Sorry?

Recently, our 3 usually well behaved children landed themselves in some serious hot water with their dad and I. So, we did what all good parents do, we lectured them. We told them how disappointed we were in them, how we expected more, and that we couldn't trust them (they had been fighting and not listening ALL day). We then retreated to the bathroom where we stayed for a few minutes, so they could "think" about what they had done. (Since we were in a hotel in Kingman, AZ the bathroom was the only place we could go and lock the door).

While we were locked in the bathroom, the children took it upon themselves to use dad's ipad to apologize to us, so they opened the awesome program that allows you to write and draw in different colors. As you can see, they saw the error of their ways, repented, and felt sufficiently guilty given their awful behavior.

I would like to point out that instead of writing a note and slipping it under the door, like we did in the "olden" days, they took the newest piece of technology in the room and created a new way to apologize. Just another use for the ipad and the next time I need to apologize to my hubby you better believe I'm going to use the ipad. And yes, we did forgive the kiddos...how could we possibly stay mad at such a creative group of children?

Our Prayer Tonight

Did I mention my son was funny? I know, this will be 2 posts about him, but what can I say, the kid has material. So, Belle, Charlie, and I were in my bed (which is where they have been sleeping for the last 6 weeks while hubs has been gone)...don't ask...anyway, we were snuggled in bed saying our nighttime prayers and it's Charlie's turn. Earlier in the day at school he had fallen off the monkey bars at school (right on his cute little bum) and complained a little off and on about it when he got home. Back to the prayer:

"Dear Heavenly Father,
Please protect Daddy in Kingman.
Please make Mae better and help her to be able to play again,
and please help my butt to stop hurting.
In Jesus' name,
Amen".

Hysterical laughter coming for Belle's side of the bed and all I could think to say is "did you just say butt in a prayer to God?" We don't use the word butt in our house (notice it's four letters). I may use it, but the kiddos aren't supposed to...so, Charlie closes his eyes quickly and says:

"God, I meant to say bottom...will you please help my bottom stop hurting".

As Belle continues to giggle, I can't help but join her because my funny son managed to say "butt" as he was talking to our Father in Heaven. I could almost hear His chuckle, as well.

Kids say the darndest things, don't they?

Meet the Teacher

My son in funny! I've never met a kid quite like him. Last year, when we started a new school he gave some advice on making new friends and we used his wise words again this year. He told them, "Just make them laugh. That's how I make friends."
Who doesn't want to be friends with a funny person?

So, this year he started 1st grade in yet another new school. We went to Meet the Teacher day and things went so well. We met Belle's teacher, bought our spirit shirts, and last but not least met Charlie's teacher. And this is how the conversation went:

C: Hi, how long have you been teaching?
T: Long enough to know how. Probably longer than your mom's been alive. Well, maybe not that long.
C: Would you say like 25 years? (He's like grilling her now).
T: Almost 25 years. So long that I go to the district and teach other teachers. But 1st grade is my favorite! (All smiles. She thinks she's satisfied him)
C: So, you're like a professional teacher then?
And to this she looks over at me smiling like "it's going to be quite a year" to which I reply out loud, "he's all yours!"

So, I'm wishing Ms. O'neill a lot of luck with this little boy because he's going to keep her on her toes! I then told her not to believe everything she hears about me to which she says you too!

Back to School

It's that time of year again where our little ones and big ones head off early in the morning, spend their days with teachers and friends, and return home tired and hungry. Last year I was sad and felt empty when the kiddos went back to school. This year was quite different and what a relief.

I felt a little guilty doing the "happy dance" before the bus even pulled away from the curb, but it didn't stop me from celebrating just a little. My poor neighbor was sending her 4th child to kindergarten and cried as we walked back to our houses. I felt for her, but was relieved to find out that my sister-in-laws did their own happy dances as their children left for school.

School has been in for 4 official days and I have become so much more productive around the house. Tomorrow I'm headed to a nearby gym (gasp) to sign up for a membership, so I can start working out and return my body to its post-baby state...ok, maybe that's a dream, but I would like shrink the size of my butt! I can actually do some things for myself this year and feel a little guilty about that, but my mother-in-law says give it 2 months and the guilt will be gone.

I am also happy to report that all 3 children have had positive experiences in their new schools and seem to be making friends and adjusting well. After our first day jitters, things started running smoothly, including going to bed at a decent hour. Although no one likes getting up at 6:30 (including me, especially me).




WOW! Where does the time go? It was only yesterday...and now they are in the 3rd and 1st grade.








Two words: seventh grade! One important rule: NO boys! A mom can hope, can't she?

A Proper Good-bye

So much has happened in the last 2 months that I don't know exactly where to begin, but the one thing I haven't done is say good-bye to TX.

We moved, again and for hubby's sake I hope for the last time. Currently, we are settling into our new home in Mesa, AZ still surrounded by boxes and with a ton of work to do (but what's new).

Although our time in Katy, TX was short (a year almost to the day), we made some incredible memories and more importantly some lifelong friends. We will miss our old and new friends that we made in TX dearly and want to thank them for the great memories and their love and support of our family.

In TX, our children attended public school for the first time and other than a bus incident, it was a positive experience and not as scary as they thought it would be. I found a job that I loved (haven't worked in a VERY long time). I worked with some great kids and co-workers (some of which will be lifetime friends). Hubby got some amazing training at the leading cancer hospital in the world and did cutting edge procedures that will help all his future patients (can you tell I'm proud of him?). These are just a few things TX offered us and as we move away I can honestly say all 5 of us are better people and a closer family for having been there.

So, GOOD-BYE to the great state of Texas. We enjoyed our time with you and now we are opening a new chapter of our life in Arizona where I also expect amazing things! We love blue bonnets "deep in the heart of TX" and will take the "yellow rose of TX" with us.

Why we Talk.

We all know women and men are different in more ways than one. I am convinced that God has a very good sense of humor based on how different we are when it comes to communicating.

Recently, we took a very LONG road trip from Houston, TX to Birmingham, AL to visit family and friends (that's another blog). While we were there, we met many of our friends for lunch and a movie. Belle had her friends there (8 yr olds) and Annie had her friends (12 yr olds) and I had my friends (no one needs to know our ages). Oh, Charlie, my husband, and my dad were very good sports about coming along.

At lunch my brilliant husband and father made an observation about girls and women. First they observed Annie's group who were all talking at one time and trying to talk over each other. This is when my hubby turns to Papa and says girls talk to make connections and build relationships (duh) and guys, well they don't have to talk and when they do it is to convey information. According to my dad guys can sit at lunch with each other and not say anything for 20 minutes and it doesn't mean anything is wrong or someone is mad at someone else.

To prove their theory my dad sits down at the "mom table" and discovers we are doing the same thing. Chatting about nothing in particular, having side conversations, and everyone was talking at the same time. Of course, he shares his theory and we all look at him like "what is your point". Listen guys we've known this about ourselves since the beginning of time.

I also have a theory that piggy backs on their theory. Women also build stronger relationships withe each other because we talk ALL the time. Guys should be a fly on the wall during GNO. Wow, wouldn't they get an education on women and how we communicate.

With this being said, I am blessed, as are my girls to have the women/girls in our lives that we can pick right back up with after 6 months of absence and never miss a beat. So, because I don't say it enough "thank you to my women friends who make me a better woman and thank you for raising daughters who make my girls better people". I always loved being a girl and this is one of the major reasons why. I don't want to sit at lunch and not say anything for 20 minutes because this would mean I was mad or something was wrong ;)

"Little" girls talking

"Big" girls talking

Fruit Snacking

The other day I was starving and had a ton of things on my to-do list, so as I look around the car for a cracker box or some bag of stale pretzels, it's clean. The car is clean. There is nothing to eat on the floor. I even resorted to looking in the way back for something. Usually there's enough food on the floor to feed a small tribe in Africa.

And then I spy my purse on the seat and am confident there is a snack to be had or maybe even some gum I could chew.

As I'm rummaging around the bottom of my purse, there's some fruit snacks in the bottom of the purse. I have no idea how old they are or where they came from, but my hunger got the better of me and yes, I ate them.

I was so desperate for something to eat, I ate fruit snacks out of the bottom of my purse. And I know that I'm not the only person who has done this. Am I?