Clean sweep

Motivated by an intense desire for more storage space (read closets) and a bathroom sink I don't have to share with three girls (read future prepubescents,) Bradly and I have started talking about adding on to the house or moving (gasp!) We are strictly in the exploration phase right now but with the recent three day weekend we jumped feet first into "House For Sale" mode. Brad spent approximately 24 hours in the basement and garage and I spent roughly 5 hours on each room of 309. Three days wasn't even enough for me. I took a half day of vacation to clean the laundry room, kitchen and office simply to be done.

Suffice it to say I cleaned things that hadn't been touched in years. I moved furniture, took pictures off the walls, and emptied closets. I even think I mopped up dried milk. My baby is 5.5 years old. If that milk was from a baby bottle, that milk is way old.

The Big Reveal

So I hadn't planned for the dreaded No Service to appear on my cell phone as we arrived, but, admittedly it made our trip even better.  Unfortunately for the few people (okay, one person) who was waiting with baited breath to find out where we went it delayed The Big Reveal.  Not only did I have to get back to ATT's service area but then I had to upload photos off my camera to my computer, then from my computer to Picasa and from Picasa...well you get the point.  I am delighted to tell you that we went camping!! Mind you, this was not Greg AuBuchon camping, but it was sleep in a tent camping (if only for one night.)  We went back to Bass River Resort in Steelville and had a grand time. Brad was happy to dust off the old camping supplies and the girls were so excited.  I couldn't get enough of hearing the girls say I was the best mommy ever.  

 

The weather was pretty cool so we decided not to float but we did everything else one should do when camping:

• we waded in the river
• we cooked on a fire
• we hunted for fire wood
• we went on a "hike"
• we caught minnows
• we slept in a tent
• we peed (and some pooed) outside
• we climbed trees
• we climbed in trees
• we played flashlight tag
• we ate s'mores
• we fell asleep by the fire
• we awoke to rain

It was an absolutely terrific time.  We have always wanted to take the girls camping and they have always wanted to go and it was finally the right time.  I am sure it won't be the last time.

Listen up

Driving down I-44 listening to The Little Mermaid it occurs to me that one of the things I will miss most as our girls grow up is listening to the movies they watch when we travel. I don't know that this DVD has ever been played inside our house and I probably haven't seen The Little Mermaid since it came out in 1989, but I can still sing along (and do!!) and quote this movie better than any other. We are probably just a few short years from retiring all Disney princess movies from our regular rotation but I know, for the rest of my life, this movie will matter to me. Its just another of the little thing that makes growing these Pettet girls special.

Let the fun begin!!

For the fourth year (at least, we have kind of lost count) we surprised the girls with a family fun day announcement this morning. Each year before the return to school we plan a special day trip to celebrate the end of summer. We started at McDonalds (nearly enough for them but not for us!) for breakfast. As is our custom they still don't know where we are going. Stay tuned you can be surprised with them.

Whatta Man

Every time Father's Day comes around I think of the old Salt n Pepa song, Whatta Man.  I know!  Salt n Pepa?  I am a child of the 80's and some of those tapes that play in the head never go away, but I digress.  Anyway, there is a line in the song that Brad and I have always laughed at when we hear it.  As Salt (or Pepa, whoever can tell them apart) is listing all the tributes of her great man she sings "spends quality time with his kids when he can."  When he can?! What does that mean?  Fatherhood isn't about when you can. Fatherhood (and parenthood, in general) is probably most important when you think you can't or even when you don't want to. We are so spoiled at our house.  I really do think my girls have the best dad in the world. I should forewarn all the mom's of sons that the bar has been set pretty high with the example the Pettet dad has shown.  I am not sure your boys will be up for the demands of these future wives/mothers.

We love you, Daddy!  Happy Father's Day!

(PS - Happy Father's Day to my dad, too!  He is pretty awesome as well.  Love you, Pops!)

Damn groundhog

Just when my flowers were popping out and I have officially started my swimsuit diet winter shows up. It sounds like it will be short lived and I don't expect the girls to even score a snow day but the girls (okay, Daddy) did get a snowman built. The Missorian even stopped by to snap a photo saying it was the first snowman they have seen.

Do you know my mommy?

Lillian's class was treated to breakfast with Mayor Sandy Lucy last month. She read to them, danced with them and answered questions. I was proud to see Poppy asked a question since she can be shy. I asked her what they talked about and she said she asked her if she knew her mommy. Turns out the mayor had already told me that story.