"Mama...Eight is Great!!"

 

 Oh, Bubby Biscuit...you are so right.  Eight IS great!  But it's not the age or the gifts or the cake or the cinnamon rolls or the tacos or the balloons or decorations that make it so great.

 

 It's YOU!!

 

Seth Jackson, you have brought so much joy into our lives.  You are so smart and handsome and have so much personality.  You are a hard worker and always try your best (except for that whole room cleaning thing.) 

 

 It's not always easy being the middle muffin but you know what?  A sandwich isn't a sandwich without the middle.  It's the best part with the most flavor and if that ain't you, I don't know what is!

 

Your favorites right now are wrestling, Alabama, Atlanta Braves, baseball, jumping on the trampoline, hamburgers, tacos, pizza, riding the lawn mower, Pop and wallering in your bed.  You love for me to sing camp songs to you at night and that brings my heart so much joy!  You are so special and I just know you're going to do big things.  Daddy and I love you so much and I pray that God blesses us with at least 50 more years with you so we can be there for them all. 

 

Thankful Thursday

can't remember the last time I did a TT post, so it's way overdue!!  and appropriate on the coat tails of our worship service at church last night.  So...

1.) I'm thankful for air-conditioning.  oh my word it is so hot in Alabama right now.  I just want to whine about it.  anyone else?

2.)  for kids who are healthy, smart and (usually) happy.  such a blessing, these little devils  are.  even in the times that they make me question what I was thinking by having them, I wouldn't change a thing.  I am fully aware that it can always change in the blink of an eye.

3.)  So thankful for Daddybird's job.  He's had steady work for 13 years and we've been fortunate enough for me to stay home with all of the babybirds.  In this age when jobs aren't a guarantee, I'm exceedingly grateful.

4.)  health.  we're reasonably healthy.  we've (obviously) never been hungry or had any major health problems.  How 'bout this?  Luke is going on 10 years antibiotic free!!

5.)  i'm thankful we have a home big enough (even if we feel a little cramped sometimes...only from our abundant blessings) for us that we can afford. if we can love them and feed them and shelter them, a good part of our job as parents is taken care of.  Bonus that they let us live here, too.

6.)  my church family.  we are part of a church the truly tries to show Jesus to the world, not just other Christians.  i'm not only thankful, but proud to be a part of that.

7.)  friends.  so glad we can meet up with people we've loved for years, whether it's for a week, a night or even a lunch hour and stay connected.  God has blessed us with such special people in our lives and I know it's because we found each other through Him.

There is more.  So much more.  But I'm not feeling exceptionally thankful for the Maggie moo's & hot sun at the moment (stick with Pop Ice, people), so I'll leave you with this:

The Orange Rhino Challenge

I'm that mama.  It's not even a secret.  I'm not proud.  In fact, it gnaws at me.  A friend introduced this to me after I'd had a particularly ugly bedtime ritual.  I'm a grown up.  I DO know better (although I don't always act like it.)  They are kids.  Sometimes they DO know better, but sometimes they DON'T.  I can't always control how they act, but I can always control how I react.  So here's to loving more and yelling less!!  I'm starting with a week.  Then a month.  Then going from there.  Feel free to hold me accountable.

Happy Birthday, Ally Claire!! (I never knew...)

Dear Ally Claire,

I can't believe you are five, a whole hand today!  I never knew the time would fly by so fast!  Didn't we just bring you home from the hospital?

I never knew how scared I'd be those first few days of your life.  Some people may think we're silly for lamenting that you were in the NICU for 10 days, 5 years ago, but those people have never watched their child struggle for breath, for life.  Those people have never been completely helpless, watching a machine breathe for their child for 4 days. 

I never knew that not being able to hold you would make my arms literally ache.  The first time we did hold you, it was only for 10 minutes and nothing before or since has been so bittersweet.  The next morning as I folded laundry for your brothers, I sobbed.  I felt like I had the flu.  My entire being ached for you to be home with us, in our arms.  I knew a part of me was missing and I needed you.  You are who made our family complete.

I never knew how different you'd be, even as a baby, from your brothers.  I never knew how one child could hate car rides so much she went hoarse from screaming.  I never knew a big brother could be completely smitten with a baby sister.  I never knew that painting your toe nails once would mean a lifetime of polish and glitter.  I never knew that you'd love dresses and high heels and jewelry by your second birthday.

I never knew you would be such a good "tag-a-long", going to and sitting through all of your brothers' practices and ball games, running errand after errand with me.  I never knew you'd love camp so much, even at the tender age of 3, but I certainly hoped.

I never knew you'd sleep on the very edge of the bed like me, but talk in your sleep like your daddy.  I never knew you'd be so stinking messy, so much worse than your brothers.  I never knew you'd talk so big, so fast and know how to add before you'd know how to spell.  I never knew I'd be so attached to you that I'd get antsy when you've been away for only two nights at a grandparent's house.

I never knew you'd make me feel beautiful (because you tell me every day) and that I'd believe you.  I never knew I'd want to be better even though you think I'm the best at everything already.  You say the sweetest things and give the best hugs and kisses.

I never knew I'd be the most blessed woman in the world because you're my daughter and I get the opportunity to be your mama.  When I prayed to God to send me a girl, I never knew He'd send me my best friend and that I'd get to have all of your moments from the very beginning.  I never knew He'd send me such a fighter, someone so strong (willed) and determined, so smart and beautiful. 

Even though by the time you came along and I'd been a parent for almost 5 years to 2 others, I never knew this kind of love.  It's not bigger or more.  It's just different.  I knew it might be.  I had your nana and meemaw to prepare me for that.  But until you got here and were finally in my arms, finally in our home, my mind never knew what it'd be like to have you.

But my heart knew...it knew because it recognized you.  You've always lived there, even when I was just five.  You see, I waited on you a long time and when you finally came, I realized that everything I thought I knew was so very wrong.  You are so much more.  So much better.  So much bigger.  So much prettier.  So much smarter.  you are just so much and I never know if I'll be able to take anymore of you.

But every year, every day with you, every laugh, every breath is a blessing.  I will never get over those first days because now I really know what I could have missed out on.  I'm so thankful for the doctors and nurses and for our amazing God who took you right out of my heart and helped you grow in my belly until you could finally be placed in my arms.  I love snuggling with you in the morning.  I love tea parties and pedicures and sassy attitudes and sparkles and glitter and high heels and dresses that twirl.  I love singing to you at night and listening to your sweet voice singing along with mine about seeking God first and about His amazing grace.

I never knew these first 5 years would fly by so fast.  You start kindergarten in the fall and while I know you're ready, I'm not sure if I am.  But you will do great.  You'll meet your first best friend and have your first favorite teacher and read your first book and so many things.  I hope it's God's plan for me to be there for it all. 

I love you so much.  So much more than I knew I would.  You're such a blessing, Ally Claire (Lucy Goose, Sissy, Lissy, Loony Toons, Bitty Girl).  If there's anything that you ever know, I hope it's that!  Happy Birthday, love angel!!

xoxo~
Mama

Thankful Thursday, Surviving to Thriving

The kids have been out of school for about 3 weeks and all I have to say is that I'm so glad we aren't committed to being a lot of places and doing a lot of things this summer.  I'm thankful that we are going to get lots of play time - free time, time to just be - these next couple of months.

I love making the summer fun list every year and watching it grow as my children do (2013, 2012, 2011).  I'm thankful that we seem to have hit what I call the "sweet spot" in the last year or so.  Don't get me wrong.  That sweet spot doesn't in any way refer to the fact that we've finally, after only nine years of parenting, gotten everything figured out.  Oh, no.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  What I mean is that after nine years of parenting, we are no longer carrying a diaper bag, because no one is in diapers (and hasn't been for a really almost 3 years.)  And we no longer have to break up our activities while on vacation to plan around naps because no one requires one anymore (sadsadsad).  And while we do still have to take food with us to some places (because my kids are picky), it's not necessary.  We can pretty much pick up and do and go wherever we want to, whenever we want to.  I am so thankful to be in that season of life.  What I've only realized in the last couple of months (the ones that happen to be our busiest) is that we are entering a new phase of parenting, one that if we don't grab it by the horns and commit to being fully there, we'll miss it.  It will go by as quickly, if not quicker, than the last nine years have. 

You see, for almost a decade, to get us to this point, we have been in that season of parenthood called surviving (can I get an Amen?).  We survived on fewer hours of sleep, fewer brain cells (no thanks, pregnancy), fewer left over dollars (if any), remnants of sanity fueled only by cheerios and bites of chicken nuggets or niblets of hotdogs that have been skinned and cut into a million pieces.  We've done our time wearing pee, wiping poop and smelling like puke.  We've tasted baby fruits and chased down bottles left in the van after the previous trip to Wal-Mart.  We've felt guilty for going to church only to have to leave early because a nap was needed and they'd only ever sleep in their own beds.  We've clapped over first steps and yelled over masterpieces drawn on walls.  We've made it and, somehow - surely only by the good Lord's hand - so have they.

But now, we have to transition from the season of surviving into thriving.  Oh, I know we'll still have some surviving to do.  I mean, we are on the precipice of those dreaded teen years (Lord, give me strength!)  I have realized that there will be a year when I have an 18 year old son (you know, the one who'll know everything and think he's so big because he'll be on the way to college), a 16 year old son (I just don't even know that the Alabama highways will ever be ready for that child), and a 13 year old daughter (drama & hormones...kind of like now, but on mega doses of steroids) all living in one house.  Please have mercy. 

What I mean is that when we first start out, I think we do a lot of "reactive" parenting.  Yes, there are some instances that you plan for.  You have to.  But really, until you bring one of those little cave people home with you...how much do you really know?  Nothing.  And we've all looked at our parents and their coy smiles and thought (or maybe cried), "Are you kidding me with this?  Why didn't you tell me parenting would be like this?"  Why, indeed.  It's because nothing could have prepared us.  And so we wing it.  We react and figure it out as we go.  We make mistakes.  We learn.  (It's totally why God makes kids so resilient.  They survive just like we do, lol!)

But you make it to a point to where all your kids know to rest when they're tired.  They know the "urge" when to go to the bathroom (and even when they can go alone in some places).  They know when they're hungry and can even fix SOMETHING to eat and drink on their own.  They don't walk out into the middle of the street completely naked or open the door to strangers. 

So now what?  Now comes the really hard part.  Getting into a different mindset so that you can let them go one day.  We can't merely survive these next pivotal years. We have to figure out how to thrive so that they will, too.

I'm thankful to be done with some of the stress that comes with the tiny years.  I'm thankful that, right now, we get to experience the joy (and even heartache) that comes with trying new things and meeting new people in these little years.  I'll be thankful for all the frustration that has and will come with all of the years when they've left my nest because I have no doubt that they'll grow up and one day, finally get it (gasp!  My mama wasn't a complete moron!)

So while the foundations and routines and habits we've instilled in them to get here are important, these next years are even more so.  I have no idea how we'll survive it.  But I hope we do it while thriving.

I was chosen just for them.  They were chosen just for me.  I've lost precious friends too young, too soon, who've had no choice in leaving littles behind.  I don't mind sounding a little bit selfish when I say I want to be the one to experience the thriving years with these three who have been entrusted to the Mr. and me.  I'm thankful for last season and I'm thankful for this new one.  I hope the plan is for me to see and experience many more seasons to come.

Summer Fun List 2013

School is out and I now have an incoming 4th grader, 2nd grader and KINDERGARTENER!!  That's right...all the little Tuckers will be starting school in the fall so we are going to cram this summer with fun...at least I hope so!  Take a peek at our list!

This ought to get us started!  I have things I need to catch up on around here (as usual) but hopefully with nowhere we HAVE to be, I'll get the opportunity.  Happy Summer Y'all!

total submission & the wrestling metaphor

Our ladies class on Wednesday nights has started a new study on the book The Resolution for Women.  We're two weeks in and I'm already convicted.  I adore Priscilla Shirer, don't y'all?

I'm pretty sure that sometimes God comes to you when He KNOWS He has your undivided attention.  You know what I'm talking about.  It's usually 2 a.m...and He doesn't quietly whisper in your ear.  Oh, no.  He's on a mission; a mission for your heart and He means business. 

He knows when you've been "wrestling" with something and He shows up, loud and proud, ready for for a no-holds-barred, Friday night smackdown, cage match.  He doesn't sneak in.  He dives down from atop the frame and pins your tail to the mat, refusing to let you up until you give in and give Him your total submission.

There may be hair pulling.  There may be stomping.  There may be name calling.  There may be bruises.  There may be cuts so deep that even the salt from your whiney tears make them scream out in agony.  You may throw things.  You may bite and claw and scream.  You may even try to run.  Before it's all over with, you definitely feel like tagging out and letting someone else finish the match for you.

But when it comes to our souls, God is the champion.  In His human form as Jesus, He's been through it all, seen it all, faced it all.  And how did that end?  Total submission in death on the cross...with victory in Heaven.  There is no beating that.  When it comes to our eternal glory, God will go to the death match for His children.  He'll take stripes on His back.  He'll take ridicule.  He'll carry any load we give Him because it's not too much.  Not for Him.

God will fight for us because He loves us so much.  He's not afraid to get in our faces.  Our God can be gentle, but He is so very fierce.  He knows when all we need is a nudge and also when we need a serious bodyslam.

What in the world am I talking about?

Just that I'm glad that when I give up or just flat out ignore God, He doesn't do that to me.  He puts people in my path.  He times things just perfectly so that I'm awake, thanks to zyrtec-D and a clogged left nostril, and can give Him my full attention.  He doesn't pull punches.  He gets into my heart and my head and when I need it most, defeats me in a way that I have nothing else I can do but totally submit to Him.  He requires me to give up pride (ouch!).  He makes me take off my mask.  He makes me say it, sometimes out loud...I surrender...

I'm thankful He gives His grace freely and that there are no amounts of deeds I could do to earn it.  But I'm glad some things aren't always easy and that He gives me a spirit that wants to fight for the prize, for Him.

I'll show up to that match any day, any time, and let Him take me down all over again.

The best of 2012 in pictures...

love this...

i didn't know ceelo could sing like this.  i love this song as it is and his version is just great!

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Holidays from the Tuckers!!  I'd say Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukkah to my Anna B) but since apparently I only find it necessary to post monthly--if we're lucky--I'll just stick with the gereral wishes of happiness.  Love to you and yours from me and mine!!

the parent rap

i had forgotten about this, but it's hysterical!

just bear with me

sniffsniff...it's the end of my saga.  i can't help myself.  i don't know the person who made this video, but i fully support it.  i am a sap.  and yes, i've seen it twice.  no snide comments.  just enjoy the love.  you know you want to.

just do it

go read this book.  you'll cry.  but in a good way.  it's a book that sticks with you.  it is so tender and wonderful and oh my goodness...augustus...and hazel grace.  i can promise you'll have a book hangover when you're done, but it is just so worth it.  i don't lie about books.  just put it on your list.  if you've already read it, tell me so we can swoon and cry together.  it is so wonderful.

Happy Halloween!

 

The Ninja, Princess Jasmine and a Teen Wolf!  May your candy last until Thanksgiving (because you can rest assured it won't in our house!)

The Post-It Project

First of all, I am in no way affiliated with the Post-It company and they aren't paying me for this, but I do love the brand and it is the one I bought during the awesome back to school sales, so that's how the name of this little project came to be.

Now...

I got the idea a while ago for Micah and I to kick it up a notch with the "I love you's" that can become all too familiar and standard...you know, the ones that come with a kiss before leaving in the mornings and before closing our eyes at night.  So, I challenged him to 30 days of love note writing.  I mean, let's face it, in our world of texting and emails, the common note is becoming obsolete and I HATE that because I LOVE the written word.  There's nothing I love more than getting something in the mail with a little personal note attached to it.  I'm not hard to please.

It started because I found a note tucked in the back of a bathroom drawer that he had written a while back, just wishing me a good day (after what I'm sure had been a few harry ones).  I cherish those little ways of saying 'I love you' or 'I'm thinking of you' or 'I'm proud of you' or even 'You are smokin' hot and I'm dang lucky' that can easily fall by the wayside when you're rushing kids to school or to practice or washing dishes and feeding dogs and folding laundry.

So, I named it The Post-It Project and got us started with this...

 

Then we chose our colors out of my plentiful stash...and got started.

 

We wrote our notes, sometimes in the mornings, sometimes after we thought about it for a whole day, and then slapped it to the bathroom mirror.

 

 

 

And we met the challenge for 30 days!! 

 

Sometimes it was hard not to fall into the rut and wind up saying the same things over and over, but that was the whole point of the challenge and I think it was so worth it, even if some of the things were silly and not so serious.  Love notes are typically cheesy and if you can't be that way with the one you love more than life, then what are you doing??

 



It gave me the opportunity to speak his love language a little better and tell him how much I appreciate all his help and just how lucky and blessed I feel that he's mine and vice versa!

 

It also gave him the chance to say more than a scheduled/obligatory 'I love you' (not that I don't love those words every time he says them) and be specific about what he loves and to encourage me in my every day tasks that can feel overlooked and expected.

 

It was really fun and now I think we'll do it for the kids!

 

Give it a try!  You won't be sorry, I promise.  It's husband approved! 

(ps...I wouldn't click on those pictures...there may be married people talk involved.  i'm not sorry about it.)

Happy 4th Birthday, Ally Claire

Dear Ally Claire,
Where to even begin my little lovely?  You are such a blessing, such a delight.  I've said it on here and I'll say it again so that you'll never question it.  I prayed you into existance little one.  I always wanted to be a mama.  I hoped I would be blessed and that I would get the experience of having both boys and girls, but if I'm being honest, and you know that's my way, I REALLY wanted a little girl.  You are ALLLLL girl!  Make no mistake about that.  You love all things girly and frilly and fluffy.  One of my favorite quotes from you this year was, "Mama...all it needs is sparkles and glitter!"  Pink and purple and glitter and crowns and princesses and nail polish and "spray" and bows.  You are sure to let me know when your "tip toes" get chipped and need to be redone.  You still cling to your purple Hippos that you've had since your "unfortunate incarceration" in the NICU (see links below), but you have allowed other animals to join the throng.  Not long ago, you fell out of bed at night and it was no wonder, you had so much in the bed with you, just like your big brother Luke.  I told you they pushed you out of bed!  You didn't seem to buy it.

But just because you are girly doesn't mean you aren't tough.  You give your brothers just as hard of a time as they give you.  You don't mind being a little dirty and playing outside and you still prefer that your hair look like a "cave woman's" most days.  All in your face and the bigger the better.

And smart.  My goodness you are so smart and verbal.  Luke's teacher thought you were older than you are because of how verbal and conversational you were when we went to have lunch with Luke's class at school!  You are really good at naming your numbers and can count to about 40, but those letters are giving you a hard time.  You're getting there, though, even if you DON'T want my help...with ANYTHING Miss Independant!

But sometimes being that smart has its downside.  You're also quite sassy in attitude and in speech!  You're my child so i doubt you'll outgrow it, but hopefully you'll learn to tame it a little and know when to use it to make people laugh or show boys that pretty girls can be smart, too!

I love you so much, Lucy.  I can't turn my back on you for a second.  Not just because you're into everything, but because if I do, I'll miss it and you'll be in school!  You'll be the hardest to let go of because you're the baby and because like I'd always hoped, we are so close. My hope is that you will continue to grow up strong and healthy, smart and sassy and that you'll always be beautiful and blessed.

Our family wasn't complete until you came along and I'm so thankful that you did!!
xoxoxo

for her hard beginning...start here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Just click on the numbers. the posts are pretty short.

take me out to the ballgame...

another baseball season has come and thankfully gone!  don't get me wrong...out of all the sports my kids play, this is by far my favorite.  but it is a huge time committment, especially when you have two in two different leagues.  plus, we live in the county, so our games aren't in one place.  they are all over and Limestone county is pretty wide!

we start practices in march and this year we had 4-6 practices per week between the two of them.  (and i'll admit, sometimes we skipped a few of seth's b/c no 6 year old needs to be practicing 3x a week.  i mean, hello?)  last year...before the tornadoes came through...we had a set schedule.  but that changed when some of our baseball fields got ruined and we are down a location in which to play.  that also meant less places to practice.  anyway, we made it through march and with april came our games.  TWENTY SIX OF THEM!  all over God's north Alabama creation.

this little girl was there for every practice and every game (some how we avoided them being at the same time all but once i think!) and do you know that they had the nerve to complain when i made them skip games to go to her little 1 hour end of the year preschool program?  i think i may have given them a right good guilt trip.  i've been that little girl and it's not always fun being dragged here and there, but she went and didn't say much to the contrary (unless i haven't brought the appropriate amount of snacks.  that's a different story.)

the boys did really well this year.  luke only struck out during his first game and he got hits every at bat, every game after that.  and he could really crush it!  he's actually going to baseball camp week after next from 9-2 M-TH and I hope he likes it and learns a few things because next year he'll move up into the kid pitch league.  (how did he get that old??)  he played 2nd base and really loved it and did a great job.  his team was set against several of the number one teams around the county so he got worked hard, but he never complained (they only won 2 games, bless 'em!)

seth played short stop...sort of.  it was his first year at that position and i kind of feel like no one really worked with him on what to do (plus the fact that there is a pitcher that stands right in front of him) but he did what he could and was a go-to hitter, earning the nickname of "crusher".  both coaches wondered what was so different in these kids from last season to this.  the only thing we know of is that they were a year older and had been doing kung fu for several months.  they are learning to move their bodies in different ways and their cores were stronger going into the season (which now that we're back in KF, i can tell that they lost some of that strength during baseball).  but who knows?  (i am certain it has nothing to do with the fact that their mama can still get out there and pitch to them help them with their batting stance and throw with them in the yard!)

now...for any of you mama's out there who get sick and tired of ball park food and hate burning up...i have a couple of things to talk about.

first of all...see that little red wagon and that green sportbrella? 
STOP.
GO GET ONE OF EACH.
TRUST ME.

we have at least 4 chairs to haul around with us to any ballgame.  plus equipment (bat bags or buckets, etc.)  i'm not a pack mule.  enter the best wagon ever.  it is made of a sturdy canvas, it folds up, has a cover and two drink holders, and will pull through the deepest gravel even all loaded down.  we're going to try it at the beach this summer, too!  i found mine at Sam's, but they also have them at K-mart.  we could fit our chairs, the sportbrella, a bat bag, an activity bag, a small cooler and a picnic basket in that thing and it just kept on going!

that part umbrella-part tent thing...got it at Sam's, but you can get them most anywhere now.  SO worth it.  especially if you DO have two games in one place and don't have anywhere to cool off in between (or if the game is at 1 and you have to be there at 1230 and you won't leave until sometime after 2!)  seriously...

and lastly...out of all of those games, there were three in which we ate something from the ball park or picked up fast food.  the rest of those games (23 for those of you still reading and keeping up) i took food from home and saved a jillion dollars by doing so.  do you know that those crazy people charge at least a dollar for a bottle of water and you can buy a case of 48 at Sam's for less than $4?  it ain't rocket science folks.  i won't drone on and on about what all i took, but if you want to know, you are welcome to email me.

we made it through another year and next year they both move up in age groups.  can't wait to see how luke does learning to slide and steal bases and let kids throw balls at him (while his mama cringes.)
ps...Sam's did not pay me to endorse their store or these products, but dang it if they would send a gift card for doing so, that would be awesome b/c we shop there at least bi-weekly!!

BOWLED OVER

so...let's go back a little bit.  the beginning of this story started when my boys were in their respective 4 year old pre-K classes.  one of their field trips was to go bowling.  micah went on each of those trips because i always had a younger child or two at home when the trip came around so i didn't get to see how much my kids LOVE to bowl. 

last summer the boys spent a week with my parents while little sister and i went to camp.  during that time, aunt sherri introduced us to www.kidsbowlfree.com. (you can also go to www.amf.com and they have a free bowling program for kids, as well.)  at both of these places you can sign your kids up and they can bowl 2 games for free every day of the summer.  did you hear that?  TWO GAMES FOR FREE EVERY DAY OF THE SUMMER!!!  people, that is quality indoor entertainment when it rains or is one thousand and sixty four degrees outside...like it tends to get in these parts say around the end of june.  you pay shoe rental and that's it.  this summer, we are signed up through both programs.  we could bowl half the day away folks.

so...that's the history.  what am i leading up to?  (man, my story telling skills are rusty!)  a few months ago, after micah's project manager at work got them together and they went out to the arsenal for some team bonding over bowling and a pizza buffet.  so the next time he had a day off and the kids were out of school, we loaded up the whole family and went bowling at the arsenal.

folks, that was a good time!  i can't lie.  the facility out there is awesome! i mean, the bumpers are programmable...as in they go up and down on their own depending on who's bowling!  they even have a little alligator/dinosaur thing for little sister to use so she can bowl like a pro, too!

the pizza was as good as any buffet pizza can be and the staff was super nice and helpful.  i have to say, after this past week's experience, we were spoiled by bowling on the arsenal.  but hopefully we'll be at a little bit newer facility next week (as in one that was built in this century) and have an awesome time since we plan to enjoy some free bowling every week this summer.  give it a try!  it's good fun!

Summer Fun 2012

before i give you a rewind...here's what we'll be up to this summer.  make your own list.  b/c see, even if you buy shaved ice every single week, it you put it on a list and let them check it off, only then does it become an event and more special!  outsmart them while you can, sisters!

once upon a time & a giveaway

hi. i'm becky. i used to blog here.  somewhat regularly.  but then those baby birds over there started getting all big and into so many things and changing the rules and requirements of my job on me.  i'm on the fence about it if i'm being honest.  while they no longer need me for some things (opening snacks, getting something to drink), now they need me for other things (drive us to this practice or game or class, wash this uniform, can we go bowling?--and the answer to that last one is always yes!)

so, i have plenty to catch up on in the last three months, but first, why not go visit meg and check out the 3M Mobile Projector she's trying out and leave her a comment to win a $150 Target gift card.

i'll be back soon.  all the photos are already downloaded and the fact that i've taken time to do that speaks volumes.  i even have a few things to tell you about that i learned during baseball season that kept us cool and occupied while spending hours at the field. 

later gators!