Tuesday

Do you ever have one of those days where you just want to smack your kids into next week? And the only reason you don't is because you're afraid they might grow up to be famous like Chevy Chase and write a tell-all about how mean you were and excerpts of it would be featured in People magazine? Or is that just me? Luke's been gone a lot this week. It's time for him to come home.

Here are some pictures of my kids at moments today when their cheeks--either set--were not in imminent danger. Note: Mary Kate was not in any position to be threatened. She was lovely today, at least to me.

The Better Pictures

So a few weeks back I posted some proofs that I had bought from a photo session, and I mentioned that the really cute ones were yet to come. After that I got a few earfuls about how I was crazy if I didn't think those two were cute, but whatever. I finally got them and here are the two that I deemed the best...and since I birthed the subjects, only my opinion counts anyway.

Gigi and Grandpa, you'll be getting a 5 x 7 of the one above the next time I see you. :) I love the one below.

So, a little bit about me. As you can see, I got my hair cut, or chopped for that matter. I like it alright, Luke will not admit it, but he doesn't like it. Guys like long hair. I think it's an inate characteristic left over from the caveman days when dudes could just grab a chick by her weave and haul her around. Anyway, I needed a major change--usually around this time of year, the heat gets to me and I have to get rid of ninety or so pounds of hair. So I'm glad of it for that, but I know I won't keep it. It's just a welcome change and now I'll grow it back out again...and my hair grows really fast. I've had similar cuts a few times before...it'll only be a matter of months before I have quite a long ponytail that Luke can grab at when he's not busy discovering fire. Okay, I meant that in the caveman sense, but I just realized how true it actually is. Maybe Luke's new pet name will be "Caveman". Yeah. We'll see if it sticks.

Kisses to all of you from me and me new hair!

Where's my mind been?

I'm not sure but definitely not on blogging. Yes, the few loyal fans I have remaining have commented to me on my lack of posting lately, and I have to admit...the interest is waning. Want proof? I went to my parents' house this weekend and did not even think to bring the camera. I don't know if it's a temporary thing, but I know when school starts in a few weeks, I'll be bizzy bizzy bizzy, so we'll just have to take what we can get, huh? Well, here's a little blogger love for those who still come around...

I snapped this picture of Ben at breakfast the other day. I don't know what kind of "It Boy" he thinks he is, but next thing you know I'll be having to buy him Vote or Die onesies and driving him through Jamba Juice on the way to preschool.

The Name Game (and some kid pics for Gigi)

Because Katie's was funny...

1. REAL NAME: Becky

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus "-izzle"): Becizzle...doesn't really have a great ring to it. I have no street cred.

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal): What???? How does this make me a detective? Is it my favorite color to wear or to look at? I need a detective to figure this one out. Okay...Brown Otter. That was dumb.

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name and current street): I'm not putting my street name on the blog cause I am paranoid like that, but here's what it would've been three years ago before I moved: Leigh Brandon

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name): Mot Be Mag...okay, I wish that one was cooler. I love Star Wars.

6. YOUR SUPER HERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): The Pink Marguerita (I added the The because it makes it better...or it just makes me sound like a cheesy all-you-can-eat Tex Mex joint...)

7. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's middle name and father's middle name - switch if you are male): Virginia Benner

8. YOUR GOTH NAME: ("Black" and the name of one of your pets): Black Wilson...Black Savannah...it's not working.

9. YOUR CALL GIRL NAME (name of your first pet + first street you lived on): Chevy Biscayne (and apparently I'm a call boy in drag...)

So onto more family-oriented things, some pics of the kids...doing nothing in particular. Patrick is getting more and more like his daddy, and now the only time I can snap a photo is when he's asleep:

Ben, on the other hand, is more than happy to accommodate the lens. Here he is hamming it up in all his glory:

His hair is getting so long, but when it's humid it curls up around his ears and is so cute, so I'm leaving it for now. Why mess with a good thing? Anyway, there's my kids and not much else is new, so later!

Good Self-Esteem

Mommy, I'm practicing swimming without floaties!!!

Yes Patrick! And you've done so well, I bet by next summer, you'll have it all figured out!

And then I'll be perfect!!!

Fireworks Galore

We did go to a few fireworks shows, but I'm just now sitting down to post about them. I've got to admit, I am a busy girl now that Luke only works a few days a week. We've been spending some great quality family time together, making up for the past few years I guess!!! So anyway...about the fireworks...

On the actual Fourth, we went to the park to watch the show from there. They did a pretty great show I think, but we had to sit and wait a looooong time. Oh well--I snapped some cute pics while we were waiting. All the red, white and blue makes for a great shot!! As I've said, I *heart* the Fourth of July!

Then on Saturday, we went to the baseball game and they had a Salute to America, which meant fireworks after the game. Gigi and Grandpa came up to go with us, and Grandma and her friend Mrs. Milliman were there. It was a fun night, except that since it had rained earlier in the day, they halted play for an hour to put sand on the infield. It was just wrong to make us sit and wait; I say let the players slip and get dirty--more entertaining!!

Luckily, Grandma brought the M&Ms to keep my kids occupied. Gigi tried to keep them happy very VERY late into the eighth inning. The game didn't end until 11:15, so we had to make the choice to walk to the car during the ninth (we were up six runs, so I didn't think we'd miss anything) and watch the fireworks from there. Not as much fun, but totally necessary at almost midnight. We scooted out with no traffic, so it was a good plan.

The kids were exhausted the next day...no more late nights for us for a while!!!

Let Freedom Ring-a Ding Ding!

As I've said before, today is my favorite holiday because it is so easy and fun. Everything's free and there's no three weeks of prep involved...just grill some chicken, make a fruit salad, serve popsicles and voila! The 4th of July! We celebrated today by returning to Cave Spring for our annual slice of Americana pie by watching the parade. Last year was our first year going to the parade; this year I found out that it was actually started twenty-something years ago by Christa and her little boys on a dreary 4th and has turned into a town spectacle. Everything she touches turns to gold, I swear. And of course it was cute as can be and my kids loved it.

Waiting for it to get started. This picture below is an instant favorite.

The walkers come first, then there are wagons and motorcycles and 4-wheelers and horses and tractors and floats and finally the fire engines bring up the tail end. I didn't want to take a whole lot of pictures, but here's Rebeckah walking with Annmarie and one of my old fourth-grade students from waaaayyyyy back in the day, Ivy. Ivy was the one who told me as I was silently flipping out the Thursday before my wedding that maybe I should just go home. She and her brother were some of my favorite students.

Tom on his motorcycle. This one's for you, Katie. ;)

Then we went over to Tom's house to swim and eat some chicken and other yummy stuff. We have been blessed with really cool overcast weather the past few days, but the sun did start to peek out, so I ventured into the pool. Joan took these pics for me since I have no pictures of Ben swimming because he likes me to get in the pool with him. But he is a great swimmer and he likes to jump off the side and kick by himself, and now I've got pictures to prove it in case he changes his mind next year.

Where there's food, there's Ben.

Tonight we're hitting the fireworks show, so if I take pictures, I'll put them up tomorrow. Luke is working today, which is weird, because even though he used to work all the time, he always got to take the 4th off. Now he hardly works at all, but he's missing today. We're not complaining though...he gets holiday pay, which I think is even better than overtime, and we need it! Plus, I know he's secretly hoping some drunk redneck sets their backyard on fire with bottle rockets tonight so they can see a little bit of action.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Family Portrait

Yesterday the kiddies and I went to Jim's house for a cook-out and to see Scott and Jennifer and their crew, who are in town for a couple of weeks. This was the one and only time (for a least a year or so) that all of Grandma's great-grandchildren were in the same place with her, so naturally we had to take a picture...and naturally, one of my children had to make it difficult...

I'm not exactly sure what Ben's problem was, but as soon as he saw all the cameras, he started high-tailing it down the driveway and was not happy to be caught and brought back. Session #1 (on the steps) did not go so well. Then somebody had to the good idea to give him candy and all was right in the world again. Except for the fact that it was 900 degrees outside and as we stood taking these pictures, we all started melting into little puddles in the pine straw.

Back row: Ashlyn holding Skylar, Haley, Grandma
Front row: Ben, Mary Kate, Owen and Patrick

Yes, this is really the best we could do. Jennifer and Brian and Pam were also snapping pictures, so maybe they got a better one. I'm just happy you can see everyone's face. Anyway, I'm glad we took the picture. Grandma and seven beautiful great-grandkids--she's a lucky lady!