The grass is always greener...

on the other side of the house. Well, at least it will be if it continues raining in the front yard but not in the back as it is doing right now. Does that mean the devil is beating his wife? That it will rain at the same time tomorrow? That I will have to water the flower beds in the backyard? Yes, I'm betting on the latter.

We're readying our fleet of bicylces, scooters, and yard mules for our subdivisions annual 4th of July parade/picnic. The kids have balloons, streamers, Uncle Sam hats, beads, giant sunglasses, etc. You may remember that we missed last year's festivities due to a prolific amount of vomit spewing from all three of my children simultaneously. We're hoping to avoid that this year. I guess, I mean it really won't seem like a holiday unless someone vomits or poops, but we'll try to muddle our way through.

This morning we went to the pediatrician for well-kid visits. Sam and Sophy were delinquent on a shot that was a two-part shot, so they both got round #2 of HepA, I believe. Sam screamed and moaned while his sister was taking her shot (without a tear shed and with a smile on her face), and he screamed and moaned even louder when it was his turn. In true mommy fashion, I made it all better by promising him I'd take him to Barnes and Noble for a coffee. It worked. Sophy chose book #1 of the Junie B. Jones series, Jack got book #18 of The Magic Tree House series, and Sam nursed his coffee and played with the Thomas set-up. Hehe. I love that boy more than words can say. He has started throwing around words like "injustice" and "unfair" while maintaining his innocence in sibling altercations. At least he has stopped asking for a lawyer when he is in trouble.

If only 2 thirds of my children didn't wake up EVERY morning before 6:30 a.m., I might sleep in tomorrow (being Saturday and all.)Then again, if IF's and BUT'S were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Right?

Happy Birthday To You

9 years ago I had been in labor for 10 hours praying for death to find me...not knowing I had almost 3 hours before Jackson would make his emergency c-sectioned entrance. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Sophy Claire's Favorite Things

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Sparkly Pink
Green Beans
Ribbons
Cats
Cartwheels
Swimming underwater
Mermaids and Fairies
Pink Seahorses
Rubies
M&M's
Red Roses
Pink Daisies
Pink Tulips
Stories about mice
The beach
Planting seeds
Rainbows with pink clouds
Bubble baths
Roller skating
Being a firefighter

Sam the Man's Favorite Things

Trash cans
Trash trucks
Trash
Trash men
Trash dumpsters
Ropes
Shovels
Axes
Hammers and nails
Plungers
Dirt
Rocks
Flashlights
Backpacks
Pliars
Sharp things
Staplers
Staple Pullers
Glue and Scotch Tape
Duct Tape
Vacuum Cleaners
Mops
Coffee

Jack Ryan's Favorite Things

Reading about trains
Riding on trains
Drawing trains
Drawing rockets
Going fishing
Cheese pizza
Riding my Razor scooter
Outer Space
Sharks
My marble collection
Dreaming about flying on the Saturn V
Superman
Doughnuts
Tornadoes
Underwater submarines
Swim Team and Swim Meets
Maple Syrup
Pankcakes
Honey on biscuits with lots of butter
Lightening McQueen
Riding on a REAL motorcycle
Baby ducks and baby rabbits
The color blue
Being a secret agent spy on a secret agent mission
Shark Week on the Discovery Channel (July 29th)
Being at the beach for 100 days...or maybe 1,000 days..or one trazillion days
Going to school...just kidding
Turning 9 TOMORROW!!

As the World Turns

While Earth is spinning, the following events have occured in the Pinkie home:

* We found out Sam has pneumonia. He's highly medicated and on the mend.
* Jack placed 1st, 4th, and 5th in his last swim meet in various events. Go him!
* I have had a migraine that will NOT leave me alone.
* It has rained every day for 3 weeks. And by rain, I mean monsoon season.
* I finally made it to the "beauty" shop to get my hair some attention. I look better, but I think "beauty" may be a stretch.
* Mr. Pinkie has started seriously working out again on his bike. He's looking mighty fine, and he's melting before my eyes. Not that he needed to melt, but he is feeling so much better. Maybe I should take my cues from him....or maybe not.
* My house began verbalizing it's need to be cleaned. I told it to shut up.
* We learned the names of the teachers for the Pinkie3 for the upcoming school year. YAY, on all 3 counts! We were pleased with all 3! WAHOO!!

Someone is digging in the freezer. Better go investigate.

Under the Texas Sun

Today we drove 6 hours, sat in the hospital for 3 hours with Sam after we arrived home (don't worry, everything is fine), and sat at swim team practice for 2 hours, but HEY! We're home! I missed the kids so much. Ugh. Our trip was a bittersweet mixture (mostly sweet) of alone time with Mr. Pinkie, fun activities, and a knot in my stomach because I couldn't kiss my babies. Sniff, sniff. I'll update soon with more pics and trip info.

For now, here is a pic of Mr. Pinkie and I from the trip. We were at a vineyard in the Hill Country that was absolutely gorgeous. I wanted to stomp on some grapes like Lucy, but you might know the dumb harvest isn't until August. FOOEY! Oh well, my white skirt might not have survived.

Leaving on a jet plane.....

Actually, we'll be leaving in a car, but I couldn't resist the title. We'll be heading out tomorrow evening for a week away. Rest assured, I will take tons of pics and tell all about it when we return. Unfortunately, without the kids, there probably won't be any stories to tell. My update post-vacation with no children would probably be something like...."Blahh, blah, blah, slept, blah, blah, blah, slept, blah, blah, blah, food, blah, blah, blah, peed, blah, blah, slept, blah, blah, blah, drive, blah, blah, blah..." You get the idea.

Hasta La Vista!

Swim Meet

Jack had a great day at the swim meet! The events were cut short due to the weather, but he placed first in his heat for the freestyle and 9th overall for that event. He placed 3rd or 4th in his heat for the backstroke and 6th overall for that event. His relay team placed 6th in the medley relay. What really stinks is that I feel certain he would have placed in the breast stroke, one of the events that was cancelled. Even more so, I KNOW his relay team for the freestyle relay would have placed...Grrrr. This was probably his best swim experience so far, since he was relatively calm and knew what to expect after the time trials last week. It's amazing to watch him swim because it all seems so effortless. I can only imagine how awesome he will do when he starts really getting into the competitive aspect of the events. For now, he is just interested in beating his previous times and getting a ribbon. HA!

The Story of the Creepy FedEx man.

Well. I guess you may be let down by the level of creepiness found in this story; however, every time the fellow leaves my house (which is every day due to Mr. Pinkie's work,) I am struck by a weird feeling that crawls all over me like flies on a rotten apple. You see, I am pretty sure the man, in his late 40's to early 50's, has the hots for Mr. Pinkie. If I answer the door, he remains very courteous while presenting me with Mr. Pinkie's delivery before heading on his way. This can have nothing to do with the fact that I almost always answer the door in the form of some domestic goddess/angel...what with my bare feet and 3 sizes too large jogging pants that are cut-off rather choppily to Capri length with one leg longer than the other and sagging at dangerously low levels, a stained tank top with ravioli smeared about, or the ALWAYS perfectly coiffed hair-do that I invariably am sporting.

No, you let Mr. Pinkie answer the door and this man lights up like a firefly. He talks and talks and GIGGLES and asks questions and seems so genuinely interested in any facet of Mr. Pinkie's life, verily I tell you, he seems nigh onto swooning every time Mr. Pinkie is present. I have eavesdropped on certain front porch conversations between the two, and I will admit (a lesser woman would be able to do no such thing) that I have been tempted to step outside and drape myself seductively over Mr. Pinkie in a grand show of HE BELONGS TO ME!!, but I haven't done that as of yet. Is it weird to be jealous of the FedEx man's intentions? I am thinking probably that it is.

Mr. Pinkie, being in possession of the kindest, most naive heart of anyone I've ever known, thinks that the FedEx man is "just a really nice guy" as he pats me patiently on the shoulder and pecks me on the cheek. While I glare at the FedEx truck as it pulls out of the drive.

I'm telling you. The man is after my man. Mr. Pinkie is afraid to answer the door now for fear of being ravished by the delivery man. Hehee.

Are marshmellows in season?

I should probably be packing for The Great Escape, aka Mommy and Daddy are leaving town for a while, especially since tomorrow I have tons of errands to run, Saturday is a swim meet that will likely last the entire day, and Sunday is Father's Day and also the evening of our expected departure. Am I packing? Nope. Why? Because it's one of those days where the kids are playing nicely (some stars somewhere must be aligned,) and I am mostly through a really good romance story that just won't let me put it down. Besides, we spent all day yesterday swimming at the GrandPinkie's house, and the kids seem to have gotten a lot of pent up energy out.

I just had to go break up a fight that ensued after Sam called his sister a "banana split." In the Pinkie house, that is the worst slur you can fling at someone. To call them a Banana Split. Seriously. We're not sure when, or how, it started, but it renders everyone under the age of 9 in this house (which is 3 people)completely irrational and full of vengence.

Where was I? Packing. Swimming. Banana splits. Think. Think. Ah, marshmellows. Sam asked me today if marshmellows were 'in season.' Yes? Er, I think they are. Anyone care to expound upon that?

((Yes, I would like your chicken salad and corn dip recipes!! Send them my way girl.))

((Creepy FedEx man story to follow....))

I would like to point out....

I would like to remind you that this Friday evening starts a brand new season of Man vs. Wild epis!!! Please excuse me while I go find a container large enough to fill with my over abundance of JOY!

Random..haha.

Is anything I ever say here NOT random? Hehe. I make me giggle.

Random Thing #1:
Daddy and Mommy Pinkie are going on a trip next week. Alooone. Alooone means ALOONNNEEE. The baby Pinkies will be staying with the GrandPinkies. Do you hear that? It's me, in Texas, shouting for joy! I can't wait.

Random Thing #2:
I am having a serious, serious hankering for pizza. Gooey, cheezy pizza. After realizing that we were dipping into our retirement account (I exaggerate, or do I?) to fund our pizza habit, we have attempted to put the brakes on. I'm thinking we've held out for as long as we're gonna. ((Pause while I look for the Dominoes number...))

Random Thing #3:
Creepy FedEx guy just came and went. Have I ever posted about him? Let me know.

Random Thing #4:
Does anyone out there have any DELICIOUS picnic food ideas? We're traveling with some friends of ours next week, and we'd like to participate in a lovely and memorable picnic extravaganza. Any ideas? Anyone?

Random Thing #5:
I don't think there is a #5.

That will be detention for you, little missy.....

Jack had a dentist appointment this morning at 8:30. AM. As in, CHEW YOUR TOAST FASTER IT'S 8:15 ALREADY, AND IT TAKES ME 45 MINUTES TO GET TO THE DENTIST OFFICE FROM HERE..AND QUICK, GO MAKE YOUR TEETH LOOK LIKE WE FLOSS EVERY 7 MONTHS OR SO. Not that I'm trying to paint a false picture here. The Pinkies are known for sliding into parking lots with our back tires smoking and children spilling out of all sides of the vehicle in a dead run. It's because of our ability to drive like Nascar professionals and hoof it like track stars that we are rarely late. VERY ON TIME, but rarely late. This morning, well, let us just say that we arrived a 9:00 for our 8:30 appointment. I'd love to be able to blame something or someone specific, but I honestly don't know what made us be so late. The end result was the same no matter whose fault it was. Ms. Happy Sunshine, the receptionist, informed us that we would have to reschedule our appointment, at which time Jack pumps the air with his fist and flashes his dimples to the tune of, "YES! I am one LUCKY boy. YEAH!"
On July 24th, we're going to try and arrive on time for our dental appointment. Would someone out there care to remind of that a few days ahead of time?

This just in....

Some of you had asked how Jack placed at time trials this past Saturday. Due to there being so many heats in each event, the results are handed out the week following the meet. He placed 3rd in the backstroke, but I don't think he placed in the freestyle or breast stroke, which is no surprise. He really choked during the breast stroke. He only learned to do it a week or so ago. HA! I'm very proud of him. I'm also very excited about the potential his coaches see in him for this sport. Finally! Something other than baseball (which was a disaster) and football (which he despises.)

Smile!

Time Trials

Jack had his first swim meet today. More specifically, we had to leave our house at 5 AM in order for Jack to have his first swim meet today. These were the time trials, and next Saturday will be the first "race day." Jack was a smidge overwhelmed by the mass of humanity that attended the meet, but he did just great! Sometimes I look at him, and I'm amazed at how grown he is. I am such the old lady. Ug.

Amazing Mom-isms of the day, er...morning.

*We do not drink maple syrup!

*Who ever got out the tinker toys needs to pick them up.

*Do not tape those Hot Wheels cars to the bottoms of your feet. No, they are not going to work like roller skates.

*Please stop making that noise with your brother's armpit.

*Do not throw the dog.

*Do not lick the dog.

*Do not lick the dog even if he licked you first.

*Stop copying your sister.

*Who left the tinker toys out?

*No, we do not eat lunch at 10:30.

*Stop calling your sister a "dirty dog."

*Sophy pick up the tinker toys.

*Stop playing on the phone.

*You do not have to cry just because someone called you an Orange Chicken.

*Get the plastic bag off of your head.

*I don't know what a roly-poly smells like.

*You are 6 years old. You should know how to wipe yourself by now.

*Yes, picking up the tinker toys IS a great idea. Now do it.

*No, it's still not lunch time.

*We do not yell at the mail lady.

*Now. See how nice the rug looks without the tinker toys on it?

*Step away from the cat.

Water World

Between swimming lessons times three, swim team for Jack, swimming parties, and swimming at friend's houses, we are in a constant state of of undry. We have converted our mudroom into the drying room for suits, towels, etc. It's a problem that I am thankful, at the moment, to have. The kids love, love, love to swim, and it really helps keep the kids occupied for hours at a time. If I keep my fingers crossed, maybe Daddy Pinkie will be convinced that the Pinkie family needs a pool addition....and quick! Mr. Pinkie is convinced that the cost of an adding an inground pool is something in the ballpark of a buying a home. In a strange twist of irony, I am the more optimistic pool shopper. I really feel like we can find a good deal that would get us an inground for a decent price. I know they're not cheap, don't get me wrong. We shall see.

Camping Shots

Happy, happy girl!



This rock shelf was so cool. It was so smooth and large enough that the kids could have a shallow splashing area. Sophy was singing, "I believe I can fly..." while Jack pretended to do just that.

We visited a cavern near our camping site. It was a really interesting stop. Sophy, upon realizing how oozy, drippy, dirty, and "icky" the belly of the cavern was, immediately began asking to go shop for jewelry in the cavern gift shop where they had tons of stones and silver jewelry. She bought some dragonfly earrings, a necklace with a dolphin flipper pendant, and an elephant for her elephant collection chiseled out of green agate...or some such rock-mineral-thingy.

Our tour guide girl was so obnoxious. Y'all. Words can not express how spoofable this chic was. She was an episode of Saturday Night Live WAITING to happen. By the end of the hour and a half long tour, I had almost chewed through my tongue in an effort to not guffaw in her presence. She was hilarious, and she didn't even know it. Jack, ever the science nerd, looked at her all googley-eyed and breathless and said, "Wow. You're so smart."


I love this shot of the guys fishing.

Things I learned while camping with my family.

The Pinkies just returned from a camping trip with the Gramps Pinkies, the cousin Pinkies, the Auntie/Uncle Pinkies, etc. We had a super-terrific time, and I hope to share some photos in the days ahead. For now, I'd like to sum up some of the things that were affirmed for me on this trip.
1. I hate camping.
2. There are times when you just need to be $@#$@# to someone.
3. I don't want boob implants.
4. Your period is still your period (only magnified) in the woods.
5. My dad is like a really old child. Bless my poor Mama's heart.
6. Someone with more authority than myself needs to revoke my husband's driver's license. And fishing license.
7. Television matters. I don't care what anyone says. I want it and lots of it.
8. Migraines are for my brain what viruses are for my children. They only show up on vacations or school holidays.
9. No matter how hard I try, I will always be phobic about not being able to see my feet while standing in cloudy water. End of story.
10. I am thankful I have my dad's sweat glands instead of my mother's. She sweats like a 400 pound lumberjack on crack.
11. Texas is truly the hottest planet in the solar system.
12. When a sign says HIGH WATER, do NOT attempt to drive past it.
13. Sometimes something that looks like a snake is actually a very large stick placed by your 6 year old to frighten you. Ahem.
14. I hate camping.
15. My husband has no qualms about stealing a coffee cup from a Hilton hotel. (Yes, we stayed at a Hilton on our way home from camping. So shoot me. Free Paris.)
16. Me and my siblings are slowly morphing into our parents. Which is odd because our children are slowly morphing into versions of our young selves. QUANTUM LEAP! Remember that show?
17. S'mores should be renamed S'Messy.
18. Mud is mud no matter where you are.
19. Nike soles are no match for a campfire.
20. Bear Grylles is an inspiring fellow. I dedicate every adventurous moment from my week to him, including this one that involved a trek through waist deep, CLOUDY river water. OMG.