From this point forward.....

I'm just gonna' be "keepin' it real".  

No really....I am.  I probably won't be brave enough to post horrendous selfies or anything.....but I have been thinking about how NOT real our Facebook lives are, and have decided that maybe by posting "real" pictures, that folks will realize that their "real" lives aren't so bad.  

So let's just get started, shall we? 

Here's my keepin' it real picture for the day.....

Yep....that's our Christmas tree.  I took it down the day after Christmas.  I was all gung ho about getting that thing outta' here this year.  It had stopped drinking water, and frankly, it just hadn't been looking good for about a week or so.  But if I am REALLY being honest....I do this every year.  I LOVE putting the tree up, but I am over it by Christmas day.  

And typically.....I would have one of the girls haul it off to the local fire house where they would let you drop them off.  But this year was a little different, and for a myriad of different reasons.....that darn tree is STILL laying in my driveway, on January 6th.   We weren't in town for a couple of days.....and now school has started back, and I don't have the truck at my disposal anymore because we have a new driver in the house.....but that's a whole blog post in and of itself.  

So there it sits.  Looking like we don't know what to do when Christmas is over.  I'm sure the neighbors are beginning to wonder.....

But like I said....I'm gonna' keep it real.  

So while I am at it.....let's just go ahead and take a look at the living room, shall we??

See?  Not perfect.  Jeans from a backpack slung into a chair, boots lefts where they were taken off, a new toy from Santa for Sophie there on the couch, and a much loved "Dilla" on the floor (no that isn't a dead rodent in my house.....Sophie has a stuffed armadillo which is her favorite),  some socks on the floor, unruly wires and charging cords.....oh! And fancy that?!  A laundry basket.  

There you have it.  Not perfect, not pretty, and not the way that I would like it to look.  BUT......the reality is, that's what it looked like 30 minutes ago, and because I have chosen to sit here and blog a bit, it's what it still looks like.  

See here's the thing.  We all get caught up in the "wanting things to look perfect for the picture that we post on Facebook or Instagram.  But the fact is.....none of us are perfect.  Not our houses, our bodies, our marriages, our kids, but that's ok.  God doesn't expect us to be.  He wants us to give Him our imperfections.....so that he can make something beautiful out of our lives.  

So while we are on the subject of not being perfect....now's probably a good time to say that I hope to be back to blogging again.  The last couple of years have just flown by....surgeries and recoveries, becoming a high school football mom (LOVE THAT), working,  but I hope to be back on here more regularly.  

So how about you?  Does the thought of keepin' it real scare you to death?  Or would you be willing for someone to see how not perfect your life is?  

If seeing my imperfections makes one person feel better about their own......then perhaps I will have succeeded.  

I'm just sayin'.  

Suit for Jack $6.25, Experience of being a Legislative Page....priceless

Yep....you read correctly.  A hand tailored suit that perfectly fit Jack.....for $6.25.

Six dollars and 25 cents for that snazzy suit, that fit like it was made just for him!  (I love thrift stores!!!)

And you're probably wondering what he is doing there in front of the Alabama State House....dressed up looking like he belongs there or something!  Well....he actually DID belong there, because he was selected to be a legislative page!!!

Yes...a page.  No....I didn't know what it would entail.  I just knew that when he went to Montgomery for the 4th grade field trip to the State Capitol and saw the legislative session in progress, he told me then, that once he turned 12 he wanted to apply to become a page.  And that's exactly what he did.  

Now...if you know me at all...then you know that no trip with us is uneventful...ever.   

So here's the rundown:

• When they tell you to report to the 5th floor lobby at 12:30, and you have a 2.5 hour drive....you should give yourself a little extra time.  But this is me we're talking about it here....and that's just not how I roll. 
• When the paperwork tells you that you can park for free at the Cramton Bowl parking lot and walk to the State House....be sure that said 12 year old child has shoes on that a)not only fit his foot two days prior, but that b)still fit his feet the day of the trip.  Because that's not a short walk, and blisters don't feel good.  At all. 
• You should be prepared when the Speaker of the House says, in his very-smooth-yet-commanding-voice, "We have a special guest with us today...." and calls out your name and asks that everyone please acknowledge your presence. ...and they all look up at you from the House floor and clap (!!)....ummm...yea....that one took me off guard.  Glad I had changed from my traveling clothes at a rest stop and later thrown some make-up on in the bathroom after I got Jack situated on the 5th floor! #truestory 
• There is constant movement on the House floor.  The Representatives are not all sitting there quietly(like I assumed they would)....and between them walking around and the pages moving to-and-fro delivering messages....it looks like a colony of ants in motion!!!

• Jack said that sometimes it was very hard to read their writing....and he needed to be sure he was delivering the messages to the proper Representatives!

• This pictures shows Jack standing right next to Representative Joe Faust for whom he was paging. 

• He even made a few friends in the process!  They had to help each other out a few times!

• I could tell by the look on Jack's face, in this next picture, that he wasn't sure he was delivering to the right person...

• When the Governor made a surprise appearance at the legislative session, Jack wasted no time in getting to him for a hand shake/photo op.  

    

• When shaking the Governor's hand, Jack quickly reminded him of when they had met previously at a local restaurant a few years back! (I can't make this stuff up).
• Desperate times call for desperate measures blisters on my child can do amazing things.....like prompt someone who failed parallel parking in her driver's test many moons ago...to not only parallel park successfully a couple of steps away from the entrance to the building, but do it on the first try.  #highfive #blistershurt #yesheisalwaysacharacter  #proudofhismom

• And I know you're going to be shocked...but we were actually AHEAD OF SCHEDULE...so I was able to snap a few "must have pics" of my very grown up baby boy. 

• When sitting in a committee meeting on day two, the main speaker introduced Jack, and tried to catch him off guard and asked him if he'd like to say a few words to the group!!!  Ha!  Those that know Jack, can probably understand when I tell you that he did look startled for a moment, (as the room burst into laughter), but then quickly thanked them all for having him there.  As we were leaving that day, he told me how badly he wanted to get up and put in his two cents about the subject they were discussing!!! Can you imagine if he had???
• Day 3 was a little more challenging for me....as I wasn't able to score a parking spot quite as close.  And....after dropping him off, finding a spot, walking quickly to get there in a timely manner, I realized, in the bathroom on the 6th floor....that I had in fact, FORGOTTEN my deodorant.  No, I'm not kidding.  Yes, I know this is a personal subject, but it's one that can cause me excessive anxiety just THINKING about having forgotten it....then add to that list, the fact that typically on legislative session days the elevators are shoulder to shoulder full of people.  I stood in that bathroom, looking out the window at my parked van, contemplating should I, or shouldn't I create more perspiration by walking to it to get the forgotten deodorant.  But a girl's gotta' do what a girl's gotta' do.  And when telling Jack this story later on..on the ride home, he cut me off quickly and says, "You don't even need to tell me...I already know that you walked back to the van to get the deodorant!!  I know YOU, mom!!!"  Sigh....he was right.  Hey at least I didn't stink!!!!
• And while Jack has so many different stories and memories of our past three days, one of his "highlights" he said, was Ms. Ernestine.....

But don't let that sweet smile of hers fool you, because I snapped a picture of her doing what she did best...give orders!!! Ha!  She was a pistol!!

• When it was all said and done, I couldn't believe it was actually over....and before we could even get to the van, Jack was letting me know that he wanted to do it again, and even told Ms. Ernestine he would see her next year!!  LOL

I would like to extend a special thank you to Representative Joe Faust for allowing Jack to be his page, and introducing him to so many people.  Representative Faust is a fine Christian man, and I am thankful to know that we have someone like him representing us.  

All in all, it was a wonderful, enlightening, educational experience.  One that I'm sure Jack will never forget. 

And next time, if there is a next time....I feel sure he will be POSITIVE his shoes fit well and are comfortable before we leave home.  

I'm just sayin'.  

I think it's safe to say......

that Jack is glad he isn't an only child. 

No really.  I'm serious. 

He is the fourth child, and has no concept of life without a constant companion.....or well....he didn't until last week.

First day of summer vacation, Memorial Day, and Destin was volunteering at work with his daddy....which left Jack at home with me and Karissa. 

It was a beautiful day, and we had tossed around a few ideas....maybe bowling with some free passes we had,  but it's no fun to bowl alone, and between an untimely pinched nerve in my neck and his sister's ongoing struggle with her shoulder and hips, he would have been literally bowling alone.  Not cool. 

So at the last minute I asked him if he would like to just go down to the pier and see if he could catch any fish....to which he agreed.  He loaded up his things....but it just didn't seem the same without Destin. 

Sophie thought she should get to come along since we didn't have Destin....and she thoroughly enjoyed the view, and the wind in her hair....and she even looked rather patriotic....well....sort of.

So Jack began setting out the crab baskets, baiting them with chicken legs....and after getting them all down in the water, he proceeded to walk to the end of the pier.....all by himself. 

I think that was a long walk......













But he was a good sport about it, and began fishing.....alone.

But it wasn't long before I could see from my view that somebody was missin' his older brother.......

He's killin' me here......

Ahem.  I'm getting too sappy these days....moving on. 






So then he decided to try his hand at throwing the cast net.  Now....I need to just go ahead and tell you that it appears that has become a lost art or talent.....or however that saying goes. 

No...really!  When Darwin was a kid.....he threw it all the time, and I would venture to say that he wasn't the only kid his age who would be out on the pier doing it!  But now....you'd think I had a traveling road show the way people stop, watch, look, and ask questions about what exactly he is doing and what he is trying to catch!  (Well.....it DOES seem like I have a traveling road show when they all pile out of the van......but that's another story for another day.)

Those questioning folks are all very obviously not native to this area.....

And I'm not even gonna' lie.....it is pretty cool to watch.  Especially when you have a handy dandy new camera that can catch multiple shots :) get ready.....there's gonna' be a few pictures. 

How cool is that???




Don't worry....I'm not quitting my day job being a stay at home mom to become a fast action sports photographer.....but I was rather impressed with the setting that allowed me to snap multiple consecutive pictures and actually capture the moment. 

I know....I'm easily impressed. 

But after only catching a few little bait fish, and spending all day alone....checking for crabs in the baskets

And tempting the scavengers  sea gulls who suddenly were his best friends while taking the bait out of the crab baskets.....he decided to call it a day. 

But the day wasn't a total loss....we got to witness several family outings.......

I guess Canadian Geese celebrate Memorial Day too??

And it WAS the official beginning of summer....so it would stand to reason that we could do the same thing two days in a row...only this time.....we were gonna' do it right.  With his very best friend in the whole world. 

That's right.  The next day Destin came along.  And thank goodness he did....not only was he good moral support, he got things rolling early!!!!  He caught a red fish! And even though he couldn't keep him....it did give them some hope that things would be looking up that day!

Aren't my photography skills amazing?  Ummm......was I more concerned about snapping a pic of the fish from my phone than including my son's face???

Embarrassing really. 

Let's move on to that function on the fancy camera that snaps multiple shots, shall we?  Perhaps I won't cut off faces that way.

So Destin decided it was time to bring out the big guns...and by that...I mean the mack daddy cast net.  Very heavy, very big, and able to spread out and hopefully catch some mullet.

I get exhausted just watching them throw the cast net from my chair under the shade tree. 

I know....I know....it's a tough life but somebody's gotta' supervise, and we definitely don't want mama out there showing off her cast net throwing skills...because....well....I have none. 

But Destin does.....and it paid off on the first throw.

Yep....he caught two mullet in that throw.  And for those of you that aren't local?  That means that whatever you had planned for dinner tonight or tomorrow just changed.....because that's some good eatin'. 

However...mullet doesn't freeze well.  At all.  Don't let anyone try to tell you that it does.  It gets strong and fishy tasting.  So it MUST be fixed right away.....and to be honest....fried is the way to go.  I am all about eating healthy and grilling fish....but mullet needs to go straight into some seasoned corn meal and into a fryer. 

Problem is....we gotta' have more than two.  You do the math.  That's only four fillets, and I gotta' feed those big ole' boys!!!

So back at it he went.  All.  Day.  Long.   Searching out the best place to throw...to see if the "mullet were running" (another locals term.) 

And he must have just gotten lucky on the first throw because he only caught two more the rest of the day.....but that was enough to warrant bringing them home.  So I bought some fish to go with it and Destin was the hero for dinner that night.

Fried Mullet, Cheese Grits, and Coleslaw....that my friends is what these southern folks would call a good dinner. 



And I think it's safe to say, that Jack will always be thankful that God didn't choose for him to be an only child.....because this is how I usually find them.  Together. 

Because they are best buds. 

I'm just sayin'.

I never liked fractions.......

and unfortunately I use them all the time when cooking or baking. 

Stop laughing....yes I use measuring cups. 

But this was not about cooking, baking OR measuring cups.  This was all about fractions. 

And no....believe it or not.....it wasn't even about helping with math homework. 

6/10  or .6  whichever way you wanna look at it.  Matter of fact you could even reduce 6/10 down to 3/5 if you wanted to. 

But the bottom line here??? 

.6 of a pound.  Yes, I said "of a pound". 

That was my big "payoff" at the end of a fattening-snack-deprived-stay-on-program-eat-broiled-fish-three-times week. 

.6 of a pound. 

Here's what that looks like.....

And I tried to make that look better.....but there's just something about that decimal point that screams "NOT EVEN A STINKING POUND" to me. 

And there's always the sweet friend who does her best to encourage me so I don't go storming out the door never to return to Weight Watchers. 

Fact is?  I've done this enough times to know that .6 of a pound is still a weight loss, and over the course of time, the "tenths" add up to whole pounds and in the broad scheme of things, if I lost .6 of a pound a week for a whole year, that would total 31.2 pounds for the year. 

And of course, I am glad I didn't gain .6 of a pound.....because that would add up too, over time. 

Soooooo.......I'm gonna' get an attitude adjustment.  :)

Started out by deciding that instead of listening to the boys squabble about "who" was going to "hit the grounders" for baseball practice in the backyard and "who" was going to "ground them", that I would settle that dispute once and for all and just go do the hitting myself. 

Yes I did.  And no it's not the first time in my life I have picked up a bat.  Used to play softball many moons ago, actually. 

However.....after going through not one, but two five gallon buckets full of baseballs, and feeling rather athletic after my few moments of fame in the backyard, I had even broken a sweat and came in feeling good about myself. 

You know...the ole' "get moving" thing.  Exercise doesn't have to be a chore.....just get out and move with your kids. 

And it was all fine and good until I was perched in my nest curled up on the couch after dinner and I started wondering what on earth was making me hurt so badly under my right shoulder blade.....in my back and making me quite uncomfortable. 

I even went to bed early....took a couple of ibuprofen (because we all know that fixes everything), and laid there and suddenly it hit me. 

I swung that bat repeatedly over      times.....and I haven't done that in a year. 

UGH.....seriously????  I'm that old that it starts hurting the same night??  I'm that out of shape???

Apparently the answer to those questions is a resounding, "yes". 

And that's ok, because that's gonna' change.  Even if it is just .6 of a pound at a time. 

Week one: 1.8 pound loss about 7 1/2 sticks





     



Week two:  after a whopping .6 of a pound loss I am at 2.4 pounds, which is about 9 1/2 sticks of butter

I'm just saying.



It's all about sticks of butter.....

or at least that's what Mama always said. 

And no....believe  it or not, I am not referring to cooking with it....although it IS essential when baking and gives the best flavor. 

No....what I am talking about are counting the sticks of butter.  Read on.......

You see, I'm about to share something pretty personal. 

Those of you who know me well already know this about me....but for those of you who don't....well....here goes. 

I have always struggled with my weight.  I wasn't ever severely overweight as a child, or even as a teen, although in "my eyes" I was. 

But it wasn't until after I married, moved to the deep south (and thoroughly embraced their way of cooking here), and started having babies that I really began my struggle. 

Baby number one.....gained a lot, lost a lot, but not all.  Nine months later, guess who was pregnant again??  Yep...that would be me.  Gained less, but remember that I never lost all the weight from baby number one. 

After two babies so close together, I knew I needed to do something if I ever wanted any more children....and that I did. 

I lost 90 pounds.  Mmmmhmmm......I said 90.  (If I could find a picture I would post it....but that was before digital cameras, so give me a break!)

It took me about 18 months, but I did it.

And it felt great. 

And then I found out I was pregnant again.  :)

And on came the pounds....with a vengeance.  I think my body freaked out after me having lost so much weight and then going into a gaining mode....that I gained....well....let's just say a LOT. 

You probably already know the rest of this story, don't you?  Yep....lost a part of the baby weight and guess who ended up pregnant with baby number four??? 

That would be me. 

And in fairness....I did deliver some big ole' babies, with the smallest one weighing 9lb.12oz, and the biggest weighing 10lb. 14oz!!!!!  So I did gain it honestly......and as a matter of fact....the doctor told me I was made to have babies, but unfortunately, I just gain a lot with each pregnancy. 


And I wouldn't trade any of them for the WORLD.  I feel so blessed to have had two girls AND two boys.  God's timing was perfect, the birth order was perfect and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

But when your "baby" is 10, it's probably time to stop calling it "baby weight". ;)

I'm just sayin'. 

So it's back to Weight Watchers I go.  For the five thousandth time. 

But this time?  I'm going public with it. 

And no....I am NOT going on Biggest Loser.  I have threatened my family to never nominate me!  I am definitely not brave enough to be on national television in skimpy exercise attire. 

You can thank me later.....

But I am, however, going to try to hold myself more accountable by blogging about my journey.  Because we all know it's going to be one.  I'm probably looking at having to lose 100 pounds or so....but I can only lose it one pound at a time.  And I am determined to do it this time. 

My inspiration??

Those four.  I just love 'em so much.....and it's not fair to them for me to not take better care of myself. 






It's not about "swimsuit season" because we all know "Mama ain't gettin' in no swimmin' suit!!"  My kids don't even bother to ask. 

It's about being healthier, and having more energy to do things with them. 

It's about not developing diabetes which does run in the family. 

It's about lowering blood pressure.

It's about not having to wear tennis shoes because my darn foot hurts.

It's about not being the last one huffing and puffing behind the family as we trudge up the hill going to the stadium to see the state football game.

And it's about counting sticks of butter.

You see, whenever I would get frustrated with a "1/2 pound loss"....Mama would always say, "Well....that's two sticks of butter!  Look at it that way!"

So I am.

And yesterday, I wasn't too happy when I heard the WW leader say, "You lost 1.8 pounds!" after I had nearly turned into a rabbit from all of the vegetables I had eaten the past week.  I was thinking, "SERIOUSLY???  Not quite two pounds??"

But then I remembered what Mama said, so I began counting sticks of butter.....and it didn't seem all that bad for one week.

I'm just sayin'.

Is it possible to be addicted to......

yard sales?

Stop laughing. 

No really....I'm serious!  I used to think my mother-in-law was crazy to want to get up at 6a.m. on a Saturday morning to go rummage through someone else's "junk"....but I gotta' tell ya'....I'm gettin' it now. 

And I sure wish she were here to go yard sale-ing with us.  Sigh.

You see....that became one of my kids' fondest memories with Grandma Mable.  She would let them spend the night on a Friday, and then wake them up at the crack of dawn on Saturday with the sound of cast iron skillets clanging around to make them breakfast.  (I still don't get that part....)

After she passed away, Jack would repeatedly say how much he missed doing that with her....and I realize that it was more about "spending time with her" than the yard sales themselves, but it was a memory they made, and after hearing it from all of my kids....I decided one weekend that we would load up and go.

And now I'm hooked. 

And you wouldn't believe how fast they all jump out of the bed on a Saturday morning, because they're afraid "we're missin' out on some good deals!"  (Ha!!  I love it!!)

So I decided to share some of my recent purchases with you....because truthfully....I've impressed myself.

And I probably shouldn't tell on myself here....but instead of rushing around this past Friday and Saturday morning preparing for the possible storm Isaac we are all still waiting for now.....I was out yard sale-ing!!!  

Yep...every once in a while someone will hold it Friday and Saturday and so Karissa and I decided we would just see what was out there....and boy did we score.  

How do ya' like this addition to my living room??  

 Yep...I'm talkin' about the chair....the one that fills a spot I have been wanting a chair in for 7 years, and the one that matches the color scheme in here perfectly. 

Wanna' know how much I spent on it?
$10. 

Nope....not even kidding.  Didn't have to even talk him down on it, and no...there is nothing wrong with it. 

The family was moving....and needed to get rid of a LOT of stuff.  It wasn't even out "in" the yard sale.  It was sitting in his garage and when I asked him about something else he pointed to it and said...."You need that chair right there??  You can have it for $10." 

What????  Ummm.....yes....please load that in the back of my van....NOW.  We will make it fit. 

And that doesn't include the name brand clothing that we scored for 50cents a piece at the same yard sale.

And I know you can't see the tags because I didn't use my good camera....so I will help you see a little closer that these are name brand.  

 

And let me just stop right here and say this. 

Yes...I think we scored big on name brand items for 50cents a piece, but let's remember it's a yard sale.  What does that mean??  That means that I am not going to pay $4 for their used clothing items....  A yard sale is a yard sale, and if they wanted to get a consignment shop price for it, then perhaps that's what they should do with it.

Sorry...didn't mean to be ugly, but sometimes, you walk up the driveway only to see the prices on their "stuff" and you just have to turn right around and go back to the car, because there are other yard sales waitin' that know how to price their "stuff". 

I said all of that to say...his prices were fair.  Very fair. 

But as I said....typically there aren't very many yard sales on Friday in my area....and the boys were in school, so we pretty much called it a day and decided to go again the next morning. 

And boy did we score.....

Auburn jacket?  $1

Everything else.....

Stuff a bag for $3.....(and let me just say right here that mama knows how to "stuff a bag for $3".)   I do the stuffing while good ole' Karissa (who might I add is like taking Grandma Mable along on a yard sale because she trained her right), digs through the piles to find the good stuff. 

Yep...look a little closer at what was in that bag.....

That would be Chaps, Nautica, and Nike. 

My "stuffing-a-bag" techniques scored those items for what ended up being 30cents a piece.



Now I realize that this next item is not an "antique", but I liked it....and felt like the price was fair.

$7...and in excellent condition.









And last but not least....just a few other items that were added to my collection for the day...

• New holiday hand towels....that's what washers and dryers are for. 
• Two Pampered Chef spin-around-hold-your-kitchen-utensils thingies. 
•  Two nut crackers 
• Unopened package of elastic...for the sewing projects I will one day get to...give me a break.
• Graph paper...sure it was partially used...who cares???

And can I just say that when it came time for school to start this year....I didn't have to go and buy those expensive plastic dividers with pockets or sheet protectors.  I had scored all of those for 25cents an unopened pack at a yard sale in St. Louis over the summer!!!

How do I do it??

1. Stop at the store and grab something cheap so I can get cash back....only $20. 
2. Make sure they give me ones and fives....I don't want a $20 bill because I have to have small change for bargaining later. ;)
3. Hit the road and start watching for signs....believe me....get some boys anxious to find fishin' gear in the van, and they will find any and all signs pointing to a yard sale. 
4. Then at a moment's notice they will holler out, "MOM....there's a sign!" and then I will be accused of being a "fast & furious" driver because they startle me and I turn quickly. 
5. We all pile out of the van like clowns in a circus, and begin the hunt.....and then I hear Jack's voice say, "Ummm....sir, you have $2 on here, but will you take $1?

And I love it!!  Grandma Mable taught him well....he never pays the price they have on anything. 

I think she would be right proud of him...and the rest of us for that matter.

I'm just sayin'.