A look back in time

As I was cleaning out my files, I came across a four-paged paper I wrote when I was about Natalie's age, probably more like 8 years old. I'm pretty sure it was not from a school assignment because I remember writing a lot of stories at home. I even included three pages of floor plans for my "mansion!" It's called What I want to do when I grow up. It was pretty funny to read so I thought I would post it for your enjoyment too...all typos are intentional to show how I spelled the words when I wrote this as a kid.

What I want to do when I grow Up

When I grow-up I want to own a mansion with a white girl horse. It will have a big deck half 8 foot swimming pool other half picnick table with a big umbrella. I want it to be a three story house. The bottom floor will be the t.v. and gest rooms, the middle floor will be a kitchen and liveing room, the very top will be my bed room. There will be bathrooms with shouers on the top and bottom floors, the middle will be a bathtub.

There will be a elevator. I will have a big red barn for my hourse. It will have three windows with screens. I will also have a fifteen acer back yard and my front yard will be one acer. In the back yard there will be a swing set. I will have a garage with a big camping trailer. There will be enogh room for keeping things in. I want to have a big front pourch, I also want to live in the country. There will be big windows in the kitchen.

The room next to my bedroom will be my childs room. There will be a big and pretty garden on the two sides of the pourch. I want a lasy (Lassie) dog and a calico cat. I might have a fish pond with a neting around it so the cat can't get the fish. I want to have a baby girl, she will be in the room next to me. I will give her a cradle until she is old enough for a canopy bed.

In the kitchen I will have a dishwasher and a micerwave oven and a sink, some bilt in benches, coffee maker and a table, and of course some cobords.

Everyday I will feed the hourse hay and water. I might rase bunny rabbits too. I will plant a garden. It will have fruit bushes (exsept blackberrys) and I will have vegetablels (exspt spinch). I will have a sunflower plant too. When my little girl (if I have one) gets five, after school is out, I will take her to disneyland (if it is still there).

In the haul way between te gest room and the tv room will be a bar. I also want to be a teacher, I will teach first grade. I will do lots of pies and cakes and cookies. I hope I will have a lot of money left over. I want to have lots of juels. I am going to have six gards, one on corner of the house one by the front door, one by the back door. In the bar will be shampane and straws and cups and beer. In the gest room there will be three beds a sink, a closet and a wooly rug.

On the lawn there will be no weeds, just nice green grass. In the living room there will be a fire place, there will also be a couch , three chairs and a coffie table. Maybe I might have pitchers up. Also at the bar will be dr. Pepper

The kichen windows will have big curtains, the kitchen will also be colored light blue. The bar will be brown, the living room is green, my bedroom red, the gest room white, the tv room yellow, the childs room orange. In the tv room there will be a book shelf and a big color tv and on top of the book shelf will be a plant. The bathrooms will be purple. Also in the living room will be a three foot statue. In my bed room will be a canipy bed a clock and a closet and some dresser drorrs and a book shelf and a night stand. In the closet on the pole will be my fancy dresses on the bottom will be my shoes, sandles and roller scates. In the kitchen cobberds will be a baby dish, silverware, cups and glasses and boles and plates. The kidchen floor will be lanoleum. Heaters also and three telephones.

It's Caturday!

In case you can't read what this cat is trying to say, you can also find these truly inspired words here: Miss Teen USA.

How do you like my hat?

After we got back from camping, I took a much needed nap, then we went out for dinner with Dan's dad for my belated birthday. I was in the mood for Halibut (when am I not in the mood for halibut!?), so we ended up at McGraths Seafood Grill. I had the Parmesan halibut which was really good. Then they came out and served me an ice cream sundae (which I shared) and sang me a birthday song...and let me wear this great hat. It was hard to keep on as it was so heavy and wobbly, but I think it's a good look for me!

It's Caterday

Happy Caterday Everyone!

It's Caterday!

Our friend Chris came up with another great idea last night. He suggested perhaps that I could also do a blog about our cat, Harley...Instead I am introducing what could become a regular feature at Ernstopia...

Happy Caterday!

Stay tuned next week for more Catatude!

Zander strikes again!

Oh, the things they say!

I was listening to the older kids play in the other room and they were deep in conversation when Zander says:

"Natawee, everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes people say you are not cute...when, actually, you are cute. See, they made a mistake!"

Natalie: "You can say THAT again!"

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We are trying to get Zander to use both sides of the paper when drawing pictures. I was just telling him that if you use both sides you can save trees, because trees are used to make paper. He responded by saying:

"Okay, you can cut down the trees now, that way we can have a lot of paper...and don't forget to use the BIG knife."

Lessons Learned from Watching the Brady Bunch

There is no show I watched more growing up than the Brady Bunch. We used to see who could be the first to guess which episode it was going to be. Name that episode. I could usually tell within the first 20-30 seconds...To this day I still love the show...in all it's cheezy Brady goodness! Just last night I caught a few minutes of the TV Land Awards where the Brady Bunch received the Pop Culture award. I must admit, I almost teared up when Ann B. Davis (Alice) got a really long standing O. What can you say about the Brady's they taught us so many valuable life lessons. Here are a few (well 120 to be exact) lessons ...these should bring back some memories and put a smile on your face. Unless you are my husband who just doesn't appreciate pop culture like I do. By the way, can you believe "Marcia" is 50!!!


Lessons Learned from Watching the Brady Bunch

1. Mom always said, don't play ball in the house.
2. Lemon juice does not remove freckles.
3. Always wear your glasses especially when having a family photograph done.
4. Brush your hair 100 strokes each night
5. It's bad karma to say, "Something suddenly came up."
6. Always remember that big sister will be prettier and more popular than you.
7. All of life's problems and disasters can be fixed in 30 minutes!!!
8. Do not open an umbrella when the car top is down.
9. Don't borrow your Mom's 'Cleopatra" earrings
10. When serving pork chops, applesauce makes a lovely side dish
11. Never lie and say youre dying of a dreaded disease just to get Joe Namath's autograph
12. If you want Davy Jones to come to your house, just tell him
13. When in Hawaii, best to leave that little carved tiki god where you found it. Don't pick it up!
14. Any major family disagreement or dispute can be settled with either a card house building contest or a potato sack race.
15. Sometimes when it's time to change, you've got to rearrange.
16. Do not hide a fragile present in the garage.
17. Don't trust your kids with your important work documents...especially at amusement parks.
18. If you get hit in the face with a football, your nose WILL be flattened
19. hiding the school mascot live goat in your attic bedroom is not such a good idea.
20. Be yourself.. don't buy big black frizzy wigs
21. Always test the volcano around your sister's snobby friends!
22. If you go to the Grand Canyon, don't let the kids wander off alone
23. If you save someone and become a local hero, don't go around telling everyone. They won't like you!
24. It's not good to idolize Jesse James.
25. that you only need a little bit of soap in the washing machine...
26. engraving is 15 cents PER LETTER..not for the whole silver platter
27. Carol singing on christmas morning will heal the world
28. a pay phone in the house could be cool
29. a house of cards will eventually fall (thank you tiger)
30. Astroturf is much better than grass in the backyard.
31. Six kids CAN share two bedrooms, one bath, one TV and one phone... and still live harmoniously at the end of the half hour.
32. When I feel left out I can make up a boyfriend named George uh, Glass. George Glass. He'll carry my books and think I'm super cool!
33. I learned that a flashlight makes an excellent hiding place for hot dogs and some baked beans.
34. Don't get yourself locked in an old jail cell in a ghost town!
35. I learned that when a bully picks on your little sister for her "lisp" problem....you just punch the bully in the mouth and then he will have a "lisp" too!
36. Hanging upside down on the swingset will not make you taller!
37. Never have both the cat and the dog at the wedding. It's either one or the other!
38. When you have an allergic reaction, don't always blame the dog.
39. Sometimes you have to compromise when deciding what to get with your trading stamps.
40. Never sleep with your locket on. It may fall out the window.
41. It's not easy making a film about pilgrims.
42. Peter makes a cute Sunflower Girl.
43. Make sure that you get plenty of rest before attempting to set a new teeter totter record.
44. If you have to go to court due to a fender bender, throw your brief case on the floor to see if the other person really has whiplash.
45. The safety monitor is usually a very unpopular person.
46. Just because your dentist asks if you are free on Friday night, it does not mean he is asking you out for a date.
47. Never judge a cheerleading competition if your sister is a contestant.
48. One kiss from Millicent does not give you the mumps.
49. You can always use an egg to determine who the better driver is.
50. Your cousin Oliver may not really be the jinx that you think he is.
51. Never buy hair tonic from your brother.
52. When going on a trip, always wear a belt and socks, never know when you will need to tie them together to escape out of jail
53. Don't call some NASA expert even if you're SURE there's a UFO outside.
54. If you're the hall monitor at school, DON'T take you're work home with you.
55. Frogs and pizza don't mix.
56. And no matter how many times you practice, "Hark!" "Who goes there!?" you're going to screw it up on opening night...
57. Before signing a record deal, find out if you're only there because you "fit the suit"
58. Dressing up like Shirley Temple is a dumb idea.
59. Making a Thanksgiving play with your family is fun.
60. It is okay to wear your glasses, it keeps you from wrecking your bike.
61. If you get fired from the bicycle shop, you should tell your family, not keep faking like you are going to work.
62. If you don't want your parents to sell your house, then lead potential buyers into thinking it is haunted.
63. If your voice is changing, you should record a song about it.
64. Dad's office can be transformed into a groovy pad man.
65. If you don't have a date for Saturday night, you can always square dance with your family in the living room.
66. Don't get all snobby when they pick you to play Juliet.
67. Don't make election promises you can't keep.
68. When on vacation, families always sing "My Darling Clementine" in the car.
69. Sometimes if you are really cute, mommy AND Daddy can see your class play in a special performance.
70. Any school election called "Most Popular Girl" and "Most Popular Boy" can never have nice consequences!
71. If you're going to be a Women's Libber, be prepared to hike with the Boy Scouts!
72. If you have an ugly teacher, don't sketch the picture of George Washington on the wall.
73. If you ever get in front of a tv camera, never look directly at the little red light
74. If you get picked to do a television commercial, don't act like a bunch of 'squares' .....and don't take acting lessons from Myrna.
75. It's okay to grow up and look like Aunt Jenny. Beauty is on the inside.
76. Pie in the face can be a real career killer. Just ask cousin Oliver.
77. One is never too young to set a world record. Especially the see-saw record. Oh, and throw in some big yawns for extra cuteness.
78. Don't forget to bring a cut-out of a bear when you're camping, just in case you want to scare your brothers.
79. If the city is going to build something on your park, just interrupt years of research and development by proposing to put it at the city dump. They'll go for the idea in a second!
80. Want to stand out from your pretty older and younger sister? Wear a funky wig!
81. If you're eavesdropping on your housekeeper, make sure you know who's really engaged before throwing a surprize party. She really might be bowling that night.
82. If you save a little girl and get rewarded, don't throw a party if you've spent all the time bragging about it. No one will come.
83. Make friends with the Dittmyers. They just might invite you to their barbeque.
84. Don't be afraid to have braces at the school dance. The cutest guy in school will fly off the handle bars of his bike and will need them too.
85. The capital of Lousiana is Baton Rouge
86. A poster of Yogi Bear does not make a good architectural presentation.
87. If you don't win the ice cream eating contest and get ice cream for a whole YUUUUUMMMY Year, your family will give you a pity prize trophy and a large ice cream sundae.
88. You can buy your little sister a secret admirer for just a real Kennedy half dollar! He'll do anything for it!!!!
89. Ask Santa for a miracle and it will happen!
90. Always take your kids on your honeymoon!
91. Sometimes it's better to just paint the backdrops.
92. Never date, "the big man on campus!" He is shallow and will dump you if your nose gets a little swollen and bruised
93. Never stop in a ghost town on your way to the Grand Canyon....Mr. Howell from Gilligan's Island might lock you up in jail for tying to steal his claim!
94. F-F-FIL-L-L-LMO-O-O-ORE FILMORE JR. HIGH!
95. If you're putting on a play of Snow White in your backyard, better get a permit in case some random cop at the grocery store asks you about it.
96. Everyone wants to be Dopey.
97. Listen closely to the Department store guy. He charges PER LETTER, Jan!
98. If you hide your diary in the garage behind the old books and it gets donated to charity you just might get to meet Desi Arnez Jr.!
99. Never date the football player of the rival team...he'll try to steal your brother's play book!!
100. Don't try to get your random freak twin named Arthur to help you date two different girls on the same night.
101. If you try to woo a girl the way Cyrano did, it's only going to backfire and she'll really just want Greg instead.
102. When you grow up, you get to move into the attic, but check with your sister first because she may have the same idea.
103. It would be an engineering nightmare to build a cosmetics factory that opened up like a compact.
104. Always carry your macrame handbag with you on tours of old ghost towns. You can always use it to get the key to the jail and free your family.
105. - Don't forget the apple for the Snow White play in your backyard.
106. - "The only steps in this house are those....leading right up to your room, Bobby."
107. - You can save your football team by blowing up the pictures you took on the sideline in your bathroom photo lab.
108. - You can make your housekeeper really happy by taking a picture of her near her recipe written on the chalkboard.
109. - Don't say nasty things about Mr. Phillips' boat when he calls after you've had your tonsils out.
110. Never, ever wear your charm bracelet while building a house of cards
111. No one likes a tattletale!!!
112. Never bet on how many chin ups you can do!
113. When you kiss you can see fireworks and possibly get the mumps.
114. Grandpa Brady and Grandma Hutchins make a cute couple.
115. It's not a good idea to idolize a cold blooded gun totin gangster
116. If Kitty Carry All turns up missing, check the dog house.
117. When your sisters are having a slumber party, itching powder in the sleeping bags is good for a few laughs
118. Never trust anyone who tells you that you are "groovy from all angles."
119. All the super glue in the world won't fix mom's favorite vase.
120. The more fringe on your dance costume the better...oh and beaded headbands.

Picture of the Day 01-12

Some friends of ours just had their first baby, so I put together this Diaper Changing Survival Kit. Included are: gloves, a clothes pin (for the nose), a face mask, antibacterial hand gell, wipes and duct tape (Dan actually used some duct tape on one of Natalie's diapers when the velcro tab ripped off!). I put everything in a tackle box so it is manly enough for the new dad to use. All they need are diapers and they are equipped to handle any diaper disaster that may come their way.

Picture of the Day 12-18

Unfortunate Fortune:

Last night my family all met up at Chang's Mongolian Grill to celebrate my brother's birthday (which is actually tomorrow). We all had a good time and good food. On our way out, as is customary, we all took a fortune cookie. Here is the one my brother got. This has got to be the worst fortune ever. I thought it was funny. Right now I am so tired, my judgement is off...this should have been my fortune!

Good for a laugh

As a former weight watchers survivor, I had to share this with you. Someone found a bunch of old (from the 70's) Weight Watchers recipe cards and posted them, in all their glory, along with hilarious commentary. If you need to be cheered up, or just like laughing at disgusting food combinations, then head on over to this site for a good time where you will read about how to turn innocent green beans into a glorified gelatinous dome of wiggly wonder. Too bad I didn't think to make this for Thanksgiving. Oh well, there's always next year.

(Be sure to check out the header tabs on your browser window. They change with each new recipe and are just as funny as the commentary) Here's an example to whet your appetite...if you still have one after looking at the picture:

Poke it, It trembles-
See how the Ceramic Mushroom Family has gathered to show their children what happens to bad little mushrooms.

Happy Thanksgiving

I just wanted to wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving. (click on the photo to see one of my favorite Thanksgiving songs). We have so much to be thankful for. This year we have been blessed with a new home. It has been an answer to prayer in so many ways. Not only does it have more room, but it is also in a great school district, and it has a huge yard where the kids will be able to explore and play and run around. We are thankful for our new friends and neighbors who have been so welcoming to us "newbies." We feel blessed to have moved to an area that is just swarming with playmates for our kids to play with. We see God's beauty on a daily basis...and without all that wind! Now that is something to be truly thankful for! Dan and I are thankful for grandparents nearby who love on our kids (and watch them for a while when we need a break!)

God has kept us all healthy this year (knock on wood). He has provided for us when money was pretty tight and he enabled us to keep up with and pay off all of the medical bills we accumulated from last year. We have been so thankful for all the recent design work that's come our way as well as Dan's job teaching at the college.

Most of all I am thankful for my wonderful family and our kids who make us smile on a daily basis. They are so much fun and I love to see their enthusiasm about the simplest things.

When I asked Zander what he was most thankful for he said: "my coat, my family, my toys, cars, Toystory movies, books and paper."

Natalie is thankful for: "my friends and family, our world, toys, my parents, turkeys, my school, my room and my pink pillow."

This morning I made a French toast breakfast for Dan's dad and his new wife. In about a half an hour we will be leaving to go have a delicious turkey dinner with Dan's mom and all his siblings. The kids will be staying over night with Grandma "Flutter," and then early tomorrow morning, Dan and I will hit the big sales. Later tomorrow afternoon, we will spend the afternoon with my family at my brother's house. When all is said and done I will really be thankful if I don't gain any weight!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

Picture of the Day 11-12

Last night, Dan and I went on a date to the Edgefield Power Station for dinner and a movie. I love that you can eat your dinner while watching the show. Anyway, we watched Talladega Nights with Will Ferrell. We thought is was really funny...if you like ridiculous, larger than life movies that poke fun of NASCAR you will like it too!