Funny Girls

I came across these while uploading some photos the other day.






I just absolutely adore these two and all of their crazy!!

Never Trust a Crock Pot

It started innocently enough. I had finished cleaning the kitchen and I saw my old large crock pot sitting beside the sink. I've been meaning to make room for it under the island for over a week now. You see, I got a new crock pot (and when I say new, I mean Grandpa found it and thought of me!). It's quite a fancy smancy crock pot. I really love it. As far as crock pots go, it's a Cadillac!

The new large crock pot replaced the old large crock pot in the cabinet under the island where all crock pots are stored. I used to have a large crock pot and a small crock pot. We are a large family and if we have guests that happen to also have a large family, we often cook in two different crock pots. (How many times can I say crock pot?)

To the point. I want to keep both the Cadillac and the SUV; but, felt it was time to let the sedan go. In order to store the cadillac, I needed to clean out the cabinet under the island. Easy mission: Open door. Pull out Sedan. Park Cadillac and SUV. Go to bed. Five minutes tops!

But, as I was cleaning out the cabinet under the island, I found something that belonged in the cabinet above the stove. I then decided that there were several things up there that I never use and began to pull those things out. Which led to finding some things that I thought would be better stored elsewhere...like perhaps the cabinet under the cooktop. Before I knew it, my kitchen (that was clean when I started) looked like this:

THREE HOURS LATER... my pantry is cleaned out, the cabinet above the oven, the two cabinets below the cooktop, AND the island cabinet. WHEW! AM I TIRED!

The moral of this terribly long and boring story? Never trust a crock pot!

Belated Birthday Post

Way back in June (for once BEFORE my kid's actual birthday) we threw a High School Musical sleepover for Emma's 8th birthday!

When Emma asked Glory if she was coming to her birthday party, Glory said, "Yea! And I'm gonna eat cok [aka "cake"] balls!" I totally busted her snagging one!

There was eating, presents, and crafting.





JW wanted in on the Mod Podge!

Then, at some point, for some reason, the party got COMPLETELY out of control!!










For some, it became unbearable!!


But, in the end, we were all smiles!

Parenting Failures

Remember this post where my daughter was brain washed into wearing something absolutely repulsive and completely offensive?

Well, at the softball tournament, IN WACO, she dawned it again. (Actually, she dawns it quite frequently now that I think about it!) Anyway, she was walking into the tournament, when one of the ladies working the ticket counter commented on her "awesome shirt."

Later, as we were leaving the ball park, the sweet lady gave Abbee this:

You do your best as parents to raise your children in a way that enables them to make wise choices when you are not around to make them for them. You try and teach them good from evil in hopes that one day, they will stand for what is right. But, even with your best efforts, sometimes, on the way home from Waco, as your are following Wes and Abbee, you notice a little yellow flag flapping outside of the passenger side window!

Note to Emily: If Abbee ends up attending Baylor, YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT!!

Workin' at the Car Wash...

When we got back home yesterday, I walked outside to find that Wes had put the posse to work!

Can you see the determination and work ethic? The willing participation? Everyone working together for the greater good?

Before they were finished, it began to rain.

Then, this happened:



Abbee really wanted to help; but, she's just so easily distracted!


Emma definitely worked the longest. I'm almost certain there is one spot on my van that no longer has any paint!
After at least an hour and 1/2 of intense labor, she walked into the house and declared, "Mom, your van is now as shiny as my butt!"

Errr...ummm...thanks?

Camping 101

We made it back from our tin can misadventure; and, yes, I still hate camping. But, I have to admit that after seeing my girls have such a phenomenal time, I will definitely suck it up and go again sometime (not anytime soon, mind you, just sometime!).

Here are some survival tips I learned along the way:
1. Do not sign your kid up to play on a thrown together softball team at the end of softball season. Also, do not agree to play in an ASA tournament against select teams that have played together for two or three years now. NOT. PRETTY.
2. Do teach your kid that learning to lose gracefully is just as important as learning to win (maybe even more so).

I realize that neither of the first two have anything to do with camping. However, that part of the trip might have actually been WORSE than the camping!!

3. If you are going to above said softball tournament (which you are not, because you have learned your lesson!) and you are staying in a tin can at a campground on the pristine Lake Waco, BRING A CAP. Good hair days are not in your future!
4. If you hate camping but you go for the sake of your family, do not make snide comments like "reason number one trillion and ninety seven why camping sucks." Just think them to yourself!
5. Always always always bring a good book. You can completely forget how hot, sweaty, and smelly you are when you are absorbed in an awesome book.
6. Do not read said book too quickly. You will then be forced to remember how hot, sweaty, and smelly you are!
7. Wake up early and drink coffee outside (this practice can also be beneficial at home!!).
8. Enjoy the late night giggles coming from the opposite end of the tin can!
9. Try to see camping through the eyes of your children (I'm pretty sure this is the only way to actually enjoy it!)



10. Remind yourself that there are people who live in far worse conditions every single day. Especially remind yourself of this when you find yourself in the shower surrounded by crickets and spiders!


Most of all, don't forget to thank your Creator for the breathtaking beauty of a sunset!

Dream Home

For as long as I've known Wes, he has had one dream: to own a pop-up tent trailor!Today, we make his dream come true as we set out on the maiden voyage of The Tin Can Mansion...100 square feet of unappreciated luxury!

I'm not fooled. I know that this is just a glorified tent. After all, it still has the word "tent" smack dab in the middle of it's name. And, I still HATE camping. But, this is his dream and the world does not revolve around me!! (Please remind me of this fact come this time tomorrow!)

So here's to the first of many misadventures in the Tin Can...wish us luck!

Self Diagnosis

We are visiting my family for a few days; and, their church is having VBS this week. JW didn't want to stay with his class because he said he was feeling bad. I asked him what was going on and he replied:

"I think I might have the swine flu but I'm not exactly sure what that is!"

My house is quiet?

Yesterday, three of my four children were hanging out away from home. ( Let's pause for a moment of reflection on the grandeur of that statement.)

Emma had a friend over and they were playing QUIETLY in her room. I asked Wes if he thought our lives would have always been this peaceful if we only had two kids, to which he replied, "Not if one of those two was Abbee!"

True Dat.

Emma and Lexie thought it would be fun to swim in the rain because it was only thundering, not lightening. I tried to explain the scientific reasons why thunder could not exist without lightening; but, they couldn't hear me over their "PLEEEEEASE??" So, I distracted them by suggesting we build a fort.
They stayed in their "fort" for the remainder of the afternoon!

As all good things must come to an end, I inevitably had to gather the rest of the flock. They argued all the way home.

Although there are days I could be easily tempted, I wouldn't trade one of those little punks...at least not for more than a month or two!

Some Randomness

Okay. So, it's been awhile. But, not because we haven't had blog worthy material. Mostly because summer brings with it zero lazy-days at our house (perhaps a slight exaggeration with the word "zero" in an effort to earn some pity!).

Anyway, the point is, I have some catching up to do. But, I'm going to put that off a little longer.

As I was playing with the cool iphoto feature on my new Mac (which I'm pretty sure makes me cool), I ran across a couple of photos that made me smile.

First, guess whose suitcase came home from camp looking like this??

And, how cute is this girl?


Lastly, look what my kids looked like just a little less than one year ago...(This picture would have so much more impact if I had a current picture in the same spot so that the madness at how quickly they are growing would be evident...but, on my honor, they are growing up TOO FAST!)