My Life is Crazy

but not too crazy to update our happenings...



Like the first food fight, ever, at our house. Started by Gabe. Ended by Gabe. Eggs & noodles.



Or how Gabe is obsessed with body parts...of all kinds. Everything from esophagus to, you guessed it, the body part most boys like to talk about.



And Flynn, who I was almost certain would don glasses by kindergarten, is saved by a hair. Her crossed-eyeness & far-sightedness falls within the normal range. Letting her K teacher know & watching to make sure it doesn't get worse, was all it requires.

But, I never want her to have to get her eyes dilated. Ever. Again. PS Super dark eyes are harder to dilate than lighter ones. 5 years + 2 SETS of dilation drops = whiny kid for the rest of the day.



Flynn starts summer school soon. Daddy will be teaching in the same building (which is why she's going). She's so excited.



How does time go by so fast? On the way to niece Hannah's graduation, I thought about how she was just weeks old at my graduation. At that time, I could never have pictured her on that same walk, about to take on adult life. But it got here. In a jiffy. Too fast.

It makes me want to keep taking those pictures in my mind, and freeze time.



Preschool graduations, dance recitals, trips to the zoo, summer school, Mommy working 3 part time jobs, birthday parties, church stuff, park playdates, graduations/parties, you name it... it's on our schedule.

Life's too busy.

Me Got a Question For You

My little jokester has been working hard on spinning his knock-knocks & one-liners.  Sometimes he remembers them correctly, sometimes he makes them up as he goes along.

I'd like to say they're always funny, but that would be a stretch.

My favorite thing about all of it is his approach,

"Hey Momma, me got a question for you..."

And when I hear that, I can't resist.

Okay, You Look At this & Try Not to Cry

See?  I told you, IMPOSSIBLE.

And so, that's exactly what I did Tuesday.  Cried...and cried...and cried.  And I didn't care who saw me.

I used to be a closet cryer.  Actually, I didn't even cry in the closet.  I just rarely cried anywhere.  

And now?  Now that I'm a Momma?  I cry at everything....Hallmark ads....Johnson & Johnson commercials, you name it.

So imagine my floodgates opening up when my girl who used to make the cutest little "O" with her mouth when she was a baby, who bit her baby brother's toe when she was 1 & he was zero, who has managed to make me fall in love with everything about her (including her penchant for pink),

walked up to the microphone donning a paper grad cap and said,

"Thank You."

And when her BFF's name was called (one of the first) to receive her diploma, I went ahead & started sobbing.  Not just silent, subtle tears, but loud ugly sobs that made even Hot Hub's head do a jerk.

I might as well start stockpiling kleenex for kindergarten.  Less than 90 days to find the perfect waterproof mascara.

Wish me luck.

Possibly One of the Cutest Things She's Ever Said

We're happily diving into a tub of summer clothes, mostly stocked by HAND ME DOWNS by our favorite hand me down'ers.

I came across a shirt (I think from our pastors), which is kelly green with bright yellow writing (that alone could make me love it).  It has JOE on the front, MAMMA on the back.  Haha.

Like I do w/ all her clothing, I put it on her, and explained what it said.  I laughed as I said it.

About 5 minutes later, she approached me, 

"Momma?  Was this YOUR shirt when you were little?"

"Um, no..."

"Then why does it have your name on the back??"

Questions

My kids are asking me questions all the time... that I find myself unequipped to answer.

Here are some of them:

• What kind of 'animals' are the Fraggle Rock characters
• Why did God make 'icky' animals
• How many days 'til my birthday
• Can I ride the giraffe at the zoo
• Why can't we have more babies

That's just a small sampling. Sometimes I muster up a response...sometimes I say, "I don't know."
Sometimes...I say...
"Ask Daddy."

Not Bragging On My Kids

This time I'm bragging on me.

I've lost 30 lbs in 6 months. Which now that I see that in print, it doesn't seem that impressive... like who can't lose 5 lbs a month.
But, does it sound better if I say that 25 of those 30 lbs have been since February?

One clothing size down.

And the biggest benefit, is bending over to tie my shoes & it not hurting. Or running after the kids & not having to stop & take my pulse.

Okay, 20 lbs to go.

His Dad's a Science Teacher...

so why should expect differently?

Like when he & his sis get in a scuffle (regular occurrence) & he comes to me, crying...

"Momma... Fwynn hit me... she hit me... in the esophagus...."

I've Heard of 'Break a Leg', but this is ridiculous...

Monday, on account of me being busy with the tv spot, Papa was roped into dropping Flynn off (as well as picking her up) at dance.

It sounds as if she wasn't getting into her seat & strapping herself in right away. So Papa did his uncanny approach of coercing her into her seat,
"Flynn if you fall out of the truck on the way to dance, you won't be able to dance if we run over your leg."

This was no threat to Flynn,
"It's okay, I can dance on one leg."

Were You Outside on TV Momma?

As if my few tv appearances haven't been confusing enough to my kiddos, today's segment included a clip of me OUTSIDE (pre-taped) garage sale'ing.
I came home & Gabe was as confused as could be.
We may have gotten it straightened out. Not sure.

Want to see the vid? GO HERE.

And don't worry, I don't typically make it a habit to give my friends & family garage sale 'stuff'. :)

I Used to Hate School Pictures (chapter 2)

The really sweet thing?... he was most proud of his shirt in this picture. The super thing is that I didn't even buy the shirt. It was handed down to us (not sure by whom, but thank you!).

And by the way, I don't think he's a handsome little devil because he looks just like his daddy. It's just 'cause he is.

Happy Mother's Day!

My old college buddy Monica gave me the nicest Mother's Day gift a girl could ask for (that is, besides a nose-piercing, of course), she nominated me for MOTHER OF THE YEAR!
And guess what?, I won!

Check it out HERE!

Happy Momma's Day to my Momma! And to Hot Hub's Mom! And to all the other Mommas in my life!

I'm ALMOST Ashamed

(but am more entertained than ashamed)

because I FINALLY cleaned out our van. Gross, gross, gross.

Yes, that's 3 cups & little girl undies you see. And pitchers. And coupons, and gloves & insane amounts of coats.

You're wondering how?

Me too.

Strange Is Love

Who doesn't think their kid is the cutest? Seriously.
But mine really is. Both.
Warning, about to brag on the oldest....

My sister called me. She told me how my youngest niece had hot plans to audition for the local college's musical, which was featuring a handful of roles for children. KK suggested that Flynn try out as well.

I've always wanted Flynn to have more exposure on the stage, she hasn't had near as much as I had at her age. So I figured it was a plan... and yesterday, asked her if she was interested.

"Okay." And got increasingly interested.

I explained the process to her, how she'd stand in front of a group of people, who'd be STARING at her (she sometimes has a problem w/ this) & she'd be asked a question or two, then be asked to SING for the group... and that I wouldn't be able to help her, that she might not even see me.

She didn't seem phased. And then I asked what song she wanted to sing. "How about 'Jesus Loves Me'?"

I was cool w/ that. I figured, she's sang no other song as many times. It's the song she sings to Baby Levi every Tues. & Wed.

But then, she had an idea. "How about Syliva & Mickey?" (Love is Strange)

I agreed that would be a strong choice. I figured it featured a bit more personality & taught her the title, as I figured that'd be a question they'd ask.

Fully prepared for her to chicken out on the way to the front, she shocked me by looking at the director & answering his questions with a straight face.

"Flynn, you're five?"

"Yes."

"Where do you go to school?"

"I dunno."

"Okay, what will you be singing for us?"

"Strange Is Love."

The director commented that it's one of his favorite songs, even though that title is most likely not a song (altho Love Is Strange is).

And she gave it her all. Never stuttered or had a loss. And even threw in a hand motion or two. And if it wasn't midnight, I'd wake Jeff & ask for his memory card to upload the very-amateur vid.

So, you'll just have to take my word for it that she's a shoe in. That she broke a leg.
And...

Strange Is Love.

You Finally Have a Big Boy Bed

About 6 mos ago, Nana asked Mommy if she had plans on getting you a "better bed". Mommy knew your mattress/box springs were A-okay & didn't give it another thought. But it bothered Nana that your set sat on the floor. Mommy thought it was kind of cute, your sock monkeys were skirted by a chocolate brown & she knew if you rolled off, you didn't have a far fall.

Then Nana called one Sunday, about a month ago & talked to Mommy about a new bed she saw at the furniture store. "It's really nice & has big drawers underneath." The drawer thing picqued Mommy's interest, as she's a sucker for storage. Nana told Mommy that she & Papa wanted to get Gabe a bed...and that picqued Mommy's interest even more. "Okay" Mommy told Nana.
Then, a few Saturdays ago, your bed was delivered to the store & Papa went & picked it up w/ his truck. He & Nana delivered it & you couldn't have been more thrilled. You wallered & rolled & put your feet on the wall.

Along with other things I can't explain.

And drifted off into dreamland. Big Boy Dreamland that is....

Orange You Glad?....

I am. Glad that is. Glad that we took the few days & attended what was probably the best conference I've ever attended. For so many different reasons.
It was refreshing... the team you see above has given so much these last 9+ mos. Given to be sure that kids not only learn about Jesus, but learn in the best ways & environment possible.
So, three days just for us to receive, be refreshed, & have new ideas poured into.

Not only that, but we got to have our photo taken in this car which is hands-down, the COOLEST vehicle I have ever sat in.

Queen Cutie

As if I could be more proud of her, my eldest niece (the first one to steal my heart), was crowned Prom Queen (this after just 1/2 her senior year there!!).

Post Coronation with my twin older sister