The plant this little family calls home
The Blue Angels...lined up and ready to go!
An Osprey
Learned my grandfather flew this type of plan in the war
The Harrior demonstrates it's ability to "hover" like a helicopter!
The Golden Knights....the Army's superior parachute team!
My personal favorite - THE STEALTH! Doesn't it look like something Batman would fly???
And finally...the AMAZING Blue Angels!!!
Handprints on cupboards
and shoes in the hall.
Toilet seat's up and there's
mud on the wall.
Every sports channel to
them will appeal,
And the front room doubles
as a football field.
The shelves in the kitchen
are continually bare.
There's toys on the couch
and jeans on the chair.
Wrestling and mud and
cars and noise,
I'm sure you can guess I'm
the MOTHER of BOYS!!!
-Patsy Gaut
I think all of us who work outside the home have this feeling on occasion. The Today Show did a segment on this yesterday (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/42679160#42679160). I liked what these women had to say, and I agree with the one who, when asked if stay-at-home moms are generally happier, answered, "I think both sides often think the grass is always greener." Sometimes I worry that my kids will resent the fact that I work; but deep down I know this will not be the case. When I reflect on my own childhood, I was blessed with a mom who was able to be at home with my sister and I. This was most often due to the fact that my father was a Marine; we moved a lot and he was deployed often, so any attempt that my mother would have had to work full-time would really not have been conducive to this lifestyle. I also remember the year we lived in Rhode Island. Dad took classes at a local college and served, in all actuality, as Mister Mom that year. Mom worked for the Preservation Society (basically in a full-time capacity) and I remember how happy she was...going to work every day and bringing home stories about the latest tourist event. Dad did the laundry, the grocery shopping, took my sister and I "out and about"....I loved that year. My sister and I got a ton of extra time with Dad, but I know Mom loved that year because she got extra time with Mom. That's how I look at working. I consider myself VERY lucky that I have an extremely flexible boss (who also happens to be a husband and father, so he is always willing to work with my schedule). I also have a job I love, which is only enhanced by working with people who have become, over the years, some of my closest friends. We have been through marriages, pregnancies, disease, etc and we have shared more tears and laughs that I can ever begin to explain. My friend Joy says it best, "Working makes me a better mom." I totally agree; going to my job allows me to focus on me but when I am home with my kids, I truly cherish every moment. I do my best to put chores aside and only focus on them. Many times this is easier said then done (the laundry often can't wait for days and days!), but I know this will always be a work in progress. Time management has become my close friend, and I try to get most things done during the kids quiet/nap time in the afternoons. Trust me, I know I will never be given the role of SUPER MOM, but I know my kids think their mom is super!!! And really, isn't that what's important??
It's hard for me to believe how big he is getting!!!! This time next year, I will be registering him for Kindergarten...
Joy and I with "The Crusher!!"
A Cement-Mixer
Our ICE truck
Zig the Pig!!!
One of the military vehicles
Bowman's favorite truck...the LUNCH truck!
I have been a horrible blogger. Like, really horrible. But, in my defense, I've actually been really busy. My friend Adair and I chaired one of the 3 fundraisers done by the Junior League here in town...and that was held last weekend, so for the past 2 months, my free time has been making sure that was all coming together. And, I decided to do the extra shift bonus at work...so for 12-weeks, I worked an extra day at the hospital. It was worth it for the time and a half I made for this shift (plus the hefty bonus I received at the end!!) The good news it, all that money went to our Hawaii trip next year. The bad news...it definitely wore me out! I've also taken on redoing (or should I say, finally DOING, all the rooms in my house...pictures to come!) SO, needless to say, getting on the computer has been the last thing on my mind. But, I am back and promise (ok, I will try) to update this more regularly. Thanks to everyone for their patience!!
"Mommy, I love Captain Hook...and his friend, Mr. Sneeze."
"Let's play superheroes...you be The Incredible Hoke."
Porter: "Mommy, what color are these pants?"
Me: "They are khaki."
Porter: "Hey, that's Grammy's name!!"
Me: "No, her name is JACKIE."
Though this picture is a little creepy...I love me some John Prine. Takes me back to my days at BA, hanging with Eve Hartzog. We would listen to him ALL the time!!! How weird would it be if I saw her in ATL at the concert!?
And who doesn't love Kenny...especially when he's paired with Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker. YES PLEASE! Craig's coming along for this one...8 of us in all!!!
USHER!!! Oh dear Kindle...How I love thee!!
My hubby got me this fun little toy for Christmas, and I have not been very good about putting it down. Hence my lack of taking pictures. Or blogging. Or doing anything productive. But, I cannot help it...I love downloading a book I want to read in a matter of seconds. No long waits at the library for me!
I have always loved to read (and I hope this is something I will pass on to my kids, as my husband is not the LEAST bit interested in reading...unless it's an online paper!) But, to be honest, since the kiddos came along, reading has kinda taken the back seat in my life. I would check something out from the library and end up owing a fee cause I couldn't finish it in time. I usually read on vacations which, we all know, are few and far between.
So the Kindle has become my new bestie!
Oh -- and I just finished "The Hunger Games" trilogy! Definitely recommend!!!
I decided to divide this entry into Parts. I have a feeling I will be commenting on this randomly throughout the year since one of my resolutions this year was to make more exciting recipes while encouraging my kids to eat healthier foods. Eating healthy has kind of become one of my passions. I'm not necessarily into simply low-fat foods; I'm more obsessed with our country"s dependence on processed foods...and I'm a little more than convinced this has led to the unbelievable rise in cancer, etc. in this country (many of you may disagree...just my opinion!)
My sister recently posted an article on Facebook that I loved -- and stole for my own profile page! If you didn't get a chance to read it, do so now: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/family-dinner-how_b_806114.html Basically, it reiterates everything I have come to believe! I often wonder if my friends view me as a mean mommy: my kids have never had tea, Porter has had Sprite twice (both times commenting that "IT BURNS!"), dessert is NOT a nightly ritual, we eat out rarely, milk and water are often the only beverages offered -- when juice is offered, I still cut it with water, fast food restaurants are few and far between, and they have been known to go to bed hungry -- I am not a short-order cook...what you see is what you get! Of course, I am not a saint either...sometimes I want to make chocolate cake OR eat a fried Chic-Fil-A sandwich, but I also limit myself...I am also a huge advocate for family dinners. Growing up, no matter what we had for dinner OR who was home, we always ate around the dinner table. As teens, my sister and I both found this very annoying, but my parents stayed strong...to them, it was an opportunity to talk to us without distractions....no TV, phones, music, etc. Just the 4 of us, around the table...Craig and I continue this tradition. Again, I am no saint...there are times when the TV has been left on or we let the kids eat their snack on the couch, but for dinner, there are no exceptions!!! To me, that is family time, a time for conversation, a time for chatting with my kids and husband, a chance to be together. Of course, our meals are by no means QUIET, but hearing my kids talk non-stop is a glorious thing. Better that then hearing a few grunts from behind their Leapsters...just sayin'. I figure there will be enough years in my future when my boys don't have a thing to say to either of us. But, I will still demand that they eat dinner at the table with us...even if the only sound I hear is the chewing of food!
Let the Jam begin...ear plugs...CHECK!!!
6 1/2 inches of white fluffy snow!
Our humble abode in the woods!!
Our neighborhood
The neighborhood pond
