Question Answered

I've gotten emails asking about how I feel towards certain things that are going on in the world today.  I tend not to express my feelings towards political and worldly matters because I often see things in a Gray area.  I'm very open-minded so things aren't so black and white to me.  However, I do feel strongly about some things.  To answer a recent question:

Amy, I enjoy seeing your pics and reading about your "crazy" life.  I wanted to pick your brain for a minute.  I was wondering how you felt about the attack on Libya.  I know you're a military wife so I was wondering where you sit on the fence.

Thanks,
Kim

Well, Kim, I had to explain it to my 9 year old son yesterday as to how I feel.  He, of course, was extremely worried when he heard the words "bomb" and "war."  He looked at me and said "Mommy, maybe we should just let them do their thing and stay out of it."  And here is the best way I could respond:

I asked him "If you were walking down the street and saw another kid kicking a puppy and the puppy laid there helplessly just taking the kicks.  And each kick could kill the puppy.  Would you just sit there and let him kill the puppy?"  To which he replied "No way! I would stop him!"  That's when I said to him that we as humans have the obligation to help and protect those who cannot do it themselves.  Those who are stronger should always stand up for those who cannot defend or protect themselves. 

 Sometimes lives are lost in the process and it's incredibly sad.  Those who sign up for our military sign up for heroism.  As soon as they sign those papers they grant themselves that title - a hero. That's how I see it in my eyes anyway.  And, yes, I am a military wife.  My husband spent quite some time overseas.  My dad was in the military and is a vietnam veteran.  My grandfather served in the Navy and was a WWII veteran.  I walk with heroes and I thank God for them every single day.  I thank each and every person in the military because of them I can wear what I want and say what I want without pursecution.  We have our freedom from these very military men and women.  Unfortunately, freedom doesn't come free. 

World Peace is a wonderful idea.  Yes, we would all love that, but it is a naive idea.  There's just no way in today's world that we can do that so we have to just do the best we can.

How We Do It

We had Mitch's birthday party at home this past weekend.  As a birthday celebration I offered him a choice between a party or taking the money that would be spent on a party and take him shopping.  He decided to go in between - smart boy!  He wanted a small party at home with a home-made cake.  The leftover money would be put towards something he wants.  It was a small party, but fun.  We all had a blast playing kickball in the backyard.

I got an email asking what I do for fun in the sticks. Hehehe It was a funny email from a reader in the north wondering how in the world we could have fun down here with so little to do.

Thanks for the email, Elizabeth!

This is how we do it in the south:

We play in the dirt. Often we make mud burgers with large Magnolia leaves.

We go out in the boat.  Sometimes just to ride and sometimes to fish.

We go to the golf course and play around with putters and watch the tadpoles in the small ponds.

I have a sneaky idea that what we do here in the south isn't too much different than in the north.  However, back in the day I'm sure we could have been a sight to see growing up.  I'm old enough to remember not having a computer or video games. There was no such thing.  We had to be creative.  And since my older brother was a mechanic always working on cars we had extra car parts like say ummmm Car Hoods.  We would tie them to the back of the car and ride on them.  Good times...

My Crazy Morning

I actually went to Wally World this morning after staying away from that crazy place for weeks.  I spent two hours perusing the aisles getting stuff for my son's birthday party tomorrow.  I had my two smallest ones with me and for once they were behaving.  I got up to the checkout and placed all of my items on the belt and got halfway through checking out when they overhead speaker boomed "Code Blue."

I know what Code Blue means...It means Get The Hell Out.

The cashier rushed me out of the store and I still had some bags of stuff in my buggy that I hadn't paid for yet.  People were running out to their cars and freaking out.  I kept trying to ask the employees what I should do with my bags because I hadn't paid for them.  They just kept repeating "You need to get out of the building."  Ok...I got it already.

So, I stood in the parking lot for a few minutes trying to figure out what to do.  I couldn't take the stuff back in and I wasn't going to take it home without paying for it.  If I leave it out in the parking lot someone else will probably steal it.  And to top it all off the place may blow up at any minute - doubtful, but possible.

Wanna know what I did?

I left that buggy sitting right in the parking lot filled with V8 Splash, toilet paper and potato chips.  I got my babies in our vehicle and left.

I once again march in the "Stay Away From Walmart" parade. 

Happy Anniversary To The Man I Love!

Four years ago I married the man I love with all my heart.  He is an amazing husband and father.  I couldn't ask for anything more in my life and I thank God everyday he's by my side.

I love you so much, baby!

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”
Judy Garland

On Our Honeymoon

 

I love thee,

I love but thee

With a love that shall not die

 Till the sun grows cold, And the stars grow old...

Happy Birthday Mitch!

Nine years ago today I had a 7 lb 9 oz baby boy.  He has grown to be a wonderful and smart boy who is an awesome big brother to his baby sister and brother.

Happy Birthday Mitch!

We love you so much!

They Call Me...

the bug lady.  Yes, I know it doesn't seem like a very nice name, but I like it.  I'm weird like that.  All the kids in the neighborhood come running to me when they find a creepy crawler.  I hear "Miss Amy what is this thing right here?  I think it might be poisonous."  or "I think it might be a new species!"

I get great joy out of telling the kids exactly what kind of bug they've found.  Maybe I should get my Master's in Entomology...

There's Something In The Air

And it smells a little like Spring!  Ahhhh...I've got pretty little flowers and green shoots popping up all over my yard.  I'm thinking it's getting mighty close to planting time.  I'll be planting my herbs this week.  I start them indoors and move them to the back porch when it gets warm enough. 

My Little Man will be 9 years old in a couple of weeks!

My Valentine's Day present finally came in yesterday!  My hubby got me a KitchenAid Pro 500 Stand Mixer.  I'm a happy, happy girl!  And I'm sure you can guess what I've been doing all night...Baking like Betty, baby! And you know it HAD to be red...I likes me some red!

A Mystery

Just a quick post on a mystery we have in our house.  We always have them, but this one is pretty funny.  I make it no secret that I love wine.  I like it with my dinner and I love to cook with it so my fridge has some stashed in the back.  I also have these adorable little wine stoppers that I got on clearance years ago that I use.  I know you're saying "Ok, get onto the mystery already."  Today I needed some red wine for a recipe and instead of popping open a new bottle I rummaged around in the fridge for one that I had already opened.  I found one, but my cute cork wasn't in it.  Someone had removed it and replaced it with a....


wait for it........

mushroom!  It was all shriveled up.  Hehehe  No one is fessing up.  Madison and Conner can't reach it so that leaves Wesley and Mitch.  They're both jokesters so both are capable. 

Be Careful What You Say

Madison is on an "ask a million questions" kick.  Every little thing on Earth brings about a slew of questions and sometimes I just don't know how to answer them in a way that she can understand.  Just recently I was cleaning some grapes to give her.  She was becoming impatient and asked why I was cleaning them.  I told her that I cleaned them so she wouldn't get sick and this is how the conversation went:

Madison:  "What's sick for?"
Me:  "That's when you don't feel good and run a fever."
Madison:  "Why would grapes make me sick?"
Me:  "Because sometimes people don't wash them properly."
Madison:  "What's properly for?"
Me:  "That means they don't do it like they should."
Madison:  "Why don't they do it like they should?"
Me:  "Because sometimes they just can't."
Madison:  "Does the grapes have bugs?"
Me:  "Sometimes if they aren't washed in the right water they get little tiny bugs on them that can make you sick.  That's why mommy always washes them."
Madison:  "What kind of water do they use?"
Me:  "Contaminated water."
Madison:  "What's contaminated for?"

*By this time I was growing antsy and said something I shouldn't have*

Me:  "They use poopie water."

That seemed good enough an answer for her and she didn't ask anymore questions. (Adding that now she has to watch me wash everything so she knows I did.)  We went to Kroger the other day and as I was grabbing some apples she blurts out really loud "Did they wash these in poopie water too?"  And to my dismay a Kroger employee was right next to us putting out some bananas.  He gave me the most awful look.  And there was no way I could explain it to him....

Happy Birthday Will!

I've posted before about my nephew that passed away last June.  Today he would have been 16 years old.  So this post today is to wish him a Happy Birthday. 

Happy Birthday, buddy!  Uncle Wesley, Aunt Amy, Mitch, Madison and Conner loves and misses you!  Until we meet again we will think of you each day.