Emmalie's Story

My girls are blessed with a creative streak, as are many children.  I'm blessed with a blog with which to subject you all to that creativity.  Emmalie narrated a story to Bethanie today, after watching her sisters do stories for school.  What follows is a keeper.


"I love all of my family", by Emmalie Kimball; age 5

Emmalie and Beth went on a walk with all my family.  We got some ice cream and we found a garage sale to get a pillow.  And we went on a sleepover with Uncle Jerry. Only two people, it was me and Delanie. We watched Sharkboy and Lavagirl and read a book and did a puzzle.  And then all of us went ice skating and we watched the Grinch steal Christmas one more time before we leave. And we went to Florida to go on all the rides. And Alex came too. And all of us drew pictures and played a game (Sorry). We played Chutes and ladders and we slept with Casadie and Mom. Fynnlie was sleeping with us. We found spacemen in the sky. And we put the puzzle away. And then my pencil broke and Mommy fixed it. It was a pencil with an eraser. And we watched Ned's Declassified. And we draw pictures of anything we want. And then we all loved each other. And then we get a lollipop. And then Delanie got hurt. She got a papercut on a box. And Fynnlie was crying and she dumped all the pencils.  Then we draw a car. Wait, I'm not done yet. Then we went on a field trip. It was Disney and Universal to get a milkshake. And then was a bird come onto our house to eat all of it.  Then we got all our money to go to the theater. We saw a unicorn and Daddy went to a vampire movie. Daddy said "AAAH!" and went to our unicorn movie. Daddy got stuck and all our family was stuck and a girl was helping us. We got out. Our car got stuck in the mud. And the guy said "No drawing on the car!" and then he said "You can draw on the car whenever you want." It was  a police officer. He said "Fine, you win." We said "Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!"  And we played Peanut Butter and Jelly together. We lived happily ever after and we made dresses for everyone. Daddy got a suit and a tie. We played chess.

The end.

Emmalie will provide signed autographs of this masterful compilation of memories for the low-low-price of 5.99.plus shipping and handling. No sales tax!

100 Thankful Things-Part 4!!

You've waited patiently, and here is your reward! The last 25-ish random-stream-of-consciousness items that I'm Thankful for.  Now, obviously, the disclaimer here is that this certainly does not represent ALL that I'm thankful for, not in the least...it just seemed prudent to stop at 100.  I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving with all the people in their lives worth being Thankful for.  I was missing a lot of wonderful people on my list, but I definitely had a good day with my peachy wonderful husband, and my 6 bountiful blessings.  Now..onto Christmas!

76. For homeschooling again.  Just the fact that I now have a project, a vision, a goal.  That morphs and changes.  This is EXACTLY what I needed to stay interested.  I’m world-famous for a great idea, being very creative with it, jumping in with both feet and then abandoning it.  My peachy husband and I have fought about this.  Homeschooling is not just a project, it’s become a passion and a way of life.  I have soapbox rants I never thought I had, goals for my girls that I never understood, and I get to justify my compulsive obsession with children’s books.

77. For fat fingers and tiny keyboards.  I absolutely love trying to type my blog entries on the netbook, and having my fat fingers launch the internet, or deliver my mouse some-where mid-document.  It’s fun, and yes, I’m being snarky again.

78. For my year 2000 Wedding to my fabulous husband.  Yes, we paid too much, and probably could have gone a lot cheaper, but I have nothing but beautiful memories of a very unique location, everything exactly the way we envisioned it, and not one single regret or “wish we’d done this.” Again…worth every penny.

For a husband that agrees with me about point number 78.  It’s adorable to me that he continues to recognize symbolic things that remind him of our wedding, or makes sure to download our wedding music to my iphone, etc.  I fall in love with him a little bit more every day, even 10 years later.

79. For my brother.  We’re not always as close or chummy as I’d like to be, but I loved having him for my baby brother.  Yes, I forced him to act out the role of Sandy while I belted out Annie show tunes, but I know he’s forgiven me.  I think.  Anyway, he’s grown into a very wonderful man, solidly professional, loves his nieces and nephew and is a wonderful husband.  I’m very proud of my Jer-Bear.

80. For Camp Silver Creek and camp songs.  Fried Ham, Louise the elephant, Wake up Stupid birds, and When I wake up in the morning live in my heart and memory along with Barges, Within our Power, and Kum by ya (I know, spelling is way off, but’s 2:30 am on Thanksgiving morning and I thank you for forgiving me for being too lazy to look it up.)  I regret that my kids have not had the same chance to experience your wonderfulness, Silver Creek, but I’m hoping to change that soon.

81. For my sister-in-law, Rita.  She knows why.

 

82. For the potential Adrian R’Mante saw in Casadie, and for her experiences at Celebrity Actor’s Camp.  Again, something expensive, but that was worth every penny.  The fact that I got to drive David Deluise and Chester See to dinner in my truck was a complete bonus.  I am the coolest Mom on the planet to my 7 year old, and that is worth a million bucks.

83. For you, my faithful reader.  Almost done.

84. For board games.  Another obsession.  Oddly enough, we don’t play them nearly enough to justify my obsession with them, but nothing has more potential for fun than a brand-new, or new-to-us board game.  I have a whole closet full of them, and a giant wish-list for more.  I would open a game store.  Or write a board game blog.  Or something.  Anything to actually give me the reason or excuse to buy more.  I probably should play the ones I’ve got first.  At least that’s what the peachy husband says.  I need local friends with similar interests.  Accepting applications below.

85. For junk mail.  Not just any old junk mail.  I am a dedicated Oregon-born environmentalist, so the random postcards for political ads, drain-cleaning, roof and gutter work, Heat-Mizer units..whatever..no way.  But a damn good stack of catalogs?? Bring ‘em on.  I am a list-maker, and I will dog-ear every single page and make a wish list for gifts, homeschool, myself, etc.  Have I ever actually ordered anything from a catalog? Nope.  But the *potential* for the perfect item exist in those pages.

86. For Aunts and Uncles.  Again, not always as close as I’d like to be, but I love them just the same. 

87. For my Mother-in-law.  Kudos, Madame.  You raised one fine individual.  No criticism from me, except to say, please come visit your grandchildren.  You’ll love them, and they are dying to know you.  It’ll make your son happy too.  The wonderful man you gave to me.

88. For People to People’s trip to Japan for my son.    You put him on a plane to Japan. Which will FLY ACROSS AN OCEAN. You panic and hyperventilate a little bit.  They return him to you, two weeks later, in perfect health, with 1200 pictures and a lifetime’s worth of memories.  You vow that every one of your six children needs this experience.  You do the math..and then you start the panicking and hyperventilating all over again.

89. For Fynnlie.  You’ve earned the label “Happiest Baby on Earth”, and you’re beginning to bring a little sass and attitude to the table.  Bring it on, toots.  Just charm us with that adorable smile while you’re at it, and the world (as we are able) will be handed to you on a platter.  Your butt-scoot instead of a crawl was the most amazing addition to baby lore in this house.  I will tell that story to your future husband and all your future children.  Be warned.

90. For Harry Potter land. I suppose I could have put this in the Harry Potter category waaaaay back in the beginning of this list, but it really deserves it’s own spot.  Walking into Hogsmeade makes me speechless.  Or Teary.  Or both.  Well done, Universal, for showing Disney how a land is made with love.

While we’re in Hogsmeade, I’m thankful that Brad Starr was at the Forbidden Journey ride to share in my exultation at finally getting on the ride.  It was well worth the humiliation of initially being too large to ride, and then having Brad and my husband there to cheer me on, (and to let me ride again as many times as I wanted) made it the BEST experience possible!

91. For Dawson.  We miss you, you beautiful Lilac-point Siamese cat.  I’ve never had a cat that had true personality, at least not when interacting with me.  I could hold you like a baby, you were smarter and more charming than most children.  Why you scooted out the door after 10 years with us, we’ll never know..but I hope you’re well and happy.  I hope you and your crazy crossed eyes are making another family happy, and I hope we’ll meet again someday in this life or in another.  If pets can’t come to heaven, I’m not going.

92. For my Dad teaching me defensive driving.  I have amazing “tough Dad” soundbites to deliver to my teens as they learn to drive such as “Every other driver is an idiot.  Assume that.” Or “It’s not against the law to be first off the line. Punch it.”  I’m an awesome driver.  Though I yell a lot, my Mom says..and she also says I get that from him.  Oh well.  They’re all idiots out there.

93. For Gray’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and LOST.  Some very favorite all-time shows.  More McSteamy please.  Can Taylor Lautner be a patient soon? A naked one?  He’s legal now, so it’s not as creepy that I adore him.

94. For my wedding ring.  Bill, that peachy husband that I’ve told you about, bought me the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.  Suits me perfectly.  I’ve been without it a while, but recently lost enough weight to wear it again.  I love declaring my marital status via a flamboyant wave of the hand.  Watch me glitter, beyotch!

95.  For Humor.  For the ability to whip myself up into such a giddy frenzy that I become the main attraction.  Those times where I am wheezing, snorting, hyperventilating, rolling on the floor are some of the most exhilarating cut-loose times in my life.  Who has the ability to do that to me? Gina, Katie, Bill, and my brother Jerry, and honorary brother Shane.   Mr. Bean with Gina in an empty theater around 1998 or whenever it came out= pee your pants funny.  Jerry and Shane playing a mock improv version of the 25,000 pyramid..OMG.  Love you all

96. For finally getting the guts to write a blog and put my innermost “me” out there for you to approve or disapprove, dissect and critique.  This is a huge step for me.  *golf clap*

97.  For the lottery.  Someday, my sweet, we will be one.  Then, this blog becomes a book, self-published at the publishing house I purchase.  By phone.  From my chartered cruise.  Surrounded by my friends who read my blog. Or facebook.  and Garth Brooks. It'll be a nice day.

98.  For having enough ‘stuff’ that I can sit around and be annoyed by how much ‘stuff’ we have.  Toys, scrapbooking supplies, enough DVD’s to entertain the masses, enough clothes that doing laundry only once every two weeks is actually conceivable, etc.  We live in excess, and need to cut it down, but I am grateful that whatever I want or need, I can generally get.

 
99. For everyone who thinks they were forgotten or left off this list.  You weren't.  But it IS 2:30am, and I may not be able to think of anything particularly profound or witty about you and our relationship at the moment.  So forgive me, and I will be thankful for YOU in my head and heart.

             100 For silly word processing programs that push the last paragraph over a full indent because it can’t know to put the 3-digit ‘100’ a little more to the left for consistency.  Yes I’m being snarky.

100 Thankful Things-Part 1

I so admired my friends that had the time and the mental acuity to diligently post their “thankful” things over the last month or so.  Some were faithful and did it every single day, some let it add up and did a few at at time.   I am not always as thankful as I should be.  I do try to see the positive, but my mother will tell you, that from a very young age, I was either up or down.  It’s feast or famine with me, a veritable roller-coaster ride.  When there’s a bump in the road, I can malinger over it for days, and yet, in the next instant, be lovable, excited and so gosh dang adorable you might as well call me a muppet.  It’s what gives me my charm.  Or so I’m told.  So I’ll do my best to stay on topic and just tell you what I’m thankful for, so sit back after a good Turkey dinner, unbutton the top button and hopefully see a little bit of this list in your life.

          1.  That my computer is working today and seems to be letting me save this document so far.  That’s a pretty big win on some days.

2. That I have a job.  Many don’t, I didn’t for a long while, and although it’s a hateful, miserable job and 95% of the people I talk to hate me to the very core, it’s presently doing a marvelous job of helping us slowly get back on our feet.  So, although I can’t complain about that, I will from time to time.  A job this miserable deserves equal treatment.

      3.  That I’m being recognized as someone with potential at this miserable job.  I love the company, love the people, and when I achieve the rank of leader, I’ll be more than able to help my agents deal with the stress.  Why? Because I’ll have been there.  I’ll understand.

1.       4. For IPhone.  Never have I felt my phone was such a lifeline until I got my iPhone.  I would DIE without it.  I’m sure of it.  As if it had electrodes wired from the phone to a pacemaker in my heart.  Phone lost..game over  for Jenn.  I’m pretty sure this has to do with me being able to access facebook whenever I want.

1.      5.  For Facebook.  Not only did this serve as my tin can on a string to stay in touch with my cast members after my layoff, but it now keeps me entertained at the above-mentioned miserable job.  Friend me!

1.       6. For Packrat. This is related to facebook, but deserves its own thank you.  It’s a game,  one that I was/am addicted to.  I’m dedicated to making sure I never miss a collection.  It’s ridiculous, but it’s mindless fun.  Now, I share this mindless fun with my husband and daughter, who keep me up-to-date when I can’t.

1.      7.   For homeschooling.  Never have I spent so much time with my children.  (How did I manage to have 6?? Where did they all come from??)  I enjoy trying to figure out what will inspire each child the most and finding a way to implement it.  Yes, I sometimes throw worksheets at them to keep them quiet, but they love worksheets.  Yes they do.

8. For Lady Gaga’s Pokerface.  For the endless giggles that watching and listening to a 7, 4, 3, and 1 year old sing “I’m not bluffin’ with my muffin” or “Cherry Mine! Cherry Mine! Poker face!” inspires.  I salute you, Madam.

       9. For the fact that my old minivan is running well today.  Yes, just today.  The Expedition seems to be having issues, so the old faithful sienna will have to make the trip to Tampa to get my son from college for Thanksgiving.  “I think  I can, I think I can”

1.      








10. For children’s books.  There’s nothing so wonderful as a giant stack of children’s books to sort through.  To smell, to turn the pages, to reveal the story a little bit at a time without glare, without batteries, etc.  New, young parents…please don’t ever underestimate the value of holding a child in your lap and making Grover voices while reading the “Monster at the End of the Book.”  Ever been a hero? You will be when you read that.  

.       11.For the new, Giant Toys R Us at Milennia Mall.  Just heaven.  Love it.

.       12. For my husband.  He’ll pop up here again and again, I’m sure, but at the moment, I love that he’s ok with driving while I write this list in relative silence.  He’s peachy.

.       13. For my cool dining room table booth.  This came from a friend, Carol, so I’ll say here that I also thank her for everything over the years.  My girls are outfitted in stylish clothes, and a good 95% of these were hand-me-downs from her two adorable granddaughters.

       14. For Orlando Circus School, and specifically Andrei  and Victor.  They have ignited a passion in Casadie for Cirque arts, that I could never have known existed.  They throw and launch my baby through the air in ways that could be imminently dangerous at any moment.    That they are generous people who have allowed Casadie to continue even when it’s financially difficult (impossible) to continue.  Spasibo my friends.

       15. For 5 beautiful daughters.  Each of them aggravates me in different ways on different days.  Each is a unique and wonderful addition to the family.  You make me more because you exist.

.       16. For my handsome son, Alex.  You may be the only boy, but you fill the role wonderfully.  You make us proud.  We’ve had our rough spots, and I nearly beat the Asperger’s out of you, but you’ve blossomed.  When you invent time travel, can I have a couple of trips though, just to enjoy you as a baby..back when it was just you and me against the world? Those were nice times, my little fud-puddler.

1.       17. For Ikea.  Does this really need an explanation? Just walking in the door is exhilarating.  I need an unlimited credit card.  NOW.

1.       18. That we’ve managed to hang on to the house through our last couple of years of financial hardship.  Can you imagine trying to move 8 people, 1 dog and two cats in the midst of foreclosure?  Ugh.  This may not last, we’re not out of the woods yet, but I’m thankful  we’ve lasted as long as we have.

1.       19. For yard sales.  See number 18.  Yard sales are a big part of why 18 exists.  Selling stuff is hard, but fun.  Friends who bring their junk for us to sell help us far more than they realize.  Keep the junk coming folks.  Another sale is on it’s way!

1.       20. For you, dear reader.  You’re a 5^th of the way through! Yay!

1.      21. For sharpened pencils and adequate erasers.  For the Sudoku that gets me through my shift. For Bethany Glazewski for teaching me Sudoku.

.       22. For the word “Snarky”.  I love this word.  I am snarky.  Quit being snarky.  What a snarky bitch.  The computer/car/kid/television/phone/dvd player is being snarky.  It works anywhere.

       23. For being able to put a certain former supervisor in his place over the existence of the word snarky.  I know more obscure words than you’ve ever heard in your lifetime.  Yes, this is me being snarky.

Ok, I'm about a quarter of the way through.  Stay tuned on Friday for Part 2!  Enjoy your Turkey coma today!