Snow, Snow, Go Away...You Don't Have to Come Again Another Day

I have had more than my fair share of snow this year. Everytime I get a glimmer of hope (or even a glimpse of my driveway pavement) the sky dumps more upon us.

I have never been a snow kind of person, or even cold weather for that matter. When I was young, my dad was stationed in Biloxi, MS and we lived right on the beach. Anytime I am at my mom's house, I glance through old photo albums just to refresh my memory of those days...my hair was a very light brown, the sun was always shining and though it doesn't seem possible to anyone who knows me...I had a tan!! Greg and I have wanted to move south for a long time. We bought a condo in Myrtle Beach, SC in 1999 and it is our wonderful second home. We live for those weeks that we spend down there. I get so depressed during this time of the year...I know it is only one season, but I long for certain things of the south...flowers, salt water air, warm sand underneath my feet, palm trees...the list goes on and on. This year has definitely been a test for me, will I survive? Sure, I always do, but it really takes a toll on me and poor Greg who has to listen to me complain about it. I have 5 children and though it seems crazy, I think the only time I get gray hair is in the winter...could it be possible that snow gives me gray hair?

Ah, South Carolina...

How I long for the waves....

More Smiles...

Family...

Don't get me wrong, my family does have our smiles and each other no matter where we are, but it is crazy what cold weather does to us. It strands us, suffocates us, even the kids want to stay inside. Every once in a while, one of my kids will ask to go out in the weather just to get a change of scenery. In my yard, if one of my kids takes a step into the snow...I will never see them again. That is no exageration! It is so deep out there and that is not counting the snow drifts, but just what is coming straight down. The south is calling; North Carolina, South Carolina, maybe even Florida-they are pleading for our return...we just hope to make it permanant one day :)

What "Wood" You Do?

Who out there loves to save all of your old stuff from school? Old artwork, tests, school projects, etc...I for one, saved every certificate, trophy, report card and my most special awards and medals...I even have some grade school art work. I mean, who could give up that gorgeous lunch sack jack-o-lantern?!

I always thought that I saved just about everything until I met my husband. I came into the marriage with about 6-20 gallon totes of everything from my childhood and he came only came with 1! I was shocked! Did he not keep anything from when he was young? Almost 15 years later, it slowly comes trickling in. I just love looking at this stuff! Especially the finished projects of his Shop class. I took Home-Ec and had the joy of making a pin-cushion and a pillow, but Greg seems to have made a ton of useful things; candleholders, shelves, stepstools, and so on. We even have a wooden reindeer that we put out every Christmas...of course, after that long I had to add my own thing to make it "ours" Replaced a missing eye, added a new pom-pom nose and even put some primitive berries on the neck area :)

Does anyone else decorate their home with projects from the past? I believe the reindeer is the only thing we have used so far, but would like to find a place for all the others. Even if it means just putting a shelf in a corner to house the boys trophies, I will feel like they are put to some use! I did the same thing in my dad's house when he moved last year. I remember seeing a few different projects he made when he was younger just sitting around collecting dust in the garage. I brought new life into his home when I found a place for each and every one of those items....luckily none of them were dated and still have a purpose. I believe in the past, I may have even bought items from yard sales and second-hand stores that were someone's shop projects...all tasteful items that just needed a little bit of love :) Cameron is supposed to take shop during the last 12 weeks so I need to make room for some new art...I'm really looking forward to that....no really, I am proud of anything that my kids bring home...and they have brought home some wild things! Cameron's ceramic mug from art last year is a great example...he keeps telling me to drink my hot cocoa from it, but it kind of scares me a little. I worry it may leak through the seams or spill due to the slight lopside of the cup..I bet it would make an awesome paper clip holder (and I am only saying that because I saw one on my kid's pediatrician's desk doing just that function) One of my friend's kids made a chip and dip holder...don't get me started on the uniqueness of that piece....

Oh, what we do for kids...and husbands for that matter. Anyone want to help me out? Greg has one piece I can't figure out what to do with...any ideas?

Gingerbread Houses...the last thread attaching you to Christmas!

Well, we were finally able to take time to put together the gingerbread house that I bought after Christmas (I always buy them after Christmas, something to do on a boring day and because I am the biggest cheapskate) Last year, we didn't have very much luck with the house. We couldn't get it together and I ended up passing out a piece of the house to each child to decorate. Once each piece was propped up, it looked like a village. This year, it was a little better :)

Why do they include the plastic icing piping bag?! Once you put the toothpaste textured icing into the bag, it seals shut like cement. I was afraid to get any icing on my hand with the fear I would be attached to the dining room table for a week! We ended up just using a knife, it was more practical. Cameron decided to take on the icing job while Genin (though he didn't want it as documented in pic below) ended up with the job of holding up the house while it was molding into place, luckily not to his hands...

It worked out great this time...until my kids decided to get really creative. "Can we make the house look like a real winter house in PA?" For anyone who hasn't been in the east this winter, our area got 36 inches of snow!! Trees and wires are down, driveways are even tough to get up with a 4 wheel drive! Snow piled on bushes will make for some horrible looking gardening come spring :( We had 6 days without electricity and water...blah! After sealing our gingerbread house and sweetening it up with the included candy pieces, the following was the finished PA winter house...or so I thought....

Like many of the houses in the area, the heavy snowfall proved to be too much and the roof has fallen off (Cameron used the rock hard icing bag to beat on the roof to get it to come off since it actually secured in place this year)

Once the roof had fallen off, it didn't take much more....

Luckily, we have yet to see a house in PA this bad, but I have heard more than enough complaints....

I have always taken in interest in living down south...I have definitely thought longer and harder about this after the trials and tribulations this winter. I think I am just have one of those body types that needs to have warmth all year :) Does anyone else find it depressing to look at snow this long? I have never hated the color white so much in my life! I try not to be grumpy on a regular basis, but I have to admit, snow does this to me. Give me about an inch at Christmas and I am ready for spring. Once the Christmas tree comes down...the snow should just go with it. My sincere apologies to those who love snow and winter...I am just not a winter person. Even my husband can't wait to mow the 5 of our 10 acres, and with this snow, it should grow pretty quickly! I can just see it now...green, lots of green, trees in full bloom (of the trees that are still standing) flowers and eventually the gorgeous blue of our in-ground pool come May. I have even gotten pretty stoked when I see a hint of my driveway peeping through the ice and snow. I absolutely love the smell of spring especially the rain. Isn't that strange? I hate snow, but love rain...I could just stand in it for hours letting it hit my face and take in the fresh smell. Give me a thunderstorm and I am in heaven (of course, I wouldn't be outside letting this hit my face, I love heaven and all, but people versus lightning is nuts) Whoever wrote the poem, Rain Rain Go Away...should have their head examined...or have a winter like ours!

Cameron bought a coconut...

My 12 year old son, Cameron has always wanted to buy a fresh coconut. I don't care for coconut, so I have never purchased one. I haven't kept my family from it though...I have bought several bags of shredded coconut for baking reasons :) But a bag of coconut doesn't seem to hit the spot with an aspiring chef...so...he bought a coconut. Only $1.39!

Took a while to get it open. He tried the back of a butcher knife handle like they do on Iron Chef America, but mom ended that really soon when the blade was bouncing up too close to his chest. Break out the hammer!! Clawing at it with the back side of the hammer, he manages to make a small gash in the coconut shell. Taking one final pound with the hammer, the coconut cracks open.

The moment he has been waiting for....until... As the coconut came open, did we see the fresh white coconut milk...no, nothing but pieces of shell down inside of a dirty bit of fluid....

Did we see soft coconut that we could freshly shred...no, nothing, but a gooey mess.....

There is nothing worse than a coconut pie recipe, a future chef....and his rotten coconut...

Welcome to my World :)

Hi :) I am Dede and you have just chosen to enter my world. I have chosen the title: My Life is a Reality Show...based off of the life I have lived for 33 years. With me it seems, there is never a dull moment!

I have been married for 14 1/2 years to the most wonderful man in the world. We just recently found out that he is diabetic so it has taken some time to get used to the changes in our everyday eating and activities. He works long hours in management for UPS, but is a hands on, full time dad when he is at home. I couldn't have asked for a better husband!

We have 5 beautiful children. #6 is due in May so as you can plainly see, I do love my man :) I have a 12 year old son, Cameron, 9 year old son, Genin, 6 year old daughter, Kaplyn, 3 year old son, Reiner and 1 1/2 year old son, Brandis. Our #6 is a little girl so we have a nice little boy, boy, girl, boy, boy, girl pattern going on there :) I am very active in their schools. Whether it be PTA Member, Chairperson of school-wide activities or homeroom mom, I am always getting into something new and interesting. I love to make homemade costumes for Halloween and Valentine boxes for their Valentines. Not just for their benefit, but for mine as well....I feel the need to show a lot of love through everything I do.

I love to volunteer for charitable organizations. Today and in the past, I have been involved with United Way, March of Dimes, The Ronald McDonald House, The Mission, The Salvation Army and more!! I have also taken on a more green outlook on life. Though I haven't gotten as far as composting, I have found ways to do my share in todays environment.

I am a huge dumpster diver!! I pick up the smallest to the largest things from curbsides on trash day to try to add some new life. My idea is to keep as many things out of the landfill as possible and give everything a second chance. I love yard sales to buy and sell. My entire house is made up of yard sale finds and it looks magnificent!

I have many jobs days to day which sometimes make for some long days. Besides being a wife and mother, I work as a freelance Voice-Over Artist on an audition basis which makes it nice as I can be where my kids need me. My degree is in Interior Design, but I do not use that as much as I would like. With today's economy, that is the last thing on quite a few minds.

I absolutely love to write! I have been published in some of the greatest magazines including Parenting and Parents. I have been blogging for quite a few years between Myspace and Facebook, but decided to take it a little farther and so this blog begins. I hope to be able to provide all of my readers with writing that makes you laugh out loud if even for just a moment. People look at my blogs the way they do their TV sets and I am glad to entertain :)