Another Fun Girl Quoteable!

Because Fun Girl would not expect me to do it, I am posting this!

Under the influence of end of day fatigue and post-concussion syndrome

and the inability to argue and defend myself.

My girls and my friend put this on my head!

They found it in the back of the store at Kirklands.

Then Fun Girl texted out the picture with the following quote,

"The devil wears discount Prada"

 



Girl's Weekend

The last several years we have done a lot of traveling for hockey. 

It has been fun.  Then Fun Girl decided she wanted to try swim team again.

This time, we found a team that was a really good fit for our Fun Girl and her family.

She has been having soo much fun, she wanted to travel for meets.

With sick brothers at home, we hit the road. 

Just the three of us girls.

We learned some navigation lessons.

Listened to music, chatted and just enjoyed the estrogen levels. :)

The biggest difference with swim team is trying to find your person!

Under water.

 

Don't blink or you could lose your swimmer.

 

 

I was amazed during warm ups!

I texted this video to a friend.

She responded back with:

"It's Where's Waldo ~ Fun Girl style!"

She is right.

 

 

 

Bringing in personal bests while trying to overcome Bronchitis

left her Momma in awe.

 

Then a Momma showed up at the pool with cupcakes.

No ordinary cupcakes.

Next thing you know, I was headed the 5 blocks over.

 With Little Princess by my side

we oohhed and ahhhed.

 

 

Decisions, decisions ???

 

 

 

Choices made!

 

 

We were well behaved all through the remainder of the meet.

We waited till we were in the car.  With forks in hand we each started sampling.

Nope, no pictures.

No one wanted to stop eating long enough to take pictures.

Pure selfishness.

The other two would not have stopped sampling! 

YUMMY!

 

Sometimes it takes me a while...

I have been slow to come around. 

You see I can remember back in the day...way back in the day
When Candle Light (spelling) was all the rage.

It was back when I was young and in love and newly married.

Before 5 kids.

They smelled pretty.

The home parties were fun.

So I have heard rumblings here and there....Scentsy.

No way! 

You see I gave up my candles. 

Somewhere around kid number 2.

Just couldn't keep up when I was alone. 
Someone was always out of sight.

And well fire can be so pretty.

It can be so fascinating.

Then they learn to blow and well, they just blew them out.

Then I was hook line and sinkered into scrap booking.

Then along came child number 4 and 5.

Well, not doing much there. 

But all these neat and wonderful things cost money to keep up with and keep going.

My kids are the same way!

Come this past March I visited my frugal friend Dara.

Hook line and sinkered me! she did.

They got to her.  She is just as penny pinching as I can be, but they got to her.

I fell in love.

Pretty to look at. 

Pretty to smell.

But I didn't buy.  I just smiled.

Then summer came.

My boys played!

Need I say anymore.

I got to where I didn't want to go downstairs.

Opening windows helped.

Air freshners helped. 

Deodorant helped.

But only for a while....

Then I went to my family reunion.

They auctioned off some scentsy.

For sure what I thought was a bargain price.
(and it was!!! I soon found out...see the frugal me. )

But I had no warmer.

So I batted my eyes and said pretty please to hubby

and

he looked at me with this look that I know all too well.

The one that says, what is this really going to cost.

And he asked me what is SCENTSY???

Makes the house smell pretty.

Still the look.

Remember Candle light when we got married??

Maybe that wasn't the best comparison, cause that was a little pricey...

The eye brows go up!

But there is no fire.

We don't have to worry about the house burning down.

We would have a pretty smelling house....

He just can't resist my smile and eyes.

And I know it and I am sooo bad.  

He asked how much?

I had to restrain myself so he didn't go apopletic.

Then the next week, I inherited some from Papa and Grandmama Mac
(my parents!!!)

I saw them in their house and was so excited cause they were a part of the club!

Papa was like I don't know where the baseball thing is.
It was for a fundraiser, here take it all!!!

Are you sure?  It is pretty.  Surely Momma wants it.

Nope, they stuck it in my box of books.

I have been waiting and waiting.

My stuff came today!

My bathroom, cause I should get first dibs!!

 

My living room!

 

 

I quickly plugged them in and left for the night.

When everyone re entered they smiled!

Even hubby! 

He even agrees the basement needs one or two!!!

Then he asked about the cubes. 

I figured it out. 

Well it is a bit more than I spend in air freshners...

but it smells so yummy!

Surely I can stretch it out a little bit...

Surely, with some frugal conniving,
I can sniff to my heart's pleasure!

 

My Grand-Neice!!

The difference between REAL Women and Teens

Hmph,  Fun Girl laughed at me tonight.
She came home from Servant Team.  A small group, Bible study, planning group for her youth group and she laughed at me. 
Hmmmph.  Have to think about whether she should be allowed to go back. 
All of her siblings were super sweet when they came in the room.  Lots of hugs and I love yous. 
My oldest, she laughed at me. 
Why?  you ask..
Cause I was crying.  Tears rolling down my cheeks, crying.  Curled up on the couch under a blanket, hushing everyone crying.
Hallmark movie was on....
Even Hubby was sweet and gave me a hug and kiss and was quiet.

I informed Fun Girl.... "REAL WOMEN cry at Hallmark commercials AND movies."
(Obviously, Fun Girl is not a REAL WOMAN yet,  she is just a TEEN!)
I have been needing a good cry. 
With the week coming up, I sure hope there will be another good Hallmark movie to watch.
 Such good stress relievers.
 

Tornados and Girls

Modern technology allows for really advanced warning.  Such a blessing! 
We have known days in advance of the severe weather on its way. 
Along with the advance warning it is possible to secure survival stuff and belongings you want to protect as much as possible.
Nothing like when I was little.  The sirens would go off and you took cover.  No worries about the stuff in your life. 
This mom thinks about medicine, dog food, water, a cell phone, financial information.
With 45 minutes to spare before the storm hits, I realized I had a 15 year old daughter and a 10 year old daughter.  Clearly identifiable by their priorities 
The 15 year old daughter takes care of the basic of needs and then makes sure she secures her hair styling equipment and makeup. 
The 10 year old daughter grabs her pillows, stuffed animals, blankets and crocheting. 
The brothers.....  well 2 of them are asleep on the basement couches.  Hockey Player makes sure the flashlights are in working order. 

Growing Up!

Some of my younger friends have been asking me what I have done in terms of talking to my son about growing up.  I have been telling them about the Boy's Body Book.

I had done quite a bit of research before deciding upon this book.  But what caused me to take the plunge was the reviews that compared it to the American Girl book, "The Care and Keeping of You.  

I especially like the fact that the 3 letter word is not discussed.  It, also, encouraged the boys to take on household responsibilities like laundry.  Talked about how body changes aren't an easy thing to talk about for the kids or the parents and some of the reasons.  Presents a nice foundation for understanding and communication on both sides.  

Lego Friends

As I have mentioned in the past I have some Lego loving kids.  One in particular is a Lego loving Girl!  She loves the pink Legos.  Recently, when shopping I discovered Legos has come out with a new line.  Lego Friends    Oh my, oh my, when my Little Princess discovers these beauties she will be in heaven.  Nope, I haven't told her yet.  I kinda would like to walk non-chalantly down the aisle at the store and see her expression when she discovers them.... Though, I am getting impatient.  We may have to stumble upon them online or something cause I can't seem to get to the store with her lately. 
If I had to choose 3, I think these are the perfect ones for my Little Princess.










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Potatoes!

Last year the rabbits invaded. This year, we had POTATOES!
The girls were excited to see the crop we dug up. I was gonna have the Dad help me, but the girls were quickly at our side, so Dad was allowed to go and do his thing.
Not a bad crop for the small garden we have! We also dug up the onions at the same time. Not quite I was hoping for out of the onions. Maybe next year will be better. But the plan from last year worked and the rabbits did not bother the potatoes! Woohoo!

** New Looks for Spring **

This past weekend, we had girl time.
I had one girl asking to garage sale. Another wanting/needing shoes. I had a few errands and a hair appointment. While I was having my hair moment the girls checked out the books. Both found styles they just adored.
But there was absolutely no way, I would get their hair cut without consulting Dad. Dad wasn't answering his phone. So we tried Papa. Papa said NO!, he liked long hair. Eventually Dad returned our calls.
If you have seen the recent spring videos of the girls, you will notice their hair was much longer than it is now. I knew these changes would be coming, it would just take a day when we were all ready and could put the girls in hands we could trust. I am chicken when comes to changing hair styles. I just don't want to go for it and have it turn out not like I hoped. But I was the one encouraging shorter, shorter, a little more shorter. Wonderful hair stylists who knew how to compromise between mom and daughter and how to get a cut that works for a girl's/mom's lifestyle and hair type. My girls are thrilled! That is what counts the most!
5 inches and 7 inches later, dad has survived and likes his girls' new looks!
We haven't seen grandpa yet, don't know if he will survive this or not!

Another Girls' Night Out...

Tonight, I was whisked away with parting words that warned the children....
"Be good! If I get a call, there will be 5 moms on this porch. None of us will be happy, because we had our night interrupted."
I wasn't driving!
It worked.
No calls.
No texts, till I started texting to check up on them.

So what do 5 Moms do when they go out ?
Well this wild bunch goes to Bella Luna Cafe.
AND they drink WATER!
The waiter takes very good care of us.
Some might even say, he was "adorable!"
But we gotta watch the time.
Cause this bunch is crazy and they have a few stops to make.
On the list:
Children's Ibuprofen
Return/Exchange at Claire's
Justice for Girls.... there is a 2.99 sale (mentioned in post below) and we have 5, count them 5 coupons. One for each of us! ! ! And I have a return to do!

Well, the cafe is by the stores, and it just makes practical sense to get these little errands out of the way. Why drive all the way back there tomorrow or Friday?

Oh, by the way, we are out on a Wednesday! Definitely wild on our part, because we normally save girls night out for Friday nights. Never Saturday night, cause we gotta be able to get up for church! But, hey, it is Spring Break!

I even managed to get a picture of my 4 partners in wildness! I couldn't be in the photo, ah that really is too bad. But there wasn't anyone out in the parking lot to help us out. Hello! it's Spring Break, where is everybody?

So we stayed long enough to close the store 30 minutes later than the sales people wanted. So what do moms do when they don't want to go home on a Wednesday night? They go to Target to get Ibuprofen and walk around checking the endcaps for Clearance! Then they stop at Sonic for me to get a drink, and then we go for a .2 mile run in a neighborhood far away from their own. The whole time thinking the 2 who went home should be out running with us!

Back to my place where Fun Mom has decided we have definitely lost our minds and its time for us to go to Sunnyville. We just told her she was "adorable." Then we amazed her by demonstrating our ability to walk like bears! All in all, I think she learned a very important life lesson. Grown ups know how to laugh and have fun too!! Maybe next time she will join us.

One Busy Weekend

The kids kept us jumping a couple of weekends ago.
First there was the Awana Grand Prix.
This year we had 2 entered...Hockey Player and Little Princess
Little Princess took first place for best non-car design
Then she took 4th overall and first (which she received the trophy for)in the 3/4th grade girls bracket.




Then Hockey Player was off to Arkansas for a friendship tournament.
His team won all 4 games + he scored in the last game!

Little Princess participated in the AWANA games on Saturday.
Lots of fun and she was tired later that afternoon but denied it with all the energy she could muster, which wasn't much.

The girls and I took care of some necessary shopping.
We did our nails, slept in and had devotions while snuggled under the covers.
We got a little bit of work done, but mostly enjoyed just being us girls.

The guys stopped at Grandpa's on the way home to enjoy the second half of the Super Bowl.
They walked in glad to be home, but TIRED! No arguments about going to bed that night.

My favorite memory...Fun Mom, she missed Hockey Player sharing the basement with her, so she slept upstairs with us. I am ever so grateful for the close friendships my children are forming with each other.

Friday Fun !

Days after I returned from Ireland, we were blessed to enjoy the company of our bubbly neice Sarah. She moved in for 5 days while she waited to board a flight that would whisk her away to Hawaii and her new life with the man she loves.
But first she had to weed out her luggage. She just had too much to take. To my daughters' delight she decided to leave behind shoes!

This led to 2 discoveries. Bubbly Neice's shoes fit my 8 year old and 13 year old daughters. Which led to this photo. Bubbly Neice is 21! She has tiny feet.
Can you pick which feet belong to Little Princess and Fun Mom!

The second discovery belongs to the Big-O-Daddy-O.
This past week he felt compelled to ask me how many pairs of shoes a girl must have?
That was just too much to take. I quickly told him he was asking the wrong person.
Dialed the phone to mom of a beautiful little 3 year old princess.... Her response,
At least 30 pairs!
She quickly asked him, "Are you having girl issues?"
At least we didn't call up Miss Bubbles in Hawaii....

The difference between sons and daughters!

Sons are fascinated with their bottoms and all that can happen in that region. ( I can't even type their latest discovery ! ) (Thank goodness their dad has a four day weekend coming up!)
Daughters are fascinated with nails and hair and all the goobly glob dad thinks stinks. (nail polish, remover, hairspray, etc. )
I will take a daughter's fascination over a son's fascination any day!