getting down and dirty

Just wanted to share how I have put Davis to work this week while the boys are away. I am forcing him to clean out his closet. I know, I know.... a little control freaky and I told him I was going Jon and Kate on him, but good Lord above! He has more clothes than I do! And now with this new job, he is taking over my closet with his dress clothes. That is three closets to my one! So I have ordered him to purge, which he is not happy about, but really, really, how many t-shirts does one man need? I understand they are all cool and have different star logos on them, but come on already! He will be much happier when he can find the clothes he really does want to wear. Notice his happy face as I am taking this picture...
On another note, Laurel has taken to brushing her baby's hair constantly. I can not believe I have a girl! We went on two bike rides today and to the pool. She also took a three hour nap, which was nice because I then actually watched a movie. A whole one and no one talked to me the entire time! It's been a banner day~

My girl

Since I have been boy less for the past couple of days and feel like I am missing my right arm by the way, I have gotten a chance to get to know Laurel slightly better. I discovered she knows where her foot and nose are and can say "thank you" although it sounds like "dank do." She makes some of the craziest faces I have ever seen on a child and it amazes me how she is completely bipolar. One minute she is laughing hysterically and the next she is screaming mad. I have never seen a child scream with everything in their little body like her. She is super loud!
On Saturday, we went to yard sales where I found a new rug for the doorway for only $5! Very pleased with myself for this so now I can hide how nasty our carpet is from cleats and my tribe's feet. Did I forget to mention that Davis says I am queen on the black footed tribe? No one wears shoes here - even outside - so they always have yucky feet. Then we went to the pool for a little while on Saturday and swam. Davis joined us. It was nice to give a little daddy time to the girl since the boys are so demanding of his time -especially if we are at the pool.
Yesterday we did some work around the house that needed to be done and today I have run errands, taken Laurel for a long bike ride and now am going to work on hemming some of Davis's pants. Wish me luck that they are not lopsided!

Getting spoiled...

Laurel is an only child this week and the first part of next week. The boys are in Florida with Sue and John and I miss them so much already! They definitely keep things entertaining around here.... although there are two things that are nice. (1) It is super quiet and the peace is well, peaceful. (2) I clean and it STAYS CLEAN. I mopped today and it is still nice and shiny whereas when I mop when the boys are home, it is immediately gross again since I don't have time to do it properly and they tromp all over it when it is still wet. I have also thoroughly cleaned and polished the bathroom and organized our eight million toys.
What else have we been doing? Laurel and I went for a nice long bike ride this morning and hit a garage sale on the way (nothing purchased though.) We played outside for a long time and now she is enjoying a lunch of rice - one of her all time favorite foods next to oatmeal. She has eaten almost a whole pouch of Uncle Ben's! I used my college degree this time though and placed a huge tablecloth underneath her chair instead of like last time where I kept finding rice bits and thinking the were maggots - Ewwww!
Next it's nap and then tonight I get to meet all of Davis's co-workers for the first time. He is just excited because I think some of the men are a barbecue competition team and they are the ones catering it.
Laurel is ready for her nap now.... the crying has begun........

More Father's Day Pictures

Obviously we are the king and queen of the self-portrait!

Father's Day

It was such a beautiful day today! The weather was perfect. Laurel and I started our morning around 6:30 and everyone else made their way up about 8. We made waffles for daddy and then gave him our cards and the purple tie the boys picked out for him. Of course he will be wearing it tomorrow - although with what we have yet to decide since it is VERY purple. Since it was such a gorgeous day, we decided to spend it at the lake. We drove over to Guntersville State Park and went to the beach they have there for several hours. We picnicked and swam and the boys had the best time. Then we drove to the fishing area, jumped someone's car off that had been there since 10 that morning, and fished for a while. We didn't catch anything -mainly due to all the jet skis around us, but it was such a lovely area...very secluded with tables and filtered lighting. Laurel loved just walking around and I actually read some of my new book - The Condition. The two small ones napped on the way home and when we got home, we took advantage of the summer solstice and took a bike ride around the neighborhood. Then it was the trampoline, catching lightening bugs and now baths and bed. We had a very full and exciting day, but also very peaceful and relaxing. Back to the grind tomorrow! We all also decided our dream home would be on the lake since we love the smell and the trees and listening to the water hit the shore. Maybe one day! Fingers crossed!

The fat lady sang

It is officially over for the season. Carter is, as usual, indifferent to it being done. Davis is, also as usual, going on and on and on about how we could have beaten the other team if we had hit better. And on and on.....
Laurel is just pleased she won't be dragged to the park for at least a month!
We can also now spend our entire days at the pool. If you need me, you know where to find me......
The pictures are from tonight's game and the one of the four of them is what they do when I am not here. Daddy sits in the hall, Carter plays his DS next to him, Laurel climbs on him and Johnn+ Michael throws the ball at him. At least, this is what they do when it is raining and the trampoline is too wet.

Bring it on...

I don't know where my camera is in the mess that is now my car so I don't have any pictures to post, but if I did, I would post one of Davis grinning ear to ear because of the team winning their all star game tonight! He was full of pure joy and has now gone off to celebrate at our park with the rest of the board. The first game we lost and were all disappointed. The boys got their act together towards the end of that game, but it was too late. The second game was immediately after that one and we all thought, "this is it. our last game and we are done." But they pulled it out! The parents were infinitely more excited than the boys will ever be. There is a sign posted on the concession stand of every park reminding parents that this is a children's game.... but yeah, all the parents care so much more!
We play again tomorrow at 5:30 against a really great team. But it no longer matters because they won at least one!
We also had gymnastics today. Carter really likes it a lot so I hope when school begins, I can find a time for classes for both of them. We are only going to do soccer this year, no fall ball, so that will give us a little more time. Of course, we did go to the pool for a little while as well. We found the big torpedoes so they have been the hit of the pool with them. Carter has gotten to where all he wants to do is play gator with the older ones though, but JM is making a few friends as well.
I am so tired and think I sweated out 5 pounds tonight! I am not waiting up for Davis either! Who knows when he will come home? They have to rehash the game play by play, I'm sure!

Let the games begin!

So all stars began today and after practicing every night for two weeks solid, our poor team got shut down in the third inning of both games today. But Carter played well and even caught a pop fly on the pitcher's mound. We probably have two more tomorrow as well. It made for a long day. My stomach was abuzz with knots since I wanted them to do well. It didn't really matter to Carter, but Davis was upset. He just wants everyone to play well and have fun. I don't think anyone had fun today though. Hopefully we won't get the beat down tomorrow as bad!
Carter and I went to Little Caesar's and picked up a pizza for dinner and he decided to cash in from our point system for a new DS game. He ended up picking some game where you build forts and then try to block other people from coming in. I don't know what it is, but he seems to like it. Davis was working on putting Laurel down for the night and I ended up going to get him because he fell asleep in the chair with her. So sweet! John Michael should sleep hard since he literally ate almost the whole pizza by himself and crashed before he even laid all the way down. Carter is a little fidgety still and I hope he also has a restful sleep.
Kitty Lover Baby and I went around and around last night since that stupid cat slept on my head almost all night long. I kept throwing her off but she just came right back. And then she started messing with a Japanese beetle and going crazy. She may spend the night outside tonight!
Oh! And Carter lost another tooth with two more on the go. The tooth fairy did come visit, although Carter wisely left the tooth on the nightstand so the tooth fairy doesn't have to get to the top bunk. How thoughtful of him, right?

Store's open!

We went to the Botanical Gardens for a little while this morning and the boys were so disappointed because they didn't have the huge water tower anymore. They liked to play in it with and make rivers running around it. But they did get wet (the sprinkler were a huge hit) and Laurel enjoyed the turtles and butterflies. Carter really liked the fish in the aquatic garden (I know you are amazed at this since he doesn't just LOVE to fish or anything...) I took them to Burger King for lunch where they proceeded to guzzle their sprites and then felt sick since they drank too fast. The baby took a nap and the boys played wii while it poured and thundered and lightened. The wind was blowing so hard that I just knew we were going to lose a tree. But only a big branch! Now they are playing store and selling their cards to one another. JM says I can have one for $50 but he will sell it to Carter for 8 cents. Laurel is walking around with a tub of popcorn (her favorite) and being content for a second and a half - the length of her attention span right now. However, I am being called to purchase more goods. They have all types of cards! Baseball, fishing, weird Japanese animation ones, bakugan, garbage pail kids.... you name it!

Just another day....

Today started off with us headed to Kroger (a usual!) This time we had to get some fruit for our cook out tonight and I had signed up to bring a fruit salad plus we are out at home and we can go through the fruit big time here! Especially watermelon and cantaloupe for Carter and JM, green apples and halved grapes for Laurel. Then we went to gymnastics. I don't remember if I already blogged about this, but the city offers at our rec center gymnastics twice a week for the boy's age group for one hour on both days for only $5! That's $5 for the whole summer - not one class or one week or even one month but 2.5 months for $5!!! Amazing! And it is actually something they really like a lot. So we did that, came home and cut up our fruit and the baby took a nap, then we headed to the pool. Swam and yakked with friends. The boys have so much fun at the pool with their good buddies. They plan on coming at the same time and then they just jump and jump off the diving board, play gator and catch and then at rest break, all share their snacks and sit together. The baby took another nap and the boys went to all star practice. It was a short practice so we could have our cook out tonight! It was complete chaos. The boys didn't eat a thing and all Laurel wanted was the Doritos. Then we played kickball and now the children are bathed and watching a movie and Laurel is circling them trying to sit in their laps. Ironically, none of them are tired, but this mama is exhausted! I took a couple of videos and I wished they had sound so you can hear laurel laughing her deep throaty laugh, but it came out too dark and alas - no sound. It is too funny! All I was doing was sticking my tongue out at her. And I wish I could take a picture of the boys' heinies as well so I could show you their tan lines. Already! And we slather on the sunscreen multiple times a day too. When they have skin like leather in their 40s, they know who to blame! Me! The mom who uses the pool as a babysitter ~ better than the TV though!

Bye Bye Coach Pitch!

Today there was no happy medium with anyone. We started at the pool where Laurel was not a happy camper at all so we came home for a quick power nap. During this time, the boys built a Wipeout obstacle course in the backyard with the slide and hose and various buckets and such and were having a blast. We went back to the pool and by that time, all our friends joined us. That was so much fun! Really, the pool is so much better when you can cut up with your good friends who know all the same people and do the same stuff as you. Laurel was good then and splashing around and Carter and John Michael had people to play with in the big pool. We ended up leaving there around 4:30 since Carter had all star practice at 6. Laurel took another quick nap and JM fell asleep watching the Phillies play on TV. After the practice, we had Carter's team party where we all played kickball. It seemed like everyone got hurt tonight (good thing we have a mama nurse on the team) and we broke the key in the concession stand. What a mess! The boys have stomach aches from too much ice cream and all the accoutrement that went with it. Laurel had fun walking around, but she kept slapping everyone that came near her. I really have to stop laughing at it so she doesn't keep doing that! Now everyone is asleep - they virtually passed out from exhaustion. The boys' eyes are bright red from the day and the fact they kept trying to turn their eyelids inside out all day as well. I feel dirty and dusty and can not get enough water in me right now! It's just been a happy/sad/crying/laughing until you cry kind of day!
By the way, in this video, I love to watch John Michael shake his hair out after he jumps in the water. Such a boy thing to do!

Bye Bye T-ball!

Tonight was John Michael's last tee ball game for this season. He got his trophy and we had our team party which rocked if I might add! (Guess who organized it?) Although the kiddos barely touched their ice cream sundaes. We do it all over again tomorrow and I bet the older bunch doesn't have a problem eating it all. One mother brought balloons and it looked very festive!
JM played for a while since Daddy and Carter had all star practice. Laurel was not happy to be there tonight so we all came home and she is already asleep. JM is shortly on his way after his favorite cartoon (and Davis's) Phineas and Ferb.
Tomorrow we are planning on a big long pool day! Although I wished Davis was going with us. It is supposed to be so pretty this weekend.
This blog is sounding like a broken record, huh? Pool, baseball, pool.......

lazy days...

We had some more pool time today. Shocking yes, I know - since we go there everyday! I brought little powdered doughnuts and Laurel loves them! She ate all afternoon long. Pineapple, watermelon, cheez its, string cheese (2!) - everything I packed! Wa Wa gave us some money to order a pizza tomorrow since they deliver at the pool and the boys are very excited about that as well. laurel has gotten to where she just loves to play in the baby pool as well. She is definitely not scared of putting her face in! JM was slightly disappointed because he loves to jump off the diving board but some of the older children (Carter included) were playing gator. There is always tomorrow. It's difficult to get pictures of the boys since they are long gone until the feeding period (I mean rest break!)

It has been beautiful here the past couple of days. Just perfect weather. I hope everyday is like this one. Play, lunch, pool, nap, hang out with friends - maybe we can add eating steak in there occasionally! It's been a while since I have had that meal...... Maybe I am just hungry right now!