Thirty Nine...Three Nine...39

The number thirty nine is not only a number, but it is also a lifetime for me.  In less than a month from today, I will turn the dreaded FOUR OHHHHHH!!!!!  Personally, I am not dreading it at all, for it is only another number, another notch on my proverbial belt, another hash mark added to my timeline.  Yes, my skin has developed more wrinkles and is thinning for some stupid ass reason.  It's almost getting to the point where the "life lines" are blending with my scars from my youth (pre 39 years).

Do I have any regrets?  Only one, and it will remain out of this public forum.  For the most part, I have lived life on my terms.  My poor mom gave birth to a stubborn and rebellious redhead, but my parents raised me to be respectful and loving no matter what.  I have learned a lot about my character building past through therapy.  Strength is my ally today, for I have God and experience on my side...that is an extraordinary feeling!

My life is filled with amazing friends/family, peaceful moments, undeserved happiness, and last, but certainly not least, five phenomenal children!  One of the things I took for granted was the luxurious feeling I receive from my children's laughter and smiles.  Their happiness is like a song you can't stop listening to, for you just tap your foot and hammer out air drums while singing off tune lyrics.  That is how my kids make me feel...like I just want to dance every second of every day.

Carpe Diem,

Brandi

No Matter Your Circumstances...Tear Down the Walls and Make Life Count

I am only going to say this once, but I AM going to MULTIPLY it times infinity when I do say it...yes, math nerds, I think that is possible!!! 

Go RIGHT NOW and find this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
 

(picture "borrowed" from Google images...they are cool like that)

I will not give any of the plot away except to say that I will be buying a notebook asap and make it my SLP.  Plus, COME ON...you have eye candy from both angles!  Hello?  Bradley Cooper AND Jennifer Lawrence????  Anyone with vision knows that this is a win-win even if the movie sucks...which is sure as hell does NOT!!!  RUN NOW to your nearest Redbox, Hastings, Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, K-Mart, Blockbuster (does that still exist?), and the almighty (because it's my favorite) AMAZON!!!!  I realize a plethora (that's my favorite word lately) of places to rent or buy this kick ass movie exist, but I hope you are comprehending my point as to the POWER of Silver Linings.

Now, I will secretly admit that I watch most movies like I read books....I annotate...in my head, of course.  I chalk it up to a career hazard of being a high school English teacher for 13 years (or I would rather think it is because I'm an undiscovered member of Mensa). Any who, this work of art (the movie...not my brain) is chalked full of the most amazing quotes, symbols, metaphors, and etc.  I am in awe of the author of the book, screenwriter, director, and everyone else that created this masterpiece.  Yes, I know it sounds like I am working on an Oscar speech, but it is the truth people.

This movie will TRULY, TRULY, TRULY go down as one of the greatest in the playbook history of cinema (yes, the pun was well intended)!!!

And I WILL be adding Matthew Quick's book to my own personal library (among the others that he has written)....yes, it was a book which in turn was made into this astonishing, mind-blowing piece!

Just PLEASE do me a favor when you DO (oh, and you will) watch the movie, actually listen to the words of the characters....so many good life quotes to be shared.  EXCELSIOR!!!!!!!!

Carpe Diem,
Brandi

Btw....here is an extra tidbit about the kick "a" author:

Matthew Quick (aka Q) is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, which was made into an Oscar-winning film. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages and has received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention, among other accolades. Q lives with his wife, novelist/pianist Alicia Bessette.

 www.matthewquickwriter.com

****Info so GENEROUSLY provided the best company of all time....AMAZON!!! 
 http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Quick/e/B001ITRFT6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1376131944&sr=1-1

(picture borrowed again from Google images...cuz again, they are SO cool like that)

Disclaimer Alert:  I was awakened by a crappy headache and hunger at 4:33 am (went to bed at 2:19 am), and I had this movie on my mind and felt the need to blog.  Feel free to ignore any grammatical mistakes due to lack of sleep.

The Metaphorical Power of Eggs

I promised Jameson eggs, but there was one catch.  The thought of frying eggs on the griddle just turned my stomach...I have no idea why, and, HELL NO, I'm not pregnant.  BUT one thing is for damn sure...I NEVER break my promises.  If my son wants eggs, and I promised to make them, then I'm going to do it regardless of my gag reflex!  Of course.....I could try and use my "Get Out of Being Mommy for a Night" card and go for the bribery angle.  Sooooo, I talked him into going to a restaurant, and we were already out in town due to my shaggy boys needing haircuts...and it was already getting late.  Yes, I know that most kids would jump at the chance to go out to eat, but Jameson is not "most kids."

We arrive at Skillets, and Jameson orders chocolate chip pancakes.  I was like, "Woah...wait a minute.  I brought you here so that you could get EGGS!!!  Why are you ordering freaking pancakes?"  He said, "I wanted you to make the eggs because I like the way you cook them."  Yep, he nailed me in the heart with that one!  That simple, innocent statement from one of my most stubborn children rendered me speechless...for just a moment.  My little man can't resist ANYTHING sweet, so I thought I had been played.  But that was not the case at all.  He just truly wanted his mother to make him some damn eggs!  Next time I will just suck it up, hold my nose, and make them!!!

Now it was Connor's time to step up to the "awesome" plate.  He said, "Hey, Mom, I'll make you a deal.  I'll mow the entire forest (the part behind our house near the creek that he HATES to mow)."  My reply was, "Oh Lord!  This is going to be something big!!!!  What is it, bud?"  He grinned, kind of looked down, and said, "I will mow the forest if you will order another of what I got."  Hmmm...."What do you mean?"  He said, "Will you order exactly what I did so we can give it to the homeless guy?  My heart melted...I nearly cried!  I don't think I have EVER been prouder of him!!!  He left me utterly speechless  with pride!!  (Hard to believe it happened twice within an hour, but it is true...I was at a loss for words twice!)  Yes, I did order another "Chuck Wagon," and Connor stepped out of the car, handed it to the man, and said, "God Bless You."  I can't wait to introduce my extraordinary kids to the world of volunteering at homeless shelters when we move to Austin.  That will REALLY open their eyes...I am giddy just thinking about how much of an impact they will make on others and how those unfortunate individuals will provide my kiddos with real life experiences.

Little things like this lead me to believe that I may actually be doing something right...my two sons are AMAZING young men!  My heart was definitely full last night....and to think I would have missed out on an incredible evening IF I had been the model mom!!!  Yeah, "model moms" are SOOOO overrated!!!

Carpe Diem,
Brandi

LOVING Me A Christmas Tree!!!

Just wanted to send you holiday greetings from our family to yours.  The boys and Reese did a wonderful job decorating this BEAUTIFUL tree that ALL five of my angelic children handpicked and sawed down (with help from the tree farmer dude).  

I think our floor is not level OR some culprit jacked up the Christmas Tree Stand...I KNOW it's not my fault that the tree won't stand on it's own!  After about 4 very important ornaments came crashing to the floor and breaking my heart, I decided it was time to add the finishing touch to our masterpiece.  Yes, the angel is gorgeous and is a new one this year, but it is the purple duct tape at the top that truly made this a Redneck/Griswold/Ghetto Christmas!  I really thought Connor was going to wet himself laughing at my ingenuity!!!  Feel free to use this idea because I have not patented it....yet.

Please do not send me emails saying that Brooklyn and Peyton are NOT in the picture...that is where you have to use your imagination since I was too "busy" to photoshop them in...you all know what they look like anyway!  Geez!  And, yes, I realize Connor and Reese have "devilish glowing" eyes...that is just their "sparkling" personality trying to come out.  AND if you will look just a little closer, you will notice Jameson REALLY wanted to get into the holiday spirit by wearing some of the duct tape....everyone knows when Mom says, "SMILE" you better fake it OR I will make it....using purple duct tape.

Warm wishes and love to you all,

Brandi, Brooklyn, Peyton, Connor, Jameson, Reese, Sophie (the mommy dog German Shepherd), and the 8 baby puppies 

HEY MOM!

A blog I found that I never posted....stupid ADD...

(My son is yelling from his bed last night as I am walking down the hall...)

"Yes, Conman...what's up?"
"Well, you know how you blog sometimes?  Well, I think you need to blog about things that go on every day in life....since you have so many kids."

Obviously, my oldest son has not been reading my blog....the funny thing is that none of them do, so I can say whatever I want to about them!  I know I usually dog on Reese, but she is full of material...and she can't read...not that it would embarrass her anyway.  I truly think that four year old doesn't even comprehend what the word means.

So, for Connor's sake, I thought I would write a little sumpin' sumpin' today.

I had all my kids (minus Peyton) this weekend, and I loved every minute of it!  Let's start at the beginning when Brook arrives mid-morning...

1.  When Reese sees Brook, it is like someone injects her with 5,325 sugar packets...she goes into hyper mode because she loves her Brookie!  Well...the "sugar" never wears off...
2.  We head to the "beauty shop" for three haircuts...it was a zoo in there, and we added 4 more monkeys to the bunch.  Reese goes first, and I told the lady to give her a Pixie cut like Dora...she looked at me strangely.  I said, "Wait, that's not right...what is the haircut called?"  Aha! The PAGEBOY haircut....hell, they both start with "P."  I just wanted that crap cut off because Reese screams and hollers about brushing her hair...my mom always said for me to pick my battles, so I chose to chop it!

Carpe Diem,
Brandi