what a day tuesday

today has been a day and it is only 1/2 over!  the day started with pouring, monsoon rain and wind.  bluedotprincess was not satisfied with any outfit choices i gave her...we settled on a cute little long shirt, that i thought she was pairing up with leggin's.....but she put on leggings which are like thick stockings.  she kept telling me it was long enough until she turned around and her behind was hanging out for everyone to see...much crying and whining and gnashing of teeth until a skirt was added to the outfit.  well we finally got out of the house in pouring rain.

next stop was to the gas station as i was completely on empty.  well the rain, if you call it that when you are  being pelted from every imaginable position.  i swear the concrete was raining up at me.  after pumping just enough gas to get me to work and back, i was drenched.  back home we went for me to change.  now i had already had enough problems finding the first outfit, this was truly not how i had envisioned my morning.

after finally leaving the house for the second time...we get to the main intersection we must encounter that usually will have 3 light cycle changes before i can manage to get through it....guess what the lights were OUT!  people if the lights are not working you are to treat it is a 4-way stop.  undoubtedly the people who travel the roads in alabama do not know this as no one stopped.  i finally got through that intersection and then took an alternative route the rest of the way to school because the bigger intersection had no lights as well...

we made it to school and i dropped bluedotprincess off...now on to my school and the parking lot.  well we must be having some parent event, because there are no parking spaces.  i really should have a designated parking space, i mean in a perfect world i would, right?  well after finally finding a space, forever away.  the bottom falls out again, rain, wind, rain sideways, rain every direction hitting me.  finally make it into the building and begin drying out...

today 3 of our homerooms were given cookie cakes for winning a spirit door decoration contest.  guess who got to go out in the beautiful weather to get the cakes?  me...well made to the store and got the cakes and back into the car without much fanfare...then i arrive back at school.  drop the cakes by the front door and go to park my car.  my umbrella decided it didn't want to be used and got stuck inside the car and then on my steering wheel...soaking me from the water that was left on it...then there was some sharp edge on the umbrella that proceeded to attack me.  i was bleeding and running in the rain with my contrary umbrella that refused to open.

now, i am drying out and have my hand bandaged.  it is my right hand which makes anything almost impossible to accomplish!

here's hoping that you all have had a much better day than me!

on another note, today is my daddy's birthday.  i couldn't be more proud to have him as my daddy...

the iron bowl

today if you live in alabama or are from alabama, it is a very important day...the iron bowl.  the bluedots are alabama fans...roll tide!

we have our alabama gear on and are preparing the feast for the alabama game. 

roll tide roll!

thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving!  i am thankful for so many things, so many that i could not possibly list them all!  this year i am a most thankful for my family.  we may collectively have a few nuts, but that is what makes life so interesting.

For each new morning with its light, 
For rest and shelter of the night, 

For health and food, 

For love and friends, 

For everything Thy goodness sends. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) 

thanksgiving hodgepodge

Happy Wednesday blog world!  Today is Wednesday Hodgepodge, Thanksgiving edition over at from this side of the pond.

1. If you had known what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower? hard question...I think yes, I would have boarded the Mayflower.

2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?  Our family went on a Disney Cruise a few years ago to the Bahama's.  It was great and I would readily do a cruise again.  Now if you mean getting on a boat like the Mayflower, with those amenities, probably not anytime soon!

3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed? If you're single what are some of your family's favorite Thanksgiving traditions?  Other than getting together as a family to celebrate Thanksgiving we have no other Thanksgiving traditions.  I appreciate Thanksgiving more each year.  I am truly thankful for the opportunity to break bread and fellowship with my family.

4. What time is dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving day?  We usually eat right around lunch time noonish.  Thanksgiving is not thanksgiving without the dressing!  Yummo!

5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? Do tell....no thank goodness.  Although when bluedotdad and I were newly married, we had this little indoor electric grill.  I decided to cook a pork steak for him for supper...the grease caught on fire and almost burned our apartment kitchen...thank goodness he was there and took care of extinguishing it for me!

6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and feet dragging, only to realize later it was a true blessing.  A few weeks ago bluedotdad had a dinner party with some of his colleagues.  I hate school/work parties...let me explain.  bluedotdad and I have been married for 18 years and over that time I have been to every Christmas party, dinner party, etc...They are usually so boring and I listen to the same but different conversations and long to leave.  Well, back to a few weeks ago, we had to go to this dinner party, that I was dreading.  We get there and the hostess was so nice and showed me around her house and garden and served the best champagne.  It was the most fun dinner party, I laughed and just enjoyed the moment.  Can't wait to get together with them again!

7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned or french fried...which one's your favorite? My grandmother's candied sweet potatoes are my absolute favorite!

8. Insert your own random thought here.  In reading my twitterstream, I have noticed that if you read the tweets in order it appears that my twitter friends are having a conversation.  Some make sense, some do not and some are hilarious!

There is my hodgepodge....now it is your turn to answer this weeks questions and link up with Joyce at this side of the pond.

gobble, gobble, gobble

in honor of thanksgiving week, let's study our turkey hand signals...

husbands!

sunday's are usually a busy day for the bluedots.  i teach 4 year old bible class on sunday and i feel like i start the day in a rush.  yesterday was no exception for the rush, but with the un-falllike weather that we are having, i had a bit of a struggle to find the right outfit for church.  i want to look nice, but need to be in something i can sit in the floor wearing, have glue smeared on that could easily be cleaned off, etc...

class was fun and i love those little kiddo's!  but in the rush of finishing the crafts, doing snacks and getting them all picked up, i as usual, am late for worship.  so i am rushing to find bluedotdad, only to discover that bluedotdad is sitting 2 rows in front of my parents and bluedotprincess.  it seems that bluedotdad wanted to sit on the aisle and so did my dad so we could not sit together.

i seem to get into my seat just as we are standing for the hymns...so from the rushing and singing, i am hot. i lean over to bluedotdad and say, it's hot in here.  his reply, really?  i don't think so, you must be having a hot flash!  i wanted to smack him up side the head...sometimes my husband can be stupid!

saturday adventures

we spent the day adventuring around the ham...

 railroad park followed by the mcwane center. 

it was so much fun hanging out with the family and bluedotteen's girlfriend. 

i didn't accomplish one thing on my to do list, like shopping for groceries, cleaning house, washing clothes, etc...but i made some precious memories! 

hope you all had a fabulous weekend too!

5 minutes

if i leave my house five minutes later than usual, i will:

• have forgotten to pack bluedotprincess' snack
• will leave my lunch in the refrigerator
• i will be on 'e' and the fuel light will be flashing at me
• will endure more neighborhood traffic
• will be stuck at the red light for 3 changes before my turn
• will be in carpool traffic for school
• will be stuck behind parents dropping their children off in a non-drop off location
• will not make into my office before i am bombarded by teachers 
• the copy machine will be jammed
• the phone will be ringing off the hook
• no few than 3 teachers will be sick and not have subs for the day

happy thursday blog friends,

wednesday hodgepodge

It's Wednesday and that means Wednesday's Hodgepodge over at Joyce's blog this side of the pond

1. What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen? Storms coming in off the gulf are the most amazing weather events I have ever seen! 

2. What is a sound or noise you love? I adore the sound of my children's laughter...there is nothing sweeter in the whole world than their laughs!

3. Do you like seafood? What's your favorite seafood dish? I love seafood...my favorite is shrimp and grits.  I do have a funny story about calamari.  When bluedotteen was a baby we were on vacation at the beach.  bluedotdad and I went out for dinner and we decided to be adventurous and try the calamari at the suggestion of the waitress.  Well one bite and I broke out in hives and started itching.  We had a sitter and this was one of the first times we had been out since the birth of little man.  What we had planned to be a romantic evening turned into a itchy, splotchy, benadryl haze.  Needless to say, I NEVER will eat calamari again!

4. What part of your day requires the most patience? My patience is tested daily on the drive to school and from school as bluedotprincess talks my ears off.  Yesterday I asked her if we could be quiet until we got home, she said sure mom!  Within 2 seconds she was talking again.  Somedays I want to scream BE QUIET!  Lots of deep breaths and telling myself you are going to miss these conversations one day help some!

5. What's your favorite shade of blue? Royal Blue is my favorite right now, as this is one of our Rebel colors for my son's football team! Go Rebels!

6. Do people underestimate you? Yes.  I think over time lots of people have underestimated me, but that is fine with me.  I know what my capabilities are and it doesn't bother me.

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach? Last Friday night when we were in the 2nd round of football playoffs...that feeling of will we win, will we lose!  We lost, it was bittersweet.  They had a good season and we are all proud of them!

8. Insert your own random thought here, and remember...I have a wooden spoon and I'm not afraid to use it. RANDOM THOUGHT!  Why can't we all celebrate Thanksgiving and wait for the Christmas music and decorations?  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and it irks me that is rushed through.  You don't even get your halloween decorations put up and then Christmas decorations are bombarding you everywhere.  Come on people enjoy this wonderful holiday, give it it's due and BE THANKFUL!

Ok, now it is your turn.  Link up to this side of the pond and give us your answers to Wednesday's Hodgepodge!

wednesday hodgepodge

today i am participating in the wednesday hodgepodge, initation edition over at from this side of the pond. 

1. Do you think you're more like your mom or your dad?

that is a hard question...i think i have qualities from both of them...some good, some bad!

2. Do you like roller coasters?

YES!  love, love, love roller coasters...unfortunately, bluedotdad does not!

3. How did you name your blog and do you now wish you'd thought about it maybe another five minutes before you hit publish? Would you change your blog title if it were not a huge pain in the derriere? (French makes everything sound a little nicer doesn't it?)

honestly, it was the first thing that came to mind...it is what it is and i pretty much like it!

4. What is the best wedding gift you received? Not married? Didn't get any gifts? Then what is the best wedding gift you've given?

my most prized wedding gifts are a wedding ring quilt my grandmother quilted for me and a set of china she gave me.

5. What is the one bill you most hate to pay?

my student loans...i think i hate it the most because it feels like they will never be paid off!

6. Is the glass half full or half empty?

half full...i always try to look for the good in things!  otherwise, i think life would be so depressing!

7. What is your favorite word? Okay okay. Calm down. How about oneof your favorite words?

hmmm, this is a hard one for me...but i suppose my favorite word at the moment would be really...yep really.  i seem to ask/use really a lot lately. sorta like the snl weekend updates with amy poehler.

8. Now, this is where you insert one random thought of your own...maybe something that struck you as funny, something that recently had you scratching your head in confusion, something that annoyed you a teensy bit, something on your to do list, something you are looking forward to, whatever. As long as it is in keeping with the friendly tone we've all come to know and love on Wednesdays then we're good. Don't make me get out my wooden spoon.

ok my random thought is that i am now considered the post office by my husband.  on monday when i picked my purse up to leave, i noticed there was an envelop to be mailed inside my purse.  now he did not say, hey will you mail this for me or anything.  just stuck it in there and expected me to mail it.  i didn't have any stamps, i don't work near a post office!  so now i should add postal worker to my wifely resume!

this was fun...head on over to from this side of the pond and link up your answers to this week's wednesday hodgepodge

i need an allowance

here is a conversation that bluedotprincess(bdp) and i had this afternoon...

bdp: mom i need an allowance
me: ok, if you clean your room you can have an allowance
bdp: i was thinking i could just get an allowance
me: well life doesn't work like that around here...if you clean your room and do some other chores then you can have an allowance
bdp: i suppose i won't be getting an allowance then!



hello darling!

introducing tallulah bankhead...here is bluedotprincess in her tallulah bankhead getup...she had fun telling her class all about tallulah bankhead, (that is the safe stuff).  she learned that tallulah bankhead called everyone darling, so she spent the day saying, 'hello daaarlllinggg'



first round of the playoffs

first round over with a win for the rebels...on to week two of the playoffs!



free therapy aka thank you very much!

it's thursday and that means free therapy day, thank you very much over at the daily dribbles

this is the last linky for thank you very much.  thanks to kmama for hosting this past year.  it has been fun and helped my mental status greatly!

thank you very much

• to bluedotprincess for destroying your bedroom.  i really enjoy cleaning you room and having you trash it in 2 minutes!  you're 7, it is time you clean your own room!
• to pai pai the wonder dog for bringing me the present of a half chewed lizard...i really don't like lizards when they are alive and would prefer you leave them ALL outside!
• to sweet tea, why do you taste so good?  i am addicted to you and can't make it one day without you!
• to bluedotdad for getting me hooked on dexter.  i really need to be watching this show about a serial killer, makes my dreams so much more interesting!

i've seriously had a pretty good week.  hope you all have as well, but if not what better than to hop on the thank you very much bandwagon and link up.  go on this is your last chance!  type out those frustrations, post them and link up....it's free and you will feel sooooo much better!

happy thursday bloggersphere!

football!

fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year...football, cooler weather, the leaves changing colors, thanksgiving!  while i really love football, i am getting very tired of high school football!  bluedotteen plays varsity high school football and while we have finished our regular season, his team has made it to the playoffs.  i am torn, i want them to do well and win, but i am also ready for football to be over for this season!

bluedotteen is team captain

here is a list of things that i love during football season:

• snuggling up under a blanket in the stadium
• cheering for the rebels
• seeing my son on the football field playing
• seeing bluedotprincess dance and cheer during the games
• hugging my sweaty football player after the games!

here is a list of things that i miss during football season:

• family meals together during the week 
• relaxing friday afternoons
• dinner out on friday nights 
• watching tv on friday nights
• no plans on friday nights

ok, i have prepared and am ready for this friday.  win or lose it has been a great season!

happy wednesday everyone,

tuesday, tuesday, tuesday

today is election day...  

last night bluedotprincess asked me who i was going to vote for today.  her class/school was having mock elections today and she wanted me to pick the candidate for her.  i told her we should discuss the candidates and she should make the decision for herself.  she wasn't happy with my trying to talk it out and went to bluedotdad, who told her we are voting for candidate x.  that made her happy, then she told me daddy said that you would be voting for candidate x too.  

i feel like no matter who i vote for on any level it's choosing the lesser of two evils.  this makes me sad.  our wonderful country deserves to be ran by thoughtful people not career politicians.  i feel much like bluedotprincess, who do i vote for?  who is the best candidate? i suppose i am a lot like bluedotprincess, i want someone else to tell me who to vote for, who is the best candidate, etc...

ok i vented...  now i am praying for all of the candidates, our country and the changes that will be made by our votes today.  on a happy note, i will not have to see any campaign ads for awhile now and that makes me happy!

happy tuesday y'all,

our crazy dogs

the bluedotdoggies are an ever present source of hilarity for our family!  last night, cha cha our little girl doggie, kept trying to get pai pai off of their dog bed and kept snapping at him...he would not budge!  finally she ran around and then started barking and ran to our back door.  well that is all it took pai pai was up and barking right at the back door.  cha cha quickly ran to the dog bed and curled up in pai pai's spot.  pai pai came back and had to find a new spot.

the dogs drive us crazy at times, but we love the little four legged children!