Whoooo are we? Who, who, who who???

I will be talking about family members and friends in this blog. I'm not entirely sure if I'm supposed to keep real names out of this or not, but I figure better safe than sorry in case I get on a rant about something that could embarrass my kids later. Because as of yet, I've never, ever embarrassed them. Also, it's possible I might try to blog drunk, and there is no telling what could happen then. For those who have no idea who I am, I'm not a drunk- but blogging drunk is something I would totally do.

I've already mentioned my wonderful partner in life, Chef Boy. I thought his false idetitiy should be kept simple with the intent that I can add to it depending on particular moods. For instance, in some future blog, I might refer to "Chef Couch Boy" or "Chef Boy R Dumb". You get where I'm going with this... Ok, it might also be "Chef Boy Love Pants" if he's really, really good some day. He is a wonderful, intelligent man. 43 years young, open-minded, funny, a great dad and he loves me more than mushpie and all other things in life. This said, he also regularly cannot find his wallet, keys, or mind. He knows all about and likes all kinds of music and is an excellent navigator. I'm pretty sure he's never been lost. I look for this attribute in a man since I might get lost yet today. He is a talented chef and although I hate to admit it, completes me- but not in a shmarmy "Jerry McGuire" kind of way. He loves his kids and his dog and relishes in playing with them. To sum us up-we are dead on Lucy and Ricky. He's forever shaking his head at my redheaded antics (this I call stifling).

Oldest child shall be called "Man-Child". This he is. 15 years old, 6 foot 4 inches tall, a head full of bright red hair covering up a large, able brain. This boy is wicked smart. Does he always put forth the effort behind this intelligence? You forgot I told you he is 15! He has always been an intuitive soul and is hands down the best gift giver of anyone in the family. He is thoughtful, kind and hilarious! Except when he has to be REALLY 15, then I just want to throw him out the door into the cold world. Except it's been YEARS since I could lift him. He regularly calls me MaMooLa and pats my head since I'm so short. He revels in political and intellectual conversation and loves arguing. He is a future arbitrator. It sounds like I really love him, huh, which I do... but oh there are days... If you want a good summation of Man Child, just read the comic "Foxtrot" daily. It is like a window into my life.

Next comes the middle child, "". There has never been born a girl more like her father than this girl. She has his curly hair; his straight muscular legs; his penchant for losing everything she owns including coats, bras, shoes and money. She is wonderfully kind and fun-loving. Really, really fun-loving. She thrives in active settings like the basketball court or at summer camp, but is just as at home on the couch having her brain sucked out. This girl LOVES her some basketball and some horses. She lives all year for her summer at camp in Colorado and she was born for it. At this point, at age 12, she plans on going to K-State and getting a degree in Equestrian Science so she can manage a horse ranch. According to her, she'll be there on a basketball scholarship. She is tall and like her brother, relishes in reminding me just how much taller than me she is. She is a socialite of drastic proportions. She has many friends and I'm proud to say, beats to her very own drummer. Did I mention this girl can eat? Again, like Chef Boy, she likes food. Although we have agonizing pre-teen girl and mother moments, she is a joy and regularly cracks me up.

And then there were three... Ok, we had the other two. Then one night I said, "What the hell, let's go for three." Guess what? I'm fertile- John looked at me from across the room, and BAM, I was pregnant with "The Princess". You may expect the youngest to be princess-like, but you haven't seen anything yet- bright red hair, freckles on her beautiful pixie face, and a right hook like you wouldn't believe! This girl wants what she wants and she's not afraid to fight for it. Eight years old and for now, the only one in the family shorter than me. We like to call her spirited... This girl is a perplexing combination of tomboy and primadonna. She has her own idea of fashion and won't waiver from it (no matter how much you spent on THOSE shoes!) but also thrives in mud. Her facial expressions alone will make your heart melt. This feeling is usually followed with a comment about how I've ruined her life for not letting her wear flip flops to climb Mt. Everest! Chef Boy dares to say she has my temper. He's just jealous.

The brief bio of yours truly is this: bleeding heart social worker who decided her "perfect" job was not so perfect for her so she quits to stay home before going to the mountains to "find" herself and lose many, many pounds of unwanted flesh; loves and counts on her friends SO much and hopes she provides at least a bit of what they give to her; would advocate for garage saleing to be an Olympic sport and cannot pay full price for anything... ever...; is obsessed with Real Estate and attends Open Houses for entertainment purposes; appreciates all types of music, but really loves what she can sing to, which means 80's hits; loves her kiddos and her family; wants to be more of an activist (see the opening blog); would like to travel more and see what's out there; and is looking to simplify her life in all ways and live the life she thinks she's supposed to be living.

Other family members include fur bearing Lucky (best dog EVER!!!! and frisbee dog enthusiast), Bun Bun and Mrs. Pepper (bunnies), a frog with an identity crisis due the the on-going argument about what to name him, a lizard suffering the same fate, and a beta fish that we regularly think is dead due to its lack of movement.

So there is the Fam. The adventures you'll read about in this blog will all be true- I warn you now. Some blogs may be dangerous for the weak of heart.

Here I Go Again...

Okay, so it's been since June that I posted anything on my blog. Big deal. Since no one save for a few souls know it exists, I'm sure no one is crying. However, I want to start being regular, both in terms of bowels and blog writing, so this is the first attempt at Everyday Blogging. (Please sing that to the tune of "Everyday People". Sarcasm is my First Language has inspired me. I won't be nearly as clever or nice, but it'll be all me.

So, first of all, let's get a preview of what will soon dominate my blog.

1. A really good idea that my husband and I see as our calling in life. It is the perfect combination of us in an endeavor that makes me cry. I can't divulge all yet, but some of you may be contacted to brainstorm and advise. This is exciting, heartwarming, and amazing! Some of you have seen my husband and I do various activities together with little success- canoe trip- and might be frightened at the thought of us working together. However, I've not seen my husband this passionate before about an endeavor not taking place in the bedroom, and I can just feel it will be fabulous. Anyhoo, more to come on this.

2. Our camp experience in Colorado. Anyone who knows us knows that for the past 5 years some faction of the Dale-Marshall crew has spent their summers in Estes Park, CO working/going to summer camp. THIS summer, I get to go to. I get to work there as an official staff person and I am PSYCHED!!!! My job will be as Chicken Assistant to my husband, Chef Boy. This will be a good trial run for our above endeavor.
We will be working at Trail's End Ranch for Girls. This unit of Cheley Colorado Camps is out of the town of Estes Park, down the mountain, near a quaint village called Glen Haven. Don't blink around Glen Haven or you will miss the General Store and Volunteer Fire Department, as well as the road to GTE- a meandering dirt road that passes by many charming cabins set on a glistening mountain stream and ends at the Girl's Trail's End. Get it? The end of the trail; but the beginning of complete wonder.

So, what you can look forward to is a summer of (hopefully) daily postings about the goings on at camp; how I'm handling being assistant to my Chef Boy; how the kiddos are doing at camp; how I don't miss the humidity of Kansas; wildlife sightings, bears included; and maybe a little bit about how I'm going to try to literally hike my ass off during the summer. In addition, updates on the amazing endeavor mentioned above.

Until we actually GO to CO, I'll fill you in on the family members and give startling accounts of exciting parts of my life like school carnivals; children transitioning to High School (please help!); my wonderful friends (you'll have to meet the Snack and Smackers); real estate (an obsession) and maybe a listing of some of my other fabulous ideas that never come to fruition.

If anyone I send this link to is annoyed I never told you about it, so sorry! I'm still freaked out about people reading what I write. I know, I know... I'm an attention seeking Vagina Monologuist for gracious sake- but I've been writing in some form since... forever... and VERY few people have ever read any of it. I'm not really afraid of criticism, I think it is that writing is like therapy for me and therefore is an expression that is completely raw. So, don't think this means don't comment- please do, even to tell me something like my baby bangs look like ass or what I've just written is so boring you fell asleep at the computer.

Thanks for reading this and here's to our future adventures together!