Favorite Quotes

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  • "I'm so busy.... I don't know if I found a rope... or lost my donkey! - Unknown"
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Christmas Pictures

How blessed I am!!!









Carlie was particularly cute this Christmas. She was so excited about every single present she got. Every time she opened something it was "Exactly what I wanted!!!!"

My Fav Niece and Nephew



I LOVE this picture. This is Morgan Julia and her Granny.



Morgan is my birthday buddy. We share a birthday. That makes her AWESOME!! She is tiny and talks like a grown up.



This is my nephew, Parker. He wants to be an archeologist when he grows up...or was that paleontologist? This is his "bone collection" from our Ribs we had for dinner. He's all boy.



Morgan decided to open her Christmas presents in nakie style. I got her three pairs of shoes for Christmas, because she likes "Coot shoes". She stopped long enough to put her new boots on, and then kept on opening presents

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Santa visited our house!! For Real.



We were in Oklahoma at the Pools' house on Christmas Eve. The kids were pretty sure that Santa had not visited our house yet because we were not there. However, when we got home late on Christmas evening, there were FOUR BIKES in the house, their stockings were full, and this note was left from Santa. We weren't there to leave out milk and cookies, but we had some oreo balls on a plate. He ate those and most of a banana. We left as soon as I got home from work on Tuesday. Hmmmmmm.

What's even stranger is that the empty stockings had been put away. I was the only one who knew where they were, and yet they appeared on the kitchen counter all filled up.

Thank you, Santa!!! I think the kids will always remember this one.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Self Service Cat Food





I guess in the zoo of five kids, two dogs and two cats someone forgot to feed them. So they helped themselves!!!! Ya got to be independent around my house if you want to survive!!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Hitting Below The Belt

We've always been very open and candid in our house about the adoption of three of the four kids. The older two see their Birth Family several times a year. Madi's adoption is closed, but she knows the names of her Birth Parents. Carlie gets it that she's not adopted and that we ARE her Birth Mom and Dad. JB's birth grandparents come and visit and are around. They still drop by and call even after he's moved out. I thought we were doing pretty well for such a complex family with such a Crazy Extended Family.

But last night Carlie dropped a bomb on me. The two little girls share a room and have bunk beds. After they went to bed last night, Madi did something to make Carlie mad. Carlie screamed at her “I wish you’d just go back and live with your BIRTH MOTHER.” My jaw about hit the ground.

So she got a swat on the butt, and I shamed her for saying such an ugly thing. They are so close they might as well be twins. And normally they are as emotionally close as twins. I made her hug Madi and tell her that she was sorry. Boy they know how to hit below the belt even when they are little.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Five Going on Thirty

Granny called last night to talk to the kids. Carlie was downstairs watching TV and dinner was almost ready. I called her up to talk to Granny. When she got on the phone she said "Could you make this quick, please? I have things to do!"

Ah, yes. All the pressing things a Five Year Old has on her schedule!!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Blah, Blah, Blah.

It's not been a good couple of weeks for behavior at my house. What is it about Christmas time that makes kids behave badly?

First JB, then Libby. Well today it was Frank's turn. He was uncooperative at school all day because he got mad over a spelling pre-test. At the end of the day, he refused to tell his homeroom teacher what work he had completed and what was left for homework. That's a trick he uses to try and get out of doing it.

So I called the house and told Lena that he had to sit at the table "as if" he had homework until I get home since we didn't know if he had any or not.

Frank insisted that his counselor was coming to pick him up today....which is not true....they normally have pianos lessons today, but the teacher had to cancel because she had a funeral.

I told him he had to sit at the table until I got home, and he screamed into the phone (in my ear) and then yelled "Blah, blah, blah" to me and called me stupid. So now he owes me a couple of extra hours of housework for treating me disrespectfully. Blah, blah, blah!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Chocolate Thief

II sat all four of my little kids down and explained to them about JB getting in trouble with the law. I told them exactly what he did, his arrest and about him spending three days in jail. I told them several times that he thought he could break the law and wouldn't get caught, but he did. And there's not anything that I can do to help him now, he has to face his consequences. I thought maybe that might sink in with them.

Well Saturday, Bob went to the grocery store. He brought me back a small box of individually wrapped Dove Chocolates as a treat.

All that afternoon, Libby asked me "Mom, do you want one of those Doves yet?" Only she was pronouncing it like it rhymes with Stove. She kept asking and asking. My mom radar was picking up something, but I never did put two and two together.

She must have been watching, because as SOON as I opened the box Saturday evening and left the room, she swiped one and took it downstairs. It just so happened that Bob heard her behind the couch crinkling the foil wrapper as she unwrapped it and asked what she was doing.

So not only did she swipe one....she had it planned out. Had she asked, I probably would have given her one. I called her on the carpet and chewed her out. I reminded her about what happened to JB when he thought he could break the law and get away with it. She had to stay in her room all day Sunday, coming out only for bathroom breaks and to eat.

Sometimes I wonder if it's ever going to sink in. Sigh.

Monday, December 8, 2008

You're Fired!!!


Madi is normally my most easy-going kid. Everything is funny to her and she always has a giggle on her lips. However, when she gets mad....she gets MAD.

She got mad at Lena (our Nanny and Bob's niece) last week, and yelled at her.

I.AM.GOING.TO.GET.YOU.FIRED!!!!!

Don't know if she was going to get her fired as our Nanny or as our Neice. LOL.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Lazy Tooth Fairy

When our older two kids lost their teeth, we made such a big deal about. And the tooth fairy always came and left them money.

The older we get the worse and worse the tooth fairy is getting!!! The last tooth Madi (our third child) lost, the "Tooth Fairy" hunted under pillow but couldn't find the tooth. So the Tooth Fairy just left the money. Madi was so upset that she didn't take the tooth with her!!!

She lost another tooth this week. She made a note and put it in an envelope this time...with the tooth in it. Should be easy to find....right?!?!?!? Well the tooth fairy forgot completely this time.

When Bob got up he put $1.35 in change from the change jar in a baggy and left it on the kitchen cabinet. The note and tooth were still under her pillow. Madi looked at it with kind of a funny look on her face, but took it in stride. I guess the Tooth Fairy it too lazy now for pillow side service. LOL.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Crazy Schedule

Monday

4 - 5:15PM - Frank and Libby Piano at Benton (10 miles away)
5:30-6:30 - Madi BBall - Gym 1 at Towanda
5:30 - 6:30 - Frank BBall - Gym 2 at Towanda
6:30 - 7:30pm - Libby BBall - Gym 1 at Towanda

Tuesday

NOTHING

Wednesday

6:45 - 8:15pm - Frank Bball at Benton

Thursday

5:30 - 6:30 pm Madi BBall - Gym 1 at Towanda
6:30 - 7:30pm - Libby BBall - Gym 1 at Towanda
6:00 - 7:00 pm - Frank Counseling at August (7 miles away)

Friday

5:30 - 6:30pm Carlie Bball - Gym 1 at Towanda


Whew. Arlena's going to have to help me on Thursdays because I'm double booked. But the rest I think I can manage by myself.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Thanksgiving


It's been a while since I posted. This is the brief time of year when I get a couple of weeks "off" between football and basketball seasons. So I've been staying at home when possible and getting caught up on rest and housework.

JB is in some serious trouble. I'm extremely disappointed in the choices he's made recently. We'll support him emotionally, but the rest of the mess he's going to have to dig out on his own.

We spent Thanksgiving with Granny and Pawpa. Then on Friday, Bob and Frank worked to put the outside lights up while the girls and I put up the Christmas Tree and the inside decorations.

This year instead of putting names on the tags of the Christmas Presents, I have used a numbering system. The kids are busy trying to "crack" the code which is actually WAY simpler than they are trying to make it.

We also bought four new pairs of basketball shoes this weekend. Tomorrow, I'll post our insane weekly schedule now that I have FOUR kids playing rec basketball.

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Talk at School (aka Poor Frank)

This year Frank is in 5th grade, and it's the year they have "The Talk" at school about the birds and bees. Frank is still at an age where girls are gross and any talk about sex is just plain "nasty". Poor Frank, having three younger sisters, he had to go through this first. Libby would have LOVED to go. She can't wait.

In Wichita they have some kind of place set up where all the local schools take their kids to learn about puberty. They go on a "field trip". I was emailing my Mom and Sister about this and JoLynn replies "Where on earth do you go for a "field trip" to learn about sex?"

They seperate the boys from the girls, but both groups learned the same things.

Frank was sooo funny when he came home and told us about it. He was absolutely mortified. He said that "the lady" made them say the words Penis and Vagina "Out Loud". Can you imagine such a horror?

He said he learned all about periods and those gross things that girls have to use call "Tipons" and Pads.

He said they had a plastic vagina that they showed them (only trying to imagine here what that looked liked. LOL.) And "real life" pictures.

I asked Frank if they talked about sex. He just rolled his eyes and said "No, that's for next year". (Snicker.)

Now keep in mind that Bob teaches abstenance/health at school. And that Frank has a hard time dealing with stressful stituations. So we decided we'd better talk to Frank ahead of time about what he'd be learning. So he'd be prepared.

I enjoyed listening to Bob talk to Frank. He was really good with him, and very factual. But I think maybe he DID take it a step too far, because he got on the internet and made Frank look at pictures of male "equipment" that had been infected with STDs. Frank was horribly grossed out. And I told Bob "I hope you didn't scare him with those pictures into being gay!"

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Mornings at our House Just STINK.

Maybe it's just a normal thing with four kids so close together in age, but our mornings are just consistently difficult.

Bob gets up at 5am. The rest of us get up at 6am. We have to leave the house by 7:20am. That gives us nearly an hour and a half. We are constantly yelling at kids to get moving, get your clothes on, get your shoes on, get back OUT of that bed. Did you brush your teeth? Is your lunch packed? Where are you book bags and coats?

Someone is ALWAYS missing their shoes, their glasses, their homework or their band instrument.

Someone is ALWAYS bawling (and its usually not me). And the four kids are ALWAYS fighting. They fight over the remote. They fight when Libby tries to boss the others. They fight because one of the girls looks at Frank cross eyed.

Carlie threw a fit this morning because she didn't want to wear a PINK coat.

I had to give all four kids medicine this morning for various reasons. Madi said her stomach was hurting. Frank had a stuffy nose, and Libby's teeth were hurting because she pulled off two of her caps this weekend. Carlie NEEDED the medicine because I stayed home sick with her yesterday, and she refused to take it. So I had to force it down her.

I was scrambling this morning trying to find the ingredients for Libby's science experiment.

I'm just at a loss for how to make our mornings smooth and cooperative.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

October Quotes

If you have one foot in yesterday and the other foot in tomorrow, then you pee on today - Heard on the Radio
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The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him. - Pablo Casals
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We child proofed our home, but they still got in anyway!! - Mouse Pad

Friday, November 14, 2008

Lippy in Kindergarten

When I get home from work I always ask the kids about their day "Who did you play with?" "What did you learn?" "Did you get into any trouble?" "How did you do on your AR Test?"

I've been trying to tell them at school that if they'll keep Carlie busy she'll cause alot less trouble. When I went to her 9 weeks Parent Teacher Conference, she had already completed every single task required of Kindergarten.

If she's good all day she can earn a maximum of three stars for her chart. I asked her last week if she'd gotten all of her stars that day and she said "Yes, but then at the end of the day I had to take one back off!!!" She said she wouldn't stop talking at the end of class so "Mrs. Smith made me take off one of my stars and gave me a WHOLE BUNCH of Hard Fun Sheets that I have to do now" Ahhh HA. So they finally figured it out.

I asked her yesterday if she got into any trouble and she burst into tears. She said she got all three stars, but she repeated over and over that she couldn't tell me why she'd gotten in trouble because then I'd be mad at her. There was ONE bratwurst left over from dinner last night, and that is her absolute favorite food in the world. I told her that if she told me what happened at school she could have that brat for dinner, but if she didn't then I was going to let Bob eat. Still she wouldn't tell. Finally she let Bob get the brat all the way to his mouth and she goes "All right. All right. I'll TELL!!!! I got lippy with Mrs. Stepp. Okay!!!!"

Thursday, November 13, 2008

A REAL Bra

Libby is anxiously waiting for her body to start changing and for puberty to begin.

My Mom and Dad kept the kids over night last Saturday. The kids had a blast, and it gave Bob and I chance to go out on date!

While Libby was there, she asked Granny. "Would you buy me a REAL bra. You know the ones like my mom wears with the stuffing inside!" Choke! Gasp! I am SO not ready for this.

A few weeks ago, she passed me in the living room, and I noticed something wasn't quite right about her. I made her stop while I looked her over. Then it finally dawned on me that she had "Boobs". She had stuffed one of her training bras with kleenex. And so it begins!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

No Contact Week

This is the week in high school athletics between football and basketball where no atheletes may be contacted. So I am soaking it up. Bob has been home every evening, and I haven't cooked a meal or given a bath one time this week!! Woo Hooo!!!

I just finished the second book of the Twilight series. I can't seem to put them down. Better get them finished before Basketball Season starts!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Leave a Comment

I write in this blog mostly for my children to read when they get older. And it's also theraputic for me to write.

But if you are a regular. Please leave me a comment about who you are and why you visit!!! It would be fun to know who reads the blog.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Libby's Revenge

When Frank got angry, he was going to throw a big tantrum (or do something spectacular) and everyone was going to know about it. Now Libby reacted completely differently. She'd give you the evil eye, and then get even with you later.

When she was four years old, she went through a period where she colored on the walls every time she was alone. I was complaining about this to my Mom, and she said "All kids color on the wall. YOU did it." My reply was "I colored on the wall ONCE, got a spanking, and never did it again!!!!" Libby just kept on doing it.

We gave her a bucket and a soapy rag and made her scrub it all off, we grounded her, we spanked her, and still she colored on the walls. She did that for about a year before she finally stopped.

Then one day she got in trouble (I don't remember what it was about) and she gave me the evil eye and skulked off somewhere. I thought that was the end of it. Later that night, I went to take a bath. I was going to read my romance novel in the tub. When I got to the bathroom, Libby had taken my paperback and torn all the pages up!!! That was her revenge!!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Frank's Revenge

At one point we have two little foster boys named Dodge and Caleb. We were considering adopting them along with their two younger brothers. Dodge was 6, Caleb was 5, and Frank was 4.

One day they were playing out in the back yard. Like typical boys, Dodge and Caleb were poking Frank with a stick. I went out there and made them stop and had them apologize. I thought it was all over and done with.

We'd just moved into a new house, and I didn't have all of the beds put up yet, so Dodge and Caleb were sleeping on a pallette in the bedroom. When they got ready to go to bed that night, they came and got me and told me that their covers were all wet. I didn't really believe them, but I went in there to check and sure enough there was a big wet spot in the middle. At first I thought one of the cats had gotten in there and peed on the blankets, but I smelled of it and it smelled like HUMAN pee, not cat pee. So I lined them all up, and Frank confessed that he had done it because he was mad at them.

After we got all the beds set up, in one room we had bunkbeds along one wall and a full bed along the opposite wall. I walked into the room, and Frank was on the top of the bunkbed, peeing in an arc right into the middle of Dodge and Caleb's bed!! I made him change all of their covers!!!

Fast forward a few weeks, and he got mad at ME. So instead of standing in front of the toliet and peeing into it, he stood on the toliet and peed all along the back wall. So I got him a bucket and some soap and made him clean up the mess himself. Then I told him "Son, if you don't stop peeing on things...I...AM....GOING....TO...CUT....IT.....OFF!!!!!"

I'm not sure if it was the threat or the fact that he had to clean up his own pee, but one of the two worked, and he never peed on anything again.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

A Typical Week

I thought I'd give a run-down of a typical week for us right now.

On Monday, Lena takes Frank and Libby to piano lessons after school. I pick them up on my way home and drop Frank off at football practice which goes from 6-8pm. Bob had JV Football and didn't get home until after 8pm.

Tuesday I had to leave work early to be at a school conference about his behavior that was from 4-5pm and Frank had practice from 6-8pm. Bob got home around 7pm.

Wednseday morning was the A/B Honor Roll Breakfast for Frank and Libby. We had to be there at 7:30am, and I was late to work. Wednesday is also dance/tumble cheer day. Lena takes them at 4:45pm, and I drive from work to the El Dorado YMCA and pick them up. They are done by 6pm, and we get home around 6:30pm. We carved our jack-o-lantern when we got home. Frank did not get to help with this because he acted up at school and had to spend his entire evening doing school work he refused to do at school. Bob got home about 8pm.

Thursday, Frank has an appointment with his counselor from 6-7pm at Augusta. My Mother In Law is driving up from Oklahoma today. She and Lena are taking the girls to Bob's football game (which also happens to be in Augusta). I'm going to take Frank to his counseling and then meet them there.

Friday is Halloween, so we'll be Trick-or-Treating. The girls get to wear their costumes to school. So I have to make sure they have them on in the morning and also have a bag of clothes to change in to after the parade. Oh and Madi needs $7 in cash by Friday too for a project...gotta remember to send that with her.

Saturday is Frank's Football Bowl. His first game is in Newton at 9:45am. If he wins that game, he plays again at 2 something. If he loses it he plays again at 6 something. If his team makes it to the finals they'll play on Sunday too.

If Bob wins his game on Thursday, they'll go to the play offs on Tuesday night at Andover. Can't imagine them winning that one, so then we'll be done.

We have about a week off before basketball season starts. Bob is Asst Coaching the High School girls this year, and all four of my kids are playing Rec Basketball on Four different teams. Not sure yet how I'm going to manage that one. I didn't think Carlie would want to play as she's more an intellectual than an athelete. But she is insisting that tough girls play basketball and she's going to play. I told her there would be running involved, but she still insisting!!!

They say that there is no rest for the wicked, so I must be REEEEAAALY bad!!!!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

JB Had A Break In

JB's apartment isn't in the best part of town, but it is cheap. Someone picked the lock and broke in the other day. They took his PlayStation, videos and games. He called the police to report it. When they came to take the report, the police told him that someone had been killed in his apartment last summer. They said they found the guy in the living room, and told JB he'd been there several weeks before anyone found him so he was melting into the floor. NICE!!!! I think that falls into the category "Thanks for Sharing". No wonder the rent was so cheap.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Pluck Those Orioles!!!

Last week Bob's team played their big rivals, the T-Birds. They made a giant sign that said "Pluck Those T-Birds." Carlie asked me what pluck meant. So I explained to her that it meant to pull all the feathers off of a bird. So the whole game she's asking me "Have we plucked 'em yet?"

Well last night towards the end of the game she asked me what the mascot was for the team were playing. I told her they were the Orioles and that was a pretty black and orange bird. And without missing a beat she says "Well I guess we'll pluck them too!!!" So she spent the rest of the game shouting "Pluck 'em!!! Pluck 'em!!!!"

Hehehe.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Why Mom Never Gets a Hot Meal





From my journal five years ago today. Frank is 5, Libby is 4, Madi is 18 months, and Carlie is 8 months old. It's the end of football season, and as always I exhausted by then.


Bob is home tonight...so I think oh good...I have some help tonight. I go after school and pick the kids up from daycare. Its only 4:30...since Bob is home I think that I can get some errands done. So I drop the kids off with him....I leave Carlie and Madi both screaming because they want me....and Frank and Libby bawling because they want to go. So I go by the post office and mail Parker's package, fill my van up which is on empty, go by the library and pick out two new books on tape for my van, go to the bank and deposit our paychecks...then go to Sonic to get something to eat.

I get back home and immediately Madi and Carlie both want me. I stick Madi in the high chair and get her food ready and put her drink in a sippy cup, and give Frank and Libby their food and drink. Calie is screaming. Bob had a shake to drink...so I tell him to go drink this before it melts, and I will give Carlie a bottle. So he eats while I give Carlie her bottle. She finishes and wants her paci...and starts screaming for it. Its no where to be found because Madi stole it and ran off with it. So Bob and I look all over the house. We have SEVEN of these paci's and not one can be found. Finally I find one in a corner. I was going to give Carlie to Bob so that I can eat, but now Madi is throwing a fit in the high chair. She doesn't do this unless she needs something. I give her a spoon and fork...nope. I put her out...nope...put her back in ...nope...give he raisins...nope. Finally figure out she has a poopy diaper. So Bob goes to change her. I am still holding Carlie. So I put Carlie in her walker...thinking I can finally eat. I go to get my hamburger...and before I can sit down...Frank pokes a hole in the bottom of his styrafoam Sprite cup. It was completely full and floods the kitchen floor...his pants and my feet with sticky Sprite. So I get a mop and a towel and get it cleaned up somewhat...but the floor is still sticky. Again...I start to sit down...when Libby decides to pull off her shoes which are full of sand. The sand sticks to the sticky floor!!! Ugh!!!

So finally I do get to sit down with my food. And here comes Madi. She has been in the trash and retrieved Bob's empty shake cup with the straw. She has taken the straw off and licked the cup and has it all over her face. She runs toward my plate and is waving the straw. I am trying to catch her...while I wrestle the cup away from her...she takes the straw and jabs it in the ketchup on my plate and gives the straw a good whing...which splatters ketchup everywhere. Ugh!!! So I catch her....wipe the ketchup off of both of us...and the shake off her face. Take everything away from her. And guess what. She's pooped AGAIN. It smells like diarhea poop, so I figure I need to go change it quickly. So I go change her......Bob still has Carlie all this time who is still fussing off and on....and FINALLy get to sit down and finish eating!

Calgon...take me awaaaaayyyyy. LOL. All of this and it wasn't even 6PM yet!!!

A-B Honor Roll



Both Frank and Libby made the A-B Honor Roll this 9 weeks. That's not an easy thing for either one of them. They have to work to get there. I got to go to the Honor Roll breakfast with them this morning. That was fun.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Thank You and I'm Sorry

For those of you who know more of the story of JB and our history with him, you'll truly understand the significence of this post. His birthday was on the 23rd, and he turned 19. He's been in our lives for 15 months now. He continues to be cancer free. His next check-up is in January.

From the beginning his relationship with our family has been a push-pull kind of thing. He wanted what our family had to offer, but after having been burned so many times in the last few years, it was hard for him to trust. So he'd often pull close to us, then panic and push us away.

We frequently heard from him that he didn't need any help, he didn't need anybody or anything. Three times he left our house in a fury because he didn't want to follow our rules, but he always came back.

He came over the other night to pick up the birthday present I had for him, and HE gave ME a hug and thanked me for trying to take care of him. It's the first time he's ever shown/initiated affection towards me. Occasionally in the past he'd tolerate me hugging him or ruffling his hair, but that was about it. His Thank You meant ALOT to me.

Then a few nights later, he made me mad. Typical teenage boy being selfish kind of thing. He sent me a text that he was sorry he'd hurt my feelings, and that he knew he messed up alot but he didn't do it on purpose.

Wow, has he really grown up alot this last year. I'm sure he's still going to have bumps in his road. But I sure am proud of how far he's come.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Trick or Treat at Madison



Wow, what another crazy-busy weekend. We went to the High School game on Friday Night. Then I had to have Frank in Hutchinson for his last regular game at 9:30 am. It's an hour's drive. We got home from that at 2pm, then left at 3pm to go have Halloween at Madison with my Mom and Dad.

While we were at Madison, JB stopped by the house with his new girlfriend. I missed getting to see her, but Bob said she was nice.

Today Madi had a skating party in the afternoon. Carlie was upset she couldn't go, so I took her and the other two out for ice cream while we waited for Madi. Whew!!!

We had a really good time Trick or Treating with Granny, Papaw and Memaw Obie.






Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Freedom on two wheels!




Madi learned to ride her bike without training wheels this weekend. I was so proud, because Frank was the one who patiently taught her how to ride it. They were so excited.

Now she wants to practice every day. I got out in the street and took pictures of them yesterday. Libby wanted me to take a picture of her doing "tricks" and then Carlie had to show me her "tricks" too.







She wants her training wheels off now too. I told her we'd do that this weekend.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Busy Weekend

We went to the home El Dorado football game on Friday night. JB's grandpa (Ken) met us at Pizza Hut before the game and bought us pizza, then went to the game with us.

Frank's last home game was on Saturday at 10:30am. I didn't know it but Frank and Libby's Birth Dad had called and talked to Bob earlier in the week and told him they were coming to the game. Bob forgot to tell me!!!

So I get to the game, and we walk by this guy and he reaches out and pulls Libby's hair and grabs her. This Momma Bear had her karate chop out and was ready to do battle until I realized who it was!!! Mr. Robey brought his Mom with him and his grandson who is four. Frank and Libby think it's really cool that they are an Aunt and Uncle.

Saturday night we headed to Madison. My Grandma Obie is there visiting, and we spent the day with them on Sunday.

We got lots of family time in.

Friday, October 17, 2008

JB's Make-A-Wish Dog



JB was diagnosed with AML Leukemia when he was a Freshman in High School. He spent a month on a ventilator in the hospital. They gave him a 40% chance of living five years.

After JB got out of the hospital, the Make-A-Wish program offered him a Wish. Of all the things he could have asked for, what he requested was a dog. They went to the local animal shelter and he picked out Bo, a Black Lab mix.

I think he’d had his dog about six months when he found out that his Mom was moving to Pennsylvania. JB stayed in El Dorado and was living with friends. His Mom took Bo with her when she moved.

As we got to know JB and he told us his story, he said one of the most painful things that had happened was losing his Make-A-Wish dog.

His grandpa called me shortly before JB’s 18th birthday and asked if there was anything special JB would like for his birthday. I told his grandpa that the best gift he could get him would be to get his dog back for him. By that time, his Mom had been living in another state for two years. We weren’t even sure she still had his dog.

But his grandpa made a call, and his Mom said she’d be willing to bring Bo back to him when she came to visit at Christmas time.

So now JB has his Make-A-Wish dog back.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Wise Mr. Sock



I tried something out this morning with Carlie when she has her fits that my counselor suggested. I made a wise Mr Sock puppet.

She threw a fit because I pulled her hair back out of her face today and she wanted it down. So I got wise Mr Sock puppet out and made him tell her that her hair was beautiful and made him try to eat the sausage she was having for breakfast. She laughed so hard she forgot about her fit. She told me the next time I threw a fit she was going to use it on me. LOL.


Last night the other kids were at a neighbor's house, so I took Carlie with me to the store to buy some bread. She wanted to buy some candy, and I told her No. She said “I think you need to let me win this argument because you are big, and I am little!!!"

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Halloween Decorations



I sent this picture of our Halloween Decorations to Granny, and she replied "PLEASE tell me that isn't where you buried the Hamster!!!!"

LOL.

Monday, October 13, 2008

More on the Death of Hannah

Bob's Niece, Arlena watches our kids for us when they get out of school. And as I've mentioned before our house always seems to be full of kids.

It turns out that when they found Hannah dead, Madolyn got hysterical. She went screaming up the stairs "Hannah's dead. She's been stabbed!!! She's been stabbed!!! She's DEEEEAAAAD!!!"

Well poor Lena, didn't know that Hannah was the HAMSTER. She thought there was a neighbor kid named Hannah down there who'd been stabbed and was dead. She said she nearly broke her neck running down the stairs to see who was hurt. It scared her to death!!!!

The craziness never ends at our house. Madi was playing with the remaining hamster, Angel, yesterday. I wake up to hysterical screaming. Apparently she set the hamster down for a second and Hunter, our cat, picked it up and took off running with it. Bob had to chase the cat down and get the hamster back. Luckily she was not hurt. Whew!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Rest in Peace, Hannah.



The kids discovered today that one of their hamsters was dead. It was the one who was the escape artist. Libby had taken one of her friends downstairs to see the hamsters. Hannah wouldn't come out of her little house. When Libby lifted the house up, she was lying underneath it with her feet in the air.

Libby thought at first that she was dead because it was Frank's turn to feed them last night, and he hadn't done so. I explained to her that it wasn't anyone's fault, that the hamsters were just old.

Then she told me that the hamster's teeth were sticking out about three inches, and Frank had said that we were supposed to take the hamster to the vet to have its teeth trimmed regularly and that's why it was dead. I told her that the hamster's teeth were always like that, they were just normally covered up.

Then poor Libby told me that she'd been online all afternoon looking for Pet Cemeteries where we could bury her. I guess I'm lucky that I nipped that in the bud before I got a bill for a $600 hamster plot somewhere in California.

Lena (Bob's niece who watches the kids after school) tried to get them to throw it in the trash, but the kids wouldn't hear of it. They told her "How would you like if we just threw YOU in the trash after you died!!!!"

So I guess we have to have some kind of hamster funeral this weekend. Sigh!!!

Thrown out of Preschool

When we moved to Cleveland, Ok to both be teachers, it was 2002. The school system had a Non-For-Profit daycare that was available for teacher’s kids. It was cheap and convenient. The daycare was run by a board of teachers (all of them elementary teachers who had kids in the daycare).

We’d been in school for a few months when Bob and I were “called before the board”. By then, I was several months pregnant with Carlie and EXTREMELY irritable. We met with “the board” in one of the elementary classrooms, and I remember perching on one of the tiny little grade school chairs while these old biddies proceeded to tell me how awful my children were.

The more I listened to all the petty offenses, the angrier I became. They went on to tell me how their daycare was just not set up to handle “those kinds of children”. Finally, I blew I gasket. I stood and looked the snottiest one in the eye and began to speak

“You’re worried about MY son throwing a shoe at your daughter right now. What you SHOULD be worrying about is that no one is willing to take the time to help “Those kinds of children”. What you SHOULD be worrying about is whether or not my son will grow up and AXE MURDER your daughter in 20 years, because no one would take the time to help him when he was LITTLE.”

You could have heard a pin drop, and then the woman burst into tears and ran out of the room. The whole time I’m talking, Bob has me by my shirt tale saying “Julie….Julie….calm down Julie”. LOL. Poor Bob.

What’s even funnier is that this woman had twin girls who were Frank’s age. When they were in first grade, one of her twins was in Frank’s class and fell head over heads in love with him!!! We’d run into them in the store and the little girl would be hollering “FRANK!!! Frank!!! I love you Frankie!!!” And you could hear her Mother hissing at her to be quiet.

Until we moved away, I’d secretly hoped they’d get married some day. Hehehe. Karma gets you every time.

P.S. They still threw them out of the daycare, despite my speech!!! But we found a much better one!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Cinderella with a 'Tude

Carlie loves to play with her figurines on the landing of the stairs. Bob and I were sitting in the living room watching TV the other day when we hear her loudly declare "Prince Charming!!! You take me to the TOP of the castle. Capesh?!?!?!?"

Oh, some poor boy is going to have his hands full some day!!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I love the sound of Screamin’ in the Mornin’

All I could think of this morning as I drove to work was Robert Duval’s character in Apocalypses Now yelling “I LOVE the smell of Napalm in the mornin’”

Normally Bob drops the kids off at school on his way to work, but he had to go early today for a faculty meeting. It shouldn’t be a hard thing to do. I have four able bodied children that are able to carry their own bags to the car and buckle themselves in. Should be a simple thing…..but not in the Pooligan household.

I told them as they gathered their stuff that they needed a jacket because it was cold outside. I got a chorus of “We don’t need a jacket…it’s not cold.” And out the door they went.

As I am gathering MY bags and trying to get out the door, I am nearly run over by a herd of children stampeding back into the house to get their jackets because it IS cold out there. Three of the four children go stampeding back out to the car. Carlie is in her room screaming to beat a banshee because she does not like the only jacket she can find. “Well TOUGH.” I wrestle the jacket on to her and herd her out the door…still bawling.

We get to the mini-van, and there are two car seats. One has padding and one does not. Because Carlie wouldn’t put her jacket on, Madi beat her to the van and got the “good” car seat. Carlie again starts bawling because she has the “Cold” car seat. I stop the van and refuse to go anywhere until she gets in the seat and puts her seat belt on.

In the mean time, Frank and Libby have gotten into it over something in the back seat. It escalates to Frank throwing a water bottle at Libby. I get that stopped and we proceed on to school.

Once at school, Libby does something else to Frank and he goes off on her screaming at her and throwing things at her. I told Frank that I’m not going to let him go into the school until he’s got control over himself. Our mini-van has self closing doors. He tries to dodge me and jump out the mini-van door. I push the button and shut it in his face. He opens it again, and it remains open just long enough for him to throw his trumpet case out before I get it closed again. Keep in mind; we are in the loading zone in front of the school with millions of people watching. He tries to open it again, and this time manages to throw his book bag out the door before I get it shut again. By this time I’m got him by the coat tale.

He sits down and I drive into a parking place to let him cool down before I let him go. He’s sitting their scowling, pouting and cursing. I inform him that some kid has picked up his trumpet case and is walking off with it. Frank proceeds to scream “I hate my trumpet anyway. And I hate school….and I’m not going. And I hate you too!!!”

So we sit there. Finally, I decide that I am driving him over to his school build WITHOUT his book bag and trumpet. When I put the car in gear, he decides he doesn’t want me to drive off and leave them there. So he says he’ll get out and get them. But by this time they are gone. So he goes into the school to see if someone took them inside. As he goes in the front door, the Principal comes out a side door with Frank’s book bag and trumpet. I wave the principal down and he looks at me kind of funny. I explain WHY Frank’s book bag and trumpet were lying on the side of the road. He finds Frank and gives him his stuff and sends him on his way to his building.

Oh YEAH!!!. I LOVE the sound of Screamin' in the Mornin'!!!!"

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

September Quotes

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery. - Anne Frank
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Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. - Dali Lama
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You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu
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Family .... A little world created by love.
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When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers
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I Know Where Babies Come Out At

Last summer, Carlie had just turned four years old. Out of the blue one day she came up to me and blurted out “I know where babies come out at!!!” Always interested in what’s going to come out of her mouth, I say “Oh, really, where’s that?” She replies in a sing-song voice “They come out your WEEEEN-NEEER!!!”

After I got my voice back, I said “Carlie, girls don’t have wieners (not a word we use anyway), only boys have wieners.”

She thinks about it a second and goes “Oh, I already know that. Because girls have vaginas and they are THIS small (and she rolls her index finger against her thumb to indicate a small opening) and boys have a Penis and they are THIS big (and she spreads her hands about 12 inches apart!!!!

Now, I haven’t even really had the birds and bees talk with my 9 and 10 year old yet, so I demand “WHO told you that????” And she goes “Well, my Daddy did!!!”

Boy did I have some questions for my husband when he came in that night!! At first he vehemently denied it. Then he decided that she MIGHT have been listening a few weeks before when he was talking to Frank about some birds and bees stuff.

THANKS, Bob!!!

I tried to explain to Carlie that this was very big girl stuff and was not to be discussed in Pre-school. I didn’t want her giving her version of sex Ed to the whole preschool class!!

Friday, October 3, 2008

What Your Car Says About You

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0932396.html

According to the article above, since I own a Navy Blue colored car, it means that I'm "Credible, confident, dependable". And that might be true. But the other day I was looking at my car and realized it says even more about me.

I drive a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. It's a sporty two seater, and that definitely shows my "go-get-em" personality. But I noticed a few other things about my car that were also telling. For one thing, the top of my black convertible roof was covered in long white cat hair. Hmmmmm.

Then I noticed that if was very dirty. Because when you have FIFTEEN MILLION (well okay only FIVE, but it seems like FIFTEEN MILLION sometimes) kids, you seldom have time to wash your sports car.

And then in the thick layer of dirt on my car, I noticed that four little fingers had trailed in the dust in a curly-que pattern all the way entirely around my car. And I just smiled!!!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Honk, Honk, Honk, Hooooonnk!!!


I think I've mentioned before that my husband is an optimist.....while I am what I call a "REALIST".

When the kids were really little, Bob would often leave them in the car with it running. I was constantly griping at him about this "Don't you know what could happen? They could get out of their car seats and put the car in gear. Someone could get in it and drive off." Yadda, yadda, Yadda.

Bob would always blow me off. That would NEVER happen, etc, etc.

Well one summer when Frank was 4 and Libby was 3, he had to go move the sprinklers on the football practice fields. There were a couple of them which mean he had to walk about 200 yards away from the mini-van. Because it was hot, he left it running with the kids in the car.

He got about 200 yrds away from the car, on the back side of one of the practice fields when he hears "Honk, honk, honk, Hooooooonk!!!!" Frank and Libby had unbuckled from their car seats and were honking out a tune on the mini-van horn. And Bob was 200 yards away.

The practice field was full of people, and they are all watching as Bob (who weighed about 400lbs at the time) is running back to the mini-van at a dead sprint in the heat. The whole way back they are merrily honking out tunes. He didn't leave them in the car by themselves any more after that!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

A Moment In Time


Yesterday morning, the kids didn't have school. It was so nice to be able to get ready for work at a leisurely pace instead of having to get four kids ready in addition to myself.

I was in the bathroom and I see a flash of pink heading towards my bed. I couldn't resist climbing back into bed with Carlie for a moment. We cuddled up under the covers and were tickling and giggling. Just a few minutes later Madi joined us. I laid there in bed with their warm little bodies pressed up against me...whispering and giggling. I could have stayed there all day.

But it was a glorious Moment in Time. One that I want to remember.

Monday, September 29, 2008

It's In The Kiss



This weekend, lipstick "kisses" began appearing on the walls of our house. The first one I found was down low on the wall and no one knew a THING about how it got there.

However, the next one I found was kid height. Again, NO ONE, knew how it got there. It was too low for Libby unless she was leaning down. That one was TOO BIG. So next I lined Carlie up next to the kiss. It COULD have been her, if she got up on her tip toes. That one was TOO SMALL. Then I lined up Madi....Hmmm....that one was JUST RIGHT.

So she got to spend the afternoon cleaning lip stick marks off the walls.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Bob's Weight Loss Site



http://www.solutionsforlifewichita.com/testimonials_bob_pool.php

Bob Pool
Address: Towanda, KS
Surgical Procedure: Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass
Total pounds lost: 150

Body Mass Index before surgery: 53
Body Mass Index after surgery: 33
Percentage of excess body weight lost: 70%
Physical activity before surgery:
Physical activity after surgery:
Triglycerides before surgery:
Triglycerides after surgery:
Blood pressure before surgery: 130/84
Blood pressure after surgery: 120/80



Since I have started planning for having the gastric bypass surgery I have lost over 150 lbs. I have lost large amounts of weight previous to this, but I have always put the weight right back on plus another 25 lbs."

"I am probably different than most people that have this surgery, as I was in pretty good shape for the shape I was in (round). I worked out pretty regularly walking and coaching football. I lifted weights and ate like a horse. I would say that I was a stress eater and would gain 50-60 lbs every football season. Most years I would lose it all, but it was getting more difficult to lose the weight as I got older. I have 4 small children and it seemed to me that keeping up with them was getting tougher."

"I dropped 50 lbs during football season I have more stamina and am able to do more things. I am currently coaching my son's little league basketball team and I am able to buy clothes in a regular store (no more big and tall shops for me, thank you). I really do not miss food; I was not a big sweet eater so I have not had many cravings. I try really hard to stay on schedule with my diet (it is not as easy as I thought it would be). It seemed easier when I was preparing for surgery. I do not eat sweets at all and I keep my water bottle with me all the time. I find it difficult to avoid salty crunchy foods unless I just make a concentrated effort."

"The biggest change I see is that I am satisfied after a few bites of just about anything. I do not like some things that I just loved before. I really pay attention to fat and sugar content. I have been ill from things I have eaten that were not supposed to be bad. I have dumped [dumping syndrome] once or twice it is a great motivator for me (I hate being ill)."

"My wife and I [both had gastric bypass surgery] are both very pleased with the results. I am thankful my wife decided to have the procedure. I would have never had it until I saw the energy it gave her. We have gone from being a basically sedentary couple to an active fit family."

Friday, September 26, 2008

Granny is Retiring


She's spent many years in the school system helping the kids who struggle the most. And now she is retiring.

Posted is this year's school picture. She's lost about 40lbs and is looking great!

They don't pay paraeducators much. Granny always did it because she enjoyed it. When she told her grandkids she was retiring almost everyone them said "But Granny, what will you do for money??? How will you pay your bills???" I guess they don't think Papaw makes enough money to support them!!!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Julie's Weight Loss Anniversary



Today is the two year anniversary of my weight loss surgery. Below is my testimonial from the Solutions for Life Website. The link below contains my commerical I made for them, if you'd like to see it.

http://www.solutionsforlifewichita.com/testimonials_julie_pool.php

Success Stories
Julie Pool
Address: Towanda, KS
Surgical Procedure: Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass
Total pounds lost: 104

Body Mass Index before surgery: 44
Body Mass Index after surgery: 27
Percentage of excess body weight lost: 80%
Physical activity before surgery: 0
Physical activity after surgery: 3 miles, 3 times a week
Triglycerides before surgery: 357
Triglycerides after surgery:
Blood pressure before surgery: 118/86
Blood pressure after surgery: 102/60

"I did not become overweight until my late 20s. Over the course of several years, I put on a large amount of weight. Every year, I’d put on another 10-20 lbs. I’m a Type A personality... a successful career woman and mom to five kids. On the inside I was driven, aggressive, busy, successful... but on the outside I was overweight, tired, slow and dumpy. The way I looked and felt was impacting my life. Since I had surgery a year ago, my life has changed drastically. I have lost 104 lbs. I now jog 3 miles at a time 3 or more times a week. My outsides now match my insides. "

"Because I was so overweight, I had stopped caring completely how I looked. I selected clothing that was comfortable and baggy. I did not bother keeping my hair done or wearing makeup. I was so overweight, I felt like fixing myself up wouldn’t make a difference. After I lost the weight, I had a makeover. I got a stylish hair cut and started wearing make up again. Of course, I had to go shopping, and updated my wardrobe. I remember how exciting it was to be able to shop in the regular section of a store instead of having to shop on the Plus side."

"My husband also had gastric bypass surgery about six months after I had it. Together we have lost 250lbs!!! Our five children also share in the benefits. We are now an active and fit family. We eat healthier food in more appropriate portion sizes. We no longer eat out all the time. My older kids jog with me, and we frequently take walks as a family. People frequently tell me that I look ten years younger, and I definitely FEEL ten years younger."

"Before I had surgery, I was pre-diabetic and was having trouble with high cholesterol and high triglycerides. My resting heart rate was in the 100-120 beats per minute range. All of those issues have now resolved. My resting heart rate is now in the 60s, and my blood pressure was 102/60 the last time I had it checked. I recently went to my endocrinologist whom I hadn’t seen since right before surgery. His comment was “Wow, you look so... so NORMAL."

"I tell my friends that some people look back at their wedding pictures and say “Wow, look how skinny we were. “ My husband and I look back at our wedding picture and say “Wow, look how overweight we were!!!"

"A big “thank you” to Dr. Jonathan Dort and Solutions for Life / Via-Christi."

Football Pictures

Just wanted to post some of my football pictures.








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