Horrific Hairbows, Bad-Lookin' Bees, Flying Dogs, Sweaty Swimmin', and Chocobliss

Once upon a time, there was a moderately seasoned school teacher. For the first time in well, forever, she was faced with a summer vacation in which she:
1. did not have to pack up and move her house

2. did not have to pack up and move her office/classroom

3. did not have to run back and forth to doctor visits

4. did not have to work a part-time job

So, what was this lady of leisure to do? How WOULD she fill her 2 months of summer vacay?



First, she tried her hand at making hair bows. She quickly decided that she should leave this to the professionals and continue to pay a good chunk of change for a nicely made, proportionate hair accessory.

Lopsided ugly and obnoxious bow

Then, she attempted to make a chocolate pie...from scratch! What in tar nation was she thinking? Her only solace...the kid liked it...a lot. And has been bouncing off the walls ever since.

Next, she decided to get up before daybreak and take a walk down to the park with her 2 year old hoping to avoid the 103 degree temps. She did not realize that by 8:15, it is so hot you cannot breathe. With sweat dripping like a rushing river, she ran into an ugly swarm of these:



CICADA KILLER (AKA One stupid scary lookin' bee)

And since this gal watches "Billy the Exterminator," she knew precisely what THESE were. It is her secret shame that she enjoys watching this ridiculous reality show, so please do not hold it against her.



Very fortunately, this cutie pie bug did not run into those BIG bugs before she could scoop her out of the playground area.

Then, the lady of leisure decided to create a backyard water park retreat. So, with the help of a 20 dollah swimmin' pool, a 99 cent bag of water balloons, a $179 fan from Lowe's, a $10 mosquito repelling lamp, 2 cans of sunscreen, a sack of toys for the Dollar Tree, and a water hose sprayer with 8 settings (yes, 8 fantastic settings), Backyard Splash Town came to be.

Refreshing and Relaxing (big girl in front of fan not pictured)

But, probably, the best thing about her summer was the fact that this adorable dog came into Sydney's life.

Her name is Belle and was a gift to Syd's GiGi and Popo.

She flies. Seriously.. and has super sonic hearing.

So when she's not flitting around with those ears, she is hearing something 12 miles away...and barking to tell you about it.

What, you don't like my ginormous butterfly-like ears?
Awww...shucks..

After all of this adventure, the lady of leisure is looking for more activities to fill her days. Right after she takes a LONG nap.

Near Misses

The month of June has been a little frightening.

I have had 3 near misses.

Apparently the sign above means NOTHING to some people.

During the first week of June, I was nearly hit by a SUV at an intersection that I cross several times a day. They were FLYING and just ignored the stop sign. I had to gun the accelerator just to escape a terrible wreck. I was thankful for my V6 engine. If I had not beeng paying attention, the vehicle would have hit Sydney's door and Sydney was in the car.

Last week, I was driving in my own neighborhood and a red Honda FLEW through the intersection in front of me, completely disregarding the stop sign. I had to slam on the brakes this time and they barely missed me. They stopped in the middle of the intersection, threw up their hands as if to say, "What?" The vehicle on the other side of the intersection who witnessed this were in shock. I could see their mouths hanging open.

Yesterday, I was in a parking lot, and it happened again. A truck pulled out in front of me, pretending the stop sign wasn't there. He wasn't going very fast, but it just blew my mind that they didn't stop.

Now, I don't know why people ignore road signs. Are they too busy on the phone? Too busy texting? Too preoccupied, or just full of the devil and refusing to obey the law?

Whatever the reason, I have thanked God over and over again for his traveling graces, protecting angels, and mercy. Those accidents could've been tragic.

This is just my opinion, but I believe the Lord lifts the veil, so to speak, and allows us to see his protection every once in a while just to remind us that his angels are constantly watching over us. We feel "invincible" sometimes and lose sight of how fragile are lives really are.

Psalm 91:11-13 "For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. [12] With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. [13] You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon."

Exodus 23:20-23 "See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared."

We may never see all of the "near misses." We may never realize how many times God intervenes in our daily lives to protect us from harm.

Give Him thanks today, for all of the events that DID not happen.

...and...drive safely.

 

Missing Him

I have been a single parent for the last 3 days.

Let me first say hats off to all you folks that are doing this alone. No matter what the reason, if you are a woman raising kid(s) by yourself ... you are amazing and made of steel. I salute you.

My husband went on a solo trip. Just him and the motorcycle.

Sometimes he just needs to get away. He needs time to think and recalibrate, reenergize, recognize, and reflect.

But now, I just want him to RETURN.

It's weird having to batten down the hatches at night in the house by yourself. I'm a big girl. I can take care of me and mine. It's just strange to me, though. It's too...quiet. It's eerie.

It makes me have thoughts like, "This is what it would be like without him, only worse." And then I shake my head in an attempt to forever forget those thoughts.

I went to a wedding this evening and all of my wedding memories flooded back. I looked at the bride and groom and saw the stars in their eyes.

And it made me realize that I need my man back.

And it made me miss him even more.

We.Need.Rain.

Enjoy this picture with me as I close my eyes and imagine water...

I've lived in Texas 26 years.

And in those 26 years I have NEVER seen a drought like the one we are experiencing. It is only the second week of June and we see triple digits real temps EVERYDAY...I don't even want to think about heat index. It is even too hot to go swimming. Yikes.

Everyday it seems like a new wildfire has cropped up around us, threatening homes, acres of beautiful pineywoods forests, and lives.

The grass crunches under your feet like dry cheerios on pavement.

The heat radiates off the ground and resembles sticking my face in the oven to check the temperature.

The trees are drooping down and turning brown. Now, I've seen grass turn brown from drought, but huge trees?

Pray that the Lord would send refreshing rain, both spiritually and physically to our dry and thirsty land. It gives new meaning to the scripture: Acts 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.


Languishing in the Sahara,

Swimming Lessons Survival!

Syd took swim lessons last year at Swim Gym...the *Mommy and Me* version.  It was not pleasant the first week. Feel free to read all about it here.

I had high hopes for this year. She was raring to go. We talked it up and talked it up, but then I did a very stupid thing. I enrolled her in a different mini-swim lessons with a friend (a week before Swim Gym)and it did not turn out so well and I will not go into detail about our experience. Let's just say, too many kids, not enough helpers, trauma ensued.

The first day at our official Swim Gym lessons was filled with water...all coming from Sydney's eyes. She cried every second she was there. I hung my head in shame. "What have I done?" I asked myself. What little confidence she had has been shattered. Is she scared...or just stubborn?

Day 2 was much better.

Day 3 was even better.

Day 4 was tear free (and she literally ran to the pool)

Day 5 was tear free (she squealed with joy when we pulled up to the lessons)

Day 6 was tear free (she told me, "thank you!" profusely when we left)

Day 7 was tear free (she giggled when I told her to get ready for swim lessons)

Day 8 was tear free (she dove into the water)

Day 9 was.....teary...what? What happened to my pattern here?

Day 10 was...a little teary...until she got to go down the big slide.

There she is... my little stubborn swimmer.

God love her.

You Are My Sunshine

My only sunshine

you make me happy

when skies are gray

you'll never know dear

how much I love you

please don't take my sunshine 

away.

I love you, Sunshine.

Hugs,

Mama

Goin to the Chapel - 10 Year Flashback

It is going to take some getting used to...answering the question, "How long you two been married?" and responding, "10 years."

10 Years.

Really?

Has it really been ten years since some kookoo things happened on June 9, 2001?

This was the day I got married...and..

when 2 people threw up BEFORE/DURING my wedding.
(My mother-n-law was deathly ill that day and barely made it to the ceremony and missed the reception completely, bless her heart)
(My ring bearer got sick DURING the ceremony and had enough good sense to RUN off the platform, accidentally hitting a huge candelabra sending it spinning around like a fiery wheel of death but fortunately not falling to the ground while he made it in record time to the bathroom in the back of the church)

This was the day that...

ON THE WAY to the church, the song, "Goin' to the Chapel" began playing on the radio. Ironic?

This was the day that...

Tropical Storm Allison hit East Texas

This was the day that..

my husband was on the phone with our photographer for 6 consecutive hours trying to help him maneuver the flood waters of Houston to get to our little town and hopefully capture the once-in-a-lifetime moments of our wedding day...he made it to the church at 1:50 (the wedding was at 2:00)

This was the day that I was stressing over:

1. Did I pick the right kind of flowers?
2. Are these dresses ugly?
3. Will the candles drip wax on the church carpet?
4. Does my face look shiny?
5. Is it going to rain on my wedding day? (Answer: yes)
6. Will we have enough cake? (answer: yes, plenty, refer to #5)

10 Years later...

3 city-to-city moves later...

1 duplex, 1 town home, a one 3 bedroom house later...

7 years of infertility later...

1 two-year-old later...

2 Dearly departed grandmothers later...

1 blessed business later,

2 dead cats later,

25 pounds later,

I sit in my warm bed, laptop glowing in my face, listening to the sound of my husband snoring to my right and my miracle baby snoring to my left (in the monitor - cause over my dead body will she sleep WITH us), giving God thanks and glory.

My husband and I don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of stuff, heck we don't see ear-to-ear, or shoulder-to-shoulder for that matter, but we do share one thing. Love for each other. Puzzle pieces fit together perfectly to make a beautiful scene, but they have to be opposites in order to complete each other. That describes our 10 year marriage relationship to a tee. And I would do it all over again.

because I'd rather fight with him than love anybody else.

Help Wanted!

If you have never experienced the joys of potty training, you may want to skip this post. For those of you who will be mamas in the future, start praying about this NOW. For those of you who have survived this section of mama hood and have lived to tell about it, I give you my praise and sincerest admiration.

I am in the throes of Round # 3 of heavy duty potty trainng.

I have researched, read books, read on-line self-help manuals, participated in "mom communities," and have asked countless friends their tips, advice, strategies and methodologies.

Based on everything I have learned, there is absolutely no reason why a 2 year cannot be potty trained. One book I read said that most 18 month olds are ready to potty train and EVERY 2 year old is ready by 30 months and that children who are still in diapers after 30 months are simply stubborn and have parents who will not take the time to work with them. The book said this, not me.  I thought this was a bit harsh...but, I  actually know someone who has a 4 year old still in diapers. That is unfathomable to me.

Why am I so anxious to have her potty trained? Because I know she can do it and pull-ups are 38 cents a piece...and this chick can blow through about 8 per day.

She is cognitively ready. She is physiologically ready. She exhibits every sign of readiness.

So, why is my kid outright refusing to use the toilet.

Is it really just about a battle of the wills?

Let me tell you what I've tried unsuccessfully:

Rewards (candy & stickers)
potty chairs (2 different types - 1 cute froggie and 1 "toilet-like")
toilet cushions (the ones with the handles that make sitting on the big toilet fun and comfy)
pull-ups
easy-ups
plastic pants (sloshing around while playing does not faze her)
plastic pants with padding ( being wet does not faze her)
cute toddler undies with her favorite characters
going without undies at all (puddle-machine)
putting the potty chair in the bathroom (could care less)
putting the potty chair in every room of the house (gets mad at it and closes the lid)
rushing her to the potty when she looks "concentrating" (she just holds it and then goes immediately after she gets off)
filling her up with fluids (resulting in puddles around the house)
letting her sit on the potty while watching her favorite show

I could go on and on.

If you have any tips or advice, please share...even if you have never commented before.

I need all the help I can get.

Sincerely,

Pee-Diddly Squat

Green Slips of Paper

I received a bouquet of flowers Tuesday night.

You see, Tuesday night was our 8th grade graduation...

We sang, we danced, we gave speeches, we watched slide shows, we cried....we covered it all.

And in my bouquet, I found an envelope where the little card usually goes...

and in it were these:

And that's the very moment that I was reminded that it is worth it all.

A Rant

Most meetings are SENSELESS to me.

If everyone would just DO what they're supposed to DO....meetings would not even exist. Now, I'm not talking about brainstorming sessions or teacher workshops. When you gather to collaborate, that can...at times...be productive. Unless you have one of THOSE people in the group... I'm not talking about team building activities...although I've never gotten much out of letting complete strangers catch me when I fall...

Again, just following directions like adults should do would make meetings non existent. You could just send out an email saying, "Be sure to....on this day we will...please be here at this time....etc." As responsible, adult-like individuals, you would comply with the requests of your authority figure. Badda bing, badda boom...done.

Meetings are really for those people who do NOT follow the rules. So, why not just pull in those people that are chronic rule breakers, and:

a. tell them to shape up
b. fire them
c. fire them
d. fire them

Have you ever been in a meeting where there was this one person who could not SHUT their mouth? You are watching the clock....in anticipation of hopefully concluding...and then THEY say something else. And you are thinking about all the different ways you could discretely hurl a projectile towards them.

And what they have to say is pointless. Absolutely ridiculous...and is usually a point or question that was addressed several minutes ago. And you wonder: "How did they get this job? Are they really that challenged? Are you kidding me? What? My child will never be under their tutelage, even if I have to move heaven and earth, because if they cannot grasp the simple concept of a directive, they will surely not be in charge of educating and expanding the mind of my biological offspring."

I think maybe I'm just tired and ready for a break.

I read a blog of a friend of mine last night and what she said was spot on. Teachers need a 2 1/2 month vacation in the middle of the year since that is the amount of time it takes for them to completely recharge after giving their blood, sweat, tears, time, and every speck of energy to a group of children. So, if you are one of those who think teachers are lucky 'cause they get such a long vacation, think again. Trade places with us for a few days and you'll be begging for your job back. Teaching is an unbelievably rewarding profession but it also one of the most physically and mentally draining professions in existence. The lives of these kids are literally in your hands. Their parents are depending on you, your principal is depending on you, and all of the future lives they will touch are depending on you. They are depending on YOU to help them, not hurt them, wow them, not warp them, expand their minds, not crush their spirits, and prepare them, not ignore them. It is a huge task and one I do not take lightly.

I love my job. But, I am exhausted and will spend the next few weeks recharging, refueling, and reinforcing my brain so I can do this again....come August...and attend more meetings in which I need a gag over my mouth so I don't say something I shouldn't.

Free At Last

I've got so much to blog about, I don't know where to start.

But first, let's take a moment and thank the Lord that school is out for another year.

I survived. I have been victorious!

I could start by telling you about 8th grade graduation and how I cried like a baby and danced like a fool.

I could also tell you about how I almost lost my cool and spoke with wild abandon towards an individual that has just pushed me WAY to far.

I could tell you about the surprise going away party that my kids threw for me complete with kid-made, tear-jerking DVD and party goodies.

I could tell you how my kid has cried every morning for the last 2 weeks cause she is sick and tired of going to "school."

I could tell you about the field trip we took to Houston. 12 teenagers, 5 hours of drive time, 1 very large van...wowza.

I could tell you that the last 3 days have been the hottest that I can ever remember....and since my hypothyroidism is running amok and unchecked....the temperature regulation center in my body makes it feel like it is 109 outside when it is only 103.

As I contemplate which stories to share first, I will leave you with these pics.

Syd and I enjoying the "Big Kahuna"

Me crying like a baby with one of my students' comforting me

Black widow spider at the musem...*shiver*