Crazy Stroller Lady

So there's this lady that walks every afternoon, pushing this ginormous double stroller, to pick up her child from school. There are no sidewalks, so she risks life and limb darting out of the way of on coming traffic. Doesn't she realize that it's 80 degrees and 80% humidity? Why woulde she do that instead of driving in a nice air conditioned vehicle? She has to be crazy!

Well. I'm the crazy stroller lady, and that is the look I get from most of the people wizzing by in their air conditioned gas guzzlers. Walking seems to be a dying art. It seems like people will only walk if their car broke down and then only to the nearest pay phone to locate another ride. What am I talking about? Who doesn't have a cell phone? They only walk from the car to the door. Then they buy gym memberships to work off the extra pounds. Does that make sense?

So. Why does North Carolina not believe in sidewalks for the most part? I live less than a mile away from Joe's school, and yet there is only about 50 feet of sidewalk (in my development). I'm guessing it has to do with the town growing faster than it's comfortable with. You definitely get the feeling that these old homes in between my house and school are used to being out in the country, not in the middle of a rapidly growing city. It still doesn't make me less frustrated.

But, the crazy stroller lady will keep on walking!

My little model (okay not really!)

Emily put on an outfit yesterday and wanted to pose for me, so I took pictures. She is so fun, she just makes me laugh. The best word I can think to describe her is vivacious. I'll ask you to indulge me in posting about fifty pictures that I took yesterday.

Live Barefoot!

There's a great new website that helps you compile and/or complete your "Things to do before I die" list. It is great! It has a place for you to get your list together, then you can post dates for completion and check it off when it is done. You can post pictures or write an entry about it when your done. You can also look at other people's entries to see how things went for them or if they have any hints or advice. It's a great way to link up with people who have the same goals as you and it also in the future will have vendor specials for everything from hotel deals to airfare prices. Go check it out. And join! It'll be awesome!

www.barefootlist.com

First Day of School

My cute baby has his first day of school today! He was so excited and so cute. Matt said that the whole way down the hall he was just strutting along like he belonged there (and I guess he does!). This morning, while he was eating his breakfast, he said, "I thought I would be nervous for school, but I'm just excited." Hopefully that carries! I can't believe he's in school! It's so quiet here with just us girls!

My cute Mary

Mary is getting so cute! It's fun to watch her go from the baby stage to the toddler stage. I had some other cute pictures that I wanted to add (see previous post!!!) but maybe I'll try again later.

Stupid Internet!!

So, I have had the hardest time uploading pictures since we moved. We have the same isp, but I guess we just share our bandwidth (is that what it's called) with too many people. Almost every time I try to upload a picture, it either takes 10 minutes or it takes 10 minutes and then my internet flips out and times out without uploading the picture. Maybe I just need to be more computer savvy. So, that is the reason for not having more exciting posts lately. I suppose at some point we will just have to upgrade. Rrrrr!

A Different Kind of "To Do" List

I was talking to my mom yesterday afternoon and she asked what I had been doing during the day. I drew a blank. Had I accomplished anything at all? I hadn't cleaned anything. I hadn't folded the laundry. I hadn't run errands. I hadn't paid any bills. I hadn't exercised. I hadn't even worked on my writing. After thinking over it a little longer, I was finally able to account for how the time had been spent. I had read at least seven stories to the kids. I had colored for ten minutes with Joe. I had sung five or so songs with the kids. I had changed four diapers, celebrated three successful potty trips, and cleaned up after breakfast. I had prayed three times with the kids and once by myself. We had lunch and we watched a little of the Olympics. My immediate response was "Well, those aren't really a part of the 'to do' list that is as of yet untouched." That response was closely followed by another. Maybe my list needs an adjustment. Not just my list but my perspective. It's hard to feel like your accomplishing things when the results aren't concrete. Maybe it's partly because some of the things that take up our time come as naturally as breathing. But, natural or not, they are important and should be given just as much weight as those ultra concrete items on my current list.

So, in an effort to change my attitude, and appreciate the way I spend time (and more importantly, feel justified in the use of time) here is my new Daily "To Do" List. I hope one day I will honestly see all of these things as a valid part of the list and not a wonderful bonus.

1. Take care of my family's physical needs (unavoidable).
2. Make my children smile seven times.
3. Make them laugh out loud five times.
4 Read ten stories with them.
5. Admire the projects that Joe puts together. Truly admire them - which requires that I stop for a moment and really look.
6. Help Mary learn to negotiate the stairs.
7. Let Emily and Joe help me cook. It takes ten times as long, but they love it.
8. Build a block tower without looking at the clock every two minutes.
9. Play tag and hide-and-go-seek.
10.Hug each child ten times.

I would love it if you would share your lists with me too!

Dressing Up

All of the kids love dressing up. Here are a few pictures displaying their fashoin sense.