A very belated birthday post!

Thursday, May 29, 2008
Allie had her 3rd birthday party on May 3rd and I have yet to post pictures. We celebrated at the park because we had no outside stuff here and I was not about to have 10 children running rampant through my house. So, we did something we hardly ever do - we sprung for shelter rental at the park. Looking back, I could have skipped paying and just showed up at the park with my decorations and cake and no one would have none. I know this because weeks later, I have yet to receive my deposit back so I'm thinking the rec department stinks is struggling. I have called several times and I'm getting tired of being nice. But I digress.

Allie was thrilled to be having a party and dbeen talking about it for weeks. We settled on a Princess theme, mainly because when I went down the party aisle at Walmart looking for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse plates and cups, she spotted the Princess first. Good thing since there were no Mickey Mouse anythings. Immediately, however, I began to fret over the cake and fretted for several days over how to draw Princesses on a cake until I realized I can buy the little kit from Bi-Lo (because God forbid I buy the whole cake) and we can play with the princesses afterwards. Problem solved. So we descend on the park with our 10 ish children + adults for a good time as the storm clouds start to gather. But not to worry - the kids got to play on the playground and walk the trail all the while the wind is blowing to keep us nice and cool. (That is important for me these days, by the way. The oven is hot!) It started to sprinkle once so we headed up to the shelter just in time to eat cake and ice cream and open presents. Sprinkles never really amounted to anything so we got to go back and play some more. My idea of a perfect party. Easy set up, almost no clean up, no party games to plan - just turn 'em loose on the playground. (Only minor problem was that my mom nearly spazzed over having to touch the trashcan nearby, followed by her suggestion that we bring a gallon of water next time for washing hands. You can really tell she had chidren before the days of hand sanitizer. I, however, ignored this suggestion because I struggle with the idea that germs are really as bad as she and other germaphobes suggest. Can you tell I have no medical training and no desire for any? But again, I digress.)


So finally the moment you've all been waiting for - pictures!!


The Birthday Girl (Just in case you couldn't read the shirt)


Allie and her friend Julia, the only one I think who was not related at the party!


Allie & Rayden - scheming!


Hannah & AJ - partners in crime


Opening presents


Obviously, Allie wasn't going fast enough for Jacob


Allie pauses to rejuvenate (suck her fingers) while Hannah reads her cards. I love kids who can read!

I have the solution to the recession (or lack thereof, according to George)

Never mind the title, I disagree with George Bush and anyone else who says we're not in a recession. I'm not an economic analyst, but if this ain't one, I don't want one to come. That was just my fine political opinion. Really, I do have the solution.




We need to send our children to work, specifically in sales. My 8 year old has been making potholders like a mad woman after I told her she could sell them in our yard sale, postponed because of last weekend's 100% chance of rain that never happened. They are the ones that have apparently been around for a lot longer than I realized. (My father in law said he used to make them as a child.) So this week she set up shop in the front yard, taped up a sign that advertised "Potholders 50 cents." Within minutes we had our first sale - her friend whose grandparents are our next door neighbors bought one before she even got her sign taped up. The lady across the street bought 2, which put a serious dent in her inventory of 5. To make a long story short, she held another sale today, having finished 2 more potholders, sold 1 to some guy we don't even know. I am trying to believe in the good of people all the while making sure he's not on the register sex offender list. He even paid $1 instead of just the asking price of 50 cents. Another neighbor lady did the same thing, even before hers was finished. After watching the potholder sale this week, I realized children could sell anything, mainly by being cute. Basedon this observation, our children should be selling houses and cars, just to boost the economy. Imagine the outcome. Adult says to child, "What is the asking price of this Escalade?" Child salesperson replies, "$45,000." Adult customer says, "How about is I give you $50,000 for it?" Imagine the implications - instant relief for recession - all because the kid was cute. OK, so maybe the solution would be short lived, like until the first payment is missed and said adult, loses car, but it's worth a try! Anyway, enjoy picture of the cutest sales girl I know.

My funny for the day

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I am beginning to rethink my shopping practices as my almost 3 year old is playing with her toy cash register. She opens the drawer, slams it shut and proclaims, "Thank you for shopping at Waw-Maht!" Yep, time to curb the shopping!

Why I haven't blogged lately (otherwise known as Just Another List of Excuses)

I have been terrribly slack about blogging. I didn't realize how slack until I saw my last blog was February 19. It is not without reason, however. Unlike everyone else I know, I have been extremely busy. No, really. So, to make this easier I have compiled a list as to all I have been doing.

1. It began back in February when in a moment of temporary insanity, I took a 3 day a week sub job at the kids school. Thankfully, that harrowing experience is over. I love my job as stay at home mom and hope to do it for a LONG time after that job. Experience is the best teacher and that job taught me to admire anyone who has to teach middle school.

2. My children have been on spring break for nearly 3 weeks. Enough said.

3. I have become a short order cook. OK, so this is nothing new, but it was brought to my attention that my children view me as just that. One morning they were waiting at the table for breakfast when one of them looked at me and said, "What did I order for breakfast again?"

4. I am an oven. There's a bun in there and if I sit anywhere for any length of time, I fall asleep. That includes the computer, so I better keep going or soon this blog will end without notice.

5. I have developed an unhealthy obsession with "Higglytown Heroes." It began when I saw episode about the mom vacuumming. She popped open her midsection and whipped out a vacuum. I began to think of how convenient that would be. Imagine storing all your cleaning supplies in your midsection and only having to pop it open to clean whatever. You could just gather everything you needed for that day and go to cleaning. (Ok, never mind, that would make most of my excuses for not cleaning null and void.) I also saw these Higglytown Heroes once all hop into the mom. You know how it works, the little hops into the next littlest who hops in to the next size up and so on and so forth until they all hop in the mom. What a fabulous way to get the grocery shopping done. Nobody could fight, wander off, stand up in the buggy, beg for candy or do anything else to cause and otherwise quick and easy shopping trip to turn into pure 7734 (I mean another circus adventure).

6. I am now a WWE ring official. I have broken up enough wrestling matches around here and most of these are faked as well. So I think since the sub thing did not work out, I will pursue this if and when I decide to go back to work.

7. I have grown tired of tying my children up while I use the computer. For some reason they fail to see that this is, indeed, MY computer. I am paying for it, yet they think that they have some God-given right to play Webkinz for all their waking hours. For all of you who may have DSS connections, they are not tied up right now. I am far meaner than that. I have taken it from them, completely, until they realize that have toys awaiting them upstairs.

Well, I'm sure there's more, but I will have to save that for later. Maybe now that I'm back in the habit, you'll hear from me. Stay tuned....

My Son's Obsession Has Gone Far Enough!

My 5 year old is going through a phase, as most young boys do. I think his life has actually been one big phase after another. We have been through the Bob the Builder phase, Incredibles phase, the Spiderman phase, the I'm-a-different-superhero-everyday phase...I could go on. This phase is slightly different. It deals with a word. Are you ready? Booty. Not the pirate kind. The one on the rear side of your body kind.

(Let me digress to say I knew this would happen one day because my friend's son once has a similar phrase phase, only his was, "Shake your booty." It was all he said for a long time. "Good morning, how are you?" "Shake your booty." "What would like for snack?" "Shake your booty." I had him in Sunday School one time and I posed a questioned to the 4 year olds. Of course, the whole class chorused, "Jesus." Not him. He answered with "Shake your booty." He is now 11 and has since recovered so I have hope for Corey.)

He uses it for nearly everything, regardless of the measures we have gone to to stop him. I have learned that he means no disrespect or ill-feelings toward the person, well, most of the time. He does often refer to his sister as Hannah Booty-tana in an argument, but other than that I think he finds Booty-head and other phrases in which he can use the word terms of endearment. I have a terrible time convincing Ms. Hannah Booty-tana that he means no harm. He simply uses it to express himself. She isn't buying it and she tells me everytime he utters the word booty. Like when he is singing "Backward" by Rascal Flatts (you get your house back, you get your car back, you get your booty back) or when she asks him to play and he responds, "Yes, booty." (This is followed by a fight over the word booty and how I've told him to stop..blah, blah, blah.) His favorite TV show is now Spongebob Bootypants. This morning I've realized how far this has gone, however, as he bellows from the bathroom part of a Bible song, "Zac-Booty, you come down, for I'm going to your booty today." And I remember - this too shall pass. One day I'm gonna miss his booty-head!

I'm Somebody's Hero (subtitle: why I love my nieces)

I have come to find out that with each pregnancy past #2, you get slightly different reactions. When I told of my pregnancy with #3, we got a few congratulations and several "Again?s". Now with #4 most people's first question is, "Did you plan that?" or "Don't you know what causes that?" followed by "Is this it?" No, we didn't plan it. God did. 'Nough said. We know what causes it and obviously we like it or are good at it, however you want to view that, I'll leave it alone. Yes, sadly, this is probably it. If I had my way, I woulda lived a hundred years ago when people didn't know what caused it, but it was actually still a blessing to have lots of kids.

But I have a wonderful family who is excited for us, none the less. (Minus the one who suggested we name it "Caboose" because it's the last one on the train). My nieces are the best. All of them - 6 total - give me hope that my children will turn out alright in a crazy world and that they will love their parents and siblings at the end of adolescence. They range in age from 12 to 22 (I think). So last weekend, when we were together for February birthdays, they had just found out our news and were so very excited, which was a real boost. One of them wants 12 and the other said 5 is her minimum. Get that? MINIMUM! You Go, Girls! The one who wants 12 said, "Aunt Tracy, you're my hero!" Now mind you, these girls are teenagers, so I think it's great that they have this outlook on life. It was about that age that the desire to have 4 began for me, so I hope if that's really their dream, God grants it for them, because He is giving me the desires of my heart and it's AWESOME! Well, after the hero comment, I had to leave the room to referee a fight between the 5 younger kids, so I didn't get to say, "Thanks, Girls! You made my day and I love ya!" Oh, yeah, and I'll pay up next time I see you! HAHA

My Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday to Hannah! She turns 8 today! My how time flies! Here she shows off her new Hannah Montana outfit! Ain't she cute?!