I'll never drive a...

Van!

We had a cookout with 50 college students the other night. As the sweet college girls were passing around my sweet almost 8 week old baby, this following conversation was overheard:

Girl A--"You are going to be a great mom one day"

Girl B--"I can So see you being a soccer mom."

Girl C -- "But I'll never drive a van...oh no."

Girl A -- "I totally want an SUV when I have kids"

Girl C-- "Oh, yeah..Maybe a Landrover....but never a van. "

I once was 18... and dreamed of getting married and having kids.
I never dreamed of driving a van.
Does anyone actually DREAM of driving a van?

I nannied for a family the summer before i went to college and learned how to parallel park one of these bad babies in downtown Charleston.

It was my dream "mommy car" (and probably is up there as my top pick right now too)

Then there was this car I loved so very dearly.

Those college students are on to something...

It would make me one really hip mama.

Then I spent a summer in South Africa and was convinced this

was even better.
The mamas over there drive this to preschool. That would make me a REALLY cool mom.

I of course went through the Volvo stage...

I just really LOVE the Volvo wagon. And if you are the stereotypical 2.5 kid family, then this car is a great pick for you! Alas, once I realized we would not be the 2.5 kid family... I parked this volvo dream up there on the shelf with all my other lost dreams in life.

Did I mention that we are in Ministry???
NONE of the previously mentioned vehicles really falls into our budget either.

So, Alas...here I am. 29 years old, 3 kids.
And I am the VERY proud owner of a Dodge Grand Caravan.

And we've still got room for a few more kids in the back.
(Dave is pulling for 1 more!)

It may not be a Volvo, or a Land Rover, or a Suburban...
But when you look in the rear view mirror and this is what you see

It doesn't really matter what you're driving, does it?
This Van of mine sure does carry some very precious cargo!

A girl can dream....

Isn't it illegal, or inappropriate, or just plain bad parenting to leave your children in the van while you run into the Drug store? And the Post Office? And a cute little jewelry store that has the perfect orange (yes, I said orange) necklace I want to match a skirt?

Bad Parenting decision? Correct??

That's what I thought.

And that's why I did NOT get to go to the Drug Store, the Post Office (sorry Hallie, your Bday present might be late) or the Cute Jewelry Store.

Because preschool mornings go by WAY too fast, and now i have a "nursling" who must nurse at the most convenient of times. So only half of my list got done this morning. What's a girl to do?

If I could pay someone to just ride around with me for 45 minutes while i do errands, that would be great. That way I wouldn't be arrested for leaving my kids alone in the van in 80 degree heat. I could leave the van running....

No...Better yet...

If those stores could just provide me with a person who could stand out side and make sure no one drives off with my 3 kids. I would tip that person. A nice little helper standing right outside the drug store door, where there is parking for "moms of children" and they watch my van, and pass out goldfish and juice boxes. That would be heaven. All of the places that should have this.... Target, Post Office, Drug Store, probably HT (though I don't need that service because I order my groceries online now), oh the list is endless.

And While they are at it...

Why doesn't Target and Walmart have a drop and play zone (free of charge of course... I am on a tight budget here) where you can sign your kids in and they could tag them so no one takes them... they could play and jump till their little hearts are content. And I could shop in perfect peace and harmony.

A Girl Can Dream, can't she??

ps-- You don't suppose i could leave now, while they are all sleeping, do ya? I'd only be gone for 30 minutes... Just kidding. But haven't you ever wished you could do that at least once?

Walk for Life!

Well.... We walked in the Walk for Life yesterday to support the Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center. I raised $220 and want to thank all of you who helped donate to this great organization. We strapped the Red Rocket onto the van and headed downtown walk!

(yes, we are taking a picture while they are praying...oops)

It was a whopping 89 degrees yesterday.
So we slathered up the kids with sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats

(only Helen kept hers on...she's so obedient like that)

It's a good thing they had snow cones
(which, by the way totally stained my children's clothing)
and cotton candy to bribe the little beasts darling babes.

Too bad when I drove home with the triple stroller strapped to my roof,
I forgot it was on my roof, and drove right into the garage...

Scratch, scratch, crunch....

But that is another blogpost for another day.
Or maybe not. We'll just keep that little story to myself.

Let's just say I am glad my husband is forgiving and can laugh with at me.

My life is a Zoo!

Well, my Life isn't really a zoo!
But we did visit the NC Zoo last week as a family! (I am a little behind in posting!) We have a great "mini" zoo at our Natural Science Center in Greensboro, but this was their first time seeing Giraffes, Gorillas, Elephants, Zebras. It was a great time!

It was supposed to be a high 0f 68 that day...so we dressed accordingly, Well at 10am it was still in the 50's... needless to say we were freezing for a while. Charlotte was a tad grumpy.

Until I gave her the zoo map...
And she LOVED it! Is she my daughter or what? I love a good map!

And the trip wouldn't be complete without riding the Carousel....which in fact was a Mery Go Round, NOT a Carousel. What's the difference? Well, glad you asked such an important question. While a Carousel has horses you can ride, a Merry Go Round has all types of animals.

See....leopard and polar bear...definitely a Merry Go Round!

What do you get....

When you mix an inoccent (BPA Free,of course) sippy cup

and....

A NOT so innocent 2 Year old who is almost always up to no good.

You get...
One VERY angry sister.

With a not so good looking bruise on the bridge of her nose.

She cried, screamed, pulled out all the dramatics.
(and I don't blame her.. it looks like it hurt!)

He laughed... then realized he was in BIG trouble.

Thankfully, they made up...

Because like Maya and Miguel...
(it's a PBS show, for all you WAY better moms who don't let your kids watch TV)
"They are brother and sister, and best friends as well"
Sure they are...really.

PS-- this all happened on one of my first outings out with all 3. We went to Walmart..but not for groceries.
Because I ordered my groceries online this week!
(ooooh, aaaaaah!!)
We went to get a canvas bin I had seen a while back
to keep all our stuffed animals in. Becasue I am SICK of stuffed animals in every room, conveniently placed in areas where I will most likely trip on them.

The Inner Battle Continues...

You may remember a post a while back where I laid bare my inner battle over grocery shopping at my Posh Harris Teeter in Fancy town or driving to the closest not so posh SuperWalmart in a not so fancy part of town. It was quite a funny post, so if you missed it... take a look,you'll get a great laugh.

Well, the Inner Battle continues. And Let me tell you...That the Teeter Totter (as Queen Charlotte like to call it) is winning hands down!

1-- I have been clipping coupons. HT doubles my coupons. Once every few months they actually triple my coupons! And if you match your coupons with the VIC special (it is an art) and you can save some BIG bucks

2-- They take my groceries out to my van, unload them, and whisk the cart away for me!

3--They are just 3 minutes from my house..both of them. Yes I have 2 Harris Teeters within 3 minutes of my house. The Taj Ma Teeter...the BIG one. And then the "other one". Take your pick.

But who has time to grocery shop with 3 kids??? Well, certainly not me. I did go last week with sweet Helen, while the big kids were at Preschool. It was a great trip. But I cannot always do the grocery trip on a Mon or Wed, and I am NOT, let me repeat, NOT taking all 3 of my kids shopping quite yet.

Enter my 4th reason for loving Harris Teeter as of late.

That's right. Harris Teeter Express Lane. Are you smellin' what I'm cookin'?? (I love that strange southern line!) You can order your groceries online and tell them when you want to pick them up. I just ordered all our groceries just a few minutes ago...and will drive up to pick them up tomorrow at 11:30. How unbelievably awesome is that?? Pretty awesome.

And...you can hand them an envelope with all your coupons and they will apply them to your next online order (they have to get you to come back somehow)

The fee is $5.95 per order. But...Your first order the fee is waived!
I took them up on that sweet offer a few weeks ago. Then Last week I braved the store myself. (I know, I am SO brave) Then low and behold I got an e-mail saying my first online order in April the fee would be waived! Woohoo!! Thank you Harris Teeter!

$5.95....I couldn't get a babysitter for that, I couldn't get a therapy session for that (which would be needed if I took 3 kids to the grocery store), I could barely get a meal for that. But for $5.95 I can drive up, and just pick up my groceries. Now that is the life. It is my life...well for now. For today.

Now, don't go e-mailing me about how "snobby" it is to pay to pick your groceries up.
1-I have not actually paid the $5.95 fee yet
2-This is only a temporary deal while I am "adjusting" to life with 3. (it may end up being a LONG adjustment)

So for now I will say goodbye to wine tastings (see post mentioned earlier), free samples, starbucks, and sushi (yes, HT also a sushi bar and it is quite yummy)...I can do without those luxuries in exchange for keeping my sanity!

See you at 11:30 HT!

Way to go Team!!

Well, someone got the word out...

My Walk For Life ticker is growing!

I am currently at 65%! Thanks to all who heard through the grapevine (Facebook, e-mail, blogpost) and hopped on over to donate! Helen and I are VERY excited. We might just take a celebratory walk in the Big Red Rocket tomorrow (weather permitting of course)!

And I need to walk after all the
Easter candy I have eaten...

My theory on Easter Candy is...
The quicker I eat it all, the quicker it will be out of my house. YUMMO!

Up From the Grave He Arose!

We woke up (at 6:30 of course)
and ran to the table to see the grave was empty!
Jesus had Risen from the Dead!

(Have I mentioned that I really think

Little People needs to make the Resurrection playset...ahem, ahem) (Do you see the "soldiers" flat on their faces? hehehe!)

A few Easter Egg Hunting pictures...SO much fun.

Dying Eggs...

Great idea... not as much fun as I had envisioned.
Cranky kids, lots of spilled dye, most of the eggs ended up broken.
We ate none of them.

Egg Hunting in our own backyard... Fun times.

Easter Sunday...

Of course we don't have a whole family picture!

You have the Boys

And the Girls

And the Queen of Sweetness and Fat Cheeks


And the Easter Candy Addicts


And the Reason for it all....
He is Risen...He is Risen Indeed!

So Thankful for all Christ has done for us!

Did I mention...

I am walking in the Walk for Life??

Well, I think I remember mentioning it in a post or two.

Have you seen my "ticker" on the right hand side with First Giving? Well, that ticker REALLY needs some love. You see, I am raising money to walk in the Greenbsoro Pregnancy Care Center's Walk for Life on April 25th. That is in almost 2 weeks! I thought with my vast popularity on the world wide web and the fact that I just had a baby....that perhaps my ticker would be exploding with the all the pledges rolling in.

Hmmm....I don't see it exploding. And mother, I greatly appreciate your pledge. I really do. It made me smile and sing a little cheer when I saw it come in. But mothers are supposed to do things like that... It is your motherly obligation. Like buying 300 boxes of Girlscout Cookies when I was 8. And buying the Whole Box of America's Finest Chocolate. Thanks for always coming through on all these fundraisers my whole life!

But for those of your who have no motherly obligation to me... don't you just feel inclined to sponsor my walk out of the goodness of your heart?

That's what I thought.

So in case you missed it...

Here is the link one more time to where you make a pledge to this great organization and help sponsor me in the Walk for Life! Or you can just click that little ticker on the right hand side of my blog!

Now if it would only warm up so I could take the kids out in the Red Rocket to continue"training" for my big walk! Really, it's only 1 mile....but I'd like to pretend I am one of my crazy friends training for marathon.

He's a Wild Bull...

Ode to a Wild Child...

Carson, Dear Carson... You appear so sweet and Mild.

But I have learned that you, my dear, will be my Wildest Child.

A dare devil already at the ripe old age of 2...

A jump and a kick and boom and bam....that's just about all you do!

Now of course you have moments of sweet silent play...

But this is what happens the rest of the day!

We love you Carson....and wouldn't change you for anything.
We'd just like to breathe every once in a while!

Talk about a workout!

Three Little Llamas strapped in for a stroll...

A friend gave us this TRIPLE Jog stroller!
We will get at least a year use out of it before Charlotte is too big for it.

I was scared to death how heavy it was going to be,
but was shocked at how easy this thing pushed!

We went on a 30 minute walk the other day and Mama Llama was feeling it yesterday!

Here's to getting ready for the Walk for Life!
Did I mention you can Donate to help me raise money for the Walk??

Well, you sure can!