Hiding in the Parking Lot

Yesterday, while in one of our too many buck for U, cheap stores I saw someone I didn't want to see me.

So I Ducked Down.

Yes, I really did that.

In fact, I do that often or I just don't look up to catch their eye, hoping that they are doing the same.

I don't know why I do that exactly. I could say I do that because I don't want the public confrontation from a parent who thinks their darling is so special that even I remember his/her grades by heart in the store when I am trying to keep my son from climbing the isle racks. So special, that out of 118 other kids, I remember each assignment

grade for grade.

Those parents treat me like the other type of self-centered, world-revolves-around-me person out there who see his/her family dr. in public and ask him "Just a quick question" about gastrointeroitis. Or some other long named question like that.

Umm,. Yea. Not. So. Much.

However, I used to do the ducking thing before I taught. So, while teaching gives me more of an opportunity to do so, I would still do it to someone BT (before teaching)

Cause, I don't like:

• small talk
• questions that don't need an answer
• personal info
• prying questions where I will tell too much and regret
  later
• info about your health when I don't care
• info about people I don't know (yea this is my favorite
  one)
• gossip
• Whining, boo-hooing, or griping

All those things I can do without because frankly, I have those problems swirling in my head,

I do not need help with those weaknesses

And

SO, I ducked down behind my truck yesterday rather than hear info I didn't have time for anyway. I can blame not seeing people now on my kids,

when I am old?I am going to get a hearing aide

Even if I don't need one, a big one just for public. Then I can blame it on the batteries. A seeing eye dog would work too.

Sorry, couldn't see you- see I have the dog to prove it.

Mom, my stomache hurts...

I know every mom has hear that phrase. I am sick of it. I get it a lot lately. It is probabally a testiment to how our health has been going lately.

The symptoms are nondescript and vague.

This plague ususally comes at bedtime, when chores are due, when they don't want to got to school.... you know the drill.

What I don't know is what to respond to this complaint and whine. I usually ask them what they want me to do about it.

They respond "I don't know"

And I don't know either.

I was listening to the TV and pondering

THe word pondering should not go with TV, but I was listening to Joyce Meyers this morning trying to get motivated to work out.

Her topic was being too Busy to be Fruitful.

Aren't all teachers

Look at what I found on the Internet

I have always thought my name was strange and just made up by my parents to be unique in the 70's.

BUT

I found this pic from one of the WW's. MY Name on a PLANE.

I could not find my name on pencils, rulers or any of that other kiddy stuff you see on the display racks by the cash registers,

Instead, I got a plane. Whoo Hoo.

Santa, Snoring, and a Baby in a Drawer

We went to the hospital for Christmas. I wanted the kids to remember the funny Christmas part of this and not the scary part of this-earlie in the week Kennedy thought Scott was dying. She is nosey and at the age where she puts 2 and 2 together to get 5.

We got there about 2. We got a big big taco bell lunch and played with dad who was ready to sleep. We didn't bring blankets ( on purpose) and Kennedy was getting confused and worried. I cooked up the story that she needed to wash her hands and the kids were off to the public bathroom. I whipped out the sleeping bag from Santa, left a note on it for her and ran out the door. When Kennedy came back in and FINALLY saw the bag, it was a nice surprise and maybe a booster for her to believe in Santa ( she is waivering).

My sister showed up, took the kids to my grandpa's for Christmas Eve dinner and Scott and I had a quiet night until about 8:30. Scott slept while I watched The Christmas Story.

The kids came back, opened 1 christmas present- PJs from my mom and settled down for a long winter's nap with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

About 10:30 Scott woke me up and I groggily put out presents, making sure each had a fair amount. Which was a good thing, because later, Kennedy was sure that Wesie got more that she did. I didn't think so, but you know how little kids are.

The funniest thing was where everyone had to sleep.

Yep, that is Kelsey, in a drawer. I figured if the old timers could do it, I could too for one night.

What you get when you ask for help

When we were in the hospital, I took my youngest brother up on his offer to help me with chores. I didn't take anyone else up on that offer, but it was Christmas eve, we were spending the night and I needed to get over there. So, I called.

First, he sounded put out a little and weird. (like usual), however, I ignored that and told him what I wanted. Fire wood, water for the horses and feeding for the horses.

He got at the house; the kids wanted to go with him. I knew Wesie knew what to do so I told Jake to listen to Wesie. I thought Jake had fed horses like we did as kids; I thought he would interpreted what Wesie said to do and do what was right.

I was so wrong.

I called Jake the next day to see what he did. He told me he fed 1 flake to each horse and called in the cows for 2 more bales.

What the kids told him was 6 flakes to EACH horse, 2 flakes to the bull that was penned up and nothing to the the cows in the pasture.

Where was Jake when we were growing up???

Bad News Santa... You have to brave the hospital.

Yesterday, after I cut the wood for the day, thawed the hoses to water the animals, watered them, and rolled 2, 100 foot hoses up, wrapped the well house pipes with insulation, did a load of laundry, fed the baby 2 times and got in the tub...

we were on our way to ShowLow Hospital. All four of us.

We visited Big Daddy, who was not that much better. Here is a picture of the next day. If you compare the two pics together, there isn't much improvement. (sorry about the picture quality-camera phone and a dark room)

(Sigh)

There is a reason you don't take little kids to the hospital unless they are sedated or sick...

They were so bored and restless. They jumped off everything...

• the couch,
• the bed,
• the bio-hazard can.
• the chair

They hit each other with the get well balloons.

The baby cried.

They tried to visit the nurses, who, they though would think they were so cute.

What were they thinking??

(OK, I think they are cute, but they belong to me, every naughty word and sweet smile)

If I go back today, they are not.

I feel like one of those moms I hate.. You know the "I don't know what to do and why my kids are so bad" moms. I guess I expect total obedience.

After talking with Big Daddy yesterday, they told him AT LEAST! THREE MORE DAYS! Don't those hospital people have a heart? We are on one of the last years for a true belief in Santa, so I wanted this one at home.GRRRRRRRHHHHHH. However, There are so many other poeple who are in a worse shape than us. So Santa?

Meet me in room #202 at the ShowLow Freekin' Hospital.

I will be the crazy one, saying "Don't " and " Stop That right now, mister, Do you want me to call Santa to come take that back?".

Lumps of coal and prozac are optional.

(preferred???)