While I was away...

• My Papaw had surgery to clear up blockage in his neck. He is fine now, but it was pretty scary there for a while. I don't know what I would do if I lost him.
• My Mamaw, Mom, niece, and aunt spent the night at my house (because my Papaw was in the hospital here in MY town). Let me just say that I love my family, but 4 generations of Felter women under my roof is the definition of stress. I must have done something right though, my Mamaw is still raving about how wonderful I am. That is probably why I like her so much.
• Princess H went 4 days without having an accident! We are almost diaper free!! Hip hip hooray!!
• We had a crawfish boil Sunday. It was wonderful. My brother in law is the crawfish King of Mississippi. It was delicious and so spicy. My hands hurt for three hours afterwards. Was it worth it? Heck yeah.
• Randy and I saw the new Indiana Jones movie on our Saturday night date. Have I ever mentioned how much I like Indiana Jones? He is sooo cool. What's not to like?
• I joined Sam's club...I think that was while I was away...Man, I have lost track.
• Super Z put his chain back on his bicycle all by himself! How cool is my little mechanic?
• Randy had three days off in a row (so did I). It is the first time that he has had more than one day off at a time since he started this job.
• I bought my Bunko prizes. I am hosting this Thursday. So much to do, so little time...

Overheard Tonight

Super Z - Sister, you need to do what I tell you to do.

Princess H - No, Shut up.

Super Z - Don't say that. That is a bad word. I am the boss.

Princess H - No, I the Henna. I the boss.

Super Z - You can't be the boss. You are a baby.

Princess H - (Pulling up dress to reveal Princess Jasmine panties) No, I no baby. I use potty. See panties?

1978

This picture is almost as blurry as my memory of my parents together. Although my parents didn't get a divorce until I was twelve years old, all of the memories that I have of them together somehow seem unreal.

I remember telling my friend Danielle when I was about eight that my parents would never get a divorce, they would be together forever. I was as sure of that fact as I was of my eye color and the fact that I was too tall. No one in my family had ever gotten divorced (at least in my lifetime). My grandparents on both sides were (and still are) inseparable. Divorce was as foreign to my life as drugs or fancy dinner parties. As the song says, we came from a long line of love.

I thought that my parents were perfect for one another. I thought that they were best friends..and I guess that they were and still are in some crazy way. They just couldn't stay married. Life somehow got in the way. If I have my way (and I usually do) that will never happen to my marriage. I will fight against that with everything that I am. I will rebuild the fractured line of love.

I want my kids to feel that certain about my love for their father and his love for me. I want them to know that we are a team, a unit, one. I want them to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is the other side of me, the heart in my heart. I don't want us ever to be blurry to them. I want us to be as real and constant in their lives as the warmth of the sun.

Wordless Wednesday - Super Z and His Boys (In a Pink Jeep)

Molly Olly Olly

Molly is a great little dog. She is sweet and playful. She is doing great on her house training. She loves the kids and they love her.
Molly only has one problem. She is a puppy. What I mean by this is that she has WAY too much energy AND she doesn't listen. The most troubling part of those two things is that she lives to GET OUT. Add to that the fact that Princess H loves to LET her out, and you have a recipe for disaster.
So EVERY single day the girl opens the door, the dog gets out, the dog dashes about the yard
(and into the road and the neighbors' yards) at the speed of light. I call the dog. I follow the dog. I call the dog some more. EVENTUALLY, the dog will come to me...when she feels like it.
I cannot express the joy that I get from this daily tradition.
So, any dog owners out there, I need tips. I need advice. I need the dog to run around happily and then come when I call. Any magic tricks for that?

Girls of Summer

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful Mothers that happen by this place from time to time. Each and every one of you, from the ones of you on the other side of the world (Amanda), to the ones of you who I see everyday (Leigh), to the ones who have shared my whole life (Alisha and Beck), inspire me every single day. It is amazing how being a Mom is something that you just keep on learning how to do. Maybe when all is said and done, I will be as good at it as my Mom.

The End of K-4

Back in August I shared Super Z's First Day of K-4 with you. I remember feeling like the years had somehow slipped between my fingers. I am beginning to think that they are going to slip by faster and faster going forward. I am just floored at the very idea that my baby will be going to REAL school next year...but lets not put the cart in front of the horse.
This was what my baby looked like on the first day of school 2007. So cute, a little nervous.


Flash forward 9 months..I give you Super Z on the last day of K-4. (I swear to you, I couldn't get him to pose like this if I tried. This is all Z.)
I will say it again, (and will probably say it a million more times in the years to come) I just can't believe how big my baby is getting. Wow.
Super Z actually missed the last two days of class because of his severe poison ivy. He sat naked in front of a fan while his classmates made their last construction paper masterpieces. He didn't complain too much, but he INSISTED on attending the end of the year program and the last day PARTY.
We lathered him up generously with Boudreaux's Butt Paste ( a miracle cream if there ever was one) and muscled through. Sure he acted like a crackhead because of the steroids, but who cares? He was there. ( That is a story...or two...for another day.)
He seems to be feeling a good bit better today, no screaming or crying. We are opting out of tee ball anyway though. I don't figure that black ball pants and the hot sun would help our cause. We will resume ball when we can go without creaming up his private area..or his bird as he has began to call it... What the crap?

Flashback to 2007 - How to Relax Anywhere, Any Time

My Poor Baby

Super Z is ate up with poison Ivy. He has it on his face, neck, hands, and groin. He is in agony.

The doctor put him on a round of steroids, gave him a cream and some oral medication for the itching. So far, none of these things have provided relief.

The only thing that helps is sitting butt naked in front of a fan. ( I won't share that picture with you, because it really might make him hate me one day.)

It is so sad. Tomorrow is his last full day of school and the end of the year program. I am not sure if he'll be able to go :(.

I sure hope that this medicine starts working soon.

Crouching Bubble Hidden Boy AND The Perfect Shopping Outfit

Music

I think that the love of music is genetic. It runs through my family as strongly as long pointy noses and brown hair.
I have grown up listening to my family play blue grass. The sounds of the mandolin are as natural to my ear as the sounds of my papaw's voice. No gathering is complete without a little strumming or some singing. My Papaw crooning "He Stopped Loving Her Today" has been the lullaby of my life.
Given all of this music that runs through my veins, I should not be surprised that I have produced a singer.
Princess H sings more often than she talks. She sings as she rides in the car. She sings as she plays. She sings softly to me as I hold her in my lap.
I have even learned that if she starts to lose it in the store, I can calm the storm by singing. She just can't resist singing along. I would much rather sing and shop than flee the store with a screaming banshee.
Tonight she stood in the middle of the living room with the Guitar Hero guitar and sang at the top of her lungs while her Dad attempted to Watch Star Wars ( for the 999,998th time). I was her audience of one. I couldn't take my eyes off of that pretty little girl (no longer a baby) that has brought new music into my life.
She just glows when she is performing. She makes up the words and the tune as she goes. She smiles and she strums and she SINGS.
Singing > Screaming any day of the week.

Heard Around The House

Princess H referring to a new tank top - "Ooh, I wear my swim shirt."

Super Z after sitting through a whole chapter of his first chapter book (Mom is reading) - "Okay, now start over. I want to watch that part again."

Randy calling from work most days of the week - "I am going to quit." (I think it is just the stress talking.)

Everyone who has seen my new furniture - "Wow! I love it!"

Randy and myself as Dirty Hands McCoy AKA Princess H runs towards the couch after eating - "No! Don't touch it!!"

Super Z (to anyone who will listen) - "I am number 7 when I play baseball. They call it Tee ball, but its not. I don't need a tee."

Super Z at 7 AM this morning - "Mom! I hear the bus! I need to get on it and go to big school. I am done with fake school now." (He doesn't even want summer, just big school :)

Princess H - "I want candy. I want a Popsicle. I want a cup. I want a story. I want candy."

Me to Princess H - " DO NOT hold the dog by the neck."

Randy - " I have been moving since 3 AM, just let me stop for a minute."