Poor Miss Catherine....

As a followup to yesterday's post -

We're driving in the car this morning, Paden pffftttting all the way - so I reach over and tickle his collar bone as only a mother can do while saying 'cut it out little monkey'...

He squeals and says, 'but Moooommmmm, you should see Letrell - he does it WAY louder'...

Hmm, and how did Letrell know how to pfffft with his pits?
'I taught him,' he says proudly.
Hmm, and did you show all the boys how to do that at dayschool?
MMhhhmmmm!!!

...the upside being that at least they don't stink, but I can't help feeling sorry for Miss Catherine having to listen to the musical stylings of 10 elementary boys pffftttting all day long....!!!

Thank You Riley & Coco...

A quick little note to send 'props' out to Riley and Coco....being influences in the life of my young and impressionable son Paden - teaching him the things that are important in this world to an almost seven year old...

Yes - what every mother longs to hear first thing in the morning.....

The Pfffft......Ppffffft...Pppfffft, pfffft, ppppffftttt!!!!! of body farts under the arms and behind the knees.... "Hey Mom!!!! Is this kewl or what??!!!!".....(what, comes to mind...)

Music to my ears.....thank you boys....thank you thank you thank you..... LOL

Question of the Day....

On the inside door of the washroom stall where I work is this lovely little sticker that shows you 'How to Wash Your Hands Properly With Soap and Water'. Big details, step by step...you get the idea...

So here's my question (based on the sticker)...it says 'wash hands with clean soap'...

Is it possible for soap to be dirty? Is it? Is not soap inherently clean?

Happiness Is...a fair fight

I came across this article on MSN while on my lunch break and thought it was a great article...it helps to have a few tips and tricks when in an argument, because if, like me, you become so emotionally involved that your language skills go straight out the window...well, that and the fact that anyone who knows me knows how competitive I am and I'll take any edge I can get...heh heh...Check out Gretchen Rubin's the Happiness Project for more....



23 Phrases to Help You Fight Right
Posted Wednesday, August 05, 2009 6:24 AM By Gretchen Rubin

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.This Wednesday: 23 phrases to help you fight right.
Almost all couples fight; the secret is to fight right. I’ve posted about what not to say during a fight. Here are some phrases that actually help.
I review this list from time to time so that when I’m arguing with my husband, I remember the phrases that help me fight right. Recently, for instance, I was angry at him for showing, I thought, a lack of respect for my priorities. So I waited until a good moment (this itself is tough for me) and said, “I need you to listen. This is important to me.” From his startled expression, he clearly thought I was starting a fight; but by warning him that I needed him to respond carefully, we managed to avoid a fight altogether.
When my husband and I do argue, I find that the single best technique to apply is humor. If one of us can laugh and joke around, the angry mood lifts instantly. But during an argument, my sense of humor is the first thing to go.

Failing that strategy, here are 23 phrases that help turn down the heat of anger:

1. Please try to understand my point of view.
2. Wait, can I take that back?
3. You don’t have to solve this—it helps me just to talk to you.
4. This is important to me. Please listen.
5. I overreacted.
6. I see you’re in a tough position.
7. I can see my part in this.
8. I hadn’t thought of it that way before.
9. I could be wrong.
10. Let’s agree to disagree on that.
11. This isn’t just your problem; it’s our problem.
12. I’m feeling unappreciated. [Always, my craving for gold stars!]
13. We’re getting off the subject.
14. You’ve convinced me.
15. Let’s take a break for a few minutes. [If you can remember to do this, it’s extremely effective—especially if you’re having a big fight. After a break, it’s almost impossible to go back to yelling.]
16. Please keep talking to me.
17. I realize it's not your fault.
18. That came out all wrong.
19. I see how I contributed to the problem.
20. What are we really fighting about?
21. How can I make things better?
22. I’m sorry.
23. I love you.

I actually get tears in my eyes when I read this list. Such is the uplifting power of fighting right.
Also, to fight right, it’s very important to respond well if your sweetheart makes a repair attempt—the technical term for a gesture of reconciliation and love. Don’t rebuff a repair attempt!

What other strategies or phrases have helped you fight right?

* A thoughtful reader sent me the link to an excellent blog Half Full, about "the science of raising happy kids."
* If you like the blog, you'll love the book! It's not just a collection of touched-up blog posts, I promise. Pre-order The Happiness Project now!

Silly Superstition...

There's been many a time that I've heard, "Things happen in threes"...

Now I'm not as superstitious, say, as a professional athlete (you know, the guys that don't cut their beards or wash the ginch for the whole playoff season....ew!)...but I will say I'm the first to toss the salt over my left shoulder if the shaker topples on the table...heh heh...


Here's a few....

Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day

A rabbit's foot brings good luck ------------------->hmm, not so lucky for the rabbit...

An apple a day keeps the doctor away ------------>so say all the apple farmers...

To find a four-leaf clover is to find good luck

If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck

If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck

To break a mirror will bring you seven years bad luck

To open an umbrella in the house is to bring bad luck

To find a horseshoe brings good luck

Step on a crack, break your mother's back

You can break a bad luck spell by turning seven times in a clockwise circle

Garlic protects from evil spirits and vampires

Our fate is written in the stars

At the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold

Clothes worn inside out will bring good luck

Wearing your birthstone will bring you good luck

If you blow out all of the candles on your birthday cake with the first breath you will get whatever you wish for

To have a wish come true using a wishbone, two people make a wish, then take hold of each end of the bone and pull it until it separates. The person with the longer end gets his or her wish

An itchy palm means money will come your way

A beginner will always have good luck: beginner's luck

A cat has nine lives

Eating fish makes you smart

Toads cause warts

A cricket in the house brings good luck

Crossing your fingers helps to avoid bad luck and helps a wish come true

It is bad luck to sing at the table

It is bad luck to sleep on a table

After receiving a container of food, the container should never be returned empty

A lock of hair from a baby's first haircut should be kept for good luck

A bird that comes in your window brings bad luck ----> bird hitting the window, bad for bird.

To refuse a kiss under mistletoe causes bad luck

Goldfish in the pond bring good luck

Goldfish in the house bring bad luck

For good luck, wear new clothes on Easter

An acorn at the window can keep lightning out of the house

If the bottom of your feet itch, you will make a trip ---->that or you forgot to 'off ' your feet and got bit by a mosquito....

When a dog howls, death is near ----> it is for the dog if it's howling next to my window, right Dan???...

It is bad luck to chase someone with a broom

A sailor wearing an earring cannot drown ----> is that because he's light in the loafers?

To find a penny heads up, brings good luck

To cure a sty, rub it with a gold wedding band

Animals can talk at midnight on Christmas Eve

A drowned woman floats face up, a drowned man floats face down ---->unless the man's a boob apparently...

A person cannot drown before going under three times

To drop a fork means a woman will visit

To drop a knife means a man will visit

To drop a spoon means a child will visit

To drop a dishcloth means bad luck is coming

If you shiver, someone is casting a shadow on your grave

To make a happy marriage, the bride must wear: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

The wedding veil protects the bride from the evil eye ----> of the mother-in-law.....

Washing a car will bring rain

You must get out of bed on the same side you got in on or you will have bad luck

Evil spirits cannot harm you when you are standing in a circle

A cat will try to take the breath from a baby

Warm hands, cold heart

Cold hands, warm heart

It is unlucky to rock an empty rocking chair

To kill an albatross is to cause bad luck to the ship and all upon it

Wearing an opal when it is not your birthstone is bad luck

Smell dandelions, wet the bed

To give someone a purse or wallet without money in it will bring that person bad luck

A forked branch, held with a fork in each hand, will dip and point when it passes over water

Well, there you have it, I'm sure you can think of a few more.....Next Friday the 13th is November....