Incredible shrinking mom.

I just wanted to take a moment to alert everyone. In case you didn't notice. I'm shrinking. Hopefully, not in an osteoporosis way, but more in a 'my babies are bigger than me' way.

Exhibit A.




Handsome much?

You know your life is taking an odd swing, when you sit down in your car and notice a seat adjustment. The seat is way, way back. In a way that makes my feet not touch the pedals.

Then, just as I'm wondering out loud, who in the sam hill adjusted the seat..... the 12 year old reminds me of a driving lesson with his dad.

Hello?

You're 12 years old. Stop adjusting my car seat.

And, practice driving in Dad's car.

And, lean down here so you can hear me.

I need a nap. And, some Vitamin D.

Kids Say the Darndest Things....That Make Parents Craaaazy!!

I can see you....peeping in the window to my world!  Allow me to go ahead and just "open" that window for ya!

Lots of my daily conversations are with kids.  How I get myself into these situations is beyond me, but I do.  And, most of the time, I don't win the arguments...I mean 'conversations'........

Me:  "Little.  You know Daddy and I are not pleased with your irresponsibility with your library book/reading homework.  Did you bring home your library book like Daddy told you to?"
Little:  "Ooohhhh!  I forgot!  Mommy.  You were home all day today.  YOU should have been responsible and called my teacher to tell her to REMIND me to bring home my library reading homework."
**I can see how that would be my fault........


While having a conversation with Jag regarding texting, phone numbers and prank calls, he says, "Isn't Jesus' phone number (555)555-5555?"
How do ya answer that?!  Oh, I know.  "Let's give Him a call!"  A lovely voice on the other end of the line ever so sweetly says, "The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service.  If you feel you have reached this recording in error...."  Now, we're both a little scared that Jesus has changed His number.....and not left US His forwarding info!!!

While explaining to my 9-almost-10-year-old son the dress-requirements for the regional science fair, Big managed to express his disgust quite eloquently:

Me:  "Big, I'll iron your pants for Science Fair. Go get them." 

Big:  "WHY!?" 

Me:  "Because they're wrinkled." 

Big:  "Do I HAVE to be handsome?!!!" 

Me:  "Yes.  It's just the way you roll. You can't help it. Go." 

Big:  "The scientist Alfred Einstein's not handsome!  And I'm a scientist too." 

Me:  "It's 'Albert' and he's dead. You're still living...for a few minutes more anyway. Get the pants." 

Big:  "Fine.  At least I get to sit in my UT chair on TTU soil."

Xanax, margaritas at lunch........these options are beginning to appeal to me.......

Save the Date! "Putting Together the Details..."

While perusing old photos and reminiscing over some old articles in our family albums, my sweet Little made a simple, yet oh-so important discovery:  her momma used to have a different last name (before I was married to Mr. Analytical, that is)!

Little's conclusion:  Once she's married (at some point in her late 20's, early 30's), she, TOO, will have a new last name!

Little:  So, Mom!  Your name used to not be "PrissE Analytical?"  You used to be "PrissE Bill?"  (I      should preface this by telling you that 'Bill' is my dad's first name...not my maiden name.  Maybe Little doesn't have a great grasp on this 'name' thing, yet.)  Oh!  Wait!  You used to be PrissE Yoakum!  (Aha!  She's got it now.  Yoakum is my maiden name.)

     PrissE:  That's right.  When Daddy & I got married, I took his last name.

     Little:  So, someday I'll be "Little Holtman?"  

     PrissE:  I suppose so.....

Big, Little and her future husband, Jag, Mav, & Foxy.....could be any one of these boys on any given day!

The conundrum?  Which one will she marry?  We'll know for sure immediately after all of the vows are exchanged and the paperwork with the county clerk is signed and stamped!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Thankful.

I love this picture.

Look at those two women! They could be any two anonymous women bustling down the big city sidewalk of any great place, on their way to grand adventures in New York, Chicago..... anywhere.

So, you won't be surprised to find out that they're in Amarillo, Texas. That's my Grandmother on the right and my Aunt on the left. My Aunt Oleta worked at a department store downtown in Amarillo for a lot of years. I figure that's where they're going to or coming from when the newspaper snapped this photo.

I love their hats and coats, their tiny clutch purses, the nylons they're wearing. I love the fact that my grandmother is wearing her 'driving gloves'. She always wore them. I can remember sitting in the backseat of her old blue car, (sans seat belts) and watching her drive through the streets of Amarillo in her driving gloves. She would point out landmarks, talk to me, and always, always held the screw on the top of the car when we passed under railroad bridges. My grandmother also showed me the girdles and other 'old time' undergarments they wore, and knowing about all that, I can't believe the smiles on their faces.

I'm thankful for the women in my life.

My grandmother told me a story one time about a lesson she had learned. Many years earlier, she had been approached by a lady at church. That lady had 'informed' my grandmother that the hem on my grandmother's skirts was too short.

Can you imagine the nerve of that church lady? I can't. I was insulted for my grandmother, who just laughed when she told me the rest of the story. She told me that she never got mad at that church lady. She went home that afternoon and lowered the hem of every skirt in her closet one inch.

Why, I asked? Why would you indulge a person like that? A busy body, know-it-all, that had no business telling other ladies what to do. Why would you do that and give her the satisfaction?

My grandmother told me that she knew her hem wasn't too short. She added that she didn't care about the hem of any skirt. If it was one inch higher or one inch lower, it didn't matter to her. My grandmother didn't want to be the one that got in the way of that lady learning about Jesus. If that busy body church lady was so concerned with my grandmother's skirt hem, then that lady might miss the chance to learn about God.

My grandmother was funny. She said, 'I'm not getting in the middle of that!' (Eyebrow raised, smirk on her face.)

Today (and everyday), I'm thankful for the women in my life.

Now, it's time for an open forum.... post your replies, let's hear what you're thankful for, and I don't want to hear anything about turkey.

Oh, Be Careful "Little's" Ears What You Hear.....

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      While watching the popular reality show, The Amazing Race, one Sunday evening with the children, one of the pairs of competitors on the show was in the midst of completing one of their tasks.  In the dialogue between the pair, one of the ladies said, “What the Hell?” 

Let me preface this scene with the information that, our precious Little is, who we refer to as, ‘The Morality Police.’  She is prone to noticing, absorbing, and assimilating most vulgarity to which she is a witness including, but not limited to, vulgar language…….Lucky us! 

Back to the scene:  To which, our ‘morality police-girl,’ Little drew in the deep and long gasp that would lead the average person to passing out.  Mr. Analytical says, “What is it, Little?”  With that ‘tattle-tale’ look on her face, Little confidently reports, “She said the ‘W’ word!”  Mr. Analytical looks quizzically at her and…yes, thinking that we escaped her noticing the ‘H’ word the girl said…he asks, “What’s the ‘W’ word, Little?”  Little cups her hands around her mouth and whispers, “Whatthehell.  I have to whisper it so I don’t get in trouble for saying it.”

Perhaps we should inform her kindergarten teacher that she needs to emphasize the visualization of the ‘finger spaces’ between words in sentences and phrases…..?  Or not.