no bites

no calls about the house yet. I think a dramatic cut in price will do us some good. Just waiting to see how things go for the first week or so.

The kids are having a great time at VBS and I am managing to keep the house museum-like since they are gone all morning long. It's been an easy week so far.

Tuesdays will be our official library days this summer.
The summer reading program is offering 'performances' by various groups on tuesday afternoons.
Today a gal from The Wildlife Center of Virginia came to teach the kids about the Appalachian Trail. She brought along a snake, an opposum, and a hawk. They were neat animals to see up close... except for that slithery snake.
The way that the scales slide around and coil is just icky.
interesting but icky. It kind of gave me the same feeling as wooden popsicle sticks, corn dog sticks, etc. (does anyone else have that irritation?!)

yep, I'm weird.

Not much else to report. sure wish I had something witty to blog about these days. Summer has just begun so I'm sure to have some interesting stories once we get going.

we're in business

The house is finally on the market, officially.
If you're interested in seeing it online... email me and I'll give you the info of where to find it.

(It wouldn't be safe for me to advertise my whereabouts on my blog.... right Dad?)

Interestingly enough, I keep finding out about random people who frequent my blog...
I have learned about three people who read my blog on a regular basis, and I didn't even know it.
That's rather flattering. Thanks :-)

I would be interested in who's out there...so if you are a regular, drop me a comment once in a while! Tell me about why I'm so interesting ;)
hee hee

On another happy note- the kids have VBS this week! I'm looking forward to some "mommy" time... alone!!
Happy week-

better day

Today was MUCH better for the kids and I.
We went with our lovely friends to the Children's Museum of Richmond. The kids really enjoyed scurrying around. We stayed for several hours and ate lunch together on the premises. My kids said that they liked "all of it". They want to go back again but I think we've had our full.
Afterwards, we hung out at R's house and all of the kids played in the backyard.
good times.
It's so nice to visit with old friends. Thanks for a good day, R! :0)

My smart sis also reminded me via email today that I need to continue structure with my kids throughout the summer. They will do much better with a predictable routine, etc.
I usually do well with an activity each day, a quiet time in the afternoon and free time afterward.
But... she gave me a great idea about putting activities in a hat and picking them out on Sundays. And then the kids can know what to expect over the next few days.
some ideas she gave were: library day, picnic with Dad, cooking activity, bike ride, special project, playdates.
Like most of you... we already do these things but it will be especially nice if the kids have a part in planning the week. I'm usually the bossy mom who wakes up and says... "today we are going to the library...no matter what!"
So... this hat (bowl, box, jar,etc) idea will let the kids feel apart of their own plans. That'll be fun.
thanks for the idea sis ;-)
I'll start on sunday!
if anybody else has fun ideas for the summer... let me know!

Those people that I live with...

Wednesday night.
It's hard to believe that school hasn't even been out for a week and I am already daydreaming about school starting for the fall.
We went to L'burg on sunday and came back on tuesday. I think the visit was okay but it seems that the kids have been hell on wheels most of this week. The sound of their voices often makes me want to scream. They fight constantly and they know how to make each other whine. It is so annoying! And they are so annoying.
Am I supposed to be enjoying this motherhood gig?

I'm thinking that my temperment may be a little "off" with the slowly increasing family stress. I didn't realize that moving was stressful to me but I think every day I feel a bit more of the time crunch and it's hard not knowing what's next. Not having a master plan usually shatters me. God is constantly trying to teach me...
I have given up "control" of the situation to that man that I married. But it irritates me to no end that he is a known procrastinator.
To my lovely surprise, I came home today to see a "for sale" sign in the yard. He apparently had a meeting with a realtor at lunch today. We signed some papers tonight that he will fax tomorrow and the official process will begin. Atleast that's the story of the day.
sigh. I thank God for small miracles ;)

The offspring and I are headed to see some friends tomorrow and to visit a children's museum. Watch out R, here we come!! ;)
Tomorrow is a new day and I hope to be a new mommy in the morning.
off to bed...

last day!

It's D's last day of school!
They get out at noon.
L and I plan to pick him up and head to the bike trail in c-ville.
We'll check out some movies at the library on the way to the school so that the kids have some vegging time this afternoon.
Later this afternoon, I plan to cut the grass and get ready for our small group meeting tonight.
Fun, full day!
I'm a sucker for activity.

bday surprises

I had a nice birthday.
*I was surprised with calls from my Dad, my sister and two of my best buddies. :-)
*Another friend dropped off mint brownies and a gift :-)
*L surprised me with a new tube of lipstick. He picked out the color....
*D surprised me with a picture frame (including a picture of himself as a toddler), little Twix bars and a beautiful bracelet (from a bubble gum machine).
*T came home with a cake and he grilled delicious burgers for us last night.
*I also should mention that T and I went out to Applebees on Wednesday night AND we bought a new digital camera!!
*And I should mention that I bought a new shirt and shorts for myself at JCPenny (with the $10 coupon that came in the mail for father's day) :-)
All in all, I was showered with nice things for my birthday.
It's nice to have a special day :-)
thanks everybody!

I guess it's official

So.
It's my big 3-0 birthday today.
I am a little concerned that this most likely means I'm an official adult now.

Sure, we are technically adults at 21... but really... how "grown-up" are 21 year olds??
But, when a person hits 30, we are supposed to be grown-ups. It still doesn't feel right.

Sure, I have two kids, but I often feel just as childish as I did in high school. And I often wonder why God entrusted me with these little guys. I know that HE knows what's best for these boys and I just pray that they'll turn out somewhat okay in the end. Good thing that God is in charge :-)

anywho.
30.
It seems like such a milestone. I suppose I should be enjoying it because in 10 years, it will be the big 4-0. Now... that's a real milestone!

happy day!

Baby B

Baby Robin B arrived today between 11:30 and 1:30.
I've told myself that I'm not going to check on them too often... but they are just irresistable :0)

I've never been this close to newborn baby anythings (besides my own kids). It's amazing to watch. It's so neat to know that these little wrinkled, shriveled, bean heads, with scraggly little tufts of stringy feathers will become sturdy, beautiful robins.

Ha! Kind of like how little wrinkled, scraggly bean head babies grow up to become adults :-)
I'm pretty convinced that I am going to buy myself a camera for my birthday. So maybe I'll have pictures to share soon.

baby A ;)

Upon inspecting this morning, I noticed a small hole in one of the robin eggs. I sent D out to catch a look and that little one had already come out of the shell!! Just within a matter of minutes!
I've never seen a brand new baby bird... It is teeny tiny! It barely resembles a bird. I'd say it's kind of like a little naked rat body with a chicken-like head.
If the scientists are right... the other babies will be appearing tomorrow and Friday. (This first one came right on it's due date!)
Watching this bird family reminds me of the wonderful God that we have! What an amazing thing that He has allowed me to witness this little famly of birds and to remind me of His words:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

heavy haulin'

We have recently purchased and installed a tow hitch for our minivan.
Yes, that sounds crazy but it's the greatest thing! Just think of our towing possibilities!! haha!

Our original plan for the tow hitch includes our new bike rack that holds FOUR bikes.
I am super excited about this new purchase. We tried out the new set-up on Saturday night and it was fabulous.
In the past, if we wanted to ride bikes, T would have to drive separately with the bikes in his truck. Now that we have this new rack, we can all go out together. And even take the bikes with us on trips and future vacations!
I am stoked.
I'm really looking forward to taking the boys out riding this summer and it'll be super easy to attach the rack and get rolling.
YAY!

yummy snack mix

the kids picked out all of the good stuff and left the peanuts for the moms.
but this is a good one! try and enjoy:

Honeycomb Treat Toss

4 cups Honeycomb cereal
2 cups chocolate Teddy Grahams
1.5 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup cocktail peanuts

Water party!

L planned a wonderful water-play party for today. He invited all of his preschool buddies. We sent out invites during the last week of preschool and everyone was anxiously awaiting their play date.
After MUCH rain yesterday, I was praying that things would brighten up for the party. It was rather cloudy here all morning but I kept with the plan of starting the party at 11am.
God was very gracious to send full sun into our backyard around 10:30. Things warmed up quickly and the party went off without any problems.
We had a whopping number of wet little bodies running around our backyard. 13 kids and 8 adults.
(no... the adults were not wet... or running) ;) A few of the moms couldn't handle the heat and resorted to holding umbrellas!! haha!
I enjoyed working on my tan.

It was great to see the kids enjoying the day. They used the trampoline, the swingset, the pool, the water slide and the sprinkler.
I'm figuring that it will take several days before our yard dries out. If the kids would have stayed any longer this afternoon, I was going to start selling tickets for mud wrestling. Those kids were slipping and sliding all over the place. It was great.
They took periodic brakes to fuel up on snack food and drinks.
Everyone was here until about 2pm. L took himself inside around 1:30 and put on a video, which I thought odd....but he was exhausted!
On last look- L was sleeping in the basement floor... between the dehumidifier and the wall. what a funny little guy:-)

D had a big water day today as well. I'm anxious to hear how it went. A firetruck was coming to school today for "squirt day"! And he was riding the bus home with a friend this afternoon to go swimming.
L and I will be picking him up later this afternoon.