I'm sorry, forgive me, but....

I just can't help it!!!! I mean, look at them!!! And...they can sing....and...they can move....I mean...c'mon!

Mom, this one is just for you!





Aaaaannnndddd...one for me...





One for you Jessica....





And....another one for me





Here's one for you Erin....





Now, we can't forget me...





And one more for you mom





Now, one, everyone can enjoy!




You're welcome!

Malia

Round the Block....to the Waffle House

Last night Donnie was letting the crowd know that they would be at the Waffle House later that night. He and Joey both thanked the south for having Waffle Houses and continued to promise that they would be there. We just had to figure out which one.


Would you please just take a look at who I found frying bacon with a Waffle House apron on?!!!





Donnie Wahlberg, you may fry my bacon any 'ol time you please.




Hello!



Mmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm...



Love the apron! Strange how he still looks good in one.


I just CANNOT wait to see them again!!!

Round the Block

I had the "highlight of my year" last night with none other than New Kids on the Block!!!


We bought our tickets in June and couldn't believe how far away the concert was and how long we were going to have to wait.....forever!!!

All of a sudden, here it was...

Melissa loving Donnie.




Me and Jessica loving Jordan. I mean, look at him.

And Erin loving Joey.

Everyone has their favorites and our favorites DID NOT disappoint last night.

Jessica cried, Melissa and Erin danced and I found myself feeling a mix of emotions. Sad that this could be the last time we ever see them again (it kind of all depends on you), elated that I am seeing them again, nostalgic for old times when I worshiped them...okay, I am still a major fan, and high because they put on a great show. They worked it out! Big time. Did I mention that they are all still very hot...if not hotter!



I cannot wait to see them again! I am on an NKOTB high right now.

Thanks guys!

Autumn

God is.....

...moving hills

...working on moving mountains

...clearing vision

...revealing truths

...opening minds

...opening hearts

...very busy

...answering prayers



...AMAZING!

No One Mourns the Wicked!

That above was my face all night long, well, minus, the "holy crap it is freezing, hurry up and take the picture" look on my face. The smile. That is what I was talking about.

I had tried to get through the book, Wicked, but had a hard time and eventually, put it down after chapter 2. It is not an easy read. Some of it even a little...well...raunchy.

My buddy Devin had burned the soundtrack for me a year ago and I liked it. Especially, track number 7, Popular. The rest didn't make sense. She absolutely eats, breathes and sleeps Wicked. I didn't get it. Alfalfa is in Wicked?

I have wanted to see the play since last year, but alas, tickets were going for near $100. Devin kept telling me it was worth it, but I passed. I was green with envy. I vowed I would go this year.

Again, ticket sales came and went and I passed again....ugh! Pesky bills!

I kept kicking myself thinking I should have gotten the tickets any way. Sometimes you just have to do things or you will never do it, but, it was too late. Then, on Thursday, I got the call.

Devin: Why would I be calling you instead of texting you?

Me: I don't know, maybe because I AM GOING TO WICKED!!!!!!!!!

Devin: That's right....

Someone had been unable to attend with her group...and she chose me!

Me: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Yeeeeeaaaahhhh!!!!

One problem. How to get to Atlanta. I had no one to ride with. I was going to have to make the trek alone. Thank God for the person who invented the GPS. That thing is amazingly wonderful.

The show didn't start until 8 and I didn't want to get there and have to walk in Atlanta by myself in the dark! Gasp! That would be just...wicked! So I arrived early, 6:42 p.m. It's okay, I brought a friend along just for this exact situation, Edward Cullen. Whatev. He has left and now I hate the book, so I put him down, "told him to act as though I never existed." Stupid vampires. So unpredictable.

It was time. I crossed the street to The Fabulous Fox Theatre and entered into the rushing crowd.

The singing began. No One Mourns the Wicked. Then Galinda appeared. That's Guh-linda. I thought about how beautiful Emma would have thought her dress was. Then the lone green character. The stage was amazing. The singing was beautiful. Dare I say I preferred Carmen Cusack's singing over Idina Menzel? Sorry Devin, but I do.

Along with the wonderful songs that now made sense to me, the show was funny. Katie Rose Clark was hilarious.... toss, toss. She even lost her shoe during the song Popular, but never missed a beat. She just worked it in.

Then the climax. Elfaba rose to great heights, literally, with Defying Gravity. It was amazing. Words escaped me. Devin cried...again. I was so grateful at that moment that I got to experience it and thought how the children would love it.

The trip to Atlanta alone was worth the three hour show, yes, three full hours. I won't miss this opportunity again.

Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Makes you look at The Wizard of Oz in a completely different light.

I plan to revisit the books again and see if it will make more sense now. First, I am going to give Edward one more chance. Pesky vampire.




Malia

Defying Gravity

And that is what I was doing during this high note from my trip to see Wicked. Amazing I tell you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snWBrgsogCI

Just....ugh!

Emma is taking ballet classes and I try to challenge her by trying....yes...trying to do the steps myself.....okay, whatever, I am challening myself!

I have never taken a ballet class and have learned that ballet....it is hard. It looks beautiful and graceful and flowing and like it takes nothing to do it, but I am here to tell you, there are black eyes and floods in ballet....well, when I do it there are.

I was torturing the children right after prayers for the night by trying to show them that I could do these teeny ballet jumps called.........teeny ballet jumps...I don't know the techinical term, something french, but anyways....I did them, or attempted, just as she does them here..........


http://www.expertvillage.com/video/36085_ballet-steps-small-jumps.htm


Jackson immediately begins his gut laugh, holding his chest with both hands and barely can get the words out....."Mom, when you do those...ha ha ha ha ha.....your things right here...haaa haaaa haaaaa haaaa haaaa....they jump up and down.....haaaaaaa...haaaaaaaaa....haha....haaaaaa.haaaaaaaaa.....

Lord, the child would have died right then and there if he also would have known that I peed a little too....

Malia

Snooping

Actually this was added 23 days ago to my to-do list and I just happened to get to it.

I had to clean out the bookbags. Amazing how it shows the personality of each child.



Dylan's contained:

4 chapter books that he is currently reading




Jackson's contained:

A note that he was exchanging with a girl. She said, "Blah, blah, blah." He said, "I am not your friend."



Emma's contained:

A pink stuffed kitty cat that wore bling, a tiara, a diamond ring and makeup.

Malia

21 Names of God

I found this to be ...... awesome.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-6gwssX0Y


Malia

Love

I learned something new tonight. Something I may have heard many times, but today, I got it.

He always loves.

There is never an "I'm not feeling you today."

"Nah, you didn't return my call, so forget you."

"You hurt my feelings. I can no longer love you."



No matter how much I screw up. No matter how many times I get it wrong.....or get it right. When I am brilliant....when I am an idiot. When I am selfish....when I am giving. When I am mean....when I am nice. When I am hurt...when I am broken..........when I am whole.


God always loves.....me....you....us.

There is never a time when he doesn't. Never.



Malia

Who's the Boss

I have a heart for animals. What? You didn't know? Oh, when I get to Heaven, I can just picture it. I will be walking up that hill towards that light and there will be little shadows of gerbils, dogs, cats and birds of many generations running to meet me. They will tackle me and I will fall back and they will lick my face and wag their tails. Probably 100's of them before it is all said and done. There will be Tigger, Booboo, Bailey, Chester, Noname, Pixie and Dixie, Scooby, Tambo, oh, and Duke, Socks, Peeper, Snowball, I can't foget Charlie, Kujo, Milo, Freebee, Storm and Lightning, Hopper, Thunderdor, Mojo, my goodness there are a lot of them.

Well, I have found another....he calls out to me. A Cocker. I have always wanted a cocker. Ever since my aunt and uncle had two. I can't remember their names, though I believe one was named Shiloh. I can remember their smell though. I just loved those dogs. They were so soft.

I was discussing with Dylan about this dog because what I do better now than before, is not make a rash decision when it comes to the furry kind, I plan to discuss first and then we all make a decision together.






Me: Dylan LOOK at this DOG! Isn't he so cute!!! He says, "take me, I need you!"

Dylan: Ooohhh, he is cute. I like him. Why don't you get him.

Me: I'm afraid dad won't like him, Dylan. He doesn't really like Cocker's I don't think.

Dylan: Mom! Don't let dad be the boss of you!



You know, I always said that Dylan was the smart one of the family.

Malia

Good Kitty

You all know the story of Angel and how he came about. You know about how his brother went away and he is now the kitty that will go to college with Dylan.

Well, today it was a blistery day in the 100-Acre Wood and so, we opened all the windows, turned off the A/C, saved some money and helped the environment. A productive day I would say.

Later in the evening while screaming at the boys to get their room cleaned up, traumatizing Jackson by declaring that he had to donate at least half of his stuffed animals, traum.a.tized. I tell you. Folks, I currently have 26 stuffed animals in a bag. Yes, that means that there were 52 stuffed animals on my boys' bed. I don't know where they have been sleeping.....

Anyways, interrupting my screaming was Wade, wanting to know if I let Angel outside today???? Well, yeah? Duh?!

Wade: Well, he's inside.....

Me: Okay??? and....???? (Please note, that I was already aggravated because, number one, he told Jackson that he could just take some of the stuffed animals to his mother's house) Yes, yes, that would solve the problem, let's just take them somewhere else and let that be someone elses problem. I am sure your mother would love that. (No. 2, he wasn't helping) and (no. 3, he was interrupting my yelling by talking about the stupid cat! I mean sweet Angel)

Wade: He brought you something....

Me: What?!!!

Wade: How did he get in?

Me: Well, I have the windows open in the sunroom. There are no screens. What does he have Wade?! WHAT DOES HE HAVE!!! IT BETTER BE DEAD! WADE!! DON'T LET HIM IN! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! GET IT OUT! GET IT OUT! WADE DO SOMETHING!! WAIT, LET ME GET THE CAMERA!











Look mom, look what I brought for dinner!







Look, he's fun! There's enough for everybody.







The next sound we heard was windows being closed!

Malia

Blueberry pie

Emma and I were watching none other than Paula Deen one night, she was coloring, I was lying down watching t.v. and she was in the crook of my arm.

We were talking here and there, she was not really paying much attention to me. Just picture it, her paying attention to her coloring, me paying attention to Paula.

Paula began to make some fried apple pies. Now, I am no chef, but I can follow a recipe.

Me: Emma, don't those look good?

Emma: (still coloring) Uh huh.

Me: Don't you think we could make those?

Emma: (Not looking up) Yeah.

Me: (Trying to get her to be a little enthusiastic) We could wear our new aprons.....

Emma: Mom, remember when you made that blueberry pie?

Me: (Thinking back and trying to remember) Oh yeah....

Emma: (Not worrying about my feelings) It tasted really bad.


Okay, maybe not....

Oh Pooh!

Emma: (Seriously pondering) Mom, why is Pooh Bear named Pooh? Is it because he has poo his feet?

To a T

Hazel eyed people are very emotional people. They love to be loved, but if you hurt them they hurt deeply for a while. They are very down to Earth and friendly people so it's pretty hard to hurt one of these people! A great person to befriend, they will never let you down. Unique, lovely, and genuinally nice, hazel eyed people are truly one of a kind.



I just want to say, is this me to a T or what?!

Ouch!

Last Monday, I thought I would do something nice for my husband and mow our grass. I was just going to do the back yard, but then decided, I would be SUPER nice and mow the front and the sides too.

I had not eaten yet. I was beginning to feel a little bit woozy after two hours, so I thought I might need to go in and refuel.

Now, when you mow grass, you have to be fashionable, for you never know who is going to see you. I had on my blue jean shorts, a longer flowing t-shirt and a wisp of hair down in front of my eye.....yeah, whatever, the shorts were from the day before, the t-shirt had stains on them and that stupid wisp of hair kept falling and would stay back.

As I headed inside, something popped my eye! A bee! Owwww! OmG! A bee just stung me in my eye!

I ran inside and called...my mommy!

Me: Mom? A bee just stung me in my eye. Since it is in close proximity to my brain, do I need to worry?

She came over later to check on me. My eye was fun. I didn't pass out. My eye didn't even swell shut for a cool story at work the next day.

Poor thing was only defending himself. He flew right into that wisp of hair and thought he was a goner.

See if I do a good deed anymore!

Sacrifices

Emma had her first cheerleading competition today and I couldn't go, so Wade took her. There were several teams competing, so Wade and the boys took off to support Emma. I got the following text messages:

From Wade: I think I am dead.



seconds later


From Wade: And I went to hell.

Christmas Shopping

Me: Here y'all look through these Christmas books. Circle anything you want for Christmas.

I go back to checking out what is going on in Paulding County on Paulding.com.....

Emma: I want a sista for Christmas!!!

Me: Well, sorry, but they are all out of stock.

Emma: Well, then, can Jackson have a brother?

Malia

Inspiration

During this time, I have questioned, "Why". What is the reasoning behind this. Everything happens for a reason. Am I being taught a lesson? Is someone else being taught a lesson? I didn't talk about this situation at all really, except here. But there was this one day...while counting the money in some robots...me and a lady from work got to talking....and we just talked about it all. She mentioned that she had a half-sister that she didn't know and the sister has tried and tried to get to know her, but this lady wouldn't do it...simply because she didn't know her.

Tonight, she called me. She said that she had to tell me that my story inspired her! I thought, "what story"? Me, inspiring?

She wrote a two-page letter to her sister, letting her know that she wanted to get together and get to know her, ask questions about her childhood, find out what they had in common and just to give them a chance to be sisters.

I'd do it all over again, as long as it kept bringing family together.

Malia