It's Getting Busy

It's that time of year, time when all sorts of things are happening: parties, programs, birthdays, holidays. I love it and hate it all at once. I believe most of you know what I mean.

L has a Thanksgiving program tomorrow followed by lunch in her classroom, to include parents and siblings. I'm pretty sure H will be more interested in all the toys rather than the food. I realize that's not the norm but call it mother's intuition.

Nana is coming for the weekend (unbeknownst to the children) to celebrate a birthday. This means I have to clean up the guest room as I've let the kids play up there a little too much in recent weeks. At least there aren't too many toys and the sheets for the bed are clean.

K's class has a Thanksgiving lunch on Monday, to include parents and siblings, for which I have to make dressing. I volunteered to do this because I didn't want someone bringing Stove Top and calling it "homemade." That is just wrong on so many levels.

Papa and PJ are coming for Thanksgiving and we're all looking forward to that as the kids haven't seen them since April. Papa's been very busy with work and a long drive just hasn't been in the cards for them. Should be lots of fun with lots of good food.

We saw a really cute movie a few weeks ago called Chaos Theory. Very good, minimal language, and clean. Totally worth the money spent to rent.

So that's about it. I have a video of H walking that I still need to download from the camera and will post when that's done. Hope all of you are having a good week!

Halloween Pictures Coming!

I promise to post Halloween pictures ASAP as they really are cute. I still have to get a picture of H in his costume as he wouldn't stay in it very long. They all had a great time and L even went trick-or-treating which she said she didn't want to do until the very last minute. It was lots of fun!

Now I'm off to watch Auburn football...

Growing Up

On Tuesday afternoon, as the sun was beginning to wane, I forced the kids outside to get some fresh air. They had been inside most of the day and were going stir crazy (and about to drive me crazy) so they went outside to play, even H. He loves being out there but with a crawler, it's hard to want him to be out there. He either gets his legs dirty or his pants come back caked with dirt. Ah, the joy of having a boy. He also likes to climb the stairs of the play house which scares me to death. But the antics of H outside is another post entirely.

K has been nursing a loose tooth for some time now. I think it was back in the spring when we first noticed it was slightly loose. Finally it was loose enough to come out but hung in there for over a week. She pulled it out on the back porch and you would have thought she had won the lottery. She was so proud! She is the last person in her class to lose a tooth so this was really exciting.

I'll post a couple of pictures if I remember to download them. I just had to tell you that my baby is growing up!

SWAT Team at School

The SWAT team was at K's and L's school on Friday. The reason? It was a demonstration by the Sheriff's office. It was truly wonderful. One of our dear friends flies the helicopter for the Sheriff's office and he organized this field day for the preschool and elementary school (ah, the benefits of a small school!). There were squad cars, a SWAT team truck, the helicopter, and the K-9 unit was on hand. The kids got to see everything up close and learn about the various jobs held by the men and women in green.

We got to watch the helicopter land and take off (from a safe distance) and we all got a turn petting one of the K-9 dogs. She was the biggest baby but she took her job very seriously. The SWAT team showed us how they approach a building when there could be suspects inside (and yes, they used real guns).

The highlight for me was the K-9 demonstration. We got to see how a dog tracks down a bad guy and what happens when said bad guy attacks his handler. The dogs have exactly one job: to please their master. So whatever the master says, the dog does. And when the master is in danger, no words are needed; the dog attacks without being commanded to do so. It really was cool. What I didn't know was that the dogs go home with their handlers every day and live with them even after they are retired. I thought that was really neat. I think the whole day was just as much fun for the adults as it was for the kids!

When Did it Get so Complicated?

I've been pondering this subject for a while now and I thought I'd get the opinion of the two of you who actually comment. I'd love for others to chime in, too.

Last night I went to a birthday party for one of L's friends. Technically, our families are friends so we were all invited even though he's L's age and they have gymnastics together. And we all went, all five of us. I noticed that many of the kids there were not this boy's age but all ages and the parents stayed, too. Some of the older kids were neighbors who play with the birthday boy on a daily basis but there were others who were siblings of his friends as well. In fact it was mostly families who attended the birthday party for a 4-year-old.

I don't remember inviting whole families to my birthday parties. I remember my friends being there but not the whole family. Granted, I was an only child so I didn't have siblings who might want friends there, too, but I don't remember being invited to my friend's sibling's birthday parties either. When we had K's birthday party last year we invited her friends. Not all the siblings; just her friends as it was her party.

So when did it come to this? When did children's parties become parties for the whole family? Does this go along with our society's need to include everyone? That everyone must win, everybody gets the prize? Is it that we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings? Or is it that we now feel obligated to include everyone? I just don't get it.

I'm not saying that it's a bad idea. In some ways, it's a wonderful way to celebrate with family and friends, all of our friends. K and H had a fantastic time and I even jumped in there with them, having races with several kids. It was fun and we all had a blast. Everyone was exhausted when we got home and went to bed right away. (Kudos to my friend who had the party from 5-7 on a weeknight rather than a Saturday. I will keep this in mind for L's party next year.)

What are your thoughts?

Words, They Do Escape Me

A few months ago I found a fantastic deal on shampoo while at our neighborhood pharmacy. They had a name-brand shampoo that had a free, full-size detangling spray attached. Plus, they were marked buy one get one free so I got 4, full-size products for the price of one. Can't beat that deal. The detangling spray is perfect for the girls after hours in the pool or post-bath. I honestly don't know what they do after their hair has been washed but it looks like it has been teased with a fine tooth comb.

I put the shampoo away until I needed it. When I got out the detangling spray for the girls, I noticed this printed on the back of the bottle. Keep in mind this is a direct quote.

"Hair knottier than your stomach after a questionable hookup? Smooth things out with [insert product name here]. The heat-activated silk protein formula gives you intoxicating shine...for better luck next time."

I'll give you a moment to pull your lower jaw off the floor.

Of Deodorant, Football, Pizza and Coffee

Ready for some random thoughts by Mama? Here they come.

1. I had to buy deodorant the other day. Since I had to go to the grocery store anyway, I thought I'd just get it there. The kind I had been using was $4.93. I'll give you a minute to recoup from that. Yes, it was almost $5 for a small stick of deodorant. I can assure you I didn't pay that much for it when I first bought it. And I didn't pay that much for it this time, either. I went for the old standby, the one I've used on and off for years. It was much cheaper. When did deodorant become so expensive?

2. Auburn football (yes, Sporty Mama, I'm going there). It's a pitiful sight when you lose to Vandy. I don't care how good Vandy is and how bad Auburn is playing, you don't lose to Vandy. I'm going to stand behind my Auburn Tigers through thick and thin and this is definitely thin. We've got to do something about this offense if we're going to make it through the rest of the season. Let's just say it was bad enough that my fellow Auburn friend here in town called not once but twice during the game. We only talk if Auburn isn't doing well.

3. I finally found a pizza crust recipe that I really like. It's crispy, has great flavor and this method of cooking it makes it even better. This is the reward I get for getting up with H on Saturday morning and watching TV.

4. We lived in this small town for two years before we got one of these stores. That would mean it didn't arrive here until 2005. We are now getting a second one closer to my house, complete with drive-thru. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing given my new love of coffee. And going up just down from that one is one of these. I'm pretty sure this isn't going to be good for my waistline. (We currently don't have one of those particular fast food places even though we have every other one known to man. Well, except for this and we can't seem to get them east of the Mississippi.)

Have a happy Monday!

The Vacation Story with Pictures

I got a call from my friend, Stef, on Wednesday morning at 7:15. People don't usually call at that hour so I was really wondering who it could be. She was calling to ask if I wanted to go with her and 2 other friends on a trip for 5 days. They had been planning this for months and someone dropped out at the last minute, leaving a space for me. They were leaving at 7:30 Thursday morning and we'd get back Monday afternoon. And I could do this all for $50. That's right, I said $50 (the cost of changing the name on the ticket).

S was already at the gym so I called him and we talked about it. He said yes and I didn't hesitate to say "Okay!" in response. I rushed around like a mad woman getting all my things together: clothes, toiletries, swimsuits, cover ups, cash and my passport.

Where did we go, you may ask? Here's a picture of my home for 5 days:

Yes, I went on a cruise to the Bahamas for 5 days with no husband and no children. Just 4 friends enjoying peace and quiet, getting to do whatever we wanted to do. We stayed up late at night, we slept late in the morning, we got massages and facials. We talked, laughed and just generally had fun. Oh, and we ate whatever we wanted whenever we wanted. I even got to watch my beloved Auburn Tigers play Tennessee with some fellow Auburn fans (which was just about the sloppiest game I've seen them play since Mississippi State. But let's not get into football just yet).

This really was a blessing to be able to drop everything and go away to relax. Kudos go to S for saying yes in the first place. Yes, he does travel a lot and I'm home with the kids by myself but he doesn't do that very much. He even managed to do all the laundry while I was gone.

This was the view I had all day Friday. The sun was out most of the day and the clouds gave us some much-needed relief from the warmth the sun provided.

A small island off the coast of Nassau, Bahamas. Those gray stripes are the sheets of rain pouring on Nassau. We were, thankfully, spared the rain while on the beach. However, we did get wet as we made our way back to the cruise ship.

These little friends greeted us each night when the steward would turn down the bed for us. My favorite one was the dog which, of course, I didn't get a picture of.

I'm Back!

I got home yesterday around lunch time and I'm exhausted. I need a vacation from the vacation to recover from the vacation that was supposed to be a time to recover from everyday life. (It really was but we played pretty hard while we were gone!)

I need to download pictures and promise to post about the whole thing after I get done with the laundry.

Unexpected Vacation

A friend called me this morning and I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a girls' weekend. Yes, I'm giving up a whole Saturday filled with college football but this is a fantastic opportunity to get away with friends. I'll fill you in when I get back!

Served with a Side of Mediocre

I have not one but two fabulously mediocre things to tell you today.

The first fabulously mediocre item is about my new love. Coffee. I know some of you are in complete shock right now as I have been staunchly anti-coffee for many, many years. But a few weeks ago, when I got together with some friends for brunch (a rarity for us), I had a sore throat and wanted something hot to soothe it. I'm really not a fan of hot drinks but it sounded so good. In the past, I've had coffee with a little cream and sugar so I decided to go with that, just enough to take away the bitter taste but not too sweet.

Y'all, that cup of coffee tasted so good that I went back for a second cup. That got me hooked. So two days ago, I bought a coffee grinder and some whole bean coffee and ground my own at home. Oh, the smell was so inviting! My father-in-law, a coffee fanatic, gave us a coffee maker years ago so that he could have some java when he was visiting. I had to figure out the auto feature so I could wake up to a freshly brewed pot in the morning. Oh, it was heaven waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

This hasn't gone over very well with S, who is still staunchly anti-coffee. But he's learning to love the new me.

The second fabulously mediocre item involves pimiento cheese. It's a completely Southern dish that I love, love, love. A few months ago, Nana brought me some pepper jack pimiento cheese from a little deli near her house. Since said little deli isn't here, I figured I would have to learn to make my own. I got a recipe (thanks, Bunny!) and tried it, substituting the sharp cheddar cheese for pepper jack cheese. It was fantastic. If you like spicy stuff, this will hit the spot. I even added some chopped jalapenos to add a little more heat. It is totally and completely addictive.

And I can't resist this picture of my friend's new puppy. Too cute!

Down Came the Rain

As is common this time of year, we have pop-up thunderstorms in the afternoon. Although they do happen at other times of the day, they are most common in the afternoon. A friend of mine was over with her kids and commented that it was raining in the back yard but still sunny. When we looked out the front, however, there was no rain.

I looked in my neighbor's back yard, no rain. In the side yard, no rain. It was, literally, just raining in our back yard. For about 10 minutes. It was the one of the oddest things I've ever seen!

Mrs. Whiting

With K starting first grade, I've been thinking a lot about my own experience in first grade. I was talking with a friend recently who said that you may not remember all of your teachers but you do remember your first grade teacher. Now while I might remember all of their names, I don't necessarily remember lots of details of my elementary life. But I remember Mrs. Whiting.

Mrs. Whiting was Cinderella in the flesh. She was just out of college, newly married, and beautiful. She had long blond hair, blue eyes, and gorgeous tan skin. Every girl in that class wanted to be her and the boys, though young, loved her. Plus she was an excellent teacher.

I recall being made to stay inside from recess because I rushed to finish my work and did a very poor job of it. My goal was to beat my friend Natalie because she always seemed to finish first. Competition started early for me. (I did beat her, by the way.)

Mrs. Whiting read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and other classics to us at the end of each day. It instilled in me a love of reading that I still have today. (Alas, this did not carry over into middle and high school as I didn't really read every book that was assigned to me. While I love reading for pleasure, required reading isn't my forte.)

So here's to Mrs. Whiting, my fabulous first grade teacher!

Treasured Moments

Yesterday was a rough day for L. K had a friend over to play and poor L kept getting left out. I'm pretty sure she spent 80% of her time crying about one thing or another. It just wasn't her day. I did tell the older girls to allow her to play with them and to their credit, they did. However, when L would suggest something to do, the other girls didn't want to play along. It just generally wasn't her day.

I had a school board meeting last night (did I mention I'm on the board of our little Christian school?) and when I got home the house was dark, the kids were asleep (or so I thought), and S was catching up on some work. As I was closing the back door I heard a tiny voice say, "Mama?" followed by little feet slapping the hard wood floor in the hall. A pitiful face peered out from around the corner.

She didn't have to say anything because I knew exactly how she felt. She proceeded to tell me that I needed to come to her room to sing with her, something I do with the girls every night. However, K was already asleep and I didn't want to wake her. I scooped L up and sat on the sofa with her for just a few minutes. I asked her, "You had a rough day, didn't you?"

"Yeah, K and K2 wouldn't play with me because K2 didn't want to get on my bed and play with me."

"Sometimes we get left out, don't we?"

"Yeah."

It was probably the most pitiful conversation I've ever had with her. So we just sat there, in silence, L sitting on my lap, resting her head on my shoulder. I carried her back to bed a few moments later, gently placing her in the comfort of her sheets and stuffed animal friends.

When it seems like the kids have been going crazy and are driving me nuts, these are the moments I treasure.

Time for School! Time for School!

So school starts a week from today. I can't believe summer is drawing to a close so fast! I'm preparing myself for a whirlwind of activity and the everyday commute to get both K and L to school. I'm also looking forward to some time alone with H. He gets bigger everyday and it's not going to be long before he's going to school, too.

I've resigned myself to the fact that I have a first grader. I don't feel old enough to have a first grader! The supplies have been purchased, the clothes washed and hung up, uniforms ready to go for the first day.

K and L are more than ready for school to start. When I told L that we had to go to church twice before school started, she asked, on the way home from church yesterday, if we were going to church the next day (that's her way of saying tomorrow). She's definitely ready. A woman at the gym today commented that L is an independent spirit. I would concur.

H is still crawling and saying "no" a lot but he's added "no way" to his repertoire. He also knows the word mouth and will open his when you ask, "Where's your mouth?" My child, he is gifted. But you already knew that.

Artichokes

As a little girl, one of my favorite snacks was a mayonnaise sandwich. And it couldn't be anything other than Hellmann's. It's the only one that tastes right. I even ate the sandwich on white bread. That is, of course, until my grandfather told me that was gross and made me put a piece of lettuce on it. Right. Like that's going to make it healthier.

Since my mom and I didn't have a whole lot of money, we would sometimes have odd things for dinner. One of our favorites was steamed artichokes. Sometimes we'd share, sometimes we'd get our own. And these are just plain old steamed artichokes. I loved the silky feel on my tongue as I scraped the meat on the leaf of the choke off with my teeth. Of course, you must have something in which to dip said artichoke. Our dip of choice? Mayonnaise. Oh it was so good.

The other day I found artichokes on sale and bought two of them. I had one for lunch today and it brought back a flood of memories. I had to settle for low-fat, low-cholesterol mayo which isn't my favorite. But as I pulled each leaf off and dove into the tiny piece of meat at the bottom, I felt like I was sitting at my mom's table, sharing a wonderful treat with her.

It's Really the Small Blessings

I often tell people that I'm so blessed. I have a wonderful husband, three precious children, a roof over my head and a car that works. While we don't have a ton of money, we are comfortable in our lifestyle. There's plenty of food on the table and we have many other things for which to be thankful.

But sometimes I forget about the small blessings in life. Yesterday morning, H slept until 8:20 am. That's not normal for him. Normal is 6:30 at the latest. That meant I got to sleep in, too. Mama always needs extra rest. That was a small blessing.

Then K came in my room around 7:45 (late for her as well) carrying her devotional that she got around Christmastime. She said, "Mama, you really need to read this. You will be so blessed by it." Those are her words, not mine. What was it? The Doxology. It tied into the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just a few fish and loaves of bread.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Amen

A hearty amen to that...

I'm Back!

As promised, I'm back to give you all the wonderful, mundane details of our lives here at Maison de Mama. And they are so wonderful and mundane all at the same time.

Let's recap what's happened over the last (almost) two months

• S went out of town for the first time with the kids out of school
• His parents arrived with B, his sister, and her four kids, P, M, A, & W
• We spent almost every day with them doing tons of fun things
• K and L both celebrated their birthdays (K is now 6, L is now 4)
• H learned a new word: "No!"
• VBS (one word of advice to all you mamas out there who will be sending their kids to VBS next year: pre-register)
• One last hurrah with B and her kids
• Somewhere in here H got 2 new teeth with a third about to pop through at any moment. I'm not sure how I missed the 2 new ones but I did as I only discovered it today.

I think the gist of the list (ha!) is that we've been really busy doing really fun things. And even though there's a certain stress related to having 5 extra people around for over a month, we had a blast with them. H really took up with P and was definitely missing him the first few days they were gone. I've finally downloaded all the pictures and will post them very soon.

It's good to be back!

Delinquent Blogger

I've been such a bad blogger lately and I have lots of pictures to share from the birthday celebrations we've been having lately. We've got VBS going on this week (I'm in charge of registration) so I'm somewhat busy. Hope y'all are well and I promise to get pictures up soon!

(I did manage to change the ages on the sidebar, noting that I now have a six-year-old and a four-year-old. Where did the time go?)

Birthdays

This morning I had to make a run to the grocery store to pick up some items for a baby shower happening this evening. Since I signed up to bring both food and decorations, I felt it necessary to actually purchase the food. Fortunately, I have cheese and crackers so there isn't much in the way of cooking.

As I was being helped out by the bag boy, he asked if I was ready for the 4th. It kind of caught me off guard because I actually haven't thought much about it. There's a picnic at our church, complete with volleyball (S's favorite) and a large water slide (K's and L's favorite). Other than that, it hasn't been on mind. I guess it should be since I'm an American and proud to be so. But there are two big events that happen right after the 4th that are weighing much more heavily on my mind: K's and L's birthdays.

I remember celebrating the 4th 6 years ago in New Orleans. A friend of ours said it would be cool if I had my baby on his birthday, which was July 7. His wife, however, didn't think it was funny because our church friends had planned a surprise shower for me on Sunday the 7th and wanted us to be there. Well, his wish came true as I had K on the 7th and completely missed my shower.

Two years and one week later, I was doing the same thing: having a baby girl. I don't even remember the 4th that year. I barely even remember K's 2nd birthday. I think there were friends but I know there was cake.

Fast forward 4 years and here we are. I can hardly believe that my girls are about to be 6 and 4. They are growing up awfully fast and I'm not sure I like it. I love watching them in every stage; love it when their little hands grab mine knowing that all too soon they will be grown and gone.

So look for some wonderful, fabulous birthday pics in the next week or so. And have a happy 4th!