Friday Night Fish Fry

Birthday Greetings

Like Oprah and Gayle,  Thelma and Louise there is Tate and Tate...aka Deana and Sharon.

So to wish my best friend since 9th grade, that's 27 years people, a wonderful birthday...and to humiliate her I have gone back through the albums to find a couple of her best shots.

Ah, 11 years ago at Wrightsville beach.  Yes that is my puffy head and cig.  Shishy looks on.

5 years ago at the Dwight Yoakam concert.  That's her cousin Claude grinning with her.

Tate is having a good time!

I bought that for her birthday, my scanning leaves something to be desired.

(Tate, Melanie, Izzy, Eric, Jackson, Delane, Amy)

(me, Jackson,Caleb,Izzy)

She has been with our family for a long long time.   (You know it is the kids growth that makes you feel old, they change so quickly)

Isabelle asked me the other day why Shishy wanted to be my friend all those years ago.

I said "Well Shishy wasn't jealous of my raw beauty and she saw my sense of humor."  "When we girls got to the catty age Shishy wasn't like that with me."  I think Shishy just saw the real me and that is hard when you're a teenager trying to impress or be super cool.

Izzy said "Oh.  Well somedays I am the prettiest girl in my class and another day my best friend is the prettiest girl so we get along."  I thought you'll get along until about 15 and those fangs come out.  When I told my mom the conversation she said "Yeah, people were jealous of how pretty I was too."

Humility...it runs in the family.  We need friends like Shishy to keep us grounded.

So Happy Happy Birthday Tate!  And thanks for being my friend.

In other Birthday news and the reason for the beach photo of us all together is that my nephew Jackson celebrates number 8 tomorrow and I won't be posting tomorrow so I am doing his birthday shout out along with Sharon's!

So to embarrass Jackson...

Jackson at 2 1/2 getting in the candy bowl of Papa's.

Jackson age 2.

The kid has always been about ball.

Easter Hunt Photos

It is essential to know that to be a happy person, a happy family, a happy society, it is very crucial to have a good heart, that is very crucial. World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just the absence of violence but the manifestation of human compassion.

Dalai Lama

The young group champion.

Seth had 87 eggs.  More than anyone.

Caleb was the older group champion and won the creative egg competition. 

Autumn won prettiest egg. 

Seth and Ben found Gold and Silver youth eggs.

Jackson and  Izzy found Silver and Gold older group eggs.

I had a blast but it goes by in a whirlwind...I hid a lot of eggs and it still seemed to go by quickly.  And we had a bit more than egg hunting.  We had some fishermen out and about and it was my birthday party.

I will update more on the weekend and party later for now I am pooped.  Too pooped to chat.

 

My dad and my cousin Mark were always tight so I think this picture with Mark, his little girl Autumn and my dad, is very cute.

Okay I'm having to prop one eye open with my finger now.  Time to turn in. 

I hope you enjoyed your Easter.

For the rest of our egg family throwdown photos click HERE.

Opening Day at the Clark Pond

Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley.  ~Author Unknown

Opening Day at The Clark Pond~

Rollie lands a big one! 

Papa, who was nice enough to pass along his rod to one of the kids if he felt a bite, did not pass the rod off when he landed this monster trout.  About 22 inches long.  He was fishing with Izzy's little pink Barbie pole and dad getting that big boy down the dock to the bank with that tiny breaking rod was one of the funniest things fishing I've ever seen.  Papa was excited about this big guy.  (The boys don't look so happy to be near a big one!)

We should have taught Papa the real angler pose.    Can you tell our guide has taught us all too well the skill of fish posing?  Hey you never know when you might show up in Trout Unlimited or something so we have that move down pat.

Caleb looks about like Huck Finn in the one with no shoes.  Jackson hauls in his own mess of fish and even Baby Seth lands one.  Though afterward he seemed more concerned with his tobaggon coming off than the fish itself.  Isabelle is a natural at casting. 

It was a great day.   I'd been looking forward to the day Ben could come learn to fish.  He hasn't gotten to fish as much as the others in his lifetime.  The first one Toonces had rigged and in the water I heard little Ben say after about 5 minutes of fishing.."This is taking too long."    The small ones will enjoy Bluegill fishing with bobbers much more but we won't put those in for a few more months.

Melanie was the fishing champ of the day bringing in at least 5 trout.

Papa had the biggest, followed by mine. 

And the only 2 that were completely shut out...SKUNKED as it is called...were Toonces and Delane. 

We should've cut their shirt tails off.  Don't ask me why.  That is just an old timer's rule.

For more fun family trout pictures click HERE

I could've been a walrus.

My father used to say, 'Let them see you and not the suit. That should be secondary.'

Cary Grant

Other than losing my keys and Izzy and I having to walk up and down Main Street in the cold with stores closing up and me trying not to panic it has been pretty good.  .....oh and having to watch the time to make sure I log in to get free Webkinz goodies for both of us!

house work and blog time.

After watching Arctic Tale the walrus has become one of my favorite mammals.  They have aunties that take on the responsibility of getting the baby walrus to adulthood safely along with their mother....and one auntie in this was alot like aunt Rollie but Rollie wasn't expecting quite the sacrifice Auntie Walrus made and cried and cried into the arm of the sofa.

I thought Izzy would be touched too but when I looked over Izzy was asleep!

"No Papa, I do not want to wear your hat!"

Aunt Dee is still in portrait mode.

Party Noise- Music, Farts, Giggles and Squeals!

If mom says "no," she means it. If dad says "no," it means maybe.   Joseph, age 13

You can't push away your conscience.  Christopher, age 12

"Guests" is just another word for "cleaning." Chanelle, age 12

You can't change the past, but you have choices for the future. Jaymin, age 15

(go Amy!)

The world is a wonderful place and everyone should shut up and enjoy it every once in a while.   Sarah, age 12

Highlights:

Melanie has a "Catch Phrase" music game.  Every time one of my favorite songs would come up I'd just freeze.  Couldn't think, couldn't get the lyrics...I'd just sit frozen.  I had "Bust a Move" and "Me and Bobby McGee" come up and I just couldn't get it out. ---the funniest was Amy who would put her hand over her mouth and whispered "ssshhhhitt" for about the first 5 or six rounds.

The mind connection between Eric and Martin was a bit eerie. ....and they certainly know their ballads well.

Flarp really does sound like farting.

A 2 year old should not be left alone with a black marker.  (My exercise ball is lovely)

Mel can hang with the Big Dogs (Eric and Delane) on Guitar Hero.  I will never get off easy level with the easy songs.

Toonces and I are not meant to win the Newlywed Game.

Neither are my parents.  They can't even remember back to times that some of the questions ask about.  44 years will do that to you.  Caleb had to help Papa with his answers.  Actually Caleb did pretty well and knew their toothbrush colors.

Toonces and I do know the color of each other's toothbrush and his first pick up line and his best friends.  He apparently thinks I don't use enough spices in my chicken pie. .....ask us about the house, finances, back to dating times..sure, but ask him how I think and forget it.  To make it worse mom would side with him saying "Well honey his answer does make more sense."  Sense to whom mom?  It is me you are talking about.    Or we both have an answer that is correct but we don't match.  And for reasons unknownst to me, suddenly last night is the only night out of 365 nights that T doesn't remember that I don't discipline the pets enough.  I suppose we don't do well under pressure.   

Delane and Amy are grossly in sync.  Mushy yucky sync.  You could say when was the last time your wife did something nice and Delane would say "Oh she stopped and rescued a little kitten on the side of the road coming over here."  Or you could ask Amy how many calls Delane got on average at work and she would say 42 and sure enough Delane would have 42.

Their 10 year anniversary is in March...so really we are very happy they are still so lovey and in sync.

Toonces just will not give the right answers. 

One of the questions was who is your husband's favorite cowgirl?  Weird to start with right?  Of course Mr. and Mrs. In Sync Mushies get the little cowgirl from Toy Story.  Mama can't even think of a cowgirl but Caleb and Papa picked Sharon Stone in "The Quick and The Dead.".  Melanie named Selma Hayek from Banderas but Eric picked Martina McBride....I was thinking that since Toonces was a product of the 70s he would only know one cowgirl and so when I said I went "old school" he thought we had that one.  But his old school favorite cowgirl was Dale Evans.   I put Debbie, as in Debbie Does Dallas. 

No I have never seen the movie but it is a very famous title, and she is a very famous cowgirl among guys Toonces's age.

So much for that.  The parents start scrambling for the kids and covering their ears before Aunt Dee spits out any other phrase they might not should know.

The prize bowl emptied throughout the night and hopefully everyone went home with lots of goodies....and possibly TOO MUCH INFORMATION about each other.

For more party pics click HERE.

In the following video clip (pretty short) Seth thinks he is hooked to the Nintendo playing Star Wars too and thinks he is killing Ben's men.  Then he takes a bite out of my coaster thinking it is a cookie.  Next Seth and Jackson perform "Don't Cha"...notice Ben doesn't miss a beat with his game and just ignores Seth. 

Later the pooting starts up and the house gets rowdy!  It's a Party!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wrapping The Weekend

"If your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either." - Unknown

"My friend Ben", as Toonces calls him, came to stay with us Friday night.  We played W-A-R with his Star Wars figures...Ben tends to want all the bad guys on his team.  We ate dinner out at our local seafood restaurant. They didn't have Webkinz at our local toy store so he picked out a dragon in the Shining Star series by the competitor Russ.  We registered his dragon on the Internet and played games online in the Star Arcades.  We watched Underdog and most of Mr. Bean's Vacation.  Ben was drifting off to sleep in that one and it was hard not to laugh out loud at that crazy Mr. Bean.

It is so much fun to have the kids over because you never know what you are going to learn or what they are going to say.  For example when Ben has to potty and you take him he will say "Ah Man, I've got diarrhea!" every time.  If you tell him he does not have diarrhea he just looks at you and scrunches his face and says "yes I do."

Friday night when I told him my tummy was hurting he looks up and says "Maybe you have diarrhea?"  I guess it is one of those words that 4 year olds like as much as booty, butt and poop.

I told Ben he had the cutest little feet after he'd taken his socks off.  He said "Yeah, that's 'cause I took a bath before I came here...so I would look good.  My feet are clean so they look good today."  It is hard not to get tickled with him.

Before we watched Underdog he said "Now you know this is the only day I am staying here right?  Just one day."

Ben was up and at 'em very early ready to get back to see his brother and his parents.

At the basketball game that morning Jackson's team continued their undefeated streak and I enjoyed getting to see him play. The kid has a ton of energy.  He didn't slow the whole game no matter how many times they ran up and down the court.  If I could figure out a way to get him to bottle some and sell it I'd be thrilled.

Inspired by all the action I went to my own gym afterward and did 45 minutes cardio.

I've been testing Photoshop's Lightroom and I love it. 

I've also become addicted to that little Bejeweled game that I set up on my home Internet page and play it first thing in the morning and right before I go to bed.   It is killing my eyes, I have no idea what the main purpose is,  but I just like it for some reason.  Strange.  My parents have it on their television from their satellite company...thankfully I haven't found it on mine.

I hope to cuddle up and finish "A Thousand Splendid Suns" this evening.  My first book of '08 and it really is a good read.  I had to take down the Shelfari widget on my side bar because the Typepad folks figured out that was what was responsible for wiping out your comment identities.  I was just happy to have the problem fixed because I know it was a pain to re-type your data every time you  commented.

Earl has sprained his foot...I think a life for a Lab without injury is impossible.  Lucky for he and Eudora my friend Edd let me bring home an extra fillet from dinner last night at his house.  (Great meal, great company).....Those Thugs have been so happy getting bits and pieces of steak throughout the day that they've started referring to him as Uncle Ted.   Its such a good steak that Toonces was mad that I wouldn't let him have it for lunch....it seems to have eased some of Earl doggo's pain and suffering.

So that my friends is our weekend in a nut shell.  A big fat nut shell because I seem to be rambling...

ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR WEEKEND!  Ooohh, I think Brett Micheal's second "Rock of Love" starts tonight.  Cool!

For more pictures of Ben and Toonces play date click Here.

For more shots of Jackson playing basketball click Here.

 

 

Photo Faves of the Season

We must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory. For children have no past, and that is the whole secret of the magical innocence of their smiles.-  Milan Kundera

Random Jabber-  My new scent will be Banana Republic's Malachite thanks to my father in law, and a little elf putting a bug in his ear.  If I don't see ham for another year I won't care.  NO MORE HAM.  The 2 year old is going with the group to see Alvin and the Chipmunks so there could be a very interesting post tomorrow.   Toonces gave fly fishing lessons to the preacher's boys today but no one caught any fish....but I know they are in there because I found a dead one on the side of the pond.  Yucky.  I really don't want to take the tree down...1: I love it and 2: The needles have gotten to that dry stage where they will draw blood when you try to remove the ornaments and lights.   Don't light a match in our house.

My favorite holiday photos: (a few were used yesterday)

My little cousin Autumn is so expressive and she does the cutest things...She is only 2 and while her grandma goes on about how pretty her little cousin's shoes are Autumn seems very unimpressed by the whole thing.

You gotta love Bbelle...all the excitement going on and she takes a break to do her nails.

I love this shot while most would've trashed it.  I love all the work Ben is putting into getting that toy out of the bag, I love that he almost has a Plumber's crack and I love the light shining on him.

Well you can see why I like that one.

And my favorite photograph from this Christmas...

...some more Toonces and Rollie photos are in the sidebar photo albums for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. 

All these photos are copyrighted by me, Deana Clark.  Family, feel free to cut and paste into any emails if you like.

 

Some Favorite Christmas Moments

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.

Albert Camus

A Blur...like Christmas.

Only a few bruises and battle scars we survived Christmas Eve at Grandma Heath's house with almost ALL the family there...I think I counted 46.  Toonces and I found a spot between a chair and the sofa and were stepped on a few times but no worse for the wear.  We eventually made it to the sofa.

My hard-workin' man needs some heavy barn equipment.  Seth and Bbelle have to enjoy it before it gets covered in horse poopie.

One of my favorite photos this holiday-  I have done photo albums on the side for close friends and family to check out if they like.  I know all you guys don't have time for all that so I will post my favorite Christmas captures here over the next few days...and then go to counting down my faves for the year 2007.

by Caleb.

My new abominable snow man slippers.  I can't even say it right must less spell it.

I had the best Christmas...see my new perfect pearls from my man Toonces.  He is a romantic after all.  He hid my gift in the dog beds under the tree.  I was concerned that Santa really was only going to give me the computer for Christmas.  I have great taste in husbands and he has great taste in jewelry. 

I got so many terrific gifts...I told T that with the new pearls and my Kitchen-aid mixer from my mama and my fondue set from Melanie I really was just going into a different level of domesticity.

Guitar Hero rocked the house.

Rollie's Top 10 Things She Learned This Christmas:

(I wish I had a Paul Shaffer to banter with....)

   10. People can take photographs you are completely unaware of, turn them into Christmas cards so that you get your socks shocked off when you open it and find yourself in all your sleeping apparatus talking on your Red Razr with a big "Diva" underneath-  thanks to a delighted niece and nephew.

     9.  Santa loves dogs and kitties too but the line "If Santa brought it, you can't take it away" seems to only work for Jackson.   T just refuses to let Eudora wear pink with rhinestones...why can't a Lab be girlie too?  I don't get it?

     8.  Toonces hides his gifts very well.

     7.  My sister and I play a mean game of "White Elephant"- "Dirty Santa" to some.

     6.  Mom liked all her gifts this year.

     5.  Benjamin has no patience.

     4.  Seth goes "WHOooaaa" Ben and Jackson go "SWEET"  and Caleb goes "AWESOME".

     3.  You cannot pull a fast one over on Isabelle.

     2.  I am much worse at Guitar Heroes than I thought I'd be and actually better at Singing Star than I thought I would be.....Izzy is so cute singing "Girls just wanna have fun..."  We did a duet.

     1.  And the number one thing I've learned about Christmas.  It's all worth it.  All the hustle and bustle.  All the cooking and messy kitchens.  All the wrapping.   The lighter checking account balance.  When Christmas Day arrives and I get to give the kids their gifts- and mom and dad.  It is just all worth it. 

I'd be so depressed if the kids lived far away. 

I want to take them to see Alvin and the Chipmunks tomorrow.

Tell me that's not cute?

I am officially HO-HO-HO Holiday chunky and if I don't agree to go to the gym today Toonces will throw me over his shoulder and make me go.  Actually I don't think he could even throw me over his shoulder right now.   Lean and mean time again....Ah I dread it.

I know everyone is busy catching up so Peace Out...hope you enjoyed your holiday as much as we did.

So do you think he likes it? 

Merry Christmas to You

I love the Christmas-tide, and yet,
I notice this, each year I live;
I always like the gifts I get,
But how I love the gifts I give!
~Carolyn Wells

I've been racking my brain trying to think of my Christmas post...the post I will leave until Dec 26th for I am going on holiday hiatus to get ready for the big day.

This is what I came up with:

1 word of what Christmas means to me is LOVE.

• I think back and as the memories roll through my head I realize that on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning I loved my brother and sister more than any other.  My best childhood memories from say age 8 to 12...before the terrible teens and I became a BRAT are of Delane and Melanie's little eyes all bright and shiny in the Christmas lights.  I would wake so early for my poor parents.  I could barely sleep with all the anticipation of Santa Claus.  We got to sleep with a candle lit in our room.  The only time ever for that.  I think my sweet mom assumed God wouldn't let us burn up on Jesus's birthday!  But I wouldn't just be excited for me...I can remember getting to that tree and the glorious lights spilling down on presents galore...it seemed like such a bounty...and they were unwrapped when we were little kids.  And I couldn't stand it until I had Delane and Melanie both up.  I remember the year Melanie got a Wonder Woman sleeping back very vividly for some reason and I was just so happy.
• So I'd have to say the years when I still believed in Santa were the best and unfortunately for my little sister by the time she had reached the good years I was just awful and spoiled and heartless on Christmas morning if I didn't get exactly what I wanted.  Sometimes I hate that I was the oldest.....I wasn't very good.
• After the terrible teens though that love comes back.  Of course now I really don't care what Delane and Melanie get because I am too focused on the children.  I guess those two could have crumbs and water and I wouldn't notice because I'd be stacking gifts over the little ones heads......just kidding.
• I grew up knowing Christmas Eve was celebrating Christ's birthday.  I loved singing songs, and still do, to baby Jesus.  Then as I got older I figured Santa must be like some kind of earthly angel that worked pretty much for Jesus.  I was actually maybe in upper elementary school before I realized that not everyone who didn't believe in Jesus wasn't Jewish.  I thought the whole world was Jewish or Christian.  Then as I got even older I was shocked to find how many different styles or denominations worshiped Jesus with different beliefs.  I thought Catholics were the fanciest Christians and lived in the big cities and had the oldest churches.  I thought mine was the way it was because Baptists were like the country Christians.  I mean even on Little House on the Prairie or the Waltons they went to church like me.
• Now I am still shocked as old as I am how many denominations fight, split and change the message of Jesus.
• Never once...not for a second have I ever believed that Mary was not a virgin.  I remember the first time I saw a Christmas play and I must've been about Ben's age and I remember seeing Mary and Joseph come down the aisle and she had baby Jesus and Mary was beautiful and I was in awe.  As a tiny kid I believed with all my heart that God was right there with us and it was his light shining all around them...that he wanted us to see that play and celebrate the birthday with him.  Tiny kids can see so much that adults can't anymore.  We don't look with innocence, we look with skepticism.  I miss seeing with innocence and I'm glad I got to see those baby Jesus plays so young.
• Have you noticed that the brown eyed girls get the Mary role?  I was always told I didn't look like a Mary.  I looked like an angel.  Hey...okay...I could deal with that.  I am pretty sure my sister has played Mary several times.  I once saw a little girl blond with blue eyes playing Mary and it just threw the whole thing off. Eudora will be a pretty girl.
• The pups took my stocking.  Santa never seems to find my stocking.  Only Toonces's.  One time I got diamond earrings in my stocking but T pretty much had to throw it in my lap for me to look....well if NOTHING has EVER been in there for me!
• Yes that is a little bunnies face for their new chew toys.
• Mama bought them fancy new beds for Christmas too.
• We always do Christmas Eve at my Grandmother Heath's.  It was always Daddy's family on Christmas Eve and Mama's on Christmas day.  Now it is still daddy's on the eve but mama doesn't have any parents living and her sister has been traveling on Christmas breaks so she has just had us at Christmas.  I was going early to see what Santa brought Caleb on Christmas and then having my Santa with mom and dad.  Now with 5 little ones poor Aunt Dee's Santa was taken away and I just go over at lunch and we have our big day then...we eat and exchange with my family.
• I have only missed 1 Christmas Eve at Hama's and I have always spent Christmas with my mommy and daddy.  And I have always spent Christmas with my sister and then her family.  Delane and Amy went to Grandma Sue, her mama's house for Christmas and we had our Christmas with them before hand.  As much as I love having our whole family on Christmas Day and hearing about Santa from Ben and Jackson I would rather them be gone and have Grandma Sue.  I think all of us would give that back to Amy if we could.
• I can't remember a Christmas or at least a Christmas Eve without seeing my best friend Sharon either.  Her daddy's birthday is Christmas Eve and for a few years there she and I would decorate her house and cook for her family and our friends that night.

Christmas 2005

And so this is Christmas.....and I wish that every little child could wake to find something special, at least one morning of love and nourishment and safety.  ...and our soldiers, far from home, missing their families.  This Christmas, and everyday, I am so thankful for what you have given.  I think too much has been asked of you in Iraq.  You deserve far better than you will ever get when you return home.  The riches that should be thrown at their feet for what they have sacrificed will never be but thank you.

And so this is Christmas....Blog friends and friends alike I wish you joy and peace and good cheer.  Merry Merry Christmas to you!!!!

Dec 2005.

Eudora still controls the food...and Earl still has that sweet little face!

The countdown is on

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown

Izzy had lost her tooth...

Yesterday I finished the Heath-Beasley-Clark DVD for 2007.  It was a whole whole lot of pictures to choose from....and I didn't want to bore or make it too long so it was work.  But I am very pleased with it and it was fun seeing my favorites for the year and how much the kids have grown since last year.

I have to say that I think Jackson has changed the most...

He's gone from the little kid to the big kid stage recently.

Isabelle 1 year ago..above 1 month ago.

~ There was this little elf, an elf with a big head and green eyes, that went to her mother's house to wrap gifts this week.  She'd had enough sense to ship orders there since Christmas day was when Mrs. Elf and her family exchanged presents.

At her mother's house, we'll call her Granny Elf, was a small boy.  A toddler with a sweet smile and big brown eyes.  A toddler who would gather his tiny hands together under his chin in excitement as the boxes were brought out to be wrapped.

The tiny tot watched as Mrs. Elf, coincidently his Auntie Elf, and would ask "Mine? mine?"

Then came the BIG BOX...a super HUGE box..and the tiny tots little feet were dancing in sheer glee and excitement.  "Mine?Mine?"  Actually it was the tiny tots with the big brown eyes.  One of his gifts from Auntie Elf and Uncle Elfoonces.  Mrs. Elf could not resist saying..."Oh yes, little one, yes this BIG BOX has a present for you inside!"  And they jumped around the room in delight....but not Granny Elf who didn't like where this was going.

But this gift was supposed to be wrapped so Mrs. Elf carefully opened the box to allow the tiny child a chance to play in it.  Inside was  a beautiful blue sack with white satin sashes...it looked like a Santa sack in royal blue.  Maybe Santa was being trendy this year.  The child looked at the sack and said "WHOA"...in his sweetest little whoa way.

With his tiny hands clasped under his chin and his little butt stuck out as he bent and danced in excitement he exclaimed "Peez...Peez Nina Auntie Elf?  PEEEZZEE.."

And her heart melted...much like the Grinch's that day...and she said "Well lets just crawl in the giant sack and take a tiny peek...how will anyone know?"

No one but Granny Elf who was shaking her head.

So the tiny tot crawled in the sack leaving nothing but tiny feet in white thick tube socks remaining and again exclaimed "whoa"...but then the tiny feet started moving with such force and speed that before Auntie Elf knew it he was pulling the gift out of the bag...the tot worked with such fervor that neither Auntie or Granny could stop tiny tot before he had the plastic off and was climbing in his new Thomas the Train sofa with bells and whistles. 

He was changing gears with a sucker hanging out of his mouth and he was ready. 

Auntie looked at Granny Elf and blinked in big heavy blinks...Granny said "Don't look at me, I don't know what you're gonna do..."

Mrs. Elf got the tiny tot to allow her to put the train sofa back into the sack and hide it under the tree until Christmas day after he'd had a snack and watched Dora in it.

Then when Granpapa Elf appeared the child had to take Granpapa Elf by the hand and pull the sack out from the tree....then pull the sofa out of the sack and so on.  Papa Elf thought Auntie had lost her mind.

The real problem came when Baby Tot + 2 Mommy appeared to pick up tiny tot and was not at all amused when he cried and had to show her what "Choo Choo" he was actually talking about and Baby Tot + 2 had quite a telephone conversation with Mrs. Auntie Elf that afternoon.

To her defense Mrs. Auntie Elf thought that a child only 2 should enjoy a gift from her whenever he could enjoy it.  On Christmas day with all the tiny and not so tiny tots scurrying about, sometimes gifts are open so quickly that it goes by too fast.  If this gave Auntie more time to play with a tiny tot then so be it.  It gave tiny tot a whole week of pulling a giant blue sack from Granny Elf's tree......

And for a week at least Auntie Elf knows that he really likes his gift.

Besides it isn't like he can tell the other kids right?????

Baby Tiny Tot last Christmas Day!

Rollie's Brag Book

Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

Colin Powell

I am so excited about T's Christmas present...go here to see what I gave him.

www.martinclark.com

I LOVE it....we also found out that his new book will be an e-book so we've been excited about that.  The Legal Limit comes out July 1st.

Descriptions:

Ben and Jackson visit Friday night.  Ben is a big 'un on the computer isn't he?  They played with their Webkinz...I begged to play but wasn't allowed.

Showing off the booties.

D helping T catch dinner....there was no dinner that night.

Bubble trouble.

Caleb stars in their churches play Sunday night...and Isabelle sings her little heart out.

Wind up:

So that was pretty much our weekend except no photos from the great annual party of Edd's Saturday night.

It is b*tch cold here now.  I shouldn't have bragged on the 70s we were having.  It is 27 now and I am wrapped up so tight in soft clothes that I can barely get in my computer chair without rolling over.  All the pets are in and sleeping in tight little balls.  I think the horses would come in and ball up if I would let them.

I threw my hip out of joint Friday but still wore heels to the party....sometimes a girl must make sacrifices, when the wine wore off I thought I would cry..today it is feeling a bit better.  I first thought I had pulled a back muscle but its the old hip.  The first time it happened I was 30 and I had to walk in to the Doc's office crooked.  He took one look at me and told me to bend over....he said,"Not your back it is your hip flexor" later he asked.."When you were younger could you pop it in and out of joint?  And do you sit on your leg all the time instead of level?"

Did you know sitting on one leg was a big no no to the old hips?

Personally I think I danced it out over the years...it sounds cooler anyway.

When you are a little kid and you can pop you hip bones or shoulders in and out of joint and the grown ups say "Don't do that cause when you grow up it'll give you problems...." That is another one of those times to listen....Jackson.  (He can throw his shoulder out).

Yesterday we lost power but were lucky enough to have it come on in just a few hours.  And our generator actually kicked in and worked....nothing short of a miracle there.  Toonces tinkers with that old generator all the time so it is a wonder it didn't just blow up when the surge hit.

So that wraps it up...did you guys have a nice weekend?  They sure go quickly don't they?

Sunday Leftovers.......Post #25

Blessed be childhood which brings down something of heaven into the midst of our rough earthliness.

Henri F. Amiel

If all has gone well I should be in the middle of thousands of young screaming fans by now.

Yes....in order to have a post a day I had to set the timer on the blog. 

I hope we are having an awesome day and got a great parking spot!

Leftovers:  Thanksgiving Day at Grandma's

For even more great shots of our family day....and always terrific reads....visit my brother, Amy and the boys at Life in Mayberry.

Guess which photo is of Toonces's cousin.......nah, I'm just joshin', that is grandma's cow.

Thanksgiving Images- Post 23

"It does not matter how much money a family has. If there is a lot of love in a home, that family is richer than any millionaire could ever be."  ---- Whitney, age 16

To see Seth try to squish Aunt Dee click the video clip below.

What a great Thanksgiving.  We ate, we played football with Caleb before he and I slumped into the sofa to watch "When good pets go bad."  I have to admit I'd never seen that one before and I made Earl and Eudora leave the room.

I refuse to make this a shopping day but Wednesday on my way to the gym I went by Belk to get Isabelle some Hannah Montana clothes for the concert and on my way back to children's I spotted these pink pjs with a Lab on the front!  And they were 40% off!!!  Talk about a happy day.

Tonight T man, some buddies and I are going to Greensboro to enjoy some live music and a night away from home...tomorrow is tree day.  I dread it and look forward to it at the same time.   

Here is just a little bit of the great day we had at Hama's house........

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Giving Thanks Post 22

In all things give thanks ~ the Bible.

This morning I am thankful for:

A man who gets up early and fixes my coffee first (he's decaffeinated) even though he has to leave for work and I don't.  The man who looks at me like I am the best thing since sliced bread.

For 2 little black balls of joy greeting me each morning and the 2 little tails that go in warp speed beating against my legs as soon as I speak.

For the 4 little poof balls rubbing in and out of my ankles to say "Good morning- feed me."

For the 10 little hands I've held in mine with pure love and the 10 tiny arms that will still come hug a leg or my hips to tell me they love me.  For every second of adventure we have together....we make a good team.

For my parents....I am thankful I still have them both and I am thankful for all the things they taught me including right from wrong, the value of a dollar, the importance of hard work, honesty, and how to love others.  I am thankful for every sacrifice they made so that we 3 kids could have a good life.

For my siblings and their spouses who are good to my parents and fun to be around.  I'm so thankful that my family dinners doesn't have any troublemakers and drama queens like most families.

I am thankful for you guys.  I am thankful that my friends still speak to me when there were some times I wasn't so nice but they forgave me and have stuck with me a long long time.

I thank God for giving me so many blessings and for loving me and protecting me when I didn't deserve it.

I am thankful to still have a grandma's house to visit today and her good home cookin'.

And I am very thankful that there will be lots of other yummy desserts in case this cake I am about to make goes wrong.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Day After...My 1st Nov Post

Guess who joined NABLOPOMO this year?  Yes me.  I know other bloggers were saying "Please don't let Rollie join that."  But so many of my blog buddies were doing it I wanted to try too.   What does that mean no-nablo peeps? 

It means I have to do a post a day the month of November.

That is right!  A post will be here everyday!  Hey, it is okay....you don't have to be here everyday, but I will.

Maybe I should just hand my camera over to my sister.  Toonces said "Wow that is a great shot."  Actually I am going to frame it.    Delane is awesome with a camera so why not Melanie too?

I have never been a devil in my life.  Always being afraid of what might happen to me.  As soon as Isabelle aka Wonder woman saw me she said "You are going to have bad luck cause you dressed like the devil."   Then I got nervous thinking did I really hear that growing up and had forgotten.  After reading another friend's post on superstitions I had wanted to do one sometime anyway. 

When we headed upstairs she shoved me back saying "Now you know that WONDER WOMAN gets to go upstairs before the devil does..."  I hope I have not somehow cursed myself.

My nannie, growing up, showed me where the Boogeyman lived in our county.  And she was not shy about saying "If you don't behave I will take you to the Boogeyman's house."  I grew up with that kind of thinking.  Everyone thought that road that the Boogeyman's house was on was haunted.  And when I was in upper elementary school an man was killed and drug behind a car through that area.  I can remember us being at school like "OMG it is true...I knew grandma wouldn't lie...the BOOGEYMAN DOES LIVE THERE!"

When Caleb fell off the bed as a baby all the great grandparent's were so happy.  "Well he'll live a long life."  Apparently to fall off before your 1st birthday is important.  And they were all in their 80's saying it and they had all fallen off the bed.

I guess I have a long life coming...with that tale and the palms thing.  I have a scar to prove mine.  My one tooth bit through my little lip.  My mom says she was playing with me and I just somehow slid off but now I think she may have helped it a little to ensure my longevity.

When we were at Dollywood time before last Caleb was getting ready to climb into a coffin and Sharon and I went ballistic.  "You get out of there" fearing a child in a coffin will die before 30.  I don't know where either of us heard it but it was deep in our memory cells and popped out at the same time.

I do knock on wood so I can't jinx myself and I will pick up a penny to have good luck ONLY if it is heads up.  Facing the other way it is left there for the sucker who doesn't know any better.

I told the kids I was a good devil like Hellboy.  I didn't mean any harm.  Maybe that will keep my good luck streak going.

The dogs went to get their id shots this morning.  Bless their hearts.  I almost walked out.  I have really come to dislike going to the vet.  I wait an awfully long time.  This time because the girl who nodded at the desk and told me to have a seat FORGOT we were there.  When I checked to see how much longer because I have to work this afternoon she said "Oh no I forgot about you!"  URGGGh! 

And poor Eudora suffers the same curse as most females.  Her metabolism is slower than her brother's and she is starting to look a bit like a tootsie roll.  Earl is lean.  She weighed almost 74 pounds with Earl right at 72.  He is great, she is not.  Only 2 and the saga begins.

For more of my trick or treating nephews and niece see my sidebar photo album.

Melanie gets best makeup artist of 2007 with Caleb's make up job.  See Caleb close up in the album.

And Ben, excuse me, Darth Vader had the best new line with "Come on over to the dark side.  We have cookies!"

One Night With....the Heaths

One night with you
Is what I'm now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true

Always lived, a very quiet life
I ain't never did no wrong
Now I know that life without you
Has been too lonely too long      ~  Elvis

Mom and Dad...aka Mo and Papa...hit the dance floor.

There were some excited children when papa went to take Mo's hand and lead her to the dance floor.  They were whispering "will they kiss?"   They played "One night with you." mom's favorite Elvis song.  I didn't know that until last night. 

My head was stopped up to the point that I couldn't taste and I couldn't hear but Rollie danced in her black pleather pants and high heels anyway.  Today I've rested.  I ended up looking more like the '68 Comeback Elvis instead of Sandy from Grease but that's okay.  Toonces has called me '68 Rollie all day.

I wish I had pics of all mom's friends and the kids all decked out.  The food table, the flowers, it was all grand.  She had a big time.  I wish we had a big party with a band every year.  I think the kids would agree.

The band was soooo good.  Really great guys and everyone loved the show.  Check out my 1 minute video if you get a chance.  I thought I had more footage of mom and dad dancing but I must've pushed the wrong button.  I had the old camera and tried not to use a flash.  I didn't put too much into photos....I wanted to dance.

My sister took the gold in dancing, not counting the kids.  I think she dug deep and went back to her "Dead" touring days...the girl danced all night long, she was like a machine.  I'd dance, sweat, sit, dance, sweat, sit...but I did have a cold.  Shishy danced...lots of people danced.    They played "Rocky Top" and I flat footed in 4 inch heels....though I am not sure you can call it really flat footing in heels.  I mean your feet aren't flat and you can't technically slide the shoe across the floor as you shuffle....I probably looked more like our rooster Larry.

Our hen died by the way...while we were in Vegas.  Toonces went to find him a new lady friend today but came up empty handed.  He is a sad rooster with his head hung low. 

My man and I slow danced a few times but at the end of the night he broke out his true Toonces moves and was cutting quite a shine.   Travolta and Uma had nothing on us....we looked good together.  Jackson and I did a couple of Pulp Fiction moves too.

Caleb had practiced to sing Johnny B Good with the band.   He didn't really know how to wait for the right starting point but he went on, he was so cute and doing well and his baby brother Seth toddled onstage and started pulling on the mike wanting to sing too. 

Seth actually wanted to get in the middle several times.  When Elvis sang to mom and pulled mom onstage Seth was there to see just what was going on.  But it embarrassed Caleb and he left the stage and it took him a little bit to come back to the party.  His feelings were hurt.

See?  Seth is like a Where's Waldo.... he just had to make sure everyone was okay.

Suspicious Minds was a fun moment.  One of my favorite Elvis songs, and the kids and I sing it to each other all the time with Shishy so we were all out on the floor singing, dancing and doing our "in a trap" maneuvers....and T didn't let me down, he made an appearance for the slow part.  And yes Joe, they did sing "Viva Las Vegas"

So there are the highlights.  I can't believe it has already come and gone.  My mother looked very pretty.  We made some nice family memories for all of us to keep....but especially the little ones to have of their grandmother.

If you get a chance, check out the kids dance moves in the video clip.  It really is only 60 seconds.  When Elvis was getting ready to come out they were seriously throwing down.  And that is Caleb stealing Mo away from Papa btw.

Oh and I have to put this up, though my baby sis will kill me.  But they look so happy don't they?

And Happy Birthday to the most precious, adorable, beautiful Thugs in the whole world...my beautiful Earl and Eudora dog turned 2 today!!!!!!

Goodnight....with Earl, King of his castle!

Go Bo Sox!

(Last note-  The band is called "Sound Factory" and are from Mount Airy, NC.  One of the members, Bruce Gwyn, worked with me at Perry's and I consider him a friend.   He is a sweetheart and the band is always a hit....I appreciated them coming out for me on short notice.  If you would be interested in their band for your own party...let me know.  Elvis fans love 'em!  They also do some Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Twist, Old Time Rock and Roll....you know, the party classics!)

Happy Friday to You...and Me

Come here, let me get your name girl
Tell me where you from, what you do, what you like
Let me pick your brain girl
And tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame girl~

Summer Love lyrics by Justin Timberlake

I cannot get the part about the face and frame from singing in my own pretty little brain so I thought I might as well just make that some sort of quote for today.

When I am riding down the road doing my driver's side dance moves I always do a sort of head toss sly wink out the window like "I don't know how that happened Justin."  But sometimes you have to tone down the drivers dance, like when you are sitting beside the road crew as they do highway repairs.  Cause even though you might want to look at them and say "Yeah thats right fella, I'm 41 and cute and I like to dance to Timberlake."  But you can't really say that over the noise and they might just think you have really bad hemorrhoids or something.

Can't be still...While Fergie has been my summer love, ( I am crazy over Big Girls Don't Cry. ) the Rihanna song about shutting up and driving has my head going like the little bobbing dogs that used to be in the back seats.  And Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls has me doing so much moving that I have to be careful to keep a steady flow to the gas.  Sometimes the car does a bounce because I am letting up and down on the pedals.  When that beat kicks in Rollie is in prime driver dance action! 

Daddy Party Pictures:

What kind of party would it be if we didn't have Izzy to kick it off for us.  Notice Earl taking in the action with Toonces.  The Thugs have really gotten laid back in their ripe old age of 22 months. 

Jackson was bummed that the trick candles didn't work.  Notice his shirt?  How many TV sets or recorders do you think will be set on the Disney channel tonight?  I am betting more than the Superbowl.  For those of you not in the know...Tonight "High School Musical 2" premieres.  Heck I am even excited.  We will be one of the childless homes DVRing the event for later viewing.  We have plans or I'd be right there with the children.  And Hannah Montana sings with the Jonas Brothers afterward.  It is a big night for the kiddies and a fairy godmother made sure her kiddies got the 2nd soundtrack this week so they could know the words and sing along tonight.  The fairy godmother thanks you for the applause.

Part of Blog fun is showing off your family or embarrassing your friends.  While I thought this was a very sweet father and son shot I had to put the one of my buddy Sharon...aka Shishy aka Tate...taking in the opening of the presents.  She is really into it isn't she? 

Okay I am probably dead for that.

Baby Seth...aka Bear...has quite a squeal.  Being the youngest of three and only two years old he has to have a way to get your attention too.  He is also a funny little thing that loves to dance and stole Papa's singing "Celebration" card as soon as daddy opened it.  He was going around opening and dancing when Shishy did some moves for him.  He stopped and pointed his finger and yelled "NO No not you!" 

Back to the squeal.  Poor Earl couldn't resist the card dancing (they are used to my singing and dancing with them) and went up to lick baby Bear right in the mouth I guess to show his approval but got the shock of his life.  Eye to eye I have no idea what Earl thought of Seth's high range and volume because he literally fell over right after I made this shot.

Toonces and I must start cleaning for winter.  Our house is clean inside today and this weekend and next we are going to work on making it clean outside.  Yes it is window washing and basement cleaning time.    Yippee. 

Daddy's birthday photo and a MEME

If the Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me

Jimmy Buffett

Happy 63rd Birthday Daddy.....

He will never be on the computer and he will never read this blog but I will give him a shout out anyway! 

Bless his heart he'd worked on getting his cabin ready and we were doing his birthday cookout there and his bridge is down so we are having a cookout here tonight....but I know daddy would have rather been at his cabin.

For my regulars who know the kids...does this not look like somebody a whole whole lot?

And I too have those cheeks and that squint.

MEMES:

I had been tagged by Jenn to do the below some time ago.  And I was tagged by Chatty to list 8 interesting things about myself.  Which is more like 8 things I haven't already told you or don't want to talk about right?  So I am having a harder time with that one but I will do it!

Here we go:

4 Things that should be sent to Room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth forever:

This confused me because it sounds like college courses you never want to take again...but anyway...

1.  Bush, Cheney and they can take Ann Coulter with them. 

2. Cancer

3. Mimes

4. to show a little of my non-liberal teeth...3rd time offenders