Can I request a do-over?

Because really....really really...I need one.  It's been a day, in what is shaping up to be quite a week.  And it's only Tuesday.  Monday didn't start too bad.  And it was pretty good, actually.  Until 8:15am.  When sweet little Maggie, who had just held my daughter, Hannah's, hand and walked her to class, came up to my desk and said, "Mrs. Stone, I don't feel (insert puking noise here)."  And yeah, pretty much didn't get any better. Complete with fighting kids, peeing dogs, and burning dinner in the crock pot. (I mean, who does that?)

Today, though.  Today was supposed to be better.  Done with Monday.  One day til "hump day." It had to get better.  It was supposed to get better.  Really it was.

Until 4:30, when I awoke from a nightmare in which I had used my magical powers to turn Hannah into this little embryonic three inch tall creature because she wouldn't stop talking to me, and then when I tried to change her back, she started shrinking. A psychologist would have a field day with that one, I'm sure.

Then, on my way out of the house, breakfast in hand, I couldn't remember whether or not I had unplugged my curling iron.  So I deftly jumped up the step to "run" back into the house, missing the step all together and falling on my wrist.  Lovely broken blood vessel and "super yummy" egg white and fat free cheese breakfast burrito spilled all over the porch.

Then, my day in first grade.  Except my day also included a food fight with ketchup dipped napkins, a squealing surge protector, a full blown temper tantrum complete with leg kicking and floor laying.

So I ran.  And felt somewhat better, once it was over.  Until we were on the way home, and right at our street, I took the turn a little too sharply and blew out the tire on the SUV.

Not a good thing at the end of a very expensive month, three days before payday.

I made dinner--hamburgers (again-because...hey...three days before payday)  I decided to be frugal and resourceful and go ahead and make our dinner for tomorrow too to take to church.  I've not grilled too much, or really at all, but I had called Daryl and gotten directions.  And was doing pretty well until flames started creeping out of the sides.  Yep.  Burned.  Ten burgers.  The dogs wouldn't even eat them (and these dogs eat each other's poop and used sanitary napkins).

Daryl was none too happy to have to come home from working two out of three of his jobs to a flatter than flat tire.  And it probably didn't help any that when he opened the trunk to get to the spare, piles of books fell on top of him.

Oh well...I think *fingers crossed* that all may be forgiven now.

And tomorrow....it's gotta be better, right?

Planking

Inspired by the first Office episode of the season, my girls now have a new obsession......



Competition Cheer Begins!

Wow. (and note the enthusiasm) Two posts in a week.  I do believe I may be coming out of my blog funk.  I really think that I have reverse ADD.  Instead of being distracted by everything, I get focused on one thing only and everything else falls by the wayside.  First, it was blogging.  Then for a while it was couponing.  Lately, it's been getting in shape/losing weight/becoming more fit.  Trying to fit a little bit of blogging and couponing in there too (and the kids, the hubs and the job, of course)!

Anywho....

Today was the girls' first competition of 2011.  The Whitewater High Schoo Cheer Extrvaganza.

I was ready.  The little girls were at home with Grandma and Grandpa. (THANK YOU!!!!)

I had my signs ready.

 Here they are, "on deck."

 Performing their first routine of the season.

 Sarah is holding Maddy in her partner stunt on the left.

 The bad thing about having both girls on the same team is that I can't watch both of them at the same time.  I spent most of my time trying to locate either one of the two of them, and missing most everything else.

Sisters....

 Maddy, Maghan, Tori, and McKenna.  Hanging out after th performance.  Hmmmmmmm....wonder what they are all looking at so intently.....

 Could it be these guys?

 First Place!



Fall Break 2011- Part 2

Warning....picture overload!!!!!

On Tuesday, the boys went out with Captain Charles to go deep sea fishing.

Grandpa and Josh inspecting the bait.

Josh's shark--Captain Charles wouldn't let Josh hold it on his own.

Daryl's shark (guess Captain Charles didn't care whether the shark would bite him!)

In the end, they caught and fileted 192 fish.  And...they brought them home.  And WE brought all of them home.  To this household who for the most part, doesn't like fish! (guess whose family will be eating fish once a week until we find a way everyone likes it?)

 Sarah and Grandma fried it up (and made tacos too...just in case!)

 While we were waiting for the fish to fry, Hannah ran around being cute :)

 Charlotte played "Mary"

 And Josh caught up on his reading

Family Fish Night

Then off to the beach for our traditional family pictures.

Oh, my heart....

 and my love

 I believe we took a picture like this ten years ago, to celebrate our new family.

 Then I made sure to get a picture with each of my babies....not because I'm vain like that, but because I made a promise to myself that I would let people take my picture.  I have always shied away from the cameras, and so there are so few pictures of me, and hardly any with my kids (only OF my kids).  I want them to have pictures of themselves with me.  And I want to be included in their memories.

Pretty Sarah with the "fluffy hair."

 Josh looking handsome in his new hat

 My sweet spunky Maddy

 Sisters!

 How lucky am I?  Truly, truly  blessed!



Fall Break 2011 - Part One

Ten years ago, as a way of celebrating our coming together as a family, we packed up the three kids and headed for St. George Island, Florida.  Daryl had visited there often as a child, and he wanted to share it with us.  We loved it, and it became our regular vacation spot.  Grandma and Grandpa have joined us every year, and while they never stay for the entire vacation, it wouldn't be the same without them!

Sarah and Josh headed out early Saturday morning in the Nissan.  Daryl had to teach that morning at the college, so we couldn't leave til lunch time.  Here we are at our first stop for gas, in our rental car--a very cool minivan. (Who'd a thunk it that I would say a minivan is cool?  But it totally was!)

 Our first stop was at Stripling's General Store and gas station.  Have you ever "sausage" a place? Ha!

 And where else could you get your picture taken with a giant pig?

We finally made it to the island, and Hannah quickly staked her claim to the top bunk.  Unfortunately, I had visions of her trying to climb down in the middle of the night, so she slept on the mattress....on the floor.  Maybe net year,Hannah!

 The next morning, we had beakfast....

 hung out with Grandpa on one of the porches...

 and headed to the beach.  We left Josh in the bed, and Sarah opted to go to the store with Grandma.

 We played in the sand...

 played with our cool sand toys...

 and headed to the water!

 Charlotte was terrified and wouldn't come near the water.  Hannah was scared at first, but at least willing to try.  By the end of the week, we had to drag her out!

As we were packing up to go home for lunch, we noticed a group of dolphins playing off shore.  All of the sudden, they started jumping into the air.  So thankful we had our camera to capture this moment!

More to come later....too many pictures to just make one post!