Pictures

Will

Will & Jimmy


Notice the fear on Ethan's face -- Daddy almost capsized the canoe.

Pearle and Laney (with the 14th lollipop of the day...)

Jim, Jay, and Keith (who doesn't fish)

Mary & Laney bonding over lollipops

Emma & Robby doing a little father-daughter bonding...

Pat, Reece, and Pearle

"Maxine" & "Bobby Cox"

Robby's Dinghy & Jim's Pond Boat

Ethan "Opie" Jennings


Ok, these are the pictures I wanted to display on Flickr, but I still haven't gotten that to work.

Why Three Kids Is A Bad Idea

During 1st period, I looked down and realized that the tag of my dress was sticking out.... of the FRONT of my dress.

Apparently, in my hurry to get dressed this morning, I put my dress on backwards... and I actually like it this way. It's pretty comfy. I'm not changing it. Too much effort.

My point is this: If I can't dress myself with 2 kids, I don't think it's going to get any better with three. From this point on, please excuse me if I start wearing seasonal sweaters, get a sensible haircut, or start wearing socks to match my outfits. I never understood bad fashion before I had kids, but today has been a learning experience. Sometimes, it's apparently more what you can get on before a kid smears you with slime than what looks best?

I hope no one submits me to "What Not To Wear"...

I'm getting a little miffed...

I've been playing with Flickr -- an online picture service -- all day, and I can't get the cursed thing to work!

Last week, we buried my Pop, who is one of my all-time Hall of Fame heroes. I've never lost anyone that close to me, and it was truly devastating. To make a long story short, after the funeral the entire family, including my two grandmothers, decided to go fishing at my uncle's pond.

A bit odd, I know, but this is why my family totally rocks.

It was a completely perfect afternoon, and I wanted to share pictures on my blog because some of you know my family and because I think it's a perfect tribute to my Pop... He loved few things more than having us all together.

Plus, there's one picture of my Grandma Pearle where she looks like Maxine (of Hallmark fame) AND she's talking to my Grandma Hazel, who happens to be wearing an Atlanta Braves visor -- which makes me laugh. Not to mention there's a hilarious picture of Ethan with his fishing pole over his shoulder, looking a little Opie Taylor-ish, and another of his fear-stricken face when my dad took him out in the canoe after almost capsizing them.

The pictures -- compliments of my fab cuz-o Julie -- are priceless....

But I can't get the flipping things to upload! Anyone know how to use this thing?

Random Things That Concern Me

I am a terrible housekeeper. Anyone who knows me can probably attest to this. It's not that I don't have good intentions... it's just that I am easily distracted from cleaning.

For example, I was out last week for three days with sick kids. I had one good, focused day of task accomplishing. The other two were pretty well wasted. I had a plan for each of the three days but was seriously derailed on two out of three.

On Day One, I got sucked in a party-planning catalog that I came across while straightening up... and that was the end of my productivity. I realized that I hadn't planned squat for the kids' birthdays... and normally, by now, I'm pretty much through with the planning.

That sent me into panic mode.... As of today, I still haven't figured out where to have Ethan's party nor what kind of theme to use, and I can't find any cute decorations to coordinate with Laney's. This may not seem like a major catastrophe for most, but knowing that birthday party venues are few and far between here (shocking, I know), I'm a little freaked out.

This presents a problem.

Day Two was the productive day. I didn't discover any sort of major undertaking about which I had forgotten.

Day Three was equally unproductive because, in the midst of cleaning out Laney's closet, I found the kids' Easter baskets.

I love their Easter baskets. When Ethan was a wee little tot, I found a store in Knox-Vegas that made hand-painted Easter baskets -- totally cute. I designed one for him -- blue and green with frogs -- totally precious.

When Laney came, I had a friend of mine go back to the store and order one for Laney. Hers is just as precious -- pink and white with ladybugs and polka dots.

There was one problem, though: Laney's is bigger than Ethan's.

Anyone with multiple kids knows how that is going to work out in the long run... "Why is her basket bigger than mine?" "My basket is bigger so Mommy and Daddy love me more."

You get the idea.

When I called the store to order another one for Ethan, they told me they were *gasp* going out of business.

You can imagine where that leaves me for Baby #3.

So.... instead of finishing Laney's closet, I've been looking online for 2 baskets with wooden slats (not woven!) and handles... to no avail.

Anyone with information on how I can solve these crises? I'd appreciate it so I can move on to other more relevant tasks...like the dishes in my sink....