Rock Out

It's started already! I thought that I had a few more years..."Louder mom!" screams my oldest son from the back of the car. "Turn the music louder!"
"But son it's 7 o'clock in the morning!"
My five year old insisted on blaring the headbanging sound he called music in the car on the way to the babysitters that morning. A trend I knew would not quickly fade. This was a sign of transition from toddler to kid. At least I could tell by the type of music that he liked what kind of kid he was going to be!
As I turned the music louder in the car I realized two things. One; that the music was too loud and became annoying which was a sign of me becoming older (OH NO!). And two; that what you do to your parents really does come back to you. Memories flooded my head of riding with my mother at that age to the babysitter even earlier in the morning and begging my mom to turn up z93!
Did I become my mom? Did my kids become me? And what else is in store for me through the years of my children growing up? ....This might be a bumpy ride.

Let's Go Krogering

This is my endorsement to Kroger's. Not just any Kroger's, the Kroger's Market Place! It's Only The Best Grocery Store In The World!!! It feels odd saying that. I remember being a little girl and hating grocery shopping. "What fun is buying food", I used to think. As I get older and more into cooking I have come to realize that grocery shopping can be fulfilling... if you have the right store! I have had some terrible shopping experiences latley at the local groceries that have lead me to write this post. Over the past month I have bought tons of blueberries and raspberries that all turned out to be MOLDY when I unpacked them at home, and they are not cheap! I have bought bad shrimp, bad meat (that all should not have been bad!), and have had some terrible times even trying to find simple cooking ingredients such as BREAD! Yes I couldn't find the right bread at the store!!! Now my Kroger Market Place has it going on! I have even participated in a wine tasting while grocery shopping at my Kroger. What an absolutely perfect place! They have everything I could ever want! Plus a wine cellar for my wino addiction, a liquor store, and a Starbucks!!! Let's go Krogering Ladies.

Independence

I just wrapped up a very memorable mini vacation with my children. There are so many moments I want to write about! The most touching moment was one of the last ones. Yesterday as I sat in our gravel drive way with the boys carving roads for their hot-wheels my youngest came up, sat on my lap, wrapped his little arms around me and said "Mommy, I'm so glad your done with work!" My bottom lip started to curl marking the beginning of my oncoming tears. I squeezed him so tight and just cherished the moment. I wish I could spend everyday with my children....
I would also like to go into what 'Bad-ass's' my children are! I am so proud of my children everyday and I sure hope I tell them enough. Sunday, the 4th of July, I took my children to a local swimming hole we call Filbrun's Pond. As soon as we got there my boys walked past the beach area, past the children's area and straight up to where all of the adults were standing at the rope swing. One at a time, both of my boys, without a second thought climbed the ladder, rope in hand, and swung out into the pond. After the mini heart attack I had they swam out to a floating diving board in the middle of the pond where both boys attempted back flips off of the diving board! Of course, there were more mini heart attacks by mom! Remember my boys are 5 & 3!!! But even though they scared the crap out of me, they made me so proud. I glanced around the pond after watching my children preform their daredevil acts and noticed all of the fathers trying to cohort their children into doing the same thing. Their children, whom some were even older then mine, just sat there and cried. I could see the frustration and disappointment in the father's faces. It was the same disappointment I saw in one of my child's baseball coach's face as they realized their child didn't want to play baseball. After swimming we finished off the day with ice-cream and fireworks. What more could a child ask for.
I am so grateful to have healthy and happy children. They are the light of my life and they make me proud everyday! I love you boys :)