Lookee what I learned!!

I've been away at a 2 day workshop about education and technology to keep my teacher certification and let me tell ya, I am now officially tech-savvy! I am cool, super fly, over the top, and plugged in. (well, OK, it would take more than 2 days to do that, but I'm pumped about technology, can ya tell?)

One of the instructors introduced me to smilebox and not a moment too soon. I am sure little man will be making his earlies appearances to family and friends via this cooly website so I made my first slide show today. It is from this past June's vacation at Myrtle Beach. Check back regularly, because I plan to do much more of this. It's so stinkin' cool!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hannah's Reading Award

It's official! I have one of the smartest kids in this county, maybe even the state. OK, so maybe I'm a little biased, but she is pretty stinkin' smart. Hopefully valedictorian smart, but we'll see. For now I just want to brag on her reading accomplishment for the summer. She is the only kid at our branch of the library to win an award for reading 8 books from 8 different categories. She had to choose from things like biographies, technology, and history to modern fiction and historical fiction. She, of course, devoured an American Girl book, a book about Benjamin Franklin, one about the clothing worn during Civil War times and the Stinky Cheese Man, among others. She is so proud of herself. Since school is already back in, Ms. Beth, the best children's librarian in the whole world stopped off by her class so she could give her the medal. Here she is pictured with it -



Just thought you'd enjoy seeing one of the smartest kids in America from one proud momma!

Corey's 6th Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Corey's 6th birthday with a nice (that means small) family party. We are officially birthday party scrooges and enjoy small family parties as opposed to renting the pony and jumping thing. Of course, by the time we invite family, there are at least 6 kids, usually 8, so who has room for other kids? At any rate, here are some pics.



The Birthday boy himself proudly wearing the crown his big sis made him!


Corey & his cake


Makin' a wish!


Hannah insisted on reading all the cards to him!


2 games he got from Aunt Kelly, Quay & Rayden


A New webkinz from Aunt Jamie & Uncle Michael, AJ & Jacob

Believe it or not, the rest of us actually got him presents, but I didn't get good pics of all that. We got him a Gameboy of his very own (hallelujah - no more fighting over the one Hannah got for Christmas), MaMaw & PaPaw got him a nice pair of jeans and new shirt, and Grandmommy got him a Veggie Tales Gameboy game. We had a nice time celebrating with him! It seems so hard to believe that he is already 6!

Potty training is overrated until you hear a conversation like this!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I keep thinking with each child I potty train that it is really unnecessary, or at the very least not worth the aggravation. The benefits simply don't outweigh the effort. Today for instance when in Rock Hill, Allie had to go at least once in every store, yet at home, she still prefers to pee in the floor. I am just going to pick a different public place each day and stay until the kid can pee every time in the potty. (Library people, be warned. You have the only small kid potty in all of Chester. We're hitting you first.) Fast forward to when we got home. Note the conversation that follows. Please do not read if you are easily grossed out.

Allie: Mommy I dot (got) a stinky. Tome (Come) See it!

Mommy: Yay! Allie, good job! (it was actually in the toilet!)

Allie: (giggles with excitement)

Rayden, my nephew, age 3.5, enters the room at this time.

Allie: Rayden, wanna see my stinky?

Rayden: I see it Allie.

Allie: See, a big one.

Rayden: I'm gonna take it home with me.

Allie: No, you tan't(can't). You will get it wet.

Mommy: (flushes quickly)

Maybe we are making progress. After all just yesterday, she pooped in the pants. At least we've stepped up from there. Sigh.
Posted by **TRACY** at 1:43 PM

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!