I Feel My Mother Smirking

Today, Heather tagged me in a post on Facebook and I promptly started getting “someone likes a post you were tagged in” notices on my phone which I had to ignore because I was already doing my “one thing.”  I’m thinking… “OK, WHAT in the world did Heather do now?” 😉  I don’t get on FB often and while I was compelled to THINK about doing it after this series… I did not.  So, I had no idea what Heather dragged me into 😉 …

Until later, when I randomly read her blog… and I cried…

(obviously, I owe an apology for assuming Heather dragged me into something I didn’t want to be dragged into 🙂 )

And then I felt my own mother smirking at me because many of the things Heather said, my own mother taught me… [BUT, HEATHER…. I LEARNED THEM THE FIRST TIME!  (ok, maybe the 2nd 😉 )].   Over the years, I took some of my own mother’s advice and “tweaked” them, or “learned a lesson the hard way [see? that one is even a blog category!],” made lists and added to them.  [many people ask me for my camping or birthday LISTS ;-)] This was WAY BEFORE KIDS… some even before marriage… You name it, I probably have a list for it!

…AND I STILL HAVE THEM!  These lists are surely what Heather is referring to in her blog, and clearly, she does not own a washer and dryer or that would have been near the top of her soapbox 😉

And while I sit here and smirk at Heather for FINALLY realizing what the heck I was talking about, I’m watching Ashley and William (because I’m ASSUMING Courtney has learned, while living in China, through “baptism by fire”), and thinking, “they probably still live in an oblivious state of ignorance” but after Heather’s HUGE HEARTWARMING COMPLIMENT [http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/heather/2015/05/31/459/]  there is hope that maybe I’m not completely “off my rocker” with all my crazy reminders.

And I’m totally laughing as well, because, while Heather may not realize it… she needs to thank her grandmothers, and aunts, and great-aunts… and ‘friends of her parents that have know her since before she was born”… Often, I’d get ideas from THEM on “things SOMEONE should remember to do.”

…and herself!

Many of my crazy reminders were created because one of my kids would do something that needed cleaning up… and I should remind myself every now & then, to go see if that child… left stuff like fish tank supplies on the floor where they calcified………..

In the fashion of actually STEALING Heather’s blog title: “Mothers. Don’t Take Them for Granted”

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Jeff and Shelbi Bever

[pics incl] Jeff visited with his cousin Christi’s daughter:  Shelbi.  I ORDERED them to take pictures!

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Aunt Mousie’s Spider Poem

FIRST, go read yesterday’s post about the spider: http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2015/05/27/the-nosy-spider/

THEN, read this:

Dear Theresa,

You never know when what you say
Could inspire a poem, which it did today.
I have altered your words just a bit.
So here we go, this is it….

“Leave it alone,” Ashley said
(The spider was on the ceiling above her head).
“It’s not bothering us so let it alone
In a few minutes it will be gone.”

Mom, in her wisdom, quick to reply,
Said, “Maybe we want the spider to die,
But if Courtney was here
She would properly scream
And the poor startled spider
Would just leave the scene.”

That is silly, but I just couldn’t resist. Hope it gives you a laugh.
I think about you often and hope you are feeling better everyday.

Love to all,
“Aunt Mousie

It’s not often that ya’ll send me poems and this one made our day! Still laughing! THANKS!

This totally makes me think of our Dr. Seuss moments:  http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/12/28/its-not-a-dr-seuss-word/

One Year Ago:  http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2014/05/28/not-killer-moths/

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A Photo That Speaks So Much

[pics incl] A couple of weeks ago, I took this photo of our kitchen remodel, in progress. This photo tells a story that many of you may not realize. With Father’s Day approaching, I feel like sharing how our hearts ache and yet, that cannot compare to how our dear friends must feel.

This picture shows how William spent the day helping Jeff and John layout the flooring tiles. William doesn’t often have the experience of “all males and no females.” Our kids LOVE to spend time with the Lambrecht’s and this photo documents William “soaking up the attention.” This photo also documents the poignancy of who is missing. This is most certainly a day that Dalton might have chosen come down here and hang out with the guys. While usually our family has no problem speaking & crying & laughing about Dalton; this day… we could not. While we did speak about Dalton, none of us could talk about what it means to us that John & Roni continue to treat all of us (especially the kids) with the same heart that they have always shown. How difficult it must be for them to relive “this age” with William and stand here and watch Ashley prepare for graduation.

I have always taken photos to document stuff and I always TRY to take pictures when we are with other people. I hope that I am always able to do these things! But now, I take photos of mundane, boring, daily stuff… and I do this, because of Dalton’s death. I do this because of all the times over the years that we brought Dalton home from school… we have no pictures of him with any of us.

I took this picture to document the work on the kitchen. I took this picture to capture William helping out, and to document, the 6th TEST PAINT Jeff is putting on the wall! 🙂

I took this picture knowing that it would probably show us all, the gaping hole in our hearts (and I mean anyone that misses Dalton’s daily presence). But I also know that it helps me appreciate the time we had with Dalton. As I look at this picture, it shows so much more than a kitchen remodel, it shows families and friends working to make memories.

What you cannot see, is Dalton here with us.

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The Nosy Spider

[pics incl] “Leave it alone,” Ashley said (when this spider was on the ceiling above her head by fireplace) “it’s not bothering us, we shouldn’t bother it,” she said…… I am at the kitchen counter (where the sink will be)!!! I miss Courtney; she would have properly screamed AND made someone remove the spider from the living room ceiling…. before it became all nosy and had to come in the kitchen to see what I am doing!!!  As William pointed out, it’s bothering us now!  Fortunately, after several minutes of inspecting the cabinetry (found a missed nail) and tools, it climbed back onto the level and I just took it outside… I’m sure it’s back in the house by now since we leave the doors open but FOR NOW, it’s NOT in the middle of my stuff.

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OOOPS, there's a missed nail!

OOOPS, there’s a missed nail!

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Abby’s New Haircut

[pics incl] Abby has a new haircut, so several of us gathered in the driveway to admire it! It’s awesome that they all just mind me, and pose and smile!  For the record, Abby and William are still the same height (with a visual inspection by Laurie and me)!

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Theron and Traimee Visit 05/25/15

[pics incl]  There was a knock at the door… and no one was there!??!  That’s because they were in the garage!  Theron and Traimee Doig stopped by and had to hang out for a while because it started hailing… and because I insisted on photos 😉

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Burleigh Visits 05/25/15

[pics incl]  I haven’t even finished downloading all the pictures from Ashley’s senior honors night and Burleigh showed up with a gift, from him and Patty!  [http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2015/05/22/ashleys-senior-honors-graduation-ceremony-052115/]

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Exploding Hail

[pics incl] Jeff decided to cook on the grill, and literally 1 second later, the sky darkened, then opened up and it started hailing! Once the hail started hitting the hot grill, it exploded into vapor… kinda cool to watch.  A few minutes later, the sky was clearing again?!?

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Ashley’s Senior Honors (graduation) Ceremony 05/21/15

[pics incl]  It’s official, Ashley is done with high school.  David Slack joined William, Jeff and I to watch Ashley get her AP Scholar with Distinction award. She had already been notified: http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2015/04/23/ashley-graduate-with-honors/

Here is a link to the AP score rankings: https://apscore.collegeboard.org/scores/ap-awards/ap-scholar-awards I hope I don’t jinx her by mentioning that she has ALREADY taken enough tests to possibly be in the running for both State and National honors (scores post over this summer). Even if she receives no other honors awards, we are very impressed and proud of her dedication!

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The Missing Step-stool

[pics incl] A few days ago, I spent about an hour looking all over for our collapsible step-stool; including in the garage and camper. I never found it so I couldn’t put away some things that goes “way up there.” Of course, I promptly forgot all about either task 😉

A couple of days later, Burleigh and I were walking back from his house, when he found the step-stool!?!?!

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Ashley’s Art 12/06/14

[pics incl]  I have no idea 😉  I was downloading pictures from my camera SD card and this photo of Ashley and her art, with Heather photo bombing was on it!  Enjoy!

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Who’s Fortune?

[pics incl] Ashley and I ordered some Chinese food for lunch but did not eat it all. So Jeff ate my leftovers and brought me “his fortune cookie.” I think not! (Technically, Ashley might have a claim here too 😉 )

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Dinner with Lambrecht’s 05/16/15

[pics incl] William took a photo for us, when we went out for dinner. Of course, all the guys took showers beforehand, after working on the kitchen tile all day. Whew… Roni and I were glad for that! ;-P

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It Started with a Snack

[pics incl] Ashley came running into my room hollering “Just so you know, it’s 82% John’s fault, 15% William’s and 3% mine!”

“What?!”

“You can’t tell by my shirt?” “What’s wrong with your shirt?” “OH, you can’t tell because there are no dry spots on the front, so it just looks darker blue!”

… she is dripping wet, except for this spot on her shoulder/back. 🙂

“I was fixing a little bitty container of oill/vinegar in the pantry… And he scared me and grabbed me and I threw it all over the pantry! So, I grabbed a broom and chased him and beat him with the broom, all the way outside.

But then John kept yelling for William to spray me with the hose he was using to clean tools, (NOTE: it’s abt 47) but he was kidding, but he kept saying it. So, William did! So I chased HIM and beat him with a broom.”

[I see… obviously, she has come running into my room full throttle to avoid further retaliation by the guys]!

“Oh… PLEASE tell me someone has pictures of this?!” “Nope, dad ran an errand… SO REALLY… it’s ALL his fault… he left us alone!”

Apparently John snuck up and scared Jeff in pantry later.

I really hope someone (Ashley) cleaned up all that oil oil & vinegar that was sprayed all over pantry!!!

John must not realize “our rule: Don’t Get Mad, Get Even.”

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