If CPS Calls......

If Child Protective Services call you about us, please give them a good report.  Seriously, David and I cannot be held accountable for the insane and ludicrous actions that our children constantly are committing! Well, I am mainly speaking of Justice.
Last night Justice was running like the psychopath he is and somehow he tripped. I saw him fall, but it happened so fast that I didn't really get a clear view of how. I am just glad that the huge thud that his head made against the sliding glass door did not break it and cause massive bleeding from his head. However, he did manage to seriously hurt his wrist. He wouldn't move it. We couldn't touch it. And, he just cried.
I called David to come home and check it. He was in as much disbelief as I was. We were hoping that he just bruised or sprained it. After all this was the same arm he broke not long ago! I mean he just got his cast off from the last break a few weeks ago! It couldn't be broken again.... Could it?

We decided to give it the night and see how every was in the morning. Well, after a long night and his persistent pleas all morning of , "Mommy, my arm hurts.... Don't touch it." I decided he should get x-rayed. And, low and behold... HE BROKE IT!!!! That's right... It has been less than a month since his last break. However, It was his wrist this time... The last break was his elbow.
When the orthopod told me the news, I didn't believe him. He said Justice's wrist was broken 3 times before I stopped believing he was joking with me.... I don't know why I didn't believe him. I mean, this is Justice after all.  Then after 5 minutes of the doc explaining to me that this break was called  a buckle fracture, I had to check again to see if he was sure it was broken. 
Honestly, I was thinking that Justice just sprained his wrist. So, after the examination we were sent to the casting room. Justice wanted a white cast. So, that is what he got. And, after the last cast experience, I had learned that I wanted him to have the water-proof cast. Justice had somehow peed on his last cast and it stunk something fierce! So, paying the extra $15 for the waterproofing is soooo worth it, especially now since I won't have to apologize to everyone for the smell and won't have to see people sitting around us at church sniffing the air trying to figure out what the stench is.

Ahhhh... this boy..... I need to make a hair appointment. I think I added about 10 new greys today.

To read about the last break...:

http://amsbury.blogspot.com/2009/10/justices-broken-arm.html

http://amsbury.blogspot.com/2009/10/result-of-catastrophy.html

http://amsbury.blogspot.com/2009/11/climb-aboard-its-cast-off-time.html

The Dog Did It!

Our dog Charlie is the rankest smelling dog on the planet!!! I swear I think something crawled up in there and died. He is just a walking "silent but deadly." Ya know, that smell left by your green tinted, flu ridden spouse who walks out of the bathroom and away from the resonating smell as if it was a 5 day old diarhea? And, then you so unfortunately walk into the cloud of putrid like you were hit by a ton of bricks? Well, that is our dog, permanently. And, that is how my whole family feels daily. 
We walk around with our shirts over our noses. Good thing we already know each other, because we never see anything more than each other's eyes peering over our shirts, blankets, towels, or whatever we can grab in the mad dash for our lives.

This is a major problem. Plus, we will be having friends watching our Charlie next month around Christmas time. Since I would like to keep the friendship, I am off to cure the dog toots.

I saw this stuff online. I think I will try it. It is called "Flatulence Preventer." It is for foul smelling pooches. Or, actually it is probably for the foul smelling pooch's family.
Second task... Off to find a better food. David likes Pedigree and it is cheap. I don't. I know it is crap - CLEARLY, because that is what it permanently makes Charlie smell like. David just thinks all food is the same. I am a nutritionist and know better..... But, no arguing with a "doctor..." So, it is Mom to the resue this time - flying solo.

So any recommendations? I am thinking of going with Wellness or Nutro Natural for sensitive stomachs... or something like that....

Thanksgiving

Should I write of Thanksgiving today?  Of course, I am thankful! But, I don't feel inclined to give preschool answers today.... I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for this food. I am thankful for my home, my God, my friends..... We all have these answers. Yes? How many "I am Thankful" blogs have you read today? Did they all say the same things? Too generic. Well, I am going to dig deeper in my thanksgiving. I will say what I am thankful for that is so not obvious....

1. I am grateful for my computer that gives me a voice.
2. I am grateful for my mind that I have not lost - yet.
3. I am grateful for my mind that I have not lost - yet. Wait... what...?
4. I am grateful for the hair on my legs. They make the best scratching posts in bed.
5. I am grateful for the stretch mark stripes on my hiney that make me feel like a sassy tigress on the prowl. Grrrr...
6. I am grateful for the voices in my head that keep me company.... Shhh.. Not now. I am writing!
7. I am grateful for my mind that I have not lost. Ahhhh. Crap!
8. I am grateful that I am always cold because virtually everything I touch is warm.
9. I am grateful for the fear I experienced the other day that made a sound come out of my mouth which I have never heard myself make before. I learned something new about myself.
10. I am grateful for being dizzy. I get to view the world differently every time I blink my eyes.

Headline News

Being bored tonight I checked out what's going on in Minot today. Their top headline news.... get ready for it....

Late Harvest Continues

"Unseasonably warm temperatures and workable weather has helped farmers catch up on late-season harvest of corn, soybean and sunflower crops. According to the Nov. 23 state crop, livestock and weather report, 21 percent of corn, 92 percent of soybeans and 86 percent of sunflower has been harvested statewide, although all are below their respective five-year harvest averages....."

The second headline article...

Downtown to Host Holiday Festival Friday

"Christmas music is already echoing up and down Main Street and downtown businesses are hoping to further get people into the holiday spirit with an upcoming festival......."

As I read these articles, I just day dreamed about the life we are heading into. Peaceful, Quite, Slow - farming.

Top Headline news in Toledo today???? Hmmmmm.....

Two Toledo Police Officers Test Positive for Marijuana

Followed by.....

Finkbeiner Says Toledo Bar Where Shootout Occurred Should Re-Open

 

Say what you want about lil' ol' Minot, but I'll take a safe farm town where everyone befriends everyone over a city filled with drug influenced cops and bar shootouts any day! I just might start watching and reading the news when I move there!

Waking from the Land of Nod

There has been long debate in our home about snoring. David does it. But he swears he does not. He insists that I do it, But I KNOW I don’t. I just think he is feeling insecure about it and is trying to drag others down with him - which will never happen by the way.
And, he has different snores even. There is the one that sounds like a train is roaring through the house. That one can be frightening at times, especially when in deep sleep…. There is the quiet snore that happens when he just nods off. I kind of like this snore. It lulls me to sleep and is the constant reminder that he is alive. And then there is David’s “Death Breath Snore.” Well, everyone knows that sleep does scary things to breath. That is why I have labeled this snore the Death Breath Snore.


However, it is not death to him. It is death for me. This particular snore happens every night. It only happens when he is facing me. How that is, I have no idea… But, when he faces me while sleeping, my life is in danger. I also don’t know how it happens that he only does it when he gets about 5 inches from my face before he blows….

So here is how it happens…. David gets within lethal range of me and all of a sudden he will snort a breath in and follow it with a huge Puff of killer breath out that sounds like the sound you make when trying to teach a child how to make a letter “P” sound. It takes no time at all for the killer breath to hit me from that short distance. I of course wake up feeling like I am suffocating and then proceed to shove David’s face to the other direction.

So, Sweetheart, this blog's for you. Here is the proof that you have demanded from me, for years, that you in fact snore. I rest my case. Next time, don’t breathe on me while you do your Death Breath Snore, and the world will never be the wiser about your secrets.

 

Evening the Odds

Too many good things have been happening in my life recently. I have loved it! And, I have been thinking, "Yay!!! Everything is starting to turn around for us!" I mean, a "real" date with David, a new job, I got my car back, and soooo much more that I am not going to mention.

So in order to set the laws of all things equal back in order, the gods have sent me some doosies today.


To start off, I was kept up all night because of our dog Charlie. He whined and whimpered all night because he was having explosive diarrhea and needed to be let out every 30 minutes. Fun. Fun. Apparently, David had given him some rotten string cheese last night. Hmmmm.... I think we have found the culprit.


As a result, I woke up completely exhausted. And, my kids let me have it.... "Mom, does being stabbed with a pirate sword hurt?" "Mom, is fencing fun?" "Can fencing kill you?" "Mom, Courage won't let me read the cereal box!" "Mom, will you put my shoes on me?" "Mom, Charlie tooted!" "Mom, am I getting braces today?"
"Mom, why do I have to go to the dentist?" "Mom, you have to do some homework for my class!" "Mom, I need rice!" "Mom, I need to harvest my crops in Farmville! "Mom...Mom....MOM!!!"


So, I got the girls off to school - ON TIME, Thank you! And, off to the dentist for Courage, Justice and me.


But, I made a wrong turn on the freeway because I was zoning out in my daydreams of visiting a quiet tropical island. That added 15 minutes to our already 35 minute drive. Once we got to the dentist, I realized that the car was seriously smoking and hissing. I think it was on fire. I got the kids out quickly. It freaked me out. And, that's right. Back to no car again for me....


So, I called David to come and get us from the dentist, because blowing up was not on my agenda today. Unfortunately, he was in a surgery. So, we had to wait for an hour before he showed up.


Luckily we got home in time for Hope to get off the Kindergarten bus! But, when I walked through my door a horrible smell hit me and I started gagging. Charlie, in our absence, had explosive diarrhea that splattered all over the wall and carpet near his dog crate that he was in.


To top it all off, I couldn't stop crying. David was talking to me non-stop too. Why does my family talk so much? Can no one appreciate the silence? And, my sweet Hope gave me a wedgy!
So, Yes, I was feeling testy. And, no it didn't help that David offered to get me some "chill pills."


Arrgh!!! I am sooooo tired and feeling a bit sick. I just need to go to bed! Wake me tomorrow.....

The Best Date Ever!

David took my on the best date last night. It was girlie and romantic! And, it started off with him opening my car door for me.... I could hardly stand it!



First, we went to Carrabba's Italian Grill - (Thanks Crystal!). That place is so yummy! I ordered the CHICKEN BRYAN which is a grilled piece of chicken topped with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes and then smothered in a basil lemon butter sauce and some fettuccini. You have to try it!!! I ate the whole thing, and it is rare that I finish a restaurant meal because they are so big or "just OK." I wanted to puke afterwards. But, it was soooo worth it.


Then, David took me to the mall.... Halleluiah!!!! We shopped. We went to borders and looked around. We went to a sporting goods store. We ended up getting some cool stuff for the kids for Christmas.


After that we went to the movies to see none other than New Moon!!!! I had been waiting for nearly a year for that movie to come out. We waited in line to be seated for 2 hours. But, it was so perfect because David and I just sat and visited. We had a great time sharing each other's company. And, I was so impressed that he was willing to sit in a theatre for a movie that drew in more estrogen than testosterone by 300 to 1. That is true love.


The movie was of course amazing... I felt that it was much better done than the first. And, it was hilarious how many cheers we heard when the title came on the screen, and for every time Jacob took his shirt off. David just laughed and I thought how awesome he was to endure that all so happily for me.


After the movie David asked questions about Twilight plots and meanings of certain things, like he was so interested. He is just amazing, because I know he really didn't care. But, he knew it would make me happy to talk about it.

How on earth did I get so lucky?

To Pee or Not to Pee....

Have you ever felt the zinging sensation of needing to pee once the warm shower water began to soothe the cockles of your being? This is the question and controversial topic of this post.

Peeing in the Shower.

Is it really so taboo? I propose it is indeed not. In fact, dare I say it..., peeing in the shower is an activity of the wise and prudent.

The Safety Hazzard

First of all, peeing in the shower is a safer choice! I have felt the serious urge to pee while showering, so I speak with experience when I say this.  A few times I have given into the peer-pressures of "the world" that peeing in the shower is wrong. As a result, I have suffered the consequences. Many a time have I braved suds in my eyes while trying to see my way to the toilet only to slip on the tile floor and slide right off of the slick wet toilet, thus onto my then sore derriere. I nearly died!

Eco-Friendly

Second, it takes an astounding five to seven gallons per flush in a regular toilet, and still a whopping one and a half gallons per flush with the ultra-low flush models. Peeing in the shower is a matter of saving the planet! And, that is a cause I feel passionate about and will support any way I can.

 

A Matter of Health

Third, peeing in the shower is the healthier way. Oh, yes it is.... When you pee in the shower you can quickly lather up the offending area and rinse off with fresh water. Those of you who don't believe that this is a cleaner way to pee, you go right on aread  collecting "pee drops" and saturated toilet paper lint in your underwear. Uhhh... yeah... that's clean!.... you sicko with a disease waiting to happen.

So, let it flow my friends!

Feel free to pee!

Let us all save lives and the planet
one shower at a time....

                      

The Poultry Smack-Down

In the right corner, weighing in at 110 pounds... the chicken fryer, the chicken broiler, the chicken crock pot-er.... Teraaaaaaaaaaa..... The Chicken Tamer!!!!!!

In the left corner, collectively weighing in at 10 pounds... able to run faster than hot snot, clucking louder than a roaring freight train, famous for their flapping wing attack.... The Lady Hens... Ramen Noodle, McNugget, Lola, and Huevos!!!!!!

I sincerely believe that my chickens are slightly "MR", aka retarded. David built them a really nice coop. It is warm and dry inside. We have even bedded it down with a bail of sweet smelling straw! Now if that is not cozy, then I just don't know what is!

Well, every night the ladies huddle up together OUTSIDE of the coop. They brave the winds, rain, and scary sounds of dogs barking. But, is it really being brave or just being dumb? I mean seriously! Keep in mind the weather is regularly now in the 40's. I would die - literally. But, before my torturous death, I would be sobbing like a baby that I was in the cold, cold dark.

So, I felt an inkling of compassion for my not so bright hens and I decided to do something about it.


I bundled up in my winter attire and headed out to the coop determined to teach the birds how to use common sense. But, when I got out there they all dispersed into the four corners of the coop.

I knew I had my work cut out for me... But, I was determined to be their hero! So I welcomed on the challenge of the chicken fight.

Round one.
I chased Huevos. I caught her. And, with her wings flapping wildly in my face I quickly threw her into the coop. OK!!! One down. Three to go... Or, so I thought.

Round two. 
As soon as I turned around to grab a hysterically panicked Ramen Noodle, Huevos flew out of the coop. Crap! So, I grabbed Lola and threw her in the coop. She launched herself out faster than I could even turn around. She just charged at me clucking, "I WILL NOT BE A PRISONER!!!!"


Ok.. So I don't know how many rounds there were. All I knew was that over and over I grabbed, threw, and watched the ladies fly back out of the coop.


Really? Are you kidding me? I am trying to help these morons!


After about 30 minutes of battling, I realized that I had to throw them in the coop and sit at the door to prevent them from coming out for about 5 minutes before I grabbed another hen.


Alas, I did prevail.


However, night 2 was the same scenario. What will be waiting for me tonight... a battle or will the birds wise up?

El Dia Dos!

Day 2 with Gramma in town. We went to the COSI museum in downtown Toledo. We had a great time.

Lovely Lady Hump????

Courage came up to me today and had a question burning on his little mind....

"Mom", he said... "What does it mean to hump a girl? On Transformers they said that Optimus Prime was trying to hump a girl. What does that mean, humping a girl?" Holy Crap! I missed that part in Transformers! THANK YOU, HOLLYWOOD!!!
Uhhhhhhh....... I completely lost my train of thought at that point and could only stare at him. How do I explain "humping?!" Do I have the sex talk with my 9 year old? No... All his siblings were listening and I really wanted to dodge the question. I was caught so off-guard!

"Ummm... I think that is a great question for your dad, Courage." After all, he is the doctor and a "guy".... This was HIS duty as a parent of his 1st born son.


... Come to think of it, it is his duty period! He can give the girls the sex talk too. He is the Gynecologist. So, his female knowledge trumps mine anyway!


Ok... back to the story...


From the other room I hear David say, "Ask me what?" Big smiles crossed my face as I shouted across the house, "Courage wants you to tell him what "Humping a girl means."


Courage then left my vicinity and entered his dad's.


He asked David, "Dad what does it mean?" He then explained why he wanted to know...
"Dad, does it mean to do this...?" Courage proceeded to grab his own "booboos" (That is what we call breasts in our home). So, he grabbed his booboos with both hands and squeezed over and over again with a huge smile on his face. Upon which David said, "No, Courage. It is worse than that."


Luckily, Courage is easily distracted and let the whole question go soon afterwards. Sometimes I am really grateful for his immensely short attention span! Teaching sex to a 9 year old boy is not on the menu for keeping the Sabbath day holy! Needless to say, his mind would not have been on the more spiritual matters at church had the talk been further pursued.

Gramma!!!

David's mom is here to visit. We are all excited. We haven’t seen family is over a year! It is so sad that no one in our family is independently wealthy. But, alas! We are real people…. Bills, jobs, and life more often than not get in the way of travel.

So we relish the time when we can see family. And, man-o-man do we ever appreciate the time spent together!!! So Gramma flew into town right before dinner. I created a killer sweet and sour pork stir fry. I will give you the recipe at the end of this blog.

Then for our cherished time together. What did we do?
Well, Gramma just had to play Farm Ville before anything else. So she sat on the couch thoroughly enjoying herself, as you can see… My kids surrounded her as she explained that her neighbors are extremely important to her. She also explained the meaning of strawberry cows, chocolate cows, and green cows. What???? What is this game, or should I say Mind Control technology that has taken over everyone and anyone who joins facebook? I fear it is America’s secret experiment set out to take over the world, and forcing us all to become “good neighbors.” Be afraid. Be very afraid. The last thing we all need are “good neighbors!”

Well, David and I enjoyed Gramma in town also. What did we do? We took off! Who needs to visit when we finally have free babysitting? We left the kids and Gramma to enjoy their Farm Ville mind control experience and we went to Wal-Mart. I know it was a lame date, but we were childless. And, that is all we cared about. We did some Christmas shopping and just roamed around Wally-world hoping we could find some “People of Wal-Mart” visions. And, Yes! We did find some choice sights. My favorite was the platinum blond skinny woman with size EEE boobs that were hanging out of her neon yellow tank top. Simply awesome! Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera for that one.

Ok... So we really didn't spend any time together. But we had a great time doing it!

Sweet and Sour Pork Sir Fry Recipe

You will need:
1 ½ cups uncooked Rice (white or brown)
Pork (or beef, chicken, tofu, whatever - I prefer to slow cook pork roast in a crock pot a until it is easy to pull apart)
1 bag of frozen stir fry veggies
Pineapple
Chow mien noodles
2 Tbl Olive oil


Sauce:

8 Tbl honey
8 Tbl soy sauce
4 Tbl apple cider vinegar
2 Tbl lemon juice
1 Tbl water
4 tsp cornstarch

Directions:
Cook rice.
Boil 3 cups water. Add the rice and cover. Simmer on low for 20 minutes for white rice. (40 minutes for brown rice)


While that cooks:

Mix all the sauce ingredients together until creamy. Set aside.


Pull pork apart and brown in a large pan or skillet.


Fry the frozen veggies in the olive oil.


Once the meat is browned and veggies are cooked, add the prepared sauce. ½ of the sauce mixture is added to the meat. ½ sauce mixture is added to the veggies.


Gently stir meat pan with the sauce mix until sauce is thickened.


Gently stir veggie pan with the sauce mix until sauce is thickened.


Now put it all together!

On a plate start will a bottom layer of chow mien noodles. Top the noodles with the rice. Next layer is the meat. On top of the meat, add the veggies. Top it all with the fresh pineapple.


Yum! Eat up, my friends!
Comment to let me know what you think of my meal.

Hair Dayz

Is there anything in the world that makes you feel more beautiful than a day at the salon?

It was hair day in our home this week. The boys got their hair done first, courtesy of moi. I am so talented with a pair of clippers, aren't I? But, Justice was left out of the hair-cutting party. Poor guy. He is so stinkin' cute, but he gets called a girl a LOT. Yeah....., we have taken it upon ourselves to break the mold of "boys need short hair to be boys." And in case you were wondering, we don't intend on cutting it for a long, long time. In fact, the more we get asked, "When are you going to cut his hair?" the more we refuse to. That's right. David and I are rebels. So, watch out.

Girls' hair day was the following day. I took Faith to the salon with me. We got cuts, albeit not much, and colors. Well, she got highlights put in. I got rid of the evidence that I have 4 kids.
We had a good time. Although, I will admit that it was a little weird having Hannah Montana playing on the TV while Faith was waiting for her hair to cook. Normally when I go, I listen to rock music and not "Best of Both Worlds."

Afterwards, I took Hope to Cookie Cutters. It is a kid salon. The concept of the place is cool. The kids getting cuts get to sit on cool seats shaped like fire engines, ponies, airplanes, and so on while they watch a movie in front of them or play video games. There are also a ton of toys in the place, as well as an indoor slide.

But, I will not be going back. The reason you ask...? The stylist was wearing flip flops. She totally grossed me out. I know it was my daughter’s hair falling on her bare feet. But still. Uck! As, I watched this atrocity unfolding before me, I could actually feel hair between my toes and getting caught between my foot and rubber flip flop imagining the hair just sticking to me because of sweaty feet. That's just nasty!

My little Pre-teen

Faith's birthday was on the 10th of this month. In true form of any growing young lady she requested clothes, Uggs, music and a day at the salon.

Oh.... She is a girl after my own heart. Suddenly, gift shopping for her just became so enjoyable! As I was at the mall shopping for her, I had visions of the Amsbury girls out for the day - lunch, shopping, movie, and pampering. What more could a girl want?

So, I got her some totally cute clothes! I went to Once Upon a Child. It is a second hand store for kids. I basically bought her a whole new wardrobe for the same price I could have paid at the mall but only brought home 1 and a half outfits to show for it.  Cha-ching! I am a shopping guru. And, boy-o-boy did she every need the clothes. My poor daughter was confined to high-waters and bellyshirts. It has been a sad sight for quite a while. Needless to say she is thrilled wth the new duds.

To see what else I saw at the mall check this link.

http://amsbury.blogspot.com/2009/11/saturday-post.html

All Muslims are NOT terrorists!

This blog goes out to all you Muslim haters. I have a thing or two to say to you…



I get inundated with email after ridiculous email about how Muslims are taking over the world we need to put an end to it….. Or, we have a Muslim president; we need to impeach him…… Or, Muslims are all terrorists…... Or, being Muslim is un-American.


Get your head out of your Butt! Those of you who send these emails, you are being racist and prejudice. I find THAT un-American.

America was built by religious men and women who sought religious freedom and who left the constant persecutions that resulted from their religious choices. That is why this country was founded! This country is “supposed” to be a safe-haven from ignorant people who persecute others because of religious choice. I find is sooooo ironic that the people who mostly send these hateful emails are the very same who will protest for the US Constitution and claim to be Christian!


This applies to President Obama as well. Granted I am not a fan of his. But that is strictly based on his political agendas. And, to be quite frank I am glad that at least he has a humble conviction in God – whatever language he chooses to name God.


And, quite frankly, I am fed up with my friends and family passing me this “hate mail” crap. I don’t even open them if I can help it. But sometimes the headline will be something pleasant - which tricks me into opening the crap. But, as soon as I figure out what it is about… guess what…DELETE!


David and I have lots of friends who are Muslim. They are GOOD people. They are NOT terrorists. They are kind. They are service and family oriented. They have good values. They have some of the most polite and well behave children that have walked through my home. And, like it or not, their beliefs and actions are often more “Christian” than that of my so called Christian friends and family! And guess what… Allah is the Arabic word for what??? GOD. That is right….. They believe in God, you ignoramuses. The same God that Christians believe in. I strongly suggest you get a copy of the Koran. I challenge you to find anything in it that contradicts your Christian beliefs. I have read much of it. And, my reading tells me you will have a very difficult time doing so.


Furthermore, find even 1 religion that does not have murderers in it. There are Mormon murderers, Catholic murderers, Baptist murderers, Amish murderers, Jewish murderers…….et cetera. Are Christian murderers less sinful? Is killing with a gun, knife, rope, bare hands, or rock less sinful than a bomb?

Don’t be a hypocrite. Quit being a racist. Get over your prejudices. And quit sending me these hateful emails. They will not be received.

I love you all dearly but would rather keep the company of Muslims, than of racist Muslim haters that have no respect for their fellow country-men and President. For crying out loud.... This is the reason we are the laughing stock of the world! Our country is full of hypocritical racists.

If you find yourself offended by this blog then you need to figure out what kind of Christian Constitutional lover you are.  So, get over it. It is MY blog and this needed to be said.

Caught Sleeping on the Job

Ok... So I think this is hilarious. Hope found my camera and took a video of me sleeping. She actually took 27 mini-videos to be exact.

Today as I downloaded Faith's birthday pictures, I stumbled across so many videos of me sleeping on the couch in various versions from close-ups on my nose to crazy all over shots such as this one, some were tours of my house, some were of the cats and some were of Hope's face one feature at a time. I laughed at all of them.

What makes this so funny to me is that just this week my girlfriends and I got into a Stay-at-home-mom versus working-mom debate. While the debate did end gracefully, it did get a little heated.


One of the arguments used against stay-at-home-moms was that some were lazy, barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen while kids are left to be babysat by Nick JR. Of  course, I defended the stay-at-home-moms saying basically that that was an inaccurate stereotype for many, many of us.... Ok, I am barefoot a LOT, and my kids were watching Nick Jr. in the video. But, I am not pregnant (yet). And, I am not in the kitchen. As you can see I am clearly on the couch - um..... sleeping.

In my defense though, I didn't get to bed until after 11:30pm because I was doing homework..... OK. OK. I was probably blogging, too.  But then I was up with not 1,  but 2! sick kids during much of the night. I was exhausted. As, you can see I did do some chores first. Notice the laundry..... Notice the vacuum that was out..... But, this day I quickly lost steam, so I crashed and took a 30 minute power nap.


OH, YES IT WAS!


Afterwards, I was back up and cleaning. I also helped Hope with her ridiculous amount of kindergarten homework. And, we read lots of books. Hey! I don't need to defend myself!


.........Now, if you will please excuse me. I need to go do some affirmations.


I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom. I am a good mom............................

They call me Mother Teresa

So, I am at it again. Saving lives where ever I turn. It is true. And, my name really is Teresa. (This is what my grandkids will call me by-the-way....Mother Teresa)


In the early hours of the morning I sensed danger lurking in the air. I quickly honed into my keen tracking abilities and was caught by a sight outside.


A cat. Yes. One of nature’s deadliest fiends. It was crouched in the tall grass of my neighbor's house. It was peering down with a half-smirk on his face. Then all of a sudden I zoned into the sight of something dark leaping doing in and out of the grass, like a ballerina on speed doing pirouettes.

The action.
My mother Teresa instincts kicked into hyper drive and I immediately grabbed a jar and a lid. "Here I come to save the day!" (That is a little foreshadowing...;))


A mouse.
So cute and tiny. If it wasn't for the fact that we live in Ohio and not Australia, I could have sworn it was a kangaroo mouse as it stood on his hind legs with hands folded. It looked up at me with a glazed look in his little bug eyes as if to say, "Save me, Mother Teresa, save me!"

How could I turn away such a humble plea? So, I put my jar down in front of the scary and deadly cat as he glared at me with an evil look in his eye that clearly stated "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY PLAYTHING, YOU FREAKING GIANT? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? MOTHER TERESA?"


I ushered the mouse in the jar with my lid. "Here mousy, mousy..." And, he quickly obliged to take my cue and hopped right into the jar.


SAVED!


Now.... What do I do with a mouse? I didn't want him at my house! Although my kids certainly did. I kept him in a jar until my kids eagerly made him a little habitat. ...Our own little habitat for humanity - err... mousy.

He lived in there happy as could be with a toilet paper tube to play in, a raisin bran house, and a load of cheese and bread to eat. And, he had a new name. Bugsy. Fittingly named by Courage for his huge bug eyes. What more could he want? Freedom?

So, we kept him for the weekend.

He escaped once. Luckily we caught him before he took off to the nooks and crannies of our home; never to be seen again.

By, Sunday evening we were ready to cut the ties and set him free. We headed out to the metro park because it was far enough away from my home and presented the best living amenities for a little mouse.

I could tell that his little heart broke at the thought of leaving his savior. But, alas he pirouetted away to the underbrush.

Tear. I watched him scurry away. Hope and Justice each cried, "I wanted to keep Bugsy!"

It was over. We shall meet again in our dreams little mousy. And, as we separately peer into the moonlight we shall think once again of our everlasting bond.