He Has My Heart

When I was a girl ...

I loved my share of boys...

Now ...

All of my love goes to just one boy.

I will never love another as much.

I'm Gonna Count To 3 ... One ... Two ...

I am sitting on my bed.


I yell, "Little Billy - Alexis - time to go brush your teeth and get to bed. You have school tomorrow."


I go back to what I am doing.


A few minutes go by.


I raise my voice and yell again, "Little Billy - Alexis - time to go brush you teeth!"


No children.


No response.


I go back to what I am doing.


A few minutes go by.


I yell again, "Little Billy - Alexis! Where are you? It's time to brush your teeth and get into bed!"


No children.


No response.


I go back to what I am doing (because I am such a good Mom).


A few minutes go by.


I yell, "I am gonna count to three. One ............ Two .............," and ...


I see my son - fly out of his room - wind in his hair - arms flapping - legs stumbling - screeching around the corner of his door - running as fast as his skinny little legs will carry his skinny little body - into the bathroom. He is like a cartoon character - smiling a big toothy smile when he sees that I see this ridiculous display.

Alexis - she strolls out of her room ... ever so slowly ... at the count of .............Three!


On the upside ... I have used this, One, Two, Three - tactic - for years. It works like a charm. I don't know what it is about this counting that scares my kids to death (nothing - I mean - nothing - has ever happened - all I ever do is count) - but they always JUMP when I say, "I am gonna count to 3". What do you suppose they are thinking I will do to them? Go in there and get them? Bahahahahahahahahaha!

Just Call Me "The Cookie Mom-ster"

My twins always have some friend over at our house.

Recently, their friend T came over to spend the night.

She brought with her, a package of refrigerator chocolate chip cookie dough.

They baked these cookies in my oven.

I could smell those yummy cookies all the way up in my bedroom.

I searched them out - on a plate - on the lap of one of my girls.

I reached in to help myself to a cookie.

"THEY'RE OURS!" my sweet daughter SCREAMED into my shocked face.

"I can't just have a few?" I asked sadly.

"THEY'RE OURS!" my sweet daughter SCREAMED again into her mother's face.

"Just 2. That's all I want - just 2," I begged with my eyes.

"Give her the cookies," my other daughter said from across the room.

"But ... THEY'RE OURS!" the one stingy daughter SCREAMED again... (*sigh*)

She finally gave her poor mother 2 cookies.

No more - just 2.

So ...

The following morning, I went to clean up the family room and I picked up the empty glasses, wadded up napkins and two red plates that were stacked together. I walked the mess of dishes to the kitchen.

Just as I flung the dishes on the counter next to the sink, the plates separated and this is what fell out:

FIVE of THEIR COOKIES (I already ate one of them)!

What do you think I did?

Do you think I SCREAMED through the house:

"CAN I HAVE ONE OF THESE COOKIES?"

"IS IT OKAY IF I EAT ONE OF YOUR COOKIES?"

"DO YOU MIND IF I HAVE ONE OF THESE COOKIES?"

Noooooooooooooo!

I threw those cookies on a napkin, hid them behind my back, tip-toed like a quiet little cookie-eating mouse out of the kitchen and ran as fast as I could, up to my room.

On the upside ... I know - I probably didn't need all 5 of those cookies - I DIDN'T CARE! Sometimes you just have to eat all 5 cookies ... because you can - ya know!

"L" Is For Big Ol' Loser

I was never good in school.

I went - because my parents made me - those were the rules!

I sometimes can not believe that I actually made it through some of the classes I was expected to take, like geometry, government, chemistry, algebra - I can't even easily spell a few of these words, let alone remember a doggone thing I supposedly ever learned.

Sometimes, when my kids get to arguing with me about not wanting to work hard enough at something, I will say, "What do you want to be - a loser - like I was?"

They often come to my defense and get sympathetic looks on their faces and say, "You aren't a loser."

To which I reply, "Well ... I'm not a loser now - but I was when I was in school..."

And ... I was - with a BIG OL' - L.

I must have had the favor of a few teachers - looking back on it now - otherwise I'm sure I would not have made it through.

So .....


Little Billy, is writing a time-line on a large piece of white paper on the floor of his room. He has his History book flipped open to the pages that he is working from. He stops, runs down the hallway, runs up to me at my desk and he says, "Mom - When was the start of the Civil War?"

Uh Oh!

"I don't know the exact date, Hon," I say.

"Well ... what year was it?"


*I DON'T KNOW THIS ANSWER!*


I say, "I don't really remember, Hon. Go ask Daddy, maybe he remembers," and off her runs.

Shew ...

A little later on, he runs back into my room, "What was the end of the Civil War, Mom?"



*CRAP!*



"I don't remember that either, Son."

"Just tell me when it was over," he begs - like rewording the sentence will help.


*I DON'T KNOW THIS ANSWER!*


I say, "I don't really remember, Hon. Go ask one of the girls - surly they remember," and off he runs.

Again ... he comes back, "Why was it so important that Lincoln was elected President?" he asks.


*FOR THE LOVE OF HEAVEN! *


*I DON'T KNOW THIS ANSWER!


I mumble, "I don't remember."

He, again, attempts a new tactic - certain that this will help jar my pathetic memory and he says, really loudly, like he is talking to someone from FOREIGN country, "YOU. DON'T. UNDERSTAND. THE. QUESTION. WHY. WAS. IT. SO. IMPORTANT. THAT. LINCOLN. WAS. ELECTED. PRESIDENT?" He says all of these words very slowly, so NOW, I will understand this question.

I understood the question - the first time.


*I DO NOT KNOW THIS ANSWER!*


I say, "I do not know this answer! I can't remember this crap! I don't think I ever learned it when I was supposed to learn it when I went to school. I DO NOT KNOW THESE ANSWERS! If you go get your book, I can help you find the answers - how about that?"

Off he runs, "I'll go ask Dad - or the girls," he yells, as he is half way down the hallway. "That's okay, Mom ... I forgot ... you were a LOSER when you went to school."


On the upside ... Yes. I. Was!

You would think that I could listen up now - learn a bit of U.S. History from my kids - learn some of that stuff I never quite got when I went to school - but, Nooooooo! I didn't want to learn it then, and ... I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO LEARN IT NOW! I don't have enough room in my brain to store Civil War details - NOPE! I've barely got enough room for months, days and seasons. Well ... seasons, I meant. Alexis is keeping track of the months and days for me now (*sigh like a big ol' LOSER).

Party Time!

Alexis is a planner.

She is always planning stuff - you know ...

• When she can spend the night at her cousin's house


• What she will wear to school


• Toys she wants for Christmas

She is always planning something!

She came home from school a couple of weeks ago and said, "My teacher says that I will celebrate my Birthday at school on the 27th of May," she has a great big smile on her face.

"That's good," I say and smile back - knowing how important this is to her - her Birthday (not really until July)!

"I want Sonic," she informs me.

"You want me to bring you lunch?" I ask.

"Yes," she looks at me like I should have known this.

"Well, I guess I could do that," I giggle.

"I'd like popcorn chicken, chili-cheese fries and a root beer float," she begins to ramble off her order.

She walks over to my desk and returns to my side with a pad of paper and a pen and she hands it to me.

"What's this for?" I ask.

"To write down my order," she says and begins to repeat, "Popcorn chicken ......"


That child.



On the upside ... She OBVIOUSLY has no clue how busy my life is!

I wrote down her order and stuck the piece of paper in my pocket. She turned and went on her way. Sometimes, I need her to believe that I take her seriously - you know - even if what she is asking me to do is RIDICULOUSLY! Generally ... I would wait to take her order - oh - just before I was actually going to go to get the food - ya know? Not ........... THREE WEEKS AND FOUR DAYS OUT!

She's a planner - that one.

A Pretty Darn Good Weekend

"Mom - When are we going home?"

"After while. Why?"

"Cuz - I don't want to go."

"I know, Billy - Me either."

Fun In The Texas Sun

It seems like just yesterday that they had orange floaties attached to their arms.

Now ...

They wear ski jackets in adult-size large.

They grab their friends ...

And off they go ...

They don't even look back.

They return occasionally to check in.

I ask, "What's up - where've you been?"

One yells, "We almost ran out of gas."

"What did you do?" I yell back.

"We went and got some."

"How did you pay for it?" I was very curious.

They all smiled and then laughed and said in unison, "We told them to put it on Dad's account."

It used to be they'd come running to daddy for a quarter for ice cream from the ice cream truck.

Now ... it's nearly $5.00 a gallon of gas for a day of fun in the sun.

I think they are probably worth it.

I hope they remember these days fondly ...

Remember the happiness ...

The sunshine ...

The Joy ...

Realize ...

Just how lucky...

they were.

Gone To The Lake!

We are at the lake for the long weekend.

The last time I was here was in March - it was Spring Break.

It was during that time that I became suddenly sick on March 20th and was taken by ambulance from the lake to our home in San Antonio - I had pneumonia and low blood pressure and I was septic. I was in the hospital for 9 days.

I am glad to be over that bout of illness and I am glad to be back at this place that I love so much.

It is supposed to be beautiful and hot this weekend. We plan to do lots of boating and fishing and swimming. I am looking forward to a fun weekend with my family.

Hopefully, I will have some good pictures to share with you, as the weekend goes along.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial weekend!

ENJOY!!

Aside From The Hamburger Helper ...

I recently returned from a fabulous vacation with my husband.


I had a wonderful time.

I spent a lot of my time doing this:

Since I have been home ...

I have cleaned house ...

I have made meals ...

I have helped kids with homework ...

I went back to eating bowls of boring cereal for breakfast -

Sandwiches for lunch -

And Hamburger Helper for dinner -

It's difficult to get back into the rituals of my everyday life.

It's hard to leave ...

Paradise

behind.

Oh, but ...

Wait a minute ...

That's right ...

I live in ...

Paradise!

I think it is so pretty.

So inviting.

So tropical feeling.

This is my backyard in the spring.

All I need ...

is an umbrella drink ...

or two!

On the upside ... Some days .... all it takes is opening the back door and stepping outside, to put me in a great mood. Sometimes ... I don't even have to go outside. Sometimes ... all I have to do ... is stand and gaze out the window.

(Thanks to dlyn for tagging me for the front door/back door meme. This has been a look out of my back door.)

Summertime, Summertime ... Sum, Sum, Summertime ...

It's almost here ...


It won't be long now...


It's just around the corner ...


Yes ... it is almost summertime ... in Texas!


Time for swimsuits.



Time for swimming.



Time for riding bikes in the great outdoors.



Time for school to BE OUT!!



I am sooooooo ready for SCHOOL to be OVER!!



I'm ready for leisurely mornings where I wander from my bedroom and find happy children lounging with cereal bowls in the laps, Pop-Tart crumbs on their faces, wearing their pajamas on the couch and watching cartoons.



I'm ready to stop stocking my pantry with small bags of chips, Little Debbie snack cakes and juice boxes for all those bagged lunches.



I'm ready for no more homework or worrying about grades and behavior and agendas and reports and projects and assignments and bus schedules!



The time has come again ...



The time when my family spends ...



Evenings up late watching rental movies and cuddling pillows and bowls of popcorn on the couch.



Afternoons in the car ... running up to the ice cream shop for cones and sprinkles.



Weekends at the lake - boating and swimming and fishing and ... watching the stars in the summer sky.



It's time for romps in the sprinklers and trips to the beach!



Time to visit with family and friends and enjoy Bar-B-Q's in the evenings with George Strait singing on the radio and his sweet Texas voice floating on the summer breeze.



It's time for iced tea and smoothies and cold pasta salads.



I can feel it coming.



I can smell it in the air.



It won't be long now.



I can't hardly wait!



Summertime, Summertime ... Sum, Sum, Summertime ...




On the upside ... Okay! So ... it's been in the 90's for weeks, the kids have been swimming so much that they are already bored with it and we've had a Bar-B-Q or two ---- I'm still waiting to pack away the backpacks and file away my PTA binder. I think I am as excited as the kids. I can't wait for SCHOOL. TO. BE OUT!!!! I can't wait for SUMMER!!

I Do Love Banana Pancakes!

Courtney saw a sign on the way home from school that read:


FREE KITTENS


Courtney wanted a kitten.


I said, "NO!"


She begged,
"Please, please, please - can we get another kitten?"


I said, "NO!"


She asked for days and days - promising everything under the sun.


The promise I liked best was, "I'll be nicer to everyone."


I almost caved on that one - we could use some additional niceness from Courtney!!


I said, "NO!"


So .....


It was the weekend and I gave my husband a list of chores I wanted done!


One of the chores on his list was to take a table and six chairs from our garage to our warehouse.


He asked Courtney to go along to help him unload the furniture.


THEY CAME HOME WITH THIS:

I rolled my eyes!

I screamed a bit!

I shook my head and turned my head away.

And then ...

I said ...

"Give me that baby!"

"I'm naming him Banana," Courtney announced proudly. "Banana Pancake - Banana for short," she laughed hysterically.

I rolled my eyes.

"BANANA?" I held the baby up in the air and then smothered his teeny-tiny little head with kisses. "That is a ridiculous name."

"No it's not," Courtney cried. "It's from Juno."

"It's ridiculous - go to the back door and YELL it," I insisted.

She did.

"BA-NAN-A," she screamed.

"See!" I smiled, and then kissed that sweet little Banana on top of the head once again!

On the upside ... I know - I know - You were certain that I was the one in charge around my house - THE BOSS even!!

AP-PAR-ENT-LY NOT!

That's okay ... I've been needing some currency to hold over Courtney's head. That kitten came along just in time for summer!!

Now ... I need to have a talk with Courtney's father - remind him who is in charge around here!

Another Point For Girls Everywhere ... Zero Points For My Son

So ... we were eating out at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.

Little Billy is sitting next to me and across the table from his daddy.

There are lots of conversations going on at our table and yet, over all the girly gibberish going on around me, I hear my son talking to his daddy about the girl he likes at his school.

I turn to Little Billy, "What are you talking about?" I say.

He giggles, like a ten year old boy and then says, "Well, you know how I like D, right? Today, I was teasing her about such-and-such and she says, 'I don't care what Billy says - he's dumb.' So then her friend G tells me, 'If she says dumb, like she was saying it with 2 m's (dumm) - then that means that she doesn't really mean it. If she says it like dum-b ... then she means it. How did she say it - dumm or dumb?'" and Little Billy looks at me and laughs.

I sooooo understood this logic, but could not believe that my son - a BOY - was capable of comprehending it, and so I asked, "So ... how did she say it?"

He said, "D-u-m-m. That's how I think she said it - she didn't mean it."

I looked over at my husband, who was smiling a big grin by this point and then said to Little Billy, "I don't really get this whole dumm vs dumb - thing. Do you?" just curious to see what he would say.

"It's a girl thing - I don't really get it either," and he then shoved a bite of his cheese quesadilla into his mouth.

On the upside ... These little girls are 10 years old. My son is 10 years old. This one bizarre conversation leads me to believe that it is very evident that ... these 2 little girls are already very clear of their role in the male/female relationship and how to creatively manipulate those dynamics.

It is also very clear to me that their "while-we-completely-understand-the-logic-of-our-silly-codes-and-signals-but-the-male-of-our-species-will-never-quite-comprehend-what-the-heck-we-are-talking-about" tactics ... have very successfully confused my son (a male of the species) to the point that he somehow thinks he came out of this unscathed.

I didn't have the heart to tell him that dumb - means DUMB, no matter how you spell it or say it. I just left it alone and let the poor thing enjoy his cheesy quesadilla.

When I Was Young ... I Had A Schwinn 10 Speed - Thankyouverymuch!

I am not getting any younger.

When I squat down to pick up something off the floor ... sometimes, I can't hardly stand back up.

When I wake in the morning ... I often have aches and pains in my back and legs.

When I read a book - I have to search out a pair of reading glasses and prop them at the end of my nose to see the writing.

Every so often ... one of my children will say something that makes me feel really old - like when Alexis asked me recently, "When you were a kid, did you ride one of those bicycles with the great big wheels on the front and the tiny ones on the back?"

Uh - No!

Every so often ... someone will make the mistake of believing that I am the grandmother to my youngest child (*hangs head and mutters a four letter word after slurping a spoonful of cream-of-wheat into her mouth*).

Every so often ... I will look in the mirror and squeeze my eyes tight together - squint and imagine I can honestly see the girl I used to be ... in the reflection. Then - when I open my eyes right again - there sits someone that looks a lot like my mother.

Alexis asked me not long ago, "Why is bird poop white?"


Why don't I know this answer?


How can I be as old as I am and not know this answer?


I'm not only old - but stupid about birds!


Then, she asked me, "Who invented goggles?"


Again - I. Don't. Know!


Should I know this answer?


I don't think so!


Then ... to make matters worse, she asks, when walking in on me in the bathroom, with hair color in my hair, "What color is it going to be this time?"


On the upside ... I'm definitely getting old. I'm definitely tired and achy. I absolutely never learned all there is to know about birds or inventors of swimwear, but ... I have perfected the art of coloring my own hair, in the bathroom, with a 6 year-old hanging around - and, let's just say ... these days - I am aiming at matching the color of my eyebrows - the only thing on my face remotely resembling anything from my youth.

Blogging - In Your Words

When I wrote yesterday's post, it was right after I had had my interview on WOAI (San Antonio Living) and right after I'd seen Dooce on Good Morning America and Nightline.

I have to say - I was a bit aggravated after seeing Dooce on Good Morning America. I just wanted to wring Kathy Lee Gifford's neck for being so stupid and uninformed. I don't think I am alone in my perception of this interview - that it did little to help people further understand blogging or to shine a good light on why we blog. I thought that Dooce held her own, but I was also a bit aggravated that she did not jump out there and put Kathy Lee Gifford in her place. I would have loved to have heard Dooce a bit more aggressive about her position (while I understand why she did not).

I did, however, love the Nightline interview - it was FABULOUS!

So many people left some really great comments on my post yesterday, I thought I would highlight some quotes from each of those comments. Who better to describe the positive aspects of blogging than a bunch of seasoned bloggers!

Mamarazzi said: "Blogging has made my life brighter and better ... just from the people who touch my life and allow me to touch theirs." She also said, "and FINALLY I did not feel so alone anymore."

Joanna said: "Reading what other's go through - their ups and downs, helped pull me out of depression. I don't click too well with other people, but in bloggy world I find my peeps."

Karen said, "We share about everything, support and encourage each other and laugh and cry together. Those that don't understand just don't know what they're missing."

Angela said: "I do love blogging. It isn't easy finding friends in this world of ours. Plus, I love talking about my son."

rthling said: "One of the greatest things about blogging is meeting people I would not have otherwise met. Blogging helps us find common ground and reminds us we are not crazy for loving our kids so fiercely. And to top it off, we have an outlet for pent-up creativity."

Denise Wheeler said: "I love bragging about my kiddos." She also said, "I have made some incredible friends in my blog world."

Dani said: "When I started blogging, I had NO idea the joy that I would derive from it." She also said, "I was really just writing for the fun of it and so the my words would be somewhere for my daughter and maybe someday for my grandchild/children to read."

Bichonpawz said: "I love the new relationships and friendships I have formed through blogging."

Yvette said: "I think it helps me to have a stronger focus on my family and the things we do in our daily lives, because I'm always looking for the story. I have also met some amazing blogging friends." She went on to say, "We are an amazing group of women!"

Kelli said: "I just might consider printing this post and handing it out to those c"clueless people".

Are You Serious said: "I'm fine with being a mommy blogger."

Elaine A. said: "I started blogging just to keep family and friends up to date on the comings and goings of our family and now it has become SO much more for me. I had no idea what a wonderful community it is and now I do."

Leeann said: "I vent, I cry, I whine, I cheer, I smile, I laugh, I brag ... all through words and pictures. I am leaving a legacy for my children. The day to day things that would get pushed out of my memory ... I have forever written down. To me - that is priceless."

Mighty Morphin Mama said: "I have to say that the family of women that I have found here, the women supporting and uplifting one another has been the biggest and most wonderful surprise about blogging for me."

Karen Meg said: "It helped keep my mind from going to mush, and a big, big bonus was "meeting" wonderful women like you, on the web." She also said, "But their (our children) stories are also our stories, and I'd like to one day be able to show these kids that my blog is a love story about them, and to them. And my husband too, whether he really likes it or not. But mostly to myself, because right now in my life, it is something that I enjoy. And moms, women, are allowed that in their life too."

Kim-d said: "My life has been enriched by blogging in ways too numerous to mention." She also said, "I cherish my blogging friends, and I feel that back from them. That's why I do it. It makes me a better, happier person."

Dawn said: "I do think that Mommy Bloggers are a community with a great deal of power ... precisely because we support each other."

Suz said: "This for me is just an outlet to remember all the little things in my life that I will forget one day unless I write them down."

Tabitha said: "I never dreamed when I started blogging that I would love it so much!! I have made so many great blogging friends, and am more than happy to be a mommy blogger!!"

Julie said: "I am so happy that I have so much of the kids' lives documented, which is the main reason for blogging."

Jenn @ Juggling Life (http://jugglinglife.typepad.com/) said: "I believe someday our kids will be so happy to have these anecdote's available to share with their children."

Kari & Kijsa said: "We are moms, and bloggers too! Yea for both."

Amanda said: "No matter where you are in the world, it's nice to read that other people (mums) are going through the same things as me. Mommy bloggers rule!"

Bonnie said: "I can tell you this, I am glad to be a part of it. It is validating, rewarding, satisfying and I LOVE it. I really feel it has helped me to be a better person. I have been pretty sick this past week. Knowing I am going to write about it on my blog later helps me to be more positive about the whole experience. The support from other people is so bouying and sustaining."

Kaci said: "I tried it a while back, but then deleted my account. But, after reading Leah's blog, I said I'll give it another shot. I love it ... and hope to never stop."

Jen said: "Look out world because here come the mommy bloggers!" She also said, "I feel honored to have met such a great group of women."

Sharon said: "I have found friends that I love dearly and may never meet until we step into the other side of eternity." She also wrote, "I am proud to be called a mommy blogger."

Carl & Kathy said: "It's a way to keep in touch." She went on to say, "I've met fellow bloggers like you and I've been enriched. And I've enjoyed the creative outlet and the comments that people make. It's an all around positive experience."

Rima said: "I agree with all your points."

Melanie said: Blogging has been amazing for me. I was so lonely, staying home all day every day by myself before I started to blog. I've made some great friends, people I really consider to be my friends and I am a proud mommy blogger!

Rosemary Bogdan said: I was in a bookstore when I passed a book called, "Blogging for Dummies." I picked it up thinking, what is blogging anyway. I bought the book and read the whole thing. My older children were very amused. Are you going to start a blog, Mom? I said, maybe. I thought this would be good for me. I could learn more about computers and also practice my writing. After I finished the book I told my oldest I still had no idea what they were talking about and that I was going to read it again and see if I could glean more. He said, "Mom, don't do that. Just start your blog. You'll learn as you go along." And I did. (Although I still have a LOT to learn.)I love being a mommy blogger although I do also write on topics sometimes...Love your blog.

Nicki said: I think its awesome that blogging allows parents to tell their stories, brag about their ideas, vent their frustrations, and exchange information with others. It definitely makes the world a smaller, and more friendly, place!

So ... there you go. There are some of the reasons people (mommies) - blog.

I think Karen Meg said it best when she described one of the reasons why mommy bloggers blog. She said, "I'd like to one day be able to show these kids that my blog is a love story about them, and to them."

Me too, Karen Meg - Me too!!!

Are You A Mommy Blogger?

Why do you blog?

This question is often asked of me and even if it is not asked, it is often the question on people's faces and in their minds when they find out that I have a blog.

I know that most bloggers know what I mean. I'm sure you are also getting this question and these odd looks and sarcastic remarks.

People don't understand blogging. Bloggers get it - of course, but those that have never visited a blog or had someone explain to them what a blog really is - are clueless.

And - most of these "clueless" people - because they are unfamiliar with what blogging is, find it all a bit ridiculous. Am I right?

Before I began blogging (9 months ago), I was not familiar - at all - with blogging. I was one of the "clueless" people. Since becoming a blogger, I find that I become a bit defensive of blogging when I run into someone that questions its relevance or criticizes my motives or dedication to it.

Blogging - for me - is a way to communicate the events of my life through creative and interesting stories - through creative writing. I get tremendous satisfaction out of finding fun stories, formatting and writing the story, publishing the story and then having people respond to my stories. I also get a great deal of satisfaction out of how blogging documents many events in my children's lives - in all of our lives. I also enjoy visiting other blogs and reading the stories of other people's lives and becoming friends with other bloggers.

I spend a lot of my time blogging about my children and therefore I have fallen into the category dubbed Mommy Blogger.

I'm okay being called a Mommy Blogger.

I know there are those that find the term degrading or something, but not me. I think we are a strong group - a group made up of many very intelligent, creative and fascinating women that happen to be mommies and also happen to be bloggers. Some of us are SAHMs. Some of us are professionals. We are all pretty much blogging about our families, our kids, ourselves, our friends, our neighbors and neighborhoods, our vacations, our kids' schools, etc ... I am proud to be called a Mommy Blogger. There is nothing more powerful than a group of women. And, what makes us even more a force to be reckoned with is the fact that many people don't even realize that. Many people underestimate mommies and they certainly underestimate Mommy Bloggers.

I say - let them - let them underestimate us - it only gives us the advantage, because we ALL know that we are not a force to be taken lightly.

Every time we write and publish a story - we have power.

Every time we connect to each other's stories and lives, we become stronger.

Every time we visit and comment on other blogs - we become united when we support one another.

We are a bunch of mommies that blog - and we have a lot to say. The fact that we are listening and supporting each other ... is huge.

Women supporting other women - that is what we are really doing.

We are writing too - do not forget that!

Every single story and every single post and every single word and sentence and punctuation mark ... means something to the blogger that posted that story. Some stories are silly and some are poignant and some are brilliant and some are touching and some are my stories and some are yours.

We have a lot of stories.

We have a lot to say.

We are saying it loud and clear and we are saying it through our blogs.

I am happy being a blogger.

I am a Mommy Blogger and I am okay with that!

What about you?

The Little Storyteller

At the bookstore.

Alexis reading.

Using her whole personality to convey the story.

Makes her mom so happy.

Makes her mommy proud.

She is a fabulous storyteller.

She is her mama's girl.

Fairy Horns and Unicorn Tales

Alexis believes most anything I tell her.

She depends on me to ... teach her.

She depends on me to ... guide her.

She depends on me to ...

Tell her the truth.

And ...

Most of the time ...

I do.

Tell her the truth.

But ...

Sometimes ...

I can't help myself.

Like the other day ...

When ...

Little Billy came home from one of his out-exploring-the-world afternoons and brought home this ...

"Well ... it's a unicorn horn - of course," I tell Alexis, in response to her question whilst standing in our kitchen.

"But ... are they supposed to be all scaly like that," she reaches over and touches the scaly horn.

I shake my head most confidently, "Why yes - that is how they look when they fall off. And when they fall off ... all the unicorn glitter falls off too - leaving them looking like this," I am smiling a big smile, all the while looking into my darling girl's adorable face.

She is a little excited now.

Excited by the fact that we - she and I - are in possession of a REAL LIVE UNICORN HORN - right in the middle of our kitchen - sitting right there on the kitchen table. She can't stop smiling.

But then ... she does stop smiling for just a moment and says, "Is there really such a thing as unicorns?" I don't know what took her so long to ask.

So ... what do I say?

Do I wiggle my way out of this fantasy discussion?

Do I confess to my ridiculous lies and tell the sweet child the truth?

Or ...

Do I continue with the pretense?

Continue to try to make Alexis believe there are in fact unicorns and they live right in our neighborhood - right near our house?

Yes ...

I lie!

I say ...

"Well ... here's it's horn - isn't it?"

On the upside ... While Alexis and I were happily discussing our unicorn theories in the kitchen ... in the living room - was Little Billy - SCREAMING, "IT'S AN ARMADILLO TAIL! IT'S AN ARMADILLO TAIL AND ...WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER YOU TOUCH IT, BECAUSE DAD SAYS IT CAN HAVE A DISEASE THAT WILL MESS UP YOUR FACE!"

Poor Alexis .......... I'm pretty sure she was better off believing it was a unicorn's horn - yep!

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone that left such nice comments about my interview. I really appreciate your kind remarks and support. It was a fun experience and I enjoyed sharing it with you!

Mommy Bloggers Are Showing Up Everywhere!

Kellan, from On The Upside, in the green room at WOAI TV Station on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

On the set, waiting to be interviewed by Leslie Bohl Jones. Story featured as "The World Of Blogging" with primary emphasis on Mommy Bloggers, featuring local Mommy Blogger, Kellan, of On The Upside.

Meeting Leslie Bohl Jones (WOAI TV - San Antonio Living Show) for the first time. She is strikingly beautiful and such a talented professional. I was so excited to meet her, as I have watched her show for years and she is just as beautiful and smart in person as she is on TV every morning.

Using my hands to talk a lot about blogging! Leslie was very kind to point out the positive and rewarding aspects we bloggers enjoy about blogging and made this experience very enjoyable. I could have talked all day with her about blogging.

And, with all that hand waving, I do believe I got my points across.

If I can figure out how to upload the video of this interview (which featured not only the interview, but quite a bit of footage of my children at our home), I might put it on my blog. For now, all I have are these lousy pictures my mom took with the cell phone camera.

I thought you all - my fellow Mommy Bloggers - would appreciate that I am doing my part to get the word out about the good work we are doing! I did my best to explain why we love blogging, what a fine community we have created and how fortunate I feel to be a part of it. It was a lot of fun.

(Okay - Rachel (From The Land Of Monkeys and Princesses) says I should tell you to go to http://www.woai.com/ (or http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=541862). (Channel 4 News) and then go to "videos" and then go to "Living" category and view the video that is titled as "The World Of Blogging").