crying couch vs. ball room

After such a long weekend, this Sunday afternoon Lovey was having a difficult time pulling herself together after getting her feelings hurt over something pretty simple, so as I was going over to check on her, I saw Ricci sweetly laying her down on the sofa, and I overheard him tell her,

"Now we do have a crying couch, but we don't have a ball room!"

Of course, she let out a little giggle, and I just thought that it was so precious the way he sweetly reminded her to control her spirit yet still allowed her a little wiggle room to cry!

Inside extended family joke: "Everyone needs a good cry!"

Thank you, Ricci, for being such a loving father!

Are we rednecks or what?!?

Sitting in the front yard this evening, it occurred to me that we couldn't look more like a redneck family if we tried to this evening! And if I had the ability to capture time in a bottle, surely I would have chosen to do it this evening!

We've had such a busy week, so today we purposely made an effort to stay at home, and it has been sooo very nice! Surprisingly, none of us slept in this morning...I guess we were eager to just have a day at home! And I know that we've all been busy doing this or that around the house, but I'm surprised to say that the house doesn't show for it! Oh well! Tomorrow's another day! Right?!?

This week while L and I were out gallivanting around town while the girls were at music camp, we caught a great sale on meats at Sams, and yesterday we enjoyed picking up some fresh veggies and fruits at Linda's Produce. So today Ricci made an incredible spice rub, and we were all looking forward to ending our day with a yummy cookout!

But this evening if you had driven by, you would have thought we were such happy rednecks! You would have seen Ricci diligently watching over his grill, my sitting beside him (in my newly white painted Adirondack chairs!) snapping beans while we were watching Lovey ride her bike with training wheels up and down the driveway while AngelWings was manning the 'boom box' (her mp3 player attached to some speakers was sitting atop the back of Ricci's car) for Cricket who was proudly singing "Ready to Run"! Yes, the girls were puttin' on a "Creekbend" (instead of Riverbend) show for us. There was Cricket singing, standing atop my gardening bench and singing with all of her might...

"Oh yeah!
Ready, ready, ready, ready....ready to run!
All I'm ready to do is have some fuuu-uuuun!
What's all this talk about looo-vvvve!"

Such fun, blessed days! The joyful sounds of the children's voices, the smell of Ricci's grill, Sir-Barks-a-lot sitting at my feet, plenty of fresh air, our health (nothing more than tiny scratches and bruises from various bike falls), and the excitement of eating our yummy dinner! Yes, if I could capture time in a bottle, surely I would have chosen to do it this evening!

"That's the news from Lookout Mountain, where all the women are strong,

all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average!"

My non-working spouse!

Oh! What a fun day the girls had at "Take Your Daughter To Work Day"!

Last year, AngelWings came home telling us of all the wonderful things that she had gotten to see and do, so this year Cricket was thrilled that she was old enough to attend the festivities as well!

So the previous evening we laid out our clothes, Daddy prepared Cricket with her hot chocolate and AngelWings with her "coffee" (mostly milk...you haven't tried to wake up this tween!), and they headed out the door!

Lovey and I had a fantabulous time just spending the day together...we went out to breakfast together, did some shopping, got our hair cut (thanks, Maria!), lunch, more shopping...a wonderful day spent as "just you and me time"!

That evening when we were all back together, the girls told me of their wonderful day with their daddy at work. One of their favorite (and most memorable!) activities was the game that they played called "Reality Check." They were each assigned different jobs/incomes/familial situations, and they had to go to different booths...bank, realty, automotive, insurance, clothing stores, daycare, utilities, grocery, entertainment/recreation, additional education, and their favorite..."that's life," which was unexpected events!

AngelWings' "reality check worksheet" showed that she was an Group Underwriter, making $60,700 with a college degree; she was married with two daughters, ages 4 and 6, and one son that was a year old....and a non-working spouse, who was able to take care of her children while she was working.

Cricket's "reality check worksheet" showed that she was a data entry operator, making $18,000 while she was working on her college degree; she was married to a working spouse, and together they had a two-year old son. She quickly came up with the idea of saving her daycare money and having grandparents watch her son.

Ricci said that it was so incredibly interesting to watch how the girls made their decisions as to how they spent/saved their money. AngelWings rented a huge, flashy townhouse while Cricket bought a small, modest home. AngelWings went clothes shopping four times while Cricket bought only necessary, store-brand items...although she did immediately acquire a cell phone and extensive cable tv! They both chose a used vehicle (although Cricket's first choice was a Hummer until she saw what it cost to operate it)! They both also enjoyed going to the "That's Life!" booth where they would draw a card which was some life event: receiving an inheritance, taxes' being due, kids' needing to go to the hospital, receiving bonuses at work, needing to do home repairs, needing dental work, winning the lottery, etc.

AngelWings benefited $100 from a bank error...to which she told the lady at the booth, "I'm going to go back and buy me a new pair of shoes!"

Each of the scenarios had options of with or without insurance, so the girls learned quickly that if they had already purchased health insurance then they only had to pay a co-pay versus the full doctor's bill. Auto-insurance: deductable vs. full cost of replacing a car. This activity provided all of the children with a good sense of the benefits of having insurance and also real world experiences.

Later that evening AngelWings questioned us as to what the word 'spouse' meant...I guess that word hasn't come up as of yet with the girls! And we've spent the rest of the week laughing that she had wondered all day long what it meant that her spouse was broken...as in her non-working spouse!

What a fun day they had....and the fact that Ricci got any work done that day is beyond me! The fact that he set that heavy work-day aside for the girls to enjoy this experience is just one of the many reasons why we love him as husband and daddy! Thank you!

Supper time with Cricket

Supper time with Cricket is a hoot and a half! Every night...she keeps us rolling with laughter at what she either says or does. She always has! She just seems to have the perfect comedic timing and hilarity in how she describes everyday, normal things! This evening was no different!

On nice evenings we've been enjoying eating supper outside, and this evening while eating her supper, she loudly exclaimed, "This corn is freakin' good!"

Uh...I'm not sure where she learned that word...hmmm, but it was really good corn on the cob tonight! (I've been tossing an ear or two or five into my buggy at the grocery store every time I go since they're apparently in season [where? I don't know!], and Ricci's been grilling them for us! Hmmm!!)

Yes, Cricket has always (since she was eensy-teensy) kept us roaring with laughter at the things that she tells us....especially at the supper table.

The richest bum I've ever seen...everybody has a story!

This spring the girls have taken up a new favorite past time of looking under the bridge overpasses for...bums. Yes, I've done my duty to remind them that not all have been blessed with covenantal blessings, and we've taken several opportunities to pray for them and what may or may not be going on their lives.

But yesterday when we drove down to the zoo, as we pulled slowly into their drive which takes one under the overpass, there was a huge display of lots of goods! Now, I'm telling you that there was so much that I want to go and get a picture, but I'd never do that....I'm just saying, "This is somethin' to write home 'bout!"

Driving carefully along the one-lane road, I did my first glance...tons of stuff!

Second glance...happy fella sitting in a lawn chair (may have even been an easy-boy recliner)!

Third glance...he was having a great time listening to music...oops...eye contact...and we actually waved to each other!

Cricket shouted from the back, "Wow! That's the richest bum I've ever seen!" Even though it was awkward, I'm just dyin' to go back and get another look...take him something...pose as a journalist to get his story! Yes, everybody has a story!

***

Does anyone remember that news segment, Everybody Has a Story, on CBS's The Early Show? It's not around anymore, but when the girls were little, it would air on Friday mornings, so I'd arrange to have someone to feed/hold at that exact time so that I could see it. (Before TIVO!)

Steve Hartman (one of my favorite journalists) became well known for his award-winning feature series, Everybody Has a Story, based on his belief in a "theory" of the same name. To prove his point, Hartman would toss a dart over his shoulder at a map of the United States, and then travel with his cameraman to wherever the dart landed. Upon arrival, Hartman would find a phone booth with a phonebook, and then, after choosing a name at random, would call that person, hoping that they would tell their "story." His adventures took him around the country, and it was amazing how people would allow him to come and interview them as they told their story. The stories that his assignment would produce were ALWAYS so emotional! I'd be sitting there either laughing, crying or both! I wish they still sent him on those special assignments!

I wish that they'd bring back that series by Steve Hartman...it was such a special series! Here's a link where you can view a few more, if you'd like! But get out the tissues, 'cause your either going to be crying from tears of sadness or tears of joy!

I wish Steve Hartman would call me up to get me to take him down there so that he and I could get the story of the gentleman that lives under the bridge near the zoo! Yes, everybody has a story!

Here today, gone tomorrow!

Last Monday was an interesting day...full of surprises! (We like good surprises!) Right as we were running out the door to meet Aunt Jan and Uncle Eddie for breakfast, the rain started turning into snow! It was so beautiful! The 'city' had already salted the roads (wahhh...please stay off of 'our' road!), so the roads were fine, and everyone was out and driving about, but it did feel so odd to be driving in it as if nothing was unusual.

The further we drove down the mountain, the snow did turn into a slushy rain, but there was still an excitement in the air! And after a lovely breakfast that Uncle Eddie and Tressie treated us to (thank you, again!), we ran to the store like all true southerners...to get our milk and bread. (Honestly, we make our own bread, so we only got milk....and a few extras!) Then after dropping Ricci back off at work, and after we ran another errand or two, we headed back up the mountain. As we drove along the road that leads up the mountain, one could see that beautiful snow/ice line that sometimes appears in the winter....it is always so breathtakingly beautiful to me! And it reminds me of one reason why we live up there!

As we drove further and further up, the yards were nothing but white, and the entire mountain was still and quiet...so we drove around for a bit, until the girls couldn't take it anymore and just had to get out and play in it. So I parked the car and enjoyed sitting in the warm car with the windows rolled up (to keep the snowballs from hitting me!), watching the girls play in the snow while I enjoyed the heat and made some calls to my sis, mom, grandmother, etc. (You know that snow down here is worth a call home!) Thankfully, Aunt Jan had just given the girls some fun gardening gloves, so the girls used those to keep their hands warm...thanks, Aunt Jan! After the snowballs stopped flying at me, I did get out and play for a while...'til the snowballs started flyin' again!

This is the bottom third of the huge snowman that sadly never was assembled...who knew a snowball that large could be so heavy?!? Obviously, we didn't!

AngelWing's snowman...scaled down quite a bit!

Thankfully, I had the camera in the car, for as soon as we took this photo, the temperature rose just a degree or two, and as quickly as the snow had fallen...the snow began to melt. Here today...gone tomorrow! It reminds us to be thankful for what we have...thanks, dear Lord, for that beautiful snowfall! So now we sit and await with great excitement our next 'big' snowfall!

Lovey's "gift" is giving!

Over the last couple of weeks, the girls have been giving gifts here and there to one another...it could be as simple as a decorated, paper-towel tube to an elaborate, treasured item of their own that they know that their sister would love to have! It has been cute to observe...for a while...then Daddy and Mommy had to step in and make some general guidelines to help them see that we shouldn't be too frivolous nor too shabby either. (Just taking an opportunity to teach a lesson!)

Then this evening I've been continuing to wrap a few tiny gifts while everyone is asleep, and I literally laughed out loud when I realized exactly what the 'help' was that Lovey was giving me today...

Earlier today, she put her Santa hat on to help deliver the gifts to the Christmas tree...the sweet, little thing was watching me wrap things, then she'd sweetly ask if she could put the label on the gifts, and of course I said she could! (I know that there will be one day that I'd crave having her there helping me with her little 'almost' 6 year-old penmanship, so even though I'd love it to be done just so, I was cherishing her help.)

Obviously, earlier today I didn't take the time to oversee any of her work, for she was very helpful in putting a gift tag atop every, single gift and then placing the gifts under the tree...all of them are under there, signed From: Tressie

"Do you need some deodorant?!?"

Cricket LOVES to go through the Sunday paper with her daddy! Me...I just like it for the sale ads! Not that I can clearly remember any of them and match them up with savings, but I like to think that I do!
But I just think it's so humorous the way Cricket is attracted to the same sections that her daddy is attracted to! I just think it's so cute the way they both think so much alike! But one area where she thinks like her momma...she loves to look at the ads and clip out coupons...however, she thinks that if she has a coupon for this or that, then we just have to hop in the car to go and get it!

Last night, while she was sitting at the foot of our bed she said, "Momma/Daddy, do you need some deodorant?"

"Um...excuse me?"

"Do you need deodorant? Or dishwashing detergent?"

It took us a second to notice that she was clipping out the Walgreen's coupons from their sale ad!

And if you're wondering...yes, they are having a great sale on deodorant and dishwashing detergent! Now...if I can just get my act together and combine those with other coupons...then I can pretend that I'm a coupon-savvy gal like some of my other friends!

Mental soup, anyone?!?

Tonight I served lentil soup with smoked sausage, cornbread and sweet tea. And while the girls were setting the table, Lovey hollered, "I love mental soup!"

This colder weather (I'm freezing!) has me in the mood for yummy soups and chilis! Hmmm! I need some new soup recipes...got any?!?

The girls on YouTube!

This weekend, we were invited to an Andrew Peterson concert for his new album's release, Resurrection Letters, Vol. II.

It was a great concert; the first half was the story behind each song on the new album, and the second half of the concert was songs by request. So of course, Annie and Tressie thrust their little arms into the air, and once they offered their request, it was followed by "I can help you!" And if a momma and daddy's heart could have ever burst, this was one of those times...we were so proud of the girls! It was too precious!

Annie ran up on stage, followed by little Tressie, who walked up there following big sissie's lead. AP ever-so-kindly shared the stage with them and even cracked up a couple of times when Annie improvised the bass guitar...something that we hear every day but that he wasn't expecting.

Of ALL times, guess who was without a camera?!? Me!!! I couldn't believe it! I ALWAYS have my camera! Thankfully, there was a great couple sitting behind us that overheard my dying request for a camera, and they captured most of it on video! Oh...my new best friends!

And thankfully Eric's friend, Drew, who was promoting the concert, captured this great photo!

Thank you sooo much, Drew, James & Becky! And Andrew!!

And Tif... don't worry about giving us a CD for Christmas; we got one while we were there! ;) Thankfully, this one too was signed...to avoid any future confusion..hee hee!

What's his name?!?

Cute conversation that I had this evening with Lovey...it just proves how well/poorly (?...you decide!) balanced our music selections are:

Lovey: What's his name again?
Me: Who?

Lovey: That guy!
Me: Who? (So I started tossing out random names making her laugh/think.)

Lovey: That guy that sings! It's not Josh Groban. It's not Michael Buble. It's not Andrew Peterson.
Me: PonyMan? (aka Gordon Lightfoot)

Lovey: Um...no ma'am. The one who has the symphony? Oh, yeah...Beethoven! Whoever has Beethoven in their head, raise your hand!

Geaux, LSU!

After the girls played HARD outside ALL day long, it was bath-time before anyone was allowed to sit down for a spell to watch the LSU~MSU game! Well, Angelwings had to have been pretty tired, for she took her shower and went on to bed...or maybe sick...that's really not like her! And Cricket and Love just had to watch the "big game" so I told them that they could watch it if they'd sit still and quietly, knowing that it was just a matter of minutes before they would fall asleep! Yep...momma was right!Now we just have to wait until Daddy comes home, for I can't pick'em up...sweet things are just getting too big!
And while the B-man's bed is in the wash, he was plum-tuckered as well, so look where he found a comfy place...big fella crammed himself into the top of a laundry basket...long day for all!
While Eric has run down to Walgreens to get some last minute sales, I'm working on making his favorite fall cake for Sunday dinner tomorrow, Irish Cream Pound Cake. The Schneiders are in town, so they'll be joining us Chans and Steves! I'm looking forward to seeing them!

"They do look awful! And I'm being honest, Momma!"

After all of this canning/preserving fruits, painting furniture, and all-out Fall house-cleaning, my hands really do look like they need a manicure. And of course, I don't really dwell on it until we're headed out somewhere! (Shocking...I know...but I do consider myself pretty low-maintenance!)

So as we headed out and traveled down the mountain, I glanced at my stained fingernails (next to the black specks of spray paint), and I said, "Whew...my hands really look awful!"

Of course, Angel Wings (like a typical, firstborn people-pleaser!) declares, "No, Mama! They don't look bad at all! I can't even seen what you're talking about!"

[Insert: a little, brief conversation on etiquette regarding speaking truthfully vs. fearing saying anything unkind.]

And of course, Cricket (like a typical second-child...happy-go-lucky), sitting in the back of the van and just enjoying the scenery, is completely oblivious to any conversation going on at all!

Then Lovey (typical "pat-me-on-the-back-please" personality) pipes up and exclaims, "Oh, Mama! You're right! They do look awful! And I'm being honest!"

"That's what happens when God puts you in your favorite person's tummy!"

Today, my little cricket and I were snuggling together (although she's the child with the most energy...she a pretty great snuggler!), and I told her how I much I loved her.
She responded telling me how much she loved me.
Coming close to tears of joy, I responded by telling her just how thankful I am that God had chosen to give her to us.
And she matter-of-factly said, "Well, that's what happens when God puts you in your favorite person's tummy!"
She sure does keep us laughin'!

Too precious!

I'm doing a little last-minute packing (what's new for this perfectionist/procrastinator?!?) for my little trip tomorrow, and I just had to show what I found in my purse...

A sweet little fairy must have added that to my wallet! One...she was thinking way ahead! Two...she is sooo thoughtful! Three...she could have been thinking about herself, but she's thinking of me...that's so precious that it's made me cry!

I just can't believe I've been blessed with such a wonderful daughter! With three!

I'll never understand why God has blessed me with such a wonderful, little family! A husband that serves our family by working diligently in/outside of the home, three precious angels who still think that I'm the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth (Bless their hearts!), a loyal puppy who adores me, two parents that I adore (and that I think are the two most beautiful people on the face of the earth (Bless MY heart! Just kidding, Meems and P-Daddy!), a wonderful sister who can only know things like a sister can, wonderful aunts who are like additional mothers, amazing friends....I can go on...yes, I've been sappy this week!

Anyway, Angel Wings, I love you with all of my heart, and I know that I have such a special bond with you that I never want to live without! You are the sweetest thing in the entire world!

Cow Appreciation Day at Chicka-flicka!

Where else can one walk into a restaurant dressed like a ...well, a cow...and be rewarded with an indulgent meal (fried in peanut oil, none the less!) for free?!?

Chicka-flicka, of course! Oooh, it's so good!

Once the girls awoke, I told them that it was "Cow Appreciation Day" at Chick-fil-A, and it was all over! Two of them were begging to go, so the 'younger two' immediately got dressed up in their cow-chic attire! And the eldest...well, we're entering that pre-teen stage where we'd like to do it, but we're not sure that we'll feel comfortable doing it!

Annie, of course, wanted to dress in her horse costume (we explained that wouldn't pass!), so she then brought me some cow-print pants and a plain white t-shirt which we drew some black spots on it with a black sharpie...that seemed to work well! And Tressie put on a cute Dalmatian outfit; and Macy and I cut out white spots to put onto our black t-shirts (which neither of us put on once we arrived at the restaurant!), and the girls and I went through our things to design us some fine cow-attire with some of Aunt May's and Aunt Carolyn's older jewelry! I thought we looked pretty good...very haute couture! Enough spots to pass, yet not too many to completely embarrass ourselves!

Yes, this is a day when the fine line gets blurred of "fashion before function"!

My baby's birthday....she's 5 & 1/2!!!

I can't believe it, but my baby is now 5 1/2! I know that's crazy-talk, but it's true!

And yes...we do celebrate half birthdays! With multiple December birthdays being tossed at us right in the height of all the Christmas hype, several years ago we began the tradition of celebrating one's 1/2 birthday! Yes, we do get strange looks when the honoree tells the waiter/ess that it's their 1/2 birthday, but then they look at us again and say, "I wish I could do that!" And once again this year, T-Fran was delivered a lovely dessert for her and her sisters when RC and I took them out to celebrate!

It does seem like she was just born yesterday, but then again...I can't remember life without her! She does seem all grown up now...I don't have to buckle her into her carseat or cut up her food for her or help her get dressed! She just loves to play dress-up, have tea parties, help me entertain...and most importantly she loves to help me keep house! Her dreams and aspirations (in her words today!) are to become:

1. a wife


2. a momma


3. a hair dresser and.....


4. a giraffe-walker!

Could there be a cuter list?!? We are so immensely proud of you, sweet T-Fran!

Worms in the foyer!

Tonight as I prepared to go up to bed, I walked past a little table that I have in our foyer, and lo and behold...there were worms on it! Ick! First I have to explain that I spent the better part of the afternoon in our front flower bed weeding. And every time I would unearth a worm, Annie would want me to announce, "Worm alert! Worm alert!" And she would come running to collect it. Yes, my children have inherited my collecting genes (hmmm...wonder where I got that?!?), so they each have their own little collections...Macy collects rocks; Annie collects bottle caps; and Tressie collects wine corks, and no, we do not drink too much! But we do like to celebrate!

So after seeing her collection growing, before I knew it Annie ran inside to get an empty "container" in which she could put her new 'pets.' She returned with an empty box from her Strawberry Shortcake bandaids...of course, she had that saved somewhere! (Did I also mention that we love to recycle? This container was a no.5, so it wasn't with the no. 1's or 2's! She must have had it hidden somewhere else safe!) And when she brought it outside, she ever-so-proudly announced, "Momma, look! I put the word 'Bate' on there, and aren't you proud of me? I remembered to put an 'e' on the end of the word to make the 'a' have a long sound!"

Of course, I was so proud of her! Who would have the heart to have her spell that word any differently? It was so cute that I just had to take a picture of it!

And after seeing my sweet gals asleep, who could get upset over their having left their little "collection" of worms on the table in the foyer?!?
And the other cute, little thing that I saw on the table next to her 'bate' was her beautiful flowers that she had 'collected' at the flower/garden nursery. (I tell ya...these gals will collect anything, and at this stage it's still pretty cute!) Earlier today we went to 'The Barn.' The girls love to ride in the little, red wagons and occasionally stop to pick up flowering stems that have fallen off of a plant so that they can create beautiful bouquets. (Of course, they always ask the check-out guy/gal if they can keep them!) So Annie came home with quite a little collection of flowers for Mommy, and she had arranged them in her little water cups (which the girls also have to get at the Barn) and displayed them on the table as well!

What fun days these are! I really miss the days when I had to buckle them into their car seats and do more for them, but I'm so much enjoying watching them grow up into beautiful, little ladies! So for now, I gladly encourage their precious, childhood spirit which allows them to find the joy and fascination in so many little things!

Happy cinco de mayo!

Today is the day that marks the anniversary of our life here on earth without our dear Alal. It's still so hard to believe! It was two years ago today that I had everything prepared for a 'cinco de mayo' party (using her recipes!) and then received the phone call that she had passed away. That day Mom and Aunt Jan convinced me to go on with our party arrangements, so we did; thus, we've begun a tradition...and this weekend has been the third cinco de mayo that we've prepared only some of her amazing recipes...her spinach enchiladas (always a HUGE hit!) and her yummy 7-layer dip!

So Saturday night, Kendall and I (along with our wonderful husbands, Eric and Shelley!) had a "tres de mayo" at their home...it was a lot of fun! We sent out our invitations and began cooking. She and I both love to entertain, so the evening really came together quite easily! After lots of yummy appetizers, we enjoyed Alal's spinach enchiladas, black beans with green onions and lots of lime, and spanish rice. We followed that with a simple dish of vanilla ice cream and toasted coconut and/or spanish peanuts for toppings. It was all so good! After dinner, my girlfriend Maria and her son taught us some latin dances (they're cuban... with lots of moves!), and the two of them along with Rena Carolyn put us all to shame...whew...they're all good dancers! Kendall, Macy, and I danced a little and then did a special judging of a "Dancing with the Bizarres" competition. As soon as Annie heard we were about to judge, she ran and grabbed something for a microphone, stood up on a step and announced, "Will the judges please reveal their scores?!?" It was absolutely hysterical!

And this morning our good friends the Caballeros invited us to go to a new restaurant with them to celebrate cinco de mayo. They're from Columbia and have told us of this great, new place here in town. We're really looking forward to experiencing it...so far they've only described it as "really authentic" and "a hole in the wall"! Can't wait to try it...some of the best unknown restaurants are "holes in the walls"!

Now if I can only get a video of Tressie doing the macarena for you!

"Remember the rule...no tattle-taling!"

Sitting downstairs, I hear the girls quiet play turn into something more. Then I hear Tressie say these words... "Remember the rule...no tattle-taling!" followed by a quick, deliberate walk across the upstairs floor...down the stairs...and right up to me, "Momma, Annie's coming downstairs to tattletale on me!"

"Um...what are you doing, little missy?"

Now tell me that you could look at her in the eye and give her words of wisdom without cracking a smile!