Another After Midnight Tale

Another After Midnight Tale

starring:

 Karen as the "Scaredy Cat"

two worthless dogs

two "gonna be dead" deer

If you recall, last May I had a blog post about an after midnight overreaction story.  

Here's the link in case you do not remember: An After Midnight Tale  

This tale begins right around Midnight.  I had just gotten out of a relaxing bath and was finishing my second glass of wine and starting on my second book for the night.  I read like a crazy person, in case you didn't know that.  So I'm sitting on my bed wondering when Darren was coming home.  He was over having a couple of beers with my cousins, Greg and Jason, a few doors down.

I'm completely enjoying this book when I hear crunching snow outside.  It sounded like footsteps near the window.  At first I'm thinking it is just snow falling off the roof or maybe a deer.  I'm not too worried at this point.  I go back to the reading the book and sipping on wine.  About ten minutes later I hear more footsteps and closer to the house.  I'm pretty sure someone is out there at this point.  Then.......then someone coughs.

I'm frozen.  My heart is pounding.  I'm convinced someone is outside my window.

So I grab my phone and text Darren:

12:00 - There are strange noises outside.  Footsteps, coughing noises.

12:00 - To the south and east of the house.

12:01 - Didn't sound loud enough to be the dogs.  Faint.

12:01 - Hurry

12:01 - Heard them again.

The footsteps were moving toward the back door.

So by this point I'm pretty sure we are all dead.  I'm starting to think of how I'm going to protect us.  My pistol and my shotgun are in storage.  I have no way of protecting the children OR myself.  So I'm formulating a plan of attack based on my new huge Pampered Chef pan.  I'm thinking all the options through.

Then I called Darren.  He's not answering.

Called again, right away.  Still no answer.

12:02 - Are you coming?

12:02 - I hope it is just deer.

It could be deer.  Really it could be deer.  The only thing is that the dogs in the basement usually growl or bark when there are deer in the yard.  They didn't make a noise.  Worthless dogs.  They had to pick that night of all nights to not bark.  If they had barked I would have knew it was deer and I wouldn't have panicked.  Of all the nights for them to finally listen to me when I've yelled over and over again - "Stop barking!  It's just deer."

Then I decide to call Greg.  Greg answers - poor man.

I asked him if Darren was there and he said that Darren had left two hours ago.

Okay - stop the story!

I'm gullible when I'm panicking.

Okay - back to the story!

For about point two seconds I believed Greg.  Greg is my favorite cousin ever.  He is Darren's age, so like a big brother to me.  This is why I believed Greg - but only for point two seconds.

Then Greg said Darren was there.  So I explained to Greg that I heard footsteps and coughing.  He did tell me he has heard deer cough before.  I calmed down a bit.  Greg asked if I wanted Darren to come over and check.  I said I didn't think he needed to now that I know deer cough like humans.  Then the deer came close enough to the door for the motion sensor to turn the light on.  Sure enough....two deer.  Stupid deer.  Dead deer if I had it my way.  So I told Greg I could see the deer and Darren could finish his beer if he wanted to.  I could tell Greg was trying not to laugh.  I was no where near laughing.

So I texted Darren again when I got off the phone.

12:10 - Damn deer.  Shoot the lot of them.  Thinking of throwing the whole collection of kitchen pans at them. Damn deer.

12:10 - I need my gun.  Tomorrow.  And my gun safe.  Tomorrow.

12:10 - Maybe the 20 guage too.

12:11 - Damn deer.

12:11 - If it wasn't so frickin' late this would be funny.

12:12 - Damn deer.

12:14 - Throw a snowball at any deer you see on the way home.

12:14 - Stupid deer.

So at this point I poured myself another glass of wine to calm down.

12:21 - Grrrrr.  Stupid deer.

12:22 - I hope you all had a good laugh.  It is laugh-worthy.

Darren said he had read all my texts to Jason and Greg.  I was informed that Greg did defend me a bit saying that the deer do sound like humans coughing.  See - that's why he's my favorite cousin.

Okay, I did for a moment think that maybe Darren was out there harassing me.

I did think that someone was coming to hurt us.

Instead it was just two cold, hungry deer looking for somewhere to bed down for the night and something to eat.  I overreacted.  I jumped to the worst case scenario.  These poor deer were the victims of my Pampered Chef pan swinging threats.  

Though - if you see two deer hanging in Greg's garage - I had nothing to do with it.  Remember, my guns are in storage.  And I'd never shoot a deer out of season, in town, by myself, in the middle of the night. Honest.

The End.

Gianna's 7th Birthday

 My sweet baby girl turned seven on the 5th of April.

She thought she was only getting there few presents.

 Then she realized...she was getting more presents.

I thought she was gonna cry, but she just shook her head and said we weren't tricking her.

That's my girl!!

 Toys R Us was having a 70% off sale since they are closing that location.

Gianna's birthday got a lot brighter thanks to that.

She's had a rough few years.  We've not had a stable location or the best of situations for awhile now.  I feel so bad that these kids are paying the price for selfish adults' decisions.  So, I spoil them with presents and reading stories and craft time and making their favorite meals and renting movies they want to see and making so many happy memories that maybe the sad, painful memories will be overshadowed.  Call me out on it if you want - but if you did, it probably means you haven't seen the look on their faces or watched them cry because of what has happened.  You probably don't hear the comments that they have been hurt by these past situations.  Tell me how I'm parenting these kids all the wrong ways.  I've heard it before - often.  

But enough on the past - and back into the wonderful memories of a 7th birthday of a beautiful, vibrant little girl who is growing up to be a helpful, loving daughter and sister.

 This present was from her Grandpa and Grandma Bestgen.

 What girl doesn't like a little spending cash?

 This apron belonged to Gianna's Great-Grandma Kay Ingalls.  She wore it all day.

She's got big plans of baking and cooking when we move into a forever home.

The vase was given to her Grandpa and Grandma Bestgen at their wedding.  They are celebrating 40 years of marriage this month.  How very special to receive such gift during such a special month.

Thanks Papa and Grandma Bestgen!!!

 a painting project

 Barbie doll pajamas

Her Barbies are in storage, like most everything.  I'm not sure when we will find them.  I bought them because I'm pretty sure I had a pair of pajamas with Grumpy Bear on them when I was a kid. 

 Ballerina sticker book 

 a beautiful flower crown

All my kids love playing dress up.  Most of our dress up stuff is for boys.  Big surprise, huh?  So we are slowly adding to the girls dress up pile.  The twins were both excited about this crown.  Might have to purchase some for their birthdays.

 LEGOS!

Gianna wanted Legos so that she could have a whole "girl" city of Legos.  Slowly might get there.

 This empty box was a last minute purchase.  I told her I thought she needed a place to put HER Lego blocks so she didn't have to try to find them all mixed in with the boys' Lego blocks.  She thought it was a great idea.  Now we shall see if they even make it into the box.  They are currently put together and being played with.  We might have to sweet talk Blase into helping her find the rest of her Lego blocks in the massive collection of Legos.

Food.  We always give some type of food.  Brech was helping pick out birthday presents and was VERY sure these Nilla wafers were her favorite. 

 Hard to see - but there are two plastic stained glass designs (she was quite put out that the twins were making unicorns and she had nothing to paint) and a Mulan key chain.  I'm going to have to find some special key to put on their.  That might be a good place for her lock box key.

 New high heel shoes - but half a size too big.  Guess they go into storage for now.  She's such a petite sweetheart that the twins will pass her in shoe size any day now.

 BATH BOMBS!!!!

 Elena of Avalon playset

The twins have taken this over as theirs.  I knew that would happen.  Gianna has been a great sister and shared with them.

 Blast from the past - FASHION PLATES!

Okay - so I may have bought this for her just so that I could play with them.  We had a fun time creating different outfits and coloring them.  Even Brech got in the action by helping make the design rubbings for the girls to color.  What a great brother!

 A new spring light jacket.  

If spring ever comes to stay this will look so beautiful on her.  Pink is her color!

 Bubble bath!

They had to try it out on Friday.  It was a "faborite" smell according to the twins.

The biggest present....

 Star Wars light sabor and Nerf gun set

This is one happy girl.  She can finally play with the boys when they play gun battles and such.  There were a few brothers who were a tad jealous and wondered if we could get a couple more sets.

 This was the last gift.

 A card from her daddy, who walks on water and can rope the moon if asked, telling her she could have a special Daddy Daughter date with him.  They picked today, Saturday, the 7th, to go to a movie and out to lunch.  She's beyond excited.  There has never been a more loved girl in her mind.

 What a haul!!

 This is a drunk/stoned bunny cake.  At least I thought it looked like it.

Gianna was thrilled with it.  Bunny even tasted pretty good.

So much stress to decorate.  This is why I buy decorated cakes!

Ummmm.....Stephen.....what are you doing?

I want to celebrate my birthday for 17 days starting now with this bunny cake.

Ummmm.....Stephen......I don't think so. 

 Okay fine....

Stephen....do you really want a bunny cake cause I will make you one?

No.

 Happy birthday, Gianna!

Blew out all the candles!!!!

We love you, girl!  Keep smiling and being a beacon of light in our family!

Easter at the Bestgen's

 Blase's Minion egg

Let the kipping contest BEGIN! 

 The last egg standing without both ends cracked belonged to GIANNA!

THE WINNER!!!

We told her she had to do dishes.  She wasn't buying it.

Then 30 of the eggs were made into deviled eggs - which were pretty much gone by the evening. 

 A WHOLE bunch of kids went to check cows with Peter.

 Luke and his kids, along with a few cousins, played baseball.

 Some serious game playing happened during the day.

 Watching them play cribbage with such big cards was so funny.

More than one card was dropped.

 Ben - love that smile and those eyes!

Sweetest bunch of cousins!

 Grandma laid a blanket on the floor for a "boat".

 The little girls were all over this idea!

 
Kiara has her puppy go swimming in the water.

 Grandma told her to not let her puppy shake off the water in the boat because they'd all get wet.

 So of course Kiara did it.  Of course.

 Grandpa Roch was the "rock" the boat hit.
Yes, we are that corny.

 Gianna and I went over to our friends' house for bit.  I ate reuben poppers that Cris made.

I also had one bite of jalapeno popper that was delicious but too hot for my tastes and drank a couple glasses of wine.  I also had a piece of pie and our lovely host, Ana, sent me home with a plate of pie for the others.  Gianna played with her friend, Mary Helen, and had a great time.  They were planning the next time they got to play together before we even left.  What a great way to end Easter.