Thursday 13.....#32....the letter L

In keeping with my ABC theme for Thursday 13 in 2008....the letter L

1. lady bug: I have a lady bug made out of a training helmet.


2. lights: I love to sit under these lights on the porch.


3. Lone Star: I have a Lone star glass window on our front door. It wasn't on the house when we looked at it. But others in the neighborhood had it....I asked the builder for one, and he changed it out!


4. Livi- My favorite L of all time.
5. Look what I won: Melody of Pennies in my Pocket hosted a $25 give away from Jennifer of Little Piddles. I got Livi some hair bling bling. Very cute! I would totally shop there again.


6. List: I am a list maker by nature.


7. Lived: I have lived in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Alaska, Kansas, California, and Texas.


8. Listen: Some of the best advice a seasoned military wife told me when I first got married: Learn to listen when meeting new people. Listen quietly, intently, and kindly. You will make friends every time. It has honestly worked. I have made at least one lifelong friend at every duty station.


9. lamp: I have lamp made by the same prisoners that made the scrolly iron work: Tuesday Update: Thursday 13.....#29....the letter I


10. lotion: I have to use an unscented lotion or I sneeze all day!


11. long: I got the cutest long knee length shorts at Gap today.


12. lucky: I was lucky to find Husband as I swore I would NEVER marry a soldier!


13. label: I will label any and everything!

ladybug, Lone Star door, lights, and Livi

Taken by a four year old

Note to self: Do NOT volunteer at the kids' preschool the week after Daylight Savings time! We had to leave the house at 7:40 AM. It was not pretty.

But it did make for a very productive day. I had an appointment to get my toes done. We have had several days of 80+ degree weather. Flip flops are a staple from now on until well all summer.

I had time to get some new scoots. Whew hoo! aren't these the cutest things ever? They are Keds! Totally brought back memories of those canvas ones I wore as a child.

Taken by a four year old, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Finally, this afternoon Will picked up the little Sony Powershot (while I was outside taking pics of my feet)! I was quite shocked at what great shots he took. Seeing his world through a lens is amazing. These are straight out of the camera shots he took.

Peek a boo, I see you!

Happy Tuesday!

rain rain go away and a manic Monday

rain rain go away, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

The time change really threw the kids for a loop. First, they wanted to go to bed about thirty minutes early. (meaning an hour and a half early). That alone should have been my sign. But no, I think I was just exhausted from the long day, that I gave in to their wishes.

Next, they did go to sleep rather easily. Though I did have to ghetto up Livi's window with a princess blanket. She said "uuhh, there is sunshine!"...No problem. I seem to recall doing this last year.

Finally the clincher came at 2:30AM when BOTH kids were awake. I even walked in once on Will playing his Leapster! About 6AM, both kids got back to sleep. There is no way in my right mind I would wake them up at 7:30 to get them ready for school. It's just preschool! They finally got up at 9, well rested and not crabby.

So we dug out some of our Easter decorations....this little chick and bunny, some springy placemats, some pastel dishes.



Just a little bit of something to perk things up since it is a rainy day!



Hosted by the lovely Lisa , Manic Monday:

What's your favorite thing to spend money on? the kids, house, clothes

If you could retire tomorrow what would you do? Can you retire from being a stay at home mom? I would go to a spa do the mongo package.

Should anything be censored and if so, what and why? I was just thinking about this this afternoon. Some weird freak keeps 'favoriting' pics of the kids on my Flickr. Seems like there should be some boundary on that. I already mark the ones of them in bathing suits and stuff as private. I guess I will have to be a tad more diligent in what I put on there. Seems sad but I guess pervs are going to look anyway.

Happy Monday, y'all.

Weekly winners March 1-8, 2008

Crazy week of weather in the high seventies, torrential rain, then snow! Here are a few favorites:
I don't know that the kids knew what to do with the snow.

Will wanted nothing to do with it.

Got to wear my cool boot again.

the mongo play structure

during the rainy part of the week, we had movies and popcorn (of course if you are a princess you have to be wearing a tutu.

Of course there are lots of art projects when the weather is crazy!

She is trying to decide if there is enough paint on the brush.

go see Lotus at sarcastic mom if you want to play.

PhotoHunt: different

leftover Christmas m&ms, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Leftover Christmas M&Ms. Who is eating all the green ones?

If you’d like to play, click here

next week: I spy

Friday Fill in

Snow in Texas, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Yes, I know most of you are sick sick sick of snow....but this is Texas. We haven't had snow since last Easter! Will is showing Husband the snow (via the phone) in the one on the left.

Friday fill in courtesy of the wonderful Janet

1. Ahhhh, it's so nice to wake the kids up and tell them it snowed.

2. One of my favorite things on my desk or bureau is my prisoner-made lamp.

3. Japanese Cherry Blossom would probably tickle my nose.

4. My chair and ottoman in the corner is my favorite place to sit and read.

5. Wine and cheese is delicious!

6. I love to watch Adam Sandler in movies.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the kids, tomorrow my plans include taking care of my baby, (she has an ear infection) and Sunday, I want to sleep in!

Happy Friday y'all!

six word story...I married. Two kids. Military wife

six word story...I married. Two kids. Military wife, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Can you do this? Tell your life story in six words? I thought this was interesting!

Say It All in Six Words

Thursday 13.....#31....the letter K

In keeping with my ABC theme for Thursday 13 in 2008....the letter K

1. Kansas: I lived in Kansas for 51 weeks.


2. Keep: I keep a $20 in my wallet at all times.....never know when you need to make an emergency run thru Starbucks!


3. Ketchup: I mix black pepper with my ketchup when I eat fries.


4. Khaki: I have a staple of khaki pants, capris, and shorts in my closet (in various shades of course.)


5. Kind: I think I am a kind-hearted soul.


6. Kindergarten: My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Murrey, was my favorite teacher ever!


7. Killian's Irish red is one of the two beers I like.


8. Kiss: Will tells me he is too old for kisses, so I have to sneak them. He's only four!


9. Kitchen: My favorite room of a home.


10. Knack: I have a knack for organization and neatness.


11. Knife: I have a Spyderco penknife on my keyring.


12. Keen: I have been wanting some Keen sandals, are they too 'granola'?

and the biggest K of all:

13. We are 95% sure we are moving to Fort Knox , Kentucky!

a few of my favorite K things: keys, kind, Killian's, kids

Four things

These are some things you might not know about me:

FOUR jobs I've had:
1. data entry operator
2. waitress at Pinocchios' in Norman
3. retail- at the Limited
4. Teacher

FOUR movies I could watch over and over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. Princess Bride
4. Hmmmm....can't think....anything NOT animated!

FOUR placed that I have lived:
1. Norman, OK
2. Fairbanks, AK

3. Pleasanton, CA
4. Fort Leavenworth, KS

FOUR TV Shows I love to watch:
1. Project Runway
2. Jon and Kate + 8
3. America's Next Top Model
4. My Fair Brady

FOUR places I've been on vacation:
1. San Antonio, TX
2. Charleston, SC
3. Napa Valley, CA
4. Valdez, AK

FOUR websites I visit daily:
1. yahoo

2. Blogger
3. my daily reads
4. Flickr

FOUR of my favorite foods:
1. bread
2. cheese
3. wine
4. olives

FOUR places I'd rather be:
1. napping
2. in bed
3. sleeping
4. do you see a pattern here?

FOUR things my four year sleeps with at night
1. this baby
2.this 'flyer'
3. this dinosaur
4. me!

FOUR things he better do tonight:

1. sleep

2. in

3. his

4. bed

Manic Monday

You find that your best friend has stolen money to pay for medical treatment for a seriously ill relative. What would you do?

It doesn't say if they stole the money from me or from their job.....From me, I think it would show you that that person really wasn't a friend.

What three things you regret not learning to do?

1. learning to speak another language (besides Dora...you know I have that one down pat!)

2. learning to give people more than one chance.

3. learning to keep my opinions to myself.

what is up with the freaky Texas weather? This was taken a couple of weeks ago...but it easily could have been all day today. This morning on the drive to the kids' preschool, it was raining so hard I considered pulling over! It was so loud. It is also a high of 43 degrees. Some of my flowers froze....oh well! It was nice while it lasted.

Happy Monday, y'all!

Weekly winners Feb 24-March1,2008

We have had some gorgeous weather this last week. So we were outside quite a bit. Here are a few of my favorites:

This was taken at preschool. She was actually sitting in circle while they did someone's birthday celebration.

Livi calls this her 'butterfly' flower.

He was watching the spout waiting for the water. I really was hoping he would spray it and I could get that shocked wet look! Is that a mean momma or what?

There has been a longneck sighting in Texas.

Another 'purpur' flower....two guesses as to who picked this one out?

Once he finally did get wet......

go see Lotus at sarcastic mom if you want to play.

PhotoHunt: party

PhotoHunt: party, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

From a bridal luncheon for my sister-in-law's wedding. The lady who hosted it can throw quite the party. Each place setting had a cup and saucer selected especially for them. The one I received has the Alaska state flower on it. We had just moved from there back to Oklahoma.

If you’d like to play, click here

friday fill in

Friday Fill-Ins #61

1. I'm looking forward to getting a mani/pedi next week.

2. I don't handle stress very well.

3. Frosted mini wheat with a banana sliced in it is something I could eat every day.

4. Warmth and sunlight were here this afternoon.

5. A glass of wine here I come!

6. I am intrigued by tattoo(s) but way too chicken to get one.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the neighbors, tomorrow my plans include find something for the kids and I to stay busy and Sunday, I want to get the ironing done!

That's all folks!

Conversations with Livi

Tonight, like every night....we have the same routine: bath, story, bedtime. Lately Livi has been "reading" to me. Her favorite book this week is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See".

She used to say the Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, peek on the next page to see what the next animal is, and go from there. Well, after the thousandth time reading it, she has it memorized.

But tonight was different. It went a little like this:

Livi: Black sheep, black sheep, what do you see? I see a yellow fish, no wait....an orange fish, looking at me.

Me: Livi, it says "goldfish".

Livi: (looking at me like I am three degrees of crazy)....it DOES not, it is not a snack....it IS a yellow fish!

As long as we pass on the love of reading, I guess that is all that matters!

A little tag catch up:

Marie tagged me. This should be fun!

1) You must post the rules on your post before you answer the questions.
2) You need to list one fact about yourself using each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name use your maiden name instead.
3) When you are finished with your answers, you tag one person for each letter of your name.

L: Love: I love to sleep in, though it rarely happens!

E: encyclopedia: I used to read these for fun as a child!

E: enrolled: I was enrolled K-12 in the same school. Twenty four of the 56 kids I graduated with started kindergarten together! Can you say podunk Oklahoma?

Now I'm supposed to high-five three people, since that's how many letters are in my middle name. Alrighty...consider yourself tagged if you need some blog fodder.

Happy Thursday, y'all!

Thursday 13.....#30....the letter J

In keeping with my ABC theme, I am on letter J this week.

1. Jaundice: Will had jaundice as a newborn. We had to sit in the sunshine of our bay window with him daily for a week or so.


2. Jaw: I have three titanium screws in each side of my jaw from TMJ surgery.


3. Jinx: Not wanting to jinx anything, but one kid is sleeping in her bed all night for the past two nights. Whew hoo!


4. July: my birthday is in July....it's a big one this year!


5. job: I left the paying job I had before kids almost five years ago.


6. Jury: I have never been on jury duty!


7. Joke: heard in our house today: Knock knock, Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you going to let me out on the other side.


8. Josie: Our French bulldog's name is Josie


9. Journal: I have never been a journal keeper, but I love to blog.


10. Jewelry: I wear the same jewelry every day.....wedding ring, princess cut earrings, watch, and Mother's Day bracelet.


11. Junky: can't handle a junky bathroom counter. I wipe it down every morning.


12. Jacket: After 80 degree temps earlier this week, we are back to wearing jackets!


13. Just: Just 17 more days until Husband is back from this TDY.

Playing around with the camera

I have just recently started reading Corey's blog: Living and Loving Every Minute of It. She has a series of Corey's Photography Tutorials. Rather than like the normal person to start with the first one, I dove right in with the last one. She showed some adorable shots of her daughter jumping in some water puddles.

Since my favorite kids were at preschool, I played with the water faucet. I turned the faucet on and just took a whole bunch. Then I thought, oh how fun it would be to take some of the sprayer?

Did you know you can't take a picture, hold down the force flash, and squeeze the water spray nozzle at the same time? So what's a mom on a mission to do? I figured out that I could wrap the nozzle with a rubber band to get it to always stay on.....Just call me a genius! Okay, that one was pretty cool.....but I really wanted the water droplets.

Aaawwww, more like it. Don't you know I had a shiny sink to boot!

BTW, I had fun with this little experiment. I looked at the clock and realized it was time to go get the kids. I totally forgot to take the little rubber band off. Later that afternoon I turned the water on, only to get a full on shower from the banded nozzle! Yep, you are in the presence of a genius! Take note....remove the band.

No lion, it was a Manic Monday

Brought to us by the lovely Lisa , Manic Monday:

How did you celebrate your last birthday? It is actually one of my favorite posts. Husband was gone, so it was month nine of a the fifteen months! Go read it if you have a chance: birthday 2007

What's the last thing you bought yourself, just for fun? that cute Cole Haan bag....since it was 87 degrees today does that mean it is close enough to spring to finally get to carry it?

What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become? Proud, but tell me to relax and enjoy the little things.

Husband left Sunday for three weeks. You would think I have the hang of this....but today was truly manic. By 6ish, I was at my wit's end. I hollered at the kids....I think everyone was just worn out and tired. But still, good thing tomorrow is a new day.....we can start all over. Sometimes you just have to smile, even if you feel like a lion is on your back!

Happy Monday, y'all! Yeah, spell check is working, see the day is getting better already!