Rambling Friday: Boys are Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Snips and Snails and puppy dog tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

So goes the old 19rh century nursery rhyme. 

Really?

Little boys think the grossest things are nice.

Like fishing worms and other "ugh" creatures.

I saw my grandson handling worms the other day as if it was nothing.

He sweetly asked me if I wanted to hold one. 

Uh, no.

As a grandmother who adores her grandsons, there are limits! 

I adore children who love animals.

Watching my own sons and now my youngest grandson

loving the animals in his life,

it truly warms my heart.

Best friends, he and his dog.

Diligently searching for what he wants,

whether it's the Easter eggs

mushrooms

or 

the perfect walking stick,

he has it down pat!

Ah, his gentle heart.

Love the wilted, most beautiful flowers in the world

that he gives me.

Even when he fails,

I admire his determination

to try and try again.

A spirit that won't quit.

Yes!

Children are the best!

Whether he's reading his books

or having some fun,

Asleep in his bed, or awake with some noise,

He's God's gift to me--and

I thank Him for boys!

by Carole Brown

copyrighted

Rambling Friday: Becoming Us!

Your kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are perfect! 

~Going out is good.. Coming home is better! 

~You forget names, but it's okay because other people forgot they even knew you.

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything . . . especially golf.

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" Switch..

~You tend to use more four-letter words: "what?" "when?"

~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~You have three sizes of clothes in your closet of which two you will never wear.

But Old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!



It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.

I may not agree with all of this, but it's fun stuff anyhow!
Blessings, dear friends.

The End of Summer is at Hand! Five Fun Ideas to Celebrate!

It's . . . Almost . . . Here!

The end of summer, that is.

1.  Plan an evening impromptu picnic. Doesn't have to be somewhere important (but can be!), just a place where games can be played, water to splash in, and good food can be eaten. Then join the kids (or just hubby!),
relax and have fun.

2.  Take in a community outdoor theater, go to the zoo, a fun museum, a flea market or a circus. Whatever
you choose, "let down your hair" and see it all through a child's eyes.

3. Stroll through a park
and play I spy with the kids.










4.  Any last of the summer tournaments for kids going on?
Check them out.
Our three-year-old grandson won, in his age bracket,
in a fishing tournament.
Nice gesture, and the kids love it!
Usually, even those who don't win, get a prize.

5.  If you haven't already done so this summer, attend your family reunion. It's great for the kids to meet  
some relatives they might otherwise never meet, and learn some about their family history.

Whatever you do to celebrate the END of SUMMER, have fun, make it educational if you can, and be thankful for what you have.

Blessings!

I've Learned . . .

some things about children . . .

• I've learned that if a child is not getting love and attention at home, he will go somewhere else to find them.
• I've learned that you shouldn't brag about one of your children in the presence of another.
• I've learned that there is nothing more precious than a baby-child-teen-companion's laugh.

• I've learned that the more a chld feels valued, the better his values will be.
• That teens really do care if a light is left on for them when coming home from a date.
• I've learned that teens must learn for themselves that the decisions they make then will have long-term consequences.

• I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, try to improve your marriage.
• I've learned that everyone has something to teach--even kids.
• I've learned that kids and teens like (even when they won't admit it) to see their parents being romantic with each other. (Go ahead; hold hands).

Quote:
The strength of a man consists of finding out the way God is going, and going that way. --Henry Ward Beecher


Blessings

M.K. and a Little Boy

Are you one of those persons that loves everyone and everything?

Well, I've gotta tell you, it's not that easy for me. Take for example:

Years ago, I babysat some kids. This one little boy--well, there was just something about the little fellow that was hard for me to love like I should have.

I tried. Honest. But I couldn't make myself love him.
So I resorted to prayer. I told God he would have to help me learn to love this child.

To make a long story short (as all the long-winders always say, and then go on and on) he did, and I did. Wasn't in my power, but his.

Now on to M.K.

Who's M.K.? Stands for Miniature KitKat (KitKat is the mother). When Son # 1 moved, he brought them to us to watch. I had no trouble with KitKat. Even though she did things I didn't like, I cared about her.

But M.K. was another matter. Could have been cause she's not an overly friendly cat. Or could be . . . well, I don't rightly know.

But I didn't like her. Care for her. Love her.

Until she took a liking to me.

I guess I felt sorry for her, with Son # 1 gone so much. So when she mewed and drug her "string" into our great room so I could have the privilege of running around the kitchen for her to chase, I started to enjoy playing with her.

And then she's got these BIG yellow eyes that are totally gorgeous. And she started making up to me. When she wanted petting, she'd allow me to pet her majesty's head a little. And she deigns now and then to sit at my feet or near me.

She also is the only cat on our hobby farm that can open the door to go out and then paw it to come back in. Darling!

She still doesn't want picked up. She won't ever be a lap cat. She's spoiled and touchy and self-centered.

But I love her.


Quote:
You write to me that it's not possible. The word is not French. --Napoleon

Blessings

Good-by, Pumpkin Pie!


I found this funny kids Thanksgiving poem and thought you might enjoy it! Kind of long, but oh, so cute!


Year after year after year I go crazy! Every Thanksgiving I sit with the babies! It's the little kids' table; The table for tots, Where my mom makes me sit If I like it or not. The table for grown-ups Is fit for a king, With goblets And giblets And gold napkin rings, And bread rolls and salad And dressing with drippings, One glass just for drinking, And one just for sipping!

But here all the kids Drink from Styrofoam cups, We eat small turkey bits That our moms have cut up. Our plates are red plastic And so are the spoons, And we eat by ourselves In a small dining room.

I have dozens of cousins Age one and age two Whose Thanksgiving feast Is a greenish-brown goo. They slop up their faces With vegetable mashes And after they drink They all have Milk mustaches. They urp, And they burp, And they belch And they gulp; Oh, why can't I sit At the feast for adults? All the mooshing And mashing And smooshing And gnashing! I put down my fork And I thought about fasting! I'd never eat turkey Again in my life! Never pick up a fork! Never pick up a knife! I'd fast like a mountain-top Indian swami; I wouldn't touch mustard Or bread Or salami! "I'll never eat mushrooms "Or green beans "Or squid! "And I NEVER will eat "At the table for kids!" "What's wrong?" asked my mom, She was pouring some drinks; "You haven't touched dinner... "Not one single thing!" She straightened the napkin Tucked under my chin, She gave me a hug As she pushed my chair in, She cut up my turkey bits Two sizes smaller, She held up my glass, "Have a sip of some water!" She dished up a spoon Of potatoes and gravy; My mom tried to feed me Like I was a baby! Well, my face turned as red As the rhubarb pie filling! I quick turned away, And my cup went a-spilling! BOOSH! Water splashed on Mom's face and her hair, And it looked like some gravy Was mixed up in there, Because polka dots spotted My mom's bright white dress! Her Thanksgiving suit Was a gravy-brown mess! I should've said "Sorry!" I should've said "Oops!" I should've helped mom Wipe the gravy-brown goop. What happened instead Is a mystery, my friends. But there's one thing for sure- - - I won't do it again! I opened my mouth- - - Do you know what I did? I sassed my mom back Like a spoiled snotty kid. "I can use my own fork! "I can use my own knife! "And I don't want to sit "At the table for tikes!" "I can't stand all the gunk! "I can't stand all the gak! "I won't watch little Timothy "Eating like that!" "He's got yams in his hair, "He's got yams North and South, "And there's food everywhere "But inside of his mouth!" "Then there's Sarah and Icky "And Jimmy and Franz "Mixing peas in their milk! "Eating with their bare hands!" "This is NOT what the Pilgrims "And Indians did, "I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE "AT THE TABLE FOR KIDS!!" Then mom said, "I think your Thanksgiving's all through, "And I think that it's time "You go up to your room." "In my ROOM?!" my brain thought, This just couldn't be true! In my ROOM?! Why, WHY, WHY?? What on earth did I do?? My tummy got grumbly, My feet both felt stumbly, I wanted to shout, But my mouth was all mumbly. I walked past the turkey,

The dressing and trimmings, My feast was now ending Before its beginning. "Goodbye, pumpkin pie!"

I said, as I walked by it, "So long, green bean bake!" Though I never would try it, "Farewell, acorn squash, "And potatoes au gratin! "Ta-ta, apple tart "With your whip-creamy topping!" I sat all alone On my bed feeling hungry. It felt like I had A stone knot in my tummy. I could still hear The forks and the knives and the spoons

Clacking and clinking And scraping up food; My sniffer sniffed smells Drifting up from afar, And on Thanksgiving Day I was sure I would starve! So I played with my toys Then I sang a few numbers, I stood on my head To get rid of this hunger, Then somersaults, Push-ups, I played tiddly-winks, But Thanksgiving turkey Was all I could think! My belly growled out Like a great grizzly bear,

And I knew, Pretty soon, I'd need something down there! Anything, ANYTHING! Liver, or beets!

Even heaps of Hungarian pickled pigs' feet!

"I'll eat wood like a termite! "Or flies like a frog! "I'll chew catnip like kitties! "Or shoes like a dog!" I was just about ready To snack on my hat, When I heard someone knocking, RAT-TAT-A-TAT-TAT! It was mom with a plate Piled high with a feast, And it didn't seem that she was mad In the least. She set up a TV tray Right by my bed, And she gave me a kiss On the top of my head. "You're growing up fast," She said, hiding a tear, "Won't you join the adults "For Thanksgiving next year?"

-- copyrighted 1992 Howard D. Fencl

Trivia Question:
The reason Thanksgiving was moved up a week was . . .

• Due to public pressure
• To lengthen the Christmas shopping season
• To be more in line with what Canada was doing
• To fulfill a political promise
• It was warmer
• To ward off evil spirits

Quote:
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder


Blessings

Before I Was A Mom . . .

Sigh. Can you remember the days before? Before babies? Freedom and fun and less stress. If you worried, it was about a pay raise, or if the boy down the street liked you, or what you were going to wear. Now . . . do you ever have days when you question your sanity? Wonder if they (meaning the kids!) are worth it? Read on . . . maybe you'll agree!

• I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
• I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
• I never thought about immunizations.
• I had never been puked on, messed or wet on, chewed on.
  
  
  

• I had complete control over my mind and my thoughts.
• I slept all night.

• I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
• I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
• I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
• I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Or waiting on a late homecoming child.
• Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping child just because I didn't want to put him down.
• I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
• I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.\

• I never knew that I could love someone so much.
• I never knew I would love being a Mom.

• Before I was a mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
  
• I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. Or a growing teenager.

• I didn't know about that bond between mother and child.
• I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

• Before I was a mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

• I didn't know the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a mom.
• I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much being a mom.

Yeah, I guess in spite of everything, they are worth it. Who said, "Some days I wouldn't take a million dollars for you, but other days, I'd sell you for a nickel?"

It must have been a mother!

Shh! Don't tell hubby (or the kids), but lay these hints somewhere easily seen . . . and wait for results. If, worse case scenario, they are kinda dense, then casually read them aloud or wave paper in front of their darling faces. And if all else fails, lay down the law. This and this and this is what I want! It might just work! Smile.

Mothers Day Ideas

* Breakfast in bed is always a wonderful thing. Although if you serve her breakfast in bed, she should not have to get up and clean the mess up that was made making it.

* Flowers are always a great idea, BUT a beautiful plant planted in the yard with a bow on it, is always nicer. She can look at it year after year and think of you.

* Daily chores should not have to be done. Mothers always have things they have to do, just STOP her and send her to her favorite chair with a book she has not be able to finish.

* Cards made are always better than cards bought! Dads, get the kids (when she is out) to make her one!

* For those expecting mothers and Dads to be . . . take her to a local Spa and let them pamper her for awhile. It is not easy being pregnant!

* More than likely she is going to want to spend it with her mother, get the kids ready for her that way she can give herself more time to spend on herself that day.


TODAY IS THE LAST DAY! No, it's not the end of the world. It's the last day for you to participate in my Mother's Day contest. We've got about 10 name suggestions. So . . . check out Tuesday's "Contest! Contest!" blog for the details.

Those of you who posted a comment about Donna Fleisher's interview blog, please make sure to email her with your address at: donna at donnafleisher dot com
Or . . . if you'd like me to send it to her, I'll be glad to do it.



The answer to yesterday's trivia question: A pine tree. Catch cha' next week . . .



Quote:
A hero is someone who does something for someone else at personal sacrifice. -- Rick Warren
Hmmm. Is he talking about a woman?


A wonderful Mother's Day to all of YOU, my wonderful readers!