Linda at 2nd Cup  hosts this meme.  I enjoyed reading all the links. Then I decided since I was getting back into my posting I’d try this one.

Scents of fresh coffee wafted slowly through the house.  The sound of bacon sizzling cut through the monotony of the night sounds.  Whirling fans tried with no avail to eliminate the heat of the summer morning.  Each scent and sound playing its own part in the beginning of a new day.

Lazy summer mornings.  The days of doing nothing with the exception of working on your tan were the greatest.  These were the days a kid could be a kid.  We could ride our bikes all over the community without worrying.  The woods held endless treasures as we would walk from one home to the other.  We were free to roam the entire community… if we wanted to.

With three kids at home I am constantly reminded of the differences in their childhood and mine.  We live in different times.  I would never let my kids roam the woods alone.  Riding bikes down the road is not even mentioned at our house.  I rarely let them outside to play in the backyard alone.  It’s scary…. for me.

This year will be different!  I have made a vow to allow my kids outside…. alone (that made my hands shake a little) for a few hours every day.  The only exception will be those dark dreary days when the grass is soaked and the mud is so thick it gulps down your flip flops. 

We all sat down last night and talked about what we expected of them.  It’s not much.  They are past the age of learning to do chores.  It is time they stepped up and helped keep things clean.  I don’t really consider these things chores.  You know… put things back where you get them.  Plain and simple. 

That’s not really where I was going with this post, but… you know.  I am sticking to my vow for my kids sakes.  Oh and before y’all get worried… this vow is ONLY for my “big kids”.  Zack has to be supervised by a parent! 

All that said…. bring on the warm sunny days with extra hours of daylight.  Bring on the tanned little faces that soak up the sun.  Bring on the days of sipping kool-aid from the front porch.  Bring on the days of SUMMER!

We had a great time in the snow.  But when you can’t feel your toes, you know it’s time to move on to something warmer.  Cold, tired, and hungry we made it back to our rooms.  We began our quest for a restaurant open on Christmas day. 

 While I searched the phone book, Jason turned on the hot tub for Tyler & Abbey.  Zack thought that was the funniest thing.  He kept running back and forth from the living room to the bathroom.  He threw all his cars in there and giggled as the bubbles covered them.  Many minutes later the kids got out and we headed to TGIF, the only place open on Christmas! 

Our waiter was the best!  He brought out a printout of every ingredient in every food.  He stood beside me helping me find something for Abbey.  Amazing!  We were so thrilled to have someone like him to wait on us!  And, yes, I emailed the company to applaud him for his great job!  When we were all full and ready to relax, we went back to our rooms. 

We changed into our swimming suits, grabbed towels, and headed to the indoor heated pool and water slides!  We went from snow to water in one day!  Abbey and I went down the slide.  When she came out she bawled!  She didn’t know it would be dark.  That was it for the slides.  Tyler wouldn’t even try!  We swam until we were shriveled like prunes. 

It was late by the time we rode the elevator to our room.  Sleep came quick for all of us.  We knew the next day would be filled with much more.

After breakfast we got dressed and drove through the mountains for a few hours.  We drove on some trails.  There we saw so many deer, turkeys , and old churches.  When the trail ended we went to downtown Gatlinburg for some shopping.  Zack slept most of the time.  Tyler and abbey oohed and aahhed at the shops lining the streets.  We took a quick break to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp.  Again, an amazing waiter. He came right out and told us the only thing she could have.  After eating we walked the streets some more.  On the way back to the Explorer we stopped at the Aquarium.  Zack loved it!  He kept saying, “Pish, Mama,  Pish!”  Abbey was scared when we walked under the sharks.  It was a little strange being under them, but amazing creatures to look at.  Tyler wasn’t too interested. 

We said goodbye to Gatlinburg for many months.  The Williams family definitely made many memories this Christmas!  I was glad we had our one “Special Christmas”.

Now that my Christmas post are over…. I can NOT wait to show y’all my bathroom remodel!

The economy is bad.  It’s no secret.  People are cutting back.  Frugal is now a word I hear often.  Apparently my daughter did not get this memo.  Money is just paper in her cute little glitter covered pink wallet.

Last Wednesday I left work early to check on my mom.  I got home before Tyler and Abbey.  I started laundry and dinner.  Then I sat back to relax a little before the chaos of my night began.  Little did I know that the chaos would be triple that night. 

I heard the bus drop the kids off.  A few minutes later they barged through the door.  Abbey’s eyes were big.  I noticed she went straight to her room without one word.  Tyler was right behind her.  I could hear him telling her she better tell me.  When she didn’t say anything he blurted out, “Mama, Abbey gave away SIXTY dollars on the bus.”  What?  Can you repeat that?  Yeah he said it…. SIXTY dollars. 

I was beyond furious.  First, I told her NOT to take her Christmas money to school.  Second, she just GAVE it to a little girl. Third, there was no third.  I was out of my seat in three seconds flat heading to her room. 

“Abbey, why did you give your money away?  Did she ask for it?  Why did you even have it with you?  What on this Earth were you thinking?”  I bombarded her with questions.  I didn’t wait for answers. I kept trying to get a reason to her madness.  The answers finally came.  Not good ones, mind you.  Basically all I got was, “Mama, I don’t know.” 

I definitely will not win Mother of the Year in 2010!  I yelled.  I didn’t raise my voice, I flat out yelled.   She was terrified.  I couldn’t even spank her.  Jason had to because I was that mad.  I grounded her for two weeks.  And… I took all her money from her.  Even her pennies!  I put it up so she can’t find it. 

After much fussing yelling I put her in the Explorer and we searched for this little girl.  Luckily she stays with her babysitter that is only a few houses down.  I went to the door to make sure she was still there.  Then I explained the situation to the lady.  She brought the girl to the door.  I made Abbey ask for her money.  She handed her a twenty.  The babysitter asked where the rest was.  She gave forty to another little girl!  OH… I was feeling some more yelling coming on.

We get back in the Explorer.  Abbey assures me she knows exactly where this girl lives.  After knocking on two doors, I finally find her.  This little girl was not as easy as the first.  She wanted to get smart.  She told me Abbey didn’t give her money someone else did.  Finally she reluctantly handed over the other forty.

Abbey was an angel for the rest of the night.  She knew better than to push my buttons.  She even wrote on the bathroom mirror (we leave notes with dry erase markers) how sorry she was.  I felt a tiny bit bad.  No, honestly, I didn’t feel bad. At all.

Here is the question.  Did I do the right thing by getting her money back?  I just could not decide.  Maybe I should have let that be her lesson, but it didn’t seem to bother her that she no longer had money.  What would y’all have done?

I’m still here!   Things have been so crazy for us lately.  I haven’t had time to do anything.

I don’t make resolutions because I usually break them by the second day.  I did however decided I’d blog more!  Oh … and I uh.. sorta made a little bet with the kids.  I’m gonna be sporting a two-piece swimsuit this summer.  Yeah… I know.  I haven’t done that since college, and probably shouldn’t have done it then.  We shall see.

This year I sat down and thought about what I need to change in 2010. These are not really resolutions.  More like things I need to be more persistent with.  Things that will make me feel more organized. I will feel more in control of certain aspects of my life. 

On with my non-resolution list.

1. Spend more time with God.  I borrowed a devotional book from my mom.  I love it.  We are also reading the New Testament.  Every night I give the kids one Bible verse from the chapter to learn.  They love it.  I remember reading the Bible with my mom as a kid.  I hope this is one thing they will continue when they have their own kids.
2. Do some form of exercise everyday.  I started by just doing some basic sit-ups, jumping jacks, leg lifts, etc.  Then I bought the Biggest Loser DVD.  Me and the kids have been doing it at night.  It’s tough, but so much fun to watch the kids. 
3. Game night once a month.  Tyler and Abbey have so many new games.  Battleship, Connect Four, Chess, Checkers, etc.   What better way to take advantage of all the games and some quality family time?  Game night! 
4. Change jar.  We started a change jar.  Any change we have goes into it.  We call it Disney Money.  We hope to take a Disney Cruise in a few years.  We have read some good things about how they handle allergies on the cruise. 
5. Not only do we have a change jar, but I have decided to pick up any change I see laying around on the ground.  So far I only have a penny, but a penny is a start…. right?  If I can talk my husband into making me something to go on the sidebar, I will post the new amount every week.
6. Organize every room in my house!  I started with the utility room.  Jason hung me a shelf with a rod Saturday.  It’s amazing what a difference one shelf made!  My plan is to pick one room a month to declutter( why does spell check say this is not a word?) and organize.  I’m  ready to have my house back the way it was when we moved in. Clean, clutter-free, and semi-organized.
7. Take more pictures!  I got a new camera.  I will be doing my sister-in-laws wedding in February.  I have been reading about ways to improve my pictures. 

There are my top seven non-resolutions.  I will keep y’all posted on how things are going.  So far I have stayed on track.  But, it’s only the 12th day. 

I hope everyone has an amazing year!

That is exactly what I have.  Da Funk.  I don’t want to do anything.  I have neglected my blog as well as all the ones I read daily.  What brought me out of this funk?  Not really anything.  I’m afraid I still have it.  But, last night as I sat down to match up what seemed to be a million socks that I let Da Funk con me into throwing in a basket for a month, I realized that I could not just let things go anymore.  Including my blog.  So, adios Funk!

Want to know what I have been doing over the past month, besides neglecting important things.  I finished Abbey’s room.  I talked my husband into hanging pictures in the dining room and the hall.  I made a birthday cake for Abbey that was completely horrible!  I took Abbey out for a “Girls Only Day”.  I heard Zack say “Mama” for the first time.  I played nurse to both of my boys through the flu.  I slowed down and enjoyed everything I did and didn’t do. 

Now that I’m back I have a ton of pictures and stories to show.  But I must warn y’all.  If I go missing again, just know that I let Da Funk worm it’s way back into my life and I might actually be enjoying the down time!

Watch for pictures later this week!  Oh and Thanks Deanna for checking on me!  I love friends like you!!

It seems my little girl has acquired quite a few admirers on the bus this year.  I suppose that’s to be expected.  She is beautiful, if I say so myself.  Not bragging, just telling the truth.  My daughter is just plain beautiful.  Even when her allergies have her broken out from head to toe, her sweet smile just shines through and she shows that beauty.  Anyway, back to the admirers.

I didn’t find all this out until yesterday.  I picked Tyler and Abbey up and they were bickering.  I listened for a few minutes to figure out what was going on.  Then I heard Abbey begging Tyler not to tell me because I would tell Daddy.  I decided it was time to ask what was going on.  Tyler was way too eager to tell me the entire story while Abbey hid her face and interjected a few changes to the story.

This little boy is in kindergarten.  She is devastated that a “younger boy” likes her.   He peeps around the seat at Abbey.  He told the other little boy in his seat he wanted to marry Abbey.  Then he made “kissing lips” at her.  I almost fell out when Tyler said kissing lips.  Abbey turned every shade of red possible.  When she got on the bus yesterday he started singing, “Here comes my buddy, here comes my buddy.”  While singing he was doing a dance Tyler and Abbey call milking the cow.  My kids can come ups with some stuff!  Tyler gets a kick out of teasing her about boys.  She gets mad and then even.  She gives him a much harder time about his little crush.  Some day they won’t tease.  I hope they are there for each other to mend broken hearts along the way.  I’m sure there will be plenty.  I don’t know…. Abbey seems pretty content to keep boys far away.  Especially “younger boys”.

I can hardly wait to see what happened today on the bus.

Abbey is my little fashion diva.  She has to be cute.  Plain and simple.  She wants her earrings to match.  Her socks have to be turned down just right.  And, she will cut you to the core quick if you look bad. 

I decided this morning that I let Tyler and Abbey watch way too much Disney channel.  Why?  This morning I got a direct quote from one of the shows.  It was bad.  I wanted to run…. well, not really, but it was bad coming from my seven year old.

I had on a cute outfit.  Green shirt with black pants.  Nothing major stylish, just cute.  I put on my pink earrings and bracelet.  That is what the lady at the store said would look great… y’all know my fashion knowledge is in the lower numbers.  I wake Abbey up for school.  She takes one look at me and shakes her head.  I’m confused.  I thought maybe she couldn’t get her eyes to focus.  I had no idea what was about to take place.  She crawls out of the bed, stamps her little pink painted toes and says,  “MAMA!  You are NOT going to work like that.  You look like a giant preschooler!”  Giant preschooler?  Where on this earth did she hear that?    Disney channel!  Then she runs to wake Tyler so he can see me.  The whole time I’m contemplating what I can change into.  Tyler comes in my room and he laughs, too.  By now I’m just devastated.  If my kids think I look like a giant preschooler, imagine what adults will think.  Long story short, I march Abbey into my closet and let her pick my clothes.  Guess what I have on…. green shirt and black pants.  But some reason I don’t look like a giant preschooler because she picked out different jewelry!  Girls!   Need help picking out your clothes, just call me.  I’ll send Abbey right over!

Last night as I waited for sleep to take me over, I mentally ran through everything I had to do this morning.  It was a lot.  I fell asleep after wake kids went through my head. Needless to say that without my mental preparation last night, my morning was just complete chaos.  I like it that way.  I thrive on chaos.  Really I do.

First thing I slept late.  But, I didn’t let this bother me.  I already asked to be late for work so I could take Tyler and Abbey to school.  So, getting up late was not really that bad.  I enjoyed those few extra minutes of sleep.  After I was dressed I realized that I was supposed to make Abbey pancakes for breakfast.  I decided I’d feed her something better.  Chocolate cupcakes.  It’s good for her.  There is milk in there.  Plus, I gave her a cup of milk.  Tyler wanted to eat at school. Did y’all notice my eyes rolling?  I just don’t get what is so special about school breakfast.  In my school years, if you ate breakfast at school you were, how do I say it… I don’t know, but I’m sure y’all remember.  Seems like now everyone eats at school.  Saves me time, so I’m ok with that.

Abbey decided that she had to have her hair curled this morning.  We are talking about the kid that hasn’t brushed her hair one single morning this summer.  This is the same kid that begged for pony tails everyday last school year.  Is she growing up?  Ugh!  I don’t even want to think about that.  Then she had to pick out her earrings because this was the first time she could wear different ones to school.  Last year she was stuck with the original ones.  Next her shoes had to be the perfect ones.  After trying on at least three pair, she was dressed and ready to go.  During all that drama with little miss Abbey, Tyler threw on his t-shirt and shorts.  Yea… that’s how he does it. 

We got to school.  Tyler jumped out without even looking back.  Guess my Tyler is growing up too.  I walked Abbey to her class.  I had to give the teacher all her medicine.  Yeah, I thought that was a good excuse.  I need one kid to need me on the first day of school.  I left her sitting in the hall all excited and chit-chatting with some friends from last year. 

I sit here wondering how their day went.  I’m sure it was better than mine.  Just call me worry-wart.  That is what I did all day!

A few days ago my kids came home from Mama’s with a dusty old greenish blue plastic tote.  Their faces were glowing.  They had a treasure!  I knew exactly what it was and was as excited as they were to open it.

Two or three weeks before I got married I sat down and wrote a letter to my future kids.  I wanted to show them what my life was like as a child.  I wanted them to see things I loved and played with.  I took some of the most important things in my life and placed them in the plastic tote.  I numbered each item.  In the letter I explained how each item was important in my life.  I put the tote in the back of my closet and left it there to be found many years later. 

I opened it carefully.  I pulled out the letter.  I read it to Tyler, Abbey Beth, and Zack.  They were in awe.  They all dug through the tote asking questions about each item they found.  “Mama, who is this picture of?”, “Mama, did you really wear this?”, “Mama, you looked prettier in this picture.”  With each item they became more and more enthusiastic.  They were so funny to watch.  I was glad I made my little tote for them. 

Here are a few of their favorites from the tote.

see all that dust!

Abbey has on a dress I loved and my color guard hat from band. Zack is holding a teddy bear Jason gave me when we were dating. Tyler is wearing my graduation hat.

If you look real hard you can see Abbey holding Sissy Sue.  She was my favorite toy.  She roller skated around.  Tyler has a black Raiders troll in his hand.  I bet I had every color troll possible.  I wonder what happened to them.

My favorite!

This was my favorite.  At the beginning of my senior year my mom and I wrote journals about the year.  It was fun to read about each day.   

I will post some exerts from our journals later on.  I think some of you will love it too!