Indignant

I meant to tell you. Tuesday we were going to buy our Christmas tree. We went with some family friends. So, the girls were all in one car: myself, my friend, Barbara, her daughter, Neely and Anna (the boys in another). We were going through the 'I'm starving ' routine. I told Anna and Neely if they were good we could all got to dinner after wards and if not, we just head home. Anna said, 'Mommy, why do you make me so indignant?' What? My 8-year old just accused me of making her indignant. I asked her if she knew what it meant and I will admit, she did. Barbara and I looked it up to make sure. I was thinking infuriated and incensed. Anna was thinking mad, angry and annoyed.

It makes her mad that I immediately accuse them of being bad even before they are. Seriously, I did not but that is her perception.

But, back to the main topic, she learned this word reading. But, she doesn't like to read. She wants to be smart like a friend of hers. I try and try to explain, she is, but would be even more so if she read more. We shall see. Perhaps her indignation at my chastisement will encourage her to read more.

Is it wrong to say, wow, that may be scary what she will pop out with then.

This is also the child who screams, 'Save the Frogs.' But that as they say is another story.

SNEAUX Day

A snow day in South Louisiana, it is true and it happened today - December 11, 2008.

We knew last night that it might snow. but, really, who ever thinks it will snow in S. Louisiana, seriously. But snow it did.





Lovely camellia




We got our first text around 6. My children have NEVER dressed more quickly or excitedly. They were out the door in less than 2 minutes, well, maybe 5. School wasn't officially canceled until 730 or so. I was already visiting Kasey to get a hair cut. Let's not mention the small tree that fell on Mack's truck while I was there (see below). Dixon took some excellent shots while I was gone (see above). I then abandoned him again to run and try and take a picture at the branch. Sadly, the weather was a bit more slushy and I didn't get a good shot. But, more of my travel story below.

Tree before:



Tree after:



I drove through Manchac Plantation to get off the main street.


Some beautiful homes covered in snow there. And, well, street signs, too.



On my leisurely drive, I came across Kip, he was a huge, sweet 90 lb chocolate lab. Kip had run right thought his shock collar fence. Luckily, he did have a tag on, so I called his dad, who came to pick him up. But, not before I decided chocolate labs are sweet as pie. Kip was soaking wet and LOVED the snow. He was running through all the lovely untouched lawns burrowing his nose and body, loving every moment. I am so lucky he had a collar or Dixon and I would not be speaking and we'd have ANOTHER dog!

Happy Holidays

If You Believe

While enjoying a few hours of quiet today, I flipped through the channel and found If You Believe. It was already 30 minutes in and very Christmasy. But, I love Ally Walker and who doesn't care about a highly stressed out editor nearing a breakdown, who needs help from her inner child.

Quote:

'It is what you say yes to that determines your life; the no's just lead nowhere.'

PSA

I'd no idea what it all meant. I know several years ago, Dad had a 7. I knwo that over a 4 is bad. Radiation later and he was better.

But, then 3 months ago, Mack found out his numbers were 264 - OMG.

Here you go:

PSA test results report the level of PSA detected in the blood. The test results are usually reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. In the past, most doctors considered PSA values below 4.0 ng/mL as normal. However, recent research found prostate cancer in men with PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL (2). Many doctors are now using the following ranges with some variation:

* 0 to 2.5 ng/mL is low.
* 2.6 to 10 ng/mL is slightly to moderately elevated.
* 10 to 19.9 ng/mL is moderately elevated.
* 20 ng/mL or more is significantly elevated.



So, as you can see, 264 is very bad.

But, today good news. His new levels are in and they are at 21.88. Still significantly elevated but much improved. I am so happy!

I love you, Mack.

Gathering

Casey, it is a good picture!



The elders, shh, don't tell them


Transformers can transfix a man in 5 seconds or less.


Sam had, as usual, all the girls attention.


Mae-bug


Clare and Jezebel


Anna found a tree to climb


Mae


Sarah and John



Jezebel

I love the gatherings of the Cole's. They are such a wonderful time to catch up. It is a time I am reminded of how much I love each and every one. Sadly, not everyone was in town, but we had a great turn out.

Sam and Mae played well together. She bossed him around and he did her bidding, as it should be in her mind. Jezebel was precious and such a beauty. Next year she will be bossing around, too. I can't wait. Anna focused on tree climbing and playing with the new dog.

Food news: Dixon fried the turkeys, Becky smoked a ham (awesome), Mallorie made the roles and cookies, John brought some kind of pumpkin upside down thing, Paula made a killer pie, which would put you into sugar shock just by touching it, Sarah made the broccoli casserole and someone made the grape thing. We also took brownies (at Casey's request) and fudge.

Thank you all and I love you. Miss those who couldn't be there, you were sorely missed. We are truly blessed to have this family.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have a wonderful family, who love me. I have wonderful friends, who put up with silliness and crazies. We are healthy and strong. I am well and truly blessed.

Thankful, you betcha (that's for you RJ). I am thankful for all of these blessings and so many more.

The weather on this thanksgiving Day looks to be beautiful. A lovely gift for us all.

We will be catching up with the Cole Clan later this afternoon. Dixon is frying the turkey with Mack now. Mack even allowed me to borrow THE PAN. I made the first (never as good as the rest) batch of fudge this holiday season last night.

I will add pictures of the feast later. But for now, we use a Google image:

Sam's Birthday Bash

Sam wanted a movie party. He decided on Bolt in 3D. We made the invitations for him and he picked some friends from school and daycare. Sadly, there is no Bolt cake yet. But, Sam was game with a Hot Wheels cake.

I think the pictures will tell you... it was a wild party. Who knew little boys could be so loud and crazy. Well, to be honest, I knew about the crazy. I hazard to say he had a good time. Next time, I will take the crayons to draw and cars, although, I doubt the volume would decrease much. I wish I'd been able to get the group of them with their glasses on watching the movie - hysterical.


St. George Boys


Yes, there was lots of crawling under the furniture.


And much wrestling....


Before cake!





Amazing how quickly they can line up. Seriously, thank a teacher today!


Love those goofy glasses!

Bolt: [Looks around corner into an office at the animal shelter] There's a guard.
Rhino: [Starts walking into room] I'll snap his neck.

Our pups

Callie (aka. bad dog and no)(puppy stages are so trying)


Ellie (aka. El, Ellie Sue)

Since posting pictures of Kona, I felt I needed to post pictures of Ellie and Callie. They aren't the best. I took them this morning while they were very excited to get their chews - forgive the blur.

Meeting Kona

Hello world, I am Kona!


Meet my best buddy.... the Broom.




Audrey and Latham got a new puppy, Kona. She is a gorgeous Golden puppy. She is so rotten, I love it. Knowing that she will be a cool dog in a few years helps with the bad. Watching Audrey and Latham love her is sweet. Anna enjoyed playing with her. Especially the fact that Kona will follow the broom anywhere. She is a precious addition!

Makes me nostalgic for Ellie puppy. I wouldn't want to go back but I could sure use more time with her.

Stolen: Rules of the universe

So wonderful for this short week of work. Thank you, Tesia.

Rules of the Universe

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
6. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)
7. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
8. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
9. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
10. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
11. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
12. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it. Embrace your differences. Love each other.
13. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
14. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
15. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed.
17. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
18. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
19. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
20. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
21. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
22. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
23. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.
24. There is a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness.'
25. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
26. You should not confuse your career with your life.
27. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
28. Never lick a steak knife.
29. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
30. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
31. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
32. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
33. Your friends love you anyway.
34. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.
35. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Honor

A VETERAN is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.- (anonymous)

Another cartoon

Veterans Day

Thank you to all Veterans. Thank you to those who can hear my words. Thank you to the families of those who can not. I have not forgotten, nor will I forget or allow my children to forget.




from Autom:
Dear Heavenly Father,

In every age, You call certain persons to defend the human family from oppression, tyranny, and evil. Since our founding as a nation "conceived in liberty," countless American men and women have stepped forward to defend our country and many others from aggressors, and to liberate those held captive.

Today we revere all our veterans: those who rest in honored glory, those who still suffer from the wounds of war, and those who, with us, enjoy the blessing of living in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O God, thank You for the selfless sacrifice of these veterans and of their families. Help us to remember them, to pray for them, and to care for them. Please bring all our departed veterans into Your Kingdom, and console their families with Your unfailing love. Please heal our wounded veterans through the power of Your Holy Spirit, and give to all our veterans the satisfaction of having served You even as they have served us.

Thank You for Your gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. May we fight to keep these rights available to all. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Humor

I am tickled.

HISTORY is made

Well put Mr. Marshall Ramsey, well put.

There is no question, President-elect Obama did a beautiful job selling himself to the country. I am interested to watch what happens next. Senator McCain had a most sincere and patriotic speech. I was touched. He is a true American and I was proud of him last night. I have never heard nor read such a gracious speech by a conceding candidate.

McCain:
"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans, and please believe me when I say no association has meant more to me than that."

"Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. "


Obama:
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."


"Its the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America."

I am Proud to be American. I am Proud of my country and my president.

National Election 2008

A historical election and in less than 5 hours, we will either have a black president or a female vice president.

I am a private person and who I voted for is mine. But, I voted. I will tell you this, it was a crazy moment to look at the ballot and know that history would be made. Not by my ballot but by all the ballots cast last month, last week and today.

One of my favorite cartoons for today, I love google.



So here's to history, we make it every day, some days are simply more profound.

Halloween all week long....

We are a Halloween family. We don't go crazy with the yard or make a haunted house (yet), but we love the season. Carving pumpkins and dressing are are all apart of it for us.


(yes, it has been carved but he put the pieces back in. This was a game played by all)

We Trick or Treated twice this year. Once at LSU: lots of kids and seeing the sorority girls and some of the guys, especially Pi Kappa Phi and their fun house. The kids LOVE that.

Group Shot before the Treating....



With Mike the Tiger at the Zeta House... cool beans...



We even found some Golden Girls on route.....




Carving happened on Thursday, the night before Halloween. It was our 'easiest' carve, but all 4 were cleaned out and carved (by Dixon) in less than an hour.

Check out the tongues....





Each designed on the fly with Dixon ready to carve.





Final results....



Scary faces and toes....





Friday in the neighborhood: we had a few friends come with us. Good times.

Actual Halloween in the Neighborhood:


Dixon is Friar Tuck - again



Our pirate, race car, witch and star wars booty (this is just Sam's....everyone got a ton). We had SERIOUS candy. The fun was watching the kids horde their piles for awhile and then watch the bartering for goods. 'Will trade you 3 laffy taffy's for a snickers bar. No, I want a Hershey Bar.'



The kids were very generous with us mom's. I had many Strawberry Laffy Taffies tossed my way, as well as Batty Patty's and even a mounds bar.