Attention ALL of my Scrapbooking amigas...

Farewell husband, children and crazy everyday Mommy life. I'm off for a weekend with the girls...

You are ENTHUSIASTICALLY invited to a fun filled weekend of scrappin'.
Friday October 5th at 5 PM until Sunday October 7th at 5 PM

Let's call it "Camp Womblecrop".
or "Crop til ya drop"?
Maybe "Crop-o-palooza"?
How about "The Womble Crop-a-lot-i-guess"? (no large brown elephants allowed)
I know, I know..."Scraparoo" (minus the questionable activities that go on at Manchester, TN's claim to fame).

WHATEVER you want to call it, you are invited. I have had the privilege of a scrapbook weekend twice a year for the past 4 years. It is the only time of the year I scrapbook and it is GREAT GREAT fun. Instead of going somewhere this year, we're going to attempt it at my house and see how much money we save. My wonderful, caring, loving, supportive husband has agreed to take a little road trip to visit his Father in Atlanta. Don't worry he's taking the kiddos too.

A few rules...no children...no husbands...no ax murderers...that pretty much covers it...

So, let me know if your interested. We'll work out all of the specifics once I know who is coming. If you'd like to bring a friend (AKA someone I don't know) I'll need their name and SS#. Once I complete their criminal background check I'll send out acceptance letters. :-) Just kidding...

Come on girls...you KNOW you want to come...now sign up already before you hurt my feelings...

P.S. Haybales, unidentified smiling Mommy and limousine service not included.

Did you see this?

This is absolutely the most hysterrical eBay listing I have ever seen. A friend sent me the link. If you have a few minutes, check it out. It is worth your time if you need a really good laugh (and couldn't we all use one of those every now and then). WARNING: You may not see the humor if you are not a parent yet.

Just when you think...

your decorating dilemnas are overwhelming, someone sends you this and you realize you're not doing so bad after all. Shiny metallic gold drapes anyone?

Big Scary Bug Update...

Correction...We are NOT hunting hornets. We are hunting Cicada Killer Wasps (note the plural-as in more than one-and specifically 8). Did you know cicadas come EVERY year, not just every seven? I bet you are wondering how we miss them. The answer: we do not notice them when they come in small numbers...only when thousands of them take over the backyard. I'll spare you the details of what happens to Mr. Cicada once the wasp finds him. I bet you can figure it out. However, if you are up for a little entomology lesson today, then click here.

For your viewing pleasure...a funny photo of Daddy and Uncle Andy trying once again to annihilate the big scary bugs. Mr. Bug Man advice...leave them alone. They will soon "disappear" without any help from the Wombles. Oh, and be sure to sow your lawn very well between now and next summer, or THEY'LL BE BAAAAACK! Great...something to look forward to...

Our Fearless Leader and the Hornet...

WE have officially been in our new home for about a month now. The five Wombles plus one new found outdoor "friend", Mr. Hornet. Our "friend" Mr. Hornet has been taunting our fearless Leader (AKA Daddy) for most of that time. Apparently, he likes our back yard as much as we do. He looks like this...

Scary, isn't he? I promise I am not exaggerating when I say he is as big as a hummingbird but much MUCH angrier. Apparently humans don't really bother him unless there is a lawn mower involved. Most weeks Our Fearless Leader has mowed the grass at warp speed with Mr. Hornet looming in the background. It's nerve racking for ME and I'm inside with a few layers of protection between us.

Yesterday, Daddy and Andy (Daddy's older brother) worked on the landscaping. Mr. Hornet was there overseeing the project and Andy's thoughts were the same as ours...that is one SCARY bug! After the landscaping was complete, Daddy moved on to mowing the lawn. WELL, our back yard "friend" did not think that was a great idea. The closer Daddy came to the middle of the back yard (Mr. Hornet's territory) the faster he flew. With about four strips left Mr. Hornet dove toward the mower, Daddy swerved sharply avoiding contact and that was the end of mowing for the day.


Fast forward to today...guess who's had enough of Mr. Hornet? After church, off we went to run a little errand. What did we buy you might ask? This...

So, this afternoon, in his church clothes I might add, Daddy went out to play with Mr. Hornet. It said it was guaranteed to stop on contact at 25 feet away. Look out scary bug, Our Fearless Leader is armed and dangerous...Got him!
Got him again! Hmmm...he's still flying around? It said 25 feet? Hmmm... Maybe I didn't get him?
Stay tuned for more adventures with Our Fearless Leader and Mr. Hornet. We know he's still out there. We've just gotta catch him when he's down.






"Shhhhhhhh, be vewy vewy quiet; I'm hunting [hornets], heheheheheheh"

14 months old...

Little Miss MG is becoming quite independent at 14 months old. She is off exploring her world in every way she can get away with. Up and down the stairs, standing in chairs and on beds, into cabinets, boxes and anything else in (or out) of her way. She is easygoing and sassy all at the same time. One minute laughing, the next throwing her paci in the floor and stomping her feet in frustration. Someone recently described her as "sweet and sour". I have no idea where she gets that from. :-) Her new favorite word? Boouh. Her absolute favorite things in the world right now are BOOKS! Lots and lots of books. If you aren't reading one to her, she's piling them up beside you or shoving one in your face to read. Ms. Kara, aren't you so proud? We are really enjoying this age, both the sweet AND the sour.

Ms. Courtney came for a visit yesterday and happened to have a few empty spots from a Thursday session. And guess who got to fill them? MG was not fond of her bubble bath and had the "crazy hair" as we call it, but they are still cute nonetheless. :-)

Fun at the pool...

Here are a few of us enjoying our first trip to the neighborhood pool. We didn't capture any decent pics of J. He was a little too excited for the camera.

Little Miss Mischief...

her brother is showing her the art of creating lots of messes...

Please read...

This morning I came across the following post on another blog and it really struck a nerve with me. Some of you know that back in November we had a little scare with my health. The entire right side of my face swelled up without explanation. There were several potential causes, one of which was lymphoma. It was the longest three days of my life as we contemplated what such a diagnosis would mean for our family, more importantly our children. Amazing how one big scary word can change your perspective. Praise the Lord all tests came back negative and it ended up being fine. No lymphoma! Three weeks of antibiotics and I was good as new. The results for this Mommy weren't as good. As a nurse, a wife and a mother of two, I feel like I need to share this with you. The statistic is 100,000 US women are living with this type of breast cancer. Only half will survive 5 years. 100,000 women seems like a small percentage of the US population...but what if one of those women is you?

______________________________________________________


"Because I'm not ready to move on"
by Why Mommy at Toddler Planet

We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?

I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.

Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.

There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.

Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

P.S. Feel free to steal this post too. I’d be happy for anyone in the blogosphere to take it and put it on their site, no questions asked. Dress it up, dress it down, let it run around the place barefoot. I don’t care. But I want the word to get out. I don’t want another young mom — or old man — or anyone in between — to have to stare at this thing on their chest and wonder, is it mastitis? Is it a rash? Am I overreacting? This cancer moves FAST, and early detection and treatment is critical for survival.

Thank you.

signed WhyMommy at Toddler Planet

One of my faves...

The child must know that she is a miracle,
that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been,
and until the end of the world there will not be,
another child like her."
- Pablo Casals

a little blessing...

Today, sitting in my church parking lot, I casually opened the checkbook and wrote today's date on the top line. I think I gasped when I realized the significance of what I had just written. August 12th. Today was my sister Taylor's birthday. She would have been 14 years old. I will forever remember her as one of the most beautiful babies I have ever laid eyes upon. Perfectly round head, chubby baby cheeks, rosey lips, a little pug nose and the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. Her only issue: a heart that didn't form correctly. 15 years her senior, I had so much love for this little girl. By all indications, she was going to be my living breathing dress up doll and I couldn't wait to get my hands on her. That was MY plan anyway. Plans. Plans? Well, what is it they say about the best laid plans? 14 years later I can look back and clearly see how her short three months of life changed the course of mine. So, today I am celebrating the blessing Taylor L. M. was to my life. She will forever own a piece of my heart.

What a difference a year makes...

Can't you just hear Stevie singin'...
Isn't she lovely...Isn't she wonderful...Isn't she precious...Less than one minute old...I never thought through love we'd be...Making one as lovely as she...But isn't she lovely...Made from love

Image copyrighted by Courtney Marler Photography.

Mr. Mischief...

If you want to secretly eat all of the candy out of the special treat box where is the safest place to hide it?


Oh WOW! How did that get under there? What are you talking about Mommy? I didn't do anything.


[Insert "crinkle crinkle crinkle" sound] I didn't hear anything Mommy. I didn't hear a "crinkle crinkle crinkle" candy paper sound coming from my Scooby Doo underwear.



Well, Mommy, since you happened upon this mysterious box under the chair...and I have no idea how it made it's way under there...and then you found a sucker inside my underwear...I wonder how THAT got in there? (Shhh...don't tell Mommy it's my secret--I bet she won't EVER look in THERE--hiding place) Do you think I could just keep this little sucker in a safe place for you?



Can you guess what the answer was? Never, EVER a dull moment at the Womble house...



P.S. Yes, he is sporting a Dale Jr. redneck racing t-shirt that he is only allowed to wear at home. No comments please.

a Polka-dotted Princess...literally...

I love polka dots but not THIS kind of polka dots. In case you can't tell from the pictures, our little princess has Roseola. These pictures aren't the greatest but you can at least see the pattern. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt. She had three days of high fever which I thought was from the immunizations she received Friday. Just when I thought she was doing better I discovered a few little strange dots that have slowly turned into this. Then, of course, the fever made sense. She should be back to normal in a few more days once the rash subsides. Just thought you all might want to see it "live" so when it happens at your house you won't panic. These were taken yesterday and the rash was MUCH more remarkable today. I'll attempt to catch a few pictures in the morning if it has gotten worse. Now, I bet some of you are thinking I have officially lost my marbles after reading this post. I am not excited that my baby is sick; but, I AM intrigued by this rash. No matter how long I am away from Nursing, I still can't stop the madness. I still think rashes are fascinating, even if they are on my own children.

Just another one of the Deen boys...

Do you think he resembles Jamie or Bobby? You know, the Deen boys, Paula's sons? I think my children have been watching a little too much Food Network. First MG, and now, her brother. What is it with butter? Disgusting.


J. has had an obsession with Country Crock Cinnamon Butter for most of his life. Seriously. I can't remember when it began but it has been years ago. I think maybe the holiday season of his second birthday? It's a special edition butter and they only make it at certain times of the year. Country Crock makes several specialty butters through the year (strawberry, pumpkin) and we've tried substituting. I have even made my own when we were desperate. Can you guess how that went over? Breakfast food just isn't the same without it. We've even had grandparents and friends watch their grocery stores for the latest cinnamon run. Thank goodness it is usually dated months in advance so we can buy more than one at a time.

After he had eaten his fill he found me and proclaimed..."MMM,MMM,MMM, that cinnamon butter sure tastes GOOOOOOD Mommy"! Note to self: return cinnamon butter to refrigerator immediately after use. Now I know why refrigerator manufacturers put the dairy bin at the top. It is for little people named J.

PINK RULES!

We're celebrating today with our dear friends Rachel and James! Their 20 week ultrasound was this morning and it looks like they have a HEALTHY baby GIRL! HOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY! Rachel is one of my very best friends on the planet. I've known her since high school and my hubby has known her practically all of his life. These days, her life is full of blue with three boys to keep her busy (one being her own hubby). Looks like God is giving them a little pink in their life and we couldn't be happier. I love the little verse I used on MG's birth announcement and I think it's appropriate here...

Announcing ONE beautiful pink-blanket-toting, smocked-dress-wearing, daddy's-shoulder-riding, big-brother-loving, easy-bake-oven-cooking, girl-scout-cookie-selling, slumber-party-hosting, telephone-hogging, fingernail-painting, boy-band-loving, college-application-submitting, bridal-magazine-reading, DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS... baby girl!

I have several pregnant friends right now so I anticipate a few more of these posts in the near future. Keep 'em coming girls and boys! I just LOVE babies!

One Year Appointment...

MG had her one year appointment (1.5 months late :-) with Dr. M on Friday. She weighed 22 pounds 12 ounces and was 31.5 inches. She's staying consistent with her brother in the height category. We may have another skinny toothpick on our hands. She had the head to toe checkup and received three immunizations. If history repeats itself, we'll be feeling the wrath of those three little injections for the next week or two.

We went through the laundry list of "does she ___? does she ___?" and I was so happy to say YES to all of her questions. I was chomping at the bit for her to ask me how many words MG has. We counted them beforehand and I think I may have shouted NINE when she finally asked. For those who know how significant words are at our house, I am happy to share those nine with you...

Dada, Mama, Zsa Zsa (J), byebye, sheshe (Hershey), da (done), mmmm, boo (book), and ba (ball)

AND since I am sharing her accomplishments, she EVEN has three signs that are making life much easier...

all done, more and eat/drink (Technically, eat and drink are two separate signs but she has one for both. It is her universal sign for put SOMETHING in my tummy right NOW).

She's checking off her milestones right on time and we couldn't be more excited! Not a big deal to some but a huge deal to us. We love you Ms. Suzanne (and all of our other Early Intervention friends), but I don't think we're going to need your services this time. Thanks, but no thanks. :-)

Holy Cow!

There are many days when I would love to fill this house with lots of little Wombles. There are just as many days when two seems overwhelming. One more little Womble will come in the next few years but this will definitely not happen at the Womble house. Holy Cow!

You Know You Grew Up In the 80's if...

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton.

3. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom.

4. If you ever watched "FraggleRock".

5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.

8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

9. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)

10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.

11. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF".

12. You wanted to be a Goonie.

13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe).

14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.

15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pail kids in the schoolyard.

17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap Bracelets.

18. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.

19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.

21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.

22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

23. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up".

24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.

26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were "all that".

27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli were hot.

29. You remember Alf, the wise-crackin' lil furry brown alien from Melmac.

30. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB".

31. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.

32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.

33. You just sang those words to yourself.

34. You still sing "We are the World"

35. You tight rolled your jeans.

36. You owned a banana clip.

37. You remember "Where's the Beef?"

38. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

39. You're still singing "Shot Through the Heart" in your head, aren't you!

hehehehe. I just couldn't resist. I laughed hysterically all the way through. But what the heck is Oregon Trail day? I guess we didn't have that one where I came from. Thanks Kim!