Advice welcome

Despite the way the weather feels, summer is just around the corner! My kids will be done with school next week and I'm feeling great anxiety over figuring out their summer activities. Because of the new baby, we are not going on a big vacation over the summer. I'm not upset over that except that there is no anticipation and excitement for a big trip. I suppose we will likely plan a small weekend trip or two, and some day trips to places like the zoo or childrens museum. That will be fun. However, where I could really use some advice is on what to do for day to day boredness. I want to have some sort of routine, but I don't even know what to include. I *want* to have a schedule for the kids to help with chores, but I don't want that to be the bulk of the schedule. HELP! What are you all doing with your kids over the summer?

When I run out of ideas for things to write about, I browse TuesdayTellAll's blog... Thought this might be fun.

Answer the following with only one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? ....................Purse

2. Your significant other?.......................awesome
3. Your hair?....................................help
4. Your mother? .................................hero
5. Your father?..................................protective
6. Your favorite thing?..........................flowers
7. Your dream last night?........................wishful
8. Your favorite drink...........................Jamba
9. Your dream/goal?..............................Nurse
10. The room you're in?..........................Craft
11. Your children?...................................silly
12. Your fear?...................................failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years...........here
14. Where were you last night?...................home
15. What you're not?.............................eloquent
16. Muffins......................................blueberry
17. One of your wish list items?.................landscaping
18. Where you grew up?........................... Chicago
19. What you read last........................Pride&Prejudice
20. What are you wearing?........................t-shirt
21. Your TV?.....................................on
22. Your pets?...................................imaginary
23. Your computer? ..............................lifeline
24. Your life?...................................Mine
25. Your mood?...................................content
26. Missing someone?.............................nope
27. Your car?....................................decrepid
28. Something you're not wearing?................swimsuit
29. Favorite Store?..............................HobbyLobby
30. Your summer?.................................anxious
31. Like someone?................................Benson
32. Your favorite color?.........................green
33. Last time you laughed........................Sharks
34. Last time you cried?.........................NICU

you know

Completely random, but hopefully you will get a chuckle out of this... As we were driving, Goose pulls out of thin air, "Mom, you know how I hate to swim in shark infested waters? . . . "

I started laughing so hard, I can't even tell you why he was sharing it with me, my hubby had to take over the conversation with him, something about the ocean vs fresh water or something like that.

I would have loved to have been riding the train of thought that brought him to that statement. It was just too funny to me. :)

So I went a little nuts.

I bought a whole lot of stuff yesterday and need to confess.

For Goose:
2 How to Draw books
1 pair jean shorts
1 dinosaur shirt

For Sweetie
3 Shirts
3 skirts
2 pairs of shorts
2 dresses

For Tank
Strawberry shortcake doll
purse
4 bracelets
3 necklaces

For baby
Boppy pillow

See, I told you I went a little nuts. The good news is that I spent only $17!! Can I just say I LOVE GARAGE SALES! When I was working, I would miss all the "good stuff" because I couldn't go until Saturday. Not anymore, Friday 9am, I was out the door. I even had my mom come and tag team with me. On "questionable" sales, we would leave baby and Tank in the car and take turns scoping out the scene. It was so much fun. And I was thrilled with the finds. Would have liked to have found more for Goose and Daniel, but you can only buy what you can find. Anyway, just had to share my joy.

Its been over 5 weeks!

Happy due-day Daniel!

What do you see?

I have to give a little background here. Most of you know already that I make pictures out of pressed flowers. I have been thrilled to have spring flowers popping up in my yard, and have started pressing like crazy. This morning my "Sweetie" had a mother's day tea party in kindergarten. All the kids said "I love my mom the most when..." She finished that statement like this: "I love my mom the most when she makes her flower pictures." It was very cute. I like to think that she said this because, as much as possible, I try to involve my kids in my work. My kids LOVE to help me press flowers. They bring me flowers and leaves to smoosh as often as they can find them. My darling "Sweetie" brought this (see picture) to me this evening. . . this is what she said, "Mom, here is a cute little airplane thing for you." *pause* "or its an alien girls hair." Isn't that what you saw? I love her!!!

Hate mail

Let me start by saying that I am not complaining, or asking for donations (yet, lol!). I just had to share the "hate mail" sent to me by the hospital. I nearly fell out of my chair! I'm not sure if its legible, but the top of that says "we would appreciate payment within the next 30 days." I'd be lucky to pay off that full amount in 30 years! Luckily, they made the error of forgetting to bill our insurance. **whew** Thank heaven for our medical insurance! Don't leave home without it.

My babies

Goose

Sweetie

Tank

Nickname to be determined

Bits of randomness

A few cute pics to go with a few cute Letti-isms: she insists that Daniel sucks on a "pinky" instead of a binky. Its so cute! Yesterday, she was looking for her shoes, which she had taken off outside. She was walking around saying "shoes! shoes! Where are you shoes?" If only it was that easy. :) she is such a character, we love her to pieces.

One last one, Daniel was busy sucking on his thumb, but having a lot of trouble keeping it in his mouth. So, I grabbed the "pinky" and put it in his mouth, he immediately put his thumb in the hole. It struck me as incredibly funny... oh, maybe you had to be there. :)