Mean Moms

I got this as a forward today from another mean mom. Thanks, Shannon, for the forward.

Mean Moms

Someday when my
children are old enough to
Understand the logic that motivates a parent,

I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough to ask where you
were going, with whom,
And what time you would be home.

I loved you
enough to be silent and let you
discover that your new best friend was a
creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for
two hours while you
cleaned your room,
a job that should have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to
let you see anger,
disappointment, and
tears in my eyes. Children
must learn that their
parents aren't perfect..

I loved you enough to let you assume
The responsibility for your actions even when the
penalties were so harsh
they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say
NO when I knew you would hate me for it.

Those were the most
difficult battles of all.
I'm glad I won them, because in
the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough
To understand the logic that motivates parents,
you will tell them.

Was your Mom
mean?

I know mine was.
We had the meanest
mother in the whole world!
While other kids ate candy for breakfast,
we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.

When others had a Pepsi and a
Twinkie for lunch,
we had to eat sandwiches.

And you can guess our
mother fixed us a dinner that was
different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all
times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison.

She had to know who our friends were
and what we were doing with them.
She insisted that if we said we
would be gone for an hour,
we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it,
but she had the nerve to break
the Child Labor Laws by making us work.

We had to wash the dishes,
make the beds, learn to cook,
vacuum the floor, do laundry,
empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.

I think she would lie awake at night
thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
By the time we were teenagers,
she could read our minds and had eyes
in the back of her head.

Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk
the horn when they drove up
They had to come up to the door
so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date
when they were 12 or 13,
we had to wait until we were 16.

Because of our mother
we missed out on lots of things other
kids experienced.

None of us have ever
been caught shoplifting,
vandalizing other's property or
ever arrested for any crime.
It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home,
we are all educated, honest adults.
We are doing our best to be mean parents
just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong
with the world today.
It just doesn't have enough mean
moms!

Pomp and Circumstance

Tooth Update

It is OUT...finally. She was brushing her teeth and the last root cracked. With a little tug...out it came. YEH!!! Sweet success. Way to go, Audie!

Question of the Day

Is this fashion forward or fashion faux pas?

Tooth Drama Queen

I don't remember there being so much drama with losing teeth.
I guess that is where the saying, "It's like pulling teeth!" comes from.

Update: She still hasn't pulled the tooth...2 days later. Will update when she has success.

Happy Mother's Day

The day I become a Mom.

Cookie Success!

Hi all,

I wanted to update you all on Audrey's cookie sale. She sold 277 boxes in pre-order and approximately another 250 boxes during booth sales for a total of over 500 boxes....YEAH!!! She earned every prized available, but missed earning the ticket to the banquet by under a hundred boxes. (She needs to sell 600 boxes to get a ticket to the banquet.)

Audrey's troop hopes to use the proceeds to go to camp this summer and to earn more badges. Thank you all for your order.

Cookie Time Again!

Hi Friends and Family,

It is cookie time again! My troop is still trying to earn enough to go to Girl Scout camp. If you would like to order cookies, please email me back with your order.
This year we have the following cookies:
Trefoils
Dosidos
Samoas
Thin Mints
Tagalongs
All Abouts
and new.....
Lemon Chalet Cremes
Sugar-free Chocalate Chip

If you would like cookies, please email my mom. Please order before Jan 25th. Cookies will be in the week of February 9th. Be sure to order many boxes to enjoy all year long! (They freeze great!) And remember once March is here Girl Scout Cookies are gone.

Thank you for your support!!!!

Audrey Woodhouse

Christmas version - Get to know me

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrap
2. REAL OR FAKE TREE? Fake
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? Right after New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? YES – Yummy!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Annie Mansion
8. Hardest person to buy for? Anthony
9. Easiest person to buy for? Creighton, he is very vocal on what he would like.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Croqueted ear-warmers that looked more like nipple warmers. But, it is the thought that counted.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Day after Thanksgiving...continues 'til Christmas Eve
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? English Toffee
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored
17. Favorite Christmas song? Of course Colorado Christmas (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and The Christmas Song...Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, Jack Frost Nipping at your Nose. lalalalalala
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? No
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Depends on the year...this year, a star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both, Christmas Eve with my Dad and Christmas Morning, with In-laws
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? So much to do, so little time.
23. What I love most about Christmas? Seeing the magic through the eyes of my kids, their smiles, hope, dreams, and love.

Why I Love Colorado at Christmas

I got this email from Grannie and thought it was fitting.

When it's Christmas in Colorado,
And the gentle breezes blow,
About seventy miles an hour
And its fifty-two below,
You can tell you're in Colorado
'Cause the snow's up to your butt.
You take a breath of Christmas air
And your nostrils both freeze shut.
The weather here is wonderful,
So I guess I'll hang around,
I could never leave Colorado--
My feet are frozen to the ground!

I LOVE Christmas Cards

I absolutely love sending and receiving Christmas cards. Do you?

Wild Wild West (aka Denver Shootings)

Over on my sister's blog, she wrote a post about this past weekends shoots at two places of worship. Now let me say that I don't think anyone should have a gun, except for hunting and varmint control. Yes, I would sing kumbahya dancing in a field of wildflowers in my Utopian society.

There is a comment about maybe the wild wild wild west was a safer place to be. What I wonder is how many innocent people were killed by their recklessness. I am all for drug dealers killing drug dealers and other wastes in society. In fact, I say lets get them together and put them in an arena with as many rounds that they want and let them have a game of "bullet-paintball". Our crowded jail problem solved. But what gets me are the innocent ones who's lives end too soon and their potential lost forever.

As for the crazies who snap...I just shake my head. For the most part, they are younger folks who haven't even been faced with life's true adversities. Okay, there truly are people who have mental problems, however there are many who do not who are being diagnosed. We are so quick to slap a name on undesirable behavior, ask society for lower expectations on their behave, medicate them heavily, and then what? Question to ponder...are we filling these people with their self-doubt and helplessness which leads to this severe hatred for human life? The mental health industry makes me sick... I think as a society we need to buck up and deal with it. Life is not wonderful....if it were, we would not have a need for an idyllic heaven and the promises of God to bribe us through life. And, if you feel you can not make it another day, leave everyone alone, be finished with you and face the consequence as you go before your maker.

2 Santas & An Elf

Winter Fun

In our neighborhood park, there is a nice hill. Snow + hill = Sledding!!! This is how my kids love to spend their winter weekends.

Blessings in Disguise

Thought for today...

How do you know when something is an unanswered prayer or a blessing in disguise or just plain misfortune? Are they all the same, from different prospectives?

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Oh, wait... that was last year. We are having a very mild end of fall, beginning of winter. Last year we had already had about 4 snow storms. This year, only 1 and it was hardly a dusting.

I feel like sing, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

The weather folks have snow scheduled for tonight. We will see!

Worrying

Audrey's teacher has a poster with this saying on it in her classroom and it touches me everytime I read it. So, I thought I would share it with you. I know this time of year makes me worry alot...about money, family, and did I mention money already.

"Worrying today doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's strengths." unknown

Cheers to the holiday season!

Q & A

My sister had this up on her blog. Here are my answers


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No


2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Just now, watch Seb play the piano


3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING No


4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Cheese


5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 Sons, 1 Daughter


6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? yes


7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Who me?


8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes


9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No


10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Life


11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No


12. DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONG? Yes


13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? My Grandma's homemade vanilla


14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile


15. RED OR PINK? Red


16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I procrastinate


17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My Grandmother


18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Jeans and an orange sweater


19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Tuna sandwich


20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? My sister on the phone


21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Red


22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Clean laundry, snow, my kids


23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My sister


24. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes, we go back a long way


25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?


26. HAIR COLOR? Blondish


27. EYE COLOR? Gray


28. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Sometimes


29. FAVORITE FOOD? Sushi


30. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings


31. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I can't remember.


32. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Orange


33. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter


34. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs


35. FAVORITE DESSERT? Creme Brule


36. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? We Need To Talk About Kevin.


37. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one.


38. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LATE LAST NIGHT? Good Eats


39. FAVORITE SOUND? Silence


40. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Rolling Stones


41. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Germany


42. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Making people laugh.


43. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Denver, Colorado

My Goblins

Sorry this took so long.

Pumpkin Carving Party

For the past 2 years, I have hosted a Pumpkin Carving Party for the neighborhood kids who are in our acquaintance. We plan it for outside and start praying to the Mother Nature in late July for good weather (at least dry weather). She has not disappointed yet. This year, we had 15 kids and their parents for a total of 35 carvers. Our house sits on a 1/2 acre (doesn't sound much for my rural readers) but this is quite large here in the city. It is the perfect venue for carving tables in the yard (wood set on blocks and covered with plastic). Cider, withes brew and punch in a cauldron on the back porch and a potluck staring Chili and Butternut Squash Soup. The menu concluded with a pumpkin-styled cake and pumpkin pie.

Audrey along with her buddies crafted scary faces with googly eyes and scars. Creighton took on the project as a personal quest. He cut the lid, cleaned the pumpkin, designed and carved the face all on his own. He would not allow any help. His Jack O'lantern is a classic masterpiece. While Carson, hummmmm, he scribbled out a face and then talked someone else into carving it. He was too busy chasing his friends around in the "Jungle" as the kids call the bottom half of the yard.

I have so much fun watching the pumpkins transform into Jack O'lanterns, seeing my community of families turn into my village, and experiencing the last days of autumn as they slip into winter's slumber. I received one of the best compliments of my life from one of the moms who has become a good friend. She said. "You make it look so easy." Thank you, Susan. I love to host this event and I will have it every year until no one wants to come.