Plain Sick

Well I think I may have caught the flu. I felt like dying last night. Then this morning I tried to convince myself that it could be much worse. I am still deciding if I am just Plain Sick or very very Sick!

The difference between being just plain sick and being very very sick:

Plain Sick: You disconnect your phone and hide when the doorbell rings in fear that it's probably your mother and she wants to "take care of her wittle baby." And the thought makes you more sick.

Very Very Sick: As you lay on the floor curled in a fetal position next to the toilet waiting for the next wave of violent gagging and vomiting, all you can think of is how much you want your mommy to take care of her wittle baby.

Plain Sick: You wake up and put on an old comfy pair of sweat pants and throw your hair into a twisty. Your somewhat happy because having a "Sick Day" means you have an excuse to be lazy.

Very Very Sick: You wake up and realize that wearing the same clothes for 3 days isn't that bad. It doesn't really matter anyhow, because your too weak to care and your going back to bed.

Plain Sick: You carefully measure out doses of cough medicine to yourself and the sick kids.

Very Very Sick: You tell the kids to measure their own medicine and you yourself drink it straight from the bottle. Besides you feel an overdose will do everyone some good.

Plain Sick: Although your feeling under the weather, you make the sick kiddos some chicken noodle soup and toast. Then you cuddle together and watch a good movie.

Very Very Sick: Your sick kiddos moan and complain for something to eat and you tell them that there should be some uncooked pasta in the back of the pantry that they can chew on. Oh and forget about the cuddling, your worried that you just might die and you don't want the kids around to see it happen.

Plain Sick: When you hear one of the kiddos yell out that someone just puked on the floor, you run to get the mini steam clean machine and immediately clean it up.

Very Very Sick: After one of the kiddos puke, you tell them to cover it with a few paper towels. You will clean it up in a few days. Then you threaten the rest of the children telling them that if they puke on the floor, then they will have to eat it. (your desperate!)

Plain Sick: You patiently sit holding the puke bucket while the sick kiddo pukes and then you feed them small spoonfuls of ice chips while rubbing their back.

Very Very Sick: The Motto: "All for one and one for all" becomes your new motto.

Plain Sick: Your bed becomes the family bed and everyone piles in for some TLC.

Very Very Sick: You love your children, but you, A: Don't want to be touched. B: Don't want to be looked at. C: Don't want to talk. D: You remind them of your new Motto. (See above)

Plain Sick: After getting out of bed to aid one of the sick kiddos for the 100th time, you still manage a semi smile and a comforting back rub.

Very Very Sick: You hear them calling your name and you imagine the sight you will be forced to confront, but you manage to tune them out because even though you love your kids, your now questioning yourself for wanting to become a mother. For a minute or so, you wonder if anyone would be willing to adopt a handful of half grown/ sick kids. Then you click your heels together several times repeating the words, "There is no place like home, there is no place like home." as you imagine that your 10 years old, back at home and your no longer the mommy!

Junk Mail Paybacks

We just figured out a way to payback junk mailers for all the trouble they cause us with piles of unwanted junk mail. Not only is it a waste of paper, it's a waste of my time. I seriously have an entire extra large garbage bag full of junk mail every week. So here is the solution:

When you get junk mail, open it up and look for a postage paid return envelope. Then fill it up with as much paper junk as you can stuff inside. Be sure to make it extra heavy, since they will be the ones to foot the bill. My children are very artistic and I have an overwhelming pile of colored and painted pictures. I figure since I can't possibly keep them all, I might as well share them. So I throw in some "free" childrens artwork (and trust me...sometimes the artwork is pretty messy with extra glitter and globs of glue!) The kids love it too! They are always really excited to open junk mail and search for those postage paid envelopes. And lets not forget, we are helping to keep the post office in business too (and I am always happy to do my part!)

Happy Birthday, Mom

Remembering back to my teen years, I like everyone else, swore I would one day be a better parent then my mother was. For starters, I would never force my children to sit at the family dinner table (at every meal) and eat such horrible foods like: Pork chops, Au Gratin potatoes, corn on the cob & rolls Or Mashed potatoes w/ gravy, baked chicken, biscuits and a side salad. After all, It was a little known fact that ALL of my friends were given the luxury of eating Top Rammen Noodles or Microwave Pizza and their parents clearly loved them more, because they were allowed to eat alone in peace. I can't even remember one time when I ever came home and had a break from mom's obsessive meal cooking/ family togetherness time. Get this: she honestly FORCED my sister and I to drink MILK at every meal! There was no changing her mind. She was so stubborn and set in her ways. My friends weren't held back with outlandish parental rules, the kind that seriously affected my social life. My mother must have really had it in for me. She did the most cruel thing when I was dating boys. She refused to let me leave with them unless they actually got out of their car and worse they had to say hello to my mother! What a nightmare! I had personally witnessed how my friends' boyfriends were allowed to pull up to their house and honk the horn a few times and off they went in peace. My mother had this strange cliche about allowing boys in my bedroom. She allowed me no privacy and insisted that the door remain open at all times. My mother was a little over the top with the "family togetherness" stuff too. While ALL my friends galloped around Europe free from over powering parents, I was forced on yet another "Family" trip. It didn't matter rather it was Disney Land or a trip to the coast, we were forced to sleep in the same hotel room and even still, we had to eat together at the SAME table! I remember telling my mother how I would do things so differently then how she was doing them.

But then...... Okay this is the part of the story where the mother says, "I told you so!" Well, being a mother myself now, I have come to understand many of her choices. Maybe they weren't so outlandish after all. I believe I turned out well. Actually, I think I turned out very well. I've seen and heard from some of my "parentally challenged" friends and let's just say that maybe they had a little too much freedom and privacy! What were those parents thinking when they let their 13 year old kids run free in a country that allows kids to drink and smoke (and trust me, they all did it too!). It's strange how I use to try so hard to do things so differently then how my mother did them, but now it seems I am constantly trying to live up to all of the things she did. Try as I might, it's not easy having a full cooked meal on the table EVERY SINGLE NIGHT (I'm not talking about microwave meals either!).

I know it's natural for everyone to have some regrets about their childhood and even their parenthood, but even though we had many tough times, I can only thank one person for who I am today. She not only gave me life, she gave my life purpose and meaning. At times we could barely stand to be in the same room together. We definitely had our share of fights too, but I know in my heart that all of the challenges that we suffered through truly made me a stronger and better person today. I believe that our Father in Heaven knew what lessons I needed to be taught in life and there were many! Being that he is perfect in every way, I know that his choice to have me born to my mother was his divine plan. A perfect plan in every way. So how can I ever hold any regrets or bad feelings about my childhood? I simply can't. I love every part of my life and I am thankful to the woman who gave it to me.

Happy Birthday mom, I love you.

Home Security System

Yesterday a Home Security sales man knocks at our door. If only he had come a few hours earlier he could have spoke with me and possibly have made a sale, but Robert answered the door. This is what was said,

Sales man: Good afternoon sir. I am here today to offer you a way to keep your family and house safe. I am selling peace of mind here.

Robert: I'm really not interested.

Sales man: Well sir, I see you have children. What would you do if a man broke into your house in the middle of the night?

Robert: I'd shoot him.

Sales man: Okay, what if you weren't home and your wife and children were home alone?

Robert: My wife would shoot him.

Sales man: I understand sir, but what if the children were home alone?

Robert: The kids would shoot him.

Sales man: Okay sir, lets forget about a home invasion. What if you were not home and someone broke into your house and robbed you?

Robert: That's why I have home owners insurance!

We only have one little problem with our home security system now. WE HAVE NO GUN! And I don't really want a gun in our home either. I guess we will have to get the second best thing to that: A couple of signs that read, "Don't Rob US, We Have a Gun!"

Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents...everyone!

Hudson takes a dip in his cupcake!


4 brothers.

Robert and baby brother, Pat.

Almost identical cousins!

Savannah & Amanda

Savannah and Grandma Wunduke



Today was a special day. It was Grandma Wundukes 85th birthday. The entire Gibson clan got together for pizza and cake. We haven't seen many of Robert's brothers for a long time, so it was nice to see them and their families and catch up. Don't you think that Robert and his brothers look so much alike? I do. We all had a lot of fun and hopefully we can all get together before Grandma's 86th birthday!

Happy Birthday, KY!

Happy Birthday, Ky!

Can you believe it's been 6 years since our "Girls Only Trip" to Oregon. That means you would have been like 9 years old! Wow, time really flew by fast. It's been amazing watching you transform into the wonderful person you have become today. I've enjoyed our years of fun times and practical jokes. (Remember the vomit flavored Jelly beans?) Imagine where you will be in 6 years from now. Adulthood comes far to quick, so STOP growing up so quickly! I really thought about putting your potty training picture on the blog, but I quickly remembered how horrible your paybacks are! Maybe we can go on another Girls Only Trip in a year and then you can drive! You can be the one that acts all retarded to all of the passing cars! (remember that?) Well, I hope you know what a special person you are to me. Happy Birthday, I love you.

Love,

Aunt Lisa

Gift or Punishment?

I dedicate this post to the many parents (victims) who unknowingly fall prey to the evil doings of those "Assembly Required" gift givers. I am NOT purposely trying to point a finger, but these "Assembly Required" or "A.R." gift givers who maliciously choose gifts that have a 12 hour assembly time and 4,000 or more tiny pieces, are more often than not "THE GRANDPARENTS"! They want us to believe that their gifts come from a benevolent heart, when in truth the A.R. gift giver usually spends weeks or maybe even months searching for that special gift with the 4,000 pieces. Clearly this is a premeditated attempt at revenge for something that we innocent parents may or may NOT have done. It is an example of an out of control problem that must be addressed. Most of these A.R. gifts cause great distress for the entire family. These gifts usually cause physical and emotional pain on the young and innocent children. The emotional part comes from the fact that no parent in their right mind is going to even attempt to put an A.R. gift together until at least 3-9 weeks after the gift was received and even then there is no guarantee that all 4,000 pieces still exist. Most likely at least half of the parts are either flushed down the toilet or glued down to an art project. The physical pain comes when the parent has completely lost their mind after weeks of temper tantrums and then finally construction begins. After reading the instructions for 3 hours and attempting to locate every single little screw, you undoubtedly find that your missing several parts. Not that that should matter because the directions that you just read are only good if you live in the Eastern part of the world at an altitude higher than 10,000 ft. SO YOU MUST START OVER! By now the excited and restless child is tearing and throwing the box and all the packing material all around the room. The tantrums start up again and thus the physical pain of a spanking comes upon the child. The father who is seriously considering throwing this A.R. gift out to the garbage is quickly reminded that his in-laws bought the gift and they will soon return from Hawaii and expect to see the grandchild playing happily with the A.R. toy. The father mutters a few words and again begins his futile attempt at constructing something that looks halfway like the picture on the box. Once again more beatings are given out to the restless child. Finally after 12 hours of hard work the A.R. toy is complete. After this experience we have decided that those innocent little children in China are paid too MUCH! They have the easy job of throwing a handful of uncounted parts into a box and gluing it shut. Surely these children in China don't suffer as needlessly as the many innocent children who receive A.R. gifts for Christmas? And let's not forget the parents who suffered through the endless hours of A.R. construction, parent abuse, an utterly destroyed house, thoughts of suicide and finally thoughts of homicide! So one last Thank you to all of the A.R. gift givers. The children, although happy and grateful for the gift, are unable to play with them right now because their bums are red and painful!

Hudson is a BOY in need of a haircut!

I realize that my youngest son looks a lot like a little girl in recent pictures. Now many of you are opposed to the idea of me cutting off his blonde curls, but look at the pics in the below posts! If I put pink jammies on him he would look like a little girl. I can't say how many times I've been at the store and had people ask how old my little girl was (Hudson)? CLIP CLIP CUT TIME!

Happy Birthday Addy!

Happy Birthday, Addy Bug!

My little girl is no longer that! It's hard to believe that she is already 80% through her childhood. I really kick myself now when I remember back to the time when she was a toddler. I had 3 children all under the age of four. Addy was the middle child. She had to grow up pretty quick, because her little sister joined our family when Addy was 18 months old. Luck for me, Addy was the most easy going little girl. She was always happy and smiling. I remember days when the kids all wanted my attention and needed me constantly (I want a drink. I want to eat. I have to go bathroom!) and I felt pushed and pulled to my limits. I remember thinking to myself, "In a few more years they will be able to get their own drinks and grab a snack from the fridge." I thought that when the time came I would be released from all of those busy non-stop days. At the time I really couldn't imagine anything more then where I was at. Addy often came to me wanting to cuddle and read her favorite book. Many times I did, but more times then not I was to busy with the baby. Her birthday happens to fall on New Years Day and since it's so close to Christmas, we often talk her into celebrating it later. (up until the age of 7 we told her that all of the fireworks and parties around the world were in honor of her!) Being that she is so carefree and easy going, Addy always happily excepted our small family birthday parties around the kitchen table on New Years day. A few months later she would carefully remind me that she has not had a "Slumber Birthday Party" yet. Only Addy would allow a parent to overlook something so important in their life. Addy had to grow up quick, but I believe that it has enabled her to think for herself. She's always had a very strong spiritual connection to the Lord and she emulates a glow that makes you want to be a better person. I have NEVER seen her be nasty towards another person. Even when her so-called friends joined their little clicks, Addy never joined their cruel clubs. Sometimes I felt that she may be a little to passive, but then I realized that she was the real deal. She is an honest, loving, trustworthy, peaceful young lady and there's nothing wrong with that! Happy Birthday, Addy. I love you.

Temporary Insanity or Puppy Love

I know what your thinking... Lisa has lost her mind! Well, actually it may be true. I have allowed THREE puppies to come to our home. BUT... Don't worry they are only visiting until they find new homes. A friend of ours from Oregon asked if we would sell these little cuties for him. The owner is being deployed overseas and he didn't have enough time to sell them. So for now they will be living with us until someone buys them. If your interested please CALL ME! They are pure Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. They will be big dogs, so we WILL NOT be keeping one. However, this hasn't stopped the children from naming them. All of the children are on their best behaviors trying to change my mind about keeping one or two of the puppies. I must say I do like all of the house work that's being done! The girls want the puppies to sleep in their beds with them tonight. ("Wait until you wake up in the middle of the night with puppy pee all over your bed!" I've told them.) It doesn't matter, they love them so MUCH. "Please mom, I promise I will take care of them." Ya, wait until they poop all over and they have to clean it up. I suspect this puppy love will end shortly after!

Merry Christmas Gage!

Gage was happy to find out that Santa Claus managed to get inside of our house. He was a little worried about the fact that we have no fireplace! I love it when they still believe in Santa. It makes Christmas more magical. Gage has been a very busy boy this year. He is doing great in all of his studies. He is reading 3 grade levels above the average 7 year old. This kid is an Einstein! Gage is a very mellow little boy who loves to tell creative stories from his wonderful imagination. He is such an angelic little boy. He rarely gets angry and his patience are something we can all learn from. Gage is always thinking and pondering ideas. One day we will all own something that's life changing and it will have been invented by Gage. We are so proud of everything that this little guy does. He is amazing.

Merry Christmas, Gage. I love you!

Merry Christmas!

Too Much Merry Christmas for Hudson

Trying not to show approval for what Hudson was saying in the above picture, it was pretty darn funny. Finally after opening all of his loot he looked at me with a worried look and said, "No more Merry Christmas okay Mom?" Is it not ALWAYS true that little kids like the simplest things more so then the really expensive ones! All of the kids got Tootsie Roll piggy banks in their stockings and Hudson was completely obsessed with ALL of them. He wanted to dump the candy out and have the empty containers for HIS MONEY. The money that he gets when he climbs up on top of the counter and quietly opens the money jar and sneaks a few handfuls of loose change! If your ever at my house you will notice that Hudson is ALWAYS caring a little baggy of change all around the house. In fact I am constantly finding these little bags of money after he sets them down somewhere in the house and forgets where he left them. Then he gets a new bag and starts a new stash. He loves money. Is that so bad? When most toddlers scream for candy, Hudson screams for MORE MONEY!

Merry Christmas Son. Please stay out of my wallet!

Merry Christmas Vannie!

Savannah may be 10 years old, but she still holds that magical Christmas spirit that all young kids have. The kind of spirit that makes parents want to relive their childhood and shell out yet ANOTHER $50.00 bucks for a MUST HAVE present. As I see it, the kids love the gifts, but the parents LOVE watching their faces light up with the magical happiness of a good surprise. This year we hid all of our gifts at the neighbors house and we told the kids that since we just got a new house and SUV that this Christmas would be very small. Savannah asked if we were poor and I jokingly told her, Yes! She took it serious and rewrote her Christmas wish list:

A coloring book (its okay if someone already colored some of the pages.)

toothbrush

5 pack of crayola crayons

pack of gum

and only if you have enough money mom, I would like some more rubber bands for my hair.

She was completely overwhelmed when she came down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas, Vannie. I love you!

Merry Christmas Taylor!

Taylor was so overcome with joy about this gift, that his entire body froze in a seizure looking posture of happiness. Luckily, Savannah was there to help unwrap the entire present. Unfortunately with all this snow, Taylor will not be able to rip this stick with some death defying tricks. Taylor continues to grow taller then everyone in our house. His hair has to be cut every month (I think it needs a cut now, but Taylor likes it long and curly). I've just begun to notice that the girls go Ga-Ga over this young man. It's an odd feeling as a mother to feel threatened by these little girls who are trying to steal my little boy's heart away. I admit jealousy may be one of the emotions involved. I've been the only girl in his life and now I am competing with a bunch of giggling girls. It's all new territory. Nonetheless, I am very happy with who this young man is becoming.

Merry Christmas, Taylor. I love you!

Merry Christmas Addy!

This beautiful girl is the most giving, warm hearted and lovable girl you will probably ever know. She always befriends the kids who are usually picked last. She is very passionate about many things and she believes she will change many of the world's problems and I believe she will. This girl has ALWAYS known what direction she was going. I truly believe that Addy will make a difference in this world. I can't wait to find out how. Watching her grow and develop her own thoughts and ideas has been one of the best gifts I have ever received in my life.

Merry Christmas Addy. I love you!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Actually, this sweet girl's birthday was in September, but we were busy moving so she had to stay younger longer. I am accustomed to calling her my "baby girl", but she reminded me that she was now in the "Double Digits". Yep, this will be the last year that she can communicate her age with her fingers. 10 years came quickly. It's depressing to think about the fact that 60% of her childhood is already complete. She has become an amazing young lady with many talents. I asked her a few questions:

Favorite color: Pink & Purple

Favorite animal: Ducks

Favorite Music: Hanna Montana

Favorite Food: Mac & Cheese

Hobby: Karate

Least Favorite Food: Pickles

Happy Birthday Vannie! I love you.

Who did this to you?

I asked big brother to watch his little brother while I got some serious work done on the computer (emailing friends & doing some online shopping). A little later I hear a strange moaning sound and find my poor baby boy sitting on my bed with his eyes jetting around the room as if he were attempting to figure out who or where the sound he was hearing was coming from. He was terrified, so as any good mother would do, I ran to get the camera. However, when he saw the camera he stopped looking so scared. (Darn! Another good picture missed!) It ends up that older brother told Hudson to sit on the bed and not move because the "brain eating ear monster" would get into his head if he dare remove the brain protector ear muffs! So poor innocent Hudson sat on the bed being neglected and fighting off brain eating monsters while mommy shopped online. You can see in the bottom picture how slow and careful he removed the brain protector. He walked around the house with his hands over his ears for another hour after his horrible experience. I'm thinking we should stop contributing so much money into his G.E.T. account (college money) and start paying into an I.N.A.T.T.B.S account (I need a therapist was tortured by siblings).

Move over Scrubbing Bubbles!

Having a shower with glass doors is a pain in my back side. We have terrible hard water and it stains after one shower. So I started a rule that the shower had to be wiped dry after each use and then we spray Scrubbing Bubbles- shower cleaner all over. It gets rather spendy and I am probably poisoning my family. Well, Move over Scrubbing Bubbles and meet the newest competitor.

Out smarted by a 2 year old!

This is the cute little boy that I get to watch twice a week. It's nice because Hudson has someone his age to play with. Although Hudson is 3 1/2 and this little boy is almost 2, they get along nicely. Hudson is a very late bloomer in speech and this little boy talks as well as a 4 or 5 year old. He may be the next Bill Gates. Anyhow, today I was reading the boys a book that was a picture dictionary. There was a picture of a french horn and I was drawing a blank, "Little Bill" looks at me like he's giving me time to think and then says, "That's a french horn!" Hudson looks at the picture and calls it a Cow!

Splish Splash I'm Takin A Bath!

These little boys had fun in the tub tonight! Gage and Hudson added extra bubbles to their bath and then turned on the jets! Water and bubbles were everywhere! They both tried to build a snowman, but for some reason Frosty wouldn't stay standing!

"Can I lick the bowl?"

After enjoying a nice meal with our friends on Sunday evening, we decided to make ice-cream. Everyone enjoyed the yummy treat, but I was surprised to see Savannah refusing a bowl of ice-cream. She had other plans. She patiently waited until everyone was through eating and I began to take the machine apart to wash it. "Mom, I didn't get to have any ice-cream. Can I lick the bowl?" Savannah asked me with puppy dog eyes. I saw no harm in it, so I told her to dig in. The funny part of the story is the fact that we lecture our children on proper meal time manners and how to act when we have guests over. (when guests aren't at our home there is usually more food on the floor then on our plates.) I can only imagine what our guests were thinking when they saw the girl above licking a bowl with her tongue and smearing ice-cream with her fingers. All the while her mom is taking pictures! Secretly I too have licked the ice-cream bowl.

Here it is...as requested!

Everyone is asking to see a pic of our new house. It is kinda cloudy outside today, but this will work. Basically it is like our last house. It has a roof, front door, and many rooms inside!