From a child's perspective....

While walking through the woods this past weekend with my kids and their cousins, I overheard this conversation.

Aunt Kristie: "Hey guys. What do you say right before a tree falls down?"

My Camden, "Oh no!"

That's my Camden. Just keepin' it real.

I hear voices

Did you know that urine lies.

Yeah. I know. I didn't think it had the capability to communicate, much less lie. But apparently it does.

You see, yesterday Briggy was complaining of a tummy-ache. So I helped him calm down and take a nap. Well, early this morning he came in crying of the same tummy ache...except the pain  was more in the bladder area.

He went to the bathroom. He came out crying saying, "Mommy. It hurts when I pee. It burns!" Okay, first of all, what three year old knows to describe pain as burning. I was impressed. Then I was worried. So I called and got him an appointment to be seen a little later today.

So when we got there they had him give them a urine sample. Those are always fun to get from a 3 year old. He thought it was fun to pee in a cup. I just didn't want to get peed on.

After we finished up and she had tested the sample, she came back in with the results.

"Well, his urine is telling us two things. First it is telling us that he (Brig) hasn't eaten breakfast..." she started.

Hold it right there. I saw him eat breakfast. Twice. Once when he woke up early and then again when we brought in the Krispy Kremes. I am sure there is some scientific name for urine that indicates a lack of breakfast. But no matter the name, I saw my child eat.

Lying urine.


PS. There was a small trace of protein in his urine. Could be something. Could be nothing. I'm betting on nothing. Lying urine...sheesh.

Who needs London?

Did you know the Olympics are on? It's true. And guess what. I love the Olympics!

I love seeing people at their best. Competing to be the best in the world. Heck, best on the PLANET!! It's inspiring. Motivating. Sometimes unbelievable. We pray for them every night....the Olympians. Pray that they can do their best without injury.

I love watching the beach volleyball, swimming, track and field, diving, gymnastics, etc. Did you see the guy without legs racing..and keeping up? What about Missy Franklin! Way to go Gabby Douglas!! How cool is it that both women's beach volleyball teams made it to the finals. That's amazing!!

Olympics are awesome.

But I must say that my favorite events aren't happening in London. Oh, no. My favorites events by far are the Livingroom Olympics.

You've never heard of them?

There are times, sometimes in the middle of the day, sometimes late afternoon, and even in the mornings, when our livingroom transforms into a variety of Olympic arenas.

Sometimes its a swimming pool and my children swim the 200 IM, or the 100 Freestyle relay. They have a mean Butterfly. It's always a close finish. There's always a smile. And of course, they always take the gold.

Other times it becomes a gym. My gymnasts are quite amazing. The carpet becomes the mat and the couch becomes the horse. They do somersaults and cartwheels. Leaps and flips. Spins and landings. All amazing. All breathtaking. And of course, they always take the gold.

They synchronize swim. They dive. They take the gold in all water sports.

They sprint. They hurdle. They long jump and discus. They top the podium on the track as well.

 I watch them from the sidelines, which at the moment happens to be the couch. I "ooooooooo" and "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh." I clap and I cheer. I am shocked and I am awed.

 I am the announcer and the spectator. The crowd and the commenter. The coach and the judge.

They always break the world record. They always do things that "have never been done before." In short, they are practically perfect in every way.

I love that my children, when they see greatness, desire to be like it, and mimic it. They believe that they are and can be just as amazing. And I agree.

And so I say, as amazing as the London games are...and they are amazing..., Livingroom Olympics take the gold.

Hooking up with Jen Matlock's ABC Thursday.

So I Married a Deaf Man: Put 'em up!

"You are married to a deaf man?" they ask.

"Why yes. Yes I am," I kindly respond.

"Wow!".......long, thoughtful pause.... "That's gotta be nice. I bet you guys never fight, right?" they ask.

"Ummmmm....uhhhhhhhh....ehhhhhhh....hmmmmmm....Right. About that..."

Sometimes I believe people think that it takes an extremely charitable person to marry someone who is deaf. And that this same person is so kind that surely they would never disagree with, argue with, or blow-up with said spouse.

I am here to tell you, I am not that person. I married Hubs because he is amazing. I didn't feel sorry for him. I knew that things would be different than most marriages. But I didn't marry him out of the goodness of my heart. I married him because I loved him with all of it.

Secondly, I have zero problem disagreeing, arguing, or blowing-up from time to time. I'm not necessarily proud of it, and try to avoid it when it is healthy to do so, but it happens.

I believe any time you have two people who can communicate with each other living under one roof for an extended period of time, there are going to be some disagreements. It's just the nature of things.

Then add in two people coming from two different cultures, and that just increases the chances of said conflicts. Nature of the beast, I guess. Not me, the relationship.

You would think that our arguments were quiet and calm, seeing that sign language doesn't require voices. But this is not always the case. You see, we can look away and the conversation is over. But if the other one doesn't want it to be over, we have to get creative.

Like pounding on things to make vibrations: table, wall, floor. Or Throwing things....not at each other, but passed their line of sight. Flashing lights...rapidly.

And I bet you didn't know you can yell in sign language. Yup. The signs are big, they are fast, and depending on what you are signing, you can hurt yourself. Trust me, I know this.

So, do we fight? Yes...yes we do.

I'm a good person. Just not that good.

It was an accident!

I hate peeing my pants. It's a little embarrassing and quite inconvenient.

Oh, come on. If you have ever been pregnant, you've had an unexpected drip or two. If you have given birth to more than three children, you completely understand the "Stop, Cross and Pray" rule when you sneeze. STOP whatever you are doing, CROSS your legs and PRAY nothing squeezes through. It's like a game..only not really.

My first experience peeing my pants, that I can remember...because, hello!, we all peed our pants in the beginning...but the first I can remember was when I was in kindergarten. I was wearnig my favorite dress ever! It was white with red velvet hearts all over it. I had on white tights and Sunday shoes and was simply adorable.

You see, we lived less than one mile away from the school so that meant that we would walk to and from school. I would meet my sisters on the grass and then the three or four of us would walk home together.

This day was no different. Except that I needed to use the restroom. I am pretty good at holding it...two bladders and all. And hold it I did. For a long time. For almost the whole way. In fact I held it until I was about 2 blocks from home and then I just couldn't. Hold it. Anymore.

So I sat down on the curb. Released the floods and filled the gutter. Then I cried. Not because I was embarrassed. I cried because now my dress was wet and stinky and I had to walk the rest of the way in wet tights.

See, inconvenient.

The next time I peed it wasn't just on myself. I was in my first month of pregnancy with my first child. And anyone who has been pregnant knows that that first month you are seriously tired. It's hard work, making them babies. Okay, not so much the making, but the growing.    

Well, that night I was totally and completely exhausted. I am not exactly sure what I was dreaming about but I distinctly remember a huge toilet seat and warm water. "Wait a second," I thought. "There is something not right about all this." Then I started awake. In a puddle. With my arms around Hubs.

 Yeah, no hiding that one. Embarrassing.

What about you? Have you ever peed your pants?

Do tell.
 

You know what I love....

I try and get our school supplies early...

...and when I say early, I mean BEFORE tax-free weekend. Why? Why would a mother with four school aged children miss out on no taxes? 

I'll tell you why. Tax-free weekend is exactly like Black Friday except it is concetrated completely on about 5 aisles. Yeah. Imagine trying to get everything on the list for 4 children... Yeah, I just don't do that. I can pay the extra $9.

That is why I go early.

But do you know what I love?

Nope, not the price tag, although that is a close second. This year it came to $378. (This number does NOT include clothing.) And the extra bonus to this is that they have promised to have additional items requested on the first day of school. Oh, yeah, and never mind that my junior high schooler is sure to have lab fees, band fees, etc fees. That's exciting, but not the best.

What I really love is when I go to the superstore early so that I can beat the crowds and be sure to get everything on my list the first time and discover they don't have everything. Love that. Colored pencils. They didn't have colored pencils.

Correction. I approached the worker and asked, "Are you guys out of colored pencils?"

"No. We have some. Right here." She lead me a few steps down the aisle to the box with 72 pencils in it.

Really? Did she really think that was what I was asking for?

Okay, so I guess it was my fault for not specifying that this would be for my elementary school aged children, not my aspiring artist husband. (I don't have one of those, by the way.)

Needless to say, I wasn't going to buy  of the $7 pencils....sigh.

Now I just have to remember to go to the store and get colored pencils. I'm thinking it may just be Walgreen's.

What do you love about back to school shopping?

Do you do it too???

 Still lovin' Instagram. Lovin' taking more pictures.

NOT loving that my computer still isn't set up and I can't download these pictures...I fear I am running out of room...gulp.

Here's just a few

He got a big one.  Okay, so not really. But he did catch 15 small ones without a fisihing pole. That's saying something, right? That's 15 more than anyone else that went. Whoot, Brody!!

These wonderfuls (in-laws) took in my family for 2 1/2 weeks. Love them. This picture was also taken about 3 minutes before 4 of us were attacked by angry hornets.  

 This kid is hard to get get a picture of. Chillin at the chilly beach!

 One of my favorite traditions when we go to CA. There is a georgous flower garden on top of the temple. Fabulous!

 As my friend said, "Remembering the womb." Only I hope my womb didn't smell like my dog's dirty bed....not that it matters.

Hanging at the mansion... 

 Remember doing this??

 Growth Hormone Stimulation Test. He had to fast so I did it with him. We weren't done until noon. That's a long time to go without food, don't ya think?

 Awe!

 I love this boy. Cheese and all.

 My beautiful niece and her mom, getting ready for her first round of chemo. Isn't she beautiful!!

 True Hillbillies....except we live in a city and we didn't strike it rich with oil.

Total and complete joy when they horse began moving. Sweetness!

If you don't Instagram, you should. LMK if you do!