Amber Waves of Grain

We took a last minute trip to Louisville over the weekend.  When I say last minute, I mean I think we got the last possible hotel room within a 10 mile radius of Louisville. We stayed in Clarksville which has a Bass Pro Shops store.  The store is massive and we spent hours there.  The kids love it. It has a real creek through the store with a lot of wildlife.  There is a huge aquarium at one end:    There's a game section where you can shoot laser type guns and hit targets which make animals jump or little shows happen.  Lots of fun.  If you shoot the right target on this one, the rhino comes out:    And, for Memorial Day weekend Bass Pro Shops had crafts and games for kids.  Keegan won a sleeping bag by finding an object using a metal detector.  They also took free photos.  Here's ours.  Classy, right?     Bass Pro Shop is like a redneck Disney World, I suppose.   We felt right at h...

 I'm a stay-at-home mom but the girls have been going to a daycare one day a week while I run errands and get work done.  I feel guilty & embarrassed saying that .  But , anyone who has taken 3 small children to get the car's oil change is with me! Kennedy's age group moves up from a daycare level to a preschool level in the fall.  She'll be attending preschool a few mornings each week and she's so excited.   The daycare had a little ceremony for the kids moving up.   They brought the kids up the center aisle, all dressed in caps and gowns.   Then they sat at the front and recited their alphabet, numbers, colors, and so forth.  Clearly, I'm not tall enough to be taking pictures.   Here's Kennedy up front on a teacher's lap during the program:   And, after the ceremony she came to show off her 'graduation' outfit.  I think we'll use this photo at her open house in ano...

I absolutely love the TV show Shark Tank .  People share their new inventions and products with real investors.  And now,  I have 5 new inventions for you!   I bet you didn't even know you needed these items, until now!!    Here we go: 1.  American cheese slices the same shape and slightly smaller than a piece of sandwich bread . Why do they make those squares so small? And, why squares?  Let's shape them like bread. 2.  A pillow that has a vibrating alarm clock inside it .  For those of us who are light sleepers, the loud alarm clocks are sure to produce heart attacks.   I jump every time it goes off.   I think having a pillow vibrate would be much better way to wake up! 3.  A fitting room that eliminates static in your hair while you try on clothes. 4.  A butter dispenser on the fridge door (like the water/ice).  You no longer have to measure out tablespoons of butter for cooking; you just walk...

I have the skills to be a real super hero.   I've seen several powers this week alone. 1.  I was reminded while eating my chocolate truffle Blizzard that I have never had brain freeze .  If that's not a super hero power, I don't know what is. 2.  I saw a fly in the house and wished that it was dead.   Later I found it dead on the ground.  Coincidence? I think not. 3.  I drank some orange juice shortly after brushing my teeth and it wasn't that terrible.  Take that ! 4.  I ran my hands through my hair and Cheez-It crumbs came out .  Who knows what's next-- daggers? 5.  I lost a GIANT stainless steel bowl in my house shortly after washing it in the sink.  Four days later it magically appeared in the dishwasher after thinking, "Maybe it's in the dishwasher!".  Kapow !! 6.  I kept myself & 3 small children almost completely hidden while Nathan hosted a men's event at our home.  I didn't even use d...

Sometimes I get asked who the kids look like.  I don't know.   But, I occasionally like to post side-by-side comparison photos as they reach various ages. So...you decide..... again. Here are the kids when they were each around 15 months old : KEEGAN : KENNEDY :  SAVANNAH (not quite 15 months yet): And, ME .  I'm not sure my actual age there but pretty close probably: One thing is for sure.... they are all mine!    So, who looks like who? (or 'whom', I'll never know) - You decide!

I love Real Simple magazine. They often show easy ways to reuse household products.  You can use a candle to fix a zipper, sandpaper to hone scissors, or a wine cork as a cushion for cabinet doors.  I'm sure MacGyver had something to do with these ideas.  So, today I present to you "Amber's Aha Uses!"   I invented these myself. I promise. First, a soda can cozy.  I use these on shaving cream cans in shower.  That's right, no more orange rust-type rings left by those metal cans!  Second, witch hazel.  It's not just for witches. I used to buy eye makeup remover for about $8 for a tiny bottle.  I read the ingredients one day and noticed witch hazel was the main ingredient.  You can buy a big bottle of store brand witch hazel (in the first aid section) for much less ($1.50ish maybe)!  I use this now and would like to think I'm slowly getting rich with this tip. So, those are today's ...

It's 8pm on Mother's Day and the kids are asleep. I'm exhausted but so blessed.  A friend tragically lost their son this past week and I was reminded of the fragility of life.  I held my kids tighter this week.   I said "I love you" more.  I put aside mundane tasks and played with cars, painted little girl's toenails, and danced in the living room with my baby.  I love my family.   This Mother's Day weekend was great. We started on Friday with manicures/pedicures.  Pink on top, purple on bottom.    Then Keegan brought home some fun stuff from school.  He completed the blanks on this one: They say: My mother can RUN My mother likes FLOWERS My mother is PRITE (pretty) Mothers go TO RESULEN (to wrestling).  For the record, I have never once been to wrestling! Mothers will HUG ME My mother has CIDS (kids) My mother loves ME . And, no Mother's Day is complete without a finger-painted paper plate.  Or...

I had the awesome privilege of taking Will's senior pictures last night.  I very much appreciate when a victim friend lets me practice on them with my camera.  It's a win-win, I think.   I'm still editing, but here's a sneak preview of what I'm working on.  Disclaimer: I'm not a photographer!   We found two "Will Call" signs to use for Will.  How cool is that!?  Now, can anyone help me Photoshop the reflection out of his glasses here?  Seriously, let me know!     Congratulations, Will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kennedy is at a fun age. I love to ask her questions during meals.    Here is our lunch conversation from today, word for word: Amber :  What's your name? Kennedy :  Um, Savannah.  I'm teasing you. A:  What do you want to be when you grow up? K:  I want to be a daddy. A:  What's your favorite food? K:  Alphabet soup A:  What does Daddy do for work? K:   Come home and eat dinner and go to monkey bars A:  Who's the President? K:  A teacher A:  What does Mommy do for work? K:  (shrugs) A:  Do you want to be a mommy when you grow up? K:   Uh-huh. A:   How many kids do you want to have? K:  Five. A:  What are their names? K:  Savannah, girl, mommy, elephant A:  Will you vote for Richard Lugar or Mitt Romney? K:  Romney. A:  Why is Mommy married to Daddy? K:  Your ring A:  Can you tell me a joke? K:   HA- HA-H...

Savannah turns 14 months today!      Since Savannah's last update...... - She now ( finally ) has 4 teeth! - She's walking! - She was weaned from formula, her pacifier, bottles, and brought down to just one nap per day.... all the week she turned 1.    Why not all at once, right!? - She's a great eater ( insert sigh of relief ). - I'm buying her more pink shirts so that strangers will stop referring to her as " handsome " or " little buddy "! Look at this happy baby! Walk, walk, walk!  She loves popsicles!  Here she is on Easter with Kennedy & Keegan.  L.O.V.E.  This sweet baby has sin nature after all..........  She loves playing with baby dolls like Kennedy. She carries them around and puts little blankets on them... Happy 14 months, Savannah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We love you!