Small and Simple Things

I'm a bit emotional these days.  I'm feeling this way for a lot of reasons, and mostly they don't need to be talked about here.  But, suffice it to say....tears have been shed for the stresses of life, and also for the goodness of others.  We are BLESSED, so blessed in our life.

BUT, the real reason I wanted to write was for the joy that really small and simple things bring me. 

Simple things like:

Holly pressing the follow buttong and bringing me up to 97 followers. Yes Holly, that DID make me really happy.

A comment from a new and or unexpected reader.

Hearing Max say "Tank you mama" all on his own.  I get him something, or pick him up and he'll just say, in his super sweet, high pitched (or well, sometimes super low and growelly) voice..."Tanks" or "Tank you mama".  Something about the "Mama" just GETS to me.

Walking in the door from the gym and having Maggie or Max or both come RUNNING with pure glee screaming my name.

When announcing that dinner is ready...having Max yell at the top of his lungs. "MAGGGGGGGIEEEEE et's EAT!"  "Eat dinner!"

Or the fact that Max can NOT do anything without wanting to share with Maggie.  If he asks for a sucker, and I hand him one, he then says in a question tone "Maggie?" "Maggie want one." He ALWAYS wants to share with her.

Watching Max "fold" his arms for prayer.  It's this half held, fold thing and he tries so hard.  It's adorable.

A morning spent with my sister Dixie, just visiting and laughing.  That doesn't happen enough.

Do NOT hate me Dixie.  This was a silly shot from a game night in Greer.

Listening to Maggie tell me "secrets."

Having max say "I DO IT.  I DO IT!"  He's nearly 2 and has hit that stage where he's gonna do it all himself dangit.  Sometimes frustrating, but mostly, SO melts my heart.

Seeing Maggie walk around with her backpack for school, and how PROUD and excited she is to be the "older sister" and going to school.

Impromptu movie parties on a Friday night with our kids.

Tonight we decided to have an impromptu movie party with the kids.  I told them that we would have a special party, popping popcorn and watching a movie.  Maggie was so excited about this, and so was Max, though he didn't really get it.  I can not tell you how adorable it was, and how happy it made me to have Maggie snuggled up next to me, eating her popcorn and giggling at the movie.  Max did a pretty good job watching for awhile and throwing eating his popcorn.  We watched "Monsters Vs. Aliens"  which is ADORABLE!!!!  I laughed so many times at this movie.  At the end we were waiting to see who the voices were and Jere said the General was the same voice as in Toy Story.  Maggie threw her arms up in the air and in total glee said "TOY STORY...THAT'S MY FAVORITE."  So great.  Then, she promptly said, "I'm really tired, I'm going to bed."  Then as we were standing by her door my three year old says "I'm super WAY tired."  It all made my heart happy.

Surprise visits at 9:30 p.m. from our cute friends that are away at college and or traveling violin rockstars. So fun and unexpected. (we love you Lies'l and Taylor)

Just a random shot of Tay tay after his recital the other night.  Sorry, no pics of lovely Lies'l

Yep....sometimes it's the small and simple things that bring the greatest joy.

Thank goodness for all these things, so that the CRAP of life doesn't get you completely down.

Sweet babies and popcorn messes,

Allyson

Throwback Thursday

I have some friends who do throwback Thursday or something on Fridays, etc.   And today, I got a very random thought bubble and decided to look up the archives of my old, OLD Diaryland account. Oh what?  YOU used to do Diaryland?  If you DID, please stand up and be noted.  Hi Reva, Hi Joyce.  Anyone else?   Never heard of it?  Well, it was my first try at "blogging" though it really was more diary like at times, and somewhat more private.  Anyway, it goes from 2002 to 2006, and reading some of it makes me sad, others were funny.  AND, it covers some rather important events in my life, such as gastric AND announcing my pregnancy with Maggie.

ANYWAY....randomly reading entries (sidenote: some of my titles were way funnier than actual entries) and decided this was an easy way to 1) get an entry and 2) share some interesting bits of my "former" life.

So, read on friends, this one is short and sweet.  I KNOW RIGHT?  Who WAS I?




August 10, 2006

4:12 p.m.


<- That DID happen! ->

You see that? Do you? Huh? Are you thoroughly grossed out yet? No? Well, let me tell you a little story.


It's Tuesday morning, 2 a.m. I'm SOUNDLY sleeping when suddenly, I wake up, freaking out. I don't know why, I have no idea. All I know is, something is wrong. My ear is hurting, something is WRONG. I start thrashing about, and screaming. Jer wakes up scared to death. I'm yelling something is wrong, shaking my head around. It feels like water is gushing out of my ear or something, but no it's not. Then I realize, there is a BUG inside my ear. I can hear it on my eardrum. I freak out even harder. I shake and pound my head harder, and yell some more. Then, I FEEL it come out of my ear. I scream "It WAS A BUG, IT WAS A BUG IN MY EAR." Jer turns on the light, and sure enough, there was that hideous bug crawling on the covers. I jumped up, got a papertowell, picked it up, squished it to death and threw it away. Then, I went to the bathroom where I was so freaked out I could barely function. I found some cotton and put a piece firmly in each ear. Ain't NO WAY some nasty ass will EVER take up residence in MY ear again. Holy SHIT! It was sick and horrible. Anyone else ever experience that? Let me know.


So, there's my "excitement."


This whole week I've been watching my sisters kids while she's been doing the back to school getting ready stuff. I'll be watching her little girl (I'm talking about Brooklyn here, who is now 4 practically 16. So strange to go back in time BEFORE Brooklyn) for the whole school year. Oh, what's taht you say? You thought I was teaching school? Yeah, so that was my big news. I QUIT!!!(Did you know I taught school?  Yeah well, I wasn't so great at it) I will NOT be returning to the evil spawn of satan school. I will NOT be teaching. I'm so happy. It was the BIGGEST relief in the world to give them my resignation letter. They're dumbasses and wholly evil and corrupt! May they rot in a fiery hell forever! I'm FREE!!!


Well, must run!!


Peace


There ya have it.  Consider yourself "Thrown back".  Now the girls and I are off to make some cookies and then perhaps I'll think about dinner.  I'm cool like that.


Remembering and Cookie calories,

Allyson

A GREAT BIG Family

Picture day is generally the ONLY day where any frustration or irritations rear their heads.  It's stressful getting 30+ people together in one space, coordinated in color, smiles, etc.  This day was no exception.  It was only made worse by the fact this particular day was the only one that it RAINED the ENTIRE day.  When we could see that there wasn't going to be a let up, we had to come up with plan B.  Which in retrospect was not such a great plan.  We decided to use the porch.  Unfortunately, noone had their giant light post and white umbrella thingy to create good artificial lighting.  Oh wait, noone even OWNS such a thing.  Anyway, the lighting was TERRIBLE.  Hence, the pictures you will see from my camera....tragic.  However, after all the individual family pics and various family member pics had been taken and we were all sitting around doing whatever, there came a BRIEF break in the downpour.  At this point Max was asleep and the kids were getting dirty.  So we made a snap decision to literally run down the hill, set up the tri-pod and take a picture as fast as we could, SANS my sweet Max.  After a false start in a shadowy spot, we moved over to a shady spot and literally took 3 pictures.  I'm pretty pleased with the way this turned out.  The only fix was photoshopping Max in and photoshopping Troy over, since his head was a little hidden.

I won't lie...when I look at this picture, it makes me smile.  It makes me happy.  I feel such pride in what a beautiful and GREAT family I have.

I'm grateful for the talents that abound,the music that ripples through the air, as someone is ALWAYS singing,  for the incredible sense of humor that all possess (what?  we're FUNNY people, don't deny it).  I'm thankful for the competitive spirit that runs deep.  For the unending well of "gas" that permeates our gatherings.  The ability to play well together, to get along, to LOVE being in eachothers presence.  I truly LOVE my family.  And I wouldn't have it any other way, each of us individuals in every way, but solid as a group.

The ENTIRE Shumway Family

(I especially enjoy Max's photoshopped face in there)

From oldest to youngest:

Danas family

Breckyn, Dana, Adam, Bryson

Hayden, Jamyn, Harrison

Jayce

Erics Family

Eric, Quinn, Jody

Maya, Conner

(yes, yes Jody IS a model...no for reals, like in commercials and print)

Moi

Maggie, Jere, Me, Max

Jenny's Family

Jenny, Troy

Cooper, Brooklyn, Carter

(keep in mind there are at least FIVE cameras going at once here)

Porters Family

Porter, Crew, Lana

Tatum, Dane

Dixies Family

Shane, Dixie, Morgan

Owen, Olivia

So there you have it/us in all our glory.  Bad lighting and all.  We're just one GREAT BIG, happy, flawed, crazy Family.

Earthtones and cheese,

Allyson

Unexpected Showers

Well, you may or may NOT remember that I live in the great DESERT Southwest.  The fabulous and ARID state of Arizona.

As a child I remember Monsoon season coming in July and rain pouring buckets full of hot water all over us.  We LOVED to go running out in the rain and spinning circles in the front yard.  The only time I really hated the Monsoon was during city championships for swimming.  It hit EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!!  No fail, we'd be trying to have an important swim meat and there would be 100 mph winds gusting through, massive lightning bolts setting the dark sky ablaze and big FAT rain drops drenching all involved.  Inevitably people would scurry to every little corner and we'd have to wait it out.  'Cause, also if you didn't know, monsoons come in and out within minutes.  So, as a child wanting to  just swim my freaking race, I was NOT a fan.

Anyway.....somewhere along the way, somewhere in all this "global warming" and greenhouse affect and what have you...Monsoon season seems to have disappeared.  This summer the sky got dark and it was humid as hell for like 6 weeks but never freaking rained.  We got to the very end of July before we finally got some rain.  Apparently there was a lot of rain while we were in Greer, and then nothing so much since we've been home. 

Evidently the monsoons have moved to August.

Last night...pretty much OUT.OF.NOWHERE the wind started blowing fiercely.  Things were flying through the air, tubs in my backyard went hurtling outward and then BOOYAH!!!!  The sky, she opened up and dumped her bounty upon us. 

Auntie Julie took the kids out front to play in it (cause she's good like that), and after a couple of minutes they came in and said "Mommy we want you to come play in the rain with us."  At the moment, I was "busily" reading about an armless Chinese pianist and watching him play some beautiful song with his toes.  I couldn't be bothered.  PLUS, PLUS....I HATE getting wet.  Nothing worse than getting wet.  So, I politely declined their invitation.  When they asked why, I said, "Mommy hates getting wet, and I'll melt."  they believed me (well Maggie giggled and told me I was wierd)and went back out and played.

Then I felt really guilty.  I felt like the worst mother ever.  My toddlers were playing in the rain, having so much fun, and I was too busy watching Chinese footman play his piano.  The guilt took over and soon I went out front to "play"; and by play I mean, I stood under the eaves so as to not get wet, but to watch my cute kids have the time of their life.

This was the first time they ever got to run and play in the rain.

They had so much fun.  The giggling and soaking wet hair was worth it.  I might add, it was at this point Maggie stopped, looked up and said..."I'm peeing."  and then stood there and peed.  Apparently she got confused, this was not like when we're swimming and she has to pee and we just have her go stand over some rocks by the pool deck and pee.  What?  At least she doesn't pee in the pool.  Anyway, she didn't enjoy the pee pee pants feeling so much afterward, but hey, that's what you get, you little urinator.

Max is looking up at the big drops coming off the eaves.  He was sooo happy.  He kept saying "RAIN, it's RAIIN, FaWING".

Running in the gutters.....nothin better (or dirtier, but who was checking that).  They were none to pleased with me when I finally called them in and insisted that rain play was over and bathtime was in order. 

Sometimes the unexpected showers bring the greatest joy.  Yay for late monsoons and little wet feet.



Raindrops and roses,


Allyson

Happenings

You know, I've noticed something about my blogging, and frankly, I don't know how I feel about it.  I seem to have gotten away from talking about my kids, our life, happenings and such.  And while that is fine, nothing wrong with that...in a way...I miss it.  I need this info. so I remember what the hell we did in our life.  So, I've decided to do a quick recap of what's been goin on around here.  Hope you can dig it.

Things we HAVE done in the last 2 weeks:

Welcomed Brooklyn back...

Brooklyn returned to our fold.  Maggie could NOT be happier about this turn of events.  She was ready for her "sister" to come back.  This is how I found them on Brooklyns 2nd morning.

All contentedly watching "kids shows" (that's what Maggie calls ALL cartoons)

There has been minimal fighting.  But A LOT of dress ups, coloring, imagination games, etc.  Brooklyn, though a bit whiney at times, really does bring another dimension to our days that we miss after she's been gone.

Family trip to Costco......

While Jere is waiting for school to start, his work schedule is LITTLE at best, so he's been around.  So one day we all went to Costco to shop and have lunch.  I guess he's growing up, 'cause he didnt ask me to buy any cd's, movies or books.  Hooray!

The kids all wanted to try the "comfy" couch out.  Good thing I had my butter.

Shopping at Kohls....

I already showed the pic of me and the jeggins.  But, we were there to get Jere new school clothes.  Happy to say, we scored.  We also scored THIS:

NINE Bucks....that's what I paid for this awesome dress!  So awesome is this dress that Maggie was even willing to stand there and let me do her hair, FOR REAL.  That was the first time that multiple ponies, updos and flowers were allowed in MONTHS.  She was a definite beauty in brown for he re-debut to church on Sunday. (we may or may not have been gone from our ward for SIX weeks)

Trips to the gym....

I promised Jere that I'd go to the gym with him every day last week.  And we did, with kids in tow.  Max was even happy to go to child watch, which was a first, and hugely helpful.  The kids had a GREAT time playing, and I got Jere into the gym mode.  It was also helpful to me to get going again.  However, I can NOT do late mornings like that.  It sets my whole day off kilter.  So, he's on his own now to go later, while I go early, sans he kids.  But I was/am proud of him for going.  If you haven't checked out his blog over ther on my sidebar, please do.  He's on a new quest to "find himself" at 33.

Swimming at Gramma Dars......

This isn't really Gramma Dars pool, but she does have a lovely one with a waterfall, and a huge tree overhead, and rocks, etc.  The kids and I have made ourself at home there the last few weeks, and they absolutely love it.

BUT, Gramma Dar has something most houses do not......it looks kind of like this:

I'm not kidding, she has a MAMBER JAMBER waterslide that is at least 20 feet up in the air.  You climb a spiral staircase to heaven, and then take your life into your own hands as you lay down in this slide and are shot like a cannon through it and spewed out the other side.  I will not lie...I have never been more terrified in my life.  One time was plenty for me.  Brooklyn however loved it and went down many times.  Well, at least until she smacked her head, then she wanted nothing more to do with it.

Taken silly pictures....

Jere took a pair of blue blockers from his Mom, and he PROUDLY wears his Grampa glasses.  He's so ridiculous sometimes, you just can't help but laugh.

Sat around and wasted a lot of time reading blogs.
Signed up for twitter.
Caught up on Project Runway (is it just me, or is the GAYEST guy season EVER)
Caught up on Top Chef
Watched the SYTYCD finale (like Lauren, happy for her, but REALLY sad it wasn't Kent)
Played horseback ride with the kids
Had a delightfully, delicious "ball" party with some of our dearest friends.  Visited with our out of towner friends and laughed heartily!
Ate breakfast for dinner
Prepped for Oliver
Had Oliver Kid Auditions/Cast an Oliver
Laundry.....lots of Laundry
Got 96 followers.  C'MON PEOPLE, ONLY 4 MORE TO 100
Shopped for school supplies, INCLUDING Maggies backpack for preschool..
   SIDENOTE:  Maggie is soooooo excited about going to "school."  She feels so old and so superior to Max for this.  She finds any numer of opportunities to remind him that SHES bigger and older and going to school and he isn't.  And the fact that she got to get a backpack was nearly more than she could bare.  We went Saturday afternoon and she picked out a princess backpack (are we surprised) and promptly wore it all around the store.  As I was perusing the bread, which happens to sit directly across from the candy aisle, she asked for many different candies.  I told her no.  Then I noticed her putting a box of skittles into her backpack.  When I questioned her on this, she pointed her little finger, looked up at me and said..."Mommy, that's just for school for later.  I need to put it in their for LATER.  Ok?"  Well fine, her "logic" was sound.  She needed snacks for later.  So, in it went and there it stayed (I paid for it of course) and continues to stay until said time arrives to eat it.
Gone to Peter Piper and played with cousins (that just happened today..totally fun!)

THINGS WE/I HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS:

Any amount of cleaning, beyond pick up and wipe downs and vacuuming.
Really, it's embarrassing the level of dust going on.
Please, don't discuss the kitchen floor, currently stained in yogurt from Max this morning.
Organizing my piles of mail
Cleaning out closets
Eating right
Getting sleep
Did I mention proper cleaning.  I just can NOT seem to get motivated.  Mostly, I look around, curl my lip in disgust and then just find something else to do.   I think I need an intervention.


Well, I guess that'll be enough for now.  There are kids in need of my attention, a house that needs me to look around and ignore it some more and some Oliver calls to be made.

Here's hoping I can find my motivation and get some real bidness done around here soon.

Lazy days and dirty houses,

Allyson

8th Grade.....Memory Monday Re-commences

8th Grade

Fall 1985

Welcome to beginning of my "Bob" era.  It began in 1985 and lasted until 1997.  Don't judge. 

For whatever reason I thought this sweater was soooo AWESOME! and I HAD to have it for pictures.  And apparently I was feeling my school spirit or extreme Patriotism (which is appropot as our mascot was a Patriot) with my red, white and blue ensemble (made worse by the fact that I'm pretty sure I wore white pants with the getup).  Anyway, in my genius 12 year old mind, I would never get discovered having STOLEN my 18 year old sisters clothes for the photo.  D'OH!  Guess I forgot about that part where the pictures got printed, and then people LOOKED at them.  BUSTED!  Probably one my LEAST favorite school pictures due to the giant zits on my chin which I couldn't hide with enough make up.  BOO!

Oh 8th grade, how you've elluded me in my posting.  I'm here today, attempting this post simply because I swore I would continue my Memory Mondays, and there are plenty more embarrassing pics to show.  AND....Joyce has been anxiously and patiently awaiting this installment for 3 weeks now.  So Joyce, this ones for you kid.

Apparently the angst of this time in my life was such that I've mostly blocked it from my steel trap memory.  I resorted to pulling out my diary from this year.  People, if ever you want to just be depressed, and or just laugh your gutts out....please read a page or 12 from this work of art known as my inner most thoughts.  Man I HATE jr. high kids and all their ridiculous angst and drama.  Seriously, EVERYTHING is so over the top and I evidently was no exception.  This year, or this blog entry could easily be titled, "I'm fat and I'm ugly and noone likes me", because that is pretty much what EVERY page says.  Seriously!

For the record, I was 5'8 1/2" tall and weighed 184 lbs. at the beginning of the year.  Yes, it's permenantly engrained.  I also stayed that height until AFTER highschool, when at some point I mysteriously grew to 5' 10".  Don't know when, but I did.

So, by the end of the year I must have gained a bunch, because a June entry says that since March of 8th grade I had lost 30 lbs. and was now weighing 192 lbs.  Seriously...HEFFER!

THESE are my before pics.  And really...I don't see why I thought I was THAT hideous and fat.  Other than I was a hormonal 13 year old that was a good 5 inches taller than all her peers.  Just sayin.

Pretty cowish no?  I'd like to write a letter to 13 year old me:

Dear hyper sensitive, dramatical and "FAT" me,

Please stay this "fat" forever.  'Cause trust me, it's gonna get  A LOT worse before it gets any better.  Food sucks, it is evil.  Run away.  Speaking of running....start doing that on the regular, you'll be so much happier when you're 37 doing a triathlon and not walking it.  Just sayin.

Love your older and more happily fat self

I just got off the phone with Andrea (one of my life longers that I still get to visit with) and we were crying laughing at the things I wrote about her.  She's been VERY nervous for this entry into my blog.  See, Andrea may or may not have taken a slight turn on her pretty little good girl road that year.  Well mostly, as my journal evidenced, she just got too darn snotty for her own good.  She was kinda "it" with the boys.  All blond and blue eyed and beautiful.  So, after breaking up with Tim Brown (which apparently ticked me off, but then I decided he ws a big jerk anyway) she took up with Joe Tobin.  He was sooooooooooooooo "gorgeous" and I just "wished" that I could get a guy like him.  My entries on this are hysterical.  In fact, when they first started "going out" he evidently never even talked to her, 'cause he didn't really know her.  But he would talk to me.  OF COURSE he talked to me, ALL the boys talked to me, they just didn't want to BE with me.  Anyway, I pined for him something fierce.  You'll all be relieved to know that he is one scarey looking dude now.  No really, found him on facebook, I was frightened.  She followed Joe up with Noah Aranson; he is Andrea in boy form.  Perfectly blond, feathered hair, blue eyes, pretty features.  He was totally hot stuff around Powell Jr. High.  I wrote that I didn't think she really liked him, but that she was going out with him to get MORE popular.  I guess I was right, 'cause she doesn't remember EVER going out with him at all.  So there, I'm vindicated.  She was a man user, all for power and station at the junior high level.  HA!

Ok, so apparently this year was spent worrying over WHO was my friend and who wasn't, and who was nice and who wasn't.  I even wrote a list of said friends...which at the time was only 13 people long and I was disgusted with myself for only having that many friends.  (perspective has taught me a thing or two on that).

And now, for your reading pleasure, 2 small snippets from "the journal."

THE FRIEND LIST

There are names on there that I honestly have NO idea who they are.  Others I'd love to find again.  So thank goodness for those "brave" few that were willing to be friends with the "pathetic fat girl."  Honestly...I'm so over me in this journal.  Who would want to be with Debbie Downer is the better question.  But also, the funny thing  is, if you read probably just about any girl this ages diary, it'd say close to the same thing.  ALL girls feel like they're fat and ugly and have no friends.  Even Karen, who for the record was always totally skinny....felt fat and voiced it.  Body image sucks!

On to the next gem of an entry.  This was written at the end of one of my posts.  Holy randomness....I'd be talking along about one thing and then...SQUIRELL.   

Yeah, so I guess I was feeling a little venomous when I wrote THIS entry.  'Cause that says "Karen is too stupid."  Uh, sorry Karen.  Don't know what was up with that one.  I'm feeling a little sheepish here.  I Love you!! I PROMISE! But Andrea readily admits that she really WAS snotty. So there is that.

Also found in the journal archives........

Movies I saw and wrote about:

Girl Just Want to Have Fun.....which I deemed awesome and so great!

Better Off Dead....which I gave a mere MEH too.  What an idiot I was to not recognize the geniusness of this movie at the time.

What else do I remember....

I bought this totally AWESOME fire engine red skirt that went nearly to my feet (which for that time was crazy long) and a BRIGHT yellow sweater, super long and accessorized it with GIANT red beads (like wilma flinstone big) and a pair of red flats.  I bought that outfit special for the big school dance.  Sadly, my sweet duds only attracted one boy to dance with me, his name was Kip (nuff said) and he was like 2 feet shorter than me.  Needless to say....awkward.  Really, Kip and my bubbies had a nice chat (and my ta tas were pretty buxom at that age).  Man how I hated dances.  I'm only sad that I can't find the pic of this outfit to share with you, 'cause you KNOW it was fabulous!

This is also the year that long mens shirts worn buttoned up to the collar and festooned with broaches came roaring in to fashion.  Along with skinny jeans that you tucked into your socks, or double layered socks.  Though I was never on top of the fashion pyramid, I totally did my part with this style.  I had a rockin yellow shirt with little dancing people all over it that I got a "gorgeous" black enamel and diamond broach to wear with it.  I thought I was so RAD in that outfit.

I also got glasses in 8th grade.  They were clear plastic, and HUGE!  I loved them so much.  Not only because I could see movies at the theatre with a whole new clarity, but because I just thought they were great!

I was the babysitting diva of the 4th ward.  Pretty much had a gig at least 2 nights a week, and people, I was rolling in the cash flow.  Which clearly afforded me my trips to the mall to buy my snazzy clothing.

There was a serious dilemma dialogue going on in my diary between going to my BEST FRIENDS birthday party and my kind of friends birthday party.  I wanted to go to the "sort of" friends party more than Karens.  Funny thing....the sort of friend was Jen Halliday, who I totally love and adore today.  Again, sorry Karen, apparently I was such a fairweather friend. 

To wrap it up, to put it succinctly.....8th grade blew goats! (well at least my 8th grade, journal writing self thought so)   Here's hoping 9th grade brings about some redemption!

Big hair and frenemies,

Allyson

Jeggins PSA

Today I bring to you a very special PSA, offered up by yours truly for your own good.  So PAY ATTENTION!!


As we were walking through our local Kohls last evening on a happy little family shopping trip.  Imagine my dismay and DISDAIN upon this discovery. 

"NO NO Darrel, not this time"

(sorry, that was the hugest inside shout out to my beloved GUH!)

(Why yes, yes I DO carry my camera everywhere I go.  What's it to you?  Had I not brought it with, you would NOT have such fine pictoral evidence, that's for DURN sure.)

Look closely my leetle friends.  It says "Jean" and "Legging."  And to further add to my horror...this was prominently displayed on a main aisle.  Not even buried away towards the back.

So the denimesque sausage casing can NOT be ignored.  It's quest to take over the world is gaining momentum.

"Jeggins are baaaad.  Mmmmmmmkay?"

(apparently this is my stern face.  Not very fear inducing huh?)

And to make matters worse, they've done some serious destruction work. 

So let me get this straight....

you want my chubby arse to in essence...paint itself into your stretchy and ewwrific (totes just made that word up) pants, and then, THEN trust that your man made or machine made destruction holes will HOLD UP under the immense pressure my fatty fatty 2 x 4 thighs will put it under?

I think not fashion freaks, I THINK NOT!!

The moral of this post is:

JUST SAY NO!

ALWAYS AND FOREVER!

JUST SAY NO! TO JEGGINS. 

NO TO JEGGINS, NO TO JEGGINS, NO TO JEGGINS.

JEGGINS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND.

This PSA brought to you by the letters F and A and T and by the words "JUST SAY NO".


Sincerely,


Your saving the world from one fashion faux pas at a time friend....ALLYSON




And one more thing.  Today are the first round of auditions for Oliver.  I'm all nervous.  Hope kids show up, hope they're good.  Hope this all works out!  Wish me LUCK!


Oh, and one more thing.  MAKE SURE you go down to my last entry and click on the video of Maggie.  It's 20 seconds out of your life.  But, it's cute. SO DO IT!  Just don't DO Jeggins.

Maggie has Bieber Fever

So we were driving home from Gramma Peggys retirement luncheon today and Jere was playing his latest music mix. Up pops a little Justin Bieber "Baby, Baby, Baby". Immediately Maggie said "This is my song." To which Brooklyn responded..."NO IT'S NOT. This is Tatums song." And then Maggie yelled, "NO IT'S NOT..IT's MY SONG!" And then they each proceeded to sing their little gutts out, with some particularly stellar shoulder shimmy moves by Miss Sassy Pants.  I'm only sad that I didn't realize that holding the camera the PROPER way would be the improper way. DUMB! I particularly love how Brooklyn HAD to bust her way into the camera. That girl is a true singer and performer at heart.
After the singing ended and the song was over, Maggie proudly stated. "SEE, I TOLD you it was MY song." Totally one of those precious moments in life.
In other, but related news. Today Gramma Peggy retired, as in, shall NEVER work again...RETIRED! She's worked at the police department as a dispatcher for the last 12 years. Before that...many other jobs. But, point is, she's free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, she's FREE AT LAST! We were able to go down to the station and have a lovely little luncheon with her and some of her police peeps. She was overwhelmed and so pleased with the outpouring of love. It was nice to be able to share that little moment in time with her. And we're very happy for her and this HUGE milestone!
Now what the heck is she gonna do? Well, other than jet off to Illinois for a 2 1/2 week visit to the homeland. But after that...who knows.