Redneck Yacht Club

This is the kind of fun you get to have when the mama's and the poppa's visit! We decided on the lake this fine HOT (over 100) Saturday. We had to take 2 cars and for that I was thankful. I'm not much of a fisher but I do love to ride/play on the lake. This made it easy to do both.

The boys took off with the boat in tow and mom and I were in charge of grabbing the fast food on the way. At 10:30, we pulled up to McDonald's and placed our order for 6 cheeseburgers and a 50 piece nuggets. Did you know they don't stop serving breakfast until 11? Well, they apparently didn't get up at 530 with kids!

We drove to Sanford, sat in the parking lot for 10 minutes all to obtain our daily cholesterol. After we accomplished that mission, we were on the lake and enjoying our voyage and our $20 heart attack.

Jason and I were able to go one the tube together for once and it was really fun. He got up on ONE ski (showoff!) and then rode around on 2 for a while.

We saw one of this years new bald eagles flying around and Jackson got to show off one of his favorite places on the lake...."Look, nana, there it is...Birrrrrrrrd island". It's a creepy little island in the middle of the lake with large nests and infested with weird water birds on and surrounding it. We like to chase them around in the boat and watch them fly off.

Nearing our time to evacuate the lake and let the big boys fish, that's when we found our new hangout. I'm half kidding and half not but we arrived at the lake's official redneck riviera! Boat's strung up together, people floating on noodles with their beer in blue jean coozies. Yes, that's a pontoon boat with a SLIDE built onto it. There was even a guy floating around on his surf board with a paddle. It was redneck heaven and we are thinking of joining them next time!
Maybe we'll be members of the redneck yacht club too!

DON'T drink that

You've seen this commercial. You know, the "vegetable count" over you head by v8 fusion.

Apparently, Jackson has seen it too.

Yesterday on a quick shopping trip to target, I was off couponing and Jason and the boys stopped by the snack bar to grab a couple of "get me outta here drinks." Jackson choose an icee but Jason picked a Fuse fruit drink.

Jackson said to him, " DON'T drink that, it'll make a number pop up over your head!"

Yes, their marketing is working. Just not in the way it was intended.

Health, Happiness and the pursuit of adorable clothing

Today I accomplished a great undertaking. Me and my 2 boys were out the door and on the way to Raleigh at 8:30 am. After packing lots of snacks and taking a few neighborhood orders, we were off to the Chez Ami outlet store. For those that don't follow the southern trend of children's trunk shows, Chez Ami is one of those catalog order clothing lines that you can match and coordinate kids clothes. The catalog sports pricey coordinating clothing for siblings with embrodiery and bright colors. It's heaven to go to one of their tent sales where you can get things around 75% off. Thanks to a bag of Reeces Pieces, Jackson and Lincoln endured an hour of me pacing around trying to find the perfect coordinating outfits for the 2 of them. There is no form of bribery that isn't worth them looking alike and adorable in the fall

A new Trader Joes was discovered on Wake Forrest Rd. and we had to go check it out. We also had neighborhood orders to fill, ok, and I admit, I had ran out of the $4 a bottle Merlot that I love from there. So Jackson pushed his cart around collecting our choices and helping me make important decisions, such as, one bottle or two? It was a little past lunchtime and I didn't have much of a plan on lunch options. I took the next best thing and passed out TJ's puff corn in the car. We were searching for a frozen yogurt bar that I'd heard about. Small and quaint, and 4 miles in the opposite direction, we found it and it was GOOD. It was also lunch. {this is where the HAPPINESS comes in} I'm not usually the ice cream for lunch kind of mom but really, they deserved a treat for hanging with me for the day and it wasn't over yet.

We departed for the State farmers market and although we'd been there before, I'd forgotten what a treat it was to go there when things are in full season. We arrived to bountiful booths with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Peaches, Potatoes, and Peppers! Corn, Watermelon, Blueberries and flowers fill the open air market. The tomatoes come in every possible color and variety. They have taste test of each of their best produce and Jackson walked around tasting each thing and encouraging me to do the same. Earlier in the day, in a random conversation, Jackson had asked me to buy him a cactus and a palm tree because those were his favorite and his daddy said they were too expensive at walmart. (not sure at all where that came from)Well, what do you know, among all the produce, they also sell plants at the farmers market and included in those are tiny little cacti. We chose 2 to bring home. Dangerous ones too. I hope I'm not the one who gets poked on these babies.

We had a great day, we got some healthy eats, had a happy lunch and fulfilled the present desire for adorable clothing for the kids. Don't worry, I won't be buying the coordinating outfits for either Jason or I. I'll stick to matching my clothes and earrings!

Oh the fun we have and the mess we make!

So this week alone, I've been a hotel manager, a bug collector and a customer at a local produce stand. Oh, and how could I forget restaurant owner. Jackson really likes to pretend and in his imagination, he and Lincoln become the adults. This week, they were staying at my hotel and having breakfast at my place while telling me about his sons. His sons were named Daddy, Papa Rex, and Paw Paw. I inquired into what his sons do and he said "Daddy drives an Army truck, Papa Rex flies an airplane around and Paw Paw just rides around and plays in ice. (FYI my dad runs 4 self serve ice machines and Jackson thinks they are the "coolest")
He and his brother Lincoln were staying in their respective rooms at my "hotel". They enjoyed a nice meal of frozen pizza at my restaurant too. He always says thank you for the great food he enjoys at my place!

I got this corn from the local produce farm and Jackson asked if he could sell it from his Gator in the back yard. (also FYI, my grandfather sells produce grown in his garden at his home in Alabama. He took the 3 ears out and then came inside and announced that there was corn for sale. I went outside to purchase some corn for dinner and as a bonus while buying an ear, he showed me how you can also use the corn silks as a mustache!

We were hosting a little dinner party and here Jackson hosts his own dinner party with lemonade and cheese. He sold his lemonade to our dinner party guests. I'm pretty sure Roxy ate the cheese when he walked away.


Lincoln gets his mess on with his first taste of spaghetti. In true Lincoln style, he didn't leave a spec on his plate.

These are the bugs collected just this week. I have to admit the June bug is dead but I am the lucky one that found it. Knowing my bug crazed 4 year old, I squealed as I picked it up and ran it to it's final resting place in the jar.

We even make messes when we make muffins for morning playdates!

Or when neighbors bring over chocolate cupcakes! Linc is beginning to be an old pro at cupcakes. He finds using both hands is the most effective way to indulge.

But these are the messes I want to remember forever. The huge imagination, mess in the kitchen, dirty faces to clean up.

Oh, and I almost forgot my altercation with the law this week. You see a policeman in my home arrested me. Why you ask? It was not because my shorts were too short, although that is a possibility, it was for not wearing my seatbelt. Now I know, when I see the handcuffs come out, RUN!

Happy to Be

Today is one of those days. The kind of day you accomplish what you set out to do by getting up EXTREMELY early and meticulously planning down to our clothing for the day. It is also one of those days I'm really happy to have the luxury to be a stay at home mom. It's the little things, you know.
I ran my 4 miles with a friend at 545am. I came home, showered, dressed and fed 2 boys and poured a large cup of coffee before loading everyone up and heading to the car. (out the door by 8am really is an accomplishment)
We dropped Roxy off for her groomer appointment and went to the doctor for Lincoln's 12 month shots. I had remembered the lack of entertainment there and brought 5 books with me to keep my men still and quiet. I also miraculously had 2 organic lollipops that helped make the shots go off with not much more than a whimper. It is highly recommended. Jackson also had one for being such a good big brother.
After the doctor, we went into downtown Sanford and parked to just walk around and browse the shops there. We were on our way to play on the train but little did Jackson know, we took the long way around so I could window shop. We strolled the streets and I went into a few boutiques and antique shops. I may have even found another bed frame for when we put the boys in the same room. We found out about The Jungle Book play that is performed by children in August and we're making plans for that. We finally made it to the depot park and I had never realized that they have a fountain/splash pad that you can play in. Jackson happily played on the locomotive in the park while Lincoln and I watched the trains go by just meters away. When we were officially melting, we stopped in a local pizzeria for a lunch date. We were infringing on Lincoln's nap time but it was a great little lunch for us. We even found out about music in the depot park on Friday nights and now have a "date night" planned for next weekend.
We headed home and Lincoln was asleep by the time we started the car.
Yes, today was a successful day. Two cute boys, lots accomplished and quality time was spent. Today is one of those days, I'm just Happy to Be.