She had two "cutes" on her birthday.

The first came when she woke up and she stated "I don't feel taller."

The second was after my parents arrived. Mark had given her Glow In The Dark Aaron's Crazy Thinking Putty. After he turned off all the lights, he handed the glowing putty to her. As he walked to get more he said "Show Grandma what it does." Since all the lights were out all I could she was her fingers around the glowing putty. Then I hear this little voice whispering "What does it do?"

We celebrated Youngest's birthday at a local hamburger joint called Kincaids. Instead of having a party with a bunch of kids, we invite the Grandparents and some family friends. We always buy lunch for everyone. For many reasons it works out great for us.

With Youngest picking a restaurant that only takes cash, we were prepared with excessive amounts of cash to ensure we could pay for 16 people. Yikes! But it worked out and we had the lowest Birthday tab ever. That left some money in our pockets.

I was reminded that Kincaids was a favorite spot for the Air Force Reserve Base when 6 airmen came in for lunch. I quickly walked over to my husband and asked if he wanted to buy their lunch for them. We rushed up to the front and I got there just as the first Airman was handing over his money. I said "Wait! Don't do that!!!!" They looked at me like I was crazy. "We want to buy your lunch." My husband added "We are buying for all 6 of them." They protested and we insisted.

As they each placed their order one of them asked us "Why are you doing this? Do you like our uniforms?" I can't remember exactly what I said, but something along the line of "We want to show you our appreciation for what you do..." But I think what I am typing sounds much better than what I said. I bumbled with my words and really had to control myself because I could tell I was on the verge of tears. (I am crying now as I type this.) There really was not a good way for me to express to them my gratitude for what they do. And as I look back I think of other ways I could have said it better. It was the best $40 we spent in a long time.

As they were leaving they thanked us again and then gave us a coin from their squadron. I knew from my Mom's experience in Civil Service that coins are a big thing in the military. So now it was our turn to protest, but they insisted.

From now on when we go to Kincaids I am going to get extra cash. I can call it M.A.D. money. Military Appreciation Dispensation. It was great to be able to thank our military in person and I can't wait until I get to do it again.

"You walk amongst the blessed and may you always realize, to have so many people who love you the minute you are born, as much as we do… is a blessing in itself."

from Bou in this post.

If you keep walking through some grainny spills in Wal-Mart and wonder what was spilled..... you may discover that the bag of sugar in your cart has a tear in it. It has been slowly leaking making a path of sugar for you to walk in. And if you are lucky, you picked up the 4 pound bags instead of the 10 pound one.

"Gah....these dishes are still dirty!"

"What is that smell? Ewww, there is still water at the bottom of the dishwasher."

Swishing hand to check for clogs, "Ick!"

"Let me see what I can find on Google."

"Nope, not that."

"Please don't be that!"

"Can't be that."

"Check Whirlpool's site."

"A-ha! The manual!"

Reading: "Water remains in the dishwasher -
Is the cycle complete?

"Can't be that simple."

Internal gasp! "The lights were blinking on it."

Internal gasp! "We did lose power last night."

"A HA!!! With the 4 hour delay start, that times it just right."

"Doh!"

My brother asked us to keep his dog for a month while he got settled in Dallas. So far it is working out. The cat has started coming downstairs more. She is a good dog who likes to go to with us to soccer practice and games. I am trying to use what I learned from the Dog Whisperer, but I don't think I have the same touch.

Update: The cat may not kiss the dog, but tonight he sat behind me on the couch while the dog was at my feet. That is progress!!!

Would you get this?

Or if you wanted to save money you could get this one.

This is the one I am recommending to my Mom.

I was able to visit everyone on my blogroll Thursday evening. It was good to catch up. I wanted to share with you a post that made me chuckle.

"The Usual Suspects" Wide Screen version is on sale. Or you can get the "Special Edition" DVD from Amazon.

OMG! I edited the entry on Wikipedia! There was a grammatical error in the text I quoted. I left it as is on my blog, but fixed it on Wikipedia. How cool is that?!?!?! Waaaay!!!!

My job had me traveling in the proximity of Casa De Feisty this week. After asking Christina and clan to meet me for dinner, I was invited to her house for dinner. Weee!!!!! I got there a little before 6pm and then BAM - it was 9:50pm. The food was good. Homemade salad dressing, Spicy Shrimp Fettucini "Heaven", broiled asparugus with romano cheese and WeeOne made chocolate covered strawberries.

She could have served Ramen noodles and I would have still had fun. If Feisty Clan had a blog, they could call it "Just Dot Amusing." Here is a part of the thesaurus entry for fun (emphasis mine):

Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus

Main Entry: amusing
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: funny
Synonyms: agreeable, ball, boffo*, camp, campy, charming, cheerful, cheering, comical, cut-up, delightful, diverting, droll, enchanting, engaging, enjoyable, entertaining, fun, gas, gladdening, gratifying, gut-busting*, hoot, humorous, interesting, jocular, jokey*, joshing*, laughable, lively, merry, pleasant, pleasing, priceless, riot, scream, screaming*, side-splitting, witty

Antonyms: annoying, boring, depressing, grim, sad, tiring, unfunny

Source: Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)
Copyright © 2007 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

* = informal or slang

Both my girls do very well in school. They both did great on their report cards and on their Stanford Assesment Test (SAT). Youngest, who was in Kindergarten, tested at a 2nd grade level. Oldest, who was in 1st grade, tested at 3rd to 5th grade level on everything but "Word Study Skills". The grade equivalent for it is PHS. Post High School. Did you get that? Uh, ya, she totally rocks.

I am all about fairness, but Oldest missed the A Honor Roll by 1 point. She got an 89 in Conduct. Jeez. Her average for the year was 93. At this point it does not really matter since she is only in 1st grade, but let's say she was in High School where it is important for college. Would you make a stink about it? Would you ask for extra credit to make up for it? Or would you let it be?

This meme is from One Happy Dog.

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Amy from "Little Women". My Mom liked Jo's character better, but did not like her name.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Friday night I was watching "What Not To Wear" and the chic started crying about how much better she looked and how great she felt after they helped her dress better.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes and even better on a whiteboard.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I am a non-discrimanatory lunch meat eater.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes. Two girls.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Oh ya, look at the meaning of Prochein. "Next Friend."

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Do pigs eat?

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No, but I have sky dived.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Nature's Own Granola Cereal. It is pretty new, but before that I like Cinnammon life.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Until they are broken in.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Everything but my eating willpower.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Pralines and Cream, Any double chocolate flavor, vanilla, french vanilla, strawberry, cookies and cream. See the last question.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Friendlyness.

RED OR PINK?
For steak? Red if it is a good steak. Pink if not.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My weight.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I am lucky enought to not have an anwer for that question.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Pizza Hut pepperoni pizza. We went to a 5 - 7 pm birthday party that did not serve dinner (WHAT!?!?!) So afterwards we went to another friends house (whose kids also went to the party) and ordered pizza.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
"The Fairly Odd Parents" theme song from the TV.

IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
burnt orange

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Nothing sticks out on this one.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My husband.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Texas College Football

HAIR COLOR?
Whatever is on sale.

EYE COLOR?
Brown

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Sometimes

FAVORITE FOOD?
If I had to pick, Queso with some meat in it.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings. I watch movies to escape reality.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Ice Princess

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Brown

SUMMER OR WINTER?
Fall, uh football season!!!!

HUGS OR KISSES?
Yes.

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Chocolate Motherlode Cake from Claim Jumpers. It is six layers of chocolate cake with chocolate chips all through it. Yum!

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
None - no time for books

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Dell.

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
No TV.

FAVORITE SOUND?
My kids laughing when my husband is tickling them. It is a different laugh than other times.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Don't care.

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Kinda hard to anwer if you are a military brat.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I get along with everyone.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Germany

I had a"Ah Ha!" moment today. I wanted something done in relation to my group that in the past we were denied. And I felt for a stupid reason. So when we were able to come up with a solution that I thought all parties would like, I presented my want to management. Realizing I was on the path of getting the same answer as last time a thought crossed my mind. I don't ask for much. I do what is requested of me and plus some. I am not demanding except in my expecation that you do your part. My want was very small and trivial, but by golly, I wanted it. So I pulled that card. It was like I didn't even know I had it and all of a sudden it was in my hand.

And it worked. I think. Well, I will let myself think that.

Everything is working but the entries moving to the left as they go toward the bottom of the page. Bah, I am done for now.

We have already started the prep work for this season. We had to line someone else up for our extra two seats and were successful at that. We are breaking even and have a some wonderful friends to sit with.

Since my parents will be up here this season, it was not so clearly defined on which set of grandparents would keep the girls and on which game. All the grandparents and I sat down awhile back and they picked their dates.

I added a blog category called "Season 2007".

I am scoping out good hotel rooms rates for the first weekend since it will also be our 13 year anniversary. Woo hooo!