Tagged.... 7 things about me....

This is going around blog world. If you are on my blog list and you haven't done this yet, I tag you!

Seven things about me that most don't know:

#1. I HATE HATE HATE Play-doh. It makes me nauseated. I don't touch it, and I certainly don't smell it. I promise I will vomit. Brennan asks me every day if he can get his Play-doh out, but he can only play with the stuff when my mom is here keeping him. I don't DO Play-doh.

#2. Teeth fascinate me. If I could have had a magic crystal ball, and could have seen into the future when I graduated high school, I would have really done different in my studies and worked harder and applied for dental school. But, I thought I wanted to be a school teacher, then I worked at a daycare my last year of h.s. and first 2 years of college and changed my mind FAST. I LOVE dentistry and I LOVE learning new things every day about teeth and all the new technology that is continuously coming out in dentistry.

#3. So I just said I would have loved to have been a dentist, but to contradict that, I also wanted nothing more than to be a wife and have babies. I "idolize" June Cleaver.

#4. I wish I could have lived back in the 40's and 50's. Simpler times, simpler people, and a safer world to have lived in. I wish I could have lived back then and lived in a town just like Mayberry. My heart gets all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.

#5. You've seen the show "Hoarders"??? Well, I am the total opposite. I have been known to throw away perfectly good things (such as toys) just because they got in my way, or I got tired of looking at them after a few months. I cannot stand clutter. I cannot stand a messy house. However, have you seen the inside of my van lately or the inside of my closet? They both could make it onto that television show.

#6. I really, really, really want to adopt. Chad and I have decided we will definitely try for a 3rd child, but Chad also wants a 4th child. I'm not carrying and birthing and nursing a fourth time. My body will reject me. I do feel very passionate about adopting. Chad has not gotten there in his heart, but I have asked him to start praying about it. My mom was adopted and I feel very strongly about it. And it doesn't have to be an infant. I am okay with an older child.

#7. I never, ever pay full price for anything. Especially clothes. And I HATE shopping, but I LOVE getting a good deal. It gives me an adrenaline rush. I love to see how much money I can save. I love clipping coupons and reading the receipt at the bottom where it shows my savings. I haven't learned the trade yet, but I hope to one day be one of these moms who come out of the grocery store with $100 worth of groceries for $20. I have friends who can do it and it's a hobby for them, but so far I have not had the patience to learn how to do it, nor have they taught me any of their secrets. But just today, I bought two pairs of $98 jeans for $9.99 a piece. I saved $188. But, I had already been to the Clinique cosmetic counter before that, so it really didn't justify it today.

And there you have it. Seven things about me that you probably couldn't care less about. Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

A day in the life of a Mom and her son(s)

This is what my son did while I emptied the dishwasher and washed dishes.

This is my hairdryer that he went specifically in my bathroom for just to play with. I drew the line when he started wrapping the cord around his neck.

This is the laundry basket he used as his own personal step stool for whatever he decided was worth climbing for.

This is what he did while I was doing laundry.

This is what he did while I was changing the sheets on his bed.

And this is what was emptied out of that drawer and where it all went.

This is our end table at the end of our couch that my son uses as his own personal table. Once upon a time we had a nice, pretty plant there. No longer--notice the chair he uses to sit in at "his" table.

This is what happens at lunch and dinner every single day.

This is the kind of thing he finds amusing. Notice my dog cowering. I think she needs nerve pills.

This is Ethan with the bucket STILL on his head. No, he could not see where he was going, so he kept running into things. And he thought it was HILARIOUS.

This is Ethan sitting at "his" table. Notice how happy he is. He knows he is rotten and no one is going to do one thing about it.

This is one of my favorite parts of the day. When he has finally worn himself down. It's naptime.

And might I add, that in addition to all of these pictures (I decided to document them in picture form so he would one day appreciate me for putting up with him being such a hellion) he also:

-- played in the mop water while I was mopping (which included BUT was not limited to, sticking his finger and/or toy in the water and then putting it straight in his mouth.)

--decided it would be fun to run across the wet kitchen floor and slipped, and then went back for more.

--emptied a whole can of play-doh on the carpet.

--fed the dog half of his breakfast.

--as I got out of the shower I proceeded to clean my entire bathroom. It was only when I was finished that I looked down and realized I had done so in my birthday suit. Now, that may be way too much information, but that is exactly what motherhood has done to my brain. You might as well just deep-fry my brain and serve it on a stick.

HOWEVER, I sure love my life!!!! I wouldn't trade it for anything. (And, NO, I am NOT being sarcastic!)

Play ball.????

So now that spring is in full swing and the weather is warming up and the days are longer, it also means that ball season is in full swing. I'm really having a hard time with it this year because Brennan is at that age where all the other children his age are on some sort of ball team and are very busy with ball games and practice and parents are out there socializing and cheering for their kids.

We tried to get Brennan interested in playing sports by signing him up for soccer 2 years in a row. And we bought him a t-ball set last year for his birthday. He showed no interest. For one reason, he's not aggressive. He doesn't even like fighting with his brother. He refused to take the ball from the other team or from someone else. Another reason, is he would rather play in the grass than take the game seriously. We asked him this year if he wanted to play on a ball team or if he would rather take art lessons--we couldn't afford both-- and he preferred art. And he LOVES art. He gets excited about going to art each week. But, now that his art sessions have ended for this semester, we don't have any other extracurricular activities going on. And all of my friends with children, and all of Brennan's friends at school, seem to ALL be on a ball team.

Now days it seems like so much emphasis is put on playing sports at such a young age. And these kids have games 3 or 4 nights out of the week. It's always something constant. I have to admit, I'm a little relieved Brennan doesn't care for sports, because I like spending time at home and sitting down with my family and having dinner TOGETHER. Very, very rarely do we ever NOT have dinner together. It has become on of Chad's unspoken rules.

I do feel that Brennan will find his niche later on in life. As a matter of fact, I feel like he already has--he loves art and he loves to "build houses" with blocks. He's got a very active imagination that he uses every day when he comes home from school. He hardly ever sits in front of the television and watches it all all afternoon. I just know how much emphasis this society puts on ballplayers and being on a sports team. Sometimes it seems that it's what can really make somebody BE somebody in life. However, I know that is not true, and I certainly plan on encouraging my children to find what they are good at and can excel at, no matter what it may be. I don't want my children to be one of these that "reach their peak" in high school. You know the ones I am referring to..... the people who refer back to their old high school days as "the good ol' days" and bring up that "one game our senior year". The one's who graduate high school as the most popular of the class, yet go on to do nothing in life but talk about those good ol' days. (Now, don't get me wrong! I do miss high school in a few aspects, such as living rent-free with my parents and having very little responsibility other than a part-time job or worrying about what I'm going to wear to the prom, but I certainly DID NOT reach my peak in high school. Ask anyone that knew me then and knows me now.)

So, I guess my point is, I know my boys will both find what they are good at. I do not want to force them to do anything they don't want to do as far as extracurricular activities. But, I DO want them involved in something. I feel like Brennan will turn out to be a "band nerd" like his daddy. I am okay with that. I will be there to support them. I just don't want Brennan to realize how much emphasis society puts on boys to play ball. And I am still convincing myself that it will out turn out just fine. I don't want Brennan to ever feel like he missed out on an opportunity whether it is early in life or later in life. And I need to realize that just because I have a house full of boys doesn't mean I have to have a house full of ballplayers.

Allowance....

This is a conversation between Chad and Brennan at dinner tonight. (Note: we have agreed to give Brennan an allowance each time he cleans up the playroom, bedroom, and any other area of the house he messes up. But he can only get the money if he does so without complaining, or without having to be fussed at. He gets 25 cents each time, and you can call me cheap if you want to, but a highly motivated 5 year old with $$$ signs in his eyes---well, it can add up FAST!)

Brennan: Daddy, you owe me $2 tonight.

Chad: Why do I owe you $2?

Brennan: Because I was a big boy and cleaned up the playroom twice. Once yesterday and once when you and Mama were coming home from work tonight.

Chad: Brennan, you are NOT getting $1 every time you clean up. That's one or more dollars a day and we don't have that kind of money. BUT, I will give you a whole dollar from yesterday because you picked up really good after the company left our house yesterday. We appreciate that.

Brennan: Okay, Daddy. Well, I would like that dollar with the number TEN on it, please.

Oh, what a smart, smart boy.......

Easter pictures.....

Making Resurrection cookies. (And NO, they did not turn out and I was SO sad!!!)

Brennan using the mixer. (I think this may have had something to do with why the cookies didn't turn out.... don't know.)

The Easter Bunny came.

Everyone needs a chocolate bunny!

His new apron to wear to art class.

Ethan could not have cared less about the Easter Bunny's treats.

As we were getting ready for church, I went to check on Brennan (since he had disappeared and become really quiet) and this is what I found him doing. (Reading his Bible.)

MiMi and Brennan.

It's impossible to get a decent picture with 2 rowdy boys.

Having fun!!!

Ethan and cousin, Bayleigh.

Brennan and cousin, Brooklyn, playing in the sand.

Matching shirts.

Ethan and Bayleigh.

Chad's sweet Memaw and Chad's youngest sister, Lindsey.

Chad and Mandy.

ALL boy!!!!

Memaw is trying to clean all the dirt and sand off his feet.

He loves that umbrella.

Hunting eggs.

Still looking.....

Checking out the car so we can get it sold and make some $$$.

Check out the hair! I can't bring myself to cut it, though.....

Happy baby!!!!

Dying Easter eggs....

Let the fun begin!!!

Ethan giving his Mama a dirty look after he tried to eat the egg with the shell still on it.

Hard at work.

Vinegar + blue dye + eggshell = Mama was right.

Still working hard.

Dad's Easter egg dyed blue, his favorite color.

One is soft and the other is hard. I'm SO confused.

So I think I will just smash them both.

I'm over it. Let's find something else to do.

Our Resurrection Rolls....

This is the finished product of the Resurrection Rolls. Hollow on the inside.

Ethan trying to share his cinnamon-coated marshmallow.

Before going in the oven. (Note: they weren't quite sealed as tight as they should have been, so therefore some of the insides oozed out as they were baking.)

Brennan making his rolls. Thanks, Rana, for sharing the recipe!!!