Let The Picnic Begin!

Alexis and I were spending the afternoon out by the pool.

It got to be around lunch time and so Alexis asked me if I'd go make her some lunch - bring it out by the pool and we'd have a picnic.

As I am walking inside, she yells, happily, "Make me anything - I don't care what you make me - I'll eat anything!" she was so excited.

So ... I made lunch.

I brought it outside on a tray - my tuna sandwich and her plate full of food - some drinks.

"Whatcha make me?" she asked, pulling her dripping body out of the pool - big ol' smile on her face.

"A peanut butter sandwich, chips and a fruit cup," I placed the tray on the pool side table.

She became quiet.

Her face got all wrinkled and puckered.

She whined - really loudly ...

"Awwwwwwwwwww ----- I don't want peanut butter! ---*whimper - pout - scowl - slumps the shoulders - flings wet 6 year old body dramatically into a nearby chair*.

Me - I placed my paper towel on my lap - picked up my tuna fish sandwich and took a bite.

On the upside ... LET THE PICNIC BEGIN - WOO HOO! (*Mom's face gets all wrinkled and puckered - sighs loudly ... like a mom that seldom does anything right*)

The Sweetest Baby

Word came quickly over the wire ...


Come ...


Come...

Cheryl (my sister) has the baby!

"OUR BABY" ... is at my sister's house if I want to come over and see him...

I told Alexis to quick get out of the pool - dried her off - changed her clothes and we raced over.

It would be the first time we would actually see Brazelton in person - THE VERY FIRST TIME!

He fell in love with me - right away!

I've been in love with him for months!

Alexis' first time meeting her new cousin.

He was the size of a little doll and fit right into Alexis' arms.

She was completely infatuated!

He's simply precious and such a good baby. He's pretty much just eating and sleeping right now and seems to be doing great. He's very tiny, but healthy and happy! He just couldn't be any sweeter!

Shades of Blue

Recently, at the lake, Alexis walked up and stood next to me. I looked down at her feet and I saw this:

I was wondering where that blue marker went!

On the upside ... they did match her swimsuit.

Just Call Me Mom

There once was a mother.

She had herself a set of twin girls.

Five years later... she had herself a son.

Four years later ... she had a little daughter.

She had herself ... 4 more children ... than she ever saw herself having and yet ... she became a mother.

She spent many, many, many years - raising all these kids.

Sixteen years - to be exact.

Raising all these kids.

One day ... the boy child, sat upon the mother's bed.

"Why do you do all that typing? Writing stories and such? Why do you do that?" the boy child asked of his very devoted mother.

The mother looked at the boy. "I like to write. I like to come up with stories," she said, and then smiled most sweetly into her little boy's face.

The boy child jumped down off of the mother's bed, turned to walk out of her room and then looked back and said, most casually, "It would be really good if you were a real writer," he took another step. "That way you would have something to do."

And ... then he was gone.

On the upside ... If ... having been a mother for 16 years is representative of "having nothing to do" - then ... this particular mother would absolutely not be capable of taking on a profession - such as that of a honest to goodness real writer. Nope - she could never handle it!

It Is A Happy, Happy Day For Our Family!!!

On March 5, 2008, I published a post, requesting prayers for a sweet baby that was born into our family. He is my great-nephew, born to my sister's son, Cody, and his girlfriend. This child was born at 24 weeks on March 4, 2008 and weighed right at 1lb. and was 11" long.

When I posted those early updates about "Our Baby", I was hesitant to mention this baby's name or even show complete photos of his face and body, for several reasons, but primarily because I don't think we were sure our baby was going to survive. I wanted to share him, but was afraid that I was invading the privacy of his parents and also very afraid that he might not make it - therefore, showing his picture or mentioning his name - felt wrong.




Over the course of the past several months, this baby became known, by the nurses in the neonatal ICU, as their miracle baby, as he beat many, many odds. He overcame many obstacles and he continued to grow stronger and make progress each and every day.


This baby ...


Our baby ...


His name is Brazelton (Braz).


He is now nearly 6 lbs. and ...


He went home Tuesday!!!


He truly is a miracle baby and I completely believe that his progress - his survival - was the result of the many, many prayers that were sent to heaven on his behalf.


I thank you.


My sister thanks you.


My mother thanks you.


My nephew and his girlfriend, thank you.


We ALL thank ALL of you for your prayers and thoughts for "Our Baby".


I am so happy to say ---- he is home!

Here he is at home in his own bassinet!

Could he be anymore precious?

WELCOME HOME BRAZELTON!

WE LOVE YOU!!

He Is His Father's Boy

Little Billy is very close to his dad.

Being the only boy - I imagine this adds to the strong bond they have created.

My husband has 4 brothers - he's the middle of 5 boys. He's accustomed to boys. Little Billy seems to be the same kind of boy my husband and his brothers were - they are all cut from the same denim cloth.

It's a pleasure to see that Little Billy and his father are so much alike, as it lends itself to Little Billy wanting to hang out with his dad - they do lots of things together.

One of the things I never imagined ... was the day my son would go to work with his father.

My husband owns his own business - an electrical contracting business. And, while he has to do a lot of work in his office - he puts on his tools and goes out into the world to work every single day. It is not an easy life. It is a hard job.

My husband has come to where he will wake his son early in the mornings - in the summers - and take the boy with him to work.

My son goes happily.

I am always so proud to see that my son is not in his bed - that he has gone to work with Daddy.

He's only 11 years old - but, not too young to start learning his Daddy's trade.

I want the boy to go to college - as does his father - but, we are beginning to realize that this son will likely take over his father's business one day. This is not something we ever planned, but realize that it would be a blessing for the father and a blessing for the son.

One day recently, when Little Billy had gone to work with his dad, I asked him to tell me what kind of work he had done that day.

He said, "I put in light bulbs and stuff," not going into too much detail.

"Is that all? What else?" I insisted that he elaborate.

We were in the car at the time of this questioning and I kept looking at him in the rear view mirror to see his face. He was looking out the window and he said, "I had to go get drinks - over at the hospital. Dad gave me $1.00 and some change and said go get some sodas - so I did."

I didn't like to think of my husband sending this small boy off to go get sodas - but I let that go and just kept on listening.

"I went to the machines - counted my money and realized I didn't have enough money - I was short a quarter. So, I went into the restaurant - that little one inside the hospital - you know?" he waited for me to respond. He went on, "I went up and asked the lady how much the soda's were and she said $1.50 and I said, 'Oh, okay,' and started to leave and she asked me how much I had and I told her I only had $1.25 and she said, 'That's okay,' and she gave it to me anyways," he smiled real big.

"She just gave it to you?" I was surprised.

"Yeah," he said, and I could see his sweet smile in my rear view mirror. "I got that charm - you know?" and he turned and gazed back out the window.

Yes - Little Boy - I know!

On the upside ... Like I said - He and his Dad are cut from the same irresistible cloth. Both hard workers, and ... they've both got that charm - you know!

Good Bye ... I'll Miss You!

I have a lot of things constantly going on in my life.

I can't even begin to list all the things I have to do.

No one does the things that are my job - but me.

I'm the one that does everything!

Little Billy came to me recently and asked, "Can I spend the night with cousin - his mom says it's okay - can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, huh ... can I?"

"Sure - if it's okay with Aunt V," I said.

I went back to doing the millions of chores on my list for the evening.

I cleaned up the kitchen.

I washed dishes.

I emptied the trash and took it outside.

I hung a load of laundry and started a new load in the washer.

I swept the kitchen floor.

I went outside and watered the plants.

I paid some bills.

I ran Alexis a bath.

I yelled, "Little Billy - come get ready for bed."

No answer.

"Little Billy - come on - it's time to get ready for bed."

No answer.

I yelled louder.

I walked through the house.

I SCREAMED ...

"LITTLE BILLY - WHERE ARE YOU? IT IS TIME TO GET IN THE SHOWER AND GET READY FOR BED."

I ended up in the kitchen - where there sat my husband in the nearby living room.

He looked in my direction.

He stared a minute.

He said ... quietly ...

"He's not here."

He looked at me for some sign ...

A sign of awareness ...

A sign of recollection ...

A sign of intelligence ...

NOTHING!

He said again ... quietly ...

"He's not here," in a different tone that implied ---- is there something the matter with your brain?

Okay!

I walked away!

As I slithered up the stairs, I SCREAMED ... quietly ...

"I can't remember everything!"

On the upside ... I eventually remembered WHERE he was - that is a good sign - RIGHT?

Great ... Now I Can Add Anatomy To The List Of Things I'm Not Good At!

Alexis comes in the back door.

She stands near me in the kitchen.

She says ...

"There's 10 parts of the body that have 3 letters in them," she smiles and waits for me to respond with excitement.

"Is that right?" I look in her direction.

"Yes," she is waiting for the game to begin.

"Okay," I stop what I am doing and walk over to where she is. I pull out a chair at the kitchen table. I sit down.

"There is ... Eye," I say, and she smiles.

"There is ... Ear," I say, and she smiles bigger.

"There is ... Leg," I say, and she begins to giggle like crazy.

I stop.

I think.

I repeat -

"There is ... Eye."

"There is ... Ear."

"There is ... Leg."

I look at her.

I say, "What else?"

The smile on Alexis' face fades quickly and she says, "I dunno," she has a blank look. "I just know there are 10 of them - I dunno what they are," she looks disappointed.

Me - I look at her ... disappointed.

She says, "You'll have to look that up. Like ... Google it," and she is smiling again.

Me - I am thinking - Surly I can do this without Googling it! Surly I can name 10 body parts that are 3 letters long. If they were each 10 letters long, then I'd definitely have to Google it, but ... 3? Surly ...

On the upside ... Okay! I didn't actually have to Google it, but I did ask for help from Little Billy. We came up with all 10 - after much thought and much smoke coming from the mom's ears.

Can you name all 10?

A Fine Day To Be ALIVE!!

It hit 99 degrees today.

YEP!

It sure gets hot here in TEXAS!

Good thing for us ...

There is water ...

Everywhere!

Alexis taking a break -- you can just swim for so long, you know.

Alexis and her cousin - jumping as high as the sky!

A little sun ...

Good company ...

A good Popsicle ...

THIS IS THE LIFE!

Little Billy trying a new trick .

He missed this time - but he eventually made it.

Yeah Billy!

He's a WILD MAN - having so much fun!

Cousin having a good time too!

The Princess - basking in the sun!

The Queen - basking in the sun!

My mom - she has a pretty hard life - wouldn't you say?

They even stop to eat ... sometimes!

And then ... back to playing once again!

Wouldn't be a complete "On The Upside" day ... if there wasn't a tear or two!

Poor baby!

HOPE YOU ALL ARE HAVING A GOOD WEEKEND!!

(Note: Dad, Courtney and Chloe did not come to the lake, as the girls had softball. They will come up next weekend and I'll get pictures of them then).

A Day In The Life Of The Youngest "On The Upside" Kids

I cleaned the upstairs carpet ...

I straightened the garage and cleaned the refrigerator ...

And then ...

I stopped long enough with my chores ...

To play with those kids!

And ...

The plans for tomorrow ...

Look ...

Just like ...

Today!

Note: These pictures were taken Thursday night and Friday - notice the number of times Alexis changed her swimsuit. She's just like her mama.

I'm Not Fit To Be Teachin' This Stuff!

We are starting to have that talk with Little Billy.

You know.

The talk.

The ... sex talk.

He asks questions.

We try to answer.

He hasn't asked all that many - but, a few.

It's a lot of fun.

When he was still in school, earlier in the spring, all the boys and girls saw the film.

You know.

The film.

The ... sex film.

When Little Billy got home from school, I asked, "So ... how'd it go?" referring to the film.

He knew what I was talking about and got a little giggly. He shuffled his feet. He looked at the ground. He said, "All I know," he shuffles some more, "Is ... I saw some things I wish I didn't see," he laughs.

"What do you mean?" I was very curious.

He blushes.

He sputters.

He finally says, "Just some talk about Va-J-J's," and then he runs out of the room.

On the upside ... I yell after him, "Do you want to talk about it?" He yells back, "Nope." I let it alone. Honestly - I didn't want to talk about it either. Sometimes, when he asks about that stuff - I tell him to go watch Animal Planet and call me if he has any questions (tee hee). I learned that "redneck" tactic from the boy's daddy.

Sounds To Me Like Someone Needs A Bowl Of Captain Crunch Cereal And To ... Lighten UP!

I have been blogging for about 10 months.

Over the course of these 10 months, I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing my life, my children and my stories with many readers.

I have also enjoyed getting to know many wonderful women/moms through my blog.

I have also .... been very fortunate during this time ... to not have received very many negative comments on my posts. I've received a few - but, not many at all.

I did receive one VERY NEGATIVE comment yesterday (Wednesday 6/18/08).

Now ... I would like to just let this comment go and not say anything, but this comment - this person - gives me the opportunity to set a few things straight.

I was a bit angry about this comment.

My anger was not about the honesty - I very much appreciate honesty from my readers.

My anger was not about the words - while some could have been chosen better - I am all about words!

My anger was that ... "This woman doesn't know me. She has no clue what she is talking about. She obviously has not read any of my other posts, or she would not feel free to say such things."

I was frustrated that someone would say something so "mean" based on one post. If she had TRULY read the over 300 posts I have written - I do not feel she could have said these things. This, therefore - made me mad!

I'm not going to try to defend myself in detail against this person's comments - I am only going to say ...

My stories are a mere GLIMPSE into my life - mere moments.

My stories - my blogging - is a way for me to document my children's lives - my life - my family's life and this is a blessing and a gift!

My stories are intended to offer others ... moments where they can laugh or cry - where they can witness or relate to another mother that does not always get everything right and is not ashamed to admit that. A place where they can go daily and find a good story and hopefully leave with a smile on their face.

My blog is a place for me to write my stories - a creative outlet - something I love doing and something that is mine and something that I deserve to indulge in if I care too. It's my blog and I use it to tell stories that I think people will enjoy.

My blog is a HAPPY place - I created it for that purpose - I intended it that way! It is not a place where people come to fight - to knit-pick - to ridicule anybody! It is a HAPPY PLACE! It is not a teaching blog. I am not here to tell anyone how to live their life or impose my opinions or beliefs on anyone. My blog is simply a place for me to tell my stories.

I write about the stuff I do wrong in mothering - a lot! I write about the mistakes I have made. I write about the things my kids say. I write about the things we do in our lives. I write about a lot of things .... and I do all of it with LOVE for my family.

I DO NOT write about all the things I do right in my life - not often anyway, and that is because ---- THAT STUFF IS NOT FUNNY!

It's all pretty simple.

I am proud of my blog.

I am proud of my stories.

I am proud of the type of mother I am and I believe my children would say the same.

I am not going to go on and on defending who I am and all I have done right - while I could do that - I could write a good, LONG list. I'm not going to.

I don't have to.

I know who I am.

I know why I blog.

I believe my stories are a gift, not only to my children and family ---- but to my readers.

I don't think this reader will ever come back to my site - as she stated she wouldn't. But ... if she were to want to come back ... she is always welcome here at On The Upside.

But, beware ...

I will not be changing the way I write ...
I will not be changing the way I parent ...
I will not be happy if you leave another "mean" comment ...

And ...

By the way ...

Alexis ate Captain Crunch for breakfast again this morning - it was 10:10 A.M. and I actually got my lazy butt up off the chair and went into the kitchen and got her bowl out of the cabinet and I even poured the cereal and splashed on the milk.

You are always welcome here ...

Everyone is welcome here ...

Anyone that enjoys a funny story or a touching story ...

Is welcome here at ...

On The Upside!

But ... keep your MEAN and UNINFORMED comments to yourself or I will DELETE it. As easy as it is for you to say MEAN and UNINFORMED things - it is just as easy to ERASE THEM!

I let you have your say this time. And, I will let others have their say - as long as the comments are not uninformed and mean. I don't do that to anyone else and I won't allow others to do it to me.

Here is the negative comment that was left yesterday:

"seriously, i empathize, but why don't you do something fun with your kids? i see you were nominated for best humor blog but i don't think this is funny.get off your butt and stop living your life on the internet. you have a small banner that says "vote for me" - why don't you stop worrying about the online popularity contest and give your kids a fun summer to remember? best parenting blog? no, it is not. you admit this stuff to make people laugh, but it just makes me sad. when your kids are out of the house you are going to wish you had spent less time blogging and more time with them."

"i'm just reading your comments on this. let's support each other in our "good enough mothering!"this is my first time here, i can't come back. it breaks my heart. good enough mothering? no.i'm not out there planning stuff for my kid for every second of the day, but this is ridiculous." June 18, 2008 8:52 AM

Now ... in true On The Upside fashion ... lets see if we can find an upside anywhere in this mess of words.

"seriously, i empathize, but why don't you do something fun with your kids?" --- I took them to that damn Kung Fu Movie the other night - does that count? DID YOU SEE THAT POST!? And ... I'm at the lake with my kids, as I type this post - need I say more.

"i see you were nominated for best humor blog but i don't think this is funny" ---- That's okay - this is not really my funniest post - I've written far funnier stories before - read one of those.

"get off your butt and stop living your life on the internet" ---- Would it really be possible for me to live my whole life on the internet and raise the 4 wonderful children that I have into the fine people they are becoming? I don't think so! And ... last time I looked - this is MY LIFE and I can live it anyway I see fit for me and for my family. Don't presume that just because I have a "busy" blog that I spend all my time on the internet either. What I do is none of anyone's business, but I assure you - it is interesting and fun and busy and productive and ... centered around 4 children and a husband and 5 pets and extended family and friends and 2 homes and a business.

"you have a small banner that says "vote for me" - why don't you stop worrying about the online popularity contest and give your kids a fun summer to remember?" ---- I'm not worried about these contests - but, I do want my blog to be popular. I love sharing my stories and I want as many readers as I can find. And, as for the summer ... I'm at the lake with my kids - need I say more!

" best parenting blog? no, it is not. " ---- I guess this is where we'd have to DEFINE this category. In some people's eyes - I guess I might be considered a darn good parent. In others - likely not. That's cool! That's why there are red cars and blue cars and yellow cars and silver cars ... so everyone can have what they want. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

" you admit this stuff to make people laugh, but it just makes me sad. when your kids are out of the house you are going to wish you had spent less time blogging and more time with them." ---- I've spent the last 16 years ... with my children - nearly every single day! I spend plenty of time with my kids (All straight A, honor roll students, by the way; 2 are gifted, one is in Boy Scouts, 2 play basketball and softball, one is in gymnastics ...) - if I am not the one spending time with these kids then there is someone that looks an awful lot like me in my house doing that job. And ... my kids are going to find all of my stories to be a GIFT when they grow older. They are going to know how I really felt about them - what I was really thinking - how I heard so many of their words and listened to what they had to say. And ... YES ... I write this stuff to make people laugh. If they are laughing at my stories then I feel happy about that. I try very hard to make my stories humorous. Life is not always happy and if someone enjoys my blog and knows that they can come here daily to read a story that is likely going to make them laugh - then I think I am doing something very RIGHT!

"i'm just reading your comments on this. let's support each other in our "good enough mothering!"this is my first time here, i can't come back. it breaks my heart. good enough mothering? no.i'm not out there planning stuff for my kid for every second of the day, but this is ridiculous." ----- I am not the one that wrote that I was a "good enough mother". I think my title to this last post was, "The Loser-est Mom Ever". It's satire. I am not a loser as a mother - but ... I have my moments and I will have many more. If that is "Good enough mothering" - then that's what I am. It's SATIRE and it is a MERE GLIMPSE INTO MY LIFE - the other 96% you don't see and likely will never see.

I'm done now.

Keep an eye out for a "funny" post tomorrow. Back to business as usual.

Note: If you are so inclined to leave comments on my blog - feel free to be honest - but, BE NICE or I WILL DELETE YOUR COMMENT and ... I will probably write a post about it and talk about you the next day - because this is MY BLOG and I can do that! HA!

And ... PLEASE do not attack this person that left this negative comment - that is not my intent of this post!

The Loser-est Mom Ever ...

I'm not a great mother.

I'm NOT!

I swore - SWORE - that when school let out, I would be getting to bed at a reasonable hour every night and therefore that would insure the rising in the mornings at a reasonable time.

NOT HAPPENING!

I swore - SWORE - that I was going to make sure my children would get to bed at a reasonable hour every night and therefore that would insure the rising in the morning at a reasonable time.

NOT HAPPENING!

I swore - these children would not wander around with messed up hair, dirty teeth and clothes they wore from the day before.

ALL OF THE ABOVE - IS HAPPENING!

I swore - I would make breakfast and lunch and dinner - in a timely manner - keep everyone on a meal schedule to avoid all the ridiculous GRAZING in the refrigerator and pantry.

NOT HAPPENING!

A few days ago ...

Sweet Alexis made herself a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal.

I saw her in the kitchen - standing on a stool to reach the bowls in the upper cabinet and then watched as she then wandered over to the refrigerator to retrieve the milk.

I left the room before she ate that bowl of cereal, but ... I know she ate it.

About 15 minutes later ... she came to my room.

She looked at the clock ...

She said, "Is it morning or afternoon?"

I looked at the clock, "It's lunch time - it's almost noon," I smiled into her dirty little face.

"It's time for lunch?" she questioned.

"Yes," I answered and then went back to what I was doing, not worried for her, as she had just eaten Captain Crunch. As she was walking out of my room, I asked, "Where are you going?"

She looked over her shoulder ...

She rolled her eyes ...

She said ...

"I'm going to make me some lunch."

(*loser mom hangs head in shame*)

On the upside ... I went down and made her some fish sticks and french fries - that way if we missed dinner (odds were good) - she would have already of had ... that ... meal ... (*sigh*)