Fun on the Frozen Tundra

Needless to say, the kids had a blast over the last 3 days of no school. What can I say except I fixed a lot of hot chocolate, washed a lot of clothes, dealt with lost gloves, have a huge heap of white stuff on my shady front step, had a blast sledding with friends, told Ellie that she could stop sleeping with her PJs on inside out and backwards and WAS VERY GLAD that school was back in on Friday!!!

Read More

The Blogosphere

When I started blogging 2 1/2 years ago, it was out of desperation.

Scrapbooking was my hobby, but it was out of hand. 3 kids, 3 years of pictures, an unorganized and endless supply of scrapbooking stuff, plus a stack of wonderful (but bulky) albums (where to store em?).

I would go on a weekend retreat and come home with only 10 new layouts. I enjoyed the time with friends, but when it comes down to it, I am too much of a I've-got-to-get-something-done-today kind of girl that it drove me crazy.

In August 2006, my brilliant friend Kelly Stocksen (am I a Kelly Stocksen commercial or what?) introduced me to blogging as a way to record the moments of our lives. I was immediately hooked. Click here to see my very first post.

I went on for a couple years just blogging for myself and the occasional family member or friend who would check in and comment.

But then, a few months ago, I got connected with some other bloggers who shared my interests... some I knew personally and some I didn't. But because of their blogs, I began to know them through their written word. And this past Friday, we all came together at the "Okie Hoe-Down" and met in real life.

It was kind of a surreal moment.. especially when Flat Baloney showed up (check out her blog to understand), but it was genuinely fun and interesting to get to know some Oklahoma bloggers. * * *all the bloggers who came to the Hoe Down (except Georgie!) * * *


* * * * * * Chere (A Day in the Life) and me and Flat Baloney * * * * * * *


* Me with Dawn of Dawn's Diversions and Michelle of Froggy Bottom Blog*


Speaking of Oklahoma bloggers, I recently found out that my blog was nominated for an Okie Blog Award. What? How? Me? I was nominated in the Family Blog category. Surprising and flattering and if you haven't already voted, you can vote for me by clicking on this link (but you have to be an Oklahoma blogger to vote.)There were some other nominees in attendance...

Jen @ 6 Happy Hearts has been nominated for Best Inspirational Blog

Annie @ Having a Ball has been nominated for Best Family Blog

Melinda @ Bloggin' it from the 'Burbs has been nominated for Best Family Blog

Dawn @ Dawn's Diversions has been nominated for Best Family Blog

Georgie @ Decisionally Challenged has been nominated for Best Humor Blog

Maggie @ Maggie's Mind as been nominated for Best Looking Blog

Flat Baloney @ That's Baloney has been nominated for Best Unusual Blog

Marie @ A Piece of my Mind has been nominated for Best Writing Blog

Check out their blogs on the Okie Award website!

And finally, I have a little plea for you... I have a lovely blogging friend in Louisiana who is pre-cious and is "Desperately Seeking Blog Makeover." She is so c-ute and a great dream interpreter. Won't you visit her and give her a little love and much needed help! Poor thing! ;-)

Post Note:
I am a proud grandma to several blogs that have been born. I feel since this is a blogosphere post, I must make mention of them! I played some kind of role in helping them come to life... sometimes tiny, but hey, I'll take the credit anyway! :-)

Keith Family
A Day in the Life
Something Singapore
The Next Big Event
Kim NOW
Iowa Pilot Wife
and a NEW ONE being born tonight!!!!! congrats L!!!

Read More

Birthday Wishes

My handsome husband had a birthday yesterday!

Here were some of his birthday goodies:

A card from Kami. Good thing he's not too sensitive. Could have been more like a punch in the gut seeing just how over the hill he is, according to her. She's not trying to be funny or mean. Just sayin' it like it is.

And on the inside, a special reminder about just how old he is... Granny called and sang to him, as she does EVERY ONE of her over 100 grandkids and grandkids'-in-laws. Is this the cutest thing you've ever heard? She's 97 and watches American Idol! And is calling herself one! OmiGOSH!!! Listen to her song below.

All I could manage for him was some birthday cupcakes and lots of hugs and kisses. I really feel bad about it... I wanted to do so much more!!!! This time of year is so crazy with basketball and all that it's so hard to make a big deal of his birthday. I guess since ORU won by 30 on his birthday, that is a pretty good present. But, he does have a little surprise coming on Sunday! I don't think he reads this thing too often, so I will tell you that his bday present begins with an i. A little i. So excited!!!!!

Read More

Mom Fuel

Last year, I went to hear Joe White, president of Kanakuk camps, speak when he came to town. It was an hour and a half full of nuggets of wisdom for moms, many of which I blogged about here.

Well, Joe came back! My sister and I didn't want to miss hearing him again... truly, some of the things he said a year ago have stuck with me the last 12 months. I needed another year of encouragement... mom fuel.

He hit a bunch of the same themes that he did last year, but some of the stuff I needed to hear again, loud and clear. Believe me. Because like I told you before, I make my share of mom mistakes. And when I get that note home from Luke's teacher for the 25th day in a row, the sighs roll out of my soul.

But Joe has been there done that. And has a lot of experience to share. Here are some new nuggets for ya.

*Parenting is like golf - it's something you keep working on your whole life.

*Be an encourager - when your kids go to bed at night, they need to know you are their biggest fan.

*Over the years, hide the verses in their heart that will guide them. You can't be with them at that party, but the word of God can be with them.

*Every night, when you put your kids into bed, share a scripture. Repeat it every night until they know it by heart, then pick a new one.

*When you feed your kids' bellies in the morning, look at it as a chance to feed their hearts too. All you need is 3 minutes to give them a bit of God's wisdom in their hearts. When they look at you and grunt, don't worry, it is getting through.

*Kids just need to talk. Ask them questions and don't try to solve their problems. Listen well. If you give too much advice or press too much, kids will avoid talking to you.

*Follow through. Kids want you to follow through, even if they don't act like it. Follow through.

*No kid wants to be able to buffalo their mom. Don't let it happen.

*Snoop all you want. Use findings with discretion.

*Lay by your kids at night. Even when they are 17. Ask question and listen to the answers.

*Cell phones, computers, ipods and cars are great opportunities to draw up a covenant between you and your child. Have them write a contract and sign it.

*Finally, he stressed the importance of each 24 hours of your child's life. Each day is a blessing. And then he emphasized that point with this video, called 99 balloons. I had never seen it, though my sister had. I guess it's been around for awhile. If you haven't seen it, watch it. But grab a kleenex.

Read More

Betcha Didn't Know...

...the real reason it snowed a little bit last week...
Any idea why here in this corner of Oklahoma we got that dusting of snow?
It had nothing to do with a cold front or precipitation.

It was because this child
pulled out all the stops.
She went to bat for all the children out there who were
keeping their fingers crossed for snow.

Ellie slept with her pajamas inside out AND backwards.
She slept with a spoon under her pillow
and flushed some ice down the toilet.

And whaddya know, the next morning,
with her nose pressed hard to the cold glass,
what did she see but white flakes falling daintily from sky
Next time you'd like some snow, you know who to call.

Read More

i HEART faces

i HEART faces has got to be one of the most awesome, most creative and totally inspiring websites I've seen in a long time. I love it from top of my head to the tips of my toes. Click on their button to check out this week's photography contest.

Here are my entries of two of my favorite people (one for the kid contest one for the adult contest) .... I so wish I were a phantastic photographer, but don't have the time or talent right now to sink into it. I do dream that one day I will be a self-made success like Kelly Stocksen!!! But let's get serious. That's not happening. She's a genius. Check out the site at www.iheartfaces.com and enjoy all the amazing images.

Read More

This is the Stuff Headlines are Made Of

Setting: 5th grade girls basketball tournament, high school gymnasium, Championship game
Time: 6 o'clock Sunday, 1 hour delayed start time

Situation: Tight game, competitive little girls, intensity on the court.

Dialogue:

Coach #1 yells at the referee, protesting that a foul wasn't called on the opposing team:
OVER THE BACK, REF!!!

Coach #2 laughs and shakes head, not seeing the foul, then questions loudly:
OVER THE BACK?

Coach #1 gets angry and yells at Coach #2:
ARE YOU MOCKING ME? ARE YOU MOCKING ME? I WILL MAKE SURE YOU NEVER MOCK ME AGAIN. I WILL COME OVER THERE AND KICK YOUR A**. MOCK ME AGAIN. MOCK ME AGAIN!!!

Coach #2 stunned, comes back with:
WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THIS IS A 5TH GRADE GIRLS GAME. AND YOU WANT TO FIGHT? (thinking I haven't been in a fight since Elementary School)

Coach #1: YEAH! I'LL BEAT YOUR A**! COME ON OVER HERE!!!!

This is the point where the headline could have been made. You've seen em before.


Asssault on Coach Stuns Colleagues
Parents Assault Rugby Coach During Game
2 Coaches Fight, Expelled From League

And you wonder how in the living world such a thing could happen. How could grown men come to blows over 10 year olds out there playing a GAME of basketball?

This, friends, is how it happens: Coach #1 has so little of a life that his significance rides on the outcome of this game. Or maybe that person is just an angry person in general. Or maybe he's just having a bad day. Whatever the case, he throws down the gauntlet.

And then Coach #2, being a man with God-given testosterone flowing through his body, feels the primal need to protect himself and BOOM, you've got yourself a bloody fight right there on the hardwood.

Thankfully, Coach #2, being the level-headed husband of mine, just said, YOU ARE CRAZY and turned away. His wife thought she was going to vomit for about an hour.

Read More