I'm not sure, but I think I may have an injury that officially qualifies me as "old." I fell in my bathroom this morning, and really for no good reason. I fell in my bedroom once, but at the time I was eight months pregnant with twins and trying to wear sandals with a heel. (Duh!) Today, I would like to tell you that I tripped over the dog, tripped over my kid, slipped on a toy, or even that the floor was wet. Sadly, none of the above is true.
I had been sitting on the edge of the tub putting on makeup, and decided I needed something in the other room. Unfortunately, while I was sitting down, both of my legs and feet had gone to sleep.You didn't imagine that tiny earthquake you felt this morning! When I stood up and tried to take a step, my right foot bent back, my knees buckled, and down I went onto my left thigh. I am expecting it to be a lovely shade of purple tomorrow. I sat there on the floor, trying to figure out whether I was really hurt (I was) and what I was going to do if in fact, my foot was broken. I had my phone in my hand, so at least I could have called my husband, although that would definitely have been a last resort. So I hung out on the floor until the feeling returned to my legs and feet, reveling in my own stupidity.
My most significant injury (obviously I didn't die of embarrassment) was to my right foot. I actually heard a loud popping sound as my foot bent backward at a most unnatural angle. The metatarsal bones (the long skinny ones right on top on your foot) in my right foot are absolutely killing me. I could barely get my shoe on, and now after hobbling through my errands all morning I've had to take it off because it hurts too bad to wear it anymore! So now I'm off to prop it up. I feel certain the kids will let me do that for at least 30 seconds at a time. Guess who's getting a spa treatment tonight?
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
AFV on Sunday!
We got a call from the Clearance Department at AFV to let us know that our episode will air this coming Sunday night on ABC. We even made it into the Directv description of the show. If you press "info" on the remote it lists descriptions of a few clips, and for the upcoming one it says, "a girl thinks she is talking to Santa on the phone." That would be Savannah! And in true "little" sister, middle child fashion, Sharlee immediately asked if it said anything about her. She is having a hard time with her sister being the star of the show, as you can imagine. Gotta love some siblings!
I am having a really hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that our video even made it onto the show, much less that we actually won $10,000! It still amazes me that we survived a cross-country flight with my kids four times. I am so ready for this upcoming show to air, just so that I can have some confirmation from my friends and family that I didn't dream this whole thing!
I am ridiculously thrilled that we got to take our kids to Disneyland. We had talked about it a hundred times, but had we not been just thirty minutes away from it for another reason, I'm not sure we would have ever actually done it.
Our time at the park was as close as I've been to being blissfully happy every single second of the day. It was a trip that we will remember forever. Now I definitely see how people can go back year after year.
So with much anticipation, now we wait for Sunday. I can't wait to share all the details of our trip after the show airs!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Road Trip
Blogging from the road today! We have been driving three hours now in the pouring rain, on our way to trade horse trailers. Ours will hold three, and invariably when it comes time to go somewhere we want to take four horses. So we found someone willing to trade. The one we're getting isn't new, far from it. There has been a time in my life when I would have looked at it, with its dated graphics and wrinkled fender and said, "Um, no thanks" even if it meant I got to take more horses to the barrel race (which in this case, it does.) Now that am older and somewhat wiser, that time has passed.
We used to be active participants in the parking lot contest. We had a relatively new truck and a sparkling new Platinum Coach horse trailer at one point. Guess what that helped me win? Yep, you guessed it! Not a darn thing. Last time I checked, they don't give out checks for the coolest rig at the barrel race.
Now don't get me wrong, I like to look good. Who doesn't? But I am past the point of wanting to look cool at all costs. I guess I'm a couple of steps removed from a "Don't laugh, it's paid for" bumper sticker, but that's not far off. I am definitely at the point that I'd rather have a less cool rig that doesn't have a big old payment! Guess I really am getting old. Sigh.
We are now exactly one week away from our family's second appearance on America's Funniest Home Videos. The whole experience has been like a dream. I honestly keep waiting to wake up. I mean, really, who actually gets to be on a TV show that they have watched since they were a little kid? How crazy is that? Still just blows my mind. Tune in next Sunday at 6 Central on ABC to see how it turned out!
We used to be active participants in the parking lot contest. We had a relatively new truck and a sparkling new Platinum Coach horse trailer at one point. Guess what that helped me win? Yep, you guessed it! Not a darn thing. Last time I checked, they don't give out checks for the coolest rig at the barrel race.
Now don't get me wrong, I like to look good. Who doesn't? But I am past the point of wanting to look cool at all costs. I guess I'm a couple of steps removed from a "Don't laugh, it's paid for" bumper sticker, but that's not far off. I am definitely at the point that I'd rather have a less cool rig that doesn't have a big old payment! Guess I really am getting old. Sigh.
We are now exactly one week away from our family's second appearance on America's Funniest Home Videos. The whole experience has been like a dream. I honestly keep waiting to wake up. I mean, really, who actually gets to be on a TV show that they have watched since they were a little kid? How crazy is that? Still just blows my mind. Tune in next Sunday at 6 Central on ABC to see how it turned out!
Friday, February 8, 2013
Hooray for Good Daddies!
One of my most popular posts is the one entitled "Hooray for Good Husbands." So here's the sequel! When I married the love of my life, I knew he would be a good husband. He had treated me like a princess since the day we met, and I didn't expect that to change. Although I knew he was "the ONE" and the person I wanted to build a life with, I had no way of knowing what a wonderful father he would be to our three girls. I certainly didn't realize at the time just how important a good father is to the development of a precious child.
Daddies are different, and I for one think that is a really good thing. Moms tend to be the nurturing, protective ones, while dads encourage their kids to take that chance or try something new. And yes, sometimes those new adventures end with a trip to the emergency room! But life is about having fun! Putting yourself out there and being uninhibited are things that fade away soon enough as we trudge into adulthood. I for one want my kids to experience the exciting, sometimes dangerous things that life has to offer, even if it scares me a little sometimes. My six year old girls run barrels, and I have no problem admitting that I have trouble breathing when they are riding. Daddy takes them down to the alleyway and gives them their pre-run pep talk. I'm pretty sure it does not included the words "hold on" like mine would.
Little girls get their self-esteem (or lack thereof) from their daddies. He really is the first man in a girl's life. She learns by watching him interact with her mother how she should expect to be treated. Little girls want to hear that they are beautiful and special, and they want to hear it from their dads. Girls love attention, and if they don't get it at home, believe me, they will go looking for it somewhere else.
I absolutely love to hear my husband tell one of my girls that she is the most beautiful little girl in the world, and that he's so glad she is his child. She may not know it yet, but those words are making an imprint on her very soul, and they will stay with her for a lifetime. People remember how you make them feel, even more so than what you say. I know when my girls look back on their childhoods, they will remember that their dad made them feel good about themselves, and their husbands better know how to do the same.
I am from a family of wonderful, strong, smart women. I love each and every one of them. But I know enough now to realize that they didn't get where they were by themselves. Some of them had wonderful husbands, and some of them had wonderful fathers. They needed those strong, loving men, and so did their kids. So kudos to the great daddies out there! Don't let society tell you that your kids don't need you in their lives. They love, want, and need you to be there for them!
Daddies are different, and I for one think that is a really good thing. Moms tend to be the nurturing, protective ones, while dads encourage their kids to take that chance or try something new. And yes, sometimes those new adventures end with a trip to the emergency room! But life is about having fun! Putting yourself out there and being uninhibited are things that fade away soon enough as we trudge into adulthood. I for one want my kids to experience the exciting, sometimes dangerous things that life has to offer, even if it scares me a little sometimes. My six year old girls run barrels, and I have no problem admitting that I have trouble breathing when they are riding. Daddy takes them down to the alleyway and gives them their pre-run pep talk. I'm pretty sure it does not included the words "hold on" like mine would.
Little girls get their self-esteem (or lack thereof) from their daddies. He really is the first man in a girl's life. She learns by watching him interact with her mother how she should expect to be treated. Little girls want to hear that they are beautiful and special, and they want to hear it from their dads. Girls love attention, and if they don't get it at home, believe me, they will go looking for it somewhere else.
I absolutely love to hear my husband tell one of my girls that she is the most beautiful little girl in the world, and that he's so glad she is his child. She may not know it yet, but those words are making an imprint on her very soul, and they will stay with her for a lifetime. People remember how you make them feel, even more so than what you say. I know when my girls look back on their childhoods, they will remember that their dad made them feel good about themselves, and their husbands better know how to do the same.
I am from a family of wonderful, strong, smart women. I love each and every one of them. But I know enough now to realize that they didn't get where they were by themselves. Some of them had wonderful husbands, and some of them had wonderful fathers. They needed those strong, loving men, and so did their kids. So kudos to the great daddies out there! Don't let society tell you that your kids don't need you in their lives. They love, want, and need you to be there for them!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Classical Music
My children love music. From the time they were babies in the womb, they have listened to and loved music. Yes, I admit it. I was one of those people who put headphones on their belly at night and played classical music in hopes of making my kids smarter. The jury's still out on that one, unless you count being a smart-aleck. They've got that one completely covered!
Anyway, their nursery had a radio in it from day one. For the first four years of their lives, they listened to the same classical CD each and every night. At some point they asked to just listen to the radio, so we allowed it, thinking that exposing them to the music we like would be a good thing. Now they know the chorus (and just the chorus) to at least 87 songs, some of which are probably not things a six year old should sing. Hearing Savannah ask if "anybody out there wants to have a cold beer and kick it till the morning light" caused me to think that perhaps a change of station was in order, but to what? Classic rock? Hmm, would I rather have her sing about drugs, sex, or alcohol? Let's go with none of the above!
One of my girls has been having trouble sleeping lately. It has always taken her a little longer to fall asleep than her sister, but lately it's gotten ridiculous. The other morning she showed up at my bedside at 2:30 AM, chatting like it was two in the afternoon. She often tells us she hasn't been to sleep or that she just fell asleep, and judging by the black circles under her eyes, I have to believe her. Since she, like her mother, is a much more pleasant creature when she has had enough sleep, we began to try to sort out the problem. She doesn't drink excessive amounts of caffeine or play games right up until bedtime. We figured adding a bit more exercise would help, and then the light bulb came on. We decided that perhaps she was lying up there listening to the radio (and learning the words to inappropriate songs) all night. So in what we considered a brilliant move on our part, we switched back to the classical music they loved as babies.
To say that the kids were less than impressed is a monumental understatement. The way they wailed you would have thought we had taken everything near and dear to them and set it on fire. The one who doesn't have trouble sleeping was the most upset, because obviously we were punishing her for something that wasn't her fault.
The most exciting development in the whole situation is this: after only two nights, both girls are much more well-rested and cheerful in the morning. Perhaps mom and dad are not so dumb...
I have shared all of this to say: If my children tell you that I am torturing them with classical music, you will know it's for a good cause!
Anyway, their nursery had a radio in it from day one. For the first four years of their lives, they listened to the same classical CD each and every night. At some point they asked to just listen to the radio, so we allowed it, thinking that exposing them to the music we like would be a good thing. Now they know the chorus (and just the chorus) to at least 87 songs, some of which are probably not things a six year old should sing. Hearing Savannah ask if "anybody out there wants to have a cold beer and kick it till the morning light" caused me to think that perhaps a change of station was in order, but to what? Classic rock? Hmm, would I rather have her sing about drugs, sex, or alcohol? Let's go with none of the above!
One of my girls has been having trouble sleeping lately. It has always taken her a little longer to fall asleep than her sister, but lately it's gotten ridiculous. The other morning she showed up at my bedside at 2:30 AM, chatting like it was two in the afternoon. She often tells us she hasn't been to sleep or that she just fell asleep, and judging by the black circles under her eyes, I have to believe her. Since she, like her mother, is a much more pleasant creature when she has had enough sleep, we began to try to sort out the problem. She doesn't drink excessive amounts of caffeine or play games right up until bedtime. We figured adding a bit more exercise would help, and then the light bulb came on. We decided that perhaps she was lying up there listening to the radio (and learning the words to inappropriate songs) all night. So in what we considered a brilliant move on our part, we switched back to the classical music they loved as babies.
To say that the kids were less than impressed is a monumental understatement. The way they wailed you would have thought we had taken everything near and dear to them and set it on fire. The one who doesn't have trouble sleeping was the most upset, because obviously we were punishing her for something that wasn't her fault.
The most exciting development in the whole situation is this: after only two nights, both girls are much more well-rested and cheerful in the morning. Perhaps mom and dad are not so dumb...
I have shared all of this to say: If my children tell you that I am torturing them with classical music, you will know it's for a good cause!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
God or Jesus
Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple of days! I have been busy making final corrections to my book before it goes to print. I am supposed to get a look at the cover any day now. I can't wait. I sat down yesterday with my iPad, fully intending to get a couple of posts written, and then the most adorable blond headed two year old in the world climbed up in my lap and asked me to rock her. Anyone who knows me at all knows which one I picked, and you couldn't have turned her down, either! I love spending these precious moments at home with my little one. All too soon she will be off to school like her sisters.
Our appearance on AFV is coming up quickly! The show we flew to CA to film last month will air on February 17th. I can't wait to fill you guys in on that trip and everything that went on at the show. You will be hearing about that for several days!
And just in case you had any doubt about whether there are still monumentally important debates going on in the world, consider this: When my kids got out of the car arguing at school, the teacher asked their dad what they were fighting about. He just shook his head and said, "Who's smarter - God or Jesus?"
Our appearance on AFV is coming up quickly! The show we flew to CA to film last month will air on February 17th. I can't wait to fill you guys in on that trip and everything that went on at the show. You will be hearing about that for several days!
And just in case you had any doubt about whether there are still monumentally important debates going on in the world, consider this: When my kids got out of the car arguing at school, the teacher asked their dad what they were fighting about. He just shook his head and said, "Who's smarter - God or Jesus?"
Friday, February 1, 2013
All In How You See It
I love listening to my kids talk about the world around them. Their perspective is completely different than an adult's on just about everything, and they don't miss a thing. Anyone's house that we've ever been to is more awesome than ours. (Although my child did tell someone once that their house was "kinda small." Talk about wanting to sink right on through the floor! Fortunately, the lady had been around kids who speak their minds and didn't take offense.) Speaking of houses, we once went to a birthday party in a home that had a large chandelier and a huge formal dining table, complete with chairs upholstered in white. My kids were completely floored. Savannah kept looking at me and saying, "Mom, these people are like, royalty or something! This is a princess table!"
Any kid that owns a toy they don't have is "SO lucky." Never mind the fact that they have a zillion toys, they just know that they want a zillion and one. Are they spoiled? Yeah, probably. Are they brats? No way. Wait, let me clarify that. They have bratty moments, just like any child, but they are polite and respectful the vast majority of the time because I refuse to accept anything less.
As most of you know, we recently went on our second trip to California. As we have a fairly small, expensive regional airport in Tupelo, we generally drive to Memphis when we need to fly. Anyone who lives in Memphis can tell you that there are parts of town that are better than others. There are also parts that you'd better have your doors locked and plenty of gas when you drive through. Coming in on Highway 78, we have to drive through one of the less desirable parts to get to the airport.
We were rolling along when we passed The Pony strip club. In addition to the building being painted Pepto Bismol pink and purple, this charming establishment also features huge chrome horses on the roof. Naturally they are stallions, rearing up and showing off their decidedly human, but also square genitals. That in itself is weird on so many levels.
My kids began to scream the moment it came into view. "Look, Mommy! It's the HORSEY restaurant!" Remember when I said before that they don't miss anything? We were almost past it when I heard one of them begin to giggle hysterically. "LOOK! You can see their bladders! Oooh, and look right behind it! There's POOP! Mom, you can see his bladder and he has two little poop balls on him. That's so funny!"
Well, they got the ball part right - sort of! I guess it's all in how you see it, but it sounds like we are going to be having some anatomy lessons around here soon. Can't wait to explain why the horse's johnson is square and standing up. Thanks, pink Pony. Thanks a lot.
Any kid that owns a toy they don't have is "SO lucky." Never mind the fact that they have a zillion toys, they just know that they want a zillion and one. Are they spoiled? Yeah, probably. Are they brats? No way. Wait, let me clarify that. They have bratty moments, just like any child, but they are polite and respectful the vast majority of the time because I refuse to accept anything less.
As most of you know, we recently went on our second trip to California. As we have a fairly small, expensive regional airport in Tupelo, we generally drive to Memphis when we need to fly. Anyone who lives in Memphis can tell you that there are parts of town that are better than others. There are also parts that you'd better have your doors locked and plenty of gas when you drive through. Coming in on Highway 78, we have to drive through one of the less desirable parts to get to the airport.
We were rolling along when we passed The Pony strip club. In addition to the building being painted Pepto Bismol pink and purple, this charming establishment also features huge chrome horses on the roof. Naturally they are stallions, rearing up and showing off their decidedly human, but also square genitals. That in itself is weird on so many levels.
My kids began to scream the moment it came into view. "Look, Mommy! It's the HORSEY restaurant!" Remember when I said before that they don't miss anything? We were almost past it when I heard one of them begin to giggle hysterically. "LOOK! You can see their bladders! Oooh, and look right behind it! There's POOP! Mom, you can see his bladder and he has two little poop balls on him. That's so funny!"
Well, they got the ball part right - sort of! I guess it's all in how you see it, but it sounds like we are going to be having some anatomy lessons around here soon. Can't wait to explain why the horse's johnson is square and standing up. Thanks, pink Pony. Thanks a lot.
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