An identity crisis and other ramblings.

Here you have the Red Monster dressed for our Christmas Eve service at church. He wasn't sure whether to go with business casual, formal, industrial...it was all just too much. GrandPinkie got Sam a set of gas station/work shirts with his name on the name tag. Yes, he is quite the happy child now, and he can't be persuaded to take them off. Even for church. (Notice the pencil in the pocket? HAHA)
We made good time today on our way home from Austin-ish. We all had yeehaw fun, and I just hope the Pinkie family members don't move without giving us their forwarding address. We can't be easy to live with. Hehe.
There was just enough daylight left when we got home to begin Phase I of my new garden. Well, ONE of my new gardens. It felt good to get really dirty and do something physically challenging. I took before pics, but I'll wait to show them until I have the AFTER pics to show with them. Sophy and I are planning a Fairy Garden. It will have fairy lights and lots of nooks and crannies for a little fairy girl to play. I am watching some fairy lights on ebay, but they're not cheap (at least not the ones I can find), so I'm giving myself a little time to win them. I've missed my garden, and this is my favorite part of gardening....ideas!!
PDaddy just showed up with Chili's burgers....ta.
(Billie! I just got your pic of Freddie-Li! Congratulations! I've missed the whole adoption saga. Update me! She is adorable! Love the hairy pups, too!!)

Be back soon.

I'm taking the kids to my bro/sis-in-law's house this weekend for a family gathering of sorts near Austin. PDaddy has a rehearsal dinner to shoot tomorrow evening and a wedding on Saturday, so he'll be holding down the homefront while we're away. Thank goodness I have one more week off because this one was a vapor. Where did it go?
Say a prayer for me tomorrow. I'll be in the car with three kids for 5 hours. EEK.
Later!

Shameless Product Endorsement-Christmas 2007

Sophy:
Sophy received most of your usual girl toys that require no explanation....Barbie, Barbie car, dance clothes, jewelry, bobbles, clothes, make up etc. Her favorite, and mine, is the Rose Petal Cottage by Playskool. I was afraid that she would be too old/big for the likes of this cottage, but she (and Sam) have played in it all day today. It's a really pretty, little house. All three of the kids got a Plug n' Play video game. These were a cheap compromise to any of the more expensive video games...plus, they're old school. Ha. Sophy got Ms. PacMan......I am happy to report that I have not lost my PacMan touch!
Sam:
A favorite toy for Sam....a security system for his bedroom. Due to how cheap inexpensive this set was, we figured it would be a joke and cause nothing but heartache. However, it really works....and it works really, really well. I now wave my hand past the door threshhold before entering to ensure that I do not get pelted by a barrage of missiles triggered by the laser beam trip wire. Yyyyeah. It works. Sam also got a cheap, kid version of skateboard along with every piece of safety gear one might need to hurdle himself down the driveway. The GrandPinkies from Hot Springs brought the guys each a RC controlled monster truck that is capable of driving 30mph...or so it would seem. Of course, his favorite gift came from Auntie Pinkie. 500 pieces to add to his old bucket of parts and pieces. Overall, these were a few Sam's fav things. Oh, and this. I am thankful I read the reviews and did not get the Fisher Price version like I had originally planned. This seems to have been a much better buy.
Jack:
Jack begged and begged for a Rip Stick. We caved and bought him one (along with all the safety gear.) Now, the endorsements all say for ages 8 and up. Jack is an extremely proficient Razor scooter rider, but this little baby is gonna take some serious skill and practice to even be able to mount. He's an agile guy, so I guess he will eventually manage. I just assumed it would be something he could jump on and zip off into the sunset. Not so. Still, he was so excited to get it, and I guess it will be something to challenge him. This was not his favorite gift, although he has played with it a lot already. For a Hot Wheels item, it is suprisingly fun. We've wasted a lot of money over the years on Hot Wheels items that aren't worth the box they're sold in. This one had a little more bang for the buck. A little. Jack loves Hot Wheels, but I'm not sure if he is too old for them or not. Oh well! He also got several DVD's, lots of books (happy boy), and the subscription to a train magazine that he really, really was hoping for. OH! And his very first bottle of cologne. He asked for it!! It made me weepy just paying for it. Hehe.

Shameless Product (and food) (and movie) Endorsement of Christmas 2007 to follow

I plan on updating later on with a few shameless product endorsements from some of our favorite gifts of Christmas 2007. PDaddy's father and step-mom are here for a few days from Hot Springs, so I'll update when they leave tomorrow. PDaddy has them out of the house for a few minutes to make a quick grocery run and to pick up some lunch, so I'm trying to get a start getting the Christmas decorations down and the house put back to rights. I love decorating for Christmas, but I can not stand Christmas decorations that are left up for too long. Pet peave!!!
Anyway, we had nice Christmas dinner (ham, sweet potatoe casserole, green beans with tomatoes, etc.) and fire last night, while the kids played with their Christmas toys that PDaddy's father brought (he made them guns that shoot marshmellows...yay.) It's raining and cold today, so the kids are a bit restless and over-stimulated from 3 days of family gatherings and present openings. Not a good combination!! I'm hoping to UNstimulate them as fast as possible!
I think for dinner tonight we'll have white chili, guacamole, pico, etc. Dessert?? Hhhmm. Oh, last night with dinner I made the Olive Cheese Bread from Pioneer Woman's site. Heavens to mergatroid....it was delicious and so simple! Check it out....and then make it for someone you love (and yourself.) In other news, have you seen Alvin and the Chipmunks? Cute movie for kids. We met PDaddy's sis and little girl on Sunday to see it, and the kids loved it. I wouldn't have seen it without the kids, but it was enjoyable (unlike some kid's movies we've been tortured with over the years.) Jack LOVED it so much. And now he wants a chipmunk. Uh.....no.
Better run and get back to my Christmas break-down before they get back from town. Hope you are all well and HEALTHY!

Yuletide Virus

Pics from Sam's book parade and Sophy's Christmas program.

True to form, we're knee-deep in the same virus (I assume) that ravaged through Jack's poor body for 13 days. Sophy came down with bronchitis, a double ear infection and a throat infection. After 10 days of antibiotic, we took her back to the doctor to learn that the antibiotic had not worked. At all. So, now we're on to a different type of antibiotic to see if it has more luck. The girl is 6 years old and has never had an ear infection in her life. She's paying back double for that now. On Thursday, Sam had his book parade at school--dressed as a taxi. He designed his taxi and was so excited that he got to read a book of his choice to the class and parents. It was a nice little program, and he promptly came home that day with a 101 degree temp. YAY! By Friday a.m., his temp was 103. By Friday p.m., it was 104.4, and he was delirious. Didn't know me from Adam. Or Eve. I worked like mad for 2 hours (tepid bath, cold rags, popsicles, motrin, tylenol, etc.) and finally got it down to 102. After that, he started slipping down under the 100's. Sigh. Of course, it's a holiday, so you'd think I'd be expecting this. I've learned that my hopes renew every year. Maybe it's the holiday spirit, but every year I (mistakenly) believe that we're gonna creep by.....make it through one major holiday without someone being violently ill. I'm sure it will happen one year. It just won't be this one. Ha! However, I am thankful that my kids have something that can be treated with meds from a pharmacy when so many moms and dads are hoping their kids just make it through the night. I'll take a virus every holiday. Gladly, if it means we're healthy otherwise.

Sophy had a kindergarten Christmas program on Friday. It was too cute for words. I love how she loves to perform in front of people. She's not exactly shy and retiring. Hahhaa. Wonder why?

PDaddy is about 6 hours away today watching a local high school team play for the state title. He and my dad left really, really early this morning, so the kids and I went to town and bought PDaddy's Christmas gifts. I let the kids pick out a gift each for him, and we wrapped up the day (no pun intended) by riding the Christmas train at the mall. That made the kids very, very happy. Then I popped into Long John Silver's for the first time in about 4 years for my yearly quota of grease and sodium. And THAT made me very, very happy. What is it about those little crunchie things? What ARE those little crunchie things?

Tomorrow, I hope to take the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks before we go to my folk's house for Christmas festivities. Or should I say Festivus activities. Hehehe.

Pam!

Of course I remember you! How are your kids? I can't reply directly to guestbook comments (because I'm a techno retard), so I had to make a quick post to say hello! If you want to sign my guestbook with a private comment and leave your email address, I'll email you! Glad to hear from you!

Say hello to Fred.

Santa sent us an Express package from the North Pole earlier this week. Inside the box, was our very own scout elf from the ranks of Santa's finest. Santa, ever-efficient, also sent us a book that told us the job of this elf and our duties as well. Seems that Santa's best kept secret is his useage of scouts. Have you heard? Your first duty is to give your new elf a name and fill in his certificate that dedicates him into your family. The elf, in our case it's Fred, watches and listens. Fred listens and will always hear about news in the car, the park, or at school if a rule is broken. Then. THEN! Each night while you are asleep, the elf flies to Santa by way of magic. Yes, magic! He chills with his pals. He reports to Santa. He eats and takes a nap. In the morning (after the elf returns to your house), you have to find the new spot where the elf is sitting. The kids wake up earlier and earlier every day to see who can find Fred first. So far, at our house, Fred has perched in the kitchen, on the ceiling fan (see photo above) in the living room, the boy's room, and just this morning....amongst Sophy's glass elephant collection. There is only one hang-up. One rule you have to obey. You can NOT touch the elf lest he loose his magic. Fred can't speak, but we can talk to him. You can tell him your wishes, apologize for being bad, plead your case as it were. Of course, Santa has the executive decision on all things toy-ish. In the end, Fred will hear the sleigh bells on Christmas Eve and say adios to the Pinkie family. Take heart. Next year, he'll be back when it's Christmas-time again.

The info above is from a book by Chanda Bell and her mother Carol Aebersold, The Elf on the Shelf~A Christmas Tradition. The book is so neatly written, and my kids love it! The illustrations are really pretty to boot. The book comes with the Elf, and my only regret is that I didn't have this when the kids were younger. Nonetheless, they have eaten this up--even at their advanced ages. ((Smile))

Shopping, weather, thanks, and a movie

Shopping - We're finished! HOOHOO!!! ((Except stocking stuffers!))

Weather - Is it cold or what? Yikes! It was nice to do Christmas shopping in cold weather. East Texas Christmas shopping usually means you wear shorts and flip-flops. We commemorated the cold snap by having, as planned, lunch at my tea place. Yes, it was nice.

Thanks - Tricia, thank you for the recipe! I will definitely give it a whirl! Sounds really tasty!

Movie - Also as planned, we saw I Am Legend.....and....Wow. Uh, it was good. Creeppppppy, in a Doom's Day/end of the world kind of way. Nonetheless, wow. Didn't see it coming.

Now that I've spent an entire day shopping, wrapping and eating, I must make up for it by doing laundry tomorrow. Haha...or should I say, WAH-WAH!

Friday Night Fever

Today, we learned that Sophy has infected ears, an infected throat, and the beginnings of bronchitis. Honestly, she doesn't seem THAT sick. Then again, she has the constitution of a horse....so there ya go. Anything else that knocks the boys off of their feet, she just takes in stride. My back is still hurting like nobody's business, but I think it's something muscular...and not anything big. I just really thought it would be better by now, or maybe I was just HOPING it would be better by now?
PDaddy and I are going Christmas shopping tomorrow, and I really hope we get to see a movie. It may not work out in our favor, but it would be nice if it did. I imagine we'll be in town all day, so I may get supper at Caraba's out of the deal. HOO-HOO. At least I know I'll be eating a scone and having hot tea. Is it just me...or am I really obsessed with food at the moment? Heehee.
I think we'll make some sugar cookies tonight. A sort of pre-Christmas dry-run. For some reason, Shepherd's Pie sounds warm and yummy. I only know one way to make this. I'm curious if anyone out there has their own recipe for it? Anyone? Anyone? I wonder if Pioneer Woman ever makes Shepherd's Pie? Can you imagine? Maybe I'll get that going for supper with a salad....some rolls.....slurp.
PDaddy just came in and made a fire. Niiiiiiice.
Thanks for all the lovely Christmas cards! Jack is scoping out who has cute daughters and inquiring as to their names and ages. Pah!

Parade & Recital pics

Here we are on the parade float waiting our turn in the processional. Our float was pulled by an 18 wheeler with a giant guitar on top with a sign that said, GIRLS ROCK! Hahaa. We only thought we were dead once on the parade route when the giant, electric guitar pulled down a power line. Were we frightened? Uh-yeah. I'd say we were a teensy bit scared. In the end, our float placed first for having the "Best Lights." I guess that is unavoidable when there are 78 little girls wearing flashy-light Santa hats on board.

The girls wore their regular dance leotards for this little program, but they had the option of wearing antlers while they danced for us. I can't wait to see the program in May. They spend August through May learning the 3 dances for the recital, and they sure are working hard. Their tap routine is to Material Girl (heheheee). One of their other dances is to some Hannah Montana song (try to control your gag reflex...ha!) It's all very cute. The ballet dance will be the last one they learn, I believe. There are 12 girls in Sophy's group. Here she is with 3 of her partners for the tap dance.

See this guy?

This poor kid. 11 pounds lost and a horrible case of pneumonia....I don't think I've ever seen him so sick. He's slowly getting better. Still no appetite to speak of, but his energy level seems to be on the upswing. Sam took this picture of Jack last night at Sophy's Christmas dance recital/party. The Grandpinkies came to watch, and the boys were surprisingly supportive of Sophy despite the fact that they were at an all-girl event.

DaddyPinkie and I plan to take the whole day Saturday while the kids are with my folks to get our Christmas shopping started and finished....all in the same day. We probably will be in town all day, and I'm hoping that we can catch a movie while we're in town. DaddyP. says that if he gets to pick the movie, he'll let me pick where we eat lunch. Hehee....I am dying for some cheese scones and chicken salad at a cutesy-girlie tea room that I love. It's not much of a man-food place, but hey! he said I could pick!! Besides, he usually isn't one to turn down a fluffy, hot pastry...and their scones are rather tasty. Maybe I'll get really lucky, and he'll drop me off at the nail place for a pedicure while he does some shopping. HAHHA. Never hurts to plan.

Nutcracker

We had a swell time at the ballet. Sophy and Pinkiecousin are always excited to see the dancers, and it's neat to watch how they experience it over the years. This year, Sophy was more taken with what the dancers were wearing. Pcousin follows the story and watches every move the dancers make. She's a diehard fan!Both girls came away with a ballet slipper ornament. Here are some pics. For some reason, I look pregnant in the pic below. I am not. At least, I think I am not. Here are the gals after the show. Is this not a sweet shot?

Pay no attention to the dead bush behind us or to my bad hair day! Here we are...on our way to the ballet!

Week before last, this week, next week, the week after that....

1. Jack had a fever of 102+ for 10 days. A plethora of tests, 4 doctor visits, a CT scan, and a chest xray....well, we discovered he has pneumonia. Yeah, it was a CRAZY week. In the process, Jack lost 9 pounds and is soooo weak. Today he is feeling a good deal better. I hope this is the end of it. Until the other 2 get it......of course, that's what Christmas Eve is for, right?
2. Week before last, we went to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Imporium. It is super cute and brings up a lot of questions about life/death. It's a sweet, sweet show. It made me cry....and then we went to have choc. chip, Mickey Mouse pancakes and hot chocolate at our fav pancake place. Maybe I've already posted about this? Can't recall...
3. Yesterday I did something insane to my back. It's called standing up. I have no clue what happened, but I've been in extreme pain ever since. As I type, I'm sitting in bed with an ice pack on it. Sophy and I are meeting our Pinkiecousin, PinkieAuntie, and GrandPinkie to go see the Nutcracker. If I am properly medicated, I should make it through. Pics to follow (not of me medicated..har-har!)
4. Sophy's dance group rode on a float in the Wonderland of Lights parade last night. It was fun, but we missed seeing the coll things in the parade. Daddypinkie and the boys (and the GrandPinkies) were in a good spot on the parade route, so they got to see the riders, bands, twirlers, clowns, firetrucks, etc. After the parade, we met up at our new neighbor's house for our cul-de-sac's annual post-parade party. We are the youngest of the group, but everyone seemed really nice.
5. Yesterday we went to S'port to JulieAnne's bakery to get Christmas cookies to take to the cul-de-sac party. We stopped in for lunch at Jason's deli on our way home. It was so yummy. I stuffed my face like a wild woman.
6. Next week we have a dance recital party and showcase. The girls get to invite their families to their dance class for refreshments, and they show off all that they have learned for the big, Spring recital.
7. 2 more weeks of school. Oy.
8. Our Christmas cards should be in tomorrow. I hope they turn out cute.
9. Have you read/heard of/or do you have The Elf on the Shelf book? I saw this book in Southern Living magazine this month, and I love the idea of it. It's this story that comes with this elf that you set on your shelf. The story explains that the elf (by magic) goes to the North Pole every night to report on how the children of the house have behaved to Santa. Each morning he is mysteriously in a new spot. The kids have to search to find him. There are also rules. You can't touch him with your hands, etc. I loved this idea! I'm bidding on a couple on ebay in hopes that I will win one, and thought I'd make it a new tradition for the kids. I wish so bad that I could've started it when they were much younger! Still, it will be fun for as long as it lasts, and then maybe to pass on to their kids.
10. Better try to get moving and see if this back will work. I'll try to post pics of the N'cracker this eve.
**Ter-Have you made a Santa yet?

A few of my favorite things...

Before I got married (and the subsequent children,) I always dreamed of what my Christmas tree would look like. Yes, I had a lot of time on my hands. I LOVED going to Dillards and other department stores to look at the different tree displays to dream about which tree "would be mine." Ahhh, the themes, the color schemes, the fancy-schmanciness of it all. My tree was going to be pink and silver. All soft pink and silver with lots of diamonds (not real, of course--I knew I was going to be a teacher...hehe) and fur and bobbles. Several years into our marriage, I hung on to that pipedream. Until one day, a 2 year old Jackson ate one of the glass balls off of the tree. Uh-huh. You read that right. He ate....a glass....ornament. So, we didn't have a tree for several years after that. You see, by the time Jack was over his ornament eating, Sam had arrived. With red hair. We knew instantly there would be no Christmas tree for MANY, MANY years to come. As luck would have it, Sam didn't eat ornaments or otherwise de-frock the tree. We were pleasantly aghastsurprised and promptly put the tree back up for Sam's first Christmas. Since that time, we've accumulated various and sundry ornaments of a homemade nature. A shining star here (popsicle sticks covered in glitter), a snowman (dried dough with beads) there. And now, my department store tree is loaded to the gills with fuzzy ball garland, gold-metallic garland with stars....all mixed in with the occassional crystal swan, red glass birds, and stained glass stars. It's quite a sight. But I wouldn't trade my Charlie Brown tree for all the tea in China (well, maybe for some tea....I do love me a good cup of Black Nigrili.) It's worth it's weight in unmatched ornaments to hear the kids exclaim over the ornaments they made as toddlers, to see their favorite ornament from 'last year'--Santa riding a tricycle or little, wooden drummer boy carrying a wreath on his head. Sigghhh....now if I can just get my St. Lucia dolls finished....ggrrrr....

Recent Photos

Here you see a little girl who is in the process of sweet talking her way into some chocolate ice cream after her mommy had already told her no. Can you say, "Wrapped?" As in, around her little finger.

Sam took this picture of Jack on Thanksgiving Day at the GrandPinkie's house. That is one happy kid, right there. Look at those dimples. UG!

This was Sam's last visit to the treehouse before we moved. He hugged and kissed it. He cried. It was enough to break your heart, it was. Before you voice your concern, let me just say that our new house has an unused, outside (very nice and new) storage building that will VERY soon be brought up to speed and turned into a rip-snortin' (in Texas that means really snazzy) Club House of Epic Proportions.

So, where were we?

Life is returning back to...er...well, normal. Ok. Ok. Normal is a relative term. Ok, that's not true either. None of my relatives are normal..ha! Sorry, couldn't resist. Yes, life is returning to normal....whatever that is. As I type on the couch (watching Dancing With the Stars,) the kids are finished with homework/bath time and are playing hide-and-go-seek. I made a DANG good rendition of King Ranch Casserole for supper tonight. Here I sit. Fire. Tv. Aaahhhh.

House-wise. The boxes are unpacked, and with the exception of the guest room, everything is pretty much in place. There are a few picture-less walls, but we'll take care of that soon enough. We're almost decorated for Christmas...minus the tree. HA! The lights are up outside, the knick-knacks are out. The kids have sifted and sorted through box after box of Christmas treasures and exclaimed over every one of them. I love that they can see something from their baby days and know the story that goes with it. Then again, that makes me feel sooo old. Unrelated note...if the Dancing Christmas Penguins and Snowmen get turned on one more time...I can't be held responsible for what I will do to them. Our neighbors gave us the diabolical thoughtful treasure last year, and the kids played the stupid thing so much last year that I had hoped thought that it had died forever. Not so fast, Frosty. Those darned penguins are as full of gusto as they were last year. The baby penguin even shakes it's hiney...which causes a little jingle bell to ring. All while a very snappy version of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (oh yeah...uh-huh) blasts forth. Oh. It's a jewel, I tell ya. Seriously, it's the only Christmas decoration I'm regretting so far.

Samantha Who. Is anyone else watching this show? I love it.

Gotta run. Blood curdling screams from one third of my offspring.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving...

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving, some six years ago
Not a creature was stirring....well, at least not one that we would know.

The baby of three was determined to come
Yes, out of the oven would come the bun.

The water had broken, the doctor was called,
It wasn't quite time, but she wouldn't be stalled.

Straight to the operating room, our condition was STAT
The mommy's ankles were decidely swollen, er...fat.

When what to our expectant eyes should appear
but a beautiful girl crying really big tears.

A section, a suction, and a few cranky nurses
And we instantly knew she would be a lover of purses.

We called her Sophy-in fact, Sophy Claire
She came weighing not-quite-8 pounds, with a head full of hair.

She learned how to coo, she learned how to crawl
She learned how to giggle, she learned how to brawl.

'Tis the Night Before Thanksgiving, sakes alive...
And she is the Pinkie in our family of 5.

Happy Birthday Sophy Claire!

Hello!

I'll keep this short and sweet! Just wanted to let ya know that we're in the new house and somewhat settled. The kids have been great during this whole process, and we love, love, love the new place. We have SOOO much more space! Things are coming together nicely, and I'm happy to report that the Tooth Fairy found us on our first night here. Trust me, there was a good bit of anxiety in the hours leading up to bedtime. Luckily, the 'ol girl came through for us. For now, I'll leave you with a few interesting comments from the Pinkie house:

• "Red + White makes Diet Pink. Right, mom?"
• "Hey! I've heard that song before!" (in reference to the Salvation Army bell ringer)
• "Mom! Jack is trying to arrest me."
• "Well, Mimi lets me eat 12 mini-pancakes for breakfast at HER house...."
• "Talk to the butt, sister." (This one earned her brother a nice long letter of apology to write.)
• "I can't wait until my birthday on Tuesday because God told me last night in my prayers that I'll grow pink fairy wings when I turn 6."

Where are we? Part Deux

We are currently living in a cardboard box within a cardboard box within a cardboard box within a cardboard box within a cardboard box within a.....

PS More than likely, I will not be able to update until the computer-izing is switched to the new house. Monday of next week? See ya then....

The Goalie, the Leaf Frolicker and the Fashion King

Paint Colors

What is it with our fascination with paint color names? HA!

As we've been sorting through color chips, names, brands, etc., I've gone so far as to decline a perfectly acceptable color because I didn't like it's name. Pfffft.

For those of you who guessed, Stolen Kiss is extremely red. No pink. Just very, very, dark red. Picture cherries mixed with chocolate. Oh, I think I need a snack...

Where we are. Where are we?

1. In one week and 2 days, we'll be in our new house. EEK!
2. I bought a saucepan today. A really FINE saucepan. Next, a skillet. A really FINE skillet.
3. I also bought some fake pears. I don't know why.
4. In our pile of boxes to be moved, there is one labeled "CARE BEARS AND ROLLER SKATES" and another labeled "WEIRD STUFF FROM BOY CLOSET."
5. Did you know that the two blonde, gorgeous dancers from DANCING WITH THE STARS were brother/sister? I did not.
6. My new front door will be painted a color called Stolen Kiss. Can you guess what color that is?
7. My new shutters will be painted a color called Inkwell. It's not near as fun to guess what color that is.
8. Do you like the Gravedigger? If you know me, you know of who I speak.
9. "The Gravedigger" reminds me of "Don't Fear the Reaper..." Don't ask.
10. Why is everyone pregnant all of a sudden? Sweet Bessie, please remind me to not drink the water.
11. Where we are.
12. Where are we?
13. Right here.
14. But not for long.
15. There is no #15.

Catching up

It seems like I'm taking pictures faster than ever these days. So many class parties, and field trips, and recitals, and holidays, and funny moments....

Jack had originally planned to dress up as Spiderman this year for Halloween. Sadly, the size 8/10 costume I bought him was so tight it was almost vulgar. When he recovered from his sadness, he decided to go for being a USAF pilot...a costume we already had in the closet....that didn't cost any more money. YAY!!!

And here you see Sophy, boogying down at dance class. This little display of jitter bugging was happening as the rest of the girls in her class were putting on their dance shoes. Her class had a little mini-recital for friends/family on Tuesday to show off what they have learned so far of the dances for their recital that will be in May. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen!

Sam went to the zoo today with his class. He had a good time, but he wanted to know why sometimes the zoo is "sort of really boring" and why they try to "teach you so much" while you're there. He really enjoyed getting to make popsicles (pnut butter on sticks rolled in birdseed) for the birds and then feeding the birds with the popsicles. He also go to see a "giant cockroach that knows how to spit." This really, really made his day. The students all got to pet certain animals and large insects and reptiles during the educational program time. I'm guessing this was the time when he resented "being taught so much" and not being able to move "around so much." But I'm just guessing!

Happy Birthday Dear Sammy!

Look at this seven year old.
Be still my heart...my really old heart.
Aren't the mothers of seven year olds supposed to be old and crusty?
Don't answer that.

A little bit o' this and a little bit o' that.

PinkieDaddy is finishing up a family photo shoot (yes, at 9AM...eek!), and then we're off to run some errands. The Red Monster's bday party is this evening, so I have to make a paper goods, balloon, goodie bags run. I also want to run by a few places and pick up some new pottery/plates/glasses for the kitchen. That's my splurge, well...one of them, for our move. Did I ever let you know it was official? All of the inspections, appraisals, etc. have been finished, we're just waiting for our closing date....oh, and the packing. Yeah, we need to pack. ARGGHH! I saw a sign for "professional junk movers" last night. I have to be honest, I did stop and consider it. How great would it be to make a pile of junk for someone to just....haul away!
I'll have some pics to post of Sam's party tomorrow. We're having a hayride, apple-bobbing, costume wearing, weini roasting, s'more making party. Basically, we've lost our minds! Hehe.

Other news

While I have a minute, I'll update:
We're wrapping up soccer. I think we have 3 games left in the season. Jack has enjoyed this season so much. His game has greatly improved, and now we're just looking forward to swim team. DaddyPinkie and Jack go swim at the health center 2 mornings a week and on Saturday afternoon. School is going great, but for some weird reason, Jack is doing really good in Math this year...and his Reading grade, which has always been really high, has dropped a bit. I'm not too worried yet, but it is strange. His Reading teacher says his biggest problem is that he reads while she is teaching, so when it is time to work, he has missed all of the instruction. He's a chip off of the old block...he even reads by flashlight like I used to do. He'll read anything he can get his hands on, and I hope he never loses his love for reading. We just need to work on his timing!

Sam is happy in first grade. He is doing really, really well in Reading....which is surprising. He has never really been interested or excited about books or words. His handwriting, well, that is another story. Ouch. Even though it has improved tremendously since the beginning of school, he seems to need more work....to me. His teacher says it is ok and that he is doing great. He'll be starting speed addition tests soon...arrgghh! He's more of a math thinker, so hopefully it won't be too painful. The boys are both in a gym class once a week, and they love it. They do warmup, stretches and strength exercises for 15 minutes. After that they do 15 minutes of trampoline exercises, 15 minutes of cardio, balance, and strength workouts, and 15 minutes of free play on the rock climbing wall. It's something they look forward to every week, and we've seen such an improvement in both of them....but especially in Sam's gross and fine motor skills. He also runs SOOO much faster than before. In the beginning he could barely make it through the end of the trampoline exercises. Now, he makes it through with energy to spare! Maybe too much energy! I can't forget to mention that The Red Monster will be 7 on Sunday. EEK! We're having cupcakes at school tomorrow, and a hayride birthday party on Saturday evening. He is so excited. I bought him a shirt and tie for his birthday...it's what he asked for. How crazy is that? He also wanted "man pajamas" and a "coffee mug like a man uses." He is a TRIP!

Kindergarten....whoa. Sophy really likes school, and she loves her teacher so much. We were really worried that Sophy would take kindergarten by storm....i.e. be in trouble from the first bell to the last. For whatever reason, she has only had one minor discipline issue. YAY! She has meshed with a gaggle of little girls that are, it seems, as dramatic and girlie as she is. It's scary. Gymnastics is going extremely well. She was moved from the pre-k group to the 8 year old group last month. She is, by far, the youngest in her class, but she is on track ability-wise with the others. I love to watch her at practice. She is so focused during class on mastering what her coach is teaching her. She's amazing. Last month, her coach started working with her on backhandsprings and front/back walkovers. We'll see how long it takes her to do them independently. We're also in tap/ballet/dance class one night a week, and it's going great too. It's weird that my most agile/athletic child is the youngest....and a girl....but it seems to be the case. Her dance class is getting ready for their part in the big Christmas parade on the square and also for their huge spring recital. I'm helping with her class party on Friday, and her dance class is having a Fall showcase/H'ween party next week that I volunteered to help with. I don't mind, but sometimes I ask myself...WHY???? Arrgghh! Oh well, they're only young once!

Well, it's late. I'm sure this was a boring bit of news, but such is life. Speaking of life, I really need to start printing out this year's blog entries. I keep them in a notebook, and I don't think I've started on this year's entries!! YIKES.

No time to talk....

Things are ablur (should that be one word or two?) in the Pinkie house. OOYYY!! We are knee deep in SELLING OUR HOUSE! The day it went on the market (no sign in the yard, mind you) it sold for our asking price with no contingencies. Let me just add that we were being very OPTIMISTIC with our asking price. We were ecstatic, to say the very least, that it happened so easily. Our offer on the house we looked at (in our neighborhood...hehe) was accepted, and let me just say how ECSTATIC we are about that because it wasn't anywhere near what the folks were asking. It has all workd out beautifully, fingers crossed, to this point. We're just going one step at a time and leaving it all in God's hands. As of now, we have a closing date (for this house and our new one) on November 15th. ARRGGHHHH! We're past the inspections and appraisals on both properties, the financial paperwork is (we hope) complete, and we're just haggling over minor repairs and punch lists with our buyers and the sellers of the house we are hoping to buy. I guess we should be packing by now, but we're just sort of in denial, I think. Once a closing date has been set, I'd say you pretty much need to get busy....but we're just in awe of how quickly and easily this has all happened. The good news is (besides the fact that our potential new home has a PPOOOOLL) that we're just moving to the back of the subdivision. Ha! We'll be doing more "shuttling" than actual "moving."
I'll try to post more later. I'm just so in awe, afraid things could go wrong, and IMMENSELY excited all at the same time. ((I'm happy to report that DaddyPinkie will have a kicking home office for his business/clients/etc....and I'll have a guest room for family/friends!!! I'm soooo beyond excited! Oh, and there are two attics!!!! HOW COOL IS THAT???!!!))
Ok. I'll update more later. I promised Jack pizza tonight, and we still have to get the boys to their gym class....and I have a hankering for a fire in the fireplace!!
Later~

Oh yeah. About the vaseline and wrench...

My previous title was supposed to inspire wonder and curiousity....and then I forgot to tell you about the incident that involved the vaseline and monkey wrench.
SO! Last night....at the meal where we were eating lots of REAL food, the cousins were all outside riding bicycles, when my youngest niece got her foot caught behind the pedal of her pink, princess bicycle. At first, all of the adults were fairly certain that we could just unwedge her foot. She is a little nub of a kid, even by kid standards, and we figured the hysterics were due to her DRAMATIC nature....and not so much because her foot was about to be snapped off at the ankle. Turns out that her foot was, indeed, about to be snapped off at the ankle (I only mildly exaggerate.) We greased her foot, ankle, calf with vaseline and tried to slip her limb out of the pedal. No deal. Not happening. Uhm. No.
SO! PinkiePop (my dad) rounds up a set of tools, the cousins are in varying stages of concern, tears, hysterics, and uncaring. Sister to the vaseline'd child was weeping and saying, "I'm gonna miss her when she's gone..." Jack was bringing glasses of water to the vaseline'd child and comforting her while she cried and blew snot bubbles. Sam taunted her and said, "I bet that REALLLLY hurts." Sophy, who loves her little vaseline cousin more than words can say, held her hand and told her not to worry. Mind you, this little lubricating incident lasted for about 25 minutes. That is how long it took to free her foot from behind the pedal. Is that insane? Today she has bruises on her ankle and shin, and her leg is a little tender. I think she is very fortunate that she didn't break her leg, to tell ya the truth. It was crazy!!
There. You can consider yourself informed, lubricated and liberated.

Please pass the vaseline and the wrench.....

My mom asked us over for dinner this evening, and since we only vaguely remember what home cooked food is, we were very happy to accept. Oh, it was nice.....pot roast, real mashed potatoes, old lady green beans (the kind with bacon, potatoes, and hair on them), skillet corn, rolls (real rolls), and blackberry cobbler made with berries that Sophy and I picked in the backyard. It was nice to eat food. Real food.
We're still checking out the potential house that I mentioned earlier. It's all so crazy right now, so I'm just going to not mention it again until I know something definite. It's just crazy and bizarre and may never come to pass. Then again, stranger things have happened. For us, they happen more frequently than not. I just can't let myself think of it right now. Ug.
It would be really nice if I could sleep in tomorrow, but I have an eye appointment at the butt-crack of dawn. So, there'll be no sleeping in for me; however, there just might be a sausage biscusit from McD's. A real sausage biscuit. Or rather, a pseudo-real sausage biscuit. Ha.

It's a spooky ghost...

No wait....it's me. How creepy is this picture? Don't answer that! Yes, I have poltergeist eyes. In other news, we're going to look at a house tomorrow in our neighborhood that is for sale. EEK! I'll keep ya posted.

Alfalfa, Spanky, and Darla

Even more mundane and way less necessary

We're home from dinner and the bookstore (and the sports store and Gap.) We've ridden our bikes, mapped out the new garden (in the dark, I might add), bathed the kiddos, laid out soccer clothes, and bid them all a "go to sleep as fast as you can." It was a nice evening in town, but it feels good to sit down and relax for a bit....sans children. I've wanted to update about so many topics lately, but I can never think of them when I'm here. Let's see if I can manage to strike a few off of the list:

6th GRADE:

I wish I could tell you that my sixth graders are, each and every one, the joys of my meager existence. However, my mama did her best to teach me not to lie......What I mean to say is....well, they are a motley crew interesting group of young minds. Suffice it to say, we're learning all about each other, and they're growing on me. I have always viewed my time with my students as a way to reach out and get my hands on a life that I might can change the course of--cheezy--but very realistic. That being the case, I have TONS of opportunities with this group. Maybe too many opportunities. Luckily, I have been given the chance to teach the 7th grade group (my 6th graders from last year), and I am so happy to be with them another year. They are an amazing group of firecrackers, delinquents, whiners, overachievers, princesses, and jocks. I just love them to smithereens. My 6th graders just wrapped up a unit on Helen Keller, and it was so much fun to see their minds wrap around something new and to hear my old group rehash what they learned/remembered from their encounter with Helen Keller last year. It made me proud that they had remembered so much of what we learned about her and to hear how much they enjoyed it. Several of them told me that it had been their favorite book. That's not something you hear from many middle school aged kids. If you want a good read, try The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller. You won't regret it.

GARDEN

We recently took out the back side of the garden that was a grapevine wall. It was very much an ordeal that GardenDaddy had no desire to participate in, but I managed to con him into it anyway. So, that took several days of clearing, chopping, burning, etc. We added the rest of the fencing to enclose the enlarged area where the grapevine had been. Now, the plan is to level the inside of the garden--which involves me with a tiller....YEEHAW, add a plank swing and a ginormous fountain in the center (which we have purchased and waiting), lay a flagstone path, move all of the large pieces (crepe myrtles, etc.) to new locations in the garden and start over with some new permanent plantings. Got that? To make a long story short, I have a lot of work to do. I'm happy to report that a garden (and some irrigation pipes) are being installed by a landscaper on the other side of the yard. A girl has got to know her limitations (regrets to Dirty Harry.)

HOUSE

I'm dreaming of a new kitchen and keeping my fingers crossed. We're still at a deadlock over adding on versus building a new house. Either way, the work we have planned will go on, but we have to come to some agreement soon. DaddyPinkie's business is eating our house.

TRIPS

We're planning on going to Biltmore during Spring Break. Can I tell you how excited about this trip I am? I have dreamed of going to Biltmore for years. And years. And yes, years. Speaking of dreaming for years, if GardenDaddy can not accompany me to England this summer, there is a very real possibility that I'm going to see Ang alone. (Whether she likes it or not! HAHAHAA!) What is standing in my way, you ask? Flying over the ocean. I'm phobic. It's no secret. When I say phobic, I mean, Dr. Phil time people. Ang assures me that I can do it. She who flies across oceans for the heck of it. And enjoys it. Sigh. Still, I think of all the places I HAVE to see. I can't NOT go. Right?

Of course, Jack is planning a trip to Lima, Ohio to ride some train. I'm not thinking so.

TV

Survivor is back. Why did they have to vote of Chicken? What the heck? He was pure comedy. The Gravedigger. Gee. Nice underwear. I'm almost sad they voted off the wrestler with the boobs. She really liked stirring stuff up. Bear Grylles. Have you heard? If not, I'll not go into it. He broke my heart. You can Google and read all about it. Beware. It ain't pretty. Now then....Dirty Jobs. If they would ever produce a new episode, I might have something interesting to tell you about and poetry to dedicate to Mike Rowe. Since they seem opposed to doing a new episode, I'll just have to be happy with the re-runs.

Well, I suppose I'm fresh out of topics. PinkieDaddy is waiting for me to watch a movie with him anway, so I guess I better shut this off. Happy weekend!

The mundane and the necessary

It's after 9 o'clock, and the kids are finally settled into bed. Jack had soccer practice tonight, and Sam & Sophy ran around on the emtpy practice fields like an entire tribe of wild indians. All 3 of the kids had homework tonight, so you can imagine the get-home-from-work-cook-supper-do-homework-get-dressed-for-soccer-fiasco that ensued and the following come-home-take-3-baths-get-into-pj's-review-photosynthesis-and-#5 multiplication facts-fiasco. DaddyPinkie has been MIA this week, so it seems like decades since we've seen him. Jack is usually the first to show signs of Daddy withdrawal, and today I saw the beginning stages of a good case working up. We've literally seen him for about 20 solid minutes this week. We plan on taking the kids to dinner tomorrow night and to the bookstore to lay around, drink hot chocolate and read books. Jack has 5 tests tomorrow, so I think the kid is past due for a some R&R. Speaking of R&R....NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY. Muchas Gracias, Christopher Columbus.
Weekend plans? Hhhhm. Well, I have to be certain that I remember to purchase a $178 money order to prevent a warrant for my arrest being issued in the backwoods fine state of Mississippi, if it hasn't already. Long story, but it involves a state trooper and someone who very much resembles, ahem...myself flying down the interstate in Mississippi on her way to Florida with her family in the car this past July. So, yeah. That's one thing I have to do. I'd say it's sort of up there on the priority list.
Anything else? Let's see....a soccer game on Saturday morning, a birthday party on Sunday......maybe there are other things. My frain is bried, and I can't remember it all. Oh, an optometrist appointment. Can't forget that. I'd love to be able to work in my garden, which reminds me, I seriously need to post some pics of the newly gutted garden. You would faint if you could see it. It's being majorly overhauled.
So, dear readers (all 2 of you), I bid you farewell.
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Sort of.

A banner day people. A BANNER day!

A self portrait~Sam, 2008 "A Red Head in Time"

2 banner achievements for Sam today. Folks, we were seriously cooking with gas in Pinkieville. Sam, with great joy, learned how to pee in a bottle.
Uh-huh.
You read that right.
Pee.
In a bottle.
Mind you, it wasn't something I intended for him to learn; however, you can bet your bottom dollar that he has never been so excited about something in his entire 6 years and 11 months of life. We were stranded in a location with no...facility....as it were. What's a mama to do? I found an empty water bottle in the car and nonchalantly gave him the green light to do what he had to do. Oh how his eyes sparkled. He laughed, fiendishly, while exercising his new skill. He inquired, with glee, as to whether or not his daddy had ever attempted such. I assured him that I didn't know, but chances were that he had. With the bottle nearing the VERY FULL mark, I began to worry that my choice of receptacle would not withstand the, obviously, VERY FULL bladder of my red-headed, middle child. Never fear. It topped off in the nick of time!
In other, less excretorial news, Sam learned how to cross the monkey bars at the park. When he finally crossed the entire length, he hopped to the ground and said, "Hey Mom! How about you give me ten dollars for being so great!"
He's great alright.
And the world may never be the same.
Citizens, hide your empty bottles.

Smell that?

'Tis the smell of Athlete's Foot. Wait. No. Oh yes, the smell of AN athlete's foot.....clashing with another athlete's foot. Judging by the direction of the ball, I'd say Jack got the first jab at the ball. Today was the first soccer game of '07, and Jack had a wonderful time. He's definitely no Beckham, but he gives it 110%....which hopefully counts for something! Hehe.
We're off to the mall to pick up a few things. After that, we're heading to the park to meet Pinkie cousins and then to Jason's deli for supper.
It's a gorgeous day outside, so go play!
Go on!
Shoo-shoo.
Scoot.
Skee-daddle. (I'll stop on that one....)

Neighbors

During my trip to see my #$#% Granny, I stopped briefly at the small, country cemetery where my Ninnie and Papa are buried. There are 244 markers in the cemetery that is located in a town with a population of 8 (seriously.) About 25 of the stones mark my own flesh and blood. Names of people I have met, and some of people I've heard stories about. Names like Mary Leigh, Myrtle Retha, Sampson Belvin, Estella Ophelia, and Nannie P. This cemetery is so neatly maintained, and on this day, Confederate flags were flying by about 60 of those markers. This guy (above) is on the row next to my grandparents. The Civil War seems so long ago in our minds, but it's so bizarre to think that my grandparents are buried next to a Captain from Company G of the Missouri Guards in the Confederate States Army. How long must the plots around him have been waiting? Well, I guess since 1936, judging by the dates on the stone, huh? Still, I could stay there all day reading the headstones. The older they are, the more they tell. Some of them are like stories straight from the pages of history describing who the person was, what they succumbed to, and who loved them. About 2 sections over from my grandparents, there are entire families that were wiped out from, I suppose, the influenza of the early 1900's.
Sometimes you just feel so small.

My @$## Granny and a Sweet Lady

On Saturday morning we learned that my sweet, sweet grandmother's twin (and by twin I mean CLONE) had passed away at the age of 96. She died in her sleep and had laid out her clothes that she wished to be buried in the night before she went to bed. Just like my grandmother, Ninnie, she (Irene) was the sweetest, softest lady to ever walk the planet. We all 3 shared a birthday, and after the death of my Ninnie, it was so special (and sad) to still be able to speak to Irene who laughed and talked just like my Ninnie. It was also very much like talking to someone from beyond the grave. She was that similar to her twin in appearance and every other way you could imagine. To say they were clones is not an exaggeration. I was so incredibly sad after hearing about her death, but I had to stop and remind myself that 96 years of life with no health problems, a large loving family, and 94 years with a twin who loved you more than life was something to celebrate, not be filled with sadness about. So, I went outside and watched 2 butterflies chase each other through my garden and thought of those two giggling, old ladies that I loved so much that are once again together. Holding hands like always.

My Ninnie once filled out a book for me called A Mother's Love. It was a book my church had given out on Mother's Day for a mom to fill out for her children. At that time, my Papa had just died after 63 years of marriage to my Ninnie, and I thought it would give Ninnie something to do to take her mind off of things. The questions were things like, "Describe your mother in her favorite dress" and "Describe a time when you were very afraid." It took her two years to complete the book, but she gave it to me a couple of years before she passed away at the age of 94. I learned things about her (and my family) that I had never known. For example, that my daddy had once given his baby sister a bath in Drano and almost blinded her for life. Also, that my Ninnie's parents were share croppers and that she met my Papa at a barn dance in West Texas during those share cropping days. That she and my Papa were married on a Thursday morning. She in a blue dress that cost $8.00 and my Papa in borrowed clothes. Following their wedding, they spent their first married night back at her parent's "house". I don't think sharecroppers had a "house" like we would imagine these days. The day following their wedding at the preacher's house, my Papa left for 3 days to work on the WPA. Isn't it amazing the history a family can have?

In that same book, my Ninnie wrote page after page about Irene. About how Irene was her "joy" and that on the day my Ninnie and Papa were married, Irene "took to the bed for a week and cried." Ahhhh. They were inseperable for their entire lives. Even the miles weren't strong enough to separate them. When my Papa died, Irene's children drove her to be by my Ninnie's side. They were both pushing 90 years of age at that time. As Irene entered the house, we all just started bawling as she was wearing the exact same dress, sweater and shoes that my Ninnie was wearing. Totally unplanned.
So, Saturday was a sad day for me. I no longer share a birthday with my 2 favorite ladies in the entire universe, but they are together now...and that is how they would want it.

We barely were over the shock of Irene's unexpected death, when we received a call Sunday morning that my #$#%#$# Granny had taken a horrible fall and wasn't doing very well. I needed to see her before it was too late, so I drove (10 hours) to see her. I took Sophy with me, and Ben stayed home with the boys. In typical D.Granny fashion, she was ungrateful, pissy, and entirely too grumpy for words. THAT is what makes her my #%$^%#$^ Granny. She rolled her eyes at the doctor. She lied, repeatedly, to my mom, her sister and their youngest brother (this is the #T%$%$# Granny who birthed 12 children) about whether or not she had taken her medicine as prescribed, about the last time she had eaten, about how many cigarettes a day she was smoking. We learned yesterday that she has some very large internal bleeding and was given 3 units of blood today, an enlarged heart to go with her several other MAJOR health issues that will never be corrected (emphysema, diabetes, flebitis, etc.), and something unspeakable growing in her lungs. Anyone else would've been dead 15 years ago, but there is only one $%$^$ Granny, I promise ya that. Besides the whiskey probably has pickled and preserved for a while longer. You've never met anyone like her, and you're probably glad because of that. We're not sure how long she has. She's on borrowed time already, but she's just too stinking mean to die. She's as tough as they come. And ornery too. Bless her heart.
Could I have been spawned from 2 more polar opposite camps of women? I don't think so. Bless my heart!

Bears, Trains and a Monkey in a Space Suit

Space is no longer the final frontier. Look out Mr. Spock.

The kindergarten classes had their annual Bear Parade today! Look how sweet!

A recent pic of Jack and his Pop. It's hard to tell who loves trains more. It's equally hard , on most days, to tell who is the child and who is the alleged adult.

A loaded question from Cinderella and a 9 year old who doesn't like to travel alone.

That is, I think, most likely the longest title I've ever managed.
I really didn't intend to make another entry, but after a very disturbing encounter with Cinderella's Magic Mirror, I felt compelled to share. I had just opened Sophy's closet door, walked in and switched on the light when her Cinderella talking vanity said to me, "Don't you think I'm pretty?" Cinderella usually only speaks when you push her buttons, but I'm guessing she's having battery issues. So, I was a little perplexed as to why she was addressing me. Either way, I didn't answer her, which is why she continued with a much deeper toned, "Don't you think I'm pretty?"
I'll admit, the Satan tone got my attention, so I answered her. "Girl, have a little self respect. You should've spiked your step-mother's Pepsi with Drano a long, long time ago. And don't even get me started on Drucilla and Anastasia. A little rope and duct tape would do them some good...So, do I think you're pretty? I dunno. I think you're a very weak influence for little girls, and you really need to step up and work on your self esteem issues." GardenDaddy walked up about that time and cocked his eyebrow at me. I pointed to the vanity and shrugged. As he walked away, Cinderella said, "Don't you think I'm pretty?" I stuck my tongue out at her and closed the closet door. She's still in there. Waiting for me.

Jack has been swimming at the gym with GardenDaddy lately. Tonight I told Jack about the Olympics and how he could participate in the Games if he kept practicing hard. He got all teary and said, "Mom. Where do they have the Olympics?" I told him the really cool part! That the Olympics are held in countries like Australia, China, Japan. More tears. He goes, "I can't go to another country by myself!" Hahhaa. Duh! Doesn't he know I'm going to college with him? It only stands to reason that I'd go to the Olympics with him too. Ha!

With Monday On The Way....

This pic seemed pretty appropriate to the start of the school week! Well, at least from this side of the teacher's desk. I'm sure it feels the same for those wearing student shoes too.....and mommy shoes. Ok, ok. It's a Monday now matter how you slice it, right?
Have a good week everyone!

Saturday Sniffles

My first two weeks of school were productive, I guess. I have the beginnings of a head cold, so the weeks weren't a total loss! Hehe. Actually, I think it's Golden Rod allergies or something. Mostly I'm just sniffling and sneezing my head off. Whoohoo! As I type, I have a chef salad made and potatoes baking for lunch, Sam is sweeping the kitchen and has just emptied all of the trash cans in the house, Sophy has music blaring in her room and is "dancing like a star", and DaddyPinkie and Jack are at the gym swimming laps. After they get home, we're heading to a movie and dinner in town with the kids. I wish they would hurry up! I want lunch already.

Week 2 of school went great for the kids. Sophy is WAY too impressed with PE, and Sam has made 90's and 100's on his sight word and spelling tests. Jack has a new friend that has "really stinky breath that smells like rotten eggs", but that is okay because he can run really fast and "is a pretty nice guy." That's my boy. Do all 9 year olds look past the stinky breath of a potential friend? I don't think so. My Jack is a kind-hearted fellow, for sure. Sophy, on the other hand, has a gaggle of girlie girls in her class that are all very concerned with hair bows, necklaces, and pink sparkly lunch boxes....Sophy included. Her nightly clothes laying out sessions are very extensive and grueling. Why can't our district wear uniforms? UG!

Ooops. I smell potatoes burning....arrgghhhhhhhh.

ARRGGHHH!

We're here! I promise! Things are INSANE right now with ballet for Soph, gym class for all 3, soccer practice for Jack, homework for all 3, etc, but life is really good. The kids are happy, loving school (for the most part), and doing really well. Sophy LOVES kindergarten, and Sam is tolerating first grade. HA! Third grade is a definite shift in gears from second grade, but we are managing. Jack seems happy, and he loves being a third grader. My classes are going super, and T'giving break can't come soon enough. All at the same time. I LOVE my 7th graders, and I'm getting to know my 6th graders. DaddyPinkie and the boys are working on a model train set ($$$$pit) with PinkiePop in our "free" time...haha, and I am getting back into walking when possible, and this post is starting to sound like a beauty pageant narrative. Not that I've ever been in a pageant. Those of you who know me are surely giggling at the thought. Pfffft.
Speaking of beauty pageants, where is Elaina? Does she read this blog anymore? These are the things I wonder about in the middle of the deep, dark night.

Taco Bell...uhhhm. Guess what is for supper tonight? Hehe.

In other news, we're ANXIOUSLY awaiting Survivor (Amy!) and dreaming of going to England (Ang!). Survivor is a sure thing...England, well, we'll see! Also, there has been some pretty serious talk of selling our house and building. The thought of building a house totally makes my hair stand on end, but DaddyPinkie's business has grown so much that it is almost a necessity at this point. If we build, we're doing a pool...so guess where my vote is? HA! Uhm, yeah! It's always been something we've talked about while keeping at arms length, but it's getting unavoidable. DaddyPinkie's home business is becoming more business and less home which is good and crazy.
This weekend we're planning a trip to the zoo or park with the kids, so I'm hoping to have pics to share soon! Hope everyone out there is doing peachy!

We all survived!

I'll share the first day pics tomorrow, but I just wanted to let you all know that we lived through the first day. Ok. Ok. I lived through the first day! (Ang, Mrs. Ernestine came to me this a.m. to let me know that she was supposed to give me a hug/moral support, and I was about to weep as it was...and then I was like all crying on her shoulder...haha, I was a mess.) The kids all seemed to have had awesome days. Sophy was impressed with the rainbow parachute that kindergarten got to play with in PE! She wants one for Christmas. HAHA! I asked Sam to tell me about his day, and he told me, "Mom. Really. It was just so much that I can't even explain it all. My class is the busiest place I've ever been." He did tell me that his teacher "really knew what she was talking about." Pfft. Jack wasn't happy about the fact that "3rd graders are supposed to be quieter than most other kids." On his homework tonight he had to tell something about himself. He said, "After I play outside, you might think I smell like sweat...but don't worry, I don't stink." HAHAHAHHAA. I didn't make him change it. He also included that he had "smooth ears" and "stinky socks." OOHHH, the mind of a 3rd grader. I love it!
We survived! Thanks for remembering me Ang. I needed an Ernestine shoulder this a.m. How did you know? :-)

There is no easy way to say this.....

MY BABY IS GOING TO KINDERGARTEN TOMORROW!

MY OTHER BABY IS GOING TO FIRST GRADE TOMORROW!

MY OTHER-OTHER BABY IS GOING TO THIRD GRADE TOMORROW!

I hope I can live through it. Be still my heart, and sweet Lord please give me courage to send the baby of us all to kindergarten.
Did you hear me?
The BABY!!! ARRGGHH.

I am an OLD woman, I tell you.

Clothes are laid out, supplies are loaded in the car, lunch boxes are sitting ready on the counter to be filled, backpacks are hanging in the mudroom in their cubbies, finger nails and toe nails are painted (not the boys--haha), and 3 little children are as excited as can be about their first day of school (1 quite possibly a tad less excited than the other two...one hint, he has red hair....).

Tropical Storm

This is what a tropical storm (Erin) looks like when it breaks up over the Hill Country of Texas.

Weekend Pics

You may notice a theme from the waterpark, surrounding vehicles, and buildings. Who knew there was such a thing as The Blue Bell Aquatic Center? Yes, that is the Blue Bell factory in the background. THE Blue Bell factory. Yes, Sophy is riding a floating ice cream sandwich. Yes, Jack is attempting to walk on a popsicle. Yes, they serve real BLUE BELL ice cream there. If you know anything about Blue Bell, then you know where we were!

On the road again....

If no one vomits between now and Friday, we're going to go to Austin to visit my brother and his family. The kids have been begging to see their cousins, so my SIL (the one who NEVER updates her blog, ahem...) and I are going to take the kids to a water park. Yes, we seem to be drawn to them like a fly to honey, so what's your point? We're water park junkies, so there. I'm sure we'll find somewhere to shop with our 5 well-behaved children in tow. If you live in the Austin area, you may want to remain in your homes this weekend. If I can remember to take my camera, I'll snap some pics to share.

My brother and DaddyPinkie have something Top Secret manly planned so as to conveniently avoid being in attendance at the water park. I could tell you about it, but then I'd have to kill you...and well, that would be really rude of me to do to you....since mostly I only know of 2 of you who read this....and well, I like both of you. So, where was I? Oh yes, manly things. Due to the nature of my brother's work, I am afraid I can't elaborate on the manliness of their excursion. So why did I mention it? I dunno. Suspense? Allure? Intrigue? Nanny-nanny-boo-boo?

I spent much of the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese with some of Sam's first grade friends. It was sort of an unexpected get-together, but the kids had a good time. I think we were supposed to meet DaddyPinkie's dad for lunch, but we never heard from him...so, off I went to Chuck E. Cheese. Seeing as how we would have had lunch at a decent restaurant with the Sr.DaddyPinkie, it didn't feel like a fair trade. Mostly because Chuck E. Cheese is a communist-based, money laundering, tyranically ruled, mob funded business front for a human trading and export monopoly. Don't worry. We had the last laugh at Chuck. The costume clad mouse appeared to wave to the kiddos, and Sophy attached herself to his leg and wouldn't let go for what seemed like 15 minutes. Chuck E. had to work for his outrageously priced fun today. Oh yes indeedy.
As a reward for her efforts to speak out against price gouging in the kiddie food industry, I took Sophy to get her hair trimmed at the "salon" today. She has been looking forward to this for a while, so we went and took that off the list. Of course, we had to FLY to make it to gymnastics in time, but we looked good when we got there. That's all that matters in the end.

Hhhhmmm. What else? Well, tomorrow night is Back To School Night for my campus. I'll be wearing black, just so ya know. I'm actually looking forward to seeing my group from last year. Bunch of little weirdos. I just loved 'em all to pieces.

((SHAMELESS PRODUCT ENDORSEMENT))

If you haven't tried the Cinnamon/Brown Sugar Go-Tarts from PopTarts, uhhhm....do it as fast as humanly possible. They are NOTHING like a PopTart. They're soft and bready and taste like a stinking cinnamon roll. I just happen to know that they are also wondermously delicious with a cup of hot tea (Black Negrili with a splash of milk.) Beware. They actually have the power to communicate with you via mind control from your cupboard. Just so ya know. Of course, that only applies to the very weak minded people wh........((no I did NOT go get one...shut up.))

What a girl wants.

All manner of name calling.

My children are ready to go to school. Wait. Correction. I'm ready for school to start. I have never in my life heard such chiding, teasing, whining, and name calling....not to mention how the kids are behaving. HarHar. We're down to a few last funnsies before The Big Day. We have a playdate with some classmates planned, a few swim dates, a trip to the "salon" for Sophy, a trip to the movies, and HOPEFULLY, a tiny road trip for one last spin.

How 'bout a few photos?

Here you see The Red Monster getting ready to torment his siblings in the pool at his GrandPinkie's house. The kid lives to make others miserable. Seriously, he had a plan hatching in his head as I snapped the pic.

In the meantime, Jack and Soph were in the middle of a very heated "Dive Off." Here you see Sophy delivering a "Super Tuck."
Jack answers with a very difficult "Flying Dutchman."

Hope everyone is staying cool! 'Cause dang it, it's hot!

The Wonder Years

Wayne & Kevin Arnold. Winnie Cooper. Pure gold.
That's all I've got to say about that.

Those of you familiar with the insanity world of teaching know just how much fun a workshop is to attend. Guess where I spent my day? Uh-huh. I just so happen to have spent my day at one of those dreadful, mind numbing, I-want-to-stab-myself-in-the-eyeball-with-a-pencil workshops. I know what you're thinking. Aren't they all stab-your-eyeball worthy? Yay, I say to thee. Yay.

There was a bright spot in the otherwise dreary day today. The Lord in Heaven had Mercy on my pathetic soul and saw fit to end the Misery that was being inflicted upon myself.....we got out early. Early meaning that I was home from the ever-painful workshop by 2 o'clock. I must be living right...or something. We went straight to the pool after I made it home and had a lovely time until way past the supper hour. Once we made it home, I somehow morphed into a short-order cook that would've made the gals slinging hash at IHOP envious. What is it about swimming that makes a child so ravenous? Somewhere along the way, Mr. Pinkie made it home from a photo shoot with a Philly Cheesesteak from Chili's in tow. God Bless that guy. I do love him so.

A car trip....and no one tossed their cookies...

We're home again. Did you know we left? Probably not. We traveled to South-ish Louisiana to visit Daddy Pinkie's sister and her family. The kids had a wonderful time and the grown-ups were well fed! Dr. Brother-In-Law, aka Dr. BIL, cooked awesome steaks one night and fried fish the next. Yes, we can die happy now. Daddy Pinkie was on unfamiliar territory with 2 square meals served 2 nights in a row. RARE events indeed for us. Of course, I left the camera at home, so I have no pics of the waterpark we went to or of the kids running wild. Sadness!
And so we have returned home and the Pinkie-in-Law's home is probably very still and quiet.

We're off to the dentist now for cleanings for Jack and Sophy. Sam gets a cleaning next week, if I can remember the appointment! Pffft.

Aren't they lovely,...er....frightening ..too?