A Man and His GPS

As wives, we like to think that our husbands are invincible...let's face it, they want to think the same thing!! I have to admit being on this trip with Tony has been very entertaining. Tony bought a Magellin GPS and named it Wilma...a tip of the hat to our new life in Wilmington...but, Tony and Wilma have not been getting along. Wilma tells Tony how to drive... He's not crazy about that. "Turn left in .5 miles to highway...." Tony, being Tony says...."what are you talking about? Turn left...that will take me right back to where I started." And, being Tony, he will either turn right or go straight....which, as you can imagine, annoys Wilma a great deal. She will tell him to make a "legal" U turn or will adjust her route...but Tony just doesn't trust Wilma...he goes the way he wants to go. Now, there are times when he ends up in a construction zone and has to backtrack....which drives him nuts...but, there are also times when Wilma will take us down I64 West and then tell us to turn onto US Route 122, only to take us back to I 64 West 5 minutes later.....so, go figure. But, it is comical to watch. Tony finally let me drive in Virginia. I turned Wilma off and drove down I 64 to where we needed to turn off. Wilma and I are fine...Wilma and Tony fight like cats and dogs. She is a silent preditor...laughing when she takes him down long, winding roads and ignoring him when he yells..."what do you mean get off the highway....we need to stay on the highway!!" I think that Wilma should be programmed to say things like, "I heard that, asshole." Or, "hey, I got you here, what's your problem????" Or "why did you buy me if you knew where you were going?" Anything that will zap Tony. Tony drives with 6 maps, me and a GPS. We get where we're going everytime...is it Tony? Is it the maps? Is it Wilma> I know it's not me...I just go along for the ride and enjoy the exchange between Tony and Wilma...all we need now is a female engine that gives him the raspberries as he tries to pass someone one...or who complains about cramps when he's putting gas in the tank! Now that would be a hoot!!

A Birthday and A Wedding

We had a busy weekend, but it was all fun!! On Saturday, we went to Bill and Andrea Kall's wedding. Tony Jr and the "Kall Kids" have been friends for years. It was an odd experience seeing all of the "kids" that used to come by being young adults--some with children of their own. It was great to get to see Tony and Marie and do wedding talk...the countdown begins!

Andrea and Bill looked great! And like all of the "Kall Events" this one was a blast.

But, the BIG event of the weekend was Ben's birthday. Since we went to the wedding, we had Ben's birthday with us on Friday. He's getting so big. It was great to see the enthusiasm on his face and hear him say, "wow" when he opened all of his gifts. I don't suppose I will ever convince Jenna and Jon that I didn't know the helicopter made noise!!

Here's the "old folks" at the wedding!




Here's our big boy with a puzzle--almost as big as he is!


And, as always, I have the pictures in the wrong order, so here he is blowing out the candles and the next picture he is sitting by the cake. Do you think I will ever learn how to do this? At any rate, it was a terrific weekend.

Wow, What A Birthday!!

Well, what a day I had!! I got to work this morning and stopped at my usual cofee place in the building where I work. Jerry, the owner, told me that he heard from several people that today was my birthday. Guilty, I said. Jerry gave me free coffee and pastry.

As people arrive at work, I got more coffee and gifts. What a surprise. The funniest gift was a "pill box," you know, one of those big plastic boxes that you put medication in and there's a slot for each day. That was a hoot. I also got a bottle of wine, a book, several cards, a coffee mug, flower and a small cake. But, of course, the best part of the day was having lunch with Jenna, Jon, Ben and Sam. The boys made me "crafts" that are now hanging on my cube. The best gift of all were the hugs and kisses they gave me for my birthday.

I was truly amazed at how kind and generous people were today. Now, a nice dinner with Tony and I'm set until next year!!

Happy Birthday

Oh Lord, another birthday. We've been so busy with work, the bathroom re-modeling, having the kids for the weekend, tracking Tony Jr's travels and catching up with David and his health that I haven't even thought about being another year older.....not that I want to...but, you know what I mean.

We started the month of August in a whirl of activity and it's been non-stop ever since. Even at work...I sign off on things and date them and in my mind, I say..."it's August 15th already..where is the time going?"

And so, tomorrow, I will be 58. A good thing in some ways since I thought I was going to be 59. Go figure...I added a year somewhere and am glad to have it back. I'm having lunch with the Purdums tomorrow and will have a nice dinner at Crocker Park with Tony. And the heart walk from downtown on Saturday....Next week we will celebrate with cupcakes and dinner because as Ben has told us all several times...he will be 4 on August 29. I can't wait.

Tony and Marie are coming in for a wedding that Tony is in and we are attending on August 28, so it will be good to see them.

Tony Sr and I are planning our vacation and looking forward to getting away for two weeks. But tomorrow...tomorrow, my children, I will be one year older. Notice I didn't say wiser...but one year older. Like you probably have, I could never imagine myself being this old...but here I am. So for all of you...happy birthday...whether your birthday has passed or is in the future....happy birthday to all of us...and love too.

Well, I think I know now how Jenna lost all of the weight she was carrying......I give her a lot of credit for being able to keep up with Ben and Sam. We continue to have lots of fun. I'd like to go on record here for bathroom bragging....no, not the re-modeling....Ben says that we have more bathrooms here than at his house or Gram's. I'm not sure where he was going with that, but he sounded impressed.

There's more verbiage below, but enjoy the pictures of our day so far. Only 30 minutes of TV during breakfast, Mommy. Even for me!



How I managed to attach these two pictures is a mystery to me.




So big

Practicing their "form"

Sammy being a doll.

Ben said he was tired!

Ben was "fishing" in the fountain with the streamer pole Tony and I got at a wedding reception

Reading the corn hole instructions after they played the game!

Talking to Mommy

Ben, Sam and I are having adventures today. We took a walk, played corn hole at 9:00 a.m., (Ben said Papa told him to work on his "form!!") played in the fountain, watered Papa's flowers and all of the plants on the rock garden and each other. We've had the kids for less than 24 hours and they've already had two baths.

While the kids were playing in the fountain and watering themselves, I was watering the plants. It was so hot, I raised the hose up into the tree I was standing under and let the cool water fall on me. Just at that moment, Ben came up to talk to me and got wet. "It's raining," he said. "No," I told him, "I made it rain." And then I did it again. Ben loved that. By this time, Sam was soaking wet because he kept putting the water from the fountain down the front of his shirt and pants and then saying, "ta da." So, it didn't seem like a bad idea just to hose us all down in the heat of the afternoon. The kids squealed and ran around and neighbors walking by laughed at us, but we had fun.

After about an hour, we were dripping and muddy, so I said it was time for a bath. More fun. They flew airplanes and watered each other with bath water and the little orange sprinkling can. After that, it was a quick lunch and a nap. Even Ben said he was tired.

Ben has been explaining more things to me. He looked up in the sky and said, "Look, Moe Moe, clouds." He continued by saying, "Do you know what happens to clouds?" I had to admit I didn't, so he said, "the sun pushes them away and rain comes. When it gets dark, the moon and stars push the rain away. When it gets light, the sun pushes the stars away." Hmmm, seemed logical to me.

He's also being the Sam Police. When I carried Sam downstairs this morning after he woke up, I didn't realize he had his binky in his hand. Ben saw it right away and pointed and yelled, "no binky, no binky. Binky is only for sleeping." As if on cue, Sam dropped the binky. Ben is interested in Sam's eating habits. He has told Sam at least 4 times that if he doesn't finish his food he will not be getting a snack. Being the good, big brother that he is, Ben told Sam that he wasn't a good boy Papa and I could put him in time out. And then he added, "me too." I wasn't sure if he was telling Sam he also had that authority (over Sam,) or he was also subject to time outs. Sam seemed to get it either way.

Sam is the sweetest little boy. He watches Ben so closely and tries to do everything he does. Ben wanted some water this morning, so I gave him a (water) bottle that was half full. Sam went to the refrigerator and knocked on it. When I opened it up, he picked up a water bottle and tried to open it. I opened it for him, but instead of putting it to his mouth, he put it up to his nose. Needless to say, he got a little wet and coughed, but he had fun. We all had fun.

The Reasons I Love Talking to Ben

We have the boys for the weekend while Jenna and Jon attend an adoption class. No matter how often I see them, I am constantly amazed at how they interact and communicate with us and the world.

I love talking to Ben--here are some examples of why:

Ben: Moe Moe, do you know my number?
Me: Your number?????
Ben: Yes, do you know my number?
Me: I guess not, what is your number?
Ben: 4, Moe Moe, my number is 4. I'm going to be 4 on August 29.
Me: Oh...that's right. Your number is 4.
Ben: Moe, Moe, do you know what my number is now?
Me; Yes, Ben, I do. Your number is 4.
Ben: No, Moe, Moe....my number is 3. I'm 3 NOW. I won't be 4 until August 29.


Ben: Where is your house?
Me: Well, we'll turn right up here and get on I71 and drive for awhile.
Ben: We'll turn right and then what?
Me; Well, after we find our exit, we'll turn right again, then turn right again.
Ben: Can we turn left?
Me: No, if we turn left we won't get to the house.
Ben: I want to turn left.
Me: Why?
Ben: I like left better.
Me: Why?
Ben: Because left will take me to my house.


Ben: Moe, Moe, you have boo boos on your arm.
Me; Yes, Ben, I do.
Ben: Are they sketa bites?
Me; Yes, Ben, they are.
Ben: I don't like sketa bites
Me: I don't either.
Ben: Then why do you have them?


Sammy: Shoe....Shoe...
Me; Ben, can you fix Sammy's shoe?
Ben: Can I get out of my car seat?
Me: No, can you just put the strap back on?
Ben: I will fix it.
Me: Thank you.
Ben: Your welcome.
Ben: Sam, your shoe is fine, stop talking.
Ben: Moe, Moe, I fixed Sam's shoe.

Ben: Moe, Moe, Sam will be three.
Me: No, Sam will be two.
Ben: No, Sam will be three.
Me: But he's only a little older than one now.
Ben: Moe, Moe, Sam will be three.....after he turns two.

Ben: Moe, Moe....I'm going to be 4.
Me; I know, you'e getting so old. Soon, you'll be going to school.
Ben: Yes, I know, but first I'm going to your house.

I love talking to Ben.

Better Than A Coffee Break

An original photograph by Benjamin Purdum!




Jenna brought the kids to a park near the building where I work and called to see if I wanted to spend some time with her and the kids. HMMMMM....GEE LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT!! Sammy freaked out when he saw me because I think he thought Jenna was going to leave him with me. But I had a great time. Ben is into photography, as you can see. He took this picture of the building and told me he was taking pictures of the "kwouds."

And then he ran under the tree and took a picture straight up. I remember being on a picnic with Tony a few years ago and I did the same thing. Tony said I was finally thinking like a photographer.




Sammy really had a tough time at the park. One of his little friends brought a toy with her, but dropped it in favor of playing with a ball. Sammy picked up the book and was happily playing with it, when she decided she wanted it back. Sammy was not a happy guy.








Jenna took this picture of Ben and I.





This is Ben deciding to run with the other kids or play ball. Big decision!!

Thanks for calling, Jenna.