Beans, Styrofoam and M&Ms

I know there are more of you out there!! Check out what others had to say about their kids sticking something up their noses!!
From my friend, Jen:
Remember the game, "Don't Spill the Beans"? It has little plastic beans and you fill up a precarious pot and try not to spill them all. Well, needless to say, Casey wanted to see what would happen if he stuck a bean up his nose. I think we had to use tweezers to get it out! Maybe that's why to this day he won't eat a bean!!

Amanda sees other people's children when home remedies don't work!! "Working in a recovery, I see a lot of kids (and sometimes adults too!) that stick things up their noses, in their ears and other places!!" Callum once put an M&M up his nose, but was able to 'blow it out'!!

Christy over at Cakerwakers:

"My cousin stuck styrofoam up his nose and his mother couldn't get it out. They had to take him to the hospital. Kids are gross.

A Bite of Country Cupcakes: Lovely to have you come by my blog and Hilarious to hear of more foreign objects up noses! I later found out that Missy only put it up her nose after Big Brother put it up his! He successfully, in his words, "Snotted it out"!!!

"I didn't stick a button up my nose!"

I was over at A Bite of Country Cupcakes and was cracking up at her story of her daughter sticking a bead up her nose! Don't we all have stories like that?!!! Whey do kids shove things in their ears and up their nose? BECAUSE THEY CAN! :)
The best one is of my brother-in-law, Steve when he was about 2 yr. old. The story (of legend, mind you) goes that he walked up to his mom, Esther, with rusty snotty drainage coming out of one nostril! Esther asked him, "What is coming out of your nose, Steve?". To which he replies, "Well, I didn't stick a button up my nose!!" Don't you wish there was a picture of THAT?!
Email me with your "Foreign object up the nose" or in the ear--a popular spot as well- story from your childhood or YOUR child's!! I'll republish it here! Send it to the email address located in my profile!

Fried Turkey with Sweet Potato Balls!

(Let's get this straight...the turkey and the sweet potato balls were separate...never attached.)Woo Hoo! What a great Thanksgiving Dinner! We were with friends and have so much to be thankful for this year. There were no cooking mishaps or rodent run-ins today. Thank you.
I made the mashed potatoes and the sweet potato balls (Paula Deen recipe) and they were YUM! I also made my cranberry salsa and these Turkey Cuppies on a stick :) Thank you Bakerella for the inspiration! I hope everyone had a blessed day. We are happy, healthy, my mom is in remission from chronic lymphocytic leukemia, we had plenty to eat and came home to a warm house. God is good to us and always knows what we need, even if we think WE know what we want is best.
This is what a deep fried turkey looks like. Tim was in charge of the bird...
These are the sweet potato balls--there is a marshmallow in the middle!

Cindy's mom was visiting from Indiana and made 2 pies and the gravy!
Curt had the responsibility of carving the bird!
These are my attempts at cupcake bites. The turkeys enjoyed a Thanksgiving Day watching the Macy's parade, a Dog Show and a football game.I can't believe I didn't take more pictures! It was a great stress free day. Thanks Cindy & Tim for hosting a great dinner!

One year later....

I didn't think that last Dec. 2007 would be my last race for an entire year. That is when the Dermatomyositis started to kick in and let it's presence be known. I ran the Jingle Bell 2 mile and had so much fun, but as December turned to January and then into February, everything started to get a little squirrely. I was getting run down. My arms started aching. I had these bumps on my knuckles that wouldn't go away. I started slowing down in my boot camp routine. No amount of rest really refreshed me! A little un-nerving to say the least! Anywho...a year later, many pills & prayers later...
...I finished a 5k last night in 32 minutes. My friend, Jennifer, who ran with me, encouraged me the ENTIRE race. God love her. She is so upbeat and tried to keep me distracted! We ran the entire race and finished, but not before I crossed the finished line with the verse, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." However, I would like to add in..."and with the prayers and love of friends and family." Whew and AMEN.

Triatharat & Predestination

Did you know that rats are awesome swimmers? Get back, Michael Phelps, we have your competition right here, Mr. !! Yeah, I never thought about it either until last week. Our Jack/Rat terrier, Ella was barking at something in the pool one night last week. Me: Another frog, no doubt. Ella! Be quiet!!!. Ella: Bark! Bark! BARK!!!! So out to the porch/pool I go and turn on the pool light. Me:EEEEE! It's a snake! Ella get the hell away from that...no wait...IT'S A RAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!!! People...let me tell you, it was doing some serious mogating around our pool using it's tail as a propeller(I should say--flagellate) and sticking it's little ratty nose above the water like a pink snorkel! Honestly, it looked like a giant sperm swimming for it's life. Well, I dash back into the house trampling the rest of the family as they were running to see what the screaming was all about. I grabbed my video camera and start in with the filming while curt was thinking of a way to get it out of the pool. He wanted to dip it out with the pool net and "Ratapult"' it over the fence into the neighbor's yard, but that was kyboshed by Sam, our Animal Right's activist. Will thought the rat would have a great ride and story to tell his Ratty friend's---"Free work-out and carnival rides over at the Niemeier's". By the time the rat had made it's 3rd lap,with Ella nipping at it's nose, I had taken moving and still pics and Curt had retrieved a live rat trap from the garage. On the way to making a 4th lap, Curt scooped the water loving varmint up like he was scooping sugar from a sack.

Notice the Rat tail sticking out of the trap door...EEEWWWW!
Ella thought Christmas had come early. Alas it was not to be.Curt packed said rat off to the Presbyterian Church about a mile away. I thought the rat would be good with that outcome... After all, maybe he was Presbyterian and all of this was predestined. :)

Love Stinks

When you love your friends, you will do anything for them. Especially when they call you for rodent removal advice and especially when they sound desperate. Apparently, we are now "experts" in rodent removal since we have had a bad case of Rats. Cindy calls last night--whispering--"I need some advice. I think there is something alive in my dryer vent hose!" I said, "Well, pull out the dryer and lift the hose so the 'thing' will scramble back out."
Cindy: "NOOOO! I am standing on a stool looking over the back of the dryer! I am not getting that close!" Me: (trying to be supportive yet not enabling) "Gee..wish I lived closer so I could come over and help.." Cindy: (squeals) "It moved!! and there is a little rip in the dyer tubing!!" Me: Where is Tim?? Cindy: At Youth group at church. Me: Alright. I am coming over.
So with rat cage and a miniature baseball bat in hand (for effect), off I went. Long story short, I went outside holding the cage up against the vent HOLE (no cover on this, people) and Cindy banged the dryer tubing and turned on the dryer. Well, he must of thought Christmas had come early, because he didn't budge. Me:'Turn off the dryer and bang on the vent again, Cindy.'
Picture this, she is perched on top of the dryer with a broom partially covering the ever enlarging hole in the tubing, and a mop banging the poor creature to move on out of his personal sauna! I am standing outside with a flashlight between my legs holding the cage handle with one hand and the cage trap door with the other. Well, disrupted, the animal comes scrambling out of the vent, into the cage. I can't get the door down and am hollering at Cindy that "I've got it!!!" Well, it has enough of that and realizes where it is, does a 180 and back into the vent it goes, but not before it let me know that it was indeed NOT a rat, but a POLECAT as we call them in Arkansas. Commonly known as a SKUNK. Back into the house I go, crawl on top of the dryer and bang the Bejesus out of that tubing so Skunky evacuates AGAIN and is Gone Daddy Gone out into the cover of darkness. PEWWWWWW! Cindy lights big vanilla candle and leaves it in the laundry room checking it about 15 minutes later she says, "I think the smell is gone!" Sniffing the air I observe, "Not unless it has been replaced by a Vanilla scented skunk fart." Needless to say, I had to 4 bag my jeans and shirt and put on a pair of Tim's big orange basketball shorts. I stopped by church on the way home and wielding my mini-bat, gave Tim a hard way to go re: home maintenance and rodent prevention. Do you know what he had to say in his defense? "Hey, those shorts look pretty good on you!" Those shorts look pretty good on you too in the pic below... :)

This is Tim checking out the skunk sich. (as in situation)
What is going on here???? I hope the gentle cycle is on...He owes me big. I am now praying over my favorite jeans and soaking them in Hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and baking soda. *Sigh* I love my friends. They really give me good blog material. OK maybe Good is too STRONG a word...

Catch up...

If not keeping up with my blog is any indication of how I have over scheduled myself... Woo..did it to myself, but October was a fun month! Definitely not complaining. It's been full of Arkansas visits, musical, Pumpkin Carving Party, Rock Band Competition, Pampered Chef Party, Will's Halloween Party and into November with my 45th Birthday!! Crammed a year of parties into October and hopefully will not feel compelled to do that again too soon! Oh, and did I mention RATS again. Heaven help us. Although our Jack Russell/Rat Terrier is feeling like she now has a purpose. Our cat, however, knows that his purpose is to stay on the bed and sleep through it. There ya go. My mom returned home from her treatment in Houston and is tired, but doing well. She is scheduled for treatments on Thanksgiving and again on Christmas. What are the chances for that? Geez.
Anyway, I feel so blessed to have friends and family. I spent my birthday EATING :) After church about 20 of us dined at a new Deli in town complete with Carrot Cake at the end! Last night after making dessert for the youth group at church, they all stood and sang happy birthday to me and my friend, Jeannie and Craig presented me with a delicious piece of chocolate cake from the "Olive Garden". When we returned home. Jen, Mal and Casey came down bearing angel food cake and fruit and b-day presents! Wow! what a day! Bloggers were sending best wishes all day and I was receiving texts as well! How fun for me! D and Anonymous D sent me fun monogrammed gifts AND a bag of chocolate chip cookies this week too! Of course I didn't wait until my birthday to open the package! No way! Curt and the boys gave me a virtual bike with a basket on the front. I need to go pick one out! Quite a change from my Trek road bike from a few years back! Think Ella will ride in the basket like Toto???!!
Here are pics from this month!

Will and the female lead in The Music ManI just like this pic and thought I would throw it in---The 3 D's!

OK..this is what happens when you spray paint in the garage and don't wear shoes. It actually makes a heart if you can get past the black feet!!! Ewwwwww! I always end up spray painting something before the Halloween party! This time it was the server in my dining room!

Sam's friend and Sam on Halloween

Halloween Curtains that I made while visiting my parents in Arkansas

Cupcake bites! I am addicted to making them! OK almost over the addiction now...

I was glittering everything I couldn't effectively spray paint including this skull and bones! Everything is better when it's shiny ya'll ...

Pumpkin carving party!

Jack-O-Lanterns

Jen, Carol and Shana

Those crazy Moore kids!!!

Will's Halloween party!
Will as "Snake". I think he is "sneaking" at this point...

Ella "ratting out" a rat...to no avail...

Will doing his best British "Rock Star" imitation with my (now vintage)1980's Sex Pistal's t-shirt

I KNOW I saw it...

There was a little Snake/Skink head sticking out from under my fridge this morning. I know I saw it there! Being that I live in Florida and reptiles being so common...I wasn't THAT shocked. Tail, my tomcat, brings them in on a regular basis. So, like a true blogger, I figured I would catch up on blogs, take a picture of the snake/skink and tell my husband when he got home. I don't remove reptiles, people. It makes my skin want to to jump off. I could if I HAD to do it, but I don't so....
Anywho, so I am down ony my hands and knees with the dog keeping a cautious distance from the fridge. I swipe a 12 inch ruler under the appliance thinking I just scoot the snake out far enough to get a pic. Nothing but a spice cap lid, a Fruity Pebble cereal bit (red) and a flat blue glass florist bead. No snake. Where is he??? Now I have to look at the floor in front of the fridge EVERYtime I walk into the kitchen until he reappears. ( I look at it from here again--4th time). Maybe it's just the medication... :)

home again...

I spent the last week in my hometown with my mom and dad. I haven't been home in soooo long. I have seen my entire family at 2 weddings, but they weren't held in Arkansas where i grew up until I was 18 and left for college on the east coast. It was good to be home. My mom did very well after her treatment in Houston and I busied myself with things so not to seem hovering. I did manage to make and freeze some soup for my mom and dad and also another round of Cupcake Bites! Friday night I made Bok Choy Salad and Quinoa Salad to take to my sister and brother-in-law's home for dinner. We had a great time! I also spent time at my grandparents home. They have passed away and their home is deteriorating rapidly. My dad just doesn't have the heart to tear it down. I offered to take as many pictures as possible and photo album them for him. Maybe then, he can do it. I am afraid it will burn and ruin the trees around it and some of the out buildings. I understand how he feels and it makes me sad for him. The photos turned out well.


I just wish I had taken photos 20 years ago in the same way. People don't think of doing that, you know---taking photos of ordinary things in their home and their lives. Ok,I didn't think of it. I think that is what people end up missing the most. The ordinary things. The familiar views. The routines. It's what comforts you when you need it the most.

Homecoming 2008

My son and his friends attended Homecoming Dance tonight after having dinner out at T.G.I. Fridays! They all went together and I hope they have fun! BTW, I gave them Cupcake Bites in the previous post and they were a HUGE hit! (That's my handsome man in the checked shirt and black tux...)

That really Bites!!

...Cupcake bites, that is. Bakerella really has kept me busy trying to create these small bites of chocolate heaven! I CANNOT get the candy melts for the top to come out thin enough. I follow directions! I can read! What is the secret????! Anywho, I covered them with sprinkles and "swirley" icing and a bag. That should help. At least this batch didn't slide down the lollipop stick! I cut back on the batter "glue" and that seemed to help! They are so much fun to make. They make me happy. I think I'll make a pink batch in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. In the meantime, I am off to Bakerella's site again.

Prisoner to Peanut Butter...

Two squirrels later...Apparently rats are smarter than squirrels. Have a great day!

525600 minutes,,,

I just love this song and I just love my friends!!

One down...452 to go

Some people are ashamed to admit they are infested. Well, maybe not INFESTED, but definitely inhabited. But not The Niemeier's! We have RATS. Not IN the house, but in our attic and AROUND the house, just to clarify. At night, it sounds like WWF (World Wrestling Federation) or Friday Night Throw Down in the Octagon in our attic and more frequently in our bathroom wall. The first night I heard it, it WOKE ME UP! It sounded like Curt eating Doritos right beside me in the bed! Except the Doritos were wrestling and squeaking. Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! So over the past few weeks we have made a trip to Ace Hardware to become learned in the ways of rat poisoning and trapping. Since Curt would be the one to crawl around in the attic to search and recover dead rats, he decided on the "Live Trap and Make them Someone else's rat wrestling entertainment." He ordered the trap and it came promptly in the mail in a few short days. Much excitement here, let me tell you. The instructions were inside the cage and there were a few moments where we couldn't figure out how to get the trap open...(sigh). After mild modification by Curt to make it function correctly, peanuts were added and it was set out on a pile of wood where they like to hang out. (side note: I suggested we get rid of the wood and was informed that the wood was "custom made for each window for hurricanes and it was $100's worth of GOOD WOOD!" Just a suggestion.) Anywho, no rat in the trap for almost 24 hours until peanut butter on a cracker was added and THEN...one rat. He got his tail caught in the door, God love 'em. I think he was quite embarrassed. After much "oooohh and ahhhh how cute; look at his ears and "don't stick your nose to close, didn't you read '1984'?!!!---the rat was taken about a mile down the road to a church and promptly dumped---ok shaken--- out of his cage peanut butter cracker for the road. Charity begins at home, ya know...all God's creatures.

Now that is tight

This is the conversation that ensued after my 15 year old modeled his "newest" thrift store find...

Will: Hey Dad, how do you like my new pants? Curt: Holy cow what are those? How did you get into them? You're not leaving the house in those. You are not wearing those to school---not even out of the house. They really look uncomfortable. Dana, what do you think about these pants? Where did your junk go? Where did you get those? Will: Thrift store. Curt: What made you want to buy those at a thrift store? Will: Well they said size 26. Curt: What size are you? Will: 30, but they were so long I thought they would fit. Curt: Can you sit in them? Don't they squeeze the hell out of your junk? Will: well yeah, a little. Curt: They ought to make you feel weird. Will: yeah. Curt: take those off and get your homework done. Dana: he looks like a British rock star. Will: I need some cooling lines in these...like they do in the Hoover Dam. Curt:Will, Take those off and do your homework!!!

The 3 D's...

So lucky to have such great friends!!! "I get by with a little help from my friends..." Have a great day everyone!

Energy and then some...

You know...I can hardly sit down and blog this due to the huge energy rush I have from my meds. People...I tell you, if these weren't so bad for you in the long run every mom would be USING!! Wait, illegal drugs are crap for you and people still abuse them! Guess this secret hasn't be "outed" until now. Whew!
Anywho, enough about drugs.
Living in a houseful of males has it's moments. Some things you have to smile about. Well, because they are funny. It is usual that my sweet husband wakes my oldest child for school. (The youngest somehow gets up, gets dressed and eats breakfast without prompting.) So, Curt walks into Will's room one day last week, "breaks wind" rather loudly and states, "Will, your alarm just went off. Get up." Without opening his eyes my sweet sleepy 15 yr. old smiles and says, "Thanks Dad". Now is that love? I think my 11 yr. old was jealous he didn't get the same courtesy.

Time to Reflect...

With such trying times and unrest in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a person who has impacted people across the globe.
Larry LaPrise, the man that wrote 'The Hokie Pokey' died peacefully at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started...

Fantastic Friday and Stuff...

Well, my friends, it's amazing how much a little energy and organization makes you feel like a different person. Apparently PMS and a major med switch are not good timing. You know I'm not one to whine...well OK, I whine some, bit try not to do it. Anyway, I just wanted to send out a heartfelt "thank you" to you all. 'Helpin' a sister out' is what my friends do best! Thanks for the phone calls and food and just hanging out! God love my husband for hanging in with me this week xxxooo! Jen and I drove to Orlando today with the intent of grocery shopping at Whole Foods (the closest one). Well, after a stop at IKEA (2 pillows a cool bag and hanging rack thingy not in photo) and lunch at Whole Foods, we decided to amend our plans. We grabbed some grains and nuts from the Bulk bins and scrammed over to Florida Mall to buy Bare Escentuals Mineral make-up! Ha! I had my "eyes did" and Jen bought some blush. After a quick stop at Harry and David's for some Salsa and Chutney, we jumped in the car and beat it down the Bee Line to Melbourne. We called the kids and said we would be a tiny bit late. They hung out together until we arrived.
You know feeling good is so great. Sometimes I forget what it is like to be my old self. I am so grateful for friends who pray for me. I am sure pray for me to be myself again. On a light note, how about praying for me to be Jennifer Aniston? Curt just might agree!! Hee Hee!!!