The Joy of Life

Playing with Baby Girl, I suddenly started singing Ladybug Picnic to her, from the old school days of Sesame Street.  It gave me the itch to look up the song, since I couldn't remember all the words.  From that point, we started watching classic Sesame Street clips together.  We jammed to C is for Cookie and waltzed together to Oscar's I Love Trash.  She wanted nothing to do with Ernie's Rubber Ducky.  Either she's prejudiced against orange people or she was embarrassed by the sight of him in the bathtub.  I'm not sure on that one.

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I got a letter from the school saying that Son #2 was accepted into the gifted program based on his recent test scores!  He scored 99% on the math test!  (I'm not sure if I could do that well on a 4th grade math test!)  This was a shock to both my husband and me.  You would have to know this kid. 

At one point of his life, we were sure that he had a learning disability.  I even wondered about more serious problems.  He was a late talker.  He didn't communicate well until much later than his peers.  He screamed a lot and got frustrated when you couldn't understand him.  He didn't listen, didn't follow directions, and was so difficult to manage.  Well, we thought, our first son is the smart one and #2 will just always struggle.  Boy, were we wrong! 

One day, he just decided to turn it off.  He became the most polite, well behaved, and calmest child you've ever seen.  It was hard to believe he was the same person!  So to hear that he's gifted...it just blows my mind!  Going through those things with him gave me patience to deal with Baby Girl's difficultness.  She has a lot of the same tendencies as him.  I already see her growing out of it and becoming more like her brother.  These are the things in life that make parenting such a joy!

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Son #1 left for his first hunting trip last night.  No one in our family has ever been a hunter.  My aunt married a man who hunts a lot and always said he wanted to take my sons hunting.  I fought it for a while but reluctantly gave in.  I trust this man more than I trust myself.  He and my aunt are so good to my children.  They never had children of their own so have adopted mine as their own children/grandchildren.  We had the talk about how it's not OK to hunt animals solely for the fun of it.  It's a way of providing food and we will use what we take.  I am not a fan of wild game.  I kind of hope he doesn't get into this because the thought of plucking turkeys and cooking up venison does not suit me well.  I'm sure he'll have a good time though. 

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Big Sis has been raising money for Jumprope For Heart at school.  It was so sweet to hear her talk about how the little kids in the hospital are sick in their hearts and need our money to get better.  I thought she was going to tear up at one point.  But then she admitted that she really wants the water bottle prize for collecting money.  An almost selfless act...

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My May 2nd banquet is almost here!  I'm so anxious to be done with the craziness associated with this time of year!  I think I'm prepared.  The restless nights with a racing mind keeping me up are nearly over!

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The Mailbox Kids have gotten bored and moved on!  Either that or they're terrified of my six foot, 200 lb. + bald neighbor who came out and yelled at them.  I do have a couple good videos of them messing with my mailbox, in case I ever need it.

Royal Hype

Are you caught up in all the hype over the Royal Wedding?  Did you wake up early this morning to catch the live footage (assuming you live on this side of the world)?

I'm not a fanatic, yet I'm very interested in watching the wedding.  I haven't caught it yet but it's recorded waiting to be viewed at a proper hour.  I wish I had a group of friends coming over tonight, wearing large brimmed hats, to watch the event of the year together.  I would brew some Earl Grey tea and make scones.  Maybe I would try to duplicate one of the appetizers rumored to be served at the wedding reception.  But alas, I have no such friends who wish to spend their Friday evening donning a silly hat.  Maybe Hubby....never mind, I won't even finish that sentence.

I was far too young to have been involved in the frenzy associated with the last Royal Wedding.  But I seem to remember people talking about it's significance.  My own daughter is 6 1/2, possibly old enough to enjoy this storybook wedding.  She truly believes she is a real princess so she might actually take an interest after all.  Boy, would she sure love to have been a flower girl in that wedding!

So, if you're watching, have a fabulous time.  And if you're celebrating with a proper tea party, please share!  (Or better yet, invite me!  I'll bring my own teacup!)

I Goofed

I really wish I wouldn't have messed with the design of my blog.  I don't like it and now I'm stuck.  I just wanted something colorful for Spring.  I've spent way too much time on this and it doesn't make me happy.  I cannot figure out how to make the header centered.  I don't know why...it was centered before!  And it's way too big.  But making it smaller makes it look awkwardly uncentered, which is worse.  Things like that eat at me until I become so frustrated that I get in a bad mood.

So that's my post for today.  I'm grumpy, I'm frustrated, and I am mad at technology.  I think I'll go to blog with a plain white background with black text.  Would you still read it?

Sleeping, Waking Up, Being Lazy

I love it when I come to bed and Hubby is talking in his sleep.  Most of the time, he just mumbles or whispers and I can't understand him.  But occasionally, he'll be so into it that I can have a conversation with him.  Last night was such a night.

When he first begins speaking, sometimes I wonder if he's faking it and trying to get a rise out of me.  That's how clear it was last night.  He typically is quite mean, however.  As I got into bed, it sounded like he asked me to do something.  Immediately after that sentence, he sarcastically said,
"Well, I guess not then, stupid!" 
I snickered and asked, "What?  What do you want me to do?"
"Psh!" he sighed sarcastically.
He was mad about something.  "This is ridiculous!"
More quiet laughing from me.  "Why are you mad?"
"I've been here all day!"
"Really?"
He was quiet for a while while I asked a series of questions trying to get him to talk again.  Finally, he answered, "There's a line going from here to there, dummy!"
That one got me laughing out loud, which woke him up.
"What are you doing?"  he wondered.
"Carrying on conversations with you in your sleep!  Why are you so mean to me when you're sleep talking?"
He was not happy I was making fun of him and told me so.

I rubbed his back as he drifted happily to sleep again.  In what seemed like ten minutes later, my alarm went off and woke me from my peaceful slumber.  Another day begins.

The days are beginning earlier presently.  My kids have to make up a few of the snow days that exceeded the limit.  Instead of making them go extra days at the end of the school year, they added half hour increments to each day.  So now school begins at 7:30.  That is really early.  Trying to get kids in bed at 8:30 at night is so difficult, especially when their dad doesn't get home from work until after 6:30.  It seems like we eat, clean up, and go to bed. 

I'm anxious for lazy summer nights when we can enjoy spending time together as a family.  It seems like the entire streets stands in their yards, doing nothing but talking to one another until the mosquitoes come out.  Those are my favorite kind of nights.  The kids come in late with dirty hands and feet, smelling like outside.  No one is in a hurry, no one is yelling for children to get in bed.  It will be here soon!

A Colorful Post

We finally got a long enough break from the rain for me to get outside with my camera.  As I was taking my last shot, it began sprinkling.  So I timed it perfectly.  I had mud on my toes when I was done, which was pure bliss.  The smells outside are so fresh and clean...I'm so happy Spring is here in all its glory!

Here are some of the beautiful sights around my home.



She is totally in her pajamas with messy hair...but still precious!

Easter

Easter morning was a little rough around here.  I had to be at church at 8:30 AM for singing practice.  Baby Girl was still in bed when I left.  I ran back home quickly to get her dressed and comb everyone's hair.  Hubby had to run Son #2 to church at 9:00 for puppet practice.  I had choir practice at 9:15, which I was very late for.  In between, we did Easter baskets, ate breakfast, and curled hair.  It was a crazy morning.  We got no pics with Easter baskets.  It was pouring rain outside so we did not get the traditional  Easter morning picture by the flowers.  After church, Baby Girl was incredibly grouchy and didn't cooperate for family pictures.

But afterward, I indulged in the best ham, noodles, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, bread, salad, banana bars, and carrot cake you've ever tasted.  Somehow, I dropped another pound through all that (hallelujah)!  I ran the day before, so I guess that helped.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter!

Unorganized Thoughts

I could really go for some banana pudding right about now.  You know, the good kind with vanilla wafers at the bottom, banana pudding, banana slices, and Cool Whip!  Mmmm....  It's been years since I've had the stuff but I can remember exactly how it tastes.  When I was little, my grandma would make it whenever we were really sick.  She was awesome like that.

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We live very near a hospital. When the medical helicopter flies over our house, it sounds like we're being attacked. Hubby and the boys think it's fabulous. I could live without it.

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I've been on a cleaning rampage lately.  Gee, I hope that doesn't mean I'm mysteriously knocked up or anything.  It's so nice to have a clean house!!!

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I'm beginning to wonder where Spring is.  We have the rain, yes.  The grass is green.  But it's so incredibly cold.  I really want to wear sandals!

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The first event that has made me crazy busy lately takes place tonight.  I'm nervous and really anxious for it to be over.  Event #2 is on May 2nd.  Wish me luck...keep me in your thoughts...say a prayer for me...nice things like that.  Thanks!

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My tomato plants are doing fabulous! I'm so proud I haven't killed them yet! My tulips are about to bloom and I can't wait to see them! I just planted the bulbs in the fall. My grass (the legal kind) is starting to sprout up and looks so cute! I hope it's thick and lovely by May 2.

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Do you read Single Dad Laughing?  You should.  He's only the biggest blog in the world - or something like that.  I entered a pic from vacation in a Mom Photo Contest.  Go vote for it, if you feel like it.  It's called Together at the Beach.

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Because of my crazy busyness and vacation, we still haven't celebrated my MIL's birthday (April 7) or my Dad's 60th (April 1.)  Boy, do I feel like a lousy daughter!

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The huge guy across the street came outside and yelled at the Mailbox Kids while I was cowered behind the curtains videotaping them.  I thought it was hilarious!  The cop I called never seemed to show up. 

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What's on your mind today?

"You Dang Kids! Get Out of My Yard!"

I feel like the old lady in the neighborhood who stands on the porch in her robe, slippers, and curlers and yells at all the kids who pass by. 

Lately, I've noticed a group of three middle school girls who cut down my street each day after school.  They stop at every mailbox on the street, open it, and put up the flag.  The first time I saw them do it, I was standing in my driveway, putting some trash in the garbage can.  The girls saw me and still continued opening each mailbox.  

The next day, it happened again.  So I decided to get involved.  I stood at the top of my neighbor's hill, which is lightly wooded with trees.  I was 15' higher than them which gave me a great birds eye view.  I was wearing bright pink so I definitely wasn't trying to hide.  One girl walked up to the first mailbox and reached out to open it.  Another girl spotted me at the same moment and called out to her friend, "Whoa, whoa, whoa...no!"  She turned her back to me and whispered something to her friend.  The other girl responded, "Where?" while turning and looking at me.  Caught off guard, she smiled and hollered up, "I like your skirt."  My arms were folded defiantly when I answered, "Thanks.  Are you the girls who have been messing with all the mailboxes?"  As if timed perfectly, a car pulled up behind them at that exact moment and honked.  It startled the girls who turned around to find someone they knew.  The driver asked if they wanted a ride, which they accepted.  So we never got to finish our conversation.

That was Friday so I hoped I scared them enough that they wouldn't do it again.  Boy, was I wrong.  I missed the girls Monday afternoon and they did it again.  On Tuesday, they not only raised every flag, they left the lid of each mailbox wide open.  Hubby found the mail of our 81-year-old neighbor on the ground, soaked.

So I have a couple of options.

• Be the nice lady on the block and let it go.  We may end up losing our mail though.
• Stand on the street every day before and after school to "babysit" the girls and make sure they don't do it again.
• Hire a professional to install an electric shock on the mailbox to assure the girls never touch it again.
• Follow the girls home from school and vandalize their mailboxes.
• Call the police.

Am I being unreasonably grouchy? 

Another story, which may be related concerns my neighbor's house for sale.  It's been sitting empty for a while and the realtor shows it from time to time.  One evening, he noticed the porch light was on.  He assumed the realtor left it on by mistake.  The next day, it was off.  He assumed it burned out.  The next day, an upstairs light was on.  The next day, it was off and the porch light was back on again.  He finally investigated to find both doors of the house unlocked.  He thinks the realtor may have left the door open and someone decided to go exploring.  I have a feeling it's these same three girls.  Before the mailbox incidents and around the time of the mysterious lights at the house, I noticed the girls walking up my driveway toward the house.  About twenty minutes later, they walked back down my driveway.  So I suspect that these girls might be more trouble than I initially thought. 

Even though the electric shock mailbox would be the most fun, I think I ought to be sensible.  Any other suggestions?

The Real Deal

A while back, I wrote about how I received an invitation to join Knowledge Networks, a company that pays you to take surveys.  I was doubtful and suspicious.  I didn't think anything could be quite so easy.  Well, here I am with my follow-up post.  It's for real!  In yesterday's mail, I received my first $10.00 check!  I didn't think I would ever see an actual payment but here's proof!  The $10 payment was for the introductory survey called Getting to Know You.  Other surveys will not pay that much.  Points are built up by completing surveys and you can spend the points on various things.

So if you were wondering if this is a legitimate company, it is!  I've received a lot of hits on my other post Knowledge Networks - Possible Scam?   So obviously a lot of people are concerned.  If you've been directed here by googling this company, trust me.  It's real.  And please stay around for a while.  I write about a lot of other things.

And as for me, I'm just pumped that I can get paid to take surveys from time to time!  What a perfect stay-at-home job!

10 Items or Less

Check-out lines have been getting on my nerves lately!  We spent most of the day Saturday running errands; we had a ton to do.  The traffic was insane...it felt like the week before Christmas!  Parking lots were full with no spots to be found, and every check-out line was backed up with multiple people. 

I spent a half hour in Wal-Mart to simply buy material.  I walked directly to the fabric department, picked up the bolt I needed (I had been eyeing it for a while), and stood in line to have it measured.  Of course, the clerk's thing-a-ma-bob that scans the bar code on the bolt wasn't working.  She had to re-boot.  Hubby was in the car, waiting impatiently. 

After that ten minute ordeal, I headed to the cash registers.  A bazillion different lines were open but each one had a long line.  If I wasn't in such a hurry, I would have looked around to try to figure out what Wal-Mart was giving away for free.  There was no other explanation for lines like that.  Instead, I chose a self check-out line...those are usually quicker, right?  All I had was three yards of material, a Diet Coke, and a package of Easter candy (the waiting made me hungry). 

When it was finally my turn, the Coke and candy rang up quickly.  The material wouldn't scan.  An angry beep notified me that I needed to set the item aside and an associate would assist me.  Yeah, right....like I'm going to be able to find an associate.  The ninety people behind me in line were sighing as they shifted their bargains around in their arms.  I quickly scanned the chaos, looking desperately for a blue smocked person. 

In the self check-out next to me, two young ladies were scanning two shopping carts full of Easter candy and novelties.  Are you kidding me?  I thought self check-outs were similar to express lines - 10 items or less.  That irritated me.  But before I could sarcastically comment that they were taking advantage of the system, the smock clad employee hustled to my assistance. 

She pushed all kinds of buttons and tried to scan the fabric.  "Material is a lot easier to scan at a cashier's line, hon."  I was a bit grumpy at this point.  "The cashier lines were ridiculously long," I replied.  "You'll have to come up to me and I'll ring you out."  So I paid for my Diet Coke and peanut butter eggs in my line before the guests behind me had my head cut off. 

I had no idea where the lady ran off to...it was like trying to follow that very late rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.  There were no holes for her to climb in so I eventually found her.  But someone else was using her machine to ring out another difficult customer.  At this point, my son called and said, "Dad wants to know if you're OK.  Did you die in there?"  I didn't laugh.  Nine hours later, I had my three items in a plastic bag and headed out the door.  The other stores I visited that day weren't much better.  Good thing I didn't have a blood pressure appointment right then!

Yesterday, Hubby went to the grocery store to pick up two items.  Each line had a wait so he chose what he thought was the shortest line.  The lady in front of him paid her $10.42 bill with a credit card.  Immediately after, she declared that she used the wrong card and wanted the order cancelled.  He said she dug around in her purse for the correct card.  She couldn't find it so she began looking for cash.  I would have switched lines by this point but Hubby isn't quite as experienced as I am when it comes to slow moving lines.  He said the woman slowly pulled out ten one dollar bills from different places in her giant handbag.  Then she inquired how much the change was.  She began digging for change until she found the forty-two cents she needed.  Hubby said there were a dozen people behind him by the time she finished.

We discussed that there should be different kinds of lines in grocery stores:

• Lines for people in no hurry who are only out shopping because they have nothing to do. 
• Lines for people who have more than two hundred items in their cart.  They shouldn't be allowed to go through regular lines.
• Lines for people who don't know how to use a credit card machine or don't understand how the touch pen works, people who won't get off their cell phones to give their full attention to the cashier, and people who write checks.  Basically, stupid people.  Sorry, it had to be said.
• Lines for people who really do have less than ten items and will have their payment in hand, ready, to keep the line moving quickly.

Driving Home

This is the last vacation picture, I promise!

On the drive home from SC, we were tired.  We'd had an exhausting week and it was late.  We had passed through many states that day and home was getting closer and closer.  As we pulled up to a stop light, Hubby began laughing hysterically.  "What?" I inquired.  "Look at that license plate," he said.

Sharing his kooky sense of humor, I immediately got the joke.  "Do you think that's personalized?' he asked, still laughing.  "No!  No way!  Who would do that?"  But I immediately looked at the driver of the car to see who was driving around with this on their car.  It was an old man.  I laughed harder.  "Definitely not!"  I quickly whipped out my camera, the one with the good zoom (thankfully), and was so proud I snapped the picture before the light turned green!  This was one time we weren't mad at the red light! 

And if you don't share our kooky sense of humor, the last two words of the license plate phrase would read "too big."  Get it now?

Just Pics

I know you're probably sick of my vacation pics, but these are some of my favorites.  It shows how much fun we had.  The one of the two boys goofing off together is my ultimate favorite!  A documentation of them actually touching each other is very rare!  I told them I'd give them a dollar if they pretended to like each other for the camera.  I guess it worked.  No, I didn't actually give them a dollar.  I guess I won that one!

Good Times

While on vacation, we had a great time at Broadway on the Beach in Myrtle Beach.  We spent a good twenty minutes feeding the seagulls and laughed 'til we cried.  We were bombarded by birds who could amazingly fly in one spot, like a helicopter, waiting for the next pellet of food. 

We ate fudge.  We ate soft pretzels.  We ate kettle corn.  Despite my gluttonous indulgences, I only gained one pound on the trip.  I was so relieved by that!

If you have a McAlister's Deli in your vicinity, I am extremely jealous of you.  We ate there twice and I could have done it all again!  Oh, the large glasses of sweet tea....

We acted silly.  We had a great time looking in these fun house mirrors!  They didn't photograph well but the pictures are still enjoyable to look at.

We didn't go here but the kids really enjoyed seeing it.

We had a great time...I will do it again.  But I'm glad to be back home.  (I miss the king-sized bed though.)

I'm Baaaaack!

A vacation is just what I needed!  70 degree weather, no cooking, good food, sand, waves, palmetto trees...pure bliss!  I took a 400 page book with me but only got to chapter five.  We were too busy for reading.  I am now rested and tan less pale.

We arrived late at night after driving through multiple states.  I wish there were far less states between the South and me.  Sweet tea runs through my veins.

The next day, we unpacked, hung out at the beach, and ate at two of our favorite places:  Dead Dog Saloon and Vienna's Pizzeria.

I could sit at the beach all day with my feet in the sand and a book in my hands.  If I were a hobo, I would have to live on a beach somewhere.  Too bad there aren't any within miles of here.

What Happened to My First Baby?

He is 12 today.

That is almost more than I can handle.

It was just a couple years ago that I heard Hubby exclaim, "It's a Boy!"  I laid my eyes upon an adorably bald 8 lb., 8 1/2 oz. baby with big brown eyes.

He continued to grow up quickly.  He knew all his colors, shapes, letters, and numbers by 18 months.  He could sing before he could talk.

On his first day of Kindergarten, we peeked through the window after we dropped him off.  He was holding back tears but never let them fall.  I can't say the same for myself. 

He is now in middle school.  Almost as freckled as me, he has his dad's big brown eyes.  He is a cut-up and a goof-off.  He is taking tuba, French horn, guitar, and piano lessons.  He reads a novel every couple of days.  He fights with his brother and sisters like cats and dogs.  He is a smart mouth (which reminds me a lot of myself at that age). 

Where has the time gone?

Just Me, Being Random

I am growing grass.  The legal kind.
I have thirty 6.5" terracotta pots on my dining room table, filled with soil and grass seed.  (The kids keep asking where we're going to eat dinner.  Frankly, I don't know!)  They are going to be centerpieces for a Mother's Day banquet that I'm in charge of (one of the things making me crazy right now).  I really hope they turn out cute.  We're going to stick branches in the pot of grass that will display the table numbers.  We will tie raffia around the pots.  What do you think?

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I hate it that I'm so busy right now that I can't find time to blog.  I hope you all stick with me and wait out this chaoticness.  (Is that a word?)

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It is much nicer in South Carolina than it is where I live.

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I hate scraping the bottom of an empty peanut butter jar.  It is so much more fun to take the first dip out of a brand new jar.  But due to my cheapness, I use every little speck of peanut butter I can before throwing away the jar.

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When I give something to Baby Girl, she usually replies, "Thank you much!"  It comes out sounding Thank You Mutz.  I think it's adorable!

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I received a baby shower invitation in the mail for someone who has cut herself out of my life.  I just recently heard through the grapevine that she was even expecting.  The funny thing was all the rules the invitation came with.  "Well behaved children are welcome with their mothers."  Well, I guess that counts me out!  Am I wrong to be somewhat offended being invited to this event?  I haven't spoken to anyone in the family in an awfully long time.

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I am wearing a shirt today that I wasn't able to wear last summer.  Feels good!  On my way to skinny....

Stinky Mistake

Boy, did I goof! At a recent trip to Wal-Mart, I snagged three boxes of Puffs tissues from the nearly empty shelf. I hate being out of tissues and I like to keep these small square boxes in various places around the house and car. Normally, I pick out the cute, stylish boxes that have colors to match my decor. But all they had on the shelf were these aqua blue-green boxes. I reasoned that it's more about the function and less about the appearance, right?

When I got home, I popped the top to reveal a crisp, white tissue, ready to fulfill its purpose of boogie removal. I put it up to my nose and the worst smell followed! It smelled like a nursing home or old man's bedroom. Upon further investigation, I saw this new logo in the bottom corner of the box:

My Puffs contained the scent of Vick's Vapo-Rub! Shoo-wee, I hate that stuff! Why in the world would I want to smell it every time I blow my nose? And forget using a tissue to wipe your eyes...I'm afraid they would burn for the next hour! I have a house full of children and no tissues for them to use. There's no way they're going to be happy with "stinky kleenex!" (Yes, we typically call all tissues "kleenex" like we call all soda "Coke.")

Whenever Hubby has a cold, he will rub that smelly, disgusting, green stuff on his chest. I refuse to sleep next to him because I won't sleep with an old man who belongs in a nursing home! I hate that stuff!

So, beware the next time you are on the market for tissues. Avoid these like the plague...unless you like the smell of 90-year-olds.

What's For Dinner?

Mexican Spaghetti!

My favorite Southern friend gave me this recipe before she retreated back to where it's warm.  She had us over for a feast once that included Mexcian Spaghetti, Dorito Chicken Pasta, and Chocolate Chess Pie.  I miss her Southern hospitality!  But she did leave one good thing behind...this recipe!  Hubby liked it, but the kids wouldn't touch it....of course.

The recipe serves 8-10 but can easily be cut in half and baked in a 9x13" baking dish.

Mexican Spaghetti

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cans Ro*Tel
10 oz. Velveeta, cubed
1 lb. thin spaghetti, cooked
1 C milk
2 C shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
Combine chicken, soups, Ro*Tel, Velveeta, and spaghetti.  Add milk.  Spread into a 4-quart casserole dish.  Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Disturbing Parenting

(*edit - I had to change the title of this post because it was drawing attention from sicko scumbags who are trying to get their jollies through child pornography.  I was sickened when I realized this.  I also removed the title of the magazine article.  If you would like to read it, email me and I will give you the title.  I used a disturbing picture of children dressed inappropriately and I deleted that also.  Even though the removal of these things alters the post, I believe it's for the best.)

I recently read an article in Redbook Magazine that struck a nerve with me.  It was called (title removed)  This is a topic that has bothered me for some time and I'm glad that someone finally addressed it. 

The photos in the article were quite disturbing and I hesitate to even post them here.  But I don't think you can grasp the severity of this topic unless you too are physically nauseated by the pictures.  This one is of 8-year-old girls in a youtube video doing a sensual dance to Single Ladies.  I will admit, I did not watch the video.  As the mother of two girls, I thought I would be too bothered by the content.  Another photo in the article was of Miley Cyrus at one of her concerts (performing to an audience of 5- to 12-year-old girls) doing what I could only describe as a pole dance.  I just can't imagine why any mother would feel comfortable allowing her young daughter to watch that!  Young girls in today's society are being taught that it is acceptable to move your body in a sensual manner for the purpose of gaining attention from the opposite gender.

Why are mothers pushing their daughters to grow up faster?  I wish I could keep my kids young as long as possible!  Instead of taking my daughter out for a day at the spa, a mani/pedi and facial, I would rather sit on the living room floor with her playing dolls or coloring.  I have a friend with three daughters who regularly takes them for manicures.  The sad thing is that this family is probably living at the poverty level....they are supported by their parents.   But yet they choose to waste money on acrylic nails for little girls.  How much is a set of acrylic nails right now?  (I hate to admit that I haven't had a manicure since my wedding.)

The author of the article condemns plastic high heels, princess dresses, and decking out your daughter in all pink.  I disagree with that viewpoint.  I have no problem with any of those things.  I encourage my daughter to be feminine and I'm thrilled that she's a girly-girl.  My younger daughter is looking more and more like a tom boy and that's OK too.  She can run through the front yard in a pair of plastic high heels like no one's business!  But just because a woman is feminine does not mean that she's going to become a dimwitted, abused housewife whose only opinion is, "Whatever you want, dear."  I am a very traditional, feminine wife and I've never been hit by my husband.  I do have an opinion and he respects it and honors me.

I allow my daughters to play with Barbies and dress up in princess costumes.  But I draw the line at Bratz dolls, makeovers, and Katy Perry songs.  Every parent must make a decision of where to draw the line for their children.  And when deciding where to draw the line, they must ask themselves some questions:  Is this activity potentially dangerous for my children?  What will it encourage them to become?  Am I allowing it simply so my children will like me and not be mad at me?  WHY are you deciding WHAT you decide?

I'm just one mother who is happy to have little girls who are still little girls.

America, Stuff Your Faces!

What is it about a pizza buffet that lets you see the true colors of different folks?  We stopped in at a local pizza restaurant for lunch over the weekend.  It's a chain restaurant, independently owned.  They recently added a buffet so we thought we'd give it a try.  For some reason, Hubby chose a table right next to the buffet table.  That wouldn't have been my choice because we were then forced to watch middle-class America overindulge in an All You Can Eat special. People behaved as if they hadn't eaten in weeks.  (And judging by their appearance, I can pretty confidently say that wasn't the case.)  Plates were filled so high with salad, then garlic bread, and topped off with a couple slices of pizza.  And no, this wasn't a one trip only buffet.

I had to stand in line and wait behind a woman who used the (probably filthy) spatula to obtain the center two pieces of  the round garlic bread pie.  She turned to me, smiled, and said "I like the middle pieces."  All I could reply was, "Oh yeah?"  I would have rather said, "Looks to me like you like an awful lot of things here.  Your plate is piled so high that one more item might cause the entire structure to crash to the ground!"  But I didn't.

And then halfway through our meal, a door on the side of the dining room opened and the manager's family emerged.  (We've seen them before at different events so knew who they were.)  They were dirty, unkempt, and half asleep.  Looking through the door, we saw a mildewy basement where this family apparently lived.  It was quite a sad sight.  I wondered about the three pudgy little girls whose hair hadn't been combed in a while.  Was pizza their primary food staple in life?  Is that all they ever ate?  Come to think of it, the family has been there every time we've eaten there.  Now it makes sense- they live there!  I really felt sorry for the kids...what a life!

By the end of the meal, I think we determined to never dine there again.  Very few things about the experience were enjoyable.  Good thing I don't write restaurant reviews!

We left the restuarant to see the most enjoyable part of the meal.  Parked outside was one of those huge stationwagons you know your parents drove in the 70s or 80s.  The vanity license plate read "GRSWOLD."  If you know me well enough to know how big of a Christmas Vacation (and Wally World) fan I am, you will understand why this tickled me to the point of laughing out loud.  Good ending to a not-so-good afternoon.

Waiting Patiently...

Like a child excited to tear open wrapped Christmas presents, I was so giddy to see this package arrive in the mail today! 

Our Spring vacation is getting closer and closer and I can't wait!  But I was slightly bummed because I didn't have a good book to entertain me during the trip.  My most favorite kind of vacation is to sit on the beach with a good book, bury my toes in the sand, and read for hours on end.  I looked through my bookcase and didn't see anything I hadn't read before.  I was hoping I had a book purchased from the bargain table that I was saving for a rainy day.  But no.

So I decided to visit the website of my favorite author, Maeve Binchy, to see when she was due to release a new project.  The website said there was a new book that was only available in a handful of countries; the US was not one.  Bummer.  But, the book was expected to hit the States in March of 2011!  Could it be possible????  YES!  A new Maeve Binchy book was out and I didn't even know it!  I immediately went to Amazon and made my purchase! 

Now the hard part is going to be not sneaking a peek at the novel before vacation begins!  Waiting (somewhat) patiently.....

My Top Ten

Do you ever click that little Stats tab on your Blogger Dashboard?  I click mine all the time.  I like to see how many people visit my blog each day and what site referred them.  I also enjoy seeing when people from far off lands visit.  I wonder if they understand what I'm saying or if they stumbled upon me merely by accident.  I also like seeing how my line graph of All Time Pageviews has climbed higher since I've been blogging. 

One thing that interests me is which of my posts have been viewed the most often.  If I made a list of my ten most favorite posts, I don't think I would include any of those that are most viewed.  Why is that?  Maybe that's why I don't have thousands of followers (as I certainly should- ha ha)...because people who view my blog aren't seeing The Best.

Here is a list of the ten most viewed posts on She Says.  Don't judge.  I already told you they're not my favorites.

Thoughts of Spring - Mar 1, 2011, 25 comments
I guess this isn't surprising.  The purpose of this Blog Party was to meet new people and blogs.  I gained a few new followers...thanks to them, if they're still around!

There's a Lizard on my Keyboard  - Sep 30, 2010, 2 comments

I have no clue why this page has been viewed so many times.  Yeah, it's kind of funny, but it's not THAT funny!  Also, the keywords don't seem like something a person would be likely to google.  I just don't get it.

All Aboard the Choo Choo Train!  - Feb 6, 2011, 2 comments

This one I get.  People google Chuggington quite often.  It's probably Moms like me looking for a video for their kids to watch.  Funny that they wouldn't go to youtube first.

This is a Clean Post  - Jan 4, 2011, 2 comments

Funny that this post got so many hits.  I enjoyed writing it but I still can't stand how I couldn't get the pictures to line up better.  Believe me, I worked and worked to get it more organized.  But the more I worked with the pictures, the more they got messed up.  They kept disappearing.  So I finally threw in the towel and hit Submit.

A Stitch in Time Does Not Save Nine  - Sep 21, 2010

I totally do not get this one.  It doesn't even have any comments!  It's just me complaining that I don't know how to sew.  Why this page has been viewed so many times leaves me scratching my head.  Maybe the image of the Cub Scout uniform?

Undercover Boss - Nov 15, 2010

This post has been viewed so often because of its topic.  Many people searched these names to find out who the celebrities are...exactly like I did. 

FREE Chipotle!  - Mar 3, 2011, 5 comments
Well, duh...who wouldn't read this post???

Papers, Papers Everywhere! - Sep 17, 2010

This is another one I just don't understand.  It wasn't even a good post. 

Living in a Dream World - Mar 8, 2011, 5 comments
So many people were blown away by this show, the spoiled bratty child, and the insane mother.  It's no wonder this post was viewed so many times.

Family Food  - Oct 9, 2010, 3 comments

Of all the recipes I've posted, this is the only one to make the Top Ten.  It's a great recipe but I'm surprised so many people were interested in it.





Maybe I'll compile a list of my Favorite Top Ten Posts someday.  That would be difficult, I think.