Bums, bums everywhere

Ryan does not stand a chance.

3 girls, one female dog and a guy.

Poor thing.

He is used to naked girls running around the house.

Emma is funny.

Emma is from one extreme to another.  If she doesn't have on a smocked dress and bow, she is completely naked.

The other day we came home from the pool and I said, "Bug, let's take off your wet bathing suit."

"Ok," she said.  "I will just be naked for a little while now.  That's ok, right?"

She had on no clothes until dinner.

All we saw for 3 hours was Emma's crack.

My Nana would have a stroke.  (She thinks children should have clothes on all the time.)

And so it begins. . .

We hadn't even been on summer vacay for 24 hours.

We had multiple meltdowns in a very short period of time.

Keep in my all of these meltdowns happened from 12pm to 8pm.

Meltdown #1: Fight over the box of Cheez-Its.  Cheez-Its end up all over the couch and floor in little itty bitty pieces.

Meltdown #2: Caroline screams she hates me and I am the worst mom EVER because I will not let her have another snack until the Cheez-its are cleaned up.

We clean.  Another snack is given to both children... in the kitchen this time.

We decide to go to the splash pad and pool.

Meltdown #3:  Emma freaks because her size 5t bathing suit is "too tighttttttttttttttttttttttttttt"

We rip it off and put on a suit that better fits her needs.

I take the girls to the splash pad.

Meltdown #4: Caroline doesn't want to stay because there are 3 or 4 boys already at the splash pad.

Meltdown #5: Caroline screams because the water is too cold.

The girls finally let loose and play.

They are ready to leave after 5 minutes.

I decide not to fight a losing battle.

We go to the pool.

Meltdown #6:  Emma screams because she thinks I am going to pull her off of the steps.

Meltdown #7: Caroline doesn't want to get out of the pool and leave.

She throws a fit in front of everyone.

I leave.

Caroline stays in the pool.

I get in my car and crank it up... without Caroline.

She finally decides to get out of the pool and come to the car.

Don't forget, I am the "worst mom EVERRRRR!"

We leave.

Meltdown #8:  "Can we get a shaved ice?"  "I don't know if I have my wallet" I answered.  They screamed.

Meltdown #9:  I get them a margarita shaved ice (too bad no tequila was involved).  I ask for an extra cup and pour half the HUGE shaved ice into the extra cup.  And so began... "She has more than meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"  "No, she has more than me!!!!!!!"
"Hush about it or I will throw them BOTH in the trash can and I am NOT even playing."

We come home, take baths, go to dinner.

Meltdown #10: Caroline wants to sit with Anna but Bug has already plopped down beside her.  Caroline cries and talks loudly.  She makes a scene but I did promise she could sit beside Anna so she won.  Emma sulked for a few minutes but was over it quickly.

We come home.

Meltdown #11: Emma's feet are on Caroline's blanket.  World War III begins.  Kicking happened, pinching happened, a slap was thrown at some point.  I let them fight it out.  There was no need in stopping it.

I was counting down the seconds until 8pm.  I was so ready for their bedtime I could hardly stand it.

The past few days have been the same.

I feel like I cannot process a complete thought.

I think it's going to be a long summer y'all!

Goodness.

Good.ness.

Tell me you didn't love that.

OMG!

Posh forgot her kids too!

Victoria Beckham forgot her children.

I forgot my child.

Maybe that is a sign.

A sign that we are similar mothers.  A sign that her husband and I are destined to be together.

**Disclaimer: Just to clairfy:  I am only joking when I use the words lover, luvah, and phrases like "destined to be together".

I just wanted to share. . .

One of the best steak marinades on the face of the planet....

http://eatlafonehome.blogspot.com/2012/06/something-similar-to-logans-teriyaki.html

Don't forget to follow my food blog!

I will adding recipes on the reg.

Emma

This was Bug on the first day of 2 year old preschool:

She has definitely grown but not much else has changed:
(PLEASE ignore the weed in these pictures.  How my landscaper of a husband missed it when spraying for weeds is beyond me.)

Comparison:

FYI:  After putting all of this together, Emma has now changed her mind.

She would like for everyone to know that her favorite movie is her Clifford movie.

Crisis avoided!

Caroline

Here is Caroline on the day of graduation.

Here are all of her favorites..

(PLEASE ignore the weed in these pictures.  How my landscaper of a husband missed it when spraying for weeds is beyond me.)

First day of school compared to the last day of school:

First day of Kindergarten:

Wow

Look at those clouds!

Yay Summer!

I made it through Caroline's Kindergarten graduation yesterday with no tears.

I cannot believe that I have an almost 6 year old and an almost 1st grader.

Wow!

1st grade!

Caroline has a whole day of school today and a half day tomorrow.

Then summer vacation will begin.

We are all excited.

I threw together a list similar to the one Jess made.  Hers is much cuter but I do the best I can. ;-)  (Also, if you don't know Jess, she is awesome.  You will love her blog!)

So without further ado, our list of things to accomplish this summer...

- Our local aquarium has a new penguin exhibit until September 30th.  If you didn't know, I am obsessed with penguins.  Ever since I read And Tango Makes Three in college and learned that penguins are one of the few animals that mate for life, I was in love.  Mate for life!  So cool!  I must go meet South, Oswald, Sly & Suki.

- We love the splash pad.  We live in proximity to two splash pads.  Decisions, decisions.

- We love to do pottery in the summer at the local pottery playhouse.  Mighty Tot time on Thursdays is the best!

- Pool, duh!

- Plant pumpkins.  I cheated on this one.  I took it from Jess's list.  We have already planted our pumpkins.  It is the first time we have ever done it so *fingers crossed* we get at least one pumpkin.

- Popsicles because what is a summer without popsicles?

- Go carts and putt-putt are a summer must.  We started the tradition last year and plan on taking the girls again this year.

-  The library has storytime on Tuesdays at 10:45am.  Score!  We plan on making it an every Tuesday event.

- Water balloons are one of our favorite activities.  Throwing a water at someone NEVER gets old.

- Catch fireflies.  The girls LOVE this.  (Sidenote: remember when you were little and would rip their tails off  and stick them on your arms so you would glow too?)

- We recently got an ice cream maker.  I have never made homemade ice cream.  We can't wait to make it with fresh strawberries, blueberries, peaches, blackberries, etc.

-  Paint class is a monthly event for me.  I love it.  I always go with my sister and we have the best time.  I took Caroline last summer and she fell in love too.  I have big plans to take her a few times this summer.

- Finding seashells is so addicting.  My Dad is the ultimate seashell hunter.  He knows the names of every shell (some I am sure he has made up, ha!) and has taught my girls.  Our goal this summer?  To find a scotch bonnet.  It is our state shell.  I have only ever found ONE whole scotch bonnet.  We are feeling lucky about it this summer though!

-  Surf fishing is a must.  The girls are dying to catch a baby sand shark.  They think they are the coolest.  We did find a spiny blowfish/porcupinefish/hedgehog fish (it has a million names) when we were down at the beach Memorial weekend.  He is pretty cool, huh?

-  Shelling butter beans is one of my favorite summer activities.  It reminds me so much of my great Grandma.  She would shell and snap beans for hours in a little silver bowl with a trash can sitting beside her. I loved watching her and "helping" her.  I can't wait to teach my girls!

-  We plan on doing a lot of slipping-n-sliding this summer!  I better get the Dawn dish soap ready!

-  We have never been to Marbles.  We are going to change that this summer!

-  July 21st my first born will be 6!  We are planning a super cute birthday party!

-  Jet skis and tubing... so fun!

-  I found these on pinterest (click here to follow me) and I HAVE to make them this summer...

- We are doing the Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge.  Jumanji and Tuesday are two of my favorites.  I can't wait to share them with my girls!

-  Get dirty.  Our feet are ALWAYS dirty in the summer ;-)

-  I've always wanted to make homemade bread.  I think it is time we try to do it!

------------------------------------------------

Happy Summer!

What is on your summer to do list??

The Great Gatsby

My life is now somewhat complete.

I finally read The Great Gatsby.

Amazing.

Loved every second of it!

And now?

OMG!

So excited!!!

"I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

DEA

Caroline is still semi-traumatized about me forgetting her.

I have been on time ever since.

I have learned though that instead of getting in the carpool line, it is much faster to just walk up to the front doors and pick her up.

To be the first car in carpool at our school, you have to get there around 1:30.

School doesn't get out until 2:50.

Waiting that long in a hot car is ridiculous!

Now, I leave my house at 2:30.

I park my car and walk to the front door.

It makes her so happy to actually see me as soon as her class walks to carpool.

Yesterday I was rushing (imagine that).

I had edited pictures and was getting them on CDs and printing copyright release forms.

I looked at the time and saw that it was 2:35.

I flew out the door.

There is NO way I can even be CLOSE to being late.

Caroline would be devastated.

I got there on time.

I hopped out of my car.  As I did, thank goodness I glanced down.

I had on a Dick's shirt.

I just threw a t-shirt on yesterday morning.

I honestly wasn't paying attention to what it said.

I had on this shirt to be exact.

DEA- Drink Every Afternoon

That is classy.

So classy.

Walking up to your 5 year old's elementary school with Dick's written on the front of your shirt and "Drink Every Afternoon" written on the back.

I wish I could make this stuff up.

Our life is super chaotic all.of.the.time.

When I realized I had on this particular shirt, I ran it back to my car.  I hopped in the back seat and turn the shirt inside out.

Crisis avoided.

I bet the parents waiting in the carpool lane would have gotten a good chuckle.

Thank goodness I noticed it, right?

FYI: I have buried that t-shirt deep within the depths of my closet.  It may never be found again.

Weird

I made up a song for Caroline.

It goes a little something like.... "GO C-LINE, GO C-LINE, GO.  GO C-LINE, GO C-LINE, GO!"

As I was singing, I did my funky chicken/dougie dance.

I am a white girl with no rhythm.  My funky chicken dance and my dougie are one in the same.  Be jealous!

Anyway, it was the first time Caroline was embarrassed of me.

Ok.  I will rephrase that.

It was the first time Caroline was embarrassed of me and expressed her feelings.

"OH MY GOSH!  PLEASSSEEEE STOP!"

I came back with an "I am going to totally do this at your Kindergarten graduation.  All of your friends will think you have the coolest mom EVAHHHHH!"

"MOM!  NO!  YOU CAN NOT DO THAT SONG."

My comeback?  I did the song and dance over and over again.

She broke down and laughed.

I knew she would.

I have awesome moves that will make anyone smile.

"But seriously Mom.  You can't do that at graduation.  People will think you're...(pause)... weird."

"Weird?  Me?  Psh!"

Caroline just rolled her eyes and picked up her DS and began to play it.

As I walked out of her room, it hit me that this was the first time of many we will have these conversations.

I am weird.  All parents are.

ALL parents are freaks!

When I went back in her room to tuck her in bed, I leaned down and promised not to do the C-Line dance at her graduation.

She giggled and loved me goodnight.

Deep down, I know she thinks I'm pretty cool.

And I know she really would love for me to do my cool song and dance.  Just NOT in front of her friends.

Kindergarten is almost over

Things are going down this week.

Big things.

Full moon is tonight for one.

You know what comes along with full moon.

Ugh!

Anyway, Caroline will graduate from Kindergarten Wednesday morning.

Graduate!

Kindergarten!

Last year this time, I was mentally preparing myself for Kindergarten.

I was "preparing" by just not thinking about it.

It was a super stressful time.

I will say, to those parents preparing for Kindergarten next year, they grow up so fast.

They walk into that big Kindergarten classroom on the first day as little babies.  They walk out and into the 1st grade as real, live elementary school students.

They know the drill.

"I've GOT THIS!" they will scream at you if you try to help them.

Go ahead and prepare yourself for tears.  You are going to cry.  That is totally normal.

They will cry too.  They will possibly make themselves vomit multiple times (like my child).  That is totally normal too (at my house anyway).

Just think, in a year you will be in my shoes.

I am already planning outings for the summer.

Oh, and I am silently wondering why in the world summer break is so long.

Keep me in your prayers.

The things my children say and do

Caroline and Emma were playing shop.

Emma was the shop owner.

She was in charge and everyone knew it.

She was running the show.

Caroline kindly asked to help I her shop and Emma agreed.

Suddenly, Emma said, "Caroline, did you just poot?"

Well, if you know my oldest daughter, you know the answer to that question.

She has no shame.

She is Flatulence Queen of the World.

She can do it on command... And that is NO joke.

Caroline said "yep!"

Emma got loud. "well, get out of my shop!"

Emma is very prim and proper when it comes to bodily functions.

She obviously was not happy about it going on in her shop.

--------------------------------------------------

My sister, Anna, has a little shorkie named Busta.

Cute little dog.

However, he can be a little destructive.

He ate the corner of a book at the beach.

We didn't tell anyone.

We pushed the book way back and prayed no one would see it.

Caroline and Emma knew this was all going down.

Later on Caroline yelled, "Anna, what did you do to that book Busta ate?"

No one heard her, thank goodness.

Emma leaned over to her and very quietly said, "It's in the trash can.  Now hush about it."

Now hush about it?

I don't say that.  Nope, not at all.  ;-)

Bridesmaids Luncheon

My sister's friend Chasity got married the last weekend in March.

My Mom hosted the Bridesmaids Luncheon at her house.

I love helping plan a party.

We were really excited about how it turned out so I wanted to share it here.

I made the invitations.  I just wanted them to be plain and simple.  I printed them on 5.5"x8.5" white cardstock.  No border.  No fancy scrolls.  Just plain and simple.

Meet Chasity.  She was the bride-to-be and was very excited about the upcoming wedding.

We fixed mimosas complete with a fresh strawberry garnish.

Fresh flowers adorned each table.

The tables were set with china, crystal and silver.  I just love a formal affair.  So much fun!

I printed the menus with the same fonts as the invitation and used the same card stock.  Easy peasy!

Fold a little pocket in your linen napkin and TA-DA!  Cuteness!!

I did the same with the place cards.

Here is the food...

Don't forget mini cupcakes for dessert!!

We had a great time planning the luncheon and getting everything ready.  I can't wait to do it again!  I already have ideas to throw a luncheon for our close friends!!  ;-)