vocabulary, depression, custody, and Parent Teacher Conference.

~Red~ we were going out to dinner as a family and trying to decide where to go.... All the Kids voted for wingers. Hubby said " well I guess it is unanimous" Red piped up. "Isn't unanimous when you don't know who did it?" I then explained that was anonymous.

~ I weighed myself yesterday....... I am now so totally depressed, it is a wonder I could pry my big butt out of bed.

~ We didn't get custody of the boys, it takes 6 months to a year to do a state to state custody. I didn't want the boys to be in the center anymore. Their uncle who lives in the same state has them I haven't talked to them yet but I hope they are doing well.
~ Parent Teacher Conference~

2Cool, 13, Eighth grade, We saw 5 of his teachers. (The classes he has either d- or f's in.) Love his English Teacher, super nice and so willing to work with him. Math teacher, nice lady, she said she loved having him in her class. She is willing to work with him and talked to him about having parents who care about him and his grades. 2Cool, hadn't been speaking to me for 2 days, because I was on him about his grades. (Except when he wanted money of course.) She said don't you think your mom wants to be the nice person all the time and not have to be the meanie. I could have kissed her. I get really tired of being the heavy hand.

His science teacher has no people skills, and was very rude. He called 2Cool "lazy" at one point and I corrected him. His Social Studies teacher is one of the hardest in the school. I was overwhelmed just talking to her.

Red~11, Fifth Grade, good kid, good grades, for the most part. Needs to work on reading as well.
Cutie's~ 3rd grade, 9 years old, Her teacher talked about what an amazing artist and good girl she is. She sits quietly in class and is kind and helpful to others. She is really struggling with reading. and doing well with multiplication.

Little Man~ First grade, 7 years old, Doing really well~ We are working on handwriting.His teacher says he is super quiet. out of all my kids he is the quietest. Yay! What a difference a year makes. I am at this point really glad we held him and BigD back a year.

BigD~ first grade, 7 years old. His hand writing is still bad. His fine motor skills leave a lot to be desired. I am finally able to read about 1 in 5 letters. His numbers is where I see the biggest progress! They actually resemble numbers. He does really well on his spelling tests, they let him type them in the computer lab. He is a good boy in class.

What do you do when your son is a snot to all those around him?

I have a 13 year old boy! Going cheap!

The last bit of the Facebook thingme...

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Neither! I love a good suspense thriller! Hate sappy movies. See #2
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Madagasgar 2~with my kids
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? White
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, You can always put more clothes on. But if you are naked and still hot, good luck with that!
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Both! from my kids mostly.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Skullduggery Pleasant~
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? None, is that bad?
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Nothing, we don't have T.V.
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S). The sound of my kids being kind to each other!
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Scotland
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? None come to mind!
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Logan
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? Through my sister, it is kind of a long story
I took some of the really dumb questions out! So the numbers don't line up correctly.

The Middle 15 of the facebook thing.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? There is not enough space to list them all! I hate how I never seem to shut -up! I need to learn to listen more!
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Grandma Bardwell
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? I am not even going to tag anyone. I don't want them to feel obligated.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No shoes and pink pj bottoms.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The back door squeaking, and my oldest son needle felting.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Macaroni and Cheese, yes it really is a color in the crayola box. 64 box, I mean. Mostly because I think the color name is funny!
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Rain in the summer, cedar wood, spring flowers!
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My neighbor. She needed a Diet Coke.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Highland games.
27. HAIR COLOR? dark brown, and grey. stupid grey!!!
28. EYE COLOR? dark brown
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes, I can't see well with glasses.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? eastern Indian, mmmm curry!

The first 15 of the 48 questions about me..... more later.

I copied this from Face Book, no one commented there, so I though I would give it a shot here.
It is only the first little bit. Didn't want to scare you all away.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not really, my mom liked her cousin Bonnie, but that wasn't why she named me that. Her mom also had a friend, who was beloved, who's name was Bonnie.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I cry all the time over stupid stuff, that is why I don't do movies or books that are sad!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes yes.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Italian Roast Beef
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes, 5 ~that is why I am insane.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I don't know. I sometimes wonder about how I come across to other people!
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Only all the time!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? It would depend on if someone told me I couldn't!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Kellogs Oh's. But I never eat them in milk or for breakfast.
11. WHATS on your IPOD? I don't own one!
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Raspberry Cheesecake with chunks of Cheesecake in it!
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? I don't really know!
15. RED OR PINK? Red

Blog Lunch...... Needle felting

First and foremost, I just want to give a shout out to Kristina for hosting a blog lunch yesterday. It is funny how small the world is, and how a group of ladies can get together from all walks of life and times in their lives and gab for hours. Lunch started at 1:00 and we left the restaurant around 4:00 crazy!!! I met some really fun women who do cool things and some of that is just being a woman! Authors, singers, songwriters, mothers, social workers, forensic technicians........ etc. 39 women in one restaurant, and one lone man! Brave, brave man! Kristina has the list of who was there on her blog.

Then I stopped at Jo's on the way home and she taught me how to needle felt! So awesome! Thanks Ladies for such a great day!

I made the little one with Jo, and showed 2Cool , and he made the big one.

When he saw this picture of himself, he said" WOW!!!! COOL!!! you can see facial hair." I didn't have the heart to tell him he has looked like that since he was born. Puberty is consuming his every thought these days. Jo suggested I do an armpit hair ticker on my side bar. I think we are up to 8.

Thanks to my hubby for holding down the fort and earning the money so I could get out for the afternoon.

Hot mess!

Okay ladies, I need your knowledge and assistance.

After 12 inches of snow yesterday, when the kids came home from school so did a flood of snow and water.

The snow clothes are taking over the house!! They are going to haul us away in the night.

I need an inexpensive non-permanent solution to this hot mess!

The facts you need to know.

We rent, so no mud room available.

I have 5 kids of my own, and there are usually extras here!

I want the mess to be able to dry and not be scattered everywhere!

What do you do, what have you seen done?

What do you do with all the gloves, hats, boots, coats, snow pants..... etc.

I am sick of the mess and need a solution.

What is with this kid and putting things on his head? "Hey mom, look at my mullett!" Hubby and I were going out for the evening and he was fixing dinner. Guess what they were having?

Love his handsome face and cute Freckles! Red, you Rock!!!

Job?

A friend of mine has said he would give me a good recommendation at his work so I could get a job. I need a job, and hate to go out looking forever. This is nice because the job is at a book store and I wouldn't have to apply a bunch of places.
Here is the crux of the problem, it is my policy not to work for friends and family. What would you do? It is a job I would love doing! I am good with people and I LOVE books. I would just be stocking shelves. I need an active job, I don't want to be sitting at a desk. I am torn. My hubby has wanted me to get a job for a while now. I have worked for 12 of the 15 years we have been married so it isn't like I am a slacker. Should I give it a try. They are willing to work with me on my hours.

Dinner conversation brought to you by Big D

Dinner at my house is never a quiet affair, it is a fun time though. Even if my kids manners are still a work in progress, and I usually have to ask several to chew with their mouths closed, and remind them that their elbow is not a hinge that is attached to the table.
Tonight we were just visiting, and someone asked for more chicken and we were having pork. So we got on the subject of where different foods come from.
Me~ " What do we get from Cows?"
BigD~ "Milk, milk comes from cows."
Me~ "Where do eggs come from?"
BigD~ "Hens, we get eggs from hens.
Me~ "Where do hot dogs come from?"
Big D~ " Buns!"

He is a busy kid but, he sure is a lot of fun to have around.

Food for thought!

No the poster and the post have nothing to do with each other. Just a couple of things on my mind lately. This is a poster from WW1. weird how similar things are now.

Did you know...... that each American, man woman and child would have to put $33,000.oo into the national debt to get us close to even. In my family alone we would need $210,000.oo.

That was the total we came up with last night. I am sure today it is different. So start scraping together your money and send it to the government. Yeah, right!!! They will send it to the banks, who we all know will just use it for a pedicure.

Homework

Look how cute these two are doing their homework. I took this picture for 2 reasons.
1~ BigD isn't crying. It seems he is always crying while doing his homework! He hates it!
2~ Please take note of the "Shaggy Sandwich" BigD made it for himself, and insists on doing so, but he never finishes eating the dang thing! (It does make me giggle, just a little to see him munching away on it.) He loves Scooby-do so much!

Update on the boys!

We found out today that the boys are going to stay in the custody of the state. Which means we could still get custody at some point. They are sending us paperwork. I have no idea what they need to know, or how much of our lives they are going to find out about. It makes me nervous. I have nothing to hide, you just don't always want everyone knowing all of your business.
It is good though because, they aren't going with their mom who just wants the oldest boy because he gets a social security check every month. (We would put that money in a savings account for his college education.)
To give you an idea, her boyfriend just got his taxes back, so he went and bought a trailer for them to live in. That way the boys would have somewhere to live. She thought it might help her get custody. Which to me begs the question, where the heck were they living before? I don't think she works, or has any other kids. But I don't know. Needless to say she doesn't keep in contact with us.
That is all we know so far. I still have mixed feelings, I just want the best for them but, I am scared to death to have them here! Is that awful?

I love Gregor... Just don't tell my hubby.

I just finished reading a series of books. For those of you who know me well, you know that isn't uncommon. Lately I have been on a childrens fiction kick. So this is what catagory these books fall in.

I LOVED this series of books!!! Thanks Deb. I couldn't put the last one down. My hubby was so annoyed with me yesterday. I just wish there was a 6th one, but alas, there isn't. They are about war and Gregor's adventures in the underland. I think Ripred is my favorite character. I will miss Gregor, and his family both under and overland.

Suzanne Collins has also written a book called the "Hunger Games" It is good, but I would not recommend it for kids. Adults yes! It has a creepy premise, but I could hardly put it down as well! I am looking forward to the next one coming out in September.

Jerry Springer has nothing on us!

I have debated about posting this........
But decided I need to, for reasons of posterity. On Monday, we found out that the home Hubby's brothers, only child, is living in, was raided by the police. Because, the 2 adults in charge, were running a Meth Lab, and had other drug paraphernalia in the house. The children were taken into protective custody. We live several states away so, have never met the adults our nephew, and his 2 half siblings were living with. We had no idea this was going on. It breaks my heart for those kids. We have been in communication with the Department of Human Services in that state and talked to the investigator. We have let them know that we would love to have the two oldest boys here. Now these boys are, just barely 14 and, the other one is turning 13 in September. I have only met the oldest one once, when he was 6 months old, at his Daddy's funeral. The other boy's father was the one arrested. I was told tonight that it is between us, and the uncle of the man they were living with. Their mom has not been in the picture for years, she left the boys in the custody of the old boyfriend and the new girlfriend, but I guess she could still get custody. That is if the judge had completely lost all his marbles. We find out on Tuesday, hopefully.
I just keep praying that whatever the Lord wants to happen, will. I just want what is very best for them. I am not even saying that we would be the best option. There are so many issues, some of them are my own. I just don't want them to continue with the life they have had.
Sounds like something off of Jerry Springer doesn't it. If you new all the players in the tale you would agree 100%!
2Cool just asked if he could fast, that his cousin could come here to live. I don't think he has any clue how his life would change.

I want to thank the Acadamy.....

Did you notice the time?? Yes, it is midnight and I am still up. No, I am not blogging, I am helping 2Cool with his homework. We laughed our fool butts off! Yes, I wish literally.
He needed a commercial for his health class. I never did become clear on the point of the whole thing.
He came up with the idea, his friend donated his family's goats. We donated time, and our crappy camera. This is the first time either of us has done anything like this. So it is really rough! It is really short, but if you aren't family you don't have to watch it. We had fun! It is lame, but we love it! My dress will be plum, with a v neckline. 2Cool will be wearing the latest smart, pinstriped tux. Watch for us on the red carpet. (you have no idea how long it took us to create this thing)

School of crafty!

See this cute little piggy, Jo made it for me. It is a birthday gift for someone. My kids think his name should be Carl, Bob, or Mr. Piggy! Because we are re-focusing on school work. We have turned off the cable. Movies and computer time has to be earned. So this is our new Feb. center piece. I got the idea from Tausha, it is just one of those picnic things you put your silverware and napkins in. It had really ugly flowers painted on the side so I repainted it. $1.50 was all it cost me.

Fun stuff

A few months ago I posted a note that Cutie wrote. Need less to say it wasn't as nice as this one. She is such a doll, we are always getting notes like this from her.A week ago it snowed here, a bunch of the neighbor kids came over and decided to build a snowman. I think they had a great time! Look at those happy faces. Cutie is the one in the blue coat.

Look at this tired face! He is one happy, tired, kid. Why you ask? He spent the day up snowboarding at a local ski resort. All of the 5th graders got to go. This was his first time! He did remarkably well. A neighbor who went up said he was so good, she had no idea it was his first time. He was really sore this morning. I wish I would have thought about sunscreen.

I hate school!

I am going to......... I don't know what I am going to do.
2Cool is failing in school.
I have talked to a counselor and don't know the answer. Seriously right now, he hasn't even turned in assignments, that he has spent hours completing! He is missing more than he has turned in! I want him to feel some success in school so, he can feel good about himself. I canceled T.V. today, and I called Sylvan learning center.
I just want to beat him soundly about the head and shoulders. He says he is too stupid. But when he turns in assignments he does well. So I know he isn't stupid.
Help! I have tied the knot and I am hanging on.
Is 13 too young to send him to military school?

Superbowl........our way.

All I have to say is GOOOOO Eagles!! I so hope they beat BYU tonight.
I really don't care for the game, my dad made some crack tonight about whoever was playing, he hoped they beat BYU. NO, he isn't senile, he was kidding. Then Amy kept saying that the eagles were playing.
Really, you should have heard the noise in the room until, a good commercial would come on and we all would get really quiet. We are so pathetic! But it was fun to get together tonight to watch the game and celebrate.