REREDRUM

Cam, this one is for you.

Cam, Hello, are you there?

At a recent beach trip, we were doing what Vinton does best. Chatting. Emily, Greggie Poo, Cam, Ashley and myself sat around in the living room just chatting away.

*Side note* Ashley, thanks for being so patient with my crazy, erratic family. Or maybe I should say, thanks for being so patient with Greggie Poo and myself...we're known to be a little on the wild side.

The topic of neighbors came up. How, I have no idea, but it did. Everyone was sharing their crazy neighbor stories. Some were about neurotic neighbors, some were about nosey neighbors, (I just remembered how we got onto the subject), and some were about non pet loving neighbors. Greggie Poo and I just sat back and listened. Towards the end of the conversation, Greggie Poo and I thought that we should fess up. We looked at each other and simultaneously said

"We have you ALL beat."

"Our neighbor is a murderer." "And she HATES Maggie."

Okay people, if the first strike wasn't enough to convince you of her evil, the second strike should put that baby to bed.

Silence.

You could've heard a pin drop.

Laughter, followed by "no way" or "I don't believe you" started coming from the room.

"Oh yes. It's true. Look it up if you don't believe us. Her name is Blankety Blank" We said.

If you think that I'm posting her name, you're crazy. But get in touch with me and I'll gladly give it up. Because it's ALL of google.

Needless to say, Greggie Poo and I have started locking our doors.

A Day Late and A Dollar Short

I have no excuse for not blogging.

None. Whatsoever.

I do apologize.

There have been many celebrations in October that I have not blogged about, but had all intentions of doing.

Sister Bird's Birthday

Greggie Poo and I's first Anniversary

K Bird's Birthday

And most importantly Sammy Bird can say my name. Not only does he say my name, but he associates my purty face with my name. Maybe, just maybe, it's because I give him candy everytime he says my name. I dunno. Or maybe it is golf balls. In any case, call it positive reinforcement.

So first we have sister bird's Birthday.

Sister bird and I have not always seen eye to eye on everything. But we always seem to work it out.

For instance, like the time I would not let her ride my new bike that I got for my birthday.

She was so jealous.

I could see it in her face.

It was a beautiful spring afternoon when I received my bike from Mom and Dad. My little Huffy was a real beaut, let me tell you. It was aqua and hot pink with a white wheel wash. I was in complete and utter love.

I immediately asked sister bird if she would like to play outside.

She said yes, I went to grab my new baby, and we headed out the door.

I hopped on my new bike before I even got to the road.

I joyfully zoomed by her pedaling as fast as I could on my brand new Huffy. She stood and watched.

Again. Zoom. Down the hill, right by her.

She watched on and quickly realized that I had only asked her to play outside, so I could show off my new ride. Duh??

With sister bird being the baby, she was not having any of this public display of sibling show-offedness.

With each circle I did, whizzing by her on my new bike, I could see the enviousness start to build up.

She just stood there.

Playing with old fashion sticks and rocks in the road. Ha! Sticks and rocks!

But, I was on my new killer bike...I didn't care about her Little House on the Prairie toys.

I thought that one more zoom past her should do the trick.

Little did I know, but NOBODY puts Baby in the Corner.
(one of the best movies of all time...even if Grandma walked out of the movie theatre at the sight of Patrick Swayze's buttocks)

I started my final, in your face, lap.

Just as I had zoomed past her with the biggest smirk on my face, I heard it.

Little footsteps on the asphalt going 90 miles a minute. Making the sound that only Keds can make when hitting the asphalt.

Sister Bird was after me and she was fastly approaching. What was she after I wondered?

Only Sister Bird knew.

She was out for revenge.

That's when I felt it. Her jagged, little pointy fingernails grabbed me from behind. She went for my shirt and my right handle and did what no lady should do. She pulled me as hard as she could.

Oh. No. She. Didn't. I thought.

But oh yes she had. She pulled me right off of my new bike while I was going about 86 miles an hour.

I don't remember hitting the pavement. Nor do I remember the next couple of seconds of laying there in the middle of the road.

The next thing I do remember is slowing getting up, feeling the warm blood trickle down my chin, and seeing sister bird a half mile down the road on my brand new huffy.

The only thing I could think of was one word. And it rhymes with Witch.

Sister bird then turns the bike around and we make eye contact. She is going 90 miles an hour down the hill. Straight for me. I felt like the dude in a foreign country, holding that red thingy. Sister bird was the bull.

Then ZOOM right past me.

Blood and all.

She knew what she had done. As soon as she passed me, she hopped off my huffy, ditched it in the cold grass, and ran home.

I slowly walked over and picked up my new Huffy. And I sadly walked her home. Dripping blood from my chin the whole way.

We didn't speak for a while.

A whole 45 minutes.

Daddy fixed my chin up. I told him the WHOLE story. And boy, he wasn't happy.

Sister bird got a spankin that day. The spankin heard round the World.

There. Thatda teach her.

As far as my busted up chin. It was a small price to pay for such a sweet victory.

Happy Birthday Sister Bird

************************************************************************************
Second of all. We have Greggie Poo and I's first Anniversary.

When I was working in the assisted living community, my residents threw me a bridal shower. Too cute, I know.

As part of my shower, each resident had a chance to give me some marital advice. We all sat around in the common area as each one began to tell me their own stories of marriage bliss....some good, some bad, and some down right hilarious.

And, In between stories, there was Ms. Fields.

"Huh? What did he say?"

Someone would shout across the room (so the whole State of Virginia could hear) to fill her in on what was just said.

"Oh, that's a good one. Un Hum."

She always tickled my funny bone. Maybe cause she had a little of Grandma in her. She gets jiggy with it.

I recently came across the paper with all of the advice on it.

I started to read it and found a chuckle with each line.

From my favorite little two toothed man we have ..."Don't humiliate each other"

No comment.

From the grumpiest old man in the place (who somehow found a special spot in my heart) we have... "Destiny makes us brothers, None can make his way alone, Each good thought we have for others, Comes back to our very own."

Everyone in the room had to pick up their jaw after that one. I guess I had found a special spot in his heart as well.

I don't want to make my way alone. I am so blessed to have found my soul mate.

From my spunkiest little lady we have..."Let him think he is getting his own way"

Oh, Mrs. C, I have this one mastered!

From the couple that celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary a mere days before, we have...(simultaneously I must add, "Hold your tongue"

Truth be told, I have NOT mastered this one. But I am honestly working on it.
~
"Huh? What did they say?"

"Oh yeah, that's a good one. Un Hum."

Each couple is different. Each couple can not be compared to another. We are a one of a kind couple.

So here's to my husband. Who puts me in my place. Who eats my burnt hard shell tacos. Who makes me belly laugh. Who I trust. Who is my best friend. Who spoils me rotten. Who spoils Bird Dog rotten. Who makes me want to be a better person. Who let's me call him Greggie Poo on my blog. Who I miss when he's away. Who I love.

Yuck! Who just wrote that sappy paragraph. Get off of my blog you impostor.

Happy Anniversary Greggie Poo.

************************************************************************************** Third of all, we have K Bird's birthday.

K Bird is a man of few words. But when he does speak we all listen. As it is full of wisdom and guidance.

I do not find it odd that my mother fell in love with a man of such few words. After all he did marry my mother, which means he has married into a family of 4 women who do not shut up. I should know. I am one of them.

I remember the first time I meet K Bird. (K Bird is such a biker name - I think I feel this one sticking) It was Halloween night 2005. He came over to Grandma's (Sister Bird and the kids were living there) after the kid's had been trick or treating. This means one thing. SUGAR RUSH!

Danielle was running around as a cute little chocolate covered fairy. Dylan was fighting off dragons as a bubble gum trenched knight.

There sat K Bird(man, I'm really liking the name). Quiet as a mouse, over in the corner. He watched on. Smiling with delight. Never once correcting the sugar plum fairy or the noble knight.

Hum... I thought. Well he made past Halloween with a 2 year old and a 5 year old. He's worth a second date.

And a third. And a fourth.

Then a few years and Halloweens later, K Bird and Mom were hitched.

I am so glad that he didn't run away into the night because of our "frightful" family on that Halloween night. I am so glad that he has made my mom the happiest I have ever seen her. I am so glad that he lets us put a "I love my Chihuahua" sticker on the back of his muscle bike and laughs with us.

Thank you K Bird for being the quiet soul in our soulful family!

Happy Birthday KBird

************************************************************************************

Like I said before. The most important of all of the October festivities is that Sammy Bird now says my name. When he gets in the car. "Mayme" When Sister bird is talking on the phone. "Mayme" When he sees me and wants one of the sixty golf balls on my shelve. "Mayme"

My little baby is getting so big.

I wonder when he is going to say "Greggie Poo"

That's Life

I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have last posted. I promise to make it up to everyone - aka Wendy Bird and Sister Birds.
I have had several "blogging material" events over the past few weeks. So many random thoughts and pictures to come.
For those of you, aka Wendy Bird and Sister Birds, who can't wait, I'll give you a little taste of what's to come.
My 1 year anniversary. Sister Bird's Birthday. My new niece. How my witchcraft was wrong. Williamsburg Ghost Tour. My neighbor. And the Williamsburg Ghost Tour.
So much material, so little time.
But that's life.

Witch Crafty Wednesday

One of my favorite blogs that I stalk, I mean, read, has Fashion Friday every Friday.

I thought that I would start doing the same. Only it will be called Witch Crafty Wednesday.

And it will last all of one day.

I was cleaning out my hall closet and I found an old canvas frame. I literally bought it a few weeks ago from the Target $1 section. Only I paid $2.50 for it. Sneaky Target. Of course I never hung it because for 1.) it's hideous and for 2.) everyone shops in the Target dollar section and everyone would know I paid too much for the thing.


So the wheels started turning.

I had some extra padding and fabric laying around.

I had a cheap canvas frame.

I had too much time on my hands.

First I gathered all of my materials.

(Told you it was hideous)

Next, I called Greggie Poo into the kitchen and made him do the rest.

First he stapled the padding all around the frame. Pulling the padding tight, each time he stapled. Then, he took the fabric piece and did the same exact thing that he did with the padding. And then...Voila ~ masterpiece! A fabricy note boardy thingy.


(and No, Mom. I do NOT practice witch craft. With it being close to Halloween and Emily's joke and, well, NEVERMIND! But the answer is NO!)

Jack is Back!

*******News Flash*******

Papa Bird finally read my blog.

And. had. a. cow. when. he. found. out. I. referred. to. him. as. Papa. Bird.

So now I shall call him....Greggie Poo.

There. Now, isn't that much better?

Back to the regularly scheduled blog.

Last weekend, Laura, Kevin, and the kiddos came to visit.
We headed next door to Busch. Gardens.

We all know why Dylan and Danielle couldn't wait to go to Busch Gardens.

But let's be honest here. We all know why Laura, Kevin, Greggie Poo and I couldn't wait to go either.

It just tastes so good when it hits your lips.

You're my boy Blue

We all had a great time!

Danielle is happy to report that she is officially the PURPLE wrist band. Which in 5 year old terms, means that she can so totally ride the Big Bad Wolf.

I know.
I don't want to talk about it either.

Dylan is happy to report that he is "a rollercoaster bigger" and graduated to the teal wristband. He is now a pro at the Loch Ness Monster.

I know.
I don't want to talk about it either.

Not only are my babies big enough for rollercoasters now, they are also big enough for the FRONT ROW BABY!

It was such a bitter sweet moment.



Don't let these pictures fool you. As soon as they turned the corner, the smiles and thumbs up turned to tight lips and white knuckles.


Dylan and Danielle "claiming" their Countries.



Too Cute!



Danielle had the best seat in the house!


My two little stars, with the star of the show. Jack is Back!


Oh, Jack is Back and he brought me a fanny pack and a double chin. Sweet.


Dylan and Danielle taking a photo opt.

After a few spooky surprises, Laura, Kevin and Greggie Poo had the chance to ride the Griffon.

While we were waiting, we pretended that we were riding too!


He looks so wittle in this big ole seat.


Her wittle legs don't even bend.


Oh man. There goes Jack - giving away gifts again.

We all had a great time! Seeing Howl-o-Scream through a child's eye was magical....even for someone who has been to Howl-o-scream 301 times.
Thanks for coming up guys!!

Being at Howl-o-scream really put me in the autumn mind set.
I couldn't wait to run home and start decorating!
I told myself I had to wait until the temperature was below 75 degrees, before I could pull out the "fall decor".
Let me tell you -
Greggie Poo was was so excited when it hit 74 degrees. He ran upstairs to the 3rd floor, grabbed the Halloween boxes, and joyfully helped me decorate. Without even a whimper or "you're blocking the TV" moment!
My blog.
My story.

Here are a few pics from around the house....

Someone wanted to make it on the blog...Can you find him?

On a different note...
Greggie Poo worked late tonight. He had been in Richmond all day working a show and didn't get home until after dinner time.
When Greggie Poo works late, he usually lugs through the door and disappears somewhere in the house for the next couple of hours.
But tonight was a little different.
Tonight Greggie Poo darted through the door carrying a canvas bag filled with goodies. He was searching for me everywhere.

He smiled. I smiled. He reached for the bag. My eyes followed.
What was in the bag making him so excited, I wondered. And was it for me?

He informed me that he had struck gold today and won the major door prize at the show.

"Nice work honey" I said.

"I thought of you when I was picking out my prize. I know you are going to love it" he replied.

He continued to reach in the bag and pulled out a black box around the size of a shoe box.

My palms started to sweat.

He opened the box, ripping at the plastic wrap as he went.
And handed me my new treasure.

A "Jack is Back" bobble head, two soccer stress balls and a plastic cone.

I give up.