Tennessee.....Here We Come!!!

The bags are almost packed. We are itching to go! Tomorrow the kids and I are heading to Tennessee. We will be visiting friends and relatives all over west Tennessee. We can't wait!

Did you know that Memphis is mentioned more than any other city in music. Isn't that fascinating! I looked over some of the lyrics on the Internet. Some songs I know...some, well, I've never heard before. My favorite song about Memphis is one that was popular when I was a little girl. (I know...very sad) It may have been a commercial...not quite sure. It goes a little something like this.

My radio's picking up FM100.
I hear Memphis calling me home.

Do you remember it?

Relationship

I'm sitting here on the couch working on schedules for the children's ministry at church. John is playing his DS and Mae and Will are in the chair playing their own little games. As I finish my schedule I pay more attention to the younger two. They are so funny. I love watching these two play. Mae proclaims that she is Will 2nd Mommy.

Will is yelling Upsy Daisy! Upsy Daisy! Upsy Daisy! Mae is flitting around behind the couch. She says, "Mama, when he says that he's really calling me. That's what he calls me sometimes." Will then grabs her arm to turn her around and says, "Mae! Go put this up for me!" as he hands her his sippy cup. He's so bossy! She lets him get away with so much. They then go back to their chair and proceed to play their game of sitting upside down and falling into the floor.

Ahhhh! The priceless relationship that these two have. I hope that it continues forever.

Three Years Ago Today

William Lea Workman

June 21, 2006

10lbs 3oz

I can't believe it.

Where has the time gone.

What happened.

Oh Yea!

I blinked.

A Fashion Statement

So...What do you think?

An Adjustment

For those of you who don't know, Rusty got a promotion at work. He is now a field service engineer something or the other. Basically he will be visiting the golf courses and commercial sites to help them out with their problems instead of talking with them on the phone. This is the job that has been wanting and waiting for. He is excited and we are all proud of him.
There is one thing, however. He has to travel a lot to get to all these golf courses and commercial sites. Travel all over the country.

So...he started this Monday and Wednesday he headed to Palm Springs to visit a commercial site. He'll be home Friday.

Now, when he first started his new job last year he moved here without us. We were apart for two months. He did come home on weekends, but we adjusted to his absence. So, I thought it would be easier for me this time around. I knew that I would have to take the garbage down, and I wouldn't have my right hand man to help with baths and bedtime. I realized that dinner time would be different. (ok...we wouldn't always have a hot meal...cereal is great for dinner) I also knew that we would all miss him terribly but would be so happy when he came home.

Yesterday was our first day without him. Add that fact to the neediness of kids in the summer and you get a frazzled, tired, annoyed mama!

The day started out well. Will woke up fairly early with his calls of "Mamamamamamamama!" This is normal. I stretch out of bed as quickly as I can to get him on the potty. He's been doing so well, that I can't mess it up. Mae had a friend over to spend the night, and they woke up around the same time. I fixed them a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and hot chocolate.

Now...let me interrupt this play by play of my day to tell you that meal times around here are...well...nuts. Let's just say I have much sympathy for diner waitresses. I feel exhausted after each meal after getting refills, napkins, cleaning up spills, getting something else because someone doesn't like strawberries, etc., and I'm really not sure what I've eaten.

After breakfast the girls began doing art projects. I let them do whatever they wanted. So after much cutting, coloring, and play dough playing I realized that if I was going to get my Wal-Mart trip in we really needed to go. So off we went. That trip went well as far as Wal-Mart shopping goes with 4 kids. I was pleasantly surprised.

After Mae's friend went home another friend called me in a bind and needed someone to watch her 3 year old. So a little while later our new friend came over. This was fun. He and Will both are newly potty trained! 'Nuff said on that one!

Later on that evening, after all friends had gone home, my kids decided it was time to play WWF or jump and run around screaming, or whatever that game is called. I know you know it. Anyway, after another meal that consisted of salad, pizza, and cereal (it is a diner when Daddy is gone, after all) I seriously considered moving bedtime up to 5:30. I quickly dismissed this idea. My kids are early enough risers already!

So...after baths and snacks of ice cream and teeth brushing and one more drinks of waters and using the bathroom one more time everyone was finally in bed.

Whew!!!!!

Finally! I can sit on the couch and watch what I want on TV, go to the bathroom by myself, eat without someone wanting what I'm eating, simply breath.

Then...I realized that I've got to do it all over again the next day!

Don't worry. I'll adjust soon. The kids will adjust soon.

We will all be just fine!

And let me just add....We are very proud of Rusty!

What's In A Name...Or How You Say It.

Since I've moved out to the southwest the people here have loved hearing me talk. I'm always being asked where I'm from. People tell me that I can say anything and it sounds pretty. Aw...how sweet!

On the other hand, people sometimes have a hard time understanding me. It may be the way I say words or it may be just the words I choose to use. Or maybe both!

A blog I read reminded me of this and I feel inspired to write about it. So....here's a list of things that I say that people find funny/adorable!

Soda is Coke. It could mean sprite, Dr. Pepper, anything carbonated and in a can. My Big Pop used to call it Co-Cola, and it never tasted better than out of those little glass bottles.

Maxi pads and tampons are kotex and tampax according to my Mama.

Hair spray is spray net according to every woman over 50 that I know from the South.

Cool whip is what I call whipped cream...always will.

Yard Sales are those things you have on Saturday mornings to get rid of all your junk, and when it's over you take it all to the Good Will.

Wal-Mart is known as THE Wal-Mart!

AND thank goodness our grocery store ends with an s, because otherwise it would get one. Just as my beloved Krogers.

Ya'll.....My favorite...which I use about 20 million times a day means you all, you guys, you people...whatever!

Now, let's get something straight... I don't use ain't, or generally use prepositions at the end of sentences, (unless I ask you where you are from...which I've started adding the word originally after living in a place where people have lived everywhere) and I don't say crick for creek. My long I's don't have that southernish sound in all of my words, but many one syllable words come out as two or three. My name included, which I always have to spell for people. I have to do the same thing when I'm giving Mae's name. People usually think I'm saying Meg.

Communicating has been very amusing here in my new southwestern home. I think it has opened many doors for me and allowed me to meet many new people who find the way I speak endearing. (Maybe they are just trying to figure out exactly what it is I'm trying to say.)

One thing is for sure...I can spot a southern accent from across a room and you can bet I'll head on over and introduce myself! There's nothing like meeting a fellow southerner I also love to call back home and listen to my family and friends.

There is nothing like listening to the lullaby of a singing southern accent! AND if you call soda a coke...well...lets just call you my new friend!

Trying For The Perfect Shot

Why does John Russel always make this silly smile?

This one, too. It looks like he's straining or something.



This is the one he gave me after I told him to open his eyes.

FFFForget it Mama! You'll never get the perfect shot!

But sometimes it just happens. When you least expect it.

Some people are just naturals.

Sometimes it's the age of the subject.

And sometimes.....well, sometimes the goofier the better...I guess!

Try looking up at me, son. Like this, Mama?

Look at me! I'm so goofy. There's nothing like being Seven!