Big weekend for Michael!

This weekend was a big weekend for Michael.

On Friday he got his license.....yep, he's on the road, people!!! He's so excited to have a little more independence. :) He's driving himself and Anthony to school and on Monday he finally got to park in the parking space we reserved for him at the beginning of the school year!! Kristi called him to come over after school yesterday and I was so pleased when he told her that he had to take Anthony home and ask Mom because, in his words, "Just because I have a license doesn't mean I can do whatever and go where ever, I still gotta ask Mom." Well, WOOOHOOO for you, Mikey!!! You hit that nail right on the head!!

This weekend was also his first overnight band trip. They went to Atlanta, GA to see a college band competition at the Georgia Dome. Very cool!!! He texted pictures and video of everything from his hotel room to the dome. It was cool that he kept in touch all weekend, calling several times to give me a blow by blow of what they were doing and what was coming next. And he bought me some fudge. :) Does he know his mom or what?

This morning I gave him twenty bucks and told him to call me after school in case I needed anything from the store. LOL I think I'm gonna LIKE having another driver in the family. :)

See ya next time! :o)

Family Catch Phrases

I think we probably all have, what I call, family catch phrases. A phrase that someone in your family said that was cute or funny that you remember and use over and over again when the opportunity presents itself. I thought I'd share a family catch phrase that we use from each of my children. Each one said these things when they were little and still, all these years later, we use them when they fit a current situation.

Kristi first since she is the oldest. When she was 2 we got her a Little Tykes Kitchen with pots and pans and fake food and teacups etc. She loved to serve us tea from her kitchen and when she'd bring you your tea she would hand the empty cup to you SOOO very carefully and say, "It's too bery hot....be caweful....blow..blow." and she would blow to show you how to blow on the tea. LOL Kristi is 20 now and anytime something is hot we say, "It's bery hot...blow blow." and we blow to demonstrate.

Michael next. When Michael was 4 we had a huge snow storm and took the kids sledding. Kristi and her friend would get in the back of the long sled and Michael would be in the front. We were out there for quite awhile and having fun, but it was cold and the snow was flying up onto Michael as they sledded. I've got video of the whole thing ending with little Michael looking up into the camera, red faced and whining, "I got splattered onnnnnnn. They always put me in the front so I'm the one to get splattered onnnnnn." Now anytime anyone gets splattered on with anything at all, we whine, "I got splattered oonnnnnnn!"

Finally, Anthony. Anthony has always had a tender soul. He doesn't like to see anything thrown away. It's almost like he feels sorry for it. It's broken, it's trash, it's not useful anymore but he is sad about it getting tossed out. So anytime we had to throw something away or replace something he would get upset and say, "I'm gonna miss that old ________." It didn't matter what it was. ...that old dishwasher. ....that old bicycle rim. ....that old kitchen floor. He's not one for change. LOL So now, anytime we replace something, someone says, "I'm gonna miss that old ________."

Luckily, we've never had to use all three phrases in the same situation. "The pot was too bery hot. The handle broke off and I got splattered onnnnnn....I'm gonna miss that old pot."

Ahhhh, family history....can't beat it!!

See ya next time! :o)

Ta DOOONNNEE!!

YES YES YES!!!! My house is finally painted!!! As you know from previous blogs we painted my mom's house and she gave me her extra paint. It's been awhile in coming but FINALLY we painted all the areas we wanted done! Not just the living room but the hallways too! We had just enough primer and plenty of paint. It looks so nice...fresh and clean and it's semi-gloss so it's washable!! Yes, we're sore. Yes, we're tired. Yes, the house is kind of a mess from the moving of furniture and taking down of pictures, but I'm so happy it's finally done and came out so well!!

While Steve and I were painting, the boys had their own projects. Anthony tackled the basement and Michael tackled the outside. Both look great!!

Now to get the house back in order and tackle the bedrooms!!

See ya next time!! :o)

Brandy, you're a fine girl!

This is Brandy, the dog we gave Taco's shirts to. She LOVES them! Brandy hates the cold and doesn't go outdoors in the buff. She is one of those pups who likes to wear clothes and show off her girlish figure. Look at her posing. No one has to hold her little face to get a picture. LOL Wear them in good health, Miss Brandy!!!

See ya next time! :o)

Busy, busy, busy!!!!!

There have been a lot of things on our "to-do" list and the list was growing. Well this weekend is the weekend when the to-do list is getting TA DONE! I'm really excited about this! We're painting the living room, fixing basement windows, cleaning the basement and doing a big clean up outside. It will be busy, busy, busy but oh so satisfying. I can't wait til it's all done and looking pretty!!!

BTW, update on my office....the sign is working!! Tomorrow it will be a week!

See ya next time! :o)

The Office

Not THE Office, the TV show, but the office in my house. MY office. My office seems to be a magnet for stuff. Any kind of stuff. Things just get left in here. Boxes, stacks of papers and bills, shoes, socks, soda cans, snack wrappers, partially started puzzles, paper plates, dishes, cups, a fuseball table, a broken stove.....you name it, it was in here. Everything but the kitchen sink...and that's probably only because the office is attached to the kitchen so the sink is readily available without having to actually drag it into the office.

I can only ignore the constantly growing mountain of STUFF in the office for so long and finally it got to me. I'd been looking at the mess for awhile saying to myself and to my friends, I've GOT to get in here and clean this office. It's ridiculous!

I set aside Saturday to do it since I figured it would be an all day job. You would not believe the junk I took out of here!!! I can now see the carpet and have room to walk!! It looks so great!!

I put up the above sign. It seems so simple. Take your mess with you. Doesn't that sound easy? You're at the computer. You take off your socks and shoes, have a soda and a snack and do your thing. So when you're done doing your thing.......pick up the empty wrapper and the soda can and your socks and shoes and take your mess with you. If everyone did that every time they left the office (including me, although my mess is usually unorganized mail all over the place) then maybe JUST MAYBE it could stay as nice as it looks right now.

Today is Monday....the office has been clean since Saturday afternoon....so far everyone has taken their mess with them. Will it last?? I sure hope so!!!

See ya next time! :o)

Rock Star Taco

As I said in a previous blog, we decided not to exchange gifts among the adults this year. Everyone just did the kids....except Mom. She also did her Grand-dogs. She bought for Joe's dog, Buck and for Taco. Taco's gift was a set of little doggy T-shirts. LOL There were four in the set.


The most "manly" one is this blue one with Rock Star across the back. As you can see....he's less than thrilled. In fact, he is WAYYYYYY less than thrilled. I put it on him and went to let him out and I swear to you he peeked out the door and looked around to see if anyone was out there who would see him. Seriously....Michael and Anthony witnessed it too. LOL He wouldn't even look at me while I tried to take this picture. I had to hold his little face. So I took the picture as quick as I could and removed the offending article of clothing. I feel bad that he doesn't like the shirts after Mom bought them special for him....but what are ya gonna do? Apparently, my dog is a nudist.

See ya next time! :o)

Honor Roll -- x 2!!

A big woohoooo for our boys!! Both made the honor roll this semester!!

WTG, you guys! You make us so proud!!!

We love you guys bunches and loads!!

Love,
Mom and Dad

See ya next time! :o)

Good bye 2007. Hello 2008!

Well, I was thinking about the past year and the things that have been accomplished. It's good to go over your accomplishments as the year ends. Gives ya a sense of satisfaction. So here's our list:

Steve had a career change.
We got a new van.
We made some new friends.
We painted the dining room.
We got mom's entire house painted.
I had a successful surgery.
I started this blog for my writing hobby.
I distanced myself from people who drain me.
I reached several work related goals.

And now for 2008! We have some pretty big milestones coming up in the great '08:

2008 will see a graduation in the Chaffy house and my second born going off to college. It's amazing...it feels like just yesterday he was a baby and this year he will be 18 and off on his own at college.

2008 will see my oldest turning of legal age....the big 21. That feels totally insane.

2008 will see my youngest baby starting high school....HIGH SCHOOL! What?????????? How can that be??

2008 will see a new Sam's Club finally opening with my husband continuing in his new job, so well deserved and a change that he really wanted.

So here's to the new year!! May she be happy and healthy for all my family and friends!

Happy new year, all!

See ya next time! :o)