Is There Anything Worse....

.....than a summer cold?

I don't think so. And I have one. A yucky, ears hurting, throat hurting, head feels like it might explode, summer cold.

Boo. Hiss.

So, because of this, today's agenda is pretty boring. I'm working a bit this morning (because my docs don't care if I'm sick), then I'm gonna curl up in my bed, take some medicine, and get better now. Darnit. Here's to hoping that A will be down with this. I'd let her have a friend over, but I don't think that other mothers want me exposing their children to whatever yuckiness it is that has invaded my body. So, I hope she's down with a day on the couch and some movies.

I seriously DO NOT have time to be sick. Do you hear me body? I don't have time for this. I've got fun things to do. An 8-year-old daughter to hang out with. Pools to swim in. It is summer for goodness sakes. I am NOT supposed to be sick. Not. Not. Not. Maybe if I keep repeating it, my body will actually LISTEN to me. No time body. No time. No time to be sick.

But yet, here I am. Sick. My ears hurt. My throat hurts. And my head is KILLING me. Seriously. I feel like it might explode into a million pieces at any moment. And part of me wishes that would happen. Why? Well because then it wouldn't hurt like the devil anymore. Not sure where I picked up this particular ray of sunshine that has invaded my body, but I sure as heck wish I'd missed it, that is for sure.

Being sick sucks. Being sick in the summer sucks worse. Here's to hoping that this yuckiness is VERY short lived. VERY.

I'm Here to "Pump You Up"

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Remember these guys? Hans and Franz? From Saturday Night Live? For some reason, I have them stuck in my head. Well, the reason is because I've started a new workout called Body Pump, and now all I can hear is Hans and Franz telling me they want to "pump me up". Not that I'm doing much "pumping up" right now. Right now? I'm just managing to not d-i-e while doing it. I'm managing to not fall out while doing one million squats.

Exercise? Yeah. It ain't fun. And it ain't pretty. Or it least it isn't when I do it. Which is why I prefer the comfort of my own home as opposed to embarrasing the mess out of myself at a gym. Maybe one day I'll work out in a gym. You know, one day when I'm not 30 pounds overweight.

So, here I go. Ready to get "pumped up". Which now brings up a stupid high-school football cheer in my head. Well, maybe between Hans and Franz and my inner cheerleader, I'll actually be able to do this.

Time to tell those 30 extra pounds where to go. And it ain't my hips.

Family Time

This weekend, my little family and I had some much needed family time. Much needed. It was nice to get away from it all and just be us.

It was so nice to not have a schedule. To not have to be anywhere at anytime. We did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted. We had pizza for breakfast. We had steaks for lunch. We just were. Together.

I saw my husband relax. I saw my daughter smile. I heard all of us laugh hysterically.

I can't even begin to tell you how happy it made me for us to just be together. We left everything behind and just hung out. Just us. We thought about letting A take a friend, but in the end decided that this time it would just be us. We're going back to the lake this weekend and she can take a friend, but this time, this time? It was just us. And it was just perfect.

What about ya'll? How do you unplug and reconnect?

I'm Better Now

So, yesterday I ranted a little (ok a lot) about things around here. I was hormonal and needed a pat on the back. Two certain someones (finally) got the message. Sometimes huffing and puffing and being a pain in the butt will get you what you want. Sometimes. I don' recommend it often, and I don't usually do it, I'm usually much more straightforward, but yesterday? Yesterday I wanted (ok, needed) them to acknowledge it ON.THEIR.OWN. So I was quiet. Well, kinda. And guess what? The dish? It got washed, and not by me. The clothes? They got put in the hamper, and not by me. The toys? They got picked up, and not by me. The breathing? Well, they are both still breathing the morning. I went to bed. I NEEDED a good night's rest. And this morning? I feel MUCH MUCH better.

So ya'll got to see me at my worst. Or me being honest. Either one. Sometimes (and just sometimes) being a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom SUCKS. Plain and simple. And sometimes, I just need a pat on the back. Ok, maybe all the time would be nice, but I'm not expecting miracles here people.

But today is a new day. And so far, no ones breathing is annoying me. No dishes are unwashed and no toys are on the floor. Of course, W is at work and A is asleep, so there is still plenty of room for this day to go downhill, but I'm better today. Sometimes, a little sleep is a good thing. Most days I can go, go, go. But after taking the kids to Alabama Advenenture with my sis on Monday, I was worn out yesterday. And I had to work. And the house was a disaster. And I felt like I had NO help at all. None. Zero. Nada. So, I had to rant. I had to pitch a hissy fit. Because sometimes Momma needs a break!

Thanks for listening. And not judging.

Is It So Hard?

-to wash the dish you just put in the sink?
-to pick your toys up off the floor?
-to actually put your dirty clothes IN the hamper, as opposed to on the floor?
-to acknowledge that I spent ALL.FREAKING.DAY. cleaning the house and that it looks good?
-to understand that the sound of you breathing right now annoys the crap out of me?

Sorry. I must be hormonal or something today. Just need a little pat on the back every once in a while. Capice?

Father's Day

This man is an amazing father. He is an amazing friend. He is an amazing husband. I am so blessed to have him to share my life with. I am a lucky girl. Scratch that. I am a BLESSED girl.

Happy Father's Day W. I love you to the moon and back.

VBS!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; You're works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalms 139:14

This week is Pandamania VBS at my church. Pandamania. Where God is wild about YOU. We are learning about how God made each of us unique. How he knows everything about us, down to the number of hairs on our heads. Even the little boy in my group who said "what about me? I don't have much hair!". See, he's got an adorable little crew cut going on. But yes, even you L, God knows exactly how many hairs you have on your head. And he knows everything about you! Isn't that great? Isn't that AWESOME? The premise behind Pandamania is Psalms 139.

I have an amazing group of soon-to-be first graders and an even more amazing youth helper. Thank God for her. I'm not sure I could wrangle all those kiddies without her! It is amazing to see God work through us (the crew leaders, drama teachers, craft workers, and snack leaders) to be a shining light to so many amazing children. I preay that they are learning something new about God, something that they can take with them.

I love Vacation Bible School. LOVE IT. Loved it when I was a child, love it as an adult. It has been (and still is) one fo the highlights of summer for me. And I love hearing all about A's day on the drive home. We do the same things, just not together, so I can ask her all the right "open-ended" questions. It is amazing though to see what she takes away from it. I love a child's perspective. I also love hearing the perspectives of my group. They are some precious babies!

So, tomorrow is another day at VBS with Pandamania! Another day of hearing how God knows each of us. Another AWESOME day of praise with some of the greatest kids on the planet!

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; your perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalms 139:1-2

**photo courtesy of Group.