HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

I love Halloween! It has to be one of my favorite holidays ever! I love to dress up and the whole shebang!

Last Saturday night I went to a haunted house with a friend of mine and it was so much fun! I love that sort of thing.

Last night we took the kids to a corn maze for family night. That was exhausting! It took forever to find our way out. The boys kept hiding trying to scare us and Heidi got tired and wanted to be carried!

I carried the baby in my front pack and that 10 pounds sure got heavy by the time we left! But it was fun and the kids will remember it!

After we got home, I took the boys to the haunted house I had gone to. It wasn't even scary at all for me or Jake. It did freak out Seth a little but he had fun I was so tired and didn't really want to go but I knew the boys would love it and I wanted to make some fun memories and I couldn't get Bry to do it.

Tomorrow we will all meet the cousins at Grandma's house, have dinner and go trick or treating in her neighborhood. She has a great one except more and more, people aren't passing out candy and are just doing the trunk or treat thing. To be honest, I don't like the trunk or treat. It takes all the found out of it. Yea, yea, I know it's safer etc... but I don't like it.

I loved trick or treating in my old neighborhood. We knew everyone who lived there and I went until I was 17! Yes, it's true. Loved it!

So, today we will make cookies and get out costumes and get ready for the big day! Hope your is as wonderful as I intend mine to be!

The Man Rules

I got this as an e-mail. Loved it! laughed clear through. thought you'd enjoy it too.

The Man Rules­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

Finally , the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.)
We always hear " the rules"From the female side.

Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered "1 "
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports It's like the full moon
or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.


1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.


1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something
Or tell us how you want it done.
Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball
or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Pass this to as many men as you can -to give them a laugh.

Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger laugh.

Who loves "the Rock"?

I just watched the movie "Grid Iron Gang". My movie review would be very positive. I love those inspirational stories. They always seem to involve foot ball. Have you noticed that? I think it was a true story. They made it sound that way but I have been wrong before.

I do have to say that I LOVE "the Rock". That man makes me melt just to look at him. There is something about him, and I have always felt that way. I love to watch his movies just to watch him! Now, I don't feel too bad about it. I have never felt guilty noticing beautiful people. I have eyes for heavens sake. I especially like black men. I love the way they are built and move and look.

Bryan loves oriental women. I had no idea about that until a few years ago. Now we tease each other because neither of us resembles those nationalities.

Now, the Rock is a mix. I think I heard he's part Samoan, part causation (?) and part black. It is a beautiful mixture. He is physically perfect in every way in my eyes! Anyway, the thing I really like is that he seems like such a good man on the inside too.

Kind of like Arnold Swartzenager (sp?). A big hulk of a man, making action moves who starts doing family movies. I love that. I love the action movies too but I really love the inspiration these icons can be if they let themselves.

I love to see people who are a great influence on others, especially the youth, using that to be a good example. Now I mean a good example as far as the world goes. The world need noticeable, famous people out there doing the right things. It is watched and it is noticed.

I hope and pray that there will continue to be more and more of those people out there. Maybe we all can be.

This movie has swearing that I wouldn't let my kids see. It's rated pg-13, so be careful of who you let watch it but I recommend it.

We have a turkey. She has become a pet to us . All the animals like her and she follows you around during feeding time. She is huge and so sweet.

The funny thing is, I usually don't do the feeding. Bry does. I used to be out with the animals a lot more than I do now. I don't know why, I just don't go out much. But Bry and Jake are gone for the weekend hunting so I HAVE to do it.

She came up to me this morning calling out wanting to eat. I petted her all over and she followed me back to her bowl and stood there waiting just like the dogs do! It was so funny to me!

The animals are peaceful and I always feel bad in the winter that they can't come inside. I hate it that it is cold and wintry for them.

I may not spend much time with them but I do love them and I really enjoy what they give us humans. Their lives are so simple. So basic. Eat, poop, lay eggs, chase birds, eat bugs, graze. You know. Simple. Thank heavens for simple things.

They keep me balanced and remind me to be happy and to enjoy the sunset. You know?

What a workout!! I just got home from my clogging class. What fun! It is at 8 pm every Tues and I have to be honest, I am so tired by the end of the day that I just dread that class!! But once I get there, it is so much fun that I love it.

It brings on a sweat that would surprise you and by the end I feel like I am all thumbs....on my feet. Plus my shoes need to be broken in but dang, I feel good. It bothers my foot a little but the chiropractor says I need to be putting a little stress on it every week to keep the muscles strong.

So, anyway, there you have it. My new talent! HA! Who would have thought. Me, a dancer!

Splurge/Save meme

"10 things I splurge on, 10 things I save on" meme

OK, this is a toughie. If I were my little sister, it would be easier! Let's see....I splurge on...

Winder dairy. I love their milk. The skim tastes like 2%. I love their bread too. . I love good food. The problem is that I don't love to cook. I never look at prices of food. I get what I really want. Except on cold cereal. I do price that stuff.

I splurge on shoes. I don't even bat an eye spending a hundred bucks on shoes. I don't have a lot of pairs, but I do have nice ones! lol

Makeup. I do use Mary Kay, because I used to sell it. Although I seldom wear makeup any more. I'm too d@$& lazy.


On trips. When I get them. I feel you should take plenty of money to really have fun. What is the point of going if you can't enjoy it because you don't have the money?

Restaurants. I love to eat out. I would eat out for every meal if I could. It doesn't bother me a bit to go out to eat when there is food at home!

Movies... and I always get popcorn. I used to date a guy who would never buy it because he thought it was too expensive. He is also the same guy who would conveniently forget his wallet on dates and I would have to pay. I don't know why it took me so long to figure out what a dud he was.

TV. I get the dish. I like having variety. We also get Comcast high speed internet. That is something I could never live without now.

My new baby. I have spent a lot of money on him and he isn't even officially mine yet. But I don't want to miss out on the whole experience just because I don't know if we will keep him. I really regret that with Gabe. With Wyatt, we have named him, bought lots of cute clothes, I got his portraits taken last week, and am definitely letting my feelings run wild with him.

That is all I can think of with splurging.

Saving is easy. I am married to the thriftiest man alive. We never have bought a new car and never will. I shop at Walmart most of the time or my new favorite, Bukoos. We save on yard work stuff by never doing it!!

I buy the cheapest cold cereal I can. My kids love to snack on it and it is gone too fast to spend a fortune.

Gasoline. I buy at Maverick or Flying J.

Gads. It's hard to think of what I save on!!! There isn't much!!! I like things to be fast and convenient and that usually means more expensive!

I tag anyone who reads this!!!!

Idiot tube meme

1. What TV show have you seen every episode of?
I would have to say Mash. Loved that one. That show made my laugh and cry. There were stories that to make you wet your pants and other to brake your heart.

2. What show makes you laugh until you cry? I would say Seinfeld. Loved that one too. That is one show I could watch again and again.

3. What show do you wish had not been canceled?
American Super Heroes. That was a personal favorite as a kid. Do you remember that one? "Wonder twin powers....... activate!....form of....shape of...." Where did all those great role model cartoons go? Why do we have to watch Pokemon and those other stupid shows now? Mind you, my kids don't get too. I don't like those cartoons.

4. What show do you wish WOULD be canceled?
I think I would get hate mail if I were honest but I guess I will be brave. I think that most HBO series should go, I think Desperate Housewives is smutty. I used to watch it but it got to the point where I just couldn't take their stupidity, backbiting and selfishness anymore. I really don't think those kinds of shows are that entertaining. Please, no comments on this one.

5. Who is your favorite TV character, either past or present? There is more than one. I can't just pick one. Andy Griffith is a go as S'mee pointed out. The first one to come to my mind would be Bill Cosby. Through out television history, hasn't Bill been there? From Fat Albert to the Cosby show. Such a funny, honest, good man. Where have these men gone? Why don't we have shows on that these men would star in anymore. Or at least men LIKE them.

I honestly don't watch much tv anymore. I do like the show Heros and House but off the rest of the top of my head, nothing comes to mind!!

I tag, Lisa, Yolanda, Charlotte, Jeri, Jenny, and anyone else who wants to do it! I stole it from s'mee!!!

Life of Pi

I just finished one of the most fascinating book I have ever read. If you haven't read it, do so. It has tidbits about life that will make you think, and then think, and think some more. You will keep thinking about it even weeks after you've finished it, as my sister told me.

It's true. The twist at the end makes you question everything you have read so far and ask yourself, "What was real?" Which part was true?

They don't tell you. It is something you have to decide for yourself.

Isn't that so indicative of life? Isn't that what we do everyday? Decide what we want to believe? What we choose to think is true? What do we do in the face of adversity? Do we give up or keep on plugging?

Do we make up a fantasy that we believe is true and refuse to ever deny or is it really real? Is it just our mind trying to make sense of a difficult situation so that we would cling to anything rather than admit to ourselves what has really happened to us?

I do think we do that. Some of us. Others will never believe our story. It is too fantastic to believe.

Honestly, is makes me think of Joseph Smith. His story is too fantastic to believe.....almost. How is it possible to trust someone with such a wild story? Who in their right mind would? You can't prove it. There is no conclusive, hard evidence but his word. Do we tell him to make up a different story that people would like better? That is was those men at the end wanted Pi to do.

In the end, you choose what you want to choose. You stick to you guns. Either believe in God or don't believe in God. Don't be one of those fence sitters that never chooses a side. Don't sentence yourself to a life of indecision. No more debating, no more arguing the point. Just choose for heavens sake. That is one of the lessons that really made me think in this book.

In the end, I have to say I loved it. I learned things that I will never be able to put into words. I made me love life even more than I did before.

Aaarrrrggg!

It has been an extremely difficult week. It sounds like that feeling is going around. I have never felt like I had a lot of stress in my life because really, I get to be home, I don't have a hard schedual or deadlines etc.....

But I got to thinking about that test you can take to see what level of stress you have. You answer questions like. Have you recently moved, had a death, had a birth etc.....

I have realized, that I do actually have a little stress in my life. 5 kids is enough to scare most people! NEVER getting enough sleep. That one is the real clincher because I can handle anything if I have had enough sleep. Getting a new baby that I may or may not get to keep is a constant stress on my mind. One that won't go away until I know for sure.

I have a constant feeling of guilt about my relationship with Gabe. I feel like we have never really bonded. I get more impatient and irritated with him than any of the other kids. Potty training goes with that plus all the crap he gets into. Like a couple of days ago when he opened 9 cans of purple grape juice all over downstairs. It sounds like I don't watch him but that is not true. I have taken to tying him to my bed! He never stops getting in to things. He colored with marker on Heidi's bed. I don't know where he found a marker but the older kids leave things laying around. Anyway, these things don't help the bonding much either. No body can understand my frustration with him. They all make comments like "but he is so cute and so sweet and so happy all the time". All those things are true but the thing that does validate my feelings is when my sister came to stay, she said those things, but by the times she left, she could understand some of my frustrations with Gabe!! Yea! It's not just me! I'm not really the terrible mother I feel like I am most of the time!

We run our own business which has it's own set of ups and downs. I want to do things a certain way and Bryan wants to do it differently. Who wins? I'd like to say ME!! But that is not always the case.

I picked this picture to put up because it makes me feel peace. It looks like Ireland would look to me. It calms me and helps me to remember that no matter what happens in this life, the world goes on around me.

We all have our challenges. Some people have bigger ones than me and I am grateful I don't have theirs. Thank heavens for my little bag of troubles. If I get enough sleep, I can handle them.

So there you have it. That is why I haven't written for so long. I am just too tired!! But maybe it will get better soon!

You Are Cheesecake

Rich, sweet, and simply perfect. You're not boring - you're just the best!

What Dessert Are You Most Like?