Reunited

Loki: My ten year reunion is coming up this summer. Yikes! Nothing can make you feel so old as a reunion...from high school. I haven't decided if I am attending or not. I really have no desire to go and see these people with whom I went to school with 10 years ago. If I wanted to talk to any of them...all I have to do is look them up on facebook. I didn't have any major crushes or obsessions with anyone that I am dying to see how they turned out... nor am I interested in hearing people brag about their accomplishments. I don't really care to see who they married, who married each other or their offspring. I guess if facebook wasn't around you might want to see some of this stuff but now that we do...I have already searched out or better yet been exposed to all of those things whether I cared or not. Unless you have a group of friends that you still hang with, I don't see the point in going. I have a few friends that I am still in touch with and it would be an excuse to hang out and have fun that night... However, one of them is a social butterfly and will not stand by my side at all times. I would be forced to make awkward conversations with all these people I do not care about. I am pretty sure we have talked about this before, but I have to make my mind up fast and I just don't know. My friend told me I should go because it is just something you are supposed to do. I guess in her life manual it states that you must keep in touch with people of your past. Maybe if I hire Stella to be my personal trainer and whip me into shape.... as in my prom dress shape, then maybe I would go. I think that is a dream that will never come true.

Stella: No. Do not go. I have no desire to relive the trauma I had to endure that is known as highschool. My best friend was quesioning me on whether or not I would attend with her next year and the answer was easy. I'll go if I'm married, have a job and live somewhere else. In other words, I will not go while I'm single, unemployed and living at home. So no. I'm not going. And yes, we've talked about this before.

Loki: I don't know why high school was so traumatic for you. Were you over-looked, bullied, or picked on there? I guess you are not a social butterfly like myself so maybe you didn't dig it. I liked high school for the most part. I dream all the time about playing sports. I know I know. That was my life back then I suppose. I liked high school though. Yes there were dumb parts and things that I am glad that I do not have to live or deal with anymore. . I don't want to go back to high school though. Its just part of my past and I choose not to re-live it. I also don't want people coming up to me claiming that they knew me or hugging me and not having a clue who they are. (Mom told me this happened to her at her reunion). I think the only people who are excited to go to a reunion is if they have been successful in life thus far. I am not saying you are not successful but as in the world's view as successful... job, money, kids, husband... yadda yadda. I'm happy for those that are happy. I'm happy for those that have found their way or "true calling". I'm pretty happy with my life too but I feel no need to go and make sure the people that I went to school with 10 years ago know about it.

Stella: Here is a fellow high-school lover to comment on this subject. Please welcome Nana Bess back to the blog.

Bess: Ah...High School. Yes, I loved High School. I had 3 very best friends who I loved seeing and hanging out with every day. We wrote notes, went to all sporting events and lived basketball. (Well, at least 3 of us did.) Basketball was also a wonderful time for me too.  I loved all my teammates and we had fun while being toutured to run and improve our game. (We did win STATE twice my Jr. and Sr. year... sorry I had to throw that in.. ha/ha)...  I was an "okay" student (As Bs and maybe a C here and there.) I didn't rebell or get in any trouble I regret.  Life was good and simple.  My biggest worry was what to wear, if I would see "foxy Computer man".. (ha/ha)... and would Coach Pigg yell at me that day or make us throw up running. I think why I loved being in high school so much was because of my friends. Friends make the difference for me, always!

Now, reunions. The 10 year is all about how sucessfull you are, or how thin you still are, or what have you become. The guys look way older and the girls pretty much the same. EXCEPT the one who have gained weight....  ha/ha.. Well, yes.. many do and everyone will talk about that.  "Did you see so and so?" "Oh my, she has gained..." or "Wow.. you look the same as you did in highschool!" (Well, it has only been 10 years.. how different CAN you look?) Yes, strangers you went to high school with and only knew their names or faces come up and hug you like you were best friends. That was really weird, talking to someone like that for literally the first time. I hated it. I didn't really enjoy the 10 year. I felt like I was in high school again and just trying to "measure up" to everyone else and their amazing lives. I was married, had 4 kids (TMC was only 3 months old) and that was my main "bragging" that I did. "Well, this is what I have accomplished, I have 4 children and am still married to Mr. Foxy." Silly, right? However, I did win the "award for having the most kids".  Ah.. such a proud moment.  :)

On to the 20th year. This one was better.  I actually WAS glad to see faces from the past. And NO one asked "What do you do now?" No one really cared how much money anyone had or where they were living.  It was just you are here..  good to SEE you alive! ha/ha... No, really it was fun and I didn't feel like I was in high school anymore. I enjoyed visiting and seeing all these people who were now grown ups like me!  The bonus was seeing some of my orginal 3 buds, who had moved away and came into town for the event. 

Ah.. now this summer sadly is my 30th HS reunion. And since having facebook, I have seen many of these faces and have knowledge to their lives now. I am really fighting the desire to NOT go. Of course, I will go.  My Best Friend is going and is insisting I go too. (I think my 2 other HS buds are coming too.) So that will be fun just seeing this SMALL group of gals again. I am actually considering telling the Mr. Foxy he will not have to come with me either. (Wow.. Am I that grown up now, that I don't need my security blanket, husband?) I went with him to his like 33rd last summer.  It was crazy in that since he graduated 4 years ahead of me and I never knew any of his classmates, and I STILL FELT like I was in the 7th grade!  I wished I hadn't gone but let him go alone. Most of his classmates were there solo.. but good ole Foxy had his wife by his side and I just felt OUT of place.  I told him I would not be going again to any others.  He has my permission to go alone and have fun.  I am sure that this summer at my 30th, my big brag will be, "I have 2 beautitful grand daughters!".. Now, not everyone is impressed with this but for me, this is who I am.  NANA BESS!!!! :)

Stella: I felt like throwing up a little each time you said "Foxy." I just wanted to throw that out there. Any additional thoughts to ramble about ole Loki girl?

Loki: No.

Stella: Gee, you don't have to yell.


Loki: Ive just heard her reunion stories over and over. It isn't her fault I just had nothing else to comment...except maybe I should go and claim that I invented post its.

Goose-Geese... Mouse-Meese?

GOOD Morning everyone!

We just wanted to let you know that the Blogger site has been down the last few days and the system has had to delete & restore posts from the past few days. What does it all mean, Basil? Well, if you left us a comment it has been erased. BOO! And we LOVE comments so PLEASE leave us another!!!

Thanks,
TBS..... aka The Banter Sisters
(Not to be confused with TMC... whose rose is dwindling fast...)

Bunc-OH!

Stella: I would like to take a minute to talk about something that we have been talking about in my house for weeks now... Bunco. That's right. This stupid dice game has been the subject of much conversation over the past few days especially as Bess Dear prepares to host Bunco at her house tonight. What is bunco you may ask? As I just mentioned, it's a club made up of middle-aged women who like to get together so that they can eat and chatter over a mindless dice game. haha. Okay, I'm probably offending half of our readers with the 'middle-aged women' comment so I will have to retract that. Even young girls play Bunco too. In fact, I hear that Eyes of Blue is a popular sub for Bunco. Probably because most of the mothers are trying to pawn off their single sons on her... Ahem.. This particular Bunco group is made up of ladies from the church, so uh... no alcohol is involved (like many other Bunco clubs I have heard of.) I even tried to convince Bess to make Margaritas to go along with her Mexican dinner theme, but she thought there would be too many who wouldn't drink or might be offended. So then I told her to just do Tequila shots when no one else is looking. Hey! We've got a whole bottle of Jose Cuervo right here! Maybe I'll just take it to my room with me later and have my own little party since the whole family gets kicked out of the house on the night of Bunco. (Although I'm pretty sure only alcoholics drink by themselves. And who would ever choose to drink Tequila? Ugh. My throat does an automatic gag reflex at the thought of it.) I've got big plans for tonight. I have been saving up a few episodes of  '16 & Pregnant' to watch while I'm stranded in my room, as well as last night's 'Survivor' which I can hardly wait to watch...This is what I will be looking forward to all night and hopefully, I won't get stuck watching 'Strawberry Shortcake' or 'Care Bears' because I might become violent at that point. Cabin fever, ya know. So not only do you abandon your family on the night of Bunco, you have to fix a feast to feed 12 hungry middle-aged women, most of them no doubt dealing with menopause and hot flashes and mood swings and could turn on you at any minute if the temperature or flavor isn't right! Haha. I'm feeling pretty snarky today.. So Bess has been running around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to come up with a menu to feed these vultures. And if you say you are NOT fixing dinner then you will be shunned from the group. So dinner is a must. And all thought and concern for what your family can eat goes out the window.... After MUCH, MUCH thought and debate, Bess is making Gma Mod's Sour Cream-Chicken Enchiladas, Rice & Beans, Guacomole & Chips, Margarita Cake, as well as those Cheesecake Sopapilla things that Curl's sister-in-law makes all the time. Then even after all this, you have to provide candy at all of the tables as well or all the women will turn sour and won't be able to roll their dice without shooting the hostess dirty looks for not giving them something else to snack on while they are busy gossipying and chattering and picking up dice. Don't you think they need those margaritas now?

Don't worry. I'm still not done. There is MORE. The week of Bunco you also have to spend hours scrubbing every inch of your house. Not to mention, getting the outside of your house looking decent and not like white trash... (You know with golf balls every where, little kid's toys scattered about the lawn, nothing in your flower beds but dirt, etc etc.) You must act as if the royal Queen herself is coming cleaning things that you've never cleaned before in your life. Next, you have the huge ordeal of purchasing gifts that 12 different personalities/opinions/levels of taste would want to win. Now let me tell you this. I have been involved in shopping for Bunco gifts for many years. It is a HUGE headache. Luckily, this year we had GREAT success at finding gifts and checked it off the list in one day. Thanks to my creative ideas I might add. Although, some of them might not like any of them, but how am I supposed to know what older women like? Ask me in 30 years. haha. Why, you might ask, am I so involved in this Bunco business if all I'm going to do is complain and call it boring & stupid? Because I still live at home (as you might have forgotten by now) and I get dragged around with my mother for lack of anything better to do. So I guess I should be thanking this club for bringing some excitement into my life and giving me something to do- or something new to bellyache about, which we all know, is what I am best at.

So this is what is going on today. Bess has left for work (her very important 3 hour job that she is very proud of-hah) and is very panicked about how she is going to get everything done in time for the old shrews to arrive. But never fear! I am here! But unfortunately for her, I'm busy making cakes & cupcakes for my cousin's graduation party that I got talked into doing. (OSU themed.. ugh! Such hideous colors. Why did God create orange?!) So in short, I'll be making a huge mess in her kitchen while she's gone so I guess she has cause to be concerned. I'm going to put some Adele on and try to wake up The Man Child with my wonderful vocals in the meantime... and try to keep Bella from destroying everything in her path. Her latest game has been to play "vacation." She has a new suitcase (that I got talked into buying her on Mother's Day) and so she has been pretending to go to Costa Rica and packing that thing FULL of clothes and other oddities. Did I tell you how we were at the store and she picked up a swim suit cover up and said, "Oh, this would be great to wear in Costa Rica!" Several ladies shopping around us looked right at her and must have thought she was a spoiled little brat getting to travel to exotic locations at such an age. Little do they know she just has big dreams of going to Costa Rica someday... And doing the zip line, she says. Hah. Okay, I must be done with this now before I get into any more trouble...

What do you LOVE to gripe about?

Spoiled

Loki: I just got back from the grocery store, (Crest that is.) I always swear I will not go again after I unload the paper bags. I guess I could just go green and buy those cloth sacks, but I have yet to do that. Anyway, it takes a sufficient amount of time to try and haul those bags from my car, to the door, then in the house, and then unload. All along I have a screaming baby because let's face it the child likes to be held. If you are up and doing something she wants a front row seat....(or a high row seat?) I have decided to show her some tough love and to quit giving in to her every demand. It is hard going from the theory that a newborn or baby cannot be spoiled by being held too much, but this baby is spoiled.

Stella: You know what? I actually was thinking that just yesterday as I tried to haul out 2 stupid paper bags to my car. I tried to roll them up to form a handle, but it only made it more difficult to grasp onto so then I just picked up my walking pace and hoped they wouldn't fall before I made it to the car. You know, even Nana Bess has gone green & carries around her recyclable cloth bags. You can really load the crap out of those. Does that phrase even make sense? Well, it is Mother's Day today so I guess we can chime in on that subject as well since you're blubbering on about your spoiled child. My child asked me when Daughter's Day is. Uh.. It's every day for you! She was so excited to go buy me an icy from 7-11 today. For some reason she got it in her head that it would be the perfect gift for me. That's why mothers say "It's the thought that counts!" I'm sure her father will call me later and thank me for raising her myself. Flowers will follow... Back to reality, you can't spoil a child with love. With that being said, teaching her that you will carry her everywhere she wants is spoiling her. Just like when you give in to her screaming demands and pick her up time and time again. It's good for her to learn the word 'no.' Loki shouted at me yesterday that I sure like to give other people advice and that I am not even qualified to offer such words of wisdom. Although I think I was lecturing Batman on how he should just learn to be content with his present job situation at the time. You know, like I am. Hah. Back to being a brat, even my child can be a brat. Yes, even mine. I know that's hard to believe. It's a work in progress...

 Loki: Well yes, it is hard to not spoil the child. It is a lot easier to just give in. I like having a baby and I don't know that I am prepared for all of the teaching and discipling that I will have to do for the next 18+ years. I am also not ready to worry about if I am doing it right. What if I get it wrong and seriously damage the girl? Bess already has gleefully told me that I will get pay back for my behavior. How is that encouraging? The thing is I am okay with all of my charades, I mean that I ended up okay. I grew out of it, I didn't have any severely damaging consequences with all of my shennanigans. I certainly had the opportunity to do so and by the grace of God I didn't. I do know that just because I didn't doesn't mean that she won't. It happens...kids do things that result in things that dramatically change the rest of their lives. Anyway, I've been told that you learn as you go. Of course I am not ready to deal with a teenager. I am not ready to deal with back-talking or lying or questions regarding everything. I am only able to deal with this 14 month old. So I am sure I will continue to learn. I just try not to think to far into the future because it just scares me.

Stella: I've already decided that at age 13, young Bella will be shipped off to a boarding school, also known as Nana's house. (In the event that we are still at Nana's house, I will just leave and go travel the world. Sending postcards and such letting her know that I am still alive and will return once her "I hate my mother" phase is over.) I do feel like your child should be a hellion just as you were as well. Why, my daughter is already a moody female so it's only fair that yours be rebellious in her teenage years as you were. By the way, you're just so deep. Why do you always have to write all this serious garbage about the future and life's big questions? It makes me feel like pulling out my hair. Maybe you should start seeing a therapist so you can express this feelings to someone other than me. You will surely need to once Blue starts sneaking out of the house at night and stealing her dad's rum. Bahaha. Speaking of therapy though, I was just offering The Man Child some guidance and counseling on his finances. And I must say, he truly appreciates all I have taught him. He even bought me a rose for Mother's Day. I put a curse on it though and told him that if he doesn't find someone to love him before the final petal falls off, then he shall remain beastly forever. hahaha. Maybe you had to be there... Okay, let's end this already.

Who do you think needs therapy the most... Loki or Stella... ?

Fun Run Done

Stella: Everyone keeps asking me if I had fun running the half marathon with Choc Chip last weekend. I don't quite know how to answer this. Fun is definitely not the word I would use. It was painful... miserable... Did you see how it was pouring freezing rain all day? I I didn't think I was ever going to regain the function of my hands and my right leg was so sore the next day I had to drag it around behind me like an old man. But it's kinda like having a baby. Was it fun giving birth? No. But after awhile you forget how much pain you were in and you think that maybe you would like to do it again. That's how I feel about running.

Loki: Yes,I never understood that question either...Like really? Was it fun running? I think you get a euphoric feeling after running and you feel proud of your accomplishment (no matter how far you might go) but it's not FUN. Big T pointed out that it is because of the endorphins that are released from working out....and then you get addicted to them. So you must continue. You know Stella... you should continue. I am still working on my running venture. I got a little discouraged after I spent a solid month (stop the presses...a whole month!) But for real, after like a month and a half and I felt like I had actually gained weight rather than lost it. Yes, doing a half marathon is the goal for me, but the real goal is that I would be skinny. She is in here somewhere...the skinny girl I mean. I guess I will have to go on Batman's plan (he lost like 20 plus pounds recently by eating only 1000 calories a day plus exercise.) So I will once again starve starting tomorrow.

Stella: There is a skinny girl who lives inside of me too. But I can usually shut her up with a few cookies. haha. Sadly that is not a Stella original. I think there is actually a sign that says that at Hobby Lobby. But I like it. I also like to quote Legally Blonde when people talk about endorphins. "Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins make people happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands..." I have actually decided to try out Batman's app that he uses to count his calories and exercise. Mostly because if I have to record it down somewhere I won't want to put down bad things. (Hence, watching what you put in.) Plus even the Biggest Loser is ALL ABOUT their food journal. I can see how it could be a little addicting... Recording each and everything you eat and do. I was dreaming about it last night in fact. (Not a lot of other interesting things going on in my life.) You should try it. It's called 'Lose it.' You can do it as an app on your phone (for people whose phones aren't 5 years old like me) or just online. We already did Bob's killer kettle bell workout for an hour today. And when I say killer, I mean that my legs were shaking so hard I couldn't finish a few of the exercises. Shame, shame. And Bess was over there on her knees doing her push ups, which makes me SO MAD. I figured I would give her today as a freebie, but tomorrow she better pick it up!

Loki: I am so glad you just put what that app is called on here because I just texted Batman for the name of it. I want to record it all down too. I have done that before...kept up with a food journal, but you quit writing it down once you start eating badly. Well, that and I didn't have something that added the calories for you and deducted the exercise out too. I had a good 3.5 mile run this morning, but it wasn't early enough and was already getting HOT so it pretty much killed me. I need to invest in some Bob DVD's as well so I can get the extra exercising in. I have decided to use the family "vacation" as a motivator. I guess everyone is staying in a resort in Texas after a wedding that everyone is going to. Wow. What a convoluted sentence that was. I don't even know if I will be going, but in the chance that I do, I want to be able to wear a bathing suit in public. Big T says I can go without him (he will be busy with the firework stand at the time) as long as I can get time off of work. Hahah. You know, the job that I will have by then.

Stella: Even Saucy purchased all of Bob's dvds. Oh, dear Saucy. You are in for a beating. But I sure do love Bob. If I ever make it out to Los Angeles I am going to visit L.A. Crunch & take Bob's spinning class. Haha. And yes, now is about the time you have to start running early in the morning or late at night. Anyway, I counted calories for one day and decided that it was stupid. I've never been one to calorie count. If you are eating healthy foods you should eat as much as you want. Batman must be starving every second of the day. I'm just going to track how much I'm doing and leave it at that. Oh, this is so boring. But even Choc Chip has some new bootcamp training she is doing these days so I guess everyone is doing something!

Happy Birthday to The Cougar!

It's time for Recipe Friday!

                   White Choc Chip/ Macadmian Nut Cookies

Stella: These are my all time favorite cookies... There might be a better recipe out there than this one, but these always taste so good I don't try to change it. I just follow the basic Toll House chocolate chip recipe (which is NOT on the bag for white choc chips pictured here.)

You will need:

1 bag white chocolate chips

2 bags Macadamian nuts- CHOPPED (I prefer 2 bags, but you could get by with just 1)

1 stick softened butter

1/2 cup crisco

1 cup sugar (I think it's supposed to be 3/4 cup but I always do 1 cup)

1 cup brown sugar (Same here. So much for measuring.)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Now here's the kicker. You gotta get that butter nice & soft! Which means sticking it out on the counter for awhile or microwaving it in 5 sec increments, which I do not like doing for fear of getting it too soft.

Blend the butter & crisco together like so. Then add your sugars, eggs, vanilla, flour etc etc. You guys know how to pour things into a bowl by now so I didn't photograph these simple steps.

Here I have chopped up the bags of macadamian nuts.

Add the chips & nuts to the cookie batter.

Drop on to foil lined cookie sheet & bake at 350 for 8-9 minutes.

They will look puffy and almost gooey still when you take them out after 8-9 min. But don't worry- they are done!!!

And there you have it, my friends.

Deliciousness.

Flower Power

Loki: So my husband has found him some minions. He has found a couple who will listen to any idea he has and then try to turn it into a business. We all know about my husband and his 'great' ideas. We have already gone over the multitude of ideas... however he has now started to put some in action. The main thing was doing a firework stand. (I have been hearing about fireworks since August....right after last years season) and so we are set up to have a stand or two in July. Hip Hip. Well since this was not going to happen for another 11 months other projects have already started to appear. The other couple we are in business with has a hook up to this piece of property which apparently is a "great location"....I however do not see what is so great about it. Anyway so someone mentioned how we should sell flowers there... Flowers you say? Well one weekend there was a whisper about selling flowers and the next weekend they have run off and got a retail license and whatever other license you have to have in order to sell flowers. The point of all this rambling is that I was forced to go out there and "work" the stand yesterday for 4 hours and again today for another 3. When I say work, I really mean just hanging out amongst some flowers and trying to keep my one year old from eating them. We did not sell one stupid plant. I even had sweet Baby Blue waving at cars as they drove by. People of course smiled and waved at the cutie patootie, but they still didn't turn in to buy some flower pots. This was obviously not a very clever idea. Big T was very excited because he proclaimed to me after opening for the first 3 hours that they had sold half the inventory... but he neglected to say that there was really only 2 buyers and one of them was his aunt. (She bought like 12 hanging plants). Anyway, now the left over plants are going to have to come and sit in my backyard during the week and I will have to keep them alive until next weekend when I will have to go out and beg for money on the side of the road again. (That's what I feel like) I am just hoping he doesnt put another order in so that we will have even more plants to surround us... because lets face it...no one bought them. I am just wondering how many weekends he plans to do this before calling quits.

I think these people would sell anything if it made them some money. I just think they love Big T and think he is the smartest fellar they have met. He on the other hand is starting to think they are dumb and doesn't want to continue doing business with them. They are the least professional people you will meet and every time I am around them I want to scream.. Only because they treat their kids like dogs... basically keeping them chained up in a play pen or just feeding them scraps. Never wiping their faces and letting them scream at their feet. Its like she has something against holding her children. Anyway I am bracing myself for the next scheme to come our way. I am sure we will be growing pumpkins to sell there in October....and maybe I should start making the tutu's again and putting them out there to sell. I bet they would do better than flowers.

Stella: Did you guys sell all of those flowers or do you just have a big beautiful garden now? Ah, Big T's ideas. They never cease to amaze me. You probably do look like a bunch of paupers sitting out there with your bushels of bushes. Maybe you could teach Blue a little dance like Shirley Temple used to do and you hold out a hat and ask for donations? Hahahah. This is the funniest thing I have said all day.

Loki: Yes, I am sure if you teach my child to do a jig then Big T would have an idea to turn a profit. The wheel is never ending. I guess at least he is motivated...and I like this better than the alternative. Why if he wasn't motivated we would be living on the streets by now, what with my lack of unemployment. Anyway, no, we haven't sold very many flowers...but I don't think he is done yet. My MIL has decided to buy all the excess plants because she wants them, but also because this was her idea and I think she feels bad for the bad idea.

Stella: I bought Bella six Shirley Temple dvds recently that we have been watching so I can relive my childhood. She's always ends up poor in them or without a mother or father. "Oh my goodness!" "Does she get enough to eat & everythin'??" "Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah" "One and two and three and..." "Don't say 'ain't' ...Say 'isn't'" Okay, enough of that. I like the idea of having minions. I just read your first line again and found the idea very appealing... I'm actually so caught up on this that I haven't the slightest idea what else to write about.

What song should Blue learn to perform?

TMC

Stella: It is a bit sad to me that we haven't discussed The Man Child in quite some time. In fact, I think we are overdue for a little-brother-bashing. I wrote down a few quick ideas of things to discuss. To begin, I would like to express how TMC desperately needs love and affection each and every day. "Mommy, fill my love cup," he cries to our mother like a wee-little pup. "Sister, hold me!" he begs. Then he will jump in whoever is closest and snuggle up on their lap like a newborn babe. I'm surprised that a man of his stature and size can even fit into a cuddle position, but he does. Then he will caress his chin covered in Man Child hair against your neck. I find it extremely creepy and immediately begin wailing for someone to rescue me from such torture. Most often I can get him off by screaming about him needing to get a girlfriend or by trying to yank out any of his hair that is within my reach at the moment. Most of the time Bella has to come rescue me by trying to pull him off of me, which inevitably leads into a fight between the 5 year old Man Child and the 4 year old. Which leads me to subject number 2, Bella & TMC's unusual relationship.

Loki: I don't know that TMC really needs his love cup filled by you. I think he probably just curls up on you to illicit a reaction out of you. If I were your younger brother, I, too, might find joy in making you scream and holler. I used to say I didn't understand how one argues with a 4 year old, but I have lately found myself on the end of a few arguments with Bella. I think it is because Bella believes she is an adult herself. She also might believe herself to be the younger sister. So I guess her instinct or duty is to annoy/argue with your older siblings. Maybe she is treating TMC the way he treats you. I don't know. I just went all counselor on you when really I wasn't trying to dissect the reasons TMC and Bella can't get along. She also called herself 'Aunt Bella' to Baby Blue. I don't know where that came from, but she is getting the family tree confused. Not that this is on topic, but I would like to continue to volunteer in her church classroom because at least she likes me there. Okay, we were supposed to be talking about TMC and not Bella. I find a lot of things odd and off with TMC. However, anytime I voice any type of opinion about what he is doing, he becomes very sensitive and turns 5 at the same time. "I know you are, but what am I?" I try to stay out of his personal life altogether. Although I am interested in any girl that finds him appealing as a mate. Speaking of, our family must be really hard to bring significant others around. I mean no one ever brings any one home. Or ever did.

Stella: I wonder why! It's a mad house in this place half the time. You never know if Dad is going to be dancing around acting like he's on drugs or sitting on the computer, staring and ignoring you. Then you have Mom, who will tell 101 million stories with 201 tiny, insignificant details to complete strangers. Then of course, there is me, who is either in a good mood or a bad mood; it's hit and miss there. And Bella, always charming and fun to be around. Unless she's in a bad mood... oh dear. And last but not least, the PEST himself, The Man Child. No. I will not be introducing anyone to this family for a long time. There I go again, speaking as if I might have a future mate myself. Anyhow, I can't help it that Bella finds you to be less superior than her. She has to learn that she is a child, not an adult. This is a hard concept for her to grasp. TMC and Bella have quite an unusual relationship though. When they are alone together, she just loves him. And even when he spend the week with Batman, she missed him dearly and would run and sit in his lap and hug on him whenever she saw him. There are other times sweet Bella Pie will bark at him, "TMC!" He'll snap back, "WHAT?!" And she'll say, "I love you." haha. It's too funny. Or she'll say, "You're the best uncle EVER!" Except when Batman is around and then she likes to be ornery and make TMC get all huffy and puffy. The same way she does with you. I think if you guys had some "alone" time you would get along better. But whenever you are here, Blue is here too distracting everyone and taking all the attention off of her... It's quite tragic for a four year old. Even I have trouble with it sometimes. ha.

P.S. Tell everyone what the girl said to you in Sunday School this time. (Thank goodness there was no breathing on my face. That was the weirdest thing ever.)

Loki: Well, that is totally off subject, but who says that we have to stay on topic? Not me. So Stella and I were once again in the 4 year old classroom and lo and behold our arch nemesis (aka...the lady that doesn't like us) was "sick". She has yet to work with us after the first time... which was perfectly okay for Stella and I. So there we were...the 2 young moms ! (haha) and the kids knew it. They were trying to run us down...the little heathens. We had multiple people pop in on us to make sure we could keep them under control. I must say I felt I spent the entire time saying "No, don't do that... Please come sit down... No, you don't have to go to the bathroom...Put your shoes back on!" Anyway, in a rare quiet time a little one decided to hop up in my lap. She was playing with my necklace and asked, "Where did you get this?" I said, " Oh, my husband got it for me."She said, "No...this!" I look down and she is pointing at a tiny red dot on my chest... you know those weird little red dots that you get. I was like, "uhhh.....I got that from not wearing sunscreen....you better wear your suncreen!" Sheesh. Something always gets pointed out to me when I am around those kids. They do not have a filter that is for sure.

Chime in on TMC or... What is something funny a child said to you?