Sloppy Slop

These sorts of stories are supposed to happen to someone else. I am supposed to be the one on the other side of the computer screen giggling away and shaking my head, but this seems to be my lot more as I get older and older and have more and more kids.

The older boys ran to go get a friend and bring him back to our house for the weekend. In doing so they picked up a bucket of slop to give our pigs. Now if you aren't sure what slop is let me briefly explain it to you: It is left over food, that instead of throwing out, you save in a bucket to give to pigs. Anyway, we have a few families that have given slop to our pigs, well they are their pigs too. We own three pigs, and two are owned by other families. Anyway, we called the boys to let them know we were in a hurry, so we met them on the road and switched vehicles with them. Now if we had KNOWN that there was a bucket of slop in the back of the car we would have made sure it went home with the boys and that would have been the end of the matter, but we didn't. Boys had other things on their mind....as usual!

Anyway, Den and I hopped in the other car and began to drive down the road. We weren't very far down the road at all when we both smelled a putrid stench in the car. I thought it was odd because the car is fairly new (to us) and we haven't really had much of anything in it. I thought that may be the boys left a garbage bag in the back or something (that's another post). We rolled the windows down and continued down the highway. We decided to make a quick pit stop at McDonalds for one of their yummy vanilla iced coffees and therefore found ourselves in the busy drive-thru. As we were sitting there, with no air circulating around us from the outside, the rotten smell began to perfume the air of the car again. It was unbearable and so I told Den to pop the trunk and I would investigate. I calmly and quickly ran around to the back of the car. There were other cars lined up behind us so I was going to make it snappy. The trunk didn't budge so I patted on it a couple of times to signal to Den to push the button again. Then I heard the familiar unlatching sound and I raised the hatch, however when I glanced inside the back of the car I saw something that took me by utter surprise. It was a bucket, tipped over, with food all over the back, but the worst part, the part that made me scream without being self-conscious while standing in the drive thru of McDonalds were all the maggots! Yes, thousands upon thousands of writhing wiggly maggots. I couldn't believe my watery eyes! I quickly shut the trunk and ran around front. I am sure that the people behind us were extremely curious, and maybe even concerned, as to what in the world was in the back of our car that caused that sort of extreme negative reaction, but I didn't have time to worry about them, instead I hopped in the passenger side of the car and said, "We have a bucket full of old slop with maggots pulsating all over the back of the trunk." There I said it, and I just calmly looked at him to see what he would say or do about it. So what did he do? NOTHING! We pulled forward, paid for our drinks, calmly put straws in our coffees and drove out of there, all relaxed like as if we didn't have white maggots mating and multiplying in the back of our car.

As we turned the corner we had a decision to make, go ahead and drive to our previous destination and let the maggots have their way with our car, or drive home and have the boys go on a maggot cleansing. Obviously, we chose the latter and burnt rubber down the highway.

I called the boys to warn them that we were on our way home and that we weren't happy. I told them to grab something to try to get the rotten food and maggots out of the back. When we got home we pulled up to the barn where the boys were waiting for us. I told them to check the trunk. Their friend (Reed) said it wasn't that bad at first. I was like, "Whhhaaaaaaahhht?" Then as they began to try to pick up the food they realized that the maggots were in layers and had started an ambitious colony in days previous to their discovery. Yes, even the boys were disgusted. I, of course, chimed in my timely girlie screams on perfect cue. Finally, they grabbed a shop-vac to try to get all the stragglers, we had to remove the cover, and the spare tire, scrubbed the carpet with hot soapy water, and eventually we felt good about the situation. We decided that we had time to still make it to our previous destination. We profusely thanked the boys for their help and headed out again.

The next morning it was time for church. I had gathered a few things that belonged to other people so that I could deliver their items back to them. Upon opening the trunk, again, we discoverd more maggots. Don't ask me how they got there. I'm not sure I even want to know. I just want to know that they will NOT be returning. So we have decided that no more bringing home slop buckets. This isn't the first time that a bucket of slop has been left in one of our vehicles, by accident, from one of the boys. It's easy to do. We have a lot of people leaving the vehicle, a lot of things to bring in to the house, and therefore a bucket of slop is easily overlooked.

In any case, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger......I guess.....

Blunder

Setting: I was driving down the road today with Levi. I decided it would be important to share with him some current events that I had just learned about earlier that day. Sort of a little homeschool moment of sorts.

Me: Levi, I read that there was a terrible tragedy in Bangladesh. It was very tragic, and it sure makes you stop and think about how fortunate we are.

Levi: What happened?

Me: Well I guess there was a really big cyclopse that killed about 3,100 people there. 1,000 are still uncounted for, and their fear is that the death toll could be upwards of about 10,000 people.

Levi: *Big eyes* Wow.....Are you kidding me?!!

Me: No, honey. *very solemn and making sure he understands the seriousness of it* I was looking at the pictures on the internet and it was pretty devastating, and very scary.

Levi: Wow, I didn't know those were real.

Me: Yeah...I guess they are pretty bad in certain parts of the world. They can catch you by surprise and wipe out EVERYTHING!

Levi: "Whoa"........*still looking confused, but awestruck he replies* "Sooooo what is a cyclopse again?"

Me: "Ohhhh did I say cyclopse?"

Levi: "Yeah!"

Me: *giggling hard now* "I meant cyclone!"

Levi: "Ohhhhh....cuz I didn't think cyclopses really existed, but when you said it JUST happened and in another part of the world I was like, "Wow!"

Me: Laughing laughing laughing at MYSELF! I am just glad that I caught that or I would have lost all crediblity with him in the future......

You say cyclone/I say cyclopse.

PrufeReeding

Okay, so I'm NOT good about rereading my comments. I cannot tell you how many times I will go back (after I have published it) and read something that I have typed that is off the wall. I cringe and yet I laugh. I don't know why I don't just slow down and proofread. I would be ALL over my boys for that with their schoolwork.

I am trying to do better though. When Mary was here I watched her triple proofread her beautiful eloquent comments before her index finger ever graced the publish button. She exclaimed that she could not understand why I was so hasty. Does she know me at ALL? I know that by me pointing out her error proof comments that this puts a little added strain on her perfected comments, but I am trying to stretch you Miss Mary.....Rofl!

The thing is what I type and what I am thinking are so polar opposites, some times, that even I am bewildered and wonder what I could have possibly been thinking....hehehe I am either borderline dyslexic or a genius. I prefer to think of myself as a genius, however. This is how I survive people. I am an optimist at heart!

The other thing I despise, and yes I said despise, are those blasted letters that you have to put at the bottom of some peoples blogs in order for your comment to show up. Are you kidding me? It takes me longer to get the wackadoooo letters in order than it does to rattle off my dyslexic comment! Yes, again, I could very carefully look at each letter and memorize the order of them, but HELLO I don't have all day!

So, the one thing I will say is that I love to type. I used to dream about typing when I was younger and just starting out on my keyboard love affair. I know I know.....a little appalling, but that is how my gray matter works. I love doing anything fast, and so typing was a high for me. *blushing from my bizarre confession* So when I get done typing up my post for the day, and I have done it in record time, with a 15 second proofread, and I hit that spell check button and it says, "What a beautiful non-error spelling piece of art, please post it you blogging genius!" I get all giddy! Okay okay...it doesn't actually say that, all it really says is "Done spellchecking" How weak is that?! I'm contemplating emailing Blogger about it. There should be a reward for such things! I need that sort of feedback!

So, in conclusion, if you see one of my comments or one of my posts that just doesn't make sense; ya know, there is some obscure word in there that lacks any kind of rhyme or reason, turn a blind eye to it. I do! Maybe I should make this a "Works for me Wednesday" post....

Fender Bender

How you think a day will start, and how it may actually start out, are two VERY different things. I got up this morning determined to be ambitious. I have been feeling better all the time. I still have my sick days, but they are coming and going now (thank the Lord). Although I had intended to get an early start this morning I found myself lying on the sofa killing precious time. Then it came to me that I should run to Starbucks to get a little decaf something and a muffin. What a great way to start the morning and get my engine revved up. Orrrrr....was it?

I had Isaiah come along with me. Why? Because I didn't want to get all gussied up, and if I went inside the Starbucks I would have to look decent, but if I brought him along he could run in for me. After all, he is gorgeous straight out of bed....hehehe Anyway, my hair was tied up in a wispy bun, makeup barely washed off my face, no undergarment underneath my sweatshirt *clearing throat in shame*, and with sandals that showed off my nicked up nail polish I headed off to the Starbucks that was literally only 1 mile from home. What could possibly go wrong, right? WRONG!

So, after the drink was placed in my greedy little hands I began to back up, when a car behind me came up from out of nowhere and we collided. It was truly one of the most minor accidents. No damage to my vehicle, and only one headlight missing on hers. My thought was that we should, hopefully, be able to exchange info quickly and get back home. Well she didn't speak English. It was frustrating as we weren't able to make any progress. She called someone for me to speak to on her cell phone, but even after an interpreter intervened I couldn't get her to exchange her info with me. So this meant that a police officer would have to be called to the scene. Ugh!!

It was freezing outside and I was a little shaky, as this was my first accident EVER! I hopped back in my rig, and when I looked in my mirror I realized just how AWFUL I looked! My hair looked like it hadn't seen a brush that morning, and it hadn't. I used my fingers to wrap it up in a bun. My face looked like I had just woke up without a stitch of help from my makeup. I just thought this can't be happening.....ohhhh but it was.....hahaha Serves me right!!

Anyway, once the officer arrived it went rather smooth and we were on our way. Oh yeah....Den stopped by to be my hero. I just love him!! On the way home Isaiah and I discussed how important it was to be dressed for any and all unforeseen occasions. We laughed at the memory of the time I had went with my robe on, and mismatched flip flops, the week before. Oh my.......now THAT would have been a nightmare! He begged me to always get dressed, and look presentable from now on. I was giggling so hard when I heard the desperation in his voice of how embarrassed he would have been if it had happened on that day. To be honest, I would have been mortified if I had been caught in my robe too, but I think that would have been a moment he would have disowned me as his mom. A teen's perspective makes life so much more fun! ROFL

SIDE NOTE: Kristarella, STILL no camera! *sniffling*

I Got Tagged

I see that I was tagged NUMEROUS times.....hahaha I have enjoyed reading all of the lists. I am trying to think of information that you don't already know about me. So here it goes.

RULES:
1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged and that they should read your blog.

My facts/habits:

1. I am one of two daughters. My sister and I are only 13 months apart (I'm the baby), and we were, and still are, accused of being twins ALL the time. Which cracks us up. Our husbands don't believe us when we tell them how often this happens to us when we are together.

2. I didn't think I wanted to homeschool until Teresa had laid all the ground work with our parents. She did all the begging, convincing, research, praying, fasting and once the deal was sealed I jumped on the bandwagon with a quick "Me too?", and my parents quickly said "Yes." I got to ride on Teresa's coat tails a lot in my life, and it's been pretty grand!!! hehehe

3. I have hollered, "Whose dead? Whose dead? Whose dead?" at a gravesite funeral when I learned that someone's battery died and they needed jumper cables. NOT my finest moment!! I don't know why that didn't register with me!!!

4. I have served raw pork roast to company when I was first married. It wasn't even close to being done, but Den took a bite anyway to prove to all that it wasn't that bad. Believe me....it was that bad!!! hehehe

5. I have pinched my brother in laws behind, secretly, thinking it was my hubbys. Just so ya know, my sister and I's husbands are brothers, and looked very much alike from the back side. Nothing awkward about that moment....no sirree bob! hehehe

6. I have left my baby asleep in a car when going for a romantic walk with my husband, because I forgot I had a baby................."doh!"

7. I made a dress from scratch one time (again first married and only 17.). Right after finishing it I wore it to the mall, and looked at myself in the mirror at the Bon Marche' Macy, only to realize that I had put my pockets on backwards and upside down. THIS STILL CRACKS ME UP! Den, however, told me it was an amazing dress, and I had done a fantastic job! Don't you love him?! hehehe

8. When River was a baby, and I was at the DMV, I had set him up on the counter while signing some documents. You know those people are NEVER friendly, and once he was up on the counter he had an attack of diarhea that oozed from his diaper and shorts. The noise was repulsive and I thought I was going to die. This is when a huge glob landed on my shoe. The DMV officer said nothing, nor did I. We finished the transaction, and I carefully balanced the huge blob of poo on my shoe and walked away.....ROFL!


Honestly, everyone is being tagged. So here is what you do. If you have read this and you haven't done it yet, then please do it! Make sure you leave a comment on my blog telling everyone you have so we can come check it out!!!

No More SNAKES!

What are you looking at baby?What did you say sweetie? An infestation of snakes?

So we have a snake problem in our backyard. I can't stand it! I have lived up on hillbilly mountain and never ran into as many snakes as I have on my ridiculous small patch of lawn, in this backyard.



If you will recall our backyard is mostly made up of concrete. We have a basketball hoop, a small deck and an area for our hot tub, and then there is this small patch of earth that is so pretty and well landscaped (by the owners). Well this landscaped area is an infestation, I fear.


Our home is backed up to the neighbors green belt, and, in that long grassy space back there, he has planted himself a beautiful little garden. A garden that I can see from my master bedroom window and where I wonder if his tomatoes are turning red yet.....hehehe Anyway, I'm thinking that this may be playing a little part in my snake problem. Thankfully, they are just Gardner or is it Gartner snakes? So, harmless....but I DON'T CARE!!! I don't want to see a small snake, a green snake, or a snake with green eggs and ham. I don't like them SAM I AM!!
View from my backyard, overlooking neighbor's beautiful garden...and snake farm! LOL

So, the boys have been on a mission to kill them, and yes I want to remain completely oblivious to how many they have killed, and the only way to do this is to than bury them. Finish the job boys! Well they didn't, and I about had a heart attack!



I went outside, yesterday, to pull the weeds that grow like wild fire around here (I forgot how fast everything grows with all this rain), and while I was outside, admittedly a little jumpy out there, I came across this!
Thankfully dead, but over a foot long!!! I know what you are thinking....oh they are good for your yard.....yeah...NO THANKS!





Now it was dead, but like I said before..........."I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT!"



Well this is when the shrill scream (somewhat of a soul cleanser) came out of me. Abram and River came outside to see what the situation was. They were like "Ohhhh it's dead Mom, don't worry about it!" AGAIN.....Let's go over this....maybe we can ALL say this together....."I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT!"



So, the burial ceremony was quickly set in place. This is when Abram had to tell me where ALL the other ones were, also, buried, and where he thinks they may be coming from. Just two pretty little bushes that align the brick walkway. We think they may be NESTING (shivers) in them. Okay....I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THIS!



I'm exhausted just retelling this little story. So I finished weeding in my backyard, and I will admit I made River stay out there with me while I did so. He thought I was being silly, but I don't care. I was so jumpy that anything I caught out of my peripheral vision made me cry out. The boys thought it was funny, ridiculous and boring. Again....I don't care...........I had no pride....

Home SWEET Home

When pulling up to your house after you've been out and about, what are the tell tale signs that this is your home. Ya know, where you and your family abide? Is it the beautiful potted flowers that adorn your threshold?

Maaaaaaaaaybeeeeee................

Or is it the half ate, definitely been sucked on lollipop that sticks to your shoe just before you step inside?

Yep, that's it!! This is DEFINITELY my home SWEET home!!

Now, the next question is should I finish finding out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a lollipop? Well I guess it would be more tempting if I knew where HE left off.

Discussions Of Having More

Do I dare say it? Or type it? Should I put it out in the blogosphere for all to read and judge? YES, that's why I blog! lol

Den and I are praying about whether we are THROUGH having children, or whether the Lord wants us to have more. It's harder than you think really. I mean I know some of you are thinking five boys, how many more do you want? The truth is, I really don't know. You see in many ways I feel very complete and done, but I have learned that what I think or feel is only one small part of the equation. Sure it's my body, my mind, and mostly my decision, but I have to weigh in with my hubby, the Lord, and even talk to the boys about life with another.


I went to Starbucks the other day.....*wincing at even mentioning my Starbucks addiction again* and I saw a beautiful young gal behind the counter. So I began to chat with her (shockingly no one was in line). I asked her how her day was going, and she began to complain about her morning sickness. Well that was it, that's all she had to say, and I was practically falling over myself to sympathize with her. She said that she was only 4weeks and 3 days pregnant, which made me smile, for that means that she took a pregnancy test about 72 hours ago...hehehe Anyway, this got us talking about my kids, and I thought she was going to pass out when I told her I had five sons, two of whom were with me in my oversized, difficult to push, racing car, shopping cart (we were at Fred Meyers, and, yes, they have a Starbucks inside....*giddy*). Obviously, the "race car" shopping cart means I had my two youngest boys with me. So she said, "Wow....five boys! I bet you want a girl!" I smiled and said, "Well a girl would be grand, but I LOVE having all boys too! It's easier having all one gender, so I can't complain."

The conversation continued on with her confiding in me that she would like to have two or three kids, and didn't think she could handle five. I laughed, and retorted that we may have ONE more! Again, I thought she looked a little woozy from my declaration, and worried she may hit her head on the espresso machine (before my carmel mocha had been made, and put into my sweaty little palms). Well this is when a lady strolled up behind me in line, and the Starbucks girl declared to her that I had five sons, and I wanted another. I turned and smiled a little sheepishly wondering what the lady was thinking about the fact that we were talking about birthing children while casually ordering espresso drinks. The lady looked me up and down, and said, "Wow!" Thankfully, the boys and I were dressed relatively nice, for there is sometimes the stigma attached with large families that they can't afford their brood.

After getting my hot cup of creamy joe I pushed my huge, clunky, boy filled, cart and felt like I at least LOOKED put together. However, a few aisles over a lady stopped me to tell me that my slip was hanging too low. So much for looking like a hip girly mom who had her act together, right? hahaha

How Dare They

The natural gas company stopped by Friday morning, and without notice, or the politeness of knocking on our door, turned off our gas. I had no idea it was off until I went to turn on the stove and there was no flame. So I called Den, who said that it was odd and called the company. They let us know that since no one had came to their office, in person, to sign papers putting the account in our name that they turned us off. We didn't know that this was a requirement. We thought phoning it in, like all the other utilities, was ample enough. So Den filled out the paperwork, downtown, and then they said that they weren't going to turn it back on 'til Monday. Are you kidding me? So this meant no hot water, no heat, and no cooking for the entire weekend. Ridiculous...absolutely ridiculous!! Don't they know that we have a baby, children to feed, that we may die in the frigid cold, or worse yet in our filth with no shower. (Okay this may be a bit extreme, but you have to use every angle you can in situations like these, and oh yeah...it didn't work.)

So I had to call our visiting company that had intended to come up for the weekend, and let them know that it wasn't a great weekend after all. Not embarrassing in the least....hehehe But oh well, what do you do?

Now, this left us in quite the position, showers for one. We had thought about staying in a hotel for the weekend, but with seven people that would require two rooms, and it just seemed over the top. So we brainstormed, and decided on this plan. We would all shower at the Athletic club down the street, barbecue or eat out, and the temperature was mild enough around here that we haven't missed the heat at all.

Saturday morning we all got up. My hair was stuck to my head like somebody had just greased it up to fry an egg. I knew that I couldn't get out in the real world and function, after all wasn't it just Friday that I posted that my child looked like an orphan. Now the whole family was going to wonder around looking like the dirty, smelly, greasy partridge family. I don't think sooooooo.

That morning we decided that everyone would head to the gym, maybe we would all take a nice little family swim in the pool, then use the facilities that were at our disposal. Keep in mind that this gym is very nice. It has shampoo, conditioner, shaving gel, combs, mouthwash, deodorant, you name it they've got at your fingertips. This way we didn't have to bring any toiletries to the club.

When we all walked in, I in my faithful baseball cap (remember greasy hair), the guy behind the counter was a little surprised to see us all there bright and early. I have to admit some eyes were a little puffy, but we just looked like we were avid health fanatics...or so I hoped. As we left the front registry area we all disbanded to suit up. Once we all jumped in to the water I thought that maybe I should head out a little earlier than everyone so I could have time to shower and primp properly.

To make a long, washing fest, story short that is how we handled part of the problem. So keep this heatless, cookless, showerless, family story under your hat. Another thing to keep hidden from our nice, normal, natural-gas enjoying neighbors.....rofl

Update: Okay, so as soon as I posted, in my comments, that they hadn't turned us back on by 10:30am, and I had just dialed the number to call and complain, the natural gas man rang the doorbell. When we answered it he seemed just as puzzled as to why it had been turned off as we did. He said he hadn't heard of such thing, and he apologized profusely. I thanked him for his politeness and understanding. So he turned everything back on. He said that I should call in and file a complaint, however. So there you go, problem solved. Now one hour to wait and I am going to take a nice hot shower.....woohoo!

We're NOT In The Country Anymore

Several of the boys and I were headed out to run errands yesterday, leaving behind Isaiah and Levi to continue on with the neighborhood yard work, that they could paid to do. As I was pulling out of our cul-de-sac I spotted Levi walking down the sidewalk. I pulled up alongside him, and asked him if he was done, and if so would he like to hop in and join us. This is when I do the mommy once over glance. You know the look where you make sure your children are presentable out in the real world, where neighbors will judge you. As I looked him up and down I realized that his feet seemed gigantic, out of proportion to his 12 year old body. So I took a second look, and it was because he was wearing Den's dress shoes. Yes, you heard me right, his going to meeting or important interview shiny brown dress shoes. So here is the whole picture: Blue Superman t-shirt (perfectly appropriate), jeans with large hole in one knee (not great, but he was doing yard work for neighbors, so maybe), gigantic shiny brown dress shoes of his Dad's(knowing that the neighbors were thinking...."What the heck did they send this poor child out here in").

I know what I would have been thinking if a 12 year old boy came to my door, looking for work, wearing half torn up clothes with his Daddy's dress shoes 4 sizes too big on. I think this is what classic country songs are made up of, right?

So I ask, "Levi, why are you wearing Dad's dress shoes?"
Levi responds, "Well it's a long story."
I look over my shoulder to see if there are any cars behind me and than retort, "I have time."
Levi smiles rather big and says, "Well I couldn't find my shoes, and so I thought I would just slip Dad's on."
"You mean you couldn't find yours, because I literally had to move them out of the way of the front door to get outside." I said.
"Ohhh...well I went out the backdoor."
I sigh and shake my head, and say, "Levi, listen you can NOT walk around like this. People will think we don't care about you. That we are sending you out to provide for us or something, because we can't afford to even give you your own shoes or something. I mean my gosh...you look like an orphan!"
Levi chuckles and says, "I will go home and change them before my next job."
I quickly agree and I would have told him to run, but who knows if he would have made it with the size of those shoes.

Later that night, after Den got home, I told him the tale, but while I was sharing I was laughing ridiculously hard. Half because the story is an ongoing Levi tale, half because Den couldn't get past the part that Levi had secretly swiped his dress shoes while he was at work. I think I may have snorted from all the giggling.

Ohhhh these neighbors are going to get many surprises from this family of 7, I'm sure!!

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day Pictures.
The morning started off with breakfast being served in bed by my NON-cooker (River). It was a delicious breakfast sandwich with a hot cup of coffee. Once the boys had been told that all was clear, (Mama was up), the festivities began.

The boys all huddled together outside my bedroom door, whispering and laughing with excitement. I have to admit I was anxious to see what all the hub bub was about. No sooner did I question the thought in my mind and in came the brood.

Upon entering, they all proudly brought me this small silver bag. The first thing that caught my eye was the ribbon that they were all wanting me to wear that said "Mom to Be". Den stopped drinking his coffee and said, "Boys, your mom isn't a mother-to-be anymore." Isaiah said, "Ohhhh that's what it meant." I giggled and pushed passed it quickly as to not dwell on the negative. I knew that Den was questioning all my homeschooling skills as he continued to shake his head in disbelief.

When I grabbed the bag it was a little worse for wear. In fact it looked like they had nabbed the poor bag from a pitbull (Roman) just before entering my bedroom. I, again, overlooked the bag and began to pull the tissue paper out of the top.

This is when I discovered that the tissue paper was indeed tissue paper, or some call it "toilet" paper. I giggled at their creativity and quickly yanked it all out. Upon which I found a chewed up piece of pink gum stuck to the end of it. I again chuckled and tried to overlook it. Den, however, looked a little mortified.....lol.

The boys began chanting, "Read the card! Read the card!" So I paused to find the little silver card that was attached to the bag and when I opened it it said, "Hey!" with a scribbly smiley face. I truly didn't know what to say, but I did laugh heartily at this point.

After digging through some old Easter candy that wasn't even good enough for the children to eat, I found my gift. A bottle of travel size shampoo that had been rolling around my bathroom drawer for sometime. A little speechless I said, "Well thanks guys!" They kept a stiff upper lip (just like their mama would have) and all went on about how much they loved me and disappeared. This is when Den said, "What the heck?" I just laughed and said, "It was sweet!"

This is when the REAL gifts came in. These are River's.

Isaiah's. He is my sock giver...hehehe

Levi's. They all wanted me to put on the lipstick, which I did, and then they all laughed and laughed at the color....so I don't think I will be wearing that one.....lol.

Abram's sweet little gift too!

Den's roses that he gives without fail. I love my boys, and I honestly had a great Mother's Day. However, truthfully, I can say that my favorite was the first gift. I giggled and giggled at the genius of it all. You know it's all in the presentation people. You can tell that they are listening to Mama!

The Ant Mystery

Isaiah was loading the dishwasher when he came across a sippy cup, with a lid, that was full of ants. So when he popped off the top, ants came pouring out into the sink. Well Mr. Abram loves ants, always has had a love/hate relationship with them, maybe always will...who knows, right? Anyway, we all came to the quick conclusion that it was our mischievous six year old. So the troops were all asked to come forward so that I can give speech #48. That is the one where I explain why outside bugs, snakes, and critters are to stay outside and why. However, no one was accepting responsibility in the matter. Now I knew it wasn't Isaiah or he would have drowned the insects and we wouldn't have heard a peep, River was at work and I'm pretty sure he is passed the ant obsession phase, but that still left Levi and Abram who are in cahoots together alot.

I began to question the two boys who made it clear that neither of them remembered doing it. That always bugs me (no pun intended), but the "I don't remember" thing just doesn't fly in this house (again no pun intended). So I begin to zone in on Abram since, just yesterday, he brought in an ant, from outside, to show me. AhhhHaaaa....now we are getting somewhere. He begins to explain how that he does love to bother them, but always with his hands or a stick, a cup had never came to his mind (seed of idea now implanted). Levi looks at me, when I begin to grill him, like I must be completely insane.

So the interrogation continues.....

So I have Isaiah go over the scenario AGAIN. He says he was doing the dishes when he popped off the sippy lid, and ants came pouring out all over. This is when I have a flashback. I was in the yard yesterday evening, and I saw Roman's blue sippy laying on the basketball court. I picked it up, and tossed it in the sink.

So I proceed to ask Isaiah, "Was it a bluuuuue sippy?"

Surprised, Isaiah says, "Yes."

I say...."Ohhh I did that!"

The boys looked stunned!

The next question came from the boys, in almost perfect harmony, "You put ants in a cup, and put it in the sink?"

Laughing heartily, I respond with, "No, but I saw it outside and grabbed it. The ants must have smelled the juice inside, and climbed through the hole while it was laying on the ground. Only for them to discover that they couldn't get out."

So relief crosses everyone's faces and the mystery was solved. How did this get flipped? How was I, now, the guilty culprit?!