MY I LOVE LUCY MOMENT

I met a lady this weekend who told me about a place not to far from here where we can go 4 wheeling and camping. Yesterday Denny, Dalton and I went for a drive to see if we could find it and check it out to see if it was worth hauling the 4wheelers there. When we got there, there was an awesome Creek/river vein not exactly sure what but it was so cool. The water was clear and very COLD. We decided we were going to wade through it and skip rocks, look at the fish, that kind of stuff when swoosh Dalton slipped on a mossy rock and in he went. He wasn't hurt and we were all laughing. I felt really bad for him and was thinking about the poor thing being all wet and how cold that water was. That did not keep him from playing around in it. So we were all walking around in it when all of the sudden my feet flew out from under me and I landed on my butt!! DID I MENTION THE WATER WAS COLD! So I am trying as fast as I can to pop back out of the water but it was like being on a sheet of ice and my feet kept flying out from under me over and over to the point where I was laying on my back in the water!!!! COLD WATER!!!!! We're talking probably 45 or 50 degree water! I was laughing so hard I was weak and I had to give up trying to get up for a minute. I thought I was going to pee my pants-not that anyone would have known-but I would have. Did Denny come to my rescue???????? NNNNNNNNNooooooooooooooo He said I was good entertainment! I am so glad the young couple that was there being all cute and cuddly on a rock had left. I am sure I looked like a beached whale having a seizure on that rock with COLD WATER on it. And yes my back is sore today, but my pride has too much cushion on it for it to get hurt. hahaha

TODAYS DALTON FUNNY

During the school week I wake Dalton up and we go to the couch to get the cartoons going then I get his breakfast. We (usually just Dalton) have breakfast on the couch watching Higgly Town Heroes. This morning meme came in and she sat with Dalton while I was running around getting his clothes, backpack etc. together. During one particular commercial there were these young girls with some sort of cupcake maker/decorator not sure exactly what it was because meme wasn't paying attention to it until Dalton said "that is amazing!" "Meme don't you think that is just amazing?" You never know what is going to catch the eye of a child or impress them for that matter. He used to love commercials when he was younger. I know commercials catch their attention because they make them louder and usually have music with them.

ANTOHER FINISHED PROJECT

The lean-to is another project we have been working on the past few weeks as time has permitted. With the completion of the roof this weekend we can check of one more thing on our TO-DO list.

MEET OUR 4 LEGGED CHILDREN

Wiggles


Roscoe



Abie (who was asleep and dreaming when I took this)

BEFORE AND AFTER PICS OF LANDSCAPING

Ok, you have to admit it's not professional but it sure does look a lot better than it did. Thank goodness Denny came to my rescue when I was going across the front of the house with the 40 lb. bags of rock because my back was killing me. What you see took 64 bags of rock, thank you Lowe's for delivering it by the pallet, 315 staples for the landscape fabric, I installed a few of the lights incorrectly-Denny had to fix that, and I saved some money by transplanting the monkey grass from other areas of the yard. I have become a bit of a landscape maniac......I have taken what I have started on around the house and I have BIG plans for other areas around the yard. GO ME!!!! Did I mention that I really don't like live plants...I like them I just stink at taking care of them. And the art work on the sidewalk was compliments of Dalton.

A BOY AND HIS PLAYDOH

It's a good thing to use the table on the patio since there was as much playdoh on the ground as there was on the table. It's not fun if you can't sling it, beat it, cut it up and, of course, mix all the colors together until you have this ugly poopy green color. When Dalton saw me coming with the camera he said "aw mom would you just stop it!" So he wasn't pleased that I was taking his picture.

TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY

I AM LOOKING FOR ADVICE. Dalton had a soccer game today which he would hardly participate in. He was out there but he just walked around, he wouldn't run, and he kicked the ball with less umph than a one year old. When we practice with him he runs, kicks the ball and makes goals. Quite well I may add. When it comes to practice with his team or a game he just refuses to do anything. He says he doesn't want to play any more with the team. He says he just wants to play with people he knows. We feel it's not fair to the rest of the team that he is not participating and that there are two other team members on the side lines who would love to be out there playing. Then the other side of us says don't let him be a quitter. Then he is only five. He has never played in a team sport. He doesn't do well in large groups of people-mostly because he has never been in large groups of people. (unless you count Wal Mart)

I can tell you I have cried to the point it has made me sick today. I don't know what to do. I feel I have failed him already and I don't want to worsen my mistakes.

PLEASE, Give me your opinions and advice!

LIFE'S LESSONS

The following is a true story that happened to someone that works with my husband and it happened last night. I will call them Mr. and Mrs. Q.

Mr. and Mrs. Q, with their family, went to McDonalds before taking their cat to it's final resting place. Their cat had died that day so they placed it in a Dillards bag and was going to take it to a special place to bury it. This bag was in the back of their truck. While eating they noticed a lady going back and forth in the parking lot and suddenly she reached into their truck and took the bag. She did not run with it nor did she leave with it. She took it inside with her and ordered food. It would make you wonder if she thought the cat was buy but she didn't know that the cat was in there...yet. She got her food and went to the back of the restaurant where she proceeded to eat. She couldn't have been in her right mind to begin with or she is really bad at stealing because she should have realized that whoever owned the truck was IN there eating too. Well, curiosity must have killed the cat (pardon the pun) and she opened the bag. SHE PASSED PLUM OUT!!!! McDonalds called an ambulance. The ambulance workers got her on the stretcher and grabbed the bag and STRAPPED IT TO HER!!!!!! Imagine every ones surprise at the hospital. Imagine her reaction if she woke up to find that thing strapped to her. If she doesn't admit to stealing it then I imagine she is getting a mental evaluation right about now. And if she admits to stealing a dead cat, well...I imagine she is getting a mental evaluation right about now too.

Mr. and Mrs. Q you have my sympathy.

LIGHTNING BUG IS SAFE AT HOME

It is soooooo true! I found him today. Lightning Bug took off as soon as I let him out of his cage back in June and he has been gone ever since. This morning I had left the neighborhood and was heading down the mountain when I saw an orange cat sitting at the edge of the road in someones driveway. I pulled the craziest stunt ever right there in the middle of the two lane road and turned around in that driveway but he had already crossed the road and started down into the woods. I had to hurdle a guard rail and stare into the woods until I could see him and just started calling his name until he came to me. Then every time a car would come down the road it would freak him out and he would run back again. I forgot to mention I was on my way taking Dalton TO SCHOOL! I knew we were going to be late so I just turned around and took off walking and he ran right up behind me. I nabbed him up and took off for the truck. WHEW! I can tell he is happy to be home and he was happy to see Roscoe and Abbie. Poor Dalton was late for school. I pulled into the parking lot at 8:02 but late is late. Don't you just love a good ending that makes the little hairs on the back of your neck stick out and maybe even cry. I sure cried those happy tears. We have had him for 12 years and he was my last cat.

DALTONS' FIRST SOCCER GAME

Who knew the first soccer game would be like this? Since you can't see me I'll just go ahead and tell you my hand is raised. The coach put Dalton in on the first round and put him in the center. You see at practice just before the game he was running and kicking the ball having a good time. So when the game started he pretty much just stood there. He walked up and down the little field a couple of times and that's it. The team had 6 players and one has dropped out so that leaves 5. (I had to take both shoes off for that one haha) They use 3 players at a time. So after the first round Dalton came off the field and they put in another one. That little boy got to the middle and stood there and cried and didn't move. Then later another one who had been doing really well just decided he had enough and walked off the field. I guess that is what happens when you have 5 year olds out there. Their coaches are so patient and encouraging. Dalton wouldn't go back out there any more and he never wanted to play soccer out there again. But, since we got home he has been talking with Aunt Michelle and they have been talking about the next game. And I have to say the team they were playing against looked like they have been playing for a long time and we have only had 1 practice. The funny thing but good thing about this age is they don't keep score and they don't have a goalie and each round is 6 min long. (it may not be called a round I don't know what it is called -I know nothing about soccer)

WILLY WONKA CAN YOU HEAR ME

Somewhere out there is an oompaloompa looking for his clothes. You are singing the song now and can't get it out of your head can ya?!

I'M A SOCCER MOM-NO MINI VAN NEEDED

I am sure I have seen Beckham stand like this!!

PEA SNAPPING GOOD

Since we didn't get to have a garden this year we like to stop at the Mennonite produce stands that are around town. Today mom bought tomatoes and purple hull peas. Dalton is always eager to help do anything but help pick up his toys. He really isn't sleeping standing up. haha

MOMMA CAUGHT THE BIG ONE

You have to sing the next line to the tune of "BUBBA SHOT THE JUKE BOX".

Momma caught the big one last night, yea she caught a big bass that's right. haha Ok that's enough of that but I did catch a big bass last night right here in our creek. You see last week when we got all of the rain from the hurricane it made the creek rise from the over flow of the neighborhood pond, which means we usually get a few of the fish which become trapped in the deeper pools of the creek when the water recedes. Dalton didn't want to touch it! We returned it back to the creek because Dalton was upset that he didn't get to catch it but we are going to get it again tonight and return it back to the pond.

The landscaping is coming along but it is going to take longer than I thought. Dalton has his first day of soccer practice tomorrow so there will be pictures to follow. His first game is saturday. That ought to be good.

MAKE THE CRUD GO AWAY!!

We all have the crud now. Coughing , sneezing and runny noses oh my! Poor little Dalton came into our bedroom Fri. night/sat. morn. to get into bed with us and I discovered he was burning up with fever. I think I could speak for most parents when I say you feel so helpless when you have a child that is sick. You want to take it all away from them and put it on your self. After some Motrin and cold wash cloths his fever broke about 5 am and we went back to sleep. He has had a fever on and off all weekend. This morning Dalton was talking to me telling me how he wanted to go outside and play and he fell asleep. THAT IS SO NOT MY CHILD! From the time he wakes up in the morning until the last argument getting him into bed that child is 90 miles an hour-not in a hyper way-just in a 5 year old with lots of energy way. There are days when my 42 year old butt thinks snails are going too fast!! hahaha He didn't sleep very long though and when he did wake up he wanted to go outside and help daddy with "dirty jobs". Denny was up on a ladder working on the storage building addition so Dalton did his own dirty jobs, or at least it looked as though he did. Dirt and mud from head to toes.

Tomorrow I plan on landscaping! I know some of you are gasping for air from laughing so hard right now but really I am going to try. I will take before and after pictures. I am sure it will not be finished all in one day. AND I am NOT going to use fake flowers. wooo hooo

DISCLAIMER: No legal or illegal drugs were used in making the decision to do our own landscaping. :)

I'M RETIRED (SO DENNY SAYS)

Yes, that's right, Denny says I am retired. Actually he kinda makes fun of me. What Denny doesn't realize is that I am not at home sitting around eating bonbons and watching Oprah. I am not sure if I have even seen an episode of Oprah since "my retirement." Besides spending weeks going through and unpacking boxes and putting stuff away there is the day to day stuff that has to be done too. With two dogs in the house you have to sweep the floors DAILY, moping, dusting, picking up toys and clothes that are left on the floor instead of being put in the dirty laundry baskets, doing the laundry, folding or hanging the clothes and putting them away, windows-who likes doing windows?? How about the cooking and the dishes. Do you have any idea how many cups and glasses we dirty in a day?? The dogs have to be taken out to potty. We do not have a fence so Abie has to be taken out on a leash and Roscoe has to be watched to make sure he doesn't wander off. When Dalton is at home you have to check on him every little bit to make sure he is not into something. When Dalton is in school there is taking him and picking him up from school. Some where in here I need a shower. Does any one care to guess on how much it would cost to have some one come in and do these things? All that being said-I do not mind doing these things, I actually like taking care of our son and home and having dinner ready when Denny comes home. I have self worth. If I were working a job too then these things would be waiting for me when I got home. I believe it is better to have family time when the family is together and do the daily stuff when Dalton is at school and Denny is at work. So you see I really am not retired.

We all know I have had a hard time with Dalton starting Kindergarten this year. I have joined the PTO and I am going to be a room mother. I want to do all I can with him and for him. It feels like Dalton is either in school or asleep more than what time I get with him now and it feels like it has knocked the breath right out of me. I really miss him. If you have heard the song by Trace Atkins "Your Gonna Miss This" then you know how I feel. I can't hear the song with out crying. I have heard parents say things like "I didn't do _____ with my first child but I did with my second or third" etc. I don't get to try and do it right with another child. This is my one and only chance to get it right the first time. So you see I DON'T WANT MISS THIS. And if this is retirement so be it.

I earned my retirement yesterday. The wind took down one of our trees and it landed partly in the creek. The creek was moving fast and getting higher and the tree was obstructing its way and creating a flood in our yard. I got out a hand saw and started cutting branches and my neighbor came over with his chainsaw and cut the big branches for me. I removed all of the branches and put them in a burn pile and had it all cleaned up when Denny got home. If I would have had the ability to cut the rest of the tree down I would have.

TIME TO POST

When it rains around here it pours. Last week I was sick with icky "fountain" syndrome. It got me twice last week. Denny has a sprained ankle, mom has the sneezing, sniffling runny nose the energy is drained out of her stuff and Dalton seems to be coming down with the same thing. And then today when I woke up I had an icky nose and drainage. ewwwwwwwwwwww

The next five days we are to have lots of rain and cooler weather. I hope it is the introduction to fall. I am tired of the extreme heat and humidity and would like to feel the lightly cool winds with the slow turn of the leaves. Fall and spring are my favorite times of the year. We still have a few things to do around here. We need to do some landscaping. I HATE YARD WORK! I would have artificial trees plants and grass if I could! And Denny and I have started building a lean to on to our storage building so we can store the tractor, lawnmowers and 4-wheelers under it. Then, the last thing to do in the house is finish changing out the small molding at the floor edge with the wide stuff. It doesn't sound like much but I will be happy if we have it all done my Thanksgiving.

Dalton was disappointed that he was not going back to school yesterday. Dalton had his first project to do this past weekend. He had to make a boat from things around the house. So, with Denny's help, a butter tub, orange juice jug and a dowel rod they made a boat. And it really floats. They will have a boat float on Friday at school. I am sure I will have pictures to post later.

Not much else to post. It has been same ole same ole around here. Dalton playing in the creek, seeing snakes, catching frogs, lizards and craw fish (aka crabdads) getting so dirty you can hardly get it off and having too much fun to care.