Thank heaven for little girls

One of the girls quoted me on the table of fame-and maybe drew a picture of me too, I'm not sure?

And it came to pass that we created. In the first hour we made hair flowers. And it was good. In the second hour we cut fabric and made hair clips. And it was good. And in the seventh hour I rested, they played Mario. And it was good.

Can you tell I'm still on a crafting kick from girls camp? Em and Lys were crazy crafters today, one project right after another. They had some good ideas for Christmas gifts too. I nearly choked when they said the Christmas word- we're still in the throes of summer, and they're planning Christmas already. Apparently I'm not the only one who is a little OCD with the planning stuff.

I think we're trying for fitting all of summer into this last week. And I think if we sit on it and jump a little while we zip, it just might work.

bugs, lizards and tons of fun

Rafting Rocked, unfortunately I couldn't take el camera on the river, so all you get are pictures of the rest of our trip.

This bee got stuck in the wiper- struggled for about an hour and then flew away

These two got along nicely the whole way, no need to turn the car around if you know what I mean

She was a lizard catching fool- at one point she had 5- snakes with legs I say

The next door neighbor was kind enough to model lizard earrings

I found some marshmallows- not any mallows but roaster mallows- they're the size of a small dog, and they were so good. When s'mores were made, there was 3 inches of mallow hanging off of the edges. A sticky mess of goodness is what it was. I personally liked roasting them, puling the top brown layer off, eating it and then roasting the next layer of gooey deliciousness.

More fun than a barrel full of monkeys-rafting was definitely the highlight of the trip, but games around the campfire and being away from real life for a while was a close second. We're already planning next years trip, and I can't wait.

last year's rafting trip- flaming gorge

10 days and counting- summer is almost here- can you taste it? I have a beef though...but don't I always?

I think school should be out from Memorial day to Labor day, cause seriously what's the point of going to school for 3 days after the Memorial day break? None is what- lame all around.

It's pretty sad when parents, parents I say, can be heard singing under their breath those lines from long, long ago. You know 'school's out for summer'(Alice Cooper right?). That's when it becomes apparent that a vacation of some sort is required to restore any vestiges of sanity and mental stability.

And thanks, again, to my next-door neighbors, we're going camping and river rafting. I can always count on them to plan our family vacation - and for it to turn out great.

Had my elbow checked by the soon-to-be Dr Gibson (aka Emilisq's scout master). It was just what I was thinking, and afraid of, torn tendons and ligaments. Not completely torn, just a little torn, but still painful.

As the good doctor was doing the evaluation on the traitorous elbow, I started to get that dizzy I'm going to pass out kind of feeling. a vaso-vagal reaction (aka spinny room barfy feeling). If I were anywhere else I think I might have been embarrassed, but Em made me laugh (by chastising Sean for hurting her friend) so it helped to focus my mind elsewhere.

A huge thanks to those cool Gibsons, you guys rock- especially since it was 9 am. I owe you a huge one!
p.s. Dr. G you'll be a great pain and torturer I mean physical therapist- same thing though right? Good luck on the boards.

smothering-at home

I was visiting teaching my friend Jill the other day, we talked about being stay-at-home moms, and how quite frequently we are referred to as 'just a mom'. I think anyone who says that phrase has never been a stay-at-home mom, otherwise they'd not say it quite so condescendingly considering how much we do in just one day. {I also have to admire women who don't have children and still see the value and goodness of rearing children}

So in honor of my conversation with Jill I give you the list. I'm sure you're wondering what this list is. well I'll tell you. It's the list of things a 'just a mom' gets to do every day-without pay or accolades mind you. honestly some of it is super fun {and it's the reason we choose to sacrifice financially to do it} and some of it just has to be done, whether it's fun or not. here goes:

play with our kids
read books; kids books, grown up books, just books.
sing. a lot.
dress our kids, not always an easy task!
eat baby toes, they're the tastiest you know.
referee toddlers
laundry
dishes
general house cleaning
watch sesame street, or other equally educational television
wipe noses, bums, hands, and anything related to a child really
play with little people and trucks
have picnics in the park on sunny spring days
go on walks
teach a child to tie his own shoes, and read, and manners, and everything they know. pretty much

The list can go on for miles but you get the picture. Moms rock is what that picture is titled.

sidewalk chalk

Summer at our house means playing night games and staying up a little later than normal.
Sidewalk chalk is a favorite around here- see why?

Sidewalk chalk is well loved around here. Even the big kids from the neighborhood come and play- that may have a little to do with the fact that we also let them drive the go-cart.

Shelby took her show out into the street

E.J.'s stick figures were getting dropped down a "flush hole" as Em calls it

And my slightly morbid brother (geinus brother) drew a dead stick figure- he fell and cracked his head open on my front steps.

Summer- thank you for all of your glory

Guests

How do you determine the difference between a guest and someone close enough to call family or close friend- you know when you don't know someone well enough to let them help fix dinner or whatever it is you're working at.

I've decided that the way I can tell if someone is a guest at my house or if they fit into the friends/family category- and its really kind of strange but a good indicator for me.

If I feel comfortable enough with someone to let them look in my fridge, they are no longer merely guests.

I know- slightly crazy- but most of the time I keep my house clean enough to let visitors in and not feel embarrassed about it, but the fridge is a whole other realm of my house.

Filled with leftovers, no particular organization, and occasionally something in there hidden in the deepest bowels that is growing mold strong enough to kill a bacterial infection.

Not many people get to venture that far into my world, most are purely guests

My Neighbor Mary

You'll never guess who I happen to live next door to...

Its Mary Poppins. Ok so her last name is really Aguirre, but she really is Mary Poppins.

Practically Perfect in Every Way I tell you.

And really I don't think that just because she is really nice and lends me stamping stuff and ideas. She is just a fabulous person.

Although, unlike the nanny with whom she shares a moniker, she does not have a cute little English accent. She does, however, have an equally fabulous husband- that's gotta count for something right?

Her magic isn't from a carpet bag with everything in it- her magic is in paper form. Usually with a treat attached too. She makes it look so easy.

What a lucky girl I am to live steps away from the Poppins-Aguirres.