Help Needy Kids get Clothes

The PTA Clothing Center needs your 2006-07 KNOX COUNTY SCHOOL COUPONS!!

If you do not plan to use the Wal-Mart coupons for JEANS and UNDERWEAR, please send them to the PTA Clothing Center, 232 Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Each child that visits the Clothing Center receives new underwear and a pair of jeans. These are items that the Clothing Center must purchase. The more coupons we can get donated, the better for the kids and the PTA Clothing Center.

You can see the info on the Knox County Schools website at http://www.kcs.k12tn.net/community/community.htm

Summer Stuff for Moms and Kids

Well, I can't sleep. My body is not used to naps, especially the three hour one I took this afternoon. So, I thought I'd post a random blog. Just some ideas to keep your kids busy this summer without having your husband mad at you for spending too much money...apparently I spend more money than usual in the summer. I guess I'm not used to the extra time, and don't quite know what to do with myself. Buying a new shirt for me or a new toy for Connor always seems like a good idea at the time!

Giant Art- Give your kids a piece of posterboard (Connor calls it "giant paper"), a bucket of crayons, a roll of stickers, and let them go to town! Connor and my niece thought this was so much fun! It kept them entertained for a LONG time!

Popcorn Treasure Hunt- Find a giant bowl or bucket and bury little treasures for your kids to find in popcorn kernels. I lay down a cheap plastic tablecloth and it makes for an easy clean-up. Connor loves this, and he loves to hide things for me to find too!

Water Balloon Fight- In the dollar bin at Target, they have a pack of 75 water balloons with a special attachment for your sink or hose that makes filling them up a breeze. This was SO MUCH FUN!

Noodle Fight- Okay, so don't judge my parenting, but those pool noodles make some awesome pirate swords. Connor and I can play "sword fight" in the yard without hurting each other, and it keeps his interest for a while. Aaargghhh!

Visit any of the area’s water play areas. In Powell, we have one off of Emory Rd. next to the highschool, there is a small one in Market Square, one in Carl Cowan Park, and there is a GIANT fountain at the World’s Fair Park, so big in fact that Connor was scared to death and didn’t want to play. He said, “I’ll get blown up in the sky and never see my Mommy and Daddy again!” There are probably more, but those are the only ones we’ve visited!

Take your kids to Dollywood and Splash Country. Every year, we buy a season pass and we totally get our money’s worth. Kids 3 and under are free, so it’s pretty affordable! It’s totally one of those things that is not much fun for the adults, but your kids will have so much fun, it will make you smile!

Bounce House- Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning from 10-12 , they have open play time. It is VERY fun and only $5.50 per child. Don’t forget your socks!

Knox Co. Library Summer Reading Program- Sign your kids up for the Summer Reading Program. Kids can earn lots of prizes! Also, look into everything that the Knox. Co. Librarty has going on this summer. They are having everything from puppets to the Zoomobile visiting their libraries.

Free movies on Tuedsay and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. at all Regal Cinemas.

Free Craft time at AC Moore at 2p.m on Tuesday and Thursdays.

Bruster’s Ice Cream…always a hit in our house! Under 40” gets free ice cream!

Let’s hear more...for the sake of Greg's wallet!

Greg Told me to Post Something

Greg told me tonight that I needed to post something because I hadn't in so long, so I guess I need to think of something somewhat interesting............

Last week was busy, lots of meetings. I still had a blast with Connor and soaked up as much time with him as I could. I completely let the house go and spent every second with Connor having fun.....which is huge because tonight I asked Connor, "What does Mom do?" he said, "Clean the house!" "What does Dad do?" he said, "Play with me!" I really am a good mom, I promise! There is just always a lot to clean up with two boys!

Connor and I made our weekly trip to Dollywood/Splash Country. This week we went to Dollywood (we rotate every other week). I got to see Dolly Parton in person, like 3 feet from me. It was a little weird! She looked so fake that at first, I thought it was an impersonator. She looked like a Madame Tussaud's Wax Figure of herself! I must admit, it freaked me out a little. I have never seen someone look so artificial, but I guess that's part of who she is. Sorry to admit it, but I have always loved Dolly, ever since she was in 9 to 5, one of my very favorite movies growing up. My parents love to tell the story of when I was a little girl and it came on TV at like 5 a.m. and I told them I was going to get up and watch it. They didn't think I'd get up that early to watch a movie, but sure enough they came in and there I was eating carrots and watching 9 to 5. (Why do I even remember that I was eating carrots?) See, even as a little girl, I was stubborn and determined to do what people thought I coudn't.

I spent a lot of time this weekend with several friends that I hadn't seen in a while, and of course spent a lot of time at Mom and Dad's swimming. Connor was able to swim for a little while Sunday night without water wings, or anything. He is doing great in the water! I think he is going to have the whole swimming thing down by the end of the summer. We also bought Connor a Power Wheels on Friday, so he has been having some big time fun with that! He calls it his "Monster Truck." He is hilarious in it!

I guess I'll end this blog about nothing with a funny Connor story. Tonight, Greg and I were talking to Connor about his dinner. I was trying to convince him that he really needed to eat some yummy veggies so he could grow up big and strong. He looked at me, without even missing a beat and said, "Well, I don't need to eat them because Daddy always says he wants me to stay little." How does a three year old even think that quickly to make that kind of comeback? Am I in trouble here?

The Best of Both Worlds

Okay, I'm getting spolied! Working part-time RULES! I have been working 25 hours a week teaching summer school. It is super easy, very laid back, and actually pretty fun. It's so neat teaching only seven kids. Usually in the summer, I am bored out of my mind and feel useless when I'm not working. During the year, I feel too busy....this is perfect! Anyone know anyone who would hire a teacher for only 25 hours a week? And.... I still have to get my full-time salary! I know, dream on! I don't know what I am going to do in August when I have to go back to working full-time.

This week was so much fun. I got to make extra money, and still spend a ton of time with Connor. It was totally the best of both worlds. We did swim lessons two days this week, spent one afternoon at the library, spent one afternoon taking a VERY long nap, and Friday, we spent the day at Splash Country. Saturday we hung out around the house, and then went over to Mom and Dad's to swim. My niece (who is only 2 weeks younger than Connor) came over to swim, and she ended up coming home with us and spending the night. We had so much fun! We played with every toy in this house, watched a couple of cartoons, colored giant pictures, and had a water balloon fight. Connor cried when we took her home. On the way home, he kept saying, "I want Marion!" Those of you who have two kids close together...I have a whole new respect for you! How do you do it? I am so tired, even though they both are very well behaved! And we won't talk about the damage to my house! It was worth it. They both had a blast! However, I am very glad my children will be several years apart!

Connor is doing so awesome swimming this year! He is like a little fish in the water. He loves it so much! My goal was to have him out of the lifejacket and only in water wings by the end of the summer, and he is already there! He reminds me of myself growing up. I lived in the pool in our backyard! He is even getting used to the earplugs and headband thing he has to wear to keep the water out of his tubes. I am praying those tubes fall out by next summer, so he won't have to deal with this again next year.

This week will be long. I have to work late every day, because I have to go to two inservices in the afternoon. We have to have way more inservice hours next year, so I am trying to do as much as I can now, so I don't have to give up my evenings in the fall. I am looking forward to my Girl's Night....Mandy and Jaime...don't back out on me! Wednesday night, World Grotto, 6-8 p.m........BE THERE! Anyone else reading this, you can come too! $5 Manicures and if you enjoy adult beverages, they have $3 Martinis and Cosmopolitans. If not, come get a manicure and drink a Coke! You know your husband owes you a night out! Friday, I am planning on letting Connor skip swim lessons and taking him to the kick-off of Kids Fest at Dollywood.

Another busy week....another week of my life!

God, Thank you for my friends.

My Friday was lousy....really lousy. Not only did I have to go back to work, and feel guilty about leaving Connor when I really didn't have to, but my mouth was killing me from the dentist, and sometimes working at an elementary school is like being in highschool all over again. Petty arguments.....backstabbing....two-faced "friends".......gossip, gossip, gossip.....cliques, mean-spirited actions....you get the idea. Put 100 women in a building together all day long and this is what you get...sorry girls, but you know it's true! Being back in the building just made me all sour because I was ready to escape that by the end of the year.

Anyways, all day Friday, I just didn't want to be there. It took a lot of cheering up and a good time at the drive-in on Friday night to bring a smile to my face (We saw Shrek 3 and Spiderman 3). So, on Saturday, I was still feeling all hopelessly blah, but I ended up having a great weekend. On Saturday, our good friends, Nancy and Jeff came in from Nashville, and we have never been together when I didn't wish we had more time. We ate at Trio, let our boys play in the fountains at Market Square, ate Bruster's ice cream, and stayed up late talking about nothing and everything at the same time. We also marveled at how our two sons, completely unrelated, could pass for brothers. Same hair color, same skin, same eyes...it's freaky!

On Sunday, we visited Crossings. Connor was totally confused to go to church in a movie theatre. When we pulled in, he asked me, "Mom, are we going to see a movie?" I told him, "No, we're going to church." He said, "Oh!" with a really weird look on his face. As we walked up the ramp to the theatre, he looked at all the movie posters, and then as he walked inside and saw the concession stand his face lit up and he said, "Mom, this is a very special kind of church." It was really funny. We got to see lots of faces we haven't seen in a while, and it was a great service.

After lunch at my very favorite restaurant, Puleo's, Mandy and I hosted a tea for some friends and family. I got to talk to friends that I hadn't seen in a while, and once again, Mandy and I were amazed at how well we can work together and pull off something at the last minute,and when we're of course, running behind! (Her bowls matched my table decorations, without planning for it! We're dorks!) And of course, I got to laugh hard at how funny Jaime Below is (I'm really going to miss her!) and see her very interesting little pen she had with her! After the Haney's left on Sunday, a friend we haven't spent time with in a while brought his family over and dessert. It was great to get reconnected!

So, even though Friday I was blah, tonight I sit here with a smile on my face, thankful for all my friends. Especially you, Mandy and Nancy, two of my very best friends. Thank you for making me laugh and for brightening up my weekend. Thank you for being the opposite of everything that was getting me down at work. You reminded me how true friends make you feel. I love you both!

And tomorrow...back to the trenches.