Oops!

Saw this van in the parking lot at work. If you look carefully, you will see that at least one Easter egg wasn't found during the hunt! (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Kayleigh and Shawn's Wedding

The happy couple ... photo by Teresa Haller Photography

One of my oldest daughter's closest friends got married last Saturday. She looked so pretty ... and happy! I know Kayleigh is crazy about Shawn, and from the way he looked at her, I'd say he's he's in it for the long haul. I didn't bring tissues with me, because I didn't expect to get emotional. Kayleigh isn't my daughter ... she's my daughter's friend! I knew I was in trouble when I found myself fighting back tears driving to the wedding!

My oldest daughter was a bridesmaid, and ... of course ... I cried when she walked down the aisle, so the waterworks were already flowing when Kayleigh appeared on the arm of her stepdad, the man who raised her and her siblings as his own since she was very young.

I made it through the ceremony without sobbing (loudly) or making a spectacle of myself, but I did cry. I couldn't help it! But they were sentimental, happy tears. I have been to many weddings where I didn't get emotional at all ... and at one, I bawled all the way through the wedding and reception because I knew the bride was making the biggest mistake of her life ... and it broke my heart to see that sweet girl marry that piece of a-word-I-won't-type. And, sadly, I was right. That particular bride later confided that she knew she was making a mistake, but for reasons only she can understand, she went through with it anyway.

It's a given that I will be a basket case at my own daughter's wedding later this year ... the girls and I cry while we're merely planning it! We have accepted that our faces in the wedding pictures will be red and swollen from crying, but I figured I'd be able to attend her friend's wedding without losing it. Boy, was I wrong!

I've known Kayleigh since she was eight or nine years old. She was at my house so much over the years that it felt like she was one of mine. Kayleigh may not be "legally" part of my family, but she's got a special place in my heart ... and to see her all grown up and standing in her beautiful white dress beside a man who loves her as much as she loves him filled my heart with joy ... and when that happens, my eyes turn into sprinklers!!

I left the reception before the partying kicked into high gear, but my daughter's both stayed and danced. Here are a few highlights of the night:

Playing in the photo booth:

I'm not picking my nose ... I'm twirling my mustache :)

My younger daughter and her boyfriend, at the house before leaving for the wedding ...

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Me, at my house before we left for the wedding ...

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My pretty girls at the reception ...

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Me and my oldest daughter ...

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Me and my daughters ... who I often refer to as Thing 1 and Thing 2 ...

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My younger daughter dancing with her boyfriend ...

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My silly girls dancing. My oldest daughter is wearing her bridesmaid dress (and a lovely granny sweater similar to what I picture Mr. Roger's wife enjoys wearing!), and my younger daughter is wearing MY dress ... which was the subject of it's own blog ... I Love This Dress!

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Kale "Smoothie"

I ran to Walmart for potting soil and decided to treat myself to a Ski. I haven't had a Ski in a loooooong time, and really wanted one. I ended up talking myself out of buying a Ski and ended up "treating" myself to a mango protein smoothie (which was okay, but nothing I'll ever crave) ... and this one ... the "Kale Blazer".

The label says it has (among other things) apples and cucumber, with a hint of ginger and lemon. I figured it had to taste better than it looks or who would buy it?! Well, I was wrong. As hard as it is to believe, it looks better than it tastes. I had hoped that it would at least taste better than it smells, but once again, no. As awful as it smells ... it smells better than it tastes.

I'm drinking it because I bought it and because it says it's good for you, but it's not a pleasant experience, and I won't be buying any more. All I can say is that it better be good for me!! Actually, the way this thing tastes, I want more than nutrition for forcing myself to swallow it and keep it down ... I want superpowers! And not just any superpower ... I want the power of invisibility or the ability to fly!

I think the names of products should describe what they are and what they taste like. Take macaroni and cheese, for instance. When you buy macaroni and cheese you expect the food inside to taste like macaroni and cheese ... it it pretty much always does! So, to allow potential customers to know what they are getting into when they purchase a "Kale Blazer", I think they should change the name to "Pond Scum".

Hoosier is a funny word, isn't it?

Out of curiosity one day, I look up "Hoosier" in the dictionary. It states, and I quote, "A Hoosier is a resident or native of Indiana."

Well, I guess that clears that up!

I recently stayed at the Kintner House Inn in Corydon, Indiana. They have 15 guest rooms, each named for a person or event connected to the history of Corydon. On their website, each room is listed with pictures and a short narrative about how it came about its name. One of the rooms was the "Hoosier Suite" (this wasn't the room I stayed in). Their website offers several suggestions as to how Indiana became known as The Hoosier State:

The origin of the word "Hoosier" is not known with certainty. It has been applied to the inhabitants of Indiana for many years. As early as 1830, "Hoosier" must have had an accepted meaning, as John Finley printed a poem that year called "The Hoosier Nest" in which the word occurs several times.

• Governors Wright and O.H. Smith believed that "Hoosier" was a mispronunciation of "Who's Here?" That is the most frequent explanation given to inquirers. (This is kind of silly!)
• Another suggested explanation is that a resident of Indiana had been captivated by the prowess of the Hussars during the Napoleonic Wars. In an attempt at self-glorification, he pronounced himself a "Hoosier" rather than a "Hussar". (This is even sillier!)
• Still others maintain the term is derived from the word "husher" which was a common term for a bully. (I hope this isn't the real answer ... I don't like this one!!)
• A baker in Louisville whose last name was Hoosier claimed that people in Indiana liked his gingerbread so well that they came to be known as "Hoosier's Men" or "Hoosier's Customers". (I wouldn't mind being descended from people who like cookies!!)
• Other residents insist the word came from the question "Who's your mother?" or "Who's your father?" (This is a little silly, too, don't you think?!)

So, I guess it's safe to say that no one really knows how Indiana became The Hoosier State. "Hoosier" could be a big, fat insult ... or it could be that "Hoosiers" just like cookies! Personally, I'm going to go with the cookies explanation!!

Polly Want A ... Diet Book?

Olivia likes to perch on your shoulder like a parrot ... except I've never seen a parrot with a rear end that large ... and it won't all fit on your shoulder!

She is such a weirdo!

Uh ... Meow!

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Nice try, but a cat-ears headband does not make you a cat.

Azalea's

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I have five azalea's in my front flowerbed ... three regular azalea's and two encore azalea's. The center plant (above) seems to have weathered the winter best. The other four have leaves and/or flowers and buds, but the center one is blooming the most and looks the healthiest. I haven't gotten the front flowerbeds cleared of leaves and weeds yet. I'm hoping my future son-in-law will weed them for me. I have poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac in my yard. He's not allergic to them, but every time I try to weed my flowers I end up itching and sorry, regardless of how careful I try to be.

I've fertilized my azalea's and my sweeties is bringing over mulch for all of my flowerbeds. Between the food and a thick layer of mulch, I'm hoping they reward me with beautiful, profuse flowers throughout their growing season.

Someone Was A Little Underwhelmed

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I saw this road sigh in Ohio or West Virginia during a recent road trip.

Apparently whoever named the roads wasn't very impressed with this ridge! 

April Showers ...

... bring Mother's Day flowers!!

Happy Mother's Day

Moms can do some amazing things. They can find things you lost, even though you've already looked everywhere. They can produce dinner from a refrigerator and cabinets, even when you've just looked and know there is "nothing to eat". They can cook dinner, clean the house, do laundry, and help you with your homework, all at the same time. They somehow have everything you need for that science project at school, even though you didn't tell her until five minutes before bedtime. They teach you to walk, talk, pee in the potty, swim, ride a bike, swing, climb the ladder to the slicky-slide, knit, crochet, sing, sew, cook, drive, and plant flowers. . They take care of you when you're sick and play with you when you're well. They teach their daughters how to be a lady, and they teach their sons how to treat girls and women. They teach you how to prioritize your life in order to balance all the things you need to do. They teach you how to behave with money, so that you're always saving for a rainy day. They take you to the doctor, dentist, church and school. They are there at every parent/teacher conference, school play, athletic event, and major event of your life.

Moms, it seems, know everything and can do anything, including what seems like being in two places at the same time ... but they can't live forever ... so treasure your mother while you still have her.

Today I will take some flowers and put them on my mother's grave.