One O' Three

It's supposed to 103 here today. Oh boy!! Hoohoo. A friend of mine (who is also the mother of Sophy's "Very Best Friend") is coming over today for the girls to swim and pretend. This should be interesting as both girls live in Pretend World more often than not. She is originally from Ohio, so I'm not sure if these temps are what is the norm back home. I have to admit...I'm not much of an authority on the fine state of Ohio. Buckeyes right? HHhhhmmm, maybe I'll inquire about that today.
PDaddy and I are leaving tomorrow for our last 'official' trip of the summer. We're leaving the kids with my folks and driving BACK to Florida. We'll be at the beach with PDaddy's sis/her hub until Sunday at which time I hope to stop at the ginormous outlet mall in Gulfport to buy the kids some school clothes before we head home. On our way to Florida, we're stopping at the Eudora Weltey house and garden in Jackson for a tour. I CAN'T WAIT!!! I hope we're allowed to take pics...surely! I'm even more excited because I've never been to the beach without children. SIL and I are beside ourselves at the prospect of claiming one of the condo's beach chair/umbrellas and staying in it all day--something we've never been able to do during all of our family trips that include the ankle biters uh, I mean children. Oh, and we're having dinner HERE on Friday evening. SIL says the one in New Orleans is a hot spot, so we're going to give it a whirl! Can I tell you how strange it will be to eat a non-kid-friendly restaurant? Heehee. SO. I better go get lunch lined up for the gang that is about to arrive.
Toodles.

The blue bird of happiness

I turned 35 today. It was a bittersweet turning in that yet again I'm reminded that my sweet Ninnie isn't here and now this year her twin sister is gone too. We share a birthday, you see, and it makes me so sad that those gals are gone. Tears...deep breath. I did get to talk to RachiePoo and wish her happiness on her day of birth also, and that was nice! Also, the original Pooh sent me a bday wish which was totally nice! Thanks, btw, if you're reading!
Ok, so how did I spend my THIRTY FIFTH bday? Uhm, I went to Walmart. I washed, dried, folded, and PUT AWAY 5 loads of laundry. I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. I cleaned THREE BATHROOMS from bow to stern. Most noteworthy of all, I DUSTED MY LIVING ROOM and DINING ROOM. I know, I know. You're wondering if I'm okay. Me too.
In other related news, I was pooped on by a bird today. Just natures little way of wishing me happiness, eh? Ha!
My mom is making me dinner tonight and bringing it over while my 3 kiddos and my 2 nieces swim while a gaggle of other relations look on. My SIL is making me one of her homemade world famous turtle cheesecakes. Ahhhhh. I shall surely weigh 10 pounds more by the week's end.
In other totally unrelated news, I am very excited about THIS WONDERFUL THING! I started blogging when Sam was 8 weeks old (the year was '00), and I wrapped that blog up in '05 by printing it (which only killed about 3,000 trees) and putting it in my wooden chest for the kids to read over one day and question their mother's sanity. I started this blog immediately after that, and I have been looking for a way to preserve it for posterity in a way that is a bit more user friendly. I think I may have found it! Hoorah!
Hasta mañana mis amigos

Journey to the Center of the Pool

From an empty pool to this....
The kids are happy to say the very least. We went to my folk's for lunch today to visit with my aunt/uncle who were in for a short visit. After lunch, we took the kids to see Journey to Center of the Earth which we were surprised to find out was showing in 3-D. We had so much fun! It was my first experience with an entire movie being 3D, especially in this age of technological wizardry. Wow! Of course the story is geared more on the believability of a young audience, but still, the kids begged us to stay and see it again (which we did not do.) Anywho, if you have a kid between the ages of 6-10 who isn't afraid of T-Rex and man-eating fish, by all means...see it!
We came home from the movie and pretty much stayed in the pool for the rest of the evening. My folks/aunt/uncle stopped by to pick up some things that I wanted to send to the daughter of my first cousin in Lubbock via my aunt, so they called in take out burgers and stayed to witness to chaos that is our house. PDaddy left as soon as we made it home from the movies for a night shoot of an oil well and has yet to make it home. It's pushing 10PM, so I'm hoping he'll be home soon.
I better be off to lock doors and turn off lights and take the pups out for the night. Later taters~

Bugs and Loose Screws

Wednesday and Thursday I was fighting off some strange bug that that caused things that I won't describe to you while leaving me weak and achey. Today has been a much better day, and we spent it at the doc office with PDaddy who apparently (and very amusingly) has a screw loose. It seems that the stubborn fellow who should've listened to his little wifey-poo has been doing a bit much lately and possibly has loosened one of the screws in his metal plated collar bone. So, doc ordered him back into the arm sling and advised him to restrict his movements for the next TWO weeks (oh joy.) SO! He was none too happy about that, but the alternative is not an option...the alternative being another surgery to remove the metal plate only to insert a much longer metal plate thereby creating new screw holes in the bone. An option that is not an option in my opinion. The man is so stinking hard headed. UG! So, if I have to tie his arms to his side, I will.
We had originally planned to take the kids to the movie today to see Journey to the Center of the Earth, but I guess we'll put that off until next week. We're going out to dinner tonight with our old neighbors, and tomorrow we plan to let the kids re-initiate the pool. After a lengthy spell, we have it back in working order and the water is now beautiful and clear.
I suppose I should go get ready for dinner. We are going without kids, so we should be able to chew our food and talk at the same time. Well, not the same time, right? Ha!

BethS!

Hey! I stopped by your spot the other day and got caught up on the E's. WOW! Your guys have grown too! (Well, guy and gal, I should say!) Ha, just wanted to let you know it was good to hear form you! I tried to leave a comment when I visited, but it said I wasn't allowed. HAHA! I get that a lot. Pffft. Can't believe how time flies, but it's good to hear from you and keep in touch okay!
**PMama has been under the weather, actually under the covers, for the last 24 hours with a weird bug. Be back soon!

Comments and Conversations from Pinkieville

* Sam, I really hope that the underwear on your head are clean. No, I will not take your picture that way.
*Mom, did you know that there are one-eyed and two-eyed animals. (Really, what type of one-eyed animals are there?) Duh mom, Martians.
*I really wish I had a King Cobra.
*Lets pretend I'm a dragon that has pooped out 3 eggs!
*Sam keeps calling me Hairy Piece of Poop.
*Do not kick your sister in the head.
*Mom, is #$%#$ a bad word? (YES! DO NOT SAY THAT AGAIN!) Oh, sorry.
*When I grow up I want to be a police man, so I can shoot people when they drive too fast.
*I QUIT!
*Sam, lets pretend like I'm dead and can't wake up. No Sophy, that is very unhealthy.
*But I can't clean my room, when I bend over my eyeballs are probably gonna fall out then I can't see the toys. Besides, my back hurts.
*This is my force field that protects dead people from killing me and making me into a sandwich.
*I want to change my birthday month to July instead of November. November is so unfair.
*Sam! Do not chase the cat with the Dust Buster! I don't care if she is shedding.
*Whew, my spit makes me thirsty.

Little bit o' this and that...

We've tried to get ourselves readjusted to Pinkie life today,but it's been really hard with Sam tearing up and crying for the beach every 15 minutes or so. At one point he said, "I'm just going to cry until all of my tears are dry." Great, can't wait. I've washed some laundry and started making a rag doll with Sophy, but other than that, I've not done anything really productive. I just can't seem to make myself do it. I don't feel terribly guilty about that yet.
My folks came over this morning to drop off a chair that had belonged to my paternal grandmother that my aunt sent home with them after they visited her this weekend. It's an old rocker that my mom used to rock my oldest brother when she lived with my dad's folks while my daddy was in Vietnam. I'm glad to have it, and my cat seems to have adopted it as her permanent special place in the house. Strange.
The pool guys are here trying to figure out what is wrong with our pool. We started having issues with the water being cloudy while PDaddy was down and out with his injury. The pool guys have been out several different times trying to figure out what the problem is, but we've had no luck. UG! It's so aggrivating to have a pool you can't swim in! Gggrrr! If we're lucky, they'll have it put to rights soon. Please let them have it fixed soon.
Well, I have to run to the grocery to pick up things. Our cupboards are bare!! Off to make a meal list for the week, so I can figure out what we need.

More Montage

From 2006. Why do I feel so old?

Love


My Montage



Jack's World

Video Montage

Once upon a time I made a video montage and posted it to my blog. The year was 2006. Did you hear what I said? 2006!! CLICK HERE to be amazed, and then click the little linky-poo below.

2008

Sophy's Beach Experience

Sam's Beach Experience

Jack's Beach Experience

Update

We took out a boat/barge/whatever yesterday and found some nice places to toss out the anchor and let the kids scour for hermit crabs. They had a ball! We went to Crab Island under the Destin bridge (in the bay, I believe) and enjoyed the jellyfish filled waters for as long as we dared. There were some very large jellyfish, man o' wars, I believe, that appeared a time or two along with the typical zappers that blast you as the nonchalantly cruise past. Dang it if that doesn't hurt. The kids made use of a giant water slide (courtesy of the GrandPinkies) that someone was charging admission for the use of. It was quite the slide and PDaddy got some good shots of the kids launching off the end of it. We attempted to go to the beach last night but were once again victims of the jellies, so we spent a good bit of time in the pool. AuntiePinkie made taco salad for supper, and we ate ourselves stupid. Very tasty.
For some strange reason, we had a late start this morning and when we finally made it to the beach the jellies were yet again controlling the beach front. Jack and Sophy were tagged early on and spent the rest of the time in the sand and at the water's edge searching for cucumber jellies. After a while, the masses abandoned the beach for the pool (and I mean the MASSES--there are like 5 people in the water for as far as you can see up and down the beach), and now we are all upstairs waiting for the pizza delivery man! WHEE! Perhaps we'll try again later, but I know we'll hit the pool at least again this evening. GrandPinkieMa bought the kids glo-sticks to swim with in the dark tonight, so we'll probably do that later on.
Tonight we'll go to our annual restaurant hot spot that is super-wonderful-tasty, and PDaddy will make our family portraits later this evening as the sun is going down. AuntiePinkie brought the girls a couple of adorable tutus and little tops for their pictures. It's going to be precious I tell you. We have to be out of the place tomorrow at 10AM, so I'm sure we'll wake up to a frenzy of breakfast eating and packing/trashing tossing. We'll spend Saturday evening in Jackson, Mississippi and head to Texas on Sunday morning. Sniff, sniff.
I will update with pics when we get home!
Hasta Luego!

Snorkeling

Today we took the kids out for a snorkeling and dolphin cruise. We had a great time, but most of us managed to get zapped by jellyfish at least once. The water was absolutely frigid...super clean...but super cold. Who knew that the water would be ice cold?? I mean, literally, ice cold. Steal your breath cold. The highlight of the day was when we went out into the ocean for a bit to spy some dolphins. We were treated with a really nice visit of a pod or two, one of which had a tiny baby dolphin amongst the group. Totally cute and sooo neato. The sweet guys just cruised up beside beside our boat and coasted along with us. We had such an up and close view of them. It was almost like we could reach out and touch them. The kids were so excited! Well, it was fun, and we got TONS of sun, and tomorrow we're going to rent a barge to go for the day out into the bay. We're packing lunch, yet again, and we'll go out into the areas where we can toss out the anchor and let the kids search for crabs and fish. Once we get back, we'll spend the rest of the evening tomorrow at our beach. PDaddy bought Jack a skimmer board, and he has been working to learn how to do the tricks that the older boys are doing down at the beach. He has been a bit discouraged that he can't just crank out some major tricks, but he'll get the hang of it. TTFN.

Sand and Surf

We are here! Hoorah!! I'll try to update a bit as we go along, but I do not have my camera cord that would allow me to add pics! Boohoo. Toodlies!

Brita!

Thanks for the info! I was so worried we'd be trapped inside....with angry children! I hope you're right, but I will accept your disclaimer/waiver!! :-) Talk to ya soon. BTW, you can email me straight to kdaily@charter.net if ever need to. I think you already have it, but I don't know if I have yours. I'll leave this up for the day and then delete!
Thanks again,
Toodles

Last Swim Meet '08

The meet was oh-so hot, but Jack did oh-so wonderfully! He qualified for the ALL STARS swim meet next weekend, but we'll still be in Florida. RATS. (Speaking of RATS/Florida, the weather forecast where we are headed looks like tons of rain! ARRGGHH! Brita, my friend! Help, do you have any weather info from Florida?? Argh! Forecast is calling for 30% each day. Sniff, sniff.)
The bags are all packed, and we'll roll out of here tomorrow mid-morning headed for New Orleans. I plan on taking my laptop and will update if possible.

Pith, Your news is astounding! Please update as soon as you can! I am in awe! PDaddy wondered what had happened when I guffawed so loudly that it frightened the cat! I'll be thinking of you and hoping you can keep your sanity until you have answers! Happy thoughts chic.

Ratatouille

Quick, someone document this! I made a wonderful meal!! Without a recipe!! I studied over a couple of different versions of ratatouille, and I decided to strike out on my own and blend several different recipes. Mind you, I am NOT a fan of squash or zuccini, but I actually think this dish was one of the best I have ever made. YES! It's crazy! I ATE VEGETABLES! What's next? I might just start eating fruit now!

Hit the head

Today I was talking to PDaddy over lunch while Jack and his ears listened in. At one point I commented that someone had "talked his arm off." Jack gets this serious look on his face and says, "Man. That must've hurt." ((You just have to know Jack to know how very literal this child is.)) So, after a good laugh, I was explaining to Jack what a figure of speech was and telling him a few examples..break a leg, hit the hay....etc. So Sam says, "What about hitting the head...like I gotta go hit the head?" I said, "Uhm, Sam....that means go to the bathroom, but it's not the nicest way to say it." ((which means that Sam will use that saying whenever he can now that he knows it isn't so nice)) Anyway, as we were driving home, Sam says, "Mom. Pull over, I gotta break a leg." I was like, WHAT? So then it dawned on me...he meant HIT THE HEAD. Oh my. I just about crashed my car. I can just picture Sam at school trying to impress the other 7 year old boys and telling them that he is GOING TO BREAK A LEG as he goes to use the restroom. Imagine the perplexed stares that would follow....haha.

Weed

I have so much weed! Hahhaa. Oh wait, weedS. Plural. WEEDS! PFfffft. Once PDaddy pulled his amazing cycling stunt, Sophy was detonsiled, and other various events happened, I had to let something go. Unfortunately it was my back 2 gardens. Wallace the bunny is helping out with the sweet grass in one bed, so I have taken my time getting that grass out. That little guy sure is cute to watch eating like a cow on my weeds. While PDaddy mowed today, I got after the bed closest to the pool. The kids were having a swim, so I just pulled and dug and turned to sweat for a few hours. It is very likely that I lost half of my body weight in sweat today. Nice visual, eh?
We picked up our last few vacation things this morning and had lunch at McAllisters, then I spent the rest of the evening after the sweat-fest packing the kid's Florida bags. I'll pack the rest of us tomorrow, that way I'll be all packed up and ready to spend Saturday at the swim meet. Speaking of the swimmer, Jack has complained for several days of ear pain. His complaining turned to outright protesting in pain today, so I think we'll be off to the doc tomorrow in order to head off something that might get worse on vacation. Hopefully we're just dealing with swimmer's ear, but it's odd because Jack has never had an ear infection in his life. Ya know, it's vacation time, so I should expect something...broken bones, infections, Ebola.

The rest of the week...

To Do List:
Walmart - Sheesh. I know, but I really need some last minute vacation things. Plus, Sophy is constantly reminding me that I promised her and Cousin E. that I would buy red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple nail polish so they could have rainbow mermaid nails at the beach. Yeah. Go me. It will be cute though, it will.
Swim - Yes, we plan on getting in a swim or two, even though something is up with our pool chemical balance. Luckily, the pool dude is coming while we are out of town to figure out what happened while PDaddy was incapacitated and unable to attend to his pool boy duties.
Sale - Bealls is having a sale, so I thought I'd go see what was available that I could put on Ebay. Ebay - I have a ton of Sophy's size 5/6 things to put up, but I just can't make myself. Why?
Movies - We told the kids we would try to hit the theatre before we head out of town, but who knows if we'll make it. Movies that are on our list of upcoming views: Journey to the Center of the Earth, WallE, and Space Chimps. Oh, I can hardly wait. Notice the lack of exclamation point there.
Swim Meet - Jack's final meet is on Saturday in Tyler. Sadly this will be an outdoor meet, and the weather man is calling for 100 degree temps. Remember when I used to enjoy swim meets?
Leaving Town - We are leaving town Sunday to head to New Orleans to spend the night with PDaddy's college roommate from way back in the day. We haven't seen them in years, but PDaddy stays in touch with them. They have 3 kids, so our 3 are excited to meet a new batch of recruits. Hopefully, their house will be intact when we leave. We'll leave from their house Monday a.m. to head to Florida.
Laundry - Still not folded.

I should be cleaning house

We're leaving in a few days for Florida which means I really should be cleaning house and attempting to get our laundry room under control, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm taking the kids to the GrandPinkie's today to swim, so perhaps I'll tackle the laundry when I get home. Yes, that's it. Right. Uh-huh.
PDaddy left really early this morning for a school shoot (note, not a school shooting, you can turn off CNN if you just turned it on.) This eve he has another shoot, so I guess he's back in business and able to tote the camera and equipment with his bum shoulder. At his one week post op visit, the doc was amazed how well the bone was fusing (that's a fancy doctor term right there, thank you) and at his range of motion vs. lack of pain meds. He said PDaddy was healing faster than he ever expected, so I guess I don't have to pop his bike tires just yet.
I promised the kids we would swing in to the Donut Palace on our way to PGrandma's house, so I better go see if the little curtain climbers have their beds made and more on their bodies than just underwear. And in Sam's case, I need to make sure those underwear are not on his head.

New furniture!

PDaddy got a new leather recliner for his birthday (albeit belated thanks to his superb bike crashing skillz). It's really nice and looks great in the living room, but who cares about that when something even greater is taking place! What, you ask, is so great as to overshadow new furniture of the leather variety? Oh, well...only the fact that my kids have been entertained for no less than 24 hours with the ginormous box that the ridiculous chair came in! Yes, The Box of Happiness now resides in my living room where it has been magic marker'd, secret entrances carved through, stuffed animals bussed in, and 2 (Jack is too old, I thank you very much, for such nonsense) very engrossed children huddled within it's walls. A few minutes ago Sam started gasping for air and falling out of the secret hatch PDaddy carved in it for him while he clutched his throat saying, "Sheesh Sophy, next time you have to fart go OUT of the box PLEEEZEE." Looks like I should get them a carbon monoxide tester for their new crib.
Gotta scoot. I'm off to get a pedicure with a friend in hopes that my crusty, nursing home feet will be a bit less offensive for the folks on the beach in Florida. The hair of despair is getting highlighted and trimmed on Friday, all in an effort to not look like I've lived under a cardboard furniture box for the last few months. Ha!

More photos

So, on the return trip home from HS Village, I decided that we should take a little side trip. PDaddy punched the new destination into the GPS, and this....THIS....is the road that we ended up on.
What started out as a black top road quickly turned into a gravel road which turned into a clay road which turned into a cut across to an access road to a an oil field. 19 miles. Lord have mercy, I was having heart palpitations. PDaddy kept waxing poetic about our surroundings and how diverting the trip was, and all I could think of was the Blair Witch, genetically altered hillbilles that live in holes in the ground where they hide before eating your face off, and the movie Turistas which PDaddy watched without the pleasure of my company. We eventually made it back to civilization.

We unknowingly planned our trip during the monsoon season in Arkansas. It rained pretty much each afternoon, but it always cleared off and allowed the swimming and fishing to commence. Interesting side note. Arkansas has the strangest severe weather television beepy alert on record. Very strange. Other interesting side note. Arkansas news girls show their teeth way more than the ones around these here parts, but they have better hair...so there is the trade off I suppose. I so enjoy news from across the nation, but it's probably for all the wrong reasons.

We're back

We had a great time in Hot Springs. PDaddy's stepmom needs her own channel on the Cooking Network. She is unreal. Needless to say, we ate lots of amazingly good food, fished, swam, and went boating/tubing. The kids especially were having so much fun that we stayed an extra day and just made it back this afternoon.

Jack showed us some moves on the tube. I think Jack is ready to learn to ski! Maybe soon!

Sam wants to be a professional fisherman when he gets older. I wonder if he'll still make this face EVERY time he makes a catch. I sure hope so. Sam outfished all of us by about 6 to 1. He is quite the natural fisherman. He even likes putting crickets on his mommy's hook. What a guy!

Sophy loved the fishing, the tubing, but she mostly loved swimming in the lake in search of clams. She brought home one poor, unsuspecting clam in a jar. Poor thing. I think I'm going to turn it loose in our pond to see if it survives.

Hot Springs here we come

The Pinkie's will be leaving shortly for Hot Springs Village, so I'll update when we return on Saturday. Happy 4th to you guys!~

Conversations with Sophy

I had the following convo with Sophy after her bath:
Sophy: People taste really bad to meat eaters like lions, sharks, dinosaurs, and monkey humans. I'm really glad about that.

Mom: Yeah, me too. Soph, what is a monkey human?

Sophy: You know, those guys from my encyclopedia that looked like cavemen but they were half monkeys and they had fur and tails but mostly everything else the same as real people. They were people eaters except when they could find a dinosaur, but who can catch a dinosaur? They actually taste bad too.

Mom: Good point. I've never had any luck catching dinosaurs.

Sophy: I know. Monkey humans couldn't run very fast so when they couldn't catch a dinosaur they just ate lots of insects like cockroaches but not butterflies because they taste nasty.

Mom: Well, if I ever see a monkey human, I'm running the other way.

Sophy: Just watch out for killer bees. They like to hunt people who are running from monkey humans.

Ahhh, the mind of a 6 year old.

Update

PDaddy is doing so much better today. We took the bandage/dressing off of the incision--which is WAY longer than we anticipated, and he has an okay from the doc to not have to sleep in his sling anymore. He started back driving yesterday, and today he announced that he was 'pain-free' which is amazing since he isn't taking any pain meds. I am so thankful and relieved because he is NOT a good patient when it comes to pain. PDaddy left a bit ago to take Jack to Walmart to spend his birthday cash on a new bicycle, and they took Sam with them. HOOHOO!! I am positive he is having loads of FUN (insert evil laugh here.)
Speaking of pain, Sophy started off rough this morning, but she seems to be getting stronger as the day goes on. She mostly only has a taste for sweet things, so we are indulging her at this point, but I hope we are not creating a monster. Yesterday she was afraid to eat anything, and we've seen that fear dwindle somewhat today. We're hopeful that we are over a hurdle of sorts. We just shopped for her school backpack on Ebay. She was insisting on a messenger style bag, and we stumbled onto several Hello Kitty variety (which would not have been my first choice since I don't do character items very often), but I found one that is really cute. It's red with lace trim, and it is made of cloth not plastic. It has Kitty and a bear having a picnic with apples on a ribbon border. Pretty cute for a character bag. We'll see if we still like it when it comes in the mail.
I found out the kid's teachers today and which school friends are in their classes. We did pretty well on all 3 counts, so we have that anxiety out of the way. Sophy didn't get to stay with her friend Zoey, but I'm sure they'll survive. Sophy isn't so sure.
My mom called this a.m. to let us know that my daddy's sister has inoperable pancreatic cancer. Not good news, but we're still waiting to hear if they will proceed from there or if it is too far gone. My dad lost a brother in 2000 to a strange and rare brain cancer, so it's a bit disconcerting...especially when you consider that my dad's parents lived to be 90 and 94. Please remember to say a prayer for her. Her name is Mary Lou. My mom is recovering from a horrendous bout of shingles. It just keeps coming..
If everyone continues to heal and cooperate, we intend to go Hot Springs tomorrow to spend the 4th weekend with PDaddy's dad/stepmom. I think we'll have fun, but I'm not looking forward to wrangling a one-armed dad and a newly de-tonsilled 6 year old. Still, it will be good to take a trip. Things have been hairy here for a bit too long.

The English Impatient

Do you see the red-dotted bear? That was a gift from the hospital. It's a sweet handmade guy. She hasn't turned loose of it since they gave it to her. The bears are made and donated by a local Shreveport church. Nice, huh?
The girl is sitting up, but we're not exactly eating food yet. She didn't have much to lose, but she is already showing a bit of weight loss. Hopefully she will have more of an appetite tomorrow. I even tried to bribe her with a ring pop, but all she did was stare at it. She had a little energy this morning, so we made these which turned out to be really cute. We didn't get to the rag doll kit today, but maybe we'll do that tomorrow.
PDaddy is doing SO much better. The mobility is returning, and the pain is receding. Which is our favorite ways for pain and mobility to be! Wheee!
In other normal news, I am so happy that the Olympic trials are on. Most of you who have read for the last 8 years know that we are Olympic loving crazies at the Pinkie house. I've been an addict since the '84 games with Mary Lou and Carl Lewis. I am so sad that my boyfriend Lenny Krayzelburg is not swimming anymore, but I am just so excited to have track and field, gymnastics and swimming/diving to watch. PDaddy and I veg out in front of the diving events like we're watching soap operas. Can't wait!
Well, my eyes are crossing. Maybe because it's 11:15 p.m.???

Bones, Parties, Fairies, & Tonsils

Behold, the 10 year old! Double-digits. Whoa. The day started off with rain, but we were able to have the swimming party. Jack now officially considers himself 10 years old. Eek. After the party, we went to eat Mexican per request of the birthday kid with my folks. They took the boys with them to spend the night, since we have to be at the hospital in the a.m. at 5:30. Double Eek. After the Mexican chow, PDaddy and I took Soph to Target to pick up a few things to keep her occupied and still/quiet for the next couple of days. We found a really cute kit that makes a rag doll that I'm pretty excited about. Ha! She also picked out a few sand art projects and a little book that makes fairies out of paper. Hopefully we will not be insane when the post-surgery days are over.
PDaddy is feeling better and has his appetite MOSTLY back. The pain is still a factor, but nothing like it was when the bone was near-protruding through the skin. Obviously. Speaking of the Dadster, he is watching a horror movie that I am trying my best to pretend isn't on. It's really creeping me out. Turistas? Have you seen this? I'm trying not to see it.
Maybe I'll go read in the tub.

June 28, 1998

At 7:15 in the a.m. on Sunday, June 28th, 1998, I was 4 weeks away from my due date of July 25th, and I was huge and miserable. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it 4 more weeks because it seemed as if I was growing by the minute. The following week I was to start my breathing/labor classes with PDaddy with plenty of weeks after that to rest and get my baby clothes put away one more time and refolded one more time. That morning, like so many others close to it, I was lying in bed (PDaddy was a police officer then and already at work) asking God to please let me make it one more day because I literally felt like the babe was hanging out of my bottom every time I stood up. To prove that point, I stood up to go use the restroom and proceeded to empty the fluid contents of my womb on our bedroom carpet. WHO KNEW THERE WAS SO MUCH OF THAT STUFF IN THERE....AND THAT IT KEEPS COMING FOR THE DURATION? ((Interesting side note: My water broke with all 3 of my angelic little bundels of happiness.)) Where was I? Oh, yes. The water runs down my leg, so I go to the restroom, do my business, and I am thinking that perhaps I just pee'd on myself. Wouldn't that just be lovely? Skipping over some not so pleasant particulars, I became quite certain that it was, oh yes indeedy, my bag of water. Hahaa...my bag of water. Anyway, I phoned PDaddy who was to meet me at the hospital and phoned Pearlie Sue next so she could carry me (not literally, I was so incredibly not carry-able) to the hospital. It is important to state that at this point, with the water gushing continuously from myself, that I thought I was in labor. Uhm. No. At the hospital, it was revealed that I was barely even dilated. Pitocin was the order of the day, and I declined an epidural because, after all, it didn't hurt...but I wasn't in labor, remember? At some point I started blacking out, I asked for the Candy Man to come and give me the good stuff, but the Candy Man had been called to another surgery, so I was told to wait. Oh my. I eventually got that epidural, along with an emergency c-section after 12 hours of retardedly hard labor and 2 hours of pushing. Poor Jackson Ryan's heartbeat started declining and not recovering after the contractions, so off to the ER and immediately zipped out he was weighing 8 pounds 10 ounces. He was the biggest "preemie" in the NICU of the hospital. Hehe. There were some complications due to his being early, and being a boy, his lungs weren't as developed at barely 36 weeks as much as a girl's would've been. He was also born with a fever due to the rough circumstances of the labor. We were discharged shortly after, but we were readmitted a day later because the child was a yellow as a banana with bilirubin levels going over 17--which is close to drain bramage level. We finally got to come home for good on the 4th of July. And the clock beside where I sit is very close to ticking to 9:22 p.m. The time my Jackie was born. Happy Birthday Jackson! Oh my gosh, I'm such an old woman!
((Ang, I have a photo of you and Amanda standing in the hospital hallway. Waiting. Hehe. Oh yes, you're old too!!! Hehe..)

A Crash Test Daddy

Yesterday morning at about 6:30 I received a call that PDaddy had been injured while on his morning cycle route. He rides his bicycle usually about 10-15 miles every other day, and this particular ride didn't end as expected. To make a long story short, we ended up with a fairly emergency collar bone surgery. PDaddy received a metal plate and 8 screws to forever hold his collar bone together and bone fragments were removed. It was a pretty graphic break as his collar bone was jutting out and so-very-near puncturing the skin. Very, very nasty. Doc said one false move, and the thin layer of skin containing the fracture would have broken through. We are attempting to nurse him back to health, but he is having a pretty rough time with the pain meds which are giving him headaches and nausea. On Tuesday we will see a hand surgeon to address the damage done to his hand. Anyway, we are here and hanging on. I feel like we've been in constant motion since I received the call yesterday morning. Especially since we didn't get home until very late last night and had to get up this morning (minus PDaddy) at 5 AM and drive to Nacogdoches for the swim meet. PDaddy was left home alone (how horrible is that) to fend for himself (he actually slept and moaned) while some of the clan attended Jack's swim meet today. PDaddy is very mobile and can get up and move around, so we weren't worried about him not being able to take care of things, and he insisted that Jack still go swim and not miss out on his next to last meet. Jack did really, really well again. Today is his 10th bday, and we're going to attempt to still carry on with his swim party here at our house tomorrow, and then we will have Sophy's tonsil removal on Monday morning at around 5:30.
Off to check on PDad. He is about the most pitiful patient you can imagine, so I am looking very forward to him feeling a bit better even if will be in an arm sling for the next forever.
((If I get a reprieve from being mom, nurse, and party planner this evening, I want to update once more with a special Jack's birthday flashback. In the meantime, I need to rouse the sleeping dad, get a supper plan going, and toss together the makings for a swim party....which probably means a trip to Walmart for cake, etc....oy.))

10 things I've said this week

• Untie yourself and eat your lunch.
• Did you wipe your butt? No? Well, that's why it's itching then.
• Yes, I would love to have a butler.
• I'm glad you don't want to smoke cigarettes and get a tattoo Sophy. Thank you.
• Why did you wipe your glasses with a tortilla?
• Do not chase the children through the house with the toilet brush please.
• No, I will not buy you a ladder that reaches the top of the house for your birthday Sam.
• Do not hide in Daddy's office making armpit farts when he is meeting with clients.
• Someone ate 7 cookies from this box, and I want to know who it was!
• You can get a diamond for your nose when you turn 25.

I'll probably not post again before Saturday!

The Remains of the Day

PDaddy's photos were cancelled this eve due to rain, so he grilled pork chops and some veggies. Someone gave us a box of fresh garden veggies, so I sauteed squash, sliced tomatoes, etc. It was quite tasty. The kids and I made sugar cookies after supper while it rained, so we're all fat and happy now. After supper, I sat on the back porch and talked to Wallace. I swear that rabbit used to be someone's pet. He just hops right up to you as if he doesn't have a care in the world.
My mom will be having a fairly invasive breast procedure on Friday. Please remember Mrs. Pearl in your prayers. Most of you know what a trial her boobs have been during the last couple of years, and this is just one more episode it seems. Hopefully all will be well. We will be able to do Sophy's pre-op stuff by phone on Friday, so luckily we don't have to deal with that. PDaddy and I have plans on Friday to celebrate his birthday sans children. The plan is to have lunch at Carrabas and catch an early movie. I think we may see Get Smart, but that is up for debate at this point. Saturday will be an early morning again as we head to Nacogdoches for our next swim meet, and Jack will also turn TEN that day. The party will be on Sunday after church. Sophy's tonsillectomy (how do you spell that) is on Monday morning, and we will leave Thursday morning for Hot Springs to see PDaddy's daddy if Sophy recovers nicely. PDaddy's dad and step-mom live on the lake at Hot Springs Village, so we'll be spending lots of time on the water, in a boat, fishing, etc. Our fishing on the camping trip was disappointing to say the very least, so they will be excited to catch anything with gills and fins. PDaddy's dad says that the fish are plentiful and huge right off of their dock, so maybe we'll get to eat some of those guys! We hope to be there for the 4th to see the fireworks from the lake, but it all depends on Sophy's recovery, I suppose. Sam had an amazingly quick recovery after his tonsil surgery a few years ago, so we're hoping to be so fortunate again. Ha!

Home Sweet Home

Due to Jack's sickies we are chilling at home today. He is feeling a bit better, so hopefully we are on the downhill side of whatever this is. Of course, I've said that before. Some of you may remember the 9 days of 103 fever last December..or the 8 days of Rotavirus X 3 in '01. Those are days you never forget man. So, Jack and I are sitting on the couch watching Cash Cab. Cash Cab is like mac n' cheese to me... comfort food...er...TV. Riddle me this. If you watch the show, have you noticed the number of people who get in the cab and say they are "going to get cupcakes? There must be some crazy-good cupcakes in NYC. We just saw a commercial that advertised Shark Week which will be starting up soon, and I thought Jack would vault off of the couch and do a back flip. I just wish they would run Shark Week in December. That way it wouldn't be fresh on my mind each year when we go to Florida.
School got out for summer on June 9th, and we promptly left for our camping trip the next day. Since that time, we have had something each day that we had to go to or do. This is the first day since June 9th that I plan on being home ALL day with NOTHING to do. NOTHING, I tell you. Well, other than take Soph to gymnastics this eve. Oh, and run to the post office.

Are you guys watching much TV this summer? Here are some reality shows we're Tivo'ing:

• Dirty Jobs - My Mike Rowe fascination has not ended...nor shall it ever.
• Deadliest Catch - It took me a while to get into this show, but PDaddy really liked it, so I stuck with it. Now, I am torn between thinking those guys are insane and/or really brave.
• WipeOut - This show is absolutely ridiculous, and I laughed my head off. I have no idea what the purpose of the show is.
• Japanese Game Show - We haven't watched this yet, and I may just delete it.
• Last Comic Standing - I really like this show. This week starts the finals, so they should be to the part of the show where the good comics are on the stage.

I think I need some tea. Gotta jett.

Random Photos

This odd little guy was at the Dallas Aquarium on the way home from our camping trip. He was sort of neat and really creepy, all at the same time.
The kids really loved the horseback riding on our trip. Jack cried when we had to leave because he loved this horse so much...as you can tell by the laying on of hands. He looks like he is praying.

This pictures shows Sam being Sam.

I love this photo of Sophy. There is something old-timey and idealic about it.

This is the view we see when the kids swim. This photo is actually of Sam and Sophy having an underwater wrestling match.

Last but not least, here is the latest pic of Wallace. We see Wallace every day, and this photo was taken about 3 steps away from him.

Infectious Disease Report

Jack has been grounded with a nasty, nasty virus. He is so upset because he is having to miss most, if not all, of his swim practices this week....as well as team pictures. He is very sad, and I am just hoping that he is well before Saturday. I haven't had the heart to tell him that there is a chance he can't participate in the next meet if he isn't better. Oy.
Sophy is having another round of nasties in her throat. We visited the ENT Doc today with a referral from our pediatrician, and we're slated for tonsil removal this coming Monday morning. Yeah. Hello! We figured it was inevitable, but we didn't really think it would be days away. It will be day surgery. So, there you have it!

Shameless Product Endorsement with photo

First and foremost, obviously, this is NOT an endorsement of my photo taking abilities. Having said that, let us begin in random order:

• Pantene spray detangler - (Not pictured) We would buy this by the gallon if possible. Sophy and I are like Chia Pets, and I am constantly amazed at the products for sale that claim to detangle, but also leave your hair looking like you slept with mayonaisse on it. For several days. This spray is light and truly does not weigh your hair down. I find that it works nicely at shining up the old mane as well.
• Listerine PocketMist - A must-have for anyone concerned with halitosis on the go. I basically just like how it makes my eyes water and my nose feel like I've been snorting Tobasco.
• Cover Girl AquaSmooth Foundation (compact) - I am a life-long, die-hard Estee Lauder foundation wearer. My face is extremely prone to break outage if I'm not careful what I use, so I am hesitant to try many new things. I recently took a gamble and tried this foundation in lieu of a trip to the mall (i.e. gas, cash, time, etc.) Long story made short, I have had no more break out than normal, maybe less, it covers very well, lasts throughout the day, and as long as you cover it with a good quality loose powder, it seems to be equal (mostly) to a more expensive foundation. Very surprising. I've been using it solely since about March. A huge plus is that I have found the color selections to be very nice as compared to some of the cheaper foundations back in the day that turned orange or too dark-brown.
• Cetaphil - This is one of those things that is a no brainer. Yeah, I know it's dermatologist recommended, but I'm a creature of habit. I've always used Dove on my face. On the recommendation of a co-worker/friend, I started using this and saw a tremendous improvement in the feel of my facial skin. It cleanses super gently and leaves your face soft. I use the bottle titled, Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin.
• Max Factor Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duo - This is a double-sided wand thingy that has 2 separate colors with a neato tip applicator. I'm not sure what the colors are that I have, but one is like a sparkley, light pink and the other side is a sparkley chocolate. I rarely wear eyeshadow, but I use these as eyeliners. Love it.
• Cover Girl Lash Blast masacara - I LOVE THIS STUFF. As long as they are making it, I will not use any other type of masacara. It delivers what most masacaras promise. If you like fat, dark, plump, long eyelashes then this is the goop for you. BRIGHT ORANGE tube, don't forget it.
• the COLOSSAL VOLUM EXPRESS masacara - Maybelline's attempt to de-throne the BRIGHT ORANGE tube. Don't bother. It's not even in the same ballpark. Besides that, it smells like a not-fresh-baby-diaper.
• L'Oreal infallible 6 hr. lip gloss - I really like this lip gloss a lot, but I think it is the color I like more than anything. The color I have is called Barely Nude...and well, who doesn't like being Barely Nude? The color is awesome, but the gloss does NOT stay on remotely close to 6 hours. More like 2, but hey, I'm not so big for my britches that I can't reapply lip gloss.
• Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber - I bought this because I have loved the scrubbing bubble cartooney bubbles since I was a wee lass. It's an infatuation that can not be explained, sort of like my raving mad crush, to this day, on Don Rickles. I know. I know. Where was I? Oh yes, shameless endorsement...I fully endorse this little product. I would love to send in some improvement ideas to SC Johnson, but I don't think they are interested. Definitely worth the purchase if you have one (or three) dirty children that leave rings around your tub that make Saturn green with envy.
• Eggo BakeShop MiniMUFFIN TOPS - Muffins for the toaster. CHOCOLATE CHIP muffins for the toaster. Need I say more? We are in love. They are super quick and more than yummy. Buy some soon. Do not delay.
• KRAFT Bagel-fuls ORIGINAL - A warm, chewy bagel filled with Philly Cream Cheese. 5g's of fat (if you're counting, which I am most assuredly not) and 200 calories. Fast and oh-my-word. If your mama isn't the type that hits back, go ahead and slap her silly. And then eat another one. If I'm not careful, I may have to start skipping my usual breakfast of Cheezits and a Cherry Coke.
• Cherry Coke - It needs no endorsement really. There it is.
  

Sunday News

After church we went to my folk's house for lunch. My mom had made pork dumplings, garden green beans, salad, rolls, etc....and a coconut cream pie for a belated PDaddy birthday sweet. PDaddy had a meeting with a potential bride (not his, that would be me...), and I made the kids rest in their rooms while I sat and did nothing. It was such a bizarre thing that I even managed getting them to do it that I had no idea what to do once they were all in their rooms and resting. They never did sleep...man, do I miss those napping years. Still, they did read and listen to music, so I guess that is all I can ask. PDaddy's client left, and we all swam for about 3 hours. We had floatey mattress races and a water volleyball game. The kids asked for breakfast for supper, and PDaddy volunteered to run and get Subway for us. YAY!! One thing I love about having a pool is that the kids are 100% occupied while swimming, and then they are near exhaustion for the remainder of the day. Aaahhhh, nothing like kids who are too exhausted to move. Does my heart good!! Hehe.
Tomorrow I have to run to school for a bit, and the kids will have to go to my mom's, I guess. After that, I think we're having some friends over for lunch and a swim. Jack will get his ribbons at swim practice tomorrow night from Saturday's meet. I really need to come up with some idea of displaying these in his room as he gets them over the years. Any ideas?
I've been meaning to do a new installment of my old Shameless Product Endorsements. I've run across some interesting finds lately in the cosmetic, hair, and kitchen/bath cleaning departments that I'd like to pass along. Maybe I'll compile that list and share them tomorrow. Also, I finally got around to watching 27 Dresses. It's actually a cute show. I watched it alone last night while PDaddy shot a VERY long wedding and reception (open bar...yeah, those take a while to shoot). Anywho, I watched the movie, and I must say that while the actress (can't recall her name) isn't my fav, I did like her in this role.
Off I go. Clothes in wash need to hit the dryer before Subway arrives.

Sunflower power

While I'm here, I'd like to share a pic of my latest crop of sunflowers. They're called "Strawberry Blonde," and they are so pretty!

This, that, and the swim meet

Jack and Coach #1. Getting ready for the individual freestyle. Jack placed first in this heat and man-oh-man was he excited when he came up at the wall and no one else was there! He was in the zOnE!
Jack had a great swim meet today! Here are the results:

Back stroke: 2nd place
Freestyle: 2nd place (sooo close to 1st)
Breast stroke: results not posted yet..we're thinking 3rd
Medley Relay: 3rd place
Freestyle Relay: 1st place

He had a blast, and we were home by 1 o'clock. SCORE! Whoohoo. The PinkieMimi and the PinkiePop came to watch, so he was really happy to have a home crowd to perform for. PinkiePop came to the last meet also, so he got to get in on the fun two weekends in a row. I'm pretty sure he'll come next weekend, which will make Jack really happy. The facility for today's meet was really crowded, and I was dreading from the memories of last year. Luckily, next week we're at a nice, large venue, so we'll be on like a chicken bone. A friend of Jack's went to SMU swim camp last week, and he was able to see several past swim Olympians and Olympic coaches. Also, SMU has several coaches who are going to Bejiing this summer to coach for the Olympics. There is a strong likelihood that we'll find a camp like that next summer. Sounds like something right up Jack's alley. PDaddy talked with someone today about a similar camp at Texas A&M, so we'll see what we can come up with next year.

GAME TIME

After the swim meet, we came home and hit the Pinkiepool for a short swim/splash. PDaddy left a bit ago for a wedding, so he won't be home until late, I'm sure. The kids are exhausted, so we had a hot supper, and they are all now laid up somewhere at the late, late hour of 6:35 p.m. I have a feeling bedtime will come early tonight. Jack is one pooped pup, and Sam is too although I can't figure out why. He has been the biggest crab this afternoon/eve.

Next week I have to go to school (blech) a couple of days to get some things done, and we'll be doing the usual gymnastics/swim practices. I'm looking forward to a date night with PDaddy. We're planning on going to see Get Smart and out to dinner.

In other news, it is (I think) 23 days until we head to Florida with the PDaddy's side of the clan. We are beside ourselves with excitement....we being PDaddy and I. Haha. The kids, of course, are over the moon with excitement also. Speaking of the PDaddy kin, the GrandPinkieMac is enroute home from Russia today, so we're hopeful to hear if she made is safely home. The kids have especially missed her.

Next Saturday is Jackson's 10th birthday. That is a post of it's own, so I'll save that for another day! We'll be having a pool party here next Sunday afternoon. Whoooweee!

The kids are either up to no good or sleeping, so I better go see which!

~*Happy Birthday PDaddy*~

The Great PDaddy turned 34 35 36 today! Check out the blaze on that cake! Speaking of cake, we had a yummalicious ice cream cake from Wallyworld, of all places. If you ever need a quickie cake, they are very tasty. We spent the evening at home. PDaddy grilled some awfully good chicken, and we had artichokes and baked potatoes with grilled veggies while the kids attacked each other in the pool. The kids are all, hopefully, getting to sleep because we have another early swim meet morning tomorrow. This one is a bit closer to home, and Jack is crazy excited.
Our Pinkiecousin, E., went home today, and Sophy is beside herself with grief. For once, the gender odds were even around here, and Sophy actually had a very willing play partner for all things girlie. Cousin E. will be greatly missed in Pinkieville. After a week of pretend fairies, fingernail painting, mermaids, and late night giggling, our sadness may never end.
PDaddy just informed me that our movie, Fool's Gold (Matthew McCaughney and Kate Hudson) is on. Gotta jet. Pics tomorrow of the swim meet...stay tuned.

The Show

I was invited to be the guest of honor, along with about 74 stuffed animals of various species and one YorkiePoo named Pongo, at a presentation of a show called, The Fairy and the Dragon. Here you have the audience.
The basic plot was one of a fairy (played by PinkieCousin E.) guarding her house from a dragon (played by Sam) and an attacking skunk (played by Sophy). Notice Rudolph and Clarice looking on? They were enthralled....or so they seemed.

Taking a bow!

Sometime after this photo was taken they all pretended like they were bunnies who layed eggs.

Things I learned while camping with my family...

If you'd like to revisit last year's list, feel free. For now, here is the 2008 list.

• If we go on vacation, I will start my period, period.
• Strep throat + Diarrhea = Streptacaca
• Chiggers are the scurge of humanity. I currently have a host of them in the bend of my knees.
• There is no deodorant that is a match for Texas.
• The woods are creepy. That's all there is to it.
• Head lice is an interesting creature.
• A seesaw that only seats two is a sure-fire way to make 3 children fight like a pack of rabid dogs.
• Mileage in a car with 3 children ages 6, 7, and 9 should be calculated like dog years. 1 mile should = 7.
• Cherry Coke Zero should not be marketed to resemble it's non-zero'd counterpart. Cherry Coke withdrawal is a very real condition.
• Woodland creatures do not care if you shave your pits or your legs, but your family might.
• Not all sheep have 2 ears.

~We're back~

Jack was fence hopping in order to find more wind for his kite.
Cliff diving starts at an early age.
Sophy goes for the country girl look.


We had a blast with mi familia and the cousins, and I think we packed as much into the 4 days as you can imagine (and then some.....some of you know what I'm talking about. HA!) Anyway, we hiked, we fished, flew kites, rode bikes, explored an ancient river bed, made s'mores, caught fireflies, climbed trees, played on a tire swing, went horseback riding, fed some animals, and visited the Dallas World Aquarium. Whew! We made it home yesterday afternoon, and Jack, my dad, and I hit the road this a.m. at 5:30 to go to swim trials in Nacogdoches. Jack did super again, and he is fired up for his first real meet next week. I'll post a few more pics here and there as things settle.

Random Ramblings

WALLACE:

Meet Wallace. Wallace lives in our back yard with his rabbit family. Wallace is very, very not afraid of us. Wallace sometimes comes to our patio door and the door of our master bedroom and stares in at us. Wallace is very curious. Wouldn't it be cool if we could feed him from our hands? Yeah, we're working on that.

TODAY:

After church this a.m., we went to Shreveport and had lunch at Jason's deli. Sam asked to get ice cream after he finished his lunch, and we sent him with our blessings to the ice cream machine. I know, I know. You'd think since it isn't our first day on the parenting scene with this one that we would've known better. He reappeared some time later with a GIANT coffee cup exceedingly full and sporting a stacked and curled blob of ice cream that would've made any Dairy Queen employee proud. When he sat down I said SAM, THAT IS A COFFEE CUP! LOOK AROUND, DO YOU SEE ANYONE ELSE WITH ICE CREAM IN A CUP THAT SIZE? He said to me, I can't help it if they ain't as smart as me. Again, we're in trouble with this one.

We left Jason's and went to the sporting goods store that I refuse to name because it's name is vile and dirty to me. Who would name a place something so....tacky? Where was I? Well, we went there to pick up fishing equipment, a few flashlights for the kids to play Scarey Tag, as they call it, and few things for Jack's time trials that are next Saturday. While PDaddy paid the bill, the kids and I walked to Kohls next door to the sporting goods place. My children were in rare...rare form, especially the older one. They kept hiding from me and laughing at me. One of them had the bright idea to pretend like HIS head was super glued to my hip, and so of course the other two thought it was hilarious and joined in. I couldn't get them to stop because it was making me giggle and so if mama is laughing you're safe, right? At some point PDaddy wandered in to Kohls, and we spied him from a distance so I called him on his cell phone and started giving him bogus directions to where we were while the kids and I slinked and sneaked around racks of clothing and potted plants. Oh my goodness, it was hilarious. In case you're wondering, they did not call security on us. We left on our own.

I finished putting out all of my seeds when we got home, and PDaddy rigged up some outdoor accent lighting around the pool area while the kids played in the pool. I whipped up supper for the kids and fed them on the patio. PDaddy and Jack have been waiting for the series When We Left Earth on the Discovery Channel. They watched most of it this evening until it got too late, so we're Tivo'ing the rest of it. Jack begged to not have to go to bed. Poor thing loves him some space.

Honey:

I've been meaning to take an updated photo of sweet Honey to show you guys her cuteness. Oh, she is just so sweet. She is learning how to fetch! After the kids went to bed last night, we took her to our room while we watched TV. She left us to run into the living room, and in several trips, she had found all of her chew toys and had horded them in one spot....and then she laid beside them and went to sleep. I guess she was afraid Pongo would get them. They are fight like children. It's hilarious.

Oh, I smell bad. I'm going to bathe.

No shame in our game.

We went to a birthday party this eve for one of Sam's classmates/friends, and I did the usual "if you don't mind we'll go home faster than you can say Cheetos" spill at which time I reminded them to be polite, wait their turn even if it killed them, and to please not tell people when their bathing suits weren't exactly figure flattering. They very intently told me that yes m'am they would be polite and angelic. For the most part, they were. Until we were thanking the party mom and Sophy announced in a sugary sweet and matter of fact tone, "Please excuse me. I just farted." She wasn't grand standing. She wasn't trying to be funny. She was apologizing for polluting the air. Next time when I do the "if you don't mind we'll go home" speech, I need to add in there something about not detailing the specifics when we excuse ourselves.

The Weekend

Today at school we had a faculty vs. student basketball game, and I operated the time clock and scoreboard, and I commentated the game. After a few unsuccessful attempts to take the microphone away from me, it went pretty smoothly. Nothing like a captive audience. PDaddy had a HS graduation to shoot this evening, and I stayed home with the crew and thought of all the things I had to do while I sat on the couch. It was pretty nice. The kids asked for breakfast for supper, so I made eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, muffins, fruit, etc., and then we had movie night. Pretty laid back.

PDaddy has a bike ride in the a.m. with a group of biking menfolk. I'm not sure how far they're going, but they're leaving earlier than I think any sane person ought to even consider using wheels and expending energy. I think I'm going to put out a bunch of seeds and let the kids help. Well, I can count on help from Sophy....the boys not so much. PDaddy has a wedding tomorrow afternoon/eve, so I guess I'll just chill here and get the house/laundry/fridge, etc. ready for our week long absence. Sunday after church we're going to go buy all of our camping supplies, food, etc. I may go to town tomorrow while PDaddy is busy and pick up the kites the kids want and grab some rubber boots for all 3. They have big plans that involve mud at the place we're going, so I think rubber boots are necessary. One thing I can't wait to do is go horseback riding with the kids. I think they are really going to enjoy that. It's been so long since I've been near a horse, so it should be interesting. Ha.

The eyes are wanting to close, so I think it would be wise to turn down the beddy-bye and go nighty-night.

Happy End of Kindergarten!

Class of 2020!

It looks like she is advocating for peace, but she was actually communicating with her cousin that was in the audience.

It is with mixed emotions that I declare the Pinkie family to be henceforth and forevermore a KINDERGARTEN FREE zone!! Sophy Claire graduated today with a face full of grins and a swing and a skip in her step. The ceremony was really cute, and she got an reading award certificate along with 6 or so other kiddos. Hooray!!

Kindergarten is such a monumental year. As a parent, you dream about and dread your baby's first day of school. It's bittersweet to know that we'll never have the kindergarten warm fuzzies again, but it's also nice to know that we have our feet planted firmly in the halls of education. I really have enjoyed each grade (knock on wood) as we go along. Next year we'll hit first, second, and fourth. EEK! Heaven help the mama.

Leaping Lizards...er, Red Heads.

Paper Walls, Gynecological Visits, and Frolicking Bunnies

My red head has dreamed of building grand fetes of architecture since he was 3 years old. His greatest, and longest standing, dream is to build churches and Walmarts. At some point his dream stretched to include building me a home for when I "get really old and babysit his children for him." He told me today that this house was going to have paper walls so that his children, my grandchildren, could color on my walls without having to worry about making me angry. I immediately did a wall check throughout the house to see if there was a reason behind such a statement. There didn't seem to be any wall art, but he is quite familiar with the use of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser so maybe he erased the evidence.

Today I had to leave school early to make an impromptu gynecological visit. Yeah. You really wanted to know about that. Not.

In other news, we have a bunch, family, warren(?) of rabbits living under one of our outside storage buildings. PDaddy peered under to see what he could see, and he swears the WeirRabbit is living under there. Every night at dusk, one of the bunnies or two will come out to munch before dark. We're thinking we're going to attempt to tame them, since they seem to be fairly comfortable with our comings and goings. Not that we plan to disturb them, but it would be neat if we were able to hand feed them occassionally and let the kids see them up close.

Oh! Wonder Pets is on. Gotta go!

Strep, Bathing Suit, Giant Balls, Bubbles, and Fighting Dogs

Sophy has strep. Again. For the 3rd time in 6 weeks. Sam had a similar situation when he was 4, and we had the tonsils out. Since that time, he has been heatlhy (knock on something QUICK) as a horse. Doc started counting throat episodes, so it's likely we're on the same path. Luckily our pediatrician group (they are amazing) is open 7 days a week...well, they are open from 10-11 on Sunday morning. Can you imagine the waiting room on Sunday? Anyway, Soph and I went there this morning to see why she had yet another fever and then to Target to pick up her prescription for Omnicef. Her little throat looked like swollen, raw hamburger meat. Disgusting! We'll be on the Rx for 10 days, so at least we should be remotely healthy for our camping trip. If she gets another throat infection after this one, we'll have to go an ENT doc to see about the tonsils coming out.

Oh, while at Target I found the cutest bathing suit ever. I love it! The photo doesn't show it, but the bottoms have the same ties on the sides at the top does in the center. It's really cute. I usually get a suit from Lands End or Eddie Bauer to last me the whole season, but I've really had a hard time finding one that I liked either the style or the fabric print. I love, love this one. I just hope it durable. Nothing worse than losing your drawers in the ocean! I ordered Sophy 2 new suits on Ebay, and they should be here soon. I've several suits from last year to sell...not to mention her entire Fall wardrobe. I'm really behind on my ebay selling, but I should make a killing off of her Fall clothes this year since I had several whole outfit sets that are still selling good on ebay. Thank goodness for ebay! If you have a daughter, this is the only way to go! I gave up trying to find clothes in stores that I could a.) afford and b.)didn't look like a street walker. I man, booty pants in size 5T were not what I had in mind. I digress!

I also bought 5 of the giant bouncy balls while at Target, a giant bubble bucket with 4 giant wands and 2 cases of sidewalk chalk to take for Sophy's class to use next week. She will be finished on Wednesday, so I'm sure they'll spend Monday/Tuesday wrapping up and playing outside. All of the grades had Play Day on Friday, and the kids had a really good time. I think they do this in lieu of the "Field Day" from back in the gap. The PTO (PTA?) does the jumpy castles, clowns, popsicles, bicycle raffles, face painting. The kids really liked it. Of course, they'll like being out of school better. Ha.

Pongo and Honey have fought like spoiled children all afternoon. Pongo intentionally will get Honey's chewy toys and go somewhere in plain view of her, so she can watch him chew on it. Of course this makes Honey go bananas. Then Pongo will take off with the chewy toy, and the fight/chase that ensues is both aggrivating and hysterical. They are like having 2 year olds. Speaking of two year olds...there is nothing like waiting in a doctor's office waiting room to make me thank the Dear Lord that my children are past that stage. Oy! I know I did my time with 3 kids under the age of 3 in the doc office waiting room spewing vomit and other things all in unison, but dang it if it's not so much easier to take a 6 year old who can sit and wait her turn while she reads a Junie B. Jones chapter book. I witnessed some poor, frazzled mom with a newborn and a 2 year old as she attempted to comfort the sick baby and keep the insane 2 year old from sticking sucked on cheerios to the vinyl chair backs, and I remembered. And I was thankful. On so many different levels! Ha.

The kids are begging to swim, so I guess we'll go suit up.