Dave with 3 of our girls

Dave with 3 of our girls, originally uploaded by parrt_of_6.

Dave, outside Granny's apartment, with Ashlyn, Tori, and Shelby.

A video of Loryn

Shelby recorded this one day (and sang vocals). Not great quality, but you can tell how much Loryn enjoys dancing.

You can also see (aha! There's proof!) that Shelby just adores Loryn.

First Day of Kindergarten

Here I sit at the upstairs computer, drinking Chai with honey, and knowing that I should wake Loryn up. I don't want to, though. I want to put this off, somehow. Is she ready for this? Am I?

But, it's a big day, and one we signed up for, so I will wake her up, and help her dress, and help her "bwush teef" and all that stuff. We'll get to school at 8:40 or so, and her teacher and classmates will meet us outside the office.

Dave has to be at work today at 8:00, so he'll miss this. He had a hard time leaving today, I think. He whispered to Loryn as she slept, and kissed her twice.

She looks so little, still, when she's sleeping. Her diaper and little nursing face make look about two years old, instead of five! But you should have seen her, last night, running around her classroom during Open House. Such a big girl!

I really like her teacher. (Yes, it feels weird that Loryn has a "teacher").

Seven kids, one main teacher, two assistants, a speech therapist and an Autism program supervisor. Still feeling pretty optimistic about it.

I'll post pics later.

I'm going to wake her now.

Rufus: LIVE!

sigh

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007:

Rufus Wainwright, LIVE, in Charlottesville, VA.

To quote little Ash, it was "my best day ever". LOTS of kewl things happened on that day (I'll post more about that stuff later...lots to tell, and I'm trying to get my shit together so we can get on the road to see my 'rents, in Danville).

Rufus, in concert, was the icing on the cake, for me. Deliciously sweet, beautiful, gay icing. And my wonderfully sweet, darling husband was able to snag 6th row seats.

These pics aren't from MY show (they caught me with my camera right outside the venue), but it's the same get-up that he wore in C'ville.

This was taken during his opener, Release the Stars. It had to be Release the Stars...I remember that little flick of the wrist on his forehead.

He came out for his encore in a pink fuzzy bathrobe and performed Hallelujah (aided by sis Lucy), and a couple of other faves. THEN, here comes this:

Black tights? Check.

Black heels? Check.

Red lipstick and dangly diamond jewelry? Check.

Off with the robe, fellas...Come on Get Happy (By Miss Judy Garland, of course)!

Video of another show, just in case you're interested:

The CAT's IN the bag!

Here in Virginia, the homeschool statute requires homeschooling families to provide proof of progress by August 1 following the school year in which the child(ren) has received home instruction. Here's the legal yada, yada, yada, courtesy of the best homeschooling resource, The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers (forget HEAV, ya'll):

The Home Instruction Statute (§22.1-254.1 C) requires parents to provide "evidence of progress" at the end of the school year. Parents may either submit:

(i) A composite score in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test
(ii) An evaluation or assessment which the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress


Ever since we began our homeschooling journey (WOW, we're going into our 6th year!), I have chosen to order the CAT test for the girls. Lots of VA homeschoolers rely on the CAT for various reasons:

1. The company we order from (Seton Home Study) is located in Virginia, thus making the turnaround mailing time pretty johnny-on-the-spot. This is especially important for chronic procrastinators (like you-know-who). The folks at Seton will even fax or email results to you. (A very convenient bonus, again, for those procrastinators out there...you know who you are)! Ahem.

2. The CAT is cheap: $25 for the CAT-E Survey, which covers Math and English for grades K thru 12.

3. Some homeschoolers are anti-testing, period, and prefer to have an "evaluation" of their child's progress. I, on the other hand, have never felt comfortable with this other person (whom my girls might or might not know), evaluating (read: JUDGING) what my kids know, or what they are capable of. Really...who knows all the amazing thoughts and ideas my girls have, better than I, their ever-loving Mama?

4. CAT testing is fairly stress-free. I simply explain to the girls (who do not take tests during our "school year", usually), that this dumb test is just one little BS hoop that we must jump through, so that we can keep on learning in freedom, at home, together. Since Seton sells the test year-round, some families order way early and simply work on the test in little bite-sized chunks, so that the kiddos (and maybe the parents, too) can take their time, and sort of ease into the test process. For kids who've never taken a test before, this can be very helpful in relieving some of that anxiety.

These pics of the girls are pretty cute. They look so...I don't know...FOCUSED? As you can see, even little Lolo got in on the act. Whatever SHE is doing, she looks just as serious and focused as Shelby and Tori!













I don't have a pic of Ash taking her test, simply because I sat with her, gently encouraging her and letting her take her own sweet time. This was her 2nd year taking the CAT, and since she has those fine-motor delays that make filling in those damn holes so aggravating, I figured snapping a pic might royally piss her off!

Feelin a little frisky...

and I'm sure as hell not going to blog about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (shit, after reading the Wiki article...do I even have to finish it)? Dave says Yes, so I'll try to.



Sweet, sweet Mr. Parr, btw, finished it in a day and a half, and cried through the last couple of chapters. As Ashlyn says, from time to time: You a baby...HA HA!

*sigh* My man...I love him so. He knows I'm only teasing because both of us are big ol' babies. Yes, indeed...I can talk the talk, but I can't walk the walk. I'm more sensitive and emotional than anyone should be, and the truth is I haven't read the book yet because I just don't have the time right now to be so wrapped up emotionally in Harry's world. Way too much stuff going on in my real life, which has more ups and downs than Hogwarts right now.

Anyway, I was blog-hopping today after lunch (and btw, Google Reader is addictive, more so than WoW, even) and found this (below), which I'm shamelessly stealing (um...borrowing) from Mamma Loves.

No comment necessary, I'm sure. But aren't you glad I'm here, working overtime (read: slacking) to fulfill my duty to you, gentle reader: to find the best (read: dirty/funny) stuff on the Internet, and pass it along to YOU!

I know I've made my Mama proud.

Kristi said I should update my blog, so here ya go:

$4475.00The Cadaver Calculator - Find out how much your body is worth. From Mingle2 - Free Online Dating

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

Kinda morbid, but it'll have to do, for now.

We're well into HP fever (we bought 2 copies), and while there's lots of other stuff going on, there's no time now to post about it all.

I'll get right on it, though. Later.

Dave and the girls

So few pics of my husband and all four girlies together, but I thought this was a pretty good one. Everyone looks really happy.

They had a blast splashing around in the pool with Dave. Definitely one of the highlights of our vacation.

Back from Chi-Town!

Shelby's back from Chicago, where she was visiting my sister-in-law, Aunt Lisa (Dave's sister).

Last week, after spending a little time in Louisville, KY with Dave's brother and his family (Chuck, his wife Stephanie, and baby Garrett) and Aunt Lisa, most of us came back home to Virginia, while Shelby rode with Lisa to Lombard, IL (a suburb of Chicago) to spend some time with her favorite Aunt.

Big news? Well, Lisa spoiled her rotten, taking her to punk shops, music stores, and shows (The Blue Man Group, or, as Dave and I call them: I Just Blue Myself). The little cuss even got her first manicure! A complete and utter Grrrls Week, so to speak.

More big news? Shelby flew home (well, to Richmond International Airport) by herself!

Here she is, at the airport, with two of her sisters: Ash on the left, and Tori (with a new haircut!) on the right. They missed her terribly.

Well...cowappledogmmmmmouse

(Crap, Loryn got on the keyboard, apparently, when I answered the phone. I'll keep that, I think it's cute. See, Loryn does communicate...just in her own way)!

Anyway, what I was going to write is that we all missed Shelby terribly. I'm so happy for her, that she had a good and safe trip, but I'm stoked to have her back home. And I have to be honest and say that when it was time for us to leave her in Louisville, I bawled like a baby. I even had Dave going, a little. :-) It's really, really hard to let go...even for a little bit.

Oh, and Lisa (if you're reading): What's up with Shelby all of a sudden requesting a drum set for her birthday, hmmm?

Life is like a box of chocolates...

Here is Loryn, channeling good ol' Forrest, along with Mika the kitten.

Sitting on the bench, enjoying the summer rain...not waiting for a bus.

No good cure for Autism

I love Google Alerts, most of the time. I get a little goofy when I see a new Rufus Wainwright or vegetarian cooking headline show up in my email. A little bit of happiness, right there in my inbox, which I can greedily read right then and there, or I can prolong that excitement, and put it off for a couple of hours. Or a couple of days, if I want to. It's the same reason I love my DVR service.

Of course, once in a while I want to read about something more substantial, something that affects myself and my family everyday. That something is Autism, of course.

When I saw this headline from Google Alerts, I immediately felt a little nauseous.

This child died two years ago, and the parents are now suing the "doctor"for wrongful death. This is the first I've heard of the story, but I have to say it: I'm angry that this "doctor" made a fatal mistake that killed a child, and I'm pissed that the parents sought out this quack therapy to "cure" their child of Autism.

More than that, though, I just feel an overwhelming sadness for this little boy who died. I wonder if his parents are happy now? I mean, when you think about it...they found the cure for Autism, right?

Books, Plants, Hair, and other BS

Shelby had a sleepover at her BFF's house Friday night. When I was leaving our house (Saturday evening, after Dave got home from work) to pick her up, I got a call on my cell. Apparently, the girls had decided to do a "double" sleepover. *sigh* After the assurance from BFF's Mom that, yes, in fact, that was Okey-Dokey with her (and her family), I decided to drive by Lowe's, to check out the garden stuff, before hitting Quizno's for dinner. (Quizno's was a no-brainer, for me, anyway...Dave had insisted that I play some WoW with him. And since I was forced to play WoW for a good coupla hours, there was no way I could possibly be expected to cook a real dinner)! ;-)


Anyhoo, I'll meet Shel and BFF Sunday at the Green Valley Book Fair. I've blogged about this place before, BTW...it's a book mecca! (That's what the lady with the big-dog Southern accent says on the commercials, anyway).


Oh, at Lowe's, I bought a red Peony (not Peyote, as Dave heard...did I mention that I think Big D has a hearing impairment?), and I might go back for a couple more...I'd like to find some pink ones to plant along one side of our fence.
















I also bought a Summer Nights Delphinium and a Blue Fortune Agastache. I hope we can get those planted tomorrow (or actually, later today). I tend to favor deep blues and purples in my garden. Yellow, too, and some dark reds and fuschia. But blue and purple make me very happy. I have an aunt who despises the color blue. She says it makes her nauseous. Weird, random factoid about my family...I've got a hundred of 'em.


























Let's see...what else?


I dyed my hair (again). Red (again)! I'm digging the new color, but I still want to cut my hair. I was hoping the new color would satisfy my hair wanderlust, but that ain't happening. My hair is just too long for my liking.

Scratch that...my hair is too heavy, not "too long". Anyone who knows me IRL knows that my hair is pretty short. I will probably never, ever grow my hair long (sorry, hon). I just don't have the patience for it. I despise the "growing-out phase", where I hafta wear barrettes or headbands to keep my bangs out of my eyes and off my forehead.



Maybe I'll try a pixie cut:






My guess is that Shelby will hate it, she'll think I'm copying her hairstyle. As the oldest of four girls, she's very aware of others who try to steal her ideas. :-)

Hmmm...anything else?

Dave is (finally) on vacation! Yippee! Poor thing...he's worked so hard, and has really needed a break for a while now. Hopefully, after this week, he can go back to work refreshed, and work will be steady througout the summer. Dave is a finance and insurance manager for a car dealership...I don't know if I've ever mentioned exactly what he does before.

I should be packing for our mini-vacation, but I'm the Queen of procrastination. I'll post more about our plans later.

Let's see...cute stuff:

Ashlyn told me tonight that she'd like to make homemade chocolate chip cookies tomorrow, and that we could all do it "togever". Is that sweet, or what?

Tori is almost a level 30 on Maple Story. We just bought her (and Shel) Nexon cash cards ($25, each) so that her character and Shelby's character can get married (Tori has a boy character, Shelby has a girl character). The girls are pretty cute together, discussing Tori's tux and the ring she bought for Shelby. Tori said it was a small ring, but Shelby "really liked it". (Hell, they've got it more together than Dave and I did...we got married in a local councilman's office...I was pregnant and we did it on my lunch break, and Shelby carried dandelions from outside the office complex).

Saturday, June 30th was my parents' 18th wedding anniversary. My mom married Kenny 18 years ago...seems like forever. They're a good match. It feels weird, though, to think that this November, Dave and I will have been married 10 years. Me, 10...my MOM, 18? I told her today that I just married young, and she married when she was an ol' lady! She was in a good mood, though...she laughed.

More rambling nonsense later...

It's 2:30 am. Do you know where your kids are?

Overheard earlier this evening, from Ashlyn: Mama, guess what? When Loryn gets older, I'm gonna tell her all about how evil she was in her babyhood. And in her 5 years, and 4 years, and 3 years, and 2 years, and 1 years. And in her 0 years.



And in a conversation between Shelby and Tori (much hollering between the 2 girls, while playing Maple Story. Tori was upstairs and Shelby, downstairs):



Tori: I've only got 4 bubbles, so don't expect much.

Shelby (from downstairs): I've got 10!

Tori: Cool!



And later:



Tori: Shelby, are you AFK?*

Shelby: NO!

Tori: OK!





And later still:



Shelby (typing to Tori, still on Maple Story): Are bubbles safe to eat?

Tori (typing her response): I don't know.

Shelby: Wanna try?

Tori: Sure!


************************************************************************************

Right now, at 2:30 am, my 13 year old and my 9 year old are happily playing a very cool MMORPG together. My 8 year old is downstairs with my 13 year old, watching The Whitest Kids U' Know, on Fuse. My 5 year old is brushing her teeth and playing with her Bob the Builder toys (not concurrently, though...she goes back and forth).









Right now, at 2:30 am, there are many, many kids who are in bed but unable to go to sleep. Maybe they wanted to stay up later and play a game, or post a blog entry, or read a book, or watch a Netflix movie. I mean, it's Summer Time! There are so many cool things for kids to do, when they don't have to get up early for school the next day.



I should go to bed, because Dave is off tomorrow and we have some things we want to get done (mainly working in our yard, mulching and planting and such, but we also want some World of Warcraft time, and I have a couple of Netflix movies that I'd like to watch with him), but I wanted to take a moment to share. I wanted to focus, for just a minute, on our quiet happiness that's occurring right here, in our own home...at 2:30 am.

*AFK is chat/game-speak for "Away from keyboard" (for all you noobs).

Unschooled Girls go Wild!

Loryn got naked at Park Day last week (at Wildwood Park, in Bridgewater, VA), and decided to go for a little dip.

Shelby and Tori were just mortified, of course. I thought it was pretty cute.

We Got a Wii!

Dave and I managed to find a Wii just in time for Ashlyn's Birthday.

And No, we don't normally splurge this big for one kid's birthday, but we had been trying to find a Wii since they first came out, with no luck.

Ashlyn hadn't been very helpful, either, as far as telling us what she wanted for her birthday...except that she'd like a Wii. *sheesh*

So fate stepped in, and I found one when I went grocery shopping one night. I called Dave to tell him, and he had just two words for me:

"DO IT!"

Ash proudly shows off her Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

Ashlyn's 8th Birthday, June 16

From left to right: Shelby, Ashlyn, Loryn (standing), Dave, and Tori.

June 18

Happy Autistic Pride Day, everybody!

Check out this site, Aspies for Freedom, which promotes the idea that Autism and Asperger's are not disabilities, and that there should be no attempt to "cure" anyone who's on the Autism spectrum.

Good, thoughtful reading.

That's some funny shit, man!

I don't know if any of you read this blog, but I'm here to tell you: it's funny as hell, and I get a little turned on when my Google Reader shows updates from him.

This particular post referenced one of my favorite scary movies, The Exorcist.

And I'm not ashamed to admit that I flat-out laughed out loud whilst reading. A real LOL! Honestly, how often does that happen IRL (in real life)?

'Course, that could be due to my lack of sleep. Who knows?

Things that Suck, Part II

Well, one thing:

5:20 am, when I'm awake waiting for Lolo to go to sleep. 5:20 sucks. Way more than 4:20. No one but God should be up at this hour.

And AGRE is supposed to be calling me today at 1:00, to conduct a one-hour phone interview about Loryn (and Ashlyn, too, I'm assuming).




I don't think I'll be answering. As a matter of fact, I'll be damned if the ringer will even be turned on.

If you need to reach me today, try the celly, yo.

Things that Suck

1. Misplacing my camera. Yep, went to park day Tuesday, and got caught in a downpour as we were leaving. In the rush to get out of there (and just after Loryn had taken off her clothes for a dip in the North River...more details later) my camera was picked up by another Mom in our crew. No worries now, but I was a little...frantic...when I finally got to the van and realized I didn't have it.

2. Microsoft Vista sucks.

3. Cancer sucks. I have a bumper sticker that says "Cancer sucks" that my friend Dan gave me. He's been through it, so he should know. My Granny has cancer, and is probably dying. She is 86, and just had a mastectomy. Tell me that doesn't suck.

4. End of school year evaluations suck. In Virginia, we have to show "evidence of progress" by a child having scored in or above the fourth stanine on any nationally normed standardized achievement test, or by an assessment or evaluation that the superintendent determines to indicate that the child has achieved an adequate level of growth and progress. I've really got to get on board...these evaluations, whichever route you decide to go, are to be submitted by August 1. I haven't even ordered our CAT test yet. I'll put the order in this week...I promise!

5. Having a yeast infection sucks. Having a yeast infection along with your period sucks BALLS. 'Nuff said.

Today's Daily Groove!

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

:: Relieving Time Pressure ::

You enjoy parenting most when you feel expansive andflowing -- the way you feel when you're not under anykind of pressure.

One of the most common pressures of modern life is*time pressure*: having to be somewhere or dosomething by a certain time. Young children naturallylive in the moment, not by the clock, so subjectingthem to time pressure usually leads to discord.

To reduce time pressure in your daily groove...

* Decide that geniality (feeling good) is more important than punctuality (being 'right').

* Don't agree to be on time -- build flexibility into your agreements. ("I'll be there around 7:00-ish.")

* When you really want to be on time to an appointment, give yourself LOTS of extra cushion time -- just accept that life with kids is less "efficient."

* Don't rush when you're late -- call and renegotiate! For all you know, the person you're meeting may be late, too.

* When you can get away with it, don't make plans at all! Enjoy living spontaneously!

http://dailygroove.net/time-pressure
Feel free to forward this message to your friends!(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)Copyright (c) 2007 by Scott Noelle
********************************************************************************

I posted today's Daily Groove here, for all to enjoy. Those of you who know me IRL know that this Groove is pretty much the way I live my life. I am often late for things, even if I agree to be at a certain place at a certain "ish" time (for example, "2:00-ish" instead of 2:00).

Shelby, Tori, and Ashlyn Feeding Catfish

Taken at my Aunt Brenda's and Uncle Wayne's farm, in Alberta, Virginia.

Dave and Shelby

Dave and Shelby, horsing around outside while visiting my Dad, and my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Wayne. Taken in Alberta, Virginia.

My Dad, my Girls, and Me

This is probably the first pic I've taken with my Dad in over 10 years. It's the only pic I have of he and I together with my girls.

I hope now that he's in Virginia, we can have a better relationship. That at least, we can talk, and he can get to know my family a little better.

I just had to get this shot.

I heard Loryn in the kitchen the other night, her little voice going, "Hep...HEP!".

Of course, when I went to appraise the damage, she wasn't upset in the least. After all, she had climbed on top of the fridge (by climbing up from the stove-top), so that she could reach her beloved "babeenas".

First, she plays with her poop, now this?

It's getting to be a fucking zoo around here.

The "8 Things" Meme...

And how many times has this been around, again? It's fun, though, so I'll play along. That, plus I don't have anything pressing to write about now. Or, maybe I have too many things to write about, and I can't focus on just one or two...yeah, that's probably more likely.

To borrow a phrase from my good friend Steph, "Those who can, write. Those who can't...post Memes!".

8 Things About Me:

1. I have four daughters, and I despise people who ask me, "Oh, you were really trying for that boy, huh?". Fuck, that drives me crazy. Even worse is when someone asks Dave whether or not he could make a boy baby. Some people are stupid as hell. My girls are pretty amazing, and I've never once wished I had a boy. I mean, it might be nice, when I really think about it...but that's just baby-making hormones talking. I'm really happy with my kids. And we're done! (Pretty sure, anyway)!

2. I'm married to my best friend (the aforementioned "Dave"). He's smart, and funny, and wonderful. I met him through a McDonald's drive-thru speaker, kind of. His voice got to me...deep and sexy. Then when I drove around to the window, there he was, and he made me laugh at something silly he said. Did I mention he was a babe? (And by "babe", I mean he was a babe...19 years old, I think. I was 23). Anyway, I couldn't get him out of my mind, how cute he was, so I started coming by at lunch-time every day for a large Diet Coke (light ice), and we chatted a bit, and flirted a lot. Fast forward a couple of weeks, when, on his day off, he came by my work (the local library) as I was leaving, and asked me out to dinner. I was a single Mama (to wee Shelby, then about 3), and I turned him down because I didn't have a sitter. HE said, "No problem...I'd like to take you both out", and so we (all 3) went on our first date to a local buffet-style restaurant. He came back to my apartment after that, and the next thing I knew his clothes had mysteriously wandered into my closet. For the most part, we've been together ever since. We eloped in November of '97 (I was preggers with Tori), so this year is the big 10 year Anniversary! Seems like just yesterday.

3. I used to have a couple of piercings, but I let them close up. Right now I've got 3 holes in my left ear, and 2 in my right. I don't need anymore now, though I do think about getting my tongue pierced again. I've got one tattoo, and I want to get at least one more, that would be just for me. Plus, Dave and I are thinking about doing the Pam and Tommy Lee thing and getting rings tattooed on our ring fingers (neither of us wears a wedding band). I also dye my hair (often!), sometimes in some pretty wild colors. I guess I'm not ready to grow up yet.

4. I have a thing for erotic fiction. I want to write my own. I also like erotic photography.

5. I love, love, love music. I love Rufus Wainwright. He is above and beyond all others, to me. I might even consider leaving Dave for him (and Dave knows this), except for the fact that Rufus is a gay man. I would wash his underwear, though, if he wanted me to. Or I could trim his toenails. He's brilliant, and beautiful. The title of this blog is from a RW song, Beautiful Child.

And I'm going to see him (with Neko Case) in Charlottesville, on August 15. Hold me back.

6. I'm not religious. I don't believe in a christian god. I think of myself as a spiritual agnostic,
with Wiccan tendencies.
7. One of my favorite books is The World According to Garp, by John Irving. As far as flicks go, I'm a big fan of documentaries and independent films. Gotta love the IFC and Sundance channels!
8. I'm not a joiner, and I consider it my mission to question everything...especially authority!

I'm not tagging anyone, but send me your links if you respond to this meme. I'd love to see your 8 things!

Bouncing in, for a sec...

I have thoughts running through my head, and I've been tagged (twice) for the "8 Things About Me" meme (Thanks, A. and S.), so I'll post later tonight, probably.

{That is, if I can tear myself away from World of Warcraft. My Level 11 Dwarf Warlock almost has his VOIDWALKER! (Thanks for the link, babe)!}

Oh, as if that's not enough...I also have the Scripps National Spelling Bee to watch tonight! (I recorded it...did I ever mention how much I love the DVR)?

I'm having an overload of GEEKY GOODNESS, here!

But I popped in for a bit, just to mention this really cool blog that I've been enjoying muchly. What a neat guy...a philosopher, of sorts...who's really got his shit together! (Pardon my French)!

Could it be?

A new love? Someone to replace Rufus Wainwright in my heart? A new fave singer/songwriter?

NAH...probably not...but I am sure loving this song, by Mika.

The video below does not feature Mika. Just a couple of random guys, lip-synching and dancing to the song Lollipop. They're pretty cute...especially the one who plays with his junk. ;-)

Random silliness

Here's Loryn, standing on top of the stove, trying to reach her birthday cake:





















And here she is, later that night. She had been playing with some of her new birthday toys at the dining room table, and fell asleep...just like that! This, from the kid whom I've had to nurse to sleep almost every night for the last 5 years!

Lolo turns 5!

Loryn (or Lolo, as she's affectionately known around here) turned 5 on Sunday, May 20. And what a great day she had! It was all about Bob the Builder, Thomas the Train, and Veggie Tales for her. In the pics below, she looks a little...well...underwhelmed. I think it was the opposite: she was just overwhelmed with all the toys, everyone chattering back and forth, trying to get her to smile, and all that. She had a lot of fun, even though the party was just a family affair: just us and Dave's Dad, Wade.

I do hope to one day give her a big birthday party, but at this point I don't think she'd be as happy. She's comfortable, and happier, here at home, with people who love and know her best.

On Sleepovers...

Did you know that girls (who are high on junk food, caffeine, and very little sleep) do crazy things to each other's hair?

Check it out:

Obsession, Part II

Just in case my dear husband needs cheering up, here's this:



Hint: The video isn't funny at all...but if you're a proud WoWer, the audio will crack you up.

Which Book Are You?

I've never read it, but here's me:

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

My New Obsession

Besides Coconut Chai Lattes?

World of Warcraft, of course! I'm loving it so much, it's not even funny. My friend Dan (who I hold partly responsible for my madness) told me of people who have been in counseling because they're WoW addicts.

(That Wiki link is huge, BTW).

My feeling on the addiction aspect is that it's a crock of shit, personally. If someone is playing WoW (or any other game, really) for several hours a day, every day, and not developing or nurturing relationships, slacking off from work, or school...if they're not eating, or reading, or masturbating, or swimming, or what-have-you...then they've got bigger issues than gaming, IMO.


Whew...all that just to say: At least I have chicken!


Here's a cute YouTube clip that a couple of Shelby's friends sent her...thanks for the link, Noah and Levi.

Shelby's got a new blog!

And here it is!

I enjoy reading what she writes. I hope she never wants to hide her writing from me.

When I was 13, I didn't want anyone (especially my MOM) reading anything I wrote. I still have trouble with that, sometimes...letting others read stuff I write.

At my last Writers Group meeting, I let one of my friends read a bit of fluff I had written after a particularly trying night with Lolo. Just crap stuff...anger, despair, pity (for myself), whathaveyou. I couldn't even sit there while she read, I got up and went to the bathroom. When I returned, she asked me if I had ever shown the piece to Dave.

*gulp*

NO way I could have shown it to my beloved David. He stresses way more than I do, and I didn't want to burden him with that kind of raw emotion. I already felt like the worst Mom in the whole world, just for writing out my thoughts...why would I add the guilt of (possibly) hurting Dave's feelings on top of the guilt I already felt?

Speaking of Writers Group...I really must get motivated to write more! There are a couple of writing projects I'd like to tackle, and I've been reading Writing Down the Bones, so hopefully I can find some inspiration...and soon!

SF Mania!

**SF refers to Shit-Fist, and not San Francisco, or Single Female**

(See previous post here for more details...or actually, DON'T see said post, especially if you haven't eaten yet. Or, especially if you are in the process of eating breakfast, or lunch, or dinner...whatever...you may not want to read that post. In fact, if you're prone to nausea at all, you may not want to read here...I'm all about getting the gory details out in the open. There, you've been warned).

So, Lolo hasn't been struggling with constipation lately (good news), but she still plays with her poopy diapers. And if you're not fast-on-your-feet-quick-as-a-flash to change her soiled diaper, then just realize that you are going to be cleaning up a little shit-covered hand, in addition to the soiled diaper.

Hence: Shit-Fist.

My older kids even know how to warn me: "Mom! Shit-Fist!" Or, "Mom...Lolo's shit-fisting again!".

And, yes...I do know of that other definition for the word fist, and that the word shit PLUS that other definition of fist introduces a whole new level of depravity here at A Beautiful Child, but let's face it: Shit-Fist is truly the best way to describe this little...ahem...activity of Loryn's.

Earlier this evening, I was downstairs with the girlies. While I puttered around online, they were watching Family Guy together, and we were all happy as pigs in shit (pun intended). All of a sudden, Ash calls out, "Oh my God...Shit-Fist, Mama!".

Crap! (Literally, ha ha).

I turned around to see Loryn sticking her hand down the back of her diaper, and while I shouted, "No, No, NO, Loryn!", she pulled her hand out (covered in poop, of course) and a little clump of shit fell to the carpet.

I groaned, probably sounding like some sort of wild beast, in labor.

And what did Lolo do?

She smiled, and then laughed out loud! Had the nerve to laugh at her Mama, who had to clean up this poop on the carpet, gagging and retching through it all!

Oh, but how could I stay pissed off at my girl? Look at that punim!

These are from after her bath:






(No, that isn't a third nipple on Loryn's chest...just a bump).


So, because I had a shitty day (again...pun intended...I'm so fucking witty tonight!), I treated myself Big Time! after all that mess.

Did I ever mention how much I love iTunes? I bought Rufus' new album (YAY...I got it early!), and (because I had forgotten all about it!), Afternoon Delight (two versions: the original, by Starland Vocal Band, and from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrell's version.

Speaking of Will Ferrell, (and, if you like Will Ferrell), check out this clip. Dave sent this to me, and I get the giggles every time I watch it. NSFW, by the way...there are a few bad words.

Happy Mama Day

Shelby, Tori, and Ashlyn enjoy the garden hose!



Self-portrait, as we waited in traffic on Rt. 151 (due to a bad accident).




Lolo, happily traveling in her car seat.




Me and the girls, outside of my Mom's house in Danville.




My Mom and Dad, (Kay and Kenny), and Kenny's mom (Nana).

Yeah, my kid did this...

and I'm in bewildered awe! At 13, I was still lip-synching in front of my mirror to Duran Duran. She's creating cool video slideshows of her friends and family.

What a neat kid I have.

Rufus news!

Hey Ru fans! In case you're interested, (Yeah, I realize I might be the only one...but you can allow me the my little fantasy), Vh1 is streaming Rufus Wainwright's new album Release the Stars today.

Check it out...especially "Going to a Town". Very political, and timely.

White and Nerdy

All 12 NLSVers (Natural Learners of the Shenandoah Valley) who attended the Weird Al show (May 2, in Glen Allen, Va). None of us kewl Moms are in this pic, unfortunately.

Tori is to the far right (in white shirt), Ashlyn is grinning in the center (kind of), wearing a light blue jacket, and Shelby is to the left with her friend, with short hair and yellow hat.

We all had a great time. Weird Al rocks!

White and Nerdy II

A better shot, but not everyone is included. I think some of the boys were hiding.

Shelby, Tori, and Ashlyn

Rockin' out at the Weird Al show, May 02, in Glen Allen, Va