Happy Homework!

Usually homework is a fight at our house. It is constant staying on top of the big one and trying to keep the little one out of his hair. Today is one of those rare homework days, there is no fighting, no yelling and even though they are working, they are even laughing and enjoying themselves. I have not idea basically at this point who these children are, but I would rather keep them and ask questions later. I am so thankful for a school that my children love and that I can feel good about them going to. I feel like the back to school honeymoon will end eventually, but I am going to enjoy it while it last.

Got to go, back to happy homework time!

Happy Birthday Sandy!

Today is my best friend from college, Sandy's birthday. She has been a great friend to me for a lot of years (way more that we want to admit.) Almost all of my best memories from college include her, she is the most kind, generous, unselfish person I have ever met. Everyone in her life comes before her and I am blessed to call her my friend.

Those of you who know her ask her about Cornish game hens, pizza rolls, and slip -n-slides!

Thursday 13: Thirteen Things I Will Probably Never Wear Again

For this weeks list, I give you 13 things I will probably never wear again...

1. Two piece bathing suit- I'm sure I have not worn a two piece since college. Those of you who sit around the pool with me, you're welcome!
2. gold lame'- gold is definitely not my best color, but who does it look good on?
3. stirrup pants- I'm sure I had stirrup pants in every color.
4. strapless anything, the girls are too far south at this point, and there is no bra that strong!
5. Reebok hi-tops! What were we thinking?
6. anything from a store called "5-7-9"
7. a perm (do you wear a perm? I just know that my hair+perm=disaster!)
8. sleeveless shirts, tank tops etc... as many of you know I have lost a little weight, even lifted a few weights, nothing seems to effect the wings flapping!
9. biker shorts- I see ladies at the YMCA all the time wearing them, even with a cute butt, that is not a good look!
10. parachute pants from the MJ era.. I had gray pants, a black shirt and a black bandanna with asteroids on it! I know that is a vision of beauty!
11. shoulder pads, why did we want those huge shoulders, especially when we spent so much time trying to make everything look small.
12. electric blue mascara, no more needs to be said
13. a wedding dress, I married my prince charming, so I'm lucky to never need another one of these!

Back to School

Well, for better or for worse, the alarm clock did not go off this morning. It worked out ok, I hurried around and got ready in time, and no one was late on the first day. Both kids were excited this morning, and seem to happy this afternoon. The little one has already said she can't wait to go to bed tonight so it will be morning and she can go to school. We started the day off (the moms that is) walking around the outside of the school praying. For some reason I feel so good about this year, I feel that we are off to a great start. Anyway, the kids both had a great day, they both think their teachers are out of this world, so as a mom, that is all I can ask for, that and for them to feel the same way tomorrow.

Also, my friends in Alabama will note, the big one and I no longer have the same hair cut. He went last week and Mrs. Cora got him back into dress code. Last week the new fifth grade teacher described him as the tall kid with the shaggy hair- well NO MORE! If I ever get my beach pics up, my friends in Alabama, may mistake the pics of the big one for Rosie O'Donnell. That should give you something to look forward to!

Thursday 13: Thirteen Reasons I Don't Want School to Start!

As all 6, of my faithful readers knows school starts soon: Monday August 20, 2007 to be exact. I am not looking forward to the kids going back to school, here's why:

1. The alarm clock goes off at 5:30am every day!
2. Packing two lunches for children who won't eat sandwiches is not a lot of fun.
3. My children are growing up too fast, having a 1st and 5th grader proves that.
4. Getting to know new teachers is challenging, and sometimes not all that rewarding.
5. Homework!
6. Trying to balance home, sports and school (plus cheer this year.)
7. Did I mention the alarm goes off at 5:30am?
8. Fifth graders have homework on the weekends!
9. Too many hours spent volunteering, and not enough cleaning my summer ravaged house!
10. No more swimming pool.
11. Homework!
12. They both need all new clothes (they eat/grow too much.)
13. THE ALARM CLOCK GOES OFF AT 5:30AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

13 Reasons I'm Not Ready to Leave Ocean Isle Beach

To follow is the list of 13 reasons I'm not ready to go home yet, as composed while on the beach this afternoon....

1. I will no longer be able to change directly from my PJ's into my bathing suit and back into my PJ's.
2. JB will have to go back to work (although we have spent all of our money and need him to work.)
3. I will have to go back to showering AND applying makeup.
4. DP can't surf at home.
5. No matter how many times I have asked, Malia refuses to come live with us.
6. I can't ride me bike to the pool at home.
7. School starts in 11 days:(
8. We don't have this big sandbox at home.
9. No more crabbing
10. I will no longer be able to sit and read on the beach for hours while the kids play peacefully.
11. I hate going back to reality.
12. I won't be able to watch Cora and Leo sleep on the beach (ask them about that funny thing they do with their lips while sleeping.)
13. There will no longer be 2 husbands in the kitchen willing to clean up after dinner.

We Love Ocean Isle

We are having a great time in Ocean Isle. We took today off from the sun and sand and the heat and went shopping. The outlets were great and Jonathan of course bought plenty of things for himself (at least they were for work.) Here are a few pics from yesterday, I can't figure out how to rotate the surfing pic. Operator error as usual.

Second Verse, Same as the First

Today was just like yesturday, crabbing, swimming, playing in the ocean (even me) and general mayhem. We are enjoying our selves so much. Even I tried my hand at the crabbing and the cast net. I enjoyed it a lot and spent more than an hour at the hottest part of the day throwing that thing, so I must really like it.

I can't get my sprint card to upload the pics, so I will go tomorrow to Lee's and hack into the network down there. I've got great pics of the the kids skim-boarding, and even Cora giving it a try. Dylan's private surfing lesson is tomorrow at noon, will try to get tons of pics then.

We've Got Crabs!

Above are the pics of what the boys did most today. They love to go crabbing! By 7:45am all the boys were in the swamp/marsh/waterway crabbing and fishing. Guess what, it's 8:00pm and they are back out there. I took just a few pic, will try and take more tomorrow. We are having a great time, I'm already dreading having to go home.

Editors note: due to stupidity on the part of the writer, I can not upload the pics now. I will do this hopefully before bed time with some technical support.

We're Here!

We made it to Ocean Isle yesturday. It is so nice to have some peace. Of course Clamidy Jane already had a huge knot on the head due to falling off the bed. It lead to another debate over rather or not to take her to the hospital, and exactly how many times we can take her to the emergency room before they take her away from us. So we put off a visit this time not knowing what is around the corner.

Other than that all is well, I will post some pics tomorrow. You know what it looks like, ocean, sand and fat people in bathing suits (including me.)

Thursday Thirteen

Apparently I'm supposed to be doing Thursday Thirteen's- list of 13 things, random things apparently. For my debut Thursday Thirteen, I present....

13 Essentials for Ocean Isle Beach

1. The kids -no Home Alone here!
2. sunscreen -Coppertone Sport in the spray bottle, don't you love the spray sunscreen!
3. bathing suit- no additional info needed
4. new black and pink adidas flip flops
5. our new "Sporty Crab Traps"
6. coffee and filters- don't you hate forgetting the filters and using paper towels?
7. more sunscreen
8. boogie boards
9. books- I've checked out 5 new ones from the Library
10. casting net- from last weeks trip to Pirate Land
11. bikes- including the new pink helmet for the little one
12. Sprint Card- for the lap top so we don't loose touch with the world- look for Al Bundy pics next week!
13. more SUNSCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I hope I didn't cop out by using sunscreen three times, but can you think of anything more important than sunscreen at the beach?

Do You Think He's Planning on Dragging the Trailer????

This is what he brought home tonight.......

We Never Agree About Traveling

He drives me CRAZY! As much as I love him, sometimes when we travel or get ready to travel, I would rather kill him than travel with him. Here are the things about traveling with him that drive me crazy:

• He packs way too much- when we went to Mexico, his bag weighed 10 pounds more than mine!
• He won't use luggage like the rest of us humans, he wants to use ugly blue duffel bags that he has had since college!
• He packs stuff in Wal-Mart bags (how embarrassing!)
• He refuses to pack shoes- he either stuffs them in around the luggage or puts them in plastic bags!
• He gets so excited that the week before vacation it is like having 3 kids.
• He prints directions from every possible mapping site, even when he knows how to get there, and he prints them 6 days before we leave- like we're going to keep up with that!

This year he wants to drag a trailer to the beach. He keeps saying it will be a great way to get all of our stuff there, I keep saying you could just not pack so much stuff! I could make a list of reasons we shouldn't drag the trailer but the list would be too long and redundant considering the list above. So I will pray, for patience mostly as we get ready to leave!

All the Chicks are Home!

Well, he finally got home! We were all waiting for him on the front porch when he got home. He is tan, blond and a sight for sore eyes! His feet are all cut up from fishing with the cast nest on the rocks, but mostly he is in one piece. I will sleep soooooooo much better tonight knowing that he is safely home. He came home with a new cast net, a skim board, and a cool remote control car that he built himself, and I got change. I think he is glad to be home, yet ready to go back in a week with the family! Welcome home, my most precious son!

I don't think I ready for him to go off to college!

Is it Friday yet?

It is so quiet around here. The Pickle is gone to the beach with Beau. It is amazing how much quieter it is without him here. I guess there is no one for her to fight with, and no one to complain about being hungry all the time. At any rate there is certainly a hole in our family this week. We are all looking forward to Friday when he returns home and our family is whole again.

Is this what it will be like when they go off to college?

$150??????????

Okay, I knew cheer was going to be expensive, but I want to know if you think the uniform pictured above looks like $150 worth of uniform? Then of course she is in LOVE with it, and wants to play around the house in it... I don't think so!

I'm trying to decide other than my wedding dress, have I ever had a $150 outfit? I don't think so. I'm trying to stay all positive, because at least I bought this one second hand and didn't have to pay $220 for a new one plus the $70 shoes that she will probably outgrow before the season is over.

I guess the point is for her to do something she loves.... and she is going to love it whether she likes it or not!

I Found Curtains!

After my living room looking like a circus tent all week (4 different curtains hanging on 2 windows) I finally found some curtains today! My dear friend Cora went with me and of course she right away picked out the right ones! They look really red in the picture, but look more rusty red in person. I really like them and when you add in the rug we bought two weeks ago, my house is finally starting to look like a home, better late than never!

Thanks Cora, for your help!

Someone Other than Sandy Reads my Blog!

So tonight I am sitting at church eating my nasty pizza and someone comes up to me and says "I've been reading your blog..." Imagine my shock that anyone other than Sandy, my mother-in-law (who's son calls her far too infrequently) and my newest fan Malia, actually reads my blog. She even made a comment about the tree that fell in the road yesturday, that means she had even read it within the last 24 hours!

So to Amelia, my newest reader, welcome, I'm sure that you will find my content lacking at times, yet most always from the heart (or close to it.) At any rate, it is my world, as seen by me.

In the Zone

This afternoon I was cleaning away in the kitchen, I did not even notice or hear the big tree that fell across the street. The nearly one inch of rain was desperately needed, the tree across the road, not so much.

HENPECKERS MEETING

Last night we had a meeting of the Henpeckers (as my dear sweet hubby calls us.) We discussed school next year and made a few decisions regarding Loaves and Fishes. It was nice to catch up with everyone and get some of our decisions made for next year. There was very little "henpecking" but we definitely laughed A LOT!

We're the most productive "Henpeckers" ever!

They're Gone!!!!!

Sock Update....

I noticed this morning when I got up the socks are gone! That was only 4 days, I was expecting at least twice that long. As a bonus, he even washed a load of towels. Thanks Jon Boy!

Social Experiment

These socks are laying in my bathroom floor. First they were on the back porch where the boy left them on the last day of camp, then the Dad picked them up and put them in the bathroom on the floor. I know you can't tell from the picture but the closet where the dirty clothes go is literally inches from where the socks lay. I decided to see how many days they would lay on that floor before someone other than me picked them up. Two days and counting.....

Dream Dinners ROCKS!

Tonight Cora and I went to Dream Dinners and took the big kids with us. We had a great time preparing the food, and of course looking forward to eating it later. The owner was very nice and told me more than one time how good they were and what a "gentleman" my sweet boy is. It made me proud to hear that. The kids were a huge help, I look forward to going back there again with them.

Also, on the plus side, that is 12 nights I don't have to think about what to cook for dinner. All the meals we have had from there are great.

If you see my prince make sure you ask him about the wings at Ronni's (they rule by the way.)

So Long Little Wren's

Well, the good news is we had rain last night, the bad news is the birds drown. I moved them in out of the rain, but I guess not quick enough. I know it sounds stupid, but I feel bad for the mama bird, she was such a good mother and I know she loved them or she would not have worked so hard on her nest and then sat on those eggs for so long, I wonder does she feel loss now? I'm just being sappy I guess. We may have a proper burial for them later.

We Bought a RUG!!!!!!!!

Yes, one year after moving into this house, we finally decided on a rug for the living room. We went today, and picked one out without the help of my mom, Cora or Beth. Bravo to Team Holman for acting like independent adults! Go US!

Back By Popular Demand- VBS update!

I had no idea that my blog carried such anticipation among my (3) readers. So here it is... the VBS update!

VBS is going well. It is amazing how each day I think I can't get anymore tired, and then I wake up the next day more tired than before. The end is near, Friday will be here before too much longer. Yesterday we had 436 in VBS, I did not hear a number for today. For that certain hotel tycoon in Alabama, my hotdogs were cooked to perfection, all 350 of them, thank you for the kind (and original) words of advice. The pictures are of Donna and Bonnie with the VBS dog that Donna painted as well as, Linda (my second mom) and Cora working on the 700 cookies we made today. The decorations turned out great, as usual the Christmas lights make the room so much better. Things have gone smoothly and I have had no Chef Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen) moments, although I came close once.

******On another happy note Madelyn made the cheer team on Friday. She is very excited about being able to cheer this year and her dad is excited about it as well (ask him why.)

Thanks to all my fans for your dedication to this happy blog.

The Worlds's Greatest Dad

Happy Fathers Day, hubby dearest. I know it is a day late but you know how busy yesturday was for both of us. You are such an incredible dad. You are truly an equal partner in our parenting. You always changed diapers, gave bottles, took (some) turns at night, always (even now!)cleaned up puke and made the bestest jungle gym EVER! I am proud of the example that you are setting for our son in what a good father is, and showing our daughter what to look for in a husband. Thank you for loving me, even when it's not easy. Thank you for for being the World's Greatest Day!

VBS- Ready or Not Here We Come!

It is hard to believe that it is time already for Vacation Bible School. I love VBS, it so much fun. I always enjoy helping Carrie (our fearless leader, seriously, she is afraid of nothing!) with paperwork. I know I'm weird, but I love paperwork! We are working hard to make it special for the kids. Carrie, of course, at this point is going a little crazy, and this picture proves, that bible school can kill! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?

I am again especially appreciating Cora. She always takes on the task of buying enough food to feed 400 people X 4 days. She of course has it down to a science, documented in detail to help from year to year. I however, can not get it right. I have basically given up on doing it as well as Cora and just hoping to get it close to right.

I pray many little souls are lead to Christ next week and that we don't run out of food.

Get ready for more Game Day Central updates to come!

Welcome to the Year 2007

Sweet Hubby of mine figured out how to add pic's to my blog. So I have added a few to previous posts to make them more interesting (or not.)

Here is the birds nest that is in our hanging pot on the porch. I have no clue what kind of bird it is, but there are five eggs in the nest and we are enjoying watching "mom" take care of her eggs. Fortunately Larry is too busy, as you can see to notice yet.

Goodbye Purr

As expected my friend Valorie's grandmother died tonight. Even though I have expected it, held my breath everytime the phone rang, it was still a shock tonight to hear "my Purr died." I know unfortunately the pain that Valorie feels right now. I was there many years ago, and my heart was broken just like Valorie's.

I can't help but think that as Christian's- believers in Jesus Christ- that death is not something to fear, but something to rejoice. I went straight to Val's and we were talking about how the kids were handling Purr's death, and she was telling them about heaven. How excited Purr's friends were to see her again, how they were all hugging her and telling hew how glad they were to see her. As believers, we know that there is more, when we die, the best is yet to come. How desperate and bleak death must seem to those who do not have the hope that we have.

Purr is rejoicing with the angels, she is praising God, she is healthy and whole, and happier than she could ever imagine being on earth. We should rejoice in her happiness and wholeness and long for the day when we will be together again. Although, I am so glad that she is not suffering anymore, I will miss her just the same.

Thanks Purr for all you meant to us.

Summer Vacation Other Random Thoughts

Today was the second full day of summer vacation. We slept in a bit, then we had group exercise. I am determined to keep the weight off that I have lost and prehaps a bit more will fall off also. So for today's exercise we ran up the street (up hill) and walked down. We did this five times. It did not kill me, but it has been a lot of years since I have ran. The prince blew the princess and I away, obviously he exercises way more than we do. Mostly the princess complained and tried to quit the entire time. Anyway you look at it, it was good for all of us.

My kids are growing up, and you know what? I actually like them (most of the time.) They are funny, kind, compassionate kids who truly want to do the right thing, just sometimes they go the wrong way (don't we all.) I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with wonderful kids. I am so thankful that I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with them, it is a time I will always be grateful for, maybe one day they will see how they have benefited from it also.

My friend from forever Valorie, who has seen me through a lot of hard times is having a hard time herself right now, her grandmother or "Purr" as we call her is sick. She is 89 years old, and has been sick for years. It is still hard to see her as she gets ready to go be with the Lord. For some reason she is still fighting, still holding on, and still suffering. It is hard to see her family as they go through this with her. My prayer is that she will find comfort in her passing and her family will find comfort knowing that she is with her heavenly father. We'll miss you Purr, but we look to the day when we will all be together again.

I seem grateful for a lot today, maybe tomorrow I will make a list of everything I am thankful for. It will be a LONG list!

Until then.........

STRIKE!!

I love baseball. I understand the rules. I understand the basics. I get baseball. I think I practically grew up on a softball field, so a baseball field feels like home. Of course he plays all sports, but baseball is the only one that I even get the rules. I have watched 6 years of soccer games and I still don't know what "off sides" means. Maybe that is why I get so involved in his baseball games, and put so much pressure on him to do his best, I finally know what is going on!!!!!!!

Tonight the prince played a perfect game. (pitched a perfect inning three up three down, had a great hit bringing two players home!) I was so proud of him, he has worked so hard to be the best he can be, and tonight it payed off. Great job buddy! Remember I will always be your biggest fan.

What is Wrong With Me???????????

Okay, so today was the princesses kindergarten graduation. It was a lovely event, the children were dressed in their Sunday best, and all were excited to show their parents all they have learned this year. I was excited too just for a different reason. I'm glad schools out!!!!!!!!! I'm glad I don't have to help the princess learn anymore bible verses or the prince with his book reports. I'm glad I don't have to get up early anymore, and I'm glad to get away from all those people for the summer.

Am I sad that my baby is now a first grader, yes. Did I cry like all the other mommies? NO! I could not see anything to cry about. I tried to cry, I even poked myself in the eye (just kidding) but there are no tears. I'm proud of the princess, but graduating from kindergarten is not exactly the same as completing her medical degree at Harvard (which by the way I will never be able to send her there, as it is, I probably won't be able to afford community college.)

So I am now the proud mommy of a 5th grader and a 1st grader. One day they will be grown, married with their own kids, and then I will (hopefully) see the fruits of my labor. My kids are growing up, but isn't that the way it is supposed to be?

Why is Everyone So Depressed?

Since my wonderful friend Sandy introduced me to blogging I have spent too much time reading other people's bloggs. First of all sometimes it seems that very few of them are written in English, I understand that it is the World Wide Web, but it seems blogging has not taken hold in the good ole USA.

Anyway, I lost my train of thought...

Why is it that a lot of people who are blogging are depressed or cursing or worse! It can be fun to read the daily updates on some random strangers pregancy or the travel blogs of a 20 year old college student, it is not fun the read the blogs of the depressed masses. What is wrong with these people? Half the time when I look at their ages they are 16-17 years old. What could possibly be wrong with them? Does the break up with some loser whose name you won't remember in 10 years really warrant such emotional distress?

I think I have decided over the course of writing this the answer to my own question. These people need Jesus. Although I became a believer at a young age, I still understand the feeling of searching. I guess they put so much faith in things other that what matters, that when they lose that "thing" they feel hopeless. I hope that God will use me in someway to reach those who are searching for Him.

It's the last week of school, I am so thankful for summer and the opportunity to enjoy my children without the pressures of homework and sports.

Field Day and Other Not So Bright Ideas

So today was Field Day at school. Somehow because there no other "good mommy's" in Mrs. Morrison's class, it was my privledge to run the classes game for field day. The kids enjoyed getting wet in the sponge relay, but basically all they wanted to do was get wet, they had no interest in actually playing the game. I would have been a ton easier to just squirt them with a hose, it would have saved a lot of "good mommy's" a lot of time.

Another question about field day, why can't we just have winners and losers anymore? Are these children's identities so fragile, that they can't handle being a loser in a game that they lost. One of the moms I was with kept saying "your all winners," all I could think about is when did it become a negative to challenge kids through competition. I would like to hope that most children have enough self -confidence that a loss in the sponge relay does not warp them for life. Are we doing kids a favor by sheltering them from the losses of life? When grandma dies is she taking a nap, when they don't get into the college of their choice is it because they weren't chosen for some random reason? How can kids cope with life's losses if they never have to deal with something as simple as losing the three-legged race?

Call me old school, but today's kids are sheltered and babied. I only hope that they somehow manage to get jobs and pay their social security taxes so Jon and I can have our medicine AND not have to eat cat food.

Starting Over

Over the weekend Cora's mom's house burnt down. Ever since Saturday I have been thinking about starting over, how does one rebuild, start over or move on at the age of 75? For that matter how do we start over when we are young. I thank God that Jeanette (or" Ma" as we call her) is alive. She is so strong and brave, and honestly I think that is how she will get through all of this. But how important are our things? Can we replace our house, of course we can, can we buy a new floral couch and all new linens, of course we can. But there are things we can't replace such as our pictures, our keepsakes from when the kids are young or the memories that make our house a home. "Ma's" tragedy has remined me of what is important in this world... not the things we can replace but the things we can't. Maybe I will be more careful the next time I dump the kids artwork from school or throw away their "treasures." How blessed am I to have wonderful (most of the time) kids who want to bring their mommy gifts, or a husband who buys me a rose while on vacation. I am thankful for the reminder.

On a lighter note....

"Your next American Idol is... Jordin Sparks!" I was excited, or as excited as I could be at 10:15pm, that Jordin won. Of course the boys in my house were disappointed that Blake lost, but you can't win them all. I hope that the pressures of being the "American Idol" will not change Jordin into a "hollywood" type. I'm sure we will be buying the American Idol CD in addition to the Blake Lewis CD soon enough.

Go Jordin!

So I watched American Idol last night. Jordin blew me away! I could not help thinking during her last song the magnitude of the moment for her. She is 17 years old. When I was 17, what had I done? Well, I had finally gotten my license, barely passing my junior year and completely clueless regarding my future. Yet at 17 she has shown poise, grace and maturity that most 17 year olds can only dream of.

I hope that she wins tonight, I did my part I voted 4 times (I've not voted since the great Reuben vs. Clay showdown!)

On another note.....

I told my friends at school today that I had a blog. Mostly I just got laughed at. Just wait, ever so slowly my technologically advanced friend Sandy will teach me how to do this better and soon my blog will be great. In the meantime, it's just random nothingness by yours truly.

Until later.....

If Sandy can do it, so can I!

Yesturday my best friend from college Sandy, referred to her blog... I said, "your what?" So she pointed me to her blog, and I was hooked. Being the "voyeur" that I am, it is a great look into the thoughts of other people. If I'm interested in reading about other people and what they do, maybe someone will be interested in what my thoughts are also.

So thanks Sandy, for better or for worse, you've taught me something new!