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A friend sent this to me to cheer me up. It did just that. Thought I'd share.

A Heavenly Touchdown

I will eventually get back to posting those anecdotes about the boys. As for right now, thoughts of my dad still occupy most of my waking moments.

So it seems fitting that I share what happened over the weekend.

It was my 7-year-old's first flag football game of the season. I was secretly dreading it, since my mother and father were always sitting on the sidelines at Griffin's games, cheering him on. This year, Dad wouldn't be there. Dad was Griffin's biggest fan. Last season, when I expressed concern that I "wasn't sure this was his strongest sport," Dad told me, "be patient. He'll get better with time." And just like all the other advice my father has given me, he was right.

All last season, Griff would get frustrated for never grabbing a flag or being a part of the games' plays. Often, Griffin would be running north when the play was running south. Saturday morning, that wasn't the case.

Before I knew it, Griff ran a 60-yard touchdown and was hurled into the air by his coach. I practically threw Hayden off my lap to jump to my feet and cheer. My joy soon turned to tears, knowing Dad would have been so proud.

Instantly, I text a friend of mine to tell her the news, and she replied...

"I knew I heard cheers from heaven."

Fond Memories

My dad has been gone for two weeks now. That is two weeks that I haven't been able to call to chat and ask for advice. I'm just now realizing how much I relied on his opinions. I now question whether or not I drove him nuts or bothered him, but Mom recently told me he loved that his daughters still "needed" him. He was always the "go-to" guy. This is for you, Dad.

Dear Dad,

Thank you for being the first one to call me as I left the doctor's office with Griffin last month. You were concerned and wanted to see how things went. You were always great about showing concern for your kids and grandkids.

Thank you for the time last month when I called you and asked for your cheese fondue recipe. You rattled off "a little of this, and a little of that" without even looking it up. I always admired that you had become fond of your kitchen recipes in the latter years. I never told you, but your fondue was a hit at the party I took it to.

Just a few weeks ago, you gave me directions when I was en route to a work event and got lost. It is not the first time its happened, and just like all the others, you stopped what you were doing and got on MapQuest to help me out. And I wasn't at all surprised when you called me 20 minutes later, just as I was arriving to my destination, to ask me, "Did you get there, Debber Doo?" I used to cringe when you called me that, now I'd give anything to hear it one more time.

Finally, thank you for being the best dad a girl could ever want. The boys have been asking me which star in the sky is Papaw Mike's, and I tell them, simply...

...it's the "brightest."

Checking In...

Lots to report, but not a lot of time.

Some have asked where I have been, so I thought I would check in real quick. My father passed away, and I've been with my family. He was very special and taught me a lot about life. More importantly, his passing taught me to enjoy what you have while you have it.

Go hug your loved ones.

A Surprise in my Trunk

I picked up some groceries a couple of days ago. When I returned home, my neighbors were outside, so we chatted a bit. While I was visiting, Greg came outside and took the groceries out of the trunk of my car.

Except he forgot something.

I opened the trunk yesterday to throw my oldest son's football bag inside, and found...

...a can of biscuits. A can of biscuits that had popped open due to the heat and "cooked" inside my trunk.

Who's got the gravy?

My Honest Husband

The morning show will spend some time with Jessica Simpson today prior to her show out at the Indiana State Fair. She's trying her hand at country.

To prepare, I walked into my closet last night and considered what to wear. Greg walked in, and I asked his advice, which was my first mistake.

Greg's advice was this: What I wear won't really matter, considering Jessica's assets. In other words, no one will be looking.

He's got a point.

Hoping To Get Lucky

No, it's not what you think.

You know those receipts that want you to fill out a survey to win $1,000? Well, I do every one of those. EVERY ONE. Sometimes I forget about them, and have two weeks of receipts to fill out online. That's a little time-consuming. But, hey, I figure the day I throw them away...would be my lucky day.

So, I'll keep plugging away.

Kind of like my ritual of buying one $1.00 lottery ticket at the grocery store every Saturday. I've never won money from a lottery ticket. Well, except for the time an ex-boyfriend gave me one for Valentine's day (a real romantic!) and I scratched off a $50.00 winner! But, then he asked me to use it to buy dinner. He's an ex for a reason.

Anyway, I figure its a buck, and what do I have to lose? The boys get so excited to watch me scratch it off in the car, and every time I say, "nope, nothin." And every time THEY say...

"That's ok, Mom. You tried your best."

Yes, I did.

A 3-Year-Old's Request...

Well, it happened.

My 3-year-old was watching America's Funniest Videos when he casually announced what some parents aren't ready to hear. "Mom, I want a baby." After choking on a apple slice, I asked him to repeat what he said. "A baby. I want one."

"You mean a baby brother or a baby sister?" Hayden went on to say, "No, I want a baby Jackson." Baby Jackson is my 3-month-old nephew, whose mom is MY baby sister.

I explained that getting a baby Jackson just isn't going to happen. He's spoken for.

Hayden went on to say he would be very nice to this baby, and watch tv together. When I explained that the baby would cry at night, Hayden told me that's ok, cause he'll be sleeping. Right...but Mommy won't be. He eventually decides to compromise and says...

"Just bring one home tomorrow, ok?"

Where's The Noise?

I'm sitting here in my home and wondering...why is it so quiet? This house doesn't know quiet. Then it hit me.

One of the boys is in time alone for pushing, and the other is now playing at a neighbor's home.

As I listen to my black lab breathe in and out, I decide to savor this brief moment...they don't happen often.

Try This Today!

Ever wonder what we're doing in the studio when the microphones are off? Here's an example. Play along as you read this...

Our producer told us this morning to lift our right foot off the floor. We did. He then told us to make a circular motion in the clockwise direction. We did.

Gator then told us that our foot would automatically change directions after doing his next instruction. He told us to take our right hand, and draw a "6" in the air.

Sure enough, our right feet began circling counter-clockwise! We tried it several times with the same results!

Just something to try while you're at work. Pass it on.

Chubby Fingers and a Spatula

Cookies.

My 3-year-old loves to make chocolate-chip cookies from scratch. He also loves to eat the dough. He's a "chip" off the ol' block, I guess you could say.

Yesterday, he announced that he wanted to make cookies with me. I was putting away some toys, and when I walked in to the kitchen, he wasn't kidding.

Hayden had managed to grab all of the ingredients needed for chocolate chip cookies. Butter, sugar, flour, etc...these items had been pulled out of the pantry and fridge. All that was missing was the baking soda and a bowl.

I don't think I'll teach him to make a casserole.

Jessica Simpson makes her WFMS Debut

Jessica Simpson joins us on WFMS this morning at 7:40 am! Join us to hear what Jessica thinks of Kevin...who is a bit excited about talking to her!

It's scary.

Making Promises

We stopped at Steak N' Shake after a day of boating with our friends. (By the way, thanks Greg, Laura, and Clayton!) After we ate, it was time to pay, so we walked up to the register.

My 7-year-old asked if he could sit outside at an umbrella table and finish his milkshake. I said yes, knowing I could watch him through the window.

After paying, we joined Griffin outside, and he said, "That was awesome! Everyone who left and walked by me thought I was a teenager!"

"Because you were sitting alone?" I asked. He nodded.

I went on to explain that teenagers sometimes get attitudes and don't like to hug their moms when they're older, especially in front of friends. "You don't have to worry about that, Mom," Griff told me. "I will always hug you,"...

..."and I will NEVER get an attitude."

"Plus, I'm gonna live at home with you till I'm 28." Let's hope he was kidding.

Kids Imaginations

Yesterday at the pool, I laid on a lounge while the boys swam with some friends.

I was listening closely to make sure Griffin and Hayden were sharing their dive sticks with others. After a few minutes, I found myself amused at what kids say to each other.

Griffin was telling another boy to follow him because "we've got to find the underground world." Ooooookay. Another boy told Griff, "Yes, we need to find the secret code to the writing." "It's this way," said another.

I loved it. The kids were not only getting some exercise, they were using their imaginations. Which stretch pretty far.

My sisters and I did the same thing when we were younger. We would pour chocolate milk in coffee cups and pretend we were drinking java. Funny, my older sis always imagined that SHE was in charge.

Boy was she wrong.

Ice Cream Bandits?

We went for ice cream last night. Here's something I've noticed. I let the kids choose their flavor of choice, and it never fails...they end up eating mine.

WHY?

I thought I would prevent this from happening. When we arrived at the ice cream parlor, I asked for SAMPLES of what Griffin and Hayden wanted. They tried it. I then asked for two samples of my fave, chocolate-chip. They tasted it.

"We want wacky watermelon" they begged. Okay...wacky watermelon it is.

I did it, I thought! They ate the gummi worms off their scoops, then both turned to me and asked to "try yours." Try yours is translation for "never give it back."

They took turns licking the chocolate-chip while their wacky watermelon sat melting on the table. Old habits are hard to break.

My thighs will thank them later.

Tantrum Central

Our feisty 3-year-old got into a little trouble last night.

He hit one of his best friends in the neighborhood. That little boy ran in to tell me. Tommy said, "Hayden hit me on the shoulder." Hayden spoke up, I assumed to deny it, but said, "No, I hit you on your back."

At least he's honest.

As Greg put him in time alone, Hayden decided it would be a good idea to smack Greg on the arm. Not wise. Greg told him he was in for the night. Hayden responded by telling his dad he was mean.

I later told Hayden that he was wrong to hit Tommy and Daddy. He told me I was mean. I tried again, telling Hayden if Mommy hit Papaw when she was little, he would put me in time alone and take away my "fun" time. His response?

"Papaw's mean, too."

Can't Believe I'm About to Admit This...

David Hasselhoff.

Mr. Knight Rider, or you may know him from saving lives while donning swimtrunks on Baywatch. He's always been known as a little self-promoting. No one likes David Hasselhoff more than David Hasselhoff. Hey, the guy doesn't have self-esteem issues.

So, I watched him on "America's Got Talent" last night. I was lifting weights, trying to work off the chocolate cupcake I had eaten two hours earlier, when suddenly it hit me.

David Hasselhoff is kinda hot.

I know. I know. What was I thinking? Any man who calls himself "The Hoff" may have a screw loose.

Maybe it was the camoflage vest and artsy glasses he was wearing. Who knows. I know this...thinking the Hoff is good-looking is less embarrassing than Kenneth Starr.

Back during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, I thought Mr. Starr was sort of handsome. My co-hosts did NOT let me live that one down.

I'm the Hoff's newest fan, just don't tell anyone.