Call 911!!

Thursday night right after 2 a.m. Chris decides he will stoke the fire, before he comes to bed. While stoking the fire he hears a popping sound under the house. Weird.....Then he notices little puffs of smoke coming up behind the mantle. He comes and wakes me up to tell me the house is on fire. I come out and see the puffs of smoke, and I say I will call 911. He starts running through the house yelling for the kids to wake up and go outside 'The House Is On FIRE!!'. I am trying to put on my robe, and slippers while I am calling 911. This takes less then 60 seconds. We come out to the living room and the wall was on fire. Yes people there actually flames burning, and crawling up the wall above the mantle. Here is a picture of what was burning.



The kids ran outside. Chris and I filled pots, and large bowls up to try and put the firey wall out. We seemed to have it under control. This took maybe 60 to 120 seconds. Chris says 'I'm going out to get the hose'. He runs out the door, and runs back in and says 'The roof is on fire'....no way...I run out with the large pot of water in my hands....and there it was THE ROOF WAS ON FIRE!! We tried to throw the water up onto the roof, but it was just to high. However, that didn't stop us from trying 3 more times. This is a picture of where the roof was on fire.....
The police show up at that time, and tell us we have to get out of the house. We can't stay here. We have to stop trying......I am in the kitchen, I look around at my house thinking this may be the last time I see these rooms....I have a few seconds what do I take. My most important things are standing outside on the street....what's left?....I see my scrapbook, and say no....I see my laptop, and say no....I see my purse, walk to it, pick it up, and walk out....I have to tell you this is the strangest feeling I have ever had in my whole life, and as I write this I feel it all over again....

We are now all out on the street.....what are we suppose to do, stand back, and watch it burn...yes that's what you do....

The neighbor Nelda took the kids to her house. Another neighbor named Wink came up to see if Chris and I were alright. That's when she realized he had no shoes on, and his socks were wet. She took her slippers off and gave them to him. He said I can't put those on my socks are wet....she insisted he put them on....very nice.....our other neighbor turned a little stove on at his porch where we could warm up and watch the house....

When all was clear they let Chris and I come back in......


The fireman was explaining how the fire went up the wall, and into the attic. I look at the floor and see my netflex return envelopes all around mixed in with the plaster from the ceiling. I say 'I guess my netflex movies are under there somewhere?'....another fireman says 'no mamam I saw them on the floor I picked them up and put them on your kitchen table, I also moved your snowmen over here by the wall'....'But we couldn't get the T.V. down so I'm sure it will still work'...
If you ever wondered how firefighters find their way around your house....don't worry, they will make holes if they have to.....

This is up in the attic where the roof was on fire............

This is outside looking in through the chimney...While we were standing in the living room, the firemen realized that underneath the house where we were standing was on fire. They had to use a chainsaw to cut the floor to get to it....their chainsaw was dull, so Chris gave them his to use....

See how from outside you can see in....

I had a few really crazy thoughts during this whole thing that I want to share with you. As I was throwing the pots of water on the firey wall I thought 'Where is my camera'....just for a second....

What made us think standing on the ground that we could throw water as high as the house?

Lynsey called her Mom and she came with Kelsea. They got together some stuff for the kids, and took them out to Pat's house. The girls have been with their Mom all weekend, and the younger kids have been with Amanda....

Before the kids left with Debi I kissed each one. Bethany wanted to know what burned up in fire, while Noah cried. What does a parent say to their kids at that moment?.....I don't know but here is what I said......Bethany are you alive? she said yes...I said Am I alive? she said yes....I said Are we all safe now? she said yes.....I said we can go buy the other stuff, but we can replace each other.....

Chris, and I wanted to stay at the house. We worked on getting the living room closed off until we can get everyone to come look at it and start working on it.....I'm sure it will be a long process.

We have had alot of phone calls, emails, facebook comments, visits, ect....We could never thank everyone enough for being so supportive....

I will write another post about this later.....I have some other thoughts I need to get in order, but I know everyone wants to see the photos, and read the post....

Homecoming Spirit Week BHS 2010

Lynsey and Kelsea are participating in Homecoming Spirit Week at BHS!!

How much fun does that sound?

Monday was 70's Decade Day!

Peace, Love, Groovy!

You know the girls have really nice cameras but they always use their camera phone for everything. Which is cool and all, but the pictures are not good enough to develope. They may not care now, but one day they will care. The nice photos on my blog today came from the BHS website.

Lynsey took this picture with her cell phone before she left for school.

Kelsea took this picture with her cell phone before she left for school.

Tuesday was Twin Day!

This is Kelsea, but where is her twin?

She wasn't a twin, she was part of 'the triplets'...LOL

They just are more special then everyone else...LOL

That is some nerdy triplets...

Here is Lynsey with her twin Megan.
Wednesday was Theme Park Day!

My girls both love Disney the best, so they wanted to stick with that theme park.

Lynsey is Tinkerbell.

Brooke, and Lynsey...or should I say Minnie Mouse, and Tinkerbell...

Kelsea as the Mad Hatter!

I like it with the red hair, and make-up better!

Thursday was Celebrity Day!

Lynsey went as Michael Jackson..

Kelsea went as Bret Michaels!

Kelsea didn't want me to post pictures of her dressed up as weird things on my blog. So, in order for her to send me the pictures she took of herself with her camera phone I had to promise to post this nice picture of her. She thinks this is a really good picture of herself. She is right it is a good picture of her.

However, if you go to the BHS website, or any number of Facebook/Myspace accounts you can see most of these same pictures. The difference is they don't have the nice picture to go with the crazy picture. I have spoken to both my teens about pictures, and media, but they just don't get it. I mean I only have a handful of followers, but the other sites have tons, and tons. When you go on the other sites you can just copy, and save/paste anything you like. Then your photo can be anywhere. This also means it can pop up at any point in your life. This really is a lesson for the new generation. Do you remember having to sit through life lessons at school. They did stuff on peer pressure, child abuse, ect...I fear that this will be a lost lesson. It will be something that they will have to live over, and over, and over again before they learn.

Last but not least....

Friday was Blue/Gold Day!

The girls wore their blue and gold stuff. Lynsey made a great scarf, I have not idea what Kelsea wore...LOL.... They may sound bad, but they just didn't send me a pic of them that day. If I ever get one I will post it....

Stay tuned because they looked great for Homecoming.....

Random Camera Phone Pictures

Pictures from the camera phone really aren't good for anything except the blog. I get a lot of pictures via text messaging. I really should start posting them here. So here is my first installment. If you didn't make this round just hold on.....you will at some point...LOL

This is McKayla Jade...she is totally sassy...

This is Mckayla & Braxton ready for school. I love MJ's harajuku back pack. Yes yall she is in love with the harajuku dolls as well....LOL I love MJ's head band.


This is Lynsey's solo costume. She is doing a solo this year to a musical theatre number called 'Cinema Italiano' from the show 'Nine'. If you haven't seen it either wait until I have a chance to post a link, or search on you tube for Kate Hudson Cinema Italiano......If you have seen it, I know it's for older girls....try to remember that Lynsey is a Senior in high school this year....

This is the dress that Kelsea picked out for homecoming. It's cute isn't it.....

That's a good start...stay tuned folks...I will try to post more camera phone pictures...LOL

Now that doesn't mean that yall should over load me with picture messages...LOL

School has started...week wrap up...

Well today I don't really have pictures...just stories..and let me just say they are pretty good...LOL

Best story for Noah this week....

I have decided to get up earlier then everyone else, and cook breakfast. May family has really enjoyed this. Anyway, every morning Noah comes out and says...Are we having pancakes today?...I say No we are having eggs....He says okay...he gets alittle more deflated everyday... It's really quite cute..I mean he loves eggs, but only after his love affair with pancakes.
So today I got up and decided to make my youngest son's dreams come true, and made pancakes. He was over excited, but wanted to know if he could have some scrambled eggs with them...LOL of course I said yes, I mean I got a whole bunch from Amanda...So he ate 3 pancakes, and 2 scrambled eggs...He always eats best at breakfast....

Best story for Christopher this week....(I have 2)
First story...
So Christopher comes home after the first day of school, and I ask him...How was school?
He says...Meme it was good, but I don't know about the bus in the afternoon?
(reminder: Christopher hasn't been on a bus since he was really young, and I'm not sure he has ever been on a school bus as a matter of fact?)
I say....what happen?
He says....Well the driver didn't know where I lived. I kept telling her I live at 247 knight road, but she couldn't find it. She just drove around for like an hour, and couldn't find our house. So, she gave me this card for you to fill out so she will know where I live.
I say...Well how did you finally find the house?
He says....Denny took care of it.
(Denny is the next door neighbor)
I must say I was concerned, but I didn't know what to do. So I took the card, and off he went.
The next morning I tell Chris, and he says What? So I have another conversation with Christopher....
I say....Christopher was Denny on the bus the whole time?
He said....yes she was. Meme I kept telling the bus driver where I lived. She just kept going down the wrong roads.
I say...Christopher were people getting off the bus.
He said...yes but I kept telling her that it wasn't my house, or street.
I laugh....I tried not to but couldn't help myself. Chris says what's going on?
I say....Christopher can't understand why when he gets on the bus at the school it doesn't bring him straight home...So, every time the bus driver would stop he would say this isn't my stop, I live at 247 knight road....
Christopher interrupts and says...I was sitting in the back of the bus, so when she would stop I would walk up to the front and let her know this wasn't the right place. Then I would go sit down.
I laughed...I tried not too...
I sat Christopher down and explained to him how the bus works. Then everyone packed up their stuff, and set off for the day. 15 minutes later Christopher turn to me and says I hope the bus driver can find our house this afternoon. I'll give her the address card...Please say a small prayer for Christopher today....LOL

Second story....
Christopher tells me Wednesday night that some girl comes up to his desk and starts talking to him. While she is talking to him, she is asking all these questions, and twirling her hair. Then after she sits down she just kept staring at him.
I ask him...What's her name?
He said...I don't know?
I say....Is she cute?
He said...Yes.
I say...do you want to talk to her again?
He said ....yes.
So, I give him alittle lesson on what to say to her. On Thursday night he comes to me and says...She kissed me...
I say...What happened?
He says...I went over to her and said what you told me too. I said I've been thinking of you since yesterday. Could you please write your name, and number down for me so I can call you this afternoon. And guess what Meme she didn't give me her number, but her name is Rebecca, and she gave me a kiss when we were done talking.
He didn't really say to much else about this, but you know this weekend we will have to have a talk.....LOL

Best story about Kelsea....
She started a new diet this week. You do it 3 days in a row, and they break 1 day, and back on for 3....She has totally stuck with it..Way to go. Also, she had her first Hip Hop, Tap, and Jazz dance class this week. I think she really liked it. Good for her. She didn't really do anything weird...maybe next week...LOL

Best story about Lynsey (I have 2)
The first is about 'the man'...I know you have heard the term before. I mean everyone answers to 'The Man'...Well Lysney comes to me and asks if she can go to the football game Friday night.
I say...yes
She says...What's my curfew?
I say...11:45, but if you are going to be late call, but you don't have much of a window because you can't drive after midnight.
She says..Meme we really wanted to go to midnight bowling at the strike zone. It's over at 1
I say...I'm sorry 'the man' says you can't drive after midnight.
She says...I don't want to listen to 'the man'
I say...listen I don't want to listen to 'the man' either, but we all do. I mean everyday I drive on the causeway, and 'the man' says I can only go 50 but I'd like to go 80...it's just life
She says...I hate Obama
I say....When I say 'the man' I'm not always talking about Obama, sometimes its the law, or Daddy, or....whoever we have to answer to, or is in charge....
She says...I hate 'the man'
I say....get used to it...LOL

Second story...
We go to the church to pick up Christopher, and she referred to one of the boys as 'There's my tall, dark, and handsome'....LOL (I can't tell you who she said that about, but I will say this, you would agree with the description) I'm trying to get her to ask him to homecoming...what could it hurt?

Last but not least Bethany.....
I wish I had something really cute and funny, oh I do I do....
So as you know Bethany loves Andy Warhol. Well we made a deal. At night after she reads, I read to her from the Biography on Andy Warhol. She says when I read to her from this book she sees it like a movie in her head. Any way we get to a part where we find out that Andy Warhol is a homosexual...yes folks I said homosexual to my 9 year old. Then it says that it was during a time when it was difficult to be openly gay. That's when she understood what I was saying.
She said....I thought that the word homo whatever was going to be gay.
I said...yes homosexual means that you want to be with someone of the same sex...Guys love Guys, and Girls love Girls.
She said...So Andy Warhol loved boys, and he was a boy.
I said...Yes
She didn't really say to much else, we talked about some other stuff we learned.
Then she said...I wanted him to have kids.
I say...I don't know maybe he adopts later?
Then she went to bed....
At breakfast before everyone comes out she says...Meme I'm alittle upset about what we learned about Andy Warhol.
I said...You mean that he's gay.
She said...yes
I said...Bethany we saw pictures of him dressed as a woman, he said he never wanted to be an artist he wanted to be a tap dancer, he said his idol was Shirley Temple...
She said...I know I just don't know.
I said...Well some people are gay, and we just have to deal with it. Not everyone lives their life how we want them to, but that doesn't mean we can't love them, and appreciate their work.
She said...okay
I said...I don't want the fact that Andy Warhol is gay to change how much you love his work, and how much you enjoy knowing about him, and learning about him.
She said...okay
I said...We all make choices how to live our lives, and he choose to live his life differently then we do, but I still like to learn about his life, and his art, and I love to read his quotes. I think he was fantastic.
She said...me too.
I will have to have another talk with her about this over the weekend. Do you have any words of wisdom I can pass to Bethany?

First Day of School 2010

Does this look like someone who is really excited about the new school year? Actually I told her she looks like her idol Andy Warhol...LOL

On with the regularly scheduled program....

First ready this morning was Lynsey Kirkland...Yes can you believe it the Senior was ready first. She picked this outfit out herself. She spent a good deal of her back to school money on this one outfit, and bargain shopped for the rest. I love this outfit. The color is great, and Leah did her hair last night. I think it looks fabulous....as Lynsey would say 'Holler at a girl when she looks good'....
I don't think that key really goes to anything....

She got this back pack at K K's....

Next up and ready was Kelsea Kirkland. One of the newest editions to BHS. She hates to be referred to as Fresh Meat...so we will just call her the Freshmen....LOL. She picked out the top half of the outfit from Rue 21, and got the pants from I don't know where? I think she looks super great, and super sassy....She was nervous this morning, but uber excited...

Love love love the necklace.....

She got her back pack from K K's as well....I think the reason that they have their names put on them is so that while they are at school everyone will know who they are? Or maybe they need reminding of who they are?....Just Kidding....However, at a certain age you don't want your name on stuff, then all of a sudden you want it again? Sometimes I can't kept up....LOL

They were going to Seminary this morning. They called me after it was over, and said they loved it and it was fun. They also said they might like to do it again. I hope they choose yes... Look how happy and close they look together here in this picture.. They were getting along so well last night and this morning. They even slept together last night, by choice....I love that...How long do you think the nicey nice will last? Boys are crazy, I mean you would think they would have to beating them back with a big stick wouldn't you?

After the big girls were done the younger ones got up, and they were ready to go go go.....

Noah got his mow hawk trimmed to a fohawk last night. I love his new hair. Of course we had to have an orange outfit for the first day. (it's Noah's favorite color)

He tried to have a sweet innocent face for this next picture, but the eyes give him away...He wanted a big boy book bag this year..

He really is excited about having Mrs. Chapman this year. He says she is really nice, and that she gives good treats...LOL

Okay this is fashionista Bethany...she is totally ready for the 4th grade this year. She told me it's going to be a very hard, but great year. She said she was going to really try to do better at school this year....She choose this shirt because for one it says how great she is, and also because Jayce is going to wear the same one today...LOL Leah did her hair last night, yes I know she is 9, yes it is alot old for her, no it wasn't on purpose, yes I think it looks good, yes we will do something different when the roots come in....Now that those answers are out there, if you have any other questions let me know....LOL

I think she is beautiful.....she really looks like the sun....I think in her heart this turned out exactly the way she wanted it....LOL I mean doesn't everyone want to look like a sunshine cutie?

She got this book bag for her birthday. It is a Harajuku Lovers book bag. She was thrilled.

Christopher get to go to middle school this year. Today he is officially a 6th grader. He is so looking forward to being a teenager, but will settle with the title of pre-teen for now. He was really excited about fitting into aeropostale, and american eagle clothes this year. I didn't get him alot of that stuff, but I did find some really good deals in those stores. To good to pass up...

Leah cut his hair last night. He is not a fan of spikey, but this morning he told me the look really suits him....I love him....

He picked out this book bag from Element. You can hook a skateboard on the front. That's the part he loves the best, but I informed his he will not be taking a skateboard to school ever. He said he knows he just likes the options...LOL

There is some major love between these to boys...I'm so glad that they have each other....

I got up and made yummy eggs/sausage/cheese biscuits for breakfast. I really need to do breakfast for them in the mornings, they do love to eat before school....Maybe I will commit to it...LOL

I think it's going to be 1 great year this year....

Showstoppers 2010

Well this weekend I went with the girls to Showstoppers. It was a really big competition, and the other studios were really fierce, but we held our own just fine. So here is my take on the whole thing.

Saturday here is what some others took from our studio : (I didn't add the names to other children because I don't want to upset anyone)

Contemporary -"Let It Be"- solo - she won Gold1st and 9th overall (this was really good)

Musical Theater - "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better"- boy/girl duet- they won Gold 1st and 9th overall (this was really good)

Like I said both these dances were really good. I just don't understand those judges sometimes, they are so fickle......

Also on Saturday this is the numbers my girls did.

Musical Theater - "My New Philosophy" - Bethany - Gold 1st and 2nd overall (she really rocked it)

Jazz - "Let's Dance" - Bethany/Lynsey - Silver, but highest in their category (they are so cute)

On Sunday we only took one dance.

Musical Theater - "Roomies" - Lynsey/Erica - Gold 1st and 6th overall (I love this number it is the 'what is this feeling' song from the musical Wicked)

Let me just say this isn't my first competition, but I'm still trying to learn the ropes. Which means I am still very much a rookie in this atmosphere, but I've come a long way.

Saturday when we arrived all the dressing rooms were taken. So, we set up in the little break room with a bathroom. Well when we came back from lunch our stuff was in the hall. We weren't suppose to be there. That was part of the judges green room. Whoops! I really didn't know it was an honest mistake. But have no fear super mom is here. We just put our set up in the lobby along with the rest of the people that didn't get in a dressing room, but I was more prepared. I had a clothing rack, and my handy dandy portable dressing room. I wish I would have taken pictures you would be proud.

Anyway, when Bethany was ready she went backstage, and the solos started. I was fine at first, and then it dawned on me...All these people are competing against her for overalls....Then I got more nervous as they went. I mean those kids got moves...then you start to worry that she will mess up and cry and run off stage and on and on and on...nothing good...Then Bethany comes on stage...I just held my breathe whispering the moves in my head....then I realized at tough parts I was whispering out loud here we go here we go...point your toes...okay okay okay okay....Then as the other dancers danced I just waited...it felt like forever until Bethany came out to join me. When she got there she was so thrilled with herself. Then she turns to me and says 'One judge the one with the long brown hair looked really happy, the one beside her looked worried the whole time, and the man just kept talking really fast' I don't know about you but that made it worse for me, I mean it can't be good right. Well just chuck it up to rookie Mom, and those judges are so unreadable.....

(This is Bethany getting ready in the Break Room...She didn't wear those shoes on stage)

Then it was time for the awards. I felt like I was going to vomit. Yes I'm making this about me. Bethany was just fine, all smiles, not a care in the world. Sometimes I wonder if she belongs to me...LOL

They did the awards, and she got Gold 1st...okay that was good. She came up to the mic and said her name, teachers name, and studio name...Then sat down. Then they started with the overalls. They started from 10 and worked down. I was pretty cool at first. But then as it went it started getting to me....Oh no she will be one that won't be called...They called the 5th and my heart started to flutter, I looked at Bethany she was fine. They called 4th and I thought hey we meet them today and they were nice, but my knee started to shake and Bethany was fine. They called 3rd and I started to cry, yes a big tear rolled down my face, I looked at Bethany and she was FINE..They called '2nd overall is 256 My New Philosophy'...I found myself screaming and clapping and stomped my feet alittle, still crying....Bethany walks up to the mic just beaming.....

(She is so happy about these awards!!)

I love the girls in their duet costumes for 'Let's Dance'. I was really excited that they scored higher then the trio that was in their category, and for us that was good enough. They just love it up on that stage, and in the end that's all that matters..yes sir

The girls in their duet costumes!

Then I asked for a Sassy face...LOL

On Sunday we got up really early and headed out again. There is alot to do to get Lynsey ready to be transformed into the one and only 'Glinda the Good'. I think it really suits her, and she plays the part so good. I was just as nervous for them as I was for Bethany when I saw who they were up against. But they shined like a new penny up on that stage. My heart raced the whole time. I cried 2 tears at the end for them. One tear because Lynsey made one tiny mistake and I knew she was beating herself up and I wasn't backstage, and the second because they were really good. I love a good show, and they put one on. Maybe I'm alittle bias whatever....

When they did the awards Linda and I sat alone together. We were so nervous for the girls... Then they got called up for Gold 1st...we both said yes...LOL The girls walked up to the mic still in full costume and gave their names, their teachers name, and their studio..They were both really happy...
Now for the overalls....we just kept thinking oh we just don't know but we were really excited at the same time....Then they called 7th overall and it wasn't the girls...dang it...then they said '6th overall is 259 'Roomies' lots of clapping, and screaming from me...but most of all a great sigh of relief.....

Lynsey, Erica, and their teacher Jessica Dominey.

The whole experience was nerve wrecking..... but totally worth it....

A couple of things I want to remember about this trip that are not in this story.....

Kelsea was a big help all weekend...we couldn't have done it without her...I need to get her a stage manager shirt...LOL I also need the girls to do a thank you for her...

I am sad that this is the only picture I got of all the girls together. But I do love this picture.

Judy...she is the new GPS system that Andrew got Lynsey for Christmas and we used it on this trip...we named her Judy after Judy Jetson...LOL Judy doesn't understand detours but all in all she's a good little machine.

Linda we are totally going to make ourselves something awesome for the next competition...I would tell you but then I would have to kill you...LOL

My camera...I forgot my camera and I had to use Kelsea's. She was really great about it, and she has a nice camera, But I know my camera...and I know how to use my camera better...so next time it won't be forgotten, and I WILL take more pictures...LOL Also I didn't take one picture with me in the picture...

I need to give a special thanks to all the people who came, and stayed to support us in this. I really enjoyed lunch with the Watson family, and Ms Laura on Saturday. I really felt like I was part of something special being there. I'm so glad that Ms Jessica, and Summer were able to make in on Saturday, and Sunday.Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Last but not least...really it was my most favorite part, and you might not believe it....Me, and Lynsey talked the whole entire time we were in the car...I mean really over an hour down, an hour back, an hour down, and an hour back...that's over 4 hours of non stop talking about nothing really..we never listened to the radio...Kelsea, and Bethany would pipe in sometimes...we refer to them as the peanut gallery...LOL Those moments in the car with the girls will be some of the best memories for me...and that makes them priceless...LOL