This afternoon while watching CNN Headline News, I saw a touching story about a couple who recently got engaged on the beach.
Everybody say it with me… “Awwww…so sweet!”
The groom to be, hereafter known as “Mr. Romance” had arranged to propose to his girlfriend on the beach, amidst about 150 lit lumanarias in the shape of a heart… you know, to set the mood. (and if you don’t know what a luminaria is, you clearly have never been in Salado, Texas during the Christmas Stroll. Basically, it’s a white paper sack with sand and a lit candle in it.)
Romantic, right?
And it *would* have been romantic… if the beach hadn’t been an area on Hilton Head Island that houses federally protected loggerhead turtle nests.
You see, sea turtle hatchlings have an inborn tendency to move in the brightest direction once they hatch. On a natural beach, the brightest direction is most often the open view of the ocean, but they will follow any light they see.
“It was probably a combination of the luminarias and the reflection of the moon on the white bags after the candles were extinguished that disoriented the hatchlings,” one of the volunteers for the Sea Turtle Project said.
The volunteers found tiny tracks heading in all directions except toward the ocean. Some tracks repeatedly encircled the luminarias where the hatchlings succumbed either to weakness or crabs. Others headed into the sand dunes, nearby lagoons and backyards. Now I have never pretended to be much of a nature lover... I'd just as soon squish a bug as look at it, but even I know... that sucks, big time. P.S. baby turtles are waaaaay cuter than bugs, anyway.
So when ‘Mr. Romance’ set this in motion, he wasn’t aware that he would, in effect, be committing mass turtle-cide. Approximately 60 turtle hatchlings were killed in the name of love.
According to the news report, the couple still was celebrating their engagement when the distraught patrol volunteers rolled up.
“The people were regretful,” a spokesperson said. “They'd just gotten engaged and were bombarded with a lot of people yelling at them.” The couple received a warning from the town and a lecture from furious sea turtle volunteers.
Now I ask you… wouldn’t you consider this a pretty bad omen for your wedding?
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Old Lady Jackson
Fifteen years ago…
1. It was 1994.
2. I had just graduated from The University of Texas, and gotten my first ‘real’ job!
3. I was teaching 6th grade English at Lamar Middle School, and I remember that some punk-ass kid called me ‘Old Lady Jackson’ on the 3rd week of school. Funny how I remember silly things like that. I was in my element in this job. I loved it.
4. I was living alone for the first time ever. My apartment was tiny, my furniture was crappy, my bathroom stayed messy, and my refrigerator could have been featured on an episode of ‘Hoarders’ on A&E… but it was all mine. And I loved it.
5. I bought my first brand new car, all by myself. I even went to the dealership alone. I’m sure I paid way too much for my little Saturn sedan because I didn’t know that ‘let me check with my manager’ actually means: ‘let me go over here and laugh with my manager about this chick whose about to pay sticker price for a new car!’ It didn’t matter. It was mine, and I loved it.
6. I had been dating Phil for about 3 and a half years at this point. He still lived in a big house with a bunch of his fraternity brothers. Brothers, who, I might add, were always gracious enough to help me grade worksheets so we could get to the game, the tailgate party, or start drinking beer sooner.
7. We drank a lot of beer.
8. I got a tattoo on my ankle. I’m still not sure why I did it. I guess because I could. And honestly, after a week or so of “buyer’s remorse” and a little ‘what the $#@* was I thinking?!’, I loved it.
Are you noticing a trend in this particular year? It was my year of declaring independence, I guess. The beginning of my new post-graduation life.
And I loved it. ;)
1. It was 1994.
2. I had just graduated from The University of Texas, and gotten my first ‘real’ job!
3. I was teaching 6th grade English at Lamar Middle School, and I remember that some punk-ass kid called me ‘Old Lady Jackson’ on the 3rd week of school. Funny how I remember silly things like that. I was in my element in this job. I loved it.
4. I was living alone for the first time ever. My apartment was tiny, my furniture was crappy, my bathroom stayed messy, and my refrigerator could have been featured on an episode of ‘Hoarders’ on A&E… but it was all mine. And I loved it.
5. I bought my first brand new car, all by myself. I even went to the dealership alone. I’m sure I paid way too much for my little Saturn sedan because I didn’t know that ‘let me check with my manager’ actually means: ‘let me go over here and laugh with my manager about this chick whose about to pay sticker price for a new car!’ It didn’t matter. It was mine, and I loved it.
6. I had been dating Phil for about 3 and a half years at this point. He still lived in a big house with a bunch of his fraternity brothers. Brothers, who, I might add, were always gracious enough to help me grade worksheets so we could get to the game, the tailgate party, or start drinking beer sooner.
7. We drank a lot of beer.
8. I got a tattoo on my ankle. I’m still not sure why I did it. I guess because I could. And honestly, after a week or so of “buyer’s remorse” and a little ‘what the $#@* was I thinking?!’, I loved it.
Are you noticing a trend in this particular year? It was my year of declaring independence, I guess. The beginning of my new post-graduation life.
And I loved it. ;)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
I'm sorry... I didn't catch that the first time?
"It's those damn allergies. They get him every time."
Yes, this is *technically* true. Even though I'm not sure if Davis missed school on Monday because he had a respiratory virus (he never had a fever, though), or if it was just seasonal allergies.
Nevertheless, he *did* miss school on Monday. He did have to do a couple of nebulizer treatments. He did have a nasty cough. He was tired and lethargic (at least until about 1:30 in the afternoon when he started driving me crazy. Nothing like an albuterol inhaler to make a kid all 'twitchy'.)
So, yes, it probably was just those 'damn allergies'.
However, while it may be true, it's not exactly what I expected my neighbor to tell me that my 9 year old reported to everyone in the carpool about why her brother missed school.
Oops.
Yes, this is *technically* true. Even though I'm not sure if Davis missed school on Monday because he had a respiratory virus (he never had a fever, though), or if it was just seasonal allergies.
Nevertheless, he *did* miss school on Monday. He did have to do a couple of nebulizer treatments. He did have a nasty cough. He was tired and lethargic (at least until about 1:30 in the afternoon when he started driving me crazy. Nothing like an albuterol inhaler to make a kid all 'twitchy'.)
So, yes, it probably was just those 'damn allergies'.
However, while it may be true, it's not exactly what I expected my neighbor to tell me that my 9 year old reported to everyone in the carpool about why her brother missed school.
Oops.
Monday, September 21, 2009
2 frickin' decades ago...
20 years ago...
1. It was 1989.
2. I was a senior in high school. At this point, the junior high kids at least had their own 'wing' of the school.
3. I was a cheerleader. Like, OMIGOD! Totally. (I know... huge shocker.)
Bonus feature: I had really long hair and big bangs, too. (That was "BANGS", hon.)
4. I had just received my acceptance letter from The University of Texas. This, in turn, touched off a quite serious case of 'Senior-itis'.
5. My class was in the final stages of our preparation for our LEGENDARY (by the standards of SHS)senior trip to Florida.
6. I was excited to get my mums for homecoming. And if you didn't know it, the phrase, "everything's bigger in Texas" ALSO applies to homecoming mums. They are a thing of obnoxiously tacky beauty.
If you're not from Texas, and you know not of the 'mum phenomenon', I'll someday post a blog just about that, just for you! (complete with pictures! Egad!)
7. My best friend? Michelle. Michelle, are you reading this?! ;)
8. I DID have a boyfriend my senior year, and I kept him around until after I graduated.
*Sidenote: I decided later, however, that we should 'take a break', and if that decision just HAPPENED to coincide with my move into my co-ed dorm at UT... well, sue me. ;)
9. Class I hated the most? Chemistry. I hated it. The class, itself, wasn't bad... it was just me and two junior guys in the class, and the teacher was super nice (yes, I know, you did the math. There were just three of us in the class. Weird, huh?), I just hated the subject matter.
All that measuring or something could potentially explode?! Exactly why I refused to take Home Ec.
10. My car was a Datsun 510. I don't know the year, but I just Googled it, and they weren't even made past, like, 1973, so it was old when I got it. It had already hit one deer and one cow by the time it was mine. (two words, people... 'small town')
Oh, and another two words: 'Bike riding'. I did alot of that.
So what about YOU?! Where were you two decades ago?
*Final sidenote: Oh, and if you are going to tell me that you were on a field trip with your 1st grade class, I'll *politely* ask you to refrain from commenting. ;)
1. It was 1989.
2. I was a senior in high school. At this point, the junior high kids at least had their own 'wing' of the school.
3. I was a cheerleader. Like, OMIGOD! Totally. (I know... huge shocker.)
Bonus feature: I had really long hair and big bangs, too. (That was "BANGS", hon.)
4. I had just received my acceptance letter from The University of Texas. This, in turn, touched off a quite serious case of 'Senior-itis'.
5. My class was in the final stages of our preparation for our LEGENDARY (by the standards of SHS)senior trip to Florida.
6. I was excited to get my mums for homecoming. And if you didn't know it, the phrase, "everything's bigger in Texas" ALSO applies to homecoming mums. They are a thing of obnoxiously tacky beauty.
If you're not from Texas, and you know not of the 'mum phenomenon', I'll someday post a blog just about that, just for you! (complete with pictures! Egad!)
7. My best friend? Michelle. Michelle, are you reading this?! ;)
8. I DID have a boyfriend my senior year, and I kept him around until after I graduated.
*Sidenote: I decided later, however, that we should 'take a break', and if that decision just HAPPENED to coincide with my move into my co-ed dorm at UT... well, sue me. ;)
9. Class I hated the most? Chemistry. I hated it. The class, itself, wasn't bad... it was just me and two junior guys in the class, and the teacher was super nice (yes, I know, you did the math. There were just three of us in the class. Weird, huh?), I just hated the subject matter.
All that measuring or something could potentially explode?! Exactly why I refused to take Home Ec.
10. My car was a Datsun 510. I don't know the year, but I just Googled it, and they weren't even made past, like, 1973, so it was old when I got it. It had already hit one deer and one cow by the time it was mine. (two words, people... 'small town')
Oh, and another two words: 'Bike riding'. I did alot of that.
So what about YOU?! Where were you two decades ago?
*Final sidenote: Oh, and if you are going to tell me that you were on a field trip with your 1st grade class, I'll *politely* ask you to refrain from commenting. ;)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Don't mind this little walk down memory lane...
25 years ago...
1. It was 1984.
2. I had just started junior high...which incidentally, in my hometown, the junior high and high school were in the same building. Yes, you read that correctly... it was 7th-12th grade all together. I remember being incredibly freaked out on the first day.
3. I wore plastic 'Gellies' for the first day of school, along with white capris, a white braided rope belt... and I *think* a lavender shirt. Don't ask me why I remember that.
4. I had Gym first period. I *know* why I remember that. It sucked, and I hated it.
5. I had to ride the bus to school every day, and it was before we moved 'into town', so the ride was looooong. On a bus. A school bus. Go ahead, take a minute to feel sorry for my shabby upbringing. ;)
6. I was in the band. Oh yes... BAND GEEK! I played the flute. Incidentally, the band was all together, too. 7th through 12th... It was a small school, people. What can I say?!
7. I had a different crush on a different boy every week, practically. I must say, there *were* a few perks to being thrown in with all those high-schoolers. (Here is where I'd be waggling my eyebrows, if I could, in fact, actually do that.)
8. In order to eat a cafeteria lunch (because, really, isn't that just a huge highlight of the public school system?!), we had to walk from the high school to the elementary school to use the cafeteria. One cafeteria. For the entire district to share.
9. I sported a layered hairstyle... shorter in front, with bangs, and a little longer in the back. Stop calling it a 'mullet'. It was the eighties, and we all had crappy hair.
10. I watched 'Webster' on t.v. and listened to 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson. (No, not at the same time. Geez...)
Stay tuned for tomorrow's list... 20 years ago... ;)
1. It was 1984.
2. I had just started junior high...which incidentally, in my hometown, the junior high and high school were in the same building. Yes, you read that correctly... it was 7th-12th grade all together. I remember being incredibly freaked out on the first day.
3. I wore plastic 'Gellies' for the first day of school, along with white capris, a white braided rope belt... and I *think* a lavender shirt. Don't ask me why I remember that.
4. I had Gym first period. I *know* why I remember that. It sucked, and I hated it.
5. I had to ride the bus to school every day, and it was before we moved 'into town', so the ride was looooong. On a bus. A school bus. Go ahead, take a minute to feel sorry for my shabby upbringing. ;)
6. I was in the band. Oh yes... BAND GEEK! I played the flute. Incidentally, the band was all together, too. 7th through 12th... It was a small school, people. What can I say?!
7. I had a different crush on a different boy every week, practically. I must say, there *were* a few perks to being thrown in with all those high-schoolers. (Here is where I'd be waggling my eyebrows, if I could, in fact, actually do that.)
8. In order to eat a cafeteria lunch (because, really, isn't that just a huge highlight of the public school system?!), we had to walk from the high school to the elementary school to use the cafeteria. One cafeteria. For the entire district to share.
9. I sported a layered hairstyle... shorter in front, with bangs, and a little longer in the back. Stop calling it a 'mullet'. It was the eighties, and we all had crappy hair.
10. I watched 'Webster' on t.v. and listened to 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson. (No, not at the same time. Geez...)
Stay tuned for tomorrow's list... 20 years ago... ;)
Friday, September 18, 2009
It's a crime...
Last night I re-enacted a murder. I didn’t mean to.
But before I knew it, my frantic, stabbing motions resulted in both the couch and the carpet being spattered in dark red splotches.
Easy now, people… don’t go getting all ‘Judge Judy’ or ‘this chick is frickin crazy!’ on me. Technically, there was no blood shed.
And it was just excitement on my part. But tell me *you* don’t get excited when you solve the crime before the conclusion of your favorite crime show.
However, in my wildly gesticulating demonstration of how the crime was committed, I seemed to have forgotten that I was resting a full glass of red wine on my knee. Either it was pretty precariously balanced, or the fact that I was sitting cross-legged on the couch had something to do with it.
Well, anyway, the darn wine glass tipped and poured all over the couch, and splattered over the crime scene… oops… I mean ‘the carpet’.
I *tried* to catch it. I moved in slo-mo to get that stupid glass, but I guess I was a little too slo-mo. Phil was just shaking his head at me. (I think he was just irritated that I figured it out, and felt the need to clue him in, hence, ruining the last half hour of the show. Sorry!)
Fortunately, Woolite Carpet Cleaner did the trick. I would have made a crime scene tech proud.
I admit… it was a poorly executed murder… which explains why the suspect was caught and convicted.
And it also explains why in the future, when I watch ‘The First 48’, I should probably drink my wine from a plastic sippy cup.
But before I knew it, my frantic, stabbing motions resulted in both the couch and the carpet being spattered in dark red splotches.
Easy now, people… don’t go getting all ‘Judge Judy’ or ‘this chick is frickin crazy!’ on me. Technically, there was no blood shed.
And it was just excitement on my part. But tell me *you* don’t get excited when you solve the crime before the conclusion of your favorite crime show.
However, in my wildly gesticulating demonstration of how the crime was committed, I seemed to have forgotten that I was resting a full glass of red wine on my knee. Either it was pretty precariously balanced, or the fact that I was sitting cross-legged on the couch had something to do with it.
Well, anyway, the darn wine glass tipped and poured all over the couch, and splattered over the crime scene… oops… I mean ‘the carpet’.
I *tried* to catch it. I moved in slo-mo to get that stupid glass, but I guess I was a little too slo-mo. Phil was just shaking his head at me. (I think he was just irritated that I figured it out, and felt the need to clue him in, hence, ruining the last half hour of the show. Sorry!)
Fortunately, Woolite Carpet Cleaner did the trick. I would have made a crime scene tech proud.
I admit… it was a poorly executed murder… which explains why the suspect was caught and convicted.
And it also explains why in the future, when I watch ‘The First 48’, I should probably drink my wine from a plastic sippy cup.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WHAT... WHAT...
WHAT is going on lately?!! It's been almost a week since I've posted... AGAIN!
I honestly thought I'd have more time once the kids got back into school... hmmm. Adn why did I think that? Not sure.
I think it is also your fault. Just a little.
You people are falling down on your duties. Yes, you. What duties, you may be asking?
Why, your COMMENTING duties, of course.
Oh yes, you've gotten a little lackadaisacal (I'm not sure that's spelled correctly, but I'm too lazy... or lackadaisical?... to look it up) with your comments.
You come... you read... you leave. *sob!
I love your comments. Yes, you, specifically. You know who you are.
And, no...you don't have to comment on every post. Really.
Just every 3rd one.
So don't make me have to come kick your non-commenting little boo-tay.
And... go!
I honestly thought I'd have more time once the kids got back into school... hmmm. Adn why did I think that? Not sure.
I think it is also your fault. Just a little.
You people are falling down on your duties. Yes, you. What duties, you may be asking?
Why, your COMMENTING duties, of course.
Oh yes, you've gotten a little lackadaisacal (I'm not sure that's spelled correctly, but I'm too lazy... or lackadaisical?... to look it up) with your comments.
You come... you read... you leave. *sob!
I love your comments. Yes, you, specifically. You know who you are.
And, no...you don't have to comment on every post. Really.
Just every 3rd one.
So don't make me have to come kick your non-commenting little boo-tay.
And... go!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The rain in Spain falls mostly on the plains...
I had almost forgotten what rain looks like.
We are getting quite the reminder this weekend. My hometown is currently flooded. There are flash flood warnings over about a dozen counties. Everything has been cancelled, and all our weekend plans are jacked up. Right now it is pouring so hard that I think I just saw a sailboat floating down my street.
I guess we should be careful what we ask for.
After what seems like 2,000 straight days of temperatures over 100 degrees, this is a welcome relief. Just a little too much at once, I guess.
Because remember all those blazing days when it was so hot outside that we just wanted to stay indoors, in the dark, watching movies, reading books or playing with Lego’s until we all had heat-induced cabin fever?
Well, now that’s its cooled down some, it’s raining. Soooo, we’re staying inside… in the dark… watching movies… etc., etc.
I feel a little like Bill Murray in ‘Groundhog Day’.
We are getting quite the reminder this weekend. My hometown is currently flooded. There are flash flood warnings over about a dozen counties. Everything has been cancelled, and all our weekend plans are jacked up. Right now it is pouring so hard that I think I just saw a sailboat floating down my street.
I guess we should be careful what we ask for.
After what seems like 2,000 straight days of temperatures over 100 degrees, this is a welcome relief. Just a little too much at once, I guess.
Because remember all those blazing days when it was so hot outside that we just wanted to stay indoors, in the dark, watching movies, reading books or playing with Lego’s until we all had heat-induced cabin fever?
Well, now that’s its cooled down some, it’s raining. Soooo, we’re staying inside… in the dark… watching movies… etc., etc.
I feel a little like Bill Murray in ‘Groundhog Day’.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Spinnin' round and round...
Holy crapola.
Today was one of those days, people. You know the ones. The kind where you're running around like an elephant in a peanut factory? (Or a seriously PMS'ing woman in a chocolate shop?!!) You know...flattening anyone that gets in your way, trumpeting as you go.
That was me today... up at 5 a.m. to walk, got the two older ones off to school, showered, dressed, etc. to get up to school by 7:45 to help with Enrichment hour in second grade, helped 23 kiddoes construct mini scrapbooks, had a few stamping mishaps, got glue on one of my favorite shirts, and seriously felt like I needed a cocktail or a Xanax (or possibly both) when it was all over at 9:30.
Then, off to two different Pay-Less stores to buy new tap shoes for Libby's first day of dance. Um, yes. The class was today. And I'm JUST getting around to getting the shoes. Don't judge me. No, really. Stop it.
Oh, and did I mention that it was Grandparent's Day at school? Soooo, Mom and I picked up lunch for the kids, and I dropped her off to have lunch with Josie & Davis in the cafeteria (bless her heart!), while I drove Libby to dance, dropped her off, snapped a few pictures, and then drove back to school to get my mother, who at this point was staring down the boy that Josie had told her was giving her a hard time in reading circle. Easy there, Nema.
Back to pick up Libby from dance, then we went and grabbed a quick bite of lunch, headed home to change Libby out of her leotard, and then went back up to school to pick up the kids because, MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES, it was pouring rain (of course, at school pick-up time, which makes for a completely chaotic scene.)
Then, off to the doctor after school for the FluMist vaccine for the kids, home for a quick snack, and then over to the community center for Josie's twirling lesson.
And all without caffeine (because remember I'm the nut-job that has given up my daily dose of crack... ugh.)
So, it's now 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I've been up for 12 hours, I'm tired and I'm cranky, I put approximately 1300 miles on the van today, I still need to pack for an overnight trip for all of us tomorrow night, and sometimes I wonder why I can't just stay home, under the covers, watching t.v., and let someone else handle it all for just a bit.
And I know I'm not alone. We all have days like today. Especially moms. No offense to the dads out there... they do plenty, but they're not typically the ones pulling carpool duty, driving to dance class, and volunteering to be smeared with glue stick by a bunch of overzealous 7 year old scrapbookers. ;)
And just when I think I'm ready to bury my head under my pillow in exhaustion, Davis hands me his 'Newsbook', which is a 2 way letter writing book between kids and their parents each week. They write a letter to us... we write a letter back to them. (I'm guessing you probably 'got it' without the explanation... sorry ;)
And his letter was this...
Oh yeah... *that's* why I do this.
Today was one of those days, people. You know the ones. The kind where you're running around like an elephant in a peanut factory? (Or a seriously PMS'ing woman in a chocolate shop?!!) You know...flattening anyone that gets in your way, trumpeting as you go.
That was me today... up at 5 a.m. to walk, got the two older ones off to school, showered, dressed, etc. to get up to school by 7:45 to help with Enrichment hour in second grade, helped 23 kiddoes construct mini scrapbooks, had a few stamping mishaps, got glue on one of my favorite shirts, and seriously felt like I needed a cocktail or a Xanax (or possibly both) when it was all over at 9:30.
Then, off to two different Pay-Less stores to buy new tap shoes for Libby's first day of dance. Um, yes. The class was today. And I'm JUST getting around to getting the shoes. Don't judge me. No, really. Stop it.
Oh, and did I mention that it was Grandparent's Day at school? Soooo, Mom and I picked up lunch for the kids, and I dropped her off to have lunch with Josie & Davis in the cafeteria (bless her heart!), while I drove Libby to dance, dropped her off, snapped a few pictures, and then drove back to school to get my mother, who at this point was staring down the boy that Josie had told her was giving her a hard time in reading circle. Easy there, Nema.
Back to pick up Libby from dance, then we went and grabbed a quick bite of lunch, headed home to change Libby out of her leotard, and then went back up to school to pick up the kids because, MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES, it was pouring rain (of course, at school pick-up time, which makes for a completely chaotic scene.)
Then, off to the doctor after school for the FluMist vaccine for the kids, home for a quick snack, and then over to the community center for Josie's twirling lesson.
And all without caffeine (because remember I'm the nut-job that has given up my daily dose of crack... ugh.)
So, it's now 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I've been up for 12 hours, I'm tired and I'm cranky, I put approximately 1300 miles on the van today, I still need to pack for an overnight trip for all of us tomorrow night, and sometimes I wonder why I can't just stay home, under the covers, watching t.v., and let someone else handle it all for just a bit.
And I know I'm not alone. We all have days like today. Especially moms. No offense to the dads out there... they do plenty, but they're not typically the ones pulling carpool duty, driving to dance class, and volunteering to be smeared with glue stick by a bunch of overzealous 7 year old scrapbookers. ;)
And just when I think I'm ready to bury my head under my pillow in exhaustion, Davis hands me his 'Newsbook', which is a 2 way letter writing book between kids and their parents each week. They write a letter to us... we write a letter back to them. (I'm guessing you probably 'got it' without the explanation... sorry ;)
And his letter was this...
Oh yeah... *that's* why I do this.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Explanation needed...
Can someone PLEASE explain this to me?
I’m not sure why, but when my kids head out to the backyard (which, by the way, is equipped with a playscape that sports a slide, a climbing wall, a picnic table, a sand box, a fort, and swings…. aaaand a shed full of bats, baseballs, soccer balls, footballs, and hula hoops), they feel compelled to empty the playroom of its contents to cart it all outside, as well.
Sooo, in addition to the swings, slides, hula hoops, etc… we have now added plastic army guys, army vehicles, My Little Ponies, stuffed animals, Barbies, Barbie shoes (I hate those stupid things), Barbie cars, walkie-talkies, a metal detector, a Cabbage Patch kid with a pacifier (but no clothes!), Hot Wheels, and a toy vacuum cleaner.
And THEN they want to come in after approximately 14.5 minutes because they’re ‘bored’ or ‘hot’.
Admittedly, though, that’s not really the part that needs explanation.
What really throws me for a loop is how the very same three children can amuse themselves on the beach for 3 full days with nothing more than a bucket and a shovel. Why is that?!!
We had a blast over Labor Day weekend in Port Aransas (thank you, Sanders fam!!), hanging out at the beach, digging in the sand, building in the sand, shaking the sand out of our… um… hair.
And the kids? Well the kids couldn’t have been happier splashing in the water, flying kites, doing a little boogie-boarding (is that even a word?), searching for shells, and trying to smash each other’s sand creations (okay, so it wasn’t all peace and tranquility, peeps). All without the aid of television, DVD’s, iPods, and video games. Who knew?!
All in all, it helped me to remember that maybe… just maybe, they don’t need those 21 Webkinz. Or all those Matchbox cars and tracks. Or the ‘MEGA DELUXE SET OF SUPER LEGOES THAT WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN BE OFFERED IN STORES, SO DON’T BE A LOSER PARENT AND MISS OUT ON THESE WONDER BLOCKS OF DELIGHT!’ (actual ad type)
So maybe… just maybe, we need to scale back. And maybe we’ll have a garage sale.
Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I could use the cash.
I’ll need it to pay for the truckloads of sand I’m having dumped in the backyard. ;)
I’m not sure why, but when my kids head out to the backyard (which, by the way, is equipped with a playscape that sports a slide, a climbing wall, a picnic table, a sand box, a fort, and swings…. aaaand a shed full of bats, baseballs, soccer balls, footballs, and hula hoops), they feel compelled to empty the playroom of its contents to cart it all outside, as well.
Sooo, in addition to the swings, slides, hula hoops, etc… we have now added plastic army guys, army vehicles, My Little Ponies, stuffed animals, Barbies, Barbie shoes (I hate those stupid things), Barbie cars, walkie-talkies, a metal detector, a Cabbage Patch kid with a pacifier (but no clothes!), Hot Wheels, and a toy vacuum cleaner.
And THEN they want to come in after approximately 14.5 minutes because they’re ‘bored’ or ‘hot’.
Admittedly, though, that’s not really the part that needs explanation.
What really throws me for a loop is how the very same three children can amuse themselves on the beach for 3 full days with nothing more than a bucket and a shovel. Why is that?!!
We had a blast over Labor Day weekend in Port Aransas (thank you, Sanders fam!!), hanging out at the beach, digging in the sand, building in the sand, shaking the sand out of our… um… hair.
And the kids? Well the kids couldn’t have been happier splashing in the water, flying kites, doing a little boogie-boarding (is that even a word?), searching for shells, and trying to smash each other’s sand creations (okay, so it wasn’t all peace and tranquility, peeps). All without the aid of television, DVD’s, iPods, and video games. Who knew?!
All in all, it helped me to remember that maybe… just maybe, they don’t need those 21 Webkinz. Or all those Matchbox cars and tracks. Or the ‘MEGA DELUXE SET OF SUPER LEGOES THAT WILL NEVER EVER AGAIN BE OFFERED IN STORES, SO DON’T BE A LOSER PARENT AND MISS OUT ON THESE WONDER BLOCKS OF DELIGHT!’ (actual ad type)
So maybe… just maybe, we need to scale back. And maybe we’ll have a garage sale.
Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I could use the cash.
I’ll need it to pay for the truckloads of sand I’m having dumped in the backyard. ;)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
You know you'll miss me when I'm gone...
Just taking a little blog hiatus...
Check back in next week! :)
Check back in next week! :)
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