Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sunday Funnies: Flat Out Fun

Every family on the face of the planet has one. A great story teller. In my family we are fortunate not only to have someone that can draw you into a story and make you feel like you are the one who experienced all the drama, but my aunt can tell a story that will have you laughing so hard that you will be literally rolling on the floor holding your stomach trying to keep every thing in (which, I've found, gets increasingly hard with every child that you give birth to).

This is my Aunt Susan, and she is always the life of the party.


I was reminiscing about a story that she told once when I was a young teenager and thought that I would share it, since I seem to be having a hard time coming up with something from my own life lately.


Susan woke in a terrible mood. All she wanted to do was stay in her nice warm bed and not get up and get the kids ready for ANOTHER day of school. But being the mom she had no choice and heaved herself out of bed and walked into the kid's room to start the day.
After fighting and wrestling her kids into clothes, shoes and coats Susan feed them a cheerful breakfast of burned toast and chocolate milk made with powdered milk. Yes, it was that kind of morning. She shouted and shouted until everyone was finally on their way out to their trusty brown chevy. The bickering in the back seat nearly sent her over the edge. But she breathed deeply and shut her eyes and counted to ten. And then she reopened her eyes only to discover that she had drifted to the other side of the road. And so she gave up trying to achieve any semblance of calm and just dropped the kids off at their elementary school and headed back home with her preschooler in tow.
The preschooler of course was sick. And so upon arriving home she called the doctor's office and set up an appointment for her youngest son. They for once weren't running way behind schedule and told her that they could see him at 9:00.
That left her an hour to shower, primp, and get her son looking presentable. Not much time, but she hustled as much as she could.
At 9:05 she was mostly ready with only a few pieces of hair still uncurled, but she had on clothes, shoes, and had brushed her teeth. It would do.
Her son on the other hand was lolly gagging in a way that only he could. He had on his shirt but that was about it. And so with a longing for a cattle prod and an eye roll she started with the lawnmower engine motivator.
(Now imagine for me the sound of a gas powered lawn mower as it starts up, the sound when you first pull the rip cord)
"Come on. Come on. Come on. (then suddenly the engine catches) GET THOSE PANTSSOCKSANDSHOES ON NOW!!!!!!
Well, the pants were on and so were the socks. But he was still fiddling with his shoes at 10 after nine.
"Mom," her son whined. "There's something in my shoe."
Susan had hit her boiling point, "I don't care if there is something in your shoe," she hollered, "just GET THEM ON!"
And he did. And he stomped in an angry huff all the way to the car. But he quickly forgot the offense as they traveled the seven minutes that it took to get to the doctors office. He was his happy smiling self when he got out and in his joy, and much to his mother's annoyance, he skipped the whole way to the office. Singing the entire way "there's somethin' in my shoe, there's somethin' in my shoe".
At last they made it through the waiting room, nurse assessment and were simply waiting for the doctor to show.
Much to my aunt's dismay her son had continued his little song the whole time, but his song was quickly becoming more of a whine again.
"Fine," she said in an exasperated voice, "give me your foot and I'll see what's in your shoe."
He obediently lifted his shoe as high as it would go. Susan took hold of the heel and pulled perhaps a bit to forcefully. Suddenly a gray mat of fuzz flew through the air then bounced on the floor, then like a coin on it's side it spun round and round until it finally stopped in the middle of the room.
Susan's mouth dropped to her toes as she watched in horror as a squished flat mouse stared up at here with it's dead lifeless eyes.
Just at that moment a nurse walked through the door. She looked puzzled at the expression that she saw on Susan's face. Then she followed her line of sight and screamed. The whole office was in an uproar as the flat mouse was placed in a Ziploc baggie and gingerly disposed of in the dumpster.

Susan quietly packed up her son and ducked her way out the front door of the office.



Sunday Funnies is a weekly theme here at Cake Crumbs. If you would like to play along just think back through your week and find the funniest thing that happened to you and jot it down. Then simply leave a comment with your web address and join in the fun!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Project 365: Week Ten and Eleven

Week 10- Unexpected
This week was filled with unexpected surprises.  Some good some bad.

Day 64
March 5th
I unexpectedly ended up setting up the book fair for school.  I also got some unexpected help from some wonderful teachers.  And all it cost me was a plate of brownies. :)


Day 65
March 6th
Kira performed her piano piece at her piano recital.  She hadn't practiced a whole lot so her great piece was a little unexpected.  Great job Kira!


Day 66, 67, 68, 69
March 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th
For the second time in my life I unexpectedly caught strep throat.  I didn't get out and about much so I took a picture of where I spent the majority of the four days mentioned.


Day 70
March 11th
An unexpected lunch date to my favorite Greek restaurant.  They have the best Gyros I've EVER tasted.

Week Eleven: Spring Has Arrived

Day 71
March 12th
Spring colored paper at the book fair was taken down and the books all packed up and ready to go back to Scholastic.


Day 72
March 13th
Spring always brings with it the exciting St. Patrick's Day parade.  We actually had two real floats this year.  The girls' favorite were the horses, as always. 


Day 73
March 14th
Finally something green in my garden instead of white!!!!!!!!!!


Day 74
March 15th
Warm spring sunshine allowed an afternoon of yard work to be done.  I love to play in the dirt!
Emma found a new pet, diamond, the earthworm.  But it somehow got lost so she had to look for it again.  Naturally she had to take all the dirt out of the flowerbed to find it.

Day 75
March 16th
More signs of spring!  We planted a new tree last summer.  I was terrified that it hadn't survived the harsh winter, so I jumped for joy when I saw that there were buds popping out on our baby tree.  I'm so proud.

Day 76
Ok, so I didn't technically take this picture on St. Patrick's Day, But it was my favorite from the parade.  And it felt festive enough to cheat.  Is that ok?
March 17th
Since the sun decided to make an appearance we made a trip to the Wave Pool.  They still have the bubble up so it is really, really hard to get a picture to turn out.  My lens was so fogged up from the humid air that this is the only picture that turned out.


Day 77
March 18th
A farmer's field that we pass everyday has gained a brand new occupant.  I expect any day the people behind me will have their goats giving birth to new kids.  Now all we need are some rabbits.  Janae, can we borrow yours?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Unmarked Police Car

Yes, I live in a very small town.

To join in the Wordless Wednesday fun follow this link here.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Sepia Scenes: Abandoned


Join in the fun with Mary T. at Sepia Scenes

365: Week Nine


This was an uneventful week-
Day 57
February 26th
For the life of me I couldn't figure out why I had foot prints on my pantry wall.


Day 58
February 27th
Daddy's Girl

Day 59
February 28th
I LOVE landscapes!

Day 60
March 1st
Anyone for a game of Phase 10?

Day 61
March 2nd
I have heard several stories as to why there is a teepee perched on the top of this hill.  My favorite is that the husband and wife weren't getting along.  The husband, out of spite, built the teepee for all the world to gawk at as they drive past it on the highway.
That is so something I would do!

Day 62
March 3rd
It's a party at Big-O

Day 63
March 4th
Will it stop, will it stop, will it stop?

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Photo Story Friday: Fun for the Whole Family

In the process of completing my Photo Hunt for this month I had to scramble and take lots of pictures in a few afternoons.  One of these afternoon's was spent in downtown historic Helper.  This is a tiny little town that is just north of where I live.  It has a very charming, ghost town feel to it.  Which provides a perfect opportunity to shoot pictures that you normally wouldn't see in this century.  I love going there!
As we pulled onto Main Street my husband, who was driving, took on a dry monotone voice suited to a tour guide as he started pointing out buildings and explaining their history.

Like the old grocery store turned cabinet maker shop that was owned by a friend's grandparents.

On the other side of the road was Echo Bridge.  The tradition is to honk whenever you go under it.  I'm sure that the people that live at the bottom and top of the road LOVE this tradition


Then there is St. Anthony's, the most quaint little chapel you've ever seen.

Of course, Helper wouldn't be Helper without it's Library/Auditorium/City Hall.  Who has Big John keeping watch just outside it's doors.  This also used to be the elementary school, but obviously those 20 kids couldn't be crammed in along with the books and political members.

Soon after passing City Hall you have the Fire Station, abandoned bars, the band stand, a few restaurants, several business and empty buildings.


The railroad station is close to the end of the road, but it holds some wonderful vintage photography opportunities, so we of course had to stop there.

And last but not least, as we drove down the road with my husband still giving us historical tidbits we approached the last building in the row.
"And here," my husband said.  "We have the Hotel La Salle, the last legally operating Cat House in the state of Utah." 
What?!  (Double Take)
The shape of that sign just took on a whole new meaning with that little tidbit of information.

And the kicker-

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Photo Hunt Challenges #6

Another month has ended before I was ready for it to. 
This hunt was very fun to participate in, but I found myself scrambling at the last minute to finish up all the categories.  It really felt like a scavenger hunt when I crammed them all into two days.
Here is the month of February through my eyes:

#1. A Tower


#2. "Main Street"



#3. Five


#4. A Dog or Cat


#5. Two of a Kind
(Locally known as the "Dolly Parton Domes")


#6. A Clock


#7. A Game


#8. Something Sweet



#9. B&W with Selective Coloring


#10. Your Own Reflection



#11. A Mirror Image


#12. Night Image


#13. Something Homemade


#14. Something Pink


#15. Something Romantic


#16. A Candid Shot


#17. A Portrait 



#18. A Symbol of Love


#19. A Landscape


#20. Chocolate