P Day

Today is my "P" day! It's a day all about preparing. Preparing for what?!
My sister Lisa and her family are coming TOMORROW!!
We are all so excited...even if it means cleaning my shower :)!!

Last time they visited--February 2009
Last time we saw them--July 2011!
Jordan & Alaina--July 2010Ben, Tyson & Kya--July 2011
Tyson and Janae--July 2011

Good Things

I've been a bit grumpy lately...for various reasons (most of which I have not chose to broadcast on my blog). But today I am just happy. Happy for a day of sunshine, family and friends!

It's been so warm that we turned on the sprinklers for the kids to play in the water!!
Tyson got a Rainbow Award for being a hard worker and good listener in his 1st grade class!They had a snow cone truck at the softball fields for opening day!!
Life is good:)

Never Say Never

Softball season is underway!! As much as I hate the commitment (and the actual games are not that exciting) I let Kya do it....and support her all the way! Go Braves Go!!

And doesn't she look stinkin' cute in that uniform?!

My Little Experiment

Tyson has been known to get a little weepy at bedtime occasionally. A couple weeks ago he was all upset about Miley (our kitty cat). He said that Miley "hates" him because she never sleeps in his bed. Well, sure enough, that night Miley slept on Tyson's bed. I took a picture to show him...to prove to him that Miley does love him after all. Well, that got me thinking...I wonder whose bed Miley sleeps in the most. The next few (okay more than a few...10 to be exact) nights I took a picture of where Miley slept.

Unfortunately, we have a clear winner...

and a clear second place...

and a clear third place:(

Don't tell Tyson!!

The Boy

Remember when Tyson used to be destructive and mischievous?? Well if you don't, you can read this post or this one...or this one....or this one...yeah, I'm surprised he hasn't turned my hair gray yet. And now, he's found something else to destroy...

Oh wait, you wanted a closer look? Here you go....

How does this even happen?!

I guess he's gotta find something to destroy...as if holes in the knees of his pants weren't enough!! Boys will be boys...at least mine will:)

I {Heart} Books

I got invited to a "Children's Picture Book" baby shower and it got me thinking about all the books I've loved...from my childhood, from my kids' library, and from my own recent reading.
There are some great books out there!!

From my childhood

"The Blueberry Pie Elf"

"Oh Were They Ever Happy"

"The Big Pancake"
(and many other Ladybird books)
I need to order this one from ebay still!!

"A Pocket for Corduroy"

Little Critter Books

Cinderella & Rudolph "Little Golden Book" versions

"The Five Chinese Brothers"


And I'm sure there are A LOT that I just don't remember, but if I saw them they would bring back a rush of good memories (like that book I used to read at the dentist about someone (I can't remember if it was an animal or a human) can't find an ant in their house and they end up tearing their house apart looking for it....BTW if you know this book tell me what it is because I have been search for years!!).

From My Children's Library

"I Wish I had Duck Feet", "Green Eggs and Ham",

"The Best Nest", "What was I Scared of?"
(I love Dr. Seuss!!)

"I Love You Stinky Face"


"Corduroy"
(from my childhood too)

"Miss Nelson is Missing"

"Ping"
(from my childhood too)

"Freckle Juice"
(from my childhood too)

"Katy No Pocket"
(from my childhood too)


"The Witches"

TOO MANY TO LIST...especially once you start getting into chapter books!!!

Here's a link to a list of recommended children's reading that was emailed out in lieu of the shower. It reminded me that I need to read Millions of Cats, Harry the Dirty Dog, and The Tales of Peter Rabbit to my kids...I loved those book!!

When I got a little older it was all about...

Sweet Valley Twins!!



My teenage years were not filled with much "reading for pleasure", since I had to read for school, but a couple favorites from school were:

"1984"--George Orwell

"Martian Chronicle's"--Ray Bradbury

"A Separate Peace"--John Knowles

My college years were also filled with "required" reading. I didn't start reading "for fun" again until Jordan was born. I started that off right with The Harry Potter Series and then went into The Lord of the Rings (to please my husband). A few more books that have really affected me these past few years have been:

"The Memory Keepers Daughter"

"A Thousand Splendid Suns"


"The Twilight Series" (yes, I admit it)

"The Hunger Games"

"The Forgotten Garden"


"Jane Eyre"....

Okay, I think I better stop there, because this list could go on a while!!! I just LOVE a good read. Right now I am finishing off The Hobit, which isn't too exciting, but one of those books that I just felt like I should read. What will be next...for me...and for my kids?! I guess I am turning into quite the nerd, being this excited about books:)

The Tween Party

The parties are definitely changing as the kids get older...and so are the presents...

We got Jordan an IHome to charge her Itouch and play music (it also changes colors with the beat of the music--pretty cool)

For some reason, Jordan really wanted to play Lazer Tag!!We then let the kids play some arcade games. Jordan's friends pooled their tickets to get Jordan some cool presents (so sweet).The rock candy cake:)

The dress up game (If you spun a 5 or a 10 you had to pick something out of a bag to put on. The person with the least amount of dress up on at the end of the game won. I think it was Jordan. The girls were all such good sports...Tyson was HILARIOUS, but wouldn't let me take a picture.

Then they played a makeup game. They rolled dice to see what color and where to apply the makeup. We then had Mike judge on which face was the best!Then they played "Balloon Pop Dare". I filled 30 balloons with dares and they had to pop them and then do the dare. I didn't get any pictures though!! My favorite dare was: "Smell everyone's feet and judge whose are the stinkiest". I had fun coming up with those.

Jordan had a blast and told me it was her best party yet...

My Blonde Moment

I think of myself as an intelligent person. I did well in high school, graduated from college with Bachelor of Science. I follow politics and read a fare bit. Well, someone watching me today, would think me anything but intelligent. Here's what I did:

I was rushing around all morning, trying to get everything prepared for Jordan's birthday party. I headed to Costco to get a few last minute things. I hurried through the store, put everything in the trunk and closed the door. As soon as the door closed, I realized my keys were locked in the car...along with the ice cream, strawberries, chicken, lettuce...oh, and did I mention it was like 80 degrees today?! Holy cow, how stupid am I?! So, I go to call Mike (luckily he was working from home today) and realized my cell phone is in the car (which wouldn't help me anyways because it is DEAD, as usual). I borrowed a phone, called Mike. I thought, while I waited I should go get a fruit smoothy from Costco, to help pass the time . I looked in my wallet and there was not even one dollar!! I really am not very prepared for a crisis am I? Well, Mike finally came and unlocked my car. So I got out home in time to pick the kids up from school...and the ice cream was still frozen solid:)

Lessons I learned:

1) Always have a charged cell phone with me
2) Always carry cash
3) Don't lock my stinkin' keys in the car!!

See, I told you I read!!