Here's to you Michelle!!!

I know this post is a little late, since Halloween was almost 2 weeks ago now, but better late than never! Amber, Wanda, Mitzi and I hosted a Halloween party for the kids and their friends, and I think everyone had a blast! I needed a simple costume that I was comfortable in, so I decided to be . . .







wait for it . . .







an Alabama fan!! So here it goes . . . Roll Tide!

I can't help but give my Alabama friends a hard time, because my first AL-MSU game was at State, and I just couldn't get over the people walking around with Tide boxes and toilet paper rolls on their heads! Adults!!! But don't worry, I didn't let the Bama shirt touch my skin, I had a MSU shirt on underneath! Thanks Jamey for the loaners, and I hope Brenna had a good time at the party and trick or treating with us!!!

Miss you Michelle!

First day of 3rd grade, Kindergarten and K3!

Yesterday was the first day at SBEC. Just a half day, but a first day nonetheless. Kristen and Jackson had great first days. Jacob's was a come-and-go, meet the teacher, see your room kind of thing, so after dropping off K and JD, and taking the required photos, JA and I headed to his room. He went to play, right away, and when he saw I wasn't leaving, he came over to me and said "I want you to go away." Really? What? I explained to him that I had to stay, I couldn't leave. So a couple of minutes later, he says to me "It's time for you to leave. Here's your purse." He finally figured out after about 15 minutes of him telling me to leave and me explaining that I couldn't that I wasn't going anywhere. So he played about an hour with his new friends and checked out the new toys before he came and told me he was ready to go. What happened to the child that screamed and cried and turned into an octopus with super human clinging strength when I tried to leave him before?

The three amigos!Hannah, Elizabeth, Kristen

Jacob & Mrs. Veazey

Jackson & Mrs. Pepin

Kristen & Mrs. McGehee

Can you use a magic eraser on a preschooler?

Because yesterday, Jacob decided he wanted to be orange. Not as in the fruit, but as in the color. As in I picked him up from summer camp yesterday, and noticed the tops of both of his legs, from his knees to way above his shorts line, had orange marker scribbles all over them. Upon further investigation, I found that his stomach and chest were also covered with orange marker scribbles. I figure he's either really fast with that crayola marker, or it took a while for someone to notice what he was doing! I asked him why he colored on himself, and his response was . . .

"Because I wanted to be orange."

Well, okay. What's the response to that? I just tried to explain to him last night while I'm scrubbing him that we only color on paper, not our bodies. Reiterated that fact this morning. We'll see what's happened today!

(sorry, no pictures, too flustered yesterday to get that far)

On a lighter note today . . .

Jackson had his last t ball practice last night, and afterwards, we went up to Snowden Grove to watch cousin Charlie play baseball.

Charlie, the catcher

Jacob

My attempt at getting the 7 cousins, plus Uncle Josh, in a picture! Not an easy thing, with a 12 year old, 2 - 8 year olds, 2 - 5 year olds, a 3 year old, and a 2 year old! I impressed they actually would all stand together!

Missing my friend . . .

Ever have one of those days? Where you feel completely alone? I know I'm not alone, how could I feel that way with 3 little people constantly needing something? Hearing 'mommy, mommy, mommy' over and over? But sometimes you just feel like that's all you are. I know I've been blessed with the 3, but every now and then, can I not be me, too? That was one of the best things about my friend, she was actually my friend. And I was her friend, I tried to be a good one to her. She always had time for me, never acted like I was bothering her (and I know I had to occasionally ). Actually acted like she wanted to be around me! Her absence has left a huge whole in my life, as I know she has in others, a bigger hole in several, so I know I should quit my whining, but some days, that absence just gets to me. Thinking of all that we did, and all that we should have gotten to do. And all those things that happen, that I used to pick up the phone and tell her, because she would 'get it.' I can still hear her responses to those things, but it's just not the same.

Just miss her. And I needed to talk about it. To two of the people who have an even larger whole in their lives.

Thanks.

Weekend Fun

Haven't posted in a while, so I thought I'd put some pictures up from all the time we spent outside over the Memorial Day weekend. Saturday morning, Jackson had his fifth tee ball game, he's loving it! All I can say is 'thank goodness' the tee ball experience is not a repeat of the soccer experience (x2)! Let's just say David Beckham has nothing to fear from Jackson! Now, Jacob, maybe, we'll see come this fall!

We grabbed Brenna before Jackson's game, so afterwards, we headed south to Hernando for some water fun! Our water digs aren't quite as nice as Brenna's, but Jamey needed to keep the house clean for a showing later in the afternoon! I think they all had fun!Thanks Jamey for letting Kristen spend the night, and hang out on Sunday! She had a good time!

2nd grade Wax Museum day

Meet Elizabeth Blackwell. The first woman doctor. Born 1821. Died 1910. She looks pretty good for her age, doesn't she? And all of her friends, Neil Armstrong, John F. Kennedy, Clara Barton, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, and others.

Thursday, preceding field day, was the 2nd grade wax museum day! The kids all did well, especially since they did their own research for their oral reports! It was definitely fun to watch!

Muffins with mom at CTK with Jacob

This morning, at Christ the King, we had muffins with mom! Nothing's cuter than a bunch of 2, 3 and 4 year olds singing little 'I love mommy' songs in chapel. Except, of course, when it's your 3 year old most definitely not singing, but picking his nose! I'll spare you the pictures of that, you'll just have to take my word for it about how proud I am. NOT! After chapel, we did have a nice brunch in the classroom, fruit, muffins, juice, etc. I was presented with a lovely necklace he made for me (which he decided to wear), a flower he planted for me (which I'll try not to kill), and a flower-shaped placemat with his picture and a statement of why he loves me (which will go in the 'to keep' tub of kids creations). I guess that makes up for the nose-picking in front of all these other mamas, whose beautiful children are all singing, just like they're supposed to. My only other consolation is that when it came time for the mamas to leave and the kids to stay, their children did just as much crying and tantrum throwing as mine! Hard to believe, I know, but Jacob doesn't like it when I drop him off in the mornings, let alone after I've dropped him off, shown back up for chapel and snack, then leave again? Oh, well. Another day, another mommy guilt trip.

Happy 5th Birthday, Jackson!

Jackson's birthday was yesterday, May 4. So his monster truck party was this past Sunday. Here he is with his 'Happy Birthday' banner, his friends Parker and Ainsley from school, and the cookies we made for him to take to school yesterday.


He blew out his candles, and loves the horse tire swing that his Granny and Pawpaw gave him. I had to cancel the monster truck moon bounce, due to the weather, which stunk, because I was so excited to have found a monster truck moon bounce! I think everyone had a good time, anyway. I had to decorate the garage, not knowing whether the weather would cooperate and the kids could go outside at all, so I tried to make the garage as festive as I could, hence the checkered flag banner and the stoplight bags with balloons. It did finally stop raining, so thankfully everyone wasn't stuck in the house & garage, which was great, because I think I counted 51 people, and I think 25 kids? Eeks. But Jackson had a great time, and got lots of good presents, so it's a success in my book! Yay! Now I'm birthday party planning free until December approaches! Woohoo!

Monster Truck party prep

My friend who is gazing down on us, what were you trying to tell me when you made your call to Jacob? Were you trying to tell me I spent way too much time messing with the invitations? and that I went overboard making 4 versions? which are . . .

Gunslinger . . .El Toro Loco . . .Blue Thunder . . .and Backdraft . . .

Or that I was completely crazy for making miniature monster truck courses for the kids to play with? Complete with dirt and sponsor "banners" hanging around the rim of the box lids? (actual sponsors from the monster jam website, no less)

Anyway, I figure your husband and your friend will let me know how you feel about what, once again, you escaped having to create with me!!!! I hope you're kicked back, laughing your head off at it all! More pictures to follow, the banner I've made for Jackson, I really can't photograph until it's hanging!

It's the little things that make me smile.

Jacob picked up my cell phone yesterday, like all little kids do, pretending, and started talking.

Jacob "Hello? Hello? It's Miss Michelle."
me "It is?"
Jacob "Yes. she's calling from Heaven."
me "I'm sure she is."

He proceeded to tell her what was coming on next on Noggin, then said bye and hung up.

I swear, it's the little things! :)

Thankfully, he didn't relay to me what I'm sure Miss Michelle was really saying, about what she thought of the projects I'm working on for Jackson's monster truck birthday! I'm just thankful I'm not trying to make a Perry the Platypus cake like she predicted! Pictures to follow once I finish . . .

Eggs and Fakin'

Do they look like real eggs and bacon? Hope so! I saw the idea/recipe in the Family Fun magazine in the April Fool's foods part. Thought it looked cute to send to school for Jackson's class for snack on April Fool's Day! Of course, Kristen wanted to take it to her class, too, so now I've got to double the quantity. But the eggs are melted white chocolate chips with an m&m in the middle, and the bacon is tootsie rolls and caramel! I don't usually get into the April Fool's stuff, but I thought it might be cute and it didn't seem too time consuming!

But before I could tackle the eggs and fakin', I had to create Jacob's Easter hat for his Easter parade at school tomorrow. Yikes. Was NOT inspired before, during or after creating it, but fortunately, he's 3 and really doesn't care! But here's how it turned out, he thinks he's an Easter cowboy!

Hopefully he doesn't look too goofy!

Only dial 9-1-1 in an emergency . . .

Yeah, right. Or when you're 4 and bored at the Feltman house after a long day with no nap! Yep, that's right! Saturday, we were dropping Brenna off after having been to a 2nd grade girls basketball game, a fabulous Easter party, and Cedar Hill Farm, and Jamey's phone rings. He hangs up, and says 'apparently, someone from this address dialed 9-1-1.' Great. called Jackson into the room, and he blames it on his younger brother, who can't yet read. So he admits it. I make him apologize to the really nice policeman who responded, but later Saturday night, Jackson came to me and says 'I guess I should have stayed in the car at Brenna's.' Poor thing, I'm just hoping he learned his lesson!

Anyway, as previously mentioned, we had a pretty good Saturday. Here are the girls at the fabulous Roberts Easter party. Madison, Halle, Elizabeth, the wonderfully talented Easter bunny named Wanda, Brenna, Kristen, and Hannah.

Bring on the straightjacket.

Or the valium. Or, at the very minimum, the largest size Oreo Overload possible from Cold Stone Creamery. I swear, today is one of those days where I'm thankful I don't know how to use the shotgun J gave me for Christmas. (Really, a shotgun? Since when do I look like I want to be armed? but that's beside the point.) At the very least, the traffic idiot this morning who didn't think he should have to stop for the school bus with the flashing lights and the stop sign out should be thankful I'm not armed. It's just one of those days where everything seems to get under my skin! Like when you get a letter from your youngest's preschool saying you owe more $$ (and not just a couple) for the days he attended during the big school's spring break. Um, I wasn't getting a tuition break because the big school was closed during that week, so why do I have to pay extra? I'm still paying the outrageous monthly amount, so why more? And when you get a bill from the propane people, because you've run out of your pre-bought propane already, and it's only March? And the weather is still having cold spurts? And when the former big cheese of the company saunters in to your cube on his semi-monthly walk-through and says he's heard that your husband's company is in trouble (which it isn't, as far as I know (and hope)). And when you get a note from the youngest's teacher about the Easter hat parade, where I need to create an Easter hat by the 1st. Which is fine, but how many masculine Easter decorating things are there? I'm hoping Michael's has some sort of foam cowboy hat and some not-too-feminine Easter stuff. And how about the fact that I can't even go to the grocery store without it being some major ordeal, and I get at least one comment about how I have my hands full, and a few bless-your-heart looks! Will I ever be able to go anywhere and not be publicly humiliated? What am I doing wrong? All these other families manage to calmly go down aisle after aisle of food (or stuff) and not spend it screaming or being screamed at! And will the kids ever just do what they're told, the first time? It'd be so nice to have a morning where there was no fussing or fighting or whining! Where everyone just got up, did what they knew that had to do, and got out of the house? I could probably go on and on, but if anyone's read this far, I probably shouldn't, for fear that noone will read me again!

So here's how I guess I'm going to avoid the padded room. Or try to, anyway. By chanting the following to myself.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

And probably by indulging in the smallest possible Oreo Overload. maybe.

From monster trucks to flip flops

We had a pretty busy weekend (for us), doing everything from seeing the Bigfoot monster truck on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning (there was a new tire store opening in Hernando, so I guess he was making a public appearance for their grand opening. Worked for us, it was free, and we walked away with a stuffed monster truck and some posters signed by the driver),attending two simultaneous birthday parties (dropping Kristen at the bowling alley for one party, then heading across Goodman Road to the skating rink for one of Jackson's friends) at noon Saturday,and then going to watch our friend Hannah play basketball with the 1st & 2nd grade girls at SBEC at 3 Saturday.Sunday wasn't as busy, our friend Brenna came to play for the afternoon, where she and Kristen made their own flip flops!

Not too bad for our first attempt at flip flops! I ended up trimming the strips after the girls finished tying them on, but I still think they're probably a little too long!

We don't have a pond for the crocodiles?!?!?!?

Huh? Those words were spoken by my newly 3 year old yesterday morning, as he woke up screaming his little round head off. And I do mean screaming, like someone was stabbing him repeatedly (which I was pretty sure wasn't happening, since his brother and sister were still sleeping, were being the operative word)! It took Jacob about an hour to settle down, from whatever funky crocodile dream he was having! Even just sitting and holding him, he was thoroughly terrified! Of course, putting him down to get him and his now awake and oh-so-grumpy brother and sister was completely unacceptable, apparently, so yesterday morning was horrible! He didn't calm down until we were halfway to SBEC, after my right arm had gone completely to sleep from reaching into the middle row to hold his hand!
I wish I knew what had gone on in his head, but the only thing I could get out of him was that single bizarre statement, we don't have a pond for the crocodiles. I can only come up with the fact that he has watched Pirate Dora within the last few days, and they go through Crocodile Lake on their way to Treasure Island. I couldn't even come up with a comforting response, because what do you say to that? Yeah, you're right, we don't, is all I could come up with!
One day, I'm sure all this will be fun to embarrass him with, as long as I can remember!

The Planetarium and Learning to Shoot

Friday, the K4 from SBEC visited the Sharpe Planetarium at the Pink Palace. Not a great photo taking opportunity, but here's a couple of pictures. One is Jackson waiting in line with his cousin Carter. And another is Jackson in front of whatever the big projection thing in the middle of the room is called! He had a good time, it was "cool!" He wanted Jeremey to come home from AL so he could ask him if he had any binoculars that he could use to look up at the stars once it was dark.

Yesterday, Jeremey decided to begin to teach the boys (and me, for whatever reason) how to handle a gun! So he got out a BB gun, and Jackson absolutely loved it! Jacob shot once, then ran off to play on the swingset. I shot enough for Jeremey to let me stop, I hit the target so I guess he was satisfied. I am just not that interested! Kristen was at my IL's house, the thought of her behind any firearm is a little frightening!