What am I doing this summer?

Elle asked what everyone was doing this summer. Well, summer has only started for Little J. Her last day of preschool was Friday. Big J and Middle J don't get out of school until June 18th!! So they still have a month left!! Little J and I plan to explore the parks, plant flowers, and do some one on one time. This is the last of it...she starts kindergarten this Fall. All day kindergarten....:(. My last baby is growing up too fast!!!

After June 18th....Big J is doing swim team, so we will ride bikes to the pool, he will practice from 8-9. The pool open for the rest of us @ 1100. We will be @ the pool most days, because it is so hot and humid here...there is nothing better to do. Here are some planned things, in no particular order:
-ManIL is gone the 1st 3 wks of June :(
-Big and Middle Js still have guitar and piano lessons
-visit the rest of the Smithsonians
-visit the National Zoo
-go to VA Beach @ the end of June (this is actually planned)
-uh, oh...I am running out of things already.....I guess when I add in, work, cook, laundry, clean house, garden, the time seems to fly by......I need to have my secretary (we have one too), Middle J get this summer organized! :)

Catch up......

Yikes....it has been a long time since I blogged. Soccer has sprung on us and I love it. Middle J was starting the season, because she had to follow thru for the year for soccer. A Fall season and a Spring season. She told me @ the first practice, "I am not really a sports person, I think this will be the last season of soccer." I was a little sad, but impressed. She tried it and decided it wasn't for her...now fast forward thru 5 practices and 5 games and she loves it!! Loves it! I didn't know she could run as fast as she does or kick a ball half way down the field. If she gets a ball, she focuses on it with such intensity--it freaked ManIL and me out..."is that our girl, who said she wasn't really a sports person?". What a change, and a change she made, rather than us forcing her...I thought it was going to be a long, long season!

Big J loves soccer. His first time @ soccer was last Fall. He was a baseball boy and we loved that. Saturdays were baseball days...long days... sweaty days...but fun to watch. Now, he has decided soccer is his thing and baseball is a thing of the past! We see a different side of his personality on the field. He runs fast, really fast...he listens to his coach, encourages his teammates, but the side we hadn't seen was: A boy, nudging with his elbows against the other players, pushing with his shoulders and backside to get other players away from him. ManIL says..this is how boys are, they are rough, tough and he is protecting himself. Big J has rolled head over heels, had grass in his teeth, scrapes filled with dirt and stinky sweat dripping off his nose! I raised him to play nice with others.....this is new to me Eegads.....what happened to my "little guy" who @ the site of the tiniest papercut needed a healing kiss?

Little J--oh my, the swim lessons have taken every bit of patience and breath out of me. She still prefers to keep her face out of the water. If she could figure out how to swim standing up...she would! Pray for me that this week's lesson goes better. We plan to be @ the pool a lot this summer and I would like for her to be able to actually get in the "big kid" pool without freaking out!

Spring link

Hi, I loved this fwd I received from AQ. I wanted to try and post it, so everytime I need some flowers, I could click here.

Copy and paste the link: http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf

Click your mouse anywhere (& everywhere) on the page & see what happens!
Better yet, click (hold down) & drag your mouse over the black page...

Love it!!!!

April???

Yowza! Where did the last 3 months go? It seems like I was just taking down the Christmas stuff!! I have been thinking about time. One day I am wondering about where the time went...it went so fast. The next day I am wondering..."please let this day get over with" or "hurry up already", or "could you drive any slower?" and my favorite, "She has way to much time of her hands". I know I do need to slow down and smell the tulips (they are so beautiful right now). Sit down, breathe, play more games with the Js, spend more one on one time with the Js...I will do that as soon as I get this house cleaned...hee hee!! Nope, right now I am clicking "publish" and going to play Polly Pockets and watch Big J improve on his Rock Star skills with guitar hero!! :)

St Patricks Day

In first grade Big J and Middle J had a teacher that was Irish. She loved St. Patricks Day. To celebrate the day, the leprechaun snuck into their class @ recess and turned the room into a mess! The Js loved it! Since then they create elaborate traps to catch the leprechaun; we love it. Middle J created one out of a laundry baskets (yes, she did empty CLEAN clothes out of it, but later put them away after much discussion that "I am sure she put them away prior to making the trap"!). She then cut out black glitter construction paper and covered every hole with the paper and duct tape. She then set it with a ruler and money. Jacob's was easier, found a basket, set it up on a stick, loaded it with a few cheetos and gold dollars. We even set one up for Jamey-very simple, laundry basket, stick and lint on the carpet. Well, they didn't catch the leprechaun, he took their money, cheetos and line,but he did leave them a "pot of gold". Pot of Gold chocolates that is for the Big Js and green Peeps for Little J.....ugh....when am I ever going to fit into my swimsuit :)
P.S. I don't like Peeps, just the chocolate :)

You've got to see...

You have got to go see "Slumdog Millionaire"; probably up there as one of my fave movies now. MILove and I had the luxury of dinner and movie on Saturday. His bro watched the Js. The movie is so good; it is a "smack me across the face" reminder of just how blessed we are.

A visit

Wonders never cease.....my mom is coming for a visit in March. I owe is all the ManIL. He arranged all of it..despite contstant "well, I am not sures" from her...he did it! We have not seen her in almost 2 1/2 years. She doesn't like to travel...I could go on and on about the fact she has 3Js to visit, I am her only, they are her only...whatever. I am going to follow Elle's lead and "accept what IS".

the weekend

Why do the days when your kids and hubby have the day off, throw the whole day into a tailspin? Well, I know why they do, but why do they have to?? I look forward to 3 days weekends. An extra day to catch up with other things; more family time. So, we did extra stuff. We went to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum after church on Sunday. It was fabulous; it even had an exhibit on crystals which mesmerized Middle J because that is what she is doing for her Science Fair project. When Sunday night arrived I thought-we don't need to do the pre-week clean-up-we can do it tomorrow. I don't have to get laundry started, I can do that tomorrow...and so on...Come to think of it--what exactly did we do on Saturday?

Well Monday arrived- along with a full-blown sinus cold!! Almost forgot about Little J's swim lessons, remembered Middle J's piano lesson 5 minutes before it started-but we made it on time.(Thank goodness for small towns)! Dinner was late, the kids were crabbier than usual (exhausted from the long weekend), the house was a mess and "mom where are my favorite jeans?" Today is Tuesday, today is Tuesday...I have to keep saying that so I don't forget today's activities--sheesh! Is that the dryer buzzing? Where is the vacuum? Ugh…I have to go buy High School Musical 3 DVD for Middle J(she has been saving her $$ for this beloved day!) before I go pick up Little J. Coffee now please :)

I want one...do I need one?

Ok, I want it. I am wanting a new car (SUV). The van is 8 years old. We are starting to "nickle and dime" it. Even had it repainted d/t the tornado in AL last year--MIL's dady told us we should have pocketed the money from insurance instead of having it painted. Guilt got the best of me, right away--is that stealing? I mean it is our insurance, we do pay for it...nope, we had it painted and it is shiny now!

Anyway, the van, I love it, it had all the bells and whistles. The bells are not ringing so loudly anymore. First the alternator needed replaced, the radio buttons are not working all of the time, the breaks are making a squeek/grind noise. The lift gate is broke (so, I have to actually open it by hand!)The tires probably need replaced, it is leaking oil. Hmmm, have I given enough excuses for getting a new vehicle. I feel so selfish, MIL priced some SUV's..my mouth was drooling over them. So, pretty, so shiny and fancy! Then, I hear the kids playing viola, guitar, piano, AND 2 kinds of recorder (yes an alto and soprano--who knew!) They love music and we pay for it...ALOT. I cannot justify a new car-with the price of lessons and instruments and new soccer shoes and all of their pants are getting short and swimming lessons are starting soon. I think I will get some of that "new car" spray and take the van to the car wash--much less expensive :)

Finally Snow!!

I have been going thru the "blahs" apparently the sun doesn't shine that much in this part of the world! Oh, to be back in the place where there are mountains, snow and 350days of sunshine every year...(that is whole other blog entry:)) I love the sun, need it. Not only does the sun not shine much here, but it is cold AND it doesn't snow much either--WHAT??? I was never tipped off to this fact. Anyway---good news--SNOW!! We had about 4 inches-with freezing rain! The perfect recipe for perfect sledding. We had a 4 day weekend and a snow day today. The Js are loving it. And the neighborhood kids too. We are the house that all of the kid are at! I love it, because I can watch the big Js outside, sip coffee and cuddle with "little J" inside. I found my energy today!!

back in the groove

Whoa. Vacation really messes up my groove. I loved the whole trip, the sites, the smiles, laughs and even the callouses on my feet. The huge meals and junk food have begun to settle into places I don't like. My brain is still in slow mode. The Js are back to school. MIL is still @ home. He is taking a break after vacation. Hmmm, that would be nice, but where would I take my break. In bed with a book, watching a movie marathon. I am just not sure. I will ponder that while I get back to normal eating, sift thru laundry, step over shoes, unload the dishwasher(again), get groceries, catch up on work AND smile @ the memories we collected this past week. I wish I could bottle up the Js laughter and open it up everytime I need a little lift.

Innocence...may it last...

Little J and Middle J @ the Princess Royal Breakfast in Disneyworld.

Merry Christmas 2008!

Love them in their new PJs!

I have rock stars

Yes, we broke down last year and bought a...well...a video game system...GASP! The Wii, it is amazing and look--I have 2 budding Rock Stars!

**Disclaimer-Middle J is not allowed to wear those jeans anywhere outside of the backyard :)

Christmas @ the movies????

So, we went to the see Madagascar 2 for Big J's b-day party. The previews...I love them, I like to know what is coming out...but I think 6 of the previews were for movies opening on Christmas Day...this calls for a "seriously?". I need a show of hands, who goes to the movies on Christmas Day? Here's the scenario, wake up @ the butt crack of dawn. Make grandma's traditional "almond puff". Watch the kids open their presents with excitement,jumping around screaming that "that is what I always wanted". Grab another coffee, decide what to start making for dinner....then stop and say "OK kids, time to get dressed, we are going to the movies. Put down those toys, stop crying and get dressed--- I said, we are going to the movies." Truly, I hope the movies fail to sell any tickets that day...but sadly they will make a lot of money; maybe people go after their big Christmas dinner. I just cannot wrap my mind around it; I just cannot picture it. Don't we all get up way too early, open presents, play with presents, eat, play with presents, eat, doze while the kids play with presents, and eat a little bit more. We also like to throw in a "Happy Birthday to Jesus" tune in there too. Hmmmm, any thoughts?

Ok-update, talked with a girlfriend today (with kids). She thought it would be fantastic to go the movies on Christmas and did a couple of times as a kid. Maybe I am being a grinch?

really? He's 11?

My "little guy" turned eleven on Saturday. 5th grade....wow, I remember 5th grade. Guess what, the "health" class is this week. Remember that. The secrecy; the boys watch a film in one room, the girls in another. Well, we had the "talk" in May and we continue to have more "talks". He is @ the perfect age where none of it is funny and he listens very intently. I have great books, if you ever need a suggestion. Lord help me thru these preteen years. I will worry about the teen years...later.

Love that show

I love the show "Mad Men". If you ever get a chance to rent the 1st season from Netflix, you should. The second season just ended. You have to watch it back to back--it can be addictive. I should have grown up in the 50's--just for the clothes not the ultra traditional female roles.

Take my number

It was about 7 years ago. Christmas package mailing time, plus I was selling CM...so I had A LOT of packages. Enough to fill the double stroller, so Big J and Middle J had to clutch the sides of the stroller rather than ride in luxury. I walked into the post office and what to my wondering eyes should appear but 1,000 other package mailers there. Seriously...I did not think that many people could fit in such a small place. I had no other choice, I had to mail everything then. I pulled my number, compared it to the screen and there were 25 people in front of me.

We searched for spot on the wall to park the stoller...I pull out suckers, fruit snacks, various toys, my phone and anything else I could find in my purse (a very stylish one, I might add!). We were there about 30 minutes before the kids lost it. They were done, all of the candy was gone, the fruit snacks were smashed on the floor, toys had been flung...and where were my keys? I began to move the stroller to search for the keys when.....one package fell, then another and another...soon about 5 large packages were laying onthe floor, the kids were screaming, I was sweating bullets, and the dirty looks began to surround us. I finally got the packages back into the stroller and then my purse spilled. Now....I like big purses and this was no exception...so it holds a lot of stuff...including the "that time of the month" essentials...about 6 of them on the floor along with lots of pennies, wallet, extra keys, and probably 5 more pounds of non-descript items.... I then began to cry..that was it...I was giving up...it was way past time to go home.

Then, I felt a shadow hovering above the 3 of us as I sobbed and picked up the monthly essentials--a nicely dressed fatherly looking man said...are you okay...I am thinking "do we look ok?", but I of course in my 'mom of the year' voice, I said--"oh we are fine". He bent down and said "Here take my number, you go ahead, you need it more than I do" I did not hesitate for a second..."yes, oh, thank you." He even bent over to pick up everything that spilled from my purse. I did not even know what number he was, but it had to be better than mine. He then said "I understand how hard it can be sometimes." He stepped back into the crowd and guess what? I was the next number called. I did not even see him after I mailed everything, he was no where to be found to thank him.

This story reminds me that there is good out there...just like the starbucks line Elle referred to. It is there, thank God.

uga buga

Ok, here goes. Due to frequent, but not totally out of control prodding from Elle, I have started my blog. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to create a blog name? I racked my brain and could not think of a thing. Then I realized, I am drinking a Starbucks, and there is another empty cup within arms reach...from just the other day. My habit, it is expensive, but keeps me happy and is less expensive than my passion for purses/bags.

Now, I have to think of all of the clever acronyms/nicknames ...the pressure...Ok, here goes. MIL(man I love). Big J, middle J, and lil J. I will figure out the rest as I get into this. Next, I want to post a story that gets me thru the hectic time of year.