One for me, one of the boys....

Occasionally, I get the opportunity to peruse other blogs that I enjoy! I say occasionally, because it seems to be becoming more and more difficult for me to be able to sit down and actually have the time to do something other than read email or look up something for the men in my house.
Today, as I procrastinated doing many, many things on my one day off, I did take time to enjoy the blog of a friend who is having a contest .... she may be off her rocker by Friday at 10pm, but if you're up for a contest, I am not opposed to encouraging you to check out Mim's blog and signing up! (you know I love you!!)
As I was checking out the fantastic response to her contest, I noticed that she also had a link to another contest. This one definitely piqued my interest - who, with three sons, couldn't use another Dyson? I could have my own pink one and they could have their own upstairs and do their own vacuuming! (I may be delusional, but a girl can dream, right?)
So, hop on over and sign yourself up - I would be honored to know that any one of my friends won a Pink Dyson!!! Good luck....okay, now it's time to go finish up what I procrastinated all day and go to bed! ;-)



Win a Dyson “Pink” Vaccuum in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ya gotta have friends

On Sunday morning, the Smith crew got up and headed for Nanny & Pa's EARLY. There were to be some people arrive around 7am to launch hot air balloons from the pasture. Jess & Glenn had some friends over Saturday night and they heard, so they wanted to tag along, too. One of their friends, Brook, is moving out of state at the end of this week, so we had no problem letting the 4 of them hang out together for just a little while longer. They are such a great group, anyway.
After the much-delayed-do-to-rain balloon launching (3 of them launched, a couple others decided not to)the kids wanted to get some pictures of all of them together, as well as pics of Brook & Lauren who are the best of best friends. More like sisters, really.
We had a BLAST getting pictures. I was the target for much flying bark off the dead oak - but when I retalliated, Glenn found out just how good his mother's aim is! (sorry 'bout that lip, bud!) Lauren fell off the tree and scraped her leg; Brook fell OUT of the tree and was hanging by a branch, which decided to abandon her; Jesse, he just decided to hang around - literally! As we bid farewell to the fallen oak and ventured back towards the house, I can't say I wasn't a little sad - not just for the tree that I have known to be a GORGEOUS and strong one at the edge of our property for my 30+ years there, but for the foursome of friends who will now have to be dependent on modern technology to 'hang out'. *sniff* Thank goodness for unlimited texting, IM's, etc.
The pictures here are just a SMALL portion of the ones that I took Sunday. The balloon pictures alone numbered 500+ as I recall!

 
 
 
 

New Swimmer Try-Outs

The new swimmer try-outs for our local swim team were today. Jess and Glenn, of course have been on it for just over a year and they absolutely LOVE it. Kaleb decided that he wanted to give it a go.

Jesse (a.k.a. The Other Mother) prepared him for try-outs by getting him dressed in his BodyGlove swim suit, goggles and Jesse's swim cap which Kaleb likened to a form of torture. The finished product was:

 
 

When we got to try-outs, Jess trucked him into the locker room to get him prepped and ready to go. He came out and hopped right into the pool when Coach Jason prompted him to do so. I really wish I would have video taped him because Kaleb's technique was definitely ALL HIS OWN!!!
 

He did really, really well. Coach requested that we bring him back again tomorrow because he would like to work with him a little bit more. He is "this close" to making it. Kaleb never had any sort of formal lessons and in fact, he could only swim under water until this 'pool year'. He has really improved. I'll be sure to let you know what the final outcome of try-outs is!
 

A Saturday road trip

Yes, the house needed to be cleaned. Yes the laundry needed to be done. However, we decided to hop in the van and take a road trip - where we would end up was any one's guess! As it turned out, we headed west towards my husband's old stomping grounds. We took the boys out and introduced them to the Hendricks'. They are the parent's of Rick's best friend from high school, Kevin. Kevin passed away several years ago, but Rick has kept in touch with his parents.



The last time we ventured out to their place, J & G were real little - maybe 4. The boys had a blast 'visiting' with the chickens, exploring the timber and just being boys!




While we were there, I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of all three boys. Let me tell you, it was a difficult task - they don't hold still long!!! Here are just a few of the pics I was able to get - the ONLY one of J I was able to get other than the one of all three of them!!!

Monday...

I had a big, long post compiled and decided I was whining so I deleted it! I don't want to start off the week whining! So.... hilighted and deleted in 2.2 seconds! ;-)
We had a relatively busy weekend. Celebrated Mom's 60th birthday with many of her siblings and friends. It was originally going to be a wiener roast but the weather had other plans - thought we should all be inside where we could be closer-knit, I reckon! It was COLD. It was RAINY. It was WINDY. We all had a good time, though and most of all, Mom had a terrific time! She has always been a big fan of Almond Joy candy bars. I happened to find some Easter leftovers and bought them for her - she immediately said she would be hiding those AND her Butter Rum Lifesavers from Dad and the kids! She got a bunch of new gear for their camper - flour sack dishtowels, silverware, windchimes...and she requested some new dishrags from her daughter...hint, hint, I guess! I made her a white dishrag with a hummingbird on it with the intent that she use it in her new camper. Well, she is going to frame it! Yes, frame it. Sheesh - it's a flippin' dishrag - WASH DISHES WITH IT!!! I'm touched, honestly, that she sees it as a work of art, but it's JUST A RAG! Gotta make her another one now.
Rick and I assembled (without killing one-another) a new swing yesterday for the back yard. It lays down, which was my one requirement. The one I wanted was a mere $449 at Home Depot - we 'settled' for one from WalMart! It is rather comfy and we have all checked it out now. The boys and their buddy Lauren were all laying out in the back yard chatting away yesterday afternoon. I have a feeling that my swing will be full of kids this summer - so much for me relaxing with a good book or my knitting in it, huh?
On a final note, as I mentioned previously, we had a party for Mom. I ordered what was quite possibly the best cake we have ever had. It was sooooo moist and delicious and she DELIVERED it to me at work! Which leads me to the point of the story...she walked into the kitchen, placed the cake on the counter and said, "Oh my! Who made the BEAUTIFUL pies?"
I say, "Me!"
Cake Lady: "No kidding? I would give anything to be able to make something that beautiful, I just can't do meringue."
Me: "But you do ....THIS!!!" (me pointing to the cake, flabbergasted that she thinks my pies are beautiful)

Asssssssss youuuuuuuuu wiiiiiiissssssshhhhhhhh..........
Upon checking out a friend's blog this evening, I was prompted to do the following quiz and didn't like my first answer, so I did it again. I wanna be Buttercup, dammit!!! Inconceivable!!! LOL




Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti



Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti

Not much to say!

32º. Yup, that's what it was at 7 o'clock this morning when Kaleb wanted to go out and hunt for eggs! Well, the Easter bunny was good this year - actually EB was a scrooge and didn't want to buy candy - and there was actually money in SEVERAL of the eggs. Each boy had an egg with his name on it that there was $5 in. They were thrilled!
When they headed off for church, we reminded them that they had raked in some cash and that they could tithe properly if they so chose to do so. (we were hopeful, ya know?) Well, as Rick and I were sitting in church, they brought the 'little guys' through to put their offering in and K was leading the pack! (he looked so doggone cute!!) We noticed that he not only put cash in, but several coins. When we got home, we were quite pleased to find out that he had decided to give his $5 because he had five more $1's so he thought he'd just share - and he gave some quarters, too because he had lots of them! Needless to day, I puffed up a bit with pride at his decision! His brothers, on the other hand, chose to give $1 each! I was impressed by this, too because they generally 'forget' to put their money in for offering and I find it when I wash their pants.
After church, we headed to Nanny & Pa's for a late lunch/early dinner with Bub & Jules. Food was EXCELLENT! The boys retired to the family room and watched Happy Feet. I worked on a dishrag that I'm working on for Mom. It's got a hummingbird on it. Will post the finished product if it shows up okay.
Ummmmmm...... I guess that about sums up the day today! I'm off tomorrow, as are the boys, so we're going to work on the house. I want to get their clothes gone through and weeded out. I cannot believe how much they've grown! More on that later, I'm going to get ready for bed.