The weekend

• I'm pretty sure Rene' ate a baby blue button off her barrette. I found the barrette, in pieces, in her bed, but the button was nowhere. She likes to eat them more than wear them.
• Not only do I love going to church on Saturday nights, but I love that this summer they have hot dogs, root beer, and chips for $1 afterwards, along with a moonbouce to tire my kids out.
• Andy found lots of little white worms in the garage........
• I got to spend 2 entire hours at the local bookstore - by myself - reading magazines and browsing.
• Zak spent the night with a friend for the first time.
• It was triple digit heat all weekend - with no end in site - I think I've mentioned before that I loathe the summer season.

The Dinner Ritual

This began like 2 weeks ago. And anytime we are all at the dinner table together, about 4 out of the 7 evenings, it happens. Daddy comes home and everyone's excited. Especially me! I've usually got dinner timed just about perfectly to being ready when he walks through the door. We're all at the table, except for Andy, because well, he needs to do about 10 things before he can sit down. And I see it - the fly. I have usually killed about 2 flies in the process of making dinner because they hover around my head for some reason. (no laughing or snide remarks) That purple fly swatter I bought at Wal Mart has the battle scars of my wrath. Its missing a few slats. For some reason, I stink at trying to kill them. I try to ignore them until I can't take it anymore. I am always positive I've gotten every last one until that moment when Andy sits down at the table. They must all be in the same family and think they're funny, because its at the exact same time every night. Or maybe they are wanting revenge for killing their brother, sister, mother, grandfather, I don't know. I try not to think I've hurt they're family. Okay, anyway, it becomes quite the game of "Where is the fly"? We each try to spot it before the other. It always lands somewhere on the table or the light fixture. And of course, you can't swat it on the table or light fixture because then it could bounce onto someone's plate. So it takes a good while to get the fly. But I'm going to brag on my husband here a minute. He can swat a fly in mid-air and kill it. I know, I'm a lucky gal. While its been a fun game, I'm getting tired of it. But I wanted to pass this info along to you if you're looking for a family bonding game to play at the dinner table, just open the back door and let the bonding begin.

The weekend in review

The weekends never seem to be dull around here. I'll just share the top 3

1. Rene' ever so gently pushing over the large drink at the counter at Chick-fil-A, splashing all the customers behind us with Dr. Pepper.
2. Zak asking me how I would call him for dinner when he was in outer space.
3. Rene' turning blue Saturday morning and me calling 911 for the first time in my life. (she's fine - don't know what that was about)

To Dallas and back in 24 hours

On Friday afternoon at about 4pm I made the spit second decision to whisk away my 3 kids to Dallas for their cousin's 4th birthday party on Saturday. Oh the craziness. But I have to say, it felt good doing something super spontaneous like that. Well, it wasn't completely spontaneous as we were planning to go but Zak threw up that morning so I called the trip off. But by 10 that morning he was back to his old self and well, I just can't pass up a party so off we went. Andy had to work so we hit the road with Damma, Dampa, and Uncle Chris.

The trip was actually non eventful, thanks to a little thing called a portable DVD player and many, many, Wiggles videos. And of course Zak loved the princess birthday party. He did comment that there were too many girls around but he thought they all looked "gorgeous" in their princess dresses. And of course Paige was decked out in hers. It was a great party! It was at Sloan's aunt Debra's house that is in the downtown area of Dallas where big old houses have been redone. That, for me made the trip, getting to see her fabulous house!

We pried ourselves out of bed this morning barely making it to church, but of course I was so glad we had decided to go. Now my house is in complete shambles and I should be doing my Sunday sprint of cleaning, but I'd rather blog. I just hate to start the week out with a messy house.

Well, there's a nice dull "what we did over the weekend"post. I'm sure this week will produce some blog fodder as I've over committed myself, yet again.

Our Sunday

5:45am the alarm goes off, and we hit snooze.

5:50am we have to get up if we want to get to the airport in time to head home.

7:10am Our initial time to leave was 6:30am. Our plane leaves in less than 3 hours. We have a 2 hour drive ahead of us and security at Denver International Airport.

8:50am We pull up to DIA curbside, kiss and hug our goodbyes and stand at curbside check in.

8:51am I realize Rene' is poopy and its on the verge of spilling over on me, Zak has to desperately go to the bathroom.

8:55am The United Airlines employee tells us our bag is 15 pounds over the limit and we need to take something out or go inside and check an additional bag (plastic bag).

8:56am Thank goodness for a husband who loves space saver bags because he just opened up our suitcase, pulled out the tightly vacuumed bag and stuck it in the airline bag. We were off

8:58am We're in our respective bathrooms, THERE IS NO CHANGING TABLE IN THE WOMEN"S BATHROOM. (Yes, I realize all caps means your yelling, because I am.)

8:59am I change Rene' on some random chairs.

9:00am We enter the security line, which is moving, but the line winds so far outside of the designated area, I know we're in for a wild ride.

9:15am Still in the security line

9:20am I start praying

9:39am We're finally out of security and on the little underground train to our terminal. Note: there is only one train working.

9:50am We arrive at gate B47 where there is no one but the lady taking boarding passes

9:52am The 5 of us make our way to the very back of the plane with 120 eyes on us, sweat is dripping down my forehead because I am carrying an 18 pound baby on my chest, Zak's spiderman suitcase is bumping every 5th aisle passenger.

9:55am We are in our seats in Row 20 bound for home with 5 minutes to spare.

I'm too worn out to even relay the events of our arrival. That could be another post in itself.

We had a bittersweet week in Colorado Springs, paying our respects to dear Aunt Sydney and enjoying family.

Its war.....and I have not choice but to win.

5 minutes ago, I was in the zone where your almost asleep, you can feel it and are waiting happily for it to take you away. Paige is napping, Rene' is napping, and Zak is settled in on the couch with a Thomas the Train video. And now here I am blogging. Not my #1 choice of activity, because yes, I was anxiously awaiting the sandman. But like clockwork, when I lay down on my bed, all snuggled in, Rene' wakes up. Its like she can sense I'm next to her. So now she's playing, and my nap for today is only a dream.

The past few days have had me on my knees, praying for much wisdom. Paige is just 2 and 2 months and I believe we are in full blown "terrible twos". For those who don't have children, let me just tell you. Every child you have is different. Zak had terrible 3's and while they were annoying and draining, I wasn't completely stumped on how to handle them. With Paige its different. I can try every tactic I know, and she is still either crying, screaming, or being outright defiant. I have to say, Sunday was the worst day. She spent at least 3 hours on her bed crying (not straight, but cumulative), and Dr. Dobson would have been proud because we were very consistent, but Andy and I have never been so drained. I'm just lucky he was home to experience it and tag team with me. The tantrums are what get me. She has this ear piercing scream and you don't get a warning before it comes. It has been used from us giving the wrong sippy cup, the right sippy cup, because she didn't get to lay down where she wanted to for a diaper change, because I won't carry her around the house while I do my housework, you name it, she's mad about it. To top it all off, she is up at the CRACK of dawn. We're talking 6-630am EVERY MORNING. I peel my eyes open to her little voice at the side of my bed saying "apple juice, apple juice". The other day, I woke up at 5:30 to go to Wal Mart (sounds crazy, but I'm a morning person and like to do my shopping by myself, (except for the stockers) with a cup of coffee in hand. Anyway, I'm thinking if I hurry, I just might have a minute to myself to sit before I start the hustle of the morning, but as soon as I get all the groceries in the house - there she is. Its unreal.

So, for those who have blazed the path before me, if you have any ideas other than ignoring the tantrums, spankings, and time out. Let me know, because I've about worn out the prior three things.

On a random note, I won a case of Moms best Naturals cereal over at the Meal Makeover Moms website. It came with 6 boxes of all natural cereal and instant and quick oatmel. Thats an expensive prize! They have great healthy cooking tips and recipes. Check them out!

Diggin this music

I do believe I might have a new favorite for the next couple of months. Its Monk and Neagle

Click here for your special blogger preview and you can take a sample listen to their new CD. Hopefully I'll be getting a free one in the mail and will write you a little review soon!

Enjoy!!