The heat will get you, my pretty...and your little dog, too

Wonder why I haven't been adding a new post lately?!? Oh, don't worry, I still have plenty to say. It's just that I am so darn tired from making like the Wicked Witch of the West.

I'm melting...I'm melting!

It has been in the mid-90s the past four days, and guess whose school doesn't have the "air conditioning" ready to go yet? (Sidenote: "air conditioning" is in quotes because even when it is working, it is a bit of a leap to call it by that name.) Oh, and while you're at it, guess whose school closes all of the windows over the weekends so that the classrooms are people ovens on Monday? I had a plastic pencil cup on my windowsill, and it is a mutant now. None of the pencils will even look its way. It's embarrassing, really.

Anyway, I'm a miserable person in the heat. I am usually cold when it's 70 degrees, so when I am really hot, you know it's bad. My dad tells me I used to always complain when I was little in the summer that I was "BOY-ya-ling!" I am also exhausted from being so yucky and unable to accomplish much in all that thick air. I actually wore my hair up today because I go into survival mode when it is this hot. That's another way you know it's bad: I never wear my hair up. Oh, and my students all just love stepping in my room and feel the need to tell me so each period. Not. And as you can imagine, they are really motivated to get their work done in such a pleasant environment when they are all sweatballs and half of them didn't put on deodorant in the morning.

And after all this...tomorrow, they're predicting rain and a high of 59. True story.

P & P is Rated G

I'm glad to learn through this easy little link that my blog is suitable for all ages. The only word it found that was questionable was "steal." I wrote about the tooth fairy not stealing Peanut's tooth, getting a children's book for a steal, and someone stealing the summer days away from me. I don't think any of that is too objectionable, unlike my husband's film blog, which is apparently way more risque' than my innocent mommy blog, because this was his rating:

I purposely tried this now, because after the next post I have planned, I may no longer qualify for a "G" rating. You'll just have to stay tuned!

If you have a blog, comment on this post and let me know what yours is rated (and you don't have to join anything; just click the "no thanks" link at the bottom right to see the rating). And if you have some favorite blogs, try their web addresses in the "rate it!" window as well. (By the way, MckMama readers...are you surprised that her adorable blog is also rated R?!?) You can try any blog your heart desires. The best part is seeing the objectionable words revealed. I will refrain from listing all of my husband's objectionable words here, even though some are laughable. I would guess if I listed them here, I would receive a much stronger rating. And I like bein' a "G"!

Hmmm... ;)

Flashback Friday: Uncle Bruce

This is one of my very favorite snapshots of Peanut as a baby. He was eight months old, and his Great Uncle Bruce is holding him. Uncle Bruce is my father-in-law's brother, and the two of them are a lot alike in that both men are terribly generous, caring, and family-centered. My husband has vivid and wonderful memories of his uncle from his childhood. My favorite memories of him center around the day Eric and I announced our engagement to his parents and immediate relatives at a large family reunion. Uncle Bruce enthusiastically welcomed me into the family with a huge bear hug and an excited announcement over the loud speaker that made me humbled to be included in such a loving group of future relatives. Sadly, Uncle Bruce lost his long battle with cancer late Wednesday evening. We will miss him dearly, though we know he is again embracing his parents and other loved ones in his eternal family reunion in heaven.

Flashback Friday: Applesauce

Kristin at age one

It's hard to believe that this little girl eventually had weight issues, huh?!?

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support regarding my weight loss post. As I said, I had talked myself out of writing it numerous times, but I had a feeling that my readers were just that awesome and everyone would be positive. And I was right! So, thank you again. I will keep you posted on my progress (although I must admit that it is getting harder the more I lose!). I do have a long way to go, but at least I can say with all sincerity that I have never eaten straight out of an applesauce jar. Well, at least not recently, anyway! :)

My best birthday present ever...

Dear Peanut,

Our first glimpse of you

Was so tiny and small

You were our baby Peanut

After Daddy and I saw

Your hand and your foot

And your sweet round head
And my heart skipped a beat

When it felt yours instead

You did not arrive quietly

Quite dramatic at birth

But the moment we heard you

You multiplied our worth

Your crying continued
And then so did ours

As we looked to the sky

And wished on the stars

And as fast as they came

Those hard days passed

We marveled at your giggles

Hoped this babyhood would last

But you took your first step

And you said your first word

And we sang "Happy Birthday"

As my teary eyes blurred

I am still that same Mommy

When your big day is here

Even though you keep changing
I just can't change my tears

So many milestones

As I add up the sum

Of the joys you have brought me

And the obstacles overcome

Almost done kindergarten

You've learned many new things

Like how to make friends

And how to spread your wings

But don't fly too fast

From your mommy's embrace

You get smarter every day

And I can't halt the pace

So on your sixth birthday

If you see Mommy cry

You don't need to be worried

You don't need to ask why

I'm holding on to my memories

And trusting all that's in store

Because with each day that passes

I can only love you more.