Come in and sit a spell!

One Mean Mother!

2009-06-17T22:40:00.003-04:00

I started a new blog dedicated to the joys of being a mean mom! So many mom's feel the need to be their child's best friend, not me! Hope you enjoy my ideas and anecdotes! This is also a place where I can pick on, torment, and most importantly show my love for each of my wonderful children...of course Courtney is first! Check it out! http://www.onemeanmother.blogspot.com/

Jamesville Balloon Fest

2009-06-11T12:42:00.002-04:00

Check out the link guys http://www.syracuseballoonfest.com/ you can't go wrong with $5 a person, 10 & under FREE! Plus you can stop by and say "HI!" to me and enter to win some free bling! Have a fabulous weekend!

Show about a Talker!

2009-05-31T20:04:00.005-04:00

I just realized what my show should be titled:
A Show About A Talker
Who cares about blogging and facebook...I would much rather be talkin' to y'all! Why am I continually on alert to share some marvelous idea, random thought or words of wisdom? Because that's how God made me! For some reason in my adult life I look forward to challenges and (dare I say) change. It keeps life fun and I need to maintain those few brains cells I have left!

As long as I have breath I'm going to follow the "signs" from my Creator and enjoy my blessings!

Now, back to the show...I'm not getting a whole lot of feedback, so if you are a blogger: Leave a comment here! If you are on Facebook: Leave a comment there! Here a laugh, There a laugh, everywhere a Ha Ha! Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

Talk Show Host!?

2009-05-29T18:26:00.003-04:00

Okay, I have exciting news for all of my faithful followers who encourage my insanity...I am going to find a way to start posting my very own talk show! I am so excited, but first I need your help...

1. I need some entertaining brave soles who are willing to be on "camera" and have something interesting to discuss or teach others...referrals always welcome too.

2. I also need ideas and/or topics that you are interested in so I can start researching all of these ideas. For example: garden tips, low cost activites for a family, best bible translations, how to build your dream home, etc.

3. Spread the word because I need people to watch or listen to me if I'm going to have fun with this! Find out what they want in a weekly talk show...or I could try small daily video segments.

4. And, most importantly I need a name for my show...Looney Loren won't work!

Thanks dear buddies!

I can do all things!

2009-05-18T09:21:00.001-04:00

Have you ever stopped to think about what you are capable of accomplishing? I am ever amazed at all that God has accomplished in my life, but I am even more amazed at what I am able to accomplish as a result of how God made me. We often sell ourselves short and give up on difficult tasks way to easily...taking the easy way is never rewarding, is it? Plus, if there's a lesson God wants to teach us...He's not going to say, "Well, I'll just let them do it their way this time.", No way! God is continually loving, teaching, and pruning us and sometimes it is a painful process!

We (my bible study gals & myslef) have been ready A Women after God's Own Heart, by Elizabeth George. It is an amazing book...read it girls...it will be painful, but sooo worth it! We have been working on our marriages/husbands for the last 3 weeks or so...it has been so awesome! It's never easy to put another's needs before our own (well, maybe with children it is) and it has been great to bless my husband! Everyday Joy in a marriage is so nice!

My new Niece!

2009-04-09T14:00:00.003-04:00

My stepsister & her husband have a dopted there daughter Maria from China! They arrive in Syracuse tonight & we are excited to meet our new niece Maria! You can check out ther blog at www.mariashomecoming.com

Detour!

2009-03-31T13:13:00.008-04:00

I am not always impressed when life does not go the way I want it to? I hate detours! How about you? To be honest it's kind of scarey! Maybe you're starting a new career or business, buying a house, newly married, having health problems...you know what you are dealing with! No matter where your life heads, even if it's not where you want to go, how you live your life where you are at that moment says a lot about who you are. Do you complain and whine when things don't work out the way you planned, or do you trust God to work it out through prayer? Do you praise God and rejoice in the blessings when life is good, or do you pat yourself on the back for a job well done? We all have missed out on some great blessings by taking things into your own hands, let God do His thing! You won't be sorry!

When I found out that I was pregnant with our 4th child (and now 4 year old son) I was not a happy camper! Our 3rd daughter had just turned 1 and I was getting too old for this pregnancy thing! Do you know what my husband's response to my poor spell was? "Well, there's not a whole lot you can do about it now is there!" What?!?!?!? I wanted sympathy, not factual reality that felt like a slap in the face! Why would he think something like that would make me feel better?

Needless to say, I got over my pity party and looked forward to the possibity of having a son (I really wasn't convinced he was a boy actually). It was both exciting and scarey...we have 3 girls, what would we do with a boy? Well, Brayden arrived and was referred to as "she" and "her" for the first few days of life by his mother and we had to get used to not saying "the girls and I", but our brains learned to adjust! He was so cute with those big blue eyes and blonde hair though! Sometimes that is the only thing that has saved him from being strangled! Why do boys get into so much trouble?

Even with all the added chaos in my life, I can honestly say I'm glad God is in charge! His plans are way better than mine! Plus the biggest blessing of all of this is that he will never be a teenage girl! That is a whole different topic for another day...maybe I can find a sign that says "do not disturb between the ages of 13 and 25" for that one!

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

A New Beginning!

2009-03-24T21:41:00.007-04:00

I fancy myself as a pretty silly kind of gal, and ya know I have kind of missed my blog. It was a great way for me to share my random ramblings and the silliness of just living life! So this is a new start for my blog. Hopefully you all will appreciate some new ideas I have to share along the way. There will not be the instant gratification of reaching the masses like on Facebook, but hopefully some of the things I plan on sharing will be much more fulfilling and, of couse, fun! The journey begins tomorrow!

Facebook

2009-02-10T09:03:00.004-05:00

I have to say that facebook has become like a new child to me, and definately has received more attention then my blog lately! I think the main reason is the instant gratification...you all with your own facebook page know what I'm talking about. It might take 3 days to get 15 people to read my blog (or find it), and with Facebook...all I have to do is mention that I'm going to Florida and by the end of an hour 30 people have commented. Most of them want to come with me, but I say the more the merrier!

By far the biggest reason I love Facebook is I can find old friends from school and our past military life! I can't begin how many times I've glowed from the inside to find some of my long lost beautiful friends! And now they will always be around...or atleast on my computer screen!

I even got together last week with some of my gal pals from high school...never would have happenend if we weren't on facebook. None of us could take charge and make a decision, but we still managed to get-together! Now we will be doing monthly get-togethers. Take a look at us chicks....

Alright, I'm just rambling! In closing, get on facebook and get in touch with some old pals or if you are on facebook already, keep in touch!

Glamour Girls

2009-01-19T21:17:00.005-05:00

Kara tagged me to do this and I think it is very funny to see what photo turned up! This was a photo I used to put in a newsletter for lia sophia. However, I think this is a perfect representation of Me, Kara, & Andrea! Why I didn't recognize this before, I don't know! Because we are by far the most glamorous gals around! Now if I can just get us on TV!

Thankfully Kara didn't tag Andrea (probably because she's in TX, but I'll tag her anyway), and I can tag 2 of my fellow WP grads Tracie & Allison....Here's the rules girls:

1. go to your documents
2. go to your 6th file.
3. go to your 6th picture.
4. blog about it.
5. tag 6 friends to do the same.

Thanks for playing along! Click on Kara's blog link to check out her give away...it's on my blog list!

Panda Bears

2009-01-09T21:06:00.002-05:00

I can't begin to explain the 6 degrees of separation that led me to this video...you all know how my mind works! It is one that makes you laugh just thinking about it! All of you mothers will appreciate this! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk

Laundry Woes!

2009-01-07T11:26:00.007-05:00

As if it isn't already a long and torturous day when you spend it doing the laundry for yourself and 5 other, mostly ungrateful, family members...it's compounded when the washer timer is broken! Courtney has actually taken a liking to wearing unmatched socks, this actually frees her to be grumpy and complain about everything else in her life...did I mention she's 14? Feel my pain! My dear hubby's solution: "Do you want to just go buy a new one(washer, not 14 year old)?" Uh, no! So, me being Mrs. Fix It searched the web to determine that it (hopefully) is the timer and I spent the $65 for a new one. The only catch...I ordered it forever ago! Okay, last week...but no timer yet! The problem started on New Years Eve. After I went to put a load of laundry into the dryer @ 12:30am on New Years Day, I realized the water was still in the washer and just moved it to spin and went to bed! I awoke @ 3:38am (I remember these things) and heard the washer still spinning! Needless to say I have had problems ever since trying to be the timer for my washer, so I'm sure I will have killed the motor by the time I get the new timer & will have to get a new washer! I also, had the brilliant idea this morning to just pop the Downy ball after the wash water drained & skip the first spin...why does it need to spin when it's just gonna fill up again? They must be in cahoots with the electric company! I am a genius for figuring this out first...too bad you can't patent smartness! Oh my goodness...I just saw that "just pop the Downy ball" was originally typed as "just poop the Downy ball"...too funny! LOL! Aren't you glad you took time out of your life to read this blog today? I hope I'm not the only one who laughs at my antics! Have a great day...I'm off to my own little world!

Bridge Street?

2009-01-05T12:21:00.009-05:00

To all my adoring fans, please forgive my neglecting my blog...after all I am now a famous actor! Those of you who missed my acting debut on Dec. 13-14, well you just missed it! I am now on a mission to be a local talk show host! Yep, I may not have a chance, but God gave me my many talents...why waste them when I can share them with thousands! I figured since I can't sing like Anita Renfroe I won't be hearing from Women of Faith anytime soon, so I had to rethink things a bit! Bridge Street (our local Syracuse talk show) would so benefit from my random and sometimes annoying (I can see the one plank in my eye) silliness! I'd be willing to just guest host or do a segment, just so they can see how much everyone would enjoy me! Does that sound vain? Anyway, the only problem is I don't think I can just email them or call them up and tell them they are missing out on something big. They would probably think I'm some egotistical freakazoid or even worse...completely unqualified, untalented and not what they are looking for!

That's where you my dear friends and strangers come in. I need massive amounts of emails sent so you can campaign for me! We'll call it "Hire Loren to build The Bridge" & you'll just need to point some things out to them, like:
1. You think I am the best gal for the co-host slot, everyone needs a third wheel.
2. Let them know how much fun & lovable I am, and if you don't know me...trust me...I am!
3. It would get me out of your hair!
4. It would help me stop having all these delusional thoughts, but really, who else but God could have planted the seeds?
5. I know a lot about nothing!
6. I would double their ratings! Hello! Nobody I know watches anything but Dora & Diego, and I would be way better then some cartoon character!

So your mission, it is not an option, is to let everyone know about my campaign & send those emails...I guess I should have looked it up....hold on I'll find it...Oh my Gosh!...I see they are doing an extreme makeover of the set...how about adding a new face? That seems to be the best option to me! They have a blog too! Here is the email...and they are asking that we submit our ideas about what we would like to see on the show. How about ME! They are asking for our ideas after all! Oh yeah, the email address is bridgestreet@9wsyr.com

If God is for me, who can be against me! Go Team!

"F" Words

2008-12-07T18:23:00.004-05:00

Okay, Kara's making me do another one of those list things...I'm supposed to share 10 things in my life that starts with the letter "F"...There's a sign above my kitchen that says:

1-3. Faith, Family & Friends...life would be so sad without them!
4. Folgers coffee...what a lovely way to start my day!
5. Frosty the Snowman...Haaaappy Birthday!
6. Fifteen year old Feline...Munchkin!
7. Foolishness...life is short, don't take yourself too seriously!
8. Freedom...thank a soldier!
9. Forks...we use them to eat with!
10. Food...why we use those forks!

Sorry Kara, but I have no one to pass this on to...although if I get to Family Rezsnyak before Andrea...they can do the letter "G"! Good luck Family Rezsnyak!

Cheap Entertainment!

2008-12-03T15:49:00.006-05:00

Please don't read this blog if you have tendencies to turn people in to Child Services...I will deny everything! With that being said...I took the 9V battery out of my smoke detector this morning, because when I opened the pellet stove door black smoke came pouring out (don't ask!)! No need to wake the hubby! Brayden, Amanda, & I were hanging in the basement family room goofing around, and Brayden asks Amanda to put the battery on her tongue! He said it hurt his tongue...how funny for a child to figure this out without being encouraged by older children! What would possess someone to put a battery in their mouth? Then along comes Riley, but she was too smart to be tricked & Amanda was afraid of getting hurt! Do braces multiply the effect? So, I tried it since it's been awhile, it's still not very pleasant! I was laughing so hard as we all took turns zapping our tongues with a 9V battery! Brayden is a genius! And they're only $1 at the dollar general! Stock up, it's great idea for family game night! Maybe you can see who can hold it on the longest or something cool like that! Just a suggestion, no need to thank me!

Queenie Rules!

2008-12-02T12:34:00.006-05:00

My sister, whom I un-affectionately used to call Queenie, is so talented and most importantly...the best mom ever! Well, after me that is...Anyway, I just got off the phone with her to apologize for not scooting down to attend Elle Belle's bday gathering. This photo is in honor of the Birthday Girl to be tomorrow...4 years old and smart as her Aunt Loren (had to put my name in there in case any of her other aunts thought I was talking about them)! Here is a cake I whipped up just for her...kidding...some crazy lady must have nothing better to do with her life then make gorgeous doll cakes!
Val wanted to make a barbie cake using the PC batter bowl, but informed me that the Barbie didn't fit! I asked her what she did...cut of the legs?...nope, she went and found a Strawberry Shortcake doll, and gave it a hair brushing and was good to go! My hero! That girl is a quick thinker! Ellie, I love you bunches! Hugs an Kisses! Happy 4th Birthday!

Free Lia Sophia Jewelry or Gift Certificate!

2008-11-25T12:34:00.008-05:00

I am so thankful for friends and visitors who come in and sit a spell!! That's why I am saying thank you with a holiday give away & sale! Leave a comment below and tell me your favorite posting I've done or favorite piece of lia jewelry and I will pick a winner at random on Saturday 11/29 at 8pm...The winner gets to choose from a $50 gift certificate, a Black Crystal necklace (perfect for holiday parties) or any item in the catalog up to $100 for only $15! Winner's choice!

You can also get in on my Thanksgiving Day Sale too! Go to my website www.liasophia.com/lorenellis to review our Fall/Winter Catalog, then call or email me by Fri 11/28 @ 5pm to order.

With our December Special, you can choose which items you want to put on sale! Just select 6 pieces and 4 of those-the HIGHEST priced items-will be 1/2 price! Combine an order with a friend! Host a show in January (catalog shows count too!) & get any item up to $100 for FREE at your show! Check out all the hostess benefits at my website!

Everyone who places an order or picks a date for their show goes into a drawing for a chance to win a $25, $50, or $100 gift certificate!

Happy Shopping!

Rayman Raving Rabbids!

2008-11-16T21:44:00.000-05:00

Those of you not familiar with the best wii game out there let me fill you in...Rayman Raving Rabbids is the most ridiculous concept, but it is hysterically fun & addicting! It was worth getting the wii just to play this game! Courtney took this video on her camera (sorry it's a little dark) but I love to watch Riley when she is trying to play these games! In this particular one she is trying to deliver a package (with a bomb in it) to a rabbid before it explodes...I know it sounds bad, but she is also an expert cow thrower and wart hog racer as a result of this game! Who needs a formal education when you have bunnies gone bad! We are getting the next one from Santa too! Add this to your Christmas list!

Move over Anita Renfroe!

2008-11-14T14:54:00.006-05:00

Could somebody please tell me why on earth I have been getting so many hits? This is what I get for joking about the paparazzi photos! Don't get me wrong, who doesn't like to be famous? But something tells me it's not because of my glowing beauty! I was quite startled to see my cluster map was awful red & had to double check to see if I was on the right blog! I do like the idea of my tremendous wit & charm being shared, but someone please share how they found me! I will not be able to sleep until I find out...Anita Renfroe is my hero, maybe someday I can perform with her...she can sing, I'll dance like the crazy woman I am! I just need a couple thousand more followers!

Darien Lake

2008-11-13T14:32:00.002-05:00

Thought I'd share some of our pre-blog events...We had a great time at Darien Lake this year! We went during Kingdom Bound...FUN! Anyway, the kids area is great...best part if you ask me! It wasn't until after several sad cries from Riley (who was not yet 48" tall) that we found out they had a kids bumper car ride...with hardly any lines at any ride!

Monster Trucks!

We all live in a Yellow Submarine!

Hot Air Balloon Ride-notice my skill at getting a great shot of all 3 in the photo!

And my husband has always been good at providing the family with plenty of Amusement park type rides in our very own backyard...the 4wheeler with a sled tied behind is always a big hit too!

New Playhouse!

2008-11-03T09:30:00.004-05:00

Mom, Larry, & Grampa came to visit last night and we had quite the entertainment! We all took turns at playing the wii...I posted a video of Riley on Facebook...check it out! It's amazing how good a 5 year old can be at figuring out all of these games! She's also a pro at wii bowling!

Anyway, Riley and Brayden found a new playhouse...see if you recognize it!

Halloween!

2008-11-01T14:37:00.002-04:00

Mike and I got a few moments to have fun before the trick or treaters came along! I'm not very good at taking my own picture, but atleast no double chin!

Courtney and her friend Erica!
Witch Riley!
Meow! Amanda
All Brayden cared about was the candy!

Kindergarten Party!

2008-10-31T22:24:00.002-04:00

Riley loves her new school, her teachers, and her friends...thank goodness! We got to all parade through the high school (viewing a couple inappropriate costumes along the way...what is wrong with some parents!?!?) and go back to the classroom for our first sugar high of the day! Here is a photo of Riley's class! This is after all the sugar! Thanks for the photo Danielle!

Left Behind :(

2008-10-29T16:10:00.001-04:00

My Blog Life has been put on hold as my poor camera, Canon, was left behind after he gave his all taking photos of my one hundred family members!I never knew how insensitive I was until my newest family member, Blog, stopped speaking to me. It was Blog who reminded me to take Canon everywhere with me! Now he is sad because I have separated him from us, and who knows when I will get Canon back because he is with Val now...he may like it better at her house...my children do!

This is what Blog deserves after sucking in so many of my innocent family members! Blog has tried to rule all events in our lives and has been encouraged way too much!! You know there is a problem when you can't help but think every time something funny or every brilliant idea that pops into your head has to be shared with others...who quite frankly - don't really care and aren't even that impressed with our talents!

But really, who am I kidding? It's too fun not to continue this co-dependent & addictive relationship though & and I hope Blog will forgive me and after Canon comes home I will try not disappoint this new family member again!

A Bunch of Dorks!

2008-10-21T13:09:00.006-04:00

I apologize in advance to all of my audience that is not related to me, but I have to show how much fun a bunch of 30 something siblings can have together without their children for entertainment!

During one of our last beautiful days of fall a couple of weeks ago I was invited to join Melissa(SIL), Scott(Bro), Val(Sis) & Gary(BIL) for dinner. My hubby was doing his Nat'l Guard duty, so I was on my own! Those of you who know what a talker I am can only imagine what it's like when my family is together! It took us 5 minutes to decide where to go (we had to vote for our top 2)...Red Lobster it is...then Val decided to throw out her desire for some steak w/ shrimp on it at Applebee's & and we almost died trying to get off the exit to get off 81 at the last minute, because if Val isn't happy...she know's I'm kidding! Then we arrive, & Scott tells Missy to jump out and get us a table...he is very chivilrous(it's in the dictionary, Scott!)...So, Missy...being the very submissive wife she is, refused! I think that's why Scott ran onto the curb & scratched her new vehicle underneath when we parked! So finally, we head for the door as 100 people came out of no where & we end up with a half hour minumum wait! Way to go Melissa! I was able to entertain some other people with my tailgating story while we waited outside...I'm so pathetic! On to dinner...our waiter, who thought he was all that and a box of chocolates, got us our drinks and appetizers in record time...we continued to talk, laugh, take photos (and send them to my hubby), and be obnoxious...Here is Me, Scott & Melissa!

Please, no matter how good looking you think Gary is...He does not want any stalkers! However, he is available for purchase! The evening continued and much time passed...We even saw my Dad's cousin & his girlfriend arrive...then get their food before us! Our waiter informed us they were a little backed up in the kitchen, but we know he probably never put in our dinner orders! He tried to butter us up, but really I think he just wanted to be part of our family! Thanks to Val's viciousness we were able to get free shooter desserts! Not that we had any room in our bellies, but we were not about to lose out on something free! YUM! Now for the ride home...

Some dork (me) tried to get some funny photos to post, but Val has this camera that has a flash that can blind you & she started in...we were laughing so hard taking all of these rediculous photos blinding each other & it's a wonder Melissa didn't crash just to stop us from taking more pictures! Here they are...I figure this is what we would like if the Paparazzi tried to take our photos...

I hope you enjoyed this trip with a bunch of crazies, welcome to my world!

Here a moo there a moo!

2008-10-13T12:22:00.011-04:00

We went down to visit family this weekend...I have enough stories & photos to keep you busy for a week! Val & Scott, you'd better be worried!

Here is a photo of the monster barn finished...pretty amazing! It was poop spreading day at Glezen Farms, Brayden asked Grampa what he was doing with all that dirt! Melissa thinks it should be called slurry! Sounds Yummy!
Brayden & Little Dale
Pucker up!
Farmer Brayden trying to keep his Heifers from getting out!
See why he didn't want to let them out!?

Check this out!

And it took me about 20 tries to capture this crazy calf trying to curl it's tongue around my finger...usually they just try to suck on them!

Come back tomorrow for some kayaking and silliness!

Busy?

2008-10-10T15:19:00.006-04:00

I adore all of these great sayings on signs for your home & for some reason I have been thinking of this one lately...enjoy!

I'm so busy I don't know whether I found a rope or lost my horse!

My Adventure with Continental Airlines!!

2008-10-06T21:59:00.004-04:00

My life is better than fiction! Let me start with waiting for my flight to leave Ithaca to Newark:

1. The good news: I was one of 13 to be on the very first flight out of Ithaca to Newark...boy am I special! The bad news: It was 35 minutes late!

2. The good news: We would only be 6 minutes behind schedule! The bad news...I would now have only 15 minutes before my flight to Dallas leaves!

3. The good news: We arrived in the same concourse as my departing flight! The bad news: I still had to RUN a mile! Thank heavens for those flat escalators!

4. The good news: I didn't have a stroke after running that far with my purse and carry-on! The bad news: Nobody, except the gate keeper, at the gate!

5. The good news: Phone calls made & they let me on! The bad news: I told everyone on the flight I had just ran a marathon...they didn't look like they cared! More good news: I beat the elderly couple on my previous flight...they should have checked those bags!

6. The good news: lunch on the plane! The bad news: very full bladder!

7. The good news: Used the restroom on plane! The bad news: didn't realize lid & seat was up!

AAAGGGHHHH!

8. The good news: I arrived in Dallas on time! The bad news: My luggage didn't!

Sorry, I told you I will be gabbing about this trip for a long time...and the thing is I just kept smiling & thanking God for all of this good blog material! Those of you who don't think God has a good sense of humor...you are crazy! May God Bless you too!

I Love Texas, Yeehaw!!!!!

2008-10-04T18:11:00.002-04:00

Let me tell you...MOPS rocks! Convention was hugely fantastic...as it should have been, considering we were in Dallas, Texas! High 80's everyday too I might add! My 2 favorite sessions were led by Rick Johnson & Julie Barnhill! I'm using my family as guinea pigs to test out what I learned about being a better mom and wifey! I'll keep y'all updated as to my progress! Failure (or quitting) is not an option!

Go Fish! Oh my gracious golly gee! They rock too! Awesome music for preschoolers that may even get you off your duff and dance with your kids!!! Check them out, I had never heard of them...my favorite is it's hard to be cool in a minivan...it's for the dad's...there mom song is great too! I got their DVD and 4 cd's! And you know I don't buy anything unless it rocks!

Are you annoyed by my "rock" language, sorry...my husband rocks! tshirts that my sis, Val, turned me onto...she has 2, now I have one...i bought it for my hubby...he said he wouldn't wear it, but i bought it to make him proud! I have there link on left...from*me Tees.

Okay! This was a brief posting of my last 3 days, so you can only imagine what transpired! Lucky for you I'm a gabber and will fill you in on all the yummy details all week long...how blessed you must feel about this!

No pics yet, short story, but who cares...pics Monday! Toodles!

Texas Here We Come!

2008-10-01T12:22:00.004-04:00

I am so excited to go to the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Convention in Dallas, Texas! Yeehaw! I have never been and I get to enjoy it with 2 other great pals, Kara & Cheryl! You can rest assured that I will have a lot to report back to you! However, I will need to watch my back with Kara around after the camera episode at our MOPS meeting! She's dangerous!

We are staying at the Gaylord Resort!

Anyway, I would ask for all of you, dear friends & strangers, to keep us (and our families) in prayer for this event! Specifically that we would all learn and grow in our leadership positions, so that we are better able to serve the needs of those moms we share our lives with each month! Also pray that our hubby's will have patience, peace (and cleanliness) and remember to feed our children something besides hot dogs and brownies while they step up to support us! We will be gone Oct. 2nd - Oct 5th. I myself, because I'm a dingbat, will be returning a day early on the 4th! Actually, it'll give me a headstart on Kara, I can get all her crazy photos on here before she can put mine on her blog! Brilliant!

Thank you Lord for this blessing!

Here you go Mike!

2008-09-29T18:08:00.002-04:00

Mike wanted to know where the good picture was!

Ryan & Shanna's Wedding!

2008-09-29T09:34:00.014-04:00

On Sunday, September 28th we celebrated my baby Brother, Ryan, and his beautiful bride, Shanna's Wedding! Everything was wonderful & perfect! Enjoy some of my photos...

Mom with all 5 of us and our spouses!

Ryan, John & Scott chatting

The 2 most important people at the wedding!

They were so nice with the cake...however after I walked away there was some craziness going on with the cake action! Don't know what was in the frosting, but Ryan's face was burning!

Val looking like a deer caught in the headlights...My beauty blinded her!

Val was screaming "Hey" cause I was so close to their faces & I blinded Court!

Ryan & Amanda

Shanna & Riley

This photo will end up on Court's my space for sure!

Mom, Aunt Jo & Grampa!

Mike thinks he is so funny! Did he forget that I have a blog?

Why I Love a Farm!

2008-09-25T16:34:00.002-04:00

On Saturday I had an opportunity to attend a hugely enormous grand opening of a new barn! Whoopee! Right?!? Check this out...my Dad and baby brother, Scott, had it built to make room for 700 more cows! It's measurements are crazy! 118' x 484', and is 40' tall at the peak! A football field is 160' x 360'. Photos below are during the construction phase, but you will get the idea! The other buildings are the original farm with 2 other barns added within the last few years. They provided a huge pork BBQ and invited the whole town, topped off with square dancing in the afternoon & DJ for the evening. So much catching up to do and not enough hours in the day! It was so much fun and I loved seeing people who I have not seen since I was knee high to a grasshopper! I will always be a farm girl at heart! Instead of a fairy tale life, mine was all about farm life! I grew up not only with great parents, but the best grandparents, aunts & great-aunts, (I want to say uncles, but really it was my great-uncle Robert I loved the most!), and cousins(1st, 2nd, 3rd & so on)...we had the best life...and stories...

Here you can see how big it is in comparison to the actual farm!

Look at how small the trucks along the building look!

I have got to share with you how much fun we had growing up on a farm & we only watched TV on Saturday mornings and Atari wasn't invented until I was in 6th grade! We got to run in fields and pastures (mostly unsupervised), catch crayfish and tadpoles in the creek, walk through the glen to see the heart-shaped pool (actually, I still love to do this the best), ride mopeds, 3-wheelers (before they were determined to be unsafe) & snowmobiles...one time we had a million of us (ok, ten or so) on a Grizzly 4-wheeler...it was acrobatic genius on our part! We always spent all summer in Gram's pool(I hate swimming in ponds...gives me the heebie geebies) & we were always annoyed she let everyone and their brother (literally) invade "our" pool! It's a miracle any of us "younguns" survived, since our uncle always tried to drown us! I learned how to square dance, play pitch, pinochle & canasta by the age of 10...I considered myself a professional, but my grampa used to pretend he wasn't annoyed anytime he had to have one of us kids as a partner! We built forts and tunnels in the hay mound, painted an old chicken coop lavender(to make myself a nice place), played hide 'n seek in corn fields(now that is fun!), stepped in cow poop (that's why I'm so tall), rode on the tractor with my Dad (I can still feel the wind on my face (Glory!)...we never went slow...except for once when Dad had to stop when my brother fell off!)...we used to ride in the back of trucks...sometimes with the tailgate down & once I was brave enough to touch my sneaker on the road...that was too cool! Kids don't try that at home! We had a brawl with my cousins once (actually I think it was everyone against me, they sent the youngest to be on my team...big help that was!) at Gram's with grasshoppers and spiders in green food coloring! We were so rotten! We had our share of "accidents" too...Steve took a ride on the Big Wheel under a barbed wire fence and sliced open his neck, Scott broke every bone in his body before the age of 8 & then decided to out do himself by nearly being crushed in a tractor mishap, Val tried, unsuccessfully, to ride her bike down a hill at 100mph and ate dirt instead. I've stepped on nails & even caught my eyeball on a nail & still have the scar...I could continue, but frankly I'm sure you don't want to read all day! Back then my dad's cousin Roberta was my idol...she wore blue eyeshadow and called her car Bessie (come to think of it was the same color as her eyeshadow)...i can even remember what the steering wheel looked like, because I thought it was very cool how she placed her hands on it while driving. She was so glamorous! Forget Miley Cyrus!

Anyway, we always knew the meaning of hard work...and the importance of family, especially extended family...I am so blessed! Thanks for listening!

Who woulda thunk it?

2008-09-17T23:34:00.001-04:00

My dear young friend Kara is making me do this because the crazy craft lady made her do it, and my other dear young friend Andrea warned me this would happen...however I have no one else to make do this...i need to have more friends with blogs...come on gals!!! If I can do, so can you! Here's my list...

Would ya have thunk any of these things about me?

1. I make a really great fish face...well, the kids think it's funny!

2. My nickname in high school was olive oyl...wish it still was actually!

3. I made $10 a week feeding calves when I was in 5th grade, and was really rolling in the dough when I got a raise to $50 a month!

4. I have never been to New York City or Niagara Falls, but I am not ashamed!

5. Since Mike and I married in June of 1993 we have lived in 8 different homes (owned 4 of them)!

6. I try to only kill flies and mosquitos! Everything else I usually let go outside!

Children's Dictionary

2008-09-17T10:53:00.007-04:00

It is a really great thing when your children make up their own definitions to words that I thought were already in the dictionary...like let me use "no" as an example!

Riley thought it would be great to paint a piece of wood sculpture that she made, since she saw her 14 year old sis do it recently...I told her "no"...she thought that I meant...sure, go ahead and get out the paint and brushes and be artistic. I only found out that this was her definition of no when I saw my 3 year old son walking around with paint ALL over him & went to investigate (mind you, this is what I get for being on the phone for the thousandth time that day)! When I went to the garage I discovered a perfectly 80's style of splatter paint decor all over my garage floor and to add to this abstract design about 25 empty bottle of craft paint! Pretty cool, except that was not in my original design plan for my garage. Needless to say, I never yelled at Riley or Brayden! Whoa! And Amanda, bless her sweet little heart, helped me spray, sweep, scrub & wipe up 300 gallons of water and paint out of the garage...along with 1/3 of the paint that was supposed to be on the floor already! I might add I used the hose & green scrubby part of my sponge to get the paint off Brayden's legs & feet just to make sure he doesn't think "no" means I get a nice warm bubble bath when I'm done making a huge mess!

More to come...

Yikes Ike!

2008-09-15T11:21:00.014-04:00

Alright I am functioning on 2 hours of sleep! That wind was so horrible last night! Now I'm freezing! We did have fun with the neighbor girls last night though! I have to say it is great to blog simply to get the pics off my camera...I have a lot of silly ones of the kids and now I have a place for them...It was dusk but the photos are still fun!We had a little trouble getting Brayden on top, Mike had to help throw him on top, it sort of worked!

Summer, Riley, Brayden, Courtney, Shania, & Amanda!

This is Riley's first attempt at fashion design...that is pink hair at top, not a halter top. Brayden is always a pain in the neck...he runs around marking up their designs!

This is Summer's business casual and bathing suit line.

Amanda's evening wear and bathing suit line...they are now taking orders!

Amanda & Brayden...we keep telling hime he's lucky he's cute!

Me & Amanda Bug!

No matter how stressful the day, week, or even your month is...silliness is always the best remedy...be a kid!

For my insane friends!

2008-09-12T12:55:00.000-04:00

I am so insane to be doing this...Okay, so this may be fun! However, I must admit I am only doing this because I want my friends to like my blog better than some crazy craft lady(whom shall remain unnamed)! Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with spending an afternoon doing your thing while photographing yourself and every step along the way, but like I said at MOPS...it's got to be a sign of child neglect! :) Speaking of child neglect...where is Brayden...oh wait!...let me get the camera...hold on I'll find him...

There he is...behind a book! I should have known, what a good boy he is! Alright, I've got to go accomplish something today & I don't think creating a blog was on my list...I'd show you the picture, but it's not written down! Many blessings to all of you today & I'm going to pray I haven't created a monster...actually it's your fault girls! Toodles!