My Husband Rocks

Big Daddy is getting a shout out this morning...I would "bump fists" with him if he would let me...but he HATES that, so that would be a negative. But, out of my love and admiration for him, I did get up with him this morning at 4:30am and make him a hot breakfast and coffee, and then even stayed up and watched the news with him, while he ate it.

I am ever thankful for my husband who gets up, without complaint and goes out to provide for his family....in the harsh reality of 15 degrees with a wind chill in the single digits. And then, in the summer, he does the exact opposite by heading out at 4:30am when it is ALREADY 75degrees and on its way up to near 100degrees. All the while, without complaint. All he asks for is either a hot breakfast in the winter or a cool drink in the summer ...that is quite the trade off if you ask me.

So here is to husbands.

Husbands that get up early, and the ones that get home early.

Husbands that pull an extra shift for some extra cash, and the ones that turn down a shift for extra family time.

Husbands that make the big bucks, and the ones that make a big difference.

Husbands that are great bosses, and the ones that impress their bosses.

Husbands that went to college, and the ones that went to work.

Husbands that served their country, and the ones that serve their communities.

Husbands that love their wives as Christ loved the church, and the ones who try to.

Husbands who pray for the kids, and the ones whose kids pray for them.

Husbands who bring home the bacon, and the ones who cook the bacon.

Husbands who go to church, and the ones who need to go to church.

Husbands who have tea parties with their little girls, and ones who watch from from afar.

Husbands who send roses, and ones that pick them.

Husbands who kiss you goodnight, and ones who kiss you good morning.

Husbands who play sports with their kids, and ones that play video games with their kids.

Husbands who save money, and the ones who spend it.

Husbands that have been faithful, and the ones that have been remorseful.

Husbands that make you laugh, and the ones who hold you when you cry.

Husbands who lead, and the ones that listen.

Husbands that do everything right, and the ones who make everything all right.



I imagine that all of our husbands are as vastly different from each other as we are. So today, I celebrate them for whatever they bring to your family, the good, the bad, and the really good.

Now get off the computer, and go love on your man!!!!

WOW!!!

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Well, join the club and head HERE for your very own chance.

Boomama has completely outdone herself.

Can you even believe this giveaway?????

I recently overheard a stay at mom say that her kids don't have chores. I really don't know why this puzzled me so, but it did. ALL of our kids have chores, both of the daily variety and the I need you to.......fill in the blank variety.

Aside from making their beds, all the kids obviously need to take care of personal hygiene and keep up with all their stuff that some how creeps and runs wild in areas other than their bedrooms.

The boys also alternate weeks of dish duty and dog duty. Our youngest, only 5, even helps by putting away the silverware, and relining the trash cans with bags after they have been emptied.

We also blitz the house everyday right before Big Daddy gets home. We try to get all the school stuff up and out of the way, babydolls back in thier beds, and pillows straightened on the couch.

Our kids also help with some of the leg work for bigger chores, like mowing the grass(especially if Big Daddy has to work late) or picking vegtables from the garden in the summer.

What about you and yours? I really think of myself as a house manager, not a maid, so I delegate and get the troops moving when necessary.

Back in the swing of things....finally!!!!

Hello Friends,

I hate that my last few posts have been nothing but....here I am again...sorry, I've been gone....better late than never....but REALLY this time I mean it....I'm BACK!!!!

Which, I am sure that, my 3 readers will be over joyed with.

Fact is, Blogging fits very nicely with my homeschooling routine....but not so much my summer routine. Who wants to be on the laptop when there is a beautiful lake across the street, a swimming pool at both the In-Laws and the grandparents, and a new niece next door? Can you blame my hiatus???

With all that said, life is very good

I'm a little Pee-pot

Big Daddy, who has a lot of amazing qualities, also has a handful of annoying ones. For example....he can aggravate you in a heart beat....but the worse part is that he doesn't let up once your aggravated. Instead he just pokes and prods until you are ready to literally RUN AWAY. FOREVER!!! This was my perdicament the other night in the kitchen when this conversation took place.

BD: Come on Babe...I'm not that BAD
Me: Oh, yes you are. Leave me alone and get out of the kitchen
BD: Really, Babe....I just want to be near you...I've missed you all day(remember this is not sweet nothings...its the aggravation game...trying to not only "get my goat" but slaughter it as well)
Me: You know honey, I've been thinking
BD: what about darlin'?
Me: I once heard on a show about self defense that if someone is trying to abduct you, that you should pee on yourself because they wont want to take you anywhere if you just peed your pants.
BD: what does that have to do with anything?
Me: Well, I am thinking about peeing my pants just so you would leave me alone and let me cook dinner.

Funny HaHa

Life around our house has been quite busy and FILLED with laughter here of late. Had to take a moment and share some of the highlights.

The Beez sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" last week. It went something like this..."buy me some pickles and apple jacks"

Tucking in The Snake last night almost got me a black eye. When I leaned down to kiss him, I scared him to death and he turned over swinging. I caught his clenched fist just inches from my face.

My MIL asked Crack (12yrs old...all boy) which of her perfumes he liked best. He just nodded and walked away. Later he told me about their conversation like this...."Mom, really? She wanted to know and I just shook my head. But the truth was they all smelled the same....except for one...and it smelled like butt."

Trying to convince The Beez to read me one of her new books before she went outside to ride her bikes went down like this:

Me: read this to me before you go outside

Beez: I dont want to read...that's school and its summer

Me: come on, its one of your NEW books that I just bought...PLEASE

Beez: You said that those books were for school....I want to go and ride my bike...not do school

Me: Well, you could read this ONE book and then go out and ride your bike....OR you could read all TWELVE of your new books to me....and NOT go out and ride your bike

Beez: That sounds like a THREAT!!!

Me: Guilty. Go ride your bike.

Beez: OK, I'll read just one.

Big Daddy, who has a lot of amazing qualities, also has a handful of annoying ones. For example....he can aggravate you in a heart beat....but the worse part is that he doesn't let up once your aggravated. This was my perdicament the other night in the kitchen when this conversation took place.

BD: Come on Babe...I'm not that BAD

Me: Oh, yes you are. Leave me alone and get out of the kitchen

BD: Really, Babe....I just want to be near you...I've missed you all day(remember this is not sweet nothings...its the aggravation game...trying to not only "get my goat" but slaughter it as well)

Me: You know honey, I've been thinking

BD: what about darlin'?

Me: I once heard on a show about self defense that if someone is trying to abduct you, that you should pee on yourself because they wont want to take you anywhere if you just peed your pants.

BD: what does that have to do with anything?

Me: Well, I am thinking about peeing my pants just so you would leave me alone and let me cook dinner.

Staying True: My Journey through Homeschooling

My blogging break has been wonderful. It has accomplished everything I hoped it would and I feel refreshed and energized and ready to jump back into the blogging world. Joyfully that break is over, but another one is on the horizon and school is just around the corner.
Most years I have already purchased all my curriculum by the end of the previous year so that I can have the summer to tweak it and prepare myself for the upcoming year. This year with our big NY/DC trip that didn't happen. I knew that I wanted top make some changes but the sepcifics I had not laid out yet. Then a friend offered me her curriculum from last year...Science, History and English Lit/Grammar. It was everything I would need for those subjects except for the grammar work text and I was thrilled. The amount of money she saved me was unreal and I was so thankful. She brought me all the books and I started going through them trying to figure the best way to use it and still be true to myself.
The truth is, I couldn't. I sat there and looked over this great gift and solid curriculum and I was lost. I couldn't find myself with those textbook pages, and I feared failure was on the horizon. I looked over each subject and then in defeat I prayed over them and asked for direction. And this is what I heard in the depths of my soul. "What you see as a financial gift and answer to prayer, is really your lack of faith that I will provide what I really want you to have. Be TRUE to yourself, and to your kids. I have called you to homeschool these precious children, and I will not leave you short handed"
In the span of just a moment, a mere breath within my self I suddenly felt at peace. And I reminded myself of the two things I counsel other homeshooling moms to do. First, know WHY you are homeschooling. Write it down. Remind yourself of it often. You have to know the WHY or you will get lost in the HOW. The first time someone asks you, "Why do you homeschool?" and you stutter and fumble over your answer, you will feel defeated. So know the WHY so you can succeed in the HOW. The second thing I urge other parents to do is this: Be true to yourself. Be the teacher God created YOU to be, not the teacher you see in others. You are uniquely gifted to teach your own children, your own way. This is the gift that homeschooling gives you. Instead of your child being in a group of 20-30 kids who all learn differently, but are required to learn the systems way, you have the freedom to individualize. Meet your child where they are, and bring them on the journey.
The beauty of homschooling is just that, the journey you take with your children to teach them to know God and to love knowledge. Remembering above all things, that diagramming sentences and periodic tables have nothing on the real gift you are giving your children. Hold fast to the knowledge that homeschoolings greatest gift is the beautiful relationship you are given with your children when you stay true to yourself.

In Love and Laughter, Seeking to KNOW Him

Hello world!!
I thought my blog break would only be a week or so but it quickly turned into a well needed month.
We have been super busy with summer camp, swimming, and gardening.
Oh, and welcoming a new little one. Presley Fern came 2 1/2 weeks early, but not a day too soon for her momma. She weighed a whopping 9lbs and ofcourse is beautiful.
I am hoping that I will be frequently updating now that I can do it via my iPhone. It seems that I am never on the actual computer.
Thank you too the many friends who have emailed me to check in on me...we are alive and well and just enjoying our summer and our new precious angel.

LaughingMomma

Test post from my iPhone.

Blogging Sabbatical???

It seems, without even officially planning it, that I have been on Sabbatical. And in some ways that has been VERY good(more on that later). I have missed it, but before our trip I was spending way too much time not only on my own blog...but also visiting each of your blogs. In the middle of all that, I realized I was missing out on my own life while I was enjoying yours.
That is one reason why Twitter(I'm LaughingMomma if you twitter too!!!) works well for me. I am able to capture some great family moments and times of reflection without having to immerse myself in the blog world. It of course didn't help that we had our big trip/adventure right in the middle of it all, and now summer is upon us and my baby niece Presley is about to make her grand entrance very soon, all of which have been occupying my time away from the blogosphere.
Here is a quick update on all things ALOL:
Big Daddy is going to be the BIG 40 in just a few weeks. I had a surprise party for his 35th, and I think this year we will just do a family dinner. He wants, of all things, an old fashioned ice cream maker. I am usually "anti" appliance when it comes to gift giving...after all I was the recipient of a new stove one year for Christmas....and that did go over so well. But that is a whole other post.
The Beez is READING!!!! WOO WHOO!!! All of you who homeschool can probably understand the frustration of striking out when it comes to reading. It usually starts off great with them getting short sounds and reading every three letter word around. Then when you throw them a curve ball with long sounds, multiple rules, and special sounds and they just give up. I am pleased to say that we have rounded the bases and she is now reading everything with great success.
Snake is back to his old self. Which is such a good thing. While we were on our trip
it seemed like every time we had to get on to one of the kids...it was Snake. But once we got back on Mississippi soil he was back to his flying under the radar self. On a positive "note" he has started tinkering on the piano, so we decided to start him taking lessons with my Grammy. I'll keep you posted on his progress
Crack is in the tail end of baseball. Its been a good year but admittedly, I am counting down to the final game on opening day. I love watching my kids play sports...I just hate the time it keeps us away from home. Crack also moves up to the Youth this summer, which is good in that He and Snake will be separate. But that also means that we will have twice as many activities on our calendar.
As for me, well I am just ready to grab a book and hit the pool and the lake. That is the best thing about all the kids swimming....I can actually relax instead of having to "play" the entire time. So leave me a comment with your summer reading suggestions...cause I am definitely in the market for a summer reading list.

It's Good to be Back Friends

It would be impossible to to recap our last month in just one post, so I won't even try. But I will say that our long awaited vacation was no vacation, but really a 17 day long field trip. We saw just about every monument, memorial, and museum in DC and of course hit all the big spots in NY too. We had a lovely time visiting with my Dad and his fiance Ann while in NY and then with good friends Brian and Lauri while in DC.

The trip was more than I could have imagined if I had not put all the hard work into the thing in the first place. So instead, it was everything I imagined and more. the kids were, as a whole, super troopers. The Beez only complained once about all the walking...and truthfully it was the same time we were all complaining. Walking the Mall in DC-twice- before lunch on the hottest day of the year, with hungry kids was one of the few lapses in parental judgement we made...but in the end it was all good.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved NY. I especially loved Tarrytown, where my Dad and Ann live. It was not only beautiful, but cozy as well, something I thought impossible in NY. I also loved riding the Metro. Goodness, I could get use to that. And the view along the Hudson was something to behold.

As for DC, is was breathtaking. Big Daddy and I are already planning a return trip without the kiddos. the history and beauty of our blessed country was a treat in and of itself. The Smithsonian Museums left me wanting for more and yet completely satisfied as well.

I have so much more to share, and I hope to do so soon. thank you for checking in with us and I hope to catch up on your blogs as well very soon.

P.S. Cracks surgery went perfect. he has the best looking broken nose I have ever seen...you wouldn't know it if I didn't point it out to you.

Best to you and yours!!!

Jedi's, tree limbs, and baseball

I have been working on a post all week long, but with family visiting and trying to get school completed before our vacation it has been difficult to find the time.

But...... then we had drama last night and into today and I couldn't NOT share it with you all.

Last night as small group came to an end, Snake comes rushing into the house yelling, "Hurry, he's hurt!!!"

As we make our way to the front yard, sure enough, Crack is laid out in the front yard face down. He is scream-crying...you know sobbing and screaming at the same time, making no sense at all. We finally got out of him that Snake had busted him in the face with a TREE BRANCH.

After getting him to his feet we see that he took it right across the bridge of the nose, but that the skin was not broken and he wasn't bleeding.

We made it into the house just as the bleeding started from inside his nose, and then I feared the worst...it was broken.

After a call in to our Ped she assured me that we could wait till morning to be seen, so we iced it, gave him some Tylenol and went to bed.

Now, honestly, when I saw it this morning I thought, 'boy am I glad I didn't take him to the ER last night' because it really didn't look that bad. I mean, for taking a tree limb to the face, it was only slightly swollen, and barely bruised. If you didn't know him you might not even notice anything at all. But, I still wanted to get it checked out so we headed to the Ped this afternoon.

The Xray confirmed the break, and our PED consulted with the other Drs on duty and determined that the break was not that worrisome, but that a possible deviated septum (sp?) was more alarming. After all FOUR doctors on site poked around it was decided that we see a specialist.

Lucky for us, we were able to see the same Doctor that had put tubes in Snakes ears years ago. This man is a hoot!!!! Loud, rowdy, country, and spot on when it comes to ENT cases.

We were sent right over and when he came in he immediately was more concerned with the break than with the deviated septum. He said it looked a "little smushed" so he ordered a CT of Cracks head....and it came back that the poor boy's nose is broken in 5 places!!!!

For fear of messy healing we are headed to surgery next week, just before we leave on vacation. My careful planning of the days leading up to our departure have just been kicked in the teeth and I am now scrambling to make adjustments.

The two best parts of the story I saved for last. Big Daddy is not happy with Snake for breaking his brothers nose and last night(even before we confirmed the break) he decided to give Snake an ear full. I kid you not it started like this:

Big Daddy: "Snake, you are NOT a Jedi. You do NOT have special powers. You can NOT stop objects with a force field......"

I completely lost it. I had tears in my eyes...mainly because Big Daddy was being spot on serious. He was not kidding. He really felt like Snake needed to be made aware of his human limitations. It was HILARIOUS!!!!

Then at the doctors office, after we scheduled the surgery, I asked the doctor about baseball. He said, "oh, ya by the time you guys are back from your trip he will be as good as new."

I replied "oh, OK, that is great, but I was kind of referring to our 6pm game TONIGHT."

He laughed and said, "of course he can play ball. What's he gonna do? break his nose again? Anything he does between now and surgery, I can fix....so let him play ball."

And so we did. Crack caught all 6 innings and had three hits to boot.

Reflections of 36

In celebration of my recent birthday I thought I would share 36 things I know for sure. Although they are in no order of importance, I can assure you that these are merely truth from my vantage point....36 years in the making.

1. Every year has been better than the one before...without exception.



2. Nothing beats In-N-Out Burger....nothing.



3. I love the quiet of the early morning, but I will forever be a night owl.



4. Thankfully the Lord doesn't care that I can NOT carry a tune...He accepts my worship no different than Chris Tomlin or Michael W Smith.



5. I heart feeding people, actually cooking for them, it brings me joy.



6. T.V. is highly over rated.



7. When your Beloved loves your body, it is easier for you to love it.



8. Homeschooling is worth every hair I've pulled out.



9. Having a great and satisfying relationship with 5 of my sisters, doesn't make up for the awful relationship(really lack of any relationship ) with my the other one.



10. Big Daddy's easiest ticket to lovin....it's a tie between emptying the dishwasher and rubbing my back.



11. Three isn't such a bad number.



12. I'd rather have $60 bucks to live on for a week and have every bill paid, than to have money in the bank and have creditors calling.



13. I enjoy being a Jack of all trades, and a master at none, although in my youth it aggravted me to no end.



14. I am blessed to stay home and never take it for granted. I jokingly tell BD when he calls that I am busy 'living the life of luxury' that his hard work affords me. But really, I am only half joking.



15. While I appreciate modern media I do not and will not EVER regret NOT allowing our kids to have a cell phone or a Facebook acount.



16. RE: #13...if I am a master of anything it is cake...I can make a cake that will make you wish you never had the first bite...and cupcakes too. I can make people who HATE cake not only love it but fight over it. Yes, it is that good.



17. I am "that Mom" at the ball field who cheers so loud you don't want to sit by me. But, in my defense, I am also cheering on behalf of "that other Mom" who sits in the stands talking on her cell phone or reading a book. I cheer for every kid....loudly.



18. A beautifully remodeled kitchen gets just as messy as the old, outdated one....but I still wouldn't want my old one back.



19. There is great freedom in throwing things out.



20. Gardening speaks to me. And I speak back.



21. One of my proudest "Mom" moments is when I witness my chidren being a good friend to someone else.



22. Big Daddy completes me...and he did even before Jerry Maguire.



23. Nothing beats having family in my backyard.



24. I love that Bid Daddy brings me coffee on Sunday mornings when I am getting ready....even though I usually don't drink it till I get in the car.



25. When no one is home and I am folding laundry or cleaning up, iCarly keeps me company.



26. Never underestimate the power of a good hair day. It can change your perspective



27. I could live life as a Hermit and be happy. I love being home that much.

Note to Big Daddy

Dear Big Daddy,

Here is a review of your weekend activities:

Cleaning out my car...loved it!!!!

Mowing the grass....loved it!!!!!

Sleeping in with you Saturday morning....loved it!!!!

You washing ALL the dirty laundry....hated it!!!!!

Note for further weekend help....feel free to lend a helping hand whenever you feel like it. UNLESS, of course you ever feel like washing clothes again. There is no greater defeat for a Monday morning than a bedroom floor covered in CLEAN laundry.

While I appreciate "the Love", I can name a hundred other ways that wouldn't stress me out all day Monday.

Love you,

Hot Momma

Finally Truth

In an effort to NOT have every area of our life out there on the Internet I have been amiss in telling you that Big Daddy has been gone for THREE weeks!!!! I know, three weeks is a long time, but the Lord was faithful. He not only timed this trip perfectly as to not interfere with our upcoming NY/DC trip, but also provided it as a way for us to save some extra money for the trip as well.

While Big Daddy was gone, I was busy, like I shared with Spring Cleaning!!!! And let me just say, that Spring has officially Sprung!!!! It has been so nice to live without all that clutter and to have a place for everything and everything in its place. The other bonus, and hence another reason I have been absent from blogging, is that with the house in tip top order, I have had time to catch up on some reading.

The kids and I also did a whole week of immersion study, which basically meant that we set aside our normal studies in Math, Lang, Science and History, and focused on a few specific areas of study instead.

The holocaust was one of them. We will be visiting the US Holocaust Memorial Museum while in DC, and I did NOT want to just show up and my kids have no idea what it was all about, and then be both shocked and confused. Our time studying the holocaust, was breathtaking. Literally, it took my breath away both with its horror and with its hope.

We read many first hand accounts, watched The Hiding Place, and entered into great discussion about what happened, why it happened, and how it should alter our world view.

I was so pleased with all of the kids....and I felt like each one, on their own level, really gained a sense of the scope of the tragedy.

I have also been busy with choosing our curriculum for next year. Homeschooling is an evolving learning experience for all involved, and I go to great lengths to tweak our learning environment every year. This year is no different, and I am once again taking stock at what really worked for us and what needs to be altered.

One thing that we won't be changing is Math-U-See....we love MUS and I can with great certainty say that this will be our math text of choice for the years to come. It definitely took time to adjust because it is NOT like anything we had ever used prior, but the adjustment was well worth it and we are now converts.

Along with all of that I have also been busy planning our upcoming NY/DC trip. Our house is busting with excitement. The Beez spends hours looking at her American Girl catalogue trying to decide which one she wants...which changes daily as well as every time we read one of the books...I feel she is going to break the bank...but for a five year old, American Girl is probably going to trump any museum or memorial, and I am okay with that.

The boys are excited about the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center site, and Mount Vernon. All in all, I think it will be the perfect family vacation. Big Daddy wants to eat at some great hole in the wall diners with humongous hamburgers...seriously folks, like 3, 5, 8 & 15 POUNDERS!!!! And, me, well I am looking forward to the Statue of Liberty and a Broadway show.

Anyway, so there you have it...Big Daddy gone for three weeks, spring cleaning, reading, vacation planning and gardening.

What have you been up to?

Manna for the today...

Thank you Lord for giving me just enough for today...so that I would not waste your gift in the storehouses of my own grip. Thank you for the freedom that comes with trusting you daily and not just in the BIG picture of my life.

Oh, that I would trust you even more....

Things Hidden

Over the past two weeks I have taken our home to task and been busy organizing and cleaning out closets and every corner of the house. In all honesty, I have been doing more throwing out than organizing and it has felt so good....on so many levels.

During my purging sessions I have been surprised by how many things I "had put away" in hopes of working on them or doing something with them at some later date. Unfortunately, later never came, and instead clutter begot more clutter.

I have now taken my soul to task considering the same things. How many character traits, bad habits, old hang-ups, senseless fears, and useless baggage have I kept hidden away hoping to correct it, fix it, use it, or loose it at a later time.

I wonder how much energy is wasted on trying to keep those things hidden away. How much time to I spend trying to make others I think that I have it all together, when really I might have it, but definitely not ALL together.

I wonder what footloose and fancy free might feel like in my soul if I was not so oppressed by my own short comings.

I wonder what good purging does, if it only makes room for more stuff.

I wonder what I might do with an empty cabinet here, or closet there.

I wonder what my spirit might do with a little extra room for growth once the parasites of life have been thrown into the fire.

I wonder if my soul needs a spring cleaning as much as my house did?

I wonder if I dare?

Woooo-Whooooo!!!! 10,000!!!!

Thank you San Francisco!!!!

You were my 10,000th hit!!!!

I am glad you stopped by and hope that you will again!!!! Introduce yourself next time, and stay for awhile!!!

Bridget(in OK) it was almost you!!!! You were 9,999th....so close.

That's all, just wanted to celebrate!!!

Just Checking In...

Hello Blogging Friends

I have been so busy the past two weeks that I have not had time to update here on the blog....BUT if you Twitter, and you should, than you can always follow me that way. Of course my Twitter name is LaughingMomma, so you can look me up or just follow the link along the right side bar. I LOVE TWITTER because it is like miniature blogging, and is easy to do and updating is just a text message away!!!!

Anyway, the other reason I have not had time to be on the computer is that it is SPRING CLEANING TIME!!!! That's right, every closet, dresser, cabinet and nook and cranny is on the chopping block. And it feels so good!!!

I had been wanting to add some shelving to two of our closets that had wasted space and once that was done(I heart power tools!!!) the organization began.

Our house really had very little storage space with no hall closet or linen closet. It has always been necessary to stash sheets under our bed, and put towels in our closet. Not to mention suitcases and extra blankets under the beds too...it was a mess.

And don't even get me started on the amount of pictures I had stashed here and there and everywhere...oh how I love digital...and now with the new shelves in the closets I have EVERY photo in one location and I even have a shelf for my sewing machine and various notions and material.

Cracks room had a complete overhaul...the boy is growing so fast that I can hardly keep him in clothes. Which meant that every clothing item was gone through!!! I do not have time to share the grief I gave him over how the clothes that do fit were wadded up and shoved in drawers....or worse yet in box with Legos!!! I think my threat went something like, "If I find one shirt out of place than I will take every shirt, pant, short and even your socks and boxers...and you will have to do hard labor to earn each piece back...individually!!!!"

Anyway, his room is done, but poor Beez has not even been able to get in her room for a week...her closet got new shelves too...but she actually has two closets and I needed to switch her clothes from one to the other...which in turn meant that EVERY toy that was in the other one was put under the scrutiny of a mother on a mission....meaning that every toy was brought up on the witness stand to stand trial for the charge of "causing more clutter than joy." I am happy to say, that in the end, the guilty were weeded from the innocent and we are on our way "to a more perfect union."

In other news, basketball season has ended and been quickly followed by baseball...a last minute addition after we had previously decided against it since we will be going on vacation right in the middle of the season and then the boys have summer camp at the end of the season. In the end, I was over ruled and Big Daddy decided that Crack should play one more season. Which meant coughing up $100 for registration and $80 for cleats and pants....my checking account is about to start a revolt , I am sure of it!!!

The boys have also started attending Robotics Club....just typing that I am feeling stretched. I am a home body by nature and I make no bones about that I would rather be at home than anywhere else...but I am hoping that this will be both a good school activity and a good team activity for the boys....time will tell.

My garden got tilled yesterday...that brings joy to my heart...you really have no idea how much I love to garden...I love it. This year I will be adding potatoes, cabbage,pink eyed peas, tomatillos, strawberries and onions to my usual crop of tomatoes, peppers, squash, green beans, zucchini, okra and every herb under the sun.

For the first time I am green housing seedlings for transplant...I have 72 peet pots started, and even have 9 tomato plants green housing as well to get a jump even with the cooler weather still upon us.

Other exciting happenings in no particular order

• when kids play light saber in the back yard near a water faucet...one missed swipe can decapitate your said water faucet and create a pool in your back yard...unfortunately, not the kind that you could actually swim in.


• I had an amazing hair day on Tuesday...just thought that I should document that


• Snake went from footloose and fancy free to pneumonia in 4 hours flat last Friday....which translated into horrible night Friday night and all morning at the doctor Saturday


• when contract negotiations are going on at Big Daddy's work, and he is on a business trip, which means everything he hears is second hand, which means I am hearing it third hand....communication is sure to be a complete and utter disaster....no Laughing Momma that day.

And finally, I saved the best for last. Big Daddy has a lot of great qualities...but one of them is most assuredly NOT gift giving. Now, before you judge, let me say that I have examined this from both sides...and after considering that maybe the issue was mine, and that I might be a terrible acceptor of gifts, I have come to the conclusion, that indeed, this fault is mainly his, and his alone.

He does great with a list...in fact this year for Christmas I printed off copies of the gifts I would love to have and he choose great things .....from THAT list!!! And I was never happier. But to ever think that he would just be walking through a store and see something and think, 'Hey Hot Momma would really love that"...not gonna happen. And I am okay with that. He is a great provider and I want for nothing...well except for...(more on that later)

Anyway, a few weeks ago he said he was going to use our PayPal account to buy something and have it delivered here. When I asked him about it, he just said it was for my birthday and I was not to ask any more questions. To say that I was a little scared would be an understatement. This is a man who forgot my birthday once...this is how it went.

For those of you who don't know my real name is April....I know you are shocked that Laughing Momma is NOT actually on my drivers license, but anyway. You should also know that my birthday is in April too...I know that is such a stretch...but work with me folks.

Anyway, this particular birthday, when he left for work I didn't get a "happy birthday babe" kiss on his way out, and I had noticed that there hadn't been any behind the scenes action in the days leading up to my birthday either(you know when dad gets all the kids in the back of the house, they are all squealing trying really hard to be quiet, and he send on up front asking for tape and scissors...which you of course hand over without any questions, and then about an hour later they all emerge and chalk up the last hour to just "hanging with Dad"

Well, the entire day goes by, and nothing form him, absolutely nothing. I had to be at church earlier than he, and many of my friends had wished me well...and when arrives still nothing. As a matter a fact, I later found out that he didn't realize it was my birthday until he overheard someone else wishing me happy birthday...yes folks it was that bad!!!

To make matters worse when he finally did get to me this is what he said, " Look babe, I am really sorry I forgot about your birthday, but you have to know this....I didn't just forget that TODAY is your birthday, I was so not even close to thinking you had a birthday coming up that I guess you could say that I forgot you even HAD a birthday. I am so sorry babe."

After laughing my head off, I hugged him and told him he would never live it down...and he hasn't but remember this folks...my name is April, my birthday is in April, so you would think that somewhere in the course of life when the month changes to your wife's name...money says its time to by a card and get the kids in the back of the house :)

So, the box arrived while Big Daddy was still gone on business and I was sent away while Crack went out and met the UPS truck. The package was hidden and I thought nothing more of it. Well, a few nights later this is what I sound on my bed

That's right folks...a whole box of my favorite candy bar...Abba-Zaba....which is absolutely not available anywhere...at least not in Mississippi.

So, for me, this was the perfect gift on so many levels. First of it is not something I would ever buy myself...especially by the box and online. Somehow, whenever people talk about their favorite candy or candy bars, I always mention Abba-Zaba...but not in a hint dropping way, more in a I am totally bummed no one sells it way. And although buying a box of 24 seems over the top, it was not at all something that broke the bank...which the frugal part of me appreciates.(I am not one who would welcome a new car in the driveway with a big read bow...I don't want anything that we are going to have to keep paying on....now if you win a car and want to give it to me...my hand is out and waiting!!!!)

I guess a box a Abba-Zabs was the perfect gift because it was thoughtful, edible, and just exactly what I have always wanted!!!

Now, if we could just get Popsicle brand Big Sticks delivered I would be in heaven....