My Anti-Bucket List

Bucket Lists are everywhere.  Here is a list of things I'll never do.    There are some things I DO want to do but here is what comes to mind of things I DON'T want to do. 

• I Will Never Go On A Cruise.    It's not a vacation when I am stuck with 3,000 people in a small space where I can't see land.  Ick.
• I Will Never Run a Marathon.   I am happy for my daughter and my husband who have both completed many marathons.  I am good at taking pictures at the start line, and again at the finish line.  I feel great, while they are throwing up.
• I Will Never Donate Blood.   The needle is too big.  And I have a weak stomach.  But I am glad others donate.
• I Will Never Own a Bird.   Birds are too unpredictable with ugly pointed beaks.  They flap around and scare me.  If I ring your doorbell, and see a bird sitting on the back of your chair, I will run in the opposite direction.
• I Will Never Wear Pointed High Heels.   Been there, done that, and my feet still hurt.
• I Will Never Jump Out of  Plane.    My brother-in-law died in a skydiving accident.  Enough said.
• I Will Never Get a Tattoo.   I think tattoos are very artful, beautiful, and expressive BUT how I feel today about a quote, flower, or dragon may not be the same as I feel in 10 years.  I wore neon green earrings with matching socks in the 80's, and thankfully, have donated those years ago, and they are NOT a permanent part of my life now. 

I could add more later to this Anti-Bucket List as age related wisdom takes over my brain.   I am not afraid to share this and I have no fear that I won't be a whole person by making this declaration!

Popsicles and Squirt Guns

There is nothing better on a hot summer day to get the squirt guns out of the toy bucket, fill 'em up and go after each other in the shade!  I also have a freezer full of popsicles that most of the kids in the neighborhood know about so I have frequent visitors under the age of 10.   Every neighborhood needs a popsicle lady and on my block, I'm it.

The kids were running and playing, and took a break to fill the squirt guns.  I looked at their cute faces, and thought to myself, I sure these kids remember each other in 20 years, 30 years, 40 years down the road.  I grabbed my camera hoping to get a snapshot of the kids, so they would remember coming to the house to cool down with popsicles and squirt guns.

Can you tell it was nearly 105' on the day I snapped this picture? I asked the kids to pretend they were getting stung by a bee, and I had one chance to get a picture of their reactions.  It is priceless!

Giovani, Anastaysia, Mia, Aliyah, Jackson, Mason

Happy Birthday Allee!

Where, oh where, has the last 3 years gone?  Our little sunshine, Allee Maree, turns 3 today!  As I walked out of the hospital last night after work,  I remembered 3 years ago to the day as I walked in to wait for her birth.  She is a blessing, and I love this little squirt so much!

This is Allee on her 3rd birthday.....she likes the color pink...she has her first dance recital on May 18th...she goes to swimming lessons twice a week....she has thick, curly blond hair...she calls her blanket her "blanklet"....her favorite food is sausage pizza....she is a leader, but gentle......she likes chocolate ice cream and chocolate milk....she can draw a complete circle and count to 12....she wears a size 8 shoe....she likes to read at least 2 books at bed time....she rides her Balance bike with ease and enjoys the wind in her hair....she took gymnastic lessons this year and learned to tumble, jump, and giggle...Allee is left handed and left footed....she loves her dogs Tulo and Mattie, and Rocco too.....Nannie spends the night with Allee when Mommy has school and Daddy travels for work and we play, dance, eat treats, and stay up late....Allee's only living great-grandmother Betty Wood turns 88 years old this June...Allee is loved very much by her mom Suzanne, dad Jeff, brothers Rem and Griffin and all of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Happy Birthday Allee ~ we know you will rule the world, all with a big smile and a wave!

Allee - Carl Miller Park Fireplace in Mountain Home

Easter 2013. Egg Hunt on the Blue Turf & at Nannie and Papa's in MoHo

Springtime.  Grass.  Eggs . Egg Scramble.  Peeps.  Cute kids.  And, Jesus.   

It's what Easter is all about.