Going down in a BLAZE of glory. Literally.

Sunday evening it was a little warm in our house.  I asked JR if he would rather I turn on the attic fan and open some windows or turn on the a/c and suck out some humidity.  He was cuddling CAR, so I wanted him to be comfy (she's a sweaty baby).  We haven't run our a/c much so far this year and JR said to turn on the a/c for a few minutes.

2 minutes after turning it on Jackson said, "Hey Mom!  The air conditioner is on fire."  I look and the fan is spinning and flames are coming out of the top.  I ran and turned off the thermostat.  JR and I ran out and got the water hose and dowsed the unit.  It didn't blow the fuses either.  I don't know how.  Needless to say I went and disconnected the fuses in the box while JR continued to run the water hose.

Hey at least my ducts didn't catch on fire.  Also for the record the central heat and air unit is older than I am (over 31 years old).  I should be thankful it has worked the last 5 years.

One friend asked me why weird things always happen to me.  I'm not sure that they do, I think things sounds funnier coming from my kids.

inconsistancy

This year...

...March didn't come in like a lion and go out like a lamb.

...April showers were rare and my May flowers came from watering my yard.

The one thing that is true and needs a rhyme is that May temperature fluctuations bring tornadoes, but I haven't been able to make it work yet.

Monday I received a text asking if my family was okay.  A tornado hit the edge of Norman.  My family is all great and no one was near it.  It just served as a reminder that the first 2 weeks in May are usually tornado weather.

My camera is charged and I'm ready to watch the sky (and then duck and cover).

6 months

This happened 6 month ago today.  Wow.

I have a new brother now!

Not biologically.  My oldest sister eloped yesterday, while in Texas for business.  No, she didn't just meet her husband in Texas.  They've been dating for 2-3 years.  I'm not really sure how long, but for a while.

I asked if I could call him bro since we had no brothers.  Steve said I could call him whatever I wanted...that's pretty loaded.  Hahaha!

CONGRATS MICHELLE AND STEVE!

Also, eloping...smart...very smart.

Check it out and pass it on.

She's officially for sale.

If this page isn't visible, just scroll to the right.  It works right in Google Chrome, but you have to scroll in internet explorer.

So is the parts car and all extra parts.

Repierced

I had my ears pierced when I was 13.  I sat at the kitchen table with ice on my ear and my mother stabbed my ear with a needle.

When I was 18 I added a 2nd, 3rd and 4th (cartilage) hole to my right ear and a 2nd on my left.  Those were done with a piercing gun and against my mothers wishes.  I paid for it with my own money and I managed to keep my ears covered for 2 months.

I let the 2nd and 3rd holes close.  The 4th never did.  

Over the years I've stopped wearing earring, except on Sundays or on the rare occasion that I get really "ready".  Then my 1st holes closed.  Yesterday I repierced them at home.  

V doesn't have her ears pierced and I told her that when she was ready to take care of them she could, but that she had to take responsibility for cleaning and care.

She found it a little freaky that I just stabbed myself.

I'm debating taking her to get them done or going the kitchen chair route when she's ready.  They both hurt equally (not that bad).  Do you have an opinion?

Have I mentioned...

...I like coffee.

Yep, sure do.

More info on baby wearing

As I stated in the Baby Bluetooth post, Jennifer made me a wonderful wrap sling.  She attended a class on baby wearing and passed great information on, gave me a sling as a gift and taught me how to wear it.  Having someone to show you really helps.

She attended her class in the OKC area and classes can be found at http://babywearingdoula.com/.

I did find a location in Tulsa that taught classes, but they have discontinued them.

These links were given to me by Jennifer in an e-mail on wrapping methods and making your own wraps.

http://www.mobywrap.com/

http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/index.htm

http://www.wearyourbaby.com/

I am in agreement with her that the basic is the best for small babies who need more support.  

I do promise pictures are to come.

*I guess I should add this.  You need to be aware of you child when placing them in a wrap or sling.  Their breathing should not be obstructed and you should be paying attention to them.  This seems like a duh, but I've had a lot of people tell me that ALL slings have been recalled.  This is totally inaccurate, not all slings have and greater care should be taken with children under 4 weeks of age.

I'm not the most thrifty...

...in the visiting thrift store sense.

First I dislike shopping with every fiber of my being.  I don't like hunting and not finding what I want in a department store, let alone a thrift store.  I'm also a cheapskate.  I'm okay with that too.

By chance we ended up at a Goodwill with JR's sis and mom, earlier this month.  I still have 16 lbs to lose and my kids have plenty of clothes, so I started looking for clothes for Jonathan.  I've been wanting to buy him a sport coat (with elbow patches), but they are ridiculous expensive.  By chance I found 2 his size (without elbow patches).  We bought both, one for $13 and one for $6.50.  One was from Bachrach.  Both were wool and silk.

JR really needed a new pair of chocolate colored slacks and I knew they would look good with one coat.  I picked up a pair on sale at JCPenney online and while I was at it I bought him a total impulse purchase.  A fedora that was also on sale.

I'm such a geek.  I was totally born at the wrong time.

Of course...

...it might rain...I've taken a shower and am in my pj's (thankfully yoga pants and a tank top)...and I forgot to have the kids get their clothes and shoes out of the backyard...and it's pitch black with no light in our backyard...I'm off to find shoes and a flashlight.

Muffin

When you hear someone use profanity, insert the word "muffin" or some such silly word in it's place and it will make you giggle.  I do so enjoy laughing at other people.  This just makes it easier.

My 6th child

No, I'm not pregnant, nor am I speaking of my husband (I find that mean).

I'm speaking of my neighbors son.  Matt is 14 and loves to come play with my kids.  He's a good one who would have done well with siblings, but his mother went through in vitro twice to get him.

We met Matt and 2 of his friends the day we moved in.  They were 9 and bored.  They offered to help us unload our truck.  They were fast.  We couldn't keep up.  We gave them $30 to split ( they had plans to go to a water park that afternoon).  After the truck was unloaded they went out front with a "boom box" (that word dates me) and started playing music.  My initial thought was not good about boys playing loud music.  Then we realized it was DC Talk's Jesus Freak.  Not my favorite song, but definitely acceptable.  For all I knew we were about to get Tupac.

Over the past (almost) 5 years, Matt has come over a lot.  He plays with the kids (and sometimes brings friends), camps out with our kids or his friends on our trampoline, plays flashlight tag in our back yard with his cousins, hangs out if he forgets his key on rainy days and so on.  He's a welcome friend and fun sudo addition to our family.

He's had one recent very funny affect on my boys that I must share.  Matt is still a skinny 14 year old, but he likes to rough house on the trampoline with his shirt off.  Now all of my boys think that if they are in the back yard they should be shirtless.

JR took V and Jack to the farm today, so it is just CAR and the twins and I.  I opened the back door to let the boys run in and out and even though it is a little cloudy and windy, making it chilly Owen and Xander took off their shirts an played in the back yard.  You can tell they look up to Matt.

Tagging

I'm beginning tagging my posts.  This may take a while.

The Baby Bluetooth

I'm not a total tech geek.  I would like to be but milk, eggs, electricity and shoes are more important for a family of 7.  ;D

I own no cell phone headset, but I do have the equivalent of a Bluetooth for Caroline (seriously it's hands free).  How I lived without my baby Bluetooth with my other kids I have no idea.  If it weren't for my baby Bluetooth the twins would have run out in traffic and died many months ago.  Dinner would have been much later if not for my baby Bluetooth many times over.

Some may be wondering what the heck I'm talking about...it's called baby wearing.  I couldn't go to Wal-Mart without a sling.  She sleeps until we get to the check out.  I never use a car seat carrier and I've even put the old carrier car seat in the attic and pulled the better, bigger, more stable car seat down.

I have 3 slings, 2 wraps and 1 shoulder pouch.

First I want to talk about the wraps.  You can spend too much and buy a Moby or you can make your own (15 feet long and 20 inches wide).  My first was made by Jennifer.  Her husband graduated with JR and they gave me one that she made and she taught me how to wear it.  Oh, my, it's wonderful!  When I'm cooking it is a life saver.  When I'm cold it's a generator.  I love it!  I've made another in black for a formal occasion (I wore CAR to my cousins wedding).  In the next week I'll post the site for making and wearing a baby and pictures of CAR in hers.

My other sling I like when I'm in a hurry and I just need to sit her on my hip for a little while or I'm too hot to be wrapped (that is one sweaty baby).  I ordered it from this site.  Needless to say I am going to use it as a pattern and make another.  I can even carry the twins in this one.  I carried Owen when we made an impromptu Zoo trip with no stroller.  After 4 hours he was wiped out.

I like having at least 2.  If one is dirty I always have a back up.

Call it what you want...baby wearing...baby Bluetooth...it doesn't matter I highly recommend it.

Funny things and random thoughts.

"I want to drink your blu."  -Xander

Think blood without the d.  That's his attempt at a Transylvanian accent.

"Backblerry."  -Xander

This is his attempt at saying blackberry.

I really like the word Gnarly.  I should have been a surfer so I could use it more often.  It's a little hard to surf in Oklahoma though.

I bought the cutest tennis shoes ever.

Okay, maybe the second cutest.  I didn't think the white would survive.

My Expedition will be paid off Monday.  1 year early.

"Say Vegemite!"  -Owen

Instead of telling people to say cheese when taking a picture.

"Fart!"  -Me

If you want to send my oldest (V) into a fit of giggle you just look at her and say that.  Jonathan prefers that the kids say, "Pass Gas", so it is incredibly funny to her.

We tried.

JR called at about 7:45 and said the shuttle would be passing over in about 5 minutes.  I dove out of bed (I was cuddling CAR) and got the kids semi dressed (half PJ's, half normal clothes).

We ran outside to the empty lot across the street and stood there.  Owen crying.  The kids talking over the car radio (announcing it's location).  Staring at the sky.

...and...

We didn't see it.  We heard it, but never saw it.  I'm glad we tried.

JR pulled off of the highway to look and he didn't see it either.

Our neighbor came across the street to make sure nothing had happened to the house, b/c we were standing there staring to the NW toward our house.

We did hear it, so I guess it was worth it to say we did.

Where were you?

Do you remember?

It's been 15 years and I remember most of the details of where I was during the OKC bombing and when and how I found out.

I was less about 203-30 minutes away, doing a Biology lesson outside.  I found out during the next hour of school.  I still tear up much like 9/11.

I learned a very expensive lesson yesterday.

If it feels like appendicitis, the doctor thinks it sound like "textbook" appendicitis, and you go have expensive tests run.  It may not be appendicitis.

It may be much more simple, embarrassing and stupid.  Thankfully it's easer and much cheaper to treat.

I had a CT scan for nothing.  Okay, not having surgery is something, but they didn't draw blood and check my white cell counts which is a huge indicator and much cheaper (I learned this after the scan).

I'm still not sure how this stomach issue occurred, but you live and learn (and you feel stupid).

Did I mention that I feel stupid?  Just checking.

MISSING

2 permanent lateral incisors.  If found please call.  V would like them back.

Okay, so apparently she never had them to begin with.

We went to the orthodontist this afternoon and V is missing both lateral incisors.  She comes by it naturally.  I'm missing the one on the right and one of mom's cousins and one of her aunt's were also missing one.

I have a bridge after 2 1/2 years in braces as an adult.  JR looked like a pedophile when we got married and had V.  I looked 12 even though I was 20 and older.

We go back to the orthodontist in 6 months for another check.

yippee...yes the lower case is indicative of my excitement.

The Ultimate Fighting Champion...

...or not.

Owen got into a fight with the sidewalk.

I think the sidewalk won.

We can at least tell the twins apart immediately.

He's trooper.

He is taking everyone to the bloody spot on the sidewalk and telling them, "That's my blood."

DAY 1
This all occurred Sunday after church.  He was in a white long sleeved dress shirt, navy blue plaid shorts and...his cowboy boots.  Only a 3 year old can truly rock that outfit.  He had escaped the back yard and was walking on a sand stone edged, raised flowerbed.  He slipped and his face hit concrete.  I happened to be sitting in the living room looking out of the window and I saw him from behind and ran outside.  He was supposed to be in the back yard (we had left the back door open and they were coming and going as they pleased).  He turned around and it looked like his face had exploded.  There was blood on his face, in his mouth, on his white shirt (of course), on his shorts, on his legs.  You name it, it was bled on.  He was freaked, I was freaked, JR was freaked.

We did a 5 minute, "clean up some blood, change your shirt and get everyone in the car" and ran to the after hours clinic.  The didn't think it was broken, but couldn't tell because of the swelling.   They said it was straight.  JR was getting worried in the waiting room and took him away for a bit, because he thought he might go into shock.  I'm usually the calm one, but I was upset.  Nothing major, just a few stray tears.  I was doing my best.  He fell asleep on JR waiting for the doctor.

DAY 2
He sounded like a whistling teapot while he slept.  V came in and asked where the Kleenex's were, and told me she knew why he was whistling (translation HUGE, bloody booger).  She wiped his nose.  Yes that's gross, but she deserved it for what she did later.  I bought him a bouncy ball at WM and she tossed it to him. Remember he's 3 and doesn't catch very well.  He caught it with his face.  Lots of screaming and crying followed.  Yes, by Owen.  No, I didn't beat her, but I wanted to.

DAY 3
He sounded better sleeping.  The bruise is getting bigger and blacker.  He's still swollen.  He's starting to pick the scab.  If you ask him how he feels he'll say he's broken.  I finally got him to say he was bruised instead.

Now I'm off to go play catch with him with a baseball.

I'm totally kidding.

5...4...3...2...1...

BACON!

This was heard in my kitchen this morning as my carnivores were waiting for the microwave to finish.  They can hardly be classified as omnivores.

8

I guess I'm making up for lost time with 8 blog posts tonight.  You may hate me soon.

Passover series

On a more serious note, we've been studying the Jewish feast and festivals in our Sunday school class.  We are studying them as they come up in the year.

We did Purim and the book of Esther in February.  Passover and First Fruits in March/April and we will drop them in accordingly through the rest of the year.  JR is teaching the class and when discussing parts of Judaism we just don't know enough, so we turn to Zola Levitt.

I highly recommend that you watch part 1 and 2 of Passover.  God's planning is amazing and communion takes on a whole new perspective with these videos.

Cheesecake

I made this for JR's 33rd birthday.

I made this with a chocolate Teddy Graham crust instead of Oreos.

I used coffee liqueur instead of hazelnut.

I made it in a 9x13 foil lined Pyrex.  I think I'm going to buy a 9x13 springform for times that I don't want to use a round springform.

I covered the cheesecake with a ganache made with Dove dark chocolate and sprinkled with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.

I took it to his office so only a few pieces were left in my house.  That's wise when you are trying to lose the last 17lbs of the *cough* 48lbs *cough* that you gained with the last bundle of cuteness.

March Madness?

Isn't it April?

I'm blogging and watching Duke vs. Butler.

A few thoughts.

I don't have a horse in this race, but I love an underdog.  Go Bulldogs!

Coach K has been around FOREVER!

The Butler coach is one cool cucumber.

This game is really close.

Have all of the games been low scoring?  I miss fast run and gun basketball.  I like more offense then defense.

I love watching basketball on the 14' diagonal projector screen.

The UPS commercials make me glad I was a mechanical engineering major instead of an industrial.  Seriously optimizing routes for right turns?

I will go see Iron Man 2 in the theater and I never go to the theater for movies.  I think Robert Downey Jr. is so funny (and cool, and manly, and good looking).  No, I don't day dream about him and JR thinks he's cool too and even patterns his goatee after the Tony Stark character (by his own derision)

The Duke offense works in circles and they are interesting when they are moving.

As usual the reffing seems kind of bad.

I'm not a big baseball fan, so I will be looking forward to college football season and it seems a long way off.

The Butler coach looks like a real life Ron Stoppable with brown hair.

Well crap they lost.  Oh,well.

Tour

We toured the elementary school Friday.  This is such a hard decision.  I'm feeling more okay with it.  I just am keeping in the back of my mind that if this doesn't work I can bring them back home (which is my plan in no more than 1-2 years).

Things to come

We had real pictures taken of the kids yesterday (Resurrection Sunday) and CAR is having pics taken Wednesday.  I'm going to buy the CD of pictures so they will be here soon.

Carina,

I'm glad you weren't asking for pictures of my feet.  You would never get those.  I don't like feet and I have ugly ones even before having a bruised and broken toe.

Hahahaha!

Black and Blue

Jackson might be this color if he does one more thing.

Periodically we experience some type of demon possession with Jackson.

Once he drank Benedryl, and cut through a power supply that was plugged in ("It made a great spark and a boom mom."), among other things one week.

That was about a year to a year and a half ago.

Last week he sprayed flea and tick spray all over the garage including on JR's 1979 Triumph Spitfire.  He took the yard spreader full of Scott's and parked it int he drive, where Owen proceeded to dump turfbuilder on JR's tuck (and eat some for good measure).  After we freaked out and put the spreader in the garage we found that Jackson had dumped a bottle of break fluid on the garage floor.

His reasoning?  He wants to be a bad kid so we won't get onto V.  What?

My children are freaks and may be the death of me.

If they weren't so cute...

Put your money where your mouth is (or not).

Xander gagged himself and puked up a nickel in the living room this afternoon.

Call me Grace!

Okay, so part of the trouble with facebook was that I would post status updates and would leave the details of life to a 1-4 line blurb.  I'll blurb them back where they belong, right here.

March 9th I broke my little toe. Ironically I was running to get my shoes.

On March 25th I broke the healing that had occurred walking to my car to surprise JR with a cheesecake at his office the day before his birthday.

I've never broken a bone and I'd rather not do it again.

OH NO!

Where introducing the kids to 007 tonight and watching Dr. No.

Feeling a little out of sorts.

Did you know I'm Superwoman?  Amazing isn't it?

I hear frequently how "amazing" I am and how people don't know how I do what I do.  The thought going through my head is, "not very well."

I'm busy.  Not just 5 kids busy.  I'm church busy (I go and I'm VERY involved), homeschool busy (2 kids one with a vision issue that makes reading a nightmare), blackberry farmer busy (gas and a match and that problem could be gone-Hahaha), homemaker busy, computer addict busy, procrastinator busy.  

In all of my busyness I feel like I'm losing myself.  I don't do much for me anymore.  Getting a haircut is verging on impossible.  I only talk to a handful of friends (that I'm not related to).  Time away for me has become a solo trip to Wal-Mart.

What it really comes down to is I'm burned out.  Something has to change.  I need a hobby or something that is selfishly mine and I need to be okay with it.

Now for the hard part.  As of August my 2 oldest will go to public school instead of being homeschooled.  This has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever made.  I don't think this will be permanent, as of now I think it will only be for 1-2 years.  I need a break.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in homeschooling completely.  I have struggled teaching V, because of what we now know is a vision issue, not dyslexia.  Teaching her is like working with a very in depth 1st grader.  There is no, "Read the directions and do the assignment." or "Read this and we'll discuss it when you are done."

We are currently driving into Tulsa 2 times a week for vision therapy.  She will finish in late June.  We are seeing improvement, but through this I've lost me.  It's time to find me again.

The debate

Okay so I'm actually debating whether to make the blog go dark now (invite only viewers).  I do have reasons for doing that, but instead I may just become a little bit more vague.  I'll let you know.  Facebook is being completely deleted Thursday.  I have so much to catch up on here.  I post little snippets there all day and nothing ends up here.  My roll call of life gets lost, b/c naturally Facebook doesn't keep every status update I've ever posted. This blog is going to change just a little.  I may post FB type updates with my longer journal posts.  I may even take the time to categorize my posts (you know in my spare time).  We shall see.

Going Dark

I am going to make the blog by invite only. I am going to reactivate my e-mail on here so let me know if you want an invite. This blog will go private at the end of March

I will be deleting my Facebook account at the end of March as well, so the blog WILL get more love. I am spending too much time on there and the only way to stop that is to get rid of it.

HAPPY CHANUKAH!

For those of you who don't know, I love Neil Diamond. Blame my mother.

Today my sister called to tell me she just heard Neil Diamond cover Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song.

I of course came home and looked it up and I laughed.

ENJOY!

Pppssstt

Yep, that's my kid.

That was what she thought of her first Monday. ;P

Actually we had a good day, she was just hungry and kept sticking her tongue out. I kept taking pictures until she started crying.

C.A.R's

Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live
In cars

Gary Numan-Cars

or

Caroline Amelia Ritchie

She was born on 11/11/09 at 8:08 pm. She weighed 8 pounds even and was 20 inches long. Those are just the statistics. Her story is much more entertaining.

C.A.R. was due Monday, November 2nd and we had 3 false alarms and trips to the hospital before she arrived. I had made little progress in the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy.

This pregnancy was not normal, because I was attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). These are hard to find doctors to preform, because of malpractice insurance costs. I found one doctor in Tulsa who preforms them, and his office and the hospital are 50 miles from our house.

The last 3 weeks of my pregnancy I made little progress. I was sitting at a 2 and just hanging out there. I was at a 3 at my last appointment Wednesday, November 11 at 4:30 and 9 days past my due date. He wasn't going to let me go much longer (I was to call Thursday afternoon to set something up if she hadn't come). My doctor got me to a 4, stripped my membranes and I left.

I drove home, picked up the baby sitter and took her home. I felt a little cruddy. I drove through the drive through at Goldie's and ordered dinner and went to the QT to get drinks. I went back and picked up the food and told my sister (who I was on the phone with) that I felt bad and shouldn't be driving. This was shortly after 6pm.

I went home and started feeding the kids, I called Jonathan and Nancy (who was going to watch the kids). I ate what I could and got in the car as soon as JR arrived. We began our drive south on Highway 75. We had been taking Bradley Childbirth classes in preparation to have the baby unmedicated. I was breathing through my contractions and trying to relax.

About 20 minutes south I had a normal contraction...the next one I felt an almost uncontrollable urge to push. I screamed at Jonathan to stop in the next town at one of the hospitals, because I needed to push and we were 15 minutes away. I knew I couldn't make it to south Tulsa.

I knew if I tensed it would slow labor. I sat, tensed and screamed with each contraction, "GOD! PLEASE KEEP THIS BABY IN!"

Jonathan jumped on the phone and called a guy from work and asked him to call the hospital and for them to have a gurney ready at the ER. He turned on his hazard lights and drove at about 100 mph until we reached the hospital. Jeff (the guy from work) and his wife jumped in their car and followed our path to make sure we weren't delivering on the side of the road.

We arrived in the ER and they didn't have anyone there to get me. Jonathan caused a huge scene (thankfully). They didn't think I would be that critical...they were wrong. After the scene JR caused an ER doctor took me to the OB department before they could get me (JR later went down and apologized).

I got into the room and JR and a nurse got me into a gown and on the bed. They barely got an IV port in my arm and the doctor came in. She put on her gloves and told me to hang on for just a minute so she could break my water and then she was ready for me to push. Caroline weighed about 1 1/4 pounds more than my biggest baby (Jackson 6 pounds 12 ounces).

I had my unmedicated baby and I honestly wish I'd had the others that way. It was so much better. I was ready to walk less than an hour later. I went to church today. I have moments of feeling a little tired and sore, but nothing compares to the shock of the drugs wearing off and feeling like you've been hit by a train. As soon as she was out, the hit by a train feeling began wearing off.

Caroline is sweet, alert, beautiful and a ravenous eater. It seems appropriate that her initials spell C.A.R. since we were concerned that she was going to be born in the car. Jonathan was ready to deliver if he had to, he never thought he would ever say that.

The kids are all adapting to her well and they seem to love her a lot.

Life is good and God is great...now I think I'll take a nap. Delivery went well, and I feel okay, but I'm still human.

I am second.

I know it's OU/Texas weekend. Here is a great video, and I have more respect for both of these guys now.

BREAKING NEWS!

Obama wins the Heisman Trophy after watching a college football game!!!

Okay, there is your bad joke for the day. I've been sitting on it since Monday and just felt I should share.

Ch-ch-changes

Hi! How are you?

Oh, me? I'm fine, just tired and pregnant.

What's new? Oh, gee where do I begin.

We've potty trained the twins and more or less been 50/50 on our success. I've never failed at an aspect of potty training a kid in a day before. Alas, the book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day was not meant to be executed on twins at the same time. They are too distracted by their "friend". It would be okay if Owen would stop pooping and then pulling his pants down and leave a treat on the floor or in the yard. I'm so glad hard wood cleans up easily.

The homeschool year began about a month ago (the Tuesday after Labor Day). All in all it's been okay. Jackson was so excited, until he realized that kindergarten was coloring, glue sticks, safety scissors and playing. That was already life. He thought there was more too it. He's okay with it know.

Jonathan's job is interesting, things keep changing and there are times when it's great and times of frustration just like all jobs. One major change may come at the beginning of next year. Our family may move to Shanghai, China for 6 months to a year. I am a creature driven by change and I don't think things could be more different than China. It's not official, it could fall through, but an expat package has been requested for our consideration. We'll see what happens.

The baby is due Nov 2nd. That's less than a month away. My weight gain has stalled. She still doesn't have a name (doesn't Number Five have a nice ring to it j/k). My crazy nesting has gone on hiatus as my movement is getting more difficult. I'm not emptying cabinets and filling holes with steel wool and caulking gaps in my 110 year old kitchen. I did take a lot of stuff to charity instead of having a yard sale.

As my nesting has slowed, Jonathan's has picked up. We have removed carpet from 2 upstairs bedrooms, the upstairs hall and the front stairs. We will sand next weekend and begin varnishing the floors. Yes, I will varnish, but I will use a respirator to filter the air I breath. It's easy. It will be me an can of varnish, a paintbrush and sitting on the floor. No big deal. We will refinish the floors we just removed the carpet from and the floors where carpet has been removed in the past in our room and the sun room. Yes, we are crazy, don't ask.

We are doing Bradley Classes and Jonathan is coaching me. We are planning on having this baby without drugs.

That is a pretty quick summary of life at our house right now. I'll keep you posted as more crazy is guaranteed to occur.

Owen doesn't have a heart made out of stone...

...but definitely a head made out of stone.

Owen ran at me and crashed into my cheek bone with his head at full speed. I immediately saw stars and began crying. Not little tears mind you, but tears of unbearable pain, which rarely ever happens to me. He just grabs his head and says, "Sorry! Sorry!" and begins jumping on the bed like it's a trampoline. His head has to be made of stone. I honestly believe I will be bruised by morning. I've had to ice my cheek bone to reduce the swelling.

This of course caps off a long day. On rare occasions JR works late, and when I mean late we're talking past midnight to 2am. Those nights involve me calling him frequently at his desk to insure he is still awake with periodic calls for prayer at difficult spots in whatever has the deadline the next morning, and a late call to talk him home. They only happen a few times a year and they are always inevitable. They are the deadline that closely follows another one, so that no matter what, he has that one night that makes him want to sleep in Friday and take a long hot bath when he wakes and hide from the kids until at least noon. It might not have been so bad except he left the office to be at a doctor's appointment at 3 and sat in the waiting room until almost 5 and didn't get back into his office until shortly before 6. I felt really bad, I've used this doctor before and I've always been in and out in about an hour, of course I always take the first appointment of the day too.

I did do Jonathan one major favor tonight, so his time with the kids before bed is more pleasant tomorrow. I read the sad (someone died) chapter in the book we've been reading at night. At least tomorrow he doesn't have to incur the anguished cries of the kids or deal with the struggle of not crying himself. I'll admit I failed. Yep, I cried and 5 minutes later got bashed in the head.

Good times.

Now I'm going to call and see if JR is asleep at his desk or still chugging along.

Good night.

Poll

Here is a baby name poll.

No names are set in stone. There is still a lot of room for play.

Cast your vote.

Racism?

Honestly, former President Jimmy Carter is lost and irrelevant.

Accusations that people are having dissenting opinions is racially motivated, that is just ignorant, but then again I have rarely found myself in agreement with Carter (and he's a rich white guy...).

33 weeks

I'm in my 33rd week of my 4th pregnancy, with my 5th child. Do I remember week 33 with the first 2? No. Do I remember week 33 with the last 2? Maybe not, but I do remember week 32.

At 32 weeks with the twins I was placed on anti-contraction medication, because I was already dilated to a 2. We managed to hold the boys off until 36 weeks. I had just bought a huge bag of grapefruit and the medication they gave me was usually used for high blood pressure and wouldn't allow me to eat any. That was frustrating. V, J and I had all moved to Norman for the duration of my pregnancy 2 weeks before and we were staying with my mother in 1000 sq feet less than we live in.

It wasn't the easiest time for me. I had gained more weight than any previous pregnancy (I would more than double my most by delivery, gaining 70 lbs). I was starting to experience hip dislocation because of the weight (there is nothing more embarrassing than having to call for help to stand up in the bathroom). My activities were totally limited. I was allowed out of the house about an hour and a half every 2-3 days. That was filled with OB appointments weekly, 2 non stress tests at the hospital a week (usually resulting in an ultrasound), going to the Chiropractor to have my hip put back in and bi-weekly trips to a fetal maternal specialist (with a garaunteed ultrasound).

It was wild and crazy. My husband and mother couldn't understand why I opted to move in with my mom 2 1/2 hours from home to have this baby. Then at the end it made sense, I needed more supervision than I could get at home alone and when the boys ended up in the NICU, I had family to help with the other 2 and the hospital was 10 minutes away instead of 45 or more as it would have been to Tulsa. Jonathan and my mother decided that I had some conversation with God that they missed out on.

The situation doesn't seem real now. There was no nesting, there was just take it easy (without being on bed rest, but darn close).

Currently, I'm nesting like a crazy woman and running like I'm not pregnant (if you can get past the belly and waddle), but that is another story.

What a difference 3 years and only 1 baby makes.

The name game

This kid needs a name. I'm tired of referring to it as "the baby".

I need Girls names. We have narrowed her first name down to 12 contenders, but we couldn't make them work as middle names. I need middle names.

Here is the current list of contenders:

Cordelia-Irish-daughter of the sea

Fiona-Celtic-white, fair

Elizabeth-482 origins (though I would say Hebrew)-God is my Oath

Zeta-English-Rose (Jonathan's)

Andromeda-Greek-beautiful maiden rescued by Perseus (Jonathan's that will never happen in this lifetime, but that I leave on the list to be nice)

Marishka- Russian- I can't find it's meaning again

Ivy-English-Ivy plant (go figure)

Isla-Scottish-island ( again go figure)

Selene-Greek-moon (2nd least favorite)

Amelia-Latin-industrious (I like the meaning more than the name)

Rebecca (Rebekah)- Hebrew-tied (we are uncertain as to how to spell this one)

Katherine-Greek-Pure

If by chance our ultrasound is wrong the baby would be Xavier Hudson Ritchie. Why can't naming a girl be as easy as naming a boy for us.

Now it's time for NAME THAT BABY!

I did pop off and tell Jonathan we should name her Burgundy in honor of our wine making. lol

New posts to come.

I plan to post about our potty training adventure, insanity in nesting, and more. I know it's almost too much excitement for you.

Stay tuned (I have to finish sorting out clothes people have outgrown before I can come out and play).

$5 or $10

I don't give my kids an allowance (even at the age of three). My children have been required to do chores and in turn earn a commission. Thank you Dave Ramsey.

Here is the question of the hour. Victoria and Jackson each earn $5 a week. $1 per chore. Realistically they do more than 5 chores, but they are paid for 5 specifically tailored tasks.

Recently I've fallen off of the wagon of setting a list and paying them, something I am about to rectify.

Should I up V's chore list and her wage from 5 chores to 10 and $5 to $10? It seems fair, she's 9 and Jackson is 5 and she usually does more work around the house on a normal basis.

Downsizing

I'm seriously considering down sizing my Internet presence.

I've already eliminated my neglected (almost unused) twitter and myspace accounts. Now I'm debating eliminating my too frequently used Facebook account. It isn't that I don't like Facebook, it's that I spend too much time on there, being nosey and babbling on my status. In the process my little blog gets neglected. Things I would post here get a few sentence blurb there and they never see the light of day here. I consider the journal here a good indication of life, my thoughts and my family, but records aren't being kept when they are wasted there.

I've attempted deactivating my Facebook, but to reactivate you just log back in. That's far too easy. I may wait until the baby comes so I can alert friends to her arrival, but I haven't decided yet. I also find it strange and frustrating that I have over 350 friends. Yeah, I'm a friendly person and I know a lot of people, but seriously, that is ridiculous. Do most of them really care, or is it just nosiness? I'm leaning toward the latter. I've down graded from over 400. That's just nuts.

For now I will try to pay more attention to my little blog and less to the abyss that is Facebook. I have a feeling I will soon be cutting the Facebook cord though.

The hazards of sweet tea.

My oldest sister learned the hazards of sweet tea the hard way Saturday night. She was boiling water to make it and accidentally poured it over her left hand while putting it in the pitcher.

Needless to say, she burned her hand...really bad. She iced it all night and went to the ER the next day at the recommendation of a pharmacist. She has 2nd degree burns on her left hand. It isn't pretty.

I'm glad it wasn't her right hand.

In typical Jonathan fashion he said he wanted a picture to make the backdrop on his work computer. Being my sis, she reciprocated with a picture on Facebook. All I can say is ouch.

Maybe deep down this is why I don't drink sweet tea.

I'll spare you the picture.

Coffee

As the last post was about caffeine it only seemed appropriate to continue with that theme.

I just started us on the path of Gevelia today.

I picked the coffee maker and coffees and they should arrive in the next couple of weeks. I really do like coffee, but I'm lazy and I long ago got rid of our non-programmable coffee maker. The beauty coming my way is programmable. I will awake to fresh brewed necessity...daily.

I can totally handle that.

Obviously the exhaustion of pregnancy is talking and caffeine feels like my only salvation.

Caffeine after 3

It's 12:11 and I'm still up. I should go to sleep. but I had a cup of coffee around 5.

I'm a genius.

Explenation

This will be short, as the story and discomfort are long and weird. The person mentioned in this post, may not read my blog, but I was unwilling to take that chance. That is why the blog has a new name and address.

I posted on Facebook something I was doing and this person drove 2 hours to my house just to chat, when she thought I would be home. No warning, no call (even though she's called me in the past, she acted like she didn't have my number). She has cut her hair very short (much like mine), is driving the same kind of car, and is now homeschooling other people's children. There is more to the story, but we would be here all day. I have questioned for years if this person has compulsive lying issues and I've determined that it is in my best interest to sever ties, non-confrontationally.

My first attempt was to block her on Facebook. Then I started receiving e-mails from mutual friends that she couldn't find me. I e-mailed them and said I was deactivating my account, which I did until I blocked all mutual friends. She requesting to follow me on Twitter also, I never tweet, but after 2 requests I closed the account. I have gone to the lengths of removing my name and phone number from Whitepage and Google searches online.

As I said before, if I want drama and discomfort I have kids for that. We will now return to your irregularly scheduled babble.

New Bible

I bought Jonathan a new Bible. He has started teaching our Sunday school classes and he prefers studying books of the Bible. I have a Life Application Study Bible and he has been using it in some of his preparations, leaving me with my small pocket Bible that I used to put in my purse and backpack for years (it's little). His personal Bible has no notes, just some cross referencing.

I ran to Mardel after a doctors appointment in Tulsa on Wednesday and bought him a new Bible. I didn't buy him the same one I have. I thought different notes might help in lesson preparation. I bought him an Archaeological Study Bible (no I didn't spend the price on the link on it, it was priced at $35-YES!). Now he has explanation and history between the 2. I hope he likes it and that it serves him well in his lesson preparation. Well see what he thinks when he gets home.

There is a difference.

Carina, you classify as old friend and family, you're much more than an acquaintance.

For those wondering, if you haven't done anything weird, uncomfortable, creepy or just general over stepping the line, you're good. I don't think this person reads this blog and I know she doesn't read my tweets, at this point I'm dealing in paranoia.

In light of recent events

I never imagined that I would have privacy issues in my own little Internet world. I'm insignificant and small. Very few read my stuff who don't know me, but even at that those few have become friends (Hi, Wai-waving like a crazy woman).

Unfortunately that has changed. Discomfort has come in the form of an old acquaintance who I feel is overstepping boundaries.

This blog may go temporally to invite only. I haven't decided yet. It isn't like I've posted much lately (yes, I'm a slacker). I'll give you warning so if I don't have your e-mail I can get it. I've also limited who can see my myspace, twitter (not that I tweet often), and I've deactivated facebook for the time being.

I'm a tired mother of 4 going on 5. I don't need drama or discomfort...that's what I had kids for.

My security and that of my family is too important. What bothers me is this discomfort is coming from someone I know, not a stranger. Shouldn't it be the strangers that freak me out?

Current prediction from the ultrasound.

It appears to be a girl. V didn't cry like the last 2 pregnancies.

V also turned 9 on the 16th...something is very wrong with that.

The twins turn 3 Saturday...also very wrong.

Blackberry season will take hold of our lives again for the month of July. We aren't moving to the farm this summer, b/c I can't/won't pick 8-10 hours a day pregnant, nor am I encouraged to by the family. I will pick on the occasional early Friday morning and work farmers market in B'ville on Saturday's.

Seriously?

Okay, I've lived in OKC and I know there is plenty to occupy yourself. This is too bazaar. Jessica Alba decided while in OKC to raise awareness of the shrinking population of the Great White Shark, by pasting posters around downtown.

Hmmm. Let's think about this...Oklahoma is land locked, so there are no sharks...other people have to pay to clean up the stuff she pasted. I think she could have come up with another way to raise awareness. This just seems dumb and pointless. I guess not being wealthy or a celebrity I just don't know what's important.

Stupid.

I dreamed a dream.

Actually Jonathan did.  We had a weird start to our morning.  I was so out of it.  I usually wake up with the alarm (5-5:30) and never get back to sleep until I finally force Jonathan out of bed usually around 6:15.  Then I go close the windows and turn off the attic fan and crash until 7:15-7:30.  

This morning was different.  I didn't really wake up until 6:10 and I was snoozing the alarm in my sleep.  When I woke Jonathan he was so out of it, all he could say was, "Was I ever in the military and did I have a tick bite that caused me to lose my memory?"  I told him no and he slept for another 10 minutes.  He apparently slipped back into a very real and convincing dream that made him need assurance of who he is and his life.  After he was awake it was clear to him how off the dream was, but at the time he was disturbed.  His parents in the dream weren't his parents and they talked about him and not too him in the dream.  They discussed how he was "60% less verbal" since the tick bite and how "he no longer talked and used his hand with grace and articulation".

It reminded me of one instance in my life that I still vividly remember an odd dream.  I had been to the dentist to have cavities filled.  I was 6, and I think I had 6 to fill so they gave me laughing gas and I fell asleep for the procedure.  When I woke up I couldn't' remember what my mom looked like.  I kept thinking she was a tall and broad, red headed woman (my mom is short, at that time not broad with dark brown hair), but I knew it was wrong and I had to see my mom to get this image out of my head.  It's so strange what the dream state can do to disorient our minds.

After Jonathan get up and left I went back to bed and slept until 8:30.  It's been a strange start to everyone's day.  I think I'll go have another cup of coffee and try to make myself do something.

Oklahoma Sovereignty

Check this out.

I love Oklahoma.

She's NOT off to see the Wizard...

She didn't make the show.  She's not very upset.  Shes a better woman than I would have been.

I will admit I am relieved, because we can keep our lives withou tinterruption and she can go to church camp.

We may not be in Kansas, but there is no place like home...okay, I'll shut up now.

She's off to see the Wizard...(UPDATED)

V auditioned for the Wizard of Oz this week and is at callbacks this morning.  I don't really care if she makes the show.  I'm just glad she auditioned and got a callback.  Last year when they did High School Musical she was just so glad to make the call back she wasn't heartbroken when she didn't make the show.  Honestly, it's not like it was Elementary School Musical, so she was prepared.

She a better woman than I was at that age.

The cast list will be up Monday afternoon.

*UPDATE*

She had a second callback this afternoon.   We are home and done.  Now we wait.  

I'm torn I'd like for her to make it, but I don't want her to rehearse 5 days a week for 5 weeks and she'll miss church camp.  I'll just have to be happy either way.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (UPDATED)

I am 3 months along with baby number 5.

Yes, that's right, number 5.

Yes, we are excited.

Yes, we know what causes this.

If its kisses are half as sweet as Owen's we may be destined for more, I make no guarantees at this point.

Jonathan is joking that I'm having triplets.  If I do he might not live, he predicted the twins.

That is all.

*UPDATE*

That is a valid concern Jeremy.  Fortunately when we found out we were having twins we bought and Expedition, so I still have 2 empty seats.  Now my children will only be allowed 1 friend at a time.

What's grosser than gross?

My children.  I love them, but they are nasty little buggers.

A stomach bug has taken over my house since Saturday.  3 of our 6 have fallen (I got sick only once, so I'm not counting me).  My house may never be clean, sterilized or non stinky again.

Please send matches I may just have to burn everything we own.  

Yuck.

Chrome

I have converted to a new internet system.  It's called Google Chrome.  With my appreciation of blogger and gmail and my constant use of igoogle and google it seemed a natural fit.  Over all I see fewer pop ups, it runs faster and spell check is built in.  It took a week or two to get used to it, but it logs the 9 most visited sites I use and when I open it I can just click the page I want.  If you're sick of Explorer or Firefox I recommend giving Chrome a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised.  I know I am.

For the record, I still have Internet Explorer to stream netflix and March Madness games on NCAA.com, because the sites don't support Chrome.  These are the only instance I use IE.

I think Google is trying to take over the world.  Maybe I should documenting a crazy conspiracy theory...or not.

Grrrrrr

We are in the middle of church upheaval.  I don't personally care for it.  Jonathan is a deacon and on the board and this has placed us directly the middle.  In the church leadership we are in the minority.

Why can't church leadership listen to their congregants more?  Right now I know we have a ton of people praying and our feelings don't match those of our elders.  It's hard to take our elders opinion seriously when they are not actively involved (as they should be) in the shepherding and spiritual growth of our church.  Those who make the church run, who work and are constantly trying to build our church in spiritual growth are being ignored for the desires of the elders.

Right now we aren't seeing them following God's plan we are seeing them following their own.

I will pray, I will study and I will fight for my church.  It's not about the building it's about the people that we have committed to work with and God's will.

Hot stuff!

I'm in love with these.  It's official, I'm like Pavlov's dog.  I got online and saw that they make deli sliced ones and I literally started to salivate.  I'm not joking.  I noticed this effect 2 days ago when I opened a new jar.  When I noticed the effect I told Jonathan.  He informed me that he has the same issue with pickled okra.

Something is wrong with us.

I Love Bruce Campbell! (Updated)

*The link is fixed.

You should totally listen to this.

This is Bruce Campbell on NPR.  I really believe he is one of the funniest actors ever.

HAPPY SQUARE ROOT DAY!

Here is a fun fact for the geek in us all.  Today is Square Root Day and it only occurs 9 times in a century. 

Now don't you feel smarter?

Go get your slide rule, your calculator or pencil and paper and have fun with some square roots today...or not.

Goodday.

I'm saddened by the passing of Paul Harvey.  May he rest in peace.

I hope is son and those who substituted for him for many years will carry on his News and Comment and The Rest of the Story.

I'm a bad blogger...but I'm okay with that.

It's been a busy week.

Jackson turned 5 Monday.  I'm not sure how it happened.  If you can explain how this happened I would love to know.

We had a standard week.  Jonathan did go and have a meeting with another division of his company.  At this time it means nothing.

We went to the Omniplex (or as it is now called Science Museum Oklahoma...I refuse to change it).  It's always a good time and Jackson got to make something blow up onstage during their Science Live show.

Now upset stomachs and  d******* are working their way through the children.  FUN!

Have a great week!

Deja Vu

I recieved a comment on this post from 2006.

Check the last comment.  I think it's cool that there is another former Sara Overstreet who homeschools.  What fun!  

Sara,

If you check back in, please feel free to leave a blurb, I'd like to know more about another homeschooling Overstreet.

Have a great day,

Sara

Rocket Man!

My Sooner's may have lost the BCS championship, but this is funny.  I really like Tom Coburn, I like his politics and his sense of humor.

I've only lost 1 bet and I haven't made another on a sporting event since 1994.  I had to buy my boyfriend dinner before a school dance when Arkansas beat North Carolina (or Duke, I can't remember which) in the NCAA Basketball Championship.  I didn't really care who won the game, but his parents were both Razorbacks and my dad live in NC at the time, so it seemed like an appropriate bet.

At 15 I guess losing money was better than embarrassment.  Now I'd take some minor embarrassment to lose of money any day.

Why yes, this is my red-headed step child!

No offense meant to red headed step children.  If you're that sensitive, I'm not the person to talk to.

I've been neglecting the blog since my DH is back from China and then has been home (really with us all day) for a week and a half.

I promise I still love you and I will spend time with you again soon, but I haven't been carrying the laptop around with me for comfort and one sided adult conversations (me reading what you all write).  I've still been reading and lurking, I've just stapled my tongue and haven't responded.  

Hopefully I will this week, but there will be no promises.

Also a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all (to all three people who read this).

I'm so glad...

...that he's home.

I promise a longer report later.

Things to come, knock of Rolex's, pearls, other cool gifts, call girls, karaoke, and other weird things about China, dead mice and a broken refrigerator. There is a lot to laugh at.

Until then have a warmer day than I am.

Oh, you nieve, silly girl!

I was looking back at blog posts from 2005.

This one caught my attention.

Had I only known. In December I posted something talking about my 2 kids and ONE on the way. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Here was my announcement in January of 2006.

It all just seems so weird now. Potty training of the twins will occur in at least the next 6 month (Yes, I will use the book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day again). I'm able to remove the office baby gate now. For some insane reason we are discussing whether or not to have more.

It's official we are out of our minds...but you already knew that. The question is if we have one more, what's to stop us there and not make it 2 and heaven forbid we have another set of multiples? Granted the twins have been out easiest "kid". We always had agreed on 4 kids, but we don't feel ready to say were done...yet*. We must be crazy.

*I am at liberty to change my mind at a moments notice.

Dad-gum-it!

I am obsessed. Do you know what has kept me more company while Jonathan was way (Internet site wise, I have engaged my children too)?

The Pioneer Woman

I've found her site by chance (Tiffany had it linked and then a friend on Facebook became a fan, so I clicked) and after reading a little I laughed...hard. After reading her, about her and more of her blog, some things fell into place it my head. I guessed without names listed on her blog where her hometown is. I know some of MM's family. I know the area she lives in. I've even met her brother. I'm almost certain I know where she got married.

It's a small world and getting smaller.

I have read some of her archives and I've enjoyed it. I've spent (wasted) a lot of time doing that while Jonathan has been gone. Unfortunately it's been after the kids have gone to bed and I've been very tired (lazy) the next day.

Now I have go get some work done before we pick Jonathan up tonight (YEAH!). Darn computer. Darn funny Pioneer Woman. Okay, maybe reading one more post won't hurt. lol

I'm stalking Shanghai.

Can you actually stalk a city? I'm sitting here with my love (the laptop), and as I rome the Internet I am checking in on the current time in Shanghai.

It is now 1:13 PM (11:13 PM Central Standard Time).

My darling Jonathan's flight home will be so fast that he will leave Shanghai at 6PM Saturday night and he will arrive at Chicago O'Hare at 5:10 PM Saturday night. lol That's quick (if you don't understand just nod and smile awkwardly). He will arrive in Tulsa around 10:10PM. Can I get a "Hallelujah!"

I went to the grocery store to buy him lots of meat (real meat, not Sea Cucumbers, Octopus, or Chicken Feet). I'm greeting him with some type of cold meaty sandwich or wrap from a place at the mall that he likes.

It's now 1:19 PM in Shanghai.

Good Night!

Can I vomit...please?

There is a dead mouse in my kitchen. I'm not sure where (cabinet, vent, wall), I don't know. I caught a whiff yesterday while I was cooking. I noticed it by the side door, where I had the computer set up so I could watch movies while I baked.

Today the smell is a bit stronger, but it's ridiculous when the heat comes on. Could he be in my vent? I think maybe...I want to barf and I can't (won't) move my computer until the heat kicks off, so I came to the office to say that my kitchen stinks.

I hope he ate Decon so he stops stinking fast. The disadvantages of a 108 year old house.

Yuck!

I'm having an affair...

...I'm sleeping with...the laptop.

No, not in a dirty way, seriously get your mind out of the gutter. It just sounded funny that I was sleeping with the computer.

The last 3 nights I've slept with the computer by me. I've been reading blogs, playing games (on *Webkinz World) and watching Netflix DVDs after everyone has gone to bed. At mom's I slept on the couch and I had it plugged in by it. Tonight it's just too cold to sit in the living room so I've brought the computer and a movie (TV show) to bed.

Here's to at least 30 minutes uninterrupted as the kids go to sleep.

*Yes, I do enjoy the children's games on Webkinz World. Some are very challenging.

Weathermen are liars...

...is all I'm saying.

We're home from my mom's. I'm tired. I miss Jonathan. I'm cold. My mom keeps her house at 70 degrees or more. Mine rarely sees higher then 65, it's currently 60. I'm looking forward to enjoying my bed, my chairs and the basic things that make home...well home.

I expected a slick icy drive. We said a prayer before we pulled out of mom's driveway. I never saw or felt a slick spot. Weathermen are liars...but I'm okay with that...today.

Answer

2 posts down is a question. Here are three answers.

This is the answer I cam up with…it’s correct.

5+5+5≠550

This is the answer Jonathan cam up with…also correct.

5+5+5≤550

Here is the answer given. I never would have come up with it.

5+545=550

Boomer! Sooner!

I'm pretty much with my friend Jeremy on sports. The only team Jonathan and I follow at all is OU and even that is patchy, but they are the school we consistently support. We did by chance watch the OU vs. OSU game Saturday. We both went to OSU, but grew up fans of OU and never changed that. It was our 3rd game to watch all season (I told you we are patchy at following a team). We know when they win, but rarely do we find our time worth spending in front of the TV (a nod to another Jeremy post).


Saturday night before the game a plane had been flying around Stillwater.


Here's what it was about.


"Parks said his group has raised more than $7,000 to pay for the signs and to foot the bill for a private plane that will fly Saturday morning over Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., site of the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game. The plane will take to the sky during ESPN’s College GameDay program towing a banner reading “45-35, Settled on a Neutral Field."

Ironic that Texas fans seem to forget it was a 3 way tie for the Big 12 South. They must not be well educated to think that 3 means 2 south of the Red River.

My dad sent me this today and I laughed.

Can you solve this problem?

Can you make 1 straight line to make the answer of this equation true?

5+5+5=550

The answer will be posted tomorrow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We normally decorate the day after Thanksgiving. This year we decorated the Sunday after. Here are a few pictures of our tree.

This is the most popular ornament. It's the Wright Brother's flier. Maybe we have little engineers on our hands.

I bought red, gold and silver icecicles and I think they're neat.

To prevent the babies from causing too much trouble the bottom of the tree is covered with stuffed ornaments from my mom's house and poinsettia heads. The tree is dotted with the poinsettias. It makes for a lot fewer things to put on the tree and makes decorating quick.

Black Friday

I don't do it. Not in a normal sense at least. I have only gotten up once in my life at 4 am to stand in line and that was at least 6-7 years ago to buy Jonathan a pocket gameboy (now at least the 5th gameboy back). Why? I'm not sure, he's not a huge videogamer, but it seemed like a good idea. I realized that morning that unless it seemed like a life or death situation, I was going to value my sleep more. People were rude and pushy. Needless to say I haven't gotten up since.

I have also never failed to procure what I want either. At least when we are in or go through Jonathan hometown. Cleveland has a small Wal-Mart. The kind you rarely see, just a plain old Wal-Mart of the style before they went 24 hour and huge. Cleveland is close enough to Tulsa and the suburbs that most people go to those places, so they can hit other stores that aren't in their small town. I go somewhere between 9 and 10 and haven't failed to buy what I planned, yet. People are much kinder and more patient at 9-10. They're still cranky, but they aren't trying to channel Satan (like some at 5 am).

This year I wasn't sold on buying anything, but with Jonathan having a 19 hours on a plane from Tulsa to Beijing I thought an mp3 player would be nice. He doesn't want to take the laptop, so he would be stuck with a book that might make him tired or the movie on the plane. He's been told to try and stay up until "normal" bedtime the day he lands to keep the jet lag down, by most everyone. I dropped several books on CD to the computer for this purpose.

Jonathan went with me and I assumed he would poo poo the idea, but once he started looking at the 2 deals I had intended to look at he warmed up to the idea. Not only did we buy one for him, he bought one for me too.

I picked this Phillips 2GB that was $29 and I bought the accessory pack for $10, so I have a case ans hook (or I will drop it).

We agreed he needed a bigger one for his trip, so he picked this 8GB RCA for $49. We didn't buy the accessory pack for $10, but I'm going to go back and get it (it comes with an a/c charging adaptor)

We aren't picky enough to need ipods, we won't use them that often, so the price isn't worth it. I've been transferring books to mine and just loaded itunes to pull podcasts of Rush after the show is over. I can listen later if I miss it and I don't have to stay at the computer or blast it's speakers.

These we agreed will be our 10 year anniversary presents. It seems funny having them. For as tech savvy as we can be, when it comes to mp3 players and cell phones we just don't care (we've gone so far as to cancel our contract and go to pay as you go cells). Trying to get used to the players is a little weird and at time frustrating, but they are nice.

So close

This Christmas season is going to be weird. Not the important part of celebrating the birth of Christ, but the activities and the way things are done will be.

We weren't home the day after Thanksgiving so the tree wasn't put up, but we did put it up yesterday afternoon.

Most of my shopping is done. Last night I wrapped and put stuff under the tree (usually a late December event). Jackson asked since there were flurries if we could open gifts tonight. I've been picking up a gift or 2 a week for 5 weeks after the kids go to bed on my weekly Wal-Mart trip.


The (very little) shopping I have left is for Christmas in Norman so I will finish that while I'm down there at the end of the week, so I can leave it there.


I will spend 8 days this month without my husband. He leaves Friday. We will leave for Norman right after and stay until Tuesday, when we will resume life as usual here.


While in Norman we will miss the Poinsettia tree service at church (Jackson tucks the poinsettias under his arm and runs up the aisle like a football player...lots of laughs).

While Jonathan is gone he will miss the homeschool field trip to Woolaroc's Festival of Lights and Bethlehem in Bartelsville. I'm not too keen to go alone with the kids, because we are able to attend both the day before he comes home. All I can imagine is this equation ME+4KIDS+NONAPS+ENDOFMYROPE=EXPLOSION. It may not be that bad, but I'm not sure.

When Jonathan returns it will be 12 days until Christmas. This just seems weird to not have him here for a chunk of the month.

Jonathan's will be home from work (between paid days off for holiday's and vacation) 12 days from Christmas eve until January 4th. That will be during our anniversary (10 years Dec 27th) which is nice.

I know it will all work out, but it just seems so foreign. It's almost like we are in another world.

I think I'm going to go turn on the tree, listen to some Bing Crosby Christmas music, make a cup of coffee or hot cocoa and light a candle that smells like I've been cooking (while I clean my kitchen). That will be normal. Familiarity can be so nice.


***DISCLAIMER***
In 30 minutes I'll probably be begging for change with my ADHD tendencies...lol