speaking of popsicles...

Watermelon popsicles!

Yum. We love watermelon around here. I'll be sad when it's no longer in season (although I'll get over it quickly because that means that summer is over and done with too).

I didn't leave these in the freezer very long. Just enough time to make them not slip off the sticks and harden up a bit. The kids loved them anyway.



I'd have to say the biggest fan was this little guy, Mr. Snotty Booger Nose.



He scarfed down his popsicle and the remnants of Cate's too.

Man, he was a mess when he was all done. Good thing we had filled up the kiddie pool earlier. I just dipped him in and called it good.

* * * * *

Other items worth mentioning today:


This kid loves Legos.

And this kid loves olives.



Pains me to see her love them so much. They're pretty gross. I try not to let on that I find them so disgusting though. I mean, I am the one who buys them for her so it's not really her fault.

I just don't know how she can stuff them into her mouth like she does when they smell so awful.

Kids do funny things.



Cate made her first trip to the dentist (as an official patient, that is) yesterday. She was an angel. I don't think there's been a cuter kid in that dentist's chair ever. Adorable.

She seemed to particularly enjoy it when the assistant used the suctioning tool.

Danny had a turn in the chair too.



No need for him to write an apology note to the dentist like last time.

What better way to reward such a stellar trip to the dentist than an icee and popcorn at Target on the way home.

I'm not sure the dentist would agree though.



Speaking of firsts, Cate learned how to pedal all by herself for the first time on Sunday.

That's something her big brother still doesn't know how to do.

Now I just have to teach her how to get herself onto the swing, start it moving all by herself and then pump, pump, pump. Oh, I'll be so happy when she learns how to pump.



And I went to the gym for the first time in a week (it was closed for cleaning, I'm not just lazy). It was good to be back. I'm out of shape. Well, I'm in a certain shape that I'm not very happy about. I'm also not very happy about the lack of good tv programming during the summer. It makes enduring the torture of the Stairmaster even more torturous. I can't wait for fall shows to start.

Then I came home to find this waiting for me:



And I rewarded myself for going to the gym with a cookie (or two or three or whatever).

Don't you love it when you're feeling blah and yuck and kind of crappy about how you're doing with stuff in your life (like church responsibilities that you had just complained about the day before and thought maybe you're not cut out for it and somebody else could do a way better job) and you get a note like that?

Me too.

lightsaber popsicle cozies

My friend's been at it again. Making stuff for my kids. She feels bad for them because they don't have a mom who sews.

Remember what she made for Cate last time?

It's ok though. I'll just be the mom who bakes the cookies. And I'll once again just be thankful for her talents and kindness and not feel like the crappy mom who doesn't sew cute stuff. Promise.

Anyway...

Lightsaber popsicle cozies!

So cute I can hardly stand it.

She even brought over that box of popsicles.

She's too good to us.



Aren't they adorable? Tiny popsicles that don't make the kids' hands cold. Love it!

And see that white one?

Cream soda. Yum.



We tried them out with the full size popsicles and they worked just fine.

Nice and cozy.

Thanks, Debra! Let me know when you're ready to start your craft blog.

chapter four: dinner at the country club

{I realize this might be boring to most of you. All this blah blah blah about our summer vacation and enough already about my 20th high school reunion. I understand that. If that's you, skip this and wait for something way more interesting in the near future...but don't hold your breath. I'm not making any promises.}


That's me and Rebecca. We've been friends since second grade. We were in Girl Scouts together for ten years. Her mom was one of our troop leaders. Troop 91. I've spent the night at her house more times that I can even count. Besides my family, she's the person who's really known me the longest. I like having a friend like that. She's known for a long time how crazy, kooky and weird I am and she's wanted to be my friend anyway. Who could ask for anything more?



Remember this picture from our high school graduation? I like to think we've both aged quite gracefully.



This is Julie. I've known her since she showed up at church on her 12th birthday. We were roommates in college for many years. I hadn't seen Julie for 14 years. It was fun to be around her again. She always seems to laugh at my lame jokes. What a good friend. I really wanted to ask her if she thought I'd changed in the past 14 years. I know I have. Don't you just wonder that stuff when you see people that knew you way back when?



See the guy in the dark rimmed glasses? That's the guy people kept mistaking Dan for. I don't see it but oh, well.



After the big group shot of all the classmates, Dan took command and asked everyone to divide up into groups according to elementary schools. When I was a kid (and all the way past graduation too) there were only three elementary schools in town. So here's all the kids from Cary Woods Elementary School. I'm really glad Dan came up with that idea. It was a good one.



Dan and I posed for a few cheesy pictures. How could we resist?

Dinner was yummy. I ate way too many desserts. Key lime pie! Yum.

Lots of talking with friends.

Some laughing.

Watching the semi-inebriated crowd on the dance floor towards the end of the evening.

Listening to a totally non-inebriated husband of mine sing karaoke with one of my classmates. Dan sang the part of June Carter Cash. Samy sang Johnny's part. The song: "Jackson." Oh, it was a sight to behold.

It was a fun night. I'm so glad we went.

Here's what greeted us in the carport when we came home.



Camel crickets. Yuck. I remember these well.

They come out at night and you better make sure you turn on the light so you can see them or else it's pretty creepy and gross.


Look what else greeted us when we got home.



Oh, yes. My cell phone tells me I took this picture at 11:49 pm.

It's a good thing she's so cute.

chapter three: saturday is a special day

Saturday morning we were treated to a tour of my high school. Lots has changed there in 20 years. They've got a fancy new cafeteria now, complete with flat screen tv's on the walls. Why tv's in the cafeteria? I don't have a clue.

Kids were invited to this event and I'm thinking next time (if there is a next time) we'll just leave them home with Grama Bama. Have I mentioned yet that it's hot in Alabama in July? Well, it is. On top of that, it's humid. Oh, the humidity. I knew it would be humid but I guess I've just forgotten what it feels like. You know, like how you start sweating almost as soon as you walk outside. And how it takes twice as long to blow dry your hair. And by the time you're done blow drying it you wonder why you just spent all that time blowing hot air onto your head when your hair's just going to get wet again (with sweat this time) as soon as you walk out the door.

Well, it was hot Saturday morning for the high school tour. And it was humid. The kids were not happy. Tour means walk around and look at different buildings. Walk around in heat and humidity means grouchy, tired, sluggish, hold me! hold me! hold me! kids. Ok, so I was hot and tired and sluggish too but there was nobody around to hold me.

It was fun to be at my old school again though. Lots of good memories there. I was kind of sad that the band room was so different though. It's actually nothing like it was back in the olden days.

It was fun to see classmates again and meet their cute kids. Those two up there with my little lovelies belong to my long time friend, Rebecca. We met in second grade and have been friends ever since. They live in New Jersey now. I think we need to be planning a family vacation to the Jersey shore soon. Rebecca's son told Dan that he looks like a teenager by the way. I'm not sure if that's what teenagers look like in New Jersey or if he was just being very polite.



After the tour we went home for Quiet Time. It was much needed. I think Cate fell asleep. I can't remember now. I know I took Danny to the bookstore alone so I'm thinking she did. Dan probably did too. Grama Bama was at a work meeting so we stopped by to pick her up. Then she took us to the Sonic drive thru for our happy hour drinks.



I snapped this picture while we were stopped. That's a big orange tiger paw painted on the road. Pretty cool.

I walked around taking pictures of the house again when we got home. Here's a mud dauber's nest in the carport.



And my dad's lawn mower. Seriously.



Grandpa and Danny posing on the front lawn.



My darling Danny.



My darling Danny in the dogwood tree.



And some pretty orange trumpet creepers.



We took a little walk down our street. It was hot and muggy and I wasn't sure I'd make it but we trudged on. The house is at the top of a big hill. It was the perfect hill for riding bikes and roller skating when I was a kid. The only bad part was the getting back up.

I remember one time roller skating down and on the way back up I sat on the grass (actually on a spot of grass over on the left of this picture) to rest and wait for those slow poke sisters of mine. When I stood back up I learned that I was sitting in a pile of dog poo. I don't remember feeling it as I sat in it. Only as I stood up. I must have had a lot of padding on my bum even back then.



Look at all that green! I love it.



Cate had fun practicing her "tightrope" all the way down. That's what she calls it when she balances on the curb. She's actually gotten pretty good at it. I think it's time to sign her up for gymnastics.



Once we got to the bottom we had to walk back up the hill to the house. You can either turn around and go back the way you came or go up the busy road. Danny chose the busy road, much to my dismay. At least there's a sidewalk.



I found this cute house on the way up the hill. I'm pretty sure that whole area was just a big forest when I was a kid.



Cate decided she'd had enough and just plopped down on the grass. Oh, I love that face. The one that tells you that some kind of breakdown and/or freak out session is about to happen.



We made it to the top. Grama Bama's house is on the corner of the busy road and the road we walked down. This is a picture of my bus stop all through junior high. Right at the corner of my yard. Pretty convenient.



Dan and I got ready for the fancy reunion dinner at the country club and went outside for a few pictures. I made Danny and Cate pose for a few.



And then a few of Dan and me. I didn't once think to have my mom take a family picture though. Just me and Dan and then let's get to the party. Very rude. I know. Danny and Cate wanted in the picture anyway.

This is in no way a good picture of me (I should have blurred out my face...especially all my chins and that goofy smile) but look at those cute kids down in the corner. Seriously adorable. Look at those little faces. I just want to pinch those cheeks and then kiss them all over.



And then we sent Grama Bama and Grandpa off with the kids to eat and I made Dan pose for a silly picture with me. He's a good sport. And I have very kissable cheeks too.




Chapter two and Chapter one, in case you need a refresher since it's taking me so long to write these vacation posts.

Yo! Yes?

In honor of school starting yesterday and in an effort to cheer myself up about it (but not because I'm sad that summer's over and my kids will be in school all day...because I'm not and they won't be), I'm going to tell you about another book I love.

Thanks to me, Grandma bought the last book I recommended. Have you bought your copy yet? It's a good one.

You know, I was a teacher for many years before birthing my babies. I have lots of books, mostly the kind with lots of pictures. I could start my own little library. If I did, I would let you apply for a library card with only your drivers license (unlike some other libraries I know).

I love my books. I really do. So much so that I'm going to share them with you. Not the real ones, of course. Just pictures of them. I love them too much to let them leave me.

Today's book is called Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka.

Perfect for the little ones. Good for big ones too. I've taught kids from preschool up to sixth grade and this is a great book for all of 'em.

The book is dialogue between two kids that don't start out as friends, but that all changes in the end. There aren't very many words on each page. I think the most each kid says at a time is two words (I'd check for myself but my copy is buried in a box of books in the garage). It's a good opportunity for early readers to be successful since there aren't a lot of words and the ones there are pretty easy and predictable.

It also provides great opportunities for learning about the different expressions our voices make with different punctuation marks (if you're into teaching that kind of thing). And feelings. And being kind to each other. And making new friends. Lots of good stuff.

So there you go. Yo! Yes? Get it. You'll be glad you did. You can thank me later.

You can buy your own copy here.

Or you can come over and help me clean out the back garage and find my copy and I'll let you read it. But you can't take it home with you unless you have your library card (or bring me a 32 oz. Diet Dr. Pepper).

p.s. In case you're wondering why I'm feeling blue about school starting again, read this.

shoulda been a food blogger

I think I should have been a food blogger instead of a whatever blogger.

Here's why.

On the days that I'm feeling

less than happy
crappy
frustrated
overwhelmed
down in the dumps
and
like I just don't care

and I just can't summon the oomph I need to write something cheerful about my adorable kids, my loving husband and my charming day-to-day life, I could just bake something, take pictures of it and then eat it.

Eating your feelings away is much more fun that not, right?

Here's some yummy stuff I've made lately (since I've been feeling one or more of those previously mentioned feelings) and some stuff I'm thinking about making:


double chocolate zucchini muffins: pictured above. So yummy and so very moist. My kids call them cupcakes. I don't correct them. I one and a halved the recipe (does that make sense?). It made 53 muffins. That's a lot of muffins. I have some ginormous zucchinis though so I knew it would take more than just a single batch.

I also used mini chips instead of the big ones. I really don't enjoy it when my kids get messy faces from soft chocolate chips. The mini ones just make it into their mouths without messes. That's why. I think what made these extra scrumptious is the fact that I used special dark cocoa. Oh, I love dark chocolate. I used a mixture of regular cocoa and the special dark. The batter was so dark and beautiful. They taste divine. I'll be making them again.

Special thanks to my sister-in-law for pinning this recipe on Pinterest. It's a good one, Cindy!

crock pot hawaiian bbq chicken: Dinner last night and lunch today. So yummy and easy. I went to Target just to find the brand of sauce called for in the recipe. Wouldn't you know it? They had all kinds of sauce, just none of the Hawaiian flavor. Blah. I went to the grocery store and bought the Lawry's brand instead. It was delicious. If I had some kind of dinner recipe rotation schedule, this would be added to it. Seriously yum.

stuffed zucchini cups: Haven't made this one but I will be soon. I just picked a ginormous zucchini from the garden this morning. (Thanks to Marisa for posting this one on facebook.)

pig cake: I love silly names for food. This one looks very tasty.

Rhett's chocolate cake: No link because Rhett doesn't have a blog (that I'm aware of). He's one of the youth at church. He made a birthday cake for one of the young men's leaders when we had bowling night a few weeks ago. I ate two (maybe three) pieces. Bake a chocolate cake (from a mix, of course). When it's cooled, spread it with instant chocolate pudding. Top it with a tub of softened Cool Whip. I baked the one cake mix in a 13x9 and an 8x8 pan so it would be a little bit flatter since I knew the toppings would make it grow pretty high. Rhett put bits of chocolate on top to spell happy birthday but he said normally he'd just sprinkle shaved chocolate on top. Yum.

This is a bad time to be feeling like a food blogger since the gym is closed for maintenance for the week. Blah. I'll start over on Monday with a new exercise plan and a new and improved attitude. Not making any promises. Just wishful thinking.

And those chunks of white stuff in the muffin up there? Flour. I didn't stir well enough.

chapter two: sweet home alabama

Friday.

The night before, Danny slept in Grama Bama's bed with her. Cate slept on her inflatable pink princess bed that Grama Bama had bought for her (genius idea since Cate is a beast to sleep with) and Dan and I slept on the spare bed.

Danny walked into our room calling "Wakey, wakey!" around 7:30. Not good. Not good at all. He was all smiles though so I forgave him quickly. I can't remember if he woke up Cate too. Probably.



We took our time getting showered, fed and dressed for the day. Danny played a little on Grama Bama's phone and watched some golf and football on tv. He's never watched golf before but decided he likes it now.

Then it was off to do some shopping. I didn't pack anything but high heels for the reunion dinner night. Mama needed something to wear. I found a few outfits and called it good. I don't love shopping.



We also headed to Target because someone had failed to pack a baby doll for Cate to play with while we were away from home. The shame. She found one there and also a tea set. You can never have too many baby dolls or tea sets.

Guess what Grama Bama's Target has that ours doesn't.

Pink lemonade and green apple flavored Icees. Ours only has blue and red. It's like a whole new world out there. They also have a Starbuck's eating and sitting area. We didn't care about the coffee but it was nice to have a place to sit.



After all that shopping we were pooped. Kids and various grown ups had quiet time while I took some pictures of my childhood home. Don't you love the kitchen? That decorative trim above the window. The vintage cupboard handles and hinges. All original to the house. Vintage for sure.

And the basket of tools on top of the fridge. It's still there. I really have no idea why there's a basket of tools on top of the fridge. I can't remember it not being there though.

I'm sure Grama Bama is not happy that I took a picture of the kitchen with dirty dishes in the sink. Let it be known that the dirty dishes are all my fault (as well as that clutter between the toaster and the tea kettle). The kitchen is usually spotless.



I took a few pictures outside too. This one is looking towards the street from the house. Dan had a hard time backing out of the driveway and not going over onto the grass. He did get better as the days passed and he got more practice.

Danny posing at the front door minus his shoes.



I had to take a picture of the wall in the carport. See all those black circles and dots? I remember the time we were playing some kind of game with a ball and that wall. We bounced the ball and then marked on the wall the spot where it hit. I really have no idea why we did that. Kids make up dumb games sometimes.

I'm not sure what we used to make the black marks either but they're still there after at least 25 years. Sorry about that, Mom and Dad.



Dan and I were headed to the reunion Meet and Greet that evening so Grama Bama made some chicken and peas for their dinner. Canned peas. That's what they like. Danny's never had canned peas a day in his life. I buy frozen. There's a slight difference in the color between the two.

Danny took one look at those peas and said, "Ummm, these need to be much greener."

He ate them anyway, despite their lack of green.



Dan and I headed out to my reunion meeting place, the Auburn Oyster Bar and Grill. Oh, yes. They gave us Bud Light wristbands to wear as we entered so that we could have access to the free bar.

Not very exciting if you don't drink alcohol. First time I've ever worn a beer wristband though.

I had fun reuniting with old friends and also wondering from a distance who in the heck a few of those people were. No name tags. Just beer wristbands. Some people change a lot in twenty years. Some people (like me, of course) age so gracefully it's a piece of cake to recognize them.

Dan was mistaken for one of my classmates a few times. Then the real guy showed up. They look nothing alike. Maybe it was too much beer. I don't know.



Despite being woken up way too early, I'd call it a good day.

It was fun to see my old friends again. Some I recognized instantly (many thanks to facebook for that) and some not so instantly.

The best part, nobody even mentioned my wrinkles or gray hairs!


If you missed chapter one, it's right here.