Busy Bee

Practicing our jumping.

We got him his own broom so we don't have to go to all of our neighbor's porches to sweep. I am sure they will be excited that they no longer have to walk out of the front door to see that we are playing on their porch and going through their things. This seemed to keep a certain someone busy for a good 30 minutes.... and it ain't over yet!

Worst paying degrees.... not news to me

Worst Paying Degrees

Freezer Pleasers

This is what I wish my freezer looked like.

courtesy of Southern Living

Last year, it helped a LOT to stock my freezer. I think I may begin the process again. I will start tomorrow and continue next week when we get back from Tyler. It helps a lot just to have a great assortment of meat that I can thaw all day and then whip up a starch and veggie. I want to be part of a group that gets together one Saturday and prepares meals for the month..... hmmm. Oh and you can't forget about the crock pot..... my saving grace.

If anyone has recipes that freeze well or a delish crock pot recipe...... please comment under this post on the blog or email me..... I am SO serious..... I need ideas and help. You have read enough of my cooking misfortunes that you know I am not kidding. Please.... for the sake of my husband and child.... or they may go hungry.

We also aren't allowed back in the school building yet ( did I mention next week is the last week of summer.... eek) because they are "fixing" the mold issue. I will believe it when I see it (or smell it for that matter). I am hoping I can get in my room sometime next week.

Neshoba County Fair

We picked Chuck up from daycare when he woke up from his nap yesterday and headed to the Neshoba County Fair. I have been wanting to go for three years so this was the year! Our last chance! Really we just wanted to see what it was like and why it was covered in Southern Living a few years ago. All the pictures of the cute cabins is what got me there.

So on the fairgrounds there is a racetrack where a bunch of horse racing and harness racing takes place throughout the week. Then you have cattle and horse barns. You can watch them bathing the horses and getting them ready for the races. You can also watch the cattle shows. One day there are dairy cows, the next beef cows, etc. Now when I say barns I mean rinky dink stalls. And when I say giving them baths, I mean standing in the mud and squirting them off. Still Chuck loved seeing the animals.

There are also about 20 carnival rides and a ferris wheel and some food vendors. The rest of the fairgrounds is covered with small cabins. I would say no cabin is more than 15 feet wide. Some cabins go up three and four stories. To me it had the same feeling as Hot Springs ( the rustic feeling) but there is a racetrack instead of a lake. It also looks like someone threw up on Hot Springs with all the cabins and tents and chairs, etc. They do have entertainment every night and it is decent entertainment. They get some big bands. There is a "chair run" that happens after the last horse race. People race onto the track to put their chairs down as close as they can get to the stage. There is a lot of pushing, falling, and dirt.

So we got to the fair and strolled around through all the lanes and looked at the cabins. We also got to see a few horse races.

There is an exhibit hall ( an old run down barn) that shows the winners of the food competitions. I was quite baffled and had to take a pic. This is a picture of the veggies that won ribbons. I have never seen so many tomatoes, banana peppers, and cucumbers that look exactly the same yet some won first place and some won third. They were also displayed on fancy styrofoam plates.

Chuck did walk/run around some. When the races were over, we let him run out on the red dirt race track and play in the dirt ( and probably horse poo). He found the carousel and pressed his face against the fence and cried. We bought him a ticket and let daddy go with him. When they got on the carousel, Chuck would not ride any of the animals and cried the whole time. Guess we couldn't win either way.

I think Chuck's favorite part of the day was the lemonade. While we were in Mobile this past weekend, Chuck picked up Abby's juice box and started drinking it. Apparently, he has been ready to drink out of a straw and we didn't know it. So Dr. and I each got a lemonade at the fair and Chuck about threw a fit. Needless to say, Chuck won and got a lemonade and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Defeating the Gyro Bowl

OK, well we have all seen the infomercials for the gyro bowl. You know, the bowl that spins around and can be handled by a toddler and it never spills. Well, if you don't know about Dr.'s obsession with the As Seen On TV aisle then that's a whole other blog. I can't complain, I wanted the gyro bowl too. While we were in Mobile, we found one for the Chuckinator. We seem to think the Chuck is crazy intelligent because he figures out how to get around things all the time. It doesn't take him much time for him to figure out how to overcome an obstacle. For instance.... if you have a bowl that is not supposed to spill then Chuck will figure out how to make it spill.....

We had a fun and can you believe it "relaxing" weekend! First weekend in a LONG time that this mama is not tired! Traveling has become so much easier because all Chuck needs is a diaper and a sippy cup. Of course clothes too but I don't HAVE to pack food if I don't want to ( i usually do but it is not necessary.) We also got Chuck a DVD player for the car and the rides are fun for everyone and stress/worry free. Our trip to Tyler on Saturday will probably be relatively uneventful. We will drive during Chuck's 3 hour nap time and then he can watch a movie.

Funny things that happened this weekend....

I have never really showed Chuck a pocket. I am assuming he sees his teachers put things in their pockets because they have scrubs with pockets on the front. Laney was putting things in her pockets and Chuck noticed what she was doing. Smart boy immediately started looking at his shorts and pulling them up so he could see his thigh to see if he had pockets. Cutest thing ever...

Also, Abby was looking for the rest of the fruit loops which happened to be in Dr.'s pocket. He gave them to her and Bob Bob said "what do you say"...... which we would all assume we would get a thank you. Abby paused for about 5 seconds really trying to figure out what she was going to say and all of a sudden said "Yea!!!". Hilarious. What goes on in the minds of these guys.... hahahaha.

Now for a picture. Apparently Chuck does not know to smile for the camera yet!

It is amazing how a few days can create such a big change. I have really been trying to get Chuck to start playing by himself and not have to have me next to him. I know once school begins I might have to sit on the couch and work while he plays. We were struggling with this and it seems to be coming around after this weekend. After his bath Chuck always gets to play in his jammies. Last night after being in Mobile all weekend, Chuck did a very good job at entertaining himself. Dr. and I sat and pretended like we were busy and watched him. He is such a hoot. It is amazing the amount of maturity that can creep up just in a day! We have been meltdown free lately too ( meltdown= laying on the floor crying for no reason).

Mommyhood is actually becoming less stressful and is having more fun moments and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Although as of two weeks ago Chuck was making a good case for being the only child. I can actually see how I MIGHT be able to have another child. (Disclaimer: "might" is the key word and there was no time frame in that sentence..... which means Chuck will definitely not be a big brother until at least 3 or 4 years of age ( and I can put money on that statement if you want me to.)

Also, have I mentioned Chuck's refusal to use a booster seat? He sits at tiny tables at daycare and has his little table at home therefore he thinks he should not have to sit in a booster seat. Unfortunately, Granna and Bob Bob do not have a midget table for the midget (well actually they do but I never thought about feeding him there). He did get all the strawberries in his mouth although I am not necessarily sure he could see what he was eating.