The great American Family weekend!

A few weeks ago, we had what was possibly our last "normal" weekend here in Nashville.  From here on out, every single weekend is filled with to-do's and prior commitments before our move to Houston in Early June.  That's a pretty packed spring we've got before us.  If the blog suffers, at least you'll know why.  That's my excuse for today anyway.  

On Friday night, my mom's bible study group had a mom's night out at a local taco place.  Sixteen moms and two tables full of laughter and fun.  While I was away, these adventurous guys decided it was the perfect night for a backyard camp out!  They had  been wanting to do it for a while but it had been too cold and has been since then come to think of it.  It was a fine night for a fire and tent camping.  When I returned, the boys were in pjs and had brushed teeth but were still telling ghost stories and playing with flashlights. Lincoln had some pretty funny versions of ghost stories.  Most began with "my great great great grandfader" and ended with someone's head rolling and turning into a monster.  That's my boy!   I said goodnight and before I could get inside, they were both asleep!  

For the record, I went inside to bed, call me a princess but I prefer the comfort of my Sterns and Foster mattress.  Around 1am, I heard Jason carrying the kids to their beds and as he climbed into bed with me he said it had gotten quite chilly and windy and that the camp out had been a success, he was done now.  Can't blame him one bit!

Jackson's first soccer game was bright and early.  He had missed the first practice because he was sick and the poor kid has never played soccer before but I want you to know that kid got out there and played soccer like he knew what he was doing.  He jumped right in and played and that's what team sports are all about!  He's learning too!  

This is our fruit rainbow!  We did this a few years ago and it was a smashing success and is the perfect afternoon snack.  The chocolate coins at the end was a special touch and probably the most enjoyed!  So easy to do and pretty too!

Sunday was St. Patrick's day.  We only celebrate St. Patrick's day by wearing green. That's all my family did and since we don't believe in Leprechauns  we kept it simple.  We decked out in green for church thought, nobody was going to be pinching us!  

Oh, I did also make corned beef and colcannon.  That's mashed potatoes with cauliflower and kale.  It was delicious. Possibly the best mashed potatoes I've ever made!  

On Sunday afternoon, Dad needed a study break so the boys and I went over to the Percy Warner Park to run out a little energy.  We did that for sure.  Little Lucy joined us and really had a good time.  I also had a good time giving her a bath the next day!

We hiked to the top of the mountain and stood on the lookout and then ran all the way back down!  We visited the dirt park and the frog pond.  Interesting things were going on at the frog pond.  It was quite noisy, and lots of the frogs were stacked on top of one another.  Hmmm?  Spring maybe?  We did spot several bunches of frog eggs and the boys had a blast catching a few of the "single" frogs.  

We watched this movie together on Saturday night.  It was a really good one!  Jackson really enjoyed it and he's the one that picked it out.

Jason and I had our regular Friday Korean lunch.  We've been making a habit of eating it nearly every Friday.  It's just that good!  When we're done eating it, I'm already to eat it again.  Move over sushi, you've got some competition!  

That's our great American family weekend.  The last of it's kind here in Nashville.  In the coming weeks, we have a trip to Houston, Jason's school Prom, graduation, a trip to Mexico after graduation and movers coming to pack our things.  

What does YOUR great American family weekend look like?

A walk on the Wild Side!

(I love our shadows here!)

It finally got above 40 today and the sun came out for the first time all week.  After 2 days at home with a sick kid, we put on coats and hit the door running!  We were actually headed to the Target park (they don't know that) but we took a detour.  I learned long ago to only tell them what is necessary and what they need to know.  If they don't know my plans, I can change them when/if I want to.  I enjoy being the BOSS of the kids more than I should sometimes!  So, on the way out we stopped at our favorite "secret" buttercup pickin' place to see if there were any left to pick.  It's an OLD, like 1800 old, cemetery that is very very unkempt at the top of the hill where you can put your canoe into the harpeth.  It's a little sad to see those graves so disrespected but then again, those folks don't care and the folks that did care about them are also probably in a cemetery somewhere so what will be, will be. 

 After we'd filled each hand with a fistfull of my favorite spring flower, we started down the trail to the river.  My boys think this is far more fun that any playground they could play on and it ensure's I'm totally engaged with them.  They don't need a playground and that's music to my ears!  Not far down the pathway Jackson encounters THIS.

  The questions ensue, "Mom, what kind are they? Was someone murdered here?  Do you think it's an animal of some kind?  Is that a jaw bone?".  Of course I had no idea and my only thought was DO NOT TOUCH IT!  but I made up a great story about it being a deer that had been hit by a car and had ran down to the trail.  It's believable.  

 Yeah, there's nothing mischievous about this stick carrying 3 year old!  I just wouldn't find myself within a few feet of him.  You know, just in case that stick gets out of hand!

 What is it with kids and water.  They are physically unable to resist getting in it.  Jackson is at least careful enough not to soak his shoes before we run errands.  Lincoln hasn't gained that knowledge yet and he took one giant step into the water before I caught him.  Oh, well.  A little water never hurt anyone!  This is the canoe launch into the harpeth river and also the drainage pipe underneath I-40.  My, oh, my what wonderful bits of nature we have at our disposal!  Next year at this time we'll be exploring the bayou.  One can only hope it's half as clean as this is!

 I'm not sure how you're supposed to get into a canoe and launch it from here but then again, this girl is no experienced canoer.  I leave all my canoeing to Jason.  I'm more along for the ride.  You can read about my previous canoe trip HERE.

 On the walk back.  Lincoln discovered shells in the gravel.  He had to point out every single one.  Right before he tossed it into the river with no regard to it's beauty or purpose.  That boy.  He has an agenda and it all leads to destruction.

 Jackson caught this little guy underneath one of the large stones.  He was moving kinda slowly with it being so dreadfully cold lately and the sun only peeking out for half of today.  Jackson LOVES to catch salamanders and this little baby was no exception.  That's Jackson's little hand and thumb so you can just imagine how small he was.  I don't even know how he spotted him but he's got a radar for such things.  We thought it best to let him go since it wasn't the season to bring home salamanders.  Here's hoping Texas has lots of nature to explore because these guys are ready to take it on!

 Then I really did have to go to Target so an after school snack was imperative and I had coupons!  The boys love Sonic but I have pretty much sworn off all fast food because I heard and believe, "if it comes through your window, it's not real food!" but I'm still allowing them to be children so while I ate TJ's whole grain chips and guacamole, I got them cheese sticks and a mini blast.  They had to share it so it was actually an exercise in good character as well.  Now I'm not saying it was successful but a lesson none the less.

A little bit of Nature, a little vitamin D.  It was good for them,  it was good for me!
Savoring the moments for they are only little once and we all know it goes by far too quickly.

Passover Fail and Tooth Fairy Beware

A few weeks ago, Lincoln visited my parents church.  He got a bag of drawings and crafts when he left and brought it home with him.  It sat on the table a day or two and then I took it out and he was standing nearby so I had him come and tell me about what he had learned.  There was a doodling picture first and he said, "I drew that".  Next, I pulled out a craft with popcicle sticks or cotton balls, I'm not sure now because next I pulled out this photo.  Through my wide eyed look, I managed to ask Lincoln, "What's this picture about?"

He nonchalantly told me, "Ah, Jesus just shot all the kids!"

WHAT?!?  I had to turn from him.  I was shocked.  I was horrified.  I was too speechless to even correct my obviously misled child.  

The picture alone was already graphic enough for the 3 year old set but to think MY child now thinks Jesus shot people, that he even had a GUN.  

Yep, looks like we have some work to do. 

 Let's start with "Jesus loves me" and go from there.

Jackson brought this home from school last week:

In case you can't read it,

 "this is a real tooth it does not look like one but it is a tooth  

sincerely Jackson 

 p.s  I am going to grab you! 

 me want you!"

His plan was to fool the tooth fairy into giving him money with this "fake" tooth.  He even fashioned a tooth out of paper and add a tinge of blood to make it believable.  

Oh, what a web we weave.  

 For the record, he hasn't gotten up the nerve to try it just yet.  If he did, I'm certain the tooth fairy would have written him back and he probably wouldn't like what she'd have to say!


On Friday we went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory play at St. Henry's catholic school nearby.  Before we left, we were discussing what school it was and I told Jackson it was a private school.

He of course thinks about it and then inquires  "What is a private school? Why is it private?"  Obviously referring to the "parts" form of private we use.  I told him it was a school not everyone could go to which left him with more questions.  "Why couldn't everyone go?  What do they do in private school?"  I got right to the point with, "It costs too much for us, honey" and that ended that.

This weekend in the car Lincoln was telling us a long drawn out story and was reminiscing by saying to Jackson, "A long time ago when I was a boy, and when you were a boy..." Jackson interrupted annoyingly saying, "Lincoln, we were ALWAYS boys!  Well... at least I was.  You used to be a girl but I've always been a boy!"  Oh, brothers!

We made a Sunday trip to the Kroger Clinic this weekend for Jackson.  I hardly ever have sick kids.  Ever. But if one of them has a fever you can mark your word, they are really sick.  Well, on Sunday, you'll have to wait even at Kroger Clinic.  Jackson was not too sick to be Mr. Talky and the guy across from him noticed his inquisitive nature (aka How much is one million times a billion?)  They middle aged guy asked if Jackson wanted to ask Siri on his ipad a question about populations or land mass.  When the ipad answered the question, it referred to him as "sexy beast."  Jackson didn't miss a beat snickering and asking him why his ipad called him "sexy beast".  I didn't bother to jump in while the man explained to my 7 year old why his ipad considered him a "sexy beast".  He wasted no time asking her to now call him "Allen".

I was making a smoothie for the kids for breakfast last week.  I had it packed with frozen fruits, milk, juice and then I topped it off with spinach to get some iron and greens into the kids without their knowledge.  Well, Lincoln walks around the corner, see the smoothie and loudly announces, "JACKSON, mom's putting salad in our smoothie again!"
You don't get much by these kids.  They drank it either way, at least Jackson did. Lincoln claimed, "he don't like salad!"