What is up with me?

So, we are leaving for the beach tomorrow afternoon and I don't have a single thing packed. Sure, I've got my planny mcplan-plan categorized list all together like nobody's business...but it's now time to actually do something. I was even in the house all alone(!) last night (cue crickets) and all I did was pull out the boys' big overnight duffel bag. Tomorrow morning, I will go do all our grocery shopping (yes, I do have my list already done) before we leave, so we can go straight to the condo & unload.

Before Pop came to be a permanent part of our home, I always used the guest room as a "staging area" before a trip. Then, I could put stuff in there on the bed and close the door. When I returned it would still be there just as I left it. Now he lives there & I don't think he would appreciate sleeping under 40 pounds of our crap.

The kids are always in & out of my office, and there's really no place to put things where they wouldn't go in and plunder through it.

So, I'm sitting here at way-to-early a.m., unable to sleep but also unable to really do anything.

Oh, and I get to clean out the van of chaos & have the oil changed today. Joy. It's already about four thousand degrees outside, and have I mentioned I'm not motivated?

In case you're wondering if I've been abducted by aliens...I am so excited and have great things planned for this trip. Homemade pancakes for breakfast! Glow stick bracelets & necklaces for the kids to wear on the beach at night! And the coolest travel games from Target. (They're in the coolest vintage tins--magnetic tic-tac-toe & license plate scavenger hunt). I'm putting together a bag of entertaining items for restaurant waits, too. Ideas?

I know I will get it all done. And it will be fabulous. If you need me I'll be on the beach with a trashy book.

Scattered, Smothered, and Covered...

Stuff I've been doing:

• Cramming as much fun into the last days of summer as I possibly can...




• Coordinating schedules and hauling The President to all his essential summer activities like wrestling camp, swimming lessons, and Bruster's for milkshakes




• Having my (extremely high energy) nephew visit for a week




• Doctor's visits with Pop




• Extreme Makeover: Boys' Bedroom Edition (This is a post unto itself...)




• Dreading the start of school




• Family time (but not as much as I'd like...)




• Trying new recipes...my Creamy Tomato Basil soup is fab-u-lous




• Thinking about taking a fall mini-vacation




• Flat-ironing my hair for a new look




• Hoping to get to the bookstore soon for some new reading material




• Watching The Singing Bee with my sweetie, Joey Fatone...we love this show, and you can't stop yourself from singing along!


• Also watching Scott Baio is 45 and Single. If you are a child of the 80s...you have to see it just for the reality show/train wreck/Chachi/Charles in Charge mindless entertainment! Again, we're hooked!

Stuff I need to do:

• Shop for school supplies
• Finish converting the room formerly occupied by Fat Baby into an office
• Make myself doctor's appointments (annual gyn, therapy, dentist...)
• Get a pedicure
• Sign Fat Baby up for a preschool program
• Chill out

So, what's new with you?

Makin' Mama Proud

This week was Vacation Bible School. I don't know if the tradition is the same everywhere, but here in the South VBS is a big deal. And it has come a long way since I was growing up. Gone are the days of dixie cups of kool-aid and cookies with your bible stories...These days VBS is interactive, and the kids travel to different stations to fully experience the lesson through crafts, drama, music, games, and snacks. Since I had my hands full helping Pop with some necessary medical & paperwork details, a good friend helped a sister out & took my boys to church each night. They both really loved it. I loved the three-plus hours they were out of the house each evening. This is the first year since I've had kids that I haven't been actively involved and volunteering with VBS, but I feel that being there with my dad is a blessing and a calling that I can't afford to miss. So, I sent my little chickens out to get them some religion every night. On Sunday, our entire church service consisted of the kids performing the songs & recapping the bible points learned each night. The music that goes with the curriculum we use for VBS each year is always outstanding. The kids learn simple gestures and dance steps that go along with the lesson each day. We are blessed to have a great, energetic and enthusiastic worship-leader for the music. (She also happens to be a kindergarten teacher & is wonderful with the kids).

Now, a little background....the President is not all about performing. That's just not his thing. He loves to have his picture in the newspaper, or wouldn't even mind being on tv--just not dancing around & singing. In fact, he told me before church that he didn't believe he would participate, thankyouverymuch. To which I pleaded, "C'mon...just let me get a few pictures." After several minutes of debate, I told him I would give him a dollar to sing (and act like a normal six year old for once, for the love of God!) He is such a little capitalist, I know how to motivate him. He said, "Make it two & you've got a deal!" And he's been this way his whole life.

So imagine my utter delight when Fat Baby (not even three years old) is up there on stage, doing the motions & DROPPING IT LIKE IT'S HOT!!!! That kid was breaking it down! It was fantastic! He was center stage & totally stole the show! After a few songs, he started to climb down off the stage & I brought him to sit with me. You could just see the old ladies all over the congregation smiling at his irresistible cuteness. I was beaming as I snuggled him on my lap. Then, in that quiet moment just before the prayer...he looked into my eyes and smiled so sweetly, and pulled open my blouse and squealed, "BOOBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Help a sister out

It's been a while, but I haven't forgotten the random and rule-free tag from Jennifer at Playgroups Are No Place For Children. Before I ask y'all for a favor, it's time for me to finally respond. Here are ten things that make me happy:

1. Summertime! I love having a tan, hanging out by the pool with the boys, living in swimsuits, shorts & baseball caps, sleeping in, long, sunny days, grilling and chilling, vacations, and birthday parties.

2. Spending time with my family. I haven't posted since Memorial Day, but we had a blast camping (in an RV, thankyouverymuch--do I seem like a roughing it/tent camping kind of girl...ummmm, no) kayaking and tubing, grilling out, enjoying s'mores over the campfire, and making memories with Pop, my sister, and her two kiddos.

3. My DVR!!!!! It makes managing my television obsessions easy and efficient. I just started watching "Jon and Kate Plus 8" on Discovery Health. This couple has two six year olds, and SIX TWO YEAR-OLDS!!!! Fascinating. I could post all day about it. The mom is a bey-otch (wouldn't I be too, with five more Fat Babies running around here)...and totally treats her sweet husband like the ninth child. She yells at him in public & corrects him on camera. I can't wait to see more!

4. My faith. Shouldn't this have been #1 on the list? All I can say is God knows how my mind works, so He understands that it's bedtime & I'm just blowing off some steam. He knows that he is first in my heart, if not first on this list. My faith has carried me through a very tough year, and I've had to grow and learn to handle things that I never imagined. I know I will come through stronger on the other side.

5. My boys. They crack me up, they snuggle me, they give the best hugs and kisses, and they are gosh-darn adorable. Being a mom totally rocks! I even taught my parrot, Fat Baby, to say, "Mommy Wocks!" With these two, happy doesn't even begin to cover it.

6. Blogging. This blogging thing just opened up a whole new world to me. I've made some very cool friends from all over, and I've been able to open up and just be me. It's a great outlet, a source of support, and so much fun.

7. My Baby's Daddy. He's my best friend, my biggest fan, and he really understands me. We have the same sense of humor, and that's the tone of our family. We laugh a lot, we don't sweat the small stuff, and we really are happy most of the time.

8. Zoloft. Literally.

9. Getting a pedicure. If My Baby's Daddy is reading this, I'm hoping he'll volunteer to watch the boys Friday evening so I can get one before we leave for the beach. I read somewhere that women really want to have lots of vacation sex if their toenails are freshly done...

10. Reading a good book. I love love love to read--I'm always working on something. Now, this is where you come in. Please comment with your favorite beach book. We're leaving on Saturday, and I want to have lots of good reading material on hand. A trip to the book store is definitely on the agenda for Friday.

In case you're wondering...yes, I do have multiple lists for our trip. Yes, I do have a "staging area" where I'm organizing & packing away, and yes, in keeping with the theme of this meme, it makes me happy happy happy!

The Reviews Are In...

It's just about summertime, and I am oh, so ready for the livin' to be easy! As the school year comes to an end, so have many of my favorite shows. Since it's my blog, I will use this forum to purge my thoughts about the thrilling conclusions. I'm throwing in a bonus book review, since I just happened to complete it today.





I've already touched on Grey's Anatomy. I must say that I did feel a little better after reading Shonda Rhimes' blog on the subject. I can see how she wanted to "burn down the house," and start fresh next time. We'll see if I still have that frustrated, empty feeling at the end of the first episode of the new season.





Desperate Housewives was filled with twists, surprises, and a shocking possible suicide in the final scene. It did provide a sense of fulfillment and closure while leaving plenty of unanswered questions. I have been pretty dissatisfied with the last couple of DH seasons. I felt it was just too silly at times, and not as well done as Grey's Anatomy. The finale was just what I needed, though. I'll tune in again.





Dancing With The Stars...This one, I will really miss. I've made no secret about my little crush on Joey Fatone. I thought that their jive on the semi-final show was incredible. So much energy and charisma! I'm not surprised, though, that Apolo and Julianne won. It was a close race, and they were all excellent competitors.



I've had lots of tests and doctor's appointments with Pop lately, and that's given me a chance to catch up on my reading while I wait. I just finished Best Friends by Martha Moody. It wasn't difficult to read, but it wasn't one of those where you just can't wait to turn each page. I felt no connection to any of the main characters. In fact, I found them to be pretty annoying. The only interesting/ likeable characters were only present for little snapshots--like cameo appearances. Those whose personalities were fully developed irritated the hell out of me, really. I came away from the book with no strong feelings about it one way or the other. I was glad to have something to do to pass the time during doctor's appointments.

The President is out of school for the summer...and I am so glad! I really love just hanging out with my two boys. My favorite times are when school is out & we have nowhere we have to be, nothing we have to do. We are getting ready to work on our tans, have swimming lessons, and go to the beach. We will spend time with Pop, grill out, and stay up past our usual bedtime (hopefully followed by sleeping late!) You won't hear me say, "I can't wait for school to start back!" I'm just one of the kids & I'm ready to play!

Have a safe & happy Memorial Day week-end. Fun on the horizon...will recap when I return!