Outsmarted

I've always considered myself to be pretty smart. Not a genius, but maybe a little above the curve. Leave it to Audrey to ask the most insane, difficult questions that have ever been asked to make me feel a little like Patrick Starfish. You know that character from Spongebob? He's the one with the blank stare and the drool hanging out of the corner of his mouth. That's me on a daily basis. My pat answer is quickly becoming, "well, honey, because God wanted it that way." I think that's a pretty good answer. That way she can't research my solution!

Audrey does this thing we call Joy school with 6 other kids on Monday mornings. It's at a different kid's house each week and it's just something that some moms decided to do together. There's no curriculum or anything. It's basically a craft project with a lesson thrown in if you want. Usually she rides with her friend Rachel. Rachel's mom called me the other day to tell me something Audrey said to her. Uh-oh. Mindy just laughed and said that they had been running a little late to Joy school and she told the girls this. The girls got a little upset and thought that they would miss something, so Mindy told them it would be okay if they were just a little late. Audrey piped in with, "No, it's not. Learning waits for no one." Mindy said she couldn't think of a response to that. She told me that she thought Audrey was pretty smart. Yeah, I get those little tidbits that leave me speechless on a daily basis. And I'm not a speechless kind of person. I've got all kinds of speeches. This afternoon on the way to school, Audrey asked why daddy had been building some targets. I told her it was so he could shoot at them. Of course she asked why. I said so that he could practice with his gun in case he needed to protect himself or someone else someday. She said "yeah, cause a strong man stands up for himself, but a stronger man stands up for others." Now, I'm sure she heard this on a movie or something, but for her to put that saying together with that situation? I don't know, maybe I'm biased, but I think that's pretty darn smart. Or at least funny.

I'm sure that I could go on about how brilliant my children are, but I really want you all to keep reading this so I'll stop for now. Be ready for my next post "my kids are smarter than yours". Just kidding!

I really should be outside finishing the plastic privacy weaving because my dogs are definitely NOT smarter than your dogs. Beagles have very big hearts, but that leaves only so much room for brains. Geez! The plastic things have helped a little bit with the barking, but the really good thing is that it drives her dogs NUTS and then they try to jump the fence. Don't think that I don't have my camera out for that! The other day I was going out to feed my boys and she was standing on her back porch which is basically an overlook into our yard. Her dogs saw me and tried to jump the fence. She yelled at them and I just smiled and waved at her. She didn't wave or anything. She must just be a very unhappy person. I don't understand it. But anyway, I'll just continue to take the high road and be happy and she can wallow in her misery. I don't care. As long as we continue to do everything we can to be good and cooperative neighbors I don't think she has a leg to stand on legally. And I'm done talking about her.

Gotta go get Audrey from school. Love y'all!

Thank you Jesus!

So, I met someone yesterday who made me thank God for my life! Sometimes I get so caught up in the negative. Griping about anything and everything is easier I guess than focusing on the good things in life. This lady has 3 kids of her own and just inherited her brother's 13 week old triplets. Her brother is in Iraq and I guess his wife dropped off her babies when they were 5 days old so she could go to the grocery store. She never came back! Can you imagine? On top of that her father-in-law and father, who both live with her and her family, are elderly and not in good health and she just found out that her mother has cancer. When she walked away, another mother came up to me and said, "Wow. I thought my life was crazy." It just made me think about the blessings that I have been given and how generally easy my life is compared to others. God is good.

On another note, Audrey tries her best to make life interesting each and every day. Today before the soccer game, they had their pictures taken. I can't wait to see them because she is pouting in all of them! She refused to be in a good mood. The photographer finally got fed up and said she thought she got some decent ones and it was time for her to move on. Usually when the camera comes out, she is a ham and a half. I guess she just felt like changing things up. Then, during the game, she just was not paying attention. It drives me crazy! All the other parents cracked up when I shouted to her, "Audrey, QUIT PICKING YOUR NOSE AND GET THE BALL!!!" Seriously, I can only take so much! I know, I know. The point is for her to have fun...blah, blah.

I don't know how many of you have seen the movie Kung Fu Panda, but it has quickly become one of our family favorites. It is hilarious! This story will only make sense if you have seen it. Katie was talking in her sleep the other night. When we woke up I told her that and asked her what she was dreaming about. She said in her little groggy voice, "I was dreaming about noodles." I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

Well, I should go put the girls to bed so I suppose I will log off now. As my mom used to tell us at bedtime--see you later, see you tomorrow.

A funny from Audrey and a new hobby for Mommy

Audrey said something funny at dinner tonight. She asked me when I was little what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her I had wanted to be a movie star to which she replied, "Did you ever do that?" Uh, I think not, honey!

So, since everyone keeps asking me why I don't have a blog I finally decided that it would be easier to keep you all updated with this instead of trying to e-mail all of you occasionally. Also, there may be less chance of me repeating myself if I can go back and read what I wrote last. I'm famous for telling the same stories over and over. Maybe I can cut back on that a little with my blog! So, from now on, I will try to keep this updated and filled with tidbits from this crazy life (the straight-jacket express). Just let me know if you'd rather receive e-mails instead of having to check this periodically and I will try to update you that way.