A 2 year old's conversation (Part 2 & 3)....

Man the last several days have been a whirlwind-- Christmas was nice but fast, only 2 days off for me and then I am back to work with no one else--

Everyone else is off. I tend to use a lot of time at the beginning of the year with sick kids, but I am hoping for a better 2008, good news is I will get another week of vacation next year-- that is what they give you at 10 years of service, and maybe a handy dandy CIGNA watch or something. Anyway with all of the hustle bustle of Christmas, I haven't sat down to blog lately, and my one blog fan is on me to get "a-writing"-

So as I was putting Carter to bed tonight; I recalled a cute little conversation we had the other night, and we had another tonight so thought I would put them in writing:

Conversation #1

Mommy: What do your friends call you at school? (Note: I was looking for Carta Bown-- because I like when he says that and that is what his friends call him)
Carter: Ticken
Mommy: Your Friends you Chicken?
Carter: Uh Huh
Mommy: They don't call you Carter Brown
Carter: Nope Ticken

Conversation #2

The scene: Carter laying with his Panther's football that sings when you hit it 3 times --it says"Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina for the Panther's football game" He would hit it over and over to get to the singing and would start wiggling as if he were dancing. Each time he would do it I would Giggle

Carter: That funny Mommy?
Mommy: Yes that is funny
Carter: That real funny Mommy?
Mommy: Yep that is real funny

No pictures needed....

I had decided this year would be the year that I would teach Payten the joy of giving. We have always adopted a child or family, and this year was no different in that respect, but I always wonder if Payten really understands what is happening when the stuff is taken away to be given. This year I wanted her to see the joy of others when she gives, one of those life lessons that I want to stick with her.....

So I had this wonderful idea, I would dress the kids up and give out Candy Canes at the local Nursing home-- that idea was squashed by the Nursing Home's activities director-- I guess hard sweet candy is not good for everyone at that age and that is understandable.

So my friend, had the great idea of having the kids paint sun catchers to hand out (great thought Mindy). So that they did. For 2 weeks now the Horner kids, and the "Brownie" kids have been painting sun catchers. Today we stuffed bags and delivered them.

Payten was dressed in her Reindeer ears, and Maci in her Santa hat, and off we went to the nursing home. The girls went room to room and gave out; I am guessing over 50 sun catchers. It was a great experience, the joy in the residents' faces was just unforgettable.

One little lady said-- "This is a Happy-- and she kinda got stuck on Happy, when the nurse said-- "do you mean Merry Christmas?", she said "no, I am trying to say this is a Happy day, and everytime I look at this I will remember your sweet faces"

Tonight I asked Payten, "What do you remember most about today". She said "giving out sun catchers with Maci, and those people giving us hugs". I said "Did it feel good to make them happy" she said "yep".

So I was a bad mom and forgot my camera-- but when it is all said and done-- no pictures are needed, because I know the memories made today will be etched in the minds of Payten, Maci, Mindy and I forever.

Thank you Horners for helping us pull this off ---you are all awesome (even Grandmama and Papa, thanks for your help too ).

A little Christmas Cheer

A little Christmas cheer from the kids...

(Before you play-- go to the bottom right hand corner of my blog and press pause on my blog music-- also if the movie stops in the middle, just click where the moving arrow stops, just a little to the right of where it stopped and then press play again---- for some reason it stops after Payten sings sometimes and you should see Carter sing after Payten-- also I found it may play better the 2nd time around--this is my first try with a real movie--obviously)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

It's Potty time...

Well maybe not quite yet-- but Carter did ask to go to the potty tonight-- so we ran to the bathroom, took off his little diaper and sat him on the toilet-- (not sure the best way to train a little boy-- but when daddy is not home, this is the only way I know)

So there he sat-- grunting away-- not sure what he was trying to do, but Payten and I were just encouraging him as much as we could. Then Payten says "maybe he is nervous, I will turn on the water for him"-- good idea sis- that helps me sometimes--- still nothing--but we both clapped for him for trying...

Oh well-- maybe next time will be a success story-----

Some moments are just to sweet to resist...

Last year Payten brought home a poem that was laminated and she had added her own little picture, when Joe was cleaning up the other day he found it and posted it in his computer cabinet. I caught this cute moment tonight and sat down to just add a picture and a few words but when I looked over I saw the poem and thought it was perfect for the occasion; it says:

Daddy's Little Girl

She's at his heels begging to go along

Washing the car together and singing a silly song

Riding on his shoulders,

Laughing on his knees

A pair where love is mutual and very plain you see

So like him in thousands of ways,

From her toes up to her curls

Cry your eyes out Momma,

She's her Daddy's little girl

(Gotta fix that date on my camera, this was tonight really :))...

Daddy's little girl.....Hmmmmm....I guess some things are inevitable.....

And the white stuff keeps coming.....

I am stuck in the Hotel room-- office closed at 12:00 noon today; snow started coming down at 11:00am and we are supposed to be getting 2 inches per hour until 8:00 tonight. It is beautiful-- if I could figure out how to get a cell phone picture on here you could see too. I am sure I looked like quite the tourist to these Connecticut folks when I was snapping shots of the snow to send back home-- but it is okay -- I don't get to see this enough at home-- and brings back that little kid feeling--

You know it is bad when you are in the North and they are closing schools, offices, the airport etc-- so I am just hoping tomorrow is as predicted-- 40 degrees-- just like I like it-- snow comes, you see it, get some good pics, then leaves the next day--

And most importantly -- tomorrow is my travel home day-- I can't be late for that-- I MISS MY BABIES-- (all 3)

One fancy contraption...

Okay here's the situation-- traveling in Connecticut this week, went to the bathroom in the restaurant two little old ladies were standing there staring in the stall with the door open-- as soon as I opened the door they looked at me and said--- you have to see this --come here....

The lady waved her hand over this sensor on the toilet ---and there we all stood staring at this contraption-- this little arm came out over the toilet seat, and the toilet seat lifted and started going around in a circle-- in this little arm was a sanitizing cloth that wiped the whole top of the seat-- as we stood there in amazement the little old lady said "I have never seen anything like that" and turned to me and said-- "now you can use that and you won't think it is wet because someone wet on it, it is wet because it is clean"

When I went back to my table I saw the ladies telling everyone at there table-- I wonder if they all took the tour before they left--

They sure do have some fancy contraptions in these here Northern parts---

Friendship that is good for the soul...

When was the last time you and a friend......

• Raced through the check out line at Walmart (and when you won had the Cashier rub it in with--- WE WON!!!)



• Started a foot race to the car in the Walmart parking lot



• Bought the same fuzzy PJ pants and called yourselves "Twinkies"



• Had to potty so bad but couldn't get to the bathroom for laughing at each other for no apparent reason besides having to potty so bad



• Took pictures in every silly spot you could find around the house just to get the right picture that hides your not so favorite parts



• Laughed uncontrollably about a little bit of nothing



• Talked on the phone for over an hour with nothing important to say



• Played fun couple games with your hubbies like Mad Gab



• Left long winded rambling messages every day, or actually enjoyed-or looked forward to getting those messages
  

Do you have anyone in your life like this? If not -- find someone--fast--don't waste time-- find someone that allows you to be yourself, no matter how silly that may be-- I promise you will thank me for the advice!!!

Can't keep up

This is how I feel this week-- I can't keep up, my next week of Black Belt starts Monday, I have Christmas cards to address and send, presents to buy, a tree to decorate, appraisals to complete, homework for training, project work ... and on and on and on and on...Calgon take me away

How to Stay Young

Got this from a friend today (Thanks Rena, You are special to me) in email and I really liked what it said-- Good advice on here-- and I want all of my friends to stay young and happy!!!! (Added a few of my own comments in Red for your enjoyment)


HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Try everything twice. On Madam's (of Whelan's and Madam) tombstone she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!


2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches).







3. Keep learning: Learn more about computers, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with that person. (And it is okay if you make your ownself laugh uncontrollably-- even if your friends pick on you about it-- HE HE HE)







6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with you your entire life is you. Lost time can never be found. LIVE while you are alive.


7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, or a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. (OOPS-- THIS IS THE ONE I HAVE TO WORK ON)






10. Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity. (I love you, my special friends !!!!)

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

12. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Aww Shucks....

Thank you to my Anonymous Ashley Fan-- That was pretty darn cool and a very nice surprise-- To everyone else reading--I promise I didn't write that myself-----:) --