where we went for lunch

"Shake-A-Leg" #5

"Chickfull A" #4

"Chikka Lay" little friend

Chick-fil-A! Mom

like crack, only not quite so illegal

I just let Satan talk me into a Chocolate Extreme Blizzard.

Now I feel like I need to go to confession or something.

getting ready for the halloween parade at pre-school

"Mom! This is too itchy!!" whined the shooting star as his shoulders slumped forward.

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"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up," beamed Raggedy Ann.

a vintage dress, a little bit of tulle, and a red wig

"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

~Glenda the Good Witch of the North

no wonder it was so quiet upstairs

Number five seems to have taken a lesson in applying make up from Joan Crawford.

I think she was worried that I will pull the "No more wire hangers" scene because she got into big sister's cosmetic bag. If she only knew it was all I could do to keep my laughter from bubbling forth.

I did have to play "bad cop" just a wee bit though, as we were 10 minutes late leaving due to a million and one things happening, plus I had called for her to come on downstairs so we could go a couple of times already.

guess what we got to do?

Wee one and I were picking up a friend at preschool and we got to ride the alligator.

Y'know, the fun place where you get to press the button on the outside of the doors and the inside of the doors.

to fair or not to fair, that was the question

Number 4 had a field trip with his preschool class: The County Fair.

His teacher had plenty of parent volunteers to drive, but invited all parents in case there were any who wanted to go with us. I had not signed up to drive and I found myself without any other plans for this morning. I'd been a tad worried that it would be crowded with other school groups and that he'd get away from his class, so I contemplated going along. I had sooo much I needed to do here at the house, I needed to exercise, and I also had lunch plans with a friend but still, something nagged at me to go. Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy kept going through my head.

To "fair" or not to "fair", that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous preschoolers (not to mention the toothless "Carneys"), or take arms against a sea of laundry....

Needless to say, I chose "to fair".... not only was it a great opportunity to get to spend time with my sweet four year old and snap some really cool pictures but I'd also be able to have lunch with my friend. Definitely one of those win, win, win situations.

positive reinforcement at its finest

Y'know how in the Bible there are many references to milk and honey? One website I found said that there were over 60 references to honey, twenty of which contain both milk and honey.

• Leviticus 20:24 But I said to you, "You will possess their land; and I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations.

This all got me thinking, and, well.... have you ever tasted the two together?!?!?

Go now. I'll wait. Grab a coffee mug, pour about a cup of milk in it. Now add about 2 T honey and a drop or two of vanilla extract. Warm it in the microwave for a minute and stir.

MmmHhmm... good stuff, huh?

on the way home from the cheap-o pizza buffet

"Mom, that candy pizza (dessert pizza) makes me have hot air balloons."

-as quoted by #4

back in time

Today we went to an event that celebrated the 18th century: Colonial Times. We were only able to spend a couple of hours there and didn't see more than half of the exhibits. It continues tomorrow and I hope we get to go back, but if not, we will have something to look forward to next year. What fun it was to see these artisans sharing their crafts. So amazing! Most all were in period clothing (though I did see one 'colonial teen' texting someone!)

These ladies were showing the art of needlework. I asked the mom if it was ok if I took her picture and she said, "I'd be disappointed if you didn't... as hard as I'm working on this!"

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This man's family has many generations of wood carvers. He had carved, from one piece of wood, a chain. Inside a block on the chain, he had carved a ball an inside the ball was another ball. I know I am not explaining it well, you'd have to see it to believe it.

In the picture on the left, he is demonstrating how he carves a ladle. In the picture on the right, number 4 can't tear himself away from these really cool buttons made from walnut shells. I'm telling you, this man is pure genius.

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The man in black is teaching the man in green the art of sword-fighting.

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And this, well, this is a simple pound cake, but the bundt pan mold was simply gorgeous. I'm thinking this would be pretty to serve at Thanksgiving. The silly food folks tried to get me to believe that a woman who made it was a cake carver. They nearly had me. (Did I mention I am a tad bit gullible?)

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This is the palette and apron of an incredible artist. I thought it was as much art as her paintings.

This is a reproduction, printed on canvas, that I fell in love with. I think it will be stunning in my dining room.

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Lace.

Apparently the French lace guy was a riot. Perhaps we will see him tomorrow and I can give you the full report on him.

a bright idea

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. You see pink everywhere. Today we saw a woman dressed in jeans and a pink t-shirt standing outside of a bridal shop. She had her purse on her shoulder and a cigarette in her mouth. (insert Marge Simpson-like growl here)

I doubt any of us have a clue about just how much money is funneled into breast cancer research. I wonder how much of it actually goes toward research instead of lining the pockets of research companies?!

Looking ahead to November: Stupidity Awareness

s.o.s.

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Help! I am buried under so much laundry!

My ironing pile alone is enough to give Sir Edmund Hillary pause.

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explaining confirmation to a 4 year old

Mom, why do we have to go to church tonight?

Because your sister is being confirmed.

What's kern-fern?


Confirmed. Confirmed.

She will be sealed with the Holy Spirit.

(Puzzled look.)

She and the Holy Spirit are making a pinky promise with each other.

OOOOOOOhh.

when commitments are hunting me down like rabid dogs

Today is the kind of day where I just want to run into King's arms and stay there... with. nothing. else. to. do!

humbling

About once every 7 years, King and I have to learn expensive lessons. We so easily get hooked by something glamorous and then it comes back to bite us in the patoot. A few instances easily come to mind: creamy white Mazda 929 with sunroof and leather seats, DNTK stock which was supposed to be a sure-fire money maker, and this svelte couch. Expensive lessons. Like God banging our heads together and saying, "silly people, shiny things are for crows."

We tried to sell it on Craigslist, but no one was interested. That's ok. A local needy family inherited it. May it bless their lives.... except in a different way than it has blessed ours.

finish the sentence

There has to be gravity ________.

happy fall, y'all

I hope it is as beautiful at your house as it has been at ours.

Find a bit of time to make a pile of leaves and then jump in it!

a pledge

Last night, as I ambled upstairs to get some much needed rest, I said "Gooddight" (with a rawther congested, nasally voice) to #1 who was sitting at the dining room table working on some book report.
"Oh," she started, "I, uh, am going to need you to type this."
"Are you finished? I mean, I feel like crap, honey, how much longer until you're done?"
"Uh, well, I don't know."
(Report is due tomorrow.)
"I'll have to type it in the morning. I am getting ready to go take a Benedryl, though, so you will have to remind me in the morning because I may be a bit groggy."
"Uh, well, ok."

Fast forward to this morning. She comes in and asks me what I think about her outfit. It takes a few minutes, but we find something for her to wear. Then I stumble back into my room and King and I change sheets and make up our bed. Then I proceed to unload all the millions of laundry baskets full of folded/ironed laundry that I made this week making piles for each family member.

The kids are all downstairs eating breakfast and getting ready for school. Number 1 comes upstairs to brush her teeth before heading to school. I look at her and in a moment of clarity, I panic. "Oh my stars, your report! Why didn't you remind me?!"

"Well, I thought you remembered since you were up."

She was tardy for the first time in a lot of years this morning and was none too happy about it. But I think I will leave this note on her pillow:

From this day forward, poor time management skills on your part will NEVER again constitute an emergency on my part.

like that woman on the nyquil commercial

So two days ago I started sneezing. And sneezing. And sneezing. Now I have a full blown case of hay fever/cold/allergies - whatever you want to call it. It is hard to imagine this much snot coming out of one person's nose. (sorry, I know that's gross)
There is this odd stinging/pinching feeling just behind my eyeballs that makes me want to crawl in bed and shut my eyes. For about 2 days.

The wee little midgets screaming through the house with their shrill little voices isn't helping matters.

The show must go on.