This is the kind of Mother I am...

So this morning, the kids were really making me nuts with their arguing and bickering. It started the moment they got up. A lot of it has to do with the fact that Nate has no sense of the fine line between when something is funny and when it suddenly isn't any more. What he does is he knows when something is funny, so he ramps it up until suddenly it's over the top and not funny any more. Well, if something is funny, MORE is funnier, right? Louder is funnier, right? Crazier is funnier, right?? It makes for some interesting times for his sister, for sure.

Anyway, they bickered all morning long, and I thought if I had to say, "Guys, STOP!!!" one more time my head was going to explode. They were arguing in the car and I was lecturing them about how irritating it was to have to listen to them argue all the time. Blah, blah, blah...I'm sure I sounded like the teacher on Charlie Brown...owa wa wawa owawa. Then, out of nowhere, this fine specimine of parental guidance flowed over my lips:

"Whatever. How about this. When you're arguing about something, think about what it is you're arguing about. If it's not about something that's going to be of any significance in 5 minutes or even 5 seconds, stop the argument. But heck, if it's about something you're going to care about in 20 years, by all means, duke it out."

We all started laughing and the rest of the ride was pleasant and argument free. At one point Nate started in with "Siss-EE!!..." and then after a split second to think about it, "Um, nevermind."

Ahh...success. For now anyway. Stay tuned for more words of parental wisdom, folks. I'm full of it. I mean them. HA!!!

Back to Reality

Christmas break is over, children. Nate doesn't want to go to school and I forgot what I usually put in Joanna's lunch. (She's picky, you know.) It's Monday and I have a pretty typical list of Monday errands and chores I have to do. I'm glad I went to Costco and Trader Joe's this weekend. That will save me a lot of time today.

In other news...yeah...I got nothing. Hopefully since it's the first Monday of the new year, the Coast Guard will start getting some business taken care of and we can find out some stuff. So...

Dear Coast Guard,

Since it's the first Monday of the new year, maybe you could get some business taken care of. We would like to know some stuff. Like how many SKC's are you going to be making? At least 16 more, please!

Thanks.

Sincerely,

E.G.

Now that's a good way to start the new year, don't you think? Aren't you glad you tuned in for my random ramblings?? :) Gotta go get dressed and ready to get this party started. I'm out!

Tap-Tap-Tap...Anybody out there?

Hello. My name is Emily Garris. Remember me? I lived on a remote island in Alaska for 3 years and thought my somewhat daily ramblings were important and exciting enough to write about and publish here on this blog. Starting to sound familiar? I went to a hearing test on a military aircraft during a volcanic eruption...endured blizzard after blizzard...couldn't wait to leave...

Well, I left. It's 2011, people! I no longer live on that remote island in Alaska. I live in the SF Bay Area in California, and guess what? We quite possibly might be moving AGAIN in 2011! That, folks is what has inspired me to start writing again. Because, the name of this blog is the Garris Family ADVENTURE, right? Not the Garris Family ALASKAN Adventure. Sure, Alaska was interesting and exciting. The SF Bay Area? Not so much. I go to Trader Joe's and Old Navy on a semi-regular basis. No volcanos or blizzards here, and my ear doctor is just a short drive across town. Despite the total 180 degree turn my life has taken from living in rural Alaska to living in urban (okay, maybe suburban) San Francisco Bay Area, I realized yesterday that just because Alaska is over doesn't mean our adventure is. So, here I am. Telling you all that you might want to stay tuned. 2011 is going to be an interesting year.

Happy 2011 everyone! I hope your 2011 adventure is filled with love and happiness!