I heart faces-- pouting

This picture was taken 20 years ago. My Chelsea was just one and 1/2. It is not as clear as I would like, but I have found that I do these pictures first for me and second for others. I love this picture. Perhaps because Chelsea was never a pouter, so this is a very rare picture:)

Sam's last week of Basketball

This is Sam's last week of basketball. He has really enjoyed the season! It has been the first time he has played in several years. While he did have to have Caleb or Dad sitting within reach, he managed to do pretty well with that level of redirection. He scored a few goals and it was a good confidence builder.

That's Sarah!

This week is Makin Music at FHU. Sarah is going to be performing with her club. Chelsea is a projects manager and has worked with all the clubs this year. They have been so very busy! Today they came home for a couple of hours. I met them for lunch and we came back to work on some of Chelsea's things. Sarah went to pick up my school kids. We laughed as Sarah pulled the 15 passenger into the driveway going about TWO miles per hour. That is not normal for Sarah, although as Ryan jumped from the van and ran inside he was yelling (and laughing) "make her stop.... make her stop...she is singing that song that never ends!!" Sure enough she was. My other kiddos strolled in rolling eyes and smiling as Sarah sang at the top of her voice.

I walked out as they were leaving and asked them to smile. This is the results...... Chelsea (so sweetly) smiled and Sarah did exactly what she wanted to do...that's Sarah!

I love Scott:)

I love Scott. I am so very thankful that he is part of my life. I am glad our children have him in their lives. I don't know how people raise children without a having someone like Scott. I am especially thankful in a "I am really so very glad you are such a great daddy way" when my kiddos bring home projects that require technical understanding.

Yesterday Michael had to do the "run a light with a battery" project...all I can say is "I am so glad Scott was home this week!!" :) Michael was so happy to help and watch and be successful. I am impressed by Daddy's, especially the one my kids are blessed with:)

FOUND treasures

I'm a nosy mom when it comes to issues regarding my children. No doubt. I don't even hide it. I tell my children upfront..I'm nosy. I really think it should be a pre-requisite to parenting. You better be concerned enough to search and be sure you know the answers. I know my kids read this blog and this is one topic I do not even hide.

Sunday morning Sam had a wallet. I looked in it. I found money. I know I shouldn't be surprised, it is the actual reason people have wallets, yet Sam does not have a job. He has no money. Hum...but this morning he does.

I began with the obvious mom question, "where did you get this money?'

I think I could almost give the "lying child" dialog all by myself. But as a mother, I ask the same age old questions, in the same order, expecting a different answer. You know that is actually a sign of insanity? To expect a different answer than you always receive?? I guess that makes me crazy (lol..nothing surprising there) because I listened to Sam say "It's my money.

"But, where did you get it?" I ask. "I've been saving it." Sam replied. This is when, as a experienced mom, I just want to fast forward to the end, because it becomes obvious the middle is going to be mucky. I can fast forward to say that I simply told Sam to think about it in his room and come tell me when he knew where the money came from.

I can say that he did not have any money a few days ago. I know, I looked. He tried to play the "I've been saving my snack money" card, except I have only given him 3 dollars in the last two weeks for snack (he carried snack from home the other days). SO that didn't wash. He had 4 times that amount in his wallet.

After an hour of constant lying and church time arriving I asked one last time. He finally admitted to "finding some and saving some". Finding meaning it belonged to someone else. SO I handed him the wallet and told him let's go. We walked to the van and drove to church. I explained on the way that he was going to give it ALL to God. I would count it before he put it in the plate to be sure it was indeed all there. I told him whomever "lost" their money would surely be happy that God used it for His purposes.

Sure enough he placed it in the plate.

Over lunch we had a very big talk with my "little" ones. Over the years Scott has always banked the boys (big boys) money. He banked it until they opened bank accounts. The emphasis was always on the fact that if someone robs Dad? He would replace your money. If you keep cash and it's stolen? It's simply gone. SO the boys always banked with Dad and money laying around was not an issue.

Today we went over the guidelines with my younger children. I have been awarded "bank" status and no one may have money that is not properly banked. It takes away the "I've been saving it" argument. Oh yeah...and I added the "If I give you money and you have change? It's mine! Not yours to save." Also removing the argument of saved money.

Currently we only have this one issue regarding money with only Sam, yet to me? It is SO much easier to lay ground rules and prevent this kind of thing from happening again. Oh well, it can happen again, I just will not spend time investigating. It's a black and white issue.

I guess all this was to say "There is no FOUND treasure in our house and possession is NOT 9/10th of the law."

1980's

Sometimes we need reflection in our lives. I saw a "funniest super bowl ad" link...and click. I found myself at a "best all time" ad home...some very silly and I was surprised at the ones that brought back such neat memories!

For example....I think I (and a zillion other Americans) cheered on Coke as we watched this ad. It was so popular a whole song was made from it.



I loved this one, which I had never seen before:


I am very sure that is not a single person from my generation who doesn't think about this commercial when "drugs" are talked about. Although I wonder why there aren't any commercial like this today? Today drugs are at the worst than they have ever been yet we do not see these kinds of ads on TV:


I spent the most time lost in President Reagan clips. I don't think any man on this earth is perfect. With the exception of Jesus Christ they just will never be. I am very prejudice to the era of Reagan. Our country (certainly in my young heart) was on the top of the world. I loved the humanism he brought to the office. He was a bigger than life character who showed his humor and individualism in his speeches. I am not silly enough to think he wrote them all and they are all his words, yet he delivered them in such a way that I loved the strength of character and demeanor in which he spoke and led. The following were a few that just made me laugh and the last reminds me of why so many people voted for Ronald Reagan:

Hop-A-Long

Tasha has my first bare-foot injury of the year. I wish I had a dollar for every time I told one of my children to put on shoes to go outside. I say it way too often. Saturday I was called to the kitchen by a sister who was yelling that Tasha was hurt "BAD". A small gash on the bottom of her naked foot! It bleed for a very long time and we finally resorted to the position above. After it stopped bleeding and we soaked it a long time in betadine it was looking much less like ER material. Fully closed all by itself and not very big, you would have thought it a head wound and not a foot one. I really don't even hold back the "I told you so's" at moments like this. She bruised it and even had a blood blister to go with the gash. But she will surely live. She has hopped everywhere. Hopped as hast as many people walk:) That's Tasha! Today she had to hop up three flights of stairs to Chelsea's apartment...I would have simply sat in the car(lol). I do think the idea of shoes will come to mind (at least for Tasha) before she heads out the door again!

In and out

My big girls are in and out all the time. I love that! I hope it is so for a long time to come:) Yesterday Sarah sent me a message saying she really needed some cookies. She and Chelsea are in the middle of Makin Music retreat weekend. So I baked cookies(chocolate chip and her favorite turtle cookies) and met Sarah after Makin Music last night ...or rather this morning at 12:17 am. Chelsea rode home with me. I took this picture of her and Seth today. My oldest and youngest. They look so much alike to me....they have a super sweet relationship (which I love).

This afternoon Seth, Daniel, Tasha and I took Chelsea back to Freed. We hung out for a little while and Sarah came to play. We dropped the girls off and were on our way home. I thought to myself...someday I will really miss these times! I will miss both of these girls when they grow up:) But for now?? I just enjoy each moment!!

Cake for Jake

We sang and enjoyed celebrating with Jake today. We waited the cake on Dad. Jacob is not a really big dessert person so he doesn't have a "favorite". 17 cupcakes for my 17 year old:)

Jacob is my youngest birth child. 17 years ago we were still in the hospital. Jacob entered this world by emergency C-section. I nearly died (truly) and did not even get to hold him and play with him until the middle of the night the first night he was born....the nurse walked quietly into the room and said,"Mrs Smotherman, we can't get him to stop crying, would it be okay if we laid him on your chest?". OF COURSE:) He laid there and went to sleep immediately. It became a nightly ritual. Looking back, I had no idea how serious the whole time was. It was serious enough that Scott scheduled a vasectomy and had it completed before Jacob was 6 weeks old. Thus ending our birth children....and on a very sweet note.

Have you ever thought of this??

I laughed a little (or a lot) as I read about this woman. Here in the South people would say "Bless her heart!!" I guess she was really wanting to settle that disagreement. On the flip side? I found it really sad. Sad that she felt she had to go to those lengths. Of course we really don't know anything about this couple. Except that she can apparently sneak up on him AND beat him up.

Many years ago Scott and came to an agreement about my "talking". You know women have much more to share than men....and as a mom of a bunch of crazy kids I really can go into overdrive. Even at crucial times I have never had to chain Scott to me:) A simple, "I need to share this with you and I need you to listen." would do. Many times (and you mom's can relate) things are going on in the house that just need to be shared. Not even "talked about". We need to do so with 1) our husband and 2) with the father of our children.

I guess if the day ever comes that I am desperate I should forgo the handcuff thing, apparently it doesn't really work?

VETO

The day began early with baseball practice. On the way home I asked the kids what they had rather do...the Zoo or Chuckie Cheese. The argument that ensued can only rival a Congressional debate. Too much name slinging, yelling, bribing, negotiating, and defamation of the very character of the Zoo and Chuckie Cheese! In great frustration I listened. We voted. It was not accepted by the whole and seemingly the world(our world) was immediately stomping grounds for filibustering.

Me? I simply put my VETO on the whole day. Enough is enough. We cleaned while talking about respect and thankfulness. SO we are home. Dad who is back from a trip a trip and a show is taking the (better be) repentant children to the park to play in a few minutes.

I am going to buy groceries. I know there are moments for me when I give up. I cease trying to be a "fun, doing things for my kids" kind of mom, today was one such day.

I DO struggle (as I believe all moms do from time to time) with a view of my children I do not like....the selfish, greedy, hateful, not thankful side. I understand to have good there must be bad, to have joy there must be sorrow, the flip side of grateful is ungrateful, the opposite of loving is hating. That flip side is really gross! No matter what age!! As a person I can be overwhelmed and wonder "what did anyone really do for me?" On days like today? Nodda, nodda thing. It's those days I have to stop on. I really refuse to allow the yuck to get to my heart, but it is a very conscience effort I must put forth to redirect ME!! Such is life with children, I know, I gotta few.

I tell my kids all the time when redirecting them.....THIS IS ABOUT YOU!.....and days like this?? These days are about me. I am so so so so so so so (obviously so) grateful that I have a heavenly Father who TRULY understands my heart, TRULY understands the frustration children bring and still TRULY forgives. Talk about perspective:)

UGH!!

We have been planning all week to go to the Memphis Zoo tomorrow and see Jane Goodall....only to find out tonight that I missed it! She was there LAST Saturday. I am so very disappointed:( Just bummed over missing her. I wanted to see her more than anyone, although Tasha and Rosie are next in line.

Oh well. Can't change that. We have had a pretty fun week, even though it has been spent close to home. Now I will have to think of something to fill such a big spot!

She REALLY loves her momma:)

Rosie brought me a coke home with her a few days ago (she knows what her momma loves!) and I asked her to put it in the fridge. This is the coke I pulled from the fridge:) Rosie smiled and said she wanted to make sure everyone knew whose it was:)

I have a few non-respecters of moms coke. I don't mind sharing....but you better leave me ONE. Can you imagine my frustration to have a whole case when I go to sleep and NONE when I wake? I don't smoke or drink, I don't even drink coffee....but I really really love my coke!

This can just made me smile.

A Birthday and a Visit!

Today Jacob is SEVENTEEN! Hard to believe. Hard to imagine. But "Happy Birthday's" are in order!!

We got up early and went to Columbia Tn (actually Spring Hill) and met Grannie, Pa and BEN:) Ben is headed to Colorado Springs on Sunday and will be there until August when he goes to Afghanistan. He has been busy while home and we have been busy so we were all really happy to get to meet him and have lunch! Everyone in my house (except Joseph) went. We all love and respect Ben so much! He is a hero to us:) Jacob chose where to eat since it was his birthday...so we all gathered at O'Charley's. What a great lunch!

Jacob remarked this was the best birthday he had had in years...last year he was in the hospital, the one before he had to go to the ER and get a tetanus shot, the one before that he was far away from home working Katrina clean-up (a good thing..but too far from home to be a good good one:) SO this was a definite "family" day:)

A Championship for the CUPCAKES!

Seth raised his eyebrows at at name like "CUPCAKES", but regardless of the name, they are the Champions of their league!! Chelsea's team played hard and won. 22 years ago her daddy's team won the AAA Intramural Championship the last semester of his Senior year. Chelsea carried that tradition on tonight (although not the same division....the same hardworking spirit!!). YEAH CUPCAKES!

Sadly, Stuart team did not win! But to make it to the final two is impressive! I am so glad Stuart is a Sophomore....I look forward to at least TWO more championship games in the next two years....and would love to be blogging his Senior year that his team took the Championship:)

I am always so proud of my kids. I am so proud most particularly for the positive attitudes I see in them!! THAT makes a Champion!! I love you both:)

Excuse Me While I Brag.....

I absolutely have one of the sweetest sisters in the world! Sandy is years younger to me, her age striking a medium between me and my girls. She is a TERRIFIC aunt (although we never say "aunt") to my girls at Freed. She lives just a couple of miles from campus and over the years has been such a wonderful constant in their lives. She bakes cookies, cooks meal, sends treats and her door is always open to them and their friends. What a blessing!!

I cannot tell you what it means to have such a great sister. If you have one too...then you understand the blessing. I can vent or brag, matters not... I know she is an understanding and listening ear. That kind of unconditional love is only God given! And I know Gog gave me Sandy:)

My real bragging on her has to be her loving work as a mommy. I wish I could tape her children talking and share it with you. They are smart! They are funny! They have great manners! They LOVE God! They have a mommy(and daddy) who have sacrificed so Sandy can be home while her boys are little. She babysits and does such a great job managing her home!! I love her, and respect her so much!

Last night Cade, her oldest, sat at the corner of the court and announced the score after every goal. That silly boy can count to a billion (OK..slight exaggeration). He is not even in school, but next year some teacher will be so very blessed by Cade!!

I just had to take a minute to brag on my little sister....she makes me so proud!!

Hump Day:)

Wednesday was a good day:) I have always loved having my children home. Although I was extremely thankful for our church ministry room yesterday. My children woke up ready to go and is was raining, serious rain. I put together my class lesson while kids woke, ate breakfast (in rounds since school is out) and got dressed. We went to Wal-mart and bought BIG balls and everyone picked out two donuts from the display case, grabbed a 12 pack of Gatorade and were off to the church building. My Doug, whom I love so much and is such a great "player" (this word being used in total appropriateness!!!). Doug organized and supervised (me too, but he took lead) an hour and a half of games. Then my Doug drove through and got us three family pack of tacos and brought them home for everyone. What a great first half of the day!!


The afternoon was gobbled up. The kids enjoyed watching a brand new Feature Films for Families movie:) I LOVE those!! And they played creatively, since we still could not be outside. I took this picture of my girls....TOO funny! I walked by to see this Hodge podge of bodies...when I stopped to really look? Lita's feet were "pedaling"...they had made an inside bike!! How funny! The still picture just does not capture the fun of it.


John arrived home with his WINNERS medal:) I loved listening to him talk about his topic and how he developed it. His topic was "How we get modern day hero's in our community". Being that it is a HOSA competition, it had to relate to health care. John used Anne Sullivan as the base of his speech. She is truly a hero, an unsung hero. He talked about health care workers being dedicated and striving for success for their patients. John even talked a little about his need for PT after a horrible accident in 5th grade. John was burned and had to go to PT for more than a month. I listened to John and was humbled. Our children can do incredible things!! They have beautiful clear insight. I suppose we just need to open our ears and eyes a tad bit more?


We went to church and left right after class (missing the devotional part) to try to make it to Chelsea's game. I planned earlier in the day to go thinking it was her last game. Chelsea has been at FHU for 4 years now and last night was the first time I have watched her play ball. Her team is doing so well. They won last night. I thought we were going to watch the championship game, but tonight that game will take place. Sandy and two of her boys met us there. Sarah and Stella are regular attendees (thank you sister!!) and Doug and Gage drove up to watch too. The down side was that I feel pretty sure that Stuart's feelings were hurt. Stuart had a game at the same time...and they WON too. I hugged Stuart as we were leaving and told him (because he likely did not know), "This is the first time I have ever watched Chelsea play intramural ball at FHU. I am sorry I missed your game, but I know I will have two more years to be able to watch one of your games. I love you." There are tough things to having more than ONE child. If you have even two you will have conflict at some time. Tonight they will both play in the Championship game for their divisions....of course at the same time!!! Good luck to my two oldest ....my oldest girl and my oldest boy!! They are both pretty special people:)


After the game Stuart had to go to work refereeing ballgames and Chelsea had to go to Makin Music so we were blessed to have Sarah and Stella go with us to McDonald's for ice cream. Sarah was her usual entertaining self. I talked to my little ones about being quiet in McDonald's not so sure why I did that, quiet and Sarah are like oil and water. Sarah told jokes and stories and was gross (which impresses the most sometimes). I was my usual "mom" self calming the natives when they got out of hand.

I have to laugh at the picture below in light of a comment one of my sweet high school friends made about Sarah. She said she hoped her daughter was like Sarah. Sarah said, "Really? Most people hope there kids aren't!" (lol) If the goofy outrageous was all there was to Sarah I would agree, but there is so very much more!! This is my smart, loving, considerate, big sister of a daughter who loves her family very much. That IS something to hope for. (Thank you for the sweet comments Lisa!) Of course the picture below? Sarah in all her gross glory(and Tori hanging right there with her).

STATE CHAMP!!

YEAH JOHN!!! John won the Tennessee State HOSA Competition's Extemporaneous Speech Contest! He will be representing Tennessee in the National Competition in June!!!! He is on his way home as I type and I am so anxious to have him in front of me to talk all about it:)

Outside the box!

I love people who have the ability to think outside the box....in this case it likely saved a life!

I think after reading the article that we can be "out of the box" thinkers who are actually prepared. That fireman was prepared for adventure. He had the suit in hand (or locker). It was spontaneous, yet not all together unplanned. I like that.

I think moms are notoriously the same. We prepare and work for moments that may or may not ever happen. We sometimes find ourselves using those honed skills in a totally unlikely way, much as that fireman. People applaud you as an "out of the box" thinker and it's true. Yet I think so much of our thought process is and will always be planned, we internalize the skills and abilities we have and when we use them? Others are impressed, even surprised. I have a whole lot of good kids who do not truly internalize most of what they know. It is always nice to see simple things done in extraordinary ways.

I'm a mother. I'm innovative. I'm a thinker. And I LOVE a good example. The fireman mentioned gives us a great example, one we can visualize so very well!! SO....we need to use our resources, our skills, our abilities and our strengths everyday and we will see incredible results!!

Haircuts

I cut hair, not professionally, just economically:) My speciality is a buzz cut (isn't it everyones?). As my guys get bigger it really is harder to please them. Usually they go and get theirs cut. Last night Caleb asked for a haircut. He REALLY did need one!! You can see in his before and after shots. We decided that this is the longest Caleb's hair has ever been. He did brush it out straight before the picture, my Caleb has some pretty sweet curls that help with the appearance, but it was definitely time for a haircut!! Our deal is...I cut and you clean up:) It works.

I Heart Faces-- No Flash Kids

Mary Lita is my "No Flash kid". Her smile is always a winner to me:)

I Heart Faces-- No Flash Adult

My Doug:) What a great guy...graduating from High School this year...places him as more of an "adult" than kid. A very good guy!

Mexico

Last but not least on my Monday morning spree of blogging....pictures from my trip:) It was wonderful...of course!






Transportation was nice. Canals ran through the resort, so you could boat to your destination....or you could grab a bike and ride it where ever you were going...or you could be chauffeured ....or you could simply use your feet:)






The view around the resort was always pleasing. Sunshine and breezes, seafood and ocean, rest and relaxation. Vacations are certainly a good thing:)



Scott and I both enjoyed the 400 pounds of books we carried with us. I might have slightly exagerated about the weight of the books...I think they only weighed 30 pounds:)

A very nice week:)

HOSA State Competitions

This morning John was up and out of the house before 6am. He is headed to Chattanooga to the State HOSA competitions. A suit in hand and a speech in mind:) He placed in the region and I blogged about it here. He will have a great couple of days!! Good luck JOHN! Make it great:)

The Kubota

My dad traded Jacob work (as Jacob's part) for the Kubota lawn mower(Dad's part). Dad bought a new mower a couple of years ago and the Kubota was sitting in his barn, not working. Jacob was tickled (I likely am not suppose to use that word to describe a 17 year old boy...but he was really happy) to work for the exchange.

Yesterday afternoon he and his buddy Preston spent hours working and were successful in reviving the Kubota. I LOVED watching them. I love the spirit that does it themselves. I know not all things are possible by yourself...but these two are really neat to watch. I am so grateful Jacob has a friend like Preston.