Friday Fill-Ins 8/6/2010

And...here we go!

1. Life is what it is. It's better than I could ask for, really, so I feel like I have no room to complain. The school room is set up, desks in place, and new chairs were purchased yesterday (because after a couple of hours of the kids playing Sims on their laptops yesterday while our cleaning lady cleaned the downstairs, the children flat out told us the seats were not comfortable!) I'm really looking forward to school starting. The kids have done a couple of sample "get ready for school" lessons and it went well. Everyone has comfy earphones now (ear buds did NOT work), and we're all waiting for August 16th to roll around. So why complain? I just don't physically feel well. I hurt my back when Camryn was in Honduras in mid-July. To help myself feel better, I took some Celebrex that I'd had since about 2003. I know, I shouldn't take old drugs, but I was in horrible pain and they did help. Over the course of about 3 days I took maybe 6-7 pills. Not that many, really. But now I have awful reflux, which may or may not have been caused by the Celebrex. I'm not sure, but I do know that I felt fine before the Celebrex (well, except for the back injury!) and Celebrex is a powerful NSAID, which can cause stomach problems. I did 12 days on Prilosec, but I don't feel much better. During all this I developed an ear infection, which was treated with a z-pac antibiotic, but I still had fluid on my ear. Got that taken care of on Wednesday with a 6-day course of steroids. Oh, boy. The ear now feels better, but I feel puffy and cranky from the steroid drugs. I went back to the doctor today for the stomach problems and got some stronger samples of a newer, better drug (because the doctor, knowing how expensive Prevacid is, wanted to save me some money). Hopefully these new drugs will work, because I flat out miss tomato products. But, all in all, that's a drop in the bucket compared to what I know so many others are going through. I can handle giving up Italian and Mexican food temporarily. At least it's me in pain and not my kids or my husband.

2. I hate it when Quinn announces he has to pee, because it means I can't keep going. I have to stop quickly and find him somewhere to go, even if it's a secluded spot where he can open the van door and pee into some bushes. When the boy has to go, the boy has to GO. NOW.

3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: "need 30mg? ask?" Nope, not a spam text. That was from my husband while I was at the doc this morning, making sure I was asking the right questions because I tend to forget to ask pertinent things when I'm in a doctor's presence.

4. Grilled basil chicken and breaded eggplant is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon. In fact, that's what's on the menu tonight, along with some whole wheat pasta or brown rice. We joined a local CSA and in this week's box was a gorgeous eggplant, as well as some leeks, okra, various types of tomatoes and peppers (just what I need right now!) and some potatoes. I've never prepared eggplant before, but you can't go wrong with breading it, right? At least, I hope so. We shall see.

5. On the 1st day of August my sister brought my girls back to us from a visit with my parents in Birmingham. I know my mom reads this blog, so I want to take this opportunity to thank her and my dad for taking my kids at separate times this summer. The kids love being at my parents' house, and I love the alone time their absence gives me. I have the best parents in the world, and my kids have the world's best grandparents! Thank you, Mom and Dad!

6. I hope that when these new meds kick in I will get back to feeling lively and energetic. I've barely made it to Curves in the past month because I just feel icky. I went Wednesday and had a good workout, but I just felt blah the rest of the day. That's not how I usually feel after I've exercised.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having dinner at home with my family and hopefully playing that game of Clue: Secrets and Spies we've been trying all week to play. Tomorrow my plans include hanging out with the kids, dinner and church. Sunday, I want to see if I can get my husband to hang this clothes line that's seem to have made a permanent home on our kitchen table!

Friday Fill-Ins 6/25/2010

And...here we go!

1. On vacation, I like to do as little as possible. I usually read, especially if we're at the beach. At Disney World there is a lot to do, but we've slowed down and now only visit 1 or 2 parks per trip instead of doing all 4 every time. We build in some pool time into our trips now, and that's a nice perk to being DVC members and going as often as we do. There's no pressure to do it all because hey - we'll be back!

2. I'm sick over all the oil in the ocean. The beautiful Gulf beaches I went to almost every summer as a child - and no one seems to be in a hurry to fix it!

3. One of my favorite vacation spots is the beach. Any beach, really. Just me, a good book (or 3 - depending on how long the vacation is!), buckets for the kids, a comfy chair, some sunscreen and an umbrella, and I could sit in the sand all day long.

4. Is there going to be a full moon tonight?

5. Up, up and away - only 91 days until we're back on a plane bound for Disney World! Can't wait!

6. Bananas are in my freezer. I really need to make some banana bread to use them up.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Friday Night Lights. Tomorrow my plans include sleeping late! Camryn and I have been going to Curves early all this week and I'm pooped! I just want to sleep in tomorrow. Sunday, I want to do something with the whole family - maybe drive up to Caesar's Head or to Flat Rock, NC. We need a family "Caventure" (Car + Adventure).

Nuts, Butts and Biscuits

Yesterday. Was. Great.

Yesterday should've been Mother's Day, because it was Hallmark perfect.

Got up, showered, dressed (in shorts that seemed looser! Thanks, Curves!) Took Quinn and Lillian to their soccer games (1 win, 1 tie, 1 loss). There was a great breeze. The sun was shining. It was just the kind of day that you expect perfection everywhere you turn.

The soccer games ended. I made it back up the big hill after soccer without getting out of breath. Awesome. Took Quinn and Lillian home to change. Told all the kiddos to get in the car. Aiden chose Cracker Barrel for brunch. I love that kid.

Blessed biscuits, Batman - we (a party of 5! On a Saturday!) were seated immediately at Cracker Barrel. Um, hello?!? This never happens. Made me wonder if they were out of eggs or.... everything.

I don't know if you've ever had the pleasure of taking 4 children to Cracker Barrel. It's not as easy as you might think. It's like negotiating world peace. I need to take Jimmy Carter with me next time I go. Really. It's breakfast, but it takes skills to make all my kids happy at the Barrel of Crackers. Because...

I have one that wants the blackberry pancakes, except she wants GRITS with that. Side order of grits added is like, $45.50 or something. Outrageous. It makes more sense to get grits with something than order them on the side, so that's where it gets tricky..

I personally have to order a breakfast with grits so that Miss Blackberry Pancakes gets her extra side of starch (add cheese for $.90, please!) 'Sokay, 'cause I'm not big on grits. I know. Shoot me.

But there are like 37 different breakfast combo plates at Cracker Barrel, and they seem to all be named after family members. Uncle Herschel, Grandpa, Momma, etc. I can't keep them all straight. So while the kids are all peppering me with questions, I'm trying to figure out which family member's breakfast I want. And it has to have grits, and enough food left on the plate so that without the grits I still feel like I've eaten something.

Then I have another kid who thinks he can eat like a 40 year-old truck driver. Breaker 1-9, breaker 1-9, he wants country fried steak with his breakfast. So I have to begin the "Do you know what deep fried red meat will do to your 9 year-old arteries, son?" song and dance. "Remember those chicken nuggets we found in the floorboard of the van that time? Like, weeks and weeks after they'd left the fryer at McDonald's? Remember that they were so hard you could throw them at passing cars and leave dents? Yeah. That's your arteries on country fried steak." He relented and ordered the turkey sausage instead. Not great, but better than the alternative. And he wants grits, too. And apples, but please no hash brown casserole. Because potatoes and cheese... that can't be good, right? (I seriously don't know how I failed him in that department, poor child.) So, I have to find a breakfast with grits and apples but no potatoes. Aunt Peggy? Is that you?

Then there are the youngest two of my brood. They each want pancakes and eggs. This is where I have issues with Cracker Barrel. On their kids' menu they offer either pancakes (no sides) OR one egg with one biscuit (no sides). What happens when you have children that want some protein with their short stack, or just want more than one single egg? You have to perform a pantomime and hope that the waitress catches on, can read lips or speak Mandarin. You see, I want to order the Momma's Pancake breakfast off of the adult menu, because it comes with 3 pancakes, 3 slices of bacon and two eggs (one scrambled, one over medium. I think that must throw the fry cook into all sorts of fits. Bipolar eggs. CAN'T SHE MAKE UP HER MIND?) When the food arrives I give 1.5 pancakes and 1.5 slices of bacon and one scrambled egg to one child, then put one over medium egg on the other plate with the leftover pancakes and bacon. And I have to do it FAST while the kids are distracted by that golf tee game, because heaven forbid they think they're actually SHARING a MEAL. They CANNOT hear me say to the waitress, "These two are going to SPLIT THAT." No dice, man. They have to believe that they each ordered and received things that were prepared separately and just for them. Teeny tiny breakfast narcissists.

(Scrolling back up now to see where I was actually going with this post. I got wrapped up in Breakfast Negotiations 2010.)

Anyhow, I say all that to tell you that breakfast ordering, and in fact, consumption, went very peacefully yesterday morning. Like, almost too peacefully. Like, I expected Keanu was tampering with the Matrix or something. It was that good.

And when kids are good, don't we feel all proud and happy? And don't they just know that when they are well behaved we're going to be more likely to say, "Yes, you can waste $5 on a cheap toy because I love you so much and you're so perfect and you ate all your pancakes? Please let me buy you a very loud clicky toy or a hatching dinosaur egg that I will most likely throw away in 6 weeks?"

So that is where I'm going with this.

Quinn chose a hatching dinosaur egg. In the car on the way home he pretended to be the momma dinosaur sitting on the egg. He'd put it between his legs, squawk like a pterodactyl and then move his legs so we could see his egg. Well, I couldn't see it, because I was driving. Which reminds me of a pet peeve of mine: TV show characters that turn toward their passenger and look at them for 5 minutes at a time when they're supposed to be looking AT THE ROAD.

But I digress.

Back to the momma bird.

Quinn said, "You know where penguins keep their eggs?"

(No, I cannot believe I'm going to type his answer here, but I am. Because it's funny. And you'll crack up. Get it? CRACK UP? Like the egg?)

Quinn says, "Between their NUTS and their BUTTS!"

Oh, my. I tried to set him straight, but that led to questions whose answers I was ill prepared for. I bungled the whole thing, and now my 7 year-old thinks pregnant women and animals carrying eggs can't go poop or pee while they're swollen with child.

It doesn't end there, though.

Last night on the way to church I recounted the whole conversation to my husband. And we had to rehash the whole anatomy discussion, and somehow the following phrase came out of Lillian's mouth:

"Girls don't have round nuts. We have flat nuts."

And that, my friends, was Saturday.

Hold the Mustard, please

Remember a few weeks back when I told y'all I had scheduled a mammogram? I went and had it last week. It wasn't the horror women make it out to be. Oh, I was uncomfortable, alright, but not because of the machine. I was more unnerved by Allie, the lady who shot the breeze with me like we were taking a walk together in the park. She acted totally oblivious to the fact that she was manhandling (womanhandling?) my boobies as if she was making hamburger patties for supper. I know she's used to it, but for me, it was weird. The least she could do is buy me dinner first.

I got an envelope from the hospital yesterday. All is good with the boobies. They are healthy. I am glad.

That is all.

Breaking News...

This just in:

I was summoned to Quinn's room by my husband. He asked, "Mommy, Quinnie wants to know what does sinoh mean?"

"Uh, what?"

"You know.... sinoh."

"I'm not familiar with that word."

"Sure you are. You know.... 'Jesus loves me, thi sinoh...'"

Ah, sweet Quinn. We set him straight.

Bless his heart.

On another note, Quinn's "Going Gibby" in his bed tonight. If you are familiar with the Nickelodeon show iCarly then you know Gibby.

Gibby, for whatever reason, is seen without his shirt quite frequently. He's a cute little fella with a little spare tire around his gut.

See?

Despite applying ample sunscreen, Quinn has quite the red neck from being outside all day yesterday. He looks like he's wearing a pink skin necklace.

When I came to the table for dinner, Quinn was shirtless. He said, "I'm going Gibby tonight," meaning, of course, that he's just wearing pants to bed, because shirts hurt his neck.

And again, that is ONLY funny if you watch iCarly.

Goodnight.

Greetings from Lobsterland

Good morning, peeps.

It's been awhile, I know. My heartfelt apologies.

But I'm here now. I didn't forget you.

It'sjustthatlifehasbeensobusylately.

Saturday Camryn fell down 3 stairs and by Monday she couldn't walk. Conveniently, the "it's so hard to walk!" complaint came on PE day. Hmmm.

Cancelled my own podiatrist appointment so I'd have time to take the cripple to the doctor. She had inflamed muscles around her butt bones. Anaprox worked wonders. Off to Costco.

I must admit, the girl is a great Costco companion. Ay, que bueno! (There are pictures on my iPhone that explain that statement, but it's downstairs and I'm upstairs. And it's 8:15 on a Sunday morning. And sorry, I'm not going down to get them, no matter how bad you whine. Deal.)

A buggy full of goodies later, we were excused from Costco. What can I say. It was sample day. So what that I already had 3 jars of jelly in the pantry. It was grape. The kindly grandma was demo-ing strawberry. It had chunks of fruit in it. It made that cracker sing. So I bought 2 jars (You have to. They're handcuffed together so that you must purchase both fugitive jams.)

The rest of Monday is a haze of picking up children from school and trying to force all of the Costco purchases into nooks and crannies in the freezer and pantry. If ever there was a time for a natural disaster that confined us to our homes for a couple of months, this is it. 'Cause I'm stocked up, baby. Stocked UP.

Tuesday brought frustration. I am the chair of the TAC (teacher appreciation committee) at the kids' school. We have regular meetings the first Tuesday of each month. I sent out a reminder email reiterating the importance of April's meeting (planning teacher appreciation week for the first week in May). I had 2 people (of about 15 or so) show. So frustrating. People just don't care, I guess. The three of us in attendance planned the week anyway. My faithfuls got their pick of things to bring/do and the rest of the ladies will be assigned things. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Tuesday night we headed to FPU (Financial Peace University) at our church. I love Dave Ramsey and am excited to see how his teachings are changing the lives of people in our church. We're on week 7 of 13. I cannot lie and say I'll be sad when we hit week 13. It's a struggle to get everyone home, check homework, get lunches made, eat dinner and be at the church by 6 pm. We don't get home until 9 pm. I know we signed up for this, but I want my Tuesday nights back.

Wednesday was a great day. Went on a field trip with Quinn and his sweet class. We ate a picnic at Falls Park and then enjoyed a performance of Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type at the Gunther Theater. I love our downtown. So picturesque. Here are a few pictures:

Good times, good times.

Thursday I did little to nothing. I spent some Gymbucks at Gymboree.com, tried (in vain) to figure out what's making the freezer stay open just enough to form icicles along the top of the door, saw dark clouds in the sky and prayed that rain would cancel soccer practice (it did!), and went to Copper River for dinner with the fam. There might've been a load of laundry or two. I can't remember. Oh, and I scheduled myself a mammo for next week. A hump day treat, if you will. Yeah, yeah. I know it's a mammogram, but I figured if I shortened it like mani and pedi it might make it sound like fun. "I'm having a mammo on Wednesday!"

Yeah.

Nah.

Then there's Friday. Ah, Friday. TGIF. I had my rescheduled date with the podiatrist. He shaved some gunk off my heel and left me hobbled. No big deal. I ate a Chick-Fil-A sandwich on a WHEAT bun for lunch. I was proud of myself for going wheat. I negated the wheat choice that night at dinner. Date night. Melting Pot. Yum. Went home stuffed. In bed early. Snore.

Saturday was a long one. Took the kids to their school to perform at the Heritage Festival. Planned on staying just until after Lillian performed (12:15) but with the kids scattered in all different directions (bouncy house! popcorn! huge mound of dirt to play on! horses to ride! goats to feed!) I lingered. We headed home around 3:30. Although I managed to sunscreen 3 of the children (Camryn, being 12, is responsible for her own sun protection), I forgot myself.

Just call me Lobster Arms. Or Lobster Nose. Or Lobster Neck. Or, just combine the word Lobster with any part of the anatomy that's exposed to the sun when you're clothed in jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. I'll answer to any of them.

Ouch.

But overall it was a good week. A normal, sane, too-much-fighting-in-the-car kind of week. I'll take it.

Now, there are 5 pounds of hamburger, conveniently formed into patties, in my fridge, begging for me to do something with them already. To my right there's a cat begging for some treats that are hidden in my desk. If you'll excuse me, life calls.

Seacrest out.

Sunny Days, Chasing the Clouds Away...

Today, there is sunshine. Actual sunshine. And warmth. After days of chilly, grey skies, today is a gorgeous day. Beautiful. Life affirming. Praiseworthy.

Daffodils are in bloom. Tree branches bear pink promises that spring is coming. The UPS man was wearing his brown shorts today.

Life is GOOD.

And not just because of the weather.

Last Thursday, while driving down the road in the pouring rain, I got a phone call.

It was the nurse from my gynecologist's office. She told me that my pap smear had come back as abnormal. I scheduled a colposcopy for April 7th (the soonest I could see my doctor) and hung up the phone.

I felt like crying as hard as it was raining, but I had to stay composed because Camryn was sitting beside me. I didn't want to alarm her.

I didn't want to alarm anyone, which is why this will be the first any of you have read of this. I just wanted to get through the test and know what I was facing before ringing anyone's alarms. I didn't even tell my mom. Or my sister. I guess I figured the fewer people that knew, the better I could pretend like it wasn't happening.

I was a wreck the night of the 11th. After the kids went to bed and I got a chance to talk to my husband alone, all I could do was cry. I got up last Friday and called my GYN's office and rescheduled the test. I didn't think I could wait until April 7th. It would've been torture.

Today was the day of the test. I have been pretty good all week, knowing that all was in the hands of my savior. None of my worrying could change the outcome, because I do not make the plans. God does. If the fear welled up, I swallowed, closed my eyes and prayed for peace. I tried to picture myself being soothed in the palm of God. He's got it all under control, so I just rested in that knowledge.

I lost it in the shower this morning, though. Heaving sobs. I just jumped way ahead in my mind and saw my children motherless. That was the end of my peace and calm. For about 5 minutes. Then I heard the phone ring and it jarred me, kind of like God saying, "HEY! I've got this. Stop your boo hooing. We'll walk this road together, because I love you. You are MY CHILD, and I won't leave you or forsake you. It's all good, k?"

I put my new fuzzy socks (with shea butter in them) into my purse so I could wear them at the doctor's office (I hate if my feet get cold in the stirrups... and I see you ladies out there nodding your heads. I know you know what I'm talkin' about!) and I headed out the door. My sweet husband went with me for moral support. And lunch. A man's gotta eat (no, not at the Gyn's office, sillies. At a restaurant. Afterwards. 'Cause while the kids are in school, might as well have a date with the wife, right?)

The worst part of the test was the vinegar that they put on my Cervix. Holy fire, that stuff burned. It was also awkward making polite conversation with a man who's shining a light up your hoo ha while your husband is in the room. On a positive note, the nice nurse warmed the speculum for me before handing it to the doctor. That's something I've never had done for me before, and LADIES... it made a difference. I shall request it from now on out. If it was customary to tip a nurse, I would've slipped her a $20 for sure.

But back to the test. It was probably the most uncomfortable procedure I've ever had done. But oh, how sweet the words the doctor uttered as the flames in my nether regions were dying out: "I do not see any abnormalities. I didn't see anything that needs to be biopsied."

Sweet Jesus. Thank you for answering my prayers.

I should've known it was going to be alright. I just should've known.

Today's entry in my daily devotion book says, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3, NLT) and the devotion that follows says, "How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his fears. Do the same with yours. Don't avoid life's Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just don't enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed... And be specific. He knows what you need."

God can be trusted. He can. HE KNOWS WHAT I NEED. I'm so grateful for my God. I'm so thankful for good results today.

Today, there. is. sunshine.

I'm Gonna Have Nightmares

Shopping at OldNavy.com just now.

Saw this - in the plus size section.

A one piece jumpsuit for big girls?!?

I might not be able to sleep.

(At least it doesn't have horizontal stripes. ::SHIVERS::)

Is that you, Rod Serling?

I think I've been watching too much Lost, because I SWEAR. I think I'm living in a parallel universe all of a sudden.

Yesterday Camryn discovered the art of card making. She was bored and came up to my office seeking entertainment. I pointed out the cardmaking supplies, gave her a couple of idea books and the scraps and off she went. She's pretty good at it. Best of all, it makes her happy.

So this afternoon Camryn once again went up to the office to make cards. I did a few chores, then joined her in my office. As I hit the top step, the clutter from the playroom side of the office smacked me in the face (not literally, but it's almost as bad as really being slapped. I abhor clutter.)

I sighed as I parked myself in my chair and said something to the affect of, "I swear, I hate that pile of junk. One day I'm just going to put it all in a trash bag and throw it away."

Camryn said, "I'll clean it for you."

I waited.

And waited.

But the "if you pay me" part of her sentence never came. She just got up and started cleaning.

Zoinks, Shaggy. Is this really my house?

I told her I'd pay her $20 (it was a HUGE mess). She just shrugged and said, "Okay".

She's working for minutes. TracFone minutes. They are more precious than gold to her right now.

But I'm puzzled that she didn't first ask for payment before getting to work.

That part is strange.

But whatever. I'll take it.

Friday Fill Ins 3/12/10

I don't think I've ever had a crazier couple of weeks than the 2 that have just passed. I've gone to bed early almost every night this week (8:30 pm on Monday night... can you believe it?!?)

1. I am so looking forward to spring break at Hilton Head. Fifteen days. Not that I'm counting.

2. I have put off too many things lately, meaning to do them later, and then they've piled up. I need some downtime to get the house back into shape.

3. When you get in the car, and there are no other people in there, and you crank up the stereo, and you pop open the sunroof (if you have one) and get to driving fast and feeling cool because hey, only old people drive slow with the radio down (so you can't possibly be old and stodgy... your radio is loud!), and then, on some remote rural highway, some guy on a Moped, wearing a neon orange knit cap pulls out in front of you and totally kills your music-fed, bass-pumping, fast-driving buzz... you remember that you are, indeed, driving a minivan full of car seats and not a shiny red convertible. Sigh.

4. Housework is a big part of my life.

5. If you need anything, don't ask me for awhile. I need to relax and take care of my responsibilities at home. I mean, I love to sub for the kids' teachers and serve at their school, but I need to lay low for awhile and just chill.

6. My kids are a trip. This week I was subbing for Quinn's 1st grade teacher. Quinn and Lillian have recess at the same time, so I was pushing Lillian on the swings. She was on a swing set with two swings, so I was pushing her and whomever came to use the 2nd swing. I pushed and pushed for about 20 minutes straight, and my shoulders started to hurt, so I stopped. Lillian and I walked to the picnic table to sit down, and a couple of kids approached us and asked if I could push them on the swings. I politely declined, indicating that my shoulder was tired. Lillian put her hands on her hips and said, "Yeah! Her shoulder hurts and her back hurts (it did) and she has a runny nose (I did) and a cough (I did) and she has a headache (I'd had one on Monday) and she IS TIRED! Leave her alone!" I didn't realize she had paid such close attention to my ailments, but evidently she'd been asking her teacher to pray for her poor, tired, sick mommy for a few days. To hear her tell it, I had one foot in the grave.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking Camryn and 4 of her friends to Melting Pot for chocolate fondue. It's part of her birthday party. Tomorrow my plans include seeing that Camryn's 4 friends make it home safely, then finishing laundry and going to church tomorrow night. Sunday, I want to RELAX!

Manic Monday 2/22/10

I had to go to my yearly lady doctor appointment today. Never something I look forward to, but I love my gynecologist and enjoy spending time with her (when I'm clothed). She never rushes me and always seems genuinely interested in what's going on in my life, so I don't dread the annual visit. Can't say I'm sad when it's over, though. Well, maybe a little. The soap they use has a fragrance that stays with me. It stays on my hands all day long, and the smell makes me think of having babies. While I'm perfectly content with my four and don't want to dive back into babyhood, I still think of those days fondly and wish I could revisit the times when my kids were infants. Such sweet memories.

If you could invite any five people to your birthday party, who would they be?

Besides my family? Because that'd be a party of five right there. If it's anyone besides my family, then I'd have to start by inviting Harry Connick, Jr. (::SWOON::). I'd ask Paula Deen to bring herself and all her best butter and may-naise recipes ("may-naise".... that's how Paula says it... 2 syllables!) Amy Poehler would be invited, and she could bring Tina Fey if she wanted to. Those ladies crack me up. Last on the list would probably be Joel McHale (from "The Soup" and NBC's "Community") because I think he's one of the funniest people on the planet. I love The Soup! If I could have an alternate guest, just in case, I'd ask The Pioneer Woman to attend, too.

What birthday has been your favorite so far? What about it made it special?

I'd have to say that the birthday I just celebrated was the best in recent history. My parents came to visit, I got some great gifts, some beautiful flowers, and I got to go to Great Wolf Lodge with my family. We had a SUPER time. I don't think we've had such an awesome family vacation in a long time.

What one thing are you craving today?

More time to get things done.

Tell It Like It Is, Son

So I'm sittin' here in the den with the laptop in my lap, wearing my Snuggie, relaxing after a long day. Lillian is playing outside with a neighborhood friend. She came inside briefly to get her bicycle helmet, then went back out, 'cause she and her buddy were going to ride bikes.

'Cept Lillo forgot to tell her bud that she was going inside to fetch headgear. When she went back out, her friend was crying and walking home because she thought Lillian had abandoned her.

Note to self: teach Lillian about the concept of giving someone a heads up.

Lillian comes back inside and starts whining to her daddy about what's going on. He and I both give Lillian the same advice: go back over to V's house and tell her you want to keep playing.

Whine, whine, whine. Scream, kick, whine.

Hubby says to Lillian: "Do you want V to ride bikes with you?"

L: "Yeeeaaaaaaaahhhhhh...."

Hub: "Then you have to go tell her that, because you just standing here screaming and crying is NOT going to get V. to come back and play with you."

And from the corner of the dining room comes a voice, an unmistakable voice of wisdom and clarity. It is Quinn, speaking from where he has parked himself in front of the Wii.

He says, "Well, if she screams loud enough, it will."

My boys have a knack for telling it like it is.

100 Days

My baby girl has been in kindergarten for 100 days as of Tuesday (it would've been Monday, but the snow forced us to miss a day of school.)

Here is the book she made as part of the 100 day celebration her class had.

Yes, folks. That's 100 SERVANTS. As if the one she already has (me) wasn't enough. She needs 99 more, I guess.

Smart kid I have there. I couldn't do 100 spiders, either. Our life isn't an episode of Fear Factor, after all.


You'd get a nasty bellyache, but yeah... 100 cupcakes is a dream.



Not if you ate 100 cupcakes, honey. You couldn't lift 100 of yourself (well, maybe if each one of you only had 1 cupcake each).



Spiders and bugs? You'd think we need an exterminator. Maybe she was sitting with boys when she filled this out. I swear our house is clean, y'all.



Make those tents, dear. (See "100 cupcakes")

On a funny note, I told Lillian that dresses was spelled with an -es at the end and she begged to differ. "It's 'DRES' 'S', Mommy!" as she pronounced the "s" as "-es". Something tells me that the K5 kids haven't discussed suffixes and plurals yet.

So, 100 days... that means only 80 more, right?!?

YAHOO!

Log Your Memory 1/13/10

Today's Log Your Memory question is this:

Create a list of 100 things you want to do before you die.

1. Be completely debt free

2. Take a cross country trip

3. Take an Alaskan cruise

4. Ride a train across the United States

5. Visit Hawaii

6. Go back to Paris

7. Visit Jerusalem

8. Tour Pompeii

9. Visit Masada (I read a book about it in 5th grade and have been fascinated about it since!)

10. Go on a zipline

11. Build a new house with double ovens and a huge laundry room

12. See all 4 of my children grow to adulthood and find success

13. Lose 100 pounds

14. Grow my fingernails out

15. Try being a blonde for awhile

16. Visit New York City

17. Vegas, baby

18. Live in a loft downtown

19. Own a convertible

20. Stay in a luxury hut on stilts in the ocean.

21. Give a bunch of money away

22. Help Samaritan's Purse give away their Operation Christmas Child boxes

23. Go on another mission trip

24. Take a culinary tour of New Orleans (Emeril's, Brennan's, Delmonico, Antoine's)

25. See Saturday Night Live... LIVE!

26. Travel Route 66 from beginning to end

27. Own a Maine Coon

28. Eat at the chef's table at Victoria & Albert's (Grand Floridian, Disney World)

29. Go to an Alabama vs. Auburn football game

30. Go to a professional baseball game (nope, never been!)

31. Visit the British Isles

32. Tour Britain, Scotland and Ireland

33. Swim with a dolphin

34. Sail on a private yacht

35. Take a few girlfriends and my sister to Disney World for a girls' trip (or my girls, my sister and my momma!)

36. Take a cake decorating class

37. Take a ballroom dance class

38. Go to San Antonio to see my friend Joanie again. She's one heck of a gal and I miss her!

39. Attend a CHA conference

40. See my sister find someone she can spend the rest of her life with, someone who treats her like she deserves.

41. Go to Spokane, Washington with my dad to visit all the places he knew growing up

42. Take my kids to a NASCAR race with my dad.

43. Be on Jeopardy!

44. See the entire family go one Christmas without giving or getting gifts in exchange for providing for other families who need it more

45. Spend Christmas in Colorado

46. See Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite (again.... and this time remember it because I'm not 18 months-old!)

47. See school vouchers become a reality

48. Walk the Great Wall of China

49. See a space shuttle launch

50. Hear at least one of my children say, "Mom, you were right." And in case that was something my own mom has on her list, I'll say, "Mom, you were right!" about so very many things.

51. Know that my mother-in-law is living within her means and has no credit card balances.

52. Hold a snake.

53. Scuba dive.

54. Visit Auschwitz, Dachau and any other tourable former concentration camps.

55. Read Gone With the Wind because the book is different, oh, so different from the movie.

56. Take my kids to the Louvre.

57. Return to Madrid and tour the Prado. It's closed on Mondays, so I didn't get to see it.

58. Watch the running of the bulls in Pamplona (I don't want to run with them... just watch!)

59. Learn how to quilt. I have a bunch of old t-shirts that I'd love to turn into a quilt.

60. Learn how to can veggies.

61. Grow a successful garden (thus the reason for learning to can veggies!)

62. Own chickens so we can have fresh eggs.

63. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

64. Take the kids to see Niagara Falls.

65. Go back to King's Island and ride The Beast.

66. Meet The Pioneer Woman. I'm not obsessed with her or anything, but she seems so very cool.

67. See Bette Midler in concert

68. Go to Maine.

69. Take voice lessons.

70. Go to the Miss America pageant

71. Visit historic battle sites: the Ardennes, Iwo Jima, Normandy, etc.

72. Take a trip on the Orient Express

73. Attend at least one major sporting event: the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the World Series, etc.

74. Skydive.

75. Ride a camel into the desert.

76. Be one of many in the crowd counting down to the New Year in New York City.

77. Spend Christmas on the beach.

78. Donate money and put my name on something: a college scholarship, a building, etc.

79. Kiss the Blarney stone.

80. Drive really fast in the Bonneville Salt Flats.

81. Get a (very small) tattoo.

82.Minimize existing clutter and excess possessions

83. Go to the Kentucky Derby and drink a mint julep.

84. Ride a gondola in Venice.

85. Ride a mechanical bull.

86. See the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC when they're in full bloom

87. See the Pyramids.

88. See Stonehenge.

89. Visit Machu Picchu.

90. Visit all 50 states.

91. Go on an African safari.

92. Drive Down Highway 101 (West Coast Highway)

93. Tour Anne Frank's House.

94. Visit Alcatraz.

95. See the Aurora Borealis.

96. Visit the Top Ten US Lighthouses.

97. Watch the Changing of the Guard At Buckingham Palace

98. Sleep in an Igloo

99. Kiss my husband on top of the Eiffel Tower

100. Go a month without television

Breakfast Chatter

This was part of our morning conversation:

Me: So, tonight's dinner.... tilapia, potato skins and broccoli with my homemade cheese sauce. Sound good?

(Groans all around. The mere mention of any sort of good veggie gives the kids panic attacks...)

Me: Well, we have to have something green.

Aiden: Pistachio pudding?

Log Your Memory

I found a great site over the holidays: Log Your Memory. They sell Memory Logbooks that are really cool. You can order a hard copy or pay and print out a PDF of the book. I printed mine out, because it was close to 2010 and I wanted it in hand so I could start writing in it on the first. I really like it so far. It's geared towards scrapbookers, really, but you could skip the scrapbooking parts if you don't do that.

Anyhow, every month there are weekly scrapbooking challenges that instruct you to create a layout based on the questions they give you. I want to do these layouts, but right now my office is a mess. I thought I'd just blog about the topics they assign so later I can come back and just print out the blog post for the layout.

This month's main question is:

"What would you do if you found out you had just one year - THIS year - left to live?"

I would take the kids out of school, my husband would quit his job and we'd travel, making as many memories and taking as many pictures as we could. It would be really important for me to finish the kids' scrapbooks so they'd have something I made to look at after I was gone. I'd have to start scrapbooking digitally to do that, but I'd get it done. I'd want to record all of my advice and wisdom for the kids so that when they reach certain milestones they'd know exactly what I would've said in those situations.

I'd cry. A lot. Just thinking about not being there for my kids makes me sob.

There are other questions that you could use if you don't like the question above, so I think I'll use those as blog topics the rest of this week. I've seriously neglected the blog, so that'll give me something to write about for at least the next five days!

Don't get used to it.

Friday Fill Ins 1/8/2010

1. There are places I would love to visit with my family. New York City, Jamestown, the Arizona memorial in Hawaii, Alaska, Paris (again), Civil War battle sites... but we're stuck on Disney for now. I think my husband thinks the kids are too young to take them anywhere but Disney, but I think it would be fun. I definitely want them to see the Smithsonian before too long. Washington, DC is one of my favorite cities on earth.

2. If it wasn't so sunny, I would be wishing for a strong wind to blow those clouds away. I don't like overcast days. Give me the sunshine!

3. Standing in the vestibule of the church before I was supposed to walk down the aisle towards my future husband, I was nervous but excited. I can't believe that moment was almost 14 years ago. Seems like yesterday.

4. We have a new kitten. Oh boy.

5. He (Nick Saban) went out tiger hunting and was successful in beating us (Auburn TIGERS), 26 to 21 on our home turf. Last night he took the University of Alabama to another national championship. I am proud of the SEC and even more proud that our Tigers almost beat the national champions back in November!

6. I have much to do, and that keeps my mind from wandering .

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working in my office. With the hubby's help, hopefully we can get everything in place. Tomorrow my plans include sleeping late, getting some scrapbooking done and church (I haven't been to service in so long! I've kept nursery, but that doesn't fill my need to worship and learn, and I have MISSED IT.) Sunday, I want to do nothing except fellowship with the community group we haven't seen in over a month.

Boo Yah

Eatin' dinner tonight.

The hubs was a twinge frustrated that the children hadn't made their lunches during the long afternoon they'd been at home. I felt responsible, since I am the AIC (adult in charge) during the post-school, pre-daddy arrival hours.

I was explaining how events had played out since we'd been home.

Come home.

Unload Hobby Lobby purchases from car.

Use the potty.

Change into comfy clothes.

Tell Aiden to shower.

Agree to stay in my bedroom while Aiden (who gets freaked out in my room alone) showers in my bathroom (the only source for hot water since Sunday. Don't ask.)

Decide that I can help Lillian with her homework while I'm on the bed.

Call for Lillian.

Wait for Lillian to remove her shoes and socks so she can get on my bed.

Argue briefly with Lillian about putting her shoes and socks in her own room.

Wait patiently for Lillian to return from her room.

Tell Lillian (for the 3rd time) to fetch her homework folder.

Wait for Lillian to whine it out, then actually retrieve aforementioned folder.

Snuggle a little more.

Listen to Lillian read.

Fill out the paper sent home with the book Lillian had to read.

Call for Quinn.

Call for Quinn.

Call for Quinn.

Start counting to 3.

Tell Quinn to fetch his homework folder.

Watch Quinn pool into a puddle of goo on the floor.

Start counting to 3.

Wait for Quinn to return with his homework.

Help with Quinn's homework.

Sign Aiden's reading log.

Write down 2 Bible verses Aiden is supposed to memorize for school.

Check the laundry.

Unload the dryer.

Load the dryer.

Start the washer.

Take a phone call.

Go upstairs to do a little office work.

I really was doing office work.

Really.

No, really.

After I finished saying, "...office work" Aiden pipes up.

"If, by 'work' you mean 'Facebook', then yes. You were working."

Boo yah.

Manic Monday 1/4/10

What did you get in trouble for the most when you were a kid?

Probably being messy. My room was always a mess, and I was a stuffer. I was good at shoving things under the bed or into the closet. I have reformed my ways, but I have messy children. Life is ironic that way.

Which is your wish that is not yet fulfilled?

I want a bigger kitchen. I need more cabinet space and I'd love to have huge island in the middle of the kitchen. And double ovens. I long for double ovens. Double convection ovens, even. And while I'm wishing, I'll take a larger, more secluded laundry room. Right now ours is the room between the garage and the rest of the house, and I don't like it there. I'd love a huge, sunny room with lots of counter space for folding and sorting. And a huge laundry sink.

Like this:



or this:




If you have to choose a movie title for your life story, what would that be?

"I Don't Deserve This Life I've Been Blessed With"

For a list of possible titles of a book as yet to be written about me, click here.

Friday Fill Ins 1/1/2010

1. Last night I took a bath and was in bed by 7:30. I was planning on just watching TV in bed, but I was asleep by 8ish. I did wake up long enough to see the ball drop, and then I was out again. So much for the big New Year party!

2. I'm looking forward to all God has in store for me this year.

3. The funniest thing I've seen so far this year is this picture of my son wearing his new night vision goggles while playing Wii on Christmas Day:

I've been editing Christmas pictures in Photoshop today and this one made me laugh out loud. I took it, so I've seen it before, but it still makes me giggle.

4. All the boxes were moved from my old office to the playroom and my husband has assembled shelves for all my stuff ...so where do we go from here? The mess is still a little overwhelming. I think I'll just play Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook until it fixes itself.

5. He said "Let's go to the Olive Garden for dinner tonight."; she said, "Sure!". (True story, folks.)

6. Quinn lost his Target gift card that my sister gave him for Christmas and it's up to us to find it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the Olive Garden (duh), then coming back home and watching "Funny Girl" on DVD. I've wanted to see it since the last episode of "Glee" when they sang "Don't Rain on My Parade". Tomorrow my plans include getting all the stuff in my office out of boxes and onto shelves, and then church (keeping babies in the nursery tomorrow! Yea!) and Sunday, I want to finish unloading these boxes if I don't get it done tomorrow, then getting the kiddos ready to go back to school (sad sigh).