RIP: KATF

Know and Tell Friday has seen better days. It was originally done by Kim at To Know Him but when she decided to take a break we asked if we could take over till she wanted it back. It's been several months since Heather and I started these weekly posts with gusto, and I'm sure it's rather obvious that it has puttered to a crawl. Kayren has been doing it for the past month to give us a break, which only confirmed for us that we can't continue. Our brains are otherwise engaged.

We have loved getting to know all the wonderful ladies who have stopped by and participated. It's been a hoot.

For another Friday meme, visit Friday Fill-Ins. We plan to.

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Know and Tell Friday: Music Edition

Kayren was awesome and did Know and Tell Friday for us again so Reese & I could be lazy! :) Actually, I don't think we'll be hearing from Reese today, she's mid-flight to see Tim!

Here are my answers:

1. Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which one(s)? If not, is there one you always wanted to know how to play? I played the piano and the clarinet. I hate the clarinet but really wish that I could play the piano. I've thought about taking lessons again. Here's a little blast from the past, Reese's Tim is an amazing musician and he and I used to be in a Christian band together called Pneuma. He had skills..I didn't! LOL!

2. Do you sing well? Do you sing along in the car? Do you use head motions? I do not sing well at all! I don't even try to sing. My husband is an amazing singer so I don't even try! I might occasionally sing in the car :)

3. Who was your teen music crush? Joe Elliott of Def Leppard!!

4. What is your favorite type of music? That's hard but I guess it would be Contemporary Christian but I also love Pop and 80s

5. Who are your three favorite musical artists? Michael W. Smith, Maroon 5 & Casting Crowns

6. Does your church play traditional or praise songs, or a combination? More praise songs, but occasionally a hymn

7. What is your favorite hymn? It is Well With My Soul is a definite favorite! It was my great-grandmother's favorite song so it reminds me of her.

8. What is your favorite praise song? Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

9. What is the strangest musician's name whose music you like? This took me awhile, one of the strangest names is definately UB40.

Know and Tell Friday

Hey girls! Kayren did Know and Tell Friday for us again! She's so awesome and has worked so hard on it the last few weeks.

I'm working on mine and it will be posted soon, but in the meantime, head on over there!

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Know and Tell Friday: Decorating Edition

Okay, so normally, Reese and I try and do our KATF posts together, and that was my plan, but when I went back and read Kayren's post, I decided that I would beat Reese to Mr. Linky...so, with that ha! ha!, I'm first! LOL!

Heather's Answers:

1. Do you have fake plants in your house? Do you like them? I don't have any, and I'm not really into them. The funny thing is, I think when they are done right, they add a lot to a house. I just don't know how to do them right.

2. What is the oldest piece of furniture you have that is not an antique? Describe it. That's probably my piano. It's stained a dark wood color. I have to give you the history of my piano, it's kind of interesting. I have worked for my original boss for almost 16 years, I started my senior year of high school. His name is Van. He's 81. I love Van, we are great friends, but working for him is hard. When Kevin asked me to work for him specifically 2 years ago, I jumped at the chance. Van and my relationship was getting strained so this was a perfect opportunity. Now, we are friends again ;) What does this have to do with my piano? Well, when Kevin joined our firm, and Van downsized out of his family home, apparently Kevin inherited Van's piano. When Kevin moved into his new home, I inherited the piano. I love that little history. One day Van's daughter (who still lives with him) was wondering where her childhood piano went and I had to tell her that I had it. She was so excited that it wasn't lost.

3. Do you have any antiques? I don't know what classifies an antique. I am a lover of antiques. I LOVE to go look at antique shops, but have never bought anything. I have several very old Pepsi crates, they are so cool! I have my grandma's sewing machine that my grandpa bought her over 50 years ago. I have a few old dishes, and my other grandparent's original china dishes - they have been married for 63 years now. I wish I had a house full of antiques.

4. What type of dishes do you use? China, stoneware, Corelle, Tupperware, paper plates? My plates are pathetic. I really haven't focused on our house lately in the decorating department. Right now we have cheapie, boring Kmart blue and white plates...boring!

5. What is your favorite thing in your house? That is so hard! I really think that one of my favorite things is my grandma's sewing machine. It's really nice in a wood cabinet. It's the one thing in the house that I really try and protect from the kids. Next in line would be pictures, and then my Pepsi collection.

6. Do you like to use lamps or overhead lighting? I love soft lamp lighting. I'm not a big overhead lighting person. In fact, I don't even turn lights on in my office. Kevin usually does that when he wants to come in. I prefer the dark..weird huh!

7. Are you a pristine white wall person or do you love color? I love color! When I get a camera (hint, hint) I will take pics of my very bizarre kitchen. Right now the ceiling is red and white, the walls are blue, the door is green (because I'm lazy and didn't paint it blue) and the cupboards are red. It's an interesting hodge podge of color. I love the blue, it's great, and I love red, I'm just not so sure about the red that I have...so I've been thinking on it..for a few years! LOL! Oh, we are getting ready to do the kids' rooms and it's going to be full of color. Their rooms are kind of across the hall from each other and they still want their rooms to be connected in some way, so right now we are thinking bright pink and brown for the girls and blue and brown for Mark, and painting the hallway the same brown to tie it all together. I can't wait!

I did it, and so far, my computer has not shut down. I'm going to quickly push the save button and get this thing posted!

Head on over to Kayren's for more great Know and Tell Friday fun!

Know and Tell Friday: Animal Edition

Dear Kayren at Everything's Coming Up Daisies is hosting another fun-filled and insightful Know and Tell Friday today. Scurry on over to her blog for all the questions, as well as Mr Linky. Click HERE for the direct link to today's post.

Reese's Answers:

1. What dog do you most resemble?
I desperately wanted the answer to this question to be the Jack Russell Terrier, for several reasons. First and foremost, that I don't know much about dog breeds and it would be really convenient if I could make the JRT fit me somehow. Second, that I miss the JRT we had in Germany. We had to sell Gretchen when we moved here and all of us are prone to tears when we think of it. Third, because they are awesome dogs, and who wouldn't want to be like an awesome dog, even just a little?! Alas... I'm nothing like the Jack Russell.

In fact, I'm pretty much the exact opposite. They are energetic and friendly; I'm tired and shy. They can jump up from a deep sleep in an instant and be playing wildly a minute later. I seem to be dragging more than ever, especially in the past few days. Ask me and maybe I'll tell you about how I fell asleep on the couch earlier this week and woke up 5 minutes after I was supposed to pick the boys up from school.

But enough of what I'm not... a quick scan of TerrificPets dot com tells me I'm a Kooikerhondje. First, there's the name thing. Second, there's this:

The Kooikerhondje was bred as an all-purpose dog: members of the breed can be invaluable as hunters or decoy dogs for duck hunting, and the breed was initially developed with these purposes in mind. But the Kooikerhondje's friendly yet watchful temperament also makes it ideal as a watchdog or simply as a family companion. Kooikerhondje can be easily trained without much harshness on the part of the trainer, allowing dedicated Kooikerhondje owners to train their dogs for virtually any purpose they have in mind--on the condition, of course, that you keep your dog happy by providing plenty of exercise, a healthy portion of food, and lots and lots of the personal attention these friendly dogs so crave.

Yup. That's me: let me have a little exercise, a healthy portion of food and lots and lots of personal attention and you can train me for anything!

2. What is your favorite zoo animal?
The giraffe, despite that I used to hate them because I have a long neck too and I have been called a giraffe. They are such calm, pretty, at-ease animals. I admire that.

3. What zoo animal reminds you most of yourself?
Hm.... long neck.... red fluff on my head... has to be an ostrich. (Kristine provided this answer, rather cautiously because she was afraid of offending me!)

4. Do you have any pets? If so, how many, what kind, and what are their names? If not, would you like one?
We used to have a beautiful, sweet, loving, wonder dog named Gretchen. Sniff, sniff. Here she is in all her glory:

Now we have a stinkin' goldfish.

5. Have you ever ridden a horse?
Nope. Unless you count the ponies that lazily walked in circles in the Cascade Square parking lot when I was about 7. Mine starting crapping as it walked along and everyone laughed. I was very shy and timid and felt as if I was the one that had just dropped a load on the ground. That experience doesn't carry with it happy memories.

6. Have you ever milked a cow?
No. Somethings you've just got to be thankful for. Don't get me started on the pus...

7. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
I don't know, but I really wish they did. How cool would that be? Forget cows and Jack Russell Terriers, I'd buy a herd of sheep and keep them in my backyard.

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Know and Tell Friday: Famous Edition/Pin-Up Edition!

We did it again. We pawned (I mean Kayren offered) Know and Tell Friday off on Kayren again this week. She has some great creative questions for us and I can't wait to read everyone's answers. Head on over there and play along. Oh, and just for fun, I even added more pinups! :)

I have to forewarn you..these questions were really hard for me! LOL!

1. If you could meet one famous actor, who would it be and why? That is so hard! Oh my gosh, there are so many I would want to meet, but reality is if I saw them face to face, I would only stare. Okay, I have saved this question for last and I think I would love to meet George Clooney. I love him! He's so darn cute!

2. What one question would you ask him? I have absolutely no clue! I would ask if I could just stare at him for awhile. Actually, he seems so down to earth and funny that I think hanging out with him for the afternoon would be so much fun.

3. If you could meet one famous actress, who would it be and why? I guess either Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock. I don't know why except that most of my favorite movies include them. I love them because they both seem so normal.

4. What one question would you ask her? I would ask Julia how she balances being a mom and a working mom. The answer to that is probably having a nanny or two, but I would love to know how she does it. Does Sandra Bullock have kids? If so, I would ask her that too.

5. What is your all-time favorite comedy movie and why? I love Two Weeks Notice, I guess because my relationship with my boss is ALOT like Julia Roberts has with Hugh Grant, except the falling in love, sex stuff. Seriously, the scene where she is in her friend's wedding and he calls her with a tie emergency. I can totally see Kevin doing that, and me being dumb enough to have my phone on. I love any comedy with Hugh Grant, I don't now why. I love Notting Hill, Music and Lyrics and Two Weeks Notice...oh, and I also love Meet the Parents and Meet the Faulkers. I guess that's way more than one favorite movie! LOL! Oh, I also loved Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

6. What is your favorite all-time tv show and why? Lost, I love the suspense. I love Jack and Sawyer :) I also really love Dog the Bounty Hunter, Man v. Wild, American Chopper, Jack and Kate Plus 8 and The Biggest Loser.

7. What is your all-time favorite action or drama movie and why? I loved Hope Floats, I could watch that over and over. Reese should LOVE Hope Floats, it has her all time favorite singer, Harry Connick Jr. I also loved Lake House. Reese and I ran off for a girl day on one of her visits and watched that one together. Truthfully, I hate dramas because I hate crying during movies. I stay away from them if I know they are going to be sad, so I don't watch a lot of them. Oh, I also love the Stone Cold series of movies, they are with Tom Selleck, and you can NEVER go wrong with Tom Selleck.

Here's the thing, the honest truth. I don't have favorites! I just love a lot of different movies and a lot of different people. I can't nail down any favorites when it comes to music or movies..sorry! I guess I cheated (and rambled, alot!)

1. If you could meet one famous actor, who would it be and why? Tony Shalhoub. He's such an excellent actor and I always think he'd be a nice person to know. I love Monk, and he was also great in Men in Black and that one space movie with Tim Allen.... the name is escaping me at the minute.

2. What one question would you ask him? First, if I could have a small part in an episode of Monk-- I wouldn't even need to be paid. His brother has small parts now and then, I'm sure he could find a role for itty bitty me. Second, I'd like some good Lebanese family recipes.

3. If you could meet one famous actress, who would it be and why? Jennifer Garner. She seems like a lovely person, I love that she's a real mom despite being successful in Hollywood. Not only that, but we have the exact same color eyes. Plus, she's a spokeswoman for Neutrogena, one of my favorite skin care companies. Maybe she could hook me up with some freebies.

4. What one question would you ask her? I'd ask her why she's getting into politics... just because her hubby Ben is? Before they married I read that he was interested in politics, than after they got married I read an article in which she admitted that she was talking some political science classes-- apparently she's trying to make herself into the perfect elected official's wife. Now she's jumped on the radical Hollywood political bandwagon and that makes me rather sick. Stick to acting, Jennifer!!! It's what you're good at and it's a little insincere to be studying up on politics just to please your man!

5. What is your all-time favorite comedy movie and why? I guess Meet the Parents. It's lost most of its appeal just because I've seen it so many times, but I love it. I just about wet my pants when the cat peed in the ashes, and at the prayer scene... funny stuff!

6. What is your favorite all-time tv show and why? Alias, of course, and Lost. I love Lost. When I was a kid I loved Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Anyone ever seen that one?! I guess I've always been attracted to drama, suspense and spies. Maybe I should have been a spy (or maybe I am... not that any one would know, right?!)

7. What is your all-time favorite action or drama movie and why? I DO love Hope Floats! My all-time favorites would have to be a triple tie between the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the Bourne trilogy. LOVE them all. I can't get enough of the excitement in Pirates, the adventure and fantasy in LOTR, and the spy suspense in the Bourne movies.

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Know and Tell Friday: Quirky Things Edition

It's that time again! Friday always means Know and Tell questions and we look forward to your answers.

This week we're going to make you do the thinking. I was tagged by Betsy at My Five Men to list 6 random, unspectacular quirks about myself. This is my list and I'm tagging you all to do the same. What better way to get to know each other than with a list of quirks, eh?!

Have at it, ladies!  **Small update, Heather is finally participating and put her answers at the end.**

Reese's Quirks:

1. I tend to be very tense and do all sorts of things to counteract the tight muscles that this brings on: I sleep with a "splint" in my mouth that keeps my teeth from grinding, I don't chew gum often and when I do I only chew it for a minute or my jaw gets really tight, I use those stick-on heating pads on my shoulders and I made a big rice bag scented with cloves and cinnamon that I microwave and put on my shoulders, and I always have muscle relaxants at the ready. When my schedule frees up a bit next week I'll start going to the gym again (exercise is great for stress) and I do deep breathing exercises now and then -- when I remember!
2. I get easily bored with my hair color. I had myself convinced that the boredom was a thing of the past since I've managed to keep my hair red for the past 18 months, but lately I'm getting antsy with the color again. I would have bleached it blonde last week but the instructions were missing from the color kit box (a sign?) so I went with dark auburn instead. I'm thinking of trying dark brown with red next time.
3. I love tea. Before we moved from Germany in February, I went through my massive tea collection and got rid of about half of it. A few months ago I sifted through it again as I decluttered my kitchen. Last Sunday my friend R was here helping me organize my kitchen and we through out even more. I still have a whole shelf of tea. R said, "Alcoholics have booze, Reese has tea."
4. I'm currently searching for the best "Palin Power" T-shirt online.
   
5. My name is Reese and my favorite candy is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I don't eat them, though, as they would make so much more Reese than there is now.
   
6. I don't drink milk. Why? I'm lactose intolerant, and I spent too much time at Milk Sucks dot com. (Can you say PUS?????)
   

Heather's Quirks:

I'm really late getting in on this and it's hard for me, I just don't think I'm quirky!  LOL!

1.  I'm scared of milk now, thanks to Reese.  I do drink it, but only when I can put our discussion in the back of my mind from a year ago.  Holly still will not drink milk, thanks to Reese.  :)

2.  I drink Pepsi, all the time.  I actually count out the hours until I can have another one so that I don't have too many in one day.

3.  I don't eat breakfast.

4.  I am not at all an organized or rigid person, the only thing that has to be done my way is the process on how to load the dishwasher.  If someone tries to do it, and I catch them doing it wrong, I'll go back and fix it.

5.  I have been diagnosed with a chronic back problem.  I have been instructed to lay on the floor for 20 minutes every day.  I have to have my legs at a 90 degree angle to my knees and then bend my knees over a chair at 90 degrees.  This puts my back in traction and totally takes away the pain.  When I was in Portland with my sister, my back flared up.  I actually had to lay down in the neurosurgeon's waiting room like that for 10 minutes.  It totally takes away my pain, but it's pretty quirky, especially when you are in public.

6.  Maroon 5 and Gwen Stefani remind me of my trip to Rome.  When I am missing the freedom of my two week trip to visit Reese, I always turn up my iPod and listen to them for awhile.

There you go..six of my quirky things!  I'm sure my family and friends could come up with a lot more!  :)

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Know and Tell Friday: Not At This Blog!

Nope, not this week! I was so excited when Kayren over at Everything's Coming Up Daisies agreed to take it on this week. Reese woke up with the start of a cold and I have been working 12 hour work days this week. Our real life lives are truly Kicking It In Crazyville and the very thought of Know and Tell Friday was too much for us this week.

I see she already has it posted and ready to go so please head on over there. I am sure that when Reese wakes up she'll be posting her answers and I will post mine in the morning.

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Know and tell Friday: Sports Edition

I feel so guilty; so very, very guilty. Kayren over at Everything's Coming Up Daisies was such an angel to agree to do Know and Tell Friday this week and all I have to respond with is a weak post about how I'm not really that into sports. Ugh. I'm so sorry Kayren! It's not a sign of ingratitude, it's proof that I'm not well-rounded in my interests. Truth is, I think I could be a huge sports fan if given the opportunity. Alas, Hubby Tim doesn't watch any sports- never once have I seen it in our 15 years of marriage. The closest we've ever come to watching sports was early in our marriage we made out in front of the tv while the Portland Trailblazers played basketball. Uh-huh. Pitiful.

1. Do you live for the start of college football? professional football? Does anyone in your house? Do you know anyone who does?

No. Sean watched some pro football last year when he stayed with friends in Germany while Tim and I house-hunted here in England. He enjoyed it. When I was very young, my dad loved the Dallas Cowboys. I have memories of him watching football on Thanksgiving day.

2. Did you go to college? If so, what was your mascot? Was/Is that your favorite team? If not, what was/is your favorite college team?

I have yet to finish my college degree (I plan to really apply myself next year), so no to this question too.

3. Have you ever embarrassed yourself at a sporting event? Have you seen someone else embarrass themselves at a sporting event?

No. But I'd love it if Kayren would share her poor hubby's story.

4. What is your favorite spectator sport (the one you love to watch live)?

My son playing soccer. Nothing like being able to cheer your own kid on!

I've never been to a basketball game, but I think I'd really like it. I did see a hockey game once in Portland, and hated it. I spent the whole time completely scared that the puck would miraculously find it's way 2 miles up to where I sat and into my face and I'd die.

5. Do you have a sports hero? If so, what makes them special?

No. (I'm being repetitive. sorry.)

6. What's the most memorable sporting event you have ever watched on television? watched live?

The only thing that comes to mind is back in the early 90's when the Portland Trailblazers made it to the playoffs. I caught the fever temporarily and watched some of their games on tv. Since that's pretty much all I've ever seen sports-wise, I guess that's the most memorable.


(Does ice skating count? I used to love to watch that and once at the mall in Portland I saw the post-scandal Tonya Harding skating. Does that count for anything?!)

7. If you have kids or grandkids, do they play sports?

Sean plays soccer, an Zach and Ian plan to. Kristine might join the running club this year!

For much better answers visit Kayren at Everything's Coming Up Daisies!

Cheers!

Know And Tell Friday: Sports Edition

I cannot tell you how excited I was when Kayren said she would do KATF for us this week. She did a great job. It's nice to have someone elses twist on KATF. I have to admit, I am not a sports person, but that's okay, I'll answer the questions as best I can. This may be boring! LOL!

1. Do you live for the start of college football? professional football? Does anyone in your house? Do you know anyone who does? No, we don't watch sports at all. During Tim & Reese's last visit home Dan bought a gigantic flat screen TV (it's like 65 inches or something) and he kept saying "I can watch the Super Bowl!". The Super Bowl has never been watched in our house and I'm not sure why he's excited about that. I don't even know when it is, but apparently we will watch it this year.

2. Did you go to college? If so, what was your mascot? Was/Is that your favorite team? If not, what was/is your favorite college team? Nope, I did not go to college. In high school our mascot was the Indians.

3. Have you ever embarrassed yourself at a sporting event? Have you seen someone else embarrass themselves at a sporting event? No. I've only been to a few sporting events. My boss gets Blazer season tickets every year so I usually get to go to a few games but I've never embarrassed myself there.

4. What is your favorite spectator sport (the one you love to watch live)? I love to watch soccer! McKenna's first game is Sunday and I cannot wait. All the kids have played soccer and I absolutely love it!

5. Do you have a sports hero? If so, what makes them special? No, not really.

6. What's the most memorable sporting event you have ever watched on television? watched live? I guess it would be watching Michael Phelps get all his gold medals at this years Olympics. I loved hearing his story and watching him succeed at his dreams.

7. If you have kids or grandkids, do they play sports? Soccer, soccer & more soccer! The two older kids are getting very involved with tennis and I am excited to see where that goes. I played tennis when I was young and am playing with them when I can (when my back isn't killing me). It's a lot of fun.

Well, there you go, I told you it would be very boring!

Thanks for joining us and head on over to Everything's Coming Up Daisies to join in.

Know and Tell Friday: Back-To-School Edition

Hey, there! Reese here. My 2 oldest kids went back to their American on-base schools on Monday. I now have a 7th grader and a 9th grader. I'm still quite in shock over Sean being in high school. When did my little baby outgrow diapers and a pacifier and start taking algebra classes?! It seems too impossible to be true, but only 4 short years from now he will be off to college. I shed silent and random tears at that prospect.

Sean starting high school is overshadowing dear Kristine's entry into 7th grade. Seventh grade was a big deal when I was a kid because it meant being in junior high (that's what we called it back then) which meant lockers and different teachers and choosing electives. Oddly, in Germany at the base we were at, middle school started in 5th grade. That means middle school is old news to my girl, though she is now a "big" seventh grader who looks down her nose at the "tiny" 6th graders (middle school starts in 6th grade here). She can barely believe that those little babies have been allowed into middle school! LOL!

Zach and Ian won't start their English school classes until next week, and they won't be full time for a couple of weeks after that. I like that though the kids start a bit younger here, their ages are taken in to consideration and allowances are made. They start slowly and will accommodate any kids who need more time to work into the swing of things. I like having the freedom to tailor the start of schooling to my individual children.

To recognize the end-of-summer ritual of going back to school and all that entails, we've cooked up a back-to-school edition KATF. If you don't have kids in school, answer the questions for yourself when you were in school.

Cheers!

1. How far in advance do you start getting ready for back-to-school (whether for your own kids, or for yourself when you were in school)?

2. Do you have any picky eaters who need special considerations for lunches? What does a typical bagged lunch look like in your house?

3. What school supply items do you skimp on and what are you willing to shell out the big bucks for?

4. Do you get your kids up, or do they get up on their own? Any snooze-hitters that have trouble waking up? How about the opposite, any kids that are up at the crack of dawn?

5. Any cafeteria horror stories? Is school food as bad as they say?

6. How important is it to you to make sure your kids have the latest styles and trendiest accessories?

7. Remember the movie Kindergarten Cop? If Arnold Schwarzenegger was your child's new kindergarten teacher, how would you feel?


Heather's answers:

1. How far in advance do you start getting ready for back-to-school (whether for your own kids, or for yourself when you were in school)? We still aren't ready, and school starts on Tuesday. We have all of our school supplies to buy, haircuts to get and random clothes. I really hate the start of the school schedule, it means the goodbye to warm weather and a flexible schedule.

2. Do you have any picky eaters who need special considerations for lunches? What does a typical bagged lunch look like in your house? No one is overly picky, but they have very bland lunches. It always consists of a Peanut butter sandwich for Mark, no sandwich for Amanda. Then they are allowed two snacks and a drink. The snacks are usually peaches, string cheese, granola bars, carrot sticks. I realized that McKenna will now be needing a sack lunch this year...that will be my interesting one!

3. What school supply items do you skimp on and what are you willing to shell out the big bucks for? That's a good question. I'm really not willing to spend a lot of money on any items. I figure pencils, pens and glue sticks can always be bought again. I think the one item I will be willing to spend a little more on this year is backpacks. Last year each kid went through 3 backpacks. That is unheard of, I usually make them use one all year but they literally fell apart. I guess I will buy better quality ones this year.

4. Do you get your kids up, or do they get up on their own? Any snooze-hitters that have trouble waking up? How about the opposite, any kids that are up at the crack of dawn? I get the kids up, and I am the snooze hitter. Last year was the first year that my children were not late for school, and my oldest was in the 7th grade! Getting ready for school is always hard on me. The trick that I had to use last year, due to my husband's work schedule, was all the clothes had to be ready and waiting in the bathroom. By having everything ready the night before, we weren't searching for lost items every morning. It saved us a ton of time.

5. Any cafeteria horror stories? Is school food as bad as they say? My kids definitely say the food is bad. As of last year, even the pizza is terrible. That's pretty shocking. They all prefer a brown bagged lunch over cafeteria food, so it must be bad.

6. How important is it to you to make sure your kids have the latest styles and trendiest accessories? Not important at all. Luckily none of my kids are into that. They buy what they enjoy and aren't worried about all the trend setters. I remember when I was in school I wanted all the expensive clothes and I feel very lucky that my kids are not following in my footsteps.

7. Remember the movie Kindergarten Cop? If Arnold Schwarzenegger was your child's new kindergarten teacher, how would you feel? At first very freaked out! I actually think in the end it would be pretty awesome!

Reese's answers:

1. How far in advance do you start getting ready for back-to-school (whether for your own kids, or for yourself when you were in school)? As I said here, this year was the worst. Usually I start buying school supplies about 2 weeks before school, so I'm not a big planner but I usually get all I need. In Germany we were at a small base and the school supplies always ran very, very low right about the time I went to buy. You'd think I would have learned my lesson after the first year, but do you really think that happened??!! NOPE!

2. Do you have any picky eaters who need special considerations for lunches? What does a typical bagged lunch look like in your house? My kids eat the cafeteria food. Despite the fact that I have no complaints about our military pay (some people do complain alot), we qualify for free lunches. I think it's because Tim's not an officer and we have 4 kids. With free lunches, I don't see why we should pay the money for bagged lunches or deal with the hassle. Occasionally, they won't like what's being served and they'll take a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a sweet of some sort and a drink.

3. What school supply items do you skimp on and what are you willing to shell out the big bucks for? Like Heather, this year it was backpacks we paid more for. My kids' bags are usually shredded by the end of the school year, and sometimes even need to be replaced mid-year. Sean got a sling backpack in the luggage department and Kristine got an actual carry-on business type bag. They are both black and not in the least frilly, but they both got the ones they wanted.

4. Do you get your kids up, or do they get up on their own? Any snooze-hitters that have trouble waking up? How about the opposite, any kids that are up at the crack of dawn? Sean has been getting up on his own for years. He's very much the oldest child, very responsible and with it. Kristine inherited her dad's night-owl-can-hardly-wake-up-in-the-mornings condition. She regularly sleeps through her alarm, and she's even slept through the sun shining on her when she slept with the shade open so the sun would wake her up! Poor girl often has to wake up to Sean's loud chiding.

5. Any cafeteria horror stories? Is school food as bad as they say? There are some things the kids love at the cafeteria, some they hate. Some days Kristine will come home famished because she refused to eat whatever the school was serving. She swears they served tuna surprise at her last school, though that seems a bit far fetched, doesn't it?!

When I was in middle school some of the food was awesome. If I remember correctly, I liked the pizza. One of my clearest memories of middle school was one I wasn't there for; I heard about it from my friends and it stuck with me: we had science right before lunch and one particular day (when I was out sick) they were dissecting sheep's eyeballs. From that experience, my friends went to lunch were the entree of the day was spaghetti and meat balls! Jenny barely made it into the bathroom where she proceeded to be very sick!

6. How important is it to you to make sure your kids have the latest styles and trendiest accessories? Thankfully, that's not very important to my kids. This year Kristine earnestly requested white shoes, all decked out with silver thread and little shinies here and there. Apparently, all her friends have them. Judging by the vast selection of white, shiny shoes they must be popular this year. Other than a few little things every now and then, it isn't that important to them.

7. Remember the movie Kindergarten Cop? If Arnold Schwarzenegger was your child's new kindergarten teacher, how would you feel? I'd request a transfer for my child. Why would a massive man be teaching kindergarten unless he had ulterior motives?!

Ok, have at it ladies! Don't forget to visit each other's blogs and get to know each other!

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Know and Tell Friday

1. Are you right- or left-handed?

2. Any nicknames they have (or have had) and the story behind them?

3. Do you need to do laundry right now?

4. What CD is in your CD player/music on your iPod right now?

5. How/when did you learn to ride a bicycle?

6. What is your favorite weird food combination?

7. What is something you have that is of sentimental value?

Heather's answers:

1. Are you right- or left-handed? I am left handed! The weird thing is that I do everything right handed, except write.

2. Any nicknames they have (or have had) and the story behind them? My oldest nickname is Duckbutt. My grandpa said that once I learned to walk, and was still wearing a diaper, I looked like a duckbutt. The nickname stuck through most of my childhood and is still occasionally mentioned at family get-togethers. Once I was older my friends even called me DB for short.

3. Do you need to do laundry right now? Yep, I always have laundry to do. I hate laundry, it's my worst chore!

4. What CD is in your CD player/music on your ipod right now? Natasha Bedingfield.

5. How did you learn to ride a bicycle? My dad taught me at my great-grandma's house. She lived on this very quiet road and he ran along with me until I got it right, riding bikes is still one of my favorite things.

6. What is your favorite weird food combination? I love peanut butter and pickle sandwiches..yum!

7. What is something you have that is of sentimental value? I have a lot of different things but one of my favorite sentimental things is my stuffed bear, Shannon. I have had her since I was very little. She has gone everywhere with me. She even fell in the river with me once. She sits on Amanda's bookshelf.



Reese's answers:

1. Are you right- or left-handed? Right handed.

2. Any nicknames they have (or have had) and the story behind them? When I was little and went by my first name Carrie, my toddler little brother Joel couldn't say my name properly and it came out of his tiny mouth sounding something like "cow-cow". I endured being affectionately called Cow-cow until I was 12, then I refused to answer to Carrie and called myself by my middle name Darice (rhymes with Clarice). As a teenager my friends would call me "Duracell with a copper top" because of the similarity between the words "Darice" and "Duracell" and because I had very light blonde hair. They also called me Reesie or Reese, sometimes Dorritos (the similarity in sounds again). Once I moved to Germany I was tired of the way people always mispronounced Darice and started introducing myself as Reese. Tim always called me that anyway, so it was an easy transition.

3. Do you need to do laundry right now? Actually, no. I did it yesterday.

4. What CD is in your CD player/music on your iPod right now? I can't get over the new Coldplay album. I love it.

5. How/when did you learn to ride a bicycle? I don't remember. I rememeber my first purple bike with the banana seat, though! Iloved it!

6. What is your favorite weird food combination? I don't think I like any weird combinations of food, though Heather would likely disagree! I love kiwi and cottage cheese, which I've never seen/heard anyone else have but I don't think it's weird. Some of my favorite unconventional flavor combinations is chocolate with Earl Grey tea.

7. What is something you have that is of sentimental value? My wedding rings (the original and the one from the set that we bought after Tim lost his ring that was way too big) and my mother's ring which has the birth stones of all my kids.

Your turn!

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