This and That

Kids:
The kids are like animals anticipating the arrival of Spring. They are insane. What is a parent to do? ((I mean, literally, what can I do? I'm open to suggestions.))
Jackson took his first ever TAKS test. My poor, dear son. It's a rite of passage, I reckon. Swim team shall commence in a month or so. We all wait with bated breath. The eldest of the herd jumped a size in britches this month. He's now sporting a size 12 in jeans. They go so nicely with his size 6 and half men's shoe. Must be all of the waffles/syrup. As I type, he is in bed reading his latest book about the Titanic under the bed covers with a flashlight.
Sam is about to lose tooth #3 for the Pinkie Family's '08 Tooth Fairy Count. He has #4 on standby, and Sophy has #'s 5 & 6 hanging by a root as well. Last month, the Tooth Fairy billed us for her traveling expenses after having to visit our house 2 nights in a row. She wasn't thrilled about that. I think she's getting testy in her old age. Sam recently exclaimed over a story his teacher read to the class in first grade. It was called (in his words) "The Terd is in the Hair." I'm sure if you ponder long enough, you'll guess the true title of the story. Sam's teacher recently informed me that it was imperative that Sam "stop telling the other students that they were going to Hell for their classroom misbehavior." Sunday School lessons are very black and white with Sam. You're either really, really good, or you're going to Hell. There is no middle ground.
Sophy has added plant and botanical texts to her recent obessions, as well as bird information. She loves reading about different types of flowers and all of the different things that make up plants. Her class has been studying about birds this week, and her teacher has been letting them listen to various bird sounds to recognize. She has turned into quite the horticultural-ornithologist.

Summer Trips:
For now, we're on the books to stay at this place for our family vacation for my side of the family. We'll be hauling cousins and GrandPinkies with us, and the kids are getting more excited by the day. We've planned horseback riding, swimming/fishing in the river, a day of laying in the meadow picnicking and flying kites, a visit to this neato place that we have visited before and LOVED, and because one of our little Pinkie cousins is a dino-nut, I'm sure we'll stop by this place on one of our days in the area. The host of the place we are staying assures us that the fishing is amazing and the nightly firefly displays are super! Sam has already planned a s'mores night followed by flashlight tag with the cousins. Should be a bang-up week!
Also in June, we're going to Hot Springs to visit PDaddy's father and step-mother. July is our beach trip with PDaddy's side of the clan which the kids never fully stop talking about. As we're at the beach, they're planning the NEXT year's visit. Can't say that I'm far behind them. I'm pretty excited too! Of course, PDaddy and I are heading to Florida alone the first week of August, but I'm hoping that we can squeeze a road trip in to somewhere close in July while the kiddos stay with the GrandPinkies. We'll have to see what we can come up with.
TV:
Survivor is great! If I'm honest, I'm pulling for the favs. The fans are too whiney. Idol is as entertaining as ever. I love David Archuletta. I just want to pinch him until he's black and blue all over. Paula...wow! What is she smoking? Dirty Jobs has the occassional new episode which allows me to get my Mike Rowe fix for a week or two. Samantha Who. Will it ever come back on? What else? Hhhhmmm, Oh yes, Dancing With the Stars will return soon, and how could I forget Lost? Yikes! LOST! Who knew so much would happen in just 3 or 4 episodes! When they said they were going to deliver the goods, they weren't kidding.
Garden:
My bulbs are creeping up, and the Fairy Garden is taking shape. We're in dire need of a trip to Lowe's to pick out some backyard lighting for our pool area, so I guess we'll have to get on that soon. I'm kicking around making a small garden for tomatoes, peppers, etc. I dunno. That's a commitment that flowers will not require, so I'm giving it more thought. Still, is there anything better on the face of the Earth than a fresh tomato plucked straight out of the garden? Nope. Ok, maybe a small veg garden.
Little doggie needs go outside and winkie...TA!