Mark - The Bird Whisper

One morning Mark got up early so he could put some water on the lawn before it reached 107 degrees. I was still in the house when Mark came in and said you have to come see this bird. He told me that he was "The Bird Whisper". I had to take my camera out for this one! I sat on the front porch in amazement. This bird was sitting on the wiring above our lawn and would fly down to take a bath and get refreshed. It was quite entertaining. He didn't care that Mark was only a few feet from him.



He sure seemed grateful to have a bath. He would fly back on the wire, flap his wings a little and come back down. One of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Mark - The Bird Whisper.

I can see the light

As many of you know (yes, the 2 or 3 of you that actually read my blog) I have been taking college classes to obtain my Bachelor's degree in Management. I feel like I have been going to college for the past 10 years. My family has to deal with many, many, many nights of me being cranky and I thank them for putting up with me. I can finally see the light at the end of the road. I have 2 semesters and I can graduate. I am taking 2 classes in the fall semester and 2 classes in the spring semester. I told Mark the other day that next summer I won't know what to do with myself. I won't have to rush home from work and go straight into doing homework.

We were at the movies the other night watching Orphan (wicked movie). The mother was playing the piano and I leaned over to Mark and said "When I get done with school, I want to learn how to play the piano." Not learning to play the piano has always been one of my biggest regrets. I have no idea why I want to learn, but I have always wanted to do it. I figure I have Trey that help me if I have trouble since he is musically gifted. Now, lets see if I actually go through with it. I am in my mid 30s, how easily will it be for me to pick something like that up?

In the meantime, be watching for my next episode, "Mark - the bird whisper".

Oh and speaking of movies, we saw The Ugly Truth tonight, funny movie, definitely NOT for kids!

Wordless Wednesday

Photography

Photography is one of my favorite hobbies. I love capturing different things, different people and of course my family (which they get tired of).

As I was reading my good friend's blog (I'm a faithful follower since she moved away and made me sad), I noticed she had a post about a blog give away for a camera lens. OH how I love a camera lens, it's all in the lens you know! So I went here to check it out. Hopefully I can win and expand my lens collection! Hey, JD, if I win, I will share with you!

The Sparkler Bombers

The boys discovered "sparkler bombs" this year for the 4th of July.

Mark made one and took it to a friends to make sure everything was safe before showing Trey. He came home and made another one without telling Trey what this thing would do. He told Trey to come outside because he made a flame thrower. Outside we go, I am standing far enough away because I know this thing is about to blow up. Trey doesn't understand why Mark is telling him to stand so far away.



Yes, that is a blow torch in Mark's hand.

So he lights the bomb and runs away. At first it looks like nothing is going to happen, just a sparkler. Sorry the picture is a little blurry, I was trying to take the picture and cover my ears at the same time.



Then BOOM, it blows up and makes a LOUD noise! I was trying to catch a picture of Trey's reaction.





Of course Mark had to show him how it was done and Trey made his own. Run, Trey, Run! (This time I had ear plugs in)



Forget about fireworks, they played with sparklers this year.

Quick Pictures

Yes, I have been away, but I will return.

For now, here are some pictures, and stories to follow soon.

Spring Concert

Trey had his last band concert for 7th grade last night. I can't believe he will be in 8th grade next year! Time sure flies.

We were getting loaded up to go to Trey's concert last night and had a mishap. Trey was getting into the back seat of my car and Mark was in the front passenger seat. Mark was already in but Trey has to arrange his feet in a certain way to get them in my back seat. (It's not that I have a little car, he just has big feet!) Mark shut his door and Trey starts screaming. Mark's first instinct was to open the door and Trey pulls back his hand very quickly. I look at Trey's hand and his fingers have been shut in the door, the damage was the middle and ring finger. Mark went inside and got an ice pack to put on Trey's hand. Mark was in a panic, he thought he had just broken the fingers of one of the star trumpet players. I don't know who I had to calm down more, Trey or Mark.

After surveying the damage we realized Trey had gotten lucky and nothing was broken. The door shut between his finger tip and his 2nd knuckle. Trey said at first he didn't know that his hand was shut in the door. I told him it was because his arm is so long it took the pain a minute to travel to his brain. He got a laugh out of that.

A few months ago he came out of his room from practicing and said if he ever broke his right hand he could still play the trumpet. He showed us that he could play with his left hand if he ever needed. Last night he thought was going to be one of those nights but by the time we got to the school he was better.

This morning I think he was back to normal, well as normal as can be for Trey. Mark felt really bad about the situation and I think Trey has forgiven him. It wasn't funny last night but to retell the story to my co-workers became funny.

Finally

I didn't think this semester was ever going to be done. As of yesterday the Spring 2009 semester is over! I have never been more happy to finish a class in all my life. Now I am done for a few weeks, then it's time for Summer semester.

Why oh why

I have a friend that posted about walking up and having a song in her head. How does this happen?? I woke up this morning with a song in my head and wondered why. It's "Oh Happy Day", you know the song from Sister Act 2. So it got me to thinking, why did I have this song on my mind, was it because I was happy to finally have my paper and presentation over, was it because I was going to hear some exciting news today, was it because I have a loving, wonderful husband, wonderful kid and a family and friends to be grateful for? I think it is all of the above!

OH HAPPY DAY!

Boys

Trey had casual pictures a few weeks ago. He is a t-shirt kind of guy and really doesn't have anything else but t-shirts. I was trying to find him something nice to wear for pictures. He decided that it didn't matter what he wore, it was just pictures. So, he picked out his pink Altus Motorsports shirt.

We got the pictures the other day. They aren't the best pictures he has taken, but I do have to say that he is handsome in whatever he wears.

Office Birthdays

I love it when people in our office have BIG birthdays! We have one turning 60 and one that is 40. I am the office prankster so you know I can't let them get off without something. I have been planning for a few months.

Jennifer knew that I had been planning Vicki's 60th birthday. She was hoping that I would forget all about her turning 40. Her birthday wasn't until Sunday so she thought she would get out of everyone making a big deal of her birthday.

I hope these women have a wonderful birthday, they both deserve it!

These are the victims, Jennifer and Vicki








Here are a few pictures of their offices:

School

The way my Strategic Management class is making me feel this semester:



I am enrolled in Strategic Management and Ethics & Organizations this semester. For some reason I am having a really hard time getting involved in Strategic Management. We have a midterm today (yes I should be studying instead of blogging) and I'm freaking out. I studied this weekend, studied last night and still don't feel that I'm prepared. The test is covering 7 chapters and is all essay questions. I am hoping it will be something I can half way remember and then I can BS the rest.

Wish me luck!

Hula Hoop

One of the girls at work bought a weighted hula hoop. A bunch of us tried it and though what the heck we would order too. We got our order together for Custom Hoops. Our hoops arrived Friday afternoon. It says you can hoop for 10 minutes a day and lose inches off your waist, it can't hurt to try, right?

I hooped a bit on Friday evening and then for a while on Saturday. I started getting pretty sore on Saturday evening. As I was getting ready for bed, I noticed I had bruises around my waist and on my legs where the hoop had fallen.

It's Sunday evening and boy am I really sore and bruised up. I am suppose to workout with the trainer tomorrow and it's going to be rough!

Memories.......

It's funny when you run across things from long ago. My sister found this newspaper article from when I was a child. There was 4 of us from that picture that graduated together.



One of those girls moved away around the 5th grade. She had been my best friend since Kindergarten. We wrote each other off and on throughout school and still keep in touch through email. I saw her and her family a year ago while on a trip with my parents. It's great to be able to keep in touch with friends from long ago.

Almost time.........

It's almost time to bring out Scar. For those of you that don't know Scar, she is our lovely scooter. Mark bought her last year when the price of gas was so expensive. Trey and I would fight over who got to go on rides after school/work. It was a lot of fun to go zipping around town. It's time for Mark to get her out of hiding and lets go ride!

Here is a picture of Mark and Trey after one of their rides.



I know Mark looks a little stoned, but I swear he wasn't! Trey looks so small, I will have to take a picture of them riding this year, I'm sure that will make a funny post!

Ashamed

I am so ashamed to even make this post. I have always kept my toes painted and feet in good condition. I have even harped on a co-worker (Yes, Radonna I'm talking about you) to paint her toenails. It's just not right to wear open toed shoes and not have your toenails painted. She has finally started painting hers and I let mine go downhill.

I had to take my socks off the other day to step on the scales and was ashamed of the way my toenails looked. I am in desperate need of a pedicure. Why have I let me toes get so bad? Maybe because it was winter and they weren't exposed? Yes, that's it, that's my excuse, it was wintertime and they were covered up.

The weather is getting warmer so it's time to get them under control. That is my plan for this weekend, get a pedicure. Then I won't be ashamed to start wearing open toed shoes or taking my socks off. Who wants to see toenails like this anyway???? Yes, you all know I have to post a picture, it just wouldn't be a blog without a picture!

First Trumpet Solo Contest

Trey had his first trumpet solo contest this weekend. During this solo it's just him, the piano player and the judge. The contest was at a college about 100 miles away so that meant getting up early. He had to be at the school here at 6:15 am to get loaded on the bus. UGH, it's Saturday morning, you are suppose to sleep late on Saturday mornings! Last time he had to be there early Mark got up and took him which meant it was my turn (secretly crying).

He sent me a text around 9:30 am to let me know he was done with his solo. I asked if he knew the results and he said no. He sent me another text around 10:30 am to let me know that the results were up. Okay so the results are up but you couldn't tell me in the same text what your results were? Little (okay well maybe not little) turd! He was keeping me on the edge, I wanted to know! I finally get a text back saying he got a 1. Woo Hoo! In band contest you are scored by a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. When being scored, 1 is the highest and 5 is the lowest.

We are very proud of him. He has a natural talent on the trumpet. We encourage him all the time he needs to stick with it and he will be able to go places. He is excited about getting into high school and going on trips.

Next week he has District group contest. It's that busy time of year!

Love Thursday

Today is suppose to be "Love Thursday". The pictures I am about to post are of my son which I do love very much. Sometimes he does things that I'm not so sure about.

The first few pictures are of him hula hooping. I had to get some pictures because the face he made was too funny. You can tell he was trying to concentrate.




Next we have a few other pictures that I'm not really sure what was going on here. He was trying to "dance". Why he has that thing on his head I will never know.



Here is a "watch what I can do" move:



The next picture is something that Trey does, why he does it we will never know. He knows it freaks people out sometimes and loves to get reactions, so if you have a queezy stomach you might not want to look any further.












See, I told you not to look!

All-Region Honor Band

Trey had his All-Region Honor band concert February 7. They had to wear their concert attire which is a dress shirt, tie, dress pants and dress shoes. This isn't normal for him, he is a jeans and t-shirt kind of kid. I can't even get him to wear a polo shirt. If it has a collar, he doesn't want to wear it. I think that all changed on Saturday.

My parents along with my Grandma and Earl attended the concert. Everyone kept telling him how handsome he was and how well he cleaned up. I will have to admit, my baby boy was handsome!

I wanted to get a few pictures of him dressed in his concert attire. I don't usually see him dressed up so I needed a photo for memory. Of course taking a picture of Trey and getting him smile is a big issue. He thinks when you have your picture made you just stand there.

This is the first picture that was taken:























Mark told him "can't we see a smile" and we get this:























Finally thought it all we get this picture and it is perfect!





We are very proud of him in making All Region Honor Band.

Wordless Wednesday

Okay so this one isn't going to be so "wordless". This picture if from our trip to Cozumel last summer. Right now I would love to be laying on that beach with my husband and a drink in my hand! I am ready for the warm weather.

25 Random Things about Me

I had a friend that posted a blog of 25 random things about herself. I thought to myself, I can do that! When it came down to actually coming up with things, it was a lot harder than I thought. It took me days to come up with things. I hope you enjoy.

1. I have a pet peeve about toilet paper. It has to be torn off at the proper place. That made that little “dotted” line for a reason!

2. I have a collection of frog things. I just don’t like frog things as much as people think. It all started when someone bought me something with a frog. It got out of hand, finally had to tell people to quit buying me frog things.

3. I use to play house with my cousins when they would visit from Kentucky. I was the mom, my name was Kathy, my cousin Jacob was the dad, and his name was Jason. We had 2 kids, they were Susan and Irrigation. Myndall’s name was Susan and we were always mean to Jenny and made her name be Irrigation.

4. As a child I ate “coco and biscuits” for breakfast. It was nothing more than chocolate gravy over biscuits. I LOVED it!

5. I have a purse fetish; I love to buy purses as much as most women like to buy shoes.

6. I have 21 hours remaining and I will graduate with my Bachelors in Management!

7. I love to take pictures. My husband bought me an awesome camera for Christmas last year. It doesn’t matter what it is, I will take a picture of it.

8. I have a 13 year old son that is the light of my life. I don’t think I could have gotten through this life without him.

9. I am grateful for my parents even though I don’t tell them enough.

10. For the first years of my life I grew up traveling on a semi-truck. My parents along with my grandparents drove trucks when I was little. My mom would go with my dad so I went along also. I would ride with my grandparents from time to time. I rode in the truck with them even during summers up until I was about 12 years old. I got to see a lot of the US that way.

11. I have a funny nickname given to me by my grandparents. Since I was on the truck you had to have a CB name, all truckers do. My nickname was “Okie Dudedad”. Over the years it has been shortened to just Dude. Yes, my nickname is Dude.

12. Since I traveled on the truck as a child I have been to most of the 50 states, except Hawaii and Alaska.

13. I WILL NOT eat a hot dog, but I will eat bologna. How weird is that?

14. I have a routine and I have to have my bath at 9:00 pm or it messes up what’s left of the night.

15. I have a BIG problem about going into a hotel bathroom and hair being left on the floor or tub. I will call the front desk to either get a new room or have them to clean the floor.

16. I have a thing about the number 44. I don’t know what it is, but seems like it is my “lucky” number. It’s my son’s favorite dirt bike rider’s number so it has no meaning to me. But, it seems like every time I turn around there is something with that number on it.

17. I love to go fishing.

18. I am the office practical jokester. I just hope some of these people are gone by the time I turn 40 or I’m in big trouble!

19. I am addicted to The Pioneer Woman’s blog. For those of you that have not visited her site, here is the address: www.thepioneerwoman.com

20. I use to HATE the color purple. Mark would always joke about something being purple. I guess it grew on me because it’s one of my favorite colors next to green.

21. I have the most special friends in the world. I appreciate every day I have with them.

22. I watch the same TV channels every day. I watch Discovery Health, TLC, Food Network, Lifetime or Hallmark.

23. I am scared that I am going to die in a fire.

24. I’m really not as mean as everything thinks I am.

25. Last and definitely not least, I love my husband more and more every day. He has given me a life I could have only dreamed. I appreciate him for giving me the opportunity to be his wife and for his continuing love and support.

Monday Ride

On Monday the boys wanted to go to a new riding area in Texas. So a bunch of us loaded up and headed out. Marianne and I stayed at camp and cooked lunch for the guys. Okay so Marianne did the majority of the cooking, but she rocks at the grill. But you can't go riding without having lots of food around. I'm not sure how many hamburgers and hot dogs were cooked, but it was a lot. I don't know what it is, but riding really makes you hungry!

The man that owns the property (grandpa) has a tractor that he was going to use to make some jumps for the boys. The boys decided they needed to go along and show grandpa where and how to make the jumps. He told them he would give them a ride to where they were building the jumps. How about this for a "lift"?

Love Thursday

One day I walked outside the front door and this is what I saw. Mark had been using the power washer and "wrote" me a note on the sidewalk. If you can't make out what it says "I ♥ ADN"

Wordless Wednesday

My most favorite picture ever of Mark and Trey.

Love Thursday

I love these boys even if they are a little goofy.

Wordless Wednesday