Yesterday's To Do List

1. Feed girls, help them get dressed, and drive them to school. CHECK

2. Feed, dress and play with Little Man. CHECK

3. Do the laundry. CHECK

4. Put away the clean dishes. CHECK

5. Drive the minivan into the house. CHECK

Are you wondering about number 5? If you are a family member or a friend from high school you probably are saying to yourself that it is about time I checked that one off the to do list. For the record, I have hit a culvert, a bridge, a basketball goal, and a boat. Hitting the family home was inevitable. Hubby thinks it was time because we will finish paying off the van next month. So I have to admit he is quite happy I only hit the house. For the record, nothing was hurt except my pride.

Thanks PawPaw and Nana!

    I have figured out how to get the girls to complete their homework as quickly as possible. You show them a box from and tell them it will not be opened until they are finished. Everything done in 30 minutes flat. Then they had the whole afternoon and evening to check out the Easter goodies Nana and PawPaw sent from Louisiana. They enjoyed all of their goodies, but it was so nice to see them read their new books before they did anything else. Little Man looked at his book for a minute too, but he was more interested in the Oscar the Grouch race car and hasn't put it down since yesterday.  Thanks Mom and Dad! 

Celebrating Life

It has been a busy couple of weeks. I have painted and almost finished decorating two rooms in our house. Since it took me about 4 years to just hang a picture in our other house, the decorating thing is a big deal. But I digress. It has been an emotional couple of weeks as well. First, I missed my niece's Senior Prom. I wasn't there to help with hair or make-up, give her date the third degree, or take photos on the hill. Last Saturday was a tough night. 

  Then the first anniversary of a birth and a death. My grandmother died the same day her great granddaughter was born.  My brother and sister in law named the baby after her. Little Bit was born at just 25 weeks and spent months in the hospital. She is a miracle, and hitting that first birthday was a huge milestone. I missed the cake, opening presents, sitting around and remembering our grandmother. It was really, really tough.

    But. . . 

I had a dear friend from Alabama that came over to spend the night. We had some much needed girl time and Ikea shopping. Then last night we had a wonderful new family from here that came to have dinner with us. Tonight, we are watching the Tar Heels and had another great meal that I didn't have to cook. So I'm better.  Sure, I still miss  boiled crawfish and sitting under a live oak tree dripping with Spanish Moss.  I miss seeing my family and friends in LA. But I am also making some happy memories here. I know it will only get better, and now that the guest bedroom is done, I won't be able to keep the family away!

Swedish Meatballs Anyone?

Ikea finally opened last month. I have had a love affair with this store for years, but unfortunately lived hours away from one. FINALLY it happened. I can hop in the car and go. It has been wonderful! For someone who despises shopping, I can't get enough of this place. I was able to go by myself opening weekend. Several police officers and Ikea employees greeted me as they directed literally hundreds of people into and out of the parking lot. For the playroom I bought two of the flower lamps, and I am eyeing the red sofa. It is just the right size for reading and snuggling with stuffed animals on a rainy day. We have a house guest coming next week, so I am hoping to get in another trip for picture frames and a lamp.  And of course, the girls have requested more Swedish meatballs.

For Grandma

Sherman and the SeaMonkeys

 

     Sherman was with us for 5 glorious days. On Friday afternoon, Big Girl went outside, scooped up what was left, and put him in the freezer. For our next snowfall, we now have "Snowman Starter" so we can make Sherman again every time it snows.  

      I had a couple of inquiries about the SeaMonkeys. I am happy to say they are alive and well albeit living in the filth of their waste and fallen comrades. We are on the 5th or 6th generation and I am long overdue to clean the tank. They don't seem to mind, but when I used the  macro lens, I was horrified. However, I was able to get a picture of one- just look closely in the big bubble. 

    Rain is expected all weekend, so I will put off painting again. It will just give me more time to figure out what color I really want to use in Little Man's room.

Sherman the Snowman

  Seriously, I don't know how these girls come up with this stuff. Big girl just asked if I had a picture of Sherman all by himself. 

         "Who is Sherman?" I ask hesitantly. 

         "You know Mom, the snowman," she says nonchalantly. 

         "Right."

So of course we had to take a family photo with our newest member. He is still hanging in today although he has lost most of his teeth and his nose.  The kids all had a great time and were so excited that Dad was home for the snow.  I was not happy about losing power for 14 hours. The house was a crisp 52 degrees when the heater kicked on again. Last night we had lots of hot chocolate, as we thawed out and watched the snow melt from inside of the house. I am so happy we had another snow day with the kiddos, but I will be very happy when spring arrives!