WELCOME 2008

Hope everyone's Christmas was merry and bright! Ours went really well. The boys loved, loved most of their toys and electronics. Liam freaked over his new phone. I'm really jealous and I keep threatening to take it away so we can trade and I can use it. It's waaay to cool for a 12 year old. It has a touch screen, plays movies, music, emails, and basically does everything but wipes your ass. He was totally not expecting that or his new bmx bike so he was pretty stoked about his stuff. Ian freaked over the Wii and PSP's and this Army tank that Santa broke down and got for him anyway. He loved the fusion board and when Brent tried to do it he almost broke his neck, so no more fusion board for daddy! Way too much crap. But then again I guess that's what it's all about. Any big plans for the New Year? We've got some stuff planned around our neighborhood and the kids are going to do a big bonfire out in the back field so I guess that's what they consider fun. It's going to be messy and sloppy so I guess I'll have to hose them down before they come in the house. Brent has two WHOLE weeks off so the whole family is home, staring at me with those freakishly large eyes, like "What are we doing NOW?" Sometimes I think the "WTF?" and then other times I really enjoy being home with them. Guess what! This isn't one of them. LOL Anywho, just doing the regular weekend stuff and I have some things to return and planning on taking the boys and some friends to the movies. They are all out hunting birds or ducks or some kind of fowl as we speak so it's pretty quiet around here. Oh yeah, and their daddy decided Ian needed his own pellet rifle so he bought one exactly like the one Brent had when he turned 7 that he gave to Liam when Liam turned 7 so Ian was soooo excited and happy that he now has one and he's 7. It's a Family Tradition. He's been hunting/killing/maiming birds and fish with it since Christmas. I swear that boy is tough as nails. He puts it in the gun rack on the 4-wheeler and takes off around the pond pretending he's hunting deer. We were cracking up but really I guess it's kind of sad ... there are no deer around here. But about two blocks down the road there was a dead bobcat in the road so now he's really hoping to kill a bobcat so he can get it stuffed. Even if he did kill anything and get it stuffed I don't know where in the hell he'd put it because it wouldn't come in this house, but I don't have the heart to break it to him just yet. I'm sure his daddy will.

For all my sisters and friends who read this, post some comments so I can see what you think. Anything you want me to post about old family secrets, or who said what about whom? Just let me know and it's a done deal. Don't know how to tell someone they have B.O. or bad breath, just let me know and I'll take care of it. I'm here when you need me. I'm turning over a new leaf in 2008: I'm going to be less condescending, less critical, and try to be nicer, sweeter, .... oh god OK, you got me I can't go on. Yeah, right! And then we'd all go to hell in a hand basket if you didn't have me to point out the truth and really hit that nerve that keeps you on your toes! Oh well, at least I THOUGHT about it for 2008. Maybe it will come to fruition in 2009 but don't hold your breath on that!

Class Parties and Mice and Knives OH MY!

OK, now it's getting too exciting. Finished up the boys shopping today and I managed to get some really cool stuff I think they are going to like, no LOVE. I get more excited thinking about what they are going to say and do when they open up stuff than anything I could ever get. I just have a few loose ends and then I'm all done, and a whole three days early by the time we finish tomorrow night! Well, that's slow progress from last year, but it's still progress. Ian's class party is tomorrow so we spent all evening making goodie bags, making the labels for the tags on the goodie bags, filling them, tying them up with raffia and let's not forget making our Christmas mice that we make every year for the last 7 years. I wrapped all the teacher's gifts and Liam has a special friend that happens to be a girl so I picked her up a monogrammed notepad and wrapped that up for him and all my sister's gifts are now wrapped. I really feel like I've made a lot of progress today. I cannot wait until all the school parties are over with tomorrow at 1:00pm. Hopefully I can come home and relax before Brent gets off and he wants to go out shopping.

Still debating on what to get him. We bought the furniture so technically that is our Christmas present but then I said we needed to get each other at least something to open on Christmas morning. He's so silly. He wants a meat slicer. No, I'm serious. A great big, huge, ugly, prehistoric looking meat slicer. He said there's all kinds of things he wants to do with it. So I guess over the weekend I'll try and scout out a friggin meat slicer. He's also been wanting the complete DVD series of The Young Ones. It was a British sitcom on BBC from the 80's and he loved it. So I think I'll see if I can order it online and get it here. In fact, I think I'm going to go and check on that now and see how much it would be to overnight it. I sure would like the new Kid Rock CD hint, hint.... Liam's Naruto knives and throwing stars arrived via UPS yesterday or the day before, can't remember what day it is today much less something in the past. Anywho, Brent could not believe I ordered the real daggers, throwing knives and throwing stars. They are really cool but in no way child-friendly. We're going to have to lock them up so they don't fall into the hands of Ian. That child could do a lot of damage. Liam's ready for things like that and is really responsible but Ian, oh my gosh that child has no fear at all. I could just imagine walking outside to find Liam tied to a pinwheel while Ian tries out the throwing stars and knives. AAAHHH I can see it in my head now. I told Brent he'll have to lock them up with the guns and Liam can only show them to people and when he gets a little older and I find some kind of locked, see through case, then maybe he could actually be able to stare at them in the future. Ian's just too rambunctious and nosey to do that now. I did not think they would actually be sharp or even real for that matter. Tricia just died laughing when I told her what I did. Typical. Bought stuff to make cookies, a pumpkin roll and planning on doing our gingerbread house sometime this weekend. I really, really want to make some Chex Mix so we'll see how that works out.

Why? Why? Why????

Why is it that every year about this time I get that sinking, panicked feeling in the pit of my stomach??? We've been extra busy. Brent's grandfather died several days ago and that was really emotional for him and the boys. Brent always said his Papaw was his HERO, and I think he really felt like he has lost someone very dear to him. I relented at the last minute and let Liam stay home and go to the funeral. For one reason he had not missed any school up until this point but on the other hand, Brent said he needed to see the effect this man had not only on his grandchildren, but on other people whose lives he touched on a daily basis and loved him too. Not counting the money grubbing step-grandmother's family. Brent said that now he never has to see them again. He wouldn't even speak to them at the funeral. Things just spiraled out of control after the wicked old witch entered the picture. Another long story...

I meant to do a lot of Christmas shopping over the weekend but I went out with my sister on Sunday and did a little. Got the boys a few books (which I'm sure they'll throw across the room on Christmas morning) and made a good dent in the stocking stuffers I needed for them. Liam loves all the candy and chocolates at World Market so I went and stocked up on some English candies and chocolates that he's fond of. Other than that and a few things here and there to pick up, I guess we're pretty much finished. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. I bought a gingerbread house for us to do; well, I guess me and Ian but it will still be fun. And I want to make a pumpkin roll this weekend but I've never made one before so that should be fun. Looks like we're doing Christmas on Sunday when my sister comes to town. So I have to make sure their gifts are ready and I may as well give everyone else their gifts because I don't know if I'll see them on Christmas Day. They may be scattered all over by then. I just always get so anxious and keep adding to the boys list and buying more crap every day. I keep trying to stop but it's not to be. I thought of three other things Liam should really get to be able to go online with xbox 360 but I'll have to run that past their daddy to see what he thinks. Ian is sooooo easy. He's so content with whatever Santa brings. I guess as they get older they get picky and so you might as well relent and get what they want or you have to listen to it for the rest of your life. "Remember that Christmas that really sucked!!!" AAAAHHHH... I would die. I guess because when we were all little my Christmases were really pretty good, especially when it's a family of seven kids. I was always pretty happy and those were the happy memories I want my children to have.

It'll probably be really busy and crazy the next several days so I'll try to post as I get the time, but that may not be until after the holiday. I have to be up at the school on Thurs. & Friday. What the hell did I get myself into?? But I know the little one will be happy I'm there, just can't say the same for myself! And for all the people in mid-county who want to see some great lights, there's a house on Avenue D and 4th St. that have the dancing/singing lights when you tune your radio to 88.5. It's not as big as the light display in Lumberton last year, but there's no traffic and we went this weekend and watched the lights for about 20 minutes. It's really cute. Hope you can find it and enjoy some Christmas spirit!!

Gettin' Down to Bizness

Things have been pretty busy the last several days. Accomplished a lot this week in the form of getting the biggest gifts and hiding them away. I'm going to do a gingerbread house with the boys tonight. We're taking them to two live church nativities this weekend. One is a huge production at Calvary in Beaumont and the other one is an outside live nativity here in town, but they love going and drinking the hot chocolate and doing the other activities. Liam is our little beastmaster but Ian's coming around. Everyone knows I am NOT an animal person and I think Ian takes a lot after me but he has been great with Ivy ever since she got hit. I guess that comes with his age too. It's hard to be in the Christmas spirit when my list is still a mile long and it's like freakin 80 degrees outside! This is ridiculous. OH well, get it over now so it can at least be crisp and cool on Christmas. I was going to tell all that we did the other day but my nosy 12 year old seems to like getting his little eyes on my blog and reading it so now I have to be careful until after Christmas. We took Brent's mom down the street to see the lights last night. I wanted to go all around looking at Christmas lights but having the air on in the car and drinking cold tea is not the same as having it chilly and drinking hot chocolate while driving them all around to see the lights. Where is winter in southeast Texas??? ARRRAAAARRR... Trying to plan a trip to take the boys on the train for Christmas but I'll have to see how we can work it in with everything else planned for the next several weekends.

I bought Ian the cutest pajama set yesterday at Gaudie & Co. and he HATED it. I thought it was adorable and everyone in the store said he'd look so cute in it (all women) yet every male says it's girly and no way. Ian just about threw-up when he got a look at it. He said he'd wear it on Christmas Eve at "HOME," but he was not wearing it to school to be "ridiculed." Yeah, I know, I taught him the word and now he uses it all the time. So it's off to Target and Penneys today to see if I can get one of the approved pajama sets for his Polar Express Pajama Party at school on the 20th. So I have to hunt down "monster trucks, camouflage, dirt bikes, Cars, or something scary." That's what is on his list of approved pajama attire. Don't forget "any Bulldog pajamas." Do you know how hard it was to find Liam's Bulldog pajamas and that was like four years ago and Ian is now wearing them (out). We have to take our Christmas card picture this weekend so I can get those in the mail and we have no idea what we're going yet. Last year it was fun and the card was hilarious, at least to us, so we're trying to think of a good one this year too. We have a very wicked, dry sense of humor so it's getting a little hard to come up with ideas. Not to mention corralling them long enough to get it all done. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But I'm running out of time. Any ideas?? Better go help Brent ... we've been putting up our decorations here and there so today it's Nascar Santa and the lights on the shop and I am the official ladder holder. I cannot believe he trusts me to hold his ladder but ... whatever... !!!

It Truly Is A Wonderful Life

Merry Christmas! Haven't had much time to post. Finally started getting some answers from the doctor about what's going on with me and why I decided to pass out and lie there unconscious for about half an hour. We were convinced it was toxic shock syndrome but there are no specific tests for it, so I have to wait to see if I start peeling where the red rash covered my body. In the meantime I found out that I'm anemic, and a rare form of anemia runs in our family because of our Mediterranean heritage. I think my daddy had it and I guess I always thought I was a carrier but in my old age, it may come to fruition. I'm half-Italian so I guess I did inherit some genes along the way, although they aren't the genes for the olive skin that tans great. I inherited my mom's pasty whiteness and her cold British attitude. mmmm. Maybe that's why I feel tired all the time? mmmm. Anywho, more tests to be done but that will have to wait until AFTER Christmas. Makes you really think about the future, your blessings and what's truly important -- a wonderful life.

I felt like crapola Friday and went to the doctor but Saturday I woke up feeling great. I don't know if it's the medicine they put me on or just getting some much needed rest. We took the boys to a Christmas tree farm so they could cut down a tree they picked out and then we had a whole Christmas day, except for the fact that I had to go to Target and buy all new lights for the tree because the ugly ass ones I picked out last year were HIDEOUS! Anyway, we also ended up at Sam's getting all new lights for the outside because by some big ole coinkydink, not one, not ONE, lit up. It was freaky and we weren't about to test strands and strands. So after another couple of hundred dollars just on decorations, we were ready. Then as it got dark we decided to walk down the street and see a house that lights up every year with thousands and thousands of lights. It's really something to see. Mainly we just like walking down there with the kids and they like to put money in his donation can for the electricity bill! I guess it's more of a tradition. My little one said "If I have to walk down here and look at these same lights one more time!" I thought it was pretty funny ... I guess he takes after me and has no sentimentality whatsoever!!!

I bought two strangers from the GameStop lunch today for doing something very nice for me so my 7 year old could have a really great Christmas. I almost started crying when I got my hands on the coveted gaming system, so I told them I wanted to buy them lunch. I took their orders and went to a drive-thru. It took a long time because it was right at lunch and when I went back to drop off their food one guy said "I just told him we''ll never see here again." I was like "so little faith in mankind. Have a little faith, boys and you'll go far!" They laughed and grabbed for the lunches. They truly looked like starving college kids but they were overly nice to put up with me for an hour and didn't seem at all bothered by me "staring" at them while they went about their work. You know, just when I think I have no more faith in people and they are all truly the dregs of society, somebody does something nice for me out of the blue. I guess I felt like I wanted to pay it forward. Don't get me wrong, I paid full price for the system, it was just their demeanor and how much fun I had sitting there talking to them. I'm doing some major damage in the shopping area tomorrow. Brent's going to leave early so we can make some major decisions and get business taken care of. I'm never good at decision-making so he seems to have the upper hand in that area. Boom-Boom. Decision made. I can never make it that easy. I have to over analyze everything. We've picked up a few things here and there but tomorrow it's NOW or NEVER. I guess I want to get everything done early, I feel the urgency in case I get really sick or anything. I want it all to be done. Poor Brent. He's been an angel since the other night when I was feeling horrible and my temp was really high. My little sister seems to think it was scarlet fever and that's why my body turned red. Hopefully after the new year we'll tackle that issue.

We're in love with Trans-Siberian Orchestra and their Christmas songs. They have two that I just LOVE, so I bought one CD and guess what, neither one of the songs I like are on that one, so while I'm out tomorrow I'm going to have to be a mini-search to figure out the name of one of the songs and then locate the CD. I would have never thought I'd like music like that but it seems Christmasy to me. Hope your week goes well and your shopping gets done. Ciao!

Don't Fret: Christmas is Coming Whether Or Not I Change My Background, It Has To, It's Inevitable, Right?

OK, so don't make fun of me for keeping my pumpkin background. Working on changing it but once again, that would require a concrete decision-making process that I am incapable of committing to at this point in my life. I guess I'm secretly hoping if I don't change my theme, Christmas will just lay in limbo, no such luck though. I LOVE Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. Just watching the boys light up on Christmas morning is worth all the blood, sweat and tears we have to endure during the shopping but ... but... each year it gets harder and harder to top the last. We're going to try but they already have basically what they want, so I guess I have to get a little creative this year. I hope Santa brings me the IPHONE but I know he's not going to because "we're not in the AT&T plan." I cannot believe Santa knew where I had my plan. That was surprising in itself! Plus, let's give the pumpkin/fall theme a little extra time, as Christmas stuff has been out since mid-October totally disrespecting the theme of fall and Thanksgiving. OK, so I went off on a rant for no apparent reason ... well, the reason is how lazy I am and refuse to commit to figuring it out again. The more crap I add to my blog the harder it is to write the HTML codes for the new background. Learning as I go so be patient. Posting this on the road so I don't have time to figure it all out right now anyway.

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great, ours definitely was fun. We went out of town and spent the holiday with my sister. She takes good care of us and we did a little shopping Friday. Brent and brother-in-law went on an excursion with the boys to a state park and they really enjoyed that. They brought back a bunch of sugar cane they've been sucking on all week so I have to make sure they brush their teeth twice as much as usual. I secretly went and threw out a bunch of it when the trash came yesterday so hopefully that'll be the end of that.

Listening to an all Christmas radio station to get in the mood of the festivities of the holidays. Trying not to dread the idea of presents, decisions, wrapping, decorating, family get-togethers and friends stopping by. Could I be any more anti-social today?? I don't think so, then again I am PMSing so I could really give a shit anyway. Kansas City Railroad has a decorated traveling train coming through tonight so we're going to take the boys, in between soccer (yes, still) and CCD. That should be fun, trying to get that in between 4-5:30pm. Last year we waited in line for over an hour to hopefully we'll make it in time.

Soccer playoffs are this weekend in the Austin area so that should be fun. My friends are going to Natchitoches, LA and I want to go and bring the boys to see all the lights there. They have a huge fireworks display this weekend but once again, soccer is invading my life and changing our life plans. Not really, but it sounded good. I hate that soccer, for the last two years, has invaded into our Christmas holidays. It needs to finish up sooner so we can go to play-offs and be done before the Thanksgiving holiday. It gets so hectic and to have that on top of it makes it that more unbearable.

We also have two projects for school to work on so I guess we'll each take a kid and try and get it done. What are these freakin teachers thinking? Don 't they have lives? Oh yeah, they do because they lay on the work on the parents to do the homework with the kids that they should have been taught in the classroom that day. Let's not go there. On with that........... I'll try and do another post later when I work on my Christmas theme, but it will probably be in the wee hours of the morning. Ciao!

Getting Back To Normal

Brent made it home nice and safe. My God we missed him. Both boyz started crying as soon as they saw their daddy. He snuck up on Ian at his school and when Ian saw him he just did not know what to do. Then Brent picked him up and they hugged for like ten minutes, and Ian was crying the whole time and rubbing his daddy's face, like he couldn't believe he was actually there. He was soooo happy! I started crying just watching them. Liam pretty much had the same reaction. He's a little more subdued with his feelings but we could definitely tell he was happy. We had a great day and then picked them up from school. I started crying when he walked in the house Friday. He looked so tired and worn out, but he did whatever those boys wanted him to do Friday night. He really missed us and we could tell. I fixed the ice-maker while he was gone so he was really proud of me. It would not drop the ice it was making and I was actually trying to figure out the problem and fix it properly, but I got so pissed off I just beat it into submission. It popped in and then a few hours later I heard the ice drop. YEAH, I did it. I fixed it. He couldn't believe it. We started a major painting job, renovations and any other crap we could dig up starting Saturday afternoon. Went to Lowe's to look around and ended up finding really pretty paint colors for the hall, den, dining room, kitchen. The hall is completed and looks great. It's hard to believe what a little hard work and paint can do for a hallway makeover. Took out the bookcases and it looks a lot bigger so I need to have a gigantic book sale. The books are oozing out of our bookcases, closets, boxes. Anywhere you can find some space, I guarantee you there are books in there too! The color in the dining room is a really olive tone, but we were going to faux paint all the walls with the color and glaze, but we liked the color by itself so much we're going to leave it that way and just faux one wall in the den. I cannot wait! Brent is working so hard. I picked out a new dining room furniture, I know, I know, it's a little premature but when the time comes I'll know exactly which one to go get.

We're getting the hell out of dodge for Thanksgiving. Couldn't bear the idea of having and doing the same ole, same ole, so we are heading to my sisters in Lafayette. She takes cares of me and it'll be fun shopping early Friday with her. Brent wanted to stay at the beach cabin because he knew in May he wanted to get away for the holidays, but I at least want the boys to be with some family and have a traditional dinner. We have different opinions on what the holidays should consist of, but I can't blame him. He wants to make our own traditions. Tradition - reminds me of the song on "Fiddler on the Roof." One of my daddy's favorite movies. My daddy loved that movie and would walk around our house singing "Tradition, tradition..." I don't know the words but you get the idea! Daddy's birthday would fall on Thanksgiving Day this year. I'm glad we'll be away so I can not think about that part of it. I'll think about that when the boys go back to school next week. You know, that's the weird thing about me. I call it my "Scarlett O'Hara" ability to "think about that tomorrow." Remember at the very end when Scarlett says she'll think about Rhett leaving her tomorrow. Well, when I decide I don't want to think about something and then say I'll think about it on such and such day, then it always comes back on that day. I guess I can pretty much rationalize and wish away anything. I've done wonders with it for this many years. When a family member or somebody pisses me off and I'm in the middle of something I'll say to myself: "Can't be bothered with it now. I'll think about it when I'm in the bathtub (or in the car, or cooking)." See, it's pretty easy. You can do it too. Probably not exactly great for my mental health, but hell, nothing really ever is, is it???

I already have a few items for the boys on our list. Each year it's so hard to top the last and make sure they get what they want. I think we've got the big items on the list, it's just all the other stuff that's hard to figure out. Oh well, I guess I'll think about that tomorrow. See.... it works.

OH yeah, by the way ... I have slept sooooo much better since Brent's been back. I really don't understand it but I definitely sleep harder and did not wake up once during the night since he's been back. I guess it's that I subconsciously know he'll protect us if anything happens, whereas when he's not here, I know I have to be on guard to protect the boys. That's kind of weird. Or I guess it could be that good lovin' -- who knows but I like it. I've been well rested and in a much better mood these last several days. He's taking the boys night fishing tonight so if they catch anything I'll try and post a pic -- if I can find the cord to my camera!! Ciao.

TMI

Today's the big day! I cannot wait to see my sweetie. I cannot wait to see the look on the boys' faces when they see him after school. It's a been a wild ride but we made it. I just thank God everyday we did, because if I know anything for sure -- it's sucks trying to do it all by yourself. I don't have anyone to call at a moment's notice to watch them so I can attend a meeting or run a quick errand or just take them off my hands for a few hours, and I guess that's the part that sucks. But oh well, it is what is is. I guess now that it's finally coming to an end I can have a little pity party. OHHH, Whoa is me! OK, glad I got that off my chest. Isn't that annoying?

Had lunch with Ian today and he was so cute, and really happy that I brought him Wendy's as promised. Who knew? -- a kid in his class sitting across from us proceeded to tell everyone at the table that his teenage brother just got kicked out of their house by the step-dad and his mom was mad at his sister because her boyfriend spent the night "in her bed." So it goes down like this:

Me: "Well, how old is she?"
Kid: "14."

WTF???????? OK, now that's ridiculous. At this point you have to ask yourself "What the hell is going on in that house?" My son turned to me and said:

Ian: "Why did they get mad because her boyfriend was in her bed?"
Me: "Because he doesn't live there." CASE CLOSED

I don't know if that was the best response, but that conversation took an abrupt turn when I asked who was going hunting over the holiday. I had to laugh about it later because you definitely have to watch out for what your children see, and say, and just hope and pray they don't air your dirty laundry out in public for everyone to judge and scrutinize. I guess I'll hit the hay; have a couple of appointments tomorrow to try and look presentable for my husband.

Special Request

The countdown has begun. Will Brent make it home before the kids get out of school tomorrow? I really, really hope so. I've missed him so much and I want him to pick up the boys with me so we can watch the look on their faces. They think he's coming home Saturday so we're trying to keep it out little secret. I cannot wait. Not too much going on. No cooking --probably only twice in the last two weeks. That's horrible. But we ate a lot of soup and salads and if we did stop for fast food, they could only get salad stuff with a grilled chicken sandwich or something like that. So, it's hasn't been greasy and fried the whole time. Having lunch with my baby boy today for their Thanksgiving feast at school. We hate the turkey spam they try and serve them so I boycotted it several years ago. So I asked him what he wanted most today in the whole world for lunch and I'd get it. He said Wendy's Frosty, salad and chicken nuggets. I thought well, OK, he just added the salad to make sure he gets the other stuff. But I agreed so I get to run across town to fetch his request. Cleaning, tidying and folding mounds of clean clothes today. It's been a little lax around here lately but now it's time to take care of business. I'll post later when I have more time. Ciao!

Toshi & Maxx

Over the weekend my little sister and my nephew came over and we had a slumber party. Well, after a full day of soccer and soccer parties it was now time to entertain TOSHI. WTF? Yeah, if anybody knows me they know I don't like animals. No, it's not that I don't like them. I don't have time to play foo-foo with a 2 pound dog. He's not even really a dog, he's more of an oversized vermin. He's a yorkie and he is sooo spoiled. First of all, I don't allow animals in our house. Our own dog has only been in when she spent two days cooped up in the bathroom when we adopted her and she had been fixed so I felt sorry for her. Ivey sleeps in the garage at night and she's well taken care of, but she does not come in the house. Well, except for when she lived in here during the hurricane. But Brent was stressed and I was four hours away so what was I going to say? But Toshi, oh Toshi, Toshi, Toshi. He doesn't know it yet but we'll be going to fist city pretty soon. I told my sister he was going to be sleeping that night (as in sleeping with the fishies). She didn't think it was too funny but we did. Three of us, well four, including Toshi, slept in my bed that night. He stayed on the bed all night and didn't move too much or else we would have heard that stupid bell around his neck. I slept pretty good but I think Toshi just laid there and stared at me, wondering what my next move was going to be. I'm sure he thought I had something sinister up my sleeve, but I really didn't. I always tell Tricia "I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog too," so I'm kind of surprised she slept at all. All in all, I have to make sure everything is washed and cleaned before Brent gets back and there are no traces of Toshi. Although I did tell her he needs his voice box removed because that yip-yap dog barking is soooo annoying.

We had fun and made s'mores. The boys stayed up all night playing Halo 3 and Madden or whatever. I watched the complete 2nd season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." That show is sooo funny. I'm usually pretty picky about what shows appeal to my sense of humor, but this one is sooooooo RUTHLESS. They attack everything, politically incorrect or not. I guess that's why I find it so funny. If you haven't checked it out, do so -- you may think it's as funny as we do.

See, the boys understand my humor towards animals. I really do like dogs (not cats, highly allergic) but I feel we can't be the "perfect" owners and wouldn't take care of an indoor pet properly. Don't even get me started on the fiasco with the two "female" hamsters. Well, about a month later my two females had 14 babies. 14. Liam thought she was getting sick and throwing up and out came the babies. BLOP, BLOP BLOP. I was running around the house screaming and called my neighbor to see if I should bring them to the vet. Then I got a hold of myself and I was like "nope, not gonna happen." Needless to say, my sister in Louisiana took them off our hands after the babies kept disappearing (don't even ask where they are because I have no idea). She brought them with her and her husband let all of them go in the woods behind their house. Yup, gone, just like that. But she did have two hamsters that she loved dearly, Thibodeaux and Boudreaux. Well, one went blind and one had tumors after she took them to the vet to find out what was wrong. She cried. I laughed. How can you get attached to a freakin' hamster? I just don't have the molecular make-up for that. However, my boys and Brent may disagree. Recently, Maxx, our 5 year old, very big oscar got sick in his tank and was growing these things all over his head and his eyes began bulging out of his head. I thought he had hypothyroidism -- I'm not even sure a fish has a thyroid -- but Brent was adamant that he had an incurable fish disease. I wanted to call the fish guy in town or bring him down the street to a vet but Brent thought he'd do better if we released him into a pond full of really big bass, catfish and gators. Oh yeah, great idea! I, on the other hand, felt this murderous act was disrespectful to Maxx, as he had been a really good fish for all these years. So, after work Brent took a 5 gallon bucket and scoops him up. Maxx literally filled it up. He was so long and really fat! He didn't seem that big in the tank. Well, they loaded him on the four-wheeler and took him to the pond to get it over with. I was a little pissed. For two days I had been meticulously staring at his tank because Brent told me that his eyes were bulging out so much that they literally could pop out of his head and float off, well, that was too exciting to miss. So you can imagine my disappointment when he carries off the x-large fish, eyes intact. You know, for once just let me witness something really gross. Something I'll have bad dreams about for weeks. Something that will forever change the way I eat my friends from the sea. But noooo, off they go. So Ian and I were talking about what was happening and he started crying ... and then I felt this salty substance squeak ever so slightly out of the corner of my eye. I sniffled. He reacted. "Momma, are YOU crying?" I explained to him that I felt like Maxx was part of the family and how much I was going to miss watching him eat crawfish, lizards, crickets, roaches, and anything else we'd feed to him. He would literally jump out of the tank and eat it from Brent's hands when it was feeding time. Well, when they came back about a half hour later, Liam was totally crushed, emotional, crying and sobbing. It was sooo sad. But we all had a good cry, we said a fond farewell to our good friend, and promised we'd get some bass to put in the tank soon. Ciao!