Taking my time

Time goes by pretty fast. 

Today I decided to try and enjoy some of the little things that happen around me.

Here are a few things I enjoyed today.

Nick showing me his new school ID picture
Bella goofing around wearing her sunglasses.
Bella skipping at the pool, acting all girly (excited to go down the slide)
Alex sneaking around the house (and outside the house) trying to scare Pippen. (This was actually really amusing)

Scary Journey's Unsolved Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Batteries

I have come upon an unsolved mystery in our household that I would like to share with you. I'm hoping you will be able to help me solve this case.

I have written about batteries before right here. I was upset that they were all laying around and how no one knew how to charge them. *

*charging batteries is quite simple. Place chargeable batteries in battery charger and plug in. 

I also complained that whenever I needed a battery (which is next to never) I could not find a charged battery. 

Apparently, all of the batteries in our house (particularly the AA batteries) are disappearing.  I'm not sure if they are walking out of our house by themselves or if there is a battery thief in our area that only visits our house with hopes to steal all of our chargeable batteries. 

Today I had to take Nick to work. Just as we were about to leave a fight broke out between Bella and Alex over batteries. Since there was yet another disappearance of batteries in the remote controls (including the XBox controls) Bella's Leapster was being fought over for batteries. Luckily, I was at the store earlier and something told me I shouldn't pass up that battery display without grabbing a package.  It was a temporary fix to a break out fight.  I thought it was a good move since I probably prevented World War III.  I can see the history books now: 

WWIII started in the house of Alex and Bella who began fighting one afternoon over the batteries in a Leapster.  (that were not even charged, by the way)   Soon, major retailers of batteries joined in the fight which then led to battery manufacturers, reporters and the paparazzi (hey, somebody had to record what was happening and take pictures!  Hope their camera's batteries were charged).

Well, all is calm now.  I am still searching for the missing batteries. 

And, if I ever meet up with that battery thief.......

My Garden

The garden is doing well.  I had to remove my zucchini plant once again.  It became monstrous and was taking over the entire garden.  The other plants are a little happier to have some more space to stretch out.  I'm going to miss having zucchini this year (the same thing happened to me last year).  I think next year I am going to give the zucchini plant a huge area outside of the garden.

 

 

tomato turning red

 

I had to pick my tomato before it became completely red.  Apparently there is a garden visitor who likes snacking on the tomatoes.  I wanted to be able to try them, too.  :)

And, here is part of our first harvest.  Some banana peppers, a few jalapenos, tomato and a few cherry tomatoes.

Rescue Dog Reunion Picnic

We attended a reunion for rescue dog's.  (Pippen is a rescue)  The shelter where we adopted Pippen has an annual picnic to get the dogs/puppies together.  It is a chance to hook up with your dog's litter mate (if he/she had one).

We got there early.  Pippen has a hard time being around other dogs.  He is a little aggressive.  (and that's an understatement)  We wanted him to get used to his surroundings and adjust to being around so many dogs/puppies. 

It took awhile, but, eventually he realized that the other dogs were not going to attack him and that they were friendly.  I was going to take a picture of RT and Pippen.  They were by themselves, about 50 feet from the rest of the picnic area.  I thought that might be how they would spend the entire picnic.

When we rescued Pippen, we were told he was a Labrador Retriever Mix.  His hair is (yellow) lab, but,  his face and tail, well, we aren't sure.  His head/face is definitely bull terrier.  In fact, a woman came up to us and started asking what breed is Pippen.  We said Lab, and.....she jumped in and said, Pit Bull Terrier.  (yea, we think he is part pit bull terrier)  

We did not get to meet Pippen's litter mate, but, we met quite a few other dogs. 

I thought this dog was so cute!  He went to take a drink of water and then just decided to lay down in the pool.  

 

He did this several times while we were at the picnic.

 We had a great time and wished we could have met Pippen's sister.  Maybe next time.

Pippen enjoying his reunion picnic

Cheerleading

Bella did a Cheerleading camp at our local High School (which happens to be Nick's high school). 

"GO.....BIG.....BLUE!"

Bella learned a few cheers and part of a dance routine in the four days that she was there.

If interested, here is a couple of links to some of her cheers and dances.  Just click on the word "link" below and it will bring you to one of her cheers or dances.  There are a total of five videos.

Link
Link
Link
Link
Link

*by the way, uploading these to YouTube took FOREVER!  I think everybody was uploading a video at the same time.

Bella had so much fun that she has decided to cheer this fall for a football team.  

 

Stay tuned for more cheer updates.

Quiet, Please!

Maybe it's the large group of teen boys in the basement playing video games and loud music.

Maybe its multiple kids running wildly through our house.

Maybe it is the multitude of questions that I am asked every minute of the day.

Maybe it's the arguing that goes on between the kids.

Maybe it's the door bell ringing.  (we do have an odd doorbell chime, but, I like it.  Except I don't like to hear it over and over and over and over...you get the point)

Maybe it's the Beatles music playing loudly (same songs, over and over and over again).

Maybe it's the phone ringing (we still have a land line, but it could be some one's cell ringing, too)

Where can a mom go to get some quiet time?

Your Mother Doesn't Live Here

Well, she does live here but she is not going to clean up after you.

 

So, when I walk into the kitchen and find this waiting for me....


 
 

 

Not exactly what I like to see after I have just cleaned the kitchen.  And, yes, I made the suspects clean this up.  I don't want to spend my day or all of my time in the kitchen cleaning.  Cleaning isn't my favorite thing to do especially when its an area that I have just recently cleaned.  Recently, meaning thirty minutes ago.

I had a talk with the suspects.*  Explained that we all have to clean up after ourselves.  Not to leave messes.  Yada-yada-yada. 

*Remember that no one admits to the crime.  They were not around the area at that time.  They had nothing to do in the area.  They were far, far away when this crime happened.  

I put up a sign in the kitchen on the counter.















So, like the sign says, "Clean up after yourself!"

Yea, fancy sign I made. I could have taken the time and perused Pinterest and put together a pretty, glittered sign that would look absolutely stunning in my kitchen.  Instead, I just got out my favorite Sharpie marker and a piece of scrap paper and wrote out what I wanted to say...."Clean up after yourself!" 

Maybe I will make a fancier one and share that at a later time.  For now, my sign is working its magic and my counters are staying "somewhat" clean.