Meet Snowy

Sometimes their creativity with names surprises me.

And sometimes their lack of creativity surprises me.

Yes, it is getting dark. We don't get snow very often in Plainsville so we have to take advantage of every second. After this picture was snapped we spent an hour sledding down our outstanding sled hill by street light. The atmosphere at night is very unique. I hope the Crumb Snatchers keep these memories close.

Thoughtless Thursday

Found on 9 yr old Crumb Snatcher's door...

So please, on this my Thoughtless Thursday, don't desTURD me!

Yessss, another video post below

Please forgive my easy out...I don't feeel ggooooddd. I figured all you fellow mommas would love this little dittie... in the very slim chance you haven't already viewed it! And all you dads, well I am sure you can picture someone in your life saying these things at one point or another.

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics

How much longer...

... will she crawl into his lap to snuggle?

... will he be able to hold her while she sleeps?
... will he be her only boyfriend?

... will she believe he is a super hero?

... can he protect her from the real world?

... will she allow him to protect her from the real world?

... can I bare to watch her grow up so quickly?

... until I see him give her to another?

... until he goes to prison from assaulting a prospective suitor?

Hmmm...Who's this little doll face?

His name is Wiggles.

However I, in keeping with my recent urine theme, called him Piddles.

I have had a major case of Puppy Fever since Saucy Sashi got a little purse dog for Christmas. Every time I said, "...puppy" Big Shooter would see his life pass before his eyes.

...so he volunteered my babysitting services.

I thought, "Ohhhh, the BDP will LOVE this! A playmate!"

That was before I had to look at this pathetic little face when he had to share his toys.

Piddles was oblivious to the conflict going on around him.

...to say the least.

Yet, just like a true blue crumb snatcher, he pouted when Piddles went back home.

Confession of Miss Pee-Pee Pants

Disclaimer: I am apologizing up front Grandma. (Wow. I am having to do that an awful lot lately, aren't I? That should tell me something. Shouldn't it...?)

If you know me...you know my little problem. I am an admitted pant wetter. For as long as I can remember I don't know I have to go...until I have to go. Like now. Right now. Like, "Get out of my way or I'm gonna pee my pants" now. A very embarrassing number of you have been with me when I come to a dead stop for no apparent reason. Those of you who know my little secret just casually stop and keep the conversation going as if I didn't just stop in the middle of a crosswalk. After a few long seconds for some reason I am granted a short reprieve and can start walking again. It's a handicap I've learned to live with and apparently so have many of my friends and family. It's embarrassing to say the least. So I find this little saying from Saucy Sashi to be very telling and a perfect fit. What do you think?

"A great friendship is like wetting your pants. Everyone can see it, but you're the only one who can feel it's warmth."

My Second Spouse...Saucy Sashi

This is my friend.

She's my bosom buddy, confidant, accomplice, well wisher, ally, alter-ego, amigo, chum, cohort, compatriot, compadre, crony, fellow trouble maker, other self, pal, partner, playmate, sidekick and my best supporter.

I have my own saying for all these wrapped up with a bow ~ She's my Sister~Friend!

Now, since I went and got all mushy, I don't want to leave you with the wrong impression. So please allow me to add a few more details to this very important relationship in my world.

As the title implies she is my second spouse...truth be told, most of the time she feels like my primary spouse. And you and I both know what havin' a spouse entails...you know waaay too much personal information for either party's good. You finish each other's sentences. We follow the other's train of thought from A to G to C to W to F and finally to Z without any trouble... It happens when you spend so much time together. Any one relate?

We have stretched each other in ways neither of us could have ever imagined a few years ago. With humble wonder we have witnessed God's hand guiding us in our business venture. We have giggled, chortled and snorted our way through many a situation and I personally look forward to each day I get to spend with my living Gift from God. I love you Saucy Sashi. Just don't tell anyone or I'll deny it...

dictionary.com

Guess what word I looked up?

Synonyms:
abstracted, aloof, casual, cold, cool, disinterested, distant, faraway, incurious, indifferent, introspective, introverted, laid back, offish, on ice, removed, reserved, standoffish, stuck up, unapproachable, uncommunicative, unconcerned, uninterested, uninvolved, uppity, withdrawn


Antonyms:
central, close, near, relevant

Hint: It is the first word of something we girls are not allowed to touch, be in charge of or even think about.

Note: I'll tell you tomorrow. But girls, if you really think about it you'll get it...and when you do...it will make your day re-reading these synonyms.

Answer: Yesss, the word is remote.
In our home school, #1 and #2 alternate weeks of being "Student of the Week". All this means is if there are choices to be made or turns to take they get to have the honor. It works out great for all those Momma times you need to have one flavor of kool-aid in the fridge at a time, one child sitting shotgun or the lucky one who takes out the trash. That kind of thing.

It also means that person gets to choose the tv show they watch for their allotted daily media time. Of course that would mean that person should have control of the remote right?
WRONG. I hear, "Mooommmeeee, he won't let me hold the remote!" to which #1 replies, "You just tell me what you want and I'll click it." or "She doesn't need the remote." Which proves my point. They (males) have a physical, psychological, organic, in-bred need to hold the all powerful remote in their hands.
It's almost as if they feel it's cheating on them if it works for someone else.

What words describe YOUR weekend?

Here are a few for ours:

pee, urine, waste, yellow stream, golden puddle.

Sorry Grandma, just shootin' it straight.

Since I still can't seem to escape the aroma...therefore I can't get it off my mind, I decided to share this video below with you just to make my mood regarding the BDP a little lighter. It will crack you up! This was exactly what BDP was like when he was a wee one. (no pun intended).

Post Script: Sorry for no explaination. The dear, sweet BDP had to take some meds that make him a little squirrelly-whirly.

Pugs pees on owner

Last of Mystic Seaport ~ I Promise!

I just could NOT pass showing these to you all. I just love wreaths. These were so very cool in person. If a person (definitely not me) were talented in this manner these made lasting impressions on visitors. Okay, I am just speaking for myself here cause I love 'em. But, they were very beautiful, simple (looking, obviously not tying), and perfect for the season. I know many of you who read this are very artsy-fartsy and creative. Please send me photos of your wreaths. I have always loved wreaths. I already said that though. If you have ideas for wreaths - please leave it in a comment for me. I'm sure Big Shooter would love for me to have a few more hanging around.

sigh...

More Mystic

I missed Wordless Wednesday, so I figured I'd make up my own theme today. I'm also sick and can't think so today is

Thoughtless Thursday.

My only thought today is,

"I wish there was a real lighthouse in my life warning me of danger ahead."

Post Script: My father says, "I'd rather be a lighthouse, than an outhouse..."

Mystic

Any one remember the Julia Roberts movie Mystic Pizza? It was a very l o n g time ago. The movie takes place in a real little seaport town in Connecticut called Mystic. Wellll, guess where my dad and his beautiful wife took the Crumb Snatchers and me?

The little town was charming and so stunningly different than Plainsville. What with the houses that were built in the 1700's, maintained, and still lived in today. Makes me reconsider my tiny, old 46 year old house. Heck, it's not soo old. In fact, in comparison it's considered modern.

But what made the trip so outstanding was a little place called Mystic Seaport. To date, it is one of the best places the kids have visited to experience the past. If you've ever been to Colonial Williamsburg, that's what it's like only on the sea. We felt like we'd stepped back in time. Whaling ships, harpoons, rope making (the BIG kind, not your run to Wally World to fetch some rope to tie down the blue tarp kind), eye-opening discussions of slave ships while visiting the dark, scary, cold underbelly of the ships were just a few of the learning opportunities that took place. Looking out over the water we could almost imagine watching the ships and boats coming and going with their catches. We visited houses, the school, doctor's office, lobster huts and the ship yard to name a few. What a great way to capture the imaginations of two little minds! Both C.S. loved studying colonial times so this was perfect to help solidify all they'd learned from books.

On the deck of the whaling ship.

Here in pioneer country we had blacksmiths. On the coast they had shipsmiths.

Here he was in action. He's pulling the lead hooked to the bellows to stoke the fire. You can just make it out if you look real close in the upper left corner. It kind of looks like a giant metal funnel on it's side.

Examples of harpoons they'd previously made.

"Look at the SIZE of that thing!"

(No comments necessary.)

When Granny M said, "Look like you're drowning. Look like you're in trouble." #2 said, "Oh, I can do that easy..." I am not sure what to think when I look at this picture after remembering that comment. Did she mean, "Oh, I can do that easy because I can be so dramatic?" or did she mean, "Oh, I can do that because I am always in trouble?". Cause to me, she looks more like she's hanging from a gallow than drowning.

(While #1 is worried about the imaginary shark circling in front of him...)

We visited a pharmacy.

Hmmm...

It's really just a fabulous, giant, old kettle that could've been used for a whole number of things. But, since it was an overcast day, those great ships are in the background for ambiance, and we were in New England ... I'm thinking Witches of Blackbird Pond.

Should I share with girly-girl what they did to witches in New England?

We love you.

Wish we could hug you in person.

Happy Father's Day!

Banter, Bunk, Swashbuckling...???

What do these mean to you? Big Shooter and I grew up in a small town in southern Idaho. We have found our vocabulary is a little different than those who grew up here in Plainsville. For example:

In Idaho we called the area on the side of the road a borrow pit. We called the compartment in the dashboard on the passenger side a jockey box. When a car spins in a complete circle we called it a cookie. A very large ditch is called a cooley. When we went to get a drink with friends we were "going for a pop". Dinner was supper. And for me, lunch was dinner.

As for the title: instead of bantering the Big Shooter and I have a bout of swashbuckling. (That's not from Idaho by the way. We just made it up b/c that's what describes it best.) And bunk? That's what we call the made up stuff that comes so easily out of our mouths...

What can a day hold?

Ever have days that begin like this...

and end like this?

What was your Lovey?

Mine was a black plush poodle. It was threadbare and losing stuffing when I accidentally left it on a plane when I was around 6ish. I'm still seeking counseling to over come it's loss in my life. I have thought of it often when watching #2 with her Browny Bear and #1 with his Animal Pillow. They both have really special, life-comes-to-a-screeching-halt-when-we-lose-'em toys they play with everyday. But when the Sandman calleth, we better know where Browny & Animal are...

A girl and her Lovey.

What was your lovey?

Do tell.

2 Timer

My little Crumb Snatcher #2 is much braver than I was at her age. After a failed attempt at the whole girly right to passage ear piercing debacle a few years ago I figured she might have a brave daring moment at some much later point in her life and try it again. I was thinking around say... menopause? Not the way it went down. She recovered from the whole ordeal and started asking again about 6 months after we gently removed the first pair that had caused lots of redness, swelling and infection. Wellll, that's not really how they were removed...picture trying to submerge a big fat farm cat in a bucket full of ice water and that's more like it. She has been determined ever since to face the dragon and slay it herself. I cannot begin to count the times we have visited the jewelry counter to (gulp) "see the gun" or (swallow) watch someone get their ears done. Let's just say too many for Momma.

The last time she asked before Christmas I could tell she really had accepted all it would require of her this time around. We talked it over with Big Shooter who didn't even ask her any questions. He looked at me and said, "Are you ready for this?" I gulped, nodded, gulped again. He said, "I'm not so sure you are." Little Itty saw her chances slipping and suggested the very next day out of the blue she would "love very much to have my ears pierced with Granny M. when we visit Connecticut" Smart little whippersnapper. In one request she accomplished more than she knew. 1) Granny is a former nurse. (Thank my lucky stars!) 2) Mommy only has to be near by. 3) She earned oooo's, ahhhh's and warm fuzzies from Granny and myself because she chose to include Granny M in this huge girly step. (Granny for obvious reasons and me b/c I would only have to be... near by.) 4) Granny is a girly-girl who likes earrings so this opens up a whole new world for both of them. (And since this is a straight shootin' blog I should mention Granny only wears the good stuff. That can only be a plus for #2...)


So off to the mall we go...

To my utter surprise she jumped right up in the chair and waited calmly for the hurried lady to get the gun that would tear through her sweet, tender, velvety soft little earlobe I kiss so often... How can she be so calm?

One down!

gulp. swallow. breathe. gulp. swallow. breathe.

(I'm saying that for me not her.)

O.M.G.! ! ! I need a paper bag to breathe into at this point. My brave little trooper on the other hand has the traces of a little smile?! All I can say is, "THANK THE GOOD LORD ABOVE FOR GRANNY M.!"

Look at her would you?! She has made it through both sides with neither a flinch or frown nor any trace of a negative reaction. She is just fine. And PROUD. And HAPPY. And ADORABLE. And growing up. Sniff.

All done!

(Sorry about the bad last shot. It was the best I could do from the floor...)

Dad a.k.a. Grampa, Head Mule, Big Kahuna, The Boss, Sir

You all know what a somber, stoic, unemotional, steadfast girl I am so there is no need for me to change my habits and get all mushy in this post. You all believe every word I say right? I would never, ever shed a public tear. I am a picture of control at all times... Therefore I have chosen to answer many questions from freinds about where several of my personality traits come from with pictures and non-dramatic, aloof captions in order to spare anyone from over-the-top sentiment and unneccessary tears. I feel this is the least I could do.

This is my dad. "Hi Dad."

He's camera shy.

See what I mean?

He has a great imagination.

He's a picture of emotional control.

(He's barely holding it together looking at a sketch we gave them of his other daughter, Montana. See... look what we did to his poor wife. That's not a smile.)

When it comes to emotional control, I'm just like him!

Don't you agree friends?

He really likes long family outings that last 2 hours past lunch and his nap time in the cold, misty wind.

He loves to broaden his horizons while traveling with young kids.

Cool, calm...relaxed.

See any resemblance yet? We're practically twins!

He is a patient teacher...

who shows by gentle example.

He lives for great surprises!!

(See earlier "Thanks Grampa & Granny M. for the best day of my life!" post.)

He LOVES his spouse.

That's my beautiful step-mom, M.A.

He loves me. And I love him.

And we're one big happ, happ, HAPPY family!