44- I sure ADORE!

Happy Birthday!

He pushes them to take risks when I'm too afraid.

He tells them how to use a socket wrench, shake a hand, work a compass, and paddle a canoe.

He helps me be firm when I want to be too easy, and he helps me stay calm when I didn't know I could.

He tells our girl that she's pretty and valuable, and he puts on a suit and tie to take her to dinner.

He mysteriously shows up at the perfect moment with a screwdriver, or duct tape, or an ace bandage.

He handles all the dog poop, tile grout, and math.

He coaches and prays and quiets and scolds and laughs and pushes and pulls with a courage and will that is the bedrock to the rest of us.


Happy Birthday to the far better half of this team--the man who is, in every sense, a miracle.

Homeschool 101

What About Socialization?


This is probably the number one question homeschoolers hear either from those opposed to homeschooling or those considering it. To accurately answer this question, we must first determine the definition of socialization about which we're being asked. Following are a couple of dictionary definitions for the word
socialization:
a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position. (1)


1. To place under government or group ownership or control.
2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable.
3. To convert or adapt to the needs of society. (2)

To make fit for companionship

Most people, when asking about socialization are referring to number 2 in the second citation -- playing, talking, and making friends, basically. The truth is, most homeschooled children don't live in a bubble. They're out in the world playing with kids in their neighborhoods, going to scouts or church, playing sports. There are plenty of opportunities for homeschooled kids to make friends. Aside from the potential for friendships available in normal, everyday life, there are lots of opportunities for homeschooled kids to meet up with friends through local homeschool support group activities and classes.

My kids are involved in church activities, football, basketball, swimming, baseball, music and art classes and much more. Do I involve my kids in outside activities just to provide them with chances to meet other kids? No, I just let them get involved in the things that interest them.

One of the really great things about "homeschool friendships" is that they have the potential to be much deeper relationships because they're based on common interests and bonds. They aren't simply based on the fact that these kids are in the same classroom together for several hours a day because their birthdays fall within the same 12-month period. Think about it. With how many of your former school mates are you still friends? How many of those in your circle of friends are people born within twelve months of you? My friends range in age from 21 to 40-something. Why should kids be any different? My eight-year-old son's friends range in age from 6 to 11. There is no way, if he were in a public school setting, that he would be friends with a second grader...or that a ninth grader would be friends with him! There's entirely too much social stigma involved in being friends with kids so much younger than yourself.

I'm not sure what aspect of public school that I would need to make my kids "fit for companionship." The bullying? The drugs? The school violence? Maybe it's standing in line? No, I think I can manage perfectly well on my own in making my kids fit for companionship...but now I'm probably starting to wander off into the definition in the first citation...

Learning the norms of society

This is probably where the "you've got to prepare kids for the real world" argument often comes in. The real world argument is probably the least logical of all anti-homeschooling arguments that I've heard, with the possible exception of "if you sent your kids to school you'd have more time for housework"! Let's look at this. What real world things are kids learning in school?

Bullying -- this is often known, in the "real world," as workplace harassment, assault and battery, or slander. What happens as a result of these behaviors in school? Often nothing. Occasionally a short suspension. Rarely, expulsion or removal to "alternative schooling." What is the result in the real world? Termination of employment, counseling, anger management classes, lawsuit or jail time.

Sexual harassment or indecent exposure -- in the real world, these issues are often dealt with through termination of employment, counseling, lawsuit or jail time. In the public school it's often ignored or dealt with lightly, as in the case of an Alabama boy who sexually molested a first grade girl and returned to school after a week's suspension. Or the case of the twelve-year-old boy (from PA, I think) who was moved from school to school for sexual harassment and ultimately raped three first grade boys after being left unattended outside a boys' restroom. Then, there were the fifth graders who decided to have sex in front of their classmates when they were left unattended in a classroom.

Add to these things school violence, kids bringing guns and knives to school, "candy meth" and other drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity in the hallways, rape, and other things unimaginable when I was in school and it's simply mindboggling. These things don't go on, under normal circumstances, in most people's "real worlds."

Deviant behavior aside, let’s looks at what's going on in the classrooms. Which is more preparation for the real world, talking about economics or going to the store and seeing first hand how prices are affected by things like supply and demand, rising gas prices, advertising, shop lifting, etc.? Or talking about agriculture vs. spending the day with a farmer? Talking about glass-blowing in ancient civilizations or going to meet a glass-blower? What is better preparation for the real world than living in it daily?

What is the best way to prepare a child to interact socially? Would that be to put the child in a room of 20 or more kids his same age for six hours a day, five days a week, nine months out of the year with one or two adults? Or, would it make more sense to have a one-on-one relationship with a loving adult who is there to correct misbehavior and encourage good behavior as its happening?

Do we really want our kids learning the norms, values, behavior and social skills of their peers or do we want those lessons to be based on our family's norms and values and our family's interpretation of socially acceptable behavior?

To place under government or group ownership or control

I really hope that this definition really doesn't need too much discussion. Why would we want to place our kids under government control? Do you know that the current public school movement was begun by Horace Mann and was set up to mirror the school system in Prussia -- modern-day Germany? The word kindergarten itself is German. If you're a Christian parent who is homeschooling or considering homeschooling. I recommend that you take stock of the things that the government has slowly, but systematically removed from public schools -- the Bible, prayer, the Ten Commandments.

Regardless of whether or not you're a Christian parent, you'll want to look at the things that are missing from today's public school system. There is little or no room in today's public school classroom for individuality and creativity. There is little room in today's public school system for kids whose minds are active or those who learn differently than the "average" students. These kids are often quickly labeled ADHD or learning disabled and are overlooked.

For the record, I don't blame these shortcomings on individual teachers. Most of them are wonderful, caring people and they're doing the best that they can for their kids, within the system. However, the system demands a lot. The system demands high test scores, so teachers are forced to "teach to the test." Innumerable hours are wasted teaching kids how to fill in bubbles, how to achieve desired performance on standardized tests and taking said tests. I find it interesting that homeschooled students consistently outscore their public schooled counterparts on standardized testing and we're not teaching to the test! Homeschooling moms have no idea what's going to be on these tests.

What does today's school system desire to produce, if not creative, innovative free thinkers? Once again, government-funded public schools really came into being during the industrial age when the U.S. needed lots of worker bees to operate its many industries. So, it was important that the workers know how to follow instruction, do things in groups or assembly line fashion and basic skills like reading and math were definitely a plus, though not totally necessary. I really enjoyed this speech by creativity expert, Sir Ken Robinson. It's really great food for thought on what's going on in today's educational system and what we consider the "basics" of a good education. If nothing else, he's a funny and very entertaining speaker, so your time will not be wasted in listening to him.

There is so much more that could be said about the "socialization" question, but to me this is really a non-issue. With recesses down to about twenty minutes a day (if a child doesn't have to sit out due to misbehavior) and lunch rooms becoming a "quiet zone" the socialization available in public schools is not the rosy picture some parents paint in their minds.

I'll leave you with a funny little look at socialization from a homeschooler's point of view.

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering homeschooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities. Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car. Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.... And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."

Little Piggies

This little piggy is going into the 3rd grade..and will be a herpetologist he tried to sneak this gator home.

This little piggy is going into Kindergarten and yes, he still thinks he is Indiana Jones.

This little piggy is going into Pre-K

She has plans of eating as much junk food as possible before school starts...

This little piggy will be at home on his pillow, because its still 125 degrees outside.  He has no plans of getting off or outside anytime soon.  I just vacuum around.

This little piggy cried, " waaahhh, waaahhh" because her babies are not babies anymore and she found a grey hair and that might be crow's feet. And school is starting next week.   She might be over it tomorrow...

but I doubt it!

Lullaby

Two nights ago Katie rolled off the bed and busted her lip. Once the blood and tears stopped I held her in my lap and just snuggled. The 8-year-old and 6-year-old wandered in, carrying instruments.


"Could we play her a lullaby?" they asked quietly. I nodded, and they sat down and hummed "Jesus Loves Me" while their little sister held tightly to my hand.

Then the 6-year-old started, playing his drum, because we all know that "Jesus Loves Me" is much more effective as a lullaby with a loud and driving drum beat.

Then the 8-year-old started playing along on his harmonica. This would've been significantly more impressive if he actually knew how to play a harmonica. His playing messed up the 6-year-old, who stopped right at the "little ones to Him belong part" to whack his brother. The three-year-old was so excited by this exchange that she jumped to her feet and began to sing/shriek along while jumping up and down on her bed. The two boys stopped their fighting, suddenly distracted by the fact that "Jesus" sounds a lot like "Cheez-Its".

The three-year-old continued to jump. The 8-year-old continued to wail on the harmonica. The middle one continued to shriek his hymn to the little orange crackers.

I laughed, and I wondered exactly where I lost my sweet moment.

I laughed harder, and I realized I didn't lose it at all.

Enjoy all the unexpected little moments in your life....

A week's worth of knowledge!

I know some of you have wondered if I was abducted by aliens since I haven't posted in a few weeks. Or maybe that I'd finally lost it altogether and was now living in the Witness Protection Program. Just know that the quicksand was pretty deep around here and I was wishing I could crawl through some wormhole and  maybe wake up and find myself living in one of my Highlander novels. Now I know that ain't gonna happen, so be patient with me and I'll try to give you the low-down, the 411, the "skinny" on some of my nonsense.


They say you should "learn something new every day". I am not sure who THEY are and I am not sure the items I have learned on any random day of late are of merit.  BUT here it goes.

*It is about 9000 degrees here in Central Texas. It feels like it hasn't rained since Noah took off.

*You can not get a pedicure at 9am. Apparently this is a 10am -- or later -- activity. Who knew?

*The correct sentence is not - "Don't spill the juice on the laptop." It is "You may not drink the juice at the computer table." You would think I was a rookie, rather than a parenting veteran.

*Three’s are worse than two hands down and here is WHY…

a. Little girls get a wee bit emotional at three. Not a lot, just enough to turn your house into a soap opera.

b. All of a sudden – they get picky, picky, picky. After eating macaroni and cheese every other day their whole life, you hear: "Momma. I not gonna eat dese noodles. Dey haf cheese all over dem and dat's GROSS."

c. They're independent and doing more things for themselves, which means that doing anything now takes approximately forever.

d. They're smart. They’re self-aware enough to weigh the consequences and take what’s coming to them. Flooding the bathroom floor is totally worth the time out

*Are you ready to leave your house? Well, your children aren’t. Are you ready to walk down the street? Your children aren’t. Is it time for you to leave the playground? Well, your children really, really aren’t. And that's why we call it herding turtles

*Boys will act as if destruction and mayhem is their job. More than their job - their duty

*Basset Hounds can and will explode if they drink gallons of water…only mama’s have the ability to clean up the mess. At 12 am
Why didn’t mama hear the basset whine to go outside?
That’s easy, Mama took a tylenol pm and was in a coma…And the only reason she arouse at 12 am from her coma is because she too had to pee.

*Almond butter can remove gum out of hair as effectively as peanut butter.

*Triple A, is worth it.  Kids get a cool ride in a tow truck.

*Kids who do not wear shoes outside will find a cactus to step in. Duct tape will help.

*All household cleaners (no matter the brand) will have an effect on your children. Examples;
a) clean the toilet= ICBM (in coming BM)
b) clean the floor=gravity will pull juice from your kids hands within seconds
c) clean the window=fingerprints will appear instantly
*It takes about 10 Lego's to stop a vacuum

So what have I learned from all this... There's no perfect set up. If you're a mom, work is just plain work, and there's no easy fix, no escape hatch, no perfect lifestyle. And as your babies just keep growing and evolving, their needs change, your needs change, and there are just gonna be days that involve adult beverages.

And ibuprofen. Lots and lots of ibuprofen!

Dear New Mommy...

Here's a Few Things No One Told Me About Parenting


I had no idea what I was getting into. And nothing came close to really preparing me for becoming a parent. I read a lot of books and (almost) without exception, they were equal parts scary and not helpful. Truthfully, I wanted to be a mom so badly that no matter what anyone told me, I still would have done it. Here are a few tidbits I never heard and sort of wish I had.

Congratulations! Your life is now over. No one wants to hear this but it’s true. You’re probably not going to be the same person. Your life is all new. Some things that you liked doing will no longer be possible for you to enjoy. But don’t be sad. For some people, this is a good thing. For example, Redbull and vodka in the morning is probably not a great idea while breastfeeding.

Unless you are a supermodel, your body is not going to be the same. It doesn’t mean you won’t be able to still rock a bikini – but friend, it is what it is. You can’t pretend what happened didn’t just happen. And depending on how you had your baby (c-section or via Tunnel), you’re going to have different sets of surprises to deal with. I would get into specifics, but I just ate lunch.

Take heart! Results may vary. My friend Kelly has three kids and wears tight jeans that are white and looks amazing. But she may be a witch. We don’t know yet – we’re still waiting for lab results. Many of us look a little more well-nourished than we did pre-offspring. And that’s ok. We’re working on it, and we’re still sexy as a candy panda, just like before we had kids. Only in slightly bigger pants and wider shoes.

No matter how much you love being a parent, you’re not going to enjoy every minute of this gig. There are a million different ways to have a bad day as a parent. And honestly, I didn’t even know what a bad day felt like until I had one where something went very wrong with one of my kids. And in addition to the suckage of having a craptastic day, you have the added sensation of maternal guilt because all you really want is an early bedtime so you can melt into the couch for a few hours. No matter how crazy in love you are with your kids, you may occasionally feel like you want to run screaming for the exits. It doesn't make you a bad person or a bad parent, it makes you normal.

You will find yourself losing your Mind. Even if you are the calmest, most yoga-doing, centered person – even if you are the Gandhi of mommies – you will find yourself standing in your kitchen, covered with spit-up or yellow poo, slamming things and shrieking at your husband like a crazy person.

You may have never uttered a cross word to each other before, but trust me – there will come a moment when there is a baby non-stop crying and you not sleeping and there’s nothing for dinner and someone came home late and you will hear, "what do you mean you forgot to pay Verizon this month?!" And you will want to make sure you can’t get your hands on any sharp objects. The good news is you now know this moment is coming. Once it passes you and your beloved baby-daddy can look at each other and say: “Oh. Wow. We just had that fight. Let’s drink a beer…

People are going to say stupid things. I am constantly amazed at the things people think it’s OK to say. And this is coming from me -- someone who says all kinds of stupid stuff daily. Maybe these folks don’t know that what they’re saying is stupid. Maybe they don’t care. Here’s what I suggest – when someone says something like: “You should snatch that pacifier right out of her mouth. Here, let me do it for you. Wait, I’ll just wipe my hands off first – I was cutting up some raw chicken.” Just walk away. Just smile and nod and back away as fast as you can. Meanwhile scream the following at them but only with your eyes: “YOU ARE MOONBAT, SPITTING CHERRY PITS CRAZY AND YOU MAY NOT TOUCH MY BABY, SALMONELLA HANDS!”

The Blur is real. You know what The Blur is? It’s like that feeling you used to have the day after a really bad hangover. When everything seemed a little fuzzy and you couldn’t remember where you left your panties keys. The feeling of being inside The Blur is a lot like that, except its more intense and it lasts for about 15 years.

It’s kind of scary. I now live in a world where I have something to lose. Pre-kids, I usually put my own needs at the top of my to-do list and was vapid enough to think that nothing really bad could ever happen to me. But right after I became a mom, I had this horrible epiphany - bad things can happen. Danger is real. I am all that is keeping something dreadful from happening to this tiny, little, precious critter. Holy crap. Were cars always this dangerous? Did they always go in reverse? How are we supposed to get home from the hospital in a way that is 100% safe from collision? Wait. Were there always sex offenders everywhere? There’s what in the milk at the store? And my apples are coated with what? GAHHHH!!!

It all sort of boils down to one truth, which is of course the one thing that everyone does tell you: You will love your kids so much that you’ll do anything for them. So even if it drives you slightly moon-batty in the process, you'll find yourself a deeply-changed, usually much improved person. Clarification - a better person surrounded by cuteness that will never learn to clean its room.

The Lamothe House

New Orleans has a ton of places to stay in the French Quarter, a ton.  We wanted to stay at a place that was close enough to the Quarter, but yet still quiet at night to rest.  If you don't know by now New Orleans is open 24/7.  And being a person that likes to go to bed at Memaw O'clock I really like it quiet.  That being said, we decided on the Lamothe House due to location, cost and perks.  If you visit Book It you can get a good percentage off the cost, plus FREE parking and FREE breakfast.  Most of the other places charge up to $30 a day for parking and at least $20 per person for breakfast, in total for 3 days that is $90 in parking and $120 for breakfast in all $210 for nothing.  Parking is in a secure parking lot, the gates are locked at midnight and they have 24  hours surveillance.  Still do not leave valuables in your car.  Get there early, the parking lot does fill up fast, maybe 20 cars can fit.  Remember it is the French Quarter, you are in a historic district, that equals no spare space. So if you are not early you will have to park on the street.   But the good news is you do not have to go far for fun, EASY walking.

The Lamothe house is located on 621 Esplanade Street, which is only a short (1/2 block) to Frenchmen Street.  Frenchmen Street is where the locals hang out for great Jazz.  Only 2 blocks up will get you to the French market, easy!  The blocks are small to walk, not a large city block.  And the best part is that they are perfectly safe, I didn't feel uneasy the whole time walking to our room at night.

The Lamothe house is broke down into 2 housing units.  The Lamothe is on Esplanade and the other unit, the Marigny (mary-nee) is located right behind the Lamothe on Kerlerec. Parking is located on that street as well. 

Here is the corridor leading up to the rooms.  We stayed here at the Marigny.  All doors are on the outside you don't have to enter the main building to go in, the same is true for the Lamothe. 

Here was our room, we shared the mini patio.  If we wanted extra privacy we could close and lock the shutters. 

Now remember this is a historic home, but it had all the modern conveniences as a hotel chain.  We did have a hair dryer, ironing board with iron, TV all though small with cable, A/C all the norm.  It didn't have a coffee pot, so I brought my own.  This is the little mud room entering into our bedroom, colored in Taco Cabana blue, hey its a Creole style house and they LOVE color.  The lighting in our bedroom is dim, we had 3 lamps.  So I couldn't get a great picture, plus no one wants to see an unmade bed.   Our room was a Queen size bedroom and it cost $76 for a night.  They do have what is called a regular room and that is $64 and a King Suite which is $129 all are Book it prices.  Also kids stay free and our 3 could easily sleep in our room with air mattress.  Plenty of room!

The bathroom is small and the doors are SHUTTERS..  I loved this.  If you haven't broken the "potty pack" with your significant other, this is walking the line.  There is not a bathtub in this room, only a shower.

Towels are changed out daily, sheets are not unless you request.

There is a door on the opposite side of the street that lets you into the Lamothe house through the courtyard.  Breakfast is served daily from 6:30-10:00, it is not fancy.  They have cereals, juice, coffee, fruit and some pastries.  But you do sit at a fancy table in the parlor.    The courtyard is so nice and quiet with the pool and koi pond.  These people in the pool were funny, the older women wanted me to bring her back a strawberry mojito....

Koi pond

There you have it, my review of a great house! We will stay here every time we are in New Orleans!

Here is their website for more information.

http://www.lamothehouse.com/

My new Love...

I found a new love in New Orleans.
I can't tell you what I loved the most no children, nonsense or clothes to deal with, I just loved it all.  From the jazz played on every street, the delicious food, the architecture in all the houses, the history and then the humbling experience of seeing what Katrina did and the resurrection of greatness.  It is now my new favorite place! 

Let me begin by saying that when we plan a trip I like to stay some place local, not some big name hotel chain.  This place is definitely it, the Lamothe House on Esplanade St..  I will go in detail later, lots to talk about and show.  A perfect place to stay, close enough to the Quarter, but far enough to get some rest...

By far this moment at the cathedral was my all time favorite moment.  The sun was covered up by a cloud, so the picture taking was prime.  Andy and I ran up to the observation deck and snapped a photo when the 12 o'clock bells began to chime.  Directly behind us sits the Mississippi River and a solo saxophone player was playing a tune on the river walk...So perfect and romantic! 

Loved, Loved all the Balconies in the Quarter. 

The famous Bourbon Street.  Lots of sights there ( I'll just leave it at that and let your imagination take you there. Chances are you would be right)  Never the less, Bourbon street is only a tiny part of the great city.

The city park with lots of old oak trees and Spanish moss.  It just makes you want to grab a blanket and lay under them for hours.  Ride the street car and you can get there for $1.25, seniors pay .40 all day!

There are 41 above ground cemetery's they all look very similar to this  Recently they just added below ground burials due to new pumping stations.  Going through the cemetery you literally took a walk back in time, we saw some that were from the 1700's.

The home of JAZZ.  Jazz music is everywhere in the restaurants on the streets and even parades that march wherever they please. 

People in New Orleans do not eat to live, they LIVE to eat. Dieting is not recommended.  Here are a few of my favorites the Muffeletta, this is a whole sandwich.  Make sure you split it with someone

Or how about some beignets and coffee, delish

Don't forget the drinks.  Pat O'Brians invented the Hurricane

But I prefer Lafitte's version better.  They are both great, I just like Lafitte's it has more of a pineapple taste where as Pat's is more fruit punch. 

Or how about a Margarita in Margaritaville

Just a word of warning, the liquor flows freely.  The fruit is about the only coloring in the drinks.  If you are a light drinker, one will do you just fine and you will be buzzing llike a bee.  But if you want 2, they have taxi's everywhere. 

I have so much to tell you that this is only the bumper sticker version.  But I do plan on going back at the end of July and I will be taking the kids. So feel free to join us... 

Hall Pass

I've got a hall pass. A reprieve. Time off for good behavior. Or maybe it's just that Momma and Daddy have finally lost their minds and the kids need to ship them off to get fixed!

So Wednesday, we are leaving town for five glorious days of no kids!

An extra long weekend where I will not be a mommy, a cook, a walking laundromat, the woman with all the answers. I will be totally kept out of the loop. I can not wait for the simple pleasures of not have kids going number two while I'm a hostage in the shower, and no coffee that's been reheated twenty times because I can't stop long enough to finish it. I can revisit my old friend SLEEP with no nonsense at 6:00 in the morning. Or maybe we can have dinner without looking at the kids menu first. The possibilities are endless…

So you may not see many posts from me this week. I will be thinking of you no, not really while I'm enjoying myself. I won't even think about my motley crew and what they might be doing to my mother’s house. I figure it's a 50/50 probability I'll come home to a battle scene from Braveheart.

But today, I don't care. For today, I pack!

Make Offer

Today we went to a friends house.
She offered my kiddos some stickers they could not refuse. 
The boys decorated their sister with thus said stickers. 
And then this poem came to mind....

    Sister for Sale, by Shell Silverstein

"One sister for sale! One sister for sale!
One crying and spying young sister for sale!
I’m really not kidding, So who’ll start the bidding?
Do I hear a dollar? A nickel? A penny?
Oh, isn’t there, isnt’ there, isn’t there any
One kid who will buy this old sister for sale,
This crying and spying young sister for sale?"

This is what they stuck on their sister....

It says "MAKE OFFER"

Lucky 13

My beloved is mine and I am his...

I would marry you all over again....but this time we would elope!

The Kiss

I'm in a Memory-Lane kinda mood....
We had a small wedding, and there were a mind-numbing number of details. I spent the better part of six months making sure it would all go off flawlessly. I was stressed-out and jumpy, and I was a control freak to such a degree that it's remarkable Andy still married me.

On my list of Wedding Details That Needed To Be Managed was "the kiss". The you-may-kiss-the-bride kiss. I suggested to Andy that we should rehearse it. We had plenty of kissing experience, goodness knows, but that was a very important kiss. What if we clocked each other in the nose in front of all the people? What if, out of nervousness, the kiss was passionless and dull? What if I started laughing?

Andy had the nerve to say no. We wouldn't rehearse. We'd kiss plenty, and every now and then I'd say, "so, will it be like that?" But he would just smile and shrug, much to my dismay, and my pleas fell on deaf ears. I started to worry he had some lovey-dovey mischief up his sleeve, and I reminded him that my family would be sitting in the first row.

Still, he just grinned. "It'll be a good kiss," he promised. Even then, that man knew how to mess with me.

On our wedding day, things were perfect. Despite my preoccupation with the details, I managed to stay quite focused during the ceremony. I wasn't nervous at all. Until our pastor said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I had exactly .7 seconds to think half a nervous thought.

Because then he kissed me.

That kiss, my friends, was The Kiss To End All Kisses. While the specific details of it are meant for my memories only, I'll tell you that I didn't just feel that kiss on my lips. I felt it inside my brain, the very brain that had tried (unsuccessfully) to talk me out of falling in love with this man so quickly. I felt it inside the belly that would someday carry our three babies. It traveled all the way down to my feet, the feet that would happily follow him everywhere and in between.

It was a good kiss.

And thankfully, Andy didn't pack that kiss away with the box of wedding keepsakes that sit in my attic. Every now and then, it reappears. He'll walk in the door from work, usually on a day when my hair is greasy and the kids are fighting and dinner is burned and he'll plant that same kiss right back on me. My knees go just as weak as they did 13 years ago.

It's still a good kiss!

Fun Summer Recipes

At random I will post some recipes that are just too good not to share.   Enjoy!

Freezer Corn
This family loves corn, so like any good mom I made my kids get on the porch and shuck some...builds character.

Corn Vader or is it Dr. Jones (notice the purple strap)

 This is what 36 ears of corn look like..

Here's the recipe:

36 ears of corn
1 pint of half & half
1 lb of butter

Cut corn off the cob ( hint:  use an angel food cake pan to cut corn in)
Put it in a large roaster pan or a large stock pot ( I used 2 pots).
Stir in half & half and butter ( if you use the pots divide up ingredients by half). 
Put in the over at 325 for 1 hours, stir every 15-20 minutes OR get pot to a good boil, then simmer for 1 hour.  Either way it has to be cooked! 
Once cooled divide up into Ziploc freezer bags.  36 ears make 26 cups of corn.  I put 2 cups per Ziploc, which made 13 bags...Super delicious!

Strawberry Sorbet

This is  a quick and easy summer treat....

1 lb of strawberries, washed and hulled
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp of cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp of water
3 Tbsp of lemon juice

Puree berries in food processor or blender and then stir in sugar
Cook over medium heat, then simmer for 1-2 minutes
Stir in cornstarch and water, then add lemon juice
Cool in the refrigerator
When cooled or ready to use, pour into ice cream maker and follow the makers instructions.
* I have a Cuisinart and it only take about 20-25 minutes.

And now for the grand finale.....Homemade Brownie Mix
This is just like the boxes in the store.  I am so excited because Brownies are my absolute FAVORITE, right next to coconut cream pie...I can't resist a good brownie, its my love language!

1 cup, plus 2 Tbsp sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tbsp of nonfat powdered milk
3/4 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cups of chopped nuts (optional)

Mix all together and store in an air tight container.  When you are ready to use here is the recipe for Fudgy Brownies

1 brownie mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease an 8 inch baking pan
Dump Brownie mix into a bowl.
Add the oil, water, vanilla and egg.  Stir to blend
Pour into pan...Bake for 20-25 minutes, do the toothpick test to check

One Day!

One day my kids will ask, "Mom you remember that ice pack you put in our lunch kits.  It was the best, right size for a lunch kit, kept everything super cold, what was the name of it."

I will have to tell them it wasn't igloo, or some other store brand.

No, it is a German brand,  let me help you with the spelling:  M-E-D-E-L-A

And they will google it, or whatever seach engine they have in the future to locate this great ice pack.  And then they will never speak to me again, well at least until they get hungry....

Please explain...

Questions for my kids. Because the fact that I love them more than sunshine or egg rolls or a good red wine, I don't understand them at all. And I made them.


So let's begin...

What happens to my scotch tape?

Seriously, where does it go? Because every single time I go to Target I am forced to buy a new three-pack. What do you do with it? I remember that time you tried to create a toddler size spider web in your closet. Or the time you made yourself a mummy. But lately, I'm starting to think that one of you has some sort of hoarding compulsion

Why do you wait until we've left the house to tell me that you're hungry/thirsty/need to pee?

You see my darlings, once we're in the car it's pretty hard for me to make you a sandwich. . So prior to leaving the house, when there's still a chance you can get what you want - that's the time to ask. Because once we're in the car, its too bad.

The Toys in the Hall

Why is it that the only toys that end up in the hallway outside your bedroom are ones that seem placed there to cause me serious physical injury? When I discover their presence at 3 am in the dark, a matchbox car or Barbie shoe either punctures my foot or leads to the type of fall where I end up with a broken hip and one of those Medic-Alert necklaces that allows seniors to live independently. The most recent culprit was from a Happy Meal. It was a miniature Star Wars skateboard. My kids (and every other kid I know) thought they were coolest things ever. I have no idea why. I think they may have been designed by Ronald McDonald and Al Qaeda because they’re clearly meant for one purpose and that’s to kill parents who accidentally step on them in the dark.

Sheets and your Bed

What happens to your sheets while you sleep? You are tucked into a neat and tidy bed every night. When I check on you in the morning, it looks like an alligator has gotten in there and spun a hundred death rolls with your sheets and blankets. The fitted sheet has popped off all the corners. The stuffed animals are thrown around the room. The blankets are wadded up in the corner. What happens to you?

Toothpaste is For Teeth, Right?

Why does toothpaste seem to get the best of you every single time? Is toothpaste your nemesis? Why does it end up everywhere except the one place that it’s supposed to be? In the past week, I have found toothpaste smeared on my refrigerator, in streaks on my sofa’s throw pillow, in your hair, on my shoulder and all over one of my potholders. I’m not a forensics expert or anything, but I wonder why something like toothpaste is such a, sticky, minty fresh presence in our home? And why is it never, ever found on your toothbrushes or teeth?

Is there a reason that you can’t just go in the house?

Why for the love of all things, why does it take forever to get from the car to the house? It’s really easy.
Here’s how it should it work, step-by-step:

1. Wait for the car to stop and then you unbuckle yourself. Do not unbuckle the baby without telling me or she will escape and feed spare change into the cd player.
2. Collect your things. If you’ve done something asinine like take off your shoes and socks for the three-minute ride home, please put them back on.
3. Exit the vehicle in an orderly fashion based on where you are sitting because contrary to what I've heard you shout at each other, the first child out of the car has not actually defeated anyone.
4. Walk calmly to the front door, taking no detours to climb trees, jump in puddles or piles of leaves, as if determined to get as wet and dirty as possible and then track it all into my house.
5. Also refrain from having a frantic race with your siblings while also shoving them and screaming.

6. Wait patiently for the ten seconds it will take for me to unlock the front door, i.e., without kicking it or throwing your weight against it as if you were a DEA agent and our family home was a meth lab.
7. Please for the love of all that’s holy can you close the car door? Because Mommy will get snappish if she has to do it again as she is wrestling with a toddler while trying to carry six bags and find her keys. Thank you.



Will there come a time when you realize that there are certain things you should not do while taking a poop?
For example:

• Eat a sandwich
• Read a library book while you are also wiping yourself
• Scream at your brother that you need privacy while insisting that the door must remain open
• Attempt to karate kick the shampoo bottle on the edge of the tub
• Practice your curveball
• Say “MOMMM! YOU’VE GOTTA SEE THIS.”
• See how hard you can pull the shower curtain before it rips or crashes down on your head along with the bar that it was hanging it from
• Ask anyone in this family to keep you company while you “squeeze it out” because you’re lonely or scared

Seriously, what do you do with them?

I hate to beat a dead horse with this, but WHAT THE HELL HAPPENS TO YOUR UNDERPANTS?

The boy's underpants disappear to the degree that we have had to add a " Underwear" item to the family budget. Meanwhile, my daughter's underpants seem to multiply in the wash (do they reproduce when they get wet - like Gremlins?)

More questions to come later, without a doubt!

Song Bird

For my daughter, life is one big Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. At any moment, she will burst into song about what is going on RIGHT THEN.

But these are not the trite songs of preschool-hood--oh, no. She has "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "The Wheels On the Bus" in her repertoire, but Katie's songs are original. She is an artist, by gosh, and she must create.

When she plays with her dolls, she sings a song about a dolls. When we're in the car, she songs about the car. When she sees my cell phone, she sings a song about a chicken.

I have no idea, either.

Yesterday, she was playing in the bath while I got ready, and the moment was just right for another song burst. "Jesus wuvs me and Momma is hungwy," she sang, mastering two important eternal truths in one fell swoop.

The one that has me puzzled, though, is a song in which she sings over and over in an aching voice, "When I was safe..."

When she was safe? I love the way fellow grocery patrons look at me when she sings that one. I mean, it's very tortured and Les-Miserable-esque of her, but she is, after all, only three years old.


Evidently all the unconditional love and nurturing has pushed our girl to the very brink of despair.

I will Survive!

Hello again! 

1.. Baseball is o-v-e-r, which is always a bittersweet moment for us.  Love the game, the rest is a bit chaotic.

   a.  getting to the game

   b.  washing white uniform pants (only a guy would pick) a thousand times a week, then watching your kiddo slide into home and dirty them up because you can't have clean white pants on the field.  Not cool!

   c. getting snacks for the game, players and siblings. Its only fair since my kids raid everyone else's cooler.

   d. gear for the game.  Bats, Balls, Gloves, Helmets, Hats and Water times 2, thank goodness for bags!

   e. parking for the game, LOTS of games and kids= LOTS of people

   f. trips to the porto potty for the game, during the game and after the game...

  g.  2 ball players, 2 different fields at 2 different times...cloning is a great idea!

I do LOVE their sports, but I am ready for a break! and a drink or 2...



These white pants won't last long mom!



  2.  Holy Hannah we finished the 2nd grade!   And we finished by writing a full paragraph, by himself!  Big, Great, Awesome News, especially for a kid that has MRELD's.  We are so proud of all the hard work Clayton put in for the year and how far he has come from last year!  Homeschool rocks!

3.  My middle child has phased out of his Darth Vader roll and is now phasing into his Indiana Jones roll.  All would be fine....except Indiana Jones carries a satchel, Caden carries a purple billfold/purse.  I went to Goodwill to find a "manly" satchel and I did, he refuses to put it on.  He prefers the long handles so he can wrap it around everything.  And before you ask, No- he has not seen the movie.  Lego's has a World Adventure series that features Dr. Jones.  I'll keep working on it, it will be my summer project I'm sure!

MOM use the force to get my breakfast!

4.  Muddy Buddies!  It rained last week, we haven't seen mud in months, therefore for some reason my children decided to strip off their clothes and roll in it.  Did I mention they were in the front yard...Thank you Lord for great neighbors who don't call CPS on me...

What a bath, never heard of it....

5.  Lucky 13!  Our anniversary is coming up and we are ditching the kids and taking a vacation...Time to reflect on our family, our goals and our wedding day (and for those that personally tried to ruin it, we honor you with the double bird salute)...How blessed we are!

Hey, I have an idea, let's have kids and enjoy a bowl full of crazy.  Sounds great to me!

6.  Last but not least, my theme song...Feel free to bust a move or two! 

    Ready or not here comes SUMMER!