Aaaaaaahhhh....spring!

Rain at The Glen in this volume can only mean SPRING!!


I have to be honest, my creative juices are GONE! The Bloggo has been sadly neglected. My kids are burnt out on homework, tests and projects. Kids start their spring break TODAY and we are going to PLAY and relax for the next ten days. Hanging out with my five favorite kiddos is absolutely rejuvenating!
Have a GREAT weekend.

Theme Thursday - Signs

HAPPY

DAY!




More signs at Theme Thursday.

Jumping for joy

I spent many recesses as a little girl jump roping with my girlfriends. A large part of the fun were the chants/rhymes we sang as we jumped. It was fun but also very competitive. I love to watch my girls jump rope with their friends and listen to both the old and new jumping rhymes that they sing.
The rhyme I liked the most? Well, it was most certainly one that my mother would have disapproved of and if old curmudgeonly Mrs. Stormont would have heard? Oh my...we most certainly would have been sent to the principal for "cracks."

Miss Susie Had A Steamboat

Miss Susie had a steamboat,
the steamboat had a bell
Miss Susie went to heaven,
the steamboat went to-
HELLO, operator,
please give me number nine
and if you disconnect me,
I'll kick you from-
BEHIND the 'frigerator
there was a piece of glass,
Miss Susie fell upon it
and broke her little-
ASK me no more questions,
I'll tell you no more lies,
Miss Susie's in the kitchen,
Making her mud pies.

Guess what? My girls know a lot of jump rope chants but I haven't taught them this one!

Google image

In the still of the night...

...each night I walk through "the dormitory" before I go to bed. I have a ritual I started back when Nate was a little guy, I go and look in on each of the kids,...their peaceful faces deep in sleep...then, when I know they are warm and cozy...I can go to bed in peace. The day might have been full of stress and many other negative happenings that deflate the spirit but tomorrow we can start afresh and I am grateful for that. I am thankful for these people in my life...and for their dad who leads our family with love for God and each of us.

New beginnings...

Toasty TV watching.

My kids talk about Snuggies. Do you know what they are? A body length blanket with sleeves that are made of soft fleece. The "Snuggie" brand of sleeved blankets has become a pop culture phenomenon. My kids are walking commercials for Snuggie's. I am not impressed. We have LOTS of blankets at The Glen. All kinds, afghans, fleece, wool...plenty. The kids kept saying, "Mom, you should buy a Snuggie they are AWESOME, you will LOVE it." Then, being a COMPLETE sucker I saw a promotional Snuggie for Breast Cancer Awareness. I bought it and brought it home. I was praised HIGHLY by my wonderful children.

The PINK Snuggie has been in the house for FIVE days. I have not used it. It appears the kids have established a WAITING list to use it!

CHUMPS!!

Shopping Chaueffeur and Paparazzi

A shopping excursion for a new pair of sneakers turned into a full afternoon "SHOP till you DROP" session. The girls wanted free license to try on ANYTHING they wanted without Mommy saying..."that is too old for you, too skimpy or too much money!" I have to admit it was fun watching my girls exclaim to each other "HOW CUTE!!!" or "OOOoooooo, that does NOT look good on you." I also loved it when they would look at the price tag and say "SIXTY NINE dollars?!?!?! For a pair of jeans? You have GOT to be kidding!" I simply drove the limo and then sat in the fitting rooms and watched the show.

Off to the dressing rooms with a stack of treasures to try on and model.





I figured since all I was doing was sittin' around I should take pictures!

We did buy a pair of sneakers!

Theme Thursday -Proceed at your own risk.

*As I turned out the lights on my way to bed last night...I surveyed the kitchen and it was looking splendid. Dishes away, counters cleared everything readied for school and work preparation in the morning. I worked hard to make sure we had cleaned up the days worth of mess that seven people (plus kid friends) are bound to make.


THEN...when the alarm clock went off the kids trickled down from the dormitory looking sleepy but at least DRESSED and began their individual breakfast preparations. That hour before school looks like four Tazmanian Devils (Sam actually sleeps through this chaos) whirling around preparing breakfast, brushing hair, packing lunches, finding retainers and music instruments, books, papers, gym clothes and what have you. There was much banter and interaction and there were no "fisty puffs" this a.m. They all tend to do their own thing and it works.

THEN...as quickly as it begins...they are OUT the front door and a peaceful (yet sometimes eerie) silence descends upon the house.

THEN...ACK!! I look at my ONCE pleasantly tidy kitchen!!!





I know their mother and they are NOT going to leave a mess like this TOMORROW!!!
Mommy don't play like that!!!!!


More breakfast musings at Theme Thursday. Go ahead, check them out...it will be fun.

* A post from the past.

Puttin' on a lil Irish today!

Here at the Glen we love to get our "Irish" on for St. Patrick's Day! We enjoy it for the party and feasting but also because it means that SPRING is just around the corner!

There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
the ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships are friendships,
and may they always be.



Anyone want to join us for some Shepherd's Pie?

I hope my pie this year is as good as last years!! We really look forward to that rich, yummy goodness!!!

Spring...I think it is coming!

We have been having a great deal of rain. But although the temps have gotten cooler there are NO complaints here! Along with our extreme amount of rain came two couples...a Mallard duck couple and our annual visit from George and Gertrude Goose. They are friendly and honk in welcome. They only stay a few days but this is the third year to have them visit. We enjoy them...I took these photos in a down pour.


Izzie Lizzie and Gizmo detest being wet so always find a delectable place to cozy up together.


This is our favorite goose...his name is Mr. Manners. Emma uses a rock and cracks corn for him. He waits patiently and always says thank you.

Don't do this...

Cell phones accidentally submerged in water is NOT a good idea! Hubbie offered to go and replace my phone. I REALLY like that guy!
Have a good weekend!

Theme Thursday - HATS!

I posted this about a year ago. I love the old Amy Grant song HATS. When we have families, jobs and homes to keep going we wear A LOT OF HATS! I'd like to have on a wide brimmed straw hat by the pool today!

Hats by Amy Grant

The sun comes up
The breakfast show
Can't you see me running
It's crazy don't you know?
The moon is high
I'm working through the night
Will somebody tell me
Where do all the hours go?
(I don't know.)
Well it don't stop
No, it's never gonna stop
Why do I have to wear so many things on my head?

HATS!
One day I'm a mother
One day I'm a lover
What am I supposed to do?
HATS!
Working for a livin'
All because I'm driven
To be the very best for you.

The water is hot
(So hot)
The phone don't stop
(Hello, good-bye)
So how do I manage
To hold on to my sanity
(I don't know, baby, I don't know)
The red dress on
Time for having fun
But can I really be
The girl you see in me?
The spirit is willing
But the flesh is weak
Why do I have to wear so many things on my head?

This may be a dream come true
This may be poetry in motion
This may be a dream come true
But when it all comes down
It's an awful lot to do.

HATS!

Check out some cool hats at THEME THURSDAY.

Wednesday? Already?

WHAT HAPPENED TO Monday and Tuesday!?!?!?!

A PERFECTLY REFRESHING vacation with friends was just what I needed to THROW OFF the winter blahs! The warm sun stayed with us the entire time "the girls" and I were out of town together. To spend unscheduled time doing the things we love best is PURE THERAPY! Can I say we did TOO much of everything but then when it is met with such GLEE and EXCITEMENT how can it EVER be too much? I was threatened with VIOLENCE at posting the bulk of the photos I took so have settled for two very generic ones for your viewing pleasure.
We decided early on that snow or NO snow we were going to visit our nail salon and buy flip flops!

We all have bargain shopping on our minds...and obviously did very well in the MANY stores we visited! I am afraid the clerks were often annoyed and maybe a tiny bit entertained at our boisterous comments and our digging in our purses for our additional 20% off coupons.

I feel as if I have not visited blog friends in a month! I am going to pop on my bloggy hat and get busy! Thank you for all the wonderful e-mails missing my presence in the bloggy world! It is SO endearing to me!

Skippin' town.

I am skipping town for a few days. I am giddy with anticipation. It is my annual trip with my four best friends. We meet up for some relaxation, some good eats, some great shopping and for sheer decompression from the busy lives of women who wear SO MANY hats. We leave the kiddos in the very capable hands of their Daddies!

A photograph from the 1970's of five, cold, silly girls.

Same group about thirty years later...we MAY be older but we STILL got it!

I love you girls! I cannot wait to SEE and HEAR and HANG with you for a few days! You ALL are such a blessing to me.

Catch up with the rest of blog-land next week! Make it a good one!