Field Trip with the first graders

I went on Payten's first grade field trip yesterday to the Asheboro Zoo, and while I was there I had a few revelations:

1. I have a totally new appreciation for teachers, especially for kids in that age range-- WHEWW
2. Payten has a couple of exceptionally challenged kids that join her class, and she was so sweet to them yesterday, she was quick to include them in what she was doing, and when one climbed to the top of one of the play things in the park-- she just clapped and encouraged them-- I was so proud of how she treated her friends --
3. Take teachers out of their teaching environment, and it is interesting what you learn about them....
4. Hwy 601 to 49 is really the best route to take-- the Zoo was really easy to get to like that
5. Playgrounds in the zoo are way more entertaining to first graders than the animals
6. I will always chaperon-- I saw a couple of parents lose kids for a minute-- NOT GOOD
7. You really don't get in trouble if you sneak and get your little group of kids-- Dippin' Dots
8. AND finally the most shocking revelation is that Payten's first grade teacher seems to like me more than her kindergarten teacher did-- See ---Last year when I chaperoned at the circus-- her K teacher made me responsible for Payten and a little girl named Fernanda who barely spoke English --which would be fine if I knew any Spanish but since I took French as my foreign language little Fernanda and I had a hard time communicating-- she just kinda looked at me when I would ask her questions-- I finally learned that when she was asking for more Candy Cane, she really wanted Cotton Candy-- and that was near the end of the Circus that I figured that out-- this year her first grade teacher made me responsible for Payten and Payten's little friend Jordyn who was cute as bugs and gave me love all day long---hmmmm--Mindy I don't think you are going to live this one down
   

Whewwwwwww

I don't blog twice in one day very often but Payten scared me tonight with a conversation that I thought was heading a different way...The conversation went something like this....

Payten: Mama I know what a Hoe is

Me: A What?

Payten: A Hoe

The Voice inside my head: Oh my goodness, what am I going to say-- the first thing I will ask is who told you that........

Me: What is it?

Payten: It has kinda a flat sharp thing on one end and a really long thing on the other

The Voice inside my head: whewwwwww

Me: And what do you do with it

Payten: You dig stuff up

Me: Very good-- Glad you are learning in school baby

You just don't know about kids these days and what they hear in school-- it is scary --thank goodness she is still so sweet and innocent..

Show me your Muscles

We are trying to teach Carter to Show his Muscles--

This is what we are asking him to do ....




This is what he is doing....




He's not going to pick up any chicks that way-- we will have to keep working on this......as a side note-- he almost has Bow Chicka Wow Wow down-- he even said it to Mama J yesterday who was impressed ---hey-- he might be okay with the ladies after all :)

I know I am weak...

I decided when Payten started elementary school I would get one picture a year so that I could some day fill one of those fun picture frames with a picture each year from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

One picture ----just one is all I need, but for 2 years now she has been in school and for 2 years I have bought both the spring and fall pictures. The spring is normally the cutest and you actually get to see them before you purchase which is nice-- I didn't know that last year, I didn't even know there were spring pictures-- so after I bought the fall pics last year--- here comes the spring pics that were just too cute to resist.

This year my excuse for buying the fall pics was because she was toothless-- and I had to get one formal toothless picture--- now spring is here and what happens-- once again too cute to resist--- such dilemmas--- anyway to all of the Aunts reading this-- you will get a real one in the mail-- and for everyone else see below-- my reason for being weak...(btw-- excuse the little black thing at the top-- that is the magnet holding up the picture so I could take a picture of the picture to put on my blog :))

For our guests

Just in case you need a little help when you use our guest bathroom--Payten has outlined the process for using the bathroom and posted it on our bathroom door with illustrations and all-- come on over and see us anytime-- we will keep them up for you just in case you forget the rules :)

It's okay -- they really like them....

I have a couple of friends that read this blog that are "Character Shoe Snobs"-- and die when I tell them I got my kids some-- but really what is so bad about them---

I do believe when they get to be a certain age they are too childlike but until then-- let them enjoy them-- my rationale-- the kids love them, Carter thinks they give him super powers-- they are really inexpensive--they are going to tear up fast at school---and if they don't tear up they grow out of them---- so why spend $30 if you don't have to-- and really truth be known-- there is a little something dorky cute about them to me--now the Hannah Montana ones I got Payten recently were a bad idea-- I realized it after I bought them-- they really just were not cute-- and she is just getting to old for them in my opinion-- but I was rewarding her for something and that is what she wanted-- so let her be her own fashion expert-- that is okay too

So to you Character Shoe snobs (and you know who you are :)) You know I love you bunches-- so don't take your nickname the wrong way-- just know that any chance I get to send my kids out with you -- I will be sure they are sporting the light up Character Shoes for all to see!!!


And just look for yourself-- is there really anything that can take away from the cuteness of this little squirt :) (BTW-- those are "Mator" sunglasses too :))

The Soccer Game

(You will definitely need the sound down for this it is a little hard to hear at times-- press pause on my playlist at the bottom)


Payten made puppets today and she and Carter put on a play for me. It was too cute to only be enjoyed by an audience of one-- so thought I would share-- Shakespeare's -- I mean Payten's masterpiece

These are the Days to Remember

My friend Georgia has started a blog, and on one hand, I just love that I can keep up with her family and little Ellie's adventures since they have moved to Florida. On the other hand, it has made me a bit sad that we are so far away...

See Georgia is one of my College buddies along with Christina and Deirdre--- We have been a part of each others lives for over 15 years and have experienced most everything together-- and if we weren't together we certainly talked about it. We had slumber parties with melted chocolate mints, concerts, and road trips from Florida, to Washington DC, to South Carolina, to Rockingham, Mooresville, Wilimington, Southern Pines and Sanford-- We were in each others weddings (BTW God Blessed Texas when C got married) and have been right there at each new little addition to our families (and many of their Birthday parties too). We have shared our fears, our joys, our good times and bad--and continue to be close at heart even though geographically we are far apart---

Georgie, Deej, and C-- It has been way too long since our last girls weekend together-- and I miss you guys--but glad to know that I will always have you in my life

Let's get together soon....Hope you enjoy the show---

Time on my hands

Carter is out of school today because he had a fever yesterday, so I decided I would do some things that I had been needing to do like put the Kodak Easy share software back on my computer--and while I was doing that I started playing around with some of the features and picture enhancements-- and found some interesting stuff--see below (by the way-- Carter is fine-- he had a slight fever this morning but got through it with no Motrin-- so I think it must have been a 24 hour thing)

Here is the original picture:

Here is the Picture with Spotlight enhancement: (I like this one-- need to remember to use)

Here is the Coloring Book enhancement:

Here is the Cartoon enhancement: (this one is kinda freaky weird to me--if you double click on it --it gets bigger and you can see what I mean)

And here is the fisheye enhancement:

Can you think of a time I could use these enhancements? Or should I just go back to pretending I didn't know they were there-- I think I could use the spotlight and possible the fish eye-- would it freak everyone out if I sent a Christmas card with the Cartoon enhancement?? Maybe I should just to see--

By the way--- Are there more things I could be doing right now? yes absolutely-- there is plenty of cleaning to be done-- but since I had to take a vacation day-- doing mindless things like sharing my camera capabilities with my blogging friends is just what I want to do--

"The List"

Payten has published her first "Frind List" and it's a good one according to me. As I look at it I wonder how many of these little ones will stay on the list for a long time, and how many will be replaced by the new "frind" next year. For selfish reasons I hope several of these stay for a long time-- because they are good kids, and have good parents who I happen to enjoy.

And while we are discussing Payten I must let you know about our conversation tonight while watching the good wholesome Family show American Idol

First conversation while watching the Tattooed Carly from Ireland:

Payten: Why does she have all of those Tattoos up her arm? That is weird

Me: I don't know but you should see her husband he has Tattoos all over-- even on his head

Payten: That is even more weird

Me: Yes it is-- look there he is.

Payten: He does have tattoos all over, actually that girl is kinda cool with the Tattoos on her arm

Me: You think that is cool?

Payten: Yeah kinda

Me: Would you do that?

Payten: Well maybe-- it is cool

Me: You will have a hard time getting a job with tattoos like that

Payten: Hmmmm

(I guess we will have to work on this one--hopefully she will go back to them being weird-- real soon)

Conversation # 2 (after the last guy sang Dolly Parton's -- "It's all wrong But It's All Right")

Payten: What does that song mean, I am confused by that

Me: It is okay baby-- that is a little older than you-- you should be confused by it

Payten: Oh mommy...

Who knew American Idol would spark such conversation with a 6 year old who is just old enough to start her first "Frind" list.

Random Follow ups

Okay a couple of follow ups from previous blogs in case you are wondering:

• Kids are back home-- had a great time at mimi's and Joe and I had a wonderful weekend together, this week has been back to life back to reality
• My tailbone is still sore-- I can't lie flat on hard surfaces--and sometimes if I sit a certain way it sends a pain straight up my back-- wondering if I will be like this forever--any ideas on a non-doctor seeing cure?
• I was right about Carter's pottying- in this blog I said "I think he must think that is all he needs to do--he must think I accomplished that-- what is next" ----and how do I know I was right you ask??? I know I was right because this morning Carter said he wanted to wear his "lightning MaKeen" underwear and when I said you can't until you learn to use the potty-- his response was "I already did that"
• Gas was $3.18 a little cheaper today than the other day-- I think it is just this side of town, I have made note of that now
• This will be my last blog-- I am tired of Blogging-- okay April Fools-- I had to throw that in just because of the Post date- Payten April fooled me all night- and I continued to fall for it-- the baby on the side of the road, the frog on the window, the rabbit-- I looked everytime you would think I would learn after a time or two-- but not tonight I just kept on falling for it

Happy April everyone!!