Park time!

This is one of my absolute favorites! Lola was really trucking it across the bridge and I snapped the pic. I was imagining that little cartoon sound that represents spinning legs on old shows!!Miles made herself comfortable! We were there for just over two hours without even realizing it, so they were worn out.

Skip to my Lou...

I worked all evening to clean up a very messy bedroom! A bedroom that was predominantly made so messy by a little girl named Miles. Throwing cups under or behind the bed. Tossing grapes around with wild abandonment. Throwing cracker crumbs off the edge of the bed.

I made a new rule tonight. No food or drink in the room. Period. End of story...

Unless supervised.

Probably an hour later, they both lie together watching Care Bears movie* and sipping away on cups of juice.

(Sigh)

* This is the very same movie that my dad dropped my sister and I off to see at a Baton Rouge theater when I was about 8 and she was about 11. The times, they are a-changing...

Regardless...the title of this post relflects my children's insane excitement at having an open space again (as oppossed to a river of toys and books on the floor) to Skip to my Lou!

An eventful weekend

Mothers Day weekend has been fabulous...except for being sick. I somehow managed to get the worst allergy attack that I have had in a LONG time this weekend. Regardless, we had Cracker Barrel for breakfast on Saturday, enjoyed some shopping and downtime, had a nap and went to Carrabba's for dinner. Then we went to The Avenue for a little bit more shopping. We headed home, got the kids in bed and watched some tv and did some reading.

Sunday morning, I slept very late, thanks to a hefty dose of Benadryl Saturday night at a very late bedtime. We got ready and heading to my parents' house, where we had a delicious lunch of roast, vegetables and more. Peach cobbler was the perfect compliment to our lunch! After a while, we headed off to Franklin for a visit with Phillip's parents. Lola had a freak out and got scared of Uncle Steve in his baseball cap. Otherwise, our visit was relaxing and fun.

I got a gift certificate for a 90 minute massage at a really cool place and a set of wind chimes for our patio. This was quite possibly my best Mother's Day yet.

Two years ago on this holiday, I sat uncomfortably, hoping and praying for labor to begin. Baby Lola was positioned just right so that she made my side and back just shriek with pain. To be honest, I don't even remember any details at all about that day. I just remember that I was going through some severe pain in that last month and that the day before, we came thisclose to heading to the hospital. Miles had attended Mary Leigh's fifth birthday party, and truthfully, I spent at least 20 minutes hiding in the bathroom. Why? Because the only position that provided relief was lying down or sitting on a toilet with my knees wide apart and leaning backwards with my back arched sharply. But alas, my days of being preggers are over* and I can plan to enjoy my Mother's Day celebration from here on out!

*Karma will probably bite me for this comment with a little surprise some day.

To all my artistic momma friends...LOL

Yesterday was a blast. It was sooooo good to see everyone!! I can't wait until we do our sewing night and the soap-makin' goodness. Thanks for having us, Shea! For anyone that didn't make it...you truly missed out.We had a relaxing time with no worries! The kids played very well together, we sat outside on blankets with picnic lunches and caught up!

Goggles

Daddy brought home a pair of swimming goggles for each of the girls last night as a reward for being good girls all afternoon, following a stressful morning. They love them. Lola wore hers all day today!!

I do believe that the weather could be bad tonight!

Yikes. It is getting windy out here!!!

Something strange happened

Today on his way to work, Phillip had a strange experience. While on 24 West near Lee Victory Parkway, his driver's side window just shattered all over him.

The police department first said that it was likely a pellet gun shot!! Then they couldn't find the pellet so they said they couldn't be sure. He was shaken up a little and half a day late to work.

I have not left the house today, as he took my car to work with the car seats in it. Auto Glass Service came to our house and replaced the window. I was really impressed with the company. The lady on the phone was very professional and the man that came out was quick! Praise the Lord for no rain! They couldn't have fixed it at our house if it had rained!

If your friend drives a white Jeep Liberty...

You might wanna go get her out of jail.I had an insane experience last night. Ran up to the Exxon for a Coke about 11.

Noticed a white Jeep Liberty with a flat/busted back driver's side tire and bent rim. The lady driving it came out. Tried to tell her about her flat. Realized she was absolutely wasted beyond wasted, carrying another 6-pack of Miller Lite. Yeah.

Tried repeatedly to show her that she had a flat, not even mentioning the dented front bumper and broken windshield. She reacted like I was the Wizard of Oz and she was...ToTo. Seriously. She was hopped up on pills and booze or something. Spacey. Uncommunicative. She ignored my warning and peeled out.

By the time I came out, cops were swarming and I flagged one down to ask if they were looking for her. They were. My husband said she drove up and down our street and through Charleston South screeching that rim on the pavement. Anyway, she was arrested at WT's Phillip's 66 on 231 S. (Long brown hair, age 23 to 34-ish, white Jeep Liberty with broken windshield, trashed front bumper, one jacked up rim.)

Only me, people.

Only me.

Miles loves school

Miles may be able to start kindergarten this year! We will have to wait and see, but the school board is letting her take the spectrum test to see if she is gifted. If so, she will be allowed to start. If she isn't gifted, I won't be disappointed; she's still definitely smarter than many her age. They told me that she is the top of her class in writing and interest in reading/spelling at her little MDO program. I will be disappointed that she can't start school, since I know she is as ready as any child born 12 days before her. (She missed the birthday cut off by 12 days.) It is just a shame that she has to show that she is smarter than all the normally smart kids, i.e. gifted, to be able to start with them. She has to pass intentionally and noticeably harder test because of 12 days.

Just a little over five months.

Wow! In just a little over five months, one of my favorite women on earth gets married. I am so happy for her. She has found her match in Neil. The wedding will be at the beginning of September and we can't wait AND the bachelorette party will be a weekend on the Tennessee River at Cassie's parents' cabin. I wanted to make a list of memories about Mandy. Actually, in just over five months, you can make that Mrs. Mandy Vogeler nee Caffey.

1. She is loyal and confident, so she's not worried about getting herself stomped. i.e., she'll stick up for you.
2. She can dance. Really well. With feeling. LOL!
3. She is wonderful with children, particularly mine.
4. She is intelligent.
5. She makes me laugh non-stop every single time we ever hang out.
6. She is marrying someone that is very similar to my own husband and makes a true effort to be friends with my husband.
7. She knows when she looses an earring that no one else can find, I will go hunt it down.
8. She has very good aim when throwing peanut m&m's at people in swimming pools.
9. She is a very talented, yet humble, artist. Her paintings are divine.
10. Her mother makes the very best homemade biscuits ever.
11. I jumped off the roof of her garage in high school, busted my tail and it hurt. Mr. Charlie saw the whole thing. He didn't have time to stop me.
12. Mrs. Judy never told us when she caught us with that Zima in the garage fridge.
13. She drove a blue Corsica in high school. SWEET.
14. People flock to her.
15. She supports her friends.
16. She is a great person to counsel the young people that she helps.
17. She spends a lot of her time doing things for others.
18. She's got a brown-chicken-cow-now boat for taking to the lake this summer.
19. She is dependable. And independent. She's I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T. Do you know what that means?

The kids don't know it yet

But Miss Mandy Candy Kelly and Mr. Neil are on their way over. These babies are about to lose it when they see who knocks at the door.

Donations

As you most know, I am more than happy to donate items from Brownbag Studio to things like silent auctions or for doorprizes.

Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin' down the bunny trail, hippitty hoppitty, Easter's on it's way!

Today is pajama day at MDO. They will be watching a Peter Cottontail movie, having a PJ party and a special dessert. Miles wore her silky scottie dog pj's. She was precious. She also loved it when I sang the Peter Cottontail song for them last night.

Speaking of the little sneakster, she rooked me into buying her two new DVD's at the store last night. She is now the proud owner of both Barbie: Rapunzel and Barbie: The Princess and the Pauper. Good thing I got a new TV for my bedroom for Christmas. Otherwise, they would't be able to steal my TV for their room to lounge in bed, eating snacks, slipping out accidental toots and watching Barbie. Miles always says, " excuse me~ I tooted!!" Lola, well, not so much but she's trying.

Right this moment:

Lola loves crackers. She also loves cracker crumbs so that she can make an 'innocent' mess. As in, "Look at my puppy dog eyes, Mom-ma! Don't fuss at me since I am only almost two and what did you expect me to want to do with the cracker crumbs on my plate. Of course I dumped them on the couch intentionally and then took my grubby little paw and sent them swirling to oblivion. It isn't my fault you gave me crackers."

Tag

Stephanie tagged me with the Meme challenge.

Here are the meme rules:

• 1. Write your own six word memoir.
• 2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
• 3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere.
• 4. Tag five more blogs with links
• 5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Here is mine: My life equals hugs and comfort.

Now the hard part: Tag you are it!!!

Easter

We went to an Easter egg hunt on Sunday at our friend Shea's house. It was super fun and the kids had a total ball playing in the leaves after scarfing down some candy. Shea had a delicious cake, as she always does.

Then, today, the Easter Bunny came to Milesy's MDO program. They had an egg hunt followed by a surprise appearance by the big bunny! I asked Miles about it later...

Miles: Momma, da Easta Bunny came to my class today!!!!

Me: Wow, Milesy! That is awesome! I have never to seen the Easter bunny in person!! What did he look like.

Miles: Ahhhhm. He was wearing a bunny suit. And her face was painted like a bunny and she had on bunny shoes! (She switched genders for the Easter Bunny after she thought about ti for a second.)

Me: {Laughter}

Later she told Aunt Dinky that the Easter bunny "was wearin' a bunny costume!!"

Jibber Jabber

Jibber Jabber. Jibber. Jabber. Jibber Jabber is Lola's new nickname. Miles came home from Mawmaw and Pop Pop's house calling Lola, "Jibber Jabber" and it is so sweet. She says it so endearingly. I know that My dad has to have gotten this one started. Lola has just really learned how to speak out loud so much more over the past two weeks.

Nope

I don't have a kidney stone. The CT scan showed inflammed tissue in my side/back.

This can't be for real, can it?

Last week I had a bad cold. Then on Wednesday of last week, I started having severe back pain on the left side. I thought I had pulled a muscle carrying Miles upstairs. Apparently, there is a good chance that i did not, in fact, do that. it now appears that I have kidney stones. Nice! I have a cat scan tomorrow to find out for sure. The pain has gotten worse and worse, to the point that I now can't sit still for long bc my back starts howling in pain. The doctor said my area of pain is a little high for a kidney stone but based on my description of the problem and some tests, I probably have kidney stones. Pray I don't have to have surgery! As you may know, I actually like having surgery. I know. I know. I am a freak of nature. However, I don't want to have surgery right now. He said if it gets to where I am still in pain after taking two (2!) vicodons, go to ER. Nice.

JL

It is official. I joined the league. I am now a provisional member Junior League.