Memories

From a couple years ago . . .

Can you tell that Quinn had cut his own bangs earlier that day?

Trunk or Treat

Our church hosted "trunk or treat" last night in the parking lot. It was a blast. We decorated the trunk of our van in a 1970s style motif, complete with a revolving disco ball. We hung groovy clothes around, lit candles and featured a lava lamp and period music.

Some kids asked us, "WOW! Where did you get at that 1970s stuff?"

"Well," I replied, "It's ours. We use them and wear them regularly."

The only thing better than that was watching little kids' expressions when big Mike, decked out in bell-bottoms, tie-dye and giant sparkly peace symbol necklace, shouted, "Hey, little dudes! Want some candy?!"

A Good Day

I think these smiles were a bit forced, don't you think?

Compost Pile

Rachel, our environmentally conscious fifth-grader, decided we needed a compost pile. She even partitioned a space for it in the backyard. Unfortunately, she did not choose wisely. Her brother might want to use the swing again.

Manpole

Quinn wrote a short essay today on his friend and he chose to write about his dad. Mike was reading it aloud just a few minutes ago and it was quite touching - until he came to the part about the favorite game he plays with his dad. Mike read, "And one of the best games we play is 'manpole.'"

"Uh, Manpole?" said I, obviously distraught amidst racing thoughts of the Foley scandal.

Quinn's response - "MONOPOLY, you netwhacks!"

Oh yeah, Monopoly. That is a great board game.

Whew.

Stupid Pants!

The boy came home from school complaining that his "stupid pants" kept falling down all day. I took a look at the stupid pants and let him in on an important piece of information - the pants were actually his older sister's. After looking closer at the young man I ascertained another fact. The big baggy shirt also belong to Rachel.

But I can't really say anthing about the mix-up. I watched him get dressed and gave him the "all clear" for school this morning.

Hmmm...might have to think about switching back to caffeinated coffee.

The Real Deal

I was there tonight to listen to a former Iraqi General and National Security Advisor to Saddam Hussein, Georges Sada. He spoke of the atrocities orchestrated by the former dictator and the goodness of America and its allies in toppling the regime. He assured us that the chemical, nuclear and biological weapons were real. Where did they go? To Syria, under the guise of humanitarian aide to the country. Some of the cargo planes were filled with food, blankets and medicine. Some were filled with chemical weapons to be hidden.

He told us the many times his life was spared, even as he defied the demands of Saddam and his son and did not execute the 40 pilots who were prisoners of war in 1991. He told us of the night Saddam's bunker was hit by Patriot missiles - He was in the bunker waiting for Saddam.

Why his life has been spared, he does not know. But he does know that whatever plan God has, it is not for us to understand, only to follow and know that the strength for the tasks ahead will come from Him.

He has written a book "Saddam's Lies: How an Iraqi General Defied and Survived Saddam Hussein" and I can't wait to read it.

This Christian man is the real deal. Where was NBC? CBS? ABC? FOX? All I saw this week was a small article on the back page of the newspaper in small town USA.

It may be time to write a letter to the editor . . .

"Germy"

Did I ever tell you about Quinn's friend in Kindergarten? It was back when his hearing and listening skills were fair at best. He argued day after day that his friend's name was "Germy" not "Jeremy."

Today, finally, three years later, Quinn actually understood his error. Of course, it wasn't much later when he said, "XYZ, Mom! You better expandin' your zipper."

Uh, "examine" would be the word of choice there. We should have named him Samuel. Doesn't that mean "laughter?"

Homecoming Parade Loot

First, I'd like to point out the doggy bone that was thrown to my children during the parade. Interesting way to fight plaque, I suppose.

Secondly, I'd like to mention that the ROTC parade battalion that walked alongside each float does not distinguish between throwing things AT the parade participants and throwing things TO the parade participants. Clearly, I was at a family friendly gathering, complete with Blues Clues bouncing house and pancakes on the grill. I was meerly attempting to share some of the parade bounty with a hungry-looking group of young fraternity members.

Finally, I'd like to thank my husband whose quick thinking was able to divert the young reserve and save me from a potentially embarrassing situation. All's fair in love and war.

ADHD?

It was a sorta noisy little red car . . .

Need we say more?

I bought a new shirt to wear to my next friend's 40th birthday party. Or maybe to work. Or maybe to clean around the house. Or maybe to my bank. Or maybe to church. Wearing it gives me a hankerin' for some good old-fashioned toilet-papering of the neighborhood trees.

I will consider lending it with proof of responsibility.

Harmony

Quinn got the recipe from a special features section on a Veggie Tales DVD. Rachel separated the hard candy colors. We all molded and shaped the cookies and the 4H group will taste the reward of successful baking.

By the way, Quinn has decided to concentrate on baking for his 4H project since he recently learned there is no "gerbil show" at the county fair.

Hairy Elbow

We had no idea that a possible side-affect of wearing a cast for six weeks would be hairy elbow. Can you tell from the picture? We are hoping to use his elbow as a Halloween prank of some sort.

How Ignoying!

What's a mother of a third grader to do? I've been labeled "unmature" and "ignoying" in one evening.

Margaritaville

Bambi (the rabbit) has an eye infection and the veterinarian prescribed an antibiotic that could be mixed with a strawberry-flavored syrup to, well, help the medicine go down.

Mr. Rellim was unaware that one could ASK for a flavor to be added to it at the pharmacy. Instead, he bought a liter of strawberry margarita mix. Bambi is certainly not complaining. Neither is Mr. Rellim.

Baptism

Triplets baptized. Candle wax faux pas. Parents outnumbered. Little (not mine) eats four ham sandwiches. Two potty stops in 100 miles. Cooler full of frozen applesauce obtained. Boy tells new mom that she looks pregnant. Silence. Ahhhh, family events!

Bunny Feet

I've heard of giving someone "bunny ears" in a picture, but this is going too far. Bunny feet? Bunny toes? Smelly head?

Oktoberfest

The parents came to visit today, with sis and her little dog too. We ate a heavenly brat lunch featuring two German potato salads and two saurkraut dishes. For entertainment, there was a trio consisting of an accordian, clarinet and tuba playing polka tunes and wearing traditional German clothing.

We were sad to not see the little German man who usually entertains, wearing his kelly green knickers and singing and playing accordian.

To say we were underage for the crowd would be an understatement.

Thank you St. John's Lutheran School. Thank you Mylanta Gas.

Malapropisms

Don't know what that means? Read on . . .

Boy: "Mom, I'm gonna pull the best FRANK on Dad!!!"

Mom: "Do you mean 'PRANK?' or are you talking about a hotdog?"

Boy: "Whatever! I was walking near the house with the trees in a line (I have no idea where he's talking about) and I saw a poor little cat that looked like he had been ADOPTED so I tried to pet him."

Mom: "ABANDONED? The cat appeared to have been neglected or poorly taken care of?"

Boy: "Yeah. ADOPTED cats are so cute. So I tried to take him up to the house with the trees in a line by the smooth road where my old teacher lived (Still no idea where he's talking about and wondering how he got so far from home without me knowing and why he's associating with mangy old cats.) . I rang the doorbell and asked them if this was their cat and they said yes and the cat ran inside."

Mom: "Thank you for caring about the cat, but don't go around ringing doorbells anymore. Now go wash your hands. It's time to eat."

Dad: (walking in the back door from work) "HEY!!! I'M HOME!!!!"

Boy: "Hey, Dad, are you ready for a good FRANK?"

Commentary: One never knows when early language delays will creep back to the surface.

Three in One

Most of us have heard the explanation of the Trinity in the apple analogy. Although the apple has three distinct parts (core, fruit, skin) it is one apple.

My pre-teen daughter thought of a new analogy that might be better understood by s her age. She said, "God is like shampoo - you know, the two-in-one kind. Shampoo is God the Father. Conditioner is God the Son."

"So (I had to ask), What about God the Holy Spirit?"

"Duh, Mom - hairspray!"

Bathroom Etiquette

So, I'm relaxing in the living room after a long day at school and I hear the toilet flush. That's OK. What puts the fear of God in me is the young boy dashing out of the bathroom screaming, "Run! Run! Run! Mo-o-o-o-o-o-om!"

At the time of this post, we keep a plunger in that bathroom. But, I still wonder who he was bidding to flee the vicinity.

I've heard of dropping friends off at the pool. . .

Zzzzzz

Should I wake him? He promised to do the dishes tonight. Perhaps I should mind the old saying and remember to let old dogs lie so he won't ask for tricks. . . . Good night!

Gerbils

This is Patches - or Nester - I've never quite figured that out. I do know that they are of the same (or sterile) because there have been no baby gerbils and we have owned them since Christmas.

We moved them from the boy's room to the garage to "freshen the air" in his room. That's code talk for, "the rodents really stink." Secretly, I have hoped for a raccoon to find its way in the garage and have a furry snack.

The weather is getting cooler and gerbils are arid creatures. Maybe the boy's teacher could use new class pets.