A short conversation...

Some of the most interesting conversations occur in my van, while I'm driving kids from one activity to the next. Today for example:

Davis: Why are cats so popular?

Me: What do you mean?

Davis: People like cats. Why?

Me: Well, some people love cats. And some like dogs. And some like both.

Davis: Dogs are friendlier. They lick people. Cats don't lick people.

Me: Well, actually, I guess cats *CAN* lick people. If a cat licks you, you'll feel that their tongue feels scratchy, kind of like sandpaper.

***Okay, this is what I MEANT to say, but I was interrupted in the middle of my sentence.

This is what was actually said:


Me: If a cat licks you, you'll-

Josie (shouting): GET RABIES!

I started laughing so hard, I almost ran over a cat. ;)

Pop Culture things I wish would just go away...

*The phrase: “I love me some ____ …” fill in the blank here:
1. ‘of that’
2. ‘me’
3. ‘hot yeast rolls from Logan’s Roadhouse’,
4. ‘indiscriminate name dropping’.

*Matthew McConaughey. Now this particular belief makes me a pariah amongst my girlfriends. (Or at least that’s how I felt when I admitted this at Happy Hour last week!) But seriously, I just can’t take him. He bugs me. I don’t want to think about his sweaty pits, and I don’t want to see him down on the field at the UT games anymore. And I completely love Matt Damon for his ‘spot-on’ impression of him on Letterman…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYD2cwMbpw

*References to ‘Cougars’… you know, the overdressed forty-somethings who ‘prey’ on younger men and reek of desperation.

*Reality T.V. At the risk of offending my American Idol junkie friends, I think all reality T.V. shows should just go away (preferably to an island where they will be forced to ingest sheep’s eyeballs and will discover that they are completely unable to Outlive, Outlast, and Outplay)
Now, I admit, I have watched some reality T.V. in the past. Um… ‘Real World Hawaii’? Couldn’t look away from that train wreck… but, seriously? Don’t you think it’s run its course now?! Oh please, God, tell me that it’s run its course?!!


*The following words/ terms:
1. bling,
2. manscaping
3. ‘on the down low’
4. Brangelina
5. Octo-Mom
5. any invented word that contains the words ‘tweet’ or ‘twitter’ (i.e. ‘tweet-up’ or ‘twitter-licious’)

*Pontiac. What?! Oh really? Okay, never mind. ;)

What a bunch of characters...

Checked off the Six Flags 'character list' this weekend…


1. Foghorn Leghorn. Sadly, my kids had no idea who the ‘big chicken’ was. Yup. That’s what Davis said. “Who is this big chicken?!” Did that deter me from making them stand there for a picture? I think not, my little chicks. ;)
And I will be making an effort to DVR a few more ‘classic’ cartoons. ‘Phineas and Ferb’ be damned!

2. Robin (of Batman and Robin fame…) Of course, Batman was nowhere to be seen. Which was actually okay, since we saw him two weeks ago and got his picture then.
But Wonder Woman was there, and it was the same Wonder Woman from two weeks ago as well. So, got another picture of her. So…um… yay.

3. Bugs Bunny… What’s up, Doc?!! Why, my excitement level when I saw the ‘wascally wabbit’… that’s what was up. The kids were pretty jazzed about seeing Bugs, too. I mean, it’s Bugs frickin’ Bunny! Cool.

4. Some guy in red tights? The Flash was his name, I think. And guess who was with him?
Wonder Woman. Again. I did my best to have all three kids kind of scooch over and stand by Flash, and tried to kind of move the camera so that I could easily crop her out of the picture later. (I didn’t want to be rude and tell her I didn’t want her in the picture, so I faked it.) Really, though, I do NOT need 57 pictures of Wonder Woman this summer. No matter how much it looks like she’s falling out of that golden bustier, Phil… ahem.

5. Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword from the Wiggles. If you have not had a preschooler within the last decade, you may not know who they are. Lucky you!

6. And lastly, we saw the Green Lantern? Hornet? I really don’t know any of these Justice League characters. Superman, yes. Orange Magnet-head, no.
And I’ll give you one last guess who was hanging out with the Green Lantern? If you said Wonder Woman… DING, DING, DING!

Does this woman not have a home or a secret lair? I think she might have a superhero complex or something. ;)

'Project Upload'... complete!

A month's worth of Project 365 layouts... click on the picture to get a bigger image if you want to read the journaling!

That's HAWT!!

It’s so refreshing to know that my son *does* sometimes listen to me… well, sort of listens... halfway listens, I guess.

You may remember a few days ago, I blogged about Davis calling a girl in his class, ‘hot’. Well, we had a little conversation about it, but evidently he is not alone in this behavior.

When I went to his class to be a guest reader today, I noticed that there were only girls in the classroom. His teacher told me that the boys were having a little ‘powwow’ after recess with the assistant principal, and that they would be back momentarily.

So I started the book (Harry the Dirty Dog, by the way), when the boys trooped in and sat down for the story. At this point, his teacher steps outside the classroom to talk with the assistant principal, and I see them looking in through the window in the door and laughing a little.

When his teacher comes back in, she is still giggling and whispers to me, “Remind me to tell you something kind of funny before you leave!”

Well as it turns out, the girls had been complaining to the teacher about the boys in the class calling them ‘hot’. It’s a first grade epidemic, I guess ;) And his teacher, being ‘on the ball’, had asked the assistant principal (who is male) to have a little discussion with the boys about respectful language, how to treat young ladies, things that we do or do not say to them, etc. All well and good, right?!

Afterwards, Mr. Morgan (the assistant principal) reported back to Davis’s teacher that in the midst of the discussion about using respect, etc., my son pipes up with…

“Yeah, we shouldn’t really be calling the girls that. It’s not respectful to them, and we shouldn’t call them ‘hot’ until junior high.”

Oh, dear. That wasn’t *quite* the discussion we had. ;)

Disney documentation... DONE!

Would you just look at that?! What is it, you may be asking? Why, it’s my Disney scrapbook. And it’s FINISHED! I finished it as of about 8:30 last night. And when I say, ‘finished’… I mean ‘finished’.

All pictures documented? Check! Journaling completed? Check! Pages put in chronological order in a suitable OCD way? Check!

So I had to make the title page my ‘picture of the day’ for yesterday. Exactly 6 months from the time we were there in October, I finished the scrapbook. Six months… that’s got to be some kind of record.

58 pages. Yep, you read that correctly. 58 pages. That’s 11 ½ pages for each day we were there. Phil has pointed out that I spent more time scrapbooking the Disney vacation than we were actually ON the Disney vacation.

To which I replied, “Shut up, honey.” ;)

Scrap it!

This was my ‘picture of the day’ for yesterday. Well if we want to split hairs, I took the picture today because I forgot to take a picture yesterday for Project 365… but I straightened it up yesterday, so I think it counts. (Who really cares? It’s my book, right?! Wow. Getting a little defensive… sorry ;)

Let me just say… and I’m not proud to admit it…but I covet other people’s scrapbook rooms. I love to look at scrap spaces in magazines and on scrappers’ blogs. I drool over custom crafting rooms like some people lust after fancy cars or high dollar purses and shoes.

I want to be an organization junkie, with color coordinated tins and tubs and buckets and boxes. I would love to have an entire room devoted to my hobby, with areas for paper storage, a separate table for a sewing machine to be able to stitch on my layouts, and yet another table with my computer for journaling.

I’d love to be able to completely revamp my personal scrap space, have bulletin boards to display pictures, completed layouts, and custom bookshelves for my albums. And I’d want a couple of extra tables to have my friends over for crops.

But this is the real world. And what I have instead is one wall in my master bedroom. (Fortunately it’s a big bedroom ;)

We just don’t have an extra room for me to transform into my scrapbook room. 4 bedrooms + 3 kids… well, you do the math.

And to get the extra space, we’d have to

1. move (not happening),

2. build an addition onto the house (of course, we’d also have to win the lottery!)

3. give up the playroom (not happening… where would we put all those toys?!),

4. sacrifice the formal living/ dining areas (also not happening… sometimes those rooms are the only clean ones in the house!)

5. or give away one of the children. (not happening… well at least not today ;)


I’ve had to make the best use of my available space, and I think I have. I have tools and emebellishments stashed in wooden boxes, organized in canvas baskets, and sorted in various labeled drawers. And of course, I have a spot for my Cri-cut, my Cuttle-Bug, my Zutter (thanks, Marcy!), my F.R.E.D., and my laptop (and if the only word you understood in this sentence was ‘laptop’… you know you’re not a scrapbooker!)

This is a far cry from the kitchen table and a tub of supplies, which is what I had 9 years ago when I started. I’ve got a ‘system’ and it works for me.

Would I like to have more space? Sure.

Do I let the lack of a gorgeous scrapbooking room keep me from documenting our lives in pictures and with scrapbook pages?

Nope. Not even close.

Crushin'

Awwww… my boy is growing up.

At the park today, one of the little girls from his first grade class was there. He spent about 20 minutes playing and swinging on the tire swing with her. He didn’t push her down once, so I knew instantly there was some special ‘connection’ there. ;)

On the way home from the park, I casually asked him about his friend.

Me: “Davis, was that Katie?” (names have been changed to protect the identity of my son’s crush… ;)

Davis: “Yes.”

Me: “And she’s in your class, right?” (Which, of course, I TOTALLY already know… just trying to make conversation.)

Davis: “Yes.”

(Okay, I didn’t say it was a *GREAT* conversation…)

Me : “She seems nice.”

Davis: “Mommy, I’m going to make a present for her.”

(Oh my goodness… how super cute is that?!!)

Me: “Oh, okay. I bet she’d really like that. She’s a cutie.”

Davis (nonchalantly): “No, Mommy… she’s HOT!”

Me (choking a little): “Um… WHAT?!”

Davis (shrugging): “I told her she’s hot.”

Wow, in the matter of three seconds, we went from ‘super cute’ to ‘hot’?!! How the heck does that happen?!!

I am soooo not ready for this. ;)

Numero Uno

It has been brought to my attention that my blog is distinctly lacking in stories. Well, not just stories, but stories that happen to include my oldest child. More than one person has said to me, "You don't blog about Josie very much!" Basically, 'what the hell? Don't you have THREE kids? We hear all about those two little ones, but where are the blogs that feature Josie?'

I know, I know! Truth be told, I have also noticed that I do less blogging about Josie. And not that I love her any less, of course. In fact, she's one terrific, amazing kid. She says funny stuff, and she is incredibly smart and gifted.

She's just at 'THAT AGE'. You know, 'THAT AGE' where they are easily embarassed by their parents. (more specifically the stories their parents tell about THEM!)

And she sometimes reads my blogs. And some of her friends and her friends' parents read my blogs. And I will say that she DOES find them funny when they are stories about the ridiculous things her brother and sister say and do. I'm just not sure she would find the same amusement in me telling stories about her. She's actually censored me on a few occasions... 'You're not putting this in your blog, are you?!'

I can picture the eye-rolling and the indignant voice now... "MOOOOOOM!!!" Remember, she *is* the child that told me that when I dance around in the kitchen, it 'kind of freaks me out, Mom!'

So, I will try to do a better job at posting all the 'Josie-funnies', with, of course, her permission. I guess I could always give her a pseudonym, or write about a 'friend's daughter named... um... Rosie.'

But I'm pretty sure she'd see right through that. ;)

More flags = more fun!

So we did it. We joined the unwashed masses and got season passes to Six Flags. And then we went two times over the course of six days, and plan another trip in the next two weeks. ;)

We’re hooked. I guess that’s the point, right? You buy your passes, spend the money upfront, and then spend the rest of the year trying to make it ‘worth it’. “What do we have going on this weekend? Nothing?!! Then let’s head down to Fiesta Texas. We’ve got those season passes… it’s free!”

When in actuality, it’s not even close to free… even once the passes are paid for. There’s the food (and who can pass up those funnel cakes?)… there are the drinks… there are those obnoxious, over-priced carnival style games with the cheesy ‘knock-off’ stuffed animals for prizes. You know the ones… they look ‘sorta’ like the Disney or Nickelodeon character, but there’s just something ‘off’ about them because they don’t have the licensing agreement? So while it may LOOK like Spongebob Squarepants, its tag says ‘Bobby the Spongey-Pants Boy’.

My goal for our season passes? Well, that’s easy. Try to get a picture of every costumed character over the course of the year. I was bitten by the ‘character bug’ at Disneyworld, and now the ‘bug’ has transmutated to include Six Flags characters.

So far my checklist includes: Scooby-Doo, Sylvester the Cat, Daffy Duck, Wags the Dog and Dorothy the Dinosaur (from the Wiggles), Batman, and Wonder Woman (Look how happy my husband looks! ;).


I have become a real stalker (but not in the bad way… geez!) and the minute I spot one of those big furry costumes, I break into a dead sprint, dragging my kids behind me, so we can get in line to do the obligatory picture.
I prefer to have all three of the kids in each picture, but in a pinch, just one kid will do.

Especially if you’re lollygaggin’ or not paying attention, and it happens to be our turn. Well, then it’s just too darn bad. The fast kids can be in the picture with Tweety Bird. Stop that crying! You’ll see Tweety again. After all, we have season passes. ;)

This says it all...

Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll (from Through the Looking Glass)

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

******************************************

Memorized in the 8th grade, I think, for Mrs. Boren’s English class. Oh, only about 23 years ago?! Still love all those nonsense words… still have it memorized, word for word (and I’ll prove it... seriously… I will ;).

Easter morning...

Picture it. This morning, headed to church with our three cherubs in tow. All fresh faced, hair curled, new bows, new Easter outfits… fresh off a morning of bingeing on marshmallow PEEPS.

Amazing how quiet three kids can get with baskets full of candy. Nary a word was spoken as they ripped into their goodies, stuffing their mouths full of chocolate and jellybeans. ‘So sorry, I can’t talk right now… I’m biting the head off this bunny!’

So anyway, later in the morning, we are walking into church, surrounded by other families dressed in their Easter best, ready to give thanks to our Risen Lord, when…

Libby: “Davis, remember that time?”

Davis: “Which time?”

Libby: “When we were watching Funniest Home Videos?”
(we DO love the funny video shows in our family, I must say…)

Davis: “Um, yeah?”

Libby: “And that little boy saw something and he said, ‘What the HECK is that?!!’”
(and just for the record, for such a little girl, she sure has a loud voice…)

Davis (in a stage whisper): “Libby, actually he said the *other* ‘H” word… you know… that has an ‘L’ in it, too.”

Libby: “Oh yeah! He said, ‘What the…’”

At this point, my mommy reflexes had kicked in and the rest of the phrase was uttered into my hand, which had managed to cover her mouth at just the right moment.

So she looks at me, her little brow furrowed… “Mommy, why did you DO that?”

Whaaat? Why did I cover her mouth just before she practically shouted a curse word on the doorstep of our church? Well, honey, I HAD to… I was fresh out of PEEPS.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Take it from the top!

"Some... (beat)

times in our lives... (beat)

We all have pain... (beat)

We all have so-o-o-r-row.

If... (beat)

I did not hear... (beat)

This twelve times today... (beat)

There's always t-o-o-o-morrow."

That's right, my friends. It's just about piano recital time, which can only mean one thing. Listening to Josie practicing the same songs over and over and OVER again.

This year's selections are 'Lean on Me' and the theme from... wait for it...



'Star Wars'.

Oh yes, I feel like I'm walking through movie credits about half the time. I love the song, 'Lean on Me', really I do. It's inspiring, and sometimes I even get a little teary-eyed when I hear it. Especially when I remember Morgan Freeman as Principal Joe Clark, clapping softly as the the entire student body of Eastside High sings along. (...*gulp...sob! Just give me a second...)

Okay, better...

Right now, though, if I hear that song one more time, I may have to 'lean on you' because I had one too many glasses of wine ;)

Take a deep breath...

Today's picture of the day... my boy, just past midnight, getting a breathing treatment.

Darn allergies. Combine a climbing pollen count with an afternoon playdate with a little friend who is the proud owner of a dog AND a cat, and voila! Coughing and wheezing...

I have to say that my darling husband was NOT very happy with me taking pictures of Davis, 'mid-treatment' in the wee hours.

He remembers as a kid getting breathing treatments with wet sheets draped around his bunk bed. He said he remembers it feeling pretty isolating... and that it's scary to have trouble breathing. To be sick with allergies so often, getting allergy shots, having to stay inside, etc. (made me just want to hug the little snotty-nosed kid he must have been) ;)

So, I explained to Davis that I wanted this to be my 'picture of the day' for our Project 365 album (lately my kids have been 'staging' things for me to take pictures of for the 'picture of the day'... more about that later.)

I told him, "Dude, some days you're winning the Pinewood Derby... some days you're getting nebbed. That's just how we roll."

And isn't that just the damn truth? One of my favorite things to say... "Life isn't always rainbows and bubbles."

So I want to remember this. The good, the not so good... sometimes even the downright 'crap' parts. And that's what I want my Project 365 album to reflect.

Being a parent is sometimes just hard, scary work, and our life as a family is NOT always rainbows and bubbles, birthday parties and trips to the zoo.

Sometimes, it's phlegm, cough medicine, and nebulizers. And all we can do is snap a picture, and try to make a little boy smile in the middle of the night.

Peace out...

One Shining moment...

Didja watch it? Huh? Huh?

Because, of course, I did. Even though it was late. And I was tired. I stayed up and watched it.

And I wasn't disappointed ;)

Derby Day

A super quick post... just had to post this picture of my boys. My little Cub Scout and his majorly proud daddy. They worked so hard on that little shark car.

Davis raced his car in the district Pinewood Derby today, and won 2nd place in his rank (Tiger). He advanced to the finals (where he competed against Tigers, Wolves, Bears & Webelos), but he didn't place in the final round.

Since he'd already won his 2nd place trophy, Davis wasn't fazed one bit, and was excited that now he finally gets to play with the car he built (it's been sitting on a shelf since the Pack derby, so it wouldn't get damaged prior to the district race).

He'll probably sleep with that trophy tonight. He might just have to fight Davis for it, though. ;)