Feeling Puny

Howdy folks! I am feeling a bit under the weather today. My tonsils are swollen, but I don't have a fever, so who knows what I'm harboring.

::::::::::::::::::::::Yesterday::::::::::::::

was a busy one. The sister missionaries from our church came over for dinner. We prepared breakfast for dinner. We had bacon, french toast and scrambled eggs. The sisters were adventurous and poured Pomegranate 7Up into their orange juice. The kids were their usually rowdy selves. At one point, we got on the subject of animals who run in front of cars like opossums and deer. This sequed into Noah wanting to tell the missionaries one of his favorite jokes which starts out like this: What is the difference between beer nuts and deer nuts? At this point Michael and I frantically call him off before he can give the punch line. The sister missionaries just looked at me and laughed because I couldn't stop laughing and had turned beet red. So, the kids started telling more benign jokes. Rachel new several blonde jokes and their were a couple from the show The Vicar of Dibley that the kids could share.

:::::::::::::::::::::::Wilton Cake Art I:::::::

I ran off to take my first cake decorating class and got there with 5 minutes to spare. We learned about the recipes and uses for the different consistencies of icing and some basic frosting methods. My homework assignment is to bake a cake and have it frosted and ready for decorating next week.

:::::::::::::::::::::::Court of Honor::::::::

Aaron and Michael have a Court of Honor tonight for Scouts. Michael took the day off because he has been run ragged at work and home for a couple of weeks and needed to slow down. Unfortunately, he has to run to Lawrenceville to pick up the badges because the person that said they could pick them up Sunday has a meeting downtown and can't make it out there. Typical.

:::::::::::::::::::::::Weekend Update:::::::::::::::

I almost forgot to talk about our fun trip to Shakespeare's Tavern. The night was frigid, but it was just fine inside the tavern. We had balcony seats, which was great to see all parts of the stage at once. The play for the evening was "Twelfth Night". The actors did a marvelous job. Michael and I took his mom and my mother to see the play. The music for the play was just perfect, too. We ate at the tavern and the food was rather tasty. I had the sheperd's pie, Michael had the Hearty Lentil soup, Sydney had the Cornish Pasty and my mom opted for the Salmon and Leek pie. YUM! During intermission Michael had a apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. So, we were well fed and the play was awesome. When we left the downtown Atlanta night scene was just getting started and the some homeless people were outside the door.

Michael and I want to bring Aaron and Rachel back to the tavern to see "A Midsummer's Night Dream". We thought it would be fun to have Michael's family and my mom to return during the holidays at the end of the year to see "A Christmas Carol". We will have to see if any of them are interested.

I'm going to go take a lie down and read.

Smiles!

Oh No, Godzilla!

Here are a couple of layouts with some fine dinosaur doodles:


This is Michael on his mission in Sapporo. As he stated, "When I was thin and had hair!" (He is still a HOTTIE!)

_{Chalk Full of Fun by Lisa Whitney,
City Doodle by Andrea Burns,
Dinosaur Doodle, Vehicles 1 & 2 Doodles by Kate Hadfield,
Torn and Ripped Template by Jen Caputo,
Alpha Label by The Powers Sisters,
Frame by (modified) by Nancy Comelab,
Backward Staples by Jenn Patrick,
Grunge Alpha by Birgit,
Hand Stamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman
Font: DB Michael, Texas Hero}


The kids and I enjoyed the dinosaur exhibits. There were a few hands on displays. The main exhibit was about chocolate, which was pretty neat. After we walked through that exhibit the kids and I got to touch an African Millipede. The exhibit on the senses is amazing, too. The giant bubble making is always a hit!

Dinosaur Doodles, Birthday Boy Doodle and Alpha Doodles by Kate Hadfield,
Ripped and Torn by Jen Caputo,
Chalked Full of Fun by Lisa Whitney,
date stamp by Amber Clegg,
Mardi Gras frame by Summer Simmons

:::::::::::::::Aaron::::::::::::

is recovering from his dehydration, but the shoes have yet to be fixed.

::::::::::::::Swimming::::::::::

We are supposed to meet at Stephen's house for Family Home Evening, and swim. He has a salt water pool, which is so wonderful. The kids feel so much better after swimming in that solution as opposed to chlorine.

::::::::::::::Just Hung Out::::::

last night with the family eating Chinese food and watching "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again". Eve really loved picking all the bamboo shoots out of the take out box and she cleaned her plate of chicken fried rice. Rachel picked all the shrimp from the Happy Family. Noah just picked at his food, while Aaron made a mild ham and swiss sandwich.

::::::::::::::A Real Frog-Strangler:::::

last night when I went to pick up the Chinese food. We have needed rain desperatley. Yeah for rain. I don't know if the percipitation has made its way to the Okefenokee area, but I hope so!


We just were eating breakfast and Aaron was pouting, so Michael told him to knock it off or he would get permanent frown lines in his forehead. Noah piped up and said, "Yeah! You'll end up looking like Squidword and dad!" We all busted out laughing, except for Aaron who kept pouting. Squidword is the clarinet playing, cashier octopus from Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Later gators! Smiles!

What Lola Wants...

Lola gets! Is that a familiar song to anyone? I remember hearing it every once in awhile. It is the very seductive and sultry song from "Damn Yankees". Here is the synopsis on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_Yankees .
My mother was generous enough to invite me to attend the play along with her neighbor, Melinda, and some friends from work, the Burns and the Coopers, and two other friends, Suzanne and Stephanie. We went during dinner theatre and enjoyed eating spaghetti and chatting.
The cast and crew that preformed this most recent rendition of this play are from Holy Cross Catholic Church in Tucker, Georgia. This amateur group of thespians is professional in every way! Their director does an amazing job with every show. They call their group "Miracle Productions" and their goal is to raise many for Friends of Saint Martin de Porres. The money raised goes to feeding the poor.


:::::::::::::Earlier::::::::::::::

in the afternoon I was surprised to see my childhood friend Althea's car in my parents' driveway. She was returning the trailer she had borrowed from Jim. Happily, she stayed for a few more hours and we caught up on her most recent flight to Rome, Italy. Her next possible flight would be to South Africa. She really enjoys her job with Delta. We discussed old friends and new things going on in her life. We also discussed home renovations. She has been working on her home for a few years and we discussed Hardiplank as an option for the siding she wants to replace. She laughed when I told her we used Universal Khaki for the exterior because that is a color she picked for her interior hall. If you ever have Althea as your flight attendant you will feel very safe, because she is efficent, caring, and doesn't let anyone mess with her, or anyone else.

::::::::::::Benefits of Service::::::

Sister Patterson, one of our ward missionaries, called with a request at the first part of the week. One of the ladies in our ward was unable to pick up her children from pre school due to her husband's car breaking down. At first I hesitated because Aaron gets off track with his assignments when I have to run an errand, so I keep those to a minimum. Aaron was listening to the conversation and was quick to insist I go and help her and he would watch Eve. I agreed to go get this sister. Eve wanted to go, but I needed her car seat to help carry the children.
A few moments after I pulled up in front of the apartment this sister came out bringing car seats for the different children. I got out of the car and told her she could use mine and avoid having to take an additional seat. Her youngest daughter came out and stood in front of me and smiled. I put my arms out in an effort to see if she would come to me. She immediately put her arms in reciprocation and came right into my arms. If you have had a hug like this you know it is so sincere, trusting and moves you to the soul in its sweetness. We were instant pals. Her mother was very appreciative for the ride and we had a wonderful conversation on the way to the pre school, then she went in to pick up her children and their little cousin. When they came out her daughter remembered me from primary and realized I was Evey's mommy. She spoke to me as she got in the car and when we unloaded at her house. The most heart warming part of this to me was Janis speaking to me like someone she knew and liked. I have been trying to get Janis to talk to me since she and Eve were in the Nursery together 2 years ago. I smiled all the way home realizing she knew I really liked her and we were friends. Her mom is a sweet heart, too!

:::::::::Going off to photograph the house......