5th Annual Beach-Pa-Looza

I left town Thursday to go on the 5th Annual Beach-Pa-Looza trip with my girls. I was worried about the trip this year because I felt like Maison was really going to grasp the fact that I was gone. I dropped her off at school that morning and headed east to the gorgeous white beaches of Orange Beach, Alabama (white beaches in "Orange" Beach... that is kind of funny!). That evening, Trey asked if I wanted to talk to her on the phone. After I said, "Hey, punkin'!" She shouted, "Mommy come home!" and started crying. Ugh. That tore at my heartstrings big time and I thought "This may be my last beach trip because if she acts like this for 3 more days, Daddy won't make it!" Thankfully, though, that was her only crying spell. The next afternoon, I talked to her and she was having an ice cream party at Maw Maw's and the day after that, Daddy took her to work with him. She was so excited about the dirt pit, track hoes and bulldozers that she did not have time to realize I was even on the planet!

The beach trip was awesome. Good times with great friends. Relaxing on the beach... I even read an entire book (Marley & Me... fabulous read for a dog lover!). I can't remember the last time I read an entire book in two days. I ate dinner in a restaurant without a little spider monkey clinging to my neck. I slept at night without having to get up to adjust blankets or fetch more cold water. I slept one morning until 9:30! I took a shower without having a rubber duck shoved in unmentionable places. I actually sat on the beach and did not spend my time chasing, watching, wiping or cleaning anyone or anything. And you know what? I missed all those things so much! I missed the butterfly kisses and nightly prayers. The chocolate pudding face and even the trips to the potty. I guess the whole trip was bittersweet for me. There was nothing like the smile that spread across her face when I walked in the door.

Thanks to my girls... Christie, Kelli, Clara, Jen L, Sissy, Mary, Kelly and even Ash was there in spirit... for an awesome weekend. I'm already counting down the days to the 6th annual trip! Thanks to BeBe, Maw Maw and Miss Paula for helping entertain her while I was gone. And a very special thanks to Daddy for being so great that she did not even miss me!

Crayola Crisis Update

I was telling my friend Tommie (she's an artist, you can check her out here) about the white crayon and how it did not work. Tommie came to work yesterday with a gift for Miss Maison... her very own pad of colored construction paper. When I got home, I gave it to her and she was amazed at how well the white crayon worked on her new pad. I explained to her that the pad was a gift from Miss Tommie. She replied, "I wike Miss Tommie. Her nice." Miss Tommie has a new friend for life!

Text from the Teacher

"Mae jus went to the bathroom came back and said i didnt pee on myself... But i fell in the toilet and she repeats this 4 0r 5 times then says did u hear me i fell in the toilet amber....It was so funny bec the entire class was quiet and she was standin at the door announcin she fell in lol."

Side note: Amber is a friend in her class.

Thanks to Miss Paula for keeping mommy in the loop about MAE's daily antics. Makes me feel like I am not missing out on her day! I don't know what I am going to do when Paula graduates and goes to the real world!

Crayola Crisis

Tonight, I was in the kitchen cooking dinner and Maison was quietly coloring in the living room. She ran into the kitchen with a troubled look on her face. In her little hand, she had a white crayon. She held it up and matter-of-factly said, "Mommy this one not work. It broke!"

Text from the Teacher

Just got a text from Miss Paula:

"mae is walkin around with a chicken leg on a plate singin happy birthday to u"

I confirmed that it was plastic toy fried chicken leg from the play kitchen. I guess with all the grandparent birthdays this month, she has birthdays on her mind.

Happy Birthday, Poppa J!

Today is my father-in-law's birthday.

So...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POPPA J!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

For those of you that are observant... Yes, all three grandparents were born in May. Between Mother's Day and grandparent birthdays, we bought stock in Hallmark this month.

The grandmother's might get on to me for these pictures since they did not get pics posted on their birthdays, but I loved these shots of MAE and Poppa J in action... If there ever were two perfect play partners, it is surely these two! She loves to play "Ride a little horsey..."

Memorial Day Weekend

Our house turned into the Evans' Inn Bed & Breakfast over the weekend. Aunt Sissy, Uncle Joe Joe, Bella and Uncle "Annie" (Andy) all came for a visit. Maison was loving the attention. It always makes me smile to see her with the members of our family that she does not get to see as frequently as others. It amazes me how she realizes how important they all are in her life and how much she loves them and is excited to see them. I always had a fear that living 4 hours from some of the most important members of our family would not allow her to be as close to them as I would like, but that is not the case.

Sissy and Joe Joe... formerly pronounced Pissy and Doe Doe... and I think they are the only ones that do not miss Maison's pronunciation... Anyway, Sissy and Joe Joe brought along their Yorkie, Porter. Saturday morning, Maison and I were awake before everyone else and as I was cooking breakfast, she drug Porter's doggie crate out of the mudroom and into the kitchen. Then she climbed in it and happily played there for quite a while. I tried to get her out because it reminded me of one of those horrible stories you hear about a foster parent caging kids and collecting the benefit money. I have been told that on Monday when I went to work, she climbed back in... with Porter this time... and that Sissy took pictures. I have not seen these pics and will not be posting them here once I do... I may share with those of you that I know will not report me to child welfare... but that is still to be determined as are my feelings about my sister taking photographs of my child in a cage! ;-)

Sissy caught a bass in the pond next to our house. I think it was her second cast and she hooked the fish we lovingly named Big Bass Bertha. She caught it Friday afternoon about an hour after they arrived. Joe Joe got up the next morning at the crack of dawn and spent HOURS at the pond trying to catch a Big Bass of his own... It did not quite work out. Saturday afternoon, Sissy went back with him and caught Bertha's honey, Big Bass Buford. Score: Sissy 2, Joe Joe 0.

Overall, it was an awesome weekend. Nothing beats a good time with your family.