The Summer Doldrums...Already?

I honestly feel kinda bad for the boys.  They haven't said that they're bored (only because they know I'll probably freak out), but I think they're bored.  It's been close to a hundred and thirty every day since school let out.  It's too hot for the zoo, it's too hot for the cool new park at Shelby Farms, it's too hot for anything.  Unless it involves jumping into a pool of water.

Given the fact that they are probably bored out of their minds, they've been very sweet.  Very non-argumentative.  I'm pretty proud of them.  Hopefully one day before the next 70 are over, it will cool down some and we can actually go and do something outdoors.

Yesterday we spent the day with my mom-in-love.  She invited us over to swim in her neighborhood pool.  So we swam, then we ate, then the kids played in a house that was not ours, then we had dinner.

Then we went to Jerry's.  :)

I learned last night that you can get pretty much any flavor and make it "supreme".  The supreme part means there's ice cream in there with it.  I know it sounds gross, but it's really not.  It's pretty tasty.  Todd and his parents got cherry supreme last night.  Drew and I got grape and lemon lime mixed.  Graham got lemon lime and granny smith apple, and Jonah and Noah got rainbow and grape.  I think the fuzzy navel is my favorite, though.  It's peach and orange and maybe pineapple all mixed together.  Just don't take more than three bites at a time.  You'll get a brain freeze.

Today we have enjoyed swimming.  We came in to eat lunch, then I took Graham to a friend's house.  Jonah and Noah wanted friends that are brother/sister to come over, so they're all upstairs playing as I write this.  I just did my bi-monthly nail polish change.  I went back to My Private Jet.  It's my most favorite.  :)  Especially now that I have a tan.

It's rough...this life of mine.  I am praying that I will be able to keep my kids happy in this blasted heat.  So far, so good.  Jonah and Noah have their last baseball game tonight.  My goal is to remember to get some action shots of them.  Since I haven't so far.  Hopefully the next time I write, it will be far more interesting.

Love to all!

No Regrets

When Todd and I were in Iceland last year, the theme of our trip was "no regrets".   Eddie talked to us about opening ourselves up to a world of possibilities...and to prayerfully consider saying "yes" to whatever God prompted us toward.  He encouraged us to live every single second of the trip, and not to wait until three days before it was over before we decided to start doing this.  He told us that we needed to enjoy every second. 

And we did.

I was thinking about that this morning while I was browsing on facebook.  I happened to look at a picture taken last summer, and a friend wrote that she was thoroughly enjoying her kids' last week of summer...creating precious memories for them during that time.  I love that...and I love my sweet friend who wrote that.  She had great intentions, but her comment made me wonder: why wait?  What about enjoying them and creating memories with them on purpose? 

I like the thought of that.  Summer is only 80 days long (not 104 like Phineas and Ferb says).  I know now that those days are going to fly by with lightning speed.  I want to make plans today to enjoy all the time I'm given with them.  My dad tells me all the time, "When they ask if friends can come over, try not to say no too much."  I mean, really, when you have 4, what's one more? 

I don't want to have any regrets this summer.  I want to have fun.  On purpose.  I want to live these days with intention.  To have fun.  To celebrate summer vacation (regardless of where we are).  To thoroughly enjoy each God-given day.  To create memories with these gifts that God has given me.  To take lots of pictures to record the time.  To dance when they ask me to dance, to say yes to friends, to just live life in a way that is pleasing to my Savior and fun for my family. 

How about you?  How will you spend your time this summer?  It's something to think about.  Love to all.

family wedding

Todd's cousin, Megan, got married last night.  It was my first Catholic wedding.  I kinda wondered about the length of the ceremony when the entire wedding party went to sit down.  Even the bride and groom sat down.  But it wasn't long...about 45 minutes.  It was definitely an experience.  There was a lot of sit down/stand up, and there was lots of reciting things back to the priest.  Of course, every time half the congregation recited something, I could feel the stares I was getting from each of the boys.  I thought we'd have to explain it all when we got to the car, but they never asked.  And we forgot to bring it up.

After the wedding, while we were waiting to leave, we got caught up with some of Todd's cousins that live in North Carolina.  Some of my most favorite people on this earth....Mike Hall, his wife, Patty, and two of their sons were with them...Mikey and Ty.  They have 5 sons, ages 17 to 34.  The two that were with them were the oldest and the youngest.  I always love seeing them.  We always pick right back up where we left off...and every time we see them, I always hate that we don't see each other more often.  They are just amazing people, and the boys LOVE them.  Of course, it's pretty easy to love someone that nice.   I would love to go visit them sometime. 

Mike has been in the Marines forever, and he's stationed in Jacksonville, North Carolina at Camp Lejeune.  I would love to take the boys there someday...and to let them see what a base looks like.  I have been there because my sister lived there for a brief time when I was a teenager.  As a teenager, it was a pretty cool thing to experience.  Of course, that might have had something to do with the fact that the movie Topgun was very popular at that same time.  I just might have been on the look out for my own, personal Val Kilmer.  Lol...I'm not kidding. 

Anyway, because the boys looked so handsome, we had a brief photo op.  I would hate to waste a "dressed up" opportunity.  They looked so cute...all of them.  Jonah and Noah wanted me to spike their hair, even.  It was, indeed, a special night. 

The wedding reception was at Memphis National golfclub.  There was food, a pasta bar, and a dance floor.  I thought Drew's eyes were going to bug out of his head.  It was hilarious.  The boys loves to eat and dance.  Some lady walked up to him and caught him singing every word to a country song, so that began a very long, drawn out conversation.  She's the one who kept asking him to dance with her.  It was so funny....he wouldn't dance like he does when we're at home (our movie credit time), but the fact that he was out there at all was pretty amazing.  He is very extroverted when he's around people he knows really well, but he's usually introverted when we're in public.  Not at all like the crazy Drew we all know and love.  I was impressed that he even talked to the lady.  It was pretty funny. 

I danced with Jonah, too.  He only danced with me because he wanted the d-jay to give him a hot pink boa to wear.  But he didn't.  Noah wouldn't dance with me.  I asked him why he wouldn't when we got home, and he told me it was because he was shy.  That made me so sad, because he was the one who used to love to break dance.  It's weird how they all change so much as they grow up.  Even Graham danced, and he usually doesn't do that either. 

It was a fun night.  We didn't leave until almost eleven.  We missed church this morning because of it...and we don't do that.  By the time we got home and everyone fell asleep it was after midnight.  And Graham was up sometime in the middle of the night with a stomach ache.  We didn't wake up until almost 9:30.  We're having a lazy morning around here, and this afternoon we're going to spend some time with my Mom and Bill.  We try not to let a weekend go by without seeing them.  Bill and the boys have withdrawals from not seeing one another.  At least that's what I think...I don't know if Big Daddy would admit that or not, but this also has something to do with the fact that the older he gets, the more sentimental he becomes.  It's really sweet. 

Well.  I'm going to go, now that I've talked your ears off.  (Written your eyes out?  Hmmm...don't know if that really works.)  I need another cup of coffee, and I need to nail down our plans for this afternoon.  I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Love to all. 

sometimes living in the south stinks...like when it's 100 degrees on the 4th day of June

Seriously.  It's hotter than Hades.  The kind of hot that steals your breath away the second you walk out.  The kind of hot that makes my little weather bug app go nuts because it doesn't want me to keel over from the code orange ozone alert.  The kind of hot that makes my hair do weird and funky things. 

You get the drift. 

We're doing yard work this weekend.  Not exactly the greatest time to be doing yard work, but it's got to get done.  My wonderful husband and kids started yesterday afternoon.  The boys cleaned up all the toys, sticks and the stuff that comes from our dog/horse, then Todd came home and started cutting.  Then Graham took over so Todd could start on all the leaves.  Since there wasn't anything else the other boys could do, we swam.  It was nice for Graham, because when he got really hot, he came over and dove in.  Then got back out to finish. 

It sure is nice having a son who's old enough to help with yard work.  I love it for Todd.  My wonderful husband has never asked me to help with yard work.  He spoils me.  :)  I have helped with leaves and stuff before, but as far as the actual cutting and edging, he has always just done that.  I appreciate that about him...I know lots of women that have to do it themselves, because it wouldn't get done otherwise.    I always tell him thank you...because he doesn't HAVE to do that.  And I always try not to take advantage of the fact. 

Today we're just hanging out around home.  We'll probably swim some more (because what else is there to do??), and then the kids all have a party to go to.  And we have a wedding to go to tonight.  Well...I'm going to get off of here.  Hope you all have a wonderful, happy Saturday.  Love to all.  

Jesus, Sunshine and Movie Credits

I was going to write "booty shakin'" instead of "movie credits" in the title, but decided I should probably not do that in the same sentence that I say Jesus. 

Anyway. 

The sunshine part of the title was amazing today.  We swam.  And swam and swam and swam.  And talked and talked and talked.  I was honored to have the chance to talk to my 2 oldest sons about middle school and girls.  One kinda goes with the other.  Graham and Drew seem to be a little girl crazy right now, and while that is perfectly normal, I am trying to convince them that it would be better to just be friends with all the girls they know.  Instead of liking them all.  And calling them "pretty thangs" (Drew's words, not mine).  And thinking they want to ask one to be their girlfriend. 

Don't get me wrong...I am thrilled that they have a healthy appreciation for a pretty girl.  I just want them to realize the importance of being friends.  My friend Sharon is the one who gave me the idea for this talk.  She told her son (one of Graham's friends) that if he would just be friends with all these girls for these middle school years, by the time they reach the high school age (or the dating age, whichever comes first) they will automatically gravitate towards the ones they already know so well. 

I think it sounds great.  I'm just trying to convince them of it.  I don't want that to be the only thing they talk about and think about.  It can't be healthy. 

And yes.  I am a girl.  And have no understanding whatsoever of the male brain...except for what my husband and my 4 sons have taught me.  But to me, it sounds great.  I'm sure Todd will disagree. 

Anyway.  So that was the sunshine part. 

The Jesus part always comes first.  I love my morning quiet time.  My favorite thing in the world to do is to sit at my kitchen table with my Bible, my journal and a cup of coffee.  I'm such a nerd about this, too...I have a pen near me, and I usually pull out the pack of Sharpie highlighters that my sweet mom-in-love gave me in my Christmas stocking.  I love to sit and pray first...for the many things I pray for.  I always have the everyday stuff...but I always pray for my extended family during this time as well.  I have friends that I'm praying for, and I have special weekly things I pray for.  This week one of the things I prayed for was Royal Family Kids Camp that First Assembly is giving for some inner-city foster kids.  I know that these are the times that my friends are literally Jesus with skin on...they love on these sweet kids all week.  I know that God anoints this time, and He already has this week. 

So I pray, but then I listen.  This is my favorite part.  I love to write in my Bible, have I told you that?  I love to go back and see the verses I've highlighted.  I love to see what I've written alongside some of my very favorites.  I love that each time I read a verse, even though I might have read it a hundred other times, that God has the power to lead me right back to it.  And make it sound brand new.  I love the many God things He does in my life.  This morning was no exception.  I was lead right to a verse that I believe God led me to for a friend I'm praying for. 

The last part of the title is ahhhhhmazing!  Since my kids were little, we have loved family movie nights.  My very favorite thing about family movie night is the booty shakin' that takes place at the end!  They always save the best song in the movie for the first part of the credits, and we crank it up and shake what our mama's gave us!  Tonight was perfect. 

We watched Tangled, and danced our tails off at the end.  It was amazing.  I danced with all the boys, and was rewarded with a huge, random hug from Drew and an extra special "I love you" in sign language.  Those are few and far between, the older he gets.  He is still somewhat affectionate, but not as much as I'd like him to be.  That's why tonight was so special.  And he's the one that asked me to dance first. 

Yes, I love to dance.  Not at wedding receptions, but in the comfort of my own living room where no one can see me.  I would have to be majorly inebriated in order for me to dance in public.  And since that's not going to happen, I will continue to reserve those special occasions for my hubby and kids. 

Well.  The boys just headed upstairs for bed.  And you know what that means.  Glee is waiting for me.  :)  I haven't watched one episode since last night and I'm having withdrawals. 

Not really.  I had the perfect, most amazing day with some pretty awesome kids.  Otherwise known as Graham, Drew, Jonah and Noah.  And Nate the Great (Drew's best friend) for the while he was here.

Goodnight and love to all. 

tv shows?

Contrary to what I've been doing since Monday night, I really do not watch a lot of television.  In the morning time, especially, I'm too busy drinking my coffee and checking email.  After that routine is when I get up and start doing things around the house.  Straightening up, starting a load of laundry, unloading the dishwasher, things like that.

But then I found out that Glee was on the "watch instantly" queue on Netflix.  And since I started watching it in January, there were a whole lot of episodes I had missed.  So I've been watching them all.  Fifteen episodes in two short days.  I know...I have a problem.  Please don't judge me, I'm just being real here.  I started Monday night, because the Goodwin boys (all 5 of them) were watching sports.  I watched some yesterday because my kids were upstairs were building "the best fort in the entire world".  (Drew's exact words.)  I watched again last night, because Todd and the boys went looking for a fire that they could see the smoke from.

Normally I don't even sit during the day, but since I'm caught up on the house stuff, I figured why not?  And since the kids were occupied...well.  I'll stop now.  Justifying it, I mean.  I know...I have a slight problem.

Then, there's the Bachelorette.  And even though I am not a huge fan of Ashley, I am still watching it.  This is what I do in the summer...watch tv until midnight or after.  During the school year, I'm in bed by about ten every night, so for me to actually be staying up so late...and all for tv...is unheard of.

I love having time to watch something I want to watch!  In a house where testosterone rules, I enjoy the girly shows.  And the music on Glee is crazy good.  Every episode is a one hour mini-musical.  I love it.  And I love that it's not a reality show.  Since that's all that is on almost, nowadays.

Well.  Since my kids are running circles around me (literally, they are literally running in circles around the house), I guess my time alone with the computer is over.  Since I can't hear myself think anymore.

Who am I kidding?  I love having my kids home for the summer.  Most of the time.  ;)  Enjoy your day, friends!  It's hotter than Hades here in Memphis, so stay cool.  Love to all!

WeDnEsDaY

The boys had to go to bed early last night, because we all had to wake up early this morning.  Graham had a dental appointment.  He had 2 baby teeth that were in front of 2 (already in place) permanent teeth.  So he had to have them removed.  Poor Graham is just like I was when I was a little girl...terrified of the dentist.  I always appreciated a nice smile from the hygienist and from the actual doctor himself.

We have got the world's greatest dentist.  He is someone Todd has known his whole life, he's a Christian, and he is phenomenal with kids (and adults).  And he doesn't hurt you.  AT ALL.  That is my kind of dentist.  Because I am still a coward when it comes to dental stuff, too.

Anyway, Graham did great.  We came back home and are having a wonderfully, lazy (productive for me) day.  I was able to have some great quiet time while the kids were all upstairs building the world's best fort.  Those are the exact words that Drew used.  I made them all their favorite lunch and they made cupcakes for desert.  They did great!  And they are really, really good.  Who doesn't love cupcakes??

Speaking of who doesn't love them...they're anxiously awaiting our neighbor's return from work.  Mr. Paul is the kind man who taught them to garden a couple years ago.  This year, he gave each of the boys their very own tomato plant.  He built them boxes, gave them mulch to plant them in and is continuing to check on the progress of the plants via the boys.  To thank him for his kindness, they are delivering cupcakes for him and his wife to enjoy for dessert and a hand-drawn original from Drew.  :)

It's been a great day.  I've gotten lots of laundry done and the boys have done a great job of helping me out around the house some.  And...everybody is getting along!!!  Seriously!  I only had to tell them to be nice once or twice.  We're working on this every single day...what we say and how we say it.  Anyway, it's been wonderful.  Tonight is the kick-off event at church for the summer activities.

Well, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day!  Love to all.