I Have Relocated!

I know that I tried this before, but this time it's for real! I am moving to my new home and I hope that you will join me! Come on over to Moments of Mommyhood!

It's Just A Cold

Last week, when my dear son Brandon was sure he was infected with Swine Flu, I said "It's just a cold! You'll be fine!"

Well, it's my turn. I feel like an elephant is sitting in my chest. I'm hot. I'm cold. My throat hurts and I'm cranky.

I sure wish I would not have taught my kids to share, because I don't want what they are sharing!

Wordless Wednesday-She Just Wanted a Picture of Herself!

Visit Momdot for some more Wordless Wednesday!

Chivalry Is Not Dead!

Last week, the second week of school, we got a phone call from the principal. Ugh! What did Brandon do now? You see my son has inherited the "smart ass gene" from my hubby and myself. Double whammy! Immediately, I defer to Big Daddy! I do not deal well in situations that involve civil conversations with school officials. Don't get me wrong, if my kids do something wrong, they must "pay the piper". However, if they have been wronged...look out! I tend to transform into a Momma lion protecting her young! Sending Mike was the best choice in this case!

Here's how the story goes. My son has a good friend, a girl, whom he has been close to for a few years. Not a boyfriend/girlfriend kind of thing, just friends. She is a very sweet girl, but kids tend to be mean to her because she is slightly overweight. Last year, the kids in school became increasingly cruel to her, so Brandon began walking her to the bus at the end of the day to ward off their nastiness! As school started this year, so did the bullying once again. One boy in particular started his verbal attack on this young girl and my son stepped in! He warned the other boy that if he did not stop, there would be a problem. Indeed there was! The other boy's mother called the school and complained about Brandon threatening her son. I'm afraid that he may have left out a bit of the story, the part where he was being disrespectful and degrading to this young girl. As for my son, I must be doing something right, because I can't help but be proud of him for defending her!

You see, I have always been very passionate about teaching my sons to respect women. Before I met Mike, I dated a man (and I use that term loosely) that had no respect for women. I was a typical rebellious teenager and had no time to listen to people tell me to stay away from him. It all ended one day when things became physically violent and my father found this man crawling out the front door of our home. My parent's didn't raise a fool after all! I could defend myself and I did!

I truly hope that all the kids involved have learned a valuable lesson. For the bully, I hope he learned that he really should be respectful to women. Being threatened by a boy may be scary, but being beaten up by the girl who just can't take it anymore would be really hard to live down. This young girl, I hope will learn to stand up for herself and not let them break her spirit. She is way to good for that. For my son, I hope that you continue to prove that chivalry is not dead!

Happy Birthday Madelyn!

I can't believe that my baby is four! She is such a big girl now!

They Had a Great Day!

The first day of school for Felicia and Brandon went very well yesterday! Woohoo! I am so relieved! Madelyn also had a great day! She was a little upset in the morning without Felicia here at home, but that quickly passed when she and Aaron became my kitchen helpers for the day!

Here they are modeling their aprons! LOL! Don't you just love Aaron's witch hat? They made cupcakes for the back to schoolers!

Felicia was so tired when she got home that she ate her cupcake and fell asleep before dinner. Poor girl!

This morning, she was just as excited to go to school as she was yesterday! She even walked in by herself! She's 5 now you know! (That's what she keeps telling me. LOL!)I guess that means that I can relax a little!

...and away they go!

Brandon and Felicia headed off to school this morning! Both were up bright and early. Felicia wanted to leave the house at 7:00 am, a little too early! I am so proud of her! She smiled like that all the way to school and did not appear to be nervous at all! Brandon on the other hand was. He was nervous for her!

*Sadly I have no pictures of the elusive teenager Michael from his first day. He was just not in a picture taking mood!

Summer is Winding Down

Today was the last day of summer for Felicia and Brandon. Michael started school this past Monday and Aaron starts next Monday. So, our summer fun is coming to an end.We just hung out together around the house today. We had no plans to do anything but just relax and gear up for the start of a new school year.

While enjoying our final moments of summer, it occurred to me that this is the first summer that I have ever had with just my kids. No job to take up my precious time. No extra kids to care for. Just us! Spending days by the lake watching my kids splash in the cool water, while having my toes buried in the sand. Cheering on my boys during their backyard football games. Catching fireflies and giggling with the girls when Felicia left them escape in the house. This is truly the perfect job for me! I wouldn't go back to my old life even if I was paid triple!

As I send two more of my kiddos off to school tomorrow, I will have some fond memories of the best summer ever!

There's Nothing Better...

...than licking the spoon!

It's Getting Close!

The first day of kindergarten for Felicia will soon be upon us! I have been worrying about the day that she goes off to school for quite some time now. You know the crazy things that a mom can conjure up in her own mind. Will she get lost? Is someone going to be there to show her where the classroom is? I often think about her getting dropped off at the front of the school and just standing there while every one else goes about their business. Then everyone is inside the building and she is standing alone on the sidewalk. I know that this is not reality! I have sent three other children to school and all of them were safely returned to me at the end of the day. But, I still worry!

Last night was kindergarten orientation! Felicia had been very excited about this day for a long time. She waited patiently all day and spent a great deal of time choosing just the right outfit for the occasion. We arrived at the school a few minutes early. A crowd of excited parents and children were waiting for the doors to be opened so we could all flood through and head to our classrooms. Felicia held my hand tightly, she was becoming a bit nervous. As we walked down the hall, I looked down at my big girl. She had a huge smile on her face! This was it! It was finally happening! We dropped her off with her new teacher and headed to an assembly of parents meeting with the principal. I could not stop thinking about my little girl off on her own.

After we learned about all the things that kindergarten parents need to know, we went back to the classroom to meet with the teacher while the kids watched a bus safety video. Then, it was time for a bus ride around the school. This was the moment she has been waiting for! This was what truly makes a "Big Kid"! The bus! She beamed the biggest smile ever and giggled with glee when the bus took off for their short journey around the building! What a proud moment for her! She had become a full fledged kindergarten student!

So next week, I will send her off on the bus to start her new adventure! I can't wait to hear about all the fabulous new things she is learning and about the new friendships she will form. *sigh* She is growing up!

Friends Forever!

Today I received this award from my friend Vickie!





When I came into the blogging world last year I tried to find people that I could connect with personally. Whether we shared similar experiences, we were moms, childcare providers, or just had something in common. At some point early on I found Vickie! She is such a warm and caring person! I feel like I can tell her anything. She has become a true friend. I am forever grateful for her kindness! Thank you Vickie!

My Life. In Pictures-Black and White

Today the My Life. In Pictures. assignment is Black and White! I have always loved black and white photos, so this is my favorite yet! My entry is a picture of my nephew Alvin! On this day, he was digging for worms with my girls and this is a shot of him proudly displaying his catch!

To see some more great black and white shots, visit Amber at Everything Except the Grill!

My Life. In Pictures.-Out and About

Today the theme for the My Life. In Pictures Challenge is, Out and About. We are out and about a lot in the summer and one of our favorite places to go is the park. Every time we go, Felicia hops on this "rolling barrel" and runs until she can't run any more! The entire time giggling uncontrollably! It's a lot of fun to watch! She is hysterical!

To participate in My Life. In Pictures. visit Everything Except the Grill!

My Life. In Pictures-Summer Fun

This week, I will be participating in another session of My Life. In Pictures. hosted by Amber at Everything Except the Grill! The theme for today is summer fun! So here is one of the many ways that we have fun in the summer, splashing in the kiddie pool!

If you would like to play along or check out some of the other ways people are having fun this summer, check out the My Life. In Pictures. challenge over at Everything Except the Grill!

A Family Treat-Funnel Cakes

With powder sugar covered faces, my little ones are saying, "more please"! So I thought that I would share our funnel cake recipe with you so that you can enjoy them too:0)

You will need:
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
1 1/3 cups sifted flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda

Beat the egg and add the milk. Sift dry ingredients together, then add the egg/milk mixture. Beat until smooth. In a heavy skillet, heat 1 1/2" oil to 375 degrees. Holding your finger over the end of a funnel, fill it with the batter. Using a circular motion, pour the batter into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top and enjoy:0)

For Those of You Who Are Still Here!

Yesterday was a crazy day for me. I woke up feeling the need to make my life simpler. Combining my blogs was the way that I thought I could do that. I was wrong. I went to bed last night, feeling uneasy about the decision I had made. Was I giving up? Would people forget about cute moments that I wrote about, or would new readers never know these things? It made me even more stressed. So, this morning I awoke and immediately clicked on my very first blog, The Adams Family! I scrolled through pages of memories that I had shared and I began to feel sad. I didn't really want to give this up! So here I am, back where I started from! I am happy with my decision to keep this blog open and to share all of the crafts that I do with my kids, here, all while continuing to blog about our life as, The Adams Family!

A New Beginning

In an effort to simplify my life, I have combined both Just For Fun and my family blog into one new blog called Moments of Mommyhood. I would love for you to join me there:0)

*Update-Call me crazy, but after thinking things through, I have decided to blog exclusively on The Adams Family!

Mady's Friends

Madelyn has got some imagination! Here she is pushing her "friends" at the park! Let me tell you about these "friends", They are not the most well behaved children. They tend to be a bit rude at times and are quite demanding. A few weeks ago, we had to stop the car because we were pulling out without one. Her name is Stacie. The next day, I was informed by Mady that Stacie was "humiliated"! I'm not really sure what I did to upset her!

Although they can be nasty at times, Madelyn truly loves her "friends", so much so that last week she asked me to do her hair like theirs. I have been told by a friend that imaginary friends are a sign of intelligence. I sure hope that's true and not an indication of multiple personalities, because we already have a full house here;0)

Great News!

Fishful Thinking is now on Facebook! If you're on Facebook, please join the Fishful Thinking Fan page! It's a great place to get all the latest information about Fishful Thinking!

The Flea Market Find

For as long as I can remember, my Dad has been a frequent flea market shopper. He has come home with some pretty great finds. Antique furniture, jewelry, etc. and some not so great finds, such as the ugly elephant cookie jar that is being passed back and forth amongst family members. But, for the most part, not too bad. My kids have always enjoyed going to the market with their Poppy. He has taught them how to get a good deal on anything and if it's free, you take it! Somebody could use it! Right?

That was how he and Brandon spent Sunday morning. Off to the flea market they went, only to discover that their trip turned up nothing. Until, they passed a tiny hand written sign along the road......FREE PUPPIES! That's right, FREE! That's my dad's favorite word! FREE! So here it is!

This is Buddy! Cute, right?!

He is Brandon's new best friend! (only he has to live at Nana and Poppy's house)

I have to admit, he is cute!

I felt really bad leaving him behind, because he did not stop following Brandon the entire time we were there! He even followed him to the car! Poor Buddy:0( As for Poppy, he is forbidden to pick up free puppies along side the road! But he still will;0)