Can't Get it Out of My Head!

It's no secret that Rich is a HUGE Liverpool FC supporter (that's an English Soccer team for those of you that don't follow football).

When we lived in England we only had one TV so I used to be forced to watch the games with him every time they were on. We also had a small flat/house so there wasn't any room to escape.

Anyway, I grew to really enjoy it as well. But since we moved over here and we have an INSANE number of TV's and a finished basement, Rich generally watches the games down there in relative peace and quiet.

This weekend, however, we decided the boys needed to be emerged in their history... We forced them to watch Liverpool v. Everton on TV. A local derby with a fierce rivalry. Everton's football grounds, Goodison Park, is just a stones throw (quite literally) from Liverpool's Anfield Stadium -- so as you can imagine, it was quite a big game.

So, what do you do when you want to get your kids interested in a football game they have no interest in watching?

You teach them football songs. Yes, my kids learned, and watched (thanks to YouTube) some Liverpool football songs... their favorite (and you can see why when you press play) was this one:



And since Sam quite likes "The Ants Go Marching One by One" even he got into the song! All weekend the video played over and over, the boys sung it, the boys hummed it... Josh even made up new words at one point for when HE plays #9 for Liverpool!

And now, the song is forever stuck in my head. So I'm sharing it with you...

And yes, Fernando Torres did get the ball and score again and again and again (but for some reason the thrid was disallowed)... The result was a good one... Liverpool 2 - Everton 0.

Casanova in the making?

The past few weeks we've had a little pre-school romance blooming, cooling off and back again.

One day I asked Sam who his friends in class were. He replied, "Alex is my girlfriend." Alex is a girl, and he's been in class with her for 2 years.

I sort of let it drop. Then one day I was tucking him into bed and he said, "Alex isn't my girlfriend anymore. She's Tanju's." Tanju is a boy in his class.

I sort of teased him a little, as you do... "So are you sad? Did she dump you?"

Sam: "Yes, she's Tanju's now."

Me: "Well, you'll just have to win her back!"

Sam: "Yeah."

Then the next school day he got in the car after school. "Mom, I couldn't win Alex back. I just couldn't."

Me: "Oh that's okay, you can be footloose and fancy free!"

Sam: "Yeah..." Like he knows what that means.

Then yesterday, his teacher put him in the car and said, "Alex told me today she was going to marry Sam, but he spent all day holding hands with Alina."

So, of course, I quizzed him about this. "So Sam, is Alina your girlfriend now?"

Sam: "No mom, she's just my friend."

Me: "Well Ms. Lynn said Alex wants to marry you."

Sam: Starts crying.... "Mom, I don't want to get married! I'm only 3!"

Wordless Wednesday: Who Says Soccer is a Non-Contact Sport?

Join the fun. Visit the Wordless Wednesday HQ for more.

Hold the Emmy's... we have a new entry...

I have been known to say "Boys are weird" from time to time.

Well, I've got proof today.

Seriously, I hope this doesn't put my pretty award from yesterday in jeopardy.

Arte y Pico? Or poco de arte

Well blow me down. Melissa B over at the Scholastic Scribe has given me more bling for my blog.







This Blogstalker gave the award to The Scholastic Scribe and described is as the following:

"It translates literally to 'art peak'. It has been passed on as meaning a
creative and interesting blog."

So thank you Melissa B for this award!



There are rules for this award and they are....


1.) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material & overall contribution to the blogger community.



2.) Post the name of the author & a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.


3.) Each award winner has to show the award & put the name & link to the blog that has given him or her the award


4.) The award winner & presenter should post the link of the "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of the award.


5.) Post these rules.


Wow, there are so many blogs... My pics for the award are:


1. Irene over at Our Little Piece of the World. She's an amazing photographer and has such an artsy-eye for the little things. And she's got three beautiful girls that are always happy to be her subjects!


2. Next is Cheryl at Three Scrapbooking Ladies, Stamping Everything with Cheryl, and 3BeesMemories. She's got a nice scrapbooking blog and business going. I'll let her decide which blog deserves the award because they are all so cute!


3. Cheryl's sister Sheila of My Memories, My Personal Reviews, Designs by Sheila and more... also has a creative streak and I love her blogs. She's always redesigning one of them so they're fun to go and see.


4. Missy at The [fill in the prefex]iest Thing I Saw Today. Her blog is hysterical and completely creative. She takes things she sees, odd things, and draws pictures of them. Very funny, very creative.


5. Last, but not least, Cathy at Coming and Going. I met Cathy through Maya's Mom and she is very creative with her knitting. She writes about life as an Expat in Hong Kong, her son, her husband and her quirky sense of humor.


So my friends... go forth and spread the art!

Josh's Singing Debut

Last night we went to the 100th Anniversary celebration for Josh's school. The chorus had their debut performance there.



They've only had three practices so far and they did really well. They sang four or five songs... Of course Josh has been singing them all day at home this week. Very cute.

The "Birthday Party" for the school was lots of fun. Josh got to show Rich all over the school, they played on all the play grounds and had a good time.

This afternoon we have a baseball game for Josh. The hot, humid weather has finally broken (for the time being anyway) so it's beautiful out. Knock on wood... it doesn't look like Rich will have to work this weekend either!

So we're off to enjoy the weekend!

Wordless Wednesday: Fresh off the Vine

From my neighbor's garden and oh so yummy!


Join the Wordless Wednesday fun!

I Love my Bloggy Friends

One thing I love about blogging is it brings people together. I have met so many fantastic people from all over the globe through blogging and the internet.

I can't begin to tell you about the number of people I consider "friends" although I've never meet them, or met just briefley. Just look at my blog roll. There are people on there who share their lives with me everyday and I relate to them. And they relate to me. And I consider them friends.

There is one person who I've joked with for well over a year now about being a "twin" (a much younger twin) or a "long lost sister." We have so much in common and I just love her and her blog. She is a very gifted writer who actually does remind me a lot of my own sister.

I consider her a mentor and a friend. She is a wonderful writer and all around good person. And we both have two boys and that gives us a sister-type bond beyond compare.

She's hit the big-time with TV gigs and national exposure through Shine! Yahoo's site for women. I'm honored that she considers me a friend too.

So when I came home from picking Sam up from school today and found a package waiting for me I was all a tingle with excitement! Something other than a bill, credit card application or addressed to "resident."

I opened it up and this was inside:

A book called "No One Cares What You Had for Lunch Today: 100 ideas for your Blog" by Margaret Mason. Sent to me by my good friend Charlene, aka: CrazedParent.

Gosh, I hope she wasn't trying to tell me something about my blog?

Just kidding! Thanks CP, I really appreciate it!




And by the way, I had a Publix Turkey Cobb Salad today!

Happy Monday Everyone.

So Rich worked ALL weekend. There were some problems at work and he was working until 10:00 on Friday, then Saturday he worked from 5:00 a.m. until about 7:30ish. On Sunday he got up and started working about 7:00.

Poor guy. He's got an install tonight too so he's had no break!

Josh had a baseball game on Saturday. It's amazing how much he's improved from last year. He's watching the ball better and hitting it better. It's amazing since he missed the whole spring season with a broken arm. His fielding has come along as well. He's not the most talented player on the team, but he certainly is enthusiastic and loves to play! Which is what counts.

(the tallest person on the team is also the only girl and she can HIT and RUN! Total Girl Power! She also does cartwheels in the outfield! You go girl!)

Sam had fun at the game too. While Josh was playing ball, Sam was limboing with the other 3 and 4 year old boys.

Because that is one awesome Limbo stick!

After his game, Josh had a sleep over with a friend from his class last year. Let me tell you he was one TIRED and GRUMPY boy on Sunday!

Of course Rich was working all day so I was stuck with Mr. Grumpy and his brother Mr. Bug-MrGrumpy-to-make-him-mad.

By 4:00 I couldn't take it anymore so I packed up the kids and took them to the pool for an hour. We had a great time! The water was not cold at all. It was really nice. And to make things even nicer, Rich showed up about 4:45 and played with the boys for 20 minutes or so. That 20 minutes was the best part of the whole weekend. It's amazing to see how much those boys love playing with Daddy.

Oh, wait... I take that back. This was the best part of the whole weekend....

photo credit: Liverpool Website

So even though he had to work all weekend, Liverpool pulled through for him!

And so, Football Season has begun well. Very well indeed.

What Happened to the Week?

Seriously.

I don't know where the week went.

It's been a weird week. Josh came home from ALP (the gifted program he does) on Wednesday with a bad report. Apparently, he likes to talk. This is not news to me. At school he's always been a good worker and he's been able to control his "talking" so it doesn't get in the way of learning.

It's the second time in 4 weeks he's gotten in trouble for talking and not doing his work. Of course we had to address this before it becomes a problem.

And we wanted to make sure he understood how serious we are about good behavior in school. So we took away all his electronic games -- no computer, no DS, no PS2 and No TV for the rest of the week. And he also has to go to bed lights out at 7:00 every school day.

He was upset at first, but honestly, I don't think it was that bad for him. He and Sam played nicely all the rest of the week. And to be honest, it was nice not having the TV on or the kids fighting over the laptop or PS2.

And I'm pleased to report he's been much better at school. Of course the real test is next Wednesday when he goes back to ALP.

We've been trying to do "Friday Family Fun Nights" now that school is back in session. Josh's baseball practice was canceled earlier this week and rescheduled for last night. Our plan was to go down and watch his practice and maybe go out for ice cream after. But, as luck would have it, problems came up at Rich's work and he had to work. He's still working and probably will until tonight. He may have to work tomorrow too.

Not to ruin our fun though. The boys and I went down to the ball field and watched Josh's practice. It was fun. He's got a cute little team. What they lack in talent, they make up for in enthusiasm.

Today Josh as a ball game and then he's going to a sleep over. So even though Rich has to work, we should be entertained and busy enough.

Hope you all have good weekends!

Wordless Wednesday: TRA LA LA!

(Captain Underpants)

Join in the fun! Visit more Wordless Wednesday posts here.

I thought Weekends Were for Relaxing?

Last spring we tried something called "Friday Family Fun Nights." And that is what they are. We try to do something together after dinner. It doesn't have to be something big or expensive, the idea is to get out of the house and spend some time together as a family.

Now that summer is over and things are settling down, we decided to restart the fun nights. So last Friday we headed down to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. We didn't stay long, but we did run around the battlefield and then we drove up the mountain road to see the views from the top.

It was spectacular. The air was clear and the sky was blue. We could see Stone Mountain clearly in the distance (something we've never been able to do before because of all the haze) and the city looked amazing from up there.

We had such a great time we decided to come back later in the weekend and walk up the mountain.

Since Josh had his first baseball game on Saturday afternoon, we decided Sunday morning would be a good time to go.

Josh did great in his baseball game. Sam and I didn't go, we had some errands to run, but Rich said he did really well. He hit the ball each time he got up and had some really good throws.

Then Saturday afternoon, I was invited to a book signing in Buckhead for the book "Sleep is for the Weak." I got to meet Kristin Chase from Motherhood Unsensored, Mir from Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, and Rita Arens from Surrender, Dorothy! In my star-struck awe, I forgot I had my camera and didn't get their pictures! D'oh! They were all really nice and I'm so happy I got to meet them!


So Sunday morning we got up early. I had heard that the Target by us was getting Wii's in and wanted to get down there to get one for the boys Christmas present. I wasn't the only one that heard this, four others were waiting there too. But, the manager came out about 10 minutes before opening and announced they had none. Apparently, the stores aren't even told when the shipments will be coming in because the 18-wheelers will get carjacked. How sad is that?

So, I returned home empty handed (but as luck would have it we did find one on the internet) and we got the kids all buttered up, hatted and ready to go on a hike.



Notice the propeller on top of Sam's hat. He received many comments about that hat and was only slightly surprised that he couldn't "fly" up the mountain when the propeller was spinning.

They did really well.

Okay, so Josh complained that he was hungry and his legs were tired after only 5 minutes and he kept asking those coming down the mountain "how much further?" until we had to threaten him with more exercise and less video games if he didn't just suck it up.

And Sam was just slow. He did well for the parts he walked. But poor Rich carried him up most of the way.



Finally! We made it to the viewing area at the "almost" top and could stop for a snack!



We continued on past several cannons that had been dragged up by confederate troops ...



.... up to the very top of the mountain...



(they're standing on the triangulation station marker at the top)

... and back down the other side... until we got to the road, then we followed the road down. It took longer, but was much easier. At least for Sam.



We were all quite hot and yucky when we got home at lunch time.

Josh had another birthday party on Sunday -- that's the third birthday party in as many weeks! He went bowling this time -- he got the high score (96) thanks to back to back strikes. He had fun, but I'm hoping there won't be any more parties for a bit.

So what we thougth was going to be a nice relaxing, easy-going weekend ended up being quite busy! I was a bit happy that they all went back to school today so I could get some rest!

They keep me laughing....

since I posted a Samism.

Yesterday we went to story time and his friend Walker came in with his mom.

Me: Look Sam, there's Walker...

Sam: LUKE SKYWALKER is here!

Did I mention he's obsessed with StarWars?


And Josh had a good Joshism yesterday too.

We went to Kennesaw Mountain to walk around after dinner. I'll probably post more about that trip tomorrow. Anyway, we drove up to the parking lot at (almost) the top of the mountain. The views are amazing there! We were on our way to walk up some steps that would bring us up a bit higher for a different view.

Josh: Can we go up there?

Me: Yep, come on, let's go...

Josh: WOW! I've never been this high before!

The college boys that were walking by could barely contain their laughter.

And Josh has been there before... and even up to the very top of the mountain.

I'm Loved...

... well my blog is anyway.

My very good friend Sheila from My Memories gave me this nice award.

I love her blog too. I met Sheila through Maya's Mom about a year and a half ago. I love her blog too but since she already got the award, I'm not going to give it back to her...

In fact, I find it a bit difficult to single anyone out because I love so many of your blogs...

... but, I am going to single someone out.

I'm passing this on to Shannan at Mommy Bits. I also met Shannan through Maya's Mom. She's the sole voice of reason only female in her family too. She's raising 2 boys and a husband, just like me!

I love her blog and I love Shannan.

Wordless Wednesday: Hideout Revealed

I saw these signs on the way to (and from) Asheville.

Join the Wordless Wednesday fun! Visit the WW HQ!

Bye Bye Summer...

Well today marks the "official" end to all our summer plans and happenings.

The kids are in school -- and have been for a few weeks. Our trips are done, we have no more visitors planned for a while...

We had our last-eating-bad-food- stuffing-our-face-with-chips for the summer yesterday and the detox starts today. I stepped on the scale this morning and was mortified.

Oh well, at least I've got the motivation now!

And as luck would have it, we're really busy for a while too.

Josh starts baseball practice today -- his first game is on Saturday. He's on the Cubs this year. He's quite excited that the Cubs are from Chicago because that's where his cousins live. So he feels a connection. Anyway, so he's got baseball until the end of October. He's also in the school chorus and has practices after school one day a week. His first performance will be in just a few weeks at the schools 100th year celebration!

Sam starts gymnastics on Friday mornings in October. This is his first extra curricular activity and he's very excited about it. He loved watching the Olympic gymnasts. Some how I don't see him every being that coordinated, but he's excited about trying something out.

So, life goes on here in our little corner of Atlanta. I'm actually looking forward to the cooler weather of fall and winter, getting back into a routine... I would say "slowing down" but that never seems to happen.

And now for some shameless self promotion so my mom and dad know where to go to read my Savvy article...

I know quite a few parts of the country are getting ready for the first day of school. Over at the Being Savvy the topic today is "On the first day of Preschool..." My post is a list of five fun books to ease you into the school year. Feel free to leave me some comments over there too... I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'... well, begging....

Who Me? Savvy? Well, yes!

Have you heard about Being Savvy? .

Being Savvy is an on-ling blog/magazine aimed at parents of preschoolers. There are tips on different educational activities aimed at preschoolers. There are camps and classes in cities across the U.S. and Canada. There is a huge list of preschools. There are product reviews on toys, music, books and whatever other thing you may be considering for your preschooler.

And there are over 30 City Editors all over the US and Canada adding activities specific to their city.

Starting today, I'm one of the City Editors for Being Savvy Atlanta.

I'll be posting their almost every day, so please check it out. Be sure to check out the national site as well. And their is a drop down list on the main page if you want to check out the Being Savvy page for your city.