How Family Night Exploded

   In the spirit of the holiday season, we try to carve out a night to have some time just for the four of us.  It is such a great activity, that I included it in the advent calendar this year.  To make it more "official" (or maybe so my kids would think it was a requirement?) Hmmmm..... I'll have to ponder that one.

  Family night is special, but a Christmas time family night is even more so.  We pop popcorn, drink hot chocolate, snuggle up with some soft throw blankets and watch a Christmas movie.

It didn't happen that way this year.  Instead, here is how it happened......


son:  Mom, can I have a friend over to spend the night?

mom: Not tonight sweetheart.  Remember, we are going to have a family night and watch a Christmas      
movie?  Hot chocolate and popcorn - ringing a bell?

son: But Mom, sister got to spend the night last Friday night and I didn't.  You always say "no".

mom:  That's not true.  I would have let you last weekend but you didn't mention it and I can't help it if everyone has conflicting schedules anyway.

son:  But mom, I haven't seen this friend all week.

mom:  I can't help it if you have to go to school during the day.

son:  But mom, can't he just watch the movie with us?  He won't be any trouble.  I never get to have a sleepover.

mom:  But son, I just scheduled for you to sleepover with a friend from school next Friday night.

son:  But mom, that is my friend from school.  I haven't seen this neighborhood friend all week.

mom: How about if you play with him and return at dinner time?

husband (quietly mumbles):  "It's ok with me if it's ok with you."

son:  But that is not enough time.

mom:  Son, sometimes parents need it to be "just us".

son:  Pleeeeeeese?

mom:  I guess that would be okay.  Go see if he can spend the night. How about I go get the makings for smores and we roast them over the new fire pit?

After roasting marshmallows over the fire pit (and racking up some "your mom is cool" points) we retired to differing areas of the house.

(sometime later after having lost track of time)

mom:  where is everybody?  are we going to watch a movie? I start walking around looking for my peeps.  My husband is in the kitchen working.  Not on kitchen things mind you, but working all the same.  My daughter is watching Frosty the Snowman on T.V.  Okay, I thought to myself, one down two (actually three now) to go.  I go in the family room and discover that the boys are watching Dragon Ball Z Kai and playing on the computer and ipad.

son:  mom, can we just play a little longer?

(after looking at the time)

mom:  okay, that's fine

(after letting them play much too long)

mom: guys it's time to go to bed.

(my husband heads upstairs to help our daughter, while I work on Christmas cards)

So that's how family night quickly dissolved into "everyone to his/her own corner of the house" night.

I had good intentions.  Doesn't that count for something? I just got worn down by an incredibly tenacious 9-year-old.  What is a mother to do?

Side note:  We did get some snuggle time.  It involved my youngest in the bed sandwiched between my husband and me.  Even the furball doggy got in and joined us.  I decided not to ask the boys if they wanted to climb in.  I didn't think they would appreciate the humor. What if they didn't get the joke?  Then I would just become "weird mom", and after getting brushed off for family night, I didn't think my ego could take it:)

Much love, many laughs, and a Merry Christmas to you!

Disheveled

My daughter is rough on things.  Make no mistake, she is very much the sweet little girl who likes to paint her nails, play with make-up, perfume, and put on jewelry.  But she is hard on things.

When she gives you a hug, you'd better bend your knees and get balanced, because she lunges into you and squeezes with all her might.  When she gives you a kiss, it is enthusiastic and memorable.

Whatever she does, she does with 100% gusto.

So it goes without saying that when she wakes up in the morning, her hair looks like this.........

Not bad you say?  Just wait...

Now what say you?

Whatever she does, she does 100%  She even sleeps hard.

Now, where did I put my hairbrush...

Much love and many laughs,

Bedhead's Mom

Phone manners and overused words and phrases

I'll admit it.  I'm a blatant user of the exclamation point.  Especially when I text.  It is so much more efficient that actually talking to someone.  


Don't get me wrong, I love to have a conversation as much as the next gal.  However, when passing along critical information like what time a movie starts, or "Did you mail that letter?", I feel texting can suffice.  If I just talked to you three minutes ago and I'm returning an answer to you, just check your message box.  We can dispense with pleasantries.


Oh, and please don't answer the phone just to tell me you can't talk now.  I release you to be free to let the phone go to voicemail.


How many times have you been about to wrap up an important conversation with someone, only to have a phone ring.  Don't answer it.  Just don't do it.  Finish what you started.  Don't hold someone hostage just so you can say goodbye.  


Back to the texting, I use a lot of exclamation points because sometimes meaning and tone are lost in translation.  I want the receiver of my text to know:
1.  I'm in a good mood (unless I'm not, in which case I probably won't text)
2.  I like them
3.  I don't want them to misunderstand #1 and #2


An exclamation point is the cheerleader in the punctuation family.  At least it is when I use it.  


I'm aware of my gratuitous use of them and no, I don't plan on changing it.  It is used to set the tone and I feel justified in this explanation.




That said, I thought I'd list some of my favorite cliche' sayings.  




1.  Sexy - example "wow, that washer and dryer are so sleek and sexy".  Rowrr.......  It just doesn't apply in cases such as these.


2.  Journey through this process.  It is quite eloquent.  It is just entirely overused.  So overused that I try to use it as much as I can.  Those who know me well will get the joke.  Those who don't will probably be nodding in an effort to look interested.


3.  3-D - It's a buzz word designed to get consumers attention.  But really, what is the purpose if 3-D soap?


4.  Holistic - sounds good doesn't it?  "Let's take a holistic approach to doing the laundry."  




Comments?  Anyone............anyone............? 




Much love and many laughs, 


A

A silent alarm just sounded....

Last night, when I needed to get cleaned up I decided to listen to my ipod and take a soak.  "Yes" I thought, "a little bathing would set me up forever!"  (Sorry-Jane Austen quote).


When I take a shower, nothing happens.  No one comes into my "suite" area.  (Man o man-why didn't I have doors put on the bathroom area???)  


But when I take a bath something mysterious happens.  


Within a mere 2 minutes of plunging myself into steaming hot water, I have a  visitor.  Another 3 minutes on top of that and I can score two more bath time guests.  


What causes this?  Is it the sound of relaxation pouring through the pipes and into my freestanding bathtub?  Is it the effervescence of my bath fizzies that hearkens to the weary crowd down stairs?  Has there been planted in my family's subconscious, the idea that bath time is also, "I have Mom's undivided attention" time?  


I can sympathize with the mother in Jill Murphy's book "Five minutes Peace please"  It is funny because it is so true.  So incredibly true.  


In the book, the mother elephant gets her kids their breakfast, and while they eat, she thinks she'll sneak a 5 minute bath.  Well as you could probably guess, with in 2 minutes, two of her kids are goofing around in the bathroom while her youngest child jumped right in for a soak himself.  

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Don't click on it, you can't sample it here:)

You can find this book in the children's fiction section of your local bookstore.  It is not fiction.  Not at all.


Maybe that's where the Japanese got the idea for group bathing.  Who knows?
  
So, I've decided enjoy the interruptions with the realization that one day when my kids are grown, I'll actually get those 5 minutes of bath time peace. 


And while I'm at it I think I'll invest in some bubble bath.   Cause no one needs to see my Rubinesque-ness or make comments about it-thank you very much!


Much love and many laughs,


A

Ways to avoid bedtime

My boy is funny.  He is a man-child.  He is tenderhearted and kind.  He is all boy and I love it.

Two  (unintentionally) entertaining traits of his are his vast store of energy and his very active mind.  Sometimes his mind is so active that he has difficulty going into "sleep mode" at night.

Below are some reasons he's listed for being unable to sleep:

1. "My ankle hurts."  (Last year he sprained his ankle and it only seems to flare up at bedtime.  Too bad for him, my husband noticed that the "trick ankle" switches from time to time.)

2.  "I have too much energy."  (Understatement of the year!)

3.  "I can't sleep because my nose is like..........."( fill that in with various sniffs and snorts and you have a idea).

4.  "My body is trying to force my eyes open and then closed." (Picture him pretending to fall asleep and jolting awake with eyes wide open.)

5.  "Since Monday, my body hasn't wanted to go to sleep."

6.  "It feels like there are rocks in my [4" memory foam egg crate topped] bed."

And these are just some of the doozies we've heard in the past.

Needless to say, I'll be updating you with the future bedtime excuses as they occur.  He really is a creative fellow and a joy to our lives.  I'm amused by his excuses because it's noon on a beautiful sunny day.

If you catch me at 11:30 on a school night battling this problem, you might get a different picture.

It's all about context people:)




Much love and many laughs,

A

Literacy Day

Today is Literacy Day at school.  The 4th graders and older are going to give presentations on books they've been reading.  


The Third graders and younger can dress like their favorite book character.  This is both a blessing and a curse.


It's a blessing because it is so much fun you can barely stand yourself.  It is a chance to talk about favorite book characters.  And it is fun because I was able to discuss critical thinking skills without anyone getting mad or complaining.  (1.  Which costume would be compatible with being at school and on the playground? The horse costume or Fancy Nancy?  2.  Which costume is more easily identified?  Judy Moody in jeans and a t-shirt or Fancy Nancy-in a tutu, crown, and beads? After all you don't want to go to the trouble of dressing up when no one can tell the difference between regular clothes and dressing like a book character).


It's a curse because your 7 year old is sooooo excited that she wakes up at 4:40 to get dressed and you made the mistake of staying up too late playing on the website "Pinterest". 


It is also a curse because her hair is strawberry blond and straight.  Fancy Nancy's hair is bright red, curly and voluminous.  Her reality did not measure up to her mind's idea of what this should look like.  Tears ensued and threats were made.  This was one of those times when you have to make the punishment fit the crime.  Either quit crying or I'm taking you out of that costume and you'll wear a uniform to school.  We had the luxury of changing clothes if needed because like I said, she woke up at 4:40.


By the time carpool rolled around, she was excited again.  Even though her wings were falling down all the time and her hair wasn't exactly like the picture, the excitement emitted from my nieces when she was picked up for school was like a balm to the both of us.  


This is what she looked like......

As I mentioned before she was so excited she could hardly stand it!!!

Literacy day beats Pajama Day any ol' day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Yippee! 

Much love and many laughs,

A

Dress-up compliments of TJ Maxx

Once a week my daughter and a friend go to horseback riding.  They love this activity and love spending a little time together in the car because we carpool. It is a great set-up for everyone.  Yeah for carpools!!!


Last week it was my turn to drive and I thought I might make a stop by Target to get some office/organizational supplies.  (I really am an office supply nerd, but that's for another post:)


Since I was already not headed straight back from lessons, why not stop by TJ's treat myself to a little purse shopping.


I'm a new TJ Maxx devotee.  That is probably because I'm always the last one to know about great deals and or sales. I have some friends who are major bargain hunters and I aspire to be like them.  However, I often am side-tracked by the new arrivals that are displayed well and really grab you when you first walk in.  Digging through the racks is an exercise in frustration for me.  However, though it has taken a while, but now I can say I am a true fan of TJ's (I just avoid the center area and I'm happy:)


If you've ever shopped the Maxx, you might be familiar with the fact that they have some really great purses, and when I get on a purse kick-lookout!!!  


So the girls and I bee-bopped our way in the store and looked around.  Before I knew it, they had gathered purses, wallets and hats to try on.  It was so sweet and it gained the attention of the ladies in that part of the store.  The ladies admired how cute the girls were!  I can vouch that it was a treat to see them play like this.  They were absolutely precious.


I had to snap a couple of shots with my phone.  

Never let it be said that a girl can have too many accessories!  Also, a side note to Cam's mom,  she likes feathers and animal print.  I hope you have some retirement money stashed away:)

Much love and many laughs,

A

Pet Peeves list

Here is a sampling of my pet peeves.  It is not all-inclusive and I reserve the right to add to it at any time of my choosing.  Please know that I am not in a bad mood:) Also, it should be known that while it is a pet peeves list, it in no way affects my life.  It is simply a list of the quirky things in life that strike me as odd.  Maybe I should have listed it as a "quirky things in life that strike me as odd" list.  Never the less, here it is.....


1.  Catty gossip talk.


2.  Inappropriate information that is passed along as a "prayer request".


3.  Drama and the people who create and thrive on it  (I don't dislike the actual people, just the drama).


4.  Overzealous cosmetic sales people (again, please note that the issue is not with the people, just the aggressive use of cosmetics).


5.  Reproducing celebrities (especially the ones that have one child per relationship to solidify that relationship and show the world their love for each other).


6.  Fussy adults. 


7.  When men don't help with their children.


8.  When people speed up when you're passing them.


9.  How "celeb-utantes"  have to make films, music, clothing lines, and even fragrances (what ever happened to celebs with actual talent and what about the concept less is more?).


10.  How the general public sees anyone who randomly ad libs (usually out of tune) as a truly gifted singer.


11. Cliquey-ness 


12.  When your favorite author gets only releases one book a year and won't even blog about the subject matter.  I mean really, could you please show the fans some love?


12. When people I don't know call me "girl"-especially grown men-it's just weird!  




Well, that's all I can think of for now.  Let me know your list of irksome behaviors  (yes, you can say the use of the work "irksome" is a pet peeve-I won't be offended).  And it bears repeating for my mother that I am not in a bad mood:)


Much love and many laughs,


A

Which way did he go?

Inspired by the last two posts, and thinking about my sweet husband, I thought I might post another cute story about him.


Years ago, my husband's parents had a house on the lake.  It was lovely.  For many years, they let my family use it to gather together and celebrate Christmas.  


It was on a return trip from one of these visits that I noticed a turtle in the road.


I have a soft spot for turtles.  I like their disposition.  Never in a hurry.  Never stressed or anxious.  I even get a kick out of when they hide their faces, but don't close the other end of the shell.  You can see their booties.  They are wrinkled and cute.  They're endearing little buggers.  


Needless to say, when I see one in the road, I'll stop and move it safely to the side.  


That day, my sweetheart and I were traveling a twisty and hilly little section of road that lead back to his parents lake house.  In the middle of the crazy section of the road, I spotted a turtle right in the middle of my lane.  After I gasped, held my breath and passed safely over the turtle, I quickly stopped my vehicle and hustled back out to the road. I picked up the turtle and in that moment had a momentous choice to make.


Where do I deposit the little fella?  You see, on my side side of the road were trailer homes with lots of cars and people, and pebble gravel covering the ground.  On the other side was a lush green area with a shallow lake inlet.  In my mind, the choice was obvious.  I hustled to the other side of the road and deposited the turtle in the patchy grass area right next to the inlet.  


When I got back to the car, my husband said in an extremely frustrated tone, "why did you put him over there"?  "He was almost across the road!"  


You see, the turtle was facing the trailer park with the pebbly gravel.  He had crossed the left lane and was halfway through safely the right lane.  In that moment, my sweet husband sympathized with the poor little guy.  I believe he mumbled under his breath "now he's just going to have to start back over."  


To this day, I wonder what became of that little turtle.  Did he rejoice when he saw the grass and water thinking "sweet!  This is what I was looking for!" "Did his turtle family happily exclaim "Oh good!  I'm so glad you made it.  We were so worried about you.  We thought you might have gotten lost!"  


I like to think the turtle led a nice long life and didn't choose to cross the dangerous road.  I like to think he looks like this today:

 and is thinking, "ahhhhh..... this water feels soooo good!"

But my husband feared that not long after we left him he probably looked like this.....

and then this....

"WOW that HURT!!!"  "That's gonna leave a mark!"

Poor little turtle, too bad J wasn't the one on rescue duty that day.

Much love and many laughs,

A

Oops-I forgot to mention I got these photos off the web.  I don't want anyone to think I took these lovelies myself:)

Happy 41st my sweetie!

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday.  Last year he turned 40. It was a milestone.  I invited several close friends to play golf with him to celebrate.  I sent out invitations.  We got a great response.  40 is a big deal.

J and the kids at the driving range

The guys getting ready to tee off

B rode with Jim Jones

J and the kids

J, B and Denver at dinner

This year, he turns 41 (obviously) and for some reason "those" birthdays are not milestones.  Do you go all out for 11?  Many do for 21, but not "good" Baptists-Har Har.  What about 31?....No?  So needless to say, I didn't know how to make 41 special.  


I don't have a present yet  We got him a Garmin GPS system for Father's Day.  He already has every gadget known to man.  What's a "girl" (and I use that term very loosely) to do?


Then I discovered that our kids have their first day off from school on his birthday.  (They go to a school that has an extended year, so they returned to school in July-ugh!)  Yippee I thought.  We can hang out with my multi-purpose/go-to folks and hit the lake for tubing and skiing.


(For a frame of reference- the multi purpose people are Marc and Billie and the girls.  Marc is J's brother.  His wife is our sister-in-law.  So that covers the family part.  Billie was my friend before we met our husbands.  She is my go-to person.  We talk a lot, car pool, trade kids and rely on each other quite a bit.  She even is a good part of the catalyst that got our kids connected with their "extended school year" school.  Don't tell my son this.  He has considered asking me to home school him in the past:)  Family, friends, first call people = multi purpose people).


Uh oh. J has a busy day that day.  He makes some calls.  Reschedules some stuff.  Works some magic and Ta Da.... it's Happy Birthday Daddy.


Unfortunately, the "Ta Da' was short lived.  It seems some folks don't consider other people's schedules and the afternoon conference call is back on. You would think no one was aware it was his birthday and that we have birthday plans at the lake.  Does no one check the school calendar to see if our kids have a day off from school?  


I guess it was not to be.  Even the forecast calls for rain. 


So Happy Birthday honey!   We love you very much and 41 is special to us!  


By the way, in case I don't have a present in hand, I'm gonna recall the golf excursion of last year and coast off the fumes of that:)  At this point, it's either that or a mani-pedi gift card.  It is the gift that keeps on giving.


Love you!




Much love and many laughs from your beloved:)


A

For the Jane Austen fans....

"The fallout"  

a scene from P & P.

Context:  Darcy botched the marriage proposal to Lizzy.  Truly astonished that she would not jump at the chance to marry him, he inquires as to why she would refuse him.    

Scene:

Darcy:  (stunned and angry)  "And this is your opinion of me!  Thank you for explaining so fully.  But, perhaps these offences might have been overlooked had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design ...........Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?  To congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly below my own?"

(internet photo)

Lizzy:  (hopping mad)  "You mistake me Mr. Darcy.  The mode of your declaration merely spared me any concern I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner."  


"You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it." 


"From the beginning, your manners impressed me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others.  "I had not know you a month before I felt you were the last man I could ever marry."

(internet photo)

How is that for a come back?  Now that's what I'm talking about!

Much love and many laughs,


A

A hairy dog and a good fellow!

My husband is a good guy.  The very best.  A softy to the core.  


One example was a time early on in our marriage.  We had acquired two labrador mixed breed dogs.  They were truly the best dogs ever.  Sometimes, he would look into their sleepy eyes and ask me "do you think they're happy?"






Another time was more recently when we moved back into our house after a 10 month (let me pause to collect myself.....) remodel absence. We live on a golf course and therefore can't have a privacy fence.  The only fence we can have is one of those iron ones that doesn't occlude the view. Our other dogs, Molly and Trey, were too big to fit through the fence.  However, Teddy, being a mini goldendoodle, is very small (approximately 30 pounds) and can fit through with no problem at all.  


The fence situation required that we get an invisible fence installed.  While we were at it, we bought four indoor "zappers" for the newly decorated rooms in the house.  They kept him out of the off limits areas.  


Later, never having had limitations put on him before, we did see some passive aggressive behaviors manifest themselves.  When those happened, I simply moved the zappers to those areas so Teddy couldn't take his anger out on the rug:)  


After sequestering him to only about half of the house, my husband looked at him with a distraught heart and said to me, "I just don't want him feeling like he can't go anywhere in the house."  






Which brings me to the most perfect example of all.  Teddy has a wealth of hair. That hair does not shed-yippee.  However, that hair gets matted badly.  One day, I made myself send him to the groomer.  She had to shave him because the mattes were out of control.  I have never liked his haircuts.  It is probably the reason why I put off the grooming in the first place.  However, it had to be done and when we took him home, what once looked like this.......

Now looked like this...................

And when my husband got home from work that day, he saw Teddy and said "Teddy, I like your haircut."


And I looked at him with astonishment and said "you really do"?


And my sweetheart said out of the side of his mouth, "well... what was I supposed to say?"


And that more than anything gives you a true picture of my husband.  Like I said, he is "a softy to the core"  and I'm so glad he's mine:)




Much love and many laughs,


A 

"MacGuyvering"

I discovered something about my brother in law on our recent family vacation.  He is a problem-solver.  I think his aptitude for that must be off the charts.  I got to where I was calling him "MacGuyver".  If we didn't have it-no problem, Darrell would find a way.

Darrell is also into all things natural and/or organic.  I knew this to be the case, but I had never seen it in so many applications as I did on our vacation.

Here are some examples of the "MacGuyvering" that Darrell did:

1.  Problem:  Darrell doesn't like chemicals in sunscreen.  

Solution:  He lugged around a plastic water bottle with home made sunscreen.  He used it, and by the end of the day he was very, very, brown.  Why?  Because some of the key ingredients were not available to him.  He "made do" with what he had and ironically, instead of acting as a sunscreen, the oil in the concoction acted as a tan accelerant.  We had a good chuckle at that!

2.  Problem:  The charcoal we had required lighter fluid to burn.  

Solution:  Darrell tried walnut oil.  We had a lovely grilled meal.

3.  Problem:  We wanted Darrell to make make his famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  We couldn't find a cookie sheet or mixer in the rental house.    

Solution:  Rig some foil together and voila-cookie sheet.  Also, use a blender for mixing.  In a pinch it will suffice.

4.  Problem:  The toaster from the rental burned one side and did not toast the other, and just for kicks liked to blow a fuse when we used it.  

Solution:  Butter the toast and use a frying pan on the stove top.  Surprisingly good toast.

5.  Problem:  Deflating the boats and tubes we had in order to pack them for the return trip.

Solution:  He discovered that to suck the air out of the inflatables, you had to move the hose around somehow.  This actually falls under "discovery" but still is a problem solver.  J didn't feel so good that last night.  When he woke the next morning,  he was happy to learn that the job was taken care of.

So my sister and I dubbed him "MacGuyver".  When he finds a new application for some item, or finds a way to fix a problem, we say he is "MacGuyvering".  

 He could write a column for Real Simple Magazine.  He could be featured in the "new ways to use household items" category.  At the very least, I think he needs to enter "Survivor".  He'd clean up.

Much love and many laughs,

A

And the moral of the story is..... Vacation run-down pt. 2

 On our recent vacation, which included my sister, her husband, their boys, and the four of us, we traveled to Seagrove, FL.

It was a wonderful trip.  The beach is always my favorite type of vacation.

Though I have spent a great deal of time over the years with my sister and her family, I don't recall having such a good stretch of time with just them.  We really enjoyed being together.

Our week was filled with repeated efforts to locate the best beach access points.  We had the gear (chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, towels, sunscreen, and of course books). It was quite a load to haul.  

Moral:  Next time-plan ahead to get a beach front property.

The first day at the beach, I noticed something in the water that was not normal.  It was June Seagrass.  It was only moderately annoying to me, but the younger boys experienced chaffing in their "unknown region" (to quote the neighbor kid), and that was baaaaad.

This seagrass (with added "kelp") was so thick it actually colored the water a beautiful shade of blue-green.  Wonderful to look at.  Not so wonderful for playing in the waves.  Two days before the end of our trip was the worst day for seagrass.  The young guys and my husband went in the water and shortly thereafter returned to the beach with patties of seagrass in their pockets.  It was wild.  

I felt helpless to do anything about it.  I didn't have the swimsuit problem that they did-no pockets and all.

The patties were so bizarre.  So nice and damp and firm.  I couldn't help myself.  I didn't see the point in wasting them so I took the patties and pummeled my son with them.  

Moral: When life gives you lemons, throw those lemons at someone.  It is an instant pick-me-up.

"Sea Patties"

I wanted to cook this trip.  I knew that it would be crowded in that highly popular vacation area, and the kids always do better when they can play and relax in a home instead of the torturous wait at restaurants.

Because of that, we made many trips to Publix.  Soooo many.  One day I said to my brother-in-law, "At least we don't have to go to the grocery store today!"  Guess what, we did need to go to the grocery store.  

Moral: Never assume you have enough milk in the refrigerator. Also, do not spell refrigerator with a "d".  You will get slammed by spell check.

The first day, I discovered that I had not packed something.  That always happens right?  The things I had not packed were beach towels-HA!  While my sister and I were getting kids sunscreened, we sent the guys on a towel recon. mission.  Hesitant as always, I questioned my judgement on that, but we all were so anxious to get to the beach, I relented to save time.

J came back with two towels.  They looked worn.  I immediately assumed that he had rented or borrowed them from the realty place we used to book the rental house.  (They had to make a side trip there as well.)

J informed me that he had purchased the towels.  "You bought used towels?" I cried!  No, they're new.  Incredulous, I couldn't believe him.  I thought it must have been a joke.  These towels looked well-worn.  

I kept waiting for the punchline.  And waiting, and waiting......

Then, he proceeded to put on his beach shoes.  The shoes were the slip-on type that he was to busy to try on before he left the store.  You see, my husband doesn't buy his clothes or anything like that.  In my heart of hearts, I question whether or not he even knows any of his clothing sizes or his shoe size.  Without my supervision, he chose to guess his general size and then proceeded to chose the closest size DOWN from that.

That's when it all broke loose.  You would have thought I had insulted him personally.  We had an animated private discussion, had our required "head-butting" episode for the trip,  and moved on.

Moral:  If your husband brings you worn towels, when you get home, add them to the "dog" towel collection.  They're great for that!




Our last day on the beach we took a bunch of photos with the kids.  Darrell had on his new yellow shirt.  He picked that color because if he spilled mustard on it, it would not show.  


Having previously been burned by a mustard stain, Darrell remained cautious in all clothing choices.  Fool me once shame on you.  Fool me twice and you're not gonna be fooling me again:)  You can read about it at houseof1000dreams.blogspot.com.


Also, my kids were dressed for beach photos but my husband did not give much thought to what to wear in case I wanted to take his picture.  He told me " at least I can spill food on this and it won't show-especially ketchup!"


Hmmmm..... that rings a bell.  Oh yeah, Darrell said the same thing about mustard and his shirt.  


So for what remained of the trip we referred to them as "Ketchup" and "Mustard".  It's not quite as catchy as PB & J, but it would have to do.

Ketchup and Mustard

We had a wonderful time!  Come and go with us next time!

Much love and many laughs,

A