Happy Birthday, Monkey

It's been a busy year for you.

There's been a little rest and a lot of play

You're always up for a little rain dancing

You started First Grade this year

You became a Cub Scout

There was a little pouting

A lot of proud moments

Some moments to remember

A few daredevil moments

And a lot of smiles

Happy Birthday Little Man.

I hope you enjoy your seventh year as much as I've enjoyed the rest.

Love, Momma

Faithful friends who are dear to us...

My friend Holly has a birthday today. Her birthday wish is to get 100 comments on her birthday post.

If you're not already one of her readers, would you please head on over to her place today and wish her a Happy Birthday?? Please go give her some birthday love...

I would greatly appreciate it!!

The one with the Birthday...

Today is Mater's birthday. My baby is 5 years old.

Budman and I decided to take him out to the driveway to give him his gift first thing. Budman blindfolded Mater, and told him "I put your present somwhere out here. Go find it." Then he spun him around once or twice, took off the blindfold, and sent him to search for it.

Note the location of Mater's present... (Hint: It's the bicycle)

Mater headed out into the yard, while we shouted "You're getting colder, you're getting warmer...

This was great entertainment - for us. (He even looked back at us a time or two!)

After looking all over the yard, he FINALLY saw it:

Budman told me "I want a picture of his face the second he sees it.

How's that??

He couldn't wait to hop on and take a ride!!!

After lunch, he opened a few more presents...

And of course, Monkey HAD to get in on the pictures, too.

Lazy days of Summer...

I've been so unmotivated lately. Vacation will do that to you, I suppose. Of course, now I'm back at work, and still trying to get back into the swing of things. I've switched to a 4-10 schedule. Four 10-hour days and one off. Unfortunately, we can't always have off a Friday or Monday, so no consistency. And, the possibility of overtime goes right out the window... Ah well, at least I will be able to use the extra day each week to work on schoolwork (or whatever).

We ended up going to see Get Smart (Thank you all for your suggestions) at the movie theater Saturday. As for dinner, I couldn't decide where to go eat, so I picked a theater that served dinner. I've been there before, and it was pretty good, but this time the service was AWFUL, and the food was so-so. We stopped off for drinks before, which was nice, and the movie was very funny. I think that Steve Carrell may be the only person on earth that could have done Maxwell Smart that well. I've tried to think of someone else who could have pulled off that role, but I can't.

I've been taking lots of pictures with my new camera (and I even uploaded them to my computer finally!) My kids are cheesy posers (I mean that they have to give me a cheesy pose anytime I take a picture), so I've been sneaking around taking pictures of plants and cats and squirrels and things (Squirrels NEVER pose...)

Here are a few samples.

Boys being silly (Please ignore our phallic swimming pool.)

More silliness...

The weed I replanted turned out to be a Sunflower. Now I don't feel quite so stupid...

Sunbathing...

Whoo Hoo! My camera kicks @ss.

This was done at the end of our driveway...

Remind me later to tell the story of how Budman darn near lost a finger while we were having our fireworks show.

Have a great week!

Friday stuff

Last night we took the family out for a Birthday dinner. Budman even invited his parents, so with his parents, mine, us and the kids, we had a party of nine. We had a good time, and a good meal, and then headed off to Bransom's to pick up some ice cream on the way home. (Possum didn't want a cake) . Once at home, we all had some ice cream (in waffle bowls - I think I'm in love with waffle bowls) and Possum opened presents from Grammy & Papo J.


Budman and I have been back and forth on what to get him for his birthday, Budman wanted to buy him some Justin work boots, and I think that $150.00 is a bit much to spend on work boots for a 14 year old. Especially since they're work boots, and therefore worn whenever Possum is doing something that would require him to be getting dirty, etc... He has Budman's old boots (They wear the same size shoe - ACK!) and while they are old, that's kinda the point. I think we've decided on getting him him his own tackle box - He and Budman (and the little ones) like to do a lot of fishing, so I think it would be good for him to have his own gear. Plus, Budman is rather particular about his things, and gets a little bent out of shape when something isn't put back properly, or is lost or damaged... Having his own tackle box would solve both their problems

Additionally, since Possum is doing well in school, and hasn't gotten into any trouble since he's been here, we lifted the video game ban, and gave him our PlayStation2. As long as he has his homework, chores and other responsibilities taken care of, he can go to his room to play his video games. He's pretty happy with that, so as long as his grades stay up, and he doesn't neglect his chores, we'll keep that arrangement.


In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, Budman's father has decided that they will not be doing any work over at their house, so Budman has a whole weekend all to himself (a rarity) and so he is making big plans to go fishing Saturday morning. (And to go shopping, since he STILL doesn't know what he's getting me for MD - hee hee).


As for my weekend plans, I got a new toy present a few weeks ago - while I was taking a blogging break, so I didn't get a chance to share with you.

Isn't it cute?? That picture isn't exactly what I have - Mine is a Ruger 10/22 Pink Hogue (whatever that means), but it looks almost exactly the same as that one. I know, it's totally silly. We were at Academy, getting Chipmunk's birthday present last month, and I saw it and asked to look at it. Budman asked if I wanted him to get it for me, and of course, I said "No, not today - maybe later." 'Cause I never spend money on me - certainly not on something so caompletely frivoulous. That's when the kid behind the counter informed us that it was a limited release, that they only had two, and they wouldn't be getting anymore. So, I decided that I must have it. Other than air/BB guns, we don't actually own any (until now) and I hadn't owned a gun in over ten years, but for some reason, that silly pink gun was callin' my name. So, I had my dad "pimp my gun", it's got a scope, and a few other things I can't remember right now, and I haven't gotten to try it out with the scope on it, so I think that I will be talking my Dad into taking me to the range, while Budman takes the monsters fishing. I'm such a nerd, I know...

Well, I guess that's it for me this morning. Stay tuned Monday for our weekend update...

ANOTHER Birthday!!

Possum is 14 today!

I hope you know that I'm not nearly old enough to have a 14 year old!!

And I hope that you know just how very much we love you, and how very glad we are to have you here with us.

I coudn't resist. I also hope you realize that you were put on this earth so that your father and I could embarrass you at every opportunity.

We love you and we are so proud of you. You're a terrific boy kid young man, and I am so happy that I get to be a part of your life.

Happy Birthday, Possum.

Another Birthday

My Bear turns 13 today.

It's funny, when he turned 6, I felt really old, and had a mini age crisis. (LOL - at 26!) Now that he's 13, I'm fine!

OK, Melody - this is not about you...


Happy Birthday, Bear. My first born son. I love you always...

PS: I know I said I would do a Fight the Frump post, but Bear's birthday takes precedence. It wouldn't be fair to combine the two - not when Monkey got a whole Thursday Thirteen for his birthday. As every mom knows, life MUST be fair! LOL!

Blogher Survey and other business

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In other news, I am taking the day off from Fight the Frump. I tool yesterday off work so that I could have lunch at school with Monkey, and meet with Mater's teacher about his speech referral, and after running all day yesterday, and not being able to sleep last night, I am more tires than if I had worked all day! Besides, I didn't even touch a computer after I posted my TT yesterday morning, so I haven't got anythign prepared...

I'll get with the program next week.

Monkey's birthday went well, as mentioned I took McDonald's to his school and had lunch with him. After school, we played outside with his new basketball - I actually wrapped it. Monkey said "That's a ball" (DUH!!). I told him he should shake it, make a few wrong guesses before he just burst my bubble like that - LOL! I'm all, "no, Monkey, you're supposed to guess! 'Is it lettuce???, Cantelope?' Act surprised!"

Ah - funny story, Grammy was playing with the boys in the front yard while I was unloading his presents from the car, and he asked her "What did my parents get for me?" She said "Oh nothing much - I think it's just clothes." Monkey said "Aww, man! This day is just not turning out like I had planned!" Too funny.

Monkey got to pick our dinner, so we had hamburgers, he opened presents and then we all watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Just after 9:00 (we let them all stay up to watch the movie) I said "Ok, boys clean it up, get ready for bed. Even birthday boys have to get their rest. OH CRAP!!!" Budman asked what was wrong, and I just stared at him. WE HAD FORGOTTEN TO HAVE THE CAKE!!!! So Budman said "Boys, get to the kitchen!" We cut the cake, took some more picures and sang Happy Birthday. Boy, those kids were hopped up on sugar when I sent them to bed!

LOL! I'm the worst mother ever!

All in all a good day. Monkey is having a friend spend the night tonight, and then we'll go to Incredible Pizza Co. tomorrow. There's a family get together at our house Sunday, since we couldn't get everyone together last night. Uncle K & Aunt J are coming, and they're bringing my favorite nephew with them!!!

Thursday Thirteen - Birthday Edition

Monkey turns 6 today. So, Here's my Thursday 13.

Monkey-boy style.

Yeah, I know that was more than 13, but LOOK at that face!!

Happy Birthday, Baby!