mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

Back from Texas & Missing It!

The boys and I made it back safe and sound from our Texas travels a couple of days ago and I am reminded today about how much I truly miss it!  It's going to be in the 70s and 80s here for the next who knows how long and thus, too cold for my Texas blood to go swimming!  What I wouldn't give for a hot, humid day in Central Texas right now!

The boys have had a fantastic summer though...visiting the beach, NASA space center in Houston, Astros baseball, San Antonio, and countless family members in Austin!  I had a fun few days as well but the time just flew by, it seems.

We're enjoying our company here in KC though, as my sister and brother-in-law made the drive up from Texas yesterday (they're visiting the states from Paris right now).  We have lots of fun planned while they're here, I just wish swimming could be included in those plans.  I've posted some great pics on Facebook, so head on over and check them out!  ♥

Me, lately.

My beauti-bump at 29 weeks.  I was bored while sitting through the car wash so I got a little camera-phone happy!

The past couple of weeks have flown by.  David and I have been enjoying each other's company but we miss the kids like crazy!  I've been able to enjoy a few shopping trips and all day TV but life's just not the same without them here!  I am looking forward to flying out to be with them and celebrate the baby shower of my brother and his girlfriend (Cassie) on Sunday.  I'll hopefully be able to get on an early flight (I'm flying using a stand-by pass) into Dallas, but we'll see.  Then we'll trek on over to Austin sometime this weekend for all the festivities and to see all the other family there.  My sis and her husband are flying in tomorrow for an extended vacay!

I can't believe I'm 29 weeks pregnant now! I am enjoying every minute of it! I'm anxious for some good heat down in Texas and looking forward to Tex-Mex and Texas style BBQ.  This baby won't know what hit him!  ♥

Old Navy Weekly Coupons are Back Up!

Old Navy Weekly coupons are back up for grabs this week and are good July 17 - 23, 2009!  I just snagged a 25% off entire purchase coupon and there are still some left!  Here are the secret hiding places for the coupons in case you want to look around for others!  Good luck!

• $50 off $100 - Drag red apple in between shoes of golfer then click apple.
• 15% off - Drag black scarf up to Michelle's head.
• 20% off with 2 jeans - Drag blue pencil down to dufflebag
• 25% off - Click "Life as a supermodelquin..." and enter Natalie for Kimmy's bff.
• $15 off $75 - Play the video...@1:34 click on the woman's right shoe.

At least someone's having a fun Texas vacay!

The kids have been gone a little more than three days thus far and I miss them terribly.  Wish I could say they felt the same about David and I .  I doubt it though.  They've had so much activity - baseball games, a trip to NASA, pancake breakfasts, and more!  And they'll be heading down to the beach this week for some sand and sun!  Lucky ducks!

I'm so happy they have such great grandparents who just want to spend time with them and treat them to a nice vacay.  ♥

   

School Supplies . . . Check.

Last week before the boys left town, I took Nathan for his first official school supply shopping spree.  I know, I know, I am so sentimental, but I can't help it.  I LOVE school supply shopping and since Target had all their junk out already, I decided it would be best to take him early in July rather than in late July when he'll be returning from his Texas vacation.

David joined us which was nice.  We hardly ever get to take Nathan (or Will, for that matter) anywhere by themselves.  The only downside to having David there was that he was like "I don't see why he needs a new backpack.  His old one from last year is just fine." 

Are you kidding?  My first-born baby is heading into Kindergarten and you don't see why he needs a new backpack?  I don't know about ya'll but it was just a given that I get a new bag/backpack every new school year (thanks, Mom!).  Actually, when I told my mom about David's comment, she quickly retorted that had I not bought Nathan a new backpack, she would've!  What Grammy wouldn't, right?

Anyway, school supply shopping was fun.  Nathan got to push the cart and pick out several items once I rattled off the list to him.  One of my favorite memories of the whole ordeal was when it came time to look for a pencil sharpener.  Nathan picked out a bright pink one and David took one look at it and was like, "Uh-uh.  Pick out another one.  How 'bout a blue one?"  I could do nothing but laugh!  I know that my boys' love of pink comes from me!  I totally thought it was fine.  It's Kindergarten.  So what if a boy has a pink sharpener?  But, alas, we ended up not getting one because Nathan remembered he already had one at home.  But, a few days later when I was looking for said sharpener, I realized it was our only one.  So, on my most recent trip back to Target, I went ahead and picked up the blue sharpener for him.  He won't care.  He'll love it. 

I think he had the most fun picking out his G.I. Joe backpack.  It was fun watching him trying to decide between three different backpacks and finally settling on the one he got.  The only thing Target did not have was tissues.  Seriously.  We even went to the aisle where they normally stock tissues.  You know, over by the toilet paper and paper plates?  So, we still have tissues remaining on our school supply list, but I'm sure by mid-August the stores will be up to their eyeballs in boxes of tissue.

Considering how much I truly love summer, it's hard to believe I was so gung-ho about getting school supplies early, but it feels good to be done.  My baby - off to Kindergarten in a little over a month!  My, how time's flown!  ♥

  

Manners Don't Matter?

This evening after Nathan's t-ball game we opted to head out to Cold Stone for a nice summery treat.  As we made our way through the busy order counter and headed outside to sit for a while, David noticed a few teens enjoying their desserts as well while sitting on the floor just outside the shop's doors.

After a few minutes, they got up and left.  In their place, however, were lovely remnants of their frozen treats - empty cups, spoons, and napkins.  I could hardly believe my eyes when D pointed it out to me.  I watched them walk all the way to their cars - a Lexus & a BMW, and was appalled.  I just remember thinking to myself how disappointed and embarrassed I would be if those were my kids. 

In our house, we try hard to instill a sense of responsiblity and courtesy in our boys so that when they're out in the real world their behaviors are appropriate.  Clearly, the parents of these three teens either missed the mark or the teen just simply do not care about the environment around them.  And that's a shame.

D and I took the opportunity to point out to Nathan what we were discussing.  We explained to him how that is not only rude but unacceptable behavior in public or anywhere else.  He totally agreed.

What kinds of things to do you do with your kids that help instill values and common courtesy within them?  Do you ever worry that as they grow older that they will exhibit questionable behavior when you aren't looking?  ♥

My Right Now.

A slew of things have been keeping me busy for the past week or so.  While I've enjoyed the time away from blogging, I am starting to miss it.  I've decided to indulge myself back to mommy blogger world with a recap post, of sorts.

My boys have enjoyed being boys, brothers, and most of all, best friends.  This of course includes random tickle fests they share with each other on the couch sans shirts on a hot summer day.  I have to pinch myself each time I think about adding another boy to this brotherly dynamic.  I smile every time it crosses my mind.

 The boys' first Two Brothers Lemonade stand was a huge hit and insanely fun!  Not sure what they plan to do with the almost $15 they raked in, but I am sure the stock of some toy company will surely benefit.  They will be donating 10% to the church, but the rest is theirs to do with what they please.  Their eyes were wide when they took one look at how much cash they'd scored.  All for just standing there, being cute!  Needless to say, we'll be doing it again soon.  I love that they are learning a good work ethic and business principles, all while having fun together.  I see future entrepreneurs!

My most favorite summer food has been seen around these parts A LOT lately!  I seriously have been known to devour a complete watermelon all by myself in recent weeks!  I am sure most of that has to do with the wondrous baby #3 growing, but I've always been a watermelon girl.  Being from Texas, you pretty much have to be!

Just this past weekend I was able to score six Royals tickets (gotta love great connections!) and we all enjoyed a nice afternoon out.  Well, sort of.  Just before that pic of Will & my mom was snapped, we had all been frantically running around the stadium looking for my missing kid!  Yep, that's right.  Will somehow got lost as we were all making our way to our seats.  It all happened so fast I could hardly believe it!  One minute I was holding his hand walking, and the next I was looking over my shoulder for him and he was nowhere in sight!  My heart sank.  I seriously thought I was going to go into labor from the stress of it all and my mother was even more of a wreck than I was. 

Thankfully, the wonderful staff scooped him up and took him to the guest relations office where we were once again reunited with him!  Later he told me, "Mom, it's ok that you lost me.  It was an accident."  Needless to say, once we sat for the game, he was treated to all-you-can-eat popcorn, lemonade, and cotton candy!  But, in all seriousness, it's scary how fast something like this can actually happen!  Always hold those babies' hands!

So, although it feels like summer's nearly over, I'm pretending that it's just begun.  What's YOUR 'Right Now' look like?  ♥