The Middle Child

You Gotta Do, What'cha Gotta Do...

2006-02-23T11:49:00.000-06:00

Whatever keeps the family fed, right? In my case, it is called a second job, fourth if you count the children and the house. Since January, I have worked a supposed part-time job at your local store, which means, it was supposed to be 12 to 28 hours per week, but usually, I work five days a week, usually six to seven hours per day. For reasons that can be discussed further...later...I have had to bring more money into the household and while I feel it is not necessarily my place to do so, I have done it, because, hell, no one else will. No, I'm not bitter! So, my blogging has been slacking, my reading of the blogs has been slack and thank God for all things DVR! I'm tired, I am stretched too far, but I am surviving it and sometimes even enjoying it. How long will it last? Who knows. I may even continue it after the need is gone, but...we shall see.

Malia

My Brother's Birthday....

2006-02-11T23:49:00.000-06:00

is December 26. Yeah, it has sucked, always. He has never really had a birthday party, that I can remember, so this year, well, last year because I am so late on everything, my sister and I wanted him to have a party. We decided that we would throw him a surprise birthday party. I had to tell his wife about it, Brandy, although I was a little scared that she would not be able to pull off the surprise part. We had decided that on the day we had Christmas with my father, would be the day we would have the surprise party, number one, because he would definitely show up, and number two, we threw it together rather quickly. I told Brandy that they would need to be there at 7 or even later if possible to give me some extra time. I wanted to decorate the house in a birthday motif and I brought 32 balloons, because he was turning 32. I told her to call and ask if we needed anything when they were about 10 minutes away to give me a warning. Erin, my sister, ended up having to work, so it was all up to me. Wade and I are driving along with the children, Christmas presents and 32 balloons floating in the back at around 6:00 when the phone rings and it is Brandy saying that they are about 10 minutes away. Did ya'll read the part where I said that I told her 7:00 p.m? Yeah, her excuse, your brother is driving too fast. Hello!!! You left too damn early, stall him!!! Well, basically, she began having a full out conversation with me, yes, with him in the car, about how I needed her to stall and how she couldn't. I was so pissed. I wanted this for him so badly!!!! I was disappointed and sad for him and she always ruins EVERYTHING!!! So, I go into fast mode, turn on my turbo booster in my van and high tail it to dads. I have my stepmother and other sister help me get the balloons up, while someone lights the candles. I tell my dad to run outside and stall. He starts talking to them about their headlight being out or something. It was a disaster and she will never be in on another surprise party. Maybe I should do it again next year, he would never suspect two in a row.

Brian did end up being surprised, but get this, he said he knew something was up, but he didn't know what and when they pulled into the driveway and saw that the garage light was on, he thought he was getting a new car for Christmas!!! Ha! Who thinks like that?! I guess he was disappointed!!! lol! Hope ya'll enjoy some pictures whenever Blogger allows me to get them up.

SURPRISE!!!!

This Post Is So Belated

2006-02-06T15:04:00.000-06:00

Okay, I didn't post a Christmas post like most in the blogger world, so...better late than never.

I would say that my favorite gift, one, because it was a surprise, and two, because it was from my dear husband(We were not supposed to be getting each other anything, but he got a killer deal on it, I believe, when I lashed into him, he said it was only $30.00 on sale)...my new MP3 player, which right now, is filled with Black Eyed Peas, Dixie Chicks and Gwen Stefani.

Wade's favorite was a video camera that we so desperately needed, but he got, from his parents.

I am not sure what the children's favorites were, they got so much...let me try to guess... Jackson's, though he doesn't play with it ever, would be the T-Rex Mountain, which we had to get because he reminded me every day that if I didn't, then I didn't love him.

Dylan's I think would be one of the 100s of video games he got, thanks to my mom, Pappy and Wade's paents.

I guess Emma's would be the Cinderalla vanity my mom and Pappy gave her.

Still hoping ya'lls was good. I am still working on the pictures and will keep adding them as Blogger allows me.

Malia

A Girl's Night Out For Two

2006-02-01T12:07:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, okay, like, a month ago I went to a scheduled GNO that was supposed to be for four, but ended up being for two. The tostitos and cheese dip were flying and I was chugging a Corona. I think Les had a strawberry margarita. Interesting facts began to be exchanged between us and the night turned into me blubbering in her car and her listening, and blubbering a little bit herself. I learned quite a few things that night. One, true friendship, though very rocky at times, will always be there. Les and I have had our share of disagreements, believe me, plenty of them. We have been friends for over 15 years. She followed me when we moved in high school. Sometimes, we go for months without speaking, whether it be because we have nothing to talk about or whether it be because one of us pissed the other off. The difference in her and others is that when a fight or disagreement occurs, we do not stop speaking and then one day, poof, speak like nothing has occurred between us, no, we will confront one another after everything has cooled off and say, you pissed me off because....blah, blah, blah....I'm sorry I made you mad, I was wrong, ...blah, blah, blah....then everything is fine and back to normal. Neither one of us would just all of a sudden E-mail or leave a message that suggested nothing had happened and everything was normal because if we did, that big elephant would always be in the room. She is a true friend and I have realized in the past several months that I am very fortunate to have her, though we are true opposites on almost every level.

The other thing I learned was how disposable I am to some, which hurts, but it is reality. I learned that some people put on a real good show and I don't know what their motive is, and I still can't figure it out. There are some that are all of the above and very manipulative, though I can't figure out what it is they were trying to prove. A weakness of mine is tolerance. I don't tolerate being walked upon, cheated, berated or betrayed very well. At the same time, I don't think I should tolerate things like that, so maybe this is not a weakness. Today, I feel betrayed, manipulated and played. I feel like it is important to have someone that you can really talk to about things, events in your life, to be able to vent about everything to, people, co-workers, friends....cause like it or not, everyone gets on your nerves at some point, ...everyone. I also feel that you should be very careful when you pick who this person will be. Sometimes, you think you have a true friend, and they use it against you. It is equally important that you have someone you are there for. I feel like I am there for most people. I feel that I am a good listener and I try to give sound advice and that I am almost always there when called upon.

Moral of the story..... I can count my good, true friends on two fingers. Everyone falters at some point, no one is perfect, but falter with class, don't burn bridges while crashing. Fix things before you act like no one saw you fall, then maybe they will be more willing to help you get up. Pet elephants are not allowed in my house.

Malia

Ten On Tuesday

2006-01-31T10:41:00.000-06:00

10 Favorite Articles of Clothing

1. Any of my sweat pants. (This counts as 10 because that is how many pairs I have)
2. My new socks that I found at Target that are so soft and warm.
3. My black sweater that I wear daily around the house. (I am starting to sound like a bum)
4. My new black, spiked heel boots.(Cause they are cute!)
5. My Levi's.
6. My Old Navy, oatmeal-colored, fleece sweatshirt.
7. My black mesh panties with pink lace outlining them that say, "Perfect".
8. My new white, very supportive bra(It also makes my boobs look huge!)
9. My new brown peasant skirt that has sparkles on it.
10. My new brown, spiked heel boots(Cause they are also cute!)

Malia

The Toothless Grin

2006-01-25T10:24:00.000-06:00

Dylan has lost six teeth in total. He lost his second front tooth right after Christmas and he looks absolutely adorable. Tell me...how cute is he?!!!

Malia

Hangin' Up My Hat

2005-12-29T12:40:00.000-06:00

I am thinking of hanging up my bloggin' hat. I haven't decided if it will be forever or just temporary. I will let you know either way. I just don't have the time nor the desire anymore. No, I am not telling you this so that you will come on here and say, "No, please Malia, don't leave, we love you..." Seriously, I don't have the umf to keep it up and I struggle for things to write about. I think half of it is boring, maybe more than half. Anyways, I may just post here and there, but probably will just delete it all together. I have made some great friends through Blogger and I will continue to check in on all of you regularly.

Malia

A New Church

2005-12-18T20:04:00.000-06:00

My church, West Ridge, has been meeting in the local high school gym for years. Finally, the new church had its first service today. It is big, spacious and beautiful. We filled the rafters with worship and rejoiced in the new building. I am looking forward to many more Sundays and services in the future. You can check the church out at westridgechurch.org. Malia

Smoky Buffalos

2005-12-18T19:32:00.000-06:00

I went out for dessert with Lesley Friday and ended up having chicken pasta and dessert. So much for my diet! We opted to sit in smoking because we would be seated immediately. Whew, did I stink afterwards. Did I used to smell like that all the time?! Ewww! I could barely stand to be with myself. So we had fried cheesecake in a smoky bar-type setting. It was good food, bad air and good company. We then left and went to Target' so that I could buy more Christmas cards and a seasonal Christmas shirt, which is tradition. We checked out the teeny bopper clothes and I vowed out loud what I would and would not allow my daughter to ever wear, while Lesley basically hinted that I was too overprotective. Can you really be too overprotective of your children. Another topic, another day. We then went to check out and stood in the express lane where it is for 10 items or less, behind a lady with at least 30 items and watched her son come with more, then her daughter come with more and then her husband arrive with more. We stood and waited patiently, but we did not check out there. What drove us to another lane? The cashier with the unusually proportioned nose. We were afraid we could not get through the line without her noticing our stairs. It was really very odd looking. We then ended up at Hiram Package Store. She looking for a Crown Royal gift set, me holding tight to my purse and looking around perplexed at a store that I have never entered. She asks my opinion on some sort of liquor and I have no clue. I might as well be in China and she may as well be speaking Chinese. We then retired for the night. I went home to my hubby praying that he would believe me when I said I stunk because we sat in the smoking section.

A Pre-K Christmas Party

2005-12-18T18:03:00.000-06:00

Jackson had his party on a cold, but sunny Friday. This one, Wade and I attended alone. It was absolutely chaotic. They had already opened their presents before we got there. There were probably over 20 parents in the TRAILER, that's right in a trailer, plus the 20 children and two teachers. There was hardly any room to breathe, but it was fun. We had great food, cookies, cupcakes, chips and homemade bean dip made by my new friend Devon. The children received a lot of hand made gifts from some of the parents, probably five or six of them made something special for the children. This made me feel bad, cause I didn't make anything. We have a lot of great parents in that room this year. The two teachers, Mrs. Saxon and Mrs. Wood, received a multitude of gifts, which prompted Wade to tell me that I needed to change jobs and become a teacher so that I could rack up at Christmas. We left with a hand made gingerbread man ornament, a hand made rudolph ornament, a hand made snowman ornament, a bell ornament made by one of the parents, a candy train made by one of the parents, fingerpaints, given by the teachers and lots of candy and other gifts. Fun was had by all, but we are all happy to have the two-and-a-half weeks off for Christmas.

Malia

A First Grade Christmas Party

2005-12-18T17:41:00.000-06:00

Dyaln had his Christmas party last Thursday. It was rainy, cold and muddy. Nowadays, when you buy the present for a boy in your child's class, you are actually buying a gift for your child. The money limit has been raised to $10.00 and you get to also donate a food or drink item for the party.

I had to bring Emma this time and we got there and helped get the room ready with about five others mom's and the teacher's aide. Then while we were waiting for the children to come back from the library, Emma sitting in my lap, she peed on me. That's right folks, peed. Her pull ups must have been ridin' up her butt crack or something. Wonderful!!! What the heck am I supposed to do now. I am directed to the closest bathroom that has a changing table, which is appropriately down miles of halls, twists and turns. Sure enough, Emma has nothing to change into, but strange enough, her pants are not really wet except in the seam. I however, had three wet spots on my legs, go figure! I, of course, had nothing to change into, so I clean myself up the best I know how and we hightail it back to the room. I couldn't leave and make Dylan miss his party, so I sat in the bad kid desk that was off to the side of everyone and enjoyed some cookies and cupcakes.

When it came time for the children to open their presents, Ms. McKeown, his teacher, had all the children sit in a circle on the rug and she and Ms. Bridges, the teacher's aide, rung sleigh bells while she explained that they would pass the presents to the appropriate child and then they should "hold tight" to them until everyone has a present. They were all very excited. Once everyone had a present, she said, "Ready, set go" and the paper went flyin'. They were all very happy with their gifts and Ms. McKeown made certain that she went to every child to see what they got. She is a very good teacher and I thought of a lot of her seeing her give each child attention. We then packed up our bags for the winter holiday, complete with decorations that I have been anxiously waiting for, gifts from the teachers, gifts from students and his gift from me. Off we went for two-and-a-half weeks, he with his goodies, me with my wet pants.

malia

Another Post...

2005-12-18T14:14:00.000-06:00

I promised you the story of my dad not showing up, so here goes....we all know that my father got the letter, he mailed me back a card with a weak response and we have not had to talk since, because, one, I didn't know what to do next and two, he thought he rectified everything with his little card. So, he has been tested twice since the letter and he has failed both tests with flying colors. First, the Christmas program. I didn't necessarily invite him, but I did invite my sister, who spread the word. The reason I didn't invite him directly is because he never comes to anything my children are involved in, so why ask.

First Test

Well, apparently, my sister had to beg him to come. She said, "Dad, you really should go."

He said, "No, I'm too tired."

She says, "Dad, c'mon, you have been off of work for two days. It will only last like 30 minutes. You really should go."

He still says, "No."

Imagine my surprise when my stepmother and my other sister come. I was only expecting Erin. Erin did not come, she had another obligation. My stepmother never comes to these things either, so I was surprised, pleasantly, but still thought in the back of my head, "Hmmmph, of course he is not going to come." I was still looking for him though.

GRADE: F++ (He was begged to come, but refused)

Second Test

My car broke down, on a dirt back road, my husband was two-and-a-half hours away. It was raining, cold, windy and sleeting. I was alone. I called my sister to come and get me and drive me to my house where I could wait for someone else to come and get me.

She says, "You want me to get dad? Because he is right here and he might could fix it."

Me, "Uh...no. Just come get me."

Sis, "Are you sure, cause he is right here. I can wake him up. He fixed my serpentine belt before, so maybe he can fix yours."

Me, "Yeah, I'm definitely sure. Just come get me."

Sis, "No, I am going to wake him up. Hold on."

She puts the phone down immediately and I could not protest. Dad picks up the phone and I explain what has happened. He tells me I need to have it towed to a garage. Yeah, no kidding? I had no idea that was the next step. I explain that I know that and I have free towing, but I need the number to a garage locally becuase I don't have a phone book in the car. He tells me he will call me back. Meanwhile, I talk to my husband and we decide to have the car towed to our house because we have to pay for Christmas that next week and I can just drive the other car until after Christmas, which by the way, it has no heat, but hey, you have to sacrifice sometimes for your babies. Dad calls me back and says, "The tow truck is on the way."

Me, "Nooooo, I already told you I have free towing. I don't want to pay for a tow truck when I don't have to."

Dad, "Well, this is the guy who is going to fix it."

Me, "Nooooo, we aren't going to fix it until after Christmas because we can't afford to fix it right now because we have to pay for the kid's Christmas next week."

Dad replies in an aggravated voice, "What?! You're just going to leave it in your driveway until after Christmas?!!!!"

Me, "Uh...yeah? That is what us poor folk have to do sometimes. We can't afford to fix it this week and buy Christmas for the kids next week. What else am I supposed to do?"

Dad in a disgusted voice, "Alright, let me call him back then." Click....(He hung up on me, obviously because he was pissed that he had gone through what he did to get me a tow truck, you know, like making a telephone call)

So, I wait, for my sister and for my free tow. We tow the car to my house and then my sister takes me to my in-laws house where my daughter is staying. We have a long talk on the way about this and that and then she says something that made me ask, "So, did you know I sent a letter to dad?"

She says, "Yeah, I read it."

Me, "See, I told him not to bring you into it."

She says, "He didn't really, I found it, but I didn't read all of it."

Me, "Well, he shouldn't have left it out, that is still involving you. So, did you know he sent me a card?"

She says, "Yeah, he told me."

Me, "See, I told him not to involve you. He didn't have to tell you that."

So, he did involve them after I specifically told him not to. It's in the letter, go back and read it if you missed it. If it were my sister stranded, he would have come and gotten her, he would have looked at the car for her, he would have fixed the car or paid for it to be fixed. He could have at least offered to pay for it to be fixed and let me pay him back after Christmas, but he did not even offer. He could have offered me one of his five cars, all with heat, to borrow for the two weeks until the boys got out of school, but he didn't even do that. So, for the next two weeks, me and my three children rode to and from school in a very cold car, during the coldest weeks we have had yet this winter. One day, the inside of the windshield was even frozen in the Blazer. The defrost does not work, because there is no heat, so, we were extremely late that day. My blessed 75-year-old grandmother came and drove us the last three days of school last week. She was not asked, she just offered out of nowhere. We gladly accepted.

My husband and stepfather finally fixed the car this weekend, which cost a total of $60.00 in the end, and I am so grateful. We have had the Blazer looked at to see how much to fix the heat and it will cost us a whopping $400.00 for a heating core. That will definitely have to wait until after Christmas. So, a big thank you to the ones who really care, Memaw, Pappy and Pepaw.

Final Grade: F+++++ (For being a total jerk in my time of need)

Dylan Sings

2005-12-18T08:04:00.000-06:00

Dylan had his Christmas program last Tuesday. This program unfortunately combined all three grades, so we had to listen to all of them sing. First the kindergarten sang and we didn't hear a word! They were all facing the opposite direction, then they turned around and sang another song. Finally it was Dylan's class turn. He did a wonderful job with all the hand movements. Then second grade sang the longest song in history. Then they all sang together. It was a cute program, lasing only about 25 minutes. The pictures did not turn out well at all, the only one was a picture of all of us that were in attendance. Not surprisingly, my father didn't show, but that is another post.

Malia

Disappointing Christmas Lights

2005-12-17T22:55:00.000-06:00

We went to Lake Lanier last Friday to sample their lights, which were supposed to be amazing. See, usually we would go to Callaway, well, okay, we went to Callaway Gardens once and we were disappointed with the price, but loved the lights. You have to buy a full days admission instead of just admission for the lights, which take 30 minutes to get through. So, we thought, Lake Lanier is supposed to be really good and it takes about the same amount of time to get to as Callaway and it is cheaper, so let's try it and see if we want to start going there instead. They said they had six-and-a-half miles of lights with a holiday shop where the kids could roast marshmallows, a live nativity and some other stuff. Well, we drive the two-and-a-half hours up there, pay the $30.00 and start driving through the lights. We quickly learn that their six-and-a-half miles of lights and our six-and-a-half miles of lights are different. You drive through a section, end up in one of their parking lots where they have the Santa shop or nativity and then you drive through the same section you just came through again. You do this over and over, section by section. So really, you see three miles of lights, twice. Callaway has music to go along with their lights, Lake Lanier does not. Callaway and Lake Lanier have the same lights, but Callaway has more and you don't have to see anything twice. After we were done, Dylan even said, "Is that it?" It was too cold to get out and do all the other attractions, they did have a ferris wheel and some rides, but it was too cold, so that didn't sway us. Bottom line, we are high tailing it back to Callaway, even if it is more expensive. Here are some pics of the lights.

For Those of You Tagged....

2005-12-06T08:38:00.000-06:00

You are officially untagged because @#%& Blogger ate my %^&* post (!@# AGAIN!!!!! And I don't feel like typing the $%^& thing again, so eat THAT Blogger!!!!

Malia

I'm It....Seven's

2005-12-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

I have been tagged by Aldyn and then I will tag another seven, check your comments to see if you are it!!!

SEVENS

Seven Things To Do Before I Die
1. Go on a cruise.
2. Go on a vacation with just me and my husband.
3. Live in a house scott free, with no payment.
4. Not have to worry about bills.
5. Travel.
6. Graduate college.
7. Work in a job I love.

Seven Things I Cannot Do
1. Fly.
2. Speak another language.
3. Balance my checkbook correctly.
4. A handspring.
5. Break a routine.
6. Dance.
7. Run.

Seven Things That Attract Me To My Husband
1. His love for me.
2. His sensitivity towards me.
3. His listening skills when I really need him to listen.
4. His affection towards me.
5. His dedication.
6. His good looks.
7. His respect for me and the children.

Seven Things I Say Most Often
1. Shut up!
2. Hurry up!
3. I'm fine!!!
4. I will get to it in a minute!
5. Drink your milk and eat your vegetables!
6. Emma Grace!!!!
7. Boys!!!!!

Seven Books (Or Book Series) I Love
1. The Chronicles of Narnia
2. Flowers in the Attic.
3. Westingville Manor.
4. Heaven.
5. Celeste.
6. Any Steven King book.
7. Danielle Steele books.

Seven Movies I Would Watch Over and Over Again.
1. Stell Magnolias.
2. Beaches.
3. The Notebook.
4. Legends of the Fall.
5. Selena.
6. A Walk to Remember.
7. What Dreams May Come.

Seven Poor Souls That I Wish To Tag Are:
1. Rachael
2. Janet
3. Nicole
4. Zandria
5. Binsk
6. Will
7. Chuck

Malia

An Unexpected Answer

2005-12-04T13:46:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday after Thanksgiving, I went and got my mail out of the box and surprisingly, there was a card addressed to me from my father. I thought at first that this was a birthday card for Emma and he was just addressing it to me because she is just two. I opened the card and was surprised that it was definitely for me.

I will share my father's card with you, but just know, that I have really analyzed it, so I will tell you everything that I am thinking about it. First off, on the front of the card, it has a cartoon cat that is blowing up a yellow balloon that has a smiley face on it. On the inside, the print reads, "Thought you could use a smile!" I thought this card was odd. I am obviously not happy and I felt this card was inappropriate and he either grabbed one that they had stashed away or he just ran to the store or picked whichever one up while he was out.

Now he wrote on the left hand side, "Hope ya'll had a happy Thanksgiving! I love you!" I opted not to go to my father's house for Thanksgiving this year, for obvious reasons. I didn't know if he had gotten the letter yet and I certainly didn't want to get there and have the letter come while I was there, that would just be awkward. Also, I thought I would use reverse psychology and when he asked why we weren't coming, I told him it was too far for us to drive, 20 something miles, as is always his excuse for not coming to his grandchildren's parties.

On the right hand side of the card he wrote, "I'm sorry if I didn't live up to some ofyour expectations, but I just want you to know that I love you with all my heart and could not be prouder of you and all your family. There is no difference in any of my children, only a difference in time in my life and yours. I love you as much as any. You're a great parent and I'm very proud of you. Always love you, Dad." Then he put a little smiley face by his name.

Now, let me tell you what I am thinking when I first open the card. First I wonder if my stepmother intercepted my letter and she sent me this card and wrote the message. Then I wonder if my sisters intercepted the letter with my stepmother and they all came up with the message together. Then I put that out of my mind and I start to analyze each individual line, but the line that bothers me the most is "There is no difference in any of my children only a difference in time in my life and yours." This bothers me because it is not true, plus, time is now. Who says he can't be a dad now? Plus, my brother is older than I and he was not treated as differently, so the statement is just plain untrue. That is the sentence that bothers me the most and which has me frozen as in what to do next. The rest is okay really, he apologized, I give him a lot of credit for that. He told me he loves me, He told me he is proud of me. Though, I think the little smiley face was inappropriate because this is not the time nor the place. This is not a joke. I am not a happy girl. So, now the ball is in my court and I don't know what to do. I still have not done anything.

I now have figured out that my sister does not know about the letter, neither one of them do. I have said certain things and have talked to her several times and I know for certain she has no idea.

Then she tells me she is getting married and they are planning her wedding. A twist of the knife in the gut. Not because I am not happy for her, but because they are doing that for her with no question, it just is.

So, I am interested in your thoughts on what you think about the card against my five page letter and what you think my next move should be.

Malia

Nooooo!!!!!

2005-11-25T23:43:00.000-06:00

Please tell me I am dreaming! Please!!! I love, love, love Nick and Jessica. You can't say Nick without the Jessica and you can't say Jessica without the Nick! Now, they really are splitting! It is official, no more rumors, no more denying it, they are really finished and it sucks! I was really saddened by the news and even more so by the fact that it broke on Thanksgiving day. I know, I know, some may say it is really silly for me to be so invested in this Hollywood couple, but I thought, "She is supposed to be a Christian girl, yeah, she threw a lot of her other Christian values out the window, but she will hold onto the sanctity of marriage! They will last forever!" Nick seems like such a down to earth guy and not so materialistic. I really hope for the best for him. I tend to think her father and mother had a hand in their break up. Her father, you know, the minister, should be asking them to go for counseling, but I am sure that he sees this as more publicity and his second chance at banging his own daughter. Blech!!! He sickens me! Minister? Ha! Well, so much for that fairytale. Hope none of ya'll bought her coffee table book about the dream marriage!

Malia

Autumn and Thanksgiving Fun

2005-11-25T19:36:00.000-06:00

Here are some pictures of us enjoying fall and Thanksgiving, a favorite time of year.

This is Emma and her new boyfriend(cousin), Levi, at our reunion/Thanksgiving dinner.

This is Thanksgiving day at Uncle Tony and Aunt Debbie's, out in the yard. Dad and Jackson, just a swingin'!

Emma, just hangin' out with dad.

Me and the fam on Thanksgiving Day at Tony and Debbie's. That is Pappy behind the bush and dad is taking the picture.

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll.

Malia

Belated Birthday Post

2005-11-25T13:24:00.000-06:00

Emma had a knock out party at the closest Micky D's. She received an abundance of baby dolls, clothes and barbies. We had Happy Meals and cake and good company. We were even serenaded by one Dylan, who sang Happy birthday very loudly and alone, receiving applause afterwards from every one who was at McDonald's at the time. Happy birthday baby girl. We love you.

Birthday girl is posing for the camera

Oooooo, My Little Pony!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

2005-11-24T17:17:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll. We have been to one house so far and are soon off to another for turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. We got the Christmas lights up on the house yesterday and will trim the tree tomorrow. Pictures to follow.

Malia

HNT #6

2005-11-24T11:22:00.000-06:00

My lips...eating a thanksgiving deviled egg.

Creamy Shrimp Fettuccine

2005-11-21T17:12:00.000-06:00

Yet another recipe...

Creamy Shrimp Fettuccine

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Perfect partner: Steamed peas

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined
1/4 cup chicken broth or white wine
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced (about 3 cups)
1-1/2 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
8 ounces fettuccine
2/3 sup grated Parmesan cheese
Serves 4

1. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shrimp. Boil for 1 minute or until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp wiht a slotted spoon; keep warm.

2. Continue bo9iling shrimp liquid. Add broth and garlic to saucepan. Boil until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 12 minutes. Add mushrooms, whipping cream, basil and salt.

3. Simmer sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain well. Place in a large bowl.

4. Add shrimp to saucepan. Heat for 1 minute. Spoon shrimp and sauce over pasta. Sprinkle top with Parmesan; toss. Serve immediately.

We had this with salad, peas and breadsticks.

Buy frozen shrimp is usually more economical than buying fresh. Let frozen raw shrimp stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before starting a recipe. Thaw frozen cooked shrimp in the refrigerator.

Place leftover shrimp fettuccine in a casserole and top with buttered bread crumbs. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes for a delicious entree'.

Leave the tail fin on the shrimp for a different look when you need to keep preparation time to a minimum.

Use a shrimp deveiner, a handy plastic gadget available at kitchen specialty stores, to make short work of deveining the shrimp.

Seafood lovers will like the addition of 2 ounces each scalloips and crab meat to this dish.

I give this dish a B because everyone else loved it, even the kids, but I thought it was too fishy tasting, which was from the shrimp, but if the cook don't love it, it don't get an A. Also, the sauce was not as thick as I would have liked it to be, but it made great dipping sauce for the bread.

Malia

Bow Ties Italiano

2005-11-18T22:01:00.000-06:00

Here is a recipe we tried tonight and it gets an A:

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Perfect Partner: tossed salad

2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (15-ounce) can whole tomatoes
1/3 cup red wine or tomato juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1(12-ounce) package bow tie pasta
Serves 4

1. Saute' garlic in olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat for 1 minute. Add undrained tomatoes, stir to break apart tomatoes.
2. Add wine, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper, onion powder and red papper flakes to saucepan. Simmer sauce, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
4. Place pasta in a large serving bowl. Add sauce; toss gently until well mixed. Serve immediately.

Bow tie pasta, also called farfalle, can be less expensive when bought in bulk. Since the pasta is dried, it will keep for several months if stored in an airtight plastic bag or canister.

The sauce can be made through step 2 up to 24 hours ahead. Store, tightly sealed, in the refrigerator.

Next time you make pasta sauce, try doing so in a 12 or 14 inch skillet. Then you can add the drained pasta to the skillet and quickly toss it with the sauce.

For that fresh Italian flavor, add chopped fresh basil and grated Parmesan just before serving.

We ate this with a salad and garlic bread.

Malia

Dad

2005-11-18T10:43:00.000-06:00

I am going to try this again. I tried to post this before, but it did not work. Not only do I have problem with my mother, those are new, but I have been struggling with my relationship with my father forever. I have tried on several occasions to tell him how I feel, but he just walks away. This is my last attempt. If he writes this one off, I quit, I will go on like I don't have a father. This is my letter. Feel free to critique. I consider any changes you think I should make, but this is going in the mail tomorrow morning. I am not waiting any longer. I have waited long enough, just look at the date on the letter. Sorry, it is super long.

Malia

October 29, 2005

Dear Dad,

This letter is going to come as a surprise to you, I am sure. There has not been anything significant that has happened to prompt this letter, I am not angry over something that has recently happened, it is merely a letter of things I have wanted to say to you for a very long time, but have been unable to do so for fear of hurting you, frustration and not knowing what was right and wrong. Please know that I am not sending this to you to hurt you in any way that is not my goal. My goal is to let you know how I feel, so that you can maybe better understand me and the feelings I have towards you.

I had a hard time deciding who to address this letter to. Should I address it to “dad”, “father” or just “Paul”? I chose “dad” merely because that is the name I use to address you. Yes, you are my father, you made me, I have been a presence in your house throughout the years, but I feel I have merely existed there, but have not been a “member” of your family. I have often wondered, under the circumstances of my existence, if you wanted me. I know that I came into this world when things were obviously bad for you and mom. This is not because of anything she has told me, I just figured it out from the fact that she was pregnant with me when you two divorced. I also want you to know, that mom has never really spoken poorly of you. She has not put ideas into my head to help me to form my opinions of you. I learned all I know of my father, from my father. Was I unwanted? If so, I can deal with that. I have felt unwanted for years, so it will not be a hard adjustment for me.

I know you probably think that I am some emotional girl, who gets mad for no reason and likes to cause drama, but that is not who I am at all. I am a very loving, sensitive, caring, friendly daughter, who longs to be loved, needed and wanted. I need to be told that I am loved. I need to be told that I am needed. Most importantly, I need to be told that you are proud of me. I need to be told you care not just when I get married or when I have a baby. Just in every day life. I need to know that you think I am doing a good job. I need to know that my parents care about me and think I turned out well. I need to know that you are proud.

When we were children, we were told to go play outside or to go play with our sisters. All I really wanted though was to spend time with my dad. When we would go to the lake or something, it was great, it was fun, and it was spending time with you. Even fishing at the lake, it was spending time with you. Most of the time, we were told to go outside or to go play with our sisters. We just wanted to spend time with you. I needed a “father figure” in my life. I lived with Danny, who was not the father I had hoped for either. I needed a positive male figure. I guess that is why I attached myself to Papa. He is what I envisioned in a father.

I don’t understand why you didn’t involve yourself more in my life. You didn’t call and ask about my grades, find out who my friends are, get involved in what school activities I was doing, ask me questions about my boyfriends, like you do with Erin and Kalin. You may believe that you do not treat them differently, but you do, I know it, they know it and I think you know it. Maybe you are making up for what you know you didn’t do for Brian and me, but I find myself looking on in jealousy at your relationship with them. I feel guilty because in one aspect I am so thankful that they have what they have with you, but then it upsets me because I can’t understand what I did to deserve not getting the same treatment from you. Is it because I didn’t play sports, is it because I wasn’t the homecoming queen, is it because I didn’t make straight As?

I called you and told you I was getting married. Instead of congratulating me you offered me a bribe. Do you know what that felt like? I hope you never say the same to Erin and Kalin. You will call everyone and shout it from the rooftops that your baby is getting married and then you will start dishing out the money for their wedding. A wedding is something that every girl dreams of. Do you know that I regret to this day, not having my day. I deserved that day just like every other brother and sister has had. I am the only one that hasn’t had it.

Of all the children, I am the only one who worked to pay for my own car. With Erin receiving her third car from you when she graduates college, Kalin about to receive her first and Brian receiving a car, I don’t understand why I had to buy my own. I’ve worked very hard since the age of 15 and I don’t understand why you did not provide the same for me as you did for my other siblings. If you were upset because I didn’t live with you, that was not in my control. I was not of age and was not allowed. Then when I did become of age, you said, “No.” You didn’t tell Brian no.

Now, let’s talk about the trips to Florida that Brian and I are not included in. Brian and I sat in your living room a month ago and listened to you talk to Joseph about when he wanted to come to Florida and your plans. Joseph is not even a part of this family and you asked him to go and did not even invite your own son and daughter. You not only go to Florida once a year, you go several times a year and we have been invited a total of two times. I was not even invited directly, I was asked by Brian. Even then, we were asked a week prior to going. When we were asked, we were not invited to stay in the house with all the rest of the family, which had plenty of room; we were told we would have to rent our own house at almost $1,000.00. You know that we cannot afford our own house at those prices. Yet, someone like Joseph, merely a boyfriend, is asked to stay in your house and take “family” trips with ya’ll and not have to contribute to the rent that week. That is just sorry! I wonder, when all the rest of our family goes, do they ask you why Brian and Malia and their families are not there? Do you tell them the truth? That we were not invited? I doubt it.

Why weren’t you there when my children were born? Why weren’t you waiting in the waiting room like a proud grandfather? Sure, you came later, but it is not the same. Lots of people came later, anyone can do that. Weren’t you worried? Weren’t you excited for your first grandchild, your second and your third? I can’t see you doing that to Kalin and Erin. Possibly to Brian, but not the girls.

Why don’t you come to my children’s parties? You can use the excuse that I have them in Dallas, but so what. Your parents live in Dallas and you go to their house. Aren’t my children, your grandchildren, worth the drive to celebrate their birth with them? You think they don’t notice that you and LeEllen are not there? You need to have a relationship with your grandchildren. If you don’t, one day, you will regret this silly decision not to be involved. Grandchildren are a gift that all grandparents should cherish.

When the boys come to your house, they don’t want to be sat in front of the television and the girls don’t want to be stuck babysitting them. Cherish the time you have with them. Don’t ignore the innocent love they have for you. It’s invaluable and precious and won’t last forever. They grow up fast and they learn fast. I say nothing to them to influence their opinion about their grandparents or anyone for that matter. I will let them form their own opinion, but when it starts hurting them, that is when I will intervene. I have noticed that you have taken great strides with the boys by having them over to your house a lot this summer. Dylan asked me many times to go fishing with you this summer. He loves fishing with you and going out on the boat. I urge you again, don’t just have them over and have them watch television like they can do at home, spend time with them.

I also don’t appreciate that you tell the girls things like, “Just remember, I love ya’ll more than Malia.” I don’t know if that was a guilty statement to them or if you were mad or what, but it was immature and uncalled for. I have never spoken poorly of you to those girls out of spite, ever! If they asked questions, I answered them, honestly, but let them know that we are treated differently and that it was my opinion of our relationship. I know that you told Kalin at one point that she could not longer come to my house. I don’t know why you did this either, but just know that by doing things like that, you are hurting them. Maybe you were trying to hurt me too and it worked, but remembers, you are also hurting others. These statements were in the past, but they were not forgotten. It bothers me that you say things like that to them. Again, I am grateful for the relationship with that you have with the girls, they deserve it, they are good kids, but so was I and I am a good, responsible adult as well and I just don’t understand why I am shunned.

Fact is, I guess the above statement you made is kind of true for me. I do feel like you must love them more than you love me. Why don’t you ever call to say, “Hey, how is everything going? Do you need anything?” Why haven’t you helped to pay for my schooling like you have Erin’s and you will Kalin’s? Why haven’t ya’ll said, “Hey, do you need some groceries?” I know you provided groceries for Erin, paid her rent, paid for her car, insurance and school. Guess what, Erin and I are doing the exact same thing in life right now, minus the children and husband, so why should I be treated any differently. Yeah, I am living on my own, but I wasn’t given the opportunities she was. I wasn’t given guidance. I didn’t have a parent, you or mom, saying, “Hey, wait to get married, go to school first.” Why don’t you ever call and say, “Do the grandchildren have enough clothes or need anything?” I may have said, “No, we’re fine”, or I may have said, “Yes, we are starving.”, but it is just the fact that you, as a father, you SHOULD worry about if your daughter and your grandchildren are okay, if they need anything or just find out what they are doing. It is just the fact that …..you have never asked, you never offer and you don’t seem to care. I just don’t understand why I was not given the same opportunities as Erin and as Kalin have and will have.

It is sad, I was told that I needed to lower my expectations of you…..to “lower my expectations of my father”. That sounds terrible. Then I was asked, “Where did you get your expectations of your parents?” My reply was, “Well, I thought that parents were supposed to love you, care for you, support you and be there for you throughout life.” I was laughed at. I didn’t mean financially, I meant emotionally. I can assure you that my children will never feel unloved, unwanted, unsupported and not cared for, ever. They will be able to come to me for anything. I don’t care if they are married with 12 children, or if they just live with me until they are 55. They are my children, a blessing from God that I was given to take care of, teach and nurture.

This letter sounds like I am bashing you and telling you that you failed as a father, but you didn’t, you are a great father to some, but lacking for others. This is just therapy. I can’t seem to get you to understand by telling you how I feel, so I thought it was best to try this approach. This way, my words won’t be mixed and it will not be as hard to tell you how I feel. I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but this is how I feel, this is how I perceive our relationship. It may sound as if I am jealous, and maybe I am, but so what, it is how I feel and if I am jealous, there must be a reason. I hate our relationship, I hate feeling this way, I hate being angry, I hate being hurt by someone who is supposed to love me unconditionally. I want to be loved equally.

I don’t want you to talk badly about me to the girls because you don’t think my house is clean enough. I am working, going to school, raising my children and cleaning my house all on my own, half the time with my husband gone. I don’t have Nanny there to clean and do my laundry while I am at work, I don’t have a babysitter and I don’t have parents that willingly help with babysitting. My children are well taken care of and though we may not be rich with money and all kinds of material things like hot tubs, pools, new furniture, new flooring, etc., they are rich with love and that will be greater to them in the long run than 100 pools.

I love you and I want my children to love you and grow up with you. This letter is not to hurt you in any way, it is just my last ditch effort to make you aware. I cannot deal with being hurt over and over again anymore, not by you, and not by others. Just because I am grown and have my own family, does not mean that I don’t need a daddy. It is not too late for us to have a father/daughter relationship, but I will not hold out forever. I want you to realize, before it is too late, that you have four children, not two.

Malia

HNT #5

2005-11-18T08:19:00.000-06:00

These are my feet at The Pumpkin Patch on a hay ride. Notice how they are covered in dirt from walking around. Notice that I am able to wear flip flops in October because it is so warm.

Malia

A-Z

2005-11-17T16:26:00.000-06:00

Lovingly taken from Grant...

A - Age of your first kiss: 13
B - Band you are listening to right now: I'm not
C - Crush: Matthew McConaughey
D - Dad's name: Cliffor Paul
E - Easiest person to talk to: Ummmm...Wade
F - Favorite ice cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
G - Gummy worms or gummy bears: Neither, I hate all things gummy
H - Hometown: Smyrna, GA
I - Instruments: I don't play any
J - Junior High: Griffin Middle in Smyrna, GA
K - Kids: 3
L - Longest car ride: 19 hours
M - Mom's name: Pamela Ann
N - Nicknames: Maui, Molly, Leelee and my favorite, Snooky
O - One wish: health, wealth and happiness
P - Phobia: I don't know the name of it, but I am scared of the dark
Q - Quote: Ummmm.....I don't know any
R - Reasons to smile: I get paid tomorrow
S - Scent: Wiseria
T - Time you woke up today: 5:30 AM, 6:22 a.m. and 9:00 AM
U - Unknown fact about me: I am obsessive compulsive
V - Values: Respect your elders
W - Worst luck with: Money apparently
X - X-rays you've had: head, chest, ankles and feet
Y - Years since you've been to church: 0
Z - Zoo Animal (I added this one): Any type of primate

Malia

20 Little Indians

2005-11-17T13:35:00.000-06:00

Today, Jackson's Pre-K class had a Thanksgiving feast. I turned in my lunch money one day late, so I was not permitted to eat, but I could come and sit with him and watch him eat. Oh the jobs of learning to turn things in on time. Anyways, I showed up and walked into a room filled with 20 little indian boys and girls complete with feathered headbands and painted vests. We walked to the lunch room and waited in line for at least 20 minutes while the lunch ladies plopped turkey, dressing, a roll, sweet potatoes, walkdorf salad, green beans, gravy and a dab of cranberry sauce on all their little plates. The food was not well received, but we had good company. I caught up with a soccer mom and we talked of field trips to come, the new Aquarium being one of them. It was fun fellowship and I think Jackson enjoyed it. I checked my little angels out of school early because they think that is cool and it gets me some extra points. I am already regretting this move because now, I have heard my name called no less than 150 times. I love Thanksgiving. My grandmother is going to be making an apple butter pumpkin pie. How good does that sound? Yeah, we will gain a few pounds, but the food sure will be good going down. Happy early Thanksgiving, ya'll.

HNT pic to come.....

Malia

Is this thing working?

2005-11-07T19:23:00.000-06:00

Is it?

Malia

WTF!!!

2005-11-06T12:32:00.000-06:00

Dad

2005-11-05T23:42:00.000-06:00

Halloween...

2005-11-05T23:10:00.000-06:00

I Knew I Should Have Kept My Guard Up....

2005-11-03T01:17:00.000-06:00

Well, most of you followed me here from my old blog, so you know that I have had some problems with my mother lately. For those that didn't follow....I have had some problems with my mother lately.

Just so ya'll know, I am a very family oriented person, I will be at every family function because I think family is very important. Family to me, are supposed to be your rock, your support system, love you unconditionally, etc. I have always put up with crap...always, for as long as I can remember. Some of you that have known me long enough can atest to that. Well, things, they are a changin'. You can blame it on me being fed up, you can blame it on quitting smoking, Tuesday was three months for me by the way, blame it on whatever you want, but I'm over it. I don't want to take crap anymore. I am worth more than that.

So, I thought that things were going to be kosher between me and the mother. Tame enough that I could carry on a conversation with her when needed, but I would not have to have contact with her except at family functions. This would be good for me. I wouldn't have to hear about this sister did that, that brother did this, blah, blah, blah. My mother is a very negative person. She loves to talk about what is going on in the family. She may be venting, but it ropes me right in because I love to hear me some gossip. It makes me feel evil though. I feel mad and angry after a jab session. Plus, she can sit there and tell me the most horrendous things that so and so has done, but two days later, she has changed her whole tune about the situation and that so and so is a changed person. Yeah, uh huh, okay. Let me do the same thing or do anything she doesn't agree with and BAM! she will yell and scream!

Point is.....we had tried to sale our house two years ago. My mother is an agent and our house did not sale and we ALL agreed that it would be a better idea to go with a local company the next time. Then, before our huge blow up a couple of months ago, we talked about it again. My mother thought that we should not sale our house right now though, for some odd reason, but it is not hers and she can't tell me what to do, so we put it up for sale with this other company. Now, putting your house up for sale does not warrant a call to every Tom, Dick and Harry to tell them what you had done. If it came up in conversation, great, if not, who cares. Also, remember, I don't call my mother anymore. I like it that way too. So, all of a sudden, I get this message on my cell from my mother, saying that our bus driver has called her looking for us because we have a sign in our yard and her son was upset because he was going to miss Dylan and thought we had moved away. I called her to find out exactly what was going on and I can tell by the ice in her voice that she is pissed about something. She, of course, never tells me that she is pissed, she is just mean on the phone. She tells me that I need to go call my friend so that her son is not upset anymore. She says, "So, who did you list your house with?" I tell her and she says, "Uh huh, yeah, I have worked with them before." She says this as though their name leaves a bad taste in her mouth. Now, I know she has never worked with this company before because she has never sold or helped buy a house in that area before, so she says this for nothing, but spite. She says, "Well, what did you do, put your house up for sale because I said no?" Yep, everything I do is just to piss you off. At that point I just cut her off and told her I had to go call Tammy. My mom hung up on me.

A couple of days later, my mom calls again, wanting to bring the children their Trick-or-Treat bags. I tell her to figure out when she wants to come, cause I ain't goin' to her. She gets testy with me again and wants to know EXACTLY what time we are going TOTing. I have three children under the age of 7, there is no telling what time we will get there. She wants to know if we are going TOTing in my in-laws sub., which she spits at me basically because she is jealous of their relationship with the children, which, by the way, is her own fault and she should strive to be like them.

What did me in: My grandmother called me one day last week. She asks me some random question that had to do with my mother. I tell her I don't know the answer to whatever it was she asked and she says those magic words that lets me know that my mother has talked to her about me, "Well, are you and your mother not getting along?" I hate that she has talked to my grandmother about it. She does not need to worry about things like this. My grandparents are the glue that started this family and they have kept it together and they have kept building on it with dinners and holiday get togethers. My grandmother's sister and brother are both sick. She is 75 years old and travels more than 30 miles on Tuesday to go stay with her sister through the week and then comes home 30 more miles on Friday night to come home and check on her brother. She has enough to worry about, don't you think. She does not need to worry about some petty problem that my mother has about me selling my house. I tell Memaw that mom is mad at me, but I don't know why. I try to dance around her questions because I really don't want to involve her, but she already is involved now. Memaw says, "Well, how would you feel if you were in the business and your daughter went and listed with someone else?" Oh? So, that is what she is telling people huh? She is telling people that I am pissed at her because she didn't do what I wanted and now I am trying to hurt her by deliberately using someone else to sale my house. A believable story if you don't know me, but I wouldn't do something out of spite like that, especially not to family. Fine, she started with the head of the family, but I can debunk that with Memaw, and I did. I explained that we had talked about it and she is being incredibly stupid. Memaw wants me to go to mom and tell her I am sorry that I made her mad, but I didn't mean to and I have already listed so there is nothing I can do about it now. Why? Why do I have to be the one, yet again, to say I am sorry when I have done nothing? Memaw says, "That will be one more star in your crown." Hmmph, what do you say to that other than I am sick and tired of being looked down upon and having to fix things that I didn't break. Memaw is having us over for breakfast and lunch on Saturday and wants us to spend the day with her, so, I am sure there is more to follow. I will fill you in on that one. So, yeah, it pisses me off that she has involved her, and she is lying, and she has never had the balls to tell me she is mad at me. I can handle her only telling Memaw, but, I pray to God that she doesn't start on my brothers and sisters. Sure enough, I get a call on Saturday from my little brother. This is strange. They don't call often, the brothers that is, so I know something is up. He makes small talk and then he says, "So, mom said you put your house up for sale." I went off, bless his heart. I blessed him up and down, and he listened. When I took a breath he said, "She didn't say anything, she just asked, 'Have you talked to your sister? She put her house up for sale.'" I explained to him that that is an odd statement for her to make and she was fishin' He said, "Well, I wouldn't list with her anyways, she is lazy, when I buy a house, I am not using her." How sad is that? By the way, my brother is lazy too, so we know where he gets it. I did apologize for jumping his shit too, it wasn't his fault. So, it is confirmed, she is calling around, she is stacking her army against me and I hate it. I can only hope that they are smart enough to know that I would not do what she is saying I am doing. I was going to use her to buy a house, but I will now be going with someone else. I am soooo over her drama. I am so done with dealing with her. I am so going into therapy to deal with my parents.

Anyways, she ends up coming the next day to bring the TOT bags and we said maybe two words. I never sat down, trying to get her to hurry up and leave. I didn't want her here. She was being fake. She was being a doting grandmother. I know the real her. This post has ended up being rather cruel and makes me feel very dark inside, but I am just so tired of it, so tired. This is not what I want. I have my own family to worry about. I like it just being my little family. I like it a little bit too much. That is not who I am, but my big family, it is slowly falling apart and I am not sure how to deal with it. Family is who I am and who I have always been. I never saw myself not being supported and loved by my family. If she turned the ones that are loving and supportive against me with her lies, it would kill me. They are all I have left. So, I am thinking, I can avoid her for 16 more days. Let's see if she shows up for Emma's birthday. Yes, I invited her. I will let my children form their own opinions about her. I will not keep her away from them. I will not let them know that we have any problems. They will learn on their own. Though, I am still trying to decide what to do about Thanksgiving. I was thinking about having my own Thanksgiving with my own little family. What do you think.

Sorry, I just used ya'll for therapy again.

Malia

This Post is All About Dylan and a Little About Jackson.

2005-10-28T19:49:00.000-05:00

My boys....they are sweet, charming, smart and funny. I love them. They make me proud. I wonder, when is the bomb going to drop and they are going to turn into little tards I can't stand? We had conferences this week. First off, let me tell you that Dylan's report card was exceptional. He got a 99 in Reading, a 100 in Spelling and a 99 in math. Am I proud of that, heck yeah. He works very hard and there is a lot more work to do in first grade than there was in Kindergarten, so it was a big change and a big adjustment for him. So...I walk in to meet his teacher and she just sits down, closes her eyes, leans back and says, "There is just nothing negative I can say about Dylan....he is just a sweet boy to have in class and I wish they were all like him." Now, tell me that wouldn't tickle your heart strings. This is all being said in an awesome English accent by the way and she even had butter mints for us to sample. So then she says, "Thank you mum and thank you dad for doing a great job." I asked about his handwriting because to me it is sloppy. She says, "Nooooo, it is beautiful, it is very nice." She then whips out a paper he did where he wrote, "I play video games." She said, "He is great in spelling, he makes 100s on all of his tests, I didn't tell him how to spell this, he did it himself." So, we started talking about his reading. They bring home books every night to read and they all have a number level. He is on level 9. Once they read 10 books on that level, then they move up to the next level. He seems to think there are 17 levels, so I asked her. She said, no, there are 24 ,but they never have time to get to 24 and she said, "His reading is off the chart. If you would like to move him, you can." How awesome is that to hear? She then suggested chapter books, such as Junie B. The First Grader, but then decided we should leave it up to Dylan. Of course he was psyched. So, we will see what they decide. She then said she was worried at first because he was independent, but she watched and knows now that he can get down and do what he has to do and then turn around and play and be a little boy. She also noted that he is a perfectionist, but not in a bad way, as in, he wants to make sure everything is done and it is done correctly, but if he writes a "u" with a loop in it somewhere, that is okay. Now the tearjerker, she asked if he was very sensitive. He is, about other people's feelings. His feelings don't get hurt that easily, but he is always aware of everyone else's feelings. She said that the first or second day of school, he began crying. If Dylan cries, something is wrong. He doesn't cry for real, hardly ever. He whines, but he does not cry. So, my ears perked up at her story. I had known nothing about this. She took him to the side and tried to calm him down and asked what was wrong. Apparently he was so distraught that she could not understand him and had to ask him to calm down and tell her so that she could help him. He told her that his brother was at his first day of Pre-K and he was worried if he was okay. Now, how sweet is that? It makes me cry to think about it. It all comes down to this. I am very proud of my little man.

Jackson's conference was equally good. He has the same teachers that Dylan used to have, not because I requested them either, they requested him. They said that he was just as sweet as Dylan used to be, that he got along with everyone and that the girl's loved him and he loved the girls. He is doing well in all the areas they tested him in, better than what Dylan did when he was at that stage, which is promising. I asked about his handwriting because, apparently, I am a stickler about handwriting, and they were very impressed with it too. They showed me a notebook with some of his work in it and a couple of times there were questions about who his best friend was and he always put Emma. Those two have some kind of special bond. They are probably going to hate each other when they get older. Jackson is doing a great job too and I am just tickled pink with both of them. I am proud of you boys!!!

Now, a funny story about Jackson's teachers. His one teacher, Ms. Wood, always teases me about Emma having red hair and blue eyes, but all of us have brown hair and dark eyes, or green eyes. She has teased me since she was born wanting to know who the father was. Well, luck has it that Jackson has begun drawing "The Coke Man" on his journals every day. Sometimes there is more than one Coke Man. We have asked here at home, who is this masked "Coke Man" and he just says he is a man. So, when I walked into the conference yesterday, Mrs. Saxon said, "Linda wants to ask you something." Okay, what is it? Mrs. Wood says, "Oh yeah, does the Coke Man have red hair?" I swear Wade is the father of all three of my children, I swear!!!

Malia

HNT #4

2005-10-20T21:41:00.000-05:00

Here it is, hope you like....

Malia

Nothing.

2005-10-20T11:36:00.000-05:00

I have nothing today....although, I would just like to mention BTE, whose wife has passed away. Drop by and leave him some encouraging words or just keep him and his family in your prayers.

I have my first test tonight in College Algebra, we should be taking our second, but as I told you, she is waaaaayyy behind.

I am meeting with a real estate agent on Monday to list our house and get things rolling on that front.

I still have not bought the kids Halloween costumes.

This weekend we will be going to the punkin patch.

I have noticed a lot of bloggers dropping off the face of the earth. Why? What is going on?

Malia

HNT to Come....

2005-10-20T11:29:00.000-05:00

I will post an HNT picture today...what will the chosen body part be?

malia

Oh My Gosh, It So Pegged Me!

2005-10-20T00:48:00.000-05:00

I am embarrassed by this, but it is so true. I want what I want when I want it....and I will get it.

Your Inner Child Is Angry

You're not an angry person.But when you don't get your way, watch out.Like a very manipulative kid, you will get what you want.Even if it takes a little kicking and screaming.

How Is Your Inner Child?

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Me

2005-10-20T00:41:00.000-05:00

Everything you wanted to know about Me

Unless there is another question you'd like answered....here ya go.

Name someone with the same birthday as you.
Lola Odusoga--Miss Universe 1996.

Where was your first kiss?

At a high school football game. His name was Eric Alexander. I was like 13 or 14 and he totally came at me from out of nowhere. It was in the parking lot and I was so embarassed, but it was long, wet and hard. Friends were walking by going, "Whoa......and laughing. It was awful.

Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property?

Nope, my stepdad would have kicked my ass.

Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?

My brothers...My hubby when playing around, but never out of anger or anything, though I have wanted to, but I was too scared of the consequences.

Have you ever sang in front of a crowd?

Um...I don't think so. I sang karaoke at a company Christmas party, but it was with a group, so you couldn't hear me.

What's the first thing you notice about the preferred sex?

Their eyes and their smile.

What do you order at the Coffee Bean?

Nada...I don't drink coffee. Pass the hot chocolate instead.

What is your biggest mistake?

Worked my early 20's away and didn't finish school instead.

Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?

No.

Say something totally random about yourself.

I'm obsessive compulsive.

Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?

Yes, when I was younger, skinnier and when my hair is long. I have been told I look like Julia Roberts.

Do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?

Absolutely!

Did you have braces?

Yes, but you can't tell now.

Are you comfortable with your height?

Yeah, I guess, I wouldn't mind being a little taller.

What is the most romantic thing someone of the opposite sex has done for you?

Ummm, I haven't had that much romance in my life, but I guess, he still married me after I sneezed while eating cheese and went EVERYWHERE!

When do you know it's love? When you can sneeze and blow cheese everywhere and he stays with you.

Do you speak any other languages?

Not enough of anything that I would claim to speak the language.

Have you ever been to a tanning salon?

Yes

What magazines do you read?

People and Cosmo.

Have you ever ridden in a limo?

No

Has anyone you were really close to passed away?

My Papa on April 6, 2000. I can still feel that pain of loss when I think of him.

Do you watch MTV?

Sorry LOB, but absolutely. I love Laguna Beach!!!

What's something that really annoys you?

Liers

What's something you really like?

Coke

Do you like Michael Jackson?

I like old school Michael Jackson music

Can you dance?

You show me the steps and I can do it and do it well, but have me just go out there and freestyle, hell no.

What's the latest you have ever stayed up?

When the light started coming in the window, way too late.

Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?

Once, after a car wreck.

Do you actually read these when other people fill them out?

Yup...usually.

Malia

Fun With Pictures

2005-10-20T00:16:00.000-05:00

Here's the directions:
Go to Google and click on the images link.
Type in the following and post the first (or your favorite) picture the search engine finds.
- The name of the town where you grew up
- The name of the town where you live now
- Your name
- Your Grandmother's name (pick one)
- Your favorite food
- Your favorite drink
- Your favorite song
- Your favorite smell

Town where I grew up

Name of the town where I live now

My Name

My Grandmother's Name

My Favorite Food

My Favorite Drink

My Favorite Song

My Favorite Smell

Malia

I Only Blog When Called on Not Blogging...

2005-10-17T17:15:00.000-05:00

So, it has been a while, so what, I'm a busy girl okay?! Seriously, sorry, I really have been busy. I want to get my house ready to sale, but I have a billion and one other things to do and I still want to play too. Ah, life, don't you just love it.

The weekend was full of ups and downs. Friday I learned how blood is thicker than water, me being the water, the blood being two sisters, one being a total bitch to me and my children and her nephew, the other telling me that , "She is going to tell her how it is and that she is not going to act that way...", then witnessing a whole nother thing. Problem NOT solved.

Saturday--We spent the day over at Jen and Nate's and helped them do all the crap they should have gotten done before the baby arrived. I am dissappointed in the two and am beginning to get a little aggravated. Talon is still on my good list though.

I then went over to Les' house for some good ol Louisiana homemade gumbo. It was awesome! I found myself wishing on Sunday that I had brought some leftover's home. We then watched What Dreams May Come and then sat and chatted for hours, just me and her.
We talked about old times, family, mother's that don't quite add up to our expectations, friends, hurt feelings, we consoled each other and we just enjoyed being together. She did not try to push me out the door, not once, even after she began rubbing her eyes. I finally shut my mouth and went home.

I pissed off one friend,.... somehow, consoled another and tried to tell her no hard feelings were meant, was consoled by her and then we just left it as it was, both of us being very confused.

Sunday--I slept in, must have been that one beer...then cleaned house and worked. I couldn't believe it was already almost Monday again. Now, here I am, it is Monday, I am struggling to figure out the priority of things that need to be done, yet, I am not currently doing any of them.

Hope ya'll had a good weekend.

Malia

Talon Isaiah is here!

2005-10-12T22:27:00.000-05:00

All 9 lbs 8.3 oz of him. He is too cute! I don't have my pictures downloaded yet or else I would post one, maybe in the next few days. Talon's birth was no fun for poor Jenny. She labored for approximately nine hours, only feeling about two to three hours of the hard stuff. She then had her epidural and felt fine, tired, but fine. It was Talon who was having the problems. He had a bowel movement before he was born, so when the water broke it was announced that there myconium. They immediately began to monitor him to make sure everything was fine. At first Jenny wasn't dialating and then all of a sudden she shot from a 1 to a 5. Talon was still way up there though. Then his heart started dropping. It would come right back up, but this happened several times. They ended up putting an internal monitor on Talon. She finally got to a nine, almost there, but then stayed that way for three hours. The doctor came in to evaluate the situation, Dr. Khatami for those of you who know her, and told them she would like to do a c-section. Nathan started asking Jen if she wanted to wait a little longer, but then Khatami said, "Actually, I am not giving you a choice anymore, unless you absolutely refuse and leave this hospital." Jen's biggest fear when asked was that she would feel it. Nate's biggest fear was how much scarring, typical male! So we waited for over an hour and lo and behold, everyone was doing fine. Nate came out with a beaming smile and announced the birth of his new son, the one that will carry on his name, as there are no more carriers in his family. Mom and baby are doing fine. Jen is breastfeeding and Talon is doing well with this. Jen was running a bit of a fever, but it has gone down. She is mostly just real tired. Much more went on in that 24 hours. I saw a side of Jen I had never seen, a very bitcy side. I tried to remind myself that she was in labor and in pain, but there was no excuse for the way she treated some people, she was outright mean. Her sister, Jessabel came in and caused quite the ruckus and was promptly kicked out of the waiting room by mom. Mom and I talked as much as we had to and could in the drama, but it was all about Jen, Nate and Talon, as it should have been, so nothing was rectified there. There is a lot more going on in my life that I wish I could blog about, but there are things people don't know about yet. I really feel the need to vent and I actually want some advice, but I have a dirty little secret I can't tell yet. Ugh! How is that for a cliff hanger? Malia

Google Games

2005-10-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

Here's what you do: enter your name into Google followed by the word "needs," and record your top 5 funniest results.In other words, enter "[your name] needs" If your name is John, enter "John needs" etc. You get it. Post your top fives in the comments or on your own blog.

okay, I could only get four before my pc crapped out on me.

1. Malia needs to stop working so much...(Hello!)

2. Malia needs a follow up.(That's scary)

3. Malia needs 200 signatures to start an official Orlando Bloom fanclub (Does Google know me or what?)

4. Maybe I only found three, oh well, that was fun. You have to look for the two search words together in the results though, don't just take the top five.

malia

No Baby Yet

2005-10-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

We are still waiting patiently for Talon to arrive in this world. He has not even attempted to peek in a little bit. I have a delima though. You help me decide what to do.

Jennifer is going in on Sunday night to be induced where they will do Cervidil, wait 12 hours, do Pitocin and then wait 12 hours, Cervidial and then Pitocin again after another 12 hours. Now, I was induced with all three of my children and the Cervidil worked both times on the boys. I only had Pitocin with Emma. So, I have asked them when they would like me to come to the hospital, on Sunday night, after things start working, right before they think Talon is going to present or after he is born. I have let it be known that I am available whenever they need me, that I don't want to intrude on their experience and that I would like to be there before he gets there, so that I can experience that anticipation. I would love to be in the room and help coach Jen on.

So last night, our conversation went,

Me: When do ya'll want me up there? On Sunday, Monday...?

Jen: Just come whenever you want to, it doesn't matter.

Me: Well, I don't want to intrude, so I know mom is going to be there....

Jen: yeah, and Steph (Talon's Godmother) will be there. They are coming on Sunday night, so that will be three people if you come Sunday night. We want you there to see him once he is born.

Me: Hmmmm, I don't know what to do. I don't want you to be crowded, but I want to be there too, even if I have to wait in the waiting room. How about once ya'll get settled in on Sunday night, I will get my children in bed and everything kosher for Monday and then I will come, it may be after midnight, but I will be there?

Jen: Yeah, that's fine.

So, yeah, it sounds like they are all for it, but it is so hard to read her because she has the same emotion all the time. I don't want to intrude, but I want to be a part of his birth. Plus, this is their first baby and I have been kind of trying to help them prepare throughout the entire pregnancy and I have been induced, so I feel like I could answer some of her questions. Steph can be kind of controlling and I am surprised she is going to be there. I just kind of feel like I wasn't really invited to, so, ....maybe I shouldn't go until after he is born. I just can't figure out what it is they want me to do. I guess my feelings are hurt a little bit because they weren't like, "Malia, you are sooo going to be there from first contractiont to first breath!!!" I need it to be clearly put to me what you want me to do and what you want my role to be. I want to KNOW that I am wanted there. Does that make sense? Note: I have asked several times throughout the pregnancy also, the important questions, "Who do you want in the room?" "When do you plan on calling people?" I am their ride to the hospital if she goes into labor. I have been on call throughout the pregnancy. I just don't know what to do. Should I stick to the Sunday plan, wait until Monday or wait until he is born and then go up? What would ya'll do?

Malia

Ten on Tuesday

2005-10-04T22:30:00.000-05:00

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Best Movies You Have Seen Lately

1. Napolean Dynamite
2. Friday Night Lights.
3. The Longest Yard.
4. The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
6. The Ring (Okay, let me clarify something now, I don't see a lot of movies, so this is really a list of the movies that I can remember seeing)

I can't think of anymore. That is just sad...

Malia

Yawn!!!!

2005-10-04T22:23:00.000-05:00

I don't mean to be a smarty pants, but come on, we worked our way all the way up to College Algebra for a reason. We should be on chapter five, we are only on chapter 2?!! Folks, she is going over properties and order of operations. Ya'll, we all learned this in middle school. C'mon!!! I am afraid that she is going to go so slow over this stuff because obviously, some people should not be in this class and then she is going to rush through the stuff we have never seen before. How much does that suck!!

Potty training has ceased and disisted for the moment. Is disisted a word? Kira? We are taking a break for now because...Emma is now sick. I took her to the doctor today, thinking she had tonsillitis like I did the week before. Doc says she is negative for strep, but her throat is really, really red and covered with pus. Yet, no medicine. Hmmm....strange. Obviously she has some kind of infection right? So, he wants us to wait three days and if it doesn't go away bring her back and he will see if it may be .... MONO!!! I don't think she has mono. He says she does have tonsillitis, which is just inflammation of the tonsils, but I would think he would give her an antibiotic for the infection. He said to give her Motrin. Poor girl.

I haven't decided about HNT yet. I think I have an idea of what I might do though. The vote is for it to stay exactly how I want it to stay, which is in a close running with "be risque!" Then someone has to go and be judgemental and call me out for quoting something about God and then having a sexual picture a few posts down. Well, they commented anonymously for one, and for two, what if Adam and Eve, who were naked, had a camera. What do you suppose their pictures would look like. I am not so sure that it is that wrong, plus, nothing was being shown, really...and, there has not been another picture that shocking since. Not that I need to explain myself to anyone, but it did kind of make me feel badly. I wonder...WWGD?

Malia

Potty Training

2005-10-01T02:45:00.000-05:00

I figured it is time to potty train Emma. She knows when she is dirty, she wants to be changed immediately, she recognizes pee-pee and poopy, which is what we call it, she is 22 months old and she has been practicing sitting on the potty. She went pee-pee in the potty one time, but I think it was a fluke. So, I bought her some panties. I want to try that route rather than the pull ups because the pull ups are even more expensive than daipers and are basically the same thing. This worked on Jackson too. So, today, I put her in some panties. Of course, she peed in them and cried as soon as she did so and wanted to be changed. Wade changed her, put her in some fresh panties, took her to the potty, but to no avail. Of course not, she had just peed. Five minutes later, she peed in her fresh panties. Ugh, we try another pair. She fell asleep in the floor. I head to Wal-mart and leave her in Wade's care and tell him, "As soon as she gets up, take her to the potty." I get home and Emma and Wade are sitting on the porch waiting for the bus to bring home Dylan and Jackson. I come up the stairs asking how she did. Wade points to a puddle on the front porch and informs me that Emma peed on the porch, looked at him, smiled and said, "Heehee, pee-pee!"

Potty--0
Panties--3

Malia

The Murderer

2005-10-01T01:49:00.000-05:00

Is now dead. Some of you may recall from my last blog, that we had a murderer in our family. The Lone Ranger was convicted back in August 2005 of the murder of Polly, a Parrot fish. He was first relocated to solitary confinement in a 10 gallon tank, but then moved because of good behavior to a 20 gallon and was then allowed to have a cell mate, the scum sucker. Not long after his move, the scum sucker disappeared and The Lone Ranger again went to trial and was convicted by me and the hubby of killing the scum sucker. He is suspected of eating him in one gulp.

On the day of his death, The Lone Ranger was seen swimming around happily in his cell when little Emma came up to watch him. She then began to beat on the dresser that holds The Lone Ranger's cell, which caused him to jump, which caused Emma to laugh. Since it was so funny, Emma continued to tortue the murderer. The Warden, me, allowed this to go on for a few seconds, her hitting the dresser, him jumping and swimming faster. After about one minute, Emma was removed from the room. Emma and I carried on about our day. I later returned to the holding room and noticed that The Lone Ranger was lying on his side, still breathing, but on his side. I then went and got him some food, which did not stimulate him. So, I got the net and administered CPR, moving him around, hoping that, like a shark, if he kept swimming, he would begin swimming again. Alas, this was to no avail. At 3:06 p.m. on September 28, 2005, the Lone Ranger was pronounced dead. He was too large to flush, so he was scattered amongst the yard. May God have mercy on his soul. Pictures of the crime scene are available upon request.

Malia

Blogger Urks Me

2005-09-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

I had a great post, but alas, Blogger hates me. Nothing much to report so far today. I think I have tonsilitis, my throat hurts, my husband informed me last night that no one likes me and I can't get along with anyone. Ouch, that hurt. I have a big project to do this weekend that I am not sure is going to be too fun. My sister's induction is scheduled for 10/9/05, so far away. I don't think she will make it that far. The new quarter started and I am now diving into College Algebra! Woohoo! I found out we will have a research paper due. I can't wait to try to fit that into my schedule. I mean, come on! So far this week, I have drank one glass of water each day. Yeah me! I will try for two a day next week. Let's see what else I can come up with...

Malia

Sounds Fun.

2005-09-28T19:58:00.000-05:00

Sounds fun.

1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

They break and go over and say, "Jackson", he looks at me and immediately starts crying.

Now you try.

Malia

My Mom Called...

2005-09-28T11:36:00.000-05:00

Yep, this is the second time in three weeks she has called and acted like there was absolutely nothing wrong. What? Did I talk to her? Hell no! She left a message on the machine again. She said, "Hey Malia, it's mom, give me a call when you can, love you, bye." All in a sing song voice. Sorry, still not giving in. Call me mean if you want. Tell me I'm stupid if you want, but I am holding my ground on this one. I don't think I should lower my expectations and I don't think she would want me to either, considering that is the same advice she gave me on my dad. How funny is it that I have been given the same advice on both of my parents. Or is that just sad. I know that I will have no choice, but to see and speak to her in a couple of weeks when my sister has her baby. I am sure that from that point on we will be hunky dory for a while, but I plan to tell her to her face how she hurt me. I will not hold back this time. I will not be afraid. I will not do all this at the hospital and look like white trash. I will not pacify this with kisses and cuddles. Not this time.

Malia

My Self Esteem Just Dropped

2005-09-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

You know, I thought I was okay looking. I thought I had good boobs. My husband has always told me I did. As a matter of fact, if I walk through the room at any given times, he will say, "Hey boobs." Well, it has been revealed that I am gross, disgusting and just plain ewwwww. This was revealed when while in the middle of a conversation, I removed my bra through my shirt, you know, like in Flashdance, and both of the boys simultaneously said, "Ewwww gross!!!!" Dylan even went as far as throwing his hand over his forehead and fainting. If just the sight of my bra disgusts folks then I am in sad shape.

Malia

The Center for the Puppetry of Arts...or Something Like That

2005-09-28T00:31:00.000-05:00

We had a good field trip on Friday, except that most of it was spent on the bus. Being that I live about 40 miles from Atlanta, in a small town, the only place for the schools to take the children on a field trip that is any fun would be to haul them to Atlanta. So, we board the busses at 8:15 a.m. and wait 30 minutes for them to pull out and finally arrive to our destination at 10:05. We get inside and the show has already started. We had 100 pre-k kids with us. It was a pooh bear puppet show. They did the one where Rabbit wants to lose Pooh, where Tigger first gets to meet everyone, where Pooh and Piglet rebuild Eeyore's house, when Tigger and Roo get stuck in the tree and where Christopher Robin and Pooh discuss their friendship at the ripe old age of 101. The chidren were done with the second act. The staff was very adament and rude about taking pictures or else I would have one to show you. The show was funny, but too long for the children. We then went outside and ate lunch on the hard concrete. We had good old fashioned peanut butter and honey sandwiches(those are the absolute best), Sun chips, an apple, carrot sticks, trail mix, a brownie and milk from a little carton. Then we piled back on the bus, waited another 30 minutes and then got back to the school at 1:30. It was fun but long. I had the most fun on the bus getting all the scoop on all the kids from the teachers.

Malia

Emily Rose

2005-09-28T00:26:00.000-05:00

Has anyone seen this movie? What is your take on the whole possesion theory. Can it really happen? Does it really happen? This movie is supposed to be based on a true store. Let me tell you, if I ever happen upon 3 a.m. again, I will think differently. The movie was scary. Not in the sense of jumping out of your skin scary. The concept is scary. It was good. I give it two thumbs up. Jennifer Carpenter deserves an Academy Award.

Malia

Emma's Room Continued...

2005-09-28T00:23:00.000-05:00

Let's see if it wants to work today.....

I think I already said this last time, but the ivy at the top of the wall is intertwined with wild flowers, fairies and lights with ribbons hanging down randomly. This goes all the way around the room and ends up on the window treatment.

just realized how blurry these pics are. Next time I will do them smaller and see if that helps.

That's it.....it worked this time for some reason.

Malia

I Think I Must Be a Conservative

2005-09-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

Your Political Profile

Overall: 60% Conservative, 40% Liberal

Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

Ten on Tuesday(Belated...Again)

2005-09-27T00:38:00.000-05:00

Ten Stupid Things You Have Said Yourself or Had Said To You

1. Yes, I will marry you. (Not my hubby)
2. I hate you.
3. I don't have time for you right now.
4. You can stay up as late as you want to.
5. I don't care.
6. It didn't cost that much, so it is okay that I lost it. (This was to the person who gave me a ring)
7. You should have your dad check into that alcoholic's place. (This was said to an old friend)
8. My life at that time didn't include baggage.(Said to me, by my mother, about my children and husband)
9. This is the end.( In last E-mail to girl in quesion in previous post, but she still didn't get it, so I should have just said, shut up)
10. That will be credit.

Malia

Chaotic

2005-09-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, so yeah, I watched this on MTV last night. It was a flashback kind of, with Kevin and Britney looking back over the footage. Then it showed their wedding. Ya'll, yeah, I don't know Britney personally, though I act like I do, but I think she loves that boy and he loves her. They both cried, she smiled, she twinkled. It was awesome. I cried! And, I hate to tell ya, but he is looking a lot better with longer hair.

Malia

Jackson's First Soccer Game

2005-09-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

It was disastrous. First, you must know that Jackson is extremely sensitive. So, he goes out onto the field and he is running around like a fairy, as in, with his hands flapping and he is taking teeny tiny running steps with a big smile on his face. He is playing, but not the kind of playing he should be doing. They break and go over and say, "Jackson, " He looks at me and immediately starts crying. He knows he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing. I give him a stearn talking to and tell him to get out there and play like he is supposed to and quit acting like a fairy. He was done from that point on. He cries on the field and won't move. Ugh! The anger! The embarssment. Wade is pissed, I am pissed, but the more we say, the more he cries. The dirtier the looks, the more he cries. The ref asks, "Hey, buddy, you okay?" Jackson screamed at him, "YES!!!" Totally not fair that he did that. Then the coach starts asking if he is okay. I learned my lesson, don't talk to Jackson until the game is over. Here are some pictures of the game.

Emma and Daddy

2005-09-22T19:44:00.000-05:00

The other day, Wade, Emma and I were laying on the bed playing and talking and Wade laid his head on Emma's shoulder. She would pet his head. He lifted his head back up and she patted her chest and told him to lay back down. Again, caught on camera.

Last Saturday, I got up and went into the living room and this is what I found.

Malia

How Long is Too Long for a Response that is Not Expected?

2005-09-22T19:30:00.000-05:00

About three or four days ago I was hit with a response from a friend. This response comes from a couple of days of E-mails back and forth, her telling me what I should and shouldn't do and me telling her why she has no clue what the hell she is talking about. She sent me one last E-mail and I totally plan to respond, I just haven't had the chance yet. This will be my last response to her, letting her know that she needs to learn when to shut up and that she has no idea what is going on in my life and not to lecture me. Has it been too long now though. I seriously want and need to let her know exactly how I feel, but I don't want it to look stupid that she suddenly gets an E-mail of something from three days ago. What do you think?

Malia

Papa Sito's

2005-09-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

I have no idea if that is how you spell it, but that is where I ate yesterday. I first said it was Papa Deaux's, but these two are side by side and I got them mixed up. I had bacon wrapped shrimp in a mozarella sauce. Yummy. We, my ex-stepdad, Emma and I, had a very nice lunch together. We toured Smyrna and he showed me how much it had changed. It looks like they are trying to weed out some of the trash by building expensive condo's every where and they are rather pretty. They remind of the townhomes in England. Smyrna has needed to do this for a long time. I thought about calling Rachael and going to visit her swanky stationary store in Vinings, but decided to pass. I figured the chances of Julia showing up there two times in one week were slim and null. Anyways, surprisingly, he offered some more advice to me on my mother. I didn't ask for it, but I listened. Again, there are certain people who can do this. I promised to remember what he had told me and that I would keep that in mind, far, far, in the back of my mind. He assured me that my mother would never apologize and that I need to lower my expectations of her. Hmmm, funny, those are the same words my mother uttered about my own father. Why in the world should I not have high expectations of my parents. I just don't understand this. Danny, my ex-stepdad, seems to think that I have a warped sense of what parents should be. Huh? I'll tell you what I think a parents should be, forever and always, loving, nurturing, courageous, a teacher, they should always be there for you and someone to guide you, someone that says, "Yeah, good job and I'm proud of you." Is that too much to ask for? I mean really? Isn't that what a parent is supposed to be? Why do I have to lower my expectations of everyone? I don't get that. Oh, well, guess I will be waiting for that apology for a long time.

Malia

Emma Wants a Bath...NOW!!!

2005-09-22T19:18:00.000-05:00

The other day, I was in my room working and Wade was supposed to be getting the boys in the bath. In Wade fashion, he let the two boys, ages 6 and 4, take a bath together like he always tries to get away with. See, I think they are now old enough to get in the shower, get out and move on with other things that need to be done. On the weekends, fine, take a long bath, but not on the week night. Anyways, since I wasn't doing involved in the order giving, it doesn't really matter. So, the boys get out of the bath and Wade goes and starts cooking supper. He then comes in and asks me to get up for the 100th time that day and go see somthing. He takes me into the bathroom and there we find Emma, in the dirty tub water that no one let out, that had two dirty boys in it earlier, with who know's how much pee and grime in it, sitting in her daiper, playing....and we caught it all on camera. We get the parent of the year award.

***Why do my pictures turn out so blurry when I upload them on here? Anyone know? She really is cute, you just can't tell.***

Emma's room

2005-09-22T19:10:00.000-05:00

Some of you have spoken of interest that you wanted to see Emma's room, so here it is. Her theme is fairies.

This is her window treatment.

That is a border of ivy, flowers and lights you see at the top, this is done all the way around the room. There are alsop little fairies and ribbons peaking out and hanging down. You can't see it, but there is a glitter glaze on the walls, which I tried to make look like fairy dust, heavier at the top and lighter as you go down, as if falling from the fairies that are placed around the room.

I have more, but this thing is acting stupid, so I will have to try to post the others later.

Malia

Ten on Tuesday

2005-09-20T16:22:00.000-05:00

10 Ways Your Country Can Change for the Better (This stupid thing is not letting me do a hard return for some reason, so this list is going to look stupid, but there is nothing I can do about it.) 1. Do something about these gas prices. 2.. Make all immigrants be required to take a minimum of two years of English, just like in high school. 3. Close the borders and don't let anymore illegal aliens in, if you do the citizen test and stuff, fine, but don't let the illegal ones in. 4. Finish up what you are doing in Iraq and get out already. 5. Stop giving to welfare to people who don't deserve it, fix the problem, don't keep feeding the problem. 6.. Put religion back in the schools. 7. Put discipline back in the teacher's hands. 8. Make it mandatory that they make more earth friendly, affordable cars. 9. Stop building so many houses and save some of the land. 10. Stop cutting down all the trees, last time I checked, we have to have those to breathe. Malia

Blech!

2005-09-20T15:56:00.000-05:00

I feel sick today. Could it be the tenderloin we ate last night from 2004? Could it be the lack of sleep I got last night becasue Emma SCREAMED, no wait, she SCREECHED, all night? Could it be that Emma then jumped on my bed and played all night. Could it be because she then threw up? Anyways, I am sick at my stomach. I tried taking a nap, did not work, I tried drinking different beverages, I wish I had a Sprite, didn't work and I tried some soda water. That didn't work either. Oh well. Seems my mother has gotten to my Memaw. I wished she would not talk to her about this situation, as she will just worry and she doesn't need the extra worry. She already takes care of her sick sister and sick brother and she is only 75! It started out by Memaw sending me this http://wandascountryhome.com/motherswalk/index.html, which in itself made me go, "Oh no, she has gotten to her.", and then I looked at it and replied to her that it reminded me of her, this would be my grandmother. She then sent it back and replied, "DO YOU NOT ALSO THINK OF YOURSELF AND YOUR MOTHER IN THE SAME WAY?? THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME. MEMAW" (Ain't she sweet) I was honest and replied, "Sometimes yes, sometimes not." I have not heard back again, but I just knew from that small comment that she had talked to her and I really hate that. I haven't spoken about it to anyone in my family or any of her aquaintances since the day of the blow up and wish she would do the same. It is none of their business being that not only do they not need to be put in the middle, but my personal life will have to be put out there for everyone to know and that is just not fair. Also, I am pretty sure she is going to construe the truth to make her side look glorious. Then I got an E-mail from mom today. Not something personl, just some pics of New Orleans. I couldn't open it, as in, it would not work. Oh well, that brings you up to date on that. Later, I plan on posting some pics of Emma's room. Going out to eat with my old stepdad tomorrow to Papa Deau's, which is a great seafood, Mexican place. That should be fun and then to supper at the in-laws and Grandma Reeves with Aunt Jane who is in town. Friday I get to go on my first field trip with Jackson. We are going to the Atlanta Center for Puppetry of Arts. I am oober excited about that. Then next month I am going with Dylan to the zoo. I will let you all know how that goes too. Talk to ya'll soon.

malia

Play With My Pet

2005-09-20T04:29:00.000-05:00

Be sure to go down south and play with my hedgehog. He is lonely. Double click on him, he likes that.

Bad Dreams and Test Scores

2005-09-16T12:59:00.000-05:00

I had the worst dream last night and I never want to have it again. See if you can interpret.

It started out that my Papa had died and we, the family, had gone to their old church and they had brought out this big pipe organ like thing, though it was not a pipe organ, put it up on a contraption that turns the wheels that are inside the pipe organ like thing and then he, my papa, had proceeded to tell us about it. Apparently, they had made it when he was a child and it had peppermints that each of the children had stuck on there. They had already sucked on them and Papa was telling me which peppermint was who's. The only ones I remember was which one was his and then which one was my Uncle James, who is Memaw's brother. He also said that they did them, on 9-9-99. Now, in real life, they were not children at that time. Papa actually passed away in 2000. So, I don't know what this date means. So, then, even though I knew he was dead, I called Papa's telephone number and someone answered, who I knew was not him, but I said, "Hey Papa" anyways. This man played along. We talked and reminisced and I cried. Then as I was crying, it turned into me crying over Dylan's death. I don't know how he died, just that I was very, very sad, sad enough to feel it through my sleep. I would remember that just the other day I had hugged him real tight and though that I never wanted to lose him and now I had. Then, luckily, I woke up. There was a whole seperate part of this dream where I was working at Target, trying to make ends meet and there were a couple of girls that had it in for me and kept trying to get me fired. I have no clue what all that was about. See if you can figure it out. I, for one, can't wait for Dylan to get home today.

Oh yeah, the test scores part of this post. I passed the class with the required B, the B you had to have to even take the final. If you didn't make the B, you had to take the class all over again next semester. If you don't pass the final with at least a 37, you had to take the class again. So got my ticket to go take the final. It is all on computer and I had no idea how many questions were on it. I had some pretty hard questions and then all of a sudden, after struggling with this one question, it popped up and asked if I spoke English. I thought, my gosh, I'm doing that bad on it, they need to know if they are administering the test in the right language!? I had only had, maybe 10 questions, if that. It said I was done, so I went to get my scores, which were printed immediately. The lady didn't say anything, just started filling out this paper. I passed with a 60. I figure I must have done pretty good if I got a 60 and the minimum you could get was a 37. Now, I really want to know what the answers were though. So I am moving on. The quarter is over for now, but starts back on the 27th.

Malia

Julia Roberts

2005-09-16T02:15:00.000-05:00

My friend Rachael had her in her store for an hour yesterday. Julia did not have the babies with her and she said Rachael was cool, bringing Rachael's cool factor up. You should go check her out. http://www.mommyhood.typepad.com/. Still no one has told me how to do the link thing where you just type in their name, click and poof, you're there. This will have to do.

My friend Lesley's son is going to the doctor today to see about a lump on his shoulder and she and the family are really nervous so send her some good wishes and especially little Johnathan.
http://www.possiblespam.blogspot.com/

Malia

Useless Fact Friday

2005-09-16T02:12:00.000-05:00

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.

Malia

Dylan's Progress Report

2005-09-16T02:10:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to brag. Dylan brought home his progress report. He got all A's. 100 in Reading. 100 in Math and "Excellent" behavior. I am a happy momma.

Malia

The Boys' Room

2005-09-16T02:09:00.000-05:00

This is when you first walk into their door. That is a fish on the wall.

This is thier closet door. That is an eel and a jellyfish.

This is the wall their bed is on. There are two sharks, the scuba diver with the shark is Dylan, like his face is actually on the wall and there is a scuba diver in the kelp, that is Jackson. That is a Captain's bed.

This is the wall with the window. That is one great white shark and the corner of the dresser.

That would be a sea turtle and a lion fish.

This is some more sharks the t.v., which would have eventually been put someplace else, and a stingray.

I know, I know, there are cords in the way, but you get the idea.

This is the ceiling. Do you see the effect we tried to do with the sun and the water. If you were under water looking up, this is what you would kind of see.

Since the boys' room will probably never be done now, I thought I would go ahead and post the pictures of the mostly finished room for ya'll to see. The window treatments are not up, the ceiling is not complete and there were suppposed to be more fish on the walls. The toybox needs to be painted and some more furniture was supposed to be purchased, but you get the just of it. Later, I will take pictures of Emma's room, so you can see it, but I have to clean it first. Enjoy.

From Black, Back to Pink

2005-09-15T23:12:00.000-05:00

Now, the recovery words. Slowly going from black, back to pink....

I know there is a rainbow
For me to follow
To get beyond my sorrow
Thunder precedes the sunlight
So I'll be alright
If I can find that
Rainbow's end

I will be alright
If I can find that
Rainbow's end.

malia

Them's Fighin' Words

2005-09-15T23:11:00.000-05:00

I know, nothing, but negative stuff lately, but I was on my way home last night from school, where I did make that B and was able to take the final today, and heard this song. Unfortunately, I don't know how people do that thing where they post the little box with the player in it, so you can't hear it, but it is the words that are important. Also, when it is sung, she gets louder and louder at the end, almost screaming, as if to get her point across. This is my song right now!!!

They can say anything they want to say
Try to bring me down
But I will not allow
Anyone to succeed
Hanging clouds over me
And they can try hard to make me feel
that I don't matter at all
But I refuse to falter
In what I believe
Or lose faith in my dreams

Cause there's a light in me
That shines brightly
They can try
But they can't take that away from me

They can do anything they want to you
If you let them in
But they won't ever win
If you cling to your pride
And just push them aside

See
I have learned there's an inner peace I own
Something in my soul
That they cannot possess
So I won't be afraid and darkness will fade

Cause there's a light in me
That shines brightly
They can try
But they can't take that away from me

No...
They can't take this
Precious love
I'll always have inside me
Certainly the Lord will guide me
Where I need to go

They can say anything they want to say
Try to break me down
But I won't face the ground
I will rise steadily
Sailing out of the reach

Oh Lord
They do try hard to make me feel
That I don't matter at all
But I refuse to falter
In what I believe
Or lose faith in my dreams

Cause there's a light in me that shines brightly
They can try
But they can't take that away from me.

Malia

Why am I Crying?

2005-09-14T23:16:00.000-05:00

You're crying because you've had to say goodbye to
someone, and your heart has been broken because
of it. You feel like you've been treated
unfairly and you're tired of people telling you
to get over it. It's very hard for you to just
jump into new relationships or friedships
because you're sick of having you're heart
broken. You just want to rewind everything and
start over. And that is why you're crying.

Why are you crying? (beautiful pics)
brought to you by

No Tears

2005-09-13T17:34:00.000-05:00

So far no tears today, so far. The day is not over yet. I am a little bit surprised that my mother did not call today, not that I would have answered the telephone, but, still surprised she didn't try and I guess you can say, a little bit dissapointed. I don't know why I would expect her to apologize for anything, I have never, never heard those two words come out of her mouth. We are surviving here at the ranch on our own and will be attending Jackson's first soccer game. He is more excited now than he was when they were just practicing. I also get my test back today from my Algebra class to know if I made a B, so that I can take the final. If I made the B, I will take the final on Thursday and then move into my last Algebra class. Wish me luck. When I took the last test I had an average of 81, so it could go either way. The last test was pretty hard, but it had a lot of questions on it, which means they counted less, so we will see and I will keep you updated.

The renting of the house or the selling of the house has now been put on hold because of my evil mother. Yes, I am blaming her. It could have been done and over with in three to six months, but she ruined it. Mom, we all thank you very much.

Malia

How Did I Die in a Past Life?

2005-09-13T00:29:00.000-05:00

Totally stolen from Grant and if I knew how to link him, I would, but he is at http://darnedtoheck.blogspot.com/. Maybe Grant can teach me how.

You were killed during a mission or while trying to
protect someone and you died with honor. you
never regretted what you did and you are a very
brave and strong individual. You know what is
right and you are willing to stand up for it.
Even if it means death.

How did you die in your past life? (for everyone)
brought to you by

It Sucks!

2005-09-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

It sucks being me right now. I am alone. I choose to be that way. From now on. I don't need any of you. I don't need a mother. I don't need a father. I have me, my husband, my children, a few select friends and that is all I need. I am sorry for the ones who get left out because of stupid behavior, whether you think it is my stupid behavior or hers or his. You may think I am being dramatic, but this is very real to me. It is very important to me. A mother should always be there for her child. A mother's job is never finished. Too bad my name didn't start with a B or a J. Too bad I wasn't born first or born into the marriage. Life would be different for me. We will survive. We will do it ourselves.

Malia