The Flu Tent

Zane has been down with the flu since Friday. He is feeling better but still having fever. The worst part at this point is his boredom. So we built a clubhouse. It is not as good as outside he said, but it is still cool. I try to always be cool.

My Pretty Niece All Grown Up and Ready for her First School Dance

An Almost Perfect Saturday

Today was almost perfect. It might have been perfect except for the fact that I didn't get to see all of the people that I love and I had to go to a party with some people I don't know. But other than that, it was just one of those great wonderful days. Here are some of the things that helped to make it great.

1. It was perfect weather. Sunny and 70. PERFECT.
2. No child woke up before 9:30 this morning.
3. My sheets and the air were perfect sleeping temperature.
4. I woke up beside the man that I love more than any other.
5. My kids were in good moods and laughed a lot while they ate their breakfast.
6. I had lunch with Super Z outside at Newks.
7. He told me that I was the best mom in the world.
8. We talked about school and friends and shared a salad and his cheese pizza.
9. Randy and I cleaned out cars. (It doesn't sound great, but it was nice. AND my car looks new!!)
10. I love my house.
11. I love my yard.
12. I love my family.
13. I didn't have to rive more than 5 miles away from my house all day.
14. I bought the kids a goody just because I wanted to.
15. Randy grilled me an almost perfect steak for supper.
16. I sat on the porch and threw the ball with Super Z while he grilled.
17. Princess H took a nap and woke up happy and refreshed.
18. The princess laughed and held my hand while we ate dinner.
19. She gave me her pretty crooked special love smile.
20. I didn't worry about anything all day long. I just enjoyed every single minute.

I Am Crazy Mean

Super Z has decided that I am crazy mean. He has now described me that way 3 times! This usually is accompanied by him lamenting on how EVERYONE in the world is mean to him. Most grown ups hold him to some standard of behavior. His sister and other children expect him to share and act like a human. Oh cruel world!
He is not actually all that bad. But when he gets in these moods...WOW. I am talking about some serious whiney hiney baby drama. And I know exactly where the drama jeans come from. They come straight from his dad. Don't let the calm exterior fool you. My husband is the most dramatic emotional person on the planet. I have decided that most men are like that. At least on some level.
I figured out quick when I taught second grade (way back in my former life) that the boys were the sensitive ones. Girls are tough. Most, like Princess H, really don't give a crap what you think of them. That seems to be something that comes into girls later in life...Maybe because we are taught that we are supposed to care? I don't know, but the princess has convinced me that girls all start out the same way, crazy mean. Let's just hope that time turns us all back into crazy mean little girls who wear what they want and aren't afraid to stand up in a buggy in the middle of the grocery store and sing at the top of our lungs. Man, those crazy mean girls know how to live.
As far as the boys, we aren't really mean. We will always be here to comfort them. Even when they think we are the meanest mom in the world.

My Obsession

All I can think about these days is Weight Watchers. Weight loss. The shrinking of me. I am having trouble embracing the fact that I have lost almost 100 pounds now. AND I only have 80 to go! More than half way there. WOOT. I have been trying to get a grasp on how far I've come, but apparently all of my old pictures ONLY have my face. Apparently I had body issues.lol So here is a shot from last February and a not so good shot from today. I guess I can see it a bit. I don't look quite as...swollen? I also don't have to try so hard to look okay in pictures. Which is an art that I mastered. I am happy about my progress. I have lots of big plans. One of which is to keep a better visual record in the coming months. The other plans...maybe I will let you in on those in future posts...Maybe I will actually posts about some of the things that I am thinking about lately...maybe?

The Creation of A Monster

Wordless Wednesday: My favorite sister and me

My Grandparents Renewed Their Vows

On December 17th my maternal grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. My Mamaw was very excited about finally getting married in a church. It was especially meaningful to me because they did it in the same church that Randy and I got married in. It was a beautiful cold Christmastime night. The candles were glowing and the building was filled with family and love.

Over 60 years they have amassed 7 children, 18 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 4 step great grandchildren (my mamaw insists that they be included :), and 3 great grandchildren on the way. They took go forth and multiply to heart.

My cousin Rae took these lovely pictures and my Uncle sand Forever and Ever Amen. It was truly beautiful. I am proud to say that my only contribution was coming up with the idea and driving two hours on a week night to attend. It was probably my favorite part of the holidays this year.

Super Z is 6!

On the 20th we had Super Z's birthday party. Actually ON his birthday. I was so proud. We are going to be doing a second mini-celebration later this month in Natchez so that our family can celebrate with us. We didn't think that it would be very nice to make them drive up for a party the weekend before Christmas.
Despite missing his Mimi, his cousins, and the rest, Super Z hade a great party. He had a skate board theme. He is a skateboarder through and through. Several of our friends came. It was the most people that we have had in our new house all at once. It is amazing how much smaller a house can seem with 20 people in it.
Because of the fact that Santa came to our house early (the night before to be exact) there were plenty of toys for everyone to play with. The Wii Fit was a huge hit with the grown up kids. :)

I am so proud of my baby. He is such a good boy. I can't believe that he is 6 years old! Where oes the time go? All of the baby is washing off of Super Z. He is a big boy now. He is learning to read. He can do skate board tricks. He helps me cook. He cleans his room. He loves me the most despite all of that. I am still his best Mom. He tells me so every day.

2008 Out

We are all alive and well. We finished out 2008 with our usual end of the year flurry. Super Z turned 6. Santa came. We visited many many friends and relatives. We drove a lot of miles. We got good presents. We gave presents that made people smile. I got a Nintendo DS! We hugged a lot of people. Princess H showed me why she still sleeps in her crib. We had a fire. We shot fireworks. We played Dirty Santa 3 or 4 times. Super Z learned how to walk on Heely's. Tyler came for a week. He got us up to date on what is and is not cool (as only a 14 year old can). We went to the movies. We managed to have 6 minutes alone. It was busy and perfect. I hope that everyone's holidays were as great, if not as busy.
I have a lot of photo posts to do to get up to date. So at least for the next couple of days, I'll be a regular in these parts. Have a great day.