Monday, February 1, 2016

Follow You, Follow Me

This past week I have lost 8 followers.

Just to be clear, I didn't have many follower to begin with.  Losing any amount is painful for someone with a small blog like mine.

To be double clear....out of the small group of followers I had, one of them is ME!  (Hey, don't laugh.  If a presidential candidate can vote for himself, surely I can follow myself.)

Another follower I have is my daughter.  ( I made her.)

Two other followers are my one friend who for some reason followed me twice.  She must have felt bad for me seeing those measly numbers on my sidebar.

I'd like to think this sudden loss of followers is a glitch of some sort.  It seems kind of weird to lose them all at once like that. But that's not all.  People that I followed have turned their own blogs to private.  They don't want me to read their blogs.  That can't be a glitch as well, can it?

I started wondering what I could do to make my blog more popular?  Here's what I'm thinking.

--Join Facebook and post the link for TJM on there.  But no.  For me, the ends does not justify the means.*

--Reply to my commenters.  I usually don't reply back to the comments people leave for me here, but it is a kind gesture and it would show my appreciation of them. 

--Be controversial.  Yes!! Controversy always draws people in.

Some of my ideas for controversial posts would be:

1. Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album is way better than Thriller.
2. Paul Newman is more handsome than Robert Redford.
3. *Facebook is evil.
4. Bruce Springsteen is over-rated.
5. Gene Rayburn from Match Game is sexy.

{Side note: During my writing,  I let Billy read up to this point and he told me, "Mom, I feel if you publish this post you will lose more followers"}

{Side note #2: While writing this, I lost one more follower.  It's true!}

I may never get back up to 50 followers.  In fact, I better wrap up this post before I get to negative numbers over there ---->













Monday, January 18, 2016

Brace Yourself

A couple of years ago Mary was evaluated for braces.  She definitely needed them, but the orthodontist wanted to wait and give five more baby teeth a chance to fall out.

Well, the time finally came and today she got them on.

Across the street from our orthodontist is an ice cream place.  We stopped to get her a milkshake because...uh, hello?  Why wouldn't we?


We decided to channel our inner Marcia Brady.  The episode where Marcia gets her braces on is one of my all time favorites.  We decided to have spaghetti for dinner (like Marcia).



For dessert, we had ice cream and watched that special episode called Brace Yourself.






By the end of the day Mary didn't feel "ugly, ugly, ugly, didn't hate Alan Anthony, and could go on being the most groovy girl in her school."


Friday, January 15, 2016

Guest Post by Matthew

Matthew acquired a little journal.  This little gem was his first entry.


 These two have become best buddies.  The oldest and youngest.  



And it warms my heart, I must say.






Saturday, December 26, 2015

Family Christmas Video

It's been a JOY filled Christmas season around here.

We are very blessed to be surrounded by such love throughout the year, especially at Christmastime.

Enjoy our video and a little Toby Mac.







Monday, December 7, 2015

Monday, Monday

Good Monday morning!

Please indulge me a little? 

I'm bursting with pride over my little performers.  On Friday night Mary's high school had their orchestra and choir performance.  Tommy's middle school jazz band did a small performance before it started.

How cute are they?


Tommy is trying so hard to be civilized.  Before we left, it was more like this:


We only got this one shot during Mary's performance.


The night was a much needed infusion of holiday spirit.

Below is a video I shot of Tommy's jazz band.  Enjoy a lively version of We Three Kings.


Happy second week of Advent!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Everyday Happenings

Well, hello there!  Welcome to my 400th post! 

I downloaded pictures from my camera and iPhone and thought it was a good time for an Everyday Happenings post.

*Backing up to October, there was Halloween celebrating.  The children took the lead doing their own carving.  They did a great job.


Bill took Tommy to a friend's house, Mary had a parade with the marching band, and Billy has outgrown the whole thing. (but apparently hasn't outgrown stealing the candy left for our trick-or- treaters)  That left only Matt, Ann, and me to roam our neighborhood.

*Parade and football season has come to an end, thank goodness.
Mary also completed cross country.  Here she is at the district championship alongside her coaches from her CYO days.  She now runs for her public high school, but these coaches still cheered her on and gave their full support.
She did so well this season her coach gave her the "Most Improved Runner" award.  Something with the title of that award doesn't sit well with her, but it just goes to show she worked really hard to shave off a lot of time from her initial race.  Way to go, freshman!


*I call this next photo "Typical".
4 lonely hooks without their towel on it.  Every. single. day.

*Billy gave Matthew a haircut.  

 

*We were told the shore house we've been renting for vacation the past 5 years had been sold and the new owner would not be renting it anymore.  We high-tailed it to Avalon one beautiful Sunday to find a new one.


On the way, we stopped to see Dad's new office....


We grabbed some Wawa hoagies and had lunch on the beach.





It was a picture perfect day with my favorite people at my favorite place.

*Hanging out with my sisters in law is always a treat.

Jenny, Amy, me, Kate, Ali, and Christa
*Random photos:

parade watching

Eyes failing

Eyes popping


Birthday singing

Bed invading
Leaves falling

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.