Rain Drops

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if you could help me out.  I am entering a photo contest and I just can't decide which of these I should enter.  Let me know which is your favorite in your comment.

Thanks!



This One's For You

We've been busy vacationing quite a bit this summer, but last week we stayed home to enjoy a visit from our brother-in-law and two nephews that came out from Chicago.  We were all so excited to have them here that my entire family got together several times over the past several days.

One of those days was spent at a nearby softball field where the guys watched Jeff, my husband's brother, play a few ball games.  The mom's and kids drifted to the little park that was connected to the ball field to probide a place for the kids to play while we chatted among ourselves.

Amid the laughter and games I caught sight of Kira wondering away from her two older cousins.  She slowly and dejectedly came to sit by me. 

She sat in frowning slience for a while but, after a bit of prodding on my part she finally gushed what was bothering her.

"Mom," she said in her very best Scarlet O'Hara voice, "when they're together I just turn to a speck of dust in the wind.  They don't even know I'm alive." 

Trying very hard not to giggle I attempted to comfort her by telling her that this kind of thing was very normal when there were three girls together.   I soothed and hugged her until she felt her ruffled feathers relax, then with a last hug for me she got back up and went to try to play with her two cousins again.  This time with greater success.

And so I'd like to take this opportunity to dedicate this song to Kira.  May you always be my little Scarlet O'Hara...

Sunday Funnies: Special Effects

A quick note to all of my loyal readers, thanks for sticking by me. :)  I have to apologize for my lack of posting lately.  I don't know if any of you have ever had that overwhelming feeling that life is just crammed too full of STUFF and nothing else will fit, kind of like my shoe closet.  I have had so many things on my plate the past several months that blogging has had to take a step back.  But hopefully I will be back into writing a full functioning blog again soon.


Anyway, back to the story... and yes I know it's not actually Sunday...

There I was, walking through the grocery store loading my cart up with ingredients for a rich ooey gooey chocolate cake; chocolate pudding, baking chocolate squares, semi-sweet chocolate chips, Hershey's Symphony milk chocolate bar with almonds and toffee chips and lots of butter for the frosting.

My mouth began to water as an intense desire to devour anything and everything made of sweet, creamy, smooth milk chocolate washed over me.  Unable to curb the immense craving I gave in to my weakness and I quickly turned my very full cart around and headed back to the candy isle.  I started down the green mile and had to cover my eyes to hide the scrumptious and tempting Reese's peanut buttercups, snickers, twix, and ghirardelli chocolate squares filled with carmel that leered at me.  I refused to look up until I reached the sugar free section, yes my dirty little secret is out, I can't eat sugar. (Pretend you didn't just read that, and please don't tell any of my cake clients that I can't actually eat what I sell.  But hey I figure if Beethoven can be deaf and write symphonies then I can have a sugar intolerance and still create mouth watering masterpieces.  Or am I wrong?)

I located the sugar-free and no-sugar added section that held a small variety of chocolate candies.  Most of which were Russell Stoffers chocolates, which have enough alcohol sugars to stop a diabetic dead in their tracks.  Disappointment flooded from the top of my head and made it's way down the rest of my body.  With down cast eyes I turned to go on my way, but then I saw it, a new kind of nearly sugarless chocolate bar called Simply Lite that flashed out a message in bold green letters SUGAR FREE, GLUTEN FREE.  Further down the packaging boasted this was the best chocolate for those who were carb and health conscious.  Well that sort of included me, so I picked up the package and read the nutrition label, HOT DIGGITY! Only 2 grams of sugar, what luck!!!!!!!

After waiting for what felt like an eternity to get through the line at the checkout stand I found myself nearly skipping to my car with anticipation of biting into a chocolate bar for the first time in years! 

I sat alone in my drivers seat and reverently placed the first square of chocolate in my mouth, savoring every second we had together, it instantly started to melt.  Words cannot describe how wonderful it tasted.  I then proceeded to eat nearly the entire bar.  As a second thought I decided to see if the package held more than one serving, I've gotten myself into trouble before by not paying attention to this little detail and I had a nagging feeling that this was whole thing was just too good to be true.

I searched the nutrition panel and found that the bar included 3 1/2 servings, well that would only be 7 grams of sugar.  That is borderline for what I can handle but close enough that I thought it would be worth the headache later.  So I popped another square in my mouth, by this point there were only three squares left. 
I continued to read the package for curiosity's sake while I finished off another square.

And that's when I saw IT...

Warning: Excess consumption may cause a laxative effect

Yeah, turns out it was too good to be true.  What they didn't tell you is that the "effect" happens rather quickly. 

I'm thinking about sending an email suggesting they rename the candy bar to Hershey Squirts.

Wordless Wednesday: Heroes

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.

 — Benjamin Disraeli

Sunday Funnies: Cruella DeVille

At the end of each and every school year my children take their empty backpacks to school for the last time.  After a day of fun, games and goodbyes desks are emptied unceremoniously into tattered backpacks that have seen better days.

For some reason once these backpacks, full to the brim with papers, workbooks, pencil cases and glue sticks find their way home they are carelessly lobbed on the couch as my kids hit the door way.  Thinking that the girls would come back and take care of their things I left them.  Apparently Kira and Izzy were content to let them lay in a heap on the couch for the duration of the summer vacation.

After sitting for an entire day without being moved from their resting spot I finally gave in and sat down to sort through everything that had been sent home.  I flipped through portfolios of art, math and spelling.  I cleaned out glue sticks, crayons, erasers, scissors, and sharpeners.  I found an abundant supply of sharpened and unsharpened pencils, they probably brought home an entire tree between the two of them.  When I reached the bottom of Kira's bag I found a small spiral bound notebook.  As I pulled it from the bag a loose page fell out.  I picked it up ready to add it to my trash pile, but saw that it was covered in her "neat" handwriting.  Neat is a perspective word...

On one side was a journal entry where Kira went on and on about how much she "loves spring" and how wonderful it was to have warm sunshine on her face and sunshine to help the flowers grow.  I smiled to myself and thought about how cute she is and what a fun thing this little journal entry was to find.  I quickly flipped the paper over to see if I had missed any other messages about spring. 

This is what I found:

A closer look:

Translation:

Dear Diary,

Mom isn't so bad after all she's being nice today.

This may affect my reputation as the meanest mom ever. 

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 link address and join in the fun!

Photo Story Friday: Spun Gold

I have to admit that there is one thing that I absolutely love about my daughter that I think nears perfection, her long, luscious hair.

Her hair streams like fine strands of gold, and shimmers in a bit of sunlight.  I love to braid it and pull it into various hairstyles that can only be achieved with a large amount of hair.  She has sworn that she would keep her long princess hair forever.

Last week Kira came home from school and announced that she wanted to cut off 12" of her hair to donate to someone who had cancer.  I didn't quite know what to say at first.  I had that momentary thought that I could never let her hair go.  But after some quick thinking I excitedly told her that we would find someone that could cut her hair and donate it to locks of love.  How could I ever really have said no to such a request.

There was one condition that I insisted on before she had her hair cut, that she let me take a few pictures of her in her baptism dress with her long hair still intact.  It was too short notice to hire a professional photographer so my meager pictures will have to sufice.  I took the pictures on Saturday.

When she got up Tuesday morning we did her hair the way she liked best, in a braid.  Her hair appointment was scheduled for after school and she was nervous and excited all at the same time.  When she got into the chair at the hairdressers the lady asked Kira if she was ready and she answered with an excited nod.  Then she snipped twelve inches off Kira's braid.

The remaining hair fell like a waterfall around her face and down her back.  There was more left than I had expected.

After a bit of cutting and styling Kira had a brand new look. 

I am so proud of Kira's decision to give something that was precious to her to someone in need.  Thank you Kira for being such a good example for me.

Ruby Tuesday: Once There Was A Snowman...

Now it's your turn...

Stack three golf balls on top of each other and have them stay standing for at least 3 seconds.

I did it in under 60 seconds...

Let me know how it goes!

Wordless Wednesday: A Shining Star

For more wordless fun stop by Wordless Wednesday HQ

Photo Story Friday: Empty

An empty desk stares across the aisle at my nephew.  It's emptiness weighing heavily on his heart.  There has been a hushed silence that has followed him in the halls through the past week.  A few brave students approach and say hello and to say how sorry they are.  The teachers and staff have all been careful to give a kind word or squeeze to his shoulder when they see him.
On the Thursday before Easter Tiger and his best friend Zachie laughed and joked and played.  They teased the girls in their 5th grade class and planned what they would do for their long break from school.
On the Friday after Easter, Tiger dressed in his Sunday best and walked into a chapel where he received a carnation boutonniere and sat as an honorary pall bearer for a boy that was his best friend. 
It has been a hard week as I've watched my 10 year old nephew try to understand and accept that he will never see his friend again.

I have watched Tiger as he came to a new school struggle with shyness and making new lasting friendships.  I have seen what a good kid he is, how caring and loving and giving he ALWAYS is.

I have watched him as he has cared for everyone around him.  He is so sweet when I drop him and my girls off at school in the morning, he waits and walks Izzy to her class everyday, making sure that she gets to where she needs to be.

I remember one morning I dropped them off late and as they were hurrying to the doors that would lead them to the school the national anthem started playing over the loudspeaker.  I watched as he stopped the girls and had them turn and face the flag.  With their hands held over their hearts I felt such pride in him.
I have truly learned to love my nephew, I hate to see him so hurt and sad, I wish that there was something that could be said or done that would take the pain away. 
I am grateful for my religion and the comfort that it has brought in this very sad and difficult time.  I know that one day Tiger will see Zach again and that they will once again be able to run and laugh and play.  Until then I will pray that Tiger will find peace.

Sunday Funnies: Definitions and Family Portraits

Emma is at the age where she wants to know everything, especially what words mean.  She quizzes me all day long about what this and that word mean.
A few days ago we were sitting at the table eating breakfast and she got that quizzical look on her face and her eyes sought mine.

"Mom," she said, "what does fightin' mean?"
"It means that people aren't getting along, they might be mean or hit each other."
Right on the heels of finishing my sentence, "Mom, what does mean, mean?"
"It means that you are being unkind to someone."  I said with a monotone voice.  I could see where this line of questioning was going, she would pick a word from my answer and ask for the next explanation, this can go on, and on, when she's in a mood."
"Mom, what does lice mean?" 
Caught off guard I raised an eyebrow at Em and said, "A little bug that gets in your hair."
With an appalled look she said in a know-it-all voice, "No, mom, I said NICE!"

For Easter my family made a trip down to Arches National Park yesterday.  It was windy, cold and fun, fun, fun!

The scenery was beautiful and the hiking invigorating.  It was wonderful to be out into the great outdoors. 

My kids had a ton of fun running and playing in the red dirt and climbing on the slick rock.

This trip provided so many photo opportunities that it was amazing!  My sister, Annie, tried all day to get everyone together for a big family picture.  But no matter how hard she prodded the picture never seemed to happen.

Late in the day my siblings all decided to hike the trail up to Delicate Arch, all the little kids had gone home with my parents who were done with the day.
The hike was strenuous on the way up, but the hidden treasure at the top was well worth the effort.

As we trekked back down the trail my sister tried several more times to get us to stop for the long sought after picture, telling us that we could use it as a mother's day gift for my mom.
At the very end of the trail we finally all gave in.  The result: 

So much for a nice picture for mother's day.


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!

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!

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?

Wordless Wednesday: Parade!

For more wordless fun check out Wordless Wednesday HQ

Sepia Scenes: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

To join Mary T. visit her at Sepia Scenes.

Wordless Wednesday: Unmarked Police Car

Yes, I live in a very small town.

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

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?