LOST on ABC?

Yes, I still am. I really am. But this show...it's just, well it's just incredible. How sad if you never started it from the beginning. There's no way to even explain all that is the cult of LOST.

I thouroughly enjoyed every minute of the 2-hour premiere tonight. I know, it's got to be so completely sad that I look forwared to such things as a television program or so many movies. But I just CAINT help it Y'all.

If you would like to discuss any of the wonderful goings on of LOST tonight...let's get tah talkin!!! I'm ready.

Saying Goodbye

I haven't been on in a while. We've had a rough weekend. We have had to say goodbye to a very important lady in my life. My Mimi.

Before the monster called Alzheimer's robbed her of her vibrant life, she was quite a lady. Virginia Belle Bradley could out-dance, out-craft, out-cook, out-smart, out-sew, out-argue, out-justaboutanything most people who crossed her path. She was a little lady, but she had a super huge personality. "Ginner" my Paw Paw called her. I loved her so much and spent so much time with her in my younger years. It was so hard to watch Alzheimer's take over her life. She would have never wanted to live her life that way. She did the best she could with it and so did her family that loved her.

Some of the things I remember most about my Mimi were that she loved to do crossword puzzles and word searches. She loved her "shows" (aka soap operas). She loved her children with all her heart and more. She loved to dance with my Paw Paw. She loved being a grandmother. She always made the best toast (why is it no other toast has ever measured up?). She let us go CRAZY at Christmastime when we decorated our sugar cookies. She would make us hot chocolate whenever we wanted it...even when it was hot outside. She was the best historian with regard to her family - I loved to sit and look at pictures with her while she told me all sorts of stories. She was so crafty...maybe that's where it's been passed down from? She loved to talk on the phone. She loved to go camping. She loved traveling. She loved her friends. She was so social and always loved to get "all dolled up". She loved to watch her grandkids play sports. She loved us ALL the "best" :) There are so many things to remember about my Mimi, but some of those are what I remembered most.

For some reason (don't ask me why - some crazy Tina thing I guess) I always loved her hands. I would sit and stare at them for the longest time. I guess it's because I always wondered how those little things could do SO much. While visiting with her on Friday, so that we could say our goodbyes, I remembered to get a picture of Mom holding her hand. This will be a picture I will treasure forever.

Two of the most important women in my life. With such small hands that could take on the world. I can only hope that to my children and grandchildren I will measure up to half of what these two ladies have meant to me in my life.

Goodbye my little Mimi ~

My your heart and spirit be forever at peace. I thank God that you have so many incredible souls to keep you company in heaven. Until we meet again. My love Forever and Always.

Yours, Ree Ree

Woo-Wee Gina!! ANOTHER Scary Movie, Y'all!

Well, not so much scary as...."You are best to pre-prepare yourself if you are prone to high-anxiety" kinda thing.

I went to see Cloverfield with my Soo-Seeeee today and I think we both walked outta there OOZING anxiety. If you are a LOST lover like us, you will love this flick. It is one of those non-stop ride of your life kinda movies.

The way Abrams filmed it, was brilliant - we both agreed (after our 3-hour-after-the-movie "Cawfee Tawk") that had it been shot in the normal conventional commercial type of way...it would have been cheesy. But cheesy this was NOT. NO, no sir it wasn't.

Take my word for it...you go see it, you will like it.

Heck..if you don't go see it for the entertaining brilliant excitement that it is, do me a favor and go see if for the hunka hunka burnin' love two brothers....

Gracious Golly Y'all, Ben might have a run for his money. Did I just say that? I didn't mean it. For REAL Y'all though...this picture doesn't do these guys justice!!!

Make a plan - go see it this weekend. You'll love it. Or my name aint Biggest Movie Lover In America. Try that one on for size!

Adios Muchachos.

Two Topics, One Post

FIRST OF ALL...let's just talk about one of my favorite subjects. HOBBY LOBBY. Am I the only one that loses their ability to make good judgements when walking through those orange and blue doors?

I can walk in...breathe in ever so deeply and get a bit giddy, if you will. Something so strange takes over me. I just don't understand what it is that lures me in so deeply to this incredible store. You can buy gifts, crafts, home accents, toys, furniture, holiday decor, well and everything you can just imagine in a crafter's world.

I can go up and down the 300 magnificent aisles two or three times and find a different treasure EVERY single time. I am going to have to figure out some way to ground myself from this place. I don't think there's a single week of my adult life that I haven't visited Hobby Lobby at least once.

I mean, Y'all don't think I'm a little over-the-top here, do you?


Okay...SECOND subject:

CROCKS WITH SOCKS!!!

Here are my crocks, here are my socks.







These are two things I never would have dreamed that I would have put together. I used to be the first one in line to poke fun at the hubby about his fashion couture when he would bless us with this combination. Well, I'll Swan Y'all if I aint doin' the very same dadburn thing!!

My new crocks (as you will note on my list to the right) are one of my favorite things!! Well, since it's quite cold lately, I decided "why not?". I've just got one teeny thing to say "Thank the Lord above that I live in Austin!!!" Laugh away if you will, but don't knock it 'til you try it!!

And that's all I have to say 'bout that!!!

I am NOT Pregnant!!

You will all be very happy to know that I have taken a pg test and the results are in...NOT pregnant. Which is a good thing since I've got a 5-year protection plan in place. It was just way too odd because I had been having so many symptoms. I thought it was a good idea to check it out!! I did, and we're safe.

Whew. Not pregnant. Although for a second I was a little happy-anxious with the possibility. Anyone knows if they saw me with my three today though, that I have ABSOLUTELY no business bringing another child into this world. Not only because the world is crazy, but because I am even crazier than the world. No need to shed that complete madness on another child.

Okay, blog is short tonight. I've been worn down to a nubbins having been cooped up in the house with the three over-active boys I've been graced with.

Must sleep.

HOOOO-DEEE-HOOOO Y'ALL!!

I just got back from tha scary movies!! Mac and I actually went to see something about an old cowboy in some kinda country (I'm SURE it was filmed in West Texas...inside jokes y'all.) But anyway, when we got to the picture show, it was all sold out. So, we had to quickly think on our feet...no small task for us Russell Two...and the next best thing was a scary show.

We went to see The Orphanage...

http://www.theorphanagemovie.com/

You MUST see this show Y'all!

Let me set the scene...dun dun dunnnnn....The movie starts after all the Alamo D'House hooptee. The first thing that flashes up are the subtitles. Well, guess what? The movie is in SPANISH!! Mac leans over and in his not-so-soft inside voice he says "FOR REAL BABE??". Anyway, once we got past that and got used to the film and the subtitles...it was SO good. And pretty freaking scary and I loved the way the movie was written. The ending was incredible. There were not so many "gotcha" moments, but more mind perplexing moments. But there WAS this one "gotcha" moment were the little gay fella that was sitting next to me and myself were hiding under our jackets, peeking at the flick from over the tops of our collars. Y'all, when the "gotcha" happened I think the fella next to me, well he almost jumped outta his panties more than I did!! It was a HOOT. Once everyone in the theatre caught their breaths, I leaned over and put my hand on his shoulder and said "You alright?" He looked at me with these pancake-sized eyeballs and said "Oh My". We both got to giggling so hard I didn't think we were going to stop!!

Anyway, if you're up for a flick and you've already seen the incredible Juno, take a ride on the scary side. It's more GOOD than scary though, I promise. And pay attention to everything and you'll like it even better when it all comes together.

'til we meet again...and for those of you that want to know...yes, the squiggly crap hair must have come out during the movie. Because it felt 100% after that. Maybe it was all the laughing with my new little friend!

MAN ALIVE!!!

Do you ever get one of them little squiggly pieces of crap hairs stuck up UNDER your eyelid? Does it hurt as bad for you as it does for me? I have been pickin' with this thing since 6:15 this morning and now I'm so tired from all the hooplah of it, I could just go to sleep.

That's All. Eye Crap is all I came here to talk about. Go back to work, I will. If I don't fall asleep first.

This Warrants a Second Post Tonight

Sullivan (my 4-year-old) just walked in crying and said, "I don't want to go to heaven, Mommy". This is a first for me with my kiddos. I remember doing it to my mom when I was a tyke too.

He said, "I don't want to get dead and go to heaven." I asked him what was making him think that and he said that he was wondering if Pop-pop was going to be dead for all of the days or if he was going to be able to get up. I don't know why he is so upset right now. Something set him off and I think all he was doing was watching OCC with Mac and Fisher in the living room?

Anyway, the weird part of it all is that he said, "Why did you go to heaven, Mommy?" I said, "I didn't honey, what are you talking about." He said, "You know, when you went to see Pop-pop in heaven, when you were in that parking lot." Well, I don't know if you all believe the same way I do, but I think kids have a 6th sense for whatever reason and I'm a little spooked by it all. So, I just wanted to write a little something to say that at least if I had to go today, I did just have a perfect day. I'm thankful for that and right this very minute, well I'm going to go kiss all the boys good night again and tell them how much I love them. Weird huh? Your thoughts are surely welcome here...

The Perfect Cup of Coffee

Do you know what I'm talking about? It's that one that is oh so perfect. Not too sweet, not too bitter. It's the Taste of San Antonio brand from HEB Cafe Ole - with just the right amount of regular cream and sugar. It doesn't happen very often that you stumble into that ONE perfect cup. Why is that? You'd think the recipe would be the same every morning? Is it just me, or do you girls savor that ONE? Am I talkin' crazy talk again?? I've been known to do that a time or two. Jibber Jabber I think Ma called it?

Anyway, I'm getting off track. Today, I had that cup of perfection and that's how I knew that my day was going to be a good one. Well, that is AFTER the 4th trip to the bathroom this fine morn'...I had salad two days in a row (I know...hold your surprise to a minimum please...my friends all joke about me and the veggies that don't exist in my life.) So, some type of green food in my life two days in a row and I think my body went into some type of crazy after-shock...it didn't know WHAT to think..."what are you doing to me with all this healthy business TWO days in a row??" Ha! TMI?

Okay, so the perfect cup of coffee, the perfect day. Got almost everything done at work, had leftovers in the fridge so that I didn't have to make dinner. Laundry done, dishes washed. Kids in the bath, no one is fighting. What did I do so right today to deserve all this heavenly goodness? I've got good Charma today. Or is it just the three little herbal pills I took this morning called Chill Pills? Whew. Love me some of them Chill Pills. I hear I can get the same result by drinking Chamomile tea or a King-size bottle of wine (ha!), but I think I'm gonna hafta stick to the pill remedy for now 'else I'm gonna wind up a fruity wine-o. Actually, I'm trying to bypass the anti-depressants for the time being until I can get up the guts and money to tell the doctor that I'm troubled and need some help. Else WHY on earth would I be talkin' all this Jibber Jabber?? Seems I gotta LOT to say 'bout NUTHIN'.

G'night All.

American Idol? What's that?

So every Janaury I wait on pins and needles until the new season of American Idol starts. I was pretty darn excited that it was getting closer and closer. THE day was right around the corner and I didn't have much longer to wait. Do you know what I realized just a few short days before? Well, that I had bunco the VERY same night of the season premiere!!!!! Well, to say the least I was a little "bummy" about the whole thing, but I was a champ and didn't say a word about it. Not one itty bitty word...and if you know me, that aint such any easy thing for this mouth o' mine.

Do you know what I learned? That I enjoy my Bunco girls SO much more than any dumb ole tv show...even if it is Idol!!! I didn't even miss it at all.

These are My "B" Girls - my girls that give extra meaning to my life. We had our annual Soup and PJ Bunco at Missy's last night and I just have to tell you that these girls...well they are the MOST amazing group of friends in the entire solar system.




If I tried to explain what these girls meant to me, I would just flounder around without the words that would appropriately describe these sweet sweet ladies. We've been together nearly 8 years and we've seen a quite a few come and go. As a matter of fact, we had a special new friend last night and were missing two of our usual crew. And we even got to love all over the newest baby of the group!!!! MORE than half of us are the original group and cherish every moment we get to spend together. We've added three marriages and EIGHTEEN kiddos since we started the group. We've taken many trips together, had lots of sleepovers, family picnics, parties with the guys, baby showers, happy hours, movie and dinner dates and OH so much more. We are PLANNING a huge trip to possibly GREECE in the near years....I can't imagine the stories that would bring.

Anyway...I just wanted to take a sec to give a little shout out to the best group of girlfriends in the world. If you don't have a group like this to share your life with, my heart sincerly hurts for you...I wouldn't be able to step through life without them.

Funny Funny Stuff

Today when I picked Sullivan up from school we were BOTH in a bit of frisky good spirits. Sullivan has lately resorted to saying "Mommy, let me tell you a story..." Then he strings a buncha stuff together that doesn't QUITE make sense. He's trying. It's pretty cute and hilarious all at the same time.

TODAY, however he was in the singing spirit. I don't know WHY but for some reason he wanted to sing Yankee Doodle. I don't know if they've been listening to it in class or what is going on...but he wanted me to sing it so bad. Well heck, I fer surely can't remember the words, but I gave it a good shot and every time I ended the song, I made up something else that rhymed and he just laughed and laughed and laughed. And GUESS what Y'all? You're in luck - with the handy dandy technology of my Blackberry, I caught it ALL for your sharing ears to hear!!




Well, THAT is mild compared to some of the giggles I got tonight. WAY TOO CUTE. And Okay, Okay...I know it's probably not appropriate to teach your 4-year-old to call a boy a pansy and all, but well, I'd RATHER him learn that than to walk around thinkin' it was okay for ole Yankee to be "handy" with the girls, wouldn't you? Well then....Sullivan wanted to try it on his own. Take a listen...



And SEE Y'all. THAT is why we need to keep reproducing. Are there BAD times? Well heck yes. But there are so many more good times.

Hope you got a good chuckle. Good Night. Sweet BEANS and jelly beans as Sullivan always says!!

This One Goes Out to My Friend, LC...You Know Who You Are.

This little "diddy" today is dedicated to my friend LC that just made the incredibly brave move to write about her "chapter" with breast cancer, on her blog. The ugly "B" word we all fear. LC is a dear friend and a champion in my book. And because LC is not my only sweet friend that has had this terrible disease, I feel it my duty to introduce you to my new favorite product...




I've known for many years that aluminum in deoderant can attribute to breast cancer, but never found a solution. What's so weird is that the moment I saw this neat little product, I thought of LC and THEN...I went for a walk at the Ladybird Wildflower Center and saw LC's Hummingbird Farms lotions and soaps for sale in the gift shop and THEN the very next day LC...well she writes about her experiences with breast cancer. Whoa.

So... yeah, I'm TOTALLY one to believe in signs and I believe that with all of these things falling into place as they have...well this is my sign to pass along to all that will listen to please do all that you can to take care of yourself when it comes to doing all that you can to protect against this horrible horrible disease.

Love to my girls.

My Eli

I don't think I've ever written a little story about my Eli. I've mentioned him a time or twenty, but never a special story all about my Eli.




Eli is the light in my life, my energy when I am down, he's the lift in my spirits when I have reached the bottom. Eli can smile and light up an entire room. He can sing a song and bring joy to all those around him. He's incredible and sweet and very passionate. He's honest and caring and very very smart. He's very eager to please and helpful beyond measure. He's every teacher's pet and best of friends to all he meets. He's articulate and emotional and mysterious and amazingly talented.





Eli is also my middle child. Have you ever heard that term? Bless his heart. I use the term way too easily when describing Eli to others. I simply must try my hardest to quit doing so. I've read a lot about middle children lately and the lack of attention they seem to inherit. I have read that "middles" find all the friends they can, because they often feel left out of families. They often feel like the fifth wheel. I hope that this sweet young man in my life does not feel that way too often...because without this wheel in my life, my world would not spin. He's the hugest personality in the teeniest little body. I hope that if you do not know My Eli, you get a chance to meet him someday. You will fall in love in a heartbeat.

HoooooWeeee...Do You Have a Wii?

This has got to be the funnest thang since....well, I just don't know when. I KNOW they say it's mostly geared toward kids and all...but have ya ever seen a fat chick play virtual tennis with her 8-year-old? Whew-wee Gina, whatta site!! This has most definitely GOT to be the most incredibly hilarious and entertaining thing out there.

If you DO NOT have one of these amazing little white boxes in your household, you MUST and I repeat MUST go directly to a neighbors house that DOES have one. Do not pass the washing machine, do not pass the mailbox. Go directly to your neighbors' house. And PLEASE, I'm begging you...don't EVEN get me started on Guitar Hero!! I have reduced my boys to tears because of being such a non-share'er with this new toy of THEIRS.

Mm Mm. Maybe I'll get together a Guitar Hero Competition Tournament Night? Stay tuned for that one. In the meantime....go find ya a Wii!!

What Kids Don't Want

How come is it that the only things I do want in life, my kids don't? For example:

1.) They don't want someone to wake them up in the morning.
All I ask for is a sweet (ha) voice such as mine to call me from the depths of slumber.

2.) They don't want anyone to pick out their clothes for them and have them laid out.
PLEASE...someone dress me and have it ready for me when I wake up...PLEASE.

3.) They don't like anything you make them for breakfast.
Good LORD, if someone would just cook a well-done shoe for me, I'd eat it.

4.) They don't want you to kiss them goodbye.
A Kiss? Just one or two a day is all a girl needs.

5.) They don't want what you make them for supper.
Again, a shoe will do. If it MUST be done on the grill, that's fine too.

6.) They don't want to read.
A book, a simple book. I long for the days when I could read like that...when it was daylight out.

7.) They don't want to take a bath by themselves.
HUH? My gosh, a night without three Front Row Joes and Two Dumb Canines lining up to be my audience while I'm in the bathroom would be utterly amazing.

8.) They don't require a clean house of any sorts.
I really don't require much cleanliness either, but an occasional drop of a toy in a toybox would be swell. And a dirty shirt or two in the dirty clothes hamper would be peachy.

9.) They don't want to go to bed.
Gosh, I'm sleeping right now as I am typing this...it's the only way I get things done. Multi-tasking I tell ya!

Can you tell I just can't wait for Mac to come home from Florida? I can't do this single mommy thing by myself. I just don't know how some women can. It's hard work (as our fearless leader President Bush always says...HARD work.)

Night Folks. Wish me luck for the next 3 1/2 long ole days.

Frame Class

Okay, Okay...so I've had a few requests to post the pics of the frames we made the other night!! What fun we had. My only regret in teaching the gals how to make them is now they won't think I'm so special anymore and pay ME to make them for them!! Harty Har Har...



I don't think the girls would Pur-she-yait me posting pictures of them without their permission and all, but 'cept I've already done it once. But that didn't count, because they was all "dude-ed up". This night was a non-dress-up, drink a little wine, learn a little crafting, hanging out with the girls celebrating life and such kinda night....no pics of the girls...only the frames. Sorry to disappoint!!






Aint they cute Y'all? I mean come on...who wouldn't pay money for these cutie patootie thangs?


Okay, good night fer real Y'all...I've gotta do some more catchin' up on Brothers and Sisters before the new episode comes out next week. Don't you just LOVE that show? MMMmmm, it's a good one!

Calee's Lesson on "God"

So my cousin Mandy's little girl came to spend the night with us the other night. Her name is Calee and she's 9 years old. Exactly one year older than my oldest son, Fisher. They are big time buddies and Mandy and I just cringe when we think of all that they will get into together when they are 15 and 16. We just can't WAIT to hear "Hey Mom, I'm going to pick up Calee and we're gonna "hang out"!!". What fun, huh?

Anyway...back to the childhood lessons that are today. Calee and Fisher were sitting in the third row seats of the car, because face it...that's just the only thing to do that is cool when you are soooo "cool", right? Right. So, they are sitting back there while we are headed out to do some shopping the other day. Fisher had gotten this little text messaging system thingy for Christmas and they were "texting" each other on it. Fisher became frustrated with something or another and yelled out, "GOD". (Keep in mind they have NO IDEA that am I watching and listening to their every move...nor do we go to church...it's not that we are atheist or anything...I just know that God wouldn't want me in some building every Sunday when I already don't spend enough time with my kiddos as it is). ANYWAY...after Fisher's "shout out" at God, Calee glances over her text messenger and politely says to Fisher, "We don't say GOD like that, Fisher!!". Fisher looks up from his messenger and says..."Oh yeah, why not?". Calee thinks for just a minute and says, "Because I go to Church, Fisher. And we drink God's blood and eat his bones. Well, I don't know about YOU...but I drink his blood and eat his bones." At this point I look in the rearview mirror and try to decide if I should pull over and help Fisher gather his jaw back up off the floor. He looks at Calee and says..."YOU are crazy".

I was silently laughing so incredibly hard I ALMOST peed my pants. Of course at that very moment I had to call Mandy and tell her about Calee's lesson on God. I think she actually may have had to change her underoos, considering she's got one more child than me and all. She said that she had just taken Calee to church the other day and was trying to teach her the symbolism of the grape juice and bread. Well, it semi-worked for her, but Fisher....well we're afraid that he might be too scared to invite Calee the Vampire back to spend the night any time soon!!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to ME!!

Yowza...it's been a while since I've blogged - so my friend Missy reminds me. Must blog. Must blog. Must blog. I simply MUST get better at blogging...which reminds me...I would like to request that those of you that read PLEASE oh pretty please post comments. I'm getting tired of doing this blogging thing for just my own self-satisfaction...do it or be damned.

Okay...anyway Y'all I've had a whirlwind of a crazy time. I forget that at the end of every year there are three different "celebrations" in the span of 11 days. That would be Christmas, New Year's and My Birthday...not to mention Sullivan's birthday just one week before Christmas. Wowee. Did y'all know I turned THIRTY FREAKING SIX? Well, oh well. At least I only FEEL 152.

And how SMART I was this year. I thought "Well, we'll just save some money this year and not sign the boys up for Extend-A-Care. " Hm. I have officially been home with the lot of them for 10 straight days. You outta SEE me. Not only are the voices in my head telling me I'm crazy, but every time I walk by the mirror that terrifying lady GLARES at me as if she's gonna fly straight at my cinnamon bun beehive sized hairdo and start attacking like there's no tomorrow!!
Presents, Christmas Cards, Cookies, Driving around looking at Christmas Lights, Work, Pies, Traveling, Wrapping Paper, Movies, Turtle Hunting, Poker Playing, Shanghai, Hayrides, Cleaning, 800 neighbor friends, Guitar Hero, Wii Games, Yelling and Screaming, Dogs pee'ing and also chewing up our new cowhide rug, Christmas Decorations still hanging around, Shopping, Laundry, Getting Mac off to Florida, Working from Home (ha), Relatives, Frame Class with the girls, Emails, Football....and that's just a FEW of the things my last 10 days have consisted of.

I was reminded by my very dear friend, Rachael- just this week, that it's NORMAL for all of these helpless feelings of outofcontroledness. When visiting with Rach and the other girls that joined me to learn how I make frames, we all had a chance to talk and reflect about the woes of motherhood. Rach was just almost to the point of tears as she was reliving with us the details of her day with her almost 3-year-old and seven-week-old boys..you see, she was worried that she was somehow not a "good mommy". "What a terrible mommy I am", she said. It was so very nice to be able to tell her that all the things that she was feeling were not because she was abnormal, but that it was because she WAS normal. VERY VERY normal. Mommies do not usually live the life of sparklyville. We weather through and it's with the help and love of our girlfriends that we are able to realize that we are perfectly okay and normal. Ahhhh....all I had to do was type it out and I feel so much better.

...and YES...these are my dear sweet girlfriends that helped to keep me sane THIS week!!



Anyhoo, now I must go and threaten the lives of the three boys who dwell in the bunkbed above and just show them who's boss!! Who's got $100 on the boys?

Night Ya'll.