rosebud

Rosebud drove home to our house for the first time when I was about six. (Of course this was long before the time she would come to be known as Rosebud but that's neither here nor there at this point.) Rosebud was a lovely, sparkly shade of blue and she was brand new. She smelled lovely. She was a two door hatch-back and was super cool to my six year old self. The town we lived in hosted an air show every summer. My Dad loves airplanes and flying and we went every year. The first week that Rosebud lived with us, the weather was probably somewhere in the 90s. We were of course going to the airshow and I had decided to occupy myself with some take along "art". I did not share my dad's love of airplanes at all and knew I would be bored in 3 minutes flat. I climbed into sweaty leather backseat, we rode there and sat in the car drawing as the rest of my family watched the planes performed. When it was time to get out, I guess I didn't clean up my supplies very well because when we returned my crayons were melted to the back of my Dad's brand new car. A lovely, rainbow colored puddle. I am a parent now and I am sure that my Dad was furious but he didn't yell at me that day, he just shook his head and said look what you did to your car.
I am here to tell you that 10 years later when I learned to drive, she was still around and Rosebud was formally named. Her crayon puddle was still clearly visible in the backseat. I drove my dad around and sometimes rode with him. Putting my feet on his dashboard or up on his seat, writing on his clean windows. He would always say, "Wait until you get your car. Wait until I ride with you." And I would just laugh because my car would surely be clean.
That was before the days of Milkshake,Chicken Nugget,Sucker Stick and Save the Trees paper decided to ride along with me.


Poppy obviously has my kids on his payroll and I'm desperate to get them removed.

a day with Daddy

My children will tell you that they have the very best Daddy in the entire world. They adore him and the time they get to spend with him. Yesterday our heat went out again and the house was freezing. The kids woke up to a roaring fire and immediately wanted to roast some marshmallows for breakfast. The middle two kids and I left for school with a promise of smores as soon as we got home.

Ten on Tuesday

1. My sweet friend had her very first baby last week. We're a bit biased towards Wills in this house but he might be one of the cutest babies I've ever seen.

2. Will has decided he's now going to be called "great big Will" so you don't confuse him with "little baby Will".

3. Drew currently is working towards a career as a locksmith or maybe an engineer or possibly a catburgler. I'm really, really hoping for engineer here people.
I have nothing against locksmiths, I'm totally biased towards catburglers.

4. My public health announcement for the day..you are all contagious 24-48 hours after anyone in your house is vomiting. Even if you're not vomiting. I don't want what you have, please stay home.

5. Lysol is not my favorite hair scent. If it keeps the stomach but out of my house, I'll take it.

6. I realized that by the time you get to child number four, you could care less if they sleeps in pink pajamas if that's what is clean and within arms reach when you pull them out of the bathtub. The color blue would never have touched child number one until it was clear, she was a she.

7. I'm heading to Nashville this weekend to kickoff training for VBS this summer. I'm very excited about it.

8. If you go to our church you should be excited about it too because I'm coming after you next for help :)

9. Drew reminds me a little bit of Forrest Gump these days. Everywhere he's a going he's a runnin'.

10. I'm going to give a salute to the good old southern weather that I've come to know and love. A good old snow delay over a little bit of rain. People complained about it but I'll take it, any day of the week. Tick, tock..

ten on tuesday

1. I never want to see snow here again. Ever.

2. Did I emphasize the ever part?

3. Living in city, that houses a major federal installation, that shuts down for five days because they can't properly and efficiently remove snow is embarrassing.
I pay my taxes and I'm entitled to my own opinion.

4. Until this week, I haven't been told I "sweat the small stuff" since 1997.

5. Will greets naptime and bedtime every single day like it is the end of the world. I have never seen such a dramatic, opposition to naptime.

5. We attempted to get rid of his nap today in hopes that he will go to bed easier at night and sleep better. He's doing great and loves being a big boy.

6. I'm not sure I'm really ready to have only one child napping.

7. School starts back for all of us today. I'm not sure who is more excited me or the kids.

8. Drew's new favorite word is nuh-uh. I know this is terrible English but for a little boy that doesn't talk very much, I'll take it.

9. Amelia and Isabella are single handedly spoiling their baby brother.

10. I realized last night that Drew is now 18 months old. Bella asked me last week when we were bringing another baby home. It made me laugh but at the same time made me realize in her six year old head, it's about that time :)

Every cowboy...

Needs their horse.



Look closely, really, really closely and you might see Mr. Man's. His Rah-Rah gave him a stick horse this summer and he became entirely too brave and road the top of our bannister like the stick horse. After that, the stick horse was permanently stabled in the garage. Will, however, remains determined and his loved of cowboys true. Nothing makes this kid happier than riding his horse "Bullseye" around the living room. He could care less that Bullseye is the size of his shoe.
Yeehaw!!