Historical Farm

Believe it or not...I love history...

This makes me laugh alittle because my memory stinks...so what fun is history when I can't really remember what happened 2 days ago let alone hundreds of years prior to my existence? 

But, enjoy it I do...

Thus, I spend plenty of time, reading into the wee hours of the night, my "historical fiction" novels...pouring over historical maps and reading the back covers of my daughter's "Dear America" book series...

Because of this love, I get giddy about opportunities to see life from the "olden day" perspective.  Sometimes I think life must have been easier in the sense that things were a lot less hectic...but, harder in that...holy cow, I have to scrub my own clothes clean...

((side note, after spending 2 seconds smelling the pigs house where Little Munchkin whispered, "Mommy, it smells like poo-poo" and realizing that people "back then" probably didn't get a chance to wash their daily clothes...so they got to climb into bed and wake up every morning to wonderful aroma clinging to them...yes, ummmm...no thank you))

Anyhoo...although we had a GRAND time in Williamsburg this past spring...I am thankful for opportunities closer to home to give the girlies a chance to "experience" different era...

Little Munchkin and I headed down south to participate in a fully working historical farm...

Outside of the Pooping Pigs...we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...

 This concludes the photo-journaling of our time there...hope you enjoyed it:)

Moments are to Savor

The best moments are the ones that are never planned...

One thing sort of leads to another and the next thing you know...

You're dancing in the kitchen to Frank Sinatra with the aroma of pasta sauce simmering on the stove...

Okay, so maybe that doesn't happen every time...but that's what happened yesterday...

The whole weekend was just...I don't know...it was just REAL and "moment" filled...

It started off with an early Saturday morning soccer game...in which, our very own Sweetpea scored the first goal of the season...and then she scored another one...and then they blew the other team away 9-0. 

We really did try to feel badly and sad for the other team, but after 2 seasons last year of getting beaten into the ground by every team we sparred against...selfishly, we relished a little bit and maybe even gloated a tad too:) 

Coach (that would be my very own italian stallion), on an adreniline and "oh my goodness, I can't believe those were our girls" high, treated our little family to a Bob Evans breakfast...cause nothing says victory like BOB! We downed some delicious chocolate chip pancakes and multiple hot cocoa refills...

and at least 4 trips to the bathroom for Little Munchkin...but that really doesn't fall into the category of "moments" so let's just skip that part...

Upon arriving at home, we were able to relax a bit, hubs got some yard work completed and the girls played with friends...outside...in the gorgeous sunshine.

Sunday happened upon us...we started the day with a rivoting tale of Dogs & Cats and the revenge of Kitty Galore...(again, NOT one of those moments to be savored...OH MY)  But, we were up early again and we let the girls veg while we tried to keep our eyes pried open with large amounts of caffeine.

Our pastor taught an incredible message, full and rich with history and application out of Matthew 16.  I love that Jesus used "word pictures" to get his point across...

After begging, pleading and finally offering a "deal" in order to get Italian Stallion to let us eat out again:)...we headed into the town over to just pick up some tacos and some wraps for lunch.  We happened to stop at an ACE Hardware...now, how you "happen" to stop at a place like that is beyond me...but,  the point is, once there, we bought ourselves a new grill...one that has burners that actually work...I mean, it will COOK the food...we haven't had a grill like that in like, 2 years!!!  AMAZING!

We got home and again...one thing just led to another, like I said before...next thing we know...Sweetpea, Little Munch and I are out picking tomatoes and beans...Peanut and Daddy are inside making sauce to the tunes of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin...we all have aprons on and our house smells delicious...Sweetpea even jumped in to make us some chocolate chip banana bread for dessert...

It was a good day...

Did I happen to mention...

...that we missed the bus on this 2nd day of school? 

What? I didn't? 

Oh, well then...um, hello...I'm the mother who had to drive her girls to school on the 2nd day of school because apparantly the bus driver not only needed to stop at Meijer to get some gas, but she decided that coming around 15 minutes EARLY to the bus stop was absolutely appropriate...

I know, I know...we live on the corner...the bus stop IS the corner...but, the fact of the matter is that at 15 minutes PRIOR to the declared "pick up" time...my girls are doing all the last minute stuff...

like brushing their teeth, putting on shoes, arguing about what show Little Munchkin will get to watch while she stays inside as the rest of us trudge outside to the bus stop...

so, this morning, we watched the bus come and go...only 3 kids got on...because, I guess they are just over achievers (this made Sweetpea nearly have a breakdown right there in the driveway a bit sad) The rest of the 7-9 kids that MISSED the bus, had to be hauled in by parents...

It wasn't allllll bad...let us be thankful that it wasn't in the dead of winter...that I actually brushed my teeth before having to speak to the secretary...that I had something on OTHER than my pajamas...it's all good. 

I was able to run down the bus driver (no not in that sense...I just caught up with her)  She apologized like crazy and reassured me that we'd be back to regular time from now on...

Thank heavens, because my coffee was still brewin' and I couldn't get my cuppa until AFTER I dropped off the girlies..

We are looking forward to the weekend...possibly "pooling" it since we still are squeezing every last ounce of our over-priced membership from the summer...did I also tell you that I'm going to run a 5k in October?  (I just giggled a little bit because I wrote "run"...that makes me laugh because I'm heaving and huffin' and puffin' at 2 miles...maybe we'll call it a brisk walk for that 5k)

Have a great weekend!

First Day of "SoooooL"

I loved and hated school...

I know, I know...some of you that know me are totally rolling you eyes because you remember me in school...you remember the fact that I hung on every word that came out of a teacher's mouth...you remember that I fought for every "A" and more oft than not, sacrificed "friend time" in order to STUDY...you know that I secretly got a kick out of Acing a test and then knocking myself down because it wasn't a perfect 100%...

I was a nerd..I get it...I knew it then too...that's probably where the "hate" part came in...

If I could go back to my former self, I'd probably say, "Self, you need to just relax...you see, in about 20 years you are going to have 3 kids and noone will care that you were valedictorian...in fact, Mr. McMann might be the ONLY person to remember that his was the class that kept you from a perfect 4.0...in fact, it will probably be called upon you much more, your ability to draw and paint rather than figure out a postulate or theory!"

Now, before I completely bash my schooling experience...let us remember that schooling helped me to THINK...Obviously, I still struggle with the concept, but let's not go there right now...

The point that I'm trying to make is that school was fun, empowering, brain-fuel...but it was also work, schedules, studying and worry...which, I suppose translates into everyday life anyway...

My girls are at the beginning of this schooling journey...my Sweetpea entering 4th grade and Peanut heading into 2nd grade.  Little Munchkin is bringing up the rear with "Pwee-soool" (as she calls it)  The first day of school came and went...we all survived...

They endured the long bus ride home, came off sweaty and red-faced into the arms of all the parents standing at the bus stop with popcicles, cookies and big hugs...they raved about their classmates and their "super cool" teachers...Little Munchkin completely sacked out on the couch after a rigorous day of Panera breakfast, looking at books, measuring with pennies, making cookies and a bike ride:)  Whew...Pweesool is HARD work!

I had to get pictures of them...it's the same picture every year...apparantly, my girls like pink:)  I missed Sweetpea's first grade year...I'm sure I have a picture somewhere, but I can't find it at this late hour...we were homeschooling and probably too busy going to COSI or the zoo or other such classes to even worry about pictures:)

And here they are TODAY...on their first day of school 2011

let's not forget Little Munchkin...

and they're off!

And that's about it friends...Happy Schooling! 

It's almost Wednesday

Wednesday means that school starts...

for like the 5th time for Sweetpea...(this would equal 4th grade to those that couldn't figure it out b/c you may have forgotten the kindergarten year...but people, I'm here for you!)

We've spent the last 2 days doing 2 things...#1 trying to cram as much fun into segments of the day that we possibly can AND #2 still trying to locate backpacks and school supplies because "someone" (namely ME) didn't get a move on it oh, say about a month ago...

The backpack thing is killing me and let me tell you why...here's the deal...we make the girls use their backpacks at least 2 years in a row...they know this coming out of the gate...therefore, they don't bother asking for a new one for the 2nd year...they know the answer.  Now, under normal circumstances, after that amount of time...after being dragged along the driveway, through snow...being thrown all over the yard and house...pencils and markers protruding and piercing the fabric...2 years about does it for the packs...

Sweetpea's from her K-1 years had holes all over the bottom...

For some reason though, the ones we purchased 2 years ago are still in great shape...they were fabulous buys...both under $20, but they were incredibly reinforced on the bottom, had double layering throughout, strong padding...they look great (minus a few stains because someone's mother doesn't like laundry...let's not get into this discussion right now however) 

And so that brought us to this 4th and 2nd grade year...the girls were chompin' at the bit to get new ones...Peanut wants a roller b/c she's all about EASE....Sweetpea wanted something else because "everyone else gets a new one EVERY year mom"...

They are still using the same lunch boxes from who knows when and the frugal-ness in me had won out until the DAY BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS...and I started remembering my homemade aqua blue cordoroy knickers that was paired with my Ernie & Bert rainbow colored shirt that I wore to school as an elementary student...and though my girls' lives are a far cry from my stories of "walking to school up hill both ways and keeping hot potatoes in my pockets to keep my hands from getting frostbite while crazy dogs got out of their fences and chase Uncle Don and I all the way to school" 

I completely and totally gave in and bought them new bags this year...

THERE...I admitted it...YES, it's a waste of money because DUH, we already have perfectly useable ones still here at home...NO, I did NOT act in a frugal way this time around...I completely spoiled them and gave into the "peer pressure"...

I hope this, once again, confirms your belief that the crazy Mamarazzi mom is, indeed, a little nuts and though she may TRY to pride herself on keeping purchases on the "down low" and stickin' to her hubby's strict budget...doggone, she TOTALLY blows it sometimes...

I will be doing penance whilst I save up monies from CT PhotoMemories to supplement the hole I blew in the budget this month...

But rest assured, I still will NOT be sewing aqua blue knickers or red cordoroy jordache jean look-alikes for my girls...

Patio is Coming Along...

So...I mentioned the other day that we are finally putting in a patio.  I say "finally" not because I'm trying to be uppity or posh or "oh my it's about time we put that in, next we need the helicopter pad and inground pool"...

In our last home, we always regretted waiting so long to put on the deck because once we had it in, we had so much more opportunity to have neighbors and friends over...and without it, it wasn't as if we DIDN'T enjoy company, our outdoor area just wasn't as conducive...or...I'm not even sure how to explain it...I'm trying to be "politically correct" here and failing miserably...

Basically, it's not that we HAVE to have someTHING in order to have the relationships or neighborhood comradery that we are envisioning, but having a PLACE outdoors just tends to "aid" in that "dream"  That's ALL I'm saying...and the fact that God allows us to have the ability to improve our home at this time in our lives is an incredible gift and we don't take it for granted!

Wow...THAT was some explanation...

So, I thought I'd post a few pics of the process along the way...we are continuing to "invest" in our workers as they keep working...the girls made mini loaves of chocolate chip banana bread yesterday and the guys just raved over it...I can't tell you how that made Sweetpea and Peanut BEAM.

It's coming along nicely, even though I have NO idea how they do it...all those numbers and leveling and following this blueprint...it's all "greek" to me...

Here are some BEFORE pictures...

And then, they came in with the machines and all the brick pavers...

don't you think a nice FREE hot tub would look great right there on the end??? 

just joking...

It's goin' by fast...

So, school starts next week.

I'm going to let that sink in for a second...


WHAT IN THE WORLD???  How did we get to the end of summer so quickly...I'm starting to think that maybe we don't REALLY get 24 hours in each day...maayyyybe, there were some hours that were sorta "snuck out" while we slept...because OH MY GOODNESS...SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK!

Now, this revelation brings with it some hard, cold facts:
1. I will actually have to get out of bed before 8am starting Wednesday.
2. I will not be able to stay up until 2am every night...(duh, because of #1)
3. I will be able to exercise to p90x without being asked a question every 30 seconds about Tony Horton's muscles or "Mommy, why does your tummy jiggle so much when you work out?"
4. I will not be able to just scoop them all up and run to the pool...ummm, like EVERY DAY and listen to all three of them laugh and play together.
5. Little Munchkin and I are going to have some special one on one times coming up this fall...
6. I really need to get on the ball here soon and plan the "Mamarazzi Preschool Program" for Little Munchkin...(you can pretty much guarantee it will involve things such as the zoo, COSI, park programs, reading and baking chocolate chip cookies...a LOT)

To finish off these last days of summer, my SIL from that state up yonder, surprised us yesterday by driving herself AND ALL FOUR OF the BOYS down for a quick visit.  We loaded them all into the vans and headed to the pool.  Now granted, I have all girls and my brother has all boys..but they are stair steps in ages and they play like there is no tomorrow.  We had so much fun just watching them...well, and getting splashed by the twins (but let's not call the getting wet part actual fun b/c when I sit on the edge of the pool, I don't really WANT to get wet...I just want to pretend that I'm a cool pool mom...but that was a whole other post from a long time ago)

Anyhoo...they left in the afternoon and we scrambled to clean up...because lord have mercy on me, my house was a disaster...seriously, when your SIL (whom you don't get to see all that often) has to ask to use another bathroom upstairs because the one she stepped into is so incredibly clogged that you can barely breathe...honey, you've got problems! I'm going to chalk up that particular situation as one in which my SIL will feel soooo great when she gets home to her house and compares:) 

I like to make people feel good about themselves...and doggone, if my house has to be a disaster in order to help you out...I'm here for you people!!

Okay...last thing to mention...I think I may have failed to tell you that after 5 years of procrastination and saving up and more indecision and oh, forgetfulness...we FINALLY are putting in a patio off the back of our house...I'm treating the workers to chocolate chip cookies, watermelon, banana bread, lemonade, soda...maybe they'll just throw in a hot tub or something because I'm so nice???? 

probably not...but regardless, I"m looking forward to morning coffee on the back patio swing (I would be remiss if I didn't say that I would have liked to say back PORCH swing, but I also don't feel like shelling out $40,000 just so I can sit outside during a rain...but ya know)

So, I"ll post some pictures as I get them loaded and as I finish up the 4 photo sessions, 4 Italian Stallion reunion sessions and get ready for my Snapshop on Sunday...so, I guess that means you'll see some pictures sometime before Christmas, but possibly after Thanksgiving...good grief!

Have a great day!