april~week 15/366 {eggs-school-cuts-dance}

after discovering what goodies the easter baskets held, 
we spent a lovely easter sunday. at home. relaxing, yes?
thankfully, hubs takes over dying eggs.
we hid coin-filled eggs indoors.




some of them were easier to find than others.
{see that sweet portrait of gracie at 4 months old? *sigh*}



bucket-heads were trending this easter.
at least in our house. 



letters of affirmation found in 10 yo's room.
warmed our hearts.

a homeschool picnic with theater friends 
that left poor nator seeing spots.
she fell and whacked her back.
so thankful for our chiropractor!

unexpected birthday gifts mailed 
from a sweet aunt, uncle and cousins.

gracie giving her history narration under covers. *giggle*

watching youtube tutorials, involving scissors.
watching the gas station being built behind our home...
fill the ground with gasoline.  *sob*



following through on the tutorial, i cut nator's hair.
no, i am not a professional.  

we have really been enjoying a relaxed history discussion time... colors have been used more.  hahhhh...




we met sweet friends for a picnic.
adult conversation is always welcome. ;)



nator, a supportive sister, tries to inform us of the woes of enduring yet another dance competition over mexican food.  believe me, we all feel the same way... well, except for gracie. ;)

still.  the show must go on...

it requires starbucks.
cake pops, hot tea, banana nut bread, and dark chocolate to get us through.
backstage, gracie pulls out a game of pictionary man.

between performances, we dodge 'things' left behind on the floor, due to the pet expo next door.  we rock at multi-tasking.

when all is said and done, we are completely depleted of all energy.  forming complete sentences might become a challenge.  so... we go home, hands full of costumes and take-out. 

life is better when you are wearing stretchy pants anyway.



bragging parent alert {unlike all of my other posts *ehem*}: 
so many solos, yet gracie was one in a handful of kids who received an invitation to NYC.  so proud of this girlie.  it's just too bad plane tickets didn't come with the invitation. ;)



honestly, this competition was a little easier.  everything was on the same day and the room was quite large.  we weren't running into each other in the dressing room.  so important when so many divas are under one roof.  keepin' it honest, you know. ;)



dance competition.  we'll see you again next year!

psh!  who am i kidding?  gracie is already thinking up ideas for next year's performance. ;) 

i'm thinking of re-naming this blog.
"chronicles of a tired mama"
catchy, yes?

{CMA} ramblings

{otherwise titled: what one does when one's husband is out of town - when one really should be sleeping}

footloose.  interesting choice.  country awards, right?  it's okay, i suppose.  i like blake.

brad paisley & carrie underwood.  love them.  i still think carrie was the best thing to come from american idol. 

if i die young.  really?!!  i still don't get that song. 

faith hill and tim mcgraw.  such a beautiful couple.  3 kids later.  no fair.  what's their secret?  you know... besides the fact that they work out in the gym together, eat healthy, and possibly have access to several age-defying-procedures?  

keith urban and nicole kidman.  make such a lovely couple.  even if he's a little shorter.  happy for them.

sara evans.  something looks different.  sounds off.  not a fan of the ladies twirling in the air.  no cables?  has anyone ever fallen from those long curtains? country meets circ du soleil? aren't you getting dizzy?  i need to go to the gym.  personal trainer.  chocolate?

miranda lambert.  baggage claim.  i'm glad it's not the house that built me.  are you wearing an over-sized wrestler's belt?  something's on fire.  be careful pretty lady.  you and blake make a great lookin' couple!

kelly pickler.  oh, girl.  here.  have some of my chocolate.  song of the year... if i die young.   are you kidding me?  *sigh*  is it even a country song?  am i the only one who doesn't get this song?

okay, bring it zac brown band.  georgia.  awesome.  how did you know i was from georgia? ;)

rascal flatts.  love those harmonies.  awwww.... Natasha Bedingfield.  you look lovely dawling. oh, wait.  are you wearing a carpet?  nevermind, you guys sound great together.   i'd love to have your range.  *sigh*

actors?  what's the connection to country?  hmmm...  vocal duo is... sugarland.  you needed some great news. 

eric church.  are you in witness protection?  take the sunglasses off, please.  singing... all you gotta do is put a drink in my hand?  that may explain a few things.  i change the radio station when songs like this come across the satellite radio.  can't have my 9 yo singing that.  shame.

thompson square.  i didn't know your name, but have heard your 'kiss me or not' song a lot.  are you guys married?  i've always wondered how that worked with unmarried duets. 

chris allen.  you sound country.  and we can see your face.  thank you.  awe.  you have dimples.  sorry... i'm already happily married.

taylor swift.  i appreciate your modest simplicity.  you almost make me want to play the guitar.  i can't have my girls singing your lyrics though... you always sing of not listening to your parents when in the thralls of puppy love.  why must you do that?

whoa, carrie underwood.  where did that outfit come from?

luke bryan.  i wasn't a fan of that song before... now i'm really not.  i won't be shakin' anything for you.  how much are personal trainers??  fast-forward.

miss piggy.  fun.

lady antebellum.  heather looks pretty next to her new g-q beau.  wait.  is she pregnant?  *googles*  apparently not.

world series mvp?  cool.  not sure what he has to do with country.  but cool.  announcing album of the year... jason aldean.  that'll do.

kenny chesney.  you and tequilla make me crazy.  catchy tune, but it makes me crazy. 

wow, carrie.  who is picking these outfits??

apparently, there's a lot of beiber rumors in the headlines.  i don't watch the news.

little big town, lionel richie... oh, wait!  bring little big town back!  i want to hear boondocks!  guess we'll have to settle for darius rucker.  now we're adding rascal flatts.  interesting song.  where's the country in this?

awe.  country is working to keep music in schools.  gotta love that.  chevrolet and the cma.  maybe i need to buy a chevrolet? ;)

the band perry.  fast-forward.  wait.  i like the classy look of this red dress and back-ground.  but i must. fast. forward.

leann rimes.  wow.  did everyone get extra-extra skinny for this shwin-dig?  vocal group of the year... lady antebellum.  yeah!  it's not the band perry.

sugarland.  is this guy your boyfriend?  where's your usual duet partner?  he has a nice voice, but has a garage band look.  oh... there's your partner.  hi.

brad paisley and carrie underwood sing.  finally.  remind me.  beautiful.  love this dress.

new artist of the year goes to... the band perry.  ugh.  i may need to go on a cma strike. 

scotty mccreery.  at least you're keeping it country, right?  jason aldean.  i think i like this song.   hello, reece witherspoon.  you look comfortable on stage.  and male vocalist of the year goes to... blake shelton.  good for him. 

martina mcbride.  hey, i know her.  well... i attended one of her concerts, anyway.  i'm sure we made eye contact.  i'll take her vocal range, too, please.  a white suite?  she normally wears all black.  she's skinny.  she can wear all white.

a tribute to glen campbell.  sweet.  maybe we shouldn't do a closeup on vince gill's glasses, mkay?  awe.  this is sweet. 

faith hill.  she could be a model.  her makeup is a bit cat-woman-ish tonight though.  i'd like to have her vocal range.  i think my vocal chords are tired from listening to all these ranges tonight. 

more actors to announce female vocalist?  miranda lambert.  really?  deja vu anyone? 

wow.  that's the strangest dress, carrie.  that wardrobe person should be fired.  reba announcing entertainer of the year... taylor swift.  look at that teenage excitement.  cute.  writing names on your arm?  cuter.

i am clearly no longer a teenager, thus mama needs some zzzzz...  that's a wrap.

did your faves win?  {if you love the band perry, please disregard this post and chalk it up to delirious ramblings.} ;)

no beiber, nor baby fever here

Today, I'm joining Joyce from This Side of the Pond for her weekly hodgepodge random.  Joyce does random well.  Even when she has a lot going on.  Falling icicles.  Crazy weather.  Airport drama.  And all.  She has two beautiful daughters she loves spending time with, and a hubby who travels a lot.  Maybe our husbands have met on a plane.  If not, maybe one day.

1. What is more important-doing what you love or loving what you do?

Maybe it's late, but I don't see the difference??  Or maybe I'm just under the influence of dark chocolate... I may or may not have just eaten.  So my answer is... yes.  :)  I'm not even making sense to myself... and I'm only on #1. 

2. Do you like bleu cheese?

No.  And no offense to those who do, but to me... it simply looks like left-overs that have been in the fridge waaaay past expiration.  A Science experiment gone bad?  Not that we've done that, you know. 

3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?

Wow.  That's a loaded question.  Ummm... I've experienced a lot in my lifetime and I would have to say that grief would be a tough one.  Losing someone really close to me.

4. Fresh flowers or a box of chocolate? 

I'm guessing this is a Valentine's Day question?  Honestly?  They say that love is in the details, right?  If you want to give me 'warm-heart-fuzzies', do something out of the ordinary.  Flowers and chocolates are nice {and appreciated}, but something that shows sentimental thought goes a lot further than the 'expected' gifts.  And makes the best memories.  ;)  A planned date.  A surprise item I happen to mention in conversation.  Time spent together.  A letter... 

5. What's a song you love that has the word 'love' in its title? It doesn't have to be a 'love song'. 

Again, I'm cheating a bit.  Hubby sang "I Will Be Here" {Steven Curtis Chapman} to me at our wedding.  It doesn't say love in the title, but it makes me feel loved.  An instant tear-jerker.

6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up?

I am certainly doing what I envisioned myself doing when I was little.  Wife and mother.  I like the sound of that.

7. Any special Valentines Day plans?

We will probably spend a quiet evening at home with our girlies.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

First, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to Heather @ Faith, Family, and Fun for this Stylish bloggy award...  Me?  Stylish?  *giggle*  {Thank you, my homeschoolin' friend!!} 

Secondly, if you are reading my bloggy for the first time {or for the 2 of you who've been here 48 times - hi, hubs}, please don't linger in the archives {long}.  It makes me nervous.  Why?  I forget much of what I write.  One day, I could be having a bad-mama day... and the next, I could be having 'baby-fever'.  Not that I am.  There are no 'baby-fever' posts that come to mind.  Just an example, you know.  This mama is getting too old for that kind of talk.  Maybe if I were younger.

{Speaking of fever... have you seen this lil' 3 year old with a major case of Bieber fever??  I'm speechless.  Wow.}

Surely, I'm not the only blogger who feels this way??  About the 'reading of the archives', that is.

Thirdly, and lastly, {I hear that *sigh*} thank you to everyone who has been so kind regarding these silly vlogs lately.

Maybe I've gotten a bit too comfortable with you guys.  I mean... no makeup, nose and mouth shots of me most of the time {because I'm not always able to see what's being filmed - i'm driving}, squealing girlies, lots of conversations with my dog.  Crazy.  But I'm just keepin' it real, you know. ;)

All that to say... You know how to make a mama feel special.

(((((hugehugs)))))

{Almost} Famous

Finally.

Someone said I look like a {somewhat famous} celebrity.

With this familiar face, it was bound to happen sooner or later, right?

One gentlemen said that I could sell insurance.

Meaning "Flo" from the Progressive Insurance Ads reminded him of me.

Really?

One dear friend said that I looked and sounded like Francesca Battistelli.

{Since I haven't listened to much music these days, I had to look her up.}
Did you know that she {co}wrote It's Your Life?

You know, the theme song used on Biggest Loser?

Gotta love a good, successful {low-range} vocalist!

Sometimes it's hard to believe that it's nearly been a year since we were involved in some sort of music ministry.  It was nice to hear 'Nator' and Gracie play on the piano today.  We will be starting lessons {hopefully soon} and music will fill our house once again.  I get all warm and toasty just thinking about it. 

My friend also said that she, Francesca and I are like soul sistas.

{Thanks, Clare!  To know you is to love you.  Seriously.}

After listening to Francesca's personality, love of food

{some of my faves by the way},

movies and hobbies... I have to agree!

Although, my waistline would never look like hers eating such foods.

It's a nice dream though.

So, it's Francesca or Flo??
If the singing career didn't pan out,

I could always sell insurance, right?

And speaking of friends,
Thank you to Sarah for this bloggy award.

Check her out.
She's great and takes cutie-patootie pix
of her sweet baby girl.
Thanks, Sarah!

We're not above bribery

My girlie girls are not aggressive in comparison to the many boys on the soccer team, so I took advice from another soccer mom. I announced $5 for every goal they make! Dad said he would double it!

This had been Gracie's first season, but one ball to the head during practice sent her running to the sidelines and it's been hard to get her back out there ever since. I know, I know... We've had many talks about fulfilling commitments and being responsible. I was not winning this battle. This princess wants her tutu and ballet slippers back. That's her passion.

So, it was up to A-Nator to raise the funds. The last quarter... A-Nator plays goalie. She was so excited. Here she is showing off her shirt as she dashes to the goal.

We are winning 1-0. She kicks the ball (a sure point for the other team) away from the goal! Yay!! She says, "I was so proud of myself."

This is just as good as shooting a goal in our book.

Now, the only dilemma is deciding which she likes better...

The $10 or the trophy? I say, why choose when you have both??

Gracie couldn't wait to display her (first) trophy in the family room for all to see. ;)

I would like to thank the academy

I'm touched. Really. I'm so new to blogdom and wouldn't dare to compare my ramblings with others' blogs. I need to thank Latte Lady for being so brave as to not only give me this award, but to have followed me from the beginning of my baby blog. ;) Thank you!

Lets see... This award comes with some instructions:

1. Post the award on your blog. Link to the person who gave you the award.
2. List seven things you love: Spending quality time with my family & friends, laughter, hot tea, Greek salad, photography, movies, quiet ;)
3. List seven blogs you love and let those people know you’ve given them the award. Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee, Mama Belle @ The Bayou Belles and their Beau, Sarah @ Life in the Parsonage, Jackie @ Our Moments, Our Memories, Debra @ Portrait of My Heart, Jamie @ Purposeful Pursuit, Jennifer @ Coplings Hobbit Hole... Do I have to stop at 7?!

I'm a little behind on my posts and responses, but we made it back from our trip down the bayou. I just had to show off a couple pix that I took of my new niece. Isn't she precious?!

More on this trip to come...