Sherry Ellis's Blog, page 46
November 30, 2014
The Cleaning Game
I hope all of you American friends had a nice Thanksgiving! We did. And of course, after the feast, there was a huge clean up. I enlisted the help of my kids.
"Bubba," I said. "Please wash the cutting board."
"Okay, Mama," he said, and grabbed a sponge and dish washing soap.
A few minutes later, I checked on him. It didn't look like he was making much progress. "How's it going, Bubba?"
He grinned. "Great!"
I stood next to him to inspect his work. "Bubba, are you drawing on the cutting board with the soap?"
He shook his head. "No, Mama. I'm practicing my cursive." He pointed out his name written across the wooden board. "Do you like it?"
"Sure. Now you can practice seeing how fast you can erase it with the sponge!"
He did it super-fast. "This cleaning game is fun!" he said.
"Good," I said. "Because you can do it about ten more times with all the other pots and pans!"
"Bubba," I said. "Please wash the cutting board."
"Okay, Mama," he said, and grabbed a sponge and dish washing soap.
A few minutes later, I checked on him. It didn't look like he was making much progress. "How's it going, Bubba?"
He grinned. "Great!"
I stood next to him to inspect his work. "Bubba, are you drawing on the cutting board with the soap?"
He shook his head. "No, Mama. I'm practicing my cursive." He pointed out his name written across the wooden board. "Do you like it?"
"Sure. Now you can practice seeing how fast you can erase it with the sponge!"
He did it super-fast. "This cleaning game is fun!" he said.
"Good," I said. "Because you can do it about ten more times with all the other pots and pans!"
November 26, 2014
The Happy Car
This afternoon, my son and I ventured out to do some last-minute Thanksgiving shopping. As expected, the grocery store was packed. There was hardly a spot in the parking lot to park my car. Eventually I found one. In Timbuktu. I parked, and we trekked into the store.
Because of the long lines, it took quite a while to get our groceries and check out. Usually when that happens, I pretty much end up forgetting where I parked my car. Today was no exception. When we went back to the parking lot, we headed in the direction I thought I had left it.
"I don't see the car," I said, after walking down a very long row.
"Look for the happy car," my son said.
"The happy car?"
"Yes. Your car is the only one that smiles on the front."
Okay. I followed his advice and looked at the grills of the cars. Sure enough, I spotted a happy smiley face on one of the cars. And guess what? It was mine!
"See, Mama," Bubba said. "You have the happy car!"
And before I go, I'd like to wish all of you who celebrate, a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Because of the long lines, it took quite a while to get our groceries and check out. Usually when that happens, I pretty much end up forgetting where I parked my car. Today was no exception. When we went back to the parking lot, we headed in the direction I thought I had left it.
"I don't see the car," I said, after walking down a very long row.
"Look for the happy car," my son said.
"The happy car?"
"Yes. Your car is the only one that smiles on the front."
Okay. I followed his advice and looked at the grills of the cars. Sure enough, I spotted a happy smiley face on one of the cars. And guess what? It was mine!
"See, Mama," Bubba said. "You have the happy car!"
And before I go, I'd like to wish all of you who celebrate, a very Happy Thanksgiving!
November 25, 2014
If You Had a Time Machine . . .
"Mama," my ten-year-old son said. "What year would you go to if you had a time machine?"
I thought about that. "I guess I'd go about a thousand years into the future. Just because I'm curious about what life would be like then."
Bubba nodded. "Do you know what year I'd go to?"
"No. What year?"
"1560."
"1560?" I thought that was a pretty odd year to choose. "Why?"
Bubba gave me a big grin. "Because that's the year before school was invented. And I don't want to have to go to school!"
I thought about that. "I guess I'd go about a thousand years into the future. Just because I'm curious about what life would be like then."
Bubba nodded. "Do you know what year I'd go to?"
"No. What year?"
"1560."
"1560?" I thought that was a pretty odd year to choose. "Why?"
Bubba gave me a big grin. "Because that's the year before school was invented. And I don't want to have to go to school!"
November 23, 2014
Oh How I Miss You Blog Fest
It is time for the How I Miss You Blogfest!
Hosted by Andrew LeonAlex J. CavanaughMatthew MacNish
It's all about the bloggers you miss and the ones you would miss if they were gone. So here we go. Of course I'd miss all of you if you were gone. You're the people who make blogging so much fun, and the reason I sit here sharing my crazy stories day after day. Thank you for making this such a great community!
Here are the bloggers I've been missing: David Walston. He's a big Dr. Who fan, and I always loved his posts and comments. I hope he comes back! And then there's Dana. She's probably really busy with her new baby, but I sure miss her Friday Funnies and Sunday Inspirations. Finally, there's Arni. She had a baby, too. I've only seen her a couple of times since then. But she was always such a nice person, and felt like a kindred spirit. I hope some day she returns!
Here are the bloggers I'd miss if they were gone. Holy Ghost Writer. He's got some pretty interesting stories from the Order, explaining why things are the way they are. Heather Holden. She's a very talented comic writer. I enjoy her series that she posts. And Medeia Sharif. I've never seen anyone work so hard with writing. I love reading about her goals and accomplishments. She's quite an inspiration!
Who would you miss if they were gone?
November 21, 2014
School on Fire
It was quite a morning! Not the usual routine of dropping my kid off at school and cruising home. When I went to my daughter's middle school, smoke was pouring out of the building. The school was on fire!
"Get back in the car!" the principle was shouting. "No drop offs!"
I was directed to a safe location, outside, where students and teachers were waiting. My daughter exited the car with a pile of books and croissants (for her French class fete). Of course the croissants spilled out of the package, onto the ground as she got out, adding to the chaos.
"Keep moving," one of the teachers instructed. So I couldn't even stay to make sure she'd be okay. The fire trucks screamed in as I left the school property. I only hoped my daughter was in good hands!
Later, she called. The administration had moved all the students into the nearby high school gymnasium. The problem was an electrical fire due to construction at the school. So now my daughter is sitting in a gym with about 800 kids. I was going to pick her up, but she said she'd rather stay, since I wasn't allowed to bring her friends home, too.
On the bright side, at least she has food, even if it is a little sprinkled with dirt!
"Get back in the car!" the principle was shouting. "No drop offs!"
I was directed to a safe location, outside, where students and teachers were waiting. My daughter exited the car with a pile of books and croissants (for her French class fete). Of course the croissants spilled out of the package, onto the ground as she got out, adding to the chaos.
"Keep moving," one of the teachers instructed. So I couldn't even stay to make sure she'd be okay. The fire trucks screamed in as I left the school property. I only hoped my daughter was in good hands!
Later, she called. The administration had moved all the students into the nearby high school gymnasium. The problem was an electrical fire due to construction at the school. So now my daughter is sitting in a gym with about 800 kids. I was going to pick her up, but she said she'd rather stay, since I wasn't allowed to bring her friends home, too.
On the bright side, at least she has food, even if it is a little sprinkled with dirt!
November 20, 2014
Paper Sandwiches
Sometimes I really screw things up. Like yesterday.
I had made sandwiches for my kids' lunches. Nice turkey and cheese sandwiches. Or so I thought. Apparently, I didn't do such a good job, because when my kids came home from school, they asked me the same question: "Mom, why was there paper in my sandwich?"
"Paper?" I asked. "There was paper in your sandwich?" It just couldn't be!
Yes, it could. When I added the cheese, the stupid paper that they put between the slices in the package, stuck. I had given my kids turkey, cheese, paper sandwiches.
I had to do some quick thinking. "Oh, yeah," I said. "Paper. It just adds a little flavor!"
I had made sandwiches for my kids' lunches. Nice turkey and cheese sandwiches. Or so I thought. Apparently, I didn't do such a good job, because when my kids came home from school, they asked me the same question: "Mom, why was there paper in my sandwich?"
"Paper?" I asked. "There was paper in your sandwich?" It just couldn't be!
Yes, it could. When I added the cheese, the stupid paper that they put between the slices in the package, stuck. I had given my kids turkey, cheese, paper sandwiches.
I had to do some quick thinking. "Oh, yeah," I said. "Paper. It just adds a little flavor!"
November 19, 2014
Helicopter Signal
Yesterday, when my son and I were walking home from the bus stop, my boy did something unexpected. (Which if you know him, shouldn't be unexpected at all.)
He stopped, stuck him arms out on either side, and proceeded to spin in circles.
"Dude," I said. "What exactly are you doing?"
He stopped. A huge grin was plastered on his face. "I'm signaling helicopters!"
I raised my eyebrows and looked up. The sky was perfectly blue, and there wasn't one helicopter in sight. "Um, I don't see any helicopters, so I'm not sure your signal is very effective."
"Yes it is. There are lots of helicopters, Mama . . . In my head!"
(I'm afraid my boy has inherited the imagination gene from me. He has one colorful world between his ears!)
He stopped, stuck him arms out on either side, and proceeded to spin in circles.
"Dude," I said. "What exactly are you doing?"
He stopped. A huge grin was plastered on his face. "I'm signaling helicopters!"
I raised my eyebrows and looked up. The sky was perfectly blue, and there wasn't one helicopter in sight. "Um, I don't see any helicopters, so I'm not sure your signal is very effective."
"Yes it is. There are lots of helicopters, Mama . . . In my head!"
(I'm afraid my boy has inherited the imagination gene from me. He has one colorful world between his ears!)
November 17, 2014
Big Dreams
My ten-year-old son is already contemplating getting his first wheels. He's ready to drive. Or so he thinks. He's been taking a look at different car models, trying to determine which car he'd like. So far, he seems to have an affinity for sports cars. No surprise there.
Yesterday, we were driving around, and he noticed a very nice-looking vehicle. "Mama, what's that?" he asked.
"A Lamborghini," I answered.
"I want one of those for my first car," he said. "Would you buy it for me?"
I tried not to have a heartache. "Dude. There is no way I'm buying that for your first car or your last car!"
I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw his puzzled look. "But why not?" he asked.
"Because your Mama doesn't have money for one of those. So you'd better get a good job. Because if you ever get a Lamborghini, you're going to have to buy it yourself!"
(And then maybe he can buy me one, too!)
Yesterday, we were driving around, and he noticed a very nice-looking vehicle. "Mama, what's that?" he asked.
"A Lamborghini," I answered.
"I want one of those for my first car," he said. "Would you buy it for me?"
I tried not to have a heartache. "Dude. There is no way I'm buying that for your first car or your last car!"
I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw his puzzled look. "But why not?" he asked.
"Because your Mama doesn't have money for one of those. So you'd better get a good job. Because if you ever get a Lamborghini, you're going to have to buy it yourself!"
(And then maybe he can buy me one, too!)
November 14, 2014
The Snow Dance
It's gotten a little cold down here in Georgia. The thermometer says it's a balmy 27 degrees Fahrenheit - perfect weather for snow.
The kids around here are very excited about the prospect of having big fluffy flakes falling from the sky. So excited, in fact, that they had to do a little dance.
I had gone to the bus stop to pick up my son after school, and found a very interesting sight. Seven kids were in the middle of the street, jumping up and down, waving their hands, and shouting who-only-knows what.
"Okay, kids," I said. "First of all, you need to get out of the street. I don't want any of you ending up as pancakes! Second, what in the world are you doing?"
"The snow dance!" one kid said.
"The snow dance?"
"Yeah! It's going to make it snow. Guaranteed!"
I nodded. "Okay. We'll see how that works."
So here we are, almost 24 hours later, and still no snow. I think they'd better work on their technique. (Or maybe just try flushing ice cubes down the toilet, like we did in Ohio. It worked every time!)
The kids around here are very excited about the prospect of having big fluffy flakes falling from the sky. So excited, in fact, that they had to do a little dance.
I had gone to the bus stop to pick up my son after school, and found a very interesting sight. Seven kids were in the middle of the street, jumping up and down, waving their hands, and shouting who-only-knows what.
"Okay, kids," I said. "First of all, you need to get out of the street. I don't want any of you ending up as pancakes! Second, what in the world are you doing?"
"The snow dance!" one kid said.
"The snow dance?"
"Yeah! It's going to make it snow. Guaranteed!"
I nodded. "Okay. We'll see how that works."
So here we are, almost 24 hours later, and still no snow. I think they'd better work on their technique. (Or maybe just try flushing ice cubes down the toilet, like we did in Ohio. It worked every time!)
November 12, 2014
The UGG Toy
Our German Shepherd, Schultz, is in big trouble!
My daughter had left her UGG boots in the middle of the family room floor. Schultz spotted them and decided they looked like chew toys. If these had been any other boots, it wouldn't have been such a big deal. But these things cost 200 dollars.
He parked himself on the floor, with the boots between his paws, and proceeded to chew away.
My daughter discovered it first. "Schultz!!!! Bad dog!!!!"
She ran into the room and yanked the boots away from the beast. Of course they had slobber all over them. (I don't think he tore them, but once you get UGG boots wet, they're destroyed.) "Schultz, you ruined my boots!"
He cocked his head and looked at her.
"You're grounded, Schultz! Forever!"
So now the dog is in the dog house. Maybe while he's there he can learn the difference between the word, "UGG" and "TUG." I think he just got confused.
My daughter had left her UGG boots in the middle of the family room floor. Schultz spotted them and decided they looked like chew toys. If these had been any other boots, it wouldn't have been such a big deal. But these things cost 200 dollars.
He parked himself on the floor, with the boots between his paws, and proceeded to chew away.
My daughter discovered it first. "Schultz!!!! Bad dog!!!!"
She ran into the room and yanked the boots away from the beast. Of course they had slobber all over them. (I don't think he tore them, but once you get UGG boots wet, they're destroyed.) "Schultz, you ruined my boots!"
He cocked his head and looked at her.
"You're grounded, Schultz! Forever!"
So now the dog is in the dog house. Maybe while he's there he can learn the difference between the word, "UGG" and "TUG." I think he just got confused.
