Its a Jungle Out Here!

Hey sisters! Just had to share some pictures from our homeschool groups Spring Festival and Award night. The kids did a drama to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Jordan was a native:





Addie was a panther:








And Lexie . . . . . . well she didn't have to act too much - she was a monkey, surprise surprise!





Here is a pretty low quality video of it, but I couldn't resist showing you. Jordan is the first native that comes in - the one checking out the bongo. Lexie is on the very right of the jungle animals and Addie is in the middle doing the cat noises. Pretty cute though and Lexie wanted to do it again.

This homeschool group is a group a friend of mine and I started 2 years ago. We do activities 1-2 times a month. We have about 20 families involved but this video shows kids from about 7 families. The kids really love getting together and doing learning acitivities that you can't do as easily with just a few kids. It gives them a sense that they are not they only ones homeschooling and gives them an opportunity to make like-minded friends with similar interests.

O.k one more picture - here is a picture of Jordan pitching in his first year of majors - such a serious guy - watch out batter!

What A Thong Will Do To You

So I told Barb the other day that I hit a bike rack with my car. Yes I did. How? Welllll  I was parking in a space in a parking lot with a bike rack looming in front of me and let's just say my foot became tangled in my "thong" and caught on the gas pedal. Fortunately it was just creeping along and did no damage to the car or the bike rack but I sure looked like the big fool I am.

Now for the "thong".  I know what you are all thinking. My children always call me on this term and even though I know the times have changed I continue to call a "flip flop" a thong.  After all when we were kids this is what they were.  In fact a string caught up your crack and hooked to a piece of elastic was the furthest thing (still is) from our tiny world. 

Barb said "I am picturing your thong getting caught on the gas pedal".  "How did you manage to accomplish such a feat?"  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

She is so funny!  

What's Up With Television These Days??

So after working all morning outside I came in on Sunday to eat my lunch and was mindlessly flipping through channels. All I can say is for six channels in a row this is what popped in to my family room.

I didn't think too much of it but it was showing a woman who had to keep running to the bathroom during the most inopportune times. Why do we need to know that she has to run frequently to the bathroom or has incontinence? I bet if she were to ask her doctor that there would be an answer for her about what can be done and what drug to take.

The next channel was showing a man sitting in a meeting and all kinds of images of him passing gas kept cropping up in his imagination as he sat there squirming. People were passing out and plants dying as well as animals running the other direction. I admit, yes I do, that I laughed out loud at this one. But really....do we need to see it?

The next channel came up with the Bride of Chucky. Yikes!!! On a Sunday afternoon on cable television where I am sure kids are watching during the day. The movie still creeps me out and I have never been able to watch it at all. As soon as Chucky starts in with a knife I have to get rid of it. Why during the day?

OK on to the next channel. In fact for three channels in a row this guy, "Smilin' Bob" was on. Now I am sure you all have seen these Bob commercials and how he is the talk of the neighborhood and such for the once daily tablet for natural male ..........." (I don't feel the need to put it all out there).

Yes, "Smilin' Bob" I don't feel the need to think about you, talk about you and wonder about you. But I really don't want to have to explain to my eight year old granddaughter what Bob is "smilin' " about.

Crikey!! Get this junk off the air.

Oh Where, Oh Where

Oh where, oh where has our other sister gone? Oh where, oh where can she be? With her great sense of humor and her gardening abilities, Oh where, oh where can she be? Now that I've got that out of my system, I was just wondering where our other sister (you know, the one with that little blond, blue eyed grand baby) has gone. I thought I was bad about blogging but I don't even see any responses to any of our antics. She is the only one left who has not followed through with the "tag - you're it" part of our blog. Well, now I feel better. I have properly chastised our other sibling and can move on with the rest of the story. That beautiful new baby boy is spectacular! I can't wait to get my hands on him and spoil him rotten. Jilly Bean - you sure do have beautiful baby boys. But that's no surprise. I have a little something for you but have not gotten my lazy self to the post office yet. Sorry honey, hopefully it will be before he graduates high school (or with my luck, maybe even college). I am desperately trying to watch what I eat - having spoken to Vonda - I have the "get with it bug." Damn thing flew out the window a little earlier this evening though. You should have seen me out in the back yard running around trying to catch him with my imaginary net. The neighbors were peeking out from behind their curtains and I thought I heard one of them say "There she goes again, that crazy lady next door." I keep forgetting that I am no longer in eastern Oregon where all the country bumpkins act the same so no one thinks my antics are out of the ordinary. Oh well, there is always tomorrow. I did walk approximately 4 miles though (or maybe I should restate that - walked, crawled, grovelled, gnashed and gnawed) today so I hope that will help offset all else. I could definitely tell how out of shape I was because after I got home I sat in the chair looking at all the things I needed to do and that was it -- I just sat there and looked. Well anyway, someone once told me "it's the thought that counts." I think it was mom. I'll just see how much the thought weighs in the am. Well on to the next great adventure --moving from the chair to the bed--. Love to you all!

Tag Followup

OK here goes (don't say I didn't warn you):

Four things you might/might not want to know about me:

1. I love the sound of the ocean but it does scare me a bit at times.
2. I love my children and family more than life itself.
3. It gives me so much pleasure to walk along a dirt road early in the morning and listen to the birds sing and smell the fresh air as I watch the sun come up.
4. If I had to choose my best friends in life it would be my sisters equivocally.

Four jobs I have held:
1. Executive Assistant to the President of the hospital
2. Bookkeeper
3. Legal Secretary
4. Travel Coordinator for the US Forest Service

Four movies I could watch over again:
1. Napoleon Dynamite
2. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
3. Chronicles of Narnia
4. Finding Nemo

Four places I've lived:
1. Durkee, Oregon
2. Baker City, Oregon
3. Boise, Idaho
4. Warrenton, Oregon

Four TV shows I like:
1. American Idol
2. Nanny
3. Deal or no Deal
4. And last but not least - Medium

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Watermelon
2. Halibut
3. Shrimp
4. Clams

Where I would rather be right now:
Where there are no worries.

Now you have it - it's the rest of you's turn!!! Don't you just love my use of the English language?

Tagged - Things you probably never wanted to know about me!

OK - sister Vonda - you've tagged me so remember, you asked for it:


Four Things You Might/Might Not Want To Know About Me!

1. I have hairy toes and crooked fingers and, believe it or not, I don't believe in evolution!

2. I recently got the spring cleaning bug (the first day of sunshine in Eastern Oregon) - it only lasted for one room.

3. I love anything artsy fartsy, have WAY TOO MANY CRAFT STASHES, and pretend I'll have time to do them all someday.

4. I love the idea of gardening - love the flowers and vegetables - do great with the watering and such for about 2 weeks. Then everything has to survive with drought and flood conditions!

5. Here is a bonus piece of info: I hide in the pantry closet to eat treats so that my kids don't see me and want some - oink, oink!

Four Jobs I've Held:

Waitress - I've been a waitress a few places, but the one that sticks out was "Kattle Kates". I was 18 and this is where I received several marriage proposals and was told by an old man that he had seen bigger lumps than that in his gravy (referring to my not-so-well-endowed breasts). I told him his wife was a bad cook!

Paralegal

Executive Assistant/Foundation Director

HR Director

Four Movies I could Watch Over and Over

I'm mostly a "watch a movie once" kind of a gal. After all - I've already seen it and I know what's going to happen! As you might already know, I get bored easily.

1. Its a Wonderful Life (of course - its a classic!)

2. Christmas Story (love the lines in this one: "You'll shoot your eye out" "Then I said it - the mother of all dirty words" etc.)

3. Beaches - Love that friendship between the two women - makes me cry every time! Plus Bet Midler singing "Auto Titsling" cracks me up.

4. Grumpy Old Men - I have to agree with Vonda - this is a keeper - makes me laugh every time! Filthy old men!

Places I've Lived (In order):

Baker City, OR

Eugene, OR

Lacey, WA (2 weeks - woo hoo)

Renton, WA

Burien, WA

Baker City, OR (again!)

Now, in my mind I've lived several exotic places - does that count?

Four TV Shows I like:

OK, here is the thing, we don't have t.v.! Well, let me clarify, we don't have cable t.v. So I watch t.v. about once a week on the rabbit ears! It saves us money and a load of wasted time - the t.v. seems to draw me in and put me in a drooling, trance. So, when I do get to watch it - there is not too many options! There are few great British comedies on OPB on Saturday night that I like:

1) Keeping Appearances

2) Shoot, I can't remember the name of this one! Its about a couple who met and fell in love when they were young, he went to war and they lost touch. Now, they are old and are back together. Its a cute and funny show with dry humor.

3) American Idol - it cracks me up to watch the people try out who think they know how to sing and don't. Pat absolutely hates any t.v. show like this because he gets mad and embarrassed for the people. He doesn't think its funny - mean me does!

4) Super Nanny - I like watching Joe's shocked faces and the idiotic parents who don't know how to control a two year old - come one - where is their brain? Pat also hates this one, embarrassed for the people - it actually makes him mad to watch either one of these shows. So I don't get to watch them much!

Four Favorite Foods

1. Deep Fried Prawns with tartar sauce

2. Stuffed Prawns

3. Clam Chowder

4. Haag n Daz Coffee Ice Cream

Where I would rather be:

I could type a huge list: a few places would be on the beach in Hawaii, camping in the mountains, shopping in a really cool cross stitch store......

Alright Barb and Loretta - it's your turn!

Tag I'm It

I've been tagged by Shauna, and I have done this a while back but a little different. Hmmm! Let me think....think...think...think....think.

Four Things You Might/Might Not Want To Know About Me!

• *I really despise digging in the dirt and up comes a cat poopy hand.  Oh turd on a stick!  I like cats but at those moments  I make a mental note to tell my husband he can shoot them. 
  
• *I never imagined or thought I would have four children. But I did and have never once regretted the most important lights in my life.
  
• *Some people think my eyes are green because of my contact lenses.  Nope...my lenses are clear and my eyes are green.
  
• *I strongly dislike my straight and fine hair.  I have to paste and blow dry just to give it a little body which when it is rainy or hot or cold or dry or snowy or windy it just goes flat. 
  

Four jobs I've held:

• *Waitress at the good old In and Out in Baker City
  
• *Real Estate Secretary
  
• *Executive Secretary Baker School District
  
• *Administrative Asst., University of Oregon
  

Four movies I could watch over and over:

• *Forrest Gump
  
• *Steel Magnolias
  
• *Fried Green Tomatoes
  
• *Grumpy Old Men
  

Places I've lived (in order):

• *Durkee, OR
  
• *Baker City, OR
  
• *Springfield, OR
  
• *I am lame....I have never roamed far from home
  

Four TV shows I like:

• *The Office (do you have to ask?)
  
• *Food Network (Paula Deen is my hero)
  
• *Super Nanny (I love Jo and how she kicks parents rears in shape)
  
• *Days of Our Lives (don't ask what a habit this is for all these years)
  

Four favorite foods:

• *Spaghetti
  
• *Lasagna
  
• *Chicken Bisque
  
• *Fried Chicken
  

Where I would rather be:

• *Home digging in the dirt, planting flowers.  
  

So now I get to TAG my three sisters.  Come on you guys play with me.  I think my older sisters are still trying to ignore me and leave me out of their games...they never respond.  How about you Krisit?  Huh?  Huh?

Aiy yi yi!!!

Sisters.....do you remember Grandma Haw saying Aiy yi yi! when she was disgusted or exasperated?  There was another Hungarian word she used to follow this and I can say it but I do not know how to spell it so in respect for the Hungarian language I won't even attempt to butcher it.  But you know what I mean.  I can still hear her say this in her broken English when she would see a man with shorts on.  She then followed it with "Look at those FILTHY HAIRY THINGS" in reference to the mans hairy legs.  I still laugh when I think of this.

What brought this up was while keeping Byron I realized he just loves to sing when there is any kind of music on or the piano is being played.  He also does this in church and when he is eating.  I think he is really happy during these times so this is what we hear.  So I leave you with this for the lovely upcoming weekend.

Cracks me up as he looks at himself in the video and how forceful he can sing.  Ha ha!

Whatcha Bin Up To Sisters?

Me? Well aside from a new baby grandson and taking a week off to watch Byron while mommy had a few days to bond with baby, I have a really big spring fever going on here. I just keep looking at the flowers and wanting to fill my planters and raised beds but am just a tad leery because of all the strange weather going on lately. So May will be my time to begin planting a few things....I can't wait!

I have been slowly (and I do mean slowly) getting the weeds cleaned up that all of a sudden just took over everything. I have two large beds ready for planting and have been trying to think about what to plant that is deer resistant. The boogers eat everything. I am thinking rosemary, heavenly bamboo and a few other things that I know they leave alone under the bedroom windows where I have a huge place to fill in. Right now it only has a couple of hydrangeas which I have to constantly guard from the deer. I would like to fill in with iris, peonies and some other smaller plants that come back each year. Dave trimmed up the two trees and now it has quite a bit more sunlight so things should do well there.


Charo brought her brother and his girlfriend to visit a week or so ago. They are here from Spain to spend a few weeks and her mother sent me this beautiful hand stitched table runner. You should see her hand stitching. It looks so pretty and I don't know the type of stitch it is but it is really unusual. I can't even see a knot in this where she tied anything off.

A little bit closer view of the stitching. The hem is interesting as well because she pulled a few threads for another type of design at the border.

I also had a return visitor from Argentina. His name is Sebastian and he is quite the character...somewhat like dad was with his teasing and mannerisms. He has two little boys and a really sweet wife that I met the first time he was here. He brought me this hand made rosary and some music. The rosary is made from a type of canvas. I have not had a chance to listen to the music but I look forward to a little time to do that.




O.K. See this evil, devil-made, blue ball that Jill has left as a huge hint to me to exercise. It looks so sweet, innocent and inviting just sitting there on the family room floor. But don't let it fool you. It is the devil! I made the mistake of not putting my tennis shoes on to use it for those dreaded abdominal exercises and my stocking feet slipped and my bum flew over my head and I lay sprawled on the floor this morning just looking at the ceiling. Why do I have to wear my shoes? Dang it.

Here is what I continue to look at each and every time I am on that devil ball. I am beginning to think I like the wood up there better than the wood on the floor. Nice color and a balance beam to practice on...that is if I were a gymnast.

So what are you ladies doing lately?

BriRocky

While Kelli was in Baltimore visiting Brian they hopped on over to Philadelphia for some site seeing.  One place they went to was the Philadelphia Museum of Art where Brian BriRocky felt the need to recreate the scene from Rocky where he is running up the steps.  I guess they call them the "Rocky Steps".  A  statue of Rocky was commissioned by Sylvester Stallone for the movie which is in a grassy area near the foot of the steps.

So to all of his wonderful aunts BriRocky wants you to have this viewing pleasure....ha ha!

Garbanzo Beans ...... Or Something Like That!

Well, I've been waiting a while to post this, but it is just too funny not to tell you about. Sorry Pat!!! He knows I can't resist sharing a funny story anyway!

I've been having a bit of trouble sleeping, you know, where you are almost asleep but can hear everything around you. For those of you who know Pat and me, Pat is usually the one who talks (and acts out) in his sleep. Well, this time it was a bit different:

I was still awake - sort of - and I was thinking about making Hummus. I know - strange - but I like hummus, it is really good! Hmmm, come to think of it, I might have a problem when I'm even dreaming of food - yikes! So, I was going over the recipe in my head, and when I got to the main ingredient (garbanzo beans), I said out loud "GARBANZO BEANS". Pat, evidently was having trouble sleeping too because he said: "What did you say?!!!!" in a surprised voice. I was awake enough to say, never mind, I was thinking about making hummus and I said "garbanzo beans." Well, I thought that was the end of it until the next day.

We went to the movies and during the movie, Pat said to me: "Do you know what I thought you said last night?" Of course, I had no idea. Well, I can tell you, men think WAY differently than women! He said "I thought you said - JUMP MY BONES!" No wonder he sounded surprised!!!! I think he was the one that was "dreaming"!

Anyway, watch out what you say - it could be um, er, eh, "misunderstood"!

A Little Diddy For Today

I just couldn't resist this. A good friend, Joe Rose sent me this and it made my first laugh of the day. So now sisters can you not hear our dad laughing at this? It is so something he would have thought was hilarious.

Jordan, see what your musical abilities might bring? Fame and a little snot!

Why I'm Laughing Today

I found this link on how to take care of a baby from Dooce's  blog.  All of the cartoons were ridiculously funny but for some reason the very first one is the funniest thing to me and every time I think about it or look at it I get the giggles.  Why does this tickle my funny bone?  Somehow this is how I pictured Dave when we first brought Jill home.  Not that I saw him test a bottle with his tongue but he was about this clueless. 

I always feel so much better if I am laughing and I usually do that several times throughout the day...mostly at myself.  So come on all you out there in blog land, delurk and tell us in the comments what made you laugh out loud today? 

Oh The Aching Back

Oh so many things rambling through my wee tiny brain today.  I decided I need to do my back exercises because I....well just because I am a lazy arse and have not done them in quite a long time.  If anyone does exercises to stabilize their back what that really means is abdominal exercises.  Yes, dreaded abdominals......you know the squishy, place in front where firm muscles used to be about four kids and million years ago.  My doctor gave me this sheet of exercises and I told him I was really hoping after ten years that back exercises had changed to the equivalent of sitting on the couch eating popcorn and watching a good movie.  He just stared me in the eye and said "do them".  So to avoid yet a third back surgery I am trying to do these.  So this morning I began with a fervor and got through about two minutes of the first few then decided that it would be better if I walked on the treadmill.  He said I could you know but I think he meant after all of the exercises.  

Perhaps tomorrow I will be good.  

Doubt it.

Groovin to the Blues

I promised Vonda I'd put up a video of Jordan playing the guitar. Vonda, this isn't "The Entertainer" (I'll talk him into doing that later), but he is playing one of his favorite things (and the girls') to play: the blues - check out Lexie's moves:

My Foot's Asleep, Holes in My Socks and I've Cut My Hair with Cuticle Scissors!

I bet you all are wondering what else we do besides homeschool - well, here is a typical weekend:

Addie Mae's foot was asleep so she decided this little number would wake it up:

Jordan insists on wearing clothes that are too small, with holes or so worn out you can see through them - does anyone else deal with this? He has dug WAY TOO SMALL of sweats out of the trash (size 7 - he is 11 years old mind you) and this weekend he was wearing another pair of THOSE socks - you know, the socks where you can see the soles of his feet through them because they are so thin! I had to wrestle him down and rip the sock off. Of course, he was looking to just dig it back out of the garbage. So I fixed him - well at least I tried - take a look at it now:

Now, you ask about what Lexie is up to? Well, while I was grocery shopping this weekend and Dad was watching (NOT) her, she decides to become a beautician with a pair of cuticle scissors:

Loretta: Can you help with this????? Aren't you a magician - I mean beautician? Can't you glue bangs back on? I can't help but wonder how long she was in the bathroom, I mean cuticle scissors are tiny!!! I'm lucky her hair was in braids and she only trimmed the ends of those - otherwise she might have had a crew cut when I got back!

Frog CPR

Saturday morning Barb brought her two sweet grandchildren to visit and see Kelli's rabbit. As they were getting ready to leave Joey found a frog in our swimming pool. He was wishing it was alive but sadly most things die from chemicals fairly soon. But he retrieved it and here he is trying to give it CPR. He wanted to keep it so bad and I offered to put it in a jar and preserve it with vinegar but Barb was having no part of that.  Gosh Barb, you are kind of a mean grandma.

Remembrances From Yesteryear

Well here it is 3:45 am and as usual I have nothing better to do than read our blog and laugh. Anyway, after having talked with Vonda the other day, I agreed to blog about my Christmas laugh. As one might expect our poor mother seems to be at the butt of some of our laughter but then she is used to it by now. Anyway, on with the story. Just before leaving home to go to Baker for Christmas I talked with mom on the phone. During the conversation she said "Oh by the way, I have looked everywhere and cannot find a brush like the one I have had for quite some time. It is beginning to look kind of sad. I wonder if you might be able to find one before you come home and I will pay for it?" After she explained what kind of brush she was talking about and advised that it was one she had gotten through Avon, who no longer carried it, I envisioned the one she was talking about. But surely this couldn't be as the brush I see in my head would have to be at least some 40 years old. No way I tell myself but I assure her I know what she is talking about and am quite sure I can find one for her. I indeed am able to find not one, but two. I decide I'll go ahead and get two so she will have one on hand in case she either loses one or maybe while "sanitizing" one she will still have a spare.

Well I get to her house during my time in Baker and behold she pulls out this blue-green brush from Avon to show it to me. She advises she was going to use it in the dog grooming room but didn't think it would work. I look at this poor bedraggled thing she is holding in her hand and it was all I could do to keep from rolling hysterically on the ground laughing. Now that would be a sight. I can see the headlines now, "52 year old found dead on the floor, appearing to have died writhing and slashing on the floor of her bewildered mothers home. Sad as it may seem, at least she died with a smile on her face".

I have tried to find a picture of a brush everywhere that could adequately depict this brush but, try as I might, I cannot find one. At any rate, you will all just have to envision, if you can, this brush. This is in fact the one and only same brush that mom used on our hair as children. The only difference is that it now literally has no bristles in the center of the brush. ONLY bristles at the very tip and very beginning of the brush. I look at the brush and wonder how on earth mom has been able to brush her hair at all, then realize that all this time she has been telling me her hair is falling out, she is right - but not from natural causes, but from trying to brush her hair with 8 bristles. I did not want to hurt her feelings so I tell her to sit down and I take one of the new brushes and brush her hair for her so I can hide the silent belly laugh I am having. I should have grabbed on to that brush, put it in a shadow box, and saved it for fond memories to all the Fuzi kids. Mom was so appreciative of the new brushes but she didn't know I was so tickled over what I had just witnessed that I would gladly have brought her a dozen if I had known what a funny sight I would behold. Now all you Fuzi sisters - I bet you know exactly what brush I am talking about. Anyway hope all of you are having a great new year!

Rush Hour Crazy

Picture driving along downtown at rush hour. You glance over at the car beside you to see a fifty-something man writhing in the passenger side, seeming to be in pain with his right arm up raised above him, large hand over his crown with fingers spread looking something like a giant spider attached to the top of his head.  A second look lets you see that his left hand is grasping his right wrist and he is trying to pull the hand off of his head.  He begins to struggle and writhe in his seat then the spider hand moves down over his face.  He continues this for a few more seconds then you see him turn in his seat and reach to the back seat to do something that you can't make out.

Yes, this is Dave.  Yes, he is playing spider with Lucy and you would not believe the strange looks I was getting from people beside and behind us including a police officer who could not see a child in the car.  I just sheepishly smiled and shrugged my shoulders at them all the while making the crazy sign and pointing at him.  

Being a grandfather is grand!

The Great Cover Up

I spent a few hours yesterday sewing the first nursing cover-up for Jill so that I could know what I am talking about when we get together Thursday. It is so stinking easy I can't believe it. In fact the only time consuming thing was turning the straps right side out after sewing.

So I was going to "milk" this Hooter Hider thing for all it's worth. I tried to get Dave to model it for me but he wouldn't. I don't know why. Even guys have hooters just not much. I offered to put his head on a photo of Kelli modeling it but he glared at me so I
guess that won't be happening. I even offered to put a male spin to it and name it Hooter Hunter. No go.

So here is Kelli modeling sort of. Most of the time she pulled her cap down on her face because she said she had bed head. I told her we could come up with all kinds of names for this. Hooter Tooters, Hooter Peeps, Lost in Hooter Land and on and on. Somehow she wasn't amused.

Brian where are you when I need a model. Dang. Perhaps I can use Photoshop........