Busy as a bee

Wow. We've been a busy little family lately! This past Wednesday, I took the girls to the CAC Duck Derby tagging party. They entertained themselves playing, mainly. At one point, though, I got super nervous when I couldn't see Miles anywhere. I was cleaning ducks when asked my friends to pardon me for a minute, as I couldn't see Miles. Lora (of The Lula Smith Collection fame) then pointed out to me that Miles was behind me at another table, amidst a group of adults, just cleaning those ducks like her life depended on it. I am so incredibly proud of the volunteer's heart that she already has! Speaking of Lora, she is a friend and an artist, so she's cool like that. She makes me laugh forever and her husband is real sweet and she loves Jesus but doesn't make a fuss if you drink a little, so I like her. Plus, she's super cute and has wicked style and class, so she makes me look good.

On Saturday, the girls and I took a little journey to the library and to Uncle Dave Macon Days. We enjoyed ourselves, except I could strangle the jerk that set up some inflatables and wanted $10 per kid to jump. Honestly, I don't think a festival should allow them if they are going to be so blatant about ripping people off. Why? Because it ruins the entire outing for the parents that have to listen to constant begging. Ahem. Parents such as me. Back to the subject of UDMD, I was sad to see that even though they were adamant about not allowing random people to invade the art area, they DID have Gutter Guard, Bath Fitter and several others like that. I am glad I did not do it this year. We came home, napped or rested and headed out to my parents' house for dinner.

We've had my niece, Brittany, and her boyfriend, Matt, in town from Louisiana this weekend, so we had dinner with them on Saturday! Lots of fun time sitting around talking and shopping at The Avenue's Ulta and being there when she got the call saying that she was hired for a position that she wanted! Great times. We're sad that they are going home tomorrow.

Tomorrow both of my girls go to the dentist for their cleanings! Pray for no cavities again this time!

Lake time!

Our July 4th weekend was off the hook. We were quite busy! Part of the weekend was spent on Tims Ford. We took lots of pictures and I'm posting just a few of my favorites.

Ready to hit the water...

Aunt Dinky and Lola swimming at the dock...

Drake and Phil showing us their guns...

All four kids hanging out up front...


Miles and Lola in one of my favorite shots of the day!

Wow!

We are all devastated that Steve McNair was found shot to death in Nastyville today! I can not believe it. He was one of the good guys. He had one little ordeal once, but he wasn't in the cops for serious crimes like some NFL players, and he was a country black dude. He was so likable! We're gonna miss him around here. It will be very interesting to follow the case as it unfolds, though I sure wish he hadn't been killed.

Who heard me??

I was on WGNS to speak about the Child Advocacy Center and the Duck Derby today! It was so much fun! I think I'm addicted to being a spokesperson now!

Don't forget...
July 18th
Family fun fest at noon, drucks race at 4:34 PM
Sportsman's Lodge on Medical Center Parkway

Adopt your ducks at local businesses or

at www.duckrace.com/murfreesboro !

Irons in the fire OR Why some people think it's their place to comment on my obligations

If you know me, you are aware that on top of being Momma to Miles and Lola and a wife to Phil, I am a Chi Omega Alum, a Junior League member, a member of the MOPS steering team at Belle Aire and on the planning team for the Child Advocacy Center's upcoming Duck Derby.

Not that long ago, someone commented to me (unsolicited, of course) that I had too many irons in the fire. Are there times when I just wish I could stay at home instead of attend a meeting? Of course. Would I miss all of those groups if I stopped my involvement tomorrow? Absolutely. I would be crushed. I would feel less fulfilled.

On a daily basis, I see the benefits of staying at home and volunteering. I am there to give my girls the encouragement they need but also sculpt their ideas about what is acceptable behavior or what it means to be well rounded. I dance with them, I sing for them and I paint with them. I take them to the library, the zoo or to play with friends. I am able to do all this while maintaining my other commitments at night.

I believe that my children are heavily influenced by seeing me work for these groups as a volunteer. In fact, Miles is already showing so many signs of a perfect little public servant. She is on fire with the notion of doing good for others! Just take a minute to process that. My daughter, at less than six years old, expresses interest in volunteering. She wants to be like me...and I specifically make it a point to set an example through voluntarism. Now how can that be a bad thing?

I know that I do not have too many irons in the fire, and quite bluntly, I think my opinion on that little fact matters more than anyone else's.

I want to love you, P.Y.T., Pretty Young Thing...OR Remember the time?

Seeing the news of Michael Jackson's death is so unexpected. Watching the coverage, I just get more and more sentimental and sad.

I will never forget the day that we woke up to the news that MJ's hair had caught on fire as he filmed a Pepsi commercial. We were driving to Mississippi to visit some of my parents' friends and it came on the radio. Plus Dinky got the Thriller LP for Christmas the year it came out and we spent hours looking at the big fold out picture of Michael holding the tiger cub. We were caught up in how bizarre his wrist looked. If you lived it then you know what I mean because it was impossible not to notice how his wrist had two tendons or veins or something that popped out really far.

When I heard "We are the World" tonight, I thought about a night in 1983-ish when I stood out in the yard at dusk and processed the fact that if Michael Jackson might happen gaze at the moon right then, we would be looking at the the same thing at the same time. It was a pathetic! I was a huge fan. We bought the teeny bopper magazines to read all about him and we watched The Wiz when it came on tv.

We had a 2 story playhouse with a balcony. We would pull the trampoline over beneath the balcony, turn on the little tape deck of songs, including MJ's biggest hits, recorded from the radio and perform a concert and then do trick-like flips off the balcony. My dad would drag the trampoline away but then we'd get some friends together and bring it right back across the yard while he was at work. One time Dinky landed on the springs on her back but otherwise no one ever got seriously injured. He finally gave up. P.S. Our playhouse had a working bathroom upstairs.

We sat stunned when the video for Bad debuted and he was so light and barely had a nose compared to his natural, original features. We followed his career and wondered what in the world had happened to him but we never quit loving his music. His moves still look the smoothest.


I will always remember Michael Jackson fondly. May his glove always sparkle more than any disco ball. I always held out hope that I would see him in person.

Do you ever have those moments?

Do you ever have morbid thoughts about yourself now that you're a mom? I know I do. Not morbid thoughts in the sense of graphic info, but morbid thoughts like how you'd like to be remembered should something tragic happen to you? As bizarre as it might sound to some people, I really think those thoughts are necessary when I have two little girls who would be left in this world without me.

I do know that I would want to be cremated, and that I would want certain music played at my services. I am a funny person, and I would automatically want some music to crack people up. I would want some Elvis singing southern gospel music mixed with some baptist hymns that were my favorites growing up, like Victory in Jesus, Because He Lives, Old Rugged Cross and so on played. I can't forget to include The Brown's 'Three Bells'. (All the chapel bells were ringing...) That last one if from the 50's or 60's if you don't recall it.

The hymns are important to me because those were my favorite church songs at Pine Grove when I was little. The Elvis is because I think people that know me would immediately realize that I picked those to be hilarious. Seriously, in this day and age, doesn't it crack you up to hear Elvis sing Amazing Grace?!?! It would be flamboyant, just like me!

I wonder if other people think the same way I do?

Furthermore, I would hope that my husband found love again...and as crazy as this sounds, I would like for it to be with one of my friends! Yes! I said one of my friends. Why, you might ask? Well, because any friend would not come in and try to replace me. She would also value my children more than a stranger would as a step-mom. Plus, I know my friends. I choose my friends wisely. I do not choose fake, childish people as my true friends.

I am well aware that I might get some comments telling me that I've lost my mind, but just think about it. The more you consider it, the more sense it makes.

I would want my girls to know just how much they fulfilled my life, and for Phillip to know just how much I respect him. He works so hard for our family. I am able to stay at home and take care of Miles and Lola because he gets up everyday and commutes to Nashville. Nothing has ever made me happier than to see a smile on my girls' faces or to hear how much they look up to me. They fulfill me in every way.

Though I might complain sometimes, I would never, ever trust a stranger to take care of them as well as I do.

I would want my girls to grow up to be Chi Omegas and Junior League members, since both of these organizations mean so much to me. The truth is, I make a difference in our community, even if I am normally humble about mentioning it. I volunteer for my community on a regular basis!

I would like to see them each marry a Sigma Chi or a Kappa Alpha. Silly, but it is just a part of me. I would want my girls to group up under the wings of Miss Mandy Cany Kelly, Missi and Julie and Leigh Ann, who could share old stories about me as they grow up. I would want them to look for a husband like their daddy or Brent Campbell or John Trail.

Don't be alarmed; I plan to live a long, happy life! I don't mean to sound like I expect to meet my maker any time soon. I just think that these subjects are important and I'm not a shy person. I don't mind sharing my strange thoughts; I just hope you all understand where I'm coming from as a momma.

How Miles was injured OR Broken bones are cool to kids!

So much has happened in the past week. I haven't even thought about blogging about it all yet, but here I am tonight.

On Monday evening, the girls got restless around 4. Since Phillip wouldn't be home until 6, I decided to head over to the park with them. After all, we literally live within blocks of a fantastic block and my girls are at an age where I can watch them play without having to actually be on the equipment making sure that they don't fall and hurt themselves, right? Ha! Yeah, right!

We got there and set our things down and before anytime at all, Miles had befriended two little boys. They began to run wild on the playground and the grassy area just behind it. As the little group of new found friends ran back to the play area, Lola lagged behind. I yelled out to Miles to wait for Sissy. Then, in slow motion, I saw the whole thing.

She continued to run but looked over her left shoulder to check on Lo. Just as she looked forward again, she began to tumble. Feet left the ground, and her little body catapulted forward, coming down first on her right elbow and then on top of her forearm. She immediately started screaming in a piercing way. The boys' father asked if she was ok from across the playground, and I yelled back that I was about to find out and smiled.

When I got to her, she was screaming bloody murder that she needed to get home. Now any parent knows that a child asking to leave the playground must really be hurt. Her arm bent back and forth just fine, but I wondered if it might be really injured.

That night, she woke up crying in pain and it was far more swollen. I almost took her to the ER, but she calmed down and went to sleep. First thing Tuesday a.m., we made an appointment to see her pediatrician. Sure enough, her arm is broken! Even the smallest air cast, size xxs, was too big for her sweet little arm, so we have a partial cast and a fancy ace-type bandage over that.

She's hanging in there better than most adults, and hopefully, she will be done with this completely in less than three weeks. Please pray for my Milesy girl. This is her first real injury in life.

Voluntarism must run in the genes...

I am just so tickled to report that this morning, when the preacher asked for volunteers to provide food for VBS, without any prompting or discussion, Miles hurriedly raised her hand high into the air to bring sandwiches!!! How sweet is that?!

Summertime in the city

Thus far, we've spent our summer days roaming around the zoo, splashing at a water park, going to the neighborhood playground, exploring and creating at the Discovery Center, visiting Mrs. Mandy and Mr. Neil's to sit around a campfire and look at the stars and going to the library. We managed to get out of the house more regularly and the kids are exhausted by bedtime! Yes! We've tried to catch fireflies and we've had a picnic underneath a big shade tree on the lush green grass. We've had Push Ups and fresh watermelon. We've picked flowers and investigated butterflies. This summer in the city is turning out quite well.

We're in the process of sorting through our clothes for Goodwill and decluttering as much as possible. Hopefully, we'll be able to sell our house soon and figure out where we go from here. I am not worried about it all. We just want a place with a bigger yard. I am not sure if we'll rent or buy. We are not even remotely interested in buying a place on the same day we sell this place, as we got burned by that three years ago. Considering that the economy is far worse now than it was in 2006, the risk isn't worth it.

We are just going with the flow. Phillip has to touch up the trim and I need to repaint an area over Miles' bed. When we have this joint sold, as in papers signed and closing behind us, then we will make a final decision. If that means that we have to stay at my parents house for a month, so be it. I will just be happy to have a nice big yard again. I miss my old house, though I don't miss the immediate neighbors to the right OR the neighborhood, as it has gone to pot. I just miss the ability to play out back with the girls. And they want a trampoline so much, and perhaps Santa can bring it this year if we actually have a yard to put it in.

callin' Old Navy out

Can I just take a minute to call out the buyers for Old Navy? I went into our local store tonight. It is a nice large location that should have plenty of merch. No! It did not. They had a grand total (I counted) of 16 dresses of various styles in stock. On top of that throughout the entire women's' department, they hardly had anything in sizes beyond small and medium. Now let me tell you, this hot momma is not a small or a medium. So you know what Old Navy? You can just kiss my grits.

I've come to a conclusion...

I do believe that I'm dehydrated. My husband diagnosed it last night, and I feel confident that he's correct. I've been sick with allergies, and according to Phillip, the medicines that I was taking can cause dehydration. It makes perfect sense. Yesterday afternoon, I suffered through the most God-awful migraine I've had in years, and at Kroger, I really thought I might puke right there in the first frozen food aisle if I didn't get out of there ASAP. I didn't process my ailment as a lack of hydration until he mentioned it...but all signs point to a positive on this. UGH. I really don't feel like drowning in Gatorade.

Sorry!

Sorry for the delay in a new post. I am feeling very unmotivated...suffering from a bit of blogger's block. HA! Maybe I've coined a new term!

Our first time to host a sleepover

I said it before but I'll say it again. Memorial Day weekend has been fantastic this year!

Tonight we're hosting out first sleepover ever. Miles and Lola's cousin Josh is in town from another state, and we bargained with the girls that if they got *their room cleaned up, they could invite him to spend the night. Luckily for them, their momma (aka me) really loves them and really despises the mess that they'd made, so they had some help. Okay, a lot of help. Then again, they are 5 and 3! They did chip in! In the end, his mom (aka my sister) said yes and he accepted our invitation.

Josh and Miles

First on the agenda was playing some Wii with a little snack of popcorn! Josh really showed us his skill when he jumped right into Uncle Phil's (aka my husband's) Star Wars Lego game. Later, they played Connect Four, Bingo AND Operation. Now they are watching Wally. Bless Lola's heart, she fell asleep on the couch and missed the later festivities.

Miles is really grown up, too! She is quite the hostess. Right now she is arranging for them to sleep in sleeping bags but on her bed. I just had to run up and help her get her mouthwash open! That child has the best dental hygiene this side of the Mississippi. I think I may have a future dentist on my hands, though she has narrowed her ambitions down to the following possibilities, in all seriousness:

• Scientist
• Veterinarian
• Magician
• Doctor
• Artist
• Trapeze artist
• Astronaut

Earlier, Josh very sweetly told Phillip that he'd probably stay up until 1 or so, which made Uncle Phillip smile. I know Phil enjoyed showing Josh how to play a particular Wii racing game, too. We only see him once or twice a year, so that's pretty priceless. Josh is polite and agreeable. He calls me Aunt Dusty even though I would respond to just Dusty. He worried that he forgot his toothbrush until I assured him that skipping just one night would be okay considering the circumstances. It is an absolute pleasure to have him over for the night.

Blog highpoints

I certainly plan on blogging this week but since I might have a few new readers, I want to share some of my personal favorites in the history of my blog. Feel free to read back as far as you'd like, but if you don't have time for that, you might learn more about me and my blog through these specific posts, ranging from very recent to the very beginning...

• TG&Y was the bomb...OR...how I spent part of my childhood flying to Denham Springs in a Bonneville
• Wartrace, really?
• Blue eyes in an elevator
• RIP Denzel
• Who took a picture of Little Richard's shoes?!?!?!?!
• The virtually unknown story of the American airmen who, in 1945, marched 600 miles in 86 days during one of the cruelist winters on record
• WDW report!
• So I guess a little history is a good start.

The Podium

If you happen to have ended up on my blog due to my apoointment to The Podium over at Confessions of a Blogaholoic this week, thanks for reading. I'm a stay-at-home mom to two girls, Miles and Lola, an artist and a wife. I blog because I don't have the patience or the time to scrapbook, but I'm a freak when it comes to preserving memories. Welcome to this wildly fantastic life of mine. I hope you enjoy the blog.

It must be a mystery! OR how we celebrated Lola this year....

How can it be that over three whole years has passed since I held my baby, Lola, for the first time? Was it really just more than three years ago that I sat in Outback, trying to eat a good dinner before a c-section scheduled for the next day, and tried to ignore my contractions? That just blows my mind. Lately, Lola likes to walk around the house and announce that certain things just must be a mystery. I'm so glad my baby likes Scooby Doo just as much as I did.

That precious, cheeky baby came into our world on May 18, 2006. We are so proud of our big girl these days, but it sure is bittersweet to see another year pass. Of course I am happy to be done with Pull Ups. But Lola is a big girl now, and she doesn't need my snuggling as much.

This weekend, we celebrated Lola's third birthday with a party at her Mawmaw and PopPop's house. Her best buddies came out to the country for a day of celebrating. They swung, they ran, they drove the Barbie jeep...

It was such a phenomenal day. Oddly, I felt like it was the best kid's party I've ever thrown. I loved the relaxed atmosphere that my parents' house allowed. We were way out in the country, surrounded by tall trees and green grass. Everyone was very comfortable and we laughed around the dinner table. I just realized that I forgot to tell my friends that the table we gathered around was the same antique wooden table that I grew up eating dinner at everyday.

Jen, Mandy and Shea all made the trek out to good ol' Unionville. Phillip was excited that their husbands came, as well. When it came time for Coen to leave, he cried. It only took a second to come up with a win/win solution. I told Shea and Denton that we'd just bring Coen home in about two hours. They were really worried that he'd have a meltdown, but we insisted and they let him stay. He was perfectly precious...not a problem in the least. In fact, after he took Lola muddin' in the Barbie Jeep, they swung together and then we all gathered around that same old wooden table and shared a perfectly ripened watermelon. Oh, Lord, what a cliche this must sound like!

By the way, when I say Coen took Lola muddin' in the Barbie Jeep, I really just mean he drove her through a mud puddle! Furthermore, those two were a hoot, riding around the yard like two teenagers! I had to yell to Lola to sit down, as she stood up and egged Coen on. Some memories are absolutely made to be remembered until the end of time.

Today was one of those memories. You know, it is funny, but it felt really nice to have those particular people together in one place. We might just have to make a habit of this.

Papaw Joe's not sick anymore

Last week, Phillip's Papaw Joe passed away. It was an expected passing, but it was still his grandpa. We loaded up and headed to Shreveport, Louisiana, for the services. We got a chance to see his family on both sides, which was nice, and he served as a pall bearer.

At the visitation, Papaw Joe was wearing a pin on his suit that said "Official Hug Inspector". He was a greeter at his church and he was so loved that they gave him this pin sometime ago. At the funeral, several men spoke about his strong faith and his positive attitude towards life in general. Everyone seemed to speak so highly of his character. The truth of the matter is that Papaw Joe was very sick, so I'm pretty sure he's happy to be dancing with Jesus right now.

Papaw Joe was born in 1928. He served his country proudly, retiring from the US Air force, though he did not want a military burial. He was funny and loving though I've been told that he could be stern when discipline was needed. He was a daddy and a pawpaw and a great grandpa, too. He was a good person, and he will be missed. His wife, Phillip's grandmother, Mamaw Bobbie, passed away in 2006.

The last time I talked to Papaw Joe, he could not hear me worth a dang. Finally, he nicely but abruptly told me that his ride was there for Wednesday night church and he had to go.

I'm still glad I called.

Announcing...

If you're a regular reader of my blog, or if I'm linked to your blog, well...take notice! You might want to snazz up your bloggie-blog a little in the next week or so. I will be on the podium over at Confessions of a Blogaholic for the week of the 25th!!

Funkin' out in every way

I like a plethora of old tunes. I even enjoy a good punk show in person, though I prefer something that makes you want to dance or some classic country. Give me some Vern Gosdin, some Alabama, some George Jones. Give me some Red Hot Chili Peppers, some Phish, some Police, some Conway Twitty. Of course, Casey would shoot me if I forgot to include Lorettie. Give me some classic Dolly, some Duran Duran, even give me some Metallica. Hit me up with some Jay-Z, some Dr. Dre, some Ice Cube, some Tupac. Just make sure there's some funk in there somewhere.

I don't know when my adoration of funk music began. Based on what I see in my children, perhaps I've always liked that deep-down desire to move my booty to the beats, horns and percussion of funk. Miles and Lola both openly 'wiggle' to the beat. Maybe I was the same way. I don't recall.

I do clearly remember just how much I loved "Fantastic Voyage" by Coolio in the spring of 1994. I've always loved Atomic Dog by George Clinton and Fame by David Bowie. I just love the funk. Phillip and I saw Parliament at 328 in 1999 and it was a phenomenal show, as expected. (Phillip has seen them five times.)

Now I wouldn't classify funk as my favorite genre...more like my favorite genre to funk out to, which seems pretty redundant. On the flip side, there is virtually nothing that can beat a live band with horns playing classic 60's hits like Mustang Sally and Stand by Me. Then again, most of these bands play a fair amount of funk in their setlists. Generally speaking, I'd have a hard time declaring a particular genre as my favorite.

I count Fleetwood Mac as part of my short list for the very best bands of all time. How could you ignore Gypsy, Landslide, Don't Stop, Silver Springs...just to name four hits for the band? Stevie Nicks even inspired the bridesmaids dresses for my wedding.

Furthermore, I do believe that Dan Fogelberg's Same Old Lang Syne is one of the greatest musical compositions in history. Go ahead. Laugh. That song gets to me. Every. Single. Time.

In regards to music and memories, well classic country wins that category, hands down. Nothing can take me straight back to childhood quicker than some of the country music that my mom or dad loved. Granted, certain songs from 80's pop and rock can do the trick, but 'This ain't my first rodeo' by the late, great Vern Gosdin, is pretty hard to beat.