Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail

The Saturday week before Easter we headed to our local Chick-fil-A and ate breakfast with the Easter Bunny.  The kids got free breakfast, coloring sheets and a free cow toy.  Oh, and they got a picture with the Easter Bunny.  He wasn't very talkative, but the kids loved him just the same - except for Conner who was terrified and kept chanting "No way.  No way."

I am still trying to get the egg dye out of my cutting board in the kitchen, but it was so worth it watching the babies drop the eggs in the cups.  Madison isn't very delicate with them.  She would drop one in - crack - oops, Mommy, that one cracked, too.  It was fun and that's all that matters.
And I must say that I am sick of deviled eggs now.

Meet Buttercup

We have a new member of the family!  Meet Buttercup...

He's a Lop Eared Rabbit

Madison thinks he's invincible, Conner thinks he's a puppy and Mitch doesn't really care...poor little guy.

Happy Birthday to My Hubby!

Happy Birthday Wesley!

He's the big 28 today!  Love you bunches, honey!

(This is the very first pic of us taken together!)

Did You Know...

that Gorillas scratch their butts?

Or that they like to wear their water bowls as a hat?

And they will let you know exactly what they think of you if you aggravate them.

Oh, the things you learn at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Something Deeper

I don't usually talk about this kind of stuff on here, but it's been weighing on me for a few days.  While I was out last week I saw a guy who smacked his girlfriend in the face.  I assume it was his girlfriend.  She was crying and pleading with him over something.  I watched for a minute debating on offering help to the girl.  When he smacked her again I trotted my happy ass right over there.  I asked her if she needed help because NO ONE deserves to be hit for any reason whatsoever.  She said she was fine, but she was crying and I told her that I would take her anywhere she wanted to go.  He wouldn't look at me and she again said that she was fine but thanked me.  So, I walked away and watched from a distance until they left.  I was up a lot that night.  I felt like I let the girl down somehow. 

 It bothered me so much because at one time I was that girl.  I don't fly my "I was abused" flag because that was a time of my life that I'd rather not remember. Growing up I always said that I would never let a guy hit me.  However, sometimes something is happening before you even know it is.  You don't realize what you're up against until you've made investments and decisions that bind you to a person.  Not to mention fear is a very strong thing.

So, I say this to everyone.  The abuse does not stop - it only gets worse.  Please, find the strength to move on and cut ties.  You will be so much happier when you don't have to live in fear.  Trust me.

Important Info

Women's Shelters

My Cup Runneth Over

I sit here typing with a probable broke nose and two black eyes.  This morning Conner and I were throwing balls back and forth and he picked up what I thought was his Winnie The Poo ball and smacked me right between the eyes with it.  It wasn't a Winnie The Pooh ball.  It was a decorative concrete ball type thing that you put in the garden.  I ran to the bathroom muttering curse words like a drunk sailor.  Then after wiping away the blood I laid on the bathroom floor and cried like a little weenie. Yes, like a weenie.  All the while my poor baby boy was knocking on the door asking "Mommy?"  He was so worried about me.  When I finally got up and opened the door he gave me a big hug, kisses and was rubbing my face.  I felt better.

So, I'm sure the new joke will be "I guess Wesley finally got tired of your shit" when people see my double shiner.  I'd bet money on it - it will be said.  We have a family of jokesters.

Go ahead and laugh at my pain.  I can take it.  ;o)

My mema used to say "My cup runneth over."  I never understood it growing up.  I always thought that she spilled her tea or something.  I understand it now and I feel it.  I have the best children in the world.  Don't argue with me because I know I'm right. ;o)  I have the most loving and wonderful husband a woman could ask for. We're not what you would call rich, but what we have is more than what we need.  My baby girl acts just like me - sassy - and brings me flowers with the roots still attached.  My oldest son isn't too old to give me hugs and kisses in front of his friends and my baby boy gives me love and sugar and say's "want my mommy" all the time.  My hubby works hard every day to provide for us.  He gives me kisses and tells me how much he loves me before he leaves in the morning and does the same at night before we go to bed.  He lets me know that he appreciates me and that I am loved.

My cup runneth over.

Enough of my heart gushing. We have babies!  Baby plants that is.  Our tomatoes and onions have sprouted.  We also have lovely little critters taking over our yard.

Oatland Island

Wesley didn't go golfing today because he hurt his back so we headed out to Oatland Island and played around.

Madison checking out a gator

 The sun was in my face and that's why I have a cranky look.

 Note to self: Don't touch the pig.

 Lovin' the ducks

 Gopher Tortoise

You Never Know...

what you will find in this house!

That would be a half eaten piece of pizza!

Drat!

During the Spring and Summer we spend a lot of time at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  I take the kids down the Wildlife Drive and we always see something new.  They closed it last summer for some changes and the sign they put up last year said that it would be under construction from June 1, 2010 until January 2011.
 We loaded up on snacks and headed to South Carolina to make the drive.  However, when we got there they changed the sign from January 2011 to June 2011.  I'm sad.  :o( 

*Sigh*  I guess we'll be spending a lot of time at Oatland Island again this year.

Question Answered

I've gotten emails asking about how I feel towards certain things that are going on in the world today.  I tend not to express my feelings towards political and worldly matters because I often see things in a Gray area.  I'm very open-minded so things aren't so black and white to me.  However, I do feel strongly about some things.  To answer a recent question:

Amy, I enjoy seeing your pics and reading about your "crazy" life.  I wanted to pick your brain for a minute.  I was wondering how you felt about the attack on Libya.  I know you're a military wife so I was wondering where you sit on the fence.

Thanks,
Kim

Well, Kim, I had to explain it to my 9 year old son yesterday as to how I feel.  He, of course, was extremely worried when he heard the words "bomb" and "war."  He looked at me and said "Mommy, maybe we should just let them do their thing and stay out of it."  And here is the best way I could respond:

I asked him "If you were walking down the street and saw another kid kicking a puppy and the puppy laid there helplessly just taking the kicks.  And each kick could kill the puppy.  Would you just sit there and let him kill the puppy?"  To which he replied "No way! I would stop him!"  That's when I said to him that we as humans have the obligation to help and protect those who cannot do it themselves.  Those who are stronger should always stand up for those who cannot defend or protect themselves. 

 Sometimes lives are lost in the process and it's incredibly sad.  Those who sign up for our military sign up for heroism.  As soon as they sign those papers they grant themselves that title - a hero. That's how I see it in my eyes anyway.  And, yes, I am a military wife.  My husband spent quite some time overseas.  My dad was in the military and is a vietnam veteran.  My grandfather served in the Navy and was a WWII veteran.  I walk with heroes and I thank God for them every single day.  I thank each and every person in the military because of them I can wear what I want and say what I want without pursecution.  We have our freedom from these very military men and women.  Unfortunately, freedom doesn't come free. 

World Peace is a wonderful idea.  Yes, we would all love that, but it is a naive idea.  There's just no way in today's world that we can do that so we have to just do the best we can.

How We Do It

We had Mitch's birthday party at home this past weekend.  As a birthday celebration I offered him a choice between a party or taking the money that would be spent on a party and take him shopping.  He decided to go in between - smart boy!  He wanted a small party at home with a home-made cake.  The leftover money would be put towards something he wants.  It was a small party, but fun.  We all had a blast playing kickball in the backyard.

I got an email asking what I do for fun in the sticks. Hehehe It was a funny email from a reader in the north wondering how in the world we could have fun down here with so little to do.

Thanks for the email, Elizabeth!

This is how we do it in the south:

We play in the dirt. Often we make mud burgers with large Magnolia leaves.

We go out in the boat.  Sometimes just to ride and sometimes to fish.

We go to the golf course and play around with putters and watch the tadpoles in the small ponds.

I have a sneaky idea that what we do here in the south isn't too much different than in the north.  However, back in the day I'm sure we could have been a sight to see growing up.  I'm old enough to remember not having a computer or video games. There was no such thing.  We had to be creative.  And since my older brother was a mechanic always working on cars we had extra car parts like say ummmm Car Hoods.  We would tie them to the back of the car and ride on them.  Good times...

My Crazy Morning

I actually went to Wally World this morning after staying away from that crazy place for weeks.  I spent two hours perusing the aisles getting stuff for my son's birthday party tomorrow.  I had my two smallest ones with me and for once they were behaving.  I got up to the checkout and placed all of my items on the belt and got halfway through checking out when they overhead speaker boomed "Code Blue."

I know what Code Blue means...It means Get The Hell Out.

The cashier rushed me out of the store and I still had some bags of stuff in my buggy that I hadn't paid for yet.  People were running out to their cars and freaking out.  I kept trying to ask the employees what I should do with my bags because I hadn't paid for them.  They just kept repeating "You need to get out of the building."  Ok...I got it already.

So, I stood in the parking lot for a few minutes trying to figure out what to do.  I couldn't take the stuff back in and I wasn't going to take it home without paying for it.  If I leave it out in the parking lot someone else will probably steal it.  And to top it all off the place may blow up at any minute - doubtful, but possible.

Wanna know what I did?

I left that buggy sitting right in the parking lot filled with V8 Splash, toilet paper and potato chips.  I got my babies in our vehicle and left.

I once again march in the "Stay Away From Walmart" parade. 

Happy Anniversary To The Man I Love!

Four years ago I married the man I love with all my heart.  He is an amazing husband and father.  I couldn't ask for anything more in my life and I thank God everyday he's by my side.

I love you so much, baby!

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”
Judy Garland

On Our Honeymoon

 

I love thee,

I love but thee

With a love that shall not die

 Till the sun grows cold, And the stars grow old...

Happy Birthday Mitch!

Nine years ago today I had a 7 lb 9 oz baby boy.  He has grown to be a wonderful and smart boy who is an awesome big brother to his baby sister and brother.

Happy Birthday Mitch!

We love you so much!

They Call Me...

the bug lady.  Yes, I know it doesn't seem like a very nice name, but I like it.  I'm weird like that.  All the kids in the neighborhood come running to me when they find a creepy crawler.  I hear "Miss Amy what is this thing right here?  I think it might be poisonous."  or "I think it might be a new species!"

I get great joy out of telling the kids exactly what kind of bug they've found.  Maybe I should get my Master's in Entomology...

There's Something In The Air

And it smells a little like Spring!  Ahhhh...I've got pretty little flowers and green shoots popping up all over my yard.  I'm thinking it's getting mighty close to planting time.  I'll be planting my herbs this week.  I start them indoors and move them to the back porch when it gets warm enough. 

My Little Man will be 9 years old in a couple of weeks!

My Valentine's Day present finally came in yesterday!  My hubby got me a KitchenAid Pro 500 Stand Mixer.  I'm a happy, happy girl!  And I'm sure you can guess what I've been doing all night...Baking like Betty, baby! And you know it HAD to be red...I likes me some red!