Yes I am still here.....

And will return after the holidays with plenty of stories and pictures for you guys. Sorry for being AWOL for the past few weeks...just busy busy busy this time of year.

Hope you all have a VERY merry Christmas...see ya in 2011 girls!!!!

...now I gotta run and pull two lanky legs out from under my tree....hugs!!!!!

I think there is a mouse under my tree....

A 14 year old, 113 pound, 5 foot 6 blond headed one!!!!

Ever since I put the gifts out under the tree he has stay camped out there...and for the rare occasion he does venture off to eat something (like every 20 mins) and I stick another present under there he is on it like flies on crap!

I swear,I will have to get a picture for you guys, you would crack up when all you saw was 2 long lanky legs sticking out from under that huge 12ft tree...it's a trip!

He is shaken and tossing and reading names (the ones without his name are quickly and carelessly tossed to the side!)....heaven forbid there are any breakables under there!

He is so keen on the wrapping thing now, it has become hard to camouflage gifts(he can pick out a box with clothes or shoes in a milla second!)....so that leaves ole Santa to be creative....and boy can I be creative........ you just wait and see........

:O)

So, do any of your little ones snoop around the tree?????

on the road again....

Tonight I am loading back up on the bus and heading to New York City with some girlfriends. I am really excited this time. This will be my 5th time going to NYC but I have never seen it during Christmas. I can't hardly wait to see the tree in Rockefeller Plaza.....oh....and we have tickets to see The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall!!!!!!!

See you ladies on Monday(if I don't freeze my kawhokus off in NYC!)

"Big Mama" and the Bubba Tree

well, it's over and done...THANK YOU JESUS!

Our annual tree raising(yes, raising...you don't call it "putting up a tree" when the tree in question is 12 ft!) is complete.....whew.....

Here is Chris in action. It takes all three of us plus 2 huge ladders and 3 hours of prayer and patience to finish......

....but.....

when she is all done she is just beautiful......see!(sorry the picture is kinda leaning...oops...I was so tired!)
This year Kyle didn't want to make her "too junkie" according to his words and forced me to stop adding more ornaments...geez...like when did he become all Martha Stewart on me!

This was our 5th year using this tree and I think we are finally getting the hang of it and doing it faster each year. Even Chris said he thought it was easier than he remembered.

Now, on to the "Bubba Tree" a.k.a Kyle's personal tree that he puts up in his room every year...and decorates himself**shutter**. You never know exactly what he will put on his tree as "ornaments"

Take a look and you'll see what I mean....

Empty shot gun shells he saved from hunting, John Deere Tractors and fishing lures make his tree complete. Told ya he is one redneck boy!

...I think we have decided once Christmas is over we are just gonna throw a huge sheet over Big Mama and leave her there til next Christmas...ya think anyone would notice?????

The moment my heart stopped....

....was when I saw this picture.

That is Kyle, my one and only child, my Bubba, my baby boy, my heart outside my body.... He is the person on the left with the air tank on his back entering this burning house.
****key HUGE ball of vomit in my throat, while my heart falls into my big toe*****

His Daddy said Kyle made 4 good "runs" through the house and did and excellent job. Even better than some of the grown men that have been on the FD for years.

Kyle has dreamed of this day since he was 4 years old, when his Daddy joined our local Volunteer Fire Dept. Since Kyle was 4 he has sat and sulked every Wednesday night as Chris would leave to attend the weekly fire meeting. Kyle could not wait til the day he turned 14 and could take his test to become a Jr. Fireman (note****he aced his test***)

Kyle loves fire, I think I have shared that with all of you before. He lives, eats & breaths the Fire Dept. Kyle has ADD & ADHD but Chris said when he enters a burning house it's like the hyperactivity melts away. He said Kyle is so calm and relaxed and has never even paniced.(they have guys that are paid Fireman in real life that have freaked out before during training and Kyle just goes on in with the hose and puts the fire out)

This is the group picture. Kyle is in the top row far left. Chris is top row far right.

Kyle getting ready to mask up and go in.

Kyle & another Jr. Fireman getting some time with the hose

Kyle is the blue shirt.

Another group pic. Kyle is in the front row with the blue shirt.

I am so proud of how Kyle has choosen to serve his community but it will still make my heart stop everytime I know he goes in a house fire.....and if anything happens to him I'm gonna kill his Daddy!!!! :O)

Shopping Palooza....

shew...ya'll tired? I am!!!!

I survived the masses and shopped for 24 straight hours on Black Friday(and no that is not a type-o.) I SHOPPED ON BLACK FRIDAY FOR STRAIGHT 24 HOURS!!!!!! We left my house at 11:45 pm on Thanksgiving night and pulled back in my driveway at 11:20 Friday night...and let me tell you......

....IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!..........

I got so many great deals and only have a few more things to pick up for Chris & Kyle and I am done....I even spent all day Saturday wrapping!!!!

The crowds were not that bad( I have seen them worse) the longest we waited in line was at Hollister. And I had to wait in line for over an hour at Walmart to get one thing on Kyle's list...but I was the 3rd person in the line to get it when the clock struck 5am!

I also got some great deals at Kirkland's, Old Navy & Gap.

Now, I have to spend this week putting up all my Christmas decorations cause I am heading back to New York this weekend for some time with the girls! We even have tickets to see the Rockette's Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall......SO excited to see that!!!!!

Hope you all got some great BF deals...let me know what you got!!!!

It's almost time.....

I am So excited for Thanksgiving this year....well anything tops last years Thanksgiving celebrated at Golden Coral (no offense to my readers who eat their Thanksgiving dinner there) but for me it was a very sad day! I cringed as I forked out $47.00 for the 3 of us to eat a Thanksgiving meal with no leftovers????
I will be blessed this year to sit around the table with Mr. Fisherman(he is off on Thanksgiving for the first time in years!!!!) my Bubba and my in laws. We normally eat around 3 or 4 but have pushed it up this year so Chris & Kyle can head back out to the deer stand for the evening hunt. As my boys head out to the field to try and bring home a buck with the rack the size of China, this little lady will be heading to sleepy land with a little help from Tylenol PM by 7pm...I must get plenty of rest before my Black Friday shopping marathon!
Then at 3am I will hop out of bed, grab my sales ads, my shopping spreadsheet and my travel mug full of peppermint mocha and head out with the masses to shop til I drop!!!

Old Navy opens at midnight
Khols opens at 3am
Belk's & Target open at 4am
Walmart starts at 5am

So have I convinced any of you to head out on Black Friday for the first time? Have any of my shopping tips helped you?
I hope so!!!
I hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Another of my "mom fail" moments....

Kyle's High School played there last football game this past Friday night.

...ya wanna know what I wore to go pick him up from the game????

My multi-colored fuzzy pj bottoms!!!

Thank God he didn't disown my right there in the parking lot, plus it was dark and no one could really see me...right?

But man how I have changed! Back in the day when I was in HS, I was never seen out in public with out make up and and a cute outfit...not to mention I would have killed my mom(okay, maybe not killed, but I wouldn't have spoke to her for a least a week if she picked me up wear her pj's!)

...this was one of the those HUGE mom fail moments where my warmth and comfort were placed before my child's social standing at school!

...I have SO lost my cool factor as a Mom!

BF Tip #4

Are you getting tired of my Black Friday tips yet?

I have had a few comments that they are "cracking people up"....

I always try and shop smart and shop for sales...except for the designer skinny jean purchase I made a few weeks back, so sue me! I never bought trendy designer clothes for Kyle when he was young, trust me when I say you are wasting your money. They are gonna puke or crap on it and only wear it twice before they grow out of it!

........NOW that I have that out of my system.....let me try and save you ladies a bunch of money(and we all love to save money....well, most of us anyway!)

We have bought our newspaper.....

We have made a budget....

We have scanned & planned.......

Now for tip #4

Who are you going to shop with? (a.k.a.....your shopping buddy)

I know what some of you are thinking...Trish has really flipped now!!!!

eh? What the heck kinda difference does that make?

ALOT!!!!

Shop with someone on BF that has the same shopping "Style" as you. And by shopping style I don't mean spending the same amount of money. I am talking about speed! Black Friday shopping is not about taking a leisurely stroll through Target's dollar section just to see what you can find! Most people that are out on Black Friday are serious shoppers and on a mission...***you can, might & will get run over*****

My BF shopping buddy and I have been doing this together for years now. We have the same shopping style and make a great team. We look out for each other and we know what the other one is shopping for and will grab it and put in in our carts until we meet back up together at the registers.

YOU DON"T HAVE TIME TO LOOK DOWN EVERY ISLE ON BLACK FRIDAY!!!!

did you hear me?????

If you think you are gonna have time to go down every isle in every store then you just need to stay home in bed. The good sales only last til around 9am and if you want items at several different stores you gotta move fast! Two years ago I was in and out of Walmart in 15 minutes....pretty sure I broke a store record that year and my picture is hanging in the BF hall of fame somewhere. I grabbed the 3 Playstation games I wanted for Kyle and the movies for $3 bucks each and was out the door and on to Sears!

That brings me to point #2. If you do go with someone else on BF, don't be afraid to split up. My BF buddy Marsha and I always split up so we get everything we need on our list. I will head to electronics to get the item I want for Kyle plus grab the two Nintendo DS she is looking for. While she is in the toy isle grabbing the toy cash register...mean while I have sent my mother-in- law to grab the stand-up mixer and shop vac for me (see gals, that puts us back to the ole' scan & plan) you have to know what item you are going in each store for.

And ladies, this rule even applies to husbands. If they don't shop like you....leave em' at home in bed!!!! (personally, I leave Chris at home....he hates crowds!)....and kids!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave your kids home in bed. DON'T torture them and everyone else by dragging the poor things out that early in the morning still in their cute footed pj's!!!!

stay tuned for Tip #5!

I think I got the shaft!

Any of you mom's feel that way???

I do!

Looking back to when Kyle was small I feel like I got a bum deal! There are so many things out on the market now that would have come in mighty handy around our house.

I would have LOVED to have had one of these....

Have any of you gal's seen this Elf on a Shelf? You set him out around the house and he watches the kids and reports back to Santa, then he moves to a different place each day...pretty cool idea. My friend has one she sets into action for her two boys and she said works pretty good. He is always disappearing and then re-appearing again in a new "watch" area. The boys always wake up each morning and run off to find him.

I bet this would have worked great on Kyle back in his younger days....I guess it wouldn't have the same effect on a teenager huh????........

probably not!

BF Tip #3

...so are you gals enjoying my Black Friday tips and taking notes????

Now that you made your spreadsheet and have budget..... and have bought your Thanksgiving Day Black Friday newspaper.....

Here is tip #3.....

Scan & Plan!!!!

Yep, grab a cup of coffe and settle in to scan your local ads and plan your day. Planning is very important on BF.

I know, I know...those cute jeans in the Khol's ad for $11.99 are just to die for but lets look at the entire picture here....okay?


The jeans in Khol's will be on sales til at least noon...right?....right! And most likely they are not going to sell out. You really need to plan your day with what type of items are on your list.


First off, if you have any type of electronics, video games, games systems, movies, TV's or hot toys on your list, head to that store first! The clothes, shoes and houseware items will be on sale longer and are not as "in demand" and you can still find them later on in the day.


***hint*** 24 hour Walmart stores will let you in before the 5am sale starts and will have a map of the store showing you where each major sale item can be found in the store....most of the time you can find the movies on sale for $3-$5 bucks in the middle of an isle and not all the way in the back of the store in electronics. Hot toy items are the same way, they will be spread throughout the store and not necessarily in the Toy section of the store*****

...stay tuned for tip #4.

My Christmas List

It's that time of year again, time for me to make my Christmas wish list....sounds like fun huh? Last year I made a list too...actually I make one every year but most the time I don't get what is one it. Most years Chris and I don't but gifts for each other and if we do, it's something small to open...BUT....we go all out with stuffing each others stocking. We love stockings at our house! We always save them for last.

You may look at this first item and wonder what the heck it is and why would I want something like that? Well, let me explain. My MIL bought me a Pandora bracelet for my birthday and Chris and Kyle got me a mother of pearl heart bead for it and this is the next charm I want to add to my collection. I know you may think it looks pretty ugly and weird but to Kyle...it looks like a mud tire! That is why I want to add it to my bracelet....this will be "Kyle's bead" and every time I look at it I will think of him and his love of mud!

This is an awesome wine refrigerator. I have new found love of wine and would love to have a separate place to store them since they should be kept cooler than the normal 42-44 degree refrigerator temp. Most wine taste better between 7-12 degrees.

And just how cute is this Pea coat from Khols??? Love the color too!

And last but not least, these two pair of CUTE, CUTE, CUTE boots from JC Penny
Chris swears I have black boots just like these but I will stand my ground that I don't. I use to never be a big "shoe person" but I guess I am becoming my mother!!!

So what's are your Christmas list this year????

Black Friday Tip #2

Make a budget...and stick too it!!!!

I know it is hard for some of you to stick to a budget, but on BF it is very important....cause all those good sales with getcha!!!!

The best way I find to do this is make a spreadsheet so you can KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU SPEND!

A few weeks before BF I make a spreadsheet on Excel. I make a list of every person I am buying for and the amount I am spending on them....THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! I even set a budge for Mr. Kyle...I know...major shocker eh? In the next column, I put down their wish list item or the item I have in mind to buy them. Then, in the next column I list the store where I am buying the item(this really helps when you are rushing in and out of each store)

My list looks something like this.

Rylee $20.00 Clothes Sears girls jeans $4.99/ Old Navy fleece zip up $7.50

Tyler $20.00 Toy Nerf Gun $19.99 Target

This spread sheet will be a life saver on a hectic BF and will help you stay on track and stay on budget. Please don't head out on BF with no plans in mind or with the idea that "I will just see what I can find and what every I come across I will get" ...you will be overwhelmed and frustrated....not to mention spend more money than you expect or want to.

Stay tuned for more tips to come....

Black Friday Tip #1

Several of you have asked me to share my BF shopping tips & strategies with you. So, I have decided to give you a tip a day.

I have been Black Friday shopping for years and have gotten some great deals. You have to get up early and do a little research before hand but the money you save is well worth the effort in my book.

Today's tip....

TIP #1

Buy a newspaper!!!!

Sounds simple enough...right?

....right!

and it is! Get up on Thanksgiving and go buy your local newspaper. If you don't already subscribe for home delivery, get out early and head to the nearest newspaper stand and buy one. (don't wait til after you get your fill of turkey cause they will sell out fast!)

Now, in the computer age, browsing local ads on the world wide web is nice but come Black Friday you will want the old print ads close at hand...trust me!

Stay tuned for my next BF tip tomorrow.......

Christmas Shopping questions?

Okay gals you already know already how much I adore, crave and live for Black Friday shopping. I love getting up early and racking up on the all the great deals. I have always been a morning person so rising at the butt crack of morning doesn't bother me(especially if I am gonna save money doing it!)

So that leaves me to ask you all a few person shopping questions.

How many of you will be hitting the store on Black Friday(and I not mean strolling out to Big Lots after eating leftover turkey sandwiches for lunch!) I mean.... who is gonna set their alarm for 3:30am, spring out of bed, grab up your sales flyer's, have your route all plotted out the night before and hit the road!

ME....ME.....ME {waves hands high in the air while jumping up and down}

My next question is do you set price limits on who you are buying for or do you just buy the item the person has asked for and never even glimpse at the hefty price tag?

My next questions...do you set your self a shopping budget? I never leave home without my Christmas list spread sheet. It has everyone names that I am buying for and the budget for that person.

And my last question....how much do you normally spend on Christmas gifts for friends & family? I try and stick to a very strict CASH budget when shopping for Christmas. We have a Christmas Club at work where I have money taken out of each pay check and then the last week in October they give us a check for the amount we have put in PLUS interest...WOO HOO!!!!

So fill me in...do you have any money saving tips or tricks that you can teach me????

Do share......

The difference a year makes....

His patrol car was loaded up with clothes, food, towels, shave kit, black shoes so shiny you could see your reflection and freshly dry cleaned uniforms, complete with heavy starch(just the way he likes them) and newly added Sergent stripes.

With a hug and a few tears he was gone.....

A year ago today Chris was heading West 2 1/2 hours away from home to his new duty station. We were so unsure about anything at the time....

How long would he have to live out of bags from a hotel room?
How long would it be before he could transfer back home?
Would he be home for the upcoming holidays?
How long would it be just Kyle and I eating dinner with Chris's empty chair in between us?
And how long would it be before I went crazy missing him?

So much has changed in the past year! We survived Chris being gone for 9 months. We (barely)survived eating our Thanksgiving dinner at the Golden Corral. We survived the holidays spent apart. And Chris survived living off of fast food for 9 months!!!

With faith and trust in God, he lead us through and we survived!!!

What a difference a year makes!!!!

The day I caved!

Yes ladies, I have to bare all my shopping secrets to you guys...(cause you gals won't tell The Fisherman" on me)....right?....right!

I went to a friends CAbi party last week....a.k.a(expensive boutique type clothes that come with a hefty price tag!) You get to try on all the clothes at the party to see if you like them before buying them....pretty neat idea huh?

.....and I caved.....

yep, I ended up buying a pair of designer skinny jeans that cost...let's just say WAY too much money!!!!!

I never thought these huge thighs of mine would ever see a pair of skinny jeans but I have to admit that I am so excited I can hardly wait until they come in. They were a tad long but with a pair of Uggs I think they will be fine.

Now I must leave you ladies to go admit my self into the nearest "Idiot Impulse Shoppers Support Group"

It's a "Boo-Bee" kinda day....

So today was our Halloween Day at work. We always have som much fun dressing up and goofing off all day...(and a little work gets done too along the way!)

That's ME on the right! I'm a "Boo-Bee"...whata da think?....cute...no?

This is the whole group with a pirate lady, Mudsa, viking women, Ellie Mae Clampet and then ME!

We ate good food like these "hacked" fingers and tons of pizza too.

We played games like dressing a Mummy with toilet paper.(my group won!!!!)

We played Putt-Putt(I won that too!!! and won an AWESOME Pumpkin Spice Better Homes & Garden Candle)

We did a little pumpkin bowling.....that's me being a big goof ball.

and I sucked at this game.....I didn't come any where close to hitting any on those stinkin pens!

Hope you all have a wonderful Halloween no matter how you are spending it!!!!!

if you were a USB cord...where would you be?

.......not in the drawer where you belong, that's for sure!
Sooooooo...... that is why there has been a lack of pictures on my blog the past few weeks. They are all safely taking a nap in my camera cause my USB cord has grown legs and jetted off to some unknown place(and not under Kyle's bed or in his God forsaken bathroom...cause I already checked there!)
I have SO many pictures to share with you guys.
Me meeting Nicholas Sparks!
My Birthday!
And of course some muddy shots of the Bubba!
So I am off to look some more....wish me luck!

And so far in my effort looking for the USB cord I have made almost a buck in change, a silly band and some stale popcorn (it's amazing what you find while digging under the couch cushions!)

Pictures on my phone

Bubba and his best buddie Chevy going for a ride(and yes, he will ride all the way to the river on the back of the 4 wheeler)

I took this picture at the corn maze. Kyle just HAD to ride the kiddie train...but he didn't fit in the seat very well with all those long lanky legs!

This was Kyle last week lighting some leaves and junk in an old milk jug...yes he loves fire and is probably a boarder line Pyromaniac.....no kidding!!!!

A teenage boys bathroom....

....should have a sign on the door that reads.

ENTERING THIS ROOM MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH

no joke! For any of you mom's of teenagers out there can vouch for me on this.
Stay clear I tell ya!

Kyle has a bathroom all his own(praise be to God!) and sometimes lets just say.... it lacks a mother's clean touch, just for the plain fact that at times I am too scared to even go in there(same thing applies to his room!)

So, I decided I would give you a quick run down of his bathroom(and there will be NO pictures, it would have broke my camera if I would have tried)

Yesterday I went in his bathroom to clean it (cause I am having a Tastefully Simple party at my house on Thursday night and thought I better tidy up in case 2 ladies happen to have to widdle at the same time AND telling Kyle to clean it consists of him letting the water run until it steam cleans the bathroom and maybe taking 2 seconds to wash the left over tooth paste spit that is stuck in the sink! ) anyhoo.....here is the list of what I found.

The hermit crab cage sitting on the side of the sink(the crab was chillin in a cool water bath in the sink....no clue how long he had been there!)
A pocket knife on the sink
His cell phone charger charging his phone laying next to the sink full of water that contains his crab...NICE way to have electronics near water Kyle!
2 old school yearbooks and 3 ATV magazines STUCK to the back toilet tank!(since he gets the bathroom so steamed up when he showers.)
His wallet
Chap stick
A black pony tail holder(that is not mine!) was on the floor behind the door. Not sure where or who he got that from.
2 pair of shorts caked in mud that he wears over & over again to ride the 4 wheeler hanging on the hook. The mud has now dried and has crumbled all to the floor.
A laundry basket right there within arms reach, yet several items of dirty clothes layed scattered all over.
And last but not least...the keys to the 4 wheeler!

I swear this boy will drive me nuts sometimes! I don't know where he gets it from. Chris & I are for the most part neat & clean people. We must have missed passing that gene down to him.

What to be, what to be?????

We always dress up where I work for Halloween and have a costume contest. So, what should I dress up as this year?

Last year I wore my comfy pj's to work.

The year before that I was Wendy.

And now I am at a loss.

I really want to dress up as a boobie......not what your thinking....get your mind out of the gutter ladies!!! I mean a "BOO-Bee" (wear a white sheet over me like a ghost and then wings and antenna on my head like a bumble bee....get it???? "Boo-Bee"

What do ya think??? Anyone have any better ideas for me?

A letter to me~

Dear Trish~

Learn how to take out a window screen before your brother locks you in your room for hours using a bike chain and no phone to call for help!

Don't wear white sweatpants to school any where close to the day you are going to get a visit from Aunt Flo!

Always read the label of any medicine BEFORE you take the wrong thing....cause when you think it cough syrup...trust me it ain't! (then you have to spend the night in the hospital while the Dr's try and decide how to counter act prescription wart remover from your digestive system!)

Don't be so mean to your brother that you make him break his toe.(It's not my fault he tried to kick me and I moved!)

Don't ever think bungee jumping looks fun and decide to give it a try cause you will almost pee your pants in fear!

Don't let a Dr. that looks younger than you try and deliver your child!

Don't make everyone rush from states away for the birth of your child....it's gonna take a while!

Always make sure you buckle your child in the carrier seat BEFORE lifting it off the ground, cause those things flip and he will fall to the floor screaming! (HUGE Mom fail moment!)

Make sure and hide a spare key to your house and car outside. That way you have a key to get back in your house when your child locks you out and then you lock him in the car with the keys while he is strapped in his car seat!! (2nd HUGE Mom fail moment!)

When you get the urge to rush out for ice cream at 9:30, fight it....you will wreck your new sports car!

Don't try and have a party with your step sister while your parents are out off town. Your neighbors will rat you out!

Don't ever go camping when there is even a slight chance of rain.

And last but not least.......

Don't ever be too busy to spend time with your family, it may be the last moment you have with them....and you'll live to regret it every day for the rest of your life.

With Much Love~
Your Older & Wiser self

Sister Wives

Have any of you watched this show yet????

Are you kidding ME!

Can you believe this freak of a man thinks it is okay to have 3 wives and one he has proposed to?



(and for those of you who live in Utah that follow my blog and agree that this practice is "okay"....then maybe you should stop following my blog!)



Anyhoo, I watched it for the first time last night and I know I have missed a few episodes so I was trying to take all this junk in a figure out what these women see in that fruit cake of a man! Everything they said to him he took as a joke, he was never serious or sincere. His first wife he has been with for 20 years!!!!! The 2nd wife 17 years and the 3rd wife 16 years. between all the wives I think I counted 13 kids (but I could have missed one or two as they ran around amuck).....does this show scare anyone else besides me?



At one point in the show, the 3 wives go to the jewelry store to buy "the soon-to-be" 4th wife a ring....um, yep...I ain't joking!



Oh, and from what I can tell they have more than one house (with a wife in each I guess) and he makes rounds between them.



And it gets even better...wifey #3 went into labor and while Dad was trying to head out the door to the hospital to be with her while she gives birth to HIS child he stops to get all lovey on the front porch with the "soon-to-be" wifey #4....and got busted by the camera man!!!



These women must have NO respect for themselves or any understanding of what a marriage should be. I'll be dag gone if I am sharing my husband with 3 other women...this world is just going crazy!!!!!!!

Why I woggel?

Trust me, several times in the beginning I asked myself the same question.

What is Woggeling you ask???
It is a slow mix between walking & jogging. I started about 3 weeks ago walking in the area we live.(thank God it is off the beaten path and main roads so I can spare everyone from seeing my boobs bounce sky high and my thighs rubbing together until smoke begins to rise!) The path is a little over 1.6 miles and when I started I walked the entire way. Then after a few days I would jog a bit, then slow back down to walk...then a jog...then a walk...and so on.

And as the days have passed I have gotten better & better at it...and then last night....I jogged farther than I EVER have...YAY ME! I jogged at least 3/4 of a mile!!!!

I was so excited and proud of myself I had to call The Fisherman right away and tell him what I had accomplished, except I don't think he could make out all of my words in between my pants & gasps for fresh oxygen!

Chris has always been an avid runner. I even tried it with him a few times but trying to run with him telling me when to breath and how to breath I thought I was gonna die.

"breath in on your left foot and out on your right"

well holy moses...If I tried to breath like that I would hyper ventilate and pass slam out!

But I have to admit, I am really beginning to enjoy it. I never in a million years thought those words would come out of my mouth. Before, I would never have said that I enjoyed running...unless it was running out for ice cream or something...but I do! I really enjoy it!!!

I am even thinking that I want to enter my first 5K soon. I know I won't be able to jog the entire thing but I would really love to do it, yay know, to be able to say that I finished a 5K race...I can't imagine how amazing that would feel.....and maybe I wouldn't come in last :O)

I am Thankful.....

I am thankful for a husband who doesn't complain when he has to get up on Saturday morning at 5:30am to help me with a yard sale after working all night and only getting 2 1/2 hours of sleep.

I am thankful for fresh picked apples to make a homemade pie on a Sunday after noon.

I am thankful for homemade chicken noodle soup.

I am thankful for the crisp Fall mornings.

I am thankful for a teenage son who will still hug his Dad.

I am thankful for a teen who prays out loud in church.

I am thankful for Southern Pecan coffee creamer to help me start my morning.

I am thankful for friends who I know will always be there for me no matter what.

I am thankful for a husband who calls me to make sure I arrive somewhere safely and checks my tire pressure and oil before I leave.

I am thankful for a family that prays together.

I am thankful for the few minutes of family time, because having a teenager makes them few and far between.

I am so blessed in life and have so much to be thankful for....what are you thankful for?????

The women, behind the man, behind the badge....

Sunday we went to a Family Day cook out for all the troopers that work with my husband. Since Chris has just been in his new district for only 3 months this was the first time I meet the wives of the other troopers.


Meeting them really opened my eyes and made me stand back and reflect on the past 13 years Chris has been in the patrol. Out of the 18 troopers that were attending, only 2 couples had been married longer than Chris & I.....boy, that'll make you feel old...and I am only 35! And one of the couples had only been married for 8 days.

I could not help wondering if these wives really understand what they are in for. What they were about to face, the long nights alone, the fear that their husband may not come home, all the over time(without the over time pay), working holidays, an empty place at the dinner table, anniversaries celebrated on another day because they happen to be working on the real day, having to fend for yourself when a hurricane is coming because your husband has been called to the coast to help with the evacuation, missing school plays and ball games, babies 1st steps, saying your good night over the phone instead of side by side in your bed.

I wonder if they even half way comprehend how their lives are going to change and how independent they will have to become to survive. Well, let me just tell you, it takes work...alot of it...and patience....alot of it....understanding.....alot of it. And I must confess, at times all this was hard for me. Are these new wives going to understand when they receive a call from their husband saying that he isn't going to be pulling up in the driveway at 6pm when his shift ends cause he just got called to a wreck and now has to go down to the court house to process the drunk and then head over to the hospital to get the victims statements that were taken off in the rescue squad. And will they be wide eyed and pleasant as they scramble to answer that 3am phone call with communications saying "Can I speak to Trooper so-in-so" all within the first ring, praying they picked up before it woke the kids?

Will they get chills while they watch their husband dress for work the same way I do, even after 13 years? And will their hearts breathe a sigh of relief when they are awakened by the sound of the Velcro being pulled apart on his bullet proof vest at 4am? Thanking God for that wonderful sound that means he has made it home.

Will they learn to hold fast to the simple things that mean so much? And how long will it take them to become the women, behind the man, behind the badge?

Tag Your it.................

I was tagged in this cute little game by Mary @ The Englar Family.(check out her button on my side bar to pop in a tell he hey!)



She is just the craftiest little thing you have EVER seen and it's just amazes me the treasures she can whip up out of a ball of yarn!



Anyhoo, back to the game she tagged me in.



Here are the questions she asked me.....





What is your favorite movie?

That's a tuff one. I have SO many that I love. Coal Miner's Daughter, Hope Floats, While You Were Sleeping, 8 Seconds, Sweet Home Alabama, The Proposal...do you see a Sandra Bullock theme here?????

If you had one day all to yourself and could do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

Easy......SHOP!!!! Or lay on the beach.

What kind of vehicle do you drive?

2008 Ford Explorer

What is your favorite food?

Ice Cream...is that really a food???

What are you most thankful for in your life?

My boys!

Why do you blog?

I have wondered that myself many times. I really don't know. I started so my family that lives away could stay updated and see pictures of Kyle and hear his funny stories. But now sometimes I feel at a loss for what to write and have even thought about stopping all together. I don't know, we shall see what the future holds.

What was your favorite childhood toy?

I would have to say stuffed animals. I had tons of them. I loved all of them, no matter what kind or where they where from. My Dad even had to build several shelves in my room to hold them all.

What is something you get really excited for that other may think is really weird?

Black Friday shopping!!!! I love it so much I can hardly sleep Thanksgiving night...I plot, I plan I clip coupons, scan sales flyer's...it madness I tell ya!!!!!

Well that's all my answers. Maybe you learned something about me that you where just itching to know.

Progress...what progress????

Well, the results are in.

Kyle brought home his midterms yesterday and has a BIG fat 68.7% in Spanish!

He totally bombed one test and a quiz(which the teacher noted she is going to let him retake after school)...Mucho Gracious Senora!

On a better note, in his other 3 classes he made 1 A(Engineering) & 2 B's(World History & Algebra)!!!

That redneck country boy just can't speak a lick of Spanish bless his heart!

THAT'S MY CHILD!!!!

and yes I am yelling that and I hope they heard me all the way over to Kyle's High School!!!!

{{sticking out tough and gives a big fat rasberry too}}

Let me start at the beginning and give you the entire story from the start. This afternoon, well right now actually, Kyle has a Dr. appt. Chris is off today so he was going to pick Kyle up early from school and take him to the appt. so I wouldn't have to leave work to do it(thanks babe!)

Anyway, this morning I gave him the run down on everything.

Appointment time-CHECK
Things to ask the Dr.-CHECK
Make sure they put the diagnosis on the perscription-CHECK
Flexable spending card to pay-CHECK

I thought I had covered everything, or so I thought! Chris asked me if I needed to send a note to school that Kyle would be leaving early for a Dr. appt. I said 'no" and didn't think anything else about until I got a call from Chris about 30 mins ago.

Chris "hey, do have an appt card that you can fax to the school?"

Me "no, I made the appt over the phone,
why?"

Chris " cause they won't let me have Kyle until they have something in writing to verify the appt."

Me "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!"

At that point, I could feel my face getting hot and my blood pressure rising. You mean to tell me that I can't get MY child out of school early without an appointment card! I carried that boy for 9 monthes...I went through 28 hours of labor.....THAT IS MY CHILD and I don't care if you need a note from the Pope, you better give me my kid!

I swear it's a dag gone good thing his Daddy is more patient than me and was the one picking him today cause this Momma would be locked up behind bars right now for skipping my pretty tail down that hall and yanking MY child out of Spanish class!

another conversation with Kyle

Yes friends it is that time again when I tickle your funny bone with the antics of the teenager in my house...better known to me as Bubba.

This morning I went in to wake Bubba up for school(yes, I know he is 14 and should be fully capable of getting him self up and ready for school in the morning... but shush it..mkay!) Let me enjoy seeing his peacefully sleeping face for the few remaining years he will live at home and don't stomp on my heart...thanks! I love going to wake him in the mornings I always try and see how much I can aggravate him by playing with his lip or tickling his feet or rubbing his back before he wakes up.

Kyle has been known to say weird things when he first wakes up, which are normally a sign of what he happens to be dreaming about the moment you call him out of "La-La" land....and most the time involve some type of food or eating...but this morning was different.

Me: "cmon Kyle, time to get up"

Kyle (with his eyes still shut) "hold on a second, I'm playing darts."

{{erh?}}

well folks...that's a new one!

Quick update

I haven't done a post in a few days...been busy busy busy!!!!

Just wanted to send you guys a quick hello cause I am getting off work early today and heading out with some friends to meet Nicholas Sparks.....{{gasp}}

I know you are oh so jealous!!!!

I will tell him all of you lovely ladies said hello (for those of you who don't have a clue who he is...SHAME ON YOU!)

I will post pictures later for you to drool over.......

P.S. oh and I will be a mere 35 years old tomorrow and meeting Nicholas is part of my present from my girlfriends.......YAY ME!

What makes you laugh?

What makes you laugh? What is it that gives you a chuckle, what tickles your funny bone or makes you give in to the deep down belly laugh. What is it that makes tears roll down your cheeks and cross your legs and squat to keep from peeing all over your self?

I asked my self this same question and came up with these answers.

Seeing Kyle laugh. He has a very contagious laugh and when you see him smile or laugh you just can't help it!

The comics. Chris doesn't have the same sense of humor Kyle & I have. I can burst out laughing over a comic in Sundays paper. Chris can read the same comic and then just gives me "the stare"......he is SO missing a funny bone!

When Kyle talks for animals. He has done this since he could utter words himself. It always cracks me up! I swear he talks for Chevy(his Chocolate Lab) and its one of those "cross your leg and squat moments".

The old Game Stop commercial with the rabbit. If you haven't seen it you really need to Google it...it is worth it! It even made Chris laugh!

The World's Dumbest Criminals....love that show...nuff said!

Inside jokes with friends. Sometimes all we have to do is look at each other and we crack up.

So what makes you laugh????

Redneck Spanish 101

Hola me amigos!

We are still fighting the redneck Spanish battle in our house. Kyle made a 21 on his first Spanish test! No joke! As in 21% out of 100%!!!!

This redneck taking boy needs major help!

Sunday afternoon I was back hanging out in the laundry room(ya know, just hanging out with all the dirty draws!) and I walked back through the living room and found Kyle just sitting on the couch with the most awful dazed look on his face. And you will never believe what he was watching! The Spanish speaking Soap channel!!! It was like Days of Our Lives, only with Spanish speaking people!!!!

And with that, this conversation then took place.

Me "Kyle what are you watching?"

Kyle " The Spanish speaking channel. The teacher said if we surround ourselves with it, we will learn it alot faster."

Me "oh, well what are they sayin?"

Kyle "I don't know, but he sounds very mad!"

(the man was yelling and fussing at a women and another man...you ladies have watched Soaps before...you know what I'm talking about....OH THE DRAMA!)

Later that night, I go in his room to get his phone and tell him it time for bed (yes, we take his phone away at 10pm on school nights and it's put on the charger in the kitchen) and he is laying on his bed with his radio next to him listening to the Spanish music channel!!!!

And then this conversation happens.

Me "oh, you still trying to surround your self with Spanish hoping it will soak in huh?"

Kyle "yep"

Me "how that working out for ya so far?"

Kyle " I don't think it's working,"

Me "why?"

Kyle " cause all I smell is Mexican food!"

At that point all I can do is laugh! That poor, poor boy! All he thinks about is food!

(and no, there was no Mexican food cooking in the house)

Yes...I have the worlds BEST BFF!

Oh the stories I could tell you.... but then I may have to kill you and since I don't want to live the rest of my wonderful life out in prison, I will just tell you the "not so incriminating stories and details"

I met me BFF, Heather {{hey Heather!}}back in 7th grade during the first few days of Junior High(yes, back then it was Jr. High and not Middle School). From the moment we met I think we formed a bond that would never be broken and of course the past 20 years of our friendship have proved that to be true. Together, we could pull off anything....late night parties, dates, ballgames, driving and boys. Not to mention we could rock a leggins and long sweater outfit like it was no bodies business! We practically lived at each others houses so much we even called each others parents Mom & Dad!

Most people think that BFF's must have so much in common and have the same likes and dislikes but for us, we are TOTAL opposites! When my mom would go Christmas shopping for me she would take Heather and if Heather didn't like then it was perfect for me!

When 9th grade began we were torn apart to attend different High Schools. I thought the world as I knew it was going to end. How could I be without her? But our friendship did not end. Despite different high schools, we still spent all of our free time together.

Then one day in May, during my 10th grade year, my world was changed forever with one ring of the door bell. My Dad had been killed in a car wreck and would never be coming back. Alot of things were a blur to me after that moment. But she was there, along with her Mom, who brought enough boxes of Kleenex that I think my mom just opened that last box last week!

After that day, the downfalls did not end. Our friendship has faced several things over the years. Her parents divorced and remarried, my mom remarried, both of us got married, I moved away, I had a child and she got divorced.

But no matter what, we have always been there for each other. She flew all the way from Kentucky to be with me when my son was born. She stayed at the hospital for 28 hours while I screamed, pushed, yelled and even cussed some. She was by my side the entire time(except for a few hours when she disappeared and came back wearing a white Dr.'s coat...hmmm...I'm still unsure with all the details due to the med's I was on but she said she was just cold!)

We have enough inside jokes to fill a book. Ya know, the kind of things that only the two of us would laugh at and laugh so hard we almost pee!! She knows things about me that no one else will ever know. She is the most giving and caring person. She always thinks of others before herself and helps keep me in line and on track when I get a tad crazy.

Even though we have been over 600 miles apart for over 15 years, I still talk to her everyday(thank God for an awesome cell phone plan!) and some times several times a day. The hubs thinks it is strange and a little creepy that we live in different states and for the most part I can tell you where she is and what she is doing almost to the hour! It's truly like we live in the same town...except we never get to meet up for lunch and drinks!

Heather doesn't have a blog but she does read mine so every one make sure and say hello to her!

{{everybody waves to my Heather}}

And let me say.....Heather, I love you girl! You have always kept me in line, made me stop and re consider the good in people, made me laugh, held me when I cried and said "oh that's gross" when I pooped while pushing during labor (I guess I can take all the blame as to why you don't have any children!). You have kept my secrets, cheered at my success and only laughed for a few minutes when I thought I was gonna drowned in 2 foot of water! I love you despite your love of sushi, yucky beer, huge straw hats that make you look like a tourist and your liquid shade(SPF 3000) and fried chicken livers! And I have forgiven you for forgetting my birthday not only once but TWO years in a row!!!!(we now do a birthday count down to prevent future mishaps!)

So here's to US girl!!!! And our next 20 years of friendship. May they be as fun as the first 20 and if not, then we can hope for "old timer's" to set in early so we can be "new friends" all over again!

Redneck boy + Spanish class = MESS

oh dear me! I don't even know where to begin....as you know Kyle started High last week and well, everything has been going well......except his Spanish class.

For kicks & giggles lets just say that Kyle is the BIGGEST redneck you will ever meet. The way he thinks, the way he acts and most definitely the way he speaks! When we went for orientation and I met his Spanish teacher I informed her the task standing before her (if it works) would be her greatest acheivement...yep....if she can teach my redneck talkin son to speak Spanish, she deserves Teacher of The Year! (cause that boy is still working on speaking correct English!)

Kyle stil uses the word "weren't" ALL THE TIME! ex. "Momma, that weren't even funny!" and..."I promise, I weren't doing nuttin."

I swear we have family and friends who just love to sit a listen to Kyle talk...no kidding!

yep....he talk exactly like that. I know I am no grammer expert and I don't claim to be, but the hubs and I do not speak like that AT ALL! I really don't know where he gets it from. I guess it is our fault as parents because over the years we have never made a huge deal out of correcting him when he does use the wrong grammer. It's just Kyle, that is just they way he is...take it or leave it...he could really care less.

Here are a few of Kyle's favorite words or phrases:

"aw junk!"
"that's beast!"
"weren't"
"nuttin"
"nah"
he leaves the "g" off of every word in the English language(doin, eatin, listin, talkin, ridin......and so on)
"thats a bunch of mess"

So, this semester should be interesting to say the least. If he passes with a "C" I will be the proud Momma of one Spanish speaking Redneck!!!!

Fall...are you coming????

I must admit I am SO a fall and cool weather girl. Don't get me wrong.....I love the beach, the water, waves, sun, the smell of coconut suntan lotion and feeling sand under my feet. Kyle was born in the summer, Chris & were married in the summer, but my heart belongs to Fall. I love my jeans and long sleeve shirts, scarfs and boots. I hate snow but I like it just cool enough for a sweater.

I get all giddy inside with the first hint of a brisk morning. The beginning signs of the changing color of the leaves. I love the smell of my Autumn Wreath scented Yankee candle burning in the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon. I love Harvest and Fall festivals, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I love baking homemade apple and pecan pies for Chris and pulling out all my orange, red and brown fall decor. I love seeing my front steps adorned with pumpkins Kyle has grown in his garden and how happy my Scarecrow looks to be out of the attic.

However, it is going to be a horrible 96 degrees here in North Carolina tomorrow with a major Cat 3 hurricane brewing in the Atlantic....so I guess I better push my Fall thoughts on the back burner for a few more weeks!

Hang tight Mr. Scarecrow I'll see ya in a few more weeks {pinkie promise!}

Dear Superindentent,

I am writing this letter to voice my opinion on the public school bus transportation. When we arrived at "said high school" for orientation I asked what time the bus would pick up and drop of my child. I was told he would be picked up at 6:10am and be dropped off at 4:15pm.

I must admit I was a little taken back with the pick up and drop off times compared to the school hours of 7:40am-2:40pm but I decided not to make a stink and see if things would change after a few days......NO DICE!

So here is my stink!

If that bus pulls up out side my house again at 5:59am and honks that God forsakin horn I am gonna throw a hissy fit like you have never seen!!!!

And in case you are wondering...the 5:59am is not a type-o. Yes, my son gets on the bus 1 hour and 40 mins BEFORE school starts! I find this a tad CRAZY considering that I am 8 miles from the school. So my question is....is this the only bus the school has and it has to run the entire South side of the county????? I THINK NOT!

No lets address the return time shall we? LETS!

The shool bell rings at 2:40 to end the day. My son then boards the bus to find a seat to share with 2 other high school boys. They are pack 3 to a seat on the high school bus.

Yep, my son is crammed in a tiny seat with 2 other boys with a total of 3 book bags to spend an 1 hour and 35 mins stuck so close to together he can hear their hair grow!

Now I ask you, is this county so broke that they can not afford to run another bus to cut back on the time these kids have to spend on the bus and the over crowding? Because if thats the case, then I recommend yanking those 3 nice TV's my son told me where hanging in the lunch room so the kids could watch ESPN sports center and soaps while they eat, be sold to the highest bidder to raise money for gas to run another bus route!

Sincerely,
Mom of a Non-early riser

Wordless Wednesday(almost)

Yes, this is Kyle and yes he is oh SO grounded....see what happens when kids post stupid stuff on Facebook....it will get you busted EVERY time!

oh and Chris didn't kill him and let him live to start his first day of high school this morning. But I swear 5:30 came mighty early this morning....ugh!!!

Kneeboardin'

I had huge intentions last night to down load Kyle's knee boarding pictures and our anniversary trip pics but it was taking FOREVER!!!! I am not sure if it was my computer or blogger but man was it slow...and I had a massive amount of ceramic tile to mop so I didn't have the time to wait.

So......this is all ya get for now...1 measly picture of Bubba on the board...oh well, I shall try again later.

...but at least my tile floors are so spotless you could eat off them!!! I just wouldn't recommend it after today...things get dirty quick around my house!

I think I am in denial

I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

Kyle starts High School next Wednesday and I am having a tuff time coming to grips with the whole thing. Not only that he will be starting HS but the fact that he is REALLY growing up and in 4 short years he will be gone out of the house completely..{{cue HUGE crocodile tears}}

I know once he starts HS that things are going to change even more around our house. He already goes out to the movies and water park with his friends and is gone for hours at a time on the weekends riding four wheelers with all his buddies. But this is going to be a whole new ballgame for us. Kyle has had it pretty easy in Middle school for the most part. Very little homework, not really having to study for test and no major stupid projects made out clay and other junk that I spend a fortune on that end up thrown in the corner of my attic to collect dust!

Kyle is a smart kid when it comes to school work and has always made A's & B's. He will blow your mind with the way he can memorize spelling words and vocab definitions in split second, so I am not real worried about that part(unless you count making him take time out of his world to sit down & do it). I am worried about the drugs, sex & alcohol part. The parties, the sneaking out and soon the ever dreaded learners permit...thus giving him access to get behind the wheel of a 1 ton machine with 4 wheels and an engine.....LORD BABY JESUS AND A MANGER!!!!!!

Don't get me wrong, he is a very good driver on the 4 wheeler...unless you count the time he didn't warn me about that low hanging tree branch and well...he ducked...I didn't...and well....you get the rest of the picture!

Kyle gets side tracked ALL THE TIME! One second he can be talking to you as we drive down the rode and then mid sentence he stops..."hey, look! A chicken!"...yea, you get my point. Kyle has always spend 99% of his life looking at where he has been instead of where he is going.

So say a little prayer for me....these next 4 years should be interesting!

5,475 days.....

Yep....5,475!!! That is how many days it takes to make 15 years.

Chris & I packed the suitcase(well, I did really) loaded the cooler(well, I did really) pushed Kyle out the door to annoy the GP's for a while(Chris pushed & I pulled)...and we headed down the interstate bound for Myrtle Beach to spend our 15 year anniversary in the place we met.

We had no reservations at all...Chris just decided we would drive until we found somewhere that looked nice. This would usually drive me insane(for those of you that know me can verify that I am a HUGE planner!!!) But I agreed...and we drove with no certain place in mind. We just knew we wanted it to be quiet, with a nice pool and not too crowded.

We found a nice family owned hotel right on the beach with a nice pool and the beach was almost empty!!!! We checked in and then headed out to find "our" stop light. For those of you that don't know the story behind our stop light you can click on the link above that says "Our Story" and here the entire thing from start to finish (it really is a neat story if I say so myself and one that I can not wait to share with my grandkids one day.....one day like 20 years from now!!!!)

We had a wonderful time. We lounged by the pool, drank wine, ate amazing food, played putt-putt and layed by the pool some more. We even got suckered into one of those time share tours .But hey, they gave us $100 bucks in cash and a trip voucher for 7day/7night stay...BIG SCORE!

Chris & I are not big on giving gifts to each other since all of our money goes in the same account and if we see something we want then we buy it but one thing we are big on is cards. So I got the sweetest card from him with a note inside that just melted my heart.

To some, 15 years may not seem like a long time but when I look at us and see how far we have come, the fact that I met him when I was 18, married him when I was 19. and had Kyle when I was 20 it seems like an eternity...and the fact that when I look at our wedding pictures and my dress is so out of style that it makes me laugh. It had the open back, long puffy sleeves that came to a point on my hand and a HUGE bow to show off my butt! No if that don't scream OUT OF DATE I don't know what does! But at the time, it was so IN STYLE that America's Next Top Model would have been jealous!

So here's to US.... And our next 15 years!!!!

(I did take a few pictures that I will post for you guys later)

15 seconds of fame

yep...I'm famous!!!

I went to New York City again this past weekend and apparently if you buy something from American Eagle they will take your pictures and post on their HUGE sign in Time Square...pretty cool huh??? Yep, I thought so too. And they even let you add a personal message.

So this was our picture...larger than life...with our North Carolina faces bright and cheery for all of New York to see.....you think we scared them???

And just how stinkin cool is that I am already sporting my "oh so cool" AE t-shirt.....who knows....maybe they will call me to be one of there new models for this falls clothing line.......

...hey a girl can dream....no????

School Supply List

Friday night Chris & I ran to Walmart to pick up a few thinks after we dropped Kyle off at the movie with a bunch of friends. I don't know if the Walmart where you live does this but our local Walmart always has a cardboard stand at the entrance with copies of the school supply list for each school in the county. So, as we walked in I grabbed the list for the High School Kyle will be starting.

So, now with list in hand I began scanning the page to find that they have broken the list down to courses....what????...you know, like Civics ya need this junk and Algebra I ya need this list of crap, Agri-Science ya need this nonsense. I know this HS thing is all new to me but how the heck am I suppose to remember what Kyle signed up to take right after Christmas break last year???? .....was it Pre-Algebra or Algebra I...hmmmm????? I don't remember what I did 10 minutes ago!!!! What the school should have done was put a HUGE note on the list of classes Kyle signed up to take (which I had to sign and sent back to the school) that read MAKE A COPY OF THIS FORM BEFORE RETURNING CAUSE YOUR GONNA NEED IT!

*****let me stop here and say, I HATE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST!!!!!*********

In the 9 years I have bought supplies for Kyle I have waisted SO much money on crap that was on the list that he never needed or used! And then some teachers are SO stinkin picky about EXACTLY what type of supplies you need to buy(if you can find them at all) folders (with or without pockets or tabs) or no mechanical pencils or blue ink versus black ink, one teacher wants loose leaf paper while 4 others want 3 subject spiral notebooks....oh, and then there is the one teacher that needs a 5 subject spiral notebook! An now this year there a 5 classes listed that he will need to buy a Flash Drive for....huh???? Why in the sam hill does he need a Flash Drive? What ever happened to using paper and a #2 pencil??

And then of course there is always the list to supply the school with items the county is too poor to supply like tissue, hand sanitizer, a roll of paper towels, zip lock bags and I have even had to buy a pack of plain white copy paper before! And as many times as Kyle has come home a told us over the years that there is never any toilet paper in the boys bathroom I think they should have added that to the list!!!!

At this point, I guess I am going to wait until orientation to find out Kyle's class schedule so I know what to buy...if there is anything left on the shelves!

I wonder if they use LL Bean lunch boxes in High School?......hmmmm.....maybe I better just buy a bunch of brown paper bags instead.

Another conversation with Kyle

Well it's been a while since I have tickled your funny bone with another conversation with Kyle...who by the way is now 14 {gasp}...so I thought I would tell you a little story from the other night at our house.

Kyle has literally out grown everything he owns in the past 6 weeks. No joke!!! He has gained 10 pounds and grown over 2 inches in height (if he keeps this up I may just have to sent him off to live with a nudist colony, cause it is putting a major hurting on the ole wallet!)

Anyway, I decided I was going to measure his waist & inseam to see what size jeans we would need for back to school...and here is how it all went down.

Me: "Kyle, come here a minute and let me measure you."

Kyle: {after mumbles under his breath he enters the kitchen and turns around with his back to me}

Me: "no, I need you to turn and face me"

Kyle: {then turns around and stands with his feet together}

Me: "I need you to spread your legs apart."

Kyle: {does as instructed but has a weird expression on his face that says that I must be the dumbest person to walk the face of the earth}

Me: { I then take the tape measure in hand and take in up to "the forbidden region"}

Kyle: {then jerks back and yells} "What are you doin women!"

Me: "I am measureing your inseam!"

Kyle: {still VERY unsure with this entire ordeal} " My what!"

Me: "I am measuring to see how long your leg is."

****okay, maybe I should not have used the term leg to him*****

Kyle: {then gives me the evil eye with a smirk on his face as if he doesn't believe me}

Me: " Don't worry I am not try to measure and see how long your mess is!" {Kyle call his man parts his "Mess"}

Kyle: "alright, well just hurry it up would ya!"

I tell ya that boy is almost impossible sometimes!

Oh, and if any of you want to buy some American Eagle young mens jeans size 26/28, I have 5 pair for sell. Just let me know.