Ding Ding Ding!

We have our winners!

Laura- you've won the s'mores basket!

and

Kathi- you've won the outdoor fun basket!

Yay! Thanks for reading and entering and stuff!!


P.S. Laura- I will bring yours to church and Kathi- I can bring yours to GP or I can take it to Erica's :)

Summer Giveaway!

As promised I am doing a giveaway in honor of 700 posts and because school is out in like, 4 days. Amen! I had all these grand plans for one of the baskets and life is just too busy to craft. Heck, I can barely find time to bathe... Anyway. Enter by leaving a comment indicating which basket you want. I'll devise a way to choose a winner and let you know via email if you've won. I'm starting the giveaway now and ending it whenever I darn well please. Or in other words- whenever I, A) remember and B) have time. I have two baskets to gift. One is a daytime fun basket- sidewalk chalk, water guns, water balloons, bubbles, and freezer pops. The other is a s'mores basket- s'mores forks, hershey bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers. If you want to enter both let me know or if you only want to try your luck at one please indicate. Ready. Set. Enter.

outdoor/daytime fun basket


s'mores basket

Are we in hell and somebody forgot to tell me?

Holy Freaking Cow- it's so hot I am about to die. I am sweating in places no decent lady should sweat from...Seriously I was born and raised in Texas and swore I would never leave, but lately I find myself dreaming about moving to a cooler place. I have never liked the heat much, as long as I can be near swimming pools and cold drinks- but this year is the worst Summer I think I have ever experienced. I am a heat stroke/sun poisoning kind of girl. Meaning if I don't have the above mentioned swimming pool-cold drink combo I can't be outdoors. And forget about me not having A/C, not gonna happen. Can't happen. I am sure the fact that I am a human oven making a cute little bun right now is making matters worse. Put it this way- Summer in Texas is not at all pleasant. It doesn't bother Jon a bit, which I can't understand. He can't stand the cold and shivers when it's below 78 in the house... whatever dude. On a day I do leave the house before dusk I apply deodorant 2 to 3 times and stand in front of two fans just to cool down from getting ready, which is nuts because I keep our thermostat at 74. Blow drying my hair is AWFUL, like I feel like I need a shower afterwards. The minute I step into my clothes- here comes more sweat and getting in the car is like stepping into an oven. Last week the temp in my car was 110 at 11 o'clock in the morning!! We don't swim in our pool- the water is a warm 95 degrees most days. I feel like I am cheating my kids out of their Summer- because of my intolerance to oven like temps. Normally we do Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor at least once with several movie trips thrown in and other miscellaneous stuff here and there. But, this year we have done 1 movie, 1 trip to the Art Barn, and 2 pool parties. Wow! Thank goodness Chandler stays occupied with his friends and the other 3 hit the BMX track with Jon or they would literally rarely ever leave or have any fun. Thank goodness for books, board games, and the ever so important internet and TV. And to top it all off- I have spent a small fortune on icees, slurpees, ice cream, and bottled water. I really wish I was a wealthy woman- we would spend Summers somewhere gorgeous and tropical where the temps don't go above 85 and winters somewhere white and beautiful. Then we would hop in our private jet and visit friends and family in Texas whenever we pleased. Sounds fun right? Now, I am off to daydream about cooler climates while I sip some frosty goodness under two fans and I am gonna pretend the weather dude was joking when he said it won't go below 100 all week long....

on my mind...

My poor neglected blog. I really really want to post more but I can't. I even have pictures I could put on here. But I'm LAZY! I attempted to change my header and background today but I chickened out. I kid myself that lots of people read this and care if I post or not and for the handful of you that do- I am sooo sorry. I am gonna get it together eventually....

My head hurts so bad right now I feel like it's going to explode. Pretty much all I can take is Tylenol and it does nothing for me. I think I would feel worlds better if Chloe would stop being a turd and yelling at me and bouncing a ball and if Chandler would stop playing his guitar. Help me...

I wish someone could get Jon to understand a pregnant woman's need to nest. He just will not get busy and work on the Honey Do list I gave him. We have so much to do before I feel like my nest is properly feathered and I am getting zero cooperation. If anyone has a husband to spare- send him over. Our poor house is in such disarray and I am going to lose my mind if we don't get the ball rolling soon. Which might explain the headache. Hmmm...

Is it hot enough for ya? OMG- I feel like I may melt multiple times a day. It is SO BAD! I have lived in Texas my whole life and have been very pregnant through two other summers and never ever remember it being this bad. Remember when I said I was gonna live in my pool? Well, I lied. I have been swimming a whopping two times. It is just not worth it and the water is like a bathtub it is so warm. Really my favorite thing to do is be lazy in the A/C. I feel sorry for my kids, I know they are so bored and I feel really guilty. I am gonna take them somewhere fun this week as long as it involves cold beverages and air conditioning. Any ideas?

Tomorrow I am gonna splurge and get a 3D ultrasound. Yes, I know I just had one but not 3D! I am sooo excited. I am taking Jon and all the kids and I know they will be fascinated and surprised. I wanted one so bad with Hayden and they were fairly new and super expensive, so I figured I would splurge on one. Thanks for the coupon Shawna!

And, last but not least: I am currently obsessed with two items. One is a Hawaiian Punch Lemon Berry Icee. I got one at Target and I can't stop thinking about it. The other is the Sonic cherry lime-aid chiller. So Good. As a matter of fact, I may have to get one now since Sonic is still open...

It's Gettin' Hot in Here....

Oh man, we're melting... Our air went out this evening. Luckily we made it through the heat of the day before it decided to die. Jon and the boys went to the Fort Worth Stockyards to watch this and Chloe and I were gonna get Chinese and rent a movie. Not long after the boys left I noticed the house was kinda warm. Normally I keep the thermostat at 74 and Jon likes it at 76. Well, I am pregnant and ALWAYS hot so I win. When I went to check things out I noticed it was 76 in the house, I instantly start accusing Jon (under my breath of course) of trying to burn me up. I adjust it to 74 and go about my evening. After 30 minutes it was still hot. So, I go outside and the compressor is silent. Not good. The temperature in our house starts to rise by one degree every 15 minutes. Pretty soon it's at 82 and I start to cry. What? I am a baby and I admit it. I can do without cable, the internet, and even my cell phone. But, take away my air conditioning and I go downhill- quick. Luckily I remember we own a decent sized room a/c unit that my father in law had borrowed when his air went out. So, I call Jon and relate the bad news- pretty soon my doorbell is ringing and it's my fairy god father in law with our air conditioner. Chloe and I went about our evening as planned. We splurged and got PF Changs to go and let me tell ya the air in my van was heavenly. I almost considered sleeping in there... We drank our weight in ice water, sponged ourselves with wet wash cloths and dipped our feet in the pool. I even took a cold bath WITH a fan on me the entire time. Now, we are trying to get comfy and it ain't easy. It's 3 in the morning and no one is asleep, we're just too hot. Even with the portable a/c. Chandler opted to stay with a friend and we have the other three kiddos and the cat hunkered down on air mattresses and pallets in our room. We currently have 2 oscillating fans, the ceiling fan and the a/c running. We're down to a balmy 80 degrees. Cross your fingers the repairman shows up and that it's an affordable fix.

Hello and Goodbye!

We made it through another school year! And, boy am I ever glad. I am so not that mom who loves when her kids are in school. The more they are with me the better. Well, as long as they are behaving. I've been home with them for almost 8 years and I definitely love Summer Break! This one will be especially bittersweet for me. In just three short months Chandler will be a SENIOR, Hunter will be in 8th, Chloe will be in 7th, and Hayden will be a 2nd grader!! And, 2 weeks after school starts I will be due to have this baby. Seriously it seems like yesterday that they were running in and out, dragging kids over to eat all of our popsicles, and leaving the sprinkler on forever while they made mud pies. I can't believe they are such big kids already. Their childhood is flying by way too fast. This year I am going to enjoy every lazy moment with them since they will soon be sharing their mom with another family member. It's not that we're not excited about the baby, we sooo are! It's that for so many years it's been the 6 of us. Life with a baby is gonna be interesting, chaotic, blessed, fun, lovely, scary- you name it! Plus, in all honesty- I am not sure they get what's coming.... Anyway, I made a list of things I love about Summer and things I won't miss at all!

Hello

lounging by the pool
sleeping past 6:30
watermelon for breakfast
ice cream for dinner
moonlit swims
cooking and eating on the patio
coconut scented sunscreen
sundresses
pedicures and pretty sandals
having my babies home with me


Goodbye

homework
uniforms
making sack lunches
getting up early
car pool
PTA meetings
school lunches (Chan's worst nightmare)
TAKS tests
being home alone
constantly being on a schedule and in a rush

More things I've learned today...

After 17 years of being a mom, it finally hit me like a ton of bricks: my children really can't clean their rooms very well, they can lose things like shoes rather easily, they will watch you looking for their shoes as if they were at the movies, and they don't listen EVER! Oh, and my "favorite", they truly can't do much without me. Neither can the man I married...

I have been married to Jon for 13 years and he can't find things AT ALL either, he doesn't listen worth squat, and the most annoying: the manner in which he puts things in the refrigerator. Case in point, last night we had burgers and hot dogs for dinner. He oh so sweetly helped me put things away and this morning when I opened the fridge it looked like an explosion had gone off. Condiments wherever they would fit (instead of the door where I thought most people kept condiments), the cheese slices sitting on a plate of leftovers, a baggie of lettuce sitting on a pitcher of juice... I mean, aren't those nifty little drawers there for a reason? Really this made getting lunches packed a nightmare! I should have insisted that the kids only had one option for lunches, the lunch line. Who was I to ever allow them to bring a homemade lunch?

Whew! Put it this way- this morning was emotionally and physically exhausting! I was pulled in more directions than I even knew possible. I even got everyone up early and Chloe still missed her bus, for the 2nd time this week and it's only Tuesday!! If my family would only listen to me they would realize how much smoother things would be if we all worked together. To say I am ready for this school year to be over would be putting it mildly. I am tired of packing lunches, school uniforms, getting up early, getting yelled at by pubescent little turds, etc etc. I am sooo ready to sleep in every day. I long for the lazy days of Summer: ice cream, swimming, sundresses, naps, cookouts, and watermelon just to name a few. Breath Ashley. There are only 49 days of school left.

Bike Ride!

Back when we lived in Arlington we used to go to Cravens Park and ride the bike trails. We would go about three times a week during the Summer. We have had some fun times on those trails, even out running more than one thunderstorm. The trails weave through the whole park and are about 3 miles long. So, for nostalgic purposes (and nothing else to do) we loaded the bikes in the truck and headed to Cravens. Way back when it took us about a month to build up to riding the whole trail, today we did it in about 2 hours. We took lots of breaks and lots of pictures. Plus, some of us are more out of shape than others... Anyway, we had a blast. By the time we were finished, we all felt like we were gonna croak. So, we went to Buck n Loons for cold drinks and greasy food. Not so good after you have ridden bikes for 6 miles in the Texas sun... We are home now, and we are exhausted!

me and the Chlo-meister


Mommy and Chloe


the kiddos


taking a break


sweaty Jon


family portrait


another family portrait


Hunter


Jon


Hayden

Just so I could do a new post...

My card reader is broke, so no pics!

My house is being overrun with ants! Eeek!

It's hot, hot, hot!

The power went out when I was at Target today. Too many people cranking their AC's. If my power goes out, I am coming to YOUR house. Have snacks.

Chandler is gonna play varsity football this year! YAY!

I am seriously thinking of getting a kitten. My biological clock is ticking... which explains 2 dogs and 3 fish in 6 months. Now I need a kitten.

I really need to start school shopping, but I don't wanna.

We are fixing to teach Chan to drive. You have been warned. We are looking for a Jeep Wrangler. Because I want to drive it too.

I got thrown under the bus....

How come I can't find the new issue of People magazine anywhere? I need to see those Jolie-Pitt babies, asap.

August should not be allowed to be this busy and this hot.

Jon and I actually got to go on a date. Yeehaw! We had PF Changs, I looked like a babe, and we had a nice time. Thanks Kelli! We need to go on dates more often. (p.s. if you go to PFC- don't order the tuna, it was yuck!)

I have been craving ice cream like nobody's business. MUST. STOP. NOW.

I need a new header. The lemonade pink and yellow ain't doing it for me anymore.

I can't wait til Kelli and Amy have their babies. I am getting anxious!

Happy Birthday Jesse! Speaking of birthdays, I have been scolded by Chloe for not doing her birthday blog post. Be on the lookout, she has me on a deadline. I am sorry Chloe, I love you!

Well, that's all folks. Check back soon, hopefully I will have SOMETHING to blog about?!

A Medieval Good Time

Every Summer we try and do one fun family activity every week. It can be cheap or pricey, depending on our pocketbook. Tomorrow we are due to receive our government stimulus check, so we splurged on a trip to Medieval Times. Our whole family has been before, except for Hayden and Chloe. We had such a good time. I highly recommend it, especially if you're kids are older. The Torture Museum that is inside there was cool. If you are super hungry, the food is pretty good. You get: vegetable soup, garlic bread, roasted chicken, a barbecue rib, roasted potato, an apple turnover, and Pepsi. You can't be shy about eating with your fingers, and salt and pepper are a must. Hayden did better than I thought with the roasted chicken. Chloe however, did not. She requested gravy. They don't have forks, did she really think they had gravy? I took several photos before hand, and some of the "knights" and horses. Then, I started to eat greasy food with my bare hands. I didn't really want that funk on our camera. And, worth noting: we saw not one but two people we knew there. First we saw Kristal, she used to be Chloe's gymnastics coach when she was 5. Then we saw a guy named Jason Egbert, who is a pro BMX-er. Funny thing was, he worked there as a pooper scooper for the horses? Needless to say, I am glad the boys have fun racing but am not sure it's quite as lucrative as we were hoping.

Chloe, Hunter, and Hayden waiting for the show to start

Chan watching the pre-show

me, Bertha, and Miss Chloe

me and Mister Hayden

Chloe and Hayden sword fighting

me, Bertha, Martha, and the Chan-man

the fam

Jon being abused

our yellow Knight

The Royal Court

Hunter, letting one rip (a fart that is)

Me, realizing Hunter farted


P.S. After seeing my "large bosoms" in these photos I have affectionately named them Bertha and Martha. They really do take up alot of camera space...

BMX weekend

This weekend we headed to Leander to watch the boys race. First we visited Amy and Jesse long enough to eat some good Mexican food, chit chat, sleep, and ogle Amy's baby bump. Oh yeah, I was also molested by their dog Jack. He pretty much stared me down, put his paws on my breasts, and licked me... in my mouth. Dude, he moves faster than I am used to. Anyway, after about 12 hours at their house we headed to the track. Where we sweated, complained, watched the races, and had burgers for breakfast. It was alot of fun. But, so hot and dusty. We were coated in grime. I pretty much stayed under the awning and drank cold drinks. I would haul up out of my seat long enough to watch my family race and then I would head back to the shade. We had fun, it just went by so fast. Except the drive home. We were starving and for some reason couldn't agree on a place to eat until we were 10 minutes from home. Then we had old reliable: Chili's. Oh boy! And, even after about 5 applications of sunscreen we are all burnt to a crisp. Made for a fun Monday let me tell you... here are a few photos of our family, minus Jon and minus trophy shots. Hunter placed 4th and Hayden placed 3rd. They are trying to earn points to qualify to race in the ROC (Race of Champions) at Grands in November.

P.S. Also missing is Chan who opted to stay with a friend. I may have to have a photo shoot of just him...

Hunter looking annoyed and hot

Hunter

Chloe and my foot. Doesn't she looked thrilled?

Me and Justin, our repair man and roadie

Chloe, pretty girl!

Hayden in a wife beater!

Can I smack him now? So cute!

Hayden

Chloe

It's Coming...

Summer that is! I absolutely cannot wait for the warm weather to arrive! We have been anxiously checking the pool temperature each day to see if it's ready. Right now it's at 69, and we know what that means... 15 more degrees and I'll get in! I actually got in last year when it was 64, but I am not that brave this year. Anyway, you know I've got to do a list. It's been like a whole week since the last one. I've got people who read this everyday and want a fresh post. So, here are my favorite things about Summer:

1. Fresh Summer fruit with dinner each night. Watermelon, pineapple, honey dew, and strawberries, yum!
2. Swimming
3. The smell of coconut scented sunscreen
4. Sleeping in
5. Popsicles, freezer pops, and ice cream
6. Pedicures and flip-flops
7. Sundresses and sandals
8. Cooking out and eating on the patio
9. Moonlit swimming with the kids
10. Air-conditioning (world's greatest invention!)
11. No homework!!!
12. Not having to look for matching socks
13. Hot dogs
14. Freshly mowed grass
15. Taking the kids to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor
16. Evening bike rides with the family
17. 4th of July (we throw a kickin' party EVERY year with awesome fireworks)
18. Extra hands to help with housework
19. Bikinis, spray tan, and Sun In... (kidding!) and last but not least
20. Getting to spend so much time with my babies