Insta-Wednesday: Summer’s End

This is our final week of summer break and I am a little sad. This summer went by way too fast. I knew it would and I’ve sort of mourned it all summer long. We are enjoying our final week of summer break. We’ve enjoyed lazy mornings, long swim sessions with friends, family movie nights and a visit to Busch Gardens to see the fireworks. We’re going to go to our first water park tomorrow and Friday will be spent at the beach.

I hate the idea of summer ending, and I can’t even think about the fact that all three kids will be starting school net week. Landon in kindergarten? It makes my stomach turn. He still likes to snuggle and give me kisses and hold my hand and nuzzle his nose into my neck. He can’t go to kindergarten because I fear it will steal the last vestiges of babyhood from him and I can’t even bear the thought.

Cry me a river, blah, blah, blah…

In honor of this week’s Insta-Wednesday, I am sharing my obsession with a new photo app called Rhonna Designs. And by obsession I mean I am mildly addicted. And by mildly addicted I mean I WAT TO ADD PITHY QUOTES TO EVERY PICTURE I TAKE!

I’m giving myself a week to binge on this new app, then I will SETTLE DOWN MARTHA and give it a rest.

Maybe.

Don’t hold me to that.

Peace out now.

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One of my favorite people to text is Jenni because our back and forth’s get weird and random almost immediately. Our text’s rarely make any sense and that is what makes them all shades of awesome.

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A poor night's sleep made it difficult for me to get out of bed. I had to pep talk my way to the kitchen and a strong cup of fespresso.

A poor night’s sleep made it difficult for me to get out of bed. I had to pep talk my way to the kitchen and a strong cup of fespresso.

 

They're cute. That is all.

They’re cute. That is all.

 

We enjoyed Busch Gardens Summer Nights excitement last night.

We enjoyed Busch Gardens Summer Nights excitement last night.

 

I think we effectively wore the littles out.

I think we effectively wore the littles out.

Love this quote.

"If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it."

“If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.”

 

Dear Minivan Makers Everywhere

I have titled this photo: Road Trip from the Back Seat

I have titled this photo: Road Trip from the Back Seat

There are five people in our family. I realize that in the grand scheme of familyhood this is not a significant number. Three children is less than four or five or six or twenty children. I wouldn’t classify us as a large family. We’re a regular-sized family of five…who love to travel.

Since gas prices have soared (Boo! Hiss!), airline prices have gone through the roof. This means that an average family of five cannot afford to fly anywhere without having to sacrifice a small puppy to the gods in hopes that money will start falling from the sky. And since I’m not generally in the habit of murdering puppies, this leaves me with no alternative but to teach my children the finer art of the road trip.

(Sidenote: Can we talk for a minute about the absurdity of the fact that it costs less for our family of five to fly from Florida to California than it does for us to fly to Little Rock? What the huh?!)

In the last two weeks, we spent about 43 hours driving as we visited family and friends in Missouri and Arkansas. So the equivalent of two days were spent inside our minivan, which, incidentally, currently SMELLS like a family of five spent two days cooped up inside. Excellent.

car2In general, my kids have become quite adept at traveling by car. We have a system. They play for a bit, look out the window, whine for good effect, then ask to watch a movie. But before they can watch a movie, they have to do two math sheets or a reading comprehension exercise. This is my barometer for how badly they want to utilize technology.

If they get hungry, I throw a bag of Cheez-its their way. Thirsty? A tiny little water bottle gets hurled at their heads. If and when all requirements are met, they are then allowed to shut their brains down and watch quality, educational movies such as Rookie of the Year and Teen Beach Movie.

Once upon a time I was staunchly opposed to the children ever watching TV in the car. When I was a kid, I read on road trips. I cozied up with The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins (Ah, Jessica and Elizabeth…I wonder what they’re up to these days?). I didn’t have the option of watching a movie back then.

I also laid out flat on the back seat with the seat belt juuuuust barely fastened around my waist and wasn’t stuck sitting straight up and down in an uncomfortable seat with the seat belt snugly tucked across my chest.

And I walked to school up hill both ways barefoot in the snow.

Whatever.

The point is, I quickly came to the conclusion that there is no reason to be a martyr for motherhood. If the kids wants to watch a movie, they can watch a movie and I will be thankful for the serenity of modern technology.

But 43 hours is a long time, which means there was a lot of time spent NOT glued to the tiny TV screens. Most of the time the kids do a pretty good job of playing quietly, drawing, listening to music or reading. But there are those long stretches of time when they ask every five minutes if we’re almost there, when they cry because a foot has fallen asleep or, my personal favorite, when they start car wrestling, an activity that always, without exception, ends with someone crying.

This is where I need the developers of minivans to step up their game. I’m here to offer a proposed to solution for parents everywhere who are relegated to cross country car trips inside the bowels of their minivans.

 

How about a partition between parents and kids? Just a thought…a mere suggestion! Think of it like a limousine, because we all know that a minivan is a limo for very small people. Limo drivers can raise a partition between themselves and their passengers allowing for some privacy. WHY HAS THIS NEVER BEEN DONE FOR MINIVANS?!

When the kids are getting particularly squirrely, parents could quietly and non-chalantly raise the thick, sound proof partition thereby cutting themselves off from the insanity. Of course, we would still need to be able to keep an eye on the monkeys in the back – safety first and all. A monitor on the dashboard would be connected to the camera inside the partition allowing the parents to keep an eye on the children.

You could even install a button that parents could push to hear what was going on in the back if they wanted. Or they could keep it muted and assume that everyone back there is just fine.

I see a number of benefits to this idea. First: SANITY! Kids could blast the soundtrack to Teen Beach Movie as loud as their little ears could stand it while Mom and Dad listen to music that doesn’t make their ears bleed. Kids could wrestle and cry and duke it out without giving Mom all that unnecessary grey hair.

Honestly, I’m not sure that I really need to list all the obvious benefits of this (brilliant) idea. It speaks for itself.

A rare moment alone in the minivan. Look how clean it is? This was taken BRT - Before Road Trip.

A rare moment alone in the minivan. Look how clean it is? This was taken BRT – Before Road Trip.

Now I realize that putting this out there means it could be stolen and someone else could make a lot of money off my idea. No worries. This one is for free internet! Someone, please, take this idea and run with it. When it comes time for us to buy a new van in a few years, if I find that they all come custom fit with a separating partition between front and back, I will consider that thanks enough.

You’re welcome, minivan drivers across the world.

 

You’re welcome. 

Insta-Wednesday: Arkansas Edition

I miss my bed. I love traveling and I love being with family, but there comes a time when you’re ready to be in your own home with your own routine and your own bed. I think we are reaching that point. It will be sad to leave – it always is. But home is a good, good thing.

But enough about that. It’s time for some Insta-Wednesday, a series of posts to fuel my ever growing addiction to iPhone photography and photo apps. Say it with me: GOOOOOOOOOOOO iPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY! YEAH!

I didn’t hear you…

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Saying goodbye to our beloved St. Louis.

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We got sweet time with friends when we picked up our boys from K-Kountry. 17 years ago this month, I met Melissa and Rachel. I’m so thankful for our continued relationships!

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Air soft wars with friends. Classic.

Air soft wars with friends. Classic.

 

We have enjoyed ample amounts of snuggle time with our new nephew. That is, when we can wrestle him away from Papa.

We have enjoyed ample amounts of snuggle time with our new nephew. That is, when we can wrestle him away from Papa.

 

Swim time with cousins

Swim time with cousins

These two are two peas in a pod. Love them.

These two are two peas in a pod. Love them.

 

Tia is building up quite a cache of handstand pictures. I think I'm going to make her a mural for her wall.

Tia is building up quite a cache of handstand pictures. I think I’m going to make her a mural for her wall.

Conversations with kids in vans

photo-5We are logging in the hours in ye old minivan right now. We’re giving her hawtness quite the workout driving her from here to there and back…twice. In the past week we have put roughly 32 hours in driving from Florida to Missouri to Arkansas with several stops in between. My kids are becoming quite the little road trippers.

Although Landon’s left eye does start twitching any time we mention getting in the car right now. I’m sure that’s merely a coincidence.

That much time in the car provides ample opportunity for memory making, both in conversation and in action. Right now the kids are obsessed – OBSESSED – with Teen Beach Movie so this means we hear the music a lot.

Lee’s eye starts twitching whenever the opening bars of Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’ start playing. So strange…

It’s the conversations that have given me the most delight, though. Two in particular are back and forth dialogues that I never, ever want to forget. And so, for posterity, and because I know you all want to laugh with me, I give you:

Conversations with kids in vans

Tia: “Hey daddy?”

Lee: “Yes?”

“Tia: “I feel sorry for my friend from school, you know why?”

Lee: “Why?”

Tia: “Her parents were fighting and fighting so they separated and now she has to sometimes see her mommy and sometimes see her daddy. Isn’t that sad?”

Lee: “That is sad. I’m sorry that happened.”

Tia: “Will that ever happen to you and mommy?”

Lee: “No, baby. Your mommy and I work really, really hard on loving one another and making sure that we will always remain together as a family.”

Tia: “But sometimes you go away on trips. What if you don’t come back?”

Lee: “Well, sometimes I have to go away for a short time, but those are just business trips and you know what?”

Tia: “What?”

Lee: “When I’m away all I can think about is how much I want to be back with my family. I pray for you all while I’m gone that God would protect you and that He will protect me so I can get back to you. But I love your mom very much. She is the person I want to be with more than anyone else in the world so I don’t want you to worry about us ever separating okay?”

Tia: “Daddy?”

Lee: “Yes, baby?”

Tia: “That sign back there had underpants on it.”

Poignancy is completely lost on children.

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Yesterday after church, we drove through Lee’s hometown.

Lee: “I had a girlfriend that lived on that street in high school.”

Sloan: “You had a girlfriend? Was she nice?”

Lee: “Yeah, she was a nice girl.”

Sloan: “Why did you break up with her?”

Lee: “Oh, you know. I just knew she wasn’t the girl I would spend forever with so there wasn’t any point in continuing the relationship.”

Sloan: “So you broke up with her and prayed that God would bring you your forever girl, and then you met mom, right?”

Lee: “Well, pretty much. I met mom a little while after that.”

Sloan: “Did mom have an afro back then?”

Lee: “She did. She did. She had an afro and she was also Korean.”

Sloan: “Oh…huh.”

 

You guys, if my kids don’t end up in counseling before age 30 it will be a miracle.

Happy Monday, all! May it be full of awesome and just enough random to keep you laughing. Oh and incidentally, my favorite part of road trips is when I look back and see this:

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They’re just so CUTE when they sleep!

*wink*

 

Insta-Wednesday

Barn Swinging at Kanakuk

Barn Swinging at Kanakuk

The K-Kountry bridge

The K-Kountry bridge

 

Happiest place on earth? I believe it!

Happiest place on earth? I believe it!

Nostalgic this week as we enjoy the city and people we love.

Nostalgic this week as we enjoy the city and people we love.

 

A wonderful, uncharacteristically cool, evening with friends.

A wonderful, uncharacteristically cool, evening with friends.

 

A beautiful afternoon spent at the St. Louis Zoo.

A beautiful afternoon spent at the St. Louis Zoo.

The enjoyment of watching siblings love one another well.

The enjoyment of watching siblings love one another well.

 

Swinging in hammocks with friends. Doesn't get much sweeter.

Swinging in hammocks with friends. Doesn’t get much sweeter.

 

A morning with three of my best friends and all 11 of our kids. It wasn't relaxing, but it was refreshing. This photo was taken by a 7 year old, can you tell?

A morning with three of my best friends and all 11 of our kids. It wasn’t relaxing, but it was refreshing. This photo was taken by a 7 year old, can you tell?

 

Puppies? Good. Babies? Great. Puppies and babies looking outside together? If that doesn't make your heart skip you might be a robot...

Puppies? Good. Babies? Great. Puppies and babies looking outside together? If that doesn’t make your heart skip you might be a robot…

Home Sweet Bittersweet

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We’re in St Louis this week. It’s bittersweet to be back. As we drove into town, both Lee and I felt a strong sense of nostalgia and familiarity with this place that I think will always feel like home. It’s funny – he and I lived in Texas for two years and when I return, the memories are fond but it’s not…painful to visit. Perhaps this feeling will continue to dull over time.

When we visited last year it almost felt too soon to be back. The feelings of loss were still so fresh. This year we are in a much more healthy place in Florida. We have community and friends and events on the calendar that have us excited. We have the hope of some dear friends moving down to Florida in the coming months – they will be south of us, but they’ll be in the same state and that makes me near giddy with excitement.

We have a life in Florida now with some roots. The roots are shallow, but they’re there and with a little more time and a little more memory building perhaps Florida will develop that nostalgic feeling of home that feels so strong in this place.

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We had such a wonderful day yesterday visiting our old church, hugging dear friends, laughing with people who feel more like family than friends. It was awesome. For me, it was another opportunity to hit the reset button – to touch home base and energize myself to head back home and keep planting, keeping cultivating the roots in Florida.

It’s good for me to come back, even if it hurts a little.

Have any of you ever moved from a place that holds such a special place in your heart that it will always bring a pang of joy and sadness to go back? Does that feeling go away? Ever?

(PS – Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter to win a free copy of Disney’s Teen Beach Movie. I draw the winner tomorrow morning.)

Teen Beach Movie: Sticky Sweet Innocent Fun

8ECF73CD-5E04-4C2E-A19B-2C9B942CDBF7Somewhere, Annette Funicello is smiling and nodding her head as Disney’s latest TV film makes waves with young ones across the nation. Teen Beach Movie hit the small screen last week and as much as I resisted watching, I have to say…

I kind of enjoyed it. 

At least I did the first time I saw it. By the 5th time, I was kind of over it, but since I’m not really in the demographic they were aiming to please, I’m not sure it matters if I’ve already tired of the sticky sweet tween flick. My kids certainly haven’t tired of it. Well done, Disney. Well done…

Teen Beach Movie is every bit as silly, campy and sugary sweet as you would expect a Disney teeny bopper movie to be, but there was something nostalgic about it that made me smile more than cringe. I almost didn’t let the kids watch it for fear I wouldn’t be able to handle the silliness of it all, but Tia was counting down the days until this movie came on with such fervor that I worried it would send her into a spiral of despair if I said she couldn’t watch it. So I caved, popped a little popcorn and we curled up on the couch for the big event.

While Teen Beach Movie was entirely focused on boy/girl dynamics, it was done in a very innocent, funny and underhanded way. As the littles got swept up in the silly lines and over the top characters, I couldn’t resist a few laughs at the obvious spoof Disney made on some of the old Frankie and Annette Classics.

It’s almost as though Disney took the movie Grease, put it in a blender with Beach Party, then dipped it in sprinkles, rolled it in Cotton Candy and served it up on a hot pink stick.

When “Tanner” (Garrett Clayton) first appeared onscreen I had to laugh out loud. That kid could not embody the 1960’s dreamboat any more than if he were computer generated. When Lee saw the movie with us, his first comment was, “He looks just like that guy from all the old Disney beach movies!” Paired with the adorable Grace Phipps who played “Lela,” it seemed as if Disney had found almost exact replicas of Frankie and Annette.

The music in the film is catchy in an I can’t really believe I’m singing along to this, sort of way, and it’s so authentic to the ’60’s that I briefly wondered if they had pulled actual songs out of the archives of the golden oldies. Just try to watch “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin‘” and not tap your toes.

In all, I was plenty pleased with Disney’s latest movie, and my kids have all given it two thumbs up (that’s six thumbs for anyone counting). They will continue to watch it over and over these next few weeks, and while I will likely bow out due to the fact that I’m not entirely sure it won’t give us all cavities, I certainly don’t have a problem with letting them continue to laugh and sing along to this summer gem.

To make this write up even sweeter, the kind folks at Disney have given me one copy of Teen Beach Movie to give to one lucky reader. To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment and let me know if you saw the film and if you know all the lyrics by heart now, too.

For additional entries:

– Share this giveaway on Facebook, then come back and leave me another comment.

– Share this giveaway on Twitter, then comment back and let me know for a third entry.

Comments will remain open until Tuesday, July 30 (the same day Teen Beach Movie releases on DVD) at 8:00 Central Time when I will pick a winner randomly. The winner will be notified via email and will receive the movie shortly thereafter.

So, come on. Fess up. I know you have ONE song from the movie

that’s stuck in your head. Spill it.

 

Disclaimer: I am working with Disney to promote the July 30th release of Teen Beach Movie on DVD. I received a copy of the DVD to review and a copy to giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Insta-Wednesday

In an effort to take some of the pressure off myself feeling like I have to post something every day, I’m going to start sharing some of my favorite iPhone photos every Wednesday. So, without further adieu, I give you…

Insta-Wednesday

 

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The best part of waking up is green tea in my cup.

The best part of waking up is green tea in my cup.

 

My book when printed out. Oy.

My book when printed out. Oy.

 

Rainy day fun.

Rainy day fun.

Little girl hair = fun

Little girl hair = fun

 

Summer school work under the umbrella.

Summer school work under the umbrella.

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My little gymnast

My little gymnast

Grandparents are awesome

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My kids are blessed to have two sets of grandparents who are involved, fun and who work hard to make special memories with their grandchildren. Whenever we go to Arkansas to visit Lee’s family, his mom organizes scavenger hunts and fun activities for the kids, all of which usually lead to little trinkets or snacks. The kids love it, and so do Lee and I. We all feel special when we visit Papa and Bebe’s.

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My parents work equally hard to make memories with the kids. My dad is a big proponent of enjoying life. I can remember him saying more than once when I was younger that he’d rather spend money making memories than hoard it all to give to us after he’s gone. He wants the memories and I love that because my childhood is filled with amazing family memories.

A late night visit to the Lincoln Memorial. So cool.

A late night visit to the Lincoln Memorial. So cool.

A few years ago, my parents asked us if they could take each grandchild on a special trip for their 10th birthday. Lee and I didn’t hesitate to say yes, because we also want our kids to build up a cache of memories that they can draw from for the rest of their lives.

One of the perks of being the firstborn means that Sloan got to go first on this special trip. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and for six months he’s been talking incessantly about his trip. He wanted to go to New York City (most specifically “The Island of Manhattan”) and he also wanted to see Washington D.C.

Last week, my parents took him on a grand adventure catered exactly to him. Sloan is my little history buff. He loves history and museums, and he is fascinated by topics of war and invention. Visiting the nation’s capital could not be more up his alley.

I must confess, I was a bit jealous when they took off. Their trip sounded amazing. They had nighttime tours of D.C. planned, tours through the Smithsonians, Newsies on Broadway, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building – this was all on the docket and it just sounded like so much fun, and now that they’re back and I’ve seen the pictures and heard all the stories I can say with certainty that it was a truly memorable experience for Sloan.

“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done in my whole life,” he’s said more than once since his return. He still has a lot of life to live so I’m curious to see if anything will ever top that trip.

I love that my kids have such amazing grandparents who believe in pouring themselves into their grandchildren. Today, my kids and I are taking my grandfather out for lunch to celebrate his 80th birthday – a grandfather who holds special memories that I pull from frequently. He is my only remaining grandparent and as the years pass, I find myself more and more grateful for the memories I have with him, and the others that have gone before him.

Cooling off at the Washington Memorial.

Cooling off in a D.C. fountain.

Grandparents are unique and special and they deserve to be honored and cherished. I’m so thankful that Sloan had the experience he had with my parents last week. Now I just have to put up with Tia and Landon who are both already planning their 10 year trips. I’ve already had to put the smack down on England (Tia) and Hawaii (Landon). I’ve had to redefine the perimeters of the trip to keep it inside the Continental United States. 

Mom and Dad – you’ve set the bar high with this first one. Prepare yourselves. 

Hailing a taxi in his Newsies cap. We may have a future city kid on our hands.

Hailing a taxi in his Newsies cap. We may have a future city kid on our hands.

The forgotten one

wedding1As the kids went through the usual nighttime routine last night, Sloan looked at me over his toothbrush.

“Hey, Mom,” he gurgled. “What are we doing tomorrow?”

“Oh, not much, babe,” I answered. “Tomorrow is just another day.”

As I said these words, I had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something. What could it be? It’s been a doozy of a few days. I can’t share publicly what’s gone on behind the scenes because my children would die ten thousand terrible deaths if I shared everything that ever happened ’round these parts.

All I can say is motherhood is NOT for the faint of heart.

And also, thank heavens for wine and mindless chick flicks, because I might not have survived otherwise.

“So we’re not doing anything?” Sloan asked.

“No. Not really anything at all. All I really need to do is get my oil changed, but other than that it’s just…”

My anniversary. That’s the thing I was forgetting. Thirteen years ago, I said ‘I Do’ to my studly stud of a man. Thirteen years of making babies, raising babies, moving, growing, laughing, learning, and navigating this awesome adventure called life.

Life is so different now than it was thirteen years ago. If someone would have told me what I’d be doing in the year 2013, I’d have laughed at them. Out loud. Right in the face.

Before you think I’m a terrible person for forgetting, I should tell you that Lee and I were talking last night about something that was concerning me and he leaned forward and looked at me with his serious Lee-face.

“What have I been telling you for the last fourteen years that we’ve been married?”

Me: “Uh…we’ve only been married for thirteen years.”

Year thirteen has been a doozy and I think we’re both ready for it to be over, but if I had to ride out a storm, I’d want to do it alongside this guy.

 

1999: Rocking the short overalls and a hottie on my arm.

1999: Rocking the short overalls and a hottie on my arm.

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I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be on this journey with for all sixty years, four months and twenty-two days…plus.

Blessed.

I am blessed.

Read more of our story here.

In case I forget to say it later…Happy Anniversary, Babe!