Monday Memories... "Old Yeller"

 
Somewhere along the way I became a yeller.  I am not proud of it.  My kids remind me constantly "Mom, we can hear you.  You don't have to yell".
Shortly after we moved into our home we began to put in our yard.  I remember the day that we were leveling the back yard to get it ready for sod.  Jason was in the bobcat, moving dirt from the front yard to the backyard.  Our two oldest boys were running around the front yard, getting in the way helping, and I was in the house with the babies.  I stepped out onto the deck and I could hear what sounded like a man yelling at what I assumed were his kids.  It sounded like it was coming from the cul-de-sac behind us.  I could barely hear him over the noise of the bobcat and so I walked farther onto the deck and listened again...  Yep, there was definitely yelling going on and I was pretty sure it was coming from the corner house across the street behind us.  I was elated...a fellow yeller!!  I listened some more and could barely make out what he was saying...but it definitely was some serious yelling.  I ran to the front yard and excitedly signaled for Jason to stop the bobcat so he could hear me.

Jason:  What?
Me:  **excitedly**  There is a guy in the cul-de-sac behind us yelling at his kids. 
Jason: Really, what is he saying?
Me:  I repeated a few of the choice phrases I was able to understand.
Jason:  That was ME, yelling at your son, he threw a dirt clod at my head and ran off laughing.

echo  noun, 1) a series of reflected sound waves that repeat as they bounce back from an object, repeating the sound  verb, 2) to reverberate, to reflect a sound back

Reflect. Revere. Remember.

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Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends --John 15:13

Ten years ago Ethan was 19 months old.  I am shocked at some of the things he can remember from such an early age.  September 11, 2001 is not one of them and part of me is grateful for that.  That day is never far from my thoughts and it still brings me to tears.  Ethan watched a program on one of the kids channels about 9/11.  Afterwards he asked me, "why did they do that?".  I began to answer and along with my words came tears.  Hannah then asked, "why is mom crying?".  Ethan responded with an answer and understanding that ages him beyond his years..."Because she loves Dad".

love  noun, 1) a very strong warm feeling or deep concern for someone, commitment 2) darling, sweetheart, verb, 3) to feel passion, or a strong affection for someone or something

To brush or not to brush...

My boys are going on a scout campout this weekend.  I ran to the store to pick up a few things that they would need, or so I thought...

As I was grabbing toothpaste off the shelf I heard this conversation going on behind me...

Ethan:  She is getting toothpaste.
Brian:  I won't use it, will you?
Ethan:  No, I never brush my teeth when I am camping.
Brian:  Should we tell her so she doesn't waste money.
Ethan:  No way!! She'll be madder that we don't brush our teeth than about the money.

cavity  noun, 1) a hollow place or a hole 2) a hole in the tooth caused by decay

Sunday's Serenity

happy  adjective, content, delighted or pleased

Sheesh, Mom!

I walked into the kitchen and found this on the table...

Me:  What is that?

Josh:  Um, I don't know.  Maybe it's from the blue vacuum downstairs.

Me:  What did you do to my vacuum?

Josh:  Nothing.

Me:  How do you know this is from the blue vacuum?

Josh:  Sheesh, it was a guess, mom.

vacuum  noun, 1) the absolute absence of matter  2) an appliance used to rid carpets of dust and litter  3) a kind of bottle that keeps liquid hot or cold, such as a thermos 

A rose by any other name...

I was correcting Brian's vocabulary assignment the other day and came across this...

4. You know I feel uneasy because

a. I smile all the time
b. I stand up straight
c. my clothes are new
d. my hands are shaking

Brian had marked "c" for his answer.  I asked him to explain what he thought that the word, uneasy, meant. He told me that wearing new clothes was uncomfortable and definitely made him uneasy.  I asked him if one of the other answers would be a better match and he quickly responded..."a".  He then showed me how he would smile to try and hide that he felt uneasy.  Once again I asked if another answer would be a better match.  His reply..."well it must be "b" then because my hands do NOT shake when I am uneasy".

uneasy  adjective, a little afraid, worried, uncomfortable

Letters from the Chief

If you need parts for any of your Rescues, please get with your Captain's, BC's and the shops to assist you.  I appreciate the innovation, but please do not remove, borrow, scavenge, salvage, appropriate, acquire, or take any parts from the old Rescue.  Fleet services are going to sell this apparatus and need to have all components in place and intact.  I think the new owner would like to have functioning or actual doors, door locks, lights, windows, etc... with their new/used Rescue.
Thanks for your help.


intact  adj. unimpaired or uninjured; kept or left whole

Sunday's Serenity

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

--Oscar Wilde

star  noun, 1) a point of light that can be seen in the sky at night 2) a five-pointed shape, verb, 3) to stand out in a positive way, to be outstanding

Fuel and Fireworks

The other day we stopped at the gas station to get gas.  The kids were completely engrossed in the movie they were watching and as soon as Jason turned off the van the traditional moaning and groaning began.  Jason got out to pump gas while I stayed in the van with the kids. 

Kids:  I wanna watch the movie.
Me:  When dad is done you can.
Kids:  How long?
Me:  A few minutes.
Kids: **loud protesting**
Hannah:  Please turn on the van.
Me:  Do you want to blow dad up?
Hannah:  **considering my question**  Would there be fireworks?  I say yes, if there would be fireworks.
Me:  **speechless**

gas  noun, 1) a state of matter in which a substance like air is capable of infinitely expanding, has no fixed form or volume and takes the shape of its container  2) the short word for gasoline

OCD 101

Today, during Math, I asked Hannah to put 8 cubes in the center of the circle...

Me:  silence...

Hannah:  *grinning*  It bugs you, doesn't it?  

bug  noun 1) an insect that drinks juices from plants or animals  2) an error in data
bugged, bugging  verb  1) to eavesdrop electronically  2) [Slang] to annoy, anger, etc.