Spring Breaketh my back and soul

What was I thinking? Trying to at like a 30 year old cleaning my nasty shed out that is filled with filth and JUNK. Why do I hang onto everything? I hope I don't turn into one of those pack racks that are on TV now. I would rather be on Clean House!!!! I think I could move everything in the garage into my living areas and let someone call and turn me in..that sounds like a great idea! I wouldn't even argue over the things they want to get rid of except the broken record player that I teethed on, all my Raggedy Ann and Andy collection, my pig collection, my rooster collection, my Aunt Jemima collection...oh dear forget about it!!! I don't want to get rid of anything that has sentimental value. I think I am just going to pay someone to come clean the outside junk because I DON'T want any of it. We have gone through 3 lawn mowers in the past year. They are all sitting proudly in the backyard collecting spiders and bugs. Now my yard looks like a weedlot. I can't grow flowers, but I sure can grow weeds!
Now I really don't know how people manage to have things done when they work. I have called Direct TV twice now and they came on Monday within a time frame of 8-12, fixed the boxes and then one of them quit working by Wednesday. Well now they are coming on Thursday within a time frame of 12-4. I was planning on getting a pedicure at 1:30 with Brianna, but now I wonder if I will be able to leave the stinking house!! Plus I bought 7 ceiling fans and have been waiting patiently all week for him to show up. I hate to sound like a nagger, but I did call him back today and he said he MIGHT make it this week, if not then next week. Guess what Sherlock? I work next week!! I tried really hard to get as much done as possible while I had off. This is really stressful because I like things done yesterday.
Things I did get accomplished: scored over 400,000 points on Bejeweled, made it to the bank for Byron, bought 2 vehicle stickers(whatever they are called), made 3 trips to Bastrop to Lowes and WalMart, made it to Bri's softball game, redecorated the guys' bathroom, tried to redo mine but ran out of steam, put Bo in the backyard about a thousand times, tried to fix the fence so he wouldn't get out, cleaned the shed, planted my fake plants,
vacuumed, played more Bejeweled, and tried to install new ceiling vents. Wow that sounds like a fun Spring Break.

New Year 2010

As usual I did not set any New Year resolutions because I can NEVER keep them, then I start feeling bad about myself. So I decided several years ago just not set any so I don't have to worry about breaking them. If I did set any it would be the same ones every year.....lose weight, start exercising, go to church, read more, eat right, get healthy and on and on and on! Therefore I have enjoyed my ice cream every night as I sit on my rear and watch TV. I am suprised that I have not grown potato vines that attach themselves to the couch or the chair in front of the computer. I have become obsessed with Bejeweled. One day I scored 306,000 points and it is like an adrendaline rush to score those points again. Normally I score 40,000 but sometimes I get over 100,000 and my heart begins to pump. See I would feel compelled to give that up this year if I did make any resolutions. So I will just leave it at that!
So far this year has started out bad. Byron wrecked his pickup and is lucky to be alive. Bonnie got sick the day after New Year's and then Brianna followed. Even Don got sick. So far I have been keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get that bad bug!!! Hopefully things can only get better:)

Halloween

Well, Halloween has come and gone. It is sad because I can remember what I did 3 years ago, but I can not for the life of me remember the last two. Three years ago, for some unknown reason, I dressed up as an old man and went to one of my teacher friend's house to scare her. IT WORK! She even called her husband to the door because she was uneasy. Of course I can't stay in character very long and burst out in laughter. She reminds me every year that she will not be at home so don't try it again. I also went up to the bluff where Brianna was hanging out and tried to scare them, but they knew it was me....so disappointing. This year I stayed at home and handed out candy. I was so surprise at all the kids that showed up. In the past, we only get a couple of trick or treaters and I began hoarding the Snickers so we could all have a treat later. I had one of my ex-students, who now has two kids of her own, ask me for some candy. The nerve! She only weighs about 250 lbs. so I said, "No!" Later I had another mom with a bag of her own and I accidently gave her a Snicker. I was pissed! Overall it was a nice Halloween because I watched episode after episode of my favorite show, Ghost Hunters. I had seen them all before but it is still fun to watch. I really don't know what my fascination is with the paranormal, but I am intrigued. I do believe that there is some sort of paranormal activity.
My memories of Halloween are walking around with Julie and Donna. For some reason I don't remember Mother ever in the picture. I can't remember any costumes I wore. Isn't that sad. I do remember as I got older that we always wrapped someone's house with toilet paper stolen from Sirlon 66.

Well, Happy Halloween to all and now on to Thanksgiving.

Stuart

What can I say about Stuart? It all started out with an innocent prank. Cheri and I were visiting James and Barbara, sitting out on the back porch drinking coffee and learning about life, when James decided to go to town. I got up to get some water in the garage and noticed this large skeleton hanging in the corner. A thought entered my mind and I carefully hung him where James would drive right into to him when he returned. Excitedly, I joined the girls to wait for his return. Moments later, he returned and nothing was said. I was feeling a little down because I thought my prank had not worked. Later I went into the bedroom to gather my clothes to take a shower to start the day. Low and behold, there was the skeleton laying in our bed dressed in some of our clothes. I was filled with delight! I hooped and hollared and gathered Cheri and Barbara to come look. We laughed and then I carefully placed him in their shower. About an hour later we were leaving to go shopping when we approached the car and there was the skeleton hanging onto my door. We loaded him up in the back seat and that was the beginning of Stuart! He went to Sonic with us to get our daily drink. He rode all over Abilene as we shopped around at all the neat little stores. When we returned, I once again carefully placed him onto their bed right in James' spot. Our continuous placement of Stuart has never stopped. Everytime we go to visit, Stuart gets placed somewhere out of the ordinary.
About a month after our first incident, I received a strange card in the mail stating that "I can't go on without you" and a small bag of bones. I was horrified. What sick person would do this? What did I do to cause someone to dislike me so much. Cheri happened to come by that day and I couldn't wait to show her the terrible card I had received in the mail. As soon as she saw it, she burst out in laughter saying....."Stuart! Stuart!" It was from Barbara and my mind does not think the same way as theirs, so I was clueless at first. From that moment, it has been a search to see who can find the neatest or ugliest skeleton to add to our collection. We have exchanged very unusual cards and gifts over the past 2 years that have something to do with a skeleton. It is a passion, a thrill, a journey to see what we can find. Halloween has become one of my favorite holidays now because of Stuart and all his skeleton friends. Yesterday I found the coolest cards with a skeleton on the front. I can't wait for them to receive it. I have already received my cards from Cheri and Barbara and have them standing proudly on my dresser for all to see along with all the other goodies they have sent over the past 2 years.
Long live Stuart!!!!

Tristin arrives

Early Thursday morning as I was getting ready for school, I get a call from Cheri saying that Cari is in labor. I was so excited! I felt like I was a grandma and I wanted to get there as soon as I could. I told Bri that we would leave after lunch and she was so happy that she didn't have to go to athletics. I don't understand the purpose of off-season where all they do is kill these girls. Bri has always loved sports, but they have managed to take that love away because she fears what they are going to have to run. Since school started, they have yet to touch a basketball. You would think they would let them practice at least twice a week. Oh well, let's get back to Cari.
We arrived at 4:00 and were able to go in her room to check on her. She looked great. A big smile was on her face and Kevin was sitting on the bed next to her making sure she was okay. The nurse came in and told her they were getting things ready for her to start pushing. Oh My! The time is here. The time we have been waiting for......a baby will be born soon. We leave Cari in good hands and head out to the waiting room.
Memories of my births begin to enter my head.....
May 2, 1985....my water breaks in a store with Mother. We drive back to LaGrange and I manage to deliver a healthy baby boy.
February 28, 1988....labor begins and I am left alone in the delivery room for what seems like hours. Don and the doctor have decided to visit and leave me alone. Hours later I deliver a beautiful baby girl.
October 28, 1992....after hours of having a nurse's hand between my legs, midnight comes and another nurse comes in to take over. Bri is sunny side up and doesn't want to come out. Eventually, I deliver another beautiful baby girl.
All mothers love to share their birthing stories. We all feel like ours is the only one that matters. As we sat in the waiting room, everyone was sharing their stories as we waited for Tristin to be born. Finally at 5:10 we get a text from Kevin....he is here!
We had to wait awhile before we were able to see this precious baby. He was beautiful. Perfect in every way. It is hard for me to imagine that my little Cari is now a mother. She seems so small and fragile. I was afraid that she wasn't going to be able to deliver, but she proved me wrong. This new baby made me wish that I was a grandmother, but I know that none of my kiddos are ready and that is a relief in a way. As much as I want a grandbaby, I am also scared. Will I be a good Nana? Will I say and do the right things? Will I be able to give advice without seeming overbearing? My mom and dad were the best grandparents so I know that I can count on the memories I have of them. I have watched all my brothers and sisters become grandparents and I can also learn from them.
To Kevin and Cari.......treasure every moment! Write down everything because you tend to forget. Rock him, hold him, love on him every chance you get. He is a gift from God. You will be great parents. I love all of you:)

Walking fa...

I don't understand what happens to your body as you get older.....The older I get, the more I fart. Mother would say, "Now, Lisa. Don't say that!" But it is the truth. I am not "breaking wind" as Mother called it. I am actually shooting bb's as I walk down the hall to make my morning coffee. I have this fear that one of Brianna's friends will be in the kitchen or in her room and hear me as I triumphantly march to the kitchen. I am constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure no one is around to hear! The worst part of this bodily function is that it is now hitting me everyday at 3:20. Thank you body for waiting till the bell rings and the children are gone. I only have to be careful when I am on duty. I carefully position myself away from others because I CAN NOT control it. It rolls out like a precisioned drumroll. I am sorry if I have offended anyone by my comments (that would be Cheri or Cari because you are my only 2 followers) but I had to get this off my chest!!!!!

Round Top Antique Weekend

When we moved here 27 years ago, Round Top Antique Fair was a small gathering of antique dealers plus home-made goodies. You could always find something that you collected or an item that you thought you needed. Memories of dragging my children there are NOT good memories, but memories of browsing with Cheri are at the top of my all time favorites.
Gradually over the years, the Antique weekend has grown tremendously. I'm talking it will take you days to check everything out now. We have narrowed our search to Warrington where we can find all kinds of treasures. Over the past several years some of my favorite memories are:
1. The year Cheri and I made fun of all the women wearing enormous cowboy hats only to find out Bonnie had purchased one and wore it around the premises.
2. The year Cheri and I got out of our car only to witness a women carrying a dog in a dog carrier on her belly. The dog's legs were dangling out of the front with its little head poking out of the top. I thought we were going to wet on ourselves laughing so hard.
3. The year Cheri and I pretended we were wealthy and lounged around on very expensive bedding.....I really believe the woman thought Cheri was going to buy two of the $400.00 pillows.
4. The year Cheri, Cari, Bonnie, Brianna and I shopped until I thought we were going to drop. The girls found colorful can-cans that they tried on and took pictures. I think this was also the year we bargained with some strange guy for Coach purses.....I don't know if we got a good deal or not.
5. The year Bonnie, Brianna and I shopped all day and at the end bought these gigantic corn dogs and curly fries. yummmmmmmmmmmm they were good!
6. The year Cheri drove down 3 hours on the last Sunday and all the shops were closing......now we made a mad dash at any store that was opened.
7. This past week-end shopping with Cheri, Bonnie and Brianna. We found all kinds of bargains. Bonnie thought she found a dog for $3.00 but it was $300.00.
I know there are more, but my brain is frazzled from laughing so hard this weekend. Cheri and I went to Wal-Mart and purchased clear masks that have dramatic eyes and lips painted on them. Of course, Cheri had to put hers on outside of Wal-Mart and preceded to wear it as I drove home. There is just something about her that makes me laugh.........I almost had a heart attack because I couldn't breath I was laughing so hard.
These are memories I cherish. Memories that make me smile when I have had a hard day. Memories that make me want to spend more time with my family.