Weekend Fun

I wish I had more photos from our weekend to share but I've been a hold out on buying rechargeable batteries (that's about to change).  It seems that I am always needing batteries in the camera at the most photo-needed moments....

For example:  the kids getting to put up little trees in their room for the first time!  I got them WAY dirt cheap the week or so after Christmas last year.  JuJu's is white with multicolored lights and Connor's is a green fiber optic tree...soo cool!  Now, let's imagine what the picture would look like, shall we?! 

Ohh, look how those sweet little cheeks of JuJu's look so soft and warm by those lights!

(pretend photo here)

And, that creative Connor's lego ornaments he made for his tree...aren't they clever?!:

(pretend photo here)

Moving on...thankfully my bestie, Gayle, did have batteries in her camera for our much anticipated viewing of New Moon on Friday, so I borrowed her batteries to snap a couple of pics.  We went to the 2pm matinee with all the other over 30-somethings who love Jacob and Edward as if they were actually WAY UNDER 30-somethings (I say "they" because I would NEVER include myself in that group.  I am way too highly sophisticated for all that, I mean, it's just a silly movie). 

These pics show what happens when A) You are SO cracked up and put the timer on 2 seconds instead of 10 seconds and B) that I'm absolutely refined and just showin' off my souvenir cup.  Gayle totally has the pic on her camera of me smooching the cup.

Also, document-less is a lovely date night with my hubby at a local pizza dive.  Get those imaginations ready... 

(pretend photo here)

See!  Aren't we so cute, heads all smooshed together with him taking the quintessential self-portrait of us?!  His eyes are so blue! 

And check out my yummy bowl of spaghetti...it was delish!


(pretend photo here)

So, as you can clearly see, we really enjoyed our weekend around here!!  I'm so ding dang excited about our upcoming week and will surely take plenty o' photos to document!  Of course, I must first make a quick pit stop at Wal-Mart, bite the bullet and pay the $20 for the rechargeable batteries kit. 

Hope y'all had fun and PICTURE filled weekend!

PS--Kristie, it is my battery-less self that needs to take like TWO more pics of JuJu's room for the post...but I promise it's coming!!

Turkey Trot

Connor and I ran in a local 5K this past Saturday called the "Turkey Trot".  We're preparing to join a running club with our homeschool group so I thought this would be a great opportunity.  Plus, my sister and niece were running it as well and it'd be good family time.

Now, I am no seasoned runner, like my marathon-running-and-always-inspiring-bestie, Michele.  However, I actually enjoy running races moreso than just getting out to "train" at the track or whatever.  My training consists of neighborhood walks/jogs with the dog and the children and the occasional Denise Austin Pilates DVD--hey, she loves to "see my smiling face and pleasing arms"!  I like the crowds at the race, the music, the free snacks and my fave...the t-shirt. 

In fact, we were late to sign up for this race and I specifically called and made CERTAIN we'd be getting our shirts if we registered late...if not, then sorry Young Life, see ya next Trot.  But, thankfully, it was a go.

The morning of the race was beautiful, sunny and cool but not freezing.  We stretched and got ready to start and Connor told me he had butterflies...sweet boy.  I assured him that it was finishing the race that was important and to forget what he'd heard on Ricky Bobby "if ya ain't first yer last".  I'M JUST KIDDING.  WE WOULDN'T LET HIM WATCH THAT!

In all seriousness, the race started promptly at 8:30am.  This is a "trail run" so you run off road the entire race through nature trails, over creeks and streams and wide open fields.  Let me tell ya.  That's tough.

To make 3.2 miles a little shorter, Connor eventually felt the burn and began to see just how tough this was going to be.  I encouraged and cheered, others passed us and KK and MJ were long gone.  He kept saying he wished he had wings so he could fly to the end.  I told him we were not going to focus on what we did NOT have but what we DID have.  God gave us our bodies that are strong and healthy and can and should be pushed to keep us that way. 

Just when we thought we were nearing the end it was really ANOTHER leg around a huge field on loose gravel because of the recent rain.  At this point, I thought I'd cry.  Not necessarily because I was tired or hurting (I was) but because Connor was really feeling drained and weary at this point.  We'd been walking a good while and I knew what the feeling at the end would be like.  I just wanted him to know it'd be SO worth it.  His cheeks were red and flushed and his legs, I'm sure, were jello.  We continued on and not ONCE, ever even ONCE, did he say he wanted to stop or that he wished he wouldn't have signed up for this.  He did say "this is hard" several times but he was right. 

Onward we pushed and we rounded the corner to the home stretch...ALL UP HILL.  "C'mon, buddy, we are almost there....we can do it" "You're doing GREAT, Mom"  "So are you baby..push push" and we came to the crest of the hill where downward the crowds were cheering and I told him "honey, we do NOT walk across a finish line..." and he heard that crowd and kicked.it.in. and started running again!

YOU DID IT, BUDDY!!! WAY TO GO!!! 

My eyes WELLED up with unexpected tears as I watched him BEAM with pride for finishing the race. We crossed at 49:47--under an hour, on a tough off-road course...that ain't bad for a 9 year old first timer and his Mama!

I held hands with him during part of the race and really just soaked him up...realizing that I truly did not care if we were dead.last. (which we weren't) and that my shoulder may fall off from trying to run so awkwardly while holding his hand.  I wanted to show him in a physical form, what I hoped to do all of his days...run the tough roads with him, hold his hand even if hurts me, encourage him, love on him and share days as just mother and son.

It was a WONDERFUL day and will be one of my favorite memories with my darlin' boy!

Before the Race:

Our only after race pic...y'know he was hungry,

because he doesn't even LIKE bananas!!!

There aren't words...

Well, there actually ARE words to describe what I encountered last night while doing a little Christmas gift research...

However, you have to go here to read them.

Amber, lost her ever-lovin' mind and dragged me along for the ride, although we did score THE hottest ticket item for Christmas this year.  All without any in-store injuries and police intervention.  Ok, so, I actually prompted said mind-loss by asking her to HELP me find this gift for JuJu.  Anyway......

By all means click over and see what happened in our Ebay Zhu Zhu Saga!

Doth Mine Eyes Deceive Me?!

Is that really?! No, it can't be?!  Wait, let me look again........IT IS SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, there will be an ORDER of things around here today:

1.  Scratch anything indoors.

2.  GET OUTSIDE AND SOAK IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinkin' we're gonna do a couple of quick quick things here this mornin' (mainly get dressed and brush our teeth) and then were taking school outside--to the park to be exact, to stretch our waterlogged legs and cabin-fevered minds!  (With a pitstop at Subway thrown in). 

Thank you, Lord, for this gloriously beautiful day, this tired cooped up Mama sure did need it and I know my babies thank You, too!!

Attachments

I get easily attached to inanimate objects.

Confession/Admission is the proverbial "first step", right?!

That would include my van, my hair, my pillow, my techie "things" which leads me to this post....

My printer "died" last week.  It was only about 3 years old (who knew their lifespan was so short?!).  I did everything I personally knew to do to "save" her.  I fiddled with the cords, turned power on/off, unplugged, uninstalled and yet I kept getting an error message time after time. 

I perused the Sunday paper and found a decent printer on sale from $100 to $50.  I called about it and Kevin from Office Depot was very thorough in telling me that it was a good computer.  Know what I did?!  I went on and on about how my current printer was "so good to me" and how sad I was she wasn't working!!  Unhealthy.

So, as I sit here typing this post, I've uploaded the software for the new printer and I'm moping.  Because already, I don't know the buttons, I printed something and there are all new features on the menu.  Even sitting here I just can't help but think my sweet old printer still has some life in her?!  I mean after all, it really wasn't mechanics, I don't think, it was an error message that would.not.go.away. no matter how many times I removed a non-existent paper jam!!!

Unhealthy. 

Kevin assured me that it was cheaper to replace a printer than to fix one.  Now, I just need to get that through my attached self.  I won't even put the old one "out" yet.  Can't find it in my heart to do that!!  Because WHAT IF SHE DECIDES TO WORK ONE DAY?! THEN WHAT?!

For the record, to show I am completely certifiable, I kept a little small flat screen TV (we won at a company picnic) that was struck by lightening for ONE WHOLE YEAR.  Convinced, that one day I was gonna plug it up and it'd be like nothing ever happened.  DENIAL, people!

Alright, I'm gonna go try to make friends with my new "Pixma" and see if we have what it takes to become BFF.

PS--please don't send the white coats after me!! :)

10 on the 10th

I think all of us who participate in 10 on the 10th are always so grateful to have a way to coherently put some thoughts together!!  Thanks, always, Meredith for hosting!!!

So, because I cannot seem to get warm these days and Ida is pouring her rain down on us in the Deep South here's 10 WARM things I love:

*WARM FEET:  If my feet are cold my whole body is cold!!!  Although, as evidenced here it's time to do some sock shopping!  Not only do these socks not match but they belong to my husband....I can't find ONE set in my drawer!

*WARM BEVERAGES:  ok, technically hot...but coffee, tea, hot chocolate...MMMMMMMMMMM!

*WARM CHEEKS:  I love smooching my babies when they're sleeping and when they snuggle me first thing in the morning!!

*WARM HUSBAND:  (he's hot, too! ;)  My sweetie's body temperature MUST stay well above 98.6 degrees because he is warm in the freezing cold outside....I love it when I can snuggle him to get warm but I adore his warm hands!!

*WARM CLOTHES:  My kids and I love putting clothes on after they're "ironed" (which translates tossed in the dryer).  Sometimes, I'll dump the whole load on top of the kids on the couch!  I love sweaters, sweatshirts and bundling up, too!

*WARM THOUGHTS:  I have the sweetest friends and family.  Always saying, thinking and sharing their warmth with me and I love extending that warmth to those I know, too. 

*WARM BUNS:  Yep, my hiney, in the seat warmers of my Minnie.  Even in the summer, those things are therapeutic!!

*WARM HUGS:  One of my love languages is Physical Touch (I know you aren't surprised)...and a hug is truly one kindest gestures.  Just think of how a hug makes you feel whether you're happy, sad, sorrowful and I'm not talkin' 'bout no "fishy" hug...I'm talkin' about a "squeeze the goody outta ya" kinda hug!!

*WARM FOOD:  Ok, so this one should really say "hot" like the beverages....but this time of year I love soups, chili, chicken and dumplings...all that yummy cornbread and biscuits kinda food that warm ya down to yer toes!!!  Lest I forget, warm pie, brownies or cookies straight from the oven are always welcome to warm me up!

*WARM PLACES:  Disney World, THE BEACH, the pool in the summer....ahhh! Today, my warming blanket will have to do!!

Ok, now, I'm wanting to thaw out and eat, drink, kiss my kids, snuggle my hubby, call my friends and sit under my blanket the rest of the day!!!

Sharks to Plankton

The other day, I dished out advice to my friend that she literally turned around and gave right back to me last night.  Gotta love it when that happens.  We were talking about where to start our day and how to not start out with a load of laundry, walk in the bedroom to pick up a load and suddenly organize the jewelry box.  So, I said, "think of it as food chain style...start with sharks (laundry) and then eventually move on down to the plankton (jewelry box)."  See! That's clever if I do say so myself! 

As we were talking last night, I explained how I was feeling slightly overwhelmed and she reminded me of my oh so profound words:  SHARKS FIRST!  So, for the sake of accountability, my list:

SHARKS:

*computer printer shopping (a little unexpected death in our tech family last week and this one is a doozy....I can't live without my printer!)

*a visit with the birthday girl/grandmother, Mama Lou, who is 75 years young today....she's getting a Snuggie so she can work her crossword puzzles AND stay warm! Trust me, 75, is absolutely just a number!!  Just look at this beauty:

*grocery shopping back at my beloved Kroger....I'd fallen off the coupon wagon and strayed with such misfits as Wal-Mart and Ingles...Wal-Mart wasn't too terribly bad but Ingles?! OH.MY.HECK. their store brand was more expensive than ding dang PUBLIX!!!  I literally got a few essentials and left!  So, unless I want to serve my family half a bag of tater tots and some freezer burnt ice cream for dinner tonight than today it is...(I'm not kidding about those two items either)

*4-H meeting for Connor Bear

*Finishing up laundry, laundry and laundry.

*SCHOOL!

BIG FISH:

*make some phone calls

*go to the post office

PLANKTON:

*make some lists

*look through Sunday sales papers thoroughly and get some Christmas gift ideas

*organize that one hugacious pile in the school room

And, if all else feels I'll be like Dory and "JUST KEEP SWIMMING,  JUST KEEP SWIMMING!"

Happy Monday!