The Evolution of the Weekend

We had a nice but went by way too fast weekend ... Annie, Mary and Hope worked in the yard a LOT with their daddy, and one of Annie's most favorite friends came over to play. I did the never NEVER ending chore of laundry and trying to keep the house in some version of clean (HA!) mode (these days I'll settle for a tiny bit of tidy) with the obligatory trips to Target and Lowe's. Ah, how weekends have changed but I wouldn't change a thing ...

Southern Living

Here's Annie in her favorite "Cars" get-up ... I suppose it's technically supposed to be a boys movie, but she loves it, and we think it's hysterical, so no harm in my book.

And of course any good Southern woman would automatically pick "Southern Living" to peruse at the start of the day, so there you go. Pretty soon we'll be on the deck out back drinking mint juleps. Oh, wait, is it not ok to already be doing that now?

Then, the return to paci. Her poor little molar just needs to come on through before she chomps on every single thing in this house, but in the meantime her pacifiers seem to give her some comfort (along with every other thing we've tried.)

The Near Riot of 2008

Ok, so yesterday was Annie's beloved Moms Day Out program's Teacher Appreciation Day. Not only did I sign up to bring a dish (i.e. cook something) I also volunteered to stay with her class while the teachers went and had their program. Now this all seemed like a lovely idea however many weeks ago I volunteered ... a way to give back and what not. But yesterday I freaked out.

First, I began making a casserole, and Annie just stood in the kitchen staring, like "huh, a new activity for Mom to participate in." Then on my way to school later (another mom also volunteered to stay with the class because they wanted 2 adults since they have two teachers) I had this panic attack that the children might riot or something and we would be outnumbered. Then (and I am NOT proud of this) I thought "but they're small and we could tackle them." Ok, confession time: Annie's class has 6 children in it. This wonderful program keeps the numbers small so the kids have plenty of interaction with the teachers.

Wondering how it all turned out? Interestingly is the only word (if that's a word) I would use. It was naptime when we arrived, and of course Annie went berserk since I was there. She did fall asleep, though, but then was awakened by a child of the other mom (her kids also chose not to sleep,) so my precious child hopped up off her mat, yanked her pillowcase off her pillow and put it on her head like it was some insane partytime. I was not proud, needless to say. But we persevered, and I said an extra special prayer for her insanely kind teachers and all they do for the kids and for us.

And then I put away that casserole dish for the next time I cook, probably around a hundred years from now.

** Idol update: Brooke is gone, and I am never watching TV AGAIN **

The Kids

** See explanation in post below **

Baby, Baby

As my best friend of 30 years pointed out (thanks, Teri) I wrote nothing atop yesterday's post of a gazillion pictures (and trust me, those were only a gazillion of the bazillion pictures on the way) to explain anything. So here goes ...

Those are my cousins, Kelly (her husband, Michael, was home in Atlanta) and Kate, Kate's husband, Jim, and Kel and Michael's son, Spencer and Kate and Jim's son, James. To specify matters, Spencer has reddish hair, and James has curly dark hair. Kelly and Spencer stayed with us, and Kate, Jim, and James stayed with his sister, her husband and their kids in Bellevue (?), which is not too far from us.

And yes, we are all at a crawfish boil but not at my house. If if were at my house, we would be serving cereal or some other delicacy. And yes, my child did put her sippy cup in a huggy. Perhaps she's practicing for all those bottles of WATER she'll be slamming in huggies when she's in college. Who knows.

We had a grand time here at the house, although Annie called Spencer "baby" the whole time ... she's still looking for him. It's a smidge sad actually. I finally just glued a picture onto our infamous "sticker table" (that counts as crafting, huh, Danielle?) She pointed and said, "baby!!"

Family Time

Deep Thoughts

ok, so today I've been having deep thoughts about our world and all that's wrong with it ... wars, famine, rising gas prices, our government, Carly Smithson being off last night's "American Idol"... just things like that. But the one that stands out?

CARLY WAS VOTED OFF. This is just not right. At all. (Incidentally, in case there was any question, that's her picture at the end.) Oh, Carly, you will be successful, though. For anyone who doesn't watch the show, remember the name because I PROMISE you'll hear it again.

And now back to deep thoughts. Sure, sure, you all know I don't have any deep thoughts. Whatsoever.

Driving Without a Valid Make-up Bag

Ok, I was behind a car this morning with the driver (I'm assuming it was a woman) putting on make-up WHILST driving. Now please, unsafe doesn't even begin to describe this behavior. What if she'd poked her eye out or smudged her mascara? Tragedy. (Plus Annie was in the car with me, and that automatically makes me a smidge insane when it comes to people who don't drive properly.)

Now, to the real insanity of the world: American Idol. I love it so much! Last night was awesomely fun, at least for 4 of the 6 who are left. Poor Brooke and Jason I fear for. For anyone who doesn't watch, they're the second and third from the left in the picture I have provided.

Ok, must be off to enjoy Moms Day Out ... i.e. housecleaning, laundry, etc.

Sure.

The Progression of the Sticker Table

I couldn't help but lead with a picture of the progression of the incredibly beautiful sticker table ... it is truly breathtaking. We've already had several calls from different museums, so we're sort of weighing our options on that front. Ok, who are we kidding, I find myself at that table (even if Annie is asleep) just stickering away. Anthony feels I've become obsessed ... I feel he could (of course for the first time in his life) be wrong.

You'll also see pictures of some very relaxed girls ... that is because on the 8th day God created Moms Day Out. They know that on these days, their sister and all of her noisy hoopla will be out of the house. They can catch up on 2 years worth of naps, and believe me when I tell you they do!

You'll also see Annie doing various things whilst wearing her "leisure wear." We believe in comfy clothes around here once we've returned home from doing whatever. You just cannot beat a soft t-shirt and (lately) shorts. Not that we go far on account of the #%^*(#@ gas prices. I've begun walking everywhere, which means I should go so Annie and I will make it to Franklin by Wednesday morning.