Mediocre... again

We had bunko tonight and once again I didn't win. I always fall right in the middle. Thats okay it was really a great time and I ate till I was stuffed. I guess I felt like I deserved it since I went for a weigh in today and am down 19 pounds! Whoohoo! I don't have much to say...although....drum roll please...you can see my menu once again!

Monday
Sloppy joes and tots (yuck, I ate at bunco)
Tuesday
Chicken casserole, cheesy potatoes (Parker wanted them with sloppy joes) something green
Wednesday
This new chicken pasta thing I got...another something green
Thursday
enchaladas and rice
Friday
Payday...out!


Also...remember a few weeks ago when I listed all the projects for the house...well yeah bunco is at my house next month. You WILL be seeing progress. I hate to follow Tanya's house. It was amazing....not cookie cutter out of a magizine amazing. Warm and homey and the view... I thought I was content. I am....I love my home but wow! It was perfect for me. Still...a nice home isn't worth going back to work for. I have more than I need.

Late night...

Why oh why am I still awake...I'll tell you why. I got to looking at custom clothes for little girls and I have looked wayyy to long. I can't wait for the fall now that Maggie is walking. The fall brings school and well....I am a little sad to send Parker to preschool. I mean it is 3 hours only 3 days a week. But a selfish part of me wants to keep him to myself...teach him myself. I am not saying homeschooling is selfish...I am still undecided about what we will do when real school comes. Basically it comes down to how this goes. I guess the freedom of choosing a curriculum that is best for your child is so exciting to me. As a former teacher I always felt like I was a disciplinarian and a whole bunch of other horrible stuff. Rarely did I feel like I was giving my students what I thought they needed. It was always someone else telling me what to teach and how to teach it. Parker is beside himself with excitement for school. He doesn't know that he won't eat lunch there yet and I am not excited about telling him...that was his favorite part of mother's day out. I don't care if my kids can read at four or anything like that but I just want to do all the things that I never got to do in my class. I know....just do it...I will. Preschool or not I can give them experiences and we can write about them together. I love being home! Have I said that lately? I think my thankfulness happens most this time of year when I think of that pit in my stomach dread of going back to school...as a teacher. I think I am the only teacher minded person that hated teaching! This will be my third year to watch the school year begin from home. Nothing better than to have all our favorite hang outs to ourselves during the day...chick-fil-a play land, the park, library....all free from big kids.

Oh I guess I could talk about this evening. I bought Parker a pirate hat in Daytona during beach camp...he didn't need another t-shirt from somewhere he couldn't go. Anyway, last night at Target I found a cute pirate set on clearance. It had a pirate gun (sorry if i offend) sword and bandana hat. I bought it thinking about Halloween. Parker and I played pirates today...don't you love where he kept his sword!

The most important thing we did tonight is bake cookies. My great-grandmother is turning 102 on Sunday! No one believes me but it is true. We are driving 2 1/2 hours to take her some cookies tomorrow. She will be so happy. My grandmother and my mother are only children so my sister and I are pretty important to our small family. Parker is the first boy they have been around and they think he is hilarious...he is. After I put Maggie to bed Parker and I baked 3 dozen cookies. I hope he is as enthusiastic when we take them to her as he was making them.

Big hands

I often fear that I am not doing the right thing for my babies. But I want them to know I tried. I want them to know I care more about them then anything on this earth. Today has been a day I am proud of as a mommy. A day with the TV off and mommy unplugged from housework. We read book after book from the library and then played school. Parker learned to write the letter P with my help about a month ago but today he wrote them with no help or instruction. I was in awe. He is so smart. Then he wanted me to trace his hand...something they did in God's Big Backyard the other day. When he asked to trace my hand I said sure. Then he put his hand in the drawing of mine and asked me to trace it. Maggie woke up and he suggested we put Maggie's in the middle. Something about that just made my heart skip. Seeing my babies hands in mine reminded me how big I am to them. I want them to know they are safe in my hand only because of whose hand I am holding. I am so thankful to get to watch them grow. Let me not take any days for granted. Let me live each day thinking of them in my hand and my eyes on the Father. I don't have to have fear of the future if I pay attention today. I love you Lord and all the blessings in my life.

okay I am going to get on the ball....really. I started this morning after reading in Exodus (those laws....I have many questions but not the time nor the place.) I started with the floors. My house was built in 1970. Somewhere along the way someone put parquae (sp?) wood floors down which I am most thankful floor. I have come to the conclusion that whatever floors people have are those they claim are hardest to clean. Well, mine are! Not really though! I have found the trick! No MOP! I hate mops for many disgusting reasons but there is no reason why you cant take 20 minutes with a rag and floor cleaner and scrub the floor. I mean get next to baseboards. As I was doing this I thought how many women have doen this in the past. I sorta had abonding moment with all my fellow homemakers of the past. Last night after reading a few blogs I enjoy I decided (once again) we are away from the home way too much. I got my binder which I have worked on a little here and there began with menu planning. When the family was on a strict budget I did this religiously. I have fallen away and plan to plan better. Once again me and the kiddos have moved into exist mode. We are always busy but never really accomplishing much. The last two weeks have been devoted to Bible School which is important but I am glad to get back to a routine. I am going to make a better effort to be home more. HOME =PRODUCTIVITY for me anyway. Thats all... oh my menu you ask....
Monday: Meatloaf, potatos, corn
Tuesday: LARRYS!
Wednesday: fish sticks pastaroni, green beans
Thursday: Chicken casserole, baked sweet potatos, green beans
Friday: Tacos, dip

the sunday funnies

Parker went to his new Sunday school class today. YEA! Real Sunday school not just a floating optional person in the room. He came home saying, "we talked about Samuel and how he was a baby but grew up and him mommy made him a coat and supper. (This evening I found the little lesson sheet and sure enough it says he was a baby and grew up and his mom made him a coat. "I guess he just assumed she made him supper too.)

As we drove to Mamaw and Papas today Parker pointed out a "beanstalk." He did however inform us that there was no giant.

While making brownies he took the box and announced, "we need two eggs." How did he know? There is a picture of two eggs on the box...never noticed.

As Brett left the driveway Parker says, "Bye shuug!" (just like Mamaw does)

I love that little boy with all my heart.

Maggie....my beautiful Mags. She was promoted out of the nursery. I thought I was going to cry and would have if I wasn't in such a hurry. She did well...no crying! I just want to say she is too precious. She is walking all over the place. It will be too soon I am afraid and look forward to at the same time that she will be saying funny little things. I love that little girl with all my heart.

How do they know.

Yesterday I was cleaning up Parker's room as he lay in bed to take a nap. I was holding a little dinosaur that my father gave him the one of two times he has seen him. He looks at me and says, "Mommy, who gave me this"
Me "I don't know."
P " Yes you do."
Me "My dad"
P "Yep and he plays golf"
Me "Yes he does"
P "I wish he would come see me again"
Me "Well, he is not like your papaw. (jers dad) He doesn't come around much. My dad didn't live with me when I was a little girl."
P (sad voice ) "Oh."
The he rolled over hugging that dinosaur. I could feel myself tearing up. Does that stuff ever go away?

Bible school and Anti-August

This week Parker and I have been attending bible school. He is not old enough to go to real bible school but they did create a class for the 3 year olds (and some two) that are not old enough to be in the three year old class. Anyone else have such confusing cut offs? My class has been great. All 10 year old boys but so good. I am actually glad I didn't get the girl class. They are all a little...I dont know....abnoxious? Tonight is the last night. I am glad but kinda sad too. Parker has been getting somthing out of the lessons because last night in my quiz of what snack, craft, game, story, did you have. He told me (okay Jer) that Jesus made a sick person feel better.

I am ready for fall! I am ready for days to get longer and to get back to a routine. I am ready to cook dinner again....remind me of that one in November. I am ready to be able to go to the park. Every year I want to just skip August. I think it is a pointless month. Nothing good happens in August. I am sure there is a birthday of someone I like in August but other than that....it should go away.