Butler Family Diaries

Tim's New Love Interest

2012-01-03T12:33:00.003-06:00

I am no longer the love of Tim's life
and
I am no longer the love of Mary Margaret and Taylor's life
and
I might be a little smitten with this gorgeous and sweet dog...Farrah.

November 2011

2011-12-08T10:31:00.003-06:00

November has been busy. We took awesome family photos.

Tim is an avid duck hunter. This is how I get to see him...in photos. He's 3rd from the left.
Ben Butler, John Butler, Tim Butler and Johnny Hess.

The girls had a wreck and pretty much totaled Mary Margaret's truck. MM was airlifted to the MED in Memphis. She ended up with a compressed fracture in her #1 Lumbar, neck sprain and a bunch of bruises and sore muscles. Taylor has a broken collar bone and a bruise that matched her seat belt. We spent 27 hours at the MED and a week at home. So Thankful for God and Seat Belts.

Glorious Gift of Christmas at Wynne Baptist Church, this was my table!
Thanksgiving was blah as far as the holiday itself. I have so many things to be Thankful for and I really don't have to wait for the holidays to say it.

We got snow for my birthday on December 6. I ate lunch with my BFF Dianna Moore, went to the 5th grade Christmas Play, and then went home and chilled (MM's favorite word). Tim and I were up at 12:30 AM just in time to watch it snow. (oh how romantic). Wednesday Sandy took me to lunch for my birthday!

Getting in the Christmas mood is hard work! We've started with the decorating of the Funeral Home and its looking pretty darn good! At home, the kitchen is ready for Christmas and that is it!

I've ordered Christmast cards that I am totally pumped about!

Hopefully, December will be Glorious and quiet!

JPC's

2011-11-03T10:03:00.002-05:00

Sunday, the JPC's are donating food to the Good Shepard Center. The good Shepard Center feeds, clothes, and pay utilities and much more for people in our community that are having hard times. You never know who you are helping, there were many times when my brothers and I were growing up that the Good Shepard Center fed us and kept the electricty on. Many times.

The feeling of worrying about where your next meal is coming from, if your electricity will be on when you get home from school is not a good feeling. I spent many nights in the cold and the heat. Been there and done that. Children should not have that burden. I'm not looking for a pitty party, I've risen above those hard times.

I just think we need to support our community and the people who are trying to help.

So, I would like to ask my friends to... help the JPC's by donating just one item. Let's help them make this year be the JPC's biggest donation ever. If you want to donate, bring your item to Kernodle Funeral Home, where I work. They turn their items in on Sunday. This is one of the hardest statuses for me so far to post. So, go me. I am thankful for the the Good Shepard Center and the sweet people who donate their time to run it, Mrs Lula Settlemire, Mae Teague, Judy Pufahl, and many others.

At The End Of My Short Rope

2011-11-01T11:24:00.002-05:00

I am at the end of a very short rope. It makes me want to run around in a sing song voice singing: Boys are stupid nanner nanner boo boo. Kids are mean nanner nanner boo boo.

Taylor is now single.

Taylor said the boy that invited her to the bonfire because he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend. She says he asked. She says that she said yes. He kissed her twice. He has another girlfriend. The thing with Taylor was all done for a dare. THAT is so wrong. She skipped her JPC Barn Dance for this bonfire. I can't believe I let her. No, wait a minute. I can believe that I let her because I was excited for her. She was excited. She was WAY excited. Stupid boys. Stupid Kids.

I even talked with his mom when I dropped her off at the bonfire. I told her that Taylor said they might be boyfriend and girlfriend by the end of the night. I told her that I thought her son was a good kid. I had asked around about him. She agreed that she would love for Taylor to be his girlfriend. The mom knew about the other girlfriend. That is WRONG.

What's even more wrong than that? Taylor thinks all of this was OKAY!!!! She had the nerve to ask me could she still go to Bingo at the Catholic Church with him last night!! She was upset with me because I told her to stop texting him. She was upset this morning when I said they weren't going to school early so she could stand with him before school.

What do I do to make her understand this is not cool without hurting her feelings.

I will be snooping in her phone tonight. I want to see if she was part of this plan or really knew nothing.

The Hall Monitor in me is coming out...

Watch out.

Spooking Up Butler Manor

2011-10-31T09:35:00.004-05:00

Saturday a plan was hatched. The teenagers at Butler Manor needed to be scared. Payback for a horrible summer and for the numerous scaring that I have gotten over the years. My cousin, Ashley is married to Pete who loves to scare people. He does a good job. He got both girls. Taylor was scared at the Funeral Home warehouse and Mary Margaret and her boyfriend were scared at our house.

We were able to record Taylor's video because there were lights. Mary Margarets was too dark. :(
Taylor is still a little mad at me!

Nicole videoed this for me. Taylor begging Pete to not hurt her. Please don't hurt her. Pete said she offered him the Pepsi she had in her hand to not hurt her. Nicole could not catch up to Taylor after she ran. Taylor ran to our truck locked the front doors...
forgot to lock the back doors....
Pete grabs the doors and jiggles them and then gets in the backseat of the truck. Taylor by this time was swinging at Pete. He takes his mask off and it's still a few mintues before Taylor realizes that it's Pete.

We all head out to our house where Pete plans to scare Mary Margaret and her boyfriend. It's real dark at our house. He gets Mary Margaret and her boyfriend at the front door. He slips around from under our crepe myrtles and gets them. Mary Margare claimed she wasn't scare the whole time.

WHATEVER.
Keeping it rolling at Butler Manor

This is how I roll...

2011-10-29T22:26:00.003-05:00

Painted the house today.
Before>>>

During...This is How I roll

After. Almost Completed. Trim and one side needs to be finished! See Beth...no bathtubs, four wheelers, toilets in the yard!

Bloopers and Family Photos

2011-10-10T09:04:00.005-05:00

I finally hog tied Tim and made him do family pictures. It's been 2 years since we actually dressed up and did our pictures. These photos ROCK!

Bloopers first.
I have no clue what we were looking at. Apparently all I could see was cleveage. We may have been looking at the random flip flop between our feet. That flip flop would be mine. I can't walk in the heels on the (undisclosed location) railroad track.

Tim did not want to behave. Taylor was in the pose mode and Mary Margaret was sticking her tounge out.

There are no words to describe this one.

How Sweet. You must know...he was complaing and said he better not see this on facebook. I win!

He said. I am not doing a kissing picture. I win again!

Getting Better

My absolute favorite! Tim making us laugh. I love this.

Dianne Update

2011-10-07T19:59:00.002-05:00

My sisterinlaw Dianne has been in the hospital for an infection in her port and kidneys. She described her symptoms to her doctors and they told her it was the flu. Not so much. She was admited Thursday and if all goes well, may get to come home on Saturday accoring to her husband.

Much love to my BFF Sister-in-law...

To Be A Fly On The Walls of Butler Family Diaries

2011-10-06T09:27:00.004-05:00

My friend at 2nd Cup of Coffee wants to be a fly on the Walls of Butler Family Diaries and my sister-in-law just wants to come sit in our yard and watch. Foolish wish my friend. First, the walls, they are dusty. Your flying days would be over. So much dust would collect on your cute little fly feet and end your flying, buzzing, days. Second, Taylor is a maniac with a fly swatter, newspaper, shoe, hairbrush, book. I'm afraid your fly days would be short lived. Last, Tim's silly copy cat, drama starter, antagonizing, pot stirring ways would cause you to die from laughter. Dianne...she spins out and throws gravel when she's mad. You may want to rethink the coming over part...

Side Note: This summer was probably the most stressful summer ever. It even beat out the summer's my mother decided to not pay the electric bill, phone bill, water bill, buy groceries, etc. I thought that was rough, but I survived. I survived this summer, but just barely. Driver's license, cars, boys, girls...they make teenagers crazy and that makes responsible adults loose their minds. Just saying...

Last week I left my truck at work and rode home with the girls because I was tired and even more honestly, to save gas. This was fine until the next morning. Picture this. It's 7:22 AM. I am putting on my clothes. Mary Margaret comes to my bedroom and inquires (with attitude) how am I going to get to work. I calmly (trying not to start a fight cause she doesn't fight fairly) tell her that I'm going to ride into town with them because Tim has already left for work. Steam. I made steam come out of her ears. She flips her hair, turns on her heal, and goes and sits in her truck, waiting. I can read her mind. She's mad and I'm going to make her late for school (translation: to late to stand for 30 minutes and talk to boyfriend late). Long story short, a crazy, mad as a wet hen, drivin' teenager and a tree trimming truck almost caused a MAJOR auto accident. I grounded her and drove them to school. I drove them in her truck. I drove them with curlers in my hair so as to not make them late. And...I facebooked about it.

This week...
Tim Butler's Drama Starting day No. 1.
The girls now can not leave the house before I do. They have to follow me to school because Mary Margaret is going to kill them with her driving. Tim asks why they are still at the house. Mary Margaret says...I have to follow Kaye to school every day now, what do you think about that? (trying to win him over)
He says....
I love it. I think that's a wonderful idea.
(he says this in his drama voice)
Steam. She produces a lot of steam.
He walks out into the yard as we are leaving for school, waves his arms like a giant dinosaur winged thing, and gets their attention. In his dramatic pitched voice he tells them to have fun following me to school. Again with the steam out of the ears and this time fire flames from the eyes. He waves them down again, tells them he hopes they are not late. He hops on my tail gate and rides to the bottom of the hill giving them all kind of "I'm making fun of the grounded kid" gestures as he rides. This kind of behavior from Tim, really, really, sets her on fire.

Tim Butler's Drama Starting day No. 2.
This week is homecoming at school. The day before with all the drama was twinkie day. Wednesday, Drama Starting day No. 2 is Pajama day. They have on the same pajamas, shoes, and watches. Tim says to Taylor (yes I think he knew what he was doing)...What is today, twinkie day? That started 10 kinds of drama. Taylor wanted different pj's, different shoes, wanted to know could we stop by Wal-Mart and buy new pj's, decided to not even do pj day, etc.
He walked around sing-song...ohhh I'm looking like my sister, ohh I'm a twinkie with my sister...

Today...
Payback.
Taylor put on Mary Margaret's jeans. They fit. Tight. She tells Taylor she can not fit into her jeans. She tells Taylor she is much smaller than her. She yells at me that Taylor has on her jeans that she wears to work. I pretend to be deaf and dumb. They take the fight to my bedroom where Tim has begged for 5 more minutes of sleep.
Take that mister drama starter.

We left before he got out of the shower...he had to start drama alone in a lonely, cold house.

More interesting news...
I brushed my teeth with mascara on Tuesday. That incident had nothing to do with me be stressed.

Ostrich Races

2011-09-14T20:27:00.005-05:00

As promised more from the Delta Fair. The girls were on their own at the Fair. The video is not professional!
Ostrich Races

The girls are both selling cookies for JPC. Taylor sold some to my boss and they wrote her a check. She puts it in her envelope and notices that she spelled something wrong on the outside of the envelope...shreds it and the check.

Mary Margaret came home from work smelling like she'd taken a bath in french fry grease. I mentioned it to her and her response: Did you notice that I ate the peanut butter and jelly cookies at home? I said...um we do not have peanut butter and jelly cookies at home, we have offbrand nutter butters.

wait for it

she says...I know that. I have allusioinal taste buds, I allusioned the jelly.

Allusion: a passing reference; oblique or obscure mention
She clearly does not know what Allusion means and I know from personal experience she does not know what sarcasim is.

Its how I Roll...

Mary Margaret's New Boyfriend

2011-09-12T13:49:00.002-05:00

Mary Margaret has been single for a while. Well, to be exact, all summer. That's what getting grounded and hanging out with the wrong crowd will do for you. I try to be a good mom, so, how I roll is...take erthang away. She is doing better, or so I thought. She had two new boyfriends all in one day. Should I ground her again?
The first new boyfriend she kicked to the curb after about 30 minutes. I thought they made a cute couple, reference their picture below.

She kicked him to the curb because he took her Mt. Dew and ran around the Alpaca stall with it putting his slimy tongue all in her drink and he brought it back empty. MM said that when he came back to her, there was a woman standing next to her with an open beer. MM told the lady to put her beer up while hanging out with the animal cause the Alpaca likes to steal drinks and we do not need drunk alpacas at the fair.

Second boyfriend was a real looker too. She said he loved cameras and posed whenever he could. That's my kind of alpaca.

Tomorrow I promise Ostrich race videos and electronic bull riding videos. (if blogger coperates).

Rolling the FFA way at Butler Manor!

Kaye

Hugs and Stuff to Dianne

2011-08-25T18:53:00.002-05:00

Some of you know and some of you don't know, that, my sister-in-law Dianne has breast cancer for the 2nd time. I know! How do you get breast cancer a second time and you've had them romoved? Cancer no matter where it comes back at is always called where it orginiated from. Make sense? I didn't know until Dianne told me.

So, she had lunch with me today at Colby's, we had a great lunch. I learned a little more on her blog than I did at lunch...shame on you Dianne...it's okay though...

Want to send you out some blog hugs and stuff cause you ROCK Dianne.

What a difficult conversation we had the other day, probably the most difficult one in 21 years I've known you. I promised to stay strong and I will, you know I will, and I'll shoot you the truth when you want it...(lol)

Dianne.
You.
Rock. (and glow)

And These Are The Days of Our Lives...

2011-08-17T08:29:00.002-05:00

Today was my first day of NOT taking the girls to school. Mary Margaret drove them to school. I was and still am a ball of wadded up nerves.

What did I do to make myself feel better?

I stalked them all the way to school and took their picture in the parking lot. I am that much of a stalker.

Today is Taylor's first day of High School. 9th grade. She is extremely nervous. Mary Margaret's first day of 10th grade.

Last night Tim was in rare form. (I secretly think he was nervous for the girls, that's the only explanation for the way he behaved)

I called to see if he wanted to ride home with me after I picked Mary Margaret up from work. He said he needed to stay in town, he wasn't finished with his work. I told him I was picking up Chinese and he was asking a million questions about where I was at.

We get home, get the junk out of the truck, all 3 of us walk up to the tiny front porch, I get my house key ready....and this wild man runs from behind the house screaming like a bear on crack, waving his arms. I ran to the end of the porch with no railing...I could have broken my neck falling, Taylor ran down the steps and to the middle of the yard screaming..."no no no no" Mary Margaret was standing sandwiched between the screen door and house door crying that she had peed in her pants. Tim said it looked like I was running place screaming at the top of my lungs. I think we woke up Dianne and Clayton's roosters and maybe all of Parkin, Arkansas which is about 15 miles down the road. Tim. Is. Not. Funny.

He had been at home the whole time waiting outside in the mosquitoes for 20 minutes just to scare us, which I assume was the reason for all the questioning.

His pay back? Mary Margaret came to me wanting to talk about her "monthly"...I told her Tim said that the next time she wanted to do that, he wanted to hear everything.

So she did.

Meet Christina...my little cousin

2011-08-15T10:22:00.003-05:00

Christin is a senior this year! Yesterday we did a quick Senior Session and she rocks!!!! I loved taking her pictures and can't wait for the next two sessions!!!

Best Rip Off?

2011-08-09T13:33:00.002-05:00

This little girl/gypsies knows a good deal when she sees one! How do you like her hair do? She was trying her best to annoy us and it did not work.

Now back to her good deal...
While we were on vacation in the Smokey Mountains, we stopped in Cherokee, North Carolina. Mary Margaret saw these Indians dressed and getting ready for the Native American Dances. She begs for us to stop and get her picture with a real live Indian. Tim gives in. The first was dawg drunk and spilling his beer everywhere. He told her he would be glad to take his picture with her and he did. For free. Good deal right?

The second one is sober and smarter.
She asks for a picture.
He says, you'll have to take it with your own camera.
She says ok.
I get my cell phone out and take the picture.
She asks him if he can dance.
He says yes and the rest is muffled to me. She's all happy and runs back to the truck real fast and runs back and hands him a $10.00 and walks off really fast, almost a run. She looks stunned.
I asked what happened.
She says he told me he'd do a picture and a dance and that he works for tips. So I went and got some of my money, a $10 and asked him for change and he ran.
This would be the part where she got the BAD DEAL.

The next day, we rode the train for the 2nd time, and she tells the story to one of the train workers. He laughs and says...Was it the dude in Cherokee? She says yes and shows him the picture. He says....
He's not even Indian.
He's Mexican.
Me and Tim say...Thumbs up Mary Margaret.

I LOVE IT

2011-08-05T14:24:00.002-05:00

My friend Joanna left this comment on my blog...

and

I

Loved

It!

You know that whole saying raising teenagers is like nailing jello to the wall, right? I say we throw the jello at their faces and yell, "Nailed it!" :)

Dolly Wood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

2011-08-03T13:41:00.006-05:00

Dolly Wood, to me, was just another amusement park.

Was I amused that Tim would NOT ride the scary roller coaster? Yes.
Was I amused that Tim found the camera while I rode the scary roller coaster and took pictures? NO.
He is amazing with the camera.

Tim totally rocks at getting just the right shot.

Of course he was waiting at the exit for me. Did I say that the roller coaster was scary? IT. WAS. SCARY. My hair got a little messed up and I was hot. How sweet was it of Tim to capture this moment.

I want one of these skillets...

Tim's parents rocked the scooters. I would like to point out that Tim's mom was guarding my camera. Tim must have tied her up and got the camera or maybe he flashed those baby blues at his mommy and she was mush.

We have no clue who these characters are, but what the heck, the girls were smiling so I snapped the shot.

Smokies continued

2011-08-03T08:02:00.002-05:00

We rode the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad in Bryson, North Carolina. The route we took followed Lake Fontanna. I think one of the most beautiful lakes I've seen.

The train we rode...I was not supposed to hang out the window, but, I just couldn't resist. Tim was my lookout...

This is us just before we hiked to the highest point in the Smokies. Notice the look on Mary Margarets face...we all looked like that by the time we made it to the top. She made that face in almost every photo that day because she was being a "little" difficult teenager.

Great Smokey Mountain Vacation

2011-08-02T12:50:00.002-05:00

We headed for the mountains for our vacation this year. The Great Smokey Mountains. I thought Crowley's Ridge and the Ozarks were pretty, the Smokies take my breath away! They look like the go forever when you are at the top looking down. Yes, we hiked to the top. God's handi-work is amazing.

On our way to the top, we crossed into North Carolina.

Tim's sister, her husband, and their one year old granddaughter, Addison went with us. First night, Tim was messing with her head, she didn't want him touching her so she pulled away real hard, causing her face to smash into a bowl of mac and cheese. For days this is what she did when Tim looked at her...

Pink Toes!!!!

2011-08-01T15:17:00.004-05:00

Butler Toes are PINK in honor of our sister-in-law Dianne Littlejohn Billings who is a cancer survivor and battling cancer a 2nd time and in memory of Tim's grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Butler, his Uncle Wayne Butler and in memory of my Uncle George Brawner, my good friend Terri Jackson, and my Aunt Nannie Jane. Also in honor and memory of all who have fought and won and fought and lost. Let's help find a cure! Yes, that's Tim's toes you see painted pink!

Butler Family Diaries Take over Tennessee and North Carolina

2011-07-19T06:28:00.003-05:00

We made it!!! Smokey Mountains are beautiful! We've walked trails, spent the day at Cades Cove, Riley's Aquarium, Cooter's - Dukes of Hazard Museum, and been to North Carolina where we hiked.
Tim goes to Church!

Angela wanted to go to Clingmans Dome, North Carolina to see what it was all about. It was described as an easy .5 up and .5 down hike to the top of the Smokey Mountains. We head out taking turns pushing Addison and a few breaks...ok...more than a few...and thought we were going to loose Angela and Garrie. Garrie, at one point, looked gray and coughed up a lung or 3. Tim took one for the team and power walked/pushed Addison and never breathed hard. He smokes cigars...whats up with that?

Apparently the .5 hike was a little long for someone.

We made it to the top to looke out over the beautiful look out and this is what we saw. Angela finally made it to the top after about 25,000 pit stops and was not excited about the view.

Then a park ranger showed up and gave us a warning about the signs of bears. He pointed out the wallered out spots in the grass and the droppings and told us they were close. At this point, none of us were happy, and we still had a .5 mile hike back down the mountain...

Clingmans Dome, North Carolina.

2011-07-16T16:32:00.001-05:00

We've headed out! Vacation time ios here!

Shout out to my nephew Philip for taking care of the pool and the cats this week, I really appreciate it!

Tennis Funnies

2011-07-13T20:49:00.001-05:00

I play Tennis...
Taylor plays Homerun Tennis...

I play Tennis...
Mary Margaret plays fence tennis...

I play Tennis...
Taylor and Mary Margaret take water breaks...

I play Tennis...
Taylor and Mary Margaret lay on the ground whinning about being tired.

Today while I played tennis, three little boys (2 black and one chinese) walked over and watched. Taylor hit a home run and I asked them to throw the ball back over the fence. I said, "Thank You very much kind sir." One said to his friend, "What'd she say?" Answer: "I don't know, do I look like I speak old white lady language dude?"

Old White Lady.
That's me.

Keeping it real at Butler Manor.

P.S. Our cat Pepper who is at least 4 years old had her first litter of kittens and she's not happy about it.

Teenage Driver...what are you gonna do with them..

2011-06-02T11:15:00.001-05:00

My facebook post from Tuesday...

note to self: road to avoid letting Taylor drive, Killough (scary ditch), 64B (scary guard rail) turning lanes, red lights where u yield, and No 1 scary road Falls Blvd (turning left from the outside lane across all 4 lanes of traffic when I told her to turn right.) AND zero to 60 at the 64/64B split

Taylor pointed out that when I hold onto the "oh crap" handle when she's close to the scary guard rail...that it won't save me.

Great.

Thanks Taylor.

Keeping it real...

Laundry and Pedicures

2011-05-17T08:45:00.003-05:00

I ran away for the weekend. I visited with my family in Harrison and then stopped in Newport to do pictures from my sister-in-laws family. I was pooped when I got home, but enjoyed every minute!

I decided to wait until yesterday afternoon to do laundry cause I was pooped from all the traveling. I thought while we were waiting for laundry to finish, I would run get a pedicure. My feet are awful, Tim says it's because I don't wear socks and tennis shoes (specifically Reebok tennis shoes) during the summer, I wear flip flops and heels.

So, we were rocking along, little dude doing my feet kept making funny faces. He looks up at me and asks how long has it been since I was in to have this done. I said about 3 weeks. He shook his head, spouted off some really fast Vietnamese and all the workers stopped what they were doing and stared at my feet and laughed.

I posted some stuff on facebook during all this...

"awkward...when the nail place is empty...guy working on my feet speaks real fast and all the workers stop what their doing and look at your feet, laugh and point..."

"I'm thinking it's not a good sign when the blender looking thing gets pulled out and used on your feet...just sayin"
"I think the blender thing almost burned up ...he made a face when it smoked a little bit..."

Then he spread this green warm gooey junk on my legs...
"ok, so now I want to take this little guy, his blender thingy and the green goop home with me..."

"well, now, this pink stuff is new...and HOT!"

He dipped my feet in hot wax 5 times each and then bagged 'em up. Man my feet must really be scary! My feet looked like feet from Planet of the Apes.

One of my friends said she had never seen the bag trick before. I must be special.

He's peeling off the wax now and...

"I would like to think these people are discussing what's for dinner...but they are still laughing and pointing at my feet..."

Now they are speaking turbo speed Vietnamese.

"ok, that's it...I'm learning Vietnamese!"

Finished. They look relieved that I'm leaving.

I make it to the laundry mat to pick up the dried clothes. A young couple is there, the dad is pushing the little kids around in the laundry carts and his wife is sitting on the folding table. The manager walks in and looks at me and says..."You need to get all your kids under control!" He tells the dad to stop pushing the kids and the mom to get down and then shoots me a dirty look. I said..."those people are not my kids!" I don't think he believed me.

I asked the young lady how old she was and she said 20. I was all...pah-leeeze, he really thought I was your mom! Wow.

Then I did the math.

I could have a 20 year old.

Depressing.

Keeping it real - Butler Manor in the City.

Misplaced Rednecks Part II - Lost In Bigger Spaces

2011-05-10T09:13:00.007-05:00

We now own more rubber boots...

What happens when you put people in a house twice the size of what they are used to?

They get lost in the bigger spaces in the dark.

Monday night, I walked in a circles turning out all the lights for bedtime. I walked through a door and looked around. Panicked. Because I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ROOM I WAS IN. I hollered for Tim.

ME: Tim, where are you?
TIM: Duh, on the floor in the bed waiting on you. Where are you?
(cause we have mattresses on the floor he's goofy)
ME: Lost.
TIM: (snickering) follow the sound of my voice.
ME: Not funny.
Girls to each other: Ha ha ha ha Kaye Kaye's lost in the HOUSE, what a ra-tard.

I finally make my way back to the bedroom. I fall into bed. Tim asks what happened. I told him I turned out all the lights and turned around into the laundry room (which I've been keeping closed off because I haven't cleaned it and we don't need it). I didn't recognize the room and kind of freaked out a little bit.

Tim laughs a little at me and tells me this little story about a man and an ironing board. The house we are staying in was built in the early 1940's. The other night Tim was walking around changing light bulbs so it was a little dark in the laundry room (the room I got lost in). He noticed this little door built into the wall, he twist the tiny polished silver knob, the door springs into action. It springs open, something falls out and whops Tim on the head and he screams (Taylor provided that tid bit cause she was helping him). The door hid this neat little built in ironing board. Tim tells me to be careful of the little door in the laundry room. It's scary. I tell him...been there, done that in the day light, ain't opening it again.

We all got settled in after all the hysterical events of the night. I hear a loud thump from the girls room (remember them laughing at me earlier). I asked who is up and what happened. Taylor says..."Um...I ran into the wall, cause I can't find the bathroom."
Taylor chillin' on the air mattress Sandy loaned her...

and they were laughing at me....

the one light I left on was the bathroom light...

thinking about going all "Little House On the Prarie" and tieing a rope to our respective rooms to find our way back...

Keeping it real at Butler Manor...in the city

Misplaced Rednecks

2011-05-10T08:33:00.003-05:00

We are that family.

We are that family that has lived in the country for 14 years.

We are that family that apparently when turned loose in the city do not know how to act.

Last night, Tim came home to the temporary home with a grill in tow and cooked up some dinner. While he was grilling...the girls had their music (Katty Perry) turned up loud, Tim had his police scanner turned up loud, we were shouting back-n-forth at each other over all that other loudness. Tim was sitting on the tail gate grilling, smoking his cigar, talking on the phone. At one point I looked out the window and saw Taylor chasing Mary Margaret with her Flag from the Flag Line Tryouts, trying to smash her with it. It was then that I realized...we're not in Whittsburg anymore.

I told Mary Margaret to tell them all to knock it all off or we would get a loud noise ticket.

She went outside and screamed..."Kaye Kaye said to knock it off or we would get a ticket for interruption of loud noise." Which is SO NOT WHAT I SAID.

I asked why she repeated what I said WRONG. Her answer: I added one big word to make you sound smart.

Tonight I plan on taking a few pictures of our temporary home. I have a really funny story to go with it too. Hint, Tim and an Ironing board...Tim may not want me telling it...

Keeping it real and Butler Manor...in the city

Whittsburg Flood

2011-05-09T16:26:00.003-05:00

Whittsburg is now flooded. Friday morning, this is how we got out. Tim made me drive the truck on the roll back wrecker and he toted us out to dry land. Where you see the end of the roll back bed sitting on the concrete is where the water is today, four days later.

Sunday we went home one more time to get the last of what we needed from the house and locked everything up for the last time until the water goes back down, which will probably not be for several weeks.
This Taylor riding on Tims Duck Hunting boat Saturday afternoon, headed back to our truck from packing.

Moving day...sort of...
Sunday, Tim and his brothers and sister finally talked our in-laws into leaving their house. The Mayor of Whittsburg, Dianne (my sister in law) is staying. Thats true dedication to the job right there. I wanted to leave her the canoe, Tim left them the big boat. Ha ha, you know I'm kidding Dianne! Prayers are needed. Many neighbors are without a place to go and have lost their place to come home to. I miss my house, yard, flowers, cat....etc.

2011-05-02T09:39:00.002-05:00

Tim and I bought our house 12 years ago. It was over grown with bush and weeds and lots of trash. Tim bush hogged, it was dry, hot, August. As he was bush hogging some rocks caught up in the bush hog and sparked and caught the yard on fire. We had turned on the water, but had no hoses. Luckily our neighbors stretched water hoses together and the fire was put out. There was a small rose bush that was burned. It came back each year and finally bloomed last year. Let me correct myself. It came back with a vengence! Huge thorns! It looks real creepy at night with its vines curling up to the sky. I secretly think that it is telling Tim to BACK OFF!
This is just the front of the bush. It grows way back into the woods with the base of the vines being at least 3 inches around. I tried to trim it back this weekend and thought once I got tangled up in the thorns that it was not going to let me go. I have battle scars. I tried to tell it that I was not the one that set it on fire.

So I gave up and it let me go.

Nail Salon - Anjelah Johnson - Comedy Time

2011-04-05T14:03:00.001-05:00

Please watch the above video.....

Crazy: Bring it!

2011-03-28T12:13:00.002-05:00

Bring on the Crazies. I'm warmed up and pumped up!

One crazy lady made me sweat...but the jokes on her cause I'm wearing Clinical Strength Secret.

BA-RING IT CRAZY!

It's how I'm rolling!

Dieting People Are Hungry

2011-03-21T16:14:00.002-05:00

Dieting people are hungry and this is why...

The food is the size of a PAPER CLIP!!!!!

DID YOU HEAR ME? A PAPER CLIP!

Just saying.

I'm hungry.

Going to the track to walk four laps because...

If my little sister can do a mile every day, so can I.

Hugs and Kisses out to my little sis!

Happy 15th Birthday Taylor

2011-03-15T10:59:00.002-05:00

Taylor Nichole turned the big 15 yesterday. We were headed to Jonesboro to eat at Fuji's but, Tim had to work too late and it was the FINAL ROSE on the Bachelor, so...
we went to Mike's in Colt, just a few miles out of town.

Taylor had a great birthday, she says thanks to everyone who texted her, although she can't see the text because she got her NEW phone wet this weekend. She got the Kindle she's been begging for and now can read the dictionary because it was FREE. Ha!

Mary Margaret was very sweet to Taylor and gave her a card and a CD AND made her a birthday cake. Mary Margaret has been taking a cooking class in school and has become very handy in the kitchen. She made Taylor's favorite, chocolate cake with chocolate icing.

Last night we also discovered a great diet for Taylor. Now, Now, I'm not saying she needs a diet, just saying we discovered the perfect one for Taylor.

Mary Margaret cook's it and Taylor won't eat it cause she doesn't like her sister diet.

I might let MM cook dinner every night...Taylor will be ready for the Fashion Model World in no time flat. She will be very hungry and then she'll have a reason to be RUDE to her sister, cause she's hungry.

Just sayin...

MM is not a bad cook...

Tim - Pepper Love Hate Relationship

2011-03-11T08:37:00.002-06:00

Pepper is our cat of about 4 years now.

Tim and Pepper are BFF's.

This morning, Taylor and Tim was talking on the way to school. I hear Tim say...
"What about Sally Port?"
Taylor: Who is that?
Tim: You know Old Sally Port.
Taylor: OMG I have no clue who you are talking about!
Me: Tim, who in the world are you talking about?
Tim: OUR CAT...SALLY PORT.
Me: Tim. (much laughter is going on) Tim, seriously, Sally Port? Her name has been Pepper for the last 4 years!!! You are cracking me up are you serious?
Tim: Yep, how do you expect me to remember all these names?
Me: Really? We have one cat. ONE.
Tim: I don't even like the cat so I can call her what I want.

This is why I'm crazy.
Teenagers and Tim.

He claims to not remember my name too.

Men...

2011-03-07T08:42:00.002-06:00

Ladies, can you tell me what is the big deal about men wanting our hair to be long?

I have one answer from an almost 16 year old, one of Mary Margaret's friends, who has led a long life and has much experience.

Her answer "duh, Mrs. Kaye Kaye, cause they wanna look at it and touch it"

So, Tim, "the man", has been going on and on about me having long hair. It's been years since I've had long hair (not really, he too is very dramatic). The last time he was at his mom's, he stared at a picture of me on the wall with all that long beautiful hair I used to have (not to mention that I also gained about 100 pounds since then). He just wants me to grow my hair back out.

So I am.

I will look like this again in a few weeks.

Me in the 11th grade...1991

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha....

Keeping it real!

Sweet 16 Mary Margaret

2011-03-01T09:50:00.003-06:00

February 20, 2011, Mary Margaret turned 16! She sure has come a long way from YARM14YOL in the last 2 years. We still have our ups and downs, of course, because I am still old and stupid and she's still a brain dead teenager.
Mary Margaret chose to not have a Sweet 16 Birthday Blow Out party so we went to Fuji's Japanese Stake House in Jonesboro instead! I had never been to one, AH=MAY-ZING!
Mary Margaret, Me and Taylor getting ready to hit Fuji's!

On Sunday, she got her present. She was extremely surprised! The plan was to start car shopping in June, when her 6th month driving restriction was over. This was too good of a deal to not go ahead and do it. She can't drive by herself. I now have a driver!

Notice Nicole in the backseat looking a little...worried.

BYOS&PJ's Siminar

2011-02-17T16:38:00.002-06:00

BYOS&PJ's Siminar

Where: Butler Manor

When: Every Night

Time: 9:30ish

Speaker: Timothy Allen Butler, BS

Subject: Teenage Drama, Maritial Issues, and issues with body functions.

BYOS&PJ's: Bring Your Own Snack and PJ's

Timothy Allen Butler, BS is a man of much knowledge. He claims that he has so much knowledge crammed in his head that it is hard for him to wait to 9:30 everynight to share ~~lecture~~ us. We have to all go to bed, turn out the lights, tv's, radios, etc. and give him our undivided attention. We call it "Walton Style" lectures, because we talk through the walls. (this is not nearly as fun as the nights when he stands in the hall with one hand on his hip and one in the air with his voice pitched really high lecturing us) He lectured Mary Margaret on the eye rolling business. His one point was "Kaye only thinks it's cute when I roll my manly, sexy, blue eyes at her, so you see, I ruin the eye rolling for you, which is why she gets so mad at you for rolling your eyes."

His lecture on Marital issues usually contains the art of "snapping" to get things done. *Snap* Where's my food woman? *Snap* Where's my clean clothes, woman? *Snap* Clip my toe nails, woman! If this was a perfect world, Mr. Butler could *Snap* and things would happen. This is not a perfect world. He tries. He fails.

When he really gets on a roll with stopping Teenage Drama, the night usually ends up with both girls crying and a letter of apology from Taylor the next morning. Her letters of apology are LONG. She apologizes for stuff she didn't even do! He gets them to confess to stuff that never even happened. Tim is bad, bad, boy.

Bodily Functions....let's not even go there. I'm sure those of you with husbands and boys can imagine what that lecture is all about.

The other night, he was lecturing Mary Margaret all by his self. I asked him what all he said to her..."I was talking smack to her and don't remember a word of it!"

Shush...he's been making it home in time for the Bachelor. He claims he doesn't like that show.

Keeping it real at Butler Manor!

Birthday Request

2011-02-15T10:35:00.002-06:00

Sunday will be Mary Margaret's 16th Birthday. Taylor, Tim, and I have been begging her to tell us what she wants for her birthday. She's been thinking real hard.

Sunday night she finally came up with a gift idea.

She wants a SOLAR POWERED TANNING BED.

So, I'm getting her that.
Posted on Facebook:
I'm ROTFLOL at mary margaret. She wants a SOLAR POWERED Tanning Bed. LOL
Kaye Butler
Nicole's comment on facebook was awesome:
Dearest MM: You have requested the cheapest gift ever! Every time you go lay out by the pool, just think, you are getting another session at the solar tanning bed, for free. Good times!
2nd Cup of Coffee's Response:‎85% of my Facebook enjoyment comes from your posts.

Love it!

I'm going to make up a bunch of coupons for sessions at the Butler Manor Solar Tanning Bed!

And now, I would like to share a facebook post that Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee posted. It cracked me up.

Linda:Not a big fan of the Duggers, but I just saw the Mrs. sky dive with her 18 yr old daughter. It's not enough for her to out-birth the rest of us, but then she has to be the cool mom who sky dives, too??? Prob had a nursing baby strapped to her on the way down.

And lastly, new terminology being used at work:
Remorse replaces Remission.
I hear this today..."Hey, did you know that her cancer is now in remorse? That is wonderful!"

Keeping it real!

Cross County Historical Society Gala

2011-02-13T12:58:00.004-06:00

Last night, our local historical society held a fund raising gala. I had planned on taking Taylor but as her luck would have it, she wound up into some serious trouble and grounded. So I took my husband. Yes. Shocking. He went. Dress clothes and all. I wish I had thought to take his picture, as he was not hiding the look of extreme boredom very well. He was the only guy at the table of 5 ladies. He did score an awesome stake dinner and a fashion show. He was REALLY excited about the fashion show.

The girls that modeled were the JPC (Junior Progressive Club) girls. Mary Margaret was one of the models.

They modeled clothes starting in ancient Egypt all the way to 2011. They were fantastic.

Most of the girls modeled 4 outfits. Mary Margaret did the 1890's, 1920's, and the 1940's and then choice of her favorite.

My favorite part? Picking up my husband all dressed up for a date.
It's how we roll here at Butler Manor!

Feeling Old

2011-02-01T10:37:00.002-06:00

In 19 days I will have a 16 year old.

It makes me feel old, which leads to the snowball effect...

worry about their safety
their choices in life
driving
wrecks
moving away to college (or not)
moving away and leaving me all alone and lonely
leaving me old and lonely
leaving me old and lonely

boo hoo.

JPC Winter Formal

2011-01-15T20:38:00.003-06:00

My baby has grown up (well, at least 3/4 of the way) LOL.

Survivor?

2011-01-13T08:47:00.002-06:00

Would my family make through the show Survivor?

Nope.

They would not even make it through the line to audition for Survivor.

Why?

Because I'm not going to live in some Jungle that's not even on the map and they NEED ME to SURVIVE.

They look for their shoes on the ceiling.
They spin around looking for a brush that's in their hand.
(I have looked for keys that were in my hand, which doesn't count because I say so)

What I'm saying is this, THEY NEED GUIDANCE...LOTS

Conversations with Taylor:
(we are on our way to Jonesboro and MM is driving)
Taylor: OMG do you see what she's doing Kaye Kaye?
Me: I'm watching her, she's doing fine.
Taylor: NO!!!! She's not doing good! I drove the other day and I drove 55 like the speed limit says. She's driving -60. That's bad.
Me: That's not a -60. The - is just a mark on the speedometer.
Taylor: Oh. My bad.
Mary Margaret: Well, anyways, Taylor if I really was driving -60, we would be going in reverse.

Yes, you can laugh and cry with me. Laugh cause it was funny and cry because the State of Arkansas gave Mary Margaret a driver's license and the State of Arkansas will give one to Taylor next. Double trouble.

Disclaimer: This is intended for entertainment only.

New Years Eve

2010-12-31T16:07:00.003-06:00

Weather update for the snowed in friends...

It's 66 degrees here. We are supposed to a troubled weather tonight. Some of Arkansas had Tornados this morning. It's looking dark and creepy outside right now @ 4PM.

My friend Beth has snow and cold.

My brother Scott has negative 40 degrees weather and like 1000 feet of snow.

I could wear shorts if I wanted or dared.

Stop laughing, I never wear shorts.

Christmas at Butler Manor

2010-12-30T10:42:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas! One good thing about Mary Margaret having a boyfriend...he can take our picture!!! Go Nathan!

Tim and Addison look excited about Christmas, don't you think?

Tuesday night, my BFF Dianna and her girls came over to exchange gifts and have some Wii Fun. Left To Right: Shelby, Mary Margaret, Taylor W., Taylor B.

Boy did we have some Wii Fun! Just Dance 2 has taken over our house. Nathan beat everyone! Alot.

Then it was time for me and Dianna to go head to head with Proud Mary. Tina Turner and her shaking bootay, has got nothing on me. When I do the Proud Mary...everything shakes, including the house!!!!! I thought I was a gonner!

Stay tuned for more Wii fun!!!!

Conversations With Taylor

2010-12-16T12:50:00.003-06:00

Last night we rode around looking at Christmas Lights. Mary Margaret was being extremely quiet because she was afraid that I was mad at her for busting the face of her iPod. So Taylor had the floor.

We made it to Cogbill Cemetery and it was extremely dark.
Taylor: What's up with Cogbill being so dark?
Me: Well, looks like there are not any street lights around this area.
Taylor: It needs to be lit up like Crosslawn Cemetery. I'm going to get someone on that. Who owns it?
Me: The City of Wynne.
Taylor: Well, I'm going to get someone on that tomorrow! I know the Mayor AND his wife!
ME: You go girl!
Taylor: I bet the Mayor HAS to do what his wife says! Humph. Kids probably park out here in this cemetery! Humph. I'm taking care of this.

Who is this child?

LOL

2010-12-14T13:09:00.000-06:00

Something made me Laugh Out Loud at lunch. I was driving to pick up my boss after lunch when I saw...

A tiny Chevy Love pick up truck with a rottwieller in the back. The dog was as long as the truck bed and he was resting his head on the roof.

Made me laugh out loud and yes I know that I can't spell. I tried spell check and apparently I'm not close enough to get it corrected!

Early Birthday Loot

2010-12-09T19:13:00.000-06:00

From my most beautiful, talented, and very brave, immensely strong sister-in-law, friend, neighbor, and partner in crime I received early:

A Pink Lucy and Ethel Hot Chocolate Mug! I do believe that Hot Chocolate taste way better in this mug!

Shot gun shells/ bullets-reason #1 why I didn't need a gun.

Birthday Loot

2010-12-09T11:10:00.003-06:00

I know everyone is just sitting on pins and needles wondering what I got for my birthday.

From Tim: a double barrel shotgun without bullets
(probably a good idea to not get the bullets Tim)
Flowers and a card

(Tim gave the girls money to buy me presents with. I did not know this. We went Christmas shopping in Memphis on Saturday.)

From Taylor: Earrings from Charming Charlies
Spray, Lotion, Body Gel, and Lip Gloss from Bath and Body Works
Cute Card: Hunky guy on the front that said...Wonder What He Says When He Sees a Woman Like You. Inside said: Man I bet she can make some fine biscuits and gravy.

Ha Ha.

From Mary Margaret: She bought herself a purse and I had to loan her money to buy me the slippers I wanted from Aeropostale.

The End

Tim was a tiny bit mad at Mary Margaret because he said SPEND THE WHOLE AMOUNT ON KAYE not you.

Where Are You Christmas

2010-12-07T19:37:00.000-06:00

I was listening to WRVR, the radio person was reading a letter from a listener. This letter described exactly how I feel this year about the Holidays. This person said she felt her Holiday traditions changing each year, family drifting, the magical Christmas of her childhood was gone, a little less Christmas each year.

I miss sitting indian style in the floor with my brothers watching Charlie Brown Christmas. I miss stringing popcorn for the tree with them. I miss bundling up to head to Mamaw Brawner's house for a huge family dinner. I miss dressing up for Papaw Clark's. Christmas night dinner. I miss my sweet little Papaw.

This year it started when I heard MM's boyfriend tell her that his Mom bought her as stocking for their house. One little chip at this old woman. I'm glad that his mother likes her enough to make her feel part of his family, I want that for my girls. I'm not ready to give up my girls to boyfriends and their families no matter how nice they are. I don't have the Christmas spirit this year, I noticed it last year, but kind of blew it off. I can't get enough time to put up my outside lights, my house is dreary. Inside my house, I need so many repairs made, it seems ridiculous to decorate. My house feels junky, which makes me feel junky. My heart is heavy with a few worries, which sometimes makes me not so much fun to be around. I'm sure I won't be seeing Dad or my brothers and sister and you know what I just want them. Enough! I'm not a whiner.

This post is so random.

The girls have rabbit ears on their TV's now and I watched Charlie Brown Christmas alone. That was not fun.

The only time I saw the girls was during commercial break...
This conversation happened while I was typing this post out:
MM: I hope you feel better soon
ME: me too, it bites being sick
MM: I hope I don't get sick, I've been trying to not get by preventing myself from blowing my nose!
ME: (with an arched eyebrow) oh really, how's that working for you?
MM: its going well!
Taylor: (rolling her eyes). Genius!

I need to decorate my tree.

My Birthday

2010-12-07T09:43:00.002-06:00

My day was average yesterday.
I turned 37.
I noticed that my feet look old.

The old saying "raising teenagers is like trying to nail Jello to the wall" is still true, thought maybe with age it would get better.

NOT

I made people in the house mad, well, actually one person. Mary Margaret expected me to make cookies that she volunteered to make for Science Club and I made her make them.

I should have just made them myself.

My kitchen looked like a dump this morning.
Cookie dough on the counter, floor, microwave, living room floor and what little she tried to clean up, she used a drying towel, folded it and put it back in the drawer like a fresh clean towel.

I shouldn't be so hard on her because she was so tired! It was like 9 pm when she mentioned the cookies had to be made, that she needed zip lock bags to put them in, and that I needed more butter to make them with.

But she was so tired. The science extravaganza just wore her out.

AND because she had to make cookies that she volunteered for, she didn't even get to text Nathan after seeing him all day at school.

Boo Hoo

Christmas is Coming!

2010-12-03T09:52:00.002-06:00

It was Christmas Parade Time in our little town last night. These girls have gone to the Christmas Parade with each other almost every year for the last 15 years. Mary Margaret, Taylor Witcher, Maggie Kennedey, Shebly Moore, and Taylor Butler.

We added someone new this year....
My cousin Erin's little boy, Grant...
He and his Grammy going for a little walk?

And finally...we saw Nathan, MM's Boyfriend who is 16 years old and a very nice young man WITHOUT a receeding hair line...just a nice crew cut. He was rocking some drums!

We The People

2010-11-29T18:39:00.001-06:00

We The People by Taylor Butler

We the people
Of the United States
In order to perform
A perfect reunion
Extablish injustice
Ensure domestic transquality
Provide for the common defense
Promote for the general wearfare
Secure the blessing of liberty
To ourself and our prostate
Do ordain and extablish
This constitution for THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

And then...she says my guns are loaded...and the gas exploded almost causing MM to vomit and Taylor to roll in the floor laughing until she cried/peed on herself...See Joanna...girls are rotten too.
Hmmm...
I think our forefathers might be a little speechless...
Needs a few tweaks don't you think?

Then MM made us listen to her read texts from the boyfriend Nathan, then we had to listen to romantic songs she wants to dedicate to Nathan all while having to look at her plumbers crack.

Keepin it real @ Butler Manor!

Future Arkansas Department of Corrections Residents?

2010-11-24T07:39:00.000-06:00

Future Arkansas Department of Correctoins Residents...

Peepaw (my fatherinlaw): Okay, son, this is how you work the most dangerous gun in the world, the BB Gun.
Tim: Dad, I can do it!
Taylor: Um, I think we shouldn't do this.
Mary Margaret: ooo give me the gun, give me the gun!

Tim: "RUN KAYE, IT WON'T HURT MUCH!!!"
Mary Margaret: oh, I'm scared now, she's gonna get mad when Tim hits her in the bootay!
Taylor: This is just wrong! I'm not getting grounded for this one!

Okay girls, practice up, so you can make Kaye Kaye run too!!!!

Since I'm still blogging and Tim can't be found. I would say that...I didn't run.

Rolling with the Butler's!

Girls and a Movie

2010-11-23T08:26:00.004-06:00

Harlow! Hello! Girl, you always know how to get my blood pressure pumping!
(I almost thought you were the anonymous commenter the other day, then I thought, surely she's read enough to know we are not the family in the movie Virgin Suicides)

I want to explain, I know Nathan's family, they are very good people. We live in a small town, so we know just about everyone. I probably went a little too far with the "name on a double barrel" thing, which made him look like a deer caught in headlight, okay, and maybe taking his picture so I can hunt him later was a little extreme. I'm hoping he didn't tell his parents, but, I think he did. His mother met MM at school yesterday and was impressed with the tactics I took to make sure she was safe on the date. I'm thinking he told.

This morning, I caught Mary Margaret doing Taylor's hair and makeup. Taylor said, "I asked her to fix me up so I can catch me a boy like Nathan". How cute is that? Not as cute as the 4th grade boy that walked up to Taylor the 8th grader and told her she was HOT and that he's been watching her on the bus to the High School everyday. Hmmm. I wonder if Taylor was really trying to look even hotter for the 4th grader?

Now, moving right along.

I never agree with the Oscar Nominations, which is probably why the big dawgs never ask my opinion. We watched a movie this weekend that really hit home with me. Tim and I watched it first, as we do with all Rated R movies, as I watched this movie, I couldn't help but wonder "what if". The name of the movie is "Winter Bone". A 17 year old girl is taking care of her younger brother, sister and her mother. Her dad is a "cooker" and has been missing for several days and has a court day approaching, to which he has put their shack and land up for bail. They will loose it if he doesn't show. This young girl in my book is strong and unbelievable, doing what she has to do, not backing down, to save her little family. It is set in the Missouri backwoods. You can rent it a RedBox. We let the girls watch it. This movie deserves an Oscar, it's extremely honest and raw and the characters were fantastic. The actors, wow. The 17 year old was amazing. The "what if" factor, what if Tim and I had not been able raise them, what if their mother had run off with them, could this be their life?

You may think our life has been glitter and glamour(haha), it hasn't. There was a time when I didn't know if I could stand much more, and it all seemed to happen at once, every corner we turned another wall, family, finances, stress. Laughter. Love. Faith. Prayers. It keeps us going.

We still have our ups and downs. There is always a knot deep inside of worry. Things are 100 times better than they used to be.

I joke a lot.

Faith.

Prayer.

Doing my best to keep all of us together and safe.

These girls and Tim are my world, without them it would be really quiet and lonely.

It's really how I roll.

This blog would be TOTALLY boring without them!

The Date

2010-11-22T01:34:00.001-06:00

Mary Margaret went on her first real date. He came and picked her up and took her to the movies AND PAID for it.

She was impressed as was I.

I was gentle.

His hand was sweaty when he came in to meet me. I shook his hand. I asked him if he was gonna be safe with my girl. He said yes mam.

Me: So I don't have to explain that I have a double barrell with your name on it?
Him: Um..no mam
Me:I need to take a picture
I took the picture with my phone. I said, I need that picture in case I need to hunt you down later tonight.

Tim's gun case full of amo and guns was a real big help!

Taylor helped alot. She was all...."have you talked to Tim or Dianna?"
"I can't believe you are just going to let her go off with someone!"

Taylor and I left about 10 minutes after they did. We went to the same movie. We were the first ones out the door. Which made me feel really good.

He got her home by the 10 PM curfew and hung out to about 11:15. He's a nice boy.
She likes him, that's what matters.

Keeping it real!
It's how we roll!

Blog Pals

2010-11-21T10:11:00.003-06:00

Beth Paulsen and I have been blog friends for awhile now. She lives in Iowa and I live in Arkansas.

Beth is a native Arkansan. She grew up in Stuttgart, Arkansas, home to some of the best duck hunting in the state. Beth and her family were traveling this weekend home to Stuttgart for Thanksgiving and decided to drive through Wynne!!! Yay Me! Go Check out Playing with the Paulsens...she's an awesome photographer with awesome tips!

We get to meet!

Of course there was all kinds of craziness when we met! We took them out to Village Creek so her guys could fish and we can visit. There was a lot of laughing...

On their way through the metropolis of Earle and Parkin, they were educated. Some Arkansans have grocery carts in their yards. I received a text from Beth..."ok be honest r there shopping buggies in ur yard?" I was tempted to say yes...but she said be honest, and I'm glad to report that there are no shopping buggies in my yard at the moment. You never know though, I might find a good deal somewhere! LOL. We do have 2 campers, about 4 fishing boats, a duck boat/blind, tractor, 4 wheelers, canoe, a couple of 16 foot trailers, my Halloween decoration is still out, a 65 pound basset/beagle and a cat. ~~(and for the anonymous commenter...a fallout shelter that I plan to lock my children in so they can become detached from society and depressed.)~~
Beth quickly realized that we were really not backwoods hillbillies, we do brush a mouth full of teeth and take a bath everyday...
then
there
was
Mary Margaret

We were on our best behavior, but I think she blew our cover.

It's how we roll!

Comment

2010-11-16T09:49:00.003-06:00

This comment was left by Anonymous in reference to yesterday's post.

This is because America is moving FORWARD whereas you're moving BACKWARDS.

Oh and by the way, I watched The Virgin Suicides the other day and couldn't help but think of it as your daughters future unless you change your ignorant behavior that is holding them back. You should probably watch the film, it might save the girls.

* * * * * * * * *

Didn't know I was behaving ignorantly. Now I do? I do plan to Google Virgin Suicides.

Disgusted

2010-11-15T17:48:00.000-06:00

The Bible is banned from school.
A teacher can tell his class all about his sexual preference.
Prayer has been taken out of school.
A teacher can explain to his class what "saging" is.
A child chooses Abortion as her subject for a speech.
The teacher tells her to not use the bible to back up her speech because you can't prove that the Bible says to not have an abortion.
I may be wrong, but I think this teacher is pushing his belief on these kids.

I've Been Thinking

2010-11-15T09:02:00.001-06:00

I know...me thinking could be dangerous!

I've been thinking that I should blog more about Freckles the dog. I think I might do either a daily or weekly picture of him and his thoughts...

What do ya think?

Facebook Buddies?

2010-11-13T14:45:00.002-06:00

Amos Brawner: 2 Years Old? Dog-son of Scott Brawner, my brother in Alaska.

awwwwwwwwwwwwww
Now that we're over all his cuteness, chew on this. AMOS has a FACEBOOK! Yes! And, shush...I talk to him on facebook! It cracks me up and makes me feel a little crazy and I don't like that feeling at all. I've spent most of my adult life trying to not be crazy like (youknowwho).

My question is this, should our dog, Freckles have a facebook? What would he have to say?

I asked him his thoughts.
He really didn't have much to say.
He did say this..."Why do you let that child Mary Margaret put ribbons on me, make me play the roll of prince charming, and put bells around my neck and HELLO I do not like hay up my nose!!!!!!! A dog needs to know these things."
Okay, so he didn't really say all that stuff, but I'm sure he's thinking it.
Take a good look at this picture and tell me what you think he's thinking about.

Television

2010-11-13T05:08:00.000-06:00

Adam-12
Police Officer Pete: Father, we follow a book. We stand by that book.
Father: You know boys, I follow a book too.
Police Officer Pete: We know father.
Father: which one has more answers mine or yours?

Where Are You

2010-11-12T02:21:00.000-06:00

Picture this...

Beautiful Sunday afternoon. I have dropped off Mary Margaret at her JPC meeting. Taylor and I are headed to drop off red box rentals at Wal-Mart and then to do a little shoe shopping while we wait for Mary Margaret.

My friend Dianna calls, we are chit-chatting about nothing really. She says "I need you to come over to my house and look at this rose bush and tell me what I need to do with it this winter".

I headed over there.

Taylor called.

Still at Wal-Mart.

She says: where are you?

I'm only 37.

Should I be forgetting my children?

It's how I roll!

What About A List?

2010-11-11T08:46:00.000-06:00

List. Did you make them as a kid? Do you make them now?

I remember my brothers and I dragging out the Sears and J C Penny catalogs, laying on the floor, and making the Santa list of almost every toy in both catalogs! Of course, Andy and Scottie were usually wearing their Underroos and I was always wearing my pretty silky red night gown! That list as a kid was the most exciting list to make. I would put mine under my pillow every night just in case I need to make a change, carried it to school, and we had them out during TV time cause new toys were on TV all the time!

Back then I could keep up with things. I could remember where I hid stuff to keep my brothers from touching it. Yes, I didn't like for them to touch my stuff, I know its hard to believe. It was okay as long as I was making them wear my dresses it was ok, but let them want to borrow Barbie to blow her up, buddy it was on!

Until last year, I would make grocery list after grocery list and leave it at home, in the car, or just plain forget what the heck I did with it. Now, the girls have those iPods, they make the list, the list makres it in the store, they put in their ear buds, and dance around the store, making me forget I made the list to start with!

Which brings me to the real reason for this blog. Tim asked me what I want for my birthday this year. I said I'll make you a list.
I need a new light in the kitchen
I need a new ceiling fan in the bedroom
I need new carpet in the hall and den
I need new floor in laundry room
I need new floor in bathroom
Need new floor in mm's room
Need new floor in our room
Need a new roof
And the kitchen sink has a leak.
What I want is a zoom lens for my camera

He said, "oh"

Bet that's not what kind of list he wanted.

Keep on rolling with the flow, that's how I do it!

Peace! Remember our Heroes today!

Small Town Life

2010-11-09T18:22:00.001-06:00

I live in a very small town. I love my small town. I've lived here all my life and I come from a large old family. I get asked all the time, "now who do you belong to?". Years ago the answer to that question was easy because everyone knew my grandparents. Now, a lot of the older generation have passed and my parents generation asks the question, "who did you belong to?". I hesitate to answer, the most people remember about my dad is that he's a good ol' boy and moved to the hills a long time ago.

Then comes the mother question. I usually tell them she was not from Wynne and we move onto a different subject. Occasionally I get that one someone who remembers. Don't you just love the look on peoples faces when they remember someone and then they remember that someone is attached to juicy gossip, even if it is gossip that is at least 20 years old? That look is priceless and it gives me the advantage of knowing what's coming next. Just makes me want to say "Nanner Nanner Boo Boo, I already know what you are going to say!!!" The response I get when I say her name is "oh, your mom was the one! The one who dated the preacher and..." And I usually respond, yes that's my mother. Some say it before they realize what's come out of their mouth and some say it to see the shock value and then there are the busy bodies.

I'm the only one of my Dads family left in this town, his brothers and sisters have long since moved off and so have their children,there are cousins here and great aunts and great uncles. So why haven't I? I'm at home here. Comfortable.

I know every street, I know its history, I can remember riding down those streets with my brothers on bikes, walking with my friends and dreaming, learning to drive on these streets, walking with my mother for exercise, remember watching return from her walk with (shush) the preacher, I learned to drive on these streets, first kiss, and of course I fell in love with Bon Jovi and a few others, I remember my brothers riding off with dad and I was to stubborn to tell them bye and how much I loved them.

I met (ok stalked) Tim and wore him down until he was SCARED and married me!

How about the new memories? I watched my girls learn to walk, ride bikes, and now teaching them to drive on the same streets, listening to their dreams and loving them in this very small town I live in.

The friends have changed since way back when, the memories have stayed the same, life in a small town!
So what if I get the occasional "oh your..." That just means that the person they were talking about before is getting a break!
Its how I roll in this small town.

Text Anyone?

2010-11-09T06:12:00.000-06:00

Would you like to know what two grown women do with their time on a lovely Tuesday night?

They text.

They text a lot of goofy stuff.

Dianne: just got a call from Woodruff Electric saying that my power has been restored
Kaye: where u out of power? And just what kind of power did you get? Super powers?
Dianne: LOL. I like that. Super powers. Dang they just called again.
Kaye: oh my GOSH! You are getting the top of the line super powers! Hulk for Clayton Cat Woman for you Mad scientist for Philip and Invisible Man for andrew.
Dianne: no. Wonder woman.
Kaye: ok. Wonder woman but I get to be Bionic Woman cause I can make the running noise REAL good!
Dianne: yeah but I get boobs and a really cool head band to go with my luxuriouse black hair.
Kaye: I'm anorexic and have long blonde hair and can run like the wind after seeing the future all day. AND I get to kiss the million dollar man A LOT
Dianne: I got a lasso and a airplane that turns invisible plus stars and stripes mini costume
Kaye: um...I have awesome bell bottoms and stacked shoes and trouible sleeping.
Dianne: I got fake eye lashes
Kaye: I probably do too! Oh oh I know I have a mole on my lip that makes me look sexy!
Dianne; but you can see mine and they look like spiders! You watched too much bionic woman.
Kaye: I'm not ashamed to admit it...

Too be continued...

We texted each other for almost 2 hours! Can't wait to share the rest with ya'll!

Slogans

2010-11-02T16:16:00.003-05:00

Taylor is studying Slogans in her Career Orientation class. Brings back a lot of memories. I must say that Taylor has caught that blond disease that Mary Margaret had last year.

Taylor ask me to help her.
Taylor: Ok this is the slogan
Slogan: The Big Brown Truck Delivers, what is it
ME: UPS
Taylor: ok, spell it.

Seriously, I do not make this stuff up.

Taylor: Here's another one "um um good" I say K-Mart.
Me: Really? How about Campbell's Soup?
Taylor: naw, I'm not hungry right now, let's get this done and I'll take some.

Seriously, I'm not making this up!

Taylor: "Roll That Beautiful Bean Footage" I say Bush Beer
Me: Um, no, Bush beans!!!
Taylor: oooookay.

Me to all of Ya'll: what was your favorite slogan?
My brothers used to go around yelling at me WHERE'S THE BEEF KAAAAAAAAYYYYYYEEEEE?

It's how we roll.

P.S. Mary Margaret still has the blond disease, just not as often.

Sunday Morning Drive

2010-11-01T15:11:00.003-05:00

Sunday morning we went for a little drive. A drive that led us to Village Creek State Park to see the hot air balloons take off for destinations unknown. They were Beautiful! See-

We were to get up bright and early Sunday morning to run to Village Creek to see the balloons, Tim was going with us! Yay, a family outing! He had just told me that I do too much stuff in the morning and late at night, times when he likes to sleep. I had just told him that I think that everyone else thinks that I am crazy and making him up, because I go everywhere A.L.O.N.E. 4:45 am, he gets a wrecker call, which means, he will probably miss the balloons. I'm good with that, it's usually how it happens. The girls and I leave the house about 6:45 am to be at the park by 7:00. Mary Margaret makes a random phone call to Tim and asks him to still come to the park and HE SAYS YES!

This is why I love him. You never know what to expect out of that man. 7:15 am he drives up to where we are with...
DAYLIGHT DONUTS GLAZED AND CHOCOLATE
AND
BACON EGG AND CHEESE BISCUITS.
(this is the real reason why I love him, donuts.)
Now to the Sunday Ride. The balloons were gone by 7:40. Tim says, lets ride around the park! Mary Margaret jumps in the driver seat, because she gets to drive! Tim is a hoot when she drives, okay he's a hoot when he's driving, I'm driving, or when anyone is driving.
Mary Margaret and Tim in the front seat.

Conversation of Tim and Mary Margaret:
Tim: WATCH IT!
MM: What?
Tim: Didn't you see that leaf in the road?
MM: OMGOSH I'VE GOT THIS!!!!!
Tim: WATCH IT!!!!!!
MM: What, I didn't see a leaf this time, gosh.
Tim: I know, you weren't watching the road you were texting!
MM: NO I WASN'T, KK DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, I WASN'T TEXTING!!!
Tim: OMGosh, I'm gonna die she's going 15 miles per hour.
MM: OMGOSH HE'S SUCH A DRAMA QUEEN.
Tim: I get it from you, MISS MARY MARGARET I HAVE A NEW BOYFRIEND EVERYDAY BUTLER.
MM: KAYE TELL HIM TO STOP IT.

MM to Tim: Your smoking cigars make me sick. You need to stop smoking.
Tim: Your driving makes me sick, we are even.
MM: No, really, it's making me sick to my stomach, I could vomit on you any minute.
Tim: I'll vomit right back at you.
MM: I'm just saying!
(she's taking a swig of Pepsi as she says this!)
Tim: OMGOSH YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKING AND DRIVING YOU ARE GOING TO KILL ME!!!!
MM: KK DON'T BELIEVE HIM I'M DRINKING PEPSI!!!!!!!!!!!

ME: do you both realize that I'm in the back seat and you really don't have to yell at me?

MM: UM, OKAY, WHO WAS YELLING?

Gees. For those of who think Tim this big, tough, quiet man. Think again. You can borrow him whenever you want. I do not charge. I will not pay you.

It's how I roll!

Friday's Shower Question

2010-10-29T09:21:00.002-05:00

Ha! I tricked them today! I took my shower at 5 AM, cause I got a list a mile long to complete before tonight! I'm taking picutres at a Halloween/Birthday party tonight. Gonna be a long busy day!

Today's Shower Question

2010-10-28T09:43:00.001-05:00

MM: Hey, can I get $50 from your billfold to buy my yearbook?
ME: If you find $50 in my billfold you can have it!

(I secretly know that there are just reciepts and quarters in that thing!)

Am I Riding Solo

2010-10-27T09:14:00.003-05:00

Living at Butler Manor, I sometimes wonder if I'm riding Solo (parents of teens might catch on to the "riding solo" which is ONE of the most annoying songs ever, there are many.) The rest of the people living at Butler Manor are riding together in a completely different time zone!

I have questions, can someone PLEASE answer them for me.

1. When asking a teenager to do a chore (and/or turn over their cell phone), why do they answer you back with a 5-10 minute speech as to why they feel like they should not have to do the chore (and/or turn over their cell phone).

2. When having a conversation with a teenager, why do they appear to be listening?
This is just an example and surely does not happen at my house: at the end of my conversation with most teenagers, they blink wildly and say...OMG where you talking to me? Um....looking around the room there appears to be just me and you here, so yes I was talking to you...which again gets the wild blinking and the question, OMG where you talking to me again cause so-so just txted me and was all like omg did you seee him this morning and I was like oh he's just a poser and blah blah blah blah .....this would be where I drift off into never never land).

3. Where do they come up with some of the questions they ask. "Hey Kaye Kaye, it says in the Arkansas State Highway Driving Manual that you have to watch out for pediatricians crossing the road, why?"
(Do you seriously think that word is pediatricians? Why in the world would random pediatricians cross the road? Answer from teen: Um because they don't have a car? ME: do you know what a pediatrician is? A Baby Doctor. Why would you have to watch out for random BABY DOCTORS crossing the road? Teen: I DON"T KNOW, THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU!)

My final question FOR NOW.

4. Why do kids in general wait to get stuff for school signed, ask you if what they have on looks good, how does their hair look, can I have $$ for this or that, and my all time favorite...hey kaye, what are you doing in there? WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FREAKING SHOWER.
4.

Funeral Directors Job Is Never Done

2010-10-05T14:52:00.003-05:00

One little fly and one little wasp fly innocently into the funeral home on Union Avenue. They did not know or suspect that their life was soon to be over, much less that it would end in a funeral home.

All day long they were the best of friends, flying high and low, buzzing happily around and around.

Suddenly there was a horrible racket. They headed for the beautiful trees for shelter from the horrible noise. *SMACK* They couldn't get to the trees! Time was running out! The wasp was flying higher and could not save her new little friend. There was a terrible smelling mist, lots of mist. Her friend the fly couldn't make it.

The wasp flies in a different direction, she see a beautiful young woman gasping for air. The enemies, two brothers were battling for the position of Spray King, and they were spraying that evil mist everywhere. The wasp figures soon the beautiful human will also bite the dust just like her friend the fly. The world started to turn black, her wings wouldn't work properly, wasp knew this was the end.

This is the end of the story, wasp sadly died that dreadful afternoon and no one knows what happend next.

ROTFLOL

2010-10-04T12:20:00.002-05:00

My husband, Tim won a door prize at a Bar-B-Que that he didn't attend.

He won a SPRAY TAN SESSION!

Those of you who know Tim, know why I'm rolling on the floor laughing out loud!

It's how we roll!

Your Joking Right?

2010-09-30T14:55:00.002-05:00

This week has been homecoming for our school. Of course, you have "spirit" all week long! There have been Nerds, Farmers, Twinkies, Wacky Tacky People, People in PJ's, Career Day, Sports Day, you name it, they've done it.

Today at the High School was Twinkie Day, you and someone dress just alike and you are, OMGee, twinkies! (I say this in a high pitched voice and throw my hands up in the air saying a-o...LOL). I feel like I'm the only one laughing at my little song/joke, so back to the story. This morning there were matching kids everywhere. I noticed something. A man sitting on a motorcycle, looking in the mirror, combing his mustache. I thought, that's odd, teachers have their own parking lot, wonder what he's doing in the student lot. So I asked Mary Margaret...

ME:Who is that teacher?
MM: Where?
ME: There, on the motor cycle.
MM: That's no teacher.
ME: (arched eyebrow) Well, who is it?
MM: That's a dude that is giving the 9th grade a 3rd try.
ME: Do what?
MM: This year is his 3rd time in the 9th grade.
ME: And just how do you know this?
MM: I asked a teacher what subject he taught and she said...That's no teacher, he's in the 9th grade. Then a kid told me for the 3rd time.

I'll let you chew on that for awhile!

Football Anyone?

2010-09-25T17:46:00.004-05:00

We supported the 5th Grade Stingers today! Today was their homecoming. They were all so cute!!!
What caught my attention?
The prayer at the end of the football game.

Razorback Fans: PLEASE DO NOT COME HUNT ME DOWN
This may cause some of you to faint, so please sit down, I don't want anyone to have to call 911...

While we were visiting during the half time, someone (can't remember who) said...
"We're going to go watch the Razorbacks after this..."

Taylor: "What's a Razorback?"

I know.
I'm a horrible parent.
A monster.
How could I let this child go through life and not know who the Razorbacks are.
...then again, this is Taylor we are talking about.

Raise your hand if you want to be me!

Now put it down, you look silly.

Busy Times!

2010-09-23T09:47:00.003-05:00

Boy have we been busy!
WBCSM has kicked off to a great start. Last night the picture for the High School Year Book was taken. I had my wide lense on the camera and still couldn't get all the kids in the picture! This is just one half of the picture!

5th Quarter is after all home football games at the Church. The youth get to hang out with finds, play pool, fuseball(?), ping pong, etc. Taylor and Zack playing pool at 5th quarter!
Um, someone stole my camera. This is what the adults do at 5th quarter. We work and have a great time!

The Dynamic Duo! LIz Haralson and Mary Margaret! They are an awesome Doubles Team! They won last night 6 out of their 6 games! Go Yellow Jacket Tennis!!!!

Not Me Monday

2010-08-30T10:11:00.005-05:00

I posted at comment on Emma's Blog and thought...jee that would make a great post AND Emma Featured Mary Margaret!

So...This is what I did NOT do this weekend...

I did NOT weedeat my whole yard, trim back crepe myrtles, and pull weeds from my flower beds. (One of MM's friends couldn't believe that I even knew how to weed eat...tell me BOY just who do you think does all the work around this place is what I said, I may be scared of green frogs but I ain't scared of work!) I did NOT scrub the trampolene. I did NOT let the girls have a pool party Saturday night.

The best thing I did NOT DO...

I did NOT try to Help Mary Margaret with tennis after NOT weedeating all day Saturday. I am NOT 36, old, falling apart and fat. I did NOT slam myself into the fence around the tennis court, not once, twice but three times and maybe more I lost count. Mary Margaret did NOT say..."um your are not supposed to do that, it's against the rules." I did not have on a crapy pair of shorts that would not stay buttoned and I did NOT have to constantly pull them up. It did NOT rain while we were there and we kept practicing anyway. Mary Margaret did NOT hit me with the tennis ball A LOT. She did NOT hit it straight between my legs more than once. I did NOT hit the tennis ball outside the court and have to go get them. Mary Margaret did NOT say to me..."when we do that in practice, you have to run a lap."

She's breathing only because I do NOT want to be in jail, a new season of Grey's Anatomy is going to come on soon and I wouldn't feel right watching it from JAIL.
And besides, I want to go to Federal Prison not State.

See...I said it wasn't boring!

It's how I roll or maybe crawl.........

Bored? Come On Over

2010-08-24T12:07:00.004-05:00

Are you bored?

Need a little excitement in your life?

Welllllll(in my best annoucer voice) Commmmmmmmmmmmmme on Down! Butler Manor is the place to be.

We have old dogs that have learned new tricks! Freckles, the 65lb Basset hound has learned to roll over at 13 years old.

We have cats that can not let the old dog with new tricks still the show! Pepper runs past Freckles, comes to a screeching halt and rolls over not once, not twice, but three times and sits up and smiles....look at me!!!!

and finally...

We have.....green frogs....in......our.....bathtub....

Yes folks me....Kaye Butler....Manager at Butler Manor has found the frog. I didn't even know the frog was lost!

I, innocently, climb into the shower Monday morning, thinking about the rest of the day, and what glorious blessing it would bestow on me and mine. When out of NO WHERE this evil green frog with red devil eyes leaped maliciously out at me from a high corner of the bathtub and landed on my chest, causing me to feel like I was going into cardiac arrest, shock, seizure, etc. I stealthily swiped the frog from my chest causing him to land on the opposite wall of the tub, directly across from me. I could tell from the look in his beady, red devil, eyes that the fight was ON. (one of my brothers used to say..."It's on like donkey kong") That's the look I and feeling I got from the frog.

I had no choice but to call for reinforcement.

My reinforcement team has been trained for this sort of mission, so I thought. The plan is this...When I scream..."Help, come get the frog, N....O.....W...." They are supposed to drop what they are doing and come to my assistance. My part in this mission is to stand as far away as possible from said enemy...the green frog. My reinforcements are to catch said frog and remove it from the property swiftly and without malicious intent.

THE PLAN DID NOT HAPPEN. EPIC FAILURE.

This is how it all went down....

We are now at the point that the frog has been flicked to the opposite wall of the tub. He's looking at me and I'm screaming for reinforcement. The shower is running HOT, I've got shampoo in my hair and I'm still screaming for reinforcement. I can hear them coming. I tell Mary Margaret to help me and the frog jumps towards me! I scream again...(Mary Margaret says that I'm saying...OH my gosh he's gonna get me, come on help me) I deny that. I was just making sure she could hear me and knew what I needed done. Plain and simple. She begins to laugh, Taylor come to the bathroom and wants to know what's going on...like she couldn't hear. Puuuulease.

My only defense...to wrap myself up in the shower curtain to save my life. I am standing in the shower, with the shower curtain wrapped around me, begging someone to get the stupid frog so that I can take my shower in peace and not go into cardiac arrest. (I use cardiac arrest because the children have no idea what that is and it sounds horrible). No one comes to my rescue...I peak out and I see...

Mary Margaret holding her sides, rolling in the hall floor, laughing and crying and gasping for air. Taylor has her legs crossed, bent half way over, laughing and crying and gasping for air. Why was her legs crossed? To keep from peeing she was laughing so hard.

Finally Mary Margaret gets the frog and I take my shower.

As I walk through the house getting ready to leave, I pass by each girl, who have been banished to their rooms for failing me in my time of need, and THEY SNICKER. I pass by Tim, who missed the whole ordeal, and HE SNICKERS. Apparently he has been filled in.

I need some allies in this place...

It's how I roll....drama to the end!

Butler Photos 2010...Continued

2010-08-23T13:29:00.010-05:00

First...can anyone tell me why there is a photo bucket removal square in the middle of my blog? I don't even use photo bucket...annoying little thing...

What could go wrong with 21 family members and a photo session?

Piece....of....cake...right?
Last year we had this photo (which was my favorite)

We have serious people...look at Tim next to his sister...he's so serious, he kept mumbling...don't you know she's steadily snapping pictures? In all 20shots he never moved, his sister on the other hand was having a good time!

Angela's family was having a good time...

Dianne was having a good time...

A little action time...
see the baby's hand?

AND....ACTION!!!

Time to get serious...

2010 Butler Family Diaries

2010-08-15T10:43:00.003-05:00

Ground: Taylor, Alyssa, Mary Margaret
Middle: Dianne, Philip, J. W.(dad), Mary Alice(mom) Amanda, Addison, Garrie, Tim, Angela, Kaye
Back: Clayton, Andrew, John, Renee', Ben, Josh, Johnathan and Jason

Driving Miss Daisy????

2010-08-05T22:34:00.000-05:00

Driving Miss Daisy? Maybe.
We have a driver that drives UNDER the speed limit.
We have a driver that stops when there are no stop signs.
A driver that will NOT turn right on red.
A driver that freezes with the air on even in 110 degree weather.
(I secretly hope she grows huge ice sickles in 110 degree weather)
A driver that has to wear her hair pulled to the side or she can't drive.
A driver that pays herself n the back when she makes it to her destination ALIVE.
(I'm proud of that accomplishment too!)
And finally...
We have a van that is possessed.

Why?

Every few minutes an invisible wind whips through the van and messes up the drivers eyebrows causing her to smooth them down every few minutes. I know right? Wierd! Seriously, she smooth down her eyebrows while driving. You know how those things just go ape crazy on you while driving!
And...
We have a "know it all" back seat driver.
Said backseat driver WILL NOT try to drive but wants to be the boss.
And she can be REALLY pushy.
Deiver: Mary Margaret
Backseat Driver: Taylor

Butler Diaries take St. Louis!

2010-08-05T13:19:00.003-05:00

Okay. First, yesterday's post was supposed to have pictures and words.
Technical difficulties?
OR operator difficulties?
Our week in pictures. Tomorrow, words.

Butler Manor Takes St. Louis

2010-07-30T09:34:00.003-05:00

Vacation

2010-07-25T21:37:00.001-05:00

Butler Manor is St. Louis, Missouri bound.

See you all next week.

Where Do I get This Stuff?

2010-07-21T14:12:00.003-05:00

I swear I do not make up the stuff that these kids do and say. Really I don't.

Mary Margaret decided to become Lactose Intolerant after watching several commercials this summer about lactose free products. She announced this last week and informed me that I needed to go grocery shopping for her some food. I said fine, lets go over your list.

She had on her list: oreos, milk, ice cream, yogurt, Twinkies, cereal, chips, dip (bean & cheese), strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, kiwi, bananas.

I told her I would mark off what she couldn't have, she was ok with me marking on her list.

Her new list:
strawberries
cantaloupe
watermelon
kiwi
bananas

MM:Why can't I have all the junk food.
ME: They all have some amount of milk in them.
MM: Why can't I have milk?
ME: You have decided to be lactose intolerant.
MM: so
ME: Lactose intolerant means that you can't have things with milk, etc. because you are allergic to or can't handle milk products. (explaining on her level)
MM:Oh..well..I've decided that Im not lactose intolerant anymore.

Dianne was right...this didn't last long

We found a flyer on our van windshield the other night. Mary Margaret rips it off (she has to be first) and reads it..."East Baptist invites you to..."
MM: Well that must be some catholic stuff.
ME: Read that again.
she reads it
ME: Does it say catholic?
MM: Nope, but there could be a baptist/catholic church.
ME: No there can't be.
She sits down in the van and looks out the window with her arms crossed. This means she's going to let me think that I'm right, but she really thinks I KNOW NOTHING.

It's my life, come roll with me!

Decisions

2010-07-20T14:16:00.002-05:00

Mary Margaret decided to become Lactose Intolerant.

Enough said.

I know...you are all fighting over who gets to be me first! No pushing!

For The Love Of Photos

2010-07-17T11:29:00.002-05:00

Yes I live in Arkansas.
I love taking photos.
I've even gotten a few paying jobs recently.
I had a photo shoot planned last night, but they canceled. I went anyway.
Because I love photos.
The storm started to roll in and looked a little something like this.

Yes I live in Arkansas.
I am a red neck.
I drive a Chevy Venture.
I do not drive a 4 X 4.
I like to pretend that I do.

My mud hole

I called my preferred wrecker service. I hated to have to call. Tim gets so mad at me when I do stupid stuff. I used to do a lot of stupid stuff. I am older now and really don't know any better, just know how to control myself better. So I make the call.
ME: Um....what cha doin...
TIM: Working what u doin?
ME: Wondering if you would pull someone out that's stuck in a Chevy Venture just outside of Cherry Valley.
TIM: Yeah, who is it?
ME: Um...well....me.
TIM:#$%^&*(, Kaye what did you do?
ME: (thinking to myself...duh, got stuck) I got stuck just a little bit. (If I said the duh part...I stand a good chance of not getting pulled out for hours LOL)
TIM:...Hey Bobby...I got a free wrecker call for you to go work in Cherry Valley...
(the voices are muffled, probably a good thing, cause I think they were laughing at me or making fun of Tim because he has a wife that thinks her van can go anywhere) Hey Kaye, Bobby is on his way.
ME: OH thank you.
TIM: Where are you?
ME:...um....in a field outside of Cherry Valley
TIM$%^&*(), what are YOU doing in a FIELD?
ME: taking pictures. Im on Milam Barn Road
TIM: $%^&*@#$%, Bobby know where you are.

I can imagine Tim rubbing his head with his hands, shaking his head in disbelief, probably wondering how he got stuck with me.

Bobby gets there and has me out in a jiffy. He gets up and is trying hard not to laugh. I ask him was Tim mad. He said nope, he just said he wasn't going to go on this wrecker call. I'M SHOCKED. LOL I know Tim...
The little Toyota that pulled me out! Thanks Bobby!

ReAlLy Now...

2010-07-14T17:02:00.002-05:00

I was looking at the blogs that I follow.

I'm following myself.

PHahahahahahahaha

That's funny.

Its how I roll.

Winner!!!!

2010-07-12T09:18:00.002-05:00

And the winner is....

Emma! Although Emma did not get every answer right, she got some right and she was the only one that answered in the 2 1/2 days. Dianne did get every answer correct, but was after the deadline of 3 PM!

Emma...shoot me your mailing address either on facebook or email!

Whoop Whoop

Answers:
1. How do you type out the sound of a drum roll?
**however you wanted to spell it**
2. Who Sports pink toe nails?
**Tim Butler**
3. What date did I post "Lies, Forgery, & Confessions" (hint there is a link to it on the left...)
**10/29/2008**
4. Yes or No: In my post "Will Yoga Help My Big Rear End?" Did you laugh at me?
**answer at your own risk**
5. Fill in the Blank: It's ________ ___ ________.
**how I roll**
6. Fill in the Blank: You ______ ______ to be _____.
**all want to be me**
7. In the post "Lies, Forgery, & Confessions" I refer to one of the girls as YARM13YOL. What does YARM13YOL stand for?
**You are ruining my 13 year old life**
8. What date was my FIRST post?
**4/11/2006**
9. On the left side of this blog, there is a counter under the I Heart Faces button. What number visitor are you?
**whatever number**
10. How many father-in-laws does Tim have? (watch it, this could be a trick question!)
**He really only has one that I know of, but likes to pretend there is more. And yes, he did recently slip up at the funeral home and say..which one...**

Way to go Emma for paying attention!!!!

Bloggy love to all of my blog readers!

Drum Roll Please....

2010-07-09T09:34:00.002-05:00

600th Post GIVEAWAY

Answer the following questions...

1. How do you type out the sound of a drum roll?

2. Who Sports pink toe nails?

3. What date did I post "Lies, Forgery, & Confessions" (hint there is a link to it on the left...)

4. Yes or No: In my post "Will Yoga Help My Big Rear End?" Did you laugh at me?

5. Fill in the Blank: It's ________ ___ ________.

6. Fill in the Blank: You ______ ______ to be _____.

7. In the post "Lies, Forgery, & Confessions" I refer to one of the girls as YARM13YOL. What does YARM13YOL stand for?

8. What date was my FIRST post?

9. On the left side of this blog, there is a counter under the I Heart Faces button. What number visitor are you?

10. How many father-in-laws does Tim have? (watch it, this could be a trick question!)

Answer all these questions right and you may be the one who wins this amazing giveaway...chocolate...something special just for you...Mary Margaret's book of advice...(just kidding)...something else special just for you...beauty tips from Tim...(not kidding)...a nice card explaining all your gifts...

Oh...the suspense!

If there is more than one right answer...we will put the names in a hat and let Taylor draw out a name!

Since I have SO MANY readers, I want everyone to have time to comment, this contest closes on Sunday at 3pm Arkansas time.

Thanks for reading about my crazy life all these years!

4th of July Butler Style

2010-07-08T13:38:00.004-05:00

4th of July has been celebrated at Butler Manor in grand style for the last few years. Swimming, fantastic food, amazing fireworks, and great company. This shin-dig gets bigger every year!

Friends and Family is what it's all about.

Here's the 4th of July events...
Invite your sisterinlaw down for a weekend of fun in the sun
(a.k.a. work her like a dog and say thanks)

-work like a dog to get house clean, pool clean, yard clean and grill clean.
-break a board on the deck
-fix board
-umbrellas fall over
-fix umbrellas
-snake skins fall out of umbrellas and Im calm
-FROG leaps out of umbrella and I scream and run like a little girl
"GET.IT.OFF."
-Rest and get blood pressure down...high because of a stinking frog
-Taylor comes in kitchen...huge bangs go off...like a long string of firecrackers
(she dropped a box of snap pops...so not funny)
-grill 4 pork shoulders, 36 smoke sausages, 48 hot dogs, make cheese dip,
-run to town for a few things....in about .....one hundred trips
-all is done and the party is rockn
-cat beats up the visiting dog
-visiting dog runs around wild cause it got beat up
(killer cat - Pepper)

-brother in law holds baby over the railing....sil-dianne calls him Michael Jackson...rotflmbo

-watermellons

-swimming and eating are over and time for the fire works

-oh...lets not forget....SMOKE BOMBS

****************************
-brotherinlaw sets up fireworks
-starts shooting
-mosquitoes come out of hiding
-people realize that they should have brought a CAN of OFF not the OFF CLIP.
-OFF CLIP DOES NOT WORK on Arkansas bred mosquitoes

-natural mosquito control (BATS) are not doing their job this year
-fire works fall over and shoot everywhere
-Tim runs to woods to put out fire
-kids run screaming they've been hit maybe
-brother in law moves fire works further from the house
-fireworks fall over again
-people run for cover
-people start to choke on mosquitoes
-everyone runs for their vehicles saying...."Thanks, we had a great time got to go"
-even the baby had a good time!

4th Butler Style...
Its how we roll!

600th Blog Post

2010-07-06T09:55:00.002-05:00

This is the official 600th blog post.

I've lost readers cause I've been lazy about posting.

I'm hosting freebies on Friday in honor of my 600th post.

I'll be needing commenters...

Tomorrow's post...all about the 4th of July

I'm VERY Observant

2010-06-29T10:17:00.002-05:00

Let me tell you how observant I am.

Tim and I took our pictures on June 19 when we celebrated 20 years. We took these pictures on the steps going up to our deck. The same deck that the old broken down refrigerator sat for at least a month or two. I grumbled about the refrigerator setting there. Alot. Threatened to get rid of it myself, which would have cause terrible damage to ME, deck, steps, sidewalk, and possibly the vehicle I planned to load it up in.

Saturday night, while showing Tim the wedding pictures I did, I also showed him the ones of us that I was editing.

He says, "Have you noticed anything different about the deck?".....

Im thinking.

Nope.

He says, "Look really closely at our pictures."

Im looking....and looking...and looking...

Nope nothing.

He screams, "Girls...I told you she wouldn't notice!!!!!!!!!! Um, the fridge is gone h.o.n.e.y."

My bad. Now I'm wondering, just where do the girls loyalty lie.

Today I called Tim and told him that I noticed his trailer with all his scaffolding and stucco equipment was gone. I noticed this, like, Friday last week. So...not only am I observant...I'm quick to tell people things are missing.

It's how I roll.

Oops...P.S.

Hair molding wax is not a good facecream. Bet you can guess what I did.

P.S.S.
Brushed my teeth last week with my mascara.

Yep.

New Boyfriend & A Wedding

2010-06-27T11:24:00.005-05:00

Taylor has a new boyfriend!! We can't talk about it. Taylor has given me strick orders to not say anything about her first REAL kiss with her new boyfriend, Jordan White, who is the son of a high school friend of mine. She also told me I could not tease her about her first kiss that happened in the pool the other night. I absolutly can not tell you all that he swam over to her and said "Do you think you would like to date me?" AND she will just DIE if I told that she said "Well, yes I would like to date you". So, I am not going to tell you all that. My lips are zipped.

Crystal Loveless and Jason Andrews were married this weekend and I, ME, Kaye Butler, took their photos!!!! It was a beautiful wedding!

I Know HE Didn't

2010-06-22T16:05:00.003-05:00

Tim and I have been working at the funeral home together. We have been extremely busy. Have I mentioned how easy going, laid back, and comical Tim is? Well, he is. He finds humor in almost anything.

He says things like..."I take orders only from the President of Kernodle Funeral Home! The President trumps the Vice President, Secretary, and whatever else. Where did you get your orders?" or "Kaye, you need to come hold $%^&'s hand again." AND sometimes you might find him kind of skipping down the hall yelling my name in a sing song kind of way. Again...he cracks me up.

He REALLY cracked me up yesterday.

We are sitting in my office, waiting on a funeral to start...
Tim: Why does the name #$@!&% sound familiar to me?
Me: I used to work for him, I gave him my two week notice and he said no, you can't quit, I fire you and give you two weeks pay.
Tim: Oh, yeah I remember that kind of.
Me: Your father-in-law knows him too.
Tim: Which one?
Me: What?
Tim: which father-in-law?
Me: Um...how many father-in-laws do you have?
Tim: dunno.

He gets up and walks out of the room.
Was he kidding?
Do I need to ask for spousal support?
I want a BIG house with a HUGE UNDERGROUND SWIMMING POOL, hot pool boy, maids, etc. and he can have all the father-in-laws he wants. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

I KNOW HE DIDN'T.

Boss #2 Conversation
Boss #2: Hey, my wife found a spider in my bed where I sleep. I almost got bit by it.
Me: What kind?
Boss #2: a Ludicrous Spider.
Me:(imagine me with my eyebrows raised in question) What did you say?
Boss #2: a ludicrous spider. It could have killed me. We buried a guy that got bit by one and he died, dead.
Me: Do what? What did it look like?
Boss #2: a.....ludicrous.....spider! Brown with a Viola on it's back.
Me: a Brown Recluse?
Boss #2: That's what I said.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOkay.

Ludicrous. It's how I roll.

Funeral Home Humor?

2010-06-21T15:09:00.004-05:00

What do you say when...

You are standing in the drive way behind a hearse with a cot,
Someone whips in the driveway and jumps out of their car and says...

"Oh My Goodness, Is !@#$%^&* going to be okay?"

This little conversation amused my husband, who helps with death removals. He's so comical with he reinactments.

What do you say?
Maybe...we drive up to random houses just to practice...
Maybe....Um, yeah, she's okay, we are just practicing for when its REALLY HER time.

ALSO...WE BUY IN BULK AT THE FUNERAL HOME

20 Years and Counting

2010-06-19T23:12:00.000-05:00

June 20, 2010 marks 20 years for Tim and I.
Love you Tim...

Busy Busy Busy at BFD

2010-06-15T10:14:00.005-05:00

It's been a busy summer so far. Mary Margaret started a baby sitting job last week which has kept her pooped and sick to her stomach, she has to change poopy diapers, boy poopy diapers. We've been going to Mary Margaret's, boyfriends, sisters, softball games...which I love watching!!!!

This Sunday, we went to my Great Uncle J. L. Brawner's 80th birthday party...a few pictures from my side of the family...the Brawner's
Aunt Rosie Brawner, Larry Brawner, Uncle J. L. - the birhtday boy, Mary Bob Brawner and Aunt Dorothy Brawner

Rex & Sybil Brawner, Berlon & Hoopie Davis, Onalee Brawner, Harrell Brawner and Uncle J. L.

Aunt Dorothy, ME, and Uncle J. L.

My neice Alisa stayed with us some in the first part of June. Here the girls are hamming it up for the camera at Chili's, Taylor, Mary Margaret and Alisa.

She's not camera shy at all...and if I do say so myself...a cutie pie to boot!

I "jacked" the following pictures from either Corey or Craig's Facebook. This is Delani (my sister) Corey (stepbrother) Charlene (my stepmom) and Craig (also my stepbrother). They went last year to North Carolina (I think) and that's where these pictures were taken and HELLO...they are awesome pictures!

Corey turned 19 a couple of weeks ago, and yes, I jacked this from his facebook. I may have a problem with stealing pictures, do ya think? Maybe they won't be mad at me. :)

I got a letter from Delani and will be posting some pictures this week that she sent me. Gotta get back to work!!!!

Picture This...

2010-05-18T22:37:00.002-05:00

Election night...

Tim comes home a little early, plops down in his chair, and says that he wants to listen to the election results.

Hmmm. Radio got broke last summer while the kids where swimming.

Taylor saves the day.

She runs and gets her shower strawberry shortcake radio (shaped like a strawberry).

So...picture this...

Tim in his chair eating sunflower seeds
big strong man
holding the strawberry shortcake radio to his ear
sporting pink toe nails

Keeping it real here at BFD.

New BFF's

2010-05-17T10:00:00.003-05:00

Just want to give a heads up to my BFF's...Dianna, Dianne and Sandy...

Blanche Lambert Lincoln is hot on ya'lls tails! I think she and I are becoming BFF's. She called me all weekend telling me how she plans to change Washington and how she was thinking about the folks back home when she voted for the health care bill. I'm wondering how she's going to change Washington, and why now, what about all those previous chances she had to change Washington? She's been there like FOREVER.

AND let's not forget about my other BFF. Princilla Smith. She want's to be the Republican Candidate to run against my BFF Blanche (me and Blanche are now on first name basis.) I can't stand the pressure, both my new BFF's running against each other, begging me for my vote.

Ugh. What's a girl to do?

Butler Blond Moment...

I asked the girls this morning if they remembered to text Aunt Dianne happy birthday this morning.

Mary Margaret says.......TICKED YA...YOU THOUGHT IT WAS A MARY MARGARET BLOND MOMENT....NOT

Taylor says..."Dianne said t.u. Which means...come on Tuesday, I guess" (she's saying this will all kinds of attitude).
ME and MM: Do what????
Taylor: Come...On...Tuesday....duh.
ME: I think Dianne was saying Thank You.

Taylor: OMG, I'm such a looser. KK don't tell nobody, but you can tell everybody.
ME: ???????????????????????????????

When they hit the teen years...they instantly become brain dead....Bill Cosby

That's how we roll at BFD

Wierd Day

2010-05-14T18:14:00.002-05:00

This afternoon nursing home employees brought clothes for a man that we have at the funeral home. On the inside, front, waist, was my grandfather's name.
Yes, the pants belonged to my grandfather, John Logan Clark, at one time.
Where have these pants been all this time? I should point out that my grandfather resided in a different nursing.... do the nursing homes share clothes?
I find this very funny, Papaws pants turns up years later, at my funeral home...This would have amazed him.

Mary Margaret has been searching for her school id badge since Wednesday. Today, I went into the bathroom at the funeral home and noticed something stuck between the lid and the bowl of the toilet. I flipped the lid up and there was her id badge. Odd place to loose a badge, don't you think?