Presidential Wit

Boy, it's hot. Summer in the South. Hot indeed. Thought you'd enjoy this little quip from good ol' Ronnie.

Ronald Reagan:

When speaking to a church audience, President Reagan told the story of the shortest sermon he had ever heard, which was given in his hometown in Illinois on a very sweltering Sunday morning, stating the preacher said, "If you think it's hot today, just wait."

Dipped. Drizzled. Delicious.

I seriously think I could eat an entire tray. You are supposed to have like 3 servings of fruit a day, right? 

Because some days you just need a list.

I have so many random things swirling around my noggin that really aren't cohesive to make a post.....other than to just make a list, so here goes:   

1) College football begins in just over a week. War Eagle!!!!

2)  Are y'all enjoying Pinterest as much as me?  I hardly have time for it, true, but I'll carve out a minute for it when I can because I know I will immediately find something inspiring....a neat craft, a yummy recipe, a laugh out loud quote, a cool idea for the house, etc.etc. So many ideas....so little time.

3)  This summer I added a new app to my phone for the kids to play to help encourage their math skills---Arithmetick. 

 

I also added the iheartradio app (i know i'm way behind on getting this app but anywho...)---and my exercise regime has never been happier.  I love that I can listen to whatever I want....talk shows, various 80's music, comedy bits, or a little Elvis every now and again....

And speaking of apps (I still remain hooked on Words with Friends).....I was wondering what you had added lately....or what your favorites were? For the kids, yourself, cuisine, anything??  Please do tell.

4)  This guy is a killer.  And while I'm still not a cat-lover, I do love Mr. Jingles.

                                                                                                                  

5) I hope to have new updates posted next month sometime on finishing up our basement level.  We are using it soooooo much!  Love the spaces. Need to add some wall art, photos, lamps, chairs, etc., just some finishing touches....although as I've found with a home, there's always more to do. 

6) Somebody had a haircut earlier in the week....like 5 or 6 inches cut off...and she's never looked cuter.

7) And finally.....FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!!!  It has arrived!

"Night under the stars"--decade birthday camp-out

Baby Girl wanted a party with a camp out themed sleepover in purple, one of her favorite colors. We tried to oblige and keep it girly as well.....so the invitations:



The tablescape:

Grapico to drink and hot dogs and rotel with chips to eat!

And a delicious cake from my favorite teacher (retired) turned baker:

Party Horns that should be outlawed.

Doesn't everybody do push-ups in between party activities?

After blowing out the candles and eating a little cake it was time to move the show outside for more party fun.....and more sugar late at night....s'mores by the campfire, a movie viewed from the tent, and glowsticks all around!!

Here's the Birthday girl with her party guests modeling their craft we made...shoulder bags from a T-shirt.

Party Favors:

And the morning after....a cereal bar with personalized spoons! Great idea I found here.

 
I love parties. I love Baby Girl. I simply cannot wait to see what the next decade holds for her life.

"babbitized"

That's what Baby Girl called it when she was much younger.  And while she was always amazed, she was also often afraid of getting "babbitized and having to go down deep in that water behind the glass wall".

But in recent months, as she's talked more and more about this step in obedience to God, her fears have been calmed by the One who created her.  She was ready. Beyond ready. And very emotional, excitement abounding.

Our pastor, and good friend, said it pained him to buy it, but when he saw this orange and blue bible he knew it was perfect for Baby Girl...and she was thrilled.

We couldn't be more proud of her decision to follow Christ with her whole heart. It won't always be an easy path, but we consider it a blessing to help encourage her along the way.

I have survived another night in the tent. Sort of...

What can I say, I am a delicate flower. 

I only sleep outdoors for special occasions....and this was a birthday-sleepover-camp out-under the stars.  And that's the only reason I'm out there. Because I love my child. And I pray she doesn't want me to camp out again any time soon.

Anyway, T-5 snapped this shot of us early this morning....around 6:30 a.m.  Here's a timeline of events after midnight:

• 12:33 a.m. -- the movie ended (we used a projector to watch SOUL SURFER on the big screen outside (king size sheet hanging down from the porch)
• 1:15 a.m.-- I had to go inside and get two fans because the girls were hot in the tent. Nothing like roughin' it with some fans.  If I would have owned a window unit, don't think for a minute I wouldn't have tried to plug it in and cool the entire outdoors.
• 2:30 a.m. -- Sadie, the dog, decided to bark at the friendly nightlife loving critters in the backyard. Lovely. I had to call her name and whistle for 5 minutes to get her to come back to me and shut her muzzle.
• 3:45 a.m. -- Sadie's furry friends aren't the only ones who like to throw it down in the wee hours....I can't be sure, but I think the frogs and crickets were having their own version of a Velcro Pygmie College Band party. They sang hard until the sun rose. And then they passed out.
• 5:05 a.m. -- Jingles, the cat, decided to play a round of POUNCE with my toes. Which were sticking out of the cover because I was HOT and I didn't have a FAN blowing on me...they were cooling those little princessess in the tent, remember?
• 6:20 a.m. -- I hear something going on nearby....T-5 is out there with the camera clicking away. Already, 3 girls are awake. I need rest. Please don't ask for breakfast before 8:00 a.m., I'm too tired to even open the cereal box.

I'm hoping to recover enough before next week that I can get a complete "Night Under The Stars" birthday bash recap posted. It was great fun!!  Everything except the part where it was supposed to be a sleepover, but I didn't actually get any sleep.

here's a phrase I NEVER imagined myself saying.....

it's official, I'm married to a 40 year old man.

I should have known he wasn't getting any younger when he kept receiving these letters in the mail:

What can I say?  It's been a crazy few days around the House of Bowling....let's recap, shall we:

• Elder Son became a FRESHMAN this week.  And if he had a facebook account it would read "in a relationship"
• Middle Child began High School this week. And was DRILLED by a senior football player last week at practice.
• On Sunday, we celebrated a whole DECADE of Baby Girl.  I haven't any children in single digits....how sad.

And now I have a husband who turns 40 today. 

Which means I'm married to a 40 year old man.  I keep saying it, but it still doesn't make it seem real.

Happy Birthday, T-5! Don't worry, age is just a number. Yours is a high one, but still, it's just a #. :)

I really just wanted to keep them home.....

First Day of School.....the years just keep flying by....

Never a sweeter DECADE have I lived through before.....

Happy 10th Birthday to my precious Baby Girl!!! 

I will never forget the moment that you were born and I had a little girl to call my own, to dress in pink, to wear big bows, to play Barbies with, etc. etc.   Nor the moment my heart melted when your Daddy snuggled you close for the first time....he knew you were going to be a girl, but I had held out and asked not to know, just as with your brothers, because I love the sweet suprise! 

Yes, he had known for a while he was about to be blessed with a daughter, what he didn't know until you arrived was how quickly his heart would be taken.

Baby Girl, you are a beauty inside and out. You have the strength and passion in your heart to move mountains, and often do so.  You are courageous, athletic, determined, compassionate, giving, funny, the best babysitter I've ever known, and the hardest working helper to live under our roof.  And your eyes twinkle when you smile. Thanks for making each day have a bright rainbow even in an often dark and dull world. You bring us untold amounts of joy......I couldn't have imagined a moment without you during this decade of life. We are blessed to have been given you as our Baby Girl!

football practice update....middle child is still alive.

But he is less one tooth.

I secretly thought, (and honestly almost posted yesterday morning of the sweet success of making it through the entire two weeks), that we were going to skim right on through two-a-day practices without having to write this post.  But by 12:15 yesterday, I would have been wrong.

Last week when I posted my nervous anticipation about Middle Child encountering FULL PADS for the first time ever, I had hoped the power of prayer would prevail on our behalf.  And it did....for a very long while.  You see, the head Coach had ordered shoulder pads for some on the team, many of them for the 7th graders (a small for Middle Child--in which they still swallow him whole).  The problem was that the shoulder pads didn't arrive in time for the first day of FULL PADS (total contact. tackle them to the ground kind of practice).   And they didn't arrive the next day either.  Or the next. Or the next.  Or the next.

I kind of felt bad that some of the others on the team didn't have their shoulder pads, but I'll be honest, I was thanking my Lord each day for sparing my sweet baby boy! :)  However, the jig was up yesterday.  And it was really Middle Child's own fault. He was BEGGING to be put in on a play against the Varsity guys.  BEGGING.  One of the coaches kept answering Middle Child's request to be put in with "no, you'll get killed".  The Varsity defense was practicing hard.  At some point, a spot became open on the offensive side and Middle Child began his campaign again....with no one else stepping up to enter the postition, the coach agreed to put him in and in disgust with the others said "look here, the smallest guy on the team is ready to play"....yeah, but his mama isn't ready yet.  The coach then said okay here's the play....a play in which Middle Child was to run the ball. As hard and as far as his 75 lbs. could go against that varsity defense.  

Turns out his 75 lbs. didn't go that far.  He was met at the line of scrimmage by one of the SENIORS on the team who plays defensive tackle.  Who actually tried to make an attempt to slow down and not tackle full throttle in the split second when he looked up and saw it was Middle Child that had the ball, but was running full speed and was pushed by another defender coming in the play.  So Middle Child took a hit.  A hard hit.  A hit that put him flat of his back on the ground with a thud.  And made him make the dreaded dry eery noise that comes from your mouth when the breath is knocked completely out of your lungs.  Here's his conversation with his PawPaw later that afternoon to recap the big day:

PawPaw:  "So, when you were laying there did you see little yellow birds flying in a tight circle around your head?"

Middle Child:  "Um, no sir, I didn't see birds, but (stands in the middle of the room with arms stretched out and slowly turns in a circle) you know how when you were a little kid and you thought it was fun to spin 'round and 'round and 'round like these to make yourself dizzy?  Well, it was like that when I tried to get up and walk."

PawPaw:  (chuckling) "But you got up."

Middle Child:  "Yes sir, but I couldn't breathe for like 6 seconds. And the guy who hit me came over to check on me and apologized and said he didn't mean to hit me full speed. Oh, and he knocked my tooth loose....see...(opens mouth, sticks tongue against back side of loose tooth to make it protrude forward out of the gum).

PawPaw:  "My goodness, I declare he did.  Well, at least that wasn't a permanent tooth.  Must have been a pretty hard hit. Did you go back in for any more plays?"  

Middle Child:  "Yes sir, but I told Coach I needed to come out for the next play.  And then when they did let me go back in, I played receiver" ..... (he knew he was safer in that position because they were mostly practicing running plays and he wouldn't get drilled)

He survived to tell his tale.  His first hit in High School Football....by a varsity defensive senior none the less....for a loss of three on the play.  And that tooth he knocked loose....well, Middle Child pulled it out during their second practice of the day. 

My, my, these boys of mine are growing up.

Denial....it's not just a river in Egypt....

it's a friggin' ocean. So how do you keep from drowning in it? (many years ago, a quote from Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy)

Yep, I'm back at the corner of bitter and sweet again this week. 

Today's post of denial is about Elder Son.  Who's growing up way too fast.  He's not featured a lot here on the blog because, well, teenagers are completely different creatures when it comes to blogging.  The shame, the embarrassment, the privacy clause, etc.etc.

We recently celebrated his 14th birthday with a party...about 4 months late.  (with a trip to the bowling alley, after I nixed the go cart track racing.)  Which at this point I'd like to interject that I beat all of the people in our party, of every age even the 39 year old with me, in bowling---twice!!! 

I said Elder Son could invite as many friends as I could hold in my vehicle and we'd meet his father after work one Friday night.  He invited 3 friends.  A boy and two girls.  And as luck would have it, the two girls "like" the two boys in my car and vice versa.  I felt like a chaffeur the entire evening. What's up with this?  I'm used to breaking up knock down drag outs in the garage every day for who gets to ride in the front with me. Hmph.  We're not in Kansas anymore.

When the mom of the boy (and good friend of mine) called to check in on the evening she asked "how's your triple date going?".  I promptly replied this WAS NOT the "d" word, as we were just simply out bowling to celebrate Elder Son's birthday, why in the world would she call it that? 

After bowling, we visited a yogurt shop where I quickly snuck some candles in Elder Son's yougurt bowl of choice.  And since it doesn't matter to me what Elder Son's age is, or who his party guests are, or where we are at the time, I even made him blow them out! But, I did not torture him with the awkward Happy Birthday song in the middle of the packed out Friday night yogurt crowd.

So, the circle of life....you invite girls and boys to Elder Son's toddler and preschool parties, even up to mid-elementary or so....then comes the drought of only guy parties for a couple of years, and now we're back to mixing it up again.  Oh Lord, help me.

Yep, he's growing up alright, how can I tell?  It can be witnessed in the following photos:

• He is no longer one of the kids registered for VBS, but rather one of the Recreation Leaders on staff for VBS. (And he does a SUPER job, by the way!)

• He has muscles. Guy muscles. 

• He's past the stage where he would be embarassed to even be SEEN on a pink float, much less float around for hours and smile for the camera.

• He's taller than me and he looks like a guy. Not a child. A good looking guy. With gorgeous eyes. Where you can glimpse that sweet and tender soul inside.

Sweet Mercy.  I am enjoying having a front row seat to watch him grow.

Even if it includes girls coming to his birthday celebrations.

Denial. It's where I'll be living the next few days.

So this week you'll be knee deep in denial with me.  Like it or not.  Beginning with this post.

Which should have been posted back in May, on the last day of school....but in my state of denial, I chose to keep putting it off in an attempt to prolong the inevitable. 

Middle Child begins high school next week (which begins in 7th grade here).  And I just can't help but think he should still be in maybe, 2nd grade? Another year with the fabulous Mrs. Davis would be just fine with me. And he would be excited about my packing his cute little football snack bag.  

But no.  Apparently, they grow up and you have to let them be promoted if they make the grades. Or some hogwash like that. 

So off to the wolves high school he goes!!

But not before I made him suffer through these last snapshots of walking down the elementary halls one last time....when all was right in my little world.

Yes, they have toilet seat races, weird but hilarious to watch.

Earlier this summer, we went to Desoto Caverns. Who knew they had so much more to offer than just a tour inside the caves?  Well, they do. Putt Putt golf, wacky basketball, peddle push go-carts (those things will wear you out!), slides, mazes, archery, panning for stones, and even toilet seat gizmos you race!  Fun fun fun for kids of all ages.  And the light show inside the cavern, entitled God's Creation, was superb! After our picnic lunch, we opted to take the mid-day cave tour which provided a great relief from the heat.