Back to school - Back to beautiful!

It's the first day of school! I'm more excited that the kids! And they're pretty d**n excited.


Okay, so I have had the LAST person call me big today.

I know that people like to joke with me a lot about me gaining weight and not being as small as I once was, but it's really getting to me more and more now. Guys, I beleive that I have gained about 25 pounds in the past year, and I can't blame that on no baby, no depression, or no major life changes. All I can blame it on is my weight issue. Can't Weight To Eat! In all seriousness, I don't this it's the amount of food I put into my mouth that is the problem, but the content of the things that go in there. The things that are stuffed with bad stuff that doesn't come out. I guess it's more that I have become so uncomfortable with myself that I am way more sensitive than I should be in this body that has been given to me.

I've decided to do something about it. The excuses are getting crazy. I have an excuse no matter what the situation. Even blogging has become an excuse as to why I can't work out. Sure I have an addiction to the blogosphere, but I can't let it be one more reason that I don't get off my butt!

If Nap Warden over at The Chronicles of a SAHM can run a half marathon while suffering from cold and fever than dag nabbit, why can't I walk around the block a few times or do a 30 minute workout.

Tomorrow is my day. Tomorrow I'm gonna start doing something. Something other than sitting on my butt all day BLOGGING and eating unhealthy foods. Tomorrow, once the boys are on the bus, I WILL take my butt to one a nice walk, hopefully a power walk if I can get someone to keep an eye on Miss Missy. Either that or borrow a stroller. Never thought I'd need it again, but when walking with Kennedy, it's a slow walk. She's 3. She wants to ride her bike or just can't keep up the pace I need to burn calories or fat or what ever I need to burn to get rid of this extra jiggly stuff I've been trying to ignore.

But tomorrow, I'm hoping that my blog readers can go through this with me. Pep me up to get this going. Keep me modivated. Be my personal trainer. All, well most, comments and advice welcome.

More words they learn from their friends.

Don't you just love it when you hear your kids saying words that they shouldn't say. In my house, those words are stupid, dummy, and I hate.... Anytime one of them says one of these glorious words, another comes running. They were doing well at one time with knowing that these words were inappropriate and we do not use them in our house, no matter what their friends are allowed to say in their.

Well, that was working out for me just fine until the summer kicked in and Sports Nut, my 8 yr. old, decided that it is obviously okay to say these words, as long as mommy, who he knows is crazy doesn't hear it. He is really into the name calling now and I don't know if it's the age or if he is just losing his mind.

I know these words are minor. Shut up is another that they use to think was a bad word until their friends said otherwise. But to me, these lead to bigger ones, i.e the story I was suppose to tell you about MCS's two new words.

I'm pulling up in my driveway after a PTO meeting. Nice dinner out at a Mexican restaurant to discuss the school calendar of events, open house, stuff like that. Well I see MSC stomping his way to the house. He's mad. I open my window to ask, "Hey, what are you so mad about?"

He keeps walking. No answer. I pretty much forget his issues and go inside to talk to Hubs about the meeting.

About 10 minutes or so pass and I go back to the boys' room to check on MCS.

Me: So what's your problem?

MCS: They were calling me names.

He buries his face in my stomach as he always does when his feelings are hurt.

Me: Who was calling you names?

He gives the name of one of the neighborhood friends.

Me: Well what did he call you?

He looks up at me as if he's scared to talk and then finally answers.

MCS: They called me faggot and gay.

Okay, so you can imagine my horror because these are certainly words my boys don't hear in our home. These are certainly things that I would expect a 6 year old to be called. The other kids are older than MCS, and tend to treat him a little mean sometimes.

Me: Go tell him to come here.

Now by this time Hubs is in the mix and we both walk outside to talk with this kid.

Little Mouth come right over: Ma'am?

Anybody who knows me knows that I'm not one to yell at other people's kids, so I walk up to him like I was gonna jump on him.

Me: What did you call my baby?

Little Mouth: Nothing.

Me: Did you call my baby a faggot and gay?

Little Mouth: No, he called me that.

I immediately knew that wasn't true, but disregarded it. I walk up closer to him, stand almost right on top of him, smiling of course but stern enough to let him know that I meant business, and tell him that I'll go down and have a talk with his mom about him using those words if I ever hear them being said again.

Hubs jumps in and lets both boys know that they had better not be saying such things to each other... ever or there would be consequences.

He said that I shouldn't play with the boys like that, shouldn't be laughing or smiling when they do something wrong or they won't take me seriously. I say that they know I mean business and that I WILL call their mom.

MCS comes in the house with us and says that he never said those words and that Little Mouth wasn't telling me the truth. I know my child and I know that he those are words he hadn't even learned yet, up till now.

Does sleeping in a bra make you more MOMMY FABULOUS?

I watched tidbits of Montel Williams yesterday, something I rarely do because there's not a TV in my computer room. Well there was a chick on there that talked about health issues. Anyway, I wasn't really paying attention because I was more into reading through the tons of paperwork we'd picked up from topen house the day before.

By the way, the kids both got the teachers I requested. Whoo Hoo! Think that could be because I'm PTO vice-president?

So I was going though the mounds of papers I had to read and sign. Allergy form, bus forsm, school insurance, lunch PTO info, emargency contact forms, student handbooks, classroom rules, and who know what else, but the chick captured my attention when she started answering questions that the audience had.
One question was, "Does wearing a bra at night really help keep my breast from sagging?"

This was something I was interested in. I've breast-fed 3 babies and now I'm 30. Yes I can admit it. The girls surely don't sit where they use to when we were 20.
Every since I started budding those painfully little knots, and especially once they were so much larger, I remember hearing nothing but, sleep in a BRA.

I was surprised that the answer was NO!

So are you telling me that I have endure the uncomfortableness (yeah it's a word!) night after night when I should have just been letting the girls go free. And I wear an underwire. Sometimes old ones with the wire escaping....... TMI, I know.

She said, and I quote, "Let them breathe."

So the most valuable thing that I've learned yesterday was that sleeping in a bra every night does NOT make your boobies any more fabulous!

Fabulously Free Layouts

So how do you like my new layout? Well I think it's FABULOUS! I was reading a post by Mommy Cracked, a totally funny post about her cats, and found a post for LeeLou Blogs. She has these totally fabulous layouts. And get this.... they were FREE and easy to install. Did I mention they were FREE?? Diva Ma is definitely fabulous on a budget, okay! So this I jumped on, because for the past few days I've been searching for a great header at the right price. LeeLou's layout are right within my budget.... FREE. So go check her out. She also does custom blogs, but these are so hot that she had to stop taking orders for a while so that she could catch up. The chick has a family just like the rest of us, y'all. She has to sleep too! So go to her page like I did and check her out. Then get on her email list so that she can let you know when she's all caught up and ready for business again. I guarantee you it will be hard to make a choice. They're all pretty great. And leave her a message. Let her know Diva Ma sent you!

A new Supermom badge

Hubs and I are putting up our privacy fence. Well, hubs of course is doing most of the work because, again, I don't do outdoors! I don't like the sun and we live in GA! Duh! It was like 105 degrees at 5 o'clock last night. My undies were melting to my butt! So anyway, I do better with bringing him cold water every 30 minutes like a little waitress or something. Have to stay hydrated, right?


Well, my neighbors think it's a spectator sport. They think it's hilarius to see me out there doing manual labor. While I'm out there sweating and getting bit my gnats and mosquitoes and whatever else bites (other than this job), they're sitting outside watching, undoubtfully placing wagers on how long it would take me to quit, pass out, or get a splinter and cry.

But, the process is going pretty quickly. He's working on it everyday after work, and I'm working with him after the sun goes down. That just happens to be my one rule. I don't do sun! I'm all for saving money and the do-it-yourself projects, but don't most guys get friends to help? I'm all for buying a few cases and grilling some hot dogs to keep the guys going. I don't remember signing up for fence building when I said my vows almost 10 years ago. But I must love him because I just couldn't stand back and watch him struggle to do it all on his own. Not when I have two capable hands and a semi-capable body to help out. Besides, it's good quality time for us, right?

Add another badge for the Supermom! Carpenter!

TOTALLY UNRELATED but these are pics of the boy's trying to fly kites in the middle of summer, in GA, in August, in, yes, 105 degree heat, with barley any wind.........

You can have my baby...

So, Miss Missy had a little play date with her "best friend", Linda today. She was really excited and she always is when we let them play together. The girls love playing together. They play so well that I don't mind her coming over for hours. They play everything typical little girls play, dress-up, mommy, coloring....

Her: "Mommy, Linda said I can have her baby because she don't want it anymore. "

I say, cautiously because I don't like the idea of the kids coming home with other people's toys: "Oh really?" Looking around the room for the doll. "What baby?"

"The real one. She doesn't want it anymore"

Linda has a 6 month old brother.

Sweets: Cobblers and Kids

Last night I was in my kitchen making a peach cobbler. This by the way was the first time I've ever tried to make a peach cobbler. Anyone will tell you that KAY DOESN'T BAKE. But lately I've been trying. I baked my neighbor a cake (out the box) when she had a baby a few months ago. My best friends in the kitchen are Betty and Duncan.

So, I got this recipe from my husband's cousin for a peach cobbler and because when he made it, it was absolutely mouth watering. I mean smack yo mama good! Looking good in a slammin' bikini good!

I watched him make it and well it seemed easy enough. Too simple to mess up. Hubs, a true food critic was salivating over this awesome dessert. So tonight, I figured, why not? The peaches are in a can, the crust is in the freezer. Who could mess that up, right?

While I'm putting it together at, 9:30 at night, Miss Missy is laying on the floor talking to Ginger, the dog, who is also laying across the kitchen floor as she always does EVERY SINGLE TIME I cook. Well, her conversation is so cute.

Miss Missy: Awwww, Ginger's sad. Mommy, Ginger's sad. Ginger why are you sad?

Ginger: sneezes

Miss Missy: Don't be sad, Ginger. I love you. Mommy do you love Ginger?

Me, barely listening: Yeah, I love Ginger.

Miss Missy: See, Mommy loves you. And Runnin' Man loves you. And MCS love you. (she didn't use these names of course. Duh guys!) And Daddy, well Daddy don't love you, but everybody else does. The whole family..... except daddy, but it's okay.

I started laughing so hard. The history behind that is that everyone know that Hubs really doesn't like the dog. He's wanted to get rid of her since we first got her. I'm a dog lover and I just couldn't get rid of her. She was peeing everywhere and always running off, which she still does. He just wouldn't mesh well with her. But after getting her, and seeing how the kids loved her, I couldn't get rid of her. Plus, I'd just lost Paris, my beautiful little Peekapom that was killed by a car one morning, and she was like an emotional replacement for me. So Hubs has just dealt with Ginger, kicking and screaming the whole way. LOL.

Obviously Miss Missy has picked up on his discontent for the family pooch.

So about the cobbler. It was okay, but I wanted it to be as mouth water and delicious as his was. Ahh, maybe next time. We ate it up though!

I bribed my kids today.

I wanted a little sanity today and I had to start by cleaning the house. See, I'm no domestic Diva. As a matter of fact, I can't keep the house clean for more than a few hours. Sad, I know, but I almost never put things back where they belong when I'm finished with them. I will come back later on and pick the things up, but it just wouldn't be me to put everything away right then and there. My husband and I have had numerous discussions over this as he is completely opposite, although I think I may be starting to rub off on him after almost 10 years of marriage. Hee Hee!

Contrary to all of that, I can't function when the house is disastrous and I can get really mean.

DANG IT! there's a fly that keeps going by my head and it's driving me CRAZY!

Okay, so I woke up this morning on a cleaning rampage, because although I hate to clean, I can't stand a messy house. I think I need a maid. LOL. But the kids, who, mind you, clean their room ever day, of course have a mess that is bugging me. After so many times of going in their room, with threats of course, I finally took out 2 five dollar bills.

............ darn fly just wants me to get up...................

So, I'd been promising them allowance all summer, but never gave it to them because they have the worse trouble remembering the basic. Make your bed, brush your teeth, you know the things I shouldn't have to say every.... single.... day. like a broken record.

For some reason, the idea of getting allowance never worked, but the actuality, the fact that they could visually see these 5dollar bills in front of them actually worked. I lit a fire under their behinds that I hadn't seen in quite a while. Not only did they finish folding their clothes and putting them away, but they cleaned and vacuumed their room, and vacuumed the hall and living room. WITHOUT ME TELLING THEM TO.

Money has a great effect on them. I should bribe them like that more often. Wonder if ice cream bribes would work just as well????

Okay so Miss Missy didn't do nuch , but I couldn't leave her out when she kept asking, "What's awowance, mommy?"

..............I told him to leave me alone.........................

Chuckie Cheese, gardening & uhh, what's for dinner?

Chuckie Cheese...

Yesterday, a Saturday and a day for birthday parties. Well, we had to to attend. Two at Chuckie Cheese. Basically two at the same time. Yeah the kids enjoyed the four hours they spent eating pizza, cake and playing way too many games. For me it was HAIL. You know. It was hot. According the one of the birthday party coordinators, the AC was broken. Mind you, this place HAD to be filled past capacity because there was barely room to move and I continuously bumped into people or had people continuously bump into me.

I personally don't do Chuckie Cheese parties. In my opinion, in order the have a comfortable party you have to plan one during the week. Weekends are pure dee hell! There are way too many kids too keep an eye on your own. I have three, do you know how hard it is to spot them when there are 400 other children running around? Yeah I know they have people at the door check those numbers they put on you and your kids when you walk in, but still. Some may just one day slip through the cracks and I don't want mine to be the one.

Well by the time I got home last night it was 8:30. And I don't know about the kids, but I was pooped! I sat on the couch and I barely moved until Hubs said that he was going to the back. I got up, followed and I honestly think that I was out before my head hit the pillow.

Gardening...

I spent the most part of today sitting around, besides the hour of yard work I did this morning, finally planting some new flowers in front of the house the Hubs as been bothering about doing. Anybody who knows me knows that I am NOT NOT NOT an outdoors person. I have a BLACK thumb. Chris does the yard work, but in this Georgia heat, you can't drag me to a garden. But I figured since he'd spent the entire day taking car of the yard yesterday, the least I could do was plant a few measly flowers before the sun cam out this morning. So there. I did it and that's the extent of my gardening until next spring.

Dinner....

Not happening today. I just don't feel like cooking. There's plenty in there that they can grab and go. I just went grocery shopping yesterday. Well, maybe I'll make some Hamburger Helper. Miss Missy's still not big enough to make her own food and I won't feel as lazy.

A Voice of Intellegence

Okay, I've always tried to teach my children to see no color. Our friends come from different backgrounds and so do theirs. As a matter of fact, up until my olderest son was about 6, he identified everyone by the color of their shirt. "That blue guy on TV...." "That orange guy said..."
This has embarrassed a time or two when the shirt is white or black.

Living in an extremely diversified community has been a blessing for me and the perfect environment for raising children. I grew up the same way. My dad was a soldier. Yes, I'm an Army Brat turned Army WIfe. HOOAH! Our military communities were giant melting pots. Understanding the difference between one "color" and another meant nothing to me.

It wasn't until I returned to my home town through PSC moves and for visits that I became aware of the differences in the way "we act".

I had to be as young as 5 or 6 when I remember my cousins, aunts and uncles saying, "You talk like a white girl."

At that time, I took it as an insult. "Nuh uhh. No I don't." And for years, the semi-teasing would continue. Someone would always comment on how... "proper" I spoke, and how I MUST hang around too many..... white people.

I've never to this day been able to understand that concept. Why is it that if a black person speaks proper english, as it is taught in every english text book I've ever known, even the ones that are sent to schools with 99% African American students, why is it that speaking the way that english is meant to be spoken, considered "a white thing"?

I teach my children to speak proper english. I correct them whenever I hear broken english or improper uses of verb tense, or whatever. I do this because I know that life is going to be hard enough for them when they get older. There are always going to be road blocks placed before them simply because of who they are. I don't want them to have doors slammed in their faces because they can't speak the english we are intended to speak. It would be extremely hard to get into Harvard, Princeton, Howard or Georgetown if you walk in for an interview talkin' 'bout, "What yo name is?"

I want them to know that there is a right way and a wrong way, not a black way and a white way.

I teach them proper english because I love them and I expect great things from them. I teach them that talking is the way you express your self to the world and is the mirror to your intellegence. And if that means that they will be accused of "acting white" or "talking like white people" the way it did for me, so be it. I'm thankful every day for my voice.