Uninvited pool guests, camping & swimming

Summer fun

Alex is showing his muscles, not about to punch someone!

Blue slushy mouths--yay!

And we enter a new phase...

My son rebelled last night. He's only 8 1/2...just seems too young. He wrote this letter after he felt "over-worked and under-appreciated", while he feels his sister doesn't have to do much of anything, chore-wise. He's right, of course. Alex does far more chores than Jami, but she's the baby after all.

So Alex came up with a new chore plan (that gma put in his head) where he gets paid per chore instead of a flat weekly rate. What a load of paperwork, I tell you! Oh, and he decided how much every chore is worth. Right now he's getting breakfast for all of us, so that's 75 cents. I guess that's reasonable.

Oh, the drama of being a mama...

BTW, can you believe the nerve of him, addressing me as "Missy" in the letter?!!
My favorite part: "I know I'm gonna be in trouble for this, so sorry."

Another BTW: I've never had a Brazilian bikini wax, just regular bikini wax. Wanted to set the record straight. I love the conversation that flowed because of that post! Funny.

Click here to enter a fabulous giveaway at Heatherty's blog!

Sportin' Heatherty Featherty to Picnic at the Playground

Alex and Jami's school hosted a fundraiser tonight: picnic on the playground. Clever, huh?
Jami wore her Heatherty Featherty top to school today and to the fundraiser tonight, which she thought was pretty cool.
I'm scared, though, so scared to have her wear the Heatherty Featherty white bermudas. Terrified. She wants to wear them, they fit perfectly, but they are crisp and new and did I mention white? I know I need to just let her don them now, as she'll outgrow them in a few months, and wouldn't that be a shame if she outgrew them having never worn them because of my silly fear of dirt on white?
Well that decides it. She is wearing her beautiful clean white bermudas this weekend, dirt be damned!

**To check out Heatherty's other creations or buy some from her Etsy shop, visit her blog by clicking here.

I've got nothing

Yep, the title pretty much sums it up. I've got nothing. Blogger block, I guess.
The pictures are from McD's after school...milkshakes and happy meals. Yay us.
Ordered our carpet today and picked out tile. That's something.
Hope to have more tomorrow.
Have a fabulous evening, friends!
If you haven't checked out Heatherty Featherty's creations, now's the time. Click here to see what she made for Jami--fab-u-losa!! Also, stop by her blog to enter a fun contest.

Dining alfresco

Beautiful day on tap in P-town, so the kids and I dined alfresco, overlooking the lovely Lake of the Woods Plaza parking lot, at Bernardi's. What can I say? When it's nice out, I'll take a parking lot view over being inside any day.

For the love of vacation bible schools

Ahhh~time to register for vacation bible schools. I'm a HUGE honkin' fan of vacation bible schools.

Vacation bible school = nearly free, wholesome, educational babysitting!!

I have registered Alex and Jami for one VBS so far, but will be on the search for more today. It's a win-win, I tell you. Kids happy/parents happy. What could be better? To steal Heather's ex-boyfriend's dad's phrase, go out and "gitchusum" vbs!

A few weekend pics

@ the Hirsch's, dropping kids off before the Kentucky Derby party.
I was going for the Derby cowboy look, also known as "no chance to shop for a fancy hat so making due with what I have".
I am soooo bummed...I left my camera in my car for the Derby party, and we took Jeff's car, so no camera! I feel lost without my camera. Could have used my phone, but didn't. I'll have to borrow photos from my SIL.

First baseball practice of the season.

Co-head coach, Jeff.
I am the main head coach, and don't you forget it.
I did a great job getting to know the other parents, chatting them up and all, while Jeff and the boys played catch and whatnot.
I am a super head coach, let me tell you.

New head coach and marshmallow mama

Introducing...head coach Marci! I volunteered to coach my 8-year-old son's baseball team. Volunteered. Me who knows nothing about baseball beyond 3 strikes you're out. What was I thinking?!! Jeff is my co-coach, which will help (a lot), except he will be out of town on Wednesday evening practices. Fortunately there are 3 assistant coaches. First practice tomorrow a.m.~wish me luck!! It'll be interesting...
I'm just wondering how I will juggle coaching, teaching, painting/staining, parenting and my new boyfriend Charles?

Me in my marshmallow suit that I wear while painting to protect my school clothes.
You can imagine my dismay when my boyfriend Charles saw me in this ridiculously sexy get- up!!

My feet still look glamorous, though, right?

Child labor rocks

My children have been receiving a weekly allowance since they were 3 years old. Jeff and I agreed that Alex and Jami would have to use their own money to purchase "extras" they yearned for. We foot the bill for food and clothes, cause we're good parents like that.
Our goal is to teach our children to manage money and realize that they can only buy items that they can actually afford. No money, no toy (or whatever). It is very important to us that we raise our children to be financially responsible adults.
At 3 years old, their chores were limited. But now, oh the glory of their chore capability now! It has come in particularly handy of late, because I am super-swamped with painting, staining, etc at the house.
Alex cooks breakfast now, saving me at least 10-15 minutes in the morning. They are both dishwashers, hallelujah, so that chore is also crossed off my list. Add to that vacuuming, dusting, making beds and pretty much anything that doesn't involve cleaning products. I don't want them exposed to all those toxins, cause I'm a good parent like that.
And the best part is...they don't even complain because they are so excited to make money! They each get $4 a week. Oh, my friends, I am getting such a bargain for only $8 a week.
And I saved the best for last...guess what chore I added to their list this week? Giving mommy a back massage! Yep, that's right. Two maids and two massage therapists for only $8 a week. Makes a mama proud, I tell ya...
***Another marvelous giveaway at Heatherty's blog! Click here to enter!