Melissa's Front Porch Musings

Christmas 2011, so far! (pt 2)

2011-12-23T11:44:00.004-06:00

Here are a few more pictures.

We were lucky enough to be able to attend "A Walk Through Bethlehem" put on by the Woodmont Christian Church. The line was long and it was crowded once we were inside, but the educational value was immense. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birth, I would encourage you to take your family to this event, just to learn more about life in Bible times.

Below is a picture of Joseph, Mary, and "baby Jesus."

We enjoyed a "Grinch Day" at school in the lower elementary. Here are some of us with our Grinch shirts!

Mark's birthday is December 13. We bought an ice cream cake for him. John didn't exactly tell Mark what we bought for him, but he did say, "Don't look in the freezer, Dad!"

Once school was out, we had more time for other projects. I bought a pre-assembled gingerbread house at Walmart and the kids decorated it. We even used some leftover Halloween candy on it!

The kids love crafts and they love making presents for others. Here they are hard at work on some things for the grandparents.

Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas!

Melissa

Christmas 2011, so far! (pt 1)

2011-12-23T10:16:00.013-06:00

It's been over a year since I posted. I'd like to do better, but we'll see what the new year brings. I don't apologize. My life is full and I spend too much time online as it is. That being said, here are some pictures from our family Christmas activities so far this season.

This is our Christmas countdown "clothesline." It hangs across the double windows in the kitchen. The envelopes are numbered and contain a card suggesting an activity for the day. In November, I spent quite a bit of time checking schedules and planning activities. The envelopes are numbered because the activities are pre-scheduled. I also left the envelopes unsealed, so I could change cards around if necessary. We were able to do almost everything listed on our cards.

Here's Molly in her favorite spot beneath the tree. She claimed it even before we had the tree completely put together! Today there are so many presents under there that she is finding it harder to find her spot.

We went to Breakfast with Santa at The Factory in Franklin. It was a really nice set up and the food was really good! Santa commented on John's Grinch shirt :)

One of our Christmas tasks was to try the pretzel/hershey kiss treats. We made them with peppermint kisses. Yum-o!

Jamie the Elf has made his yearly visit and has been into a bit of mischief. Normally he's pretty good, but this day we found him in the pantry sipping the syrup!

John's Christmas program at school was all about bears!

He was a panda bear and his friend, Josh was a polar bear. The program was super cute!

That's it for now. I'll try to remember to post again later :)

Melissa

Fall Ball

2010-09-19T12:16:00.000-05:00

Ellen is playing softball for the first time. She had taken two years of dance previously, but last spring she watched John play T-ball and decided to quit dance and try softball. She is six and normally would have been eligible to play T-ball, but there weren't enough six year olds signed up to play, so she was placed on a team with seven and eight year olds. It is coach pitch, which means that the coach pitches to the batter. She gets five pitches, unless she strikes out first.

Ellen knew next to nothing about softball when she started. She has had to learn all of the basics, plus the rules of the game. She had to learn how to hold the bat, how to throw a ball, how to catch a ball, as well as what to do with it once she has the ball. She has progressed a lot. She was even awarded the game ball at the first game for most improvement.

Her little team has had some politics problems with the coaches, and they haven't won much, but the girls seem to be having a good time. Ellen never talks about the scores, but focuses more on what she did during the game. She always comes out of the dugout with a smile. She loves softball and is already asking to play again in the spring. It looks like I will be toting my lawnchair to many more games!

Inside Out Simplicity

2010-07-25T12:51:00.005-05:00

I recently won an advance free copy of an ebook. The only stipulation was that I write a review and post on my blog, which I am happy to do. The book is Inside-Out Simplicity by Joshua Becker of the Becoming Minimalist blog. Here is a description of the book from the blog:

The book, “Inside-Out Simplicity: Life-Changing Keys to your Most Important Relationships” is a 360 degree approach to a simplified lifestyle that goes well beyond the external fixes to our complicated lives and focuses on the heart issues required for a simplified life. It is based on the premise that a truly simplified lifestyle begins in a person’s soul. And it will help the reader find an inside-out simplicity by focusing on the key life-changing principles necessary in their most important relationships.

The book is short (109 pages) and can easily be read in an evening. I love the message this book, but I'm not sure that I would buy it, because most of the material can be found on Becker's website. Actually, purchasing another "thing" goes against the minimalist lifestyle (unless, of course, you can justify the need). Basically Becker points out that things can get in the way of having healthy relationships with friends, family, spouses, children and even God. Before I encountered the spirituality chapter, I remember thinking how much of the book had a religious slant, without actually mentioning religion. The chapter on "Why Our Words Matter" emphasizes kind and gentle words and the importance of being honest. Becker also discusses the problems of gossip and how it can damage relationships. The chapter on "Why Our Sexuality Matters" encourages committed relationships and portrays pornography, soap opera television, and romance novels as potentially damaging to the marriage relationship.

The chapter on "Why Our Spirituality Matters" was a pleasnt surprise. I thought it would focus on mediation, time alone to regroup, journaling one's thoughts and so forth. Instead, it focuses on a search for God.

There is nothing more central to your heart and soul than your view of God. And our view of God influences our daily lives in countless ways.

Becker goes on to say that Jesus led the "ultimate, simplified life." This goes along with some thoughts that I have had recently. I have started a journey to simplify my life and to also grow closer to God. As in all things, Jesus was/is the ultimate example. Becker lists out several reasons why following Jesus' example can lead to a "deeper, more simplified life." This section of the book was so refreshing to me. I had not viewed this work as a religious publication, but as it was, the central concepts are very much in line with the Bible. These thoughts re-enforced some ideas that had been spinning around in my own head.

Becker's book is not a "get organized, get rid of your stuff" book. Don't look for this book to be a "how to" book. It is more of a "why" book. Our reasons behind our actions is what drives them and if we have our reasons built on a firm foundation, our actions will have amazing results. Thank you, Becker for a wonderful, thought provoking work.

If you are interested in ordering the book, you can visit this link.

Mother-Daughter Tea 2010

2010-07-11T13:23:00.000-05:00

While teaching at FCS, I learned about a group of moms who had a tea party for their daughters at the end of each school year. I wanted to do the same for Ellen and the girls in her class. At a small school like FCS, these girls will be in the same classes for many years to come. I want my daughter to grow up with good friends who are also good influences. I also want to get to know the mothers of Ellen's friends. After all, when she is a teenager and is hanging out at someone's house, I want to know that the parents have the same values that I do.

I sent an email to the other moms of daughters in kindergarten, checking for interest. The response was overwhelming! Following that first email, we had a meeting and exchanged many other emails planning this special day for our daughters. On June 26, 2010, we met together at West Haven Baptist Church for our tea party. The theme was "God's Princesses" and most of the girls dressed as princesses. Each mom gave their daughter a charm bracelet with a single charm, a cross. We plan to add other charms in the coming years. It was a wonderful get together: a chance for the girls to catch up during the summer and a chance for the moms to chat and "get our infrastructure in place" for later years.

I really encourage other moms to start this tradition with their daughters.

Summer Pictures

2010-07-09T14:29:00.000-05:00

I take the kids each summer to get pictures made. I am determined to actually put them in frames this time! The kids and my mom talked me into getting in the pictures with them, so I sat for a few shots. I think they turned out well.

In looking back, every summer the kids have been in blue or blue combination-colored outfits. They also get pictures made around Christmas, so in those pictures, they are always wearing red. I think I need to change it up for next time.

Mom wanted a 16 X 20 canvas print of one of the group shots, but since we didn't purchase any of those in smaller sizes, it doesn't look like we will be able to secure a copyright release. Mom was a little upset and thought we should try to "talk them into it," but I think we should just follow the rules. Her house is already a shrine to Ellen and John. It's not like she needs one more picture, much less a huge one. She could get an enlargement of this one, but she wants a different one.

Happy Independence Day 2010

2010-07-04T15:08:00.000-05:00

This photo is of our new flag. I just hung it yesterday. It seems that I have to replace our flag about every year around July 4. I think I am more patriotic today than I have ever been. I don't know if it is as a result of being older and more appreciative or some other reason. Today I want to list some reasons why I love America. At first I had a hard time putting into words exactly why I love my country, so I admit I did a little research on what others had to say before compiling my own list. That's ok. The research gave me some good ideas and helped me to prioritize what was really important to me concerning my country

10 Reasons I Love the USA

1. Freedom of worship: We helped to pioneer this idea, starting with the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving
2. US Constitution: What started out as an experiment in government has evolved into the standard to which other governments are compared.
3. Democracy: Everyone has the right to vote. Most people on this planet still do not have this basic right.
4. Human achievement: Americans have led the way in so many ways, from breaking the sound barrier to building Hoover Dam to landing on the moon.
5. Diversity: Whether diversity of land, cities, or people; everyone can find a niche.
6. Ability to create wealth and drive the world's economy
7. Generosity: Americans individually and as a nation give more to charity than any other country
8. Advances in medicine: Americans have eradicated polio and TB, developed numerous vaccines, and pioneered chemotherapy, among other advances
9. Technology: from the light bulb, telephone, and television to the computer and internet; Amercans have led the way.
10. Entertainment: The world looks to our Hollywood for movies, television shows, and music

Bible Bowl 2010

2010-06-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

Ellen participated in the area-wide Bible Bowl last year as a rising kindergartner. This meant that I had to do most of the reading and studying with her, as she couldn't read. She did ok and learned a lot. I thought that she had a great time, but when it came time to sign up for this year's team, she wasn't sure that she wanted to participate. She weighed the pros and cons--one of the pros being that she liked the snacks at practice! Snacks must have been very important, because she did decide to participate. This year the material is over the first 24 chapters of Exodus, which includes stories of Moses and the 10 plagues. I'm hoping that maybe she will understand the scripture a little better this year because she can read a little and she is a little older and more mature. At any rate, those ice cream sandwiches that Mr. Nick passes out at practice are a sure bribe with Ellen!

Camping on Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

Several families in our circle of friends at church have a family tradition of camping on Memorial Day weekend. In the past, most of us visited Fall Creek Falls State Park but in recent years the venue has changed to Salt Lick Campground. Our family has not camped on Memorial Day weekend since before Ellen was born. We have camping on other weekends, but have missed making reservations for this very popular weekend. We almost missed it this year. Back in February, someone reminded me about the camping trip and when I checked on reservations, only two sites were left. The site that we got was on the woodland loop, which was cooler than beside the lake, but it was also smaller and farther away from most of our friends. We had a great time, anyway. We would load up the truck and drive around, making visits, or ride bikes and walk. The campground is beside a lake with a nice little sandy beach, so the kids had a great time over there, even if the lake was ice-cold!

The weather was beautiful and except for a few sprinkles, it didn't rain! That made a huge difference! We had a small setback on the way there as John started running a temperature. We turned around and went back to Lebanon to the walk-in clinic, confirmed a case of strep, bought an antibiotic and Motrin and traveled on our way!

Our favorite part of the whole weekend has always been the worship service on Sunday morning. Sometimes we don't see a few of the families until that morning. This year, Mike Kibbe led singing and Doug Williams preached. There's just something special about worshipping outside. This photo was taken following services.

2010-06-09T19:14:00.000-05:00

Graduation Day!

Ellen graduated from kindergarten this year! We are very proud of her! She had a great year with her teacher, Mrs. Kring. It was nice for me to be able to sit back and enjoy the program this year, instead of being a participant, as in years past. Congratulations to all graduates of all ages!

Classroom Progress

2009-07-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

I thought I would take a few minutes to document the progress on my classroom. You may remember that I am moving to first grade for the new school year and I'm moving into a new classroom. Here is how it looked when almost all of the furniture had been moved out and the maintenance man had started stripping and waxing the floor:

Here is how it looks now. I've worked about 5 days on it. Mark came one of those days and helped me move the big stuff.

I still have to move the supplies in the cabinets and closet in my old room. I also need to finish going through books, videos and misc. supplies in the new room, as well as figure out what is in the filing cabinets. All of that is before I actually start working on getting ready for the year--putting stuff on the walls, putting away consumable supplies, writing lesson plans and so forth. I still have A LOT to do!

Mr. Green Beans

2009-07-06T14:08:00.000-05:00

Last week John went with Nana and two other ladies to a farm to pick green beans. The farm belonged to some dear friends of ours. They plant a huge garden every year and are generous with their bounty; the only catch being that you have to pick for yourself what you want. Being as how we don't raise gardens anymore, this was a new experience for John. He took his dump truck and quickly filled it from the bushes. The plants were so thick and full of beans that he didn't even have to turn around to find plenty!

Lawnmower Man

2009-06-30T20:21:00.000-05:00

John has decided that he loves to "mow" the grass! Mark has been cutting the grass with the push mower as a way to get some extra exercise. Every time that Mark goes out to mow, John goes along, too. Mark always makes sure that he is well out of the danger zone. John works just as hard and as long as Mark. He will even take notice of when the grass is getting high and ask, "We gonna mow tonight, Dad?" So cute! We just hope that he enthusiasm for the job doesn't wane as he grows older!

Movin' on Up!

2009-06-06T20:24:00.000-05:00

We finished our school year last week. On the last day of school for students, my principal met with me in her office and asked if I would like to teach first grade! I have taught kindergarten for 15 years and have never taught another grade. I was ready for a change and because of some other reasons as well, I decided to take on the challenge! Mrs. Piercey, a veteran teacher of 40 years is retiring and I will be taking her place. I plan to move into her room, which is just down the hall. It is a bigger room and has more windows. It is also right across the hall from the other first grade teacher, Sandi Smith (who is awesome!). So...this summer I will be moving classrooms, going through all of the stuff that Mrs. Piercey is leaving for me, and trying to figure out how to teach first grade! (If anyone wants to help, feel free to join in the fun--including babysitting my two cherubs while I go up to school!)

Advantages to teaching first grade...

Kids are more settled (hopefully!) and know more about the school routine
Kids have started learning to read, so I can take them to a new level than in K
This year I will already know most of the kids from K!
More structure--I operate well in a structured environment
Fewer field trips--I like field trips, but it seemed like we went on too many in K
Don't have to do an orientation at the beginning of the school year.
Don't have to do Kindergarten Graduation program at the end of the school year!
(This list will expand later, I'm sure!)

Dance Recital Dress Rehearsal

2009-05-10T08:11:00.000-05:00

Last weekend Ellen had dance pictures and dress rehearsal for the upcoming recital. She was so excited! Her class is doing a little dance to "Baby Mine" and they all have baby dolls for the program. We had to find a cute dress for Baby, too!

The show is at TPAC! Ellen takes dance through Mt. Juliet/Green Hill School of Dance and apparently, they are pretty serious about this dance stuff! I've been impressed with the teachers and the curriculum. I kinda just stumbled upon this dance school. They were the only ones who returned my phone calls when I was checking around last summer, but it has worked out great! Ellen has really enjoyed the classes and wants to take again next year.

The only downside for me (Ellen hasn't said anything) is that she has been in a beginner/3 & 4 y/o class with some younger girls. That class is where she belonged. She was 4 when she started and she was a beginner. But...some of the little girls in class were very young 3's or even 2(!) and immature and really too young for an organized activity like dance. Ellen has never complained, but it bothered me. It's not that they were terrible, it's just that there were a few more tears and playing around than I would have liked. Oh well, next year she will move up to a kindergarten/first grade class and the younger girls will stay in the beginner class.

PS: I just realized that I haven't posted about John in a while. I will try to find something interesting to write, soon. It shouldn't be hard. Every day is an adventure with John!

Lost Tooth!

2009-04-18T14:59:00.001-05:00

Ellen lost her first tooth a few days ago! When we went to the dentist in early March, Dr. Whitefield said that it was beginning to get loose, but I couldn't feel it move. We more or less forgot about it until just the other night when Ellen said, "Mom, my tooth is loose." I felt it and it was really loose. I figured that it would come out this weekend. Well, she went upstairs and brushed her teeth and not ten minutes later it popped out! She was sooooo excited! She called Nana, who rushed over with Uncle Jeff's tooth fairy pillow (she didn't have one made for Ellen and I couldn't find mine). Meanwhile, the tooth fairy was scrounging around for some cash!

Ellen left her closet light on so that the tooth fairy could see (a good thing because her room was messy) and didn't put the tooth fairy pillow under her pillow. She slept with it right on top of her tummy. It was easy to find and the tooth fairy left her a baggie with $2.00 and some "jewels" (sequins) inside.

Ellen is now working on her next tooth!

Hooray for American Soldiers!

2009-03-23T15:11:00.000-05:00

My friend, Angela is home for some R/R. She is a US soldier currently serving in Iraq. I know that she reads this blog, so I wanted to include this picture of us and tell her how proud I am of her! Angela, I keep you in my prayers regularly, and I look forward to the day that you get to come home. We know that you are doing a good job over there. The world needs more people like you! Be Safe!

The movie is never as good as the book!

2009-03-21T19:11:00.000-05:00

Trust me on this. If you ever want to see a movie that is based on a book, read the book first. This is what I did with Twilight, and I'm so glad. The movie is definitely not the best I've seen, but I like it because I like the whole story that is told in the book series. Still, I'm looking forward to New Moon, the movie, which is due out in the fall.

Some favorite quotes from the books and the movie:

Hold on, you little spider monkey!

I'd bet on Alice.

You brought a snack!

Why am I covered in feathers?

She's tough. She runs with vampires.

Stupid, shiny Volvo owner.

I'm Dazzled!

2009-03-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I have been sucked in--or rather, "bitten"--by The Twilight Saga. This is series by Stephenie Meyer about a teenager, Bella, who falls in love with a vampire, Edward. It sounds creepy, but in reality it is a love story. There are four books to the series. I read all four--each about 400 pages each--in 9 days! It has been a long time since I have been so absorbed by a book, or in this case books. If you are looking for them, you will find them in the young adult section. I am so lucky because the Twilight movie is coming out on DVD on March 21. Mark has promised to watch it with me. He won't read, but at least there is a movie, so he can get some of the experience.

Now that I've read all four books, I've started reading them again! I'll get over this obsession soon enough, but for now I'm having fun immersing myself in a book, instead of worrying about the economy, job losses, and so many other bad things on the evening news!

Loose Tooth!

2009-03-04T14:38:00.001-06:00

Ellen and I had our dental checkups last week. John went along as an "observer." He will have a turn next time. Ellen has been studying dental health at school, and she has been really concerned as to when she would get a wiggly tooth! I thought that she might loose one in the next few months because she is five now and because her teeth came in so early. Well, Dr. L. C. said that one of her lower teeth is loose! I can't feel it move, but he says that it is starting and it might come out this summer. Ellen was thrilled! She was afraid to eat supper when we got home because she didn't want her tooth to fall out. She can't feel it move, but it's loose and that's all that matters!

Dance Night

2009-02-21T16:44:00.000-06:00

Tuesday nights are dance class nights. Ellen's class starts at 5:15, which is an awkward time for us, but somehow we make it work. I wish that we could go immediately after school, instead of having an hour to waste. Ellen has ballet, tap, and tumbling in this class, and out of all three, I think she enjoys the tumbling the best. We started in August in a class of four, that has since grown to 12 girls. Ellen is one of the oldest. About every 6 weeks they have a parent observation night where we can go into the dance room and watch the girls. Otherwise, we wait in the tiny waiting room, or we can leave and spend our time elsewhere. The waiting room gets really crowded, so lately I've been leaving and going to the library. We are looking forward to Ellen's recital in May!

Lightning McQueen Rides Again!

2009-02-11T17:08:00.001-06:00

It's been a few weeks since I last posted. Life has been pretty busy, but since I had a few minutes I thought I would give an update. (Jeff, are you reading this?!)

John turned three on February 1 and for his birthday, Nana and Papa gave him a Lightning McQueen electric car. He is BIG STUFF in that car! It doesn't go as fast as the secondhand electric jeep (acquired from a yard sale) but it is MUCH cooler! After all, it is "McQueen!" Mark says that there isn't room in his garage at home to store these wonderful vehicles, so they live at Nana's. Every warm, or even semi-warm day after school we go over to Nana's for riding! John is getting pretty good at guiding it and only bumps into things occasionally.

Look for John on the NASCAR circuit in a few years! Maybe he will support his poor parents in our old age!

What's Mine is Yours

2009-01-15T17:36:00.000-06:00

Ellen turned five last week and when she did, that meant that I had to follow through on a promise that I made two years ago. The time had come to pass along my dollhouse.

I think Mom and Dad gave me the dollhouse when I was 8 years old. It was at Christmas and it was in a TV box that wasn't wrapped on one side. That Christmas several of my relatives gave me furniture for it and my Aunt Barbara gave me a handmade cloth family--a father, mother, big sister, and a baby. The mother had "real" curls and the baby had a "real" diaper. All of them had real clothes and felt shoes, which have been lost long ago.

Ellen was terribly excited to receive the dollhouse. She is at the perfect age for pretend play. It's not a cheaply made dollhouse. Most of the furniture was handmade by the same man that made the house. One bedroom set is oak, and everything is stained and varnished. I made the tiny ceramic dishes and the bathroom fixtures. It even has tiny silverware in the dining room and minature blocks in the baby's toy box. I pray that she takes good care of it, so that she can pass it along to her daughter one day.

Loss of a Dear Friend

2009-01-10T08:57:00.000-06:00

On January 8, we lost our dear little kitty, Lady. She had lived to the ripe old age of 19. She would have been 20 in April. She had been living with renal failure for the past two years. While it is very difficult to lose a friend, I could tell that the end was near. In the past few weeks, she had really slowed down. In her last week, we moved her litter box downstairs because she was too weak to go upstairs where it usually was. She had also started breathing hard in her last week and was not eating and barely drinking.

She was a lap kitty and it seemed like every time I sat down she was in my lap. She loved to sit in my lap while I was on the computer or doing my morning devotional. She stuck by me through everything. I remember when I was pregnant and came home from school exhausted, she would be waiting for me on the couch, because she knew that was where I would be for the next hour! When I had a stomach virus, she would camp out with me in the bathroom. She was a great hunter in her younger years. She was known to hunt squirrels, birds, mice, and even moles! We had some problems with squirrels getting into the attic at our first house until one afternoon when we let Lady go in and have a look. No more squirrels! Her favorite was rabbits and last caught one at age 17. After we moved into our new house, our neighbors across the street had dogs that were inside an electric fence. Lady liked to go out on our front porch where the dogs could see her, but not reach her, just to torment them! I had Lady before I even met Mark, before we married, and before my own children. I remember telling Mark when we were dating, "Love me, love my cat," and he did.

When Ellen came along, Lady had a very hard time adjusting to a "sibling." She paced the floor for weeks and would try to get into my lap while I nursed. Eventually, she forgave Ellen for being born and was even known to sleep on Ellen's bed at night during her last year. By the time John came along, she was an old pro. She allowed John to wag her all around the house and never complained, unless he pulled her tail!

I will miss Lady. I think I can learn many lessons from her life. She lived with two different families (I got her when she was 4 years old), in five different homes, got lost twice, and was even hit by a car, but she managed to adjust and perservere. I think that was one reason why she lived so long. I loved her very much.

Tuesday Night Supper

2009-01-06T19:18:00.000-06:00

Ellen has dance class on Tuesday nights, which means that we don't normally get home until 6:30 or later. Several weeks ago, Mark agreed to take over supper on Tuesday nights. He gets home about 5:30, so that gives him about an hour. His repertoire includes tacos, pasta alfredo, and frozen lasagna. I've told him that I appreciate any supper that he decides to put on the table, even if it is pizza or fast food. So far, he has always put something together at home. Sometimes he even has our plates prepared and drinks poured when we walk in the door! It sure makes life easier!

First School Day After Break

2009-01-05T20:18:00.001-06:00

Back to school. It is always difficult getting up and going on the first school day after a break, especially this one. It is still very dark at 5:30. I think if the sun was up, it would be easier. The kids did pretty well at getting up and going. They were reasonably cooperative, and we managed to leave the house on time. We have 13 days until MLK day, our next day off, and about nine weeks until Spring Break.

Sunday School

2009-01-04T15:38:00.001-06:00

We are a part of the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ congregation, where we have attended for many years. One of the things that I love best about our congregation is the Sunday School program. Ellen and John love Bible Class. Their teachers are wonderfully patient and always enthusiastic about teaching! Sometimes the teachers take scheduled breaks throughout the year, but there is always another talented Christian lady to step up to the plate for the next quarter. I also love the curriculum because at Ellen and John's age, they cover all of the major Bible stories over a two-year cycle. Their classes usually have the same Bible story, which makes it easy to discuss it on the way home from church. Hooray for Sunday School!

Guitar Hero

2009-01-03T13:29:00.000-06:00

Mark loves, loves, loves Guitar Hero! We got the Wii for Christmas and then Mom and Dad gave him Guitar Hero to play with it. He has always had an interest in playing the guitar and now with this game, at leat he can get somewhat of a sense of playing "for real."

Daily Pictures

2009-01-02T13:19:00.000-06:00

This morning I was browsing the Two Peas message board and learned about a scrapbooking project that some are undertaking this year. It is called the 365 project and the best I can understand is that it involves taking a picture and journaling about it each day for a whole year. I think it is supposed to document everyday life. Seems like a neat idea, but I doubt that I would be able to keep up. Then, I read where some did this on their blogs. I thought, wow, now that is an interesting twist and it would help me to keep this blog updated. I'm going to give it a try. I might not do it every day, but it would be a nice goal to shoot for. Today's pictures are of Ellen and John playing with Moon Sand (curse-ed stuff!!). They both had Walmart gift cards from the great-grandparents to spend, so we made a trip this morning. John picked out two bulldozers, but Ellen just HAD to have this Moon Sand that all of her school friends have been talking about. It's like Play-Doh, but MUCH messier. I finally had to have them work with it inside of two Tupperware containers because it was crumbling and falling off onto the floor. It doesn't stay in clumps very well. I'd better earn big Mommy points for this one!

One Week Until Christmas!!

2008-12-18T17:28:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is our last day of school before break. My kindergartners are having a gingerbread house making party. Every child is supposed to have a parent to come and help them with their project, which makes it very easy on me. All I basically have to worry about is the clean-up. Last Friday we had a snow day, but the snow was gone by lunch. I was able to get a lot of Christmas shopping done Friday afternoon and Saturday, so that makes this weekend potentially very relaxing! It's hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit when I have so much to do. I still need to get two gifts for Mom and some stuff for the cat's stocking (Ellen insists that Santa will bring Lady something, but what do you get a 19 y/o cat??).

Mark has purchased an ipod for me. He bought it on ebay and it came two weeks ago. During those two weeks he has played with it almost daily, but he will not let me play with it until Christmas. He and Ellen have taken to playing hangman on it in the evenings. She has started calling it "his" ipod and I have to correct her.

Illness

2008-12-08T17:19:00.000-06:00

I don't have any photos for this entry, but I don't think anyone would want to view them anyway! We have been fighting illness at our house for several weeks now. Mark has had what started out as a cold and morphed into an ear/sinus infection and bronchitis. He has been on two rounds of antibiotics. The kids have had colds. John has had an ear infection and is not tolerating the antibiotic very well--loss of appetite. We have all had a stomach virus. I stayed home from school today to recover. I hate this time of year with all of the germs and cold weather. Surely there is a blessing in all of this!

Kentucky Down Under

2008-10-16T15:04:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday we decided to take a day trip to Kentucky. We found a little family place near Mammoth Cave called Kentucky Down Under. It is a type of zoo/petting zoo with all kinds of Australian animals. Throughout the day there are animal shows/demonstrations about every half-hour. The park also has a cave in it with a 45 minute tour. While it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that Disney World has, it is a great family place, especially for families with young children. It was very educational and interesting at the same time. The day had perfect weather and it wasn't crowded at all, but there were enough other families to make the interactions at the animal petting shows interesting.

I must admit that while I did touch the horned toad and a gecko, I did not feel the need to pet the snake. I'm not exactly afraid of snakes, but I do have a healthy respect for them. The snake at this particular animal show was very creepy looking and I just played the part of photographer, instead of animal handler. (Ellen did touch the snake. It just doesn't look like it in the picture.)

We went on a 45 minute cave tour that was easy enough for the kids, but involved enough that my legs were sore the next day. It was a very wet cave, and I was afraid of slipping. Ellen did not like the cave at all. She is smiling in the picture, but that was the only time she smiled the whole time--until we came out!

Look at this kangaroo!! He is a red kangaroo. We were able to go into an enclosure with kangaroos, wallabies, and emus. Some of the kangaroos (like this one) allowed us to pet them. He was just lying there like a big dog and we were able to pet him--only not on the face/neck because that is perceived as a threat. I expected his fur to feel like a dog's coat, but it actually felt softer, like a rabbit's. I can't believe that I got to pet a kangaroo. How many people can say that they have done that?

If you are looking for a nice family outing, consider Kentucky Down Under. You won't find any roller coasters, but you will find some good, clean family fun!

Celebrating Nana's Birthday

2008-09-13T15:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and naturally, the kids had to make her a cake. This is a tradition in our family. The cake is always their favorite flavor--chocolate with chocolate icing (no matter what the birthday honoree's favorite flavor is!). After icing the cake, Ellen and John put sprinkles and some of their toys on it. John had fun licking the bottom of Lightning McQueen and then running it through his piece of cake and ice cream. We had fun watching him!

(I am so excited to have figured out an easy way to post photos from Picassa to my blog!)

Planting Flowers and Searching for Bargains

2008-09-07T07:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went to the plant nursery and bought some pansies and mums. Most of my summer flowers were long past their prime and it was time for some new flowers. It has been raingint off and on this week, so the planting process was a little muddy. The kids tried to help, but really and truly they mostly fussed over who was going to dig in what pot.

It was also half-price day at Goodwill yesterday. I made a run to two stores, but only bought things at one. The lines were long. I got some great bargains on books, clothes, and a couple of other items. What I really wanted was a neat chair for my classroom to serve as an Author's Chair for the kids. I spotted a purple upholstered chair at the second store, but didn't buy it. I am kicking myself. But at the time it seemed a little dingy and really didn't sit that well. Now, I think that it might have worked. I could have cleaned it up and the kids wouldn't have cared about the comfort factor. Maybe next month...

Labor Day and Prayer Requests

2008-09-01T15:07:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Labor Day and we have been in school for exactly 20 days. I know because we count the days of school every morning! (One of the perks of teaching K.) I am pleased to report that while I have a few kids who are definitely "out of the box," I have a great class! Somehow I always seem to get the kids who think a little bit differently than the rest of the crew--have a little bit more imagination, maybe even a little bit smarter, and definitely more interesting than your run-of-the-mill five year olds. I have learned that these kids are square pegs that do not fit in round holes and the best thing that I can do as a teacher is to keep a sense of humor!

My co-teacher who was on medical leave is expected back this week. She is still having some tests run, as well as some physical therapy, but for the moment she's feeling good. I will be glad to be working with her again, but I will miss her daughter-in-law who filled in for her. I really enjoyed getting to know Heather!

If you are reading this and you pray, please keep my friend Angela in your prayers. She is a young army mom of two who just found out that she is being sent to Iraq in December. Also remember Tonya, an acquantance of mine--one of the parents at school--who is a young mom with breast cancer. Both of these moms are in their mid-30's and have kids in the preschool-early elementary ages.

I'm going to go rest up for a bit before we go over to Nana's to swim and eat supper.

School Starting!

2008-08-02T20:12:00.001-05:00

School starts in two days!! Honestly, I feel more ready this year than I have ever been. That could be my famous last words, once the kids arrive, but I'm optimistic! I've been in this business long enough to know that some things will always go wrong and some things will go right and I just need to expect it and roll with it. I have moved into the building this year, after four years in the portable. It is nice to have a big room again! This was my fifth move at this school. I seem to bounce around all over the place. I am not right next door to my co-teachers. My next door neighbor is a second grade teacher and I have apologized in advance for being loud :).

One of our kindergarten teachers is taking an unplanned medical leave. This threw me and the other K teacher for a loop, but we found out that the teacher's daughter-in-law will be taking her class, which is WONDERFUL, as she is familiar with the school and our routines.

Mark is going to give me my back-to-school haircut tonight. It's nice that he can cut my hair and we can save some money. Especially since he bought my back-to-school present today: four tires, an oil change, and an air conditioner recharge.

No More Pacies!!

2008-07-29T10:08:00.000-05:00

Well, John has made the transition to a BIG BOY!! Two days ago (Sunday) we were having lunch when the subject of the pacies came up. Mark asked John if he wanted to throw his pacies in the trashcan or if he wanted Daddy to do it. Naturally, John wanted to do it himself, so bye, bye pacies! I couldn't believe that he actually did it!! He has asked about them (with pitiful eyes) a few times since, but he hasn't cried after them. He's been falling asleep fairly quickly, but hasn't been taking as long naps. He's really trying, but he's taking it a little harder than Ellen did. The Easter Bunny took hers and she didn't give it a second thought. Still, I'm glad that hurdle is crossed. I didn't know how it would go. He was pretty attached to them.

Now, if we could get him to poop in the potty, we would be home free!

Wiggles Concert!

2008-07-26T12:41:00.001-05:00

Last night Ellen and I went to a Wiggles concert. We've been one other time, when she was 18 months old. Ellen isn't much into the Wiggles now days. She likes them, but she's more into the Backyardigans. We went to concert because her little friend, Allison-with-the curly-hair and her mom invited us. We loved it! We had great seats. They were 6th row, center! The guys came out into the audience and Anthony stood so close to Ellen and Allison that they could have hugged him! We sang and danced and had a wonderful time!

I'm so glad that Ellen has good friends like Allison. Her mom is great, too. Angela is in the Army. I've never been good friends with a lady in the Army, but we seem to have a lot in common. School will be starting soon and I am anxious to find out if Allison and Ellen are in the same PreK 4 class.

Busy Week

2008-07-23T07:37:00.000-05:00

Well, VBS is going pretty well this week. We've had 7 or 8 kids each day in our little class. The hardest part is keeping them occupied without going outside. It has been really hot and we learned that the playground is infested with chiggers. It has been sprayed, but we are unsure if the spray has killed the chiggers and I'm not going to take my two year olds out unless I am sure.

I am running out of time before school starts. I still have a massive amount of work to do in my classroom. I moved rooms this summer from a portable back to the main building. So far I have unpacked 30 boxes and I still have about 12 to unpack. That is not counting arranging all of the furniture. After I get unpacked, I will still need to do all of the normal prep work just to start the year. All of this on top of finishing VBS, and hosting a bridal tea this weekend. I think I need to take a nap!

'Twas the Night Before VBS

2008-07-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the first day of VBS. I am teaching the two year old class. "Regular" VBS is for ages three and up, but since some of the staff of VBS have younger children, I am teaching the twos. Like I said, it's only for the children of those helping at VBS, but even so I'm expecting 8-10 kids each day. I think I have plenty of help lined up and lots of things planned for us to do. I just hope that we don't have too many criers. I've been going into their regular Sunday School classes for several weeks so that they could get used to me, so maybe that will help the stranger anxiety problem.

Our congregation traditionally has an ice cream supper the night before VBS, and we had it again this year. YUM! I successfully made my mother's butter pecan recipe--a first. Somehow, I always seem to mess up homemade ice cream, but this time I did something right, because it turned out great!

Wish me luck tomorrow at 9 am!

Google Reader

2008-07-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

I have just discovered Google Reader! I have read blogs off and on, but it has never been a daily activity. I didn't have a good system to keep up with my favorites---until now! Wow! What a great system for keeping up with my faovirte blogs and when they are updated! Now, I don't intend for blogs to take over my life, but I view them little like I do magazines--a little quick information and entertainment. This has made me more excited about my own blog. I hope I can be better about updating it, so that maybe someone will want to add my blog to their Google Reader. Happy Reading!

Freezer Problems

2008-07-16T14:42:00.000-05:00

I am just "sick" over what has happened. This morning when I went out to the garage looking for something, I noticed some water running across the floor coming from under the freezer. Then I noticed that the freezer door was ajar. Everything inside was not only thawed, it was warm. The door must have been ajar for days. It is a big upright freezer and was about half full. I guess that we lost about $150-200 worth of food. It could have been a lot worse. A lot of it was frozen veggies and other things that I had gotten on sale, but still. I hate to see all of it go to waste. Ugh!

Overwhelmed by Stuff

2008-07-12T14:14:00.000-05:00

Stuff. I have spent my summer dealing it and it never ceases to amaze me how much time I spend dealing with material possessions. Right now, the back of my SUV is filled with my kids' outgrown clothes that I will be taking to a consignment sale tomorrow. We had a garage sale at the beginning of the summer and I have donated several bags/boxes to ARC, but I still feel that I have--my family has--too much stuff.

I enjoying shopping. I love looking for good deals. It's like a treasure hunt. I also like giving to others, so if I can find a good deal on something to give away, all that much better. The problem is that in the meantime, I accumulate more stuff and spend more money.

I think part of my problem is that I try to be the perfect mom/wife/friend. I don't want to forget someone's birthday. I want to dress my children in nice clothes, and have a nicely decorated home. I don't think I am overboard in all of this. It's just hard to do it all.

Simplify. My goal for the coming months. Spend less time dealing with stuff, and spend more time with people.

Stay at Home Day

2008-06-23T08:04:00.000-05:00

We are staying home today. So far this summer we have had several days of running around to various activities, but not too many stay home days. The kids didn't settle down until 10:00 last night, and I was hoping that they would sleep a little later this morning. No such luck---they were up at 6:00 as usual. My kids have always been early risers!

Plans for today:

Do some more organizing/cleaning (This is my ongoing goal of the summer.)
Play outside with the kids--wading pool, sprinkler
Clean bathrooms
Vacuum
Do a little laundry (We are potty training and John is running out of training pants and shorts.)
Cook chicken fajitas in crockpot (Here is the recipe, if you are interested!)

Looking forward to the day!

Packing for Vacation

2008-03-16T15:40:00.000-05:00

I am supposed to be packing for our family vacation, but I am playing hooky and updating my blog instead. My usual tasks:

Pack my suitcase
Pack the kids' suitcase
Pack the food (we are renting a cabin for the week)
Pack the toy bags for the kids
Pack my toy bag
Pack the first aid kit
Plan pit stops for the trip to our destination (I try to pack a lunch and we stop at a city playground along the way)
Pack lunch
Make arrangements for the cat to be looked after
Straighten up the house before we leave

My husband's tasks:

Pack his suitcase
Pack his toy bag
Load the SUV

A little lopsided, don't you think? This time I have put him in charge of straightening up the house and packing the kids' toy bags. He also put some of the food, which was laid out on the counter, in a laundry basket to take. I still need to add some things as well as pack the cooler.

Why is it that women are always in charge of the packing? At least that is how it usually is in this house.

Breaking the Pacie Habit

2008-03-10T17:02:00.001-05:00

John is 2 years, 1 month old. He is addicted to his pacie. The time has come for us to help him wean himself from it. Technically, he just gets it at night and at nap time, but the problem comes when he wakes up. He sometimes doesn't wake up in a good mood, and he needs a few minutes of extra pacie time, accompaied by a sippy cup of milk, in order to start the day off on a good foot. The next thing I know, it's 9:00 and he's still got it in his mouth. Also, when we come home from school in the afternoons, he immediately goes for it, because he doesn't get it at school, except at nap. I'm willing to give him a few minutes, but I get sidetracked and the next thing I know he's walking around at suppertime with it in his mouth.

So, we have tried to implement some rules:

Pacies stay in the bed or on top of the refrigerator.
If John needs a "fix" he can go lay in his bed, or sit on the steps with a pacie.
John is not allowed to walk around the house with pacie.

Some might say that we should just go cold turkey, but the way that I figure it, the pacies are his only security object(s). Some kids have blankies and their moms don't just take them away when they are only 2 years old. Some kids hang on to their blankies until they are much older. I don't fully buy the argument that it will harm his mouth. It's not like he has them all day long, and he often loses them in his sleep, so they really aren't in his mouth that much. Anyway, that's how I'm justifying it right now.

Visiting Day at the Prison

2008-02-17T20:38:00.000-06:00

Well, today my husband and I went to a prison for the first time to visit a family member. This was a new experience for me. First, we knew that the hours were 12:30-3:30, so we arrived at 12:20 to find a line that was out the door and down the sidwalk. It took an hour to make it up to the desk. I had a little enjoyment with people watching during this time. We were told that if we didn't make it in by 1:30, we would have to go away and wait until 2:30 to come back in. Well, we just barely made it to the sign-in book before they cut off the line two people behind us. After we signed the book, we had to tell them the inmate's number, and they called on the walkie-talkie for him to be brought up. Then we had to remove our shoes, which went through a metal detector, pass through a metal detector ourselves and be individually searched. Women were directed to go into a side room and turn pockets inside-out, pull out my bra and lean forward to show that nothing was hidden in it, and be patted down by a guard. We could only take one key and one ID in with us.

We met our family member in a cafeteria-type room that had tables and chairs with vending machines around the perimeters. We couldn't take anything in with us, but we could check out cards and other games to play (we didn't this time). Inmates don't get lunch on the weekends, but they could eat food purchased for them from the vending machines. By the end of the three hour visitation, the food machines were totally cleaned out. All food had to be consumed in the room and could not be removed by inmates or visitors. I saw a couple of ladies that had cokes and several packs of crackers that they had to throw away upon exiting.

It was hard for me to relax and enjoy the visit. I was so afraid of doing something wrong and being told to leave. I hope that next time I will be more familiar with the routine.

What really struck me as I looked around the visitation room was how many families go through this week after week, and now I am one of those people, too. We are the people that are lost in the system. The inmates get their sentences, the victims get counseling, and the families of the inmates get forgotten. We are victims, too, but of a different sort. Tonight, when you pray, say a prayer for me and other family members of inmates in prisons all over this country.

No School

2008-02-13T06:03:00.000-06:00

We have not had a snow day all season and this morning I received a call at 5:15 am to tell me that school is closed due to ice. Yay! We have been running around so much recently and our family really needs a break. Of course after that phone call, I was so excited that I couldn't go back to sleep, my mind just whirling with possiblities for the day. I'm going to try to take the time to really play with my kids today. Believe it or not, the housework is caught up--probably because we haven't been here enough to mess up the house. But...after today, the house may be a mess! Love, love, love these "bonus" days--a day off that we weren't expecting!

Ellen is Four!

2008-01-08T17:22:00.000-06:00

I am now the mother of a four year old! I really can't believe it. Time sure flies by!

I remember waking up at 3:00 am when my labor started with her. This morning, I woke up at 3:00 am. I thought that was strange because I usually wake up at 2:00 or 4:00, but almost never 3:00 am.

Ellen got to make her own birthday cake at preschool today. She was as excited about that as she was anything. Funny how the little things seem to matter so much.

Happy Birthday!

2008-01-05T15:11:00.000-06:00

Today we will celebrate both kids' birthdays. Ellen will be 4 next week and John will be 2 in a few weeks, so we just decided to do it all at one time. This year they will have a family birthday party. I've decided that every other year we will do a "friends" birthday party. Winter birthdays are hard when you try to have a big party and every one has to be inside. Another option would be to go somewhere else, but that gets expensive. I'm tempted to celebrate their half-birthdays in the summer.

For today we are meeting the grandparents at Chic-fil-a and then coming back to the house for cake and ice cream. We have two cakes. John's cake is CARS and Ellen's is Dora. They both have separate plates and napkins. Ellen is really excited. John doesn't understand why he can't open his gifts now and got in trouble earlier today for tearing into one. This was after he had found a Sharpie marker and drew all over one side of his face!

A New Year

2008-01-03T16:57:00.001-06:00

I wish I took the time to post more to this blog. Some people start blogs in order to stay in touch with family and friends. I originally started it as an easy way to record my thoughts and to possibly scrapbook those musings at a later date. I have always kept a diary, so this seemed like the next step.

We made it through the holidays in one piece. The kids had a great time. After each holiday season, I go through the house organizing and decluttering. I think this arises from the need to find a place for all of the new stuff we all got for Christmas. I'm doing pretty well this year. I recently purchased Peter Walsh's book It's All Too Much and it is changing the way that I think about our material possessions. I remember reading on one message board about one lady who cleared her house of anything that she didn't love and basically started from scatch. As a result, she now uses and loves everything she owns. She also has a lot less clutter. I want to be like that. I want all of the extra baggage--physical and mental--to just vanish!

I've set forth several goals for myself this new year. One of them is to take a walk every day. Today is January 3. I've taken 1 walk. I don't feel guilty about not taking walks on days where the temp doesn't get above freezing!

Fixin' Breakfast

2007-11-25T06:49:00.000-06:00

My kids have always gotten up early. Their usual wake-up time is around 6:00 am, but they have gotten up as early as 5:00. The challenge for me is calculating how late I can sleep and still get up before they do. I try to get breakfast started, but sometimes they beat me to the punch, and that does not set well if they are hungry. Like this morning, John had a hard time waiting for the biscuits in the oven. He pitched an out and out fit! Not a nice way to start the day--for me or him.

A lot of times Ellen and I just have cereal for breakfast. I fix oatmeal for John. I know they get tired of the same thing, so I also fix biscuits or croissants a couple of times a week. None of this is homemade--canned and frozen foods are my friends. On Saturdays we traditionally have pancakes. I also try to sneak in some bananas.

Holidays Are Here!

2007-11-21T16:05:00.000-06:00

I am enjoying the calm before the storm, I guess. Today is the day before Thanksgiving. We are going over to my parents' house for lunch. I have been assigned sweet potato casserole, pecan pie, and deviled eggs. I am also bringing a pumpkin pie, because it seems like a thanksgiving-ny thing to bring--not because my family will actually eat any of it. They seem to gravitate toward Nana's chocolate pie.

I want this season to be about family and not about stress and rushing around. That being said, I'm not sure how I am going to finish my Christmas shopping with my family constantly underfoot! Just kidding. I will get it all done, somehow.

I am debating whether or not to make batches of cookies this year. I did last year and gave away a lot, but I don't have room in the freezer this year to store them until the giving time.

Ellen has a birthday party next Saturday. On that same day, we are supposed to visit the nursing home with our Sunday School class and have a potluck afterwards. I need to start a list.

Back in the Saddle Again

2007-08-17T20:52:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a while since I posted. Well, a lot has happened in the past few weeks with school starting and all. I guess I just got busy. I have 16 kids in my class this year and they are all pretty good. I think it's going to be a good year. Ellen and John go to school with me every day and Ellen thinks that Ms. Sandra just hung the moon. John loves being with his friends in the nursery class.

I went to Kroger tonight for my weekly shopping trip. I bought 6 of those cloth shopping bags. What I don't understand is that they still packed part of my groceries in the plastic bags and didn't even use one of the cloth bags. Oh, well.

I hope that this heat subsides soon. We have had two weeks of 100+ temps everyday. Unbelievable. It is so dry from lack of rainfall that one lit cigarette butt could set our whole town on fire.

Morning Time

2007-06-22T05:58:00.000-05:00

I like to get up in the mornings before my kids do, just so that I can do my morning Bible Study and eat breakfast in peace. This is not easy to do, considering that the kids usually get up before 6:00 am. I have found that if I am able to beat them up, my day usually goes smoother and I start off in a better mood.

I thought my routine was a difficult one, especially during the school year when I have to get up by 5:20, until I talked to another teacher mom with two young children. She leaves the house each day by 5:45. I didn't catch what time she gets up, but it must be early! She says that summer is a treat because she gets to sleep in until 5:00 am!

In general, I like the quietness of the mornings, before the day gets busy. I like hearing the birds sing and having breakfast with my Ladycat in my lap. However, when I don't get to bed on time, early mornings take on a different tone. I've just learned to accept the fact that I will always have to get up early!

A Little Down Time

2007-06-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

Ellen is at Nana's this morning. She should be back any minute and then both kids should take a nap. Ellen is very demanding when she is here, so it is nice to just have one child to deal with. Ellen wants me to play with her constantly. John, on the other hand can amuse himself, but he gets into trouble more often than Ellen. So, it's a tradeoff, I guess.

We had our first rainy day in a while yesterday. After the bulk of the rain had passed over, I let the kids go out and ride around the cul-de-sac while I did a little weeding. The ground was finally soft enough that I could pull some weeds out. Mark got busy on the front flower beds last night and somehow a little weeding turned into a massacre of the bushes. He really cut them back--even using a chainsaw for part of it. He still needs to do some shaping, so right now they don't look too good.

I got my car window fixed yesterday.

Rain Showers and a Trip to Sam's

2007-06-18T16:26:00.000-05:00

Remember the aforementioned car window problem? Well, only once in the past week has it rained, and before that it had been weeks since it had rained. We are in the middle of a severe drought. That, combined with a late April frost has been really hard on the farmers. Today it actually rained a couple of times, so both times I had to run out and pull the tarp over the car. It was nice to have the rain, but I am sick of dealing with this window problem. I think Mark has finally gotten a clue and has made arrangements to have it fixed tonight or tomorrow.

We went to Sam's today to meet Mark for lunch. The only thing is that the only thing Mark was interested in was signing up for a new cell phone plan. Our 2 year contract with Verizon is up on June 25. The kids and I managed to buy over a $100 worth, which is cheap for Sam's. I am always interested in seeing what is in other people's carts at Sam's. One older man (with a happy grin on his face) had two Sam's club-sized bags of dried prunes. Another lady had about 6 containers of 100 shop towels each and two bottles of hand-santizer. I saw one lady with a microwave and 3 big boxes of tortilla chips. One man only had a 50 pound bag of sugar. I had to laugh when I saw the family with two small children with a box of diapers, a box of wipes, and a big bunch of flowers. Believe me, any woman with two small children deserves all the flowers that anyone wants to give her!

Is she sick or isn't she?

2007-06-17T20:13:00.000-05:00

Father's Day

I don't do a lot for Father's Day. I figure that they aren't going to do a lot for Mother's Day, so why pump up one holiday over another. I usually buy my own Mother's Day gift and Mark does the same. I usually have Ellen make something for Mark and each of the granddads. This year we had planned to have everyone over to our house for Sunday dinner. It is much easier for me to have everyone over to our house than to go somewhere else--if guests bring the bulk of the food, which they usually do. Sadly, we had to change plans at the last minute. Ellen woke up with an upset stomach. Mark offered to stay home with her, so I took John to church. We changed venues to Mom and Dad's house, so everything worked out. Oddly, Ellen hasn't been sick the rest of the day and is acting fine, so I don't know what was up this morning.

Good Naked and Bad Naked

2007-06-16T20:34:00.001-05:00

Today we went to Nashville Shores for Mark's work family picnic. Ellen and John were all ready to swim, so that meant that at least one adult had to be in the water with them. Since Mark almost never swims, the responsibility fell to me. Now, I'm not real proud of my body, but I also don't think that I'm the ugliest one out there, and a little walk around Nashville Shores confirmed my suspicions. There are a whole lot of not-so-pretty bodies out there being unashamedly flaunted. In fact, I think I saw more ugly bodies than pretty ones. That's ok. I admire people for getting past being self-conscious and getting out and having a good time.

Ok, so now I have a blog and thoughts from an open window

2007-06-16T07:24:00.000-05:00

A while back I had a teacher website (www.mrswilliamson.com) which is inactive now. At the time, my brother set me up with a blog, but after a few posts, I forgot about it. I was using it to document classroom happenings and that got old fast. Now, 4 or 5 years later, I have started a new blog. I have kept a diary for years, so this just seemed like the next step.

I have been dealing with two problems in the past week. One, I lost my cell phone; and two, the driver's side window on my car is stuck in the down position. Last night I found my phone, so that problem is taken care of; however, the window is still stuck and it is as hot as the dickens outside. I really worry about transporting my two kids in a hot car. Baby John's carseat really holds in the heat. On the otherside, I am getting a bigger taste of the summer atmosphere outside the car as we drive down the street.

So there you go...my first entry on my new blog. I have to go and get Baby John off the table before he destroys Ellen's library books.