Knock, Knock

The kids came running out the back door yesterday to inform me that "somebody is at the door."



Naturally, I said, "who is it?"



Princess: "It's those guys dressed in BLACK and YELLOW!!"



LegoMan: "It's the Mortemists."



Me: "The WHO?!"



LegoMan: "You know, those guys we saw walking around the neighborhood the other day."




Me: "You mean the MORMONS??"


LegoMan and Princess: "OH!"



Welcome to MY world. Enjoy your stay.

Round and round

Yesterday, the wheels on the bus "cheese wagon" took me and the Princess, along with other parents and 4th graders to our state Capital......on a cold and rainy day. I am sick of cold. I am sick of rain.

The wipers swished.....the doors opened and closed.....the people went up and down.....and so on.

I think the only thing left out in that song was the part where the kid on the back of the bus got motion sick and upchucked on the bus, whose windows were all closed because of the cold and rain.

No, wait, another part of the song was left out......the part where, during the upchucking, the kid behind me was eating Ranch Doritos out of a can.

Get a visual if you can. Not going for the olfactory sense here.....just the visual.

I am pretty sure I could not have paid anyone on that bus $50 to trade seats with me. Nobody.




Just so you get THAT other visual out of your head, here's a picture of the 4th grade Princess:

Sunday Night Live - Update

It's been 2 months since my last post, and I'm not sure anybody is still visiting the GRITS corner of the blog world. My Stat Counter tells me the blog averages 8 hits a day. Thanks, Mom.


I can't say my email or facebook page has been overflowing with messages demanding my return, but here I am.


If you have been a regular reader, you KNOW there has certainly been plenty to blog about. I've just taken the easy road out and not written about it.


Soooooo, what have we been doing the last two months?! A little bit of everything, that's what. You know, no update here would be complete without photos.


Swimming. We've had two swim meets and I am PROUD to report that both LegoMan and the Princess represented team GRITS well (or is it good?)





Football. Saturdays in the South are not made for blogging, they are made for college football. DUH! I had the pleasure of taking Papa to watch Alabama pound Florida. ROLL TIDE!





Homecoming. I must admit I have done the blog world a complete disservice by not posting pictures of my kid's dressed up for Homecoming Week. Such a shame. Here are few of my favorites:

Halloween. I must say, this year's costumes will go in the record books. At least LegoMan's will. It was PERFECT. And the Princess' was perfectly PUNK.






So, what's news in your world?!

School Daze

As you may know, we've been back in school for about a month.

What a L-O-N-G month it's been!!


We weren't even in school two weeks before I got the dreaded "Your son's had an accident and I think he might need stitches" phone call. And he did, four of them. Thankfully, the wound was right in his eyebrow line and the scar is barely visible.





Our afternoons are now filled with homework and swim practice. And did I mention the homework?!

I must say this has been a turning point in our household for the dreaded post-school work. Don't get me wrong....I am NOT complaining much. We have just had to get used to hitting the books a little bit harder now.

And staying awake during studying is important, too:






At what age do kids realize if they would just sit down and do their work, without dilly-dallying, they would be done sooner?? *shrug*

We are all hanging in there, so far.


The Princess is hoping she can just get by on her good looks and fashion sense alone:



I'd give her an "A"......wouldn't you?!

Sent with love

We've decided the magic number for owning a cell phone in our house is 13.

*insert gasping sound from an 11 and 9 year old*

I realize that does not make us the coolest parents on the block but, ummmmm, we don't care.


However, like any normal child over the age of 5, both of my kids know how to send and retrieve text messages on our phones.


LegoMan recently acquired the hubby's retired iPhone, minus the SIM card, which renders it as an iPod Touch. FYI, there is an app to send free text messages via Wi-Fi connections.


I had the Princess with me on a recent visit to the Hair Whisperer. While getting my hair did, I heard my phone beep for an incoming text message. The Princess quickly volunteered to field my message. She informed me it was LegoMan and said she would send him a message back. I heard her send a couple of messages and that was it.


What do two siblings who love each other so much text to one another.....see for yourself.









I'm so proud.

Back to School Blues

School Year 2010-11 is underway! We got back into the swing of all things school this past Wednesday. I officially have a 6th and 4th grader in my home.

What?!

How??

Where does the time go?

It seems like yesterday each were graduating from Kindergarten.

And now look where we are:






LegoMan has graduated from hanging out with the elementary kids in the cafeteria before school, to hanging with his buddies in the gym:




And the Princess has her books and new bangs ready for a new school year:





Happy New School Year, y'all!

Big Bang Theory

So you all remember learning about the Big Bang Theory in high school, right?

Well, the Princess and I had a discussion about a different "Bang Theory" and it went a little something like this:


Me: "Princess, I've got you an appointment to get your hair cut next week."

P: "I think I want to get my hair cut short again for school."

Me: "Ok, but you need to decide if you really want it short again because I thought you said you were growing it out."

P: "Well, I think I want it short again" [LONG pause] "Mom, how do you get bangs? I mean, when I had them when I was little did you, like, get them for me or where did I get them?"

Me: [mouth open, blank stare] "Princess, the lady that cuts your hair makes them from your hair."

P: "Oh!" [takes large wad of hair from the front of her head and places it over her face] "So, like, she would cut all of this really short?"

Me: "Not exactly THAT much of your hair. Just a little bit from the front."

P: [LONG pause] "Wait, so what do you do if you don't want your bangs anymore?"

Me: [insert a little laughing] "Ummm, you have to grown them back out again. Like we did when you were little."

P: "Oh!"




For those of you who knew me back in the day.....I am no expert on Big Bangs; however, I certainly cornered the market on BAD bangs:





Will the Princess stay with a cleaned up version of this:

Or go back to this:




Stay tuned........




**UPDATE*** May I present the Princess and her new do (complete with a few wispy bangs):

Summer Rewind

*knock* *knock* *knock* Anybody still here??

We are on the final 3 week countdown until school starts......well, the hubby and I might be the only one counting down.

Our summer has been quite busy around here, it's been filled with GOOD, BAD, and UGLY! (warning: LOTS of photos)


GOOD:

The kids have spent most of the summer in the pool on a summer swim team. They swam 4 days a week and competed in a few meets. Both won several ribbons in their events and Lego-Man made the summer All Star swim team! I am a proud swim mom!!






We also took some time out for visiting family. It's always a good time when the littlest cousins get together for a week. It is non-stop F-U-N.






The local Princess turned the big 9. It's her last year of single digits.....*gasp*



BAD

The biggest bad news of the summer involved this sweet face:




And these cute boys:

As some of you may remember, last year's birthday present was tickets to see the Jonas Brothers. Earlier in the summer we found out her favorite boy band was going to be touring again this fall. The Princess begged for two more tickets for he birthday. I bought them and made plans for a fabulous weekend in Nashville with one of my favorite peeps and her daughter.

On the Princess' very birthday, I received an email that informed me of the JoBros canceling 20 venues, including Nashville (so they could add tour dates in South America????). Insert Sad Trombone Needless to say, I was waiting on a call from Team Jonas to inform my sweet girl of their poor decision making skills. We are still waiting on that phone call.

After receiving the bad news, the Princess settled on a birthday bike....complete with a pouch for her Mp3 player to blare on a speaker. Because the 9 year old needs ONE more distraction while riding her bike.



On another bad note, Lego-Man's summer hairdo strongly resembles Justin Bieber's. Oh baby, puhhleeze.

(FYI, the hairdo situation has since been rectified by the nice lady at Sports Clips.)

UGLY

My little sister and I had an encounter with aliens the Mac Photo Booth:

(Who knew my sister was Janice the Muppet)

We've had a really great summer here at the GRITS house. How about you??

The not-so-hip(hop) Mom

So, summer break is officially in session and I've finally got a few days off from work.....thank the Lord. The kids have swim practice 4 mornings a week and this week we've squeezed in Vacation Bible School.

Let me preface this whole story by a hopefully brief explanation. I grew up in a house where my dad owned a radio station....not just ANY radio station. A station whose claim to fame was "easy listening" music, which can also be defined as music with no lyrics, elevator music, Musak, and lastly, doctor's office music. You get the picture.

As I grew older, for various reasons, I wasn't really allowed to listen to popular music. I mostly grew up listening to Contemporary Christian music. However, in my adulthood I have grown to love some of the music I "missed out" on as a youth.

My iPod is mostly filled with Contemporary Christian music with a small variety of other music genres. My car radio is usually on the local Christian station but on occasion I switch it to other stations.

I'm also VERY bad at "name that tune" and "who sings that song", unless it is Michael W. Smith.


(which FINALLY brings me to the purpose of today's post)

Yesterday the kids and I are riding in the car, I switch the radio from one station to another. Fate had me stop on a local pop-rock station. After a few seconds, I notice the Princess singing ALL the words to the song on the radio. Then the following conversation occurred:

Me: "Princess, how do you know this song? I've never heard it."

Princess: "This song is 'Fireflies'"

Me: "Oh, really?"

LegoMan: "Owl City sings it, Mom"

Me: "What? Who? Owl City?"

LegoMan: "You've never heard of Owl City????" (followed by a laugh)

Me: "Whatever"


Because everyone likes smarty-pants-know-it-all kids. Right?!


In case you are not in the know, here's the song:

Home School Much? No thanks.

So, yesterday I had a day off.....I slept in until 8AM, I had no plans for the day. I was minding my own business, watching the Today Show and sipping on a delicious cup of hot coffee....when my phone rang.

"Hello"

"Hi Mama"

"Hi Princess, what's the matter?"

"My stomach hurts."

"It does?"

"Yes ma'am. My teacher gave me some Pepto, but it still hurts."

Never mind the rest of the conversation except this, "Princess, tell your teacher I am on the way to get you and that you need all of your school work for today."


I picked up the Princess, her hurting stomach, and her full backpack from school around 10AM. I quickly assessed the situation and knew there was no immediate danger of stomach problems, so we took a detour on the way home to Hobby Lobby. We had to get all the supplies needed for a t-shirt book report project due this Friday.

We got home, the Princess quickly threw her backpack down, plopped on the couch and almost immediately informed me there was nothing to watch on TV. I told her it didn't matter because the TV was being turned off because she had school work that needed to be done.

I believe there was an loud HUFF-ing sound as I made her sit down at the table to begin Mama's Home School for the "sick".

We did math sheets, science, grammar and got most of her t-shirt project done. Of course, I'm not sure who was tortured more by Mama's Home School.....me or her.

For those of you who home school and to those that are called to teach.....BLESS YOU and THANK YOU!


(FYI, we've seen the doctor about the Princess and her stomach. No 8 year old child was harmed in the writing of this post.)

Strummin' on the ol' banjo GIT-tar

This post is more for grandparents than anyone. The Princess has been taking guitar lessons once a week since last fall. I've not really been sure what kind of progress she's made because it's like pulling teeth to get her to practice at home. However, I finally got her to play a couple of songs for me and she's actually learned a few things.

This first video was taken about a month ago:

I knew she had been working on a Taylor Swift song and Monday she informed me she had learned almost the whole song. So, naturally, I had to get a video of her progress. I was blown away. This video is almost 5 minutes long, she just kept playing and playing and playing.....

That there is progress, folks!

Raising Arizona......GRITS Style

I don't mind taking my kids shopping. Now that they are older, I don't have to look for them inside the clothes racks and they typically behave well for a longer period of time.

Take last Saturday, for example. We had to finish up some pre-Easter shopping and found ourselves at a local shoe store. The hubby was in the man shoe area and I had the kids with me.

As we walked around, I heard the kids talking and laughing. However, at some point I became completely oblivious to my kid's behavior, until I noticed one of the sales girls looking behind me and giggling.

How, ummm, marvelous is it to turn around and find your children looking like this:


Seriously. I can't make this stuff up.

How fortunate for me, I lived in the 80's and the first thing that popped into my head was this from Raising Arizona, a favorite movie of mine.

Son, you got a panty on your head. sound bite Raising Arizona sound bites

Just in case you wondered (because I DID), they took the socks fresh out of the box, so no nasty foot germs were transferred to their sweet faces in the making of their fun.

Wordless Wednesday-- Double Bubble

For more Wordless Wednesday posts, visit 5 Minutes for Mom HERE.

Wordless Wednesday-- Minnie and Mini-Me

For more Wordless Wednesday posts visit 5 Minutes for Mom HERE

It's in the book

I am not a teacher. For a reason.


It's not my calling. I recognized that early and I'm eternally grateful for those who do this job day in and day out. Thank you!

And nothing makes me feel more like a teacher than the dreaded HOMEWORK!

We have been up to our eyeballs in book reports this weekend. I'm not talking about your standard, run of the mill book report. Noooooo, we've had to get all fancy this time.

Lego-Man has a "Cereal Box" book report based on a mystery book; and the Princess has ye ol' diorama from a biography. Just imagine the fun we've been having, if you can. I'm in a fun stupor!

We had to change the boy's book midstream, when we realized the plot of his Hardy Boy's book had to do with smuggling DRUGS. He had his cereal named "Smuggler's Surprise" with the cereal in shapes of bottles and pills. Umm, yea. Fortunately he just finished another Hardy Boy's book, which was about missing coins that were melted. So we are going with that one. Anybody want some "Corn Crunch" Cereal, complete with coin shaped marshmallows that melt in your mouth?!

When I found out the Princess had to do her diorama on a biography, I offered up a list of possibilities......Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, etc. In one fail swoop she shot down all my suggestions with one sentence, "Mom, Taylor Swift is a REAL PERSON too!"

Seriously. I mean, what was I thinking?? Of course, Taylor Swift. Duh. She's lived on the planet 20 years and done what.....made two albums and been dissed on national television by Kanye West.

I was hoping the Princess' teacher might help me with the battle of the biographies, but no such luck. The book was approved, so Taylor Swift it is. Just look for the box with glitter letters, a CD, cowboy boots, guitars and a Barbie doll dressed like Taylor Swift.


I can hardly wait for this week's homework assignments!

Pick Your Battles

Yep, that's my motto....for almost everything that involves the rearing raising of my children. This especially includes the Princess' wardrobe.

Examples of self-dressing I have said "yes" to:







Recently the hubby asked, "are we letting her go to church like THAT??" I quickly answered, "Absolutely! We've got bigger battles to fight."

I mean, if she wants to wear her fabulous tan boots with an all black ensemble, I say go for it!

However, yesterday I had to draw the line when she came out of her room dressed like this:



Yes, I realize she looks super cute and is probably copying some of the things she sees the high school and college girls wearing. However, it was 40 degrees outside and beneath that lovely ensemble is her SWIMSUIT because we were headed to swimming lessons.

Much to her dismay, I had to put a stop to the cheerleader skirt and made her put on more "it's-freezing-cold-outside" appropriate clothing.

Otherwise, I would have said, "get in the car."

Heaven knows, I am just trying to help her make good clothing choices. So, one day, when she looks back at her yearbooks, she doesn't regret having her picture taken in something like this:



She'll thank me one day.....I think!

Wordless Wednesday-- Role Playing

Future Grill Master

Little Momma

An Angel's Wings

Yesterday was a difficult day in our household, but not as difficult as it was for another family here in our town! My heart is heavy, but theirs is much heavier.

God called Angel Burnett home early yesterday morning after a long fight with cancer. She was only 37 years old and was the mother to three small children whose ages are about 9, 7 and 4.


Look at this beautiful mother:

(http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelburnett)

Our local newspaper wrote an article on her story in February of 2008, click HERE to read more about her journey with cancer. Her spirit is completely revealed in this story!


Ever since I heard her story, it has touched me and I'm sure most people. I thought about and said many prayers for her and her family. We have so much in common....yet she had cancer.


I did not personally know Angel, but I have many friends who did. Our children go to the same school and her son is in the Princess' third grade class this year.

Her story is one of inspiration to all who hear it. Her faith in God was unshakable. This quote is from her Caring Bridge journal:

"my faith and trust is in the Almighty God who gives me the strength and perseverance to go on....Our God is good and He will lead us on the correct path. My trust is in Him for HE is bigger than any cancer that is in my body."

I have talked to many of the people who knew Angel and they all said the same things:

• She always had a smile on her face
• She NEVER complained
• Her faith was strong
• She is an inspiration
  
• She was a strong woman
• She was a blessing to all who knew her
  

I had a very difficult job yesterday as I called the Princess into her bedroom to tell her the news. It was hard. We cried. I had to try and explain to an 8 year old why God takes mommies to heaven. I don't know why God takes mommies to heaven. I just don't. And it completely breaks my heart!


I can't help but think of myself and how I would react to such horrid news as cancer. I have a faith in my God, but I'm not sure my faith is even a fraction of what Angel's was.


I'm sure Angel went through all the normal emotions with her initial diagnosis, and she chose to trust in her Almighty Lord and Saviour as she went through each day. Her strength was for her husband, her kids and her family. Her friends said she never felt sorry for herself or complained about the road God chose for her.

She faced the challenge head on and fought the fight.....ultimately she lost, but was truly still the winner! For today she is an Angel in heaven!

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me … Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of
my life" (Psalm 23:4,6a, NIV).

We've got the spirit

Yes we do!

We've got the spirit, how about you??

In honor of the homecoming game on Friday, our school had Spirit Week last week. Each day is highlighted with a theme and the kids dress up to get in the spirit.

If I must say, last year's themes were much better. Not to rain on anybody's senior year parade but "Decade Day" trumps "Comfy Day" at any given moment in the time-space continuum.

Ahem. Moving on.


For "College Dress Day" we decided to go outside of the typical University of Alabama "box". Not that we don't love our Crimson Tide, but we chose to go with another team we cheer for in honor of my brother.






Lego-Man actually had to defend his team of choice, by explaining to one of his buddies that the Navy IS actually a college team!


And then there was "Disney Day". I don't know too many 10 year old boys who are in the least bit interested in dressing up like a Disney character, well except for the boys who came to school as female characters.

Seriously.

Not my boy.




Who is the Princess dressed up like, you may wonder? Isabella from Phineas and Ferb, of course.






I'm gonna have to skip "Comfy Day" due to lack of interest. Because kids in pajama pants at school is just not very exciting to blog about.


"When I Grow Up Day" was a bit tough for Lego-Man; however, the Princess has was easy with her always ready veterinarian costume. We decided to go with Lego-Man's new sport for his costume. By the time he got home from school he was done with the hat and goggles part of his costume.

We've got the spirit down deep inside, so bring it up, don't let it hide!