Funny Faces Friday

New Year's Eve Eve Wishes

Since NYE falls on Friday and I of course have to give you Funny Faces, I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you, and then some of you in particular, well wishes and good thoughts for the upcoming year.  It means a lot to me that you have stuck by me and my blog even though my time has become limited to read yours this year.

Between the job and the kids and the piles of laundry and dishes, I'm running low on fuel and time.  In fact, today at work, I do believe I had a couple of women honestly worried I might lose it.  Women who don't generally care a bit about my well-being, at least based on their previous behavior. And frankly, they are right to worry. I feel overwhelmed, under-assisted, and unable to do anything about it.

In the eyes of the work "Lords", asking for help means you're admitting failure. It means I am unable to properly manage my people to maximize their time and complete their load efficiently. Truth be told, I believe there are some people who are simply unmanageable.  They don't believe they need supervision or guidance, they don't want someone managing their workload or assisting them in continued success on their job. And they certainly don't care about promoting themselves to a level and ability that would put them in a position for advancement.

With that said, I am anxious to hit that year marker for this position (January 13) and decide where I can take this year-long learning curve within the company (or without...). Maybe nowhere. Maybe somewhere. I'm just ready to open up possible windows and doorways. A positive approach and more rest is what I wish for myself. I want to refresh and gain energy for my family because they have suffered through my fatigue with work.  For you?

Emily, I hope the year brings you continued hope and patience and even more wonderful family moments that catch you by surprise.

Tracy, I hope the year brings you renewed, positive health, a sense of calm, and a special happy moment each and every day that you are with your children.

Michelle, I hope the year brings you and your family peace of mind for healthy growth, a wonderful new place to hang your hats, and a happy (sad for me) sense of new beginnings.

Lele, I hope the year brings you more joy in experiencing new things and satisfaction in your day to day existence. What a happy gift that is in itself.

Anners, I hope the year brings you a terrific new adventure as you close a chapter of your life. Only more great things await you!

Bucket, I hope the year brings you steady and reliable work, and continued happiness with your special girlfriend (who rocks as a Libra).

Mom, I hope the year brings you more joy with your "new" hobby and fun times with your sisters, a healthy new grand baby (not mine!), and a peaceful time with work and home.

Sarah, I hope the year brings you exactly what you want for your family, from your family, more snow in MN for any vacation you may plan, and many Jayhawk pictures from the future alum in your home.

Stacy, I hope the year brings you health, hair drivers, and reassurance and positive strides to believe you are doing exactly what you should be doing, and that in the end....it all works out. 

Dorkys, I hope the year brings you the ability to foster and grow the wonderful relationship you have gained and the ability to see the forest through the trees. 

Iggy, I hope the year brings you sincere and meaningful moments with bright surprises intertwined.

Teresha, I hope the year brings you replenished energy to continue the wonderful parenting style you've carved for you and yours, and the enlightened way of thinking you bring to blogland.

Danica, I hope the year brings you familial joys and serene moments to relax.

Jewls, I hope the year brings you many more wonderful moments with your pride and joy, and even more wonderful people to touch your life like the ones you've already experienced.

Cindy Lou Who, I hope the year brings you the ideal situation for work and family and hopeful, healthy solutions for your loved ones.

April, I hope the year brings you more success with FVK and great satisfaction with the beautiful family we get to watch grow and live through your stories and photos, despite never having met them.

Foxy, I hope the year brings you so much joy and happiness that you cannot stand the thought of anything before it, and learning experiences that will leave you humbled and appreciative in ways you never knew existed.

Kirsty, I hope the year brings you a growth in love that seems impossible, joy in finding yourself "unsick", and time to capture the moments you'll experience in photos because I want to see them!

Janna Bee, I hope the year brings you more and more moments of giggling and awe at the growth your boys will do, and the ability to savor the moments. They go too quickly.

To all the rest reading, I cannot name you all without eliminating desperately needed sleep, so I will leave you with this.

Find a place in your mind that will feed you peace. 

A moment each day to close your eyes and remember your blessings. 

The ability to see your obstacles clearly, but your passion to overcome them felt more strongly.

Remember your reasons.

Wish joy on others.

Forgive. Them and You.

Give consideration and seek sincerity.

Happy New Year!

Monday Mumbles

**The Mumbles will be delayed to evening publication again due to the nature of our weekend.  Nature, you say? Snow?  Sleet?  No. Sleep deprivation and an inability to put together a coherent sentence.**

1.  Christmas was good.  The bad weather stayed away, we were able to travel, and I do believe we hit all four spots without a sibling argument.

2.  In case you're wondering, that's a miracle.

3.  And when I speak of siblings, I mean my brother and sisters.  Not my own children.

4.  OJ apparently asked Hubs for a drink tonight.  He said he wanted beer.  We blame this on my father.

5.  Evie has learned to clap her hands and she does it all.the.time.  It's adorable. Of course.

6.  There was apparently a winter storm on the East Coast here in the US.  I was completely unaware until I was in a meeting this afternoon and there was talk of potential delay if eastern banks had "issues". Who knew?  (probably everyone)

7.  How many of you have already started taking down your holiday decorations?  I'm about to start tomorrow with the help of my sister Anna.  She's here watching TO, and I'm leaving them with the ornament boxes.  Down comes the tree! Poor, crispy tree.

8.  So Hubs and I were not supposed to get each other anything for xmas. Money saver, you know. Well, he didn't stick to it and I did. I literally spent $1 on his gift and he spent more.  He's in the doghouse. Sort of.

9.  I entered a raffle at work and won the grand prize.  A 24" Dell monitor.  I gave it to him for xmas, even though we both use the only computer in the home. I'm looking at it now, only about two feet away from my face.  It's killing my eyes.  He loves it.  He watches tons of videos on the computer, so he was excited.  But I only spent a dollar.  He bought me a watch, a Chi flat iron, and a Coach pocket purse.

10.  And he did the dishes tonight so I suppose I'll be nice to him.  But just this once.

Sisterly Saturday

Sitting down to right this, I know it’s going to be much longer than the requested paragraph of my favorite memory of my sister.  My sister is ten years older than I am.  She has played several different roles in my life over the years. She is much more than “just” a sister.  As if being a sister isn’t enough.

It’s funny when your sister is 10 years older than you.  You never are really at the same point in your life.  Even now, that we’re both married mothers, we really aren’t in the same place.  Her boys are knocking on colleges door and she is looking forward (in some ways) to what an empty home will bring, while I’m looking down the next 16 or 17 years wondering (lovingly) what in the heck I’ve gotten myself into.

When I was really little, my sister used to love to take my picture (or maybe I loved to be photographed).  She would hang blankets up like back drops and take our (my little brother, too) pictures in front of them.  She would tickle me so hard that when I said I couldn’t breathe she would tell me I that could or I wouldn’t be able to talk.  I remember her getting my hair STUCK in a curling iron before school one day and we missed the bus.  In those years, she was definitely the older sister that I couldn’t get enough of.

I remember visiting her often while she was in college.  I would stay at her apartment and think it was the best thing ever.  I remember her trying to explain what the vibrator was when we went and saw Parenthood at the theater together.  I also remember going to Walmart and her squeezing a little bit of Phisoderm soap on her fingers and saying to me, “Isn’t this just what you would think semen is like?”  Now, I KNOW she knew exactly what semen was like at that time, and today she SWEARS that this event did not occur, but it did. In those years, she was definitely the older sister that was teaching me things I certainly didn’t need to know about…but I loved it!

I remember when I was in high school and college, I would call my sister to tell her every little (and big) thing that happened in my life.  Every boy I kissed, every embarrassing moment, every love letter received, every sorority story, every time I was bored, it was my sister that I called.  In those years, my sister, who was married, with sweet little babies, let me be so self-absorbed.  I was young and silly and had no clue that she probably didn’t care if I tripped in front of the whole high school auditorium or started my period while shacking with my boyfriend.  In those years, she was definitely my confidant and she always made me feel like these “important” events in my life were important to her, too.

In between all of this, I certainly fell head over heels in love with my nephews.  I remember the day I learned each of them was coming and the first time I felt the oldest kick in my sister’s belly.  I remember vividly meeting each one in person for the first time. I remember the joy I would get in coming home from school to see them and hearing them say my name.  I know that my favorite memory of my sister is when I told her that I was pregnant for the first time.  I somehow felt like sharing this story alone would have been cheating myself and my sister out of 28 years of memories and background leading up to that moment.  Miss Tooje can feel free to shorten this to her little hearts desire, but at least I will know I have shared it with at least one person.

To understand why sharing my pregnancy with my sister was so profound you also have to understand that my parents live a 12 hour drive away.  I had to share the exciting news with them over the phone.  My husband’s parents are, well, my husband’s parents.  They are non-emotional people and neither my father-in-law nor mother-in-law hugged either of us when we told them and my FIL didn’t even shake my hubbies hand, which is apparently their small way of showing affection.  It was all very deflating….but back to my sister.  I surprised her at work that morning after my confirmation visit with the doctor.  I told her I had taken the day off for my morning “dentist” appointment.  When she hugged me in greeting, I told her that the dentist said I’d be having a baby around July 17^th of the following year.

Oh, the joy!  That’s all I can really say.  It was the perfect combination of jumping up down, tight hugs and happy tears rolling down our cheeks.  It was exactly the moment that I always envisioned it would be. In that moment, my sister did exactly what she always does; made me feel like my news was just as important to her as it was to me.  But this time, I know it really was.

 

Written by my dear friend Tracy, whom I've had the pleasure of knowing and loving since we were wee ones in elementary school.  Tracy's honesty and open, direct nature is something I have always been envious of, and as an adult, am aspiring toward.  Love you!  Merry Christmas, everyone.

Funny Faces Friday

She wasn't mad. I promise.

She wasn't really into the present opening gig. Went to bed after two or three.

I said, "Smile!" and she did!

OJ loves giving funny faces.

I asked for him to give me a good smile.

And I asked again.

He's getting good at the funny face stuff.

His eyeballs scare me.

The new teeth are pushing through and causing all sorts of goofy looks.

They aren't so good at the funny face thing.

Okay, they got a little better.

I'm thinking the funniest part of these photos are my mom's feet.

Cookies

All I can think about is eating cookies.  I'm hungry.

Does anyone else giggle at the "shake it" weight loss/muscle building "utensil" for men?

I like our Christmas tree.  I should take a picture for you all to see, however....I'm lazy.  I'm tired.

I'm up late on Wednesday evening trying to watch a basketball game that is airing on the West Coast. Ugh.

Monday Mumbles

So the Mumbles are late, but it's still Monday. And they might be condensed. Sorry.


1.  I have been so busy at work that I'm too exhausted to get anything done at home.  Do you know what that means for the state of my house??

2.  TO had basketball practice tonight and afterward I come home to find Hubs sitting on the entry stairs, Evie in his lap, his head in his hands, and OJ jumping on the couch.  Both were supposed to be in bed. I'm thinking he lost control at some point between me leaving and me returning.

3.  It's nearly 9pm and I'm just now making some dinner for Hubs, Till, and myself.  At this point in the evening, I've lost my appetite.  BUT...apparently they haven't.

4.  I listen to a lot of sports talk radio on my commute to and fro.  I like to listen to the advice and inside scoop about team management, coaching, and general manager decision making.  I like to think that it could correlate nicely to corporate management. 

5.  But then I realized you have to be managing people who, for the most part, have some sort of competitive edge, a need to excel and perform.  A desire to, at the very least, look good even if they aren't the best at what they do.

6.  If you didn't catch what I said in #5.....I DON'T HAVE THAT. Well, I half have that. Or 1.5 out of 4 have that.

7.  My friend Michelle and I have had a rough go of it at work over the past year. We have micromanagement to the eenth degree, negativity permeating our department, and threatening managerial styles that leave you feeling suffocated.  Michelle might have found her escape.  If this is so, I am very sad.  Happy for her, but sad for me.

8.  Beware - or rather, be ready...look forward to....be on the lookout for....Sisterly Saturday on Christmas day.  I know some of you may not get a chance to read blogs on Christmas day, BUT...be sure to check out the Square Table over this coming weekend.  It will be posting.  And I just want to say I am excited to be part of this little post.  It's essentially a guest post/elongated version of my last Sisterly Saturday about happiest memories.

9.  We celebrated Christmas at my mom's this past weekend.  It was wonderful. She spoiled every single one of us. Again.

10.  I think OJ is finally feeling better, I am feeling better, I don't stink anymore (Iggy), and if Evie could stop having diarrhea, we'd all be great.  I hope this finds all of you as great as we are. Relatively speaking.

Monday Mumbles

Ten mumbling thoughts for you.  I know I know, they're very late in coming today. Forgive me.


1.  The only Sunday Visitation I had this week went something like this:
Stomach Virus:  Hello.
Me: Oh crap.

2.  OJ got it Thursday evening.  He gave it to Evie and myself by Sunday.

3.  I was supposed to be over at my girlfriend's home hanging with her and two other friends. I showed up there with Evie, already looking putrid apparently. I sat there for over an hour trying to let my stomach settle itself. Instead the pooh started.  They left to get dinner, I stayed behind to relax and feed Evie, and instead ended up puking thirty seconds after they walked out the door.  THAT was fun.

4.  It took all I had not to sh*t myself as I drove the 45 minutes back home.  What a night to remember.

5.  I've been sitting here at home today, with both Evie and OJ lingering around because I couldn't bring myself to take them to school this morning for fear of sh*tting myself on the drove to or fro.

6.  This afternoon got interesting, though, as I heard a vehicle out on the street.  It sounded like it was peeling out, which I found odd since we just had a slight snow and some icy patches on the road. I peeled myself off the couch in time to look out the window and see a blue truck ram itself into my neighbor's tree.  Young boys horsing around, it turned out.

7.  I text Hubs today and wrote, "I smell like a giant sh*t ball."  It was true.

8.  I actually had the day scheduled off work.  I planned on being at home, alone, enjoying it. Maybe doing some final shopping. Wrapping.  I did none of this.

9.  OJ keeps asking for macaroni and cheese.  I made some for him on Saturday, but he didn't eat a single noodle. He wasted it all. I really don't want to waste the precious butter and milk that it requires if he won't eat any, but I think starving your children is against the law.

10.  I hope to feel better within the next two hours.  TO has basketball practice and I really do want to try and be there to coach. Ugh.

Sisterly Saturday

I solicited my friends for favorite happy memories of their sisters.  Here are some of the stories I received. I don't know about you, but I love hearing childhood memories and all around feelings of comfort and joy that a family can bring.


The times I most enjoy with my sisters are when I'm just hanging out with them no matter what we're doing. It's just nice to feel like you have someone to relate to because we know brothers are not the best people to relate to in life so it's always nice to feel that sense of relatedness with issues in life and being with them gives you that comfort. But it's also nice to have sisters that you can do things with...it wouldn't be very much fun to have sisters that didn't enjoy the same basic things you do. So, overall, sisters are good for being able to relate to and enjoy doing your favorite things with.
~Anna


I have many...of course. My sisters and I would walk everywhere growing up. Walk to the Y. Walk to the library. Walk to school. Well, on these walks we would sing at the top of our lungs whatever the song of the moment was. We didn't care if people thought we were weird or anything. We just enjoyed singing. But one of the best things I remembered was when L L Cool J had his rap song, "I need Love" (I think that was it) and we memorized all the lyrics and would rap it over and over, too. Again...not really caring who thought we were freaks.
~Michelle


I'm going to share 2 of my fondest memories w/ B. When we were little (or maybe even like jr. high), and keep in mind I'm 2 years older than her, when I would have a bad dream or be scared at night, I would go into her room and ask her if I could sleep with her & she would just scoot over without saying a word.

My other fondest memory is when I was probably in 6th grade & she was in 4th, my parents had a treadmill. The treadmill had a space cut out in the front portion where we could sit & 'slide' down & then go down the treadmill. So one day I put the treadmill as fast as it would go & told Brianne to go down...that it would be tons of fun. So she did & she flew across the room and only stopped b/c she hit the wall. LOL! I laugh really hard every time I think about it. :)
~April


The most wonderful thing about my sister is both of us being pregnant at the same time and enjoying this time and experience with each other. I love that she asks for our advice and we get to help them out and share in their happiness. Like today, does it get any better, family Christmas at noon and then we get to go have fun at a baby shower honoring her late afternoon!  :)
~Mandy 

Funny Faces Friday

Reaching out for her mama

Waiting to see Santa got a little goofy

Evie had no problem with Santa. OJ, on the other hand....

Soon, those teeth will no longer be there. I believe they are both loose.

He's trying on Till's hat. Lookin' good.

Getting Into Spirits

Every year, I fight to stay out of the holiday "funk" into which I inevitably slip.  Juggling the funds with the day to day, month to month bills is difficult enough, let alone finding ways to squeeze in "x" amount of gifts for each child, exhausting options for what might make their faces light up. 

I will not even mention the obligation to buy for those who buy for my children. I want to express appreciation for all that my family and friends do for my children and by default ME, but it is a stretch. A reeeeeeeeaalll stretch, at times.  My siblings, my parents, my friends, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, my grandparents.

I am, however, doing a decent job of staying out of the funk.  I really am. I need to find more time in the days and nights in which to shop for and find appropriate and loving gifts, but I do not feel as if I'm drowning.  At least not yet.  It could be because of these people.  I love them.

Monday Mumbles

Time to mumble, although this past weekend will make it difficult to "mumble".


1.  My sisters and my kids and myself all went to my mother's house Saturday/Sunday to help her put up her tree and decorate it. The boys had a great time hanging up the ornaments and spraying on "fake" snow.

2.  It's a shame that TO is a huge crybaby.  He.is.driving.me.crazy.

3.  And some day Till will take some responsibility for himself.  Not only did he leave a sweatshirt at my mom's, which I knew about before we left but decided to use it as a teaching moment, he also left his cell phone charger.  THIS is a much bigger deal since his mother provided him a cell phone with unlimited texting capabilities.  He uses it to text the daughter of one of his mother's friends. All.the.time.

4.  I'm secretly happy about this.  His texting drives.me.crazy. A new rule is going into effect next semester that limits all of this "communication".  What's so sad about email and texting is that it these kids today are not gaining any REAL communication and literary skills. They don't write or spell properly in text messages.  They fail to learn proper telephone etiquette because they're never actually talking to anyone. If he actually had to call a house phone and ask a parent to speak with this girl like WE DID back in the day, he might learn a thing or two about speaking with adults and presenting himself with some intelligence and manners.

5.  Yes, I'm done with my rant.

6.  And no, it didn't make me feel better.

7.  My Facebook currently has an add up for Chapstick.  Did I ever tell you about the time Hubs bought me some Walgreens brand chapstick? Walgreens is a convenience/pharmacy store here. I'm not sure how national it is.  Anyhow....this store brand chapstick made my lips swell. On Christmas. Didn't go down until the next morning. I thought I was marred forever.

8.  My mom spoiled Evie this weekend. She rocked/sang her to sleep for her naps. Guess who thought she needed to be held to sleep last night??

9.  I love Coca~Cola.

10.  And I love brownies. Yum.

Sunday Evening Visitor

I trekked to my mother's house Saturday with all four children stowed away in the car.  Mom wanted help decorating her tree and secretly wanted to cook for us, I believe.  We were treated to ham and scalloped potatoes Saturday evening and lasagna Sunday afternoon. Oh, and the tree was put up and decorated too.

Tooje: Mom, what's your favorite holiday?

Mom: I enjoy Christmas because it's the one time a year that I save back and give my kids things they want. 

Tooje:  What is your favorite meal to cook?

Mom: Ooooo.......probably fried chicken because I LIKE my fried chicken.

Tooje:  To eat?

Mom: Fried chicken. 

Tooje:  Would you ever want us to cook for YOU?

Mom: I do, occasionally.

Tooje:  But we never do.

Mom:  NO, you never cook for me. I wished you would. But it'd have to be under my supervision.

Tooje: I have a good potato soup recipe.

Mom: Sometime I'd like for you to make me potato soup.

Tooje:  Do you want to go get your granddaughter?

Mom: Oh! (runs to the back room where Evie wakes up from her nap)

Tooje: When you got rid of Roscoe last year instead of Jasper, what was your reason for the choice of pups?

Mom: Jasper was house broken and Roscoe wasn't.

Tooje:  So you essentially gave us, the house with kids at the time, a dog that wasn't house trained.

Mom:  Yeah.

Tooje: Wow.

Mom:  But I knew you were going to keep him kenneled, and I wouldn't.

Tooje: If you had a choice, would you want Paul and Asako to move back from Florida, or would you want all of us to move down there?

Mom: As much as I hate the winters, it would probably be ideal to have everyone move down there.

Tooje: Without giving away anything, out of all the gifts you will be giving, which one are you most excited to see opened?

Mom: Probably.....something....I'm giving Owen.

Tooje: Am I going to...WANT Owen to have this?

Mom:  Yes. (with a big sincere smile)

Tooje: What are you most wanting to receive this year?

Mom: My money.*

Tooje: Understood.

*Divorce/house sale settlement.

Sisterly Saturday

Another blog alliteration. I have realized that creating these will keep me focused on blogging, give me some direction, and give my poor, overworked, underpaid, deep thinking sisters an outlet for their thoughts. As my younger sisters have grown into adulthood, we have more and more adult-like conversations.  We are seeking and searching and exploring how and why we feel like we do. Think like we do. We search for the answers to why we're awesome.  Kidding, kidding.

Instead of allowing my sister Anna to be the EVERY Sunday Evening Visitor, she will instead have Saturdays assigned to her, should I opt to 'pick' her.  I mean, I do have another sister after all.  But don't fret, friends, I plan on reaching out and asking other friends and family about their sisterly relationships. I have a plethora to choose from.  Sisterly Saturday could be a guest post forum, a conversation, or thoughts on sibling love and relations.

This Saturday, we spent the day and evening at our mother's.  Anna has been questioning a lot of things. Asking questions. Pondering. I believe one question was "what's death like?"  Due to the Jimmy V (Valvano) Classic week upon us, she has expressed her feelings on his powerful speech he gave during his receiving the Arthur Ashe Award.  I only wish to respond that I am excited to hear her powerful, positive attitude when reflecting on it.  Listen to his speech. It's worth it.  Tell us what you think.

Don't give up, don't ever give up."  Jim Valvano, ESPYs Awards

I think a lot of us give up on certain things when hope seems lost or we're just exhausted of trying for something we know is right but our effort is getting us nowhere.  I think we give up when times seem too trying to go forward or when our past has shown that what we've tried before doesn't necessarily work so we stop trying.

But there are so many things that have been accomplished for the simple reason that people HAVEN'T given up. Freedom, civil rights, inventions, personal achievements.  All were gained through the hardest of times by people who never gave up. I think we all have given up on something in life for whatever reason. But I think most of us would also admit that the times that we didn't give up on are our proudest moments in our life. There's nothing like succeeding in times when there seemed little desire to continue on.

If people didn't fight for something in their lives, what do we have to fight for? If we just give up on living or school or work or helping others than we have disappointed a lot of people...ourselves, God (if you believe), our friends, our family or others. We owe it to everybody we come into contact with to never give up on ourselves and them.  We must continue on in the hardest of times to make things better for the future. If all we did was give up, then there would be no future.

Funny Faces Friday

OJ is fun. Period.

TO goofs around. A lot.

Gangsta paradise = grandpa's house

My little big mouth.

And Hubs Speaks....

Me: Tell me honestly. Do you get tired of me telling you that you walk like an elephant?

Hubs: Mmm Hmm.

Me:  Do you KNOW you DO walk like an elephant?

Hubs:  Nnnn unnn.

Me:  If I did one productive thing tonight, what would you want it to be?

Hubs:  A blow job.

Me:  Let's rephrase. Any house chore done?

Hubs:  Make my lunch for tomorrow.

Me: I did. I cooked the shells.  

Hubs: I thought you were taking them.

Me: Doesn't matter. Me or you.

Hubs: Sure, I'll take 'em.

Me: What's your favorite memory of us, pre children?

Hubs: There are so many of them that are my favorites. We had so much fun before the kids. Wow....

.....................
...............................

The Japan trip.

Me: Why? 

Hubs: I like traveling with you. You can read the subway maps.

Me: When are we getting our Christmas tree?

Hubs: Till and I will go out and steal one.

THE END.