October Fun

We have had an awesome October. It has been very busy, but most of the time it has been a "fun" kind of busy. Of course, we started with an awesome trip to Disney....Don't really need to elaborate, but I will say it was one of the best vacations we have ever had. I am convinced that nothing beats a trip to Disneyworld.

We also had the fall festival at our church - -which is a highlight of the year for our kiddos. They have at least 10 huge blow-up play thingies for the kids and there are tons of carnival type games to play. It was freezing cold this year, which is highly unusual for this neck of the woods, but it was still awesome and the kids had an absolute blast!!

Then, it was time for Kenzie's 7th birthday party. She wanted to do a luau at her grandparent's heated swimming pool, which normally would be a great idea, but as I mentioned before, it was freezing this year. So, we still had a luau. They jumped in the pool for about 15 minutes (which was impressive), but then decided to enjoy the rest of the party on the patio!!

Finally, we did our annual trick or treating on the big golfcart (it holds like 12 people). We always hook up with some friends and ride around the neighboorhood and let the kids rack up the candy. I am still waiting on my friend to send me some pics from our Freaky Friday Halloween Night...maybe I can post a few later.....But, we had a lot of fun. October is always a great month...and, once again, this one proved to be filled with fun and lots of great memories!!

He said what????

Brody just had one of his "classic" moments and I had to share it with you guys. I am trying to teach him his verses for Cubbies (Awana) and he was having a little trouble understanding the words. The verse was "and Jesus grew in wisdom..." But, Brody was repeating..."And Jesus was dumb." At first, I was upset and getting ready to correct him for saying that, but Micah said, "You know, mom, wisdom really does sound like "was dumb"....and, he was right. Poor Brody - I hope he gets it right tonight at class. I don't think his teacher will think it is very cute if he keeps saying the Jesus was dumb!

Sleeping Beauty

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the chance to get to go back to bed in the morning...it is one of my favorite things to do. In high school, I would actually get up a little bit earlier so that I would be able to get back in the bed after I took my shower. It is the best when it is nice & chilly and I can climb back under the blankets and doze off. This morning was absolutely the perfect morning for this. I had to get up at 6:30am because Kassidy was crying...well, after like 5 or 10 minutes, she went back to sleep. I did not really have much luck trying to get back to sleep. I got up & made the kids lunches, got them all dressed, and Matt took them to school (he let Brody ride along, too). As soon as he left, I ran to my room, snuggled up under my favorite, brown, fuzzy blanket and went back to sleep for a whole extra hour. It was the best!!!

So, this has been an awesome start to what will hopefully be an awesome day....Isn't it funny how the little things in life can make us so happy sometimes!!!

Customer Service, yeah right.....

Ok, so I went to the store Tuesday Mornings today with Brody & Kassidy. I decided to take the stroller in since Kassidy loves to stand up in the shopping cart (and most of you know my history with kids & shopping carts!) Anyway, I saw a few things that I wanted to pick up for the kids for Christmas, so I had like 5 or 6 items in my hands and I was trying to push a cheap umbrella stroller that was just not cooperating. One worker saw me struggling big time to even get my stroller to move, but no offer to help...not a big deal, just pushed my way passed her. I went to the front register to ask the lady if I could sit my items up front until I finished shopping. Her response, "No, you will have to get a cart and push it." I proceeded to tell her that I was trying to push a baby stroller, so I would not be able to push a cart too. Sorry Charlie! She said, "Well, this is where people check out, so you can't leave your stuff here." This is where my blood began boiling...I mean, come on, really - you are not even going to let me sit my stuff up here for a couple minutes...because the store was just soooo busy (2 other customers in the whole place!). And, if you are familiar with Tuesday Mornings at all, you know it is like a flea market/discount store - it is by no means clean & organized - no one would have even noticed that I had set anything up front.

I decided to just walk away - mad as fire, but what are you going to do - probably not shop there again anytime soon...but, I really think they could care less! Seriously, I have had some bad experiences with customer service...but this one just really bugged me - a struggling mom, 2 kids, bum stroller, hand full of your products, but sorry we can't help you out at all?!?! Oh well, in the end, I kept my cool & did not say things that I regret now (might have thought them, but did not say them) - which to me was a huge accomplishment!!

Kassidy The Climber

So, I went to my bedroom for like 2 seconds and I walked back into the living room to find Kassidy standing on our computer desk. I think my heart stopped for a minute ...but this is an all too familiar scene. Brody used to do the same thing - except he was only like 10 months....Kassidy gave me a few more months of peace. Matt found her standing in the middle of the kitchen table a few days ago. So, I guess she is officially in her "explorer" stage. This should be a fun few months, don't ya think??

My Accomplishments List

Ok, so I am tired of always focusing on what I did not get done during the day and all the stuff I have to get done the next day....so, I thought I would take a minute and make a list of all the things that I did get done today (no matter how trivial they may be....they were "accomplishments" - things that probably would not have gotten done if I did not do them!!)

1. Packed kid's lunches this morning - making a turkey sandwich at 7:30am is just not fun

2. Went to the bank - gotta have money to pay those bills

3. Got a friend's b-day card all ready to mail - only a month late!!

4. Changed two dirty diapers - fun, fun

5. Cleaned out the Yukon - wonder how old those fries really were??

6. Pulled weeds in the yard - so Matt would not feel like he had to mow the lawn tonight

7. Fed my kiddos - mini frozen pancakes do count as a meal, right?

8. Went running - gotta look good for my man

9. Did my Bible Study - and it was just what I needed..."Be still, and know that I am God!"

10. Updated my blog - and aren't you so glad I did :) :) :)

So, these things may not seem like huge accomplishments, but sometimes I think that we as wives/mothers forget that even the trivial, annoying, time-consuming things we do are very important to our families...just stop and think what would happen if you did not do some of the things on your list ...it would make a big difference in how smooth your day went for both you and those you take care of. In fact, if you have time, why don't you share your list of "accomplishments" for today....I think it would be encouraging to us all to see how great we are as moms and wives - time for a little pat on the back, don't ya think??

You NEED a vacation, right?

Since my last post was kind of a bummer and it talked about how money is so tight these days, I thought I would post about a great way for you to go and spend some of that hard earned cash....Well, I have come upon some useful information for any of you guys that might be planning a Disney trip anytime in the next year. I just found out yesterday that the Magic Kingdom is offering everyone a great birthday present this coming year - free admission to the park on your actual birthday! I think that is a pretty sweet offer, considering that the ticket price is around $70. Of course, you still have to foot the bill for the rest of your family.

But, I have another great deal to share with you that can help you save even more money. The Nickeoldeon Suites in Orlando (www.nickhotel.com) will let you stay there free for the night on any one of your children's birthdays (you do have to agree to stay at least 3 nights - basically buy two get one free)...But that hotel is awesome. I have friends that have stayed there and they said there kids never wanted to leave the hotel because of the water park, pools, arcades.... And most likely, you would be in Orlando for at least three nights anyway, so it is a great deal to only pay for two!!

So, if you plan it just right, you can get one of your kids a free ticket and get one night free at the Nick Hotel. Seriously, you will be saving somewhere around $300....That is a pretty good chunk of change. So, go now and beg your hubby for a Disney vacation and tell him ALL the money you will be saving - hopefully, he won't want to discuss all the money you will be spending on a Disney vacation no matter how many great deals I can find you !!

Money, Shmoney

So, is anyone stressed about the "finiancial crisis" that America seems to be in? I would say that I am concerned but not stressed. I mean, I really don't understand all the details and even what all the consequences are that we may face from the problems with the economy....but, I do understand that I am paying WAY TOO much for gas and WAY TOO much for some of my basic groceries and necessities. And, I know that pretty much every other news story is about another bank closing, the stock market crashing, or some person's house being forclosed on...but I guess I feel like the situation is somewhat out of my hands and there is not a whole lot I can do about it. I am trying to make better choices with my money and for the first time in a long time, I am really watching what I spend and stopping before I spend any money to ask myself if I really need whatever it is I am thinking of buying.

Sometimes I do catch myself worrying about the future, specifically sending four kids to college, but that is when Matt reminds me that all our kids will either have an academic scholarship or an athletic scholarship (can you tell he has big dreams for all our kids!!) Of course, I have peace in knowing that God is in control and He is most definitely going to take care of my family. I always try to remember that if he takes care of the little sparrow, he is always going to take care of me!! And, really, who wants to waste their day worrying about money....I sure don't....I would rather enjoy all that I do have and when I stop to think about it, I am so blessed and have plenty to be thankful for!

Stating the Obvious

So, I knew it was coming sooner or later, but I had to have the "fat" conversation with Brody. We were at Target and there was a very obese lady and so, of course, Brody comments on how fat she is. Well, I proceed to tell him that it is not nice to call someone fat. He then says - like any 3 year old would - "But, she is fat, mom." I tell him that I realize this but it is still not nice to comment on how big other people may be. He goes on the tell me, "Just look at her tummy, it is so big...." Ok, so I realize I am fighting a losing battle and decide to continue this "lesson" another time....Hopefully, in the privacy of our own home and not when he shouts out that someone has a huge tummy or even worse, a huge booty (cause we all know that is a favorite word of most normal 3 year olds)!!!

So, I was trying to get ready in my bathroom this morning and I kept getting really frustrated....all because of a really cute (but really curious) one year old. That's right, Kassidy was getting into everything!! First, it was the toliet bowl cleaner brush thingie....she kept grabbing it, then I would yell, "No, that is yucky!" I would proceed to do what all the experts tell me to do - remove her from the situation & distract her BUT she would go right back to the toliet brush and we would start back at square one. I always knew those so called experts did not have a clue :) :)

Then, she moved on to the trash can. She dumped the whole thing out on the floor before I could get to her. Once again, I informed her how disgusting that was and politely asked her to please leave everything that she is not supposed to mess with alone! Well, that approach did not work either. Because she simply moved onto the cabinets. She pulled out all my hand soaps and then starting throwing random stuff on the floor. By this point I found myself raising my voice and getting really flustered. Finally, when she grabbed my hot flat iron and threw it on the floor, I decided I was done getting ready (no matter what I looked like) and we got out of there.

What is funny about this whole scenario is that it was only like 5 minutes from start to finish. She came into that bathroom like a raging tornado and left the same kind of destruction that a tornado would leave. But she is so cute and so much fun right now. I love my Curious Little Kassidy!!

Food for thought

I was watching a little promo for the upcoming season of Dr. Phil and there was a segment that totally caught my attention. They are going to do a show about a typical "soccer mom" who left her kids in the car for a couple minutes while she ran into a store. She says she could see the vehicle the whole time and she was constantly checking to make sure the kids were fine. But, when she came out of the store, there was a cop car behind her vehicle and the police officer proceeded to arrest her for child endangerment. I was stunned by the fact that they arrested her...but let me give you a little background as to why I am stunned.

A couple years ago, I was parking my car at Walmart and I looked at the vehicle beside me, and there was a toddler sound asleep in his car seat - no parents anywhere in sight. So, of course I was shocked and scared for the little boy so I proceeded to yell at some lady walking in the parking lot and I asked her if she would go get a manager or call the police or something (I did not own a cell phone at this point) while I waited with the little boy. Well, the manager came out and said they were paging the mom over the intercom system - meanwhile, a fire truck had pulled up and they were using some device to check the temp inside the car (it was locked and thankfully she left the air running). Anyway, she eventually came outside and they did absolutely nothing to her - not even a slap on the wrist. She got in her car and left - end of story. I was shocked and angry that nothing was done to her....I mean, she was shopping in Walmart while her kid was left alone in a vehicle in that huge Walmart parking lot. What in the world could she have possibly been thinking??

So, I am now very curious as to what the actual law is about leaving your child in the car...I doubt there is one of us that can say we have never ever left our kids in the car - even for a few seconds while we drop something off at the Post Office or the Dry Cleaners and yes, most of us would only do it if the vehicle is in our sight and we can keep an eye on the kids....But, this lady was arrested and they considered taking her kids away from her - can you imagine?? It is definitely food for thought....believe me, I will think twice before I ever even consider leaving my kids in the car, even if it is just for a minute or two!!

You will get fat, boy!!!

Micah is my oldest child...he is such an awesome boy - so obedient, smart, and caring. We have been dealing with some "health" issues with the last few weeks. He has pretty bad asthma and we also just realized that he is way too skinny and not gaining much at all. So, when we went to his asthma doc a few weeks ago, he saw where Micah had not gained at all in the past 8 months and he had actually lost 1/2 pound. This seemed to concern the doc and he told me to come back in 2 weeks for some tests and we would talk about sending him to a specialist about his weight.

Well, taking him to a specialist for some random, invasive testing was my LAST resort so I decided to fatten that boy up myself! (First, as you can tell from the above pic, I had to tell him to quit working out so much - no more of that intense weight training boy!!) We decided to make him eat as much as possible for the 2 weeks while we waited to return to the doc for a recheck. His Grammy bought him a blender so that we could make him eat a milkshake every night....he thought that was awesome. I decided to start taking him a hot lunch and drop it off so that he would get more calories during the day. And we basically let him eat whatever, whenever for 2 weeks straight.

Well, I am proud to announce that it worked. He gained 3 pounds in that 2 week period. That is an awesome accomplishment for him...that is more than he had gained in the last year. At least now, I think he registers on the growth chart (probably 5% percentile, but he's on it now!!) We go back in 6 weeks for another check and so we are still going to stuff his face and hopefully we will at least maintain the weight, if not gain an additional pound or two. Micah thinks all these snacks and drinks are cool - I mean, can you imagine if you were actually obsessed with gaining more weight instead of trying so hard to lose it?? Just imagine - all the shakes, brownies, chips, sodas....without an ounce of guilt....ah, to live in that perfect world :) :) :) :)

We're In!!

Yay!! Calling everyday (sometimes twice a day) paid off...we get to go to Chef Mickeys. I found out last night so I went in the kids room to tell them the good news. They were super excited. Micah started singing in his "opera" voice and Kenzie jumped up to hug me. She said I was the best mom ever and then she made the funniest statement....she said, "Mom, I have never been prouder of you!" And Brody just jumped up and down on the bed. Being able to share that good news with them put a huge smile on my face....there is nothing better than knowing that you just brought some serious joy to your kids. I love being a mom!!!!

What, no Chef Mickeys???

Ok, so I am so frustrated right now. No, it is not because one of my kids is being naughty and No, it is not because Matt is being a bad husband.....it is because I cannot get reservations at Chef Mickeys!! I know this may sound trivial to you non-Disney Loving people, but to a true Disney addict, this is very heart wrenching news. This is the most awesome character meal they offer at WDW...you get to meet all the A-listers (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy...)

I have just been wasting my time and not really been too worried about calling...simply because for our last Disney trip, I called like 2 weeks before we left and they had 3 or 4 openings. Not the case this trip - and I learned my lesson the hard way. I have 4 kids (well, really only 3 that care) the are REALLY excited about going back to Chef Mickey's this year (just look how excited they are in the above pics) and I have to tell them that their mommy is a total loser and did not call soon enough so now we can't go. Although there is a tiny, weenie, itty-bitty light at the end of the tunnel....the lady said to call back every day until we leave for Orlando and ask about any cancellations. So, I will be calling every morning and every evening between now and October 4th. I went ahead and made reservations for a character breakfast at Cape May Cafe (any ever been there?) but sadly there will be no Mickey and no Donald (my kiddos favorites)....You better believe I will be cancelling that reservation if I can get my foot in the door at Chef Mickeys!! You Disney Lovers send some Positive Mickey vibes my way!!!

Gotta love Brody-man!!!

Well, Brody has been in rare form this week. He has not been "bad" just a little crazy....he is definitely starting to test boundaries and he is totally into trying to make me laugh by saying totally random things and doing totally strange things!! Let me just list a few of his "memorable" moments from the past few days:

1. He called me a "heartless woman" and a "ranting" mom....these two phrases are from The Suite Life of Zach and Cody - may be time to cut back on that show (at least for the B-man)

2. He put a whole roll of toilet paper in the toilet and then dug it out and set the gross, disgusting, soggy, mess back on the bathroom counter.....EWWWWW!!

3. He decided that he had to go pee-pee and he could not wait so he peed all over the floor in The Gamestop store at the mall....what is funny about this situation, is that he was with Matt and let's just say Matt was TOTALLY embarrassed. He said he kept saying "Stop peeing Brody...stop it, now"...of course, Brody just let it keep flowing and flowing and flowing. Matt said he REALLY had to pee-pee and he must not have gone all day!!

4. He is into drawing all over his body - The other day I was putting him in his seat and he was hiding a pen and so I took it from him and sat it down (apparently not far enough away from him) because when I got to the store, he was covered in black pen (arms, legs, maybe even a little facial art). I am thinking that kid will definitely have a tatoo at some point in his life.

5. He is now into helping us with our discipline - Like if you point at him when you are angry, he will tell you that you should not point or if you spank him, he will say it is not nice to hit people. My favorite was when he and Matt were arguing over something and Matt said "You do not argue with your dad!" and Brody responded, "Well, you are arguing with me!" And you know Matt just loved that response....let's just say Matt and Brody have been "bonding" a lot this week!!

Our dad rocks!!

I got this cute shot of Matt and all the kiddos today....They have always loved to wrestle around with him on the floor and some of my cutest pics of him with the kids are on the floor. One of them (if not all of them) seem to always be climbing on him. He really is a great dad and our kids love him so much. Just thought I would take a minute to share what an AWESOME dad my kids have!!

Where's that stinkin' hairbrush?

That dang hairbrush....this little contraption has caused me so much grief. I know you are thinking I am crazy, but I seriously get sooooo angry in the mornings when I am looking all over this house for Kenzie's hairbrush. It seems like it happens at least five mornings a week. It goes a little something like this...

We have about 10 minutes left before we have to go. Everything and everyone is all ready to go except I need to brush Kenzie's hair. So, I look on the desk where I always put the brush when I am done and of course, it is not there. I then proceed to start asking every kid if they have seen/used the brush that morning. And without fail, no one has seen it anywhere. (I am convinced my kids are playing mind games with me and they hide it in the strangest places just to see me lose my testimony!) I then start to frantically search all over the place (in couch cushions, under the desk, in all the bedrooms...) and I usually cannot find it anywhere. I then tell Kenzie (out of frustration) that she just won't be able to go to church/school/soccer because I cannot find the brush and she CANNOT leave the house with her hair looking like such a complete mess. She then gets upset and I am already upset and one of two things usually happens. I either find the brush or I "invent" a way to fix her hair....For instance, today, I just took a hair clip (the kind that opens up and has teeth in the middle) and I tried to comb what I could with that and then I kinda grabbed all the hair and pulled it up into a messy little ball. It looked kinda cute but trust me, it was such a mess underneath the "cover-up."

Anyways, I am so tired of losing my religion each day over this brush. I know you think I am being a little overly dramatic, but I seriously get so frustrated almost on a daily basis because I cannot find a hairbrush anywhere. I think Kenzie probably actually gets nervous (so does the whole family) when they realize the brush is missing and I am fixing to go off the deep end looking for it. So, I am off to Walmart to buy a new brush (think maybe I should buy like 3 or 4....) and I swear this time I will NOT lose this one!! Yeah right, I will be a frantic mess in the morning before church because of a silly hairbrush.....ah, the joys of motherhood!!!

The Lure of a Clearance Rack

So, I am still trying to limit my spending - the "freeze" may be over but there is still a "chill" in the air!! I went to Kohls last night to pay my credit bill (it was only $19, which I thought was amazing in and of itself)....anyway, I got sucked in to the clearance racks - especially the one with swimsuits for almost 90%. Well, I made the mistake of trying on like 2 or 3 that I thought were really cute. I told myself I would just try them on to see how they fit (for those of you that read my blog, you will remember how I actuallly got "stuck" in a takini top back in the spring...) since I had lost a few pounds this summer and it would be fun to see if I could tell if the suits fit any better.

Well, they did fit better and I really liked the way one in particular fit. So, hence my dilema. The tankini set was only going to be a little over $13 total and for those of you that have bought a swimsuit at regular price, you know this is an awesome deal. You see, I spent like 6 weeks in the spring searching for a swimsuit that A) Looked good and B)I could afford. Well, I found this one in like 10 minutes and I loved how it looked and it was super affordable.

I ended up buying it but I still feel a little guilty. We are going on vacation in a few weeks so I will definitely use the swimsuit and I plan on wearing it next summer too. So, I feel like I made a good purchase that will benefit me in the long run. I know if I put it back, then when I go swimsuit shopping in the spring, I will be sick knowing that I could of had a cute suit for like 75% less than what I would end of paying. So, my shopping friends, my bargain hunter buddies - don't you agree that this was a wise financial decision when looking at the big picture?? I have pretty much decided to keep the suit, but I guess I am looking for a little reassurance that I made the right choice....I really am trying to be smarter with my money, I promise!!

It's Over, Mr. Move Over!!!

I had my day in court...well, actually, I did not even have to make an appearance in court. I took a defensive driving course and so I stopped by the prosecutors office before my time in court to give him my paperwork. Well, it turns out he had the power to reduce my fine right there in his office. He dropped me from $700 to $346 and he took away all the points off my license. He even changed my ticket from the move over law violation to excessive speed for conditions or something like that.....I would say all in all that the day was a success!!

I am so happy to say it is all over...it still hurt a little bit to give the court $350 but knowing that I almost sent in $700....let's just say I am glad that clerk in Spaulding County pretty much told me I would be an idiot not to show up and try to get my fine reduced. It was a tad bit ironic because on the way home from court, we saw a HUGE sign on the highway that was warning people of the move over law and the fines that would be given if you fail to obey it! Just a little too late to help me out, but we got a good laugh out of it!

Just Say No to Shopping!!

So, I am on a self-imposed spending freeze right now...ever tried to stick to one of those?? It is crazy how much I really "enjoy" spending money. Which I assume is probably not a positive characteristic to have....I am trying really hard to only buy stuff that we need and to stay away from the stuff that I want. (I am coming up with some clever ways to convince myself that I really "need" that new shirt or those new shorts!!) I went out with some friends last night and I found the cutest pair of plaid shorts....but, I am happy to report that I put them back and came home with no purchases. Man, those shorts were calling my name but I made it out of there empty-handed - probably because the store was closing and I only had like 2 minutes to debate the decision!!

I have to admit that I have cheated maybe a tad bit here and there, but I have only spent like $5 or $10 ... no major purchases and no clothes for my kids (which is my weakness!!) I am not sure how long I will be on my "freeze" but I think it has actually been good for me. I only committed to stop spending for a couple weeks and my time is almost up....so, if you see me at Target or Kohls and I look like a kid in a candy shop, then you better come and help me snap out of it. I give you permission to have a little intervention with me right there in the store. Just whisper "Move Over Law" in my ear and I will be slapped right back into reality!!

Waving the White Flag

Matt and I are finally throwing in the towel....we are standing up and waving our white flag. We officially surrender - this ticket is bigger than the both us of and we are tired of having this chip on our shoulders. So, after exhausting all of our "contacts" and trying every way we know to get rid of this huge fine....we have decided that we are just going to pay the dumb thing and write it off as a memory or I guess I should call it a lesson (a really expensive lesson), but a situation that we have learned from and will hopefully always avoid in the future. And I can guarantee you none of my friends will ever make this mistake either. So, not only am I more educated about highway safety but I have spread the knowledge to all my friends - you can thank me later for saving you 700 bucks!!

I know a lot of you think we should go to court and fight this thing, but we have a friend that decided to go to court and plead guillty but ask the judge to reduce his fine and lets just say it did not go as he had hoped. He actually walked away in a much bigger mess than he went to court with. And with the way this whole experience has been playing out, I am not willing to risk it. It has only seemed to get worse and worse. So, I am ridding myself of this burden (with my husband's blessing) and I am moving on...This county and police officer got what they wanted and hopefully that jailhouse I am paying for will turn out to be really nice. Maybe they will put my name on one of the bricks or something!!!

Please, someone, just give me a break!

Ever feel like you just can't get a break. You just need someone to cut you some slack and realize that everyone makes mistakes and you can't really do any better until you know better?? That is how I feel today....kinda used & abused...this time I just don't think sorry is going to be enough.

You see, my whole ticket situation is only getting worse. I had been told by a friend who is a police officer that the fine was $380.....but today I thought I would just call the county clerk and ask her about it....turns out the he was wrong. I asked her how much I owed and her response seriously left me speechless....drum roll, please - $703....can you believe that?? Did you fall out of your chair like I almost did?

I proceeded to tell her that I had done a lot of research and that the max fine in GA for this law was $500. She said that the judge had the right to add on additional fees to any ticket. I said, "What do you mean, additional fees??" Her response was almost humorous - "You know, like for jailhouse construction or something..." So, what, am I paying for the whole cafeteria or something. My stomach is still in knots and I can't decide if I am mad, embarrassed, confused or what....I know it is just money (trust me, I have told myself that over and over today) but it is more the whole situation and how I just can't even grasp onto it and what it means or what God is trying to teach me from it. Do I seek out what I feel is justice in the situation or do I just accept that it is what it is and pay the fine?? I mean, I am guilty of breaking this particular law...but, I did not even know it existed and I had no ill intent or any disregard for the law. It was an honest mistake and boy, am I paying for it. I promise, I have learned my lesson and I even feel myself get anxious when I see a cop car on the side of the road. Never again will I make this mistake....but can't they just take my word and not my savings account!!!!!!!!!

The Golden Ticket

Well, for the select few of you that have not heard, I got a ticket a couple weeks ago. Yeah, I know, I am a rebel....it is me against the law. I got a ticket for not changing lanes when a police officer is on the side of the road. He was in his car and no one else was around but I am still required to change lanes. It is called the "move over" law. I had no idea this law existed and most people I have talked to have not heard of it either. But, when I told the officer I was not aware this was a law, he really did not seem to have too much sympathy on me. He did not even hesitate to get his little ticket book out and write me up...

Well, of course, I was a bit flustered and upset....mainly because he really did seem to be kinda mad at the world and I happened to be the unfortunate target of his anger that certain day. But, I got over it and was ready to step up and pay for my mistake. That is until I found out it was a $380 mistake. That's right folks....380 big ones. Can you believe that?? I am still alittle dumbfounded as I type this. Do you know what I could do with $380?? Lets's just say....I could do a lot and I have thought about every single way I would rather spend that money than giving it to the police department.

But, I guess I may have to bite the bullet and pay the fine. Man, that hurts....But, at least I got a ticket for something I did not even realize was against the law. At least now I know and trust me, my daughter will NEVER let me pass a police car again without reminding me that I got a ticket & then proceeding to lecture me on how I can avoid tickets in the future. She will turn me into a law abiding citizen if it is the last thing she does!!

Family Fun

Well, I am proud to update that "Walls Family Fun Week" has been a success!! And, I am not tired or stressed or ready to kill my kids!! I have actually had a really great week with them. We have done almost everything on our list and the week is not even over yet. Kenzie even looked at me at one point and said, "Thanks mom, this has been awesome....I got to eat pizza, go swimming, rent a movie...." That made it all worth it....to know that my kids are actually aware that I am trying to make this week special and to get a thank you was awesome!

I am still not at all ready for school to start back up but I am at least accepting the fact....My kids are just awesome and I am so thankful for each one of them and how unique and special they each are. I hope that we will always be a super close family and my kids will always know how much their mom & dad really love them and thank God for them.

Well, I better get back to the kids....we are in the middle of that "playdate with our friends" that I promised at the beginning of the week.

Too Soon for School!!!

As you can see, our family had some fun watching the Hannah Montana 3-D movie last night. I love it when the kids get so into something and have so much fun! They have been anticipating this movie for like the last month. And, I think they really enjoyed themselves....actually, I think Matt had the most fun!!'

Anyway, I am trying to squeeze as much "fun" into the next week as possible. The movie last night was a great start. I am so totally bummed that my kids are starting back to school in a week. I actually like having my kids home with me....I know, I know....many of you moms think I am out of my mind. Trust me, I have some friends that are counting down the days and cannot wait for their kids to go back to school. I guess I am just alittle strange, but I actually get kinda sad when school starts back up. I guess I know that each new year only means that they are getting older and more mature...which is kinda hard for me to swallow sometimes.

So, I am going to try to make the last week of summer super fun...I am thinking a trip to Stevie B's pizza buffet, a trip to the local playground, a playdate or two with some friends, swimming at their grandparent's pool, playing more family soccer games, a movie night complete with popcorn and a lot of chocolate.....The list could go on but we will have to see how energized I am by mid-week. I mean, it sounds like a great idea to plan a week of fun for the kids but I have to wait and see how I hold up. Man, I sound old......

Being the Best

I think I had one of my first "proud momma" moments recently....Kenzie is playing soccer this year and she LOVES to play. She is so motivated and wants to be the best player out there. Well, she did pretty good at tryouts and I can really tell that she has improved from last year. Of course, as the first game is approaching, I can feel myself trying to push her to practice and become a really awesome player. I even got her a soccer goal for the backyard and I am headed out tomorrow to get her some cleats. We played a little family soccer game tonight in the backyard and I caught myself saying...."Keep going Kenzie....Don't give up...Push harder....Kick Micah in the shin" - (Just kidding).

But in all this soccer hype that I am creating, I seem to have forgotten one little important thing- She is only 6 years old!!!! And it does not matter at all how "awesome" she is out there or how many goals she scores (they don't even keep score in her league), all that matters is that she has the best time ever and enjoys every moment she is on the field. I NEVER want to be one of "those" moms that is on the sideline yelling and screaming at not only my kids but every other kid & parent out there. I just want to be the mom that is yelling out words of encouragement and cheering them on to be the best they can and reminding them to always have fun!! So, I am very glad that I have learned this lesson very early in my kids lives and hopefully, I will remember it with each new sport and each new endeavor they take on. I want my kids to be the best at what they do, but I want them to always be having a good time while they are doing it!!

One of "those" days

Well, Matt informed me that I have not been doing a good job of keeping my blog updated. My response to him was that I am sure the 2 people that actually read it are not that disappointed. I am sure you can tell that comment was soaked in sarcasm. I am finally back to blog because I have had one of "those" days and I need to use my blog as a way to vent - so, readers, beware!!

It is funny because my day has not actually been that bad. It started with a trip to Walmart (with 3 of my kids) - which I know sounds like a really dumb idea to most people, but the trip went suprisingly well. It was pretty uneventful, except for when Kassidy decided to grab a whole container of strawberries out of the back of the shopping cart and dump them out...I turned around to find her covered in strawberry drool, with most of a large strawberry stuffed in her mouth.

But, once I got home, it just seemed like everything (and everybody) was getting on my last nerve. I can't really pinpoint what exactly pushed me over the edge, but I am sure Brody's constant whining for a snack and Kassidy's need to pull anything and everything out of my kitchen cabinets was not helping the situation. I was trying to actually cook supper (those of you that know me are probably in shock right now) and the kids were just being kids, but for some reason, today I let it get to me. Then, when supper was finally over, everyone jetted out of the kitchen to go watch tv and play on the computer and I was left to clean up all the mess and do all the dishes. Which, on any other day, probably would not have been such a big deal, but today, it made my blood boil!!

So, I went and put my running shoes on and hit the pavement. For me, that is the absolute best thing I can do when I am at my breaking point. It always makes me feel better and I always come home feeling so refreshed and usually with a whole new perspective on the situation. I ended up running four miles, and that alone makes me feel like I accomplished something really good today. Exercise is definitely the best medicine for me!!

Real Determination

Brody LOVES to work puzzles. For those of you that know Brody, it is very unusual for him to be still for more than 5 or 10 minutes. But, for some reason, he will sit still and work very patiently on a box of puzzles for a very long time. Recentlly, he got hurt and we took him to Target and told him he could pick out whatever he wanted in the toy section...he picked a $2 puzzle. Trust me, I am not complaining about his "cheap" choice, but it just proved to us that he really has a passion for working puzzles.

Today, he begged me to let him work a 100 piece puzzle. I knew it would be alittle too hard for him, but he was so set on doing it, that I gave it to him and told him to "go for it!" Well, he asked Micah & Kenzie to help, but they would not give him the time of day. So, after he shed a few tears, he got motivated and decided he would do it all by himself. After about thirty minutes (and only about 6 or 7 pieces successfully put together), he fell asleep at the kitchen table. He had worked so hard, that he fell asleep trying to figure it out. I was actually kinda proud - talk about some real determination. Way to go, Brody-man!!

My messy little munchkins

I have recently come to the conclusion that my house may never really be clean until all my kids are in college. It truly baffles me how it is nearly impossible to keep my house straightened up during the day. I seriously feel like I spend all day going from room to room picking up toys, clothes, books....I feel like I will spend an hour focusing on the living room and when I am finished and it looks all nice & clean, I will go to the kitchen and it looks like a tornado hit it!! So, I will spend an hour working on the kitchen, only to go back to the living room and find it totally trashed. It seriously feels like a never-ending battle.



Sometimes, I feel like I must just be lazy or so terribly unorganized, but even on the days when I feel like I give it my all, the housework still seems to get out of control. I just don't see how other moms do it. I hate to admit this, but I love to stop by someone's house and see that it is a little messy or cluttered....it makes me feel like maybe I am normal and not every mom is able to stay on top on all the things that need to be done each day.



I am constantly trying to tell myself that I need to just chill, and not always be focused on the mess. I need to enjoy my kids and let them be kids...which means there will be toys everywhere and crushed crackers all over my carpet. I know that one day I will have a very clean (and very quiet) house...but I will only be sad & lonely - totally wishing that my kids were still running around making the biggest mess ever!! So, hopefully, I can learn to relax a little more & try to find joy in the chaos. Kids will be kids and mine are awesome & I love them - mess and all!!

Family Portraits

Tonight we took our family portraits for the church directory. It went surprisingly well....I know I have blogged before about how I am really trying to "chill" when it comes to taking pictures. And I think that approach actually helped the situation tonight. I went into it not expecting anything....I just asked the kids to smile and stand still long enough for the guy to snap one or two pics and they did great.

It did get a little interesting when it was time to take the enitre Walls family portrait. I think there were like 16 of us (eight of those kids)....All I know is that I got my hair pulled two or three times and my necklace was almost ripped off my neck a couple times. It was funny because the guy snapped a pic and then said, "Well, that may have worked but the baby in the back had a handful of the lady in the middle's hair." And, at one point, Matt said, "What is this wet stuff all over my arms??".....I was like, "Who knows....Kassidy probably spit on you." A few minutes later, we came to the conclusion that she had went pee-pee on Matt during the photo shoot. I am glad he did not realize it until after the pics were done...he may have been too grossed out to keep smiling!!

What really stands out in my mind from the whole experience, is that by the time we left, the photographer knew Brody by his first name. You can probably figure out why. He kept hearing us say...."No, Brody, stand up straight...Put your hands by your side, Brody....Get your finger out of your nose, Brody" After about 3 minutes, the photographer just starting addressing Brody on a first name basis - he just took it upon himself to start trying to keep Brody focused and smiling. But, in the end, the pics were better than expected and I was actually impressed with how good Brody (and all the other kids) did tonight. But, I still hate taking "portraits" and I plan to continue to avoid picture studios for as long as I possibly can!

Well, my baby girl turns "1" tomorrow. I can hardly believe it. At this time last year, I was at the movies (Spiderman 3, to be exact) with my hubby and I kept telling him that I felt kinda weird and I was having a few contractions. Of course, he said the movie was just too intense for me and I should close my eyes during the scary parts. (Does that sound like a man or what?) Even on the way home from the movies, I told him that I really felt like it was time and he said I was just stressing out and to relax. For some reason, he just refused to believe that I could be in labor 11 days before my due date. He even went to bed when we got home and told me to wake him up if I needed him - but I think he said "Good night - see you in the morning, babe" - in other words, "You are a big faker and I know you are not really in labor."

He got to sleep for about 30 minutes and I woke him up with my bags packed and told him it was time to hit the road. We left the house and I asked him to swing by his parents to get their camcorder, but he said that if it ended up being "time" and they actually kept me at the hospital, he would run back out and get it. I think it was at that point that I gave him "the look" and he said "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to run by their house really quick..." He said he really did not believe it was for real until I started screaming & crying and the nurse confirmed that this was the "real thing." I still give him a hard time for not believing me - I mean, it was my fourth baby...did he honestly think that I still did not know what it feels like to be in labor?? Anyway, Kassidy Beth was born on June 11th at 4:02am and she was, and still is a sweet, gorgeous baby girl. She brings so much joy to us. We had never planned on having four kids, but now we could not even imagine our lives without her. She was a big surprise...but a huge blessing from God. I know that God knew exactly what would make our family complete...2 boys and 2 girls. Having a large family really is a blessing!!

My hometown visit

I am in VA visiting my family this week and I am having a really nice time. It is kinda nice to be back in the little town where I grew up. I lived here my whole life and my parents still live in the same house that I grew up in. That is what I think is so nice about living in a small town - it seems that everyone knows each other and people tend to stay put...to grow old in the same house with the same friends. I have gone running a couple times here in VA and each time, I have had to stop so that I could say hello and give someone I grew up with a big hug. That is pretty cool to me - that fact that I still know all these people in my old neighborhood and not much has changed in the last decade since I left. I really want that for my kids. I want them to grow up in the same house/same neighborhood and form relationships with people that will last a lifetime.

I was talking with my dad about how nice it was to be back here in Covington but told him I did not know if I could ever live here again for two very important reasons - there is no Target and there is no Chickfila. How could I possibly survive without these two staples in my life?? I told him I was just teasing and of course the positives of being with my family would far outweigh no Target clearance racks and no yummy Chickfila food. It would sure help my budget out not to have these two temptations anywhere near me!!

Oh well, it has been nice to be back "home" for a few days. I sure wish ten hours did not separate me from my family and my beautiful little hometown here in VA!!

My first "old" moment

For the first time in my life, I actually feel kinda, sorda, just a tad bit....OLD!! I have always felt pretty young...like I still can't really believe I am married with four children. I have always felt like people probably see me with all my kids and consider me to be a "young" mom. I know my husband looks quite a bit older than me (just kidding, Matt)....I still think you are still a pretty hot, young man.

Anyways, back to this "old" moment. I got a high school graduation card from a girl back in my hometown in VA. She is very special to me and I have pretty much babysat her since she was born. She was even the flower girl in my wedding. She included a picture of herself as a senior but they had photoshopped in a picture of her on her first day of school (which by the way, I think is an awesome idea and I will be stealing the idea when my kids graduate). What made me feel so old, was that I remember her as that little girl starting school...I even can still remember her in diapers. And now she is getting ready to start college. That means I am really getting to be an old woman!! Ok, so maybe that is a little bit of an exaggeration, but I really had a moment where I was like, "Wow, she grew up right in front of my eyes....It has been 18 years since I first started babysitting her."

All I know is that my kids better not even think about growing up that fast. I still cannot even believe I will have two kids in elementary school next year. I watched a show about weddings yesterday and started tearing up because I cannot even imagine Kenzie or Kassidy getting married...Or Micah going to college....Or Brody joining the circus - totally kidding....he says he is going to be a basketball player - we were thinking football would be more up his alley.

Well, now that I have totally gotten off the subject....I just had to share what I like to call my first "Wow, am I getting as old my parents?" momemt. (love ya mom & dad)

Embarrassing!!

I was reading an article in a magazine the other day about people's most embarrassing moments. They were all pretty funny and some were definitely extremely embarrasing. So, it got me to thinking about what my most embarrassing moment has been to date (because I know there will be many more in my future!!). Well, without a doubt it would have to be my "treadmill" story.

I was running on a treadmill in a gym when I got the brilliant idea to say a quick prayer about something that was weighing heavy on my mind. Well, I shut my eyes really quickly ( I don't think that was a conscious decision, just a habit) and of course, I step off the moving belt like a quarter of an inch and I totally lose my footing. I fall down (very hard and very loud) and land on my back . All the while, the belt is still moving so not only do I fall down but when I land, the moving belt actually throws me off the back end of the treadmill and I pretty much slam into the wall....imagine me in sorta of a fetal position pinned between the wall and the still moving full speed treadmill. As I struggle to get up, this old guy beside me just kinda nonchalantly looks down at me and says, "It has happened to all of us." Meanwhile, I am thinking, "No it hasn't, you jerk, and why don't you offer to help me up or at least ask me if I am permanently injured...."

Anyway, I get up, wipe myself off and get back on the treadmill and start running again. And, I don't even have to start the treadmill back up, because it is still running full speed!! As I begin to run again, I look down at my elbow and it is bleeding pretty bad, but I refuse to stop running and get off the treadmill. So, I just wipe the blood on my shirt and keep on truckin'. In thinking back, I guess I thought I would look more calm, cool, & collected if I just wiped myself off and got back on. Although inside, my heart was racing, I was totally mortified, and I wanted to punch the old guy beside me. I can still remember the whole event like it happened yesterday (and it was like 9 years ago)....

So, what's the moral of this story...."Pray with your eyes open!!"

We just got back from the beach and this trip just reaffirmed what I have always known - "I Love the beach!!" It is so peaceful and relaxing and just plain beautiful. The kids had a blast...I think their favorite part was the fact that we got to see some dolphins. Kenzie now loves dolphins - she even bought a book on dolphins so she could read up on them. It was funny because she was reading the book and she stopped to tell me "Mom, I know why dolphins are not fish, because if they were, they would eat themselves....they eat fish for their food." I thought that was a funny way to put it, but her logic made perfect sense.

The trip was pretty uneventful, which is good when you have four kids. I did lose a beach towel....but not the conventional way. I was sitting in some chairs by the pool and I left to go for a short walk. I came back to get my towel and there was this weirdo guy who was totally drying off his whole body with my towel. He dried off for a little bit then he put my towel back where it was and left. Matt wanted me to get my towel and I was like "No Way"...that is so gross. I will just count it as a loss and buy a new towel. I don't really like the idea of some strange man wiping his body off with my towel...

My new approach to photography

I know that I just wrote about how frustrating taking pictures of four kids could be....but I am happy to say that I think I have discovered the solution!! Take your pictures from behind - that's right, just line them up and take a picture of their cute little booties. I was at the park with them today and they were walking in front of me and so I thought - "hey, this might work...." So, I pulled Kassidy out of her stroller and added her to the line-up and I got a really cute picture. I hope this wonderful insight solves all your photography problems....

You better smile for the camera, or else!!!!!

Ok, so I love to take pictures. It is definitely one of my most favorites things to do. However, it is also one of the most frustrating things for me - the one activity that makes me lose my temper almost every time. You see, I have four kids, and it is extrememly difficult to get four kids to cooperate and smile all at the same time.

I took them all out to the backyard tonight to try to get a picture for my mom for Mother's Day. Matt was mowing the grass so he could not help me....which should have been my first tip off that this was a bad idea. So, I sit them all down in the freshly cut grass, with the sun shining so pretty in the background....but even the beautiful scenery could not make this situation any better. From the first snap of the camera, I am constantly yelling ("You better smile or I am going to beat your bottom"...."If you don't stop crying, I am going to spank you"...."Look at the camera - do you understand English??"...."Stop squinting your eyes and smiling like a weirdo.") I am sure you get the point. My poor neighbor probaby wanted to call DFACS on me and report me for "picture taking cruelty" or something like that.

I don't know why I am so set on getting the "perfect" picture. I wish I would just realize that they are kids and some of the best pictures are the candid, fun shots. I am embarrassed that I get so tense and sometimes just plain mean when I am taking their picture. So, I am making a commitment right now to no longer stress over getting that perfect picture - with four kids, it just isn't going to happen. I don't want my kids to run and hide every time thay see my get my camera out. Now, I will try my best to only be positive and say nice, encouraging, complimentary things to them when it is time for the dreaded photo shoot. After all, they are pretty cute kids and I think they look good no matter how the picture turns out!!

So, I recently signed up for a Facebook account and I had to list all my favorite movies and tv shows. I listed Dirty Dancing as my favorite all time movie from back in the day. Well, Matt kindly dropped a hint that I might want to take that movie off my list. Of course, being the Patrick Swayze fan that I am, I was like, "What? Are you crazy? That movie rocks." He went on to remind me that the movie has an abortion scene, lots of premarital sex, and - you guessed it- a lot of "dirty" dancing. And, once I really thought about it, I did have to sneak out and watch it at my friends house because I knew my parents would not let me watch it at our house. And it is probably safe to say that I would not want my kids to watch it. Although, I did come really close to buying Kassidy a onesie that said, "Nobody puts my baby in a corner." I just wasn't sure if anyone would get it.

So, I gave in and took it off my favorites list. But, I must admit, if I came across the movie on tv tonight, I would be forced to at least dvr it, so I could watch my all time favorite scenes and, of course, fast forward through anything questionable (I promise, Matt).


As far as the tv shows go, I love me some Kirk Cameron in Growing Pains. Matt bought me the first season on DVD and we watched the whole set in a couple of weeks. We would both catch ourselves laughing out loud....I mean, who doesn't love Mikey Seaver and his side kick, Boner?? I also listed Family Ties. Micheal J. Fox is hilarious in that show. I actually love pretty much the whole cast in that show. I wanted to name one of our girls Mallory, but Matt never went for it.


See if any of these pics bring back a smile to your face....

Say a little prayer

So, not an awful lot has been going on here at the Walls house. It sounds funny to me to actually say that because people think that with four kids our life would be constant chaos. But, I guess it is possible that my "normal" days would be considered crazy in other households. Matt has even been out of town for a couple days...but I got to tag along for the first part of the trip, so maybe that day away kinda refreshed me and so things did not seem as hectic to me when I got back.

Anyways, even though things seem pretty smooth here at our house, I feel like I am surrounded by people who are really having a rough time right now. Weighing epecially heavy on my heart this week is a friend of ours that used to be in our small group. She has a child that was born with quite a few problems and he has been doing great but he had to have a pretty invasive surgery on his neck and he has really been struggling in the hospital trying to recover. They had to fly to Maryland for the surgery - away from their older children and all their family & friends. It is hard to even imagine what they are going through and how their hearts must be so heavy for their baby boy - all I can say is that I have been praying and thinking of them each and every day. I am going to post the link to their website because I know that some of you know Tom & Brandie and you may want to read about their journey and maybe even post some words of encouragement for them - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamesmcneal

Just remember - be thankful for all that God has blessed you with and always lift those up who may be struggling....sometimes prayer and words of encouragement are the most precious thing you can offer a friend.

Brody the Great

My 3 year old son Brody is one crazy dude. He can say the funniest things (usually at the worst times). For example, the other day, we were at Chick-fil-A (shocking, right?) and a cute little girl was sitting right across from us. She had the most beautiful brown skin and long black hair. Well, all of a sudden, Brody shouts out, "Look mom, its Mulan!!" And he said it very loudly - so, of course, I start the whole "Be quiet Brody - that is not Mulan...." Meanwhile, Matt is laughing so hard he is crying.

Later that day, I took Brody to Publix with me and he saw an older man walking toward us and he shouts out, "Look mom, its Dr. Phil." I had to laugh at that one. He has always had a slight obsession with Dr. Phil. Everytime I would watch it when he was little, he would point to the television and say, "PaPa!!" Is is just funny to me that he always has to associate the way someone looks or acts with a person that he knows.

Not only is he obsessed with the way a person looks, but with the way they are dressed. We came home yesterday and our neighbor was working in her yard in her bikini top and shorts - he yelled out that she was naked - so, of course, I had to lecture him and tell him not to yell that out loud when we get out of the car. He just started laughing and said, "She is naked, mom."

So, I often wonder what this obsession with people and their traits/characteristics is predicting about Brody's future?? Who knows - but for know it definitely keeps us alert, aware, & sometimes concerned about what he will say about the next person that walks by.....Gotta love little kids and their tendency to "blurt out" the obvious!!

Ebay Loser

My CHI flatening iron broke the other day so I needed to buy a new one. I called my hairstylist and she said they run about $100....I was going to go ahead and order it, but I remembered that a friend of mine had found one on Ebay for around $70 - so, I decided to try and bid on one and get it for a little bit cheaper than $100. Well, I bid on a couple but I would always lose out in the last minute. I just was not fast enough with my mouse....I need to work out my "clicking" finger and get it in better shape if I am going to keep playing on Ebay.

Anyway, it looked like they always ended up going for between $60 & $70, so I just went to the "Buy it Now" store and found one for $60. I figured I might as well just buy it and quit messing with all the bidding nonsense. So, I was happy and I got my CHI for a great price. Well, I get on the computer today to check and make sure everything went through with the purchase and I see that I "won" another flat iron...What?? I guess we had bid on one and just assumed we would not win, but, of course, we did. And I won it for $59!! So, my goal of saving money was really shot because in the end I spent $140 (with shipping and all) - granted, I did get two CHI irons for that price but I did not really need two....

Oh, and by the way, does anyone know someone that needs a new flat iron :) :) :)

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

Well, since I am trying to avoid sugars and basically all food that tastes great, I thought I could at least write about my favorite "bad" treats. What inspired me to blog about tasty treats, was an awesome cake I had the other night. I mean this cake was rockin'!! I seriously could have eaten like 4 pieces....It was a key lime cake made by my friend Jennifer. I am hoping that she will be nice enough to leave me a comment which will include the recipe to this delicious cake. I doubt that I will ever seriously venture out and try to make it, but maybe one of you crafty mamas can make it as a treat for your family.

The key lime cake recently took over my number one spot in my favorite desserts, but another treat that comes in a close second is Ghirardelli brownies - really anything Ghirardelli is soooo yummy, but these brownies are the best. They are called double chocolate brownies and you can get them at pretty much any supermarket. I became such a big fan of Ghirardelli chocolate because they have a store in Downtown Disney and they serve a chocolate brownie sundae that is out of this world. I make sure to get one (or two) each time we go to Disney. So, instead of actually eating all this stuff, I just wrote about them, posted pictures of them, thought about how awesome they taste....man, I am really hungry right now :) :) :)

Gag me with a spoon

Ok, so I decided that I wanted to try to lose a few more pounds before we head to the beach next month - probably because I went swimsuit shopping and I left the store totally depressed. Especially when I tried on one tankini top and I could not for the life of me get it back over my head. Then I looked at the tag and it was two sizes smaller than what I thought - talk about a total freak out moment. I just knew I would have to call Matt and tell him I was stuck in a really small swimsuit and I could not get out of it. I actually left Kohl's and headed straight to Kroger to get "healthy" food. Well, I decided to try Slimfast for the first week....and it was totally disgusting. I got the cappucino kind and I seriously thought I would hurl if I took another drink. I mean I want to look good and all but I am not willing to drink that nasty stuff in order to do it. Just thinking of the taste makes me shudder.

So, since I don't really do diets, I am just eating more fruits and healthy snacks. Trying my best to avoid all the sugars (that should last like 2 days). But, I did get some Fiber One bars and let me recommend those to you guys. They were so good - just like a candy bar to me. I am always searching for healthy snacks that actually taste good. I am thinking of trying some smoothies made with low fat yogurt & fruit. That sounds yummy to my somewhat hungry tummy. Any healthy (but yummy) snack recommendations would be great....and I will share if I come across any other good finds.

I got to have dinner with one of my best friends the other night in Atlanta. We have been friends since college and have somehow managed to stay in touch and see each other a few times a year. We have so many great memories from college including fun times with karaoke, making fun of all of our roommates, dyeing each other's hair one too many times, and meeting our husbands to be around the same time (which meant a lot of double dates). I doubt many people would really get our humor (including our husbands), but we always have a great time when we get together.

We ate at Carrabas and I doubt it will ever be the same again - with all 6 of our crazy kids. We were also eating with my husband's best friend from college (who is still single) and we were joking about how he would probably never want kids after having dinner with all of us. Oh well, we had fun and I am thankful for our old friends (although they probably know way too much about us) because there are so many fun memories to talk about and hopefully lots of new fun times ahead of us.

Be thankful

I talked to one of my friends tonight who is going through a really tough time in her life right now. I won't really go into specific details but my heart is really broken for her right now. I aked her is there was anything I could do for her and she said, "Yeah, you could switch lives with me..." After talking with her, I had to stop and take an inventory on my own life and realize how blessed Matt and I really are in our lives right now. It seems like sometimes I let the little things get me down and it really takes a phone call like the one I had tonight to really make me put things in perspective. I just wished I could remember this great life lesson when it is 2am and Kassidy won't stop crying (at least she is a healthy, happy baby).....or when I am running back & forth to the doctor for ear infections or asthma problems (my kids could be seriously ill)....or even when Matt is getting on my last nerve (we could have a struggling marriage that lacks love & real commitment). I am sure you get the point....so, I encourage you to stop and think about how blessed you really are and then say a prayer of thanks for all that God has blessed you with (and take a minute to say a prayer for my friend - she could really use it tonight!!)

"Dear Tooth Fairy" - take two

Well, for the faithful few of you that keep up with my blog, you might remember that Kenzie accidentally swallowed her first tooth - so, we had to write a note to let the tooth fairy know what was up. Well, I am writing another note to the tooth fairy tonight. Why, you ask?? Well, my poor little girl fell from the top of our swingset/treehouse and majorly busted her face up. She was screaming and I ran outside to find her face covered in blood. It was coming out of both her nose and her mouth. Very scary moment. It turns out all is well - except for a busted-up lip & nose and a tooth that was unfortunately knocked out. It is still MIA. Who knows if she swallowed it or if it somewhere in our backyard. Her papa, daddy, and brothers were outside searching for the tooth, but - no luck!! The good news is that she fell so hard that she knocked another tooth loose (is that really "good news?") and we are just hoping and praying that this time she will lose the tooth in a somewhat "normal" manner and she will finally get to experience placing an actual tooth under her pillow....this tooth fairy is tired of all these "excuse" notes :) :) :) :)

American Idol Fever

How many of you remember this crying machine from last season's American Idol?? I read somewhere that she is back - but this year she is turning on the waterworks for Jason Castro (the dreadlocks dude). This little girl absolutely drove me insane last season....literally, I had to change the channel or get up and leave whenever they would keep putting up shots of her in the audience just a boohooing. Still don't know why she bugged me so much but when I read that she was back I was not excited....

Anyway, as most of you know, my husband is an American Idol freak - it is so funny to me how he really gets so into each performance and now he even critiques each person right when they finish. He usually gives a "too self-indulgent" (Simon favorite) or "little bit pitchy" (Randy's catch phrase) or now if someone is really bad, we know to say "you look really nice tonight" (Paula's compliment when no other can be found). His favorite for this season is David Archuleta- the kid who looks like he is 12 and always about to cry. I like Brooke White - she has such a unique voice and she is just so geniune. I never have really cared for Kristy Lee Cook or even Carly Smithson ( I know she is a great singer but for some reason she just annoys me.)

Oh well, I guess I have just given into the fact that American Idol fever is now a part of the Walls household...I used to tease Matt about it but then I realized that he seriously loves this show. In fact, he might give the "crying girl" a run for her money after some of David Archuleta's performances. Ok, I'm in trouble now..........

The Walls Family Loves Jesus!!

Well, today was a Great day at the Walls house - our little girl, Kenzie, asked Jesus to come into her heart today!! We are so excited for her. She talked with her dad and he said she asked him so many questions and he could tell she was more than ready to become a Christian. She has been very curious for a while now, but we wanted to make sure that she understood what it meant and how very important it was. She came running up to tell me and she said that she could not stop smiling - she said she might just smile the rest of the day.

So, we got to see our oldest son, Micah, baptized last Sunday and now we get to share the news that our oldest daughter, Kenzie, has accepted Jesus as her Savior! I would say this has been a pretty great week for us!!!