I am working at home today. We have a guest today....actually DB has a guest. It was unexpected, but this guest seems to be becoming a more permanent fixture in our home.

I'll call our guest "Julia". Sometimes in my mind I call her Eddie Haskell. There is just something about this little girl that always flashes me back to Leave it to Beaver.

She is a beautiful little girl, but one glance shows you that she is always scheming behind those pretty blue eyes. She and DB are a handful together. It's almost like Dumb and Dumber sometimes. I don't know how they convince one another to do some of the things they do.

Julia spends a lot of time at our house. Her parents are a piece of work.

Julia's Dad is some big shot corporate guy who apparently is only home when he has to be. I have only met him twice in 4 years and each time he was about as pleasant and "present" as a hemorrhoid.

Julia's Mom doesn't work. She says she is a stay at home Mom. Yet, it has become apparent through the years that "Stay at Home" is not part of the equation. Her job seems to involve martinis, shopping malls, nail techs, day spas and vacations to recover from all of the above.

Julia's Mom is what my friends and I call "North Dallas". Being called "North Dallas" is not a compliment. North Dallas women are all about appearances, money, nice clothes, money(Yes, I said it twice)...in other words everything materialistic. North Dallas women have their noses permanently stuck in the air, and are about as fake as one can get. They are so "plastic" that if you tossed a rock at them they would shatter.

Julia's Mom never attends any of Julia's school functions or after school activities. Somehow my friends and I have become Julia's carpool through the years. Julia's Mom has called me many times 10 minutes before school got out and begged me to pick up Julia as "time just got away from her"!

Through the years I have taken Julia and DB to the zoo, the park, movies, the mall, museums etc. Each and every time Julia says something to me along the lines of, "I wish my Mom would do fun stuff with me."

A few weeks ago "R" and I made the kids dinner and sat them down to eat. Julia asked if we ate at the table every night. DB rolled her eyes and replied, "Yes."

Julia just smiled and whispered under her breath, "Cool."

Julia is always dressed to the nines and her hair is perfect. She always comes over to the house with new video games and cool gadgets. And she always comes here lacking any grown up attention.

Some people seem to have kids just to have them. Some parents think that parenting ends at birth. Some people are just too self centered and "busy" to have children. This really makes me mad. There are some people who should simply NEVER be parents. And apparently they don't worry too much about it as they seem to find lots of other people to do the parenting gig for them.

Even though DB and Julia always get in trouble together and are the definition of high maintenance...there is something about Julia that has always been endearing to me.

Behind those beautiful clothes and scheming eyes I have come to see the real Julia. An 8 year old little girl who is truly lonely.

Young children need their parents. They need our time, our love, our attention. Giving love is not handing your child a new video game...love is the time you spend with them and the love you show them each and every day.

It saddens me to known that there are many "Julia's" out there. It angers me that some parents just don't care enough to see how important these impressionable and developing years are for a child.

Children may love having the coolest clothes and gadgets, but when it all comes down to it I think they would take the time and love we have to offer over anything you can buy in a store.

I can only hope that DB knows how lucky she is, and how blessed she has been in her life. And I can only hope that in the time Julia is here with us that she gets a little dose of the things she may not receive at home.

We just called Julia's Mom to see if she could spend the night. Of course Mrs. North Dallas readily agreed. Going to take the girls swimming for a little bit so they can burn off the sugar rush that has consumed them both!

Julia will most likely be here for a few days. Mrs. North Dallas has a problem with "time getting away" from her and sometimes apparently knows where I live when she drops Julia off but forgets my address when it is time for pick up.

But that's okay. There's always room for one more in my house. Besides too much quiet might send me into a state of shock!

Take care out there. And if you know a "Julia" take care of them too.

AM

This week is a short week and you just gotta love that! I also actually enjoyed a Monday yesterday for the first time in what seems like forever!

I learned on our family camping trip this weekend that I should add camp fires to the long list of things I should not be allowed to be around.

Saturday night after dinner "R" and I gathered the kids around the camp fire so we could roast marsh mellows and make s'mores. (Bet you guys didn't think I had a Mrs. Brady side in me did you?) I was "helping" DB smash her gooey marsh mellow between the chocolate and graham crackers when I lost my footing.

"R" must have some type of Superman reflex thing going on as his quick yank of the hood on my shirt was the only thing that kept me from flying head first into the blazing fire! Or perhaps he has just learned he has to be quick on his feet around me!

It scared the crap out of me. "R" decided from that point forward that there was a 3 foot rule for me. I was not allowed to be within 3 feet of the fire at any time. Usually you impose those kinds of rules on kids. Yet, leave it to me to get "banned" from being fire side.

I also learned that one should not poke at piles of leaves with a stick as you NEVER know what might "pop" out to say hello!

We had taken the kids on a long afternoon walk. And stupid me kept poking everything with my super cool walking stick! The last pile I stuck it into held a little surprise. Well, not really little, but certainly a surprise.

One poke and out slithers a nice big snake. I start screaming like a banshee and the kids and I go off running like wild horses. When we finally stop running all I can hear is "R" laughing loudly somewhere down the trail. When he catches up with us he tells me that the Animal Planet called and they changed their minds about me starring in the safari show!

At that point I quietly returned my treasure of a walking stick back to its home....the woods! Besides I should probably not be walking with a sharp stick...that just has bad idea written all over it!!!!

And finally I learned that when you and your man are feeling a bit amorous you should really wait to "act" upon it until you are a ZILLION percent FREAKING positive that your kids are really sound asleep.

I am not going to elaborate on the last lesson. Your imaginations are very vivid....no need to spell it out.

Well, that pretty much sums up the top 3 most important things I learned on my family camping trip.

I hope everyone out there is enjoying a great Tuesday. Take care out there in Blogger Land!

You Guys,

AM

Well, this has been a wonderful weekend! I do not think this weekend could have been any better!

We had a great time at the lake house. It was nice to get away from Dallas for a few days, relax, and simply just enjoy the people in my life.

It amazes me that when you get away from the city for a few days in the outdoors you seem to return with a refreshed outlook on the world around you. Stepping away from the craziness of school, work, activities, phone calls, TV, and the normal every day "busy" stuff somehow reminds you about the beauty in the little things. More importantly it reminds you that sometimes you just need to slow down.

"R", the kids, and I had a blast together this weekend. The days were filled with boating trips, fishing, games of badminton and Frisbee, and long afternoon walks. Our nights were filled with cook outs, fireworks, campfires, and scary stories. And after we got the kids to bed, R" and I would grab a good bottle of wine and sit on the deck and hang out and talk for hours.

I loved being with the kids and the fact that we could all really talk and really listen to each other...well, that was simply priceless. I enjoyed getting away from the million distractions that life provides and just get back to the basics. I feel so renewed and relaxed.

I know the memories that we created over the past few days will last a lifetime. The kids were so happy and content, and I am so grateful for that time with them. And "R" and I have decided our relationship is growing in a wonderful way and we even talked about our future together and it didn't "freak" me out! That in itself is a miracle!

I have some silly stories to share from the lake house and I will write about them tomorrow. For now I am going to relax and enjoy the last few hours of this long weekend. And I need to catch up with all of you guys and see how you are doing. I hope everyone had a great weekend! Happy Memorial Day Streamers! Take care,

AM

All is quiet on the Western Front....and this means I should be afraid!

Even so...I am totally going to take advantage of it and enjoy every second of it!

Last night "R" and I were talking about the upcoming holiday weekend. It seems as if everyone in our lives wants a piece of us this weekend and quite frankly there just isn't enough time. We decided last night that we are packing the kids up tomorrow and heading out of Big D!

Our last few holidays have been so crazy and busy we just seem to be worn out at the end of them. My idea of a good Memorial Day weekend would involve him and me and our kids. I don't want to spend all of our time worried about where we have to be next and hurrying up just to hurry up some more!

I am thinking a nice weekend at "R"'s family lake house would be great. They are actually not going to be using it this weekend and offered it up to us. "R" and I are all for it. Our families on the other hand have different ideas.

AM: Mom, thanks for the invites (Yes, plural) but I think we are going to take the kids up to the lake house.

Mom: Oh really? When did they come about?

AM: We just decided last night. We thought it would be a great way to kick off the kid’s summer vacation.

Mom: Just you guys going?

AM: Yes.

Mom: So you can't come here for the cook out Sunday and for the party Saturday night?

AM: No, I think we are going to leave tomorrow night and come back Monday.

Mom: *Dead Silence* *Big Sigh*

Then there is a long awkward silence that follows and I know that's her "subtle" guilt trip in action.

Mom: So I guess I will just tell the family that you guys had "other" plans.

AM: Yes, Mom. We have other plans.

Mom: And you won't be back until Monday?

AM: That's right.

Mom: The kids just got out of school. Don't you think they should have some down time before a "vacation"??

AM: *biting my tongue*

She doesn't get the fact that all of us will be much more relaxed and rested if we don't spend 3 days bouncing between family functions and "obligations"!

AM: Mom, the kids will be fine. Besides this will be a great way for us to start the summer out right.

Mom: And being with your family wouldn't be right?

AM:

AM: That's not what I meant.

Mom: Ok, fine. I guess I will call everyone and let them know you guys have "other" plans.

AM: Okay. (Maintain your cool, AM! Breathe in and out!)

The conversation ends. I spend about 30 minutes banging my head on my desk. I have spent the rest of the afternoon screening my calls. No more guilt trips needed here!

I called "R" at his office.

"Honey, are you sure we shouldn't leave tonight?"

He laughs. "You talked to Mom huh?"

See the boy already knows all too well the family dynamic! Didn't take him too long!

We will be heading out to the lake house tomorrow night. I can't wait to get out of Dodge for a few days and spend some quality time with the people I love. And I will spend from now until we leave screening any call that says, "MOM"!

Hope everyone has a great long weekend. Take care out there!

Well, one more half day of school for DB and then Summer officially begins here!

This is an adjustment period for her and me every year. Both of our schedules change and it takes some getting used to.

Today I was on a conference call in my home office for about 45 minutes. In this time DB and her little buddy managed to take EVERYTHING out of her closet and off her shelves. It looks like WWIII in there.

AM: DB what in the world are you doing?

DB: We're looking for somethin' Momma.

As I scan the room I can't imagine they could find anything in the mess they have created.

AM: Did you find it?

DB: No Ma'am. It was in the TV room.

AM:

DB: Can we go swimming?

AM: Yes, you can go swimming in this mess you created.

DB: No swimming for real Momma.

AM: No. You CAN clean this up.

DB: But we are playing with it Momma.

AM: ALL OF IT?

DB: Yes, Ma'am.

AM: You need to pick it up before you play anything okay?

DB:

AM: You guys need to pick up some okay?

DB:

AM: DB, please answer me.

DB: I already did. We are playing with it.

AM:

DB: Momma it's Summer.

AM: No, no it isn't. One more day than it is Summer. And Summer does not mean you can do whatever you want.

DB: Summer is fun for kids cuz we have worked really really hard all school year.

AM: I've worked hard all year too. Where's my Summer?

DB: You can have a summer too. Maybe you should have a friend over to play with you.

AM:

DB: We need some privacy Momma. Go work.

AM:

My GAWD! It's going to take her the rest of the day to clean this mess up. And I know somehow I will be pulled into it and end up doing the organizing.

Summer is upon me. I am not ready. The next few weeks will take some getting used to her being around all day making messes, telling me she is bored, asking to swim every 10 minutes, wanting to stay up late, etc....

Plain and simple...I am not ready for this. Summer is here people! I think all of us grown ups should run for the hills! Run, Run! The little people are fixing to take over the world!

AM