, Pastor, you are a really good sport.

That is all for now. Not much of a blog, but at least you know i am still alive and kicking. Usually mark, but that is a whole different blog.

Big brother is over, when does survivor start?

Boogie won, yeah!!!!Ok, now what? I am feeling that let down feeling of no new reality (said with a smile) show to watch. When does the new survivor start?

I do not like Fall. It is cold, gets dark too early, and means winter is not far away. But one thing I do love is the anticipation of a new season of TV. Yes, i know I watch way too much TV, but with DVR, you watch so much faster!. I am anxiously awaiting LOST, Everybody hates Chris, and viewing new shows, deleting the ones that don't measure up. I love it, I love, it, I love it!

So last Sunday was the first "Sunday Family Dinner" and let me be the 1st to say, it was great! We had all of our family, at least all that could be there, and everyone had at least a good time I think!We have already planned the next one, Oct 22, and i am already excited! It was crowded, but it was great to be with everyone.

Favorite new snack...pistachios...roasted, salty in the shell. YUM

The funniest story evvvvvver.

I cannot believe I have not posted this story yet. It is a true story, told to me by my friend jenny's sister, Julie, and happened to julies friend. Got that?

Julie's friend lives in Savannah Georgia, which is about 5 hours away from Atlanta. Well, there is a new aquarium in Atlanta, which is like the largest in the states, maybe even the world. So the friends church decided to take the children in the church to this aquarium on a day trip.

The friend went to pick up her little boy after the bus got back, and noticed he was not being himself, very withdrawn, would not look her in the eye, and did not want to talk. So of course being a mom, she is frightened something awful happened to him.

She sits him down, and asks what is wrong, he says nothing, she says did you have fun, he says yeah, but still does not look at her or want to talk. She asks him "Did someone hurt you, did they touch you, say something mean to you, what is wrong?" But he just tells her he is okay, and he is gonna go watch TV.

So she goes to unpack his backpack from the trip. She picks it up, unzips it and finds:

A REAL LIVE BABY PENGUIN IS IN THE BOYS BACKPACK!!!!

Yep, her son stole a baby penguin from the aquarium!!! The mom got on the phone immediatley and the aquarium people sent a truck to pick it up and told her how to care for it. I have to tell you, i want to meet this boy and shake his hand. And i would not have called the aquarium, i would have been online looking up"How to care for your very own baby penguin"!

Needless to say, because of this boy or not, the penguins which used to roam among the visitors at the aquarium now are behind glass.

This is the best story ever. That boy is my hero.

Saturday off

Well, this is the first of many Saturdays where don't have to work. At Jb, you didn't have to work every saturday, but you always knew there was one coming up. Anyway, i had been excited about sleeping in on this momentous day, since my body is still not happy with the 6am revele. But as the Lord surely has a sense of humor, mark and I were up at 6:30,(that is NOT considered sleeping in, by the way.) to go to Branson to meet the family jeweler. Davidson's Jewelers, Larry to be exact made my engagement ring for Mark 17 years ago, and 2 weeks ago we had to take it back for repairs. It had split in two on the bottom, and a couple of prongs had worn away. So he fixed it, and Mark had him add a couple stones to it!!! It is so pretty and i am so glad Larry was willing to meet us early this morning so we could pick it up. He and his wife were heading out of town for the weekend, and weren't even open today! Anyway, the ring is so pretty, and i am so excited to be able to wear it again. Mark told me to not expect jewelry every saturday tho, ha ha.

Mark and i spent most of today together, just us. Sky had to work, and barrett stayed home. Even tho we just went to the mall so he could get his hair cut and to the grocery store, we had fun being just us. We did go to oceans zen for lunch...and with the aforementioned ring, it really has been a great day so far, and it is only 5:15!

My job is going well, I don't feel as lost as I felt tuesday, wed and thurs. I am sure i will continue to have questions, but lisa told me to quite stressing so much. And Annette told me I was walking around with a "deer in the headlights" look on my face...so i am trying to calm down. I went to put up some riders on some properties, and first one out, dropped a bolt, and then couldn't find it. I am sure i looked pretty funny trying to comb the grass looking for it! Then, i went to ozark and got lost looking for the correct road, which was not far off the highway, once i found it! But it was still fun, and i am excited about the things i am learning. Mark bought me a tool kit, and i feel pretty cool driving around with that, and, he is letting me use the TomTom if i need it!:)

Well, three day weekend, picnic after church...see ya there!

ps...isn't the new profile sign cute?

that is not a picture of my choosing

okay, the longhorns logo is not my choice, it is hillenjr's. And I do not know how to change it.
And, since my head is swimming with all the things i am learning at my new job (more on that later) i am not gonna deal with it right now. :)

Later is now. I started a new job yesterday. It has been 7 years since I really had to learn anything new in relation to an employment position. And A LOT is computer. And, i know some computer, but i am feeling kinda lost about now. Knowing however, that i will feel less lost as time goes by, and some day not even have to "think" about my next step. It has been nice however, my prayer life had not been what it should be, but in the last week i have really started to talk to the Lord way more, not just about my job, but about my family, friends, church, just getting closer to Him. I need to feel like i can just share everything with Him, and we are so close he will know just what i am talking about. (I know he is all knowing, but you know what i mean)

My new job is at AR Wilson Realtors. I am still part time, but Saturdays off, and will usually be finished by 2 in the afternoon on weekdays. I am excited, but as I mentioned before, so much(everything) is new and i am feeling pretty old. Luckily, i know everyone, and everyone is very nice and they don't seem to mind my endless questions. Thanks Bryan!

I will of course miss jellybeans immensly(sp). It is a great place to work, and i don't think it has really hit me i don't anymore, since i only worked a couple days a week there. It amazes me that i spent 7 years there, and at the same time seems like only yesterday that all of us were in NYC and talking about my new job.

School started monday, and i realized sunday night, that despite all my blogging about my alone time, it will not be as available now, but i think i am okay with that. Having to learn new things has also made me appreciate my kids and their homework more, and i will still have some time alone, just not all day. So i will try not to whine.

Last thing for now: My brother-in-law, Perry, brought me a really cool tray from the Phillipines.It is so pretty, but i could not decide what to put in it. It really needs a coffee table to sit on, or breakfast served on it to someone in bed. But instead, for now, i have a giant disney coloring book and 3 packages of crayons sitting in it in our living room. Anyone wanna color?

Singing in the Brain

This is the title of a book mark saw while in a barnes&noble in KC. he suggested i use it as my blogs title, should i ever start a new one. Well, since i barely keep up with this one, i just changed its title. Likie, no likie?

Some schools started today. Please do not take this the wrong way, but i cannot wait until ours does. I love my kids and i love summer, but i am so ready for a few hours by myself. And as any mom/wife who works even part time outside her home knows, work does not count as by yourself.

I love, love, love being by myself. I am a terrible friend because of that, i know. I do not enjoy chatting on the phone, at least not for a long time. And i don't mind spending time alone. My family does not always understand that, i know. Neither do some friends. But i have at least one that does, she will remain nameless since i have not asked permission to use her as an example. But i know it is true because we were just talking about this last week. :)

On the trip to kc, of course there was no alone time. The trip was fine, between sky and b argueing, and mark and b argueing, i am sure a great time lurked somewhere. Not that i was the perfect wife and mother on the trip, so changes could have been made all around. Let's just say, i am in no hurry for any more road trips any time soon.

Mark did buy me an amazingly cool ring while we were on this trip. It is stainless steel with a perdoit(?) stone. the stone is held in place by pressure from the sides of the ring. It is so cool and the stone is green which i love. And, soon we will take my engagement ring to the davidsons jewelry in branson, so they can fix it. I cannot wait to be able to wear it again, i have really missed it.

Time for the ortho for b, so i will stop for now. Maybe more after we get back.

stealing from sky

so, i have decided to steal skywritings idea of just blogging about my week. Surely she won't mind, imitation is the best form of flattery, you know.

Sunday, end of fair, see previous blog.

Monday, worked. Jenny is back from vacation, and we were busy all day. Zutano in, not all on shelf yet, which really bothers me, but we were so, so busy. Customers come first, even when you don't want them too!:) Barrett and mark went to b's ballgame while i went grocery shopping. left home at 7:30 or so, got back after 10. And, just so you know, walmart does not sell brick chili anymore, major let down for us since it is a main ingredient in cream tacos. WHich we eat all the time.

Tuesday, as sky mentioned my sisters kids were here. They slay me every time we are with them. We all went to walmart again to buy an air mattress, because hayley was comin over, that's why! ANd that poor girl either sleeps in the chair or someone ends up on the hardwood floor, and that could not continue. So we bought an air mattress that can be two twins, a twin with two layers, or a king size. and it wraps up in to its own pouch. ANd a battery operated air pump. So so fun!

Wednesday, more work, just me and jenny. Busy again, not as much as monday. But busy enough that the Zutano is still not finished. then on to the Talburts, for hillenburg tacos. We love making them for people, just not the way the house smells the next day. So it was great to get to make them for hometeams. And Jenny talburt made that great cake she makes. It is amazingly good. Rich and refreshing at the same time. Then when we left, chris and jenny gave everyone a 24 pack of new crayons!!! I am up to three right now, and it is so exciting.

Thursday, no work, just hanging out at home with barrett and a little shopping last night as sky mentioned. By the way i had to take the shelves back, no hardware to be found in the box. But i also got the okay to purchase some this weekend if i find them, because that Zutano is not finished yet. I guess it is a good problem to have, so much business you can't get to it. But considering it sells almost as fast as we can put it out, we need it on the floor. ANyway...

Here it is , Friday. Off again today, so slept in really late. We have got to start school schedule next week, ha ha. Went and got checks from our fair jobs, took the shelves back to Target, and now i am headed to automagic to clean the van before the big trip to KC(yes sky i am excited)
Tonight is a wedding rehearsal, and then tomorrow, putting in the baseboards and singing in said wedding at 3:00, then off to the north.

We will not be in church again on sunday, but i am looking forward to getting to be in big church next week, i have heard only great things about "new" dan, and cannot wait to hear pastor. Not to mention spending time in the High Octane class for a visit.

WEll, that is my week at a glance, see ya next week.

the fair is over, hallelujah

As per my daughters orders, mom either blog or withdraw yourself.
So, here goes.
The fair is over, hallelujah.
Can't wait to do it again next year, although i would enjoy a back stage pass next time. If i like the talent coming in.
Burch and Lotz are a joy to work for.
Men don't like pink armbands, even when you tell them it really sets off their eyes.
Truck and tractor pulls are very very very loud, you should never give away your earplugs.
Also, you should not take babies to truck and tractor pulls.
Some men have an exceeding amount of hair on their arms. and really big wrists.
It is a scary thing to think you are gonna have to put two armbands together in order to fit around a womans wrist. it is scarier than man arm hair.
Corn dogs are better when they are hand dipped. and that lemonade was the best i have ever had.
Lawn mower races are not childs play. Or fun.
Three Dog Night may be old, but they still got the pipes.
"Austin" is still a great song.
It would be cooler if we had the fair in the fall.
Being a girl, i have never gotten to be an usher. it is harder than it looks.:)
I love, love love the slaw dogs. Although not as much as Blake Shelton.
Evidently it takes liquor to make a country singer an entertainer.
I saw 2 people I graduated high school with today, haven't seen one in at least 15 years, and almost that long for the other. Cool beans!
Seeing a calf being born was the coolest thing I have ever seen. Even cooler cause they had to pull it out. That is hard work, and kudos to the young men and women at the birthing center who let us all watch, even when it is aggitating the mother cow.
and the best thing about the fair, at least one of them, was getting to hang out with friends, both old and new.
And trying to spot my husband from the grandstand and smiling great big when i found him, even tho he couldn't see.

catching up

Many days have passed since my last blog. Sometimes i wish i had not started...it was much easier to just read the other blogs, and not have the pressure of writing one. But here goes...

I found a penguin calendar yesterday...of course i bought it. It goes from August until december of next year, which is great, but the august thru november calendars are all on one page, which makes for very small writing areas. But still, the penguins make it worth it. if you have not seen the movie "March of the Penguins" i would either borrow it from me, or go to the showing of it at Founders park on August 11. It is a wonderful little movie.

So, i actually wore a swim suit and played volleyball at the jeppsens house. Who knew what fun i had been missing? A very brave bat made many appearances as well, and it was one of the scariest and coolest things i have ever seen. by the way, matt, i thought i knew how to store pictures on my camera, but i actually did not, so no worries about the picture of you in the glasses. I can't tell you how disappointed i am about that.

the lake last weekend was, as we fully anticipated, wonderful fun. The stop at Walmart supercenter in branson west was great, and the tubing was so fun (I watched of course, no tubing for me) and the weather was great. The evening spent with friends and family was a great ending to the day, and Charlotte's corn is the best thing ever. And lisa, morgan and steve made some amazing smoothies, I have been thinking about them ever since.

Only one more sunday in the monkey class for me, and then i rejoin big church. I am at the same time sad and excited. I am visiting the varsity and jv classes for SS for the 1st few weeks, then i will have to decide about a class...but it will be nice to see what my kids are up to. I must say I am very thankful to the teachers in the jv and varsity areas, my kids love church, and you are a big reason why. I am looking forward to getting re-aquainted with the classes. The sad part is of course, leaving the kids in my class. I love the ages i have, they still think you are smart and usually funny. And most of them are excited to see you outside of the classroom, although some seem confused to find out that I don't live in the monkey room, and actually go other places.

the fair starts in 2 days. I am working evenings, and i hear nick burns is my boss. That is fine and dandy, but i am still a little afraid to tell someone they have to move out of the aisle, and cannot stand on the bleachers(if indeed that is true). also, because of vacation time taken by employees of jellybeans, i am working alot of days there, and will get to the fair later than most of the other workers. Mostly I am doing this so i can see my husband during the 10 days of the fair. He will be there from 8 am til midnight every night. I am hoping to not have to be there until midnight, as i am not a good night person, but perhaps hangin' with some who are night owls will rub off on me. Probably not. i will try to be in a good mood!

Skyler goes to camp next week, i will miss her sorely, but she will be having a blast. I cannot believe she is a junior.

well, that about sums it up for now. Oh, by the way, the kitchen is back to the way i changed it yesterday, we will see how it works. That is all I am gonna say about that.

baseball

tonight is the second night in a row I have been to a springfield cardinals game. And i want you all to know, i did not even take a book!! I did take a people magazine both nights ( the same issue, which happens to be my last of 4 free issues, and i have already written CANCEL on my invoice, thank you very much) but I did not even read it at all, i kept it in my purse last night, and only used it as a fan tonight. I actually watched the whole game, 1st to 9th innings, and enjoyed myself very much! Both nights, did you hear me, both nights! I know you are all as excited as I am!

then, after the game tonight, we went to acambaro, where we spent some time getting to know Lindsey, our waitress, better. She is pre med. Very nice, and we also asked her how late is too late to come in. she of course, did not want to answer, but my family will not go in later than 9:30, if they are closing at 10. Just to be nice.Cause i used to be a waitress eons ago, and it always made me mad when people came in 10 minutes before closing time. and tonight, if we took out the time that we spent visiting with lindsey and talking to some people mark used to go to church with, we were probalbly done in 20 minutes. so 9:30 would put us out at 9:50, and that is just fine. AND, we ate for $10.58 before tip. that is w/o skyler, but still, it is the cheapest place for our family to eat in this town!! I love that place!

10th inning is over, all except for the party and the swimming, for another summer. This is barretts last year, he is officially too old for it. Doesn't seem possible. of course, he has park board baseball, and football coming up really soon, so he'll keep busy!

Well, i am sleepy, and church is tomorrow, so see ya.:)

the library

we just got back from the library. by we, i mean me, sky, barrett, elijah, anna and sophie. All of us. At the same time. We went to the library station, which is my favorite location. And, the kids love it too. They play in the train, anna and eli go right on in, sophie has to be convinced that it is not really gonna leave the station first, but after that, she is fine. Sophie played for a while, and then went to find a book. she came back with Peter Rabbit. she sat and looked at the pictures, and then told me she needed to find one for anna. Very soon, she came back with a second copy for anna. Which means at the tender age of almost 4, she remembered where she had gotten the first copy. My heart was very glad, because I think she is perhaps a natural born reader. The funniest part is she said "anna will love this." and ran off to give it to her. Anna said thank you sophie, and promptly laid it on the bench inside the train,and kept on playing. However, i did notice that she had it when we went to check out, so maybe she will be a reader too.
we, really skyler, found the junie b jones section, which she then read out loud on the way home.Cause that girl is our favorite, that's why. My favorite lines so far from Junie b jones smells something fishy are: Where's the justice in that, Helen? and You did the best you could, old man. Somehow being an obnoxious, bratty, smart alec kid seems okay when its junie b.
We could read her all day.
I also finally got the brochure to join the best sellers club. I think they automatically put on the hold list for the authors you pick when a new book is available. Maybe now i will be the 700th hold on the 1st book returned instead of the 770th. Small pleasures, people, small pleasures.
So, have you been to the libray lately? What is your favorite location? Just wondering.

I'm baaaack...

Remember poltergeist? That was one scary movie...and alot of people who made that movie died in mysterious ways...oooh, scary. Also, this is not my topic just the lead in nonsense, but Pet Semetary is one of two books i could not finish because it is so scary. Couldn't finish the movie either. The other book is Bram Stoker's Dracula. It was written in the 1800's and still managed to scare me so bad i had to sleep with the lights on for days. And i still couldn't finish it.

Anyway, boys and girls, todays topic is ...NEW CRAYONS!!!

I love everything about them! The smell, the look of new wrappers around sharp, brand new colors, big ones, small ones, the 8 pack or the 120 pack in its very own school box...oh, it is so wonderous.

I loved getting new crayons for school, and i know there were times when i could have just used the box from the year before...but i always loved new crayons, and my parents always let me get new. Not always the big box i wanted, and i clearly remember cynthia ash getting the biggest box available back then, the one with the sharpner in the back. but somehow i survived with the 48 pack, and have lived to tell you all how much i still love the crayon, so i guess all is well that ends well and all that.
Any one who has been to my house knows that i do not live to do housework, and really don't like i should, so you may find it suprising how much messy crayons bother me. I may not mind having laundry in basket, or a few dishes in the sink, but i cannot stand a messy box of crayons.
I hate it when you have no choice but to peel the paper back so you can keep coloring, it totally ruins the look of the crayon, and if it breaks in two or something tragic like that, well, forget it.
Just go out and buy a new box, cause the whole effect is now ikky.
Honestly, the kids from the monkey class last year quickly learned to be nice with the crayons, cause miss cindy and miss mindy won't let you color if your not! Okay, okay, it wasn't that bad, but seriously, we both groaned out loud when one got broken, or the paper torn off! Currently, i do not have any crayons of my own, and really not so much time to color, but i think i will ask for crayons and a coloring book for my stocking for christmas this year!

Oh, and not rose brand crayons, or any off brand please...spend the extra and get the 120 count in its very own crayola school box from Crayola Brand Crayons. I promise it is worth the expense!

Something to think about...if someone were really thinking of a tattoo, and it would have to be a penguin, very simple, where should one get it? No yukky comments please. I am not saying that it is imminent or anything, just asking...

okay, long post. Was gonna say more but there's always tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day. The sun will come out tomorrow. Will you still love me tomorrow?...somebody stop me!

No reason...:)

Just one of the reasons i love bluegrass music, and am so sad about the dixie chicks yukky attitude.

You can't afford no ring
You can't afford no ring
I shouldn't be wearin white,
And you can't afford no ring

You finally took my hand
You finally took my hand
It took a nip o gin
But you finally took my hand

You can't afford no ring
You can't afford no ring
I shouldn't be wearin white
And you can't afford no ring

Mama don't approve
Mama don't approve
Daddy says he's the best in town
But Mama don't approve

You can't afford no ring
You can't afford no ring
I shouldn't be wearin white
And you can't afford no ring

Baby's on its way
Baby's on its way
Say I do and kiss me quick
Cause baby's on its way

I shouldn't be wearin white,
And you can't afford no ring

no title

So, this will be my last blog for at least 10 days, as tomorrow night I begin living at the fireworks stand. Jellybeans until 6, then over to the obviously "arresting" fireworks stand, and the rest of the days spent morning until late from then on. But at least i don't have to sleep there, and hopefully it will be so busy the time will fly.

Not much else happening in my life right now, so i really don't have much to say. Lisa, hope you are feeling better, and Gary, let us know what the dr. says tomorrow....the video was viscious.
You BOUNCED!

i need to get caught up on my dvr shows...does anyone else watch "the 4400"? I just found it and i love it...i might have mentioned that before...but i really do. Also, House reruns are on USA, and i have started watching that too. That guy is hilarious, and the med stuff is cool, too.
and Windfall, which i am an episode behind in.

I am getting caught up on my bible study this week, so i will be on track when we resume class...it is always good to be caught up!!! I really like this study, so hopefully i will keep up with it...

Well, I know this is boring, and that is sad since it is gonna be a while...maybe next week, i will have stories about scary people who buy fireworks from us...

talk at ya then...

as time goes by

Last night, my good friend lisa called...we chatted about morg's game, how jet lag had finally hit them, just normal stuff...

it made me hark back to the days when i babysat morgan and ashley, and saw lisa almost everyday. That of course led me back to the days of living in the trailer, babysitting 8 kids at one time, not including my own, with the oldest being skyler, who was 5 at the time. Yes, i was a lot younger then!!

Today, i have done 4 loads of laundry so far, and so, feeling the need to reward myself, i went with book in hand to lay in the hammock. Unbelievably, the character in the book is feeling guilty about the unfolded laundry that her cleaning lady will have to fold and put away, and since i do not have a cleaning lady, i felt guilty about the 3 loads of unfolded laundry in the living room on the couch. So i went back in and folded the laundry with skyler helping. She is such a good girl.

Why is it that i don't seem to mind sorting the yucky dirty laundry, getting it to the washer, then dryer, and into a basket, or at least to the couch, but I hate folding clean, sweet smelling, warm clothes??? This makes no sense. Is it knowing that no matter how much I fold and put away, there is always another load to do? Is it knowing that there really is no end in sight for the wife and/or mother when dealing with laundry? Or am i just lazy? Hey, that might be it!!

Barrett mowed yesterday, do you not just love the scent of a freshly mowed lawn? It looks so good, and i am sure it gives him such a sense of accomplishment, ha ha.

Well, we are off to find tennis shoes for Skyler, keds preferably, so gotta go. I would love to say i will blog more tomorrow, but don't wanna get your hopes up.:)

just stuff

So, i finished, mostly anyway, the cd that admin and i have been working on for some time now. At least i am finished with my part, now the magic begins at the hands of the producer. We are maybe still gonna do one more song, but we are having trouble being able to download it. I say that as if I have been working on it so fiercely, when in reality ryan is the one doing the hard work. I will be glad to have a cd in hand, and I won't have to feel guilty about taking up his time more and more.

Okay, so at admins house, he lives with that BEAUTIFUL missy wade, adorable millie and precious roscoe. Just let me tell you, we love that family. And tonight, millie and i actually had conversation! Not just me trying to get her to like me and talk to me, but her initiating conversation, showing me her leg and foot where she used the markers to color herself, and calling me "miss cindy" and coming downstairs to see where we were recording and telling me that AJ was trying to eat my bag. I am so excited!

today, the manager at Qdoba dropped off a couple bags of chips, some cheese sauce, salsa and guacamole. Then she said if we go next door and say we work at Jellybeans, we get 20% off of our order, and if we buy a large drink, we can get free refills anytime we want! Like if i buy a drink today, i can go back on saturday and get a free refill! Actually i already knew about the drink, and we go everyday for the refills, but the 20% off came as a delightful surprise. So, when my stomach finally growled tonight, i had some chips and stuff, folded laundry from last week, and then went and swung on the hammock for a little while, until the mesquitos drove me back inside.

Now i am blogging. Nothing exciting, just my night. I remember when i was a kid and being so bored because we had nothing to do, no plans, just at home. I would love to just have nothing to do some evening. Not that we never do, they just seem so seldome anymore. And the next 15 days will be round the clock with the fireworks stand, then before you know it, the fair, and then school will be starting again!!! Yikes!

Sorry, that sounded like complaining, and i don't mean it like that. I just miss the old days sometimes. Hey, my mom is home, she went home yesterday, and seems to be doing great, right daddy? She seems to have breezed right thru the hip replacement, and now the rehab,, which will take a while. But she has been a real trooper.

So, that is all for tonight, i am making a list of things to blog about, so that maybe it will not be so long between posts. See ya on the flip side.

the american dream....

I am at home right now with barrett, mark is at a dinner with gary k, and skyler is at work, she should be home soon. If i sit here long enough, i will begin to cry over how the LORD has blessed me and my family. We have a great friend who is in our circle of care :) who is fond of saying we are living the american dream. Well, sometimes it is not such a dream, but believe me, it is blessing after blessing, even as laura said tonight in bible study, if the blessings are running parallel to the "unanswered".

Let me get all sentimental here for a moment...you can stop right now if you don't like mushy.
17 years ago this month, mark and I found out we were expecting Skyler. Quite a surprise, that girl, although really not so much. As mary lou said..."you gotta pay the piper if you wanna dance." Anyway, we were so scared and so unsure of what the future held, but because of amazing family, friends (Thanks randy and tammi) and a pastor who told us not what we wanted to hear, but needed to, we knew that God only wanted his best for us. And we were willing to do whatever it took to give him our best too. So on July 29, we will celebrate 17 years of being not just married, but getting to live our lives with the one God chose for us.
Flash forward a few years and we have Barrett, who is so much like his daddy, it is scary and funny at the same time!! Go forward many more years, and here we are...far from perfect, but man, God has not let us down once. Skyler, who is now working, driving, a junior in high school, but still calls to tell me she is leaving to come home, and tomorrow, since we are both off, do I wanna hang out? ( My mom has hip replacement surgery tom. so i will hanging out at St. Johns tho). Barrett, who is now taller than me, a 7th grader, and could most likely deck me if he wanted, instead comes in and kisses my cheek and says he loves me as he passes thru the kitchen. And my husband, who knows all my bad habits and insecurities, and who knows better than anyone that i could stand to loose some poundage, ( he would never tell me that, tho) still wants to snuggle in the chair and 1/2, that somehow has mananged to shrink since we bought it a few years ago! That man is my dream come true, and i cannot believe most of the time he chose me. Our families have changed, some have gone on to heaven, everyone is older, our friends have been added to, some have moved away, and we still love that pastor rogers, and love our pastor eddie so much. Our church has changed too, and great changes are in store. But the one thing that hasn't is that God still is pouring out his best for us.

I started to put sorry this is so long, but i am not really. This blog will allow me to occassionally share my heart, not just my mindless pursuits and gibberish. I AM living the american dream, thanks to my friend for the needed reminder.

blog? Who has time to blog?

it is saturday night, at 10:35 pm. I am so tired i can hardly stand it. But as I am finding out, blogging waits for no one. I was told by a very experienced blogger that if i would limit myself to everyother day blogging, i would not feel as if i never left the computer. I seem to have taken that advice and added a couple days to it. I was so afraid that i would not be able to stop once i started, but it seems i am having trouble getting started at all!!

My days have been filled with working extra since Nancy is out of town, and doing laundry, laundry and more laundry. Haircuts and band-aids and neosporin rounded out the week, with work again today. So I know this one is boring, and full of needless info, but thats it. i have been too tired or busy to blog. And, I cannot tell you whether it is bothering me that i haven't blogged or not. On one hand, i love the comments, or just feeling a part of the blogging family. On the other hand, i feel pressure to be "on" with the blogs. I mean, look at the other hillens: Hillen who is a pro with the camera, hillenjr who also takes some great pictures, and the one with the definite gift of prose, Skywriting. Pressure Pressure pressure.

So friends you will have to bear with me. I am still new at this, and trying to get the hang of it.
At some point i am sure this will become second nature, and i will find mucho entertaining things to talk about. Until then, i am gonna go sleep, go to church am, and then try to finish the laundry i started on wednesday. No, i am not kidding! Wednesday!

oh, by the way, I have all new children in my monkey class at church. All my kids moved up to Miss Sharon last Sunday, and the new monkeys moved in. I must say, they are a great barrel full so far, and although i miss my other kids something awful, i am positive we have a great year ahead of us! See you all at church!

okay, i'll blog already!

So, i found out today that i am not alone. I am an admitted pen kleptomaniac, but i am not alone. At Bible study i discovered at least two others like me. We love pens...fine point, any color, no glop pens. And we sometimes borrow them permenantly. Now, I do not steal from stores, or people not related to me, but i love hillens pens, and sometimes sky or barrett will get a great pen. And sorry, but if you lay it down and forget about it, it wants to belong to me. And it should. I will love it and use it all the time.

I also like different pens for different things. Like for Bible study, i love to use a green pen.(although for this one i am using purple, it is all i had, so i need to stay consistent in color)
Maybe because green makes me think of growing, and i so hope to grow through each of these studies. Or maybe because i just love the color green. For anything!

Fine point is the best. Extra fine point is amazing, but sometimes too scratchy. The worst is medium point, it glops all over the place, and you get it all over your hands. And then if you touch your face before the ink is dry, well, you end up with ink on your face. that stinks.

At one time, and i hope to bring this time back really soon, i was the PEN LADY for the demers and jeppsen girls when our families would go out to eat together at the best restaurant in the city, Acambaro. I loved being the one who had the best pens with the most color choices...it somehow completes me. Also, just so you know, i like to be the aunt with gum, just like monica on friends. Anyway, lately, i have been sorely lacking in the pen department. I cannot figure out how i lose pens. Honestly, my family does not get into my purse for them, and the girls were always faithful to return my pens when it was time to go home. but still, i seem to have lost the best pens. So, soon, i will replenish with even better and more fine point, no glop lots o color pens.

Okay, this is getting long, and so i will stop for today. But rest assured, soon i will blog about my love of new crayons...

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