What?

11:37 P.M.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. It's 11:37 P.M. and if you put your math skills to work, you will figure out that I am up 3 hours and 37 minutes past my bedtime. The plumbers are still here putting in a new water tank and replacing my 2 other ones. But, they fixed the leak in the dining room and found that we had water heaters that did not meet code and were fire hazards and blah, blah, blah. So, we're getting that fixed as well as the leak. And we get to have these other guys put fans and other water sucking equipment in the dining room to dry it out. Plus, they are having to remove my formally lovely, new hardwood floors. ARRRGGGHHH. But, this is not a life or death situation and things could be worse. So, I'm still keeping postive. I did finish that 500 piece puzzle today. :o

lazy summer days

My 500 piece puzzle that I finished in a record 24 hours. Little Bit with Minnie. Little bit with her bag of leaves and sticks to put on her volcano at science camp. Big Kid & Little Bit with their jumping games that they made by using the drill.

summer fun

Lunch at Shogun's; Father's Day at the Byou Bend Collection & Gardens (on the swinging brigde entering the place); Father's Day Breakfast in bed, yes the kids made the entire breakfast even the Dad pancakes; Little Bit on her NEW bike; and Big Kid on the last day of school for the 4th grade clap out. ok we're off to the pool.

A Game

OK. Here's the game. Guess how I got the shiner.

A. The couples therapy group esclated when the group leader brought in the remote control and passed it around. It became a free-for-all and I wound up with the remote and the black eye.

B. I won the tournament belt in my new kickboxing club. I like sporting the belt with my new turquois jeans.

C. I was at Wal-Mart during their super deal, show up at 5 a.m. in the morning for the $2 Dell laptop. I got the lap-top.

or

D. I fell off my bike like a goofball.

status update

Cherie is...wondering if I was really made to clean toilets and do laundry in life.

beware the kat

morning conversations:

Big Kid: "Bubbles, come here, Bubbles."
Me: "Who are you talking to?"
Big Kid: "Itty Bitty Kitty, I think I'm going to rename him Bubbles. Here, Bubbles."
Me: "What?"
Big Kid: "Maybe it will be his nickname. Wouldn't you like that, Bubbles?"
Me: "Poor Cat, can't get a boy's name, just get's stuck with girl names."
Big Kid: "Well, I didn't name him."
Little Bit: "Yeah, I named him and I like it."
Me: "It's a good name."
Big Kid: "And Bubbles is what this big kid at our camp, who gets to pick the spot that you play said we should call our group. Kind of like Rush or whatever. And his has this funny voice when he says Bubbles. So, I thought Bubbles would be good."
Little Bit: "Maybe it could be his middle name."
Me: "Well his middle name is Kitty."
Little Bit: "Ok it can be his nickname."

So, there you have it: Itty Bitty Kitty "Bubbles" Bright.

_________
later...

Little Bit: "Hey, Daddy, watch me. I'm going to talk for Kitty."

She looks over at Itty Bitty Kitty who is lying on the floor looking at us.

Little Bit using a sweet-sing-song voice, "I'm just sitting here watching you. Are you watching me? I'm watching you. You are my friend."

Kitty just watched.

a big week for me

Well, I think this week was about me growing up. Yes. Today I was thinking about how I'm having to let my children take their next steps towards independence. They are both at camps this week. And i'm not volunteering or helping out at either camp.

With Little Bit, I'm just dropping her off at the door. I've not really been in the building and don't even know where her room for the camp is at. And she is quite pleased with walking in by herself. She let me know she knew where she was going and didn't need me. I'm proud in a winsome way.

Big Kid's camp is going places. Today I was asked by one camp counselor, "Don't you wish you were going to Splash Town today?" I wanted to shout out, "Yes, I want to go. I want to make sure all is ok. I don't want my kid just with other kids and one teenager." But, I didn't. I had another conversation with another counselor about how we both were letting our children be in charge of their own money and towels and stuff to pack for today. It's difficult to let them learn to be responsible. I want to do for them.

But, then today I read the blog of a friend's child. She is in China for the summer working for Heifer International and her college. I realize today when I read this blog of adventure, that soon my children will be half way around the world off on their own adventures that these small steps are very important. Time passes quickly.

whas a happenin hot stuff

Today:

• Today I...had a clam bake: clams, mussles, shrimp, lobster, sausage, pototos, etc... at the grocery store when buying the mussles, Little Bit starts flexing her muscles and saying, "we've already got some muscles, we don't need any mussles."
• Today I...finished eating the clam bake supper, then M and Little Bit went to Pet Smart to buy more fish for the new 10 GALLON fish tank. Our mini-fridge that the fish tank sits on does not rock anymore. The weight of the tank now will hold it down tight to the floor. And i have to say it is odd for them to go buy fish after we ate fish for supper. strange.
• Today I...am avoiding cleaning up the fish supper. i tried to find someone to take the leftovers, but there were no fishy takers.
• Today I... gave a little boy $5 to take away all my cans and glass jars for the summer. he said he wanted to help save the earth. it sounded like more work for me, but i agreed anyway. i'm a sucker for a kid with a plan.
• Today I...tried to put together a bike for Little Bit. I had to wait for M to come home. She really likes riding it.
• Today I ... got to smell of Fununs right straight out of the mouth of a 10 year old boy. It smells just like it sounds.
• Today I...mainly just drove my car around the town in circles, taking kids to camps and other things that they needed to go and do. I think that I'm thankful for a good car with a radio and air conditioning.
• Today I...decided that with enough asprin, your neck will not hurt.
• Today I...paid the air conditioning guys for finishing a job well done. Or so it seems. The house is cool and they are gone and finished it in just a day and a half. i like that.
• Today I...better get off my seat and clean up the table so I can go to bed and get up and put stuff back on it by 6:45 a.m
• one last one...Today I...am thankful tomorrow is trash day, because it already stank enough to have to put some bleach in it and now I'm adding a bunch of shellfish...peeeyewwwwwwwwhhhhhhh.

five hundred and something

Last night I hear Big Kid shouting from upstairs: "Five hundred...and..."

I couldn't make out the exact number he was rattling off and I had no clue what he was talking about until i asked M.

Me: "What did he say?"
M: "Oh, we were talking about hair cuts upstairs."
Me: "Huh?"
M: "I said something to him about having a hair cut and Big Kid asked me how many hair cuts I've had in my lifetime. I told him I had maybe 10-12 haircuts a year. then I told him how old I am. I guess he finally finished his calculations and that's his answer."
Me: "oh."

p.s. i circled yes, and we bought the shoes yesterday.

School Awards

President's Award for Educational Achievement
Outstanding Academic Achievement
and

P.E. Best Effort Award















President's Award for Educational Excellence
Outstanding Academic Excellence

the note

Yesterday, I found a note in the kitchen, placed discretely in the first place I would see:

"Pleace can I get 2 toy? Say Yes or No Clirce it"

water is never overrated