Thursday, May 26, 2011

It's a Peachy Day

I started my morning today full of optimism and hope for what was sure to be a full-of-fun day to kick off summer vacation. We were attending a MeetUp playgroup -- a visit to the fire station!
My friend Nicole and I and our kids gave ourselves plenty of time to get there, since it was in a neighboring town about half an hour away. We pulled up and I got my first mood-dampening piece of news: there had been an accident (somebody must've REALLY been in the mood for deals - a car went through the Dollar General) so there was no one at the station. As more moms and kids arrived, we all stood around talking and the kids played in the dirt (yay -- fun!) and waited patiently for someone to come and give us a tour. Forty-five minutes later, we decided to reschedule. The other moms went to a nearby playground, but I had to get home for speech therapy for Bunny.
I decided to take the back way home since it was faster, but I didn't realize there was a bridge out. GROAN. Instead of retracing my route like any sane person, I decided there MUST be a way to get around the bridge. I turned right, then left, and then had no idea where I was. Bug was not helpfully giving me directions (how does a six-year old know where we are??) and I was quickly becoming frustrated. I finally found a cross-street that sounded familiar and in thirty more long short minutes we were home. Yay!
I quickly finished cleaning the house lest our therapist realize that three kids at home all day make messes, then sat down to check my e-mail. Second surprise: someone (ahem - my mom) had cashed a check I'd asked her to wait on and our bank account had taken a hit. I was now really not in a good mood and when Bug had a bad attitude about something a minute later, I took it out on her. Not my finest hour. I sent her to her room so that she I could calm down, then followed her a few minutes later and apologized. Totally my fault, and I knew it. MY bad mood had ruined everyone else's day. Not cool, me.
After a good talk and some prayer, we decided to do something to make us feel better. We had some peaches that a co-worker had given Shawn and we needed to eat them or use them quickly. Looking through the cabinets to see what we had, I determined that we should make a peach crisp.
Soon the smell of yumminess wafted through the house and then...
I got a third surprise: Shawn had a half day today (a GOOD surprise!!!) and totally lifted my spirits when he walked in the door and said he was done for the day -- and the year (he's a high school teacher)! Hooray! He starts at the YMCA on Monday, but between now and then he is all ours.
Excuse me while I go stuff my face with peach crisp. It's looking like a great day!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Old is the New New

Here's our old swingset:
Not too shabby for being a Freecycle find five years ago. But Bug and Bear are too big for it now and so a couple of months ago I listed it back on Freecycle and someone came and picked it up the same day.
My husband coaches a swim team at the high school he works at and one of his swimmers offered us her old swingset that was still in her backyard. We agreed to take it off her hands (I know, that was nice of us, wasn't it?) and so we finally got it transported yesterday.
It's really not that much fancier, but the kids think it's the best ever. And I do too. It's much sturdier than the other one and won't tip over when Bug swings (ahem... not that the other one ever did that). So here's to a summer of swinging and sliding!

Monday, May 23, 2011

School's Out For Summer

Tomorrow is Bug's last day of kindergarten. We went to her end-of-year program tonight that was all patriotic (why? i don't have a clue) and full of singing and choreographed hand-movements and really cute. 150 kindergarteners all doing the same movements is pretty darn adorable. Wanna see pictures? Too bad. I am Queen of Camera-Forgetting. And our video camera is broken (at least the microphone is, which come to think about it, would have been pretty funny 10 years down the road... "What is this? I don't know, but those kids look pretty hilarious dancing with no music!") so there is no record.
I do, however, have a few pictures from the soccer game on Saturday. It was Bug's last game and the first where she didn't score at all, even though I took a couple of pictures that made it look like she did.
I am so proud of her -- she has her daddy's natural sports instincts and did a great job this season.
What are your plans for the summer? We have a few ideas in mind, including heading to the beach this weekend (with all of the rest of the southern population, I'm sure). It sure helps when your mom and sister live two minutes from the ocean! Aaaaahhhhhhh.

Friday, May 20, 2011

The Seven Year Stitch

So I started this cross stitch almost 7 years ago. I think that's a record, no? It was supposed to be a baby gift for a friend whose son is turning 7 this November. Oops. Think they still want it?
Anyways, I put it away when I found out I was pregnant with number 2 and pulled it out occasionally after that. I finally got serious about it again about a month ago and resolved to work on it until it's finished. Here's a picture of it last Friday:
And here's today:
They look the same, right? Unfortunately, they're not. There's about 4 hours worth of white stitching that you can't really see. I HATE stitching white on white. I feel like I'm going to go blind. I can only do it during the daytime, too, because it's just too much of a strain on my eyes otherwise. I sound so OLD!
I'm looking forward to the weekend. Bug's last soccer game is tomorrow morning and I hope she annihilates the other team plays nicely. Maybe I'll even remember to take my camera!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The MotherHood

One of the things I sometimes don't like about staying home is the staying home part. I guess I could get out more often, but it's hard. I might sound whiny to those of you who have more than three kids (and I know mine are old enough that it's not nearly the hassle it used to be) but I detest going anywhere with all of them. If I HAVE to make a trip to Wal-Mart, it better be quick! The kids are having fun, but I lose it after about 10 minutes.
I'm pretty much a homebody, but sometimes I feel like I miss out on opportunities that I want to take advantage of [I know I just ended a sentence with a preposition (I did... go back and read it... you probably wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't pointed it out)]. One of those things is a regular Bible study group. That's why i love, LOVE, Good Morning Girls. It's a big big group made up of much smaller groups (mine currently has 8 women, I think) who all read and study the same Scripture every day and then share what they learned. Our group is linked up through Facebook. And I didn't know these other women before I started (except for my friend Nicole who told me about it) but I am thankful that I know them now! It's a wonderful experience to be a part of, and I love that I get the same interaction as I would through a face-to-face group except that I can do it in my jammies. I'm on my second study with my group and we're doing The Ministry of Motherhood (there's a book, but I'm just doing the Scripture part). I love, LOVE (again) being excited about studying God's Word and I love the accountability and I love the topic with all the right verses exactly when I need them.
If you find yourself wanting to join a Bible study but just don't feel like you have the time, then you should check it out. Have I told you that I love it?

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Graduation Day

Today was Bear's last day of preschool. She had a small diploma ceremony and Field Day and a class party. I love her teacher and I can't wait until Nathan is in her class too. It takes a special person to teach 20 4- and 5-year olds, and she is exceptional! What a blessing! Of course Bunny was along for the festivities...

Have a great day... I bet it won't be as fun as ours!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Little B

Nicknames. Do you have one? My three kids do. The oldest has been "Bug" since the day she was born. The second has been "Bear" since she was conceived. And the baby? Poor little guy. Imagine him 15 years down the road, playing middle linebacker in front of 11,249* screaming fans, when his mother yells, "GO, BUNNY!!!!" The players stop, mouths agape, fans and opponents alike howl in laughter, I shrink down into my seat...
In my defense, there's not too many animals left that start with B. I mean, what were my choices? Beaver? Bobcat? Bull? I don't know. Are any of those any better?
Bug
Bear
Bunny

*Actual capacity at Valdosta High School's stadium

Monday, May 16, 2011

I just flew all the way from Seattle... and boy, are my arms tired!

So I'm finally home from a wonderful long weekend at my cousin's wedding. It was so so so great to see that side (my mom's) of my family since I don't get to very often. I left from Jacksonville about 5pm (Eastern) on Thursday, hoping to get to Seattle around 10pm (Pacific -- that's a three hour difference, if you're counting) but it didn't quite work out. My first plane was delayed about an hour, which was cutting my next flight veeeeery close. Turns out, too close. I arrived disheveled and sweating right on time to discover the plane was gone. They stuck me on the next flight out an hour later which left me time to grab something to eat, for which I was very grateful. I finally got to Seattle at 11:30 (keep in mind it's 2:30am back home) and met my sweet cousin Jan and his wife Jamie who had graciously offered to pick me up. I was feeling queasy from the turbulence and we still had a 2 1/2 hour car ride home.
Talk about a nightmare for my poor cousin: I was sick as a dog most of the ride back and I'm just thankful I never puked in the car. (By the way, I am famous in my family for my car/air sickness... just ask my sister about the trip we took 30 years ago where we're both pretty sure I puked for 2 weeks straight.) Yikes! So long story... well, long, actually, I got to bed about 2:30am. That would be 5:30am in Georgia... I went to bed slightly before Shawn was getting up! The positive part of the story is that I actually felt refreshed when I woke up at 7am.
Friday was spent with my family. I had such a great time visiting with my cousins (4 of them) and their children (8, plus 3 on the way plus my niece), who are all cutie pies. We went to the rehearsal and then the dinner, which was held at a yummy Italian restaurant. I had pizza margherita, if you're curious.
My cousin Karen (I REEEAAALLY wanted to write Vinny):
Saturday was spent watching my mom finish the wedding cake:
Isn't it beautiful??

and then the actual wedding:
bridesmaids
ring bearer
flower girls
and the absolutely gorgeous bride
Yay! They're married!!
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the reception or any of my other cousins, but here's me and my sis before it started:
My sister and niece and I headed to the airport yesterday morning and got to spend a couple of hours together before our flights left. I was smarter and took Dramamine this time, so it was quite uneventful and I made my connecting flight with about 10 seconds to spare. I arrived in Jacksonville about 10:30pm and then drove the (YAWN!) two hours home, finally getting to bed about 1:30. Getting up this morning was next to impossible, but my sweet husband had made me a pot of coffee and fixed Bug's lunch, so I didn't have much to do. Incidentally, this is Bear's last week of school (another post on their nicknames to follow tomorrow) so after Wednesday I only have to get one kid ready and dropped off. Yay! I actually am looking forward to summertime and spending the days with my kids. I miss them so much when they're at school and that's part of the reason we're decided to homeschool next year (LOTS of posts on that to follow... can't wait!). I'm off to climb Laundry Mountain and drink some more coffee.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Leaving on a Jet Plane

My cousin is getting married Saturday close to Seattle and I get to go! Hooray! I haven't seen this particular cousin since my own wedding nine years ago and I haven't been to visit her there since my grandma died when I was in college. The MOST exciting part of the trip, however, is that I'm going by MYSELF. Hmmm... let's see... when was the last time I went anywhere by myself for 4 days? (Here's a hint: never.) Not since Bug (my oldest) was born, at least. So I'm excited to fly alone, reading a book, dozing when it suits me. What will I miss? My husband and kids, of course. I hate to be away for so long, but we didn't have the money or the time to spare for anyone else. What will I not miss? Goldfish crumbs all over my lap, three squirmy kids having to go potty six hundred and thirty-two times during a 6 hour flight, putting shoes back on four people (me plus kids) after going through security and sweating through my clothes from stressing about holding up everyone behind us, and reading books about Fancy Nancy and dinosaurs and planets.
So, what did I do all morning to prepare, you ask? Perhaps pack? That would have been the smart thing, but instead I reorganized my bedroom bookshelf.
My bookshelf changes often. I buy new books, get rid of old ones, put up new pictures, gain new knick knacks, and it gets messy. I love to make it pretty again. I have another bookshelf in the living room but it's not as fun.

So tonight, when I start to panic about not being ready to go, I guess I'll just throw some stuff in a suitcase and hope I didn't forget anything important. Because nothing else matters when your bookshelf is organized, right?

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Resolutions



Okay, so it's been a couple of years since I've attempted to blog. Life got in the way and I lost interest. Now I'm back... with a brand new invention (thanks, Vanilla). I will attempt to post once a day, complete with photo(s), so that I can share my (sometimes crazy, sometimes snore-inducing) life with my friends. And stalkers, if they choose to visit. Join me! I'm excited about what's to come.