Nattie's Bday, and another princess

We had a fun night for Natalie's birthday. It was a good day overall, but tonight was a lot of fun. Brett, Lacie and Kami came over. It was nice to see her with both her mommy AND her daddy, and happy to be around so much family.

We had a driveway fire in Mom's fire pit (that I borrowed without asking. Is that stealing? Nah, I'll return it before they get home and they'll never know. What? She reads this? DOH!) We roasted some hot dogs over the fire for dinner, and then made s'mores. Yummy.

We played with Kameron a lot and she was very obliging, smiling and chattering. So much fun. When they first arrived, we got some toys out and played with her while Brett, Lacie and Natalie took a short walk. Kevin decided to make a crown for our little princess.

Wow. What a great night.

Natalie got a new camera, and she's thrilled. What she wanted for her birthday was to have a fire, roast hot dogs, and make s'mores. The camera was a bonus, and something she's wanted for a long time. She's always gotten the hand-me-down cameras that have a problem of some kind. We'll see what kind of pics she comes up with. They really have some VERY reasonable digital cameras now.

OK, I'm out. Gotta finish letting the Chiefs break my heart. COME ON, BOYS!

Quik Trip

I loves me some QT. I don't think you get it. This isn't "favorite grocery store" love, and it's not "favorite route to work" love. I LOVE QT. If you don't have a Quik Trip in your area, I pity you.

They have the best CHEAP cappuccino and mocha in the world. The fountain drinks are better than any fast-food joint, and half the price. You can get ANYTHING there...I SWEAR it! I could stop by for a mocha and pick up an engine block for a 69 Impala.

That's not the attraction, though. It's the service. I work in customer service, and it is a big thing for me. Treat me right, and I'll come back. Treat me bad, and you've seen the last of me. QT has H&H-type customer service.

Tonight, I had to stop in at QT. When I walked in, the cashier (who was busy) looked up and said "Hi! How you doin?" I smiled and gathered what I needed. When I approached the counter, he said, "Hi! Can I get anything else for you?"

Yeah, THAT'S what I'M talkin' about. I paid and started toward the door. Cashier dude did a *bit* too much. He said, "Thanks! See ya later! Have a good night! Come back soon! See ya then!"

I'm not kidding. He said all of this. QT dude? I'm coming back. You're awesome. You always offer up the best of the best in customer service. Chill a tiny bit more. I'm not complaining: Too much is better than too little. Just have a great night, OK, QT dude? Enjoy your evening. Have a good night. Have a good day tomorrow. I hope your kid graduates. I hope your car morphs into a Jaguar. I hope MY car morphs into a Jaguar.

See? There can be too much. I still love ya! Keep on doin' what you're doin'. QT has it figured out.

Mom tried to warn me

She told me this would happen. Eh. Who listens to their mothers?

Someone talked about trying to teach their child to tie her shoes.

Someone talked about their toddler having problems learning to "potty."

Someone talked about a cute thing spoken by a child with a lisp.

Someone talked about the first day of school, ever.

Someone had to look for a binkie for an hour to quite her baby last night.

I heard all of these things within the past week, and I cried. I miss my babies. No, I don't want another. I've moved on to loving on a grandbaby and keeping my sleep. However, I miss my babies.

My girls are awesome. They are smart, fun, and funny. They are a joy to be around and so easy-going.

But I miss my daughter's lisp, OK? I miss fun, bubbly bath time. I miss tiny arms hugging my neck.

Wow

OK, I'm a skeptic. Monica has professed to be a vegetarian many times in her life. Cook some burgers and she's done. Monica has said that she wants to join a group at school, and the first time it's boring, she's done. Such is the life of a pre-teen.

So, when Mom gifted the girls a guitar over a year ago, I didn't expect much. They both played with it a bit, but not enough to matter. Strum, strum, done. In fact, it fell a few times, and now has some problems.

Monica has shown a recent, renewed interest in the guitar, but we're gun shy. However, Kevin and Grammy found one at a garage sale, and the price was right, so they bought it. It's a birthday present, 3 months early, but she was happy.

Now, I've heard all of my kids trying out instruments over the years. It usually hurts. I'm a good enough mom to hang in there and say, "Wow! You're getting better!" Tonight, Monica wanted to play something for me on her guitar. "Fine," says I, "let's do it." She wasn't 30 seconds into it before I freaked.

"I know this song! It's from the Seinfeld finale'!" She looked at me like I grew a third eye. However, I was right. I thought it was "Time of Your Life" but it's "Good Riddance." But, it's the SAME SONG! It's Green Day! I can hear what she's playing, and I RECOGNIZE it!

I know, it's my kid. But, she's self taught with NO parental help (Kevin and I can barely play the radio, OK?) and I'm proud. Don't know the song? Here it is:

Wow, what a cool night for me. Most folks will be bored with a "Look what my kid did!" post, but I can't contain myself. She's gonna do something.

Oh, and for my Mother...Monica complained today about her finger tips hurting. I said, "My mom says that you'll have calluses and it will be better." She said, "really? That's gross!" I said, "Yeah, but it makes you a better guitar player." She said, "Awesome." and ran giggling from the room. Yeah, Mom, you finally got your guitar player.

I'm so mad!

Not really. I'm not mad at all.

However, some people tend to be mad ALL.THE.TIME. Why? What purpose does it serve? I would think you'd waste a lot of energy, and be quite unproductive, spending all day being an angry jerk.

Everyone gets mad. It's a given. Heck, I get mad, too. I also plan to never let it run my life. I don't want to ever let anger rule my decisions. If you get angry, take a few minutes to yourself to breathe deeply and calm down.

Chances are, you can rise above, and let the person you're mad at stew in their own stupidity.

I'm just sayin'.

"Can't we all just get along?"

Kevin's coming home

We took Kameron over to Connie and Bentleys so Connie could take her pictures. She got some real good ones. I can't wait to see all of them.

It's been a lazy afternoon. Tomorrow, Natalie and I will get up and clean house. Monica spent the night at a friend's house again, so it's just the two of us.

Kevin is coming home tomorrow. He's had a real good time, and got some much needed rest and relaxation. Well, except last night. He went out and played cards with the guys and got back to his mom's house at 3:00 am! I asked if she grounded him, and he said, "almost." LOL

I'm glad he's coming home tomorrow because the yard needs mowed real bad and I can't do the bank. Maybe I could, but I'm a big chicken. That bank is steep!

OK, back to the things that Natalie and I do when we're alone together. Over eating, watching mindless TV, running with scissors, etc.

Exhaustion

Big changes for me at work. I'm happy and excited, but I'm whupped.

You know how, when you're cleaning house, it always gets worse before it gets better? Yeah, that's me and the front counter. I'm purging, big time. Tossed a TON of stuff, organized, cleaned, and generally made it mine. Stooping, bending, up and down from floor to counter...wow. My muscles hate me right now.

However, I am excited about the new stuff I'll be doing. It's a great change of pace. I will learn so much, and TEACH so much! Coolio.

Oh, and I'm going to the GA state convention next month! WooHoo! I'm excited. Too bad it's on the opposite side of the state from my brother. I'd like to see him and his family, too. Oh well, I guess I'll have to settle for Jekyll Island. Sandy beaches and sun. *sigh* How will I ever survive?

OK, time to rest the legs and maybe have an adult beverage. Then, early to bed and late to rise. That's the plan, peeps.