two more days...

You can not imagine how loved/spoiled we all are.
The children of course, but Bart and me too!


Morris has been real nice. I love being here incognito. With 47 pounds and blond hair gone, no one recoginizes me. Going out on the town with Mom was a riot. But Grandma set me straight saying I was not to loose any more weight. After this week though I think I might. The food follows me. At least it is not jumping into my mouth like Bart though! He has issues!

Stone has over 200 pictures on his NEW Camera!
I have yet to upload my side of picture of him taking a picture of me taking a picture of him. This is the shag carpet. It is in the home I grew up in and still is there! Isn't it the coolest? I think they keep it just for converstation sake. It sure does get that!
Signing off now, from the big town of Morris.

Family photo, take four!

1: Bart in the middle of saying "Cheesey Potatoe" and Jacque the Cat is cut off.










2. Jacque the Cat is attacking my hand and Stone finds it more entertaining to watch then the camera.










3. Opps! Forgot to set the timer. Classic! Lucy's finger in her ear, Dante's mouth in a tight O, Stone staring off at something, Bart Dazed...NO MOM.









4. Finally one we all approve of!

O Christmas Tree

The bottom 2-3 branches all the way around have been "attacked" by Jacque. One string of lights has been pulled apart and there are no ornaments left from about knee level (or cat height) down. We don't have the prettiest tree in town, but it sure is fun to watch!

A little winter humor,

even though it is supposed to be in the 60's here today.

Living in Missouri

I moved to Missouri in late October of 2000 from Northern Illinios. It was a change to say the least, but I was in love and that made everything alright. 6 years later I now call Missouri home. When my Husband's (the same man that brought me to Missouri in search of love) Aunt sent me this, I knew it was official. I understand and LIVED most these:

For all of you who can relate to living in MO (even if it was a long time ago or of you've only lived there a little while!) Things I'velearned from living in Missouri.

~ Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
~ There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Missouri
~ There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Missouri, plus a couple no one's seen before.
~ Unknown critters love to dig holes under tomato plants.
~ Raccoons will test your crop of melons and let you know when they are ripe.
~ If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
~ A tractor is NOT an all-terrain vehicle. They do get stuck.
~ Onced and Twiced are words.
~ It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy.
~ People actually grow and eat okra.
~ "Fixinto" is one word.
~ There ain't no such thing as "lunch". There's only dinner and then there's supper.
~ Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals... and you start drinking it when you're 2.
~ Backwards and forwards means I know everything about you.
~ "Jeet?" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
~ You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

More about Missourians....
You know you're from Missouri if:
1. You measure distance in minutes.
2. You've had to switch from "heat" to A /C" in the same day.
3. You know what a mule is.
4. You see a car running in the parking lot at the store with no one in it, no matter what time of the year.
5. You use "fix" as a verb. Example: I am fixing to go to the store.
6. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
7. You install security lights on your house and garage ... and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car. for your OWN car.
9. You know what "cow tipping" is.
10. You only own four spices: salt, pepper, BBQ and catsup.
11. The local papers cover national and international news on one page but requires 6 pages for local gossip and sports.
12. You think that the first day of deer season and the first day of trout fishing is a national holiday. (of course!)
13. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm."
14. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.
15. You know whether another Missourian is from east, west, or middle Missouri as soon as they open their mouth or bythe barbecue they eat.
16. Going to Wal-mart is a favorite pass time known as "goin wal-martin" or off to "Wally World."
17. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good pinto-bean weather.
18. Fried Catfish is the other white meat.

Quarantine....infectious area

Strep has attacked and seems to have the upper hand. We have retaliated with one ER visit, bottles of medicine, the "dragon" nebulizer breathing machine, juice, and lots and lots of coffee. (This was not a propped picture. This was the real deal when I woke up. This is a reality blog. The can opener...not sure what that is for....yet....)

The plan of action continues with a call to the doctor for more medicine, more coffee, blankets, movies, soup, tea, hopefully some sleep.....

Dante and Bart have yet to be hit. Cowards, they ran!
I will stay and fight the battle with Stone and Lucy. I will be a fearless leader.

Sunday 10:45 contemporary service at Church......

Dante, figiting
Lucy, asleep in my arms
Stone, playing the gameboy with volume turned all the way down

Bart, at work


During the sermon about sin and repenting (part I). Pastor talked about the adulter who is caught in the act and drug out into the street to be stoned.....

STONE perks up and says (VERY LOUD). He said me, He said STONE.

Laughter all around.
I was proud though...he was listening!

Santa needs to find a new hiding spot!

As I am folding laundry, I hear singing and laughing.
Lucy discovered Santa's toyshop in a closet.
She wedged her chunky butt inbetween games, clothes, toys, dolls, balls.....
What did I use to distract her attention and remove her from such joy?
CHOCOLATE.
Works everytime!

Jaque the Cat and the attack of the cinnamon and sugar!

Remember Lucy and her "adventure" with the cinnamon?

Jacque the Cat had to try it out....
see how much fun it really was.

I can't turn my back for a second!

Socks

Bart has a bad habit...
These are pictures from last week alone.


Part of my "stay at home" job....

picking up Bart's socks.

I am 9 years old!

As you can count 9 candles...BECAUSE......
according to Stone 33 is TOO MANY!

We went for wings! And WOW that Mango one.....HOT. I did not enjoy about 3 minutes of my birthday there! Hot, hot, hot burning my lips sensation.....was not on my birthday list!
The second beer (YIKES) helped! And on that second beer note....

SANTA was next. (again and bigger....YIKES)

The Santa trip went well. Lucy was scared, but was able to get close to "Daddy Santa and Mommy Santa" (Mrs. Claus was there too).
Stone jumped right up there.
He had rehearsed the whole conversation.
Santa says...."What do you want for Christmas, Little Boy?"....
He responds...."A present of Jimmy Neutron game".
It went just that way too!

Lucy told Santa......"A BALL". Yup, that is it "A BALL".

Dante was too old he said to tell Santa what he wants. He just keeps telling me the LONG list!

This year, Mrs. Claus and Santa did well to grant wishes.


It was child enrichment night at Stone's school. We spent an hour playing with great homemade playdoh that smelled super, making beaded candy canes, creating reindeer out of bread, peanut butter, pretzles, and a red candy, and a whole lot of other things!

Stone enjoyed throwing a hola hoop around a plastic Santa, too!

We came home and ate cake....A cake made by Dante with egg cracking help from Lucy. And it was the best cake! He was so proud, as he should be.

So now, do I go and eat cake for breakfast? Or be good and stick to a healthy eating after a day of BAD, BAD, BAD?

Last week's referrals...time to talk.

Tequila and Captain Morgan. That was my second reaction after moping and silence after referrals of only 2 weeks of dates came out in November. I was really looking to a speed up.
A sign that things will be moving along. A sign that I will be going to China in 2007 not 2009.

Then from the North (lady bug socks)
the east (a great birthday card) and
the west (an emotional package)...

The package from sunny California incluced a quilt square, (don't even start asking for Kate's quilt to get an update...) an fabulous card about friendship. There was a little baggie with two kleenex. I smiled thinking she was joking with me that I would need them for tears. (Of course I would!) . When I picked it up. It was evident there was more in there. I unwrapped a bracelet of ladybugs and hearts. Thus having to use both kleenex!

The socks were a "surprise" and they made me appreciate new friends who care. Who listen and remember the little things you like!

The birthday card also was a surprise that did this same thing. It included all the things I love, the kids and FROSTING.

All these were a direct hit to my heart to keep patience, to keep faith,
to keep believing in KATE!

I am "CHARMED"

For those of you who didn't know....I am a Charmed addict.
TNT has 4 hours.....4 HOURS.....on everyday.
7 and 8
3 and 4
Just as I am getting Dante off to school and getting the other 2 up and then when all chaos breaks loose as the boys arrive home. So I often miss bits and pieces, sometimes whole episodes!

I absolutely hate it....like when, yesterday I was distracted and I come back to find a gypsy using a power of three spell, Piper gone, and some yellow eyed guy trying to kill the sisters with his yellow eyes that also pose as lasers. What is up with all that?

A little elf made me feel better by spilling a secret that season 3 and 4 are coming to the ONE house for Christmas. That is even better since I missed a whole 2 days when Prue died. One of the biggest episodes and it got past me.


I already have season 1, thanks to my loving husband. (Even though I am guessing he really probably bought me it so I would pay more attention to him and the kids during the above times.)



And yes, this post was a distraction from poor referral movement. I can't and won't talk about it this time around. Me, the patient, have faith lady is Completely NUMB.

Keep reading for the perfect Christmas/birthday present(s)!

"Charmed" not at the One House

Season 2...seems to be a bugger to find.







Season 5







Season 6







Season 7