Monday...with a rewind to Sunday

That's my boy...Momma Kims boy!

Monday, another busy day!!! Oops, let’s jump back to Sunday.

Sunday…Church in the morning and we had an awesome service! Later on, I cut Sean and Laura’s hair. Of course there was a funny along the way. I was cutting Sean’s hair and he could NOT be still. He was spinning in the chair…making goofy sounds, making up songs and just goofing off. I of course said over and over, “Be still…stop spinning…Be STILL”. He laughed every time I said it. Finally I said, “Where is my shy little boy that at one time said very little”? He said, “He is gone…He has grown into the ‘man’ I have become”! He Is 11!!!!! Man? What??? I laughed my head off and then some! Oh, he SO has his dad’s personality!

Sean had a baseball game at 6pm... on SUNDAY! I've never heard of that! Anyway, poor little guys, they really don’t have a good team. However, we sat there for 2 hours cheering them on like they were in the major league! Sean struck out his first time at bat (which I think the Ump was making bad calls) The second time at bat he was walked to 1st. Then he stole 2nd…3rd…and HOME!!!!! He is little…but he is FAST! Also, he caught a ball and made and OUT! Way to go Sean!

Back to today, Monday….It started by taking Marissa to get a gift for a friends birthday party. Of course we had to get a Webkins! So the first stop was Hallmark for the Webkins and then off to the party. Then we dropped stuff off at our storage building. Then we went to Knob Noster to meet my brother-in-law. Then to Lowe’s…then Wal-Mart…then to pick Marissa up from the party. Ok, so now we are back at home doing lots of ‘stuff’.

Late afternoon we started refinishing a bed I bought for Sean. OK, I LOVE bargains! I paid $10 for a headboard and footboard. Some people see stuff as “junk” but I always see the potential. It was in good condition, just needed a little love like; sanding and staining. We started sanding and of course there are little spindal like things that are hard to sand. So I sent Larry to Lowe’s to look for something to assist us in sanding those areas. He called from Lowe’s and told me about a sander that is different than the one we already have. YEAH!!!! I got a new sander with all kinds of attachments! I was SO excited! I know that my friend Amy is rolling her eyes and saying, “Oh brother”! I LOVE tools! Larry told me one time that he loves me but he really married me for my tool box that was filled with a hammer, a drill, drill bits, etc. etc. etc. He also jokes and tells his buddies that he married me for my tools and my deep fryer. (You know the ones that you deep fry a turkey or fish in) OK Amy, enough about tools!

I cooked dinner and the kids of course stuffed themselves. (They only get home cooked meals at our house.) Then the kids took their normal positions either on the computer or in front of the TV. Larry and I continued to work. Larry began to bush hog some of the field behind our house and I used the big mower to cut the field to the north side of our house. I love to cut grass. It’s time all to myself, to think, pray or just sing my heart out.

OK, time has passed and the kids are in the bed. Well, they are on the air mattress in the basement and glued to the TV. Nope, by now they have fallen to sleep while watching TV!
Time for Momma Kim to go to bed. They will be up early and will be ready to start the day! Kids…I SOOOOO wish I had their energy and responsibilities...or lack there of!!!!!

kdp

PS I have a prayer request. My friend Sandra really needs prayer. I don't need to say why or what, God knows her needs. However we can pray for comfort, peace, direction and strength.

Flowers and Plants, Oh My!

Larry thought I put a picture of my flowers on the blog and when he saw that I didn't he seemed disappointed. So here is a picture of the roses from my Prince and the plant from my Momma and StepDad.

Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my 36th Birthday. Larry had to work but came home a little early. He entered the door with flowers in hand. There are 9 roses…3 pale pink with darker tips which stand for 10 years each and 6 darker pink roses which are for each year over 30. He is a sweet and thoughtful hubby…that’s why he is my Prince. We went to Overland Park, KS for dinner. We ate at The Cheesecake Factory. It was YUMMY! We were stuffed after the meal but you CANNOT go to the CF and not have Cheesecake! We shared a slice of Adams Peanut Butter Cheesecake. Of course 1 slice there will feed 2 or 3 people. Larry told them that we were celebrating my birthday and they put cool whip on the side with a candle in it and it had written with CHOCOLATE Happy Birthday To You around the edge of the plate. It was oh so good and we were oh so stuffed!

My Momma and Step Dad sent me a wonderful gift that was the perfect fit and color…MONEY! She also had a green plant delivered to me today. I was talking to my friend Beckie on the phone when the delivery van pulled up…I was surprised! Main reason I was so surprised is because florist won’t deliver to our house. Larry has tried over and over to get things delivered here and offered to pay extra. He either brings flowers in person or orders them online and the UPS man brings them. Larry was jealous. He said I can’t get them delivered but your Mom is in FL and she makes one call and gets something delivered…go figure! Momma, maybe next time you could deliver them in person!?!?

Remember a few days ago my brother sent me a box but said I had to wait to open it? I opened it today and a card was on top with a note of what to open 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th. 1st was an item from the “Bust Line”. Ok, I know some of you are making jokes about “bust” and Lord knows Tim has made many jokes about my “Bust”. However, this is a bust statue that is a lady with a chef hat on and has some veggies in a bowl with a thing hanging around her neck that says “Chef”. He said that was just funny and it was one of my Titles and made him think of me. 2nd was a cloth jewelry travel bag with a pair of earrings inside. Both of the items were made by women in India of “Rahab’s Rope Women’s Center, Bangalore India”. Rahab’s Rope is a ministry that I will tell you more about in a separate blog in hopes that you might want to support the ministry. The jewelry case is hand made of beautiful fabric and the earrings are handmade as well of Brown Pearls. All of you who know my brother will laugh when you read this next part. 3rd was a 5X7 picture of him in a frame. Yep, my brother all smiles. 4th was the card and when I opened it, a wallet size picture of him fell out…now for the part that is SO my brother. He wrote in the card telling me about the bust and how it made him think of me, about the travel bag and earrings and where they came from and lastly I quote, “The pictures are just because I felt like you ‘deserved’ them!” Those who know him, is that not SO something he would say? Actually the picture was made for the church directory and he sent one to me and Momma. It is a great picture of him and OMG he looks more like our daddy everyday!!!! Thank you Tim, I do love the picture!

I talked to Aunt Jean on the way to dinner and she was asking about where we were going and I was telling her about the restaurant. Aunt Jean, you told me to have a bite of cheesecake for you and I did…I only wish I could give you the calories I ate! So yes it was yummy from start to finish!

I got phone calls, emails and text from friends and loved ones wishing me a Happy Birthday. Thanks you all for remembering and I love you dearly. Praying for many more to come!

Love to all!

Natalie

A closer picture of Natalie. How precious!

Welcome Natalie...It's a crazy world!

Natalie and her Daddy.

Happy Birthday Natalie Nicole Green! Natalie was born today, June 23, 2008...7lb. 14oz., 20 1/2" long. With a head full of hair! Those of you who know my cousin Mechelle…well Natalie is her first grandbaby! I pray that you have a blessed life Natalie!

I’m not doing so good lately at updating my blog. I love posting updates but with our crazy life it is sometimes hard. Today I was Sparkys driver… instead of Driving Mrs. Daisy I was Driving Mr. Sparky! He HATES not being able to drive. However, as of tomorrow he will be back behind the wheel.

I have worked my tail off today and my house is a mess. You know how sometimes in order to clean up and clean out you have to first make a mess. Well, today…I made a mess! If you saw my house you would think that I did nothing but drag stuff out and leave it there. In reality I packed up some stuff, threw away some junk and organized things. I have GOT to get this house in order so we can sell it. So, I’m making a mess and in the end it will be more organized and straightened up. (I hope)

My birthday is Thursday the 26th and today I got my birthday present from my Momma and Step Dad. I called her and told her it fit perfectly and was just the right color. You guessed it….MONEY! Yep, the perfect shade of green. I also got a box from my brother but the poo poo head would not let me open it. He said I had to wait until my birthday. Ok, I will wait…but in October when his birthday rolls around I think I will send his several days late and make him think he is not getting anything. OR, I’ll send it early to the church and have Jenna (the church secretary) keep it on her desk with a huge sign with his name on it and make him look at it for a week before he can open it. Just joking…I’m not that mean! I got the sweet genes! It better be worth waiting for big brother. Ha, joking again!

I just thought that I’ve not done a blog about my brother. Hint, hint…upcoming subject…my big brother. Friend or Foe? It’s gonna be a good one…stay tuned!

Well, I’m pretty tired and I hear the loveseat recliner and TV calling my name. I recorded Army Wives last night and I want to watch it. I’m not sure if I have mentioned that show on my blog or not. Well, I LOVE the show. Not because it is “Army Wives” and I am an Army Wife but it is just a good show. Lifetime has done such a great job. Some of the stuff is realistic and true to day to day life, some of it is not 100% accurate. However, I think they do a great job with the script and the cast is awesome. In every episode I laugh and cry. I think that it gives the general public a little of insight to Army life and what the families face from day to day. It shows the up’s and down’s, the worries, the fears and the peaceful feeling you get when you hear a loving voice on the other end of the phone. It shows the struggles that you face daily with surprise changes, emotions and separations anxiety of spouses and children. Again, some of it is not 100% but…again, they do a great job! Lifetime sometimes plays the episodes back to back. If you missed season 1…rent it…then watch season 2. Picking up on season 2 is impossible…1 must come first. Watch it, it wont be a waste of time!

Hugs to all!

Sparky

This is Sparky, aka Tom my Father-In-Law.

Finally, as of last Saturday, the wood floor has been laid in the dinning room…the last floor to be completed! Yippie! I was still dealing with back issues so Larry did most of the work by himself. We are such a team and it was hard to not be helping. Well, I helped a little, but not much. Guess that’s pay back for me doing the majority of the painting. Ha! We are getting closer and closer to having the house ready. We still have unfinished projects to do but the list if getting shorter.

I have a new project that I hope to get to sometime next week. We needed a queen and full headboard. I found a headboard and footboard for $10. I am going to refinish it and I hope it turns out good. I’m always redoing something!

Molly went to Summer school on Thursday with Laura. They are having pet days and Thursday was Laura’s day. Molly did well and of course everyone loved her. Who wouldn’t? She is a cutie!

Friday the 20th...At this moment we are sitting at the hospital and Sparky is in having his heart Cath. We went to St. Luke’s East which is where he had his last procedure. Well, once we got there and got him checked in one of the nurses came out to inform us that the “machine” was down. Someone was to be there at 9am with a part to fix it. However, they were not there at 9. So we could wait and “maybe” the part would fix the problem and no other parts would be needed. IF it was fixed, he would have his procedure, if not, we would be rescheduled for Monday. OR, we could go to Overland Park to St. Luke South and have it done today. So, we decided to go with the for sure thing and we are at South. We brought our computers along this time. Larry is catching up on work stuff and I’m bloggin’. Took a break from reading my book but I am anxious to get back to it.

UPDATE…Well, I wrote this blog earlier and the site was down and I couldn’t post it. So it is now 11:35pm and we are home from the hospital. I know, you are thinking…What is she doing bloggin’ this time of night? I don’t know that answer because we are tired and I hear my pillow calling my name. Anyway, to report on Sparky…The procedure went well and they placed the 2 stents. When he got out of recovery he was having discomfort in his chest and he was really wanting to sleep. He said that this one was worse on him than the last one. The nurse said that the discomfort was not unusual. Sparky said, “You guys go and do whatever you need to do”. Larry asked, “Are you grumpy and sleepy and want us to leave”? He said, “Something like that”! So we left him alone to sleep. We laughed when we got to the hallway. It was funny! We goofed off and went back later and he was snoring so we took Aunt Carol to dinner then went back to check on him. He was feeling a lot better and was laughing and talking. We were glad to see him feeling better. We chatted for a while and then made our journey home from Overland Park (For all you GA folks that’s the edge of Kansas City) We got home and Molly was OH SO happy to see us. She was home alone for at least 15 hours and she was super excited!

Ok, time to get some shut eye. Got to get to the hospital in the morning to get Sparky.

Lots of love to all!

Father's Day...Happy and Sad

Happy Father’s Day! It’s a special day and a sad day. I miss my daddy very much. He was such a kind man and a wonderful daddy. I don’t ever remember hearing him say anything negative about anyone. He worked a lot and missed some of our activities but I know that by him working so much was his way of ‘doing’ for us. He told me that he grew up very poor and his family didn’t have much. One Christmas he got a whistle that cost a nickel and an orange. He was so happy to get that 5 cent toy. I remember him telling me this story more than once. One day when my daddy was just a kid, an adult male, who I won’t mention his name, told daddy that he was poor and from a poor family and he would never have anything and would never amount to anything. Well, that day was the day my daddy decided to prove that man wrong. He said he was determined that his children would have more than he did growing up and that we would be proud of him. He created a business from the ground up with the help of my Momma. You know, they say behind every successful man is a wonder woman. They made a great team, a successful business and outstanding parents. When the business was just beginning all four of us would go to wash trucks. (Well, I played) Momma washed many trucks in her day along with daddy. My daddy passed away after many years of fighting cancer not to mention other health issues. He was a special man; a strong Christian, tender and kind hearted, loving, loved music, loved food, loved The Braves, loved his Taylors Pride and had a great sense of humor. I think about him every single day. Tim and I were blessed in more ways than we can even begin to tell you.

Today is one of the harder days of the year for me and for many others. A very special man that was another dad to me and Tim passed away suddenly last December, Stanley Crocker. Stanley and Jeanette were my parent’s best friends. Our families went on vacation every year together, went to church together, were neighbors but most of all we were family. Not blood family but family in a way that you can’t explain to others. I’ve thought of his sons, Deron and Jason a lot this week. It will be their first Fathers Day without their dad. Also, one of my best friends, Kelly, lost her dad last December. Her dad had health issues that he struggled with for many years. I’ve thought of her a lot too. It’s hard and it does get easier with time but the pain and the missing never goes away. However, I don’t want it to go away…I want to celebrate my dad’s life and who and what he was!

I now have a Father-In-Law to ad to my dad list. His name if Tom and we call him Sparky. At first I did not know if he was going to like me but turns out…he loves me! He watches out for me when Larry is out of town. He treats me like a daughter and I am thankful for that.

I also have a step-dad, Jeff. He is very good to my Momma and Tim and I are grateful. He understands that Father’s Day is hard for me and he respects that. He also knows that it took me a while to call him my step dad and to buy him a Fathers Day card. He has never tried to take my dads place. I called him today to wish him Happy Fathers Day. By the way, I do call him my step dad or as Larry likes to say, he’s my bonus dad.

Last but absolutely NOT least, my Hubby! Happy Father’s Day Honey! You are a wonderful dad and husband. We are blessed to be part of your life. You are so giving in everyway and a great provider. You have brought so much love into my life. I adore you! I hope you had a great flight today and I look forward to you coming back home to me. I love you…Until next time….

Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there! Cherish every moment, life is short and precious!

The price of Cucumbers.....WHAT!?

I normally get groceries at the Commissary but I was already at Wal-Mart and decided to get some stuff. The Cucumbers were $1.18 EACH! WHAT! Are they crazy!?!? So, Tuesday, I bought some tomato and cucumber plants. Since we don’t have time to tend to a garden we decided to just put a few plants in pots. So, I got 2 Better Boy plants, 2 Large Cherry Tomato plants and 2 Cucumber plants. There were already some tiny tomatoes and 1 tiny cucumber. My Papa would be proud that I at least planted a few things! My Papa…the mention of him brings to mind wonderful memories. I’ve talked about him before on my blog but I’m sure as the plants grow and produce you’ll hear more about Papa!

Wednesday…Busy Busy Busy! Larry worked from home today and between emails and such we did errands. I’m still selling stuff on our local internet service. It is really cheap to use and I have sold TONS of stuff on there. Yesterday and today I made 2 sales each day. My father-in-law, Sparky, laughs at me because I’m selling so much stuff “on my computer”. Of course he doesn’t understand all the uses of the internet. A few days ago he said, “You still selling stuff”? I said, “I sure am. I’m in a sellin’ mood and the right price takes it home”. His response? “Well, don’t sell my trailer hitch that’s in your garage”. Guess you had to be there but it was so funny! I told him I was thinkin’ about selling Larry but decided it took me so long to find him, I’d better keep him.

We started laying the wood floor…the last room to lay! Yeaaaaahhhh! Of course we barely got started and hit a snag but none the less, we have started it. Larry is hoping to be off on Friday so we can continue working on it. We only pulled the carpet up in one half of the room and just shifted furniture.

Tonight we picked up a piece of furniture I bought from a lady here in Warrensburg. My step-dad gave me his mother’s china cabinet which I just love. Well I saw for sale on our local sight a Buffet Cabinet. I’ve been wanting one. So I took the drawer from the china cabinet to the ladies house and it matches pretty well. It’s in the garage until we get the floor laid since we are in the process of laying it in the dining room. Once it’s moved I’ll give it some TLC; cover some scratches and brighten it up with a coat of Old English. I’m so excited about it!

Still having issues with my back but the show must go on!

Chat again soon...

Yard Sale...Storms...Back Pain

Well, I'm way over due with updating the blog. We have been very busy and time to sit and type seems to be very little.

We have had so much rain and storms! I know you in GA would love to have some of the rain and we would gladly share if we could. We've had major storms with extremely high winds. There have been tornado's as well. We lost a tree in our front yard in the wee hours of the morning last Friday. We have two story bay windows and it was right in front of the windows. Thankfully, it fell toward the road and NOT onto the house. Thank you Lord! It has been over a week of one severe storm after another and we are so blessed that us and our home has remained safe. Our pond is FULL and is draining into the driveway and into the front yard so needless to say, it's pretty wet around here.

We had a yard sale this past Sat. and Sun. We don't like to have it on Sunday but due to weather and Larry's travel, we had it when we could. We did well. Sold a lot of stuff and are donating the remainder. I was not about to bring it all back in the house when we are trying to clean up. Aunt Carol came over and spent the day with us on Sat. It was nice having time with her. Larry and his brother Terry cut up the tree while I did the yard sale and they hauled the wood to his dad's for this coming winter. We were all so very tired! Yard sales are a lot of hard work. We had so much stuff stored in the basement for the sale and Larry brought the majority of it up by himself. What a good guy! He didn't complain one bit...just did whatever I said. Hmmm, if only that worked all the time! Ha!

I have trouble with my back and shoulder and of course my back has started acting up. Not sure if it was from lifting and moving stuff for the sale, picking up brush or what but it sure is agitated. I went to see my friend Tiffany for massage therapy on Monday. Massage, that word sounds relaxing, however, when you are being worked on because of back pain....not so relaxing. Today, Tuesday, I do feel some better but no where near 100% yet.

Well, I've got to try to get some stuff done. I just wanted to update and say that we are doing well and have survived the horrible weather. More later and hopefully more interesting than this one. Ha ha! We are busy and I'm in pain...that about sums it up!

Love to all!

Sunday & Monday.....

This is a photo I took at a park in Germany.

Sunday…I’ve been waiting on the Sex and the City movie to come out since the last TV episode. Today I saw the movie! I drove to the city and met Shelly and Joy at the theatre. It was so good! Ok, if you have not seen it yet, be prepared, rated R is putting it mildly. I’m not really sure how it got in theaters with the scenes it had but it did. The topics and the scenes were the TV version on steroids! But, for you Sex and the City fans, it’s a must see! The writers did a great job and actors were of course fabulous!

Larry left for VA. His travel day was not so great. Loooong story but to sum it up, the spend most of his day waiting on planes, his connecting flight was cancelled after hours and hours of waiting….finally they got rental cars and drove 2 ½ hours to the final destination. He got to the hotel, checked in and was in bed around 2am or so. Good news….only 2 more TDY’s after this one! YEAH!!!!!! He is SO ready to move and to start his new job. (Me too!)

After the movie we had a late lunch and then Shelly wanted me to walk to Three Dog Bakery. I’ve heard of bakeries for dogs but never been to one. Oh, I got Miss Molly some goodies! I got her a “Pupcake” which was about the size of a mini muffin pan. It had icing and a rose on top. I also got her a “Pupline”. I gave her ½ of the pupcake and she went NUTS. She loved it, licked up every single crumb! She was a happy pup!

Monday…Today the 3 youngest started summer school for the month of June from 7:45am-Noon. They did NOT want to go. Their mother signed them up and they were not happy about it. Laura has begged me to get her out of it but I can’t. So this morning they woke up not so excited and went to school. I picked Laura up a little early to take her to an appointment. Cat got Sean and Marissa. They rushed home, ate a fast lunch and out the door they went to VBS. Marissa is the only one young enough to participate in VBS but Laura and Cat are volunteering. Sean said he did not want to volunteer, he wanted to be lazy! The girls came home and brought a friend with them. When they were coming in the driveway they saw a huge snapping turtle in the road. They came in the house and told me they wanted to go rescue it. They were watching out the window as they were telling me about it and Laura screamed, the turtle got hit.

Next subject....We have 5 bay windows in our house and 2 of them have build in benches. Last Saturday Larry and I got some wood and cut it to fit the seat. Today I cut and put foam on it and covered it with fabric. Man, that’s a tough job. Looks easy when you are watching someone on TV do it. Of course, they have helpers. It is dang near impossible to do it by yourself. The foam doesn’t slide over the fabric so you have to pick the thing up many many times to get it in the right position. Of course the fabric was not long enough…by just a few inches. So, I cut a piece of the fabric and stitched it together. I finished 1 of them and have 1 more to do. I hung curtains in Sean’s room today too. I also started refinishing an old picture frame.

Well, if I had a pause button I would have just pressed it. Marissa just spilled the new BLUE Mtn Dew on my living room rug!!!!! UGH! Did I say BLUE?!?! Surprisingly, it doesn’t look too bad. I think I can get it out…but did I tell you it was BLUE? They are not normally allowed drinks in the living room but I let her because they are watching a movie. Oh well, no use cryin’ over spilt Mtn Dew!

Sean just came in here to pick on me. He SO has his dad’s personality.

Well, my popcorn bowl is empty and so is my Diet Coke can so I guess it’s time to finish up this blog. I’m behind and my Momma reminded me in an email this evening. She said, “I can’t believe there is no news in the Parr house. I miss reading about you tizzy, busy life.” Thanks for the encouragement Mom! Ha ha! I love you Momma!