Directionally Challenged? Who Me?

I will be the first to admit I have been called many things. Some, I would like to forget, others, have been quite nice and surprising.

However!, one thing I have NEVER, been called is Directionally Savvy!, and to be honest, I’m okay with that. It’s a gift my Mother passed down to me, and I treasure it. For she did not give it to any of my other siblings, JUST ME!

For Mother’s Day, Mike bought me a GPS system. Can I just say… LOVE IT! Not that there are no frantic crying phone calls, there are, just less. “MEG” as I call her, still manages to get me lost, but I feel like now, I am lost with someone, and that helps.

Today I had an errand to run. It just so happened to be in a not so desirable part of town. Mike being the man that he is did NOT want me to go. BUT…I insisted that with “MEG” I could do it, and do it safely, and without help. So off we went…MEG and I to this building. Now, some may say, “She has lived here her WHOLE LIFE, how can she get lost”? Once again, it’s the passed down gift I gained from my mother. It does not matter that for nearly 35 years Arizona has been my home. NO, that’s silly. Everywhere I go…so do pages, I said PAGES, of directions to the same place over and over. Like I had never been there before. Craziness, I know, but hey…it’s the way it works.

Today was a success. I did it. No phone calls. No crying. No panicking. I was there, in-out and back home. A success story for the books. (may just be the only one!)

Let’s Just Be Real For One Minute!

I have driven my boys to the bus stop for 6 that is SIX years now. You would think that after that amount of time I would let the stress and stupidity of the High School Students roll off my back. UMMM…NOPE, not yet. Can we talk about this for a minute?

I know that at one point in time, we were all there, in High School, believing we were all on top of the world. That we were invincible! That we were the coolest thing that had EVER been created! That we were the gift to ALL Mankind. But really…have times changed sooo much that they have become STUPID on top of it all?

I drive my boys to the bus stop like I said, and then drive home, not even a mile, MINUTES, just minutes. I seriously, BREAK for MORONS, 8-10 times, both ways. So ridicules. I’ve just about had it. I cannot tell you the number of time that there have been “CLOSE CALLS” to taking one of those little brats out! I would love to just once; knock them all down, like bowling pins. Now please understand me, I do not wish harm on theses unwise individuals, just hoping to “knock some since” into them myself. I look at is as a favor to their FAMILY.

Here is the issue at hand. They just WALK. Your thinking, “what’s wrong with walking”? And I agree with you, Nothing! Unless it’s smack dab in front of my CAR!!!!! Come on already, how hard is it to STOP??? if you see a car, really, there the big things with wheels that make sound even!... There are these WHITE lines on the road that are even painted for you to walk in if you having a bad day so you won’t get HIT! Let try them OUT!!
(ok really what HS is this...Suites, white shirts, ties, ummm NONE that I know…I’m thinking Photo Shoot!)

I have called the High School, but the response I get is, “Unless the student’s are on school property, there is nothing we can do.” Ohhh, so nice and helpful, isn’t it. Maybe that is the parent’s philosophy too, “Oh sorry unless my children are at home, there is nothing I can do about their behavior, SORRY!” I have called traffic control and now and again they show up but once every 6 months doesn’t seem to scare the kiddos. I have called the police and they say call traffic control. Now, you know if I “DID SOMETHING” they would be all over it, but luckily that is not an option…OR IS IT????

You Know There Are Not Enough Girls In The House When...

Baker: Hey, you wanna hear a joke?
Boys: Ya!!
Baker: OK...there is a Red, a Brunette, and a Blonde.
Mike and I: Where is he going with this...scared eyes...
Baker: They are each granted one wish before they run off a cliff. The red, runs off and yells out, "a dragon" and poof she turns into a dragon and flys away. The brunette runs off the cliff and yells out "a seagull" and poof she turns into a seagull and she flies away. The Blonde runs and trips over a rock and yells out "oh poop!" and turns into a piece of poop and falls smack down to the ground!
Boys: HaHaHa "poop" that's so funny!!! Poop!!!
Mike and I: Well that's cleaner than we remember telling it.
Mom:Baker, do you know what a "Red" or a "Bernette" is?
Baker: Ya, a red is a color and a Bernette is something girls twist all up in their hair, that makes a rope formation.
Mom: Yep! That's what it is...
Me to Mike: You think that they are sheltered?
Boys: Poop!!! She said Poop!!!

Blessed...for so many reasons

To my left are my Mom, Dad, and Sister. In front of me are my Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, and Niece. Surrounding me are friends that go back to the time I was young…very young…VERY VERY young. Thoughts are racing through my head. Thoughts of when I was small, thoughts of when I was a youth, thoughts of just a few days ago. My mind can’t seem to settle.

I hear a BEAUTIFUL song. One I have heard many times, but this time, it sounds so very different. It touches me in a different way. I hold my Mom’s hand; it brings me comfort as it always does. My heart races. Tears start to flow slowly down my cheek. I look at my sister sitting next to me; I look at my family in front of me. I feel a since of love that I have missed. Why? It hasn’t gone anywhere…But I have missed it. Perhaps it has been me. Have I been too busy to notice it?

I listen to a story…it is CALMING, FUNNY, SAD, and EMOTIONAL. I feel like I need to tell those around me that I love them…Right then and there…just in case. I feel honored to have the family that I do. I feel blessed to be a part of something so big and grand. I feel like being a better person, making more of my life, and loving those in it harder!

I am touched by words that are spoken. They are words from my Dad. He is EVERYTHING I choose to BE! He is a constant example to me. I hear this testimony; I listen to his love for our Savior. I see HIS love for a departed FRIEND. I know that the words he speaks are from the heart and I can feel the compassion and love and am forever grateful for the guidance he blesses me with.

I walk outside. I am hugged and kissed by those around me. I step back. I look at those individuals in the room. Many I have known for over 30 year…(wow, that makes some of us very OLD)…I feel LOVE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, LOYALTY, HAPPINESS, GRATITUDE, MEMORIES, I feel the SPIRIT, PEACE, JOY, and I feel CONTENT.

I'm not going to SMILE...SING...or LOOK UP!

Saturday was our primary program practice. O was, to say the least, ummm, NOT EXCITED to be attending church twice in one week.

He sat in his chair but it was with an ATTITUDE! He first twisted his body around and backwards and upside down. He was quickly corrected. That did not go over big. SO...not being a DUMB child he said he needed to go to the bathroom. I took him to the bathroom but quickly returned him to his seat KICKING and SCREAMING!! There is where THIS HAPPENED...

And then he fell asleep...and all was calm and quiet. The End.

Play it Again Sam...

We attended Baker's first band concert of the year this evening. (!!Always a treat!!) He did a great job, as did the other kids performing. We are pleased to announce no ear plugs were needed!

He has come along way since starting to play last year and we love seeing his progression, it's just the practicing I can't stand!

Anyway...job well done Bakerman!!! Next performance is in December...if there are any brave enough to attend an 8:30 concert, love to have you there.

Date Day...

So...schools back and so are our date days. O and I went to see a move the other day. "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". It was the first showing of the day, 11am to be exact at the mall. I knew it would not be crowded but totally empty...that I was not expecting.

We had a great time and enjoyed our "date" together! I must say...O keeps some good company for a girl who doesn't talk much.

Just Gotta Love Them!

My boys that is!Know matter how sick I feel,how horrible I look, how long it's been since I've cooked a REAL dinner, my BOYS are there to lift me up...I think I just may be the luckiest MOM out there? Yep...I think I am!!

Love You Boys!!!

Stop It...Now!!!

Went shopping for this...

And found THIS...

OK...So explain this to me...I am one who is USUALLY on top of things. And I usually brag about it. But come on already...Enough is ENOUGH. Perhaps it's because I am a turkey baby. I don't know. Perhaps it's just flat out because I'm getting OLD. But ReAlLY? Must we celebrate Christmas before Halloween has even begun?