Size 13...Incoming...

Today, I brought home huge pieces of left-over Confectionately Yours cake from our annual National Junior Honor Society induction. Jen had carefully carved and covered them for me, and she even helped carry them to my truck in the rain. We put them in the back floorboard so they wouldn't slide around. When I picked Garrett up, we were so careful to avoid the floor, me lifting all 52 pounds of him straight into the car seat. BUT...

When we pulled in the driveway, I stupidly asked "Who wants to help mom bring in the trash can?" "I do, I do," my little darlings screamed. And that was that. Garrett came out of his seat and planted each foot right smack dab in the middle of both pieces of cake!

At first I was furious. I mean, hello...this is Confectionately Yours we're talkin' about here! Seriously! Then, he looked up at me with those baby blues of his, tears streaming down his pudgy cheeks, and I melted. I picked him up, hugged him close, and just promised him it was okay. The whole time, he continuously assured me it was "just an accident." Poor baby...he doesn't even like cake (I know, weird huh?), but he was so upset. Now, just peeling the foil off and surveying the damage, I just laugh. Look at those big ol' size 13 smoosh prints...

If It Weren't For Rotten Luck...

Things that have happened to me/us while Eric has been in Spain:
Sports schedule:
t-ball Monday, Thursday, Saturday
soccer Monday, Wednesday
(notice the overlap on Monday...and only one parent...thank goodness for Nana!)

Deep freeze door left ajar by a small person looking for popsicles...hundreds of dollars worth of food spoiled. Had to cook seven pounds of ground beef, package of Polish sausage, and give away LOTS of food to family, which was fine. At least someone could use it.

Kidney infection discovered at soccer field...clinic...'nuff said (again, thanks Nana!)

Braden pulled red card and I received phone call from his teacher during my own class. Very surreal to be on the other side of the "behavior" phone call.

Garrett lost his mind EVERY morning, kicking, screaming, crying, snot flying...and he said he wished I wasn't his mommy...that hurt...

SPICE teacher called after school to let me know Braden had been trading blows with a first grader (hitting one another with backpacks) when the other kid whipped out his lunch box, hitting Braden below his left eye with the zipper pull. Chunk of skin missing, puffy eye developing.

Had to resort to getting the kids' hair cut by Matt (thanks Uncle Matt) and now they lovingly refer to themselves as soldiers...yep, it's that short...

To top it all off, I've lost my mascara AND had to carry out the trash in the rain this morning, thereby causing a horrible hair day all day...ick...

WELCOME HOME, ERIC! WE HAVE MISSED YOU!

Country Boys...

I just love these little guys so much! They are definitely a hoot to hang out with and you just never know what they'll think of next! Each of them got a John Deere hat at the lawn and garden show a few weeks ago and they adore them! When Braden first saw the hats, he said "Look, it's just like Papaw's!" And he's right...

The boys were getting ready for showers after helping in the yard. They were taking off their filthy clothes in the laundry room when I looked up and saw Braden, first, naked with a John Deere hat and sound-proof earmuffs on! Of course, if Braden did it, Garrett had to, too!

Boys Will Be Boys...

It all began so simply...a mother and her two sons, out for a leisurely stroll, looking for tadpoles and the elusive turtle...

AND THEN...
This is Braden running full blast through the deep water that has collected in the ditch in front of our house.

Once they were already wet, I just caved and let them play. Look at their faces...could you be angry? I couldn't...no way!

I'm positive the neighbor must have been freaking out when she drove by and saw me kneeling in the ditch in my front yard, snapping pictures of these wild and crazy boys as they went for a swim with the tadpoles.

These are the things they'll remember forever, and so will I...

Garrett's Flashback to the 70's...

The preschool spring program was last night and Garrett's class only had one performance for only their class (which was disappointing...other classes had at least two), but OH, what a performance this child put on! Above, he was gettin' down to "YMCA!"

Here, he is playing air guitar...and doing quite well, I might add! Garrett's tendency at the programs has been to stand very still, stare out into the crowd (frantically searching for Mom), and simply not participate. Imagine my suprise when he jumped up on stage and began shakin' his booty...literally! He was so cute!

I also noted that he is heads and tails taller than all of his classmates, except Mason. Garrett and Mason both look like they should have been in kindergarten this year! Speaking of kindergarten, it's official. Garrett will be in preschool again next year. Kindergarten registration info. came home in Braden's folder this week and it stated that the child MUST be 5 by August 15...poor baby...15 days. However, he is going to ROCK the preK class next year! He was reading cartoon words on Max and Ruby this morning, so I'm not worried.

As a side note, Atlanta was wonderful and the presentation kicked tail! The Kimmons Jr. High Focus Team was articulate, purposeful, and simply amazing! Hopefully I'll have some pics soon. I refused to take my Nikon and Braden broke my Sony pocket cam two years ago...will have to see if one of my gal pals will hook me up with copies! Anyway, faced two of my all time fears on that trip...flying and public speaking. Just wish it had cured me...

Just a Really Nice Weekend...

We got up early for Braden's soccer game Saturday morning, which they won, and we were so proud that he scored two goals! Afterward, Eric realized we had to pick up his rental van for the trip by noon, so we sped around town to take care of that little chore. Then, we came home and Eric began spraying weed killer all over our two-and-a-half acre lawn...he wasn't paying attention, crossed a couple of wires, and burned them out...had to go to Atwood's to replace.

By this time, I had cleaned inside and headed out of doors to give a futile attempt at weeding my front landscaping...what a MESS! About the time the boys were ready to leave for PNO, Eric was ready for me to help him drive the Dixie Chopper while he sprayed...but that had to wait for the kiddos to be dropped at church. We finished the yard around 8...big time fun for a Saturday night, right? Well, it was just nice to be outside in the fresh air and enjoy each other's company!

Church this morning, lunch at Outback, homemade pizza for dinner, and bike-riding this evening. All in all, seriously, just a relaxing, but productive, weekend. Now, Arkansas state benchmark testing this week for my students...seriously, say a prayer for both the students and myself. There is NO FUN in walking around someone else's classroom with a room full of students who are not my own, just pacing around the room "monitoring" for four hours a day...ick!

Oh, This Wind...

Honestly, the weather has GOT to figure itself out...and soon! It was a gorgeous afternoon for Garrett's t-ball practice when, all of a sudden, this nasty, gusty wind came out of nowhere and just would not go away! It was freezing! All of the little preK kiddos were whining and crying...and so were their mommies and daddies! A bunch of us finally huddled inside the dugout, having searched out a safe hiding spot from the wind. Braden looked like a little turtle huddled with arms inside his T-shirt...

Not much to report otherwise...except that I totally fell on my behind at Braden's soccer game Monday! THERE I WAS...


A kid skillfully kicked the ball out of bounds so the other team couldn't get their shot at the goal, and it rolled right to me, bouncing slightly off the toe of my high-heeled sandal. Being the gracious and kind person that I am, I thought I'd just kick it gently back to the coach so he could snatch it up, throw it in, and yell "BALL IN!" But, alas, it was not meant to be. You know those people who just have weird things that happen to them ALL THE TIME? That's ME!!! So, I gingerly lifted my sandaled foot to kick the ball with genteel precision, WHEN...


my foot landed with an unlady-like thud against the ball, throwing me off balance, and finally rolling out from under my foot alltogether, the whole miserable scene's grand finale being me-on the ground-laughing hysterically in order to not cry hysterically!!!! I wasn't hurt in the least. Well, maybe my pride, but I just looked up at my mom (who, by the way, was definitely laughing at me) and begged her to help me up. As for the rest of the crowd, I don't think too many people saw it. They were all too busy staring, mouths agape, at the little Hispanic girl who was scoring goals every other minute, sometimes more. Needless to say, we lost...

Happy Easter from the Springs'...

We attended FOUR egg hunts over the Easter weekend: One with Garrett's preschool class at the park, one at the Eagles lodge, one at church, and one at my dad's house (which went quite well actually, for those of you familiar with that back story).

This is us gathered at the Eagles lodge egg hunt that my mom and Larry invited us to. It was indoor, which was great since it poured rain on Friday evening. There were tons of treats and eggs to go around and the kids all won Easter buckets full of more prizes!

Here's Mom helping her little guys open all of their treat eggs...

And, well, you know Braden...any chance to show out in front of the camera...and his Nanna...

*Braden's just been gaga over his Nanna ever since she babysat him all day the Friday before spring break. They spent the whole day together, just the two of them, and it's all he ever really talks about now. "Me and Nanna" this, and "Me and Nanna" that...very sweet!

Bubble Fun...

Really, the photos speak for themselves...

Eric's Knee Surgery...

So, Eric had his knee scoped on Wednesday. It was all pretty quick and uneventful at the hospital, but I was glad to be there...beats work any day! He was a trooper, said he wasn't nervous or anything, and it was all like clock work. I do have to admit, though, that I was feeling seriously nauseated when the surgeon was explaining the procedures and findings while showing me color photos of the inside of Eric's knee area. Ick! Afterwards, Eric was snarfing saltines and a soda and we made a pit stop at Chik-fil-A on the way home since we were both starving!

I did feel completely useless, until the nurse reminded me that he could not drive while taking pain meds. That being said, I've been the sole chauffeur for the fam going on three days now. I'm not used to doing all the driving! In fact, we were late getting started to the park for Garrett's preK egg hunt this morning and I had planned to put on my makeup on the way. Guess what? I had to drive and so looked like an idiot putting on makeup at the speed of light at every stop light!

At this point, we are waiting out a seriously heavy thunder shower, trying to make a break for Wal-Mart...pantry's gettin' bare on staples!