Quote of the day

Wanna know what Emily made in Bible class last Sunday? The 10 commandos.

Police on the beat...

The other day, Tyler came to me and said,"Mom, what is wrong with Memphis?" Well, that is a loaded question, so I asked him what he meant. He said that a lady on TV said that she was tired of the crime in Memphis and that she wanted to get more police on the beat and kids off the street. I explained to him about the mayoral race and that many people do not like the mayor of Memphis and other people are trying to get his job. His reply was, "Well, that was a good idea for her to make a commericial. And she is right. I never see police walking on our street. We need more policemen and firemen." Then he thoughtfully added, "And nurses."

Super Suppers

Does anyone out there go to Super Suppers? I am finding that managing my time is getting easier, but I am thinking about going to Super Suppers to get meals for the nights that I have worked all day. We get home at 4:15 Tuesday-Thursday and after snack and homework, there just isn't much time. I can order my meals online for $10 a meal, which is what my budget is anyway, and they will put it together for me and have it ready for me to pick up. I think I might go for it.

While I am asking for opinions, I am trying to decide what Santa is going to get Emily for Christmas. It's between a Step 2 vanity or the Fisher Price Twin Time Dollhouse. We have room for one or the other. I think she would play with both equally. Any opinions?

Weightloss

I lost 5 pounds today. I had a haircut. For those of you with normal hair, that probably sounds odd. But, I truly do get neckaches from the weight of my hair. I got a ton cut off and it is way too trendy for me. I am sure it will look different tomorrow. Tyler said it looked like a fuzzball. He also told me that my teeth were light yellow, but that is beside the point. Speaking of Tyler, he has gotten a little too big for his britches this week. He came home from school Tuesday with a game he invented. (He is notorious for his games.) He had written Mom, Dad, and Emily on cards. He had also made a certificate that said "Great Job!". If we do something to get on his nerves or yell at him, he snips a cut into the offender's name. The person who has their card intact at the end of the day gets the certificate. Just imagine how well this game has gone over at the Patterson house! Ha!

Birthday Fun

We took Tyler and Zachary out on the town last night for their 7th birthdays. They have been best friends "since before they were born," as Tyler says. We ate supper at the food court and then went to Build A Bear. Tyler made a dinosaur in a Grizzlies uniform and Zach made a dog in a pirate costume. Emily got to make a little bear, too. We went to TCBY on the way home. Brent tried to convince Zach that we spend every Friday night this way, but he knew better!

Happy birthday, Tyler!

Tyler turned 7 today. He had a great day...Brent took him lunch at school, he had birthday cupcakes at snacktime, we ate a fabulous birthday dinner at McDonalds, and then had presents and cake at home with Nana, Papa, and Aunt Becky. He got loads of Power Ranger stuff and some Legos, along with the newest Red Ranger Operation Overdrive costume. A 7 year old's dream come true!

HSM2 dolls

Emily and I are all about High School Musical. The new dolls have just come out for HSM2 and Emily wants all of them. She put the Target ad with all of them on the fridge. Tyler was looking at it and said, "Those girl dolls look fine, but those boy dolls look freaky." I think Brent paid him to say that.

Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is Tyler's birthday, and he has been calling today birthday eve since he woke up this morning. He and his past 7 years have been in my thoughts all day. Jennie made a top 25 list of Breanna on her birthday, but I don't know if I can come up with that many! I'll try.

My thoughts about Tyler today...

1. He is like an old man in a little boy's body. Today on the way home from school, he looked out the window and said, "Mom, the cotton sure looks good this year."

2. While our personalities are very different, I have always felt like my soul is walking around in his body.

3. He has my terrible feet. Speaking of feet, he has always been a foot snob. As a baby, he would not wear footed pjs. Now, he ONLY wear Tommy Hilfiger short socks.

4. He does not see race. If is pointing out a friend that is a different race, he doesn't even think to say that, just what color hair or shirt he has.

5. He has an uncanny sense of spirituality. At age 2, he asked me how Jesus could be both by his side and in his heart.

6. He is TERRIBLE at telling knock-knock jokes, but when he gets one, it is hilarious!

7. He is fiercly loyal. He has had the same best friend since birth.

8. Money burns a hole in his pocket.

9. I miss how he used to replace "G" with "B", like garage was "be-rage", giraffe was "be-raffe", etc. I also miss him calling a mustache a "smooshstache." The last Tylerism to go was mirror, which disappeared about a year ago. He called it a "meernor."

10. He is kind to everyone.

11. He loves his private time. He loves nothing more than locking himself in his closet with his legos and power rangers.

12. Secretly, he still loves Thomas the Tank Engine.

13. He always get Emily Smarties out of the treasure chest at school, even though he hates them.

14. He loves to taunt his parents with being for both Alabama and UT.

15. He would rather have a salad and an apple than a bowl of ice cream.

16. He would eat ranch or mustard on anything if we let him. One time he wanted to put mustard in his strawberry yogurt.

Let's just leave it at that. I am sure I thought of more things, but that's all I have for now.

My bluebirds are home!

I don't know where my bluebirds have been, but the drop in temperature has brought them home. They have been very busy all day, doing whatever bluebirds do.

Princesses!

I surprised Emily this morning to tickets to Disney's Princesses on Ice. She was SO excited! She dressed up as Belle. We rode with Anna and Audrey and met Erin, Ainsley, and Lily at the Forum. They could not wait to get there! They skipped from the parking garage to their seats. The show was fantastic and the girls just loved it. Audrey sang through most of it. Anna asked a million questions. Emily just sat with a goofy grin on her face most of the time. During intermission, we let the girls dance in the lobby. It was hilarious. As Kathy put it, they REALLY thought they were doing something right, although it looked more like some sort of spasm. We tried to get some group shots, but they were too silly! We took them to Spagetti Warehouse for lunch afterwards. It was a great day to be a little girl!

Happy Birthday, Breanna!

My niece, Breanna, turns 4 today. We hope you have a fun day! We love you! (Please excuse Emily's morning hair!)

OK, seriously?

Emily just came in the kitchen and sighed this very dramatic sigh and said, "If only I had 4 feet, I would be the best ballerina ever..."

What was I thinking????

Sorry, no picture with this one. If there was a picture to go with it, I would be slumped over the computer, drooling. What on earth was I thinking, going back to work??? I am tired. Beyond tired. Clothing sale tired.
I love my job. I feel like I was called to do this. I love the kids, what we do, everything. But, I am so stinkin' tired. My house is also wondering where I have been. It is my goal everyday that everyone has clean clothes and a good meal. Beyond that, I am lost. I just have to keep telling myself what I tell my parents at school. "It hasn't even been two weeks. The first month is the hardest. Everyone has to adjust." I just wish I had a rest mat at school.

On an exciting note, I had a little girl during nap time stand up on her mat, flapping her arms and totally freaking out. She started running over to me and I thought she was going to throw up. All of the sudden, a MARBLE came flying out of her mouth. She had found it on the floor and put it in her mouth and it got stuck in her throat. See, stuff like that just doesn't happen at home.

Payback for my raisin'

I bought the most beautiful oak easel at the clothing sale. You would think my kids would appreciate their dear mother for doing so. We have been leaving each other messages. Emily wrote "Mom Goofball," which in 4 year old means that Mom is a goofball. Nice.

Labor Day Weekend 2007

We went to Nashville to spend Labor Day weekend with Brent's parents. We had a great time and celebrated Tyler's birthday with them while we were there. (His birthday is 9/12.) We also went downtown and found Brent's Grandaddy's brick. We ate lunch in Waverly with Brent's grandmother today. I love long weekends!