Hit me with your "Pet Shop"!!

Ok, so I'm sitting here putting up pics and the movie 'Bring It On Again' that Dion was watching ends.  While they are rolling the credits the song 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' comes on.  Dion's on the couch brushing her hair waiting for me to curl it (she's going through a stage, lol) and I hear her singing... 

'Won't you hit me with your Pet Shop!!  Oh oh oh oh oh oh...  Oh yeahahaheaeaeaea...'

So, I ask her... 'What are you singing, Dion?' trying not to die laughing.  She says, 'Hit me with your Pet Shop.'  I'm like, 'Uhm, ok... but what does that mean?'  She looks at me, confused for a second... I suppose wondering if I'm serious, cause she says, 'Uhm, Mom... it means you take a Pet Shop and you hit someone with it.'  'Well why would you do that?' I asked about to burst at the seams trying not to laugh.  'I don't know... I didn't write the song, I'm just singing it.' she says, condescendingly, as she's walking away.

Omgosh that child.  lol.  She is good for my endorphins.  lol. 

Instantly heart-broken, instantly...

So I'm sitting here shopping online and the kids are busy telling me what they want for Christmas.  Savannah just came up and grabbed my shoulder (with her Funyun chip covered hands) and said all excitedly with her eyebrows near her hairline... 

"Do you know what I want for Christmas, Mom!?!??!?"  

I say (fully expecting it to be something from whatever commercial was just on 15 seconds ago), "What, Hun?".  

...

...

...

"A DAD!!!" she says...

...

...

...

...

I'll be under my rock if anyone is looking for me.

Peace out.

I am NOT fragile! Who said I was!??! Oh yeah, me.

Okay so I was very obviously having a moment when I typed that last blog, and I've been meaning to return to rectify that situation but haven't made the time.  I'm not going to ramble on with a bunch of useless information and reasons why I am not fragile afterall.  I know, surprising huh?  Me?  Not ramble?!!??!  Is that even possible??!  But the people who matter and who care about me and my kids already know the sorted details.  The bottom line is that I have four of THE MOST amazing kids to walk this Earth, truly.  And considering what they've gone through in their short lifetimes they are the most deserving kids of everything they could ever want.  Which is why I'm going to work hard and diligently and make whatever sacrifices necessary to provide them with that.  And I know I can do it, even if it's just me by myself for the rest of my life.

So that's that.  And thanks to those who were supportive of my weak, self-pitying sob story and who encouraged me.  

God Bless!

♥~me~

I'm fragile.

That's what I figured out - that I'm fragile. Part of me is anyhow. And I also realized that the sooner I make myself accept that and be okay with it, the easier hard times will be. Whenever things aren't going right or I feel overwhelmed, whatever the issues at hand are, they get magnified by the fact that I become so hard on myself for feeling overwhelmed or down. Instead of admitting to myself that I'm struggling with whatever (emotionally struggles, financial, physical... whatever) I get disappointed in myself and feel like a failure. There was point in time when I let myself cry. When I admitted I had needs. When I didn't feel like I had to carry the world on my shoulders. But in the last several years - since I've been on my own taking care of everything, I've walled the part of me off that is fragile and imperfect. That part that needs other people. I'm not cold by any means. And I'm not feeling sorry for myself, not for one second. I just don't like feeling like a burden and inconveniencing people so I've become overly independent. And my coping mechanism has ALWAYS been denial so I just keep on keepin' on. I don't know if any of this is making sense at this point. I just know earlier today I told myself,

"Self, snap out of it. It's okay to stop and feel overwhelmed. Kicking your own ass because you feel like you're drowning and it's all your fault isn't going to get you anywhere. Self, pick your head up, know you're actually NOT invincible no matter how much you think you are or want to be and keep going, try harder, don't give up."

Well I was a bit more disgusted with myself when the conversation actually took place earlier, but that was the G-rated version. ;) And yes, I talk to myself from time to time. :P

Anyway, I decided to concern myself with today and let God worry about tomorrow.

"If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."-Vincent Van Gogh

Little spitfire, she is.

I'm sure most of you who know me personally know exactly who I'm talking about by the subject matter alone. Yes, that'd be Miss Dion Marie. ;) She is 4 1/2 now going on a very sarcastic 12. Even worse for me is how incredible smart and quick she is. I'd like to go ahead and take credit for it... so I will. :) Anyway, recently we met someone and they say the word 'Dude' incessantly. Even though I'm slightly annoyed by it, we got used to it and unfortunately Dion actually began saying it from time to time. Anyway, there are probably a dozen times a day that I think to sit down and share a story with you guys about how entertaining she is. But it'd really be a full time job and by the time I come to sit down I've usually forgotten what it was. Anyway, on with the story...

So I'm in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and I hear the blinds on the patio door banging around. Not being able to see over the counter top I say, "Whoever's messing with the blinds needs to stop please." It's quiet for a second. Then I can see the blinds moving again. I move down the counter top so I can see over it and there's Dion, her back to me, messing with one of the slats on the blinds. I said, a bit more stern, "Dion, stop touching those please." She slams her hands down at her sides and says, in a VERY condescending voice, "I'm fixing dem, Dude! Stop lelling at me. Geesh!" (yelling, but she still has a speech inpediment at times despite 4 months of speech therapy.) I'm kinda speechless for a second at this point because she's kinda right. lol. So I say, "Ok, well thank-you. Next time just tell me that." She comes around the corner, comes up to me, and smacks me on the butt and say, "Otay Dude. I'll do dat den. Tate a chill pill, Dude." No, I'm not kidding you. That is PRECISELY how it went down.

OH MY GOSH WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH HER!?!??! lol.

Why is there a snake in my living room??

So my place is surrounded by fields and I know there are snakes, but never should I be expected to anticipate one crawling onto my patio and into my living room from underneath my patio door. Ugh!

It was around 11 p.m. last night (yes, 12 hours later I'm still worked up over it!) and my kids had gotten to bed late. I was sitting at my desk in the living room attempting homework/playing mobsters instead (lol) and I got up from my desk to walk across the living room to the kitchen to get a drink and there it was, slithering across the rug almost to the kitchen floor. I scream, but of course!! And jumped back. Apppaaaarently THE SNAKE didn't appreciate ME startling it!! So he coils up and rears back like he's going to strike. Wteff ever dude... you're in MY HOUSE!! So I'm pacing in the living... trying to rack my brain on who the heck I'm going to call at 11 o'clock at night to come get a snake out of my house. Mind you had it been a rattle snake I'da died of heart failure almost instanteously. However, it was a black and white king snake. BIG though, lemme tell ya! Of course it could have been the size of a worm and it would have been too large to be in my house. So I have the phone in my hand and I'm standing on the ottoman and Lacey comes walking down the hallway to see why I screamed. Well shes sees it from the hallway and FREAKS out running back down the hallway. THEN the phone rings, while in my hand, and seeing as I'm on pins and needles as it is I end up practically hanging from the ceiling that's how high it made me jump. It was my mom, I answered it, "OH MY F*^ING GOSH, MOM!!" (Mind you for those of you who know me and my parents... uhmm cussing is NOT very common at all, lol.) I said, "THERE IS A SNAKE IN MY HOUSE!"

Anyway, I'm about to call the fire department or police or something cause I can't think of anyone shilverish enough to come save me from a snake at 11:00 at night. lol. Then I remember that the girl across the way from me has just recently started seeing this guy.. maybe he's there. But I don't want to lose sight of the snake. Then I noticed the snake was hanging a hard right into the kitchen... all I can think is NOOO, NOT UNDER THE FRIDGE or up into the cupboards. So I toss a sweater over the kitchen bar/counter from the living room onto the kitchen floor. Not only did it do the trick and turn him around but it pissed him off even more. I mean, I know the whole "Oh, he's just as scared of you as you are of him. And all he's trying to do is get away." Wellllllllllll, I call bullshit on this one cause this snake wanted a piece of anyone and anything. So he strikes at the sweater and turns around and goes toward the dining room. Which is acceptable to me cause there was really no place for him to hid in there and that gave me time to run across to the neighbors.

So I pound on her door, and I mean pound, "BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!" with the end of my closed fist (the neighbor said later she coulda swore it was the cops, lol." She answers and before she can even say hi I interrupted her, "Is your boyfriend here?!??!" I said. lol. She's probably thinking, "What the heck do you want with my boyfriend at 11:00 at night??? lol. Well I saw it on her face so I followed it up with, "And is he afraid of snakes?? Cause there is a snake in my house and I REALLY need someone to get it out!" So she says, "Yeah, he's here and no, I don't think he's afraid of snake." So the guy gets up and they follow me back to my place. I open the door and point across the living room into the dining room and tell him that it's somewhere over there. Anyway, he picked it up and carried it out.

Needless to say I sat in my desk chair with my feet up for hours. I couldn't walk past the patio door without instant chills. Even now... grrrrrr...

Alright, that settles it. I need a man around the house. lol.

Chasing Pavements...

It's almost 9:00 p.m. I'm exhausted - in every way possible. I probably shouldn't write when I'm feeling like this - at least not in a public blog at any rate. Yet, here I am. Mostly because I don't talk to the person I used to vent to anymore. And I don't feel comfortable calling anyone else up right now and venting. I shouldn't vent to anyone probably. Who wants to listen to that?? lol. He'd listen to me though. And then he'd tell me to get on with it. And make some rude joke that would make me laugh and roll my eyes. I rolled my eyes a lot. lol. Anyway...

I just finished some Physiology homework. And although I have a ton more to be working on I think I'm going to call it good for today on that. And even though I'd like to just go crawl in bed and have this day be over, not that tomorrow will be much better, I shouldn't. I think I'm going to take 2 Excedrin and clean for the next 3-4 hours. My house needs it. It was a hectic holiday weekend, this last weekend was, and boy am I behind, on everything.

I hate feeling so negative. As I sit here and think about what to type next nothing but bitching comes to mind. (Pardon the language Grammie.) There are these people that moved in above me. And they are delinquents. The cops have been here at least 4-5 times in the last month because of them. They are in gangs and deal drugs. Lovely, huh. I hate apartment living. I always thought of myself as a fairly tolerant person. Uhmmmm, I now know better. And it's not everyone. A few of the people are alright. But boy can one person ruin it for everyone. Then I hear myself complaining about it and I smack myself around a bit. I mean, criminy Heather, some people don't even have a roof over their heads. Let alone an affordable, brand new, 4 bedroom, 1300 sq ft. apartment with a pool and gym and club house. Then I remember what it was like to have a back yard for the kids. For them to be able to go out and ride their bikes whenever they wanted. To be able to lay in bed and not listen to what sounds like a herd of elephants doing the Irish jig on the dining room floor in tap shoes above me. To be able to walk out to my car in the driveway and not have 20 people staring at me. To be able to sit on the back patio and BBQ. Ugh. If my old life wasn't so morally unacceptable (and unsafe) I'd almost want it back sometimes - just for the kids' sakes. I go on and on about me being miserable here - but most of that stems from them being so miserable. And even deeper than that is the fact that I feel like I'm failing them. Like I'm disappointing them. They aren't spoiled brats by any means. And never do they say anything intentionally hurtful about our lives. But they do say things, innocently, accidentally even sometimes, that slice my heart open in an instant. I won't quote any of those things cause I'm already tearing up and I'm too tired to cry.

Well enough is enough I suppose. I'm being a stroppy cow. I need to pray about my attitude and just keep busy doing something everyday to get me closer to reaching my goals and bettering our life. Someday I'll be able to give my kids the things they need and want, let's just hope it's not when those things are dentures and hearing aids. :P

Oh, and never do I talk about this aspect of my life, with anyone for the most part. But I am honestly beginning to believe I will be single forever. And depending on when you ask me, I'm okay with it. But sometimes, I'm not. Sometimes... I'd like to not always have to be the strong one. I'd like to not always be the one who has to have the answers. Who has to reassure everyone else that it will be okay; we will be okay. I want to be reassured. But that's selfish. And I pride myself on being selfless. So that's all you'll hear me say on that topic.

Sometimes all we can do is chase pavements, even if they lead nowhere...

Changes Galore!

Hello All!

There are a lot of things going on these days. A lot of changes. Some for the better; some not so welcomed. Nonetheless, onward!

So I'm not sure if I should just brush a little on each topic in this blog and then elaborate later (because the second half of that sentence will likely not happen). Or if I should just write a novel now. The problem with the novel now is that I am supposed to be getting ready to go camping. I still have A LOT to do just and since I've just tucked the kids in I should probably be running around doing all that jazz so I can get to bed at a decent time. Hmmm... well I'll just start talking/typing and we'll see where we end up then.

I suppose I'll start with oldest news first. I got fired. lol. That was straight to the point, eh. Very much so not my style, I agree. So that it doesn't sound so tragic I guess I should say I was "let go". But the bottom line is as of Wednesday the 28th I was suddenly unemployed. I knew the company was having a rough time (after all, I am, oops WAS, in charge of all the accounting) with finances. It's a turbo company. Gas prices are so high I choke a little every time I drive by a gas station. I kid you not, it goes up AT LEAST 3 times PER DAY! Ridiculous! Anyhow, people can barely afford to put gas in their vehicles let alone spend several hundred dollars, sometimes thousands, on "unnecessary" upgrades such as turbos. Additionally, most of our sales were to customers who had side hobbies involving rock climbing jeeps or recreational racing. Those people are also not pulling their "toys" out of the garages this summer because they simply can't afford to, let alone upgrade them. So it was understandable that they couldn't afford payroll. Myself and the shop guys were let go while the company gets itself back on it's feet (if that happens remains to be seen). I know that if I'm available when/if they can afford to hire again they would love to have me back. And my boss was quite distraught when he had to sit down and tell me. So there aren't any hard feelings. I was a bit bummed there was not even so much as a warning not to mention a 2-week notice. Oh well. It is what it is. So that's that bit of news. The timing was somewhat of a blessing as it was just a week and two days before the kids got out of school for the summer. So I got a good week at home, just Dion and I, catching up on our time together. And now I've been able to be at home with all of the kids for the last week. I miss it. I miss being a mom. I always wondered what it would be like to go to work. And I found out - it was heart wrenching. But I adjusted; the kids adjusted. We work together well especially when we have little options. But I missed being at home with them. I miss having a clean and organised house. I miss the laundry always being done. I miss dinners - good dinners, sitting down at the table dinners. Not flying low through the drive through on the way home from the sitters. Not standing at the kitchen counter being a short order cook throwing together 4 different meals for each of the kids. I am a homemaker. That is what I love to do, and, if I do say so myself, what I'm very good at. That's not to say people can't do both - work and be excellent homemakers. I can. I did. I'd just prefer not to. Being single and having four kids makes that slightly unrealistic. Okay - that was an understatement. It makes it not feasible. So I've been looking for another job. I have options, which is not the greatest thing to have if you're me because I can be quite indecisive. Don't confuse that with unopinionated by any means. But I'd get advice on what kind of spaghetti noodles to purchase if I could. I still have my foster care license and have received calls for placements, but am, for the first time ever, holding my ground on what I know to be best for my family right now. We can adjust ourselves to a newborn, a medically fragile/special needs newborn is great. But I have had to say no to 18-month-olds, 4 year-olds, and every age in between because it would just not work for our family right now. The kids need my attention. They don't need to compete with a tantrum throwing, toy flinging, out of control 20-month-old drug exposed toddler. They just don't. They are at great ages for traveling and doing things and a newborn is FAR easier to take with us or to find a sitter for than a toddler. But I've been praying about the foster care direction and if I get the perfect call for the right placement I'll know it. If not - onward. I also am scheduled to complete my daycare license application the first week in July. That's an option. Although I just said my kids don't need to compete there is a BIG difference between daycare and foster care. Namely daycare kids go home. We have our evenings and weekends to do with what we'd like when doing daycare. We have holidays. And it's better money than foster care. Although the house situation isn't the greatest it's also not the worst. It's workable. So that's another direction. Other than that there are a few other things that I can do. I'm slightly stressed but have never had any trouble finding work if I needed to before so I have faith... for the moment, for THIS moment more specifically. lol.

Next, I start my summer class on Monday. Physiology. It's completely online and it's with the same school and same teacher as was my Anatomy course that I took last summer and got an 'A' in. I think it'll be okay. I really have to get an 'A' so I'll be busting butt making sure it happens. Plus I like Physiology... much better than I did Anatomy and Chemistry and I got 'A's in both of those, so... hopefully. We'll see. I will be done with my prerequisite this Fall so I am able to apply to the nursing program this August!! YAY! I'll have my AS at the end of the Fall '08 semester. :) Depending on how long I have to wait to get into nursing school I'll finish up my AA in the Spring and then be ready to transfer to Chico State to start working on my BS in Nursing. So if I get accepted into the nursing program right away then GREAT! If not, it's okay because I'll already be working on the rest of the stuff I'll need for when I'm done with the nursing program in order to graduate with a BS. Once I've the BS I can do a couple more years if I want and go on to the program that UC Davis offers to become a FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner). So, although long and difficult... I'm still very much so traveling down this road and am excited about it. The kids are excited for me.

Speaking of kiddos... they are getting SOOOO big!! I sit in awe daily at how fast it is going. Shane is 10 and now officially a 5th grader. He finished the 4th grade with a solid 'B' average, and although we had the discussion over the fact that he is capable of better - his teacher said he was a wonderful student, a hard worker, and very respectful. What else could I ask for? He's well above my shoulder now and I'm sure it'll just be a matter of time before that handsome boy is taller than me. But he knows I can still run faster than he can and will take him out in a heartbeat if necessary so I'm not worried. lol. I'm not worried because he's such a great kid. So sensitive and considerate. He has a tremendous heart and I'm so very proud of the little man he's becoming despite all odds with the example he was dealt. Miss Lacey Mae is now 8 and just flew through the 2nd grade like it was a piece of cake. Her teacher beams with pride every time he talks about how fantastic she is and how effortless 3rd grade will be for Lacey. And thankfully she's such a proud big sister that she very much so "tutors" the younger two girls. And for that let me just tell you how thankful I am!! :) Savannah just graduated Kindergarten and is now a 1st grader! My Savannah Lee!! A FIRST GRADER! What is this?? Warp speed? She's six but her teacher insists she's going to be 12. Savannah is definitely going to be the teacher's pet throughout her school career, but she is still able to remain beyond sweet and helpful so she has all the other kids wanting to be her friend. But she's very humble about it - in fact I don't even think she's noticed what a superstar she is to everyone in her class. Now... how to transfer some of that to Dion. haha! Dion will be embarking on her school career when she makes her Pre-School debut this Fall. I was at the school filling out papers for her the other day and I kept putting down Savannah's information. For some reason, and I won't claim to not know why, but I refused to allow myself to believe my baby girl is going off to school. She is very excited and unlike all other kids on Earth can't wait for summer to be over so she can "doe to schul". Speaking of her speech impediment - she is still going to Speech Therapy twice a week and has astounded her therapist, Lisa, by the rate of speed Dion picks up everything and also how hard Dion works. Lisa wants to keep Dion in the program forever because it gives her something to look forward to twice a week. lol.

Oh, oh... I let all three of the girls get their hair cut. Once the weather started getting warmer they all wanted their hair chopped. I, needless to say, was against the idea. But, in their defense - I am horrible at doing hair. Not because I suck. But because I have no sympathy. I have a hard head - I yank through my hair every morning and don't bat an eye. But the girls seem to have sensitive little scalps and none of them appreciate me mowing through it with a brush every morning. So, to waylay the cries from the girls when I announce it's time to do hair I let them cut it. My friend, Lauren, did it and I think they look ADORABLE!! Not to mention we haven't had a tear shed while doing hair since we got it cut. :)

BEFORE:
Dion Marie (4)

Savannah Lee (6)

Lacey Mae (8)

AFTER:

Wow, this is a novel. Is anyone still with me? lol. There is more, believe it or not. But my back is hurting and all I can think of is the camping gear sitting here and there and everywhere waiting to be packed up and stacked by the front door. So I will bid thee farewell. Thanks for checking in. :) I hope this finds you all happy and healthy. Until next time, God Bless!

~me

The Nineteen Hundreds.

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

Isn't it true, the saying, "Out of the mouth of babes!"? Well I've four babes, albeit growing-like-weed babes, but nonetheless. And if I wrote about EVERY hysterically funny, often emberassing, reality jolting comments my kids made I'd be at my desk all day writing. Oftentimes I don't see that that would be too bad of a thing as my kids have quite the wisdom to bestow upon the world, oh yes they do. lol.

So Sunday night we're lounging around watching t.v. They were all in their p.j.'s and suppose to be in bed but I let them stay up to watch "Deal or No Deal". I'm sitting in the rocking chair with Dion falling asleep on my lap and a Wells Fargo Bank Commercial comes on. You know, the ones with the old fashion horse and wagon running around wildly. The commercial ends and the silence is broken by Lacey Mae, who is now 8 going on 14. She says, "Mom, when you were little like me were there cars yet? Or did you just have horses and buggies? You know, Mom, back in the nineteen hundreds." I sat there for a second, thoroughly confused... I mean up until this point I was always so proud of how brilliant Lacey was. She did everything early. Walked at 8 months. Potty trained at a year old. Was the first one in her class to read. Pretty much has half the Bible memorized. But she wants to know if I was alive THAT LONG AGO!!??! Thanks Lace. As if I already didn't feel old enough. lol. I said, in a full-blown effort not to be condenscending, "Uhm, no, Sweetie. There were cars.". "Oh, ok. I was just wondering." she says. lol.

Perception is an amazing thing when you look through the eyes of children. And actually it becomes an amazing thing when you look through the eyes of anyone else but your own.

Lacey quickly redeemed herself. As she was brushing her teeth a bit later, her little brain OBVIOUSLY at work there at the bathroom sink, she sticks her head out of the bathroom door and into the hallway. I was standing at the kitchen counter. "Mom," she says. I turned around. "Yeah?" I asked, bracing myself for the next BRILLIANT question from my eldest daughter. "Since you know everything, do you know what it is called when you have four babies. I know two is twins. Three is triplets. But what's four?" Ahhhhhh. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, Lacey, I do know.... since I know EVERYTHING. They are called quintuplets. Now finish your teeth and NEVER forget that I know EVERYTHING!! God gives me ALLLL the answers so that I can be the best mom to you. So you should always ask me if you have a question and if I think you need to know I'll tell you and you have to listen to me because I'm your mom and I know EVERYTHING. Remember that." Nearly breaking my arm to pat myself on the back for the quickness and astoundingly brilliant response I managed to come up with, I turned around before she could see me grin. And what do I hear her muffle under her voice as she turns to go back to the sink?? "Suuuuure you do, Mom. Whatever you say. It's YOUR story." Whaaaaaaaaaaat??? Oh no she just didn't!!!!

But yes, she very much so did. And when I paused for a second to fully appreciate the moment, you know - the moment in which you remember CLEARLY telling them the exact same thing some time previously, the moment when you hear your voice coming through their mouths... and I realized, again, as I often do, what a honour and privilege and HUGE RESPONSIBILITY raising these gifts from God is. That it is my hands, my words, my attitude that is molding and shaping these little, short, thieves of patience that I've running around here. And they make me want to try harder. They make me want to make better choices. They make me want to be a better person, a better mother, a better friend.

So, the point of this story is, if any of you are in need of some motivation I rent them out, dirt cheap, catch me on a good day and I'll pay you if you'll borrow them!!!! lol. I jest. I think my point is clear...

"Mmmmmm, tate!!"

So Dion crawled into bed with me this morning and snuggled up in front of me. Both of us on our side, her back to me, she shoved her butt into my stomach until she was nice and ontop of me practically. It was still early but I had to be getting up. I figured I'd lay there till she fell back asleep so I could get ready without her yapping my ear off. After a few minutes I felt her breathing heavy again so I attempted to slide out of bed. She stirred. I said, "I have to get up, Dion. It's time to get ready." She's says (with her eyes still shut) "I'm starbing." Mind you she's a little mini-extremist, don't know where she got that from :P, so she's never hungry; she's either starving or not starving. If I offer her something for a snack she'll say, "No tanks. I'm not starbing." lol. Anyhow, I say, "Well, come on then and get up. I'll get you something." She grins. I'm thinking.. okay, she's still asleep or something. Nope. She's Dion. She says, with her eyes still shut and now smiling, "Tan you bing me thom tate?" I laughed. "Uhmmm, how about no, Dion. You're not having cake for breakfast. Nice try though." Mind you her birthday celebration was Sunday and we've had leftover cake, so ever since then she's either been starving for cake or not starving for cake. So she rolls over, eyes STILL shut, STILL grining, she flings her arm over my mouth.. yes! her little forearm covering my mouth completely, and she says, "Shhh Mom. Jus do id. You tan bing me thom tate, Mom, you tan. Mmmmmm, tate!!!" I died laughing. "Get your arm off my mouth! And I'm not bringing you ANYTHING in MY bed let alone CAKE! Wake your little dreaming butt up!!" I told her. I got up out of bed. She giggled and rolled back over and said, "Fine den. I'm doing bact to seep." Toooooo funny that girl is. Cracks me up 24/7.

Here's her and Savannah's cakes from Sunday:

p.s.~ She's in speech therapy twice a week now. One of her sounds that she can't make, if you couldn't tell, is the "k" sound. "t" replaces "c" and "k" for most words. But she's getting better! She's such a hard worker at it. Personally, I adore her lisp and little speech impediment.

Look! There's Mrs. Burger!

Howdy! That seems like an appropriate greeting as the Round-Up just passed this last weekend and that's what this blog is about. Well not the Rodeo but the Round-Up Parade rather. I took my girls and my younger sister, Addie. It was surprisingly good weather considering the forecast made it seem like it would be miserable, which is often the case during the Round-Up. Every year, as far back as I can remember, it's been cold and rainy. This year was a tad windy and a bit chilly, but the sun was out so it made up for it. Shane didn't go because my dad took him to Cool April Nights in Redding with his cousin Marc. Cool April Nights is an old-fashion car show so it was a "guy thing".

Earlier though, before the parade started, I met Carmen at a pancake breakfast benefit that my grandpa (bless his heart) bought us tickets to. We had all my kids, her kids, and my little sister; that makes 7 kids between Carmen and I: in a packed multi-purpose room, with a BUNCH of cowpeople - mostly older at that. Carmen and I came to the agreement that it should be a universal rule... "People with children should get served FIRST." No if, ands, or buts about it. It doesn't matter if you haven't eaten since the night before and you've puked your guts up since then from drinking a bunch of beer at the rodeo with your shit-kickers on. GIVE THE KID A PANCAKE! Kids don't have patience - at least not at 9 in the morning when they are hungry and want to go to a parade. We survived it though. No spilt juice. No syrup in the hair. No forks on the ground even. All of which spell success when dining with 7 kids from the ages of 2 to 10. And no... we decided against taking any photos to capture the chaotic nature of this splendid meal... you'll just have to imagine how enjoyable it was. lol.

Anyhow, Carmen and her kids went onto Marc's little league game and Shane went with them so he could meet up with my dad later. The girls and I headed to the parade with our chairs. I guess when I was younger I got excited about parades? Maybe? But then you grow up. And a horse is a horse whether it has glitter and bows on it or not. And cars are cars whether you are passing them on the road or they are in a line honking their horns and revving their engines. But not through the eyes of a 6-year-old; it's not the same at all.

Example: The Burger King Float. Huh?? Come again?? Since when did Burger King have a float in a small-town parade? But they did. And guess who made a special appearance? Yep, you guessed it (did the title of the blog give it away any?) "Mrs. Burger" according to Savannah. We're sitting on the corner (never again mind you... by the time I could get a picture all I could see was everyone's ass as they turned the corner. I'm sure you'll notice the theme throughout the pics. Just remember - it's NOT cause Wrangler Butts Drive Me Nuts (cause they don't so much)... it's just because we were sitting on a stupid corner.) So anyway, the corner, we were sitting on it in our chairs, and here comes the Burger King float.

Not the best picture cause all you can see is the back of her head. But trust me on this one - she looked just as ridiculous as he did. Not knowing, however, that the Burger KING was married... Savannah pondered who this lady was for a minute before deciding that it had to be his wife. So she shouts, "Look Mom! There's Mrs. Burger!!" Everyone within hearing distance got a good chuckle out of it. My standard reply, as "Look MOM!!" preceded ANYTHING that came out of all of the girls' mouths for the entire 2 hours, was "Wow. Yeah. I see it." (I tried to convey the enthusiasm via written text. Did it work? Could you visualize my cartwheels?) And of course, after each "Look Mom!!! etc. etc." came "Take a picture!!!" So there it is. However, Lacey wasn't as quick to let the "Mrs. Burger" thing go as I was. She looked to Savannah and nicely, albeit drenched in sarcasm and dipped in a pot of "you stupid idiot", says to Savannah - "Uhmmm, I think you mean Burger QUEEN, Savannah???" haha. Savannah was good enough sport to giggle at herself and say, "Oh yeah, ok, Burger Queen." In Savannah's defense I piped up with, "Either one girls - Burger Queen... Mrs. Burger - I'm sure she answers to either one." :)

We went to the parade last year too. And toward the end there is a float with some old guys on it shooting holes through the tops of straw hats with guns. (Don't ask me why.) And then they hand out the hats with holes in them to people watching. (Again... hmmmm.) Anyhow, Lacey got one last year. And whatddya know... she did this year too. So now we have, not one, but TWO hideously ugly straw hats with holes through the top of them. I wonder how much they would go for on eBay? The guy in the yellow is putting the hat on Lacey's head and that's Savannah's noggin' in the way so you can't see Lacey.

Then... there's Lacey. Obviously quite ecstatic about the fortunate luck she must have to have gotten TWO hats now. (And we won't tell her this, but I think it's hysterically adorable that her crooked front tooth seems to match well with the hat. :P)

Overall, it was a very nice morning. Here are some other random photos:

It was so nice Lacey even had to hold the hair off her neck. lol:

The girls not in their chairs that they had to bring:

Dion on her "perch" so she could see everything and using her hand for a visor:

Addie with a flower that someone gave her:

Savannah and I:

Us:

What's a parade without nasty parade popcorn?:

THE END:

I didn't end up posting all the rear-end shots of everything... you're welcome. :) Here we are walking back to the car. Lacey in her fashion savvy hat and the girls being troopers and packing their chairs.

It's days like these that make all the other difficult ones worth it. I am truly blessed.