Another Party!

Happy to report that my flat iron is here to stay-for now... We spent the day at the Ocean front with my 9 year old. It was the most no nonsense birthday party ever planned. Except for the part were I got to the top of the parking garage with my 4 kids and and the elevator was broken. 100+ stairs. Yet the sun & sand were there and my girl had an awesome time. And me? Easy clean up and smiles to go around.

Monday Monday

It rained today.. and once again my neighbor's tree fell over, onto my side and my gate. This same tree had a section fall last year into my yard. I'm going to suggest he just cut the whole thing down. The only drawback is that I will lose all of my shade when laying on the hammock if the tree goes.

Last Thursday was Cookies Birthday and it was great from beginning to end

Where are we today? Dinner is a little late and I had to put 3 people on lockdown for violating the house rules and will call them to the mess hall when the chow is ready. I have been looking through all of the useless "baby books" and am utterly convinced that several chapters were omitted. Trust me that was a joke. It didn't take long- scholar that I am, to realize that baby books were written with a Reese's Monkey in mind and my prodigies have never been book babies. What puts me over the edge today is that I know in Africa, Haiti and other countries and cultures, that families stick together and help one another so that no one is burdened by life.. They literally bare one another's burdens. Yet Americans are so isolated or self centered that we are too busy being busy to help one another or love one another. And that's the disadvantage of living far away from family. And if you think there is a lot of underlying sewage in this post-there is. I'll stop there though... I'll save my venting for my core workout.

On a happy note, My new lover is my flat iron. I used it today and if my "do "remains till tomorrow, I'll let her stay.

The blessings of having a 4 year old

Dolly had hiccups this morning and Noahkeem came into her room as I was dressing her and asked, "Ma does Dolly have hiccups?" And I said, "Yes." Later on today Noahkeem had the hiccups and he turned to me and said me, "Mommy, I think I caught Dolly's hiccups". I couldn't help but smile!

My Rival is back!

How could I forget to make my special announcement? My mother came down for Rocco& and Noahkeem's party last month and she brought me someone very special. A brand New servant. She's big and white and pretty much huge and oblong. Some one that would change my life forever. SHE BROUGHT ME A RIVAL CROCK POT! It felt like Christmas all over again. So far I have only made Chili in it. I'm bar-b-que Queen so, I have been grilling alot this summer. But my girl is large enough to feed my crew plus some stragglers. I'm determined not to get enslaved to just making soup, stews, and chili in it so, this weekend I'm going to scour recipe world and find out whats new and yummy for the crock pot that doesn't need to be eaten with a spoon. Well I'm off to plunge into the weekend. We have 1 t-ball game, 1 birthday party, church, and a live performance of Willy Wonka to enjoy. (Not to mention all the bumps and hiccups waiting to happen with a family of 6). ttfn. (ta ta for now).

What matters the most.

My world has been its usual busy self since my last blog. Parties are over until Cookie turns 9 in 19 more days. Which of course means we need to get invites out now! I have found myself swatting at the flylady more than flying with her. I'm behind on 1 special sewing project and a scrap booking project to boot. One of my goals for the summer is to have Dolly potty trained by the end of August and that is an interesting story in itself. One thing that has been consistent in my crazy life is that my little Noahkeem- who lately I have been calling "Noe" (pronounced No-eee), gives me so many hugs during the day. He either sees I need one or he just wants to give me one. No matter how busy I am, I never, ever, ever, pass up his huggies. Each time he hugs me, the busyness of that moment freezes around me and nothing else matters in the world except for the love I feel for this little boy. And as I close this day, and see the vision of Noe hugging me in the kitchen, all I can hear in my head is "you matter to God". Even though Noe didn't say it, that is what I hear, "you matter to God, and you matter to me". Tonight, I pray that you would have the strength to love the unlovable and find the courage to forgive the unforgivable and to realize that in all the chaos that surrounds us, you matter to God. You matter to God! Love hard, Hug often.