WOW! Ignorance is alive....

Found this on one of my favorite news sites.
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/07/08/qotd/index.html?source=video&aim=/politics/war_room

What do you say to this? I'm part Irish so are my kids, does that mean we aren't "real" americans? And what truly is the real definition of "real" American? Wouldn't that be British or maybe AMERICAN Indian? Or maybe, just a little thought, we should be tolerant of other people! Who cares color of skin or ethnic or religious background we are all God's people!

Reading this makes me wonder how many people actually think this way? Probably more than I ever want to know.

Real Housewife....not me

Just found this quiz for a 1930's housewife. After taking the quiz my results sat at 34. This means that I am a failure as a housewife (for the 1930's).
1930s Marital Scale

1930s Marital Scale
34
As a 1930s wife, I amPoor
Scoring:
0-24 - Very Poor (Failure)
25-41 - Poor
42-58 - Average
59-75 - Superior
76+ - Very Superior

Some of those questions, like darning socks, who does that anymore? Get dressed before breakfast? Yeah, not me! Or wear hose? I think the last time I ever wore pantyhose was when I got married! Yeah, good thing I was born in the 1970's because I would have had to be a man to survive the 1930's!

Worst mother of the year award--Michael Jackson's kids mom

I don't believe this woman! Why even put this out there? I feel really bad for those kids. Not only did their father pass away but now they have to hear how their mom was "just a vessel". Goes back to something my mom taught me: If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all"

Here's the story:


MICHAEL Jackson's two eldest kids face a tug-of-love battle after their mum Debbie Rowe confessed he was not their father.
In an astonishing interview Debbie - mother of Prince, 12, and Paris, 11 - said she was artificially inseminated by an anonymous donor.
And she told how, despite Jackson's death, she does not WANT custody of the children and NEVER expects to see them again.
Debbie (who lives on a farm surrounded by animals) said, ""I was just the vessel. It wasn't Michael's sperm. Just like I stick the sperm up my horse, this is what they did to me. I was his thoroughbred."....
After Debbie gave birth to second child Paris, she couldn't have kids again, "The delivery was so hard. My insides were all torn up and I was barren. When he knew I couldn't have any more babies he didn't want anything to do with me."
Debbie says she will not fight for custody of Prince Michael or Paris, "I know I will never see them again. I was never cut out to be a mother - I was no good. I don't want these children in my life. My children are my animals now."

Que Pasa

Last week we went into Downtown Boise for a lunch with Bob on Father's Day. We ended up looking around some of the little stores around there. They had some really cute ones but the one that stuck out the most was this one that had the best metal art I've ever seen. It's called Que Pasa and is owned by an amazing woman. There were also alot of other pieces of art there but the metal art was what drew us all in.
We stayed in this little shop for about an hour just talking to the lady who owned the shop and bought all the artwork. She has bought everything from a little town near Guadalajara from an art community. Everything is handmade and she can tell you the artist name and the name of the artwork, all in spanish. This lady will be 94 next month. She has a sweet soul and you can tell she is very passionate about her job.
We didn't buy anything that day but said we'd be back. Everything was well priced but I couldn't make up my mind and I couldn't afford to buy everything.
I couldn't get one piece of metal out of my head though and we returned today. We ended up buying the MOST amazing mermaid to go in our downstairs bathroom. She's beautiful.

We spent another hour or so talking to the owner again. Her name is Beverly Foster and she travels back to Mexico once a year and buys the artwork to go in her little shop. She loves what she does and knows alot of Spanish. She tried teaching the kids some and she even gave them a few little gifts. She recognized us when we came back in today and it really does make you feel special. She took an interest in not only our money but in us and it will make me feel good everyday I l0ok at our little mermaid.
I'm hoping to be able to buy some of her other metal art or even some of the blown glass. Everything was gorgeous whether it was my taste or not.

Ice! Ice! Babbbyyyy.....

We made a little road trip this week to visit Bob while he is on "assignment".
So, we arrived last night (a day earlier just to surprise him) at his apartment. Because this is only a temporary apartment he doesn't have alot of the amenities you have when someplace is your actual "home". But here comes the real story.....
Greyson was getting himself a drink of water for bedtime. He kept looking at the frig all perplexed and finally walked over to the faucet and poured some water in his cup. He then looked at the frig again and opened up the frig, not the freezer part and asked where you get the ice. Bob opened up the freezer for him and pointed right to the ice cube trays. Grey took one out and looked at it very confused, I'm sure he was wondering how to get the tray into his little cup. Bob asked him if he knew how to use it and he was all NOooo, I've never seen one before. WHAT!!! I never laughed so hard. My child is soooo spoiled. Grey thought the trays were cool but he preferred the ice and water to be in the frig door. As he said it makes it easier to get when they are right next to eachother.
You just never think about all the things we take for granted or just overlook. Some things we have nowdays use to be considered luxury items-computers, tv's in every room, tivo's, remotes, ice makers. Enjoy your luxuries for someday your mom may take them away and you'll have to use the old ice cube trays. Grey should be happy that they weren't the really old fashioned ones with a lever to pull the ice cubes out! Think we'll go home and have a pioneer day just so they can see how darn easy they really have it!

Tip Junkie Birthday Bash....Day 3

Nope, I didn't win anything on day 1 and I never got around to doing a post for day 2 although there were some very cute jewelry products. So, we're going to try again for day 3. Things I want to win:
9. A Lexington bag in your choice of fabric from Venezie Bags, a $45 value.
I looked at her Etsy site and she has some really cute bags including diaper bags.

and this one:
2. Five 5×7 prints or 2 8×10 prints from L. Herbert Designs. Laryssa is also offering all Tip Junkies 10% off from June 17-19th, use coupon code TIPJUNKIE.
I've been redoing my house and I think her beach prints would look awesome in my downstairs bath.

So. Once again wish me luck. I'll try to post something of value someday.

Tip Junkie giveaway

I've been a fan of this Tip Junkie for awhile now. I find such cute and easy ideas to do or to pass onto friends and family. The site is jampacked with so many cool things from all over the internet. I LOVE IT.
This week she is celebrating her blogs 2nd birthday and going dot com with a cool birthday bash giveaway. I usually don't enter blog giveaways because the odds of me winning are so slim or I just plain forget to enter on the day your supposed to enter. BUT today I'm entering to win and I'll probably do it all week since I love some of the other sites that Tip Junkie promotes.
So, in order to enter the giveaway I needed to write a post (right here, check) and put her new button onto my blog (look to the left, check). I'm hoping to win this:
9. A $45 gift certificate (free shipping included) Labella Jewels.

As good friends or family members you are asked NOT to enter so that my chances of
winning are not reduced. There are plenty of other cute things for you to win. For instance:
11. A $35 gift certificate to Mazer Design. Her artwork is amazing!
or
1. A customized pair of “Emmie’s Girls” picture frames by Bibs and Cribs, a $40 value.
and who doesn't need one of these for the kids or just a messy eater
3. Four sets of the Baby Dipper bowl and spoon set, a $39.96 value.

So, keep your grubby hands to yourself and leave me to my slim chances.
Wish me luck!

Summer Vacay.....YEAH

FINALLY! Our summer vacation is here. I don't know who is more excited me or the kids. I love having them home and spending time with them. The school year gets so busy with things that sometimes I can forget to enjoy the moment.
We don't have many plans for the summer except going to the pool and hanging out together. Bob is going to be gone for a few more weeks then we thought so we are going to be going to Boise for a week to visit.
All the kids have made plans with friends. Grey will be mowing a friends yard for some extra money. I need to have one more yard sale to get rid of the stuff from my last yard sale.
I hope this year that I can remember to spend more time with the kids. They grow so fast and don't need me as much as they have before. Every year I make tons of plans and put them off because we have so much time. Until that last month and we are rushing to get things done and I begin yelling at my kids to have a fun, happy summer.
I hope that I make good memories for the kids to reflect back on. That those times I yell at them don't cement in their minds.
I also hope that they listen a little more and argue a little less. But I don't think that will happen, they are kids afterall.
Happy summer to everyone. There are also 3 new posts below this one for your reading enjoyment.

Dancing Queen

Finally, Natalie. Her last week of school was really busy. The school does a dance festival for all the parents in lieu of a Christmas program. This is our 3rd year doing it and we always enjoy it. Natalie practiced her dance at home alot and was ready to go Tuesday. They had a cute little dance about the US with whistles (somewhat annoying). She really shined!

We also put her into dance again this year after many years of her begging and us coming up with lame excuses. She has enjoyed every single minute of it. Her dance recital also landed on this last week of school. On the same day that the school had the fun run (she ran the full one lap on the track) and field day (fun and socializing)! So, I was nervous about hair and make-up and her being tired and grumpy that night (make-up was awesome thanks to the sister of a friend call me for a reference). We got her all dolled up and off to the recital.

SHE TOTALLY ROCKED! I'm not going to say my daughter will ever be a prima donna but she was awesome! She loved it too and that's really all that matters. She's ready to do it all again next year. As soon as I get help putting her video on her you will all have to watch.

Natalie is such a social butterfly and hates to hurt people. She made alot of new friends this year and found out that not everyone is nice and kind. She gets nervous but perseveres. She takes things seriously but can also have fun, she really hates to let anyone down because of her soft heart. I really love her can do attitude and it seems to only get better the older she gets. She balances out the boys very nicely and even tries to keep them in line. I can see the teenager poking through every so often and it scares me. She is such a sweet and caring little girl, I'm so proud she is my daughter.

Off to a great start

When Greyson started Jr. High this year we were a little worried. He didn't like elementary very much after our move and Jr. high can just be awkward. And when they get to be this age they don't really talk much about what's going on. So, either you guess or you just hope that everything is hunky dory.
So, when after the first week he came home happier and more energetic we were thrilled. He also said that he loved school again. He felt he was using his mind again and he really likes it. Bob and I both breathed a sigh of relief. THANK GOD!
As the year progressed he just seemed to blossom more. He found new friends and new subjects to study. He loved it. Sure, he had some problems with classes and the technicalities of Jr. high but he truly enjoyed it.
He had an awards assembly the 26th for all 7th graders. He received 6 awards. One of them for maintaining a 3.95 or higher for the full school year *he had a 4.0 every report card and would have had higher if the school didn't do simple GPA*. He also received perfect attendance, outstanding citizenship and 3 excellence in educations.
I'm so proud of the man he is becoming. Not just academically but also socially. He's willing to put himself out there more and he really is happy with himself. He has always been a great kid but now I can see little glimpses of the man to be. Sure, we still have a long way to go in these teenage years but we truly are off to a great start!