Clever.

{pinterest credit}

My son read The Hunger Games two years ago.  He begged me to read it.  I did and though it is about topics I don't normally read about, I thought it was such an interesting read.

By the time the 2nd and 3rd books came out, because I am Mrs. Short Term Memory, I didn't feel the need to read them.  

Fast forward two years and we are reading it in book club.  I re-read it and then plowed through the second and third book.  I have March 23rd circled on my calendar for the movie.  I am so excited about it I typed "Hunger Games" into pinterest last night.  My son was looking over my shoulder.  He saw what I was looking at and then said the following statement...

You know, you are killing The Hunger Games for me.  

Ha!  I guess nothing ruins the cool factor like your Mom digging something you liked.

I texted my neighbor this little ditty.   She shares my enthusiasm for these books and her response was so clever and classic, I just had to share...

"Tell him you love underage drinking!"

Ha!  Could someone please make a pinterest poster with that?

Up in here.

Up in here I have been tolerating nursing people back to health.  I am sooo not the Florence Nightengale type.  At all.

I have been preparing for Lent.

I have been reading.  For book club we are reading Hunger Games.  Which I read two years ago.  I decided to re-read it and couldn't put it down the second time either.  I am almost through the 3rd book in the series.

I have been re-working my exercise routine.  It's time for a change.

I have been getting back to clean eating.  I fell off the wagon a bit, but time to get back on.

I have been mourning the end of Downton Abbey for the season.

I have gotten hooked on Friday Night Lights.  I am a Tim Riggins fan.  Does that make me a cougar?

I have been learning to deal with the fact that my oldest is employed.  He is liking the job and looking forward to his first paycheck.  I fret through every shift.  Is he getting there safely?  Is he being treated well?  Is he clogging his arteries?  I did not know this was a difficult parenting hurdle.  

Finally, the big reveal on what we called farts growing up.  I feel I've built it up too much and now you'll be disappointed.  We called them....

pooneys.

I know, right?  I think my parents got away with that because they only had girls.  Now they have four grandsons.  Trust me.  They all say fart.  My brother-in-law hit the nail on the head when he told my sister that no son of his was going to be in a locker room and say the word pooney.  

So, there you have it.  Was pooney a let down?

True story.

The following things are all true....but I shall not name names.

1.  One of my children actually had that as his screen saver on the "family" computer.  It was a while ago, but I just got my nerve up to share.  You'd think that once you are safely past potty training you will never hear about their bathroom habits again. 

 Where did I go wrong in my mothering?

2.  One of my children owed me $25 for an itunes card I purchased for him.  He promised to pay me back.  He did.  He paid me back $24.  When I inquired about the other dollar he said, and I quote...

"I charge one dollar for engaging conversation."

3.  I overheard one of my children say the following statement...

"If my life was a comedy/documentary like The Office I would have great ratings."

4.  And the last little ditty that made me decide to post the above photo....I have had at least one sick kid home all week.

One of my children actually said the following sentence to me this morning...

"I am legit sick today."

He and his "legit self" attended school today.

Hope you have a legit awesome weekend.

Well hello there.

Life is just ticking along here with the Frat Pack + Me.  The big news is that every now and then I look at my phone to discover someone has changed my screen saver.

I love surprises, so it's all good.

And I love me some cute packaging.  Anyone tried this coffee?

Oh, look.  Someone got a hold of the phone again.  Let me tell you about the photo I didn't upload.  That would be the one where he snapped a picture of me driving and added the caption...

"Big Mama out on the town."

I took issue with that Big Mama part.  Especially after I then discovered he used my pinterest app to "pin it."

Change my screensaver all you want to adorable photos of yourself, just do not pin me as "Big Mama out on the town."

This is what happens after I let my son use my shower.  I walked in to pick up his boxers he left on the floor {my apologies, future daughter-in-law} and saw this awesome shower art.

If you have little kids you are probably immune to their art.  You may even do what I used to do and bury it at the bottom of the trash or recycle bin.

I am here to tell you that their art pieces may be fewer and far between.

Then you'll be like me and desperately snap a photo of any art you are lucky enough to see.

Speaking of art, Friday Night Lights?  Yeah, I am hooked.  What can I say?  I am all caught up on Downton Abbey.

Church.  Let me tell you about our last visit.  Let me preface this story with the fact that we go every single weekend.  My boys behave in church.  I am not bragging, I am just setting the story up.

Well, last weekend Tim was out of town and it was just the boys and I.

At one point they are cracking up and I lean over and say what's so funny?

They say, Oh, just the pimp grandma.

Now you tell me you wouldn't laugh.

There she sat in a purple suit and purple hat tilted jauntily on her head, looking downright adorable.  Precious.  But I must admit, kinda pimpish.

Well, I shouldn't have laughed because the next second I looked over and my oldest was wearing 3D glasses.

You give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile.

It's genetic probably.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you will know Toot Toot has a penchant for cursing and giggling in church.

So on to Valentine's Day, Frat Pack style...

No mushy hearts here.  Up in here it's chocolate fish for my boys.  These were a hit.  Actually anything that is edible is a hit with these boys.

A sweet card from my sweetheart.  He's a keeper.

And we concluded the evening with a romantic lobster tail dinner for Tim and I.  Oh, and our 14 year old.  It's how we roll.  Our older child had his fill of fried chicken whilst earning a paycheck.  We are getting used to this new normal.

So, whew.  That's it.  And to think, when I started writing this post I thought I had nothing to say.

Thanks for sticking around.  You sure know how to make a girl feel loved.

How has your week been?

Last weekend I went to Charleston.

My friend and I had a little respite from being wives + moms and headed to Charleston last weekend.

If you are the type bored by people's vacation photos I wouldn't blame you for clicking away.

I brought my big 'ol DSLR yet relied mostly on my phone and

...wait for it....

Instagram.

I know you are shocked.

I love pretty lattes.

Oh, have you tried these?  We found them in a coffee shop and I was thrilled!  I love oatmeal!  I bought a few extra and brought them home.  But I am saving them.

For what, I have no idea.

If you have a chalkboard in your establishment I am gonna snap a photo.  It's how I roll.  Maybe it's the elementary school teacher in me.

Even though it seems in today's classrooms they have white boards and smart boards.

I am old school.  Give me a good old fashioned blackboard any day.

And cheese boards.  Any. dang. day.  I am ashamed to admit that I polished off that whole cheese board alone.  My friend isn't a big cheese person.  I don't hold it against her.  It simply means more for me.

Cheese is clean, right?

And that salad?  Yum.  Arugula, beets, goat cheese and fried leeks.  Delicious!

Then we decided to get all touristy.  What can I say?  Our feet were tired.

Sorry for that hat in this shot.  The lady in front of us was oblivious as she chatted on her cell phone almost the whole carriage ride.  The tour guide did an excellent job of ignoring it.  I kind of wanted to politely thump tap her and tell her to shush.

We attended mass here on Sunday.  It was worth the trip!  This church has been around since the late 1700's and had the tiniest pews I've ever sat in.  I do believe our rears have gotten bigger over the years.  I kept imagining women in big giant skirts perched on these pews and wondering how they managed that.  I'll bet they didn't call them badonkadonks either.  Or own fart machines.

{remind me to tell you the story one day of what my sister and I called farts growing up.  Fart in our home was a bad word.  Would you be interested in that story?}

And this photo is courtesy of a missed turn on the ride home!  

It was a great weekend away!  Thank you, friend!  {You know who you are!}

Dream Job

{photo from 2007}

While the bulk of blog land seems to be writing about the adorable antics of their small children I feel compelled to blog about my son's cardiovascular health.

You see, my son has procured his dream job.  This is something he did completely on his own.  I have very mixed feelings about it.  I am proud of his initiative and drive.

Even if it is for greasy fried chicken and sweet tea.

But I worry.

Will he be able to balance this with school?

Will he be okay driving after dark?

Will he keep his uniform clean?

Will he be safe?

Will his cardiovascular system survive this?

I know he will learn some very valuable lessons.  He will.

And I will continue to fight the urge to call his boss and let her know how many hours his Mama thinks he can handle.

And how late I think he should work.

And remind her he is a student first.

And tell her family dinners are important many nights a week.

And how important it is for us to attend Church together.

I will resist.  But it is hard.  Another lesson in letting go and allowing our children to find their way.

I daresay this has been as exciting and difficult as that first word, that first step, that first day of school, that first time behind the wheel of a car.

Scratch that...nothing can top the first time they drive.

But here's the thing...when this chicken joint called and their name showed up on caller ID, my son put his hands in prayer position and said, 

"Dream job."

Now, how could I squash that?

Good luck, Peejie Weegie.  I love you with all my heart and I wish you the best in your fried chicken adventure.  Thank you for teaching me to let go and allowing you to learn.

I wish you the best.  I will be here waiting.

With plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Love,

Your Mom

My three sons.

I hosted book club the last week of January.  I wanted everything just so.  So I went all Pinteresty and did a little Valentine's Day theme.  I ordered cupcakes and surrounded them with cute conversation hearts.  I opened a bottle of wine and even turned on music.

The ladies and I had a good conversation going when I got this text message from my son...

You see, he owns a remote control fart machine.  Ay yi yi.

If you are old enough to remember the show My Three Sons, can you just sing the theme song with me right now.

I'll swing my arms together.

{This might only make sense to my sister and I...if she's reading}

I daresay the Mister is the most Frat Packy of them all.

It's why I need a glass of wine every now and again.

Let's shift gears, shall we?

I recently met a friend for coffee and book chit chat when I looked down and noticed that the light looked cool.  Whipped out the phone camera and snapped a photo.

This is a VERY GOOD friend because she didn't even ask what I was doing.

Don't you love friends like that?

She is a blessing, for sure!

Speaking of good friends, look what my sweet friend Janie mailed me! Real, bona fide hankies, y'all!

I feel so Downton Abbey!

And she even put that cute tag on there!  She is the berries.  Janie, I just flat out love my hankies.

Thank you!