Misguided Charlotte...

"Well, I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were married to him tomorrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelve-month. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of VEXATION (good word!); and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life. "

And just look how you ended up, Charlotte Lucas! LOVING this book!!!


PS - Sorry about last night's posts. I think the five hours of sleep each night is finally catching up! With regards to sleeping Ben, I checked on him after freezing some peaches and he had turned somewhat so his head was on one step, his bum on another, and his feet stretched out in front of him. Daddy carefully carried him to his bed where he slept until 5:15! It's going to be a LONG day!!!!

One More Thing

So, I still laugh out loud thinking about this. In college we used to have this silly joke that 'Joe and Angie' were coming. "Joe and Angie who?" Then someone else would answer, "Joe Momma an' ya' Daddy!" Then we'll all bust up laughing. I know, fun college co-eds!!!!

So, the first few days of school, we are constantly peppering Ben with questions. One day we were talking about the bus, and I asked the bus driver's name. (I am laughing so hard right now I've had to retype this about 3 times!) Ben answers, "jour mama." Andy and I look at each other. WHAT??? Again, he answers, "jour mama." Such mature adults that we are, father and mother are trying so hard NOT to break into laughter. "Ben, do you mean like this 'Joe Momma?'" "Ya - jour mama!" I asked him again a few days later just to make sure. Same response.

One of these days I need to take the extra time to ask her personally what her name is because it CANNOT be 'Joe Momma!' Maybe it's 'Momma Joe' and he got confused???

Joe and Angie are coming!!!! hehehe :)

Decisions, Decisions...

Well, Ben thinks he is scared at night, (I try so hard to convince he is NOT scared at night and just needs to close his eyes and GO TO SLEEP!!!!) even sleeping with a little lamp on and the girls in there too. Alas, tonight he came to the basement to find me sucked into a game (or twelve) of Bejeweled. I sent him back to bed because my mothering time ENDS about 5 minutes after they are all in bed. He didn't make it...

So, he is now a pretty big kiddo, and it's almost impossible for me to lift him unless his arms are wrapped around me. (I have SOLID kids, but I don't know where they get it?!?) Andy won't be home from the library for at least 2 1/2 more hours. Do I leave him there and chance him rolling down the stairs so Andy can put him to bed? OR do I try and heave him there myself and potentially injure my back and thus render any future early more workouts completely non-existent??? (Lots of big words in there, huh? Trying to impress my fancy-pants lawyer-to-be spouse.)

I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave him there. I'll just jump over him as I go to the kitchen to sort which peaches that I bought today are ready or need to ripen for another day or so... More pictures to come... :)

And yes, I have now joined the 30 club. Nothing too exciting happened around here that day... :( I'm ALMOST over that....nope, not yet!!!!) Although, we did have a yummy breakfast for dinner...

My New BEST Friend!!!

I'm so excited to tell you a little bit about my new BEST friend! His name is Tommy. He's become my constant companion in the car. He likes all of my music. AND - he doesn't even care when I change my mind; he just works with me and plans around my decisions. Occasionally he tries to unbuckle out of his seat, but I just put him back in with a firm reminder. He listens to what I need and obeys almost instantly. I say thank you to him when he is kind. Tommy has saved me precious minutes and helps me to be happy by finding ways to make my life easier. "Want a Target - here it is! Need to find playgroup - here you go! Oh, you haven't been on this road before? Okay, just go the way you want and I will still take you to your final destination. Oh, you want to add one more errand because we have the time? Just tell me what store and I will get you there super fast!" Tommy, you are now my dream come true!!! Tommy is my new GPS, and I love him!!!

***To illustrate why I love Tommy so much, I counted how many different roads I was on while taking Ben's school folder to him this morning that he forgot - NINE. Yes, the school is about 1/5 miles away and I have to make NINE turns. THAT is why I love Tommy - he also saves me money from printing out so many darn Google maps! AND - (because my husband set him up specially for me), he has a sexy English accent! :)

Labor Day Fun

We were already planning a little hiking trip when some friends called and invited us along. Andy studied before and after - so glad to have convinced him away from the books for a few hours! We had so much fun!!! It was the most beautiful day and the scenery was perfect and the company cheerful! We even sang some camp songs as we hiked along! The kids had so much fun just climbing over everything!

AUGHH!!! Reversed the order. These are most of the kids posing - so sweetly! This was the very beginning of the hike so they were still willing to look at the camera.

And all the parents catching the cute picture...

Waiting for the kids to climb on rocks. Emily did FABULOUS in the backpack! The ENTIRE time - about 2 hours!

This was one of our climbing down adventures. Notice the massive amounts of dirt on Ben's jeans...

Here is my cute little Dusty Bottoms! Everyone got such a kick out of her cute bum! Annie shocked us with her amazing climbing abilities. With no problem at all, she kept up with Ben and the other big kids. They ranged from 15 years to 2 1/2 years. Such a span but we all had a great time! We finished with a picnic in a huge field.

I really want to make the time to go back next month when the trees are changing colors. The kids keep telling me that fall is here because one or two trees have a little bit of brown on them. How little they know... :) Can't wait to show them what Fall is SUPPOSED to look like!