What is your Birth Order?

Is there any truth to the school of thought re:birth order as it colors how you relate in life? i just read yet another article on this as i am getting ready to parent a "eldest,middle,baby" (Sarah's peeps)and they offered a quiz to take (click on post title to see for yourself) to test your parenting style in r/t your birth order. I must say I have always wanted a youngest as I am the baby of 3 and now i will soon have my relative--the baby--we'll see how fun that is, right?
I, being the baby (last of 3)/with a first-born lean (coming 6 and 7 yrs after both my sisters) have always felt like everything i did big in life was "been there done that" like my graduations/wedding etc. and I have always resented that pics of me are few and far between although my sister's have lovely professional cutie pics as little girls---i am lucky to find a blurry snapshot---i have sworn inwardly to myself that this will not happen to my 3rd child (to which my mom says "we'll see..")
So, where do you all fall in your birth order and how has it shaped you?

Be where they're always glad you came...

(click on post title to connect)

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

Gosh, i love this song---it takes me back to the rerun days when i'd come home from hi-school and catch these old CHEERS episodes. It's the same feeling i still get when I take a nap on Sundays and there is a golf tournament on in the background--a familiar home sound--my dad has always had golf on Sundays--i don't watch it at all, it's just a nice comfort noise to me. Anyway...
My sister stopped by the other day and sighed,plopping down on the couch, and said "i don't want anymore friends"--which i totally understand...don't you ever feel like the more people you meet, the more effort they expect from you---the old faithful friends are just easier--they know your stuff and you don't have to explain or drag out old stories and remember whens, they just know and get you---it's so nice. I call these few friends "pajama friends" b/c you could hang out in your PJ's and just BE. That's what's nice about blogging, we all can connect w/o any expectations on each other---you can relax---and do it all w/o having to get your makeup on,huh? :)
Where is your favorite place to relax? Your Cheers?

HELP! Mother's Day's coming...

just venting...I have to confess, I think I would like to do away w/ Mother's Day.Why? you ask? I got"reprimanded" two yrs. ago for sending my husband to his mom's w/ the kids for Mother's Day while i went and hung out all day w/ my sisters and my mom---i thought i was doing MIL a favor (hello--her son, he's there w/her)(and i sent a very nice gift)?? and then got the "disappointed you weren't there" line??? Which was followed w/ a polite discussion about how I feel Mother's Day is about ME and my mom? is that weird? Every year I deal w/ a mother-in-law and my mom (locally)and the fact that I, in fact am a mother also to (soon to be 3) small children. (+plus my two grandmoms that are still alive)---ugh! it is such a headache day. So, this year,I have already been approached for a "tea" at 1pm reserved at a tea room 25 minutes away for me,my daughter,SisnLaw x 2 w/niece,and my MIL....you all, this is 4days after my new baby arrives...do you see what i mean (and why would the guys not be involved in their mother's day?) AHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGG! i told my SIL that I could not commit just yet (she who is graduating college and never had a baby)...I will probably be not wanting to even get up, much less dress up and take a newborn anywhere when he's 4 days old...this could start my postpartum early, i swear---could somebody tell me i'm not crazy?
Everyone seems to have a different idea about how MD should be spent?
I am one who believes that once you become a mother, then it should be whatever you really want to do that day,like spa/movie/shopping w/o your kids honoring your mom at some point in the day---is this a crazy thought? Notice, i said "your" mom, not necessarily your husbands mom---not that she's not great, but I have major conflict every mother's day and i end up not enjoying it myself--which just doesn't seem fair?Others seem to think you should spend the day w/ your kids?
I wanna know what your expectations of Mother's Day are? Please do tell?

also, HELP!!!
Does anyone have any ideas for Mother's Day presents
and a sister-n-law graduating college gift?
I have been looking everywhere for the perfect gifts and need to "check these things off my mental list" before i deliver this baby.

...and if you could come clean my house that would be great too! ;0)
Oh, i can't believe i am doing this AGAIN---i swear my face is swelling now too along w/ my Flintstone Feet! and i am not glowing--what's the deal?

Yankee or Dixie Quiz?

click on blog title to take test

I am 70% (Dixie). A definitive Southern score! My friend 'shell in the city' just did this quiz link on her blog and it was fun. I've always wondered about this kind of thing as my dad is a true Southerner (SC born/raised)--he says "light bub" (not bulb) and many other coloquialisms, but my mom is a true Northerner (Pittsburgh grown)....and living in FL there seems to be lots of North effect here.
Check it out...
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/yankee_dixie_quiz.html

Do you ever wish Days like These?

(click on post title to connect to youtube link)

a song can transform me into s/o else...even if just for a moment. I think that's why people love music so much--it has the power to take you away.
I was drivin' down the road the other day (in my minivan--picture me--so cool) and put this song on LOUD to drown out my kids whining,crying and for a 3minute time span--I was ME again--i lose her every once in awhile and it's nice to reconnect,you know.
I miss my girlfriends! Those days are a dream,huh?
So, "girl,put your records on, tell me your favorite song, you go ahead let your hair down...you're gonna find yourself somewhere"

Today We are all HOKIES

We just got this email from VT Alumni...

PRAY FOR ALL RELATED TO CAMPUS MASSACRE.......Virginia Tech.

>Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007
>
>Words can't express our sorrow and grief for our Virginia Tech family and
>community.
>Friday April 20 has been declared a national "Orange & Maroon Effect" day,
>a day to demonstrate support for the families of those who were lost, the
>community and the university.
>
>I invite you to wear these colors on Friday, even if you're not a Hokie.
>
>Please remember the families and friends of these precious people in your
>prayers. They will need the peace and strength of God in the difficult days
>ahead.
>
>Paige Jones - VT Class of '83 - College of Education
>Steve Jones - VT Class of '84 - College of Engineering

No Stinkin' Thinkin'...

My sister always quotes a friend of her's who says "No Stinkin'Thinkin'" and "Check up from the neck up?"---good thoughts!
I got this email from a friend and thought it was good...especially seeing how i posted earlier this week about 'what you put in;is what comes out' (Phil.4:8,9)

> Subject: What you say!
>
>
> THE TONGUE CAN BE OUR WORST ENEMY
>
> Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions
> in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about.
> If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job.
> If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick.
> If you keep saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen or
> just stop operating.
> If you keep saying you're broke, guess what? You'll always be broke.
> If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always
> find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
> If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed.
> If you keep saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you,
> your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
> If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you
> might end up with it.
> Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power
> packed with faith, hope, love and action.
> Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
> Watch your Thoughts, they become words.
> Watch your words, they become actions.
> Watch your actions, they become habits.
> Watch your Habits, they become character.
> Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny.
> The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you
> settle for.
> Thought I would share this with you.
> "In the search for me, I discovered truth.
> In the search for truth, I discovered love.
> In the search for love, I discovered GOD.
> And in God, I have found Everything."
>
> Be Blessed
>
> Watch how your circumstances and situations begin to change when you change
> the way you speak. Pass this on to as many people as you can so they can
> change their lives, too.
>
>
> "Life is like melted butter. . .once things cool down, it can be reshaped!"

www.atouchofwhimsy.com

OK, I must share my favorite gift shop...i have used this girl for the past couple of years and she is my best kept secret...i just went to her old ebay site where i originally stumbled on her and found that she has a shopping blog (see my "go to" girls list on sidebar)...she does great quality stuff! I get her notecards, teacher gifts, friends presents, baby shower, you name it---i love how easy she is to work with and she isn't very pricey. I also use her "bag tags" for my diaper bags and get tons of "where'd you get that?"
So go check her store out and get on her blogsite as she gives away lots of freebies too!
I loved my round address labels from her that i used on my Christmas cards too--they were just like the ones in my sidebar pic but w/ lights strung in the palm trees! Too cute!
You'll love her, promise!

Our "McGramma"

I feel the need for s/thing lighter than VT drama...so I thought I'd share about my favorite McDonald's employee (yes,i am proud to have one)--our "McGramma"--(yes,inspired by Grey's Anatomy)... I crave egg mcmuffins at least once a week and everytime i go over early in the morning w/ my kids in the car, this same little old lady is working the register...i love her. She has the cutest little voice--i wish i could play it for you--somehow she makes my day. So, the other Saturday morning my husband was with me and her voice comes over the speaker "hello,may i take your order" and my kids say "it's, McGramma!" as I have called her in the past. Ed,once again completely confused,doesn't understand what our smiles are all about and second that we have a "person" at McDonald's--he just doesn't get it---until, that is, we pull around and he sees her and she says "two,two,two" not "$2.22" (and she sounds like a little morning bird) and my kids both are chiming in "222" over and over, and then He gets it and we all can't stop smiling! I really need to write the management and tell them how sweet she is. I seriously think if she died I would go to her funeral.
Anyways, hope that little story made you smile.

The Question Mark Kid?

AKA,VT Killer,what a freak!

I had just heard about the 8-pg "invective-filled note" he left behind and wondered if anyone else had to look up some of those words? :) I did---wow,Cho,was a smarty! What a sad waste of intelligence. I bet the Lit.teacher that had referred him to counseling and police is glad she did, much to no avail, but at least she feels she did react to her own intuitions.

So, back to my new words, learned from "the Question Mark Kid" :
an "invective-filled note"--noun;
abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
"debauchery"--noun;
a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity [syn: orgy]
"deceitful charlatans"--noun;
A person who makes elaborate, fraudulent, and often voluble claims to skill or knowledge; a quack or fraud.

I know you were all wondering as well, right?

People are wondering why these school shootings are happening and I just want to say, in a society where so much violence is accepted mainstream in these kids games and movies, on TV etc. coupled w/ parents who are blissfully unaware of what their kids are doing--what do they expect? What you put in; is what comes out.
It's a scary world that our kids are growing up in. I haven't caught any interviews w/ this kids parents and i am interested in that background (i am not saying it is always a parents fault, by any means, but i just wonder how they couldn't have a clue he was so messed up or maybe they did?) gotta go, later.

oo, another new word...
brandishing--
To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly

VT Massacre

My heart and prayers go out to all of these families w/casualties involved in this school shooting. I can't imagine all the heartbreak ahead for so many today. What sick kind of evil would posess s/o to do s/thing like this? My husband is a graduate of Virginia Tech and is in complete shock. Something like this could happen anywhere and it makes me hold my kids a little closer once again. God bless the people who are closest to this tragedy...so sad.

Once a Boston Marathon runner!

BOSTON MARATHON is today! I posted on this recently...so i thought i'd tag a pic of my Edward running the Boston Marathon yrs. ago, but of course he is obsessed w/ it today. He said he was so glad he didn't qualify this year as a Noreaster blew in? Sarah? are you havin' fun up there? :)
His best time in the two Boston Marathons he ran were 2h36min!!
I am still proud of you,babe! You are still a runner to me :)

p.s.i didn't realize he was trying to qualify last yr by running the PBMarathon--now i know--he knows better--we have rules, like when i am hugely pregnant; he's not allowed to train--hehee! (and you all know why)

My Bluebird Baby Shower

We had my baby shower for #3 and I must say--"three times is a charm"--they did this one right---by that, i mean, no phoof, I have never liked any of the cheezy games and honored guest pressure etc. just the basic essentials--cool place,small group w/best of friends (plus the very ladylike big sister,Kayden--who was so happy to be there),great food, and just what you need, and the cake finally, was a great one (a mocha chocolate creme cake--yum)! I have to laugh at this b/c I have been cursed in the baby shower cake dpt--if i could find pics i'd post b/c you'd never believe how goofy they have been, but all in all they have made for great funny memories...and this shower happened to be no different as the private cake maker cancelled as of Friday night for a Sunday shower (flu in the house)---it was a miracle that the cake got replaced but it did and was awesome! The leftovers in my fridge will be my next 5# I'm sure :)
In keeping w/ the Spring Bluebird invite etc., my sister did adorable little blue bird nests w/ chocolate blue speckled eggs inside as favors--they were so cute! It was a wonderful day! Wish you all could have come.
ThankYOu so much for all the effort and great gifts!

One Fine Day...

So, everyone (up North,i guess) is jealous that i just got back from the beach...(right below this lighthouse) and we were the only ones there--so nice--i must say there are 6 reasons we Floridians love it here; they are December,January,February,March,April,and May. The rest of the year I would prefer to be where some of you are now--trust me--but at least i live on the East coast so we have a nice breeze all year.
Anyway, this has been one fine day b/c to start, I have had two relatively good nights sleep (the two nights prior I had a bed-wetter and a nightmare scare) so, I love when everyone goes to bed and stays there. So, I started this day awake and happy to snuggle w/ my 5yr.old at 630am this morning. We got to all see a big opossum walking our fence in the backyard this morning. Then a smooth out-the-door to school w/ no kinks. Then I got ready for a playdate at the beach w/ my good friend and her two yr old little guy, loaded up my new minivan (so cool),caught all the green light wave to the beach (love when that happens) and let the little men play themselves out! They fed the pelicans,watched the fish jump,picked shells,made sandcastles and I (as big as i am now) caught a crab for them to stand in awe over! We were right by the lighthouse and the drawbridge so the boys had so much fun watching the cars cross the bridge and the bridge go up and count the boats as they came through--they really had so much fun! (and all this just 5 minutes away). Then I stopped at the Burger King and got my favorite beach treat---the Cherry Limeade Slurpee---they are my favorite summer treat especially when it's hot out and the best part is it's drivethru convenience factor---if they would let me do everything thru a drivethru i think i would--wouldn't that be great! Now my little guy is wiped out and he is sound asleep and I have given myself a pat on the back b/c I have been a good mom for today anyway :0)
disclaimer: in retrospect,this all seemed to have no reflection on how my afternoon turned out :|

Are you a GOOD wife?

This is a Good Housekeeping magazine clip from 1955....could you even imagine seeing this in a magazine today?
My mom sent this to me and my sisters this morning--LOL! Did they really do this,"seriously"?(as they say in Grey's Anatomy)..The scary thing is my mom is pretty good at this list. Just wondering what happened through the years to my sisters and I? I must be a modern women.
*note-you may have to click the picture to read it all if it's too small>

OK, when you girls stop laughing long enough to pick yourself off the floor, forward this to all the women you know so they can have a good laugh too.
Well,I am off to the beach (or maybe i should start vacuuming awaiting my husbands return from his long day--HA! :0) I think s/o should try this list out---and let me know how it goes---i wonder if Ed would want me back or trade me for a STepford wife? Hmmm?
p.s.did anyone watch Notes from the Underbelly last night? I thought it was cute--I don't really know if it can last,but it was fun to watch especially since i am pregnant? Oh,how naive we are before that first baby,huh?

Sipahhs--heard of em?

This is my newest,greatest find!!!! at my favorite store WalGreens!
My daughter gave up on white milk at around age 3 since all her big cousins were only drinking chocolate milk by that point, so we started using Ovaltine and now these straws seem to have done the trick w/ her and they only have 0.5 t.sugar per each 8 oz.

The straws are unique in its use of tiny flavoured beads entrapped within the straw. A special filter at each end of the straw keeps the beads in but allows milk to be sucked through. The beads, which are made of tapioca starch, gradually dissolve and flavour each mouthful of milk.

Of course we had to test them out!

The straws can be used from either end and although they are designed for use with 300ml of dairy milk, one suspects you could easily use rice or soy milk with little problem.

The flavouring worked surprisingly well. There was a bit of refining of sucking action (suck too fast and you don't get much flavour) and then the whole thing descended into concentration of flavour via backwash (that wasn't me!).

There's no doubt it brings out the kid in everyone. As much as it is being pitched at encouraging kids to drink more milk (and each straw only has about 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar), I suspect a few more straws will disappear from the kitchen cupboard when the kids aren't looking.

go to www.sipahh.com

Puff Mommy

I debated calling this one Puff Mommy as done or "Cafankles" (i'll explain). My cyber-friend over at Playgroups are no Place for Children (see sidebar) posted once about a bad case of blog topics haunting her at night and now this is me. Maybe it's b/c we are both pregnant? but it is now 330ish am and i am writing to you all---is that weird? or maybe it's b/c I can't sleep b/c I can't breathe anymore and woke up to pee (again) w/ another knifelike CharlieHorse (maybe that's a sign to name the baby?) or the sciatica down my leg...but all in all, what really is bugging me AGAIN is my weight gain (which this time i have no idea how much i weigh, seriously, i have not looked at the scale for my last 3 visits b/c it upsets me so). I named this blog "puff mommy" b/c "theyr'e back" ("they" being the "cafankles" as my OB calls them--LOL!) My friends and I call him "DR.FatFingers" b/c my favorite part about him is that first, he's bigger than me :), and second his personality/smarts--i really love this man. Anyway, to define the cafankles--they are when you're calf and ankle has no more definition. That is so sad...Yep, that's me, again. They came two days ago, at the car dealership when i pressed my finger on my ankle and made a dent--hmmph! I am now no longer a real person, I am "puff mommy". My friends seem to love laughing at how big I get when i am pregnant--i have been referred to as "Shallow Hal"--isn't that nice? I can't wait til i get to the part after baby where i am the "Incredible Shrinking Woman"! My whole body has really no defining bone structure anymore, just all kinda blends into the big bump in the middle. Girls, I don't know how much longer I can take of this. They scheduled my induction on May 10, unless i go sooner.
On a inspirational note, has anyone seen that reality series they are doing on the Gosselin family that had fertility twins and desperately wanted a third baby then ended up w/ SEXTUPLETS! Very inspiring family--you watch thinking--"if she can do it, I can!" (not have 6 but one--EZ!) I have so much respect for that lady! It was so scary watching a day in her life--OMGosh--how could you sanely survive that? and they had the nerve to take all 8 of those kids out to dinner one night--I'm embarrassed--i don't even enjoy taking my two out to dinner. It was such a great reality show though---i like the way her husband and her react to each other--very realistic for reality TV. You gotta check it out...
oh, and the saddest part was when she gave us a peek of her belly after having the 6 baby litter!!!! Somebody needs to give her a tummy tuck---i have never seen anything like that---Ed almost died and appreciated my body that much more--Thanks, Mrs.Gosselin for takin' one for the team!:)
Alright,now that i got this off my chest, I gotta waddle back to bed...and "blame it on the balls" (as Jennifer would say---HA!)
I just googled that family and they have a web where you can see pics (not of her belly--bummer--but of the family)...www.sixgosselins.com and it tells you when their series is on the Discovery Channel called Jon and Kate Plus 8! and this was said about her belly issue:

Never a dull moment for this family of 10, now that the twins are in kindergarten and the sextuplets are terribly two, life just keeps getting more exciting. Kate's stretched out post-pregnancy belly is going to get a tummy tuck, courtesy of a viewer.

I was hoping some rich person helped her out--poor girl--Good for Her!

She's My Little Runner Girl!

My husband is so proud!!! Our little girl was one of four chosen to run a relay for her Kindergarten class and she was the anchor (fastest)! She must get this from her dad--my husband has run the Boston Marathon twice (which you have to have a qualifying time in previous marathons to even enter--i think that's a big deal as I have never been able to run more than a 10k w/o dying), so if you run, you know a speed marathon must be a killer. He ran it best at 2h 36minutes!!! That's pretty fast! I know i am bragging on him but we were so excited watching our little girl run that race and i saw him reflecting glory off his face. I'm sure one of my kids will take after me and be much less motivated and driven than my Ed! and i will love 'em just the same :)

NEW CAR!!!!!

Yeah!!!!!! My first brand new car---i got it last night after 6 months of shopping--i am now officially the proud mommy of a minivan! and i never thought i would be so happy about that, but i am! This car is so great--the Honda Odyssey. I picked the color dark cherry pearl (think maroon)w/ tan leather interior (which i am still a bit nervous about it getting dirty w/ kids but I liked it best) Ed still can't believe he actually bought a minivan--he was still trying to talk me into the Pilot at the dealer (which would be great in 5 yrs) but w/ 3 babies under 5yrs old--that sliding door feature (just push a button at parent pickup and in/out they hop--yippee!) and second row w/ captain seats and seating 8 people was just too much fun for me to pass up...amazing how kids can change everything,right? Now all we need to do is take a trip! Still happy Spring Breaking--we have been outside gettin our tans on for the year all week (so we look cool in our new minivan--LOL!)and so glad we have had perfect weather!!!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter! This picture makes me laugh b/c my little girl, who is 5 half yrs old, says to me after sitting w/ a weird smile on the bunny's lap--"Mama,I don't think that bunny is real" I say "what?why?" she replies "because,i looked at him and he had little tiny holes in his eyes and i could see something inside him"---i fought hard not to laugh b/c she was so sincere and i told her she would have to ask her dad about that! :0) You want their childhood imaginations to last forever. So sweet!
Well, have a wonderful Spring Break!

April Fool's Birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER KERYN!!!!!!!!!!!
She is our "family fool"--i say that b/c she was born on April 1st and she spends lots of time thinking up great jokes to play on all of us on her birthday every yr!! You'd think we would learn but somehow she is that good at it--she gets us where it counts too!! She must have been born w/ this gift. I remember her best prank on me was 4 yrs ago when i had just moved down to Florida from N.C. and ,while in transit driving behind my husband, I was hit by a "hit and run"! on the interstate w/ my 8mo. old baby in the backseat! I lost control of my car and literally saw my life flash before me. (that's another story but..) keeping that in mind--when we made it to Florida, we had just had all our furniture moved into a rental home on my sister's street; we were sleeping at my mom and dad's until all the rooms,flooring etc was redone and my mom and i had just put a load of laundry in at the rental and left the machine running all night when we left (this was April Fool's Eve, you follow)..my sister called me at my mom's in the morning (April 1st) and was hysterical saying "the fire dpt and cops are on her street and the new house is up in flames!!!"---i swear, I almost beat my heart through my chest and started sobbing---it had just been too much happening in my life at the time and this was believable since we had left the washing machine running...then she says "April Fools!!!"---it didn't even matter at that point--i was so shaken up that i kept crying---we laugh hard about it today, but that day--she got me good! i think my nerve's were shot! Can you imagine!?
ANyway, this ONE's for you, Keryn, you fool you! :0)
She is the most generous person i know--she would give anyone the shirt off her back, she has been through so much in her life (loss of a husband in a car accident and left w/ a broken back and several surgeries and months in the hospital w/ chronic pain and she never complains--it really amazes me!) She is an optimistic person who can always seem to find the silver lining in any situation--that's a true gift! She is such a blessing to me and always seems to be thinking of others. It makes me tear up to think we almost lost her in that accident and we are soooo thankful to God that she is still here with us laughing on April Fools Day and I have learned to never take that for granted again.
I love you,"Kerynyn"! Happy Birthday!
p.s. Keryn, hope you're having fun on Spring Break in Pennsylvania! We miss you! I almost posted on "the red bucket" memory at Corrie's for Grandpap's funeral--LOL!! Good times,huh? "Cradle to Grave"~love you! :)