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When I wrote yesterday's post, it was right after I had had my interview on WOAI (San Antonio Living) and right after I'd seen Dooce on Good Morning America and Nightline.

I have to say - I was a bit aggravated after seeing Dooce on Good Morning America. I just wanted to wring Kathy Lee Gifford's neck for being so stupid and uninformed. I don't think I am alone in my perception of this interview - that it did little to help people further understand blogging or to shine a good light on why we blog. I thought that Dooce held her own, but I was also a bit aggravated that she did not jump out there and put Kathy Lee Gifford in her place. I would have loved to have heard Dooce a bit more aggressive about her position (while I understand why she did not).

I did, however, love the Nightline interview - it was FABULOUS!

So many people left some really great comments on my post yesterday, I thought I would highlight some quotes from each of those comments. Who better to describe the positive aspects of blogging than a bunch of seasoned bloggers!

Mamarazzi said: "Blogging has made my life brighter and better ... just from the people who touch my life and allow me to touch theirs." She also said, "and FINALLY I did not feel so alone anymore."

Joanna said: "Reading what other's go through - their ups and downs, helped pull me out of depression. I don't click too well with other people, but in bloggy world I find my peeps."

Karen said, "We share about everything, support and encourage each other and laugh and cry together. Those that don't understand just don't know what they're missing."

Angela said: "I do love blogging. It isn't easy finding friends in this world of ours. Plus, I love talking about my son."

rthling said: "One of the greatest things about blogging is meeting people I would not have otherwise met. Blogging helps us find common ground and reminds us we are not crazy for loving our kids so fiercely. And to top it off, we have an outlet for pent-up creativity."

Denise Wheeler said: "I love bragging about my kiddos." She also said, "I have made some incredible friends in my blog world."

Dani said: "When I started blogging, I had NO idea the joy that I would derive from it." She also said, "I was really just writing for the fun of it and so the my words would be somewhere for my daughter and maybe someday for my grandchild/children to read."

Bichonpawz said: "I love the new relationships and friendships I have formed through blogging."

Yvette said: "I think it helps me to have a stronger focus on my family and the things we do in our daily lives, because I'm always looking for the story. I have also met some amazing blogging friends." She went on to say, "We are an amazing group of women!"

Kelli said: "I just might consider printing this post and handing it out to those c"clueless people".

Are You Serious said: "I'm fine with being a mommy blogger."

Elaine A. said: "I started blogging just to keep family and friends up to date on the comings and goings of our family and now it has become SO much more for me. I had no idea what a wonderful community it is and now I do."

Leeann said: "I vent, I cry, I whine, I cheer, I smile, I laugh, I brag ... all through words and pictures. I am leaving a legacy for my children. The day to day things that would get pushed out of my memory ... I have forever written down. To me - that is priceless."

Mighty Morphin Mama said: "I have to say that the family of women that I have found here, the women supporting and uplifting one another has been the biggest and most wonderful surprise about blogging for me."

Karen Meg said: "It helped keep my mind from going to mush, and a big, big bonus was "meeting" wonderful women like you, on the web." She also said, "But their (our children) stories are also our stories, and I'd like to one day be able to show these kids that my blog is a love story about them, and to them. And my husband too, whether he really likes it or not. But mostly to myself, because right now in my life, it is something that I enjoy. And moms, women, are allowed that in their life too."

Kim-d said: "My life has been enriched by blogging in ways too numerous to mention." She also said, "I cherish my blogging friends, and I feel that back from them. That's why I do it. It makes me a better, happier person."

Dawn said: "I do think that Mommy Bloggers are a community with a great deal of power ... precisely because we support each other."

Suz said: "This for me is just an outlet to remember all the little things in my life that I will forget one day unless I write them down."

Tabitha said: "I never dreamed when I started blogging that I would love it so much!! I have made so many great blogging friends, and am more than happy to be a mommy blogger!!"

Julie said: "I am so happy that I have so much of the kids' lives documented, which is the main reason for blogging."

Jenn @ Juggling Life (http://jugglinglife.typepad.com/) said: "I believe someday our kids will be so happy to have these anecdote's available to share with their children."

Kari & Kijsa said: "We are moms, and bloggers too! Yea for both."

Amanda said: "No matter where you are in the world, it's nice to read that other people (mums) are going through the same things as me. Mommy bloggers rule!"

Bonnie said: "I can tell you this, I am glad to be a part of it. It is validating, rewarding, satisfying and I LOVE it. I really feel it has helped me to be a better person. I have been pretty sick this past week. Knowing I am going to write about it on my blog later helps me to be more positive about the whole experience. The support from other people is so bouying and sustaining."

Kaci said: "I tried it a while back, but then deleted my account. But, after reading Leah's blog, I said I'll give it another shot. I love it ... and hope to never stop."

Jen said: "Look out world because here come the mommy bloggers!" She also said, "I feel honored to have met such a great group of women."

Sharon said: "I have found friends that I love dearly and may never meet until we step into the other side of eternity." She also wrote, "I am proud to be called a mommy blogger."

Carl & Kathy said: "It's a way to keep in touch." She went on to say, "I've met fellow bloggers like you and I've been enriched. And I've enjoyed the creative outlet and the comments that people make. It's an all around positive experience."

Rima said: "I agree with all your points."

Melanie said: Blogging has been amazing for me. I was so lonely, staying home all day every day by myself before I started to blog. I've made some great friends, people I really consider to be my friends and I am a proud mommy blogger!

Rosemary Bogdan said: I was in a bookstore when I passed a book called, "Blogging for Dummies." I picked it up thinking, what is blogging anyway. I bought the book and read the whole thing. My older children were very amused. Are you going to start a blog, Mom? I said, maybe. I thought this would be good for me. I could learn more about computers and also practice my writing. After I finished the book I told my oldest I still had no idea what they were talking about and that I was going to read it again and see if I could glean more. He said, "Mom, don't do that. Just start your blog. You'll learn as you go along." And I did. (Although I still have a LOT to learn.)I love being a mommy blogger although I do also write on topics sometimes...Love your blog.

Nicki said: I think its awesome that blogging allows parents to tell their stories, brag about their ideas, vent their frustrations, and exchange information with others. It definitely makes the world a smaller, and more friendly, place!

So ... there you go. There are some of the reasons people (mommies) - blog.

I think Karen Meg said it best when she described one of the reasons why mommy bloggers blog. She said, "I'd like to one day be able to show these kids that my blog is a love story about them, and to them."

Me too, Karen Meg - Me too!!!

I have quite a following on my site - right?

Why?

I have had many people comment or e-mail me - over the past 4 months - asking me this very question. Why? How did I do it? Why me?

On one hand, I am a little insulted by this question, as I have dedicate a huge amount of time and creativity into my writing and I would like to think that a percentage of visitors come to my site to read what I have written - hear what I have to say. I'd like to think that they think I am smart and funny and offer entertaining stories and useful information. I like to think that I have earned their respect and therefore they look forward to reading about my children and family and that they feel invested in not only my life, but in my success as a blogger - as well.

I know some of the reasons why I have the following that I have.

I have worked my butt off for 4 months! I have visited thousands of sites. I have left thousands of comments. I have written hundreds of stories and tried very, very hard to make those stories fun and interesting and creative and well written. I have analyzed ways to improve my traffic and even implemented some of those tools. I have tried my very best to fit into this world of Mommy Bloggers and I have done that. I have done everything possible to make friends and make those friends realize how much I need them and how much they mean to me. I have made many, many good friends.

One of the reasons I have so many visitors to my site is because I went out and brought them to me. Many of the friends I have - are ones that I went out and found and the reasons they keep coming back - I believe - is because I continue to support each and every one of those friends. I would be very surprised if any one of my bloggy friends were able to say that this is not true. And, yes, I have some visitors that came across my blog on their own and are now also my friends, but they too would have to say that I am equally as loyal to them by constantly staying in touch and visiting their sites as well.

Everyone of you that has a blog knows just how difficult it is to keep up with a blog. Keep up with posting and visiting other sites. It is nearly impossible to do it every single day. But ... I have tried to do it. I have committed, every single day, to visiting other sites and reading and leaving comments. I visit every single site that leaves me a comment (some days as many as 80 sites). In addition, I visit other sites along the way. In any given day, I can visit 100's of sites. Why do I do this? I do it - to show my loyalty and to encourage loyalty to me. And ... it has been very rewarding.

I think that I have a good site. I think I have a unique format and I have worked very hard to create a positive forum. It is who I am and it works for me because I have tried very hard to build my site on the foundation of strong beliefs. I do not often complain in the normal "ranting" fashion - while I do have many complaints (just like everyone) in my life - just because that is how I have chosen to write on my site. I do complain - but I try to put a funny spin on the story and I do that for several reasons. One, because it often makes for a better story and two, because if I give myself permission to rant - I am afraid I will run crazy ranting all of the time!

I am not perfect - nor do I have perfect kids or do we live a hysterically funny life at my house. I am generally a serious person and yet I have always considered myself to be creative and through my writing I am able to stretch my creative tendencies by writing stories that are funny or touching or stimulating or whatever! I work constantly on my writing techniques to develop new and interesting ways to tell a story. Having this blog has enabled me to see my life (through my writing of these stories) in a different way and see my children and the raising of them - through an entirely new view. I work daily to find a story to write and sometimes I come up with a good story and sometimes I don't. But, I have dedicated a lot of time and energy into finding and documenting these stories for my pleasure and for the pleasure of those that visit my site.

I sometimes feel as though the success I have experienced on my site - creates bad feelings (I won't go into why I say this - but there have been incidents that have occurred). I have never, not even once, used the success of my site to hurt any other blogger. I have tried to do just the opposite by offering many bloggers advise on how I have accomplished my success and been very open to helping anyone that asks. I have always been loyal to every single one of my bloggy friends and invested many hours into getting to know each one individually as best I can. I have always felt embarrassed to post awards I have been given, but feel obliged to recognize those that give me the awards and happy to introduce those individuals to my readers. Awards given from one blogger to another are indeed nice, but they are also a means for bloggers to create traffic to their own sites and I don't have a problem promoting other people's sites and am happy to do that.

I, like everyone, love to receive comments on my posts. I love the feedback and enjoy seeing the ideas or thoughts that something I have written can provoke. I love feeling like I touch people through my stories and my writing. I love telling a good story and love being able to share my children and our lives with all of you. I do not like feeling, though, that any success I have had is in anyway making someone else feel inadequate or unsuccessful. I know very well that there are many bloggers out there that are telling just as many great stories and writing them as well or better than me - that do not have the following I have. I visit many of those bloggers and read those stories. I support those bloggers. I have always searched out bloggers that were hurting for readers, because I know very well how hard it is to create a following and I have made tremendous efforts to find and help those people. I have done this intentionally, as I feel that everyone should be offered the same respect and opportunities as I have enjoyed and I do not hesitate to offer my site and its success as leverage for new or struggling bloggers.

I seldom write my posts "directly" to my audience. I write my stories as if they are "articles" and format my posts in the form of dialog or narritive - I do this on purpose. I am not the sort of blogger that offers a run-down of my daily events or intricate daily details about my children or myslef. I offer some of this information through my stories - but I do not "talk" right to my audience - like I am right now. I have done that on purpose - it is the format or technique I have chosen for my blog. I seldom ever respond to a comment in my comments. I have, on my site, tried to keep a distance between myself and my stories - I do this on purpose. I have attempted to create a site that stands on its own - the stories stand on their own - without my daily moods or personal traits influencing the stories. While I am obviously the one writing the stories and my picture is right there on the front page - I write my posts as a story that offers just a "glimpse" into our lives and who we are - who I am. I do this intentionally and believe that this is part of the reason that people may feel like they really don't know me.

My goal in blogging is to continue to write my stories. To continue to create even more of a following and I won't apologize for that. I want to continue to make friends and support as many people as I can possibly support. I want to only feel that my contribution is positive.

I know there are those people that - no matter what I say or what any of us do - will look for reasons to use my success against me. I can only say that I enjoy the success because I have worked very hard for it. I will continue to work hard for it - as long as I feel it is positive for me.

I began this post - because I was frustrated. I do not want to feel frustrated at anytime - having this blog - that has been such a gift in my life. I felt it was necessary to answer these questions and to also describe some of the feelings I have been experiencing.

I hope I have your continued support and want to impress that you certainly have mine.

One day recently, Little Billy came home from school and begged to go over to a friend's house to play.

I became frustrated.

It was a school day and not common for him to be allowed to go to his friends' houses after school.

He continued to beg and plead. He promised that he had no homework and went on and on about how the friend was expecting him - depending on him.

I continued to be frustrated, but eventually I gave in.

I put on my shoes, grabbed my purse and took him.

In the car, on the drive to the friend's neighborhood, Little Billy thanked me profusely. He was extremely delighted and seeing the delight in his mood - it made me happy.

When we entered the neighborhood of the friend, Little Billy requested that he be dropped off at the neighborhood park, as that is where his friend said he would be.

I drove into the parking lot of the park, where there were 5 boys that my son was friends with. Little Billy became even more excited.

"Thanks, Mom! Thank you for letting me come and play with my friends," he threw his arms around my neck, hugged me hard and then jumped out of the car.

I rolled my window down and called my son back. I also called my son's friend over. I gathered information about their plans and I offered instructions to my son. The boys ran off toward the park.

I tried to drive away.

I backed out onto the street, but I could not make my car move away from the park. I turned around. I drove up and down the street a few times. I inspected the area - the houses, the cars - the boys.

When I drove back near the park, I rolled my window down again and my son ran over to the fence. "What's wrong?" he yelled. "Don't you know how to get out of here?"

I did not indicate my worries. I did not let on that I was uneasy - uncomfortable. I merely offered additional instructions to my son and then said, "I love you, Little Billy - have fun with your friends - and be a good boy."

Driving away, I could see my son across the parking lot, playing in the park with his friends. He was laughing and jumping and running. He was happy.

I drove off, but ...

When I glanced up into the rear view mirror ... I was surprised to see the eyes of a lonely mother that ...

On this day ...

Was finding it very hard to ... let go.

I have been tagged again for the 7 Random Things Meme by Forgetfulone and also by Mary @ Happenings Today - thanks ladies for thinking of me.

So, I am going to list 14 things and here it goes:

1. I am a lot funnier in my head - than I am in real life. I can be funny - when I am around the right people (like a few of my closest friends and my family), but I am not one of those people that humor comes to quickly or easily - except inside my head. In my head ... I am HYSTERICAL! This is also true about how I perceive myself - I am way better looking in my head - than I am in real life! Also ... a lot smaller.

2. We have a ghost in our house. Our house is about 40 years old and the ghost lives in the hallway that leads to our bedrooms. When I (and my mother) have seen this ghost, he is always crossing the hallway (from my twins' bedroom) and goes into the bathroom. He wears a black trench-like coat, black boots and black hat (like in cowboy movies). The neighborhood we live in is well known for a particular Indian Tribe living here. I believe this ghost is from that time. My mother and I are the only ones to have ever seen him, but I have seen him at least 25 times over the past 13 years. It has been a while since I have seen him and I have recently began to believe that he has moved from the hallway to my bedroom and sits at the foot of my bed (as I feel the bed move, like someone is sitting - jump up even to see who is there - like one of my kids or a cat - and there is never anyone there. I usually have to then, pull the covers over my head so the ghost won't come near me). I've never been afraid of this ghost - and I am not one to really believe in this sort of thing - but he does live in my house.

3. On a scale of 1 - 10, if you were to ask me how happy I am in my life ... I'd have to say that I am at a 10. And, this is not something that I have just suddenly come to realize - I think I have been at a 10 for a lot of my life. I seldom feel as though my life could be any better. I don't believe that is true of very many people and I feel fortunate to be able to say that. I thank God often for blessing me and for giving me my wonderful life.

4. I totally believe in God. I believe he is standing next to me and guiding me - all the time. I truly believe he is completely aware of how much I love him.

5. Something I hate ... let me list something I hate. I hate "high-maintenance" friends. I want my friends to be simple. I want to be able to call you and say, "What are you doing?" and I want you to tell me, "I'm mopping the kitchen floor." I want you to know that I care about that - I want you to know that you can tell me that, even though it may seem insignificant - I want for that to be how simple our relationship is - that we talk about stupid crap and can turn that stupid crap into an hour long, ridiculously funny, memorable conversation. I want my friends to be completely and emotionally capable of dealing with me and me with them - on the simplest and purest level - no pretenses. I am too old and too tired to have to figure you out - I don't have the patience for that anymore.

6. I do not like spaghetti, pancakes, watermelon, sloppy Joe's, peanuts, cinnamon rolls or pretzels. I can eat all these things, but I don't like them.

7. I am nocturnal. I've always been a night-owl and love the night. I also love a dark room and seldom turn on many lights in the room I am in. I also turn off lights in every room that I think is too bright. My family is just the opposite and are always turning on every light in the room and I go behind them and turn most of them off. My mother complains constantly that I should open the blinds or turn on a light. I like the way a dark room, a cloudy day or the night makes me feel - cozy and closed in. I do, however, also ... worship the sun and love summer and stay outdoors a lot when it is hot.

8. I'd rather give a gift, than receive a gift. I love buying gifts and am always looking for a reason or occasion to do so. I think I drive my friends crazy because I buy gifts often for, what seems like, crazy reasons. I love buying gifts.

9. I keep a lot of lists. I am a list maker. I get this from my Dad - he was and is a list maker. I have lists to keep up with my lists.

10. I am drawn to clocks. I am also drawn to lamps, vacuum cleaners, socks, rugs and throw pillows. I have to talk myself out of buying these items every time I go into any store.

11. I often look at my husband and think, "He is so handsome - how did I get such a handsome man?"

12. We have 9 TVs in our house and one in my van. There is always a TV on, somewhere in our house - sometimes many are on. I keep a TV on at all times when I am home alone - for the noise. I turn the TV on as soon as I wake up. I don't watch TV, hardly ever, during the day ... but it is always on. It is on right now in my bedroom and I have no idea what channel it is on or what show is on.

13. If I had to admit to one regret I have in my life, it would be that I did not do more with my life. While I am completely content and happy with how my life has turned out and totally happy with everything that it is ... I believe that I honestly have not reached or lived up to my true potential. I wish I had had more drive, direction, ambition and detailed goals, when I was younger that might have led me to pursue a path of something that I loved (like animals or art or writing).

14. I do not like to walk or run - anywhere. I don't know why ... but I don't want to do either. I don't have any desire to hike or enter marathons or walk from the farthest parking spot in any lot. I am not a lazy person and I don't think there is anyone in my life that would say that I am - but I don't want to walk or run - ANYWHERE!

Thanks again to Forgetfulone and Mary @ Happenings Today for tagging me for this meme. I know I am supposed to tag seven more people, but I am going to leave this tag open and if you'd like to take it and do it - consider yourself tagged.

I was so pleased to receive this very nice award from Jo-N over at Shower Your Children With Love - The Right Way. Jo-N is one of my newer friends and if you haven't visited her wonderful site, you need to go over there and check her out. Thanks so much Jo-N.

I'd like to pass this award on to Karen at The Rocking Pony. Thanks Karen for being such a good friend.

I am also so tremendously pleased to recieve this wonderful "You Make Me Smile" award from one of my favorite bloggy friends, Courtney over at Life With Two Beautiful Girls. I have known Courtney for a while and if you have never visited her site, you need to go over and see her beautiful girls (and handsome husband) - she has a great site and is a great friend. Thanks Courtney.

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And then my good friend Bren (also a Texan - Woo Hoo) over at 3 Little Monkey's Jumping On The Bed passed this other great "You Make Me Smile" award on to me - and it makes me smile because Bren makes me smile all the time! She has a beautiful site (done by SPLAT - just like mine) and three darling kiddos (her baby girl just turned one). She always has a good story and you really should go check her out. Thank you so much Bren.

I' like to pass this great award on to Em over at Billy The Toddler. Em lives in the UK and she has the most adorable little boy named Billy (like my Little Billy). He is the cutest thing - you should really go over and see how beautiful this boy is!!

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And then ... my good friend Kami at Kami Khlopchyk (don't ask me how you say that - in my head I just call her Kami K. or KK) - and I should learn how to pronounce it, as I have known her a long time. She is a great friend with a great site and I'd love you to go over and meet her! She gave me this "E is for Excellence". Thanks Kami.

And then ... I also received this same award from Girlymom over at The Red Door. She has been my bloggy friend from way back and if you have never visited her site you need to go over there and visit her and her 4 beautiful daughters - she is a wonderful mom!

And then ... I was so pleased to receive this "Excellent" award again from Lizzy over at Life According To Lizzy. Lizzy has a great site where she writes wonderful stories about her life with her two sons and wonderful husband. If you have never visited my friend Lizzy, please go by and check her out.

And then ... Kathryn over at Seeking Sanity was also so nice to pass this award on to me. Kathryn is a great writer and tells wonderful stories about her life with her three precious boys. If you have never visited Kathryn's site - you need to go over and say hello.

I am supposed to pass this award on to 10 people. Since I received this award 5 times - that means I should pass it on to 50 people. I'm going to break this rule and pass it on to 5 people.

Angie at Keep Believing
Bia at La Dolce Vita: The Sweet Life With 3 Sons
Valarie at Please Don't Put Beans Up Your Nose!

Dawn at Renaissance Mama
Steph at Snow Central

All of these ladies have wonderful sites and I think they are simply Excellent - enjoy this great award ladies - I enjoy you so much!

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Also ... I was so pleased to receive this great "Everday Kindness" award from MO over at Un-Mainstream Mom. Now ... I think MO is way smarter than me - because she writes some really great posts and sometimes I think I don't know everything she is talkin' bout! No, not really - she writes smart and witty and she is a great friend with 2 beautiful daughters- you need to go check her out!!!

I'd like to pass this award on to Andrea at Life Song. Andrea has a great site where she tells daily stories about her beautiful daughters and she is a good friend.

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And then Vasquez3 passed this great award on to all of those blogs on her blogroll and On The Upside is one of the sites that she visits daily - I really appreciate that and I really appreciate this award and am so pleased to be one of her daily reads - Thanks and you should go see her and her adorable daughter and husband - she has a really great site.

I'd like to pass this award on to Mighty Morphin Mama. She also has a wonderful site and tells wonderful stories about her sweet family - you need to go over and say hello if you've never visited her site before.

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And then ... my friend Regina - over at Regina's Family Seasons passed this great "Spread The Love Award" on to me and she passed "The Daily Dose" on to all those friends on her blogroll. Now ... if you want to meet one smart lady with very well written and thought provoking posts - she is your lady. I have so enjoyed getting to know Regina - you really need to go visit her. Thanks Regina!

I'd like to pass this second "Daily Dose" award on to Julie at Multiple Blessings. Julie has a houseful of kids - like me - and she tells wonderful stories about her kids and family. She is also a scrapbooker. She's been a really good friend.

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I'd like to pass this great award on to Joan over at Joan's Journey. It is always a delight to visit Joan and hear her fabulous stories about her family or her travels - she is a joy and become a dear friend.

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And then I received this "Classy Blog" award (award designed by OHMommy over at Classy Chaos - isn't it cool!) from Lunanik over at Secrets of A Black Heart. Lunanik and I have become great friends - if you have never visited her great blog, you need to go over and check her out. She is smart and funny and quite the writer. You will love her as much as I do.

This last award I'd like to pass on to my friends Kari and Kijsa over at Ask Kari and Kijsa. These two sisters have the most fabulous home decorating site. They are creative and smart and witty. They tell the most fabulous stories about their creations, their ideas, their travels and they beautiful families (6 children between these young mothers). They are two of the classiest women I know and truly deserve this Classy Blog award.

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THANK YOU to everyone that passed on an award to me - I truly appreciate each and everyone of these great awards! I hope I will have the chance to pass on future awards to anyone that I did not remember this time. I think each and everyone of the great sites that I have gotten to know deserves an award and I am trying to keep up with who I have given an award and who I have not - so I will remember in the future.

It feels like I have been away forever!
I fell sick at the end of March (March 20th) and was in the hospital for 9 days with phenomena. Upon returning home, I was still in a recovery mode for several weeks. I missed Easter, my son's birthday and my twin daughter's birthday's. We are all still trying to catch up from my unexpected illness.

Then ... my husband and I took off for our long-planned vacation a week ago and returned yesterday afternoon. It was a nice relaxing week, but I have not been home for most of the last month and I definitely feel a bit out of touch with my children, family and friends and ... with my blog.

For those of you curious as to where we went on vacation - my husband and I and 10 friends went on a fabulous cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. It was wonderful to relax with my husband and we enjoyed our trip very much. We ate too much. We slept often (nice afternoon naps). We bathed in the sun daily. We shopped. We swam in turquoise colored oceans. We laughed and we laughed and we laughed. It was marvelous.

I am home now.

I have much catching up to do and I hope to visit all of my bloggy friends just a soon as possible to see what is going on with everyone.

I have missed you!

Thanks to everyone for the nice vacation wishes and also for the birthday wishes. I enjoyed celebrating my birthday on the ship with our wonderful friends and with my sweet husband.

I hope you ALL have been well!

I look forward to visiting everyone this week!!

I have been slow in showing my appreciation for some great awards I have received and I'm sorry it has taken me so long. I do appreciate all of these great awards and am very thankful to those that have passed them on to me.

Jennifer over at Faking It passed this Sassy Mama Blog Award on to me:

Thank you so much Jennifer for thinking of me for this great award - I like to think it fits me perfectly. If you haven't been over to Jennifer's site you need head on over there and visit with her and her three beautiful children - she is full of lots of great stories, ideas and photos.

I'd like to pass this great award on to Joanna over at Bugs In My Teeth - she is the Sassiest Mama I have come across lately and she is also the mother of twins - so we have gotten along splendidly.

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Also - Badness Jones passed this great award onto all of her readers:

And then, I was so pleased to receive this same award from Brittany over at Mommee And Her Boys.

Thanks so much to Badness Jones and Brittany - two of my favorite blog moms. If you haven't visited either of their sites - you need to go check them out - they are wonderful.

I'd like to pass this Blog Friend award onto Lizzy over at Life According To Lizzy as she has definitely become one my faborite blog friends and I love her site.

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Also ... I was so pleased to get this great award from my friend Jen over at Rants & Raves. Jen has a great site and is a wonderful writer and mother to a precious little boy named Dylan. If you've never visited her site, I encourage you to go visit her - she is one of my best blogging buddies and it is so sweet that she would give me this great award.

After Jen gave me this award, I was also given it by Pam over at Random Thoughts. Pam is also one of my best blogging buddies. She is a teacher and a wonderful mother and I just love her and her great site.

I am going to pass this award on to One Scrappy Gal. She is one of my newer blogging buddies and I have so enjoyed getting to know her and visiting her site.

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Then ... I got these two great awards from Sharon over at Sit With Me A While.

And Joan, over at Joan's Journeys also passed this great (The Daily Dose) award onto all of her readers - thanks Joan and Sharon.

This little award is called The Daily Dose. And here is all the important info. Because you know you want to know what it is about and where it came from. ;)".. here's to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog".From Xandra: creator, The Daily Dose Award.Now it is my turn to pass it on and then I must link back to Xandra the creator. If I pass this on to you and you have already gotten it--you don't have to pass it on again.Some of you that I blog with have already gotten it-- so I will try and catchthe ones who did not.Because you know---- we have to pass the on the luuuuuv . :)

I'd like to pass the 2007 Inspiring Blog Award on to Kim over at Life After. Kim and I have become very good blogging friends and I truly consider her blog to be inspiring and fun and uplifting. She always has a kind comment wherever she goes and she has been a great friend to me.

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And then ... Andrea over at Life Song passed this great, A Roar of Powerful Words award. Andrea is one of my good blogging friends and if you have never been over to visit her great site (Life Song - isn't that the greatest name?) - you need to go over and visit and see her and her adorable little girls.

I'd like to pass this A Roar For Powerful Words on to Kathryn at Seeking Sanity! Kathryn wrote two of the best posts I have ever read recently - one as a tribute to her dear mother and the other to her sweet father. I was simply in tears at the end of both of these posts - but not just because of the stories - but the brilliant story-telling as well. She did a great job and I truly enjoyed both of them. You have got to go read these two posts she wrote just recently.

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And then I received this great "Your Blog Is A Treat" award from MamaGeek over at What Works For Us.

I also received this same award from Karen over at The Rocking Pony.

I was thrilled to receive this particular award from both of these ladies, because I feel exactly the same way about their wonderful sites. They are both, two of the funniest bloggers I've met and always have something fun, interesting, humorous or inspiring on their sites.

I'd like to pass this "Your Blog Is A Treasure" award on to Girly Mom over at The Red Door. I love going to her site and reading her daily stories about her 4 beautiful girls. She is such an upbeat mom and and always an inspiration.

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And then ... I received this great membership award from Melanie over at Livin' With Me. She created this fun award and says I can pass it on to anyone I want - so I am passing this one on to anyone that visits my site.

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And lastly, I was given this great True Blue award by Damama over at Damama's At It Again. I have only just recently met Damama and look forward to getting to know her better and think you should do the same as well.

I am going to pass this award on to PB&J In A Bowl (funny name right - go over there to her site to find out the story behind this name). She is one of my new blogging friends, but has been a True Blue friend and I appreciate all of her visits and comments she leaves on my site. I have truly enjoyed getting to know her and you should go over and visit her - she writes great stories and and quite the story-teller.

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I feel bad for not passing these awards on to all of my blogging friends, as I truly treasure all of you and if I didn't give you an award this time around - I will most certainly be giving you one in the future. It's only because I have a hard time keeping up with who I have passed awards on to - not because I don't also appreciate you!!

Anyone that has visited my site over the past year, has been along for the fabulous ride I have had here at On The Upside - and I thank all of you!

My readership has grown tremendously and I have made so many great friends and met so many wonderful women and fellow bloggers. I am very grateful for the time that people take out of their busy days to come by my site(s) to read my stories and leave their heart-felt comments.

As most of you are aware, I receive lots of comments on my posts every day. And, I know you are aware of this - as you are probably one of the people that leaves me comment after comment after comment.

I - like most bloggers - enjoy receiving comments. It is our way of hearing what people think about our stories - our ideas - our writing - our families. It is very rewarding and it - above all else - is our link to one another. It's how we connect and bond and form relationships.

I - for nearly a year - have written on my blog almost every single day. My archives show that I have 431 posts. About 50 of those are drafts - yet to be published. The rest are stories that I have written and posted for my family and friends and new readers to read. That is a lot of writing and publishing for me - and ... that has been a lot of reading and commenting for you!

For nearly a year - I have responded to every single comment ever left on my site. There have been a few days, recently, where I was unable to visit, but before those days - I never missed a day where I would go back and visit anyone that left a comment on one of my posts. Some days 50 sites - some days 80 or more. And ... often - I would and do visit other sites on those days as well. On any given day - I probably visit 100 or more sites and leave comments on every one. I read posts and I comment. I've gotten to where I read very fast and I have gotten to where I do all of it very fast.

I have a system. If my system is running smoothly - I am able to keep up and it does not interfere much with the other duties, obligations and routines of my daily life. REALLY! I work the blogging in during the hours during the day that I can (early morning - late morning - mid afternoon and late evening) - usually about 4 times a day, I sit down and blog for at least an hour. Because I write my posts well in advance and keep them in my drafts - I am not necessarily pressured to write/publish - I just go to my drafts and pull a post that I want to publish for the next day. I do spend time writing posts - but usually I will write 3-4 posts at a time - leave them in my drafts and then I won't write again for 3-4-5 days later. This helps a lot.

This is what my daily spiral looks like:

These are two full spirals that I happened to have kept - but, there have been MANY more filled spirals over this past year.

What I do is write down the commenter's names on that day's post and then I go visit their site and when I have left a comment, I mark them off. I do this everyday.

I tell you all of this because I am considering changing the way I do things.

I love visiting other sites - I DO! I have done it for so long and visited so many, that it is not only a habit that is hard to break - but, if I don't visit some one's site for a while, I find that I miss them - feel left out of the loop - left out of what is going on in their lives.

But ... I am going to cut back on the number of sites I visit everyday. And, it's not because I don't want to visit - it's because I just can't keep doing it at this rate and pace.

I hope that people are coming to my site to read my stories. I hope that people actually DO read my stories. That is why I am writing them - for myself, my family and also for other's to enjoy.

I hope people feel that I have been a good friend - a loyal friend - as, I have worked VERY HARD at building relationships with a lot of people and it has taken a lot of time and effort.

I hope people don't just come to my site because they know I will come back and comment on their site.

I hope people will still come to my site and read and comment - even if - on that day - I can not get back to their site and read and comment.

I still plan to visit sites and comment (I am a COMMENTER - I like to leave comments) - I am just not going to do it like I am doing it now - to every single person that leaves me a comment - every single day.

Some days, I might do that - if I feel like it and have time. But - on days when I have too much going on or just don't feel like visiting every site - I am no longer going to do that.

I am sure I will lose readers because of this change - but, I hope not.

I will continue to write my stories on this blog and over at On The Flipside and I hope everyone continues to come and visit.

At the BlogHer conference I went to in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, someone said to me, "Why do you do it? You don't have to do it."

I don't know how not to do it. I've always done it. I have so many people that are simply - true friends and I don't know how - nor do I want to - cut them out of my time and my life.

One last thought.

I'm very aware that not everyone wishes me well - enjoys my blog(s) or its success - cares a thing about supporting me - REALLY (the BlogHer conference - meeting bloggers I thought were friends - proved that - even though I sensed it - knew it, already). For those people - this is a moment I'm sure they have been waiting for. Wanting to see if my blog is really capable of sustaining itself - through my stories - through my writing - because people actually like it - and not merely because I reciprocate comments.

It might very well - crumble, and I might very well lose lots of readers - but ... I have complete confidence that I offer more than just friendship here at On The Upside and On The Flipside. I am confident in my writing and in my story telling. I am confident that even if I lose some readers - I will eventually gain others. I could be wrong. Only time will tell.

Thank you and I hope to continue to see and hear from you here On The Upside and hope you know that I will visit/comment when I can.

Also ... If you have time - go over to On The Flipside (my other blog) and enter my weekend contest.

My kids often have their friends over at our house.

One day, not too long ago, there were six of the girls' basketball friends over and they were all up in Courtney and Chloe's bedroom.

I walked by.

I stuck my head in to say hello.

When I walk in, I see ... one girl on Courtney's bed, two girls on Chloe's bed, two girls on the futon, one girl each sitting in the desk chairs, one girl on the floor and one sprawled out in the recliner near the closet. Some had their shoes off, others had pillows they were clutching, one seemed to actually be sleeping, and ... at least 4 of them had phones in their hands and were busy - like little beavers - text, text, texting away - furiously - as if, whatever they were saying in these text messages were the most interesting and most important information ever to be sent over the telegraph wires (or whatever it's called) - EVER!! Texting - like crazy - at least 4 of these girls.

I saw this craziness and asked, "What are you all doing?"

And pretty much all of them answered, in unison, "Nothin'."

I then asked if anyone needed anything and they answered that they were fine - with looks on most of their faces that indicated that they wanted me to leave.

I put my hand on the door to go and then turned back and asked, "By the way, who are you all talking to?" looking into the eyes of one of my daughters.

And 3 of the girls (including one of my own), looked up quickly in my direction and said, "Each other." And then all --- went immediately back to texting once again.

THEY. WERE. TEXTING. EACH. OTHER!!!!

They were in the very same room!!

They weren't more than 2 feet from each other!

And ... they found this to be perfectly normal!

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CRAZY PICTURE?

On the upside ... This is CRAZINESS - this texting thing! Have you ever seen it in action? Have you ever been around one of these teenagers when they perform this TEXTING? I think it might just be possible that they will soon eliminate talking altogether - they might just get to where they only ever use their computers or the texting on their phones and then they will never actually have to see any of their friends face to face or ever speak a single verbal word to any of them.

Hummmm ... maybe I need to learn this texting thing - start communicating non-verbally with my teenage daughters! Holy What-Took-Me-So-Long-To-See-The-Potential Batman ... Now that there's a brilliant idea!

Toni over at a Tale of Two Kiddies, was so kind to pass this great "Eagles Nest" award onto me. Thanks so much Toni - we have become great friends and I always enjoy visiting her site and checking in on her and her adorable children.

I'd like to, in turn, pass this great award onto ... My Goodness at Golden Goodness. She is one of my newer blog friends and I enjoy her sense of humor and you have to go over and see her adorable little girl and boy - they are simply precious.

I was then also given this really great award by Kim at Frog Ponds Rock . Thank you very much Kim, I Less-than-three your blog too!

You have to go to this site to find out the great story behind this really fun award.

I'd like to pass this award onto The Wonderful World Of Wieners because I have come to really enjoy this new blog friend and her wonderful family, great stories and fun sense of humor.

And ... Miss Sniz was really generous in passing on three awards to me. First, The Spirit of Christmas Award (that I have yet to figure out how to download) and then these two great awards:

Thank you so much Miss Sniz - I am very appreciative and have so enjoyed coming to visit your wonderful site to hear about your home schooling, your family adventures and your three beautiful kids.

I would in turn like to pass this BFF award onto Heidi at Viking Conquest - because she is definitely one of my best blog friends and she has a wonderful site that I always enjoy visiting.

Hey ... and anyone else that reads my blog and this post can take this "The I Gave Myself This Award Award" created by Sniz's Husband - isn't it great?

Thanks again for passing all these great awards onto me - I truly appreciate each one of them!

I wear my hair too big. I know this.

I'm just that kinda girl. I'm a: curl-it-up, fluff-it-out, pick-it-fancy, smooth-it-down and then spray-it-with-a-ton-of-hairspray, kinda girl. I wish I wasn't (believe me), but I am. I get it from my mom. I get it from her sisters. I inherited it - the practice and the hair. I just don't have that, get-up-and-go, pull-it-into-a-pony-tail, kinda hair.

Every time I do this, curl-fluff-pick-smooth-hairspray, ritual, I turn back at some point and look in the mirror. I ALWAYS say to myself, "Too BIG," and then I reach up and *smash* it down. It usually doesn't do a thing - it just bounces right back up.

And ... this hair, is often the topic of conversations. Sometimes it's funny and sometimes it's not.

Years ago, when I used to really water ski and we'd go with friends, it didn't take long for my hair to become the butt of a lot of jokes. I guess I caused this abuse, as I would go to the lake with my hair all poofed up (as usual) and my earrings and lipstick to match my swimsuit. And then I would put on my sunglasses (of course). I would lower myself into the water (never jump), wade a bit, get up on the skies, ski a bit, let go of the rope so as to gracefully come to a stop, sink into the water - without ever getting my hair wet or losing my sunglasses. I was proud of this ability. I bragged about it, "Yep ... I can go out there and ski and never get my hair wet, blah, blah, blah," I would foolishly announce. Soon enough ... the challenge for those left on the boat was ... to get my hair wet! They'd wait until I'd let go of the rope and was leisurely waiting for them to come back and pick me up and then they'd ... drive the boat in circles around me, two or three times - in order to create a tidal wave - and then *swoosh* - I'd be engulfed by a giant wave and emerge looking like a wet rat (with sunglasses and red lipstick).

I was never happy when my friends did this to me, but it made them laugh. They just loved messing up my BIG hair. I was always - very uncomfortable the rest of the day.

And then ... there were the camping trips. My friends never let me live down the fact that I kept the "do" going - even on camping trips; "Where you goin' - to fix your hair?" (Ha!)

I know it's not cool. I know it's not trendy. I know it's not hip. My kids are forever telling me how un-hip my hair is. I can't help it. I've tried other "do's", but I always end right back ... curling-fluffing-picking-smoothing and spraying it into a BIG rediculous do. I'm not crazy about it either.

On the upside ... as I have been told many times: if a hurricane or a tornado comes through - my hair will not move. The whole house might be gone, the cars might be wisked away, the trees could be pulled up out of the ground ... but I will still have my GREAT BIG "do" (and, of course, a can of hairspray in my purse).

My friend Tammy (from Time Flies), left me a comment yesterday that said, "Have I mentioned how I love your Dad, and how he always reads your blog and leaves you a comment? I always like to read his comment too."

This was so nice for Tammy to say and notice and it is true. I have been blogging for just over a year and my dad, who lives in Florida, reads my blog posts nearly every day and often leaves a comment. I have other family members (Hi Mom, Cheryl and Danny) that also read my blog. My sister called me yesterday to talk about Thanksgiving dinner and at the end of our conversation she said, "I've been reading your blog - it's funny." I said, "Gee, thanks."

This is my sister, Cheryl and her husband Danny

This is Cheryl and Rob (my brother) and our mother

For those of you that have seen my dad's comments and wondered about him - this is my dad ...

These last 2 pictures were taken just a couple of weeks ago when he was here in Texas for a visit. He's holding my precious grand-nephew, Braz - my father's first great grandchild.

Thanks, Dad, for taking the time to come by daily to read my posts and thanks for your support - it means a lot to me.

And thanks too, to all those other members of my family and friends (Hi Vic - hope you know we are coming at Christmas to Utah to stay with you - I'll call you soon).

And, while I am at it - thanks to all the rest of you that come by my humble little site to read my stories and leave such sweet comments. I have made so many great friends over this past year - it is unbelievable!! I wake up in the mornings wondering what everyone is up to and it is so fun to be able to just click over to your sites and be welcomed into your lives. It has been such a blessing to get to know all of you and your families and your precious kids and ... count you amongst my group of friends. You guys are simply the BEST!!

We are all so lucky - aren't we?! Lucky to have found this blogging thing! I know I am!

Hosted by Cecily and Mama Geek

If you are a sixteen year old girl ...

You might borrow your mother's Canon Rebel XTI ...

To take photos of the world ...

As seen through the eyes of a teenager.

You might take photos of yourself taking photos.

Or of yourself flashing the peace sign.

You would definitely want to take a photo of cool Converse shoes.

You might stand in the bathroom and take pictures of your cute new haircut.

Or pose for a darling portrait.

You should definitely take photos of your friends.

And of peanut butter.

And groovy checkered shoes.

And make sure you sneak into an old graveyard and photograph a couple interesting headstones.

And ... swings hanging lonesome on a porch.

Catch some action shots - for sure!

And a beautiful sunset or two.

And don't forget the zebras.

And the cats named Banana Pancake.

And precious babies with gorgeous eyes of blue.

Play in the meadow and capture photos of your friends.

And lie in the middle of the highway to snap that thrilling danger shot.

Make sure to take some funky angles ...

And capture images that represent who you are.

Take time to be creative.

And don't forget those checkered shoes again - can't have too many pictures of those.

Or of colorful things that remind us of summer.

And rustic images that remind us of good times with friends.

Oh, yes - don't forget the wine for mom.

And the feet.

And the cool shot of the honey bee.

And the girl that makes her mom smile.

Photos taken by Courtney and Chloe

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So ... I got to thinking.

Probably time to do some of that spring cleaning!

Not the tearing down of all the drapes and curtains or blinds. Not the washing of all the windows. Not the cleaning of all the cobwebs from the upper corners of every room. Not the baseboards or garage - NOT THOSE THINGS - YET!

All the energy I could muster was ... the cleaning of Alexis' bedroom.

I had put the deep cleaning off since late fall and her room was certainly due for a top-to-bottom overhaul!

I gave myself three days.

I knew it was going to be a project!

I worked clockwise around the room - starting at the door.

I worked hard and I did it!

The bookshelves went from being a disheveled mess to being organized by size and color and groups. The dressers and cabinets and drawers were dumped and sorted and folded and stacked and lined up and re-boxed and they look fabulous. The closet was a massive undertaking and now it is orderly and functional and clean. Under the bed and couch and cabinets - all cleaned out. Every surface has been dusted and shined and polished. All toys have their new place assignment and the dolls are stored away with their shoes and clothes and furniture and hair accessories and all animals have new homes and are adjusting well and behaving nicely.

It is a CLEAN ROOM!

Every time I walk by, I look inside and feel pride over the amount of work I put into making this room so ORDERLY and CLEAN! I can't stop smiling.

That is ...

UNTIL MY NIECE AND ALEXIS DECIDED THEY WANTED TO PLAY IN THIS EXTREMELY CLEAN ROOM!

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I heard the words come out of my mouth - very loudly - when I saw the two little mess-making-darlings-messing-up-this-extremely-clean-room-that-it-took-me-3-days-to-clean-up!

"Playin'," Alexis says, in a little mouse voice - not sure what the heck she and her cousin could have possibly done wrong.

NO, NO, NO - you can't play in that nice clean room ... are the words racing around in my irrational mind!

I want to scream it.

I want to make them leave.

Make the room off-limits - save it for as long as I can ...

But I can't.

I know this.

So ... I say, "Oh, okay," and see the immediate relief on their confused faces as I turn to walk away.

On the upside ... I'm a bit of a control freak. I have been told that I also have slight OCD tendencies (*off in the distance the sound of hysterical laughter from author's mother, sister, brother, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, friends, friends of friends...*). I think these things are true - okay. If I had done what my mind was whispering when I saw those little mess-making-darlings-messing-up-that-nice-clean-room-that-took-me-3-days-to-clean-up ... I'd also have been given a new label as well, but I didn't! I showed great restraint and tolerance and love - I walked away. Later in the day though ... I walked into my bathroom and there written in lipstick on the mirror above my sink were the words REDRUM ... REDRUM ... REDRUM ...REDRUM ...

*No, not really - author is confusing her life with that of a movie she saw once - what was that movie - what was that move ....?*

(The Shining - for those that don't get this stupid joke - it is a joke - I'm as crazy as they come sometimes, but not as crazy as all that!)

It's winter.

I live in Texas.

I want there to be snow - but there is never snow where I live.

Usually, we try to get away around Christmas or Spring Break to go skiing - then I get to see the snow and it makes me very happy.

This year we didn't go on our regular ski trip at Christmas time and I think we are going to the beach during Spring Break (blah!).

This weekend - this is where I am:

Yes - during even the winter months - we go to the lake.

Now, it is chilly here this weekend (54 or so), but it is still beautiful.

We have a house on this lake - a townhouse. We spend a lot of time in the summer up here and some weekends during the winter. It's nice to come here to just relax and get away from home.

We don't do much when we come here in the winter.

We eat out a lot.
We go to movies.
We go to Walmart.
We rent movies.
We watch TV.
We sometimes play games.
We take walks.
We ride around in our golf cart.
We visit with friends.
We fish.
We feed the ducks.
We take naps.

We do all these same things in the summer - only add in:

Lots of swimming.
Lots of boating.
Water skiing.
Wake boarding.
Jet Skiing.
Picnics.
Eating outdoors.
Long evenings out on the decks.

On Friday I asked my kids, "Do you want to go to the lake?" and they all screamed, "Yes, Yes, Yes!"

So, we came.

This is what the kids are mostly doing:

Playing Guitar Hero. They think they are on vacation and they aren't much help, when help is needed. That's okay, this weekend - they too, deserve a break.

Here is a little tour of our place:

This is our bedroom. Notice my laptop on the bed - never go anywhere without my laptop.

This is the "bunk room" where the older girls sleep and hang out with their friends. They made a complete mess of it before I had a chance to take a good picture.

This blurry picture is of my mom's room. We call it her room because she is often here with us all summer long - she's here almost as much as we are. This also serves as our guest bedroom.

This is Little Billy's bedroom. We made this little room for him in the attic space above the garage. It's a very comfortable and cute little room. He has his toys and TV - it couldn't be more perfect for a little boy.

This is Alexis' room. We made her a little room in a closet - yes, a closet. Since the master bedroom has this really large closet with built in cabinets and all, we decided when she was just a baby to stick her crib in there - give her her own little space. As she has grown, we changed out the crib for a toddler bed and decorated it with her toys and pictures. She is due for a bigger bed and we plan to give her a new one this summer - if it will fit in the closet. Don't tell her it is a closet - she doesn't know - she just calls it "her little room". It is precious and just right for her.

Our house has officially 3 bedrooms and 4 baths. But ... people tease me all the time that if any space is large enough, I'll find a way to make a bedroom out of it and stick a bed in there for some kid to sleep on - and it is true. There is not on foot of unused space in the house - not one inch. Since it is a lake house and we didn't need the closet space (we only ever wear swimsuits and shorts) - the closet was perfect for her and - she has her own bathroom to boot.

This is not her bathroom, this is my mothers.

This is my bathroom.

This is our little kitchen (note all the slushie cups along the wall - we make lots of slushies and smoothies at the lake).

This is our dining room.

This is the living room - before the kids took it over for Guitar Hero.

This is the upper deck. We spend lots of time up here in the summer - sunbathing and looking at stars.

This is the lower deck. We spend lots of evenings out here - fishing and visiting with friends. This is also where the kids swim and the boat (to the right - can't see it) is right here for us to go out whenever we wish. The Jet Ski is kept here also.

This is a view of the lower deck from the other direction.

God has been so good to me and my family. We are lucky to have this beautiful retreat and I just wanted to share it with you.

Wouldn't it be fun to have a ladies weekend here - sit around, the bunch of us - talk about our kids (because they wouldn't be with us - BTW) - share our stories - drink a few Margaritas or iced tea - listen to some music. I wish we could do that!

We love this place.

Thanks for letting me share it with you.

Now .... I'm going to go back to what I've been doing most of the weekend.

I don't know about you, but I've been needing this relaxing weekend. I hope you are having a relaxing weekend too!

Thank you for all the wonderful questions - WOW!!! I will do my best to answer all of them as honestly as I can. Here it goes ...

Jennwa asked:

1. What made you start blogging? In August 2007, I picked up my Writer's Digest magazine and read an article that a famous author wrote, wherein he suggested that any want-to-be writers, should have a blog. He referenced Blogger.com (and other blog hosts). I went on Blogger that very minute, created a blog, named it On The Upside (because that is something I am known to often say in conversations) and ... here I am. I love to write - I THOUGHT it would be a place for me to write. It is that, but ... it is SO MUCH more - as you all very well know!

2. Have you always known that you were good at writing stories? I was a horrible student. I was horrible in English. But ... I've always loved to write and have written in one form or the other - for years! I've always "believed" that I was a pretty good writer, but I never realized I was a good story-teller until I started my blog. I think I am a good verbal story-teller and didn't realize, until I started my blog, how easily it translated for me into writing as well. The type of writing I'd always done was novels and poems and journal-like writing. Before my blog, I'd never experimented with "story-telling" or trying various different techniques to tell a story. I'm finding that it comes pretty natural for me and I love it - "story-telling".

3. Why do you blog? I blog to write. I blog now, to tell my stories. I blog to document my children's lives, my life, my husband's life - all of our lives together.

4. What do you find is the best thing about blogging? There are A LOT of great things that come with blogging! The BEST thing about blogging for me is that I am able to be creative. I have always been creative and I am finding that blogging taps into those creative tendencies and I love that! It is very rewarding. I also love that I am documenting my children's lives!

Thanks for these great questions Jennwa!

Summer asked:

1. What is your favorite cheese? I love most any cheese, but I'd have to say I like Swiss the best.

2. Were you sicker with your twin pregnancy than with your others? I never had morning sickness or any other sort sickness with any of my pregnancies. The only negative side affects I had from the pregnancy with my twins (and all my pregnancies) was that I gained 92 lbs. (YEP!) and was not only fat, but UG-LY while I was pregnant.

3. What is it about Texas that elicits such state pride? I don't really know this answer, but maybe it goes back to Texas being a Republic before it became a state. Do you know that Texas is one (if not the only) state that is allowed to raise its flag at the same level as the American flag? Most states are required (?) to keep their flags below or at a lower level. Our kids even pledge the Texas flag in the mornings at school, right along with the American Flag. I personally think it has something to do with the sports - Dallas Cowboys and all and Texas A&M and UT College Football. I think our kids hear it so much on the Texas commercials (how great Texas is - bigger and better, etc.) and their parents believe this also - it's sort of ingrained in generation after generation. It goes way back and yet there are things today that definitely influence this pride.

Thanks Summer for these great questions!

Pam asked:

1. What is your favorite thing about hubby and each of your kids? It's hard to pick one thing about each of them, but I'll try. My favorite thing about Billy is that he is loved by everyone. I don't know anyone that would say he is not lovable and that does not love him. It makes me very proud to be married to someone like that! My favorite thing about Courtney is that Courtney is so smart - she is one of the smartest people I know - in every way! My favorite thing about Chloe is her sweet heart. She is more sensitive than she would admit to and has enough love for everyone! My favorite thing about Little Billy is his casual approach to life. He takes life as it comes and lives it in the moment. You always believe he is "content" and that is quite a fascinating quality and it rubs off on those around him. My favorite thing about Alexis is her desire to live LIFE! She does not want to miss out on anything and would be up for everything!

3. How did you meet hubby? We met right before Thanksgiving, 1983 in a country western dance hall. He saw me as I walked by, turned to his buddy and said, "That's the girl I'm going home with tonight." We've been together ever since. It was love at first sight. God put him right in my path and I was smart enough to recognize what a gift he was!

4. What is your dream vacation? My husband and I take many vacations, sometimes with the kids and sometimes not - so I love those we have taken. But ... my dream vacation would be to take a cruise to the Greek islands.

5. If you could no longer blog, what would you do to save your sanity? Before I blogged, I found ways to be creative. I made furniture for a while, I used to do lots of crafts, I've always invested a lot of time in landscaping and gardening in my yard, I've crocheted, cross-stitched, etc. I've always written too. I would go back to spending more time doing those types of things. And, of course, I'd continue to write.

Thanks Pam for these fun questions!

Kristi asked:

1.Of all of the blog posts you have made, what was your most favorite entry of all time? It's hard for me to pick my favorite, but I can tell you the recent ones that have been favorites of my readers: "What The ...?", "Sometimes I Just Don't Stack Up," "My Boy The Genius," "DQ Stands For ... You Obviously Don't Know Who You Are Dealing With," and "Where Is A Lacy Bra When I Need One?"

Marybeth asked:

1. What are your favorite three blogs to visit? I love a lot of blogs - and I read a lot of blogs - I DO! Now ... there are 3 great blogs that I used to read pretty regularly - Rocks in My Dryer and Woulda Coulda Shoulda and Oh The Joys, that I think are really great blogs, but I don't read them as much anymore just because I don't have the time. I do pop over to those 3 from time to time and visit - when I have time. I am pretty busy and pretty happy reading and visiting all the great moms and writers that I have become friends with! Those 3 I have mentioned are not my FAVORITES anymore, but I do like them! I don't have 3 favorites - I love all the blogs I visit for many different reasons - I DO!

The Vasquez3 asked:

1. What things are too personal to blog about? This is a good question. I think this is different for everyone, but for me - I don't think there are any subjects that I would not blog about, but I will always be very careful about my friends and family and their privacy. I would never tell a story or divulge information about the lives of anyone other than my family (Billy and my kids), unless it was just a simple funny story that I know will not hurt them. I have to say that there is not anything in my life that I would consider too personal - but there are subjects I will never write about. I have a few SEX posts in my drafts that one day - one day - I might just post - if and when I feel the timing is right. It's not the sort of thing I have a problem posting - it's just got to be the right timing. I consider timing with all of my posts.

2. Would you be willing to eat a bowl of live crickets for $50,000? YES I WOULD! $50,000 would help pay for a lot of college and I have twins fixing to go to college in 2 years. If you had said roaches - I'd definitely have said NO! Crickets I think I could do.

3. Which is more important to you: actual experiences or the memories that remain when the experiences are over? What a great question! I think the memories are more important. Your mind seems to have the ability to recognize and store details about specific moments that you aren't even aware of "in the moment" and when your mind recalls the event or day or moment and brings it forth - sometimes the specialness of that day or event is even sweeter than you remember it being. I think our minds have the ability to take more of it in and store the subtle things that our other senses are not aware of and do not appreciate.

Thank you Vasquez3 for these wonderful questions!

Holly asked:

1. Why did you start blogging? In August 2007, I picked up my Writer's Digest magazine and read an article that a famous author wrote, wherein he suggested that any want-to-be writers, should have a blog. He referenced Blogger.com (and other blog hosts). I went on Blogger that very minute, created a blog, named it On The Upside (because that is something I am known to often say in conversations) and ... here I am. I love to write - I THOUGHT it would be a place for me to write. It is that, but ... it is SO MUCH more - as you all very well know!

2. What is the big deal about Texas and Texan pride, etc.? I don't really know this answer, but maybe it goes back to Texas being a Republic before it became a state. Do you know that Texas is one (if not the only) state that is allowed to raise its flag at the same level as the American flag? Most states are required (?) to keep their flags below or at a lower level. Our kids even pledge the Texas flag in the mornings at school, right along with the American Flag. I personally think it has something to do with the sports - Dallas Cowboys and all and Texas A&M and UT College Football. I think our kids hear it so much on the Texas commercials (how great Texas is - bigger and better, etc.) and their parents believe this also - it's sort of ingrained in generation after generation. It goes way back and yet there are things today that definitely influence this pride.

3. What is your favorite kind of music to listen to? I love country music. I particularly like ballads.

4. Do you play any musical instruments? I took piano when I was younger for about 6 or 7 years. I can play the piano some, but I don't often play it.

Thanks Holly for these great questions!

Tricki Nicki asked:

1. What do you most like about being a Southerner? I have been in the South for 1/2 of my life, but I was not born here. I do consider myself a Texan now and what I like best about being a Texan/Southerner is the iced tea - we drink a bunch of iced tea!! No - I think southerners are known for being hospitable and nice and I believe that is true. I am proud of that reputation and I like being associated with that!

Thanks Nicki for this great question - I had to really think about this one?

Karen asked:

1. How long has your husband owned his own business? And how involved are you in it, if at all? My husband was an electrician when I met him and one all the way up until the year I became pregnant with my twins (1991). That year, he and I decided that if he was going to stay in the electrical trade he really needed to start his own Electrical Contracting business if he was going to be able to make a long-term living and retire one day. We started the business in June of 1991. I got pregnant in August 1991. Quit my job on Oct. 1, 1991. We started the business with $250.00 in the business checking account. We never (to this day) took out any loans to sustain the business - we just turned the money over and over back into the business and only took what we needed to live on. It was scary those first couple of years, but it always did well - from the day we started it. I handle the bookkeeping for the business and work in the office (attached to our house) several days a week, entering and paying bills, invoicing, taxes, etc. I am part owner of the business and get a pay check from the business. Billy really does all the real work! We've had our business for nearly 17 years. Little Billy talks about taking over Daddy's business one day. I say that is fine - after he goes to college.

2. What was your first reaction after you found out you were having twins? I believed I was having twins before I was actually told 4 months into my pregnancy. When I heard the news I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I felt blessed. It was sheer bliss!

3. How long have you been blogging? I published my first post on 8/23/07, so I've been blogging for 6 months.

4. Do you write anywhere other than your blog? Not yet! I'm working on that! And, thanks for saying that you would read if I did.

Thanks Karen for these great questions!

TheCynicalOptimist asked:

1. What is the worst heartbreak you have ever endured? In January of 1992 I was pregnant with my twins. Something happened that January that was a turning point in my life. It broke my heart in more ways than I ever imagined I could ever endure. It is something I can not go into, as it is very personal, but I am well on the other side of that time in my life and have grown stronger and happier because of what happened. It took many years.

2. If you could make one wish, what would it be? (not more wishes) Alexis said the other day that if she could make one wish on a wishing star that she would wish that EVERYBODY could have one wish - pretty darn smart - hoping she could cash in on their wishes, I think. My wish would be right now ... that my husband could retire. I think my children will make their way in the world - I do. I think I am at peace in my world. I would wish that he could stop working so hard - never have to work again. He works harder than anyone I have ever known in my life.

3. Do you believe in fate? (Fate: Something that unavoidably befalls a person). No I don't. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I believe our lives are in our hands and are dictated by the choices we make. I believe there are different paths our lives can take - depending on those choices. I think that there is an intended "straight" path - an "easier" path and our goal is to find our way back to that path in order to feel our life is balanced. I believe that God is on that "easier" path and that is the path we are intended to be on, but that he allows us to make choices that veer us off that path either drastically or just from time to time. I believe that the choices others make in their lives can cause ripples in our lives and when those ripples touch us, it is our duty to make sure we make the choices that will guide us back to the "straight" path. My life is not dictated by destiny - I believe there are many paths my life can take - that are avoidable and detectable.

4. If you could be blind or rich or deaf and poor, which would you choose? So the question to me is, would I choose sight or hearing? I would choose to loose my sight, I think. I've never honestly thought about this, but when I did, it came to me quickly. I would miss seeing the world and the faces of my loved ones ... but I think I truly treasure the sounds in my life more. The laughter - the songs - the voices. I would miss the voices more than the faces, I think. I can't think about missing the eyes, because that makes me want to cry.

5. What would be a dream career, besides raising your children? Definitely to be a published writer!

6. If a friend could sneak you the winning lottery numbers before they were drawn, would you take them? No. I totally believe that honesty is one the highest of human qualities. I pride myself on having always tried to live an honest life - I would be tempted - like anyone - but I would not do it.

7. You can only shop at ONE clothing store for the rest of your days -- which would it be? I know my family and friends would probably say that this answer would either be ROSS or Marshalls, but I would actually choose Steinmart - I love their clothes.

Thank you TheCynicalOptimist for these fabulous questions!

Hillary asked:

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? I can't narrow this down to just one, but I would have to say that the best childhood memories I have often have my grandfather in them. I am either at his house or on his farm. Most of my favoite memories take place on the farm that he so loved and I loved being there.

Jen asked:

1. What were you like in high school? (I'm picturing you running for class president). My sister and brother are having a good laugh over this question! No, I was not class president. I did not take school too seriously and only wanted to be there because my girl friends were there and for the BOYS!! I was an athlete at times (basketball, track, softball). I was heavy into art! I hung with lots of different crowds - the "pot heads" for a while, the "jocks" for a while, the "artsy" kids for a while, the "white kids that hung with the black kids" for a while ... I was a floater in high school. I was not lost - I was just a floater. Courtney is like that now and I love seeing how she is able to fit into so many different groups. Chloe too, just not as naturally. I always had lots of friends and lots of boy friends - I made sure of that.

2. Where have you met your 3 closest friends, how long have you known them and how often do you see/talk to them? I have 4 close friends that I met 20 years ago. We all worked for the same company and have stayed close ever since. One of those friends, I talk to nearly every single day and the other three, not as often, but we are especially close. The other friend that I am close to right now, is one that I met about 3 years ago. I was searching for her, found her, pursued her, made her love me and now I can't live without her in my life. We talk ever single day and see each other 2-3 times a week, at least. I love my friends!

3. What qualities do you look for in a friend? The most important quality I look for is that the person has to be REAL! I want the friendship to be easy and comfortable - no pretenses or weirdness. I don't want to have to figure you out or wonder what you are thinking. You need to be totally open to me and normal. I want it to be as easy with my friends as it is with my sister or brother - just easy and fun and pure. Don't be mean to me or hateful or jealous. Always give me the benefit of the doubt, like I would give you. Always have my back - no matter what. Laugh with me and talk about anything and everything and all the time. Be available and put me as a priority. These are all the things I try to be to my friends and I hope for the same from them.

Thank you Jen for these really great questions!

Angie asked:

1. What kind of schoolin' have you had (tried to sound Texan, but I think I just sound redneck)? After high school, I went to Junior College her in Texas for an Associates Degree in Business. I quit 3 courses short of getting that degree (all electives too) because I felt like I needed to go to work and found a great job. I ended up working for that same company for nearly 12 years, up until the time I became pregnant with my twins when I quit working to stay home with my kids.

2. Do you/have you ever worked outside the home? The answer above tells you what I did before I stayed home with my kids, but I do work now for my husband's Electrical Contracting company. I am the bookkeeper and I work about 2 days a week (not all day) and I am on the payroll. I'm really only on the payroll for tax reasons.

Thanks Angie for the great questions (and thanks for the tip about the site that will help me with this contest - I will probably do that)!

Katy asked:

1. Years from now when your children are grown up what do you WANT to do with your life? Not what are you going to do, but what would you WANT to do if you could choose anything? I would WANT to be traveling with my husband and writing. I'd love to be an established, published writer by then and be doing that until I die.

Thanks for the great question Katy!

Melissa asked:

What makes you happy? Right now, what makes me happy is when I get the true sense that I am raising a bunch of great kids! I think I am and that makes me really happy! Other than that - lots of things make me happy. There isn't much that makes me unhappy right now in my life. I generally have had a happy life and feel fortunate to say that I have always been quite content. I feel happy a lot!

Thanks for the great question Melissa! (I hope Hope is doing okay!!!!)

Bia asked:

Which cartoon character best describes you? That's easy - I think either the Roadrunner or Speedy Gonzales. They aren't Disney characters, but I choose these two because I move constantly and at the speed of light - I don't do anything slowly.

Which television show best describes your life: "Everyone Loves Raymond", "Desperate Housewives", "24" or "Survivor"? This is a great question. Desperate Housewives is way more drama than goes on in my everyday life, as is 24. I think Survivor is sort of representative of my life - because it often feels like I am trying to SURVIVE, but probably Everyone Loves Raymond is the closest. I say that because my family has often commented (my sister particularly) that I am the "Alpha" in the family and that is sort of like Raymond. I also have quite the cast of characters around me - all fun and funny!! We have our moments of drama and trauma - but, all in all - we're pretty much a normal suburban family that lives our lives around our families and have our moments of roaring laughter and happiness.

Thanks Bia for these 2 great questions!

Rachel asked:

1. What parts of being a mother do you enjoy the most? I never knew if I would really be a good mother. I do not think I am the best mother I could be, but I do a lot of things right and some things very wrong. The things I do right, I have worked hard at getting right and the best part of that is seeing the results of all that hard work. Seeing these children growing up to be loving, kind, respectful, smart, trustworthy, honest, dependable - you know - all those things you try so hard to instill in them. The older they all become, the more evident it is that there are so many things that I have done right and that is the most rewarding part. You don't believe you will ever feel that or see those results - really - but you do. And when you do ... it is a marvelous feeling!!!!

I also enjoy just being around my children - always being around them. Touching them. Hearing them. Seeing them. I don't like some of the work that goes with the raising of them - but I do love having them around!

Thanks Rachel for the great question!

Janice asked:

1. What is your number one most favorite thing about each of your kids? It's hard to pick one thing about each of them, but I'll try. My favorite thing about Courtney is that Courtney is so smart - she is one of the smartest people I know - in every way! My favorite thing about Chloe is her sweet heart. She is more sensitive than she would admit to and has enough love for everyone! My favorite thing about Little Billy is his casual approach to life. He takes life as it comes and lives it in the moment. You always believe he is "content" and that is quite a fascinating quality and it rubs off on those around him. My favorite thing about Alexis is her desire to live LIFE! She does not want to miss out on anything and would be up for everything!

2. Name one thing you have learned from each one of your kids. I love this question. From Courtney, I have learned laughter! She is funny and makes me laugh and she has made me want to laugh more and more and more! She has brought back into my life that sort of laughter that I used to experience as a kid - the kind that comes from seeing the humor in things. The kind that I had with my friends in school, where we searched out the laughter day after day. She is a gift! From Chloe I have learned humility. Chloe is my mirror. I reflect off of her and she me. It is like we are the same person sometimes. It's like I can see directly into her soul, she exposes herself to me so well. She doesn't know this - but it is there. I see myself in her and yet she is a better person than I will ever be! From Little Billy I have learned tolerance. His personality calms me (like his Daddy). He makes me want to slow down and enjoy life - look at the world and appreciate the moment. He is such a sweet boy! From my baby Alexis I have learned happiness. By her coming into my life - when she did- I think she has taught me to just be happy. Choose it and then ... roll around in it. That is what she does and that is how I feel in her presense - happy.

3. I think choosing your friends wisely is so very important, what do you tell you kids about choosing their friends? The one thing that my kids have experienced - too often - is friends that try to "use" them. I have tried to make them realize that "true" friends will do anything and everything to make sure you are happy and taken care of. If they step that line, once or twice, and something hurtful happens and you want to forgive them - that is good, but to be careful not to allow people - even friends - to mistreat you - "use" you - hurt you - make you feel sad. If they do that too often, without little regard for your feelings or wellbeing - then they are not a good friend and you should try to find other friends.

4. Who do you want to win American Idol? I love American Idol! I haven't made my mind up about this yet. I'll still have to watch for a while longer before I can decide.

5. Besides blogging and your kids, what do you do in your spare time? I don't have a lot of spare time. I am currently on the PTA board at my girls' high school, on a separate committee also at their school, I volunteer one day a week at Little Billy and Alexis' school, I work for my husband's business ... I'm pretty busy most of the time. We have a lake house that we all try to get away to when we can - on weekends and in the summer. When we are there, we ski and swim and eat out and go to movies and rent moves - have fun. If I'm home and have spare time - I like to go to lunch or shopping with my friends or go over to their house and just sit and have coffee or tea and talk.

Thanks so much Janice for these great questions!

Dawn asked:

1. If you watch Desperate Housewives, which housewife are you most like? What a fun question. I asked Courtney which one she thought and she said Lynette because she has twelve million kids and she is kind of crazy and because she is the coolest one (according to Courtney) and her husband is opening up his own business and my husband has his own business. I'd have to agree - I'm pretty darn cool (tee hee). Lynette - definitely.

2. What is your favorite place to be and why? In the winter, and right now - my favorite place to be is at home. I'm not always a home-body, but lately that is where I am drawn to and where I want to be. In the summer - my favorite place to be is at the lake (at our lake house), as that is where we have to most fun as a family. I love being there.

Thanks Dawn for these great questions!

Betsy asked:

What do you most fear? I've said this quite often over that past several years. Because I think I am a pretty strict mother and because I don't always think I am the best mother ... my greatest fear is that my kids will leave home one day and ... never come back to me.

Thanks Betsy for this great question!

Jenn @ Juggling Life asked:

1. If you could be anything other than what you are, what would it be? I really have never had ambition or dreams to be anything other than what I am - I am where and who I want to be. I'd simply love to add to the mix, at times. I've always longed to be a "real" writer - so I'd definitely add that to the mix. I'd love to do something in my life that meant something - you know - something big and important and meaningful (other than raising my 4 wonderful children). I'd like to be that person that put forth that extra effort or came up with some brilliant idea that solved some huge problem or worry - like the cure for cancer or world peace or poverty and hunger. I long to feel like "I mattered" in this world sometimes and if I could contribute in some big way that was important - I think that would be my untimate fantasy!

Thanks so much Jenn for this great question!

Amanda asked:

1. You sound like a great mom who really has her life balanced; household stuff, teenagers, slightly younger son, little daughter, blogging. I hardly get anything done and I only have one toddler. How long did it take for your family to find this balance? This is a nice compliment Amanda, but I do not always feel balanced. I have found that the longer I have had kids, the easier the balance is to find, though. It's just like anything, I guess - you begin to see the problems or issues and look for ways to solve them. I am also quite the "control freak" and totally live by "there is a place for everything and everything has its place". As crazy as that can make people around me - it does lend itself to a pretty organized life. I believe whole-heartedly that I live an organized life and that helps keep things in a little more balance. Chaos begets chaos - it does! Plus, I also get a lot of help now around my house from my kids. My teenager's first priority is their school work and sports, but I do expect them to do a certain amount of chores - Little Billy and Alexis too. That helps with the housework, some. And ... my husband is always willing to pick up any slack that I can't handle myself - like taking kids to basketball practice or stopping by the grocery store for milk and bread. I'd have to say that Billy contributes A LOT to the success of our busy lives!! He always has! I don't do it ALL on my own - NOT EVEN! It does get easier with time though.

Thanks Amanda for this great question!

Kelly asked:

1. What kind of jobs have you had in the past? Before I had kids, I worked as a waitress, I worked as a cashier in a grocery story, I worked at Dunkin Donuts, I worked as receptionist and then I worked as an Account Manager in the Credit and Collections department of a large computer manufacturing company for nearly 12 years, right before I had my kids. I now work with my husband in our own business - I am the bookkeeper.

2. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be? At different times - this answer would be different. But, overall I would love to go to the east coast of the U.S., Hawaii, Greece, England, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. That's just how I feel today. Ask me tomorrow and I might have totally different answers.

3. What is your favorite song? For the past several years, my favorite song has been "Believe" by Brooks and Dunn. I love that song!

Thanks Kelly for all the great questions!

Steph asked:

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why. At different times - this answer would be different. But, overall I would love to go to the east coast of the US, Hawaii, Greece, England, Australia, Switzerland and Japan. That's just how I feel today. Ask me tomorrow and I might have totally different answers. Now, why? I've never been to some of these places or haven't been for many years and would just love to go and see them.

Thanks Steph for this great question!

Queen of My Domain asked:

1. Which of your children do you see yourself in the most (not looks mind you but mannerisms)? I think my twins are the most like me. They are also a lot alike too. But, they don't share all the same quirky things - they like split my quirky things between them. Chloe is a lot like me in her "common sense" approach to life and Courtney tends to be a "control freak" more - just like me. They are also very loud and I can definitely be very loud. They are very out-going, more so than me, but they get that from me more than their father. They are also equally as stubborn and opinionated and they definitely get that from me. It would be both Courtney and Chloe - but probably Chloe, if I had to choose one.

2. What does your family think of your blogging and do they ever read your posts? My husband is always looking over my shoulder to see what I am writing or reading, but he never goes on my sight on his own (that I know of). And I often sit in bed at night and read the stories to him - just so he knows the sorts of things I am writing about - he gets a kick out of that. My kids don't read my posts, except every now and then Courtney and Chloe will get on and read one after the other to sort of get caught up. They do love hearing about something I posted "that day" and will ask me what my post was about that day. My mother, dad, sister and brother-in-law, read pretty much everyday and sometimes one of them will even leave a comment. My family is still trying to figure out what I am doing. They all seem to enjoy the stories and get a kick out of me being able to come up with the stories and write them - but, I think they are not all totally "clear" on why I BLOG - you know. They are very tolerant though and realize that it makes me happy and is something I want to do - so they totally support me.

3. What is the one thing that is always guaranteed to put you in a good mood? Without a doubt - if I wake up in the morning and I look in the mirror and see that yesterday's hair - is good to go!!! If I have to mess with my hair in the morning too much - it can put me in the worst mood for a while. Also - If I am in a bad mood, if my husband shows me kindness or gives me a smile - that always softens me right up!

Thanks so much Queen of My Domain for these great questions!

Tommie asked:

1. How old were you when you got married? I was 22 years old.

2. Where was your favorite place to live growing up? I loved when we lived in Virginia, but I'd have to say my favorite place was Germany.

3. What is one thing you want to do before you leave this earth? The one thing I want to know before I leave this earth is that all of my children are settled in their lives and truly happy. The one thing I'd want to do - that I honestly think I could achieve - is to be a published writer. I'd also like to reach the point where my husband and I are at the point where we have slowed down enough in our lives that we return to that relationship we had prior to having kids - the one where we held hands a lot, kissed a lot, looked into each others eyes a lot, held each other a lot, had sex a lot and all we had to do all day was be in love!

4. What is your favorite place to eat? We have a Mexican restaurant here called Pappasitos - that is definitely my favorite place!

Thanks so much Tommie for these great questions!

Kaci asked:

1. What is your favorite fruit? This is not an easy question - I thought it was until I really started to try and answer it. I guess, if I have to choose one, I'd say grapes (Concord).

McSwain asked:

1. What's your guilty pleasure? I'd definitely have to say chocolate, but I also love TV. I always have to have a TV on with some sort of chocolate nearby. Coffee too - with Hazelnut creamer.

Thanks McSwain for this fun question!

Mama Meji asked:

1. What was the worst thing you did as a wife? The only thing I can think of is when I got really mad at my husband one year for not buying me a Birthday present - I got in my car and left. I stayed away from the house for hours and was so angry (this was many years ago) ! I wanted so badly to leave that night and never come back - but I really had nowhere to go, so I came home. It was an awful night and it was just me being a big ol' baby! He didn't deserve any of it! Other than that, I am sometimes pretty demanding and could honestly say that I do something every single day that makes me a "not-so-great" wife.

2. What is the worst thing you ever did as a parent? When my twins were about 3 years old, I got angry and grabbed Courtney by the arm. She walked around for about a days with a little gimpy arm and I was so worried and heart-broken that I had really hurt her. It was on that day that I decided that I would never be a parent that used my hands to discipline my children. yanking is one thing I hate to see a parent do to their little child and I tried to never do that again. I've done it once or twice or three times - over the years - but, I am always ashamed when I do it!

3. What was the BEST thing you did as a wife? On my husband and my 20th wedding anniversary, I threw ourselves a party and invited lots of our friends. I spent weeks trying to find my husband the perfect gift. I decided to secretly buy him a Corvette (something I knew he would love - duh) and gave it to him on the night of our anniversary party. He was surprised and very pleased, but it made me feel wonderful because it was my way of showing him how much I love him and how important he is in my life. Not that I "gave" him a car - but that I went to the trouble and he never expected me to do something like that for him.

4. What is the BEST thing you ever did as a parent? I'd like to be able to say that it was introducing them to God - and I have done that, but not to the best of my ability - like my parents did for me. I'd have to say, so far, the best thing is that I have tried to instill in each of my children to be the "best" they can be - at school, as friends and as people. I think I've done a good job at this, as they are all really great people!

Thank you Mama Meji for these great questions!

N8 asked:

1. What size shoe do you wear? (so when you decide to give away some of those shoes, I will kow if they fit me). I wear an 8 1/2, but sometimes I can fit in an 8 and sometimes a 9 - so I have all 3 sizes in my closet - mostly 8 1/2.

2. What would you never ever blog about? I would never blog about any of my friend's or my family's lives - not details - only an occasional story that I know would not hurt them. I would never blog about politics - it just doesn't interest me to get into that sort of heated discussion. I would never blog about some stories in my life that are too personal to me.

3. What is your favorite song from high school? This one isn't easy - as high school was a long time ago, but probably "Stairway to Heaven". I listened to Queen, Chicago, America, The Eagles, Aerosmith - those types of bands - that tells you how old I am and more.

4. What is your middle name? My middle name is Renee. Kellan Renee.

5. What is your most embarrassing moment? I really don't have one embarrassing moment that stands out in my life - that's weird, I know. I'm a "control freak" and we tend to be the type of people that try very hard not to put ourselves into situations where something embarrassing will happen (HA!). Day to day, the thing that embarrasses me the most is when I can't remember someone's name - I am awful at recalling names and it happens all the time - I hate that!

Thanks Christina (N8) for these great questions!

Kelli asked:

1. Where did your name "Kellan" come from? I happen to love my name, so I am always happy to answer this question. My mother had a friend in high school that had the name Mary Kellan and that is where my name came from. My name is Kellan Renee, though. I have a cousin that had a little girl at the same time I had my twins (15 years ago) and named her daughter Mary Kellan - I was so jealous that I hadn't thought to use the name for one of my girls - I love it. They call her Mary-Kellan.

2. What is your middle name? Renee is my middle name.

3. Have you always lived in Texas? if not, where else? No. My dad was in the Army, so we moved a lot when I was growing up. I was born in West Virginia and have lived in Michigan, Colorado, Virginia (twice), Texas (twice) and Germany. I ended up in Texas in 1978 and have lved here ever since.

Thanks Kelli for these great questions!

My Goodness asked:

1. I want to know if you potty trained your boy like you trained your girls ... what was your technique? He was harder to train than my girls and I don't know if it is because he was a boy or because he was my "second" child. It took longer (he was nearly 3 and my girls trained about 14 months). I used a lot of tricks to try to get him trained, like bribing him and reward charts. He finally trained at almost exactly his 3rd Birthday and I think he was the one that made that decision and it had little to do with me by that point.

2. What are 5 of your biggest pet peeves? I can't stand to see or hear someone smacking their lips when they eat or chew gum! I don't like prentious people. I don't like jealousy - to see it or feel it or be on the butt-end of it! I don't like dropping things - it drives me crazy! And, I don't like to see or experience unfairness!

Thanks Tina (My Goodness) for these great questions!

Laura asked:

1. I would love to know more about your twins story. I really want to share their story and I am going to answer this question in a separte post (soon).

2. Why did you start your blog? In August 2007, I picked up my Writer's Digest magazine and read an article that a famous author wrote, wherein he suggested that any want-to-be writers, should have a blog. He referenced Blogger.com (and other blog hosts). I went on Blogger that very minute, created a blog, named it On The Upside (because that is something I am known to often say in conversations) and ... here I am. I love to write - I THOUGHT it would be a place for me to write. It is that, but ... it is SO MUCH more - as you all very well know! I started it to have somewhere where I could write daily.

3. What do you like about blogging? There are A LOT of great things that I like about blogging! The BEST thing about blogging for me is that I am able to be creative. I have always been creative and I am finding that blogging taps into those creative tendencies and I love that! It is very rewarding. I also love that I am documenting my children's lives! I also like meeting all the other bloggers - great writers and mothers!!

4. What do you dislike about blogging? Honestly ... I don't like how competitive it can sometimes feel. I don't like the amount of time it consumes and that I can't visit everyone I'd really like to visit. I don't like that I don't understand so much about the technical stuff. I don't like how people that don't "blog" - DON'T GET IT! I don't like - sometimes - how much I LOVE it!

Thanks so much Laura for these great questions!

Regina asked:

1. When you get to heaven (and I love that she believes I WILL go to heaven), if you can ask God ONE question, what would it be? This is a GREAT question, because I totally believe in God and believe that one day I will stand in front of Him. This question is also not that hard for me, I would ask him, "How did I do?" I totally believe that life is a "test" and we are "tested" every single day. I believe that we all try to do our best at living our lives and I would want to know, in God's opinion - how I did. Was I a good person? Did I live a good life? Did I not waste the gift? It would be an interesting answer for me, as I feel I have lived a good life and have embraced the gift!

Thanks Regina for the GREAT question!

The Boyds Family asked: (Thanks for the really nice comment, by the way!)

1. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it and how did you get it? I really don't. My grandfather and my father often call(ed) me Kelly, but they are the only ones that do. My sister and brother and mother often call me Kel. Some folks, behind my back, call me "The Whip" and think I don't know this - but I do.

2. Where do you get all these great pictures that go so perfectly with your posts? I didn't always put specific pictures with my posts - early on. When I decided to start doing that, I found that I LOVED it! It was a part of blogging that I found that really tapped into my creative side and it has been so much fun trying to find the perfect picture. Sometimes I can't. I find most of them on Google Image or Yahoo Image. You just have to search and search sometimes, but they are fun to look for!

3. What is your favorite movie and why? I tend to really like movies that have a dark setting and are set in some place interesting like New Orleans or Fargo. Fargo is one of my favorite movies. Interview with a Vampire is one of my favorite movies. The Big Easy, I love too. I like LOTS of movies and mostly I think I like them for the setting and the dialect. I love a New Orleans or Fargo or English or Australian accent and also if the movie exposes the culture or particulars about the "setting". I think the setting - the background - the surroundings ... play a big part in any story - they are a character of their own and I love Interview with a Vampire because of the setting and that movie made me believe in Vampires and I liked the story a lot. I liked "The Others" too, because it was a great story and a dark setting. I like a lot of dramas - those are my favorite type of movie. I love the movie "Delores Claiborne" because of the setting and the acting and the story. Lots of people are not drawn to dramas and lots of people are not drawn to dark movies - I love them the most!

4. Who is your favorite author? I have never been much of a reader. I know, it's not common for those that love to write - not also to love to read. I do like to read and have read lots of books, but I don't LOVE it. I think the main reason is because I don'tt have the patience for reading - the patience to invest the time into a book. I don't sit for very long doing any one thing and reading requires a lot of sitting. I've never been one to SIT. I wish I was and could settle my "self" enough to sit and enjoy reading - but it is not in my personality. I have to be in motion, most of the time. I don't have a favorite author for these reasons. Somehow, not being a "dedicated" reader myself - I have still managed to instill in my kids the love of reading - my kids love to read and be read to! I DO believe it is important and a gift! (I am most fascinated by Steven King).

5. How do you find the time to be such a wonderful wife, terrific mommy, awesome friend (because I'm SURE you are!) and outstanding blogger? First, let me say that I do not think I am always a wonderful wife or terrific mommy. These are my two most important roles in my life and the areas I try to focus on the most and I find MANY areas where I fail at. I am constantly aware of my failures or faults and try my best to change or correct those things daily. I'm becoming a better mother as the years go by - but I am NOT the best mother or wife. I think I am a GREAT friend though. As long as you are a good friend to me - I find it easy to be a good friend to you. I think I know what makes a good friend and it comes easily for me to give all to my friendships and do whatever it takes to shelter those friendships. As far as being an "outstanding" blogger (thanks). I tend to be a very focused person. I am very organized and driven. I approached blogging like I approach most things I do in my life and that is with lots of energy and ambition. Once I found (quickly) that I loved it, I immediately began investing in it and that meant that I started to try to learn as much as I could (quickly) and then did my best to try to figure out ways to form it into what I wanted it to be. For me - I wanted it to be the "best" I could make it - I still do. I am always looking for ways to do it and make it better. I am always looking for ways to write better and be more interesting. I find that some of it comes easily to me and some of it doesn't and what doesn't, I work hard at figuring out. It all takes a lot of time - to balance it all - I have sacrificed a lot of sleep in order to have my blog and become a better blogger - I have. But, I get plenty of sleep.

Thanks so much The Boyds Family for these GREAT questions!

Joanna asked:

1. How did you meet your husband? We met right before Thanksgiving, 1983 in a country western dance hall. He saw me as I walked by, turned to his buddy and said, "That's the girl I'm going home with tonight." We've been together ever since. It was love at first sight. God put him right in my path and I was smart enough to recognize what a gift he was!

2. How do find time to balance everything? I have found that the longer I have had kids, the easier it becomes to find a balance. It's just like anything, I guess - you begin to see the problems or issues and look for ways to solve them. I am also quite the "control freak" and totally live by "there is a place for everything and everything has its place". As crazy as that can make people around me - it does lend itself to a pretty organized life. I believe whole-heartedly that I live an organized life and that helps keep things in a little more balance. Chaos begets chaos - it does! Plus, I also get a lot of help now around my house from my kids. My teenager's first priority is their school work and sports, but I do expect them to do a certain amount of chores - Little Billy and Alexis too. That helps with the housework, some. And ... my husband is always willing to pick up any slack that I can't handle myself - like taking kids to basketball practice or stopping by the grocery store for milk and bread. I'd have to say that Billy contributes A LOT to the success of our busy lives!! He always has! I don't do it ALL on my own - NOT EVEN! As far as fitting in the things I want to do for myself - like blogging or gardening or whatever - I just do everything else REALLY FAST so I can squeeze in time for me.

3. What does your family think of you blogging? My husband is always looking over my shoulder to see what I am writing or reading, but he never goes on my sight on his own (that I know of). And I often sit in bed at night and read the stories to him - just so he knows the sorts of things I am writing about - he gets a kick out of that. My kids don't read my posts, except every now and then Courtney and Chloe will get on and read one after the other to sort of get caught up. They do love hearing about something I posted "that day" and will ask me what my post was about that day. My mother, dad, sister and brother-in-law, read pretty much everyday and sometimes one of them will even leave a comment. My family is still trying to figure out what I am doing. They all seem to enjoy the stories and get a kick out of me being able to come up with the stories and write them - but, I think they are not all totally "clear" on why I BLOG - you know. They are very tolerant though and realize that it makes me happy and is something I want to do - so they totally support me.

4. How do you know what to share and what not to share? My blog is not one that offers a daily "look" into my life (that is one of the reasons I did the Q&A). I post daily "stories" about specific moments or conversations that go on in my life. I don't have many stories that I have written that I have had to decide whether or not to post (I have a few). I write my stories based on something that is said or something I have seen. When a moment happens, I write the story and then put it in my drafts. I pull stories from my drafts - usually. Sometimes I will post a story that I wrote just the day before because of the timing, but usually I pull a story from my drafts and post it according to what I want to say that day. I don't often have to think about the content of my daily post, because it is simply a matter of whether I want to talk about Billy that day or the twins or Alexis or whatever. It's not based on content as much as I feel like I am a "story-teller" and so I offer a differnt story every day. I do not write anything that I do not intend to share - some day.

Thanks so much Joanna for these great questions!

Frog Ponds Rock (Kim) asked:

1. What is your favorite flower? My favorite flower is the state flower of Texas - the Bluebonnet. I love it for it's color and when it grows wild in the spring (everywhere) it is a sight to behold!

2. Have you traveled out of America? Yes! My dad was in the Army and so we lived in Germany for 3 years (1976-1978). While living there - our parents dragged up to every country that surrounds or is near Germany. I've been to a lot of Europe, but we never made it to Greece or England when I lived there. I've been to Canada, The U.S. Virgin Islands, Grand Caymen, Jamaica, Mexico - lots of places on crusies (we've been on 9 cruises). I love traveling and visiting new places.

3. What do you enjoy cooking? This is another question my family is getting a good laugh over! I do not like to cook. I don't mind baking sometimes, but I'm not that fond of baking either! I love good food, but HATE to cook and find NOTHING enjoyable about cooking!

4. What are you reading at the moment? I started reading Eragon (my kids talked me into it) a while back, but have put it down and haven't picked it up since. That is the last book I started. I'm not really reading any book at the moment.

5. What is your favorite color? Green is my favorite color - like sage green.

Thanks Kim for all these great questions!

Tammy asked:

1. Who was your hero growing up? I would say my grandfather. I admired him, I looked up to him, I respected him, I wanted to be near him - I loved him very much!

2. Who is your hero now? My children are my heros now - particurlary my twins. I am vicariously living my life through them. I love everything about how they are living their lives!!

3. How do you think your life would be different if your twins and six year old were boys and your ten year old was a girl? Oh, this is a good question! I truly believe having more girls - has made me a better person and a better woman. I'm not sure I (personally) would have experienced that if I had had more boys than girls. It would be fun to know what I would be like - what our lives would be like if there was more boys than girls. I always wanted girls (but was so HAPPY to have that sweet boy thrown into the mix)! I don't honestly believe I would be as good a woman (ME personally) if I hadn't had all these daughters!

4. What's your favorite all time movie and why? I tend to really like movies that have a dark setting and are set in some place interesting like New Orleans or Fargo. Fargo is one of my favorite movies. Interview with a Vampire is one of my favorite movies. The Big Easy, I love too. I like LOTS of movies and mostly I think I like them for the setting and the dialect. I love a New Orleans or Fargo or English or Australian accent and also if the movie exposes the culture or particulars about the "setting". I think the setting - the background - the surroundings ... play a big part in any story - they are a character of their own and I love Interview with a Vampire because of the setting and that movie made me believe in Vampires and I liked the story a lot. I liked "The Others" too, because it was a great story and a dark setting. I like a lot of dramas - those are my favorite type of movie. I love the movie "Delores Claiborne" because of the setting and the acting and the story. Lots of people are not drawn to dramas and lots of people are not drawn to dark movies - I love them the most! I also loved "The Hours"! I'd have to say my most favorite is "Interview with a Vampire" - I could watch it over and over and over again. I know - a little weird. I think I was a vampire in another life.

5. If you could have lunch with one person from any point in time, past or present, who would it be? It would be Jesus.

Thank you Tammy for the fabulous questions!

Becky asked:

1. How many people view your blog a day? I have anywhere from 150 - 250 view my blog in a day, depending on the day of the week. Generally it is about 200 - 225 or so.

2. How long does it typically take you to write out a post? Typically, about 1/2 an hour. I always work from a note I have jotted down (something Alexis said, something I saw, etc.) and I sit down with that note and if the story is there, it will come out very easily. If it is not "really" a good story, I will realize that pretty quickly and abandon it quickly. I don't force a story that "does not want to be told". Usually I know the moment I hear or see something that I can make a story out of it and the story comes easily. I don't search for stories, I watch for them to happen and make sure I jot down the moment (I always carry a pad with me). When I have time to write, I review my little jotted down notes (usually something very short that simply reminds me of the moment or conversation) and start to write. I try to shape my stories a little differently - and usually that comes easily as well, from the first word I put on the page. It is usually that beginning that will determine if the rest of the story works or not for me. I have come to believe that if the story was meant to be told, it will unfold easily and that has worked so far. Usually I spend about 1/2 the time editing (changing words or format).

3. How do you remember all the people you comment on your blog? I think you are asking, how do I remember them "personally". This is not always easy. I don't have a problem remembering their blog or their names with their faces or the blogger themselves. I don't have a problem really remembering some of the details of their lives - like where they live or what they do if they work or something about their husbands. What I have the most trouble with is remembering how many kids they have and their kids' names. I guess that is hard for everyone, as we have a bunch of kids amongst us!! I also sometimes find that I think I know something and realize I didn't or was wrong about something and that will throw me. I try very hard to really get to know all my visitors on some level. I usually read their profile and at least a few posts if I've never met them before, so I will feel like I know them a bit when/if they come back and visit me again.

4. Do you prefer gold or silver? In jewelry, I am split right down the middle - I wear both and love both. I also have gold and silver frames and such in my house, but I prefer silver. I'd say I am really more drawn to silver.

5. Do you do a lot of entertaining? I don't ever do formal enteraining! We often have friends or family around and do that sort of entertaining. We don't have parties often, but we have had many parties over the years. I do entertain a lot of kids - there is always some bunch of teenagers in my house (like right now, there are 2 of my girls' friends over and last night there were 2 also). I like having lots of people around and am the most comfortable when I am surrounded by friends or family.

Thanks Becky for all these great questions!

Baby-Amore' asked:

1. Have you ever had a caravan/trailer holiday? Not since I was a kid and we had a pull along RV that our family used for a short while to travel. I love the idea!

2. What is the best advice about raising twins anyone ever gave you? Without a doubt - keep them on one schedule!

3. Have you ever been or will you ever visit Australia? No, I 've never been, but I'd love to visit!! I'm hoping one day to visit on my book tour (tee hee)!

4. Do your children like you blogging about them? I think they love it! They often want to read or have me read the stories I write and they seem to enjoy them. Alexis and Little Billy aren't aware of all of the stories I have written about them, but those they become aware of, they are so proud - like they feel special that I would take the time to write about them. My twins get a kick out the stories I write about them because they think they are so funny and so they don't find it surprising that I would want to document their "funniness"! None of them seem worried that I would write anything they wouldn't like and I think that is because they KNOW I wouldn't.

5. What is the most embarrassing thing your twins ever did or said? I honestly can't think of anything they have ever done that was embarrassing - I can think of thousands of things they have done that have made me proud, though!

Thank you Baby-Amore' for all these great questions!

JCK asked:

1. Do you have a certain time of day that you blog? No. I blog all day long. If I have somewhere to go - I go - and then when I get back I blog. If I have chores to do - I do them - and then I sit back down and I blog. I do it all day long, from the moment I wake up, until the moment I go to bed. I do LOTS of other stuff inbetween, but I seldom just sit and do nothing - I usually blog. It's crazy - I know!

2. What does your husband think about your blogging? He induldges the time it takes. He likes to hear the stories. He hopes that all the time and energy I have invested will result in something other than blogging - I think. He knows that I enjoy it and so that makes him happy that I have found this thing that I love so much.

3. When did you know that you loved to write? I've always believed that I was a "good" writer, but I didn't know that I loved to write until right after I was pregnant with my twins, quit my job and stayed home (over 16 years ago). I was looking for an "outlet" for myself when I became a SAHM and found writing. I've written in one form or another ever since. Until blogging, it has only ever been for myself.

Thanks JCK for the great questions!

Natalie asked:

1. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in life? Really - having snagged and held onto such a great man for 23 years! He has been the greatest gift in my life and having such a solid and wonderful marriage and such a great partner, friend and husband is an accomplishment I had hoped for in my life, but never really knew I could accomplish or sustain - does anyone?

2. Were their names you just loved when you were thinking of your children's names, but your husband hated them and you didn't get to use them? My husband "let" me name all the girls and was adamant about naming our son after himself (he's a Jr.). I would have loved to have had say-so in the naming of our son, as there were so many great names I wanted - but, I felt it was only fair. He had no preferences or objections when it came to naming the girls, he just left it up to me. It worked out nicely for me.

3. How did you meet your best female friend? All of my closest friends - I worked with. We all worked together at the same company year ago. We've stayed close ever since. I have other close friends that I have made over the past several years and the one I am closest too right now I met through my twins. My twins and her daughter are very close and I met her through school functions and such and we have become great friends!

4. What is your dream car? Well ... I've been driving a van for over 16 years - so I just dream about driving any car that is not a VAN! I'm a big TransAm, Firebird, Camero fan - I'd take anyone of those cars as a convertible and white.

5. What do your favorite pair of pajamas look like? Right now I am attached to a stupid pair that are like a pair of capri pants and tank top - they are lime green and bright pink and have Betty Boop all over them - they are ridiculous!

Thanks so much Natalie for these great questions!

Family Adventure (Heidi) asked:

1. Do you write blog posts in advance, or do you sit down to write a new post every single day? I write the story when it comes to me and then store it in my drafts. I probably have about 40-50 stories right now, saved in my drafts. I am always watching and listening for a story and when I hear or see something that I think will make a good story, I jot down a note about the incident and keep it in a file. When I have time to write, I will pull all my notes and see if there are any stories to be told from the notes I made. Sometimes, something happens and I run right away to my computer to write a story, because it hits me as being a particularly good story and I feel the need to write it right then. I won't necessarily post it the next day, though, usually it goes into my drafts and I hold it to post when the timing feels right. Some days I write 3 or 4 stories. Some days I don't write any. Many days go by where I don't write a story. Sometimes I wonder if another story will ever come - and yet they always do. I have lots of ideas in my "idea" folder and sometimes I pull that file and try to make a story out of one of those ideas that didn't seem like a good idea before. Some of the ideas will never be a story and some of them will be a story one day. I find that the story is either "there" to be told, or it isn't. I never force a story - it either comes easily or it doesn't. If it doesn't - I abandon the idea quickly and try to move on to another idea or walk away from trying to write a story at all. If I try to force it - it is NEVER a good story! And ... I NEVER try to search for story ideas. I have found that if the story is meant to be told - it will FIND me and hit me in such a way that I know it immediately. Not every funny or touching moment makes for a good story - no matter how hard I try to make it!

2. How much time do you spend commenting on other blogs on any average day? It's a lot of time. Everyday is different, but I'd say it's anywhere from 5-6 hours or more. I devote a lot of time to building up a relationship between myself and other bloggers/mothers/writers and feel it requires a lot of time and dedication to do that (you know!)! I have tried to find ways to do it as effeciently as I can, because I don't always have the same amout of time in one day, as I might have had on another. I usually do it early in the morning and late in the evening - not all day long - usually.

3. Do you expect your younger daughter to be close to her older twin sisters when they grow up? Why or why not? I think once my twins leave for college, there will be a time where she won't be very close to them. I think they will be close (I hope) when the twins are settled into their careers/marriages and have time again for Alexis. I think they will enjoy having a younger sister around - once they reach an age that they will be able to appreciate that youth and what she has to offer. I plan to do whatever I can to encourage all my kids to always try to be close to each other.

Thanks Heidi for all these great questions!

Forgetfulone asked:

1. What is the proper blogging etiquette when someone posts a comment on your blog? Comment them in return? Do nothing? I think this all depends on what kind of blogger you are and what your goal is. If you want to build a relationship with other bloggers or a larger readership, then I think it helps when you respond to their comments by leaving a comment on their blog. If you are a blogger that has no interest in building relationships or readership - then, it makes sense that you would not be interested or expected to answer a comment by leaving a comment. I don't think there is a "proper blogging etiquette" - I think it is what works for your own individual blog. There should not be rules, as everyone's blog is THEIR own individual space. I personally respond to anyone that leaves a comment - with a comment, because I think it shows that I am as determined to be as loyal a reader to your blog as you are to mine. I think that responding to comments with comments is a tool - to connect you to other bloggers. Everyone should feel free to use that tool anyway they want - no rules.

2. Do you write for a living? (other than blogging) No I don't. I never have.

3. Besides your own, what is one blog you just have to read everyday? I love a lot of blogs - and I read a lot of blogs - I DO! Now ... there is 1 great blog that I used to read pretty regularly - Woulda Coulda Shoulda - that I think is a really great blog, but I don't visit as much anymore just because I don't have the time. I do pop over from time to time and visit - when I have time. I am pretty busy and pretty happy reading and visiting ALL the great moms and writers that I have become friends with! I really don't have ONE that I have to read everyday - I have LOTS that I have to read everyday - and LOVE IT!

4. Does anyone in your family read your blog? Yes. My mom, dad, sister and BIL read it everyday. I have some extended family that also read it from time to time (cousins, uncles and aunts).

The Dragonfly asked:

1. Living in the South, do you miss the seasons? Autumn is my favorite season ... where you live do the leaves ahnge color etc.? I do miss the seasons. I love the snow and we never get snow here (we have, but it is rare). Our trees change color in the Fall, but unless you are in an area (like the hill country), you don't notice it. In the hill country it is beautiful and there are areas of Texas that are known for the beautiful fall display and people drive there to see the hills and trees change color.

2. As a mom of 4 you've had many different experiences with parenting. What is one thing you'd recommend I make an effort to do with my son while he's still small? I know you are reading to your son - so I won't say that. I think all of my children are very confident. If I had to say one thing I think I did right with my children, I'd say that - that I somehow helped them build tremendous confidence. Confidence will serve you well in life and I believe it is essential to success of every kind! But, it has to be a humble confidence - not one that is flaunted or misused. There is a fine line and that is hard to teach. Find a way to teach your child to be as confident as he can be - that would be my advise. If they have complete confidence in themselves and are taught to use that trait wisely - they will figure EVERYTHING else out on their own and all you have to do is guide them - not drag them or pull them or them following others - into life.

Thank you The Dragonfly for these great questions!

Thank you Kim! I wish we did live right next door to each other too!

Rachel asked:

1. If you had one day to do anything you wanted with no consequences, no restrictions - nothing - what would you do? I take over the world and I'd try to fix - really fast - all the things I THINK are wrong in the world!

2. If your life were a novel, what would the name be and what would the first and last lines in it say? If my life were a novel it would be titled, "An Ordinary Life". The first line would read, "She was a beautiful baby," and the last line would read, "It was an ordinary life, but anyone would consider themselves lucky to have lived a life such as this."

3. If you could give your children just one piece of advice that would actually stick, what would it be. I would advise them to spend lots of time idenitifying their potential and NEVER waste, not even one second, at developing and utilizing that potential to do good things in their lives, with their lives and in the lives of others.

Thank you Rachel for these really great questions!

One Scrappy Gal asked:

1. Did you think The Smurfs were creepy? HA! I don't I ever DID, but I DO now that I think about it.

2. Have you ever tried to lick your elbow? Yes.

3. What is one of your most embarrassing stories? Something humilitating that you suffered at the hands of one of your children? This is about the 3rd time I've been asked to remember some sort of embarrassing story and I honestly can't recall any - not even at the hands of my children. That's weird right? Like nothing strange or unpredictible ever happens to me. I guess it does - but no stories stand out as being all that embarrassing. Sorry - I have searched and searched my brain and I can think of nothing.

4. Tell the truth ... did you participate in hands across America? Or did you leave a gap, you heathen? No I did not participate - I left a gap.

5. What's your favorite pie filling? I'd have to say either pumpkin or pecan - maybe blackberry.

Thanks so much One Scrappy Gal for the great questions!

1. You mentioned church dresses, do you attend a specific church regularly? Yes I do. I grew up Baptist, but my family and I have been attending a Methodist church for the past year or so - pretty regularly.

Thanks Jenng for the great question!

Sting asked:

1. I would like to know how you and your hubby met and how he proposed? We met right before Thanksgiving, 1983 in a country western dance hall. He saw me as I walked by, turned to his buddy and said, "That's the girl I'm going home with tonight." We've been together ever since. It was love at first sight. God put him right in my path and I was smart enough to recognize what a gift he was! He never really proposed to me in the traditional sense - we were just meant to marry and one day we did. We had discussed it often and set a date and were married. There was no real proposal.

2. What was your first reaction when you found out you were pregnant with your twins? I believed I was having twins before I was actually told 4 months into my pregnancy. When I heard the news I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I felt blessed. It was sheer bliss!

Thanks you so much Sting for these great questions!

Sniz asked:

1. Did you always know you liked to write or did you kind of find out through blogging? I've always believed that I was a "good" writer, but I didn't know that I loved to write until right after I was pregnant with my twins, quit my job and stayed home (over 16 years ago). I was looking for an "outlet" for myself when I became a SAHM and found writing. I've written in one form or another ever since. Until blogging, it has only ever been for myself.

2. I'm curious about how you decide what to blog about ... and how you decide on the "flavor" of the post ... whether you write it in 3rd person as a story, complete with creative imagery, or when you write realistic, "this happened today" posts. Know what I mean? I write the story when it comes to me and then store it in my drafts. I probably have about 40-50 stories right now, saved in my drafts. I am always watching and listening for a story and when I hear or see something that I think will make a good story, I jot down a note about the incident and keep it in a file. When I have time to write, I will pull all my notes and see if there are any stories to be told from the notes I made. Sometimes, something happens and I run right away to my computer to write a story, because it hits me as being a particularly good story and I feel the need to write it right then. I won't necessarily post it the next day, though, usually it goes into my drafts and I hold it to post when the timing feels right. Some days I write 3 or 4 stories. Some days I don't write any. Many days go by where I don't write a story. Sometimes I wonder if another story will ever come - and yet they always do. I have lots of ideas in my "idea" folder and sometimes I pull that file and try to make a story out of one of those ideas that didn't seem like a good idea before. Some of the ideas will never be a story and some of them will be a story one day. I find that the story is either "there" to be told, or it isn't. I never force a story - it either comes easily or it doesn't. If it doesn't - I abandon the idea quickly and try to move on to another idea or walk away from trying to write a story at all. If I try to force it - it is NEVER a good story! And ... I NEVER try to search for story ideas. I have found that if the story is meant to be told - it will FIND me and hit me in such a way that I know it immediately. Not every funny or touching moment makes for a good story - no matter how hard I try to make it! As far as the "flavor" of the story - that usually comes from my mood (somber or playful or serious ...) or the "mood" of the story I'm trying to tell. Or, the story just comes out easily in say, 3rd person. Sometimes I reword certain posts (in my mind) using different techniques, but I don't spend a lot of time on it. If it is meant to be in a unique or differnent tone then it will be pretty clear to me before I even sit down to write it.

3. How much time do you spend writing, editing, checking and commenting on other blogs, daily? Do you have a set time, or is it randon (i.e. 3 hours on Monday, but you only had 1 extra hour Tuesday, etc.)? I don't write every day. I write when I have a story to tell. It's kind of like my mind clicks into a "story-telling" mode. It is only in that mode at certain times - not when I want it to be. I spend about 1/2 an hour writing a story and 1/2 an hour editing - generally. I spend anywhere from 5-6 hours a day reading and commenting on other blogs - everyday. I usually do most of my blogging about 3 hours in the early morning and 3 hours or so in the late evening. I also do a little all day long - but not for long stretches - 1/2 hur here - 1/2 hour there. I usually have the same available time every morning and every evening - it's my days that I never know how much time I will have.

4. Is there a rhyme or reason to the frequency of your posts? i.e. do you have a goal to post something daily, etc.? I post a story everyday. I am considering taking weekends off and will probably start doing that pretty soon. Right now, I have lots of drafts in my file and so I don't feel the pressure of "coming up with a story". If my drafts dwindle down, I become more panicked and feel more pressured. If it got to the point that I didn't have stories in my drafts and the stories didn't come easily anymore - I would not post daily - JUST to post daily. I want my blog to showcase stories I have to tell - if there is no story, then I would not post until I have one.

Thanks Sniz for all the great questions!

Eagles Wings asked:

1. Do you like Chinese food? YES I DO! I love it.

2. If yes, what dishes are your favorite? If not, why? I like anything with pork or chicken or beef in it and lots of stir-fried veggies. I'm not crazy about seafood in Chinese food. I'm also not crazy about a lot of noodles, but I love rice and especially fried rice. I love crabmeat rangoons. I love egg rolls with that hot mustard. I love the sweet sauces.

3. Have you ever tried cooking Chinese food? I'm not a great cook and No, I have never really tried. I've made fried rice.

4. What are the basic manners you teach your children? Now, this is where I have failed as a mother. I've tried to teach them to be polite, courteous, respectful, kind, caring - all those things. They are all of those things, except they aren't don't have very polite sometimes. They seem to be good in public and with other people, but here at home - NOPE!

5. What are your favorite chores? I don't like any chores, but I don't mind working hard in my gardens or in my yard - I love those types of chores. I also don't mind clothes shopping.

Thanks Eagles Wings for these great questions!

dlyn asked: (Riley is right - I'm sorry, I forgot. I owe Riley a cookie)

1. Do you like to travel? I do like to travel - I am always planning family trips to this place or that and my husband try to get away on some traveling sort of vacation at least one a year without the children.

2. Where do, or would you like to go? I'd love to go to Greece or Japan or New York or the east coast of the U.S. I've been to Europe, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Grand Caymen Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada and all over the U.S.

Kami asked:

1. Have you ever considered writing a book? Yes. I have actually written several books - I've just never had them published. I've written fiction, non-fiction and children's books. Maybe one day I'll actually publish a book.

2. If you did, what would it be, fiction or non-fiction? If I were to write a book right now - a new book - I'd write non-fiction. But, I'd also like to write fiction. The books I've written have potential - a couple of them, but I don't think I would seriously consider having any of those published - not now, anyway.

3. Who would be the main character? If it was non-fiction, it would probably be a book about my kids - they'd be the characters of the book - like my blog is. As a matter of fact, our lives might make a pretty good fiction book too - using those same kids as the main characters.

Thanks Kami for the great questions!

Karen Meg asked:

1. Have you ever been to Canada, and if not, when are you gonna come up for a visit? Yes I have and I loved it! We took a cruise in the Spring after 9/11 (what year was that?) out of NY that went to Canada. I can't remember all of our ports we stopped in right now (when I do, I'll come back an list them), but it was beautiful and I loved it! It's the only time I've ever been and I wasn't there that long, but I did buy a pair of white tennis shoes (I had forgotten to pack tennis shoes) in a little corner store in one of the towns and I still have those shoes. If I ever go back I will definitely come knocking at your door my friend - you are my first Canadian blogging friend and I love you!!

Thanks Karen Meg for the great question!

Eileen asked:

1. How do you deal with the stresses in your life? Well ... not very well, sometimes. When I feel stressed, it is usually because I have too much on my plate and on those days or during those weeks, I just do the best I can to get through all I have to do as gracefully and as FAST as I can! I like to talk out my stresses with my husband or mother or my friends. Usually if I can get the crap out of my head or off of my chest I can clear my head, set a plan or goal and refocus my energy on achieving that goal.

Thanks Eileen for this great question!

Annie asked:

1. What TV show is your biggest guilty pleasure? Right now I would say it is between LOST or Americal Idol.

Thanks Annie for the great question!

Jennifer H asked:

1. Do you remember the first song you and your husband danced to? Was it that night? I don't remember the song, but we did dance. He took my hand, led me to the dance floor and ... we danced! All night long - we danced (and kissed). I fell in love on that dance floor and I was in such a cloud I couldn't name one song that played that night if you paid me a million dollars. I wish I did know what that first song was.

2. What was the first concert you ever attended? I have NEVER been to a concert! I lived in Germany when I was in high school and we didn't have any concerts to go to over there. When I came back to the states, I probably could have gone, but I never did. I've only ever been to concerts (shows) of country music stars (Alan Jackson, The Judds, etc.). I know - pretty pitiful.

Thanks Jennifer for the great questions!

Bren J. asked:

1. If you could have chosen where you were born, where would you pick? This is a great question, but I wouldn't change a thing. I was born in a tiny town in the hills of West Virginia - where my mother and father's family's are all from (and some still there) and I love that place more than any place I have been on earth. I never lived there myself, as we moved a lot with my father being in the Military, but we went "home" often. I have said many, many times that it is the most beatiful place I have ever seen. I also wouldn't want to be born anywhere but in the U.S. I think I am so fortunate to have been born in America!!!!!

2. What do you hope is the greatest gift you will ever give your children? I hope I instill in them a strong belief in God - that has always been my greatest gift and that would be a gift for them as well!

3 & 4. Since you've been around the Mommy block a few times, what's the best piece of (serious) advice you would give to a Mama-Newbie? The best piece of silly advice? Serious advice would be to try your best to do whatever it takes to instill confidence in your child. If they have confidence and use it wisely - they will make their way in the world and be successful and happy at whatever they do. If you trust yourself and love yourself then ... you tend to be able to love others and treat others right. If you believe in yourself then it doesn't matter what others say or believe about you. If you have confidence then you tend to be clear minded about your goals and ideas and you are apt to make better choices. It's huge. Now, the best piece of silly advice: Never let your kids know that McDonalds gives away toys - NEVER!

5. If we ever get to Texas, can you arrange a pony ride for the Little goat or can we crash at your Lake House? Yes and Yes!!! Let me know when you are coming!

Thank you Bren J. for these great questions!

Maria asked:

1. You blog about your kids often, and I love to hear the stories. They seem like such GOOD kids! Have your kids ever done anything that really made you mad? (Just wondering, thought it might make me feel more normal). They couldn't be a better bunch of kids - really! BUT, the answer to this question is YES! Little Billy and Alexis fight a lot and that makes me mad. Courtney and Chloe seldom ever do anything I ask the first time and that makes me mad - constantly. No one in my family ever puts anything back where they got it and that MAKES ME CRAZY MAD! My kids are like anyone else's kids - they get into things, make bad choices, fight too much, yell all the time, make messes everywhere they go, etc. But, they are GREAT KIDS!! I think, honestly, that they are far better kids than I am a mother!

Thanks Maria for this great question!

Andrea asked:

1. What would Chloe, Courtney and Alexis' names have been if they were boys? Courtney and Chloe would probably have been Christian and Cole (I was big on the "C" names) and Alexis might have been Brennon.

2. And, what would Billy Jr.'s name have been if he had been a girl? Mallory. That was the name I had picked out for a girl.

Thanks Andrea for these great questions!

HRH asked:

1. What is your favorite blog to read? (Well, yours, of course!!) I could never choose one as my favorite. I like so many blogs, for different reasons - don't you!?

2. Have you always been a Texas? No. I was an Army brat that ended up here in 1978 and I have been here ever since! I consider myself a Texan, but I wasn't born here.

Thanks HRH for the great questions!

LunaNik asked:

1. So, when I e-mail TLC about your blog and suggest that they film your family for a reality show (I really AM going to do this btw), and they offer you a show, will you do it?? I read this question to my husband and the most frightened look came over his face - I am not kidding! I don't think I would ever want cameras filming our family, day-in-and-day-out. I appreciate your confidence in us - that we'd be entertaining and all - but, I don't think we would be reality-TV worthy! Nor do I believe I could stand for the world to see everything that ACTUALLY goes on in our house - we are CRAZY loud and most of the time nothing is FUNNY around here until WELL after it happens - you know - in retrospect! No, I don't think for one minute we could do it! I would write a book though - if you want to write someone about that (tee hee)!

Thanks so much LunaNik - you are one crazy girl and I love ya!

R Family of 4 asked:

1. Do you have a quote or words that you live by? I don't really have a quote, but I do often say, "Everything happens for a reason," and I believe it. I also constantly say that "Life is choices and our life is the result of the choices we make." I also find myself saying, in the course of conversations, "Well ... On the upside ..." and that is why I named my blog On The Upside. I am an "optimist" and always believe "There is an answer to every problem"!

Thanks R Family of 4 for the great question!

Leah asked:

1. Did you always plan to have a larger family? No I didn't. I figured we'd have 2 kids. Somewhere along the way - we had 4 kids and I don't know how that really happened, me being so organized and such a "control freak" and all (??)!

2. Do twins run in your family or was it just random fantastic surprise that you had twins? There are no twins in our family. And, Courtney and Chloe are what are called monoamnionic twins - the rarest type of identical twins (they share the same amnionic sac and the same placenta) and those type of twins (identical) are not the type that are hereditary - fraternal twins run in families.

3. You've talked about being an older mom; was it by choice or circumstance (didn't find the right guy until later, had problems getting pregnant, etc.)? I didn't want kids until I was 30 years old - I just never wanted them before then. After I had my twins, we waited 5 years until we decided to have another baby and little Billy was born. Four years later - our surprise baby - Alexis was born when I turned 40 years old. She was not planned, but she is the greatest gift and I couldn't imagine my life without her!!!! Any of them!! (My husband and I married when we were each 22).

4. What are your pet peeves? I can't stand to see or hear someone smacking their lips when they eat or chew gum! I don't like prentious people. I don't like jealousy - to see it or feel it or be on the butt-end of it! I don't like dropping things - it drives me crazy! And, I don't like to see or experience unfairness!

5. Is there anything in your life that you would go back and change? Yes! I would definitely have never started smoking. I know it probably surpises you that I smoke! I've quit several times (for long periods of time), but am smoking again. I have promised Alexis that I will quit when summer gets here and I will - this time for good!!

OHMommy asked:

1. Shoes tell a story. What were the very first shoes you purchased with your own money and what were the very last shoes you purchased? Describe them from one shoe lover to the next (details!)? Okay, when I lived in Germany, I was 15, 16, and 17 years old. I worked my very first job when I was 16 (waitress and cashier). When I lived in Germany, us kids wore a lot of "hip-hugger" jeans with embroidery all over them (I still have my favorite pair that I wore back then). Us kids were into ADIDAS tennis shoes - we called them AW-DE-DAs. ALL of us kids had our own special pair. I bought a pair of white with three green strips on the sides. I was very proud of those ADIDAS and wore them everyday with my letterman jacket! I also remember buying a pair of dark redish brown tie-up mokisans and when I didn't wear the ADIDAS, I wore the mokisans - those were the kids we were. Now ... I have come a long way from ADIDAS and mokisans. The most recent pair of shoes I have purchased is a pair of satin-y pink high-heels (3"). They are pretty, but will only go with the perfect outfit (that I don't actualy own yet). There is a wide strap just a over the toes (they are open toed) and then a thinner strap above the wide strap that goes over the top of the foot. They are covered in beads and sequins. I bought these shoes because they were on sale and I didn't have one single pair of pink shoes. They are cute and I can't wait to find an outfit to go with them (tee hee). Maybe I'll find a great outfit and bring them to SF with me and then you can see them in person!

Thanks OHMommy for the great question!

Cindy asked:

1. How did you start reading my very wonderful niece's Laughingleahloveslillies blog? I don't rememeber if I found Leah or if Leah found me, but she and I have been friends for many months. If I found her, it was probably by way of seeing her comment on someone else's blog. How ever we became friends - I am so happy we found each other!! I love visiting her blog and can always count on her to brighten my day with her sweet and funny posts! Her smile alone - makes me happy!!

Thanks Cindy for the great question!

Angela asked:

1. Why did you start your blog? In August 2007, I picked up my Writer's Digest magazine and read an article that a famous author wrote, wherein he suggested that any want-to-be writers, should have a blog. He referenced Blogger.com (and other blog hosts). I went on Blogger that very minute, created a blog, named it On The Upside (because that is something I am known to often say in conversations) and ... here I am. I love to write - I THOUGHT it would be a place for me to write. It is that, but ... it is SO MUCH more - as you all very well know!

2. Do your kids have accents? I don't think they have accents. I would imagine if they went to NYC or somewhere up north, people might pick up on a bit of a Texas accent - but, it is not an obvious Texas drawl!

3. And seriously, what is your favorite about being a mom? I used to think that I loved being a mom to babies (and I did!), but ... I am sooooooo enjoying being a mom to my teenage daughters. Not all of it is fun, but a lot of it is!! I think my very favorite part is watching them grow into the people they will become, someday! I find that I truly "like" all of my kids and that surprises me. I honestly thought that there might be a time when they might "rub me funny" - you know - that I might even get to where I loved them, but didn't "like" them all that much, because they would grow into people I couldn't relate to or be a certain way that would make me CRAZY! Now ... they aren't all grown yet, but ... so far - I really LIKE all of them, A LOT! That has to say something about me as a mother and I love that part!

Thanks so much Angela for the great questions!

Andrea J asked:

1. If you had 2 hours to do whatever you pleased, how would you spend it? Right now - because it is winter and I didn't get to go this year - I'd spend it snow skiing! I love to snow ski and missed going this year!

Thanks Andrea for this great question!

Lucille asked:

1. What is your biggest fear? I've said this quite often over that past several years. Because I think I am a pretty strict mother and because I don't always think I am the best mother ... my greatest fear is that my kids will leave home one day and ... never come back to me.

2. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? This is a hard question. I wouldn't want to actually live anywhere but in the U.S., but if I could have a house in different places that I could visit for a while, I'd want one in the mountains, one in the tropics and one in Europe and then I'd also want a $20million yacht so I could get to all my houses (tee hee)!

3. What would you take with you if you were on a deserted island? I'd definitely take lots of paper and pens. I'd take my kids and husand. I'd take a hammer and nails. I'd take toothbrushes. I think that's all I'd need. We'd make due eating clams and coconuts. We'd build us a house. We'd be happy if we had each other and could manage without all the rest - even coffee and chocolate. I considered taking coffee and chocolate, but realized it would run out at some point, so decided it would just be better to go cold-turkey from the get-go!

4. What is your favorite song? Right now, and for the past several years, it is "Believe" by Brooks and Dunn. I love that song!

5. If you weren't blogging, what would you be doing? Well ... right this very minute if I wasn't blogging, I'd go get that shower I've been meaning to take for the past 2 days (tee hee!). If I weren't blogging everyday, I'd use that time to write and also work on my house (I'm always decorating/re-decorating) or yard. I'd spend more time doing crafty stuff or find some project to get involved in (I always have some project going around my house).

Thanks Lucille for all these great questions!

One Scrappy Chicklet asked:

1. I read that you have only lived in Texas 1/2 of your life. Where else have you lived? My dad was in the Army, so we moved a lot when I was growing up. I was born in West Virginia and have lived in Michigan, Colorado, Virginia (twice), Texas (twice) and Germany. I ended up in Texas in 1978 and have lved here ever since.

2. Which do you find more challenging, raising girls or Little Billy. And why? Girls - definitely! Maybe because I have 3 girls and just 1 boy. Definitely because they talk way more than boys and they have more needs and are more demanding. My girls are very good girls, but they require so much more attention than Little Billy does - in every way! Drama is big with girls and that makes every situations fifty times bigger and more important to them than it actually is - it is EXHAUSTING sometimes. They also just need/want more things (tampons, jewelry, shoes, clothes, books, CDs, bras ...), boys just don't seem to need/want as much - give Little Billy a sling-shot and a pile of rocks and send him to the back yard and he is happy for DAYS!!!!!

3. What is your one trait that you hope your children carry over to their adult lives? Definitely, self-confidence! I totally believe that if you use this trait wisely and fairly and humbly ... it has the potential to serve you in everything you do in your life and also serve those around you.

4. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas is my favorite holiday - definitely!

5. Do you have any "turning into my mother" episodes? I had a few of those a few years ago - now ... I HAVE DONE MORPHED INTO HER! Really!

Thanks Tami (One Scrappy Chicklet) for these great questions!

Girlymom asked:

1. So after thinking about what my questions would be, I guess I just want to know from the best ... how you do it all? Well ... first of all, I'd hardly say I am the "best" and I don't think anyone in my world would use that term to describe me either - but thanks. I do what I can - the best I can - AS FAST AS I CAN!! Being organized is the key ingredient to staying on top of as much as possible. I have always been an overly-organized (anal) person and that helps to "give the illusion" that you are handling everything. I, for the most part, do think that I am able to stay on top of most all that goes on in my/our world ... but, it has taken me these many years to get to the point where I have it "down"!! And ... I don't do it all alone. My kids and my husband and my family help with all of it! My husband is my best partner and I couldn't do anything that makes our lives go or keeps us functioning in a semi-straight line - WITHOUT HIM and all of his support and help!!

2. How bad are the teenage hormones? What surprises am I in for? I soooooo worried about this too! Since I am an older mom, I often joked that my girls would enter puberty at about the same time that I entered menopause and that was going to be horrible! I am not quite old enough for menopause and so that didn't really happen. And, as far as the teenage hormones, I have been pleasantly surprised that it has not - yet- been all that obvious or difficult to deal with. My girls are very much tomboys and so that helps, I think, as they are more interested in sports than boys and not all that into the girly stuff that can trigger tantrums and drama. It's not been all that bad. I think keeping them involved has helped - as they have less time for whining and crying about stuff - they just have to get it done - you know!

3. I hear the schedules are nutty, how do you manage the kids schedules, your life, family life and still have time to be witty with your blog? Sometimes the schedules are nutty! First - I depend on my husband to help out a lot. I don't know how women do it without the help of their husbands (and there are MANY that do!). Second - I just try to stay organized by keeping calendars and careful of scheduling appointments and such. Third - we limit the amount of activities each kid can be involved in and don't let them do sports in the summer months at all, so that is a break for the entire family and we just have all summer to have FUN! The older my girls are getting (and will be driving soon), this summer thing will change, as they will be able to choose more what they want to do and also be able to get themselves there. It all gets easier with time, really! You just learn where the problems are and find ways to eliminate or work with those issues. As far as my time - Since all of my children are now in school, I use that time for me. I do still have lots of responsibilites (house, business, yard, school committees, etc.) that I have to allow time for, but ... I make sure now that there is time in everyday to do the things I want/need/like to do. As long as I get everything else I am responsible for doing - I feel like the rest of the time left is mine to use as I wish. Therefore - I try to do all that other stuff REALLY FAST!!

4. I saw you are hoping to be a published writer (totally agree and would definitely read) besides a way to capture your family life, do you have other goals for your blog? I think this blog will always be where I write about my family and my life. I have thought about creating another/other blogs where I could write about other things and write totally differently. I don't know how I would ever manage more than one blog and that idea is just sitting in the back of my mind for now. As far as goals for this blog - I have visions of it being better than it is now. I'm pretty happy with it right now and feel it represents what I want it to say and is doing most of what I want it to do - I just imagine it could get better and better and that is what I continue to strive for.

5. Are you making any decent money from BlogHer? I only recently signed up for BlogHer and only in the past couple of weeks finalized all the required paperwork. I would be very happy if I made money from my blog, as it sort of jusifies that amount of time I have invested and my husband would be happy that I at least made a couple of bucks. I haven't made any money yet, as I only recently finalized the agreement. If I ever make any money, I'd be happy to let you know how that goes or you could and let me know!

Thanks Girlymom for all the great questions!

Kim-d asked:

1. When is your Birthday? My birthday is May 2nd.

2. What is the best material gift you have ever recieved? I have more than one, but none of them were purchased for me. I cherish a walking-stick that my grandfather (on my father's side) gave me, because he made it himself and used it often when he walked around on his farm. I cherish the veterinary bag that my dad gave me. It was his first medical bag that he used when he started his verterninary practice years and years ago. I cherish an antique doll that used to be my grandmothers (on my father's side) that she left for me. And, I cherish an antique doll that used to be my other grandmothers (on my mom's side) that my mom gave to me one Christmas. Also ... I consider my children to be the greatest gift of all - besides my husband! (And, I do like my wedding ring a lot!).

3. When we're young, we sometimes think we don't want to be like our mothers, but that changes (usually). What is the best way in which you have turned out to be JUST LIKE your mother? I wish I could say that I am as kind as my mother is, but I can't. I wish I could say that I am graceful and as beautiful as my mother is, but I can't. I wish I could say that I am as considerate and loving and friendly and tolerant as my mother is - but I'm not. Of all the wonderful things that she is that I can honestly say I have inherited and have actually achieved is that I think I am generous. I learned this quality from my mother and I think I am that. All the other things I have mentioned (and many more wonderful qualities) - I strive for - I'm not there yet on many of these, but maybe one day and can say that I am all those things and I was lucky to get that from her!

Thanks Kim for all of these great questions!

JenKneeBee asked:

1. You mentioned that you had only been to the concerts of country singers. Do you mostly list to country music? Yes - it is all I listen to, when I have a choice. When we are in the car with my teenagers, they normally take over the radio and we listen to their stuff and I don't mind most of it. At home, it's sort of the same, as they often have music playing in different rooms. I have come to really love Kelly Clarkson - her most recent album. I like lots of different music and all sorts of songs that aren't country, but when I turn on the radio I listen to country.

2. Who are your top 3 favorite muscians? I'm going to list singers, cuz I don't reckon I really know any specific muscians that I could name. I like George Strait, I like Trisha Yearwood and I like Garth Brooks.

3. Have you ever put mentos into a 2 liter of Diet Coke and watched it explode all of the place? No I have not and do not tell Little Billy about this little chemistry experiment as it is soooooooo something he would love!!

4. If you had a theme song, what would it be? What a great question! I think if my family were to be able to name this theme song, they might choose something like "CRAZY". I could pick the theme song for my life, it would probably be, "Who Let The Dogs Out?" If it was a theme song for me personally, I'd hope it might be, "Don't Worry - Be Happy" or "Believe".

5. If you were in a band, what would it be called? Definitely, "Headless Chicken".

6. Would you rather be stranded on a desert island with Jabba the Hut or Gollum? I'd probably choose Jabba the Hut as he couldn't probably actually catch me if I were running away from him!

Thanks JenKneeBee for these FUN questions!

Sharon Brumfield asked:

1. What is the most romantic gift you have recieved from your DH? My hubby is not a very romantic person - NOPE! I'm not even sure he can spell the word romantic. But, I guess the most romantic gift he ever gave me was my wedding ring, as he personally picked it out and I loved it. On our 10th wedding anniversary, we had my ring updated (actually replaced), but I didn't trade-in my original ring, I kept it to give to my son when he meets the girl of his dreams.

Thanks Sharon for this great question!

Hetha asked:

1. If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be and why? I don't think I would like his life, but I would want to be my husband for a day. I could then find out what it is really like to be married to me and hopefully see those things that I am and things I do that I might be able to change to make his life better. I'd also like be inside of him and learn how to be more patient and giving. I could learn a lot by being my husband for a day - especially how to be a lot better person!

Thanks Hetha for this great question!

For Love Of Home asked:

1. Can you name all of your elementary school teachers? Nope! I can only remember 2 - my second grade teacher's name was Miss Baily and my sixth grade teacher's name was Miss Walters.

2. What is your most embarrasing moment during high school dating? When I was 16, I was babysitting. I had asked my boyfriend Ritchie to come over to be with me. My parents would not have approved of this and somehow my father found out that Ritchie was there, came knocking at the door, I hid Ritchie in a closet, my dad searched the entire apartment with a flashlight and found Ritchie crouched down in the corner of the closet and asked him (politely) to go home. The next day at school everyone at school was talking about how Kellan's dad had found Ritchie in the closet - quite funny, but embarrassing.

3. What was your first car? I bought my first car with my income tax money, when I was 18 years old. It cost $1,200.00 and it was this little white Dodge Colt wagon. It was a stick-shift and I didn't even know how to drive a stick, so my dad taught me in one night and I drove it to work the next day, parked it on a hill, forgot to put it in gear and when I came out from work in the afternoon, it was at the bottom of the hill. My next car was the car I really wanted, a white Camero Berlinetta with blue interior.

4. Was there someone in your life that you always tried to be like? I didn't realize it until I was much older, but it would be my parents. I am very much like the both of them (combined) and it is because I KNOW I heard everything they ever said to me and watched everything they ever did. Looking back on my childhood I can see now that I was fascinated by how they lived their lives - and was also as a child.

5. What is your best friends' name? I won't use their real names, as there are 4 that I consider my very best friends. The first friend has the same first name as Priscilla Presley's daughter. The second one's name rhymes with oozie or doozie. The third one has the same first name as the blonde bomb shell that used to be on Baywatch and was married to Tommy Lee. The 4th one has the same first name as Posh Spice from the Spice Girls.

Thank you For Love Of Home for these great questions!

Gina asked:

1. What was your first car? I bought my first car with my income tax money, when I was 18 years old. It cost $1,200.00 and it was this little white Dodge Colt wagon. It was a stick-shift and I didn't even know how to drive a stick, so my dad taught me in one night and I drove it to work the next day, parked it on a hill, forgot to put it in gear and when I came out from work in the afternoon, it was at the bottom of the hill. My next car was the car I really wanted, a white Camero Berlinetta with blue interior.

2. What do you drive now? I drive "The Big Blue Van"! It is a Ford Econovan - with a conversion package on it. I've driven a van (mini or other) for the past 16 years - I'm ready for something other than a van - that is for sure!

3. If you don't drive your dream car now, what is your dream car? Well ... I've been driving a van for over 16 years - so I just dream about driving any car that is not a VAN! I'm a big TransAm, Firebird, Camero fan - I'd take any one of those cars as a convertible and white.

Thanks so much Gina for all these great questions!

Justabeachkat asked:

1. Is Kellan a family name? (I love it!) I happen to also love my name, so I am always happy to answer questions questions about it. My mother had a friend in high school that had the name Mary Kellan and that is where my name came from. My name is Kellan Renee, though. I have a cousin that had a little girl at the same time I had my twins (15 years ago) and named her daughter Mary Kellan - I was so jealous that I hadn't thought to use the name for one of my girls - I love it. They call her Mary-Kellan.

2. If you could go back and re-live one day, what day would that be and why? To choose one day, it would be to go back to the day that I smoked my first cigarette and not do that - for obvious reasons. If I could choose a thousand days, I'd go back and be kinder to my mother on all those occasions I was unkind!

3. If you could spend the day with one famous person, who would it be and why? It would be Jesus. I would just want to be near him.

Thanks so much Justabeachkat for these great questions!

Wonderful World of Weiners asked:

1. If you were forced to eat only one food item for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Potatoes! I love potatoes and you can make potatoes so many different ways - so that would be my choice.

2. If you could pick a different first name, what would it be? Maybe Renee. That is my middle name and I really like that name.

3. If a movie was made about your life, what would it be titled? It would be titled, "Perpetual Motion". It's not a very romantic title or alluring title, but it best describes my life - always moving in one direction or the other and always in motion.
4. If you found the end of the rainbow, what would you hope to find? I'd not only hope to find Him there, I truly believe He is there - it would be God!

5. If you had to be one, would you rather be blind or deaf and why? I would choose to loose my sight, I think. I've never honestly thought about this, but when I did, it came to me quickly. I would miss seeing the world and the faces of my loved ones ... but I think I truly treasure the sounds in my life more. The laughter - the songs - the voices. I would miss the voices more than the faces, I think. I can't think about missing the eyes, because that makes me want to cry.

Thanks so much Hallie for all these great questions!

Sheri asked:

1. What is your favorite touristy thing to do where you live? Probably going to the Riverwalk. Our city is know for its Riverwalk and I always enjoy going there.

2. Where is your favorite area in Texas to go for a weekend getaway? We have a lakehouse at a lake in the hill country and I love going there - it is beautiful and resort feeling and so relaxing! I also love going to the Frio River - camping!

3. Were you popular in high school? I really wasn't! I always had lots of friends and boyfriends, but I wasn't popular.

4. Who was your first boyfriend and don't leave out the juicy details? I always had lots of boyfriends, but my first serious boyfriends' name was Junior. The first one I thought I really loved, you know. I was 16 years old and I lived in Germany. We went to school together and lived on the same post in Stuttgart, Germany. He was a good boyfriend. He was kind and sweet and cute and funny. We kissed a lot. I remember sitting on the stoop of our house with him, in the evenings. We'd hold hands and kiss - it was a lot of fun - all that making out! We were inseperable for about a year. I have only fond memories of Junior. My father was transferred (he was in the Army) back to the states and I had to leave Junior behind (I was 17 years old). It was very hard. We lost touch and I have never seen him again.

Thanks Sheri for all the great questions!

Amy asked:

1. What is your favorite book and why? I have never been much of a reader. I know, it's not common for those that love to write - not also to love to read. I do like to read and have read lots of books, but I don't LOVE it. I think the main reason is because I don't have the patience for reading - the patience to invest the time into a book. I don't sit for very long doing any one thing and reading requires a lot of sitting. I've never been one to SIT. I wish I was and could settle my "self" enough to sit and enjoy reading - but it is not in my personality. I have to be in motion, most of the time. Somehow, not being a "dedicated" reader myself - I have still managed to instill in my kids the love of reading - my kids love to read and be read to! I DO believe it is important and a gift! (I am most fascinated by Steven King and I love the stories that Ann Rice tells).

NOTE: CONTEST WAS 2/29/08

To Courtney, Chloe, Billy and Alexis ...

I love you very much and I thank God every day for choosing me to be your mother.

Merry Christmas

My Sweet Children

You are the JOY of my life!

I'd also like to wish our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year - we love you all!

And ... to YOU - my blogging friends - I love all of you guys and I wish you a Happy Holidays and look forward to spending lots of time with you in 2009!

PS ... We are off on our family winter vacation just after Christmas. The next time you hear from me I will hopefully have lots of pictures of the On The Upside family playing in the Utah snow - WOO HOO!

-

If I imagine, as I do ... that life is a journey and that I am on an intentional path on that journey towards an end, then I have to envision that there may be hills and valleys along the way ... that there will be bumps in the road, streets that cross over and forks as I go along.

If I believe that these obstacles are in fact choices towards variant destinations, then I have to assume that the choices, if chosen, may alter the course of my original journey. And as so, lead my life in directions I can not see clearly.

And ... if life is a journey with a beginning and an end, then it is reasonable to believe that I may fare better to stay on the original straight path in order to center my life. And, while I may veer off this path, from time to time, to experience new or different things, I am certain that my fate will only truly be known if I make the choices that will lead me back to my intended destiny. Otherwise ... I am wandering.

In believing this, and realizing the difficulty of such a journey, it is also reasonable to see that a child is not equipped to navigate their own passage until the day comes that they have been shown how to do so. Until it is their time to choose their own road toward the end ... they must trust and follow in another person's path ... the path of ... their mother.

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

On this day of Thanksgiving ... I am thankful for my beautiful, healthy children and my wonderful husband and my fantastic family and fabulous friends. I want them always to know that I often look to Heaven ... I fall to my knees before God ... And I pray, "Thank you God. I love them very much."

Happy Thanksgiving to my precious family! Happy Thanksgiving Mother, Dad, Elaine, Rob, Vonda and kids, Cheryl, Danny and kids. Happy Thanksgiving to all of Billy's family and all of our friends and family - I can't possibly name everyone - we love all of you and are thankful you are in our lives. I am very blessed. We are all very blessed.

The On The Upside family has had a fabulous summer!

The kids are now back in school and as much as the mom should be happy about some time alone - she is not ready for school to begin.

Alexis was ready!

She coudn't wait to start 2nd grade!

She didn't even look back.

Little Billy headed off for his first day of middle school. I must have told him 100 times to make sure he takes notes - write EVERYTHING down!

"I got it, Mom - I can handle this," he insisted.

I certainly hope so. He's got 7 teachers this year and ... I do not have the time to spend my days going from class to class with that boy!

Then there were those teenager girls. Courtney and Chloe are juniors this year and driving themselves to school. I was so nervous - I made them call me yesterday to tell me they made it there alright. It's really the parking that worried me most.

They called - they made it! Now they just have to make it there and back again tomorrow and the next day and the next day .......

They are driving the Pathfinder we bought for them to use until their daddy finishes that '69 Mustang. I think they want the Mustang finished, but ... they were awful happy to have their own car to drive to school.

Like I said ...

I should be happy to have the kids out of my hair.

I do like spending my days doing things that I need to do - getting things done while they are at school.

I like the peace and quiet.

I like making lists and getting busy on chores and projects - filling the fall months with days of cleaning and organizing - shopping and changing things in my house.

I like working in the yard with no one yelling "CAN YOU COME MAKE ME SOME LUNCH?"

I like going to lunch with my girl friends.

I like all of these things.

But ...

I like summer ...

BETTER!

I AM NOT ready for summer to end!

It flew by too fast!

We spent a lot of time at the lake, but ...

We never made it to the beach.

We spent many mornings sleeping in.

We watched a lot of movies and way to much TV.

We spent fun times with family and friends.

We didn't do all the things we had hoped we would get to, but ...

It has been a wonderful summer!

I am headed to the BlogHer Conference in San Francisco from Thursday through Sunday.

I am planning on posting everyday I am there - updates on what is going on, who I've met, interesting or funny stories.

I'd love to be able to keep up with all of my readers and blogging friends while I am away, but I don't imagine that will be possible.

I hope you will still check in with me over the next 4 days and I will be back to visiting you all early next week.

Have a great week and weekend - see you when I get back!

PS - I want to thank every single one of my readers and friends that are always so kind to me. I appreciate every visit that you make to my site and the time you take out of your lives to read my silly stories, involve yourselves in mine and my family's lives and for the heartfelt and wonderful comments you leave. I can't tell you how lucky I feel to be associated with so many fabulous women.