Happy Halloween 2010!

Happy Halloween 2010

As promised here are the past and present costume choices for the Richardson household over the years:

First are pre-kid pictures....I think you will understand what I mean when you see them:

Jesse & Gus (Superman & a bumblebee)

Jesse the pimp and Gus the "hot dog"

Gus the superdog

Andrew the Giraffe

Andrew the Billy Goat (Eli was a whoopee cushion, but somehow avoided the camera)

The Red's Fighting Crime

Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 & 2 (very fitting) 

Hodge Podge year:  Indiana Jones, Ninja Turtle and a little Ghost

And finally  Wolverine and an Astronaut 

 

and let's not forget our little monkey

 HAPPY

HALLOWEEN!

"Décorer La Citrouille"

I showed you all how we pick out our pumpkins, now it's time for me to show you the finished products over the years....sit back and enjoy the show! 

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

UP next......costumes past and present!

Mr. Casanova!

Today was the first field trip for Eli's K-5 class and he was so excited.  It was at the pumpkin patch and the kids were running like crazy!  There was a corn maze, hay ride, pumpkin picking, and a petting zoo.  We had so much fun....but Eli had a little bit more fun than most.

At the end of the day we made our way around to the petting zoo.  After the kids were tired of feeding the animals they started acting like animals.  Eli zoomed past me to catch up with some of his buddies that were hanging out in the gazebo.  I was busy talking with his teacher to pay attention to what he was up to.  All of a sudden he calls out "Hey mom" and I turn to look and this is what I see:
Eli has his arms around a girl in his class and the girl has her arms around Eli.  They looked almost like they were slow dancing.   Eli's look on his face said it all, and it pretty much read "mom, check this out"......and with that the little girl laid a big kiss on my sweet little innocent boy (well maybe not so innocent, but still).  He didn't seem to mind so much, but the shrill scream of "ELI" that came out of me scared the fire out of his teacher.  I regained myself and said "Eli, I don't think that, that is such a good idea".  His teacher looks over and realizes what was going on.....my boy was making out with a girl in a gazebo on a K-5 field trip.  Good thing she has  a good sense of humor and went to break up the love fest. 
I just was.....shell shocked.....
First Andrew feeling up the teachers and now Eli making out with students in kindergarten...we will be kicked out of school for sure!
FYI.....It really wasn't that bad...and I may have elaborated just a bit (there was no love fest or making out, just a little necking...see I just can't stop).....but it sure was funny!

Pumpkin Time!

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch this year to do our annual "sitting of the pumpkins" tradition, except for this year, no one sat on a pumpkin!  I have to say I was a little disappointed!  If you think I'm nuts take a look over the past years to reminisce the "sitting of the pumpkins":

 well....he's not sitting on it...but amongst them

Eli's first time to sit amongst...

Andrew's first sit on..



Andrew 2nd sitting



Eli sitting

The Red's sitting

Daddy joining in...in the sitting

I think you are getting the picture

one more sit

Sissy Lou's first sit with....

This year however, there was no sitting on pumpkins....just "the carrying of the pumpkins"

 but that's okay....because we seem to have a tradition for that also....

More to come tomorrow of this years and past "Décorer La Citrouille" (yeah, that's french for Decorate Pumpkin)

Stay Tuned....

Can any of you tell that my kids haven't done anything lately to write about....or is this what you call writer's block????

The Meeting....

Per request....The story of how Jesse and I met.

My Version:

It was November 1998 and I was headed to a singles night at a church about 45 minutes away.  A lot was planned for the night....worship, snacks, and volleyball....and maybe even a love connection.  I was suppose to give my testimony about my wreck that night during the worship time.  I had been traveling around the area speaking at different churches since my accident in July of 1997.  So I got up in front of all the "singles"(and yes that included me) and told my story.....very calm and collective.  Right after I spoke the leader then gets up and says that they have someone else that they would like to speak also.  Up walks Jesse and he dives into his testimony, but instead of it being calm and collective he blubbers and cries the whole way through it.  Yes I know it's because he loves Jesus and was so grateful for His saving grace, but I have to tell you I was a little uncomfortable at the sight of this man crying like a baby in front of everyone.....I kind of felt sorry for him.  (that's a joke people....only a joke)!

After worship I felt an obligation to go and tell him "good job" and give him a pat on the back.  Then I went on my marry way hopping across the gym to play some volleyball.  You see, when I arrived I noticed that there was a guy there that I had had a crush on since I was a child, and I just knew that God had brought me to that church that night to be reunited with this guy.  So I spent the whole night trying to get to know him and flirt, and flirt....and flirt.  By the end of the night there was no progress with my flirting so I left feeling a bit down : (

A few months passed  by and it was now February 1999.  The powers that be decided to host another one of these singles shindigs, but this time our church would be the host.  The stage was set for a fun night of Cajun food and games galore.  I was so in hopes that my long lost crush would show up again and I could have a second chance of wooing him.  My wish was granted and when I saw him walk through the door my heart skipped a beat.  This time my flirting would work for sure!

During dinner I quickly realized that my worst fear was coming true....this guy was just not into me.  I recovered, dusted myself off and moved on.  I began chatting away with the other fellas that were seated at my table.  Jesse just so happened to be one of those guys and he was absolutely the funniest guy I had ever talked to.  He had me gut laughing most of the night.  I think I even challenged him in an eating competition at one point....yeah, I lost....that's my famous flirting at work...nice, right!
During the night he informed me that his job had just transferred him to the Birmingham area and that he didn't know a soul.  So I decided that I would be nice...Yes, that's it...I was BEING NICE, and told him that if he would like I could show him around town sometime.  I gave him my number and left. 

Later that week he called and we made plans with a group of people to meet up and hang out for a while.  After eating we all ended up back at my apartment watching a movie.  The other two people that were there decided to leave early and that just left Jesse and I.  There was only one couch in the living room so we sat together and watched the movie. I sat back and put my feet up on the couch with made me lean in his direction.  After the movie finished, Jesse got up to use the bathroom before he left.  I gathered my purse and keys and stood close to the door waiting on him to finish.  I was going to let him follow me to the interstate.  When he finished in the bathroom he walked out and stood really close to me.  It was a little of an awkward moment and I was just going to give him a hug good bye.....but somehow our signals got crossed and he leaned down and laid a big wet one on me.  I mean, arm behind my head and everything.....a BIG kiss!

I have to say I didn't resist and it was actually a pretty good kiss, but just not what I had expected. 

From there things steamed rolled for us.  We saw each other almost everyday and in October 1999 Jesse asked me to be his wifey for ever and ever....

The end

Jesse's Version:

I went to this singles night just to have something to do and to give my testimony.  This girl gets up and gives her testimony and I just couldn't believe she didn't cry at all.....emotionless.  Then she bounced around the gym like a hyper school girl.  I was interested in another girl and I spent most of the night chatting with her at the table.

A few months later I decided to go to another one of these singles nights.  I had just been transferred with my job and I didn't really know anyone in town.  I drove down with 3 of my friends and I was really hoping that this girl that I had talked to last time would be there.  When I walked in I saw immediately that she had brought a date with her.  Oh well, I sat down with my friends to eat and recognized the girl sitting across from me.  It was the girl who gave the emotionless testimony.  She was flirting with me all night!  She didn't look half bad and had a rather nice butt (that was my pre-kid butt...AH, those were the days!) so I decided to give her a chance.  At the end of the night she was throwing herself at me, giving me her number, saying "call me".  So I gave her a call in the middle of the next week, then she invited two other friends to join us.  I was getting mixed signals.....was she into me or not?  I played it cool all night and knew after supper that she was definitely into me.  She was flirting non stop all night.  We went back to her place to watch a movie and she snuggled up right beside me.  At the end of the night when I walked out of the bathroom she was just standing there looking at me and I just knew that she wanted me to kiss her.  So I did......then just as our lips met I knew that this was the girl of my dreams,  Just like out of a fairy tale.  I fell head over heels for her with that one magical kiss ; ) 

The End

My version would be the correct version to believe ; )  I just choose to let him think other wise just so his ego won't be bruised.  The jest of our story though is we both went to meet other people, but ended up finding each other...AAAWWWW!!!!!

Jerky Anyone?

Ever since I was a little girl all I can remember from long trips is...snacks!  If we stopped anywhere for gas it meant we were getting snacks...and I loved this little tradition we had.  My favorite snack to get was beef jerky, probably because my older brothers always got it and I wanted to be just like them.  Anyways, as I got older the tradition still reigned.  Every trip meant snacks and for me that meant beef jerky.
My family had another tradition also and that was being pranksters.  My dad was the world's worst at pulling pranks on others.....my brothers followed his lead and like I said if my brothers did it, then I did it.
I guess I was around twelve or so and we were traveling to Georgia to visit my grandparents.  As always we stopped for gas and I decided that I wanted.......jerky.  Only when I went into the store they didn't have any, so I bought something else and headed out to the car.
At the time I had this little poodle named Buffy.  I loved that dog more than anything and I bought her, her very own dog jerky. 
Dad always liked to munch on things in the car and asked if he could have some of the jerky I bought.  Mom chimed in and wanted a piece also.  Well instead of telling them I didn't have any, I decided to give them a piece of.......you guessed it, DOG JERKY!  I handed them each a piece and they put it in their mouth.  I was so tickled that I couldn't stop laughing....I mean I was snot laughing...and mom couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.  Then it dawned on her and she started spitting out the dog jerky as fast as she could. Then she said "Joy, is this the dog's jerky"......I was busted!  I was still snot laughing so hard that I couldn't answer and Dad rolled down his window spitting chunks of his dog jerky out.
We still laugh about that, and in fact my brothers ask my parents often if they have had any jerky lately!

Rest Stop!

So on our trip down to Alabama the other day we made a pit stop at the 1st Alabama rest area.  This is our normal stop.  Every time we make a trip we try and stop here and let the dogs and kids out to stretch their legs. 
The Red's were in the back screaming they HAD to pee so I figured it was time to stop.  My dad was driving us down since my ankle was jacked up still so he pulled the car into the rest stop. 
We pulled over to the dog walk part and I got out and put Gus's leash on him.  Before I knew what was happening, the Red's had jumped out of the car and bee lined over to the picnic table right in the middle of the park.  As I glanced up I suddenly realized what they were doing....PEEING ON THE TOP OF THE PICNIC TABLE!!!!!!!!!
I froze...I didn't know what to do!  Do I scream at them and draw attention, or do I just let them finish?  I decided to scream....but it didn't help, they just kept right on peeing.  I hobbled over as fast as I could, but when I reached them they were done.  So I made the hasty decision to leave...quickly! 
I couldn't tell if my dad was as mortified as I was or red from laughing so hard......

What happens when Mom is laid up

Do you know what happens when you have a 15 month old and your ankle is so swollen that you have to sit down and prop it up?  Well let me just show you:

 She attacked the kitchen, Grandma & Grandman's bedroom (I think the Red's helped out with this one.

 Shoe in the toilet

Grandma's papers and a whole bag of wipes

 and this is a bar of soap in her hand that she snatched out of the shower......These were all taken on the first day that we arrived in Alabama.  So much for rest and relaxation!

Scrapper

You know how kids come up with their own names for things, well the Red's are no different.  Over the years we have been graced with many different versions of names for things.  For instance:  "issie" (sippy cup), "stunk" (skunk),  "nam nong" (ding dong.....door bell people,  a door bell), and well....Percy the train (I will let you guys figure out what they called that one).
I think my favorite one though is "scrapper", which they say instead of pinching.  I will often hear them fighting and then one of them will say "I'M GOING TO SCRAP YOU". 
A few weeks ago I blogged about Andrew having a little trouble with swatting one of his teachers on the rear every time he saw her.  I sat him down and explained that we didn't need to pat anyone on the rear end, especially his teacher.  He really seemed to understand and promised that he would never do it again.  He did keep his word....he didn't pat his teacher's rear again......instead he scrapped her rear.  OH YEAH, he walked right up behind her and pinched her BUTT!  I went to check them out of school yesterday and she just happened to be in the office.  She said "I was just talking about your boy", and I replied: "Oh No!".  She laughed and said it's nothing serious, we were all just laughing at what he did today.  When she told me I think I turned beet red!!!  She said that not only did he pinch her rear, but when she turned around to see who did it, he winked at her!
HOLY COW, what am I going to do with this boy of mine????  I think I should start praying over this matter right now!  I'm never going to make it through his teenage years!

"Will Fall For Blog"

It seems as if I would do anything for a blog post these days!
I know you all are just dying to hear the story of what happened to me yesterday!  So without further ado, here it is:
Tuesdays are always busy days for me.  Payton has her Mother's day out while I have Bible study and volunteer at the school.  This Tuesday was even more filled because I had a plumber coming and Jesse was leaving for North Dakota for his 10 day trip. 
The plumber was scheduled for 8:30 in the morning to install our new dishwasher.  I figured he would be finished in plenty of time for me to at least catch the 2nd half of my Bible study.  I decided to wait to take Payton until they were done.  Problem is they didn't finish until 10:45 and my Bible study finishes at 11:30.  It was already too late to take Payton as well so I figured I would just run what errands I had and then head to the school. 

I gathered my things, put the dogs up and headed out the door.  I was carrying Payton and I always try to be careful going down the stairs, because I am a bit of a klutz.  I made it to the bottom of the stairs and missed the last step.

I did make it to the ground with my foot but rolled my ankle in the process.  In slow motion I went  down and as I was going down I managed to sit Payton down on her bottom ....it wasn't a gentle sit down, but she did not fall with me.  As soon as I landed I screamed out in pain.....I was sure I had just broken my ankle.

Picture this:  I'm lying in the garage floor, leg up in the air and me grasping my ankle screaming...it hurt people....really, it did!  Payton's crying because I just scared the mess out of her and my stuff is scattered across the floor.  I grabbed my phone and called Jesse...no answer....again, called Jesse...no answer...again, called Jesse and he finally picked up and this is what I said: "I THINK I JUST BROKE MY ANKLE".  I think he heard the desperation in my voice and he said "I'm on my way". 

I regained my composure and sent Payton crawling up the stairs in front of me while I hopped/dragged myself up the stairs.  When I got the the landing I then sat down and drug myself through the house....yes drug.  I couldn't move my foot and it was hurting so bad I couldn't put pressure on it.  I finally get myself over to the couch and situated to wait for Jesse.  But falling isn't what makes this story so funny....there are so many different little factors and this is where they begin.
As I am sitting there, still grasping my ankle which is surging in pain, Payton walks over and stops.....and then I hear it....an explosion in her pants.  A complete blow out, and I knew that I couldn't leave it because that sound...grotesque sound....was the sound of diarrhea!  So off the couch I go and I begin the dragging process of my body to the diapers and wipes.  I manage to get the diaper changed (and it was a doozie) and get back to the couch.  I get settled again and wouldn't you know it...SHE DOES IT AGAIN!!!!!!  I sat there in disbelief.....YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!  So again, I repeat the process....drag body across floor, get diaper/wipes, change Payton....but this time I just stayed down on the floor.  Luckily Jesse walks in just as I finished up.  He gets me to the car and off we go to the ER.
It is now around 12:00 and Jesse is suppose to be leaving for his trip at 3:00.  We figured there was plenty of time....no worries.  We get to the hospital and he gets out and gets me a wheel chair.  We make it inside and this is when I realize a "mini" miracle.....I ACTUALLY SHAVED MY LEGS THAT MORNING......PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! 
When we get checked in we head to the waiting room and sitting right behind us is a lady who has a severe migraine.  It was so bad in fact that she couldn't stop throwing up.  So the whole time we were sitting there, this lady is throwing up constantly and Payton is just starring her down.  Jesse gets up and goes to the car to get Payton's bag and while he is away the lady and a friend get up and go to the bathroom that is in the waiting room.  Jesse returns and wouldn't you know it....Payton explodes her pants AGAIN!  She is cutting her two bottom molars...I don't think I need to add anything to that!
So Jesse picks her up under her arms and is carrying her like she has some kind of disease.  He heads to the bathroom and before I can say anything he opens the door on the lady that has the migraine is now hovered over the toilet pucking her brains out.  Please picture Jesse standing there holding Payton out and then frozen that he just walked in on someone in the bathroom! I couldn't control my laughter....I was doubled over with tears! 
After getting Payton changed things calmed down for just a minute until Payton tripped over her foot and fell in the waiting room and hit her head...NICE!  So we have a woman sitting behind us again pucking, Payton screaming and the clock tick tocking toward 3:00. 
We finally get back to the room and they take me to x-ray.  Jesse left to pick up the Red's from school and I told him I'd call when I was done.  It is now 2:30.  At 3:00 he started calling every so often and at 4:00 he came back to the hospital.  His buddies were waiting at the house on us to return so they could leave.  Finally the doctor comes in and says "well it's not broken, but you have a severe sprain, I'm going to put you in an air cast and on crutches for the next 4-5 days.  I don't want you to put any weight on that foot and I want you to elevate it most of the day".  I looked at Jesse and he was pale, so I said..."I have 3 kids (6,5 and 1) and my husband is leaving today for North Dakota...".  He cleared me for driving and told me to stay off the foot as much as possible.  Jesse said he would stay home, but I assured him that I could handle things.
They strapped my boot on,  handed me my crutches and sent me on my way.  We pulled up and Jesse jumped in the car and left.  I was left standing in the hallway on crutches starring at 3 little monsters that were screaming they were hungry.  At that point I was was not thinking very nice thoughts about Jesse, but in all fairness I told him to go.
I tried, I really did, moving around with the crutches but after a few minutes I could tell that there was no way....absolutely no way that I was going to be able to manage my kids and use crutches at the same time.  So instead I converted the crutches to pokers.  Anytime the kids got out of line I gave them a poke....they even work great as a shepherds hook...I'm totally kidding!

I 'M A SURVIVOR!
I'm not gonna give up
I'm not gon' stop
I'm gonna work harder
I'm a survivor
I'm gonna make it
I will survive
Keep on survivin'

Eagle Eye's Jesse

 We had our Worship Team Renewal this weekend so I was not home Friday night or most of the day Saturday.  Jesse was home three-deep in kids and trying to maintain the house at the same time.  There is one thing that I can count on when I am away for an extended amount of time and that is....my next BLOG POST.  It never fails, whenever Jesse is home with the kids, there will always be a story to write!
When I returned home late Saturday I was pooped.  I was emotionally drained from a great renewal time with the Worship team so all I wanted to do was crash out on the couch.  When my feet hit the doorway Payton ran over to me with a black marker in her hand.  I took it away and asked where she got it.  Jesse looked puzzled and said he didn't know.  I was too tired to investigate any further so I let it go.   Jesse immediately grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen and started pointing out what he had done while I was gone.  "See.......I did the dishes and unloaded the dish washer, aren't you so happy with how wonderful I am *grin*".  I thanked him for what he had done and made my way to the couch.

Only when I sat down my eyes were immediately drawn to something etched on the couch cushion.  I looked at the cushion then glanced back at Jesse and then back to the cushion.  Then I asked "so......have you been watching the kids?". 

Jesse:  "YES Joy, I have been playing with them all day, they haven't left my sight". 

Joy:  "Then did you see that Eli wrote his name on the couch cushion with black marker?"

Jesse:  "what?  You're kidding......where?"

Then I showed him Eli's name that he had printed on the couch cushion in BLACK MARKER!

While we were looking at it somehow my mom sense kicked in and my eye caught another "Eli" printed on the ottoman:

Then......I started looking for them, and somehow they just kept popping up:

Jesse was laughing a little and he kept saying "I promise, I was with them all day, he must have just done it in the last 5 minutes". 

As I'm looking for more "Eli's" Jesse calls Eli in the room.  When he appears I see more of his artwork on...HIM!

He even managed to write "E  l   i"  across his face.....E on one cheek...l on the other cheek and i on his chin.

So much for crashing on the couch....it was time to get busy scrubbing "ELI" off EVERYTHING!