Seems Unfair at Times..................

Singapore

While I sit at home taking care of his 4 children, Chad is getting to see amazing sites like this. Does that seem right to you????

The Perfect Punishment

I finally found the perfect punishment! Ahhh ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

Traffic, Miniature Golf, and More Traffic

We went miniature golfing on Saturday. It was with the housing, of course. I really considered not doing this activity because it was in Williamsburg, which isn't really a long ways away from us, but there's several areas to go through where traffic can be bad. I figured it was Saturday, there wouldn't be any rush hour traffic...............it really shouldn't be so bad. I don't think I've ever been so wrong in my life!!!!! We hit traffic at the bridge/tunnel. I expected that though. Then we drove all the way past Newport News (this might not mean much for those of you who don't know the area, sorry about that) which under normal conditions only left about 20 minutes of driving. Notice I said normal conditions...............we hit an unbelieveable backup! I think there was an accident, but I'm not sure. Anyway, what should have taken 20 minutes took us about an 1 1/2 hours. If I could have taken an exit and gone back, I would have! To make matters worse, Myshel had to go to the bathroom for the last 30 minutes or so. By the time we got to somewhere we could stop, she could barely walk. (I know, I'm such a mean mother to put that in here) I felt bad for her, but since she wouldn't go on the side of the road there was little I could do, not that I want my 13 year old daughter to do that...........

So we did finally get there and the golfing was a lot of fun. The golf course has a pirates theme and it had lots of waterfalls and cannons and ships and on and on. There were 2 different 18 hole courses we could golf on. We only played about 27 holes, I think. Half way through the second one we got too hot and tired, but it was fun. The kids were great to watch. Once everyone teed off, it was like a free for all for the hole. I couldn't get them to slow down and take turns either, but they were having fun and that's what we went there to do. Vance and I each got a hole in one, too! They had some greens that went behind the waterfalls and some went into caves and some went over bridges.................we had to fish several of our golfballs out of the water several times! Golfing was fun the drive home was not...............

Again we hit traffic just outside of Williamsburg. This time I took the first exit into Newport News and drove through the city and got back on the interstate on the other side of the Newport News. The traffic was clear there, so I had high hopes. It didn't last. We got into the Hampton area and it went downhill fast. I don't know if there was an accident or a break-down or what, but traffic was backed up for miles, not just heavy traffic, stop and go traffic and for awhile completely stopped traffic. So, once again, what should have taken us about 30 minutes in normal conditions took us, get this, a whoppin' 2 1/2 hours!!! I am not kidding. I was so exhausted when we finally got home that I didn't want to do anything!

While we were sitting there I wondered if the miniature golfing was worth all that. And then when we finally got through the tunnel and clear of the back up Vance said this, "man mom, I think we spent more time in traffic than we did playing golf" and he was right, we did. I still haven't decided if it was worth it, I'm leaning toward NOT!

Hong Kong

School Supplies Galore!

School supplies, school supplies, school supplies...................I feel like I'm drowning in school supplies.............and we're not even done yet! There's spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, 3 ring binders, trapper keeper type binders, regular pencils, mechanical pencils, crayons, markers, glue, glue sticks, scissors, rulers, erasers, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...............it goes on and on..............And that's not counting the new shoes, socks, jeans, t-shirts, uniforms.........Oh Man.................Only 3 of my children are school age, when Noah's old enough, it will be that much more. My mom had 5 children. How did she ever manage the mayhem of buying school supplies for 5 children. Was it different back then? or am I just a whiner?

Friends, Cheesecake and Fun

(Before I post this--I'll mention that I had this written and set up and then couldn't get the picture to post right, so I saved it to try again later. Since then, I've seen that Marie also put this picture up on her blog! We must be on the same wave link. Brilliant minds think alike!!!!!)

Any whooooo..............

I have good friends, in fact, I have some great friends. A few weeks ago after our enrichment meeting, we decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory! There was actually 9 of us there, I think. There was lots of conversation, lots of great conversation and I loved it. I had the perfect seat too, right in the middle. I could listen to one side of table and then to the other and it was just a great spot to be. Plus, we got cheesecake, need I say more?!? I didn't realize how much I needed a night out until I actually had one! It was a very late night, though. It was almost midnight before I got home, but it was very deserved if I do say so myself. My kids were calling me fairly often to see what was taking me so long and why I wasn't home yet, but they got over that, too. It was a very fun night and I appreciate my friends for "making" me go out (that was for you Marie). When you're sitting there surrounded by friends, laughing and enjoying each other's company, it's easy to see how blessed your life is, even when your husband is 10,000 miles away. I'm looking forward to the next time.

Hot Time in the Summer.......

Ok, I've had 4 different people from 4 different places out west tell me that they've sent this heat my way! Like I don't have enough going on with my husband gone and 4 children at home on summer break, you have to throw 3 days of over 100 degree weather at me! As Virginia summer's aren't bad enough! Well, thank you, thank you very much! And just so you know......you're all on my list, I've put a little black x next to your name on my little mental list. You will not be forgotten.................

Snug as a Bug.................

He really does have a bed to sleep in!

If you look closely at his fingers and toes, you'll see his big sisters' influence on him.......nail polish!