Prince Is Old, But John is Older....................

I'm sure you've heard about Prince and his need for hip replacement surgery. I took it hard. It's not an easy booger to swallow--he's PRINCE (The AFKAP, but that didn't take, he's Prince). I'm not clear on the status of the surgery, he's Jehovah's Witness, something about surgery and blood transfusions, blah blah blah.

I'm not doing well with Prince needing a hip replacement, I'm not doing well with the gray hair I pluck but keeps growing back (I'm not afraid to burn it, this is NOT a highlight), and I'm not doing well with the reality that I know what an 8 track, a record and a cassette tape are. Or maybe it's that my children fall over laughing at that revelation.
Friday, after wrapping up what I thought was a comprehensive unit study on the Revolutionary War (which had a great focus on the Militia and the difference between them and the British forces), I snapped the book shut and asked Alex what he thought. Oh! His eyes were lighting up, he wants more information! Wait, wait, let me get over by the dry erase, this could need detailed illustrations! Alright....GO!

"When Dad was in the Marines, did he fight in the Revolutionary War?"

"Mmmhmm, yes, Alex, he did. And when he was finished fighting, he put his musket away before he rode his horse back to the cabin where Grandma was preparing the wild turkey Grandpa shot in the woods. Cooking a good meal for Daddy over the wood stove while Uncle Jeff was busy fetching water down to the creek for washing up. Okay now, is that all?"

"Nope! Can I have Pizza Rolls for lunch?"

"Heck yes."

Help.Me!

A Very Special Day

Today would have been Jamee's 42nd birthday. Because this blog is a tribute to my very much missed and very much loved sister, Jamee, this post is for her.

It really is a pipe...it's okay, it was the 60s. The harlequin pants are the real tragedy here.
Yes yes, I could touch my toes. Jamee was the real gymnast in the family, she just didn't know it yet. A lot of you may not realize we have a younger sister (Antoinette). Jamee and I both carried her around like a doll when she was little.
As I pulled up these photos to scan, I realize this: It isn't my fault. Apparently the gift of being a retard in front of the camera is just part of my genetic makeup. I feel better about it tonight, I hadn't realized it until now.
One of my favorites, Dad and Jamee together.

19 Years Of Nothin But Good Stuff!

Happy 19th Anniversary John

*The Shabby Princess Moody Blues, Pam Lefors Designs Odds n Ends & Scrap Team Photo Filtre, Wedding Kit

Happy 16th Birthday To Cody! (and his cat Boo)

He's my 32 hours story...a real-life 32 hour, giant head suctioned out, umbilical cord wrapped around neck story. He was the baby I was seven months pregnant with when one afternoon watching Oprah, saw patients of my OB who delivered Niki and would be delivering him. They were telling Oprah about how he was being investigated for hypnotizing and molesting his patients. Mmmhmm, that's right. Murphy was my friend even back then! Because we had already paid him and had no maternity insurance, I had to keep seeing him (he was like 80 years old too, ewww!). But John didn't miss a single appointment from that point on! :) He was his Papa Poirier's first grandson. Dad couldn't GET to the hospital fast enough to see for himself. A man who had three girls and one granddaughter, he resigned himself to girls girls girls and more girls. More than that, as the years went by, his Papa Poirier grew to really like him. My dad was a great influence on Cody and saw the amazing child in him that John and I saw. There was a unique connection between the two of them. When at ten years old he lost Dad, he took it quite hard. We struggled when Niki and Cody were young; we did without 'stuff' so I could be home with them. Cody took this in stride, and never complained that he didn't have nearly as much as his cousins or friends had. He always accepted no if I didn't have quarters for the gumball machine at the front of the store, saying 'that's okay, maybe another time' (kid you not!). He really did wear the 'jean' shorts I sewed for him out of faux jean fabric. I think that's why now, while he doesn't want to have a lot of clothes, he picks his clothes carefully and won't buy something he 'might' wear. I think he'd probably like a pair of faux denim shorts for his birthday, don't you?
Now things are different, yet we truly wouldn't trade those formative years for anything in the world. I didn't think I'd say that back then, but I am. And I mean it. It helped Cody develop an appreciation for what he has and empathy for others who don't have. Cody takes his dedication to God seriously and I sometimes find I learn from him, not the other way around!So rather than list all the accomplishments Cody has made with his grades, sports, whatever, I'm just gonna tell you he loves God. He respects people. His Papa Poirier would be unbelievably proud of this boy's life so far. John and I are humbled by his character. We won't take credit for him, he's definitely a product of God's amazing work. So we thank Him for the gift of raising Cody--how lucky we are!

Cody dancing with his sister! (Kathleen! pshh!)

Marrige Meme Time

^^That's for Jenny, she's blogging for Gus' Gang today! Maybe go sponser her, even $5 would do amazing things pooled all together!

I get to talk about the best part of me today, tagged by my favorite Hawaiian mommy, flight attendant, wife over at And Island Life (I know, Sharon, I'm on that tag this weekend, promise.)

Eight things about my marriage, ready or not:

1. I met my husband John where I worked as a secretary--I was 20, taking a year off college to earn money. Going to Las Vegas and be a police officer alongside my uncle. Yeah, then I met him...and that was the end of that! He was 29, going to college part time and working with CAD.

2. John is exactly nine years and two months older than me. I like to mention that to my friends lest they think I'm as old as he is (sorry hon). But he looked so much younger. See what I mean?:

3. We dated nine months before we were married....we were married nine months before our daughter Nicole was born ;-)
4. Okay, answering what you were thinking--no we didn't have a formal wedding. We were married when my parents were still 'feuding' after the divorce. Because my parents weren't speaking to each other, we threw up our hands. Told everyone to be at the courthouse on our wedding day. John and I never looked back! Eh, okay, I do wish I'd worn 'the dress' and one day maybe Kelly will take me to the bridal shop and pretend to be needing one, idk. Will ya, Kel? Let me lose that 15 I put on this year first!

5. My husband went to Devry on weekends and evenings, starting at around age 42...then received his Bachelor's in Telecommunications Management and went on to Keller in the evenings to recieve his MBA. Still coached softball, still kept his day job! Still kept me! This is him two years ago--said he might think about his PhD. Didn't go over well. 6. John had/has a thing for Valerie Bertinelli.....okay, I can see the brunette/brown eyed thing. Pretty much identical twins, right! Right?!! Me? Jon Bon Jovi all day long. Okay, no similarities, but the name sounds the same!

7. I think we work very hard. I'm a stay home mom (soon to be home school mom to one) and as y'all know, I do data entry part time (all the time). My husand was promoted to business manager where he works, and teaches four nights a week at a local college. One day, hopefully soon, he can cut those days down by at least half. Okay, not Jon Bon Jovi, but better! (had to say that, Jon) 8. If you come round the house and hear "Tatey! Tatey Girl! Tate!" or "Don! Donald! Dondo! Hondo!" --no worries. That'd just be me and my Johnny Bonny talking to each other. Ooooh! I should do a fun giveaway and you have to post with your pet name!

Being married to Dondo=Good stuff.

So now it is my turn. I decided to shake it up a little, do it a little different, see what happens. Maybe nothing, maybe something, idk. So, without anymore pomp, here are my tags (already commented them, they know!):

Mrs. Hillary Clinton

Mr. Barack Obama

Mr. Rudy Giuliani

Ms. Nancy Pelosi--oops comments are closed! Hmm!

Mr. John Edwards -- okay this one took forever and a DAY to get posted!

Throwback Thursday....Finally Doing It!

For the longest time I didn't think I had anything much to use for Throwback Thursday, then I realized this: the things the Pinks & Blues Girls think are throwback are kinda the things I do have, when MY kids were little. AWWWW! When did this happen?! So....until my mother finally gives in and allows me to have some photos (oh, get yourselves ready for eye candy marathon then!), I still have a few things that kinda 'throw' me! Oh...and before I go on, you should click the P&B link...contest-palooza time! (Gigi, counting on you). Okay:

This is Christmas 1993 at my late father's house, and judging by the paper-winged angel, it was still fashionable to spew blues and mauves on EVERYthing! We lined up the all his girls and all his guys! The first is my little sister Antoinette, Jamee, Me (love the do?), our daughter Niki and of course, Dad. He doesn't appear it in this photo, but this is where that 'whacked' humor comes from...he was a riot! Miss him miss him miss him.

Now guy time: Jamee's husband, Andy; Antoinette's husband Joe; my husband, John, our son Cody and of course, Dad (Gigi, are these your glasses?).

It's still a little bittersweet looking at these pics--those were good days. If you'd told me none of these people except John and the kids would be a major part of my life in eleven years, I'd have looked at you sideways! Still hear from Andy here and there, but he's remarried and they're busy now. I have come to terms with my 'place' and understand it completely, but I miss him, Sarah and Max quite a lot. Maybe I'll blog it later down the road, idk, but I was just telling my dear friend Susan there comes a time when I have to stop and let them be as close to me as they want to be; I just worry the kids will think I've abandoned them. I would jump 1000000 miles up and swing from 10,000 stars to get to them if they needed me.

Don't worry about me, I'm quite fine (see new pic below...brand new!--kids shouldn't leave the camera on the kitchen counter if they don't want mommy taking head shots. Period!), will be back blogging with abandonment soon....been conjuring up some blog rules, blog friend rules, etiquette, that sort of thing. We need this, someone has to say it, so may as well do it, lol.

Tag I'm It!

Cat tagged me for this, it looks quite fun!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

We were living in Kansas City, still in our first home. Niki was seven, Cody five and Alex was less than two months old. Niki and Cody were in full baseball/softball mode (I miss those times) and life was pretty darned good.

I had my entire family still, didn't imagine then the devastation that was just five years ahead of me and wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Lived here in this home now, was doing data entry from home. We'd been at our church home for about seven years and don't remember what it's like not to be part of our amazing church family. Life, albeit still pretty good, is catching up with us--stress is knocking the wind out of us from time to time.

Five snacks you enjoy:

1. Whipped yogurt with Keebler Snax Sticks
2. Banana Smoothies
3. Popcorn and Hot Tamales
4. Fig Newtons and Tab
5. Dove chocolate miniatures

Five Songs You Know All The Lyrics To:

1. Goodbye Yellowbrick Road (Elton John)
2. Songbird (Fleetwood Mac)
3. Don't You Want Me? (The Human League)
4. Empty Garden-Hey Hey Johnny (Elton John)
5. Paradise (By The Dashboard Lights) (Meatloaf)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. Bring that nursing home I visit into the 21st century and triple the pay for all the GOOD staff memebers.
2. Pay off all bills and update our home.
3. Set up a great retirement plan (I quit my typing job in this scenario, too)
4. Vacation at least three times a year.
5. Give to my church all they needed to do the great things they do.

Five bad habits:

1. Crossing my legs (bad for circulation).
2. Drink far too much coffee.
3. Drink far too much soda.
4. Updating my blog on the fly.
5. Keep thinking everyone "gets" me, so I think I'm funny and to some, beleive it or not, I'm not funny!

Five Things You Would Never Wear Again:

1. I'm with Cat on that, no two piece bathing suit.
2. Madonna gloves with the fingers cut off (why did I do that?).
3. Miniskirts.
4. Turquoise blue eyeshadow.
5. My hair blonde (it turned red, really).
6. Short curly hair (again, why did I try that?).

Five favorite toys:

1. My computer when I'm not using it for work.
2. My sewing machine.
3. My serger.
4. That's it, I don't have any other toys...I guess I take myself too seriously!
5. No, really, I don't own many things that I'd consider fun or "mine".

I'm going to pick some tags this afternoon--I think I'm going to try something different and tag five people I hardly know at all, see what happens. Besides, if I knew people well I wouldn't want to read their answers as much as a stranger. That's right, see if they still come visit me anymore! Me, I think they will...

I am tagging the following because I've found their blogs (thus them) very interesting! So it'd be nice to know a little more...

Bubba's Sis

No Diet Coke For Mommy

Donna-Just Me

Funky Art Queen

BrewerFamily8

Note to my five:

Now y'all do know that if you don't do the meme with one eye shut, your hand in a pail of ice water and two pairs of stockings on your lap then something very bad may or may not happen............................

Calling In My Friends.....

Though I don't know her well anymore and the story is far more entangled than I have desire to untangle now, my mother, shown here next to me on your left, has been found to have cancer. There isn't a lot I can do for her, she likely feels the same way, so I prayed. If you could, would, say a prayer for her, it would mean a great deal to me...you my friends, old and new, are the best of friends.