Whatta weekend!!

Friday night we had our Sunday School care group's ladies night out at my house. There were 6 of us and it was great to have a chance to have a little girl time without the kids. Saturday morning we were out the door early to go to American Adventure's for Harrison's birthday party. Mari and Richard win the prize for most awesome birthday party EVER!! We had as much fun as the kids...I can't remember the last time I rode go-karts!! It's a good thing we found a gastation that wasn't out of gas or we wouldn't have had enough to get to church this morning) Then this afternoon after chrch, we went to a Bowling party for Dawson who is in B's class. I was so proud that B got the only strike of the party!!! Then a quick stop at the grocery store, get the kids fed and down for the night and I'm off for the sesion premier of Desperate Housewives. Oh My Gosh...It's 9:00 right now!! See ya

Thursday 13 things I did this week...

Painted my kitchen and half bath...not quite finished
Watched three movies just for me
Welcomed my family home (K, W and B) from the beach
Painted my nails
Tried to sell our sleeper sofa on Craig's List...no luck.
Forgot a conference with W's teacher
Took W and B to the dentist
Took my beloved laptop to the doctor and all is well
Took the boys for ice cream
Waited in line for gas
Finalized plans for girls night out at my house
Ate dinner with Todd and Annsley
Returned a casserole dish to my neighbor

Wow...what an exciting week!!

I give up

I don't know what's going on with my blog. I changed the background but it didn't do right and now it won't let me change it back to a mina-whatever template so I can change it back to the background I want.I mean, I like this template I just want to tweek it and it won't let me. And my colors on different things are all screwey. I don't like being at the mercy of my laptop so as I said to Bridgette in an e-mail just moments ago...I give up. I'm going to Home Depot to buy paint.

post script....Well, it's been a day and it's grown on me and I think I love it just the way it is!! You know what they say about the small stuff.

Simple Pleasures for this Thursday 13

1. A long nap on a rainy day
2. My standing Wednesday night dinner date with Annsley and Todd Martin
3. Early morning cuddles with the boys
4. Reading with the kids
5. The way certain songs move me
6. Quick Trip coffee
7. Hobby Lobby, Hobby Lobby, Hobby Lobby!!!
8. A bath and a magazine
9. Scrapbooking
1o. The first signs of Fall
11. Smelling candles at the store with the kids
12. Walking through furniture stores
13. Day trips with the whole family

Click on X on top right of slideshow to reveal pictures.

Move over Oprah...It's my THURSDAY 13

These are 13 of MY favorite things. (I snitched the idea from Hollie Hixon's blog...Thanks Hollie!!) Ok, so maybe there aren't throngs of dressed to impress women falling all over themselves at the prospect of having lavish gifts thrust upon them but these are the things that make my life easier and yes, even make me a little happy.

1. Bert's Bees : I've switched to their shampoo and conditioner for me, Baby Bee Shampoo and Body Wash for the kids and Baby Bee Diaper ointment for NayNay. It all smells awesome and is usually at least 98% natural. KB doesn't have much hair so he just uses Suave. HaHa.

2. Palmers Cocoa Butter Stick: It's jumbo sized and I use it for my unfortunate chapstick addiction...it lasts forever!! It's by the palmers lotion at CVS but by the ethnic hair care products at Wal-Mart. I no longer feel the need to explain to the black girls why I buy it. This would also be my #1 pic for what to have if stranded on a desert island. I can brush my teeth with a stick.

3. Reynolds HandiVac System : I started using it because I made my own baby food and would freeze it. Now I use it for cheese or anything I put in the freezer. Since there's no air in the bag, you don't get those frosty ice crystals on your fishsticks.

4. Over the Door Ironing Board : I love to iron and although I don't choose to spend my Saturday nights pressing khaki's, having an ironing board that just flips down at the press of a button is awesome. The best part is not having that nails on a chalkboard noise it makes when you put it up and down. <-- Too tired to redo the sentance so it doesn't end in a preposition...sorry!!

5. The Writers Strike: Ok, so it's not an actual "thing" thing but, because of it, I re-discovered the Discover and History channels. If you've never seen Mike Rowe do his thing or a watched a show on the Roman Aqueducts, you don't know what you're missing. It also made me re-evaluate all of the mindless time I was spending watching...crap. Now if I watch crap, it's because Mile Rowe is standing in it. Ewww. Sorry!!

6. Reusable Grocery Bags: I bought the green ones at Publix and am very proud of myself for sticking with it. I always saved my plastic grocery bags to recycle them (you have to take them back to the store along with your styrophoam, styrofoam, stirophome...whatever....egg cartons) After I unpack my groceries I hang them on the front doorknob so I'll remember to take them to the car the next time I go out. I actually had a friend ask me the other day if I used my Publix bags at Target. Well, YES!! Like they're not gonna bag my stuff if they say Publix on them???

6. My New 65 Gallon Recycling Can: Since we're on the topic of recycling...they delivered my new bin last week..YAY!!. It's like the regular Waste Mgmt. trash can on wheels but a touch smaller. Recycling (much to KB's dismay) is more of an obsession than anything and when it rolled off the truck, the heavens parted and angels sang. We had been using 2 of the regular laundry basket sized ones and they just weren't big enough and stuff blew out and it was just a mess. Now, I just take the paper grocery sack that I keep in my pantry out and put the whole thing in instead of having to unpack it and poke things in where they would fit. This might actually be one if my top 3!! Ok, it's #2.

7. AOL : Sure, it's free now but I even stuck with it all those years that we had to pay $9.99 a month. It's pretty (not blah and utilitarian like Yahoo or Hotmail), it's very user friendly and best of all, I knew the minute they released the information that Julia Child was a spy and they thought they found BigFoot.

8. The Internet : Al Gore is a genius!! We don't even own a phonebook and I can find out in less than 30 seconds what Rolly Pollys eat. (B. rocked show and tell that day!!!) There's just practically nothing I can't find out in literally a matter of seconds. Oh, and just in case you're wondering, it's decaying leaves. Save yourself a Google : )

9. My Cell Phone: I've got 103 names/numbers in it and my plan offers 3000 minutes a month. This is why I talk to my daddy in Alabama sometimes three times a day. (We're both in the car a lot) But I have a regional free long distance calling plan so unless you live in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi or parts of Kentucky, you gotta call me. And this brings me to a related topic...

10. 800-GOOG 411 : Free Directory Assistance from Google. Now, 800-free411 is also free and you can get Government, Residential and Business numbers, but you have to listen to an ad. I don't need term life insurance or want a deal on a trip to the Bahama's. I do use it if I need a residential number but most of the time I use the GOOG411 which is for business numbers only. It's because of #'s 9 and 10 that I know where the two cargo planes that fly over my house every day are going...and why.

11. Spell Check : See #6

12. Electrasol Power Ball Tabs: These things are awesome!! I used to use the liquid Cascade because I don't like the clumpy powder but I got a sample in the mail and was hooked. It's actually cheaper than the other and my dishes are cleaner. Now I don't have to wash my dishes before I put them in the dishWASHER. Nice.

13 A . TiVo : TV for kids is aweful most times of the day so it's nice to be able to save shows that are age appropriate for rainy days or when the boys just need some down time. Most of the ones we record are on either very early in the morning or while they're at school. I like that they always have safe shows to choose from. Don't even get me started on Total Drama Island!!

13 B. NETFLIX : If you don't have Netflix, you should. We've watched the regulars like Nemo and The Incredibles but the we also watched the entire 4 year run of Lost In Space!! (It was so awesome and we were sad to watch the last one today. There are 3-4 episodes per DVD) Some of their favorites were the Frances the Talking Mule movies, and the ones about Herbie the Love Bug. You can even save movies in your Queue that have just or are about to be released in theaters. I love to go to the movie just as much as anyone but I'd rather spend my $40 going somewhere that doesn't have sticky seats. Til next time...

Goodbye Chaos...HELLO ROUTINE!!

Nobody loves having their kids home with them more than me, but I gotta tell ya...I was a little too happy for my kids to go back to school. I'm creative and crafty but not enough to fill the days of three little boys that are so totally different. If I heard B. ask me one more time "Are we going somewhere else fun today?", I was going to pack his bags and dump him out at Chuck E. Cheese....or Startime...or wherever. Ok, not really, but notice the key word was somewhere ELSE. We took them places at least twice a week...which come to think of if might have been the problem. Anyway, all is well with the world and my ADD is back under control with our new schedule. We're up at 6:15ish and even though Niblet doesn't have to be at his school til 9, he insists on getting up with B. They take a wake up shower, dress and make their beds then it's downstairs for breakfast. I have their outfits on hangers with underwear and socks so they dress themselves and all they have to do is find their shoes. We've even started getting NayNay up so he can nap earlier in the morning so I can get a few things done around the house. Then, 4 eggs, an english muffin and a bowl of random fruit later, about 7:15 or so we're out the door to take B. to school...all of us.

School Supplies: $30

New Backpack : $20

Being a Pirate instead of a Ladybug like the class next door: PRICELESS!!

I love to carpool. It's fun time that the kids can ride up front (the school is across the street from our neighborhood) and we have a great time. We wave as we pass the bus riders and their parents standing on the corner on our way to school...and again on our way home. Yep. They're still standing there. (Please refer to earlier post clearly stating that my child will n-e-v-e-r ride the bus)

An hour or so later we head to TLP to take Niblet to his school. We usually get there a little early and use this time to read our Cubbies story, work on our bible verses and wave/yell at friends across the parking lot who are also in the carpool line. Oh, the joy of being 4. His teachers, Mrs. Debby and Mrs. Susan, are great and he's very excited to make friends at his new school. I'm amazed every day at the enthusiasm he shows getting out the door to go to school. But what makes me really happy is the sheer joy I see on his face when he sees me there to pick him up.

WithB., homework has had it's own set of challenges. The boys are in bed at 8 (usually) but B. is so tired when he gets home, we've faced many tears about not wanting to do homework. Niblet didn't start school til 3 weeks after B. so now that they're both in, it's MUCH easier. They have a snack and have to rest for a half hour or so then I give Niblet worksheets to do and he practices his letters/numbers while B. works on his lesson. I've set up a classroom so we have a huge 4 x 5 dry erase board, an equally large bulletin board, alphabet, days of the week and month posters and a calendar station with weather chart. (The School Box is my new favorite place to shop!!) Anyway, we started out at the dining room table but now that we do homework here, it's much, MUCH easier and way more fun. My only issue now is the baby. KB and I are trying to work out a routine so that he can take care of him while we do homework so he's not into everyting. And when I say everyting, I mean EVERYthing. Those with toddlers know what I mean. I do try to savor every moment though because too soon there will come a day when all of my babies aren't babies anymore and I'll look back at the empty car seats and dream of the days that we waved at firetrucks, played endless games of car bingo and the many times we had to pull over to get the sippy that had fallen under the seat. But, as long as I do a good job with them while they're here, I know that the Lord will do the rest. With that said, we're off to church so they can hide His word in their hearts. <><

THE THORN IN MY SIDE

You know, there aren't many things in life that really, really get to me, but I'd rather have a root canal than put up laundry. I don't mind the sorting, washing and drying of it, or even the folding, but the putting it away is without a doubt, for me, a true source of misery. In fact, to say that I hate it would be a gross understatement. I seem to recall being very pregnant with baby #3 and getting behind on laundry. All I have to say is thank heaven for the pack and play because it was the catch all for all of our clean clothes for about three weeks. But then, I guess the real questions is: Where does it all come from??? Ok, I get the towels. There are, after all, five of us, but it's the random articles of clothing that appear scattered on the laundry room floor that amazes me on a daily basis. I just peeked in to the laundry room to see if I could spot the mystery garment of the day and it's a long sleeved t-shirt of B's. It was 92* today!! These are the things that cause me to put my head in my hands and think of how nice it must be for the women of the tribes of New Guinea to only have to put away the occasional loin cloth. Sure, they have to go down to the river and beat them against a rock but I promise you that there are days that I'd trade most all that I have for that luxury!

Ahhhh, Summer.

VBS is finally over for another year and I'm already thinking about 2009. First, let me make it perfectly clear that the main goal of VBS is sharing the gospel with as many kids as possible and making sure they have a great time. The next most important thing is decorating your room!!! This year was Outrigger Island and I was pretty happy with the way my room turned out. I mean, what's easier than making a palm tree? The pictures are of Niblet and the backdrop I made to take a picture of each of the kids for the Friday picture frame craft. Next years theme is the Outback / Australia and the wheels are already turning. There's only one problem: I don't know a thing about it. So, good thing I have a whole year to learn!! I had a great group of 21 kids this year and they were all 4 year olds with Sept-Dec 2003 birthdays. So now that all of our comittments are over, we can get on with summer. Afternoons at the pool, running outside when we hear the ice cream truck and the long awaited trip to the beach. I also told KB that I was NOT going to complain about the heat this year. I don't know about you but I got sick of the cold, damp weather about mid-January and I didn't think it was ever going to end! Well, it did end and it's hot as all get out...BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING!! Unitl August...That was the exception to my promise. Everybody has the right ot complain about the heat in August!! So, there you go.

If it's Sunday, It's Meet the Press

I'll miss hearing those familiar words that, as it was, I didn't get to hear often enough. We're at church most Sundays when the show was on but if we found ourselves at home with a sick little one or out of town, it was always a favorite. The unexpected passing of Tim Russert today brought back memories of the sadness I felt just a little over 5 years ago when David Bloom died. It's funny how TV personalities that we've never even met become such a part of our lives and we all have our favorites that we trust to tell us about those things we either want or need to know about. I know about as much about politics as I do about how to change my own oil but I really enjoyed learning from him. He asked the questions that I wish I had the sense to ask but yet I got the benefit of the answers. One of the things that I liked most about him was that he brought so much of himself to what he did. Anyone who watched even occasionally knew about his wife Maureen, his much loved son, Luke, and his dad, Big Russ. You don't usually hear "serious" news people share the way he did. I'll really miss him.

Who Knew?

So, I'm in my mid-rise, mid-town apartment about mid-afternoon, and I run in the other room to do...something, I dunno. And I look up at the TV and there are Cindy and Ray from Star 94 with their own little talk show! What? How do I not know about this? As the camera pans across the studio you see Cindy change out some props on the table between them which is funny for a couple of reasons: One, the studio is really lo-tech (in kind of a minimalistic and apparantly low budget kind of way), in an uptown loft kind of space and the other thing is that Cindy is having to do this stuff herself. Now, I know Cindy and she's totally not a Diva (Ray? Maybe a little. HaHa, just kidding) but she shouldn't have to do that stuff herself!! I mean, really! Then I realize that I'm seeing some kind of sattelite feed and that I/we weren't supposed to see her do it. The main camera must've been on Ray. So, I'm about to run into the other room and e-mail her when I see a dog on the sofa on the other side of their studio that looks like my Sport...(FYI...who looks like Murry on Mad About You). I mean just like him! Well, except Sport's more reddish and less blond like the dog I saw. And then he's been dead for over a year too so it couldn't have been him. Plus, if it had been Sport, I'd have been there applying Neo-To-Go and a SpongeBob band-aid while stitching up the pants of the guy about to be on to show 16 ways to eat Cheetos with Cool Whip. Ok, I don't have time to watch TV...and I don't like Cheeto's so I need to call the Nanny of the kids downstairs to borrow their vacuum. Ring...Ring...Hello?... Can I come down and borrow your vaccum?...We don't have one, the maid does it...Well, so and So, your employer, said you did: It's in the closet by the front door...Mutter's under her breath---> I hate that *BLEEP*. And as she realizes that I heard her, which is suprising considering all the metal in her face and chemical irritation from at least three hair colors, I say "Well, Thanks anyway", and hang up as I ignored her attempt to cover up. I don't like to vacuum anyway!

OK, not really, I l-o-v-e to vacuum.

~ ~ ~ ~

So much for a peaceful nap.

I miss you Sport...

Scientists find monkeys who know how to fish

Yep. Fishing monkeys. Seriously. I copied and pasted the title...I couldn't make this stuff up. Now, I've got a lot going on at almost every moment during the day so when I hear or read something, I've got about 2.1 seconds to evaluate whether or not it's of interest to me. This got my attention. So, before reading any further, stop and think back to the first thing you thought of when your read the title....Ready? No? Now? (Good thing I know how to whistle) Ok. That's right!!! A monkey sitting on the bank holding a fishing pole!!!!! Not a fancy one with a reel, just a cane pole, but a "FISHING" monkey!! Ok, so now I'm hooked...oh, that's funny. Anyway, so I click on the link and read the article...(and I paraphrase) Long tailed, somekind of monkey we've never heard of...Indonesia...Nature Conservancy...blah, blah, blah...Great Ape Trust...(Ok, I can't wait...) Then it says, "It's exciting that after such a long time you see new behavior," said Erik Meijaard...(What? Oh my gosh, I hope there are pictures!!!!) "It was unclear what prompted the long-tailed macaques to go fishing" (You saw that, right...GO fishing) Well, after investing about 10 minutes, including distractions from random kids that live at my house, I realized I had missed the first part of the second paragraph...."Groups of long-tailed macaques were observed four times over the past eight years scooping up small fish with their hands and eating them"

W H A T ? ? ? Well I'm just getting mad all over again. (The following is better if read in a somewhat aggrivated, Southern tone while rolling your eyes) That's not fishing! It's catching something in the water and eating it!

Bears do it all the time!!

And it was only once every two years. Well, maybe I just need to e-mail that guy at the Great Ape Trust and tell him to keep his "observations" to himself til he finds a monkey driving a bass boat with a cooler in the back....And there better be pictures!!

MAY : The New December

May, May, May . . . . . Wow, what an unbelievably crazy , CRAAAAZYYYY month!! This school year was great for all of us and I was a little, ok, a LOT, sad to see it end. (If there's one thing my husband can tell you that he's learned about me over the years, it's that when it comes to good things in my live, I don't like change. When I find something I like, I want to stick with it). B. was in Kindergarten at a Chrsitian school on TLP and had the best class ever and his teachers (Holla!! Mrs. Karen and Mrs. Susan) were unbelievable. I made scrapbooks for each of them and was really pleased with how they turned out. (I'll add a pic of one of B's pages) The teachers were great, the kids were great and I had such a good time getting to know several of the moms. We're looking forward to lots of fun play dates over the summer and the kids know that at $4 a gallon, we'll be staying close to home. I can't believe how fast this year has passed. He's going to be in First Grade next year and I just don't know if I'm ready. Will I ever be??? I just don't want him to be gone all day, 5 days a week!! But hear me when I say "HE WILL NOT RIDE THE BUS!!!" He just has such a big heart and is such a great kid that it really scares me to think about the things he'll hear and learn from the other kids!! He's also the best big brother EVER!!! If the way he treats the baby is any indication, he's going to be one heck of a daddy. And the way he treats me is a good sign of how lucky his future wife will be. Can I get a tissue????

Our 4 year old, AKA: Niblet, had a great year too and will miss being at his old school. He'll be at the same place B. was last year for the next two years (Pre-K and Kindergargen)...(hopefully...waiting for a space to open up) and then join B. wherever he is. At this point, it'll be the public school near our house....and THAT'S all I'm gonna say about THAT!! And what a cool kid Niblet is. He never meets a stranger, has a great sense of humor, a crazy imagination, and can find the fun in anything. He's got a temper but it usually fades fast. Who knew not standing at the bottom of the stairs (as I was apparently instructed to do) while he went up to put on his jammies was grounds for folding his arms tightly and matter of factly stamping his foot while saying "I'm never talking to you AGAIN!!". Well, "never" ended up being about, hmmm, I'd say, 2 and a half minutes? Oh, the magical powers of a slice and bake sugar cookie...with sprinkles!!

And then there's little NayNay...oh, there just aren't words for this precious gift. He absolutely takes my breath away.

Ok, it's been 10 minutes since I typed that last sentance because I've been sitting here daydreaming about him. He's just yummy!! He's funny, his laughter is contageous, he's terminally happy and just plain adorable!! He got his fist haircut right after his birthday (May 8) and doesn't look like a baby anymore. I have mixed feelings about it but, it is what it is. He'll be starting first grade before I know it and I won't have any babies any more. That's right. No more babies. I prayed that the Lord would take away the yearning and He did. It makes me a little sad...ok, a lot sad, but I'm completely happy with my family as it is. I definately don't want any more children, I just had such amazing pregnancies and will miss that feeling. Now I really need a tissue.

No, really...I'll be right back.....

Well, hubby (KB) finally finished Broker classes and took the school test yesterday and passed!! Now he has to take the state test. It was hard having him out of the house two days every week since we've been used to having him at home. He's always got things to do away from home but the consistency of having him gone 7:30 to 6 two days a week was awful!! Now that he's with a new company, he has to into the office on Wednesdays from 9-4 or so but we don't mind that....I don't know why. I guess because it's closer. The school was in Dunwoody and I just felt that he was too far away and we could only talk to him when he had a break. Anyway, glad that's over. His brother died about a week and a half ago and I know he was distracted, as he should have been, and didn't study like he normally would have but he pulled it out. I'm so proud of him and once he passes the State test, he'll be a real Broker!! YAY : )

Our Anniversary was last week and we haven't done anything to celebrate yet but will hopefully have a chance now that things are winding down. Soccer awards were that night and since KB coached B. and Niblet's team, we couldn't miss it. Not that we would have anyway, I guess. Except for the terrible weather/tornado. Anyway, it's been a wild 13 years but I wouldn't trade them for anything. Here's to many more!!

Well, I guess the only thing we really have left before we get on with the business of summer is VBS. I'm lead teaching Niblet's class again this year and think it's going to be a lot of fun. A lot of work, but it'll be worth it.

So this blogging thing is pretty fun. Like I need something else to do. Yeh, right. I do see it serving a purpose though. I've got so much in my head and finally...a place to put it!! It'll be like Spring cleaning for my brain but without the Rubbermaid tubs!! There's really no rhyme or reason to most of the things I think about so I'm sure most of the posts will be the same way. Random ramblings of a crazy, suburban housewife with ADD and a bunch of kids...4 if you count my husband...and I do. The trick is going to be remembering all the things I think about. It's like 6 Flags in my head and every five minutes is a different ride. WHEEEE!!