Thanks Simple Mom!

I won a great giveaway today from Simple Mom! If you've never checked out her site it's full of great tips for saving money, maintaining sanity and living a simple life with kids. Plus, it's a great week to check her out because she's giving away tons of fantastic stuff and it's not too late for YOU to win too! This is what I won, but you should go and check it all out yourself. Thanks again Simple Mom!

Zoo Membership...

One of our favorite outings is going to the Jacksonville Zoo. We haven't been since November so when I saw that the weather was going to be in the 70's yesterday I made some sandwiches and we headed out. (Sorry to all our friends and family stuck inside with ice and snow!)

Every place we have lived we have purchased a membership to at least one museum, aquarium or zoo. It's a great way to stretch your money and still get out of the house. Plus, you often receive a discount on extra tickets so that you can bring friends or out of town family with you and your kids. For me, a trip to the zoo or museum is worth the cost of a membership and definitely Works For Me. It more than pays for itself with the money I save by NOT going to Target to "get out of the house."

This particular zoo is a great size for kids - big enough without being overwhelming. Plus, with a membership you don't feel like you have to see everything every time you go. But one thing we ALWAYS do is ride the train. We also made sure that we petted the goats in Discovery Park and saw Larry Lion. (Mark's been learning about the letter L at school this week.) Here are some shots of our day!

Our visit began and ended with a train ride.

Mom and Luke on the train

Climbing on the elephant statue

Sliding in the kid's play area

"Making Lukie laugh," as Mark calls it.

Miss America...

I love the Miss America pageant. I really do. Apparently viewership has been declining over the last 5-10 years, but I still love watching it every year. I even watch the TLC show Countdown to the Crown that was on all month leading up to last night's show. This time I totally agreed with the judges. Miss Georgia the first runner-up was wonderful, but Miss Indiana was my favorite from the start. Not only was she beautiful, but she gave thoughtful poised answers in her interview and performed a beautiful rendition of "Via Dolorosa." And no one could have had a more genuine stunned reaction. Congratulations Katie Stam! Anyone else watch it?

Good Help is Hard to Find...

Good thing I have so much help around the house while Tim is gone! Anyone want to hire him?

As I was uploading this video I heard Mark saying, "Sweep, sweep, sweep!" I peeked into the kitchen to capture these photos.

Clash of the Big 12...

Today is National Clash Clothes Day according to Sandra at Celebrate Every Day. She's put a challenge out there, so here's our attempt at clashing. We decided to go for the creative approach and wear all of our different Big 12 gear. If you don't see your school represented, well, send us some clothes. We don't discriminate except against t.u. You'll notice there is no burnt orange here. Tim won't allow it in the house. But the orange crocs are a tribute to Oklahoma State. What do you think? Can you beat our clash?

Golf hat, Tech onesie, Oklahoma jacket, cammo pants, blue socks, orange sandals...

Oklahoma hat, red shirt, Aggie jersey, plaid shorts, argyle socks and orange crocs...

Elsewhere in Cyberspace...

Read about my two hours of sanity a day at the gym and how I plan on taking the eggnog lattes off my hips at Today's Housewife...

I'm so excited about Mark's choice in his future bride. Meghan is the sweetest girl and we have so much fun together. She entered their story in a contest and you can read it here...

Real Love...

So, I'm going to admit something tonight. I watch "The Bachelor". Not only do I watch it, but I really love watching it. Tim hates it and won't watch it with me. (I don't really blame him for this. He is a guy. ) Since he's at sea I'm actually getting to watch it on the night that it originally airs instead of a few days later from my DVR. And I'm thoroughly enjoying this particular season. So much drama! As far as the show concept goes, I don't know that it's the world's best way to find a mate (especially considering the show's record of long-term matches) but it makes for great television for me.

As much as I love this show though I have to vent. These silly little girls are already talking about how they are falling "in love" with Jason. They gush about how much they care about him and want to spend the rest of their life with him after only knowing him a few weeks. Most of them have only been on group dates! And while I'm sure that riding in a helicopter over LA or Vegas is fun and magical and dancing during a private concert is romantic, it's not love.

What is love then? Love is my Mamaw and Papaw still holding hands 56 years into their marriage. Love is my Grandaddy caring for my Granny as she declines with Alzheimer's. Love is doing Tim's stinky boat laundry. Love is Tim holding my hand as I give birth to our two boys. (Love is also giving birth while watching football because it's Texas/OU weekend.) Love is taking your family to church each week. Love is cooking dinner for your husband. Love is leaving your wife a card for each week you are at sea. Love is caring for your children together. Love is so much more than a romantic kiss or a feeling of butterflies in your stomach. Love is a choice to forgive and see the other person as Jesus does - redeemed.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm still going to be watching The Bachelor every Monday night. I'm not bothered by the misunderstanding of "love" that much! I even have a favorite I'm rooting for. (If you'd like a hint her name rhymes with "Menefanie".) I just wanted to clear a few things up about love...

Anyone else have a favorite?

Dinner...

I can't decide if this scenario puts me into the category of "good" mom or "bad" mom. You decide.

"Mark, how would you like to order pepperoni pizza for dinner?"
"Ummmm...I think I would like salmon, asparagus and garlic bread."

Uh, yeah. Let me just whip that right up for you, since it's 4:15 and I have none of those ingredients in my house. Instead, we have a refrigerator full of "Dad's at sea" food. Not necessarily unhealthy, but definitely foods of convenience and speed.

So, does it make me a good mother that I've obviously served my child healthy meals and that he requests food other than mac & cheese?

Or does it make me a bad mother that I didn't feed my child the dinner full of vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and balanced nutrition that he asked for, but instead gave him this...

Or maybe it says more about my child's need to be in control than my mothering. I wonder where he gets that!

Sadly, there's no one here to eat the peppers with Tim at sea...

The End of Our Texas Visit...

Our trips home are always a whirlwind of people and places. It seems like there is never enough time to see everyone and do everything. We try as hard as we can to see as many of the people we love while maintaining the quality of that time together. It can be exhausting. But it's such a blessing to have so many people who love us and want to spend time with us. Here are few pictures from the rest of our visit.

I am blessed to have all four of my grandparents living. My mom's parents are in an assisted living facility in Houston so we made a quick weekend trip down there to see them. While we were there we got to have dinner with Aunt Lindsy and Uncle Adam and we stayed with my Aunt Tricia and Dave. Luke was recovering from a cold so he stayed home with Mimi and Papaw.


Hugs for Granny and Grandaddy!

Eating a cookie with Uncle Mark

Playing with Grandaddy's dog Sam...

We promised Mark that we could stop for lunch at the Corsicana Bakery that had cookies "as big as his head"...

"Riding" an ATV at Gander Mountain...

We met Mamaw and Papaw GC at the mall on our last day in Texas to see them one more time. Mark got to ride the train twice and we had lunch at La Madeline's - my favorite!


It was a great visit! We'll be back in May...save some Mexican food for us to eat then!

This is how we all feel...

We arrived home in Georgia safely this afternoon. It was a rather uneventful day of flying. Now comes the unpacking and cleaning and packing away Christmas. But tonight we'll just sleep...

What Happens When the Lid Is Pulled Off the Cuisinart Popcorn "Pumper" While Popping?

Oh, and the lid cracks when it hits the tile and the baby cries...

A Whole New World...

One of the best things to come out of my year of teaching at Ford Middle School was meeting Katie and the Smith family. We've stayed close even though we only see each other twice a year when I come home. We do know that our lives are very different as mothers of two boys and two girls (with another girl on the way!) Yesterday Mark and I went to their house to play and have lunch. Luke was sick and Haley was at school, but Reese and Mark had a blast. And Mark was introduced a "a whole new world" of Disney Princesses, Barbies, pink and purple toys and tea sets. You should have seen the bewildered look he gave me when I handed him a teapot! I'm pretty sure that no amount of exposure to princesses could change the fact that he's all boy though. When I handed him the Barbie he immediately lifted her skirt to see what was underneath. Here's a few shots of our day together...

Mark loved pushing Reese in the swing

This looks so different from my tricycle at home, Mom.

Mark and Reese "driving" the swingset...

What's more masculine than a motorized 4-wheeler? A Tinkerbell 4-wheeler!

We had lunch at Mom's favorite fast food joint - TACO BUENO!!!!

Mmmmmm...it's just as good as I remember!

Thanks for hanging out with us Smith family. We love you guys and wish you a fantastic 2009!

Texas Happenings...

On Saturday we went to Northpark Mall to see the train exhibit. Even Luke was impressed with all the trains. Uncle Mark and Meghan came with us and we had a great time. Uncle Mark made us Duck Parmesan for dinner. It was our first time to have duck, but I'm sure it won't be our last.

While we were at the mall we returned Papaw's broken christmas present for a popcorn popper that worked. And boy, was it good! I think we know what Daddy might get for his birthday...

We spent Sunday evening with Tim's parents, brother and grandmother. The boys love playing with Uncle Blake and banging on (umm...I meaning playing) the piano.

He's almost more cute than he is rotten...almost!

Today we went to the Wiggly Play Center with Marcy and Lincoln. Luke didn't come because he's had a runny nose we decided not to infect North Texas children with a Georgian cold. But Mark and Lincoln had a grand time. They jumped, slid, drove a big red car, danced with Henry the Octopus and rode the merry-go-round at the end of our visit.

Apparently, it isn't necessary to have your own horse to ride on the merry-go-round around here...

My New Years Gift...

Have you ever spent 15 hours in a car, airport and plane with my children? I have. I don't recommend it. Ever. Let's just say New Year's Eve 2008 can be cataloged with all our other stellar flying adventures...

It all started with a simple ride to the airport. Our friend Jerry (who now deserves a very nice gift, along with his wonderful wife, Laura) was going to take us so that I didn't have to park in long-term parking and ride the shuttle with our bag and the stroller and the kids. An 18-wheeler on the interstate interfered with our plans in a huge way. The 30 minute drive to the Jacksonville airport took 90 minutes and the day went downhill from there. We missed being able to check our bags and get on our 2:15 flight by 10 minutes. So, they booked us on the next flight out at 6:10. We spent the afternoon playing on the airport floor. We watched Thomas, ran around, ate a little dinner and prepared to board our flight. We were halfway through boarding when it stopped and they had everyone deplane. Our flight was cancelled and they had us exit security to rebook. We called Laura to come get us so that we didn't have to spend the night on the airport floor. Then, the flight was back on - at midnight. So, we called Laura again to cancel our ride and went back through security and spent the evening riding the moving sidewalks. We finally took off about 12:30 am New Year's morning.

As exhausted as I felt, I wasn't able to fall asleep on the plane and throwing a bit of a pity party. Both boys were asleep and I was listening to music. New Year's Eve has always been a special holiday for Tim and I. Our first date was 7 years ago on New Year's Eve. We've celebrated in Vegas, at parties with friends, and at home with other couples. Each year has always been a special time for us together. I was feeling particularly sorry for myself with Tim at sea and the long day I'd had in the airport when Luke started waking up. He couldn't seem to get comfortable in his seat to sleep. I unlatched his seatbelt and held him close to me and he immediately fell back asleep. As I sat on that airplane I thought about what an amazing gift God had given me this New Year's Eve. As I sat with my youngest on my lap and my eldest leaned against my arm I could not have been more moved than I was in those moments. I might not have been with my husband the moment the new year arrived, but I was blessed to be with my kids. If we hadn't missed our flight they would have been in their beds and I would have been alone. Instead, God reminded me of all my incredible blessings by allowing me to hold my precious children when I needed my family most.

I don't know how many more times Luke will even sleep in my lap. And I don't know when Mark will sleep with my arm around him again but I know that I will never forget New Year's Eve 2008. It wasn't the night I'd had planned. It was so much more.

Our DVD player and new Thomas movie were highly entertaining...

Good thing the airport wasn't crowded...

This is early in the day...when I thought we'd only be there 4 hours, not 10...