RevGals Halloween Friday Five

1. Do you enjoy a good fright?
Only if I know its not real.
2. Scariest movie you've ever seen
My friends and I use to love Pet Semetary...now I think I'd be too chicken...
3. Bobbing for apples: choose one and discuss:
a) Nothing scary about that! Good wholesome fun.
b) Are you *kidding* me?!? The germs, the germs!
a) I'd say bobbing for apples is Good Wholesome fun...
4. Real-life phobia
don't laugh at me ok...I am TERRIFIED of skunks...my husband and kids tease me relentlessly.
5. Favorite "ghost story"
I don't know if I have a favorite ghost story, but I did just read an interesting story on beliefnet about a haunted parsonage in Pennsylvania...
Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween

Too much stuff...

I woke up in the middle of the night last night, and even though I was exhausted I couldn't fall backto sleep, I started thinking about all of the stuff that has seemed to creep into every inch of space in our house. I have always been a person who likes things clean but cozy, and that is what my house has always been, but it seems that lately I am losing the battle to clutter. I look back at pictures from when we first moved in and see empty spaces where there are now stacks of books, and piles of stuffed animals and I wonder how all of this stuff got into my house.
I love books, and I love that my children love books, but before they used to be so organized, now they are everywhere...piled under tables, next to tables, in baskets, on shelves, in the living room, kid's rooms and I even have stacks of children's books in my room...
Toys are another issue. My daughter is the Queen of Stuffed Animals...she has more plush toys than the Disney Store...I have tried packing some of them away but she really does play with most of them and so they get pulled right back out of the garbage bags in the storage closests...they are piled on her bed, and she has an adult size wicker chair in her room that you cannot even see because of all of the stuffed animals, not too mention that they show up everywhere else in the house too...in my room, the living room, the craft room, and both cars...and then there are the millions of toy cars and power rangers...I swear we didn't buy all of this stuff...o.k. so we bought some of it, and I know that the Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles have all done their share of contributing too...its just all starting to make me feel like I am suffocating...
I spend so much time picking up all this clutter that I don't have time to clean the house the right way...I feel like all I do is straighten and battle the clutter....
Sorry this rant has gotten so long, but there is a purpose...this is a cry for help...how do you detach yourself from some of this stuff and get rid of it, or at least organize what you have...
Any suggestions?

Goldfish Prayers...

I know this may sound silly but I am asking for prayers for our Goldfish Baxter. A month ago I never would have thought that our family would get emotionally attached to a fish...of course we all love our dog like a member of the family, but fish were different. Then my father in law gave "AG" an aquarium setup for her birthday and we brought home two goldfish, Baxter and Elina...we have been very careful to keep their water clean and not overfeed, but yesterday Baxter started swimming funny...he has lost all balance and control, he just kind of floats around the tank and bumps into things, but he is still hanging in there so my daughter has hopes for a recovery. She is distraught, its all she can think about...last night at bedtime she said, "Please God let Baxter get better again, and if he dies I know he will go to heaven and you will hold him in Your hands."
I know there are so much more serious issues in the world to be praying for, but to my daughter your prayers would mean so much...

Fall Fun...

We had such a fun weekend I hated to see it come to an end.
Saturday was spent as a family which was wonderful. We all went to the "Y" together for AG's (daughter) swim lesson, then in the afternoon I made a roasted chicken with all the fixings (stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and green beans)...it was a little mini Thanksgiving. After that we headed out to the Pumpkin Patch, which the kids always love...we always get such great pictures there too, hopefully I'll get some posted soon.
Then Sunday afternoon we had B's brother and his family over to watch football and eat good food. Unfortunately both of our teams lost (Dolphins and the Eagles) but it was still lots of fun. Afterwards we all went out back and carved our pumpkins. It's early and they will probably rot before Halloween but this was the only time that everyone could be there to do it.
This morning I didn't want to get out of bed...and once I did I really didn't want to...It snowed...
a very wet icy snow. The kids will be thrilled and I actually think it looks magical too...I just wish I could stay home and watch it from my cozy living room instead of trudging through it...

Friday Five - word association

This is the RevGals Friday Five, this week its a word association

whirlwind - romance

foundation- basis, strength

lightning - storm

den - safety, warmth

prey - hunted, scared

Looking forward to the weekend

This has been a long week and I am so ready for the weekend.
It was not all bad this week, just different and difficult at times. My Dad came to visit for a few days to help fix a few things around the house that needed fixing. While it was nice to see him and great to have the plumbing in the laundry room working again it was also very trying and tiring at times. On top of that everyone at our house has the horrible cough/cold that is going around and the week has been so busy that nobody has gotten any rest. Hopefully this weekend will give us that chance, I can't wait for 5 o'clock so I can head home to my couch,my blanket and a nice cozy mystery.

One of those days

Today is one of those days where I wish I could just go back to bed...I woke up at 4:00 am with a headache and a sore throat...finally fell back asleep and then hit the snooze alarm a few too many times and woke up late.
Finally got my daughter to school with about 30 seconds to spare and while walking her into the school in the pouring rain my left shoe got soaked...then I got caught by two trains and was 15 minutes late for work...
Now I'm sitting here watching it rain and wishing my sock would dry out.
But on the positive side my boss brought in a plate of chocolate cupcakes today.
Time for a cupcake and a cup of tea.

Friday Five

Friday Five: Creature Comforts

1. Comfort beverage - Hot Tea, iced mocha, or Dr. Pepper

2. Comfort chair - green lazyboy with a cozy blanket and a good book.

3. Comfort read- Mitford series, cozy mysteries, Sue Grafton.

4. Comfort television/DVD/music - Lately I've been turning off the T.V.

5. Comfort companion(s) - my husband, my children, and Watson our golden retriever

Time for a change?

How do you know when it is time to change churches? I have been a member of my current church for 4 years. I love the feeling I get when I go there, but it is missing some of the features which I would love in a church. The various women's groups are all geared to those who are home during the day, and while there are activities for older children not as much is offered for younger children like mine...I also would love a Saturday evening service since my husband works nights and it is almost impossible for him to wake up for church on Sunday, which means we do not go as often as we should...I have been pondering this for a while now and I'm sure I won't come up with an aswer soon...I just hate to abandon a church that has been shrinking due to an aging membership, and there are some really wonderful people there...how do you know when its time to go?

Growing Up...

Why does growing up have to be so painful? My daughter met a wonderful friend last year and they were inseperable, now this year they are in different classes and her "best" friend has moved on to someone else. I know this is just a part of growing up, but when she tells me day after day how she keeps trying to play with this little girl and is constantly rebuffed it makes me want to cry. I try to tell her to look for someone else to be friends with but her comment every time is, "but I don't want another friend, "D" is my best friend in the whole wide world." I know her heart is broken, I just wish I could do something about it...I still remember going through the same thing when I was her age, and I remember how much it hurts.
I think it's time I give my "bestest" friend a call...its been too long...

First Post

I am new at this whole blog thing so be patient (if anyone's even reading this). I am addicted to reading blogs and so I thought why not take the plunge and start my own.
Today has been a boring day, which is better than the day I had yesterday, which was full of school projects, flat tires, and having my parents make me feel two inches tall. I know my parents care about me and my family, but I truly hope that as my kids get older I don't show my love in the same critical, "I told you so..." sort of way they do. Yesterday was painful...Last night was better. My sweet and wonderful Husband "B" stayed home from work sick, and it was so great to have him to talk to, since we usually only see each other for 10 minutes a day and on weekends it was such a treat to have real conversations with each other..so great we stayed up until 3:30 in the morning just talking...I don't even mind the tiredness today. My mother-in-law was also so supportive with everything I was going through yesterday, I thank God for her and her friendship. She is truly one of my very best friends.

I am just hoping for a relatively uneventful night tonight...