Is anyone else happy to see John Carter, MD back at County General??  Yes, ER is still on the air, people!  Man. 

I was one of those people who said they'd stop watching ER after they killed off Dr. Greene with his brain tumor..."You set the tone, Carter..." *sniff sniff*  (To this day, I can't hear that ukulele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and not think of Dr. Greene and his last moments in Hawaii with Dr. Corday, Rachel and Ella by his side.)  But I still came back.  And then when Dr. Carter had the nerve to decide he needed to go gallivanting off in Africa (How dare he??!)..."You set the tone, Morris..." well, then I swore it off permanently.  But for some reason, I've never been able to free myself from my ER need.  And so, since that first show in 1994, I've stuck by my show.  Sometimes it's been like watching a train wreck.  Some seasons have been really just plain bad, but yet, I kept watching.  Now, I am down to my last few episodes EVER and if they kill my Carter, well...It would just be wrong and I don't know what I'd do!  The better find my Carter a kidney, that's all I'm sayin'. 

Emma started softball this week.  It's something she's never tried before, but I'm glad she was willing to give it a go.  It looks like it will be fun, but also a bit of a "time sucker". 

Unbelievably, Jacob has had minimal homework this week, so the stress in our home has been reduced to a very tolerable level.  The "question of the week" comes from Jacob..."What does http stand for?"...What??...

That's not something I've ever thought about personally...but since Google is my friend, we looked it up for him.  I mean, what kid out there is asking their mother this kind of question?  I expect questions like, what is for dinner, or why do I have to do my homework, or what is puberty, but computer information questions, not so much.  But because I love my kid and I enjoy indulging his need to ask questions, I find the answers!

HAPPY FRIDAY! And we all know what that means....It's TIME for the FRIDAY DANCE!!  And just so all my friends can participate in the weekly ritual I like to call "the Friday dance", I have included a sample. This is only half the dance though, the Friday dance is really more of a cross between the cabbage patch and the running man.  No, don't try to get a visual.  Just do it.  You'll feel like a total dork, but I promise you will laugh and who doesn't need to do that????

 

 

"Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment."  ~Ira Gassen

I have sat down here at the computer about 3 different times in the last week to write something.  For one reason or another, I haven't.  Surely it isn't for lack of things to say.  That, folks, is pretty much a non-problem for me!  I'm the kid who got an "N" in conduct on her report card every 9 weeks and written beside that in flowery teachery writing were the words "Talks Too Much."  You get my drift.  I guess I feel like I don't have anything interesting to write about.  Nothing really funny.  I think I feel like I have to be funny.  Basically, life is pretty un-funny right now.  However, I make it a policy to try to find something to laugh about every day.  It's good for your health, you know.  So, here's the un-funny what's what around here...

Granny's party was a HUGE success!  We totally pulled it off.  Thanks to all the helping hands!  My SIL, Amy (who was sick as a dog and pretty much a 'medicine head' the whole time) put together a beautifully decorated room and bought food, which my SIL, Lisa, so skillfully plated and organized on the tables.  My mom and I felt like we ran around just doing whatever to meet those two things in the middle.  Meanwhile, my two brothers and my hubby did the man things like pushing around chairs and tables and running errands and making sure the kids didn't destroy stuff.  The kids were pretty much bored, but hey...Amy also had a some lovely friends who helped that night who made it possible for us to sit back and enjoy the party--Doug, Nancy, Cindy and Robin.  An incredible blessing.  The look on Granny Hobbs's face was SO priceless.  She cried.  It was so worth it. She greeted everyone, people ate, there was music by our friend, Kenny (who she loves) and by my younger brother (who she also loves, duh).  After all that was done, my dad got up to say a few words...well, scratch that, my dad never just says a 'few words'.  He shared about how much his mama means to him and how she is the most incredible woman in the world and how much he loves her.  I'm not going to lie, it gave me a tear.  After it was all said and done, I asked Granny Hobbs, "Are you mad at us?"  She said, "Naaaaah.  But your Daddy talks too much." (Hmm, something about the apple falling from the tree comes to mind here??) Yes, he does literally talk too much, but in this case, her meaning was more along the lines of, "your Daddy talked too much about ME."  She's not one who likes being made over.  But when you get to celebrate turning 90, that deserves getting to be doted on and bragged about. Doncha think?  Especially when, as we later found out, Granny Hobbs had NEVER had a birthday party.  I mean, dang.  You shouldn't have to wait till your 90.  It was a great evening.

Jacob also celebrated his 14th birthday that weekend.  He got some new roller blades.  His old ones were in sad shape...they were too small and the wheels were all wonky. So he was pretty stoked and spent the weekend roller blading...especially while he was having to wait on us cleaning/decorating the church for the party.  Emma took her blades too and so they had some fun.  I can't believe my boy is 14.  It blows me away.  Coolest. Kid. Ever.  Well one of the two, anyway. ;-)

Other than all that, things are pretty status quo around here...eat, sleep, school, homework, laundry, etc, etc.  Oh and then there's that whole high school thing looming out there as well.  We have some big decisions to make here shortly regarding public vs. home education for Jacob.  We are praying, gathering info and weighing everything.  Why is it such an overwhelming decision?  I mean, it only affects the rest of my kid's life.  It will work out.  It always does.

 

 

I love Valentine's Day.  For a lot of reasons...chocolate, lots of RED stuff (my favorite color!), flowers, balloons, etc, etc.  But the main reason I love Valentine's Day is that it is the day that my sweetheart boy Jacob was born!  February 14, 1995, 12:46 PM.  It was an amazing day and Valentine's Day has never been the same since.  My life changed that day in ways I never could have imagined.  And I wouldn't change a thing. Jacob makes me be a better person and he blesses the lives of everyone he meets.

He is such an amazing kid and he makes me so proud every day.  He is brave.  He is kind.  He is incredibly smart and funny.  Keep being your wonderful self.  You are a gift.  I love you.

 

HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY, JACOB!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~Elizabeth Stone

 

"There aren't enough days in the weekend."  ~Rod Schmidt

 

 

Have I told y'all how much I love Friday?  Love love love it.  Friday is my most favorite day of the week.  Mainly because it means we aren't going to have to do the crazy-homework-for-3-hours thing on Friday night.  Instead, we get to relax and I get to see a smile on my little boy's face.  My not-so-little boy.  Who will be 14 in exactly 8 days. If you do the math (I generally choose NOT to, but in this case I can make an exception) you will notice that 8 days from now is Valentine's Day.  My sweet boy was born on Valentine's Day and I love that.  Such a great holiday to have a birthday, doncha think? 

My grandma turned 90 years old this week.  We all call her Granny Hobbs--and when I say "all", I mean many people who are not her grandchildren call her Granny as well.  She's a trip and she'd just as soon tell you off as look at you. I'm not kidding.  Please do not, I repeat, do not, try to discuss anything of a political nature with her.  OH, and do not send her cut flowers either.  Just don't.  She doesn't like to watch them die.  Send her a plant instead.  It's just best to know to avoid these things ahead of time.  Fact is, she's 90 years old and she can, and WILL, say whatever the heck she wants to.  And, I think that should be allowed.  She still drives (daytime only), lives independently, shops regularly at thrift shops and Wal-Mart, goes to the beauty shop once a week for her "helmet hair" (contact me if you need further explanation of this phenomenon), and cares for her various and sundry plants and cats.  She loves to watch her "stories"...All My Children is her fave.  As of last summer, she was still working at a little beach shop owned by her friend Juanita.  Juanita (pronounced Wan-ee-ter), who is almost as old as Granny Hobbs, called her this week to wish her a happy birthday and to ask her if she was going to work at the beach shop again this summer.  Granny Hobbs said, "If I'm able."  Keep in mind she's been saying for several years, "I don't think I'll work at the shop next summer."  She is extremely generous and never asks for anything.  In fact, you just might hack her off if you do something for her.  She is fiercely independent.  She always has some candy on hand in her purse to give any kids that she might come in contact with.  Growing up as the only granddaughter in the family, I was incredibly spoiled by her.  My brothers can attest to that.  Now she spoils all the grandkids and loves every minute of it.  She'd spend her last penny on something for them...or any of us, for that matter, if we needed it.   She doesn't talk about the past too much...it's pretty taboo...but what I gather is the following:  She was one of 9 children in a poor family.  She married my grandfather, had his baby, and watched him get shipped overseas never to return.  He was just 19 years old.  As a 22ish widow, she worked very hard, raised my Daddy on her own, and did a pretty fine job, I'd like to say.  She never remarried, though there were some boyfriends in there somewhere, or so I'm told.    Together with my parents and my sisters-in-law, we are putting together a surprise 90th birthday party for Granny Hobbs next weekend.  She will be angry with us.  Probably really angry.  But, oh well.  I'm pretty sure she will love it and hate it all at the same time.  It's a risk we are willing to take.  It's the least we can do.