What Happens....

when you don't get up after your five year old tells you she wants breakfast.

Cereal boxes, a milk jug, spilt milk and wet dishcloths on your floor. A happy baby. Yummy, chocolate cereal!And one proud kindergartner!

Oops, She did it again!

Yes, Darcy, one would think that after falling down the stairs, Jensyn would be more careful. But.......While I was at work today, Carly and Leighton were playing upstairs and didn't want Jensyn to leave. They stacked the bean bags at the top of the stairs to keep her up there. That didn't stop her. She crawled up, and almost over, the bean bags. This upset the bean bags and sent her sliding down the stairs on top of one of them. According to Leighton she slid down on the bean bag, on her stomach, going bump, bump, bump all the way down. Poor baby, it probably scared her to death.



Speaking of death.... I would have liked to beat her to death when I saw the beautiful picture she drew for me on the wall. Thank goodness for Magic Eraser! (Thanks again Amanda.)

Mission Organization

As a kid (note: I just googled the copyright information on this book. It was copyrighted in 1983, I was nine), I used to spend so much time looking at this book..... The final page being my favorite.

I can remember lying on the floor, looking at this page and being so happy.

Just look at that organized closet! This picture just fills me with happiness.
This is my version.
My door. A close up of the top shelf. In the past it would have really bothered me that the containers didn't match, but I have come a long way in that regard. And all without therapy!
Remember the attic? Click here, if not. That project is much too daunting, so I have decided to tackle it a little at a time. Starting with this:
Moving on to this:
and this:
and lastly this:
ALL crafting supplies. Hopefully after that, most of this:

will be cleaned up.

She finally DID IT!

Yes, Jensyn fell down the stairs. ALL THE WAY DOWN! From top to bottom, end over end. With me one step behind her the whole way. I just couldn't reach her.

She was at the top yelling for Dee and went up onto her toes, lost her balance and unlike EVERY other time, she fell forward. I missed the back of her overalls by ---- this-----much. I started screaming and Dee met us at the bottom. She didn't hit the wall or banister. It didn't seem to hurt her, but it did scare her. When I picked her up at the bottom she was sweating.

That is my bad mommy act for the day, stay tuned for tomorrow's episode.

Fun in the Dark

We had the neighbor, Gunner, over while his parents went out. We played with glow sticks in the dark. We were able to get some really cool pictures.My favorite.Then, I turned on the night scene mode and caught these photos in the dark.Ok...Maybe the title of this post should be Fun in the Dark...for Some.

Jensyn loved the glow sticks, but hated the dark. Poor Baby!

The Best Birthday Party Ever!

The girls and I got invited to Madison and Taylor's Birthday Party, last Friday night. It was a Manicure/Pedicure/Pizza/Pool/Sleepover. These are some pictures of the fun. I would have loved to have a party like this at their age.

Carly having her nails painted by Diane.Leighton having her nails done. She is in her element.Carly all done and full of chocolate.

Diane, the owner, had purchased all the girls chocolate to indulge their sweet tooth.Carly waiting by the birthday girls for her turn in the chair.

(Taylor-right, Madison second from right)Carly in heaven. TV and a massage. Leighton cannot fit both her feet in the bath and her back at the massagers. Too cute. The women working there could not get over how cute she was, she was loving all the attention.
Leighton is such a girly girl and so truly happy in the salon.We headed off to the Pizza Hut -the girls in their pedi flip flops. Back to the Hotel and into swimming suits. One quick picture of all the girls and their nails.

Off to the pool....ccccold, so they all hopped into the hot tub.After an hour of screaming and fun, back to the room to bed down for the night.

The girls had a wonderful time and love their friends.

I love my friends, too. Even we had a good time. Thanks, Amanda and Michelle.

High Hopes and Aspirations

Leighton, Jensyn and I were playing Polly Pockets upstairs. Jensyn and I were sharing a house, leaving at least two houses for Leighton to live in. Instead she picked the ice cream truck and called it her 'trailer.' I showed her the houses, but she refused. Carly joined us shortly and picked the larger house. Leighton stuck with her 'trailer.' She then asked Carly if she could give her some food, because 'My girl is poor. She doesn't have any food. Her trailer doesn't even have any forks, spoons, or knives. So could you just bring her food, everyday, so she can eat.'

I told her to have her girl go buy some food. She told me that she couldn't 'because she was too poor and poor people don't know how to get a job'. Then she put her Polly Pocket into her convertible, filled to the brim with clothes, and said she was going to the mall.

I guess the White Trash Barbie will be #1 on her Christmas list.

Once Upon A Time...

Leighton sat on the couch and wrote a story. It took her about fifteen or twenty minutes. I tried to scan the actual story she wrote, but it was written too light and didn't turn out well. So here is the story transcribed EXACTLY as she wrote it:

51 Yersogo. wonman.rooldthe wold.
and thrwosnot e nof food fort he famle.
sothw ent onandon withnot enoffoodfor the fam le.
ovcos. t hatwos 45or 48 yer sogo.

Now with correct spacing:
51 Yers ogo, won man. roold the wold.
and thr wos not enof food for the famle.
so th went on and on with not enof food for the famle.
ov cos. that was 45 or 48 yers ogo.

And lastly, translated.
15 years ago, one man ruled the world.
And there was not enough food for the family.
So they went on and on with not enough food for the family.
Of course, that was 45 or 48 years ago.


Note: Yes, she meant 15 but wrote 51, it's not a typo.
This is not autobiographical. I know that she has been looking skinnier lately, but we do feed her. I think it has to do with the fact that she used to graze all morning at home and now she has to actually eat meals.

A Thank You, Well Earned

I would just like to say THANK YOU to all those men and women who have or are serving our country. This IS the best country in the world.
I made sure that my girls understand that today was not just a day off school, but a day of thanks. They know that my dad served as a soldier in Vietnam and as a reservist most of my life. Veteran's Day has always meant a lot to me. I always tear up when I hear the national anthem or even the Pledge of Allegiance (especially if it is said by children.) So many families have had to pay the ultimate price.... their soldier's life.

I heard this on the radio this morning on the way to work and wanted to share it:
The Final Inspection
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass,
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.


"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"


The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.


I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear
,And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.


If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."


There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod,
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.


"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

Drawing Blood

Carly has hypothyroidism and has to have her T4 and Free TSH levels tested periodically. I took her to have her blood drawn after school. Carly was asking if it was going to hurt. I told her it wasn't a shot, but it was going to hurt a little, but not for long. I explained that they would draw her blood to make sure that her thyroid medicine was working.

Carly is still fretting about the needle. Leighton is listening to all of this. Leighton tries to reassure her by saying, 'It's okay Carly they are just going to write your blood and then Mom will buy you ice cream.'

I love that five year old brain.

By the way, Carly did fine. Over the years, I have learned a few steadfast rules;
#1 Put her on my lap
#2 Tell the phlebotomist they get one chance and then we are leaving.
#3 Carly has a great vein in her hand, BUT
#4 If they want to use her arm, her veins roll terribly.
#5 Don't warn her when it's coming.
#6 Don't let her watch the sticking in of the needle.
#7 Do let her watch the blood filling up the vial.
#8 Don't let them put that hateful white tape on her arm - it hurts worse coming off than the needle prick.
#9 Ice cream erases the memory of any residual pain.
#10 Remove band aid ASAP-it just serves as a reminder.

Happy Birthday, Dee

Happy Birthday Dee! I love you and hope you have a wonderful day.