Alvin goes to school!

 Alvin walking into the school

Alvin in his classroom

Alvin's ETR Results

http://alvin-rice.blogspot.com/2011/11/alvins-etr-results.html

RIP Uncle Jay

1916-2011

RIP Uncle Jay. Your family will miss you terribly.

Thanksgiving Number Two!

Today we had Thanksgiving at my parents' house. My Dad had to work, so he missed out. The kids had a great time. We stuffed ourselves!

My parents' cat, Victor

Our cat, Callie

Thanksgiving Number One!

That's right folks. In this family, we have more than 1! Today was Thanksgiving down at Eric's Dad's house. Granted, at 62 degrees, it didn't feel much like Thanksgiving, but it was a good day! We had to cut it short because Eric had worked a 3rd last night and have to work one again tonight. :(

Emali and Erin

Alvin and Audra

How you keep 3 kids quiet: iPhones and an iTouch

Alvin shmoosed himself into a giant ball.

Erin didn't fly so far.

Bounce! Riley really flew high into the air.

"Stop!" Alvin yelling at Grandpa Rich

Then rolling down the hill.

Firestation!

So, the girls spent the night at my parents' last night. Then today, we took Alvin up there so the kids could all go to the firestation to see the firetrucks. Alvin had a GREAT day of it.

No, not trick photography. The tires on the firetruck are as tall as Alvin is.

Alvin wearing one of the masks.

I love this shot of all the turnout gear!

Alvin had such a great time that he passed out on my parents' kitchen floor.

Photo Challenge: Day Seven: Macro

Yes, I know. I've skipped quite a few days inbetween these posts. Sorry. Sick children take precedence over this blog challenge. Both Alvin and Erin ended up sick.

Macro is a closeup of whatever our subject is. This is the tiny little flower of a blooming catcus I have.

2onTuesday: Pet Peeves

So today, Andrea asked:

What are your pet peeves?

Wow.... Where do I begin?

People who check out with a buggy full of catfood cans and think that because it's all the same type, that it's ok to make the cashier scan their 120 cans of cat food in the 20 items or less lane. Seriously, you aren't a super special snowflake.

Dressing animals up in costumes. I hate, hate, hate it. Seriously, your Rotti doesn't need to be dressed up like a ballerina. A chihuahua wearing a sweater in the winter, ok fine. But most of the time, I just think it's unbelievably silly and it drives me nuts. Especially when I take Charley somewhere and people try to force me to put said silly outfit on him. Look, I'm not telling you to take the costume off your dog, quit telling me to put one on mine. But, hey, it's your money. You want to spend it on some biker jacket for your Daschaund, go for it.

The fact that the little girls clothing section mostly looks like a stripper store. Why on Earth do 5-10 year old girls need miniskirts, thigh-high boots, and fishnet stockings? No, I am not talking about during Halloween either. Do you know how hard it is to find age appropriate clothing for young girls???? Leave them alone. They are little girls who don't need screwed up body images at the age of 5.

When waiters lie to me: "Yes mam, that's the fat free dressing", only to find out a few bites in that it totally isn't. Yes, I can tell. After being on a limited fat diet for 8 months, I can tell when I'm being given the full fat version of things. It's not pretty either. Ruins my whole night and it's why I'm terrified of eating out.

The improper use of words like: their, there, and they're or to, too, and two. It's English people learn the difference. It's really not that hard. Oh, and while on this tangent, it's before. B-E-F-O-R-E, not B4. There is no reason to use 'textspeak' anywhere other than texts to people you know. Oh, and quit adding random z's to things. Grr. No wonder other countries think we're a bunch of morons.

My biggest pet peeve of all though has to be the slang usage of the word 'retard'. There is no appropriate time it should ever be used to describe a person, event, etc. I hate that it's been turned into what it has and it pisses me off when people use it the way modern society uses it.

I have many other pet peeves, but if I don't stop now, you'll be reading for the next 5 days. 

Photo Challenge: Day Six: Shadow

2onTuesday (on a Wednesday): Christmas Wish List

Tuesday, Andrea asked us:

What’s your Christmas wish list? What do you hope to receive from Santa?

Well, I'm gonna be a bit sneaky and have 3. Yes, three! My dream list, my hope list, and my actuality list. So...

The Dream List:

Farmhouse with wrap-around porch



Josh Turner (Please?)

Candy apple red Mustang convertible 1950's model

The Hope List:

Dyson Animal DC25

Iphone 4s

The Acuality List:





Yes, I realize it's blank. Eric has only bought me a Christmas present once. That was our first year together. So, it's very likely I'll get nada. Love that man, but he just doesn't care about holidays or birthdays.

Photo Challenge: Day 5: Trees

Sunrise on a line of trees near my house.

Sorry

I know I was doing the photo challenge. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter got sick and I've been concentrating on her. She's got pnuemonia right now, so I'll pick up the challenge again once she's feeling better. THanks for understanding.

Photo Challenge: Day Four: Water

A leaf falling on my parents' pond.

Photo Challenge: Day Three: Fire

Once again, I'm using an older photo. We are not allowed to have open flame in the town I live in, unless it's a BBQ grill. So, I'm using a photo I took at the wonderful Jackie's house in 2010.

Photo Challenge: Day Two: Flying

Ok. I admit freely that this picture wasn't taken today. However, it was taken by me back in 2009. It's a photo of some flowers with the US Flag flying in the background. I just love the way this photo turned out. I just couldn't find something flying today worthy of a photo.

Photo Challenge: Day One: Self Portrait

Yep. That's me! This might be the hardest one out of the 30 for me. I -hate- my picture being taken. I love being beind the camera, but not in front of it. I could have taken time to style my hair, put on makeup, etc, but none of that is me. My hair is worn up in a ponytail or hanging around my shoulders. There are few days where I do more than brush it. Makeup? I've worn it 3 times in the last 4 years. So, there I am. How you're most likely to see me on a day-to-day basis.