the greatest news since happy hour at sonic

You all know about happy hour at Sonic right? It's everyday from 2-4pm and the drinks and slushe's are half price. The lemonberry slush is a summer staple for me. And it never fails to provide me with the worlds biggest brain freeze but it's oh so worth it.

side note: please do not ever tell me how many grams of sugar are in the large slushe; I choose to remain blissfully unaware. Much like I wish I had remained blissfully unaware of the problem with Twix bars. Did you know one Twix bar has more fat than 11 strips of bacon? It's true. And now I have unburdened myself with that knowledge by burdening you, thank you.

back to the point, I love sonic slushes. But I love something equally as much:


And yes, I am aware that they are packed with sugar and calories. But what I also am aware of is that is the exact reason they are so tasty. I love them, my husband loves them, our kids love them... but they are an expensive habit.
But thanks to my friend Nick, I have learned a bit of good news.
You can download this little coupon for buy one get one free.

I know what we are eating for dinner tonight!
You can too...
I know you want to.

evidence

I haven't had a professional picture taken of my kids. ever. Well, Jonas had an experience at Kiddie Kandids when he was 8 weeks but I hardly call that professional. I have just always hated those posed shots and cheesy props. They never represented my life. Never really captured my children, who they really are. So I just figured I would try to do it myself.
Only I suck.
So I have been really wanting someone else to come step in and capture my new little man. Brian's cousin, Merilee is a fabulously talented photographer and she agreed to brave coming to our compound to capture my child.And she did.
beautifully.
perfectly.
honestly.
She captured my baby who is only going to be this tiny thing for a second. She froze him for me, giving me proof that he was here, sweet and silent once... because if he is going to be anything like Caleb, I am going to remind myself of that.
Every. single. day.

Next up? family pictures. I need to provide my children's children with proof that I actually existed. No one has seen that photographic evidence.
The hard part will be coaxing Merilee back and convince her that my children can all behave together at the same time long enough for her camera to catch it. I can't even convince myself that's possible.

big brothers

Dear Hailey,



Life with brothers is hard. Having five of them myself, I know well of what I speak. Summer with brothers can sometimes feel a bit like a prison from which there is no escape. Just remember, I understand it. I do.
This is what I understand about big brothers:

There is no one who will torture you more.
There is no one who will make you more angry.
There is no one else that will cause you to duct tape the carpet in order to determine boundaries.
There is no one that will lie to you as well.
There is no one that will ever cause your parents to be so unfair.
There is no one who will be more critical of you.



But this too, I also know...

There is no one who you will laugh with harder late into the night.
There is no one whose compliment will mean more.
There is no one whose opinion you can trust more.
There is no one else who will get how weird your parents are.
There is no one that will be a better body guard for you.
There is no one who you will have more fond memories with

than your big brother.

So hang in there it will get better one day.

Love,
Mom

p.s. There are only 43 more days of summer... and of being with him ALL DAY LONG.

finding his purpose

As I have posted previously, I sensed that the King (Caleb) was a little nervous about all the change that comes with a new baby.
And he had reason to be.
The family comes running at every squeak or squawk that leaves Porter's lips. Then that baby decided to grace us with this:

His smile. Then the entire world stopped and everyone in this house melted into gooey mush. We oohed and awed. Instantly, the baby took front and center; the King's front and center. Needless to say Caleb's enjoyment in Porter has been zero.

But recently, after much contemplation, the King realized something; there is something to gain from this addition to the family.
He could gain an apprentice.
Porter could really be someone to him.

Someone to wrestle with.
Someone to teach all his tricks to.
Someone to adore him.
Someone to partner him in all his crime.


Someone that will love him so much that he will take the blame for stuff every now and then.


Those thoughts have sealed the two little guys together forever as one eternal partnership.

The King and his Prince.

The day that came too soon

There are moments in life that are thrown upon you. Moments that you knew would happen to you eventually but are suddenly thrust upon you with tsunami-like force, leaving you speechless thinking, "Wait! That was not supposed to happen yet!"

One such moment has arrived for me.

This is the jar:

The jar that I couldn't open. Try as I might, I couldn't open it.



This is my son. My 9 year old son. My nine year old son who took the jar out of my hands and OPENED IT. Smooth and easy. Like butter.


Maybe I couldn't open it cause my hands were too wet. Or greasy. Maybe it was the lotion on my hands. Maybe it was because I am sleep deprived. Maybe my body is still physically exhausted from labor a mere six weeks ago. Maybe I wasn't even trying.

But it happened and suddenly I feel like I might as well order my polyester pants suits and stock up on brooches and order my rascal scooter, because my senior citizen discount is right around the corner.

Independence Day

A few days ago we learned that we have been exposed to a few people with the swine flu. We spoke to the Dr. and he advised us to stay home and quarantine ourselves to: A). protect the baby, and B). To prevent the spreading in case we did turn out to have contracted it.
This would mean spending the fourth of July at home alone. my children broke down declaring it THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES. Tears were shed, bodies were flopped on beds, feet were sadly shuffled. I then took the time to sit them down and to tell them the day would be what we made it. I promised them that we could make this holiday one they would always remember. Through talking, we determined what would make the holiday special for the family was a bbq, fireworks and fun. I set about giving assignments to the family. Brian's was to find something to bbq.
He chose fried chicken.


It was a lovely sight watching him in the kitchen. Up until then he had for the most part, been a stranger to this territory and I hope that he continues to enlighten himself further. Hopefully with equally tasty results:

mmmmmmmmmm.

The kids were given the job of shucking sugar sweet corn, while I pondered ways of how I could possibly eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner for the REST OF MY LIFE.

Don't worry, I handled the boiling.

My job was to keep in line with our 4th of July tradition: homemade icecream. Normally every 4th is spent at my parents house, mooching off them and enjoying the tastiness of their labors. I was tempted to bag the ice cream thing this year, but I realized if I wanted to keep in line with my declaration of making this holiday special, I must put in a little effort too. (hate it when that happens).
So I made chocolate chip ice cream and it was, well, DEVOURED. Thank goodness we only eat it once a year.


Caleb's job was to stay out of trouble and to continue with his strict diet of pb & j sandwiches.

He obliged.

Porter's job was this:

to succumb to the exhaustion that comes from carrying around those massive cheeks and sleep. (the fish on his lap was given lovingly to porter by one of his siblings)

There was swimming before dinner and after. There was cloud gazing, watermelon seed spitting, wrestling, story telling and much laughter. We ended the night with fireworks and more ice cream.
The kids all stated it was their favorite holiday ever.

I love it when I'm right.

the end of an era

I grew up in a family that didn't drink caffeine. Like, ever. So obviously, I didn't drink caffeine. But then I became a teenager, and that nagging, instinctual feeling to rebel started pumping through my veins like adrenaline and I had to appease the feeling. Drugs? nope. Drinking? no. Boys? noooo. My rebellion took form in the smooth, sweet, tasty goodness that is:

From the first can, I was in love. Unconditional, deep and passionate love. Dr pepper became a staple for me through classes at school, camping, and all nighters with friends. It became the only drink I purchased. And soon all that Dr. Pepper swam it's way to my butt. I saw that this love wasn't healthy for me. So I turned my attention to this little baby:

And it was goooood. Really good. I started buying it by the 2 liter and keeping it stocked in my garage. I would sneak in there in the morning and pour myself a glass and chug it like an addict. Then it replaced my nightly giant ice water.
Recently, I have realized that my love affair for the carbonated and caffeinated are not something I should continue.
I am breaking up with them.
All of those carbonated drinks.
But it's not them, it's me; and my addictive nature.
And I will always love them.
If you see them, will you tell them that for me?