Lunches and feasts.

Philip and I both headed up to the school for lunch today, bringing with us Subway for a treat. We can't go tomorrow on our usual Wednesday routine, as the boys' school is out for Thanksgiving break, so we bumped up a day.

When I asked them last night, no one was sure of the lunch choice for today. Because of this, we opted for lunch brought in, and they collaborated and chose Subway. Fine by me - I love subs! When we walked into the lunchroom, we found the school lunch to be hotdogs, seasoned potato wedges, milk, fruit, and a chocolate chip cookie. That choice is pretty decent - bummer!

Now I am STUFFED, and we're fixin' to head out shopping for all our Thanksgiving feast supplies. We've got two folks (and a guest) from work coming over to celebrate with us, and Philip also has a troop coming over. It should be good, and we'll be sending most of the leftovers home with all of them. :-)

Vacation 2009 Tweets.

One day, I'll get around to the photos and stories, but for now, I wanted to get these cleared off of my phone. You may have seen all of them on FaceBook back in "real time," but this is a decent record of our vacation. :-)

7/22/09:

- is full after a yummy dinner at Bob Evans. We laughed 'til we cried over the meal, and then just bought a new iTrip (our current one must've just died today?).
- says we have passed so many flippin' fireworks stands in Missouri!
- wonders why moms are gifted with a super-power for identifying the 'tooters' claiming innocence by their unique smell. But yeah, I'm a pro.
- says Philip keeps chuckling at me as I belt out songs in the car. My voice cracked once, even - Brady Bunch, anyone? "When it's time to change..."
- is cracking up! I just turned on the light to find my tatting piece firmly clinging to the shoulder of P's shirt. NO clue how it got there - hilarious!
- just stopped at Kum&Go's - yes, two of them. A Kum&Go directly across the street from a Kum&Go. We came and went. *grin*

7/23/09:

- just saw a cow stampede! Cool!
- walked the streets of Branson in the early morning. Now we're Memphis-bound!
- is OMG! Shipley's Donuts! Best donuts in the world, and I haven't had them since I left Texas almost 15 years ago! Dude, we're getting donuts!
- is surprised - Arkansas has trolleys! How quaint!
- Bliss! Hardee's for lunch, followed with Shipley's for dessert!
- just shared an awesome tour of Graceland with my boys - all three of 'em. I'm so excited to share the Guynes family Elvis love! :-D
- is on a riverboat dinner cruise. Live blues band and gorgeous scenery - the boys are loving it! :-)
- will be stopping outside the Memphis-side of Nashville for the night. 'Night, y'all!

7/24/09:

- is on the road again! Breakfast in Nashville, and then we're headed to eastern Tennessee.
- just finished up a great breakfast of Chick-n Minis at Chick-fil-A... thanks, Bri!
- is lunching at the Huddle House, and all the guys are 'huddled' around the jukebox, selecting songs for our meal.
- #872 Thing I Love About the South: every eating establishment has sweet tea... and all made the "right" way - with sugar added when hot!
- thinks Tennessee ivy is the 8th wonder of the world!
- *squeee* We're taking the boys on a skylift over touristy Gatlinburg! So high!
- we had 'old-tyme' portraits taken together, and now we're eating at Hard Rock Cafe Gatlinburg. This is the second pin A.J. has added to his collection this vacation. :-)


7/25/09:

- is in Cleveland, TN right now, but only passing through. *waves at Annie*
- is almost to Atlanta, and we are all wondering why we see no peach trees in GA yet. Shouldn't they be lining the interstate for viewing?
- says that Philip creamed an innocent raccoon last night. Poor guy just exploded under the tires - eww. :-(
- we are touring the 'World of Coke' in Atlanta. Yeah, I'm in heaven!
- thinks the museum was great! I loved trying new flavors in the 'Taste Factory' - the Starberry was yummy! :-)
- is at the beach!

7/26/09:

- has survived the first beach outing. I went under - and I mean *UNDER* and could not recover. P finally noticed and rescued me. Having fun!
- is tiiiiired. Oh my, but I think the road trip has finally caught up with me. That, or almost drowning - hard to tell. Sooooo sleepy!

7/27/09:

- is sitting at a quiet table with her journal.

7/28/09:

- just finished up at the beach (Ocean Isle) for today, and is now headed to Myrtle Beach to cuddle with baby tigers!
- is stuffed after a birthday dinner for BIL Tom. P, me and Jack are now headed home - Jack fell asleep at the table at T-Bonz. He's just too exhausted.
- is amused. Jack says that, "Pond turtles must be some of the 'shyest' little critters!" :-)

7/29/09:

- is eating at Big Nell's Pit Stop. SIL Shel says it's the local, famous 'Greasy Spoon.' :-)
- just got a hole-in-one on Gold Course Hole 3! (It took Philip seven tries - hehehe!)
- just got another hole-in-one on Hole 4. :-)
- can't seem to find Hard Rock Cafe Myrtle Beach - GPS keeps taking us to the wrong place...
- got her ice cream on at the Ocean Isle Creamery. Cherry vanilla with chocolate syrup - mmmmmm!

7/30/09:

- is breakfasting at 'The Purple Onion,' and A.J.'s blueberry biscuits look and taste amazing! he was served before the rest of us. :-)
- on our way to the Intercoastal Waterway Cruise. *fingers crossed for dolphin sightings*
- saw dolphins today, and I also got my first facial sunburn, too.

7/31/09:

- just got back from the beach for the last time. :-( On the bright side, we're going jet-skiing on the waterway in an hour. Gotta hang tight to P while he drives - eep!
- is sipping on a Cheerwine - mmmmmm!
- is pretty much awesome at mini-golf. I just won two more hole-in-ones here on the island course, playing with P, Grammy and the boys. :-)

8/1/09:

- is on the road again. Bye-bye, beach! First stop: the local post office. We've already amassed a TON of souv's, and we're mailing 'em home.
- has the 'Oobi' theme stuck in her head.
- wants to get her rings professionally cleaned again soon.
- thinks the clouds are being boring in this stretch of road. I can't seem to find *any* good shapes in them!
- it's snowing in August in Atlanta! It looks *so* life-like, but really, a down pillow fell off a truck in front of us and has exploded on the highway! :-)
- I've been tatting it up on this trip - missing you, Lizzles!
- says that Philip is jealous of my mad Bee-Gee's singability skillz.
- Convo... Jack: Dad, my scar hurts. Philip: Does that mean VoldeMonkeyBars is near? Jack: No, just VoldeBars! *impish grin*
- is less than 5 miles away from AnnieMcFranniePants! I can't wait!

8/2/09:

- tidbit from Jack upon leaving Annie this morning: "Ahhhhh! It was nice seeing an old friend again!"
- awesome! Just slowed down for a pic along the trail in Smoky Mt. Nat'l Park, and a black bear cub walked right across the path *right* behind us!
- Jack just got a hole-in-one on the 1st hole at Adventure Golf. He won a free game!
- all my guys got hole-in-ones on #12. (I sucked this game - yowzers!) In fact, each of the males managed TWO h-i-o's in this course. :-)
- here's me, pooped out - sitting in the largest, most gorgeous Pizza Hut I've ever seen, waiting on our order, and all the boys are hoofing it to 'Star Cars.'
- 'Star Cars' is a museum showcasing famous Hollywood vehicles. It's about one block away, and I'm chilling in the upstairs loft of Pizza Hut.
- we're staying in an idyllic little lodge here in Gatlinburg tonight. I swear, G-burg has quickly become my favorite 'find' on this vacation!

8/3/09:

- is leaving Gatlinburg. *sniffles*
- says, "Move over, Shipley's." We just ate breakfast at a locally-owned Dippin' Donuts in Knoxville, and it was the BEST donuts I've ever had.
- is at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville. :-)
- just spent the last hour+ walking the streets of Nashville. Stopped in the Hard Rock Cafe, then checked out the Charlie Daniels Museum, too.
- is petting stingrays, and next we're dining in an aquarium - eating right under the fishies!
- is getting ready to watch G-Force. We've all been waiting for this! This is our wind-down event for the evening. :-)

8/4/09:

- just left Tennessee and has passed into Kentucky.
- is so full. Steak 'n Shake chili and a Snickers shake - mmmmmm!
- is in St. Louis - Gateway Arch, here we come!
- is at the very tip-top of the Gateway Arch!
- has been to Hard Rock Cafe St. Louis, all over Union Station, to dinner, then swimming at the hotel. 'Night!

8/5/09:

- eek! My first Tweet of the day just woke us up (thanks wendywoowho)! Wow, our room was *very* quiet, dark & comfy, and we must've all been exhausted!
- Pay-It-Forward in action! Jack gave away his earned free golf pass a few nights ago, and a lady just handed us 2 free kid passes to the park!
- is at Six Flags Over St. Louis amusement park for a day of rides, fun, and perfect weather!
- is watching the boys get their game on in the arcade, and then we're headed for dinner and swimming at the hotel. Prizes ain't fun to carry!
- the downside of jet-skiing? The burned scalp peel-a-thon about four days later. It looks like I have giant dandruff tonight. :-/

8/6/09:

- is homeward bound! We should be home by early evening. :-)
- has roughly 3.5 hours 'til we're home.
- We just took a touristy picture next to the road sign as we finally crossed back into Nebraska!

My team has not changed.

I stated on the first read of New Moon that I was all about Jacob/Bella. This hasn't changed, even in reading Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I still wish things had worked for my pairing, but I enjoyed the series anyway.

BUT - the onslaught of "TEAM JACOB!" is now crazy. I'm proud to say I was an original Jacob fangirl - before he had short hair and crazy-good abs of steel. I'm very happy to see Jacob now getting the gamut of attention he was always due...

... but I still want an eensy-teensy kiss. Is that too much to ask? *sigh*

I've seen the new movie twice now, and it is even better the second time. Philip and I will be seeing it sometime as well - probably mid-week next week, I imagine. I'm already revved to see it again, so I hope he doesn't fall asleep in non-Twerdy boredom.

B-A-K-L-A-V-A.

Because I know you are all so very worried about my sugar consumption... (you weren't? YOU SHOULD BE!)

I wanted to inform you that I have already devoured my first piece of baklava for the season. In fact, I had three pieces over a week, and even then, it was about ten days ago.

Yummy.
Flaky.
Sticky.
Buttery.
Goodness.

Screw "baklava." No, from now on, I'll gonna call it "YFSBG," because it'll help me to remember how truly wonderful and delicious the stuff really is. ;-)

Reading, lunches, and the boys' friends.

This morning was 'Breakfast & A Book' again at the boys' school. We all went, and while there, I also gifted their teachers with some cute, homemade goodies (to be shared about in a separate entry). I then walked the halls and gave the rest away to other teachers that happened to be milling about, as well as the entire office staff and the librarian. Then A.J. headed off to class, and Philip and I brought Jack home for a little bit.

The boys had their regular dentist check-ups yesterday, and Jack needed to go back this morning to have some sealants done. He's got the same substantial "grooves" on his molars that A.J. did years ago, and they want to prevent cavities in those grooves by sealing them now. I took him to that appointment, and then back to school before 9:30. While in the office, another teacher was asking me about the goodies, saying she'd already heard about them from several folks. Fun!

Then I went back at 11:00 for my regular Wednesday lunching with the boys. I'd forgotten to look at the school menu, so I had all my fingers crossed that it was something good... TACOS! I can always support tacos. ;-) A.J.'s group of friends was particularly talkative today, and that was fun. I had put a special, sealed bag in his friend Jade's desk early that morning, and she was BEGGING me to tell her what was in it. I shook my head, and promised her it was worth the wait! Then Jack's group of friends is always so much fun, and I love knowing all of them by name, and continuing individual conversations with the kids from week-to-week. Today, I let his friend Noah Dettmer know that I had *just* spoken with his mom and RSVP'd for the fun 'Mystery Theater' birthday party he's throwing this Saturday. He was very excited, and was *fist-pumping* the air. :-)

As I headed to the office, I was stopped by a few more folks, asking about the goodies. I apologized, saying I was now fresh out, but they still wanted to know how to make 'em. Then it became a baking jamboree discussion in the office, and I love that so many are so interested!

A.J. asked if we could head to Borders after school, and I've got a Bath & Body Works birthday giftcard burning a hole in my pocket, as well as a birthday giftcard to Wheatfield's, so... sounds like a plan to me!

Tales From the Kitch.

From the kitchen audiofile library moments ago:

A.J.: Mom, what are these little brown things in the fridge?
Me: They're part of the special dessert I'm making.
A.J.: Do they go with the marshmallow stuff you were doing, too?
Me: Nope, that's a different one.
A.J.: Are they for the cookie cutters we bought?
Me: Nope, that's another one.
A.J.: Wow. Then these must be some REALLY SPECIAL desserts if it's taking you a couple days to make them!

*grins*

I'm in the kitchen, I'm baking up special things, and I'm having loads of fun. Love this! :-)

All the Ways That I Love You.

The cat's out of the bag now. ;-)

For her birthday, we gave Heather a special gift... one that she would cherish, but that would really best be given to her children. (But aren't those some of the best gifts? The ones that make your kids smile, and in turn, make you smile even wider?)

We picked up a copy of All the Ways I Love You, and then we recorded into the book all of our voices reading the story. She will forever have the boys' young voices, and her kiddos will always have a story that can be read to them. They will know how much we love them and think about them every time they pick up the book.

I almost cried while reading my line at the end. So here, have a listen. And while you're at it, wish my fellow Zippy a happiest of birthdays on this glorious birthday that we share!

VoicePost 231K 1:15

(transcribe)

Silky.

I just made the creamiest chocolate cake batter ever. Seriously. It was just a boxed mix, but dang - it was SO.SMOOTH. coming out of the batter bowl.

I hope it tastes as great as it looks right now. Next, though, I'm going to crumble it all up. ;-)

Going, going, going.

I'm on my third load of laundry already, and it's a gorgeous day out. I hope to take advantage of this by being extremely-very-majorly productive today.

I started the day with a quick call to my bestie to tell her that I missed her. That always puts a smile on my face, too. And I could hear little Catherine in the background saying, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" Love that little girl, I do.

I did some more holiday shopping last night, and now I've got a dining room FULL of gifts that need to be wrapped and boxed for shipping. That's high on the agenda today, but I need to swing out to the store to get some shirt boxes first. I'm considering baking cookies while I'm wrapping, too.

I'm paying bills right now (well, I was... then I stopped to make an entry, that is), and I'll be heading out in just a moment. I am excited and happy for this big, beautiful day!

A holiday update.

Jack and I headed out this evening to begin our holiday shopping. We worked very hard for over two hours, and we made a lot of progress! I'm now happy to report that gifts have been purchased for six special people. That means we only have, let's see... um... six just-as-special people left to buy for. We're halfway done - YAY!

At the very end of our shopping, we passed a makeup section, and Jack was all, "OOOOOooooooh!" He wanted to show me the LipSmackers that his teacher sometimes uses, and he was super stoked to find a Dr. Pepper flavor one. I let him have the 85c chapstick for being such a big help to me in picking out gifts, and he is over the moon tonight about his flavored lips. What a funny guy!

As we were piling purchases into the car, I scouted the parking lot for a cart return. I spotted one, but it was a few aisles over. After emptying out the cart, I let Jack return it, but I warned him to walk slowly and look for traffic constantly. I then started the car and crept alongside him. He did exactly as I asked, being very vigilant in looking for cars, and then he politely pushed the cart all the way inside the return, as the beginning of the next neat row. He then hopped inside the car with me, and I navigated the rest of the parking lot.

"Why were you looking at me with that funny look out the window, Mom?" he asked.

"Hmm?" I questioned. "What are you talking about, bud?"

"You were watching me real close with a kinda smile on. Did you think I couldn't do it by myself?"

I sighed a mother's sigh. "No, sweetie. I knew you could do it. I just look at you sometimes, and I can't believe you are as big as you are, and that you can do all the things you now can. You are just growing up so very fast, you know?"

"I know, Mom," he said knowingly, nodding in the rearview mirror. Then he smiled that loopy smile of his, and he gazed out the window into the clear night.

Random is as random does.

I have been working, working, working, and working some more lately - craziness! This week, I should pull into overtime again, too.

I've gotten back into the beta'ing bug again for my dear friend kataclysmic. Even if just for one story, it's been fun, and I've realized how much I've missed this in the last couple years. Dramione, how I still love you. ♥ ♥ ♥

I bit the fingernails on both of my ring fingers much too short yesterday morning, and they were both SO SORE all day yesterday. Today, they're not as sore, but they do feel awful funky as I click away on this keyboard. My poor left middle finger should be worried, as he's the next to go.

** Yes, I bite my fingernails. I always have. I could care less whether you find that disgusting because I find it to be the best way to cut as very, very, VERY close as possible, and I loathe taking care of my nails, so I prefer to do it the least often possible... meaning it needs to be TO.THE.SKIN.**

I need to begin my Christmas shopping. Last year, I was on top of things. In fact, last year, I was sickeningly jolly in my holidayness. I had all our gifts purchased and/or made, already gift-wrapped and stacked decoratively in a corner, and photographed (for PROOF!) on this day, November 4th. And then I sent it out to most everyone I knew. After all, how can you properly hate me without knowing the full extent of my awesomesauce? ;-)

This year, I've got diddly-squat done so far. Okay, okay - that's not entirely true. A couple gifts have already trekked out to AnnieMcFranniePants (the_mommy_in_me), but that's it. There are, however, a few in the later stages of being made, so I suppose that's something. But I desperately need to get out there, get shopping, get back here, get wrapping, and get shipping. QUICK!

We got the boys' school portraits a couple weeks ago. I should probably share those, right? I know, I know... "this post is useless without pictures" is ready and waiting in the wings of the comments, so I'll just cut to the chase and share 'em:



Eh? Love 'em? I'm think they are both good pictures, but I also know that neither of those smiles are genuine for my boys. I guess I'm happiest that they save up their very best true smiles for me! ;-)

(It DOES make you wonder though, doesn't it, if the photographer even CAN center a child for their picture. I mean, GAH.)

No zoo for you!

It's my day off. My day off is usually on Wednesday, but it is Thursday this week because I had volunteered to go to the zoo with Jack's 2nd grade class for a field trip. I chaperoned this same field trip for A.J. in the past, and I was excited to do it again for Jack.

But it was drizzling all day yesterday. In fact, A.J.'s class had a field trip yesterday (no chaperones allowed, however) to a farm, and it was canceled then. And by early evening last night, it was raining.

And it hasn't stopped.

I charged my battery packs, cleared my memory cards, and made sure sack lunches were ready last night. I was up, getting ready, when the phone rang this morning. It was Jack's teacher, Miss Wiebers, informing us that the field trip was canceled due to the excessive rain.

Darn, darn, darn!

I hope it's rescheduled soon, but I'm not overly optimistic. A.J.'s class went on this trip in late September, and it's already late October. The way I figure it, they probably will try to reschedule the field trip for next spring. That makes me just as sad, because then Jack will miss it entirely. :-(

O-nions.

My hands smell like onion. I actually quite like the smell, and I'm always up for working with them, when possible. But in the last day, yeah... I've peeled, sliced, dipped, and chopped a lot of onions.

Book-a-licious.

I just returned home from the 'Pastries for Parents' breakfast event at the boys' school. Once again, the turnout was extremely low, but Philip and I were both there (he had gotten it approved to be half an hour late to work today). We ate our muffins and drank our juice, and then we began browsing the book fair.

I love books. :-)

We're all excited for the boys' conferences this afternoon. After school, while we're waiting for their conference time, we'll shop the book fair. After conferences, we're headed out to Borders to pick up A.J.'s reserved copy of the fourth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. He's been waiting for weeks and is excited to get it.

Should be a very book-ish day!

Hallmark killed me today.

Normally, I love Hallmark. I love everything about the store, and I could easily drop a few hundred bucks every time I visit (but I don't).

But today? Today, Hallmark killed me. Man, I have never left feeling so deflated and saddened. I can't give more details yet, because I've got to rear the last of my hope into my projects, get them out to the recipients, and then PRAY FOR THE BEST...

But dang, Hallmark. My poor spirit. Why do you hate me so?! *wrings hands*

Bah humbug. :-(

My heart is hurting.

I do not want tomorrow to come.

Tomorrow, my very bestest best friend moves away. She's moving to New Mexico, and I know, I know... it's not the end of the earth. It's not even a different country, and it's not halfway around the world.

But it's too far for me. It's too far for me to call her and say, "Hey, I'm gonna drop off those pictures/boxes/gifts/papers/random objects you wanted, and I'll see you in a minute, okay?" And it's too far for me to run over and snap pictures of Catherine's first days of preschool/kindergarten because I'm just as excited and happy and thrilled for her as she is. And it's too far for me to take my kids trick-or-treating like we've done every year because her neighborhood is more awesome than mine. And it's too far for me to be there for John's first birthday in time. And it's too far for me to make Thanksgiving dinner and give her some of our ham because she never makes it herself, yet she craves it sometimes.

And it's too far for us to throw silly birthday parties together for our joint-birthday. And it's too far for me to do all the tours and house-shopping with her. It's too far for me to help her unpack her kitchen and put everything in just-so places, and for us to see a rainbow together while doing so. And it's too far for me to see Catherine stomping around in her froggy shoes, and for me to teach John all the wonders of Coca-Cola. It's too far for me to get to hug their little arms and kiss their little cheeks. And it's too far for me to baby-sit her precious kiddos while she runs an errand, and to feed them too many mandarin oranges. It's also too far for me to kitty-sit for "Hidey" Milo and "Escapee" Tasha.

And it's too far for us to go on vacation, and then bring back Chick-Fil-A for each other, dropping it by each other's house on our way back home. And it's too far for her to make it to all the boys' school concerts. And to all their book fairs. And their carnivals. And their birthdays. And now I'm just being selfish again...

It's too far for me to fall into her arms when I need her hugs - her special, 'we-don't-do-it-all-the-time-but-she-tou

ches-my-soul-when-we-do' kind of hugs.

This past Friday, the 25th of September, marked seven years to the day that I first walked across the street and introduced myself to Heather. These seven years have been the very best and worst times of my life, and she's been there for every second of it. I can't imagine any of it differently, and I can't imagine it without her. She's in every part of my scrapbook, every part of my life, and she holds a very, very special place in my heart.

Two weeks ago, Catherine and I chatted on the phone. I'd been talking to her mama, and she wanted to say something special. When she was ready to get off, she said, "I love you." And I know I will get to hear her say that on the phone now, but I'm sad for all the goodbye hugs and sweet, goodbye kisses on my cheek that I'll miss.

And I know that New Mexico isn't the end of the earth. I know that I'll trip to see her, and she'll trip to see me. And I know that we'll have to pick certain events/holidays to travel and share with one another, and that we'll always have internet and phonecalls.

But it's too far not to still hurt, and to hurt so deeply.

Lastly, it's too far for me to ever have a chance at being even half the friend and family to her that she has been to me. She is my sister, and she's not too far away to love.

From DL, with love.

I got a postcard from Disneyland from 1grl_revolution today! How fun!

200!

I doubt anyone checks back to this older entry, but this is worth announcing:

JACK HAS READ 200 BOOKS THIS YEAR!

He's had lulls here and there, and he's had months where he just goes crazy with reading. His skill level is amazing, and we couldn't be prouder of his progress over the summer months! He received a progress report home on Thursday, and the news was insane: to be classified at the 'Advanced' level for second grade, he was expected to read 78 words-per-minute. His score:

192 wpm

*cartwheels* We are just blown away! Looking ahead, he should be reading 117+ wpm by the end of the school year to still be classified at 'Advanced.' I've got an idea that's gonna be NO problem. ;-)

School pictures.

I have paid for the boys' school pictures online. Their picture day is Monday, so I'm now prepared. This wasn't on my (short) to-do list today, so now I've gone and overdone it - heh.

Being sick sucks.

Well, I have gotten dressed today. I'm still hacking up a storm, but that is more progress than I've made since Tuesday. I'm going to push through laundry today (though I won't be putting it away), and I'm going to pay bills. Lofty goals, I tell you.

We'll see how this goes...