A Favorite Poem

“When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say. "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow.”
― Maya Angelou

Mondays

As the Professional CEO of this home, or aka The Stay-At-Home-Mom that I have been for many moons now, I have realized a few things that are crucial to my survival and happiness with my current employment.

Some other moms may not agree with my methods, but they are tried, and true to me, and they have failed me NOT. And well, this is my story and I am sticking to it.

On the weekends, when everyone else is officially OFF, I have declared that I am too.
That means I don't do laundry.
I don't do dishes unless I want to.
We eat pizza or leftovers.
I don't sweep.
I don't mop.
I am OFF work.

Well, this method is tried and true, and it works quite well that is, until Monday morning rolls around.

On Monday mornings I wake up knowing what lies ahead.
I know full well what happens when I have left the mess of 2 days work for this One Day.
"Looks like someone's got a case of The Mondays", at least no one says that to me while I quietly go about my business. Most Mondays, I don't mind the mess. I am happy for the time OFF and happy to get back to work, But...

This particular Monday morning, while texting some of my girlfriends, who will be referred to as "My 3 Cups of Awesome", from here on out,(they know who they are) I was be-moaning my Monday morning mess.

I said, "I feel it's abusive the disastrous state in which my family leaves this house for me to clean on Monday mornings. I also feel that with such abuse there should be like a CPS number that MOMS could call when they want to report and abusive family."

Think of the things you could call this number for?

I can think of so many reasons to call a support line like that.

Like, how about when you have just done the laundry, folded it all nicely, and asked that your boys put it away in their drawers. Only to find the very same clean clothes back in the dirty clothes hamper a few days later... unworn... ABUSE.

Or what about when you have swept and mopped the floor, your back is hurting from the bending over to make a floor so spotless you could eat off of it, only to have muddy rain boots walk across the whole house before they realize they didn't concede to the "Shoes Off" policy posted on the door.... ABUSE.

How about you just cleaned the fridge. Top to bottom you spent a good portion of your day in the muck and mire that is your fridge. It was cold and tedious. It was not fun, but it's beautiful now. Sparkling white. But wait, Red Juice just got spilled, no tipped over, all down the sides, the selves, the bottom..... ABUSE.

So what number could we call?

Well, if your mom is still alive I would suggest this number;

1-800-MOM-I-LOVE-YOU-THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND HAVE DONE!!

Or...

1-800-PEDICURE-TIME!

What are some reasons you would call The Mom Abuse hot line?
What number would you call?

Father Time

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." C. S. Lewis

**I will come back to that quote so stay tuned.

At the beginning of every new year I do this funny thing where I think in just a few short months it will be my children's birthdays,
and then the beginning of another school year,
and then another Christmas,
and then another year.
And just like that BLAM, I am caught up in the nasty, sticky web that is Father Time.

It is a weird thing, this thing that I do.
I don't know if I get this from my mom?
You know, it's where even though my child just turned 7, I start saying they are almost 8. I remember my mom doing this thing where I would think maybe she just doesn't really know how old I am so she says I'm older. But then she would do it to her own age, so that would confuse my notion that she had just forgotten how old I was. And then now I see, she was just preparing for what lies ahead.

If you think ahead, it prepares you for when you finally get there.
Do you know what I mean?
If I start to think ahead, the blow won't be so hard when I am standing there taking pictures of Emma in her cap and gown graduating from High School.
I mentally prepare for these moments as much as I can, long before those moments ever arrive.
I start to grasp how fast the time is going, and by advancing forward at least in my brain, I somehow protect my heart.

Well this year I got a postcard in the mail welcoming me as a parent of a High Schooler.

Sigh.

Wait, what? I hadn't even done that thing that I do yet!

How could you be so cruel, RHS?

This year I didn't have to do that funny thing that I do, where I advance forward to September 2012 even though it's only just January 2012. I didn't have to do it because, the High School here took care of that for me, by sending me this nice little note that made the reality of having a soon to be High Schooler, that much more real.

And then of course pictures like these don't help.
What is happening here is that I am convinced Father Time has sped up the clock.
He has messed with the dials.
He has put in super amped up batteries that work to make the clock go faster, and faster.
And again I say,
Damn You Father Time!
Stop it!

At least give me time to do that thing that I do.

** The above quote makes me giggle. And at the same time it makes me angry. I mean why can't I have little eggs flying around? I imagine little cute flying eggs, and it makes me smile, and feel good, and safe, and comfortable. And then there will be no words like breaking, and hatching, and flying.

But also, it makes me think of how silly it is that I would want to keep my children as eggs instead of letting them become birds that fly. Trust me, I am tempted. Little flying eggs... think about it. They could be cute... No, No I know they need to hatch.
I know Em needs to go on to bigger and better things.
I know Chloe needs to dance all over the world.
I know Solomon needs to create, invent, and stun more people than just his mom.
I know Isaiah needs an audience larger than 1.

I know they all need to fly.
Emma reminds me every day, how much she wants to fly.
She is stretching out the wings that God has given her and they are beautiful.
And when it comes time I know she will jump with full force out of this nest,
and she will fly and soar so beautifully that I ... well ... I will ... stop...

And I will remember this moment.
I will think this is good.
I will know this is right.
I will be thankful.

Psh... Who am I kidding?

I will be a mess like I was on her first day of school.
And I will call my mom, and
she will remind me that I still have
Chloe, Solomon, and Isaiah
and that Emma will call me someday like I am calling her
and I will take deep breaths, and start counting the days until
the next hatched egg,
because God forbid I create any bad eggs.

Hippie Wanna Be

I am somewhat of a Hippie.

Not the kind that smokes pot and doesn't wear deodorant.
Or the kind that wouldn't be caught dead in designer jeans.
Not really the kind that drinks goats milk.
Or the kind that has hemp for anything at all.

I am somewhat of a Hippie.

Not the kind that has dreads in her hair.
Or the kind that goes around flashing the peace sign to everyone.
Not really the kind that only shops at local farmers markets.
Or the kind that is avid tye-dye wearer.

I am somewhat of a Hippie.

Not the kind that makes their own clothes.
Or the kind that never wears makeup.
Not the kind that listens to The Grateful Dead.
Or the kind that refers to this place, as Mother Earth.

Well, Ok... I see your point... I guess I am a wanna-be Hippie.

Why do I wanna-be a Hippie, you ask?

Besides the fact that Hippie's are cool, there are so many reasons I can appreciate this group of people. Here are just a few of those reasons;

They were "GREEN" before it was trendy.

They are for Peace, Love, and The Pursuit of Happiness at all times.

I believe they are some of the most creative people on planet earth because they are not afraid to use their imaginations.

Easy like Sunday Morning, could be their theme song.

The phrase "No Worries" which is one of my all time favorite phrases, rolls off their lips like butta!

And the number one reason I wanna be a Hippie... drum roll please...

It has to do with a little German Car that was made for the people many years ago.

It's a must for every Hippie to have driven or currently BE driving a VW.

My Friend Allie

Do you ever come across someone who is so larger than life in personality that you just want to be their friend so you can ride along on their "coat tails" of life so to speak?
Ya know, just so you can be a part of the adventure?

Well, that's how I feel about my friend Allie.

Let me take you back to the first day we met.

A very long, long time ago... I would say around 23 years to be exact(I am SO old) I met my treasured friend Allie. I started going to a church in Carson City called the Vineyard. I'm not exactly sure how I ended up going there, but there I was. At a new church. No friends. No familiar faces. And We were meeting in this warehouse, office type building(which was a step up from the tents we soon would be meeting in) and it was also quite the change from my Catholic days of big, beautiful church buildings, where no one spoke to each other, before or afterward. You got in. You got out.
Very anti-social. Church was not about meeting friends. It was a much more reverent event back in those days.

Honestly, that's not entirely true. But it sounds good doesn't it? And don't forget my theme word here on my blog is hyperbole.

So there I was standing in the back of this new church talking to this lady named Judy, who was so friendly it was almost frightening, but not, because she was just so fun to listen to and she asked so many questions. She was talking about this girl named Allie that I should meet and in walked this shorter than me, bigger hair than me, naturally curlier hair than me(I was a tad jealous of that since I used to pay the big bucks for my curls)little bit of thing with a great big smile.

We became kindred spirits right from the start for many, many, many reasons.

It's funny how a friendship starts. There are of course many books, quotes, and poems about friendship, but this is one I think best describes ours at that moment in time;

"Friendship is born at the moment when 1 person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one" C.S. Lewis

We had so much common ground to walk upon, and that is where it all began. We learned that,
We both loved babies and children. I would call what we had a baby romance for sure. But that wasn't all that caused our instant friendship. We both talked really loud. Laughed really loud. She burped really loud. We kind of both Lived Out Loud. Her laugh of course was louder, and world re-noun... she was after all nick-named Gunner Allie for a reason. We blamed this loud tone on the fact that our parents came from the east coast, but really I don't think we can blame either Vinnie, or Ellen for our loud factor. She at the time played the Saxophone, and I sang. She could talk like she was from the east coast,(for that we can give the credit to Vinnie and Ellen) and so could I. She was so funny. She burped really loud. She loved Jesus, so did I. Instant friendship. Did, I mention she burped really loud?

We were like:
Laverne and Shirley.
Lucille Ball and Ethel.
Thelma and Louise.

There are so many memories that I could share about my friendship with Allie, so many in fact that I think I am going to start a series called, My Adventures with Allie.
I do this, if for nothing else, but to lure her back to reading my blog, and also hopefully to inspire her to write as well. That girl has got some stories she needs to share with the world.

So this is my intro, to Allie, stay-tuned for more Adventures with Allie.

P.S. The picture above from Left to Right, Judy(who I mentioned in the story)Allie, Sista Jen, Jentry, and Me. This is my beloved Birthday Club. More stories to come about all of these girls.

Love Letter #3

Dear Lover of My Soul,

I haven't written to you for a while so I thought I would make up for it by making this letter rather long. I hope you don't mind. I just wanted to take a moment and tell you how much I love you, and why. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe to you how deep my love for you is, but I want to try to tell you the things that come to mind when I think about why I love you so much.
I love how patient you are with me. Despite my selfishness, and continual bad habits you have been patient. In fact, more than being patient you have been kind when I have been rotten to you. So kind it makes me want to cry for how I have treated you in the past. You never envy me when my life is going so great. When I am happy you are happy with me. In fact when I have taken credit where it should have been given to you for a job that I was only able to accomplish because of you, You didn't envy me. You didn't go boast to your friends, "Hey I did that!" You weren't proud about how when you first met me, I was such a mess. So gross. So tainted even at the young age of 13, you had to pull me out from all that. But never, ever in all the years that I have known you, you have never been proud about what you did for me. You don't hold it over my head. You have let me forget what I used to be. You loved me then. You love me now. You have never been rude to me. There are so many times that I have been So rude, disrespectful, maybe even acted out in a temper tantrum of hate, toward you. But I wasn't met with rudeness, or a cold shoulder. You never seem to care that I do these things, but I know you do. I know I have hurt you, but you have never been self-seeking in revenge. It seems as though you never get angry, or at least you are not easily angered by my behavior. Thank you for never bringing up my past mistakes. You have kept no record of my bratty behavior. When I am being a hater or evil in my thoughts, actions, words, you are quiet. And when you are quiet I know you are not happy or rejoicing in these evils, but when I happy with myself, being kind, loving others, nice to strangers, or getting it right so to speak, living out truth... well that's when I really know you are so happy. I see you quietly shouting, "Yes, Yes!" "Way to Go Noel!" "That's my brown eyed girl" I see you rejoicing in that truth, your truth, that is now my truth, truth.
Thank you for always protecting me. I sleep sweet at night because of this. Your protection is like no other strong man I know. It's like a bubble. Funny, but true, I feel like I walk in a bubble of your protection all the time.
Thank you for trusting me with this life of love and devotion to you. Your trust in me baffles me. I can't ever imagine why in a million years you would trust me of all people with your love. I am not worthy.
The hope you have in me, for my future, well it's truly what gets me out of bed in the morning.
Your perseverance in our relationship is astounding. I would have given up on us a long time ago, but you... you always persevere.
You have never, and THIS I KNOW... you will never fail me.

For all of this, and so much more I love you, with a love that doesn't even come close to the love you have shown me.

You are truly the LOVER OF MY SOUL.

I love you,
Noel


1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New Favorite Quote

“A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”
Maya Angelou

Thank you Momma Maya :)

More Snow Pics

You didn't believe when I said, we were snowed in, did you?

Ok, well our doors were not actually closed shut due to snow, but we did have snow up to our shins at least.

Well, maybe not My Giants shin level, but surely mine and the Fab 4's.

Yeah, we had snow boarders actually up the hill. I was going to start charging a fee and calling it Scofield's Heavenly Ski Resort. It could have worked. The coffee snow ice cream alone would have beckoned them inside.

They were hardcore these snow boarders. Not that I know what a hardcore snow boarder looks like, but these two, they looked the part. I think they would have appreciated our snow ice cream. We should have had like a snow ice cream/hot cocoa stand out there. Next time.

The problem with the Scofield Ski Resort though is that it's not really resort-ish material this here lil cabin. I mean, I love it. But would if they did want to stay up the hill? Ya know, where would I have put them all?

Course, Barley was busy building igloos. That might have worked. Where there's a will there's a way.

Isaiah was not busy building igloos. He was busy saying..."I've fallen and I can't get up!"

See do you believe me now?
SNOW.
In PNW.
Crazy Talk!

I am now convinced that the Washingtonians who say, "Oh no it never snows here!" Are really just Californians who have wishful thinking.

There's Always Tomorrow

“The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.”
― Maya Angelou

Oh how I love this quote.

It is the epitome of an optimistic soul.
To maintain an attitude of gratitude is not an easy thing, (Can I get a witness?)

In this economy, around every corner, if you are paying attention, there are things that should be bringing us all to our knees, but this quote... this quote...
This reminds us that as long as their is breath in our lungs we can give thanks, even for that alone.

The part I love best about it is that, even though some days we might not be able to get out of our funk, "If I insist on being pessimistic" we can say tomorrow is a new day.
As Anne of Green Gables would say, "Fresh with NO mistakes in it"

A few days ago, I had one of those days.
I had been in this house, and way too inside my head for, far, far too long.
I had given in to the FUNK!
I was ready to get OUT!
I had a reason to get OUT!
I was dressed up to get OUT!
Only to have my hopes dashed when The Giant got stuck in the muck of the snow and mud that was our street.
I tried to not to give in to the "depths of despair", but I failed.
I went to bed early.

"There is always Tomorrow"

Then the next morning I got up, the snow was melting.
My drive way was clearing, the snow plows had come to save the day, and I was able to enter the human race again.
And boy howdy did it ever feel so good!!

I went to the grocery store that has a Starbucks inside(they all do here)SO, I should say, I went to the closest grocery store, to be quick as wink!
I wanted to be in society asap.
I walked in with a big Shit Eating Grin on my face like, I just had won the lottery, and
I said to the lovely Barista, "What drink do you suggest for the woman who has been in her house for 7 days with 4 kids, 2 dogs, and lots of snow?"
She looked at me and smiled really big and said, "Better make it a good one with lots of caffeine."

Ah, how I love people.

In the midst of my captivity, I continually gave thanks for you.
Yes YOU, my readers!
For this other outside world.
I prayed like no other that our electricity wouldn't go out.
And it didn't.

"Today, I am blessed"

Happy Birthday to My Giant

Just in case you were wondering;

He is My Giant for everyday purposes.
Mr. Big when he does something really BIG like plan a date.
The Moses to Louie Locke.
Mosey to his mom Nashelle and Auntie E.
Dad to our Fab 4, or P Diddy to Em, but he doesn't like that one.

Uncle to nieces Kaylanne, Isabella, Savanah, and Sophia(no nephews yet)

Babe when I need something from him.
Brother to only one, Hillary. To many a man. (none by blood but a lot by choice)

Russell Moses Scofield when he's in trouble.
Meisha when he is pretending to be Russian.

Genius and Hero when he fixes things.
Noah if YOU forgot his name.
Noses if you blend our names together.

And... Birthday Boy on the 23rd.

Happy 39th Birthday My Giant.

My New Favorite Word

I have found the word.
The word that best describes what I do here on a daily basis.
The word that may very well be a theme for my life.
The word that I come by genetically, yes Mom this could be your word too( and Dad maybe even a word that would describe you) yes, it is in my DNA this word.

Do you want to know what that word is?
Have I peeked your interest?
Are you just bubbling over with curiosity?
Would you pay a million dollars to know what it is?

I should make this into a guessing game and give out prizes for the winner... but I can only play one blog game a month or I might go broke!

Ok here it is defined by good ole Wikiepdia.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole-It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.

Hyperboles are exaggerations to create emphasis or effect. As a literary device, hyperbole is often used in poetry, and is frequently encountered in casual speech. An example of hyperbole is: "The bag weighed a ton."[2] Hyperbole helps to make the point that the bag was very heavy, although it is not probable that it would actually weigh a ton.


And no blog would be complete on here without an example.

My life is forever changed because of this word.
I have found a slot.
I have found a home.
**Micheal W. Smith song played here....those that know this song sing along in the comment section.
"I was looking for a reason,
roaming through the night to find
my place in this world,
my place in this world"

My place in this world, It's name is Hyperbole!

A Boy and His Dog

A boy, and his dog.
One of life's precious treasures.
They run and they play,
One learns to read the other to stay.

A boy, and his dog.
Nothing could be more real.
The love that is shared between them
Is beyond the ideal.

A boy, and his dog.
Dark cold winter days, go faster.
One is called Buddy,
the other is Master.

A boy, and his dog.
Reminds us of what is good.
To be kinder, laugh louder,
Do what you know you should.

A boy, and his dog.
Together they swiftly go.
Running, and Jumping
Competing toe to toe.

A boy, and his dog.
Know not of pain and sorrow.
Their only care is when they
start all over tomorrow.

Is It Baseball Season Yet?

Those of you who know me and have been reading my blog for a while, know that I am a huge baseball fan. I think this enthusiasm for b-ball started way back when, I am sure I was just a little sprite, when I was a wee bit of a thing, when I was younger. I would notice as a young girl that my Dad, would get very, very excited around a certain time of year. Having no real idea why that was I began to take a closer look at why he was hooting and hollering at the television screen. And then one summer in LA we went to I believe it was the Dodger stadium for a real pro-ball game and I was hooked!

I had so much fun with my cousins and my family and it was warm and sunny, and there was popcorn, and I am sure peanuts, and all was just so right with the world. And so my love for this game began.
Now, what you must understand is that I am a girly girl beyond measure. I wear more jewelry with each passing year that, if you were to weigh me over half my weight would be from sterling silver and not meat and bones. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Don't mock me!

I also love makeup really a lot. In fact one of these days I am going to do a makeup blog. The only reason why I haven't yet is because then you would really know how much time I have on my hands, and I don't want to scare you all off. So I love jewelry, makeup, perfume, shoes... don't even get me started on shoes, basically accessories.. and well, you get the idea. Girly Girl.
At this point you must be wondering how or why does baseball fit into all of this.
Well I am going to tell you, because that's what you are here for. Or wait, is it what I am HERE for?

Noel's Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Baseball

5. The game itself well, It is easy to understand. I love Easy and what's easier than, A,B,C, easy as 1..2..3 (sing along) BASEBALL?

4. I like the number 3, 3 bases, 3 strikes, it just makes sense.

3. I like how the teams play each other more than once. It's a series kind of thing. Those of you who enjoy a sport that doesn't involve a series of events, well... I just feel sorry for you.
2. I like, no I LOVE wearing baseball hats. They work perfectly for my hairstyle which is usually non-existent.

And the number 1 reason... Drum Roll Please....

1. I like (and this is where it gets crazy because I never even played the sport) the smell of baseball gloves. GO ahead, find a glove, smell it, report back here!

Sidenote-And of course, I love the Boston Red Sox baseball team... greatest ball club EVER, END OF STORY, NO DISPUTE, NO COMPARISON, DON'T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOUR OTHER MEASLY TEAMS BECAUSE I WON'T HEAR OF IT!! I love Fenway Park. The history that is there, well it's almost tangible.

Well now here is where this part of my story for the love of the game gets tricky.
For so long I have loved The #1 Baseball Club Known to Man, aka BO-Sox and that was that.
Here is where my dilemma comes in.

I now live in Seattle.
We have a Pro Ball Club.
You might of heard of them... Probably NOT!!
The Mariners.
They are unequivocally THE WORST Baseball Team in the US of A!
Sorry but it's true.


They are the underdog of baseball teams.
They have more fans for the opposing teams, ALWAYS, that it's just so very sad.
It makes one want to root for them.
It makes one remember the little guy when they were little, and hope that one day they grow up to be a big strapping man that the BO SOX are someday.

Are you catching what I am laying down here people.
I remember being a fan of the Bo Sox before they won.
I remember the 80 year long stretch.
I remember when the dream team was formed in the inner womb of baseball and so began the story that changed baseball forever.

The underdog became THE DOG!


Well, don't hurt me Bo Sox Nation but I want that for the Mariners.
I really do.
Only of course when they are not playing against you Bo Sox.
Pshh.... Don't you ever doubt my love and devotion to you Boston, BUT... I have to break it to ya,

I do live in Seattle now.

And now for a real Top Ten From Big Man Dave...Hope you enjoy this Dad! This is high tech for my little blog here:

Snow

On Saturday we experienced the first snow of the winter season here in Washington. It was reported that it was going to start snowing on Sunday, and well... it came a day early. The news media made it sound as though this would be the Snow to End all Snow, as another friend called it "The Snow Apocalypse". We probably got about 5 inches here in Redmond. There is supposed to be another storm today, but meanwhile I can't get out of my driveway, mostly because of the mud, not the snow. And so I sit here with you, and blog.

It started out weak and I laughed in it's face. It then got angry. Big flakes began to fall.
And now, here I sit with snow all around. Trapped inside. We live at the top of a hill. The cool thing about that is that everyone comes up here to go sledding. The not so cool thing about that is that cars like to go sledding too. Even as I am typing this there is a cute little Honda that bless it's owners heart keeps slipping and sliding down my street trying to make it's way to the top. "I think I can, I think I can, Whoa... Slide..."I maybe think I might, I really want to"

Needless to say, we have cabin fever. To entertain ourselves, the Fab 4 and I, we have made countless bowls of snow ice cream, and Solomon just decided to get a little fancy and add coffee to his snow... and we were like this is the greatest thing ever! "Do you think we could sell this?" says, my lil 10 year old inventor. Giggle. His sisters then got involved in this great invention and I think the last recipe involved maple syrup, coffee, and peppermint syrup. This ain't no poor kids snow ice cream! And not to worry I made sure the snow was being collected from the tops of tables, we do have 2 dogs after all! But this does go to show how bored we have become. Variations of Snow Ice Cream, who ever heard of such a thing?

We have made a total of 3 Snowmen, Countless snow balls for snow ball fights, And we are pondering building an igloo.
I told we were going crazy up in here!
We are running out of milk, creamer for my coffee, cereal, and butter. If the olives start getting low, I will be walking to the store. What would you be willing to walk to the grocery store for in a snow storm? I want to know.

Barley is out of control in the cold white stuff. The first time we let him out in it, he ran back and forth all over the property like he was a wild cheetah just let loose from it's pen at the zoo. Which, if you could see how big this doggy is now, in comparison to how small our lil cabin is... this could just be his normal behavior. Hmm.. maybe I just hadn't noticed ? Truly it was the greatest sight to behold. I only wish I had it on video because he was OUT OF CONTROL! So, now we know, Barley loves snow.

The Boy who won't be photographed, in the midst of all the excitement of the snow, has also lost another tooth. It can't be seen in the above photograph, but because he was so excited about his invention of coffee ice cream, I managed to capture it here.

Emma made these beauties. Peanut Butter Cookies. My favorite. Did I mention I have been off sugar? Well, I am off sugar. Except Stevia in my coffee. It wasn't a new years thing... it was a I hate exercise, I am grossly overweight, my pants are way too snug and I refuse to shop at the Lane Bryant store, kind of thing. In support of my decision, my family in the past few weeks has decided to make homemade cake pops, my favorite cookies, buy cake vodka, and well, I just can't get over how supportive they all are. No really, I am not bitter about my decision.

This is how Bella has been spending her snow days.

Curled up to her Teddy Bear Barley, or

Laying near the fire place, like a frog. Oh the life of a dog. I envy them.
And now for a little fun. Here is a game of where's Waldo, I mean Isaiah?

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Debi, Gina, and Jess.

The winners of the first game played here.

Don't worry, don't fret, there will be more to come... especially if you all help me get my blogging job :)

Facebook and My Growing Disdain for it

A friend on facebook posted this the other day and it catapulted me to write this post here. Here you have some things I have wanted to say about Facebook for a long time, but didn't quite know how. After seeing the above pic, it really did make me LOL, and I thought of how it's funny because you know it's true.(Corky Romano quote)
Or at least you know it's true that is, IF you are on facebook. If you are not on Facebook then first let me say to you congratulations... you have succeeded in REAL LIFE!! Also I commend you, I want to be like you, you are my heroes, and don't do it! Don't EVER do it!

Now, if you are on facebook well, then this post should make complete sense to you. Feel free to add a category that I may have left out. And dont' get all butt-hurt if you feel you fall into one or all of these categories, because so does the author of this post.


Whether you are on facebook or you are not on facebook, let me break it down for you(Hammer Time)Why this pic is so damn funny!!

If I were to break up into categories the kinds of people who are on facebook,(and maybe we could extend this to in life in general, but that might be a stretch) and also the kinds of *(status updates) one might find on FB, then this is my bullet point version of that.

* Status Update- Is a little box at the top of your page on facebook where you tell the world your status. I'm Hungry, It's Snowing, I am at a really cool concert wish you were here... that kind of thing. Just keeping you non-FB-ers in the know!

Here are just a few off the top of my head:

1. There are Those who should be on Twitter instead of FB

2. Braggers

C. The Shock and Awe(attention getters)
(I would put the breast cancer awareness ladies in this catergory, if you aren't on FB and don't understand what I mean by this then consider yourself one of the lucky ones in life)

D. Those who don't really care about FB, they are just on there because everyone else is, and they didn't want to be the only ones who weren't.

5. Those who use FB to promote either themselves, their business, or something of that sort.




Those who should be on Twitter instead of FB

These are of the group that want to tell you what they are doing at all times. Who they are with, what they are eating, where they are at, etc. These people of course share everything, and are the reason the phrase TMI(Too Much Information) was established. Really, the problem I have with these people is that there is another website that was created for them, and they have either not caught on to that site, or they just refuse to move along. Move along TMI-ers, Move Along!

These would not be the people that the above pic would apply to because like I said, they tell you everything. The good, the bad, and the butt ugly!!

This is the reason why these people should get on twitter because not only will it teach them to keep their updates down to only 140 letters, but then they can freely tell everyone that they are going to the bathroom now without grossly misusing the social network they are on.


Braggers

But then we will enter the braggers. These are the ones that I would say the above pic applies to whole heartedly. I understand that there are times you just want to brag. Heck, I even have a word for it on here, I call it blaggin, but I at least give you the reader for-warning that the post ahead will have some serious braggin going on, but the beauty about a blog is that you hear about my bad days as well.

People only share the very best things on facebook that they want you to know because primarily the status update bar doesn't leave much room to tell your whole life story. Can anyone's whole life's story fit in a status bar? And, I am pretty sure that the status bar is not intended for your whole life story, but I digress.

At this point I would like to say that is probably why Facebook is the best place known to man, and woman, then if you are a natural bragger. Boy do you ever see the people who have it in their DNA to brag. They seem to go quiet for days, weeks, even until they are ready to brag again.

The Shock and Awe

And then moving on there are of course the shock and awe status updates. We all know what these consist of. The cursing, the updates that don't make sense because they are meant to reel you in, the things people might be thinking but just shouldn't say.
These kind of updates I like to call the drive by shooters of Facebook. They are only on there to stir the pot, get you all excited, and then go away again. They leave you wondering, are they really going to blow something up today? Should I call the police, therapist, or priest??

Here is my most favorite shock and awe quote that I have seen;

"Happy Mutha Fu(&$n' NewYear bitches"

(Those of you who are on FB,
comment HERE on my blog spot,
and know who posted this, get a prize!
For real a $10 gift card to Barnes and Noble.
SO you can keep reading :)
The first 3 comments to get it right win.)

D. Those Who Don't Really Care about FB, but go on there and quietly stalk everyone else so they can feel better about their own superiority. You know they are on there even though there is no activity on their pages, because when you see them in person they tell you something that they read on FB or that they found out on FB and had no way of knowing otherwise. These little sneaky, sneaks can be of the worst kind. Go big or Go home, is what I would like to say to them! Either have an FB and use it or don't have one at all, like the people who are my personal social heroes!

5. The Self Promoter
These people have a business, have a band, have a store, have a church, they have a political agenda, have You tube videos they want you to check out, have a blog they want you to read... ahem... guilty, and they use FB for that purpose. To self promote. They are the commercials on FB. They are annoying... sorry. And they know who they are, ME :) again sorry!

These are just a few of the types you might find on there. There are of course countless other types of people on FB for a variety of reasons. But there you have my friends the ones that stick out to me the most.

Now at this point you might be wondering why I am on Facebook. Well, back in the day the very first social networking that I ever took part in started right here. Then there was Myspace. And then FB, and now Twitter, Path, Instagram, etc.....

I am at the point where I don't really remember why I got on facebook.

I am grateful for all the social reconnections I have made on there, but I am getting a little tired of all the changes Mr. Z keeps making to it and I have started posting a lot less.

I no longer share pics there, instagram
I rarely share a status update, twitter
and I have never really posted stories there, blogspot
and honestly if it weren't for my Dad just now getting on the site,
I think... dare I say it.... I might have abandoned it all together.

For now I am still there.
But I do have a lot of questions about it,
and you know what happens when you start questioning Facebook?

I dunno what happens, I just wanted to be dramatic.

Can't wait to see who the winners will be.
Shontell, no cheating by going on Mike's FB, although you can tell him about it.


Share your thoughts.
What category do you fall into?
What happens when you start to question Facebook?
Who was that Shock and Awe statement from?

Oh and Don't worry those that aren't on FB and couldn't play this lil game, I will have more games to play soon enough, don't you worry your pretty little heads about it.

Dear Bella

Dear Bella,

I fear you have become more neurotic and way too nervous. You make me nervous, you are so nervous.
I wonder if I should put you on Prozac? When you act all cra cray it makes me want to confine you to your little box.
Those fluffy brown and grayish animals are called squirrels. You see them every day. They won't hurt you, I promise. I wish you would so calm down already. Simmer down, simmer down. Or as Auntie Jenny would say in Hungarian Nugi Nugi!
I am beginning to wonder if you have become a bad influence on your younger brother Barley.

Do you think it's time we seek help for you little dog?
I think we might need to find a therapist.



You sure are cute though.
And I still love you,

Your owner

P.S. Do you think, Maybe it's the diet food we have had you on for the last 3 years?

Field Trip with Lo Lo

My daughter Chloe is in 6th grade. Very soon she will graduate from Elementary School and be an official Jr. Higher. I am trying to prepare for this in my heart, because being that I am the sentimental type, I have to prepare for these big life changing events well before they take place. I have til June.

I have until June to prepare for the fact that after Jr. High comes High School, and after High School is Marriage... wait NO College... and after College, do you see how my brain works? Do you see why I need to prepare now, in January for June?

The field trip was to the Burke Museum in Seattle Washington. The museum is on the campus or by the campus of The University of Washington. So after we got done touring this very cool Museum we explored the campus of "U Dub", and I had some moments where I had to tell my sentimental heart that Jr.High does not equate College.

So at least there's that.

The field trip will probably be one of the last ones that I get to go exploring with my Lo Lo. I tried not to think like that. I tried not to hog her that day. I will admit to you, but you are sworn to secrecy that my thought processes honestly went a bit more like this... Like this is the last lunch we will share... this is the last bus ride we will take together.... this is the last time she won't be embarrassed by her mother !! Yep, I think like that. But thankfully after all these years, I have managed to, try to, learn to, in process of, working through, letting her go.

Remember, I am preparing now for the day she will have a baby.

No seriously though, Soon she will be in the Land of No Field trips... and well, that just makes me sad beyond measure.
I love going on field trips with my kids. I love to see them with their peers. I love to discover and explore new places and learn things with them. I just... well... I love them, my Fab 4. They are all getting SO Damn big, Dammit!!

Sigh.

Remind me to tell you the story about these carvings that are in the above picture. It's a good one that involves a momma bear that gets cheated on.... and then has her unfaithful partner murdered. Oh wait, shoot I just gave away the ending. Well I think I just told you everything, but there are a few more details and they are good ones so if you want more details... then remind me.

Ok where was I, oh yeah Chloe going off to College.

This is just one of the pictures on that beautiful campus that is going to steal my daughter from me in a few, ok well more like 5 years. Well, at least I hope she goes somewhere close... Oh Geez... Oh man... would if, would if she wants to go out of state? Breathe Noel... Breathe...

I caught this pic toward the end of the day and honestly I had to walk a few steps behind the rest of the group for a minute because the water works started to work up and I went and got all sentimental again.

Damn them getting big.
And Damn my sentimental heart.