Much Ado About Nothing

Borrowed from a friend's blog SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 of these films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this into your blog then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up as you go, and click post at the bottom. Have fun. (x) Rocky Horror Picture Show (x) Grease (x) Pirates of the Caribbean (x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest ( ) Boondock Saints ( ) Fight Club ( ) Starsky and Hutch (x) Neverending Story (x) Blazing Saddles (x) Airplane! Total: 7 (x) The Princess Bride (x) Anchorman (x) Napoleon Dynamite (x) Labyrinth ( ) Saw ( ) Saw II ( ) White Noise ( ) White Oleander (x) Anger Management (x) 50 First Dates (x) The Princess Diaries (x)The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Total so far:15 ( ) Scream ( ) Scream 2 ( ) Scream 3 ( ) Scary Movie ( ) Scary Movie 2 ( ) Scary Movie 3 ( ) Scary Movie 4 ( ) American Pie ( ) American Pie 2 ( ) American Wedding ( ) American Pie Band Camp ...

Last Friday while I was off at Wood Badge, Daniel got in trouble at school for biting another child. They were playing a game where Daniel was a dog and the other boy was a WWII soldier. The other boy entered Daniel's territory and Daniel lunged at him and bit him on the shoulder. Since the teacher knew we were out of town, she sent home a note letting us know what happened and that Daniel would lose recess on Monday. Talking to Daniel, I got a completely different story so I wrote a note back to the teacher with the version I had been given and requesting a conference. I also let her know that I do not agree with losing recess because the children need activity, especially since they do not get PE in their curriculum at the charter school. I suggested that Daniel write a report on the dangers of human bites so that he could learn that biting is not just mean, but has other consequences. I got a call from the principal who had also been present during the altercation and I got the ...

I got this idea off my cousin Belva Jean's blog and since the older boys & Neil are off camping, thought I'd get some input from my little guys. Nick's answers are listed first, then Cierra's. And finally Rachel. 1) What is something that mom always says to you? "Clean my room." "I love you." "Make stuff fun." 2) What makes mom happy? "Love" "Because I always draw her pictures." "Duck pond" 3) What makes mom sad? "out of love." "of not drawing your pictures." Fruit" 4) What does your mom do to make you laugh? “Tickle my armpits" "By tickling me" "Make you tickle" 5) How old is your mom? “I don't know." "I don't know." "Good" 6) What was your mom like as a child? “A baby." "Follow the plans" "Good" 7) How tall is your mom? “Almost as tall as the father." "18 feet" "fat" 8) What...

Cierra tells Rachel, I'm prettier because my hair is long. Rachel responds, My hair is long too. Cierra pronounces Rachel as pretty but determines that Alyx is the prettiest because she has the longest hair and she wears cool clothes. "When I grow up I'm going to wear the best clothes too"

Neil and I spent last weekend staffing a Wood Badge course. I am the Scribe and he is ASM over Facilities. For those of you unfamiliar with Wood Badge, it is a BSA Leadership Training course which lasts either two 3-day weekends or a 6-day week. In order to staff a course, you have to go through a course and complete your tickets. The Thursday night before course started, we had a staff dinner and those of us who had not previously staffed, received our 3rd bead. The reality of it is that we actually receive a whole new bead set. So we now have a two-bead necklace representing the completion of our tickets and a three-bead necklace showing we have staffed a course. You can earn a 4-bead set if you become a course director. Right now, I'm happy with just three beads. The lead up to the weekend was far more work than the actual course work itself. My main duties were taking pictures and putting together the Gilwell Gazette each day. Of course there are always the little print jobs th...

We had just a small family birthday party. We used the cupcakes grandma had bought over the weekend for his cake. He wasn't really happy about that - he wanted a real cake. But the presents made up for the lack of cake. He received his own set of scriptures , a children's songbook, and a carrying case. He got a Scooby Doo coloring/sticker book, a monkey game, and some new clothes. He also got a new book from Grandma Janet.

Life continues to move at a roller-coaster pace. Ups and downs, sometimes speeding by, sometimes I just want to shut my eyes so I don't get sick. Monday was life as usual. Another start of the week back to school for the boys. Lunches to make, teeth to brush, I get spoiled with Neil home, but do wish he'd find a job. After school, I picked up Aaron. He was supposed to go do his service hours, but the lady didn't answer her door. Apparently she'd gotten caught at her downstairs neighbor and missed seeing us pull up. So I picked up the other two boys from school and we all went to the library. Neil had to teach a merit badge class for a local troop so I got home by 5 so I could make dinner before he had to leave. Tuesday Aaron had a half-day. Neil took the three boys to school while I got Cierra ready for Joy School. I took her and Rachel with me and Rachel and I stopped at McDonald's for hasbrowns. I picked Cierra up from Joy School and Aaron went to a friend's h...

May you all receive the gift you most desire from the one who loves you best.

Yesterday morning we woke up to frost on the lawn. I'm not whining about the cold, we have it nice here in Phoenix most of the time. But this is probably the closest our kids will see to snow without having to travel some distance. So Nick ran outside to check it out. As we watched from the window, we saw him give Ruger the command for paw. Ruger handed him his paw. Nick wanted him to give him both paws, but Ruger wasn't too sure about that. So Nick dropped Ruger's paw and gave him the signal for up. This is basically tapping your shoulders with your hands. Ruger jumped up to place both paws on Nick's shoulders. This works fine with adults and the older boys, however, Ruger outweighs Nick by at least 20 pounds so sure enough Ruger went up and then they both came down. Luckily it was followed by laughter instead of tears, but it was just classic.

This is the book we read for our book club this month. It is by Gary Chapman, an author of many relationship books and he even has his own web site. It is a quick read - I picked it up from the library on Monday afternoon and had it read by Tuesday night. However, I would suggest that if you are interested in applying the principles discussed in this book, that you read it more slowly and with your partner. Mr. Chapman identifies five love languages and describes what acts or deeds fall into each of those languages. The important concept is to learn your own love language so you can help your partner demonstrate his or her love to you in that language, and even more importantly, to learn the love language of your partner so that your expressions of love are more meaningful. The five languages are 1. Words of Affirmation, 2. Quality Time, 3. Gift Giving, 4. Acts of Service, and 5. Physical Touch. They seem pretty self-explanatory but as you read the book you will gain more insight into ...

It's been a while since I've actually broken down the week by daily activities. What I realize is that I go through ups and downs as far as busy-ness. This past week was an exceptionally busy one and I'm glad it is over. Last Sunday was the Super Bowl so after church, we went to a friend's house for dinner and to watch the game. I am not a football fan, but since our Cardinals were playing, we though we would route for them to win. The friends were Steeler fans so we had some good-hearted ribbing go back and forth. The Steelers did end winning the game (sorry if this spoiled the ending for anyone) but the game was well-played and it really could have gone either way. For me, it was much more about hanging out with friends we rarely see because of location than who won the game. Monday the kids didn't want to go to school, but we made them anyway and Neil and I putzed around the house. He is again unemployed. His last job was not a good fit so he gave notice and the ...

It took me a bit to remember that it was the 3rd of February. Normal routine was get the boys up, get lunches made, rouse the girls, run the boys to school, finish getting the girls dressed and ready for Joy School. Somewhere after the boys were at school and I was putzing in the kitchen did it dawn on me that it was the 3rd and Rachel's birthday. She is 3. If you tell her Happy Birthday, she responds with the same sentiment. But she knows she is 3. So we took Cierra to Joy School and made a trip to the library. When we got home, she picked out what kind of cake she wanted - chocolate. But she was really mostly concerned with making sure she got sprinkles. After dinner we sang Happy Birthday. She had Aaron blow out the candles, she has a bit of a fear of fire, though we're not sure from where it stems. Then she opened presents. She got a baby doll and coloring book from mom and dad. Daniel gave her a pooch that plays the sax and sings. Grandma Janet sent her a puzzle of Noah...