Turkey Weekend

It was a great Thanksgiving. As usual me and my aunt did our thang in the kitchen. Her more than me. But I got this new macaroni and cheese recipe from a friend's sister and BOY! I FINALLY got my mac and cheese perfect!

See, I have beed trying to perfect my mac and cheese for a long time and I have tried to do it in many different wants using ideas from here and there. Well, my friend had a birthday dinner a few months back and I tasted her sisters' mac and cheese and MMMMMM!

Gosh I wish y'all could taste it! If I could, I'd send each and every one of my readers a bowlful. Problem with that is there would be a whole lotta SMACKED MAMAS out there and I don't wanna cause no confusion. So instead I'm just gonna let you see it.

So, though it's nice to be around family, for some reason I was so ready to get home. Okay, so I WAS in the most boring town in GA, but usually I could stay a week or so before I really want to leave. Okay so the city's biggest attraction is the Super Walmart. Y'all.... since I left 10 yrs. ago, they have widened a few roads and added a Ruby Tuesday, but there is NUTTIN to do there. I remember when I was young I use to have the ambition that I was gonna open up a skating rink so that the young folks could have something to do other than get in trouble and get pregnant. When I was older, someone actually tried but couldn't get it approved. It's one of those towns that wants to remain a small, dull, boring....

I had to go to thesaurus.com to come up with some more words to described my wretched hometown. There were a few good ones:

Bummer

Dull

Characterless

Uninteresting

Ho Hum

Lifeless

Moth-eaten (that's funny!)

stupid (no kidding, that's a synonym)

zero (as in ZERO chance I'd ever willingly go back home to live)

Okay, so maybe I'm being a little hard on the ol' hometown. Maybe I was just a bit salty because Hubs wasn't there to get on my nerves while I was cooking. Family gatherings are usually the times when he nags me until I POP and be ready to open up a can of WHOOP *** on him!

I MISS THAAAAAAT!

But the Ville still sucks and the fact that I only have one friend in my hometown has absolutely nothing to do with it.... nothing at all!

Thankful Thoughts of November... Surviving

I have something special to be thankful about. I'm so giddy about this that I can't believe that it actually took me this long to post about it.

No, I'm not pregnant. In that case I'd be crushed, the opposite if giddy and standing on the top of a building ready to belly flop to my doom! I have decided that 3 is enough. Wouldn't wanna take the spotlight off the other kids, right?

But today and for the last few days, I have been thankful that the doctors have decided that it is time for my dad to come off of chemo. No more treatments! They are amazed with his progression and the fact that after almost 2 years every test has come back clean. Every CAT scan has shown no return of a tumor. Now if you need to catch up and read the entire story you can read it here.

But it's a story worth telling again so I will recap:

2 years ago I got a call from my Grandmother telling me to call my dad because he was in the hospital. My dad NEVER gets sick, so for him, it had to be serious.

When I spoke to him he sounded so small and so afraid as he told me that they'd found 2 masses on his brain. These masses, of course turned out to be two walnut sized tumors. Not just any old tumors, but brain tumors. Not just any brain tumors, but Stage 4

Glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer.

Doing the research, I immediately found that this was quiet absolutely THE worse brain cancer you can get. People just didn't live long with this type of cancer.

He had a great surgeon. One credited with being on of the best in the nation. Awards and all.

When the surgeon came out of the operating room, he simply said that it seemed that he'd gotten it all out and it didn't look good.

That's a lot to take in. Now, I'd done the research, so I wasn't feeling positive, but that made me feel worse.

A few days later, a quickly recovering, now bald, father, saw the follow up doctor. This doctor was just as grim as he gave a NICE KNOWIN' YA. HANG IN THERE. YOU DON'T HAVE LONG prognosis.

Almost two years later, after several cat scans and months of chemo, the doctors are taking him off of the chemo. He is healthy. They are amazed! I am amazed! He is still bald. But he is healthy. For how ever long GOD allows! So the one thing that I am most grateful for is that No Man, No Doctor, and No Science can know what the power of prayer can do!

And for this I am thankful!

Spacial thanks to Clueless Mama @ Guessing All The Way for giving me the chance to participate in her Thankful Thoughts. Get over there and add your name to her Mr. Linky, snag this great button and get back to your page and tell what you are thankful about! Go, I'm ready to read it!

The Ugly Christmas Sweater

If there is one article of clothing that I really can't stand to see people wear, it would have to be a CHRISTMAS SWEATER!

Now really, You'd think that because I spend so much time at the kids' school and during the holidays I am surrounded by teachers and staff wearing Christmas sweaters throughout the month of December, I'd be over my hatred of these wretched things, but I'm not. The teachers love these things. I know some buy some new ones every year just to parade around the halls looking all jolly. Sporting around with a great big Rudolph in the middle of your chest or a Christmas Tree WITH LIGHTS! What kinda......! I just cant understand why anyone would want to actually buy one of these things! I think of them as a gift you get from your grandmother that you wear just to make her smile!

Now, if you wear these horrible things, chances are you're either not my friend or may not be my friends anymore after I tell you how awful you look in that thing. When I see those sweaters I think of OLD PEOPLE and TEACHERS. Those sweaters are one of those gifts that you open and you're like, "Aww! It's so... awww! Thanks." REGIFT!

I'm seriously considering having an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!

Here are a few that I'm really hoping NOT to see anyone in this year:

If you just so happen to own any of these, I'm sorry............ for you.

Whatever you do, DON'T TELL DADDY!

It was getting late and I was piddling on the computer. Don't remember what I was doing, probably, playing Cafe' World on Facebook. The boys were busy cleaning their room and Miss Missy was suppose to be getting ready for her bath.

Oh, I remember now, I was going over the kids' Wish Lists on ToysRUS.com. They had been busy throughout the afternoon handwriting their lists and I was entering their picks from the Toys R Us Big Book onto the website so that Hubs would be able to see what they are asking for this year.

Anywho, Mom called. Now somewhere in between talking on the phone, searching the web and yelling for the kids to finish their duties, I remembered that Miss Missy was supposed to be taking a bath. Then I remembered that I had started her bath water... A.LONG.TIME.AGO.

I rushed into my bathroom, expecting to see the water in my garden tub at the top, but draining through that little security drain that is in the tube just for such occasions.

What I found was nothing of the sort. My garden tub (I mention this again to give you an idea of the amount of water there is) is filled to the top, overflowing onto a floor that already has at least an inch is water covering it! I mean, seriously, you could have surfed in there, which I did. Tell ya later. There were 3 rugs on the floor. Each soaked, no, SUBMERGED in water.

OH MY GOD! Was all I could say. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! Hub's would kill me if he knew so I'm trusting that nobody repeats this, okay?

OH MY GOD! What am I suppose to d?, I asked my mom who was still on the phone.

Towels. TOO SMALL!

A comforter. Not one! Three! Three freakin' comforters were thrown on the floor and they too we SUBMERGED in the water. Believe it! I mean, I wouldn't have had I not seen it. Nor would I have believed that I had a serious I LOVE LUCY moment as I slipped across the bathroom floor trying to put down the first conforter! I was SOAKED! Really REALLY soaked.

Thanks goodness I remember that we have a Wet/Dry Shop Vac. I filled and emptied that thing 6 times! But finally after about 45 minutes, I'd gotten all the water up and was in the tub stomping on the comforters in an effort to get the water out of them.

I'm really having trouble believing that I let it get that bad. I thought Miss Missy had gone to take her bath and turned the water off as she usually does. WRONG! You do realize that this is one of those things that I would never tell Hubs. So, I'm hoping that perhaps he really doesn't read my blog, as he says!

Catch up

Some Anonymous IDIOT has been posting advertisements in my old post comments. Angers me because I don't want to make my blog to where those who are anonymous can't post because ofter times those people that comment that way make for great reading, but I'm irritated but this butt head using my blog to post about Viagra!

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I'm not sure that I've had the chance to mention this, but do you remember a long time ago when I was on a search for a great church? To refresh your memory, there was the one with the controversial sermon about WHO GOD SAID YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR! Well, I n

ever visited that church again. BUT I've found a church that I can call home. The kids LOVE it. They want to go all week. Okay, I haven't gotten to that point (probably won't) but they are trying to go on Sunday morning, then come back for the 6:30 service and on Wednesday. I say, let's take it one day at a time! Sheesh!

Anyway, I walked into this church and IMMEDIATELY got a calming feeling go through me that told me that I was welcome to stay. I looked around at this mixed congregation and never once did I feel out of placed as I joined in on praising the Lord with blacks, whites and "other", young and old, the Amen'ers and the silent worshipers. I felt great and when the kids came out of their individual classrooms with huge smiles on their faces and EXCITED about god and what they saw, how they worshipped and what they did, I knew THIS WAS IT!

So, I have completed that journey. Found a church home for my family. One that we all love!

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There has been so much going on lately and I hate that I haven't had a chance to post it all. So here's a quick recap:

Hubs is back in Iraq. The visit was short and sweet, but the departure wasn't nearly as bad as the first one. The kids didn't even cry. It was too soon. I hate that he came home so soon. These nine months are gonna be really hard!

The night he got on the plane, while I was ready to wallow in my own self pity, my neighbor was having a Going Away Bonfire. I'd settled into my pajamas to lay in my room and watch Lifetime and she knocked on the door to remind me. Glad she did, because I was just starting to feel the tears come on.

We'd never roasted hotdogs over an open fire, so it was pretty cool! The kids loved the whole bondfire out in the woods thing and NONE of them fell in! That made the night even better!

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Runnin' Man had his last football game! Whoooo Hoooo! I love football season with the boys, but I also love when it's ever. By the end of running the two of them around, I-need-a-break! Their banquet was at the bowling alley and I promise you, they had a ball! Pizza, Coke and Cake was no match for the bowling because they didn't stay up when they got home, like you'd expect from the sugar. They passed out! It was great!

I signed Runnin' Man up for basketball, which he is VERY excited about. Sir-Talks-A-Lot is waiting for baseball in the spring. Basketball has never been his thing. He seems a little lazy for baseball, but whatever. What kinda mom would I be if I didn't let him figure it out for himself?

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The school's Veteran's Day program was really nice! We live in a town where there are so many military families, us being one, and I really love the honor the school gives to them. I was really touched, even more so than last year, with having a soldier in Iraq. Almost, shed a tear. Almost. I ain't no punk! LOL!

He had a speaking part. Whoo Hoo! Watch out Denzel!

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Oooooo ooooooo! I almost forgot. Last night, we made pizza. This was our first time making pizza together where I let everyone pitch in and get messy. They had a ball! They claimed that our pizza was better than Pizza Hut and Papa John's. It was a great change from ordering out, you know. And a whole lotta fun with the new Ice Age movie added on. They really love these family times.

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Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Thankfully I have self control!

I'm participating in Thankful Thoughts during the month of November with

Clueless Mama at Guessing All the Way.

It gives me a chance to step back and realize all of the precious things in my life, the things I am truly thankful for.

I am Thankful for the rain today, because it teaches me to appreciate the sunshine. I'm really dreading getting back into my car today to pick Miss Missy up from Pre-K.

The rain has really started to come down. On days like these, I just wanna sit in my bed all day in front of the TV, watching Divorce Court, Reba, The View, Let's Make a Deal and Ellen, not really in that order.

But today, even though God blessed us with a rainy day PERFECT for those activities, I had to get up, get dressed, and get OUT.

An FRG Meeting......

I am thankful that not everyone dealing with FRG is pessimistic about EVERYTHING!

Up to this point, joining FRG has been pleasant for me. Everyone I've dealt with have been great and happy to help, except 1 person. A Leader from one of our companies.

We're planning a Holiday Party. As you know, our soldiers are deployed and many families are left behind. A Holiday Party, to me, helps to boost the morale among the family members.

Well, the theme is Candy Land. Fun, right?

Not when you have too many cooks in the kitchen!

Wow, these ladies can be like alley cats! The meeting consisted of ideas being thrown around, good ones taken into consideration, bad ones moved off the table to file 13. Well, there was one chick there, a Leader of one of our companies, who seemed to just have a problem to whatever was thrown on the table. Everything! Nothing was good enough for her. She didn't want to do anything or go outside of the box. AT ALL!

So, as you may guess, a lot of the issues come down to funding. In my experience with PTO, I've found that donations is THE best way to go. I've found that many times, in volunteer settings, you have people who want to help. You just have to ask. You would not believe how many times at the end of last year people have come to me and said, "I wanted to help, but no one asked me." And, there are so many people that simply do not have the time to give but would love to help in other ways. I.E DONATIONS!

So here was the deal. Instead of having the FRG pay for craft supplies for the kids crafts, why not ask families to donate. Immediately that was a No No for Pessimistic Leader Chick.

"Well, I already know that my families won't donate. They never do."

I told her that there was no harm in asking and that even if you don't get all of it, you might get something which cuts down the cost. That's how we do things in PTO.

"Well, not to be rude, but this isn't PTO."

OH NO SHE DI'IN!

So right before I jumped over the table and snatched her bald, someone jumped in and tried to get her to realize that she wasn't going to know unless she asked.

It ended with her rolling her eyes and saying that it was time for her to pick her her kids for an early release day. Good thing, too, because any longer and she might not have left there with all of her hair!

And I'll be going through this all over again at a PTO meeting tonight. yeah me.

Thankful Thoughts of November... Oh what a world!

Today I'm thankful that God has given me patience to deal with children that you have to repeat things to 60 times!

I'm thankful that I have not taken out the ATTITUDE ADJUSTER (a.k.a BEAT EM STICK) today, even though I have told the boys like a bajillion times that they need to get that room cleaned up.

I'm thankful that up until this point, they have taken me serious about NOT COMING OUT OF THEIR ROOM UNTIL IT IS CLEAN, although that has not stopped them from throwing things into the hallway, asking "Can I get that?"

I'm thankful that everyday they are not like this!

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I'm I the only one that looks at the world and all of the crazy and bad things that keep happening and can't help but wonder what kind of world my children are growing up in?

What kind of world do we live in where soldiers can fight for our country and return home TO SAFETY and be killed by thier own fellowman?

What kind of world are they being raised in where a girl can be gang raped in front of a school in front of a large spectators who video tape the horrific event rather than stop it?

What kind of world is this where so many women can go missing in one area and convicted rapist can get away with hiding 11 bodies in his house, some of the women missing for 5 years, and no one investigate that area?

I pray that the world we live in becomes better for my children.

A Month of THANKFULNESS!

There is so much to be thankful for. There is so much in my life that I appreciate having. Although I am thankful everyday, November happens to be the perfect month to show just what those things are. First, I'm Thankful that Clueless Mama @ Guessing all the Way has given me the opportunity to talk about just what I'm thankful for from November 1-24th. Okay, so it's the 6th, but I just found out about this.

So today, I'm THANKFUL for Family. The one thing in my life that is constant. The one thing that holds me together and makes me who I am. I'm thankful for the love my family gives me and the love that I can give to them.

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It's Friday................

Positive Obama comment turns HOSTLE

Yesterday, marked one year.

For what, you ask?

One year ago we made history by electing America's first Black President. We all knew that electing Barack Obama President was only the opportunity to bring about change; that we would all have to keep working to fulfill the promise our victory offered.

Mr. President, one year ago, America believed in you. Today, I still do!


Last night I was Facebook in a cyber fight with a chick who decided that she wanted to voice her opinion about Obama on a comment I made:

President Barack Obama has declared November 2009 as Military Family Month. In the proclamation, President Obama stated: “No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our Nation's military and their families. This month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of military families, convey to them our deepest respect and appreciation, and recommit ourselves to their support.”

I was proud that someone had taken notice of the fights and sacrifices that we Military families face. Michelle Obama has always shown her soft side for our families and that is one of the things about her that won me over.

Well, another poster came in and commented that it was "About DAME TIME he does something that is needed in out country!"

First of all, chick, LEARN TO SPELL!

I see all these adds saying OBAMA WANTS MOMS TO GO TO COLLEGE. You need to take him up on that!

She goes on to say that she "get irate knowing that Obama has never served our country."

Well, never has Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson or Bill Clinton... all GREAT presidents!

Then she says: I don't know why everyone puts down Bush.


UMMMMMM, Maybe because he had us to continue fighting a war looking for weapons of mass destruction WHERE THERE JUST WERE ANY!! How many soldiers were lost on that account alone. And because of that, we are still here in the war that we can't get out of! The rest of the world, who were once on our side grew to hate us! There are issues of poverty right here in America, a war that we should be fighting right here at home! Did he once think that maybe raising the minimum wage in 8 friggin' year might help to stimulate the falling economy???

She also said: Obama is doing horriable. what has he really done for the country as of right now?

He has spent the last 10 months cleaning up the mess from the previous 8 year. Kinda like my kitchen. Can't get any real cookin' done until the mess from the night before is cleaned up, ya know?

She was asked HOW Obama is so "horriable" (as she spelled it), to which she had no answer.

So then the comment was made: Unfortunately, and I am sure you are aware, MOST people who are against Obame is for the simple fact that he is black. Obama's opponent could have been the KKK and people would have voted for anyone except Obama.....just sad.

Hmm, here we go!

She responded with: "When the hell did i ever mention that I didn't like him because of his skin color? wtf? that's ridiculolus"

Its racist people who claim that others didn't vote for him simple based on skin color.

I've made this argument before. The fact of the matter is that he IS looked at differently because of his race. People DID refuse to vote for him because he is black. Being African America automatically give you, president or retail worker, a disadvantage. Freedom wasn't exactly "freedom" right away for blacks and there is still a fight for a since of equality today. If you can't see that then you are blind and naive.

The message she later left in my inbox after deleting herself from my friends' list proved my point!

Kimberly Bennefield November 5 at 11:22am Report I don't have time to deal with ppl who claim im a racist due to the fact I don't agree with there VIEWS or see things there way. And let's be honest here all the people who voted for Obama are stricltly of color. I never brought up race in that whole debate but yet you proved my ... Read Morepoint once again. Minoritys are the racist people on this planet because they think everyone owes them!!if anyone owes ppl something its us native americans! The whites did more harm and murders to them and took there land. so if anyone so claim the race card it should be us native americans! you all have ur own month dedicated to you! What the hell else more do u want?our president is half black!!, you get more education ways to pay for school simply bc ur black!but when Us white people stand up for what we believe but we are called racist bc of it ? But yet its okay for minoritys to throw the race card? Screw that.That's fucking bullshit and its people like you and ur friends that can't let ur skin color go.It makes me sick!!!!! I added you of some random group thinking I might actually meet some interesting ppl but I guess I was mistaken!

Now, if you've been following me, you know I didn't take that one laying down. I sat UP in my bed and got to typing! But to see that, you'll have to tune in to part 2. I'm tired and gotta get dressed to pick up Miss Missy!

Does COLD kill swine flu?

Last night was Sir Talks-A-Lots last game.

They lost.

Of course.

Anywho...

One of the last things said at the end of the night was, "Hey parents, Such and Such was not here tonight because he has the SWINE FLU. He played last night, so parents, keep an eye on your kids!"

AAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Just the thing that we have been avoiding like the plague! (It kinda IS the plague!)

The good thing is, he doesn't go to our school, BUT if it is that close then it is only a matter of time before it spreads to our school.

I'm praying that because it was about 40 degrees last night, the germs couldn't pass from the ball to the other kids hands. I'm hoping that even the almighty H1N1 is not match for almost freezing weather. I mean, it was pretty cold out there, and from what I hear, classrooms are usually kept cool to slow down the spread of germs.

Do I need to make a run to the health department at the first sniffle? No signs of a flu yet, but how long does it take to get symptoms after being infected?

OMG! Somebody PRAY with me that we don't get THAT flu!

Really Blah Blah...

Honestly, as of lately, I feel as if I've been worthless. Worthless to my PTO job (it certainly is not just a volunteer position, and worthless to the FRG.



Oh did I mention I made my first mistake by sending an evite for out upcoming Holiday Party out to people who were not supposed to be invited.



Okay, so it wasn't totally my fault. I'm new to this FRG Leader stuff and I don't know any of the people in our Brigade. That, alone, makes me a sucky leader. BUT the problem was that I uploaded all of the emails directly from our new Gmail account right to Evite and sent out the invite. I assumed that the only saved emails my co-leader had put into the Gmail address box were those from Brigade list. Well I was wrong! There were other folk in there that were NOT suppose to get an invitation to our brigade party and we kinda don't wanna use our already limited FRG funds to pay for people who are not apart of our Brigade.



Okay, according to our FRSA (the chick in charge of our FRG) it's not that big a deal, but enough so that we need to get it fixed. MY BAD! (in my best CLUELESS voice)





Trthfully with Hubs home, I have CHECKED OUT of my jobs. Most people understand. Don't know about my control-freak-PTO-president though. She doesn't call me anymore. This is so opposite last year. Hubs use to complain how much my phone would ring throughout the day. Heffa don't call me anymore. This is the consequence of HAVING AN OPINION! When I was quiet and had little to say, simple agreed, she was my bestest friend! LOL!



Time is winding down. Hubs only has a few days left. This time is not gonna be as had for me. Last time he left I was bawlin' like a baby. The kids were distraught. This time, not so much on my part. It won't be as hard to se him go. I had my crying days. Not saying that I'll be happy and throwing a party, but it just won't hurt as bad. I'm ready for it!



Once he leaves this time, I plan on throwing myself wholeheartedly into both organizations. I have to stay busy, doing something that I love... giving my 2 cents!

Okay, this was a very boring post. Sorry guys. Better next time!

Nature Valley Giveaway

Okay, so I'm not really the health nut. Matter of fact, I lack health knowledge all together. I'm a fried chicken/macaroni and cheese type girl.

So, when the ladies at MyBlogSpark asked me if I wanted to review some new snacks from Nature Valley, I was like, hmmm, a health food?

Okay, back in the days when I thought I was too cool to eat breakfast before school, my mom use to buy Nature Valley bars for me to snack on on the way out the door.



Nature Valley has come up with a new snack!



Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters are a bite size blend of 100% natural ingredients that include select roasted nuts, whole grain oats and a touch of honey - a wholesome and delicious pick-me-up any time of the day. If you love nuts, you´ll enjoy this flavorful little snack featuring the perfect combination of sweet & salty flavors paired with a crunchy texture that you can see and taste. And with the first unique cluster-shaped granola packaged in a handy re-sealable pouch, it´s perfect for sharing on the trails or in your living room! New Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters come in four easy-to-crave flavors: Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut. (taken from Laurie Pepitone and My Blog Spark)


Okay, so I'm not big on nuts, so I wasn't expecting to love this snack. But I decided to tear into the Honey Roasted Peanut pack. I-HEART-this-snack! Yum! It was a perfect blend of sweet and crunchy and just plain good!



Now, I don't care for almonds or cashews, so I wanted to save those flavors for someone special. HUBS was coming home for his 2 week visit from Iraq. He LOVED nuts. I figured this would be right up his alley. And it's healthy, which is a plus because he has me beat in that department.



The other bags were gone within the first 2 days of him being here. He thought they taste like Crunch n Munch!


So that's a snack that was a hit!






And all the goodies that came with the samples were a plus. Everything you need for a hike. The kids loved the flashlight and binoculars. I was in need of a bag to carry my keys and really like the water bottle.



So, here's the thing. I've been holding on to this giveaway for far too long. I want to make this short and sweet. All you have to do to win this Nature Valley prize pack is leave a comment telling me what your favorite snack is. I'll randomly pick a winner on Friday, November 6th. You can enter until NOON eastern time.



Soooooo, GO!