Life's tough.

I used to say this to my kids whenever they did not get there way and proceeded to whine about. And it's true, okay so maybe a little harsh to have been telling my toddlers but, eh, I never proclaimed to be the mother that does everything right.

That being said I am having one of those moments. I want to whine darn it.

I spent the last week on a Medrol pack (think 6 day corticosteroid blast) trying to get rid of the hives that have plagued me and literally caused pretty much continuous pain for 4 weeks prior to that. I had 3 days of no pain at all, felt energetic and was back in a groove.

Pack ran out. Hives came back.

What the heck??? And this time they are on the bottom of my feet which made me almost completely unable to walk yesterday evening without crying they hurt so bad. While better today patch #2 has started on my stomach.

Life's tough. And so frustrating. Augh.

Enterprise Village

Ingenious. That's what I have to say about it. The kids are so excited about it and the lessons are awesome. How to apply for a job, how to earn money by completing your job, even how to use a check register. Okay a lot of people don't anymore but it's good to have a basic idea of how to keep track of your money. And they are asked to not only spend money but to donate money to the village cause and save money. Again, ingenious.

Tori was financial officer of Kane's furniture. She paid bills, wrote paychecks, made bank deposits and determined there costs for loan application and then the profit at the end of the day.

Artsy.

My girl, she is artsy. She is creative and pack ratty and crafty and colorful. And a social butterfly. So we celebrated that way.

We had stations and each station had an art theme. Abstract art, drawing art, photographic art and culinary art to be specific.

Now I would be completely lying if I did not admit that the photographic arts was my favorite. But with a huge selection of hats, headbands, masks, boas, and mustaches...I think I was not the only one! Huge shout out to Taylor who took the pics so I could make sure no paint ended up on my couch. She did an awesome job!!

And then they played Catchphrase, which is just fun. Think Taboo meets Hot Potato. Perfect for a gaggle of giggling girls!

So that is all the party pictures but I just wanted to throw in a thank you...to the amazing women that I am blessed with having in my life. My mom, well she rocks. She is all that a mom should be and a great friend. And she totally kept my house paint free and the girls loaded with fresh paint brushes and filled paint cups. Taylor, my sister from another mother (whom I also love - Hi Pam!) is amazing and such a good aunt. She comes to baseball games in sweltering heat, goes on trips to celebrate birthdays, and now we can add gives up her Sunday to become photographer extraordinaire to the list. And lastly to my "oldest" friend Jenni. Who has just been there, for so long now I've lost count. And lets me be Aunt LeShayne to her precious boy (soon to be boys!) and is just so darn good to my kids. Oh and did I mention she's talented? Below is the invitation to Tori's party she made (blurs are mine - sorry don't want my address and phone number on here!) AND she came and hung out all afternoon. Want your own awesome invitation - check her out on facebook at Firefly Invitations!

T-isms

After Brooker Creek talent show:
Me: Were those boys that sang forget you twins?
Tristan: No. They are in different grades, but if they were the same age they would be twins. Instead they are just identical.

Also after Brooker Creek talent show:
Me: That last kid was hilarious.
Todd: He may never live that down.
Me: Yeah he might get made of fun of for that one.
Todd: That's the kind of thing you can never live down and then one day you are making pipe bombs and carrying them to school and kids if you see that kid with a backpack RUN!
Me: Seriously? What is wrong with you?

Tori is having an art party for her birthday and I ordered these super cute berets for all of the girls instead of party hats or crowns or whatever...so they came today. They are primary colors and the one on top was green so I show Tristan how you wear them and he says "Um, mom you look like a pickle."

Tori said nothing funny but she texted me....shudder, shes so ooooold...."I'm safe mom. Ms. Jenn did not forget me." Good to know child, good to know.

Universal

The Brooker Creek "Show Choir" performed at Universal Studios this past Saturday and it was quite the production. They sang songs from across the decades in a performance called Destination Rock...live on the Universal City Walk Stage. It was a big deal for them. And it was fantastic to see people stop and watch.

Various students had speaking parts giving a history of Rock N' Roll - from Motown to as Tori's part called it "The Psychedelic Sixties and Seventies".

Mrs. Z is the music teacher at Brooker and will remain a legend there long after she is gone. A perfectionist, a drill sergeant, and a teacher rolled into one with a passion for what she does second to none.

And while we were at Universal of course we had to play a little too. We checked out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (even I who did not care for the books thought it was amazing!) and in typical Maddex theme park rules - tried on stupid hats/headpieces!

11

At 11 Tori is...long and lanky. She is trying hard to grow up faster than I want her to and yet often times lapses back into the giggles and silliness of the little girl I am dying to hold on to. She asks TONS of questions. She plays softball, and is getting to be a great catcher. She sings - on stage, in the car, in the shower, even while doing her homework. She loves to read and is finishing up the Harry Potter series. She loves to have her friends over.

She is kind and compassionate. She is a natural with little kids. She is loving. Her feelings get hurt easily and she inherited a sense of drama second to none. She has a million best friends, favorite people, and favorite things to do. She is my social butterfly, my little artist, and my perfectionist.

She is in her last year of elementary school and SO excited for middle school. And she is the shocked but super excited owner of a cell phone. She is already a texting pro.

Spring

I may hate grasshoppers and baby frogs but I do love the warm weather. I love knowing summer break is just around the corner. I love the smell of fresh cut grass and I love feeling the breeze come off the lake in the evening. And I love the pretty flowers I see every morning out my front door.

Math

This week from today (Monday) to Saturday we have...

4 work days for me
3 field trips (DisneyQuest, Civil War Museum, Universal Studios)
3 softball games
2 baseball games
1 talent show practice
1 spring concert
1 photo session
1 eleventh birthday to celebrate

= too much stuff. Next Sunday you will find me sleeping.

Mother's Day

Every mother's day we get together with family. Sometimes we out, sometimes we eat in, sometimes we participate in an activity together. But every time - we celebrate. Yesterday was one of those days when the weather was insanely perfect - the temperatures high, the humidity low, and a light breeze coming repeatedly just at the moment you thought you might be getting hot again. The water was slightly chilly but the good kind of chilly. So we gathered at the park and BBQ'd and boated and celebrated - motherhood, family, and even a birthday!

I am so thankful for my amazing mother. She is supportive and encouraging and caring and loving. Oh and silly and childlike at times. She LOVED her oddball gifts - the card that sang Mickey Mouse Club and the funky paper plates Jonathan and Taylor gave her.

I am thankful for my husband. Though he may be certifiably insane he goes out of his way to make me feel special - yeah today but also most other days. He makes me laugh. He makes me remember that life is not so serious all the time.

I am thankful for my kiddos too. Tori with her seriousness and sass, her desire to help everyone all of the time, her desire to be grown up but still act like the little girl she is, and her smile that lights up a room.

Tristan with his macho attitude and little boy fears, his warm hugs and caring heart, his contagious laugh and his desire to be just like his daddy.

And just when I was thinking how perfect and serene our day was...

We got the most amazing visitors, on land and sea. These butterflies played by us long enough for me to actually dig out my camera, focus and snap this picture. And the dolphins...well they were amazing. Bobbing and jumping around the boat (it's a jet boat, like a jet ski, they cannot get hurt, no blades). They came so close we could have touched them if we had leaned far enough over the side. Perfect. Some days are just perfect.

Still here...

The end of the school year is BUSY and of all things that get moved to the back burner when I get busy this blog is towards the top of the list.

Last weekend by the grace of God and the sanctions of the East Lake Little League my kids played games on the same fields at the same time. This is big. Huge even. This means no parent splitting, no 2 of us eating meals and one time and 2 later. All of us in one spot and one time.

AND Tristan got to pitch. His before and after - both ridiculous. His actual pitching - not bad at all.

Tori continues to catch and is getting better by the game! This picture was taken as she was readjusting her protective gear so it's not the best but that's ok.

Because they were at the same time my parents and brother and his wife came out to cheer them on, we BBQ'd here at home and we tried out a boat Taylor got the kids that ran on vegetable oil. "Ran" might be using the term loosely...it kind of milled around our little fountain area than promptly wedged itself in a corner. But was fun to try!

Also this week the kids finally finished and presented their gifted service projects. Tristan did trash clean up and made a science fair like board with some photos, trash and facts (did you know that a plastic bottle takes about 450 YEARS to decompose - recycle people!). Tori did cooking classes for Alzheimer's patients and presented scrapbook style. Glad to see one end of the year item checked off the list!