Category Archives: Ahhh… Sweet Memories

flashback friday – 27 august 2010

Posted on by
1

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY PREVIOUS BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO…

—

“NEW FAMILY MEMBER”

Savannah (11) has been going through that phase for several years where she constantly asks why she can’t have a baby sister (emphasis on the sister part – I guess she thinks we have more than enough testosterone in the house). I have kindly explained to her again and again that  MAMA’S ON THE HOME STRETCH!!!  I’m no longer medically able to have children, what with getting my tubes tied and then that little thing called a hysterectomy a few years later, just for good measure.

She’s finally gotten the fact that I, physically, am not going to have a baby just so she’ll have a plaything whose hair she can fiddle with when the feeling hits. So now she’s moved on to adoption, especially since some friends at church have adopted recently. I can count on at least one pleading-for-adoption conversation a week and, failing that, discussions about the children she’s going to adopt when she gets married (which I think is great! I’m sure by the time she’s 43, when she is allowed to begin dating, she’ll be mature enough to make that commitment).

Continue reading →

flashback friday – 5 may 2010

Posted on by
5

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY PREVIOUS BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO…

It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 years since this happened! I’m now down to just one teenager in the house, and she’s too young to drive yet – thank the Lord. Actually,  I should amend that to say she’s too young to drive LEGALLY, but that’s a blog post for another day ;-)

—

Monopoly "Get out of jail free" card“MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH”

Or, “Teenagers are a trip…”

Here’s an appropriate quote I found this week, author unknown.

“It’s difficult to decide whether growing pains are something teenagers have – or are.”

Truer words were never spoken!!!

So here’s the latest story: In our home, we have two teenagers, but only one of them has earned his driver’s license. In mid-February, said teenager was pulled over by police on his way to school one day.

Was he speeding? No. Was he weaving erratically through traffic? No. Was he talking on his cell phone or texting? NO. He was just a teenage boy on his way to school, minding his own business.

However, when the policeman decided to run the plates, just for the fun of it, the vehicle Continue reading →

flashback friday – 23 march 2010

Posted on by
8

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY PREVIOUS BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO…

—

“Where’s Chef Ramsey When You Need Him?”

I am sick to death of all the meals that I serve at home. And by all, I mean the three things that it seems like we eat on a never-ending rotation: spaghetti, pork chops, and spanish rice with hamburger.

Okay, I MAY be exaggerating a little bit, but it really doesn’t seem like it.

In almost 15 years of marriage, I think I have found 2 recipes that the WHOLE family likes. My heaven on earth would be an evening where my quiet, well-behaved children (if you’re going to dream, dream big I always say) ask me what’s for dinner. After I tell them, there would be a total absence of gagging noises, declarations of “I’m not eating!”, or a mad dash for the milk and cereal. When I’m really daydreaming, these angelic children even voluntarily clean the table and do dishes without being forced, shortly before heading off to a quiet evening in their rooms, doing their homework.

Insert happy sigh…

Anyhoo, back to reality!

Because I’m so bored with everything we eat, and because I’m always on the lookout for Continue reading →

a mother always knows

Posted on by
24

We lived in a little farmhouse on the outskirts of town. Dad was on the road as a truck driver, so it was mostly just mom, my little brother, and me. Mom’s life was not easy, especially with a constantly squabbling 13-year-old and 5-year-old.

I don’t remember the particulars, but I know my mom was having a Very. Bad. Day. We were unloading groceries, some of us more willingly than others. I’m pretty sure it was Forrest who whined about something – that’s all the kid ever did, in my opinion – when the gallon of milk exploded, slammed down by mom as the last of her patience disappeared.

Milk ran in rivulets off the counter and to the floor, drops cascaded down cabinet doors, plunking the counter before joining the white waterfall, and a light rain of milk drip-dropped from the blades of the ceiling fan.

“GET. OUT. NOW.”  Mom said in that certain mommy-meltdown voice.

Continue reading →

flashback friday – 13 august 2009

Posted on by
Reply

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY PREVIOUS BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO…

—

“ENTERPRISING YOUNG THING”rocks

This past week, Savannah got bored and decided to set up the stereotypical lemonade stand to make some money. The only problem was that we didn’t have any lemonade, or even kool-aid, so she decided to go with what she had: cups of tap-water.

Continue reading →

flashback friday – 27 july 2009

Posted on by
Reply

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY NOW-ABANDONED BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO!

—

“THINGS I MISS”dad with a cat

A hairbrush, gray.

Another hairbrush, pink.

Kitchen knives: 20 or more; the latest set less than 3 months old.

Socks.

Shoes.

Headphones.

Cell phones.

Scissors.

Nail clippers.

The door to a kitty carrier.

These are just a few of the things that go “missing” around our house, absconded by my wonderful children (also known as the famous “not me’s”) never to be seen again. But of all of them, it is that last one that I miss the most.

“Why” you ask?  Let me explain…

Continue reading →

flashback friday – 7 july 2009

Posted on by
Reply

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY NOW-ABANDONED BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO!

—

“MOTHERHOOD IS AN EXPERIENCE”

Several months ago, one of the soccer moms on Savannah’s team asked if I would be interested in having Savannah join 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands, & Health) over the summer.

“Sure!” said I, not realizing what lay ahead.

I figured that it would be a fun thing for her to do and would give her something to look forward to over the long, boooorrrrrrrring summer ahead (at least that’s what she always tells me it is). J explained that it would be a fairly low-key thing with only about 6 girls total in the group. All the moms would take a week to teach some sort of “crafty” or “homey” skill, spending 1-2 hours. Sounds fantastic and easy, doesn’t it? Do not be deceived!

Shortly after, I attended her home for the planning meeting and signed up for a date far, Far, FAR in the future: July 7th. I very carefully wrote the date in a very reliable spot: the back of the envelope on a bill that I had shoved in my purse sometime in the last 5 years. Continue reading →

flashback friday – 7 may 2009

Posted on by
2

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY NOW-ABANDONED BLOG, “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO!

—

“LIEN ON ME or CAN THEY REALLY DO THAT?!!”

Bill the Cat - by Berkeley Breathed

Thbbft, indeed!

In early December of last year, several people in the small town we live in had some problems with their water lines. In the midst of fixing these problems, they (the town bigwigs) decided to update the aging pipelines while they were at it. I left for work one day with the street in front of and to the east of us surrounded by equipment and guys in hard hats working away at replacing said pipe. Later that same day, when I returned home, there was a small pyramid of pipe placed near the edge of the road on the eastern-most side of our property. It wasn’t bothering us any, so we never said anything. After all, it was on top of snow and the job was going to be done soon.

Continue reading →

flashback friday – 27 april 2009

Posted on by
Reply

Each Friday I highlight old favorites from my now-abandoned blog “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I hope you enjoy the re-runs as much as I do!

In honor of Valentine’s Day yesterday which was — you guessed it — another flower-free day, I just had to share this post that still makes me smile at my dear hubby’s proof of his love for me. :)  In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that he did send me some very beautiful (live) flowers about a year ago, breaking his long-standing streak. I’m just hoping I don’t have to wait another 13 years for the next bouquet (hint, hint honey!)   :)

—

drooping red rose

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons: All rights reserved by Pkots

The last time that Tom sent me flowers was roughly 13 years ago, back in that first magical year of marriage. We were living in the first of many small towns we would inhabit; a town filled with many inbred ummm… colorful characters. The local high school in said town held fundraiser after fundraiser throughout the school year; I swear one every-other week. Unfortunately, this small-town school was not known for being imaginative, so they used the same fundraising idea over and over and over and… Yeah, you get the idea.

Anyway, being a newly-married man in love, every time one of these students’ came into his shop peddling their “One Dozen Long-Stemmed Roses – Only $5.99!” fliers, Tom would pony up his six Washington’s and place Continue reading →

flashback friday – 21 april 2009

Posted on by
Reply

EACH FRIDAY I HIGHLIGHT OLD FAVORITES FROM MY NOW-ABANDONED BLOG “FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.” I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RE-RUNS AS MUCH AS I DO!

Sorry for the two-week wait for Part 2 of the story.  In case you missed it (or just need a refresher since it’s been so long!), you can read Part 1 HERE.

Is it any wonder we haven’t taken a weekend alone since then?

Enjoy!

—

Our Steamy Weekend Alone – Part 2

So Saturday morning, we rolled out of bed at the crack of 10:00 (honestly – I got up at 8:00 a.m., but the better half was still snoring away which explains why I got up so early on a weekend!) and managed to get the trailer packed and out of the driveway a little after noon. About 2 miles from home I realized that we had forgotten to bring food for Annie (the dog, not to be confused with Annie, Evan’s girlfriend). I had also assumed (incorrectly) that the trailer was pre-stocked with kitchenware, which it had been at one point, to feed and water her from. Tom, as anxious as I to get out of town, insisted that we would stop somewhere on the way to buy her food. We drove an hour and stopped at a Burger King in Preston, Idaho to have lunch. As we rolled into town, I suggested we stop at the grocery there to make our purchase, but Tom wanted to press on. So on we went! Continue reading →