Happy Halloween!

I've been boo'ed. Thank you so much Christine!  She has one of my favorite blogs you can check it out at The Power of Housewife Word of Mouth. 

So here's the deal...
Go to as many of your blog buddies as you want and tell them they have been boo-ed . Have them pick up this picture and add it to their blog and say with the link who boo-ed them . Put the picture in your sidebar if you want so then others know that you have already been boo-ed , if you post lots and it's not on the main page where everyone will see your boo-ed post! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

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So sad

Sorry for the depressing post but my heart is so sad that I had to share.

A cousin of a good friend of mine was accidentally shot by his 11 year old sister.  He is 15 and thankfully he is still alive but he is paralyzed from the armpits down.  My heart just breaks for this boy who's life is completely changed because of a split second decision and for his sister who will live with what must be horrendous guilt.

Please if you have guns in your homes keep them locked up and talk to your kids about what to do if they see a gun even if they think it is unloaded. 

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Sign of the times?

The other day I found out that Rooster's school went into lock down so that the administration could search lockers for weapons and drugs.  He is in the 7th grade and goes to a junior high that I think is a pretty decent school.  I don't remeber having locker searches in high school let alone in junior high. 

I asked Rooster why he didn't tell me that it happened and he said he didn't think it was a big deal.  I have to wonder if my child is so used to seeing stuff like this that he thinks it's no big deal. 

I'm wondering if this is normal?  Do other junior highs have locker searches?  Do you see this happen in your area?

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Body World's 3

Rooster and I went to see Body World's 3 on Saturday and it was really an amazing experience.  The exhibit uses donated bodies that have been preserved using Plastination, which stops decomposition and preserves the body.  There has been some controversy in our area about the exhibit.  Some letters to the editor have said that they thought it was degrading to the people who's bodies were used in the exhibit.  I have to say I think it was done well.  The identity of the bodies is never given and I'm not sure that a person would be able to recognize a body if they knew them.  The bodies were also donated by the person themselves when they were alive.  

I'm making this sound a little morbid and it really wasn't.  We were able to see every part of the body (right down to veins, arteries and capillaries) and learn what each part does.  It really is a chance to see and learn about the human body in a way that is so much more informative than reading from a book.

After exiting the exhibit, they have models (i'm not sure if they were actual body parts now that I think about it) that you can touch and see what the plastination feels like.  Rooster was also able to put on gloves and hold an animal heart, an cow eye and something else.  Too much for me and the smell of formaldehyde was overwhelming. 

If you get a chance to see the exhibit, I would highly recommend it, with a few recommendations.

I decided not to take Tater with us because I thought it might be a bit too graphic for him.  I think he would have been okay but I wouldn't recommend taking young children to it.  Keep in mind full bodies are displayed including parts that young children may not be ready to see, even Rooster had hard time understanding why everything had to be seen.

There is a part of the exhibit that displays fetuses.  Although it was interseting to see the different stages of development, this part was difficult for me to look at.  I'm not sure that I would go through this part again if I were to go back.

Plan on spending a few hours.  They recommend 90 minutes.  We were there over 2 hours and kind of rushed through the end of it because it was getting late.

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Celebrity Rehab.

I had the T.V. on the other night while I was working and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew was on.  I hate to admit it but I'm hooked.  It was so sad to watch the effects drugs and alcohal have had on the people that are on the show.  One of the hardest for me to watch was Rodney King.  I'm assuming he started having a drinking problem after he was beaten (I could be wrong) - I find it incredibly sad that his whole life has been ruined because of what happened.  From what was shown it doesn't look like he has ever actually worked through what happened to him.

Jeff Conaway is on again this time.  Wow, what a difficult time he has.  It will be interesting to see if he is able to stay clean this time.

The other stars that are on the show are, Nikki McKibbon, Sean Stewart, Tawny Kitaen, Amber Smith, Steven Adler and Gary Busey, who is really hard for me to watch.

I have to wonder if this kind of reality show is crossing the line into something too personal for TV and if the producers of the show are taking advantage of people who desperately need help.  Let me know what you think?

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Halloween Costumes

I finally got the kid's costumes done this weekend. 

Rooster is dressing up as Slash from Guns N' Roses or lately from Velvet Revolver but it will always be Guns N' Roses for me. 

Tater is dressing up as Indiana Jones.  I'm not thrilled with the hat we found for him but he likes it so that's what counts. 

I'm excited that this year is going to be so easy on me.  Usually, I do a lot of makeup and latex so this year will be a breeze.

I don't know if other areas have trunk or treats or not but that's what we will be doing Friday night.  It makes me a little sad that my kids don't go around the neighborhoods for hours like I did when I was a kid but then again they don't know any different.  We always do the trunk or treat, our immediate neighborhood, and then around the neighborhood I grew up in. 

In case you're wondering what a trunk or treat is, a church or school in the area opens up their parking lot for everyone to park and pass out candy from their trunks.  Most people decorate their trunks and some years we've had hot chocolate, cookies and a haunted house. 

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New Blog

Just a quick post to introduce my new blog.  You can click on the link to the right it's Mama M's Cucina.  There isn't much there yet but my plan is to share recipes, menu ideas and my experience with our dinner exchange group.  Check it out if you have a minute.

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Grandma

My Grandma was recently hospitialized for a week then in a rehab center for a week.  She is home now but has a nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist and an aide coming in several times a week.  She has always been so certain that she wants to stay in her home but since the rehab center she has been talking about moving into an assisted living facility.

On one hand I would be so happy to see her move into a center.  I think it would be good for her to be around so many other people and to have activites so readily available.  It would also give my Mom a much needed break.  My Mom goes to my Grandmas at the first of the week and stays there until the weekend.

On the other hand it's so difficult to watch my Grandma get to the point where she thinks she may need to move out of her home. 

Man, it's hard to watch grandparents and parents get older.

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Fall Colors

I feel so lucky to live so close to the mountains. We took a drive up today to see the changing leaves. Unfortunately, I think we waited too long because most of the leaves were gone. Tater wanted to get some pictures so he could submit one for the Reflections contest at school. Here's the pictures he took

 

This one is taken from across the Dam.

  

  

 

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I've been tagged!

Irene from Notes From A Wannabe WAHM has tagged me! What does that mean? I get to post 8 random facts about me.

Here's the official rules
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

And... Here's my random facts
1. I have 2 boys and I'm even going to give you their real names - Ryker (AKA Rooster) is 12 and Jake (AKA Tater) is 7. I wonder if anyone thought I really named them Rooster and Tater :)
2. I have been married for 18 years. Holy cow I had to do the math on that one.
3. I can NEVER remember my anniversary. My cousin calls every year to remind me. (Thanks Crys)
4. I think I may be addicted to Chapstick. I wake up in the middle of the night to use it and panic if I can't find 1 of my 8 tubes.
5. I drink way too much Pepsi.
6. I love to read Janet Evanovich's books.
7. I've seen Grease over 100 times.
8. I have 2 dogs. Riley is a Pekingese/Yorkie and Chloe is a Pomeranian/Yorkie.

Now for my tag to these 8 great bloggers
The Geek's Girl
Cajun Blogger
Claudette's Words
Da Boss and Bry Guy
The Fuzzbutt Files
Here on Columbia Avenue
House of Bargains
Family of 3 Boys

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Oh, The Mommy Guilt

I've got Mommy guilt and it sucks! I broke down and gave Tater some cold and cough medicine tonight. The poor little guy has had a cold for the past week and was coughing so hard tonight that I gave in and gave him the medicine. I don't like to give either one of my kids much medicine (it took me 2 years to finally agree to meds for Rooster's ADHD) and with all the hype going on about kids and cold medicine I was determined not to use it. But the poor dude needs to sleep! We've tried Vicks on the feet, I'm running a humidifier and I still need to try a recipe I found for some salve to put on his feet but for tonight I caved. He is sleeping and I've only heard him cough a couple of times. Maybe it's the placebo effect but either way I'll take it (Mommy guilt and all) if it means he gets a good night's sleep.

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I'd like to thank the Academy

 

Really, I would like to thank Kim at Flipping Adventures for giving me an I Love Your Blog Award.  Thank you so much I really appreciate it!  

I want to pass on the award to these other blogs - you all are amazing!

Confessions of a Baltimore Housewife
Lisa's Command Post
Hillbilly Heart
Kim's Kountry Kitchen
Raising a Girl
House Wife Mom
The Fife Life

There are some rules for this award:
1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the persons you've nominated.

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Some Great Reads

I've been fortunate enough to meet a great group of bloggers that have been more help than any of them know.  If you have a minute please check out their blogs.  You'll find a little bit of everything.

All in a Blog
Angies Silly Stuff
Baby Luvin
Confessions of a Baltimore Housewife
Blog About it
Blog Fogg
Bloggie Mommie
Busy Bee Village
The Cajun Blogger
Chatty Chica
Claudette's Words
Confetti by:Kateedyd
Da Boss And Bryguy
Deal with Chronic Pain
Digital Photography Today
Domesticated Diva
Drizzly Blog
Fat Girl Goes Fit
Feelings Just Are
Five O'Clock Somewhere
Flipping Adentures
4 Cats Make Me Crazy!
The Fuzzbutt Files
The Geeks Girl
Godly Woman
Green 'n' Pink
Happy Healthy Families
Here On Columbia Avenue
Hillbilly Heart
House of Bargains
House Wife Wom
I Don't Commute
I Love My 3 Boys
Jolly Mom
Kateedyd What?!
Kimmi's Krazy World
Kim's Kountry Kitchen
KKB Mom of 3
Kookie Krumblez
Lisa‘s Command Post
Luxury Lifestylez
Making My American Dream
Mama and Hustler???
Mia's Menu Mania
Mia's Motivation
Mix World
Mad Mommy
Moma's Crazy World
Moma's Life
Mommie’s Marbles
Mommy Mia's World
Mom Tidings
Mom to Three Sisters
Mom to Tweens
Moon Babyz
Ms Frugal McDougal
My So Called Blog
My First Steps With Jesus
My-Junk-Drawer
My Name is Not “Mom”
My Wahm Life
My Weekly Beef
Not Just In Your Head
101 Ways to Save
Pamela-te-da
Paradise Fiber Studio
Photos for the Fun of it
Postcard from Somewhere
Pure Jade Home
Raising a Girl
Remotely Mommy
Saving with Style
Saving With Tracy
Shrinking Pamelalala
SlickMom
Something Witty to Say
Surgical Nurse Musings
Talk Time with Kim
teleTwenties
The Jolly Kitchen
Three Times a Brideamaid
Thrifty Momma Ramblings
Thrifty Thoughts
Time Keeps on Flying
Vibrant Healthy U
Wahm Adventures
WICBlog
Work from Home Options
World of Homemaking
World of Mom

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What do you want to be when you're older

We just had Rooster's SEOP conference.  I have no clue what that stands for but it was a meeting with myself, Rooster and his counselor.  Before I got there Rooster had filled out a paper about what he liked, what he thought about school, and what he wanted to be when he grew up.

He has wanted to be a doctor since he was little.  Actually, up until about age 6 he wanted to be a doctor, a Backstreet Boy and a police officer.  Now he is down to one job.

I always thought (still think) he would be an amazing business owner/entrepreneur.  He can turn anything into a money making op.  But I was so proud to sit and listen to him talk about his plans to be a surgeon or an anesthesiologist.  On the other hand my heart was breaking just a bit, knowing how difficult it will be for him getting through college and med school with ADHD.  It truly is almost a full time job for me to track his assignments, follow up to make sure they get turned it, remind him of tests etc.  Our big goal for this year is getting him to learn more responsiblity and I have to say he is doing an amazing job but we still have a ways to go.  We have been so lucky to have great administration at Rooster's school and the psychologist gave me some of the best advice I've ever gotten.  Dealing with ADHD is not a race it's a marathon.  So we continue to celebrate the small and big steps we make knowing that we are working towards the finish line of our marathon.

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Our Soldiers

I was watching Little People, Big World last night.  The dad from the show was in Iraq to meet with a family that had 3 kids in their family that have dwarfism.  I have to say it made me an emotional wreck.  Not only was the story about the kids heartbreaking and at the same time inspirational but seeing the conditions that our soldiers are living and working in was absolutely eye opening.

Living so close to a military base we have many friends and neighbors who are in the military and have deployed several times to Iraq.  Last year we lost our neighbor when the vehicle he was in was hit by a roadside bomb.  Before his accident, I was so naive about the conditions over there.  Ryan's death brought everything so close to home and I don't think any of our lives will be the same. 

As you read this, please take a minute to think of or pray for our soldiers.  I only wish that every one of them would come home safely. 

And if you get a minute try to catch the episode of Little People, Big World - it really was moving

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I'm getting my own domain and did you hear about.....

Yipee!  I'm so excited within the next couple of days you should see my link change over to a dot com.  I must admit it feels kind of cool to have my own domain.  I hope there won't be any problems with the switch over-Let me know if you have any problems.

Completely unrelated - I was watching Regis and Kelly this morning and they were talking about a new email filter that can prevent drunk emailing.  Do people really do this?  I must be a bit behind the times.  I've heard of drunk dialing and drunk texting but drunk emailing?  Who takes the time to boot up their computer and compose an email?  Do they spell check first?

Apparently, there is a need because Google has a trial running with Gmail that will pop up a series of math questions that have to be answered before an email can be sent during late night weekend hours.  Math questions?  I would be in trouble without having a drop of alcohol.

I guess in the case  of someone who decides, in a stupor, that they really belong with one of their exes instead of their current the filter could come in handy. 

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They weren't kidding!

The weather prediction was a little off - and not in a good way! We got a FOOT of snow today! The boys were so excited they could hardly stand it. The snow was too wet to make a fort but they had a blast just running through it and throwing it.

Tater took this picture around 4:00 -a lot of it had melted by then

I thought this was kind of funny-Not sure if you can see it but there is a perfect little rose behind the tombstone and surrounded in snow.

If you've never tried homemade, snow ice cream you're missing out! It's yummy, so easy and so much fun for the kids. I know some people would be concerned about the pollutants in the snow but I think for an every once in awhile treat it should be fine.

Here's How:

What You Need:
1 cup Half & Half
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of salt
5 cups of fresh, clean snow


Mix all ingredients together and eat!
To make it even creamier add 1/2 of a mashed banana.

You can try other extracts like almond, mint, orange lime.......

Keep us in your warm thoughts - we should thaw out soon!

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So not ready for winter!

We're supposed to be in for a big storm tonight.  We're supposed to get 2-5" of snow tonight. I'm so not ready for this!  I don't think it will stick around - the ground is too warm and it should be back up to the 70's by the end of the week but still 2-5"?!! Give me a break.

I went back to the doctor because I wasn't feeling any better.  I now have bronchitis on top of the pneumonia.  So I'm on round 2 of anitbiotics an oral steroid on top of the inhaled steroid and breathing treatments.  I really hope things start getting better over the next few days. 

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Homework

As I write this I'm sitting with Tater doing his homework. Yet again I am amazed at the amount of homework he gets. We've been working for about an hour and he still has one more assignment then reading for 20 minutes. He is only in the 2nd grade - 1 hr - 1 1/2 hours of homework is too much. My 7th grader does maybe 2 hours a week of homework and is getting a 3.1 GPA. What's up with the elementary schools?

I have always been a supporter of homework - I don't think there is enough time or resources during the day for kids to learn everything they need to. But I also believe all things in moderation.

Recently, there was an article in our local paper citing research that homework does not benefit a student until the junior high level. One local school has actually done away with homework this year. It will be interesting to see how their test scores compare to the schools where kids do homework 1-2 hours a night.

Meanwhile, we'll keep plugging away and hope for the best.

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Not a cold

There is not much in life that I truly hate but going to the doctor definitely falls under that category. My cold wasn't going away, in fact I felt like it was getting worse so I broke down and made an appointment. I was so confused when he told me he needed to do a chest x-ray and asked him why when I was sure I only had a sinus infection. Turns out I actually have pneumonia. I've been spending a lot of time in bed, Bunco last night wasn't bat wings and all the yummy stuff I had planned (did KFC instead) and have zero plans for this weekend. I don't have time to be sick but I really don't have time to be sick in the hospital so I'll take it easy this weekend and hope Monday is better.

As women, we need to remember to take time for ourself and if that means we're sick for a day or two so be it. I really think if I had taken care of the cold up front I wouldn't have pneumonia now.

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