Years ago, I couldn't read a certain small font at work and bought some reading glasses to read it. Since then, slowly but surely, I can tell that my eyes are getting older (and I now use reading glasses at the computer.) I have noticed that I am doing what my own mom did at this age (squint and ask for clarification on certain numbers or letters.) I used to only need them for close-up reading but I've noticed in the last few weeks, that even farther away things are now blurry. I seem to carry reading classes around with me all the time (reading bedtime story at night, reading menus at restaurants, balancing the checkbook, and reading the newspaper.) The mornings are the worst. Ugh!! I guess I will soon bite the bullet and actually get my eyes checked. That's not the scary part...when I do get glasses, my biggest issue will be picking out frames.

Somehow, I found motivation to clean today! Mmmmm! I love the smell of a clean house! LOL! Obviously, it doesn't happen as often as it should. There are a few problem areas that I'm still trying to iron out. I feel so productive as I planned several goals and then followed through. Of course, I had to stop several times to play Wolverine and the X Men, to hold the toddler as his gums were hurting, and help the preschooler with puzzles. We took advantage of the quality time together while his brother was taking a nap (as puzzle pieces can become airborne or chewed up otherwise.) It could have been done much faster, but what fun is that? The preschooler insisted on helping in the kitchen mopping and later, the toddler insisted on helping to mop in the bathroom. Hopefully, I can keep that kind of help up, especially when they get to be teens, lol! It was a great day!

In addition, I even took my mother-in-law to lunch. I have never done that. She was the kind of lady who didn't eat out much and always had a reason to stay home or order out. Now that she can't remember much, she didn't know she didn't like to eat out. It was a little stressful...not because of her but because of the two kiddos I had with us. I ordered her food I knew she would enjoy. She ate slowly and we were finished long before she was. Perhaps it was because it was habit...that we rush through the meal before the kids lose interest and get loud. I ordered a bowl of ice cream for the kiddos to keep them entertained while she finished up. She was quiet most of the time but made a joke that she didn't get any ice cream. We all laughed. I realized a little later that she actually wanted some so I ordered some for her as well. Halfway through her ice cream, she asked why she was eating ice cream. LOL! I answered because she asked for it and it was really good. She agreed and finished it up. Yep, ice cream definitely brings out smiles and makes life good.

Today is day 4. I'm on a diet and I'm finally working out. I got a membership at a gym and have been going there as well. I'm so out of shape that I can only do about 30 minutes at a time. I'm looking forward to feeling better and getting more energy though. I haven't tried to really diet in um.....fifteen years or so. I have noticed I'm so tired at night though, even more than usual. I'd be nice to fit into my clothes better...I'm keeping my eye on the prize!

Just playing around at home (and with the camera!)

I often go see my mother-in-law in her apartment (at the assisted living facility.) I went today because I received a call that she bumped her head while falling early this morning and it was protocol to have her go to the hospital to get her checked out. Her head was fine. I called her before I went and she addressed me with my name and asked me to go visit her (and to bring the boys.) I had intended to so the toddler and I went and visited for a while.

I have pictures all over the walls for her. One thing I made for her has all of her kids names and pictures of her kids in order (vertically arranged on the wall.) One picture is of my husband (and the toddler) that is at a lever where it can be seen and touched by little ones. Of course, my toddler went up to it and was pointing to it, saying da-da. She didn't seem to notice. I hinted that the picture is of his dad (and said the name.) It was then that I realized that she didn't know who I was referring to. She read off all the names and then said she wasn't sure which picture was which (even though they were clearly arranged in such a way that it seemed obvious...and she used to know.)

So I asked the hundred million dollar question. I asked if she who I was related to (from the pictures on the wall.) In other words, who am I? Does she know anymore? And the answer, no.

I am a very kind person who will continue to visit her and bring little boys to visit and slather lotion on her hands, wash her clothes, keep her company and talk about the clouds in the sky. I changed the subject as to not make her feel like it mattered that she really didn't know. She mentioned earlier in the week when I visited that she saw me pass by and thought I was the Angel Gabriel and was so happy to see me. I took that as a compliment.

But as I walked out of the building toward my car, I noticed my eyes were a little wet. It's so sad to see so many memories fade away. I wish this wretched disease on nobody and wish there were a cure.

A few days ago, my family and I met a friend at a local restaurant. While we were eating, we heard the lady at the next table talking to her friend. She had a kind of a loud voice and her vocabulary included lots of profanity. I was amazed she didn't notice that we were staring at her or that there were kids around. My daughter decided, in her anger, that the best thing to do would be to cuss the lady out. I told her that she would then be just as bad as the lady was. So then I was stressing about keeping my daughter's rage under control as well as being angry at the patron near us. As it turned out, my husband took our little ones to the playground located down the hall (of the mall where the restaurant was located.) My daughter then left as I was getting ready to pay the bill. The foul mouthed lady actually got up to pay and was right behind me in line. For the life of me, as much as I wanted to say something to her, I couldn't even open my mouth. I have thought about it so many times since then about what I should have said to her. She was discussing her drinking habits with the guy she ate lunch with and I thought to myself that her whole demeanor and tone probably meant that whatever I said wouldn't have phased her a bit. But, I am still kicking myself for not having found a way to diplomatically urge her to notice next time who was sitting near her or to talk quieter, or anything. Ugh!

This past weekend, we had a party and celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with our family and friends. It was a lovely day and we had LOTS of food! It was wonderful to see so many people come by and say hello. We extended the event to last all day so anybody could come by for a few minutes or to stay all day. We are very blessed! The next day, we were SO tired. The house was a mess and we just rested a lot. At one point, I looked down and the toddler was sitting right in the middle of the empty steam table pans. Rather than get him out, I reached down and grabbed my camera!


For more fun with SOOC Saturday or to participate yourself visit Melody at slurpinglife.typepad.com

Candid Picture...of my boys.

My preschooler is in the bathroom doing his business reading his ABC book while his toddler brother looks on. My husband is sitting on the side of the bathtub reading the newspaper keeping them company.

We went to the beach this week for a few hours. I had forgotten how the sand feels after you get wet and the total stickiness (is that even a word?) Since I had to be so close to my youngest, I didn't go looking for shells or beach treasures. I just watched them enjoy a different sort of playground.

Naturally, the kids were so busy playing that they didn't want to pose for any pictures and just wanted to play. I enjoy this picture because my smallest just sat for a while and watched the waves.


And, since there were storms in the area, the waves for larger than normal, and it was fun watching them come in and out again. Here, my preschooler just lays in the water as the waves go back and forth over him.


And my favorite...crawling out to sea.

I have been writing down the books we read aloud this summer down as part of a summer reading program for my preschooler. Yesterday, we turned in the form and listened to a presentation about strangers from a police officer. It was a sad quick talk (of no significance) but the officer let the kiddos go look and sit in his police car. Now, that was the cool part for the kids. There was a moment where my preschooler turned around and had an expression of joy/confidence with barely a hint of a smile. It was an expression I've seen only a couple times. He didn't even say anything but I could see in his face and he kinda walked over and stood into me (while waiting for his turn to go see the police car.) By this time, he was patiently waiting for his turn to go outside and was incredibly patient. He got his turn and had a blast! I didn't realize that the back of the police cars were plastic seats (in our area) and that there was Plexiglas between the two seats. Afterwards, we went back in the library's children's section and sat in bean bag chairs (and read books.) At one point, we laid back and looked up. There were cool ceiling windows and a really high circular area. I put the baby on my chest and we both looked up. While he wasn't really sure what we were looking at as we leaned back and looked up, I pointed out all the things we could see above and told him what they were. I realized he was really paying attention and also pointing just like I had. For him to lay still for such a long time, I took advantage of it. I just loved smelling his neck/hair while I was talking to him. Our cheeks were next to each other and his skin was soft I enjoyed taking advantage of his curiosity to hold him as long as possible. It turned out to be more fun than I expected. An ordinary errand turned out to be a fun morning!!

Wow! Talk about FAST cleaning! A couple of friends were in the neighborhood (one was picking another up from a doctor's appointment) and asked to pop by to use the bathroom and/or hang out a bit. I said, sure! Then, it hit me...OMG! The place is a mess! I went into turbo overdrive...a speed I hadn't had in a long time I think. I managed to clean the kitchen (including dirty dishes from last night), vacuum the living room and halls and clean the bathroom in 30 minutes!! I swept but didn't actually do the real cleaning on the kitchen floor...there wasn't enough time for that. I'm feeling much better now. What's ironic is that they didn't come. They also said something in the original call that we could all go to lunch close by at 11 and it's getting close so I imagine that we'll all just meet there instead. I even sneaked a shower in too (no make-up though.) Of course, my kiddos are sharing dry lucky charms and I've noticed some on the carpet....sigh.

I went grocery shopping today. I really look forward to this task I do at least once a week. There are times that I only go do a great intensive shopping trip once or twice a month (and get milk and a few things weekly.) But I love looking around at different stores for new interesting things to eat (via sampling) or recognizing ingredients I had forgotten about in hopes of making a forgotten recipe. This afternoon, I took my teenager as well as the little boys. My preschooler was Wolverine today (complete in his mostly yellow costume and yellow and black mask.) He asked if he could wear it to the store and told him, sure. Naturally, my teen was having a fit thinking that she would be embarrassed or that he might cause people to look our way. I didn't care because he loves his costume and you can only get away with that at this age for a short time and then you're expected to conform (wear 'normal clothes' and play dress-up only at home.) I love his excitement when he pretends with his costume and voice and when he takes on the behaviors/phrases of his current superhero character. As it turned out, it was a positive experience and she even suggested he put on his mask to top off his whole wardrobe. That was wonderful to watch in and of itself. We did well during this trip not buying a lot of junk food. It was amazing how much fruit we bought as we normally don't buy a lot. I have eaten cherries this week. I haven't eaten cherries since I was a little girl. I don't know why I quit eating them either. I bought a bag a few days ago and have practically eaten the whole bag by myself. I bought another and will eat fruit when I get the urge to eat something sweet.

And a wonderful, scary, noisy thunderstorm rounded off the day giving us our much needed rain. It's still sprinking outside.

What a great day!

We were away for a week! Had a nice relaxing time at a relative's house! Of course, Optimus Prime (from the Transformers) had to go with us:







And I enjoyed another birthday!! I love celebrating them and especially, picking out my own birthday cake! Luckily, my sister-in-law Patti made me one....a Texas Sheet (sheath) cake! Mmmmmm!!

I have lived in this house for a year and a half. I moved from another house where I lived for over 20 years. I have yet to put any pictures on the walls, lol! I have many beautiful frames and pictures but enjoy the bare beautiful uncluttered walls that I haven't gotten around to arranging pictures. I don't really have any company to speak of either so I haven't been motivated to do anything about it either. I am going to pick up a picture tomorrow (a family one that was taken a couple of weeks ago) and will finally put it (and other pictures) up. I haven't had a 'family picture' made in over 15 years...and the one before that was when I was still a kid at home. I ought to take family pictures more often. It always seems that I'm the one taking pictures so I have albums and albums full of my family (those other than me) and have only taken professional pictures once in a blue moon. I am so excited about getting the picture tomorrow!!! Here's to change!

When my house gets dirty, I try to clean up a room at a time. I started in an inner closet today and then thought of an idea. What if I could move some furniture around to make the room better? So, I changed a bunch of stuff up! I now have a tiny room that includes a twin bed for a nap bed for my preschooler so that he can sleep there without toys (or in a room with a sleeping baby brother having to be extremely quiet) and a bookshelf with books if he wants to read before/after his nap. It took practically all day to move the stuff around (and move the bed from the other side of the house into there.) Unfortunately, all the other tasks were neglected, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. It can even be a small guest bedroom (ok, so it doesn't have a door but....it works.) I am going to try to tackle that huge mound of clean clothes tomorrow. I always feel so much better when things are in their place and it smells clean. That is my goal this week....summer cleaning! My fingers are crossed!

It's almost the end of crawfish season. We decided to have one last crawfish boil. It was a good time to sit and enjoy the afternoon too.

Crawfish up close.


Cooking them.


Transferring them into an old icechest to keep hot.


Enjoying conversation with family...


...and entertainment.

I had no idea so many alligators lived in my neck of the woods. A recent news story about an alligator being found swimming in a local swimming pool prompted us to check out a nearby 'gator place. It was awesome! There was a restaurant there that also served alligator (although they buy it and don't serve the alligators who live there.) I chose to get something else though (I've eaten alligator before...tastes like chicken!) We fed them hot dogs via weedeater line that is tied along the raised wooden areas above the manmade ponds for them. We had great time!

There were a few other 'friends' there too.



I had to 'beg' to get a picture of him he was interested in watching the alligators and turtles swim around.


Getting a pic with the owner!

I've enjoyed some quiet time away from my baby this last week as he gets so tired that he goes to be around 7 or 7:30pm instead of an hour later as usual. The only drawback is that he gets up an hour earlier. I am not a 5am person!!! I repeat, I don't like waking up at 5!!! Ugh! I am just not very productive that early in the morning! I guess, I should start doing something to ease the guilt though. Perhaps I can start filling in his baby book that I've been neglecting for months.

Where's the baby?


Peek-a-boo!


Wait...big brother wants to get involved too!!


It's just another day at home....

I bought a fake snake for my preschooler yesterday from Target, our favorite store. Since he already had one already, having them together made him very creative today. This morning, he wanted to go on a snake safari. He had gone out and placed his fake snakes in the yard and when I went out with him, it made it fun to go 'hunting' for them. He had a little device that he would pretend to shoot them and then pick them up to put in his little plastic bucket. Who would have thought....a snake safari! LOL!

I've spent most of the day cleaning...it seems the more I clean, the more it gets messed up! I think I'll just take a break until the kiddos go to sleep. I'm currently wanting for the pizza delivery person. :)