Burning my candle at both ends

That's how I feel right now. I am completely overwhelmed with all that there is to do in one simple day. Like today for example...I have a trash-pit house to clean, about 1,000 images to go through and choose for editing (only 2 families! I have GOT to stop taking so dang many pictures!), groceries to buy, homework to help with, chauffeuring to do, lunches and dinners to make, bills to pay before we end up with a bad credit score, and quite frankly, all I want to do is crawl back in bed on this crisp fall morning and fall asleep.

I am sure most of that won't get done, but if you think if me today, prayer is wonderful and nice thing. At some point, this house needs to sell so that life can go back to some sense of normal. Well......is it ever really "normal" for me? No....but at least it will be a start.

Randy Travis and his amazing Afro

My grandma just turned 78 a couple weeks ago. She is a sprite little thing for a 78-year-old woman. She could run circles around me I'm sure! She's always up for babysitting her great-granddaughters (even when she is convinced they have learned new cuss-words;) and loves spending time with us. Tomorrow we are headed to the Aurthur Cheese Festival with her....not something I would do on a normal day, but she wants to do it, so mom, I, and the girls will head down there with her. We will all poop-out way before she does I'm sure!

I was sitting at the computer the other day while Russ was watching some random airline documentary (seriously....I don't understand the mindless stuff he watches! Guess that's why he is the smart one!) and low and behold, Randy Travis was featured due to him coming through that particular airport and the security issues that came with it. Russ commented "Hey...Randy Travis DOES have an Afro!" Right now...everyone except my sisters and mother reading this is confused...let me explain.

It is my favorite, crazy grandma story, and I have a LOT of them. Probably about 8-10 years ago at Thanksgiving, Diana and I were talking about Lenny Kravitz and his amazing afro. Don't know who that is? Click on the link...you'll get the picture...literally. My grandma happened to be walking through from the laundry room (a room she frequents at EVERYONE'S house!) and just in passing says "Randy Travis DOES NOT have an AFRO!" Then walked through and into the kitchen. It was that day we were convinced that her hearing had gone. We laughed hysterically and to this day, we tell that story in preface to anyone meeting grandma cause it's the awesomest grandma-story ever. She didn't mention it again, just simply stated the fact that her precious Randy Travis (a close second to her favorite singer, Vince Gill) did not indeed have an afro.

I informed her yesterday that I had indeed seen Randy Travis recently and needless to say...he was rocking a pretty amazing afro himself. It is a little more flat-ironed than Lenny's, but still...pretty puffy if you ask me.

Jesus at Walmart?

I decided to go grocery shopping yesterday for the first time in about 12 years (or what seemed like 12 years according to our cabinets). After hearing on the radio that my store of choice, which is usually Meijer, was having some big back-to-school bash, Walmart quickly became my only choice. It was unusually quiet which was strange because it was 5:30 in the evening and usually a really busy time. It was just Tater and I, so I got through everything pretty quickly while she was "resting" in the front of the cart.

We get to the check-out lane and the guy in front of us was a little unkempt looking.....and that is probably being nice. He hadn't shaved, cut his hair, or probably showered for about 5 years, and he was wearing an orange robe/tunic looking thing. By this time, Mae was wide awake and begging for candy bars. She looked forward, noticed they guy, and started pointing and yelling "LOOK MOMMA!! It's an ORANGE JESUS!!" I was doing my best to give her "the face"...you know "the face" moms. It's the "dear GOD please stop pointing and embarrassing me" face. It's the "be quiet before I get into a confrontation with a rather scary looking person" face. I was shooshing her and begging her to stop talking...all with "the face". She didn't notice the face and refused to quiet down until I acknowledged that she truly did see an "orange Jesus".

Fortunately, I don't believe the guy was with it enough to hear her, or he was just being nice and not acknowledging that he heard her which if that was was the case, was kind of Jesus-like:) The check-out lady, however, did hear her and was laughing hysterically as if she had been holding it in for about 12 years. She informed Maebree (as did I of course) that was NOT in fact Jesus.

kids.....*sigh* Their perspectives are pretty interesting. We don't know what Jesus looks like, but I am anxious to see if he looks like my Maebree's "Orange Jesus" or more like my "Passion of The Christ" Jim Caviezel Jesus. I'm hoping the latter, but probably neither.......

Zeke and Zack

THEEEERRRREEE DOOOOOOOONNNEEE! And I cried while editing...just like I cried at her maternity shoot.

Ok...not gonna say more or I'll cry. Grab a box of tissues, some coffee, click on the pic and go on over and attempt to prepare yourself for all the cuteness that is awaiting you. Just try...I triple-dog-dare ya!

First Day of School

Thursday was the first two-hours of school (lame...I can't believe they make us do that!) and Friday was the first OFFICIAL DAY of school. I snapped a quick pick of the girls before we walked out the door.

Please note the incredible excitement all over Emmy's face. Thrilled.

Mae had to wear her Dora backpack, but she informed me that she was "too yiddo to stay. I not big yet momma...I too yiddo to be at school. Maybe in two weeks". I was also informed that Tinney Bear as well was too "yiddo to stay".

Baby Z's

I am not supposed to publish a bunch before I get the whole lot to her....but I have been hounded by so many people to see even a sneak peek.....I just couldn't take it anymore! I can't wait to see what the future holds for these precious little guys.

In the meantime...Peace out my brotha!

I'm Old....

....Yep....I am.

Due to massive amounts of back-to-school shopping and partying yesterday, I didn't get this post up! My baby turned 10 yesterday. That's right....ten. As in double digits. 1-0. She's the best 10-year-old money can buy. I couldn't ask for a better kid in her. She is literally THE most helpful kid I know. If she senses that I'm stressed (which is a lot lately) she immediately asks what she can do. I love her more than my heart can stand, and I can't wait to see what God has for her as she gets older.

We decided to forgo a massive family party and took her and her BFF Lydia to Indiana Beach for the day. She is not a roller coaster kid as I thought. But regardless, we had lots of fun walking around that County-Fair-on-Steroids.

Happy Birthday Faithy-Foo!