It Goes Without Saying.....

In my extended family, some things go without saying, like:
1. Will there be mashed potatoes? Of course, everybody eats mashed potatoes with nearly every meal!!!! Several of us went to Cracker Barrel and the waitress asked Granddaddy if he was ready to order..he was and said,"I'll have chicken and dumplins," and closed his menu..the waitress said,"What side would you like?" Granddaddy looked around the table and said,"What do you mean, I thought is was understood that mashed potatoes came with chicken and dumplins." It is just understood that any time we are together, there will be mashed potatoes.

2. Watching the ballgame...my family are diehard Kentucky Wildcat fans. If you call during the ballgame and say,"Whatcha doin?" the answer will ALWAYS be,"Watching the ballgame," there is never a need to explain who is playing or who is winning, as they are probably "watching the ballgame, too"......A few years my husband asked my great aunt which team we were cheering for, the blue or red, and he was given the death look! He didn't realize EVERYBODY cheers for the blue team.

In our family there are also some things we DO say that may not be common in other families:
1. I Love You, no matter the relationship, grandparents/grandchildren, aunt/niece, the conversations ends with either, I love you or Love you'all... About a week ago, my manly uncle (even though he wears nail polish), said,"Love you'all" before hanging up...every conversation ends that way.
2. How much did that cost? If a house or car is bought, someone will probably say,"How much you pay for that?" No need to get offended, just answer the question...they probably know the rest of your business anyway.

Talk to you soon, love you all!!

Some Things Never Change

OK, some things never change--- though most things around here are constantly changing. The cast of characters is the same, with a couple of additions... lots of things are similiar and several things are in a state of upheaval....same as everyone, I guess.

Constants
1. Big Daddy and I have celebrated our 16th anniversary and the anniversary of the 20th year we have known each other. He continues to work toward a mission....reach the time of retirement with a smile on his face. Seems we are happier at this very minute than ever..
2. I am currently not working, at least not a job I have to leave home for..taking kids to school, take the dogs outside, pick up the kids, take the dogs out--anything else I accomplish is icing on the cake.
3. The Future Trooper has grown a foot and it attached to his cell phone and its texting capablilties.
4. Little Girl is thriving in school but dealing with a tad of the "mean girls" time in life. She received a Slimed Dell mini for Christmas is trying out its bells and whistles. She has started playing basketball and is enjoying it.
3. The Angel is halfway through kindergarten and is officially a reader. He writes me notes telling how much he loves me.
4. We have added two new members to our family. Jasper, a goldendoodle, was brought home by Big Daddy (no kidding) in March and we have adjusted swimmingly..he's very smart and terribly spoiled. He sleeps on the bed more times than not and we pretend not to notice how big he really is. Piper, a long haired dachshund pound puppy, has been with us since September and is spoiled rotten. She has chewed several lamp cords and has torn the fringe from my "good pillows." We love her anyway.

UPHEAVAL
We have gone public with our plans to move to Eastern Ky..we are actively in negotiations to buy a house. It's a painful process and that is after the money is acquired! People are funny when it comes to selling their property, all I'm saying.. Our realtor is a pit bull (in a wonderfully good way) and helps us at every turn.

I feel better already knowing before long we will officially be residents of the Daniel Boone National Forest, the 606 area code and a just around the corner from my favorite people. Daily I am reassured that it is the right thing to do and I am anxious to have it DONE! Talk to you soon

UPDATE!

Over the last few weeks I have struggled with diiaaalllluuuupppp internet! Here are some updates:
1. I have successfulle completed 3 weeks at my new job! I have gotten to know most of the kids. I admit I was not prepared for some of the struggles the kids face. One boy in particular is in the care of his aunt because his mother died and his father is not around~he is such a sweet kid and I wonder what he will become.
There are also kids that are incredibly disrespectful! Mrs. Butterworth would have smacked my mouth, but these kids don't have that discipline at home!

2. We have had three sleepovers in the last two weeks. Little Girl had someone over the last two weekends and Future Trooper had someone over last Saturday. Big Daddy said we should coin the name "eat overs" because they eat everything in sight at sleepovers.

3. We took our bunch plus an extra boy to the birthplace of Abe Lincoln. Little Girl is writing a report about Abe and it seemed like a good resource. It was the Sunday before the inaguration and I was overwhelmed with the thought
of one of our finest presidents coming from such humble roots as well as MLK day approaching and the inauguration of our first african american president as well as one of the youngest. It made me wonder what I had actually accomplished in my years!

Everyone say YIPPEE for snow days! I hate snow but snow days ie, no work days, are a different thing entirely!

Beginnings!

Tomorrow I am starting a new job and am SO looking forward to the change!~

I am leaving working with adults all day to working with kids all day! I will be an asst. at Little Girl's elementary school. My angel will be attending there in the fall so we will only be a few hallways apart~poor little fella, he may NEVER get rid of his mother!

Little Girl is secretly worried that I will dance inappriorately or ask her if she is wearing deodorant at the lunch table or such....I won't, at least not the first week.

Wish me luck!

Pretty blogs!

Several months ago I happened upon a blog that I now read almost every day! Erin and her husband have a wonderful adopted son and a super big family. They have had wonderful times this year as well as devastating times! I have been there through it all! (Never met Erin, but feel like a part of her family). Anyway, she is designing blogs now! You can go over to www.designerblogsbyerin.blogspot.com or just to read her family events at www.mikeerinandbryson.blogspot.com

I don't get it!

I forgot, once again, that I am boycotting everything Oprah and watched her yesterday! It was all about dogs with special talents. Ya'll know how I am about dogs...... Oprah asked the audience if there was anyone who was NOT a dog lover. One lady said,"I am not." Oprah said,"What's not to like?" Anyway, Oprah and I are friends once again.

What's not to like about a dog? My stupid little chihuahuas (they share a brain, taking turns using it) are like little people on speed. BUT, I can go outside for 5 minutes and when I come back in~they are thrilled to see me! The kids don't know I have even left and THE DOGS are glad I am home.


Me? Nothing better than having a dog to cuddle up to.....(OOPS! Except Big Daddy, course) ! Nothing better than the quiet companionship and constant devotion of a dog.

My friend Dr. S has her dogs ASHES sitting on her fireplace mantle. Big Daddy rolled his eyes and said,"No, I am not digging any dog up so you can have fireplace mantle ashes, too." Like I would ask him for help digging them up!

I would be remiss without saying, just for good measure, "Phil, CWT and JPT NEED a dog, or at least a whiney old cat."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

At our house anytime someone says a prayer you will hear Little Girl say,"and God Bless the Soldiers." Don't forget your military people currently serving around the world or their children being without a Dad or Mom at Christmas. Two years ago, we WERE that family and it was incredibly hard on the kids. Merry Christmas! God Bless the Soldiers. Below you will can see how our soldiers spend their Christmases!