Paris Clampett Goes Down River

My parents have in the past few years have become avid kayakers. They go on the water quite a bit and I love seeing them show such vigor interest in an activity as they prepare for retirement. Though, the idea of my mom outdoors does hold some fascination for me. She always looks stunning and never leaves the house with out her hair or make up done.

Recently on a trip to Savannah, Georgia the two worlds collided. My parents took a kayaking trip with some friends and their boat tipped. In talking to my mom it wasn't the camera or any of the gear that she feared getting wet or lost, it wasnt' the fear of thier heads being smacked of rocks as they were taken down river, it was the fact she had lost her lip gloss, lip gloss that was a recent gift from a friend.

Relaying the story to me my mom says " And of all the things to lose, I lost my lip gloss!" I told Paris Hilton to take it down a notch.

My mom's response "But it wasn't just any lip gloss, it was Chicken Poop lip gloss!"

And just than Paris Hilton flew out of my mom's body and was replaced buy Jed Clampett.

Look What Me Did!

Above is the first teamwork art project that Ally and I completed. There were no power struggles and we both left the project happier and better people than what we came in- I did this with her after just that morning running a 10 mile race. Yes, I am the woman!

I picked up the clothes-pin people kit a while ago, and found it recently. Ally very carefully followed directions and was truly pumped about her princesses, but the mermaid one is truly the masterpiece. As we glued on the shell Ally pointed out "This one is very special."

Ally wanted her creations to move into her sorority house, I mean doll house, but it's already way to crowded with about 20 other princesses, so I was able to convince her these pieces of art would look best in a shadowbox in her room.

Hopefully years from now she'll cherish them and not say "Clothes pin dolls? Where you to cheap for plastic ones?"

It's Jaaaaaaack!

I realized upon looking over my last few entries one may assume that I only have one child. That the elusive Jack I mention here and there could be the dog or an imaginary person I just made up.

No indeed Jack is real. He is another wise known as Ally's little brother.

Jack just turned 8 months this past Monday and I can't believe how time has flown. Has it really been 8 months? He is the most perfect boy baby I've ever seen.

I've been struggling with some things regarding Jack. Not him but things with me being his mom. With Ally I was home with her for year, so I was lucky enough to breathe in every moment of her first year of life. But alas, when she was a year old we made the decision that it was best if I went back to work full time. Which is where I am now.

I had a very generous maternity leave of 4 months and I was able to work from home for some time. But now I'm back to the office 40 hours a week, and my time with Jack is snippets here and there. And honestly, it's breaking my heart.

When I'm near him the world is just a better place. He loves to cuddle and be held close and his smile could melt a glacier. His laugh is amazing and he began crawling this week, so watch out world! He's a mobile one!

When I'm with him I realize and know all the things I'm missing with him. And I wish I could just stop time and keep him little and with me always. His babiness is just going away to fast, and I'm away too much.

This post has become far more sappy than I intended. I realized that now as I sit hear with giant tears and sobs and my arms longing for that little bundle of giggles and smiles.

I never saw myself as the stay at home mom type, but maybe just maybe I am.....

The Things You Say..

For those of you who deem your lives boring and meaningless, I suggest getting yourself a 3 year old. I'm telling you there is no entertainment like one.

Since Ally's third birthday, it appears as if we've turned a corner. We've left whiny toddlerdome behind and have entered the high engergy charged world of preschooler. The world is her domain and she is here to conquer.

Along with this new conquistador behaivor has come some awesome conversation. I honeslty wish I could record everything that comes out of Ally's mouth, because just when I think that she can't out do herself, she does. And I want to put all of these moments in a jar and keep them forever.

Some of my favorite moments over that last few days:
Ally screaming at the top of her lungs at breakfast, Jack begins to cry.
Us: Ally, please do not scream like that. It hurst Jacks ears!
Ally begins to cry.
Ally: Well it hurts my ears when he cries like that!

She and I went to the zoo the other day and the cheetahs were running around. It was a brisk morning.
Ally: Why are the running?
Me: Maybe they are cold?
Ally: Well they need warmer coats!

We often go to the playground after school and last night she wasn't ready to go home. She wanted to create more sidewalk chalk art, but alas we had to go.
Ally: I don't want to go home.
Me: Do you want to walk or ride?
Ally: I don't want to walk or ride. I want to fly.
Me: You want to fly?
Ally: Yes, but I don't have my wings yet. I'll have them soon.
Me:Where are you getting your wings?
Ally: At the store. I want green ones.
Me:Where are you going to fly to?
Ally: To the tops of the treeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss.

And that is just a sampling! I am not going to staple my journal to my wrist so I can write all this down and never miss a beat.

Or store it that jar...

My IQ is now 5

I am now thankful we don't have cable. Because well, I get sucked into plenty of mindless television shows with out it.

After my chores were done and the kiddies were in bed, I sat down with all good intentions to increase my IQ by reading my book club book, but instead I turned on the TV and CW blessed me with an hour long train wreck.

Said Train wreck? The television premiere of Farmer Wants a Wife. I honestly couldn't look away.

The premise is we have this farmer countery boy who works on his family farm and desprately wants a wife to pop out a few units. He can't find no small town lovn' cus all the small town babes have hooked up with there a high school sweethearts and have all ready pounded out some prodigy. So, Farmer Matt- that's his name- decides to hook up w. some reality show producers and fly him in 10 "City" girls to fight for his attentions.

We cut to scence where the city girls are flwon into BFE Missouri and than school bused, that's right I said school bused- to the farm where our hero rides into the picture shirtless on his tractor. The babes are smitten and here the competition begins.

We Josie who askes the hostess of the home they are staying in if they have maid service. She also deems the other girls "working class" later on in the show when they particpate in a chicken cooping competition to get the farmer.

We have Brooke the nanny who just loves the farmer and just wants to be his wife so bad. Did I mention she's a virgin? Oh and she's no the only one. There is one more there in the pack.

The whole show was a fiasco, yet I couldn't look away.... By the end of the show I was like YEE HAW! I could so be the farmers wife....

But than again I share the same fear of Stephanie, the city babe who was afraid the chickens were going to peck her eyes out..... But than how would I see who became the farmers wife?