This is my last post tonight. It is late and there is a severe storm kicking up its heals outside. Don't want to get zapped! So, to the point, anyone have a security system? If so what brand, type, whatever. I am thinking about one since I am alone here with the kids most of the time. We're in a good area with low crime, but big deal. On some level I think its totally self-centered to believe for one instant someone would want to break into our house. I mean why ours and not the...

Debbie, Debbie, Debbie. I must know at least six women named Debbie. In my life, certain names seem to re-emerge again and again; Robert, Kathy, Tracy to name a few. But Debbie, though the name constantly recurs in my life with new introductions, was one of a kind. "Kids meet your new step-mom," dad announced when I walked in from a hard day in 8th grade. I was shocked to see him home on a weekday before 7 p.m. Amazement replaced shock when my baby blues beheld the long...

I was totally unprepared and ignorant when my child was diagnosed with a speech delay. The research is ongoing, but the main school of thought believes it a genetic condition. Meaning, it is almost entirely inherited. A speech delay is just that….a delay in speaking. My son can say probably 20 words clearly while other “normal” kids can say well over 100. As with most kids having this delay, his receptive language is higher than normal. Meaning, he’s a very smart cookie. There just s...

My aunt (who is the only mother figure in my life) is dying of lung cancer. Link By the time most people find out they have lung cancer (because of symptoms), they have about 3-6 months to live. Peter Jennings was diagnosed and died within three months. Once it progresses past being “operable” the survival stats for surviving even one year go way down to almost nil. My aunt was diagnosed a year and a half ago. By all accounts, statistically and in the opinion of more than five onc...

A thumping red white and blue basketball on the concrete drive is becoming the background music of our home.   My ten year old son spends most days now, as winter turns to spring, attempting to make every shot his skinny arms propel toward the basket.   In the last several days the thumping is more sporadic and even halting for long periods of time.   Every time I notice this phenomenon I look out to see the cause.   There standing in my drive is a well d...

I will be the first to admit I love my garbage disposal.   Yes I said love, not like, not even overly fond of, but love love love.   Why such an obsession with a noisy and usually smelly appliance?   It shreds, eats and removes all traces of biodegradable material from my kitchen.   I don’t have to scrape plates into a near full garbage can and then shove the messy can back into the cabinet.   I can’t stand to have a garbage can sitting out in the k...

Me and my youngest this morning.

For some reason this isn't showing in my article list...so I am just pasting here.  Me and my youngest this morning.

I woke up this morning at 4am.   Have you ever woke up early with your heart racing, your mind clear, and ready to meet the day?   Well, it wasn’t like that.   My three year old is having nightmares.   I’m not sure why, but it may have something to do with our trip to the Columbus Zoo on Saturday.   The day was hot and sticky.   The kind of day that makes you turn on the air conditioner in May even though you swore it would never ...

KFC, another blogger here... Link sent me these photos via email.  I asked her if I could post them here and was given the go ahead.  She hasn't done it because she has dial up and well....its dial up!! These pictures are from Brian's Graduation from The Virginia Military Institute (VMI).  The oldest military college in the US I believe.  KFC blogged about their graduation adventures and Brian's many accomplishments here, http://kfc.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=117844 ...

My youngest first time climbing the big wall..  (He's in blue)      

Gavin loves to hunt.  Last year he went hunting with his dad and killed a deer.  However, dad actually did the shooting.  This year Gavin wanted to hunt something he could shoot.  He took his .22 into the woods (supervised by dad) and killed a couple squirrels.  (He's a great shot for a five year old.) We have a family rule when it comes to hunting.  You kill it, you clean it, you eat it. Gavin can hunt dove and squirrel and says they are "delicious."&nbs...

My little man has finally decided what he wants to be when he "grows up." At first he couldn't decide between this and a dinosaur.  But looks like this won out. So we took this picture this morning for posterity. Watch out bad guys!

Gavin wants to know if he can shoot squirrels this summer in our yard with the BB Gun his grandad gave him on our trip to Mississippi this past summer. hahaha I told him squirrels are a little harder to shoot than a Styrofoam cup. He thinks he's Wild Bill Hickock.  

Hunter, my twelve year old, went for his yearly physical.  The Dr. said "he's started puberty." We jokingly refer to him as our "pre-teen" but if he's in puberty, seems like he should already be a teenager. Some things I've noticed about him in the last few months.... He likes to spend free time alone in his bedroom.  He has a computer, tv, all the toys, but he only games on the weekends.  It's not just that he likes to do it, but it seems like he really hates doing thi...