What’s the DIF?
No fireworks, or potato salad for our 4th of July holiday. I spent my celebration of freedom peeling wallpaper from some stubborn walls at my parent's house. It is a funny thing that I, mostly, enjoyed the experience. I had several opportunities to talk with my mom and step dad, Jim, while we scraped away...well it was really banter. Silly jokes and going over old memories in a confined space isn't so bad when there is free ice cream in the pantry fridge. I would take a break and read my book about the Epidemic Investigative Service, so when I went back to scraping the wallpaper (just 2 layers worth) I created a story that I was releasing some toxic spores from the 70's. Depending on the validity of that story and differing periods of incubation I might be looking for a doctor and attorney in about 5 days to 10 years...
My parents have been taking care of the neighbor's house while her father is in hospice. They have been paying Aaron to cut her grass to earn money for Philmont this month. They also paid Aaron and his friend Alex to paint her shutters, front door and garage door. My mom has to break the news that termites are eating the wood on either side of her garage door. Mom and Jim would fix that too if they could. They are great examples of good neighbors.
:::::::::Noahism:::::::::
While I was stripping the wallpaper Noah ran by to ask my mom for something out of the pantry. So I asked him what he was foraging for (he loves to eat junk)in the pantry. He said: "Rachel wants some Pops."
Me: "What, are her legs broken?"
Noah: "No. Why am I getting them. She threatened to lick me, or she said she would give me a lickin'. There isn't much difference."
Noah is our germaphobe, so Rachel's threat to lick him was tantamount to a beat down.
Now...to help Michael fix some sheetrock at our house.
Lordy, Lordy…Yes I’m 40!
A big thank you to my mom and Jim for inviting some awesome friends to partake in some tasty Mexican food, yummy cake and some good natured ribbing. I stole this photo from Jim's blog because I love my friend, Althea's, laugh. Hey, if any of you fly Delta she is one of the best flight attendants around. Another friend, Elizabeth, just moved back to Georgia and is working at Emory so look for great stuff there...but I hope you won't need the services. Suzanne and Jason are great neighbors to my mom and friends. Lani and Guy...thanks for the cool pinwheel (it is in the front yard) and Eve has claimed the balloons. Carol...thanks for the cute card! Charlene...thanks for driving Lani and me places when we were kids. Thank you mom and Jim for the cool presents and always helping with my kiddos. To my dear husband who went shopping with me for my 5th smoothie maker...you are a patient man! It was a truly fun day!
A torrential downpour to start the week. MMMmmm the smell of runoff in the morning!
Need an inexpensive adventure...try the library:
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Autonomatonophobia is the fear of ventriloquists' dummies, animatronic creatures or wax statues -- anything that falsely represents a sentient being.
I actually think ventriliquism is pretty cool, but that is as long as the ventriliquist and dummy are on television. I really liked Willie Tyler and Lester in the early 70s so my mom was so cool to get me a Lester doll. Lester stared at me all the time, so I put him in my toy box. I wasn't sure if that was good enough, so I put my bag full of Barbies on top of that. Still I wasn't sure if he might get out and kill me, so I wedged my Barbie airplane and any other firm items on top of the toy box just to be sure. I eventually donated Lester to someone with more sense. Some unknown person mind you, but probably with more sense. I also feared my wicker chair, the space under my bed and leaving my closet open. Rachel finds it amusing that I would hit my bed after a dead run and a leap to make sure nothing could grab me a night. I know I'm not alone in these fears because I saw Poltergeist and who ever wrote the script for that listened to my nightmares, or had the same ones. Clowns are evil, people! Do I realize these are unfounded...yes...do I still get creeped out...yes!
One of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes is with Tele Savalas and Talking Tina:
http://whatafind-antiques-collectibles.blogspot.com/2009/01/eg-goldberger-willie-tyler-lester.html
So long Lester...I hope you are safely resting in a place far, far away!
Life with Noah…The Spring Edition
Noah and the Spelling Homework:
Noah: "I have spelling due Wednesday, will you help me?"
I pulled out the sliding shelf in my desk and said, "Come sit down. Be my friend."
Noah: "You already are my friend...(pause)distantly."
Me: (scribbling down what Noah said).
Noah: "Do you write down everything I say?"
Noah and the Book of Weird Facts
While I was digital scraping photos of Noah's Pinewood Derby he was on the couch reading Rachel's newest Book Fair acquisition Weird But True 300 Outrageous Facts. "Did you..." preceded every entry he read to me. After several entries he said, "Did you know the average yawn last 6 seconds?"
Then, Noah yawned.
Noah asked, "Did you time that?"
Me: "No."
Noah: "Crap!"
Noah and the Harp:
My mom returned my phone call this evening and Noah took the opportunity to speak with her. While they were talking she could hear Eve practicing the piano.
She asked Noah: "Is there any musical instrument you would like to play?"
Noah: (Thinks for a little bit) "The Butt Harp!"
As my mom tells me this story my stepfather, Jim, is listening in the background and adds these clever quips, "I guess you call that a wind instrument." Then, he said: "And he is going to be the one cleaning his own reed!"
I hope to post some layots this week. Later, Peeps!
Life is Kinda Funny Sometimes
I took Noah and Eveybug to Fernbank Natural History Museum, yesterday. We walked through the new dinosaur exhibit and went to see the Imax film "Dinosaurs Alive" The film took us to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and discussed the finds from the past and what the palentologists are still discovering. The film was well done. After the film, we got to have a creature encounter on the third floor. We got to learn about a tiger salamander, and touch a bearded lizard and a boa constrictor specie that was native to madagascar. Since the curator's hands were, literally, full I volunteered to squirt Purell onto everyone's hands after they finished petting the boa constrictor.
Our kids love the permanent exhibit on the senses. The best section is creating giant bubbles, so Noah played there for a while. Eve galavanted around playing with the plasma dome, the green screen and some of the other exhibits about the eyes.
On the way home we stopped for ice cream at Bruster's. I ordered a regular sized chocolate malt. Another man asked me what the difference between a malt and a milkshake. I explained it was somewhat like eating a Whopper candy in powdered form. He thanked me for getting him hooked on, yet another, form of ice cream treat. Eve decided she wanted to try my malt too. Now, Eve is a fan of chocolate malts. I was lucky she was strapped in the middle seat on the way home, or I might not have been able to drink most of my stuff. She did get her own ice cream. She had a chocolate scoop on a cake cone with candy eyes, while Noah had a Dirt Sundae.
::::::::::::From Indexed.blogspot.com:::::::
Dinosaurs are in your Legos:
I thought is was kinda funny when I picked up this book and found that the idea started when the author was in a sandstorm in the Gobi Desert. She was writing about a dinosaur expedition. I love funny connections. So far, the book is really a fun to read. Thinking about what actually makes up the dust is almost bewildering. I would like to state that I'm glad that ant legs and spider eyes are big enough to become trapped in my nose hair. It is unfortunate about the industrial pollutants that can scoot past, though.
Book Reviews::::::
Chasing Vermeer was a book that centered around this painting "The Lady Writing":
The main characters, Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee, are 11 year-olds who discover many fascinating coincidences on their way to finding the stolen painting. Their are clues with frogs, pentominos, and the number twelve. Rachel was the most interested in this book. It didn't grab the interest of the rest of the kids too much. The art history was fun to learn. There are a couple of more books in the series, but we are jumping right into the latest Sisters Grimm book next.
Our family has really enjoyed the Sisters Grimm series. It was funny to see the kids laying down on their bed, while they prop them self on their elbows eager to hear what is happening. Everyone gets a great belly laugh from Puck's antics.
::::::::::Father's Day Prep:::::::
Michael and I took Aaron and Rachel to the mall to pick out a chocolate chip cookie cake. While we waited for the lady to decorate the cake the kids did the trampoline jump. Rachel's harness was not adjusted well, so she had a hard time. Aaron's was just right. He even was able to throw in a double backflip. He was a bit dizzy after that.
Rachel bought another Fablehaven book and Michael grabbed a tube of chocolate covered sunflower seeds. He loves those. He calls them crack.
The cake has been cut and eaten. Michael and Grampa Jim are taking a snooze on separate couches.
::::::::::Possible Beach Weekend:::::
Next month we think we will get to head to Gulf Shores for a 3 or 4 day weekend. We have never visited that locale, so if you have some great spots to visit there, please let me know. Aaron is going there with his Venture Crew. They are scheduled to see the U.S.S. Alabama and go deep sea fishing. Teenage boys with sharp fish hooks on the ocean make me nervous.
Well, I hope y'all have a great weekend!
Happy Birthday, Noah!
We have been in and out of the house today. We celebrated Noah's 9th birthday. We made his favorite breakfast of French toast, then we ate the cookie cake we bought yesterday. He chose the design when I took him shoe shopping and to buy a present. I let him pick out an expensive Lego set in return for not having a party.
Then, we took the kids to Stone Mountain Park to do the Sky Hike. Eve didn't want to try it in October, but today she decided she would try. She was nervous at several spots, but completed all 3 tiers. We are so proud of her. It started to rain as we were finishing up, so we left. We were going to stop at the movie theatre, but the movie on the marquee isn't showing until tomorrow. So, we took the kids to Noah's favorite place to eat, Chick-Fil-A. Aaron had a headache, so afterwards we went home for a nap.
:::::::::::::Juniors to Cadets::::
After the nap we had Rachel's bridging ceremony. She went from being a Junior Girl Scout to a Cadet. The weather held out for occasion. Granny and Grampa Towhey came with hugs and their cameras.
Michael and Aaron had fun cutting up on the bridge, after the ceremony:
They also started a water bottle fight in the parking lot at Bruster's ice cream. Rachel, Noah and Eve got involved too. Everyone was laughing and damp.
::::::::::::::::::5th Grade Promotion::::::
On Tuesday night, Rachel had fun at her promotion ceremony. She received a certificate for Perfect Attendance and one for doing well on the CRCT.
Wednesday was the last day of school and the 5th graders had "Survivor Day". They got to have a water fight, play on inflated equipment, eat snow cones, sing karaoke and dance to music played by a D.J. They also got served pizza that was ordered in. I was at the school all day and got to see Noah and Eve dance and enjoy the last day, too.
::::::Update::::::
Granny Alice is doing well. Grampa Jim goes into the doctor for a follow-up tomorrow, but says he isn't experiencing any pain. So good news on both fronts. Thanks for the kind words and prayers for their behalf.
I'm in desparate need of a shower. Y'all have a good night, or day.
Smiles!
What’s Up
My love and hugs go out to my stepmother, Alice, who is in the hospital. I was able to speak with her and they aren't sure why her blood pressure is so low. I'm glad Katherine and Tracy are close by to check on her. Also, to my stepdad, Jim, with his tooth/jaw woes.:::::::Service Project
:::::::::::::More Strawberry Farm layouts::::
I've been reading books on critical thinking...Bologna (Baloney)Detectors, so to speak. I really enjoyed these books on the subject:
I like to think I'm getting a little farther along on the road to discerning the information I come in contact with each day.
::::::::::::::::The Movie Tavern---or Fun with my Mom::::
My mother took me out to the Movie Tavern in Tucker for my birthday. Neither of us had been there before. When you walk in you get in line and tell the cashier the movie and time, then order your meal. You are then given a number on a stand and go to your theatre and find a seat. Mom ordered chicken quesadillas and I got the turkey club wrap with side salad. The theatre was clean and the seats were comfy, but if you wear pantyhose and a skirt you may tend to feel like you are going to slide out onto the floor. At least, that is what my mom tells me. (I think pantyhose are products of Satan and his minions...this may run contrary to that whole critical thinking section preceding this review...but run with it.)
Right before the movie started we got our meal. We shared and agreed that both were delicious. So we give the Tavern's food and cleanliness high marks. The restroom was also clean and had those hand dryers that blow so hard that your skin ripples and dries your hands in 5 seconds. Those are the coolest!
Now to the movie. We chose to see "Wolverine". I'm glad the kids were not with us because it really isn't suitable for kids under 13. The chase scenes and explosions are expected, but some scenes are just too much for kids. Hugh Jackman is seen in his altogether (I would like to applaud Mr. Jackman for sticking to those rigourous workouts)but I don't think that is the best thing for kids to see. (The comparisons alone cover that). Kind folks are killed, so a big no for Rachel to see. She would be depressed the rest of the film. Overall, the film was what I expected. Not as cool as Star Trek, but still a cool action flick for the older crowd.
::::::::::::::::Court of Honor:::
I'm off to take Aaron to Court of Honor. He is going to help mow the grass in preparation for the evenings festivities. Then, we get to eat Mexican food. Michael, who is sick, will stay at home and make grilled cheese for the kids. Michael got sick from the nursery kids he watched for me when I went to In-gathering. He has finally passed it to Aaron and me, but Michael is much sicker. Well...I'm outta here.
Smiles
