Oh the Agony

My mother-in-law, dear sweet woman, has never had a pedicure. Her feet are not horrible in any way shape or form, but she just has neglected over her lifetime to enjoy that one girlie thing. (Yes, men get them too, but really.... come on.... it IS a girlie thing.) So, when she comes out for the two weeks I'm going to take her to get her very first pedicure.

Well, being me, I couldn't very well take her to a place that is foreign to me. I had to scope it out. Make sure the place was legit... had to try it all.

Today I opted to have that tedious task of going ahead and scouting out the nail salons.

 I forced myself to receive a 30 minute manicure and hand massage.

 I was blatantly subjected to a face massage while soaking my feet for a pedicure.

 I suffered through a foot and calf massage during my pedicure.

 And... of course, I endured it as they painted my toes a bright red.

Aahh, mother, the pains I go through for you as I try to find the perfect place to take you for your very first pedicure.

Friends (For the Moment)

Three straight hours of chasing around the house,climbing up onto EVERY surface, both trying to get the same toy and generalized grumpiness on each side... and this is where I find them. Half asleep a foot from each other, contented to let bygones be bygones until they are both more awake.

Meet Elvira



Elvira Swick - 8 months old, abandoned at birth, adopted by a crazy family :)

Already has a favorite toy

Adds some spunk and activity to Hopkins' stodgy days

Not Goodbye, But See You Again

When I come to the end of my journey And I travel my last weary mile Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned And remember only the smile Forget unkind words I have spoken Remember some good I have done Forget that I ever had heartache And remember I've had loads of fun Forget that I've stumbled and blundered And sometimes fell by the way Remember I have fought some hard battles And won, ere the close of the day Then forget to grieve for my going I would not have you sad for a day But in summer just gather some flowers And remember the place where I lay And come in the shade of evening When the sun paints the sky in the west Stand for a few moments beside me And remember only my best                                            Mrs. Lyman Hancock You will be missed, Dad - Rest well Gary Webster 1946-2012

Never to early to learn

Eric teaching Bryan the proper technique for washing the cars:

Learning proper soaping technique

Making sure you get every spot

Spray off soap from top to bottom and side to side :)

And That's Why God Invented Tin Foil!

Finished product. Not going to win any beauty contest anytime soon.

We've all been there: 7:30pm... a kid comes up to you while you are relaxing (folding laundry while doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen and making school lunches... you know, THAT kind of "relaxing") and asks if they can have a cupcake for their "best" friend who's birthday is tomorrow....

Well, for some strange reason (maybe I smoked a little TOO much crack :) - KIDDING), I said I would make some cupcakes to put in their lunches, and he could have one for his friend.

Alas... you go to your cupboard and find no cupcake liners. What does someone who grew up watching the Red/Green show do??? (Not duct tape them) Make tin foil liners of course.

Steve helping make cupcake liners

They turned out ugly, but tasty, and with a ton of frosting on it, who's gonna know how ugly they are.

Ransom!!!

I have two teens, two very messy teens. They haven't cleaned (even with a little suggestion here and there that they should) their room in a very very very long time. It looked worse than a tornado hitting their room. I SHOULD have taken a before picture.

Well, Eric and I decided to try a new inventive way of getting their room clean. We offered them a chance (for two days) to clean it themselves. They didn't do it. So... today, I cleaned it. And, anything that wasn't in its proper place, I claimed for ransom.

                     90% of their clothing, some electronics, and various other items were claimed.

Their room is spotless now. Cleaned by Eric and myself. I was even nice enough to wash their sheets and change them. (How magnanimous of me.)

On their door I posted this note:





if you want to see your clothes and items again... you must pay in chores!

I figure a whole house vacuum is worth about 10 items, an emptying of the dishwasher is worth about 4 items and so on. With the amount of items they have to "buy" back, I'm going to have a clean house for quite some time. :)

I'm such a disappointment

I remember when I turned 18 and got my first tattoo, or was it my fourth ear piercing, I'm not too sure about it. Aaaannnnyyywayz, I remember my mom asking me to promise her that I wouldn't do anything to my face. And, for the past decade plus, I've done just that. However, today, I broke that promise. I went out and got an itsy bitsy nose ring. Not even a ring, just a small little diamond-like stud. I'm sure she'll forgive me. Love ya mom!