SQUIRREL!!!!!!!

 I really have no opinions of squirrels or squirrel subsidiaries (such as chipmunks, opossums, and to some extent.... raccoons).  I DO, however have opinions about mice and rats!!!!!  They are vile, wretched creatures.  I know they have a purpose on Earth, but frankly, I haven't found it.

You wanna see a grown woman scream?  Watch a mouse cross my path!!!!  Or for a blood curdling scream, a rat crossing my path.

 Because I haven't quite made up my mind where squirrels fit in my life.  I took these photos safely from behind a window.  It wasn't afraid of me.............. which I'm not sure is a good thing.

It casually licked water up from the cracks in the concrete.  Then...... when I tapped on the window, it gave me this "You're really annoying me" look.

Would love to know your opinions!!!!

I'm Thankful (top 20)

It's November, friends!!!  The month of Thankfulness.  

I took a few minutes this morning to think about what I'm thankful for.  The list is endless.... and it changes daily.  I wanted to share with you today, what I am thankful for......... 

1. I'm thankful that God is in control, (even when I try to be).


2. I'm thankful that I have a happy, healthy family.

3. I'm thankful for amazing things happening within my family.


4. I'm thankful that my children are smart enough that they don't ask me to help them with Algebra or Geometry.


5. I'm thankful that they could ask their dad if they needed help.


6. I'm thankful that Rick and the boys are going to put up Christmas lights tonight.


7. I'm thankful for a kitty cat that cuddles with me while I blog.


8. I'm thankful for a washing machine that cleans 5 loads of laundry a day.  (it's high time that I acknowledged this appliance)


9. I'm thankful for pretty things to take pictures of.

10. I'm thankful for the opportunity to vote, even if I am discouraged about government. (today is election day)

11. I'm thankful for my friends who I could call night or day if I needed them. 

12. I'm thankful for coffee

13. I'm thankful for texting.  I'm not sure why, but I would rather text than talk on the phone.  NOT A PHONE TALKER!!! (except with Mama Sieta)

14. I'm thankful for sunshine and beautiful Fall days.  (I'm also thankful for every day the temperature is above 70 degrees)


15. I'm thankful for books, magazines and blogs.


16. I'm thankful that we are finished with baseball until Spring.


17. I'm thankful that all three of my children made all A's on their 1st quarter grade cards.

18.  I'm thankful my new camera takes better pictures than I am capable of.

19.  I'm thankful for my "rock star" hubby who surprised me with it.

20.  I'm thankful for hair color, hair dryers, make-up and flat irons.  (ohhh, I cannot forget Pantene, my favorite conditioner in the whole wide world.

Halloween Snapshots

I'm not a fan of Sunday Halloween's.  For one thing, it just seems wrong.  Secondly, it means that we have to be home at a decent hour (school night).  

Gracie had her classroom party on Friday afternoon.  

This mask might make me afraid of clowns.

This is Gracie's BFF.  Her name is Miss Magy.  

 This, my friends, is my little vampire (a.k.a. Gracie).  The days of princess, fairy, and cutsie costumes are gone.  

 On Saturday, my cousin, hosted a Halloween bon-fire.  

 Miss Brea and Macy Boo-boo

  Eeee-man

 The cutest baby in the universe!!!!!

 told you............

Cousins and friends

We Love You Too T

 Sometimes I think Mr. T gets jealous of the attention we slather on Gus.  So, I shall devote an entire post to him.

 T-bone LOVES being around us (even if he is in the way).  I give him a treat every time Gus goes potty.  This is his reward for not taking Gus to the pond for a soak.  We have a unwritten rule.

NO POND = TREATS

POND = NO TREATS

Sometimes the urge to rebel is greater than the reward not to.  So....... they disobey........ and go soak!!!

T-bone ALWAYS knows when you are disappointed in him.  He sulks!!!  His face nearly falls to his paws!!!

Gus, on the other hand, doesn't care.  He has sin in his heart.... and NO desire to repent!

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking, why is Gus the favorite?

Oh yeah, I remember why.  T-bone slobbers, Gus doesn't.

I do love you T-bone.

1.  I love when you aren't wiping your drool all over my leg.

2.  I love when you race my car down the driveway.

3.  I love that you quit every time I pass you.  You're just like the monkeys, you'll play as long as you win.

4.  I love that you scare salesman away.

5.  I love that you wouldn't hurt them if your life depended on it.  

6.  I love that you would hurt them if they hurt your family.

7.  I love that you sleep on the steps in the garage.  You don't feel the need to move when we walk out of it.  So........... we step over you.

8.  I love that you wear a man's belt for a collar.

9.  I love that I don't have to bathe you when you get in the pond.

10. I love that you are afraid of thunderstorms, Congo the cat, and gun-shot.  (I don't love that you're afraid, it just seems funny that you are)

Artsy Fartsy

Sometimes I feel a little "artsy fartsy".  Sometimes I want to take photos of something besides children throwing balls, kicking balls, catching balls and hitting balls.  Sometimes I want to pretend that I am an artist in France.  

Since I'm not an artist in France, I decided to wander around Rocky Ridge Farm (also known as Hillbilly Hill) and take pictures.

I really don't deserve my rose bushes.  They are completely neglected, yet they bloom and bloom and bloom.

I found more mushrooms.  LOVE....LOVE....LOVE MUSHROOMS!!!
Love to eat them.
Love to find them.
Love to look at them.

If heaven doesn't have mushrooms, I will be really sad!!!!!

 I would love to know what this is.  Our property is littered with them.  Littered in a good way.

It's very windy here today.  Like, blow the hair right off your scalp, windy.  I think it's trying to blow in a storm tonight.

Psyco Room Mother

I am the most UN- competitive person you have ever met.  I let people win, so the game will be finished.  I cheer and encourage my opponents.  

Yet, something happens to me when I am assigned to bring favors for a classroom party.  I turn into senorita psychopath.  I want to make all other room mother's treats pale in comparison to mine.  I want children to oooohhhh and ahhhhhh.  I want to razzle and dazzle the teacher with my bag of goodies.  I want to be the hostess with the most-est.

My husband thinks I've lost my mind.  He says, "Why in the world are you spending so much time on this.  Those kids will probably throw all that work in the trash!!!!!"  I needn't remind him that he flips between 3 football games at once.  WHILE LOOKING AT THE LAPTOP for his current Fantasy Football scores.  Don't even go there Buddy!!!!!

The theme.......... EYEBALLS!!!!

With a few ghosts and band-aid gummies thrown in.

Woe is the life of a room mother....................

Punt, Pass, Kick (and a touchdown)

Remember when I said Ryan and Ian placed first in the local Punt, Pass and Kick competition?  Well the 2nd level (which is sectionals) was Saturday morning.  Let me say, for the record, they BOTH did very well!!!  

Ryan placed 2nd in his division.

Ian placed 1st in his.

 Ian's placement was announced first, then Ryan's.  Ian's smug, pain in the rear, little brother, look was captured right after they announced Ryan got 2nd.  

They are slightly competitive, can you tell?  Ian is usually the gopher......the punching bag........ the losing participant.  So, I tolerated a few smug looks and jabs.   

Here are the winners in each division.  If Ian places in the top 5% in Missouri, he will move on to the state finals.  Which means he will compete during the half time of the Chiefs vs. Denver game.  (crossing my fingers)  Then, if he would somehow win that........... we would fly to Hawaii for the National championships.  Ummmm, Ian..... Momma could really use a trip to Hawaii.  No pressure!!!!

 Dad was "an official" helper for the competition.  Pictured beside him is our area YMCA sports coordinator, Mr. Matt.

Ryan is wrestling with his girlfriend's little brother.  His name is Walker.  I call him Talker.  He reminds me of a shorter Ian.  I would love to squeeze his cheeks.   

Ryan's last freshman football game was last night.  THEY WON!!!!  Actually, it was the freshman Hornets 3rd straight shut-out!!!  Whoop-whoop!!!   

 I was excited for three reasons.

1. It was the last football game (that may sound terrible, but really, I've had enough football for a little while).

2. Ryan made an AMAZING touchdown pass in the in zone!!!  Did I say it was AMAZING?  That's not true, it was SUPER-DE-DUPER AMAZING!!!!!!!

3. We finished a football season with no injuries to his right arm.  You know, the pitching arm?  

I am a true blue Hornet.  Always have been, always will be.

The Dog's a Mooch!!

 This is what I get to look at everytime I sit down to eat.  I wish you had the audio of the noises he makes.  It sounds a little like Chewbacca.  

 He wants me to fall into a heap of guilt.......... and I do.

I give him a bite.  Then we start the whole process over again.  

You are one SPOILED DOG!!!!!