The hammock

Well,My husband returned home from his trip. It was really exciting to see the kids so happy to see him especially when he brought them home gifts for being so good for me while he was gone. Sometimes our house can be so quiet and others just totally unruly. So what is a little bribe sometimes?? He brought them home a couple of videos that they wanted and a gift for me for my birthday. My birthday is not until March but John has no ability in him whatsoever to wait and is just like a kid that spills the beans on every little secret that are supposed to keep. So when he was explaining to the kids who's was who's he told them the BIG present was for mom for her birthday. Then my little one asked me so sweetly...."Mom when I am 72 like you will I get a big present from daddy too?" Nice, real nice. I will be 32...big difference kid.

I now am the proud owner of a hammock. Not just any hammock but a monster of a hammock that the kids demanded he set up in the living room to check and try out. If it safely handles 5 kids it would surely handle me!

Sure enough it was a huge hit for the kids and seems to be very sturdy. Our vacation consists of a rustic campground on a river fishing and swatting mosquitoes for a few days. The kids love it and so do we. Of course, there is always going to be some minor incidents as with any vacation IE: kids falling in, husband getting stuck with catfish barbs and passing out,someone throwing up in the tent, kids catching trees with their fishing poles.....the very tops of trees....but all in all, it is a ball. I am ready, a new hammock,fishing pole and now just need the nice weather!

Here is a picture from our vacation to the river last year before all of the major crisis happened and Boo caught his very first catfish. He was so proud he gave the thumbs up! A couple of years ago he would not have had the patience or ability to catch fish let alone smile and give the camera an opportunity to see him so happy....that is what it is all about. Kids don't remember how much money you spend or the fancy equipment you have, it is the memories of the fun they have and the time they spend with you.

Breaking News!!

Hello everyone....just an update on some breaking news......I went to get some groceries at the store yesterday and bought myself a brand new pair of boots for winter. So the news is.......It will be spring now!! That is how it happens you finally accept the fact that summer is only going to consist of a couple of weeks and you find a steal on a pair of boots. Then you don't get an opportunity to wear them. Nothing assures the spring coming like buying new winter boots!
Also just to confirm my theory on the way home from the store I saw the first woodchuck of the year!! Yeah!

To snore or not to snore

My husband has been gone for a couple days now. He is taking some classes to help him prepare for the changing technology for his job.
There has been so many times when I have had to wake him up from a sound sleep due to the fact he is snoring so loudly that all the neighborhood dogs are barking and howling. It can be just deafening.
So when the news came that he would be gone for a few days for his training I was sad he was going to be away but secretly thinking how much sleep I was going to get at night. I have grown pretty used to hearing the loud noises and am amazed every time I wake up in the morning that I have slept a wink at all. Well I must say I was wrong.

How could I be used to that awful noise? I laid awake thinking it was too quiet. I turned on the t.v. and still nothing. It has been 2 days and I am ready for him to come home.Do I really need that awful noise to sleep well?? It is amazing how easily one can adapt to things. When the babies were small one little whimper and I was out of bed, tripping on the dog to dash to the crib and now I can sleep better when my windows are rattling as my husband is soundly sleeping...emphasis on the SOUND!!

So lesson learned, I need my family at home all safe and sound and snoring. I am looking forward to the chaos when he walks in the door and the dog and the kids all fight to be the first one to greet him and steal the first bit of attention, the look on Boo's face when he pulls in the driveway but most of all the sleep!

In Loving memory of...........

Spring.....ah what a beautiful word. Especially considering we are approaching record snowfall for the year and it is only February. I wish I could be as excited as our local weather lady. The first snowfall is always exciting and I can't wait to break out the hot cocoa for the kids and build the first snowman. Well it is February and the excitement passed a long time ago. The lost mittens(Approximately 53 pairs) the one missing boot and the "Mom, my coat won't zip" mornings are definitely taking their toll on me. That is why I LOVE SPRING! Spring is a chance to undo some of the wrongs that were made last year. A fresh start. The ambition and effort that goes into my yard and garden every year with such force that I am certain that my yard will be the prettiest on my bumpy dirt road. Only to be reminded in July that it is too stinking hot! Even with the best of intentions my garden always ends up full of weeds and it is more like a where's waldo when you are looking for the tomato plants. The yard has so many weeds that I am not sure how close to the field I should mow because you really can't tell the difference between the two. So this year It will be different. Work smarter, work harder and know that every spring I get another chance.

I have never really had great luck with plants. I make several trips to the greenhouse and pick out the prettiest. I plant them all over the yard.....aww they are so beautiful..Then in about a month when I am standing in the kitchen getting a cold glass of water thinking maybe the plants are thirsty too and by then.....too late.

So I just tell myself well I am just supporting the local business with the purchases and make a mental note next year to water the plants.

My house plants are not much better. When I moved into my new house I had several house plants. They were beautiful. I was certain I was ready for the responsibility of the new life and was so excited. The house was clean, the pool was bug free and the kids were happy and fed and I did so great watering them that they got a little droopy. So I thought okay well let's put them outside to get a little warm air to dry them out.. Well apparently they sunburn. So what is a girl to do? Too much water, not enough water.....the stress. So this year I am going to do artificial plants.....Problem solved. So this post is dedicated to the loving memory of my houseplants...may they rest in peace and I promise to never buy another one again. Amen.