Happy Memorial Day. My beloved May Poppies.

So now that I have ostracized all ELEVEN of my readers (i know, a gross exageration) by NOT POSTING A THING FOR WEEKS, let me just slay you know with the WORDS WORDS WORDS!

….. WORDS!

No pictures, either, not even if you beg!

Some assorted thoughts and happenings from my mother’s visit (my dad did not come at the last minute, doh!).
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him: I think they’re not bad.
me: Sit. Let me see.
(he sits.)
me: I HATE that. I HATE it when people sit down and their pants go up above their ankles. I don’t get it. They’re 34, right?
him: 32.
me: 32??? 32? What was I THINKING? That is pants for like a 6′ man, not a 6’5″ man!
him: heh.
me: Those are way too short. If I die, DO NOT EVER buy pants like that.
him. If you die, I’m going to get me a NEW wife, and it will be HER decision.
me: No. She will agree with me. This is a rule for everyone.
him: What if she doesn’t?
me: Then you married the wrong woman.
him: Her? or maybe YOU?!
me: Do you EVER want to have sex again?

-amy confides that only 15% of this conversation is fabricated. Can you guess which?

Last year I neglected our cherry tomato plants.

They did VERY well. But I was too busy to go and pick tomatoes every other hour (that was about the rate that they produced).

I know, I know, I suck. Fresh, beautiful tomatoes and I let them overripen and drop off the vine.

Well, I’m getting my come-uppance now.

Do you know what happens if you let dozens of cherry tomatoes just fall on the ground and decompose?

It’s hard to see in that picture, but those little specks of green around the established plants are tomato seedlings.

Yup. A LOT of tomato seedlings.

And I of course had to rip them all out. (I did leave some for this year).

I am a baby tomato murderer.

The raspberries that threaten to TAKE OVER THE WORLD.

It’s hard to believe that these 3 little plants… (2006)

grew into this: (present)

Two of my older brothers are getting ready to have the time of their lives.

This weekend is the 24 hours of LeMons race in California. I wish I could be there! My brother Joe first roped my brother Larry into joining his team last year. This year, they will be there with each of their own team/car. They’ve both been blogging about it (although Larr a bit more than Joe, *cough* *getwithitjoseph* *cough*)

Joseph’s team: Snowspeeder
Larry’s team: Volatile RAM

Here’s a couple of photos of Joe’s car complete with star wars geekiness rebel alliance logo on the side (I am married to the hugest SW geek ever, thus, I know these things), and here are some from Larry’s, who did a dandy paint job featuring many of those loved old arcade games, pac-man, blinky, & a space invaders alien.

I love this photo Larry took on their test run. I’d ask him if I could make it into a banner for Crazymokes, but I guess it’s not very applicable to THIS site…

I’ll be thinking of you guys this weekend! Have a blast! Don’t hurt yourselves!

Every year we usually have the kids’ birthday parties at home or close to home (neighborhood park).

Every year I stress out about a myriad of things.

What activities will we do? Who will come? We need to clean the house! We need to get food & cake & pizza! Oh, and what will we do?

I don’t just stress once and then am done stressing. I stress out, every day, for a month beforehand, until the whole thing is OVER.

Well, for Ethan’s birthday this year (tomorrow!), what with my folks’ imminent arrival and all the soccer! tball! choir! and did i mention parents!? We decided to go ahead with the expensive party at a venue. We chose a place with those big inflatable bouncers & slides and whatnot. The cost has always been the big detriment to me in the past, becuase it’s not a small sum! However, since we’re on a budget, I know exactly how much we cost on Jocelyns “at home” party, including all the food, goodie bags, and a cleaning service to come the day before, and it was more than I have been leading myself to believe in the past. I’m not saying Ethan’s is less (it’s not, it’s still more, as we’re paying for the place and yet still buying goodie bag stuff, pizza, drinks, and the cake) but I gotta tell you…

I have not worried about this party for a minute. It has been AWESOME! AND, we were able to invite his entire class, which we definitely would not have done if it were held at home (though probably yes, at a park).

So yes, we’re forking over a bit more money than we would have doing it at home. But even being on a budget, I have to say it is ENTIRELY WORTH IT!

Tonight when Jocelyn pulled off her t-shirt, part of it stuck on her head. Usually, we leave it there and call it “long princess hair!” But this time, it was partially covering her face, specifically, her left eye.

“I’m a PIRATE!” she called out gaily.
“She’s a PIRATE!” Ethan called out gaily.
“Look it’s a PIRATE!” I called out gaily.

“Ahoy!” said Ethan.
“Ahoy!” said Jocelyn.
“Say, ‘Yo ho yo!'” I said.
“YO HO HO!” Jocelyn chortled, pulling her t-shirt down further over her eye.
“Say, “WALK THE PLANK, YE SCURVY LASSEY!” I said.
“WALK THE PLANK YOU FLOPPY PLASTIC!” Jocelyn said.
“Say ARRRRGHHH!” Ethan said.
“ARRRRRRRRRGH!” Jocelyn said.
“Say ‘schwab the deck, ye landlubbers!” I said.
“Schwab the deck you ladyfingers!” She hollered with delight.

Then I turned into mean mommy and made them brush their teeth, despite their claims that pirates don’t brush teeth.