Arizona Pictures!!!! :)

Jackson and Jacob in Arizona taking a hike in the mountains! :)

Mommy with her boys! :)

The Grand Canyon!!!!!

Another view of the Grand Canyon!

The Archer "Cousin Reunion"!!! :)
Justin, Levi, Taylor, Jackson, Jacob and Jade

Jackson having fun at the Grand Canyon!

Mommy is having fun, too!

Daddy can't be left out!

America's Next Top Model Contest!
Contestants are: Mark............

Jacob having fun at the Grand Canyon!

And Heather is contestant #2

We are taking votes for the WINNER!!!!!

Jackson at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon!

Horse Back Riding @ the Apache Stables
(right outside the Grand Canyon National Park)
Yep, that is Cissa right up front in the red shirt!!! :)
Jackson is third from the back.

Mark and Heather! Awwwwwww!
Can you believe this pic was taken at a "rest stop" on the way

back to Phoenix from the Grand Canyon!

The cousins back at Grandma and Pa's House!
The best part of the trip was having all of the cousins together!!! :)
Taylor, Jackson, Justin, Jacob, Jade and Levi

Hey there, fellow bloggers!!! I am soooo excited to finally be showing my Arizona pictures!!!! Looking at them has helped to remind us of some of the fun parts of the trip!!! I must say that some of my favorite pics are of the cousins all together!!!! :) I love group pictures of the kids like this and we rarely get an opportunity for it to happen (with everyone living so far from one another)! But, we got some good cousin pics on this trip and for me..........they are priceless!!!!!! :) I hope you enjoy them, too!!! :)

Btw, I took about a total of 600 pictures!!!! It was definately hard to decide which ones to post! Let me know what you think! :)

Looking at these pictures made us feel good about the trip! There certainly were some difficult times, but there were also lots of fun times, too!!!! I feel in my heart that this trip was something we needed to do. It was a special treat for Grandma and Pa and I know they loved it!!! :) And I am soooo thankful that Julie (my sister-in-law) could come with her kids, Jade and Levi!!!! It would not have been the same without them! She is a dr. and is soooo busy and I'm sure she could have said no about coming. But.........she didn't.............she came. And her husband couldn't come 'cause he had to work. So............she came by herself! To me, that says a lot about her!!!!! It certainly meant a lot to us!!!! Mark has a good family and I am proud to be a part of it! I only wish we all lived closer! It would be cool for Jackson and Jacob to see their cousins regularly! Oh well! In the meantime, we have these awesome pics to remind us of the fun times we do have together!!! :)

Oh, and let us know who the winner of "America's Next Top Model" is!!!!! :) I may lose points b/c I have used that "pose" in a previous blog!!! LOL! I did it again on purpose (it is my "signature" pose now)! LOL!!!! :)

Anyway, enjoy the pics! I have more pics to come! Some will be from Jack's b-day and some from Jake's b-day! And...........we are supposed to get the yearbooks back this Friday!!!! WooHoo!!!! I am excited!!!! :)

Keep me in your prayers this week. I have a drs. appt. on Wednesday (with a new dr.). I am feeling better, but I want a full check-up and tests done. I am 36 yrs. old and it is time for a full physical. My cheeks have been totally red this week (probably from my rosacea). I think I may need some cream for that. Anyway, thank you for the prayers!!!!!

And on a last note: what a beautiful day we had today!!!! I just wanted to say a special thank you to God for giving us these sunny days!!! Everything looks different when the sun is shining!!!! Isn't that amazing?! And if it rains tomorrow, that is okay, b/c it makes me appreciate the good days even more!!! Life lessons - we learn something new almost daily!!!! :) My favorite saying is: LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where Has Cissa Been?!

Hi there, my fellow bloggers!!! :) I must apologize for my recent absence! It has just been such a busy time of year! For starters, Jackson has had baseball going on. And I will be the first to tell ya how much I enjoy him playing, but man, how LOOOOONG the practices last (plus he had his first game Monday evening). And, in truth, the practices aren't "always" that long, but even a couple of hrs. crunches your evening time. By the time you get home and have dinner and baths, it is pretty much bedtime. And, oh, let me tell ya about bedtime!!! LOL! :) The end of the school year is always the hardest b/c the sun is out till the wee hrs. of the night! And you see, my kids DO NOT want to come in and get ready for bed and I can't blame them! Neither do I!!!! It is soooo hard b/c they are having so much fun outside - and by seven or so it has also cooled down enough for the "perfect" take a walk weather!!!! :) Let's just say we are ready for summer to be here. Then, if we stay up late, it is okay b/c we can sleep in!!!!! :) Which reminds me - Jack also had the 3rd grade Ohio Achievement Test on Monday and Tuesday. It really ended up not being so bad! (How did it go for you Amy)? Good, I hope! I am just glad it is over with!! :) And Jack seemed fine about it as well, so that is good! I also took some pictures of my aunt, uncle and cousin while they were visiting from New Mexico. I think they turned out pretty good, so if you are interested in seeing them, let me know, I will give ya the pass word (the pics are on my web page). Plus, speaking of pictures, I have been at Jack's school taking yes, MORE PICS!!!!! The yearbook is finished and we should get it back next Friday!!! WooHoo!!! I can't wait to see it!!! But, now, I am finishing up pictures for the 4th grade graduation slide show!!! It will be on May 24th. I always feel like I don't have enough (and then I end up with too many)! LOL!!! :) Better safe than sorry is my motto especially regarding pics!!! :) Oh, and I took Jacob's birthday pics myself at Schiller Park (this park is not too far from Grange in German Village). They turned out pretty cute as well. I will have to post some for you all to see! :) Anyway, it has been busy around here, but is starting to settle down! I am also starting to "diet" and I have been walking for exercise this week! I am definately NOT a good dieter - I have no idea what to eat! I seriously need some ideas!!! Please send any advice my way!!! I desperately need some recipes that would be good for me!!! :) And to end, I must admit, that after returning from my vacation, I think I might have been in a slight "depression" when I got back! For at least two weeks since coming home, I did not feel right! I had migraines, dizziness and lightheadedness. I don't know for sure, but in retrospect, I think I was slightly depressed! Although, the trip was fun, it was extremely stressful! It just wasn't a "kid" place to be! I am sooo glad we went and know that it was the "right" thing to do (b/c Mark's parents have always wanted us to come), but it was simply stressful. I loved seeing Mark's family and his sister and her kids and grandma and pa, but I can't quite describe what was so hard! It was partly the heat (90 and no air conditioner) which can make a person cranky! But there were so many good things during the trip, too! It is sad b/c until recently, those good things had been put on a back burner, since I wasn't doing well. All that was remembered was stress!!! Oh well, maybe it was just me!!! :) But.........bottom line is............I feel better now, so that is good! And, I am finally thinking of the "fun" things that we did on our vacation! So..........now that I am feeling better, I will be blogging once again!!!! :) I'm back, baby!!!!!! :) I would like to say "Welcome" to our newest blog member "SGE" - we are soooo happy to have another blog to read! :)
If anyone is interested, my web page is: Portraitsofalifetime.com
If you want to see any events, let me know, and I will give ya the password! :)
I am looking to slowly get back into my photography! It brings me such great joy and I absolutely love it!!!! So.........if anyone knows anybody in need of some "different" types of pictures, let me know! I especially love taking "park" pictures at this time of year!!! You can get such awesome pictures!!!!
Okay, okay, I will sign off for now! I am rambling at this point! I'm just glad to be back!!!!!
Welcome Home Cissa!!!!!!! :)

Top Ten Candy That Cissa Loves!

Okay, my friends, this one is gonna be short and "sweet" - LOL - no pun intended, or was there?!!! :)

Cissa's top ten favorite candy:

1)M&Ms (both peanut and plain)
2)Sprees (especially the red ones)
3)Zero Bar
4)SweetTarts - maybe b/c, like me, they are just sooooo sweet! :)
5)Butterfinger
6)Reese's Pieces
7)Reese's Cup
8)Hershey Bar (and kisses, too)!
9)Gum
10)Sugar Babies (I go thru phases where I eat them constantly and then it fizzles out)! :)

Hmmm, hmmmm, hmmmmm, good!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Walkin' On Sunshine!

Hey fellow bloggers!! :) I was trying to think of a song w/the word "sunshine" in it! This was pretty much the only one that came to mind besides "You Are My Sunshine." And although I have two "sunshines" of my own, this particular blog is going to be about the beautiful weather we have been having for the past few days!!!! :) I, for one, am loving it!!!!! I'm not sure why, but things just seem "better" when it is sunny outside!!!! So..........I just wanted to take a moment and say "THANKS" to God for giving us these wonderful sunshine days!!!! For me, they are a reminder of how beautiful our world truly is! And, these kind of days, when I feel soooo close to God, it feels like anything is possible!!!!!! :))
So...........go enjoy this incredible weekend (I hear it is supposed to rain tomorrow)! :) Great things lie ahead for each and every one of us!!!! Oh, and one more thought for the day: I think us grown-ups need to see the beauty in the simple things like our children do. A few of us have talked about dandelions this week and how our children love to pick them. I think it is soooooo very sweet how our children see these flowers as something of beauty (while soooo many adults try soooo hard to get rid of these flowers)! It just made me think of how innocent and rewarding children can be and that, maybe, just maybe, we could learn a lesson from them!!!!! :))
Children, along with the sunshine, are the greatest gifts from God!!!!!!!! They are constant reminders of heaven!!!!! :)

Top Ten Female Singers!!

There are lots of songs and singers that I like, but it wasn't too difficult to narrow them down to my top ten! :) Sorry I am late listing these, I , too, have been busy! I think it will be much easier from here on out! I am totally enjoying these beautiful sunny days we have been having!!!!! Taking walks with Jacob, picking flowers, seeing my neighbors, hearing lawnmowers, people working in their yards, kids playing and having fun, and just seeing the sun shine in through my window!!!! These are the days when I feel God most!!!!! Who, but he, could have made such a beautiful earth???!!!! :))

So.........on with my top ten!



1)Cher - her "old" stuff totally ROCKS!!!! "Jesse James" "Heart Of Stone" "If I Could Turn Back Time" - the list goes on!!!!!!!!!

2)Jewel - I am pretty sure I have every CD she did!!!! :)

3)MaDonna - her "old" stuff ROCKS, too!! "Like A Virgin" "Crazy For You" "Papa Don't Preach"
"If I Live To Tell" - again, the list goes on!!!!!

4)Martina McBride - I have several of her CD's! "Blessed" "Anyway" "This One's For the Girls" "Independence Day" - the list never ends!!!!

5)Faith Hill - I have several of her CD's, too! "Fireflies" - her duets with "THE" Tim McGraw!!!!!!!!!

6)Reba McIntyre - I can't even think of all the songs she has sang!!!!!! I have CD's and she just rocks!!!!! Plus, has anyone watched her TV show called "Reba?" Adorable! I just saw a rerun where she sings a song to her grandchild. I loved it soooo much I had to look online to find it (well, Mark helped). Reba rocks!!!!!!!

7)Wynonna Judd - I am a huge Judd's fan!!!! I think Naomi and Ashley rock, too! Goooooo, Judd's!!!!!!! :)

8)Miley Cyrus - yes, I am a Cyrus fan, too!!!! We got her CD for Jack and we love her, too! She really can sing and has a great voice!!!!

9)Christina Aquilera - I like what I call her "normal" songs! "Genie in a Bottle" "Beautiful" "Ain't no other man" - she has a great voice! I don't care for her "rap" type music!

10)Natalie Maines - from Dixie Chicks!! I have all of their CD's, too! Good music!!!!

I think I pretty much nailed my top ten!!!! I have almost every CD these girls have made!!! So, I hope I like their music!!! If not, I just spent a TON of money with nothing to show for it! I am gonna have to go "fish out" some of these CDs now. Every time a new one is bought, an old one gets put away. It is good to be reminded so I can listen to them once again! It is also good 'cause it keeps them rotating and they seem like new again!!!! :)
Btw, Miranda, I love doing these lists. I am still planning on doing a "Five on Friday" - just as soon as things get a little "less" busy!!!
Two more days till the weekend!!!!!! Hang in there, everyone!!!!! :)

Where Have I Been?!

Hey, guys, I am here!!!! It has just been a VERY long week! Jacob and I took all week to get over the Arizona time difference! We could not get to sleep at night and then were tired all the next day! I have no idea how Mark and Jackson did so well with school and work! Jacob and I just tried to make it through!!!! LOL! Maybe going to work and school forced them to sleep better. They were tired at the end of the day and, therefore, able to sleep. Jake and I - not so lucky! We tried to keep busy, but there wasn't anything that made us soooo tired that we easily went to sleep at night! Anyway..........we are both feeling a bit better, so that is good! I am going to see a new doctor this week. I just haven't been feeling good and I keep getting my migraines. I have been waiting to see if it was just the time zone difference or, maybe, me stopping my cycle (for vacation). Well, after waiting it out all of last week, I am still just not feeling right! I have gained weight, so it might just be that I need exercise. Who knows?! I just want to have a thorough physical by a new doctor who can check things out. Keep me in your prayers!!! Thanks!!!!! :)
So........I watched this movie today (it came on HBO) called "The Lake House." Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves starred in it. I remember back when it came to the theater - it was not at the top of my list. I thought it would be okay since I really like both of the actors, but it just wasn't at the top of my list. Well, let me tell you, it was really good!!!!!! My aunt and my sister both have recently watched it. My aunt said she had no idea what was going to happen while my sister said she totally figured it out! So..........I was very intrigued to see what would happen for me! And...........that's right!!!!! I had NO IDEA!!!!!!! I mean, you certainly have little guesses, but, basically, you have no idea! Well, at least my aunt and I had no idea!!!! :) Anyway, it was very good and I totally recommend it!!!! It even made me cry a little at the end!!!! It was a good cry, not a bad one!!!! :)
If you haven't seen this movie, rent it!!!! A must-see!!!!! :)
It also made me realize that "Keanu" totally used to be on my favorite actor list! I forgot about him!!!! What a cutie!!!!! :))
I will post some pics later this week! :) I would do it now, but I need Mark to help and he went to bed!!! :) I seriously need to learn how to do these things on my own!
More later!
Have a good week!
Cissa Says: Rent the movie and Good Night!!!!!

There's No Place Like Home!

Hi there!!! We are HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are soooo happy to be back!!!!! I will be posting pics later this week! I just wanted to say "HI" to my fellow bloggers and let you all know that I am BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Now, on to the good stuff, my top ten actresses:

1)Reese Witherspoon - Legally Blonde, Walk the Line, Sweet Home Alabama
2)Drew Barrymore - Never Been Kissed, Ever After
3)Kate Winslet - Titanic, Sense and Sensibility
4)Cameron Diaz - Charlies Angels, In Her Shoes, Shrek
5)Ashley Judd - Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is
6)Jennifer Aniston - Picture Perfect, The Object of My Affection, Rock Star
7)Scarlett Johansson - Match Point, The Prestige
8)Angelina Jolie - Gia, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Bone Collector, Tomb Raider
9)Sandra Bullock - Miss Congeniality, Hope Floats, Practical Magic, A Time to Kill
10)Kirsten Dunst - Spiderman movies, Bring It On, Little Women, Jumanji

There are more, but these are my favorite at this time! I think these ten actresses are terrific and they play a key role in whether I am intrigued in seeing a movie - along with their male co-stars, of course. LOL! :)
Enjoy my list and keep watching for my pics from vacation!!!!! :))
It is good to be home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Top Ten Things I'd Like To Be!

Hi guys! Sorry it has been sooooo long since I last posted! It has been crazy around here. For starters, Mark and I have been working on Jackson's elementary school yearbook. I am happy to say that after all of our hard work, it is finally finished!!!! WoooooHooooo!!!!!!! I love it and hope that everyone else is equally happy with what we did! We certainly put a lot of work into it! We get to pick them up on May 11th, so I am looking forward to showing them off! :)
Okay, second, as you all know, we are leaving for Arizona this Saturday! WoooHooo, again! But that hasn't been a picnic, either! :) There has been so much work to do to get ready. And......I have been sick off and on for the last two months! I just got sick again yesterday with a horrible head cold and I am a little worried about flying! Please say a prayer that everything will go well. This is our first vacation in years and it would really suck if I remain sick! Not to gross anyone out, but I puked earlier today! I think I had a slight fever, but I feel a bit better right now! :) I am trying to remain positive, but man, I feel like I am in a batting cage and the balls keep coming! LOL!!!!! :) Just pray, pray, pray!!! Thanks! As some of you know, also, on one of our last vacations, we got in a major car wreck! A lady pulled out in front of us and Mark had to be life-flighted to a hospital. So.........again, just keep us in your prayers! :)
We are looking forward to our vacation!!!! We have lots of things planned to keep us busy! Mark talked to his parents the other day and they are totally excited!!!! That makes us feel good!!!! Plus, as you all know, I love pictures! I can't wait to go to the Grand Canyon! I want to get LOTS of pics, of course, but I especially want a sunset picture there! That would be so cool!!!! So, I will have fun taking all of my pictures, you know! :) Mark already bought an extra memory card 'cause he knows I will take soooo many! So, all of you scrappin' sisters, be prepared to look at all my pics and the school yearbook at the next meeting!!! ROFL!!!! :)
Okay, here are my top ten things I would like to be in life:

1)photojournalist - pictures and writing!!!!! :) My two favorite things!!!!!
2)lawyer - it would be fun trying to win! :)
3)teacher - I think I would have been good at this! (My sister is a teacher and my brother says he would have liked it, too). It must run in the family!
4)therapist - this one is right up there w/photojournalist. I think I would really like this!
5)actress - famous and make lots of money!!!!! :) Plus, probably marry a hot actor like Brad Pitt!!!! :)
6)talk-show host - not an actor, but get to meet them all!!!! :)
7)chef - just would be cool, I think! :)
8)writer - I have always wanted to write a book! Hey, maybe there is still time! :)
9)singer - a famous one, of course! Platinum albums and all!!! :)
10)accomplished photographer - such as, have my own studio!!!! This is probably the one I would truly want most of all! :)

So......just wanted to make my list before I left for vacation!!!! I hope everyone has a great week! I will miss you guys! I check my blogs every day! What on earth am I gonna do?! :) I will truly miss checking it every day! Good luck starting your anatomy class, Miranda! And I hope Steph is feeling better or, at least, finding out what is wrong! Keep me posted! I will be praying and thinking of you all! Take care, Amy and Carrie and Carleta!!!! And, Heath, if you read this, I love ya!!!! :)
Talk with everyone when I get back!!!!
Have a good week!

Will it ever end??!!

Yes, I am about to complain!!!! :) I can't help it!!! My cycle is all off (check Emjaye's blog and the comments I left)! LOL!!! :) I had my cycle stopped for my vacation! Otherwise, I would have been right on my period during my first vacation in seven years!!!!! Wasn't happening!!! No way!!!!!! So........my dr. okayed it for me to stop my cycle for my vacation! Well, lucky me, I am having "horrible" side effects!!!! The worst being the "hot flashes!" If this is any indication of what menopause will be........well, then........I don't want that, either!!! LOL!!! I was at Jack's school yesterday and at two separate intervals, I started sweating like a DOG!!!! Each time, there was another woman there, and I asked each of them (each time) if she was hot! Each woman, at each time, said they were not and, in fact, they wouldn't mind a sweater!!!! And there I am, sweating like a DOG!!! You could see the sweat dripping down my face!!! EMBARASSING!!!!!!!!!!! :))) The only thing I can connect it to is stoppping my cycle! I have also been moody and emotional. I watched some show and cried like a baby! ROFL!!! It wasn't something I would have normally cried about! And, poor Mark, I have been irritable! He is hanging in there, as am I!!! He knows that I can't help it!!! I have good days and bad ones! The good ones are good, but the bad ones........watch out! :) Seriously, tho, I am hoping that my hormones level out a bit. We will see!!! So......please pray for us! At least, we are aware of what is going on, and we can more often than not, laugh about it!!!! I thought it would be great having no cycle! Boy, was I wrong! I still don't like periods and all, but, I must admit, I will be grateful when mine returns! :) I just have to ask before I sign off! Were periods part of the punishment for Eve for eating the apple and disobeying God?! Or, did the human body sort of evolve over time and it sort of happened?! Does anyone know the answer to this question?! :) I know childbirth suffering was put on Eve, but, seriously, how did the "period" come to be?! LOL!!!!
Aren't you guys so glad you read my blog?????!!!!!! ROFL!!!!!! Sorry, guys!!!!! I am a mess right now! I'll be better soon!!!!! :)

My Crazy Weekend!

Hey guys! I tried to explain in my previous blog why I am feeling so crazed right now! :) I tried to keep it short b/c, believe me, it could have went on and on and on...........! LOL! I did, however, forget to tell one important part of the story and........I think you will like it! Too funny and only happens to me! :)
So, my brother calls me on Saturday and asks me if I will come to Chillicothe and pick him up (for my aunt's surprise party). He had told my mom that he might come (if he can borrow Stacey, his girlfriend's, car). So........my mom isn't sure if he is coming for sure or not. And.......he told her he definately couldn't get Gracie that day b/c Cortney had plans. Well, that was all a big, giant fib!!!! :) It was a good fib, though, b/c he DID get Gracie and he wanted to surprise my mom by just showing up w/her! This is where I come in! Stacey needed her car for work (she had to be at work by 3:00 and the party started at 1:00). So..........Heath using her car and being back in time wasn't an option. So.........he asks me to come and pick him up in Chillicothe and then stop by South Bloomfield and we'd get Gracie and then, voila, go to the party (two surprises in one)! One for my aunt and one for my mom!!! It was such a sweet thing for Heath to do!!! Here is the funny part!!! I leave by about 10:00 to get him. I did bring my cell phone, but it was in my purse and I was jamming to some "loud" music! Hey, it is a long drive down to Chillicothe! :) Right about the time I am just getting in to the town, I decide to check my messages! Duh!!! Why didn't I do this like waaaaay earlier??!! (I guess it was early in the morning and I had a lot on my mind and I was just enjoying the view and the music)! :) Well, you guessed it - there were two messages from my brother! I call him back and he said that Cortney had called and thought he was going to pick up Gracie by like 11:30. I was just getting in to Chillicothe, so that was not gonna happen! Oops! I guess that Cortney had somewhere she needed to be, so Heath had to leave and go get Gracie or he would miss her (b/c Cortney had to leave). I totally understand!!! It was all just a crazy morning!!! I had no idea it mattered that day what time we got Gracie or I would have left earlier. For my part, I was tired and got a late start, but I didn't know Gracie needed picked up at a certain time! LOL! So, when I call Heath he says that he is almost in Ashville! He had taken Stacey's car to get Gracie and was just gonna come back to Chillicothe! If he did that, we would end up being very late to Colleen's surprise party! So..........what to do??!! What to do??!! :) Poor Stacey! Heath calls Stacey on her cell and wakes her up! She works the 2nd shift and gets to bed late and, therefore, sleeps in! Heath asks her if she will ride w/me to Circleville and meet him at the BP on the corner of 104/22. This way Heath and Gracie can trade cars w/Stacey! So..........that is what we did! :) I brought Stacey w/me and when we got to the BP, she took her car home, and Heath and Gracie came w/me! Whooooooooooooo!!!! Crazy!!!!! I felt so bad for Stacey, but she was so sweet about the whole thing! For my part, I waited in my car (at their apartment) when he first called her. I didn't want her to feel any pressure - like she had to do it! So, I waited! But, it all worked out in the end! On my way to the Circleville BP, I kept getting phone calls about the party! It was too funny! :) I did learn my lesson, however, to always have my cell phone in a place where I can hear it! Or, I guess, I could put it on vibrate!!!!! LOLOLOL!!!!!! That just didn't sound right!!!!!!! LOL! :) Seriously, tho, I will make sure I hear it next time!!! :)
This story is also funny b/c my mom kept saying on Sunday morning that I could go rest or get some cleaning done!!! HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She had no idea I was going to be in Chillicothe w/a whole new set of problems!!!! LOL! In the end, she WAS really surprised and extremely grateful!!!! It was all worth it in the end!!!!! :)
So.........that is my crazy weekend story!!!! And, if that isn't enough, I had my period stopped so I wouldn't be on it during vacation! Long story short, it isn't fun at all!!! I thought I would like it, but I don't! It is making my hormones go crazy!!!! And I still have cramps and back pain! It sucks!!!!! I can't believe I am going to say this, but..........I would rather have periods!!!!! LOL!!!! This just doesn't feel right!!!! So........once again, please pray for me and my family!!!! I want this vacation to be so fun b/c we haven't had one in so long!!! I don't want to be some crazy lady from this medication! :))
Oh, and btw, the yearbook is coming along nicely!!! I am soooo proud of it!!!!! I can't wait to show everyone!!!! :))
GoodNight Everyone!!!!!

Oh, What A Week It Has Been!

Hello there, fellow bloggers!!! :) Long time, no hear from me! LOL! :) It has been a long and crazy week! So much has been going on - where do I start??!! :) I guess I will start at the beginning (wherever that may be)! LOL!
First off, on Sunday (last week), we threw my aunt (my dad's sister) a surprise party! My aunt's daughter, Michelle, passed away two yrs. ago this past January 29th! Michelle had five children, three of which were young (around Jackson's age). Michelle's brother, Ronnie, took the three youngest children to live w/him the past two years! Bless his heart!!! Truly!!!! There was NO WAY my aunt could have taken them, the last two years, due to her grief! She was barely hanging on herself! Long story short, Ronnie just had a slight breakdown himself! He needed a break from the kids after two long years. The three grandchildren moved in w/my aunt! She is happy to have them, but it is a lot of extra work and money!! My aunt and her husband, Jimmy, live in a small house and they are all doing the best they can! It is a change for everyone and the kids still terribly miss their mom!!! You can imagine! They are two girls (Taylor, age 12 and Jenny, age 10) and one boy (RJ, age 9). On top of all of this, Michelle's oldest child, Amber, age 16, has been living w/my aunt as well!!! So..........although my aunt is thrilled to have them, it is just sooooo much work (my aunt is in her 50's and is tired after working all day, and then, coming home to kids). And it costs a lot of money for "4" children!!!!! So.........the surprise party was so cool b/c we all brought things like toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergent, cups, plates, etc. People even brought money and gift certificates, too! It was a great success and she was sooooo surprised!!! :)) Please keep this family in your prayers!!!! Thanks!!!! Oh, also, back to me, (hee hee) - my aunt had called me the Friday before her surprise party and had me keep the kids overnight!!! I was happy to do it, but had so much work to do for the party (which, of course, she had no idea about)! I am telling you, this past week has been soooo long, I can't even remember everything!!!!! :)
On Monday and Tuesday, I babysat. Doesn't sound hard, and it's not, just more work and entertaining to do. Mark and I are also working on Jackson's school yearbook. This has really been awesome and we are a good team working together, but it is soooo much work putting it all together. We still have so much more to do! And........I will be showing it off once it is all done (the yearbooks will be passed out on May 16th), so be ready for me to show you!!!!! :)
Jacob had a dentist appt. on Wednesday. Jackson had a dermatologist appt. on Thursday and also an eye appt. on Friday!!!! It never stops!!! The dermatology appt. was difficult b/c it was it second one (he had it done once last month and the biopsy came back as atypical). I have come to find out that that simply means "odd," but it is scary when talking about your child (scary for anyone, but especially your child)! They had to give him a shot in his chin (and it hurts) and remove more of the mole (go deeper and wider) and, also, biopsy it again. We should get these results back in about a week or so. Please be praying for this as well!!!! Thanks!!!! :) Jackson did very well. They had me give him some children's pain reliever and he said that did help. I think it made him drowsy and that helped! Either way, he did soooo good and I am soooooo proud of him!!!!
Then, yesterday, we had to go to my other aunt's birthday party for her grandbaby (my other cousin's little girl). It was at the Grove City roller rink. It was fun, but noisy, and I, of course, had a migraine!! :) Figures!!!! :)
Today, we worked on the yearbook some more. So...........I feel like I am, either not home, or working on the yearbook if I am home. We need to have the proofsheets ready by this Friday. Man, I am feeling the stress!!!!!!!! :) Just pray, pray, pray!!! We are leaving for Arizona in three weeks and I am looking forward to that, but it is also stressful in its own way! I am trying to only think positive about it, but every now and then, stressful thoughts come creeping in! I guess that is normal!
So........that is my week in a nutshell. There is way more to tell, but it would be waaaaay toooooo looooong! I hope my fellow bloggers are all doing well. I know you all have your stresses going on in your own areas. This is a big month for Miranda. She has finals and starting a new class and it also being the 1st anniversary of her dad!!!! I am thinking of your family and praying for you all!!!!! Miss Carrie has a wedding coming up and, I know from experience, that a bride can feel like she just might have a permanent breakdown! I know it will all come together and be beautiful!!! I can't wait to see pictures, Carrie!!!! :) I know that Steph's friend's family was in a car accident! How are they all doing??!!
So, we are all under stress in some way or another!!!! Which reminds me of a saying I think I posted once before: "be kinder than necessary b/c everyone is in their own pain!" I don't know if I quoted it exact, but close enough! I am thinking of each and every one of you!!!! Hang in there!
One more quote and I gotta run: "When God closes a door, he always opens a window." Sometimes it is harder to find that window than others, but, I believe, it is there! You will find it! Just hang on!!!!!
Love ya'll!!!!!! :)

Top Ten Game Shows!

This is gonna be short and sweet! I know - a first for me!!!!!!! :)) You have to see it to believe it! :)) LOL!
My favorite game shows of all time:

1)Lingo - It's not just letters, it's lingo!
2)Family Feud - Survey Says!
3)Match Game
4)Wheel of Fortune
5)The Price is Right - Come on down!
6)I've Got a Secret
7)To Tell the Truth
8)Pyramid
9)1 vs. 100 (Bob Saget is a good host)!

Those are my top nine - there are lots more game shows that I have enjoyed, but not enough to be on the top ten! These nine I truly watch and would still watch. I don't feel as faithful to any others, so didn't think it would be fair to list them! :) I think Wheel of Fortune and Lingo are my two favorite at this point in time!
Isn't TV great??!! You gotta love it!!! It gets your mind a goin'!!!!!! :)

Oh, Man!!!!!

Well, today was my 6 month dentist appt.!!! Bad news, tho, I have NO STORY!!!!!!!! :(
Sooooo sad!!!!! Mr. Friggin' Good Lookin' was there, but nothing funny or interesting to tell! I was a little disappointed myself b/c it has just become "habit" for something funny to happen there! :) Oh Well!
I do have some news, tho. It was Jacob's 1st dentist appt. today! I got my teeth done at the same time as Jackson. Little Jake went back and forth watching Jack and me get our teeth cleaned. When it was Jake's turn, he did soooooooooo good!!!!!! We are proud of him b/c earlier today he kept saying he didn't want to go! But, later this afternoon, after talking about it frequently, he decided that it might not be so bad! I think watching his big brother and me get our cleaning definately helped! I remember taking Jackson when he was little. He just got to watch mommy get her teeth cleaned before he went. Poor guy! Being the 1st kid is hard. I think it was nicer for Jacob to not only have "mommy" to watch, but big brother Jackson, too! Anyway, Jacob did real well and we are proud of him! He doesn't always deal w/change the easiest, so when he does something big, like the dentist, it feels like such an accomplishment! Especially when he does it willingly! You go, Jacob!!!!!!!!! :))
For the record, Jackson did good, too! But, I guess, it is more expected of him! Again, poor guy! He needs some credit, too!!!! :) Gooooooo, Jackson! You are a great example for your little brother!!!! :)
Lastly, before ending, I must say....................each birth order can be hard. I only mentioned the first b/c for 1)we were talking about Jackson and he is the first and 2)I was the first, so, of course, I think it was hard and 3)I always wished I had an older brother or sister b/c 4)the first has already paved the way for the rest. We, at the very least, carved a tunnel for the "others" to go through. And...........carving that tunnel was hard work!!!!!!! ROFL! Our siblings surely benefited from that pathway being there. Oh, and we also found "lights" for that tunnel for the others. I mean, the tunnel would be completely dark if we hadn't! LOL! :) It is like "we" firstborns were "guinea pigs"!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!!!! So, no matter how hard the "others" had it.....................try being here first!!!!!!!!!! It isn't all it's cracked up to be! Yes, you are number one to do everything, but that glorification doesn't last long and then it's back to testing! LOL!!!!!!! I am gonna start calling Jackson my "guinea pig!" Too funny!!!!! :) You all know I'm just rambling 'cause I have nothing else to say!!!!!!! Oh well. Great job Jackson and Jacob at the dentist!!!!!!!!!! :) And if anyone is interested, there is a birth order book written by Kevin Lehman! It is really good and describes each birth order and why you are the way you are! If you like to read, it is very interesting! :)
Peace Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

A Dozen (minus two)!

Man, I don't know if I can really describe myself in ten words!!!! I mean, there are just sooooo many wonderful ways to describe who I am, it makes this top ten VERY HARD!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!!!! I'm kidding! :) If anything, it will be hard to think of ten words in general!!! :) Here goes nothing!!!!

1)Merciful - I really think this word describes me b/c I truly believe in having mercy for people (and I do)! I think if I want mercy from others, then, I must give it to them in return! And, believe me, I need and want mercy!!!! :)
2)Caring - Self explanatory, but, I do think this word describes me pretty well. There have been times when I try so hard to NOT care, but it never works! In my heart of hearts, I really DO care and it always come shining through in the end!
3)Sensitive - My family always called me this when I was younger and it used to make me soooo mad! But, now, I realize, they were right! :) I wear my heart on my sleeve.
4)Silly - I think this is the one word that truly is the word for me!!!! I am always doing or saying something silly. And the funny part is - half the time it is an accident! LOL! Silliness just follows me around wherever I go!
5)Obsessive - this may not be one of my better qualities (unless I'm obsessively cleaning or using it in a positive way), but if I'm gonna be honest in describing myself, I have to list the not so positive, too! :) And, I have always been like this since I was young, so I am pretty much used to it. But, man, I feel bad for my family when I can't find a cup or plate that has gone missing!!!! LOL! It is like, drop what you're doing, and find that cup!!!!!!! :)
6)Understanding - I think I am understanding (I try very hard to be)! I think I let people be who they are and I accept them that way. And, of course, I ask for that, in return, for myself from others. Also, I try to be very understanding w/things that people are going through. I may not always relate, but I always try and understand! Ya know what I mean?!
7)Happy - This one I know for sure! I am very happy w/where and who I am at this point in my life! I have a great man and two beautiful boys! Who could ask for more?! :) And let's not forget my wonderful extended family and terrific friends!!!!!!!!!!! I've got it good!!! :)
8)Visual - I listed this as a word to describe me b/c of my photography! :) I just seem to know what "I" think looks good and it usually turns out right. Plus, I have always visualized on tests and things like that. I usually "visualize" outside the box! LOL! :) I see things differently than most! This is good and bad!!!! :)
9)Listener - Although some of you may be surprised to hear this word to describe me - it is true in many aspects of my life! :) I think I just know when to talk and when to listen! LOL! And I am pretty good at listening when others need a shoulder to cry on! But, don't get me wrong, I am a good talker, too! :)
10)Mom - I just had to end w/this word to describe me! For the last nine years, this has been who I am! It has become my life! Although it can be very demanding, it is the best word that has EVER BEEN USED TO DESCRIBE ME!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't change it for the world!!!!!!! :))

Sooooooooo, there is my list! Did anyone else describe each word or was it just me?! LOL! Sorry! I just don't know how to blog small! :)
Oh, and did anyone else notice that I didn't list "wife" as a word to describe me?! Oops!!!!!! You know I love ya, Mark!!!!!! (Just look at #7 and you will see)! :)

Another Mike Memory!!!!

Okay guys! I wasn't gonna do this, but since Noacre asked, I thought I'd dig out an old picture of Mike Hall for her to see (she has never seen him and was curious to see what he looked like after hearing all of my stories). I think this particular photo was taken back when the church youth group went to see Tecumseh. After the show, we were all trying to get our pictures taken w/the Tecumseh actors, but by the time we got backstage, all the Tecumseh actors were gone. I was soooooo disappointed, so Mike (who knew I liked him) posed w/me instead!!!! Aren't we just ADORABLE?!!!!!! :)

My Guess For Grey's!

It is 9:30 right now and I am watching Grey's!!!! :)

Here is my prediction!

I think Meredith's mother will be the one who dies and Meredith will live, BUT............as her mother goes to the other side she will see Meredith (before she comes back to the living) and they will exchange some nice words! Meredith needs some validation from her mother and she will finally get that! At this point, Meredith's mom told Meredith that Meredith is ordinary! I think this will be their moment to make up!!!!!! And Meredith will be able to leave her past in the past! :)

Anyway, I can't explain anymore 'cause it was commercial and now the show is back on! Let's see how close I come!!!!!!! :)

Jackson's A Trooper!

Hey guys! I have some news that I hadn't shared before now! Jackson had been referred from his pediatrician to a dermatologist to have a mole checked out! The mole hasn't always been there - it just showed up about a year or so ago. We never thought much of it, but in the last few months it has gotten slightly longer. It is a flat mole almost like a freckle - it is just darker than normal. So............we scheduled his appt. for today. We were very fortunate, in the fact that, we got an appt. quickly. It can take a looooong time to get in with a dermatologist. I have a dermatologist I have seen in the past, but I don't really care for him (he is very abrupt). I knew I didn't want to take Jack to him, so I called around to some different places. We got in w/in two weeks due to the fact that this particular dr. was new to the office. He hadn't yet built up a lot of patients. Now, some people might be nervous to go to someone new, but, not me!!!!! I figure he is a dr. and knows what he is doing. If I get there and don't like what I see, I can always leave or get a second opinion! Ya know?! :) Anyway, I am glad we took our chances b/c the dr. did very well! And his nurse was terrific!!! She knew how to talk to kids and that was very helpful. I was there w/Jackson and Jacob all by myself. To their credit, both boys were troopers!!! Poor Jack!!! He only knew the dr. was going to look at his mole! It is on his chin. Well, as soon as the dr. looks at it, he says he is going to biopsy it and remove it at the same time! He told Jack that the needle (to numb it) would feel like a splinter coming out. I told him it would feel like a bad pinch! My poor baby was very scared, but got right up on that table and held my hand and did soooooooo good! I got to be right there and watch the whole thing! I could totally tell how much the shot to numb it hurt!!! And, once the needle was in, the numbing medicine going in - it hurt, too! The whole numbing process only took a minute or so, but it was a long minute! Jackson winced and I held his hand and rubbed his forehead! He did terrific!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooo proud of him!!!!!!!!!! After numbing it, they took a piece off to biopsy and then cut the rest out! He only needed one stitch, but he is very proud of that stitch!!!!!!! :) As he should be!!!!!!! The nurse later told him how well he did. She said they had a twelve yr. old earlier that day who didn't do as good as Jack! :) Now, no jabbing the twelve yr. old or anything, 'cause I am sure it hurt, but it certainly made us proud! :) Anyway, they are sending out the biopsy and we will have the results in about two weeks or so. The drs. say it is usually not a concern in children, but that word is still very scary!!!!!! Please keep my boy in your thoughts and prayers!!!!!! Thank you so much! We are hoping that the worst is over! I let Jackson stay home from school today. His appt. was at 10:40 clear up in Dublin (actually considered the Powell area). Plus, I was having two warts looked at as well. By the time we were done, it was after noon. To get all the way back to Grove City, what would be the use? School ends at 2:30. So, I figure, he deserved some fun seeing what he went through! :) So, we went to Tuttle Mall and stayed there forever! The boys and I had Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Then the boys played and we walked around. We were gone the whole day! We had Mark meet us there after work. We had Jack's hair cut on the way home, and then, went to Burger King to eat dinner (the BK on the west side w/a playplace)! :) We didn't get home till almost 8:00 at night!!!!! :) I think it was a day well spent!!!!!!! My boys deserved it!!!!!! For Jacob's part - he deserves some credit, too! During the procedure, he stayed by the chairs and didn't move. That was sooooooo helpful b/c I was busy holding Jack's hand and, also, I was completely blocked in by the nurse!!!!!!! If Jacob HAD gotten upset or whiny or anything, I would have been stuck! But...........that good boy!!!!!! He was great!!!!!!!!!! :) So...........as a mom - I need to remember these times and how good they were 'cause it isn't always like that!!!! LOL!!!!! :)
I am sorry I didn't tell anyone earlier about this procedure! I think I was blocking it out of my mind until the day came! I pretty much knew that the dr. would remove it. When I took Jackson to his pediatrician for his strep (a couple wks. ago) and she asked about his mole - she told me the dermatologist would most likely remove it. It didn't seem like a big, huge deal, but I didn't want to alarm Jack. I decided to wait and see and put it in the back of my mind. Plus, I got sick and my neck hurt so bad, it was easy to forget until today came! Hey, I just realized something!!!!! I have been thinking that me being sick and my neck bothering me for the last two wks. was such a pain in the butt!!!!! And, don't get me wrong, it was!!!!! But...........maybe that is the way it was supposed to be - 'cause it certainly got my mind off of that darn mole!!!!! I had too many other things to worry about! If I look at it in retrospect, my getting sick and going through what I went through, it truly was a blessing!!!! I would totally have obsessed about Jack's mole otherwise!!!!!!! WOW! I suffer from OCD, so, imagine how hard that would have been! But...........it wasn't hard where the mole was concerned 'cause I was so sick I didn't have time to think about it! PROFOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, God, what are you going to give me for the next two weeks so that I don't obsess on this darn biopsy?!!!!!!! :)))))
Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts and prayers!!!!!!!!!! It means a lot to me!!!!!!!!!!

Cissa's Favorite Foods!

Wow!!!!!!! This is the second post for me today! Who woulda thunk it?! LOL! :))

Here are my top ten favorite foods to eat! Enjoy! :)

1)Bob Evans Chicken Breast Meal w/garlic butter sauce! Yummy!!! And, of course, you have to have a side dish of broccoli to go with it!!! And, never, ever, forget the EXTRA garlic sauce on the side!!!!! :)
2)My mom's vegetable soup!!!!! It is the best!!!! And no one makes it quite like her!!!! THANK YOU, MOM!!!!!!! You are the best cook!!!!!!! :)
3)Pomegranites mixed in vanilla yogurt! Easy to make AND nutritious for you, too! The only bad thing is that you can only get these during certain months of the year! Bummer! But..........they are worth the wait!!!!! :)
4)Spaghetti with meat sauce! Simple, easy to make and good! FYI - I will use Ragu, but Prego is my favorite! Along with this, I must add, I also love the spaghetti at the Spaghetti Warehouse!!!! Delicious!!!!! :)
5)Glazed Doughnuts! Fattening, but worth every bite! I also eat the glazed doughnuts topped with chocolate frosting and cream filled! How could something this good be so bad for you?! :)
6)Red Robin's "bunless" protein burger! They wrap it in lettuce instead of using a bun! For the record - I have heard that this is actually a nutritious meal to eat! Cissa says:
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
7)Cardos Pizza! Anyone who really knows me - knows that Cardos is #1 for me!!!!! If you have never had it - man, go and try some! Greasy, thin crusted, delicious pizza! :)
8)Evelyn's Cheesy Potatos! (Evey is Mark's mom)! She makes the BEST cheesy potatos I have ever had! :) THANKS EVEY!!!!! You are a great cook, too! :)
9)Barbeque Pork Chops! Again, easy to make and very good! :) I make them, but they never taste quite like mom's! Why is that?! :)
10)Ma's Sugar Cookies! My mom has a recipe that was passed down to her from her grandma (my great-grandma)! They are the best sugar cookies I have ever had! I just learned to make them "right" in the last 5 years! You want the recipe??!! It's a secret!!!!!!! LOL!!!!! :)

There goes my top ten favorite foods!!!!! Simple, but good! I must add one more to be accurate, though. Mark and I are both Burger King fans!!!! :) And, although the food is great, that is not the only reason we love it!!! Does anyone know why?! I am taking guesses and I will let you know in my next blog!!!!!!! :)
Have a good week!!!!!!!!!!!

The Horse Who Had No Worries!

Okay guys! :) I told Miranda that I just had to blog this picture (after seeing her cow's behind painting)! LOL!!! This was taken at Jackson's cousin's birthday party! They rented pony rides for her birthday (I know - expensive - but at least my kids had fun and we didn't have to pay)! Anyway, you all know me, I am snapping and snapping and snapping as many pictures as I can. I am in my zone at this point! So..................do any of you see what I see??!! I never checked my pictures as I was taking them. There was so much going on that I just didn't pay attention - I just kept snapping. The funny thing is - usually I DO check on my digital camera. I, at least, look at the window on the back of the camera and check to see if it turned out okay (no bluriness, etc.). Well, this particular day, I did not! Lucky me!!!!! We get home that evening and put the pictures on the computer and voila! We got a nice little gift from this particular pony!!!!! ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I, of course, thought it was hysterical!!!! I am just glad the kid's didn't notice b/c there are several pictures like this! :)) FYI - the pony "handler" (no pun intended - ROFL) - she kept rubbing this pony's head and kept going on about how much he liked it!!!!! Well, ya don't say!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, he liked it a lot!!!!!!! :))
Anyway, I am hoping you all get a good laugh from this!!!!!!!! I sure did!!!!!!!
I will post my top ten very soon (later tonight).
Have a good week and stay warm!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just wanted to wish everyone a big Happy Valentine's Day wish!!!!!!! NO SCHOOL AGAIN TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jackson and all of his neighborhood friends are thrilled! And, I must admit, I am kinda liking it, too! Jack is growing up sooooooo fast (he just turned nine)!!!!!! I like having him home with me b/c way too soon he will be "grown!" I am hoping that the boys and I will stop and take some quality time to spend together! Take advantage of this snowy time off from school! :) I have a "mean" sugar cookie recipe (you make cut-outs and everything)! LOL! It has been passed down from my great-grandma, to my mom, and now to me! It is very fun (and long) to make and the kids usually really enjoy it - as do I! I figured Valentines would be the perfect time to make heart shaped cut-out cookies and have my little ones help! :) I am planning on making a yucky snow filled day into something special!!!!! :) Although, to tell the truth, it is probably "already" special to Jackson just being off of school!!! LOL! :) And "already" special to Jake since his big brother is home to play with him! :)

I also wanted to let everyone know that I had to go to the dr. today! I know - I must be crazy! Of all days - why would I go out in this weather today??!! Trust me - I did not want to go, but I really had no choice! As you all know - I have been sick off and on for a week already! You name it - I've probably had it (I saved it all up to have at once)! LOL! Anyway, I am "finally" feeling better, but................on Sunday around noon - my right shoulder, neck and upper arm started hurting! I figured I must have pulled a muscle or slept funny, so I figured I would just "ride it out." Well.............by today (Tuesday) which is "two" whole days later and..............the pain is NOT going away! Medicine like Ibuprofin would help for a little while, but............a couple hrs. later and the pain would come right back. By today - I just couldn't take it anymore! I had to pretty much lay down b/c it was starting to hurt just to walk and when I "did" walk or sit or stand - I had to walk w/my head to the side! Kinda hard taking care of kids or trying to do any cleaning w/your head tilted to the side! LOLOLOL!!!!! :) So................I call my dr. who, fortunately, is just about a mile away, and go to his office this afternoon! Lucky me - I get to experience the "rain/snow" b/c, you know, I wouldn't want to miss driving in that! LOL! Long story short - the dr. had me lay down on my back and cross my arms over my "boobs" (which, thank goodness, I did cover my "boobs") 'cause he leans completely over me - his arms over mine) and turns me toward him and "cracks" my back!!!!!! Then, he repeats the procedure on the other side! If I wasn't in sooooooo much pain, this would be very FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But.............I hurt sooooooo bad in my shoulder area - that I do not even care!!!!!! :) Then, he stands behind me, and "twists" my whole head to one side and then, of course, "twists" it again the "other" way! Again, this whole experience might have been 1)embarassing and/or 2)very painful, but, to be honest, it felt GOOOOOOOOOD!!!!! I asked him if he would come to my house and make house-calls!!! ROFL!!!!! He replies with "how much $ would he make" (joking) and I say "well, you would do it "free" out of the kindness of your heart!!!!" Sooooooooo, even in my pain, I can act doofus and make people laugh, I guess! LOL! It was all too funny! Oh, btw, I did get two prescriptions which I plan to use "all" up very quickly! LOL! He prescribed me Vicadin and some kind of muscle relaxant. I will tell ya that I have a pretty high tolerance for drugs, but that muscle relaxant totally knocked me out...............cold!!!!! :) And.................my pain came back "again" after a couple of hrs!!! But........even getting a couple hrs. of relief and being able to sleep was wonderful!!!!! The dr. said I probably slept funny and I should feel better in a few days (like by Friday). If not, then we will run some x-rays, but neither he or I felt it was necessary at this point! So, that is good! Just keep me in your thoughts and prayers! Thanks! I am so tired of not feeling good! I have decided, though, that as soon as I feel better - I am gonna start taking better care of myself! I have never been motivated to exercise, but after not feeling good for so long, I have no excuse! I need to be healthy and take care of myself - if not for me, then for my family! So...........maybe me getting sick is a blessing in disguise b/c I doubt I would have changed any other way! Sometimes it takes a "train" to knock us off our feet for us to see something right in our face!!!!! :)
For the record (to get even more sympathy) - I watched "six" kids today even in my pain! Go, Heather!!!!! And, if you read my previous blog about my sister, you will get a laugh out of this: I got the three older boys to scrape the snow off of my car!!!!!! LOLOLOL!!!!!! They thought it was fun and I got out of doing it! At least, for once in my life, I have an excuse this time since I was in pain, but it is still funny! You can get kids to do anything! :)
Also, one more funny conversation I had w/the dr.! :) When he was getting the "kink" out of my neck - he would say - "there it goes" - like he "knew" my neck had popped! But, I was curious how he just seemed to know! I mean, there was no "loud popping noise" or anything - I could just feel it, ya know? So, I ask him when he is done how he knew what he was doing? He simply smiled and said - well, I went to school for a LONG time, so that probably helps! LOLOLOL!!! I think people are just looking for ways to embarass me or I must just talk w/out thinking 'cause it follows me wherever I go!!!! :) He did say later that drs. can tell by "feeling the muscles" if it is working. So............anyhoo, that is my story for today!
NO SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are out traveling - take it easy and go slow! I slid a couple of times today myself! So................be careful!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do something nice for someone! Make it a surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will feel so good! :)

Cissa's "Not so Flattering" Moments!

Okay! I have already been reading everyone else's top ten which seems a little like cheating! So, I am gonna try and not copy and think of my own (which is going to be so hard 'cause I just never have any non-flattering moments)! Seriously! :) LOL! My life is one great big EMBARASSING MOMENT!!!!!!! LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!! I have already mentioned "several" examples in previous blogs, so if you haven't checked my archive, please do! If nothing else, I will provide you w/a lot of laughter and tears (from laughing so hard)! :) So................here goes my top ten embarassing moments of my life! Enjoy! :)

1) Walking into men's restrooms! Not once, not twice, but MANY times this has happened! I am, either, totally NOT observant! Or, I must be doing it - subconsciously - on purpose! LOL! I totally walked into the men's restroom (when the church youth went to see Tecumseh) and had NO IDEA I DID until I am standing there looking at the urinals! And, even then, I am thinking what are "urinals" doing in the women's restroom???!!! When I finally realize, oh, my mistake, I look around at all of the men and pleasantly announce, "I am in the men's restroom!" Duh!!!!!! I also repeated this scenerio just last year at the Chillicothe Wal-Mart. I had Jacob in the cart and I have to use the potty. So...........I not only walk into the men's restroom, but I wheel the whole cart in there (Jake and all) with me, too! And you have to turn the cart "3" different ways to get in there and then "3" different ways to get back out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All I could think was................."not again!" LOLOLOL!!!!!!! :)

2)Revolving Doors! When I first started working at Nationwide Insurance I was about 21 yrs. old. I worked in the financial department as a clerk (secretary) with a lot of well-to-do people! Now............we all can agree that "I" am NOT well-to-do! :) I mean, come on, even if I was "well-to-do," I wouldn't dress or act that way! I just don't think it is in me! So...........a real nice gal named Brenda befriended me! Btw, I will always remember and love her for that! So...................Brenda was very tall, very blonde, very smart and very beautiful! She had money, she came from money and she knew money! I will refer to her as "Trump!" Trump never wore the same outfit twice! And the outfits Trump did wear were "fabulous, darling, simply fabulous!" For some unknown reason - probably pitty - Trump took me under her wing! So.........I have just started my first week and Trump takes me out to eat. Very nice! We come back to the building and come in a different way than usual! We have to go thru the "revolving door!" Now, I had been through revolving doors, but, it is my first week at big, fancy Nationwide and I am hanging out w/Trump! I am a bit nervous! So, Trump is leading and I am following and.....................we get to the revolving doors! Split second decision, split second decision!!!!!!!!!!! Do I get in the same door as Trump? Or do I wait and get in my own door?! Looking back, this is a huge "duh" in my life!!!!!! But, remember, I am very nervous and wasn't thinking straight! So...............split second decision and what do I do? You know it, my friend, I "jump in" the same door as "TRUMP!" As soon as I do, I realize my mistake! I will always remember the look on Trump's face when she realized I was there! We had to take baby steps to get through to the other side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the record, Trump and I laughed about it "later" - like a "year" later! It is soooooooooooooooo funny to tell the story now, but I was completely mortified at that particular moment in time! Anyway, Trump and I lost touch through the years, but I hope she is doing well! She was always so sweet to me and put up w/my "innocence!" So............................THANK YOU, BRENDA (aka Trump)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3) Mike Hall! Yes, I was in love w/him! Yes, he knew! Yes, it was embarassing! Yes, he was my Tom Cruise! Yes, I went to church every Sunday just hoping to see him! And, yes, I can laugh about it now!

4) Victoria's Secrets! Okay - this is a place I really do not "frequent." Again, it is just not me or my style! I prefer old sweats and a t-shirt. That being said, I needed a new bra! So, my one and only sister takes me to VS. I usually just go to Kohls for my bras. Is anyone aware of the "bra help" that you get at VS??!! I didn't know, but Heidi told me how they will help you. They ask your size and help you pick one out to get started and they even measure your bust in front of everyone, too! Then, in the dressing room, they even have a "buzzer" for the girls to come and give you advice on your bras! Wow!!!!! Fancy for me!!!! And, I might add, a bit embarassing if your so-called "boobs" hang down to your belly button from having two beautiful babies!!!!!!!! If I was Cameron Diaz, I might not care, but I am, unfortunately, not! So...........I am timid, to say the least, but decide to just go for it! The girl measures me and gets me started with some bras and tells me to "buzz" if I need anything! Well, that first "buzz" was hard, but I don't know what happened 'cause, after that, I was "buzz, buzz, buzz!" I was on fire, man! I tried on sooooooo many bras and kept having the girls come "look!" Even Heidi, later, said, what was up w/all the buzzing??!! Anyway, it was an embarassing moment, but it goes to show that a "not so flattering" moment can be turned into what you make of it! LOL! :)

5) Waving to the wrong person! Man, I do this ALL THE TIME! Someone will be driving past my house and they have the same car as someone I know. So................I wave and smile and wave some more --- only to realize that.....................I don't know the person in that car AT ALL! Never saw them before in my life! I have learned to just laugh at myself, but, man, I do feel stupid when this happens! LOL! :)

6) Throwing an ice cube! Sounds innocent enough, but not if it is a guy and you hit him in the privates with it!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! :) When I was about seventeen and working at Burger King, we would goof off on our down times. So....................I threw an ice cube at my friend, who was a guy and good-looking, and, voila, I hit him in his crotch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Embarassing for a young girl, I tell ya! But, oh, so funny, now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

7)Wearing tags on shirt! Back when vests were popular I had a nice, new, pretty white one! But, duh, forgot to take the price tags (there were two for some reason) off!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt like an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8) A boy I liked "kisses" me on the cheek! I was a freshman at Marion-Franklin. I had a huge crush on a tenth-grader named Derek (I think that was his name). Anyway, on my b-day (Nov. 5) my friends had him come up behind me in the cafeteria and "kiss" me on the cheek! I could have just died!!!!!!! For starters, he didn't "like" me in that way! He was just a sweet guy to do that, but I was soooooooooooooooooooo embarassed! Oh, I just realized, his name was Dirk! :)

9) Overflow! I don't mean to be gross, but, this blog would not be accurate if I didn't admit to this particular embarassing moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have heavy periods and have (more than once) overflowed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It happened at school once, too, and that was the worst!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never know if anyone noticed! It was the end of the day and I high-tailed it out of there! And I never spoke of it AGAIN.........................until now! :)

10) My Dentist! You will have to look at my archives for these stories! Too long to re-tell! But he is Mr. Frickin' Good-Lookin' and I basically act like a love-struck, idiotic, teenager!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has nice eyes and I can barely look at him when he is checking my teeth and wearing his mask! LOL! :) What is wrong w/me?! LOL! Btw, I have an appt. at the end of this month for a teeth cleaning! Don't worry, tho, 'cause 1)Jack always has his cleaning at the same time and 2)Mark will be there 'cause we are bringing Jake for his 1st appt.! But, maybe, just maybe, I will still have a funny story to tell!!!!!!!!!!!

My lists are always so very long! LOL! :) Sorry about that! I'm not sure if I am funny or just plain boring and no one wants to tell me! :)
Go slow on those roads tomorrow!
Be safe, be happy and be kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Sister (The One & Only)!

Appropriate title, I think! :) I am sitting here thinking of what to blog. I have pictures to show, but Mark has already gone to bed and...................I have no idea how to post them on my own! Well, technically, I have a "small" idea, but not enough to actually publish them for anyone to see. So..............that will be saved for tomorrow - stay tuned! So............what in the world should I blog about?! I started thinking that I haven't even mentioned my sister in my blog all of this time! Truthfully, she probably likes it that way! But what are sisters for??!! That is right! I am gonna have to mention her at least once for my blog to be, well, "my blog!" My sister is five years younger than me and she is the "only" sister I have! Although we are very different in many ways, I think we are also very alike in others! I feel very lucky to have a sister! My brother said he always wished he had a brother. I think it is nice to have a sibling that is the same gender! It certainly was nice "picking" on her all of those years many moons ago! LOL!!!! I have lots of stories to tell where that is concerned! Here is a small excerpt for ya: whenever I wanted or needed something and didn't want to go and get it myself - I would tell my sister (and brother, too) to come and play a game with me. I would tell them that I wanted to see how fast they could go and get (whatever I wanted at the time) for me! I would "count" and see how fast they could go! I tell ya....................it worked every time and I must admit.................I still use this little "game" on my kids (any kids actually) as well! LOLOLOL!!!!!!! Anyway, what exactly is a sister is for! The first thing that comes to mind is this: no matter how many times you fight or argue - a sister is always there!!!!!! A sister remembers the things from your childhood (the good and the bad) and you can laugh about them now! :) You can talk to your sister about all the things your parents did right.........and wrong! LOL! When you have a sister, you simply know that one more person in your life loves you ----- for you! :)
I have to say two things in honor of my sister! :) First, it will be her birthday on Tuesday, the 13th, so.......................HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HEIDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And second, I hope she knows how truly proud I am of her!!!!!!!! She just got her masters degree this past year! HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT!!!!!!! And she is a fantastic teacher!!!!!! She doesn't get enought credit for all the good things she does!!!!!
Have a great b-day, Heidi!!!!! Love ya lots!!!!!!! :)

Cissa the Sucker! :)

Hey guys! I have truly missed blogging, but I have a good reason for seemingly having gone AWOL!!!! :) I have been soooooo sick and it has not been fun! I have tried to check in and leave a couple messages, but it seriously took all the energy that I could muster up! LOL! No pun intended, but I am so sick of being "so sick!!!!" It is not fun!!!! I - knock on wood - don't get sick that often, but when I do - I make a lasting impression!!!! LOL! Anyway, I wanted to, at least, get my top ten in for the week before the "next" top ten question is listed!!!! LOL! :)

So, here are the top ten things that Cissa is a sucker for (in no particular order):

1) My Boys (Jack and Jake)! :) I think every mom would probably list their kids as one of the top ten, huh?!
2) My niece - Baby Gracie! :) That little girl is certainly right up there with my own babies!
3) Pictures! :) Anyone who knows me knows that I am a crazy person when it comes to pictures! I take too many, develop too many and display WAY too many!!!! I can't help myself! :)
4) TV! :) I truly don't know what would happen if I missed one of my shows! I would survive, I am sure, but I wouldn't be happy!
5) Picture frames! I always check out the picture frames no matter what store I am at! Even if I was just at the same store the day before! You never know what new frames you are gonna find to display all those pictures in!!!! :)
6) Magazines! I am the biggest sucker for buying magazines! I have even tried putting the money I would have spent on magazines in a jar, but it never worked - not for me! It is an addiction - I tell ya! I see the stars (who I refer to as "my people") and I have to read their stories! I think I need MA! Magazines Anonymous!!!!!!!! :)
7) Baskets! This one is not as bad as it once was! But...........I am still drawn to them! I will usually check them out at the stores as well (along w/the picture frames). Anyone interested in a trip to Dresden??!! I'm in - just say the word!!!! :)
8) Purses! Along w/the picture frames and baskets, I will generally check these out as well. And, I have been known to buy one for no reason! I don't need it, can't afford it, but shucks, I just have to have it!!!!! I even did this w/diaper bags!!!! :)
9) Music! Good music just seems to make the day a little brighter! And........I have been known to buy CD's I don't really need, either! :) I just want them!
10) Helping others! I just like to be there for people and help! Or.........maybe, I just can't say no!!!!!!!!! Just kidding! :) It makes me feel good to help others! :)

I'm sure there are many more things that I am a sucker for! I tried to list the top ten things that I thought of! And trust me, sadly, it wasn't hard! :)
I hope everyone is doing good and feeling well! Take Care! Sunny skies and warm weather is right around the corner - at least that is what I am telling myself! LOL! :)
Have a great weekend!

If Only! :)

If only! That is the question for today's top ten! If only I had more "money" - what would I spend it on??!! Upon first reading this question, I thought, "oh, yeah, easy, baby!" However, when I sat down to actually think about my answers - it was a bit harder than I originally figured it would be! I thought to myself, "well, a fabulous, new house and a dream car would be nice!' But..............is that what I would "truly" spend more money on?! I decided to think on a much larger scale - like if I had "lots" of extra money - let's say "money like the stars have," then what would I do with it? Well, what do I "think" I would do with it? :) Here is the list I came up with! Enjoy! :))

1) Hair stylist! I would LOVE to have someone fix my hair for me EVERY DAY!!!!! :) I remember talking about this when I was younger! If I could buy anything, this is what I'd get! First off, your hair would always look great and second, it is a nice feeling when someone fixes your hair! :)
2) Cook! Oh, yeah!!!!!!! I would LOVE to have someone fix dinner for my family and myself! Nice, big, nutritious meals that would be yummy and give me more time to do other things! :)
3) Maid! Speaking of more time to do other things! This would certainly help!!!! WooHoo! I would definately pay for someone else to "clean" for me! This includes laundry as well, of course! :)
4) Personal Trainer! :) This is something else I have always said I would like to have! I would have someone that I answer too! It would be harder to eat that bowl of chips or have one more Dr. Pepper! I would have to answer to my trainer! And that would be scary and, definately, NOT worth the short-lived thrill of sweets! :)
5) Photography Studio! This would be my ULTIMATE DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would absolutely LOVE to have a little studio to call my own! Hey, maybe, this dream could come true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
6) Interior Decorator! I think it would be sooooo neat to have someone come in and decorate my home for me! Or, at least, give me some ideas!!!!!! :) I need "Trading Spaces" to come and re-do my whole house! :)
7) Adopt a Child! I would truly be interested in looking into this! Mark's sister adopted her two children (she couldn't have her own). This opened up my eyes to adoption and what it is about! Also, Heid's ex was adopted as an infant as well. I would be open to different nationalities as well. I would love to give a home to a child that needs it! Maybe, just maybe, this could be a dream that could one day happen! :) I would like that!
8) Help the Homeless! I would love to be able to help those who have hit a bump in the road! It can happen so quickly and so many people out there just need a little help getting on their feet again! This would make me feel so good! :)
9) Travel! I would love to be able to afford travelling! I want to go to Africa, especially! I would love for it to be a family thing and we all go visit lots of places! :)
10) Money for my kids! I hope my kids never have to go without! Important things that is! I want to be able to provide for them and then some! :)

So...........there is my top ten list! :) Like I said - it was much harder than I thought it would be! And I WOULD love a new house and a new car, etc. But that is so ordinary! I wanted to think outside of the box! If I had LOTS of extra money! :) If only!!!!!! :)

Celebrate Good Times!!!!!

Just had to let everyone know that my last post (about my top ten sitcoms) was my 100th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How cool is that?! I have been waiting for this moment and just happened to check and voila!!!!!!!!!!! I am glad that I checked!!!!!!!!!! Such a big moment in time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be accepting congratulatory comments in the days to come! :)))
Cissa says: Thank you and good night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cissa's Top Ten Sitcoms!

Okay - I read that we are allowed to do "two" separate lists (if we want)! WooHoo!!!! I want!!!! I want!!!! LOL! :)

Cissa's Top 80's Sitcoms:

1) Different Strokes - "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?!"
2) Facts of Life - "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have, the facts of life, the facts of life!" Blair, Jo, Tootie, Natalie! :) Did you all know that Lisa Whelchel (Blair) is a devout Christian and has written a parenting book! I have it! It is good! I think you all would like it, too! :) If you want more info., let me know!
3) Family Ties - "What would we do, baby, w/out us? Sha-la-la-la!" Alex P. Keaton! :) I wanted to be Mallory! :)
4) Growing Pains - "Sharing the laughter and love!" Kirk Cameron! :)
5) Head of the Class - I can't remember much about this show except that is was funny! :)
6) My Two Dads - same as above - funny! :)
7) The Cosby Show - no words to theme song - just music! Very good show! :)
8) Who's The Boss - "A brand new life around the bend!" Tony Danza! :) I liked Samantha and wanted to be her! :)
9) Wonder Years - "Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song!" Good show! :)
10) Silver Spoons - from the early 80's I think! Ricky Shroeder!!! He wasn't Rick - he was Ricky back then! Has anyone seen him now?! Not too shabby!!! Not too shabby!!! :)
11) Dukes of Hazzard - "Just the good 'ol boys, never meanin' no harm!" Technically, this is a drama, but I couldn't leave it out! Good show, good times!

Bringin' back memories, man!!!!!!!!! :)

Cissa's Top 90's Sitcoms:

1) Life Goes On - This show is where I first heard the name Tyler and said if I ever had a boy I would name him Tyler! This is Jackson's middle name! :)
2) Dallas - J.R. and Bobby Ewing! :)
3) ER - Longest running drama I can think of! Good show!
4) Roseanne - one of my favorites!!!!! I still watch reruns! :)
5) Beverly Hills, 90210 - ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE DRAMAS!!!!! I can almost recite word for word each and every episode!!!!!!!!!! Brandon, Dylan!!!!!!!!!! We love you!!!!! :)
6) Party of Five - WooHoo!!!!!!! Where Matthew Fox got his start! Good show!
7) Doogie Hower, M.D. - Didn't everyone just love Doogie!!!!!! :)
8) Mad About You - One of my favorite sitcoms! Remember Murray (the dog)! :)
9) Murphy Brown - Funny!!!!!!!! Not much more to say!
10) Saved By The Bell - I still watch these! They never get old! Zach and Slater!!!!!! And they are STILL HOT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)))
11) Seinfeld - HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!! :)))
12) Full House - John Stamos! Too cute!
13) Wings - Funny!
14) Friends - Great show!!!! Reruns good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) My man Brad has even made a guest appearance! And so has my girl Reese Witherspoon! :)

So......................there is my top ten list! I know some of these are considered dramas, but I listed them anyway! How could I leave them off?! :))
Enjoy!

Thought For The Week!

Just a quick thought I wanted to pass on:

Remember: The choices that you make today will affect others tomorrow!

Smile and have a great week!!!! :)

Top 80's Songs By Cissa!

Here is the list of my favorite songs from the 1980's!!!!! One of the best (and full of wonderful people like me) decades of all time!!!!!

In no particular order:
1) Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
2) Faithfully - Journey
Open Arms - Journey
3) Raspberry Beret - Prince
4) Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
5) Against All Odds - Phil Collins
(many more)
6) Let's Hear It For The Boy - Deniece Williams
7) Like A Virgin - MaDonna
Lucky Star - MaDonna
Borderline - MaDonna
Material Girl - MaDonna
Papa Don't Preach - MaDonna
Live To Tell - MaDonna
Crazy For You -MaDonna
(many more) :)
8) Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
Careless Whispers - Wham!
I Want Your Sex! - Wham! - technically, it was only George Michael at this time :)
9) Thriller - Michael Jackson
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
(many more)
10) We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
11) What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
12) Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen
13) California Girls - David Lee Roth
14) Can't Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
15) We Are The World - U.S.A. for Africa
16) Friends & Lovers - Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson
17) How Will I Know - Whitney Houston
18) Secret Lovers - Atlantic Starr
Always - Atlantic Starr
19) What Have You Done For Me Lately - Janet Jackson
Nasty Boys - Janet Jackson
20) Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle
21) Honestly - Stryper
22) Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Wanted: Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
23) Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
24) Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
25) Love Bites - Def Leppard
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
(Thanks, Mike, for my love of Def Leppard - I owe it all to you)! :)
26) Out of the Blue - Debbie Gibson
Lost in Your Eyes - Debbie Gibson
(Tiffany was a good singer, too, but I didn't use any of her songs for this list).
27) Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobbie McFerrin
28) If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
29) Love Shack - B-52's
30) Straight Up - Paula Abdul
31) Sweet Child Of Mine - Guns & Roses

So..............................what did you think of my list??!! Man, I had totally forgotten about some of these songs!!!!! Some of them go way back to the "early" 80's, man!!!! And some of them may not necessarily have the best of words, but I truly was drawn to the music - the sounds, dawg, the sounds of the music!!!! LOL! I had my songs that I listened to and sang along with, the songs that I danced too, and the songs that I thought had a good tune (regardless of the words), ya know?! There are so many more that I could add, but I already "cheated" and listed more than 25, so I stopped!
Enjoy!
Oh, btw, I think the next "Top Ten" should be: list your favorite 80's TV shows! :) Hint, hint!!

Update! :)

Okay - just a quick update 'cause I am getting ready to leave. :) First, the "High School Musical" concert was GREAT!!!! They wouldn't let me take my camera in (bummer), but other than that it was real nice! Jackson and I had a lot of fun!!! :) Second, Heath had a dr's appt. yesterday and everything went well. He probably only has one more appt. and he will be done. His foot will never be the same, but he can walk and he is healthy and that is the important thing! He has a lawyer to look into his options, as well, so keep praying that he will be compensated properly!!! I said his lawyer should ask the Wal-Mart people how much their foot is worth??!! Ya know?! I mean - Heath limps - he will never be the same. And, even tho, like I said, he is alive and he is healthy, he still deserves some compensation for his injury - I mean, it happened at work and was not "his"negligence!" It is simply a dangerous job and many others have been hurt as well throughout the country! Anyway, sorry to go on, just keep him in your prayers! He is ready for this to be over with!!!! Thanks!!! :)) Thirdly, I have my Top 25 80's songs ALL PICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just don't have time to list them all just yet!!!! I will do it tonight (so everyone can anticipate)! LOL! Seriously, tho, I can't wait to read everyone's!!!!! I will blog more later!
Have a good weekend!

High School Musical

Okay - I don't know if any of ya'll have heard about or had a chance to see this movie! It is a very popular movie (on the Disney Channel) for kids about Jack's age (he is almost nine). Anyway, I watched it w/him the very first time it aired and it was soooooo good! A good movie w/a good message - we don't get those kind of movies much anymore, huh?! The music was really catchy so, of course, when it came out, we ran and bought the CD. This was back in the summer and we listened to it often (mostly in the car) since Jack loved it! Well............guess what?! They are having a "High School Musical Tour" and it is at the Schottenstein's Center.............................................................................TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jackson and I are getting ready to leave and are soooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!!!! It will be his "1st" real concert that he will remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a feeling it may mean more to me than it will to him! :) That's what happens when you become a parent! Children get happy and excited, but they just can't identify w/how us parents feel. And I guess that is the way it should be! :) Anyway, I will give everyone an update tomorrow on how our concert went! Supposedly, the entire cast (minus one) will be there! Exciting! I watch the Disney Channel a lot, so it really is neat to see them in person (and, btw, we have good seats, too)! :) Okay - we gotta go! Things to do, places to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Oh, and yes, I will post pics this weekend, too! But, of course!!!!!!!!!! LOL! :)))))

American Idol Wannabees

So......................has anyone been watching this season's talent for American Idol?! HILARIOUS!!!!!! That is all I have to say about that!!!!!! LOL! :) Anyway, I was sitting here watching it for the 2nd night in a row (great entertainment I must say) and I notice something for the 1st time! Hello, Ryan Seacrest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, I realize he has been on the show for all six seasons! It isn't like he is new or anything! But, hello, for some reason I never noticed how good-lookin' he was/is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So......................just one more reason to keep on watchin'!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea!!!!!! :) I think I have a #11 for my list of actors (or is he considered more of a talk-show host)? Either way, add Ryan to my list!!!!!!! Not too shabby, baby, not too shabby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Top Ten Fad Faux Paus!

Okay - here is my list! Enjoy! :)

1) Leg warmers - Hello! By the time you got them on and situated correctly, it was time to take them off! LOL!
2) Mullets - need I say more! LOL! Plus, ANY 80's hair "do" is probably part of my #2! I was thinking of the "feathered back" on the sides look and the hair sprayed, sticking up to the moon, "do" that needed AquaNet to stay! LOL!
3) Pet rock - what is the point? Then again, maybe, whoever invented this, had the "perfect" point! No care is needed and you can still say you have a pet! Can I do this w/my kids??!! LOL! :))
4) Thongs - Hello, again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO WEARS THIS!!!! TRULY!!!!! And if you do, how comfortable is it, really?! 'Cause it soooooooo does NOT look comfy! It looks like it would ride completely and totally UP MY BUTT CRACK!!!!!! LOL! But, then again, maybe that is just me! :))
5) Low rise jeans - invented by Britney Spears - THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I am being sarcastic, of course! LOL! Let me just say - I have a story for this, too! How about bending over at Cosi (not realizing you have low rise jeans on, 'cause that is all you can find to wear at the store, and you are also wearing BIG GRANDMA UNDERWEAR!!!!! And the two just DO NOT GO TOGETHER, but the grandma underwear just feel soooooooo right - you have to wear them! You have on a long shirt - so who is gonna even know?! Right?! Well, pretty much everyone! I have to change Jacob's diaper and I am bending over - forgetting what I am wearing (apparently my shirt was NOT long enough). I am soooooo sure that was a sight for whoever looked my way! Btw, I was changing him in a public place - not the restroom 'cause I was waiting for someone and didn't want to miss them - otherwise it wouldn't have been so bad (I would have been standing at a diaper station instead). Serves me right, huh?!
6) Thigh master - did this do anyone any good at all? Mine just sat and served as a decoration.
7) Disco music - sorry - I just do not like it! Sorry, Travolta!! LOL! :) Bad movie - Saturday Night Fever! Not his finer hour! LOL!
8) Fannie Packs - Hello, Hello! Yes, they are helpful, but oh, do they look hideous!!!! A woman looks like an old lady and a man looks, well, not that there is anything wrong with it, but "gay!" LOL! :) One must ask oneself: would Brad/Angie or Tom/Katie or even Michael Douglas/Catherine Zeta-Jones EVER wear this?! I hope not! LOL! :)
9) Shoulder pads - Not only did they look terrible - they felt terrible, too! :)
10) Short shorts - Daisy Duke! I am sorry, but I do not need to see your "bootie!" And neither does my husband or my son and it is a bad example for our daughters, too!

I thought this list was gonna be hard, but, surprisingly, it wasn't! It was fun! Tons of things just come to mind - particularly from the 80's era! And I must admit - I am guilty of some of these fad faux paus myself. I have been known to stock up on the AquaNet hair spray! Heaven forbid I run out of it?! It was the ONLY hair spray that could "hold" all that hair up soooo very high and last soooo very long! ROFL! And I wore shoulder pads and leg warmers and thought I looked GOOD!!!!! LOL! Maybe at the time - I did! LOL! Who knew these would become things my kids would one day laugh at!!!! :) Oh well! At least I never wore a "fanny pack!" LOL! And I didn't have a mullet (well, it wasn't supposed to be a mullet, that is)! :)) And, btw, you will be better for knowing this, I still wear my "grandma underwear," too! Even w/low rise jeans! Just don't look if I bend over!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :))

My Fave!

Gooooooooooooo, Amy! You were totally 100% right!!!!!!! Mr. and Mrs. Smith was my pick for the day!!! :))) Not only did it have my man, Brad, in it, but Angelina was good, too! The movie was never a must-see on my list - not even when it was at the theater. I just figured I would see it when it came to DVD. Well, it came on HBO earlier this month and I kept seeing bits and pieces of it. Finally, I gave in and just had to see it! And....................I am glad that I did, 'cause it was a real good movie and funny, too! :)
Cissa Says: Two thumbs up! Two for the movie and ten - oops, I mean, two for Brad!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Must vs. Must Not See Movies

Okay - my parents watched my boys for awhile over the weekend (to give us a little break). THANK YOU, MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!! Mark and I were going to go see a movie, but decided to rent some instead. By renting, we 1)save money. 2)get to watch several movies and not just one. 3)get to stay home (when it's cold and yucky outside and you just want to stay home). 4)don't have to get dressed and ready (I hadn't washed my hair and was in my jammies). 5)can go pee and not miss any of the movie (thank goodness for "pause"). 6)there is a much better selection than the "few" that are playing at the big screen (there are only a "few" that I would want to see that are playing right now). So............................I am sure there are many more reasons to rent, but these are the ones that come to mind right now. :) There are lots of movies that I have wanted to see the past couple of years. I pretty much only see my "top" choices at the theater on the big screen. It is just so dang expensive these days. Although I am known to sneak in some food - it still costs a lot to just get in and "see" the movie! :) So...............we got to watch "4" movies this weekend! WooHoo!!!! It was sooooo fun! Two of them we had DVR'd and we rented the other two. Not bad in the money field! LOL! I just have to say that out of all four movies - there was only one that I would actually recommend anyone renting! Can you guess which one that is?! And, fyi, when Miranda gets it right, she had an unfair advantage! LOLOLOL! I already told her (so don't let her fool ya)! :))
The four movies are: (in no particular order):
1)Matchstick Men - starring Nicolas Cage.
2)The Wicker Man - starring Nicolas Cage.
3)TransAmerica - starring Felicity Huffman.
4)Mr. & Mrs. Smith - starring Brad Pitt (Heather's hottie) and Angelina Jolie (Brad's current hottie simply b/c he has, unfortunately, not yet met Heather).

Anyway, are there any guesses which one I liked the best?!! :) Well, stay tuned and I will let you know ------------------------------------------------------ tomorrow! :))

Top Ten Books I've Read!

Okay guys! You are all gonna have fun reading MY list! I am not a big reader! Never have been, probably never will be! I do read tons of parenting books, but not in one sitting. I read a bit here and a bit there and I jump forward and then go back and read the rest later. I also read magazines quite frequently and find lots of good articles. I think I must have ADD or something 'cause I truly have a hard time sitting still for very long to read. You probably don't want or need to know this, but, like a man, I do most of my reading on the "pot!" ROFL!!!!!! Sad, but true!!!! If it weren't for the "commode" - I seriously doubt I would ever get any reading done at all!!!! LOL! :) Sooooo, a quick story from my past (and I get a kick out of this every time I think of of it) - and it totally goes w/this particular blog! :) Enjoy!
I am in the tenth grade at Marion Franklin High School. I am in the Honors English class (which simply means - more work). Anyway, our teacher assigns us to read this book called "The Great Gatsby." We are to read the book, and then write a two page report on what we read, and this report will be graded. Well, I, of course, back then, had no idea what this book was about! I had never heard of it. So.....................I go home and start reading and, big shock, I am not liking what I am reading - not liking it AT ALL!!!!! Sooooooo, I read the first chapter and the last chapter and I totally skim the rest! I don't have time to read something so very boring. Heather has more important things on my list! LOL! I then, write my report and turn it in! Well, you will never guess my grade - well, maybe you will ---------------- I got an A#!!!!!! Can you believe it?! It was so funny!!!!!!! One of my good friends (who was almost the valedictorian four yrs. later) - she read the entire book and only got a B on her paper!!!! I guess I am a skilled "skimmer!" What can I say?! And, sadly, I haven't changed much when it comes to reading! Oh Well! Good thing I don't have to read a lot anymore! :)
Okay - all that being said- here is my list!

1) A Tale of Two Cities
2) Breakfast at Tiffanys
3) War and Peace
4) Moby Dick
5) Wuthering Heights
6) To Kill A Mockingbird
7) Pride and Prejudice
8) Hamlet
9) The Scarlet Letter
10) The Great Gatsby

LOLOLOLOLO!!!!!! This list is totally a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't read a one!!!!!!! LOL! :)
Here is my "real" list - and control your laughing, please. Btw, Mark and I were cracking up when I read him my list!!!!! :) I almost peed "my" pants! :)))
1) The Three Bears! An all-time favorite that I still love to read to every child I am around!
2) Love You Forever! My sister-in-law sent me this book after Jackson was born. I cried my eyes out every time I read it! I love it! Every mom should have a copy! Especially if you have a son!
3) Of Mice and Men! This was a book that Mr. Barr at Teays Valley had us read in the 11th grade. For some reason - I really did read it! And I liked it a lot! Maybe I should have really done "all" my reading assignments, huh?! :)
4) Judy Blume books! I can't name any one in particular. I just remember reading lots of them when I was younger - and they were all good!
5) Amelia Bedelia books! Same as #4. They were books I had read when I was younger and liked them all. Jackson is reading them now and he likes them, too!
6) Charlotte's Web! Classic, what more can I say?! And the movie was great, too. I, of course, bawled at the end! It just brought back so many memories when I watched it on the big screen!
7) Bringing Up Boys (By James Dobson). Dr. Dobson's books are all terrific! I love him and all the advice he has to offer! Why can't "he" be my therapist?! :)
8) Chicken Soup for the Soul Books - easy reading - true stories - inspirational - and I can read a few while I am on the pot! LOL!
9) Dr. Suess - particularly "The Pale Green Pants!" Childhood favorite! :) Jacob likes this one and "The Sneetches."
10) Parenting books! ANY AND ALL!!!! :)

So.................this is my "real" list! Quite different from the first, huh?! LOL! :)
Now you see why we were laughing so hard! Oh, and one more thing - Mark and I were looking up "classic books" on the internet the other night - 'cause we couldn't think of ten! That is funny alone - that we couldn't come up w/ten - we needed help. Anyway, he came across "Little Women" and told me, "hey, here is one." I got excited and said "yeah, I could put that on my list." However, he thought I meant my "real" list 'cause, at the time, I only had "The Three Bears" and "Love You Forever." When I told him I was putting it on my "fake" list - we both lost it!!!! It was hilarious!!!!! So, if nothing else, we are having a lot of good laughs doing the Tuesday Top Ten!
Enjoy! :)

Top Ten Actors!

Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order):

1) LEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEED I SAY MORE?! HMMM, HMMM, HMMM!
2) BRAD PITT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MIGHTY FINE!
3) JOHN TRAVOLTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HANDSOME COMEBACK STAR!
4) JOAQUIN PHOENIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAS GROWN INTO HIS GOOD LOOKS!
5) ANDREW McCARTHY!!!!!!!!! GOOD-LOOKIN' HAS-BEEN!
6) SEAN PENN - BELIEVABLE IN ANY PART!
7) JACK NICHOLSON - I WILL GO SEE ANY MOVIE STARRING HIM!
8) CHRIS MELONI - FROM LAW&ORDER: SVU - (STABLER IS HIS TV NAME) - I JUST THINK HE IS SO CUTE AND A GOOD ACTOR!
9) JOHNNY DEPP - CUTIE! ANYONE REMEMBER 21 JUMPSTREET?!
10) GREG KINNEAR - I LOVED HIM WHEN HE WAS ON "TALK SOUP" ON E!

Man, this was so hard b/c there are many, many more and we can only pick ten! And I fibbed about no particular order 'cause the first two are definately my faves!!!!!!!!! :) Here's to hoping they discover my blog, read it, think its adorable and invite me to Hollywood!!!!! :) A girl can hope, can't she?! :)