Blog Post Envy!

Ya know, my eldest was just lamenting the fact that he never "makes" the blog anymore.  He contends that it has been taken over by his little sisters.  Well, they are cuter around more and you have to actually BE here to be photographed! 

I am afraid we have hit that age where our older kids' social calendars are wwaayy busier than ours!  Sigh!

Anyway, I guess the eldest decided that he had to do something dramatic to get "blog time!"

Yep, he fell on a field trip and decided a nice little cut might make the blog!  There were middle school girls crying and middle school boys in awe of the amount of blood that was draining from my child's leg, into his shoe.

He wanted to keep the sock as a memento and of course I used it as a photo op, right before the dog ate it!  He was immensly satisfied and in pain and will eventually have one great big ole scap to pick! EWWWW! 

Boys! 

He is ok, though but did end up getting the tummy bug the very next day - and then giving it to me! 

He just looks way to happy, doesn't he?? 

So, here is your blog post dear boy, I promise to get you on more if you promise not to bleed!!!  Hehe!

Sunday Snapshot - It's Baaaack...

Summertime that is and we are so ready, HOT but ready, by golly!

We have made some ice cream

some really yummy ice cream

Cookies and Cream ice cream, to be exact!

We have done some swimming - with friends

and some slipping

and some sliding

We have enjoyed my Mom's beautiful yard

and her fabulous cooking!

We are ready! 

However, around here, summertime comes with a word of warning... 

I do NOT like the word "bored" and yet every summer as the kids look forward to being able to sleep late (yeah, that never works) and do nothing, every summer, about one week out, it happens!  That word leaks out, that dreaded word reappears and it drives me crazier crazy!

This year, I have laid it out for them and am looking forward to a little help around the house. 

Why, you might ask?

Well, I have warned the loafers my little darlings that if I hear that word, that dreaded word, come out of their sweet little mouths, they will be assigned a chore - a "Bore Chore!"  Bwahahahaha!!!

So here's to long lazy (but not "that word") days, summer baths (the pool), eating dinner on the front porch (esp after the house has been cleaned - Bore Chore #1), soccer on the beach (yeah, ya knew we couldn't go all summer without it), grilling out (night off for me - yippee) and FAMILY TIME!!!

Yep summer, bring it on!  My house could use a good cleaning!  Hehe!

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Great Finds

Check out these great finds:

These are COOLERS - 12 can capacity baby!  How cute are they??

You can find them at Tar*et for $10!!!  Yep, I said $10!  I bought 3 for teachers gifts this year cause ya know those wonderful teachers, will really NEED all 12 cans by the end of the school year!  Hehe!

Next year, after teaching this one...

I will need to get the 24 can cooler - I'm just sayin'.

The next great find I actually have to ask for help on.

I purchased this wonderful T shirt as a fundraiser for a family a couple of months ago and waited to give it to Lizzie on her birthday.

Can you think of a better advertisement for adoption??

The only problem is, I can't remember who I ordered it from!!  If any one knows, please leave it in the comments section (that is if you can comment - ugh) so that more t shirts can be ordered - all for a good cause!

Thanks y'all!

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT STORY !!!

This was sent to me by an animal advocate friend and I just HAD to share!!!

The story begins with the rescuers finding this poor little guy they named Ralphie. Someone had already taken him under their wing but they weren't equipped to adopt.
 

 
Ralphie, scared and starved, joined his rescuers...

I wouldn't think anything could live thru this.... but we were wrong.

This little lady also survived that wreckage.

Here she is just placed in the car - scared, but safe.
 

 
and then... they are no longer alone!

Instant friends, they comforted each other while in the car.

Add two more beagles were found after that...   the more, the merrier!

Oh boy, a new traveler to add to the mix...
(Note: the cat coming over the seat needing shelter)
Now just how is this going to work? (And remember, they are all strange to one another.)

It's going to work just fine, thank you very much!

Wow! The things we learn from our animal friends...

If only all of mankind could learn such valuable lessons as this.

Lessons of instant friendship... of peace and harmony by way of respect for one another -- no matter one's color or creed.

These animals tell you... "It's just good to be alive and with others." Yes, it surely is. So....Live, Love, Laugh, and SHARE!

Thank you to my friend for sharing.  My heart goes out to all those suffering from these horrible tornadoes, families and animals alike.

Sunday Snapshot - Happy Birthday Lizzie

My baby girl is 5 years old!!  I knew it was coming.  I mean we have been counting down the days until Lizzie is once again as old as her "big" sister but it came SO fast! 

Lizzie now has her very first loose tooth, has graduated from her self contained classroom to real Kindergarden next year AND is 5 years old!  Wow!  Things are happeninig, y'all and I am not sure that I am ready.  This is my baby girl, after all and while we try not to baby her and we try to make sure that she is "out there" and trying and doing and reaching her incredible potential, there is a place in my heart that just wants to scoop her up and hold her close and protect her from the world and there she goes growing up and all!

We started this day, her day with an unexpected meltdown.  She had been SO excited about this day and it really blindsided me a bit.  It was just one of those times that something triggered within my sweet girl and I lost her for a little while that morning.  She had to work hard to pull herself back from that place but she did and the celebration of the day, her day, got back on track. 

I don't know if it was her "one on one" with God (she will tell me to be quiet while she talks to God  - gotta love it) or the threat of loosing Ch*ck E Ch**se (a friend was having her bday party there that night) that pulled her back but I know which one I thanked!!

But after our rough start, all was forgotten and our little Lizzie was in full "Lizzie" form.  She took cookies to school to share with her class, got to go to her friend's party and the very next morning...

opened her gifts.

Lizzie has been talking a lot about her gifts - a lot and she was SO excited about each and every one of them

especially the one that was as big as she is!

Thanks Marney!

but do you know what her fav gift was, the gift that she has been asking for each and every day, the one gift that I knew, had it been forgotten...

I - would - be - living - hard!!!

That's right - bubble gum!!!

This girl LOVES her some bubble gum!!  LOL!

I am not complaining - except when I am picking gum off the carpet or out of hair!  Ugh!

We went to mom's to have her party, where we had cake

and swimming

and slip and slides

and one beautiful 5 year old birthday girl

who, while not growing much in stature

(her new bathing suit is a size 2T, sigh!)

has grown tremendously in every - other - way!

We love you precious little Lizzie!  Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

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