Here's to Katniss

Dear Mockingjay -

Over the next day or two I will probably ignore my kids, husband, housework and food while I devour every page. (Who am I kidding, I could NEVER ignore food)

Please don't disappoint me!

No Pics Today.....Mom/Babysitter on Break

My mom was in town and she sent Jack and I on a breakfast date while she took the kiddo's to the park. After finishing breakfast I asked Jack if he was ready to go back to reality. We both agreed we weren't and we spent an extra half hour chatting at Village Inn. Luckily it was Free Pie Wednesday and we devoured Jack's slice of Lemon Supreme. I took mine home hoping to eat it in the only room of the house where a boy of nine could sit in privacy and decode, but when I went in the kitchen I found Bowen with lemon and whipped cream all over his hands and mouth. :) I spent the rest of the day with my mom just enjoying the day and her company. Thanks for the break Mom!

A Day at the Farm

Wheeler Farm.......

Rabbits, ducks, water, tractor ride, goats, horses, cows, leaf races and stinky smells = Fun

Well, at least Jack is happy to be going on a wagon/tractor ride.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

On Monday we headed to Family Night at the Bee's game to enjoy a night of home runs, pop flys, a picture with the Bee, an hour long wait in line and a train ride on the Bumblebee Express. I am not sure who won the game.......GO BEES!!

FYI: Hogle Zoo doesn't trade kids for Monkeys

Jack suggested that he would take Havyn and Bowen to the BIG park in the morning so Krew and I could take a much needed nap. They were gone for about two hours and I don't think my house has ever been so quiet. I could have used those two hours a little more wisely but oh that nap was Heaven. Thanks Jack!

In the afternoon we went to the Zoo! All the kids loved seeing the animals. We went to the zoo at the perfect time, the gates were closing, but the grounds were still open for another hour and a half. We pretty much had the zoo to ourselves.

Papa Dew

On Saturday we went to a funeral for Papa Dew (Jacks Grandpa Dewey Whatcott). He lived longer than the average man but when the love of his life died late last year he was heartbroken and didn't want to live without her. Now they have been reunited. He will be missed, but his legacy will be passed on through his jokes and poems that he told us over and over and over again. We won't forget them.

A post a day

A post a day..........maybe, I'll try.........no promises.

We get to babysit my sister-in-law's little boy while her and her husband are visiting my in-laws in Africa (we hope they are in Africa, they might be held up somewhere at the embassy).

I am going to try to post a picture of what we have been up to each day so they can see that we didn't just lock him in a closet all day. We let him out, once in a while.

Bowen loved to drive the jeep, mostly he went in circles, but he did manage to drive down a huge hill and was able to get a pregnant lady to sprint after him. It wasn't a pretty sight. Don't worry Pratts the jeep is insured.

First Day

Here is Havyn ready to go to her first day of her second year of preschool. She is excited to learn, go on field trips, find new friends and play with the preschool toy dinosaurs.

Momma said there would be days like this

I usually have great days, nothing to complain about. I get to spend all day with two kids that make me laugh and when I am sad they are always full of hugs and kisses. However, yester was just one of those days that I could have done without. Here are a few highs and lows of my day.

I woke up in the morning realizing that my cold this weekend did not go away it has only worsened. (Low)

Jack left to complete his last test of this year (High), which was only supposed to last until 10, little did I know he had planned an all day sportsfest with his PA friends.

Being sick I realized that I still had two little creatures depending on me and for some reason their idea of fun was not laying face down on the couch with a throw up bowl by their side and a wet rag on their forehead. (Low)

I weighed my options.

We could go outside to the park...... too hot.

We could go to the swimming pool....... no money.

We could go to the mall and let the kids play in the malls play area, free and air conditioned...... perfect!

I got dressed and got the kids dressed. Before we left my shirt had ripped and Havyn spilled Lasagna on her white shorts. Quick change. (Low)

When I got to the mall I stepped out of my car and stepped into someones gum. This is the third time this summer that I have stepped in gum. Come on people, find a piece of paper and properly throw your gum away. What has this world come to. After cursing under my breath Havyn told me I need to watch where I step. Ya right, I can't see my toes, let alone the ground a foot in front of me (two more months, two more months.) (Low)

We arrived at the mall and headed straight to the Dinosaur kids play area. I explained to Havyn that we couldn't get a pretzel or ice cream at the mall. S he told me "I know MOM, we have no money!" (Low)

At the Dinosaur play area my kids did not hit, bite, yell or push any kids off the slide. In fact Havyn told me she was going to pretend she was a Paleontologist and she was looking for dinosaur bones and new friends, which she found both. (High)

We were about to leave and I wanted to go upstairs to window shop at children's clothing store. Why I chose to go up the escalators and not the elevators I have no idea. I sent Havyn up first and then put Krew's umbrella stroller and myself on going backwards, a few stairs down from Havyn. I looked at Havyn and she was on all fours like a dog. I told her to stand up so when the stairs straighten up she wouldn't fall flat on her face. She started screaming at the top of her lungs "I don't know how to do this, I don't know how to do this." So I picked up Krew's umbrella stroller, which buckled and trapped Krew inside while I picked up Havyn and safely helped her off those darn tricky escalator stairs. (Low) Krew was just fine by the way.

After looking at the children's clothing store we went down the ELEVATOR and started heading out. Havyn saw the quarter machine car rides and asked if she could sit in them and use her imagination and pretend they are moving. So I put her and Krew in for some free enjoyment. As I was standing there watching my kids, feeling bad that I didn't even have a quarter to pop in the machine a handicapped man, looking discouraged and downtrodden slowly wheeled himself toward me. Okay, life isn't so bad, it could be worse. I may be on the verge of hacking a lung, unable to wear more than half my wardrobe and so broke I can't even scrounge 25 cents together for a car ride for my kids but dammit it could be worse. Just then, he wheeled right up to me looked me straight in the eye and said "I feel sorry for you." He then turned around and rolled away. HE felt sorry for ME. (Rock bottom low)

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.