Sprinkler Fun!

What could be better than watching three adorable girls running through the sprinkler with not a care in the world?

Trendy Treehouse Award, really?

Wow, I've been a little MIA with kids, traveling and just being that its summertime and I have still managed to get another award! Wow I am so lucky to have such good blogging friends! Look what Mary Ann from Verbena Cottage gave me! Thank you Mary Ann you are such a sweetie!



The rule with this one is to tell you 10 things about me and then pass it along. Most of you might be wondering if there is even anything more I could possible say about myself, but oh yes there is always more coming from me, always!

1. I don't like amusement parks! Yep it's true! We went to Adventureland (in Altoona, Iowa) yesterday with my brother and sister in-law and their 3 kids. My husband was working so it was just the kids and myself. I think the main reason for not liking them is that I hate the heat, and yesterday was warm. The other is I hate rides. Anything that goes round and round makes me sick and I don't like heights so don't even think about getting me on a roller coaster, it will never happen. I ended up getting a wheelchair because I didn't think I could walk that far just being new to the whole walking thing again. I had my son push me but he griped about it the whole time and when you are being pushed you have no control where the dam thing goes or who you crash into. My son wasn't paying attention and I ran in to many people who were also not paying attention! Grrrrrrr!

Now call me crazy or I don't know, just modest but maybe I didn't get the memo that yesterday was wear your bikini to the amusement park day! Ok, so I understand there are a couple water rides there, but they are far enough away from each other that you have time to dry off between rides. I guess I can understand the gals who wear a bikini top and shorts but a full bikini and flip flops and nothing else what's up with that? I just don't get it, its not the pool here gals! And its one thing if you are 13 except over my dead body will Claire be walking around like that, but what's up with the mom's wearing their bikinis and flip flops? Why do people think its ok? Am I the one that's abnormal here, I think not!

2. I get sick being the passenger in a car! Maybe its that control thing again but I get queasy sitting over there and my husband knows it too and then drives crazy because he thinks its funny!

3. I love to vacuum! Yes its true, I love the sound and the dumping of the canister is so rewarding! I am on the look out for a new vacuum though. I need one that basically sucks up everything but the couch! I have two dogs and one of them sheds, which kills me. So, anyone, anyone, ideas please!

4. I have always wanted to play the drums! My brother played them in high school and I was so jealous of him. I played the flute for oh, about a month because I had no interest and acted like I just couldn't learn it! I still am hoping one day to get my hands on some drum sticks and start banging away!

5. I really hate touching raw meat! Maybe that is why I don't like to cook! It just makes me ill. You would think I was a vegetarian but I love red meat too much! Now chicken I'm not a huge fan of!

6. I'll talk to anyone! I believe everyone has a story to tell and needs someone just to listen! I find myself being at the strangest places and having people ask for advice and I've never even met them before! Often my family will say, "Did you know her?" And I say no, she just needed to talk!

7. I hate to fly! I'm flying to California next week and I'm terrified. I seriously would rather drive anywhere then get in a plane! I hate the sounds of a plane and I'm claustrophobic so being so close to people in a small place is ahhhhhh.....just thinking about it freaks me out!

8. I'm ready for Halloween! No, I don't mean I'm decorated or anything like that, but soon! Yes, I usually start decorating when school starts! I believe that as soon as I start decorating the weather changes and it gets cooler! Fall is my favorite and I love my house at Halloween time! Soon you will all see the Halloween Queen come to life!

9. My birthday is August 20th! I use to hate my birthday because school started usually the week of my birthday, so I never looked forward to it! Now, I love my birthday! No, not because of any gifts I receive, actually I don't need any, no I'm kidding if you want to remember the date and if you need my address I will gladly send it to you and make sure there is plenty of room in the mailbox, lol! No, I love my birthday because school starts for the kiddos on my birthday! So you might want to plug your ears, because everyone can hear me whooping and hollering at exactly 7:45 in the morning! But school actually school starts on the 19th so I might have to celebrate for a couple of days!

10. When I was in third grade I wanted to be a nun! Yes, you heard right! I went to Catholic school and I was taught by nuns and priests and it seemed like the normal thing to think about! Jump ahead 30 years and wow, I can't believe I thought about it! Oh all those years of Catholic school and the guilt I still have! No, I'm a good Catholic girl, really!

Well I wasn't told how many people to pass this on to and frankly it is getting harder and harder since everyone is so deserving!
Here are a few people I have enjoyed getting to know and I think you will enjoy also.......

Talli from Talli Roland

Mary from Urban Farmgirl

Terri at La Dolfina

I can't wait to read some interesting things about you that I didn't know!

Have a great weekend!

The "Middle Wife"!

I came across this and seriously spit my drink out at the dog I laughed so hard. This is from an anonymous 2nd grade teacher who had show and tell one day in her classroom. Enjoy, but first put your drink down!


The "Middle Wife"


I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.


When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.


Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.


She holds up a snapshot of an infant. This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.


First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.


She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me.
The kids are watching her in amazement.


Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)


My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)


And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands mimicking water flowing away. It was too much!)


Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe.


They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there..


Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat.


I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another "Middle Wife" comes along!

Ode to COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is a day I need you the most! I cannot live without you coffee! My kids know not to talk to me until I have had at least 2 cups of you! Some days I need a whole pot of you! I slept like.... and I don't have much to say except.........

O! coffee, where art thou
When I need thee now?
In thy many flavoured blends
A hot cup would be godsend.
I cannot keep awake
Without a short coffee-break.
With thy life-giving aroma
Save me from going into a coma.
Java, Colombian or French Roast
Thy every flavour, I will toast.
To the end thy loyal slave
Three cups a day I will always crave.
(Inspired by a very sleepy seminar)

( Ranjit Nair's limericks)

































I hope you've all had enough coffee today!

Happy 6th Birthday to my Baby!

My Claire turned 6 on Friday! I can't believe how fast time flies. It seems like just yesterday we packed up and moved from Illinois to Iowa, all while I was 7 months pregnant and as big as a house mind you! No, sorry no pictures of that will ever leave this house. I'm not even sure I have any. I may have had a burning party after I saw them. My hormones were so out of wack, I think I cried everyday for a week! Fast forward 2 months and Claire was born July 16th 2004. It's hard to believe she is getting ready for first grade. Wow! I swear she is 6 going on 15 sometimes! Help, I know it only gets worse. For now I am enjoying the memories and the snuggling she still enjoys! I hope you don't mind the millions of photos, but come on look at the kid, how could I resist? After all, she takes after her mother, Muhwaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure I'm worthy of this, but I like it!

Look what The Wife gave me. Now, are you sure about this, for me? Well isn't she sweet? Thank you for thinking of me!

In order to accept this award, I must:
• Thank the person who gave me the award
• Sum up my blogging philosophy, motivation and experience using five words, examples: WRITE HEART PEOPLE LIVE HAPPY
• Pass it on to 10 other blogs which I feel have real substance.

1 Funky Woman's philosophy, motivation, and experience in five words

1) No rules 2) inspire 3) humor 4) honesty 5) outlet


* No Rules: I'm not a huge rule follower. Could most of you tell that already? I think it's because I spent so many years in Catholic school that I'm ruled out. I have too many bad memories of trying to follow the rules but still being slapped on the hand with a ruler and being sent to see Sr. Reginalda. I think that I'm tired of the guilt that comes with rules, so I say no thank you. I just like to keep it real when blogging. I write what I feel that day or something I saw or if something bothers me. I don't feel the need to respond to everyone's comments because frankly who has that kind of time. I thoroughly enjoy every comment I read but a girl has to sleep doesn't she?

* Be inspiring: If I can inspire someone, whether it be from something I did decorating wise or introducing a favorite book I read or even reminding everyone how crazy stupid it is to text or use the phone while driving then that makes me feel like I did something!

* Be funny: I think it is so important to use humor everyday. I love to make people laugh, I think it's because I laugh at myself on a daily basis, hey I'm trying to work on my abs here! I believe you need to laugh at yourself first and not take yourself too seriously. That way if others laugh at you, it just rolls off of you!

* Be honest: Be the blog YOU want to be not what you think others want to see. Reach within yourself and find YOUR interests and write about that! If you aren't honest with yourself than how can others take you seriously.

* My outlet: I started blogging basically because I found myself becoming a huge blog groupie. Now, most of you know what a groupie is and I don't mean the type of groupie that is fueled by the “sex, drugs and rock and roll,” because I'm not interested in seeing any of that around here. I am fueled by the decorating, blog parties and organizing tips I see around blogland. I was a such a follower of so many blogs that soon I started talking like some of them, decorating like some of them and my husband has said that I often quote some in my sleep! I like the idea of just having a place to vent if I need to, or cry if that is what is needed that day. Blogging is my therapy, and hey its much cheaper than a therapist, because its free!

So, lets she who is worthy of this wonderful award. Just teasing, everyone is and should grab this button! I am told to pick 10 people but I am having a hard time narrowing it down to just 10. I think I will stop here and show you a couple gals that I love and who inspire me. I think you will find inspiration from them too!

Kim over at What am I going to be when I grow Up

Diana over at Expresso

Mandi over at Tidbits from the Tremaynes

Annie over at The House That Jade Built

Pamela over at Be Colorful

Karyn over at Hope Island Home and Living

Shannon over at Flower Patch Farmgirl

Funny Icebreaker questions while on Vacation!

I came upon this on FunReasearcher.com and started laughing at some of these questions. Just the thought of walking up to a complete stranger and asking them: If you had to, what family member would you have killed off and why? made me chuckle and choke on my coffee. I wonder what their answer would be? Well I am going to California in a couple of weeks and will be in a car for over 30 hours with 2 kids and a husband so I just might be at that breaking point where I need some type of other adult conversation, I just hope I don't get hit!

Maybe they will take sympathy on me because God knows I will still be in my walking boot and when I get tired I tend to look like Quasimodo and drag my leg. But then again they might just think I am some wak job that escaped from the loony bin! Either way, isn't life about taking chances and having fun? I myself think it would be hysterical if someone asked me some of these questions!

Is this your first time here in ...........?

Why did you choose this location as your vacation destination?

Are you running away from someone on this vacation?

Do you have any phobias?

If you could go on a road trip with any person dead or alive, who would it be?

Weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

What would you do if you didn't have to work?

What is your pet peeve when on vacation?

Who is the worst actor in Hollywood?

Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets?

Who would you call for bail money?

Why do dogs like the smell of other dog's butts?

Name a time when you got into big trouble with your parents?

You wouldn't be caught dead, where?

Do you have any hidden talents?

Do you have any relatives in jail?

Have you ever feared for your life while on vacation?

If you had to, what family member would you have killed off and why?

Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at?

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at?

If you could choose, how would you want to die?

If there's an exception to every rule, is there an exception to that rule?

So what questions might you ask on your next vacation?