Not Complicated

Once upon a time, I thought I would be famous. Not because I had any great talent like singing or dancing, but I just thought it would happen. How? I guess I assumed I would marry someone famous, and therefore be famous by association. I would shop daily, lie by the pool tanning and attend fancy parties with my rock star/movie star husband. HA! As I got older, I knew and accepted that that would most likely not happen, and I better think of a plan B. Well, plan B turned out to be just fine, and actually, pretty darn good. The past few days around these parts have been nothing short of glorious. Even though thoughts of this past winter are still thick in my mind, I am starting to believe spring and summer are officially here. It is hard to be gloomy when there are sunny skies, scraped knees and fresh air flowing through the house. It has made me realize, although I lead a simple life, how much I have to be thankful for. I have comprised a list, in no special order, of the simple day to day things I am thankful for.

• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
• Deodorant
• Razors
• Debit cards
• The Internet
• Libraries
• Digital cameras
• A dog, picked up at Wal-Mart over ten years ago, that has adapted to all the changes with us in the past decade with grace

• Musical toys that have on/off switches
• Bug spray
• Channel 6023 on my satellite
• Fire pits
• Hammocks
• Pay Per View
• The satisfaction of mowing my yard

It is not the life I envisioned myself living when I was fourteen, but it is mine. I, of course, have greater things to be thankful about (family and health, etc.) but these tiny gifts are what make my world mine. I cannot even imagine living the shallow life I used to covet. Besides, Brad Pitt is otherwise engaged...

Preschool Field Trip

Middle had a field trip to the library today. And let me just, for the record, give you a glimpse into my world. I noticed I have some 'out of town' readers (for lack of a better term) and I thought I might show you the beauty that surrounds me every day. There are so many picturesque locations where I live, I could spend weeks trying to capture just the best. This one is behind the library itself. You can hear the water rushing over the rocks and today was cloudless and absolutely heavenly.





The fun started inside, where the teacher read a couple of books to her rapt audience. (Why can't I get just my measly three kids to sit and listen to me like this every once and a while!?)












Next, we went on a nature hike down the street to a little trail that follows a small lake runoff with a dam. The kids played 'Bluebird' and I took quite a few pictures, but this one with the sun filtering straight down is so lovely.

Back at the library, we went behind the building for more games. Trying to jump over an ever increasing rope was one game Middle excelled at.

She's off....

...whew! She made it! (What? The rope is lower in this picture you say? Oh, that is just how the game is played, don't you know? Everybody wins in preschool.)

She has one more year of preschool, then off to the big house she goes. I mean, the big school. Her birthday is in November, so she actually could go this year, but I can't even imagine that! She is too little. She is smart enough to go, but not ready yet. Does that make sense?

Some Favorites

The grill hadn't been turned on yet, but she is always imitating the adults.



Two little monkeys!

Ice cream break.

Giving her cousin a long hug. She just loves him! They should be cute together in Disney.

No Lions, No Tigers, Just BEARS!

Oh My! Yes, we have a bear/bears again this year. Last night around 9:00 pm I heard loud footsteps rumbling through the leaves around back while I was reading in bed. When I got up to turn the light on, whatever had been there was gone. Well, just now, five minutes ago, I was walking from the living room to the bedroom and glanced out the front windows and a big ol' honkin' black bear was walking in between our two vehicles! I said 'ERIC, Eric, Errrrric!' and he finally came to where I was and by then the hungry fella was up on back legs leaning into the bed of his truck. He pulled a Taco Bell bag from the deep and tore it up. I couldn't get a picture because it was dark enough to need flash, but the window pane made everything just washed in brightness. I quietly stepped out onto the porch and brought the camera up, and his head popped up to see me, and I thought, 'Shit, I won't be able to get it!' and sure enough he took off running.

I guess I have lived here long enough now, not to be nervous to step outside while I know a large hungry bear was there. I really wanted that picture!! He will come back, not to worry. Almost a year ago, Novella was here and scared about our bears, I know she is freaking out reading this right now!!

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What I was originally going to share tonight, was the bit of knowledge Miss learned in school today. A boy in her class taught her this, it goes to the alphabet song:

A,B,C,D,E,F,G
Barney is my enemy,
Stick a pretzel up his butt,
Pull the trigger - blow his nut,
A,B,C,D,E,F,G
Barney is my enemy!

Nice, eh?

A Waste Of A Day

Intention: To mow my yard, for the first time this year.
Outcome: Ran out of gas less then half way through. The bugs ate us alive despite being hosed down with repellent. Decided not worth the price of gas to drive the 40 minute round trip to the gas station.

**********************************************************************
I hate the feeling of failure, which I have today. I had it all planned out - since Eric was home I could knock it out without stopping numerous times to tend to the kids. When I finally decided it wasn't going to happen, I was mad that we didn't just get up this morning and go to my grandmothers beach and let the kids play one last time with their cousins. We have to go down for Miss to march in the parade later, so it wouldn't have been an extra trip. Now I'm sitting here doing laundry and a bunch of nothing with my yard looking pathetic! Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Bonus Post

She was having so much fun...




...until she fell in the water.

A Perfect Day

Memorial Day weekend is one of my and my kids favorite couple of days of the year. All or most of our family gathers together for a happy occasion. There is always an abundance of great food and usually the weather is good or better. Today was just ideal. The weather and temps were perfect and everyone worked and/or played together nicely. Only about three times a year do my kids get to see and play with their cousins who live over three hours away. This is one of the times. My uncle comes up with his twin boys (they are just four months younger then Miss) and his nine year old daughter. My sister comes up with her two kids and numerous other family members drive to my parents house for their annual blowout. Yesterday was the main day, a day of horseshoe games and tag and food and beer and stories to catch up on and food, and -wait, did I mention food? Today the manly men fixed a drainage problem at my grandmother's house, then we all went down to her beach.





The kids ventured in the icy water for a few seconds at a time, but mostly worked on sand castles and rock throwing. It is amazing how busy kids stay when there is nothing but sand, rocks and a few broken plastic beach toys.





Mr. Mouse helped by using the chainsaw on the many large logs and half trees that get washed up on her beach each year. My dad and uncle carried and stacked, and my uncle plans on having a major day-long bonfire tomorrow.

I know these are the times that will stick in the girls' memories as classic childhood moments. In their adult lives, when Memorial Day rolls around, I just know these days will vividly come to mind. These fun, simple days of playing and laughing with family are one of the best gifts I can offer.

They Know!

I told them about Disney today. The following pictures say it all.

Mmmm, Beer...

I guess this wouldn't be an easy sell as a commercial:

After a long hard day of work (him), and pooping in a diaper (her), nothing hits the spot like a nice cold one.



"Cheers, Dad!"

Must pick the right one.....

Yeah, that hits the spot.

Overheard

Middle, not liking how disrespectful Miss was being to one of her drawings,: "Miss! Be CAREFUL! That is very expansible to me!"

Translation: Watch out sister! I spent a lot of time scribbling on that there paper and you better not F!#$ it up or I will Set. You. Straight.

Meaning: I really like that picture I made, and when I really like things mom usually says it is expensive, therefore this piece of art I created is very 'expansible' (expensive) in my eyes.

Sneek Peek

Today was picture day for recital. Middle looked very adorable and she didn't wiggle and twitch even though her sensitive skin was being scratched by man-made itchy fabric. She was very proud of herself. And even though the portrait studio lady kept giving us moms dirty looks for using our own cameras, we did it any way. This is her baby duck costume, and let me tell you, these feathers are barely hanging on brother.




This is her ballerina costume, they are dancing to a Mary Kate and Ashley song. (Back when MK and A were young, cute and innocent.)

One of the rooms at the studio has been transformed into a photo studio for the week due to recital pictures. Here she is with her class, patiently waiting for instruction.

It was funny, I overhead one mom a few weeks ago mention she had just made appointments for her daughter to get her hair and makeup done for today and the recital day. I told her I would do her daughter for her if she wanted, and save her a few bucks. She took me up on it and I arrived a bit early today to do her hair and ended up doing another girl as well. I wonder how much a salon would have charged? It was just a bun and eyeshadow with lipstick and blush. It took me eight minutes tops.

The F Bomb

Well, let me tell you about my evening. Of course, tonight was Tball and also my night to volunteer in the concession stand. When it is your turn to volunteer, you must stay until the end of the night, after all the games and after all the people are done buying. Needless to say, that meant I would still be in there after Miss was done playing. Because my husband "Can't handle" having the Baby and Middle on his own in a public setting, he took them home after work and I brought Miss to her game. About thirty minutes after she started, a mom from her team sticks her head in the stand and says, "Rebecca, Miss was just hit with a ball, I don't know how bad." So I start running towards her field and see her running and crying holding the side of her face, running towards where I was and my heart dropped. I got to her, hugged her, peeked at her face and there was no blood and she was walking fine, so I took her back to the snack shack. We got her an ice pack, filed an accident report, I looked at her teeth and they were fine, but she did bite the inside of her lip pretty good. Anyway, she ended up sitting on a stool in the snack shack with me the whole night, eating junk food and gabbing to her friends through the ordering window. Every so often a person would come to order, see her in there and ask how she was doing. One man shook his head slowly and said, "She took a hard hit. That was a bad one." Another couple of parents from her team that witnessed the incident were worried about her, telling me that it was horrible, everyone gasped and jumped up when she got hit. It must have been a fierce smack to her face and I am glad I didn't see it. I would have probably screamed and caused a spectacle.

Anyway, on the ride home we talked about how it happened, about what it felt like and all that. Then she started telling me how her friends and her were reading all the 'stuff' that was written on the playground at school. Someone drew a pigs face and wrote 'PIGGY' next to it. Then she said how much fun she had sitting in the concession stand with me. She said she loved being in there! She got to hang out with me and the other volunteer moms, seeing what people bought and how cool it was to talk to her friends through the window. Then the conversation shifted major. Out of no where, "Mom, what does FUCK mean?"

Me: "What?"

Miss: "I read FUCK YOU on the playground, what does it mean?"

Me: (Shocked, and looking for a stray martini to guzzle) "Well, it is a horrible swear word. When people say that, they are saying the worst possible thing to hurt you. It is terrible to say and if anyone at school heard you say that, you would get suspended from school for a few days."

Miss: "Oh. Would you get expelled, or just suspended?"

Me: "Well, I'm not sure, but you would be in a lot of trouble for sure."

Guess who has to call school tomorrow and tell them to clean the playground up. Oh yes I am.

Phoney Bologna

Last night the three girls and I were messing around before bed, pretending slight taps hurt and shots from our pretend medical kit were real. I was bawling loudly, which they all loved to hear. The louder I got, the more amusing I became. Well, Middle had to get in on the action - any excuse to be loud is a good excuse for her. She pretended so well, she started to have tears come down her face.




Had I not been sitting there the entire time, I would have thought she had gotten hurt and was honestly crying. This is her three seconds later.

Remember her when the oscars are announced.

Ode To Baby

Busy hands and curious eyes
Every day brings a surprise.
Nothing's dull, dreary or boring,
A new adventure begins each morning.

Games are played and rules are broken
An encouraging clap, when words are spoken.
Conquering hills with legs that are tiny,
Trying your best to be less whiny.

A blankey that is part satin and yellow,
Sure comes in handy when you start to bellow.
Two little fingers you like to suck,
When all things start to run amok.

Your chubbly cheeks, arms and thighs,
Always keep me mesmorized.
A long cuddle or hug, brings you cheer,
My spirits soar, when I hear you near.

My baby is growing and changing each day,
Learning more, and finding her own way.
For me these days are short and fleeting,
But many more, you will be greeting.



By Rebecca, 5-18-08

Girl's Weekend

Mr. has been working a lot, and it doesn't seem like it will be slowing down any time soon, so this has been an all out girls weekend. Last night we got the air mattress out, inflated it (which I never knew could be such an exciting event) and fired up our new DVD, Enchanted. We saw this in the movie theater during our long winter, and I wasn't expecting much. Even movies that are rated G nowadays seem to sneek something nasty in somewhere, but not this movie. It was delightful! Fancy dresses, good songs and a fairy tale ending. Ahhh. So, last night we watched it at home, popped some corn, and broke into the ice cream. Big night for us! The two older girls stayed up until 9:45 (really big night for us) and had fun. Also, I discovered why I have FOOTPRINTS! on my window by the computer. Ahem.




So this morning, after blueberry muffins, we talked about what to do today. The sun was out, the temperature was mild and we had an entirely empty day ahead. I asked if they would like to go to a yard sale at one of my internet friends homes, and they all got happy. Yes, even the baby, happiness is contagious, don't you know. (Hi Julie!) So after that part of our adventure, where we were loaded up with freebies (thanks Julie!), we headed to the park.

We utilized the playground for a long while, then walked over to visit the ducks. Baby got so excited, someone had to hold her back on dry land at all times. She wanted those ducks, I tell you. You could hear her bock, bocking from all over. We tried to get her to quack, but c'mon- ducks, chickens - what's the difference?

Tonight we are going to paint our toenails and eat a good dinner, and get to bed on time. We have another big day tomorrow, a Girl Scout banquet that will last too long, and temperments that will be too short.

Pretty

This little flower is on a tree at my parents house. I love the color. It is the perfect bright pink, it makes me happy. The tree is tall and full, and if you stand under it, the little hairs on your arms stand up because it is loaded with huge buzzing bees. There are so many bees working on that tree you can feel their vibration. I wish that these blooms lasted all summer, but already the tiny petals are starting to litter the ground.

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Remember my confusion?

Well, here it is now. I remember this from about three years ago. It bloomed nicely, then looked as if it died an awful death- turned brown and scrawny- so I mowed over it one day to put us both out of our misery. Well, I guess I had just continued to mow over it the past couple of seasons and the poor thing never got going again until this year.

In case you were wondering, (Oh! I'm sure you were!) I never did complete my raking. Mr. never did finish all the tree cutting, but the yard isn't as bad as it was. Now I need to mow and we have no mower. That is something that will need to be purchased because our old one rotted out last year, it barely finished the season actually. I guess I will ask my dad if I can borrow his. (He always says yes, even when I keep things maybe a week too long!) I can get it into the truck pretty easily, but getting it off the truck is the hard part. Setting it down gently, and without smashing my fingers, is difficult for me!

Remember To Twirl

Like I said before, things are crazy around here, specifically in the evenings, when things are always chaotic in a house with children on any normal day. In the evenings for the next several weeks we are extra busy. Busy on top of checking homework and reading books, getting a somewhat healthy meal cooked and baths done, now there is a bit more going on. We are extra busy. It is fine. It will end. Summer vacation is near. Lax schedules are on the horizon and suntans have already formed. But, right now it is busy. It makes you kind of rush around, and get lost in the never ending mental to-do list running in your head. But, you have to remember to stop. Stop and feel the sun on top of your head. Stop and notice how much greener the grass is nowadays. Stop and spin. Spin until you are dizzy. Stop and spin really fast, until you fall down. Spin extra if you are wearing a dress. And when you fall down from your self induced dizziness, lay back on that green grass, look up at the bright blue sky and imagine. Dream about all those glorious empty days of summer just looming ahead. Talk about all the ice cream that will be eaten. Which movie to see at the drive in first. How many tadpoles there are to catch. All the nights of eating on the deck, looking at the stars in the telescope waaaaay past the normal bedtime. How many containers of sidewalk chalk will be used this season. Sandcastles. Sunburns. Amusement park rides. Parades. Long, aimless walks. Toads. Salamanders. Fireflies. Rollie Pollie down hills. The smell of fresh cut grass. The smell of suntan lotion. The smell of little bodies sweating a sweet mixture of both. Lounging in the hammock swing.

Yes, it pays to stop, twirl and dream.

GARDEN: 2008!

Last year Mr. and the wee mice attempted a vegetable garden. They (he) dug out a nice square plot, planted a variety of yummy vegetable seeds, and for the following two weeks it stayed weeded. It would get watered another three weeks or so, then it transformed into a nice square plot of well watered weeds.




This year, my father and I are attempting a bigger (15x9) vegetable garden at his house. This weekend he used his tiller and got everything turned. Then, he put up a nice size fence with a gate.

I am trying to decide if I should plant the seeds for the garden, or just keep it as a sunny sandbox/cage for the kids. I could lock the gate, toss them some food every so often, use the hose when they get hot and not worry about them wandering off. KIDDING!! No need to call CPS on me. I am definitely going to plant zucchini, tomato plants, cucumbers and peppers. Anything else that is a sure hit to grow? Radishes flourished in last years' attempt and so did the lettuce. Not sure how many radishes I could eat, though. I love the idea of lettuce again, but sometimes it grows too much and takes over.

Happy Mother's Day

Just Leave A Message....

She is so proud of herself, and I am so proud of her. (Here on first base.)

From now until the second week of July, I am not available. Do not ask me to commit to One. More. Thing. I cannot do it. Why do I not possess the ability to say no to strangers, yet scream it all day long at my family? All of the engagements are for the kids, for the most part, so I don't feel too guilty. But when I just coordinated the three calenders I have floating around, I realized how insane the next couple of months are going to be. We just got back from Arkansas, and there are only a few weeks to go before the "Big Trip." No, the kids still don't know about Disney. I'm not looking forward to answering the question "ARE WE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD TODAY!! MOMMY?" I think we are going to tell them Memorial Day weekend. I am going to make a countdown calender for them, so they can rip off the days every morning and hopefully that will make the time table easier for them to grasp. (Especially for Middle.) So, for the next, say two and a half months, just leave me a message on our answering machine. Or better yet, email me. Mr. listens to the messages but never relays them to me. God FORBID I forget to mention his messages though! In case you are at all interested in my weekly schedule of chaos, here it is:

One night aweek:Girl Scout meeting, two nights a week: tball games/ One night a week: I read and do a craft at the library/One day a week, dance recital practice/pictures/dress rehersal/Girls Scout field trips/ Preschool events/ My anniversary/Our annual blowout for Memorial Day at my parents house/Mr. is starting to make stock for me to sell at craft shows/I joined our church book club which will meet every other Sunday night.

Will someone smack me next year if I say yes to anything?

Eighteen Months

Baby had her eighteen month check up today. She is now twenty four pounds and eleven ounces. She is now thirty one inches and change. And most importantly, she is a healthy little girl. My baby is a toddler. How did that happen? When I last checked, she was wearing a size 3-6 months. I just turned around and she was nursing and unable to roll over. When did I retire the sling? Where did my immobile baby go? What I have now is a loud, climbing monkey-type girl. Never sitting still. Never quiet. Always laughing and imitating us. Always looking for a kiss. Always on the go. She is like heat lightning in the summer - unpredictable and a spectacle. Frightening, yet beautiful. Full of energy and fleeting.

Welcome Home, To Me

Know what kind of day I had? Well, at 3:30 am, Miss is by my bedside complaining of a stomach ache. Ten minutes later we are in the bathroom doing our mother/daughter puke routine. Her: "OWW! My tummy really HURTS! "(gasp, gag, deposit) Me: "It's okay, just let it out, I know, I'm sorry." Fast forward to 3:30 pm: Middle: "Mom! Baby pooped and she got it on me!" Me: "What? How did that happen? How could she have pooped on you? Were you tickling her back and got too close to her diaper?" Middle: (Looking caught) "Yes."
One week ago, at that exact time, Mr. and I were eating a Tex-Mex meal in the Houston airport, and sipping margaritas.

Back to reality.

The Batmobile

This car belongs to Eric's cousin. He tossed me the keys when he came into the house and I looked at him like he had three heads. There was no way I was driving a new, 50 or 60 thousand dollar car with a New York drivers license in Arkansas. Eric's sister, on the other hand, looked at me like I had three heads, and grabbed the keys with one hand, my arm with her other, and we set off. Let's just say, it is verrrrrry nice. It is also verrrrrry fast. Not that she went over the speed limit or anything. Ahem.

The Crystals

Eric has an aunt that finds and sells crystals. You would not believe the amount of crystals she has in her backyard! She goes and digs them herself, and washes them off in an acid mixture and they are beautiful! Did you know Arkansas is well known for their high quality crystals? I never did, until I moved there. We went digging once, and it was fun, but she takes it to a new level.



She is very dedicated and knowledgeable. She knows so much about clarity and how many points a crystal has, or how many it used to have, and she talks a lot about the metaphysical side of it too. She travels to Arizona and California to sell her loot, and does a great job.

She is the type of person you could just sit and listen to and be mesmerized by. She makes something you never thought about interesting, and makes you understand things that were way over your head. She has a passion, and is working at her passion, and it shows. We came home with a few of her crystals and many other trinkets of hers. She is very generous and we miss her already.

If you are interested in learning more about crystals, or more about Erics aunt, check out the link to her website. None of her photos are retouched.

http://www.quartzcrystalsfromarkansas.com/

The BBQ Post

He was so eager. He was almost drooling. He ordered two sides. (Beans and slaw.) He hasn't had anything like it in over seven years.
We were the first customers of the day. They opened at eleven, and we waited for ten minutes in the parking lot. The verdict?




What do you think? I just feel bad he has to wait so long before he gets it again.

Hot Springs

We spent part of one morning in Hot Springs. We used to go there several times a year when we lived in Arkansas. They have a lot of touristy things to do, little shops to browse through and yummy restaurants to eat in. It is an old town. People used to, and still do, go there for the healing and soothing powers of the natural springs. It was a cool morning when we were there, so you can see in this picture the steam coming off the water in one fountain.




Also, this is the town our former president grew up in. They are very proud of that.

I reversed the order of the next two pictures by accident, but you can see this man brought quite a few jugs to fill up with water. It is available, free of charge, to anyone. He was still filling up and stocking his truck when we were leaving.

You can see him using one of the spouts on this public fountain to fill the jugs. The bath houses are still there, and you can still use them. The buildings are so ornate and historic, it is really a pretty spot to go.

How Y'all Doin'?

Well, this about sums up our three days. We were together at each moment of the whole time, aside from the first night when I went up to bed before he was done catching up with his uncles. We ate together, drove together, reminisced about the old days together, and it was blissful. The weather was great except for those awful tornados on Friday morning. That was a real tragedy and I think seven people died due to the storms. After they passed through our area, we had mild temperatures and blue skies. I will post more pictures and stories later. Right now I'm too busy sniffing my baby's head and grabbing Miss and Middle to think about it all clearly. Plus, I have had about three hours of sleep in thirty six hours so I am going to bed in twenty nine minutes. Not that I'm counting....

We Are Fine

Just a quick entry to let everyone know we are fine. The tornados were a mile away from us at one point yesterday, and we were putting on our shoes, getting ready to go to a shelter and the storm shifted slightly out of our path.