AP Biology....what the heck!

So....2Shaye had this huge AP Biology project that was due today.....she had spent hours upon hours working on this book that she had to turn in as her end of semester project. They had to write a book that would clearly discuss the 6 Kingdoms...such as Protista, Animalia, Plantae, etc.... She chose to do an interactive children's book. I so wished she had taken pictures of this project since she dedicated so much time (and it was dag gone cute as you can make biology kingdoms) .... but she was so glad to be finished she didn't want to remember any of it. The name of her book was called... Keys to the Kingdoms....and every page had to be hand drawn and hand written. She had castles, keys, stick figures and all kinds of fun things most kids would love to read about. It was an interactive book with flaps cut out to lift up to reveal answers underneath. Big Daddy assisted her with the razor knife....since he left to go to the Wake game with the tools she needed....to cut the flaps. I felt bad about leaving her up finishing this project alone (now had she blown most of it off till the last minute I would have gone to bed and left her alone in her misery but in all fairness she did spends hours and hours detailing all of this work). So I stayed with her.....until 4am.....and she did allow me some crayola time. You would think after 47 years I would be tired of coloring but I'm not..... 2Shaye and I went to bed at 4.... and I was already sick from a nasty cold... so when the alarm went off 1 hour after I crawled in the bed.... i set it for 8:15....to call in because my head was pounding and my throat was terrible.....and I was so sleep deprived that I just simply was miserable and knew I would not be productive had I gone in. So I tanked up on cold meds and crawled back in the bed. 2Shaye got up and turned in her project to a teacher she is less than fond of...but got the compliment that her book was one of the unique projects she had seen.... guess that's good coming from someone that doesn't seem to care for 2Shaye or anyone in her class for that matter.

Big Daddy had no idea I had stayed at home today.....he always leaves for work before I get out of bed...but every morning before he leaves he always comes and tells me all the sweet things that help me get through each day....and this morning I had no idea he even woke me ....he said...he was trying to talk to me and I rolled over in the middle of his morning rituals of 'sweet nothings'. I apologized and told him I was just so tired and sickly that I had no recollection of him even speaking to me. When I told him we pulled an all-niter....he goes 'WE'......and I broke the news to him.... I told him that it was apparent that 2Shaye would need me in college to help her color so I was building up stamina for college in the fall and that I would have to go away with 2Shaye because I'm not sure I can handle her leaving me. ;)

Note to 2Shaye: Pay all of these times we spend together.....the late hours doing homework or late night talks or just the time we spend together when the house has fallen asleep and left us up.... forward to your babies if you choose someday to have them.... they are more rewarding than you'll probably realize at the time. I am...and will always be....your biggest fan....that is as long as you allow me the privilege to color with you until 4am....even if it is biology pictures of warts and fungus....... ILU

Shout out to MGBigs

So....2Shaye got this new Flip Video gadget for her birthday and she carries it wherever she goes to capture life as she knows it. She and her bestest, MGBigs, had gone to CVS to print out some pictures and they had some time to kill so they meandered throughout CVS... MGBigs is caught on film...doing the Robot. We all love her ... 'she's just the cutest little thing'... Break it down, Bigs!

A view from the Locker Room....

2Shaye's team has this ritual before all ballgames...they do this little song thing while they are waiting for their coach to come to the locker room before the game...she's just shared it with me....now I am sharing it with you.... Notice the SHhush at the very end....? Their coach leaves them to have quiet time to focus.....they had rather sing....so when they hear him coming they all stop singing...... Like he doesnt hear them ;) Enjoy!

Go Cards...but mostly a BIG thanks for the Graham support

Tonight we spent the evening sitting on the hard bleachers at East Surry High School where the Xbox Junkie and 2Shaye's teams had their way with the Golden Eagles from Surry Central. Their games turned out a big win for each of them. They both played well.....and we were proud as always. Go Cards #14 and #20!

So.... what made tonight different and more special than a typical game????? We had some dear friends show up tonight....mainly to support 2Shaye. And I'm not talking fans that decided to drive across town to a neighborhood gym.... I'm talking fans that drove all the way from Graham just to watch her play....IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK at that! Big Daddy and I want to sincerely thank the Graham Crakas (JSC squared) and along with Worker Man's parents, AC and MC for being there and being so supportive of 2Shaye. It's not everyday that folks give up a few hours of road time just to travel to a high school basketball game when they don't even have a child playing.... SO BIG BIG BIG Thanks for that!

.....and while I am being Thankful...let me also be apologetic..... I am truly sorry that I did not make it over to say a proper "hello"...... I had a long lost friend that lives in Dobson (the opposing enemy) show up to talk to me during halftime of 2Shaye's game.... and the music was blaring so loudly during the guy's varsity warm ups that I had planned to scoot over during their halftime.... but the Graham Fans left before the guy's half due to the long ride home and probably snagging dinner......so let me tell you .... I am truly TRULY sorry that I did not get an opportunity to talk to each of you in person. I would have excused myself from talking to my buddy and made my way to see you.... had I realized you were leaving.... again... I am sending my sincerest apologies to each one of you for that.

Also...... Thanks to all of you for taking care of 2Shaye when she comes to Graham to visit Sam..... She loves each one of you and we are thankful you all have taken her in and treated her like your family. We can never thank you enough for that!

Sending our love back to Graham!!!

2Shaye is 18 today!!

Happy 18th Birthday 2Shaye!

hmmmm...I think we've LEGALLY fulfilled our parental obligations now.....so you best turn up the charm to stay here rent free! ;)

Actually .... we don't want you to EVER leave....your spark is a HUGE part of what keeps our lives happy!

We love you 2Shaye.....to the moon and back ...times a gazillion and then some!

As soon as we can figure out your new flip video camera... we'll download some of your videos of today's events!

HAVE A HAPPY DAY....even tho' it's going to be bittersweet just thinking about sending Sam back to 'the pack' tomorrow.

Celebrate and enjoy your special day.....

New Years Eve

New Year's Eve wasn't the most exciting time we've had but after an incredibly busy fall and holiday season, ringing in the New Year quietly was VERY welcomed. Typically we get together with friends or have our children close by to toast the beginning of the New Year. This year we found ourselves alone enjoying the quietness that will begin to prepare us for the empty nest. Please do not think this is depressing or sad.....because it was not. Big Daddy and I enjoy couch and TV time together. It isn't often we have the opportunity to discuss life's ever changing paths of our kids or work or what we would like to do IF we ever get to enjoy retirement ... so these quiet times are special. We tried to tune into the UNC basketball game but we found ourselves dozing in and out of conscientiousness as did the team Carolina was pelting on the court. However, we did gather ourselves together about 11:50...turned it to Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve Party and watched the ball drop in Times Square (an awesome place to visit...just not in the crowds on New Year's Eve...we're too old now to find that anything BUT appealing) ...got the traditional midnight kiss and I sent the kid's a txt msg to wishing them a Happy New Year altough I don't think Wormie had service to receive hers .....then waited for them to start filtering back in.


This year the Xbox Junkie went down the road to a big New Year's Eve party at a chickfriend's house. After the ball dropped in Times Square, the Xbox Junkie and his passel of guy friends were headed back here to do what most guys do.... Xbox, basketball with the outside speakers blaring with rap music, maybe some 8-ball, and Texas-style ping pong. So in a few hours, our quiet solitude would turn into very loud and rambunctious....and yes it IS comforting to hear all of these sounds as I know when they are here and loud....they're not out finding themselves in mischief....and that's a good thing!


2Shaye had a date planned so she was bustling around getting ready for a night out with Sam and the Graham Crakas (Sam's sister and brother-in-law......and her hosts when she travels to Raleigh to spend time with Sam). 2Shaye loves hanging with the Graham Crakas so she was excited to be bringing in the New Year with them. They were going to dinner and a movie. Not sure where they ended up eating but I think they went to see Marley and Me. After that, they linked up with Sam's parents at a friends house to ring in the New Year. They headed home shortly after midnight and offered to pick up the Xbox Junkie and his entourage from their party so they could begin 2009 with welts and bruises from Texas style ping pong. It is my understanding from hearing the Xbox Junkie reflect back on ping pong that evening.... that Sam was pretty nasty in ping pong and not many wanted to play him but the ones that were brave enough to take him on....sported souvenirs (aka as bruises) for several days. Guess that's a guy thing.....just not sure.

Wormie had been home several days with us and was finding the need to escape from her psycho-parents at any cost. One of her friend's was having a small get together so she went there to hang out, graze on snacks and maybe do Wii fit and other Wii games. Her boyfriend, (we'll call him 'Money-clip' to put him into the witness protection plan that was made famous by the FBI), stopped by to pick her up and off they went to begin their evening festivities. I do not know exactly what all they got into as she never offered any fun chit-chat about her evening. The Xbox Junkie's friends said that she rolled in about 3-4am-ish. The Xbox Junkie wouldn't offer any clues as to her landing time as he said he didn't see her or Money-Clip when she got home. He is a protective brother....just ask 2Shaye as he's always offering fashion advise. Since she is hanging on the edge of 21, we didn't monitor her comings and goings too closely on that particular evening....but being psycho-parents, we do keep a watch on her MOST of the time. It's part of the torture we expect her to inflict upon her children. She denies she will.....but we know it's just part of becoming a psycho-parent...and she will definitely fall into that category....it's just in the genes.

Even though this was one of the quietest New Year's celebrations in a while .... Big Daddy is still the one that I want to bring in the New Year with....and yes I am selfish sometimes w/ his time so getting him home alone for a few hours always makes me crazy-happy...especially knowing the kids were happy being where and with whom they wanted to be with.

Happy 2009!

Christmas Eve... and squirrels

As Christmas Eve approached we found ourselves the morning of..... without squirrels....the evening meal tradition at my parents house. For as many years as I can remember, we have always tried to have a huge pot of Brunswick stew at my parents for our main entree. My dad used to hunt squirrels for the stew on Christmas Eve but eventually that task was handed down to my brothers Big Phil and Big Mark. Some years they would come home empty handed and at that point my dad would open the bathroom window overlooking our bottom land..... and he would be patient and eventually a big gray squirrel would come into his scope and with a loud bang that rocked the whole house and being a sure shot, our evening meal would fall to the ground. As the years passed, we found that Big Daddy was the best squirrel cleaner of the bunch. Somehow he can skin one and hardly have a stray hair anywhere. My mom particularly prefers his cleaning methods as she is one of the pickiest cooks in all of the land (I know that seems a bit odd since I am talking about cleaning squirrel ... of all things).

In a quandary about the lack of squirrel, I called my youngest brother Big Phil to inquire about his work hours and the possibility of him bringing home the meat. Big Phil is one of the managers of one of the largest retail establishments known in all of the land...Ill just refer to that as Phil-Mart.....so he is pretty non-existent to any of us during the holiday season as he is always working at Phil-Mart...I am sure he works as hard as Santa! That being said, Big Phil had not had an opportunity to get out and hunt up our traditional vermin.....and Big Daddy was working....so I had no choice but to call upon Sam to help out. Sam is quite handy with guns and hunting however he didn't seem to think I was serious about this reques.... but being the true sport he always is....he got his .22 and bullets and headed our way. On a side note....when hunting for vermin to consume, I do prefer a .22 instead of a shotgun just because the thought of birdshot scattered throughout the meat just gives me chills to think about...even if we are talking about squirrel. I had instructed Sam to shoot once and not mess up the meat. :) About the time Sam pulled up....so did Big Daddy. They decided to go together on the big hunt for 2 'good eating-sized' squirrels. Big Daddy noticed the gun in Sam's hand and thought that he would just tag along since it was apparent that Sam was using his gun....Sam asked him if he was going to get his gun and it was then that they realized that Sam has the EXACT replica of Big Daddy's chosen squirrel killing gun. So Big Daddy happily went to get his gun and off they went. The Xbox Junkie decided to go...not because he enjoys hunting.... he just don't get the whole hunting fiasco. But maybe he went just to see if there would be squirrel on the menu....not that he would touch it cause he's just not all that into eating bushy tailed rats. Plus he only enjoys hunting on the Xbox....so if he's going to kill anything he would prefer it be on video games because when it's all said and done.... he's a lover not a killer! :)

So finally.....with guns in hand and not the right time of day to kill squirrels they headed off to kill the squirrels against the odds. After about an hour....they came back in from the big hunt with 2 squirrels. Now the daunting task of cleaning the vermin was underway. Not sure Sam had cleaned many a'squirrel but we all know from earlier on.... Big Daddy is KING when it comes to cleaning squirrels. So Sam observed and I called my parents to let them know that there was indeed going to be squirrel for Christmas Eve dinner than night.

After they cleaned the squirrels....we let them soak in salt ice water for a few hours then I cleaned it and cut it up into pieces so it would be ready to be put into the Brunswick stew that Big Phil was planning on cooking. And my mom is right... Big Daddy had done an excellent job skinning out those squirrels. :) My mom usually cooks in a big cast iron pot over the fire in the fireplace and I will say the whole romantic thought of squirrel cooking over a roaring fire at my parents house truly seems like Christmas to me. This year it was just too hot to have the big roaring fire so we just cooked it at my mom's house on the stove.

I took a large kettle of chicken'n dumplins for the weak at heart....and I will say.... I chose chicken'n dumplins as my meal this year. Sam had his first taste of Brunswich stew with squirrel but I didn't watch to see his reaction...I am sure it was priceless. But I know that my parents really loved having the traditional Brunswick stew. And if any of you are interested in the recipe... just leave me a comment! :)

Christmas Eve was complete and we opened gifts with my parents and enjoyed the evening! and Big Thanks to Sam for the squirrel that night as it was him that was the sure shot of the day.

Decking the halls and the biggest Tree in the forest

Decorating the biggest tree in the forest is always a ceremony of sorts. We start by letting Big Daddy adorn the tree with those magical lights that make the tree come to life. He always wants to stop at 3 strands but we 'encourage' him to stay on task and put as many as it takes to cast giant shadows. Once the lights are on and glowing enough to put off warmth ... we adorn the tree with our ornaments. Every year I try to find the kids an ornament that signifies something of meaning in their life for that particular year. Sometimes its hard and I do not always hit my mark....but I try desperately to find something meaningful. This year.... it was one of those OFF years where I just couldn't find anything on the shelves that clearly reflected them to the point that I felt satisfied with my purchases. I guess some years are just that way.

Notice the wall in the background with pieces of paper and cardboard taped to it.......'The Wall of Smiles' had just gotten under way...more to come in a later blog.

Wormie got ANOTHER snowchick that was named...'On the go'..... the snowchick was drinking Starbucks and chatting on the cell. Now... I know for a fact that Wormie is always on the cell....as she clocks in about 4500 minutes a month (wow!)...and I know she loves her Starbucks...something has to wake her up to get to class.....but seriously Wormie.... 4500 minutes a month??? .... you must have a LOT to say ;) I wont even discuss the number of text messages that enters and exits that particular cell....busy busy girl! Again... not really any significant meaning to her ornie but it was one that made me grin when I saw it perched up on the shelf at the Hallmark store... I did think of her immediately when I saw it! She wasn't overly excited but gracious as always none the less.

2Shaye's ornament was another hard find. 2009 will prove to be a better year for her ornament selection as she gets ready to graduate from high school and enters into college in the fall..... but for this year..... I settled for a High School Musical locker that plays song snippets from the 3rd (painful to endure) movie. While the entire house PLUS Sam hates the thought of HSM we know it is a special love of 2Shaye's....so we grin and bear it...but it is NOT easy. Got to love her ability to find entertainment in so many genres though!

If you will notice that RED HMS3 locker is strategically placed so it appears in about EVERY picture...That is our 2Shaye at work for you!

Now its time to find something for the Xbox Junkie. And go figure... I hunted to the ends of the earth and did not find one that was symbolic to the hours he clocks in on Xbox. But if you remember the numbers from Wormie's cell usage....he probably doubles her cell time. So again.... this year... Xbox Junkie ends up with ANOTHER ESPN ornament. His life is based on Xbox playing and watching ESPN Sports Center updates. So until he does more than those 2 activities he'll be stuck with ESPN ornaments. Hopefully this year he will find more to accomplish and his ornament for 2009 will show some signs that his life took on some other type of positive growth. As I am blogging at this moment.... I can hear him yelling from his room... 'WOW", "I'M TERRIBLE", "that gun is Nasty", "That burnt his biscuit", "I hate stupid video games". .... maybe its time to intervene and get him away from the controller. If I wasn't just plain scared to think of what I'd see..... I'd take his walls down and put in sound proof glass because with his loudness he has to be entertaining to watch....but being a smart mom....I'll elect NOT to change out his walls.

I do get an ornie for Big Daddy and me as well. Ours is usually some type of normal Mom and Dad ornament...or maybe 2 cute animals riding a sledge or cutting down a tree....or maybe 2 pink flamingo's standing together. Ours isn't as significant as the kids but we do have our own collection. The kids always put on their ornaments while listening to Christmas music....I can't get enough of Christmas music during the holidays and by the time Dec 26 rolls around the Xbox Junkie is to the point of slitting his wrists. After the kids do their ornaments, Big Daddy and I hang ours always starting with the newest one and ending it with a simple kiss.... yes... its a cheesy event but he has always been a sport...and besides it takes all of 10 seconds to hang the ornament and seal it with a kiss....not to much to ask!

After our special ornaments, the kids crafty elementary ornaments go on with special love. After all those are hung we add all the other things we have collected over the year. Lastly the put the angel that 2Shaye made in the 2nd grade (Sam's mom was her teacher that year) on top of our tree.

We also get a new nutcracker each year and the new one always takes center stage. Somehow we neglected to get a picture of our nutcrackers this year... NOT COOL!

Wormie will not be happy with all of these pictures of her....as she got straight out of bed to participate and has already threatened me if I put these pictures on here....oh well if she decides to have children of her own someday, she can torture them as I have mine and do exactly what they ask me not to :)

Luker and Reese under the tree!

This is my "Believe' sign....and to think... I did not watch Polar Express once this year....now that is tragic!! That happens to be my one request from the kids....to watch that movie with me every year.