Paige's Little Buddy
This is the tale of two Buddy's. One was given to Paige about three weeks before she turned three by her Grandma Barb. He was a big hit right off the bat. He traveled with us from Georgia to Myrtle Beach that week. Since then he has been everywhere with us...California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida he has been more places than some people I know. He has gone to preschool, kindergarten, first and second grade. He started third grade but then he only went on rainy days for indoor recess. Most often he is sitting on the big heart pillow waiting for Paige to come snuggle him while she reads. He still finds his way into her book bag and sometimes into her dance bag. He wears a purple green and blue beaded collar that Paige made for him and he has a real dog tag with his name and our phone number ...just in case. He has been a good and faithful friend a perfect little pup.





This picture below is of Buddy's twin. After Paige got so attached to him (sometimes she would misplace him in the house and be in tears until he was recovered) I asked Barb to get another one so we would have a replacement just in case something awful happened to Buddy. So this Buddy has lived in a pink bag in my p.j. drawer and the other day I got him out and showed him to Paige...she never knew that I had him all these years. He resembles Buddy but if I were to try tell her he was the real Buddy she would know in an instant that I was fooling her. So now the never loved Buddy sits on the shelf hanging over a picture of Paige when she was two. Maybe someday Paige will have a little girl that will love this new never used Buddy.

The little red tag reads: "Created with love just for you. Because everyone needs a friend or two. I love to play and have fun you'll see no dog will love you more than me." I think that sums up their friendship perfectly.

April 27th, 2007 | Category: The Feasts, 2007

FRIDAY'S FEAST

{Featured Flickr Feast by missycplayground}

Appetizer
How fast can you type?

Fast enough...I think back in high school when I was in typing class it was close to 40 wpm. I learned to type on a manual typewriter in 9th grade then in 10th grade we got the electric typewriters. My dad (who encouraged me to learn to type---thanks dad) even bought me a little blue Smith Corona portable typewriter that I still have in the basement.

Soup
What is your favorite online game?

I don't really play games online but my favorite computer game is "Bejewled" or "Ms. Pac Man" it's a classic and my kids like it too.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), how intelligent do you think you are?

Intelligent wise I would say an 8... Common Sense wise I would say a 9.5

Main Course
Name three of your best teachers from your school years.

Miss. Denise (kindergarten), Mr. Barris (high school California studies) and Mr. Cook (6th grade).

Dessert
What are your plans for this upcoming weekend?

Working from 8 to 3 on Saturday...coming home and helping Mike clean/detail the mini van. Sunday we are going to Terry and Steve's to celebrate Brandon's 19th birthday.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY---WELL ALMOST!

The kids are gonna sleep well tonight and so are we for that matter. We spent all day out in the yard. I took some pictures when we first went out but then got too busy to snap anymore. Paige finished a worksheet to take back to school for extra credit then she came to help weed and mulch for a short time before heading off to play with Harry (the neighbor boy that is her age). Megan played across the street with Hannah ( a kindergarten friend) for a while then came back to join Paige and Harry. Paige and Harry were hitting baseballs and riding bikes. After lunch they got the squirt guns out and that is how they spent the rest of the afternoon chasing each other and getting soaking wet. Harry had to go home at 3:30 so the girls dried off in the sun and did some reading. Mike and I finished up the mulch then we went in and got cleaned up. We went out for pizza and stopped at the grocery store...we were out of bread and milk oh no that would not be a good way to start the week tomorrow.

Hope you all had a great weekend. I am so glad we got the mulch down the yard looks great and I am worn out and ready for bed...so ta ta for now!

Just a quick post today...but I want to profess my love for the "HALTI" dog training head collar. It is awesome!!!! I got one for Rebel today because I am sick of his pulling and picking up rocks. I do not need a $500. vet bill because he swallows a rock the size of my thumb. I filled my pocket with tiny puppy treats and we had a training session. He figured out real quick that he could push it off his nose with his paw, but with some positive reinforcement....i.e. keeping his attention on walking and puppy treats he soon was walking like an ol pro. Megan even said "he looks like a dog show dog", wow what a compliment! He walked all the way around the block and did not pull or pick up a single rock. I am so proud of my pup and very thankful for the "HALTI"! When Paige gets home from school I will teach her how to put it on Rebel and show her how to walk with him. p.s. he is not wearing the HALTI in the photo above...it is just for training and walking.

When Paige and I got back from dance class Mike was working in the yard and Megan and Rebel were out front playing. The girls practiced batting while I went in to make dinner. Rebel looks like he wants to play catcher. I think you could hit the ball with your eyes closed with that bat it's as big as a barn but it sure is a confidence builder...ha ha:)Megan got a hit!

Batter, batter, batter....Ssssss-wing!

Megan and I stopped at the garden center up the road before heading to the grocery store today. We had fun looking around and got a few perennials that were on sale. Our picks were Coral Bells "firefly" they have red flowers, Gaillardia that had yellow and orange daisy like flowers that will bloom in July and August and then we got Blue Butterfly Delphinium and some Blue Queen Salvia. We will wait until the end of the month to put them in the ground. It was fun checking out the plants and fountains. Megan was very impressed with the size of that large fountain in the bottom photo. She kept talking about it on the way to the grocery store.

Thanks for the award Callie and now I pay it forward to:

Echos of Grace
Ambulance Driver
Rocks in my dryer
Dishpan Dribble
Pioneer Woman

Photo taken October 2003

Real (Reil) Mom's

1) A real mom reads to her kids every night, even when she has a sore throat and doesn't really feel like reading. She does it because she wants her kids to love reading as much as she does. She does it because she likes to spend that extra 15 to 30 minutes at the end of the day to have a few extra snuggles. She does it because she knows how important it is to them and to her.

2) A real mom gets her babies out of their crib when they are sound asleep and rocks them a bit before she goes to bed. She does it because she didn't get to put them down for the night because she was working at her part time job. A real mom also goes in to check to make sure they have not kicked the covers off on really cold nights at 3 a.m.

3) A real mom lets the puppy sleep with them until they fall asleep and then she takes a picture of them so later in life they will remember what it was like to sleep with their sweet warm pup. A real mom also takes pictures of everything riding their bike for the first time without training wheels, dressed up in silly outfits from the dress up box, when they are sound asleep looking like angels, she takes picture of the back of their heads so they will know that they had curls when they were tiny, she takes pictures of messy faces and silly grins she records there life as it is happening not just the perfect posed shots.

4) A real mom plays board games instead of sitting down to relax after a long day. She also doesn't let her kids win every time. A real mom knows that it is just as important to lose a few so that when you win it is more exciting.

5) A real mom has a place that she stashes the artwork of her kids not just the fancy artwork made at school but the little cards and drawings that are presented with a hug while you are busy with your day.

6) A real mom always has band aides in her purse and some in the car. A real mom knows that boo boos don't always happen close to home. She also know that although hugs and kisses are great that sometimes you just need a band aide and it doesn't hurt for it to be colorful or have a picture of Snoopy on it too.

7) A real mom takes her kids to the zoo for New Year's Eve (even in the rain) because it is a tradition and we go every year no matter what. We also go ice skating on New Year's day because it is our tradition. A real mom knows that tradition trumps being wet or cold.

8) A real mom volunteers at school, goes on field trips and shows up to have lunch in the cafeteria because she knows that elementary school goes by too fast.

9) A real mom makes sure that your homework folder gets put back in your backpack and that the homework is in it....even though she told you to do it. A real mom also knows that a kid needs a little down time after school and maybe a snack before it is time for homework.

10) A real mom knows that sleepovers and giggling go together like peanut butter and jelly. She knows that the next day you will need a nap and she will too. A real mom knows that letting you sleep in the big bed in the guest room with your best friend or even your sister will be a good memory for later in life.

11) A real mom reminds your dad that the giggles won't last forever, that girls do not wear black and gray sneakers....yes those ARE boy sneakers and I don't care if they are $5.00 cheaper we are not buying them.

12) A real mom lets you bake and cook and teaches you how to wash dishes by hand. A real mom always lets you put on as many sprinkles as you need to even if you can no longer see the frosting underneath. A real mom always lets you lick the spoon, beaters and the bowl.

13) A real mom lets you stay in the tub until all the water drains out if you want to. A real mom slathers you with lotion so your skin will be soft. A real mom warms your beach towel in the dryer on cold nights so when you get out of the tub it will be better than a hug.

14) A real mom always combs your hair and sends you off to school with a healthy breakfast in your tummy. A real mom knows you will do your best in school if you feel good about yourself and have fuel to start your day. A real mom also makes sure you brush your teeth each morning she doesn't want you to be the kid with the bad breath!


15) A real mom plays fun music like Laurie Berkner, Jack Johnson's "Curious George soundtrack" and "Songs That I've Heard" by Harry Conick Jr. in the car, she knows your favorite song and turns it up loud and sings along.

16) A real mom nags you about keeping your bedroom door closed because of what the puppy might do to your favorite stuffed animal. She knows that learning from experience is usually the best way but she keeps on nagging because she doesn't want the puppy to break your heart.

17) A real mom lets you dig in the dirt and plant seeds, she teaches you the names of your Great Grandma's favorite flowers. She shows you how to pull weeds and teaches you to be nice to worms because they are good for the garden.

18) A real mom loves you no matter what...even when you barf on her or when you say mean things or when you throw a fit in public. A real mom loves you no matter what because when you are being your worst she often recognizes herself in your words and actions. She knows that you are not perfect and she also knows that she is not perfect. A real mom is just trying to do her best and make a difference and love you no matter what.

Megan and Paige sitting on the window seat watching for the school bus. Rebel loves to be in the middle of the action, he also has a thing for looking out the window.
The girls are in their big winter coats because it is only 39 degrees out this a.m. but the sun is shining...oh joy of joys! We are to have a high of 50 degrees later today.

Appetizer
When you were a child, which crayon color was your favorite?

Red-Violet was my favorite, it was always the shortest crayon in my big box of 64 colors

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move?

Well when I was 24 I moved from California to Ohio for my job but now that I am older and have a family of my own and I only work a part time job I would have to say it would be a 1 if my job asked me to move and if Mike's did it would be a 6 or 7 depending on the location of course.

Salad
Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total?

55

Main Course
Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to?

We re-gifted a set of twirly cheerleader pom pom's that Paige got for her b.day from a friend. They sat in her room still in the package after 3 months and I figured if she hadn't played with them yet we would pass them on to another girl that would. So that is what we did and the little girl that we gave them to was thrilled. Guess I'm not raising cheerleaders?

Dessert
Name something you need from the store.

Flavored coffee creamer...Mike wants to take it in to work.

67 comments

<----That is Mike's Easter bucket. He says he doesn't need it, but I know he looks forward to it each year.

Hello there, hope you all had a fun Easter Sunday. We had a nice quiet day. The girls hunted eggs in the house first thing this morning. It was cold here with snow flurries off and on...nothing sticking to the ground. We have had a fire in the fireplace all day. I made Texas sheet cake this morning after breakfast. We walked down to the cul de sac for a neighborhood egg hunt at 3 p.m. Then Dave came over for dinner a little after 4. We had ham, twice baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, roasted carrots with onions, green salad, Hawaiian sweet rolls, and fresh pineapple. Dinner was very tasty , the ham was excellent. After dinner we played a game of "Whonu" and I laughed so hard I cried...so all in all it was a fun day. Time for me to get this posted so I can go read with Megan and tuck her and Paige in bed.Paige's new ducky "Gemma".
Megan's new chick "Chenille".
Megan looks like a super star in her new Tinkerbell shades!
The Easter Bunny brought the girls "Charlotte's Web" it is a great movie or as Megan would say "two thumbs up!"
An up close picture of Paige's first shiner. She got it last Sunday from her little sister when Megan bonked her hard head into Paige's eye.

Rebel recovered an egg while the kids were playing "egg hunt".

We have Easter eggs to dye for!

I only made 8 hardboiled eggs since I am the only one in the house that will eat them. I will make a few deviled eggs and then put some in my salad. My kids love to dye eggs...just like me and their Aunt Shann. Egg dying is kinda like tie dying once you get started ya don't want to stop and you end up with tie dyed socks. So after they dyed their hardboiled eggs we got out a dozen fresh eggs and dyed them too. Oh what the heck now I have pretty eggs to cook with.

I like how Megan is holding her pinky out...such a dainty egg dipper.
Paige has mastered the art of double dipping...that is dipping an egg in two different colors.


We even dyed the uncooked eggs...so now when we cook eggs or bake we will have pretty eggs to crack. I wrote on the outside of the carton that they are uncooked so we won't have any surprises :) ha ha

Last night we celebrated Mike's big #39 at Don Pablo's. Here are some pictures from our little party.....ENJOY :)





The Birthday Boy and Brandi, photo taken by Paige....great job Paige!
And the silly shot...of course. Thank goodness for digital cameras!

Paige (Daddy's Girl) and Mike
M & M--Mike & Megan
Megan took this photo of us...good job Meg!
Megan having a sip of cinnamon sauce....silly girl!
The girls got Mike a hand held "Texas Holde'm Game" now he can practice for when the neighbor guys come over for poker night.

Mike's new Skecher's....these will be great for when we ride the water rides at the theme parks this summer!