2019 Strickland Family Quotes of the Year

Happy New Year! 2019 has been extremely memorable and joyful for the Stricklands. To continue our family tradition, please see below for our annual Quotes of the Year. These are actual verbatim comments, captured in the moment -- often to the dismay of the person who dared to open their mouth. We hope you enjoy the colorful chaos that is life in our family. We wish you a warm, successful and humorous 2020. 

Welcoming Benjamin

2019 is the year when our precious little bundle arrived, and everything changed.

"I underestimated my stomach again." -- Megan

“How do you pop a joint that you didn't even know existed until you were pregnant?” – Megan

"The next time I'm invited to a baby shower, I'm going to be sick. And out of town. And dead." – Tim

“So you had a baby while you were in labor?” – Cati

“Benjamin is acting like such a baby.” – Tim

Pam: "Ready to go?"

Megan: "Let me get my boobs in order."

"I like everything better about my baby. I might be biased." – Megan

"I can't believe babies are born naked." – Megan

"Benji just had a human-sized burp." – Megan

"His gas is gassy." – Megan

Tim: "Who bought the dark chocolate almonds?"

Cati: "Benji bought 'em, but we had to break it to him that he doesn't have any teeth."

"Hey, I just burped myself!" – Megan

"He's chill when he's warm. When he's cold, there is no chill." – Tim

"I still have drool up my nose." – Megan

*The family asks Zac to tell a story, but keeps interrupting him to fawn over Benji.

Kirsta: “This is why we don't have kids yet.”

Zac: “This is why I don't live with my parents.”

"Being a baby would be really hard. I don't think I could do it." – Megan

"Last night was great because my boobs didn't wake me up." – Megan

"The baby had issues of gastronomical proportions." – Megan

Georgia on My Mind

Tabby’s 18-month church mission in the Deep South offered a few geographical surprises.

THE PEOPLE

“Someone was driving down the street with their door open holding their garbage bag. Either Georgians are lazy or very smart.” – Tabby

“The South is so South. They call shopping carts ‘buggies.’ They call purses ‘pocketbooks.’ They say ‘mash the button’ instead of ‘push the button.’ And they say ‘squawlin’’ instead of ‘cryin’.” – Tabby

“People call me 'snowflake' here because I’m from California.” – Tabby

“We talked to this guy and he kept spittin’ out chew in between words.” – Tabby

“I honestly love the people here so much.” – Tabby

THE CRITTERS

“We helped someone we’re teaching kill the spiders in her carport. Send help.” – Tabby

“We knocked on a door but right when the lady answered, we screamed because this huge cockroach started flying towards us.” – Tabby

“We had to bury two cats at this old lady’s house.” – Tabby

“I sat in dog pee.” – Tabby

“I put bug spray on but I still get attacked by mosquitos and gnats. Help!” – Tabby

THE FOOD

“They fed us chocolate chicken enchiladas.” – Tabby

“What’s a hushpuppy?” – Tabby

“Today has been so awesome! My bowels still are having problems. I’m so thankful for today!” – Tabby

“We have this fake banana. We keep passing it around the district.” – Tabby

THE CLIMATE

“On another note, I’m probably going to die here. So many storms! It just dumps rain and then the thunder and lightning are up in the sky having a party.” – Tabby

“Jonesboro is on fire thanks to our balcony.” – Tabby

“Georgia is hot, bug-filled, and there are trailer parks everywhere. It’s the best!” – Tabby

Culinary Chaos

Who knew food could be so … complicated?

"I'm in an unhealthy relationship ... with peanut butter." – Megan

“You can't have your cake and be mad at it too.” – Nathan

Pam: “Something smells like it's burning!”

Tim: “That's because I'm cooking.”

“The turkey was more excited to get into the oven than I was to get out of bed.” – Pam

"Can we talk about how I asked which days I should come home for Christmas and everyone ignored me for a banana?" – Cati

"You are the hot in my chocolate." – Zac

"You will be pleased with our choice of whole-wheat wheat." – Megan

"Dinner is one of my three favorite meals for eating breakfast food." – Tim

"You don't eat the ones you love." – Zac

"How dare you disrespect our sriracha overlords?" – Megan

"If I ever die, you're going to have to do a better job of cleaning the refrigerator." – Pam

"Did you know that when you're chewing, you can't breathe out your mouth?" – Megan

"I'm relapsing on Nutella." – Megan

Meg: “I don't want to be a lone ice cream eater.”

Pam: “It's not like alcohol. Go ahead.”

"This jerky is like eating meat." – Pam

Keen Observations

Because nothing gets past us … except when it does.

“You've been awake since you woke up.” – Megan

"It's humid outside. Must be because of all the water." – Tim

"I always forget where August is." – Megan

"I'm learning so much! I could almost be a third-grader." – Pam

"Yes. And by 'yes,' I mean 'no.'" – Tim

Megan: "It'd be so nice to live in a beach town. With a beach."

"I couldn't tell what the problem was until I knew what the problem was." – Pam

"We are wherever we were." – Pam

"I couldn't speak because I didn't have my glasses on." – Pam

"The more I talk, the more I realize I don't know what I'm talking about." – Tim

"’Boo ya’ is just ‘boom yeah’ after some letters called in sick.” – Tim

"I don't know what you're doing. But you're doing it well." – Pam

"I overestimated my underestimate." – Tim

"That's the thing about aging. It makes you get old." – Tim

"I don't know very many places as far from civilization as Ohio." – Nathan

"I wonder if they make waterproof eyebrows? I don't want to go swimming and have my eyebrows go away." – Pam

"The only reason I haven't had to do that yet is that I haven't had to do that yet." – Tim

"I need to finish my welcome packet. And by 'finish,' I mean 'start.'" – Megan

“Oh my goodness, I forgot about my feet!” – Pam

"I sometimes think my ears aren't hearing me." – Megan

"I don't think I meant to have a face on." – Megan

"Is it genetic, or does it just run in the family?" – Tim

"Even if it keeps me awake, it helps me fall asleep." – Megan

"His face looks like it's been lifting weights." – Tim

Conversations of the Year

2019 proves once again that Hollywood script writers ain’t got nothin’ on us.

Pam: "I've been cuttin' my vowels."

Tim: "Sounds like you're cuttin' your consonants too."

Nathan: "You're gonna wind up speakin' in silence."

Kirsta: “Pick a number between one and three.”

Zac: “Two. You know there's only one number between 1 and 3, right?”

Kirsta: “Shoot! Ugh! I meant inclusive.”

Zac: “Inclusive?”

Kirsta: “Yeah, so any number.”

Zac: “Any number?”

Kirsta: “Yeah.”

Zac: “Four.”

Kirsta: “UGH. I meant a number between zero and four.”

Zac: “One-point-five.”

Kirsta: “I mean a WHOLE number!”

Zac: “Ooooooh. Two.”

Kirsta: “ZAC.”

Pam: "Should I just saw off this whole branch?"

Megan: "Are you standing on it? Then no."

Cati: “Guys, worlds are colliding and there is Twitter drama between the Kardashians and the Bachelorette right now. I'd fill you all in, but you guys wouldn't care anyway.”

Pam: “So true.”

Dad: “Have you made an eye appointment yet?”

Megan: “No. I was going to make the appointment but when I looked up the phone number, I couldn't read it.”

Alyssa: "I'm game for anything."

Nathan: "That's not true, you're at the top of the food chain."

Zac: “It’s not that cool to know my dad.”

Kirsta: “It’s WAY cool to know your dad!”

Z: “Well. It’s cool, but it’s like ‘Oh. Yeah. I guess I know my dad.’”

Tim: “Where's that cup?”

Megan: “To the left ... right ... depends on whichever way you're looking.”

Tim: "Why are you gonna go topless at the gym?"

Pam: "I don't go to the gym, so I'm gonna have to go topless somewhere else."

Pam: "You look like you have fake nails on."

Megan: "Thank you."

Meg: "I'm going to stand out. I'm wearing pants."

Tim: "I'll tell you what. I'll wear pants too."

Cati: "Are you 23 now?"

Megan: "Oh yeah, I guess I am."

Cati: "What … ???"

Megan: "I forgot that your age changes on your birthday. I was 22 until a second ago."

Pam: "Are you sure you don't need a coat? There are record low temperatures!"

Meg: "What?! Here?"

Pam: "No, in the Midwest."

Rob: "I'm not jealous of your job."

Nathan: "This is actually the most fun I've ever had! But, you know, I'm a nice guy, and I'll let you do it if you give me your apple."

Rob: "Go hang out with your friend Huckleberry."

Kirsta: My love for you surpasses all hunger!

Zac: *raises eyebrow*

Kirsta: .... I AM a little hungry.

Pam: "I don't remember."

Tim: "Your deja vu isn't working."

Animal Magnetism

Because we just can’t get enough of our fuzzy four-legged friends.

"I hate it when I'm laughing so hard that I can't even watch the cat video that I'm supposed to be laughing at." – Tim

"We had a chicken homicide in our front yard." – Pam

"Hey Zac, show Nathan how you eat Duke." – Kirsta

"I want a big dog that's small." – Megan

"See? Marley couldn't eat a mouse. She can't even eat paté." – Tim

"And then Kirsta was all like, 'You'd better not be cheating on me with no skanky geese!'" – Zac

"He licked all my moustache hairs up, so they're tickling my nose!" – Zac

Megan: "Does Marley need a Self-Warming Kitty Sack for winter?"

Tim: "She already has one. It's called 'fur.'"

"I'm not used to seeing cat testicles." – Nathan

Words for the Wise

Sage counsel to help you succeed in everyday life. You’re welcome.

"It's healthy to not be healthy every once in awhile." – Megan

"Nothing wrong with a little honest cheating." – Papa

"What is the world coming to if you can't trust a Dolly Parton impersonator?" – Tim

"You know, if you play dead, an avalanche will leave you alone." – Zac

"If you're running from an avalanche, just trip your friend, and then the avalanche will eat him and leave you alone." – Zac

"You know, if you tie your food up in a tree, avalanches won't be able to get it." – Zac

"Everything is worth it if it's done out of spite." – Nathan

Potpourri

One-liners that defy categorization. And logic.

"I'm patient. Hurry up!" – Zac

"I'm not sure I believe myself." – Tim

"I feel like I've been kidnapped but in an enjoyable way" – Cati

"I'm just saying, I agree with me." – Tim

"I'm a funny guy. Sometimes I'm even funny on purpose." – Tim

"I'm in such bad shape, I can get a workout just by rolling around on the floor." – Pam

"I'm one of those rare fortunate people who gets to shave his ears on a regular basis." – Tim

"I wanna go see men in skirts playing tug-of-war!" – Pam

"I think I'm going to be a sexy paper towel for Halloween." – Cati

"Your hand is hanging out over here where my skull belongs." – Pam

"You need a face diaper." – Nathan

"I don't understand why there have to be Kardashians in the world." – Tim

"I almost wrecked the car on the way home because the moon was so big." – Megan

"I'm going to be getting paid to take care of people and play video games." -- Nathan

2018 Strickland Family Quotes of the Year

2018 Strickland Family Quotes of the Year

Hey there! Feeling the post-Christmas blues? Well, here's a great way to cheer up: 

Continuing our family tradition, we are proud (or maybe embarrassed) to present our 2018 Strickland Family Quotes of the Year! These are actual comments, captured in the moment and now published on this blog for all the world to see. There's plenty of blackmail material in here ... not that we're trying to give anyone any ideas ...

Enjoy!

With much love,

The Tim and Pam Strickland Family

Elite Intelligence

Because we have brains and other handicaps.

"What's that thing? You know, where you can't remember things?" – Tim

"I've got brains I ain't even used yet." – Papa

"Big packages come in small packages." – Tabby

"The long answer is no. But the short answer is yes." – Zac

“What was Hitler’s name?” – Tabby

Tim: "I think I just invented a new game! Ping pong, but you play it on the floor and it's bigger so you can hit it harder."

Megan: "Dad … it's called tennis."

“I want you or Zac to have a baby so I can be a niece.” – Tabby

"I keep losing my face." – Pam

“It was enough of a difference to make a difference.” – Nathan

"I am somewhere." – Pam

"I guess when they're not open, they're closed." – Pam

Pam: “I have five cards. How many do you have? Four?”

Nathan: “No, I have five.”

Mom: “Oh, I have five cards?”

Low Technology

Finding our way in the modern world.

"I'm pretty sure the computer is out to get us." – Nathan

"I need selfie lessons." – Pam

"It wasn't a typo. It was an audio-o." -- Cati

"Neil Armstrong invented the moonwalk." – Nathan

Nathan: “Who's John Glenn?”

Cati: “Are you kidding me? You're literally wearing a NASA shirt.”

"Buttons can be snappy, if they snap." – Nathan

Cati: *on phone call* "Are you OK? You got quiet."

Tim: "Couldn't you hear me nodding?"

"Oooh, headphones! And they're the ones with the ears!" – Kirsta

"I believe my bank account when it tells me things." – Nathan

"Social media give so many opportunities for people to feel superior to others. For US, it's because we ARE." – Pam

"We went from Jesus to memes in about five minutes. That pretty much sums up Gen Z." – Nathan

Tabby: "What does government shutdown mean?"

Tim: "It means the government is inept and parts of it are morally bankrupt."

Tabby: "I thought it meant the electricity went out."

Kirsta: "Our old washer died."

Zac: "The one time I tried to use it, it died upon contact."

Kirsta: "We bought a new one with a three-year warranty. So now he can kill it and we’ll just get a new one for free."

Essentials of Elegance

It’s not easy to be this classy.

"Hey everybody! Come smell me!" – Tim

"Nice people annoy me." – Cati

"We visited Ireland, and Pam took an artsy photo of vegetarian roadkill." – Tim

"I just can't wait to watch this bad movie." – Zac

"Excuse me ma'am, I'm going to button your bottom." --- Tim

"I can't watch you people eating out of diapers." – Nathan

"I even remembered to bring my deodorant. I just forgot that I remembered it." – Nathan

"They're so nerdy. But I'm OK with that, because it means I'm cool." – Cati

Kirsta: “We totally went to the Festival of Trees last year.”

Zac: “Pretty sure I didn't.”

Kirsta: “We totally did! Just wait until we get there!”

*at the festival of trees*

Zac: “I have never been at an event like this in my life.”

Kirsta: *checks phone album* “Never mind.”

The Natural World

Beastly buffoonery and the outlandish outdoors.

Cati: "Send me your worst irrational fears."

Kirsta: "Spiders. Any kind of spider. Even the little ones that people say are cute. They're not. They're demons and they will DIE if they are found in my house."

Zac: "Ice cream trucks."

"My husband follows a dog on Twitter." – Pam

Meg: "Marley was terrified of me last night."

Tim: "Why?"

Meg: "I think she's not used to seeing me move."

"From our cottage, we have a great view of local cows! And the Atlantic Ocean." – Tim

“I don’t body-shame marsupials.” -- Nathan

"It'll be the cutest little tiny giant sequoia you've ever seen." – Megan

Pam: "I love to look up in this tree. The branches are so gnarly."

Tim: "Yeah, and the trunk is totally tubular."

"I almost commented 'she is the cutest dog ever' on the picture you posted, but then I changed it because I was worried Bolt would see it and it would hurt his feelings." – Mom

“You can’t demote me from picking up dog poop.” – Tabby

"Georgia is hot, bug-filled, and there are trailer parks everywhere. It's the best!" – Tabby

"You're such a good boy. You're just a bad boy." – Pam

Visionary Vestiges

Because seeing is believing … except when it isn’t.

"I saw it, but I didn't see it." – Tim

"I don't see what I'm seeing." – Pam

“Is that a real child? I thought it was a Halloween decoration.” – Tabby

"I didn't recognize me." – Papa

Violent Tendencies

Life, death, and other pastimes.

Zac: "How'd you afford this? Did you kill someone?"

Nathan: "Well, it wasn't related to this."

"If you ever die from something that's not related to your mental health, I'm gonna kill you." – Cati

"I learned a lot from the training, like how to not die." – Tabby

"If I die, I will sue." – Nathan

"How come Tabby got to die of coziness?" – Cati

Tim: "How's the new job going?”

Kirsta: "I smelled decomposing bone today, so that was cool.”

"When I do home-maintenance projects, I have three ingredients for success: music, caffeine, and no witnesses." – Tim

Cati: "Day 4 of the semester and I am already half dead."

Pam: "Yay! You are at least half alive!"

Cati: "MOM! That means I'm essentially a zombie."

It’s All Relative

Family togetherness and other challenges.

"I just got a little more pregnant." – Megan

"Is he pregnant?" – Pam

"I would never leave you. But I am leaving you." – Tabby

"I don't know if she was awake when I woke her up." – Nathan

"What I tell myself is, 'Pretend like you're a dude.'" – Tim

“My freaking dad hugs nuns all the time and rubs it in my face!” – Nathan

"Nathan's shoulders have more rhythm than my entire body." – Tim

"You're so sweet to watch me clean your toilet." -- Mom 

Nathan: "Dad, you're going deaf."

Tim: "What?" 

Cati: "Zac and Kirsta love the Oxford comma."

Tim: "I'm questioning my entire parental legacy."

Megan: "Does your aux cord have a dongle?"

Mom: "Is that appropriate?"

Papa: "If I put my dictionary on the top shelf, what do I have?"

Tim: "I give up."

Papa: "High definition!"

Tim: "I distinctly heard an ooga-booga."

Pam: "That wasn't an ooga-booga. It was an ugga-mugga."

Zac: "Dad, I like this look you've got going on today."

Tim: "Mom said earlier that I'm cute, so you two must have the same taste in men."

Tim: "HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY VERY FAVORITE SISTER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD"

Jill: "THANK YOU THANK YOU MY VERY FAVORITE BROTHER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD"

Tim: "It's cool that we both have such good taste in siblings."

Tim: "You're only 50 years old ... wait ... 51?"

Pam: "Something like that. I'm of an age."

Kirsta: "I think we're all feeling slap-happy."

Zac: "That's it. I'm gonna start slapping happy people."

Merry Misery

Adversity and how to enjoy it.

"My sneezes have been attacking me." – Megan

"Apparently I'm allergic to sneezes." – Tim

"I hurt myself waking up." – Pam

“Don’t demean my snuggie.” – Nathan

Megan: "Aaaargh!"

Pam: "What happened?"

Megan: "My cup startled me."

                                                     

“I smell too many things.” -- Nathan

"I sure will miss pants." – Tabby

"I gave my testimony today in sacrament. So scary. I kept having to burp." – Tabby

"Fifteen-year-old me is rolling around in her grave." – Megan

"I'm more bloated than a bloaterboat." – Pam

"My almond looks like a sleeping bunny. I could sell it on eBay."

*moments later …*

"Oh no! I ate the bunny!"

– Pam

"When I put on clean socks, they immediately become three weeks dirty." – Zac

"These shoes are on their last legs." – Nathan

"I'm gonna restock the homeless shelters." – Nathan

"I'm defrosting my face right now." – Megan

Tim: "Oh my gosh!"

Pam: "What's wrong with your gosh?"

"Alyssa doesn't know Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and I'm not sure how to survive going forward until she's seen it." – Nathan

"Behold, my bodily aroma doth offend me." – Tim

"I’m worried about that sneeze. It felt juicy." – Zac

"A baby spit on me today. It was so cute." – Tabby

Culinary Class

We accept no responsibility for any suffering experienced by your taste buds.

“I never wanted meat to come out of my nose.” – Nathan

"I want my hair to have whatever that toe ate." – Pam

"French fries dipped in mashed potatoes are beautiful." – Zac

"Chocolate-covered chocolate is the thing." – Papa

"Meanwhile, I was blissfully growing a crop of potatoes in my cupboard." – Tim

“Do you even KNOW the anatomy of a walnut?” – Nathan

Kirsta: “I think I'm done with this food. Do you want any of this?”

Zac: “Nah, I'm good.”

Kirsta: “You sure? Because I'm about to put trash on it.”

Zac: “Yeah, go ahead.”

*Kirsta puts trash on the plate*

Zac: “Wait!”