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.

This One Goes Out to All My Little Teacher Friends

My first lesson in clouds...given to me by my EIGHT-YEAR-OLD!!

***

Don't laugh y'all...don't you dare. Well, okay - you can laugh, else what's this blog for anyway, right?

So, my friend Sonia...who was a 4th grade teacher way back when...well, she has this daughter Lauryn who is darn close to genious....mind you she IS an only child....mine would all be that smart too, if I could have had that much time to spend with the lot of them. ANYhoo, back to the story...Sonia is forever giving this genious of an almost 5-year-old the lessons that would give any almost-36-year-old a run for her money. Well, most of the time Sonia tries to give me some lessons too...it's a long running joke for her to look over at me and ask me what kinda clouds are in the sky. Yadda yadda yadda. I just look at her and say..."whatever, when in tarnation will I EVER need to know that?" Well.....let me just TELL you...that cloud bug bit me RIGHT in the rumpous yesterday!!!

This is how that lesson went:

Fisher: Hey Mommy, the clouds today were Cumulus.

Mommy: duhhhh duhhh duhhh blah duhhhhhhhh dummy me

Fisher: Did you know that Stratus clouds are when it's sunny outside and they sort of are similar to looking like a horse's tail??

Mommy: duhhhh duhhhh duhh blah duhhhh dummy ole mommy me

Fisher: And what other clouds are there Mommy? There's that one that starts with a C, what's it called?

Mommy: Nimbus, Rhombus?

Fisher: Mom, I SAID "C" and we ARE talking about clouds here...

Mommy: duhhhhhh duhhhh duhh blah duhhhhh dummy ole mommy me.."Go ask your dad".

Fisher: Daddy, do you know that name of the cloud that starts with a C?

Daddy Daddy Big Fat Baddy: That would be Cirrus, son.

Fisher: YEAH!!! That's it! SEE Mommy..toldja!! And you know what those remind us of? Cirrus clouds remind us of blankets in the sky.

Mommy: (Nothing said out loud, only in my head)

Huh. Three words...SO I'M DUMB Y'ALL....well that was four...see what I mean?

We Miss You Pop-Pop!!!

A Funny Fisher Story

Told by Charlie Meyer...aka Pop-Pop... (told one year ago, today on Thursday, December 14, 2006)

Last Thursday night, Fisher was sitting beside me in my chair and we were watching survivor. At a commercial break, He asked, real seriously "Pop-Pop—Do you have cancer?" I replied, "Fisher, I don't think so—but why do you ask?" Still serious, he said " Well all your hair is gone." I laughed and said—"It's just a lot of years of hard work"—and that I would explain it to him later.

I'm Sick As a Dog Y'all

Where did that saying come from? Are dogs all sick? Anyway...if it means something really bad, that's me. I've been sick for over a week!! I NEVER get sick. I gotta be a mommy...I don't have time for this weak stuff. I guess if it doesn't get better I outta go to the doctor tomorrow?

My old boss used to call me Typhoid (sp?) Annie. He said she walked around carrying the disease and killed tons of folks. Well, that's usually me alright. I walk around with everyone around me as sick as dogs...but I never get it. Hm.

But now, she got it, she sure do. Wish me luck. I'm going to bed so I can "sleep like a baby". Huh, that one never made sense to me either!!

Rain Drops On Roses...

...and white fluffy kittens... HOW does that song go, Y'all? Anyway, I can't ever remember it, I just know I love it.

What I MIGHT not love is decorating the dadgum Christmas tree with three little boys. I have tried and tried and tried for a few years now. And bless my butt if it doesn't always end up in a wad of frustration. Please God, tell me I'm not the only high-maintenance, high-strung, high-anxiety mom out there? Please.

Anway, as if it wasn't enough that we did our tree, I promised Mom that I would help her with her tree. I'm not sure her new anti-depressant medication was enough to handle all that is my boys around Christmas tree decorating! I shall look back on this in a few years and laugh...heck it's just been a few hours and I'm already giggling.

Merry Christmas Folks and have a happy week. Only one more paycheck and 15 more days until Santa does his diddy-do. Good luck...the countdown begins!

SmartAssVille

It's a little place I live...it's called SmartAssVille. I can't complain really, since I am the queen and all, and they only learn from the queen, right? I've been stuck in Scrapbookland for a time, but now have returned to SmartAssVille...

Here are some prime examples of living in SmartAssVille:

SmartAssVille the "Fisher Russell Way": Mac went to Evant last weekend to go hunting. It was pretty much rainy the whole time. On Saturday Fisher said, "Mom, did Dad go hunting?" I said, "Yup." He walked over to the window and looked out and said..."Did he NOT listen to the weather at all?"

SmartAssVille the "Eli Russell Way" : While Eli and I were sitting in the living room the other day, Rusty our 2-year-old toy Australian Shepherd nipped at one of the puppies and the puppy yelped. I immediately grabbed the puppy up and said "RUSTY, WHAT DID YOU DO TO THIS BABY?" Eli looks over at me, rolls his eyes and says..."What, you think he can answer you? He IS a dog, Mom. He CAN'T talk".

SmartAssVille the "Sullivan Russell Way": Sullivan has been coloring so many pictures for me lately....just the other day he brought this one in to me:

He said to me...."Mommy, it's a picture of YOU!!" I said, "Oh, Sullivan it's so Beautiful." He stopped for a moment, got a sheepish grin on his face and said...."It's a picture of you if you were naked and you had your crazy hair!!" Then proceeded to laugh non-stop at my expense for many LONG minutes.

There is no hope for me in SmartAssVille. I just gotta kick up my heels and join in with the rest of the Russell Smart Asses. It's quite a fun time here in SmartAssVille, just let me know if you ever want to come visit...I'm sure we have a few surprises in store for you too!