Empress Sassy

As my earlier entry indicated we had volunteered at the Food Pantry and of course items were passed out by families circling items off of a grocery list.  The list was made from what was available in the pantry. 

I was surprised at the items chosen by people, but it taught items that I would purchase when I want to donate to any local pantry or charity food drive.  Just in case you are interested, the following items are highly popular:

• Canned pineapple and apricots
• Canned Tuna
• Canned Pork or Chicken
• Canned Chicken and Dumplings
• Dried Northern Soup Beans
• Egg Noodles or Spaghetti
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Green Beans and Corn (Not really peas or carrots)
• Juices; Apple, Grape and various others
• Cereals for kids
• Ravioli and Spaghettios for the kids
• Rice and Pasta Sides

That is just a few of the most popular items that were chosen repeatedly from the pantry so if you ever want donate to a particular food drive I think these are good items to think about donating.  We also give meat, but they have a freezer to store it so chicken and beef were given out as well. It’s good to know what to buy sometimes so we can give people what they want. 

Have you guys seen these water guns? They don’t look exactly like this, but they look like big pencils and you pull out the bottom to fill them up and then push it back it to squirt out the water.  You can get them at the Dollar Store and they are awesome.

They squirt dead-on and they can load up fast for quick shooting.  My family has full, scale wars with these babies in the pool and on land and it’s a blast.  Sadly we are just deadly with these bad boys, but it’s just too much fun.  If you get a chance go to the Dollar Store and pick up a few of them.  If you have kids they are easy for them to use and it’s a great heat relief and just pure fun.

It’s just a fun way to take a break in the heat and let the kids have a little stress release before the go to bed.  You’d be surprised how much you get into it as well.  We were laughing so much the other day in the pool; it was killing me.  It was no rules for anyone (Oh, except no spraying in the face because that hurts!).

If you see them pick them up and I guarantee you will have some fun!

I was recently fortunate enough to volunteer at my church in the Food Pantry.  It was new to me since I have just recently started attending this church.  I have always wanted to volunteer with this type of organization and at my past church I had hoped to get involved, but unfortunately they didn’t really offer any type of program within their church.

The Food Pantry is an organization that allows families to come and shop off of a grocery list and obtain food items for their family.  They offer meat, vegetables, fruit, pasta, juice, frozen items, amenities for the home, items from the church garden in season as well as misc. items that have been donated. 

The night I volunteered 46 families were assisted and I was amazed at the food that was given out to each family.  They are allotted a certain number of each food item and it’s not like it will last them an entire week, but it will certainly help out. They are also given a list of local churches in our community that offer a dinner meal each night of the week which is awesome.  They have a place to go every night if need be for a hot dinner.  It’s awesome that a list is available for them to take with them.

The church I recently left had a Wednesday night meal and it was strictly fellowship. There was never a mention of assisting anyone.  Now, don’t get me wrong I’m all for fellowship, but please explain to me how you can stand up every, single Sunday and beg for money and say we are in the red, but yet you can fix a meal every Wednesday night that is strictly for fellowship purposes only.  Why are we wasting funds to fix a meal for people that can afford a meal when in reality we could do fellowship in a different manner? Shouldn’t this meal be opened to the public to assist someone who is actually in need as most churches do?  It just left me in a bad mood to think we were wasting money to socialize when most churches want to reach out and help people.

The Food Pantry is an awesome organization sponsored by donations, Dare to Care and some government assistance.  It makes me feel good to be a part of something and to help give back to the community.  There was no shame, pressure or guilt toward anyone; that is the goal.  Everyone has need at some point in their lives and it’s an amazing feeling to know you can help someone’s family.  I know I have had tough times and it’s good to know we can all help each other.  Noah went and was our runner taking the list from the hall to the back room to help us keep the orders moving. We talked later in the evening and he completely understood how we were helping families.  It’s never too early to get kids involved in giving back to the community. 

We all have our organizations and I just wanted to give a shout out to all of those who give back and volunteer to any organization.  Where would we be without volunteers! 

Summer is upon us and our family has a slip n slide that we get out and attempt to use.  Now, you’ve seen it right? It’s not rocket science, you just lay it out, turn on the hose and slide on it.

I watched the boys just go hog wild on this thing and I thought OK this will be a piece of cake.  They were running back from the garage and jumping onto this piece of plastic and just sliding down to the mini-pool of frigid water as if it was the slickest thing since the ice storm of 76′, and it was hilarious. 

Diving head first and never looking back seemed to be quite harmless until it became my turn.  I started my run and when I got closer to the yellow plastic; fear overtook my brain and it began to tell my body, “We are SO not doing this you idiot.  You can’t just dive onto the hard ground onto a small piece of yellow plastic.  What if you don’t slide?  What if you roll off onto the grass?  What if you break a body part - we are NOT 20 anymore!”  I stopped dead in my tracks and froze like a iceberg!  Much to my dismay and many catcalls from my family. 

This is what I would envision my slide would look like; butt all up in the air, body all stuck to the plastic and not being able to finish my slide!  Why I have no idea, but I have a fear of the slip n slide!  I am going to try an conquer this over the summer, but I’m not sure I can.  My first thought is that we had it on flat ground and for some reason in my head it should be on a hill or slope to make this an easier process.  Not that this mattered to the boys in our family, but for me, I’m needing the slope!

Wish me luck to overcome my fear, but I am hoping to overcome my yellow plastic, slip n slide fear!  Make light if you will, but when is the last time you old people has really tried it?  PS:  The water is as cold as a North Pole waterfall just in case you are curious.  That doesn’t exactly make you want to dive in either!

Carrie this will make you feel much better about your incident at the ball field!

A friend of mine was telling me the other night a fight broke out at the t-ball game (keep in mind that t-ball is 3 – 5 age group).  She wasn’t even sure what started the issue and it doesn’t matter. What truly matters is that a parent pulled a knife.  Seriously pulled a knife, but wait it gets better, to one up that parent another parent pulled a gun.  OK, welcome to crazy town, what is wrong with these parents?  

If you have ever coached any type of child team you know from experience the kids are just there to have fun and it’s the parents that cause the issues.  Inevitably a parent starts yelling at the coach or the ref about some injustice toward their child or team and the party gets started.  It’s ridiculous and unnecessary, but it happens every season and you can almost guarantee a parent per team.  Most of the time the child has no clue the altercation is happening.  Again, they are just playing the game and having fun.   

Sadly you also have that “ULTIMATE COACH” that thinks he is coaching the US Olympic team and living vicariously through the kids.  We all loathe this man and love to also make fun of this man don’t we?  He totally exists in so many leagues!   

What I really want to know with so many parents is that do you ever ask your children if they want to play these sports?  I know I ask.  I never start a new season without asking and we have one rule; if we start any sport we finish the season.  If Noah doesn’t want to play a sport I would not push him.  We are just not into the scholarship push and it’s not that important.  I understand that college is expensive and for some it may be the only option but you MUST understand that the child must also be happy in life and there are other avenues they can take other than sports.  Heaven forbid we would push academics as we push sports right?  

Now from time to time tempers flare and words are said and that is normal.  Rules are rules and they need to be followed.  You have cheaters, Ultimate Coaches, bad nights, bad parents and just things that happen. For this, exceptions are to be expected and apologies are made and the evening moves on.  However, knives and guns being brought around children’s events?  I’m thinking these people need to maybe find a new sport to attend and it more than likely won’t involve children.  

Talk to your child, make sure they are on board with the sport they are playing and for the love of Pete make sure THEY are having fun when they are playing the sport.  If not, it’s not worth it.  It’s about fun, learning and still being a family affair.  Not yelling, fighting and dragging your kids to an event. 

I think I’m the only one that hasn’t seen this movie, but needless to say it was such an inspiring film.  It is definately the feel good movie of 2009 and you do not have to be a football fan to love this movie folks, it’s a great flick for everyone.  Now if you love football it will certainly add a little spark to the film, but it won’t dampen the message if you don’t. 

It clearly is Sandra Bullock’s best film and I must admit it does inspire you to be a better person doesn’t it?  Just to know that a person would willingly and openly give their heart to a person so out of their realm and world.  It was amazing and to think they changed each other’s lives. 

It was a great film and truly and amazing story.  I’m sure the true family feels so fortunate to be able to share their story with the world at this point.  It’s just awesome.  Everyone should see this film; in case I’m not the last one to have watched it.  It will make you feel good about the world again!

How nice to come back to work today to find birthday surprises on your desk!  My awesome co-workers showered me with fun gifts that I just loved!  I got a great plant (that I probably will end up killing sadly enough), but I do like it.  I got a fun 80’s CD and a great book that I can’t wait to read about Oscar, the cat that works at the Nursing Home and has a great gift of helping families in need.

I also got a great candle and some perfume.  My cards were funny and one even referenced Barry Manilow so you know that one was awesome.  It was a nice way to come back to work.  AND………………….(drum role please)…….they are having TACO DAY for me tomorrow.  How much am I loved? 

It’s been a great first day back thanks to great friends!

We went to the park in Georgetown the other night to play on the swings and in the process we took a mini-hike through the woods.

 In the midst of our hike we came across several blackberry bushes.  I was so excited as I hadn’t seen blackberry bushes in the wild for years.  As a kid there were tons of bushes at my elementary school and me and my dad would pick them and take them home to my mom.  I would eat as many as I would pick.  I love blackberries straight from the bush.  They taste amazing.  I was in heaven when we found this great stash. 

There weren’t too many on there that were ripe yet, but there was a ton of pink ones so I may have to sneak back up after all the rain and see if they are ripe now.  I did have to stop by the store to get some since I was in the mood for them after that finding at the park.  Noah tried one and spit it out immediately.  Guess they were a little tart for his liking. 

We all know I’m not a great fruit person; but these are just the exception especially when you find them in the wild.  If anyone knows of any great areas to find these (yes, I know Huber’s has them but it’s not the same people) let me know!

Holiday  World

I was very sad to hear this news and if you read this article he was a very interesting and hard working man.

Well this was just a fun place to try out!  They have a big track and a little track for kids 4 and up.  Noah liked the little track so he could drive himself, but the speed was totally what he needed from the big track.

The nice thing is the tickets are $5 for everything; go-carts, mini-golf, bumper boats and they have a deal 5 for $22 and when you ride the big track and you use the 2-seater they only charge you one ticket.  We had an awesome time racing around the track.  We had a few mishaps with some crazy drivers that really shouldn’t have been on the track, but what can you do right?  We just dodged them best we could!

The only bad thing is the video arcade; it’s very, very expensive to the point of being ridiculous.  After being places like Incredible Dave’s the prices were over the top. Just want to prepare anyone that has never gone.  It takes quarters for all the games but some what $2 and $3 per game and that is just silly.

It was a fun place and not a long drive.  There are NO signs at Exit 117 just so you’ll know.  You need to take a right and then a left at the light.  You run into it at that point.  Cool place and a fun way to spend some time.