12 Things I Really Want for Christmas { I want a four slice toaster}

1. World Peace.  This won't happen until Jesus returns and judges us and makes a New World  so that kind of scares me yet at the same time I can't wait  (except for the judging part -- Yikes)
2. For all of my 8 children to live happy, fulfilled lives.

3. For my 4 grandchildren to be healthy and happy forever.

4. For my parents and family to be healthy and happy

5. A four slice toaster.  (How ridiculous is it that with 5 kids still at home I have a 2 slice toaster. I spend so much time each morning popping bagels in and out)

6. My 5 babies (ages 17 - 6 that live at home)  to keep their rooms clean and help me around the house-- yardwork, dishes, vacuuming, pet care, respect their home, love their siblings and give me some free time to rest my weary bones.

7. A big house with 5 bedrooms and more than one bathroom and a small yard (not this big mess of 6 acres to care for)

8. Organization

9. a Harley Davidson for me.... ya, so first I need to learn how to ride one. but think of how cool I will look!!

10. Healthcare for all US citizens.... free for the elderly... small co-pays for the rest of us.

11. My Ex to leave me alone and move out of state.  (THANK YOU)

12. Books and more books... I love to read.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Feeling Old

Old and grouchy.

not old as in  'my old lady is hot'



but old like I am worn down and out.
Like I live in a trailer with 8 kids, no man, no money. 

Well I live in a house with just 5 kids now -- no man.
A little money. 
But wouldn't it be nice to get some help.

Parent Power

Oh, boy.  Just watching a news report about a student in NJ who wore a sweatshirt with a Confederate flag on it.  School adminstrator told  her to turn it inside out.   ~~ now you can imagine the backlash.   Regardless of the social, historical, racial implications   what is the main point of this ???

              The school teacher/principal/custodian/lunch lady    TOLD   her ( a child, student, minor) to reverse the shirt or change it.    
  End of story for me.

Parents need to teach their children to respect their school personnel....always.  (yes, I know, some abuse their position and may harm kids---thus a parent's job to stay involved)

    Now if I could just get my kids to clean their rooms .......

Fantasy Land {or- what I want for Christmas}

So every gift giving holiday

I ask the kids for one thing..... for them to clean their rooms

since we are heading into fantasy territory just making that request, I will go further into my wishes.

cozy reading nook.

my own private cottage with lovely garden sanctuary.

Ahhhhh

Oops, Cath, wake up.

Last year I hung my stocking in the upstairs hall near the children's rooms.  In hopes that it would be filled... 

  It is still hanging there ..   EMPTY.

Seriously...if my kids would get together and clean and organized their rooms I would be happy and proud.

Saftler's Razed

This is what I saw on the front page of The Enterprise this afternoon......

It sent me whirling back to my childhood.

This is where my brother Barry and I spent many hours with our Mom.   I hated it as a child  probably would still as an adult, but I don't sew.  Don't even know how to thread the machine.

My Mom made many of our clothes.   Even into  my high school years I was wearing homemade dresses.   Check out the BR Class of '81 yearbook......    The amount of time and love sewn into each garment was amazing.  She still sews.  Mostly for American Girl Dolls now. 

Looking through the pattern drawers was my favorite thing.

It is sad to see such a business fail....

gone the way of book stores, 5 and dimes, and all the childhood memories.

20 things you probably don't know about me~nor do you want to

Just some random thoughts on this Saturday morning...before I wake the kids to go to the dentist for some fun cavity filling.

1.  When I grow old and all the kids move out-- I plan on living in a little cottage with 10 cats.

2.  I love amusment park rides.  scary ones.  I hope you don't since you can watch the kids when we go. ;)

3.  I only get into automobile accidents in driveways or parking lots~~ never on the road. (sh, don't tell anyone.)

4.  I don't have a sister.

5.  I have 7 brothers.

6.  I have been married and divorced twice.  (so far)

7.  I hate going to the dentist--I'd rather go have a PAP smear.

8.  I enjoy mowing the lawn (push mower).

9.  I need more time in my day/week. 

10.  Jesus Christ is my Savior (should've put this one first)

11.  I am Pro-Choice, Pro Marriage Equality, I am a registered Democrat but I always vote Republican, I read the Bible and believe it is the Truth and the word of God. 

12.    I am a breastfeeding nazi...in other words  it is the most important gift you can give your baby and yourself  to breast feed for a year....the first six months of your baby's life breast milk should be the only nutrition.  (my kids are all too old to breastfeed now...but it is funny at family parties to remind my sons now 17 and 27  that they were great nursers.)

13.  Thirteen is my favorite number. 

14.  I smoke.  (ah the shame!)

15.  I truly enjoy riding on the back of my boyfriend's Road King...sweet bike--wish he would let me try riding it alone  (WATCH OUT!!)

16.  I have a radar about me that can sense if your husband is a misogynist.  So if I act like I don't really like him  that means I know he hits/humiliates you.

17.  I love to read.   NOT A KINDLE!   real books.   spy, crime,  mystery, funny, all books

18.  I (and the kids) go to Church every Sunday~~that's where all the sinners are

19.  My house is always a mess and when my Mom stops in she likes to emphasize that fact by trying to help.  I could go on and on here... maybe it should be it's own post.

20.  Life is not fair, get used to it. Suck it up and drive on.    I am a happy women and so blessed with my 8 8 kids and 4 grandbabies.

Privacy

Privacy..... but it sounds so lovely pronounced with in the British way.  {Priv~ acy}  not in the American way {PRI  vacy}

anyway   Priv acy...

wish I had some. 

But then again X is totally lost without me. 

  Afterall who can run to the store for another 12 pack of Bud and Marlboros?  Well, he could but as an enabling freak, I would go instead so he wouldn't drive.

But I wish he had another focus in his life...  Face the facts X~~ you pushed the judge too far and you LOST! 

ah, but the good thing is you still can't drive (legally).  So not much of a help as a parent out here in the 'burbs but it keeps you out of my neighborhood.

And I wish I had a bedroom~~ a private oasis for just me.  But I am often accused of being selfish.... of course I am since I gave up my bedroom 2 years ago so my teen daughters would not have to share a room....

silly me, being so selfish.

The worst part is teen daughter and X hate each other -- well she hates him, anyway.  So she never goes over to superDad's on the weekend, selfishly I am pissy I never get a weekend ALONE to tend to my selfish needs .

Anyway I trudge to work, home, kids' practices, grocery, doc appts.,  then slave at dishes, laundry, cleaning, yard care etc.... to be accused of being self centered.  And, dang it, never even one second to spend with my grandbabies....geesh  they are gonna hate  me too.   F*&k,