Coming soon

I have several posts that Im working on so hang on and get ready for an update. Thanks and be back soon!!!

3 Counties and 3 Pools

The plan for last Friday was this:

1. Doctor appt for me at 10
2. Lunch with the boys and the Yums at 11:30
3. Open house at the boys school, drop off school supplies...also with the Yums from 1-3pm
4. Then swimming for the rest of the afternoon at the Arab Pool with the Yums

Here's how it really went...

1 and 2 went great and hen we went to the school to see all of our teachers and drop off school supplies and figure out which child went where and say hello to last years teachers and on the process we lost Ms. Yums keys so we spent some frantic time trying to locate those, then we were ready for number 4. With one little stop at the bank then we were ready to go for the rest of the afternoon. The boys were restless and ready to get on with the high dive jumping festivities. Well we drove to the bank and on our way there the bottom opened up and the rain came down in sheets. I figured that with it being 100 degrees plus outside that this was just a summer storm that would pass in no time. We decided to stop by the pool in Arab in the hopes that the rain would stop and we could resume our afternoon. Well the rain stopped but I guess it was too close to the end of the day for it to reopen, we decided to go to the Natatorium in Huntsville, it's indoors and they have a high dive, SCORE. We get there and the boys are jumping off the high dive as me, Ms. Yum and the youngest yum (who is just a year old) were chillin in the swim lane closest to the deep end (the better to see the high dive antics from). All of this lasted a max of 10 minutes, when the lifeguard warned the boys that they can not run, if one of them ran again then they would have to leave the pool for the rest of the day. Well someone supposedly ran again and we had to leave.

We were left with mo where to swim. I know that some of you are yelling "Grammy has a pool right next door" and yes this is true but remember that our priority is the HIGH DIVE people!!! Water is not good enough, we need diving boards and high dives. You know, high dives that make your face turn red when you try to do "twisty things" from it...like John Avery did on our brief time at the Natatorium.

Well, we did end up going to Grammy's pool and swan for maybe 15 minutes before it poured down rain on us. I guess it just wasn't our day to swim and I am thankful that we didn't get struck by lightening.

Always an adventure here at the double wide :)

Backstory on the Matress in the Living Room

So the beginning of the mattress in the living is kind of 2 fold.

The first part is that our boys have pretty much always slept in the same bed with us. I know that some people don't agree with allowing your kids to sleep in the same bed, and that's fine but this is my house and my kids and, in the words of my youngest, This is How we Doos It. And all the cosleeping was great when the boys were small but now that they are getting bigger it's harder to find prime space in the King size bed and even if there is space, it probably sweaty or drooly from a munchkin being there a few minutes ago, add to that the fact that John Avery loves to DIG his toes/feet under any part of whomever he happens to be touching, even though he knows that it drives all of us CRAZY!!!! Soooooo, that has lead to Brian sometimes getting up in the middle of the night and sleeping on the couch. (Normally the boys don't get into our bed until around 3 or so and I am unconscious next to everyone and can sleep through ANYTHING)

Ok part deux...I decided to have a movie night at home and put the single mattress in the living room so ten boys could relax and even go to sleep if they felt like it during the movie....well it never left!!! And with it being summer, we haven't been very firm on bed times so we just let the boys sleep in our bed while they watch their channel while we watch our channel in the living room and then Brian ends up falling asleep anyway so he just starts sleeping on the mattress because he knows that that is where hens gonna end ho anyway, why delay the inevitable.

And that, is then story of the mattress in the living room. Oh and I told Brian that i told all you guys that there was now a sheet on the mattress and he said that that just meant that the mattress was here to stay...ugh, hopefully not.

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\Kodak Pictures\2004-10-17\100_

C:\My Documents\My Pictures\Kodak Pictures\2004-10-17\100_, originally uploaded by mrholland24.

So my boys are gonna be starting school soon and John Avery's teacher wanted me to put some photos of him together for a class project. This actually worked out great because I was trying to think of how I can get some pics on my blog even though all I have is my iPad.
So I'm hoping to use Flikr to make this possible.

If anyone knows of another photo sharing thingy just drop me a note.

oh and this pic is of John Avery when he was around 6months old. Isn't he hilarious?? If you know him now, he is still hilarious. Man I love this little boy!!!!

Update on our mattress in the living room...

Well folks, Brian decided to put a sheet on the mattress that he sleeps on in the living room. I'm not sure why but he did. My husband never ceases to surprise me. I hope that when school stars back (August 9), the boys will be back in their own bed and I might be able to sleep with my husband again...but in this house, you just never know.

The boys are going to be spending a few days with my brother and his family so I hope to get a date night out of Brian, but probably not. Il let y'all know.

Have a great weekend and if you're looking for a fun app for your iphone or iPad try iglowsticks. It's free too!!!!

Pig Mania!!!! And post titles

I really suck at post titles and I apologize now and for all the future post titles that will be crappy from here on out.

On a different note, if you haven't played the game Pig Mania you need to go out and get it...your kids will love it too. You can find it on ebay but I haven't seen it in any stores. It is a game that Brian played and loved as a child.

Ok good night all:)

Stuff and things

Is it bad to steal blog post ideas from your "friends" blogs?? I put friends in quotations because I am really a blog stalker. I read all different kinds of blogs and I may know the people but I don't KNOW them. Like today, when I was keeping a nursery class at church, there was a mom that came to pick her child up and I almost said something about her blog but luckily I caught myself. See, I only work in the nursery once a month but I read her blog like everyday!!!! Hehehehe. Ok so the real blog post is .......


DREAM HOUSE

My dream house is not a doublewide trailer, although the price would be. I LOVE craftsman style homes and all the built-ins and the light styles....oooooo ahhhhh. They have great entry ways and are simple yet really elegant. I have a feeling that I will be living in a huge mtetal building because I am all about space......I have two boys, I need lots and lots of space and several doors in between too....boys are stinky. Hehe. Oh and I want a porch out back with a nice grill (because I am the grill master at my house) and a housekeeper. I have a book of all the neat things I want inside but I would need tomscan them and maybe I will one day so you all (all three of you) can see what I am like in real life...hahahahahaha. As if you three don't know me.

Ok that wasn't reallly about my dream house much so here's a tip....... Check out this blog. Www.thepioneerwoman.com. She rocks!!!!!! I wanna be her

Tucker family

1. Brian is my husband



2. Brian doesn't have many friends



3. Brian has one friend that he has known for about 20 years



4. That friends' mom passed away this weekend. Please pray for the family



5. Brian's friend has a sister that works at the school my boys attend



6. At the service today the sister introduced us to her husband and described us as "the folks that got grannies house when she died".
I hope they don't think we are gonna come to their house and get stuff now.

And I hope this post wasn't insensitive. I love the Tucker family and would do anything for them and I think they know that.

Whew....

Ok so I am well on my way back to the real world and the blog world. I do fear that all this time off work will lead to some pretty stressful days ahead so I apologize ahead of time.

Hmmm...some funny stories from my trip to the Emergency Room....at Huntsville Hospital.

HH is a wonderful hospital and I enjoyed my stay as much as someone can enjoy a horribly high fever of 103.5. Ok so I woke Brian up at about 4:30 am on Monday the 28 th. I was barely able to walk and everything was very fuzzy and I really had to focus if someone was talking to me. So we get to the ER and Brian drops me off at the door while he parks and I go into register.....remember all things are fuzzy, hearing, seeing, walking....I read the question and I read it as "when was the last time you were hospitalized?". So I put 'childbirth' and then have a seat to wait for Brian (sometimes it just makes you feel better to have someone there, even if there isn't anything they can do). Well this kid comes over and asks me when my baby is due....oh sorry, I'm not pregnant. I thought it asked when i was in the hospital last. He looks at me like i am seriously challenged.

Now let me tell you about the beautiful outfit that I chose for this occasion. I have on lime green flip flops, yellow pj pants with green frogs on them and a UAB shirt that I have had for about 11 years now and have some great ventilation holes in the armpits. I am so sick that I have not had a bath in several days and have not brushed my teeth either. Funky, I know but I was REALLLY sick. At least I got to change my shirt ( ever the planner, I had a bag ready with ban extra shirt in it).

Enter the doctor, a mighty fine doctor by the way in looks and doctorlyness...hehehe. Then a whole bunch of hospital stuff happened like x-rays, and urine samples and blood and temperatures. Enter hunky doc and he says that I have Erlichiosis, a tick bite illness. So he gives a prescription for the illness, then as he isnleaving he utters my favorites words.......Rectal Exam.

WHAT?!?!? Brian thought it was a joke, I knew it was no joke. Brian bailed. I prepared for the inevitable.

See my red blood cell count is low and hunky doc said he wanted to make sure that I wasn't bleeding In my butt.....if you know me well, you know that my butt has had many trials and tribulations that I may tell the rest of y'all about one day. I thinkn the real reason was my frog pj pants....hunky doc was diggin' the frogs.

So that was the great finale to my ER visit. Thanks Huntsville Hospital and hunky doc.....he's also a farmer.....ahhh dreamy :)

Changes

I am trying to make the changes to my blog....and I'm really sick so that just leads to a grumpy woman with a jacked up
blog.

Changes

Changes are coming.........stay tuned.

Off my chest

Ok here goes...I don't think that my older siblings read this blog but I really wish they did if only for this post...

Why will you not give our dad a chance??? He loves you and your spouses and your children but he hasn't been able to get to known them. I understand that there are two sides to every story and I also know that dad is not perfect but doesn't he deserve a chance to explain or answer your questions or even a free pass...what if it was your mother's fault, what if dad is really a good guy and you have wasted decades not knowing that, what if your children will hate you one day for keeping them from him, what if this is all water under the bridge and we could all have a fresh start.

He hurts because he doesn't see you guys. You are his children. His first children. Is it because you think he isn't really your dad?? They have DNA tests for that. Is it because of my mom...get over it.

Dad doesn't know that i'm writing this and he would probably be upset if he found out.

I wish I could tell you how happy he was to see y'all the other day and to finally meet his grandchildren.

Oh and sis, people might not mistake us for each other if you graced us with your presence more often than once a decade or so.

Ok that's my rant and I have wanted to call them and tell them this personally but haven't felt like I should.

You are my brother and sister and I love you, so does our father. Please try to put the past behind you and move on.

Kickin' it Redneck style

This isn't the serios post that I was talking about but there isn't anything on tv and I'm not ready for bed yet so here are some things about my quirky husband that need some air time....(my husband is VERY quirky, hese are just the mow recent)

1. I recently put the single mattress from the boys' bunk bed on the floor of the living room for the boys to use during a family movie night....well, our boys usually end up in our bed during the wee hours of the morning and Brian ends up on the couch. There are lots of reasons for that...it's quite warm with 4 bodies in a King size bed and John Avery likes to dig his toes under your body, which is not conducive to some good sleepy time...well since its summer we have not been as stern about bed time and sleeping in their own bed so Brian has taken to sleeping on the single mattress in the floor of the living room. You might be a redneck, if your husband sleeps on a mattress in the living room.

2. Brian LOVES the fact that we live in a double wide trailer (insert heavy sarcasm). It has to do with the fact that he grew up in one and never wanted to live in one again....ahhh, karma. anyway so Brian has the nose of a bloodhound and complains that he can smell the roof shingles heating up in the summer so to combat that and also to cool the house during the hot summer months Brian has come up with a plan...put a sprinkler on the roof. And we even have a tire on the metal roof to the boys' treehouse.

We are definitely trendsetters, even for the redneck world :)

Off Track

I'm sorry to have not posted in a while but I don't think that there Ais anything interesting going on around here and I am TOTALLY addicted to a blog called The Pioneer Woman..check her out at www.thepioneerwoman.com. She rocks and has a cooking page and photography page. Her love story is a good read too!!! I would love for my blog to be like hers..but it can't.

There is a post that I have been thinking about for a while and I hope to have it ready soon. Some folks may no find it interesting but it's something that i need to get off my chest. So with that I will say goodbye and hopefully have that post up soon. Thanks for hanging in there my loyal 3 readers.

Funny Things

Just a few funny things that I thought I would share with ya'll. Before the boys were in school (and even now) they didn't know the proper way to refer to things, like all kids, they came up with their own grammar. Some examples of that is...instead of killed my boys would say deaded (ex: momma, he deaded my bug that I caught) another thing is instead of does they would say doos (example: john avery why do you line all your cars up? Because that's how I doos it). We (grammy, poppy included) have taken these sayings and use them all the time now.

The boys are going cradab (crawdad) hunting later today. If you want to see some pics, it's easier if you take a look at my facebook page. Hope that doesn't inconvenience anyone.

There are lots and lots and lots of pics on there!!!!

25 Things About Me...

Ok I saw this on someone else's blog and thought that I would do this on mine, not that my 2 readers don't know me well already.

1. I lost a tooth while my mom was at the tanning bed when I was little. My mom was busy so the lady that owned the tanning bed got me some warm salt water to gargle with.

2. I like to start fires, always have. I'm not a pyro but I like fire.

3. Some friends and I made a music video to Walk Like an Egyptian and Manic Monday by the Bangles on 3rd or 4th grade.

4. I have had my mouth washed out with soap, at school. I don't think it helped.

5. In first grade, I had a huge crush on Anthony Moody (we are friends on Facebook now) and I told him that I had to tell him a secret on the playground, behind a tree and kissed him on the cheek instead.

6. I have only had one broken bone and it was my pinky finger.

7. Joey was my favorite New Kids on The Block

8. I love to roll yards or TP as some call it, my dad used to take us.

9. I like to cook but don't like to clean AT ALL!!

10. I have a degree in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. It only took me 9 years to get it.

11. I have lots of friends but very few that I do a lot with.

12. I had a guinea pig named Baby (after Dirty Dancing).

13. In high school I worked at a store that sold pool products and made gift baskets, because those so go together... love ya B.J.!!

14. My great aunt and uncle brought me a wedding present after I had been married for a year and they said it was because they didn't think it would last. Gee thanks, Uncle Red.

15. I used to suck my index finger when I was little....it was very hard to stop.

16. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to travel!!!!

17. Won an award in the 6th grade 4H roundup day for driving a lawnmower better than any of the other kids.

18. Won a seed spitting contest at our church's fall festival in high school.

19. Love being a secretary but wish i had one now.

20. I don't like to wake up in the mornings..not at all!!!

21. I am a clutterbug but wish I was organized.

22. i am really tired of thinking of things...this list is soo long.

23. I like Hydrangeas, Wisteria, Turtles, Stars and Moons.

24. I only like Barbeque PorK Skins.

25. YAH, the last one...I would really like to be a professional Motocross rider or softball player or something cool like that :)

THE END..I don't i will do another one of these for a LONG time!!! Hope you learned something about me and if you didn't, oh well.

Exciting News!!!

No, we are not pregnant, I figured out how that was happening and had that taken care of...believe me, the world is better off with less "little me's" running around..two is enough.

Ok, seriously, Brian is opening up his own shop on June 1st, 2010. He signed the lease today and has already (FINALLY) told his current boss about this decision. So it is located on HWY 231 as you are heading into Arab before you get to Warehouse Discount Groceries, across from Marshall County Concrete. His business name is

FIXED RIGHT AUTOMOTIVE
(256) 604-0736

He currently has a sign up stating that it's coming soon, so if anyone needs some work done on their car, just holler. :) We feel that this is what God is leading us to do right now, I have the insurance through my job and I make enough to pay our bills right now, and we aren't having to go into debt for this business.

I think and pray that it will be successful.

Well, I guess that's all for now.

Ball Schedule for Jacob

Take me out to the ball park...

So we are starting t-ball/baseball here in the Holland House and that leaves no time for anything. This year the boys are going to be on two separate teams and that means that there will be double the excitement as before!!! I really do get into their games but after a couple of months, it just gets really old. But anyway, John Avery is still in T-ball and Jacob is on a baseball team.

**Sidenote** I love both of my children and I really don't think that I place one above the other but there are just certain things that are true no matter if you are their parent or not. So, John Avery (youngest) has natural athletic ability but he just doesn't care enough about it right now to cultivate that talent, but he does have fun. On the other hand, Jacob, has no natural talent at all but he more than makes up for it in sheer determination. You should see him...last year in T-ball, Jacob played every position at once....if he saw the ball, he went after it. He is so determined and I know that that will take him far!!!

zzzzzzzzz

So I lay here in bed awake. John Avery blessed me with a trail of puke from my side of the bed all the way to the bathroom. I am now awake and can't get back to sleep. And I have to be at the social security office at 9 am...that is just too exciting to think about. Ok good night :)

Nicknames

As I was getting in the van this morning to go to church (yes, I was the last one out the door....big shocker) my husband informed me that John Avery had come up with a new nickname for me...are you ready????

Redheadneck

Gee thanks son!!

Oh well, it was only a matter of time before I became a topic of his hilarious and off the wall brain musings.

His nickname for Jacob is Jermamaw....I really love the way he says it too!! So if you see him ask him to say it for you.

Oh yeh, Owen Jett Richardson was born last night at about 7:20. He weighed 8 lbs and 1 oz and was 19.25 inches long. Good job jenn and God bless you for procreating with my brother....as I'm sure anyone who knows Loren can agree with.

Hopefully my next post will have pictures of Owen with his cousins and aunt and uncle!!!

See you all soon!!

Michelle

Purpose

When I think about my blog I wonder.. what can I say, what's it for, should I always be positive or just real or what?? So I guess I'll just be all those, since it is about me and I am not always positive :)

Anyway, we live in a very rural part of Morgan County, Alabama and a very small community- Union Hill. I love the school and the fact that we live right next door to Grammy, Brian's mom and her husband, Poppy...who just broke his leg and it's in the middle of where Brian and I work (Brian works in Cullman and I work in Guntersville). But there are a lot of not-so-good things about it too. We have several neighbors with kids and I don't always have the time, patience or groceries to take care of them all the time. There is a neighbor and it just seems like they only come over to eat...I think they have food at home, they also don't really want to leave unless they have to. I know that I should help people but sometimes it seems like they and their parents are using me. I wonder if my parents ever felt this way?? What should I do. I want my sons where I can see them so I know what's going on and because I don't necessarily agree with how the neighbors raise their kids, I don't want mine over there.

There is actually a neighbor kid knocking on the door right now....I'm not answering.

So for all the millions (yeh right) of people that read this blog...what do you think?

I want to help and I want my home to be comfortable and for the boys to want to have their friends over but when is enough, enough?

Owen Jett Richardson

My brother and his wife are having their little baby boy today!!! His name is going to be Owen Jett Richardson...Jett is Jennifer's maiden name. I am so excited and he had a ustream going so we can see it (when Jenn let's him turn it on..hehe). I'll try to post some news when I find out.

So......

Well I thought that there wasn't anyone checking and work has been super crazy, not that it ever isn't, anyway, my aunt seems to be my only follower right now and I thank her. So, shout out to Nanant!!!!! Love you!!! Another thing is that my dad is turning 60 on Monday. I hope the next year is better than the last year. I love you dad!!!!

There really isn't much going on at home these days, other than the sleep overs, spankings, figuring out how to be a good mom but still protect your children. I think I'll talk more about that in a minute for now, I gotta take a break...be back in a minute.

Test

I am going to try to download some pics and see how it turns out.

This picture is a from December of 2008 and its the boys playing the Wii. Can you tell which boy is which??
Jacob has the shirt with the orange sleeves and John Avery is Chillaxing.

Pictures

Ok I know that I need to put some pictures on here but bear with me, I am just getting the hang of this. I promise some pics soon!!!!!

Blogging

So now that I have entered the world of blogging, what do I blog about?? My work is private but ooohhhh sooo funny and my family thinks that everything should be private but I don't do private too well.

I would love to back up and tell our whole story but I don't think that I should do that so I think I will just let the goo flow and put some backgound in as we go along.

Chicken Piccata

I LOVE food and I love to cook food...I just wish I had someone to clean up the kitchen after one of my masterpieces..haha.

I also like quick cooking items that taste like restaurant quality stuff..so, I picked up a box of Chicken Piccata by Macaroni Grill and tried it (you have to add the chicken). I loved it and it tasted great. Even Jacob liked it and he is usually the pickiest of eaters. (Please know that Brian doesn't like anything with lemon in it so he did not try this, as he usually doesn't try what I make anyway because he's a manly man and can't be bothered with anything other than meat, potatoes or pizza). Anyway so I bought some chicken that is already in strips and followed the directions and it was great leftover too. (another side note: Brian does NOT like leftovers).

Another reason I liked this ?recipe?, box meal?, is because I don't like capers but I do like the flavor that they add to the dish and this didn't have any capers in it but all the flavor was there. Try it and let me know what you think.

More, More, More

I feel as if I have been storing posts in my head for years...so these first few posts may seem really random.

I AM really random!!! In everything that I do and in all the people that I meet. Just ask anyone that knows me...TOTALLY RANDOM. I also have a love of music, all kinds; food, all kinds; movies, all kinds; purses; clothes..well you get the idea.

My husband is the funny one...he is sooo quick witted and it will cut to the bone too but he is generally harmless. I am the irreverent one that says all the wrong things at the right time.

I have had a pretty normal childhood although I am now learning that my parents, while they did the best they could, there are still some things lacking in my character. Brian often says that he has to raise me...oh well, I feel the same about him.

My sons are too funny. Jacob is the oldest and he is so Type A. We call him "nanny Jacob" sometimes because he feels the need to be a parent to his little brother. He is really bright, loves school, determined in everything and just cute and silly.

John Avery is our youngest and he is a master puker. He is so good at it that he knows just when to go to the bathroom or get to a garbage can. He is too cool for school, thinks all the girls love him (and they do...especially older ones), and loves music like his mama.

John Avery's current favorite song is, unfortunately, Honkeytonk Badonkadonk. I admit, it is my fault...I got him the iPod for his birthday and I downloaded the song (although I really didn't think about it as being negative) and now he loves to sing it to anyone and everyone..so warning!!!

Ok my fingers are tired and I must go so that I can eat some ice and watch House!!!!

Good night to all and I hope I can figure out how to post from my cell.

TA DAH!!!!

Ok I heart blogs and I love to read others blogs...undercover of course. I have tried to resist this urge to blog but today I was overcome with the need to share!!!! hahaha.

I cannot promise that I will be funny or serious or have anything that is worth reading but I will promise that it will be interesting .

So, for those of you who don't know me, I am a wife to Brian, mother to Jacob (7) and John Avery (5.5) and a social worker. My sons are HILARIOUS and I promise that I am the farthest thing from a perfect mom or perfect social worker but I do know that we all have fun and make some great memories!!!! As a social worker there is no lack of funny stories but to protect the innocent, I hope to keep those stories to a minimum.

I love to cook, hate to clean, love to watch movies and read books and play video games. My husband says that I am escaping but so what!!!

I have lots of friends and family while my husband has slim to none of those.

So without furthur adoo....