tuesday with tommie

WHAT I’M READING: the latest Real Simple magazine

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Whatever is on the DVR, I haven't watched TV the last two nights! So I know Gossip Girl, Castle, Charm School, Medium, House, Desperate Housewives, Daisy of Love....oh yeah, some good "trash TV" as Will calls it.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: Josie snoring.....and Gossip Girl.

WHAT I’M WEARING: jammies

WHAT I’M EATING: had chicken quesadillas for dinner earlier

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: first day to let the kids run around in the sprinkler. They would run through the sprinkler, then come hug my legs. Lots of silly laughter!!

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: not much, spring allergies are not my friend. My nose is kind of stopped up!

Happy Tuesday, y'all

Note: tuesday with tommie pic circa summer 1991....bride's face blurred to protect the innocent.

Let me just say, a great deal of hair product and Aqua Net went into that hairdo.

Mother's Day: an interview

Picture of Will and me at the Mother's day tea at his preschool. Blurry, but the only one I could get on my Iphone. Also he is smooching his lips, so that I wouldn't see his food! silly boy!

Will: I really love it when my mom tickles me.
Livi: I really love it when my mom snuggles me.

W: My mom likes to snuggle.

L: My mom likes to love on me.

W: My mom always tells me, "Stop, chewing on baby." (**a little baby he sleeps with, no child is getting gnawed on my my little boy!)

L: My mom always tells me to "Clean my room!"

W: The best thing she does is love me.

L: The best thing she does is snuggle me.

W: It makes her happy when I kiss her until she laughs.

L: It makes her happy when I love on her.

W: My mom loves to cook
L: My mom loves to do the house blessing.

W: I like it when she hugs me.
L: I like it when she cooks dinner.

W: The best thing she cooks is pasta.
L: The best thing she cooks is cheesy pasta.

W: When my mom shops she likes to buy Cheese Its and chex mix

L: When my mom shops she likes to buy food.

W: My mom’s favorite household chore is getting it up and down (cleaning both floors)

L: My mom's favorite household chore is to clean the floors and use her new vacuum.

W: My mom’s favorite TV show is 'trash' tv
L: My mom's favorite TV show is the news.

W: At shops she likes to apples and bananas.

L: At shops she likes to buy mommy chips (tortilla chips).

W: At the hotel, she likes to swim in the pool.
L: At the hotel she likes to help us go to bed.

W: and L: If she could go on a trip, she would go to Disney world

W: I love my mom because she is my mommy

L: I love my mommy because I just love her.

This weekend, Will's soccer game got rained out.....so both he and Husband were able to go to Livi's first ballet recital. She is in "creative dance". It was quite cute to see all these 3 and 4 years old dancing to their songs.

Friday Fill In

And...here we go!

1. Apples are to oranges as laundry is to cleaning.

2. So happy it is the weekend and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear the quiet house, kids are sleeping.

4. You're a grand ol' flag. (Will is learning this for his preschool pre-K graduation.)

5. Do what you want to do, but have fun while you are doing it....it was raining cats and dogs today. This is the street in front of our home....when it rains, get your raincoat and boots.....Then go have some fun!

6. The kids were dragging every tw0 and four wheeled toy out of the garage and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with bottles of bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Livi's ballet recital, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping and Sunday, I want to have my favorite meal for Mother's Day!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Having a week like this

Louisville Zoo, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Ever feel like this....?

yeah, me too.

Photostory Friday: No Monkeying Around

These are no ordinary plate of cookies. Oh no, it is not.....

and a close up of just Monkey..

If you missed Livi's original performance of : Have A Rainbow Day movie, take a peek.

After Monkey visited us in early March, I wanted to send his mommy an unforgettable thank you gift. I knew she had blogged about a fabulous cookie-maker extraordinaire...Laura of A Dozen Eggs. Here is her where she blogged about them.

She even has a blog of all her other fabulous cookies. But, the most awesome thing about Laura and these monkey cookies.....She sent a sample of the cookies she mailed Monkey's mommy! We
absolutely enjoyed them!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

tuesday with tommie

I am sure this is supposed to be one of those one word memes circulating on Facebook. But this is my tuesday with tommie...I get to change it.

Where is your cell phone? sitting beside me
2. Your significant other? Husband
3. Your hair? newly cut and colored
4. Your daughter? talkative
5. Your son? methodical
6. Your favorite thing? right now it those cute red sandals I bought last week
7. Your dream last night? I don't remember
8. Your favorite drink? diet DP or white wine, do I really have to choose
9. Your goal? peacefulness
10. The room you’re in? living room
11. Your church? the kids' preschool is at a church
12. Your fear? Something happening to one of the kids
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? HAPPY
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? messy
16. Muffins? Monday
17. One of your wish list items? not much really
18. Where you grew up? podunk Oklahoma
19. The last thing you did? put the kids to bed
20. What are you wearing? jammies
21. Your TV? playing DVRd 90210
22. Your pets? Josie, the tooting French Bulldog
23. Your computer? laptop
24. Your life? is pretty much an open book
25. Your mood? relaxed
26. Missing someone? friends from various places we have lived
27. Your car? Volvo XC70
28. Something you’re not wearing? socks
29. Favorite store? Gap
30. Your summer? coming up pretty soon
31. Like(love) someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? cranberry red
33. Last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? last time I was a "woman"

Manic Monday

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

What's the best summer job you ever had? babysitting...the mom would tip really well after having a glass or more at the end of the evening.

Tell me about the worst date you ever went on.: I had been teaching for a couple of years. There was this super cute student teacher. We did the standard first date: dinner and a movie. When he picked me up in this car that looked like its next stop should be the scrap yard...I really tried not to judge. He was just finishing up school. He walked around to open the door, kind of impressed. He was a coach, didn't seem like the type! Once he got in on his side, he said, "That door is a wee bit loose." uumm, excuse me...what do you mean loose, define loose. I kid you not, after the dinner on the way to the movie, the freaking door fell OFF! Now that I look back at it, it just sounds funny.

Do you think the age for a driver's license should be raised (currently 16 here in the U.S.)? Since mine are more than 10 years from the age, I really have no opinion. Granted most of my friends did get in wrecks within a few months of getting their permit.

future driver in 2019

future driver in 2020

pics randomly found on my Iphone from recently....the kids love taking pictures of themselves.

Friday Fill In

1. Apparently there's some sort of diva at Will's soccer game...she is modeling Husband's sunglasses. She was striking poses as I was trying to take pics of Will at his game.

2. Soccer on a sunny day is the best.

3. 2009 has had WAY TOO MUCH winter so far.

4. Moment I got sentimental.....Will's kindergarten registration this morning that was it.

5. For too long I've been waiting for spring.

6. I am not obsessed with my Iphone; I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Will's soccer game, tomorrow my plans include more soccer and Sunday, I want to surf Etsy for some fun stuff....bet you thought I was going to say sleep in!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Photostory Friday: Shake your tail feathers

This week I was able to chaperone a field trip to the zoo with Will's class. Just as we entered the zoo, we could hear a peacock....it was hooping and hollaring very close by. You can only imagine how startled eleven four and five year olds were when this beauty swooped down just in front of them. I, myself, didn't realize peacocks could fly! I was hoping he would fan his feathers. But he just walked on by, still rambling his distinct cry.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

tuesday with tommie

Doing something a wee bit different for tuesday with tommie: The ABC’s of me…
A - Age: 40
B - Bed size: Queen, not nearly big enough when one kid or the other climbs in
C - Chore you hate: cleaning the shower
D - Dog's name: Josie
E - Essential start your day item: coffee with lots of creamer
F - Favorite color: cranberry red
G - Gold or Silver: platinum
H - Height: about 5'3"
I - Instruments you play(ed): clarinet
J - Job Title: domestic diva
K - Kid(s): 2 - Will and Livi
L - Last movie seen: Twilight
M - Mom's name: Ramona
N - Nicknames: tommie
O - Overnight hospital stay other than childbirth (if applicable): jaw surgery way back when

P - Pet Peeve: While in waiting areas, (like at gymnastics), people who have to talk super loud, like you are really interested in what they have to say.
Q - Quote from a movie: "Son, you got a panty on your head"
R - Right or Left Handed: Right
S - Scared of: the kids getting run over in a parking lot. I still make them hold my hand.
T - Time you wake up: 7 or when the kids wake up
U - Under the water or Up in the air:..under the water.

V - Vegetable(s) you dislike: brussel sprouts
W - Ways you run late: I rarely run late...but not setting the alarm would be a reason
X - X-rays you've had: do dental ones count?
Y - Yummy food you make: I can make some mean muffins.
not sure where Z went!!

borrowed from : Juliette at Wait 4 the News, my old TX neighbor who now lives in Maine

Manic Monday

Just another Manic Monday…

Describe to me your favorite lounging clothes. Believe it or not, the t-shirt pajama pants from Old Navy are super soft. They are too long for me, of course. So I usually just cut them off. They just roll up a bit and do not fray. Now, the flannel ones I do have to hem...

PS, you know it has been a good weekend, when most of the laundry on Monday morning is pajamas and outside play clothes! Let's just say, it was a good Monday today!

If you promised to never lie again in your lifetime, in what area would it be hardest to uphold the promise? I am a people pleaser, so this is a hard one. Probably along the lines of making an excuse to do something that I really don't have to do.

Give a one word answer to the question “why is life worth living”. Absolutely easy peasy one....one of the happiest days of my life: Husband coming home from his deployment

Friday fill in

1. Join me in a great afternoon of fun and sunshine.

2. Put a little sunshine and happiness in your day!

3. Happiness is seeing tulips along the walk around the neighborhood.

4. Dressing in her brother's swim suits and confused is how Livi dressed while we were washing my car this afternoon.

5. I'm waiting for spring to stay.

6. A glass of wine is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to veggie pizza with the family , tomorrow my plans include haircuts for the boys, yardwork, and just being outside in this gorgeous weather and Sunday, I want to sleep in & make some crab cakes!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Photostory Friday: What Do You See

What do you see? Just a wee little candy that holds magical powers over the kids. I am so not above bribing them. These are the mini M&Ms. Yes, those tiny ones that barely register chocolate in my mouth. But for the kids, they are magic. Will and Livi both practically potty trained themselves using them. Once for pee pees, two for.....well...for two!

But this afternoon, the mini M&Ms were used in a sorting activitiy. Using the animal characters from one of my favorite children's books: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Yeah, yeah...still making them work for those itty bitty pieces of chocolate.


Page printed from : Making Learning Fun



Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

tuesday with tommie

yes, this is really what I look like first thing in the morning....

WHAT I’M READING: the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2009.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: nothing, listening to the kids watching a Care Bear movie

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: podcasts of the ..Bobby Bones show out of Austin

WHAT I’M WEARING: chinos and a springy top...though it is only 50 degrees! I am really Jonesing for some spring weather

WHAT I’M EATING: snacking on popcorn



WHAT I’M ENJOYING: these adorable Miss Trish of Capri starfish sandals ...they are a true cranberry red. I guess I better get a pedicure soon! (pic taken with my handy dandy Iphone)

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: airpopped popcorn with butter and salt.

Manic Monday

Do you recycle? We switched to our own grocery bags last year. Why or why not? I had way too many of those plastic sacks. I can only line so many trash cans. We don't do anything else primarily because our trash service doesn't offer it. I don't think I have even seen any of the drop off sites in town either.

Would you rather be a pirate or a prince/princess? Princess all the way! I already would have the best teacher. These pics are from her fourth birthday party We do have a Princess Primer

Are you into astrology? Not really, I know I am a Cancer...and I can be really crabby! But other than that, not at all. If yes, how does it affect your life?

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

Happy Easter

taken Easter 2005-Livi

Friday fill in

wow, has it really been a week since I posted.....

1. Anonymous...this is totally a G rated blog, but if it were something other than that, it would say something along the lines of grow some _____(fill in the blank with your choice of words) and say what you have to say under your own name.

2. Livi is a cheeseball....Liv and Grandma during Spring Break a couple of weeks ago.

3. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity huh?? reminds me of a DrDrew quote I saw recently: "If you are going through hell, keep going". ~ Sir Winston Churchill

4. Flowers and green, anything green what I look forward to most about Spring. ps, this shot so reminds me of spring here in KY....kind of like a tease, one day we have gorgeous 70 degree weather, the next day snow. No lie, that happened last week. It is like spring is not quite sure she is ready to come into focus.

5. Who needs therapy when you have a blog.

6. Paper grass, chocolate bunnies, and Dove chocolate eggs MUST go into the Easter Basket!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Will's soccer game and pizza (game was cancelled though, tomorrow my plans include making chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for a dinner at friends and Sunday, I want to take a wild honkin' guess!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Friday Fill In

And...here we go!

1. Angel or not, I will take care of myself and my own first and foremost.

2. Bend me, shape me any way you want me. (what is this?? gumby??)

3. As my mother used to say, you're full of it.

4. Sweaty and thirsty after I'm done working out or doing something strenuous.

5. Even in the most crowded of rooms I can find someone to talk to or at least have a drink with.....

6. Usually Tuesdays....Mondays are busy...Tuesdays are busy, so by the evening, I am so ready for a mellow Wednesday... is a day fraught with peril.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to starting out on this road to go home, tomorrow my plans include making a menu and list to go grocery shopping and Sunday, I want to sleep in!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Photostory Friday: froggy friday

This week the kids and I are in OH at my in-laws. Earlier in the week, we headed to Dawes Arboretum. Despite the cooler temps, the kids and their cousins had best time running along the trails. At the end of one part, there was a little bridge they could follow. It led to a little island. Will started throwing pine cones into the water. The little cousins had to imitate Will. Cousin S would crack himself up laughing with each splash in the water.

As they got a bit closer to the water, they spotted a very sluggish frog. I guess he came out of hibernation just a wee bit early!


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

tuesday with tommie

WHAT I’M READING: a handful of magazines...my mom sent me More as kind of a joke. When we lived there last summer in our moving transition to KY, she had a small stack of them. I was raving about it...then it saw on the cover it is for "Celebrating Women 40+".....I guess I fit its target audience!

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Whatever is on the DVR, I know I have at least one Gossip Girl on there.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: the kids watching Dora Snow Princess

WHAT I’M WEARING: black trouser pants and a green cable sweater

WHAT I’M EATING: Making my favorite penne for dinner....penne, kalamata olives, spinach, feta, all tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette....so yummy, so yummy, in the party in my tummy

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: seeing the kids visit with their Grandparents....though missing Husband!!

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: not much, spring allergies are not my friend. My nose is kind of stopped up!

Happy Tuesday, y'all

Note: Will took this pic with his camera. We had such a good time with Monkey. He should be arriving in GA either tonight or tomorrow.

Monkey's last day in KY

Monkey, we have truly enjoyed your visit. You never fail to bring a smile to every one's face. The kids have been so great about sharing you and taking care of you.

We had hoped to go to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. We woke up to a storm warning of snow. Monkey has already survived a tornado from last night, I did not want to get stuck in Louisville.

When I saw this pink and green tree, I had to take a pic. I knew his preppy mommy would love it! Since we made cookies the other day, Livi and I make Monkey a little felt one to keep in his backpack. He told us he was tired of that cupcake!

A little disclaimer about Livi in this film: she was pretending to be Will. She has one of his swimsuits from last summer. She wanted her hair pulled back so it would look short like his. She's crazy I tell you!

Lisagh, thank you so much for sharing your Monkey with us! This was a delight to host him.

Monkey goes to Fort Knox

On Friday, Monkey went to work with Husband. He tried to get a shot in front of the Fort Knox Gold Depository But there were too many signs basically saying, "Don't take pictures!" Oh well, let's be Safety's friend and just keep on moving to the next thing.

Fort Knox is the home of the armor's General George Patton Museum. The museum offers a glimpse into Patton's legacy and accomplishments.

There are many of his personal memorabilia from coats, and medals, flags he carried.

"Hey, look at this fun tank. I can drive a car, I bet I can drive this tank!" The Patton museum is like walking through the history of tanks. You can see the most basic of tanks from WWI to now.

"Okay, it is a little harder than it looks. Maybe I can just hang out here. "

"I think I need a star on my shoulder. After this Spring Break Getaway, I have earned it!"

Fast forward to Saturday evening.......while putting the kids to bed, I heard this sound that I have come to dread. A high pitched siren from outside.....DANG! I just got Will settled into bed. Husband put Livi to sleep a little earlier. A tornado warning was sounding. We live in a two story home with a basement. OF COURSE the bedrooms are on the second floor. I ran to get Husband, we each grabbed a kid (and I grabbed my Iphone ...priorities you know) and went to the basement.

Don't worry, Will has taken to sleeping with Monkey. So he was safe and sound in the basement. Nothing like a little excitement on a Saturday night.

Happy weekend, y'all. We have one more activity in store for Monkey before he heads on his way.