Better out than in

Objective : To take a decent holiday photo of all four of my kids sitting together in their Christmas jammies.. Results :  Connor you poked Garrett in the eye  OK guys sit up straight  better, but lets all look at the camera  no faces, Garrett put your arm down  seriously guys?  where did Garrett go?  ok now we lost Tanner, GINGER go lay down!!  Dog photo bomb  ok Tanner.. why the face?   Garrett you look like you are pooping..  Paige, stop sulking, boys be nice, ok lets try this again  almost.. Paige hands down  now lets open our eyes, and Connor stop looking so serial killerish  Garrett no posing  don't hold your breathe  Garrett get down FINALLY!! mommy needs some of her special egg-nog

I really am.  I am trying to be just a super bright Polly freakin Sunshine, and I think I am failing miserably this week. I must say I have tons of things to reflect on that have happened this week that have just blessed my socks off. I am so truly truly fortunate to have been surrounded by some of the most amazing friends in the world.  I have absolutely a bazillion things to be grateful for this week, and I very much am.  It's this whole deployment thing... IT'S BRINGIN ME DOWN MAN! I know I know, it's part of the job, I know I know, I knew what I was getting into when I got married.. but I am OVER IT!! It hasn't even started yet and I am ABSOLUTELY OVER IT!  I don't want to spend the next umpteen days/weeks/months playing zone defense. I really don't. I will, I will survive, I will get through it, as will my kids.  I will get through mostly because the afore mentioned amazing friends.. and because I'm strong like ox. :) Ok no more venting... on th...

What do you get when you hold 100 seven year olds, in one small classroom for 90 minutes, only to send them out on a stage?? You get tears, messed up curls, and some of the funniest pictures I've ever taken....

A friend made a comment today that got me thinking. (dangerous I know) So, I was wondering, (if ya'll wouldn't mind chiming in) at what age your kids either did or will do the following activities... ok so survey says..... How old was/ or will you child be when you let them.... play outside with no parental supervision- sleep over at a friend's house - wear make-up - have a bed time later than 7:30 - go on a date - there are no right or wrong answers here, just curious.  Everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another, so no answers will be judged.. I am just wondering where I fall in the averages :)

Sometimes I read this comic strip and I really think someone has been peering in my windows...

Well the late night home work fight arguing with no end in sight final grades up ahead can't slow down ..I have no time so I gotta keep rollin these 4 kids running round , soccer gonna bring me down keepin up with marching band, all I want is a cappucino.. but gotta keep rolling Ooh I'm driving my life away, and all this week is half days, for Green ooh I'm driving my life away, looking for a a nap day for me Well they all play at least one sport, don't you think that should be easy? add a few hundred instruments, tutor, girl scouts, soccer and karate weren't they all just babies? Hey I need me another cup of coffee can't slow me down, gotta get back to the high school in a fast way band practice finished early ooh I'm driving my life away, maybe a chauffeur is the only way? Ooh I'm driving my life away, every day is groundhog day for me

Sister-friend (n) - definition : A friend who is more than a friend. A friend who is family. Someone who sat by you in the seventh grade through all that Jr.high awkwardness.  A person who drove you around in her Jeep when your car broke down.  Someone who consumed her weight in taco bell lunches with you.  The person who stood up at your wedding, flew all over the country to see you, and still sends cute Thanksgiving cards. The person who's family claims you even when yours doesn't.  Someone who calls just because, picks you up when you are down, and knocks you down a few pegs when you are a little too full of yourself.  Someone who would wait out in the cold for an hour with her husband and 3 small boys, just to walk around with you in an overcrowded holiday light display. THAT is a sister-friend and THAT is Dixie  (totally the Webster's definition.. no REALLY!)   (and has anyone else noticed that I'm the only one who has aged in any of the...