One Down, Two To Go

How is it already June 30?

I remember thinking at the end of May that I wanted to do all these fun daily activities with the boys this summer like painting and practicing our kindergarten readiness skills.

Instead, we've spent alot of time in our pajamas watching tv or reading books from the library or swimming at our neighborhood pool with a couple of mini trips thrown in between. We definitely have our own definition of lazy days of summer.

I suppose everything else can wait.

Just For the Record

Since this blog is in many ways a tangible record of my boys' childhood, I wanted to be sure and include this entry. These pictures (taken by Fletcher) really capture how Luke felt about The Biltmore Estate. We were waiting for our turn on the shuttle bus which would take us back to our car.


No to the stroller. No to the shoes.

No to mommy holding me. (Note the tension in my neck and jawline).

No to the camera.

Not every day is a home run, right? Is this a sneak peek at "two"?

Gatlinburg Pics

For some reason we didn't get a picture of the entire family group. I think our camera was already in the car. So I'm hoping someone else will email me the large group photo so I can add it to the slideshow (hint, hint).

Yay! We now have a group picture!

Throwback Thursday (Sort of)

Here's a little history lesson for you:

Even before there was MTV, VH1, or BET there was a little show called Friday Night Videos. Way back in 1983, I remember staying up late watching it hoping that they would show the music video of some of my favorite songs and artists - Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Duran Duran, Chicago, Kenny Loggins. I had such great taste in music.

This quote was from the first telecast: "Many of our viewers aren't familiar with music videos, so we're going to begin our first show with one of the best."

Any guesses?

Michael Jackson's Billie Jean

My generation - the children of the 80's - were able to witness the dawn of a new era. Great song + finely crafted music video = musical perfection. Big hair bands. Low budget. Teenage angst. Lots of smoke and billowy curtains. It was an art form like no other.

Much to my delight, there are now "literal videos" on youtube from all of those great 80's songs and their corresponding cheesy videos. I can't even begin to explain how much joy they bring to me.

Here's a little sample for your viewing pleasure. You can thank me later.

A Little Bit of Gatlinburg

When we were in Gatlinburg we headed to a place called Chimneys on Saturday for a little picnic near the water with Kevin's family (his mom's side). The place was so pretty and right near the water. The freezing cold water. Fletcher and Kevin got in about knee deep. Anna, Fletcher's 9 year old cousin actually went under the water several times. I thought we might have to treat her for hypothermia. You can see Luke's reaction to the water in the video. I didn't know he was that flexible!

Fletcher's souvenir was a double barrel shotgun courtesy of dad. We are amassing quite the collection of weaponry. Hmmm! What is a mom of boys to do?

Pool Boy

I just don't know what I will do if this kid gets any cuter!

This week is VBS at our church. It just might kick my gluteus maximus. I'm a preschool "crew leader" which just means I have to make sure eleven 4 & 5 year olds get to where they need to be in a two hour period. Harder than it sounds, but the kids are cute and fun and most importantly they are learning about a God who loves them and is always with them.

Road Trip!!

We returned Sunday evening from our little road trip to Gatlinburg and then back through Asheville with a stop at the Biltmore Estate.

Too tired to upload pics tonight. More to come later this week.

Note to self: Taking a toddler to the Biltmore is generally a bad idea even if kids get in free and dads get in free on Father's Day and the only ticket we had to buy was mine. Still a bad idea.

Judge Not

Many of you know that in August of last year I really started actively trying to cut down on our grocery bill using menus, coupons, etc. We've done ok, but I've "fallen off the wagon" recently. There are great deals out there, but it does take time to find them and then go to the store (or several stores) and get them. Around these parts, some people are known as "hoarders". They have multiple coupons for an item and when the item is on sale or if the store is having triple coupons, these hoarders go in and clean the shelf of every single item the store has. So when another couponer comes along just to buy one or two of that same item, there are no more. Some hoarders say they give stuff away to food banks and other non-profits which is awesome. However, I'm not so sure about some others.

What you are about to see here is real. However, these photos are NOT mine. This is NOT my pantry, basement or any other part of my house. I saw this on a a coupon forum where people were posting pictures of their stockpiles. This person acquired all of these things using coupons and store deals since Sept 08 (less than a year). I do not know how many people are in her family.

This one is the most amazing of all. (in case you can't tell, those are all boxes of cereal)The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Jump Rope

I liked to jump rope when I was a kid. Wait. Is jump rope a verb? Or a noun?

Because of rise in obesity stats among young people, jump rope is making a comeback. There are Jump-A-Thons to raise money for stuff. Jump Rope classes.

But this video takes the cake. I can't find a single overweight kid in the bunch. (Or a boy for that matter). These girls are super talented.

Even if you don't have time to watch the whole thing, be sure to make it to the 1:47 mark because it just looks cool.

Fletch Man

Grandma got some great action shots of Fletcher at his Tball practice and then again at his game.

Throwing.
Base relays.

Making a play at first base or at least looking like he might attempt to make a play.

Ready position.

Acting silly.

Connecting with the ball.

Power hitter.

TV Update: We are back in business! I found a 32" JVC television on craigslist. It was an older couple who had finally upgraded to a flat screen and just wanted to get rid of their old "tube" one. Turned out they live less than two miles from our house so Kevin went over and picked it up Monday night. Works great. The best part? It was only $ 40. Now that is a deal!

Lukey Boy

Here are more pics from our visit with Grandma and Papa Charlie.

There's a bakery here in town that makes these yummy cupcakes with "Carolina Blue" frosting. Luke has never met a cupcake he didn't like.

This is much easier than using a fork!

Practicing good tricycle safety. Right concept, wrong helmet.

Hanging out with Papa Charlie.

He is really into big machines these days. This one was at the playground at Fletcher's school. He likes pointing out all of the different ones he knows as we drive too. He knows school bus, cement truck, crane, roller, firetruck, excavator, bulldozer, bobcat (Skid steer loader) and tractor to name a few.

Is The Pope Catholic?

Grandma and Papa Charlie sent us some fun pictures from their visit a few weeks back. We went to an Italian restaurant to celebrate Fletcher's graduation. They gave each of the boys a chef's hat to commemorate the event. Fletcher's hat said "I graduated today" and Luke's said "My brother graduated today." The only problem is that we couldn't get them to stay round so they kinda reminded us of the hat that the pope wears. This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Please note the socks with the Crocs. My boy knows fashion.

Fletcher is also showing off his medal he received at graduation which he proudly wore to the restaurant. Luke is showing off his tan and his six pack abs.

Happy Blogiversary To Me!

Exactly one year ago today I started this blog. It is hard to believe it has been a year! There have been 270 posts counting this one. The creating process has been fun.

I'm not sure what one does to celebrate a blogiversary.

Any ideas?

I suppose some thank yous are in order.

Thank you to all of my loyal readers (all three of you).

Thank you to my boys and my husband who allow me to tell the story of our little family online. I am sure Fletcher and Luke will be thrilled about this little venture once they get to middle school.

I think I'll publish some of my favorite blog posts of the past year next week. Vote for your favorite.

Also, I may work on changing the look of Snickelfritz Lane. My brother informed me that the little birdie is the same one that Twitter uses. I want something more unique than that.

So from all of us at Snickelfritz Lane to all of you. Thanks for doing life with us!

Throwback Thursday

The date: Fall 1996

The place: Kevin's first apartment in Houston

The mood: We've had a tragedy of sorts in our home. See the gigantic, mammoth black entertainment center in the picture? See the television inside it? Kevin had that television before he moved to Houston. Before he met me. Before we got married. So doing the math, that television is about 15 years old. Or should I say "was about 15 years old." It died yesterday peacefully in its sleep mode. I tried to turn it on and it just wouldn't wake up.

(Side note: try explaining this to a 5 year old and a 21 month old eagerly waiting to watch Curious George)

Kevin came home, checked the wires and confirmed that it was gone. He carried it out to the garage after the kids went to bed.

I realize the whole flat screen, plasma, televisions bigger than your wall are popular right now. But frankly, we watch so little television (remember we are down to basic cable anyway) that spending lots of money on a television was not a priority for us.

For now, we put the television from our room in the armoire. We don't hold out much hope for it either. I had it when I was in college which makes it at least 20 years old. Here's a photo of our new set up. If you squint really hard, you can see the tv.

When I was a kid we got in trouble for sitting too close to the tv. My mom would say we would go blind or something like that. I suppose in this case I can't really fuss at the boys if they sit too close. I think we all may have to.

An Open Letter

Dear Retail Store Owners and Managers,

I realize as Americans too many of us have a bad habit of making impulse purchases. That's why you strategically place non-essential items like candy, chocolate, mini Sharpies and mini Etch-A-Sketch toys by the register in hopes that a hurried mommy will just say, "Ok, yes, you can have that."

I get it.

However, let me introduce you to my 21 month old son whom I will refer to as Octopus Toddler or OT for reasons which will soon become obvious. He thinks all of those things are for his personal enjoyment while I attempt to check out. It doesn't help matters that his older brother also thinks that in order to experience life to the fullest he too must pick up said items.

Yes, Mr. Store Manager at Michaels I was trying to buy several large picture frames with two children in tow. Yes, your shopping carts are the exact same size as the Little Tykes play cart at home. Which is perfect if one is buying a few stickers or perhaps a bottle of glue. However, it is rather difficult to balance a 16 X20 frame while pushing a cart containing OT. Especially when all of the safety belts on every single cart are broken. So please do not give me "that look" when OT proceeds to knock over the entire box of glitter bouncy balls strategically placed at the check out counter causing them to roll and bounce in a hundred different directions. You are probably still trying to find all of them. I hope the elderly woman looking for a crochet needle and yarn didn't break her hip when she fell on one. Kudos to you for at least taking pity on me and helping me out to the car with my frames.

And Mrs. Pier 1 Imports Manager, I won't even begin to ask you why you have a box of bouncy balls right next to the glass vases, ceramic platters and lamps. OT has no aim but he has tons of enthusiasm when he hurls that ball before mommy can pry it out of his little fingers.

Thank you for letting me vent,
A frazzled mommy

So I Guess You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

Sadie is our nine year old beagle. She was here B.C. (before children). I grew up with dogs, but they were always outside dogs. Never allowed in the house.

After we'd been married a few years (and in the midst of infertility stuff) I told Kevin I thought it would be ok to get a dog. He says it was all my idea. He had a beagle growing up named Fancy. From what little research I did, I learned that beagles were good with children, generally had a good disposition and didn't grow very large. I mistakenly thought that they really wouldn't shed that much because they are short haired dogs. Boy was I wrong about that! She sheds a TON! (I'll have to post a video of our new Furminator hair brush we got for her - really works great.)


Sadie started her life with us sleeping in a crate at night. But then we moved to Tallahassee into an apartment. An apartment with paper thin walls and college students who were up all hours of the night and slept late in the morning. She would start whining at 4 am. I was afraid the college neighbors would hear her and further punish us by playing music even longer and louder than they already did. Ipods weren't popular just yet. So one of us who will remain nameless started letting her get into the bed with us at 4 am just so she would be quiet and we could sleep a few more hours.

Did you know dogs have no concept of time? Midnight is the same as 4 am which is the same as 7 pm to them. So as you can imagine, 4 am became 1 am which became 9 pm and a bad habit was born.

For almost 8 years Sadie has been sleeping in the bed with us (gasp!). Dog hair in the sheets. Paws in the face at midnight - her way of telling us to lift the covers so she can burrow down to the bottom of the bed. Sharing pillows. I tolerated it because I can't stand being awakened in early morning when it is not time to get up. Kevin liked it mostly because her middle of the night movements didn't wake him up. And she's like a mini-heater on cold nights in the winter. I can honestly say that I never thought in a million years that I would have a dog sleeping in the bed with me. Kids in the bed? No way. Dogs? Sure. What is wrong with that picture??

But all that changed when she decided to pee in the bed a few months ago. There are few things worse than getting into bed at 10 pm worn out from a busy day only to stick ones feet in a cold wet puddle under the down comforter. On my side of the bed. Strip the bed, wash everything, sleep upstairs. We'll call this an "accident" since she is getting older. I buy something called Nature's Miracle at the pet store to spray on the bed to get rid of the smell. Two weeks later? Same song, second verse. Again on my side.

Kevin said, "That's it. No more." And he was serious. It took a few nights of her sleeping in the garage in her crate howling all night long. Then she came back in the room in a new, fancy dog bed but anytime she whined, she got sent back to the garage. The proverbial light bulb finally went off and now she sleeps in her bed.

I haven't slept this good in 8 years!

Now if I can figure out a way to keep her off the sofa...

Arrgh!

Worse Than Middle School Girls

Who knew a garden could cause so much drama in my life.

Now our tomatoes have blight.

I didn't know tomatoes could get blight or what is was for that matter. Thank you Google.

I bought something called Organicide which is just what you think it is. An organic fungicide that is supposed to be ok for plants without spraying toxic chemicals on them.

I bought it because that is the only thing Lowe's had that seemed to be organic. Out of curiousity, I googled its name to see if others had used it with any success.

After clicking on a few websites including some "gardening" forums, I realized that Organicide is apparently very effective if one is having difficulty with his cannabis sativa plants.

Kevin will tell you that I am very naive about some things. And if you have to look up cannabis sativa then I don't feel so bad.

I also find it highly ironic that the first issue of my free subscription to Organic Gardening arrived yesterday in the mail. Grrrrrrrr!

Throwback Thursday

The date: March 1994 (according to the camera date stamped on the picture)
The place: Hilton Head, SC
The mood: Let's all join in on the chorus of "We Are Family". These are Kevin's parents, his sister Stacie, his brother-in-law Gavin and Kevin. They used to live in Hilton Head for a few years when Stacie and Kevin were younger so Hilton Head was always a favorite vacation destination. Gavin and Stacie would have been newlyweds or probably engaged assuming the date is correct on the camera. For the record, I asked Kevin and he couldn't remember many details about this picture or this trip other than the fact that it was taken at Hilton Head.

May have something to do with what he's holding in his hand. Just sayin'...

P.S. I think Papa Charlie may still own that pink hat. :-)

Name That Bible Verse

Breakfast. Tuesday morning.
Background info: Kevin's been reading the Bible all the way through this year using the Message paraphrase.

Kevin: Fletcher, I want to read a really cool verse to you that I was reading this morning.
Fletcher: Ok, Dad.
Kevin: I'm on page 1488 in the book of Lamentations.
Fletcher (with tons of enthusiasm): I LOVE that verse!! It is great! Thanks, Dad!

Stand By Me

Just in case you haven't seen this. . .
While I'm not sure his theology is spot on, I'd like to think that heaven might be a little like this someday with every tribe, every tongue, every nation singing. Probably not this song, but you know what I mean. :-)

The first video explains the project and the second video is the finished project.

Proud Moment

TBall season ended Saturday with a pool and pizza party. Everyone got a trophy. It has his name on it and the year. You would have thought the coach gave Fletcher a million dollars. This was his very first trophy and he was so proud. Can you tell?





Here's his team.