Bikes, Blues, and we're through!

We've finally done it. The girls and I have been to Bikes, Blues, and BBQ.

We went last night (Thursday) to hear the CMA - Christian Motorcyclists Association - band play. It took them awhile to get going, but once they did, they were pretty good. The weather was absolutely perfect! We sat on lawn chairs and listened and watched the bikes go by. Neither girl wanted to leave, but we had school and work today.

So tonight, Jim picks us all up, we go pick up Pop, who'd been at the rally all day, and head to supper. After supper, we went back to the rally. After contributing to a fellow PTO for parking, we headed to the church. There was no CMA band tonight so we decided to walk down Dickson street.

Walk: definition: jump in the line that is headed down the street and pray you don't stumble or lose a shoe.

As we got further down Dickson, the tranquility of the previous night was obliterated. The crowds grew thicker, the smoke got heavier. The smell of exhaust, leather, smoke, and food commingled to make for an unusual outing.

Alpha, who's my extremely outgoing, people-loving child, hated it. She wouldn't hold our hands (she already thinks we're not cool and she's 7!) but she was in danger of getting lost or drug off.

Beta was ok with it. Although, we saw one of her preschool friends on our sidewalk but headed in the opposite direction. She wanted to run and say hi to her, but there really wasn't room. She seemed upset for a minute, but luckily there was enough other things to distract her.

Speaking of distractions, I now know why, when I was a kid and we'd be at the fair or someplace similar, my dad would smile and say to my mom "Ya want me to get a shirt like that?" She would nonchalantly, but emphatically, reply with a stern, No.

While we're on the subject of clothing, I should also mention that seeing some of these women tonight made me feel really good about myself. There were outfits that I would not wear in a million years. There were outfits I had put together myself but thought, hmmm, I really need some cool shoes and not my bright white tennis shoes with this. Apparently these women never had that second thought. Then there were the women who obviously don't realize they've gained weight since high school and think they really CAN wear those tight, skimpy tops. Or pants. Or omg! I know you didn't!

So, we're through with BBBBQ for this year. We made it down to the Walton Arts Center, crossed the street, and headed back up to the church. We sat and people-watched for a little while longer. Then we came home.

Now we can all fall asleep listening to the gentle, not-so-distant roars and rumbles of motorcycle engines.

Mommy - The Finder of Things

Preface: Did you file an extension on your 2007 income taxes? Well, if you did, you'd better get crackin'! The extension deadline is Oct 15 and "it'll be here before we know it!" to quote my boss.

Because of the tax deadline looming, I'm working some extra hours this week. Therefore, Jim had to take the girls to gymnastics on Tuesday. At 4:05 I get a call....

Jim: Hey, where is Beta's pink fuzzy leotard? She can't find it and is basically refusing to wear anything else or even GO if she doesn't have it.

Me: (Sigh) Aren't all the light-colored things washed?

Jim: Yes

Me: Then check her dance bag or the cubby in her closet.

Jim: Already done. Not in there.

Me: (Sighing louder and sounding perturbed) Then I don't know. It's just lost! If it's not in the dirty clothes then I don't know where it'd be.

Jim: (garbled pronouncement to girls)

Me: Oh, wait! Last week she stuck it in the drawer with her pants. Look in there.

Jim: (to Beta) Put it on and get ready! Thanks, honey. I knew you'd know where it was.

This is but one small installment of the series, "Mommy - The Finder of Things".

Sometimes, ok, most times, it feels like I'm the only one who knows how to move blankets, open purses and bags, look under desks, and actually FIND things. (Now, to be fair, Jim has gotten a LOT better at finding things.) But for awhile there, I was the ONLY one who could do it. Now, Jim takes the Level 1 Help Desk of Lost Things while I take Levels 2 and up. They can go way up, too.

Losing things REALLY bugs me. It's near the top of my list of "things that really bug me".

I'm trying to teach my children responsibility. I think what they're learning is "things that drive mommy crazy".

Happy Birthday, Jim!

The following is a 24-hour delayed announcement due to Blogger's unresponsiveness at 9:30 last night:

Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu!
Happy Birthday to youuuuuuuu!
Happy BIRTHDAY dear Jiiiiii-immmmmmm,
Happy Birthday to youuuuuu!

And many morrrrrrrrreee.......

Today is Jim's, um, well, birthday! We celebrated by having Jim do no house or yard work all day. Also, for 24 hours, I let him be right. ;) (you know those birthday cards, eh?) Oh, and we had a cake and some presents, which are shown below. And steak from Doe's. (definitely worthy of a birthday dinner!)


















The cake is "german chocolatkake" from Coldstone Cremery. YUM!


















Everyone was excited about ROCK BAND 2!!!!!


















So everyone had to get in on the act. Drums, guitar, and the violin.

The girls asked me today why Rock Band had no trumpets or violins and such. I told them that was a different kind of band they were thinking of.

I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!

If you don't subscribe to the Sunday Democrat-Gazette, you don't know what you are missing. There are wonderful, insightful articles, hilarious comics, and money-saving coupons. Including this one, from today's paper:


















I think I know what I'm getting everyone for Christmas!

Ready for Halloween!

Are we ready for Halloween or what?

Ahoy, Mateys!

Alpha got invited to a birthday party yesterday. It was for her friend, Ben, from school. He was in her class last year, but is not this year. It was a pirate birthday with a treasure hunt in the park! Fun Fun Fun! Alpha went and had a blast. Jim took her and had a blast as well because when he got there, the parents said, "Well, you can stay if you want......." So he came home. Everyone was happy. :)

Alpha was so excited to be going to a pirate birthday party that when she got home from school on Friday, she immediately went to her room and made a pirate shirt, skirt, a sword, and a map.

Following are pictures of these things:

Her shirt has a skull and crossbones on it. I know. Jim told me I owed him one because he had to take her to Walmart to get a present looking like this. I smirked so he said maybe we were just even.






You might be wondering what the letters mean. Well, she dug in her scrapbooking stuff (sorry, Robin!) and pulled out the letters B, E, and N. She then put the B's on her shirt, and the E's and N's on her skirt to spell out "Ben". I hope he was flattered.




Here is her sword (on the right) and map. Jim said her outfit was quite the hit. She will forever be remembered as "that girl who dressed up at your 7th birthday party".

Thanks, Robin!

I got an award! My SIL, Robin, gave me a "Kick-ass Blogger" award! Thanks, Robin! You can go read what she said about me on her site. That's so sweet of her. (Especially since she's been sick and recovering from major surgery the past week. Who's had time to think of blogging?)

You know, I don't usually use words like "kick-ass". I guess since it's in quotes that means I really didn't cuss, right? My favorite use of the phrase "kick-ass" was when my friend Amy, from college, was moving to Dallas after graduation. She was explaining why she and her husband had picked a certain church and she said it was because they had a "kick-ass choir". I had never heard "church" and "kick-ass" used in the same sentence before. But I knew what she meant. :)

When Daddy plays World of Warcraft

We can play, too!

I should blog about something.

Hmmm. It's been nearly a week since I blogged. So I should update. What do I say, though? Nothing has really happened that is blog-worthy.

Let's see, this weekend we went down to LR and got to see Collin, Jim's brother. He is home from Iraq for 2 weeks! Yay! It was so good to see him. I hope Jim gets to go down and see him again before he has to go back.

We visited Robin in the hospital. She was still there yesterday, but hopefully got to come home today. She was doing really well, as far as I could tell.

Yesterday, the girls and I went shopping with Jennifer. We all had a blast! Both girls got some new outfits and new shoes.

I have a medical condition which is painful, and shouldn't be discussed on the blog. (Email me if you want details... Just kidding!) I'm starting my 2nd round of antibiotics for it. Ugh.

I am now an official WOW-nerd. When I saw John McCain's pick for his VP, Sara Palin, my mind immediately made it say Sara "Paladin". This is sad, people. I'm hooked on this @#$% game, as Holly would say. :) (A paladin is a type of character in World of Warcraft.)

Hope you all enjoy this shortened week!