Remember...

This Memorial Day weekend, we are called to remember each and every American who has served their country, be it as a soldier, a wife of a soldier, or their families.

For a wonderful tribute done with photography, click on the link below.  The Pioneer Woman has outdone herself with a Photography assignment entitled, "Coming Home".

(Get the Kleenex ready).

Pioneer Woman Coming Home Photos

Bathtime

I consider hot running water to be one of the best blessings in my life.

Bath & Body Works bath gel, a few candles, a big fluffy towel, and my shower make me a happy girl.

I'm not much of a bath girl, but if I had this tub, I might reconsider:

So, can anyone explain to me why it is so difficult to get my boys to get cleaned up somedays?  Or the dog?  I just spent over 45 minutes scrubbing the dirt from Gabe's feet and knees, then another 15 wrestling our ten-pound toy Fox Terrier into the tub.  Why don't they appreciate the feeling of being clean and smelling good?

I am utterly exhausted and smell like wet, albeit clean, dog and boy.  A hot shower would do me good, but I'm too tired to even turn the water on.

le sigh...

Excited...

to have seven days off in a row.

to be done with preschool, so I can spend lots of time with this boy, doing fun mom-Gabe stuff:

to finally have some warm weather and sunshine, making it feel like summer.

to only have to pack eight more lunches after today.

to look forward to a summer with my kids.  They're at great ages right now:  almost 12, 10 and 5.  We are going to have SO MUCH FUN!

Anything got you excited this week?

Blogtrot your way to Tennessee!

When Cara and MEP had the idea of a Blogtrotting vacation post, I jumped right on it.  I knew exactly which vacation spot I would post about, too...

I've been going to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, since I was eighteen years old.  We have gone with Joe's parents almost every year since our first wedding anniversary back in 1997, and it is the kids' FAVORITE place ever.  In fact, I'm pretty sure they would choose Tennessee over Disney World.

What's the big deal about Gatlinburg, you may ask...

Well, that's what this post is all about.

First, we can drive from our home to our cabin in the Smoky Mountains in five hours.  That's a big deal when you're traveling with three kids!

Next, we love staying in a different cabin each time we come.  This one even allowed us to bring our dog, Ellie, and had a great yard (where we did Elijah's Mentos/Diet Coke explosion experiment...ever tried it?).

You can't beat a mountain sunrise, photographed from your cabin's porch while sipping hot coffee and listening to the birds sing.

I usually don't even have the van unloaded before the rest of my crew hops in the hot tub.  It's fine, because it gives me time to organize the kitchen and unpack the groceries (we always bring our own food and cook in the awesome kitchens...trying to be frugal where I can).

There are so many great kid things to do in the Smokies, like Putt-putt:

or hike:

take fun pictures:

make great memories with Mamaw Kay:

hang out at the Tanger outlet malls, eat ice cream from a vending machine, and even ride the carousel while Mom shops for some great deals:

It's even a great place to spend the weekend with your fellow blogging buddies!

7

(Estrogen Extravaganza 2009)

Wanna tell us about your favorite vacation spot?  Hop on over to the Blogtrotting blog and link up!

Goodbye, preschool...

I have spent three years with the awesome staff at LPC Preschool (one with Isabel, two with Gabe).

Today is the last day I will ever have a baby of my own walk through their doors.

When Gabe first started preschool, he was a handful.  Tackling his "friends", not being a good listener, refusing to learn how to write his name or even learn his abc's.  Even then, the teachers and staff loved him.  They've known him since he was two weeks old.  They laugh at his antics, and have endless patience with his orneriness.  And all that love and attention has paid off.

After a year with these two teachers, Gabe can:

write his name, recognize all his abc's and even read quite a few words.  His attention span is longer, and he has learned many social skills (such as NOT tackling his friends).

Part of me is excited to see my last baby go off to kindergarten.  And another part knows I'm really going to miss having him in preschool.

Thanks, Mrs. Tunison and Miss Shannon and Miss Cindy and all the other wonderful women at LPC...it's been a great three years!

Joy

It's a dreary day outside.  I am post-night shift tired, and have to go to class tonight.  I could complain (well, I just did, I guess), but instead, I'm going to focus on some things that are giving me joy lately...

My Keurig coffee-maker, Green Mountain coffee and hazelnut creamer.

Texting.

My sweet friends, Diane and Monica, and our hysterical husbands.

Impending summer vacation.

Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade with homemade popcorn.

Cheering at Elijah's Little League baseball games.

Planning our family vacation this fall.

Good books (currently reading "The White Queen" by Phillipa Gregory).

Having the beginnings of a good tan.

Working in my garden.

Sensual Amber lotion from Bath and Body Works.

And yes, even the rain (less watering for me to do!).

What things are bringing you joy lately?

"Be joyful always; pray continually;
 give thanks in all circumstances,

 for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

  -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dog tired

It might be the weather, chilly and cloudy with the threat of rain pressing down all around me.

It might be the rich food and (bottles of) wine we shared with friends last night.

It might be the idea of having to drive to Chuck E. Cheese's for a birthday party this afternoon, then sit and listen to all those screaming kids for two hours.

Whatever it is, it has me wanting to follow in Gabe's footsteps and do this:

Sadly, it's not gonna happen.  Not for at least seven or eight more hours, anyway.

sigh...