Gentle cycle

Last night I (Beezus) heard an unusual banging sound coming from upstairs. I sent A to investigate the sound. Next I heard crying and screaming. "What is going on up there?", I gently scream. I hear the words, "Fry-Fry was in the washing machine." Um, what? The WASHING MACHINE much louder this time, came A's voice. By this point I am totally at a lost. How is it that my daughter who turns 9 on Monday ended up in the washing machine??? Her answer amazed us all..."Baby D put me in there." Keep in mind Baby D is 3. Fry-Fry still claims Baby D put her in there and shut the door. Yes you read that correctly. The banging was Fry-Fry banging on the inside of the washing machine door. Granted, it is a front loading washing machine, but seriously...takes new meaning to the term "gentle cycle." Oh and Ramona, please don't report me to CPS, as you know my one true goal in life is to NOT make the 10 o'clock news!

Love does happen

I generally like Jennifer Aniston as an actress. She comes across as down to earth and approachable. And in my opinion, cute! I do not understand why men find that home-wrecking harlot (aka Mrs. Smith-Angelina Jolie) attractive. Yes I know that the former Mr. Aniston and the home-wrecking harlot have been together for quite some time now, and have a brood of kids, but I'm not convinced. My husband known hereby on the blog as Poppy, (A nickname that has developed over the years between the girls and him...altered/modified as situations arise.) is a movie buff. He enjoys the whole movie theater experience. He predicts how many movie trailers will be presented before the film begins, he drinks his diet cola in great quantity, and even has a regular "man-date" at the movies with his buddies. He enjoys loud, aliens invading the US, robots taking over the world, angels disguised as men dressed in black coming from the woods, and especially enjoys movies with superhero qualities. He once tricked me into watching Braveheart, citing it as a 'romance.' Um...yea...killing people in kilts does not constitute a 'romance.' I can count on one hand, (okay maybe 1 1/2 hands) how many rated 'R' movies I have seen in my whole life, and his 'romance' is one of them. Since our cable man figured out how to block premium cable from our HDTV, we have discovered a new found love for the redbox. For 1.07 you can rent terrific movies, and if you are a coupon-ing princess, there are ways around that fee as well, and enjoy a date night at home, much more Beezus' style. Well Wednesday night, Poppy came home from the redbox with an honest to goodness non-kilt killing 'romance' entitled Love happens, starring the very approachable Jennifer Aniston. It was sweet, sad, and engaging. Poppy himself admitted the movie was "a-okay"! I may have enough faith in Poppy to trust him the next time he opens with ...this movie is a 'romance.'

Maybe its a February thing...

Here I am a year after our long awaited "debut" post and I am finally posting again. Perhaps its a cathartic thing for me. Instead of jumping in on the New Years resolutions with everyone else, I yearn for a fresh start in February. This past year has been full of surprises for my (Beezus') family. My oldest two daughters are now both in middle school and Young Women's. Don't get me started about that!!! I am amazed at their growth both physically and spiritually this past year. Fry-Fry is now in third grade and continues to do well in school. After her astonishing (to her parents at least) test scores, she has found a good rhythm at school. We are still working on personal responsibility at home and trying to keep her "morning melt-downs" to a minimum. I am convinced if school started earlier here for elementary students, and later for middle school we wouldn't have such a struggle each morning. :) Baby D is not so much a baby any longer. Ramona calls her a toddler-teen. Her development is age appropriate for a toddler, although she communicates like her teenage sisters!!! This provides some very humorous and sometimes "naughty" stories. She LOVES her Sunbeam class and has the best teachers. I'm curious what she shares in class, and how they must react to a three year old who sings songs from Taylor Swift and HSM. My husband has dealt with the most obvious changes this year. After 5 years with the same company, in May of last year he started a new job. This new job has brought many travel opportunities for him. Although he enjoys his time away, he misses his girls terribly, as do they him. In December he was issued a new calling and much to our mutual surprise, is no longer working with the youth. Instead, he is currently planning an Elders Quorum "Nerf War." I know...enough said..."bless my heart." As we begin 2010, I'm sure more changes are on the horizon. Isn't that always how it goes, as soon as you feel a bit settled, the earth begins to move beneath you again?

Sisters

Sisters are the best. I love Ramona! So do my girls, whom I also call "sister." And if you are close enough to me and well a female, I may also adopt you as my "sister." So herein lies the confusing part. When all said "sisters" are in the same room and I say "hey sister" I've discovered this can be difficult for some. My poor girls. I started calling them "sisters" when 1 girl became 2, and hence they were sisters. Then 3 came, followed by sweet D. So four sisters, is quite the house full of "sisters." I can't quite remember when I started to referring to Ramona, as "sister." Was it in my pre-husband, children days, or did it evolve once the children were here, and I wanted to distinguish the point to them that their aunt was first and foremost MY "sister." Then over the years, I have added many "sister"-friends. And causally refer to them as "sister." This has turned into a term of affection. So if are in my company, or receive an email, and I mention "sister", take a look around, if my girls, or Ramona are not present...then I'm talking to you...sister!

Our Debut Post

After reading our good friends, Mary and Laura's blog...Ramona and I decided that we would jump on the sister blogging bandwagon. (Ramona with her MS in Information Science says don't use the word "bandwagon.") I with my mommy degree, and office manager resume, posted it anyways. Nothing much has changed since our Bugs Bunny and Underdog days. (One of us tends to be bossy and the other just goes along...guess whose who.) We hope to share with our friends in blogger-land, a little insight into our 30-something lives, and if in the process we entertain you...well that's a bonus. As we have "lurked" at some of your blogs, we have found long lost friends in the many places that we have lived. Consider this an invitation to post and re-connect. In the great words of Beverly Cleary "Ramona felt secure and happy, agreeing was so pleasant she wished she and her sister could agree more often. Unfortunately, there were so many things to disagree about. "