Summer is Starting

We have one busy summer headed our way.  Emogene is super excited to play volleyball next year.  That means practicing Tuesdays and Thursdays almost every week.  We have VBS next week.  Eric has a job opportunity coming up, and we are praying about it.  I wanted to get my house in order to make the next school year easier to handle in regards to housework.  I also have a gift card for paint supplies burning a hole in my pocket.  I want to use it in the girl's bathroom.  The two older girlies get to go to church camp in June, and Eric and I have a planned trip to Atlanta in July.  Eric may have to opt out if he starts a new job.  I'll be sad, but I'm excited about a possible new job that will make him happier.  I know your summer will be just as crazy.

Are you a snack hoarding mom?

There are many things in life I'm not proud of, hoarding snacks is not one of those things.  I see it as a way to not make my kids the overeating junk food inhaling person I am today.  I have acknowledged that I have a problem.  That is the first step, right?  If you have this problem you may have heard children people say, "Why are you locked in your closet?  What is that rustling noise I hear?  Mommy, are you eating something?  I found Cadbury eggs in your sock drawer.  I can't find any of my Valentine's candy!"

Well, I hear those a lot.  Here are a few things you may need to do to help yourself not get caught.
1.  Learn to drive with your head very low, possibly so low that you can barely see over the steering wheel.  Point all mirrors away from you so the children have no way of catching a glimpse of you eating a glorious snack.

2. Put a deadbolt on your closet.

3. DO NOT have your children put away any of your clean clothes.  They might find your stash.

4.  Stay up really late to pop popcorn.  Not that this is a terribly unhealthy snack, but you just want the whole bag to yourself.  I have also found that the smell of freshly popped popcorn is very much like an alarm clock and sleepy eyed children will wander out of their room at 1:00am just to find out why they smell popcorn.  Pop at your own risk.

My children have a fair share of yummy things, but they may not know what a Reese's Egg is even though they can be hidden found in my house quite frequently during the months of March and April.  It isn't that I don't think my darlings should have Cadbury Eggs and Reese's Eggs.  You see, those items are only available for a short time and there just aren't enough to go around.

They do get to eat popcorn on occasion, but I do tend to burn my bag to deter anyone from wanting any of mine.  I just so happen to love burnt popcorn.

You may ask why I have this hoarding problem.  I blame my younger sister Brittany.  She was a known snack thief when we were growing up.  She stole Kristi's Valentine candy while Kristi was away at college.  To this day, you can find her rummaging through the kitchen cabinets hoping to find a glimpse of any candy wrappers and stealing my dad's candy.  Brittany is expecting her first baby now.  Soon she will be coming to me for my parenting wiseness.  She will have to start snack hoarding as well.  I will be waiting for her call.

"...food eaten in secret is delicious!" Proverbs 9:17

Vet School Open House

We frequently go to the local vet school's open house.  It has lots of cool booths and teaching stations.  As you can tell from the first photos, the dogs are always the biggest hit with my joys.  Our friends came with us.  It was a great day.

Bunnies!

Let's just hope that little finger didn't touch something nasty.

They were so interested in how each animal died from heart problems.

Well not everyone was that interested.  Anita looked like she might throw up.

Touching the hearts was even better!

a collective weigh in

An eyeball!!!

Sticking your arm into a cow's stomach is so much fun!  It stinks too!

After sterilizing our arms and hands, we ate lunch.

This is the most anticipated part of the day, touching a cow's "breathing" lungs.

They also enjoyed the petting zoo.  After looking at the cute little bunnies, Hattie informed all the children that they will be eaten after they get big.  Her dad was very proud.

Here Comes the Bride

I had the blessing of having Emogene accompany me for a Thirty-One party.

We were a little ahead of schedule, so I pulled over and parked in an empty parking lot.  She quickly found some tissue paper in my spotless van and began entertaining herself.  I enjoyed every minute of her wedding.

Parenting Tip #528

To protect the bad parent in us all, let's say this is hypothetical.

How to get rid of a four year old?

When you are laying in bed fighting a headache and nausea, your four year old may decide to come into your room to ask a question.  For the ease of writing, let's pretend it is a girl toddler. Here is how it might go:

"Mommy, can I have a snack?"
"No baby.  Lunch will be ready in five minutes (This exact conversation was heard from her dad 30 seconds earlier, hypothetically.)"
"But I'm hungry!  I need a snack.  I want a snack.  Snaaaaaaaaack!"  She will probably flail her body repeatedly, slamming it into your bed, and bouncing your nausea ridden stomach around during her snack deprived fit.
"If you don't get out of my room, I will throw up on you on the count of three, 1,2..."
Problem solved!  As long as Lydda the toddler is terrified of having vomit on her, she will leave your room.  You can then continue your peaceful rest.
I am 100% positive the toddler will survive her hunger for the remaining five minutes of lunch wait time.

Camera Goodness

I love finding surprise pictures on my phone.

Lydda had some fun!

?

Sometimes you just don't know why certain pictures end up on your camera. 

 I love this man!

Good to be ME!

My week was shaping up to be pretty nice.  It was Teacher Appreciation Week, and I was feeling very appreciated.  Not only was I getting goodies from school, but I was very excited to hear that Chick-Fil-A was giving away a free chicken sandwich to teachers.  All I had to do was bring my school ID.  I dug around in my purse for it, put it around my neck, and headed to my car.  I was ready to get that sandwich and sit in front of the girls and eat it with a big smile on my face.  Oh yeah, I was going to rub it in that I got a free sandwich and they didn't.  If they asked why they didn't get one, I was going to say, "Did you go to college for 5 years to get your teaching degree? I don't think so."  What a great way to convince them that college was a good idea.  They weren't giving chicken sandwiches away to just anybody.  NO!  This college degree earning girl was getting one.  All those student loan payments weren't looking so bad after all.

We pulled up to order.  I told them what I wanted for free, and all I heard was dead silence.  I asked again, NOTHING.  I was getting worried.  Then I got the dreaded news, "I'm sorry.  There was a misunderstanding.  That offer was only in Texas."  You know the saying, "Everything is bigger and better in Texas."  Well, I know the Chick-Fil-As are better!  So I drove away empty handed while my girls sipped on lemonades.  See, I'm not such a mean mom after all.

And this spot is where I was supposed to insert a picture of me holding a delicious chicken sandwich while my girls pouted in the background.  I was the only one pouting.

A Little Royal Treatment

Daddy completely surprised Lydda with some toenail polish. 

Lydda COMPLETELY surprised Daddy with some toenail polish.