"Voice" recognition??? haha

I have a very dear friend, since college, who is hard of hearing. Her name is Patti, and we have kept up with each other regularly in the (gulp!!) TWENTY years we have known each other; 17 years of communication past graduation. Quite an accomplishment!

Patti knows and loves each of my children, and they also love and admire her in return. Currently residing in Colorado, we are all excited that we will get to see her next week on our Big Adventure Out West!

I was talking on the phone to Patti a few nights ago, and Matthew entered the room. Always inquisitive (read: nosy!), Matthew asked, "Who are you talking to, Mom?". He then paused, and said, "Oh, never mind! I know it's Aunt Patti---you are yelling!!".

HAHAHAHA! I shared this story with Patti and she got a big kick out of it! ;)
See you soon, Patti dear! Three days until we are Colorado-bound, woo hoo!

I am such a TECHNODOLT!

Okay, so I tried to update the family picture on my blog, and as you can SEE to your left, I have no idea what I'm doing!! Is there anyone out there amongst my cyber-savvy friends who can help me figure out HOW to configure the photo to fit in that space? My last one looked great! I am sooooo sorry I deleted it, HA! (rolling eyes) Thanks for bearing with me as I figure all this out!

Sibling rivalry, in utero! haha

The children all love it when they can finally start feeling our new baby kick within me. I have been feeling it for a long time, of course, but it's only been in the past few weeks that "outsiders" (outside of my body, haha!) can feel it.

Jason (3) was standing in front of my chair talking to me a few days ago, and I felt the baby moving around. I said, "Jason, put your hand right here! do you feel that?" He said, "yes!". I said, "Do you feel that, too?" and again he said, "Yes!" and then he asked, "What is that, mommy?". With a big excited smile, I anwered, "It's our new baby kicking you!".

Jason said, "Oh." He hesitated a moment, and then asked "Mommy, WHY does our new baby want to kick me??!".

There is just no end to the amusement around here! :)

The Greatest Sacrifice---"Slave" Labor!

I have been very blessed in my life with MANY dear, what I would call "bosom" (if you don't get that reference, go watch "Anne of Green Gables") friends. A few days ago, one of my lifelong friends called me up out of the blue. It was my friend Kim U., whom I have known since we were Jr. High age.

Kim's hubby is in the U.S. Navy (THANK YOU for serving, Carlos!), and they are being re-assigned to a base in Hawaii. She was calling to tell me that on her way there, she and her two boys (ages 6 and 2) had a 4 hour layover at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. She wondered if there was any chance I could drive out to see them?

I was soooo excited! In the past eleven years since Kim married a serviceman, we have only seen each other ONCE since her wedding, and that was last summer ('07) at our Class of 1987 2oth High School reunion!! (We have kept in touch by email and U.S. Mail sporadically, and the occasional phone call over the years when one of us has a baby!). See Kim TWICE in a year's time? OF COURSE I was going to drive to the airport! (It isn't really that far for me, about 30 miles from where we live).

So the children and I got all packed up, drove to the airport, met up with Kim and her boys and had a delightful time, even though we actually had only a little more than an hour to visit! I made muffins, and we took a picnic blanket and juice boxes and activities for the children---we actually attracted QUITE a bit of attention in the airport, haha! (Several passersby inquired if we were a day care center!! HAHA!). It was so fun!

On the way home, the children were wondering why Kim wasn't very excited about moving to Hawaii, which seems like a very exotic and exciting destination to THEM! ;) I was explaining that she was glad to be in a nice place, but Kim felt sad because she knew that she wouldn't be able to return Stateside in the next three years to visit her family, because it is not cheap!

The children wanted to know why she was moving there if she didn't want to go? Then I had to explain that Kim's husband and their whole family were blessing the rest of us because of the sacrifices he makes to serve our country.

I said, "They are re-locating to Hawaii because that is their new assignment for the next three years".

Natalie was indignant! she said, "What?! Is he a slave??".

HA! (Out of the mouths of babes!). Yes, Natalie, it's something like that.

God bless our U.S. Servicemen and their families, all over the world!

If you come to visit, lock up your toothbrush!

Patrick and Matthew arrived home, after being gone for a month, on June 29th. Please keep in mind that yesterday was July ELEVENTH as you read this story. That means TWELVE days had elapsed since the boys came home. This fact will bear more relevance as you read this story!
As we were getting ready to leave the house yesterday, I was under the usual pressure of trying to get six people completely cleaned, dressed, combed, and appropriately ready to face the rest of the world. The older boys had helped me by brushing the teeth of the younger ones, and I had already reminded Matthew and Patrick several times to brush their OWN teeth. I was in the hall bathroom curling my hair, when Patrick finally came in to brush his teeth.

He looked at the toothbrush holder, and wanted to know WHERE his toothbrush had gone. I suddenly remembered that several WEEKS ago, while they were away, I had thrown away ALL the toothbrushes, which I do every other month or so, in the interests of hygiene. I always have a large supply of brand new, spare toothbrushes under the sink.

I stopped what I was doing and stared at Patrick as this realization hit me.
"Son, " I asked, "Your toothbrush has been gone a long time! What have you been using to brush your teeth the past two weeks???"

He innocently pointed at the tall purple toothbrush in the cup, the ONLY adult toothbrush in there (do you see where this is headed??). He said, "I've been using that one!".

I swallowed and tried to be calm. For some reason, when I am pregnant, the oddest things can gag me unexpectedly, and I could feel that reflex happening in my throat! "Patrick, that is MOMMY'S toothbrush. Have you been using it the whole time you've been home???" He nodded. I continued, "WHY did you not ask me for another toothbrush? You know I always have lots of new toothbrushes!!" I was so completely grossed out, *I* was trying not to whine!

Patrick shrugged. "I didn't want to bother you, and I never thought of it unless I was trying to hurry up and get ready to go somewhere, or get in bed!".

Matthew was in the doorway by this time. I looked at him. "What have YOU been using to brush your teeth??" He grinned and answered "Mouthwash!".

I give up!!! I'm calling the dentist to see if I can have my mouth disinfected on Monday. :)