You Might Be A Redneck If...

You might be a redneck if you take a family photo in the Bass Pro Shop with everyone sporting a hunter's doo rag.


PS - More Redneck Photos tomorrow be sure to watch.

I Must Say It Too Much

Friday afternoon the kids and I were cleaning up the living room and the kitchen. It wasn't a major overhaul but enough to keep the clutter to a minimum and try to maintain some order in the house. I asked Logan to take care of some of his dirty clothes and toys to which he replied, "I'm not your slave." As mad as I was I calmly stated, "These are not my items and if you'd like to keep your Transformers I think you may want to help me pick up." He quickly saw the errors of his ways.

Hmm, I think I need to have a new saying besides, "I'm not your slave." Suggestions?

Stories From Baseball Camp

I'm not at home right now since it's time for my company's Summer Meeting but I'm getting calls from home with updates so I thought I'd pass them on. This week Logan is attending Baseball Camp and each day I hear a funnier story.

The first one was that Logan changed his name. On Monday at his first day of camp the coaches asked Logan his name and he replied that his name was on his glove. They said what your name is Franklin? (That's the name on the gloves.) Logan said no, my name is Logan. They spent the whole day picking on him and his name.

He told Phil that his after baseball camp is over his coaches are going to take him camping in a tent. Of course that is news to his coaches.

Appreciation - Finally!

If only I knew. Today I walked Kayla through the steps to switch the laundry and put a new load in the washing machine. After she did it she said, "Mom that's hard work. How do you do it all the time." I said you just do. But I knew she'd appreciate all the work it takes to keep the house running I'd have taught her to do the laundry at age 5! (Maybe I should teach Logan???)

When Your Jocularity Needs A Lift

My friend Kim always has some great words and one of my favorites is jocularity. She shared this video with me that shows the evolution of dance. This person is a motivational speaker and friend of Kim's husband. If watching this doesn't make you laugh then I don't know what to say. Hope this increases your jocularity.

Wedgies Part 2

Logan has on boxers today but you can't get a wedgie wearing boxers so he's changing his underwear!

Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa

Phil and I are blessed to share our anniversary with you on this special day. I think there's magic in sharing that. What wonderful role models you are in displaying what it takes to have a lasting marriage.

We love you and wish you a Happy Anniversary!

Happy 14th Anniversary

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary. Doesn't seem possible that 14 years ago today Phil and I were married. But since we've moved down to Atlanta we've only been together on our actual anniversary once. I'm sitting now in Salt Lake City, Utah attending a meeting while Phil is home taking care of our three (hopefully still behaving) children.

I love you dear more than I did when we said I do 14 years ago. Here's to at least another 14 more years of wedded bliss. I love you!

Who Likes Wedgies?

I remember growing up and hating when Tony would try to give me a wedgie or anyone would try for that matter. I guess that gene didn't pass down to our boys. Last night Alex was begging Logan to GIVE him a wedgie. He'd come over to Logan and say give me a wedgie! Then Logan would do it and the wedgie was almost an atomic wedgie. Then Alex would laugh and laugh and come back for another one!

Exciting Plans in the Works

Logan loves to watch the American Gladiators (he calls them the American Alligators) every week. He's decided that he and Phil are going to build some of the apparatus that they use on the show. One is a basketball game where you're hooked to bungie cords and you bounce up and make baskets. Or the other one is a pull back game where you're hooked to a bungie cord and you try to pull as hard as you can to the opposite side and make the gladiator holding the cord fly into the air.

Logan has decided that he and Phil will be the Gladiators and the rest of us can compete against them. I'll be interested to see what "plans" are made while I'm in Salt Lake City attending a meeting.

Return From Girl Scout Camp

We picked up Kayla from Girl Scout camp last Friday. It sure is nice to have her home now. Just like I told her she would she had a blast. They were busy every day all day. She got to be in the barns for two hours a day. She learned to clean up after her horse, brush her horse, tack her horse and of course ride her horse. I think her favorite thing was that on the last day she got to take her horse on a trail ride. I think the only day she was ever worried was when they had some stormy weather coupled with some tornado warnings. She's ready to go back to Girl Scout camp next year.

Sad News for Logan

Yesterday brought some sad news for Logan. Over the weekend we noticed that Logan had a rather large abscess behind his knee. We thought at first it might be some type of bug bite but it was warm to the touch and was looking more and more like a large pimple. We decided that it was in our best interest to take Logan to the doctor's to have it checked out. Well it turns out that it is a boil. Boils are contagious which means Logan can't swim in the pool until it's gone. Hopefully this will occur quickly but it first has to get to the point where it can be drained. So now he's on some antibiotics that taste and smell awful for the next 10 days and a return visit to the doctor to see how it's coming along.

All in all he's taking the news of not being able to swim pretty well. Kayla says she won't swim until he can or at least not in our pool and she's secretly hoping a friend with a pool will invite her over for a swim.

Will She Want to Come Home?

Just got another camp photo to share. I dont' think she's going to want to come home when we go to pick her up tomorrow. Maybe if we tell her a trip to Six Flags is in her future she'll want to come (Logan wants to go every day and keeps asking to go).

Photos From Camp

I didn't sign up to see the photos from Camp Meriweather but now I wish I had. Amy (Kayla's friend Madison's mom) sent me a link to this photo of Kayla in the horse barns. It sure looks like she's having fun to me. Tonight's the last night of camp for her and we go pick her up tomorrow. It sure will be nice to have her home. I can't wait to hear about all the fun she's had.

Another Alexism

Alex hits Logan. Logan cries and tells on Alex. Phil says Alex you need a swat on the butt. Alex says, "Dad don't hit me hard because you're my best friend. I'm going to give you a big hug when you're done because you're my best friend." Phil gives Alex a swat and Alex gives Phil a big hug.

More Words of Wisdom From Alex

This summer I'm doing a compressed schedule so that I can have every other Friday off to spend time with the family. This means I have to get up around 5:15 a.m. to get ready to go to work. This morning I was up getting ready to take a shower and Alex comes in to the bathroom to ask me what I'm doing. I tell him that I'm getting ready for work. He tells me, "You can't go to work when it's dark outside they won't let you in." (Oh, how I wish that were true.)

According to Alex

It happens when you least suspect and you try to hold it in but sometimes you just can't stop it - you fart. This happened to me and I did what you are supposed to do or so I thought. I said, "Excuse Me." Alex says, "You don't say excuse me when you fart." I asked, "What do you say then." Alex replies, "You don't say anything you just fart and laugh."

What is Phil doing with these boys while he's home alone with them??????

Girl Scout Camp

Yesterday we took Kayla to her first extended Girl Scout Camp. Kayla earned a portion of her camp fees by selling cookies and we paid the rest. She was a little nervous but I think we sent her with everything on her list including a few of the optional items. We made sure she was all settled in her cabin before making the hour and a half treck home. She's not alone because her best friend Madison is with her and this is the same camp that our troop went camping at in the fall.

I know she'll have fun because she'll get to work with horses two hours a day plus choose from tons of fun other activities. I can't wait to hear all about it when we pick her up on Friday. Of course meanwhile we'll miss having her around. I wonder if this is what it will feel like when she leaves for college?

Need for Speed

Alex got a new bike as his early birthday present on the 31st so he could enjoy riding all summer. He has an extreme need for speed (so Phil says) and rides faster than Logan. That child never stops pedaling. Let's hope he doesn't wipe it since Phil says he wobbles like weebel (Weebels wobble but they don't fall down.).

Go Red Wings!

Need I say more?

You'd Never Know I Worked for An A/C Engineering Society

For the past day and a half you'd never know that I work for an Heating, Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Society because we were without A/C. Now it probably wouldn't have been quite so warm if we were able to open WINDOWS but designers and architects don't do that in office buildings any more. Yesterday started out with 82 degrees at 7 a.m. Luckily by 1 p.m. our company said head on home (nice for Kayla's birthday) with promises by building management that the A/C would be working in the a.m. Today I arrived at 7 a.m. and it was 87 degrees in here. Clearly the A/C was not fixed. By about 1:30 p.m. today the A/C was finally working! Although the air is still humid.

You'd think we'd get some perks with A/C here, huh? It better still work tomorrow as tomorrow's high is 93!

Party 2

The second party of the week was for Kayla (OF COURSE!). This year she had a just a sleepover party. That was Sunday starting at 4 p.m. The event started with everyone trying out the Wii Fit and then taking a dip in our little pool. The girls had fun swimming and doing a whirlpool. Then it was time for some chips/veggies and cheese dip and more Wii Fit fun. But they were STILL hungry so I had to feed them some chocolate fondue with strawberries, marshmallow, rice krispie treats, pineapple, and angel food cake. That resulted in some fun faces covered in chocolate.

After a lot of Wii playing and decorating their own pillow cases the girls decided to watch the 5th Harry Potter movie. Who knew that 7 Girls could squish onto our couch? I'm not sure what happened after about 10:30 that night as I was getting boys to bed but I'm assured by Kayla that they all had a good time!

Parties, Parties and More Parties

This seems to be the week of parties at our place. It started on Saturday. Alex got to have a little bit of early birthday fun. Since his birthday is in July he never has a party with any of his friends from school because he stays home with Phil in the summer. This year Alex asked for a friend birthday party. So we gathered up his friends and went to Jungle Jump Adventures for an hour and half party. It really is fun and there is no set up or clean up. The kids got to run around and have fun. The party size wasn't too big - only 10 kids but they all had fun. I think Alex's favorite part was the presents.

Happy Birthday Kayla!

If you think about it pick up the phone and give Kayla a call. Today is her actual birthday! What a blessing it is to have such a wonderful daughter even as we may butt heads sometimes as she becomes even more independent. Our little girl is changing into a young lady faster than we want it to happen. We knew the day would come but we still want to hang on to our little girl. Perhaps she'll let us do that every once in a while just to make us feel better. Kayla we are so proud of you and the young lady that you are becoming.