Bits of My Weekend - Vol. V

Weekends can be five days long right? Did you say “no”? I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that and talk about the last five days as though they were all a weekend anyway. It all started here...



... at the Charlotte airport. Apparently, I did something right in a past life because I got the best present. There’s a person out there who, without being glib or sarcastic, I can honestly say is one of the most amazing, inspiring, encouraging , and stinkin’ hilarious people I’ve ever met and has remained consistently so through more years than I want to count… Evita. (We are not even going to discuss how she is also gorgeous even after having two kids, because it should be illegal. Not everyone can pull that off. I know I can’t. She can. Whateva. I’ll forgive her for it.) She left her kids at home and came to visit for a couple days of freedom and fun. And it was.

Evita, you should know, is an a-ma-zing cook. If you are ever invited to her home… go. Run, in fact. She made dinner one night that involved chicken curry and basmati rice and homemade chutney. (Excuse me, I started drooling just typing it). I would love to show a picture of it but, as fast as I am, this is all I could get…



We got pampered and ate delicious food and hung out in not one, but three cities in three different states. Aiken in SC, Augusta in GA, and Charlotte in NC. It was hard work but somebody had to do it. My favorite was Amelie's in Charlotte and this place in Augusta...



To see lots of pictures, visit her blog.

We also went to see SALT with Angelina Jolie. Let me say that, years ago, when Alias was on TV, I was a HUGE fan. While the less-than-mind-bending plot may not inspire awe, this movie filled the Alias-sized hole in me. And fueled my workouts for at least a week. (I want to jump up on a wall before laying the smack down like that. Oh yeah. )

In the end, I have to say what everybody always says. I don't do that enough. And I need to do it again. Life should always be that fun. Can I get an amen?

Bits of My Weekend - Vol. IV

Summer is slowly passing. Someone said, “Can you believe half of July is already gone?” I say, “God’s mercy is great.” Growing up in the land of perpetual summer (Phoenix) taught me one thing… just hide in the pool until it’s over. My family likes that idea too so that’s what we do. And all we did this weekend. And when the cold water in the pool suddenly feels luke warm, we add popsicles… without getting out of the pool. It looks like this…



May your freezer always be full in July.

And to find people who may actually be doing something exciting in July, check out other Bits of My Weekends.

Toddlers

OR THE CHUB EFFECT

Toddlers have chub e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. They have chubby tummies, chubby legs, chubby hands, and chubby cheeks on both ends. And they use this chub in the same way criminals use deadly weapons – to get anything they want. If used correctly, the toddler chub effect can make grown men cry. Toddlers would rather plaster the walls with their food than eat it. They’d rather flush anything down the toilet than actually use it (especially cell phones). And they’d rather be naked all the time – the better to use their chub. Toddlers hate car seats. Toddlers like to run and scream… at home, in the store, in the car and get very angry when said running is impeded by said car seat. Toddlers have big eyes that watch everything you do. They will ignore the thing you are teaching them by endless repetition and immediately repeat the cuss word you say once. Toddlers do everything with all their heart which is why it is utterly impossible to give them anything less than all of yours.

Three Year Olds

OR THE TASMANIAN DEVIL WITH A HALO

Three year olds can’t say their “s”s. Three year olds have split personalities. One moment, they are an angel from God, sent down to smile that sweet smile and bring you joy. The next they are tearing your kitchen apart and throwing tantrums. Three year olds have no concept of danger. They frequently lean too far over the railing and reach for open flames leaving you to breathlessly save their life multiple times daily. Three year olds get tired every afternoon but fight naps in the same way a cat fights being put into the bathtub. Three year olds will embarrass you at every important moment. They will always repeat your cheeky comments to your mother-in-law and call your neighbor fat. They will be potty trained one day and pee in the bed the next because it’s what they do. Three year olds still have chubby fingers but have lost those chubby baby cheeks. Three year olds need to do everything themselves even though they can’t and when they bump up against their own limitations, or yours should you be so brave… meltdown. And at the end of the day, you will find that you have switched roles. While for the first two years, they were completely dependent on you, they now think that they do not need you at all, but you, on the other hand, are completely unable to live without them.

Five Year Olds

OR THOSE BRILLIANT LITTLE WHIRLING DERVISHES

Five year olds have ears that are too big for their faces. They will ask if you’ve seen a certain movie, and even if you say yes, proceed to tell you all about that movie you’ve already seen from beginning to end. Five year olds pee on the toilet seat. Five year olds don’t know how to shut doors, turn off lights, stop running water, pick up clothes, or take their shoes off. These little tornados can undo a weekend of cleaning in 10 seconds flat. I’ve seen mine go from one end of the house to the other, unintentionally leaving a trail of destruction behind in one swift rampage. Five year olds think they are smart. Smarter than their little brothers and sisters. Smarter than their teacher. And most annoying… smarter than you. And sometimes they are, which just bites me in the butt. Five year olds look at the world with starry-eyed wonder convinced they can conquer it if they just have the right superhero cape on. Five year olds are too old to kiss you in front of their friends but still hold your hand and want to be sung to at night. Five year olds are five years too old for holding and rocking, five years too young for serious talks, but just right for thumb wars. Five year olds will steal your heart and hold it hostage for life. I know mine has.

The Kids Very First Movie EVER!

---I had some technical difficulties and had to remove the pictures that were on this post. Sorry folks.---

This week, the oldest three went to see Toy Story 3... in a movie theatre... their first time in a movie theatre ever! I think I was more excited than they were to take them. My excitement lasted all the way to the concession stand where they told me that one medium popcorn and one medium drink would be $13. I managed to swallow and blink repeatedly until I was sure I wasn't going to pass out. After I was done signing over the deed to my home, we ventured on.

The kids were enthralled by the life-size Alvin, Simon and Theodore chipmunks in the hallway. I had to repeatedly remind them what movie we were there to see. Apparently, Emma got the message because when we sat down and the previews began, every time a new preview started she SHOUTED, "That's not Woody! Where's Woody?!!". Then Olivia said, in a very loud voice, during the first two minutes, "Mommy, when is this movie over?". Perhaps it was her seat. I had not considered that there should be a weight requirement. Here's what my daughters looked like in their seats...

After we were all settled in and early wiggles settled down, it was a success! I had some happy movie goers.

FYI: Toy Story 3 was great! A few suspenseful moments, but overall, great for kids.

Bits of My Weekend - Vol. III

FOURTH OF JULY!!

It will come as no surprise that this weekend we celebrated July 4th. I had family come in town to celebrate with us and the whole family thoroughly enjoyed themselves for not one, but two days of fireworks and food.

We put together a great barbecue with lots of patriotic spirit.

My kids favorite thing was the star-shaped ice.

It was the very first time for the kids and for me to set off fireworks. I grew up in Phoenix where they are illegal. But apparently the south feels just fine about small, random fires. No fear. So, I tried to suck up my sheer terror about setting off explosive in my own yard, but apparently I wasn't alone. You can see how the kids felt...

They thought Grandpa had lost his mind when he started doing fireworks. They looked at him and looked at me and back at him, but by the end of the night they couldn't get enough. After setting them off ourselves, the kids thought the actual show the next night was a let down but still got into the spirit of it.

Can't wait for next year!

For more Bits of My Weekend, check out Michelle's blog.