Like Father Like Son, (part . . . 25)

Look at Kimball !! He's trying SO HARD to "put his feet up & relax on the couch" like Daddy. I thought these pictures were pretty funny, so I had to share.

Melting Pot

There are several things that are hard to adjust to - living here in Houston.

But one thing I LIKE about it is that I meet people who are from all over the world. Rarely have I met anyone who is actually FROM here - and grew up here. It's weird.

But anyway, today I went to a GREAT park, which is about 20 minutes from my house. While our kids played together, I met and chatted with a very nice lady who moved here a year ago. She's from Scotland (Loved her accent and the words she used to speak!!) and said that her family will be here for 2 years - for her husband's job (in the oil business, of course -- like most people around here -- except US, that is). Anyway, she said next year they'll move back to where her family lives now, which is on the BALTIC SEA!

Baltic Sea?! What? I thought. I'll admit, my geography is horrible, so I came home and looked it up. here's a picture . . .

As far as I can tell, Scottland is no where near the Baltic Sea. She said that her husband's job moves them around a bit and although she VERY much misses her family, she get's to "puddle jump" (as she put it) across the world and explore new places.

Wow. That's pretty cool, I thought, as I listened to her. She was such a nice lady and fun to talk to, and seemed to be such a great Mother to her kids and was a very "normal" person for being a "foreigner."

I had a great time hanging out with her!! I hope I see her there again.

Something borrowed . . .

My friend, Kara, had a little wooden plaque thingy in her house that had the "cutest" little saying on it. At the time, I didn't realize how TRUE that "cute" little saying was . . . . . until now, when I have my own little boy to raise. The saying said,

"Mothers of little boys work from

son up til son down."

Kimball does wear me out, but look @ that cute face!!

Big girl haircut

Well, after repeatedly paying good money for crappy haircuts (at Great Clips) for my girls, I decided to "treat" Sarah to a decent haircut (at a real salon - woo woo!!) before her preschool starts next week. She just got a trim with some "long layers." Overall, it was an ok cut, but I don't know if I'll do it again. I'm having issues finding good service for a good price. Grrrr.

Anyway . . . Here's some pictures of the "big-girl outing."

First Day of School!!

Well, the day has finally arrived . . . the first day of school.

I must admit, unlike many Moms out there, I've been dreading this day all summer.

It's been so nice to have Allison home, to be here with me, & play with Sarah and Kimball.

She's such a good little girl, a great sister, and such a BIG helper(!!),

that she will be sorely missed around here while she's at school all day long.

I could have gone for a few more months of Summer. She's growing up way too fast!!

Here's some pictures of the big morning before school:

Me & Allison

From L to R: Kimball (2), Me, Sarah (4), Allison (6)

Matt and the Kids

Allison waiting for the bus at the bus stop

Getting on the bus!

Funky picture taken by Matt, of Allison through the bus window

Never a good thing

You know it's going to be bad when your not-quite-2-year-old comes to you and says,

"uh-oh"

or

"I sorry Mommy"

I think I heard that about 5 times today.

Never a dull moment around here.

And yes, this is a typical "look" for Kimball. It's just THAT hot down here.

(Really he just spills all over any clothes I put on him because he refuses to wear a bib.

That, or he completely soaks his clothes with water, because that's all you CAN do if you live here in the summer without a pool -- play with a hose or various other water toys.)

So, it's this or have 5 outfits to wash by the end of every day.

PET PEEVES

1. I HATE IT when doctor/dentist offices & hospitals make me pay for things BEFORE they bill my insurance. They SAY they get an estimate from my insurance company, which tells them how much to charge me - but I ALWAYS end up overpaying -- and do you think that they ever actually CALL ME when I have a balance on my account, so they can repay me the amount they owe me????!!!! NO!

Today I called my pediatrician's office and I had a $150 balance on my account!! Of course, I only found this out because I ASKED. REDICULOUS!!!! Who knows how long this has been building up for. And I was JUST THERE a week ago!!! Do you think that they offered this information to me when I checked in or before I left the office??? Of course not. DO you think they thought of offering for me to use my BALANCE to pay for my copay, instead of paying them MORE MONEY?! NO! Why would they do that??

2. I HATE stupid companies (phone, cell phone, utilities, insurance, Dr's offices, WHATEVER) who bill me wrong, (of course, in THEIR FAVOR) and I have to spend HOURS of my time talking on the phone to get it fixed. IT DRIVES ME CRAZZZZZYYYYY YY

Sorry. I just had to get this out.

new synonyms I've come up with

Boys: walking disasters

Kimball Craner: weapon of Mass Destruction

Kimball's latest casualty: writing on the walls with black marker. Nice. He also likes to color on his shoes, his arms & legs, the carpet, the floor, the fridge. I'm about ready to throw away all of the markers and pens in the whole house.

Funny thing is, everyday when we put on his shoes, he points to the marker lines he drew on them, and says, "only color on paper!" (because this is what I tell him over and over as I take markers and pens away from him)