Huh? What?

Megan is our singer. She loves music. She is also big on what words are cuss words too.

The other day in the car Gretchen Wilson's song, Redneck Woman came on. She asked me to turn it up so I did. As she sang along to the song I could hear her. When it comes to the part where Gretchen yells, "hell yeah" I listened to see if Megan would also say it. I couldn't tell as she was singing if she was actually singing hell or not. At the end of the song I mentioned to her that some of the words in that song weren't nice words. She looked at me all confused and said, "There are no bad words in that song Mom." I said, "Yes, she says Hell yeah in the song." Megan thought for a moment and said, "No, she is saying OH YEAH Mom. Otherwise the song wouldn't make sense."

Well, what do I know? ;)

"Redneck Woman"

Well, I ain't never been the Barbie doll type

No, I can't swig that sweet Champagne, I'd rather drink beer all night

In a tavern or in a honky tonk or on a four-wheel drive tailgate

I've got posters on my wall of Skynyrd, Kid and Strait

Some people look down on me, but I don't give a rip

I'll stand barefooted in my own front yard with a baby on my hip

'Cause I'm a redneck woman

I ain't no high class broad

I'm just a product of my raising

I say, 'hey ya'll' and 'yee-haw

'And I keep my Christmas lights on

On my front porch all year long

And I know all the words to every Charlie Daniels song

So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country

Let me get a big 'hell yeah' from the redneck girls like me, hell yeah

Victoria's Secret, well their stuff's real nice

But I can buy the same damn thing on a Wal-Mart shelf half price

And still look sexy, just as sexy as those models on TV

No, I don't need no designer tag to make my man want me

Well, you might think I'm trashy, a little too hardcore

But in my neck of the woods I'm just the girl next door

I'm a redneck womanI ain't no high class broad

I'm just a product of my raisingI say, 'hey y'all' and 'yee-haw'

And I keep my Christmas lights on

On my front porch all year long

And I know all the words to every Tanya Tucker song

So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country

Let me get a big 'hell yeah' from the redneck girls like me, hell yeah

Hey, I'm a redneck woman

And I ain't no high class broad

I'm just a product of my raising

And I say, 'hey y'all' and 'yee-haw'

And I keep my Christmas lights on

On my front porch all year long

And I know all the words to every ol' Bocephus song

So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country

Let me get a big 'hell yeah' from the redneck girls like me, hell yeah

Hell yeah, hell yeah

Hell yeah

I said hell yeah!

Thanks azlyrics.com

Storybook Island

A few weeks ago, while in the Black Hills, we stopped at Storybook Island. It is a big park with all kinds of storybook character displays. The kids had a blast running around and we took tons and tons of pictures!

Pop, pop, fizz, fizz..

We have two kinds of pop at our house:
"Mommy-kind"
and

"Daddy-kind"

When Mr. Bill wants a pop the girls ask him if he wants "Mommy-kind" or "Daddy-kind". He almost always goes for "Daddy-kind". Perhaps we need some variations in life?

The proposal

(In my list of 100 things, I mentioned that my husband proposed to me by writing it in my yearbook. Steve wanted to know exactly what my dear husband had to say. So here it is exactly as he wrote it.)

Dear Jodi R. (Future) Sides
Well, you wanted me to write in your book so now I am and this is all I could think about to write. This is your last year here, I guess. I hope you have fun at college. (But not too much fun, if you get my drift.) I love you a lot and I hope you come back to me untouched and still loving me because I want to marry you someday and let you have my kids. But if you don't come back I'll understand and try to get on with my life. I'm writing this so that in the future you can look back and remember me. We have been going out for about a year and a half and I still love you as much as I did when we first started going out. (In cas you don't remember when it was on April 26, 1990). I hope we last until you and I die and longer, because I really do love you and I always have you in my heart. I've been thinking I was wondering If you would consider on marrying me when I graduate? I feel that you should get plenty of thought about that until I do. I love you!! I hope you become successful in whatever you do.
P.S. I mean every word I said up above.
P.P.S. Especially the question.
Love,
Billy L. Sides III

As I read that now, I am laughing and crying.
What the hell was he thinking saying, "let you have my kids...." LIKE THAT WAS A FUN AND PRIVILIGED EVENT?! ROFLOL

And the whole untouched part. I was such an innocent girl, but he was always so paranoid about possible "extracurricular activities". I left for college happily married and perfectly untouched. ROFLOL

I remember as I read this back then how much my heart swelled with love. It is so funny to read how unsure of himself he was and yet I knew this was the guy I was going to marry and live the rest of my life with.

Shrinking, growing, mental....

I am soooooo pumped with this Tae Bo! I am already seeing results. My lower tummy is flatter, I swear it is! While I was walking around Walmart last night I kept having to pull my shorts up. I got up this morning after 2 hours of sleep (but that is a whole other post) and did my Tae Bo cause it is W-O-R-K-I-N-G! Wahooooooo! I will try to get measurements today just to see how much has changed. And it has only been 1 week. I cannot imagine the results in one month! Yea!

I have a kid home sick already. Cassie has a fever and sore throat which started yesterday. I am thinking strep but it usually skips her so it may just be a viral thing. I am contemplating running her to the doc this afternoon. The winter begins? Man I hope it is not one of those winters.

Went and visited my mom on Saturday. She is doing fairly well. I talked with her and felt like I was getting through more so than usual. We will see when I go back next week. Right now we are talking about getting her in an apartment but I am really nervous about it. Apparently last week she fell asleep on the toilet and fell off and broke her collarbone. Oy! Makes me wonder how she will do on her own ya know? One day at a time.

Megan is loving school so far this year. I am very excited for her because here, when they hit 3rd grade, things get serious. They expect soooo much more from the kids than they did in 1st or 2nd and the teacher are much more strict. I was really nervous that Megan would come home crying like she did last year. So far though she loves her teacher (and she is NOT a cuddly gal, let me tell you) and she is enjoying her class. I hope and pray that it continues for her. This would be the first good year she has had since Kindergarten! LOL

Overall, it was a good weekend. Did lots of relaxing and playing. How about you all?

Thank HEAVENS!

Ellsworth Air Force Base to Remain Open!

My step-dad lives an hour from this base. My mom did too until we moved her to assisted living. I cannot tell you how relieved I am for the state, the city of Rapid, and everyone involved that this base will not be shut down.

I thought it was stupid in the first place to house all of the nation's bombers in one place. One bomb to the airport by a terrorist and we are screwed!

Yea! Good News for the day!

Staring at the Walls

My kids..... are gone..... off to school....
What to do?
What to do?
It is 8:24 and the house is clean.
There is NOTHING on t.v. at this time of day....
No one has put anything new on their blogs....
I have no new books to read.....
Bills are paid.....
Mr. Bill snoozes on....
What to do?
What to do?

Author in my future?

When I was 13, I started writing a book. I didn't start out intending for it to be a book. It was just a story that got longer and longer. It was about a small troll who was alive. He could walk and talk and went to school with the girl who owned him. After my mom read my "story" she was amazed at how well is was written. She encouraged me to send it to one of those ads stating, "Write Children's Books!" so I did. They had me take a test and send it back. I put a portion of my story in the test and sent it back. They wrote me back and said I had been accepted and they wanted to publish my story. They sent me an application to fill out, which I did, complete with my name, birthdate, and addresss. A few days later I got a letter in the mail telling me I had to be 18 to participate and they were sorry they could not work with me any further.

Since then I have always harbored this secret wish to publish a story. When I was in college, this secret wish got a boost. My English teacher started her first day of class by telling us the only way we would get an A in her class or on any paper was if she felt our work was publishable. I got A's on everything and she frequently wrote little notes on my papers like, "This is good. Let's talk." or "This is publishable. Come see me." I never took her up on it as I was in midst of college, starting a family, and just enjoying life.

My husband is an incredible artist and would be an awesome illustrator for any book I write. I enjoy writing stories ranging from children's to young adult to romance. I currently have three "stories" in progress. I don't know if any of them will ever get published, or if I will even attempt it. For now it is a stress relieving hobby.

Last year I participated in NaNoWriMo and had a blast trying to stick with the challenge of writing 50,000 words. When I started I couldn't imagine even getting close although I KNEW I would do it. I chose to re-write the story about my troll since somewhere in the growing up process, I lost that notebook. It was a challenge to sit down and write everyday, sometimes two or three times a day, but I did it. You can read it if you like. I did it in blogger format so it goes backwards and makes for awkward reading. I am not sure how I am going to attempt it this year but I will definitely be participating again. I have a romance novel that is coming along nicely, I may continue with it. Who knows?

Back to school

I sent two of my kiddos out into the world again today. They hopped on the bus about 7:30 and were off. The other two start on Friday. Whatever will I do with myself?

Something about Nothing

Today is one of those days where I log into blogger and sit here staring at the blank box wondering if I have anything interesting to share with all of you.

I could tell you about what I have done today. But do you really want to hear about how I got up at 5:30 and exercised again today? Or how after that I got the kids up to do a "test run" for tomorrow, their first day of school? Or I could tell you about how I spent the first 3 hours of the day cleaning the house and making it presentable again? But I don't think any of that really makes for interesting conversation now does it?

This post does remind me of a paper I once wrote in Sophomore English class.

We had to write a one page paper on a topic of our choice. We had a time limit because we needed to be able to read them aloud at the end of class. Usually writing a paper for me is not a problem. I enjoy writing immensely. That particular day I just couldn't come up with any good ideas that got me wanting to write. After sitting for a good 10 minutes, I decided to write about the paper that I was supposed to be writing. It went a little something like this, " We are supposed to write a one page paper about a topic of our choice. Since I can't decide on a topic, I have decided to write about the assignment." I wrote about the requirements for the paper and what it would be graded on. As I stood and read my paper aloud, my teacher chuckled. I met all the required criteria for the actual paper so there was no reason I couldn't get an A. My teacher smiled as he drew a big A on the top of my paper.

"Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous." ~Bill Moyers

Professional Pictures

I took the kids to the new Walmart Photography Studio to have their pictures taken. I have had nothing but horrible experiences so far with this company but I figured now that it is not a traveling studio, I would give it one more chance.

You see when Mr. Bill was one week old we took all five of our kids to WalMart to have their picture taken. The overweight and sweaty gentleman looked at us and sighed. "All five?" he says looking at me. I nod and smile. My kids are good, they are not going to bite. I move them all into the "picture area" which happens to be in the middle of the lingerie aisle. The man picks up Marea who freaks and starts crying. Then he picks up Cassie who also starts screaming. I jump in as he lifts Cassie and take her from him. I say calmly, "It may be better if I put them where you need them." He shrugs his shoulders and goes and stands behind the camera. Ummm, okay. I put the other kids where I think they should be and he takes the picture. They are supposed to take six more to try and sell us the "package deal" so he snaps away while I am holding Mr. Bill and the "baby device" is still sitting in the middle of the table with the rest of my kids. Oy! When I went back to pick up my pictures, there is a new gentleman there. He is much kinder and much friendlier. He asks me if I would like to purchase the whole package. I ask him to look at them. He sighs. He was very disappointed in the pictures and hands me the package and says goodbye.

The next summer I took all five kids again. Through gritted teeth, I sign us in. The same man is taking pictures again today, drat! I walk over with all five kids and he looks at me. "I don't guarantee they will all be smiling!" He states. I just smile and shoo my kids to the table. Again he snaps the first picture and then runs through the other six without much effort or planning. I purchased the package deal and walked away.

Today we had a very nice gal (who also happened to the be the manager). She got us in the studio right away and we set the kids up on the table. She took all six pictures AND posed the kids differently for each one. The kids all smiled, giggled, and had a good time. She gave them each a candy after we were done and then we looked at our pictures and ordered a few extras. I asked her about school pictures. Since each family is supposed to only get one package per visit, I asked her how that worked with back-to-school photos. I most certainly was NOT going to bring each kid in for a different appointment. She said she would allow it although it is not company policy to do so. So I get to get the kids school pics for 6.88 a package instead of 24.00 something I have been paying every year. Much. Better. Visit.

Today, yesterday, OY!

My horoscope today says:
Don't just make lemonade if someone hands you lemons. With your skills, you can make lemon meringue pie, too. This glitch turns out to be less than minor once you figure out what to do with it.

Do you suppose it is referring to the fact that my sewer line is backed up again (for the fourth time since we moved into this house about 4 years ago) and we are now going to have to replace the main line running from the septic tank to the house?

Can you make lemonade and Lemon Meringue pie out of soggy toilet paper and poo? I didn't think so.

I spent a good portion of the morning outside digging a trench in the mud so my hubby and two neighbor guys can come in in about an hour and dig down to the actual pipe. Can we say fun?
________________________

On a better note, this Tae Bo is a blast and is kicking my butt. I got up again at 6:30 today and did it again. My stomach muscles are killing me today but that is a good sign! It means something is actually happening here! The weird thing, I don't even feel like I am doing exercise. I mean sometimes I feel the burn, but for the most part I am just enjoying myself.
Hiiiiiiyaaaaaa!

Kicking some ^%&

Oh yea BABY! I bought Billy Blanks Tae Bo last night at Walmart. We got home at 10:30 and I popped in the DVD. I watched the "foundation" section that tells you how to do the moves and then watched the first section entitled, "Energy".

I set my alarm for 6:30 to get up and try out this new high-energy workout. I was so excited to get up and exercise that I woke at 6 and couldn't go back to sleep. When the alarm clock finally went off I was up and moving (unfortunately so was Mr. Bill). He sat on the couch as I worked my way through the dvd! I have never had so much fun exercising. The people in the video are all high-energy and very motivational. Of course they were all stick thin too. But then what's new?

I am going to have a blast doing this workout every morning. And you know what? I actually worked up a sweat! I have been doing Denise Austin's show on lifetime every morning for the last three years and hardly ever, if not NEVER, worked up a sweat. Today I was ready for the shower.

Here comes a lean, mean, kickboxing Jodi! Are you ready? Hiiiiiiiyaaaaaaaa!

Summer, Where art thou?

We have been hovering in the 60's for temps again this week and I am freezing my tushy off! Where did summer go?

We have really nice neighbors! I have been given many many ears of corn in the last few weeks. I have about 15 gallon size freezer bags full of cut corn and 15 more full of ears of corn in the freezer. I am well stocked for the next year I think. Just the benefits of living in a small rural town!

We have a new cook in the family! Becca has decided she wants to learn how to cook. Yahoooo! I thought it would be a good 5 years at least before she showed any interest in cooking. I gave her the cookbook and said pick what you want to cook. She has been perusing the book for the last hour. LOL Do you suppose she would like a full time job? ;) It is a long standing joke (at least to everyone but me) at my house that I would love to rip the kitchen off and add on a Burger King. Maybe a personal chef is better?

I have been grounded for the week since gas prices are so insane right now. I may not get to go anywhere until next week! We are looking at 2.79 a gallon here. How is it where you are?

Bribery

Why didn't anyone tell me bribery makes little boys do what you want them too? ;)

Mr. Bill has been potty-trained for a good six months now but he WILL NOT put his own underwear on after going potty. He brings them to me even if there is a houseful of people here. Oy! So this weekend he suddenly showed an interest in doing it himself. I jumped on it and told him he could have an m&m everytime he put them on by himself. Would you believe he has been putting his own underwear on since then? (Of course I still have to help somewhat, or he walks around with his tail hanging out the leg hole)

One small step for mankind, one GIANT leap for potty-training success!

Update Post

10 days and counting until school starts! The kids are excited and for me, it is bittersweet. I love watching them go back and learn and enjoy school but I hate that I only get to see them for just a few hours a day.

I am sorry I haven't been around much. We moved my mom up by me in an assisted living on Thursday and I have been running around trying to get her settled and help her adjust. After we visited her yesterday it became fairly apparent that nothing I do or say is going to change her ways of thinking. She was trashing me to the nurses before I got there, telling them what a horrible daughter I was and how dare I put my family first when she needs me. I decided after hearing that, that I am done. I am moving her into an apartment asap and getting back out of her life. I tried, we all tried, except her. It is very sad to know that my mom has become the crazy lady everyone stares at. As I sat and listened to her talk, I realized she still sounds like my mom, her voice does. But the words she is saying is not my mom. It is crazy ramblings from someone you see in a movie or read in a book.

Happy Belated Birthday wishes go out to my Dad ( I remembered about 50 times on your birthday and kept meaning to call but mom kept me preoccupied for about 8 hours that day.) I hope you had a great day!

Mr. Bill and I are in a power struggle as of late. I have decided we need to crack down on him a little to get him to see that we mean business. Yesterday he started screaming in Walmart because he wanted/didn't want something but he wouldn't TELL me what was wrong. I told him if he didn't stop that he would go sit in the van. He continued so I picked him up and carried him, screaming, out to the van. I put him in his car seat and buckled it and shut the door. I decided for my sanity and his feelings it would be better if I stand outside of the van. After what seemed like 20 minutes (but was only actually 2 minutes) he calmed down and I opened the door to ask him if he was done. He nodded so we went back into the store. After that everytime he started to act up I just threatened to take him to the van again and he calmed down. Hopefully we are on a road to better behavior.

Well, I better pop into your blogs and see what you all have been up to today! :)

Relaxing

I just spent the entire day getting my mom set up in an assisted living facility. I have never been so happy to see the end of a day. Whew!

Teacher by Trade

I went to college.....

I got a degree.....

It sits on a shelf......

Unused by me.....

Five years wasted....

Twenty-five thousand lost....

What was I thinking....

A teacher I am not......

Parenting

Mr. Bill is a tad whinier than the girls. Okay, Okay, he screams and cries if he doesn't get what he wants. He learned this at about 6 months old. When the girls surrounded him and he was feeling overwhelmed, he screamed at the top of his lungs. And they ran.

Now, I am left with the aftermath of this learned behavior. He screams and cries all the time. He is not pleasant to be around. In the store, he is the kid who is throwing a fit in the milk aisle because he can't get out of the cart and walk. He is the kid who everyone stares at as I walk by.

Is it because he is the baby? Perhaps. Is it because he has four sisters? Perhaps. Is it my laziness in parenting him? Perhaps. Is it because I have lost all control? Perhaps. Is it because I have lost my sanity? Hmmmmm......

Another day...

Spent the day on the phone again. But while talking I was also painting.

We sold our older van on Friday so yesterday we hit Menards and got some new items to start some new projects. I got two gallons of paint, one for the dining room and one for my bedroom. I got the dining room done during the phone calls and by then Billy was home so we installed the shelving we purchased over the washer and dryer. My bathroom/laundry room never looked so organized! I love it!

I made the yummiest popsicles today. I put nerds in the bottom of the ice cube tray and then poured Hawaiian Punch Lemonade over them. Once frozen the kids devoured them. I can't blame them though when we are dealing with 100F weather! Whew!

We also registered the kids for school today. I can't believe it starts in two weeks! Where has the summer gone?

Happy Birthday OR NOT!

I found out today my husband has been telling everyone I just turned 32. I know I am mature for my age but let's not push it buddy......

I am only 31!!!!!

This ones for the books...

Yesterday we were at a park, playing.

Mr. Bill woke up from his nap after we got out of the car. He suddenly had to pee. This particular park does not have bathrooms but it does have those porta potty things. So I walk him over to the potty and open the door. It actually doesn't smell too bad, I am amazed. I step in and open the lid only to discover the toilet is FULL, to the TOP! Ewwwww! Mr. Bill jumps back and refuses to go in that potty. So we walk around to the other potty only to discover it is full as well.

Now there is a urinal on the guys side but Mr. Bill has not had the experience of peeing standing up yet. For now he is content to sit and pee. So I tell him he can "pee like a big boy" and we go stand it front of the urinal. I tell him he has to hold his "tail" (his word for penis) and aim for the big boy potty. Well as he stands there holding it, it gets hard, and apparently peeing is not possible in this condition. I wait, hoping it will get used to being held and relax so Mr. Bill can pee. After a couple of minutes I realize it is hopeless. He decides to wait until we are done at the park before we go potty. Good call.

Why do they not cover this in "Once Upon A Potty" hmmmmmm?

Painting my nails...

I sat down today to paint my nails for the first time in literally 15 years. Once I started having kids, there was no point. I would get one or two painted and the baby needed to nurse, needed her diaper changed, needed a finger pulled out of a wall socket, etc. I finally gave up when Becca was little, realizing it would be a long time before I would see a nice manicure again. I was right, but you know I didn't mind.

A few other things I have given up since having kids:
1. Reading a whole book, a whole page, a whole sentence without being interrupted.
2. Going pee ALONE.
3. Eating hot food.
4. Talking on the phone for more than 2 minutes.
5. Eating chocolate without sharing.
6. A quiet car ride.
7. Eating in any restaurant that has waitresses.
8. Sleeping in, actually sleeping period!
9. Watching movies.
10. My sanity.

But you know, now that my kids are getting older, I am re-discovering some of these lost luxuries. I was able to sit and put two coats on nail polish on my nails AND let it dry before I even had to get up and do anything. Perhaps one day I will re-discover my sanity?

So, what have you given up?

Quite possibly better than Chocolate...

Possibly....

A day on the phone...

I spent the majority of my morning cleaning and the afternoon on the phone. My mom is staying put for now until we can get her in an assisted living facility. A much better option that makes me feel much better about the whole situation. Let's hope we can get her some much needed help.

Whew!