my valentines birthday...

Started at 3:13 am Saturday morning when NW came out of their room crying and hitting the left side of his head. He woke up with major ear pain. I gave him children's Tylenol and put a warm compress on it, rubbed his little head and got him back to sleep. He woke back up around 8 still in pain.
Since it was a Saturday, the pediatricians office was closed,  I called their hot line, the nurse told me it could be an ear infection and to take him to the ER. The staff was awesome and we were thankful that no one else was waiting, we were able to walk right back in to a room. After an exam the Doctor confirmed that indeed it was an ear infection.

40.00 in prescriptions later and we were headed home. He was worried he had ruined my birthday. No he hadn't.

We got home, got things squared away and settled down. Senior was on his way home from his half day of work, and we began working on making a birthday brunch.. Scrambled eggs, toast and sausage. Once daddy was home the boys could not hold their excitement any longer they presented me with my birthday gifts: the boys made me some home made cards and Senior found the sweetest birthday/valentine card. I also got a bag of purple lilly bulbs, and money. I added it to the money my mom gave me and later in the afternoon we went to a bookstore, I had wanted to start reading the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon, so I purchased the first book. Then we went to a deli for valentines/birthday dinner. I was treated to a piece of the most delectable chocolate cake I have ever tasted..

A not so great start to what ended up being a really good day...  

Your Elf Name ?

Merry Christmas Eve everyone..  Have some fun today, if you were an Elf figure out what your name would be and share with all of us..  If I were an Elf my name would be:
" Happy Floppy-Feet"...lol 

Off here now to do lots of baking, got chocolate chip cookies to make, and bread loaves to knead... Enjoy your day and all the wonders of that Come with Christmas,Celebrate the birth of the Savior and as always say a prayer for our Country...

-JUGM

Our Christmas Elf

He has showed up around this time for the past 2 years. Last week we heard a soft knock at our front door, opened it--and there he was standing: "Herman McCookie" was back!.  With his showing up to visit we know that Christmas is around the corner.

He is our little happy elf, that carries a book in which he records all the activities of ND and NW, then at night once we are all asleep, He heads back to the North Pole to report to Santa. As secretly has he leaves, he also returns, and lands in a different spot around the house.

He has been on the back of the boys toilet, on my fish tank, on furniture in the living room, and bedrooms.. He even magically showed up last year when we took the boys to Disney World.
They awoke in the hotel room with Herman staring at them from the bed side night stand...
Sneaky little Elf !

However, this morning was by far a first...The boys got up, couldn't find Ole Herman anywhere..With backpacks on they climbed in to the back seat of the car and screamed..there he was sitting in the middle and he even buckled himself in!  What a smart Elf he is..thinking of Safety first.  : )

We can't wait to see where Herman shows up this year. What new places he will find. I am sure where ever it is, it will be an adventure trying to find him...

Saturday Adventure...

Okay with SENIOR, STEPHEN, and the boys have a day to do some cleaning up, the boys and I kidnapped Stephens Sweet Wife. We made a long drive to central Florida, and spent the day at a very large flea market.

The day here was gorgeous..deep blue sky, weather in the 70s, a perfect fall day.

After browsing the aisles for a deal, we decided to hit the outlying folks. You know the kind that set up in a camper, and has all their treasure in the grass.
We found one such bra-less, toothless wonder in the back of the parking lot. Everything was a dollar. If it did have a price tag on it, you could haggle with her and she would knock some off the price.
I found a Christmas tree liquid soap holder.

Here is her humble abode:

And it was in just such a place that we came across these Jewels for good ole Stephen:

Yep that is right, SW and I hit the mother load of old Coleman Stoves. He was an old biker dude, long hair, and of course "toothless" I think it is a pre-requisite. But, he was a hoot. A very likable old guy. He had a bunch of things, including some Coleman lanterns. I got one stove and lantern for Senior, and SW bought the other three for Stephen to refurbish.
Now, it is rare to find even one stove...but to come across 4 is unheard of. Well, that was not the end of it. The next two sellers we went to, each had stoves. SW bought one more, and I bought another lantern. That makes 4 stoves for Stephen to work on...He is going to be a busy man! 

Then the kids saw the "Kettle Korn" stand, and of course we had to buy some bags. Can't go to the Flea market without getting some fresh warm kettle korn.

Then it was time to load up our treasures....Need a Coleman Stove anyone? 

We then hit a BBQ restaurant for lunch...I didn't realize how hungry we all were. Because we scarfed that food down in a hurry.
Back home, Senior checked out my purchases...He said "Well Done"  The stove we got while old, is in great condition, so are both lanterns. One will need the mantles though.
Oh, I did learn one valuable lesson today..."Never take a 6 and 7 year old into an antique store".

On another comical note, we found a lady with Halloween costumes. I found an awesome robe. I asked how much..the lady told me she only rents out her costumes.. "what" ? I thought. Who rents costumes at the flea market...OMG.
Then my little ND found this lovely costume:

 

 

So, we are all back home from our day, We had a lovely time with SW...I hope the boys didn't wear her out too much. I told her should would probably settle back tonight with a stiff drink after being with them all day...  : )

I'm a Grannie!...

Gotcha!  No, its not what you think...ha ha.  Some of you know I am an aquarium hobbyist. I am especially fond of a breed of fish known as the "African Cichlids". Very easy to keep, and fun to watch.
I have a female "Jeweled Cichlid" and she laid eggs once all ready, but I got to them in enough time so the male would not fertilize. Well, she got smart, and this time laid her eggs in the decorative log I have in my tank..then daddy came along. Saturday I looked in my tank as to what I thought was debris floating around..no not debris...BABIES !!!!..about 50-100. Holy cow! In all the years I have kept an aquarium, not once has the eggs ever hatched....well there is a first time for everything.

Here is mom with her small Frye, Cichlid parents are notoriously awesome, and display amazing parenting skills. And personally I think there are a lot of human parents out there that can learn a lesson about parenting from a fish.
 At night she pushes them all back in the log, and brings them out in the mornings. I do have three other fish in the tank, 2 are a different breed.Both the mom and dad have been on the defensive, and like any good parent they guard the little ones. I have to stand back to even snap a picture because she tries to charge me from inside the tank.

 

 

Sunday, We scooped up as many babies as we could and moved them to a "nursery basket". Here, they can be safe from the other fish, and dine on shrimp brine.

 

Yesterday, mom finally discovered the basket and is now standing guard..while dad watches the other ones I could not catch.

 





I know, they are so cute when they are babies...but, I can't keep all these. NW and ND are guilting me. I have agreed to keep a few and try to raise..but not 100 ! And I have a friend who would like a couple for his tank. So now, starts my problem, I must become a fish killer and clean them out. 
: ( 
Then, to avoid this again, I must separate mom and dad. I am trying to convince ND to let me give him the mom and move her in to his tank on his dresser. He has three Danios ( aka Minnows) and doesn't  want them gone. Africans can only live with other Africans, and she will nip the fins of the danios and torture them.
My only salvation is to take charge today while they are at school.

This will be an ongoing series, as I look forward to updating you all on the progress of the babies we do keep.